bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrodiffusiophoresis: Particle motion in electrolytes under direct current
Authors: Rica Raúl A. , Bazant Martin Z.
Published: November 2010

Colloidal particles in electrolytes move in response to electric fields (electrophoresis) and salt concentration gradients (diffusiophoresis), and related flows also occur at fixed surfaces (electro-osmosis and diffusio-osmosis, respectively). In isolation, these electrokinetic phenomena are well understood, e.g., electrophoresis without far-field concentration gradients and diffusiophoresis without applied electric fields. When the electrolyte passes direct current, however, concentration gradients accompany the bulk electric field (concentration polarization) and the resulting particle motion, called “electrodiffusiophoresis,” involves a nonlinear combination of electrophoresis and diffusiophoresis, depending on ion transference numbers and particle properties. In this work, we analyze the electrodiffusiophoresis of spherical particles in the limit of thin double layers, neglecting surface conduction (Du⪡1) and convection (Pe⪡1), considering both nonpolarizable (fixed charge) and ideally polarizable (induced-charge) surfaces. Via asymptotic approximations and numerical solutions, we develop a physical picture to guide potential applications in electrochemical cells, such as analyte focusing, electrophoretic deposition, and microfluidic mixing near membranes or electrodes. By controlling the mean salt concentration, particle size, current, and concentration gradient, significant motion of particles (or fluid) is possible toward either electrode and toward high or low concentration.
Phase image contrast mechanism in intermittent contact atomic force microscopy
Authors: Zhao Yagun , Cheng Qian , Qian Menglu , Cantrell John H.
Published: November 2010

A model is presented showing that phase variations in intermittent contact atomic force microscopy (IC-AFM) (tapping mode) result from variations in both conservative and dissipative forces. It is shown that when operating with constant cantilever oscillation amplitude, however, conservative forces drive the phase contrast. The equations of cantilever tip-sample surface contact are solved analytically for constant amplitude IC-AFM operation. Solutions are obtained for the tip-sample contact time, maximum sample indentation depth, and phase shift in the cantilever oscillations. The model equations are applied to the calculation of the phase contrast, defined as the difference in phase shift between two points in the image, for a diamond-graphite nanocomposite sample having a heterogeneous variation in graphite porosity ranging from approximately 30 vol % to roughly 60 vol %. The phase contrast predicted from the model equations, using only conservative forces in the model, is calculated to be approximately 69° for 30 vol % porosity and roughly 79° for 60% porosity. The model predictions are in very good agreement with the measured range of values from 69.4° to 78.5° obtained from a IC-AFM phase image of the sample.
Optical performances of InAs/GaSb/InSb short-period superlattice laser diode for mid-infrared emission
Authors: Ben Rejeb S. , Debbichi M. , Said M. , Gassenq A. , Tournié E. , Christol P.
Published: November 2010

An antimonide-based InAs/GaSb/InSb short-period superlattice (SPSL) laser diode on GaSb substrate for mid-infrared emission has been modeled by an accurate eight-band k.p model. By using a realistic graded and asymmetric interface profile, calculated energy gap between the electron and heavy-hole miniband shows good agreement with our experimental data. Optical gain and threshold current density are then presented and compared with experimental results of SPSL laser diodes operating in pulsed regime. Analysis of the optical performances obtained at room temperature is made.
Ultrafast thermoreflectance techniques for measuring thermal conductivity and interface thermal conductance of thin films
Authors: Zhu Jie , Tang Dawei , Wang Wei , Liu Jun , Holub Kristopher W. , Yang Ronggui
Published: November 2010

The thermal conductivity of thin films and interface thermal conductance of dissimilar materials play a critical role in the functionality and the reliability of micro/nanomaterials and devices. The ultrafast laser-based thermoreflectance techniques, including the time-domain thermoreflectance (TDTR) and the frequency-domain thermoreflectance (FDTR) techniques are excellent approaches for the challenging measurements of interface thermal conductance of dissimilar materials. Both TDTR and FDTR signals on a trilayer structure which consists of a thin film metal transducer, a target thin film, and a substrate are studied by a thermal conduction model. The sensitivity of TDTR signals to the thermal conductivity of thin films is analyzed to show that the modulation frequency needs to be selected carefully for a high precision TDTR measurement. However, such a frequency selection, which is closely related to the unknown thermal properties and consequently hard to make before TDTR measurement, can be avoided in FDTR measurement. We also found out that in FDTR method, the heat transport in a trilayer structure could be divided into three regimes, and the thermal conductivity of thin films and interface thermal conductance can be obtained subsequently by fitting the data in different frequency range of one FDTR measurement, based on the regime map. Both TDTR and FDTR measurements are then conducted along with the analysis to obtain the thermal conductivity of SiO2 thin films and interface thermal conductance between SiO2 and Si. FDTR measurement results agree well with the TDTR measurements, but promises to be a much easier implementation than TDTR measurements.
The effects of nonadiabatic dust charge variation and ultraviolet irradiation on the modulational instability of dust ion acoustic waves
Authors: Wang Yunliang , Guo Chunxia , Jiang Xiangqian , Zhou Zhongxiang , Ni Xiaodong , Qian Ping , Shen Jiang
Published: November 2010

