bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stability, bonding, and electronic properties of silicon and germanium arsenides
Authors: Wu Ping , Huang Min
Published: January 2016

First‐principles calculations were carried out to study the stability, structural, and electronic properties of compounds of silicon arsenides (SiAs and SiAs2) and germanium arsenides (GeAs and GeAs2). The group IV atom (Si or Ge atom) is four‐coordinated and the As atom is three‐coordinated in both monoclinic and orthorhombic structures, which are energetically favored based on the calculated formation enthalpies for Si/Ge monoarsenides and diarsenides, respectively. The calculated SiAs bond lengths are slightly smaller than the GeAs bond lengths. In agreement with the experimental results, our calculations show both silicon arsenides and germanium arsenides are semiconductors. The calculated bandgaps of germanium arsenides are slightly smaller than those of silicon arsenides, which may be related to the lower ionicity of the GeAs bonds in germanium arsenides. The calculated density of states (DOS) of As atoms in the four compounds are somewhat different from each other indicating the difference of their local atomic environments. The calculations show that Si/Ge arsenides with Si/Ge vacancies are metals, which may be due to the unsaturated As atoms near the vacancy sites.
Solar Electricity
Authors: Turan Raşit
Published: January 2016

This issue of physica status solidi (c) compiles the Proceedings of the 3rd Turkish Solar Electricity Conference and Exhibition (SolarTR‐3) that was held in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, between April 27 and 29, 2015. Invited speakers, innovative companies and decision makers (politicians, government officials) experts in different types and various aspects of photovoltaics (PV) technology participated in this event. As the organization committee we were able to create a platform for interaction between private companies, university researchers and government officials for further R&D and production of PV in Turkey during this event. This year, we have organized the 3rd SolarTR after the two successful previous events, Solar‐TR1 in 2009 and Solar‐TR2 2012, more special and international by bringing researchers and private sector community from Turkey, Europe, USA and Middle Eastern Countries together. Proof of the vitality of the Solar‐TR series was given by the participation of 420 people with diverse backgrounds in photovoltaic technology; more than two hundreds out of them were PhD students or young scientists. The participants have presented 15 invited talks, 40 oral contributions and more than 105 visual presentations. The conference included also 2 plenary and 9 parallel sessions, and 2 tutorial sessions aimed at illustrating the basic photovoltaic energy technology and energy conversion to a broader community.

All the published full papers in this issue were reviewed by a number of expert scientists in the field of photovoltaics to assure the high quality and diversity of this special issue.

We thank both International and National Scientific Committees for their valuable contributions and wise suggestions. We also warmly thank the local Organizing Committee that had helped us tremendously. Finally, we would like to thank all sponsors of the SolarTR‐3 conference and exhibition.

On behalf of the Organization Committee

Prof. Dr. Raşit Turan

Chair of SolarTR‐3 conference
Norstictic Acid Inhibits Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation, Migration, Invasion, and In Vivo Invasive Growth Through Targeting C‐Met
Authors: Ebrahim Hassan Y. , Elsayed Heba E. , Mohyeldin Mohamed M. , Akl Mohamed R. , Bhattacharjee Joydeep , Egbert Susan , El Sayed Khalid A.
Published: January 2016

Breast cancer is a major health problem affecting the female population worldwide. The triple‐negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are characterized by malignant phenotypes, worse patient outcomes, poorest prognosis, and highest mortality rates. The proto‐oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinase c‐Met is usually dysregulated in TNBCs, contributing to their oncogenesis, tumor progression, and aggressive cellular invasiveness that is strongly linked to tumor metastasis. Therefore, c‐Met is proposed as a promising candidate target for the control of TNBCs. Lichens‐derived metabolites are characterized by their structural diversity, complexity, and novelty. The chemical space of lichen‐derived metabolites has been extensively investigated, albeit their biological space is still not fully explored. The anticancer‐guided fractionation of Usnea strigosa (Ach.) lichen extract led to the identification of the depsidone‐derived norstictic acid as a novel bioactive hit against breast cancer cell lines. Norstictic acid significantly suppressed the TNBC MDA‐MB‐231 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, with minimal toxicity to non‐tumorigenic MCF‐10A mammary epithelial cells. Molecular modeling, Z'‐LYTE biochemical kinase assay and Western blot analysis identified c‐Met as a potential macromolecular target. Norstictic acid treatment significantly suppressed MDA‐MB‐231/GFP tumor growth of a breast cancer xenograft model in athymic nude mice. Lichen‐derived natural products are promising resources to discover novel c‐Met inhibitors useful to control TNBCs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimation of Complicated Profiles in Phase I, Clustering and S‐estimation Approaches
Authors: Shahriari Hamid , Ahmadi Orod , Samimi Yaser
Published: January 2016

