bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE TOEFL COMPUTERIZED PLACEMENT TEST: ADAPTIVE CONVENTIONAL MEASUREMENT
Authors: Hicks Marilyn M.
Published: September 2014

This study focused on methods of computerized adaptive testing using conventional scoring methods in order to develop a TOEFL computerized placement test. Some advantages of adaptive conventional measurement were illustrated, such as providing the user with an alternative, efficient test with most of the same properties of the conventional test. Test specifications and structure very closely parallel the full‐length test, yielding scores on the (familiar) reported score scale, thus providing the user with comparable interpretation within the limits of differences in score precision.

As a consequence of simulation studies conducted during the first phase of this study, the multilevel testing paradigm was adopted for this development. Its implementation produced three test levels varying in difficulty, each approximately half the length of the regular TOEFL. The basic testing algorithm routed examinees through item blocks or testlets that permitted backtracking in order to review answers and change them, an option not easily implemented in standard computer adaptive testing. The ability to control important facets of test construction, as well the degree of measurement effectiveness, using this testing method was illustrated. Resulting test levels were equated to the established scale via IRT true score equating, and some desirable properties of the obtained score scales were described, namely, overlapping scales at the boundaries of the test levels and limits on the scores obtainable on each of the levels.

Data from a preliminary validation study were presented that indicated the test was functioning satisfactorily. Responses to a questionnaire administered to the sample of examinees revealed that 72% of the group had never been exposed to a computer before this testing experience. Nonetheless, 59% indicated that they preferred the computerized test to the paper‐and‐pencil version or were neutral. The apparent lack of computer experience among ESL students will need to be considered in any computerized test development for this group of examinees.
Seasonal development of above‐ and below‐ground organs of Trifolium pratense in grass–legume mixture on different soils
Authors: Chmelíková Lucie , Wolfrum Sebastian , Schmid Harald , Hejcman Michal , Hülsbergen Kurt‐Jürgen
Published: September 2014

Grass–legume mixtures are suitable for crop rotations in organic farming. However, seasonal development of below‐ground organs of Trifolium pratense in mixtures and on different soils was neglected. We asked (1) how the diameter of the root neck, the maximum order of branching as well as (2) the nodule traits are affected by locality and time, and (3) how above‐ground plant traits of red clover vary in space and time. Red clover was investigated in grass–legume mixtures in the first year of vegetation. Five sites in S Germany were sampled at the day of cut at the end of May, the beginning of July, and at the end of August, respectively. Under similar climatic conditions root traits (diameter of the root neck, order of root branching, size of nodules, and proportion of senescent nodules) differed with soil conditions and time within the season. Root diameter increased during the season. Higher sand content fostered root branching and branched roots developed more nodules. Thinner roots had more active nodules (pink). Root diameter and non‐active senescent (green) or moribund (brown) nodules increased at the end of season. Nodule activity differed more according to season than to soil conditions. The number of nodules per plant (12.5–19.5) decreased from May to August. Cylindrical nodules were found on 85–100% of the plants and branched nodules only on 0–25%. The height of plants was lowest in May and increased in July. The mean number of stems per plant (3.3–6.3) was highest in August. Understanding red clover traits and N2 fixation is interesting scientifically as well as agronomical. Organic and conventional farmers can both benefit of our findings.
Spiral type parasitic elements patch antenna
Authors: Kashyap Nitesh , Kumar Vishwakarma Dinesh
Published: September 2014

In this article, spiral type parasitic elements of the patch antenna are investigated. Composite name of this antenna is “patch feed curls antenna” (PFCA). Four spirals or curls are symmetrically introduced around the corners of a rectangular patch in plane; they receive their excitation from the latter via a capacitive gap of 1 mm. Due to the effect of the spiral type parasitic elements the gain and bandwidth enhancement found in the patch characteristics. The composite antenna is working in the frequency range 4.24–4.92 GHz. Simulation results obtained from CST‐microwave studio are in good agreement with measurements of the fabricated structures. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2773–2778, 2014
A novel strain sensor based on a dual‐core photonic crystal fiber
Authors: Xu Fei , Peng Baojin , Chen Daru , Wang Lu , Lei Xueqin , Shi Qingguo
Published: September 2014

A novel strain sensor was proposed by splicing a dual‐core photonic crystal fiber (DC‐PCF) with two single‐mode fibers. Owning to the mode index difference between the two fiber cores of DC‐PCF, a Mach‐Zehnder interferometer (MZI) pattern was achieved and its transmission spectrum is sensitive to the microstress of the DC‐PCF. We analyze the stress characteristics of the fiber sensor with different lengths of DC‐PCF. It shows that transmission spectrum pattern of the MZI shifts to the long wavelength with a sensitivity about 1.4pm/µε (for a 2‐cm DC‐PCF) and 1.9pm/µε (for a 4‐cm DC‐PCF) under an axial microstress. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2778–2780, 2014
Metamaterials dipole antenna by using split ring resonators for RFID technology
Authors: Naoui Seif , Latrach Lassaad , Gharsallah Ali
Published: September 2014

