bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of ligand diffusion on occupancy fluctuations of cell-surface receptors
Authors: Berezhkovskii Alexander M. , Szabo Attila
Published: July 2013

The role of diffusion in the kinetics of reversible ligand binding to receptors on a cell surface or to a macromolecule with multiple binding sites is considered. A formalism is developed that is based on a Markovian master equation for the distribution function of the number of occupied receptors containing rate constants that depend on the ligand diffusivity. The formalism is used to derive (1) a nonlinear rate equation for the mean number of occupied receptors and (2) an analytical expression for the relaxation time that characterizes the decay of equilibrium fluctuations of the occupancy of the receptors. The relaxation time is shown to depend on the ligand diffusivity and concentration, the number of receptors, the cell radius, and intrinsic association/dissociation rate constants. This result is then used to estimate the accuracy of the ligand concentration measurements by the cell, which, according to the Berg-Purcell model, is related to fluctuations in the receptor occupancy, averaged over a finite interval of time. Specifically, a simple expression (which is exact in the framework of our formalism) is derived for the variance in the measured ligand concentration in the limit of long averaging times.
Numerical study of the primary instability in a separated boundary layer transition under elevated free-stream turbulence
Authors: Langari Mostafa , Yang Zhiyin
Published: July 2013

Numerical studies of laminar-to-turbulent transition in a separation bubble subjected to two free-stream turbulence levels (FST) have been performed using Large-Eddy Simulation (LES). Separation of the laminar boundary layer occurs at a curvature change over a plate with a semi-circular leading edge at Re = 3450 based on the plate thickness and the uniform inlet velocity. A numerical trip is used to produce the targeted free-stream turbulence levels and the decay of free-stream turbulence is well predicted. A dynamic sub-grid-scale model is employed in the current study and a good agreement has been obtained between the LES results and the experimental data. Detailed analysis of the LES data has been carried out to investigate the primary instability mechanism. The flow visualisations and spectral analysis of the separated shear layer reveal that the 2D Kelvin-Helmholtz instability mode, well known to occur at low FST levels, is bypassed at higher levels leading to earlier breakdown to turbulence.
Ground state properties of a two-electron system in a three-dimensional GaAs quantum dot with Gaussian confinement in a magnetic field
Authors: Boda Aalu , Boyacioglu B. , Chatterjee Ashok
Published: July 2013

The ground state properties of a system of two interacting electrons trapped in a three-dimensional GaAs quantum dot with Gaussian confinement under the influence of an externally applied magnetic field (B) are obtained using a variational method with a Chandrashekhr-like wave function containing only three variational parameters and involving a modified Jastrow correlation factor. The phase diagram for the two-electron singlet bound state is obtained in the parameter space of the confinement potential. The pair density function is calculated as a function of the electron-electron separation for a couple of magnetic fields and its peak positions are obtained to study the behaviour of the size of the electron pair as a function of the confinement length and the depth of the potential. The size of the electron pair is also obtained directly by calculating the expectation value of the electron-electron separation with respect to the system wave function. Finally, the behaviour of the ground state energy is studied as a function of the electron effective mass and the dielectric constant of a quantum dot.
Protein adsorption enhanced radio-frequency heating of silica nanoparticles
Authors: Wosik Jarek , Pande Rohit , Xie Leiming , Ketharnath Dhivya , Srinivasan Srimeenakshi , Godin Biana
Published: July 2013

Measurements of specific-absorption-rate (SAR) of silica 30, 50, and 100 nm nanoparticles (NP) suspended in water were carried out at 30 MHz in 7 kV/m radio-frequency (rf) electric field. Size dependent, NP-suspension interface related heating of silica NP was observed. To investigate a possible mechanism of heating, bovine serum albumin was adsorbed on the surface of silica NPs in suspension. It resulted in significant enhancement of SAR when compared to bare silica NPs. A calorimetric and rf loss model was used to calculate effective conductivity of silica NP with/without adsorbed albumin as a function of silica size and albumin concentration.
Surface emitting quantum cascade lasers operating in continuous-wave mode above 70 °C at λ ∼ 4.6 μm
Authors: Yao Dan-Yang , Zhang Jin-Chuan , Liu Feng-Qi , Zhuo Ning , Yan Fang-Liang , Wang Li-Jun , Liu Jun-Qi , Wang Zhan-Guo
Published: July 2013

We demonstrate surface emitting distributed feedback (DFB) quantum cascade lasers for very high temperature continuous-wave (cw) operation at λ ∼ 4.6 μm. A second-order DFB grating beneath the waveguide provides efficient vertical outcoupling. cw operation is reported up to a temperature of 75 °C. Total output power of 105 mW is obtained with a record low threshold current density of 0.85 kA/cm2 at 10 °C. Single-lobed far-field radiation pattern with a low divergence angle of about 0.17° × 18.7° is achieved. Robust single-mode emission with a side-mode suppression ratio about 30 dB is continuously tunable by the heat sink temperature and injection current.
Synergistic effect of reactor chemistry and compressive stress on dislocation bending during GaN growth
Authors: Nagaboopathy Mohan , Ravishankar Narayanan , Raghavan Srinivasan
Published: July 2013