Some quality characteristics are well defined when expressed as a function of an independent variable. This function is usually called a profile. If the functional form of the profile is known, parametric methods could be used to monitor the profile representing a process. However, some processes are complicated, and it is not suitable to use parametric models. In these cases, nonparametric methods may be used to monitor the profiles. One of the powerful nonparametric profile monitoring methods is to use wavelets. In this paper, the issue of estimating the complicated profiles in phase I is studied. In order to monitor the process using wavelets, it is required to estimate the vector of wavelet coefficients. Classical estimators are usually used to estimate the coefficients vector. These estimators should be used when the data do not contain outliers. However, it is possible that the data set is contaminated and includes some outliers. Thus, it is better to use robust estimators that are insensitive to the presence of outliers. In this paper, two robust estimators for estimating the complicated profiles using wavelets are proposed. In the first approach, the dimension of the coefficients vector is reduced by means of PCA incorporated into clustering. The second approach is based on the S‐estimation method. An extensive simulation study is performed using matlab® software to evaluate the proposed methods and to compare the results with an existing classical method. The results show the well performance of the suggested methods in estimating the model parameters when the data set is not contaminated and in the presence of outliers. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Energy‐efficient link resource allocation in the multibeam satellite downlink under QoS constraints
Authors: Andreotti Riccardo , Giannetti Filippo , Luise Marco
Published: January 2016

This work deals with the issue of boosting the capacity of digital subscriber line networks in the presence of geographical gaps. To this aim, an effective approach consists in exploiting the downlink of multibeam satellites for the delivering of packed‐based traffic, employing modulation and coding schemes denoted by very high spectral efficiency, such as in Digital Video Broadcasting‐Satellite, version 2 and eXtension standard, although time‐varying channel and interference may severely affect the quality of the communication. To cope with these issues, this paper proposes a novel link resource adaptation based on the following features. First, to efficiently manage packet‐based transmissions, an adaptive coding and modulation scheme is derived aimed at maximizing the ‘goodput’, that is, the offered layer‐3 data rate. Then, in order to mitigate the co‐channel interference arising from beams exploiting the same band, an adaptive power control is also proposed. The goal of the latter is to maximize the energy efficiency of the satellite downlink guaranteeing a given quality‐of‐service, that is, a minimum‐goodput, over each link. This problem is modeled as a non‐cooperative game, and the conditions of feasibility, existence, and uniqueness of the solution are analytically derived. Finally, simulation results are provided comparing the proposed strategy with the conventional rate satisfaction power control approach. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Outcomes‐Based Funding: Origins and Implications for the SEM Practitioner
Authors: Moore Alicia , Russ‐Eft Darlene
Published: January 2016

Recently there have been greater calls for accountability within higher education, with a particular emphasis on retention and completion. More frequently than not, this accountability manifests itself through state funding formulas in which a percentage of state funds are directed towards performance. This article examines the history and trends associated with “outcomes‐based funding” and potential impacts for strategic enrollment management work.
The Relationships among Individual Characteristics, High School Characteristics, and College Enrollment: Using Enrollment Propensity as a Baseline for Evaluating Strategic Enrollment Management Efforts
Authors: Pike Gary R. , Robbins Kirsten
Published: January 2016

The current study examined the relationships among student and high school characteristics and the decision to enroll in either a two‐ or four‐year college or university. The purpose of the research was to assess the feasibility of using enrollment propensity (i.e., the likelihood of enrolling in college) as a baseline to evaluate the effectiveness of college recruitment strategies and programs. An analysis of data from nearly 60,000 Indiana high school graduates in spring 2010 revealed that both student characteristics and the characteristics of sending high schools were related to the likelihood of enrolling in college, and these characteristics could be used to create baseline enrollment measures. Different student and high school characteristics were related to enrolling in two‐ and four‐year institutions.
A Study of the Factors and Conditions Associated with Graduate Enrollment Management Practitioners’ Participation in Professional Development
Authors: Balayan Ariana
Published: January 2016

This investigation was designed to determine the factors and conditions associated with graduate enrollment management practitioners’ participation in professional development (PD) activities. The sample consisted of members of a professional association, the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP), focused solely on supporting graduate enrollment managers and related staff, whose patterns of involvement in various PD events for the previous five years were classified as low or inconsistent. In an effort to identify member preferences, as well as characteristics associated with PD activities, the investigator sought to provide information useful to developing future PD programs for NAGAP.

An electronic quantitative instrument, the Professional Development in Graduate Enrollment Management (PDGEM) survey, consisted of closed‐ended questions related to PD grouped under the following headings: Demographic Information, Support for and Knowledge of Professional Development Activities, Attitudes and Beliefs about Professional Development: Individual and Institutional, Components of Professional Development in Graduate Enrollment Management, Professional Development Plans, Participation and Involvement in NAGAP Professional Development Activities, Other Organizations’ Professional Development, and Professional Development Overall. It was disseminated to 1,461 members of NAGAP, with a return rate of 163 (11%). Descriptive and linear regression analyses were conducted in order to discern (1) the frequency of participation in PD and (2) the demographic and other variables predictive of participation in PD.