The article in hand deals with a new approach regarding the technique of miniaturization and the improvement of antennas done by the incorporation of metamaterials. Such an approach is manifested into two different structures of metamaterial antennas, which are implemented for the radio frequency identification technology in the UHF range. The left‐hand metamaterials are presented first by the conventional split ring resonators (SRRs) and second by a new structure proposed of a SRR Toothed. The parameters considered in this work are the resonant frequency, return loss, bandwidth, radiation pattern, gain and the electromagnetic field, and the current delivered by the proposed antenna. All simulation results are done by CST software. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2899–2903, 2014
Neuromuscular deficits after peripheral joint injury: A neurophysiological hypothesis
Authors: Ward Sarah , Pearce Alan J. , Pietrosimone Brian , Bennell Kim , Clark Ross , Bryant Adam L.
Published: September 2014

In addition to biomechanical disturbances, peripheral joint injuries (PJIs) can also result in chronic neuromuscular alterations due in part to loss of mechanoreceptor‐mediated afferent feedback. An emerging perspective is that PJI should be viewed as a neurophysiological dysfunction, not simply a local injury. Neurophysiological and neuroimaging studies have provided some evidence for central nervous system (CNS) reorganization at both the cortical and spinal levels after PJI. The novel hypothesis proposed is that CNS reorganization is the underlying mechanism for persisting neuromuscular deficits after injury, particularly muscle weakness. There is a lack of direct evidence to support this hypothesis, but future studies utilizing force‐matching tasks with superimposed transcranial magnetic stimulation may be help clarify this notion. Muscle Nerve 51: 327–332, 2015
Fast and Efficient Annealing of Stainless Steel Strip Using Oxyfuel Burners
Authors: Lindell David , Ekman Thomas , Pettersson Rachel
Published: September 2014

Pilot plant and annealing experiments have been conducted to study the effect of the higher water content in oxyfuel annealing on oxidation and pickling of cold rolled stainless steel. The experiments were conducted on the austenitic grade AISI 304 in a propane‐fired furnace using air and pure oxygen as oxidizers. The experiments were conducted at 1050–1200 °C for typically less than 60 s, in order to simulate industrial annealing of thin strip. Supplementary laboratory annealing trials were made to study the evolution of the microstructure during fast heating rates and short hold times. Increasing the water content from 15 to 50 mol% did not alter the oxidation kinetics or the chemistry of the oxide. Since the oxidation is not altered significantly, the pickling performance of the material remains unchanged. The presence of spalled areas increased the pickling efficiency significantly but this was only seen for material annealed at higher temperature compared to industrial practice. Oxyfuel combustion allows higher heat input and therefore faster heating. The 304 grade recrystallizes readily even at moderate cold rolling reductions so the total annealing time can be reduced substantially if the heating rate can be increased. The present work suggests that this can be done without any downstream effects.
Family Size, Cognitive Outcomes, and Familial Interaction in Stable, Two-Parent Families: United States, 1997–2002
Authors: Sandberg John , Rafail Patrick
Published: September 2014

Measures of children’s time use, particularly with parents and siblings, are used to evaluate three hypotheses in relation to the vocabulary and mathematical skills development: (1) the resource dilution hypothesis, which argues that parental and household resources are diluted in larger families; (2) the confluence hypothesis, which suggests that the intellectual milieu of families is lowered with additional children; and (3) the admixture (“no effect”) hypothesis, which suggests that the negative relationship between family size and achievement is an artifact of cross-sectional research resulting from unobserved heterogeneity. Each hypothesis is tested using within-child estimates of change in cognitive scores over time with the addition of new children to families.
Multisource Feedback and Self-Assessment of the Communicator, Collaborator, and Professional CanMEDS Roles for Diagnostic Radiology Residents
Authors: Probyn Linda , Lang Catherine , Tomlinson George , Bandiera Glen
Published: September 2014

Purpose

To develop a tool for the external and self-evaluation of residents in the Communicator, Collaborator, and Professional CanMEDS roles.

Methods

An academic teaching institution affiliated with 4 major urban hospitals conducted a survey that involved 46 residents and 216 hospital staff members. Residents selected at least 13 external evaluators from different categories (including physicians, nurses or technologists, peers or fellows, and support staff members) from their last 6 months of rotations. The external evaluators and residents answered 4 questions that pertained to each of the 3 CanMEDS roles being assessed. The survey results were analysed for feasibility, variance within and between rater groups, and the relationships between multisource and self-evaluation scores, and between multisource feedback and in-training evaluation report scores.

