bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interatrial mechanical dyssynchrony shown by tissue doppler imaging during atrial flutter
Authors: Mori Shumpei , Tada Norio , Sakurai Mie , Suzuki Kenji , Takizawa Kaname , Ootomo Tatsushi , Mitsuoka Mikio , Ito Yuuko , Inoue Naoto , Meguro Taiichiro
Published: March 2012

Although regular supraventricular tachycardia is traditionally classified on the basis of P‐wave morphology, diagnostic accuracy is limited to information obtained from surface electrocardiography. Intracardiac electrophysiology is a conclusive although invasive diagnostic method. We report a case of regular supraventricular tachycardia with a heart rate of 162 bpm. M‐mode echocardiography of the interatrial septum clarified both the atrial rate and the ventricular response ratio. Tissue Doppler M‐mode imaging demonstrated the delay between the posterior wall motion of the left and right atrium. Although it deserves further study, transthoracic echocardiography may provide useful information in addition to electrocardiography. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2012
All‐optical multi‐wavelength header recognition using superimposed Bragg gratings based correlators
Authors: Golmohammadi S. , Akbar Nejad V. , Abbasian K. , Rostami A.
Published: March 2012

We have demonstrated that an optical correlator, based on superimposed Bragg gratings, can be used as all‐optical multi‐wavelength header recognition in optical packet switching networks. The proposed correlator is composed of two superimposed gratings in conjunction with variable delay lines. These superimposed Bragg gratings are used to demultiplex and multiplex the wavelength components of multi‐wavelength header bit patterns. The variable delay lines create a wavelength profile that can be matched with any arbitrary bit patterns. Simulation results for all optical recognition of four‐bit patterns at 10 Gbps are reported. The results show that when the header bit pattern matches the wavelength profile of the correlator, the generated auto‐correlation function will include a high amplitude peak; otherwise, a cross‐correlation function with low amplitude peaks will be generated in the output of the correlator. Considering this idea, multi‐wavelength header is recognized by using all‐optical processing method. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A meshless technique employing radial basis functions to determine the electromagnetic fields near material interfaces in 2D and 3D
Authors: Gordon Richard K. , Hutchcraft Winn Elliott
Published: March 2012

This paper discusses the use of radial basis functions in the solution of partial differential equations. In particular, a convenient technique for implementing boundary conditions at material interfaces is presented. Solutions that are obtained using this technique are compared with analytic solutions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dynamic change of numbl expression after sciatic nerve crush and its role in Schwann cell differentiation
Authors: Zhu Lin , Yan Yaohua , Ke Kaifu , Wu Xinming , Gao Yilu , Shen Aiguo , Li Jing , Kang Lihua , Zhang Guowei , Wu Qiyun , Yang Huiguang
Published: March 2012

Numbl, as a conserved homolog of Drosophila Numb, has been implicated in early development of the nervous system, but its expression and roles in nervous system lesion and repair remained unknown. Here, we performed an acute sciatic nerve injury model in adult rats and studied the dynamic changes of Numbl expression in the sciatic nerve. Temporally, Numbl expression was sharply decreased after sciatic nerve crush and reached a valley at day 7. Spatially, Numbl was widely expressed in the normal sciatic nerve, including axons and Schwann cells, whereas, after injury, Numbl expression was decreased predominantly in Schwann cells. In vitro, we induced Schwann cell differentiation with cAMP and found that Numbl expression was decreased in the differentiated process. Depletion of Numbl could promote Schwann cell differentiation. In addition, we demonstrated that in vitro myelination was suppressed by overexpression of Numbl in Schwann cells. Collectively, we hypothesized peripheral nerve injury induced a downregulation of Numbl in the sciatic nerve, which was associated with Schwann cell differentiation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of the impact conditions on the mechanical properties of injection‐molded parts
Authors: Barbosa Carlos N. , Viana Júlio C. , Franzen Markus , Simoes Ricardo
Published: March 2012

This work focused on the study of the impact event on molded parts in the framework of automotive components. The influence of the impact conditions and processing parameters on the mechanical behavior of talc‐filled polypropylene specimens was analyzed. The specimens were lateral‐gate discs produced by injection molding, and the mechanical characterization was performed through instrumented falling weight impact tests concomitantly assisted with high‐speed videography. Results analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) method have shown that from the considered parameters, only the dart diameter and test temperature have significant influence on the falling weight impact properties. Higher dart diameter leads to higher peak force and peak energy results. Conversely, higher levels of test temperatures lead to lower values of peak force and peak energy. By means of high‐speed videography, a more brittle fracture was observed for experiments with higher levels of test velocity and dart diameter and lower levels of test temperature. The injection‐molding process conditions assessed in this study have an influence on the impact response of moldings, mainly on the deformation capabilities of the moldings. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 52:1845–1853, 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Density‐cluster NMA: A new protein decomposition technique for coarse‐grained normal mode analysis
Authors: Demerdash Omar N. A. , Mitchell Julie C.
Published: March 2012