The study's findings revealed that about one‐quarter of the respondents participated regularly in NAGAP‐sponsored PD and that the involvement levels of the remainder of the membership were inconsistent. Additionally, on‐site activities were favored over online, content relevance greatly influenced whether practitioners participated, and member interest in conducting academic research was low. Cost was also a primary factor in determining participation in professional development.
Induction Heat Treatment of Sheet‐Bulk Metal‐Formed Parts Assisted by Water–Air Spray Cooling
Authors: Besserer Hans‐Bernward , Dalinger Andrej , Rodman Dmytro , Nürnberger Florian , Hildenbrand Philipp , Merklein Marion , Maier Hans Jürgen
Published: January 2016

In order to produce components with massive secondary functional elements from sheet metal bulk forming operations, termed sheet‐bulk metal forming, can be applied. Owing to high, three‐dimensional stress and strain states present during sheet‐bulk metal forming, ductile damage occurs in the form of micro‐voids. Depending on the material flow properties, tensile residual stresses can also be present in the components' formed functional elements. During service, the components are subjected to cyclic loading via these functional elements, and tensile residual stresses exert an unfavorable influence on crack initiation and crack growth, and therefore on the fatigue life. Following the forming process, temperature and microstructurally related compressive residual stresses can be induced by local heat treating of the surface. These residual stresses can counteract potential crack initiation on the surface or in the subsurface regions. In the present study, the adjustability of the residual stress state is investigated using a workpiece manufactured by orbital cold‐forming, which possesses an accumulation of material in its edge region. Based on residual stress measurements in the workpiece's edge region using x‐ray diffractometry, it is possible to verify the compressive residual stresses adjusted by varying the cooling conditions.
Characterizations and electrical conductivity of (poly[vinyl chloride])/(poly[ethylene oxide]) conductive films: The effect of carbon black loading and poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether
Authors: Ghani Supri A. , Din Siti Hajar Mohd , Tan S.J.
Published: January 2016

The effect of carbon black (CB) loading filled (poly[vinyl chloride])/(poly[(ethylene oxide]) (PVC/PEO) conductive films with and without poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) was studied. The PVC/PEO/CB and PVC/PEO/PEGDE/CB conductive films were prepared by a solution casting method. The results indicate that the addition of PEGDE of PVC/PEO/CB/PEGDE conductive films exhibited higher tensile properties, electrical conductivity, and thermal stability compared with PVC/PEO/CB conductive films. The scanning electron microscope micrographs of PVC/PEO/PEGDE/CB conductive films showed a rough surface and a good distribution of CB on the surface of PVC/PEO/CB conductive films. Fourier‐transform infrared spectrum showed that the interaction between the PVC/PEO films and the CB‐PEGDE phase on the surface of the conductive films does not change the functional group of the PVC/PEO/PEDGE/CB conductive films. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 24:139–146, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Structural and Physicochemical Properties of a Polymerizable Surfactant Synthesized from N‐Methylol Acrylamide
Authors: Tamer Yasemin , berber Yamak Hale , Yıldırım Hüseyin
Published: January 2016

A new polymerizable nonionic surfactant with reactive vinyl groups has been synthesized from N‐methylol acrylamide using a two‐step procedure. The structure of the surfactant molecule was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy. The surface active properties alongside its self‐assembly properties were investigated by surface tension, electrical conductivity, and fluorescence spectroscopy measurements. As compared with other nonionic surfactants, this study showed that this polymerizable surfactant possesses slightly a higher critical micelle concentration (CMC) value and the surface tension value at CMC. The obtained CMC values were compatible among measurements, ca. 0.02–0.038 M. The evidence of micelle formation also provided by the zeta potential measurements and the obtained zeta potential values showed that the polymerizable surfactant solutions had limited stability. The hydrolysis stability and solubility of the polymerizable surfactant were also investigated. The solubility results have shown that it was soluble in polar solvents while insoluble in nonpolar solvents both at room temperature and 40 °C. The acidic and basic hydrolysis of the surfactant increased as the temperature increased and the hydrolysis stability was 180 min (basic medium) and 55 min (acidic medium) at 80 °C.
La théorie de l'ordre de poinsot à bourgoin: mathématiques, philosophie, art ornemental
Authors: Boucard Jenny , Eckes Christophe
Published: January 2016

L'enjeu de cet article est d'appréhender la dynamique de la théorie de l'ordre au XIXe siècle et de mettre au jour une approche spécifique des mathématiques, des sciences, de la philosophie et de l'art ornemental dans laquelle l'ordre joue un rôle prééminent. Nous reviendrons sur la signification singulière que Poinsot assigne à l'ordre dans les sciences mathématiques, avant de décrire la circulation de ses écrits sur l'ordre au XIXe siècle. Poinsot constitue l'une des principales sources de Cournot qui situe l'ordre et la forme au fondement de son système de connaissances. Enfin, nous nous intéresserons aux écrits de Bourgoin qui développe une combinatoire des ornements, fondée sur les catégories d'ordre et de forme.
Les critères de la radicalité en question: le cas poulain de la barre
Authors: Pellegrin Marie-Frédérique
Published: January 2016

L'article propose d'appliquer les critères de la radicalité tels qu'ils sont définis par Jonathan Israel à un philosophe, François Poulain de la Barre, afin d'éprouver la validité et la pertinence de ces critères, censés définir des groupes de penseurs fondateurs des Lumières dites radicales. Poulain de la Barre, premier féministe « moderne », est en effet mobilisé par trois fois par Israel, mais subit un sort curieux. Cette étude de cas montre que la cohérence des critères nécessaires pour définir le radical peut être discutée, notamment à partir d'un examen critique du dernier paragraphe du Traité politique de Spinoza.
Does novel oral anticoagulant improve anticoagulation for non‐valvular atrial fibrillation associated stroke: An inpatient registration study in Shanghai
Authors: Liu Feng‐Di , Zhao Rong , Wang Xue‐Mei , Wang Shuo , Shen Xiao‐Lei , Tao Xiao‐Xiao , Zheng Bo , Peng Jia‐Li , Zhang Hui , Mo Ran , Tong Yan , Li Wen‐Ting , Feng Xiao‐Yan , Li Ge‐Fei , Shu Liang , Liu Jian‐Ren
Published: January 2016

Abstracts

Objective

To summarize the use rate, safety, efficacy of antithrombotics in stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) prevention, and reasons for not using dabigatran etexilate (DE) in Shanghai, China.