Results

The multisource feedback survey had an overall response rate of 73% with 683 evaluations sent out to 216 unique evaluators. The ratings from different groups of evaluators were only weakly correlated. Residents were most likely to receive their best rating from a collaborating physician and their worst rating from a site secretary or a program assistant. Generally, self-assessment scores were significantly lower than multisource feedback scores. Although there was a strong correlation within the multisource feedback data and within the in-training evaluation report data, there was a weak correlation among the data sets.

Conclusions

Multisource feedback provides useful feedback and scores that relate to critical CanMEDS roles that are not necessarily reflected in a resident's in-training evaluation report. The self-assessment feature of multisource feedback permits a resident to compare the accuracy of his or her assessments to improve their life-long learning skills.
Pressure, density, temperature and entropy fluctuations in compressible turbulent plane channel flow
Authors: Gerolymos G. A. , Vallet I.
Published: September 2014

We investigate the fluctuations of thermodynamic state variables in compressible aerodynamic wall turbulence, using results of direct numerical simulation (DNS) of compressible turbulent plane channel flow. The basic transport equations governing the behaviour of thermodynamic variables (density, pressure, temperature and entropy) are reviewed and used to derive the exact transport equations for the variances and fluxes (transport by the fluctuating velocity field) of the thermodynamic fluctuations. The scaling with Reynolds and Mach number of compressible turbulent plane channel flow is discussed. Statistics and correlation coefficients of the thermodynamic fluctuations are examined. Finally, detailed budgets of the transport equations for the variances and fluxes of the thermodynamic variables are analysed. The implications of these results, leading both to the understanding of the thermodynamic interactions in compressible wall turbulence and to possible improvements in statistical modelling, are assessed. Finally, the required extension of existing DNS data to fully characterise this canonical flow is discussed.
Sugarcane fibre may prevents hairball formation in cats
Authors: Loureiro Bruna A. , Sembenelli Guilherme , Maria Ana P. J. , Vasconcellos Ricardo S. , Sá Fabiano C. , Sakomura Nilva K. , Carciofi Aulus C.
Published: September 2014

Hair ingested by licking during cat grooming can eventually coalesce into solid masses in cat gastrointestinal tract. It is believed that dietary fibre might reduce formation of these trichobezoars (hairballs). The effects of two insoluble fibre sources added to kibble diets were evaluated with respect to trichobezoar faecal excretion. Thirty-two cats and four diets were used in a randomised block design: a control diet without additional fibre, 10 % added sugarcane fibre, 20 % added sugarcane fibre or 10 % added cellulose. Animals were fed for 42 d and during three separate periods (days 15–17, 25–27 and 40–42), the cats were housed individually in metabolic cages and their faeces were totally collected. The faeces were evaluated and the trichobezoars were isolated and classified into small (<1 cm), medium (1·1–2 cm) or large (>2·1 cm). Means were evaluated by repeated measures ANOVA and contrasts (P < 0·05). Cats fed sugarcane fibre shown a linear reduction of small and medium trichobezoar excretion (number per cat per day;P = 0·004) as well as a reduction in trichobezoar mass excretion (mg per cat per day;P < 0·01). The control group showed increased faecal excretion of large trichobezoars (P = 0·003), which were not present in the high sugarcane fibre group (P < 0·006). No effect of cellulose was observed for any evaluated trait. Therefore, long fibres (sugarcane fibre) may cause greater peristaltic stimulation, increasing the propulsion of hair through the gut, but further research is needed to validate this mechanism. In conclusion, sugarcane fibre reduced faecal hairball elimination in cats, which may have clinical applications for the prevention of health problems related to trichobezoars.
Evaluation of a performance enhancing supplement in American Foxhounds during eventing
Authors: Huntingford Janice L. , Kirn Brent N. , Cramer Kerry , Mann Sabine , Wakshlag Joseph J.
Published: September 2014

Enhancing performance through dietary measures is constantly sought as some supplements have shown modest performance enhancement in rodents and human subjects. To evaluate a proprietary dietary supplement, a study was undertaken to assess the effect of diet and exercise on blood physiological parameters during a tracking American Fox Hound field championship. Ten dogs were assigned to two different groups. Group A received a commercial kibble and Group B received the same diet with the addition of a supplement added to the dietary premix for 4 weeks before the field event. Blood was collected at rest, immediately following days 1 and 2 of the event and 48 h after day 2. Blood chemistry, complete blood cell counts and cortisol concentrations were analysed. Competition performance was also documented for all dogs using a points system for tracking events. Many chemistry parameters and blood cell counts changed significantly due to exercise. Differences between the dietary groups showed that Group B had significantly lower aspartate aminotransferase on days 1 and 2 of exercise and lower creatine kinase on day 2. Based on tracking scores, dogs in Group B out-performed dogs in Group A. This study suggests that endurance hunting dogs develop changes in serum markers of musculoskeletal integrity that might be mitigated by the addition of the supplement, resulting in better performance. Although intriguing, follow-up controlled studies are needed to ensure that the enhanced performance was not biased due to lack of randomisation.
Variation and covariation in strongyle infection in East African shorthorn zebu calves
Authors: CALLABY R. , HANOTTE O. , CONRADIE VAN WYK I. , KIARA H. , TOYE P. , MBOLE-KARIUKI M. N. , JENNINGS A. , THUMBI S. M. , COETZER J. A. W. , de. C. BRONSVOORT B. M. , KNOTT S. A. , WOOLHOUSE M. E. J. , KRUUK L. E. B.
Published: September 2014

