bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A differential photodetector: Detecting light modulations using transient photocurrents
Authors: Reissig Louisa , Dalgleish Simon , Awaga Kunio
Published: January 2016

Inserting an insulating layer (I) into a conventional metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodiode converts the DC photoresponse into a strong transient signal, highly applicable to modulated signal photodetection. In this study, we demonstrate the intrinsic benefits of organic MISM photodetectors, namely their effective operation under high steady-state lighting, responding only to changes in light intensity, and their ability to react to several light sources simultaneously. Furthermore, the strong interaction at the S/I interface, specific to this architecture, significantly enhances the device photoresponse, resulting in highly efficient differential photodetection, compared to a composite MSM + C device fabricated from identical elements.
Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Mn2CoAl thin film
Authors: Sun N. Y. , Zhang Y. Q. , Fu H. R. , Che W. R. , You C. Y. , Shan R.
Published: January 2016

Heusler compound Mn2CoAl (MCA) is attracting more attentions due to many novel properties, such as high resistance, semiconducting behavior and suggestion as a spin-gapless material with a low magnetic moment. In this work, Mn2CoAl epitaxial thin film was prepared on MgO(100) substrate by magnetron sputtering. The transport property of the film exhibits a semiconducting-like behavior. Moreover, our research reveals that perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) can be induced in very thin Mn2CoAl films resulting from Mn-O and Co-O bonding at Mn2CoAl/MgO interface, which coincides with a recent theoretical prediction. PMA and low saturation magnetic moment could lead to large spin-transfer torque with low current density in principle, and thus our work may bring some unanticipated Heusler compounds into spintronics topics such as the domain wall motion and the current-induced magnetization reversal.
Electronic states in spherical GaN nanocrystals embedded in various dielectric matrices: The k ⋅ p-calculations
Authors: Konakov A. A. , Filatov D. O. , Korolev D. S. , Belov A. I. , Mikhaylov A. N. , Tetelbaum D. I. , Kumar Mahesh
Published: January 2016

Using the envelope-function approximation, the single-particle states of electrons and holes in spherical GaN nanocrystals embedded in different amorphous dielectric matrices (SiO2, Al2O3, HfO2 and Si3N4) have been calculated. Ground state energies of electrons and holes in GaN nanocrystals are determined using the isotropic approximation of the k ⋅ p -Hamiltonian. All the ground state energies are found to increase with lowering the nanocrystal size and are proportional to the R−n, where R is the nanocrystal radius, n =1.5-1.9 for electrons and 1.7-2.0 for holes. The optical gap of GaN nanocrystals changes from 3.8 to 5 eV for the nanocrystal radius ranging from 3 to 1 nm.
Room-temperature fabrication of light-emitting thin films based on amorphous oxide semiconductor
Authors: Kim Junghwan , Miyokawa Norihiko , Ide Keisuke , Toda Yoshitake , Hiramatsu Hidenori , Hosono Hideo , Kamiya Toshio
Published: January 2016

We propose a light-emitting thin film using an amorphous oxide semiconductor (AOS) because AOS has low defect density even fabricated at room temperature. Eu-doped amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O thin films fabricated at room temperature emitted intense red emission at 614 nm. It is achieved by precise control of oxygen pressure so as to suppress oxygen-deficiency/excess-related defects and free carriers. An electronic structure model is proposed, suggesting that non-radiative process is enhanced mainly by defects near the excited states. AOS would be a promising host for a thin film phosphor applicable to flexible displays as well as to light-emitting transistors.
The practice manager role and relevance to general practice-based research: a review of the literature
Authors: Wood Anna , Hocking Jane , Temple-Smith Meredith
Published: January 2016

Research based in Australian general practice is essential to ensure that health care provided in this setting is evidenced-based and delivered effectively. Research designed for general practice must be feasible and acceptable to general practitioners (GPs) and practice managers (PMs), who are responsible for coordinating practice activities. However, little is known about the PM role and their contribution to research undertaken in general practice. The aim of this systematic review is to examine this role and its relevance to the conduct of general practice-based research. Databases searched (Medline, PubMed, CINAHL and Scopus) identified six relevant studies. One study investigated the role of the PM in general practice-based research and five examined aspects of the PM role. Data about study design, number and type of participants and findings was extracted and managed using a matrix framework. The limited findings suggested PMs are interested in managing research at the practice level. The PM is central to practice communication and coordination but the role varies depending on qualifications, size of practice and expectations of the GPs. This paper highlights the paucity of evidence about the PM role and their contribution to the conduct of research undertaken in general practice. Further investigation is required to gain insights into establishing and managing future research in Australian general practice.
What researchers think of involving consumers in health research
Authors: Lawn Sharon
Published: January 2016