The effects of nonadiabatic dust charge fluctuation on the nonlinear propagation of the dust ion acoustic (DIA) waves in the dusty plasma with positively charged dust grains have been investigated. By using the reductive perturbation technique, a three-dimensional modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation (mNLSE) governing the nonlinear envelope DIA waves was derived and the approximate solitary wave solution of the mNLSE was also obtained in the weak effect of nonadiabatic dust charge fluctuation limit, which shows that the amplitude of the DIA solitary wave exponentially decreases with time due to the collisionless dissipation caused by the nonadiabatic dust charge variation. The frequency, instability growth rate, and the critical modulational wave number of the small amplitude modulation are all dependent on photoelectron generated by ultraviolet irradiation and time due to the presence of nonadiabatic dust charge variation. The transverse perturbation plays an important role in the modulational instability region.
Note on dust trapping in point vortex pairs with unequal strengths
Authors: Nizkaya Tatiana , Angilella Jean-Régis , Buès Michel
Published: November 2010

We investigate theoretically the motion of tiny heavy passive particles transported in a plane inviscid flow consisting of two point vortices in order to understand particle dispersion and trapping during vortex interaction. In spite of their large density, particles are not necessarily centrifuged away from vortices. It is observed that they can have various equilibrium positions in the reference frame rotating with the vortices, provided that the particle response time and the vortex strength ratio lie in appropriate ranges. A stability analysis reveals that some of these points can be asymptotically stable and can therefore trap particles released in their basin of attraction. A complete trapping diagram is derived, showing that any vortex pair can potentially become a dust trap, provided that the vortex strength ratio is different from 0 (single vortex) and −1 (translating symmetrical vortices). Trapping exists for both corotating and contrarotating vortex pairs. In the latter case, particle trapping on a limit cycle is also observed and confirmed by using the method of Sapsis and Haller [“Clustering criterion for inertial particles in 2D time-periodic and 3D steady flows,” Chaos 20, 017515 (2010)] generalized to noninertial reference frames.
Dynamical stability of electron trajectories in a free-electron laser with planar wiggler
Authors: Salehi Elham , Maraghechi B. , Rouhani M. H.
Published: November 2010

The numerical computation of Kolmogorov entropy is used to study the dynamical stability of a free-electron laser with a planar wiggler. Axial magnetic field and ion-channel guiding are examined as two different types of focusing mechanism for confinement of the electron beam against its self-fields. It was found that the dynamical stability of electron trajectories decreases profoundly near the resonance region. Self-fields increase the dynamical stability in group I orbits and decrease it in group II orbits. These orbits are defined according to their axial magnetic field or ion-channel density.
Structure, magnetic, and thermal properties of Nd1−xLaxCrO3 (≤x≤1.0)
Authors: Du Yi , Cheng Zhen Xiang , Wang Xiao-Lin , Dou Shi Xue
Published: November 2010

Perovskite-type Nd1−xLaxCrO3 (0≤x≤1.0) polycrystalline samples were synthesized using solid state reaction. Structural studies indicate that the lattice parameters, metal–oxygen bond lengths, and angles of Nd1−xLaxCrO3 strongly depend on the La content. Two magnetic transition temperatures, Cr3+ antiferromagnetic ordering temperature (TN) and the spin reorientation phase transition temperature (TSRPT), have been observed in the M-T curves. The increase in TN and decrease in TSRPT with increasing x value can be explained by the change in the magnetic interactions due to La doping. The heat capacity of Nd1−xLaxCrO3 measured from 2 to 300 K reveals that the lattice, electronic, and magnetic contributions to heat capacity can be well interpreted quantitatively using the Debye and Schottky models. The splitting energy of the Cr3+ 3dt2g orbital and the Nd3+ ground state have been calculated by fitting to the Schottky anomaly at very low temperature. The Cr–Nd interaction is suppressed gradually by La doping, which is verified by the calculation of the mean-field interaction parameter. This doping dependence provides directed evidence of TM–RE magnetic interactions in perovskite compounds, in agreement with the proposed model.
The investigation of charge loss mechanism in a two-bit wrapped-gate nitride storage nonvolatile memory
Authors: Ho Y. H. , Chung Steve S. , Chen H. H.
Published: November 2010

The charge loss mechanism of a two-bit wrapped-gate nitride storage nonvolatile memory is investigated. From retention measurements, it was shown that both vertical and lateral charge loss coexist. As a result of the misalignment of carriers, the lateral charge loss was caused by the hole accumulation near the junction and migrating toward the channel. By using a scaling of the word-gate length or a substrate-transient hot hole erase scheme, the charge loss in the lateral direction can be suppressed. Also, from the retention test, the latter scheme, substrate-transient hot hole (STHH), has a window independent of the word-gate length, which is better for the device scaling.
Heavy noble gas (Kr, Xe) irradiated (111) InP nanoporous honeycomb membranes with enhanced ultrafast all-optical terahertz emission
Authors: Radhanpura K. , Hargreaves S. , Lewis R. A. , Sirbu L. , Tiginyanu I. M.
Published: November 2010

