bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geometrically tuned wettability of dynamic micromechanical sensors for an improved in-liquid operation
Authors: Peiker P. , Oesterschulze E.
Published: September 2015

Partial wetting is a vital tool to improve the quality factor of dynamic micromechanical sensors operated in liquids owing to the reduced viscous damping. This technique employs meniscus formation which so far could only be stabilized for a hydrophobic sensory surface excluding biosensing applications. Here, we report on the geometrically tuned wettability of particular hybrid bridge resonators (HBR) with an integrated overhang structure. This allows low-loss operation irrespective of the sensory surface material. The impact of the overhang structure on wetting is explained in a simplified model. Experimental evidence is adduced operating the HBR coated with hydrophilic thin films in water. With an in-liquid quality factor Q of 91 and a small mass m≈5 ng of the HBR, the m/Q-ratio, which is proportional to the limit of detection for mass sensing, was significantly improved in comparison to immersed resonators presented so far.
Note: Design and realization of a portable edge illumination X-ray phase contrast imaging system
Authors: Basta D. , Endrizzi M. , Vittoria F. A. , Kallon G. K. N. , Millard T. P. M. , Diemoz P. C. , Olivo A.
Published: September 2015

We discuss a portable edge illumination x-ray phase contrast imaging system based on compact piezoelectric motors, which enables its transportation to different environments, e.g., hosting different x-ray source technologies. The analysis of images of standard samples reveals an angular sensitivity of 270 ± 6 nrad, which compares well with the 260 ± 10 nrad reported for previous systems based on stepper motors, demonstrating that system portability can be achieved without affecting phase sensitivity. The results can also be considered a test of the performance of the piezoelectric motors, and as such could be of interest to researchers planning their use in other imaging systems.
Improved electrical properties for Mn-doped lead-free piezoelectric potassium sodium niobate ceramics
Authors: Wang Lingyan , Ren Wei , Ma Wenhui , Liu Ming , Shi Peng , Wu Xiaoqing
Published: September 2015

The un-doped and doped lead-free piezoelectric potassium sodium niobate (K0.5Na0.5NbO3, KNN) ceramics with different amounts of Mn were prepared. The decreased dielectric losses and the improved electrical properties were observed in the Mn-doped KNN ceramics. However, the variation of electrical properties with the Mn contents was not continuously. The 0.5 mol.% Mn-doped KNN ceramic shows the highest dielectric loss and the worst electrical properties. The KNN ceramics doped with less than and more than 0.5 mol.% Mn all show improved electrical properties. The change of lattice position of Mn ions in KNN ceramics was the main reason. When the Mn content is less than 0.5 mol.%, the Mn ions occupied the cation vacancies in A-site. When the Mn content is higher than 0.5 mol.%, the Mn ions entered B-site of KNN perovskite structure and formed the defect complexes (MnNb″−VO⋅⋅) and (MnNb′−VO⋅⋅−MnNb′). They both led to a lower defect concentration. However, When the Mn content is up to 1.5 mol.%, the electrical properties of KNN ceramic became degraded because of the accumulation of Mn oxides at grain boundaries.
Large enhancement of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and high annealing stability by Pt insertion layer in (Co/Ni)-based multilayers
Authors: Chen Xi , Li Minghua , Yang Kang , Jiang Shaolong , Han Gang , Liu Qianqian , Yu Guanghua
Published: September 2015

We have investigated the influence of ultrathin Pt insertion layers on the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and annealing stability of Ta/Pt/(Co/Ni)×3/Co/Pt/Ta multilayered films. When the Pt layers were inserted at the Co/Ni interfaces, the PMA of the multilayered films decreased monotonically as the thickness of the Pt insertion layer (tPt) was increased. However, when the Pt layers were inserted at the Ni/Co interfaces, the PMA increased from 1.39 × 106 to 3.5 × 106 erg/cm3 as tPt increased from 0 to 10 Å. Moreover, the multilayered film containing 6-Å-thick Pt insertion layers that inserted at the Ni/Co interfaces exhibited the highest annealing stability for PMA, which was up to temperature of 480 °C. We hypothesize that the introduced Pt/Co interfaces, due to the Pt insertion layers, are responsible for the enhanced PMA and high annealing stability. This study is particularly important for perpendicularly magnetized spintronic devices that require high PMA and high annealing stability.
Magneto-caloric effect of a Gd50Co50 amorphous alloy near the freezing point of water
Authors: Xia L. , Wu C. , Chen S. H. , Chan K. C.
Published: September 2015

