bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainability in management accounting: Modelling profit forecasting
Authors: Aziz Rozainun Abdul , Percy D.F. , Yusof Faizal Mohamed
Published: January 2017

An insight into a mathematical model proposed is given in concept with the hope that both academicians and practitioners will progress in achieving forecast accuracy. The paper also attempts to give explanations for and cost effects of imperfect forecasts, an oversight which frequently occurs to management, a necessity in sustainability. Previous observations through pilot study, postal survey, case study and a follow-up survey form as a basis in formulating the mathematical model (Aziz-Khairulfazi, 2004). We use of probability distribution against point forecasts, the cost function and fundamentals of Bayesian methodology in approach towards sustainable performance. The model explains the use of probability distribution against point forecasts, the cost function and fundamentals of Bayesian methodology in approach towards sustainable performance. The paper will give explanations for and cost effects of imperfect forecasts, an oversight which frequently occurs to management. We relate our findings to the service and manufacturing industries and we include an important input to support our modelling, i.e. feed back issue. We conclude our study by highlighting the use of simple modeling that will benefit business organizations, thereafter influence performance and sustainability, an optiont organizations can also apply. This paper offers an innovative approach and a new flavour in examining an operational framework to a business scenario via profit forecasting model.
A study of interlocking directorships among mainland Chinese companies listed on the SGX
Authors: Tan Margaret , Lee Chu Keong , Chan Wai Chong , Koh Su Haw , Sugihardjo Sugihardjo
Published: January 2017

The objective of this paper is to understand the extent of inter-locking directorates among mainland Chinese companies listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX). This study also seeks to understand if these mainland Chinese companies were different from those Chinese companies in Singapore in terms of the social network structure of its board of directors. It has been well known and indeed as part of the Chinese culture, the concept of quanxi or social networking is important. However, in the context of corporate governance, the concern is if too many directors are interlocked, will the concept of quanxi be counterproductive in the practice of attaining high standards of governance of the listed companies.
Stakeholder management capability: Exploring the strategic management of dissenting stakeholder groups
Authors: Wickham Mark , Wong Tommy
Published: January 2017

Since its inception, Stakeholder Theory has served as an important corporate governance theory, providing an holistic framework for situation analyses and strategic decision-making. Since its conceptualisation, there has been a call to go beyond normative models of stakeholder management to explore the implications of ‘stakeholder conflict management’ and the development of ‘stakeholder management capabilities’. This paper undertakes an analysis of the regional Tasmanian state government’s approach to the management of dissenting stakeholder groups towards a controversial retail development. The paper provides a discussion of the manner in which their governance structure included the use of delay tactics, the abdication of responsibility, and the building of bureaucratic layers that effectively diluted the will of stakeholder groups to continue their dissenting activities
The new economic policy and financial reforms in Malaysia, 1997-2009
Authors: Sivalingam Vglingam
Published: January 2017

The focus of this paper is on the effect of the New Economic Policy on the reforms to the financial system in Malaysia that have taken place since the 1997 East Asian Financial Crisis. The paper discusses the reforms that were introduced to stabilize and strengthen the financial system and the institution of capital controls and a fixed exchange rate to stabilize the exchange rate in the context of the New Economic Policy. The paper discusses the reform measures that were taken to improve the balance sheet of banks and corporations and to protect depositors. The reforms were efficiently executed and the banking system and financial system are stable and banks have increased their lending over time. However, the financial system still remains susceptible to a terms of trade shock because the financial system persists as a relationship based system rather than a market based system although efforts have been made to strengthen the corporate governance of the financial institutions. However, corporate governance reforms are consistent with the objectives of the New Economic Policy and there is resistance to introducing reforms that converge with Anglo-Saxon norms of corporate governance.
New Zealand CEO compensation factors
Authors: Hurst Sam , Vos Ed
Published: January 2017

This paper analyses a combination of factors to try and determine whether they explain CEO compensation, and in turn help determine what makes the board of directors more effective. Factors include busy boards, local or international board members, dependent and not independent board members, director’s pay and tenure variables. Of the new and old factors considered in this approach and using a sample size of 31 NZ firms over the 2006/2007 years, a correlation existed between firm size/firm performance and CEO compensation. Further distinctions in regards to busy boards showed no significant relationship to CEO compensation, differing from previous studies, and casting doubt on whether it matters how busy the board is. Also the locality of the board was not a determining factor in CEO compensation.
Management ownership and firm performance: Evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Afza Talat , Choudhary Slahudin
Published: January 2017

