bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving the stability of CdS quantum dot sensitized solar cell using highly efficient and porous CuS counter electrode
Authors: Hessein Amr , Wang Feijiu , Masai Hirokazu , Matsuda Kazunari , Abd El-Moneim Ahmed
Published: March 2017

Thin films from copper sulfide (CuxS) are the most commonly used electrocatalyst counter electrodes (CEs) for high-efficiency quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) because of its superior electrocatalytic activity in the presence of polysulfide electrolytes. In addition to the stability issues, the CuxS CEs are usually prepared by complicated, costly, time consuming, and less productive methods, which are inadequate for practical applications of QDSSCs. In this work, we present a simple approach for fabricating an efficient and stable CE for QDSSCs using pure covellite phase CuS nanoparticles (NPs) pre-prepared via a cheap, fast, and scalable chemical method. The catalyst ink was obtained by mixing the as-prepared CuS NPs with polyvinylidene fluoride, as a polymeric binder, which was then directly applied to a conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate without any further high temperature post treatment. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Tafel polarization measurements were used to investigate the electrocatalytic activity of the CuS NPs CE. The power conversion efficiency of 2.6% was achieved from CdS QDSSC assembled with CuS NPs CE, which was higher than 1.57% for conventional Cu2S/brass and 1.33% for Pt CEs under one-sun illumination. The CdS QDSSC with CuS NPs CE was also able to supply a constant photocurrent value without any obvious decrease under light soaking test, in contrast to the devices with Cu2S/brass and Pt CEs, which showed inferior stability. This remarkable photovoltaic performance was attributed to the nanoporous morphology and the excellent electrocatalytic activity of CuS NPs CE.
Influence of temperature on magnetic properties of silicon steel lamination
Authors: Chen Junquan , Chen Zhihua , Wang Dong , Wu Leitao , Zheng Xiaoqin , Birnkammer Florian , Gerling Dieter
Published: March 2017

In this paper, we studied the influence of thermal effect on the iron loss components by DC and AC magnetic measurement. The measured result shows that iron loss of nonoriented silicon steel is more influenced by temperature than grain oriented one. Based on loss separation model, we have found a suitable iron loss expression for nonoriented and grain oriented steels. Then a temperature dependent iron loss model is proposed, where temperature coefficient k is introduced to consider thermal effect on dynamic loss. The iron loss model is validated by all series of silicon steel stripe made by WISCO. The relative error of the model is about 11% in a wide range of 20∼400Hz, 20∼200°C, 0∼2T. The proposed model can be applicable to other types of magnetic materials as long as their resistivity rate exhibits approximately linear thermal dependence within a temperature range of 20∼200°C.
Mitigation reduces road mortality of a threatened rattlesnake
Authors: Colley Michael , Lougheed Stephen C. , Otterbein Kenton , Litzgus Jacqueline D.
Published: March 2017

Context Reducing road mortality is essential to reptile conservation in regions with dense road networks. The Georgian Bay, Ontario population of the eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) is designated as Threatened, in part because of high road mortality. In Killbear Provincial Park, four ecopassages and barrier fencing were constructed along three busy park roads to reduce road mortality of massasaugas. Aim Although mitigation of road mortality has been widely recommended and in some instances implemented for reptiles, effectiveness of mitigation efforts is often inadequately evaluated. The goals of our study were to use long-term data to quantify the effectiveness of ecopassages and barrier fencing in reducing massasauga fatalities on roads, and to evaluate the potential of these structures to serve as movement corridors for individual snakes. Methods We used five approaches to assess the overall efficacy of mitigation efforts: (1) comparison of pre- and post-mitigation road mortality; (2) camera traps in ecopassages to document massasauga and predator presence; (3) automated tag readers in ecopassage entrances to detect PIT-tagged individuals; (4) an experiment to assess massasauga willingness to enter and travel through ecopassages; and (5) measurement of temperature fluctuations in ecopassages to assess thermal suitability for massasaugas. Key results We found a significant decrease in road mortality of massasaugas on stretches of park roads associated with ecopassages and barrier fencing post construction. Automated tag readers and cameras detected the presence of massasaugas and other animals within the ecopassages, and experimental data showed that massasaugas willingly entered, and in some cases crossed through, ecopassages. Conclusion Our evaluation of mitigation structures determined that they successfully reduce road mortality and provide potential movement corridors between bisected habitats, provided that intense maintenance of the fencing is conducted yearly. We also demonstrated the need to utilise a combination of multiple post-monitoring methods to effectively evaluate mitigation structures. Implications This study provides a template for construction of similar mitigation in other key locations where reptile road mortality occurs.
Hobbes’s agnostic theology before Leviathan
Authors: Abizadeh Arash
Published: March 2017

