bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent advances in dynamic m
6
A RNA modification
Authors: Cao Guangchao , Li Hua-Bing , Yin Zhinan , Flavell Richard A.
Published: April 2016

The identification of m
6
A demethylases and high-throughput sequencing analysis of methylated transcriptome corroborated m
6
A RNA epigenetic modification as a dynamic regulation process, and reignited its investigation in the past few years. Many basic concepts of cytogenetics have been revolutionized by the growing understanding of the fundamental role of m
6
A in RNA splicing, degradation and translation. In this review, we summarize typical features of methylated transcriptome in mammals, and highlight the ‘writers’, ‘erasers’ and ‘readers’ of m
6
A RNA modification. Moreover, we emphasize recent advances of biological functions of m
6
A and conceive the possible roles of m
6
A in the regulation of immune response and related diseases.
Trophic niche divergence among colour morphs that exhibit alternative mating tactics
Authors: Lattanzio Matthew S. , Miles Donald B.
Published: April 2016

Discrete colour morphs associated with alternative mating tactics are assumed to be ecologically equivalent. Yet suites of behaviours linked with reproduction can also favour habitat segregation and exploitation of different prey among morphs. By contrast, trophic polymorphisms are usually attributed to morphs exhibiting habitat or prey selectivity. An alternative hypothesis is that habitat variation generates a trophic polymorphism driven by differences in morph reproductive behaviour, the spatial dispersion of morphs in a landscape and their exposure to different prey types. In this scenario, morphs are allowed to vary in habitat or diet selectivity (e.g. specialist or generalist) as they do in behaviour, rather than being assumed to exhibit equivalent levels of ecological specialization. We test this hypothesis using maleUrosaurus ornatuslizards that exhibit a discrete dewlap colour polymorphism that reflects alternative mating tactics. We found blue morphs specialize on prey at higher trophic levels, yellow males display plasticity in trophic and morphological attributes and orange males are trophic generalists. Our results also demonstrate that morph diet differences are enhanced in resource-limited habitats. We conclude that discrete behavioural morphs may also diverge in morphology and trophic niche. Jointly, these processes may enhance speciation rates in colour polymorphic taxa.
Adaptive collective foraging in groups with conflicting nutritional needs
Authors: Senior Alistair M. , Lihoreau Mathieu , Charleston Michael A. , Buhl Camille , Raubenheimer David , Simpson Stephen J.
Published: April 2016

Collective foraging, based on positive feedback and quorum responses, is believed to improve the foraging efficiency of animals. Nutritional models suggest that social information transfer increases the ability of foragers with closely aligned nutritional needs to find nutrients and maintain a balanced diet. However, whether or not collective foraging is adaptive in a heterogeneous group composed of individuals with differing nutritional needs is virtually unexplored. Here we develop an evolutionary agent-based model using concepts of nutritional ecology to address this knowledge gap. Our aim was to evaluate how collective foraging, mediated by social retention on foods, can improve nutrient balancing in individuals with different requirements. The model suggests that in groups where inter-individual nutritional needs are unimodally distributed, high levels of collective foraging yield optimal individual fitness by reducing search times that result from moving between nutritionally imbalanced foods. However, where nutritional needs are highly bimodal (e.g. where the requirements of males and females differ) collective foraging is selected against, leading to group fission. In this case, additional mechanisms such as assortative interactions can coevolve to allow collective foraging by subgroups of individuals with aligned requirements. Our findings indicate that collective foraging is an efficient strategy for nutrient regulation in animals inhabiting complex nutritional environments and exhibiting a range of social forms.
A scenario for the evolution of selective egg coloration: the roles of enemy-free space, camouflage, thermoregulation and pigment limitation
Authors: Torres-Campos Inmaculada , Abram Paul K. , Guerra-Grenier Eric , Boivin Guy , Brodeur Jacques
Published: April 2016

Behavioural plasticity can drive the evolution of new traits in animals. In oviparous species, plasticity in oviposition behaviour could promote the evolution of new egg traits by exposing them to different selective pressures in novel oviposition sites. Individual females of the predatory stink bugPodisus maculiventrisare able to selectively colour their eggs depending on leaf side, laying lightly pigmented eggs on leaf undersides and more pigmented eggs, which are more resistant to ultraviolet (UV) radiation damage, on leaf tops. Here, we propose an evolutionary scenario forP. maculiventrisegg pigmentation and its selective application. We experimentally tested the influence of several ecological factors that: (i) could have favoured a behavioural shift towards laying eggs on leaf tops and thus the evolution of a UV-protective egg pigment (i.e. exploitation of enemy-reduced space or a thermoregulatory benefit) and (ii) could have subsequently led to the evolution of selective pigment application (i.e. camouflage or costly pigment production). We found evidence that a higher predation pressure on leaf undersides could have caused a shift in oviposition effort towards leaf tops. We also found the first evidence of an insect egg pigment providing a thermoregulatory advantage. Our study contributes to an understanding of how plasticity in oviposition behaviour could shape the responses of organisms to ecological factors affecting their reproductive success, spurring the evolution of new morphological traits.
Starvation resistance and tissue-specific gene expression of stress-related genes in a naturally inbred ant population
Authors: Bos Nick , Pulliainen Unni , Sundström Liselotte , Freitak Dalial
Published: April 2016