In the present work, we report the magneto-caloric effect (MCE) of a binary Gd50Co50 amorphous alloy near the freezing temperature of water. The Curie temperature of Gd50Co50 amorphous ribbons is about 267.5 K, which is very close to room temperature. The peak value of the magnetic entropy change (-ΔSmpeak) and the resulting adiabatic temperature rise (ΔTad.) of the Gd50Co50 amorphous ribbons is much higher than that of any other amorphous alloys previously reported with a Tc near room temperature. On the other hand, although the -ΔSmpeak of Gd50Co50 amorphous ribbons is not as high as those of crystalline alloys near room temperature, its refrigeration capacity (RC) is still much larger than the RC values of these crystalline alloys. The binary Gd50Co50 amorphous alloy provides a basic alloy for developing high performance multi-component amorphous alloys near room temperature.
Size-dependent magnetization dynamics in individual Ni80Fe20 disk using micro-focused Brillouin Light Scattering spectroscopy
Authors: Shimon G. , Adeyeye A. O.
Published: September 2015

A direct and systematic investigation of the magnetization dynamics in individual circular Ni80Fe20 disk of diameter (D) in the range from 300 nm to 1 μm measured using micro-focused Brillouin Light Scattering (μ-BLS) spectroscopy is presented. At high field, when the disks are in a single domain state, the resonance frequency of the uniform center mode is observed to reduce with reducing disk’s diameter. For D = 300 nm, additional edge and end-domains resonant modes are observed due to size effects. At low field, when the disks are in a vortex state, a systematic increase of resonant frequency of magnetostatic modes in a vortex state with the square root of the disks’ aspect ratio (thickness divided by radius) is observed. Such dependence diminishes for disks with larger aspect ratio due to an increasing exchange energy contribution. Micromagnetic simulations are in excellent agreement with the experiments.
Development and validation of protocols for product stewardship in transgenic white clover (Trifolium repens L.): detection of the AMV CP and npt2 transgenes in seeds, herbage and hay
Authors: Panter S. , Mouradov A. , Smith K. F. , Spangenberg G.
Published: September 2015

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is an important pasture legume in temperate areas throughout the world, providing fodder for grazing animals and improving soil fertility via symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, the persistence and stress tolerance of white clover is affected by several viruses, chiefly Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Clover yellow vein virus (ClYVV) and White clover mosaic virus (WClMV). Efforts to introgress natural forms of virus resistance from other Trifolium spp. into white clover and lucerne (alfalfa) have had only limited success. This has been addressed by developing white clover germplasm exhibiting viral-coat-protein-mediated resistance to AMV and non-transgenic resistance to ClYVV. This report describes PCR-based assays for detecting the transgenes associated with the H6 transformation event in seeds, fresh leaves, air-dried leaves and mixtures of air-dried herbage of white clover and perennial ryegrass (hay). Although further development is required to convert these assays for use in the field, this paper demonstrates the ability to detect these transgenes in a range of agricultural products associated with the commercial use of white clover.
Characteristics associated with group sex participation among men and women in the club drug scene
Authors: Buttram Mance E. , Kurtz Steven P.
Published: September 2015

This study examined the demographics, substance use and sexual risk behaviours associated with group sex (GS) participation among a sample of club drug users (n = 498) in Miami. Men (n = 128; 46.3%) and women (n = 75; 33.7%) reported histories of GS. Group sex participation among men and women was associated with heroin and injection drug use, trading or selling sex, and sex while high, compared with no GS participation. Moreover, among men, GS was associated with buying sex and sex with an injection drug user; among women, GS was associated with substance dependence, a history of sexually transmissible infections and crack cocaine use, compared with no GS participation.
Protein folding guides disulfide bond formation
Authors: Qin Meng , Wang Wei , Thirumalai D.
Published: September 2015

Significance

Anfinsen inferred the principles of protein folding by studying a protein containing four disulfide bonds in the native state. However, how protein folding drives disulfide bond formation is poorly understood despite the role such proteins play in variety of extracellular and intracellular functions. We developed a method to mimic the complex chemistry of disulfide bond formation in molecular simulations, which is used to decipher the mechanism of folding of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor. The flux to the native state is through a complex network of native-like states. Crucially, we establish that it is the conformational folding of the protein that directs disulfide bond formation. Testable predictions and implications for enzyme-catalyzed folding of disulfide proteins in vivo are outlined.
BDNF modulates heart contraction force and long-term homeostasis through truncated TrkB.T1 receptor activation
Authors: Fulgenzi Gianluca , Tomassoni-Ardori Francesco , Babini Lucia , Becker Jodi , Barrick Colleen , Puverel Sandrine , Tessarollo Lino
Published: September 2015

