bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chapter 5. Learning and teaching Chinese in the Netherlands
Authors: Li Jinling , Juffermans Kasper
Published: June 2014

This paper is concerned with the metapragmatics of Chinese as a polycentric language. Based on ethnographic observations and interviews in and around a Chinese complementary school in the Netherlands, this paper describes an ongoing shift along with demographic, economic and political changes, in what counts as Chinese: a shift from Hong Kong and Taipei to Beijing as the most powerful centre of Chinese in the world. Migration makes communicative resources like language varieties globally mobile and this affects the normativity in the diaspora classroom. A clearer understanding of the metapragmatics of Chinese is useful because it provides a key to understanding social identities in contemporary Chinese migration contexts and to understanding language within contexts of current globalisation.
Chapter 8. Conflicting goals of language-in-education planning in Singapore
Authors: Zhao Shouhui , Zhang Dongbo
Published: June 2014

This study examines the conflicting nature of official language-in-education planning goals in Singapore through analysing, firstly, the inconsistencies in curriculum reform documents at different levels of the goals and pedagogies of Chinese character (æ±‰å­— hanzi) teaching; and secondly, the inconsistencies between what is stated in these documents about hanzi and students’ and teachers’ perceptions as well as teaching practices related to hanzi. Based on student and teacher surveys, supplemented by teachers’ focus group discussions and classroom observations, this chapter provides a critical evaluation of multiple dimensions of the official policies and instructional guides on hanzi teaching and learning in Singapore’s primary schools. The study endeavors to draw attention to the humanistic dimensions of hanzi education such as its values in cultural heritage, artistic/aesthetic appreciation and character cultivation. It calls for a holistic evaluation of hanzi’s role from a broader perspective and aims to place a more proper status of hanzi in the next round of reform of Chinese-as-a-mother-tongue education in Singapore.
Seek&Hide
Authors: Accorsi Pierre , Patel Namrata , Lopez Cédric , Panckhurst Rachel , Roche Mathieu
Published: June 2014

This article presents the system Seek&Hide, a text message processing tool developed for the sud4science LR (http://www.sud4science.org/) project. It performs the anonymisation/de-identification of a corpus. At present, it has been used to anonymise the sud4science LR corpus of French text messages collected during the project. This is done in two phases. In the first phase, it automatically processes over 70% of the corpus. The rest of the corpus is processed in the second phase, aided by an expert annotator via a web interface specifically designed to simplify the task.
Development of SMS language from 2000 to 2010
Authors: Kirsten-Torrado Úrsula
Published: June 2014

SMS language is regarded as a ‘new’ communication system (cf. T. Shortis 2007; D. Crystal 2009; M. Markus 2010) characterized by new relationships that native speakers establish between English spelling and pronunciation by using different respelling devices (cf. C. Thurlow 2003; P. López Rúa 2007; D. Crystal 2009). This paper is an attempt to contribute to this recent area of study by analysing the development of SMS language over the last 10 years. Recent findings suggest that even though SMS language might have emerged out of the need for speed and brevity (C. Thurlow 2003: 4) — every SMS has a limited amount of characters —, it seems to have evolved into a fashionable and stylish way of writing where shortened versions of the words are not always the aim of the respelling. For the purpose of a diachronic analysis a free online British SMS corpus available at netting-it.com containing 201 text messages compiled in 2000 has been used in comparison with my own data obtained in May 2010 by means of questionnaires carried out in a London secondary school. Thus, it was possible to analyse the differences in the use of SMS language during the last decade. The research proves that one of the most significant changes is the use of ‘stylish talk’, a new device which consists in lengthening words to emphasize accent, slang, and attitude. This contrasts with the general belief that words are merely shortened in SMS language. Moreover, the use of slang and ungrammatical expressions also seem to be frequent devices.
Texto4Science
Authors: Langlais Philippe , Drouin Patrick
Published: June 2014

In October 2009 the Quebec French part of the international SMS4science project, called texto4science was launched. Over a period of 10 months, we collected slightly more than 7,000 SMSes that we carefully annotated. This database is now ready to be used by the community. The purpose of this article is to relate the efforts put into designing this database and provide some data analysis of the main linguistic phenomena that we have annotated. We also report on a sociolinguistic survey we conducted within the project.
A sociolinguistic analysis of transnational SMS practices
Authors: Sabaté Dalmau Maria
Published: June 2014