Starvation is one of the most common and severe stressors in nature. Not only does it lead to death if not alleviated, it also forces the starved individual to allocate resources only to the most essential processes. This creates energetic trade-offs which can lead to many secondary challenges for the individual. These energetic trade-offs could be exacerbated in inbred individuals, which have been suggested to have a less efficient metabolism. Here, we studied the effect of inbreeding on starvation resistance in a natural population of
Formica exsecta
ants, with a focus on survival and tissue-specific expression of stress, metabolism and immunity-related genes. Starvation led to large tissue-specific changes in gene expression, but inbreeding had little effect on most of the genes studied. Our results illustrate the importance of studying stress responses in different tissues instead of entire organisms.
Sintering of viscous droplets under surface tension
Authors: Wadsworth Fabian B. , Vasseur Jérémie , Llewellin Edward W. , Schauroth Jenny , Dobson Katherine J. , Scheu Bettina , Dingwell Donald B.
Published: April 2016

We conduct experiments to investigate the sintering of high-viscosity liquid droplets. Free-standing cylinders of spherical glass beads are heated above their glass transition temperature, causing them to densify under surface tension. We determine the evolving volume of the bead pack at high spatial and temporal resolution. We use these data to test a range of existing models. We extend the models to account for the time-dependent droplet viscosity that results from non-isothermal conditions, and to account for non-zero final porosity. We also present a method to account for the initial distribution of radii of the pores interstitial to the liquid spheres, which allows the models to be used with no fitting parameters. We find a good agreement between the models and the data for times less than the capillary relaxation timescale. For longer times, we find an increasing discrepancy between the data and the model as the Darcy outgassing time-scale approaches the sintering timescale. We conclude that the decreasing permeability of the sintering system inhibits late-stage densification. Finally, we determine the residual, trapped gas volume fraction at equilibrium using X-ray computed tomography and compare this with theoretical values for the critical gas volume fraction in systems of overlapping spheres.
Stored electromagnetic energy and quality factor of radiating structures
Authors: Capek Miloslav , Jelinek Lukas , Vandenbosch Guy A. E.
Published: April 2016

This paper deals with the old yet unsolved problem of defining and evaluating the stored electromagnetic energy—a quantity essential for calculating the quality factor, which reflects the intrinsic bandwidth of the considered electromagnetic system. A novel paradigm is proposed to determine the stored energy in the time domain leading to the method, which exhibits positive semi-definiteness and coordinate independence, i.e. two key properties actually not met by the contemporary approaches. The proposed technique is compared with an up-to-date frequency domain method that is extensively used in practice. Both concepts are discussed and compared on the basis of examples of varying complexity.
The Born–Infeld vortices induced from a generalized Higgs mechanism
Authors: Han Xiaosen
Published: April 2016

We construct self-dual Born–Infeld vortices induced from a generalized Higgs mechanism. Two specific models of the theory are of focused interest where the Higgs potential is either of a |
ϕ
|
4
- or |
ϕ
|
6
-type. For the |
ϕ
|
4
-model, we obtain a sharp existence and uniqueness theorem for doubly periodic and planar vortices. For doubly periodic solutions, a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence is explicitly derived in terms of the vortex number, the Born–Infeld parameter, and the size of the periodic lattice domain. For the |
ϕ
|
6
-model, we show that both topological and non-topological vortices are present. This new phenomenon distinguishes the model from the classical Born–Infeld–Higgs theory studied earlier in the literature. A series of results regarding doubly periodic, topological, and non-topological vortices in the |
ϕ
|
6
-model are also established.
Lamb-type waves generated by a cylindrical bubble oscillating between two planar elastic walls
Authors: Doinikov A. A. , Mekki-Berrada F. , Thibault P. , Marmottant P.
Published: April 2016