Methods

Non‐valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF)‐associated stroke patients were prospectively registered as an electronic database. Use rate of antithrombotics and reasons for not using DE were extracted during follow‐up. Patients' baseline characteristics, recurrent ischemic stroke/TIA events and bleeding complications were analyzed.

Patients

From April 2012 to August 2014, 110 inpatients with NVAF‐associated stroke were studied in our hospital. NVAF was diagnosed by 12‐lead electrocardiogram, 24 h Holter and echocardiography.

Results

Before introduction of DE (April 2013), use rates of warfarin and antiplatelets were 28.9% (11/38) and 60.5% (23/38) respectively; after that, use rates of warfarin, DE, and antiplatelets were 20.8% (15/72), 12.5% (9/72), and 43.1% (31/72). The DE did not improve use of anticoagulants (P = 0.639). There were 19 (17.3%) recurrent ischemic stroke events up to October 2015; two (9.5%) in the non‐user group, 10 (18.5%) in the antiplatelet group, and seven (20.0%) in the anticoagulants group (P = 0.570). Furthermore, recurrence rates were similar between the DE group (20.0%) and the Warfarin group (20.0%, P = 1.000). The most common reason for not using DE was financial concerns (61.0%), followed by inconvenience to purchase (14.0%) and hemorrhage concerns (11.0%). Two patients using warfarin found fecal occult blood so they stopped warfarin and began to use antiplatelet drugs. No bleeding event occurred in the other groups. Only one patient had side effects (dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux) from DE.

Conclusion

The use rate of either DE or warfarin in Shanghai was low; DE had not improved anticoagulation therapy for NVAF patients in Shanghai mainly because DE had not been covered by health insurance.
Distribution and chronological framework for Iberian variscite mining and consumption at Pico Centeno, Encinasola, Spain
Authors: Odriozola Carlos P. , García Rodrigo Villalobos , Burbidge Christopher I. , Boaventura Rui , Sousa Ana C. , Rodriguez-Ariza Oliva , Parrilla-Giraldez Rubén , Prudênçio M. Isabel , Dias María Isabel
Published: January 2016

AMS radiocarbon and OSL dating, and profiling were used to directly delimit periods of variscite production at Pico Centeno Mine 2. These results were integrated with analysis of other well-dated periods of variscite production to establish an Iberian-wide chronological framework. Variscite production at Pico Centeno Mine 2 began at ~ 5200 BC, coincident with alpine jade production or Casa Montero Iberian flint production. Variscite was only used occasionally, together with other greenstones, during the 5th and 6th millennia BC. During the 4th millennium BC, variscite use began to increase to its apogee in the first half of 3rd millennium BC when it appeared in nearly every Iberian burial site. This increase in variscite production and use coincided with decline in the popularity of alpine jade. By the end of the 3rd millennium BC, new resources began to be valued such as Asian and African Ivory, Baltic and Sicilian amber, and copper-based metal products. The variscite cycle thus started with the decline of jade in the 5th–4th millennium BC, and ended with the appearance of copper, ivory and extra-peninsular amber by the end of the 3rd millennium BC.
Comparing the Accuracy of Three Pediatric Disaster Triage Strategies: A Simulation-Based Investigation
Authors: Cicero Mark X. , Overly Frank , Brown Linda , Yarzebski Jorge , Walsh Barbara , Shabanova Veronika , Auerbach Marc , Riera Antonio , Adelgais Kathleen , Meckler Garth , Cone David C. , Baum Carl R.
Published: January 2016

Background

It is unclear which pediatric disaster triage (PDT) strategy yields the best accuracy or best patient outcomes.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis on a sample of emergency medical services providers from a prospective cohort study comparing the accuracy and triage outcomes for 2 PDT strategies (Smart and JumpSTART) and clinical decision-making (CDM) with no algorithm. Participants were divided into cohorts by triage strategy. We presented 10-victim, multi-modal disaster simulations. A Delphi method determined patients’ expected triage levels. We compared triage accuracy overall and for each triage level (RED/Immediate, YELLOW/Delayed, GREEN/Ambulatory, BLACK/Deceased).

Results

There were 273 participants (71 JumpSTART, 122 Smart, and 81 CDM). There was no significant difference between Smart triage and CDM. When JumpSTART triage was used, there was greater accuracy than with either Smart (P<0.001; OR [odds ratio]: 2.03; interquartile range [IQR]: 1.30, 3.17) or CDM (P=0.02; OR: 1.76; IQR: 1.10, 2.82). JumpSTART outperformed Smart for RED patients (P=0.05; OR: 1.48; IQR: 1.01,2.17), and outperformed both Smart (P<0.001; OR: 3.22; IQR: 1.78,5.88) and CDM (P<0.001; OR: 2.86; IQR: 1.53,5.26) for YELLOW patients. Furthermore, JumpSTART outperformed CDM for BLACK patients (P=0.01; OR: 5.55; IQR: 1.47, 20.0).

