bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What is Inclusive Didactics? Teachers’ Understanding of Inclusive Didactics for Students with EBD in Swedish Mainstream Schools
Authors: Gidlund Ulrika , Boström Lena
Published: April 2017

Including students with emotional and behavioral difficulties (EBD) in general education is one of teachers’ greatest challenges and make the dilemma of inclusion displays its most difficult side. This article contributes to the understanding of how teachers in Swedish mainstream schools understand the concept of inclusive didactics for students with EBD. This article employs a directed qualitative content analysis supplemented with descriptive statistics related to the categories of inclusive didactics. Didactic theory was the basis of the predefined categories by which the analysis was completed. Empirical data were collected through 6 focus-group interviews and 37 individual follow-up interviews. The findings indicate that three didactic aspects were dominant in teachers’ understanding of inclusive didactics: Student(s), Methods, and Teacher. Less accentuated were Subject, Rhetoric and Interaction. Thus these teachers’ understanding and previous research is not consistent. The overall conclusion is that the concept of inclusive didactics is complex, complicated, and difficult for teachers to relate to. The descriptions are both vague and simplistic and therefore difficult for teachers to implement. This article clearly highlights that teachers often feel frustrated and inadequate, and blame themselves for the students’ deficiency and failure, thus concluding that strategies for distinct descriptions and teacher practices are needed.
The Relationship between Leader Member Exchange, Job Satisfaction and Affective Commitment, Gender-Similarity Roles in the Segregated Work Environment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)
Authors: Alshamrani Mohammed
Published: April 2017

The purpose of this study is to assess gendered leadership in segregated work environments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a context in which interactions between the genders is limited. Throughout this study, leader-member exchange (LMX) will be classified as an independent construct, job satisfaction (JS) and affective commitment (AC) will be classified as dependent constructs, and gender similarity status will be classified as a moderator. Since interactions among the genders are uncommon in this context, this study will explore whether leadership relationships are gendered in this environment.The data was collected using an online survey; 115 male teachers and 106 female teachers were included in the sample, all of whom work in segregated schools. The partial least squares approach to structural equation modeling was used (PLS-SEM), and the results showed that gender relationships are important when considering LMX. The results also proved that both genders of teacher are influenced by their relationship with their current principal, and this was important when predicting JS and AC. The multi-group analysis (MGA) test showed that gender moderates the relationship between LMX and JS with an advantage for female teachers.The findings suggest that teacher training should pay more attention to minimising the stereotyping of females in relation to gendered leadership. The limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed in light of these findings.
The Implications of Managed-Workforce Diversity on Internal Supply Chain Integration and Business Performance
Authors: Bruce Rockson Samuel , Annan Jonathan , Muntaka Abdul Samed
Published: April 2017

Today, workforce diversity management appears to attract strategic attention globally. Given this, a critical question that emerging research seeks to address is: is it even worth managing diverse workforce? Partly, this study addresses this question by examining the implications of managed-workforce diversity (MWD) on internal supply chain (SC) integration and business performance. Data was collected from one hundred and twenty six respondents using mainly questionnaires. The constructs employed to measure managed-workforce diversity, internal supply chain integration and business performance were together subjected to ANOVA, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and then confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Model (SEM) in LISREL 8.5. Analysis of the data gathered indicated that MWD is most likely to be beneficial in enhancing internal SC integration and then SC responsiveness; with the former benefit acting as a conduit through which the latter benefit is experienced. The study therefore argues that effective workforce diversity management is one that creates and maintains MWD (which is a positive affective climate where employees do not feel intimidated, looked down upon, or discriminated against just because of background differences), all of which are necessary for driving internal SC integration, SC responsiveness, and financial outcomes. The managerial implications and the theoretical relevance of the study’s findings are discussed in details.
CAPM Vs Fama-French Three-Factor Model: An Evaluation of Effectiveness in Explaining Excess Return in Dhaka Stock Exchange
Authors: Sattar Mahnoor , - Jannatunnesa
Published: April 2017

CAPM has been prevalently used by practitioners for calculating required rate of return despite having drawbacks. Fama French presented their 3 factor model in order to gap the limitations posed by CAPM model. This paper attempts to examine practical implications and effectiveness of Fama French model vis-a-vis the CAPM model in explaining excess return of Dhaka Stock Exchange by analyzing five publicly listed firms of Cement industry over 10 years period of 2004-2014. As the representative of market index, DGEN is taken from 2004 till 2013 and later on DSEX is taken. Simple and multiple linear regression analysis have been used against daily market return and respective companies return. Results shows that adjusted R square of Fama French model have a higher value than adjusted R square of CAPM model after running cross sectional regression of the observed panel data. It means that Fama French model is better predicting variation in excess return over Rf than CAPM for all the five companies of the Cement industry over the period of ten years. Low p values indicate that the coefficients are statistically significant. Nonetheless this paper concludes that the companies who want to use Fama French model instead of CAPM must evaluate the time and effort required to use the model before they replace CAPM with the multi factor model for their stock return analysis.
The Role of Changing Management in the Process Of Enhancing the strategic Marketing Planning in Jordanian Industry Sector (Model-Complement)
Authors: Abulehyeh Salman Mohammad , Falah Al-zoub Ali
Published: April 2017

