bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of size tunable gold nanoparticles polymeric hybrid based on molecular nanocages
Authors: Zhang Desuo , Xiong Jiaqing , Li Chenmei , Zhang Yan , Toh Guoyang W. , Lin Hong , Chen Yuyue
Published: April 2014

A gold nanoparticles (NPs) polymeric hybrid was prepared through the reaction between HAuCl4 and polyamide network polymer (PNP). The PNP has three‐dimensional ‘nanocage’ structures and reactive amino groups incorporated in the molecular cages, so that the gold NPs can be in situ synthesised and fixed in the molecular nanocages. Owing to the volume confinement effect and the protection of the molecular nanocages, the size and the stability of the gold NPs can be controlled in a better manner. In addition, the size of the gold NPs can be tuned by changing the quantity of the precursor of the gold NPs encapsuled in the cages. Through this strategy, gold NPs with average diameters at 13.32, 11.41, 6.25 and 3.23 nm, were synthesised. These size tunable gold NPs polymeric hybrids may have a wide range of applications in many fields such as biomedicine, catalysis and optoelectronics.
Modified magnetite nanoparticles for colorimetric sensing of anionic surfactants in water
Authors: Wei Xiao‐Lan , Mo Zhi‐Hong
Published: April 2014

Determination of anionic surfactants in water is classically based on the ion pairing of anionic surfactants with the methylene blue dye. As the optical absorption peaks of the dye and the ion pair overlap each other at 662 nm, it is required that the ion pair should be separated from the dye by chloroform extraction. In this reported work, it was found that the magnetite nanoparticles coated with poly(acrylic acid) could rapidly adsorb the methyl blue dyes in water and result in an obvious shift in optical absorption from 662 to 590 nm, which realises the spectral separation of the dye and the ion pair. Accordingly, using methyl blue dyes and the modified magnetite nanoparticles, anionic surfactants in water can be directly determined without extraction and/or separation. The lower limit of detection was 0.10 mg/l, and improved to 30 μg/l by magnetic removal of the nanoparticles. The functionalised magnetite nanoparticles allowed the development of a simple procedure for colorimetric sensing of anionic surfactants without the use of hazardous chlorinated organic solvents.
IUPAC-NIST Solubility Data Series. 100. Rare Earth Metal Fluorides in Water and Aqueous Systems. Part 1. Scandium Group (Sc, Y, La)
Authors: Mioduski Tomasz , Gumiński Cezary , Zeng Dewen
Published: April 2014

This work presents an assessment of solubility data for rare earth metal fluorides (generally of trivalent metals and of CeF4) in water and in aqueous ternary systems. Compilations of all available experimental data are introduced for each rare earth metal fluoride with a corresponding critical evaluation. Every such evaluation contains a collection of all solubility results in water, a selection of suggested solubility data, and a brief discussion of the multicomponent systems. Because the ternary systems were seldom studied more than once, no critical evaluations of such data were possible. Only simple fluorides (no complexes or binary salts) are treated as the input substances in this report. The literature has been covered through the end of 2013.
Kinetics of 3He, 4He, H2, D2, Ne, and N2 sorption by bundles of single-walled carbon nanotubes. Quantum effects
Authors: Dolbin A. V. , Esel'son V. B. , Gavrilko V. G. , Manzhelii V. G. , Vinnikov N. A. , Basnukaeva R. M. , Yaskovets I. I. , Yu. Uvarova I. , Danilchenko B. A.
Published: April 2014

This is a study of the low temperature kinetics of the sorption and subsequent desorption of 3He, 4He, H2, D2, Ne, and N2 by bundles of single-wall carbon nanotubes with closed ends (c-SWNT). The characteristic times of the sorption and desorption processes are the same to within the experimental error. Annealing a sample of bundles at 500 °C greatly reduces the characteristic times and changes their temperature dependences. The effect of annealing decreased with increasing molecular weight of the dissolved gas. At temperatures below 16 K the sorption times for 3He, 4He, H2, and D2 depends weakly on temperature, which suggests a tunnel character of the sorption for these impurities by nanotube bundles. The effect of γ-irradiation of nanotube bundles on the sorption and desorption of hydrogen is qualitatively similar to the effect of annealing.
Transmission spectrum of electrons through a Thue-Morse graphene superlattice
Authors: Korol A. N.
Published: April 2014

The energy spectra of a Thue-Morse superlattice based on monolayer graphene containing a band gap are studied. The lattice consists of rectangular barriers located along the x axis. It is proposed that aperiodic Thue-Morse modulation be produced by a difference in the gap width in different elements of the superlattice. It is shown that effective splitting of the allowed bands (and, thereby, the formation of a series of gaps) under the influence of the aperiodic factor can be observed with both oblique and normal incidence of an electron wave on the superlattice. The spectra have periodicity that depends on the potential barrier height. In some segments of the spectrum, band splitting follows the Fibonacci inflation rule in each new generation. As in periodic graphene-based superlattices, a gap associated with a superlattice Dirac point is formed in all Thue-Morse generations. Its width depends substantially on the parameters of the problem; at the same time the position of this band on the energy axis depends weakly on the mass term in the hamiltonian and is independent of the superlattice period. The spectra have little dependence on the angle of incidence of the electron wave.
Using X-ray free-electron lasers for probing of complex interaction dynamics of ultra-intense lasers with solid matter
Authors: Kluge T. , Gutt C. , Huang L. G. , Metzkes J. , Schramm U. , Bussmann M. , Cowan T. E.
Published: April 2014