The synergistic effect of compressive growth stresses and reactor chemistry, silane presence, on dislocation bending at the very early stages of GaN growth has been studied using in-situ stress measurements and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. A single 100 nm Si-doped GaN layer is found to be more effective than a 1 μm linearly graded AlGaN buffer layer in reducing dislocation density and preventing the subsequent layer from transitioning to a tensile stress. 1 μm crack-free GaN layers with a dislocation density of 7 × 108/cm2, with 0.13 nm surface roughness and no enhancement in n-type background are demonstrated over 2 inch substrates using this simple transition scheme.
Note: Is it symmetric or not?
Authors: Stanton John F.
Published: July 2013

The reasons by which a molecule might distort from an idealized high symmetry configuration (for example, D3h for the nitrate radical) in a quantum-chemical computation are well-known, but briefly reviewed here in light of considerable recent debate on the BNB molecule. The role of the pseudo-Jahn-Teller effect in such cases is emphasized, as is the ultimate relevance and proper interpretation of the title question in cases where the adiabatic potential energy surface is extremely flat.
Influence of geometry variations on the response of organic electrochemical transistors
Authors: Hütter Philipp C. , Rothländer Thomas , Haase Anja , Trimmel Gregor , Stadlober Barbara
Published: July 2013

We report on the fabrication and characterisation of entirely inkjet-printed organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxithiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). These transistors were used to evaluate the assumed geometry-performance relationship of OECTs by changing the transistor dimensions and monitoring the output characteristics. We could show that the on-current depends on the PEDOT:PSS thickness and that the on-to-off current ratio is related to the distance between the printed electrodes. Taking these results into account, we fabricated entirely inkjet printed electrochemical inverters with a switching time of about 4 s. These inverters outline a first step from organic electrochemical transistors towards logic circuits.
Efficient and ultraviolet durable inverted organic solar cells based on an aluminum-doped zinc oxide transparent cathode
Authors: Liu Hanxiao , Wu Zhenghui , Hu Jianqiao , Song Qunliang , Wu Bo , Lam Tam Hoi , Yang Qingyi , Hong Choi Wing , Zhu Furong
Published: July 2013

High performance inverted bulk heterojunction organic solar cells (OSCs), based on the blend of poly[[4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy] benzo [1,2-b:4,5-b′] dithiophene-2,6-diyl][3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl]] (PTB7): 3′H-Cyclopropa[8,25] [5,6]fullerene-C70-D5h(6)-3′-butanoicacid, 3′-phenyl-, methyl ester (PC70BM), were achieved using an aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) front transparent cathode. A structurally identical PTB7:PC70BM-based OSC having an indium tin oxide (ITO) front cathode was also made for comparison studies. The surface of AZO and ITO was modified with a 10 nm thick solution-processed ZnO interlayer to facilitate the efficient electron extraction. This work yielded AZO-based OSCs with a promising power conversion efficiency of 6.15%, slightly lower than 6.57% of a control ITO-based OSC, however, a significant enhancement in the stability of AZO-based OSCs was observed under an ultraviolet (UV)-assisted acceleration aging test. The distinctive enhancement in the lifetime of AZO-based OSCs arises from the tailored absorption of AZO electrode in wavelength <380 nm, serving as a UV filter to inhibit an inevitable degradation in ITO-based OSCs caused by the UV exposure.
Microwave generation enhancement of X-band CRBWO by use of coaxial dual annular cathodes
Authors: Teng Yan , Sun Jun , Chen Changhua , Shao Hao
Published: July 2013

This paper presents an approach that greatly enhances both the output power and the conversion efficiency of the coaxial relativistic backward wave oscillator (CRBWO) by using coaxial dual annular cathodes, which increases the diode current rather than the diode voltage. The reasons for the maladjustment of CRBWO under a high diode voltage are analyzed theoretically. It is found that by optimization of the diode structure, the shielding effect of the space charge of the outer beams on the inner cathode can be alleviated effectively and dual annular beams with the same kinetic energy can be explosively emitted in parallel. The coaxial reflector can enhance the conversion efficiency by improving the premodulation of the beams. The electron dump on the inner conductor ensures that the electron beams continue to provide kinetic energy to the microwave output until they vanish. Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation results show that generation can be enhanced up to an output power level of 3.63 GW and conversion efficiency of 45% at 8.97 GHz under a diode voltage of 659 kV and current of 12.27 kA. The conversion efficiency remains above 40% and the output frequency variation is less than 100 MHz over a voltage range of more than 150 kV. Also, the application of the coaxial dual annular cathodes means that the diode impedance is matched to that of the transmission line of the accelerators. This impedance matching can effectively eliminate power reflection at the diode, and thus increase the energy efficiency of the entire system.
1,2-Disilabicyclo[1.1.1]pentan-4-ones from a Disilenide and Acryloyl Chlorides
Authors: Rammo Andreas , Bejan Iulia , Meltzer Antje , Radacki Krzysztof , Braunschweig Holger , Scheschkewitz David
Published: July 2013