This study examines the role and importance of change management in enhancing and managing strategic marketing planning related to strategic problems characterized by depth and complications. This rather planning demands extensive and deep research concerns variables and capabilities of futuristic analysis of propositions and probabilities. Thus, planning designers are the critical suppliers to the organization. The importance of studying change management is stressed, as well as its role in enhancing the process of strategic planning which is essential for the organization in the future. This is the main subject of this study. A matrix including several variables has been set, being one of the tools of marketing strategic planning for the organization. These variables decide the extent of market attraction and its competitive position in different market situations. Additionally, another matrix was set up to determine the competitive capability of the organization. On this basis, the suitable investment strategy has been determined, according to each market situation, in relation to market attraction & the competitive capability of the organization. After finishing the marketing revision, evaluation of the organization's internal situation has been done as to the threats and opportunities in comparison to opportunities and threats in the external environment. Good management and investment in change management employed by food companies in the private Jordanian sector is still limited due to obstacles, limitations related to managers and leaderships as well as present technical, financial, and information capabilities.
Implementing Automated Quality Management Software System through Total Quality Management and Knowledge Management Concepts to Improve the Quality of Education in the Universities
Authors: Alfalah Tasneem F. , Alfalah Salsabeel F. , Falah Jannat F.
Published: April 2017

Document archiving is very important in any large educational institution, as they contain information that is critical and affects quality management as well as knowledge management. The purpose of knowledge management and information systems is to organize the intellectual capital of the universities in a formally structured way for easy use and help managers make better decisions in all areas. Thus, the sources of competitive advantage in universities derive from intellectual capital and innovations. In addition, the path to a competitive advantage comes from the ability to manage knowledge to create quality of knowledge. Quality and knowledge are good indicators with which to measure a university’s overall competitiveness. This research illustrates the importance of knowledge management in universities and the role of the Information Technology (IT) in facilitating, sharing and accelerating growth of knowledge, in addition to improving the quality of education level in the university. The research also describes both the conceptual and the empirical frame work of a Quality management automated system. We expect this approach to noticeably reduce the cost in the faculties in the University of Jordan, and prevent all the disadvantage of the current situation and improve the quality of education.
Experiential Learning for Supporting Learning Effectiveness in Business Education: A Case Study from Egypt
Authors: El Bedawy Randa
Published: April 2017

Higher education plays a crucial role for developing responsible citizens and accordingly a key priority for educators should be how to prepare their students for contributing to society development. Traditional teaching methods have been insufficient to realize these aims and experiential learning has been recommended for supporting learning effectiveness in higher education as experiential learning plays a crucial role to complement the required capabilities. In business education,experiential learning has focused on the simulation of real world business practices. As experiential learning is a relatively new educational practical approach in Egypt, this study sheds the light on the rational process of experiential learning as well as the study aims to evaluate the benefits and obstacles that educators may face when implementing an experiential approach. The case study presents an experiential learning model based on a business simulation, reflecting its effectiveness to develop students’ learning process and learning outcome. Using qualitative analysis, the study investigates the responses of diverse undergraduate student teams to a business simulation as a new experiential learning approach. The study recommends that experiential learning approach has proven useful for supporting the business students’ effective learning.
Intensify Business Performances of Multinationals: An Introduction to Five Strategic Elements within Performance Management
Authors: Feyerlein Daniel
Published: April 2017

The unknown future of global change, the increasing influence of growing and altered market conditions – these critical issues require companies around the globe that operate internationally to progressively adapt and optimize their strategies. In particular, regarding future competition conditions, strengthening competitiveness is gaining more importance. Companies are being challenged to define their business models and strategies in accordance with global requirements in order to compete successfully.Particularly in times of inconsistency, suggestions for performance improvement can provide valuable impulses. This article highlights current aspects within international business and considers future market conditions with a focus on strategic management and raising competitiveness.Performance management, the core element of business models, suggests five strategic elements that show promising potential for improving the performance of multinationals: beneficial proposals, commercial excellence, leadership aspiration, gaining competitiveness and ecological sustainability. With a focus on strategizing, performance management aims at generating continuous improvement of the organization’s competitive situation internationally while factoring in global change. This article focuses on manufacturing companies that pursue long term growth targets in international business and that has to deal with permanently growing competition at an international level.
The Effect of Job Engagement on Job Burnout and Job Performance: The Moderating Effect of Organizational Justice
Authors: Yin Nan
Published: April 2017