The volume oscillation of a cylindrical bubble in a microfluidic channel with planar elastic walls is studied. Analytical solutions are found for the bulk scattered wave propagating in the fluid gap and the surface waves of Lamb-type propagating at the fluid–solid interfaces. This type of surface wave has not yet been described theoretically. A dispersion equation for the Lamb-type waves is derived, which allows one to evaluate the wave speed for different values of the channel height
h
. It is shown that for
h
<λ
t
, where λ
t
is the wavelength of the transverse wave in the walls, the speed of the Lamb-type waves decreases with decreasing
h
, while for
h
on the order of or greater than λ
t
, their speed tends to the Scholte wave speed. The solutions for the wave fields in the elastic walls and in the fluid are derived using the Hankel transforms. Numerical simulations are carried out to study the effect of the surface waves on the dynamics of a bubble confined between two elastic walls. It is shown that its resonance frequency can be up to 50% higher than the resonance frequency of a similar bubble confined between two rigid walls.
Self-harm to preferentially harm the pathogens within: non-specific stressors in innate immunity
Authors: LeGrand Edmund K. , Day Judy D.
Published: April 2016

Therapies with increasing specificity against pathogens follow the immune system's evolutionary course in maximizing host defence while minimizing self-harm. Nevertheless, even completely non-specific stressors, such as reactive molecular species, heat, nutrient and oxygen deprivation, and acidity can be used to preferentially harm pathogens. Strategic use of non-specific stressors requires exploiting differences in stress vulnerability between pathogens and hosts. Two basic vulnerabilities of pathogens are: (i) the inherent vulnerability to stress of growth and replication (more immediately crucial for pathogens than for host cells) and (ii) the degree of pathogen localization, permitting the host's use of locally and regionally intense stress. Each of the various types of non-specific stressors is present during severe infections at all levels of localization: (i) ultra-locally within phagolysosomes, (ii) locally at the infected site, (iii) regionally around the infected site and (iv) systemically as part of the acute-phase response. We propose that hosts strategically use a coordinated system of non-specific stressors at local, regional and systemic levels to preferentially harm the pathogens within. With the rising concern over emergence of resistance to specific therapies, we suggest more scrutiny of strategies using less specific therapies in pathogen control. Hosts' active use of multiple non-specific stressors is likely an evolutionarily basic defence whose retention underlies and supplements the well-recognized immune defences that directly target pathogens.
Cool echidnas survive the fire
Authors: Nowack Julia , Cooper Christine Elizabeth , Geiser Fritz
Published: April 2016

Fires have occurred throughout history, including those associated with the meteoroid impact at the Cretaceous–Palaeogene (K–Pg) boundary that eliminated many vertebrate species. To evaluate the recent hypothesis that the survival of the K–Pg fires by ancestral mammals was dependent on their ability to use energy-conserving torpor, we studied body temperature fluctuations and activity of an egg-laying mammal, the echidna (
Tachyglossus aculeatus
), often considered to be a ‘living fossil’, before, during and after a prescribed burn. All but one study animal survived the fire in the prescribed burn area and echidnas remained inactive during the day(s) following the fire and substantially reduced body temperature during bouts of torpor. For weeks after the fire, all individuals remained in their original territories and compensated for changes in their habitat with a decrease in mean body temperature and activity. Our data suggest that heterothermy enables mammals to outlast the conditions during and after a fire by reducing energy expenditure, permitting periods of extended inactivity. Therefore, torpor facilitates survival in a fire-scorched landscape and consequently may have been of functional significance for mammalian survival at the K–Pg boundary.
Predator–prey interactions mediated by prey personality and predator hunting mode
Authors: Belgrad Benjamin A. , Griffen Blaine D.
Published: April 2016

Predator–prey interactions are important drivers in structuring ecological communities. However, despite widespread acknowledgement that individual behaviours and predator species regulate ecological processes, studies have yet to incorporate individual behavioural variations in a multipredator system. We quantified a prevalent predator avoidance behaviour to examine the simultaneous roles of prey personality and predator hunting mode in governing predator–prey interactions. Mud crabs,Panopeus herbstii, reduce their activity levels and increase their refuge use in the presence of predator cues. We measured mud crab mortality and consistent individual variations in the strength of this predator avoidance behaviour in the presence of predatory blue crabs,Callinectes sapidus, and toadfish,Opsanus tau. We found that prey personality and predator species significantly interacted to affect mortality with blue crabs primarily consuming bold mud crabs and toadfish preferentially selecting shy crabs. Additionally, the strength of the predator avoidance behaviour depended upon the predation risk from the predator species. Consequently, the personality composition of populations and predator hunting mode may be valuable predictors of both direct and indirect predator–prey interaction strength. These findings support theories postulating mechanisms for maintaining intraspecies diversity and have broad implications for community dynamics.
Evidence for the fixation of gene duplications by positive selection in Drosophila
Authors: Cardoso-Moreira Margarida , Arguello J. Roman , Gottipati Srikanth , Harshman L.G. , Grenier Jennifer K. , Clark Andrew G.
Published: April 2016

