bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Allylamine-mediated DNA attachment to polycrystalline diamond surface
Authors: Zhuang H. , Srikanth Vadali. V. S. S. , Jiang X. , Luo J. , Ihmels H. , Aronov I. , Wenclawiak B. W. , Adlung M. , Wickleder C.
Published: October 2009

Allylamine, an unsaturated short carbon chain amine was used to mediate ss-DNA attachment to an H-terminated polycrystalline diamond thin film surface for biosensoric applications. At first, allylamine was photochemically tethered onto the diamond film surface; ss-DNA was then attached via the allylamine linkage. The DNA molecules are then hybridized with the complementary DNA molecules containing fluorescence labels followed by denaturing. Time-of-fight secondary ion mass spectrometry and fluorescence spectroscopy are used to confirm the allylamine bonding and the covalent DNA bonding to the diamond film surface, respectively.
Detection of picomolar concentrations of lead in water using albumin-based fluorescence sensor
Authors: Saha Anushree , Yakovlev Vladislav V.
Published: October 2009

Comprehensive analysis of fluorescence of albumin shows a weak fluorescence band at 430 nm, whose intensity exhibits a remarkable sensitivity to the presence of heavy ions in water. Using this fluorescence as a marker, as low as 10 pM concentration of lead can be routinely detected. Such a great sensitivity is explained in terms of electrostatic interactions in solution, which promote protein agglomeration. The latter is independently confirmed using dynamic light scattering measurements.
A comparison of tissue penetrations between single and two-photon-excitations
Authors: Wang Xiao-Qian , Chen Ji-Yao , Mi Lan , Wang Pei-Nan
Published: October 2009

We use the penetration constants, which are independent of the excitation power density, to evaluate the penetration abilities of single-photon-excitation (SPE) at 405 nm and two-photon-excitation (TPE) at 800 nm in porcine tissues. The penetration constant of TPE is smaller than that of SPE although the transmission loss of 405 nm is much larger than 800 nm in skin tissues. On the other hand, the penetration of SPE in blood-contained systems is obviously worse than that of TPE due to the strong absorption of hemoglobin molecules at 405 nm.
Tube geometry can force switchlike transitions in the behavior of propagating bubbles
Authors: de Lózar A. , Heap A. , Box F. , Hazel A. L. , Juel A.
Published: October 2009

Microscale process engineering requires precise control of bubbles and droplets. We investigate geometry-induced control and find that a centered constriction in the cross section of rectangular tubes can lead to new families of steadily propagating bubbles, which localize in the least-constricted regions of the cross section. Tuning the constriction geometry can cause a switchlike transition from centered to localized bubbles at a critical value of the flow rate: a mechanism for flow-rate-driven bubble control. The accompanying large change in bubble volume could be significant for liquid recovery applications.
Aberrantly resolved RAG-mediated DNA breaks in Atm-deficient lymphocytes target chromosomal breakpoints incis
Authors: Mahowald Grace K. , Baron Jason M. , Mahowald Michael A. , Kulkarni Shashikant , Bredemeyer Andrea L. , Bassing Craig H. , Sleckman Barry P.
Published: October 2009

Canonical chromosomal translocations juxtaposing antigen receptor genes and oncogenes are a hallmark of many lymphoid malignancies. These translocations frequently form through the joining of DNA ends from double-strand breaks (DSBs) generated by the recombinase activating gene (RAG)-1 and -2 proteins at lymphocyte antigen receptor loci and breakpoint targets near oncogenes. Our understanding of chromosomal breakpoint target selection comes primarily from the analyses of these lesions, which are selected based on their transforming properties. RAG DSBs are rarely resolved aberrantly in wild-type developing lymphocytes. However, in ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-deficient lymphocytes, RAG breaks are frequently joined aberrantly, forming chromosomal lesions such as translocations that predispose (ATM)-deficient mice and humans to the development of lymphoid malignancies. Here, an approach that minimizes selection biases is used to isolate a large cohort of breakpoint targets of aberrantly resolved RAG DSBs in Atm-deficient lymphocytes. Analyses of this cohort revealed that frequently, the breakpoint targets for aberrantly resolved RAG breaks are other DSBs. Moreover, these nonselected lesions exhibit a bias for using breakpoints incis, forming small chromosomal deletions, rather than breakpoints intrans, forming chromosomal translocations.
An 8-oxo-guanine repair pathway coordinated by MUTYH glycosylase and DNA polymerase λ
Authors: van Loon Barbara , Hübscher Ulrich
Published: October 2009

