bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanostructure of the Interfaces Between ZnO, ZnO:Ga and ZnO:Al Films and Silicon
Authors: Herrero-Fernández P. , Hernández-Moro J. , Agulló-Rueda F. , Gabás M. , Díaz-Carrasco P. , Ramos-Barrado J.R. , Landa-Cánovas A. R.
Published: September 2012

ZnO is a promising material for use in solar cell applications which require antireflective coatings and transparent conducting materials in front contacts. Its resistivity can be reduced by appropriate doping with different group III elements, which act as donors, without sacrificing optical transmission. Besides, it constitutes a non-toxic and cheap alternative to ITO (In2O3:SnO2), which is nowadays commonly used as transparent conducting oxide (TCO) in optoelectronic devices. Al(III) is one of the cheapest elements on nature, and has been therefore one of the first candidates to be used as a dopant. However recent studies demonstrate that for similar amounts of dopant the use of Ga largely improves both the optical and electrical properties of the films. The interface between Si (used as substrate) and the corresponding TCO is a critical part of Si-based solar cells, since the conversion efficiency may be profoundly altered by the presence of recombination centers formed at the interface. In this work we present a comparison of Si/ZnO, Si/ZnO:Ga and Si/ZnO:Al interfaces (with [dopant]/[Zn] = 2%) by using HRTEM and associated spectroscopies. Resistivity values of the films are: ρ(ZnO) = 4.4 × 10-2 Ω × cm; ρ(Ga:ZnO) = 6.3 × 10-4 Ω × cm; ρ(Al:ZnO) = 2.9 × 10-3 Ω × cm. and the films optical transmitance is larger than 80% along the visible spectrum.
FIB and SEM-STEM Studies of Friction-stir Processed AM60 Magnesium Alloy
Authors: Rodríguez J. B. , Miniño P. , Pena G. , Gesto D. , Rey P. , Verdera D.
Published: September 2012

In the present work, we present the microstructural study of a cast magnesium alloy AM60B processed by Friction Stir Processing (FSP) in order to achieve Ultra-Fine Grain (UFG) size (200–700nm) in the stirred zone. Focused ion beam (FIB) has been used for sample preparation, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) for the structural characterization. To explain the differences induced by the FSP, two lamellas obtained by FIB from the bottom and the upper part of the cross-section of the nugget are compared to one extracted from the parent material (unaffected zone A). The obtained results show the remarkable homogenization and grain refinement produced in the structure in the processed zone, as previous reported works indicate. The microstructure of the as cast base material reveals the presence of dendrites of solid solution of Al in Mg (α-phase), with an average grain size of ~400–500 µm, and a partially divorced eutectic structure at the interdendritic spaces, where the massive and lamellar β-Mg17Al12 intermetallic phase can be observed (Figure 1). The SAED on one particle of β-phase shows a diffraction pattern that fits the crystalline structure of the cubic I -4 3 m space group (Nº 217). Also Mn containing phases were homogeneously distributed throughout the section. The performed analyses demonstrate that these particles are basically Al-Mn binary phases containing trace elements as Si or Fe, and the measured Mn/Al ratio allow to classify them into two types previously reported: Type I are particles of equiaxed or almost rounded shape and type II are needle like or flowerlike particles, with a lower Mn/Al ratio.
Ferroelectric Domain Studies of KNN Single Crystals by Piezo-force and Transmission Electron Microscopy
Authors: Rafiq Muhammad Asif , Costa Maria Elisabete , Vilarinho Paula Maria , Reaney Ian M
Published: September 2012

Piezoelectric materials find important applications in micro- and nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS). Pb(Zrx,Ti1-x)O3 (PZT) is currently the most widely used composition for such applications but due to environmental concerns over the toxicity of lead, lead free alternative materials are required. K0.5Na0.5NbO3 (KNN) is considered as a potential lead free piezoelectric but the current generation of monolithic ceramics has inferior electromechanical properties as compared to PZT. Consequently, there is great interest in improving the piezoelectric properties of KNN ceramics and various methods such as doping, hot-pressing and texturing are currently being studied. KNN single crystals like lead based single crystals have shown better electromechanical properties as compared to their ceramic counterparts. In addition, the behavior of a ferroelectric is largely dependent on its local domain response to an applied electrical or mechanical loading. Therefore, to understand better the material’s macroscopic properties, it is essential to access local ferroelectric domains behavior which collectively determines the electromechanical performance.
Electron Microscopy Study of Porous and Co Functionalized BaTiO3 Thin Films
Authors: Ferreira P. , Castro A. , Vilarinho P. M. , Willinger M. -G. , Mosa J. , Laberty C. , Sanchez C.
Published: September 2012