Involving consumers in research enhances its quality and appropriateness, and is required within many research funding schemes. While the rationale for consumer involvement is understood, its implementation is unclear. The researcher investigated views of a group of Australia’s leading researchers (n=38) about the role of consumers in their research using a brief survey administered at the Australia National Health and Medical Research (NHMRC) Translation Conference in 2014. Interpretive content analysis was used for data analysis. Respondents noted the importance of consumer involvement in the planning and design of research, to ensure its relevance to the community as end-users of research outcomes. Therefore, consumers were seen as central to research translation by the respondents. Many respondents perceived empathy for the experiences of others as a fundamental researcher skill. Despite strong acknowledgement of the benefits of consumer involvement in research, gaps exist between the rhetoric and practice of consumer involvement beyond consultative roles. Power over decisions made about research processes and ownership of research are continuing barriers to greater consumer involvement in research. Structural changes to how research is funded, evaluated and reported provide a means of addressing these gaps. NHMRC leadership is needed to promote these changes.
Future projections of child oral-related hospital admission rates in Western Australia
Authors: Alsharif Alla , Kruger Estie , Tennant Marc
Published: January 2016

This study aimed to project the hospital admission rates of Western Australian children for oral conditions, with a particular focus on dental caries, embedded and impacted teeth, and pulp and periapical conditions through to the year 2026. Two methods were used to generate projection data through to the year 2026, using the Western Australian Hospital Morbidity Dataset for the period 1999–2000 to 2008–2009. The projected admission rate increase in those children aged 14 years and younger from 2000 to 2026 was 43%. The admission rates are expected to more than double over time (7317 cases in 2026 compared to only 3008 cases in 2000) for those children living in metropolitan areas. Dental caries, embedded and impacted teeth, and pulp and periapical conditions will remain the top (mostly) preventable causes of admission throughout this time. Anticipating the future burden of oral-related hospital admissions in children, in terms of expected numbers of cases, is vital for optimising the resource allocation for early diagnosis, prevention and treatment. A concerted effort will be required by policymakers and oral healthcare communities to effect substantial change for the future.
Solution strokes
Authors: Hauser Eric
Published: January 2016

Downward stroke gestures which are produced in conjunction with the solution of speaking trouble, such as a word search, during English language discussions among Japanese university students, are described and labeled solution strokes. Similar gestures that involve striking something are labeled solution strikes. These gestures can be understood as the gestural component of the utterance which solves the trouble. They index the subjective experience of the trouble and its solution and possibly a positive affective stance toward the solution. Solution strokes are argued to be the gestural component of a solution and it is shown that understanding the meaning of a solution stroke requires attending to how it is situated in the local context.
Iconicity in vocalization, comparisons with gesture, and implications for theories on the evolution of language
Authors: Perlman Marcus , Cain Ashley A.
Published: January 2016

Scholars have often reasoned that vocalizations are extremely limited in their potential for iconic expression, especially in comparison to manual gestures (e.g., Armstrong & Wilcox, 2007; Tomasello, 2008). As evidence for an alternative view, we first review the growing body of research related to iconicity in vocalizations, including experimental work on sound symbolism, cross-linguistic studies documenting iconicity in the grammars and lexicons of languages, and experimental studies that examine iconicity in the production of speech and vocalizations. We then report an experiment in which participants created vocalizations to communicate 60 different meanings, including 30 antonymic pairs. The vocalizations were measured along several acoustic properties, and these properties were compared between antonyms. Participants were highly consistent in the kinds of sounds they produced for the majority of meanings, supporting the hypothesis that vocalization has considerable potential for iconicity. In light of these findings, we present a comparison between vocalization and manual gesture, and examine the detailed ways in which each modality can function in the iconic expression of particular kinds of meanings. We further discuss the role of iconic vocalizations and gesture in the evolution of language since our divergence from the great apes. In conclusion, we suggest that human communication is best understood as an ensemble of kinesis andvocalization, not just speech, in which expression in both modalities spans the range from arbitrary to iconic.
Context counts
Authors: de Marchena Ashley B. , Eigsti Inge-Marie
Published: January 2016

Co-speech gestures in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are poorly understood. Historically, all gestures were thought to be reduced in this social-communicative disorder; however, reduced gestures have not been consistently demonstrated in the empirical literature. Just as protodeclarative pointing is reduced in young children with ASD, while protoimperative pointing is not, the variedfunctionsof co-speech gesture may explain these mixed findings. Verbally fluent adolescents with ASD (n = 18) and controls (n = 18) completed anarrative taskand a standardizedexecutive function task. Gestures on the narrative task, which serve a wide range of social and cognitive functions, were reduced in ASD. Gestures on the executive function task, which serve primarily cognitive functions, were increased in ASD. Gesturefunctionmay be the best predictor of the presence or absence of gesture in ASD. Despite reduced social-communicative gestures, individuals with ASD may benefit from gesture’s internal, cognitive functions.
El modelo nebrisense delArte de la lengua mexicana(1547) de fray Andrés de Olmos
Authors: Baños Baños José Miguel , Téllez Nieto Heréndira
Published: January 2016

