bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantifying three dimensional reconnection in fragmented current layers
Authors: Wyper P. F. , Hesse M.
Published: April 2015

There is growing evidence that when magnetic reconnection occurs in high Lundquist number plasmas such as in the Solar Corona or the Earth's Magnetosphere it does so within a fragmented, rather than a smooth current layer. Within the extent of these fragmented current regions, the associated magnetic flux transfer and energy release occur simultaneously in many different places. This investigation focusses on how best to quantify the rate at which reconnection occurs in such layers. An analytical theory is developed which describes the manner in which new connections form within fragmented current layers in the absence of magnetic nulls. It is shown that the collective rate at which new connections form can be characterized by two measures; a total rate which measures the true rate at which new connections are formed and a net rate which measures the net change of connection associated with the largest value of the integral of E|| through all of the non-ideal regions. Two simple analytical models are presented which demonstrate how each should be applied and what they quantify.
Variational approach for static mirror structures
Authors: Kuznetsov E. A. , Passot T. , Ruban V. P. , Sulem P. L.
Published: April 2015

Anisotropic static plasma equilibria where the parallel and perpendicular pressures are only functions of the amplitude of the local magnetic field are shown to be amenable to a variational principle with a free energy density given by the parallel tension. This approach is used to demonstrate that two-dimensional small-amplitude static magnetic holes constructed from a Grad-Shafranov type equation slightly below the (subcritical) mirror instability threshold identify with lump solitons of KPII equation, but turn out to be unstable. Differently, large-amplitude magnetic structures, which are stable as they realize a minimum of the free energy, are computed using a gradient method within two-dimensional numerical simulations where the regularizing effect of finite Larmor radius corrections is retained. Interestingly, these structures transform from stripes to bubbles when the angle of the magnetic field with the coordinate plane is increased.
Improvement of saturation magnetization of Fe nanoparticles by post-annealing in a hydrogen gas atmosphere
Authors: Kin Masane , Kura Hiroaki , Tanaka Masaaki , Hayashi Yasushi , Hasaegawa Jun , Ogawa Tomoyuki
Published: April 2015

Fe nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by the thermal decomposition of Fe(CO)5 and then post-annealing in a hydrogen gas atmosphere to produce highly monodisperse Fe NPs with high saturation magnetization (Ms). The as-synthesized pre-anneal Fe NPs had an expanded α-Fe structure and Ms was only 39% of that for bulk Fe because of the low crystallinity and the inclusion of a surfactant. Post-annealing of the Fe NPs in a hydrogen gas atmosphere at 200 °C improved the crystallinity of the Fe NPs from an amorphous-like structure to a body centered cubic (bcc) structure without any lattice expansion. This result indicates that hydrogen gas plays a significant role in improvement of the crystallinity of Fe NPs. Accompanying the improvement in crystallinity, Ms for the Fe NPs increased from 86 to 190 emu/gnet at 300 K, the values of which include the weight of surfactant. This enhanced Ms is almost the same as that of bulk Fe (218 emu/Fe). It was concluded that the crystallinity has a significant influence on the Ms of the Fe NPs because long-range ordering of the lattice can maintain strong direct exchange interactions between Fe atoms.
Dispersion relations and polarizations of low-frequency waves in two-fluid plasmas
Authors: Zhao Jinsong
Published: April 2015

Analytical expressions for the dispersion relations and polarizations of low-frequency waves in magnetized plasmas based on two-fluid model are obtained. The properties of waves propagating at different angles (to the ambient magnetic field B0) and β (the ratio of the plasma to magnetic pressures) values are investigated. It is shown that two linearly polarized waves—namely, the fast and Alfvén modes in the low-β (β≪1) plasmas, the fast and slow modes in the β∼1 plasmas, and the Alfvén and slow modes in the high-β (β≫1) plasmas—become circularly polarized at the near-parallel (to B0) propagation. The negative magnetic-helicity of the Alfvén mode occurs only at small or moderate angles in the low-β plasmas, and the ion cross-helicity of the slow mode is nearly the same as that of the Alfvén mode in the high-β plasmas. It is also shown that the electric polarization δEz/δEy decreases with the temperature ratio Te/Ti for the long-wavelength waves, and the transition between left- and right-hand polarizations of the Alfvén mode in Te/Ti≠0 plasmas can disappear when Te/Ti=0. The approximate dispersion relations in the near-perpendicular propagation, low-β, and high-β limits can quite accurately describe the three modes.
Taming Lévy flights in confined crowded geometries
Authors: Cieśla Michał , Dybiec Bartłomiej , Sokolov Igor , Gudowska-Nowak Ewa
Published: April 2015

