bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spin relaxation in graphene nanoribbons in the presence of substrate surface roughness
Authors: Chaghazardi Zahra , Touski Shoeib Babaee , Pourfath Mahdi , Faez Rahim
Published: August 2016

In this work, spin transport in corrugated armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs) is studied. We survey combined effects of spin-orbit interaction and surface roughness, employing the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism and multi-orbitals tight-binding model. Rough substrate surfaces have been statistically generated and the hopping parameters are modulated based on the bending and distance of corrugated carbon atoms. The effects of surface roughness parameters, such as roughness amplitude and correlation length, on spin transport in AGNRs are studied. The increase of surface roughness amplitude results in the coupling of σ and π bands in neighboring atoms, leading to larger spin flipping rate and therefore reduction of the spin-polarization, whereas a longer correlation length makes AGNR surface smoother and increases spin-polarization. Moreover, spin diffusion length of carriers is extracted and its dependency on the roughness parameters is investigated. In agreement with experimental data, the spin diffusion length for various substrate ranges between 2 and 340 μm. Our results indicate the importance of surface roughness on spin-transport in graphene.
Electric response of a magnetic colloid to periodic external excitation for different nanoparticles concentrations: Determination of the particles' effective charge
Authors: Batalioto F. , Barbero G. , Sehnem A. L. , Figueiredo Neto A. M.
Published: August 2016

The effective electric charge of a nanoparticle in an ionic magnetic colloidal system (an ionic ferrofluid) is determined by using the impedance spectroscopy technique. The electric response of the samples to a harmonic external electric field excitation is described by means of the Poisson-Nernst-Planck model. The model proposed for the theoretical interpretation of the impedance spectroscopy data considers that the magnetic particles are electrically charged with H+ and have in their vicinity Cl− counterions, resulting in an effective charge Qeff. In the presence of an harmonic, in time, external field (frequency bigger than 104Hz) particles are assumed to be at rest, due to inertial reason. In this framework, the response of the cell is due to the H+ and Cl− present in the solution. From the spectra of the real and imaginary components of the electric impedance of the cell, by means of a best fit procedure to our model, we derive the effective electric charge of the magnetic particles and the bulk density of ions. From an independent measurement of the ζ-potential of the suspension, it is possible to calculate the hydrodynamic radius of the particle, in good agreement with that independently measured.
Cluster-assembled cubic zirconia films with tunable and stable nanoscale morphology against thermal annealing
Authors: Borghi F. , Sogne E. , Lenardi C. , Podestà A. , Merlini M. , Ducati C. , Milani P.
Published: August 2016

Nanostructured zirconium dioxide (zirconia) films are very promising for catalysis and biotechnological applications: a precise control of the interfacial properties of the material at different length scales and, in particular, at the nanoscale, is therefore necessary. Here, we present the characterization of cluster-assembled zirconia films produced by supersonic cluster beam deposition possessing cubic structure at room temperature and controlled nanoscale morphology. We characterized the effect of thermal annealing in reducing and oxidizing conditions on the crystalline structure, grain dimensions, and topography. We highlight the mechanisms of film growth and phase transitions, which determine the observed interfacial morphological properties and their resilience against thermal treatments.
Spiral growth of few-layer MoS2 by chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Dong X. , Yan C. , Tomer D. , Li C. H. , Li L.
Published: August 2016

Growth spirals exhibit appealing properties due to a preferred layer stacking and lack of inversion symmetry. Here, we report spiral growth of MoS2 during chemical vapor deposition on SiO2/Si and epitaxial graphene/SiC substrates, and their physical and electronic properties. We determine the layer-dependence of the MoS2 bandgap, ranging from 2.4 eV for the monolayer to a constant of 1.3 eV beyond the fifth layer. We further observe that spirals predominantly initiate at the step edges of the SiC substrate, based on which we propose a growth mechanism driven by screw dislocation created by the coalescence of two growth fronts at steps.
Impact of heat on seed germination of three perennial grasses in the semiarid region in Central Argentina
Authors: Kin Alicia G. , Suárez Carla E. , Chirino Claudia C. , Ávila Patricia L. , Morici Ernesto F. A.
Published: August 2016