This study took salemen as an example to explore the relationship between job engagement and job burnout, job engagement and job performance. When studying on the impact of job engagement, both of the two results should be taken into consideration, so the study took job burnout and job performance as the outcome variables of job engagement. The study randomly chose 48 companies of them through field visits, and the respondents were the employees who were engaging in the sales in the 48 computers and computer parts sales companies. When compiling the questionnaires, the paired questionnaire was adopted. 633 employee questionnaires were distributed to the employees and 150 supervisor questionnaires to the supervisors. Each sales department supervisor consists of several employees. Effective recovery of the questionnaire was 501 copies. The results show that job engagement positively affects task performance and organizational citizenship behavior in job performance, and negatively affects counterproductive work behavior; Job engagement negatively affects job burnout, and organizational justice has a significant negative moderating effect on job engagement and counterproductive work behavior.
Information Technology (IT) Competencies Desired in New Accounting Graduates: A Survey in Jordanian Business Environment
Authors: Mustafa EL-dalahmeh Suleiman
Published: April 2017

Accounting and information technology are closely related for many decades. Accounting was the domain of business that first adopted IT and made an extensive use of it. Nowadays the IT competencies desired by accountants were under a continuous change and evolution. Modern accountants are expected to have a high level of IT knowledge and skills and towards that direction the curriculum in accounting education have to adopt a wide range of modules in order to provide accounting students with the required competencies. The paper presents the results of a survey in Jordanian business environment regarding technological skills desired in new accounting graduates. The questions related to computer skills desired in new accounting graduates showed that spreadsheet knowledge was the most desired followed by accounting software, for casting packages as well as all the skills mentioned in the questionnaire ranged between the importance degree is very high and high.
Network Embeddedness and Firm Innovation: An Empirical Research on Strategic Emerging Industries in China
Authors: Xiangjie Zheng
Published: April 2017

The impact of strategic emerging industries alliance innovation network on firm innovation capability has been paid great attention by firms and academia. Supported by the social network analysis theory and method, we take the listed companies network embedded in the strategic emerging industries as an example, and use negative binomial regression to study the impact of network embeddedness on firm innovation capability. The empirical results show the firms embedded in alliance networks with better betweenness centrality will have greater innovative output in one or two years later; the liner relationship between the whole network density and the innovation ability is not obvious, but has a significant inverted U type effect, in other words, the firms embedded in alliance network with moderately dense connection will have greater innovative output. These conclusions will provide new scientific basis for firms to develop alliance activities and for relevant government departments to make alliance policies.
Drawing the Economical Balanced Line for Railway and Sea Way Transportation between Iran and China
Authors: Besharati Loroun Babak , Ming Xu
Published: April 2017

In international trade, from a cargo departure point to destination point, there may be two basic ways to use transportation means, by sea or railway as there are geographically several  availabilities of airways ,railway lines and sea voyage lines and meantime transportation costs are dynamically changed, it is possible to draw some area by use of Geographic-Economic Line, which gives business people an easy reference for their choosing transportation means for logistic solution to some kinds of cargos. This paper first introduces general situation of China-Europe and Middle East block train development. Second the paper focused on China-Iran block train case, collected various railway and sea way transportation route and rate information to support deep analysis. Third, the paper developed some formulas to find the balanced cost by using all available data. Finally, the paper traced from cost information to get geographic places which are further turn out to be as economic balanced lines marked in map which could serve as reference lines for their easy decision.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for International Journal of Business and Management, Vol. 12 No. 5
Authors: Lee Stephen
Published: April 2017

Reviewer Acknowledgements for International Journal of Business and Management, Vol. 12 No. 5, 2017
Instructor Acceptance of Mobile Learning in Saudi Arabia: A Case Study of Hail University
Authors: Alharbi O. , Alotebi H. , Masmali A. , Alreshidi N.
Published: April 2017

Mobile technology has influenced almost every aspect of our modern lives. The enhancement of learning in Saudi Arabia, as well as significant development in education overall, may be possible through mobile learning. However, the successful implementation of mobile learning in tertiary education profoundly relies on the acceptance of mobile learning from both students and instructors. Most mobile learning acceptance studies target higher education students. Therefore, this study aimed at examining the factors that affect university instructors’ intentions to use mobile learning at Hail University. Eighty instructors completed the online survey, and the results indicated that performance experience, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions altogether predicted the instructors’ use of mobile learning, as 67% of the variation was found to be affected by these variables in the multiple regression analysis outcome. The results also suggested that effort expectancy is the best predictor of instructors’ behavioural intentions to use mobile learning.
Exploring the Impact of Airlines Service Quality on Customer Loyalty: Evidence from Taiwan
Authors: Chen Chun-Mei , Liu Hsian-Ming
Published: April 2017

