bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Principal axes for clusters in crystals investigated by the tensor of inertia: a case study with BH4in Mg(BH4)2
Authors: Kupczak Arkadiusz , Pytlik Lucjan , Sikora Wieslawa
Published: September 2014

Knowledge of how chemically predefined clusters of atoms are arranged in a crystal and how they can reorientate under external excitations is of great importance for structure determination and a description of structural transformations. In general, the probability of cluster reorientation depends on the activation energy and thus on the symmetry of the cluster and its environment. In addition to the many experimental methods available for studying molecular reorientations in a crystal, there is also a theoretical method, known for many years, that can be used to describe the reorientation processes, namely the determination of the principal axes of the cluster's tensor of inertia (TI). By such calculations, insight may be gained into the effective shape of the cluster and the orientations of the distinct reorientation axes. In the present work, such a methodology has been applied to an analysis of borohydride, BH4, clusters in several structures proposed by theoretical calculations as well as experimental studies of magnesium borohydride, Mg(BH4)2. The calculation of orientations for the TI principal axes as well as pseudo-twofold axes of the cluster revealed a strong correlation between these orientations and the Mg—B—Mg angle for the two Mg neighbours of the cluster. The exceptions from that well defined dependence are observed for the principal TI axes in situations when the cluster deformations are small and the symmetry is close to spherical, when the orientations of the principal axes are prone to fluctuations.
Aspects of intergranular corrosion of AISI 321 stainless steel in high-carbon-containing environments
Authors: Ryl Jacek , Arutunow Anna , T. Tobiszewski Mateusz , Wysocka Joanna
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of unexpected sensitization to intergranular corrosion of highly resistant AISI 321 steel in petrochemical conditions, where it was subjected to the simultaneous influence of elevated temperature of ∼250°C and vapors from the asphalt production process.

Design/methodology/approach

– Corrosion coupons were exposed in an installation carrying asphalt vapors. To identify the susceptibility to intergranular corrosion a standard Strauss test was performed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs show a degree of degradation as a result of local corrosion. Influence of the carburization process occurred during exposure and depletion of chromium in the passive layer and was evaluated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) techniques.

Findings

– The paper provides information on origin of corrosion of AISI 321 steel in a high-carbon-containing environment. It was found out that long-term exposure can lead to intergranular corrosion in temperatures that are much lower than those that have been considered to be required for sensitization of austenitic steels. The high concentration of carbon introduced during the exposure is stated to be responsible for this effect.

Practical implications

– The formation of chromium carbides, leading to intergranular corrosion of the Type 321 stainless steel, is a major concern. The paper reports that in certain petrochemical environments, highly resistant stainless steels, such as AISI 321, can be susceptible to intergranular carbide degradation.

Originality/value

– The presence of titanium is not sufficient to increase resistance in multiple environments and sensitization can occur even at relatively low temperatures of ∼250°C.
Corrosion mechanism in a closed-loop oscillating heat-pipe with check valves (CLOHP/CV)
Authors: Sangiamsuk S. , Bubphachot B. , Watanabe O. , Rittidech S.
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper was to study the parameters affecting corrosion of the closed-loop oscillating heat-pipe with check valves (CLOHP/CV) in a system in clear that will be basic data to be used in future research. The majority of research focuses on the inner surface corrosion heat-pipe systems. The CLOHP/CV is commonly favored in cooling electronic devices, etc. Despite these common applications, limited reliable experimental research findings are available on the operation of the CLOHP/CV. Because of these reasons, the lack of detailed data, working fluids effect, working temperatures and duration of testing of the CLOHP/CV, this study focuses on determining the actual inner surface corrosion.

Design/methodology/approach

– Seven types of copper tubes used in the CLOHP/CV set were sectioned to observe their inner surfaces. Seven different specimens with tube corrosion were examined by a visual inspection, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). The technique for detecting metals solution in samples is based on the fact that ground state metals absorb light at specific wavelengths. Metal ions in a solution are converted to atomic state by means of a flame. In this study, concentration of copper particle in the working fluid was found by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (Flame-AAS) and elements that occurred on inner surface tube were analyzed by EDX.

Findings

– The analyses with SEM and EDX testing found that the character corrosion of inner surface of CLOHP/CV was pitting clearly. The analysis with Flame-AAS found that the concentration of copper particles in the distilled water and ethanol as working fluid is more than after 1,000 hours until 3,000 hours because of excess volume of oxygen in working fluid which causes many reactions at the beginning. When the oxygen decreases after 1,000 hours, it causes the reaction to decrease too and get the most concentration of copper particles, i.e. 18.57228 ppm or 0.40859 mg.