Fire is an important factor affecting the viability and germination of seeds in the soil seed bank. We evaluated the effects of heat on germination and seed viability of three native perennials winter grasses of central Argentina. Seeds of two palatable grasses Piptochaetium napostaense (Speg.) Hack, Nassella tenuis (Phil.) Barkworth and a non-palatable Jarava ichu Ruiz & Pav. were exposed to different heat shock treatments resulting from a combination of temperature: 70, 90, 120, 140 and 170°C and three exposure times (5, 10 or 20 min) and a control (no heat) treatment. All control treatments had a high percentage of seed viability (>97%). Germination of P. napostaense was not affected by mild heat shock (70 and 90°C) but it was sensitive to higher temperatures: no seeds survived the exposure to 140 and 170°C. Seeds of this species have awns that facilitate the burring of seeds in the soil, which can reduce fire exposure. N. tenuis and J. ichu were less sensitive to heat. High heat shock reduced seed germination but not seed viability. These experiments show that seeds of P. napostaense, the target species for management on these grasslands, were the most sensitive to heat treatments. Our results show that heat shock can have a negative effect on the soil seed bank of P. napostaense (palatable and dominant species), but does not have significant effects on J. ichu seeds (unpalatable species). Thus, we suggest that the current management recommendations for the use of controlled fire to promote palatable species may not be optimal for these species.
Crystal Structures of the Amide and Iminol Tautomers O-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyloxy)benzohydroxamate. A Case of a Disappearing Solvate?
Authors: Albright Abigail L. , Collins Lucy , Li John , Harris Benjamin , White Jonathan M.
Published: August 2016

The O-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl) derivative of benzohydroxamic acid 1 crystallizes in its iminol tautomeric form, hydrogen bonded to a molecule of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) when crystallized from methanol in the presence of DMSO. In contrast, in the absence of DMSO, 1 crystallizes in its amide tautomeric form. Computations suggest that in the absence of DMSO, the amide tautomer of 1 is significantly more stable than the iminol form. Conversely, in the presence of DMSO, the two forms have comparable stabilities. Solution infrared spectra of 1 run in dichloromethane are consistent with the amide tautomeric form predominating; however, titration of aliquots of DMSO results in the formation of a second species with spectral characteristics consistent with the iminol tautomer.
A self-reported survey on the confidence levels and motivation of New South Wales practice nurses on conducting advance-care planning (ACP) initiatives in the general-practice setting
Authors: Fan Emilia , Rhee Joel J.
Published: August 2016

Nurses are well positioned to initiate and conduct advance-care planning (ACP) conversations; however, there has been limited research on practice nurses performing this role in Australia. The aim of the present study was to understand the beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, confidence, training and educational needs of New South Wales practice nurses with regards to involvement in ACP. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in August to October 2014. Nurses were recruited through nursing organisations and Medicare Locals. There were 147 completed surveys (n=147). Participants were mostly female registered nurses, with a median age of 50, and 6 years of practice-nurse experience. Practice nurses were generally positive towards their involvement in ACP and believed it would be beneficial for the community. Their confidence in initiating ACP increased as their familiarity with patients increased. They showed a high level of interest in participating in training and education in ACP. Barriers to their involvement in ACP included the lack of a good documentation system, limited patient-education resources and unclear source of remuneration. Nurses were also concerned over legalities of ACP, ethical considerations and their understanding of end-of-life care options. Nevertheless, they were highly receptive of integrating ACP discussions and were willing to enhance their skills. These findings uncover a need for further training and development of practice nurses for ACP discussions.
Strategic diagrams and the technologization of culture
Authors: Ledin Per , Machin David
Published: August 2016

Strategic diagrams are becoming ubiquitous across all forms of social practices, used to map out core elements and processes in private and public institutions and also for more localized and individual activities – where, for example, so that it reads: where, for example, early years school children can manage attitudinal goals. These are easy to produce with cheap software providing templates and tools to do so. This paper shows how these diagrams must be placed in the ideological shift to neoliberal governance with its emphasis on the market, flexibility and competition. All things and processes, however intangible, are viewed as assets with simple cause-effect relations, to be converted into tangible outcomes and maximised outputs. Taking a multimodal critical discourse analysis approach, we analyse two cases, from a university and an early-years school.
When corporations come to define the visual politics of gender
Authors: Aiello Giorgia , Woodhouse Anna
Published: August 2016

While stock photographs have come to saturate media and have been mocked for their clichéd nature, for example where women are pictured laughing alone with salad, a powerful corporation like Getty Images that disseminates commercial imagery globally has sought to challenge these stereotypes by making more politicized images. This article examines one such case, that is, Getty’s Genderblend visual trend, which claims to portray gender identities and relations in ways that are both more inclusive and diverse, harnessing feminist theory as part of its promotion. Taking a multimodal discourse and visual design approach, the article looks at how corporate imagery can be styled as political and, in turn, how a politics of difference itself is shaped in the interests of the ideologies of consumer capitalism.
Evidence for the Contribution of A Threshold Retrieval Process to Semantic Memory
Authors: Kempnich Maria , Urquhart Josephine A. , O'Connor Akira R. , Moulin Chris J.A.
Published: August 2016