We demonstrate the potential of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFEL) to advance the understanding of complex plasma dynamics by allowing for the first time nanometer and femtosecond resolution at the same time in plasma diagnostics. Plasma phenomena on such short timescales are of high relevance for many fields of physics, in particular in the ultra-intense ultra-short laser interaction with matter. Highly relevant yet only partially understood phenomena become directly accessible in experiment. These include relativistic laser absorption at solid targets, creation of energetic electrons and electron transport in warm dense matter, including the seeding and development of surface and beam instabilities, ambipolar expansion, shock formation, and dynamics at the surfaces or at buried layers. In this paper, we focus on XFEL plasma probing for high power laser matter interactions based on quantitative calculations using synthesized data and evaluate the feasibility of various imaging and scattering techniques with special focus on the small angle X-ray scattering technique.
The exothermic HCl + OH·(H2O) reaction: Removal of the HCl + OH barrier by a single water molecule
Authors: Li Guoliang , Wang Hui , Li Qian-Shu , Xie Yaoming , Schaefer Henry F.
Published: April 2014

The entrance complex, transition state, and exit complex for the title reaction have been investigated using the CCSD(T) method with correlation consistent basis sets up to cc-pVQZ. The stationary point geometries for the reaction are related to but different from those for the water monomer reaction HCl + OH → Cl + H2O. Our most important conclusion is that the hydrogen-bonded water molecule removes the classical barrier entirely. For the endothermic reverse reaction Cl + (H2O)2, the second water molecule lowers the relative energies of the entrance complex, transition state, and exit complex by about 4 kcal/mol. The title reaction is exothermic by 17.7 kcal/mol. The entrance complex HCl⋯OH·(H2O) is bound by 6.9 kcal/mol relative to the separated reactants. The classical barrier height for the reverse reaction is predicted to be 16.5 kcal/mol. The exit complex Cl⋯(H2O)2 is found to lie 6.8 kcal/mol below the separated products. The potential energy surface for the Cl + (H2O)2 reaction is radically different from that for the valence isoelectronic F + (H2O)2 system.
Computational modeling and analysis of thermoelectric properties of nanoporous silicon
Authors: Li H. , Yu Y. , Li G.
Published: March 2014

In this paper, thermoelectric properties of nanoporous silicon are modeled and studied by using a computational approach. The computational approach combines a quantum non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) coupled with the Poisson equation for electrical transport analysis, a phonon Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) for phonon thermal transport analysis and the Wiedemann-Franz law for calculating the electronic thermal conductivity. By solving the NEGF/Poisson equations self-consistently using a finite difference method, the electrical conductivity σ and Seebeck coefficient S of the material are numerically computed. The BTE is solved by using a finite volume method to obtain the phonon thermal conductivity kp and the Wiedemann-Franz law is used to obtain the electronic thermal conductivity ke. The figure of merit of nanoporous silicon is calculated by ZT=S2σT/(kp+ke). The effects of doping density, porosity, temperature, and nanopore size on thermoelectric properties of nanoporous silicon are investigated. It is confirmed that nanoporous silicon has significantly higher thermoelectric energy conversion efficiency than its nonporous counterpart. Specifically, this study shows that, with a n-type doping density of 1020 cm–3, a porosity of 36% and nanopore size of 3 nm × 3 nm, the figure of merit ZT can reach 0.32 at 600 K. The results also show that the degradation of electrical conductivity of nanoporous Si due to the inclusion of nanopores is compensated by the large reduction in the phonon thermal conductivity and increase of absolute value of the Seebeck coefficient, resulting in a significantly improved ZT.
Influence of surface tension on fractal contact model
Authors: Long J. M. , Wang G. F. , Feng X. Q. , Yu S. W.
Published: March 2014

Almost all solid surfaces have roughness on different length scales, from macro, micro to nano. In the conventional fractal contact model, the macroscopic Hertzian contact theory is employed to predict the contact load-area relation for all sizes of contact spots. However, when the contact radius of an asperity shrinks to nanometers, surface tension may greatly alter the contact behavior. In the present paper, we address surface effects on the contact between a rigid sphere and an elastic half space, and we demonstrate that the contact load-area relation is size-dependent, especially for nanosized asperities. Then, the refined contact relation is incorporated into the Majumdar-Bhushan fractal contact model. It is found that the presence of surface tension requires higher load than the conventional fractal contact model to generate the same real contact area.
Split-illumination electron holography for improved evaluation of electrostatic potential associated with electrophotography
Authors: Tanigaki Toshiaki , Sato Kuniaki , Akase Zentaro , Aizawa Shinji , Soon Park Hyun , Matsuda Tsuyoshi , Murakami Yasukazu , Shindo Daisuke , Kawase Hiromitsu
Published: April 2014