Parasite burden varies widely between individuals within a population, and can covary with multiple aspects of individual phenotype. Here we investigate the sources of variation in faecal strongyle eggs counts, and its association with body weight and a suite of haematological measures, in a cohort of indigenous zebu calves in Western Kenya, using relatedness matrices reconstructed from single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes. Strongyle egg count was heritable (h2 = 23·9%,s.e. = 11·8%) and we also found heritability of white blood cell counts (WBC) (h2 = 27·6%,s.e. = 10·6%). All the traits investigated showed negative phenotypic covariances with strongyle egg count throughout the first year: high worm counts were associated with low values of WBC, red blood cell count, total serum protein and absolute eosinophil count. Furthermore, calf body weight at 1 week old was a significant predictor of strongyle EPG at 16–51 weeks, with smaller calves having a higher strongyle egg count later in life. Our results indicate a genetic basis to strongyle EPG in this population, and also reveal consistently strong negative associations between strongyle infection and other important aspects of the multivariate phenotype.
The Holocaust in Mexican Literature
Authors: Van Delden Maarten
Published: September 2014

Even though none of the recent reference works on Holocaust literature mentions the Mexican output on this topic, there exists a substantial tradition of literary works in Mexico that address the Holocaust. This essay offers a survey of this tradition, with a focus on how the authors of these works relate the Holocaust to the Mexican context from which they are writing. I argue that most of the Mexican authors I study treat the Holocaust as part of a shared history, rather than a history towards which they adopt an outsider’s perspective.
Grasping the Global and the Local in Memorialisation Practices. Some Dialogues and Tensions between Latin America and Europe
Authors: Schindel Estela
Published: September 2014

Theses about globalised, cosmopolitan, transnational or multilateral memories have received wide circulation over the past few decades. However, their reception in – and pertinence to – Latin America has up to now received little attention within the international debate. This article aims to contribute to this debate by focusing on the particular field of memorialisation discourses and practices. The text posits the existence of a certain global memorialising language, characterised by particular aesthetic and architectonic features. These traits are placed in contrast and in dialogue with the rich memorial tradition that has developed in Argentina since the 1970s, led by the human rights movement and its supporters.
The Disappeared as a Transnational Figure or How to Deal with theVain Yesterday
Authors: Mandolessi Silvana , Perez Mariana Eva
Published: September 2014

This article examines the figure of the desaparecido as a transnational symbol, focusing on the ‘success’ this figure has had in the contemporary debate about memory in Spain. Taken from the repressive context of the dictatorships of the 1970s in South America, the disappeared have travelled to the Spain of the twenty-first century, where they are progressively replacing the former ‘fusilados y paseados’ of the Franco Regime. After charting the ways in which the term has been used in the public debate, we analyse the figure of the disappeared in the novel,El vano ayer, by the Spanish writer Isaac Rosa.
Spannungsfeld Alkohol und Gewaltbereitschaft – die Sicht des Sicherheitsdirektors der Stadt Bern
Authors: Horn Benedikt
Published: September 2014

Es ist immer wieder interessant und heilsam, zu einem Problem die Meinung von Sachverständigen außerhalb der Medizin zu kennen. Wenn wir die Tagespresse lesen, haben wir oft das Gefühl, öffentliche Besäufnis und Schlägereien seien weitherum an der Tagesordnung. Mein Haupt-Fazit nach dem Interview: 1. Bern ist eine sehr sichere Stadt. 2. Alkoholisierte sind bei gewalttätigen Auseinandersetzungen häufiger Opfer als Täter. 3. Das Problem ist nie lokal, sondern regional oder überregional. 4. Lärm und Littering als wichtigste „Nebenwirkungen“ werden von den Behörden sehr ernst genommen.
Der ambulante qualifizierte Alkoholentzug
Authors: Grehl Oliver
Published: September 2014