It is widely held that episodic retrieval can recruit two processes: a threshold context retrieval process (recollection) and a continuous signal strength process (familiarity). Conversely the processes recruited during semantic retrieval are less well specified. We developed a semantic task analogous to single-item episodic recognition to interrogate semantic recognition receiver-operating characteristics (ROCs) for a marker of a threshold retrieval process. We fitted observed ROC points to three signal detection models: two models typically used in episodic recognition (unequal variance and dual-process signal detection models) and a novel dual-process recollect-to-reject (DP-RR) signal detection model that allows a threshold recollection process to aid both target identification and lure rejection. Given the nature of most semantic questions, we anticipated the DP-RR model would best fit the semantic task data. Experiment 1 (506 participants) provided evidence for a threshold retrieval process in semantic memory, with overall best fits to the DP-RR model. Experiment 2 (316 participants) found within-subjects estimates of episodic and semantic threshold retrieval to be uncorrelated. Our findings add weight to the proposal that semantic and episodic memory are served by similar dual-process retrieval systems, though the relationship between the two threshold processes needs to be more fully elucidated.
Is Eco-Friendly Unmanly? The Green-Feminine Stereotype and Its Effect on Sustainable Consumption
Authors: Brough Aaron R. , Wilkie James E. B. , Ma Jingjing , Isaac Mathew S. , Gal David
Published: August 2016

Why are men less likely than women to embrace environmentally friendly products and behaviors? Whereas prior research attributes this gender gap in sustainable consumption to personality differences between the sexes, we propose that it may also partially stem from a prevalent association between green behavior and femininity, and a corresponding stereotype (held by both men and women) that green consumers are more feminine. Building on prior findings that men tend to be more concerned than women with gender-identity maintenance, we argue that this green-feminine stereotype may motivate men to avoid green behaviors in order to preserve a macho image. A series of seven studies provides evidence that the concepts of greenness and femininity are cognitively linked and shows that, accordingly, consumers who engage in green behaviors are stereotyped by others as more feminine and even perceive themselves as more feminine. Further, men’s willingness to engage in green behaviors can be influenced by threatening or affirming their masculinity, as well as by using masculine rather than conventional green branding. Together, these findings bridge literatures on identity and environmental sustainability and introduce the notion that due to the green-feminine stereotype, gender-identity maintenance can influence men’s likelihood of adopting green behaviors.
Evaluation of Interocular Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Symmetry as a Diagnostic Modality for Glaucoma
Authors: Hong Seung Woo , Lee Seung Bum , Jee Dong-hyun , Ahn Myung Douk
Published: August 2016

Purpose of the Study:

The purpose of study was to measure the diagnostic utility of interocular retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) symmetry and interocular RNFL thickness comparison.

Methods:

Both eyes of 103 normal subjects and 106 glaucoma patients (31 patients with early glaucoma and 75 patients with moderate to severe glaucoma) received comprehensive ophthalmologic evaluation including visual field testing and optic disc scanning using optical coherence tomography. RNFL thickness values for 256 measurement points were rearranged according to a new reference line connecting the optic disc center and the foveola. The interocular RNFL thickness symmetry value and absolute and fractional interocular difference in RNFL thickness were calculated and compared between groups. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) were calculated and compared.

Result:

Among the parameters reflecting whole RNFL status, the corrected interocular RNFL thickness symmetry exhibited the largest AUROCs at all glaucoma stages. RNFL thickness and absolute and fractional interocular difference in RNFL thickness exhibited largest AUROC in the inferotemporal area, regardless of glaucoma stage. In the early glaucoma group, absolute and fractional interocular RNFL thickness differences in the temporal and superotemporal areas exhibited equal to or larger AUROCs than RNFL thickness. The AUROCs for RNFL thickness were greater than those for absolute and fractional interocular RNFL thickness differences in the moderate to severe glaucoma group except in the nasal and temporal area.

Conclusions:

The corrected interocular RNFL thickness symmetry value is an effective diagnostic tool for glaucoma. Interocular comparison of RNFL thickness has good diagnostic performance and gives information about the RNFL beyond just the RNFL thickness itself.
Community structure follows simple assembly rules in microbial microcosms
Authors: Friedman Jonathan , Higgins Logan M. , Gore Jeff
Published: August 2016