We study two-dimensional diffusive motion of a tracer particle in restricted, crowded anisotropic geometries. The underlying medium is formed from a monolayer of elongated molecules [Cieśla J. Chem. Phys. 140, 044706 (2014)] of known concentration. Within this mesh structure, a tracer molecule is allowed to perform a Cauchy random walk with uncorrelated steps. Our analysis shows that the presence of obstacles significantly influences the motion, which in an obstacle-free space would be of a superdiffusive type. At the same time, the selfdiffusive process reveals different anomalous properties, both at the level of a single trajectory realization and after the ensemble averaging. In particular, due to obstacles, the sample mean squared displacement asymptotically grows sublinearly in time, suggesting a non-Markov character of motion. Closer inspection of survival probabilities indicates, however, that the underlying diffusion is memoryless over long time scales despite a strong inhomogeneity of the motion induced by the orientational ordering.
Electron confinement and heating in microwave-sustained argon microplasmas
Authors: Hoskinson Alan R. , Gregório José , Parsons Stephen , Hopwood Jeffrey
Published: April 2015

We systematically measure and model the behavior of argon microplasmas sustained by a broad range of microwave frequencies. The plasma behavior exhibits two distinct regimes. Up to a transition frequency of approximately 4 GHz, the electron density, directly measured by Stark broadening, increases rapidly with rising frequency. Above the transition frequency, the density remains approximately constant near 5 × 1020 m–3. The electrode voltage falls with rising frequency across both regimes, reaching approximately 5 V at the highest tested frequency. A fluid model of the plasma indicates that the falling electrode voltage reduces the electron temperature and significantly improves particle confinement, which in turn increases the plasma density. Particles are primarily lost to the electrodes at lower frequencies, but dissociative recombination becomes dominant as particle confinement improves. Recombination events produce excited argon atoms which are efficiently re-ionized, resulting in relatively constant ionization rates despite the falling electron temperature. The fast rates of recombination are the result of high densities of electrons and molecular ions in argon microplasmas.
Thickness-dependent ferroelectric behavior of predominantly (117)-oriented Bi3.15Nd0.85Ti3O12 thin-film capacitors
Authors: Yang Feng , Zhang Fuwei , Hu Guangda , Zong Zhihao , Tang Minghua
Published: April 2015

Ferroelectric hysteresis loops, remanent polarization, coercive field, and leakage current characteristics were investigated by increasing the film thickness (from 103 nm to 401 nm) of predominantly (117)-oriented Bi3.15Nd0.85Ti3O12 films. The thickness dependence of the coercive fields shows log coercive field vs. log thickness with a slope of approximately −0.65, which is characteristics of the Kay–Dunn scaling law. The films exhibited very low leakage current on the order of 10−7A/cm2 at an applied electric field of 100 kV/cm. Without a discernible thickness-dependence behavior, the leakage current characteristics, including both Schottky emission and space-charge-limited conduction, were well described by a modified Schottky contact model.
Terahertz Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on a hollow-core metallic ridge waveguide
Authors: Gerhard M. , Beigang R. , Rahm M.
Published: April 2015

While terahertz time-domain spectroscopy directly measures amplitude and phase of pulsed terahertz electric fields, the use of more compact terahertz continuous wave sources requires interferometric measurement techniques to obtain phase information. Since constructive and destructive interference are governed by the relative phase of the superimposing fields the phase information can be retrieved from the amplitude modulation signal at the output of the interferometer. Here, we present phase-sensitive measurements of terahertz electric fields in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer that is integrated in a hollow-core metallic ridge waveguide. With lactose in one of the interferometer arms, we measured the modulated amplitude spectrum of the interferometer output signal which carries information about the dielectric properties of the investigated lactose. We explain the measured transmission spectra and the observed dielectric resonances by analytic and numerical means and further confirmed the results by a spectroscopic reference measurement of lactose in a conventional waveguide.
Impact of the cation-stoichiometry on the resistive switching and data retention of SrTiO3 thin films
Authors: Raab N. , Bäumer C. , Dittmann R.
Published: April 2015

Resistive switching oxides are investigated at great length as promising candidates for the next generation of non-volatile memories. It is generally assumed that defects have a strong impact on the resistive switching properties of transition metal oxides. However, the correlation between different types of defect structures and the switching properties is still elusive. We deposited single-crystalline SrTiO3thin films with various cation stoichiometry by pulsed laser deposition to investigate the stoichiometry related and therefore defect dependent influence on the resistive switching properties. This letter will reveal the differences in initial states, forming steps, switching characteristics as well as retention times taking into account both point defects and extended defects. We then propose an explanation on the basis of oxygen vacancy generation and redistribution to elucidate the dependence of the resistive switching properties on the cation stoichiometry dependent defect structure.
Optical transmission and dispersion of 0.25Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3– (0.75 − x) Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3 single crystals
Authors: He Chongjun , Chen Hongbing , Wang Jiming , Gu Xiaorong , Wu Tong , Liu Youwen
Published: April 2015

Optical transmission spectra and refractive index dispersions of ternary relaxor-based ferroelectric 0.25Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3–(0.75 − x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3 [PIMNT0.25/(0.75 − x)/x] single crystals were studied after poled along [001] direction. Sellmeier dispersion equations of the refractive index were obtained by least square fitting, which can be used to calculate the refractive indices in visible and near infrared spectra. The optical transmission of tetragonal PIMNT0.25/0.37/0.38 single crystal is about 70% from 0.5 to 5.8 μm, which is much higher than that of rhombohedral PIMNT0.25/0.45/0.30 and morphotropic phase boundary PIMNT0.25/0.41/0.34 single crystals. Optical interband direct and indirect transitions were investigated by absorption spectra. Our results show that as the PbTiO3 content increases the refractive indices of PIMNT single crystals increase, while the optical band gap decreases.
Tetracarboxyl-Functionalized Ionic Liquid: Synthesis and Catalytic Properties
Authors: Feng Miaona , Zhao Guoying , Gao Hongling , Zhang Suojiang
Published: April 2015