From the field of the sociolinguistics of globalisation, this article investigates the linguistic features of transnational SMS talk, focusing on the heteroglossic and hybrid multilingual text messaging practices and the ICT-mediated vernacular literacies of a very heterogeneous small group of migrants establishing transnational networks in the outskirts of Barcelona. It shows that migrants employ highly flexible, non-elite linguae francae or “we-codes” for successful inter-group communication which are based on heterography, orality, anti-standardness and transidiomaticity. It also explores the social indexicalities of such SMS practices, and claims that, against a highly ideologised discursive regime which classifies them as “faulty” or “deviant”, transnational migrants’ text messages offer an insight into how these highly mobile citizens attain the necessary degree of social agency to unfold their many transnational identities, re-negotiate their belonging and entitlement to host-society resources, and manage to organise their life trajectories and prospects largely successfully.
“i didn’t spel that wrong did i. Oops”
Authors: Tagg Caroline , Baron Alistair , Rayson Paul
Published: June 2014

Spelling variation, although present in all varieties of English, is particularly prevalent in SMS text messaging. Researchers argue that spelling variants in SMSes are principled and meaningful, reflecting patterns of variation across historical and contemporary texts, and contributing to the performance of social identities. However, little attempt has yet been made to empirically validate SMS spelling patterns (for most languages, with the notable exception of French) and verify the extent to which they mirror those in other texts.

This article reports on the use of the VARD2 tool to analyse and normalise the spelling variation in a corpus of over 11,000 SMSes collected in the UK between 2004 and 2007. A second tool, DICER, was used to examine the variant and equivalent mappings from the normalised corpus. The database of rules and frequencies enables comparison with other text types and the automatic normalisation of spelling in larger SMS corpora.

As well as examining various spelling trends with the DICER analysis it was also possible to place the spelling variants found in the SMS corpus into functional categories; the ultimate aim being to create a taxonomy of SMS spelling. The article reports on the findings from this categorisation process, whilst also discussing the difficulty in choosing categories for some spelling variants.
Stress assignment in Makkan Arabic
Authors: Kabrah Rawiah S.
Published: June 2014

This paper examines stress assignment in Makkan Arabic. It investigates the different transparent stress patterns, morphologically conditioned stress, and opaque stress patterns. Various phonological processes in Makkan operate at different levels – lexical and post-lexical. Stress assignment is a cyclic process that takes place only at the lexical level. However, it gets assigned twice: once at the stem level, and another time at the word level. Makkan observes a 3-syllable window when stress is assigned. Heavy syllables attract stress, with end rule right. Makkan also exhibits some cases of opaque stress, where stress appears in unexpected positions. Opacity of stress is evident at the phrasal level after the application of postlexical level phonological processes such as syncope and initial epenthesis. Morphologically conditioned stress is also evident in Makkan where the feminine subject marker /-at/ ‘she’ is lexically stressed. The assumption of different strata is particularly important in accounting for both syncope and initial epenthesis where stress assignment precedes both of these processes. The paper lends evidence to the superiority of a stratal-ot analysis to that of parallel-ot in Makkan Arabic stress assignment.
Variations on the same theme
Authors: Benmamoun Elabbas , Abunasser Mahmoud , Al-Sabbagh Rania , Bidaoui Abdelaadim , Shalash Dana
Published: June 2014

The main aim of this paper is to provide both synchronic and diachronic evidence that Standard Arabic and the spoken dialects pattern the same way with regard to the syntactic mechanisms that govern the relationship between lexical categories and functional categories. The focus is on sentential negation and more specifically the so-called negative copula in verbless sentences – as demonstrated by laysa in Standard Arabic and negative pronouns in the modern dialects. Despite the surface differences between Arabic varieties, the underlying syntax is the same, particularly with regard to clause structure and the interaction between tense, negation and the predicate. This interaction that is governed by the same mechanisms and the options they allow helps explain why the same system keeps getting reproduced over time.
Negation and heads
Authors: Mohammad Mohammad A.
Published: June 2014

This paper assumes and extends Benmamoun’s (2000) analysis of negation in Arabic. It is suggested that merger with negation in Palestinian Arabic is sensitive to the feature of person. An element may raise to merge with negation only if Neg has this feature present. This feature marks Benmamoun’s [D] as strong. This marking of strength forces eligible categories to move, check this feature and merge with negation. Otherwise, no raising takes place.
On cognition and communication in usage-based models of language change
Authors: Zeige Lars Erik
Published: June 2014

This article discusses eight theoretical aspects of usage-based models on language and language change from the perspectives of Cognitive Linguistics and a sociological model of communication: the relationship between usage events and grammatical structure, the model of communication, the primacy of meaning, the status of the linguistic sign, procedural anchoring and the role of frequency, the modelling of dynamic-stable processes, innovation, and diffusion. Its aim is to assess the theoretical validity of a model of language use that is based on communication in contrast to the established cognitive focus. It also identifies and discusses the explanatory potential of such a concept, namely a co-ordinated relationship between cognitive and communicative processing of language structure.
From inferential to mirative
Authors: Gipper Sonja
Published: June 2014