Introduction

Microbes typically form diverse communities of interacting species, whose activities have tremendous impact on the plants, animals, and humans they associate with1–3, as well as on the biogeochemistry of the entire planet4. The ability to predict the structure of these complex communities is crucial to understanding, managing, and utilizing them5. Here, we propose a simple, qualitative assembly rule that predicts community structure from the outcomes of competitions between small sets of species, and experimentally assess its predictive power using synthetic microbial communities. The rule's accuracy was evaluated by competing combinations of up to eight soil bacterial species, and comparing the experimentally observed outcomes to the predicted ones. Nearly all competitions resulted in a unique, stable community, whose composition was independent of the initial species fractions. Survival in three-species competitions was predicted by the pairwise outcomes with an accuracy of ~90%. Obtaining a similar level of accuracy in competitions between sets of seven or all eight species required incorporating additional information regarding the outcomes of the three-species competitions. Our results demonstrate experimentally the ability of a simple bottom-up approach to predict community structure. Such an approach is key for anticipating the response of communities to changing environments, designing interventions to steer existing communities to more desirable states, and, ultimately, rationally designing communitiesdenovo6,7.
Comprehensive population-based genome sequencing provides insight into hematopoietic regulatory mechanisms
Authors: Guo Michael , Nandakumar Satish K. , Ulirsch Jacob C. , Zekavat Seyedeh Maryam , Buenrostro Jason D. , Natarajan Pradeep , Salem Rany , Chiarle Roberto , Mitt Mario , Kals Mart , Pärn Kalle , Fischer Krista , Milani Lili , Mägi Reedik , Palta Priit , Gabriel Stacey B. , Metspalu Andres , Lander Eric S. , Kathiresan Sekar , Hirschhorn Joel N. , Esko Tõnu , Sankaran Vijay G.
Published: August 2016

Genetic variants affecting hematopoiesis can influence commonly measured blood cell traits. To identify factors that affect hematopoiesis, we performed association studies for blood cell traits in the population-based Estonian Biobank using high coverage whole genome sequencing (WGS) in 2,284 samples and SNP genotyping in an additional ~17,000 samples. Our analyses identified 17 associations across 14 blood cell traits. Integration of WGS-based fine-mapping and complementary epigenomic data sets provided evidence for causal mechanisms at several loci, including at a novel basophil count-associated locus near the master hematopoietic transcription factorCEBPA.The fine-mapped variant at this basophil count association nearCEBPAoverlapped an enhancer active in common myeloid progenitors and influenced its activity.In situperturbation of this enhancer by CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells demonstrated that it is necessary for and specifically regulatesCEBPAexpression during basophil differentiation. We additionally identified basophil count-associated variation at another more pleiotropic myeloid enhancer nearGATA2, highlighting regulatory mechanisms for ordered expression of master hematopoietic regulators during lineage specification. Our study illustrates how population-based genetic studies can provide key insights into poorly understood cell differentiation processes of considerable physiologic relevance.
Strong structuration theory in accounting research
Authors: Coad Alan , Jack Lisa , Kholeif Ahmed
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the interdisciplinary use of strong structuration theory and consider the impact of this for accounting research. The paper also provides an overview of the contributions advanced by the other papers in this special issue of Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal (AAAJ).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws together and identifies key issues and themes related to the rapidly evolving interdisciplinary use of strong structuration theory and considers the relevance of these issues to accounting research.

Findings

The paper highlights that there is a growing use of strong structuration theory in a number of disciplines, such as in healthcare, learning studies, management, migration studies and childcare as well as in accounting. Within the accounting discipline, whilst the interest began in management accounting and control, there are ongoing studies of the not-for-profit sector, social and environmental accounting, financial reporting standards and audit. Using strong structuration theory, researchers are more interested in the people (individually or collectively) and their analysis of their conduct and context. They are moving forwards from an overly static use of the quadripartite framework to a more dynamic approach that also includes the other important central elements of strong structuration that focus on the issue of agency in situ rather than on structure cut off from agency.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides important insights into emerging issues and developments in strong structuration theory that have clear relevance to accounting research and practice as well as other disciplines.

Originality/value

This paper, and other contributions to this special issue of AAAJ, provide a basis and a research agenda for accounting scholars seeking to undertake empirical research using Stones’ strong structuration theory.
Pre-curing investigation of filling conductive paste in prepreg to interconnect two multilayer structures of backboard for press-fit application
Authors: Wang Shouxu , Yang Ting , Chen Yuanming , He Wei , Hu Yongsuan , Su Xinhong
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to form high density interconnection (HDI) of backboard for press-fit applications with the pre-curing conditions of conductive paste. The best condition of pre-curing conductive paste should be found to obtain good electrical and physical performance of the conductive paste and avoid the simultaneous curing behavior of prepreg.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel structure of backboard was designed by using the connection of conductive paste-filled through holes to connect two multilayers. Pre-curing conditions of conductive paste were investigated to find their effects on resistance, bond strength and volume shrinkage. The reliability of pre-curing conductive paste was also analyzed.

Findings

Pre-curing conditions led to a great influence on the resistance, bond strength and volume shrinkage of the conductive paste. The best condition of pre-curing conductive paste was chosen as the low curing temperature of 60°C and a curing time of 30 min. Cured conductive paste exhibited square resistance of 4.205 mΩ/□ and bonding strength of 22.86 N. The as-obtained pre-curing condition could improve the reliability of conductive paste. Pre-curing process of conductive paste at extremely low temperature to interconnect two multilayer structures improved the density interconnection of backboard for press-fit applications.

