bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bouncing droplets on a billiard table
Authors: Shirokoff David
Published: February 2013

In a set of experiments, Couder et al. demonstrate that an oscillating fluid bed may propagate a bouncing droplet through the guidance of the surface waves. I present a dynamical systems model, in the form of an iterative map, for a droplet on an oscillating bath. I examine the droplet bifurcation from bouncing to walking, and prescribe general requirements for the surface wave to support stable walking states. I show that in addition to walking, there is a region of large forcing that may support the chaotic motion of the droplet. Using the map, I then investigate the droplet trajectories in a square (billiard ball) domain. I show that in large domains, the long time trajectories are either non-periodic dense curves or approach a quasiperiodic orbit. In contrast, in small domains, at low forcing, trajectories tend to approach an array of circular attracting sets. As the forcing increases, the attracting sets break down and the droplet travels throughout space.
Self avoiding paths routing algorithm in scale-free networks
Authors: Rachadi Abdeljalil , Jedra Mohamed , Zahid Noureddine
Published: February 2013

In this paper, we present a new routing algorithm called “the self avoiding paths routing algorithm.” Its application to traffic flow in scale-free networks shows a great improvement over the so called “efficient routing” protocol while at the same time maintaining a relatively low average packet travel time. It has the advantage of minimizing path overlapping throughout the network in a self consistent manner with a relatively small number of iterations by maintaining an equilibrated path distribution especially among the hubs. This results in a significant shifting of the critical packet generation rate over which traffic congestion occurs, thus permitting the network to sustain more information packets in the free flow state. The performance of the algorithm is discussed both on a Barábasi-Albert network and real autonomous system network data.
Physical interpretation and separation of eddy current pulsed thermography
Authors: Yin Aijun , Gao Bin , Yun Tian Gui , Woo W. L. , Li Kongjing
Published: February 2013

Eddy current pulsed thermography (ECPT) applies induction heating and a thermal camera for non-destructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E). Because of the variation in resultant surface heat distribution, the physical mechanism that corresponds to the general behavior of ECPT can be divided into an accumulation of Joule heating via eddy current and heat diffusion. However, throughout the literature, the heating mechanisms of ECPT are not given in detail in the above two thermal phenomena and they are difficult to be separated. Nevertheless, once these two physical parameters are separated, they can be directly used to detect anomalies and predict the variation in material properties such as electrical conductivity, magnetic permeability and microstructure. This paper reports physical interpretation of these two physical phenomena that can be found in different time responses given the ECPT image sequences. Based on the phenomenon and their behaviors, the paper proposes a statistical method based on single channel blind source separation to decompose the two physical phenomena using different stages of eddy current and thermal propagation from the ECPT images. Links between mathematical models and physical models have been discussed and verified. This fundamental understanding of transient eddy current distribution and heating propagation can be applied to the development of feature extraction and pattern recognition for the quantitative analysis of ECPT measurement images and defect characterization.
Search for long-range ferromagnetism: Charge-spin co-doped Ba1−x−yLax+yTi1−xMxO3 (M = Cr, Fe, and Co)
Authors: Shao D. F. , Yang J. , Jian H. B. , Zhu X. B. , Sun Y. P.
Published: February 2013

We investigate the structural, magnetic, and electrical properties of charge-spin co-doped Ba1−x−yLax+yTi1−xMxO3 (M = Cr, Fe, and Co). For Ba1−x−yLax+yTi1−xCrxO3, carrier doping induces short-range ferromagnetism, and we find a large negative magnetoresistance in these compounds. However, for Ba1−x−yLax+yTi1−xMxO3 (M = Fe and Co), the magnetism does not seem to couple with the charge carriers. The transport properties of Ba1−x−yLax+yTi1−xCrxO3 can be described by a three-dimensional variable-range-hopping model that implies itinerant charge carriers, whereas almost all the samples of Ba1−x−yLax+yTi1−xMxO3 (M = Fe and Co) exhibit high resistivity. It is known that only the itinerant charge carriers can enhance the coupling of two isolated magnetic ions. Therefore, there is almost no long-range ferromagnetism in the studied system.
Improved conductivity of Sb-doped SnO2 thin films
Authors: Alsac A. A. , Yildiz A. , Serin T. , Serin N.
Published: February 2013

Sb-doped SnO2 thin films at different thickness have been grown by sol-gel dip-coating method. All of the films exhibit degenerate semiconductor behavior and high free carrier concentrations. In the films, electrical transport can be explained reasonably well by assuming the electron-electron interactions (EEIs) contribution to the measured electrical conductivity. Our experimental observations are consistent with the theoretical description of the EEI. The effect of films thickness on the EEI contribution is also discussed. When the thickness of film reaches to 1550 nm, the agreement between the EEI theory and experimental data becomes unsatisfactory.
Representation of ideal magnetohydrodynamic modes
Authors: White R. B.
Published: February 2013