Due to the separation of ownership and control in modern corporation, the form of relationship between firm performance and insider ownership has been the subject of empirical investigation for last many decades. It is argued, that as managers’ equity ownership increases, their interests coincide more closely with those of outside shareholders, and hence, the conflicts between managers and shareholders are likely to be resolved. Thus, management’s equity ownership helps resolve the agency problem and improve the firm’s performance (Jensen and Meckling, 1976; Agrawal and Knoeber, 1996; Chen et al., 2003). However, several studies suggest that management’s ownership does not always have a positive effect on corporate performance (Demsetz and Villalonga, 2000; Cheung and Wei, 2006). Most of the empirical studies on this issue have focused on the developed economies and there is little empirical evidence on the emerging economies in general and almost no work has been done on emerging economy of Pakistan in particular. Therefore, present study is an effort to analyze the relationship between insider ownership and firm performance in emerging market of Pakistan while taking a sample of 100 firms listed on Karachi Stock Exchange. In spite of entirely different characteristics of data, it has been observed that there is strong positive relationship between insider ownership and firm performance in Pakistan and the results of cross-sectional regression are consistent with theory of “convergence of interest” of relationship between insider ownership and firm performance. Although these results did not conform with the theory “ownership entrenchment” that have proved true in many developed economies yet the empirical results have provided the Pakistani corporate sector positive indications to solve the agency problem through stock options for their employees.
The impact of different types of interorganizational co-operation on shareholder value – the case of Germany
Authors: Obermaier Robert , Busch Andreas
Published: January 2017

This event study analyses stock market reactions of 621 adhoc notifications announcing interorganizational cooperative agreements issued by stock listed German firms between 1999 and 2007. Besides testing the general relationship between ad hoc notifications of interorganizational cooperations and stock market response this study is the first one analyzing different institutional types of cooperational agreements for the German stock market. The announcement cooperational agreements results in significant positive mean abnormal returns. Surprisingly, announcements of contractual partnerships yield the highest abnormal returns compared to alternative forms combined with equity stakes. Obviously, shareholders do not necessarily relate better control of interorganizational cooperation to ownership.
Corporate governance, sustainable organisational development and employees as a valuable resource
Authors: Naudé Marita
Published: January 2017

The aim and value added contribution of this article is threefold. Firstly, it can potentially raise awareness among board members, directors and managers regarding the importance of both attracting and retaining employees as a resource to create and maintain a competitive advantage and sustainable organisational development. Secondly, it provides insight into the perspectives of a group of employees from Australia and South Africa (as one example) regarding both the attraction and retention factors they valued. Thirdly, it provides a summary of how these insights could be used to develop strategies to increase both the attraction and retention of employees within an effective Corporate Governance (CG) and sustainable organisational development framework.
UK governance at the time of the financial crisis: Calls for change
Authors: Young Suzanne , Thyil Vijaya
Published: January 2017

The financial crisis in the UK began in late 2008 and the consequential economic recession has brought to the attention of media, commentators, policy makers and academics the importance of corporate governance. This research explores UK governance, what it means, what are its influences and how it is changing at the time of this financial crisis. The researchers conducted a series of qualitative interviews in five UK companies across a spectrum of industries (including institutional investors) in late 2008. Three key propositions were investigated: Proposition 1 is that board characteristics, the importance of which are pronounced by agency theorists are not the only key factor in „best practice‟ governance. Proposition 2 is that shareholders and stakeholder involvement in governance will improve governance practices. Proposition three is that key to understanding governance failures is examining cognition and behaviours inside the black box of decision-making. Propositions two and three were supported by the interviews. The main conclusions are that the importance of good governance in establishing trust again at the time of the financial crisis is key and changes seem to be called for in a number of areas: in enhancing shareholder voice; better disclosure in explaining variations to the application of the principles of the Combined Code, in explaining risks, and in how decisions are made; and ensuring that executive remuneration is more clearly linked to profits, costs of capital and risk and reflects long-term value creation.
Ownership structure and the risk-return profiles of Japanese stocks
Authors: Hosono Kaoru , Murase Hideaki , Samikawa Ikuko
Published: January 2017

This paper empirically investigates how ownership structure of Japanese firms affects the risk-return profiles of their stocks. We find significant relationships between ownership and firms’ operational performance, i.e., the ownership of financial institutions is associated with poor performance while the ownership of large shareholders is associated with the opposite. However, comparing the returns on portfolios sorted by ownership, we find no significant relationships between ownership and the rates of returns. Specifically, excess returns are insignificant after controlling for three risk factors (i.e., market, size, and value) while factor loadings are significantly different across portfolios, i.e., the ownership of financial institutions is associated with low-risk, low-return portfolios while the ownership of large shareholders is associated with the opposite
Coercion, copy-cats, and colleagues: staffing the board of the IPO company
Authors: Thorsell Anna , Cornelius Barbara
Published: January 2017