Precise evaluation of the electrostatic potential distributions of and around samples with multiple charges using electron holography has long been a problem due to unknown perturbation of the reference wave. Here, we report the first practical application of split-illumination electron holography (SIEH) to tackle this problem. This method enables the use of a non-perturbed reference wave distant from the sample. SIEH revealed the electrostatic potential distributions at interfaces of the charged particles used for development in electrophotography and should lead to dramatic improvements in electrophotography.
Chemical bath deposition of cadmium sulfide on graphene-coated flexible glass substrate
Authors: Seo Won-Oh , Jung Younghun , Kim Jiwan , Kim Donghwan , Kim Jihyun
Published: April 2014

We demonstrate a flexible structure of cadmium sulfide (CdS) on graphene-coated glass substrate, where CdS was deposited by the chemical bath deposition method on defective tri-layer graphene. The defects in graphene, confirmed by micro-Raman spectroscopy, were created by a ultra-violet treatment with varying exposure time from 10 to 60 min. The number of defect sites in the graphene as a seed layer was related to the quality of the CdS thin films determined from the results from X-ray diffraction, optical transmittance, scanning electron microscopy, and room temperature micro-photoluminescence. Our film-on-substrate structure of CdS-graphene-on-glass was maintained up to a tensile strain of 0.3%, where graphene with a high failure strain was employed as a transparent conductive layer.
Note: Pseudo-charge-driver for grounded piezoelectric actuators with high linearity
Authors: Zhang Liansheng , Zhang Jie , Feng Zhihua
Published: April 2014

This paper proposed a new method to drive grounded piezoelectric actuators linearly with high voltage using mirror actuator. One actuator is used for reference which is under charge drive while the other one named target actuator is under voltage drive, but the voltages applied on them are always the same. Both actuators show a very good linearity between the control voltage and their displacement. Two similar piezoelectric stacks were used to prove the principle. The experiments show that the displacement of the target actuator varies linearly with the control voltage, the total raw nonlinearity is less than 1%.
Dynamics in a nonlinear Keynesian good market model
Authors: Naimzada Ahmad , Pireddu Marina
Published: April 2014

In this paper, we show how a rich variety of dynamical behaviors can emerge in the standard Keynesian income-expenditure model when a nonlinearity is introduced, both in the cases with and without endogenous government spending. A specific sigmoidal functional form is used for the adjustment mechanism of income with respect to the excess demand, in order to bound the income variation. With the aid of analytical and numerical tools, we investigate the stability conditions, bifurcations, as well as periodic and chaotic dynamics. Globally, we study multistability phenomena, i.e., the coexistence of different kinds of attractors.
Role of the interface on radiation damage in the SrTiO3/LaAlO3 heterostructure under Ne2+ ion irradiation
Authors: Bi Zhenxing , Uberuaga Blas P. , Vernon L. J. , Aguiar Jeffery A. , Fu Engang , Zheng Shijian , Zhang Shixiong , Wang Yongqiang , Misra Amit , Jia Quanxi
Published: April 2014

We systematically investigated the microstructural evolution of heteroepitaxial SrTiO3 (STO) thin films grown on a single crystal LaAlO3 (LAO) (001) substrate, focusing on the response of the STO/LAO interface to Ne2+ irradiation at room temperature. Cross sectional transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis reveals that the LAO crystal amorphizes first after a relatively low dose of damage followed by the amorphization of the STO film after irradiation to a higher dose. While the critical dose to amorphize differs between each material, amorphization begins at the interface and proceeds outward in both cases. Thus, a crystalline/amorphous interface first forms at the STO/LAO interface by a dose of 1 dpa, and then an amorphous/amorphous interface forms when the dose reaches 3 dpa. Scanning TEM and x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy indicate no significant heavy cation elemental diffusion, though electron energy loss spectroscopy reveals a redistribution of oxygen across the film/substrate interface after Ne2+ irradiation. Atomistic calculations are used to interpret the experimental findings in terms of the defect properties in each of the two component phases.
Kinetic Implication from Temperature Effect on Hydrogen Evolution Reaction at Ag Electrode
Authors: Kang Jing , Lin Chu-hong , Yao Yao , Chen Yan-xia
Published: March 2014