Gene duplications play a key role in the emergence of novel traits and in adaptation. But despite their centrality to evolutionary processes, it is still largely unknown how new gene duplicates are initially fixed within populations and later maintained in genomes. Long-standing debates on the evolution of gene duplications could be settled by determining the relative importance of genetic drift vs. positive selection in the fixation of new gene duplicates. Using the Drosophila Global Diversity Lines (GDL), we have combined genome-wide SNP polymorphism data with a novel set of copy number variant calls and gene expression profiles to characterize the polymorphic phase of new genes. We found that approximately half of the roughly 500 new complete gene duplications segregating in the GDL lead to significant increases in the expression levels of the duplicated genes and that these duplications are more likely to be found at lower frequencies, suggesting a negative impact on fitness. However, we also found that six of the nine gene duplications that are fixed or close to fixation in at least one of the five populations in our study show signs of being under positive selection, and that these duplications are likely beneficial because of dosage effects, with a possible role for additional mutations in two duplications. Our work suggests that in Drosophila, theoretical models that posit that gene duplications are immediately beneficial and fixed by positive selection are most relevant to explain the long-term evolution of gene duplications in this species.
Synchrotron X-ray phase contrast imaging of leaf venation in soybean (Glycine max)after exclusion of solar UV (280–400 nm) radiation
Authors: Fatima A. , Kataria S. , Guruprasad K. N. , Agrawal A. K. , Singh B. , Sarkar P. S. , Shripathi T. , Kashyap Y. , Sinha A.
Published: April 2016

The hydraulic efficiency of a leaf depends on its vascular structure as this is responsible for transport activities. To investigate the effect of exclusion of UVAB and UVB radiation from the solar spectrum on the micro-structure of leaves of soybean (Glycine max, variety JS-335), a field experiment was conducted using synchrotron-based phase contrast imaging (PCI). Plants were grown in specially designed UV exclusion chambers, and wrapped with filters that excluded UVB (280–315 nm) or UVAB (280–400 nm), or transmitted all the ambient solar UV (280–400 nm) radiation (filter control). Qualitative observation of high-resolution X-ray PCI images obtained at 10 keV has shown the differences in major and minor vein structures of the leaves. The mid-rib width of the middle leaflet of third trifoliate leaves, for all treatments, were obtained using quantitative image analysis. The width of the mid-rib of the middle leaflet of third trifoliate leaves of UVB excluded plants was found to be more compared to leaves of filter control plants, which are exposed to ambient UV. The mid-rib or the main conducting vein transports water and sugars to the whole plant; therefore, mid-rib enhancement by the exclusion of solar UV radiation possibly implies enhancement in the leaf area which in turn causes an increased rate of photosynthesis.
A comparative study of the packing of two polymorphs of the nickel(II) pincer complex [2,6-bis(di-tert-butylphosphinoyl)-4-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyloxy)phenyl-κ3P,C1,P′]chloridonickel(II)
Authors: García-Eleno Marco A. , Quezada-Miriel Magdalena , Reyes-Martínez Reyna , Hernández-Ortega Simón , Morales-Morales David
Published: April 2016

Pincer complexes can act as catalysts in organic transformations and have potential applications in materials, medicine and biology. They exhibit robust structures and high thermal stability attributed to the tridentate coordination of the pincer ligands and the strong σ metal–carbon bond. Nickel derivatives of these ligands have shown high catalytic activities in cross-coupling reactions and other industrially relevant transformations. This work reports the crystal structures of two polymorphs of the title NiIIPOCOP pincer complex, [Ni(C29H41N2O8P2)Cl] or [NiCl{C6H2-4-[OCOC6H4-3,5-(NO2)2]-2,6-(OPtBu2)2}]. Both pincer structures exhibit the NiIIatom in a distorted square-planar coordination geometry with the POCOP pincer ligand coordinated in a typical tridentate mannerviathe two P atoms and one arene C atomviaa C—Ni σ bond, giving rise to two five-membered chelate rings. The coordination sphere of the NiIIcentre is completed by a chloride ligand. The asymmetric units of both polymorphs consist of one molecule of the pincer complex. In the first polymorph, the arene rings are nearly coplanar, with a dihedral angle between the mean planes of 27.9 (1)°, while in the second polymorph, this angle is 82.64 (1)°, which shows that the arene rings are almost perpendicular to one another. The supramolecular structure is directed by the presence of weak C—H...O=X(X= C or N) interactions, forming two- and three-dimensional chain arrangements.
Interview with Pamela Skinner
Authors: Cassell Kay Ann
Published: April 2016

Purpose

An interview with Pamela Skinner, Head of Collection Development, Smith College, USA.

Design/methodology/approach

Interview.

Findings

An interesting interview providing information about collection development in a private college that is part of a consortium.