Conclusion

Our simulation-based comparison suggested that JumpSTART triage outperforms both Smart and CDM. JumpSTART outperformed Smart for RED patients and CDM for BLACK patients. For YELLOW patients, JumpSTART yielded more accurate triage results than did Smart triage or CDM. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:253–260)
Lattice Boltzmann simulations of low-Reynolds-number flow past fluidized spheres: effect of Stokes number on drag force
Authors: Rubinstein Gregory J. , Derksen J. J. , Sundaresan Sankaran
Published: January 2016

In a fluidized bed, the drag force acts to oppose the downward force of gravity on a particle, and thus provides the main mechanism for fluidization. Drag models that are employed in large-scale simulations of fluidized beds are typically based on either fixed-particle beds or the sedimentation of particles in liquids. In low-Reynolds-number ($Re$) systems, these two types of fluidized beds represent the limits of high Stokes number ($St$) and low $St$, respectively. In this work, the fluid–particle drag behaviour of these two regimes is bridged by investigating the effect of $St$ on the drag force in low-$Re$ systems. This study is conducted using fully resolved lattice Boltzmann simulations of a system composed of fluid and monodisperse spherical particles. In these simulations, the particles are free to translate and rotate based on the effects of the surrounding fluid. Through this work, three distinct regimes in the characteristics of the fluid–particle drag force are observed: low, intermediate and high $St$. It is found that, in the low-$Re$ regime, a decrease in $St$ results in a reduction in the fluid–particle drag. Based on the simulation results, a new drag relation is proposed, which is, unlike previous models, dependent on $St$.
New hydroelastic solitary waves in deep water and their dynamics
Authors: Gao T. , Wang Z. , Vanden-Broeck J.-M.
Published: January 2016

A numerical study of fully nonlinear waves propagating through a two-dimensional deep fluid covered by a floating flexible plate is presented. The nonlinear model proposed by Toland (Arch. Rat. Mech. Anal., vol. 289, 2008, pp. 325–362) is used to formulate the pressure exerted by the thin elastic sheet. The symmetric solitary waves previously found by Guyenne & Părău (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 713, 2012, pp. 307–329) and Wang et al. (IMA J. Appl. Maths, vol. 78, 2013, pp. 750–761) are briefly reviewed. A new class of hydroelastic solitary waves which are non-symmetric in the direction of wave propagation is then computed. These asymmetric solitary waves have a multi-packet structure and appear via spontaneous symmetry-breaking bifurcations. We study in detail the stability properties of both symmetric and asymmetric solitary waves subject to longitudinal perturbations. Some moderate-amplitude symmetric solitary waves are found to be stable. A series of numerical experiments are performed to show the non-elastic behaviour of two interacting stable solitary waves. The large response generated by a localised steady pressure distribution moving at a speed slightly below the minimum of the phase speed (called the transcritical regime in the literature) is also examined. The direct numerical simulation of the fully nonlinear equations with a single load reveals that in this range the generated waves are of finite amplitude. This includes a perturbed depression solitary wave, which is qualitatively similar to the large response observed in experiments. The excitations of stable elevation solitary waves are achieved by applying multiple loads moving with a speed in the transcritical regime.
Crossing the management fashion border: The adoption of business process reengineering services by management consultants offering total quality management services in the United States, 1992–2004
Authors: Jung Dong-II , Lee Won-Hee
Published: January 2016

Building on prior research on management fashion, this paper seeks to understand how management consultants respond to the boom-to-bust cycles of competing management fashion trends. Specifically, we examine how US management consulting firms offering total quality management (TQM) services responded to the rise and fall of the rival management practice, business process reengineering (BPR), with an empirical focus on the adoption of BPR services. We find that a consulting firm offering TQM services was more likely to adopt BPR services if the firm’s organizational capabilities and institutional environments were more connected to BPR’s principles than to TQM’s principles. This suggests that management fashions are not simply bandwagon phenomena, but involve resource- and identity-based decision making. We also find that the significance of organizational capabilities increased while that of network influences decreased as BPR’s boom turned to bust. The reversal of well-established institutional accounts of innovation diffusion is explained by reference to the characteristics of management fashion.
Consumption ofBuglossoides arvensisseed oil is safe and increases tissue long-chainn-3 fatty acid content more than flax seed oil – results of a phase I randomised clinical trial
Authors: Lefort Natalie , LeBlanc Rémi , Giroux Marie-Andrée , Surette Marc E.
Published: January 2016