Nanoporous honeycomb membranes on InP (111) surfaces emit ultrafast coherent terahertz pulses under near-infrared optical excitation. Irradiating the membranes with heavy noble gas Kr or Xe ions enhances the terahertz emission. The emission does not vary with in-plane magnetic field rotation and exhibits three-cycle dependence on azimuthal-angle rotation. Both suggest the terahertz source is not transient currents but optical rectification enhanced by the heavy-ion irradiation.
Physical mechanisms for picosecond laser ablation of silicon carbide at infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths
Authors: Tao Sha , Jacobsen Ronald L. , Wu Benxin
Published: November 2010

Investigations have been performed on the physical mechanisms of picosecond laser ablation of silicon carbide at 355 and 1064 nm, which have not been well understood yet. The study shows that the low-fluence ablation rates are close for 355 and 1064 nm, and the dominant material removal mechanism should be surface evaporation. At fluences above ∼2 J/cm2, the ablation rate increases very quickly for 355 nm, and the associated dominant mechanism is very likely to be critical point phase separation. For 1064 nm, the ablation rate variation with fluence above ∼2 J/cm2 follows the same trend as that for low fluences, and the mechanism should remain as surface evaporation.
Enhancement of the magnetic modulation of surface plasmon polaritons in Au/Co/Au films
Authors: Martín-Becerra Diana , González-Díaz Juan B. , Temnov Vasily V. , Cebollada Alfonso , Armelles Gaspar , Thomay Tim , Leitenstorfer Alfred , Bratschitsch Rudolf , García-Martín Antonio , González María Ujué
Published: November 2010

The deposition of a dielectric overlayer on top of Au/Co/Au multilayer films can significantly enhance the magnetic field induced modulation of the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) wave vector. This enhancement is analyzed as a function of the thickness of the dielectric overlayer and the associated SPP electromagnetic field confinement and redistribution. The decrease in SPP propagation distance is taken into account by analyzing an adequate figure of merit.
Ultrahigh-frequency nano-optomechanical resonators in slot waveguide ring cavities
Authors: Li Mo , Pernice W. H. P. , Tang H. X.
Published: November 2010

We demonstrate integrated nano-optomechanical systems with driven flexural resonance up to 760 MHz in the ultrahigh frequency band. The mechanical element of the device is embedded in a slot waveguide racetrack optical resonator with an optical quality factor of 60 000. Displacement sensitivity of 0.45×10−15 m/Hz at 127 MHz is achieved in this circuit cavity configuration.
Theoretical description of superionic conductivities in samaria doped ceria based nanocomposites
Authors: Liu Qinghua , Zhu Bin
Published: November 2010

Superionic conductivity becomes true based on recent developments on ceria-based nanocomposites as electrolytes with application for low temperature (300–600 °C) solid oxide fuel cells. We theoretically describe the superionic conductivity phenomena in samaria doped ceria nanocomposites. An improved effective-medium model was used to determine the ionic conductivity of the materials focusing on a core-shell structure of the as-prepared samaria doped ceria based composite particles. This work reveals the enhancement of ionic conductivity by interface proton and oxygen ion transportation in the composites, which agrees well with the experimental results.
Effect of an asymmetry AlGaN barrier on efficiency droop in wide-well InGaN double-heterostructure light-emitting diodes
Authors: Lin Ray-Ming , Lai Mu-Jen , Chang Liann-Be , Huang Chou-Hsiung
Published: November 2010

External-quantum-efficiency (EQE) and efficiency droop in wide-well InGaN double-heterostructure light-emitting diodes have been investigated. It was found that the insertion of an AlGaN barrier between the n-type GaN layer and the InGaN well resulted in higher peak EQE and reduced efficiency droop at a higher injection level. EQE was improved by 5.7% and 25.8% over that of a sample without an AlGaN barrier at a current density of 104.3 A/cm2 and 521 A/cm2, respectively. It is suggested that the mechanism is attributed to an electron decelerating effect that enlarges the effective active region.
Wideband group velocity independent coupling into slow light silicon photonic crystal waveguide
Authors: Lin Che-Yun , Wang Xiaolong , Chakravarty Swapnajit , Lee Beom Suk , Lai Wei-Cheng , Chen Ray T.
Published: November 2010