Prior to 1651, Hobbes was agnostic about the existence of God. Hobbes argued that God’s existence could neither be demonstrated nor proved, so that those who reason about God’s existence will systematically vacillate, sometimes thinking God exists, sometimes not, which for Hobbes is to say they will doubt God’s existence. Because this vacillation or doubt is inherent to the subject, reasoners like himself will judge that settling on one belief rather than another is epistemically unjustified. Hobbes’s agnosticism becomes apparent once we attend to his distinctions between the propositional attitudes one might adopt towards theological claims, including supposing, thinking, having faith and knowing.
Evaluation of a static stretching intervention on vascular endothelial function and arterial stiffness
Authors: Shinno Hiromi , Kurose Satoshi , Yamanaka Yutaka , Higurashi Kyoko , Fukushima Yaeko , Tsutsumi Hiromi , Kimura Yutaka
Published: March 2017

Purpose: Maintenance and enhancement of vascular endothelial function contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular disease and prolong a healthy life expectancy. Given the reversible nature of vascular endothelial function, interventions to improve this function might prevent arteriosclerosis. Accordingly, we studied the effects of a 6‐month static stretching intervention on vascular endothelial function (reactive hyperaemia peripheral arterial tonometry index: RH‐PAT index) and arterial stiffness (brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity: baPWV) and investigated the reversibility of these effects after a 6‐month detraining period following intervention completion. Methods: The study evaluated 22 healthy, non‐smoking, premenopausal women aged ≥40 years. Subjects were randomly assigned to the full‐intervention (n = 11; mean age: 48.6 ± 2.8 years) or a half‐intervention that included a control period (n = 11; mean age: 46.9 ± 3.6 years). Results: Body flexibility and vascular endothelial function improved significantly after 3 months of static stretching. In addition to these improvements, arterial stiffness improved significantly after a 6‐month intervention. However, after a 6‐month detraining period, vascular endothelial function, flexibility, and arterial stiffness all returned to preintervention conditions, demonstrating the reversibility of the obtained effects. Conclusion: A 3‐month static stretching intervention was found to improve vascular endothelial function, and an additional 3‐month intervention also improved arterial stiffness. However, these effects were reversed by detraining.
Acute effects of Kinesio taping on muscle function and self‐perceived fatigue level in healthy adults
Authors: Lee Nan Hee , Jung Hyun Chul , Ok Gina , Lee Sukho
Published: March 2017

This study investigated the acute effects of Kinesio taping (KT) on muscular power, strength, endurance, and self‐perceived fatigue level. This is a randomized, partial double‐blind, crossover trial. Eighteen healthy adults (7 males [23.86 ± 1.68 years] and 11 females [24.82 ± 3.71 years]) were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent three different trials which included no tap (NT), placebo tap (PT), and KT. Idividuals were assessed for peak and mean power, muscular strength and endurance, and self‐perceived fatigue after each condition. The results revealed no significant differences in all variables (p > 0.05) except muscular endurance (F = 5.775, p = 0.007). Muscular endurance in the NT (58.28 ± 12.18 reps/min) condition was significantly higher than that in the KT (52.83 ± 11.76 reps/min) condition. These results suggest that KT on rectus femoris and the patella of the lower limb does not improve muscular function and self‐perceived fatigue level. KT is unlikely to enhance exercise performance capacity in healthy adults.
The acute effects of bodyweight suspension exercise on muscle activation and muscular fatigue
Authors: Cayot Trent E. , Lauver Jakob D. , Scheuermann Barry W.
Published: March 2017

This investigation examined effects of two exercise modes (barbell, BB; bodyweight suspension, BWS) on muscle activation, resistance load, and fatigue. During session one, nine resistance‐trained males completed an elbow flexion one‐repetition maximum (1RM). During sessions two and three, subjects completed standing biceps curls to fatigue at 70% 1RM utilizing a randomized exercise mode. Surface electromyography (sEMG) recorded muscle activation of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, anterior deltoid, posterior deltoid, rectus abdominis, and erector spinae. BWS resistance load was measured using a force transducer. Standing maximal voluntary isometric contractions of the elbow flexors recorded at 90° were used to determine the isometric force decrement and rate of fatigue (ROF) during exercise. sEMG and resistance load data were divided into 25% contraction duration bins throughout the concentric phase. BWS resulted in a 67.7 ± 7.4% decline in resistance load throughout the concentric phase (p ≤ 0.05). As a result, BB elicited higher mean resistance loads (31.4 ± 4.0 kg) and biceps brachii sEMG (84.7 ± 27.8% maximal voluntary isometric contractions, MVIC) compared with BWS (20.4 ± 3.4 kg, 63.4 ± 21.6% MVIC). No difference in rectus abdominis or erector spinae sEMG was detected between exercise modes. Isometric force decrement was greater during BWS (−21.7 ± 7.0 kg) compared with BB (−14.9 ± 4.7 kg); however, BB (−3.0 ± 0.8 kg/set) resulted in a steeper decline in ROF compared with BWS (−1.7 ± 0.6 kg/set). The variable resistance loading and greater isometric force decrement observed suggest that select BWS exercises may resemble variable resistance exercise more than previously considered.
Sodium ion unlocks understanding of channel blockade
Authors: Sedwick Caitlin
Published: March 2017

New simulations explain how several types of drugs block sodium channels.
Nielsen equivalence in mapping tori over the torus
Authors: Biringer Ian
Published: March 2017