Die Alkoholabhängigkeit gehört zu den häufigsten psychiatrischen Diagnosen in der Schweiz. Vor nicht allzu langer Zeit gab es zur Therapie der Alkoholabhängigkeit lediglich die stationäre Entgiftungs- und Entwöhnungsbehandlung sowie die diversen Angebote der Selbsthilfegruppen und psychosozialen Einrichtungen. Medikamentös war Disulfiram die einzige Option. Mittlerweile wurde das Therapieangebot breiter aufgefächert. Es gibt weiterhin die stationären und die psychosozialen Angebote sowie die Selbsthilfegruppen, aber es gibt auch die ambulante Entzugsbehandlung, die ambulante Entwöhnungsbehandlung im Einzel- und im Gruppensetting und diverse medikamentöse Therapieansätze. Der ambulante Alkoholentzug ist erwiesenermaßen eine therapeutische Intervention, die wirksam und kostengünstig bei geeigneten Patientinnen und Patienten durchgeführt werden kann. Die ambulante Alkoholentzugsbehandlung soll im folgenden Artikel dargestellt werden.
Chemical vapour deposition of group-VIB metal dichalcogenide monolayers: engineered substrates from amorphous to single crystalline
Authors: Ji Qingqing , Zhang Yu , Zhang Yanfeng , Liu Zhongfan
Published: September 2014

This review focuses on the CVD growth of monolayer MX2 with engineered morphologies on diverse substrates.
Analysis of subcarrier intensity modulation‐based optical wireless DF relaying over turbulence channels with path loss and pointing error impairments
Authors: Aggarwal Mona , Garg Parul , Puri Parul
Published: September 2014

The authors consider a subcarrier intensity‐modulated relayed optical wireless communication system under the combined influence of path loss, atmospheric turbulence and pointing error impairments. The turbulence‐induced fading is modelled by independent but not necessarily identically distributed (i.n.i.d.) Gamma–Gamma fading statistics where the relaying protocol followed by the system is decode and forward (DF). First, the statistics of instantaneous signal‐to‐noise ratio at the destination is derived, followed by the novel and exact closed‐form expression for outage probability of the system. Then using the moment generating function‐based approach, the authors evaluate error performance of the system in terms of average symbol error rate (SER) for M‐ary phase shift keying modulation schemes. Further, as a special case for M = 2, that is, binary phase shift keying modulation scheme, the exact closed‐form expression of average SER is derived in terms of mathematically tractable Meijer's G‐function and extended generalised bivariate Meijer's G‐function. Finally, at the end of the paper, various numerical examples are included to demonstrate the effect of different system parameters on the performance of the system and are verified by Monte‐Carlo simulations.
Characterization of SiO2/SiNx gate insulators for graphene based nanoelectromechanical systems
Authors: Tóvári E. , Csontos M. , Kriváchy T. , Fürjes P. , Csonka S.
Published: September 2014

The structural and magnetotransport characterization of graphene nanodevices exfoliated onto Si/SiO2/SiNx heterostructures are presented. Improved visibility of the deposited flakes is achieved by optimal tuning of the dielectric film thicknesses. The conductance of single layer graphene Hall-bar nanostructures utilizing SiO2/SiNx gate dielectrics were characterized in the quantum Hall regime. Our results highlight that, while exhibiting better mechanical and chemical stability, the effect of non-stoichiometric SiNx on the charge carrier mobility of graphene is comparable to that of SiO2, demonstrating the merits of SiNx as an ideal material platform for graphene based nanoelectromechanical applications.
Investigation of interfaces in AlSb/InAs/Ga0.71In0.29Sb quantum wells by photoluminescence
Authors: Junliang Xing , Yu Zhang , Yongping Liao , Juan Wang , Wei Xiang , Hongyue Hao , Yingqiang Xu , Zhichuan Niu
Published: September 2014

We have investigated excitation power and temperature dependent PL spectra to systematically study the influences of the interfaces in the both InAs/Ga0.71In0.29Sb and InAs/AlSb on the optical properties of AlSb/Ga0.71In0.29Sb/InAs quantum wells (QWs). The localized states as well as the activation energy were analyzed to discuss the possible thermal quenching and non-radiative recombination mechanisms. We found two non-radiative recombination processes were involved in the thermal quenching of radiative emission for the QW structures. The GaAs-like interface in InAs/Ga0.71In0.29Sb with higher activation energy (62.7 meV) in high temperature region (70 K–300 K) supplies a deeper hole confinement and less roughness than the InSb-like one, which suppress non-radiative recombination process and promote the optical qualities of the quantum wells. The peak energy of the InSb-like sample exhibited “step-curve” behavior with increase temperature. Neither InSb-like nor AlAs-like interface in InAs/AlSb favored the radiative emission efficiency.
Effects of geometry and chemistry on hydrophobic solvation
Authors: Harris Robert C. , Pettitt B. Montgomery
Published: September 2014