Originality/value

– Corrosion-dependant maintenance must also be factored into the design. Producing reliable equipment that will become standardized and fixing the time for proper maintenance will require individuals that are knowledgeable about the materials that are going to be used in the design of such equipment. Nowadays, the lack of detailed data of working fluids effect, working temperatures and duration of testing of the CLOHP/CV focuses on determining the actual inner surface corrosion. Therefore, this research aimed to study the parameters affecting corrosion of the CLOHP/CV in a system in clear that will be basic data to be used in future research.
Corrosion inhibition of bronze alloy B66 by 4-amino-3-methyl-1,2,4-triazole-5-thione in 3 per cent NaCl solution
Authors: Chebabe Driss , Dermaj Ahmed , Erramli Hamid , Hajjaji Najat
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to study corrosion inhibition of Bronze alloy B66 by 4-amino-3-methyl-1,2,4-triazole-5-thione (MTSNH) in 3 per cent NaCl solution. Archaeological bronze artefacts often are stored or displayed in uncontrolled conditions and may suffer from dangerous active corrosion processes that can lead to their destruction. The most dangerous form of archaeological bronze degradation is due to a cyclic reaction that involves copper from the pure alloy and chlorine as a pathogenic agent. A protection treatment can be used to protect them from the corrosion environment and stabilise them to avoid further degradation during exhibition or storage. Starting from its initial assessment as a corrosion inhibitor for pure copper, nowadays benzotriazole (BTA) is in widespread use for the conservation of copper-based artefacts, but unfortunately, BTA is toxic and a suspected carcinogen. The development of new and safe protection systems would offer a choice of alternative products to conservation-restoration professionals for the effective and safe stabilization and protection of metal artefacts. In this investigation, a new organic compound, namely, MTSNH, was synthesized, characterized and tested as a corrosion inhibitor for Bronze B66 (similar to archaeological bronze) in 3 per cent NaCl solution using potentiodynamic polarization studies and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) at room temperature. It has been observed from the corrosion rate that the inhibition efficiency increased with increasing concentration of MTSNH. Potentiodynamic polarisation results revealed that the compound acted as a mixed-type inhibitor. Impedance studies indicated that protection occurs through adsorption of the inhibitor on the metal surface, with important modification to the mechanism of corrosion. Surface analysis was carried out using scanning electron microscopy scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive spectrometry (EDX) techniques to verify the electrochemical results.

Design/methodology/approach

– The inhibition efficiency of MTSNH is investigated by potentiodynamic polarization, EIS and surface analysis.

Findings

– The synthesized MTSNH act a good inhibitor in 3 per cent NaCl and inhibition efficiency increases with inhibitor concentration. Polarisation curves showed that the inhibitor is mixed. The EIS measurements showed that the inhibitor acted throughout the formation of film at the bronze surface. The surface analysis confirms this result.

Originality/value

– The adsorption of the MTSNH on the metal surface can markedly change the corrosion resisting property of metal. Therefore, the study of the relation between adsorption and corrosion inhibiting is of a great importance.
The art of branding − lessons from visual artists
Authors: L. Rodner Victoria , Kerrigan Finola
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of the field of visual arts marketing in the development of wider branding theory and practice. Drawing on examples from visual artists and the art mechanism that connects them, the paper reveals how artists and art professionals foster various types of capital (social, cultural, symbolic) as a way of developing a brand name, ensuring longevity in the field, and gaining financial value on the market.

Design/methodology/approach

– As a conceptual paper, the authors draw on a range of published works as well as examples from the world of visual arts in order to provide fresh theoretical insight into how branding in the arts may be applied to other industries.

Findings

– The key findings are the importance of the consideration of the development and nurturing of social and cultural capital in developing brand identity. Additionally, visual art brands are required to be innovative and dynamic, and lessons learned regarding these processes have relevance for mainstream brands. The paper also found that creativity is often collective and that looking to methods for developing work in the visual arts can be utilised by brand managers more broadly in the age of social media and user generated content.

Originality/value

– This paper follows on the developing body of work, which indicates what mainstream business can learn from looking at the visual arts. The paper highlights the collective nature of creativity in building the art brand as well as the importance of non-economic measures of value in the realm of branding.
Exhibitions as sub-brands: an exploratory study
Authors: Rentschler Ruth , Bridson Kerrie , Evans Jody
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the adoption of major exhibitions, often called blockbusters, as a sub-branding strategy for art museums. Focusing the experience around one location but drawing on a wide data set for comparative purposes, the authors examine the blockbuster phenomenon as exhibition packages sourced from international institutions, based on an artist or collection of quality and significance. The authors answer the questions: what drives an art museum to adopt an exhibition sub-brand strategy that sees exhibitions become blockbusters? What are the characteristics of the blockbuster sub-brand?