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at polycrystalline silver electrode in 0.1 mol/L HClO4 solution is investigated by cyclic voltammetry in the temperature range of 278–333 K. We found that at electrode potential φ<PZC (potential of zero charge), the apparent activation energy Ea, app decreases with φ, while pre-exponential factor A remains nearly unchanged, which conforms well the prediction from Butler-Volmer equation. In contrast, with φ negative shifts from the onset potential for HER to the potential of zero charge (PZC≈− 0.4 V), both Ea,app and A for HER increase (e.g., Ea,app increases from 24 kJ/mol to 32 kJ/mol). The increase in Ea,app and A with negative shift in φ from −0.25 V to PZC is explained by the increases of both internal energy change and entropy change from reactants to the transition states, which is correlated with the change in the hydrogen bond network during HER. The positive entropy effects overcompensate the adverse effect from the increase in the activation energy, which leads to a net increase in HER current with the activation energy negative shift from the onset potential of HER to PZC. It is pointed out that entropy change may contribute greatly to the kinetics for electrode reaction which involves the transfer of electron and proton, such as HER.
Nonlinear microscopy looks beneath the surface of historic artwork
Authors: Miller Johanna L.
Published: April 2014

For the first time, it’s possible to create depth-resolved images of a painting without damaging it.
A fruit-fly gene network may be tuned to a critical point
Authors: Miller Johanna L.
Published: April 2014

Precise measurements of fluctuations and correlations in gene expression levels reveal some striking behavior.
Grid-scale battery research flows with ARPA–E support
Authors: Kramer David
Published: April 2014

The agency is funding more than 20 projects, including flow batteries, aimed at reducing the cost of storing energy from wind and solar sources and smoothing variations in peak power generation.
Nuclear proliferation and testing: A tale of two treaties
Authors: Corden Pierce S. , Hafemeister David
Published: April 2014

Despite progress in reducing stockpiles after the end of the Cold War, the disturbing actions of some nations could spread nuclear weapon capabilities and enlarge existing arsenals.
Scaling of pores in 3D images of Latosols (Oxisols) with contrasting mineralogy under a conservation management system
Authors: Carducci Carla Eloize , César de Oliveira Geraldo , Curi Nilton , Heck Richard John , Rossoni Diogo Francisco
Published: March 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the spatial and morphological configuration of the pore space in 3D images of Latosols with different mineralogy under a conservation tillage system in a coffee crop area. The visualisation and quantification of pore size distribution by data mining and spatial variability by semi-variogams were investigated in 3D images with 60-µm spatial resolution generated by X-ray CT scan (EVS/GE MS8x-130) in soil core samples collected at different depths of a kaolinitic Red-Yellow Latosol (RYL) and a gibbsitic Red Latosol (RL) from Brazil. Greater spatial variability occurred in the horizontal direction of the 3D image, a novel finding in this area of research. The pores detected were different between the Latosols studied, mainly at 0.20–0.34 m depth. The largest number (>4000) and volume (±30 mm3) of pores was found in the RL. The soil classes differed in 3D pore characteristics, and this aspect may be important in the characterisation of causes of pore variability. Sphericity was similar for both soils, with greater emphasis on pore classes with a diameter <0.4 mm, mainly at the 0.20–0.34 m depth. A higher percentage of spheroid pores occurred in RL (±25%), whereas the platy pores were more abundant in RYL (>15%).
Is quantity or quality of food influencing the reproduction of rice-field rats in the Philippines?
Authors: Htwe Nyo Me , Singleton Grant R.
Published: April 2014

Context
Asynchronous or aseasonal planting of rice crops can extend the period when high-quality food is available to rodents. Consequently, rodents may extend their breeding season, increasing population densities. An improved understanding of the effects of food availability and quality on rodent reproduction may enable better forecasts of high rodent population densities in response to asynchronous or aseasonal planting of crops.

Aim
The present study examined the association between the quality and quantity of food and the reproductive success of female rice-field rats, Rattus tanezumi and Rattus argentiventer, in a lowland rice landscape in the Philippines.

Methods
We evaluated the main dietary components of female rats on two different islands through a cropping season during the 2010 wet season. The breeding performance of 60 female R. tanezumi and 60 R. argentiventer individuals was measured.

Key results
Our findings indicated the following: (1) the main dietary items for females of both rodent species during the main breeding season (the booting stage to harvest) were rice panicles and rice seeds; (2) the high protein content of the rice crop at the tillering stage triggered the onset of the main breeding season, leading to the highest rates of conception during the booting and ripening stages; (3) the quantity of food available at the stubble stage provided sufficient nutrient to maintain pregnancy and lactation by females; and (4) asynchronous planting and poor harvest technology could extend the breeding season of rice-field rats.

Conclusions
We contend that the extension of the growing season by 3–4 weeks provides high-quality food for rodents, which in turn provides sufficient conditions for higher population densities. The availability of spilled rice grain at the stubble stage is a source of good-quality food for pregnant and lactating females, allowing extension of the breeding season.