Significance

The solvation free energy of a molecule includes the free energy required to remove solvent from what will become the molecular interior and the free energy gained from dispersive interactions between the solute and solvent. Traditionally, these free energies have been assumed to be proportional to the surface area of the molecule. However, we computed these free energies for a series of alkanes and four configurations of decaalanine and showed that although these free energies were linear in the surface area for each set of molecules, each atom’s contributions to these energies depended on correlations with its surrounding atoms. The atomic contributions to these energies were therefore not additive. This finding suggests that most current hydrophobic models are unsatisfactory.
Invasive plants in a rapidly changing climate: an Australian perspective.
Authors: Webber B. L. , Klinken R. D. van , Scott J. K.
Published: September 2014

Invasive plants in Australia are currently among the greatest threats to native biological diversity and a significant cost to agriculture. The impact of climate change is projected to be particularly significant for Australia and will add to and change the impact of invasive plants on natural and managed ecosystems. Australia is a large country incorporating a wide variety of climates that often experience significant disturbance events, is likely to undergo significant land-use change with climate change and has a long history of some 26,000 plant species introductions and about 2700 established alien plant species. This combination of features makes it a particularly pertinent place to explore the effect of climate change on invasive plants. Here, the chapter begins by providing background context on plant introductions, climate change and the policy underpinning management relevant for invasive plants in Australia. Then, the existing literature linking climate change and invasive plants is reviewed, focusing on climate change drivers and shifting species distributions, before looking at how the management of invasive plants will be particularly influenced by climate change. The chapter concludes by highlighting five areas where greater research effort is required and where Australian insight is likely to improve best practice management significantly, with global applicability for invasive plants in a changing climate.
Assessing and managing the impact of climate change on invasive species: the PBDM approach.
Authors: Gutierrez A. P. , Ponti L.
Published: September 2014

Assessing the geographic distribution and abundance of invasive species is critical for developing sound management and/or eradication policies. Ecological niche modelling approaches (ENMs) that make implicit assumptions about biology and mathematics are commonly used to predict the potential distribution of invasive species based on their recorded distribution. An alternative approach is physiologically based demographic modelling (PBDM), which explicitly incorporates the mathematics and the observed biology, including trophic interactions, to predict the temporal phenology and dynamics of a species across wide geographic areas. The invasive weed, yellow starthistle (YST) (Centaurea solstitialis), and its interactions with annual grasses and herbivorous biological control agents is used to demonstrate the utility of the PBDM approach for analysing complex invasive species problems. The PBDM predicts the distribution and relative abundance of YST accurately across the western USA, and the results are used to assess the effects of temperature, rainfall, competition from grasses and the efficacy of biocontrol efforts. Such an effort could also be used to include the direct effects of rising carbon dioxide on YST biology. A bioeconomic model could be developed to show how the YST PBDM analysis can also be used to assess the biological and economic effects of climate change on YST infestation levels regionally. Finally, this chapter discusses the need for a unified system for assessing invasive species problems at the field, regional and global levels, with the goal of enhancing the development of efficacious policy and management decisions.
To seek and save the lost: human trafficking and salvation schemas among American evangelicals
Authors: Choi-Fitzpatrick Austin
Published: September 2014

American evangelicals have a history of engagement in social issues in general and anti-slavery activism in particular. The last 10 years have seen an increase in both scholarly attention to evangelicalism and evangelical focus on contemporary forms of slavery. Extant literature on this engagement often lacks the voices of evangelicals themselves. This study begins to fill this gap through a qualitative exploration of how evangelical and mainline churchgoers conceptualize both the issue of human trafficking and possible solutions. I extend Michael Young's recent work on the confessional schema motivating evangelical abolitionists in the 1830s. Through analysis of open-ended responses to vignettes in a survey administered in six congregations I find some early support for a contemporary salvation schema. It is this schema, I argue, that underpins evangelicals’ framing of this issue, motivates their involvement in anti-slavery work, and specifies the scope of their critique. Whereas antebellum abolitionists thought of their work in national and structural terms contemporary advocates see individuals in need of rescue. The article provides an empirical sketch of the cultural underpinnings of contemporary evangelical social advocacy and a call for additional research.
CrossRef's Text and Data Mining Services
Authors: LAMMEY Rachael
Published: September 2014

CrossRef (http://www.crossref.org/) is an association of scholarly publishers that develops shared infrastructure to support more effective scholarly communications. In May 2014, CrossRef launched CrossRef Text and Data Mining Services for its members. This article covers the thinking behind CrossRef launching this service, and the particular problems it aims to address around the collection of full‐text content for the purposes of text and data mining (TDM). It explains the technical aspects of the service for researchers and lets publishers know what they need to provide to CrossRef in order to participate and how to do so. It will also describe the pilot of CrossRef's TDM Services, and information on publisher uptake since the launch and how this can be measured, and the costs for joining or using the service.
How is the discipline of publishing studies accommodated within universities?
Authors: BAVERSTOCK Alison , STEINITZ Jackie
Published: September 2014

