bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conservation and fisheries effects of spawning aggregation marine protected areas: What we know, where we should go, and what we need to get there
Authors: Grüss Arnaud , Robinson Jan , Heppell Selina S. , Heppell Scott A. , Semmens Brice X.
Published: March 2014

There is a global trend in the depletion of transient reef fish spawning aggregations (“FSAs”), making them a primary target for management with marine protected areas (MPAs). Here, we review the observed and likely effectiveness of FSA MPAs, discuss how future studies could fill knowledge gaps, and provide recommendations for MPA design based on species' life history and behaviour, enforcement potential, and management goals. Modelling studies indicate that FSA MPAs can increase spawning-stock biomass and normalize sex ratio in protogynous fish populations, unless fishing mortality remains high outside protected FSA sites and spawning times. In the field, observations of no change or continued decline in spawning biomass are more common than population recovery. When empirical studies suggest that FSA MPAs may not benefit fish productivity or recovery, extenuating factors such as insufficient time since MPA creation, poor or lack of enforcement, inadequate design, and poorly defined management objectives are generally blamed rather than failure of the MPA concept. Results from both the empirical and modelling literature indicate that FSA MPAs may not improve exploitable biomass and fisheries yields; however, investigations are currently too limited to draw conclusions on this point. To implement effective FSA MPAs, additional modelling work, long-term monitoring programmes at FSA sites, and collections of fisheries-dependent data are required, with greater attention paid to the design and enforcement of area closures. We recommend a harmonized, adaptive approach that combines FSA MPA design with additional management measures to achieve explicitly stated objectives. Conservation objectives and, therefore, an overall reduction in mortality rates should be targeted first. Fisheries objectives build on conservation objectives, in that they require an overall reduction in mortality rates while maintaining sufficient access to exploitable biomass. Communication among researchers, regulatory agencies, park authorities, and fishers will be paramount for effective action, along with significant funds for implementation and enforcement.
Maintenance of Segmental Lordosis and Disk Height in Stand-alone and Instrumented Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)
Authors: Malham Gregory M. , Ellis Ngaire J. , Parker Rhiannon M. , Blecher Carl M. , White Rohan , Goss Ben , Seex Kevin A.
Published: March 2014

Study Design:

A prospective single-surgeon nonrandomized clinical study.

Objective:

To evaluate the radiographic and clinical outcomes, by fixation type, in extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) patients and provide an algorithm for determining patients suitable for stand-alone XLIF.

Summary of Background Data:

XLIF may be supplemented with pedicle screw fixation, however, since stabilizing structures remain intact, it is suggested that stand-alone XLIF can be used for certain indications. This eliminates the associated morbidity, though subsidence rates may be elevated, potentially minimizing the clinical benefits.

Materials and Methods:

A fixation algorithm was developed after evaluation of patient outcomes from the surgeon’s first 30 cases. This algorithm was used prospectively for 40 subsequent patients to determine the requirement for supplemental fixation. Preoperative, postoperative, and 12-month follow-up computed tomography scans were measured for segmental and global lumbar lordosis and posterior disk height. Clinical outcome measures included back and leg pain (visual analogue scale), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and SF-36 physical and mental component scores (PCS and MCS).

Results:

Preoperatively to 12-month follow-up there were increases in segmental lordosis (7.9–9.4 degrees, P=0.0497), lumbar lordosis (48.8–55.2 degrees, P=0.0328), and disk height (3.7–5.5 mm, P=0.0018); there were also improvements in back (58.6%) and leg pain (60.0%), ODI (44.4%), PCS (56.7%), and MCS (16.1%) for stand-alone XLIF. For instrumented XLIF, segmental lordosis (7.6–10.5 degrees, P=0.0120) and disk height (3.5–5.6 mm, P<0.001) increased, while lumbar lordosis decreased (51.1–45.8 degrees, P=0.2560). Back (49.8%) and leg pain (30.8%), ODI (32.3%), PCS (37.4%), and MCS (2.0%) were all improved. Subsidence occurred in 3 (7.5%) stand-alone patients.

Conclusions:

The XLIF treatment fixation algorithm provided a clinical pathway to select suitable patients for stand-alone XLIF. These patients achieved positive clinical outcomes, satisfactory fusion rates, with sustained correction of lordosis and restoration of disk height.
Exploring the diversity of Jupiter-class planets
Authors: Fletcher Leigh N. , Irwin Patrick G. J. , Barstow Joanna K. , de Kok Remco J. , Lee Jae-Min , Aigrain Suzanne
Published: March 2014