One of the most fundamental properties of ideal magnetohydrodynamics is the condition that plasma motion cannot change magnetic topology. The conventional representation of ideal magnetohydrodynamic modes by perturbing a toroidal equilibrium field through δB→=∇×(ξ→×B→) ensures that δB→·∇ψ=0 at a resonance, with ψ labelling an equilibrium flux surface. Also useful for the analysis of guiding center orbits in a perturbed field is the representation δB→=∇×αB→. These two representations are equivalent, but the vanishing of δB→·∇ψ at a resonance is necessary but not sufficient for the preservation of field line topology, and a indiscriminate use of either perturbation in fact destroys the original equilibrium flux topology. It is necessary to find the perturbed field to all orders in ξ→ to conserve the original topology. The effect of using linearized perturbations on stability and growth rate calculations is discussed.
Nanoscale electroresistance properties of all-oxide magneto-electric tunnel junction with ultra-thin barium titanate barrier
Authors: Kim G. , Mazumdar D. , Gupta A.
Published: February 2013

Tunnel electroresistance properties have been investigated at the nanoscale for prototype magneto-electric tunnel junctions (METJ) consisting of ferroelectric BaTiO3 and ferromagnetic La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 heterostructures. Combining piezoresponse force and conductive atomic force microscopy, we demonstrate robust and reproducible polarization-dependent tunneling behavior with a resistance ratio between the two polarization states as high as 60 for a 3 unit cell (∼1.2 nm) BaTiO3 tunnel barrier. Our work demonstrates that METJs are scalable down to barrier layer thicknesses comparable to commercial spintronic devices.
An efficient non-Lambertian organic light-emitting diode using imprinted submicron-size zinc oxide pillar arrays
Authors: Liu S. W. , Wang J. X. , Divayana Y. , Dev K. , Tan S. T. , Demir H. V. , Sun X. W.
Published: February 2013

We report phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes with a substantially improved light outcoupling efficiency and a wider angular distribution through applying a layer of zinc oxide periodic nanopillar arrays by pattern replication in non-wetting templates technique. The devices exhibited the peak emission intensity at an emission angle of 40° compared to 0° for reference device using bare ITO-glass. The best device showed a peak luminance efficiency of 95.5 ± 1.5 cd/A at 0° emission (external quantum efficiency—EQE of 38.5 ± 0.1%, power efficiency of 127 ± 1 lm/W), compared to that of the reference device, which has a peak luminance efficiency of 68.0 ± 1.4 cd/A (EQE of 22.0 ± 0.1%, power efficiency of 72 ± 1 lm/W).
Characterization of silicon dioxide films on 4H-SiC (0001) Si, (1-100) M, and (11-20) A faces by cathodoluminescence spectroscopy
Authors: Yoshikawa M. , Inoue K. , Seki H. , Nanen Y. , Kato M. , Kimoto T.
Published: February 2013

We prepared SiO2 films with channel mobilities (CMs) of 35, 105, and 112 cm2/Vs on 4H-SiC (0001) Si, (1-100) M, and (11-20) A faces by post-oxidation annealing (POA) in NO ambient and measured the cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra. For an acceleration voltage of 5 kV, the CL peak assigned to oxygen vacancy centers (OVCs) weakens by POA, whereas the CL peak related to Si-N bonding structures intensifies with increasing CM. This suggests that OVCs in the SiO2/SiC interface are terminated by N. We show that NO ambient POA increases the CM more effectively than that by N2O ambient. CL spectroscopy provides us with extensive information on OVCs, non-bridging oxidation hole centers, and dangling bonds in the SiO2/SiC interface on 4H-SiC substrates and on the CM in n-type MOS capacitors.
Defining a protective epitope on factor H binding protein, a key meningococcal virulence factor and vaccine antigen
Authors: Malito Enrico , Faleri Agnese , Lo Surdo Paola , Veggi Daniele , Maruggi Giulietta , Grassi Eva , Cartocci Elena , Bertoldi Isabella , Genovese Alessia , Santini Laura , Romagnoli Giacomo , Borgogni Erica , Brier Sébastien , Lo Passo Carla , Domina Maria , Castellino Flora , Felici Franco , van der Veen Stijn , Johnson Steven , Lea Susan M. , Tang Christoph M. , Pizza Mariagrazia , Savino Silvana , Norais Nathalie , Rappuoli Rino , Bottomley Matthew J. , Masignani Vega
Published: February 2013