In Yurakaré (isolate, Bolivia), the inferential evidential =tiba has a secondary use in a mirative construction marking unexpected information. This paper proposes that the synchronic interactional uses of =tiba plausibly reflect a diachronic process, namely an emerging semantic extension from inferential to mirative. It is argued that interactional structure is the driving force behind this semantic extension of =tiba, which demonstrates the importance of interactional structure as a factor in language change.
The motivation for using English suspended dangling participles
Authors: Hayase Naoko
Published: June 2014

The English dangling participial construction has long been prescriptively discarded as anomalous despite the fact that it serves the useful function of expressing the speaker’s subjective construal. The construction further gives rise to some suspended participial uses with an intersubjective function. Using these observations as a starting point and taking the dangling participial construction as a case, this paper examines how the process of language change is enhanced by the surrounding context of usage, especially in processes such as entrenchment by frequency, pragmatic strengthening, and interaction between speaker and hearer in dialogic context.
The nature of speaker creativity in linguistic innovation
Authors: Ishiyama Osamu
Published: June 2014

Deliberate speaker creativity, generally understood as the use of items with fuller lexical meanings in order to be expressive, plays a prominent role in many usage-based approaches to language change. However, the lack of consensus regarding its nature created confusions among researchers. This study defines speaker creativity as the speaker’s deliberate attempt to achieve social success with the addressee in communication. By examining the nature of speaker creativity and changes that it triggers, I argue that speaker creativity forms a continuum, some usage exhibiting a higher degree of creativity than others. The focus on the speaker/addressee as well as recognizing speaker creativity as non-dichotomous allow one to analyze various changes consistently under the same category without losing the fine difference.
Reanalysis and gramma(ticaliza)tion of constructions
Authors: Kragh Kirsten Jeppesen , Schøsler Lene
Published: June 2014

The purpose of this paper is to study language change as instances of usage-based reanalysis. We intend to show that a specific Romance complementation, namely the deictic relative, found mainly with verbs of perception, acquires the status of construction (i.e. a schematic construction according to the terminology of Croft & Cruse (2004, p. 255)). According to our conception of grammar, this implies a change from an individual, lexically determined structure, into a grammatical construction. We will show that this change from lexical (=A) to grammatical (=B), is a usage-based reanalysis, i.e. a new analysis of received usage due to structural ambiguity, without immediate surface manifestation of a change (see the definition in Andersen 2008, p. 33). This in turn implies that the speaker interprets the content of one expression first as A, then B and possibly C. The diachronic study of the deictic relative with the perception verb voir in French is based on corpus data from different stages of the language. We intend to show that the innovation spreads from oral to written text types, as witnessed from theatre to other genres.
Filling empty distinctions of expression with content
Authors: Nørgård-Sørensen Jens
Published: June 2014

This article opens with a brief discussion of the fundamental issues of usage, structure, grammaticalization and reanalysis and then introduces the key concept of an empty distinction, which is defined as a conventionalized distinction of expression that has lost its former motivation (semantic or non-semantic, in particular phonological) as the result of a change. Three change scenarios involving a stage with an empty distinction are considered. The first case study is concerned with the reinterpretation of Old High German umlauted vs. non-umlauted vowel as a marker of number, thus exemplifying an empty distinction originating in a change of the sound system. The second case study considers the complicated development of the inflectional morphemes for the nominative plural of Polish masculine nouns, and it is shown that this change scenario involves a stage with an empty distinction originating in a degrammation. Finally, the third case study discusses the alternation between the accusative and the genitive in the A2 (argument 2) slot in the history of Russian and suggests an analysis involving an empty distinction resulting from domain narrowing of another distinction. In the conclusion the results of the analyses are interpreted in terms of a speakers’ strategy.
A Unified Model of the Division of Cognitive Labor
Authors: De Langhe Rogier
Published: June 2014

Current theories of the division of cognitive labor are confined to the “context of justification,” assuming exogenous theories. But new theories are made from the same labor that is used for developing existing theories, and if none of this labor is ever allocated to create new alternatives, then scientific progress is impossible. A unified model is proposed in which theories are no longer given but a function of the division of labor in the model itself. The interactions of individuals balancing the exploitation of existing theories and the exploration of new theories results in a robust cyclical pattern.
Pseudo-Outbreak of Phaeoacremonium parasiticum from a Hospital Ice Dispenser
Authors: Blake Molly , Embil John M. , Trepman Elly , Adam Heather , Myers Renelle , Mutcher Pam
Published: June 2014

In 31 patients, Phaeoacremonium parasiticum was recovered from bronchoscopy specimens (biopsies and aspirates). The pseudo-outbreak was caused by contaminated ice used to control hemorrhage during bronchoscopy and was associated with deficiencies in equipment cleaning. The bronchoscopy technique was modified, the ice dispenser was disinfected, bronchoscope reprocessing was improved, and there were no recurrences.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(8):1063–1065
Strategies to Enhance Adoption of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Prevention Interventions: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Goutier Jente M. , Holzmueller Christine G. , Edwards Kelsey C. , Klompas Michael , Speck Kathleen , Berenholtz Sean M.
Published: June 2014

Background

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is among the most lethal of all healthcare-associated infections. Guidelines summarize interventions to prevent VAP, but translating recommendations into practice is an art unto itself.