The purpose of this paper tries to explore what are the key factors to influence customers to choose an airline. The research assesses the service quality, brand image, perceived value and customer loyalty on Taiwan-based airlines. The study analyzes the data by applying structure equation modeling (SEM) from valid 560 questionnaires surveyed in the airports. To validate the measurement model, this study checks scale reliability, overall model fit, and validity using the CFA technology. Moreover, the two major indicators including convergence validity and discriminate validity were employed to assess scale validity. Many prior studies had proved that brand image has a positive influence on perceived value, this study had validated that perceived value has also a positive influence on brand image. The brand image assists in the relation between service quality and loyalty, and perceived value strengthens their relationship. Furthermore, brand image and perceived value mediate the effect of service quality on customer loyalty to display a distal effect. The strategic implications for the effects of service quality lead to repurchase intention and loyalty inclination, which are contributed to both scholarly advancement of knowledge and the state of managerial practice.
The Mechanisms of Transition from Effectual to Causal thinking in Entrepreneurial Contingency
Authors: Lin William
Published: April 2017

Most entrepreneurial research has not addressed the phenomena of entrepreneurial teams adjusting their cognitive styles based on the different challenges they face during the new venture life cycle under startups, accelerators and incubators. Our objective in this article is to attempt to investigate the mechanism between effectuation and causation over the life cycle of ventures; and to explore the consequences of this transition and these mechanisms. Drawing on data from 64 in-depth interviews with 28 executive members, we recorded 172 key decisions chronologically and examined the pattern of decision-making processes. According to our observations and interviews, many companies remain at the survival stage for some time even when they know their breakeven point is reachable. We found that the remaining decision, the decision to remain below breakeven, is a signal of cognitive style transition from a dominantly effectual model of decision-making and action to a causation model. Our examination supported the mechanisms with effectuation principles and explored how the transitions between the two decision-making processes impact start-up teams. Our study not only extends effectuation research by examining the significant timing for transition timing, but also sheds light on entrepreneurial research by integrating and synthesizing transaction cost economics.
The Assembly Enterprises in the Electric Electronic Sector in Tamaulipas, Mexico: Their Knowledge Ties
Authors: García Fernández Francisco , Sevilla Morales José Ángel , Delgado Rivas Jesús Gerardo , Sánchez Limón Mónica Lorena
Published: April 2017

This work’s objective is to identify, and to classify the different types of bonds established between the assembly enterprises in the electric electronic sector in Tamaulipas with the local and foreign agents. The work is supported in a multicase study methodology. The methodology is applied by Marin and Giuliani (2006) that allows them to measure the bonds looking for the frequency, stability, the degree of cohesion, the fragility of the relationships, the interoperability, the interdependence of the diverse agents of study, and also its graphic representation through the Netdraw software. The classification of the enterprises involved in the study was obtained with the enterprises with fragile local ties and strong bonds with their headquarters. The evaluation of these bonds allowed them to classify them as globally diversified (enterprises A and B); Globally dependent (C); Globally Independent (E); and Globally Isolated (E).
An Evaluation of the Factors Influencing Investors' Perception in Bangladesh Stock Market
Authors: - Jannatunnesa
Published: April 2017

Behavioral finance deals with the influence of psychology on the behavior of financial practitioners and its subsequent impact on stock markets. Unlike the developed part of the globe, very limited research attempts have been undergone so far in the field of investors' behavior in the growing stock markets. However, the decisions of investors in an emergent market are generally influenced by behavioral finance rather than conventional finance. Thus, this study aims at analyzing the general behavior of individual investors in Bangladesh in terms of the factors affecting their stock market perception. The study is mainly based on primary data, collected particularly in the context of Bangladesh. In exposing the factors affecting the perception of individual investors, a number of statistical techniques under univartate, bivariate and multivariate analysis have been applied using SPSS. According to the study, Accounting Information is the most important factor influencing investors' decision, whereas Company Specific Attributes or Reputation is the least important factor. The findings of the study may offer important implications to the concerned parties, especially to the actual and potential investors, corporations’ management, investment managers, regulatory body, etc.
Mad or normal? Paradoxes of contemporary diagnostic cultures
Authors: Brinkmann Svend
Published: May 2017

Psychiatric diagnoses are increasingly used by people around the world as a filter through which they experience their sufferings, unhappiness, and eccentricities. In what can be called the diagnostic cultures of our times, more and more people receive a psychiatric diagnosis, something that is often criticized as unwarranted medicalization and pathologization of human problems. Psychiatric diagnoses also appear in popular media, and this paper seeks to unfold some paradoxes of our diagnostic cultures by using a Danish TV show called “Mad or normal?” as an instance that can inform us of larger cultural issues about how psychiatric problems are understood and addressed in public media today. The show had the ambition of combating stigmatization of psychiatric illness and disorder, but can be seen as reinforcing exactly that. The manifest messages of the show were that mental disorder is just like physical illness, that people can in fact recover, and that the mentally ill are “just like us”, but the set-up of the show latently worked against these messages, which is likely a more general problem in today’s diagnostic cultures. The question is asked whether such a show can be considered as a vehicle through which non-contagious psychiatric diagnoses can nonetheless become contagious in a way that involves the paradoxical logics that are pointed out.
Efficiency of turbulent mixing in the abyssal ocean circulation
Authors: Mashayek A. , Salehipour H. , Bouffard D. , Caulfield C. P. , Ferrari R. , Nikurashin M. , Peltier W. R. , Smyth W. D.
Published: May 2017