Originality/value

The use of HDI of backboard could lead to good assembly for high-speed signal transmission of electronic products with press-fitting components. The connection of pre-curing conductive paste for multilayers could have important function for improving the application for communication backboard.
Using human resource activities to implement sustainability in SMEs
Authors: Langwell Christina , Heaton Dennis
Published: August 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine how small- and medium-sized organisations that were already participating in recognised sustainability programmes in Iowa, USA, in how they were utilising activities normally associated with human resources (HRs) to implement sustainability – activities included communication, engagement, incentives and recruitment and retention.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors were interested in how small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were utilising HR functions to implement sustainability. This was an exploratory, qualitative research study utilised semi-structured interviews to obtain data.

Findings

– Based on the findings, some of the functions are being utilised more than others, with some activities not being implemented at all.

Research limitations/implications

– This research offers empirical research on how sustainability is achieved in SMEs.

Practical implications

– This paper outlines some practical methods that any SME could utilise to help implement sustainability within an organisation.

Originality/value

– This paper adds empirical research on how SMEs are implementing sustainable practices into their operations by using activities normally associated with the HR department.
The practice of employee learning in SME workplaces
Authors: Tam Steven , Gray David E
Published: August 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how employees in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) practise and view workplace learning at three different life-cycle stages.

Design/methodology/approach

– It is a qualitative study using a sample of 30 Hong Kong SMEs classified into inception, high-growth or maturity stage, from which firms in each stage were randomly selected and interviewed until data saturation was reached. Snowball sampling was adopted during interviews and data were examined through thematic analysis.

Findings

– Consistent themes (patterns) from 134 semi-structured interviews are identified, addressing both similarities and differences in the nature of the practice of workplace learning in SMEs between life-cycle stages.

Research limitations/implications

– More similar comparative studies in other parts of the world, including quantitative surveys on larger samples, with either SMEs or multinational corporations, are encouraged to enrich the current findings.

Practical implications

– If organisational growth is a priority, SME owner/managers should support employees’ work and learning in a timely fashion. As the study finds, individual learning and inter-organisational learning are considered “a must to have” for employees, regardless of which stage the firm is at. When an SME enters high-growth, however, more opportunities for group learning are particularly beneficial. For mature SMEs, it is essential for learning to move towards systemisation and include a professional development component to meet employees’ career expectations, not just their work demands.

Originality/value

– The results advance the body of knowledge in SME learning from the life-cycle perspective. As one of the first studies in bridging these areas, it brings new implications to academic researchers and SME practitioners.
Toward a deeper understanding of the roles of personal and business networks and market knowledge in SMEs’ international performance
Authors: Jin Byoungho , Jung Sojin
Published: August 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to, built upon Johanson and Vahlne’s (2009) Business Network Internationalization Process Model, explore the role of personal networks and business networks and their impact on foreign market knowledge and performance among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) after international market entry.

Design/methodology/approach

– With a total mailing list of 2,250 US firms, data were collected via a mail survey in accordance with the methods of Dillmanet al.(2008).

Findings

– An empirical analysis of 105 SME cases revealed that business networks increased foreign market knowledge, which in turn also heightened the international performance of the SMEs. This confirmed the mediating role of market knowledge between business networks and international performance. Personal networks, however, provided little support in helping SMEs achieve foreign market knowledge and international performance.

Originality/value

– This study contributes unique empirical evidence demonstrating that business network internationalization models can be applicable to the context of SMEs; that is, having access to such a network (i.e. a business network) is found to be a critical factor of international performance.
The power of reciprocal knowledge sharing relationships for startup success
Authors: Allen Thomas J , Gloor Peter , Fronzetti Colladon Andrea , Woerner Stephanie L , Raz Ornit
Published: August 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the innovative capabilities of biotech start-ups in relation to geographic proximity and knowledge sharing interaction in the R & D network of a major high-tech cluster.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study compares longitudinal informal communication networks of researchers at biotech start-ups with company patent applications in subsequent years. For a year, senior R & D staff members from over 70 biotech firms located in the Boston biotech cluster were polled and communication information about interaction with peers, universities and big pharmaceutical companies was collected, as well as their geolocation tags.

Findings

– Location influences the amount of communication between firms, but not their innovation success. Rather, what matters is communication intensity and recollection by others. In particular, there is evidence that rotating leadership – changing between a more active and passive communication style – is a predictor of innovative performance.

Practical implications

– Expensive real-estate investments can be replaced by maintaining social ties. A more dynamic communication style and more diverse social ties are beneficial to innovation.