Design/methodology/approach

– Using extant literature, interviews and content analysis in a comparative case study format, this paper has three aims: first, to embed exhibitions within the marketing and branding literature; second, to identify the drivers of a blockbuster strategy; and third, to explore the key characteristics of blockbuster exhibitions.

Findings

– The authors present a theoretical model of major exhibitions as a sub-brand. The drivers identified include the entrepreneurial characteristics of pro-activeness, innovation and risk-taking, while the four key characteristics of the blockbuster are celebrity; spectacle; inclusivity; and authenticity.

Practical implications

– These exhibitions are used to augment a host art museum’s own collection for its stakeholders and differentiate it in the wider cultural marketplace. While art museum curators seek to develop quality exhibitions, sometimes they become blockbusters. While blockbusters are a household word, the terms is contested and the authors know little about them from a marketing perspective.

Social implications

– Art museums are non-profit, social organisations that serve the community. Art museums therefore meet the needs of multiple stakeholders in a political environment with competing interests. The study draws on the experiences of a major regional art museum, examining the characteristics of exhibition sub-brands and the paradox of the sub-brand being used to differentiate the art museum. This paper fills a gap in both the arts marketing and broader marketing literature.

Originality/value

– The use of the identified characteristics develops theory where the literature has been silent on the blockbuster sub-brand from a marketing perspective. It provides an exemplar for institutional learning on how to initiate and manage quality by popular exhibition strategies.
The branding of contemporary Chinese art and its politics
Authors: Preece Chloe
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the branding of the Cynical Realist and Political Pop contemporary art movements in China. The trajectory this brand has taken over the past 25 years reveals some of the power discourses that operate within the international visual arts market and how these are constructed, distributed and consumed.

Design/methodology/approach

– A review of avant-garde art in China and its dissemination is undertaken through analysis of historical data and ethnographic data collected in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Findings

– The analysis exposes the ideological framework within which the art market operates and how this affects the art that is produced within it. In the case of Cynical Realism and Political Pop, the art was framed and packaged by the art world to reflect Western liberal political thinking in terms of personal expression thereby implicitly justifying Western democratic, capitalist values.

Research limitations/implications

– As an exploratory study, findings contribute to macro-marketing research by demonstrating how certain sociopolitical ideas develop and become naturalised through branding discourses in a market system.

Practical implications

– A socio-cultural branding approach to the art market provides a macro-perspective in terms of the limitations and barriers for artists in taking their work to market.

Originality/value

– While there have been various studies of branding in the art market, this study reveals the power discourses at work in the contemporary visual arts market in terms of the work that is promoted as “hot” by the art world. Branding here is shown to reflect politics by circulating and promoting certain sociocultural and political ideas.
Open access and document delivery services: a case study in Capital Normal University Library
Authors: Hu Fang , Jiang Hangsheng
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a case study in China to show whether open access (OA) affects document delivery services.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors conduct a statistical analysis and carry out an investigation through a questionnaire.

Findings

– Compared with the rapid development of OA around the world, China has published a small number of OA journals. At present, the effect of OA on document delivery service in Capital Normal University Library (CNUL) is positive in that librarians can use OA as an extra resource to perform document delivery services. CNUL users know little about document delivery service or OA, but they frequently look for free Internet resources. CNUL should do more promotion of its document delivery services. Considering users’ behavior and the development of OA in future, the volume of document delivery service may be affected. CNUL should redesign its document delivery service.

Originality/value

– The paper will be relevant to librarians interested in OA and document delivery services in China.
Evaluating CALIS interlibrary loan and document delivery: the MML plan
Authors: Yao Xiaoxia , Zeng Lijun , Zhu Qiang
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to report on the methodology and findings of the China Academic Library and Information System (CALIS) Model Member Libraries (MML) plan which evaluated the success of interlibrary loan and document delivery (ILL/DD) services among 71 CALIS member libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

– CALIS constructed an evaluation instrument consisting of a set of primary and secondary performance indicators, which were used to assess participating libraries in a number of areas such as the number of bibliographic holdings contributed to the union catalog, the number of qualified professional staff dedicated to ILL/DD, the amount of training provided for library staff and end-users, request volume, fill rate, turnaround time and user satisfaction.

Findings

– CALIS has implemented the evaluation with the purpose of better understanding ILL/DD service among its member libraries. The evaluation has achieved the expected targets and improved service performance as originally planned. The performance measures provide a basis for the MML to compare their ILL/DD service performance with another similar institution.