Implications
Synchronous planting (within 2 weeks) with good post-harvest management of rice stubble are important to prevent high population densities of rice-field rats in lowland rice landscapes in the Philippines.
Solid-state electron transport via cytochrome
c
depends on electronic coupling to electrodes and across the protein
Authors: Amdursky Nadav , Ferber Doron , Bortolotti Carlo Augusto , Dolgikh Dmitry A. , Chertkova Rita V. , Pecht Israel , Sheves Mordechai , Cahen David
Published: April 2014

Significance

How well a protein conducts electrical current depends on both the chemical nature of the protein and its contacts to the electrodes between which currents are carried. Investigating conduction via protein monolayers, we find that covalent binding to electrodes doubles room temperature conduction and halves its thermal activation energy. At low temperatures, where transport is by tunneling, covalent binding increases conduction up to 10-fold. To examine the electrical conduction across the protein, we used seven different cytochrome
c
mutants with surface-exposed cysteine, providing distinct electrode–heme orientations and distances. Remarkably, currents do not depend on the electrodes’ separation distance as set by a given protein binding orientation but rather on the distance between the heme and one of the electrodes.
Spatial constraints control cell proliferation in tissues
Authors: Streichan Sebastian J. , Hoerner Christian R. , Schneidt Tatjana , Holzer Daniela , Hufnagel Lars
Published: April 2014

Significance

Spatiotemporal coordination of cell growth underlies tissue development and disease. Mechanical feedback between cells has been proposed as a regulatory mechanism for growth control both in vivo and in cultured cells undergoing contact inhibition of proliferation. Evidence beyond theoretical and correlative observations falls short. In this study, we probe the impact of mechanical tissue perturbations on cell cycle progression by monitoring cell cycle dynamics of cells in tissues subject to acute changes in boundary conditions, as well as tissue stretching and compression. Taken together, we conclude that the ability of tissues to support cell cycle progression adapts to the available space through a memory-free control mechanism, which may coordinate proliferation patterns to maintain tissue homeostasis.
Overexpression of a DENND1A isoform produces a polycystic ovary syndrome theca phenotype
Authors: McAllister Jan M. , Modi Bhavi , Miller Bruce A. , Biegler Jessica , Bruggeman Richard , Legro Richard S. , Strauss Jerome F.
Published: April 2014

Significance

Family-based studies revealed that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrinopathy of women, has a genetic basis. Genome-wide association studies identifiedDENND1Aas a PCOS locus, but its role in PCOS was unknown. We report that an alternatively spliced form ofDENND1A(DENND1A.V2) is increased in PCOS theca cells, the source of the excess androgens that characterizes PCOS. Forced expression of DENND1A.V2 in normal theca cells increased expression of genes encoding steroidogenic enzymes, leading to augmented androgen biosynthesis, whereas silencing of DENND1A.V2 in PCOS theca cells reverts them to a normal phenotype. Our findings establish that increased DENND1A.V2 expression is sufficient to promote a PCOS phenotype in human theca cells, information that can inform development of diagnostic tests as well as novel therapeutic interventions.
A frameshifting stimulatory stem loop destabilizes the hybrid state and impedes ribosomal translocation
Authors: Kim Hee-Kyung , Liu Fei , Fei Jingyi , Bustamante Carlos , Gonzalez Ruben L. , Tinoco Ignacio
Published: April 2014

Significance

A ribosomal frameshift occurs when the ribosome slips by one or more nucleotides on the messenger RNA (mRNA) during translation. Programmed ribosomal frameshifting produces more than one protein from a single mRNA and is tightly regulated by mRNA sequence and structure. Using single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer, we studied the effects of a frameshifting stimulatory mRNA structure on the ribosomal conformational dynamics and translocation rate. Our results show that the structure shifts the conformational equilibrium of ribosomal complexes away from conformations that favor the translocation process, resulting in slowed translocation. We propose that the downstream structure traps ribosomal complexes in the fluctuating conformational states of the translocation process and thus allows more opportunities for frameshifting.
Chapter 4. Methods and argumentation in historical linguistics
Authors: Nagy C. Katalin
Published: April 2014

The present chapter aims to discuss some properties of historical linguistics argumentation, through the analysis of examples taken from actual research practice. Relying on Kertész and Rákosi’s (2012) p-model of scientific theorizing, it compares three competing accounts of the historical development of the Catalan construction “anar ‘go’ + infinitive”, namely, those provided in Colon (1979a, b), in Detges (2004) and in Juge (2006). The simultaneous plausibility of some statements and their negations in the starting p-context formed by these three approaches leads to a p-inconsistency, which is eliminated by the extension of the starting p-context and, then, the coordination of the extended p-context. The analysis of historical research practice from a methodological point of view suggests that the development of the Catalan “anar ‘go’ + infinitive” construction finds the most satisfactory explanation under Juge’s (2006) proposal, which uses sources, research methods and argumentation techniques traditionally accepted in historical linguistics.
Being the change: protest as performative discourse in the Occupy Portland encampment
Authors: Melina Lois Ruskai
Published: April 2014

A study of the lived experience of seven protesters who participated in the encampment associated with the Occupy movement in Portland, Oregon in the fall of 2011 revealed that the encampment functioned as both performance intended to engage external audiences in the goals of the movement and as a performative discourse that constituted a caring community that broke down socioeconomic barriers of wealth, class, education, race, and gender. This suggests that protests do not have to be targeted at external audiences to create change and raises questions about the role individual lifestyles play in advancing the goals of social movements.
Limit functions of discrete dynamical systems
Authors: Beise H.-P. , Meyrath T. , Müller J.
Published: April 2014