Normal mode analysis has emerged as a useful technique for investigating protein motions on long time scales. This is largely due to the advent of coarse‐graining techniques, particularly Hooke's Law‐based potentials and the rotational–translational blocking (RTB) method for reducing the size of the force‐constant matrix, the Hessian. Here we present a new method for domain decomposition for use in RTB that is based on hierarchical clustering of atomic density gradients, which we call Density‐Cluster RTB (DCRTB). The method reduces the number of degrees of freedom by 85–90% compared with the standard blocking approaches. We compared the normal modes from DCRTB against standard RTB using 1–4 residues in sequence in a single block, with good agreement between the two methods. We also show that Density‐Cluster RTB and standard RTB perform well in capturing the experimentally determined direction of conformational change. Significantly, we report superior correlation of DCRTB with B‐factors compared with 1–4 residue per block RTB. Finally, we show significant reduction in computational cost for Density‐Cluster RTB that is nearly 100‐fold for many examples. Proteins 2012; © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dietary Supplementation with 22‐S‐Hydroxycholesterol to Rats Reduces Body Weight Gain and the Accumulation of Liver Triacylglycerol
Authors: Kase Eili Tranheim , Nikolić Nataša , Hessvik Nina Pettersen , Fjeldheim Åse‐Karine , Jensen Jørgen , Thoresen G. Hege , Rustan Arild C.
Published: March 2012

This study explores the pharmacokinetics of 22‐S‐hydroxycholesterol (22SHC) in vivo in rats. We also carried out a metabolic study to explore whether the beneficial effects observed of 22SHC on glucose and lipid metabolism in vitro could be seen in vivo in rats. In the pharmacokinetic study, rats were given 50 mg/kg of [3H]22‐S‐hydroxycholesterol before absorption, distribution and excretion were monitored. In the metabolic study, the effect of 22SHC (30 mg/kg/day for 3 weeks) in rats on body weight gain [chow and high‐fat diet (HFD)], serum lipids triacylglycerol (TAG) content and gene expression in liver and skeletal muscle were examined. Results showed that 22SHC was well absorbed after oral administration and distributed to most organs and mainly excreted in feces. Rats receiving 22SHC gained less body weight than their controls regardless whether the animals received chow diet or HFD. Moreover, we observed that animals receiving HFD had elevated levels of serum TAG while this was not observed for animals on HFD supplemented with 22SHC. The amount of TAG in liver was reduced after 22SHC treatment in animals receiving either chow diet or HFD. Gene expression analysis revealed that two genes (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 and uncoupling protein 3) involved in fatty acid oxidation and energy dissipation were increased in liver. Ucp3 expression (both protein and mRNA level) was increased in skeletal muscle, but insulin‐stimulated glucose uptake and TAG content were unchanged. In conclusion, 22SHC seems to be an interesting model substance in the search of treatments for disorders involving aberrations in lipid metabolism.
Reduced expression of nuclear factor kB in oral mucosa undergoing preoperative chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Ikebe Tetsuro , Yamasaki Keiko , Takamune Yasuo , Nakayama Hideki , Shinohara Masanori
Published: March 2012

Radiotherapy as well as chemotherapy in head and neck cancer induces severe oral mucositis. Even after healing of the mucositis, however, the oral mucosa looking atrophic is known to be susceptible to injury and infection. In order to investigate such vulnerability of mucosa, we immunohistochemically studied the expressions of Ki‐67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin D1, nuclear factor (NF)‐kB, and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) receptor in the oral mucosal keratinocytes undergoing preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for oral cancer, compared with those of the oral mucosa without such therapy. As a result, the expressions of Ki‐67, PCNA, and cyclin D1 were decreased in the chemoradiotherapy‐treated oral keratinocytes. Interestingly, NF‐kB expression, which is known to be enhanced in oral mucositis, was reduced after chemoradiotherapy. The chemoradiotherapy had no effect on the expression of KGF receptor in oral keratinocytes. In conclusion, the vulnerability of oral mucosa undergoing chemoradiation may be associated with reduced NF‐kB expression and impaired growth activity.
Blow-up of solutions of a quasilinear parabolic equation
Authors: Suzuki Ryuichi , Umeda Noriaki
Published: March 2012

We consider non-negative solutions of the Cauchy problem for quasilinear parabolic equations ut = Δum + f(u), where m > 1 and f(ξ) is a positive function in ξ > 0 satisfying f(0) = 0 and a blow-up condition