Novel tetracarboxyl-functionalized 2,2′-biimidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) with different anions were synthesized in two steps from readily available and sustainable starting materials including ammonium acetate, glyoxal, and halogenated propionic acid. The functionalized IL exhibited higher catalytic activity towards the cycloaddition of CO2 to terminal epoxides. With propylene oxide as a substrate, the optimum yield of propylene carbonate reached 82.7 % at an initial CO2 pressure of 2.0 MPa for 4 h at 140°C. Moreover, the functionalized IL catalyst displayed a high stability and can be reused for at least five cycles without obvious loss of catalytic activity. The results provide a simple and economical way to synthesize multi-functionalized imidazolium-based ILs with versatile potential applications.
Long-term ecological trends of flow-dependent ecosystems in a major regulated river basin
Authors: Colloff Matthew J. , Caley Peter , Saintilan Neil , Pollino Carmel A. , Crossman Neville D.
Published: April 2015

The case for restoring water to the environment in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, is based mainly on condition assessments, although time series provide valuable information on trends. We assessed trends of 301 ecological time series (mean 23 years, range 1905–2013) in two categories: (1) ‘population’ (abundance, biomass, extent) and (2) ‘non-population’ (condition, occurrence, composition). We analysed trends using log-linear regression, accounting for observation error only, and a state–space model that accounts for observation error and environmental ‘noise’. Of the log-linear series (n=239), 50 (22%) showed statistically significant decline, but 180 (78%) showed no trend. For state–space series (n=197) one increased, but others were stable. Distribution of median exponential rates of increase (r) indicated a small but statistically significant declining trend, though 35–39% of the series were positive. Our analysis only partly supports, though does not refute, prevailing assumptions of recent ecological decline in the Murray–Darling Basin. The pattern is of fluctuating stability, with declines during droughts and recovery after flood. The overall trend from our meta-analysis is consistent with a pattern of historical decline to a hybrid ecosystem followed by slow, recent decline for some components and stability for others, with considerable variation in trends of specific ecological components: in short, there are ecological ‘winners’ and ‘losers’.
Architecture and migration of an epithelium on a cylindrical wire
Authors: Yevick Hannah G. , Duclos Guillaume , Bonnet Isabelle , Silberzan Pascal
Published: April 2015

Significance

Cell sheets often organize in tubular structures, for example, in the kidney. Also, cells from epithelial tumors are known to wrap around vessels or muscle fibers as they migrate collectively. By plating cells on thin glass wires, we mimic these physiological conditions in vitro and show that high curvature favors cell detachment at the front edge. This switch from collective to individual migration may reproduce features often observed in cancer invasion. High curvature also induces a circumferential organization of the actin cytoskeleton reminiscent of in vivo embryonic morphogenesis situations where tissues develop on a cylindrical template. Finally, monolayer migration is halted at submicron radii, and the tissue reconfigures into hollow cysts at its leading tip.
Ultrafast desorption of colloidal particles from fluid interfaces
Authors: Poulichet Vincent , Garbin Valeria
Published: April 2015

Significance

Solid particles can replace surfactants to stabilize emulsions and foams. The attachment of particles onto drops and bubbles is typically considered to be irreversible because of a large energy barrier for particle detachment––millions of times the thermal energy for microparticles. Here we demonstrate a method to promote the detachment of microparticles from bubbles using ultrasound. We identified conditions for complete particle removal and recovery in under a millisecond. Our method is programmable in time, and does not require any physicochemical modification of the fluids or the interface. This work addresses the emerging need for methods to recover interfacial particles from emulsions and foams in applications ranging from controlled release to interfacial catalysis and gas storage.
What is it that lingers? Garden-path (mis)interpretations in younger and older adults
Authors: Malyutina Svetlana , den Ouden Dirk-Bart
Published: April 2015

Previous research has shown that comprehenders do not always conduct a full (re)analysis of temporarily ambiguous “garden-path” sentences. The present study used a sentence–picture matching task to investigate what kind of representations are formed when full reanalysis is not performed: Do comprehenders “blend” two incompatible representations as a result of shallow syntactic processing or do they erroneously maintain the initial incorrect parsing without incorporating new information, and does this vary with age? Twenty-five younger and 15 older adults performed a multiple-choice sentence–picture matching task with stimuli including early-closure garden-path sentences. The results suggest that the type of erroneous representation is affected by linguistic variables, such as sentence structure, verb type, and semantic plausibility, as well as by age. Older adults’ response patterns indicate an increased reliance on inferencing based on lexical and semantic cues, with a lower bar for accepting an initial parse and with a weaker drive to reanalyse a syntactic representation. Among younger adults, there was a tendency to blend two representations into a single interpretation, even if this was not licensed by the syntax.
On the isoperimetric constant of symmetric spaces of noncompact type
Authors: Wang Xiaodong
Published: April 2015

We prove that the isoperimetric constant is positive for all symmetric spaces of noncompact type and compute it explicitly.
kSNP3.0: SNP detection and phylogenetic analysis of genomes without genome alignment or reference genome
Authors: Gardner Shea N , Slezak Tom , Hall Barry G.
Published: April 2015

Summary:We announce the release of kSNP3.0, a program for SNP identification and phylogenetic analysis without genome alignment or the requirement for reference genomes. kSNP3.0 is a significantly improved version of kSNP v2.