This paper offers an overview, both internationally and with a particular concentration on the UK, of how the profession‐orientated discipline of publishing studies (PS) is accommodated and established within those universities where it is offered. It presents a combination of data, gained from a survey of professionals teaching PS, desk research into courses of PS in the UK, and from Heidi and HESA. The findings offer information on the size of the field, the location, the employability of graduates and associated staffing and research support structures. While of interest to publishing studies per se, it should also be relevant to those working within other profession‐orientated disciplines; to those considering the employability of graduating students; and to those considering the value of postgraduate studies.
Asymptotic behavior of solutions to a BVP from fluid mechanics
Authors: Sadhu Susmita , Paullet Joseph
Published: September 2014

In this paper we investigate a boundary value problem (BVP) derived from a model of boundary layer flow past a suddenly heated vertical surface in a saturated porous medium. The surface is heated at a rate proportional to

x
k

x^k

where

x
x

measures distance along the wall and

k
>
−
1

k>-1

is constant. Previous results have established the existence of a continuum of solutions for

−
1
>
k
>
−
1

/

2

-1>k>-1/2

. Here we further analyze this continuum and determine that precisely one solution of this continuum approaches the boundary condition at infinity exponentially while all others approach algebraically. Previous results also showed that the solution to the BVP is unique for

−
1

/

2
≤
k
>
0

-1/2 \leq k >0

. Here we extend the range of uniqueness to

0
≤
k
≤
1

0\leq k \leq 1

. Finally, the physical implications of the mathematical results are discussed and a comparison is made to the solutions for the related case of prescribed surface temperature on the surface.
Engineering a circular riboregulator inEscherichia coli
Authors: Rostain William , Shen Shensi , Cordero Teresa , Rodrigo Guillermo , Jaramillo Alfonso
Published: September 2014

Circular RNAs have recently been shown to be important gene expression regulators in mammalian cells. However, their role in prokaryotes remains elusive. Here, we engineered a synthetic riboregulator that self-splice to produce a circular molecule, exploiting group I permuted intron-exon (PIE) sequences. We demonstrated that the resulting circular riboregulator can activate gene expression, showing increased dynamic range compared to the linear form. We characterized the system with a fluorescent reporter and with an antibiotic resistance marker. Thanks to the increased regulatory activity by higher stability, isolation due to self-splicing, and modularity of PIE, we envisage engineered circular riboregulators in further synthetic biology applications.
Heritable variation of mRNA decay rates in yeast
Authors: Andrie Jennifer M. , Wakefield Jon , Akey Joshua M.
Published: September 2014

Gene expression levels are determined by the balance between rates of mRNA transcription and decay, and genetic variation in either of these processes can result in heritable differences in transcript abundance. Although the genetics of gene expression has been a subject of intense interest, the contribution of heritable variation in mRNA decay rates to gene expression variation has received far less attention. To this end, we developed a novel statistical framework and measured allele-specific differences in mRNA decay rates in a diploid yeast hybrid created by mating two genetically diverse parental strains. We estimate that 31% of genes exhibit allelic differences in mRNA decay rates, of which 350 can be identified at a false discovery rate of 10%. Genes with significant allele-specific differences in mRNA decay rates have higher levels of polymorphism compared to other genes, with all gene regions contributing to allelic differences in mRNA decay rates. Strikingly, we find widespread evidence for compensatory evolution, such that variants influencing transcriptional initiation and decay have opposite effects, suggesting that steady-state gene expression levels are subject to pervasive stabilizing selection. Our results demonstrate that heritable differences in mRNA decay rates are widespread and are an important target for natural selection to maintain or fine-tune steady-state gene expression levels.
Reflections on a Socratic approach to engagement
Authors: Bagshaw Mike
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to enhance involvement in the learning process in order that students are active co-creators in their learning, developing their capability for proactive change.

Design/methodology/approach

– Action inquiry (Torbert, 2004). This involves simultaneously conducting action and inquiry in a systematic way.

Findings

– Engagement is a “contact sport” in which complex problems can only be solved by the development of social collaboration where the authors are able to share knowledge and assumptions and co-create together. This requires that groups go through a development process.

Research limitations/implications

– The main limitation is the bias and social influence of the tutor/trainer in the process of developing deeper dialogue. Research needs to explore how the “leader” is able to limit their own bias whilst facilitating development through the stages of dialogue development.

Practical implications

– Most training and teaching assumes that the teacher/trainer has expertise to pass on. This implies that they have the answer to problems being explored. Increasingly the authors need to facilitate the collective creativity of groups to solve complex problems for which the facilitator does not have the answer. This requires a different mindset and “felt-sense”.