Reactions of a disilenide, a disila analogue of vinyl lithiums, with two α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid chlorides yield the first examples of compounds with a bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane scaffold that feature one carbon and one silicon atom at bridgehead positions; the formation of 1,2-disilabicyclo[1.1.1]pentan-4-ones is explained with initial nucleophilic substitution at the carbonyl C-atom by the nucleophilic disilenide and subsequent intramolecular [2+2]-cycloaddition of the Si=Si to the C=C double bond in a highly diastereoselective fashion.
Rates and patterns of great ape retrotransposition
Authors: Hormozdiari Fereydoun , Konkel Miriam K. , Prado-Martinez Javier , Chiatante Giorgia , Herraez Irene Hernando , Walker Jerilyn A. , Nelson Benjamin , Alkan Can , Sudmant Peter H. , Huddleston John , Catacchio Claudia R. , Ko Arthur , Malig Maika , Baker Carl , Genome Project Great Ape , Marques-Bonet Tomas , Ventura Mario , Batzer Mark A. , Eichler Evan E.
Published: July 2013

We analyzed 83 fully sequenced great ape genomes for mobile element insertions, predicting a total of 49,452 fixed and polymorphic
Alu
and long interspersed element 1 (L1) insertions not present in the human reference assembly and assigning each retrotransposition event to a different time point during great ape evolution. We used these homoplasy-free markers to construct a mobile element insertions-based phylogeny of humans and great apes and demonstrate their differential power to discern ape subspecies and populations. Within this context, we find a good correlation between L1 diversity and single-nucleotide polymorphism heterozygosity (
r
2
= 0.65) in contrast to
Alu
repeats, which show little correlation (
r
2
= 0.07). We estimate that the “rate” of
Alu
retrotransposition has differed by a factor of 15-fold in these lineages. Humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos show the highest rates of
Alu
accumulation—the latter two since divergence 1.5 Mya. The L1 insertion rate, in contrast, has remained relatively constant, with rates differing by less than a factor of three. We conclude that
Alu
retrotransposition has been the most variable form of genetic variation during recent human–great ape evolution, with increases and decreases occurring over very short periods of evolutionary time.
Early Onset versus Late Onset Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheter Infections: An Analysis of Risk Factors and Microbiology
Authors: Chittick Paul , Azhar Sobia , Movva Kalyani , Keller Paula , Boura Judith A. , Band Jeffrey
Published: July 2013

The risks and microbiology for peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are less well described than those for traditional central catheters, particularly as they pertain to duration of catheterization. We compared patients with early- and late-onset PICC bloodstream infections at our institution and found significant differences in microbiologic etiologies.
Can Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) Enhance Antimicrobial Stewardship Efforts in the Acute Care Setting?
Authors: Tamma Pranita D. , Tan Kennard , Nussenblatt Veronique R. , Turnbull Alison E. , Carroll Karen C. , Cosgrove Sara E.
Published: July 2013

We evaluated 222 hospitalized patients whose clinical isolates were tested using standard methods and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). MALDI-TOF could have reduced time to appropriate therapy for 28.8% and 44.6% patients based on the treating physician's choices and stewardship team recommendations, respectively. Clinicians should be aware of scenarios in which MALDI-TOF can optimize antibiotic therapy.
JAM-A associates with ZO-2, afadin, and PDZ-GEF1 to activate Rap2c and regulate epithelial barrier function
Authors: Monteiro Ana C. , Sumagin Ronen , Rankin Carl R. , Leoni Giovanna , Mina Michael J. , Reiter Dirk M. , Stehle Thilo , Dermody Terence S. , Schaefer Stacy A. , Hall Randy A. , Nusrat Asma , Parkos Charles A.
Published: July 2013