Mapping of epitopes recognized by functional monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is essential for understanding the nature of immune responses and designing improved vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. In recent years, identification of B-cell epitopes targeted by neutralizing antibodies has facilitated the design of peptide-based vaccines against highly variable pathogens like HIV, respiratory syncytial virus, and
Helicobacter pylori
; however, none of these products has yet progressed into clinical stages. Linear epitopes identified by conventional mapping techniques only partially reflect the immunogenic properties of the epitope in its natural conformation, thus limiting the success of this approach. To investigate antigen–antibody interactions and assess the potential of the most common epitope mapping techniques, we generated a series of mAbs against factor H binding protein (fHbp), a key virulence factor and vaccine antigen of
Neisseria meningitidis
. The interaction of fHbp with the bactericidal mAb 12C1 was studied by various epitope mapping methods. Although a 12-residue epitope in the C terminus of fHbp was identified by both Peptide Scanning and Phage Display Library screening, other approaches, such as hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (MS) and X-ray crystallography, showed that mAb 12C1 occupies an area of ∼1,000 Å
2
on fHbp, including >20 fHbp residues distributed on both N- and C-terminal domains. Collectively, these data show that linear epitope mapping techniques provide useful but incomplete descriptions of B-cell epitopes, indicating that increased efforts to fully characterize antigen–antibody interfaces are required to understand and design effective immunogens.
The Korean evidential marker -te- revisited
Authors: Kwon Iksoo
Published: February 2013

Since the Korean firsthand evidential marker -te- shows unexpected semantics such as implicating psychological distance and restricted deictic accessibility as well as standard evidential semantics, Korean linguists have disagreed considerably about the analysis of the marker, each citing evidence for distinct analyses. The aim of this paper is to argue that the marker -te- can be given a unified treatment as an evidential marker. The alleged incompatibility between the functions of -te- is a consequence of the combination of semantic primes encoding firsthand evidentiality and past tense at the same time. To better explain the marker’s multiple functions and its subjective semantics, I employ Mental Spaces Theory (Fauconnier 1997; Fauconnier & Sweetser 1996; Dancygier & Sweetser 2005): the marker sets up a subjective experience mental space, where the speaker can have access from the Base space to his/her firsthand perception space. Specifically, I propose a notion of backgrounded information accommodation to represent a situation where the addressee immediately accesses backgrounded knowledge that the speaker has obtained information of the linguistic content, when the marker is used. Furthermore, we can explain why the -te- construction does not allow direct attribution of another person’s mental state, exploring how the marker restricts (non-)1st person subjects’ co-occurrence with particular types of predicates (i.e. action and experiential).
The status of Kumzari and its speakers
Authors: Battenburg John
Published: February 2013

The Kumzari language, with approximately 3,000 speakers in the Musandam Governorate of Oman, is an Iranian language spoken in the Arabian Peninsula. Although Kumzari speakers have lived along the Persian Gulf for hundreds of years, little research has been conducted on this language community. Issues related to constructing a systematic approach for analyzing language minority groups are considered in the context of the Kumzari language and community. In addition, factors and degrees of endangerment suggested in the 2003 UNESCO document entitled “Language Vitality and Endangerment” as well as classifications proposed by other researchers are addressed. Finally, the future status of this endangered language community is discussed.
Lives that preach
Authors: Molina-Markham Elizabeth
Published: February 2013

While certain branches of Quakerism are well known for the silence of their worship, such branches also practice highly valued speech events. In this article, I explore one such speech event, the telling of one’s “spiritual journey” by members of a Quaker meeting. From an ethnography of communication perspective, drawing on cultural communication and cultural discourse theory, I examine the cultural premises that underlie this practice of narrative telling, informing both the story told and the situated narrative performance. This analysis reveals the way in which the interactional event of telling journeys among Friends serves as a model of practicing Quakerism for others and is central to the process of community formation. In addition, I suggest that the same premises that inform the telling of “spiritual journeys” also underlie engagement in silent worship and a distinctive style for conducting Quaker administrative meetings.
Swearing in literary prose fiction and conversational narrative
Authors: Norrick Neal R.
Published: February 2013

This article compares swearing in novels with swearing in everyday talk based on a representative sample of British and American prose fiction and a several large corpora of natural conversation. Swearing allegedly makes fictional dialogue more realistic, but up till now no one has attempted a systematic comparison of fictional and natural conversational swearing. Fiction writers incorporate swearing into their dialogue to delineate characters and to signal emotions, sometimes setting it off from non-swearing talk and commenting on it in various ways. Traditionally, the author’s own voice contained no swearing. By contrast, in conversational narratives, tellers use swearing to obtain the floor, to evaluate action, to mark climaxes and closings, in addition to portraying their characters as swearing. Moreover, in conversation, tellers may hear their listeners swearing along with them, not only to support and evaluate, but also to oppose and even complain about their telling performance.
Reconstructing narrative
Authors: Striano Maura
Published: February 2013

On the basis of a thorough comparative analysis of the Forum contributions to the last issue of “Narrative Inquiry” (21:2), it is possible to focus on some patterns which indicate the development of a new paradigm in this field of study and practice. These patterns lead us to understand narrative as co-constructed, dialogical, educational. ethical, multi-perspectival, relational, political, provisional, social and situational and place it in a non exclusive confrontation with other forms of meaning making within the different fields of human experience.
Uses of conversational narrative
Authors: Bromberg Joann Berlin
Published: February 2013