Objective

Summarize strategies to enhance adoption of VAP prevention interventions.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review of articles in the MEDLINE database published between 2002 and 2012. We selected articles on the basis of specific inclusion criteria. We used structured forms to abstract implementation strategies and inserted them into the “engage, educate, execute, and evaluate” framework.

Results

Twenty-seven articles met our inclusion criteria. Engagement strategies included multidisciplinary teamwork, involvement of local champions, and networking among peers. Educational strategies included training sessions and developing succinct summaries of the evidence. Execution strategies included standardization of care processes and building redundancies into routine care. Evaluation strategies included measuring performance and providing feedback to staff.

Conclusion

We summarized and organized practical implementation strategies in a framework to enhance adoption of recommended evidence-based practices. We believe this work fills an important void in most clinical practice guidelines, and broad use of these strategies may expedite VAP reduction efforts.
Surgical Site Infection Risk Factors Identified for Patients Undergoing Colon Procedures, New York State 2009–2010
Authors: Tserenpuntsag Boldtsetseg , Haley Valerie , Van Antwerpen Carole , Doughty Diana , Gase Kathleen A. , Ann Hazamy Peggy , Tsivitis Marie
Published: June 2014

Background

Since 2007, New York State (NYS) hospitals have been required to report surgical site infections (SSIs) following colon procedures to the NYS Department of Health, using the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for the development of SSIs in patients undergoing colon procedures.

Methods

NYS has been conducting validation studies at hospitals to assess the accuracy of the surveillance data reported by the participating hospitals. A sample of patients undergoing colon procedures in NYS hospitals were included in hospital-acquired infection program validation studies in 2009 and 2010. Medical chart reviews and on-site visits were performed to verify patient information reported and to evaluate additional risk factors for SSI. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were performed.

Results

A total of 2,656 colon procedures were included in this analysis, including 698 SSI cases. Multivariable analysis indicated that SSI following colon procedure was associated with body mass index greater than 30 (odds ratio [OR], 1.48 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.21–1.80]), male sex (OR, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.10–1.64]), American Society of Anesthesiologists physical classification score greater than 3 (OR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.08–1.64]), procedure duration, transfusion (OR, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.05–1.66]), left-side colon surgical procedures, other gastroenterologic procedures, irrigation, hospital bed size greater than 500, and medical school affiliation.

Conclusions

Male sex, obesity, transfusion, type of procedure, and prolonged duration were significant factors associated with overall infection risk after adjusting other factors. Additional factors not collected in the NHSN slightly improved prediction of SSIs.
Effectiveness of an Antimicrobial Polymer to Decrease Contamination of Environmental Surfaces in the Clinical Setting
Authors: Thom Kerri A. , Standiford Harold C. , Johnson J. Kristie , Hanna Nader , Furuno Jon P.
Published: June 2014

We performed a real-world, controlled intervention to investigate use of an antimicrobial surface polymer, MSDS Poly, on environmental contamination. Pathogenic bacteria were identified in 18 (90%) of 20 observations in treated rooms and 19 (83%) of 23 observations in untreated rooms (P = .67). MSDS Poly had no significant effect on environmental contamination.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(8):1060–1062
Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Use, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-1 RNA Suppression, and Medical Causes of Hospitalization Among HIV-Infected Intravenous Drug Users in the Late ART Era
Authors: Vallecillo Gabriel , Mojal Sergio , Torrens Marta , Muga Roberto
Published: June 2014

Background.  Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced the rates and changed the causes of hospital admission. However, human immunodeficiency virus-positive intravenous drug users (HIV-IDU) continue to have increased hospitalizations and discharge diagnosis are less defined in the late ART era. Our aim was to examine ART use, HIV-1 RNA suppression, and hospital discharge diagnoses among HIV-IDU admitted to an urban hospital.

Methods.  A retrospective analysis was made of HIV-IDU admitted for medical causes for the first time (2006–2010). Surgical, obstetric, or mental (except HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder) diagnoses were excluded. Clinical characteristics, number of admissions, and primary discharge diagnoses were determined for each patient.

