bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retardation of Reproduction in the Red Shiner Due to Electroshock
Authors: Stewart Christine T. , Lutnesky Marvin M. F.
Published: June 2014

Electrofishing is widely used to monitor freshwater fishes. Electrofishing sampling appears to be relatively harmless when used appropriately, but biologists have questioned its effects on fishes. Although studies report injury and mortality due to electrofishing, few report effects on reproduction. We assessed the hypothesis that exposure to electroshock alters reproductive processes and output in the Red Shiner Cyprinella lutrensis by determining if pulsed DC has negative effects on interclutch time intervals, clutch sizes, proportion of viable eggs produced by spawning pairs, growth, and recovery time. A total of 125 breeding pairs, with an average of 4.91 (SD, 0.44) spawning events per pair, were used in the study. All dependent variables were tested for the influence of frequency (60 and 120 Hz) and voltage (100 and 400 V) and compared with spawning pairs that were not shocked (a control group). We found that the interclutch time interval was increased, the proportion of viable eggs was reduced, and the recovery time was extended when using the higher-voltage (400 V) compared with the control and lower-voltage (100 V) treatments. The total number of eggs laid by females showed no significant differences between treatments. The higher voltage significantly reduced the weight and SL in males, likely due to injury. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the influence of electroshock on reproduction in iteroparous fishes. The Red Shiner is not a typical target species in fisheries, so the general applicability of the results to other species requires investigation.

Received August 5, 2013; accepted January 8, 2014
An Empirical Approach for Estimating the Precision of Hydroacoustic Fish Counts by Systematic Hourly Sampling
Authors: Xie Yunbo , Martens Fiona J.
Published: June 2014

Systematic hourly sampling is a logistically favorable method for hydroacoustic estimation of fish passage through constricted passageways or finite sections of a river monitored by fixed-location sonar systems. Similar to simple random and hourly stratified random sampling, systematic hourly sampling produces unbiased estimates of fish passage. Variances of estimates produced by systematic hourly sampling are determined by the sampling fraction, f, variance of the underlying process, S2, and correlations among all hourly strata of the process. This intrahour correlation dependency makes it difficult to accurately evaluate the precision of the estimate when the complete temporal pattern of the process is unavailable. Fish passage is rarely counted continuously, so the uncertainty of estimated mean by systematically subsampled fish counts is traditionally estimated using variance estimators. Variance estimates by these estimators are likely biased and subject to potentially large errors. We present an alternative approach for estimating the precision of systematic hourly sampling using an empirical relation between precision and sampling fraction established from continuous fish counts acquired by imaging sonar for a wide range of migration scenarios of Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. in the lower Fraser River. The empirical relation indicates that a CV (100·SD/mean) of 5.5% can be achieved by the systematic hourly counting of fish passage at a counting effort of 10 min/h, while increasing the counting effort to 20 min/h only leads to a marginally improved CV of 4.1%. The data-based analysis also shows that the precision of systematic sampling can be gained more efficiently and consistently by increasing the sampling rate than by lengthening the sampling time.

Received June 6, 2013; accepted January 21, 2014
Genetic Structure of Striped Bass in the Southeastern United States and Effects from Stock Enhancement
Authors: Anderson Andrew P. , Denson Michael R. , Darden Tanya L.
Published: June 2014

Understanding the genetic relationships of Striped Bass Morone saxatilis populations within and between watersheds is necessary to identify appropriate management units. Determining temporal changes in genetic relationships as well as the genetic diversity of the populations is important in understanding how stock enhancement influences population units. A suite of 12 microsatellites was used to evaluate patterns of Striped Bass gene flow both spatially and temporally across watersheds in the southeastern United States. Populations from the study watersheds were genetically diverse with the exception of the Savannah River, South Carolina–Georgia, which is recovering from a major population decline. Striped Bass in the Roanoke and Cape Fear rivers, North Carolina, represented a single population, most likely due to historical transfer stocking across the state from Roanoke River stock. Watersheds in South Carolina contained genetically distinct Striped Bass populations, although the difference between Striped Bass populations in the Ashepoo–Combahee–Edisto (ACE) and Santee–Cooper watersheds has decreased over the past 15 years, likely due to the stocking of Santee–Cooper system fish into the ACE Basin. Conversely, supportive breeding of fish from the Santee–Cooper system has helped to maintain genetic diversity of the population. Striped Bass populations in the southeastern United States are good examples of the positive and negative effects of stock enhancement that must be considered and monitored when implementing or assessing a stock enhancement program.