We use the geometry of the Farey graph to give an alternative proof of the fact that ifA∈GL2ZA \in GL_2\mathbb {Z}and ifGA=Z2⋊AZG_A=\mathbb {Z}^2 \rtimes _A \mathbb {Z}is generated by two elements, then there is a single Nielsen equivalence class of22-element generating sets forGAG_AunlessAAis conjugate to±(2amp;11amp;1)\pm \left (\begin {smallmatrix} 2 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 \end {smallmatrix}\right ), in which case there are two.
ResistoMap—online visualization of human gut microbiota antibiotic resistome
Authors: Yarygin Konstantin S , Kovarsky Boris A , Bibikova Tatyana S , Melnikov Damir S , Tyakht Alexander V , Alexeev Dmitry G
Published: March 2017

We created ResistoMap—a Web-based interactive visualization of the presence of genetic determinants conferring resistance to antibiotics, biocides and heavy metals in human gut microbiota. ResistoMap displays the data on more than 1500 published gut metagenomes of world populations including both healthy subjects and patients. Multiparameter display filters allow visual assessment of the associations between the meta-data and proportions of resistome. The geographic map navigation layer allows to state hypotheses regarding the global trends of antibiotic resistance and correlates the gut resistome variations with the national clinical guidelines on antibiotics application.

Availability and Implementation

ResistoMap was implemented using AngularJS, CoffeeScript, D3.js and TopoJSON. The tool is publicly available at http://resistomap.rcpcm.org.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Reflections on technology and science in fishery research
Authors: MacLennan David N.
Published: March 2017

In the latter part of the 20th century, fishery research expanded from its original biological base to include new areas, notably investigations of fishing-gear performance and fish-detection by sonar. The past 50 years have seen huge advances in technology and the combination of physical and biological insights in fishery research. Fishing-gear investigations initially focussed on the economics of commercial fishing, but in the 1970s energy consumption in fishing became a major issue. Thereafter, the objectives changed to support for fishery management through gear innovations and research, giving a better understanding of exploitation patterns. During this period, fishery acoustics advanced from crude beginnings in the 1960s to the powerful stock-assessment tool it is today. Progress in these fields has depended on multi-disciplinary research involving both the physical and biological sciences. There have been failures along the way, but there is now good understanding of how technology as well as science can make a positive contribution to fishery management. This essay describes these developments as seen from my personal involvement over the past half century. It concludes with some pointers to the future, and practical advice to young researchers considering a career in fishery research.
New quantitative nitrogen abundance estimations in a sample of Seyfert 2 active galactic nuclei
Authors: Dors Jr. O. L. , Arellano-Córdova K. Z. , Cardaci M. V. , Hägele G. F.
Published: March 2017

We obtained new quantitative determinations of the nitrogen abundance and a consistent relation between the nitrogen and oxygen abundances for a sample of Seyfert 2 galaxies located at redshift z < 0.1. We carried out this analysis using the cloudy code to build detailed photoionization models. We were able to reproduce observed optical narrow emission line intensities for 44 sources compiled from the literature. Our results show that Seyfert 2 nuclei have nitrogen abundances ranging from ∼0.3 to ∼7.5 times the solar value. We derived the relation log (N/H) = 1.05( ± 0.09) × [log (O/H)] − 0.35( ± 0.33). Results for N/O versus O/H abundance ratios derived for Seyfert 2 galaxies are in consonance with those recently derived for a sample of extragalactic disc H ii regions with high metallicity.
First evidence of external disc photoevaporation in a low mass star forming region: the case of IM Lup
Authors: Haworth Thomas J. , Facchini Stefano , Clarke Cathie J. , Cleeves L. Ilsedore
Published: March 2017

We model the radiatively driven flow from IM Lup – a large protoplanetary disc expected to be irradiated by only a weak external radiation field (at least 104 times lower than the ultraviolet field irradiating the Orion Nebula Cluster proplyds). We find that material at large radii (>400 au) in this disc is sufficiently weakly gravitationally bound that significant mass-loss can be induced. Given the estimated values of the disc mass and accretion rate, the viscous time-scale is long (∼10 Myr) so the main evolutionary behaviour for the first Myr of the disc's lifetime is truncation of the disc by photoevaporation, with only modest changes effected by viscosity. We also produce approximate synthetic observations of our models, finding substantial emission from the flow that can explain the CO halo observed about IM Lup out to ≥1000 au. Solutions that are consistent with the extent of the observed CO emission generally imply that IM Lup is still in the process of having its disc outer radius truncated. We conclude that IM Lup is subject to substantial external photoevaporation, which raises the more general possibility that external irradiation of the largest discs can be of significant importance even in low mass star forming regions.
Functional Characterization of the Morpheus Gene Family
Authors: Bekpen Cemalettin , Baker Carl , Hebert Michael D. , Sahin H. Bahar , Johnson Matthew E. , Celik Arzu , Mullikin James C. ,   NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, Eichler Evan E.
Published: March 2017

DATA ACCESS

The cDNA sequences reported in this paper have been deposited in the GenBank database (accession numbers):KF175165-KF175225and BACs accession numbers that are used in this study:AC148621,AC190226,AC097327,AC097332,AC190226,AC097333,AC145401,AC187943,AC166855,AC166597,AC167295,AC235773,AC202644, andAC234805.