Tal como se ha señalado reiteradamente, el trabajo gramatical y lexicográfico de los primeros evangelizadores del Nuevo Mundo se vio profundamente influido por la obra de Antonio de Nebrija (1441/44–1522) y, muy especialmente, por susIntroductiones. Es este el caso, también, delArte de la lengua mexicana, la primera gramática conservada del náhuatl. Su autor, Andrés de Olmos (1496/98–1571), un fraile franciscano formado en la Universidad de Valladolid, así lo reconoce: “En el arte de la lengua latina creo que la mejor manera y orden que se ha tenido es la que Antonio de Lebrixa sigue en la suya” (Olmos 2015 [1547] I:1.7–8). Ahora bien, como es sabido, lasIntroductionessufrieron múltiples e importantes cambios de organización y contenido en sus distintas ediciones, sin que hasta ahora se haya determinado con claridad cuál de esas ediciones fue la que tuvo presente Olmos en la redacción de suArte. Este es el objetivo central del artículo: a partir del análisis de determinadas características y contenidos delArte de la lengua mexicana(desde la clasificación misma de las ocho partes de la oración a la mención explícita al libro quinto de Nebrija “sobre el acento” o la inclusión de un capítuloDe nominibus numeralibus) los autores del artículo concluyen que Olmos, en la redacción delArte, utilizó la edición de lasIntroductionesde 1508 o una reedición posterior.
The Chamorro Verb according to Diego Luis de Sanvitores (1627–1672)
Authors: Winkler Pierre
Published: January 2016

In 1668, enroute from Mexico to the Mariana islands, Father Diego Luis de Sanvitores, S.J. (1627–1672) wrote a description of Chamorro, assisted by a Filipino who had lived on the islands for 17 years. This ‘grammar’ has never been studied, primarily because it was written in Latin in a complicated style and because it has received unjustified criticism for applying Latin case names to a language without case. However, a thorough analysis of this treatise is of great historical interest, for several reasons. In the paper the author, after offering a sketch of the origin of Sanvitores’ mission and some details about the manuscript, places the text in its historical context and discusses its reception. After a description of the general structure the focus is on the main part of the grammar, the section treating the verb. It is shown that Sanvitores has, overall, an accurate understanding of the Chamorro verb, including its tense-less structure, the central role of the root, the pragmatic effect of affixes, and antipassive and ergative constructions. Sanvitores also takes a clear stand with regard to the current debate about word classes in Chamorro. The analysis demonstrates that Sanvitores did not stick to Nebrija’s grammatical template, but rather tapped concepts and terminology from contemporary sources known as theGrammaticae Proverbiandi. Furthermore, the article attends to changes in forms and meanings of Chamorro words and closely analyzes Sanvitores’ dissection of the roots and affixes for clues to help us understand the language’s complex system of affixation, which even today is still not fully understood.
Banal nationalism and belonging within the echoed imagined community
Authors: White Cynthia J.
Published: January 2016

Contexts for the performance of banal nationalism and belonging have changed markedly with the emergence of the Internet as a significant constituent and mediator of everyday activities. National anthems, depicted as echoed realizations of the imagined community, now exist in cyberspace, offering new public spaces for observing, participating in and responding to anthem spectacles. Drawing on the notion of ‘networked narratives’ (Page, Harper and Frobenius 2013), and previous research on modes of belonging (Jones and Krzyzanowski 2008,Krzyzanowski and Wodak 2008) this paper analyses user comments posted on six YouTube sites featuring New Zealand anthems. The analysis reveals how the commenting affordances of YouTube act as sites of narrative production for both the assertion of belonging, the evaluation of others’ claims and also for the drawing of boundaries. Through this analysis of imagined communities in cyberspace, it is argued that web 2.0 spaces offer us a different way of accessing situated practices of banal nationalism and belonging, while highlighting the interface between the personal and the political in the complexities and contingencies of belonging.
Wittgenstein and the Context of Rationality
Authors: Grimmel Andreas
Published: January 2016

Rationality as a central concept in occidental philosophy and social sciences never seemed to spark the interest of Ludwig Wittgenstein. Here it will be argued that – although “rationality” does not explicitly show up in his works – Wittgenstein not only deals with questions definitively ascribed to the conceptual history of the term, but he also works towards a transformation of the concept. Wittgenstein’s efforts were aimed at showing that there is nothing within human nature that defines what is perceived as rational, irrational, or non-rational, but that the differences are produced in human language and action. The necessity of such a transformative perspective on rationality, however, can only be adequately captured by recognizing the taxonomy of some of Wittgenstein’s best-known concepts. It will be argued that this systematic arrangement has to be completed by another concept: the context.
La palabra enseña, pero el ejemplo arrastra
Authors: MacGregor-Mendoza Patricia
Published: January 2016

Although previous research has focused on working class immigrants, currently, one out of every nine immigrants from Mexico derives from its university-educated class of individuals, known as profesionistas. Profesionistas’ enhanced cultural capital allows for greater mobility in terms of housing, travel and personal contacts beyond U.S. Spanish-speaking communities as compared to traditional working class immigrants from Mexico. Nonetheless, these same conditions are ripe to promote a shift to English for their families. The present study examines the values held by women profesionistas regarding Spanish and English and their use of both languages within their households. The findings reveal that, in contrast to previous studies of Spanish-speaking communities, Spanish is held in equal esteem with English and profesionista informants aspire for their children to cultivate equally strong skills in both languages and make efforts to guide their children’s development of Spanish.
Resumption or contrast?
Authors: Cerrón-Palomino Alvaro
Published: January 2016