Originality/value

– Compared to earlier work that has shown a connection between location, network and firm performance, this paper offers a more differentiated view; including a novel measure of communication style, using a unique data set and providing new insights for firms who want to shape their communication patterns to improve innovation, independently of their location.
Investigating the impact of entrepreneurship on economic development: a regional analysis
Authors: Kasseeah Harshana
Published: August 2016

Purpose

– This paper uses data on 125 countries to study whether entrepreneurship affects the level of economic development by taking a regional perspective. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to investigate whether entrepreneurship leads to economic development by accounting for several other factors including the level of financial development, the business environment and governance and the quality of institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

– To investigate the impact of entrepreneurship on economic development, the paper uses data available from the World Bank Group Entrepreneurship Survey database. The data are augmented with variables from the World Development Indicators and various Doing Business Reports. These variables are used to capture for other factors that affect the level of economic development.

Findings

– The results indicate that economic development of the countries in the sample is affected by entrepreneurship even after controlling for regional variation. These results indicate that policy makers around the world need to put in place specific policies to promote the entrepreneurship culture among their population.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper uses a purely cross-sectional dimension to investigate the factors that impact on economic development with particular focus on entrepreneurship. This study uses cross-section data on various countries from different regions. However, panel data would allow the examination of causality issues and this could be a potential area of further research.

Practical implications

– Entrepreneurship is increasingly seen as a development-promoting tool and it is recognized that countries, which facilitate entrepreneurship, tend to have higher economic development. The main finding of this paper is that irrespective of the level of development of any country or the region that it is located in, countries would gain from encouraging entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

– The paper uses two broad proxies for entrepreneurship captured by the business density in each country and the number of newly formed limited firms. Interestingly, the paper also captures for regional variation to investigate if the relationship between economic development and entrepreneurship changes when different regions are being considered. The use of a merged data set is therefore a main contribution of this paper to the literature.
Exploring the impact of open innovation on firm performances
Authors: Caputo Mauro , Lamberti Emilia , Cammarano Antonello , Michelino Francesca
Published: August 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships between the openness of firms and their innovation and financial performances.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to investigate such relationships, data on inbound and outbound open innovation (OI) processes and performances of 110 worldwide top research and development (R
&
D) spending bio-pharmaceutical companies are collected via the consolidated annual reports and the PATSTAT database. The time period of the analysis is 2008-2012.

Findings

– Regarding innovation performances, R
&
D productivity and revenues to patents ratio decrease with openness, whilst patents growth is not influenced by OI adoption. As to financial performances, sales growth exhibits a positive trend with openness, while operating profit and turnover decrease with OI adoption. Particularly, an inverted U-relationship with inbound and a U-shape one with outbound are observed as of operating profit.

Research limitations/implications

– The study adds to the knowledge about the effect of openness on firms’ performances, a topic of increasing interest to academics, managers and policy makers. Both inbound and outbound facets of the phenomenon are taken into account.

Practical implications

– Understanding how openness affects performances enables more informed decision making by managers, leading to a more effective use of OI activities.

Originality/value

– The work provides new insights as to what “being open” means for a company, gauging both inbound and outbound transactions after a pecuniary perspective. Employing objective and continuous measures, the relevance of OI for the whole business of firms can be identified.
Determinants of discretionary fair value measurements: the case of Level 3 assets in the banking sector
Authors: Yao Daifei , Percy Majella , Stewart Jenny , Hu Fang
Published: August 2016

The objective of our research was to respond to the call of Barth and Taylor () for more research to examine the role of discretion in fair value estimates. Specifically, we investigate factors that explain banks’ accounting choices to use Level 3 valuation inputs from the fair value measurement hierarchy. Using hand‐collected data from a sample of international banks during 2009–2013, we find that incentives to use discretionary Level 3 valuation inputs, which can provide an opportunity to manage earnings, are associated with both firm‐level and country‐level determinants. Additional tests provide evidence that Level 3 ‘transfer‐in’ behaviour is related to changes in bank characteristics.
Constraining basin thermal history and petroleum generation using palaeoclimate data in the Piceance Basin, Colorado
Authors: Tong Yao , Ibarra Daniel E. , Caves Jeremy K. , Mukerji Tapan , Graham Stephan A.
Published: August 2016