Of the 900+ confirmed exoplanets discovered since 1995 for which we have constraints on their mass (i.e. not including Kepler candidates), 75% have masses larger than Saturn (0.3 M
J
), 53% are more massive than Jupiter and 67% are within 1 AU of their host stars. When Kepler candidates are included, Neptune-sized giant planets could form the majority of the planetary population. And yet the term ‘hot Jupiter’ fails to account for the incredible diversity of this class of astrophysical object, which exists on a continuum of giant planets from the cool jovians of our own Solar System to the highly irradiated, tidally locked hot roasters. We review theoretical expectations for the temperatures, molecular composition and cloud properties of hydrogen-dominated Jupiter-class objects under a variety of different conditions. We discuss the classification schemes for these Jupiter-class planets proposed to date, including the implications for our own Solar System giant planets and the pitfalls associated with compositional classification at this early stage of exoplanetary spectroscopy. We discuss the range of planetary types described by previous authors, accounting for (i) thermochemical equilibrium expectations for cloud condensation and favoured chemical stability fields; (ii) the metallicity and formation mechanism for these giant planets; (iii) the importance of optical absorbers for energy partitioning and the generation of a temperature inversion; (iv) the favoured photochemical pathways and expectations for minor species (e.g. saturated hydrocarbons and nitriles); (v) the unexpected presence of molecules owing to vertical mixing of species above their quench levels; and (vi) methods for energy and material redistribution throughout the atmosphere (e.g. away from the highly irradiated daysides of close-in giants). Finally, we discuss the benefits and potential flaws of retrieval techniques for establishing a family of atmospheric solutions that reproduce the available data, and the requirements for future spectroscopic characterization of a set of Jupiter-class objects to test our physical and chemical understanding of these planets.
Scenarios of giant planet formation and evolution and their impact on the formation of habitable terrestrial planets
Authors: Morbidelli Alessandro
Published: March 2014

In our Solar System, there is a clear divide between the terrestrial and giant planets. These two categories of planets formed and evolved separately, almost in isolation from each other. This was possible because Jupiter avoided migrating into the inner Solar System, most probably due to the presence of Saturn, and never acquired a large-eccentricity orbit, even during the phase of orbital instability that the giant planets most likely experienced. Thus, the Earth formed on a time scale of several tens of millions of years, by collision of Moon- to Mars-mass planetary embryos, in a gas-free and volatile-depleted environment. We do not expect, however, that this clear cleavage between the giant and terrestrial planets is generic. In many extrasolar planetary systems discovered to date, the giant planets migrated into the vicinity of the parent star and/or acquired eccentric orbits. In this way, the evolution and destiny of the giant and terrestrial planets become intimately linked. This paper discusses several evolutionary patterns for the giant planets, with an emphasis on the consequences for the formation and survival of habitable terrestrial planets. The conclusion is that we should not expect Earth-like planets to be typical in terms of physical and orbital properties and accretion history. Most habitable worlds are probably different, exotic worlds.
Planetary system formation in thermally evolving viscous protoplanetary discs
Authors: Nelson Richard P. , Hellary Phil , Fendyke Stephen M. , Coleman Gavin
Published: March 2014

Observations of extrasolar planets are providing new opportunities for furthering our understanding of planetary formation processes. In this paper, we review planet formation and migration scenarios and describe some recent simulations that combine planetary accretion and gas-disc-driven migration. While the simulations are successful at forming populations of low- and intermediate-mass planets with short orbital periods, similar to those that are being observed by ground- and space-based surveys, our models fail to form any gas giant planets that survive migration into the central star. The simulation results are contrasted with observations, and areas of future model development are discussed.
Thalassomonas
eurytherma sp. nov., a marine proteobacterium
Authors: Sun Cong , Huo Ying-Yi , Liu Jin-Jin , Pan Jie , Qi Yun-Zhen , Zhang Xin-Qi , Zhang Yong , Zheng Gang , Wu Min
Published: March 2014

Two Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterial strains, designated Za6a-12T and Za6a-17, were isolated from seawater of the East China Sea. Cells of Za6a-12T and Za6a-17 were approximately 1.5–2.0 µm×0.5–0.7 µm and motile by a single polar flagellum. Strains grew optimally at pH 7.5-8.0, 28 °C, and in the presence of 2.5–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that the predominant respiratory quinone of strains Za6a-12T and Za6a-17 was ubiquinone-8 (>97 %), and the major fatty acids were C14 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH, C16 : 0 and C17 : 1ω8c. Their DNA G+C contents were 42.7 mol% and 42.8 mol%, respectively. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the isolates belonged to the genus

Thalassomonas

and showed the highest sequence similarity to

Thalassomonas loyana

CBMAI 722T (95.9 %). Strains Za6a-12T and Za6a-17 could be differentiated from

T. loyana

CBMAI 722T according to their phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, DNA G+C contents and fatty acid composition. On the basis of these features, we propose strains Za6a-12T and Za6a-17 to be representatives of a novel species of the genus

Thalassomonas

with the name Thalassomonas eurytherma sp. nov. suggested. Strain Za6a-12T ( = CGMCC 1.12115T = JCM 18482T) is the type strain of this novel species.
Bradyrhizobium paxllaeri sp. nov. and Bradyrhizobium icense sp. nov., nitrogen-fixing rhizobial symbionts of Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) in Peru
Authors: Durán David , Rey Luis , Mayo Juan , Zúñiga-Dávila Doris , Imperial Juan , Ruiz-Argüeso Tomás , Martínez-Romero Esperanza , Ormeño-Orrillo Ernesto
Published: March 2014