Enrichment of tissues with ≥20-carbonn-3 PUFA like EPA is associated with positive cardiovascular outcomes. Stearidonic acid (SDA; 18 : 4n-3) and α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18 : 3n-3) are plant-derived dietaryn-3 PUFA; however, direct comparisons of their impact on tissuen-3 PUFA content are lacking. Ahiflower®oil extracted fromBuglossoides arvensisseeds is the richest known non-genetically modified source of dietary SDA. To investigate the safety and efficacy of dietary Ahiflower oil, a parallel-group, randomised, double-blind, comparator-controlled phase I clinical trial was performed. Diets of healthy subjects (n40) were supplemented for 28 d with 9·1 g/d of Ahiflower (46 % ALA, 20 % SDA) or flax seed oil (59 % ALA). Blood and urine chemistries, blood lipid profiles, hepatic and renal function tests and haematology were measured as safety parameters. The fatty acid composition of fasting plasma, erythrocytes, polymorphonuclear cells and mononuclear cells were measured at baseline and after 14 and 28 d of supplementation. No clinically significant changes in safety parameters were measured in either group. Tissue ALA and EPA content increased in both groups compared with baseline, but EPA accrual in plasma and in all cell types was greater in the Ahiflower group (time × treatment interactions,P ≤ 0·01). Plasma and mononuclear cell eicosatetraenoic acid (20 : 4n-3) and docosapentaenoic acid (22 : 5n-3) content also increased significantly in the Ahiflower group compared with the flax group. In conclusion, the consumption of Ahiflower oil is safe and is more effective for the enrichment of tissues with 20- and 22-carbonn-3 PUFA than flax seed oil.
Fusion Systems on Bicyclic 2-Groups
Authors: Sambale Benjamin
Published: January 2016

We classify all (saturated) fusion systems on bicyclic 2-groups. Here, a bicyclic group is a product of two cyclic subgroups. This extends previous work on fusion systems on metacyclic 2-groups. As an application we prove Olsson's conjecture for all blocks with bicyclic defect groups.
The Catfish Industry and Spatial Justice in the Mississippi Delta: Steve Yarbrough's The Oxygen Man
Authors: MCKEE KATHRYN , DELLINGER KIRSTEN , TREFZER ANNETTE , JACKSON JEFFREY T.
Published: January 2016

This essay traces Edward Soja's “geography of labor” in the Mississippi catfish industry. Our interdisciplinary analysis integrates the socioeconomic realities of the Mississippi delta with Steve Yarbrough's literary rendering of that place in his 1999 novel The Oxygen Man. We argue that Yarbrough's novel closely maps changes in Mississippi delta agribusiness and urges readers to reimagine spatial justice in a landscape infamous for racism and poverty.
Introduction to “Culture around the Bases: A Forum on the U.S. Military Presence in Northeast Asia”
Authors: Moon Seungsook
Published: January 2016

This introduction discusses how to think about the U.S. military presence as an understudied force of globalization both theoretically and historically. In an effort to bring together three articles written by a sociologist, an anthropologist, and a historian, it engages theoretically with issues of unequal power relations, feelings of ambivalence, and postcolonial agency. It also provides summaries of three case studies on South Korea, Okinawa, and mainland Japan to show both intentional and unintentional cultural consequences of the long-term U.S. military presence in these societies.
My Car Modernity: What the U.S. Army Brought to South Korean Cinematic Imagination about Modern Mobility
Authors: Kim Han Sang
Published: January 2016

This article examines the cultural logic of mobilization in postcolonial South Korea, promoted through American cinematic representations. In early 1946, the U.S. Army Military Government in Korea started importing and distributing American propaganda films. These audiovisual textbooks for “free people” praised private car ownership and self-determined mobility, attracting audiences with scenes of automobiles and expressways. This might have encouraged audiences to imagine a self-regulating and untrammeled unit where they could choose their own destination, speed, and companions, symbolized in the ideal type of car-owning nuclear family. Such representational expressions of “maik'a” (my car) were closely linked with the global transition after World War II, such as the nuclearization of the family, the rise of the automobile industry, and the emergence of small screens at home. This shows how South Koreans were exposed to a new, liberal technology of government under U.S. hegemony, after the cessation of Japanese railway imperialism.
Interactions between the intestinal cestode Polyonchobothrium clarias (Pseudophyllidea: Ptychobothriidae) from the African sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus and heavy metal pollutants in an aquatic environment in Egypt
Authors: Abdel-Gaber R. , Abdel-Ghaffar F. , Bashtar A.-R. , Morsy K. , Saleh R.
Published: January 2016

In an aquatic environment, there is a profound and inverse relationship between environmental quality and disease status of fish. Parasites are one of the most serious limiting factors in aquaculture. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out during the period of February–December 2014 to determine the parasitic infections in the African sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus, relative to the capability of internal parasites to accumulate heavy metals. Up to 100 catfish were examined for gastrointestinal helminths and 38% of fish were found to be infected with the cestode Polyonchobothrium clarias. The morphology of this parasite species, based on light and scanning electron microscopy, revealed that the adult worm was characterized by a rectangular scolex measuring 0.43–0.58 (0.49 ± 0.1) mm long and 0.15–0.21 (0.19 ± 0.1) mm wide, with a flat to slightly raised rostellum armed with a crown with two semicircles each bearing 13–15 hooks, followed by immature, mature and gravid proglottids which were about 29–55 (45), 16–30 (24) and 15–39 (28) in number, respectively. The mature proglottid contained a single set of genitalia in which medullary testes measured 0.09–0.13 (0.11 ± 0.01) mm long and 0.05–0.08 (0.06 ± 0.01) mm wide; a bi-lobed ovary was situated near the posterior margin of the proglottid, extending laterally up to the longitudinal excretory canals; the tubular uterus arose from the ootype up to the anterior margin of the proglottid; and vitelline follicles were cortical. The greater portion of the gravid proglottid was occupied by a uterus filled with unoperculate and embryonated eggs. Chemical analysis confirmed that the concentrations of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd, Ni and Pb) accumulated in P. clarias were higher than in fish tissues and values recommended by FAO/WHO, with the exception of Zn, which was found to be higher in fish kidneys than in the cestode. This supports the hypothesis that cestodes of fish can be regarded as useful bioindicators when evaluating the environmental pollution of aquatic ecosystems by heavy metals.
Salmonellaburden in Lebanon
Authors: MALAEB M. , BIZRI A. R. , GHOSN N. , BERRY A. , MUSHARRAFIEH U.
Published: January 2016