Availability and implementation: kSNP3.0 is implemented as a package of stand-alone executables for Linux and Mac OS X under the open-source BSD license. The executable packages, source code and a full User Guide are freely available at https://sourceforge.net/projects/ksnp/files/

Contact:  barryghall@gmail.com
Fine-tuning of T-cell development by the CD3γ di-leucine-based TCR-sorting motif
Authors: Lauritsen Jens Peter H. , Boding Lasse , Buus Terkild B. , Kongsbak Martin , Levring Trine B. , Rode Anna K. O. , Bonefeld Charlotte Menné , Geisler Carsten
Published: April 2015

The CD3γ di-leucine-based (diL) receptor-sorting motif plays a central role in TCR down-regulation and in clonal expansion of virus-specific T cells. However, the role of the CD3γ diL motif in T-cell development is not known. In this study, we show that protein kinase C-induced TCR down-regulation is abolished in thymocytes from CD3γLLAA mice with a mutated CD3γ diL motif, and that CD3γLLAA mice have reduced numbers of thymocytes compared with aged-matched wild-type mice. We found that early thymocyte development at the β-selection checkpoint is impaired resulting in reduced numbers of double negative (DN) 4 cells in CD3γLLAA mice. This was not caused by reduced proliferation but most probably by increased down-regulation of the antiapoptotic molecule Bcl-2 causing enhanced apoptosis during the transition from the DN3 to the DN4 stage. In contrast, proliferation of immature CD8 single positive (ISP) thymocytes was increased resulting in normal numbers of ISP in CD3γLLAA mice. Despite the normal numbers of ISP, CD3γLLAA mice had reduced numbers of double positive and SP thymocytes indicating that the CD3γ diL motif also affected later stages of T-cell development. In accordance, we found that positive and negative selection, differentiation toward CD4 and CD8 SP T cells and the development of nonconventional T cells were affected in CD3γLLAA mice. In conclusion, our study identifies an important role of the CD3γ diL motif in T-cell development most probably mediated by its fine-tuning of pre-TCR and TCR expression, down-regulation and signaling.
A novel alanine to serine substitution mutation in SoxS induces overexpression of efflux pumps and contributes to multidrug resistance in clinical Escherichia coli isolates
Authors: Aly Sherine A. , Boothe Dawn M. , Suh Sang-Jin
Published: April 2015

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to describe a putative role for a novel soxS mutation in contributing to multiple-antibiotic resistance in canine fluoroquinolone-associated MDR (FQ-MDR) Escherichia coli. This soxS mutation was discovered in canine faecal E. coli isolates during a study investigating the effect of oral fluoroquinolone administration on faecal E. coli in healthy dogs.

Methods

We determined via quantitative real-time RT–PCR that both soxS and acrB were overexpressed in the clinical soxS Ala-12→Ser (soxSA12S) mutants and this may account for their FQ-MDR phenotype. We validated the FQ-MDR phenotype of the clinical isolates by reconstructing the WT and the soxSA12S mutation in the E. coli soxS null mutant JW4023 (soxS::kn) via allelic exchange.

Results

The JW4023 soxSA12S derivative showed an increase in MICs of ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin and chloramphenicol compared with the JW4023 derivative in which the WT soxS had been restored. The soxS and acrB genes were overexpressed in the JW4023 soxSA12S mutant compared with JW4023 with WT soxS. A similar overexpression of efflux pump genes and an increase in antibiotic resistance were observed upon stimulation with paraquat to resemble the phenotype of the clinical soxSA12S isolates.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that the soxSA12S substitution mutation is selected in clinical isolates when dogs are exposed to a fluoroquinolone and that this mutation contributes to the FQ-MDR phenotype of E. coli isolates.
Characterization of MDR and XDR Streptococcus pneumoniae in Canada, 2007–13
Authors: Golden Alyssa R. , Rosenthal Margot , Fultz Ben , Nichol Kimberly A. , Adam Heather J. , Gilmour Matthew W. , Baxter Melanie R. , Hoban Daryl J. , Karlowsky James A. , Zhanel George G.
Published: April 2015

Objectives

The goal of this study was to characterize Streptococcus pneumoniae demonstrating MDR (resistant to three or more antimicrobial classes) or XDR (resistant to five or more classes) phenotypes, collected from Canada during the CANWARD 2007–13 study.

Methods

From 2007 to 2013 inclusive, S. pneumoniae isolates were collected as a part of the CANWARD surveillance study. MDR and XDR isolates were subjected to PFGE, MLST, molecular detection of pneumococcal pili and macrolide resistance determinants mef(A/E) and erm(B), sequencing of PBPs 1A, 2B and 2X and comparison with Pneumococcal Molecular Epidemiology Network (PMEN) clones.