Received May 14, 2013; accepted March 5, 2014
Feeding Habits, Daily Ration, and Potential Predatory Impact of Mature Female Spiny Dogfish in North Carolina Coastal Waters
Authors: Bangley Charles W. , Rulifson Roger A.
Published: June 2014

Though the feeding habits of Spiny Dogfish Squalus acanthias in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean have received much attention due to their potential interactions with fisheries, currently no estimate of daily ration specific to the northwestern Atlantic population has been determined. To assess the diet of these sharks in the southern extent of their range, stomach contents were collected from 255 Spiny Dogfish captured by bottom trawl in nearshore North Carolina waters; 244 were mature females. Prey items were identified and percent index of relative importance was calculated for each prey taxon and category. To determine daily ration, 15 mature female Spiny Dogfish were captured by hook and line in North Carolina waters and kept in captivity for 2 weeks of feeding trials. Dogfish were fed preweighed frozen Atlantic Menhaden Brevoortia tryannus and allowed to digest their prey for predetermined periods, after which remaining food was removed using stomach-tube gastric lavage. Gastric evacuation rates determined by feeding trials were combined with data collected from sampling stomach contents to determine the daily ration and the amount of important prey taxa consumed during the Spiny Dogfish overwintering period. Teleost fishes were the dominant prey category, and Atlantic Menhaden and Bay Anchovy Anchoa mitchilli were the most important prey taxa. Daily ration estimates ranged from 0.26% to 0.56% of the shark's body weight per day. Spiny Dogfish potentially consumed an equivalent of 1.55–3.33% of the Atlantic Menhaden stock while overwintering in North Carolina waters.

Received July 23, 2013; accepted March 5, 2014
Lobster Trap Debris in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: Distribution, Abundance, Density, and Patterns of Accumulation
Authors: Uhrin Amy V. , Matthews Thomas R. , Lewis Cynthia
Published: June 2014

The fishery for spiny lobster Panulirus argus in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is well chronicled, but little information is available on the prevalence of lost or abandoned lobster traps. In 2007, towed diver surveys were used to identify and count pieces of trap debris and any other marine debris encountered. Trap debris density (debris incidences/ha) in historic trap use zones and in representative benthic habitats was estimated. Trap debris was not proportionally distributed with fishing effort. Coral habitats had the greatest density of trap debris despite trap fishers' reported avoidance of coral reefs while fishing. The accumulation of trap debris on coral emphasizes the role of wind in redistributing traps and trap debris in the sanctuary. We estimated that 85,548±23,387 (mean±SD) ghost traps and 1,056,127±124,919 nonfishing traps or remnants of traps were present in the study area. Given the large numbers of traps in the fishery and the lack of effective measures for managing and controlling the loss of gear, the generation of trap debris will likely continue in proportion to the number of traps deployed in the fishery. Focused removal of submerged trap debris from especially vulnerable habitats such as reefs and hardbottom, where trap debris density is high, would mitigate key habitat issues but would not address ghost fishing or the cost of lost gear.

Received November 27, 2012; accepted September 29, 2013
Postsmolt Growth and Thermal Regime Define the Marine Survival of Steelhead from the Keogh River, British Columbia
Authors: Friedland Kevin D. , Ward Bruce R. , Welch David W. , Hayes Sean A.
Published: June 2014

The population of anadromous steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss in the Keogh River has been studied intensively, in part because of its pattern of declining recruitment, which is largely attributed to poor marine survival. Climate variability has changed the productivity of salmonid species in all regions of the North Pacific, with areas alternately shifting between periods of enhanced and depressed productivity. The mechanisms governing marine survival and adult recruitment are central to contemporary resource management concerns but are also of concern with regard to the long term prospects of managing biodiversity. We provide evidence that postsmolt growth contributes to the pattern of marine survival of Keogh River steelhead over the period corresponding to smolt years 1977–1999. Size at ocean entry did not appear to have sufficient contrast to significantly affect survival. However, assessment of scale growth suggested that the fish's initial growth at sea is not as important as the sustained growth conditions during summer and fall of the postsmolt year. The return rate of steelhead was negatively correlated with sea surface temperature in the ocean domains that were assumed to provide postsmolt nursery habitat, suggesting that growth is directly affected by warming conditions or that ocean warming affects the food web upon which steelhead depend. Steelhead appear to respond to changing climate and growth regimes in a manner similar to that of their North Atlantic analog, the Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar. Comparative data show that eastern basin Atlantic Salmon populations are negatively affected by a thermal regime of increasing temperature during the postsmolt year, suggesting a relationship between postsmolt growth and survival.

Received August 14, 2013; accepted October 17, 2013
Effects of Coastal Urbanization on Salt Marsh Faunal Assemblages in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Lowe Michael R. , Peterson Mark S.
Published: June 2014

Coastal landscapes in the northern Gulf of Mexico, specifically the Mississippi coast, have undergone rapid urbanization that may impact the suitability of salt marsh ecosystems for maintaining and regulating estuarine faunal communities. We used a landscape ecology approach to quantify the composition and configuration of salt marsh habitats and developed surfaces at multiple spatial scales surrounding three small, first order salt marsh tidal creeks arrayed along a gradient of urbanization in two river dominated estuaries. From May 3 to June 4, 2010, nekton and macroinfauna were collected weekly at all six sites. Due to the greater abundance of grass shrimp Palaemonetes spp., brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus, blue crab Callinectes sapidus, Gulf Menhaden Brevoortia patronus, and Spot Leiostomus xanthurus, tidal creeks in intact natural (IN) salt marsh landscapes supported a nekton assemblage that was significantly different from those in partially urbanized (PU) or completely urbanized (CU) salt marsh landscapes. However, PU landscapes still supported an abundant nekton assemblage. In addition, the results illustrated a linkage between life history traits and landscape characteristics. Resident and transient nekton species that have specific habitat requirements are more likely to be impacted in urbanized landscapes than more mobile species that are able to exploit multiple habitats. Patterns were less clear for macroinfaunal assemblages, although they were comparatively less abundant in CU salt marsh landscapes than in either IN or PU landscapes. The low abundance or absence of several macroinfaunal taxa in CU landscapes may be viewed as an additional indicator of poor habitat quality for nekton. The observed patterns also suggested that benthic sediments in the CU salt marsh landscapes were altered in comparison with IN or PU landscapes. The amount of developed shoreline and various metrics related to salt marsh fragmentation were important drivers of observed patterns in nekton and macroinfaunal assemblages.

