bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Voltage control of magnetism in FeGaB/PIN-PMN-PT multiferroic heterostructures for high-power and high-temperature applications
Authors: Hu Zhongqiang , Nan Tianxiang , Wang Xinjun , Staruch Margo , Gao Yuan , Finkel Peter , Sun Nian X.
Published: January 2015

We report strong voltage tuning of magnetism in FeGaB deposited on [011]-poled Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PIN-PMN-PT) ternary single crystals to achieve more than 2 times broader operational range and increased thermal stability as compared to heterostructures based on binary relaxors. Voltage-induced effective ferromagnetic resonance field shift of 180 Oe for electric field from −6.7 kV/cm to 11 kV/cm was observed in FeGaB/PIN-PMN-PT heterostructures. This strong magnetoelectric coupling combined with excellent electric and temperature stability makes FeGaB/PIN-PMN-PT heterostructures potential candidates for high-power tunable radio frequency/microwave magnetic device applications.
Angular dependent study on ferromagnetic resonance and spin excitations by spin rectification
Authors: Zhang Yichao , Fan Xiaolong , Zhao Xiaobing , Rao Jinwei , Zhou Hengan , Guo Dangwei , Gui Y. S. , Hu C.-M. , Xue Desheng
Published: January 2015

We report angular dependent spin rectification spectra which are applied to studying spin excitations in single permalloy stripe. Based on planar Hall effect, those spin excitations generate special resonant dc Hall voltages, which have been characterized as functions of the amplitude and direction of applied magnetic field. Through high angular resolution 2D mappings, the evolutions of different spin excitation can be directly presented, and the dynamic magnetic parameters such as the gyromagnetic ratio, effective exchange field, as well as the quantized numbers of standing spin waves can be accurately determined through fitting the angular evolution of each resonance.
Controlling potential barrier height by changing V-shaped pit size and the effect on optical and electrical properties for InGaN/GaN based light-emitting diodes
Authors: Okada Narihito , Kashihara Hiroyuki , Sugimoto Kohei , Yamada Yoichi , Tadatomo Kazuyuki
Published: January 2015

The internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) with blue light emission was improved by inserting an InGaN/GaN superlattice (SL) beneath the MQWs. While the SL technique is useful for improving the light-emitting diode (LED) performance, its effectiveness from a multilateral point of view requires investigation. V-shaped pits (V-pits), which generate a potential barrier and screen the effect of the threading dislocation, are one of the candidates for increasing the light emission efficiency of LEDs exceptionally. In this research, we investigated the relationship between the V-pit and SL and revealed that the V-pit diameter is strongly correlated with the IQE by changing the number of SL periods. Using scanning near-field optical microscopy and photoluminescence measurements, we demonstrated the distinct presence of the potential barrier formed by the V-pits around the dislocations. The relationship between the V-pit and the number of SL periods resulted in changing the potential barrier height, which is related to the V-pit diameter determined by the number of SL periods. In addition, we made an attempt to insert pit expansion layers (PELs) composed of combination of SL and middle temperature grown GaN layer instead of only SL structure. As a result of the evaluation of LEDs using SL or PEL, the EL intensity was strongly related to pit diameter regardless of the structures to form the V-pits. In addition, it was clear that larger V-pits reduce the efficiency droop, which is considered to be suppression of the carrier loss at high injection current.
EBC-316, 325–327, and 345: New Pimarane Diterpenes from Croton insularis Found in the Australian Rainforest
Authors: Maslovskaya Lidia A. , Savchenko Andrei I. , Gordon Victoria A. , Reddell Paul W. , Pierce Carly J. , Parsons Peter G. , Williams Craig M.
Published: January 2015

Five new pimarane and related-type diterpenes (i.e. EBC-316, 325–327, and 345 (10–15)), together with two known pimaranes (EBC-221 (8) and EBC-346 (9)), were isolated from the stems of Croton insularis, found in the Australian rainforest. All pimarane diterpenes disclosed herein are suggested to be biogenetically related to the same keto-Jacobs–Reynolds intermediate 2, via ring A and C oxidation. Anticancer activities of compounds 11–13 are reported.
Soil organic carbon and nitrogen losses due to soil erosion and cropping in a sloping terrace landscape
Authors: Zhang J. H. , Wang Y. , Li F. C.
Published: January 2015