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) interact with DNA, frequently generating highly mutagenic 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxo-G) lesions. Replicative DNA polymerases (pols) often misincorporate adenine opposite 8-oxo-G. The subsequent repair mechanism allowing the removal of adenine and formation of C:8-oxo-G base pair is essential to prevent C:G to A:T transversion mutations. Here, we show by immunofluorescence experiments, in cells exposed to ROS, the involvement of MutY glycosylase homologue (MUTYH) and DNA pol λ in the repair of A:8-oxo-G mispairs. We observe specific recruitment of MUTYH, DNA pol λ, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) and DNA ligases I and III from human cell extracts to A:8-oxo-G DNA, but not to undamaged DNA. Using purified human proteins and a DNA template, we reconstitute the full pathway for the faithful repair of A:8-oxo-G mispairs involving MUTYH, DNA pol λ, FEN1, and DNA ligase I. These results reveal a cellular response pathway to ROS, important to sustain genomic stability and modulate carcinogenesis.
Immediate mediators of the inflammatory response are poised for gene activation through RNA polymerase II stalling
Authors: Adelman Karen , Kennedy Megan A. , Nechaev Sergei , Gilchrist Daniel A. , Muse Ginger W. , Chinenov Yurii , Rogatsky Inez
Published: October 2009

The kinetics and magnitude of cytokine gene expression are tightly regulated to elicit a balanced response to pathogens and result from integrated changes in transcription and mRNA stability. Yet, how a single microbial stimulus induces peak transcription of some genes (TNFα) within minutes whereas others (IP-10) require hours remains unclear. Here, we dissect activation of several lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-inducible genes in macrophages, an essential cell type mediating inflammatory response in mammals. We show that a key difference between the genes is the step of the transcription cycle at which they are regulated. Specifically, at TNFα, RNA Polymerase II initiates transcription in resting macrophages, but stalls near the promoter until LPS triggers rapid and transient release of the negative elongation factor (NELF) complex and productive elongation. In contrast, no NELF or polymerase is detectible near the IP-10 promoter before induction, and LPS-dependent polymerase recruitment is rate limiting for transcription. We further demonstrate that this strategy is shared by other immune mediators and is independent of the inducer and signaling pathway responsible for gene activation. Finally, as a striking example of evolutionary conservation, the
Drosophila
homolog of the TNFα gene,
eiger
, displayed all of the hallmarks of NELF-dependent polymerase stalling. We propose that polymerase stalling ensures the coordinated, timely activation the inflammatory gene expression program from
Drosophila
to mammals.
Predicting citation count ofBioinformaticspapers within four years of publication
Authors: Ibáñez Alfonso , Larrañaga Pedro , Bielza Concha
Published: October 2009

Motivation: Nowadays, publishers of scientific journals face the tough task of selecting high-quality articles that will attract as many readers as possible from a pool of articles. This is due to the growth of scientific output and literature. The possibility of a journal having a tool capable of predicting the citation count of an article within the first few years after publication would pave the way for new assessment systems.

Results: This article presents a new approach based on building several prediction models for the Bioinformatics journal. These models predict the citation count of an article within 4 years after publication (global models). To build these models, tokens found in the abstracts of Bioinformatics papers have been used as predictive features, along with other features like the journal sections and 2-week post-publication periods. To improve the accuracy of the global models, specific models have been built for each Bioinformatics journal section (Data and Text Mining, Databases and Ontologies, Gene Expression, Genetics and Population Analysis, Genome Analysis, Phylogenetics, Sequence Analysis, Structural Bioinformatics and Systems Biology). In these new models, the average success rate for predictions using the naive Bayes and logistic regression supervised classification methods was 89.4% and 91.5%, respectively, within the nine sections and for 4-year time horizon.

Availability:  Supplementary material on this experimental survey is available at http://www.dia.fi.upm.es/~concha/bioinformatics.html

Contact:  aibanez@fi.upm.es
Thin films for solar control applications
Authors: Kanu Sapna Shrestha , Binions Russell
Published: October 2009

The excessive use of heating systems in cold climates and air conditioning systems in hotter climates is resulting in the extensive use of electricity in order to maintain such systems. This in turn leads to the greater use of fossil fuels and higher emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutant gases. The growing amount of carbon dioxide emissions is contributing to the problem of global warming, hence increasing the need for alternative technologies to heating and air conditioning systems.

One such alternative is the production of thin films which can be used as window glazing coatings to construct ‘smart windows’. These windows have the greatest use within constant climates. In cold climates, windows with high solar transmittance and low thermal emittance are needed; this allows sunlight into the building to brighten the room but stops heat from escaping thus warming the room. In constantly hot climates, materials that are transparent in the visible region but reflective in the infrared, such as thin metallic coatings, can be used to ensure that the inside of the building remains cool.

These solar control coatings, however, pose a problem in varying climates such as in northern and central Europe. For these cases, materials that have altering properties owing to external surroundings could be the solution. These ‘chromatic’ materials include several categories, such as photochromic glasses and polymers, thermochromic metal oxides and electrochromic materials.