In this article I discuss how conversational narrative is used to frame and manage social relationships. I refer to theories and questions that sparked my research and describe how I came to take my stance as participant observer. My role as participant influenced ongoing decisions about collection and analysis of conversational material. In turn, these decisions influenced the research outcome. Here I introduce story exchange types, analytic units devised to study how we enact social relations through conversational narrative. To illustrate, I give two brief examples; one experience is reciprocated, the other is not. While these examples provide only a partial glimpse into various social transactions, taken together they represent a pivotal difference: participants use or refuse stories as they engage with others in talk. My position corroborates the work of scholars who argue for an interactive, dialogic approach to the study of discourse. All participants in conversational discourse transmit cultural norms. Through everyday talk we construe “reality” for ourselves.
“When possible, make a U-turn”
Authors: Schachter Elli P.
Published: February 2013

This paper discusses the problematic consequences of labeling Bruner and MacIntyre’s work under the heading ‘narrative turn’. I argue that their focus on narrative was secondary to larger projects with more important implications for psychology which have unfortunately garnered less attention and have yet to be realized. Bruner’s intent was to establish meaning-making as the central concept of psychology. MacIntyre’s concern was with establishing grounds for moral living. Identity was conceived of as a crucial explanatory concept in the psychosocial construction of meaning and\or the good life. Understanding narrative however, although considered important, was not the primary goal of their efforts. I propose refocusing on these original goals and on identity processes, be they narrative or paradigmatic, as they are involved in the ongoing organization of interpretive and evaluative meaning systems that are the grounds for intentionality and agency.
Individual growth history of larval Atlantic mackerel is reflected in daily condition indices
Authors: Robert Dominique , Pepin Pierre , Dower John F. , Fortier Louis
Published: February 2013

We tested the hypothesis that faster-growing Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) larvae generally achieve better feeding success than their slower-growing counterparts. Feeding success and growth were derived from the analysis of gut content and otolith microstructure of larvae from four cohorts (1997–2000) from the southern Gulf of St Lawrence. We observed a high degree of serial correlation in otolith growth (OG) from hatching, suggesting that events occurring early in life have long-standing effects on future growth potential. The diet of fast-growing individuals was dominated by large prey, such as cladocerans and fish larvae (including conspecifics), while slow-growing larvae foraged primarily on smaller copepod naupliar stages. Both feeding success (stomach content) and an index of condition (body depth) were positively correlated with OG, and these relationships explained approximately three times more variance in mackerel than in larval radiated shanny (Ulvaria subbifurcata) of similar size. Relationships linking age-dependent scores of body depth to feeding success and growth were ∼3.5–4 times stronger than those based on length-dependent indices, suggesting that differences in energy allocation during early ontogeny may play a significant role in determining an individual's capacity to cope with variations in feeding conditions.
Vallitalea
guaymasensis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment
Authors: Lakhal Raja , Pradel Nathalie , Postec Anne , Hamdi Moktar , Ollivier Bernard , Godfroy Anne , Fardeau Marie-Laure
Published: February 2013

A novel obligately anaerobic, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped mesophilic, halophilic, Gram-stain-negative bacterium, was isolated from sediments of Guaymas Basin. The strain, designated Ra1766G1T, grew at 20–40 °C (optimum, 30–35 °C) and at pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 6.5–7.5). It required 0.5–7.5 % NaCl (optimum, 2–3 %) for growth. Sulfate, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, sulfite, fumarate, nitrate and nitrite were not used as terminal electron acceptors. Strain Ra1766G1T used cellobiose, glucose, mannose, maltose, arabinose, raffinose, galactose, ribose, sucrose, pyruvate and xylose as electron donors. The main fermentation product from glucose metabolism was acetate. The predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, anteiso DMA-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. The main polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, iso-DMA-C15 : 0 glycolipids and phospholipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 31.2 mol%. The closest phylogenetic relatives of strain Ra1766G1T were

Natranaerovirga pectinivora

AP3T (92.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity),

Natranaerovirga hydrolytica

APP2T(90.2 %) and

Defluviitalea saccharophila

6LT2T (88.9 %). On the basis of phylogenetic inference and phenotypic properties, strain Ra1766G1T represents a novel species of a new genus for which the name Vallitalea guaymasensis is proposed. The type strain of the type species is Ra1766G1T ( = DSM 24848T = JCM17997T).
Bacillus

thermocopriae sp. nov., isolated from a compost
Authors: Han Luchao , Yang Guiqin , Zhou Xuemei , Yang Dehui , Hu Pei , Lu Qin , Zhou Shungui
Published: February 2013

A Gram-reaction-positive, facultatively anaerobic, motile, endospore-forming, rod-shaped strain, designated SgZ-7T, was isolated from a windrow compost pile and was characterized by means of a polyphasic approach. Growth occurred with 0–3 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1 %), at pH 6.0–10.0 (optimum pH 7.2) and at 40–60 °C (optimum 50 °C). The main respiratory quinone was MK-7. The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 46.6 mol%. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain SgZ-7T should be assigned to the genus