In the theory of dynamical systems, the notion of

ω
\omega

-limit sets of points is classical. In this paper, the existence of limit functions on subsets of the underlying space is treated. It is shown that in the case of topologically mixing systems on appropriate metric spaces

(
X
,
d
)

(X,d)

, the existence of at least one limit function on a compact subset

A
A

of

X
X

implies the existence of plenty of them on many supersets of

A
A

. On the other hand, such sets necessarily have to be small in various respects. The results for general discrete systems are applied in the case of Julia sets of rational functions and in particular in the case of the existence of Siegel disks.
Royal Regencies in Renaissance and Reformation Europe, 1400–1700
Authors: Monter E. William
Published: March 2014

“Regent” is a convenient general term to describe persons temporarily replacing the official sovereign of a major state who was either too young to govern, physically absent for a lengthy period, or undeniably insane. Such surrogate rulers might serve anywhere from a few months to more than twenty years, and their powers varied with the circumstances for appointing them; adult princes living abroad tried to retain as much personal authority as possible. In Renaissance and Early Modern Europe, such representatives were generally close relatives of the sovereign, uncles or mothers being the most common choices. Male regents might make themselves sovereigns, usually through violence; this occurred four times between 1483 and 1683 in states as different as England and Russia (a fifth regent married his employer’s daughter). Or they might suffer violence themselves; three of Scotland’s four regents were either murdered or beheaded between 1570 and 1581. Entrusting regencies to women prevented both usurpation and violence, and Renaissance Europe saw an increasing acceptance of women as suitable regents, particularly in France—Europe’s only major kingdom that completely prohibited female succession. While both traditional types of female regents—mothers of underage boys and wives of absent kings—continued to serve in this capacity, one also finds aunts, sisters, daughters, and even a grandmother governing major states in western Europe by the time John Knox published his notorious First Blast of the Trumpet against the Monstrous Regiment of Women. However, there were limits to accepting women as regents. No wife or female kin ever became the official substitute for a mentally incapacitated ruler, and female regents seem rare throughout northern and eastern Europe; Knox’s Scotland had many extremely long royal minorities, but no female regents before 1513 or after 1560.
Popular Culture and Globalization
Authors: Benavides O. Hugo
Published: March 2014

Latin America has never been an isolated geographical and cultural region. This global interaction has only manifested itself more poignantly since the 1960s, since in the last half of the 20th century, Latin American communities have developed and experienced a series of political (e.g., civil strife, return to democratic rule), socioeconomic (e.g., IMF structural adjustment policies, oil exports), and cultural (e.g., mass media production, migration) processes. The recent selection of Brazil as the site for both the World Cup 2014 and Olympics 2016 reemphasizes these global relationships. Latin Americans continue to be global players who produce distinct cultural lifeways within wider worldwide concerns and exchanges. Latin American popular cultural elements in particular are impacted by global flows that rearticulate the modes by which this cultural production is created, reproduced, negotiated, and consumed. To this degree, Latin American popular culture makes significant contribution in a myriad of manner and areas. In this article, the areas of popular cultural influence are divided into topics (i.e., music, theater, and performance, literature and telenovelas) and cultural products/encounters (i.e., narco culture, migration, Latino identity, and lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered/queer struggles). These two different types of categorization are metonymic devices that serve to highlight, not exhaust, the popular cultural expressions within the greater local-global structure that orders the reproduction and representation of culture in our contemporary world, a cultural representation significantly highlighted in this contribution. Latin Americans, as a result of transnational processes, continue to be important players in these larger regional landscapes but also contribute greater forms of cultural products and encounters that provide continuous spaces of agency, social transformation, and hope.
Iyengar Yoga for Adolescents and Young Adults With Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Evans Subhadra , Lung Kirsten C. , Seidman Laura C. , Sternlieb Beth , Zeltzer Lonnie K. , Tsao Jennie C.I.
Published: April 2014

Objectives:

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic, disabling condition that greatly compromises patient functioning. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a 6‐week twice per week Iyengar yoga (IY) program on IBS symptoms in adolescents and young adults (YA) with IBS compared with a usual‐care waitlist control group.

Methods:

Assessments of symptoms, global improvement, pain, health‐related quality of life, psychological distress, functional disability, fatigue, and sleep were collected pre‐ and posttreatment. Weekly ratings of pain, IBS symptoms, and global improvement were also recorded until 2‐month follow‐up. A total of 51 participants completed the intervention (yoga = 29; usual‐care waitlist = 22).

Results:

Baseline attrition was 24%. On average, the yoga group attended 75% of classes. Analyses were divided by age group. Relative to controls, adolescents (14–17 years) assigned to yoga reported significantly improved physical functioning, whereas YA (18–26 years) assigned to yoga reported significantly improved IBS symptoms, global improvement, disability, psychological distress, sleep quality, and fatigue. Although abdominal pain intensity was statistically unchanged, 44% of adolescents and 46% of YA reported a minimally clinically significant reduction in pain following yoga, and one‐third of YA reported clinically significant levels of global symptom improvement. Analysis of the uncontrolled effects and maintenance of treatment effects for adolescents revealed global improvement immediately post‐yoga that was not maintained at follow‐up. For YA, global improvement, worst pain, constipation, and nausea were significantly improved postyoga, but only global improvement, worst pain, and nausea maintained at the 2‐month follow‐up.