Results.  Three hundred and seventy-five admissions were recorded among 197 hospitalized HIV-IDU. Lifetime prevalence of ART use was 83.2% (164 of 197) and the rate of HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL was 38.1% (75 of 197). Primary discharge diagnosis groups were as follows: bacterial infections (59.2%), chronic end-organ damage (16.8%), complications derived from injected drug use (16.8%), malignancies (9.1%), and opportunistic infections (6.6%). Chronic end-organ damage was diagnosed more frequently in patients with HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL (36% vs 4.9%; P < .000), and complications derived from injected drug use (23.8% vs 5.3%; P < .0008) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) opportunistic infections (19.8% vs 1.3% P < .019) were usually diagnosed in patients with HIV-1 RNA detectable viral load.

Conclusions.  Human immunodeficiency virus-positive intravenous drug users are admitted to hospitals mainly for non-AIDS-related illnesses; however, sustained HIV-1 RNA viral load suppression is poor and determines hospital discharge diagnoses. Providers need to be aware of the management of HIV-related comorbidities and reinforce strategies to improve ART retention in this population.
Exploring the intergalactic magnetic field by means of Faraday tomography
Authors: Akahori Takuya , Kumazaki Kohei , Takahashi Keitaro , Ryu Dongsu
Published: June 2014

Unveiling the intergalactic magnetic field (IGMF) in filaments of galaxies is a very important and challenging subject in modern astronomy. In order to probe the IGMF from rotation measures (RMs) of extragalactic radio sources, we need to separate RMs due to other origins such as the source, intervening galaxies, and our Galaxy. In this paper, we discuss observational strategies for the separation by means of Faraday tomography (Faraday RM synthesis). We consider an observation of a single radio source such as a radio galaxy or a quasar viewed through the Galaxy and the cosmic web. We then compare the observation with another observation of a neighboring source with a small angular separation. Our simulations with simple models of the sources suggest that it would be not easy to detect the RM due to an IGMF of order ∼ 1 rad m−2, an expected value for the IGMF through a single filament. Contrary to this, we find that an RM of at least ∼ 10 rad m−2 could be detected with the Square Kilometre Array or its pathfinders/precursors, if we achieve selection of ideal sources. These results would be improved if we incorporated decomposition techniques such as RMCLEAN and QU-fitting. We discuss the feasibility of the strategies for cases with complex Galactic emissions as well as with effects of observational noise and radio frequency interferences.
(25143) Itokawa: The power of radiometric techniques for the interpretation of remote thermal observations in the light of the Hayabusa rendezvous results
Authors: Müller Thomas G. , Hasegawa Sunao , Usui Fumihiko
Published: June 2014

The near-Earth asteroid (25143) Itokawa was characterized in great detail by the Japanese Hayabusa mission. We revisited the available thermal observations in the light of the true asteroid properties with the goal of evaluating the possibilities and limitations of thermal model techniques. In total, we used 25 published ground-based mid-infrared photometric observations and five so far unpublished measurements from the Japanese infrared astronomical satellite AKARI in combination with improved H–G values (absolute magnitude and slope parameter). Our thermophysical model (TPM) approach allowed us to determine correctly the sense of rotation, to estimate the thermal inertia and to derive robust effective size and albedo values by only using a simple spherical shape model. A more complex shape model, derived from light-curve inversion techniques, improved the quality of the predictions considerably and made the interpretation of the thermal light curve possible. The radiometrically derived effective diameter value agrees within 2% with the true Itokawa size value. The combination of our TPM and the final (25143) Itokawa in-situ shape model was then used as a benchmark for deriving and testing radiometric solutions. The consolidated value for the surface-averaged thermal inertia is Γ = 700 ± 200 J m−2 s−0.5 K−1. We found that even the high-resolution shape models still require additional small-scale roughness in order to explain the disk-integrated infrared measurements. Our description of the thermal effects as a function of wavelengths, phase angle, and rotational phase facilitates the planning of crucial thermal observations for sophisticated characterization of small bodies, including other potentially hazardous asteroids. Our analysis shows the power of radiometric techniques to derive the size, albedo, thermal inertia, and also spin-axis orientation from small sets of measurements at thermal infrared wavelengths.
Game theory in the death galaxy: interaction of cancer and stromal cells in tumour microenvironment
Authors: Wu Amy , Liao David , Tlsty Thea D. , Sturm James C. , Austin Robert H.
Published: June 2014