Results

Of 2129 S. pneumoniae isolates collected during the CANWARD 2007–13 study, 61 (2.9%) were found to be MDR. Of these MDR isolates, 43 (70.5%) were XDR. The most common serotypes for both MDR and XDR S. pneumoniae were 19A and 19F. Twenty-nine of 61 isolates (48%) demonstrated resistance to clarithromycin, clindamycin, doxycycline, penicillin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. All isolates possessed at least one macrolide resistance determinant and mutations in PBPs 1A, 2B and 2X. The most common clone was piliated, XDR ST320, an internationally circulating double-locus variant of Taiwan19F-14 (ST236).

Conclusions

Though the rate of MDR S. pneumoniae has remained relatively stable since 2007, XDR strains have emerged in Canada. These strains are virulent, possess resistance determinants and are related to international clones.
Informatics to support the IOM social and behavioral domains and measures
Authors: Hripcsak George , Forrest Christopher B , Brennan Patricia Flatley , Stead William W
Published: April 2015

Consistent collection and use of social and behavioral determinants of health can improve clinical care, prevention and general health, patient satisfaction, research, and public health. A recent Institute of Medicine committee defined a panel of 11 domains and 12 measures to be included in electronic health records. Incorporating the panel into practice creates a number of informatics research opportunities as well as challenges. The informatics issues revolve around standardization, efficient collection and review, decision support, and support for research. The informatics community can aid the effort by simultaneously optimizing the collection of the selected measures while also partnering with social science researchers to develop and validate new sources of information about social and behavioral determinants of health.
Oxygen supply limits the heat tolerance of lizard embryos
Authors: Smith Colton , Telemeco Rory S. , Angilletta Michael J. , VandenBrooks John M.
Published: April 2015

The mechanisms that set the thermal limits to life remain uncertain. Classically, researchers thought that heating kills by disrupting the structures of proteins or membranes, but an alternative hypothesis focuses on the demand for oxygen relative to its supply. We evaluated this alternative hypothesis by comparing the lethal temperature for lizard embryos developing at oxygen concentrations of 10–30%. Embryos exposed to normoxia and hyperoxia survived to higher temperatures than those exposed to hypoxia, suggesting that oxygen limitation sets the thermal maximum. As all animals pass through an embryonic stage where respiratory and cardiovascular systems must develop, oxygen limitation may limit the thermal niches of terrestrial animals as well as aquatic ones.
Thermus amyloliquefaciens sp. nov., isolated from a hot spring sediment sample
Authors: Yu Tian-Tian , Ming Hong , Yao Ji-Cheng , Zhou En-Min , Park Dong-Jin , Hozzein Wael N. , Kim Chang-Jin , Wadaan Mohammed A. M. , Li Wen-Jun
Published: April 2015

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic bacterium, designated strain YIM 77409T, was isolated from the Niujie hot spring in the Eryuan county of Dali, Yunnan province, south-west China. Cells of the strain were rod-shaped and colonies were yellow and circular. The strain grew at pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and 50–70°C (optimum, 60–65°C). The predominant menaquinone was MK-8 and the DNA G+C content was 66.4 mol%. Major fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C15 : 0and iso-C17 : 0.The polar lipids consisted of one aminophospholipid, one phospholipid and two glycolipids. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain YIM 77409Tformed a cluster withThermus scotoductusDSM 8553T,Thermus antranikianiiDSM 12462T,Thermus caliditerraeYIM 77925TandThermus tengchongensisYIM 77924T, with highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity toT. scotoductusDSM 8553T(97.57 %). However, DNA–DNA hybridization indicated that strain YIM 77409Tshould be viewed as a representative of a novel species, as there was only 30.6 ± 1.6 % reassociation withT. scotoductusDSM 8553T. On the basis of the morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, as well as the genotypic data, it is proposed that strain YIM 77409Trepresents a novel species of the genusThermus, with the nameThermus amyloliquefacienssp. nov. The type strain is YIM 77409T( = DSM 25898T = KCTC 32024T).
HIV Vpr protein upregulates microRNA-122 expression and stimulates hepatitis C virus replication
Authors: Peng Milin , Xiao Xinqiang , He Yan , Jiang Yongfang , Zhang Min , Peng Feng , Tian Yi , Xu Yun , Gong Guozhong
Published: April 2015