Effects of soil erosion and cropping on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks need to be addressed to better understand the processes of SOC loss following the conversion of natural ecosystems to agriculture. The aims of the present study were to: (1) understand the mechanism of SOC and total nitrogen (TN) losses in a small-scale agricultural landscape with sloping terraces; and (2) quantitatively assess vertical changes in SOC and TN of soil profiles at specific landscape positions and the lateral distribution of SOC and TN in areas with different soil erosion and deposition rates. Soil samples from cultivated land were collected at 5-m intervals along toposequences in different parts of hilly areas of the Sichuan Basin, China; uncultivated land was used as a reference for 137Cs, SOC and TN. The profile shape of SOC and total N depth distribution was markedly different between cultivated and uncultivated soils, with differences in descriptive coefficients of 2.1–3.4- and 2.0–3.2-fold for a, 1.2–2.2- and 1.0–1.8-fold for b, respectively, in the equation y = –aln(x) + b, where y is the depth SOC or TN concentration and x is the depth from the soil surface. SOC and TN concentrations in the surface soil horizon were significantly higher on uncultivated land (17.5 g kg–1) than on cultivated land (7.06–9.81 g kg–1). In particular, the 0–5 cm surface layer of uncultivated soils had 1.3-, 1.7-, and 2.3-fold higher SOC concentrations than that of the depositional, weak erosional and strong erosional areas, respectively, in cultivated soils. However, there were no significant differences in SOC and TN concentrations in subsoil layers between cultivated and uncultivated lands, suggesting that cropping is one of the factors causing SOC and N losses. SOC and TN inventories exhibited an increasing trend from the upper to toe proportions of the cultivated toposequences. In all the cultivated soils, SOC and TN concentrations of the surface soil horizon and inventories of SOC and TN were closely associated with 137Cs inventories (P < 0.001, P < 0.01, P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively), suggesting that soil erosion has an important impact on SOC and TN dynamics in the cultivated landscape. The results of this study suggest that soil erosion and cropping result in SOC and N losses, and that soil erosion contributes to marked variations in SOC and N distribution along the slope transect within individual sloping terraces, as well as in the entire landscape.
Different fire–climate relationships on forested and non-forested landscapes in the Sierra Nevada ecoregion
Authors: Keeley Jon E. , Syphard Alexandra D.
Published: January 2015

In the California Sierra Nevada region, increased fire activity over the last 50 years has only occurred in the higher-elevation forests on US Forest Service (USFS) lands, and is not characteristic of the lower-elevation grasslands, woodlands and shrublands on state responsibility lands (Cal Fire). Increased fire activity on USFS lands was correlated with warmer and drier springs. Although this is consistent with recent global warming, we found an equally strong relationship between fire activity and climate in the first half of the 20th century. At lower elevations, warmer and drier conditions were not strongly tied to fire activity over the last 90 years, although prior-year precipitation was significant. It is hypothesised that the fire–climate relationship in forests is determined by climatic effects on spring and summer fuel moisture, with hotter and drier springs leading to a longer fire season and more extensive burning. In contrast, future fire activity in the foothills may be more dependent on rainfall patterns and their effect on the herbaceous fuel load. We predict spring and summer warming will have a significant impact on future fire regimes, primarily in higher-elevation forests. Lower elevation ecosystems are likely to be affected as much by global changes that directly involve land-use patterns as by climate change.
Temporal Population Genetic Structure of Yellow Perch Spawning Groups in the Lower Great Lakes
Authors: Sullivan Timothy J. , Stepien Carol A.
Published: January 2015

This study tested the hypothesis that the genetic composition of Yellow Perch Perca flavescens spawning groups at specific sites remained consistent among years or age‐cohorts; this likely would influence spatial population structure and be important for delineating management units. Previous studies identified that spawning groups genetically differed among locations across fine geographic scales, but it was unknown whether these patterns persisted from year to year. We analyzed 15 nuclear DNA microsatellite loci from Yellow Perch spawning at six Lake Erie locations in 2009 in reference to two out‐groups spawning in Lakes St. Clair and Ontario. Results were compared with a prior study of samples from the same locations that had been collected in various years, ranging from 2001 to 2005. We evaluated consistency for two of the spawning groups across multiple birth‐year‐cohorts. Results indicated that the levels of genetic diversity were similar across all spawning groups and years. All eight spawning groups genetically differed from one other, with their allelic compositions varying between the two sampling periods. Some variation occurred among individual sampling years and birth‐cohorts, with the 2003 cohort being the most distinctive. Sampling groups contained relatively high proportions of full siblings (mean = 18.5%, ranging to 75% for the 2001 birth‐cohort spawning at the eastern Lake Erie site), yet inbreeding appeared relatively low. Differences at sampling sites over time did not appear to reflect genetic drift but may instead suggest that spawning groups reproduce in slightly different locations from year to year or perhaps within a given season; this merits examination. Spatial and temporal patterns may reflect kin‐group structuring and differential reproductive success, in which strong year‐classes dominate spawning groups and impact genetic structure.