Preventing relapse is the major challenge to effective therapy in cancer. Within the tumour, stromal (ST) cells play an important role in cancer progression and the emergence of drug resistance. During cancer treatment, the fitness of cancer cells can be enhanced by ST cells because their molecular signalling interaction delays the drug-induced apoptosis of cancer cells. On the other hand, competition among cancer and ST cells for space or resources should not be ignored. We explore the population dynamics of multiple myeloma (MM) versus bone marrow ST cells by using an experimental microecology that we call the death galaxy, with a stable drug gradient and connected microhabitats. Evolutionary game theory is a quantitative way to capture the frequency-dependent nature of interactive populations. Therefore, we use evolutionary game theory to model the populations in the death galaxy with the gradients of pay-offs and successfully predict the future densities of MM and ST cells. We discuss the possible clinical use of such analysis for predicting cancer progression.
Evolutionary game theory for physical and biological scientists. I. Training and validating population dynamics equations
Authors: Liao David , Tlsty Thea D.
Published: June 2014

Failure to understand evolutionary dynamics has been hypothesized as limiting our ability to control biological systems. An increasing awareness of similarities between macroscopic ecosystems and cellular tissues has inspired optimism that game theory will provide insights into the progression and control of cancer. To realize this potential, the ability to compare game theoretic models and experimental measurements of population dynamics should be broadly disseminated. In this tutorial, we present an analysis method that can be used to train parameters in game theoretic dynamics equations, used to validate the resulting equations, and used to make predictions to challenge these equations and to design treatment strategies. The data analysis techniques in this tutorial are adapted from the analysis of reaction kinetics using the method of initial rates taught in undergraduate general chemistry courses. Reliance on computer programming is avoided to encourage the adoption of these methods as routine bench activities.
Dynamics of Male and Female Chromatin during Karyogamy in Rice Zygotes
Authors: Ohnishi Yukinosuke , Hoshino Rina , Okamoto Takashi
Published: June 2014

In angiosperms, the conversion of an egg cell into a zygote involves two sequential gametic processes: plasmogamy, the fusion of the plasma membranes of male and female gametes, and karyogamy, the fusion of the gametic nuclei. In this study, the nuclei and nuclear membranes of rice (Oryza sativa) gametes were fluorescently labeled using histones 2B-green fluorescent protein/red fluorescent protein and Sad1/UNC-84-domain protein2-green fluorescent protein, respectively, which were heterologously expressed. These gametes were fused in vitro to produce zygotes, and the nuclei and nuclear membranes in the zygotes were observed during karyogamy. The results indicated that the sperm nucleus migrates adjacent to the egg nucleus 5 to 10 min after plasmogamy via an actin cytoskelton, and the egg chromatin then appears to move unidirectionally into the sperm nucleus through a possible nuclear connection. The enlargement of the sperm nucleus accompanies this possible chromatin remodeling. Then, 30 to 70 min after fusion, the sperm chromatin begins to decondense with the completion of karyogamy. Based on these observations, the development of early rice zygotes from plasmogamy to karyogamy was divided into eight stages, and using reverse transcription PCR analyses, paternal and de novo synthesized transcripts were separately detected in zygotes at early and late karyogamy stages, respectively.
It’s Complicated: Intraroot System Variability of Respiration and Morphological Traits in Four Deciduous Tree Species
Authors: Rewald Boris , Rechenmacher Andreas , Godbold Douglas L.
Published: June 2014

Within branched root systems, a distinct heterogeneity of traits exists. Knowledge about the ecophysiology of different root types is critical to understand root system functioning. Classification schemes have to match functional root types as closely as possible to be used for sampling and modeling. Among ecophysiological root traits, respiration is of particular importance, consuming a great amount of carbon allocated. Root architecture differs between the four deciduous tree seedlings. However, two types of terminal root segments (i.e. first and second orders), white colored and brown colored, can be distinguished in all four species but vary in frequency, their morphology differing widely from each other and higher coarse root orders. Root respiration is related to diameter and tissue density. The use of extended root ordering (i.e. order and color) explains the variance of respiration two times as well as root diameter or root order classes alone. White terminal roots respire significantly more than brown ones; both possess respiration rates that are greater than those of higher orders in regard to dry weight and lower in regard to surface area. The correlation of root tissue density to respiration will allow us to use this continuous parameter (or easier to determine dry matter content) to model the respiration within woody root systems without having to determine nitrogen contents. In addition, this study evidenced that extended root orders are better suited than root diameter classes to picture the differences between root functional types. Together with information on root order class frequencies, these data allow us to calculate realistic, species-specific respiration rates of root branches.
Bis(1,3-thiazol-2-aminium) hexachloridostannate(IV)
Authors: Xue Ruiting , Kong Lingmin
Published: June 2014

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, (C3H5N2S)2[SnCl6], contains one cation in a general position and one-half of the dianion situated on an inversion center. The geometry of the [SnCl6]2−dianion is almost regular octahedral. In the crystal, weak N—H...Cl and N—H...S hydrogen bonds and electrostatic forces link cations and anions into a three-dimensional framework.
4-(2,3-Dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)aniline
Authors: Mitchell Lauren A. , Holliday Bradley J.
Published: June 2014