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is critical for mammalian development and plasticity of neuronal circuitries affecting memory, mood, anxiety, pain sensitivity, and energy homeostasis. Here we report a novel unexpected role of BDNF in regulating the cardiac contraction force independent of the nervous system innervation. This function is mediated by the truncated TrkB.T1 receptor expressed in cardiomyocytes. Loss of TrkB.T1 in these cells impairs calcium signaling and causes cardiomyopathy. TrkB.T1 is activated by BDNF produced by cardiomyocytes, suggesting an autocrine/paracrine loop. These findings unveil a novel signaling mechanism in the heart that is activated by BDNF and provide evidence for a global role of this neurotrophin in the homeostasis of the organism by signaling through different TrkB receptor isoforms.
The myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein directly binds nerve growth factor to modulate central axon circuitry
Authors: von Büdingen H.-Christian , Mei Feng , Greenfield Ariele , Jahn Sarah , Shen Yun-An A. , Reid Hugh H. , McKemy David D. , Chan Jonah R.
Published: September 2015

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) is a central nervous system myelin-specific molecule expressed on the outer lamellae of myelin. To date, the exact function of MOG has remained unknown, with MOG knockout mice displaying normal myelin ultrastructure and no apparent specific phenotype. In this paper, we identify nerve growth factor (NGF) as a binding partner for MOG and demonstrate that this interaction is capable of sequestering NGF from TrkA-expressing neurons to modulate axon growth and survival. Deletion of MOG results in aberrant sprouting of nociceptive neurons in the spinal cord. Binding of NGF to MOG may offer widespread implications into mechanisms that underlie pain pathways.
Strain induced slowdown of front propagation in random shear flow via analysis of G-equations
Authors: Gao Hongwei
Published: September 2015

It is proved that for the 2-dimensional case with random shear flow of the G-equation model with strain term, the strain term reduces the front propagation. Also an improvement of the main result by Armstrong-Souganidis is provided.
Skorohod’s representation theorem for sets of probabilities
Authors: Dumav Martin , Stinchcombe Maxwell
Published: September 2015

We characterize sets of probabilities,

Π
\boldsymbol {\Pi }

, on a measure space

(
Ω
,

F

)

(\Omega ,\mathcal {F})

, with the following representation property: for every measurable set of Borel probabilities,

A
A

, on a complete separable metric space,

(
M
,
d
)

(M,d)

, there exists a measurable

X
:
Ω
→
M

X:\Omega \rightarrow M

with

A
=
{
X
(
P
)
:
P
∈
Π
}

A = \{X(P): P \in \boldsymbol {\Pi }\}

. If

Π
\boldsymbol {\Pi }

has this representation property, then: if

K
n

→

K
0

K_n \rightarrow K_0

is a sequence of compact sets of probabilities on

M
M

, there exists a sequence of measurable functions,

X
n

:
Ω
→
M

X_n:\Omega \rightarrow M

such that

X
n

(
Π
)
≡

K
n

X_n(\boldsymbol {\Pi }) \equiv K_n

and for all

P
∈
Π

P \in \boldsymbol {\Pi }

,

P
(
{
ω
:

X
n

(
ω
)
→

X
0

(
ω
)
}
)
=
1

P(\{\omega : X_n(\omega ) \rightarrow X_0(\omega )\}) = 1

; if the

K
n

K_n

are convex as well as compact, there exists a jointly measurable

(
K
,
ω
)
↦
H
(
K
,
ω
)

(K,\omega ) \mapsto H(K,\omega )

such that

H
(

K
n

,
Π
)
≡

K
n

H(K_n,\boldsymbol {\Pi }) \equiv K_n

and for all

P
∈
Π

P \in \boldsymbol {\Pi }

,
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="upper P left-parenthesis StartSet omega colon upper H left-parenthesis upper K Subscript n Baseline comma omega right-parenthesis right-arrow upper H left-parenthesis upper K 0 comma omega right-parenthesis EndSet right-parenthesis equals 1">

P
(
{
ω
:
H
(

K
n

,
ω
)
→
H
(

K
0

,
ω
)
}
)
=
1

P(\{\omega : H(K_n,\omega ) \rightarrow H(K_0,\omega )\}) = 1

.
Cohomology of abelian arrangements
Authors: Bibby Christin
Published: September 2015

An abelian arrangement is a finite set of codimension one abelian subvarieties (possibly translated) in a complex abelian variety. In this paper, we study the cohomology of the complement of an abelian arrangement. For unimodular abelian arrangements, we provide a combinatorial presentation for a differential graded algebra whose cohomology is isomorphic to the rational cohomology of the complement. Moreover, this DGA has a bi-grading that allows us to compute the mixed Hodge numbers.
Cycline subalgebras of 𝑘-graph C*-algebras
Authors: Yang Dilian
Published: September 2015

In this paper, we prove that the cycline subalgbra of a

k
k

-graph C*-algebra is maximal abelian, and show when it is a Cartan subalgebra (in the sense of Renault).
Computational modeling of development by epithelia, mesenchyme and their interactions: a unified model
Authors: Marin-Riera Miquel , Brun-Usan Miguel , Zimm Roland , Välikangas Tommi , Salazar-Ciudad Isaac
Published: September 2015

Motivation: The transformation of the embryo during development requires complex gene networks, cell signaling and gene-regulated cell behaviors (division, adhesion, polarization, apoptosis, contraction, extracellular matrix secretion, signal secretion and reception, etc.). There are several models of development implementing these phenomena, but none considers at the same time the very different bio-mechanical properties of epithelia, mesenchyme, extracellular matrix and their interactions.