Turbulent mixing produced by breaking of internal waves plays an important role in setting the patterns of downwelling and upwelling of deep dense waters and thereby helps sustain the global deep ocean overturning circulation. A key parameter used to characterize turbulent mixing is its efficiency, defined here as the fraction of the energy available to turbulence that is invested in mixing. Efficiency is conventionally approximated by a constant value near one sixth. Here we show that efficiency varies significantly in the abyssal ocean and can be as large as approximately one third in density stratified regions near topographic features. Our results indicate that variations in efficiency exert a first‐order control over the rate of overturning of the lower branch of the meridional overturning circulation.
Hydrologic controls on junction angle of river networks
Authors: Hooshyar Milad , Singh Arvind , Wang Dingbao
Published: April 2017

The formation and growth of river channels and their network evolution are governed by the erosional and depositional processes operating on the landscape due to the movement of water. The branching angles, i.e., the angle between two adjoining channels, in drainage networks are important features related to the network topology and contain valuable information about the forming mechanisms of the landscape. Based on the channel networks extracted from 1 m Digital Elevation Models of 120 catchments with minimal human impacts across the United States, we show that the junction angles have two distinct modes with
and
. The observed angles are physically explained as the optimal angles that result in minimum energy dissipation and are linked to the exponent characterizing the slope‐area curve. Our findings suggest that the flow regimes, debris‐flow dominated or fluvial, have distinct characteristic angles which are functions of the scaling exponent of the slope‐area curve. These findings enable us to understand the geomorphic signature of hydrologic processes on drainage networks and develop more refined landscape evolution models.
A two‐dimensional analytical model of vapor intrusion involving vertical heterogeneity
Authors: Yao Yijun , Verginelli Iason , Suuberg Eric M.
Published: May 2017

In this work, we present an analytical chlorinated vapor intrusion (CVI) model that can estimate source‐to‐indoor air concentration attenuation by simulating two‐dimensional (2‐D) vapor concentration profile in vertically heterogeneous soils overlying a homogenous vapor source. The analytical solution describing the 2‐D soil gas transport was obtained by applying a modified Schwarz‐Christoffel mapping method. A partial field validation showed that the developed model provides results (especially in terms of indoor emission rates) in line with the measured data from a case involving a building overlying a layered soil. In further testing, it was found that the new analytical model can very closely replicate the results of three‐dimensional (3‐D) numerical models at steady state in scenarios involving layered soils overlying homogenous groundwater sources. By contrast, by adopting a two‐layer approach (capillary fringe and vadose zone) as employed in the EPA implementation of the Johnson and Ettinger model, the spatially and temporally averaged indoor concentrations in the case of groundwater sources can be higher than the ones estimated by the numerical model up to two orders of magnitude. In short, the model proposed in this work can represent an easy‐to‐use tool that can simulate the subsurface soil gas concentration in layered soils overlying a homogenous vapor source while keeping the simplicity of an analytical approach that requires much less computational effort.
Lightning attachment process to common buildings
Authors: Saba M. M. F. , Paiva A. R. , Schumann C. , Ferro M. A. S. , Naccarato K. P. , Silva J. C. O. , Siqueira F. V. C. , Custódio D. M.
Published: May 2017

The physical mechanism of lightning attachment to grounded structures is one of the most important issues in lightning physics research, and it is the basis for the design of the lightning protection systems. Most of what is known about the attachment process comes from leader propagation models that are mostly based on laboratory observations of long electrical discharges or from observations of lightning attachment to tall structures. In this paper we use high‐speed videos to analyze the attachment process of downward lightning flashes to an ordinary residential building. For the first time, we present characteristics of the attachment process to common structures that are present in almost every city (in this case, two buildings under 60 m in São Paulo City, Brazil). Parameters like striking distance and connecting leaders speed, largely used in lightning attachment models and in lightning protection standards, are revealed in this work.
Local time asymmetry of Saturn's magnetosheath flows
Authors: Burkholder B. , Delamere P. A. , Ma X. , Thomsen M. F. , Wilson R. J. , Bagenal F.
Published: May 2017

Using gross averages of the azimuthal component of flow in Saturn's magnetosheath, we find that flows in the prenoon sector reach a maximum value of roughly half that of the postnoon side. Corotational magnetodisc plasma creates a much larger flow shear with solar wind plasma prenoon than postnoon. Maxwell stress tensor analysis shows that momentum can be transferred out of the magnetosphere along tangential field lines if a normal component to the boundary is present, i.e., field lines which pierce the magnetopause. A Kelvin‐Helmholtz unstable flow gives rise to precisely this situation, as intermittent reconnection allows the magnetic field to thread the boundary. We interpret the Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability acting along the magnetopause as a tangetial drag, facilitating two‐way transport of momentum through the boundary. We use reduced magnetosheath flows in the dawn sector as evidence of the importance of this interaction in Saturn's magnetosphere.
Impact of the lower thermospheric winter‐to‐summer residual circulation on thermospheric composition
Authors: Qian Liying , Yue Jia
Published: May 2017