Conclusions:

The findings suggest that a brief IY intervention is a feasible and safe adjunctive treatment for young people with IBS, leading to benefits in a number of IBS‐specific and general functioning domains for YA. The age‐specific results suggest that yoga interventions may be most fruitful when developmentally tailored.
Bis[bis(2,2′-bipyridine-κ2N,N′)(carbonato-κ2O,O′)cobalt(III)] 2-{4-[(carboxylatomethyl)carbamoyl]benzamido}acetate hexahydrate
Authors: Pook Niels-Patrick , Gjikaj Mimoza , Adam Arnold
Published: April 2014

The complex cation of the title compound, [Co(CO3)(C10H8N2)2]2(C12H10N2O6)·6H2O, contains a CoIIIatom with a distorted octahedral coordination environment formed by four N atoms from two bidentate 2,2′-bipyridine ligands and one bidentate carbonate anion. The asymmetric unit is completed by one-half of the 2-({4-[(carboxylatomethyl)carbamoyl]phenyl}formamido)acetate dianion, which is located on a centre of inversion, and by three water molecules. Two [Co(CO3)(C10H8N2)2]+cations are connected through C—H...O contacts by the uncoordinating anions. The aromatic rings of the 2,2′-bipyridine ligands and diacetate anions are involved in π–π stacking and C—H...π interactions. The centroid–centroid distances are in the range 3.4898 (4)–3.6384 (5) Å. The crystal structure is stabilized by further O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds, which give rise to a three-dimensional supramolecular network.
Determinants of employee engagement and their impact on employee performance
Authors: J. Anitha
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the key determinants of employee engagement and their predictability of the concept. It also studies the impact of employee engagement on employee performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– Causal study was done to study the impact of relationships. A survey questionnaire was developed and validated using a pilot data (a=0.975). Simple random sampling was used to select the employees from middle and lower managerial levels from small-scale organisations. A total of 700 questionnaires were distributed and 383 valid responses collected. Regression and structural equation modelling were used to predict and estimate the relationships.

Findings

– It was found that all the identified factors were predictors of employee engagement (r2, 0.672), however, the variables that had major impact were working environment and team and co-worker relationship. Employee engagement had significant impact on employee performance (r2, 0.597).

Practical implications

– Special focus and effort is required specifically on the factors working-environment and team and co-worker relationship as they have shown significantly higher impact on employee engagement and hence employee performance. Organisations shall focus on presenting a great environment for employees to work and promote programmes that would enhance peer relationships.

Social implications

– The determinants of employee engagement connote a healthy working atmosphere that reflects on the social impact created by the organisation. Employees would enjoy considerable attention in terms of the determinants being addressed.

Originality/value

– The research emphasises the growing importance and need for crystallisation of the concept of employee engagement. The research is unique in respect to the comprehensive model that is developed and validated.
Why continuous improvement initiatives fail in manufacturing environments? A systematic review of the evidence
Authors: McLean Richard , Antony Jiju
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the core themes derived from literature that contribute to the failure of continuous improvement initiatives in the manufacturing industry.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach taken was to complete a systematic review of literature, grouping the failure factors through the use of idea maps and affinity diagrams into the core themes reported.

Findings

– From the review it is evident that continuous improvement initiatives can fail due to a multitude of factors; but that these can be grouped under eight core themes. The themes found to contribute to the failure of continuous improvement initiatives are: Motives and Expectations, Organizational Culture and Environment, The Management Leadership, Implementation Approach, Training, Project Management, Employee Involvement Levels, and Feedback and Results. These themes have been further categorized into a three-stage model.

Research limitations/implications

– The review was carried out using a selection of high-quality journals, although this may have restricted the findings. The research is also limited to manufacturing, so it is unknown if the same factors impact initiatives in the service or public sectors. Continuous improvement is defined for the purpose of the study as TQM, Lean, and Six Sigma.

Originality/value

– From a practical perspective, the research findings create awareness for organizations of the complexity of organizational change in the form of continuous improvement implementation.
Modifying the cash conversion cycle: revealing concealed advance payments
Authors: Talonpoika Anna-Maria , Monto Sari , Pirttilä Miia , Kärri Timo
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The cash conversion cycle (CCC) is widely used in the academic studies of working capital management and supply chain efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a modification of this measure that takes into account advance payments as a component of operational working capital.

Design/methodology/approach

– A new measure, the modified cash conversion cycle (mCCC) is introduced and tested with empirical data of companies in Helsinki Stock Exchange.

Findings

– The mCCC reveals the real efficiency of operational working capital in companies that receive advance payments to a remarkable extent.