Results: Here, we present a new computational model and accompanying open-source software, EmbryoMaker, that allows the user to simulate custom developmental processes by designing custom gene networks capable of regulating cell signaling and all animal basic cell behaviors. We also include an editor to implement different initial conditions, mutations and experimental manipulations. We show the applicability of the model by simulating several complex examples of animal development.

Availability and implementation: The source code can be downloaded from: http://www.biocenter.helsinki.fi/salazar/software.html.

Contact:  isalazar@mappi.helsinki.fi

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Differentiation and diversity of subsets in group 1 innate lymphoid cells
Authors: Seillet Cyril , Belz Gabrielle T.
Published: September 2015

NK cells were first identified in 1975 and represent the prototypical group 1 innate lymphoid cell (ILC). More recently, the discovery of new members of the ILC family has highlighted the complexity of this innate lymphoid lineage. Importantly, it has been recognized that different subsets exist within the group 1 ILC, which have potential roles in mediating immune protection and immunosurveillance, and in regulating tissue homeostasis and inflammation. Here, we review the developmental relationships between the different group 1 ILC, which have been identified to date and discuss how heterogeneity within this expanding family may have arisen.
Dynamic Selection: An Idea Flows Theory of Entry, Trade, and Growth
*
Authors: Sampson Thomas
Published: September 2015

This article develops an idea flows theory of trade and growth with heterogeneous firms. Entrants learn from incumbent firms, and the diffusion technology is such that learning depends not on the frontier technology, but on the entire distribution of productivity. By shifting the productivity distribution upward, selection causes technology diffusion, and in equilibrium this dynamic selection process leads to endogenous growth without scale effects. On the balanced growth path, the productivity distribution is a traveling wave with a lower bound that increases over time. The free entry condition implies trade liberalization must increase the dynamic selection rate to offset the profits from new export opportunities. Consequently, trade integration raises long-run growth. Dynamic selection is a new source of gains from trade not found when firms are homogeneous. Calibrating the model implies dynamic selection approximately triples the gains from trade compared to heterogeneous firm economies with static steady states.
How well must climate models agree with observations?
Authors: Notz Dirk
Published: September 2015

The usefulness of a climate-model simulation cannot be inferred solely from its degree of agreement with observations. Instead, one has to consider additional factors such as internal variability, the tuning of the model, observational uncertainty, the temporal change in dominant processes or the uncertainty in the forcing. In any model-evaluation study, the impact of these limiting factors on the suitability of specific metrics must hence be examined. This can only meaningfully be done relative to a given purpose for using a model. I here generally discuss these points and substantiate their impact on model evaluation using the example of sea ice. For this example, I find that many standard metrics such as sea-ice area or volume only permit limited inferences about the shortcomings of individual models.
Exact solutions of coupled multispecies linear reaction–diffusion equations on a uniformly growing domain
Authors: Simpson Matthew J , Sharp Jesse A , Morrow Liam C , Baker Ruth E
Published: September 2015

Embryonic development involves diffusion and proliferation of cells, as well as diffusion and reaction of molecules, within growing tissues. Mathematical models of these processes often involve reaction–diffusion equations on growing domains that have been primarily studied using approximate numerical solutions. Recently, we have shown how to obtain an exact solution to a single, uncoupled, linear reaction–diffusion equation on a growing domain, 0< x < L(t), whereL(t) is the domain length. The present work is an extension of our previous study, and we illustrate how to solve a system of coupled reaction–diffusion equations on a growing domain. This system of equations can be used to study the spatial and temporal distributions of different generations of cells within a population that diffuses and proliferates within a growing tissue. The exact solution is obtained by applying an uncoupling transformation, and the uncoupled equations are solved separately before applying the inverse uncoupling transformation to give the coupled solution. We present several example calculations to illustrate different types of behaviour. The first example calculation corresponds to a situation where the initially–confined population diffuses sufficiently slowly that it is unable to reach the moving boundary atx=L(t). In contrast, the second example calculation corresponds to a situation where the initially–confined population is able to overcome the domain growth and reach the moving boundary atx=L(t). In its basic format, the uncoupling transformation at first appears to be restricted to deal only with the case where each generation of cells has a distinct proliferation rate. However, we also demonstrate how the uncoupling transformation can be used when each generation has the same proliferation rate by evaluating the exact solutions as an appropriate limit.
Engaging leadership in the job demands-resources model
Authors: Schaufeli Wilmar B.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to integrate leadership into the job demands-resources (JD-R) model. Based on self-determination theory, it was argued that engaging leaders who inspire, strengthen, and connect their followers would reduce employee’s levels of burnout and increase their levels of work engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

– An online survey was conducted among a representative sample of the Dutch workforce (n=1,213) and the research model was tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

– It appeared that leadership only had an indirect effect on burnout and engagement – via job demands and job resources – but not a direct effect. Moreover, leadership also had a direct relationship with organizational outcomes such as employability, performance, and commitment.