Gravity wave forcing near the mesopause drives a summer‐to‐winter residual circulation in the mesosphere and a reversed, lower thermospheric winter‐to‐summer residual circulation. We conducted modeling studies to investigate how this lower thermospheric residual circulation impacts thermospheric composition (O/N2). We found that the upwelling associated with the residual circulation significantly decreases O/N2 in winter and the downwelling in summer slightly increases O/N2. Consequently, the residual circulation reduces the summer‐to‐winter latitudinal gradient of O/N2, which causes the simulated latitudinal gradient of O/N2 to be more consistent with observations. The smaller summer‐to‐winter latitudinal gradient of O/N2 would decrease the ionosphere winter anomaly in model simulations, which would bring the simulated winter anomaly into better agreement with ionospheric observations. The lower thermospheric residual circulation may be a process that has been largely ignored but is very important to the summer‐to‐winter latitudinal gradients, as well as annual/semiannual variations in the thermosphere and ionosphere.
Lake volume and groundwater storage variations in Tibetan Plateau's endorheic basin
Authors: Zhang Guoqing , Yao Tandong , Shum C. K. , Yi Shuang , Yang Kun , Xie Hongjie , Feng Wei , Bolch Tobias , Wang Lei , Behrangi Ali , Zhang Hongbo , Wang Weicai , Xiang Yang , Yu Jinyuan
Published: May 2017

The Tibetan Plateau (TP), the highest and largest plateau in the world, with complex and competing cryospheric‐hydrologic‐geodynamic processes, is particularly sensitive to anthropogenic warming. The quantitative water mass budget in the TP is poorly known. Here we examine annual changes in lake area, level, and volume during 1970s–2015. We find that a complex pattern of lake volume changes during 1970s–2015: a slight decrease of −2.78 Gt yr−1 during 1970s–1995, followed by a rapid increase of 12.53 Gt yr−1 during 1996–2010, and then a recent deceleration (1.46 Gt yr−1) during 2011–2015. We then estimated the recent water mass budget for the Inner TP, 2003–2009, including changes in terrestrial water storage, lake volume, glacier mass, snow water equivalent (SWE), soil moisture, and permafrost. The dominant components of water mass budget, namely, changes in lake volume (7.72 ± 0.63 Gt yr−1) and groundwater storage (5.01 ± 1.59 Gt yr−1), increased at similar rates. We find that increased net precipitation contributes the majority of water supply (74%) for the lake volume increase, followed by glacier mass loss (13%), and ground ice melt due to permafrost degradation (12%). Other term such as SWE (1%) makes a relatively small contribution. These results suggest that the hydrologic cycle in the TP has intensified remarkably during recent decades.
Gibberellin Hormone Signal Perception: Down‐RegulatingDELLARepressors of Plant Growth and Development
Authors: Nelson Sven K. , Steber Camille M.
Published: May 2017

The gibberellin (GA) hormone signal is perceived by a receptor with homology to hormone‐sensitive lipases, GID1 (GA‐INSENSITIVEDWARF1). This leads to GA‐stimulated responses, including stem elongation, seed germination and the transition to flowering. GA‐binding enables GID1 to interact with and block the function of the DELLA repressors of GA responses. DELLA repression can be blocked both by proteolytic and non‐proteolytic mechanisms triggered by the formation of a GID1‐GA‐DELLA complex. DELLA is down‐regulated by the SLEEPY1/GID2 F‐box proteins via the ubiquitin‐proteasome pathway, and can be regulated by other post‐translational modifications. This chapter reviews the structural requirements for GA‐binding by GID1 and for GID1‐GA‐DELLA protein complex formation, and reviews the current understanding of the mechanisms regulating DELLA repressors.
Development and Pilot Testing of Multimedia Patient Education Tools for Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Lopez‐Olivo Maria A. , Ingleshwar Aparna , Volk Robert J. , Jibaja‐Weiss Maria , Barbo Andrea , Saag Kenneth , Leong Amye , Suarez‐Almazor Maria E.
Published: May 2017

Objective

We developed and tested multimedia patient education tools (video tools) for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), osteoporosis (OP), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

We followed an “edutainment” model, incorporating educational patient story lines. The goals were designed to make the programs both didactic and entertaining, with navigation and graphic user interfaces as simple as possible. We created both English and Spanish language versions. Once the video tool was finalized, 60 patients, 20 per disease, were shown the tool and interviewed. Disease knowledge was our primary outcome, and decision conflict, disease management, and acceptability were secondary outcomes.