We experimentally demonstrate efficient optical coupling into a slow light photonic crystal waveguide (PCW) that is independent of the group velocity of the guided mode. With a group index taper to match the group velocity between a strip waveguide and a PCW, the optical coupling efficiency is nearly constant throughout the spectrum of the defect-mode, including the slow light region near the band edge. Compared to strip-PCW butt-coupling without a group index taper, our measurement results show a 20 dB enhancement in coupling efficiency with 5 dB less Fabry–Perot fluctuations. The measurements show excellent agreement with two-dimensional finite-difference time domain simulations.
Widely tunable quantum cascade lasers with coupled cavities for gas detection
Authors: Fuchs Peter , Seufert Jochen , Koeth Johannes , Semmel Julia , Höfling Sven , Worschech Lukas , Forchel Alfred
Published: November 2010

The authors report the fabrication of widely tunable monolithic quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) with coupled Fabry–Pérot (FP) cavities on indium phosphide. Quasicontinuous tuning of the single mode emission over a total spectral range of 242 nm was realized at two regions between 8.394 and 8.785 μm. An absorption experiment with ammonia shows principle feasibility of gas detection with multisegment QCL devices. Good agreement of the experimentally observed tuning behavior with the one expected from calculated FP mode-combs indicates that the change in the refractive index is mainly due to thermal heating as a result of current injection.
Physiological measurements and analyses in motor sports: a preliminary study in racing kart athletes
Authors: Yamakoshi Takehiro , Matsumura Kenta , Yamakoshi Yasuhiro , Hirose Hajime , Rolfe Peter
Published: November 2010

The aims of this study were to assess methods for performing physiological measurements in motor sports, and to carry out a preliminary study in athletes participating in kart racing. The measurement of physiological variables in motor sports is practically challenging, largely due to the restricted space available for sensors and instrumentation and to movement artefacts from driver's operations and car vibration, hence the paucity of publications. We performed a preliminary study of amateur racing kart athletes to assess the performance of basic measurement apparatus and to collect preliminary data on the possible influences of gravity on cardiovascular activity. We measured the vector magnitude of acceleration (G), instantaneous heart rate using electrocardiography, blood pressure with a wrist sphygmomanometer, eardrum temperature (taken as a measure of core body temperature) with a radiation thermometer, and lap time. The instrumentation functioned satisfactorily during karting on a racing circuit. In all participants during driving, heart rate was maintained at approximately 150 beats · min−1. Time‐frequency analysis of all heart rate data was performed to evaluate cardiac control mechanisms and this suggested that the observed rise in heart rate could be due to sympathetic acceleration. Furthermore, while we do not have sufficient data to draw firm conclusions, it is suggested that the rise in heart rate could be related to the G stresses to which the drivers were subjected. Cross‐correlation analysis of the G and heart rate signals was performed in one participant and this showed a statistically significant correlation. We also found a statistically significant decrease in blood pressure (P<0.01) and a rise in eardrum temperature (P<0.01) immediately after the driving period. We conclude that although current sensors and instrumentation can allow basic monitoring of physiological variables in motor sport athletes, further developments are needed to allow more detailed investigations to be performed. Cardiovascular activity in response to G stresses warrants particular detailed investigation.
First Salivary Screening of Celiac Disease by Detection of Anti‐transglutaminase Autoantibody Radioimmunoassay in 5000 Italian Primary Schoolchildren
Authors: Bonamico Margherita , Nenna Raffaella , Montuori Monica , Luparia Rita Pia Lara , Turchetti Arianna , Mennini Maurizio , Lucantoni Federica , Masotti Donata , Magliocca Fabio Massimo , Culasso Franco , Tiberti Claudio
Published: November 2010

Objective:

The high prevalence of celiac disease (CD) prompted us to evaluate a new, noninvasive disease screening strategy. The aim was to identify CD in 6‐ to 8‐year‐old children for a timely diagnosis, start gluten‐free diet (GFD) in compliant subjects, achieve the growth target, and prevent CD complications.

Methods:

Five thousand subjects were invited to participate in the study. Four thousand forty‐eight saliva samples were tested for anti‐tissue transglutaminase (tTG) immunoglobulin (Ig)A using a fluid‐phase radioimmunoprecipitation method. Positive children were tested for serum radioimmunoassay tTG IgA, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay tTG IgA, and anti‐endomysium IgA. Children confirmed as positive by serum assays underwent endoscopy with duodenal biopsies and, at the diagnosis of CD, were suggested to start GFD.

Results:

Consent was obtained from 4242 parents (84.8%) for the screening to be performed, and adequate saliva samples were collected from 4048 children (95.4%). Thirty‐two children were found to be salivary tTG IgA positive and 9 with borderline autoantibody levels. Thirty‐one of the 32 and 3 of the 9 subjects were also serum positive. Twenty‐eight children showed villous atrophy when undergoing intestinal biopsy, whereas 1 had Marsh 1 lesions; 3 children were suggested to start GFD without performing endoscopy. CD prevalence in the population investigated (including 19 CD known cases) was 1.16%. The ratio between screening‐detected patients and those diagnosed before the screening was 3:2. The ratio between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients was 1:1.6.