Originality/value

This interview shows how Smith College Libraries is dealing with a changing collection development environment.
Financing innovative SMEs of traditional sectors: the supply side
Authors: Harel Ronen , Kaufmann Dan
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study the funding difficulties of innovative SMEs in traditional sectors (ISTS) and asks whether current conditions represent a financing market failure.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study explores the financial tools available in Israel and their relevancy to ISTS by conducting in-depth interviews with different key figures in the financial industry. These include managers at venture capital (VC) funds, banks, private equity (PE) funds, mezzanine funds, as well as officials from the public sector.

Findings

– In this study the authors identify the existence of a market failure relating to the funding of ISTS and suggest that the current VC, PE and mezzanine fund models cannot provide adequate financing solutions for ISTS in Israel.

Practical implications

– In light of the importance of these firms to the economy, governmental intervention is required, if more innovative activity of ISTS is desired. To this end, the study proposes a funding scheme that addresses the special needs of these companies.

Originality/value

– The study contributes to the literature by focussing specifically on the challenges of ISTS and by using a qualitative approach to analyzing the relevancy of different financial mechanisms to their needs.
The social aspects of consumption as predictors of consumer loyalty
Authors: Tsiotsou Rodoula H
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– Nowadays, companies are seeking to create meaningful and long-term relationships with their customers. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the role of parasocial and social aspects of consumption in building trustworthy and loyal relationships in both offline and online services.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two studies were conducted using the survey research method. The first study collected data from 285 soccer fans, and the second study collected data from 298 Facebook consumers.

Findings

– The study confirms the proposed model and suggests that parasocial and social relationships act as significant antecedents of service brand loyalty in both offline and online services.

Originality/value

– This is the first study that examines parasocial and social relationships in tandem and their role in developing loyal relationships with service brands. It also confirms that social relationships in a service setting play a significant role in predicting brand trust and loyalty.
Enhancing customer relationships with retail service brands
Authors: So Kevin Kam Fung , King Ceridwyn , Sparks Beverley Ann , Wang Ying
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The concept of customer engagement (CE) has emerged as an important indicator of customer-brand relationship strength. However, limited research exists to provide insight into how CE enhances the effectiveness of building such a relationship in retail services. The purpose of this paper is to extend the current understanding of CE through examination of its role in the development of customer-brand relationship quality.

Design/methodology/approach

– To test the hypotheses contained in the proposed conceptual model, the authors used a quantitative method that included a survey questionnaire to measure customers’ perceptions with respect to the constructs of interest. Specifically, two studies were conducted in Australia. Study 1 was intended to empirically test the theoretical relationships among the constructs, while Study 2 aimed to replicate the proposed model with a different sample to enhance external validity.

Findings

– In two separate studies, the results of a structural model show that the emerging concept of CE plays a significant role in building customer-brand relationship quality and, subsequently, customer loyalty toward the retail brand.

Research limitations/implications

– This study focusses on retail store brands only and used a cross-sectional design, which does not involve examination of cause-and-effect relationships.

Practical implications

– From a practical point of view, the findings suggest that marketers should actively embrace strategies to foster CE to enhance brand relationship quality, and ultimately, forming a loyal customer-brand relationship.

Originality/value

– The study makes an original contribution to the retail services literature by empirically demonstrating the relevance of CE in both customer relationship management as well as brand management.
Service guarantee as a recovery strategy
Authors: Crisafulli Benedetta , Singh Jaywant
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– When a service fails, the guarantee policy of the firm can be employed as a recovery strategy. The terms of the guarantee determine the amount of payout and the ease of invoking the policy. The guarantee terms can, therefore, influence customer perceptions of recovery fairness and inferences about the firm’s intentions to provide fair recovery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of guarantee terms on customer perceptions of justice, motive inferences, and repatronage intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

– A between-subjects experiment was conducted in parcel delivery services.

Findings

– Customer perceptions of justice vary across guarantee payout levels. Payout in the form of a discount does not restore justice perceptions, and leads to inferences that the firm offered the guarantee to maximize its profits. Conversely, full refund restores justice. Full refund plus discount is perceived as undeserved, and does not enhance justice perceptions. A moderately easy-to-invoke guarantee is perceived as fair, when it includes full refund. Inferences of negative firm’s motives, however, diminish perceived fairness of easy-to-invoke guarantees.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research could examine the interaction of guarantee scope with payout and ease of invocation, and how types of motives differentially impact justice perceptions.

Practical implications

– Full refund can enhance justice perceptions, whereas discount is perceived as unfair. Firms should offer full refund as guarantee payout, but refrain from offering a discount. Flexibility should be embedded in guarantee invocation procedures.

Originality/value

– This study demonstrates that service guarantees employed as recovery strategies signal justice and the firm’s motives.
Engaged customers as job resources or demands for frontline employees?
Authors: Verleye Katrien , Gemmel Paul , Rangarajan Deva
Published: April 2016

Purpose

This paper proposes and empirically tests a theoretical model on how different customer engagement behaviors (CEBs), such as giving feedback and helping other customers, affect the role stress–job strain relationship among frontline employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from the job demands-resources model, this paper hypothesizes that some CEBs weaken the role stress–job strain relationship among frontline employees, whereas the opposite holds for other CEBs. To test these hypotheses, the study involved a survey among 279 frontline employees in 20 nursing home teams in Belgium.