We show that if ξm+2/N /(−log ξ)β = O(f(ξ)) as ξ ↓ 0 for some 0 < β < 2/(mN + 2), one of the following holds: (i) all non-trivial solutions blow up in finite time; (ii) every non-trivial solution with an initial datum u0 having compact support exists globally in time and grows up to ∞ as t → ∞: limtt→∞ inf|x| 0. Moreover, we give a condition on f such that (i) holds, and show the existence of f such that (ii) holds.
Prolonged Therapeutic Hypothermia does not Adversely Impact Neuroplasticity after Global Ischemia in Rats
Authors: Silasi Gergely , Klahr Ana C , Hackett Mark J , Auriat Angela M , Nichol Helen , Colbourne Frederick
Published: March 2012

Hypothermia improves clinical outcome after cardiac arrest in adults. Animal data show that a day or more of cooling optimally reduces edema and tissue injury after cerebral ischemia, especially after longer intervention delays. Lengthy treatments, however, may inhibit repair processes (e.g., synaptogenesis). Thus, we evaluated whether unilateral brain hypothermia (∼33°C) affects neuroplasticity in the rat 2-vessel occlusion model. In the first experiment, we cooled starting 1 hour after ischemia for 2, 4, or 7 days. Another group was cooled for 2 days starting 48 hours after ischemia. One group remained normothermic throughout. All hypothermia treatments started 1 hour after ischemia equally reduced hippocampal CA1 injury in the cooled hemisphere compared with the normothermic side and the normothermic group. Cooling only on days 3 and 4 was not beneficial. Importantly, no treatment influenced neurogenesis (Ki67/Doublecortin (DCX) staining), synapse formation (synaptophysin), or brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) immunohistochemistry. A second experiment confirmed that BDNF levels (ELISA) were equivalent in normothermic and 7-day cooled rats. Last, we measured zinc (Zn), which is important in plasticity, with X-ray fluorescence imaging in normothermic and 7-day cooled rats. Hypothermia did not alter the postischemic distribution of Zn within the hippocampus. In summary, cooling significantly mitigates injury without compromising neuroplasticity.
The solid phase supported peptide synthesis of analogues of the lantibiotic lactocin S
Authors: McKinnie Shaun M. K. , Ross Avena C. , Little Michael J. , Vederas John C.
Published: March 2012

Four analogues of lactocin S, an antimicrobial lantibiotic peptide produced by Lactobacillus sakei L45, have been generated using solid phase peptide synthesis. These compounds show enhanced oxidative stability to atmospheric oxygen and provide information on structure–activity relationships.
High-speed creep process mediated by rapid dislocation absorption in nanocrystalline Cu
Authors: Mu Junwei , Jiang Zhonghao , Zheng Weitao , Tian Hongwei , Lian Jianshe , Jiang Qing
Published: March 2012

A high-speed creep process mediated by rapid dislocation absorption was found in the nanoindentation creep test on nanocrystalline Cu. The creep strain and creep strain rate depend strongly on the loading strain rate and are far higher than those predicted by the models of Coble creep and thermally activated grain boundary sliding. Our analysis revealed that grain boundary dislocation sources can be activated and emitted dislocations from grain boundaries can be stored effectively at a high loading strain rate, but cannot at a low loading strain rate. The observed high-speed creep process is mediated mainly by the rapid absorptions of the stored dislocations and the dislocations newly nucleated during the holding period. An implication of our experimental finding is that dislocation structure in nanocrystalline metals is highly unstable and dislocation activity can proceed after loading and lead to a significant post-loading plasticity.
Microstructure dependence of Barkhausen voltage pulse width in steel
Authors: Inaguma T. , Sakamoto H. , Hasegawa M.
Published: March 2012

Barkhausen noise (BHN) is a voltage signal induced by a coil due to the discontinuous magnetization of ferromagnetic materials. The BHN voltage value is strongly correlated with the microstructure of such materials. In this paper, we propose a new model whereby the BHN voltage pulse width is proportional to the travel distance of the domain wall between pinning sites, and the constant of proportionality corresponds to the domain wall velocity. This correlation is examined using a model sample wherein cementite and copper precipitates as pinning sites for the domain wall were dispersed in ferrite. The test results show that the BHN voltage pulse width T and the precipitate spacing L had a proportional relationship, and that the constant of proportionality L/T grew concomitant with increases in the excitation field. The change rate of L/T with excitation field was 3.8 × 10−4 A−1 m2 sec−1, and corresponded well to the reported value that was the correlation coefficient between the domain wall velocity and the excitation field. This result demonstrates the validity of our model whereby the BHN voltage pulse is equal to the time required for the domain wall to jump over the pinning sites.
Strain relaxation of metastable SiGe/Si: Investigation with two complementary X-ray techniques
Authors: Kasper E. , Burle N. , Escoubas S. , Werner J. , Oehme M. , Lyutovich K.
Published: March 2012