Received October 28, 2013; accepted October 22, 2014
Origin of Atlantic Sturgeon Collected off the Delaware Coast during Spring Months
Authors: Wirgin Isaac , Breece Matthew W. , Fox Dewayne A. , Maceda Lorraine , Wark Kevin W. , King Tim
Published: January 2015

Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus was federally listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act as five distinct population segments (DPS). Currently, at least 18 estuaries coastwide host spawning populations and the viability of these vary, requiring differing levels of protection. Subadults emigrate from their natal estuaries to marine waters where they are vulnerable to bycatch; one of the major threats to the rebuilding of populations. As a result, identifying the population origin of Atlantic Sturgeon in coastal waters is critical to development of management plans intended to minimize interactions of the most imperiled populations with damaging fisheries. We used mitochondrial DNA control region sequencing and microsatellite DNA analyses to determine the origin of 261 Atlantic Sturgeon collected off the Delaware coast during the spring months. Using individual-based assignment (IBA) testing and mixed stock analysis, we found that specimens originated from all nine of our reference populations and the five DPSs used in the listing determination. Using IBA, we found that the Hudson River population was the largest contributor (38.3%) to our coastal collection. The James (19.9%) and Delaware (13.8%) river populations, at one time thought to be extirpated or nearly so, were the next largest contributors. The three populations combined in the South Atlantic DPS contributed 21% of specimens; the Altamaha River, the largest population in the South Atlantic DPS, only contributed a single specimen to the collection. While the origin of specimens collected on the Delaware coast was most likely within rivers of the New York Bight DPS (52.1%), specimens that originated elsewhere were also well represented. Genetic analyses provide a robust tool to identify the population origin of individual sturgeon outside of their natal estuaries and to determine the quantitative contributions of individual populations to coastal aggregations that are vulnerable to bycatch and other anthropogenic threats.

Received March 17, 2014; accepted September 3, 2014
South Texas Residency Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Training: 12-Month Outcomes
Authors: Malone Glenn P. , Vale Arismendez Shruthi , Schneegans Warzinski Suyen , Amodei Nancy , Burge Sandra K. , Wathen Patricia I. , Conde Michelle V. , Palmer Raymond , Williams Janet F.
Published: January 2015

Background

Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) is an efficacious and cost-effective skill set when implemented in primary care settings regarding hazardous alcohol use. This study assesses the impact of medical resident SBIRT training across 3 specialties and identifies predictors of change in trainee behavior, attitudes, and knowledge over 12 months.

Methods

This program's substance use SBIRT training was developed and tailored to fit diverse curricular objectives and settings across an array of medical residency programs in South Texas. The 329 residents training in pediatrics, family medicine, and internal medicine during 2009–2012 constituted the trainee group reported in this analysis. Surveys assessing SBIRT-related knowledge, current practice, confidence, role responsibility, attitudes, beliefs, and readiness to change were completed by 234 (71%) trainees at 3 time points: pre-training, then 30 days and 12 months post-initial training.

Results

SBIRT-related knowledge, confidence, and practice increased from pre-training to 12-month follow-up. Residents who reported the least amount of pre-training clinical and/or prior academic exposure to substance use reported the greatest SBIRT practice increases. When controlling for demographic and prior exposure variables, the largest contributor to variance in SBIRT practice was attributed to residents’ confidence in their SBIRT skills.

Conclusions

SBIRT training that employs diverse educational methodologies as part of customizing the training to residency specialties can similarly enhance SBIRT-related knowledge, confidence, and practice. Trainee report of limited prior clinical or academic exposure to substance use and/or low confidence regarding SBIRT skills and their professional role responsibilities related to substance use predicted trainee success and sustained SBIRT strategy application. When customizing SBIRT training, curriculum developers should consider leveraging and capacity building related to those factors predicting continued use of SBIRT practices.
Use of Penicillin and Streptomycin to Reduce Spread of Bacterial Coldwater Disease II: Efficacy of Using Antibiotics in Diluents and During Water Hardening
Authors: Oplinger Randall W. , Wagner Eric J. , Cavender Wade
Published: January 2015

Bacterial coldwater disease, caused by Flavobacterium psychrophilum, has lead to the loss of significant numbers of hatchery-reared salmonids. The bacteria can be spread from parent to progeny within contaminated sperm and ovarian fluid and can enter the egg during fertilization. The addition of antibiotics to diluents and water-hardening solutions could prevent the spread of the disease. In separate trials, a mixture of 0.197 mg/mL penicillin plus 0.313 mg/mL streptomycin was added to both a 0.5% sodium chloride fertilization diluent and hatchery well water during hardening. Tests showed that the addition of the antibiotics to the diluent and during up to 60 min of water hardening had no effect on the eye-up, hatch and deformity rates of Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss eggs compared with the nonantibiotic-treated controls. Also, significant reductions in the prevalence of F. psychrophilum on the surface and inside eggs were observed when compared with controls. These results indicate that the addition of penicillin and streptomycin to diluents and during water hardening can prevent the vertical transmission of bacterial coldwater disease.