This article is a contribution to the study of subject resumptive pronouns (RPs) in Spanish relative clauses (RCs). Previous studies have focused only on the constraints governing RPs across the different functions relativized: subject, direct object and oblique. In this variationist study, two analyses were conducted for the PeruvianLimeñovariety: on the one hand, RPs were analyzed as a whole, following the aforementioned tradition; on the other hand, subject RPs were studied separately. When comparing the results of both analyses, it was found that the constraints favoring subject RPs are only a subset of the ones governing RPs as a whole, and the ranking of these constraints is also different. In addition, upon closer inspection, a different type of non-standard subject pronoun was identified: a contrastive one.
Alcance referencial y variabilidad de las construcciones impersonales con referencia humana en español peninsular hablado
Authors: Posio Pekka
Published: January 2016

La presente investigación compara el uso de dos construcciones impersonales con referencia humana (CIRH) –construcciones consey la tercera persona del plural– en dos corpus orales de español peninsular, uno de conversaciones familiares y otro de medios de comunicación. El objetivo es averiguar hasta qué punto el uso de estas dos construcciones está diferenciado, si hay contextos donde su significado se solapa y qué factores afectan la opción del hablante por una u otra construcción. También se evalúa la funcionalidad de dos propuestas recientes de clasificación de las CIRH para el análisis de corpus orales. En ambos corpus, la tercera persona del plural es la forma predominante, sobre todo con la lectura corporativa. En cambio, esta lectura no se da en las construcciones consede los corpus. Además del alcance referencial, la opción por una u otra construcción está vinculada al nivel de contextualidad e intersubjetividad del discurso y a la perspectiva del hablante de cara al evento conceptualizado.
Cognitive Translation Studies and the merging of empirical paradigms
Authors: Halverson Sandra L.
Published: January 2016

The current reintroduction of the concept of ‘literal translation’ is an important development for two main reasons. Firstly, it has led to a range of intriguing empirical findings. Secondly, this revival exemplifies a more profound development in the field. This paper argues that the trajectory of this concept is one example of how cognitively oriented explanatory models are driving an integration of product- and process-based approaches to translational phenomena. In order to better understand this development and to investigate its potential to change Translation Studies, the paper first provides a brief historical overview and then proceeds to decompose the concept into key constituent parts. Two constituent concepts will be used as the basis for identifying the alternative ways in which product and process-oriented approaches have studied the same phenomenon. As a way of moving forward, pertinent theoretical tools from bilingualism research are identified, and concluding remarks focus on implications for the field.
Temporal plus epilepsy is a major determinant of temporal lobe surgery failures
Authors: Barba Carmen , Rheims Sylvain , Minotti Lorella , Guénot Marc , Hoffmann Dominique , Chabardès Stephan , Isnard Jean , Kahane Philippe , Ryvlin Philippe
Published: January 2016

See Engel (doi:10.1093/awv374) for a scientific commentary on this article. 

Reasons for failed temporal lobe epilepsy surgery remain unclear. Temporal plus epilepsy, characterized by a primary temporal lobe epileptogenic zone extending to neighboured regions, might account for a yet unknown proportion of these failures. In this study all patients from two epilepsy surgery programmes who fulfilled the following criteria were included: (i) operated from an anterior temporal lobectomy or disconnection between January 1990 and December 2001; (ii) magnetic resonance imaging normal or showing signs of hippocampal sclerosis; and (iii) postoperative follow-up ≥ 24 months for seizure-free patients. Patients were classified as suffering from unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy, bitemporal epilepsy or temporal plus epilepsy based on available presurgical data. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to calculate the probability of seizure freedom over time. Predictors of seizure recurrence were investigated using Cox proportional hazards model. Of 168 patients included, 108 (63.7%) underwent stereoelectroencephalography, 131 (78%) had hippocampal sclerosis, 149 suffered from unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (88.7%), one from bitemporal epilepsy (0.6%) and 18 (10.7%) from temporal plus epilepsy. The probability of Engel class I outcome at 10 years of follow-up was 67.3% (95% CI: 63.4–71.2) for the entire cohort, 74.5% (95% CI: 70.6–78.4) for unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy, and 14.8% (95% CI: 5.9–23.7) for temporal plus epilepsy. Multivariate analyses demonstrated four predictors of seizure relapse: temporal plus epilepsy (P < 0.001), postoperative hippocampal remnant (P = 0.001), past history of traumatic or infectious brain insult (P = 0.022), and secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (P = 0.023). Risk of temporal lobe surgery failure was 5.06 (95% CI: 2.36–10.382) greater in patients with temporal plus epilepsy than in those with unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy. Temporal plus epilepsy represents a hitherto unrecognized prominent cause of temporal lobe surgery failures. In patients with temporal plus epilepsy, anterior temporal lobectomy appears very unlikely to control seizures and should not be advised. Whether larger resection of temporal plus epileptogenic zones offers greater chance of seizure freedom remains to be investigated.
Investing in Immunity: Prepandemic Immunization to Combat Future Influenza Pandemics
Authors: Goodman Jesse L.
Published: January 2016