Salmonellosis is a disease that represents a major public health concern in both developing and developed countries. The aim of this article is to evaluate the public health burden ofSalmonellaillness in Lebanon. The current scope of theSalmonellainfection problem was assessed in relation to disease incidence and distribution with respect to age, gender and district. Factors that provide a better understanding of the magnitude of the problem were explored and highlighted. Data reported to the Epidemiologic Surveillance Department at the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health between 2001 and 2013 was reviewed. Information obtained was compared to information reported regionally and globally. The estimated true incidence was derived using multipliers from the CDC and Jordan. A literature review of all published data from Lebanon aboutSalmonellasusceptibility/resistance patterns and its serious clinical complications was conducted. The estimated incidence was 13·34 cases/100 000 individuals, most cases occurred in the 20–39 years age group with no significant gender variation. Poor and less developed districts of Lebanon had the highest number of cases and the peak incidence was in summer. Reflecting on the projected incidence derived from the use of multipliers indicates a major discrepancy between what is reported and what is estimated. We conclude that data aboutSalmonellainfection in Lebanon and many Middle Eastern and developing countries lack crucial information and are not necessarily representative of the true incidence, prevalence and burden of illness.
VOTING ONESELF INTO A CRISIS
Authors: Beilharz Hans-Jörg , Gersbach Hans
Published: January 2016

We suggest that voters' lack of recognition of complex economic links may give rise to economic policies that eventually lead to a crisis. We consider a two-sector economy in which a majoritarian political process determines governmental regulation in one sector: a minimum nominal wage. If voters recognize general equilibrium feedbacks, workers favoring market-clearing wages will form a majority across sectors. If voters take into account only direct effects in the regulated sector, not only workers that enjoy minimum wages but also workers in the other sector are willing to vote for wage rises in each period. The reason is that they expect higher real wages for themselves, too. The political process leads to constantly rising unemployment and tax rates. The resulting crisis may trigger new insights into economic relationships on the part of the voters and may reverse bad times.
THE ROLE OF RESOURCE MISALLOCATION IN CROSS-COUNTRY DIFFERENCES IN MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY
Authors: Inklaar Robert , Lashitew Addisu A. , Timmer Marcel P.
Published: January 2016

Misallocation of resources across firms leads to lower aggregate productivity. In this paper, we provide new estimates of manufacturing productivity differences across countries and establish by how much they would be reduced if such misallocation were eliminated. Using World Bank survey data for formal manufacturing firms in 52 low- and middle-income countries, we show that manufacturing productivity would increase by an average of 62%, but productivity gaps relative to the United States would remain large. We also find that lower-income countries do not have more to gain from reducing misallocation, as efficiency of resource allocation is uncorrelated with income levels.
Ethiopian pre-school children consuming a predominantly unrefined plant-based diet have low prevalence of iron-deficiency anaemia
Authors: Gashu Dawd , Stoecker Barbara J , Adish Abdulaziz , Haki Gulelat D , Bougma Karim , Marquis Grace S
Published: January 2016

Objective

Children from low-income countries consuming predominantly plant-based diets but little animal products are considered to be at risk of Fe deficiency. The present study determined the Fe status of children from resource-limited rural households.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

Twenty sixkebeles(the smallest administrative unit) from six zones of the Amhara region, Ethiopia.

Subjects

Children aged 54–60 months (n628).

Results

Grain, roots or tubers were the main dietary components consumed by 100 % of the study participants, followed by pulses, legumes or nuts (66·6 %). Consumption of fruit and vegetables (19·3 %) and meat, poultry and fish (2·2 %) was low. Children had a mean dietary diversity score of 2·1 (sd0·8). Most children (74·8 %,n470) were in the lowest dietary diversity group (1–2 food groups). Rate of any morbidity in the preceding 14 d was 22·9 % (n114). Infection or inflammation (α1-acid glycoprotein >1·2 g/l) was present in 30·2 % (n184) of children. Children had a high rate of stunting (43·2 %). Of the total sample, 13·6 % (n82) of children were anaemic, 9·1 % (n57) were Fe deficient and 5·3 % (n32) had Fe-deficiency anaemia. Fe-deficiency erythropoiesis was present in 14·2 % (n60) of children.