Bacillus

and was related most closely to

Bacillus drentensis

LMG 21831T (sequence similarity 97.2 %). The result of the DNA–DNA hybridization experiment revealed a low relatedness (27.2 %) between the isolate and

B. drentensis

LMG 21831T. The results of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic analyses clearly indicated that strain SgZ-7T represents a novel species, for which the name

Bacillus

thermocopriae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SgZ-7T ( = CCTCC AB 2012030T = KACC 16700T).
Acinetobacter

puyangensis sp. nov., isolated from the healthy and diseased part of Populus ×euramericana canker bark
Authors: Li Yong , Piao Chun-gen , Ma Yu-chao , He Wei , Wang Hai-ming , Chang Ju-pu , Guo Li-min , Wang Xi-zhuo , Xie Shou-jiang , Guo Min-wei
Published: February 2013

Two Gram-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped strains, BQ4-1T and NHI3-2, isolated respectively from the healthy and diseased part of Populus ×euramericana canker bark, were characterized using a polyphasic approach. Chemotaxonomic characterization supported the inclusion of the two strains in the genus

Acinetobacter

, with genomic DNA G+C contents (42.5–43 mol%) within the range observed for this genus (38–47 mol%) and 9-octadecenoic acid (C18 : 1ω9c, 39.87 %), hexadecanoic acid (C16 : 0, 11.26 %) and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c, 18.90 %) as major fatty acids. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA, rpoB and gyrB gene sequences revealed that strains BQ4-1T and NHI3 did not cluster with any species with validly published names, and formed a distinct cluster with 99–100 % bootstrap support on three phylogenetic trees within the genus

Acinetobacter

. Acid was not produced from d-glucose, and haemolysis was not observed on agar media supplemented with sheep erythrocytes. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, the two strains are considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Acinetobacter

, for which the name

Acinetobacter

puyangensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BQ4-1T ( = CFCC 10780T = JCM 18011T).
Cellulomonas

marina sp. nov., isolated from deep-sea water
Authors: Zhang Limin , Xi Lijun , Qiu Danheng , Song Lei , Dai Xin , Ruan Jisheng , Huang Ying
Published: February 2013

A bacterial strain FXJ8.089T was isolated from deep-sea water collected from the southwest Indian Ocean (49° 39′ E 37° 47′ S) at a depth of 2800 m, and its taxonomic position was investigated by a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain FXJ8.089T belonged to the genus

Cellulomonas

and had the highest similarities with

Cellulomonas oligotrophica

(96.9 %) and

Cellulomonas aerilata

(96.6 %). It contained MK-9(H4) as the predominant menaquinone. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol mannosides. The cell-wall peptidoglycan type was A4β with an interpeptide bridge l-Orn–d-Glu. The cell-wall sugars were glucose, mannose and ribose. The DNA G+C content was 70.3 mol%. The strain also showed a number of physiological and biochemical characteristics that were distinct from the closely related species. Based on phenotypic and genotypic data, strain FXJ8.089T ( = CGMCC 4.6945T = DSM 24960T) represents a novel species of the genus

Cellulomonas

, for which the name

Cellulomonas

marina sp. nov. is proposed.
Prevalent Role of Gene Features in Determining Evolutionary Fates of Whole-Genome Duplication Duplicated Genes in Flowering Plants
Authors: Jiang Wen-kai , Liu Yun-long , Xia En-hua , Gao Li-zhi
Published: February 2013

The evolution of genes and genomes after polyploidization has been the subject of extensive studies in evolutionary biology and plant sciences. While a significant number of duplicated genes are rapidly removed during a process called fractionation, which operates after the whole-genome duplication (WGD), another considerable number of genes are retained preferentially, leading to the phenomenon of biased gene retention. However, the evolutionary mechanisms underlying gene retention after WGD remain largely unknown. Through genome-wide analyses of sequence and functional data, we comprehensively investigated the relationships between gene features and the retention probability of duplicated genes after WGDs in six plant genomes, Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), poplar (Populus trichocarpa), soybean (Glycine max), rice (Oryza sativa), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and maize (Zea mays). The results showed that multiple gene features were correlated with the probability of gene retention. Using a logistic regression model based on principal component analysis, we resolved evolutionary rate, structural complexity, and GC3 content as the three major contributors to gene retention. Cluster analysis of these features further classified retained genes into three distinct groups in terms of gene features and evolutionary behaviors. Type I genes are more prone to be selected by dosage balance; type II genes are possibly subject to subfunctionalization; and type III genes may serve as potential targets for neofunctionalization. This study highlights that gene features are able to act jointly as primary forces when determining the retention and evolution of WGD-derived duplicated genes in flowering plants. These findings thus may help to provide a resolution to the debate on different evolutionary models of gene fates after WGDs.
Distribution of Transglutaminase in Pear Pollen Tubes in Relation to Cytoskeleton and Membrane Dynamics
Authors: Del Duca Stefano , Faleri Claudia , Iorio Rosa Anna , Cresti Mauro , Serafini-Fracassini Donatella , Cai Giampiero
Published: February 2013