122 initial public offerings (IPOs) occurring on the Stockholm Stock Exchange from January 1996 until September 2006 have been examined to assess the impact of institutional isomorphism on the selection of directors for boards facing the transition to listed companies. A high level of union representation as well as the restructuring of boards prior to an IPO and in anticipation of legal changes gives strong support for the influence of coercive isomorphism on IPO firms. Companies within industry sectors make similar choices with regard to their directors, their choices being dissimilar from their associates in other industry groupings. This supports the concepts underlying mimetic isomorphism. Finally normative isomorphism is largely supported by the reliance of corporations on a closed group of directors with similar educational backgrounds. All in all, societal and regulatory pressures, as modelled under institutional theory, are influencing the processes of corporate governance during an IPO
Corporate governance, audit quality and risk taking in the U.S. property casualty insurance industry
Authors: Ho Chia-Ling , Lai Gene , Lee Jin-Ping
Published: January 2017

This paper examines the impact of corporate governance and audit quality on risk-taking in the U.S. property casualty insurance industry. The evidence shows that some corporate governance variables, as well as some audit quality variables are related to risk-taking. We find that longer board tenure is associated with low underwriting risk. But the higher percentage of financial experts on the board is associated with high underwriting risk. The possible reason is that financial experts possess a deep understanding of a firm’s financial situation and may encourage the management to take higher risk in anticipation of a higher return for a positive net present value project. The results are consistent with agency theory and wealth transfer hypothesis in that high risk taking is consistent with shareholder interest maximization. In addition, we find a non-monotonic relation between insider ownership and leverage risk. Finally, we do not find evidence that the Sarbanes-Oxley act have impact on the risk taking behavior.
Board governance index, financial performance and accountability-emphasis in government business corporations
Authors: Seng Cheaseth
Published: January 2017

This study contributes to the growing literature on corporate governance index (CGI) by investigating the impacts a board governance index (BGI) developed in context of government business corporations (GBCs) on their financial performance. In addition, the study tests relevant corporate governance theories, namely agency, networking and resource dependence theories, in the context of GBCs. Concurrently, the study also conducts an exploratory investigation of the relationship between board governance arrangements and emphasis provided by GBCs’ management to processes and systems for discharging accountability requirements (accountability-emphasis). The study found that the current board governance arrangement of GBCs is positively related to financial performance. This finding is consistent with majority of prior studies in context of private sector entities. However, there isn’t any significant relationship found between board governance index and accountability-emphasis.
Vaccination and autoimmunity: Influenza vaccination and association with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Maslovaric Irina , Stojkovic Aleksandra , Kosanovic Dejana , Markovic Dragana , Ilic Vesna , Jovanova-Nesic Katica
Published: January 2017

nema
FGF21 Mediates the Thermogenic and Insulin-Sensitizing Effects of Dietary Methionine Restriction but Not Its Effects on Hepatic Lipid Metabolism
Authors: Wanders Desiree , Forney Laura A. , Stone Kirsten P. , Burk David H. , Pierse Alicia , Gettys Thomas W.
Published: January 2017

Dietary methionine restriction (MR) produces a rapid and persistent remodeling of white adipose tissue (WAT), an increase in energy expenditure (EE), and enhancement of insulin sensitivity. Recent work established that hepatic expression of FGF21 is robustly increased by MR. Fgf21−/− mice were used to test whether FGF21 is an essential mediator of the physiological effects of dietary MR. The MR-induced increase in energy intake and EE and activation of thermogenesis in WAT and brown adipose tissue were lost in Fgf21−/− mice. However, dietary MR produced a comparable reduction in body weight and adiposity in both genotypes because of a negative effect of MR on energy intake in Fgf21−/− mice. Despite the similar loss in weight, dietary MR produced a more significant increase in in vivo insulin sensitivity in wild-type than in Fgf21−/− mice, particularly in heart and inguinal WAT. In contrast, the ability of MR to regulate lipogenic and integrated stress response genes in liver was not compromised in Fgf21−/− mice. Collectively, these findings illustrate that FGF21 is a critical mediator of the effects of dietary MR on EE, remodeling of WAT, and increased insulin sensitivity but not of its effects on hepatic gene expression.
Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape: Remembering Kant, Forgetting Proust
Authors: Wilson Sue
Published: January 2017

This article draws on Samuel Beckett’s recently published letters and archival scholarship to consider the place of Immanuel Kant’s critical epistemology within Beckett’s early thinking and his subsequent works. Beginning from Beckett’s engagement with Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason, demonstrated by notes taken from Wilhelm Windelband’s A History of Philosophy between 1932 and 1933, excerpts from Jules de Gaultier’s From Kant to Nietzsche in the “Whoroscope” Notebook, and Beckett’s acquisition of Immanuel Kants Werke in 1938, I offer a close analysis of the philosophical underpinnings of Beckett’s parody of Proust’s À la recherche du temps perdu in Krapp’s Last Tape. The larger purpose of this article is to argue that a critique of metaphysical thought can be found in Beckett’s work and to demonstrate that Kant’s influence as a philosophical source of this critique has been largely overlooked in Beckett criticism.
Retrospective study of long-term outcome after brain arteriovenous malformation rupture: the RAP score
Authors: Shotar Eimad , Debarre Matthieu , Sourour Nader-Antoine , Di Maria Federico , Gabrieli Joseph , Nouet Aurélien , Chiras Jacques , Degos Vincent , Clarençon Frédéric
Published: January 2017

OBJECTIVE

The authors aimed to design a score for stratifying patients with brain arteriovenous malformation (BAVM) rupture, based on the likelihood of a poor long-term neurological outcome.