Received May 1, 2014; accepted July 10, 2014
Cod pots in a Baltic fishery: are they efficient and what affects their efficiency?
Authors: Königson Sara J. , Fredriksson Ronny E. , Lunneryd Sven-Gunnar , Strömberg Patrick , Bergström Ulf M.
Published: January 2015

With the growing grey seal population in the Baltic Sea, the inshore cod fishery has suffered dramatic increases in both catch losses and damage to fishing gear. To mitigate this situation, cod pots were evaluated as an alternative to traditional gillnets and longlines. During a 3-year study, cod pots were used by commercial fishers in two areas off the coast of Sweden. Using the data from this study, we evaluated catches from pots in relation to other gear types and investigated the effects of environmental and fisheries-related variables such as depth and soak time. The comparison of pots with other gear types showed that, during the first half of the year, the pot fishery generated lower daily catches than the gillnet and longline fisheries at comparable fishing efforts. During the second half of the year, catches in the pot fishery exceeded or were equal to those in the traditional fisheries. Using generalized additive models to evaluate the impact of environmental and fisheries-related variables on pot catches, we showed that, in both areas, the catch per unit effort (cpue) of legal-sized cod was affected by the water depth, the time of year (months), and the soak time. In one of the areas, cpue was also affected by the direction of the water current in relation to the orientation of the string of pots. The cpue of undersized cod was affected by topographic variables such as the slope and the complexity of the bottom, in addition to the water depth, month of the year, and soak time. The results from the study indicate that pots can be a useful alternative gear in the Baltic cod fishery, at least during part of the year. By using our information on how catches are affected by environmental and fisheries-related variables, the pot fishery may be further optimized to increase catches.
Two novel NAC transcription factors regulate gene expression and flowering time by associating with the histone demethylase JMJ14
Authors: Ning Yong-Qiang , Ma Ze-Yang , Huang Huan-Wei , Mo Huixian , Zhao Ting-ting , Li Lin , Cai Tao , Chen She , Ma Ligeng , He Xin-Jian
Published: January 2015

The histone demethylase JMJ14 catalyzes histone demethylation at lysine 4 of histone 3 and is involved in transcriptional repression and flowering time control in Arabidopsis. Here, we report that JMJ14 is physically associated with two previously uncharacterized NAC transcription factors, NAC050 and NAC052. The NAC050/052-RNAi plants and the CRISPR-CAS9-mediated nac050/052 double mutant plants show an early flowering phenotype, which is similar to the phenotype of jmj14, suggesting a functional association between JMJ14 and NAC050/052. RNA-seq data indicated that hundreds of common target genes are co-regulated by JMJ14 and NAC50/052. Our ChIP analysis demonstrated that JMJ14 and NAC050 directly bind to co-upregulated genes shared in jmj14 and NAC050/052-RNAi, thereby facilitating H3K4 demethylation and transcriptional repression. The NAC050/052 recognition DNA cis-element was identified by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay at the promoters of its target genes. Together, our study identifies two novel NAC transcription repressors and demonstrates that they are involved in transcriptional repression and flowering time control by associating with the histone demethylase JMJ14.
Detection of recurrent alternative splicing switches in tumor samples reveals novel signatures of cancer
Authors: Sebestyén Endre , Zawisza Michał , Eyras Eduardo
Published: January 2015

The determination of the alternative splicing isoforms expressed in cancer is fundamental for the development of tumor-specific molecular targets for prognosis and therapy, but it is hindered by the heterogeneity of tumors and the variability across patients. We developed a new computational method, robust to biological and technical variability, which identifies significant transcript isoform changes across multiple samples. We applied this method to more than 4000 samples from the The Cancer Genome Atlas project to obtain novel splicing signatures that are predictive for nine different cancer types, and find a specific signature for basal-like breast tumors involving the tumor-driver CTNND1. Additionally, our method identifies 244 isoform switches, for which the change occurs in the most abundant transcript. Some of these switches occur in known tumor drivers, including PPARG, CCND3, RALGDS, MITF, PRDM1, ABI1 and MYH11, for which the switch implies a change in the protein product. Moreover, some of the switches cannot be described with simple splicing events. Surprisingly, isoform switches are independent of somatic mutations, except for the tumor-suppressor FBLN2 and the oncogene MYH11. Our method reveals novel signatures of cancer in terms of transcript isoforms specifically expressed in tumors, providing novel potential molecular targets for prognosis and therapy. Data and software are available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.1061917 and https://bitbucket.org/regulatorygenomicsupf/iso-ktsp.
The ATP-mediated formation of the YgjD–YeaZ–YjeE complex is required for the biosynthesis of tRNA t6A in Escherichia coli
Authors: Zhang Wenhua , Collinet Bruno , Perrochia Ludovic , Durand Dominique , van Tilbeurgh Herman
Published: January 2015