Research limitations/implications

– The study used a cross-sectional design and all variables were based on self-reports. Hence, results should be replicated in a longitudinal study and using more objective measures (e.g. for work performance).

Practical implications

– Since engaged leaders, who inspire, strengthen, and connect their followers, provide a work context in which employees thrive, organizations are well advised to promote engaging leadership.

Social implications

– Leadership seems to be a crucial factor which has an indirect impact – via job demands and job resources – on employee well-being.

Originality/value

– The study demonstrates that engaging leadership can be integrated into the JD-R framework.
The role of the spouse in managers’ family-related career sensemaking
Authors: Lysova Evgenia I. , Korotov Konstantin , Khapova Svetlana N. , Jansen Paul G. W.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a growing body of literature on the role of family in managers’ career decision making. Specifically, the authors offer an empirical elaboration on a recently proposed concept of the “family-relatedness of work decisions” (FRWD) by illuminating the role of the spouse in managers’ career sensemaking.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 88 managers who were in the final stage of their EMBA program took part in the study. The data were gathered through a personal career inventory.

Findings

– The findings revealed that next to family-career salience and parent role identification, spouses also play an important role in shaping managers’ family-related career sensemaking.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research should examine the supportive role of spouses in contexts other than that of an international EMBA. Moreover, researchers should examine the role of managers’ boundary management styles in shaping the degree of their family-related career sensemaking.

Practical implications

– The paper suggests that when designing and implementing developmental initiatives, organizations should consider that managers’ decisions about their next career steps may be guided by family-related concerns, and the spouse may play a specific role.

Originality/value

– This paper offers the first empirical exploration and a refinement of the nascent theory of the “FRWD.” It also introduces a new construct into the theory – spousal career support – that opens new avenues for future research.
Service learning in an Indigenous not-for-profit organization
Authors: Young Suzanne , Karme Tina
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of how service learning pedagogy assists in student and organizational learning.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use case study reflection and ethnography approaches.

Findings

– The key to the success of the internship was time spent on relationship building between the parties, clear documentation of roles and responsibilities, the selection and matching process and open communication between all parties. Using Mezirow’s (1991) transformational learning approach, and Kolb’s (1984) learning framework, it demonstrates an example of perspective transformation where the “unfamiliar” helps participants to question the “familiar”; through embedding learning in relation to culture, values, ownership and identity. Service learning relies on collaborative pedagogy where reflection and relationships with community and educators provide a platform to test students’ values and moral reasoning and build community cultural understanding.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper includes a single case study and autoethnographic research methodology only.

Practical implications

– Community-learning activities supplement the course content and embeds learning, broadening the students’ experiences, providing them with an understanding of context, and dealing with complexity to question their own cultural values. In practical terms it provides students with different career opportunities such as in the not-for-profit sector or in advocacy work. Service learning pedagogy enhances graduate capabilities, across many areas including problem solving, values development and community engagement and thinking of the other.

Originality/value

– The paper reports on and analyses the learning of a service learning internship between a business school and an Indigenous organization. The paper uses a reflection methodology and is written by the University internship co-ordinator (teacher) and an international student intern, whilst drawing on reflections of the Indigenous leader of the not-for-profit organization.
Students’ experiences of ability-based streaming in vocational education
Authors: Tanggaard Lene , Nielsen Klaus , Jørgensen Christian Helms
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Since 2007, it has been mandatory for all vocational schools in Denmark to assess the prior qualifications of all students when they begin at the school and to use this assessment to divide students into different ability-based courses (streaming) with the aim of increasing the retention of students. The purpose of this paper is to explore students’ experiences of being placed on a low-ability course by using case studies of two classes from separate vocational schools in Denmark with different practices regarding the streaming of students.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study draws on theories of student drop-out and engagement (Rumberger, 1993; Finn, 1989) and on the differentiation-polarization theory (Gamoran, 2010) concerning the effects of streaming students into ability-based classes. Two cases are described, representing on the one hand predominately positive experiences of streaming (better relations to teachers and peers) and on the other hand predominately negative experiences of streaming (low teacher expectations and negative peer-learning).

Findings

– The study shows that the two schools have organized streaming differently and that the students have very diverse experiences of being placed in a low-ability class depending on the way the schools organize streaming.