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection is characterized by higher serum HCV RNA loads compared with HCV mono-infection. However, the relationship between HIV and HCV replication remains to be clarified. HIV Vpr has been shown to play an essential role in HIV replication. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of Vpr in HCV replication and pathogenesis. We therefore used the genotype 2a full-length HCV strain JFH1 infection system and the genotype 1b full-length HCV replicon OR6 cell line to analyse the effects of Vpr on HCV replication. We found that Vpr promoted HCV 5′ UTR activity, HCV RNA replication and HCV protein expression in two HCV infection cell models. Additionally, lymphocyte-produced Vpr significantly induced HCV 5′ UTR activity and HCV replication in hepatocytes. We also found that Vpr upregulated the expression of miR-122 by stimulating its promoter activity. Furthermore, an miR-122 inhibitor suppressed the Vpr-mediated enhancement of both HCV 5′ UTR activity and HCV replication. In summary, our results revealed that the Vpr-upregulated expression of miR-122 is closely related to the stimulation of HCV 5′ UTR activity and HCV replication by Vpr, providing new evidence for how HIV interacts with HCV during HIV/HCV co-infection.
An introduction to the special issue onX-ray free-electron lasers
Authors: Schlichting Ilme , White William E. , Yabashi Makina
Published: April 2015

This issue of theJournal of Synchrotron Radiationis a special issue on X-ray free-electron lasers. Here, a brief introduction to these special issue papers is given.
Crystal structure of diisopropylaminium dichloroacetate
Authors: Sun Wei , Shan Guangzhi
Published: April 2015

In the title compound, C6H16N+·C2HCl2O2−, the cation exhibits non-crystallographicC2symmetry. In the crystal, the components are linked by N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds into chains propagating along [010].
Crystal structure of (4-fluorophenyl-κC1)iodido(N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine-κ2N,N′)palladium(II)
Authors: Yan Jin-Jin , Zheng Chang-Ge
Published: April 2015

In the title compound, [Pd(C6H4F)I(C6H16N2)], the PdIIatom is coordinated by two N atoms from theN,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine ligand, a C atom of the 4-fluorophenyl group and an iodide ligand in a distorted square-planar geometry, with an average deviation from the least-squares plane through the ligand donor atoms of 0.0159 (2) Å. The angles about the PdIIatom range from 83.35 (16) to 178.59 (11)°. In the crystal, weak C—H...F and C—H...I hydrogen bonds link the molecules into sheets in thebcplane.
Crystal structure ofN-(4-chlorophenyl)benzothioamide
Authors: Zhao Ganlin
Published: April 2015

The title compound, C13H10ClNS, exhibits atransconformation with regard to the axis of the C—N bond. The benzene and phenyl rings are inclined to one another by 85.06 (8)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by N—H...S=C hydrogen bonds, forming chains along [001].
Crystal structure oftrans-diaquabis(4-cyanobenzoato-κO)bis(nicotinamide-κN1)cobalt(II)
Authors: Aşkın Gülçin Şefiye , Necefoğlu Hacali , Yılmaz Nayir Gamze , Çatak Çelik Raziye , Hökelek Tuncer
Published: April 2015

In the title complex, [Co(C8H4NO2)2(C6H6N2O)2(H2O)2], the CoIIatom is located on an inversion centre and is coordinated by two 4-cyanobenzoate (CNB) anions, two nicotinamide (NA) ligands and two water molecules. The four O atoms in the equatorial plane form a slightly distorted square-planar arrangement, while the slightly distorted octahedral coordination sphere is completed by the two N atoms of the NA ligands in the axial positions. The dihedral angle between the carboxylate group and the adjacent benzene ring is 22.11 (15)°, while the pyridine and benzene rings are oriented at a dihedral angle of 89.98 (5)°. In the crystal, intermolecular N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules, enclosingR22(8) andR44(8) ring motifs, forming layers parallel to (100). The layers are linkedviaC—H...O and C—H...N hydrogen bonds, resulting in a three-dimensional network. A weak C—H...π interaction is also observed.
Brands on a wet, black bough: marketing the masterworks of modernism
Authors: Brown Stephen
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– In a world where commerce and culture are still somewhat estranged, the purpose of this paper is to show that high culture’s supreme exponents were commercially minded masters of marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

– Historically situated, the paper adopts a biographical approach to the making of modernism’s literary masterworks. It focuses on Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot and James Joyce, who were responsible for the modernist classics,UlyssesandThe Waste Land.

Findings

– The analysis identifies five fundamental marketing principles that appear paradoxical from a traditional, customer-centric standpoint, yet are in accord with latter-day, post-Kotlerite conceptualisations. The marketing of modernism did not rely on “modern” marketing.

Practical implications

– If, at the height of the anti-bourgeois modernist movement, the “great divide” between elite and popular culture was bridged by marketing, there is no reason why contemporary culture and commerce cannot collaborate, co-operate, co-exist, coalesce.

Originality/value

– The paper complements prior studies of “painterpreneurs”, by drawing attention to the marketing of literary masterworks.
Production and marketing of art in China
Authors: Dholakia Ruby Roy , Duan Jingyi , Dholakia Nikhilesh
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how art production and marketing in China is attempting to move up the value chain as increasing number of Chinese replica-selling galleries seek to break free from the image of Chinese art towns as skilled but imitative centres of art production.

Design/methodology/approach

– In-depth interviews were conducted among seven gallery owners in Wushipu art village over three weeks to discover how art production in China has evolved and to chart its future growth.

Findings

– In the Chinese setting with its distinctive cultural patterns, tensions between the emergent national pride in original art and the facile and commercial moneymaking potential of simply selling industrially produced art are revealed.