Multiferroics are currently of great interest for applications in microelectronics namely in future data storage and spintronic devices. These materials couple simultaneously ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties and have potentially different applications resulting from the coupling between their dual order parameters. A true multiferroic material is single phase. However, the known true multiferroic materials possess insufficient coupling between the two phenomena or their magnetoelectric response occurs at temperatures too low to be useful in practical applications. But a tremendous progress in the field of microelectronics can be expected if one is able to design an effective multiferroic material with ideal coupling of the ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties to suit a particular application. Within this context composite structures are gaining considerable interest and different strategies in terms of materials microstructure have been proposed including horizontal multilayers and vertical heterostructures. In the horizontal multilayer heterostructures, the alternating layers of conventional ferro/ferrimagnetic and ferroelectric phases are grown, while in the vertical heterostructures nanopillars of the ferro/ferrimagnetic phase are embedded in a ferroelectric matrix. The later structures show advantages over the first ones because promote larger interfacial surface area and are intrinsically heteroepitaxial in three dimensions; which is expected to allow a stronger coupling between ferroelectric and ferromagnetic components.
Twins, Tissue, and Time: An Assessment of SNPs and CNVs
Authors: Scheet Paul , Ehli Erik A. , Xiao Xiangjun , van Beijsterveldt Catharina E. M. , Abdellaoui Abdel , Althoff Robert R. , Hottenga Jouke Jan , Willemsen Gonneke , Nelson Kelly A. , Huizenga Patricia E. , Hu Yueshan , Amos Christopher I. , Bartels Meike , Groen-Blokhuis Maria M , de Geus Eco JC , Hudziak James J. , Davies Gareth E. , Boomsma Dorret I.
Published: September 2012

With the desire to assess genetic variation across the lifespan in large-scale collaborative projects, one question is whether inference of copy number (CN) is sensitive to the source of material for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis (e.g., blood and buccal) and another question is whether CN is stable as individuals age. Here, we address these questions by applying Affymetrix 6.0 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) micro-arrays to 1,472 DNA samples from 710 individuals from the Netherlands Twin Register, including twin and non-twin individuals (372 with buccal and blood derived DNA and 388 with longitudinal data). Similar concordance for CN and genotype inference between samples from the same individual [or from the monozygotic (MZ) co-twins] was found for blood and buccal tissues. There was a small but statistically significant decrease in across-tissue concordance compared with concordance of samples from the same tissue type. No temporal effect was seen on CN variation from the 388 individuals sampled at two time points ranging from 1 to 12 years apart. The majority of our individuals were sampled at age younger than 20 years. Genotype concordance was very high (R2 > 99%) between co-twins from 43 MZ pairs. For 75 dizygotic (DZ) pairs, R2 was ≈65%. CN estimates were highly consistent between co-twins from MZ pairs for both deletions (R2 ≈ 90%) and duplications (R2 ≈ 86%). For DZ, these were similar for within-individual comparisons, but naturally lower between co-twins (R2 ≈ 50–60%). These results suggest that DNA from buccal samples perform as well as DNA from blood samples on the current generation of micro-array technologies.
Weltoffenheit unter Gleichgesinnten 1Der vorliegende Artikel wurde von beiden Autorinnen in gleichberechtigter Zusammenarbeit geschrieben.
Authors: Nentwich Julia C. , Ostendorp Anja
Published: September 2012