Received September 14, 2013; accepted January 27, 2014
The International Congress of Mechanical Engineering and Agricultural Sciences – CIIMCA 2013
Authors: Remolina-Millán Aduljay , Hernández-Arroyo Emil
Published: June 2014

The organizing committee of The International Congress of Mechanical Engineering and
Agricultural Sciences – CIIMCA 2013 – are pleased to present CIIMCA-2013: the first
international conference focused on subjects of materials science, mechanical
engineering and renewable energy organized by Mechanical Engineering Faculty of the
‘‘Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana’’ in Bucaramanga, Colombia. This conference
aims to be a place to produce discussions on whole topics of the congress, between
the scientists of Colombia and the world.

We strongly believe that knowledge is fundamental to the development of our
countries. For that reason this multidisciplinary conference is looking forward to integrate
engineering, agricultural science and nanoscience and nanotechnology to
produce a synergy of this area of knowledge and to achieve scientific and technological
developments. Agriculture is a very important topic for our conference; in Colombia,
agricultural science needs more attention from the scientific community and the
government. In the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering we are beginning to work on
these issues to produce knowledge and improve the conditions in our country.

The CIIMCA conference is a great opportunity to create interpersonal relationships and
networks between scientists around the world. The interaction between scientists is very
important in the process of the construction of knowledge. The general chairman
encourages and invites you to make friends, relationships and participate strongly in the
symposia and all program activities.

PhD Aduljay Remolina-Millán
Principal Chairman, International Mechanical Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Congress – CIIMCA

Msc Emil Hernández-Arroyo
Principal Chairman, International Mechanical Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Congress – CIIMCA

Special Guests and Organizing Committee. From left to right. Sitting: Jorge Díaz, Unipamplona,
Colombia; Dra Nayibe Guerrero, CINVESTAV; México; Dr Giovanni Ramírez, ANL, USA; Jhoston
Zamora, Vortex company, Colombia; Dr José Rivas, INL, Spain–Portugal; Dra Sandra Rodil,
IIM-UNAM, Mexico; Rafael Parúas, Cubasolar, Cuba; Fabian Carreño, QES, Germany. Standing:
William Sánchez, UPB; Julian Carrillo, UPB; Diego, UPB; Emil Hernández, UPB; Marta Lucía, UPB;
Katy, UPB; Marlon López, UPB; Ingrid, UPB; Elías Villdiego, UPB; Aduljay Remolina, UPB and Luis
Solano, UPB.

‘Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana seccional Bucaramanga’ host of the first International Mechanical Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Congress – CIIMCA 2013 – Floridablanaca, Colombia.

Closure of CIIMCA 2013.

Details of the editorial committee and acknowledgements are available in the PDF.
Semi-infinite Schubert varieties and quantum 𝐾-theory of flag manifolds
Authors: Braverman Alexander , Finkelberg Michael
Published: June 2014

Let

g

\mathfrak {g}

be a semi-simple Lie algebra over

C

\mathbb {C}

and let

B

g

\mathcal {B}_{\mathfrak {g}}

be its flag variety. In this paper we study the spaces

Z

g

α

Z^{\alpha }_{\mathfrak {g}}

of based quasi-maps

P

1

→

B

g

\mathbb {P}^1\to \mathcal {B}_{\mathfrak {g}}

(introduced by Finkelberg and Mirković in 1999) as well as their affine versions (corresponding to

g

\mathfrak {g}

being untwisted affine algebra) introduced by Braverman et al. in 2006. The purpose of this paper is two-fold. First we study the singularities of the above spaces (as was explained by Finkelberg and Mirković in 1999 and Braverman in 2006 they are supposed to model singularities of the not rigorously defined “semi-infinite Schubert varieties”). We show that

Z

g

α

Z^{\alpha }_{\mathfrak {g}}

is normal and when

g

\mathfrak {g}

is simply laced,

Z

g

α

Z^{\alpha }_{\mathfrak {g}}

is Gorenstein and has rational singularities; some weaker results are proved also in the affine case.