The burst of segmental duplications during human and great ape evolution focuses on a set of “core” duplicons encoding great-ape-specific gene families. Characterization of these gene families is complicated by their high copy number, incomplete sequence, and polymorphic nature. We investigate the structure, transcriptional diversity, and protein localization of the nuclear pore complex-interacting protein (NPIP) orMorpheusgene family. The corresponding core, LCRA, encodes one of the most rapidly evolving genes in the human genome; LCRA has expanded to ~20 copies from a single ancestral locus in Old World monkey and is associated with most of the recurrent chromosome 16 microdeletions implicated in autism and mental retardation. Phylogenetic analysis and cDNA sequencing suggest two distinct subfamilies or subtypes,NPIPAandNPIPB.The latter expanded recently within the great apes due to a series of structural changes within the canonical gene structure. Among Old World monkey, we observe a testis-specific pattern of expression that contrasts with the ubiquitous pattern observed among human tissues. This change in the expression profile coincides with the structural events that reshaped the structure and organization of the gene family. Most of the expressed human copies are capable of producing an open reading frame. Immunofluorescence analyses of the morpheus genes showed a primary localization to both the nucleus and its periphery. We show that morpheus genes may be upregulated upon pI:C treatment and find evidence of human autoantibodies produced against the NPIPB protein, raising the possibility that morpheus genes may be related to immune- or autoimmune-related function.
Intrinsic Hippocampal-Caudate Interaction Correlates with Human Navigation
Authors: Kong Xiang-Zhen , Pu Yi , Wang Xu , Xu Shan , Hao Xin , Zhen Zonglei , Liu Jia
Published: March 2017

It has been indicated that both egocentric and allocentric representation systems exist in parallel, and combine to support spatial navigation according to the task. Identifying the neuronal mechanisms and functional roles of the interactions between the two systems promises to provide new insights into the organization of human navigation network. Here we combined resting-state fMRI and behavioral tasks to investigate how the core structures of these systems (i.e., hippocampus and caudate) functionally interact, and further examined their behavioral relevance in navigation in healthy young adults (N = 190). We found a slightly positive connectivity between the hippocampus and caudate (especially in good navigators), suggesting an effective hippocampal-caudate cross talk, which may facilitate the functional integration of the two systems. Interestingly, the hippocampal-caudate interaction correlated with better self-reported navigation ability. Moreover, using an extra 3D pointing task in virtual reality, we found that individual’s behavioral performance could be largely predicted by the hippocampal-caudate interactions. Overall, our study demonstrated the intrinsic interaction between two representation systems of the navigation network and its functional roles in behaviors, and further study on dynamic interaction would help us understand better their role in normal aging and psychiatric disorders.
T-bet+CD11c+B cells are critical for anti-chromatin IgG production in the development of lupus
Authors: Liu Ya , Zhou Shiyu , Qian Jie , Wang Yan , Yu Xiang , Dai Dai , Dai Min , Wu Lingling , Liao Zhuojun , Xue Zhixin , Wang Jiehua , Hou Guojun , Ma Jianyang , Harley John B. , Tang Yuanjia , Shen Nan
Published: March 2017

A hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus is high titers of circulating autoantibody. A novel CD11c+B cell subset has been identified that is critical for the development of autoimmunity. However, the role of CD11c+B cells in the development of lupus is unclear. Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a lupus-like syndrome with great autoantibody production. In the present study we investigated the role of CD11c+B cells in the pathogenesis of lupus in the cGVHD model. Here, we found the percentage and absolute number of CD11c+B cells and titer of sera anti-chromatin IgG and IgG2a antibody were increased in cGVHD mice. CD11c+plasma cells from cGVHD mice produced large amounts of anti-chromatin IgG2a upon stimulation. Depletion of CD11c+B cells reduced anti-chromatin IgG and IgG2a production. T-bet expression was further shown to be upregulated in CD11c+B cells. Knockout of T-bet in B cells alleviated cGVHD. The percentage of T-bet+CD11c+B cells was elevated in lupus patients and positively correlated with serum anti-chromatin levels. Our findings suggest T-bet+CD11c+B cells contribute to the pathogenesis of lupus and provides potential target for therapeutic intervention.
Adios Junk Mail
Authors: Parry Mark E. , Fitzgerald Janet
Published: March 2017

Executives at this Internet-based company evaluate the results of a pricing survey to decide what changes to make, if any, to the annual fee charged for the company’s junk mail elimination services. Founded in 1996, Adios Junk Mail provides comprehensive elimination of unwanted direct-marketing solicitations. Clients select what types of direct marketing they want stopped. Once a month, the company generates a list of customers and their elimination preferences. It then mails the list to direct-mail companies, telemarketers, and database companies, requesting that the customers’ names be suppressed.
Amoco Corporation
Authors: Chaplinsky Susan , Lynch Luann J. , Doherty Paul
Published: March 2017