Aus einer diskurspsychologischen Perspektive wurden die interpretativen Repertoires und ideologischen Dilemmata untersucht, die in 19 Gruppendiskussionen mit Bewohnern und Bewohnerinnen dreier Quartiere einer mittelgroßen Schweizer Stadt verschiedene Versionen von Ein- und Ausschluss erzeugen. Mit der Entwicklung des Begriffs der «Legitimierungspraktiken» werden die diskursiven Praktiken analysiert, die Ausschluss auf subtile Weise nicht nur erzeugen, sondern zugleich als «politisch korrekt» zu legitimieren vermögen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen auf, wie zentrale Diskursbausteine liberal-egalitärer Gesellschaften zur Legitimation von Ausschluss beitragen.
When Subcategorization Facilitates Group Cohesion
Authors: Gianettoni Lavinia , Clémence Alain , Staerklé Christian
Published: September 2012

This paper analyzes the conditions under which groups composed of two opposing factions are able to preserve group cohesion and subgroup opinion divisions simultaneously. Results from two experimental studies conducted with small interactive groups showed that groups with opposing factions were able to preserve subgroup divergence without jeopardizing superordinate group cohesion. A process termed relational regulation of ingroup opinion divisions explains these findings: The more group members perceived the group as promoting good relations, the more they maintained or even radicalized their initial opinions. In contrast, in an experimental context in which opinion divergences were not reinforced by subcategorization, we observed convergence toward a unique group position destined to maintain group cohesion that was independent of the perceived relational norm.
A Household Study of Self-Regulation in Children
Authors: Drobetz Reinhard , Maercker Andreas , Spiess C. Katharina , Wagner Gert G. , Forstmeier Simon
Published: September 2012

Delay of gratification (DoG) and delay discounting (DD) are behavioral measures of self-regulation and impulsivity. Whereas DoG refers to the postponement of gratification, DD involves the devaluation of a reward over time. Previous studies have demonstrated associations between paternal self-control, paternal personality traits, parenting styles, maternal intelligence, and children’s self-regulation. The present study explored intergenerational links between mothers’ and child’s self-regulation and maternal antecedents of children’s DoG. We analyzed 267 mother-child dyads in the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) Children’s Study. Measures included an experiment using gummy bears as rewards to assess DoG in children and monetary choice procedures to assess DD in mothers. Additionally, cognitive abilities and personality traits of mothers and children were assessed. The main result was that the children’s age and breastfeeding were significant predictors of DoG in children, even when we controlled for other influences such as maternal cognitive abilities and personality traits. We explain the result in the context of previous findings concerning attachment security, bonding, maternal sensitivity, children’s self-regulation of energy intake, neuroscientific evidence, and breastfeeding. Further studies should use equivalent measures of DoG in children and parents to further explore this link between breastfeeding and DoG in a genetically sensitive design.
“Resolved That the Mind of Woman Is Not Inferior to That of Man”: Women's Oratorical Preparation in California State Normal School Coeducational Literary Societies in the Late Nineteenth Century
Authors: Bordelon Suzanne
Published: September 2012

Complicating claims about the decline of oratorical culture in the nineteenth century, this article demonstrates that rhetorical training was integral to the coeducational literary societies at California State Normal School in the 1870s and 1890s and that women benefited from such education. The societies were based on assumptions of relative equality between the sexes, fostering the development of teachers who would serve as powerful public speakers and leaders within their communities. This study also challenges arguments concerning the feminization of argumentation in the nineteenth century by highlighting the centrality of debate to the societies and the ways this argument overlooks such activities.
Embryonic, Larval, and Early Juvenile Development of the Tropical Sea Urchin,Salmacis sphaeroides(Echinodermata: Echinoidea)
Authors: Rahman M. Aminur , Yusoff Fatimah Md. , Arshad A. , Shamsudin Mariana Nor , Amin S. M. N.
Published: September 2012