METHODS

The records of consecutive patients with BAVM hemorrhagic events who had been admitted over a period of 11 years were retrospectively reviewed. Independent predictors of a poor long-term outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≥ 3) beyond 1 year after admission were identified. A risk stratification scale was developed and compared with the intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) score to predict poor outcome and inpatient mortality.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-five patients with 139 independent hemorrhagic events related to BAVM rupture were included in this analysis. Multivariate logistic regression followed by stepwise analysis showed that consciousness level according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (OR 6.5, 95% CI 3.1–13.7, p < 10−3), hematoma volume (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2–2.8, p = 0.005), and intraventricular hemorrhage (OR 7.5, 95% CI 2.66–21, p < 10−3) were independently associated with a poor outcome. A 12-point scale for ruptured BAVM prognostication was constructed combining these 3 factors. The score obtained using this new scale, the ruptured AVM prognostic (RAP) score, was a stronger predictor of a poor long-term outcome (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] 0.87, 95% CI 0.8–0.92, p = 0.009) and inpatient mortality (AUC 0.91, 95% CI 0.85–0.95, p = 0.006) than the ICH score. For a RAP score ≥ 6, sensitivity and specificity for predicting poor outcome were 76.8% (95% CI 63.6–87) and 90.8% (95% CI 81.9–96.2), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors propose a new admission score, the RAP score, dedicated to stratifying the risk of poor long-term outcome after BAVM rupture. This easy-to-use scoring system may help to improve communication between health care providers and consistency in clinical research. Only external prospective cohorts and population-based studies will ensure full validation of the RAP scores' capacity to predict outcome after BAVM rupture.
Érasme Polémiste
Authors: Marc’hadour Germain
Published: January 2017

Ce volume 83 des CWE est exceptionnel à plus d’un éegard, non seulement parce qu’il associe quatre traducteurs, mais parce que la plus substantielle des trois oeuvres qu’il contient est une premiére dans la séquence des apologies érasmiennes: elle est adressée à un vieil ami, prêtre comme lui, et concerne l’humanité du Maître que les deux exégètes aiment plus que tout. Le débat porte sur des mots que le psautier applique à l’homme, et que la lettre aux Hébreux cite en les appliquant à Dieu fait homme. En helléniste consommé, Érasme a beau jeu de montrer que le Verbe, en s’incarnant, a épousé une nature inférieure à celle des anges, et qu’il a poussé cette humiliation jusqu’à la kénose. La recension ajoute quelques références, relève quelques faiblesses, et jette des passerelles entre Érasme et ses amis Colet et More.
Les Ambassadeurs des Paraphrases
Authors: Vanautgaerden Alexandre
Published: January 2017

Pour disséminer la philosophia Christi, Érasme employa des moyens séculiers aussi bien que spirituels. `A la Renaissance, la dédicace d’une oeuvre littéraire jouissait d’une existence propre, qu’ Érasme utilisait en maître. Il dédia ses Paraphrases du Nouveau Testament à des personnages politiquement importants dans l’Église et l’État : il réserva celles des Actes des apôtres et des quatre évangiles au pape, à l’empereur et à son successeur, ainsi qu’aux rois d’Angleterre et de France. L’auteur explique la portée de ces dédicaces, et aussi de celles adressées au “pieux lecteur,” en soulignant leur rapport avec le plaidoyer d’ Érasme pour les bonnes lettres, et sa défense de ses propres travaux d’érudit sur la Bible.
University of Düsseldorf, 5th July 1981
Authors: Herbrüggen Hubertus Schulte
Published: January 2017

In this article he explores the issue of Thomas More’s enduring appeal. Besides identifying a whole range of interests associated with More, Schulte Herbrüggen’s focuses on the manner of More’s death and he examines the nature of More’s martyrdom in terms of a prophetic witness against tyranny. A witness that continues to possess resonance for all times and locations in which tyrannies are manifested.
Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies, Toronto, 11th July 1982
Authors: McConica John
Published: January 2017

During the period in which these papers were given, there were great achievements on the ecumenical scene, as the quest to restore the Church’s unity was pursued enthusiastically by all the major Christiandenominations. The Papal visit of John Paul II to England in 1982 witnessed a warmth in relationships between the Church of England and the Catholic Church that had not been experienced since the early 16th century Reformation in England to which More fell victim. The Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission was achieving considerable doctrinal consensus and revisionist scholarship was encouraging an historical review by which the faithful Catholic and the confessing Protestant could look upon each other respectfully and appreciatively. It is to this ecumenical theme that James McConica turns in his contribution.
Retrograde motion of a rolling disk
Authors: Borisov A V , Kilin A A , Karavaev Yu L
Published: January 2017