Conclusions:

We demonstrated that it is possible to perform a powerful, simple, well‐accepted, and sensitive CD screening using saliva. Until now, the compliance with GFD in children with CD has been optimal.
Chitinophaga eiseniae sp. nov., isolated from vermicompost
Authors: Yasir Muhammad , Chung Eu Jin , Song Geun Cheol , Bibi Fehmida , Jeon Che Ok , Chung Young Ryun
Published: November 2010

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strain, YC6729T, was isolated from vermicompost collected at Masan, Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Strain YC6729Tgrew optimally at 30 °C and at pH 6.5–8.5. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YC6729Tbelongs to the genusChitinophagain the familyChitinophagaceae. It was related most closely toChitinophaga terraeKP01T(96.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity),Chitinophaga ginsengisegetisGsoil 040T(96.1 %),Chitinophaga arvensicolaIAM 12650T(96.1 %) andChitinophaga pinensisDSM 2588T(93.3 %). Strain YC6729Tcontained MK-7 as the major menaquinone and homospermidine as the major polyamine. The fatty acids of strain YC6729Twere iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω5c, iso-C17 : 03-OH, C16 : 0, anteiso-C18 : 0and/or C18 : 2ω6,9c, iso-C15 : 02-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c, C14 : 0, iso-C15 : 03-OH, iso-C15 : 1G, C18 : 1ω5c, iso-C15 : 1I and/or C13 : 03-OH, C13 : 02-OH, C16 : 03-OH and unknown fatty acid ECL 13.565. The polar lipid profile contained phosphatidylethanolamine, unknown aminolipids and unknown lipids. The total DNA G+C content of strain YC6729Twas 48.9 mol%. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data showed that strain YC6729Trepresents a novel species of the genusChitinophaga, for which the nameChitinophaga eiseniaesp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YC6729T( = KACC 13774T = DSM 22224T).
Pseudomonas deceptionensis sp. nov., a psychrotolerant bacterium from the Antarctic
Authors: Carrión Ornella , Miñana-Galbis David , Montes Ma Jesús , Mercadé Elena
Published: November 2010

During the taxonomic investigation of cold-adapted bacteria from samples collected in the Antarctic area of the South Shetland Islands, one Gram-reaction-negative, psychrotolerant, aerobic bacterium, designated strain M1T, was isolated from marine sediment collected on Deception Island. The organism was rod-shaped, catalase- and oxidase-positive and motile by means of a polar flagellum. This psychrotolerant strain grew at temperatures ranging from −4 °C to 34 °C. Phylogenetic studies based on 16S rRNA gene sequences confirmed that Antarctic isolate M1T was a member of the genus Pseudomonas and was located in the Pseudomonas fragi cluster. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values were >98 % between 13 type strains belonging to the Pseudomonas fluorescens lineage. However, phylogenetic analysis of rpoD gene sequences showed that strain M1T exhibited high sequence similarity only with respect to Pseudomonas psycrophila (97.42 %) and P. fragi (96.40 %) and DNA–DNA hybridization experiments between the Antarctic isolate M1T and the type strains of these two closely related species revealed relatedness values of 58 and 57 %, respectively. Several phenotypic characteristics, together with the results of polar lipid and cellular fatty acid analyses, were used to differentiate strain M1T from related pseudomonads. Based on the evidence of this polyphasic taxonomic study, strain M1T represents a novel species, for which the name Pseudomonas deceptionensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M1T ( = LMG 25555T  = CECT 7677T).
The Multivesicular Body-Localized GTPase ARFA1b/1c Is Important for Callose Deposition and ROR2 Syntaxin-Dependent Preinvasive Basal Defense in Barley
Authors: Böhlenius Henrik , Mørch Sara M. , Godfrey Dale , Nielsen Mads E. , Thordal-Christensen Hans
Published: November 2010

Host cell vesicle traffic is essential for the interplay between plants and microbes. ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) GTPases are required for vesicle budding, and we studied the role of these enzymes to identify important vesicle transport pathways in the plant–powdery mildew interaction. A combination of transient-induced gene silencing and transient expression of inactive forms of ARF GTPases provided evidence that barley (Hordeum vulgare) ARFA1b/1c function is important for preinvasive penetration resistance against powdery mildew, manifested by formation of a cell wall apposition, named a papilla. Mutant studies indicated that the plasma membrane–localized REQUIRED FOR MLO-SPECIFIED RESISTANCE2 (ROR2) syntaxin, also important for penetration resistance, and ARFA1b/1c function in the same vesicle transport pathway. This was substantiated by a requirement of ARFA1b/1c for ROR2 accumulation in the papilla. ARFA1b/1c is localized to multivesicular bodies, providing a functional link between ROR2 and these organelles in penetration resistance. During Blumeria graminis f sp hordei penetration attempts, ARFA1b/1c-positive multivesicular bodies assemble near the penetration site hours prior to the earliest detection of callose in papillae. Moreover, we showed that ARFA1b/1c is required for callose deposition in papillae and that the papilla structure is established independently of ARFA1b/1c. This raises the possibility that callose is loaded into papillae via multivesicular bodies, rather than being synthesized directly into this cell wall apposition.
Nutritional status and quality of life at varying degrees of clinical severity of chronic liver disease
Authors: Panagaria Namita , Varma Kanika , Nijhawan Sandeep , Rai R.R.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the nutritional status and quality of life in patients according to the clinical severity of liver cirrhosis.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 151 cirrhotics were selected for study. Nutritional assessment was done by anthropometry, subjective global assessment, malnutrition universal screening tool, biochemical estimations and 72‐hour dietary recall. Quality of life was assessed by chronic liver disease questionnaire.