A group of strains isolated from root nodules of Phaseolus lunatus (Lima bean) in Peru were characterized by genotypic, genomic and phenotypic methods. All strains possessed identical 16S rRNA gene sequences that were 99.9 % identical to that of

Bradyrhizobium lablabi

CCBAU 23086T. Despite having identical 16S rRNA gene sequences, the Phaseolus lunatus strains could be divided into two clades by sequence analysis of recA, atpD, glnII, dnaK and gyrB genes. The genome sequence of a representative of each clade was obtained and compared to the genomes of closely related species of the genus

Bradyrhizobium

. Average nucleotide identity values below the species circumscription threshold were obtained when comparing the two clades to each other (88.6 %) and with all type strains of the genus

Bradyrhizobium

(≤92.9 %). Phenotypes distinguishing both clades from all described and closely related species of the genus

Bradyrhizobium

were found. On the basis of the results obtained, two novel species, Bradyrhizobium paxllaeri sp. nov. (type strain LMTR 21T = DSM 18454T = HAMBI 2911T) and Bradyrhizobium icense sp. nov. (type strain LMTR 13T = HAMBI 3584T = CECT 8509T = CNPSo 2583T), are proposed to accommodate the uncovered clades of Phaseolus lunatus bradyrhizobia. These species share highly related but distinct nifH and nodC symbiosis genes.
An optimized CRISPR/Cas toolbox for efficient germline and somatic genome engineering inDrosophila
Authors: Port Fillip , Chen Hui-Min , Lee Tzumin , Bullock Simon L.
Published: March 2014

The type II CRISPR/Cas system has recently emerged as a powerful method to manipulate the genomes of various organisms. Here, we report a novel toolbox for high efficiency genome engineering ofDrosophila melanogasterconsisting of transgenic Cas9 lines and versatile guide RNA (gRNA) expression plasmids. Systematic evaluation reveals Cas9 lines with ubiquitous or germline restricted patterns of activity. We also demonstrate differential activity of the same gRNA expressed from different U6 snRNA promoters, with the previously untested U6:3 promoter giving the most potent effect. Choosing an appropriate combination of Cas9 and gRNA allows targeting of essential and non-essential genes with transmission rates ranging from 25% - 100%. We also provide evidence that our optimized CRISPR/Cas tools can be used for offset nicking-based mutagenesis and, in combination with oligonucleotide donors, to precisely edit the genome by homologous recombination with efficiencies that do not require the use of visible markers. Lastly, we demonstrate a novel application of CRISPR/Cas-mediated technology in revealing loss-of-function phenotypes in somatic cells following efficient biallelic targeting by Cas9 expressed in a ubiquitous or tissue-restricted manner. In summary, our CRISPR/Cas tools will facilitate the rapid evaluation of mutant phenotypes of specific genes and the precise modification of the genome with single nucleotide precision. Our results also pave the way for high throughput genetic screening with CRISPR/Cas.
Hybridization Alters Spontaneous Mutation Rates in a Parent-of-Origin-Dependent Fashion in Arabidopsis
Authors: Bashir Tufail , Sailer Christian , Gerber Florian , Loganathan Nitin , Bhoopalan Hemadev , Eichenberger Christof , Grossniklaus Ueli , Baskar Ramamurthy
Published: March 2014

Over 70 years ago, increased spontaneous mutation rates were observed in Drosophila spp. hybrids, but the genetic basis of this phenomenon is not well understood. The model plant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) offers unique opportunities to study the types of mutations induced upon hybridization and the frequency of their occurrence. Understanding the mutational effects of hybridization is important, as many crop plants are grown as hybrids. Besides, hybridization is important for speciation and its effects on genome integrity could be critical, as chromosomal rearrangements can lead to reproductive isolation. We examined the rates of hybridization-induced point and frameshift mutations as well as homologous recombination events in intraspecific Arabidopsis hybrids using a set of transgenic mutation detector lines that carry mutated or truncated versions of a reporter gene. We found that hybridization alters the frequency of different kinds of mutations. In general, Columbia (Col) × Cape Verde Islands and Col × C24 hybrid progeny had decreased T→G and T→A transversion rates but an increased C→T transition rate. Significant changes in frameshift mutation rates were also observed in some hybrids. In Col × C24 hybrids, there is a trend for increased homologous recombination rates, except for the hybrids from one line, while in Col × Cape Verde Islands hybrids, this rate is decreased. The overall genetic distance of the parents had no influence on mutation rates in the progeny, as closely related accessions on occasion displayed higher mutation rates than accessions that are separated farther apart. However, reciprocal hybrids had significantly different mutation rates, suggesting parent-of-origin-dependent effects on the mutation frequency.
The structure of an authentic spore photoproduct lesion in DNA suggests a basis for recognition. Corrigendum
Authors: Singh Isha , Jian Yajun , Li Lei , Georgiadis Millie M.
Published: March 2014

The article by Singhet al.[ (2014).Acta Cryst.D70, 752–759] is corrected.
2-Amino-5-nitropyridinium hydrogen oxalate
Authors: Rajkumar M. Ambrose , Xavier S. Stanly John , Anbarasu S. , Devarajan Prem Anand , NizamMohideen M.
Published: March 2014