Originality/value

– According to the evaluation, the major objectives of MML on ILL/DD service are summarized.
International borrowing: roads less traveled
Authors: J. Kinslow Kenneth
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to highlight the characteristics of the bibliographic discovery and delivery processes that can either facilitate or impede attempts to borrow materials from overseas libraries. The experiences described represent the perspective of a typical Interlibrary Loan (ILL) practitioner in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author draws on his own personal experience with interlibrary borrowing at a major private university research library in the USA.

Findings

– From a US perspective, the ideal means of obtaining materials from overseas libraries is to locate a potential supplier in Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) WorldCat and use the same system to manage the entire ILL request process. Large union catalogs such as the Karlsruhe Virtual Catalogue are suitable alternatives, as are services specializing in publications from certain countries or regions such as the East Asian Gateway Service or the Global ILL Framework (GIF). The least desirable option is to search and request materials directly through an individual library’s Web site, although the experience can be greatly enhanced through the use of well-designed English language interfaces, easy payment options such as International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) vouchers or credit cards and electronic delivery whenever possible.

Originality/value

– This article would be of value for any ILL practitioners in the USA who are involved in borrowing or would like to borrow materials from overseas libraries.
Journey of discovery: challenges of e-book lending in a digital world
Authors: Xu Anne , Moreno Margarita
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss the impact of e-books on interlibrary loan and document delivery practices based on the experience of the National Library use of e-resources and the analysis of different e-book lending models based on one of authors travels to the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use a case study approach and their own experiences with e-resources.

Findings

– E-books are increasingly important to libraries, and there are different models for acquiring and providing access to them. Whilst document delivery is permitted, interlibrary lending is usually not. Interlibrary loan departments are encouraged to be part of the dialogue between libraries and publishers, to seek a middle ground that balances the needs of the authors/publishers and library users wherever they are.

Originality/value

– This paper will be of interest to anyone involved with collecting or providing access to e-books through their own collections or through interlibrary loan (ILL)/document delivery (DD). The contrast of different approaches to e-book access in Australia and the United States is instructive. This paper is based on the authors’ original presentation at the 13th Interlending & Document Supply Conference, October 16-18, 2013 in Beijing China.
The future of interoperability for ILL and resource sharing
Authors: MacKeigan Clare
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide background and context on the need for a new interlibrary loan (ILL) system interoperability standard, describe the basic purpose and structure of ISO 18626, information and documentation – interlibrary Loan Transactions – and outline steps for the new standard’s development and implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author’s paper is based on her expertise as a member of the working group TC46/SC4/WG14 Interlibrary Loan Transactions, charged with development, implementation and promotion of the ISO 18626 standard.

Findings

– The ISO 18626 standard is needed to replace the outdated standard ISO 10160/10161. It consists of simple messages, namely, a request message; a supplying library message; and a requesting library message. Messages are encoded using XML. Balloting on the draft standard was unanimously approved in December 2013, and a fully developed ISO 18626 standard is expected to be in production in one to two years.

Originality/value

– This paper reports on a developing standard that will impact ILL systems used by libraries around the globe.As the world shrinks and user’s demands grow, sending interlibrary loan (ILL) requests to other libraries, especially if multiple computer systems or catalogs are involved, has not simplified correspondingly. Even as individual ILL processes have become more streamlined, the need to interact with libraries – and the ILL systems they use – around the globe has dramatically increased. While an international standard, ISO 10160/10161, has been available for 20 years, the minimal acceptance and use of the standard has not provided the interoperability that we had hoped for and need. Work is currently underway to remedy this situation – a standard for the twenty-first century. This paper will provide the context in which this new standard emerged and was written, as well as outline what the new standard will look like and the next steps once the standard has been approved.
Construction of a one-stop document supply service platform
Authors: Zeng Lijun , Yao Xiaoxia , Liu Juanjuan , Zhu Qiang
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed overview of the China Academic Library and Information system (CALIS) document supply service platform (CDSSP) – its historical development, network structure and future development plans – and discuss how its members make use of and benefit from its various components.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors provide a first-person account based on their professional positions at the CALIS Administrative Center.

Findings

– CDSSP comprises five application systems including a unified authentication system, Saas-based interlibrary loan (ILL) and document delivery (DD) service system, ILL central scheduling and settlement system, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) service system and a service integration interface system. These systems work together to meet the needs of member libraries, other information service institutions, and their end users. CDSSP is widely used by more than 1,100 libraries based on a cloud service strategy. Each year more than 100,000 ILL and DD transactions are processed by this platform.