This review will begin with a discussion as to the chemistry behind the solar control coatings and chromic materials including ambient radiation and the ideal of a black-body object. It will then look in depth at each class of these chromic materials considering experimental results and theoretical insight as well as production techniques and applications.
Human capacitance to dosage imbalance: Coping with inefficient selection
Authors: Fernández Ariel , Chen Jianping
Published: October 2009

Proteins rely on associations to improve packing quality and thus maintain structural integrity. This makes packing deficiency a likely determinant of dosage sensitivity, that is, of the fitness impact of concentration imbalances relative to the stoichiometry of the protein complexes. This hypothesis was validated by examining evolution-related dosage imbalances: Duplicates of genes encoding for deficiently packed proteins are less likely to be retained than genes coding for well-packed proteins. This selection pressure is apparent in unicellular organisms, but is mitigated in higher eukaryotes. In human, this effect reveals a capacitance toward dosage imbalance. This capacitance is not expected in organisms with larger population size, where evolutionary forces are more efficient at promoting adaptive functional innovation and purifying selection, thus curbing the concentration imbalance arising from gene duplication. By examining miRNA target dissimilarities within human gene families, we show that the capacitance is operative at a post-transcriptional regulatory level: The higher the packing deficiency of a protein, the more likely that its paralogs will be dissimilarly targeted by miRNA to mitigate dosage imbalance. For families with low capacitance, paralog sequence divergence and family size correlate tightly with packing deficiency, just like in unicellular eukaryotes. Thus, a major component of human tolerance toward dosage imbalances is rooted in the paralog-discriminating capacity of miRNA regulation. The results may clarify the evolutionary etiology of aggregation-related diseases, since aggregation is often promoted by overexpression (a dosage imbalance) and aggregation propensity is associated with extreme packing deficiency.
Identification of Defense Compounds inBarbarea vulgarisagainst the HerbivorePhyllotreta nemorumby an Ecometabolomic Approach
Authors: Kuzina Vera , Ekstrøm Claus Thorn , Andersen Sven Bode , Nielsen Jens Kvist , Olsen Carl Erik , Bak Søren
Published: October 2009

Winter cress (Barbarea vulgaris) is resistant to a range of insect species. Some B. vulgaris genotypes are resistant, whereas others are susceptible, to herbivory by flea beetle larvae (Phyllotreta nemorum). Metabolites involved in resistance to herbivory by flea beetles were identified using an ecometabolomic approach. An F2 population representing the whole range from full susceptibility to full resistance to flea beetle larvae was generated by a cross between a susceptible and a resistant B. vulgaris plant. This F2 offspring was evaluated with a bioassay measuring the ability of susceptible flea beetle larvae to survive on each plant. Metabolites that correlated negatively with larvae survival were identified through correlation, cluster, and principal component analyses. Two main clusters of metabolites that correlate negatively with larvae survival were identified. Principal component analysis grouped resistant and susceptible plants as well as correlated metabolites. Known saponins, such as hederagenin cellobioside and oleanolic acid cellobioside, as well as two other saponins correlated significantly with plant resistance. This study shows the potential of metabolomics to identify bioactive compounds involved in plant defense.
Stage-Specific Regulation ofSolanum lycopersicumLeaf Maturation by Class 1 KNOTTED1-LIKE HOMEOBOX Proteins
Authors: Shani Eilon , Burko Yogev , Ben-Yaakov Lilach , Berger Yael , Amsellem Ziva , Goldshmidt Alexander , Sharon Eran , Ori Naomi
Published: October 2009

Class 1 KNOTTED1-LIKE HOMEOBOX (KNOXI) genes encode transcription factors that are expressed in the shoot apical meristem (SAM) and are essential for SAM maintenance. In some species with compound leaves, including tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), KNOXI genes are also expressed during leaf development and affect leaf morphology. To dissect the role of KNOXI proteins in leaf patterning, we expressed in tomato leaves a fusion of the tomato KNOXI gene Tkn2 with a sequence encoding a repressor domain, expected to repress common targets of tomato KNOXI proteins. This resulted in the formation of small, narrow, and simple leaves due to accelerated differentiation. Overexpression of the wild-type form of Tkn1 or Tkn2 in young leaves also resulted in narrow and simple leaves, but in this case, leaf development was blocked at the initiation stage. Expression of Tkn1 or Tkn2 during a series of spatial and temporal windows in leaf development identified leaf initiation and primary morphogenesis as specific developmental contexts at which the tomato leaf is responsive to KNOXI activity. Arabidopsis thaliana leaves responded to overexpression of Arabidopsis or tomato KNOXI genes during the morphogenetic stage but were largely insensitive to their overexpression during leaf initiation. These results imply that KNOXI proteins act at specific stages within the compound-leaf development program to delay maturation and enable leaflet formation, rather than set the compound leaf route.
LYRATE Is a Key Regulator of Leaflet Initiation and Lamina Outgrowth in Tomato
Authors: David-Schwartz Rakefet , Koenig Daniel , Sinha Neelima R.
Published: October 2009