Originality/value

– The paper discusses the basic dilemma that schools face when they have to teach students with very diverse backgrounds and levels of engagement. The study shows that the division of students into separate streams involves a risk of reducing the level of engagement among students in the low-ability courses, but it also suggests how streaming can be organized to increase the engagement of students and possibly reduce their risk of dropping out of vocational education.
The role of senior management in developing and achieving a successful enterprise education programme?
Authors: Lee Kerry , Hebaishi Ghada , Hope John
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The New Zealand Ministry of Education identified that teachers need to be confident they have the support of their school management team before they embrace twenty-first century teaching and learning in enterprise education (Ministry of Education, 2013b). The purpose of this paper is to outline an interpretive case study which investigated the views held by the management of a New Zealand secondary school, well known for enterprise education.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study used semi-structured interviews to investigate what aspects were deemed important by senior management and whether they saw themselves as pivotal in the success of enterprise education.

Findings

– The management team believed their role to be pivotal and that nine aspects were necessary for a successful enterprise programme.

Originality/value

– It is anticipated that the results from this interpretive case study will assist others in their planning, development and success of future quality enterprise education programmes.
Effects of religiosity on consumer attitudes toward Islamic banking in Egypt
Authors: Abou-Youssef Mariam Mourad Hussein , Kortam Wael , Abou-Aish Ehab , El-Bassiouny Noha
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of Islamic religiosity on consumer attitudes toward Islamic banking in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study utilizes a mixed-methods approach, employing both qualitative in-depth interviews and quantitative surveys.

Findings

– The main findings of the study show that religiosity has an impact on consumer attitudes toward Islamic banking in Egypt. Major religiosity clusters were identified from the sample and these were associated with attitudes toward Islamic banking.

Practical implications

– The findings of this research are of practical importance for marketers in Islamic banks, as they reflect on the likely role religiosity would play in shaping the attitudes of potential customers toward their products. Thus, marketers can use the religiosity scale in measuring intention to use their banking services.

Originality/value

– The study was implemented in Egypt, where the volume of research on this topic is very limited; thus the context of the study is of value to researchers and practitioners and it can serve as a base for future studies in the Middle East region.
Modeling and analysis of bank customer satisfaction using neural networks approach
Authors: Zeinalizadeh Nooshin , Shojaie Amir Abbas , Shariatmadari Mohammad
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose the application of artificial neural networks (ANN) to predict overall bank customer satisfaction and to prioritize influencing factors on customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data are collected from 436 randomly selected customers at ten different branches of an Iranian bank using a questionnaire consisting of 51 questions. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is done on the collected data to determine those factors that influence customer satisfaction. A multilayer perceptron ANN model is developed using the factor scores from the EFA. The ANN model is trained and validated to predict overall bank customer satisfaction. In addition, a linear regression model is developed to predict customer satisfaction. Prediction accuracy of the ANN model is compared with that of the linear regression model. The developed ANN is then used to compare sensitivity of customer satisfaction to each influencing factor.

Findings

– Nine different influencing factors are extracted by EFA. The factors include Fees and Loans, Prompt Service, Appearance, Technological Service, Responsiveness, Reliability and Trustworthiness, Employees’ Attitudes and Behaviors, Accessibility to Bank and Availability of Service, and Interest Rates. Training and validation results show that the ANN model has 73 percent higher accuracy compared to the linear regression model in predicting overall bank customer satisfaction. Factor prioritization results show that Fees and Loans, Appearance, and Prompt Service have the highest impact on customer satisfaction, respectively; interest rate and accessibility to bank and availability of service are the least dominant factors influencing overall bank customer satisfaction.

Practical implications

– This study proposes a more reliable and accurate methodology to predict customer satisfaction when compared with regression-based methods. ANN can also be utilized by bank management systems to prioritize different influencing factors that affect the satisfaction level of bank customers.

Originality/value

– This paper advances the knowledge on bank customer satisfaction by proposing application of artificial intelligence methods. A case study is discussed and results of the application of an ANN are compared with those of a commonly used statistical regression model.
Inter-organisational relationship trust repair: a ranked Delphi study with UK professionals
Authors: Crossley Benjamin James
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide practical knowledge on how to repair trust within inter-organisational relationships (IORs), and to compare that knowledge to present academic research. IORs have an alarming failure rate upwards of 60 per cent. Although the breakdown of trust is a well-documented critical component of their failure, specific research on IOR trust repair is limited.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research applied a ranked Delphi study utilising UK professionals’ expertise in IOR management.

Findings

– The results provide two practical frameworks and several new methods for IOR trust repair; furthermore, they demonstrate consistency between professionally adopted IOR trust repair methods and those proposed academically.

Research limitations/implications

– The study ' s primary limitations resulted from being conducted at the lower end of its operating window, and only with panellists interested in trust repair. The implications for research are to direct investigations to the new IOR trust repair methods and to test when professionals would undertake trust repair methods.

Practical implications

– The IOR trust repair frameworks can be utilised retrospectively as a tool kit to repair damaged relationships. Additionally, they can be proactively embedded in IOR contract documentation, whereby parties agree to enact and abide by the frameworks, should relations deteriorate, before proceeding down legal avenues.