Salmacis sphaeroides(Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the regular echinoids, occuring in the warm Indo-West Pacific, including Johor Straits, between Malaysia and Singapore. In order to investigate the developmental basis of morphological changes in embryos and larvae, we documented the ontogeny ofS. sphaeroidesin laboratory condition. Gametes were obtained from adult individuals by 0.5 M KCl injection into the coelomic cavity. Fertilization rate at limited sperm concentration (10−5dilution) was96.6±1.4% and the resulting embryos were reared at 24°C. First cleavage (2-cell), 4-cell, 8-cell, 16-cell, 32-cell, and multicell (Morulla) stages were achieved 01.12, 02.03, 02.28, 02.51, 03.12, and 03.32 h postfertilization. Ciliated blastulae with a mean length of174.72±4.43 μm hatched 08.45 h after sperm entry. The gastrulae formed 16.15 h postfertilization and the archenteron elongated constantly while ectodermal red-pigmented cells migrated synchronously to the apical plate. Pluteus larva started to feed unicellular algae in 2 d, grew continuously, and finally attained metamorphic competence in 35 d after fertilization. Metamorphosis took approximately 1 h 30 min from attachment to the complete resorption of larval tissues and the development of complete juvenile structure with adult spines, extended tubefeet and well-developed pedicellaria, the whole event of which usually took place within 1 d postsettlement. This study represents the first successful investigation on embryonic, larval, and early juvenile development ofS. sphaeroides. The findings would greatly be helpful towards the understanding of ontogeny and life-history strategies, which will facilitate us to develop the breeding, seed production, and culture techniques of sea urchins in captive condition.
Causality between wholesale price and consumer price indices in India
Authors: Tiwari Aviral Kumar
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to attempt to analyze Granger causality in the frequency domain framework between producers' prices measured by wholesale price index (WPI) and consumers' prices measured by consumer price index (CPI) in the context of India.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis was carried out in the framework of time series and for analysis Johansen and Juselius's maximum likelihood approach for cointegration was applied after confirming that variables are integrated of order one, i.e. I(1) through the Lee and Strazicich unit root test. Finally, Granger causality was tested in the frequency domain by utilizing a recently developed approach of Lemmens et al. over the period January 1957‐February 2009.

Findings

The paper finds that CPI Granger cause WPI at a lower, intermediate as well as higher levels of frequency, reflecting very long‐run, intermediate as well as short‐run cycles. By contrast WPI Granger cause CPI at 5 percent level of significance was found at intermediate frequencies, reflecting significant intermediate cycles.

Research limitations/implications

The study reveals that CPI is a leading indicator of producers' prices and inflation (i.e. WPI). This gives an indication that Indian policy analysts ought to control for factors affecting CPI in order to have control on WPI since WPI is used for making various macroeconomic indicators in real terms.

Originality/value

The main contribution of the paper is to show the evidence of bidirectional causality between WPI and CPI. Furthermore, use of a recent approach developed by Lemmens et al. for Granger causality in the frequency domain in this study is also relatively new. To the best of the author's knowledge there is no such study in this area either for developed or developing economy to date.
Global production sharing and South‐South trade
Authors: Athukorala Prema‐chandra , Nasir Shahbaz
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine patterns and determinants of trade among developing countries (South‐South trade), with emphasis on the role of production sharing in global economic integration of the Southern economies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins with an analytical narrative of the emerging trends and patterns of South‐South trade using a classification system that helps delineating trade based on global production sharing (network trade) from total recorded trade. Then it undertakes a comparative econometric analysis of the determinants of South‐South and South‐North trade using the standard gravity model.

Findings

The share of South‐South trade in world trade has shown a significant increase over the past two decades. This increase has predominantly come from the dynamic East Asian countries, reflecting their growing engagement in global production sharing. The growth dynamism of East‐Asia centered production networks depends heavily on demand for final (assembled) goods in the Northern markets; South‐South trade is largely complementary to, rather than competing with, South‐North trade. While regional trading agreements (RTAs) could play a role at the margin, natural economic forces associated with growth and structural change in the economy and the overall macroeconomic climate as reflected in the real exchange rate, and the quality of trade related logistics are far more important in the expansion of South‐South network trade.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine patterns and determinants of South‐South trade paying attention to the role of global production sharing. The findings are valuable for informing the contemporary policy debate on promoting South‐South trade. The trade data classification system developed here is expected to help further research on this subject.
FDI agglomeration change in China
Authors: Pan Mingming
Published: September 2012

Purpose

No previous research has considered the changing agglomeration effect of foreign direct investment (FDI). The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses China as the object of study and examines the centripetal and centrifugal forces associated with FDI clustering over time.