Development of the flattened laminar structure in plant leaves requires highly regulated cell division and expansion patterns. Although tight regulation of these processes is essential during leaf development, leaf shape is highly diverse across the plant kingdom, implying that patterning of growth must be amenable to evolutionary change. Here, we describe the molecular identification of the classical tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mutant lyrate, which is impaired in outgrowth of leaflet primodia and laminar tissues during compound leaf development. We found that the lyrate phenotype results from a loss-of-function mutation of the tomato JAGGED homolog, a well-described positive regulator of cell division in lateral organs. We demonstrate that LYRATE coordinates lateral outgrowth in the compound leaves of tomato by interacting with both the KNOX and auxin transcriptional networks and suggest that evolutionary changes in LYRATE expression may contribute to the fundamental difference between compound and simple leaves.
Making the Long Tail visible: social networking sites and independent music discovery
Authors: Gaffney Michael , Rafferty Pauline
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate users' knowledge and use of social networking sites and folksonomies to discover if social tagging and folksonomies, within the area of independent music, aid in its information retrieval and discovery. The sites examined in this project are MySpace, Lastfm, Pandora and Allmusic. In addition, the ways in which independent record labels utilise social networking sites for promotion are investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

Three groups of participants were surveyed using questionnaires. These groups were music concert attendees, people who responded to online postings to social networking sites, and independent record companies. In addition interviews were held with digital music experts.

Findings

The results suggest that respondents use social networking sites for music discovery but are not generally aware of folksonomic approaches to music discovery. When users do use and contribute to the folksonomy, most respondents were found to tag for personal retrieval purposes rather than attempting to aid the retrieval purposes of the population of site users as a whole. The four record labels unanimously agreed that social networking sites are having a major impact on independent music discovery. Digital distribution has a major impact on independent record labels. It facilitates discovery but at the same time digital distribution creates new promotional dilemmas.

Originality/value

The project is small scale but the research area is a relatively novel one, and the results are interesting enough to share more generally in the hope that this project will stimulate further research activity in this area.
Low‐income consumers' reactions to low‐involvement products
Authors: Gbadamosi Ayantunji
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the attitudes and behaviour of low‐income women consumers in respect of low‐involvement grocery products.

Design/methodology/approach

One focus group and 30 in‐depth interviews on the subject‐matter are conducted with low‐income women in Salford (Northwest England). Given the nature of the topic and the target respondents involved, the subjects are recruited through the use of purposive and snowballing sampling methods.

Findings

The findings suggest that low‐income women consumers' purchases of low‐involvement grocery products are based on habit. They do not show strong loyalty to brands of these products, and do not perceive price as an indication of their quality. Their key motivation underlying their purchases of these products is value‐for‐money. Also they are very sensitive to sales promotional stimuli, albeit in varying degrees according to the respective attractiveness of these tools. However, while they indicate a positive attitude towards buy‐one‐get‐one‐free (BOGOF), free samples, discount and coupons, BOGOF stands out as their best preference; but they are not positively inclined towards gifts and competition.

Originality/value

The paper explores the motivation, attitudes and behaviour of a special group of consumers (low‐income women) in respect of low‐involvement grocery products. It indicates the directions of their sensitivity in terms of marketing stimuli. Hence, it will be valuable for marketing decision making towards providing this group of consumers with the utmost satisfaction needed in this increasingly complex marketing environment.
The beer market and advertising expenditure
Authors: Heimonen Kari , Uusitalo Outi
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts of advertising expenditure on brands' market shares, utilizing a novel four‐week advertising‐sales data from the highly competitive oligopolistic Finnish beer market in which price competition among the homogeneous larger‐type beer brands is not allowed during the period of the study.

Design/methodology/approach

Competition is modelled using the Lanchester model. The impacts of advertising on market shares are estimated using the impulse‐response functions from vector autoregression, and the full information maximum likelihood and advertising elasticities.

Findings

Some new insights into beer market dynamics are obtained. First, the impacts of advertising are not similar across brands. Second, overspills of advertising impacts across brands are detected. Third, the reactions to competitors' advertising attacks are mild.