Conclusions

Despite consuming a predominantly plant-based diet and little animal-source foods, there was a low prevalence of Fe-deficiency anaemia. This illustrates that dietary patterns can be inharmonious with Fe biochemical status; thus, Fe-related interventions require biochemical screening.
CHARACTERIZATION OF PROJECTIVE QUANTALES
Authors: RUMP WOLFGANG
Published: January 2016

It is proved that a quantale is projective if and only if it is isomorphic to a derived tensor quantale over a completely distributive sup-lattice. Furthermore, an intrinsic characterization of projectivity is given in terms of inertial sup-lattices and derivations of quantales.
Risk of Monozygotic Twins After Assisted Reproduction: A Population-Based Approach
Authors: Parazzini Fabio , Cipriani Sonia , Bianchi Stefano , Bulfoni Camilla , Bortolus Renata , Somigliana Edgardo
Published: January 2016

Background: Recent studies have suggested that ovarian stimulation and assisted reproductive techniques (ART) may increase the frequency of monozygotic twins. In this article, we present the analysis of the estimated frequency of twin deliveries following in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Lombardy during the period 2010–2014 for a total of 450,949 pregnancies. Method: This is a population-based study using data from the regional data base of Lombardy, a northern Italian region with a population of about 10 million inhabitants. During the considered period, a total of 461,424 single or multiple births were registered in Lombardy. After exclusion of triplets or more pregnancies, the total number of twin deliveries, in separate strata of like and unlike sex pregnancies twin deliveries, were obtained and the rate of twin deliveries was computed according to spontaneous and non-spontaneous conception and type of ART. Further, estimates of dizygotic or monozygotic twin births were calculated using Weinberg's methods. Results: The frequency of twins deliveries was 1.24/100 deliveries after natural conception and 20.05 after assisted conception. The estimated rates of monozygotic twins was 0.45 and 0.72/100 (95% CI: 0.58–0.91) deliveries after natural and assisted conception, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (p < .05). Conclusion: the present population based study suggests that the risk of monozygotic twin is about 60% higher among assisted than after natural conception.
A role of stochastic phenotype switching in generating mosaic endothelial cell heterogeneity
Authors: Yuan Lei , Chan Gary C. , Beeler David , Janes Lauren , Spokes Katherine C. , Dharaneeswaran Harita , Mojiri Anahita , Adams William J. , Sciuto Tracey , Garcia-Cardeña Guillermo , Molema Grietje , Kang Peter M. , Jahroudi Nadia , Marsden Philip A. , Dvorak Ann , Regan Erzsébet Ravasz , Aird William C.
Published: January 2016

Previous studies have shown that biological noise may drive dynamic phenotypic mosaicism in isogenic unicellular organisms. However, there is no evidence for a similar mechanism operating in metazoans. Here we show that the endothelial-restricted gene, von Willebrand factor (VWF), is expressed in a mosaic pattern in the capillaries of many vascular beds and in the aorta. In capillaries, the mosaicism is dynamically regulated, with VWF switching between ON and OFF states during the lifetime of the animal. Clonal analysis of cultured endothelial cells reveals that dynamic mosaic heterogeneity is controlled by a low-barrier, noise-sensitive bistable switch that involves random transitions in the DNA methylation status of the VWF promoter. Finally, the hearts of VWF-null mice demonstrate an abnormal endothelial phenotype as well as cardiac dysfunction. Together, these findings suggest a novel stochastic phenotype switching strategy for adaptive homoeostasis in the adult vasculature.
Elevated glucose and oligomeric β-amyloid disrupt synapses via a common pathway of aberrant protein S-nitrosylation
Authors: Akhtar Mohd Waseem , Sanz-Blasco Sara , Dolatabadi Nima , Parker James , Chon Kevin , Lee Michelle S. , Soussou Walid , McKercher Scott R. , Ambasudhan Rajesh , Nakamura Tomohiro , Lipton Stuart A.
Published: January 2016

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increase risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The molecular mechanism for this association remains poorly defined. Here we report in human and rodent tissues that elevated glucose, as found in MetS/T2DM, and oligomeric β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide, thought to be a key mediator of AD, coordinately increase neuronal Ca2+ and nitric oxide (NO) in an NMDA receptor-dependent manner. The increase in NO results in S-nitrosylation of insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) and dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), thus inhibiting insulin and Aβ catabolism as well as hyperactivating mitochondrial fission machinery. Consequent elevation in Aβ levels and compromise in mitochondrial bioenergetics result in dysfunctional synaptic plasticity and synapse loss in cortical and hippocampal neurons. The NMDA receptor antagonist memantine attenuates these effects. Our studies show that redox-mediated posttranslational modification of brain proteins link Aβ and hyperglycaemia to cognitive dysfunction in MetS/T2DM and AD.
mTORC1-independent Raptor prevents hepatic steatosis by stabilizing PHLPP2
Authors: Kim KyeongJin , Qiang Li , Hayden Matthew S. , Sparling David P. , Purcell Nicole H. , Pajvani Utpal B.
Published: January 2016

Mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), defined by the presence of Raptor, is an evolutionarily conserved and nutrient-sensitive regulator of cellular growth and other metabolic processes. To date, all known functions of Raptor involve its scaffolding mTOR kinase with substrate. Here we report that mTORC1-independent (‘free’) Raptor negatively regulates hepatic Akt activity and lipogenesis. Free Raptor levels in liver decline with age and in obesity; restoration of free Raptor levels reduces liver triglyceride content, through reduced β-TrCP-mediated degradation of the Akt phosphatase, PHLPP2. Commensurately, forced PHLPP2 expression ameliorates hepatic steatosis in diet-induced obese mice. These data suggest that the balance of free and mTORC1-associated Raptor governs hepatic lipid accumulation, and uncover the potentially therapeutic role of PHLPP2 activators in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.