Careful assessment of basin thermal history is critical to modelling petroleum generation in sedimentary basins. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to constraining basin thermal history using palaeoclimate temperature reconstructions and study its impact on estimating source rock maturation and hydrocarbon generation in a terrestrial sedimentary basin. We compile mean annual temperature (MAT) estimates from macroflora assemblage data to capture past surface temperature variation for the Piceance Basin, a high‐elevation, intermontane, sedimentary basin in Colorado, USA. We use macroflora assemblage data to constrain the temporal evolution of the upper thermal boundary condition and to capture the temperature change with basin uplift. We compare these results with the case where the upper thermal boundary condition is based solely upon a simplified latitudinal temperature estimate with no elevation effect. For illustrative purposes, 2 one‐dimensional (1‐D) basin models are constructed using these two different upper thermal boundary condition scenarios and additional geological and geochemical input data in order to investigate the impact of the upper thermal boundary condition on petroleum source rock maturation and kerogen transformation processes. The basin model predictions indicate that the source rock maturation is very sensitive to the upper thermal boundary condition for terrestrial basins with variable elevation histories. The models show substantial differences in source rock maturation histories and kerogen transformation ratio over geologic time. Vitrinite reflectance decreases by 0.21%Ro, source rock transformation ratio decreases 10.5% and hydrocarbon mass generation decreases by 16% using the macroflora assemblage data. In addition, we find that by using the macroflora assemblage data, the modelled depth profiles of vitrinite reflectance better matches present‐day measurements. These differences demonstrate the importance of constraining thermal boundary conditions, which can be addressed by palaeotemperature reconstructions from palaeoclimate and palaeo‐elevation data for many terrestrial basins. Although the palaeotemperature reconstruction compiled for this study is region specific, the approach presented here is generally applicable for other terrestrial basin settings, particularly basins which have undergone substantial subaerial elevation change over time.
A scoping review examining physical activity measurement and levels in the first 2 years of life
Authors: Prioreschi A. , Micklesfield L. K.
Published: August 2016

Background

The first few years of life have been identified as a critical stage in the development of activity behaviours, which have been shown to track into later life. This scoping review aims to assess the literature reporting on physical activity levels in the first 2 years of life in order to answer two main questions: (i) how is physical activity measured in this age group? and (ii) how active are infants and toddlers in the first 2 years of life?

Methods

A search strategy was employed using PubMed with restrictions only on age and language. After applying exclusion criteria, 20 papers were included in the results.

Results

Seventeen studies used some form of objective assessment of physical activity (accelerometers, actometers, direct observation, doubly labelled water or a metabolic chamber); while the remaining three relied on subjective assessments (parent reported questionnaires or interviews, and activity diaries). Nine studies exclusively assessed infants (<12 months), and five exclusively assessed toddlers (>12 months). Only six studies reported physical activity levels and patterns specifically; most included studies measured activity as a covariate or correlate. Therefore, much of the reported data was difficult to assess, as results were vague or incompletely described. Where data were reported sufficiently for analysis, results were equally conflicted regarding whether toddlers were meeting recommended physical activity guidelines.

Conclusions

This scoping review re‐iterates the fact that more studies need to be conducted, which focus primarily on measuring and reporting physical activity levels and patterns in this age group in a comprehensive and standardized way, so that more informed guidelines can be devised and interventions can be designed and implemented where necessary.
Serum and xeno‐free, chemically defined, no‐plate‐coating‐based culture system for mesenchymal stromal cells from the umbilical cord
Authors: Wu Xiaoyun , Kang Huiyan , Liu Xuemin , Gao Jin , Zhao Kuijun , Ma Zhijie
Published: August 2016

Objectives

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (UCMSCs) can be considered to become a new gold standard for MSC‐based therapies. A serum and xeno‐free, chemically defined and no‐plate‐coating‐based culture system will greatly facilitate development of robust, clinically acceptable bioprocesses for reproducibly generating quality‐assured UCMSCs.

Materials and methods

In this study, we report for the first time, such a serum‐free, xeno‐free, completely chemically defined and no‐plate‐coating‐based culture system for the isolation and expansion of UCMSCs, whose biological characteristics were evaluated and compared with serum‐containing medium (SCM) methods.

Results

This culture system not only supported UCMSC primary cultures but also allowed for their expansion at low seeding density. Compared to SCM, UCMSCs in SFM exhibited (i) higher proliferative and colony‐forming capacities; (ii) distinctly different morphologies; (iii) similar phenotype; (iv) similar pluripotency‐associated marker expression; (v) superior osteogenic, but reduced adipogenic differentiation capacitities. In addition, UCMSCs cultured in SFM retained similar immunomodulatory properties to those in SCM.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of isolating and expanding UCMSCs in a completely serum‐free, xeno‐free, chemically defined and no‐plate‐coating‐based culture system and represent an important step forward for development of robust, clinically acceptable bioprocesses for UCMSCs. Further, this provides a superior study platform for UCMSCs biology in a controlled environment.
Cambium non est mutuum: exchange and interest rates in medieval Europe
Authors: Bell Adrian R. , Brooks Chris , Moore Tony K.
Published: August 2016