Originality/value

The paper utilizes four‐week brand‐level data on the market shares of the leading beer brands in Finland and the brands' advertising expenditure. During the period of the data, price competition is not allowed, which creates a unique opportunity to study the impacts of advertising on the market shares of brands.
Product placement in Bollywood movies
Authors: Barn Sukhbinder
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the way in which product and brand placement function in the Indian film industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study is based on extensive field work conducted by the author in India, including interviews with many film industry figures.

Findings

Product placement is pervasive in the Indian film industry, but there can be tension between the artistic goals of the film director and the commercial goals of the brand owner.

Originality/value

As far as is known, this is the first case study to address product and brand placement in the Indian film industry. Since this is the largest film industry in the world, this represents an important contribution to understanding the interface between commercial interests and artistic direction.
Fuzzy model‐based assessment and monitoring of desertification using MODIS satellite imagery
Authors: Lin Meng‐Lung , Chen Cheng‐Wu , Wang Qiu‐Bing , Cao Yu , Shih Jyh‐Yi , Lee Yung‐Tan , Chen Chen‐Yuan , Wang Shin
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The growing rate of desertification in Northwestern China and Mongolia that is occurring as a result of the conflict between economic development and natural conservation has been demonstrated in many studies. There have, for example, been some large studies using variations in bi‐weekly normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) satellite images as a parameter for evaluating the vegetation dynamics in these areas. The purpose of this paper is to identify multi‐temporal variation in vegetated and non‐vegetated areas in remotely sensed satellite images to assess the status of desertification in East Asia.

Design/methodology/approach

Spatial data derived from these satellite images are applied to evaluate vegetation dynamics on a regional level, to identify the areas most vulnerable to desertification.

Findings

Analytical results indicate that the desert areas in East Asia are primarily distributed over Southern Mongolia, Central and Western Inner Mongolia, and Western China (the Taklimakan Desert). These desert areas expanded from 2000 to 2002, shrunk in 2003, then expanded again from 2003 to 2005. The areas most at risk for desertification are principally distributed in Southeastern Mongolia, and Eastern Inner Mongolia.

Originality/value

Simulation results based on data for deserts distributed throughout Northwestern China and Mongolia indicate that the proposed fuzzy model‐based method would be helpful for assessing and monitoring desertification. These analytical results will help administrators refine planning processes, define the boundaries of protected areas, and facilitate decisions for prioritizing areas for desertification protection.
Cooperative co‐evolutionary scatter search for satellite module layout design
Authors: Wang Yi‐Shou , Teng Hong‐Fei , Shi Yan‐Jun
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to tackle a satellite module layout design problem (SMLDP). As a complex engineering layout and combinatorial optimization problem, SMLDP cannot be solved effectively by traditional exact methods. Although evolutionary algorithms (EAs) have shown some promise of tackling SMLDP in previous work, the solution quality and computational efficiency still pose a challenge. This paper aims to address these two issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Scatter search (SS) and a cooperative co‐evolutionary architecture are integrated to form a new approach called a cooperative co‐evolutionary scatter search (CCSS). The cooperative co‐evolutionary architecture is characterized by the decomposition and cooperation for dealing with complex engineering problems. SS is a flexible meta‐heuristic method that can effectively solve the combinatorial optimization problems. Designing the elements of SS is context‐dependent. Considering the characteristics of SMLDP, our work focuses on two folds: the diversification method, and the reference set update method. The diversification method is built on the method of coordinate transformation and the controlled randomness. The reference set is updated by the static method on the basis of two dissimilarities. Two test problems for circles packing illustrated the capacity of SS. However, when solving SMLDP, SS shows some limitations in the computational time and quality. This study adopts divide‐conquer‐coordination strategy to decompose SMLDP into several layout sub‐problems. Then CCSS is applied to cooperatively solve these sub‐problems. The experimental results illustrate the capability of the proposed approach in tackling the complex problem with less computational effort.

Findings

Applying CCSS to SMLDP can obtain satisfying solutions in terms of quality and computational efficiency. This contrasts with the limiting experimental results of SMLDP with some approaches (including modified SS).

Originality/value

A new CCSS is proposed to provide an effective and efficient way of solving SMLDP. Some elements of SS are improved to address the layout problem. SMLDP is decomposed into several sub‐problems that can be solved cooperatively by CCSS after its characteristics are taken into consideration.
YADE‐OPEN DEM: an open‐source software using a discrete element method to simulate granular material
Authors: Kozicki J. , Donzé F.V.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

YADE‐OPEN DEM is an open‐source software based on the discrete element method, (DEM) which uses object oriented programming techniques. The purpose of this paper is to describe the software architecture.

Design/methodology/approach

The DEM chosen uses position, orientation, velocity and angular velocity as independent variables of simulated particles which are subject to explicit leapfrog time‐integration scheme (Lagrangian method). The three‐dimensional dynamics equations based on the classical Newtonian approach for the second law of motion are used. The track of forces and moments acting on each particle is kept at every time step. Contact forces depend on the particle geometry overlap and material properties. The normal, tangential and moment components of interaction force are included.