This paper presents results of theoretical and experimental research explaining the retrograde final-stage rolling of a disk under certain relations between its mass and geometric parameters. Modifying the no-slip model of a rolling disk by including viscous rolling friction provides a qualitative explanation for the disk’s retrograde motion. At the same time, the simple experiments described in the paper completely reject the aerodynamical drag torque as a key reason for the retro-grade motion of a disk considered, thus disproving some recent hypotheses.
A Preconditioned Iterative Method for Solving Systems of Nonlinear Equations Having Unknown Multiplicity
Authors: Ahmad Fayyaz , Bhutta Toseef , Shoaib Umar , Zaka Ullah Malik , Alshomrani Ali , Ahmad Shamshad , Ahmad Shahid
Published: January 2017

A modification to an existing iterative method for computing zeros with unknown multiplicities of nonlinear equations or a system of nonlinear equations is presented. We introduce preconditioners to nonlinear equations or a system of nonlinear equations and their corresponding Jacobians. The inclusion of preconditioners provides numerical stability and accuracy. The different selection of preconditioner offers a family of iterative methods. We modified an existing method in a way that we do not alter its inherited quadratic convergence. Numerical simulations confirm the quadratic convergence of the preconditioned iterative method. The influence of preconditioners is clearly reflected in the numerically achieved accuracy of computed solutions.
Effects of the Truck Suspension System on Animal Welfare, Carcass and Meat Quality Traits in Pigs
Authors: Dalla Costa Filipe , Lopes Letícia , Dalla Costa Osmar
Published: January 2017

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of two types of commercial suspension (leaf-spring (LS) vs. air suspension (AS)) installed on two similar double-decked trucks on blood cortisol and lactate concentration, lairage behavior, carcass skin lesions and pork quality traits of 120 crossbred pigs. The suspension type neither influenced pig behaviour in lairage nor blood cortisol and lactate concentrations (p > 0.10). However, when compared with the AS suspension system, the use of LS increased the number of skin lesions in the back and thigh (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively) and produced thigh with lower pHu (p < 0.001) and yellower colour (higher b* value; p = 0.03), and paler back muscles (subjective colour; p < 0.05), with a tendency to lower pH (p = 0.06). Therefore, the use air suspension system can improve carcass and meat quality traits of pigs transported to slaughter.
Pathogenic and Protective Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy-Candidiasis-Ectodermal Dystrophy (APECED)
Authors: Kashem Sakeen , Binstadt Bryce
Published: January 2017

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a rare disorder caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene, leading to defects in T cell selection. The disease manifestations include both autoimmune tissue destruction and immunodeficiency, with specific susceptibility to chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Studies have demonstrated a wide repertoire of high affinity tissue- and cytokine-specific antibodies in patients with APECED. Here, we review the antigenic targets and function of these disease-causing and disease-ameliorating antibodies.
Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress Responses in the Pediatric Population
Authors: Avloniti Alexandra , Chatzinikolaou Athanasios , Deli Chariklia , Vlachopoulos Dimitris , Gracia-Marco Luis , Leontsini Diamanda , Draganidis Dimitrios , Jamurtas Athanasios , Mastorakos George , Fatouros Ioannis
Published: January 2017

Adults demonstrate an upregulation of their pro- and anti-oxidant mechanisms in response to acute exercise while systematic exercise training enhances their antioxidant capacity, thereby leading to a reduced generation of free radicals both at rest and in response to exercise stress. However, less information exists regarding oxidative stress responses and the underlying mechanisms in the pediatric population. Evidence suggests that exercise-induced redox perturbations may be valuable in order to monitor exercise-induced inflammatory responses and as such training overload in children and adolescents as well as monitor optimal growth and development. The purpose of this review was to provide an update on oxidative stress responses to acute and chronic exercise in youth. It has been documented that acute exercise induces age-specific transient alterations in both oxidant and antioxidant markers in children and adolescents. However, these responses seem to be affected by factors such as training phase, training load, fitness level, mode of exercise etc. In relation to chronic adaptation, the role of training on oxidative stress adaptation has not been adequately investigated. The two studies performed so far indicate that children and adolescents exhibit positive adaptations of their antioxidant system, as adults do. More studies are needed in order to shed light on oxidative stress and antioxidant responses, following acute exercise and training adaptations in youth. Available evidence suggests that small amounts of oxidative stress may be necessary for growth whereas the transition to adolescence from childhood may promote maturation of pro- and anti-oxidant mechanisms. Available evidence also suggests that obesity may negatively affect basal and exercise-related antioxidant responses in the peripubertal period during pre- and early-puberty.
A Metal-Insulator-Metal Deep Subwavelength Cavity Based on Cutoff Frequency Modulation
Authors: Moon Kihwan , Lee Tae-Woo , Lee Young , Kwon Soon-Hong
Published: January 2017