The essential and universal N6-threonylcarbamoyladenosine (t6A) modification at position 37 of ANN-decoding tRNAs plays a pivotal role in translational fidelity through enhancement of the cognate codon recognition and stabilization of the codon–anticodon interaction. In Escherichia coli, the YgjD (TsaD), YeaZ (TsaB), YjeE (TsaE) and YrdC (TsaC) proteins are necessary and sufficient for the in vitro biosynthesis of t6A, using tRNA, ATP, L-threonine and bicarbonate as substrates. YrdC synthesizes the short-lived L-threonylcarbamoyladenylate (TCA), and YgjD, YeaZ and YjeE cooperate to transfer the L-threonylcarbamoyl-moiety from TCA onto adenosine at position 37 of substrate tRNA. We determined the crystal structure of the heterodimer YgjD–YeaZ at 2.3 Å, revealing the presence of an unexpected molecule of ADP bound at an atypical site situated at the YgjD–YeaZ interface. We further showed that the ATPase activity of YjeE is strongly activated by the YgjD–YeaZ heterodimer. We established by binding experiments and SAXS data analysis that YgjD–YeaZ and YjeE form a compact ternary complex only in presence of ATP. The formation of the ternary YgjD–YeaZ–YjeE complex is required for the in vitro biosynthesis of t6A but not its ATPase activity.
Using Next-generation RNA Sequencing to Examine Ischemic Changes Induced by Cold Blood Cardioplegia on the Human Left Ventricular Myocardium Transcriptome
Authors: Muehlschlegel Jochen D. , Christodoulou Danos C. , McKean David , Gorham Joshua , Mazaika Erica , Heydarpour Mahyar , Lee Grace , DePalma Steven R. , Perry Tjorvi E. , Fox Amanda A. , Shernan Stanton K. , Seidman Christine E. , Aranki Sary F. , Seidman Jon G. , Body Simon C.
Published: January 2015

AbstractAbstract

The authors have performed a comprehensive genomic analysis of human heart exposed to cold cardioplegia-induced myocardial ischemia providing novel information regarding gene regulation during ischemia. The results further our understanding of the pathological response of the human heart to stress and identify novel interventional targets for future therapies.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Background:

The exact mechanisms that underlie the pathological processes of myocardial ischemia in humans are unclear. Cardiopulmonary bypass with cardioplegic arrest allows the authors to examine the whole transcriptional profile of human left ventricular myocardium at baseline and after exposure to cold cardioplegia-induced ischemia as a human ischemia model.

Methods:

The authors obtained biopsies from 45 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement surgery at baseline and after an average of 79 min of cold cardioplegic arrest. Samples were RNA sequenced and analyzed with the Partek® Genomics Suite (Partek Inc., St. Louis, MO) for differential expression. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (Ingenuity Systems, Redwood City, CA) and Biobase ExPlain (Biobase GmbH, Wolfenbuettel, Germany) systems were used for functional and pathway analyses.

Results:

Of the 4,098 genes with a mean expression value greater than 5, 90% were down-regulated and 9.1% were up-regulated. Of those, 1,241 were significantly differentially expressed. Gene ontology analysis revealed significant down-regulation in immune inflammatory response and complement activation categories and highly consistent was the down-regulation of intelectin 1, proteoglycan, and secretory leukocyte peptidase inhibitor. Up-regulated genes of interest were FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog and the hemoglobin genes hemoglobin α1 (HBA1) and hemoglobin β. In addition, analysis of transcription factor–binding sites revealed interesting targets in factors regulating reactive oxygen species production, apoptosis, immunity, cytokine production, and inflammatory response.

Conclusions:

The authors have shown that the human left ventricle exhibits significant changes in gene expression in response to cold cardioplegia-induced ischemia during cardiopulmonary bypass, which provides great insight into the pathophysiology of ventricular ischemia, and thus, may help guide efforts to reduce myocardial damage during surgery.
Individual Differences in Acute Pain-induced Endogenous Analgesia Predict Time to Resolution of Postoperative Pain in the Rat
Authors: Peters Christopher M. , Hayashida Ken-ichiro , Suto Takashi , Houle Timothy T. , Aschenbrenner Carol A. , Martin Thomas J. , Eisenach James C.
Published: January 2015

AbstractAbstract

In a preclinical model of postoperative nerve injury, weak conditioned pain modulation and spinal noradrenergic depletion predicted persistent pain suggesting possible mechanisms for persistent pain after surgery.

Background:

Chronic postsurgical pain, a significant public health problem, occurs in 10 to 50% of patients undergoing major surgery. Acute pain induces endogenous analgesia termed conditioned pain modulation (CPM), and the strength of CPM preoperatively predicts the likelihood of chronic postsurgical pain. The relation between CPM and recovery from surgery has not been examined in preclinical models.