Originality/value

– This paper offers the first contribution from the UK professional community on IOR trust repair; they have provided new research areas for academics as well as practicable, pertinent frameworks for professionals.
When statutes collide: potential recovery of own party adjudication costs
Authors: Hetherton Tony , Charlson Jennifer
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the potential recovery of own party adjudication costs under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2013. The investigation directly applies to England and Wales, but may be relevant to other jurisdictions.

Design/methodology/approach

– The interaction between The Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2013 (derived from European Directive 2011/7/EU on combating late payment in commercial transactions) and the Local Democracy et al. 2009 including reference to case law was explored. A qualitative research framework was used to collect primary data through semi-structured interviews with experienced construction industry adjudication professionals.

Findings

– It was discovered that adjudicators are awarding own party costs under the Regulations, but there was disagreement on the issues in both the literature and amongst the interviewees.

Research limitations/implications

– A definitive judgment is awaited from the Technology and Construction Court.

Originality/value

– This paper will be of value to construction industry adjudication professionals.
The matching of motivations to affordances among Maltese elected local government volunteers
Authors: Bezzina Frank , Cassar Vincent , Azzopardi Joseph G. , McKiernan Peter
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to both understand the motives for volunteering in local government (a strong/structured context) and determine how such motivation and other demographics interact with organisational contexts to influence volunteering outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study adopts a functional approach to volunteerism. The Volunteer Functions Inventory is modified to better assess the motivations of elected local government volunteers. The responses of 152 Maltese local councillors were used to answer four research questions empirically.

Findings

– Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the introduction of a seventh VFI dimension, namely the political function. The study provides evidence that local councillors who received greater amounts of functionally relevant benefits reported more satisfaction and a stronger intention to continue volunteering in local government. The aggregated effect of multiple motives as well as other person-based determinants (marital status and education) produced a significant impact on volunteering outcomes in this strong/structured situational context of this public sector environment.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to a better understanding and assessment of the motivations of elected local government volunteers. It addresses practical recommendations for sustaining civil society, while acknowledging the potential and contribution of volunteers with various demographic characteristics.
A framework for evaluating global policy on sustainability
Authors: Lockard David Winfield
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the global policy on sustainability, United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), is in alignment with the complexity of the sustainability landscape utilizing complex adaptive system (CAS) theory and theory of change.

Design/methodology/approach

– An original Complex Adaptive Policy System (CAPS) framework is used as a qualitative instrument with a constant comparison of 11 CAS themes in analyzing 117 UNGC speeches listed on the Global Compact Web site.

Findings

– Although this study is intended as a preliminary study, the findings raise important questions regarding the long-term impact of the Global Compact as a global policy on sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

– The limitations of the study include the preliminary study design and limited source of information. Future research should include a comprehensive evaluation of the UNGC to yield specific recommendations for aligning policy with the landscape.

Originality/value

– The study offers an original systems framework to evaluate public and private organizational polices on sustainability.
Integrating tools to remote access facility for improved online experience
Authors: De Sarkar Tanmay
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The paper intends to provide an overall picture how libraries use different tools, integrated to remote access facility and offer improved off-campus services.

Design/methodology/approach

– Web content analysis was used as research method to collect data from academic libraries in four continents.

Findings

– The results highlight that libraries use different types of online tools integrated to remote access facility; however, the techniques involved and purposes of use vary from library to library. Citing numerous examples, the paper approaches to draw a comparative figure of differential use of remote access tools across the continents.

Originality/value

– The paper is the first of its kind and may guide library professionals to plan and implement online tools, integrated with remote access facility and support education, research and training of the parent institution.
Contact dermatitis due to ultrasound gel: A case report and published work review
Authors: Chasset François , Soria Angèle , Moguelet Philippe , Mathian Alexis , Auger Yvain , Francès Camille , Barete Stéphane
Published: September 2015

Adverse skin reactions with ultrasound gel are rare and related mostly to allergic contact dermatitis or contact urticaria. We report an allergic contact dermatitis with Doppler ultrasound gel applied in a 67‐year‐old man. The patient developed atypical purpuric cutaneous presentation located on vascular axes. Semi‐open test with ultrasound gel and patch test with phenoxyethanol were followed by the same clinical purpuric eruption which strongly suggested the accountability of this later component as allergen. Based on this observation, we present a review of published work with a focus on clinical features and allergens involved in ultrasound gel cutaneous reaction.
Taxonomic and functional composition of arthropod assemblages across contrasting Amazonian forests
Authors: Lamarre Greg P. A. , Hérault Bruno , Fine Paul V. A. , Vedel Vincent , Lupoli Roland , Mesones Italo , Baraloto Christopher
Published: September 2015

Arthropods represent most of global biodiversity, with the highest diversity found in tropical rain forests. Nevertheless, we have a very incomplete understanding of how tropical arthropod communities are assembled.