In the cation of the title molecular salt, C5H6N3O2+·C2HO4−, the dihedral angle between the aromatic ring and the nitro group is 3.5 (3)°; in the anion, the dihedral angle between the CO2 and CO2H planes is 10.5 (2)°. In the crystal, the anions are linked into [100] chains by O—H...O hydrogen bonds. The cations cross-link the chains by way of N—H...O hydrogen bonds and the structure is consolidated by C—H...O interactions.
{N,N′-Bis[2-(diphenylphosphanyl)ethan-1-ylidene]ethylenediamine}bromido(p-toluenesulfonylmethyl isocyanide)iron(II) tetraphenylborate
Authors: Sues Peter E. , Lough Alan J. , Morris Robert H.
Published: March 2014

In the title compound, [FeBr(C9H9NO2S)(C30H30N2P2)][B(C6H5)4], the FeIIion is in a distorted octahedral CBrN2P2coordination geometry with a P—Fe—P angle of 109.95 (3)°. The relative orientation of thep-toluenesulfonylmethyl isocyanide ligand is defined by the C—S—C—N torsion angle of 67.1 (2)°. In the crystal, pairs of weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds connect the cations into inversion dimers, formingR22(8) rings.
3-Acetyl-2-fluoro-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one
Authors: Ishikawa Yoshinobu , Suzuki Takafumi , Yoshida Nanako
Published: March 2014

The title compound, C15H9FO3, was obtained in a one-pot synthesis by Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling and nucleophilic substitution reaction of 4′-chloro-2′,5′-difluoroacetophenone witho-(methoxycarbonyl)phenylboronic acid. The asymmetric unit contains two crystallographically independent molecules related by a non-crystallographic inversion centre. There are face-to-face stacking interactions between the aromatic rings of the benzoate and acetophenone units of the symmetry-independent molecules [centroid–centroid distances = 3.870 (3) and 3.986 (3) Å]. In the crystal, molecules are further assembledviastacking interactions along thea-axis direction. One of the molecules interacts with its inversion equivalent [centroid–centroid distance between the aromatic rings of the benzoate and acetophenone units = 3.932 (3) Å], and the other interacts with its twofold axis equivalent [centroid–centroid distance between the aromatic rings of acetophenone units = 3.634 (3) Å].
1,1′,1′′,1′′′-(Oxydimethanetriyl)tetrakis(4-fluorobenzene)
Authors: Roopashree K. R. , Kavitha H. D. , Katagi K. S. , Kotresh O. , Devarajegowda H. C.
Published: March 2014

In the title compound, C26H18F4O2, the dihedral angles between pairs of benzene rings linked to the same C atom are 80.55 (8) and 79.11 (7)°. The crystal packing features C—H...π interactions and shows stacking when viewed along thecaxis.
2-((1E)-1-{2-[(2Z)-3,4-Diphenyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3-thiazol-2-ylidene]hydrazin-1-ylidene}ethyl)pyridin-1-ium bromide monohydrate
Authors: Akkurt Mehmet , Mague Joel T. , Mohamed Shaaban K. , Hassan Alaa A. , Albayati Mustafa R.
Published: March 2014

In the title compound, C22H19N4S+·Br−·H2O, the dihedral angles between the phenyl groups and the mean plane of the thiazolylidene ring are 34.69 (13) and 64.27 (13)°, respectively, while that between the thiazolylidene and pyridinium rings is 14.73 (13)°. In the crystal, zigzag chains of alternating bromide ions and water molecules associate through O—H...Br interactions run in channels approximately parallel to thebaxis. These chains help form parallel chains of cations through N—H...O, C—H...N and C—H...Br hydrogen bonds.
5-Fluoro-2-methyl-3-(3-methylphenylsulfonyl)-1-benzofuran
Authors: Choi Hong Dae , Seo Pil Ja , Lee Uk
Published: March 2014

In the title compound, C16H13FO3S, the dihedral angle between the mean planes of the benzofuran ring system and the 3-methylphenyl ring is 80.96 (4)°. In the crystal, molecules are linkedviapairs of π–π interactions between furan and benzene rings, with centroid–centroid distances of 3.758 (1) and 3.771 (1) Å. A similar interaction is found between furan rings, with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.661 (1) Å between neighbouring molecules. The molecules stack along thea-axis direction. In addition, C—H...O and C—H...π hydrogen bonds are observed between inversion-related dimers.
Synthesis, crystal structures and characterizations of two homochiral coordination polymers based on a chiral reduced Schiff base ligand
Authors: Ying Shao-Ming , Huang Xiao-Hui , Luo Wu-Kui , Xiao Yan-Chun
Published: March 2014