The second purpose is to study the character of the ring of functions on

Z

g

α

Z^{\alpha }_{\mathfrak {g}}

. When

g

\mathfrak {g}

is finite-dimensional and simply laced we show that the generating function of these characters satisfies the “fermionic formula” version of quantum difference Toda equation, thus extending the results for

g

=

s
l

(
N
)

\mathfrak {g}=\mathfrak {sl}(N)

from Givental and Lee in 2003 and Braverman and Finkelberg in 2005; in view of the first part this also proves a conjecture from Givental and Lee in 2003 describing the quantum

K
K

-theory of

B

g

\mathcal {B}_{\mathfrak {g}}

in terms of the Langlands dual quantum group

U
q

(

g
ˇ

)

U_q(\mathfrak {\check {g}})

(for non-simply laced

g

\mathfrak {g}

certain modification of that conjecture is necessary). Similar analysis (modulo certain assumptions) is performed for affine

g

\mathfrak {g}

, extending the results of Braverman and Finkelberg.
Measuring Benefits from a Marketing Cooperative in the Copper River Fishery
Authors: Jardine Sunny L. , Lin C.-Y. Cynthia , Sanchirico James N.
Published: June 2014

The degradation of product quality is one form of rent dissipation resulting from incomplete property rights in fisheries. Industry structure and information asymmetries can also lead to underinvestment in product quality, even when property rights are well defined. In this article we empirically examine whether the voluntary formation of a marketing cooperative was able to mitigate market failures that led to the production of inferior‐quality fish. Specifically, we use a difference‐in‐differences estimation strategy to measure the impact that the Copper River Fishermen's Cooperative, an Alaskan salmon marketing cooperative, had on ex‐vessel salmon prices and salmon quality measures. We find that the cooperative was able to improve product quality, as well as attract and sustain a higher price for its salmon. Our findings provide empirical support for many of the key tenets of cooperative theory. Specifically, we find evidence that marketing cooperatives can address existing market failures, that marketing cooperatives can have advantages in high‐quality product markets, and that over time, as a result of their success, marketing cooperatives may lead to lasting producer benefits even though they become obsolete due to nonmember free‐riding.
Gene set analysis: limitations in popular existing methods and proposed improvements
Authors: Mishra Pashupati , Törönen Petri , Leino Yrjö , Holm Liisa
Published: June 2014

Motivation: Gene set analysis is the analysis of a set of genes that collectively contribute to a biological process. Most popular gene set analysis methods are based on empirical P -value that requires large number of permutations. Despite numerous gene set analysis methods developed in the past decade, the most popular methods still suffer from serious limitations.

Results: We present a gene set analysis method (mGSZ) based on Gene Set Z-scoring function (GSZ) and asymptotic P -values. Asymptotic P -value calculation requires fewer permutations, and thus speeds up the gene set analysis process. We compare the GSZ-scoring function with seven popular gene set scoring functions and show that GSZ stands out as the best scoring function. In addition, we show improved performance of the GSA method when the max-mean statistics is replaced by the GSZ scoring function. We demonstrate the importance of both gene and sample permutations by showing the consequences in the absence of one or the other. A comparison of asymptotic and empirical methods of P -value estimation demonstrates a clear advantage of asymptotic P -value over empirical P -value. We show that mGSZ outperforms the state-of-the-art methods based on two different evaluations. We compared mGSZ results with permutation and rotation tests and show that rotation does not improve our asymptotic P -values. We also propose well-known asymptotic distribution models for three of the compared methods.

Availability and implementation : mGSZ is available as R package from cran.r-project.org.

Contact:  pashupati.mishra@helsinki.fi

Supplementary information: Available at http://ekhidna.biocenter.helsinki.fi/downloads/pashupati/mGSZ.html
Do high-redshift quasars have powerful jets?
Authors: Fabian A. C. , Walker S. A. , Celotti A. , Ghisellini G. , Mocz P. , Blundell K. M. , McMahon R. G.
Published: June 2014

Double-lobed radio galaxies a few hundreds of kpc in extent, like Cygnus A, are common at redshifts of 1–2, arising from some 10 per cent of the most powerful active galactic nuclei (AGN). At higher redshifts, they are rare, with none larger than a few tens of kpc known above redshift z ∼ 4. Recent studies of the redshift evolution of powerful jetted objects indicate that they may constitute a larger fraction of the AGN population above redshift 2 than that appears from a simple consideration of detected GHz radio sources. The radio band is misleading as the dramatic (1 + z)4 boost in the energy density of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) causes inverse Compton scattering to dominate the energy losses of relativistic electrons in the extended lobes produced by jets, making them strong X-ray, rather than radio, sources. Here, we investigate limits to X-ray lobes around two distant quasars, ULAS J112001.48+064124.3 at z = 7.1 and SDSS J1030+0524 at z = 6.3, and find that powerful jets could be operating yet be currently undetectable. Jets may be instrumental in the rapid build-up of billion M⊙ black hole at a rate that violates the Eddington limit.
Decreased Functional Connectivity and Disturbed Directionality of Information Flow in the Electroencephalography of Intensive Care Unit Patients with Delirium after Cardiac Surgery
Authors: van Dellen Edwin , van der Kooi Arendina W. , Numan Tianne , Koek Huiberdina L. , Klijn Francina A. M. , Buijsrogge Marc P. , Stam Cornelis J. , Slooter Arjen J. C.
Published: June 2014

Background:

In this article, the authors explore functional connectivity and network topology in electroencephalography recordings of patients with delirium after cardiac surgery, aiming to improve the understanding of the pathophysiology and phenomenology of delirium. The authors hypothesize that disturbances in attention and consciousness in delirium may be related to alterations in functional neural interactions.