Findings

An effort is undertaken to extract the underlying object oriented abstractions in the DEM. These abstractions are implemented in C++, conform to object oriented design principles and use design patterns. Based on that, a software framework is developed in which the abstractions provide the interface where the modelling methods can be plugged‐in.

Originality/value

The resulting YADE‐OPEN DEM framework is designed in a generic way which provides great flexibility when adding new scientific simulation code. Some of the advantages are that numerous simulation methods can be coupled within the same framework while plug‐ins can import data from other software. In addition, this promotes code improvement through open‐source development and allows feedback from the community. However implementing such models requires that one adheres to the framework design and the YADE framework is a new emerging software. To download the software see http : //yade.wikia.com webpage.
Eigensolution of Laplacian matrices for graph partitioning and domain decomposition
Authors: Kaveh A. , Alinejad B.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a general equation for eigensolution. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors of graphs have many applications in combinatorial optimization and structural mechanics. Some important applications of graph products consist of nodal ordering and graph partitioning for structuring the structural matrices and finite element subdomaining, respectively.

Design/methodology/approach

In the existing methods for the eigensolution of Laplacian matrices, members have been added to the model of a graph product such that for its Laplacian matrix an algebraic relation between blocks become possible. These methods are categorized as topological approaches. Here, using concepts of linear algebra a general algebraic method is developed.

Findings

A new algebraic method is introduced for calculating the eigenvalues of Laplacian matrices in graph products.

Originality/value

The present method provides a simple tool for calculating the eigenvalues of the Laplacian matrices without using the configurational model and merely by using the Laplacian matrices. The developed formula for calculating the eigenvalues contains approximate terms which can be managed by the analyst.
The forward and inverse problems in magnetic induction tomography of low conductivity structures
Authors: Palka Ryszard , Gratkowski Stanislaw , Stawicki Krzysztof , Baniukiewicz Piotr
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a magnetic induction tomography (MIT) system as well as the conductivity reconstruction algorithms (inverse problem).

Design/methodology/approach

In order to define and verify the solution of the inverse problem, the forward problem is formulated using mathematical model of the system. The forward problem is solved using the finite element method. The optimization of the excitation unit is based on the numerical solutions of the direct problem. All the dimensions and shape of the excitation system are optimized in order to focus the main part of the magnetic field in the vicinity of the receiver. Finally, two formulations of the inverse problem are discussed: based on the inversion of the Biot‐Savart law; and based on the artificial neural networks.

Findings

The formulation of the forward problem of the considered MIT system is given. The construction of the exciter unit that focuses the main part of the magnetic field in the vicinity of the receiver is proposed. Two formulations of the inverse problem are discussed. First using the inversion of the Biot‐Savart law and second using the artificial neural network. The neural networks seem to be promising tools for reconstructing the MIT images.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates a real‐life MIT system whose performance is satisfactorily predicted by mathematical models. The original design of the exciter is shown. The new approach to the inverse problem in MIT – the use of the artificial neural network – is presented.
Exact post‐buckling stiffness calculation of box section struts
Authors: Ghannadpour S.A.M. , Ovesy H.R.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and apply an exact finite strip (F‐a FSM) for the buckling and initial post‐buckling analyses of box section struts.

Design/methodology/approach

The Von‐Karman's equilibrium equation is solved exactly to obtain the buckling loads and deflection modes for the struts. The investigation is then extended to an initial post‐buckling study with the assumption that the deflected form immediately after the buckling is the same as that obtained for the buckling. Through the solution of the Von‐Karman's compatibility equation, the in‐plane displacement functions are developed in terms of the unknown coefficient. These in‐plane and out‐of‐plane deflected functions are then substituted in the total strain energy expressions and the theorem of minimum total potential energy is applied to solve for the unknown coefficient.

Findings

The F‐a FSM is applied to analyze the buckling and initial post‐buckling behavior of some representative box sections for which the results were also obtained through the application of a semi‐energy finite strip method (S‐e FSM). For a given degree of accuracy in the results, however, the F‐a FSM analysis requires less computational effort.

Research limitations/implications

In the present F‐a FSM, only one of the calculated deflection modes is used for the initial post‐buckling study.