A major gap in our understanding of the medieval economy concerns interest rates, especially relating to commercial credit. Although direct evidence about interest rates is scattered and anecdotal, there is much more surviving information about exchange rates. Since both contemporaries and historians have suggested that exchange and rechange transactions could be used to disguise the charging of interest in order to circumvent the usury prohibition, it should be possible to back out implied interest rates from exchange rates. The analysis presented in this article is based on a new dataset of medieval exchange rates collected from commercial correspondence in the archive of Francesco di Marco Datini of Prato, c. 1383–1411. It demonstrates that the time value of money was consistently incorporated into market exchange rates. Moreover, these implicit interest rates are broadly comparable to those received from other types of commercial loan and investment. Although on average profitable, the return on any individual exchange and rechange transaction did involve a degree of uncertainty that may have justified their non‐usurious nature. However, there were also practical reasons why medieval merchants may have used foreign exchange transactions as a means of extending credit.
The cooperativity effect in the reaction of soluble quinoprotein (PQQ‐containing) glucose dehydrogenase is not due to subunit interaction but to substrate‐assisted catalysis
Authors: Duine Johannis A. , Strampraad Marc J. F. , Hagen Wilfred R. , de Vries Simon
Published: August 2016

Soluble quinoprotein (PQQ‐containing) glucose dehydrogenase (sGDH, EC 1.1.99.35) catalyzes the oxidation of β‐d‐glucose to d‐glucono‐δ‐lactone. Although sGDH has many analytical applications, the relationship between activity and substrate concentration is not well established. Previous steady‐state kinetic studies revealed a negative cooperativity effect which has recently been ascribed to subunit interaction. To investigate this conclusion, stopped‐flow kinetic experiments were carried out on the reaction in which oxidized enzyme (Eox) was reduced with substrates to Ered. The appearance of Ered is observed to be preceded by formation of an intermediate enzyme form, Int, which is mono‐exponentially formed from Eox. However, the rate of conversion of Int into Ered depends hyperbolically on the concentration of substrate (leading to a 35‐fold stimulation in the case of glucose). Evidence is provided that substrate not only binds to Eox but also to Int and Ered as well, and that the binding to Int causes the significant stimulation of Int decay. It is proposed that a proton shuffling step is involved in the decay, which is facilitated by binding of substrate to Int. Substituting the PQQ‐activating Ca by a Ba ion lowered all reaction rates but did not change the stimulation factor. In summary, the previous proposal that the cooperativity effect of sGDH is due to interaction between its substrate‐loaded subunits is incorrect; it is due to substrate‐assisted catalysis of the enzyme.

Enzymes

EC 1.1.99.35 – soluble quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase.
Newly created ponds complement natural waterbodies for restoration of macroinvertebrate assemblages
Authors: Coccia Cristina , Vanschoenwinkel Bram , Brendonck Luc , Boyero Luz , Green Andy J.
Published: August 2016

Ecological restoration is becoming increasingly widespread to compensate for wetland loss worldwide. However, most post‐restoration studies fail to establish whether the restored wetlands replace or complement natural wetlands for communities of aquatic organisms such as macroinvertebrates.

During two consecutive hydroperiods (ca 6 months each), we studied the macroinvertebrate communities in 32 new temporary ponds created during a restoration 6–7 years previously in Doñana, SW Spain, and compared them with ten natural temporary sites nearby. We compared results for two dominant groups of active dispersers (Coleoptera and Hemiptera) and for the whole aquatic macroinvertebrate community (a mix of active and passive dispersers) to shed light on the role of dispersal constraints during ecosystem recovery. We also compared the ranks of new ponds and reference sites in nested matrices to assess whether communities in new ponds are impoverished subsets of communities in reference sites.

Because of their young age, newly created ponds were predicted to have less stable communities over the two study years than reference sites, and to have lower species diversity for the whole community but not for active dispersers. On the other hand, communities in new ponds were predicted to approach the taxonomic composition of reference sites as time went on.

New ponds differed in environmental conditions (particularly less emergent vegetation cover and lower chlorophyll concentration) from reference sites, but their invertebrate richness and diversity matched those in reference sites and invertebrate abundance was even higher. Richness and diversity increased in the second hydroperiod in new ponds, but not in reference sites. Significant differences in community composition occurred between new ponds and reference sites, but were largely explained by their environmental differences. As succession progressed within a hydroperiod, communities in new ponds were first dominated by large branchiopods, then by active dispersers such as Chironomidae and Coleoptera, then finally by halotolerant taxa such as the beetle Ochthebius viridis fallaciosus.

Communities in new ponds were not impoverished subsets of those in reference sites, and communities in new and reference ponds diverged towards the end of the hydroperiods. We conclude that new temporary ponds can provide diverse and complementary habitats important for maintaining macroinvertebrate diversity at the regional scale.