Intestinal barrier function is regulated by epithelial tight junctions (TJs), structures that control paracellular permeability. Junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A) is a TJ-associated protein that regulates barrier; however, mechanisms linking JAM-A to epithelial permeability are poorly understood. Here we report that JAM-A associates directly with ZO-2 and indirectly with afadin, and this complex, along with PDZ-GEF1, activates the small GTPase Rap2c. Supporting a functional link, small interfering RNA–mediated down-regulation of the foregoing regulatory proteins results in enhanced permeability similar to that observed after JAM-A loss. JAM-A–deficient mice and cultured epithelial cells demonstrate enhanced paracellular permeability to large molecules, revealing a potential role of JAM-A in controlling perijunctional actin cytoskeleton in addition to its previously reported role in regulating claudin proteins and small-molecule permeability. Further experiments suggest that JAM-A does not regulate actin turnover but modulates activity of RhoA and phosphorylation of nonmuscle myosin, both implicated in actomyosin contraction. These results suggest that JAM-A regulates epithelial permeability via association with ZO-2, afadin, and PDZ-GEF1 to activate Rap2c and control contraction of the apical cytoskeleton.
Renal denervation in heart failure with normal left ventricular ejection fraction. Rationale and design of the DIASTOLE (DenervatIon of the renAl Sympathetic nerves in hearT failure with nOrmal Lv Ejection fraction) trial
Authors: Verloop Willemien L. , Beeftink Martine M.A. , Nap Alex , Bots Michiel L. , Velthuis Birgitta K. , Appelman Yolande E. , Cramer Maarten‐Jan , Agema Willem R.P. , Scholtens Asbjorn M. , Doevendans Pieter A. , Allaart Cor P. , Voskuil Michiel
Published: July 2013

Aim

Increasing evidence suggests an important role for hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in the clinical phenomena of heart failure with normal LVEF (HFNEF) and hypertension. Moreover, the level of renal sympathetic activation is directly related to the severity of heart failure. Since percutaneous renal denervation (pRDN) has been shown to be effective in modulating elevated SNS activity in patients with hypertension, it can be hypothesized that pRDN has a positive effect on HFNEF. The DIASTOLE trial will investigate whether renal sympathetic denervation influences parameters of HFNEF.

Methods

DIASTOLE is a multicentre, randomized controlled trial. Sixty patients, diagnosed with HFNEF and treated for hypertension, will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to undergo renal denervation on top of medical treatment (n = 30) or to maintain medical treatment alone (n = 30). The primary objective is to investigate the efficacy of pRDN by means of pulsed wave Doppler echocardiographic parameters. Secondary objectives include safety of pRDN and a comparison of changes in the following parameters after pRDN: LV mass, LV volume, LVEF, and left atrial volume as determined by magnetic resonance imaging. Also, MIBG (metaiodobenzylguanidine) uptake and washout, BNP levels, blood pressure, heart rate variability, exercise capacity, and quality of life will be assessed.

Perspective

DIASTOLE is a randomized controlled trial evaluating renal denervation as a treatment option for HFNEF. The results of the current trial will provide important information regarding the treatment of HFNEF, and therefore may have major impact on future therapeutic strategies.

Trail registration

NCT01583881
Antiviral activity of sulfated Chuanmingshen violaceum polysaccharide against Newcastle disease virus
Authors: Song Xu , Yin Zhongqiong , Zhao Xinghong , Cheng Anchun , Jia Renyong , Yuan Guiping , Xu Jiao , Fan Qiaojia , Dai ShuJun , Lu Hongke , Lv Cheng , Liang Xiaoxia , He Changliang , Su Gang , Zhao Ling , Ye Gang , Shi Fei
Published: July 2013

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a member of Paramyxovirinae subfamily and can infect most species of birds causing severe economic losses. The current control measure is vaccination, but infections cannot be completely prevented. It remains a constant threat to the poultry industry and new control measures are urgently needed. This study demonstrates that sulfated Chuanmingshen violaceum polysaccharides (sCVPSs) were potent inhibitors of NDV, with 50 % inhibitory concentrations (IC50) ranging from 62.55 to 76.31 µg ml−1 in Baby hamster kidney fibroblasts clone 21 (BHK-21) and from 101.57 to 125.90 µg ml−1 in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF). sCVPS is more effective than heparan sulfate (HS; as a positive control) with IC50 values of 99.28 µg ml−1 in BHK-21 and 118.79 µg ml−1 in CEF. sCVPSs and HS exhibit anti-NDV activity by prevention of the early stages of viral life. The mechanism of action study indicated that virus adsorption in BHK-21, and both virus adsorption and penetration in CEF were inhibited by sCVPSs. When the number of viruses was increased to an m.o.i. of 0.1 in the immunofluorescence study and to an m.o.i. of 1 in the fluorescent quantitative PCR study, viral infection was also significantly suppressed; the antiviral activity of sCVPSs was independent of the m.o.i. sCVPSs also prevented the cell-to-cell spread of NDV. In vivo tests carried out on specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens showed that sCVPSs also inhibited virus multiplication in heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney. These results indicated that sCVPSs perform more effectively than HS as antiviral agents against NDV, and can be further examined for their potential as an alternative control measure for NDV infection.
How Australian farmers deal with risk
Authors: Khuu Amy , Juerg Weber Ernst
Published: July 2013

Purpose

In Australia broadacre crops can be insured against hail and fire damage and some other perils but not against losses caused by drought, flood or frost. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the private provision of crop insurance in Western Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

A farm survey was conducted with the cooperation of dryland farmers belonging to Western Australian grower groups. The willingness to pay for hail insurance is modelled as a function of risk aversion, risk of crop failure and government assistance; and the effect of expected crop yield in t/ha on the crop area is investigated.