Findings

Child's status was A/B/C in 29/68/59, respectively. Muscle and fat depletion was significantly higher in grade C patients as compared to grade A and B patients. Incidence of malnutrition was lowest in grade A patients (72.4 percent) and highest in grade C patients (90.74 percent) (p = 0.00). Calorie and protein intake was significantly lower in grade C patients compared to grade A and B patients (p = 0.00). Child Pugh score was found to be an independent risk factor for various nutritional and clinical parameters.

Research limitations/implications

The data presented reflect the assessment of a very small cohort of these patients and should be done on a larger scale.

Practical implications

Looking into the high prevalence of malnutrition and the negative impact of disease severity, nutritional assessment of these patients should be done on a regular basis and nutritional therapy planned accordingly.

Originality/value

Data on malnutrition from India are scarce. This study is a small attempt to throw light on the nutritional status and its variation according to clinical severity of liver cirrhosis.
Rediscovering enterprise: developing appropriate university entrepreneurship education
Authors: Bridge Simon , Hegarty Cecilia , Porter Sharon
Published: November 2010

Purpose

Entrepreneurship can refer to business start‐up, but now sometimes has wider connotations. This paper aims to explore what entrepreneurship means for the promoters of entrepreneurship education and what might be appropriate for the students who consume it.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper assesses the work of NICENT (The Northern Ireland Centre for Entrepreneurship) in the University of Ulster in its approach to addressing the requirements of both its funders and its consumers.

Findings

Funders often want to pursue entrepreneurship as part of a business creation agenda but even the word “entrepreneurship” can be off‐putting to students. NICENT, therefore, asked not “How to teach entrepreneurship?” but “What do students need?” As a result NICENT broadened its approach from “enterprise for new venture creation” to “enterprise for life”. This, NICENT believed, was more appropriate to the needs of the majority of students and was a foundation on which “enterprise for new venture creation” could later be built.

Practical implications

NICENT funders had an economic development focus, and wanted to see new high‐growth businesses. However, to spread entrepreneurship education throughout the university, NICENT had to “sell” its services to university staff and, in turn, to their students: who want respectively to deliver and receive an enhancement to future life and work effectiveness.

Originality/value

This paper explores the different requirements of the various stakeholders involved in entrepreneurship education and considers the need to reconcile them.
Visual product aesthetics
Authors: Mowen John C. , Fang Xiang , Scott Kristin
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the nomological net of the construct of the centrality of visual product aesthetics (CVPA).

Design/methodology/approach

A hierarchical model of personality is employed to investigate the nomological net of CVPA. The hierarchical model incorporates both trait antecedents (e.g. the traits of need for material resources, the need for uniqueness, and openness to experience) as well as value antecedents (the values of science importance, liberalism, and conservatism). In addition, the model includes three expected consequences of CVPA not previously investigated in the literature. Data were collected from a survey of 542 adult consumers who were broadly representative of the population of the USA.

Findings

The findings identified six significant antecedents of CVPA: need for uniqueness, conservative values, liberal values, science values, openness to experience, and material needs. In addition, CVPA was positively related to individuals' interest in representational art, abstract art, and environmental concern.

Originality/value

The paper advances theory by proposing how traits and values work together to influence behavior. It advances understanding of CVPA by showing that a concern for visual aesthetics influences attitudes that extend beyond product aesthetics to a concern for the environment. Finally, methodological issues in identifying a construct's nomological net, as well as the study's managerial contributions, are discussed.
The modern economic theory of bureaucracy as a precursor to new public management
Authors: Mixon Franklin G. , Treviño Len J.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to suggest that the modern economic theory of bureaucracy developed by economists Breton and Wintrobe is a heretofore unrecognized precursor to the new public management (NPM) construct.

Design/methodology/approach

After presenting a comparison of the modern economic theory of bureaucracy to the basic principles of NPM, this paper offers a treatment of Breton and Wintrobe's modern economic theory of bureaucracy that uses the compelling episodic example of the 1944 attempt by the Nazi SS to deceive, through the now infamous Theresienstadt “Embellishment,” the International Red Cross and world communities about the existence of the Nazi Holocaust bureaucracy.