In the title molecule, C12H11NO2S, the dioxane-type ring adopts a half-chair conformation. The thiophene ring forms a dihedral angle of 12.53 (6)° with the benzene ring. In the crystal, N—H...O, hydrogen bonds link molecules, forming chains along thec-axis direction. A weak intramolecular C—H...O hydrogen bond is observed.
Corporate reporting of intellectual capital: evidence from the Bangladeshi pharmaceutical sector
Authors: Abhayawansa Subhash , Azim Mohammad
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of the intellectual capital (IC) reporting practices of the Bangladeshi pharmaceutical industry, one of the most significant industries to the Bangladeshi economy. It investigates the extent and qualitative characteristics of IC disclosures made by listed pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data are gathered through a content analysis of the 2006 annual reports of 16 pharmaceutical companies quoted on the Dhaka Stock Exchange. The content analysis is performed by IC topic (i.e. categories and subcategories) and three semantic properties of IC disclosure: first, format (i.e. discursive, numerical but non-monetary, numerical-monetary and visual); second, news-tenor (i.e. positive, neutral and negative); and three, time-orientation (i.e. forward-looking, non-time-specific and past-oriented).

Findings

– Results suggest a clear awareness among the Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies of the significance of IC in corporate value creation and a commitment to publicly communicating IC. Some evidence is found of the need to manage stakeholder relationships, and legitimacy and impression management motives underpinning the management's desire to disclose IC. Also, proprietary cost theory explains the variation in the disclosure of types of IC. The Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies did not adopt a consistent framework for IC reporting. A lack of consistency in reporting IC was also evident as the extent and subcategories of IC disclosures varied among companies. The findings indicate the Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies may not have properly measured and managed their IC.

Research limitations/implications

– There are two main limitations specific to this study. First, it only provides a snapshot of IC disclosure practices of Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies in 2006. Changes may have taken place since then that would have affected the IC-intensity and IC utilisation of these entities. Second, the study's sample is limited due to its focus on one industry. However, it is representative of the population as it includes more than two-thirds of Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies. This limitation affects the ability to conduct statistically meaningful analyses for testing any hypotheses relating to IC disclosure.

Originality/value

– This is the first study on IC reporting practices of Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies. Unlike most prior studies on IC disclosure practices, this study measures the quality of disclosures by analysing their semantic properties. The paper highlights the need for building organisational competencies in managing, measuring and reporting IC in Bangladesh.
The importance of a full 3D fluid dynamic analysis to evaluate the flow forces in a hydraulic directional proportional valve
Authors: Amirante Riccardo , Andrea Catalano Luciano , Tamburrano Paolo
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a full 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis of the flow field through hydraulic directional proportional valves, in order to accurately predict the flow forces acting on the spool and to overcome the limitations of two-dimensional (2D) and simplified three-dimensional (3D) models.

Design/methodology/approach

– A full 3D CAD representation is proposed as a general approach to reproduce the geometry of an existing valve in full detail; then, unstructured computational grids, which identify peculiar positions of the spool travel, are generated by means of the mesh generation tool Gambit. The computational grids are imported into the commercial CFD code Fluent, where the flow equations are solved assuming that the flow is steady and incompressible. To validate the proposed computational procedure, the predicted flow rates and flow forces are compared with the corresponding experimental data.

Findings

– The superposition between numerical and experimental curves demonstrates that the proposed full 3D numerical analysis is more effective than the simplified 3D flow model that was previously proposed by the same authors.

Practical implications

– The presented full 3D fluid dynamic analysis can be employed for the fluid-dynamic design optimization of the sliding spool and, more generally, of the internal profiles of the valve, with the objective of reducing the flow forces and thus the required control force.

Originality/value

– The paper proposes a new computational strategy that is capable of recognizing all 3D geometrical details of a hydraulic directional proportional valve and that provides a significant improvement with respect to 2D and partially 3D approaches.
Topology design of plates considering different volume control methods
Authors: Esteves Campeão Diego , Miguel Giusti Sebastian , Antonio Novotny Andre
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to compare between two methods of volume control in the context of topological derivative-based structural optimization of Kirchhoff plates.

Design/methodology/approach

– The compliance topology optimization of Kirchhoff plates subjected to volume constraint is considered. In order to impose the volume constraint, two methods are presented. The first one is done by means of a linear penalization method. In this case, the penalty parameter is the coefficient of a linear term used to control the amount of material to be removed. The second approach is based on the Augmented Lagrangian method which has both, linear and quadratic terms. The coefficient of the quadratic part controls the Lagrange multiplier update of the linear part. The associated topological sensitivity is used to devise a structural design algorithm based on the topological derivative and a level-set domain representation method. Finally, some numerical experiments are presented allowing for a comparative analysis between the two methods of volume control from a qualitative point of view.