We conducted a comprehensive mass sampling of arthropod communities within three major habitat types of lowland Amazonian rain forest, including terra firme clay, white‐sand and seasonally flooded forests in Peru and French Guiana. We examined how taxonomic and functional composition (at the family level) differed across these habitat types in the two regions.

The overall arthropod community composition exhibited strong turnover among habitats and between regions. In particular, seasonally flooded forest habitats of both regions comprised unique assemblages. Overall, 17·7% (26 of 147) of arthropod families showed significant preferences for a particular habitat type.

We present a first reproducible arthropod functional classification among the 147 taxa based on similarity among 21 functional traits describing feeding source, major mouthparts and microhabitats inhabited by each taxon. We identified seven distinct functional groups whose relative abundance contrasted strongly across the three habitats, with sap and leaf feeders showing higher abundances in terra firme clay forest.

Our novel arthropod functional classification provides an important complement to link these contrasting patterns of composition to differences in forest functioning across geographical and environmental gradients. This study underlines that both environment and biogeographical processes are responsible for driving arthropod taxonomic composition while environmental filtering is the main driver of the variance in functional composition.
Age polyethism drives community structure of the bacterial gut microbiota in the fungus‐cultivating termite Odontotermes formosanus
Authors: Li Hongjie , Dietrich Carsten , Zhu Na , Mikaelyan Aram , Ma Bin , Pi Ruoxi , Liu Yu , Yang Mengyi , Brune Andreas , Mo Jianchu
Published: September 2015

Fungus‐cultivating termites (Macrotermitinae) possess an elaborate strategy of lignocellulose digestion. It involves a lignocellulose‐degrading fungal symbiont (genus Termitomyces), a diverse gut microbiota and a characteristic labour division in food processing. In this study, using pyrotag sequencing and electron microscopy, we analysed the bacterial microbiota in the hindgut of Odontotermes formosanus and its fungus comb to investigate the spatial organization, establishment and temporal succession of the bacterial communities colonizing specific microhabitats. Our results document strong differences between the communities at the hindgut epithelium and the luminal fluid of newly moulted, young and old worker termites. The differences in community structure were consistent with the density, morphology and spatial distribution of bacterial cells and the pools of microbial metabolites in the hindgut compartment, underlining that both gut development and the age‐specific changes in diet affect the composition and functional role of their gut microbiota. These findings provide strong support for the concept that changes in diet and gut environment are important determinants of community structure because they create new niches for microbial symbionts.
ElevatedNa+andpHinfluence the production and transport of saxitoxin in the cyanobacteriaAnabaena circinalis AWQC131CandCylindrospermopsis raciborskii T3
Authors: Ongley Sarah E. , Pengelly Jasper J. L. , Neilan Brett A.
Published: September 2015

Saxitoxins (STX), neurotoxic alkaloids, fall under the umbrella of paralytic shellfish toxins produced by marine dinoflagellates and freshwater cyanobacteria. The genes responsible for the production ofSTXhave been proposed, but factors that influence their expression and induce toxin efflux remain unclear. Here we characterize the putativeSTX NorM‐likeMATEtransportersSxtFandSxtM. Complementation of the antibiotic‐sensitive strainEscherichia coli KAM32with these transporters decreased fluoroquinolone sensitivity, indicating that while becoming evolutionary specialized forSTXtransport these transporters retain relaxed specificity typical of this class. The transcriptional response ofSTXbiosynthesis (sxtA) along with that of theSTXtransporters (sxtMandsxtFfromCylindrospermopsis raciborskiiT3, andsxtMfromAnabaena circinalis AWQC131C) were assessed in response to ionic stress. These data, coupled with a measure of toxin intracellular to extracellular ratios, provide an insight into the physiology ofSTXexport.Cylindrospermopsis raciborskiiandAnabaenacircinalisexhibited opposing responses under conditions of ionic stress. HighNa+(10 mM) induced moderate alterations of transcription andSTXlocalization, whereas highpH(pH9) stimulated the greatest physiological response. Saxitoxin production and cellular localization are responsive to ionic strength, indicating a role of this molecule in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis.
Fatal Case of Hydrophilic Polymer Emboli
Authors: Rapkiewicz Amy , Hood Brian , Hutchins Kenneth
Published: September 2015

Hydrophilic polymers are used to coat catheters and other intravascular devices. In general, these polymers have many salutary properties; however, in some instances, fragmentation of hydrophilic polymers coating intravascular devices can occur with fatal consequences. This report details the histopathologic changes in the lung seen following polymer fragmentation and embolization from a central venous catheter. Polymer emboli detected microscopically are intravascular and consist of basophilic, lamellated, and nonrefractile elements. Typically, an inflammatory response is present to a variable degree. Embolization can result in severe tissue injury with ischemia and infarction.