Methods:

CPM was assessed in individual rats and correlated with each animal’s time course of recovery of hypersensitivity after partial spinal nerve ligation. The role of descending noradrenergic pathways in the spinal cord to mechanisms of CPM and recovery was tested using idazoxan to block noradrenergic receptors or antidopamine β-hydroxylase–conjugated saporin to ablate these pathways. Behavioral hypersensitivity, static weight bearing, and spinal glial activation were measured after partial spinal nerve ligation.

Results:

The strength of CPM varied over two-fold between individuals and was directly correlated with the slope of recovery from hypersensitivity after surgery (P < 0.0001; r = 0.660). CPM induced the release of norepinephrine in the spinal cord and was partially blocked by intrathecal idazoxan or dopamine β-hydroxylase-saporin. Dopamine β-hydroxylase-saporin also slowed recovery and enhanced spinal glial activation after partial spinal nerve ligation surgery. Ongoing activation of these pathways was critical to sustained recovery because intrathecal dopamine β-hydroxylase-saporin given 7 weeks after recovery reinstituted hypersensitivity, while having no effect in animals without previous surgery.

Conclusion:

Collectively, these studies provide a clear back-translation from clinical observations of CPM and chronic postsurgical pain and suggest that the ability to engage ongoing descending endogenous noradrenergic signaling may be critical in determining time course of recovery from hypersensitivity after surgery.
Thai consumers’ purchase decisions and private label brands
Authors: Thanasuta Kandapa
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– Private label brands have achieved double-digit growth in the Thai market. To expand market share, private label brands need to identify clearly what triggers consumer purchases. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between consumer decision-making styles and actual purchases of private label products in a Thai market context, using price consciousness, quality consciousness, brand consciousness, value consciousness, and risk perception as factors for investigation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Responses from a total of 240 respondents from four product categories were collected through mall intercepts in five hypermarkets and supermarkets in Bangkok, and a regression-based model was employed to identify the associations.

Findings

– The results indicate a significant relationship between price-conscious and brand-conscious consumers, and private label purchases and show that the relationship between quality-conscious, value-conscious, and risk-adverse consumers and private label purchases is insignificant. It concludes that price-conscious consumers are the ones most likely to purchase private label products in low-differentiation categories. An opposite relationship prevails for consumers who are brand conscious in low-differentiation, high-risk, and low-risk categories.

Research limitations/implications

– The outcomes of this research suggest that private label brands should maintain a low-price strategy while striving for continuous improvement in quality to capture additional quality- and value-conscious consumers. It also suggests that national brands invest in brand-building strategies rather than competing on price.

Originality/value

– This study enhances an understanding of consumer decision-making characteristics for actual private label purchases rather than the intention to purchase and is useful in suggesting an alternative to socio-economic factors as a method of identifying private label purchasers.
Two paths to diversification
Authors: Dhandapani Karthik , Upadhyayula Rajesh S.
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of related diversification across service offerings and industry domains for professional service firms (PSFs) in emerging economies by integrating the reputational and economies of scope perspectives of diversification. The paper also provides insights into how related diversification impacts small and medium sized firms differently.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using unique data from the Indian Information Technology industry, the authors examine the impact of related diversification along service offerings and industry domains on export performance of firms.

Findings

– The results show that related diversification across specializations and industry domains impact performance differently across different firm sizes. While the authors find that related diversification across service offerings has an inverted U shape with performance for the medium sized firms, they do not impact performance for small sized firms. Performance of small firms has a U shaped relationship with relatedness in industry domains. The study shows that reputation transfer across industry domains play a significant role in the performance of small size firms whereas the ability to realize economies of scope by cross selling multiple services across clients do matter for performance of medium sized firms.

Practical implications

– Managers of small PSFs need to expand along related industry domains whereas managers from medium sized firms can experiment across service offerings to exploit economies of scope.

Originality/value

– The study contributes to hitherto unexamined research on related diversification in PSFs. The study is one of the few studies to examine relatedness along more than one dimension in an intra-industry context.
The bottom of the pyramid: an integrative approach
Authors: Rabino Samuel
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the concept of the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) in the context of the knowledge economy.

Design/methodology/approach

– A conceptual approach integrating the BOP perspective, diffusion of innovations, and the new product development process.

Findings

– This paper structures a framework that might be helpful in advancing the competitiveness and product development capabilities of multinationals.

Practical implications

– The paper provides managers of multinational companies with an organized way of evaluating opportunities in BOP markets in the context of a global knowledge economy.

Originality/value

– The paper incorporates ideas and theories from three business and marketing fields into a framework that could be used as basis for an action plan.
Marketing issues for business-to-business firms entering emerging markets
Authors: Cassia Fabio , Magno Francesca
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively explore marketing issues for foreign industrial companies of large, small and medium size entering emerging markets (EMs), particularly transition economies in Eastern Europe. The vast majority of current studies about EMs focus only on defining suitable strategies related to large consumer goods corporations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research adopted a multiple case study approach. Five Italian companies belonging to different business-to-business industries that have entered emerging countries in Eastern Europe were selected for investigation.