Research limitations/implications

– The mCCC can be used in empirical analysis in academic studies. In this paper, the empirical data are used only for testing the mCCC. The paper concerns received advance payments, but the mCCC can also be extended also to other components of operational working capital ignored by the traditional CCC.

Practical implications

– The paper offers insights into the variations of CCC for class teachers, and business practitioners, particularly financiers, who deal with operational working capital, cash flow predictions and calculations.

Originality/value

– There are current items that may have a remarkable effect on operational working capital, but traditionally only inventories, accounts receivable and accounts payable are discussed. The authors argue that also other current items should be taken into account, if they affect the efficiency of operational working capital. The new mCCC is encouraged to be used instead of the CCC when observing working capital management.
Building loyalty through functional and hedonic quality
Authors: Del Mar Alonso-Almeida Maria , Bernardo Merce , Llach Josep , Marimon Frederic
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose and test an e-quality model for leisure products purchased online. Two dimensions are considered in order to configure the scale: functional quality and hedonic quality.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on a survey conducted on a sample of 1,109 online customers who had bought travel leisure products, the model and hypotheses were validated using structural equation modeling analysis.

Findings

– The results reveal that both quality dimensions, through an e-quality second order dimension, are critical to obtaining loyalty through perceived value. In terms of functional quality, however, privacy is not significant for consumers because security programs have improved. Moreover, the e-quality – perceived value – loyalty service chain has been confirmed. In addition, a partial mediating effect of perceived value between e-quality and loyalty has been detected.

Practical implications

– e-Service managers must be aware of the importance of hedonic quality in seeking to attract and retain customers on their web sites. On the other hand, it has to be considered not only direct effects for evaluating customer loyalty, but also the mediator effect of perceived value is needed.

Originality/value

– From now on, the paper forecasts that “hedonics” will be present in future scales designed to assess e-quality, although what is really valued as important is still functional quality.
Emotions and ERP information sourcing: the moderating role of expertise
Authors: Leger Pierre-Majorique , Riedl René , vom Brocke Jan
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report on a laboratory experiment in which the paper investigated how expert and novice users differ in their emotional responses during use of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system in a decision-making context, and how such a difference affects information sourcing behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

– In a simulated SAP business environment, participants’ emotional responses were physiologically measured based on electrodermal activity (EDA) while they made business decisions.

Findings

– Results show that both expert and novice users exhibit considerable EDA activity during their interaction with the ERP system, indicating that ERP use is an emotional process for both groups. However, the findings also indicate that experts’ emotional responses led to their sourcing information from the ERP, while novices’ emotional responses led to their sourcing information from other people.

Research limitations/implications

– From an academic standpoint, this paper responds to the recent call for more research on the role of emotions for information systems behavior.

Practical implications

– The paper discusses the implications of this finding for the development of ERP system trainings.

Originality/value

– Because emotions often do not reach users’ awareness level, the paper used EDA, a neurophysiological measure, to capture users’ emotional responses during ERP decision making, instead of using self-report measures that depend on conscious perception. Based on this method, the paper found that emotions can lead to different behavioral reactions, depending on whether the user is an expert or novice.
Founder-key leaders, group-level decision teams, and the international expansion of business groups
Authors: Lin Wen-Ting
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to draw the perspective of dynamic adjustment costs, the author developed hypotheses regarding the relationships between the internationalization of business groups and first, key leaders of business groups who helped found the groups (i.e. founder-key leaders); second, business groups’ group-level decision teams where the majority of positions are held by members of the founding family (i.e. family-dominated decision teams); and third, business groups’ group-level decision teams where strong ties exist among these teams (i.e. strong-tie decision teams) because group-level top managers are simultaneously top managers of group affiliates.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study used generalized least squares fixed-effects models to test its arguments about longitudinal data pertaining to 173 Taiwanese business groups’ foreign direct investments over a period of five years (2004-2008).

Findings

– The results show that the presence of a founder-key leader and strong-tie group-level decision teams in a business group can positively affect the internationalization of business groups. However, family-dominated group-level decision teams in a business group can adversely affect the internationalization of business groups.

Research limitations/implications

– Using a dynamic managerial-capacities perspective, this study provides alternative explanations regarding the degree of business groups’ internationalization to demonstrate the links among business groups’ key leaders, group-level decision teams, and internationalization.

Practical implications

– When deciding whether to expand abroad, managers at a given business group should carefully consider the characteristics of the group's management team because business groups engaging in such expansion are likely to incur dynamic adjustment costs. In this case, the dynamic managerial capacities of a business group play an important role in enabling the group to decrease dynamic adjustment costs. The differences among a group-level key leader's traits, a family-dominated group-level decision team's traits, and a strong-tie group-level decision team's traits will lead to distinct levels of dynamic managerial capacities within the group.

Originality/value

– Given the increasing number of business groups entering international markets, this paper rests on the perspective of dynamic managerial capabilities and uses group-level evidence to clarify how the characteristics of key leaders and the characteristics of group-level decision teams in business groups affect the groups’ international expansion.