We are unlikely, with current technologies, to have sufficient pandemic influenza vaccine ready in time to impact the first wave of the next pandemic. Emerging data show that prior immunization with an immunologically distinct hemagglutinin of the same subtype offers the potential to “prime” recipients for rapid protection with a booster dose, years later, of a vaccine then manufactured to match the pandemic strain. This article proposes making prepandemic priming vaccine(s) available for voluntary use, particularly to those at high risk of early occupational exposure, such as first responders and healthcare workers, and to others maintaining critical infrastructure. In addition to providing faster protection and potentially reducing social disruption, being able, early in a pandemic, to immunize those who had received prepandemic vaccine with one dose of the pandemic vaccine, rather than the 2 doses typically required, would reduce the total doses of pandemic vaccine then needed, extending vaccine supplies.
Neuronal Oxidative Stress Precedes Amyloid-β Deposition in Down Syndrome
Authors: Nunomura Akihiko , Perry George , Pappolla Miguel A. , Friedland Robert P. , Hirai Keisuke , Chiba Shigeru , Smith Mark A.
Published: January 2016

The predictable chronological sequence of pathological events in Down syndrome (DS) provides the opportunity to rigorously investigate the relationship between oxidative stress and amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition. In this study, we report a marked accumulation of oxidized nucleic acid, 8-hydroxyguanosine (8OHG), and oxidized protein, nitrotyrosine, in the cytoplasm of cerebral neurons in DS with the levels of nucleic acid and protein oxidation paralleling each other. Relative density measurements of neuronal 8OHG immunoreactivity showed that there was a significant increase (p < 0.02) in DS (n = 22, ages 0.3–65 yr) compared with age-matched controls (n = 10, ages 0.3–64 yr). As a function of age, 8OHG immunoreactivity increased significantly in the teens and twenties (p < 0.04), while Aβ burden only increased after age 30 (p < 0.0001). In 9 cases of DS bearing Aβ deposition, the extent of deposits of Aβ ending at amino acid 42 (Aβ42) was actually associated with a decrease in relative 8OHG (r = −0.79, p < 0.015) while Aβ40 was not. These findings suggest that in brains of patients with DS, increased levels of oxidative damage occur prior to the onset of Aβ deposition.
On the nature of magnetic turbulence in rotating, shearing flows
Authors: Walker Justin , Lesur Geoffroy , Boldyrev Stanislav
Published: January 2016

The local properties of turbulence driven by the magnetorotational instability (MRI) in rotating, shearing flows are studied in the framework of a shearing-box model. Based on numerical simulations, we propose that the MRI-driven turbulence comprises two components: the large-scale shear-aligned strong magnetic field and the small-scale fluctuations resembling magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence. The energy spectrum of the large-scale component is close to k−2, whereas the spectrum of the small-scale component agrees with the spectrum of strong MHD turbulence k−3/2. While the spectrum of the fluctuations is universal, the outer-scale characteristics of the turbulence are not; they depend on the parameters of the system, such as the net magnetic flux. However, there is remarkable universality among the allowed turbulent states – their intensity v0 and their outer scale λ0 satisfy the balance condition v0/λ0 ∼ dΩ/dln r, where dΩ/dln r is the local orbital shearing rate of the flow. Finally, we find no sustained dynamo action in the Pm = 1 zero net-flux case for Reynolds numbers as high as 45 000, casting doubts on the existence of an MRI dynamo in the Pm ≤ 1 regime.
Resource based view of internationalization: evidence from Indian commercial banks
Authors: Panda Debadutta , Reddy Sriharsha
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand the influence of internal resource drivers on internationalization of commercial banks.

Design/methodology/approach

– Panel data on 46 Indian commercial banks from 2008 to 2012 were collected from secondary sources to measure how assets size, human resources, branding and advertising, ownership and age influence the international diversification of the commercial bank. Internationalization of the commercial bank was measured in terms of international advances intensity, international borrowing intensity and number of countries served. Regression models were designed with controlled multicolinearity, heterogeneity and exogeneity.

Findings

– Higher assets’ size, higher human resources, private ownership and higher organizational age led to internationalization of Indian commercial banks. However, higher branding and advertisement expenses and state ownership were found to be negatively related to international diversification.