Results

We observed statistically significant differences in pre‐ to postintervention knowledge questionnaire scores (before and after viewing the video tool) (OA: P = 0.03, OP: P = 0.01, and RA: P < 0.0001). Most participants felt they gained “clarity” on disease duration, symptoms, and the time medication takes to start acting; were “encouraged to see their doctor regularly”; and were more aware about taking their medications. In terms of acceptability, most patients in all disease groups found the length and amount of information presented in the video tools to be “just right,” and the presentation to be “balanced.” In terms of comprehension, all participants provided a favorable evaluation of the video tool; all found the video easy to use, the vocabulary easy to understand, and the materials to be well organized.

Conclusion

Multimedia tools that incorporate videos may help patients better understand and manage their disease. Patient involvement in the development process is essential to ensure relevant content and usability.
Education Preferences of People With Gout: Exploring Differences Between Indigenous and Nonindigenous Peoples from Rural and Urban Locations
Authors: Treharne Gareth J. , Richardson Aimee C. , Neha Tia , Fanning Niamh , Janes Ronald , Hudson Ben , Judd Andrea , Pitama Suzanne , Stamp Lisa K.
Published: May 2017

Objective

Gout typically responds well to medications, but adherence might be improved by education that meets individuals’ needs in a way that is inclusive of their ethnicity and rurality. The aim of this study was to compare education preferences of Māori and New Zealand European (NZEuropean) individuals with gout, and of those living in rural or urban areas.

Methods

People with gout managed in primary care were recruited from 2 rural regions and 1 city within Aotearoa/New Zealand. Focus groups were held with 26 Māori and 42 NZEuropean participants (44 rural, 24 urban). Participants discussed education preferences for diet, medication, and ways of communicating. The nominal group technique was employed, whereby the group compiled a list of ideas and then participants individually ranked the 3 most important ideas for each topic.

Results

The most frequently prioritized ideas for the 3 topics were knowing one's own food triggers, knowing side effects of medications, and communicating via a general practitioner (GP) or specialist. More Māori participants prioritized natural remedies, easy to understand information, and communicating via television. More NZEuropean participants prioritized knowing the kinds of alcohol that trigger gout, communicating via GP/specialist, and receiving written information. More urban participants prioritized knowing to stay hydrated and medication doses as important information.

Conclusion

Māori and NZEuropean individuals with gout report different understandings and education preferences around personal triggers of gout, treatment options, and ways of receiving information about gout. Further research is required to develop ethnicity‐specific gout education resources internationally.
Prestoring Lithium into Stable 3D Nickel Foam Host as Dendrite‐Free Lithium Metal Anode
Authors: Chi Shang‐Sen , Liu Yongchang , Song Wei‐Li , Fan Li‐Zhen , Zhang Qiang
Published: May 2017

Lithium metal is considered a “Holy Grail” of anode materials for high‐energy‐density batteries. However, both dendritic lithium deposition and infinity dimension change during long‐term cycling have extremely restricted its practical applications for energy storage devices. Here, a thermal infusion strategy for prestoring lithium into a stable nickel foam host is demonstrated and a composite anode is achieved. In comparison with the bare lithium, the composite anode exhibits stable voltage profiles (200 mV at 5.0 mA cm−2) with a small hysteresis beyond 100 cycles in carbonate‐based electrolyte, as well as high rate capability, significantly reduced interfacial resistance, and small polarization in a full‐cell battery with Li4Ti5O12 or LiFePO4 as counter electrode. More importantly, in addition to the fact that lithium is successfully confined in the metallic nickel foam host, uniform lithium plating/stripping is achieved with a low dimension change (merely ≈3.1%) and effective inhibition of dendrite formation. The mechanism for uniform lithium stripping/plating behavior is explained based on a surface energy model.
Over 10% EQE Near‐Infrared Electroluminescence Based on a Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitter
Authors: Yuan Yi , Hu Yun , Zhang Ye‐Xin , Lin Jiu‐Dong , Wang Ya‐Kun , Jiang Zuo‐Quan , Liao Liang‐Sheng , Lee Shuit‐Tong
Published: May 2017

Significant effort has been made to develop novel material systems to improve the efficiency of near‐infrared organic light‐emitting diodes (NIR OLEDs). Of those, fluorescent chromophores are mostly studied because of their advantages in cost and tunability. However, it is still rare for fluorescent NIR emitters to present good color purities in the NIR range and to have high external quantum efficiency (EQE). Here, a wedge‐shaped D‐π‐A‐π‐D emitter APDC‐DTPA with thermally activated delayed fluorescence property and a small single‐triplet splitting (ΔEst) of 0.14 eV is presented. The non‐doped NIR device exhibits excellent performance with a maximum EQE of 2.19% and a peak wavelength of 777 nm. Remarkably, when 10 wt% of APDC‐DTPA is doped in 1,3,5‐tris(1‐phenyl‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)benzene host, an extremely high EQE of 10.19% with an emission peak of 693 nm is achieved. All these values represent the best result for NIR OLEDs based on a pure organic fluorescent emitter with similar device structure and color gamut.
Drug “Pent‐Up” in Hollow Magnetic Prussian Blue Nanoparticles for NIR‐Induced Chemo‐Photothermal Tumor Therapy with Trimodal Imaging
Authors: Li Jinghua , Zhang Fengshou , Hu Zhigang , Song Weidong , Li Guangda , Liang Gaofeng , Zhou Jun , Li Ke , Cao Yang , Luo Zhong , Cai Kaiyong
Published: May 2017