Transglutaminases (TGases) are ubiquitous enzymes that take part in a variety of cellular functions. In the pollen tube, cytoplasmic TGases are likely to be involved in the incorporation of primary amines at selected peptide-bound glutamine residues of cytosolic proteins (including actin and tubulin), while cell wall-associated TGases are believed to regulate pollen tube growth. Using immunological probes, we identified TGases associated with different subcellular compartments (cytosol, membranes, and cell walls). Binding of cytosolic TGase to actin filaments was shown to be Ca2+ dependent. The membrane TGase is likely associated with both Golgi-derived structures and the plasma membrane, suggesting a Golgi-based exocytotic delivery of TGase. Association of TGase with the plasma membrane was also confirmed by immunogold transmission electron microscopy. Immunolocalization of TGase indicated that the enzyme was present in the growing region of pollen tubes and that the enzyme colocalizes with cell wall markers. Bidimensional electrophoresis indicated that different TGase isoforms were present in distinct subcellular compartments, suggesting either different roles or different regulatory mechanisms of enzyme activity. The application of specific inhibitors showed that the distribution of TGase in different subcellular compartments was regulated by both membrane dynamics and cytoskeleton integrity, suggesting that delivery of TGase to the cell wall requires the transport of membranes along cytoskeleton filaments. Taken together, these data indicate that a cytoplasmic TGase interacts with the cytoskeleton, while a different TGase isoform, probably delivered via a membrane/cytoskeleton-based transport system, is secreted in the cell wall of pear (Pyrus communis) pollen tubes, where it might play a role in the regulation of apical growth.
Firm capabilities as moderators of transaction cost factors and subsidiary domestic outsourcing
Authors: Tseng Cher‐Hung , Chen Liang‐Tu
Published: February 2013

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the influence of transaction cost (TC) factors and the moderating influence of firm capability factors on the extent of domestic outsourcing of a multinational corporation (MNC) subsidiary.

Design/methodology/approach

A new research framework is developed comprising four constructs and six research hypotheses, coupled with international experience (IE) and subsidiary scale (SS) as moderating constructs. Applying the regression model, the hypotheses were tested on data from MNC subsidiaries engaged in manufacturing in Taiwan, based on the TC theory, resource‐based view, and outsourcing literature.

Findings

The TC factors, including environmental dynamism and subsidiary technology level, are negatively related with degree of domestic outsourcing. Moreover, the MNC IE and SS can reduce the TCs, thus increasing the degree of domestic outsourcing by MNC subsidiaries at the high environmental dynamism and subsidiary technology levels.

Research limitations/implications

The study data were obtained from MNC subsidiaries operating in Taiwan, and the single country research design is a limitation of this study.

Practical implications

This study provides useful insights into how MNCs and subsidiaries should concentrate on the factors that increase the TCs of domestic outsourcing. Moreover, MNCs and subsidiaries must endeavor to cultivate and apply capabilities to mitigate TCs and fully realize the benefits of domestic outsourcing.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates that TC factors can also be applied to examine the outsourcing strategies of firms operating in less advanced countries. Additionally, the capability factors of MNCs and subsidiaries can reduce TCs, thus increasing domestic outsourcing by subsidiaries.
Exploring the value of a novel decision‐making theory in understanding R&D progress decisions
Authors: Rutten Maarten E.J. , Dorée André G. , Halman Johannes I.M.
Published: February 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore the ability of a novel psychological theory of how people make decisions, narrative‐based decision theory, to help explain people's decisions about whether to continue investment in a research and development (R&D) project (R&D progress decisions).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies the new theory to an empirical finding of existing research on R&D progress decisions; the finding that instruction in the sunk cost principle seems to mitigate the sunk cost effect in R&D progress decision‐making.

Findings

By interpreting the empirical finding in terms of narrative‐based decision theory, the paper is able to clarify and extend an earlier explanation for the empirical finding. More specifically, by drawing on narrative‐based decision theory the paper is able to provide a more detailed explanation of how the predictor variable (sunk cost) and the moderator variable (instruction in the sunk cost principle) may exert an influence.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the result of the exploration, the authors call for further investigations into narrative‐based decision theory's value in explaining R&D progress decisions, and other management decisions.

Practical implications

Furthermore, the authors call for investigations into how narrative‐based decision theory may help decision‐makers in improving the quality of R&D progress decisions.