Practical implications

– The changing dynamics of arts markets in China provide marketers and researchers a glimpse into a parallel trend: the gradual but rising shift to innovation, originality and luxury occurring in the China-based manufacturing centres of material goods.

Social implications

– The attempts to break from the imitative mass production of art and strike a balance between creating and meeting the art needs of the Chinese consumer indicate how domestic market priorities and economic growth are likely to serve as the new fuel for contemporary China’s socioeconomic development.

Originality/value

– Via an interpretive look at contemporary Chinese modes of arts production and marketing, the paper revisits the antagonism between the creation of original art and the production of industrial art in a context not well-known in the west, the massive art production centres of China.
Impact of pricing and outsourcing models on Indian information technology service outsourcing
Authors: Jain Daisy Mathur , Khurana Reema
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The information technology (IT) industry has grown owing to the increase in IT outsourcing prompted by the need for cost reductions in organizations. The IT industry contracts are based on pricing models, which establish the terms and conditions of payment to be made to vendors by clients. The pricing models followed in the industry are mainly Fixed Time Fixed Price (FTFP) and Time and Material (TnM) and the remaining are mostly variations of these. Using the information collected from vendors, the purpose of this paper is to draw a comparison between these pricing models to see which one is more acceptable to vendors along with researching on the reasons behind that. The outsourcing engagement is also based on a set of processes to be used during the contract time and that is known as the Outsourcing Model (OM) being used. This research also derives how pricing models, OMs and Client Vendor Relationship (CVR) being developed are related.

Design/methodology/approach

– Hypothesis have been formulated on the basis of the literature survey conducted by the authors, subsequently questionnaire was formulated and data were collected from – a total of 500 people were targeted, out of which 70 people responded. Out of these 70 only 50 were usable responses. The respondents were at the manager and above level in different organizations classified on the basis of number of employees. Statistical tests were conducted on these data to check the reliability, prove the hypothesis and establish the mediation and moderation relationships between the pricing model, OM and CVR.

Findings

– The following paper has established through statistical analysis which pricing model is more befitting to the IT service outsourcing industry and has also demonstrated the moderation and mediation relationship between pricing model, OM and CVR variables.

Research limitations/implications

– The major reserach limitation is that it is for only IT vendors in Indian geography. The research can be extended to different businesses and geographies.

Practical implications

– The paper has practical implications for the IT service outsourcing industry in India and for their clients to understand the comparison between the pricing models and to study the impact of pricing and OMs on the CVRs.

Originality/value

– The research presented is original as no similar work has been found to be published in the journals so far specifically in the Indian context.
Benchmarking supply chains by analyzing technology transfer critical barriers using AHP approach
Authors: Kumar Sanjay , Luthra Sunil , Haleem Abid
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– Technology transfer becoming an important area especially in developing and less developed countries. The purpose of this paper is to address issue of supply chains’ benchmarking based upon their capability to mange technology transfer critical barriers mitigation efforts toward making technology transfer process implementation successful.

Design/methodology/approach

– The present paper is based on two research stages. Initially, extensive literature review has been made to identify critical barriers. In total, 20 technology transfer critical barriers have been identified from literature review and categorized in to six criteria. In second stage, analytics hierarchy process has been utilized to rank the critical barriers of technology transfer in supply chain and provide a benchmarking framework.

Findings

– Political barriers (PB) have been analyzed most significant criteria of critical barriers to technology transfer followed by socio-cultural barriers (SO) and economic barriers (EB). “Political instability,” “Difficulty in transfer and diffusion,” “Too expensive,” “Inappropriate/incompetent technology and resource wastage in technologies imported,” “Inactive role of SC members and resistance to change” and “Management attitude” have been found most hindering barrier in their respective category/criterion of technology transfer barriers.

Research limitations/implications

– Scope of the present study has been limited to propose framework to benchmark supply chains by analyzing 20 critical barriers of technology transfer grouped in to six dimensions using analytical hierarchy approach based on “ratings provided by experts,” which may be biased.

Practical implications

– Benchmarking process has been proposed to calculate value of total of overall weights to a particular supply chain named as “Technology Transfer Barriers Mitigation Index (TTBMI)” useful to present capability of supply chains to manage technology transfer barriers by a single numeric value. From “provider” developed county’s view point, present benchmarking framework may be further applied to compare developing countries’ ability to absorb and diffuse new technology.

Originality/value

– Benchmarking procedure has been dealt with using well-established methodology- analytical hierarchy process toward providing single numeric value index (TTBMI) indicating ability of supply chains to manage/mitigate technology transfer barriers.
Developing a novel data envelopment analysis model to determine prospective benchmarks of green supply chain in the presence of dual-role factor
Authors: Shabani Amir , Farzipoor Saen Reza
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a model based on data envelopment analysis (DEA) and program evaluation and review technique/critical path method (PERT/CPM) for determining prospective benchmarks.

Design/methodology/approach

– The idea of determining prospective benchmark is needed for developing a model for future planning where inputs and outputs of systems are influenced by external factors such as economic conditions, demographic changes, and other socio-economic factors. In this paper, the PERT/CPM method estimates prospective inputs and outputs. On the other hand, in particular systems some measures play the role of both input and output. Such factors in DEA literature are called dual-role factors. This paper integrates PERT/CPM technique and the DEA.