We propose a plasmonic cavity using the cutoff frequency of a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) first-order waveguide mode, which has a deep subwavelength physical size of 240 × 210 × 10 (nm3) = 0.00013 λ03. The cutoff frequency is a unique property of the first-order waveguide mode and provides an effective mode gap mirror. The cutoff frequency has strong dependence on a variety of parameters including the waveguide width, insulator thickness, and insulator index. We suggest new plasmon cavities using three types of cutoff frequency modulations. The light can be confined in the cavity photonically, which is based on the spatial change of the cutoff frequency. Furthermore, we analyze cavity loss by investigating the metallic absorption, radiation, and waveguide coupling loss; the radiation loss of the higher-order cavity mode can be suppressed by multipole cancellation.
Evaluating the Relationship between Field Aerodynamic Roughness and the MODIS BRDF, NDVI, and Wind Speed over Grassland
Authors: Xing Qiang , Wu Bingfang , Yan Nana , Yu Mingzhao , Zhu Weiwei
Published: January 2017

Aerodynamic roughness (AR) is an important parameter that influences the momentum and energy exchange between the earth’s surface and the atmosphere. In this study, profile wind data observed during the vegetation growing period (April–September) in 2013 and 2014 at the A’rou grassland station, which is in the upstream of the Heihe River Basin (HRB), were used to determine the relationship between the field AR and the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) near-infrared (NIR) bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) R index, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and a combination of these indices. In addition, the relationship between the average wind speed at a height of 1 m and the field AR is also presented. The results indicate that the MODIS NIR BRDF_R index and the NDVI are both sensitive indicators of the AR over grassland (R2: 0.5228 for NIR BRDF_R; R2: 0.579 for NDVI). Moreover, the combined index shows a significantly increased R2 value of 0.721, which is close to the result inferred from the wind speed (R2: 0.7411). The proposed remote sensing-based combination index (CI) has the potential for use in evaluations of the AR over grasslands during growing season and its sensitivity can reach levels that are comparable to considering the effects of wind speed, which usually requires ground-based observations.
Inhomogeneous Radiative Forcing of NF3
Authors: Lu Peng , Zhang Hua , Wu Jinxiu
Published: January 2017

Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) has the potential to make a growing contribution to the Earth’s radiative budget. In this study, the global mean radiative efficiency of NF3 is calculated as 0.188 W·m−2·ppb−1 by line-by-line method. Global warming potentials of 14,700 for 100 years and global temperature potentials of 16,600 for 100 years are calculated. At the same time, inhomogeneous instantaneous radiative forcing of NF3 at the top of the atmosphere and its relationship to other atmospheric and surface variables are studied. A total of 42 atmospheric profiles are used. The results show NF3 instantaneous radiative efficiency range from 0.07 W·m−2·ppb−1 to 0.50 W·m−2·ppb−1 in clear sky conditions. The mean value is 0.25 W·m−2·ppb−1. In clear sky conditions, the correlation coefficient between surface temperature and NF3 instantaneous radiative forcing is 0.94 and the partial correlation coefficient is −0.88 between integrated water content and NF3 instantaneous radiative forcing. A regression model is constructed for NF3 instantaneous radiative forcing based on surface temperature and integrated water content. The average value of the relative error is 6.17% based on LBLRTM (Line-by-Line Radiative Transfer Model) results. The correlation coefficient is 0.985 between cloud radiative forcing and the difference of NF3 instantaneous radiative forcing between clear sky and all cloudy sky conditions. A regression model is constructed for NF3 instantaneous radiative forcing in all cloudy sky. The average relative error is 5.9% based on LBLRTM results.
Accelerated Aging of the Traditional Greek Distillate Tsipouro Using Wooden Chips. Part I: Effect of Static Maceration vs. Ultrasonication on the Polyphenol Extraction and Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Taloumi Theodora , Makris Dimitris
Published: January 2017

The Greek traditional grape marc distillate Tsipouro was subjected to accelerated aging, using wooden chips from acacia, cherry, chestnut and oak wood. The processes included treatments under static maceration and ultrasonication and the evolution of the total polyphenol concentration was monitored over a period of 30 days. During this period, leaching of polyphenols from the chips into the distillate was found to obey first-order kinetics, but no statistical differences were shown between the two treatments regarding the enrichment of the liquid in polyphenolic substances. The determination of the antioxidant activity demonstrated that aging with chestnut chips may provide Tsipouro with particularly strong radical scavenging and reducing effects, highlighting its importance as a material that could be used to turn distillates into foods with functional properties.
An Update on the Health Benefits of Green Tea
Authors: Reygaert Wanda
Published: January 2017