Findings

The empirical analysis shows that the coefficient of relative risk aversion is 2.7. An increase in the variability of crop yield by 20 per cent, which may be caused by future climate change, would raise the willingness to pay for crop insurance one‐to‐one by 20 per cent. Adverse selection plays a minor role because almost all farmers buy full coverage for hail insurance and associated risks. A future supplier of multi‐peril crop insurance must, however, consider the potential for ex ante moral hazard because the size of the crop area depends on the expected crop yield in t/ha.

Social implications

The Global Financial Crisis has provided a stark reminder that society crucially depends on the efficient and fair allocation of risk. Climate change threatens the livelihood of farmers and food security. Private multi‐peril crop insurance, which has yet to emerge, would improve the welfare of rural populations and the efficiency of farming.

Originality/value

Few empirical studies deal with the private provision of multi‐peril crop insurance because the market for multi‐peril crop insurance fails worldwide and private insurance does not exist. In this study, Australian crop insurance serves as a proxy to gain an understanding of multi‐peril crop insurance.
Evaluating grain producers' production financing alternatives: evidence from South Africa
Authors: Levina Middelberg Susanna
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify, present and compare agricultural production financing alternatives available to grain producers in South Africa. From the South African perspective, agricultural land cannot always be utilised as collateral and therefore alternative financing has developed.

Design/methodology/approach

The study makes use of an exploratory study by applying qualitative techniques. The research population was agricultural finance providers in South Africa and semi‐structured interviews were conducted with representatives of the sample.

Findings

The production financing alternatives identified and presented include: grain contract financing; grain contract financing with additional collateral; and corporate farming. A comparison of these alternatives indicates that although the traditional balance sheet financing is a cheaper form of financing, using agricultural land as collateral has a number of limitations, especially within the South African context.

Practical implications

Using agricultural land as collateral to obtain production financing is not always viable considering the present South African agricultural environment. Commercial grain producers should therefore consider the identified alternative production financing.

Originality/value

Limited research on agricultural production finance from the South African perspective has been performed. Furthermore, no previous research on identifying production financing alternatives without utilising agricultural land as collateral has been performed. This paper therefore provides new knowledge by combining South African practice with theory.
An examination of the relationship of IT control weakness to company financial performance and health
Authors: Kuhn John R. , Ahuja Manju , Mueller John
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of weaknesses in IT‐related internal controls to companies' overall financial performance and health.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines four accounting measures: liquidity, solvency, profitability, and market value. During the four‐year period of 2004‐2007, the authors identified companies that reported at least one material IT weakness and matched them with a similar set of companies with no reported material weaknesses. Additionally, for a subset of the companies in which a good match could be identified, a second data set was developed for comparison of companies reporting only material non‐IT weaknesses.

Findings

As expected, companies reporting IT weaknesses experienced less of an ability to pay short‐term and long‐term debts, earned lower profits, and possessed lower market value than companies with no weaknesses. Companies reporting IT weaknesses experienced worse financial performance and health than companies with non‐IT weaknesses.

Research limitations/implications

At the time of this study, most foreign registrants listed on US stock exchanges had not completed and filed their initial SOX 404 assessment with the SEC. Furthermore, small public companies (i.e. under a $75 million market capitalization) were not required to comply with 404 reporting requirements at the time of this study. In addition, Compustat provides information only on publicly traded companies.

Originality/value

The current study builds on IT governance research in two key ways. First, academia and industry must move past the discussion of IT governance design to examine the performance of IT governance efforts (i.e. effectiveness of controls audited by an independent third party) in relation to key financial performance and health indicators. Second, this study uses more objective measures of IT governance than were available in the past (i.e. the internal control and financial data reported in companies' audited financial statements). The results provide insight into the relationship of IT governance to overall financial well‐being.
“Women doing their own thing”: media representations of female entrepreneurship
Authors: Ruth Eikhof Doris , Summers Juliette , Carter Sara
Published: July 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss the impact gendered media representations of entrepreneurs may have on the reality of female entrepreneurship. It analyses the representation of women entrepreneurs in a women ' s magazine. Media representations influence, firstly, whether women perceive entrepreneurship as desirable and attainable, and thus impact the strength and direction of their entrepreneurial aspirations. Secondly, media representations shape how key stakeholders such as bankers or clients view and interact with female business owners, thereby impacting women entrepreneurs’ business relations and opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper reviews research on media representations of women entrepreneurs, gender inequalities in entrepreneurial activity and work before presenting an in-depth qualitative analysis of a magazine series reporting on female entrepreneurs.