Methods:

Electroencephalography recordings were obtained in postcardiac surgery patients with delirium (N = 25) and without delirium (N = 24). The authors analyzed unbiased functional connectivity of electroencephalography time series using the phase lag index, directed phase lag index, and functional brain network topology using graph analysis.

Results:

The mean phase lag index was lower in the α band (8 to 13 Hz) in patients with delirium (median, 0.120; interquartile range, 0.113 to 0.138) than in patients without delirium (median, 0.140; interquartile range, 0.129 to 0.168; P < 0.01). Network topology in delirium patients was characterized by lower normalized weighted shortest path lengths in the α band (t = −2.65; P = 0.01). δ Band–directed phase lag index was lower in anterior regions and higher in central regions in delirium patients than in nondelirium patients (F = 4.53; P = 0.04, and F = 7.65; P < 0.01, respectively).

Conclusions:

Loss of α band functional connectivity, decreased path length, and increased δ band connectivity directed to frontal regions characterize the electroencephalography during delirium after cardiac surgery. These findings may explain why information processing is disturbed in delirium.
Do Lordotic Cages Provide Better Segmental Lordosis Versus Nonlordotic Cages in Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF)?
Authors: Sembrano Jonathan N. , Horazdovsky Ryan D. , Sharma Amit K. , Yson Sharon C. , Santos Edward R.G. , Polly David W.
Published: June 2014

Study Design:

A retrospective comparative radiographic review.

Objective:

To evaluate the radiographic changes brought about by lordotic and nonlordotic cages on segmental and regional lumbar sagittal alignment and disk height in lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF).

Summary of Background Data:

The effects of cage design on operative level segmental lordosis in posterior interbody fusion procedures have been reported. However, there are no studies comparing the effect of sagittal implant geometry in LLIF.

Methods:

This is a comparative radiographic analysis of consecutive LLIF procedures performed with use of lordotic and nonlordotic interbody cages. Forty patients (61 levels) underwent LLIF. Average age was 57 years (range, 30–83 y). Ten-degree lordotic PEEK cages were used at 31 lumbar interbody levels, and nonlordotic cages were used at 30 levels. The following parameters were measured on preoperative and postoperative radiographs: segmental lordosis; anterior and posterior disk heights at operative level; segmental lordosis at supra-level and subjacent level; and overall lumbar (L1–S1) lordosis. Measurement changes for each cage group were compared using paired t test analysis.

Results:

The use of lordotic cages in LLIF resulted in a significant increase in lordosis at operative levels (2.8 degrees; P=0.01), whereas nonlordotic cages did not (0.6 degrees; P=0.71) when compared with preoperative segmental lordosis. Anterior and posterior disk heights were significantly increased in both groups (P<0.01). Neither cage group showed significant change in overall lumbar lordosis (lordotic P=0.86 vs. nonlordotic P=0.25).

Conclusions:

Lordotic cages provided significant increase in operative level segmental lordosis compared with nonlordotic cages although overall lumbar lordosis remained unchanged. Anterior and posterior disk heights were significantly increased by both cages, providing basis for indirect spinal decompression.
Effects of modifying alternative respiration on nitric oxide-induced virus resistance and PR1 protein accumulation
Authors: Li Zheng , Liang Wu-Sheng , Carr John P.
Published: June 2014

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important defensive signal in plants but its effects on virus infection are not well understood. Administration of NO-releasing compounds immediately before inoculation of tobacco leaves with potato virus X and tobacco mosaic virus decreased the accumulation of virus, indicating that NO can induce resistance rapidly. Resistance induction was inhibited by co-administration with an NO-scavenging compound or when experiments were done in transgenic tobacco plants expressing increased alternative respiratory pathway capacity due to constitutive expression of the plant mitochondrial enzyme, alternative oxidase (AOX). These results indicate that NO, which inhibits electron transport chain activity, is triggering defensive signalling by inducing changes in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species levels that are in turn regulated by AOX. Experiments using nahG-transgenic plants, which cannot accumulate the defensive plant hormone salicylic acid (SA) showed that NO rapidly induces resistance to virus infection independently of SA. However, this initial state of resistance may be transient. Subsequently, by 5 days post-treatment, NO had caused an increase in pathogenesis-related protein 1 (PR1) expression (a proxy for increased SA biosynthesis), which correlated with a longer-term state of resistance to virus infection. The induction by NO of PR1 accumulation was modified in AOX-transgenic plants. This indicates that the influence of NO on defensive gene expression is in part mediated through its effects on mitochondria.
Prototype endogenous avian retroviruses of the genus Gallus
Authors: Sacco Melanie Ann , Nair Venugopal K.
Published: June 2014