Findings

– Empirical analysis uncovered recurring issues related to: institutional factors causing market uncertainty and instability; difficulties in building a sales network; a need for product adaptation to guarantee satisfactory performance; choices related to communication, branding and trade fairs; and considerations about competition and first mover advantage. Results can be interpreted as an extension of the analysis of institutional voids by Khanna and Palepu (1997).

Research limitations/implications

– The study is based on the analysis of five case studies of companies operating in specific EMs, namely in Eastern Europe Countries (EEc) Further research based on different samples and different emerging countries is needed before generalizing results.

Practical implications

– The study shows that the main institutional void affecting business-to-business companies entering EMs is the lack of locally developed sales and after-sales networks. This institutional void slows the entry process of business-to-business companies in EMs. Given these constraints, from the perspective of business-to-business SMEs, it may be fruitful to pursue niche positioning in EMs.

Originality/value

– The study analyzes EMs opportunities and entry strategies from the business-to-business marketing perspective, uncovering the most critical issues.
Directors’ duties in the context of Confucianism
Authors: Lam Charles KN , Goo S.H.
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how Confucianism can be applied in the areas that are now governed by company law in the common law system and how it can play a role in improving corporate governance. A gentleman in the context of Confucianism tends to be inclusive and broad-minded in embracing the interest of different stakeholders. In fact, he will balance the interests of shareholders and other stakeholders if there is any inherent conflict and try to achieve a win-win situation. Ultimately, he will run the company not just for profit-making but for social justice and commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors examine the leading cases in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom about the law of fiduciary duty and the duty of care and its relationship with Confucianism. In this respect, we review the teachings of the traditional Confucian texts and use Confucianism to fill in the gap where common law rules cannot reach. In addition, we adopt a comparative study approach in examining the law of directors’ duties in Hong Kong, China and the United Kingdom.

Findings

– It can be seen that the concept of fiduciary duty and duty of care is quite complicated and evolving and always subject to the interpretations of the court from time to time. For fiduciary duty, the term itself is quite conceptual and not immediately available to the general public. But loyalty in the context of Confucianism is a very lively and down-to-earth moral principle. Besides, fiduciary duty is imposed from outside, where directors had no choice but to accept. But loyalty in the context of Confucianism is something inherent and something from within. It is a moral principle that if you deeply understand the meaning of it, you will automatically accept it as a good virtue and your conduct will naturally be guided by such a principle. Confucianism can thereby be used to fill the gap where rules and regulations cannot reach. Confucian business ethics and common law rule should be complementary to each other in the development of a Chinese corporate governance system.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first of its kind in discussing the relationship between the law of directors’ duties and Confucianism. It argues that Confucianism plays a crucial role in guiding the behavior of the directors and can supplement the abstract principles of directors’ duties in the context of a Chinese corporate governance system.
British law on corporate bribery
Authors: Mukwiri Jonathan
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to assess the effectiveness of the Bribery Act 2010 in curbing corporate bribery.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper takes a doctrinal focus in assessing UK bribery law using both primary and secondary sources.

Findings

– This paper finds that the effectiveness of the Bribery Act 2010 in curbing bribery lies in its approach of changing the basis for corporate criminal liability from focusing on the guilt of personnel within the company to focusing on the quality of the system governing the activities of the company. Companies have to address the risks of bribery or risk facing liability for failure to prevent bribery. With its regulatory approach to corporate liability, coupled with its extraterritorial reach, the Bribery Act is likely to change business cultures that facilitate bribery, thereby proving an effective law to corporate bribes.

Originality/value

– This paper highlights the deficiency of earlier laws in tackling corporate bribery, examines the crime of bribery from a company law perspective and argues that the regulatory strategy in the Bribery Act is likely to be an effective tool against bribery.
Debt financing and firm performance: an empirical study based on Swedish data
Authors: Yazdanfar Darush , Öhman Peter
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between debt level and performance among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

– Unlike the vast majority of previous research, this study uses three-stage least squares (3SLS) and fixed-effects models to analyse a comprehensive, cross-sectoral sample of 15,897 Swedish SMEs operating in five industry sectors during the 2009-2012 period.

Findings

– This study confirms that debt ratios, in terms of trade credit, short-term debt and long-term debt, negatively affect firm performance in terms of profitability. As a high debt ratio seems to increase the agency costs and the risk of losing control of the firm, SME owners and managers tend to finance their businesses with equity capital to a fairly high degree.

Practical implications

– As debt policy significantly influences firm performance, and thereby firm value and survival, SME owners and managers should focus on finding a satisfactory debt level.