Originality/value

– Internationalization is one of the growth strategies of a firm which cannot be unified and generalized due to resource heterogeneity. So this necessitates a large number of studies sector-wise, sub-sector-wise, product-wise, industry-wise and region-wise. There is a dearth of literature on resource view of internationalization of commercial banks. So, this Indian study adds a new finding on resource-based view of internationalization to the existing body of knowledge.
Integrating experiences into your business model: five approaches
Authors: Pine II B. Joseph , Gilmore James
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– In little more than a decade, experience thinking has influenced the development of new business models in a wide variety of enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors describe best practices for five approaches Five approaches are noteworthy: Experiential marketing (EM or XM). Digital experiences using the Internet and other electronic platforms to create new technology interfaces focused on the user experience (UX). The application of experience-staging to enhance interactions with customers. Experiences as a distinct economic offering. Designing transformational business models that allows the company to charge for the demonstrated outcomes customers achieve.

Findings

– Companies can innovate by recognizing trends in customer needs and aspirations that provide opportunities to develop business models that offer high value experiences or even customer transformations.

Originality/value

– To truly pursue experiences as a distinct form of economic output, companies must design a business model that involves charging for the time customers spend engaging with the business, such as an admission or membership fee of some sort.
Why a CEO should think like a Scrum Master
Authors: Davidson Alistair , Klemme Laura
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– One approach for CEOs seeking to improve the effectiveness of their company’s innovation initiatives is to imitate the role that a “Scrum Master” has in high speed software development projects. Fundamentally, a Scrum Master is in the business of speeding up the rate of innovation in a software project.

Design/methodology/approach

– By championing Agile methodology, CEOs can focus innovation initiatives upon developing what customers prioritize and value. Pushing the organization to involve customers, and in some cases suppliers, increases the value added and value creation of the project.

Findings

– When a CEO practices acting like a Scrum Master, he or she does so by pursuing four goals: Keeping innovation work cycles or “Sprints” short. Focusing upon value creation and customer involvement throughout the development process. Removing barriers to development that prevent the software programmers from doing their job. Attempting to shelter developers from counterproductive interventions by external managers.

Practical implications

– By championing Agile teams, the CEO can communicate his or her expectation that innovations will be tested on clients and be available as a “court of last resort” to cut through the barriers and delays that prevent a development team from moving forward.”

Originality/value

– This article is unconventional in that it suggests that CEOs need to be particularly aware of how their actions in support of Agile teams can build medium and long term organizational capabilities. Top management oversight of Agile teams can strengthen strategic relationships with internal stakeholders, customers and suppliers.
Stress relaxation/creep compliance behaviour of kashar cheese: Scanning electron microscopy observations
Authors: Karaman Safa , Yilmaz Mustafa Tahsin , Toker Omer Said , Dogan Mahmut
Published: January 2016

In this study, uniaxial and creep analyses were used to characterise stress relaxation and creep compliance behaviour of kashar cheese as a function of different compression (1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0 and 7.5 mm) and stress (12.25, 24.50, 36.75, 49.00 and 61.25 kPa) levels. For this purpose, mechanical simulation models, namely generalised Maxwell, Nussinovitch, Peleg and Burger models were used to simulate the viscoelastic behaviour of kashar cheese as a function of different compression and stress levels. The results revealed that the compression levels could remarkably change internal structure and deformation properties of kashar cheese. Stress relaxation test demonstrated that kashar cheese showed more elastic behaviour, namely higher resistance to deformation at higher compression levels. Creep tests showed that rigidity of kashar cheese decreased as the stress level applied increased. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that compression resulted in a less homogeneous protein matrix, an interrupted casein/fat network, and destroyed fat globules by forcing them to exude from the cheese surface. These results should be useful for dairy industry.
THE INFLUENCE OF EARLY SCHOOL PUNISHMENT AND THERAPY/MEDICATION ON SOCIAL CONTROL EXPERIENCES DURING YOUNG ADULTHOOD
Authors: RAMEY DAVID M.
Published: January 2016

The use of suspensions and expulsions by American public school administrators has increased dramatically over the past 40 years. Meanwhile, a growing number of childhood misbehaviors have been diagnosed by doctors as medical conditions and are being treated with therapy or medication. As these trends develop at different rates for boys of different racial and ethnic groups, the connection between childhood and adult social control remains untested empirically. By using a prospective panel of 3,274 White, Black, and Hispanic males (15,675 person‐years) and multilevel logistic models, I examine whether and how school punishment and/or the use of therapy or medication during childhood contributes to involvement in the criminal justice or mental health systems during young adulthood. The findings suggest that school punishment is associated with greater odds of involvement in the criminal justice system but not the mental health system. The use of therapy and/or medication during childhood is associated with higher odds of involvement in the mental health system but not the criminal justice system. Finally, although the relationship between school punishment and involvement with the criminal justice system is similar for White, Black, and Hispanic men, the relationship between medicalized social control during childhood and young adulthood is stronger for Whites than for non‐Whites.
DIFFERENTIATING SERIOUS ADOLESCENT OFFENDERS WHO EXIT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FROM THOSE WHO DO NOT
Authors: SCHUBERT CAROL A. , MULVEY EDWARD P. , PITZER LINDSAY
Published: January 2016