Originality/value

– The development of CDSSP makes it becomes true for CALIS to provide one stop information retrieval and supply service. At the same time, it promotes the resource sharing among member libraries to a great degree.
To buy or not to buy? A case study of Western books at Peking University Library
Authors: Li Xiaodong , Liang Nanyan , Liu Suqing
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a decision-making model for buy vs borrow selection decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors conduct a statistical analysis of circulation transactions and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request data related to Western books as well as the overall subject content of local collections. They compare the relative costs and delivery times for obtaining materials through interlibrary loan channels vs purchase from domestic or foreign publishers. Based on this analysis, they make recommendations for buy vs borrow decision-making model relevant to the Western books collection at the Peking University Library.

Findings

– For materials available domestically, requesting through ILL is the preferred acquisitions strategy because of the low cost of domestic service and the comparable speed of delivery. Materials that can only be obtained from foreign libraries are best acquired through a combination of purchase-on-demand and ILL.

Originality/value

– This paper adds to the corpus of professional literature on buy vs borrow collection development models but adds a unique perspective by applying this model to a Western book collection in a Chinese academic library.
Current developments in document delivery in Germany
Authors: Brammer Markus , Olf Jens
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to give an overview about the framework of copyright law and licences as well as the development of German National Library of Science and Technology (TIB) full-text supply services within that framework. The change of German copyright law in 2008 posed a challenge to TIB’s full-text supply services. While TIB can deliver on the basis of a statutory limitation any document to customers within Germany via mail and fax, there are restrictions for electronic delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article describes the framework of German copyright law and licences for document delivery as well as activities of TIB to continue servicing customers in a best possible way within the existing framework.

Findings

– Licence agreements with publishers or intermediaries such as Rights Reproduction Organizations are now in place to allow delivery of electronic documents on a wide scale. Within this complicated framework of licence agreements, digital rights management (DRM) systems are a challenge for customers and the delivery service. However, it can be noted, that a simple watermark suffices nearly all publishers in agreements covering pay-per-view delivery of generic digital article files, and only 25 per cent require strict DRM for document delivery scanned from the print. At the same time, TIB looks for more customer-friendly DRM systems. Also, TIB is looking for ways to cooperate with partners to raise efficiency gains and to offer a more convenient service to its customers. Finally, TIB experiences that inadequate copyright law still poses a major hindrance for the international exchange of scientific information being part of its collection.

Originality/value

– The article describes the development of document supply services of the major TIB publications. It also shows the barriers which inadequate copyright law poses to the exchange of scientific information.
A survey of e-book interlibrary loan policy in US academic libraries
Authors: Zhu Xiaohua , Shen Lan
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to reveal the perceived barriers to e-book interlibrary loan (ILL) and their reflections on academic libraries’ ILL/lending policies. Academic libraries in the USA have witnessed an impressive growth in acquiring e-journals and e-books. Although ILL of e-journal articles has become a standard practice, ILL of copyrighted e-books does not appear to be equally common. E-book ILL is often considered difficult or nearly impossible because restrictions for ILL are embedded in license agreements (or terms of use) and reinforced by technological measures.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study opted for a telephone survey method, in which researchers collected data on ILL/lending policies about e-journals and e-books in 200 randomly selected academic libraries in the USA.

Findings

– The findings show the state of e-books in US academic libraries and demonstrate the slow adoption of e-book ILL compared to e-journal ILL. Licensing restrictions and lack of technical means are the major obstacles perceived by librarians, but there may also be a barrier of perception.

Research limitations/implications

– The survey data do not necessarily provide explanations. In-depth interviews may be needed to explain the barriers and perceptions.

Practical implications

– This paper reveals important perceptions and facts about e-book ILL in academic libraries and analyzes the obstacles and restrictions on e-book.

Originality/value

– This paper provides empirical data on the status of e-book ILL.
Regional document supply networks and their influence on national document supply networks in China
Authors: Yang Wei , Gao Yongxin
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to describe typical regional document supply networks in China through detailed discussion of their framework, service mode and influence on the nationwide document supply networks.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper highlights various kinds of regional document supply networks in China that serve as document resource sharing cooperation networks within provinces, cities and university towns. Their framework, service mode and influence on the nationwide document supply networks are discussed, followed by suggestions for improvement.

Findings

– Regional document supply networks have their natural advantages in local financial support and extensive local coverage and are capable of providing fine service to meet various user needs timely and economically. They become an important part and beneficial supplement to nationwide document supply networks.

Originality/value

– This paper studies regional document supply networks in China which has rarely been addressed in the international library literature.
Nurturing entrepreneurial women
Authors: Rao Srinivasa
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to focus on micro-level women entrepreneurs from a developing country, India (n= 180), their educational and developmental needs and impact on their business performances and growth.