Findings

The comparison of the conceptual elements of the two models and the integration of the historical episodic example support the view that the modern economic theory of bureaucracy is a precursor to NPM.

Originality/value

This is the first study to date to present the modern economic theory of bureaucracy as a precursor to the principles of NPM. As such, future research in either area that recognizes the connection made in the present study is potentially enhanced.
The integration of course support materials into the information literacy research process
Authors: Kieltyka Marcus , Mayer Christopher
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how course informational needs are being satisfied by materials outside of traditional library resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The design is based on the results of a survey of instructional faculty at Central Washington University during fall quarter 2008.

Findings

The findings show that course support materials available through publishers meet in many cases the immediate informational needs of students. Additionally, these materials are directly tied to specific course/research needs and activities. The paper also demonstrates that these materials permit students to bypass the initial and fundamental steps of the information literacy process.

Practical implications

The implications may be that libraries will continue to see stagnant funding as the informational needs of students are being met through other means. The lack of complaints regarding adequate material budgets will remain strong within the library but largely silent at the campus level. Another implication is that the cost of access is now being borne by the immediate user, the student, and that the library is repurchasing similar materials for the university as a whole.

Originality/value

The paper provides useful information on whether course informational needs are being satisfied by materials outside of traditional library resources.
Open innovation models adopted in practice: an extensive study in Italy
Authors: Lazzarotti Valentina , Manzini Raffaella , Pellegrini Luisa
Published: November 2010

Purpose

Many companies claim they are adopting an open approach to innovation, but each of them with its own way. This paper aims to explore the different models for opening up the innovation process adopted in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilises an extended survey among Italian manufacturing companies, cluster analysis and ANOVA.

Findings

The study distinguishes four different open innovation models with respect to two variables, representing the degree of openness: the number and type of partners with whom the company collaborates (partner variety), and the number and type of phases of the innovation process open to external collaborations (innovation phase variety). They are: open and closed innovators, integrated and specialized collaborators. The paper describes each cluster in terms of firm‐specific variables that characterize Open Innovation choices; at last, it tries to draw some tentative explanation of the influence of openness on the innovative performance of companies.

Research limitations/implications

The number of respondents is still limited (about 100). Moreover, it studied only the relationship between some firm‐specific factors and the degree of openness (in terms of partner and phase variety): a wider investigation is recommended to include more variables to define the openness degree and more contextual factors.

Practical implications

The paper provides managerial implications because it suggests that open innovation is not an “on/off” choice, but it can be interpreted and adopted with different degrees, consistently with the company's specific context.

Originality/value

The paper introduces a new perspective that integrates the number/typology of both partners and phases, in order to understand if such perspective can confirm the existence of different open innovation models.
Towards a complementary intangibles reporting approach
Authors: Tomás Lopes Ilídio
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The aggregation and exploitation of knowledge edges has settled the appearance of multiple approaches that put intangibles as the most important key driver towards the strategic and financial level achievements. This paper's aim is to identify the intangibles recognized by the Portuguese Airlines companies, their impact on the companies' strategies and their inclusion in the internal management reporting standards.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on the Portuguese civil aviation sector, specifically focused on air transportation activity. The research involved all 21 Portuguese Airlines companies and the National regulator. Structured inquiries were conducted in the companies' financial departments and in the National Activity Regulator. Non‐parametric tests were performed in order to identify possible clusters and dependence linkages between companies' features and intangible policies and procedures.

Findings

Findings evidenced the need of a complementary intangible resources scorecard report. Significant dependence does not exist between the inquiries' results and the airlines company's features. Results have shown that the intangibles objectives and recognition detractors have a transversal and structural nature, and are not focused on a discrete company type or cluster.

Originality/value

This methodology clarifies the stage of knowledge management implementation and intangible assets measurement and recognition of the companies' reporting systems. Several intangibles were identified, some of them supporting strong and sustainable competitive advantages. This research also constitutes a deep sector diagnosis, the first step for an organizational culture change with respect to intangibles reporting requirements.
Innovating entrepreneurial pedagogy: examples from France and Germany
Authors: Klapper Rita , Tegtmeier Silke
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This paper – one of only a few examples – aims to conduct a cross‐national research into innovative teaching approaches in entrepreneurship in France and Germany.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on two cross‐cultural cases and reflects on the experiences of two innovative teaching approaches in two European settings. The underlying aim of this investigation is to identify commonalities and differences between the approaches, establish learning between the different Higher Education institutions as well as to investigate the transferability of such approaches to other cultural environments.

Findings

This research has highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary learning in entrepreneurship research. Whereas, in the German case, management and other disciplines work together to create the example of the “practice firm”, in the French case entrepreneurship theories, network theories and cognitive science are brought together to create a new approach to learning about entrepreneurship. Both approaches highlight the importance of the personal development of the course participants by empowering the student to be proactive.

Research limitations/implications

The paper builds on the early experiences with both the concept of the “practice firm” and the application of repertory grids in entrepreneurial pedagogy, which justifies the highly exploratory character of this research. More research is necessary to establish students' opinion about such innovative approaches, also on a cross‐national level.