Findings

– The linear penalization method does not provide direct control over the required volume fraction. In contrast, through the Augmented Lagrangian method it is possible to specify the final amount of material in the optimized structure.

Originality/value

– A strictly simple topology design algorithm is devised and used in the context of compliance structural optimization of Kirchhoff plates under volume constraint. The proposed computational framework is quite general and can be applied in different engineering problems.
Crashworthiness optimization of new thin-walled cellular configurations
Authors: Hou Shujuan , Zhang Zhidan , Yang Xujing , Yin Hanfeng , Li Qing
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to optimize a new thin-walled cellular configurations with crashworthiness criteria, so as to improve the crashworthiness of components of a vehicle body.

Design/methodology/approach

– ANSYS Parametric Design Language is used to create the parameterized models so that the design variables can be changed conveniently. Moreover, the surrogate technique, namely response surface method, is adopted for fitting objective and constraint functions. The factorial design and D-optimal criterion are employed to screen active parameters for constructing the response functions of the specific energy absorption and the peak crushing force. Finally, sequential quadratic programming-NLPQL is utilized to solve the design optimization problem of the new cellular configurations filled with multi-cell circular tubes under the axial crushing loading.

Findings

– Two kinds of distribution modes of the cellular configurations are first investigated, which are in an orthogonal way and in a diamond fashion. After comparing the optimized configurations of the rectangular distribution with the annular distribution of the multi-cell fillers, it is found that the orthogonal way seems better in the aspects of crashworthiness than the diamond fashion.

Originality/value

– The two new thin-walled cellular configuration are studied and optimized with the crashworthiness criteria. Study on the new cellular configurations is very valuable for improving the crashworthiness of components of a vehicle body. Meanwhile, the factorial design and the factor screening are adopted in the process of the crashworthiness optimization of the new thin-walled cellular configurations.
Mega-event volunteers, similar or different? Vancouver 2010 vs London 2012
Authors: J. Dickson Tracey , M. Benson Angela , Anne Terwiel F.
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to compare motivations of volunteers at two mega multi-sport events.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research used a quantitative research design to survey volunteers at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (n=2,066) and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (n=11,451) via an online questionnaire based upon the Special Event Volunteer Motivation Scale.

Findings

– The results indicate that the volunteers, most of whom had previously volunteered, were motivated by similar variables, including the uniqueness of the event, the desire to make it a success and to give back to their community. The results of the principal components analysis indicated that most items of the scale loaded onto similar components across the two research contexts.

Research limitations/implications

– There were methodological limitations in terms of the timing of the questionnaire administration and Likert scales used, however, these issues were controlled by gatekeepers. These limitations could have research implication for comparative studies of volunteers at mega events.

Practical implications

– Understanding volunteer motivations will enable event managers and volunteer managers to plan for legacy.

Social implications

– Volunteer motivations include wanting to give back to their community and therefore, increases the potential for volunteer legacy.

Originality/value

– This is the first research that: enables comparison of winter and summer Olympic and Paralympic Games volunteers; has substantial sample sizes in relation to the variables; applies higher item loadings to strengthen the analysis; and involves the use of the same instrument across events.
Effective sourcing strategies for perishable product supply chains
Authors: A. Rijpkema Willem , Rossi Roberto , G.A.J. van der Vorst Jack
Published: June 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess whether an existing sourcing strategy can effectively supply products of appropriate quality with acceptable levels of product waste if applied to an international perishable product supply chain. The authors also analyse whether the effectiveness of this sourcing strategy can be improved by including costs for expected shelf life losses while generating order policies.

Design/methodology/approach

– The performance of sourcing strategies is examined in a prototype international strawberry supply chain. Appropriate order policies were determined using parameters both with and without costs for expected shelf life losses. Shelf life losses during transport and storage were predicted using microbiological growth models. The performance of the resulting policies was assessed using a hybrid discrete event chain simulation model that includes continuous quality decay.

Findings

– The study's findings reveal that the order policies obtained with standard cost parameters result in poor product quality and large amounts of product waste. Also, including costs for expected shelf life losses in sourcing strategies significantly reduces product waste and improves product quality, although transportation costs rise.

Practical implications

– The study shows that in perishable product supply chain design a trade-off should be made between transportation costs, shortage costs, inventory costs, product waste, and expected shelf life losses.

Originality/value

– By presenting a generically applicable methodology for perishable product supply chain design, the authors contribute to research and practice efforts to reduce food waste. Furthermore, product quality information is included in supply chain network design, a research area that is still in its infancy.