Design/methodology/approach

– Thirty participants (1:10 ratio) were selected from each cohort/location based on prescribed eligibility criteria covering various backgrounds and industry profiles from six cohorts across India.

Findings

– It was found that entrepreneurship education and development programs resulted in revenue growth and also employment generation, thereby impacting society at large. This study also demonstrated improvement of self-confidence levels and strategic thinking by the women entrepreneurs, which benefited their business performances and growth.

Social implications

– Because this study is first of its kind from a developing country like India, it also contributes to entrepreneurship literature by examining and confirming employment generation and thereby impacting society at large (multiplier effects). This study is also unique in the context of the developing world in explicating the impact of education programs and its impact on revenue growth and profitability, which is considered as a major factor for economic development.

Originality/value

– This is purely an original study carried out in India.
Study of IMC at interfaces of Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu3.0Bi0.05Cr/Cu joints during thermal ageing
Authors: Ju Guokui , Lin Fei , Bi Wenzhen , Han Yongjiu , Junjie Wang , Wei Xicheng
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study was to comparatively investigate interfacial intermetallic compounds (IMCs) in the Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu3.0Bi0.05Cr/Cu (SACBC/Cu) and Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu/Cu (SAC/Cu) solder joints, and to determine any differences.

Design/methodology/approach

– The samples were annealed after isothermal ageing at 150°C for 0, 168 and 500 hours, and their cross-sections were observed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy.

Findings

– The interfacial IMC morphology in two joints had significant differences. For the Cu/SAC/Cu joints, the granular and short rod-like Ag3Sn particles attached on the surface and boundary of interfacial Cu6Sn5 grains were detected, and they coarsened observably with ageing time at 150°C, and lastly embedded at the grain boundaries. However, for the Cu/SACBC/Cu joints, there were tiny filamentous Ag3Sn growing on the surface of interfacial Cu6Sn5 grains, and the Ag3Sn had a tendency to break into nanoparticles, which would be distributed evenly and cover the IMC layer, profiting from the Bi and Cr precipitates from solder matrix during ageing.

Originality/value

– The paper implies that the addition of Bi and Cr could affect the IMCs of joints, thereby delaying interfacial reactions between Sn and Cu atoms and improving the service reliability. The SACBC solder is a potential alloy for electronic packaging production.
Changes in host–parasitoid food web structure with elevation
Authors: Maunsell Sarah C. , Kitching Roger L. , Burwell Chris J. , Morris Rebecca J.
Published: September 2014

Gradients in elevation are increasingly used to investigate how species respond to changes in local climatic conditions. Whilst many studies have shown elevational patterns in species richness and turnover, little is known about how food web structure is affected by elevation.

Contrasting responses of predator and prey species to elevation may lead to changes in food web structure. We investigated how the quantitative structure of a herbivore‐parasitoid food web changes with elevation in an Australian subtropical rain forest.

On four occasions, spread over 1 year, we hand‐collected leaf miners at twelve sites, along three elevational gradients (between 493 m and 1159 m a.s.l). A total of 5030 insects, including 603 parasitoids, were reared, and summary food webs were created for each site. We also carried out a replicated manipulative experiment by translocating an abundant leaf‐mining weevil Platynotocis sp., which largely escaped parasitism at high elevations (≥900 m a.s.l.), to lower, warmer elevations, to test if it would experience higher parasitism pressure.

We found strong evidence that the environmental change that occurs with increasing elevation affects food web structure. Quantitative measures of generality, vulnerability and interaction evenness decreased significantly with increasing elevation (and decreasing temperature), whilst elevation did not have a significant effect on connectance. Mined plant composition also had a significant effect on generality and vulnerability, but not on interaction evenness. Several relatively abundant species of leaf miner appeared to escape parasitism at higher elevations, but contrary to our prediction, Platynotocis sp. did not experience greater levels of parasitism when translocated to lower elevations.

Our study indicates that leaf‐mining herbivores and their parasitoids respond differently to environmental conditions imposed by elevation, thus producing structural changes in their food webs. Increasing temperatures and changes in vegetation communities that are likely to result from climate change may have a restructuring effect on host–parasitoid food webs. Our translocation experiment, however, indicated that leaf miners currently escaping parasitism at high elevations may not automatically experience higher parasitism under warmer conditions and future changes in food web structure may depend on the ability of parasitoids to adapt to novel hosts.
Complex syntax in autism spectrum disorders: a study of relative clauses
Authors: Durrleman Stephanie , Hippolyte Loyse , Zufferey Sandrine , Iglesias Katia , Hadjikhani Nouchine
Published: September 2014

Background

The few studies that have evaluated syntax in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have yielded conflicting findings: some suggest that once matched on mental age, ASD and typically developing controls do not differ for grammar, while others report that morphosyntactic deficits are independent of cognitive skills in ASD. There is a need for a better understanding of syntax in ASD and its relation to, or dissociation from, nonverbal abilities.