Practical implications

The paper provides examples of effective practices for encouraging entrepreneurial thinking in the classroom. More such comparative work is necessary on a European, but also on a wider international, scale to encourage learning, in particular for those involved in teaching entrepreneurship, but also for policy makers who are looking for new ways to stimulate entrepreneurial thinking.

Originality/value

The paper is innovative as it compares and contrasts two innovative approaches to teaching entrepreneurship in two European countries and hence fills a gap in the literature.
The practical application of an entrepreneurial performance training model in South Africa
Authors: van Vuuren Jurie , Botha Melodi
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This paper sets out to apply practically the constructs of the entrepreneurial performance training model to three different training interventions, known as the business start‐up, basic entrepreneurship, and advanced entrepreneurship programmes. Furthermore, the paper aims to measure the business performance indicators and skills transfer that took place after the training interventions.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative research was conducted, using three validated research questionnaires. The research design consists of a pre‐test, post‐test and post‐post test (ten weeks after the training interventions took place). Factor analysis was done, descriptive statistics arising from opinions and expressions are presented and statistical tests such as the Chi‐square test and ANOVA provide inferential statistics.

Findings

The business performance indicators improved for all three training groups after they attended the training interventions. Furthermore, it was proved that skills transfer took place after the respondents attended the training interventions.

Research limitations/implications

The training groups can be measured again after 18 months of three years to really determine the impact of the training interventions. The results of the three training programmes can be compared to see whether the basic entrepreneurship groups gained more skills and their business performance indicators increased more than the business start‐up or advanced entrepreneurship programmes.

Practical implications

The outcomes and implications of this research paper emphasise that it is imperative to design training programmes based on training models that have been tested. This paper highlights some aspects of how constructs used within the training models can be tested.

Originality/value

The entrepreneurial performance‐training model was practically applied and provides a set of expectations for other entrepreneurship models as well as presenting a benchmark against which programme performance can be measured. A unique teaching methodology is portrayed that contributes to the overall effectiveness of the training model.
RFID implementation with virtual infrastructures
Authors: Lorchirachoonkul William , Mo John P.T.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a virtualisation model of RFID enabled infrastructure incorporating non‐standard radio frequency identification (RFID) components. The model is implemented as a software service that draws upon other sources of internet services.

Design/methodology/approach

In a global supply chain environment, circumstances at different locations may not allow RFID system to be used. Some supply chain members do not have compatible network infrastructure in place. These include RFID frameworks such as China's National Product Codes and Japan's ubiquitous identification which are utilised around the world. There is also a reachability problem for consignments going offsite. The paper introduces a service abstraction layer (SAL) in the RFID architecture to remove dependency on specific RFID framework. From this principle, the paper introduces a new virtual infrastructure that interfaces with emerging identification technologies.

Findings

The model bridges the gaps that exist between various RFID standards, as well as utilising various technologies to emulate data capture devices so that the information chain remains intact across the global network. The resulting system significantly reduces the costs of commissioning and operating costs of existing RFID infrastructures.

Research limitations/implications

The new system has been tested in real industry environment with defined scope and coverage. The implication due to full roll out of the technologies in global supply chains still requires further investigation.

Practical implications

Usability of the virtualised RFID infrastructures depends on the cooperation among partners in the supply chain rather than the technology level. New business rules are required when special stakeholders such as customs are included in this virtualised infrastructure.

Originality/value

The concept of virtualisation has been used in operating systems, but its application to supply chain has not been explored before. Introduction of the SAL allows interoperability of systems handling goods tracking events through the supply chain.
Incorporating business process management into RFID‐enabled application systems
Authors: Zhao Xiaohui , Liu Chengfei , Lin Tao
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The emergence of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology promises enormous opportunities to shift business process automation up to the wire level. The purpose of this paper is to explore the methodology of incorporating business logics into RFID edge systems, and thereby facilitate the business process automation in the RFID‐applied environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Following the object‐oriented modelling perspective, concepts of classes, instances are deployed to characterise the runtime context of RFID business scenarios; event patterns are used to aggregate RFID tag read events into business meaningful events; and business rules are established to automate business transactions according to the elicited events.

Findings

The paper has emphasised the synergy between business process automation and automatic data acquisition, and has identified the inter‐relations between RFID tag read events, application‐level events, business rules, and business operations. The reported research has demonstrated a feasible scheme of incorporating business process control and automation into RFID‐enabled applications.

Originality/value

The paper analyses the characteristics of RFID data and event handling in relation to business rule modelling and process automation. The features of event‐relied awareness, context containment and overlapping, etc. are all captured and described by the proposed object‐oriented business model. The given data‐driven RFID middleware architecture can serve as one reference architecture for system design and development. Hence, the paper plays an important role in connecting automatic data acquisition and existing business processes, and thereby bridges the physical world and the digital world.