Practical implications

A very useful and computationally economical methodology is developed for the initial design of struts which encounter post‐buckling.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper is the fact that by incorporating a rigorous buckling solution into the Von‐Karman's compatibility equation, and solving it, a fairly efficient method for post‐buckling stiffness calculation is achieved.
Evaluating impacts of microfinance institutions using Guatemalan data
Authors: Brau James C. , Hiatt Shon , Woodworth Warner
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate microlending outcomes among Latin American non‐governmental organizations (NGOs), specifically microfinance institutions (MFIs). While there is a growing movement of non‐profit ventures channeling small loans to the poor worldwide, assessments of their impacts are lacking. Thus, field interviews with clients who had various degrees of involvement in the process of receiving microloans from MFIs were conducted over a summer in Guatemala.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a dataset of 393 clients from Guatemalan MFIs, microfinance impacts from two dimensions are examined and impacts measured along financial and social dimensions by surveying new clients, current clients, and graduated clients of five MFIs in Guatemala.

Findings

Applying univariate and multivariate analyses shows that for Guatemala, MFIs do produce a measure of improvement in the lives of microfinance clients. This improvement is concentrated along the social dimensions of housing, health, and client empowerment.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of this paper is that it focuses on only five of several dozen MFIs in Guatemala. What is needed is further use of the survey instruments to carry out subsequent studies throughout more of Latin America, and beyond.

Practical implications

This research suggests that microfinance demonstrates promising results associated with social benefits to various client populations. As such, it holds a variety of implications for government and other policymakers as they consider innovative ways to reduce poverty and human suffering around the globe.

Originality/value

It is anticipated that this field study will contribute to the furtherance of literature on the effects of lending among the poor.
The impact of outside control in microfinance
Authors: Hartarska Valentina
Published: October 2009

Purpose

Microfinance practitioners have emphasized that appropriate control mechanisms are critical for the success of a microfinance institution (MFI). The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of external governance mechanisms on MFIs' performance, whereby external governance is defined as the control exercised by stakeholders and markets, and accountability mechanisms that operate to enforce internal governance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a database of 108 MFIs operating in over 30 countries and analyzes their performance by adopting an empirical approach usually employed in cross‐country banking research on the impact of market forces and regulation on performance. MFI performance is measured by sustainability and outreach indicators and is modeled as a function of external audit, microfinance rating, and regulatory status and controls for MFI and country‐specific characteristics.

Findings

Results indicate that regulatory involvement and financial statement transparency do not impact performance, while some but not all rating agencies may play a disciplining role.

Research limitations/implications

At the time of the study, available data are limited to 108 organizations and since then more MFIs have made their financial statements available, therefore, the hypotheses of this paper can be retested.

Practical implications

Stakeholders should be aware that external control mechanisms in microfinance are weak, thus adequate internal governance mechanisms are important.

Originality/value

This paper offers empirical evidence that external governance mechanisms have limited impact on MFI performance.
Statistical audit sampling for portfolio‐at‐risk in microfinance
Authors: Schreiner Mark
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a rigorous, statistically correct, and low‐cost way to audit sample a lender's loan portfolio, be they a microlender or other type of lender. No other paper applies this method to loan portfolios, even though it is a high demand application.

Design/methodology/approach

Standard techniques of audit sampling and dollar unit sampling with stratification are applied to the particular case of a microlender's portfolio. Unlike the audit sampling that almost all auditors use, no arbitrary rules of thumb are applied.

Findings

The paper finds that statistical audit sampling for a lender's loan portfolio is simple, rigorous, and inexpensive.

Practical implications

In audit sampling, most auditors use arbitrary rules of thumb and have no idea whether they are sampling enough items to actually be sure, with some desired level of confidence, that they have found no defects. This simple, inexpensive, and statistically rigorous technique will allow auditors who actually want to do a good job to quantify the precision of their statements in a very common application.

Originality/value

This paper combines several disparate threads from the statistical literature on audit sampling in a way that auditors (who are usually not statisticians) can apply them for auditing the quality of a lender's portfolio – microfinance or otherwise – which is a very common need.
Governance in the English regions: moving beyond muddling through?
Authors: Pearce Graham , Mawson John
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to explore the progress of current reforms to government in the English regions through administrative decentralisation aimed at delivering economic growth and greater accountability.

Design/methodology/approach

In addition to government documents the paper is informed by the views of a range of public and non‐governmental bodies on key aspects of the reforms, including the preparation of integrated regional strategies, accountability arrangements and institutional capacity.

Findings

While holding out the prospect of a more effective approach to regional policy making and delivery, implementation of the reforms carries risks for the delivery of key government policies. There is little evidence that they will assist in reversing disparities in economic growth rates between the English regions or tackle England's ingrained tradition of centralisation. There are also concerns that the prominence given to economic considerations is incompatible with delivering sustainable development.

Practical implications

Greater attention needs to be given to the coordination of national policies with a regional dimension and to the sub‐national institutional capacity required to both prepare and deliver integrated regional strategies.