Green tea, which is produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, is one of the most popular beverages worldwide. Over the past 30 years or more, scientists have studied this plant in respect to potential health benefits. Research has shown that the main components of green tea that are associated with health benefits are the catechins. The four main catechins found in green tea are: (−)-epicatechin (EC), (−)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC), and (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Of these four, EGCG is present in the largest quantity, and so has been used in much of the research. Among the health benefits of green tea are: anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, and benefits in cardiovascular disease and oral health. Research has been carried out using various animal models and cells lines, and is now more and more being carried out in humans. This type of research will help us to better understand the direct benefits of green tea. This review will focus primarily on research conducted using human subjects to investigate the health benefits of green tea.
Polysaccharide Fabrication Platforms and Biocompatibility Assessment as Candidate Wound Dressing Materials
Authors: Aduba Donald , Yang Hu
Published: January 2017

Wound dressings are critical for wound care because they provide a physical barrier between the injury site and outside environment, preventing further damage or infection. Wound dressings also manage and even encourage the wound healing process for proper recovery. Polysaccharide biopolymers are slowly becoming popular as modern wound dressings materials because they are naturally derived, highly abundant, inexpensive, absorbent, non-toxic and non-immunogenic. Polysaccharide biopolymers have also been processed into biomimetic platforms that offer a bioactive component in wound dressings that aid the healing process. This review primarily focuses on the fabrication and biocompatibility assessment of polysaccharide materials. Specifically, fabrication platforms such as electrospun fibers and hydrogels, their fabrication considerations and popular polysaccharides such as chitosan, alginate, and hyaluronic acid among emerging options such as arabinoxylan are discussed. A survey of biocompatibility and bioactive molecule release studies, leveraging polysaccharide’s naturally derived properties, is highlighted in the text, while challenges and future directions for wound dressing development using emerging fabrication techniques such as 3D bioprinting are outlined in the conclusion. This paper aims to encourage further investigation and open up new, disruptive avenues for polysaccharides in wound dressing material development.
pH-Responsive Mesoporous Silica and Carbon Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery
Authors: Gisbert-Garzarán Miguel , Manzano Miguel , Vallet-Regí María
Published: January 2017

The application of nanotechnology to medicine constitutes a major field of research nowadays. In particular, the use of mesoporous silica and carbon nanoparticles has attracted the attention of numerous researchers due to their unique properties, especially when applied to cancer treatment. Many strategies based on stimuli-responsive nanocarriers have been developed to control the drug release and avoid premature release. Here, we focus on the use of the subtle changes of pH between healthy and diseased areas along the body to trigger the release of the cargo. In this review, different approximations of pH-responsive systems are considered: those based on the use of the host-guest interactions between the nanocarriers and the drugs, those based on the hydrolysis of acid-labile bonds and those based on supramolecular structures acting as pore capping agents.
The Anti-Oxidant Defense System of the Marine Polar Ciliate Euplotes nobilii: Characterization of the MsrB Gene Family
Authors: Ricci Francesca , Lauro Federico , Grzymski Joseph , Read Robert , Bakiu Rigers , Santovito Gianfranco , Luporini Pierangelo , Vallesi Adriana
Published: January 2017

Organisms living in polar waters must cope with an extremely stressful environment dominated by freezing temperatures, high oxygen concentrations and UV radiation. To shed light on the genetic mechanisms on which the polar marine ciliate, Euplotes nobilii, relies to effectively cope with the oxidative stress, attention was focused on methionine sulfoxide reductases which repair proteins with oxidized methionines. A family of four structurally distinct MsrB genes, encoding enzymes specific for the reduction of the methionine-sulfoxide R-forms, were identified from a draft of the E. nobilii transcriptionally active (macronuclear) genome. The En-MsrB genes are constitutively expressed to synthesize proteins markedly different in amino acid sequence, number of CXXC motifs for zinc-ion binding, and presence/absence of a cysteine residue specific for the mechanism of enzyme regeneration. The En-MsrB proteins take different localizations in the nucleus, mitochondria, cytosol and endoplasmic reticulum, ensuring a pervasive protection of all the major subcellular compartments from the oxidative damage. These observations have suggested to regard the En-MsrB gene activity as playing a central role in the genetic mechanism that enables E. nobilii and ciliates in general to live in the polar environment.
Visualization of Gas Distribution in a Model AP-XPS Reactor by PLIF: CO Oxidation over a Pd(100) Catalyst
Authors: Zhou Jianfeng , Blomberg Sara , Gustafson Johan , Lundgren Edvin , Zetterberg Johan
Published: January 2017