Originality/value

Narrative‐based decision theory is a recent theory from the field of naturalistic decision‐making. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first article that, by using an example, illustrates how the theory may help in explaining the findings of empirical research on management decisions.
Strategic brand venturing: an intersectional idea
Authors: van Rensburg Deryck J.
Published: February 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline a growth strategy and a conceptual model for large consumer packaged goods (CPG) firms that involves venturing with brand entrepreneurs to access innovative or disruptive new brands called “strategic brand venturing” (SBV). It aims to ground the model conceptually using the intersection of three domains: entrepreneurship, strategic management, and marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

An emerging development among large CPG firms known for their branding and marketing prowess has been to create dedicated brand/consumer venturing units (e.g. Coca‐Cola, P&G, Nestle, Clorox, General Mills, Unilever) as a means of creating new growth horizons. The paper notes this recent development and opportunity. It offers a conceptual explanation of how to think about this using domain intersection literature and a practice‐based description of the dimensions involved in executing such a strategy.

Findings

The paper is conceptual and practice‐oriented. No fieldwork was conducted. However, the work is based on industry practice and a longitudinal participant observation within aFortune100 firm over a five‐year period.

Research limitations/implications

Researchers are encouraged to empirically examine this new option in further depth.

Practical implications

The capability dimensions needed to execute are outlined.

Originality/value

External corporate venturing in technology‐intensive industries is an established and growing practice. However, equity investments by large CPG corporations in entrepreneurial brand firms represents a corporate entrepreneurship opportunity that has hitherto received scant/no attention in the literature. A conceptual model is proposed based on industry practice but grounded in a novel use of domain intersection literature to encourage further action and research.
Value creation through HR shared services: towards a conceptual framework
Authors: Meijerink Jeroen , Bondarouk Tanya , Kees Looise Jan
Published: February 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to derive a measure for the performance of human resource shared service providers (HR SSPs) and then to develop a theoretical framework that conceptualises their performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper starts from the HR shared services argument and integrates this with the knowledge‐based view of the firm and the concept of intellectual capital.

Findings

The authors recommend measuring HR SSP performance as HR value, referring to the ratio between use value and exchange value, that together reflect both transactional and transformational HR value. They argue that transactional HR value directly flows from the organisational capital in HR SSPs, whereas human and social capitals enable them to leverage their organisational capital for HR value creation. The authors argue that the human capital of HR SSPs has a direct effect on transformational HR value creation, while their social and organisational capitals positively moderate this relationship.

Originality/value

The suggested measure paves the way for operationalising and measuring the performance of HR shared services providers. This paper offers testable propositions for the relationships between intellectual capital and the performance of HR shared service providers. These contributions could assist future research to move beyond the descriptive nature that characterises the existing literature.
Helping yourself by helping others: examining personality perceptions
Authors: Rosopa Patrick J. , Schroeder Amber N. , Hulett Anna L.
Published: February 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate experimentally the effect of altruistic behavior on personality perceptions, advancement potential, and reward recommendations and assess whether personality perceptions serve as a mediating mechanism between altruistic behavior and job ratings (e.g. advancement potential).

Design/methodology/approach

A randomized experimental design was used to investigate the mediating effect of personality perceptions on the relationship between altruistic behavior and advancement potential and reward recommendations.

Findings

It was found that altruistic employees were perceived as having more favorable personality characteristics and received higher advancement potential ratings and greater reward recommendations than their less altruistic counterparts. In addition, personality perceptions were found to mediate partially the relation between altruistic behavior and job ratings (i.e. advancement potential and reward recommendations).

Originality/value

Research findings on citizenship behavior and personality are often based on the results of non‐experimental designs. This paper utilized a randomized experiment to investigate a mediating effect using a contemporary approach for testing hypothesized mediation.
Probing into commitment's nonlinear relationships to work outcomes
Authors: Morin Alexandre J.S. , Vandenberghe Christian , Turmel Marie‐Josée , Madore Isabelle , Maïano Christophe
Published: February 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the possibility of curvilinear patterns of relationships between workplace affective commitment and in‐role performance, organizational citizenship behaviors and burnout. As most commitment theories assume strictly linear relations with these outcomes, demonstrating that these positive associations do not hold above some ceiling point in the commitment continuum is potentially important for research and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The possibility of nonlinear relations was examined in a sample of 273 hospital employees.

Findings

The results yielded strong support for the authors' hypotheses. Indeed, most of the relations observed (ten of 15) between affective commitment foci and work outcomes were curvilinear, revealing a ceiling to the positive association between commitment and outcomes. Although these results vary in strength across work outcomes and commitment targets, they reveal that affective commitment has negative associations with employee productivity and psychological health at extreme levels.

Originality/value

Methodologically, these results illustrate the need to systematically explore the true nature of relations among constructs, even in areas where it is assumed to be well known. Practically, these results suggest that, ultimately, moderate levels of commitment may be more beneficial than extremely high levels.
Consumer information search and credence services: implications for service providers
Authors: Mortimer Kathleen , Pressey Andrew
Published: February 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the involvement levels and the information search activity of consumers purchasing credence services, in terms of the extent of the search and the information sources used.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey was undertaken (n=400) examining consumers
'
information search practices for a range of credence services in comparison to non-credence services (search and experience services).