Metastable and strain relaxed SiGe layers with about 20% Ge content have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy on Si substrates at 550 °C. The thickness regime of metastability and the onset of strain relaxation were investigated on dust particle free surfaces obtained by careful chemical cleaning and epitaxy loading under clean room conditions. Compared to earlier results true metastable regime without misfit dislocations was obtained up to 140 nm thickness. The onset of strain relaxation started with heterogeneous nucleation sites of misfit dislocations. X-ray topography proved to be a unique monitoring tool to observe a low density of single dislocations. From these results we suggested to define a critical thickness band with lower bound tcl from dislocation nucleation to an upper bound tco (600 nm in our case) defined by the onset of considerable strain relaxation. The strain relief was measured by X-ray diffraction (reciprocal space mapping) and found to be very abrupt (76% strain relaxation at 800 nm thickness).
Lie point symmetries and reductions of one-dimensional equations describing perfect Korteweg-type nematic fluids
Authors: De Matteis Giovanni , Martina Luigi
Published: March 2012

A system of partial differential equations, describing one-dimensional nematic liquid crystals is studied by Lie group analysis. These equations are the Euler–Lagrange equations associated with a free energy functional that depends on the mass density and the gradient of the mass density. The group analysis is an algorithmic approach that allows us to show all the point symmetries of the system, to determine all possible symmetry reductions and, finally, to obtain invariant solutions in the form of travelling waves. The Hamiltonian formulation of the dynamical equations is also considered and the conservation laws found by exploiting the local symmetries.
Magnetic properties of ZnFe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles embedded in ZnO matrix
Authors: Guskos N. , Glenis S. , Zolnierkiewicz G. , Typek J. , Berczynski P. , Guskos A. , Sibera D. , Narkiewicz U.
Published: March 2012

Two magnetic nanocomposites were prepared from nanocrystalline zinc oxide doped with different concentrations of iron oxide (5 and 10 wt. %). X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy have shown the growth of ZnFe2O4 nanocrystallites with size below 10 nm within the ZnO matrix in a highly agglomerated structure. Ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurements have shown line arising from the ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles. Temperature dependence of the FMR spectra parameters (amplitude, resonance field, linewidth, integrated intensity) has been investigated in the 4–300 K range. Zero-field cooled and field-cooled dc magnetic magnetization study in the same temperature range allowed to determine the blocking temperature TB and compare the results of two applied magnetic methods. Temperature dependence of FMR integrated intensity curve displays a peak at TB ∼ 23 K while FMR amplitude curve peaks at TC ∼ 170 K, the Curie-Weiss temperature of the high temperature susceptibility.
Physical insights on comparable electron transport in (100) and (110) double-gate fin field-effect transistors
Authors: Baykan Mehmet O. , Young Chadwin D. , Akarvardar Kerem , Majhi Prashant , Hobbs Chris , Kirsch Paul , Jammy Raj , Thompson Scott E. , Nishida Toshikazu
Published: March 2012

We have investigated the physical mechanisms that result in comparable electron mobility measured from (100) and (110) sidewall double-gate fin field-effect transistors (FinFETs). Using a self-consistent Schrodinger-Poisson simulator coupled with a sp3d5s* tight-binding bandstructure, we have shown that the (100)/〈100〉 and (110)/〈110〉 average conductivity effective mass values are similar. This is explained by the much heavier non-parabolic confinement mass for Δ2 valley of (110) FinFETs, which leads to lower Δ2 energy than Δ4. Thus, for both (100) and (110), the majority of electrons occupy the Δ2 valley with 0.19m0 conductivity effective mass, resulting in comparable electron mobility.
Inhibitory Effects of Chinese Medicinal Herbs on Plant-Pathogenic Bacteria and Identification of the Active Components from Gallnuts of Chinese Sumac
Authors: Feng C. T. , Su H. J. , Chen C. T. , Ho W. C. , Tsou Y. R. , Chern L. L.
Published: March 2012

The aqueous extracts of 30 out of 67 Chinese medicinal herbs were shown to have inhibitory effects on growth of Xanthomonas euvesicatoria by a paper disc diffusion assay. The inhibitory substances with the strongest antibacterial activity were extracted from Chinese sumac gallnut and black myrobalan. The aqueous extract of gallnut inhibited the growth of eight of the tested plant-pathogenic bacteria, and that of black myrobalan inhibited five. The gallnut extract produced at least an 8-mm inhibition zone against Acidovorax citrulli, Ralstonia solanacearum, X. citri pv. citri, and X. euvesicatoria at a 10-fold dilution, and it was still active at 800- to 1,600-fold dilutions. The aqueous extract of gallnut was more inhibitory than the acetone-water extract. To identify the inhibitory compounds in the gallnut aqueous extract, the crude extract was chromatographed over a silica column, and the primary compounds in fractions 3 and 8 were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance as gallic acid and methyl gallate, respectively. The inhibitory effect of methyl gallate on the growth of four plant-pathogenic bacteria was 10 to 80 times that of gallic acid. The minimum inhibition and minimum bactericidal concentration tests showed that the inhibition effect of the original aqueous was higher than that of methyl gallate. These results indicate that methyl gallate in gallnut is an important compound that is inhibitory to plant-pathogenic bacterial growth, and there are other unidentified compounds that are also responsible for the antibacterial effects. This is the first report regarding the antibacterial effects of gallnut extract and its chemical components on plant-pathogenic bacteria.
Quality of Life in Patients Postcolectomy for Pediatric‐onset Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Dalal Deepal H. , Patton Dana , Wojcicki Janet M. , Clark Ann L. , Garnett Elizabeth A. , Heyman Melvin B.
Published: March 2012