Two homochiral coordination polymers based on a chiral reduced Schiff base ligand, namely poly[(μ5-4-{[(NR,1S)-(1-carboxylato-2-phenylethyl)amino]methyl}benzoato)zinc(II)], [Zn(C17H15NO4)]n, (1), and poly[(μ5-4-{[(NR,1S)-(1-carboxylato-2-phenylethyl)amino]methyl}benzoato)cobalt(II)], [Co(C17H15NO4)]n, (2), have been obtained by hydrothermal methods and studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, IR spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. Compounds (1) and (2) are isostructural and crystallize in theP212121space group. Both display a three-dimensional network structure with a one-dimensional channel, with the benzyl group of the ligand directed towards the channel. An investigation of photoluminescence properties shows that compound (1) displays a strong emission in the purple region.
Bibliometric data and actual development in technology life cycles: flaws in assumptions
Authors: Suominen Arho , Seppänen Marko
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– Motivated with the ever growing number of bibliometric trend extrapolation studies, the purpose of this paper is to demonstrate through two technologies how the selection of an upper limit of growth affects the correlation and causality of technology development measured with bibliometric data.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses Gompertz and Fisher-Pry curves to model the technological development of white light emitting diodes and flash memory, and show with extrapolation results from several bibliometric sources how a typical bias is caused in trend extrapolations.

Findings

– The paper shows how drastic an effect the decision to set an upper bound has on trend extrapolations, to be used as a reference for applications. The paper recommends carefully examining the interconnection of actual development and bibliometric activity.

Originality/value

– Despite increasing interest in modelling technological data using this method, reports rarely discuss basic assumptions and their effects on outcomes. Since trend extrapolations are applied more widely in different disciplines, the basic limitations of methods should be explicitly expressed.
Effect of load type on temperature rise of a disc brake
Authors: Meng Qing-rui
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to reveal the temperature rise characteristics of the disc and pads under different load types.

Design/methodology/approach

– Evolutions of the disc and pads temperature under a stable, gradual changing and sine-wave contact pressures widely used at present are analyzed numerically by using ANSYS software.

Findings

– The results show that during the loading process, the temperature increases most rapidly under a stable contact pressure, most slowly under a gradual changing contact pressure; the disc temperature rise curves expose saw-shaped character, the closer it is to the friction surface, the more serious the fluctuations will be, the pads temperature rise curves are rather smooth; temperature gradient in the axial direction is higher than that in the other two directions under all of the three types of contact pressure and shows a sine-wave variation under a sine-wave contact pressure.

Originality/value

– It indicates that a gradual changing contact pressure should be adopted preferentially in practical application. The simulation results of this work provide theoretical basis for load simulation.
The “conflict volcano”: methodological proposition for conflict analysis
Authors: Temirkulov Azamat
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to suggest to the conflict study scholars a new instrument – the “conflict volcano” that could be an effective and appropriate tool for conflict analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

– The “conflict volcano” model was designed as a qualitative method for conflict analysis with a focus on cause analysis. It was developed on the basis of “conflict tree” which underwent modifications.

Findings

– The benefit of the “conflict volcano” is that it covers all aspects of conflict starting from root cause to catalysts and can reveal a wide range of causes: material, immaterial, institutional. It clearly frames factors; this helps practitioners to determine what should be considered as causes and effects. Moreover, the “conflict volcano” reflects major theoretical representations of the conflict and its aspects. While the “conflict volcano” model can study conflict phases from latent until open violence, it cannot reflect the dynamic of conflict and cannot demonstrate its evolution to post-conflict phases.

Practical implications

– The “conflict volcano” can be used as a conflict analysis tool by practicing experts and scholars. Academicians can use it in order to understand conflict and especially to reveal its causes. Practicing experts can use it in order to design a conflict transformation strategy.

Originality/value

– This instrument does not pretend to be a new invention in the field of conflict studies, but rather a new conceptualization, schematization of old concepts and instruments.
The role of marketing in today's enterprises
Authors: Wirtz Jochen , Tuzovic Sven , G. Kuppelwieser Volker
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of marketing in today's enterprises and examines the antecedents of the marketing department's influence and its relationship with market orientation and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected from the West (i.e. the USA and Europe) and the East (i.e. Asia). Partial least squares (PLS) was used to estimate structural models.

Findings

– The findings support the idea that a strong and influential marketing department contributes positively to firm performance. This finding holds for Western and Asian, and for small/medium and large firms alike. Second, the marketing department's influence in a firm depends more on its responsibilities and resources, and less on internal contingency factors (i.e. a firm's competitive strategy or institutional attributes). Third, a marketing department's influence in the West affects firm performance both directly and indirectly (via market orientation). In contrast, this relationship is fully mediated among Eastern firms. Fourth, low-cost strategies enhance the influence of a firm's marketing department in the East, but not in the West.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper assumes explicitly that a marketing department's influence is an antecedent of its market orientation. While the paper finds support for this link, the paper did not test for dual causality between the constructs.

Originality/value

– Countering the frequent claim in anecdotal and journalistic work that the role of the marketing department diminishes, the findings show that across different geographic regions and firm sizes, strong marketing departments improve firm performance (especially in the marketing-savvy West), and that they should continue to play an important role in firms.
Systemic integration of holistic project- and hospitality management
Authors: Sibila Lebe Sonja , Vrecko Igor
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This conceptual paper aims to integrate and significantly extend past research cognitions from three different scientific fields: project management (PM), hospitality management (HM) and systems thinking (ST). As scarcely any scientific sources are available on these topics, this paper closes a gap in literature and invites to further research in this field. Special stress is given to the research of possible preventing or at least reducing of negative impacts/footprints of hospitality development to the social and physical environments.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors present an overview of milestones in project- and HM development in Europe from the end of the Roman Empire till today. The main development stages are checked in view of SR and ST applications.