Findings

The results reveal that the impact of role stress on job strain is stronger when frontline employees notice more helping behaviors among customers and weaker when frontline employees receive more customer feedback or notice that customers spread positive word of mouth about the nursing home.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the customer engagement and frontline employee literature by showing that CEBs can act as both job demands and job resources for frontline employees.
RFID in US hospitals: an exploratory investigation of technology adoption
Authors: Dey Asoke , Vijayaraman B.S. , Choi Jeong Hoon
Published: April 2016

Purpose

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems are transforming hospital operations by improving care and reducing costs. However, hospital managers have some concerns about adopting RFID technologies. These are cost, return on investment, privacy and other technology issues. This study examines RFID adoption in health-care industry based on the Technology-Organization-Environment framework. This paper aims to demonstrate how US hospitals are adopting RFID technologies and make recommendations, using empirical data.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was sent to Chief Information Officers and the top information technology (IT) executives of US acute care hospitals to determine the extent to which hospitals have implemented RFID technologies including the reasons, concerns and applications of RFID technologies, and the antecedents of RFID adoption in hospitals.

Findings

The study found that a high percentage of respondents have adopted or are considering adopting RFID technology as a new management tool. Organizational and technological factors have strong positive influence on adoption, whereas environmental factors do not significantly affect the adoption decisions. The main reasons for implementing RFID technology are improved hospital operations, including inventory management, asset control, workflow and patient flow. Some of the concerns are cost of RFID tags and cost associated with implementation.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to a small sample (n= 86) of US hospitals. This study should continue to be replicated in the future, as adoption of RFID technologies matures in the health-care sector.

Originality/value

This study informs health-care managers on the challenges and opportunities of RFID by identifying motivations, barriers and issues related to RFID adoption. The findings of this study will expand the emerging literature and provide direction to academicians for further research in technology adoption.
Physico-chemical Study on the Surface Properties of Physically and Chemically Treated Wool Fibre
Authors: Kan C.W. , Chan K. , Yuen C.W.M. , Mtao M.H.
Published: April 2016

The wool scales present on the fibre surface give rise to certain unwanted effects in textile wet processing, for example, felting and poor wettability. In the past, the removal of scale was done either through physical/chemical degradation of the scales or by deposition of
polymer on the scales. In modern treatments, a combination of both methods are usually carried out. Because the deposition of polymer on the fibre surface depends greatly on the surface characteristics of the fibre, therefore, the surface properties of modified fibres are important factors for polymer application. On the other hand, the modified surface may also result in improved wettability of the fibre. The present paper investigated the surface physico-chemical properties of wool fibres subjected to different surface modification treatments.

In this paper, Soxhlet extracted (dichloromethane extracted) wool fibres (21 J..lm diameter) were modified by potassium permanganate / salt treatment, sodium metabisulphite
treatment and plasma treatments (oxygen, nitrogen, 25% hydrogen and 750% nitrogen gas mixture). The study of wool fibre surface physico-chemical properties included contact angle measurement with different solvents, critical surface tension, surface free energy and saturated adsorption value. Experimental analysis showed that these properties were imQroved after the surface modification treatments, and the results were calculated quantitatively and discussed.
Creation of Spectral Reflectance Curves from Image Colours for Computer Colorant Formulation
Authors: Chong T.F. , Yeung C.K. , Lam Y.M.
Published: April 2016

A special algorithm, based on subtractive colour mixing, has been developed to create spectral reflectance data for colours with known CIE tristimulus values. This method is particularly attractive for image colours created on the computer aided design systems (CAD) or colour
manipulation systems (CMS). The creation of spectral reflectance data for the image colours allows digital integration of the CMS/CAD systems to the downstream product development system such as computer colorant formulation system. The integration of such systems with other application systems via the Internet or intranet has greatly enhanced its popularity and effectiveness. This paper also evaluates the effectiveness of the proposed subtractive algorithm and compares its performance with a method based on additive algorithm.
A Study of Start-up Marks of Woven Fabrics
Authors: W. A. Wimalaweera , Yee Lan Tang
Published: April 2016

Start-up marks are very disturbing fabric faults, especially relevant to modern high performance looms, which occur when a loom is restarted after stoppages. As weaving machine stoppages are unavoidable, start-up marks remain to be a major quality problem in woven fabrics. This paper deals with an experimental investigation carried out to study the effect of different weaving parameters on start-up marks.

Experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of factors such as machine stoppage time, weft sett, warp yam tension, weave pattern, weft material and machine stop position on start-up marks. Variation of pick spacing at the stop position was taken as a measure of the severity of start-up marks. The variation in pick spacing in the start-up marks originating under different weaving conditions were graphically illustrated. The results are discussed to explain how different weaving conditions and settings affect variation in pick spacing and thus cause start-up marks of different severity. The effect of relaxation of warp and fabric on pick space variation in start-up marks is also discussed. The findings of this work are compared with the results obtained by other researchers.
Properties of Ideal Fusible Interlinings for Worsted Formal Wear
Authors: Fan J.
Published: April 2016

In principal, the most compatible fusible interlining differs for different outer fabrics. However, in order to avoid handling different types of fusible interlinings during gannent manufacture, practically it is desirable to have a fusible interlining suitable for a wide range of outer fabrics. An ideal fusible interlining is therefore defined in this paper as the one which is suitable for the majority of a certain range of commercial fabrics. Based on the property range of worsted fonnal wear fabrics, the compatibility requirements of outer and fusible interlining fabrics in tailored gannents, the property range of ideal fusible interlinings for foreparts of tailored gannents using worsted fonnal wear fabrics is derived in the paper. The results of the paper provides guidelines for the development and selection of fusible interlinings.
Hong Kong Clothing Exports: Knit vs Woven
Authors: Au K.F.
Published: April 2016

Hong Kong is a major clothing exporter to the world since the 1960s and more than half of the domestic export share is taken up by woven garments. Would it be appropriate to say that the woven garment sector is more competitive than its knitted counterpart? This paper uses the cut-off rate concept to compare the two clothing sectors and identified that the knitted garment sector out-performed the woven garment sector in terms of value-adding and gross output when measured on per establishment and employee basis.
A New Design of Surgery Garments for the Patients during Operation
Authors: Kwok Y.L. , Li H.Y. , Fan J. , Wai Y.C.
Published: April 2016

It is very common that patients become hypothermic after the operation, as large areas of the patient’s body have to be uncovered for the operation. Conventional surgery garments and blankets have been found to be very inadequate in keeping the patient warm during the operation. In this paper, a novel design of surgery garment is reported. The new design has been tried in a hospital and found significantly improved performance over the conventional surgery garments. It provides convenience to the surgical operation, keeps the patient warm during the operation and meets hospitals’ hygiene standard for its machine washability at high temperature.
Theoretical Investigation of Heat and Moisture Transfer through Porous Textile Materials
Authors: She F.H. , Kong L.X.
Published: April 2016

The phenomenon of heat and moisture transport through porous textile media is a natural problem encountered in real life and has been studied over years by many researchers. However, since the flow rate of moisture diffusing through a clothing fabric is too small to be measured directly, the measurement is usually indirect and the interaction between thermal and moisture transport is not considered.

A mathematical model was introduced in this study to describe the moisture migration and thermal transport through porous textile materials to evaluate the thermal clothing comfort and the interaction between heat and moisture transportation. Heat and mass transportation parameters and the distribution of moisture and temperature within porous textiles are mathematically derived based on the energy and moisture conservation equations during the
transportation. In addition, an experimental principle is established to simultaneously measure four moisture and thermal coefficients introduced in this study.
Modified Two-strand Spinning Part III: Yarn Performance
Authors: Norman S. , Wang X.
Published: April 2016

In this final part of the series, modified two-strand spun yarns are produced on a modified Sirospun system. The yarns are then evaluated against conventional Sirospun yarns.
SENSORY EVALUATION OF FABRIC SOUND BY FREE MODULUS MAGNITUDE ESTIMATION
Authors: Cho Gilsoo , Yi. Eunjou , Casali John G.
Published: April 2016

This study was performed to measure fabric sound objectively and to relate the sound with human subjective sensation. Rubbing sound of each fabric was generated by an apparatus devised for this study and transformed into sound spectrum by fast fourier transform (FFT) analysis. As sound characteristics, level pressure of total sound (LPT), amplitude difference (ΔL), and frequency difference (Δf) were obtained. Seven sensation (softness, loudness, pleasantness, sharpness, clearness, roughness, and highness) and satisfaction for sound of each fabric were rated by free modulus magnitude estimation (FMME). The LPT of polyester taffeta was the highest (62.1dB) while the value of polyester ultrasuede was the lowest (37.4dB) among the fabrics. Values for level range (ΔL) of eight fabrics were ranged from 18.6dB to 52.4dB. Frequency difference (Δf) of all fabrics had negative values. Eight fabrics showed significant differences one another in each of sound sensation. Among the sensation, loudness, sharpness, roughness and highness were negatively correlated with sensation of softness and pleasantness. A regression model of each sensation was fitted as a function of sound parameters. Loudness, roughness, and highness were well predicted by sound parameters showing R2 higher than 0.7.
FIBERS CONFIGURATION AND ORIENTATION MEASURED BY LIGHT SCATTERING METHOD Part I. METHOD AND APPARATUS
Authors: Kornoohin Igor P. , Kornoohina Tamara A.
Published: April 2016