Findings

– Involvement in the search process is high in terms of importance but not interest. Somewhat surprisingly, consumers of credence services do not undertake a more comprehensive information search than non-credence service purchasers in terms of the use of external sources of information. They do, however, depend more on the opinion of salespeople, the experience of friends and the content of consumer reports.

Research limitations/implications

– The results of this study differ from similar work that was previously undertaken with students and also in the USA. It would be useful to establish more strongly whether age and culture have an impact on information search.

Originality/value

– This is the first time that the information search patterns of consumers of credence services have been undertaken for a wide range of common purchases in the UK. It is also original in this area of research in that it utilises a cross section of the population and not students. Its findings are important to the providers of credence services when considering their marketing communications campaigns because it reveals which marketing communication tools are considered by the consumer to be influential.
Butting heads and headlines
Authors: Dutkiewicz Jan , Duxbury Linda
Published: February 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the validity of a set of best practice principles for managing transformational organizational change by applying them to a specific change initiative in the media. It also aims to examine whether prescriptions for effective change leadership (traditionally confined to single leaders) apply to a situation and organization where there are three distinct leader roles.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a case study of a major change initiative undertaken at a leading Canadian newspaper.

Findings

The paper shows that multiple, relatively autonomous leaders can lead a successful and unified change given specific organizational and environmental conditions. It also concludes that the generally accepted best practice of change leadership does not necessarily apply to a newspaper environment and posits that, in certain circumstances, a major change initiative can succeed despite running counter to the prevalent prescriptions in the literature.

Research limitations/implications

The conclusions drawn may be limited to organizations in the news media or those with similar organizational structures.

Practical implications

The paper suggests shortcoming of existing normative leadership theories, seeks to explain why this is the case, and makes numerous suggestions for further study.

Originality/value

The paper challenges orthodox assumptions and theories about leader roles and necessary qualities in leaders in successful organizational change. It extends understanding of change processes in the news media, which is under‐studied. It also suggests the applicability, but also relative insufficiency, of existing change theory as pertains to the media industry.
Minimising uncertainty in long‐term prediction of bridge element
Authors: Lee Jaeho , Blumenstein Michael , Guan Hong , Loo Yew‐Chaye
Published: February 2013

Purpose

Successful bridge management system (BMS) development requires a reliable bridge deterioration model, which is the most crucial component in a BMS. Historical condition ratings obtained from biennial bridge inspections are a major source for predicting future bridge deterioration in BMSs. However, historical condition ratings are very limited in most bridge agencies, thus posing a major barrier for predicting reliable future bridge performance. The purpose of this paper is to present a preliminary study as part of a long‐term research on the development of a reliable bridge deterioration model using advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

This proposed study aims to develop a reliable deterioration model. The development work consists of two major Stages: stage 1 – generating unavailable bridge element condition rating records using the Backward Prediction Model (BPM). This helps to provide sufficient historical deterioration patterns for each element; and stage 2 – predicting long‐term condition ratings based on the outcome of Stage 1 using time delay neural networks (TDNNs).

Findings

Long‐term prediction using proposed method can also be expressed in the same form of inspection records – element quantities of each bridge element can be predicted. The proposed AI‐based deterioration model does not ignore critical failure risks in small number of bridge elements in low condition states (CSs). This implies that the risk in long‐term predictions can be reduced.

Originality/value

The proposed methodology aims to utilise limited bridge inspection records over a short period to predict large datasets spanning over a much longer time period for a reliable, accurate and efficient long‐term bridge deterioration model. Typical uncertainty, due to the limitation of overall condition rating (OCR) method, can be minimised in long‐term predictions using limited inspection records.
Evaluating essential liabilities on design professionals under earthquake’s impact
Authors: Chang Shih‐hung
Published: February 2013

Purpose

There are few papers which deal with professional liability for buildings when architects and engineers (AEs) face disaster risks. The purpose of this paper is to find out the main legal risks for practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses t‐tests and ANOVA to investigate the impacts of earthquake on four areas: the number of architects or engineers who were sued; the time to appeal cases; the conviction rate in final judgments; and the number of public or private projects filed.

Findings

The results show that design professionals have a high burden of legal liability risks that were substantially increased by the Chichi earthquake. The following risks have significant impact: architects are burdened with higher civil liability than engineers; civil liability cases are more complicated; criminal cases have high conviction rates; and more liability cases are filed for private projects.

Research limitations/implications

The following phenomena are worth further examination: the influenced of collectivism on AE defendants’ behaviour; and the legal tactics of plaintiffs in civil litigation, who may file parallel criminal liability cases to increase their compensation.

Practical implications

This paper contributes to the evidence of the kinds of liability which have high legal risks in practice, thus evaluating legal costs accurately in contractual negotiation.

Originality/value

It enriches AEs’ continuing education and engineering programs by strengthening the teaching materials on legal liability risks under earthquake attack.