Background:

Ulcerative colitis in children can have a negative effect on quality of life (QOL).

Methods:

We included 16 of 31 patients who underwent colectomy for ulcerative colitis before 20 years of age between 1980 and 2005 at University of California in San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital. A disease‐specific QOL questionnaire (Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire‐32), validated for adults, was used to determine QOL and an additional questionnaire addressing bowel function and reproductive health in long‐term follow‐up of these patients.

Results:

Median age at the time of survey was 20.3 years (17.9–25.3), and time postcolectomy was 6.9 years (4.8–9.0). Mean total score was 159.7 ± 43.3 (58–210). Two patients (12.5%) had scores of ≥200, 12 (75.0%) had 101 to 199, and 2 (12.5%) had ≤100. Patients ages 18 years or younger at the time of survey showed higher QOL, particularly in emotional health (P = 0.020), social function (P = 0.014), and overall QOL (P = 0.009). Social function scored highest of all of the systems (median 7; interquartile range 4–7). Patients with scores ≤100 had repeated episodes of pouchitis (16–30) compared with the other 14 patients (0–3). Children who were diagnosed ages 12 years or younger tended to have higher QOL (p = 0.072). Years postcolectomy did not correlate to QOL. Eleven patients were sexually active. Two males had feelings of impotence and decreased libido, and 6 females experienced dyspareunia. Three women tried unsuccessfully to conceive after colectomy. One woman became pregnant 4 times, each leading to miscarriage.

Conclusions:

Younger age at time of colectomy, diagnosis, and survey show higher QOL. Highest satisfaction was found in ability to attend school, work, and social engagements. Pouchitis continued to be an issue for a small number of the patients, with 2 patients having recurring episodes that severely affected QOL. Patients reported decreased sexual activity and fertility at the time of survey due to colectomy, especially for females.
A gauge-theoretic approach to gravity
Authors: Krasnov Kirill
Published: March 2012

Einstein's general relativity (GR) is a dynamical theory of the space–time metric. We describe an approach in which GR becomes an SU(2) gauge theory. We start at the linearized level and show how a gauge-theoretic Lagrangian for non-interacting massless spin two particles (gravitons) takes a much more simple and compact form than in the standard metric description. Moreover, in contrast to the GR situation, the gauge theory Lagrangian is convex. We then proceed with a formulation of the full nonlinear theory. The equivalence to the metric-based GR holds only at the level of solutions of the field equations, that is, on-shell. The gauge-theoretic approach also makes it clear that GR is not the only interacting theory of massless spin two particles, in spite of the GR uniqueness theorems available in the metric description. Thus, there is an infinite-parameter class of gravity theories all describing just two propagating polarizations of the graviton. We describe how matter can be coupled to gravity in this formulation and, in particular, how both the gravity and Yang–Mills arise as sectors of a general diffeomorphism-invariant gauge theory. We finish by outlining a possible scenario of the ultraviolet completion of quantum gravity within this approach.
Negotiation may lead selfish individuals to cooperate: the example of the collective vigilance game
Authors: Sirot Etienne
Published: March 2012

Game-theoretical models have been highly influential in behavioural ecology. However, these models generally assume that animals choose their action before observing the behaviour of their opponents while, in many natural situations, individuals in fact continuously react to the actions of others. A negotiation process then takes place and this may fundamentally influence the individual attitudes and the tendency to cooperate. Here, I use the classical model system of vigilance behaviour to demonstrate the consequences of such behavioural negotiation among selfish individuals, by predicting patterns of vigilance in a pair of animals foraging under threat of predation. I show that the game played by the animals and the resulting vigilance strategies take radically different forms, according to the way predation risk is shared in the pair. In particular, if predators choose their target at random, the prey respond by displaying moderate vigilance and taking turns scanning. By contrast, if the individual that takes flight later in an attack endures a higher risk of being targeted, vigilance increases and there is always at least one sentinel in the pair. Finally, when lagging behind its companion in fleeing from an attacker becomes extremely risky, vigilance decreases again and the animals scan simultaneously.
A continuous description of discrete data points in informetrics
Authors: Liu Yuxian , Rousseau Ronald
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The paper aims to propose the use of spline functions for the description and visualization of discrete informetric data.