Numerous factors have been posited to promote desistance from criminal offending in late adolescence and early adulthood. Research in this area has generally examined these factors for their impact on offending for a period shortly after the occurrence or shifts in possible predictors. The current study takes a slightly different approach. It examines the broad relation of life changes and developmental patterns to wholesale shifts in offending behavior. The current study uses data from the Pathways to Desistance study to compare the developmental patterns of two groups of serious adolescent male offenders: those who are “system successes” with no subsequent criminal justice system involvement and a matched sample for a 7‐year period after court involvement for a felony offense. Findings from growth curve analyses indicate that patterns of change in criminal attitudes, psychosocial development, and legal employment over this extended follow‐up period are related to an absence of offending. These results support further investigation of the synergistic effects of psychological changes and entry into the job market as possible mechanisms promoting desistance during this developmental period. The policy and practice implications of these findings are discussed.
Topiramate and motivational enhancement therapy for cannabis use among youth: a randomized placebo‐controlled pilot study
Authors: Miranda Robert , Treloar Hayley , Blanchard Alexander , Justus Alicia , Monti Peter M. , Chun Thomas , Swift Robert , Tidey Jennifer W. , Gwaltney Chad J.
Published: January 2016

Cannabis misuse accounts for nearly all of the substance abuse treatment admissions among youth in the United States. Most youth do not experience sustained benefit from existing psychosocial treatments; however, medication development research for treating adolescent cannabis misuse is almost nonexistent. We conducted a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, pilot study to test the potential efficacy of topiramate plus motivational enhancement therapy (MET) for treating cannabis use among adolescents. Sixty‐six heavy cannabis users, ages 15 to 24 years, were randomized to one of two 6‐week treatment conditions: topiramate plus MET or placebo plus MET. Topiramate was titrated over 4 weeks then stabilized at 200 mg/day for 2 weeks. MET was delivered biweekly for a total of three sessions. Only 48 percent of youths randomized to topiramate completed the 6‐week trial (n = 19), compared with 77 percent of youths in the placebo condition (n = 20). Adverse medication side effects were the most common reason for withdrawal among participants in the topiramate group. Latent growth models showed that topiramate was superior to placebo for reducing the number of grams smoked per use day, but it did not improve abstinence rates. The same pattern of results was found when values for missing outcomes were imputed. We show that topiramate combined with MET demonstrated efficacy for reducing how much cannabis adolescents smoked when they used but did not affect abstinence rates. The magnitude of this effect was modest, however, and topiramate was poorly tolerated by youths, which calls into question the clinical importance of these findings.
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase regulates binge‐like drinking and dopamine receptor sensitivity in the ventral tegmental area
Authors: Dutton John W. , Chen Hu , You Chang , Brodie Mark S. , Lasek Amy W.
Published: January 2016

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a receptor tyrosine kinase associated with alcohol dependence in humans and behavioral responses to ethanol in mice. To characterize the ability of ALK to control ethanol consumption, we treated mice with the ALK inhibitors TAE684 or alectinib before testing them for binge‐like drinking using the drinking in the dark protocol. Mice treated with ALK inhibitors drank less ethanol than controls. In addition, TAE684 treatment abolished ethanol conditioned place preference, indicating that ALK regulates the rewarding properties of ethanol. Because the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a key brain region involved in the rewarding effects of ethanol, we determined if Alk expression in the VTA is important for binge‐like ethanol consumption. Mice expressing a short hairpin ribonucleic acid targeting Alk in the VTA drank less ethanol compared with controls. ALK is expressed on dopamine (DA) neurons in the VTA, suggesting that ALK might regulate their firing properties. Extracellular recordings of putative DA neurons in VTA slices demonstrated that ALK inhibition did not affect the ability of ethanol to stimulate, or DA to inhibit, the firing of DA neurons. However, inhibiting ALK attenuated the time‐dependent reversal of inhibition produced by moderate concentrations of DA, suggesting that ALK affects DA D2 autoreceptor (D2R) desensitization. Altered desensitization of the D2R changes the firing of DA neurons and is predicted to affect DA levels and alcohol drinking. These data support the possibility that ALK might be a novel target of pharmacotherapy for reducing excessive alcohol consumption.
The antihypertensive drug pindolol attenuates long‐term but not short‐term binge‐like ethanol consumption in mice
Authors: Patkar Omkar L. , Belmer Arnauld , Holgate Joan Y. , Tarren Josephine R. , Shariff Masroor R. , Morgan Michael , Fogarty Matthew J. , Bellingham Mark C. , Bartlett Selena E. , Klenowski Paul M.
Published: January 2016