Originality/value

– To the authors’ best knowledge, this study is among the first to use 3SLS and fixed-effects models to analyse the relationship between debt level and firm performance. Moreover, while most previous research has examined listed firms, this study highlights the issue among SMEs, which play a fundamental role in the economy.
Workplace spirituality and stress: evidence from Mexico and US
Authors: Daniel Jose Luis
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to study the relationship between three dimensions of workplace spirituality (inner life, meaningful work and sense of community) and work stress in Mexico and the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

– Structural equation modeling was used as the statistical tool. The technique for conducting the analysis was partial least squared. The total sample size consisted of 304 individuals from both countries.

Findings

– Results show that for both countries, inner life and sense of community were found to be insignificant. However, meaningful work was found to be negatively and significantly correlated with work stress for both countries. Results suggest that in both countries, when employees conduct meaningful activities, they perceive less stress.

Research limitations/implications

– For the US sample, an important percentage of individuals were part-time workers. This could have an effect on the perception of workplace spirituality and work stress because the employees do no spend enough time in the workplace. Second, compared to Mexico, the majority of the US sample was collected in the southern part of the country.

Practical implications

– Results can provide guidance for human resources managers and business specialists to understand the importance of conducting meaningful activities at work to control, manage and prevent stress at work. For instance, rotation at work of employees could be a potential technique for stress reduction.

Originality/value

– This study contributes by studying samples from two different countries. In addition, it seeks to understand the relationship between workplace spirituality and work stress.
The mediating role of burnout on the relationship of emotional intelligence and self-efficacy with OCB and performance
Authors: Cohen Aaron , Abedallah Mohamed
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to examined the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI), self-efficacy and two outcome variables: in-role performance and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). The study also examined whether burnout mediates this relationship. The target population included Arab teachers in Israel.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey was performed. Usable questionnaires were returned by 221 teachers; therefore, the response rate was 88 per cent.

Findings

– Hierarchical linear models and mediation analyses showed that EI and self-efficacy are related to OCB, and in-role performance and burnout have a strong and negative relationship with the outcome variables. Mediation analysis using Preacher and Hayes’s (2004, 2008) approach showed that burnout mediates the relationship of EI and self-efficacy with the three outcome variables.

Practical implications

– The findings emphasize the role of the two personal variables examined here as important determinants of job performance and OCB, and demonstrate the importance of burnout in understanding OCB.

Originality/value

– This study will contribute to the literature on OCB and work performance by examining the rarely researched relationships between EI and self-efficacy, on the one hand, and between OCB and in-role performance, on the other. Further, this study will argue that burnout mediates the relationship between these personal and outcome variables.
Consumer attitude towards service failure and recovery in higher education
Authors: Chahal Hardeep , Devi Pinkey
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore consumer attitude towards service failure and recovery in the higher education in general and with respect to teaching, examination, library, computer lab, administration and infrastructure in particular.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data are collected from 120 students of three undergraduate colleges of University of Jammu using purposive sampling.

Findings

– The findings reveal that all recovery efforts pertaining to teaching, examination, library, computer lab, administration and infrastructure are significant in overcoming the respective service failures.

Research limitations/implications

– The present study is limited to address service failure and service recovery relationship with respect to teaching, examination, library, computer lab, administration and infrastructure and limited to three undergraduate colleges operating in Jammu city only. The sample of the study is small which needs to be considered before generalizing the results.

Originality/value

– This study makes a maiden attempt to identify service failure issues with respect to teaching, examination, library, computer lab, administration and infrastructure using quantitative methodology in higher education and role of service recovery strategies in monitoring and reducing service failure.
Dimensions driving business student satisfaction in higher education
Authors: Yusoff Mazirah , McLeay Fraser , Woodruffe-Burton Helen
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to identify the dimensions of business student satisfaction in the Malaysian private higher educational environment and evaluate the influence that demographic factors have on satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 1,200 undergraduate business students at four private higher educational (PHE) institutions in Malaysia. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the underlying dimensions that drive student satisfaction. ANOVA and t-tests were conducted to evaluate the influence that demographic factors have on the results.

Findings

– Factor analysis resulted in the adoption of a 12-factor solution from an original set of 53 satisfaction items. The results also indicated the influence of demographic factors on the level of business student satisfaction.

Originality/value

– This study identified 12 factors or the underlying dimensions that drive business student satisfaction in the Malaysian PHE. The 12 factors are: professional comfortable environment; student assessments and learning experiences; classroom environment; lecture and tutorial facilitating goods; textbook and tuition fees; student support facilities; business procedures; relationship with teaching staff; knowledgeable and responsive faculty; staff helpfulness; feedback; and class sizes. Understanding these factors could help educational institutions to better plan their strategies and inform academics interested in studying student satisfaction.