Physical bases of light scattering by cylinders are discussed. Method and apparatus for measuring the scattered light flux distribution with angle are described. The unnormalized angular distribution of relative fibers length for fibrous structures with low optical density is verified to be in agreement with experimental results. The experimental reliability is discussed in terms of apparatus performance and fibrous sample parameters.
THE EXAMINATION OF ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOURAL PATTERNS OF HONG KONG FEMALE YOUTH IN CLOTHING BRANDS
Authors: Rawliman Said , Chu Wai-ching
Published: April 2016

Towards the new century the young generations of Hong Kong seem to be extremely marketing concerned, and brands are more important to them than ever before. Due to the change of fashion advertising from selling product to selling image, a new concept of consumer buying have emerged among these youth who are more complex, flexible, multifaceted and indulging different desires at different times. This study was designed to identify the change of such buying behaviour of young females on clothing brands. Four archetypes on female buying behaviour of clothing namely “Brand Cognizant”, “Peer Conformist”, “Style Leader” and “Value Seeker” were identified.
COMPARISON OF ENGLISH AND CHINESE CLOTHING PATTERN SYSTEMS
Authors: Liu Ms Chi , Kennon Dr Richard
Published: April 2016

The introduction of clothing pattern cutting systems represented a significant technological and economic breakthrough for the garment designer, as they noticeably reduced the amount of time and skill required to cut a fashionable garment offering an acceptable fit. Many different types of pattern system are currently in use across the world, each being appropriate for specific measurement systems, tailoring methods and for particular types of figure. These pattern-cutting systems have developed to accommodate cultural predilections and diverse preferences in respect of fashion silhouettes. Modern clothing pattern design work is increasingly performed using computer-based pattern-drafting systems. This commonly results in conformance with international designs, with its attendant loss of traditional design cues. An examination has been made of the distinctions between the shapes of clothes created using the English block pattern system and those that result from using the Chinese Proportion Assigned Cutting Method. The analysis shows that English patterns are more closely tailored to the body whilst Chinese patterns offer more freedom of movement. This knowledge should inform the clothing pattern designer, so that appropriate features may be incorporated into drafted patterns in order to facilitate the tailoring of clothing with apposite design characteristics.
INNOVATION PROCESS MANAGEMENT IN GLOBAL FASHION BUSINESSES: A REVIEW OF CONTEXTUAL ASPECTS
Authors: Kin-man To Chester
Published: April 2016

This first paper discusses and explains the extant studies on the management of innovation for global fashion and textile businesses. The discussion is deliberately broad, encompassing research on innovations from a number of academic disciplines including marketing, engineering design, technological management, information management and organization science. The purpose is to establish an understanding of the contextual aspects that fundamentally pervade the volatile global innovation activities of today. At the start, we observe the global fashion and textile businesses and attempt to make generalizations about global fashion and textile innovation process using a process-chain perspective. To explore the essence for the sustenance of competitive innovation, we review the competing innovation management paradigms in the fields of organization behavioural science, information processing and systems thinking. On these premises, we conclude with the target of better innovation process performance and more effective and intelligent methods to attain such performance. This paper continues with a discussion of two major approaches to the improvement and development of processes: (i) socio-technical systems and (ii) soft systems. These form the basis for the methodology used in this investigation. Following this, a taxonomy summary diagram is established to illustrate the range of sources in the literature on managing innovation processes in the global context. The paper concludes with a discussion of current developments and on the implications of managing innovation activities in globally dispersed businesses.
The biophilic city and the quest for paradise
Authors: Young Robert Fredrick
Published: April 2016

Purpose

This manuscript explores the possibilities for global concepts of paradise to serve a cross-cultural urban environmental discourse. The purpose of this discourse would be to contribute to a more widespread mobilization of support for biophilic urbanism.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology deployed in the paper draws from original and secondary sources from a variety of regions, cultures and religions surrounding the concept of paradise. These concepts are then compared and contrasted with the discourse of biophilic urban environmental planning.

Findings

The comparison of cross-cultural descriptions of paradise finds strong similarities across cultures. In addition, it finds close, symbolic connection between secular and religious concepts of paradise and the scientific attributes of urban biophilic planning. These connections open the possibility for closer unification between secular and religious discourses in the pursuit of the development of more biophilic urban designs.

Originality/value

The timing of this research is particularly appropriate given the recent encyclical on the environment released by the Vatican. Locating perspectives and imagery that can connect large proportions of the population, for whom spirituality is a centerpiece, with rational scientific perspectives on environmentally sound urbanism will be critical in achieving biophilic cities.