Design/methodology/approach

Interpolating cubic splines: are interpolating functions (they pass through the given data points); are cubic, i.e. are polynomials of third degree; have first and second derivatives in the data points, implying that they connect data points in a smooth way; satisfy a best‐approximation property which tends to reduce curvature. These properties are illustrated in the paper using real citation data.

Findings

The paper reveals that calculating splines yields a differentiable function that still captures small but real changes. It offers a middle way between connecting discrete data by line segments and providing an overall best‐fitting curve.

Research limitations/implications

The major disadvantage of the use of splines is that accurate data are essential.

Practical implications

Spline functions can be used for illustrative as well as modelling purposes.

Originality/value

Splines have hardly ever been used or studied in the information sciences.
Ceramic engine considerations for future aerospace propulsion
Authors: Gohardani Amir S. , Gohardani Omid
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the potential usage of ceramic engines in combination with other technologies as a possible propulsion contender for future aerospace applications.

Design/methodology/approach

The possibility of enabling novel propulsion systems in aerospace engineering is examined through a multilateral review study concerning ceramic engines and a proposed design approach. In view of the benefits and challenges of employing ceramic engines as possible candidates for the sustainable solutions of the future, a fundamental design proposal is presented for a conceptual generic unmanned air vehicle (GUAV).

Findings

The findings of this article identify a number of useful scenarios for future ceramic engine applications and considerations.

Research limitations/implications

It is imperative to emphasize that this conceptual article solely sheds light on a limited number of key ideas associated with ceramic engines and their possible applications. Thus, many new areas may emerge and impact the application of ceramic engines in light of more in‐depth conceptual studies.

Practical implications

Implications of ceramic engine utilization in aeronautical applications may result in enhanced performance characteristics and less operational costs. Further implications could possibly be extended to various naval/automotive applications and new configurations of transportation vehicles.

Social implications

The paper aims to generate an interest amongst younger individuals and environmental aware enthusiasts to consider ceramic engines for transportation applications to a greater extent than before.

Originality/value

The implementation of this particular conceptual design results in a synergistic ceramic engine combination with a hybrid airship design in novel aeronautical applications.
Corrosion resistance enhancement of Ti–47Al–2Cr by thermal treatment in a controlled atmosphere
Authors: Saebnoori Ehsan , Shahrabi Taghi , Sabour Rouhaghdam Alireza , Jafarian Majid
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of thermal treatment at low partial pressure of oxygen on electrochemical corrosion resistance of Ti‐47Al‐2Cr (at %) intermetallic, known as γ‐TiAl alloy.

Design/methodology/approach

The surfaces of the samples were modified by thermal treatment at different temperatures in N2 gas flow for an hour. Characterization of the modified surface layers was carried out by microscopic examinations, hardness and roughness tests, and X‐ray diffraction analyses. Potentiodynamic polarization was used to evaluate the corrosion performance of γ‐TiAl in Ringer's solution.

Findings

The results indicated that the alloy treated at 950 °C had the optimum corrosion resistance, which can be attributed to the formation of an oxide layer by the surface thermal treatment and increase of the passive layer thickness.

Practical implications

Low corrosion rate (CR), high pitting potential (Epit), and more noble corrosion potential (Ecorr) make it possible for γ‐TiAl to be considered as a candidate for biomedical applications.

Originality/value

The treatment described in the paper is a novel method for surface modification of this type of alloy and results showed that it was an effective treatment and that the corrosion resistance improved remarkably.
Enhance green purchase intentions
Authors: Chen Yu‐Shan , Chang Ching‐Hsun
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop an original framework to explore the influences of green perceived value and green perceived risk on green purchase intentions and to discuss the mediation role of green trust.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies four original concepts – green perceived value, green perceived risk, green trust, and green purchase intentions – to develop an integral model to enhance green purchase intentions. In addition, this research employs an empirical study by means of the questionnaire survey method to verify the hypotheses and to explore its managerial implications. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is applied to verify the research framework.

Findings

The empirical results show that green perceived value would positively affect green trust and green purchase intentions, while green perceived risk would negatively influence both of them. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the relationships between green purchase intentions and their two antecedents – green perceived value and green perceived risk – are partially mediated by green trust. Hence, investing resources to increase green perceived value and to decrease green perceived risk is helpful to enhance green trust and green purchase intentions.