Findings

– The authors’ analysis reveals how the woman ' s magazine in question portrays female entrepreneurship as focused on traditionally female activities and pursuits and as domestically-centred. Relating these findings to evidence on gender inequalities in entrepreneurial activity, the paper raises important questions about the impact of media representations of women entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

– The paper demonstrates the benefits of understanding entrepreneurial activity as work and includes analytical perspectives from the sociology of work in the analysis of media representations of entrepreneurship.
Influences of gendered institutions on women
'
s entry into entrepreneurship
Authors: Pathak Saurav , Goltz Sonia , W. Buche Mari
Published: July 2013

Purpose

– Research and theory indicate that macro-level variables can influence the effects of individual-level factors on the economic behavior of women; however, this has rarely been examined with regard to women
'
s entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship has thus far been examined from a gender-neutral perspective. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap by deriving predictions using a sociological model of gender stratification and examining the effects of gendered institutions on women
'
s entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) dataset comprising over 40,000 individuals across 30 countries combined with data from the Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI), the authors examined the direct as well as cross-level moderation effects of gendered institutions on the probability of women entering into entrepreneurship.

Findings

– Results indicated that gendered institutions moderate effects of individual variables on the entrepreneurship of women, suggesting that in theory and research, individual factors affecting women
'
s entrepreneurship should be considered within the larger cultural context.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings provide additional evidence for the gender stratification theory of women
'
s economic activity. Future research should examine alternative operationalizations of the variables, as well as effects of additional gendered institutions.

Practical implications

– Results suggest that changes may be needed in entrepreneurship development policies in countries with cultural values creating barriers for women
'
s entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

– This multi-level analysis is derived from a theoretical framework and helps account for the rates of entrepreneurial activity found among women across many countries.
Managing the business of everyday life: the roles of space and place in “mumpreneurship”
Authors: Ekinsmyth Carol
Published: July 2013

Purpose –

The purpose of this paper is to develop gendered entrepreneurship theory through a focus on the roles of space and place in the daily lives and businesses of mothers who have configured business around the daily routines of family work.

Design/methodology/approach –

Through a consideration of the accounts of 29 “mumpreneurs” and using a framework forwarded by Jarvis to understand the geographically embedded “infrastructure of everyday life”, this paper seeks to understand mumpreneurial decision making, choice and constraint.

Findings –

Spatial factors, in their myriad forms, run through and affect mothers’ different levels of capability and constraint, and thus the (gender-role and entrepreneurial) “choices” that individuals and families make. Placing families in the realities of specific, material locales helps to embed our understandings of these decision-making processes in real places.

Originality/value –

This discussion: advances new understanding about how space and place enable or constrain mumpreneurship (in particular) and entrepreneurship (more generally); and provides a lens through which to examine the structure/agency dualism in relation to gendered entrepreneurship.
How satisfied are Portuguese citizens with public hospitals' service?
Authors: Fonseca Jaime R.S.
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically test emergency department patients' service quality perceptions by measuring their satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Mixed method research involved collecting, analysing and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data in a single study, thereby providing a bridge between qualitative and quantitative paradigms. The goal was to merge knowledge by using qualitative conclusions to understand quantitative conclusions.

Findings

Segment 1 (62 per cent of the patients) represents the unsatisfied group and a segment 2 (39 per cent of the patients) represents the satisfied cohort. Dissatisfied patients classified almost all items as very bad, bad or satisfactory; satisfied patients classified almost all items as very good or good. This study identifies all items that contribute to low patient‐satisfaction.

Practical implications

The paper's findings are important because administrators and policy makers know that patients constitute two different segments and have different characteristics, which can help administrators and managers to develop new strategies and policies to improve performance.

Originality/value

This mixed‐method research provides valuable information for administrators and managers. The proposed framework can be an excellent way to evaluate patient satisfaction.
VoxGrid: a mobile voice verification system
Authors: Strella P. Indrinal Mariah , Bryan L. Maliwanag Ranyel , Silvestre Marynyriene I.
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce VoxGrid, a mobile voice verification system intended for improving the security of the username‐password authentication scheme.

Design/methodology/approach

The system incorporates text‐dependant speaker verification via mobile devices that provides for a three‐factor authentication scheme for granting authorised access to certain websites or applications. The same speech recognition engine used by Google Voice Search is utilised to provide voice‐to‐text feature. All verification tasks are performed on a centralised server to minimise computing requirements on mobile platforms where feature extractions is executed using Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients. The resulting features are transmitted to the server instead of raw voice data to reduce network load. Actual voice verification takes place in the central server using Vector Quantisation.

Findings

The initial results have indicated that VoxGrid is capable of providing an additional level of security on user authentications at a low cost and without using extra security tokens other than one's voice with a good enough performance given the limited resources available during testing.

Originality/value

Past speaker verification experiments have been conducted but we see that this is the first time it is done on mobile devices with a client‐server architecture using K‐Means Clustering and Vector Quantisation. Future improvements on performance and testing could result in a more secure mobile computing environment.
Social against social engineering
Authors: Gulenko Iwan
Published: July 2013

Purpose

This study attempts to develop an efficient concept to mitigate the risks of social engineering in the era of social networks. For instance friend requests on Facebook are often accepted blindly, thus granting unknown people access to profile details. These problems fuel requirements for an application, developed in this study, that raises awareness of security issues in Facebook.