This case is one of a pair of cases used in a merger negotiation. It is designed to be used with “British Petroleum, Ltd.” (UVA-F-1263). One-half of the class prepares only the British Petroleum (BP) case, and one-half uses this case. BP and Amoco are considering a merger, and are in the process of negotiating a merger agreement. Macroeconomic assumptions, particularly forecasting future oil prices in an uncertain environment, and assumptions about Amoco's ability to reduce exploration and production costs make Amoco's future cash flows difficult to predict.
Aurora Textile Company
Authors: Eades Kenneth M. , Doe Lucas
Published: March 2017

This case asks the student to decide whether Aurora Textile Company can create value by upgrading its spinning machine to produce higher-quality yarn that sells for a higher margin. Cost information allows the student to produce cash-flow projections for both the existing spinning machine and the new machine. The cash flows have many different cost components, including depreciation, the number of days of cotton inventory, and the liability costs associated with returns from retailers. The cost of capital is specified in order to simplify the analysis. The analysis has added complexity, however, owing to the troubled financial condition of both the company and the U.S. textile industry, which is in decline as manufacturers migrate to Asia to benefit from lower manufacturing costs. This begs the question whether management should invest in a declining business or harvest the company by paying out all profits as a dividend to the owners. The case is suitable for students just beginning to learn finance principles, but is also rich enough to use with experienced students and executives. The primary learning points are as follows:

The basics of incremental-cash-flow analysis: identifying the cash flows relevant to a capital-investment decision

The construction of a side-by-side discounted-cash-flow analysis for a replacement decision

How to adapt the NPV decision rule to a troubled or dying industry

The effect of financial distress on the NPV calculation

The importance of sensitivity analysis to a capital-investment decision
Bloomex.ca Logistics Optimization
Authors: Bodily Samuel E. , Ovchinnikov Anton S.
Published: March 2017

“A Canadian online floral delivery company considers whether to source more flowers from its existing growing locations and which of those would be optimal given its current market. What would be the advantages of opening a logistics facility in Miami? Students must consider the transportation costs per standard box from each origin or transshipment center to each production facility as well as data about the available supply at each origin and projected demand at each facility per week.”
Brazilian Beer Merger Negotiations: Companhia Cervejaria Brahma, S.A.
Authors: Bruner Robert F. , Chan Jessica
Published: March 2017

In May 1999, the CEO of this company (the largest brewer in Brazil) is contemplating a bid for Antarctica, the second-largest brewer in Brazil. The primary motives are to exploit economies of scale and other synergies and to prevent other competitors (mainly foreign multinationals) from acquiring the firm. The tasks for the student are to value the target and buyer, propose an exchange ratio of shares, and generally design the terms of the transaction.
Centralia Construction Corporation
Authors: Frey Sherwood C. , Lederer Phil
Published: March 2017

This case and its companion, “Myerson Industries” (UVA-QA-0299), constitute the materials for a negotiating exercise. The exercise is a distributive-bargaining situation surrounding the negotiation of the price for the construction of a building (some minor opportunities exist for creating mutual value).
Continental Cablevision, Inc./Fintelco Joint Venture
Authors: Bruner Robert F. , Paddack Katarina
Published: March 2017

In February 1994, the senior management team at Continental Cablevision received the final joint-venture agreement from Fintelco, a potential partner in Argentina. The tasks for the student are to review the terms of the agreement, the outlook for the Argentine economy, and the corporate cultures at both companies to decide whether Continental should sign the agreement.
Daimler-Benz A.G.: Negotiations between Daimler and Chrysler
Authors: Bruner Robert F. , Spekman Robert E. , Christmann Petra , Kannry Brian , Davies Melinda
Published: March 2017

This case may be taught singly or used as a merger-negotiation exercise with “Chrysler Corporation: Negotiations between Daimler and Chrysler” (UVA-F-1240). Set in February 1998, the case places students in the position of negotiators for the company; their task is to value both firms, assess the potential earnings dilution of a combination, and negotiate a detailed agreement with their counterpart. The case can be used to explore such interesting negotiation issues as determination of a share-exchange ratio, treatment of major stockholders, and structuring a deal. Also, the case and exercise can be used to spark a discussion of acquisition in comparison with strategic alliance, or other less formal models of combination.
Dollar Tree Logistics
Authors: Laseter Timothy M. , Wu Yu , Huang Angela
Published: March 2017

This case explores the decision of a fast-growing company to expand its distribution network. Financial information is provided in it so students can understand the basic distribution network design covering inbound transportation, outbound transportation, distribution-center operations, and inventory.
EAC Nutrition: Regional Expansion Strategy
Authors: Christmann Petra , Leong Jin , Tan Michele
Published: March 2017

This case can be used in management of international business courses to illustrate the analysis of market attractiveness, the importance of fit between firm capabilities and market requirements, and the effects of multimarket competition. It describes the international expansion challenges facing EAC Nutrition, the infant formula division of a Danish conglomerate, in early 2002. Growth in EAC's core markets of Thailand and Malaysia has stagnated and EAC is contemplating three expansion options: entry into India, geographic expansion within China, and product line expansion in existing markets.
Eastman Tritan
Authors: Raz Gal , Kraft Tim , Elias Allison
Published: March 2017