Findings

– The results of the proposed model depict that a present benchmark may not be a benchmark in future. A numerical example validates the proposed model.

Originality/value

– This paper, for the first time, applies the PERT/CPM technique to incorporate the ideas for identifying prospective benchmarks. Moreover, the proposed model is an alternative solution for classifying inputs and outputs in DEA. Also, the proposed model is utilized in benchmarking green supply chain management.
Fraud in overseas aid and the challenge of measurement
Authors: Button Mark , Lewis Chris , Shepherd David , Brooks Graham
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the challenges of measuring fraud in overseas aid.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research is based on 21 semi-structured interviews with key persons working in the delivery of aid in both the public and voluntary sectors. It uses the UK Department for International Development as a case study to applying more accurate measures of fraud.

Findings

– This paper shows there are significant challenges to using fraud loss measurement to gauge fraud in overseas aid. However, it argues that, along with other types of measures, it could be used in areas of expenditure in overseas governments and charities to measure aid. Given the high risk of such aid to fraud, it argues helping to develop capacity to reduce aid, of which measuring the size of the problem is an important part; this could be considered as aid in its own right.

Research limitations/implications

– The researchers were not able to visit high-risk countries for fraud to examine in the local context views on the challenges of measuring fraud.

Practical implications

– The paper offers insights on the challenges to accurately measuring fraud in an overseas context, which will be useful to policy-makers in this context.

Social implications

– Given the importance of as much aid as possible reaching recipients, it offers an important contribution to helping to reduce losses in this important area.

Originality/value

– There has been very little consideration of how to measure fraud in the overseas aid context, with most effort aimed at corruption, which poses some of the same challenges, as well as some very different challenges.
Whistleblowing: a three part view
Authors: Francis R. D. , Armstrong A. F. , Foxley I
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide contrasting views on whistleblowing, and offers a three-fold view of whistleblowing. First, it gives some formal arguments. Second, it provides an account of whistleblowing from a whistle-blowers perspective. Third, it provides advice to potential whistle-blowers. Its main purpose is to outline the kinds of arguments in favour of whistleblowing, express some concerns and to provide advice in the form of suggestions.

Design/methodology/approach

– The initial two sections are provided to compare and contrast the academic and the practical consequences of deciding to blow the whistle. As such, it provides accounts that are meant to compare and contrast the two very different approaches. The final section gives suggestions for consideration for those contemplating blowing the whistle.

Findings

– The findings of this study are such that it is an argument rather then empirical data; notwithstanding, the perspectives that it brings to bear all point to the value of honesty, and its role as a justification for whistleblowing. Advice and suggestions stem from two rather different realms of discourse. The advice to prospective whistle-blowers is derived from extensive experience on the part of many. It is composed of both what questions to ask oneself, and what one must do to be self-protective.

Originality/value

– It is argued that corruption has little to commend it apart from the personal benefit of the corrupt acquisition of wealth, whereas openness and honesty appear to be a self-sustaining enterprise. Whistleblowing both enhances the quality of life in that it sustains the democratic process, and may well be related to economic prosperity. In all of this, the merit of transparency is basic.
Data breach trends in the United States
Authors: Holtfreter Robert E. , Harrington Adrian
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the trends of various types of data breaches and their compromised records in the USA using a new model recently developed by the authors.

Design/methodology/approach

– The 2,280 data breaches and over 512 million related compromised records tracked by the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse from 2005 through 2010 were analyzed and classified into four external, five internal and one non-traceable data breach categories, after which trends were determined for each.

Findings

– The findings indicate that although the trends for the annual number of data breaches and each of the internal and external categories and their related compromised records have increased over the six-year period, the changes have not been consistent from year to year.

Practical implications

– By classifying data breaches into internal and external categories with the use of this new data breach model provides an excellent methodological framework for organizations to use to develop more workable strategies for safeguarding personal information of consumers, clients, employees and other entities.

Originality/value

– The topic of data breaches remains salient to profit and nonprofit organizations, researchers, legislators, as well as criminal justice practitioners and consumer advocate groups.
Bitcoin and modern alchemy: in code we trust
Authors: Simser Jeffrey
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore the challenge posed by Bitcoin to regulators, particularly anti-money laundering regulators. Bitcoin is a crypto-currency based on open-source software and protocols that operates in peer-to-peer networks as a private irreversible payment mechanism. The protocol allows cross-border payments, for large and small items, with little or no transactional costs.

Design/methodology/approach

– Case studies and case law are examined as are relevant reports by regulators.

Findings

– Bitcoin is based on complex computer code supported by a robust community in a peer-to-peer network. Unlike other virtual currencies, Bitcoin appears to have obtained purchase and as such poses unique challenges to regulators.

Research limitations/implications

– Bitcoin is at a nascent stage and the evolution of the virtual currency is difficult to predict.

Practical implications

– Those who study financial systems, anti-money laundering regimes and asset forfeiture laws will have an interest in this topic.

Originality/value

– This is a new and emerging currency; there is limited literature on the implications of this currency to anti-money laundering systems.