Originality/value

This study summarizes the literature on green marketing and relationship marketing into a new managerial framework of green purchase intentions. It utilizes four novel constructs – green perceived value, green perceived risk, green trust, and green purchase intentions – to develop an original research framework to enhance green purchase intentions. Although past research has highlighted the relevant issues about purchase intentions, none explores it about green management. Therefore, this paper develops the research framework of green purchase intentions to fill the research gap.
Organizational logic and feminist organizing: stewardesses for women's rights
Authors: Boone Parsons Donna , Sanderson Kathy , Helms Mills Jean , Mills Albert J.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Joan Acker proposed her gendered theory of organization as a framework to analyze organizations and to understand how gender underlies organizational structure in such a way as to subordinate women. Much of the previous work that has utilized this framework has examined highly (male‐) gendered organizations. This archival case study aims to use Acker's framework to examine a purportedly female‐gendered organization – the 1970s feminist organization, Stewardesses for Women's Rights (SFWR).

Design/methodology/approach

Using these archived materials, this paper uses a critical hermeneutic approach across Acker's framework of gendered organization to make sense of the rise and fall of SFWR. The paper discusses lessons learned from this short‐lived organization.

Findings

The paper finds that societal pressure and organizing women's understanding of what is “real” and valued in an organization pushed them to create an organization that was as highly (male) gendered as the organizations from which they were escaping. Many in the organization never saw SFWR as a “real” organization because of the underlying organizational logic that was directing what the organization should be. Even if the organization did, on the surface, look different than other explicitly male‐gendered organizations, the same underlying organizational logic manifested itself in similar organizational structure.

Originality/value

This archival case study uses Acker's framework to examine a purportedly female‐gendered organization – the 1970s feminist organization SFWR and reveals lessons learned.
Service environment, provider mood, and provider‐customer interaction
Authors: Fowler Kendra , Bridges Eileen
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve understanding of the relationships between the service environment, service provider mood, and provider‐customer interaction. Specifically, mood is evaluated as a potential moderator of the relationship between the service environment and provider‐customer interaction.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi‐method data collection approach was utilized, including observation and provider and customer surveys. Hypotheses are tested using regression, ANOVA, and MANOVA.

Findings

Findings indicate that service provider evaluations of the physical environment improve in the presence of an appropriate ambient scent. Behavioral responses are also enhanced: providers are viewed as more courteous and customers more friendly. Perhaps the most interesting observation is that provider mood moderates the relationship between the service environment and customer perceptions of service provider behavior.

Research limitations/implications

The only environmental characteristic that was manipulated was scent, and access was granted to only one store over the course of three consecutive Saturdays. Consequently, validity is threatened by the potential for impact of factors other than the manipulated characteristic.

Practical implications

Implications for managers include careful consideration of potential changes to the ambient environment; if introduction of an appropriate scent can be undesirable, other changes may also lead to unexpected results. Changes under consideration should be tested before implementation.

Originality/value

This research extends service theory by examining the relationship between providers and customers in an actual retail setting. Important theoretical contributions include: demonstrating that service provider mood moderates the relationship between service environmental characteristics and customer perceptions of provider behavior; and finding that positive changes to the environment can amplify negative outcomes.
Give your people a cause and inspiration will follow
Authors: Jackson Barry
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper seeks to describe how to lead an effective team and inspire, rather than simply motivate, its members.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores what makes people act selflessly in a tragedy. It reveals that this kind of behavior results from people feeling that they have a cause. It also describes how having a cause at work, and being led by an inspirational leader, can lead to a truly inspired workforce.

Findings

The paper details the effects that devotion to a cause has, not only on individuals, but also on a team. It explains how team members come closer to each other, act regardless of rank, and find that adversity strengthens rather than weakens their bonds.

Practical implications

The paper reveals that once this kind of spirit is established in a team, team members will be less likely to defect to other employers.

Social implications

The paper highlights the importance of making a business into a cause. The people the business serves must be a cause. Most important of all, employees must feel that, for their leader, they are a cause.

Originality/value

The paper reveals the differences between inspiration and motivation, being a leader and merely being a boss.
A commentary on: Demonstrating the Effectiveness of Housing Support Services for People with Mental Health Problems: A Review by Nicholas Pleace and Alison Wallace, Centre for Housing Policy, University of York
Authors: Johnson Robin
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper is an extended review and expert commentary on a recently published study by the Centre for Housing Policy (CHP) which discusses the complexities of research in “housing related support” in the UK context, and proposes further work. This review aims to explore the strengths and limitations of the study; and the potential wider relevance outside the UK research context.

Design/methodology/approach

The review methodology is traditionally that of expert opinion. The reviewer draws upon previous evaluation studies of mental health and housing, commissioned by the UK Dept of Health, the (Dept of) Communities and Local Government, the National Institute for Mental Health in England, and the Care Services Improvement Partnership, including additional material on the Mental Health Minimum Dataset.