This case is used in Darden's Supply-Chain Operations elective. The field-based case gives supply-chain educators the ability to teach the newsvendor model with pricing under a capacity constraint using real-life decisions. By 2005, Eastman Chemical Company, based in Tennessee, had created a new specialty plastic, Tritan, which demonstrated heat resistance and durability properties that might allow Eastman to compete in the lucrative polycarbonate plastics market. Development of this product was a major breakthrough for both Eastman and the broader chemical industry. The Eastman specialty plastics team had to contend with numerous challenges, however, before producing Tritan at full scale. First, Eastman had to commercialize a completely new material that only had been produced in the lab; second, the team had to develop a supply chain to manufacture a new component (monomer) and a new product (polymer) simultaneously; and finally, it had to analyze market entrance options given capacity constraints. Thus, the specialty plastics team faced several dilemmas: who should the initial launch partners be, given Eastman's limited manufacturing capacity, and how aggressively should Eastman price Tritan, given that price would drive demand in the launch markets and in new markets?
eBags: Managing Growth
Authors: Laseter Timothy M. , Rabinovich Elliot , Rungtusanatham Johnny , Lappi Todd , Heckel Ken
Published: March 2017

This case examines a set of expansion options for a successful Internet luggage retailer, with a particular emphasis on the operational complexities.
Eli Lilly and Company
Authors: Bruner Robert F. , Opitz Casey S.
Published: March 2017

This negotiation case is meant to be used in conjunction with “Hybritech, Incorporated (A)” (UVA-F-0792); half the class works from one case and half from the other. Lilly is considering acquiring Hybritech, but the genetic-engineering company's future cash flows are difficult to predict and value. Both companies want to effect the merger, but the cases, which provide essentially the same information in all other respects, provide widely divergent projected cash flows. The “Hybritech, Incorporated (B)” case (UVA-F-0793) is the follow-up case dealing with the payment structure of the acquisition.
Fiat and Chrysler: Gaining on Global Automakers?
Authors: Spekman Robert E. , Fritz Jacki
Published: March 2017

This case examines the formation of an alliance between Fiat and Chrysler during the height of the financial crisis as a mechanism to save Chrysler from liquidation. The case traces the events leading up to the alliance, discusses the early stage issues with which the partners have to deal, addresses some of the governance issues, and examines the past merger between Chrysler and Daimler that ended in a failure. The case presents a normative approach to alliance management and conjectures about the success of the Fiat-Chrysler alliance. We address whether Chrysler is a suitable partner and whether there is a strong enough rationale for the alliance and whether the two partners are compatible. Finally, the case explores the lessons learned and the cautions that might derail the alliance.
Fishy Issues: The U.S. Shrimp Antidumping Case
Authors: Debaere Peter
Published: March 2017

This case features a prominent antidumping case in the United States against six of its major foreign shrimp suppliers. The case fits well in a discussion and analysis of the (welfare) consequences of protectionism, the basic case for free trade, and the political economy of protectionism.
Frank Spence
Authors: Harris Robert S.
Published: March 2017

This case features an entrepreneur who must decide whether to sell his small distribution company. The case explores several issues for class discussion: (1) valuation of a private company, (2) assessing the entrepreneur's perspective and alternatives, (3) deal structuring (including earnouts), (4) risks and their effect on value, and (5) advice from a banker's perspective.
Horniman Horticulture
Authors: Schill Michael J.
Published: March 2017

This case captures the cash-flow and working-capital management problems typical of small, growing businesses. At the end of 2005, Bob and Maggie Brown have completed their third year of operating Horniman Horticulture, a $1-million-revenue woody-shrub grower in central Virginia. While experiencing booming demand and improving margins, the couple is puzzled by their plummeting cash balance. The case highlights the difference between cash flow and accounting profits, as well as the common negative effects of growth on cash flow. The case provides a forum for establishing appreciation for the relevance of free cash flow to business owners and managers, introducing financial ratio analysis, developing the concept of the cash cycle and working-capital management, and motivating the use of financial models.
Human Capital Strategy
Authors: James Erika Hayes , Cross Tom
Published: March 2017

There are two key principles in human capital strategy. One is that people are assets whose value can be enhanced through investment. The other is that an organization's human capital policies must be aligned to support the organization's shared vision. Excerpts from two GAO reports provide an excellent summary of the topic.
Husk Power Systems: Financing Expansion
Authors: Loutskina Elena , Sinha Manoj , Ransler Chip
Published: March 2017

Husk Power Systems, a young but widely celebrated firm based in India, needs $1.5 million to $2.5 million of expansion capital to grow quickly beyond the small footprint it had established in northeast India. It was a successful green-energy enterprise that aimed to provide electricity to millions of rural Indians in a financially viable way. With 10 “mini power plants” that used rice husks as a fuel source and a presence in 25 isolated Indian villages as of April 2009, the company's goal was to reach 350,000 to 400,000 consumers in 400 villages by the end of 2011. It was offered a convertible-note financing structure by a cleantech private equity firm and needed to assess whether it suited the company's and founders' interests.