Social implications

– To solve complex problems the authors need to develop collective communication capacities, and shift from a focus on personal ego to thinking together in a spirit of learning and inquiry.

Originality/value

– To date there has been little reported that helps facilitators in education and training practically to develop the facilitative and design skills to create learning spaces where groups think together in a non-defensive and generative way. This paper is a step in that direction.
Employee empowerment: factors affecting the consequent success or failure – Part I
Authors: H. Appelbaum Steven , Karasek Robin , Lapointe Françis , Quelch Kim
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to uncover and synthesise the main factors that affects and determines the success or failure of empowerment initiatives from a macro and micro perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

– A thorough review of scholarly articles and empirical evidence was conducted on the topic of empowerment in order to bring to light the correlation between the different factors affecting structural empowerment, psychological empowerment and the effect of leadership style.

Findings

– It has been determined that a team based structure and a culture based on trust and open communication are the key factors affecting the successful implementation of empowerment. Furthermore, although, many positive points can be made for transformational leadership, transactional leadership cannot be discounted as the research shows that the right combination of incentives and rewards, coupled with a certain organisational culture can breed empowerment among certain types of employees.

Research limitations/implications

– Going forward in terms of research on the increasingly popular concept of empowerment, it is believed that a more fully integrated model should be developed. Although some models do incorporate analysis of various macro and micro variables a more comprehensive and encompassing model would prove useful. Such a model would allow for a far more in-depth understanding of empowerment and its defining factors and would provide an invaluable tool to organisations wishing to implement empowerment in the most optimal way.

Practical implications

– In applying a combination of theories on empowerment, leadership and individuals as part of an organisation, the authors posit that empowerment initiatives are predisposed to either success or failure. In order for empowerment to permeate the corporate culture and prove successful, the predispositions of decentralised management and personal ambition are strong factors of success.

Social implications

– The authors postulate that the deciding factors regarding the success or failure of empowering an employee originate from the employees themselves. Even though employees can adopt new corporate cultures and be transformed by their leaders, their core traits remain the same and will have a decisive impact on the eventual success or failure of empowerment initiatives.

Originality/value

– Going forward in terms of research on the increasingly popular concept of empowerment, it is believed that a more fully integrated model should be developed. Although some models do incorporate analysis of various macro and micro variables, a more comprehensive and encompassing model would prove useful.
Blending work and learning: the impact of a workplace learning programme on the low-skilled and long term unemployed
Authors: Tiernan Peter , O’Kelly Jane
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of a workplace learning programme on the low-skilled and long term unemployed. The paper evaluates improvements in skills and attitudes from the workers perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper builds on current literature in the area to design and evaluate a workplace learning programme. Quantitative and qualitative data are used to evaluate staff perceptions.

Findings

– Findings indicate that providing a mix of workplace learning, and focused academic content can have an extremely positive impact on the skill-set and mind-set of low-skilled and long term unemployed workers. The effect of this is that workers are more likely to apply for further educational and employment opportunities.

Practical implications

– Findings reinforce the view that an integrated approach to tackling long-term unemployment and the up-skilling of workers may be more effective than providing employment initiatives alone.

Originality/value

– While statistics on long term unemployment and the vulnerability of low-skilled workers are widely available right across the EU, there is a comparative lack of literature around initiatives designed to tackle these problems, and even less which incorporates the views of workers themselves. This paper provides a unique look at the implementation of a workplace learning programme and its impact on staff.
The role of rules-based compliance systems in the new EU regulatory landscape
Authors: Gozman Daniel , Currie Wendy
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand how institutional changes to the European Union regulatory landscape may affect corresponding institutionalized operational practices within financial organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study adopts an Investment Management System as its case and investigates different implementations of this system within eight financial organizations, predominantly focused on investment banking and asset management activities within capital markets. At the systems vendor site, senior systems consultants and client relationship managers were interviewed. Within the financial organizations, compliance, risk and systems experts were interviewed.

Findings

– The study empirically tests modes of institutional change. Displacement and Layering were found to be the most prevalent modes. However, the study highlights how the outcomes of Displacement and Drift may be similar in effect as both modes may cause compliance gaps. The research highlights how changes in regulations may create gaps in systems and processes which, in the short term, need to be plugged by manual processes.

Practical implications

– Vendors abilities to manage institutional change caused by Drift, Displacement, Layering and Conversion and their ability to efficiently and quickly translate institutional variables into structured systems has the power to ease the pain and cost of compliance as well as reducing the risk of breeches by reducing the need for interim manual systems.

Originality/value

– The study makes a contribution by applying recent theoretical concepts of institutional change to the topic of regulatory change uses this analysis to provide insight into the effects of this new environment.