The study reports a biocompatible smart drug delivery system based on a doxorubicin (DOX) blending phase‐change material of 1‐pentadecanol loaded hollow magnetic Prussian blue nanoparticles, resulting in HMNP‐PB@Pent@DOX. The system possesses concentration‐dependent high thermogenesis (>50 °C) when applying a near‐infrared (NIR) laser irradiation only for 5 min. Furthermore, the system realizes near “zero release” of drug and is efficiently triggered by NIR for drug delivery in an “on” and “off” manner, thus inducing cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the system clearly indicates tumor site with trimodal imaging of magnetic resonance imaging, photoacoustic tomography imaging, and infrared thermal imaging. Furthermore, the system achieves efficient chemo‐photothermal combined tumor therapy in vivo with 808 nm laser irradiation for 5 min at 1.2 W cm−2, revealing the good tumor inhibition effect comparing with those of chemotherapy or photothermal therapy alone. The system is also confirmed to be biocompatible in regard to the mortality rate.
Achieving 12.8% Efficiency by Simultaneously Improving Open‐Circuit Voltage and Short‐Circuit Current Density in Tandem Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Qin Yunpeng , Chen Yu , Cui Yong , Zhang Shaoqing , Yao Huifeng , Huang Jiang , Li Wanning , Zheng Zhong , Hou Jianhui
Published: May 2017

Tandem organic solar cells (TOSCs), which integrate multiple organic photovoltaic layers with complementary absorption in series, have been proved to be a strong contender in organic photovoltaic depending on their advantages in harvesting a greater part of the solar spectrum and more efficient photon utilization than traditional single‐junction organic solar cells. However, simultaneously improving open circuit voltage (Voc) and short current density (Jsc) is a still particularly tricky issue for highly efficient TOSCs. In this work, by employing the low‐bandgap nonfullerene acceptor, IEICO, into the rear cell to extend absorption, and meanwhile introducing PBDD4T‐2F into the front cell for improving Voc, an impressive efficiency of 12.8% has been achieved in well‐designed TOSC. This result is also one of the highest efficiencies reported in state‐of‐the‐art organic solar cells.
Photorechargeable High Voltage Redox Battery Enabled by Ta3N5 and GaN/Si Dual‐Photoelectrode
Authors: Cheng Qingmei , Fan Weiqiang , He Yumin , Ma Peiyan , Vanka Srinivas , Fan Shizhao , Mi Zetian , Wang Dunwei
Published: May 2017

Solar rechargeable battery combines the advantages of photoelectrochemical devices and batteries and has emerged as an attractive alternative to artificial photosynthesis for large‐scale solar energy harvesting and storage. Due to the low photovoltages by the photoelectrodes, however, most previous demonstrations of unassisted photocharge have been realized on systems with low open circuit potentials (<0.8 V). In response to this critical challenge, here it is shown that the combined photovoltages exceeding 1.4 V can be obtained using a Ta3N5 nanotube photoanode and a GaN nanowire/Si photocathode with high photocurrents (>5 mA cm–2). The photoelectrode system makes it possible to operate a 1.2 V alkaline anthraquinone/ferrocyanide redox battery with a high ideal solar‐to‐chemical conversion efficiency of 3.0% without externally applied potentials. Importantly, the photocharged battery is successfully discharged with a high voltage output.
Hidden Interface Driven Exchange Coupling in Oxide Heterostructures
Authors: Chen Aiping , Wang Qiang , Fitzsimmons Michael R. , Enriquez Erik , Weigand Marcus , Harrell Zach , McFarland Brian , Lü Xujie , Dowden Paul , MacManus‐Driscoll Judith L. , Yarotski Dmitry , Jia Quanxi
Published: May 2017

A variety of emergent phenomena have been enabled by interface engineering in complex oxides. The existence of an intrinsic interfacial layer has often been found at oxide heterointerfaces. However, the role of such an interlayerin controlling functionalities is not fully explored. Here, we report the control of the exchange bias (EB) in single‐phase manganite thin films with nominallyuniform chemical composition across the interfaces. The sign of EB depends on the magnitude of the cooling field. A pinned layer, confirmed by polarized neutron reflectometry, provides the source of unidirectional anisotropy. The origin of the exchange bias coupling is discussed in terms of magnetic interactions between the interfacial ferromagnetically reduced layer and the bulk ferromagnetic region. The sign of EB is related to the frustration of antiferromagnetic coupling between the ferromagnetic region and the pinned layer. Our results shed new light on using oxide interfaces to design functional spintronic devices.