Findings

Through studying the FDI determinants for the 29 Chinese provinces from 1993 to 2008, the empirical analysis supports a weakening agglomeration effect of FDI over time in China and further suggests that the effect has nearly vanished in the past few years.

Research limitations/implications

Data availability restricts the analysis to using provincial aggregate data and so further research is called for. It would provide more accurate and insightful information to study the FDI agglomeration effects at a finer level, using more disaggregated city‐level data by sector and by source country.

Originality/value

As the Chinese government has been making efforts to direct FDI to inland areas, this research provides immediate policy implications. Policy‐makers' investment incentives to direct FDI could go to waste when the agglomeration effect of FDI is too strong. The incentives should be able to achieve a much larger effect when the agglomeration effect becomes less strong.
Workers' remittances and economic growth in China and Korea: an empirical analysis
Authors: Tehseen Jawaid Syed , Raza Syed Ali
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between workers' remittances and economic growth in China and Korea.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper has employed annual time series data over the period of 1980 to 2009. Johansen and Jeuuselius's cointegration technique, error correction model, and sensitivity analysis have been performed to analyze the long‐run, short‐run relationships and robustness of the results, respectively.

Findings

Cointegration results confirm that there exists significant positive long‐run relationship between remittances and economic growth in Korea, while, significant negative relationship exist between remittances and economic growth in China. Error correction model confirms the significant positive short‐run relationship of workers' remittances with economic growth in Korea, while the results of China were insignificant in short run. Causality analysis confirms unidirectional causality runs from workers' remittances to economic growth, in both China and Korea. Sensitivity analysis confirms that the results are robust.

Practical implications

It is suggested that Korea should form friendly policies to ensure the continuous inflows of workers' remittances and their efficient utilization to ensure economic growth. On the other hand, China should keep an eye to reducing voluntary unemployment, which leads to decrease in productivity and growth in the country.

Originality/value

The paper provides some empirical evidence of whether workers' remittances have contributed significantly to large open economies.
Corporate governance and access to interest bearing debt
Authors: Aldamen Husam , Duncan Keith
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend the growing body of literature on the impact of corporate governance on debt contracting by examining if better governance is associated with access to interest bearing debt. The paper aims to explore whether no‐debt companies have governance structures that are qualitatively different to debt companies within a market with a distinct corporate finance structure, such as Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is portioned into two stages. The first stage focuses on univariate analysis which includes descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The second stage introduces multivariate analysis, in the form of a probit regression model, to test the relationship between corporate governance and access to interest bearing debt.

Findings

The results suggest that companies with higher levels of corporate governance are more likely to access interest bearing debt relative to no‐debt companies. However, the unexpected finding is that only resource companies that implement higher governance are more likely to access interest bearing debt. The core driver is that resource companies with no‐debt have systematically lower governance than all other companies.

Research limitations/implications

The cross – sectional design of the study is limited in its ability to shed light on the question of causality. One potential avenue is to develop an event study around the timing of governance and debt access changes.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the extant literature by investigating the relationship between governance and access to interest bearing debt in the understudied Australian debt market.
The International Financial Reporting Standard for Small and Medium‐sized Entities (IFRS for SMES)
Authors: Aboagye‐Otchere Francis , Agbeibor Juliet
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the suitability of the International Financial Reporting Standard for Small and Medium‐sized Entities (IFRS for SMES) for small businesses (micro entities and SMEs) in Ghana by assessing their need for the IFRS for SMEs and the appropriateness of the IFRS for SMEs as the accounting standard of choice for small businesses in Ghana. The paper also aims to investigate the firm characteristics likely to influence small businesses' need for the Standard and the appropriateness of the Standard for small businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey method was used. A questionnaire survey of 305 small businesses was conducted, from which 149 useable questionnaires were returned.

Findings

It was found that small businesses in Ghana have limited international structures and activities which do not result in a need for internationally comparable financial reporting information. Small businesses also do not receive requests to provide such information. In total, 19 of the 27 issues addressed by the Standard and assessed in the study were found to be irrelevant to small businesses in Ghana. Size, legal form and number of owners influence the suitability of the Standard for small businesses in Ghana.