Findings

– This research is predominately theoretical, although it also presents several examples from practice that very clearly illustrate the need for merging the knowledge from these both (PM and HM) fields of expertise. The results of the evolution stages show that the development of both HM and PM has always been synchronic, and that PM has practically in all development stages been applied to HM, although this happened unconsciously and thus less effective than in other industries.

Originality/value

– The value of this research is an improved understanding of the need for merging the cognitions from HM and PM for more responsibility in further HM projects.
Ethical issues in shadowing research
Authors: Johnson Bart
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore ethical issues associated with using the shadowing method.

Design/methodology/approach

– Ethical issues that arose during a 12-week shadowing study that examined the work activities and practices of Canadian healthcare CEOs are discussed.

Findings

– Dividing the ethics process into two phases – those addressed by ethics committees (procedural ethics) and those that revealed themselves in the field (ethics in practice) – issues and relating to sampling, informed consent, researcher roles, objectivity, participant discomforts, the impact of research on participants, confidentiality, and anonymity are investigated. This paper illustrates that while useful, procedural ethics committees are unable to establish ethical practice in and of themselves. In response, it suggests that the concept of reflexivity be applied to ethics to help researchers consider the implications of using the shadowing method, and develop a contingency for possible challenges, before they enter the field.

Practical implications

– This paper provides researchers considering using the shadowing method with critical insights into some of the ethical issues associated with the method. A number of questions are posed and a number of suggestions offered as to how ethical practice can be attained in the field. Given practice-based similarities between shadowing and other qualitative methodologies such as participant observation and ethnography, many of the lessons derived from this case study are also pertinent to researchers using other techniques to examine organizational and management phenomenon.

Originality/value

– Building on the formal and critical discussion about the shadowing method ignited by McDonald (2005), this paper identifies and discusses ethical issues associated with the shadowing method that have not been examined in either ethics or research methods literature.
Cross-cultural influences on e-value creation in supply chains
Authors: M. Davis Joshua , Mora-Monge Carlo , Quesada Gioconda , Gonzalez Marvin
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This paper seeks to report the results of an empirical study examining the influence of cross-cultural differences on the value creation process from e-business systems in the supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire was sent out to senior managers in companies operating in two culturally distinct national cultures. The effects of cross-cultural differences were examined by testing for between-group differences in the structural model using the multi-group partial least squares (PLS) statistical approach.

Findings

– Consistent with the resource-based view (RBV), contingency “fit” theory, and prior research, this study demonstrates that the value creation process from e-business systems is significantly enhanced in companies operating in national cultures that emphasize cooperation and interdependence, and promote group-level interests over individual interests.

Originality/value

– The mechanisms through which performance improvement is achieved from e-business systems are still not fully understood. Little is still known about how digital capabilities and environmental factors work together to influence e-business value creation along the supply chain. In addition, while contextual factors have been highlighted within the stream, the knowledge base is especially limited regarding the role of global factors in shaping the attainment of value from e-business systems in this context. Filling these gaps, this study simultaneously investigates the roles of intermediate capabilities and the macro-environment in creating value from e-business in the supply chain.
Performance-based contracting in service supply chains: a service provider risk perspective
Authors: Selviaridis Kostas , Norrman Andreas
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The performance of service supply chains in terms of service levels and cost efficiency depends not only on the effort of service providers but also on the inputs of sub-contractors and the customer. In this sense, performance-based contracting (PBC) entails increased financial risk for providers. Allocating and managing risk through contractual relationships along the service supply chain is a critical issue, and yet there is scant empirical evidence regarding what factors influence, and how, provider willingness to bear PBC-induced risk. This paper aims to address this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper draws on agency theory and two cases of logistics service supply chains, in the food retail and automotive industries respectively, to identify key influencing factors. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 30 managers of providers and sub-contractors and review of 35 documents, notably contracts and target letters.

Findings

– Four influencing factors were found: performance attributability within the service supply chain; relational governance in service supply chain relationships; provider risk and reward balancing; and provider ability to transfer risk to sub-contractors. The propositions developed address how these factors influence provider willingness to bear PBC-induced risk.

Research limitations/implications

– The factors identified are external to the provider mindset and refer to the management of contractual relationships and service delivery interactions along the service supply chain. The paper contributes to agency theory by stressing the risk allocation implications of bi-directional principal-agent relations in service supply chains.

Practical implications

– The study suggests ways in which providers can increase their capacity to bear and manage financial risk related to PBC design.

Originality/value

– The paper identifies factors that influence provider willingness to bear financial risk induced by PBC in service supply chains.
Temperature cycling with Peltier elements of boards with SMD components and failure evaluation
Authors: Šandera Josef , Nicák Michal
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This article aims to discuss the construction of a system for temperature cycling, where Peltier elements are used as heating or cooling elements. This article describes the results and experiences based on several years of practice in the area of thermo-mechanical reliability of soldered joints on printed boards with SMD components.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors discuss the characteristics of the design, the threshold temperatures, dynamic properties of the system and, most importantly, the reliability and the useful life of the Peltier elements. The advantages and disadvantages of the system are mentioned as well as examples of use.