Ancient endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), designated endogenous avian retrovirus (EAVs), are present in all Gallus spp. including the chicken, and resemble the modern avian sarcoma and leukosis viruses (ASLVs). The EAVs comprise several distinct retroviruses, including EAV-0, EAV-E51 and EAV-HP, as well as a putative member previously named the avian retrotransposon of chickens (ART-CH). Thus far, only the EAV-HP elements have been well characterized. Here, we determined sequences of representative EAV-0 and EAV-E51 proviruses by cloning and data mining of the 2011 assembly of the Gallus gallus genome. Although the EAV-0 elements are primarily deleted in the env region, we identified two complete EAV-0 env genes within the G. gallus genome and prototype elements sharing identity with an EAV-E51-related clone previously designated EAV-E33. Prototype EAV-0, EAV-E51 and EAV-E33 gag, pol and env gene sequences used for phylogenetic analysis of deduced proteins showed that the EAVs formed three distinct clades, with EAV-0 sharing the last common ancestor with the ASLVs. The EAV-E51 clade showed the greatest level of divergence compared with other EAVs or ASLVs, suggesting that these ERVs represented exogenous retroviruses that evolved and integrated into the germline over a long period of time. Moreover, the degree of divergence between the chicken and red jungle fowl EAV-E51 sequences suggested that they were more ancient than the other EAVs and may have diverged through mutations that accumulated post-integration. Finally, we showed that the ART-CH elements were chimeric defective ERVs comprising portions of EAV-E51 and EAV-HP rather than authentic retrotransposons.
Tetraamminepalladium(II) dichloride ammonia tetrasolvate
Authors: Grassl Tobias , Korber Nikolaus
Published: June 2014

The title compound, [Pd(NH3)4]Cl2·4NH3, was crystallized in liquid ammonia from the salt Pd(en)Cl2(en is ethylenediamine) and is isotypic with [Pt(NH3)4]Cl2·4NH3[Grassl & Korber (2014).Acta Cryst.E70, i31]. The Pd2+cation is coordinated by four ammonia molecules, exhibiting a square-planar geometry. The chloride anions are surrounded by nine ammonia molecules. These are either bound in the palladium complex or solvent molecules. The packing of the ammonia solvent molecules enables the formation of an extended network of N—H...N and N—H...Cl interactions with nearly ideal hydrogen-bonding geometry.
Poly[[tris(μ2-acetato-κ2O:O′)(4-chlorobenzene-1,2-diamine-κN)(μ3-hydroxido)dizinc] ethanol monosolvate]
Authors: Geiger David K. , Parsons Dylan E.
Published: June 2014

The title compound, {[Zn2(CH3CO2)3(OH)(C6H7ClN2)]·C2H5OH}n, has alternating octahedrally and tetrahedrally coordinated Zn2+ions. The octahedral coordination sphere is composed of one N atom of the monodentate diaminochlorobenzene ligand, three acetate O atoms and two bridging hydroxide ligands. The tetrahedral coordination sphere consists of three acetate O atoms and the hydroxide ligand. The zinc ions are bridged by acetate and hydroxide ligands. The result is a laddered-chain structure parallel to [100] with ethanol solvent molecules occupying the space between the chains. The diamine ligand chlorine substitutent is disordered over two equally populated positions as a result of a crystallographically imposed inversion center between adjacent ligands. The ethanol solvent molecule exhibits disorder with the two components having refined occupancies of 0.696 (11) and 0.304 (11). O—H...O hydrogen bonds form between the hydroxide ligand and the ethanol solvent molecule. N—H...O and N—H...N hydrogen bonding between the uncoordinated amine group and the acetate ligands and the coordinated amine group are also observed.
trans-Bis[2,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-κ2N2,N3]bis(methanol-κO)iron(II) bis(perchlorate)
Authors: Kaase Dominic , Klingele Julia
Published: June 2014

The title compound, [Fe(C12H8N4S)2(CH3OH)2](ClO4)2, crystallized in the solvent-free form from a methanol solution. The FeIIion is located on a centre of inversion. The distorted N4O2octahedral coordination geometry is formed by twoN,N′-chelating equatorial 2,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole ligands and axially coordinating methanol coligands, resulting in the mononucleartrans-(N2,N3,O)2coordination mode. The methanol co-ligand is involved in a hydrogen bond to the perchlorate counter-ion.
Acetate and acetamide complexes of [Ni(Me4[12]aneN4)]PF6: a tale of two ligands
Authors: Wallick Jessica L. , Riordan Charles G. , Yap Glenn P. A.
Published: June 2014

Although there are many examples of acetate complexes, acetamide complexes are virtually unknown. A side-by-side comparison in (acetato-κ2O,O′)(1,4,7,10-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-κ4N)nickel(II) hexafluoridophosphate, [Ni(C2H3O2)(C12H28N4)]PF6, (1), and (acetamidato-κ2O,O′)(1,4,7,10-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-κ4N)nickel(II) hexafluoridophosphate, [Ni(C2H4NO)(C12H28N4)]PF6, (2), shows the steric equivalence between these two ligands, suggesting that acetamide could be considered as a viable acetate replacement for electronic tuning.
A one-dimensional cobalt(II) coordination polymer based on 2,4′-oxydibenzoic acid: poly[[[diaquabis[2-(4-carboxyphenoxy)benzoato-κO1]cobalt(II)]-μ-4,4′-bipyridine-κ2N:N′] dihydrate]
Authors: Tang Long , Fu Feng , Wang Ji-Jiang , Liu Qi-Rui , Zhao Hang-Hang
Published: June 2014