This case was designed for and is used in Darden's Entrepreneurial Finance and Private Equity elective. With less of a focus on the financials, the Husk case has also been used in other Darden courses such as Social Entrepreneurship and Global Economies and Markets in a module focusing on emerging markets.
JPMorgan and the Dodd-Frank Act
Authors: Allayannis George (Yiorgos) , Risell Adam
Published: March 2017

In October, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co., is preparing for the company's 2010 Q3 earnings conference call and wondering how to address the inevitable questions related to financial reform. It has been just over two months since the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) had been passed, and there was still much uncertainty as to how JPMorgan should address the reforms. JPMorgan had reported stronger than expected EPS in the third quarter, but analysts were more concerned about what strategic initiatives the CEO would implement in response to the Dodd-Frank Act. The act had introduced wide-ranging and industry-changing reforms that were aimed primarily at fully integrated financial institutions such as JPMorgan. While most of the rulemaking would be forthcoming from regulatory authorities, the CEO knew it would be best to address these issues immediately to protect shareholders by avoiding uncertainty.
Mauboussin Japan: A French Gem in Asia
Authors: Delecolle Thierry , Kamin Ronald G. , Parguel Beatrice , Yemen Gerry
Published: March 2017

As marketers love to teach students, differentiation must be the focal point of marketing strategy. But what happens when a firm's competitive set is shared by similar customers, perceived differentiation is weak among rivals, and loyalty is a thing of the past? This was the dilemma the French luxury jeweler Mauboussin faced: how to leverage its iconic brand to access new customers, domestically and abroad, and through new channels, while preserving the image of luxury goods founded on the myth of rarity and exclusivity? The case was designed and used for the latter portion of an international MBA marketing course and would work well in most international business courses.
Maumee Commercial Dining Products, Inc.
Authors: Haskins Mark E.
Published: March 2017

In this case students must ascertain what financial ratios they recommend the company focus on and they must also decide how best to communicate, explain, and bring to life those metrics so that the company's cadre of non-financial middle managers can most easily understand the significance of, and internalize the insights from, those ratios. Embedded in this task, students must: (1) understand the nature of the company insights afforded by each of the potential financial metrics presented; (2) make a judgment as to which subset of financial metrics is (a) most applicable to a group of non- financial middle managers and (b) most representative of bankers' and shareholders' interests; and (3) develop a plan for communicating to a group of non-financial, middle managers the subset of financial metrics they have selected.
MNB One Credit-Card Portfolio
Authors: Bodily Samuel E. , Hull Jason , Scherer William
Published: March 2017

A credit-card company must value portfolios of customers based on their future earnings. The payment characteristics of customers serve to classify them into states. This case can be the basis for discussing state dynamics over time in a Markov process.
Myerson Industries
Authors: Frey Sherwood C. , Lederer Phil
Published: March 2017

This case and its companion, “Centralia Construction Corporation” (UVA-QA-0298), constitute the materials for an exercise in role playing and negotiating. The exercise is a distributive-bargaining situation surrounding the negotiation of the price for the construction of a building (some minor opportunities exist for creating mutual value). Myerson is the purchaser of the building.
Netflix, Inc.: The Customer Strikes Back
Authors: Venkatesan Rajkumar , Shively Daniel
Published: March 2017

“This case is an updated version of ““Netflix Inc.: DVD Wars”” (UVA-M-0763), and was written as a replacement for it.

A financial analyst is asked to appraise the value of Netflix's stock at a time of unprecedented turmoil for the company. This case introduces customer lifetime value (CLV) as a useful metric for subscription-based businesses.”
OceanCove
Authors: Ramdas Kamalini , Leong Jin
Published: March 2017

Rakesh Gupta sits in his new office at Nariman Point, Mumbai, contemplating the future of OceanCove, which in the last two years has grown from a single seafood restaurant to a chain of five restaurants. Aware that aggressive expansion is planned in 2002 and worried about the recent proliferation of moderately expensive restaurants serving international cuisine in India, Gunta must consider a proposal to increase the size of the existing restaurants from 120 seats to 160 seats. His immediate concern is whether accepting this proposal will necessitate changing OceanCove's operating processes. The case is accompanied by a queuing simulation of the restaurant operation, implemented in Flash. Students can observe Little's Law in action and develop intuition about the operational impact of a change in demand or a change in processing rates within the restaurant.
Odyssey: The Life and Career of a Senior Consultant
Authors: Clawson James G. , Bevan Greg
Published: March 2017

Whoosh, is that all there is? On the eve of becoming a partner at a well-known consulting firm (“the stuff MBA dreams are made of”), a senior executive starts to question what he is doing with his life. Walt Shill had graduated eight years earlier from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia and had worked his way up at McKinsey Consulting to become the first American partner in the Japanese office. Shill and his family move back to the United States, where he starts to question his goals. For the first time, it seems that Shill has no target to aim for. Having had reached his goals, Shill sets out on an adventure to seek his own meaning of life. He gets into good-enough shape to take a cross-country bicycle ride, which he completes. This undisguised case tells Shill's story and what he learned along the way. It ends with Shill's promise to himself to be less judgmental and to start walking through life with eyes wide open. A teaching note is available to registered faculty.
Optimization Modeling Exercises
Authors: Carraway Robert L.
Published: March 2017