In situ knowledge of the gas phase around a catalyst is essential to make an accurate correlation between the catalytic activity and surface structure in operando studies. Although ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS) can provide information on the gas phase as well as the surface structure of a working catalyst, the gas phase detected has not been spatially resolved to date, thus possibly making it ambiguous to interpret the AP-XPS spectra. In this work, planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) is used to visualize the CO2 distribution in a model AP-XPS reactor, during CO oxidation over a Pd(100) catalyst. The results show that the gas composition in the vicinity of the sample measured by PLIF is significantly different from that measured by a conventional mass spectrometer connected to a nozzle positioned just above the sample. In addition, the gas distribution above the catalytic sample has a strong dependence on the gas flow and total chamber pressure. The technique presented has the potential to increase our knowledge of the gas phase in AP-XPS, as well as to optimize the design and operating conditions of in situ AP-XPS reactors for catalysis studies.
A Short Review on the Catalytic Activity of Hydrotalcite-Derived Materials for Dry Reforming of Methane
Authors: Dębek Radosław , Motak Monika , Grzybek Teresa , Galvez Maria , Da Costa Patrick
Published: January 2017

Nickel-containing hydrotalcite-derived materials have been recently proposed as promising materials for methane dry reforming (DRM). Based on a literature review and on the experience of the authors, this review focuses on presenting past and recent achievements on increasing activity and stability of hydrotalcite-based materials for DRM. The use of different NiMgAl and NiAl hydrotalcite (HT) precursors, various methods for nickel introduction into HT structure, calcination conditions and promoters are discussed. HT-derived materials containing nickel generally exhibit high activity in DRM; however, the problem of preventing catalyst deactivation by coking, especially below 700 °C, is still an open question. The proposed solutions in the literature include: catalyst regeneration either in oxygen atmosphere or via hydrogasification; or application of various promoters, such as Zr, Ce or La, which was proven to enhance catalytic stability.
Mild and Highly Efficient Copper(I) Inspired Acylation of Alcohols and Polyols
Authors: Mensah Enoch , Earl Lindsey
Published: January 2017

A new and highly efficient method mediated by tetrakis(acetonitrile)copper(I) triflate for activating both simple and highly hindered anhydrides in the acylation of alcohols and polyols is described. This new acylation method is mild and mostly proceeds at room temperature with low catalyst loading. The method is versatile and has been extended to a wide variety of different alcohol substrates to afford the corresponding ester products in good to excellent yields.
Regenerable Antibacterial Cotton Fabric by Plasma Treatment with Dimethylhydantoin: Antibacterial Activity against S. aureus
Authors: Zhou Chang-E. , Kan Chi-wai , Matinlinna Jukka , Tsoi James
Published: January 2017

This study examined the influence of variables in a finishing process for making cotton fabric with regenerable antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). 5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DMH) was coated onto cotton fabric by a pad-dry-plasma-cure method. Sodium hypochlorite was used for chlorinating the DMH coated fabric in order to introduce antibacterial properties. An orthogonal array testing strategy (OATS) was used in the finishing process for finding the optimum treatment conditions. After finishing, UV-Visible spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed to characterise the properties of the treated cotton fabric, including the concentration of chlorine, morphological properties, and functional groups. The results show that cotton fabric coated with DMH followed by plasma treatment and chlorination can inhibit S. aureus and that the antibacterial property is regenerable.
On the Durability and Wear Resistance of Transparent Superhydrophobic Coatings
Authors: Bayer Ilker
Published: January 2017

Transparent liquid repellent coatings with exceptional wear and abrasion resistance are very demanding to fabricate. The most important reason for this is the fact that majority of the transparent liquid repellent coatings have so far been fabricated by nanoparticle assembly on surfaces in the form of films. These films or coatings demonstrate relatively poor substrate adhesion and rubbing induced wear resistance compared to polymer-based transparent hydrophobic coatings. However, recent advances reported in the literature indicate that considerable progress has now been made towards formulating and applying transparent, hydrophobic and even oleophobic coatings onto various substrates which can withstand certain degree of mechanical abrasion. This is considered to be very promising for anti-graffiti coatings or treatments since they require resistance to wear abrasion. Therefore, this review intends to highlight the state-of-the-art on materials and techniques that are used to fabricate wear resistant liquid repellent transparent coatings so that researchers can assess various aptitudes and limitations related to translating some of these technologies to large scale stain repellent outdoor applications.
The New Method of XRD Measurement of the Degree of Disorder for Anode Coke Material
Authors: Zhang Zhuo , Wang Qi
Published: January 2017

Quantitative analysis by X-ray powder diffraction of two cokes (pitch coke and petroleum coke) shows that their crystal structure changed with increasing temperature. The crystal data processing of the crystallization degree of disorder is used with further improvement of the proposed microcrystalline-stacking fault calculation method. With this improvement it is now possible to obtain the degree of stacking disorder of two cokes applied as anode materials at different graphitization temperatures. Raman spectroscopy verified the accuracy of this method, which is more reliable than the crystal structure refinement using the d002 method. This paper provides the theoretical analysis and interpretation of the relationship between the microstructure model of the material and quantitative data, discharge capacity, and the first charge-discharge efficiency.