Aims

Syntax in ASD was assessed by evaluating subject and object relative clause comprehension in adolescents and adults diagnosed with ASD with a performance IQ within the normal range, and with or without a history of language delay.

Methods & Procedures

Twenty‐eight participants with ASD (mean age 21.8) and 28 age‐matched controls (mean age 22.07) were required to point to a character designated by relative clauses that varied in syntactic complexity.

Outcomes & Results

Scores indicate that participants with ASD regardless of the language development history perform significantly worse than age‐matched controls with object relative clauses. In addition, participants with ASD with a history of language delay (diagnosed with high‐functioning autism in the DSM‐IV‐TR) perform worse on subject relatives than ASD participants without language delay (diagnosed with Asperger syndrome in the DSM‐IV‐TR), suggesting that these two groups do not have equivalent linguistic abilities. Performance IQ has a positive impact on the success of the task for the population with ASD.

Conclusions & Implications

This study reveals subtle grammatical difficulties remaining in adult individuals with ASD within normal IQ range as compared with age‐matched peers. Even in the absence of a history of language delay in childhood, the results suggest that a slight deficit may nevertheless be present and go undetected by standardized language assessments. Both groups with and without language delay have a similar global performance on relative clause comprehension; however, the study also indicates that the participants with reported language delay show more difficulty with subject relatives than the participants without language delay, suggesting the presence of differences in linguistic abilities between these subgroups of ASD.
Prevalence of impaired glucose metabolism and potential predictors: a rapid appraisal among ≥45 years old residents of southern Tajikistan 葡萄糖代谢受损的患病率以及潜在的预测因子：一项针对塔吉克斯坦南部年龄 ≥45岁居民的快速评估
Authors: Matthys Barbara , Steinmann Peter , Karimova Gulzira , Tagoev Tohirjon , Abdurahmonov Amridin , Costa Joao , Kasimova Salomat J. , Wyss Kaspar
Published: September 2014

Background

An estimated 2% of all deaths in Tajikistan can be attributed to diabetes but reliable data are scarce for the country and across Central Asia. We assessed the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes and associated predictors among residents aged ≥45 years in two districts in southern Tajikistan.

Methods

A population‐representative survey following the WHO STEPwise approach to surveillance and including a two‐stage cluster sampling was conducted. Enrolled participants were asked about risk factors for diabetes, and blood pressure, height and weight were measured. The blood glucose level was determined after overnight fasting, and the 2 h oral glucose tolerance test was performed if indicated.

Results

Complete datasets were available for 584 out of 672 study participants. One third of the cohort was male and half were 45–54 years old. Overall, 21.2% of the participants were found to be diabetic, 5.1% had impaired glucose tolerance and 4.3% impaired fasting glucose. An elevated body mass index ≥25 was observed in 61.5% of the cohort and an elevated blood pressure in 45.6% (systolic, cut‐off 140 mm Hg) and 52.3% (diastolic, cut‐off 90 mm Hg) respectively. Half of the participants classified as diabetic were aware of their status.

Conclusions

Impaired glucose tolerance and overweight are common among elderly residents of southern Tajikistan. Primary health care services should be strengthened to improve early detection and ensure adequate treatment of diabetes and quality of care. Community‐based awareness rising about available peripheral services is crucial.
What did it mean to be Loyal? Jewish Survivors in Post‐War Czechoslovakia in a Comparative Perspective
Authors: Láníček Jan
Published: September 2014

Around 50,000 Jewish survivors returned to Czechoslovakia after the Second World War. Prewar Czechoslovakia built its image on the reputation of its perceived excellent treatment of minorities, in particular the Jews. Nevertheless, Jewish survivors coming back to Czechoslovakia after the war faced hostilities from the non‐Jewish population and encountered considerable obstacles with their rehabilitation and restitution based on their Jewishness alone. Only 14,000–18,000 Jews remained in the country by 1950, with the rest finding new homes elsewhere, especially in Israel and the United States. Czechoslovakia is often depicted as a country that rejected anti‐Semitism and sympathised with the plight of the Jews before, during and after the war. Czechoslovakia was one of the first democratic countries that supported the creation of a Jewish state, both politically and practically. In contrast, this article documents the obstacles that the survivors encountered in their rehabilitation efforts in post‐war Czechoslovakia and portrays the country not only as a humanitarian facilitator of the Jewish national aspirations, but especially as a country that with its post‐war policies of national homogenization further contributed to the Jewish predicament in post‐war Europe. The Jews returning to their places of residence after the war faced hostilities in almost every European country. In some places they were welcomed with physical violence, in others they encountered difficulties with material restitution or were roundly advised to move overseas. In this article I first outline the often unsuccessful Jewish rehabilitation efforts in post‐war Czechoslovakia and highlight the main issues which could be considered as unique in comparison with other European countries, such as Poland and France (especially the treatment of the Czechoslovak‐Jewish citizens of German nationality).
“More than a Tree, Less than a Woman” Sex and Empire: the Italian Case
Authors: Baratieri Daniela
Published: September 2014