Design/methodology/approach

The “Theory of Planned Behaviour” (TPB), a model from psychology to predict behaviour, is used as a theoretical foundation for the application. Attitudes, perceived behavioural control and social norms are the main variables of this model. Social norms can be massively affected by the Facebook friends and therefore an application is developed which uses this in order to raise awareness.

Findings

The application propagated itself virally. Out of 117 users of the application, 15 took action to change the public‐search option visibility from public to private. The use of the application took on average 10.5 minutes.

Originality/value

Applications that scan a Facebook profile for fishy content already exist. However, at the time of writing this paper, no application specifically written against social engineering was known to the author.
Resolving vulnerability identification errors using security requirements on business process models
Authors: Taubenberger Stefan , Jürjens Jan , Yu Yijun , Nuseibeh Bashar
Published: July 2013

Purpose

In any information security risk assessment, vulnerabilities are usually identified by information‐gathering techniques. However, vulnerability identification errors – wrongly identified or unidentified vulnerabilities – can occur as uncertain data are used. Furthermore, businesses' security needs are not considered sufficiently. Hence, security functions may not protect business assets sufficiently and cost‐effectively. This paper aims to resolve vulnerability errors by analysing the security requirements of information assets in business process models.

Design/methodology/approach

Business process models have been selected for use, because there is a close relationship between business process objectives and risks. Security functions are evaluated in terms of the information flow of business processes regarding their security requirements. The claim that vulnerability errors can be resolved was validated by comparing the results of a current risk assessment approach with the proposed approach. The comparison is conducted both at three entities of an insurance company, as well as through a controlled experiment within a survey among security professionals.

Findings

Vulnerability identification errors can be resolved by explicitly evaluating security requirements in the course of business; this is not considered in current assessment methods.

Originality/value

It is shown that vulnerability identification errors occur in practice. With the explicit evaluation of security requirements, identification errors can be resolved. Risk assessment methods should consider the explicit evaluation of security requirements.
Peaceful societies prohibit violence
Authors: Bonta Bruce D.
Published: July 2013

Purpose

Peaceful societies, groups of people described by social scientists as experiencing little if any internal or external violence, embrace the need for peacefulness, in contrast to most of the contemporary world, which accepts violence as normal and inevitable. The purpose of this article is to examine the ways that people in those societies view peacefulness, and to compare those ways with more “normal” violent societies.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach taken is a literature review of salient trends about anti‐violence among some of the more highly peaceful societies, and comparable trends in two state‐level societies—Norway, a relatively peaceful state, and the USA, a relatively more violent one.

Findings

The findings show that some of the peaceful societies avoid violence through nonresistance—not resisting aggression. In addition, many base their commitments to peacefulness on religious and mythological beliefs, though for others, peacefulness is based on cultural values or is seen as a practical, reasonable way to order their lives. The societies that appear to have very firm commitments to nonviolence are the ones where structures of peacefulness thrive.

Originality/value

The practical value of this research is that it points out how the peaceful societies can be contrasted with modern nation states, and it may suggest ways to challenge general patterns of violence.
“The ecological fallacy” (Dutton 1994) revised
Authors: Koller Jürgen
Published: July 2013

Purpose

In 1994, Dutton questioned whether there is an ecological fallacy within the feminist views of wife assault. To address this concern, he examined the literature regarding dyadic family power and violence. The main goal in this paper is to re‐evaluate the results of the Dutton paper on the basis of new literature.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, post‐1994 evidence is presented against the feminist paradigm of patriarchy, which can lead directly to this ecological fallacy. The assertions of this feminist paradigm positing that domestic violence is often linked to patriarchal values and is mainly caused by males, whereas female violence is primarily defensive and reactive, are well‐founded criticized.

Findings

The data analysed in this paper support Dutton's conclusions in the context of female perpetrated violence within heterosexual intimate partnerships, female sexual offense, child abuse and bullying, violence in female same‐sex relationships, and gender stereotypes.

Originality/value

An accurate overview of the post‐1994 literature the topics discussed in this paper is offered.
The additive and interactive roles of aggression, prosocial behavior, and social preference in predicting resource control in young children
Authors: Wettstein Alexander , Brendgen Mara , Vitaro Frank , Guimond Fanny‐Alexandra , Forget‐Dubois Nadine , Cantin Stéphane , Dionne Ginette , Boivin Michel
Published: July 2013

Purpose

Distinguishing between physical and social aggression, this study aimed to examine whether the predictive effect of aggression on resource control is moderated by prosocial behavior and corresponds to a linear or a curvilinear trend. Moderating effects of children's social preference among peers and child sex in this context were also tested.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a sample of 682 kindergarten children (348 girls; average age 72.7 months, 3.6 SD), multilevel regressions revealed additive linear effects of social preference and prosociality on resource control.