Findings

– The utilisation of Peltier elements for temperature cycling is possible, but it is important to keep in mind that the reliability of the elements is similar to the reliability of the system, and therefore, it is essential to replace the defective Peltier elements during the cycling.

Research limitations/implications

– The construction of system is very simply. It is necessary to ensure the Peltier elements with low dispersion parameters.

Originality/value

– The system is very well suited for cycling of printed boards, especially one sided, multi-chip systems, COB systems, flip-chip embedded construction, etc. The system can be used in situations where it is possible to ensure an effective heat transfer and where extremely low temperatures are not required.
The smell of good food: volatile infochemicals as resource quality indicators
Authors: Moelzner Jana , Fink Patrick
Published: March 2014

Foraging success generally depends on various environmental and physiological factors. Particularly for organisms with limited motility such as gastropods, food searching is a very cost‐intensive process. As energy gain through foraging is dependent on both resource quality and quantity, consumers have to be able to differentiate between varying resource items.

The effectiveness of food searching could be increased through the perception of diet‐derived chemical signals that convey information about a food resource's quality over a certain distance. This strategy would clearly help to optimize movement decisions.

In this study, we investigated the foraging behaviour of a freshwater gastropod towards volatile signal substances released from benthic algae grown under high and low nutrient availability, representing high and low food quality, using behavioural assays in the laboratory.

Our results demonstrate that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) serve as foraging kairomones for these aquatic, benthic herbivores. Further, we were able to show for the first time that snails are able to differentiate between high‐ and low‐quality food sources, only by the perception of food odours alone (volatile infochemicals).

Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry demonstrated quantitative as well as qualitative differences in the chemical composition of the VOCs bouquet, dependent on algal nutrient content.

Our results suggest that the recognition of resource quality via the reception of signal substances is likely to be adaptive for consumers with low mobility to maximize ingestion of high‐quality resources.
Increasing Content Knowledge and Self‐Efficacy of High School Educators through an Online Course in Food Science
Authors: Liceaga Andrea M. , Ballard Tameshia S. , Esters Levon T.
Published: March 2014

Purdue Univ.'s College of Agriculture developed an Advanced Life Sciences (ALS) program in partnership with several high schools across Indiana. As part of ALS, secondary educators take an introductory food science (FS) course (ALS‐Foods) and teach it at their high school. High school students taking the ALS‐Foods receive dual credit for an introductory course required for all FS majors at Purdue. The goal of this project was to develop an online course to improve content knowledge and self‐efficacy of secondary educators in the field of FS. The course was offered over a 3‐wk period and consisted of 3 learning modules focused on food chemistry, food microbiology, and food processing. Modules included class activities, videos, study questions, and teaching tools. Participants were assessed on content knowledge through written assignments, quizzes, and a final examination. Twenty secondary educators from several states were enrolled. Overall, content knowledge increased significantly (P < 0.05) across all 3 modules after completing the course. Highest scores were in food microbiology/safety (84%), followed by food processing (76%) and food chemistry (70%). A precourse survey indicated that the majority (>80%) of participants felt they had “no‐confidence” to “little‐confidence” in teaching FS concepts related to the 3 modules. Upon completing the course, the confidence level of all participants increased to “some‐confidence” or “complete confidence.” By strengthening the knowledge level of secondary educators, they will be better prepared to teach FS and subsequently, more high school students could be exposed to FS and consider it as a career.
Simultaneous Homicide–Suicide: A Case Report of Double Drowning
Authors: Melez İpek Esen , Avşar Abdullah , Başpınar Bünyamin , Melez Deniz Oğuzhan , Şahin Fatih , Özdeş Taşkın
Published: March 2014

Homicide–suicide is a tragic phenomenon which typically does not result in a criminal charge or trial. However, correct diagnosis and classification of homicide–suicide cases are important to determine the perpetrators and dynamics of each category properly. The deaths in the homicide–suicide acts can be divided into two categories with respect to the number of involved individuals: dyadic deaths and triple or multiple deaths. These two categories can also be divided into two subgroups according to the chronology of the incidents: simultaneous deaths and consecutive deaths. Herein, a simultaneous homicide–suicide case of a father and daughter where both deaths occurred through drowning which was not found in the selected literature review and where the victim was a child is presented. The article aims to clarify the term discrepancies about multiple death cases in the literature and to discuss the pathological and psychosocial characteristics of the simultaneous dyadic death cases.
Chamaerops humilis L. var. argentea André Date Palm Seed Oil: A Potential Dietetic Plant Product
Authors: Nehdi Imededdine Arbi , Mokbli Sadok , Sbihi Hassen , Tan Chin Ping , Al‐Resayes Saud Ibrahim
Published: March 2014