Alcohol dependence is a debilitating disorder with current therapies displaying limited efficacy and/or compliance. Consequently, there is a critical need for improved pharmacotherapeutic strategies to manage alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Previous studies have shown that the development of alcohol dependence involves repeated cycles of binge‐like ethanol intake and abstinence. Therefore, we used a model of binge–ethanol consumption (drinking‐in‐the‐dark) in mice to test the effects of compounds known to modify the activity of neurotransmitters implicated in alcohol addiction. From this, we have identified the FDA‐approved antihypertensive drug pindolol, as a potential candidate for the management of AUDs. We show that the efficacy of pindolol to reduce ethanol consumption is enhanced following long‐term (12 weeks) binge–ethanol intake, compared with short‐term (4 weeks) intake. Furthermore, pindolol had no effect on locomotor activity or consumption of the natural reward sucrose. Because pindolol acts as a dual beta‐adrenergic antagonist and 5‐HT1A/1B partial agonist, we examined its effect on spontaneous synaptic activity in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a brain region densely innervated by serotonin and norepinephrine‐containing fibres. Pindolol increased spontaneous excitatory post‐synaptic current frequency of BLA principal neurons from long‐term ethanol‐consuming mice but not naïve mice. Additionally, this effect was blocked by the 5‐HT1A/1B receptor antagonist methiothepin, suggesting that altered serotonergic activity in the BLA may contribute to the efficacy of pindolol to reduce ethanol intake following long‐term exposure. Although further mechanistic investigations are required, this study demonstrates the potential of pindolol as a new treatment option for AUDs that can be fast‐tracked into human clinical studies.
Rotigaptide protects the myocardium and arterial vasculature from ischaemia reperfusion injury
Authors: Pedersen Christian M. , Venkatasubramanian Sowmya , Vase Henrik , Hyldebrandt Janus A. , Contractor Hussain , Schmidt Michael R. , Bøtker Hans Erik , Cruden Nicholas L. , Newby David E. , Kharbanda Rajesh K. , Lang Ninian N.
Published: January 2016

Aim

Ischaemia‐reperfusion injury (IRI) causes impaired endothelial function and is a major component of the adverse effects of reperfusion following myocardial infarction. Rotigaptide increases gap junction conductance via connexin‐43. We tested the hypothesis that rotigaptide reduces experimental myocardial infarction size and ameliorates endothelial IRI in humans.

Methods

Myocardial infarction study: porcine myocardial infarction was achieved by catheter‐induced occlusion of the left anterior descending artery. In a randomized double‐blind study, rotigaptide (n = 9) or placebo (n = 10) was administered intravenously as a 10 min bolus prior to reperfusion and continuously during 2 h of reperfusion. Myocardial infarction size (IS) was assessed as proportion of the area at risk (AAR). Human translational study: forearm IRI was induced in the presence or absence of intra‐arterial rotigaptide. In a randomized double‐blind study, forearm arterial blood flow was measured at rest and during intra‐arterial infusion of acetylcholine (5–20 μg min–1; n = 11) or sodium nitroprusside (2–8 mg min–1; n = 10) before and after intra‐arterial infusion of placebo or rotigaptide, and again following IRI.

Results

Myocardial infarction study: Rotigaptide treatment was associated with a reduction of infarct size (IS/AAR[%]: 18.7 ± 4.1 [rotigaptide] vs. 43.6 ± 4.2 [placebo], P = 0.006). Human translational study: Endothelium‐dependent vasodilatation to acetylcholine was attenuated after ischaemia‐reperfusion in the presence of placebo (P = 0.007), but not in the presence of rotigaptide (P = NS). Endothelium‐independent vasodilatation evoked by sodium nitroprusside was unaffected by IRI or rotigaptide (P = NS).

Conclusions

Rotigaptide reduces myocardial infarction size in a porcine model and protects from IRI‐related endothelial dysfunction in man. Rotigaptide may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of myocardial infarction.
Experiential avoidance and appraisals of voices as predictors of voice‐related distress
Authors: Varese Filippo , Morrison Anthony P. , Beck Rosie , Heffernan Suzanne , Law Heather , Bentall Richard P.
Published: January 2016

Objectives

Research has suggested that the extent to which voices (i.e., auditory verbal hallucinations) are experienced as distressing might be influenced by negative beliefs about voices as well as maladaptive metacognitive styles involving the negative appraisal and maladaptive control of mental experiences. This cross‐sectional study examined the contribution of both specific appraisals of voices and a metacognitive factor (i.e., experiential avoidance) to voice‐related distress.

Methods

Self‐report measurers of voice characteristics (voice frequency, duration as well as amount and intensity of voice‐related distress), experiential avoidance, and appraisals of voices were collected in a sample of 101 voice‐hearers.

Results

Experiential avoidance and negative beliefs about voices were associated with higher levels of voice‐related distress, but not to measures of voice frequency and duration. Experiential avoidance and negative ‘metaphysical’ beliefs about voices were significant predictors of voice‐related distress even after accounting for the effect of frequency and duration of voices, and explained similar proportions of unique variance in distress.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the appraisals of voices and experiential avoidance are predictive of voice‐related distress and that cognitive‐behavioural interventions targeting both voice‐specific appraisals and general maladaptive metacognitive processes could prove useful treatment approaches for clients with distressing voices.

Practitioner points

Experiential avoidance (EA) and negative appraisals predict voice‐related distress caused by voices, but not their frequency and duration.

Interventions for voices should consider targeting EA and negative appraisals (e.g., cognitive‐behavioural therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) to ameliorate distress.