Findings

The CHP report reviewed raises important questions over the complexities of evidencing innovative services. Despite some omissions, it should be helpful to health local commissioners in assessing the value of services; and the further research the report proposes is to be welcomed. The report also provides a useful introduction to “housing related support” for an international research audience, less familiar with the UK social policy and funding context.

Originality/value

The review introduces and recommends the CHP study – which is itself a valuable contribution to future research on housing‐related support – to a wider audience. The review also includes additional material never before published on the potential research value in the context of the Mental Health Minimum Dataset.
Paul's journey
Authors: Ashton Paul
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The authors of the previous paper “Staff and ex‐service user co‐working: a counselling service's enhanced response to multiple exclusion homelessness” feel that Paul's contribution and achievements can only be fully appreciated with reference to his own story. It is published here, to appear alongside the account of their joint experience of co‐working, as part of the series on personal perspectives on development work. It aims to give an account of one person's journey into homelessness and mental health problems in the context of multiple exclusion and homelessness.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a biographical account, with personal reflections.

Findings

There are no findings as such; this is an account of personal experience. It speaks for itself.

Originality/value

Fully personal accounts are rare, in research journals. Yet personal experience is the bedrock of research, and of outcomes. This account is published here, as a necessary balance to more formal, objective and statistical measures.
Benchmarking the location of health centers at Jeddah city: a GIS approach
Authors: Murad Abdulkader Ali
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a GIS application created for health care planning at Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia. The application covers important health care facilities planning issues including defining accessibility to health care facilities, identifying and classifying the distribution of health demand at Jeddah city and modeling spatial variation of patient locations.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to build this application, a geo‐database is created that covers points, lines and polygon features such as health care facility location, road network and population districts. In addition, raster surface models are produced using Kriging function which produces raster surfaces for predicting health demand values at the study area.

Findings

The outputs of this application can be used to help health care planners in evaluating the existing location of health care facilities and see if these locations are concentrated at certain city districts. In addition, local health planners can use the created models when deciding where to allocate a new health care facility at Jeddah city.

Originality/value

This application is considered as a spatial decision support system for health planners in Jeddah city. It can be used to define and evaluate location of health centers as well as to identify the spatial accessibility to health centers.
Third time lucky? An exploration of Hutchison Whampoa's involvement in the mobile telecommunications industry
Authors: Whalley Jason , Curwen Peter
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper to analyse Hutchison Whampoa's involvement in the telecommunication industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A brief overview of Hutchison Whampoa is provided before a timeline of the company's involvement in the telecommunications industry is presented. This is followed by the recounting of the company's performance in three areas, namely geographical footprint, mobile subscribers and financial returns. After discussing these three areas, an assessment of the company's exposure to 3G markets is made.

Findings

One finding is that Hutchison Whampoa has actively engaged in the telecommunications industry through buying and selling businesses, often through complex organisational structures. A second finding is that the company has been very successful in the past at building and selling mobile operations, though it is unlikely to be as successful with its current series of 3G investments.

Research limitations/implications

Some of the data used in the paper are hard to establish with certainty.

Practical implications

The ownership of service providers and the services available may change as Hutchison Whampoa manages its portfolio of telecommunication investments.

Social implications

As a late entrant in many markets, Hutchison Whampoa has aggressively sought to capture market share, resulting in new services and lower prices. Whether this will continue in the future is uncertain.

Originality/value

There are no other case studies of Hutchison Whampoa's involvement in the telecommunications industry in the public domain.
Coping with the cold – exploring relationships between cold housing, health and social wellbeing in a sample of older people in Ireland
Authors: Cotter Noëlle , Monahan Eugene , McAvoy Helen , Goodman Patrick
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Older people are vulnerable to fuel poverty on the island of Ireland. This paper seeks to explore the lived experiences of older people in cold weather with a view to informing fuel poverty policy and service responses.

Design/methodology/approach

A postal and online survey utilising an opportunistic sample of older people living in Ireland and linked with a range of services/community and voluntary groups was undertaken in January‐April 2011. Data on the experiences of 722 older people in the cold weather of winter 2010/2011 were analysed in the context of socio‐economic, health, and housing circumstances.

Findings

During the period of extreme cold weather half of the sample reported that they went without other household necessities due to the cost of home‐heating. In general, 62 per cent of those surveyed worried about the cost of home‐heating. Homes considered “too cold” were more likely to lack central heating and experience damp/draughts. Staying indoors, keeping the heating on, and eating hot food/drinks were common responses to cold weather but a diverse range of behaviours was observed. Associations were observed between living in a cold home and higher levels of chronic illness, falls and loneliness, and fewer social activities.

Research limitations/implications

The sample cannot be considered nationally representative; single occupancy and social housing units were overrepresented.

Originality/value

This research found significant associations between living in a cold home/difficulty paying for heating, and aspects of ill‐health and social exclusion. While no causal association can be assumed, this phenomenon has implications for policies supporting healthy ageing.