The reaction of CoSO4with 2,4-oxydibenzoic acid (H2oba) and 4,4′-bipyridine (bipy) under hydrothermal condition yielded a new one-dimensional cobalt(II) coordination polymer, {[Co(C14H9O5)2(C10H8N2)(H2O)2]·2H2O}n, which was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, magnetic properties and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The CoIIions are connected by bipy ligands into infinite one-dimensional chains. The Hoba−ligands extend out from the two sides of the one-dimensional chain. O—H...O hydrogen bonding extends these chains into a two-dimensional supramolecular architecture.
French consumer perception, preference of, and willingness to pay for fresh fruit based on country of origin
Authors: Gao Zhifeng , Sing Wong Shu , A. House Lisa , H. Spreen Thomas
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to determine French consumer perceptions and preferences for fresh fruit from different countries. French consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for citrus fruit and the factors affecting WTP are also determined.

Design/methodology/approach

– An online consumer survey was conducted in France to collect data on consumer perceptions and preferences for fresh fruits from different countries. The contingent valuation method is used to estimate consumer WTP for fresh citrus fruit. A double hurdle model is used to determine the factors that have substantial impact on consumer preferences.

Findings

– Results show that fresh fruit from China was perceived as the lowest quality, the least safe, and the cheapest among the fruit from various countries. French consumers had the highest stated WTP for fresh fruit from France, followed by fruit from Spain. In addition, consumer WTP for country of origin varies by type of fruit.

Research limitations/implications

– The contingent valuation method does not require consumers to purchase the product being evaluated, which may overestimate consumer stated WTP.

Practical implications

– More domestically produced fresh fruit may be provided to satisfy consumer demand for fruit produced in their own countries. As second in consumer stated WTP, Spain should take advantage of the lower price high quality perceptions of their fresh fruit to gain a larger market share in France. Lower rated countries, such as China, Brazil, and Israel, need to improve consumer perception of the fruit from their countries to gain a better position in the fresh fruit market of France.

Originality/value

– This is the first paper to present French consumer perception of fresh fruit and WTP for citrus fruit from different countries.
Hard economic times: a dream for discounters
Authors: Lamey Lien
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to study the relationship between the popularity of discount stores and the aggregate business cycle: Does discounters' market share go up during economic contractions and go down during economic expansions? Does the aggregate business cycle contribute to the long-term growth of discounters' success? Does the relationship between discounters and the economy differ across discounter types, namely hard versus soft discounters?

Design/methodology/approach

– The study will consider the relationship between discounters' market share and the aggregate economy between 1991 and 2008 for 15 Western European countries. Moreover, aggregated data is provided for the Western European region as a whole, which distinguishes hard from soft discounters' share. Recent time-series techniques are used to disentangle the temporary versus permanent effects of economic contractions on discounters' share.

Findings

– The aggregate business cycle induces temporary upward and downward swings in discounters' market share. Moreover, part of the increase in discounters' share during an economic contraction remains beyond the contraction, resulting in a permanent boost in discounters' popularity. Same substantive findings are found for each discount type (i.e. hard and soft).

Practical implications

– In economic contraction years the growth rate of both hard and soft discounters accelerates, leaving permanent scars on the performance levels of traditional retailers. Discounters should try to further enhance their increased popularity when the economy turns sour. Traditional retailers, on the other hand, should try to prevent consumers from switching to discounters during contractions. Future research should explore the strategies that are called for in order to do this.

Originality/value

– Discounters are the fastest growing grocery format in Europe. Traditional retailers can no longer afford to ignore them. As such, a better understanding of the drivers of this growth is called for. This study highlights one of the potential drivers, namely the economic climate, a driver that is widely discussed in the business press with substantial implications for grocery channel management.
Dynamics of price premiums in loyalty programs
Authors: Sayman Serdar , J. Hoch Stephen
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– A loyalty program might influence buyer behavior in several ways. Prior research offers evidence that buyers might increase the frequency of purchases and volume per occasion in a loyalty program; however, the effect on buyers' price tolerance has not been studied before. The aim of this paper is to examine buyers' willingness to pay a price premium for a firm offering a loyalty program reward.

Design/methodology/approach

– An analytical model of dynamic consumer choice is developed, where one of the two selling firms offers a reward for a certain number of purchases. The maximum price premium that a normatively rational buyer should be willing to pay at each level of accumulated purchases is obtained. A price tolerance in controlled settings is obtained and these are compared with normative solutions.