The problem set contains three problems designed to help students practice their ability to build math programming models. Problem # 1 is a portfolio problem where the student is asked to find a portfolio that minimizes risk (variance) subject to a required rate of return; as such, it is nonlinear. Problem # 2 is aggregate production scheduling; hence, linear. Problem # 3 involves determining how to source a fixed quantity from a menu of vendors with differing fixed- ordering charges and per-unit prices; it is a mixed integer model. All are sufficiently small that they can be easily optimized with standard math programming software (such as Excel's standard Solver).
Outreach Networks: First Venture Round
Authors: Chaplinsky Susan
Published: March 2017

OutReach Networks is taught in Darden's Entrepreneurial Finance and Private Equity elective. A teaching note for this case is available for instructors as well as an Excel file for student analysis. This introductory case explores the venture capital (VC) and discounted cash flow (DCF) methods of valuing early-stage companies. OutReach Networks is an unusual start-up company in that it was profitable early in its development and did not have to seek VC funding to support its growth. The company has grown quickly and may soon be a candidate for an IPO. In November 2011, an experienced venture capitalist approaches the founder with an offer to invest $30 million in exchange for 30% of the company. While the founder sees some benefit from the VC's experience in preparing the firm for an IPO and the funding enabling it to scale more quickly, he cannot understand how the VC has arrived at this offer. The founder believes the funding should be worth no more than 15% of his firm. Potential reasons for the disagreement over the valuation are (1) differences in the founder's and investor's view of the company's risk, (2) disagreement over the appropriate set of comparable companies, and (3) differences in the methods used to calculate the percentage equity stake. The case is appropriate for use in courses covering entrepreneurial finance or venture capital.
PepsiCo: QTG Emerging Channel Investment
Authors: Laseter Timothy M.
Published: March 2017

This case examines the opportunity for the Quaker-Tropicana-Gatorade (QTG) division of PepsiCo to invest in either or both of two small but fast-growing retail channels: the Dollar Channel and the Natural Foods Channel. The case gives an overview of PepsiCo's business strategy, focusing on health, wellness, and diversity and also provides a wide range of information. Students are challenged to take a broad, general management view in developing their recommendations.
Perdue Farms, Incorporated
Authors: Ring Lawrence J. , Johnson Mark H. , Shaw Gary
Published: March 2017

Perdue Farms, the highly successful marketer of brand-name chicken, is considering the introduction of a chicken hot dog to the market. The decision is complicated by a variety of factors, including top management's concerns and conditions, potential ramifications of the hot dog for the company's high-quality image, the uncertainty of market response, uncertainties about how to position the new product, potential consumer objections to use of mechanically deboned meat, and the uncertainty of profitability at recommended levels of marketing costs.
Pravda Asset Management
Authors: Evans Richard B.
Published: March 2017

This case examines the importance of forecasting expected returns in asset allocation decisions. Although the case is targeted to MBA students in an investments or portfolio management course, it is also appropriate for an advanced undergraduate course. It is written from the perspective of a new employee at a small investment management firm that was surprised by the market crash of 2008 and subsequent market rebound in 2009. Students must analyze the ability of simple valuation ratios to forecast returns and will use a smoothed price-to-earnings ratio to forecast future returns. In addition, students must use their regression results to form a simple (two-asset) tactical asset-allocation strategy to better understand the importance of forecasting expected returns for asset-allocation decisions and how such forecasts could be used to form a simple tactical asset-allocation model.
Primus Automation Division, 2002
Authors: Bruner Robert F. , Hengelbrok Robert , Carr Sean
Published: March 2017

In early 2002, an analyst, Tom Baumann, must propose terms for leasing one of his company's advanced factory-automation systems to a major customer. From the lessor's standpoint, the challenge is simply to design an annuity stream that yields a present value equal to, or greater than, the value of the asset being leased. Certain factors, however, serve to complicate the analysis. The tax exposure and debt rating of the customer are uncertain, leaving the analyst to estimate the impact of alternative lease terms under different tax and interest-rate assumptions. Also, the customer is considering leasing competing systems from companies in Germany and Japan; these competing proposals limit Primus's flexibility in tailoring its proposal. In short, the student's task is to design lease terms that exploit the lessee's tax and interest-rate exposure within constraints set by competitive terms.
Rates and Ratios Tell a Story
Authors: Li Wei
Published: March 2017

For a variety of reasons, economic performance varies both across economies around the world in any given year and over time for any given economy. The level of economic development, political and economic institutions, government policies, political stability, and other social and perhaps cultural factors may all contribute to these variations. These differences in economic performance and their underlying causes are often reflected in published economic statistics and can be highlighted through the use of rates and ratios. This case sets up an exercise for students to examine economic statistics by (1) analyzing some key rates and ratios and (2) matching the data to country profiles published in the CIA World Factbook. The countries included in this case are the United States, Germany, Japan, Brazil, Russia, India, and China.