Chamaerops humilis L. var. argentea André (C. humilis) date palm seeds are an underutilized source of vegetable oil, and no studies describing their physicochemical characteristics to indicate the potential uses of this seed or seed oil have been reported. The oil content of the seeds is about 10%, mainly composed of oleic acid (38.71%), lauric acid (21.27%), linoleic acid (15.15%), palmitic acid (9.96%), and stearic acid (7.17%). The tocol (tocopherols and tocotrienols) content is 74 mg/100 g, with δ‐tocotrienol as the major contributor (31.91%), followed by α‐tocotrienol (29.37%), γ‐tocopherol (20.16%), and γ‐tocotrienol (11.86%). Furthermore, this oil shows high thermal stability. The differential scanning calorimetery curves revealed that the melting and crystallization points are 9.33 °C and –15.23 °C, respectively.
Two elderly cases of familial mediterranean fever with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Matsuoka Naoki , Iwanaga Junko , Ichinose Yasufumi , Fujiyama Kaoru , Tsuboi Masahiko , Kawakami Atsushi , Migita Kiyoshi
Published: March 2014

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a genetic autoinflammatory disorder that usually develops before 20 years of age and is characterized by periodic fever with serositis and arthritis. Both FMF and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involve arthritis; however, their coexistence is rare. We describe two RA patients with an MEFV mutation in exon 2, who were diagnosed with FMF at an age of over 50 years. We also discuss the possibility that MEFV mutations could modulate RA disease activity.
Randomized controlled trial to assess the short‐term effectiveness of tailored web‐ and text‐based facilitation of smoking cessation in primary care (iQuit in Practice)
Authors: Naughton Felix , Jamison James , Boase Sue , Sloan Melanie , Gilbert Hazel , Prevost A. Toby , Mason Dan , Smith Susan , Brimicombe James , Evans Robert , Sutton Stephen
Published: March 2014

Aims

To estimate the short‐term effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of a smoking cessation intervention (the iQuit system) that consists of tailored printed and Short Message Service (SMS) text message self‐help delivered as an adjunct to cessation support in primary care to inform the design of a definitive trial.

Design

A stratified two parallel‐group randomized controlled trial comparing usual care (control) with usual care plus the iQuit system (intervention), delivered by primary care nurses/healthcare assistants who were blinded to the allocation sequence.

Setting

Thirty‐two general practice (GP) surgeries in England, UK.

Participants

A total of 602 smokers initiating smoking cessation support from their local GP surgery were randomized (control n = 303, intervention n = 299).

Measurements

Primary outcome was self‐reported 2‐week point prevalence abstinence at 8 weeks follow‐up. Secondary smoking outcomes and feasibility and acceptability measures were collected at 4 weeks after quit date, 8 weeks and 6 months follow‐up.

Findings

There were no significant between‐group differences in the primary outcome [control 40.3%, iQuit 45.2%; odds ratio (OR) = 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.88–1.69] or in secondary short‐term smoking outcomes. Six‐month prolonged abstinence was significantly higher in the iQuit arm (control 8.9%, iQuit 15.1%; OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.09–3.01). iQuit support took on average 7.7 minutes (standard deviation = 4.0) to deliver and 18.9% (95% CI = 14.8–23.7%) of intervention participants discontinued the text message support during the programme.

Conclusions

Tailored printed and text message self‐help delivered alongside routine smoking cessation support in primary care does not significantly increase short‐term abstinence, but may increase long‐term abstinence and demonstrated feasibility and acceptability compared with routine cessation support alone.
Modelling effects of candidate genes on complex traits as variables over time
Authors: Szyda J. , Komisarek J. , Antkowiak I.
Published: March 2014

In this study, changes in gene effects for milk production traits were analysed over time. Such changes can be expected by investigating daily milk production yields, which increase during the early phase of lactation and then decrease. Moreover, additive polygenic effects on milk production traits estimated in other studies differed throughout the 305 days of lactation, clearly indicating changes in the genetic determination of milk production throughout this period. Our study focused on particular candidate genes known to affect milk production traits and on the estimation of potential changes in the magnitude of their effects over time. With two independent data sets from Holstein‐Friesian and Jersey breeds, we show that the effects of the DGAT1:p.Lys232Ala polymorphism on fat and protein content in milk change during lactation. The other candidate genes considered in this study (leptin receptor, leptin and butyrophilin, subfamily 1, member A1) exhibited effects that vary across time, but these could be observed in only one of the breeds. Longitudinal modelling of SNP effects enables more precise description of the genetic background underlying the variation of complex traits. A gene that changes the magnitude or even the sign of its effect cannot be detected by a time‐averaged model. This was particularly evident when analysing the effect of butyrophilin, missed by many previous studies, which considered butyrophilin's effect as constant over time.
The Barrier to HIV Transmission Provided by Genital Tract Lactobacillus Colonization
Authors: Mirmonsef Paria , Spear Gregory T.
Published: March 2014

While resistance to HIV transmission is due to multiple mechanisms such as the epithelium, a lower genital tract microbiota dominated by Lactobacillus appears to play an important role. This article reviews selected recent research on genital tract microbiota in women including how microbiota impacts HIV resistance and factors affecting Lactobacillus colonization.