Findings

– Analytically, it is shown that the maximum price premium increases as purchases are accumulated; and the exact solutions can be found, given the price distributions and program design parameters. In the empirical studies it is found that individuals' maximum premiums are less than the normative levels. On the other hand, as buyers accumulate purchases from the reward offering firm, and get closer to the reward, maximum premiums paid increase – particularly when the reward is immediate.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the loyalty programs literature by examining the price premium, or switching barrier, aspect of buyer response. Furthermore, the paper not only models and solves the normative strategy, but also obtains actual price tolerance in laboratory settings.
Shopping at different food retail formats
Authors: Hino Hayiel
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to address intertype cross-shopping behavior – that is, the behavior that characterizes consumers who divide their grocery shopping between two or more different food formats. In particular, the study attempts to shed light on the cross-shopping phenomenon by employing a new research approach that examines format-selective use. Thus, the study examines how various factors, especially way of life aspects typically associated with food consumption, drive consumers to cross-shop between different food formats.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study employs data collected from two surveys involving 637 Israeli Jewish and Arab consumers. The conceptual framework and hypothesis are tested using multiple regression analyses.

Findings

– The empirical results support our claim that the research approach applied in this study better explains the cross-shopping phenomenon. Specifically, the analysis provides strong support for the effect of consumers' way of life on cross-shopping behavior.

Practical implications

– The paper provides managerial and planning implications to modern retailers and managers of international retail firms that operate in or plan to enter non-Western markets.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the available literature in several ways. In particular, the paper suggests a systematic and comprehensive conceptual framework that identifies the key determinants of cross-shopping decisions and the relations between these and supermarkets' market share growth.
Measuring and exploring factors affecting students’ willingness to engage in peer mentoring
Authors: Noufou Ouedraogo , Rezania Davar , Hossain Muhammad
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to measure students’ willingness to mentor their peers and explores key factors to student peer mentoring effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses a hybrid research methodology consisting of a survey and a focus group discussion. The survey was conducted with students of a bachelor of commerce (BCom) program of a North American university to analyze the impact of organizational culture and altruism on their willingness to mentor their peers. The focus group discussion was carried out with students of the same program to explore the objectives, focus, and factors contributing to their willingness to mentor and to peer mentoring effectiveness.

Findings

– Organizational culture and altruism significantly affect students’ emotional and intentional willingness to mentor their peers. Peer mentoring can help students prepare their transition from high school to university, guide them through university programs, and help them prepare their transition from university to workplace. Critical factors to peer mentoring effectiveness include a good fit between mentors and mentees, a reasonable ratio of mentor to protégés, and an understanding of and a willingness to address each student's specific needs.

Practical implications

– Business schools should embrace and promote a culture of mutual help, look for altruistic students as prospective peer mentors, and promote voluntary student peer mentoring. A mentoring program should be flexible enough to meet each student's needs. Attention should be paid to finding a good fit between mentors and protégés. Communication should focus on the benefits of student peer mentoring for mentors and protégés.

Originality/value

– This research brings empirical evidence on peer mentoring by testing and confirming the impact of altruism and organizational culture on students’ willingness to mentor their peers. It also provides practical insight to business schools for implementing student peer mentoring programs.
To which extent do projects explore the opportunity space?
Authors: Samset Knut , Andersen Bjorn , Austeng Kjell
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore a selection of projects to understand how conceptual appraisals and choice of concepts are handled, and to which extent the conceptual opportunity space is exploited.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is essentially case based, and rooted in a number of in-depth studies of single-project cases. Its study combines information from document studies with interview data, and culminates in normative recommendations.

Findings

– The study found that the projects do indeed not exploit the opportunity space to a very large extent. The lessons from the present study is that the final choice is determined more by decision makers than the analysts, and will often be the result of policy and preferences more than objective reasoning. Which again suggests that the efforts as analysts will often be in vain.

Research limitations/implications

– These findings could influence theoretical models outlining project establishment and decision processes.

Practical implications

– The study has identified many shortcomings in public sector processes that could be utilized to alter such processes.

Originality/value

– The study is original in that it focusses on the concept development phase of projects, rather than the traditional execution phase, and has studied decision processes.
Probabilistic composition in quality management in the retail trade sector
Authors: Parracho Sant’Anna Annibal , Angulo Meza Lidia , Otavio Araujo Ribeiro Rodrigo
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss the application of a method for combining multiple criteria based on the transformation of numerical evaluations into probabilities of preference. It is applied to compare failure risks and to measure efficiency in the retail trade sector.

Design/methodology/approach

– The main conceptual aspect of the method employed is taking into account uncertainty. Its other important feature is allowing for the combination of evaluations in terms of joint probabilities. This avoids the need of assigning weights to the criteria. In the context of failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) it provides a probabilistic derivation for priority scores. An application of FMEA to the sector of services is discussed. Another area of application investigated is the assessment of efficiency.

Findings

– Details of the application of the probabilistic composition in the evaluation of modes of failure and in the comparison of operational efficiencies of retail stores are evidenced.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is limited to the retail market. Other factors might be considered in the reliability analysis and other inputs and outputs might be added to the productivity evaluation. The extension of the study to other cases and sectors is straightforward.

Practical implications

– Features of the evaluation of modes of failure and of productivity in the retail sector are revealed.

Originality/value

– The main contribution of this paper is showing how to use a probabilistic framework to measure efficiency in services management.