Originality/value

Drawing on empirical evidence this paper offers insights into the administrative and policy tensions associated with ongoing reforms to sub‐national government in England.
Integration of economic and spatial planning across scales
Authors: Townsend Alan
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to study a major aspect of the recent Treasury‐led Review of Sub‐national Economic Development and Regeneration in attempting to integrate work currently performed under the separate economic and spatial strategies through the preparation of single regional strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses several aspects of the existing work of regional development agencies (RDAs) to illustrate where they could be better informed to undertake their anticipated role in regional spatial planning.

Findings

The Labour Government has been forced to change its approach to reforms at the sub‐national level. In November, 2008 it performed a late compromise in response to the consultation on the Review, in giving equal status to the work of local authorities and RDAs in writing single regional strategies. This is welcomed, as is a strengthening of the scope of sub‐regional governance. Nonetheless the reforms do little to address the socio‐economic disparities between regions.

Practical implications

The paper informs approaches to the preparation of single regional strategies and highlights the need to give greater attention to the links between policy making and delivery at national, regional and local scales.

Originality/value

The paper draws on the perspectives of a senior academic who has also worked both as a civil service research officer in regional economic planning and as a member of local, district and county committees in local governance. This experience suggests that the Government's approach to reform was informed by an agenda that was too biased towards economic and too little to environmental and social priorities.
Divergent acceptance of change in a public health organization
Authors: Brunton Margaret , Matheny Jonathan
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the way in which health professional (HP)‐based subcultures interpret reform‐based changes.

Design/methodology/approach

A three‐phase study is carried out using thematic analysis to examine data from semi‐structured interviews held with 19 HPs to examine their responses to change. Also, responses from 639 self‐completion questionnaires and focus group interviews with 44 women provide insight into the influence of the change on end‐users of the service.

Findings

This study extends previous work through inductive examination of the interpretations of two subcultures, which reveal that acceptance of the strategic change objective is subsequently undermined by divergence in the way members of the subcultures interpret and seek to enact change – a divergent acceptance.

Research limitations/implications

The findings result from a single case‐study healthcare setting. Future studies can extend the research to other settings.

Practical implications

The insight into the way HP‐based subcultures interpret reform‐based changes may advance the public service that these health care organisations strive to provide; much more broadly, it may advance the understanding of change.

Originality/value

This paper shows that any significant change must accommodate existing assumptions and values and the way they colour the interpretation and enactment of change, even when agreement on superordinate objectives exists.
Organizational change capacity: the systematic development of a scale
Authors: Judge William , Douglas Thomas
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to systematically develop a reliable and valid construct that can facilitate and enhance the organizational change process by following Hinkin's suggestions for construct development. The “Organizational Capacity for Change” (OCC) construct provides a multi‐dimensional assessment tool to diagnose and guide organizational change.

Design/methodology/approach

In the first empirical study, the paper provides details on the creation and refinement of the OCC instrument by reviewing the results of nearly 3,600 respondents in 161 organizational units in a wide variety of industries from 1999 to 2005. In the second empirical study, it tests the OCC instrument in a single industry to determine the validity of the measures.

Findings

The result is a reliable and valid multi‐dimensional, 32‐item instrument which describes a new construct in the organizational sciences that can be used by executives to prepare for and enhance their organizational change process, or for scholars to study the organizational change process.

Practical implications

Theoretically, this measure refines and extends the dynamic capabilities literature. Pragmatically, this measure provides a tool for assisting executives to lead organization change initiatives.

Originality/value

This measure provides a reliable and valid tool for assessing organizational change capacity, as well as provides a means for gauging improvement in organizational change capacity over time.
“This is not the same city”: narratives of postsocialist spatial change
Authors: Sliwa Martyna
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to extant literature on socioeconomic transition in Central and Eastern Europe through using a spatial lens in order to address, at the level of individual experience, some of the changes that have affected Polish society post‐1989.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts Taylor and Spicer's three‐fold conceptualisation of organizational space as a framework to present and discuss qualitative data collected through interviews.

Findings

This paper finds that socioeconomic restructuring has brought about changes in space conceived of as distance, as materialisation of power relations and as experience. In the narratives of research participants, present experience of space within the city they live and work in is related to their past experience and to their movement in the space. Different spaces are interconnected to form the individual's “mental map” of the city. The spatial dimension of postsocialist transition has an important impact upon the identities of individuals, and an analysis of narratives allows for gaining rich insights into the ambiguities and contradictions involved in evaluating its significance.

Research limitations/implications

An awareness of the link between the transformation of the city and social change contributes to the understanding of postsocialist transition.

Originality/value

By applying a spatial lens to analysis of the processes of social differentiation, as experienced at the micro‐level of individuals, this paper contributes to the literatures on organizational space and postsocialist transition.