Findings

Moderate (but not high) levels of social aggression also facilitated resource control for disliked children. There was no such threshold effect for well‐liked children, who increasingly controlled the resource the more socially aggressive they were. In contrast, physical aggression hampered resource control unless used very modestly.

Originality/value

The present study has a number of positive features. First, the distinction between physical and social aggression improves our understanding of the relation between aggression and social competence and sketches a more differentiated picture of the role of different forms of aggression in resource control. Second, this study combines the concept of resource control with the concept of social preference and investigates curvilinear effects of aggression. Third, the direct observation of resource control in the Movie Viewer increases the internal validity of this study.
A Petri net model of process platform‐based production configuration
Authors: Zhang Linda L. , Rodrigues Brian
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold. In view of the importance of process platform‐based production configuration (PPbPC) in sustaining product family production efficiency, it is to study the underlying logic for configuring production processes for a product family based on a process platform. Second, it is to apply the Petri nets (PNs) techniques to model PPbPC, in attempting to shed light on the underlying logic.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors first identify the fundamental issues in PPbPC, including variety handling, process variation accommodation, configuration at different abstraction levels, and constraint satisfaction. To accommodate the corresponding modelling difficulties, the authors develop a formalism of hierarchical colored timed PNs (HCTPNs) based on the principles of hierarchical PNs, timed PNs, and colored PNs. In the formalism, three types of nets together with a system of HCTPNs are defined to address the modelling of PPbPC.

Findings

Applying HCTPNs to vibration motors' case has revealed the logic of specifying complete production processes of final products at different levels of abstraction to achieve production configuration. The preliminary results also further demonstrate the feasibility of modelling PPbPC based on HCTPNs.

Research limitations/implications

Traditional approaches to planning production processes for individual products may limit production performance improvement when companies need to timely produce a high variety of customized products. Systematic methods should be developed to plan production processes for product families so as to achieve production efficiency while utilizing the existing manufacturing resources.

Originality/value

By integrating the advantages of existing PN techniques, the HCTPNs formalism is developed to shed light on planning production processes for product families. The resulting production configuration model can facilitate practitioners to achieve production efficiency in producing large numbers of customized products.
Explaining why employee‐customer orientation influences customers' perceptions of the service encounter
Authors: Gazzoli Gabriel , Hancer Murat , Kim BeomCheol (Peter)
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine why employee‐level customer orientation (CO) influences the customer experience in a service setting.

Design/methodology/approach

Given the dyadic nature of the study, a two‐way sample design was used which integrated employee responses with customer responses. A total of 186 employees and 1,117 customers participated in the study. The data was aggregated at the employee level of analysis.

Findings

The study found that job satisfaction and employee commitment mediated the relationship between employee‐level CO and a customer's perception of interaction quality. Additionally, interaction quality is shown to be positively related to customer satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Although the design of the research utilized data from both customers and employees from several restaurant outlets in the USA, all the restaurants belonged to one chain (reflecting a single corporate culture), and thus it may be difficult to generalize the results.

Originality/value

This study extends the CO theory by explaining how and why CO affects a customer's perceptions from an organizational behavior (OB) perspective, with job satisfaction and organizational commitment as mediators. This is important as the few studies that attempted to explain the effect of CO on customers' experience through mediating variables took a marketing perspective instead of an OB view. Practically, this research highlights the important role that human resource management may have from the interactive marketing perspective.
Art and wellbeing in a deprived Scottish community
Authors: Abbotts Joanne , Spence William
Published: July 2013

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the “Out of the Box” initiative, by investigating any impacts on participants’ wellbeing. Aimed at general population adults, Out of the Box comprised two art‐oriented groups and one social group, led by a community art worker.

Design/methodology/approach

Individual semi‐structured interviews were undertaken with 14 group members (six men, eight women; age range 36‐71 years) from a potential pool of around 30. Data were analysed thematically.

Findings

Dramatic benefits in confidence, outlook and happiness were reported by people who had experienced poor mental or physical health, or adverse life events. Participants believed Out of the Box to have facilitated social contact and friendships. They appreciated the opportunity to get out of the house and take part in activity. They described feeling accepted and encouraged. Artistic skills were developed to the extent that work was exhibited and sold.

Research limitations/implications

The focus on contemporaneous Out of the Box participants, and a level of awareness of funding uncertainty, could have biased findings towards beneficial outcomes. The relative importance of the group leader and other contextual features was unclear. Community‐based art may offer opportunities for effective cheap public mental health interventions.

Originality/value

As well as providing evidence of benefits to wellbeing from Out of the Box, new knowledge was generated on mental health benefits of community‐based art including becoming more outgoing, improved self‐efficacy, worrying less and not panicking.