This article will examine a fundamental drive that indirectly supported Italian expansionist lust in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia between the late‐nineteenth century and the Second World War. These colonies in Africa provided Italian men with sexual excess, a place outside the boundaries and mores regulating sexuality in the metropolis. Native girls were considered to be “full grown” by the age of eleven, bigamy was rampant, rape and homosexuality tolerated, and slavery overlooked. One ex‐soldier remembered that in Africa women “reeked of booty”, others filled their memoirs with accounts of the purchase of women. The conquest of Somalia did not offer the Italian State more than a strategic position on the Indian Ocean but well into the 1960s it remained in the common imagination, as the land inhabited by the “black female Vikings”, the “most beautiful women in the world”. This paper will also analyze changes in the regulation of sexuality in the period of consolidation of the Italian Empire with the Fascist “Laws for the Defence of the Race”, 11 November 1938, while documenting the hard to die practises and fantasies of colonial desire. The tension between desire and the asymmetrical power to realise it, will illustrate a one‐sided dream, ultimately a colonial nightmare.
KRAS and BRAF mutations in anal carcinoma
Authors: Serup‐Hansen Eva , Linnemann Dorte , Høgdall Estrid , Geertsen Poul Flemming , Havsteen Hanne
Published: September 2014

The EGF receptor (EGFR) is expressed in most cases of anal carcinomas. Anecdotal benefit from EGFR‐targeted therapy has been reported in anal cancer and a negative correlation with Kirsten Ras (KRAS) mutation status has been proposed. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the frequency and the prognostic value of KRAS and BRAF mutations in a large cohort of patients with anal cancer. One hundred and ninety‐three patients with T1‐4N0‐3M0‐1 anal carcinoma were included in the study. Patients were treated with curative (92%) or palliative intent (8%) between January 2000 and January 2010. KRAS mutations were detected using Therascreen®KRAS real‐time PCR assay (Qiagen) and V600E or V600D/K BRAF mutations were uncovered using Pyrosequencing. The frequency of KRAS and BRAF mutations was low; KRAS mutations were detected in 1.6% and BRAF mutations in 4.7% of the biopsies. No impact of KRAS or BRAF status on survival was found. In conclusion, both KRAS and BRAF mutations are rare in anal cancer. The low frequency of KRAS mutations support protocols exploring EGFR‐targeted therapy in patients with metastatic anal cancer, while treatment with BRAF inhibitors might be relevant for only a very few patients.
Ileal mass‐like lesion induced by Epstein–Barr virus‐associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a patient with aplastic anemia
Authors: Min Kyueng‐Whan , Jung Ho Young , Han Hye Seung , Hwang Tae Sook , Kim Sung‐Yong , Kim Wan Seop , Lim So Dug , Kim Wook Youn
Published: September 2014

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare life‐threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome characterized by activated macrophages engulfing erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, and their precursor cells in bone marrow, liver, spleen, or lymph nodes. We report a case of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐associated HLH unusually presenting as an ileal mass. A 23‐year‐old man presented initially with persistent fever unresponsive to antibiotics and pancytopenia. A bone marrow aspiration and biopsy were used to diagnose the patient with aplastic anemia and HLH. A relatively well‐defined low‐density mass was radiologically noted in the terminal ileum, along with enlarged lymph nodes, and was suspected to be malignant lymphoma or an abscess. The ileocecectomy specimen revealed a transmural hemorrhagic infarction with numerous activated macrophages phagocytosing erythrocytes, plasma cells, and lymphocytes, and he was diagnosed with EBV‐associated HLH. The patient received an allo‐unrelated peripheral blood stem‐cell transplantation and expired due to graft‐versus‐host disease following liver failure. The present case is very unique, in that EBV‐associated HLH presented with an unusual ileal mass resulting from hemorrhagic infarction in a patient with aplastic anemia, suggesting variability in the biological behavior of EBV‐associated disease.