Originality/value

The paper provides some of the early empirical evidence on the final version of the IFRS for SMEs in Africa. The study also brings a fresh perspective by applying institutional theory to the adoption and implementation of the IFRS for SMEs.
A meta‐analysis of humanitarian logistics research
Authors: Kunz Nathan , Reiner Gerald
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to give an up‐to‐date and structured insight into the most recent literature on humanitarian logistics, and suggest trends for future research based on the gaps identified through structured content analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a quantitative and qualitative content analysis process to analyse the characteristics of the existing literature, identifying the most studied topics in six structural dimensions, and presenting gaps and recommendations for further research.

Findings

It was found that existing humanitarian logistics research shows too little interest in continuous humanitarian aid operations, in slow onset disasters and man‐made catastrophes. While several papers address different phases of disasters, very few focus particularly on the reconstruction following a disaster. Empirical research is underrepresented in the existing literature as well.

Research limitations/implications

While five of the authors’ structural dimensions are inspired by previous reviews, the sixth dimension (situational factors) is derived from a theoretical framework which the authors developed and which has never been tested before. The validity of the study could therefore be increased by testing this framework.

Originality/value

The authors analyse the broadest set of papers (174) ever covered in previous literature reviews on humanitarian logistics. A quantitative analysis of the papers was conducted in order to analyse the situational factors which have mostly been studied so far in literature. This paper is also the first in humanitarian logistics to use content analysis as the main methodology to analyse literature in a structured way, which is of particular value to the academic community as well as practitioners.
Humanitarian cluster leads: lessons from 4PLs
Authors: Jensen Leif‐Magnus
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve the understanding of the role of humanitarian cluster leads through applying lessons from the fourth‐party logistics (4PL) literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The primary data for this paper are based on an extensive case study of coordination mechanisms in humanitarian logistics covering specifically the UNJLC (United Nations Joint Logistics Centre) and the Logistics Cluster. In total, 37 semi‐structured interviews were conducted, together with site visits and review of official documentation.

Findings

The paper finds that the 4PL concept provides a partial match for the cluster leads with important lessons from the 4PL literature. In particular, lessons are related to selectivity of central participants for the cluster, and the need to develop relationship management skills.

Research limitations/implications

The paper shows some clear areas where lessons from the 4PL literature are highly relevant to the logistics cluster lead. Some of these implications can also be applied to the other clusters, but further concepts should be developed for the cluster system as a whole.

Social implications

The analysis shows that cluster leads should think of themselves more as facilitators rather than channel captains.

Originality/value

The tasks for the humanitarian cluster leads have been outlined in some detail, but the ways to accomplish them and how they should operate in relation to other actors in the field has been less clear. By using the 4PL concept the paper demonstrates a number of lessons that are relevant to the logistics cluster lead in particular.
Health commodities management system: priorities and challenges
Authors: Ibegbunam Innocent , McGill Deborah
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore opinions of health workers on priorities and challenges of the HIV/AIDS commodities management system in Abuja, Nigeria. The results from this research are to inform future guideline revisions on the management of these commodities, in order to produce the most efficient and cost‐effective approach.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research was conducted from a social constructionist perspective. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 12 health workers, comprising pharmacists, laboratory scientists and logisticians involved in HIV/AIDS commodity management in Abuja, Nigeria. Views and experiences of these workers were explored on HIV/AIDS commodity management through in‐depth interviews, to ascertain challenges of the current system and needed interventions. The data were subjected to thematic content analysis.

Findings

Results of the study include the need for coordinated and integrated health commodity management system, sustainable human resource and infrastructure development and an effective data management system to address current challenges.

Research limitations/implications

The data collection approach did not provide an opportunity for idea exchange and review in a focused group and the number of respondents was limited to 12 due to time constraints. However, the respondents were experts in the field.

Practical implications

Government needs to commit financial resources to support of the health supply chain to ensure sustainability beyond donor support. Donors should change their strategy of “quick fix” approach to health supply chain challenges, as these often result in Government laxity in addressing public health needs.

Originality/value

The paper provides insight into areas on which the Government of Nigeria should focus attention in health supply chain strategy, which is currently perceived as not coordinated.
Gains from coordination in milkfed dairy in Punjab
Authors: Gupta Kanupriya , Roy Devesh
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an assessment of benefits to farmers from vertical coordination in dairy. To analyze this, the authors first document the functioning of the cooperative (and changes thereof with increased competition). The paper also uses a field survey to quantify the benefits. In the process, the authors investigate the issue of selection/participation of farmers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is largely based on a survey of households in two districts of Indian Punjab along with secondary data. Descriptive as well as regression analyses have been conducted to address the research questions.

Findings

The paper presents several key findings. First, the public sector enterprise has been dynamic as competition from private sector has brought favorable changes. There is also evidence of negative selection of farmers implying that those who join dairy cooperatives would have significantly inferior outcomes outside vis‐à‐vis the ones who actually are independent. No bias against farmers by their herd size and significant gains upon participation can explain the scaling up from the demand side. In other words many farmers would find it profitable to become members of the cooperative.

Research limitations/implications

Although the survey was extensive in measurement of costs by including variable and fixed costs of production, marketing as well as transaction costs, the data on fixed costs turned out to be noisy. Further, the analysis based on cross‐sectional data could not account for unobserved farmer level individual heterogeneity. Also, the outside option for the farmer in this paper is to be independent. It is possible that this could be integration with private sector, a case that the study does not cover.

Social implications

Benefits from coordination should motivate policies for promoting it. The finding that increased competition has fostered dynamism in the public sector has implications far beyond the case studied here.

Originality/value

Despite the extensive system of cooperatives, there do not exist rigorous studies that assess the gains to farmers from this type of horizontal and vertical coordination. The extent of gains establishes a measure of foregone earnings since the supply chains in India remain uncoordinated.
Actinobacteria as essential symbionts in firebugs and cotton stainers (Hemiptera, Pyrrhocoridae)
Authors: Salem Hassan , Kreutzer Elisabeth , Sudakaran Sailendharan , Kaltenpoth Martin
Published: September 2012

Actinobacteria engage in defensive symbioses with several insect taxa, but reports of nutritional contributions to their hosts have been exceptionally rare. Cotton stainers (Dysdercus fasciatus) and red firebugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus) (both Hemiptera, Pyrrhocoridae) harbour the actinobacterial symbionts Coriobacterium glomerans and Gordonibacter sp. as well as Firmicutes (Clostridium sp. and Lactococcus sp.) and Proteobacteria (Klebsiella sp. and a Rickettsiales bacterium) in the M3 region of their mid‐gut. We combined experimental manipulation with community‐level analyses to elucidate the function of the gut symbionts in both pyrrhocorid species. Elimination of symbionts by egg‐surface sterilization resulted in significantly higher mortality and reduced growth rates, indicating that the microbial community plays an important role for host nutrition. Fitness of symbiont‐deprived bugs could be completely restored by re‐infection with the original microbiota, while reciprocal cross‐infections of microbial communities across both pyrrhocorid species only partially rescued fitness, demonstrating a high degree of host–symbiont specificity. Community‐level analyses by quantitative PCRs targeting the dominant bacterial strains allowed us to link the observed fitness effects to the abundance of the two actinobacterial symbionts. The nutritional mutualism with Actinobacteria may have enabled pyrrhocorid bugs to exploit Malvales seeds as a food source and thereby possibly allowed them to occupy and diversify in this ecological niche.
Vancomycin‐resistant enterococci in rooks (Corvus frugilegus) wintering throughout Europe
Authors: Oravcova Veronika , Ghosh Anuradha , Zurek Ludek , Bardon Jan , Guenther Sebastian , Cizek Alois , Literak Ivan
Published: September 2012

This study's aims were to assess the prevalence of, and to characterize, vancomycin‐resistant enterococci (VRE) from rooks (Corvus frugilegus) wintering in Europe during 2010/2011. Faeces samples were cultivated selectively for VRE and characterized. Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were used to examine epidemiologic relationships of vanA‐containing VRE. The vanA‐carrying VRE were tested in vitro for mobility of vancomycin resistance traits. VRE were found in 62 (6%) of 1073 rook samples. Enterococcal species diversity comprised Enterococcus gallinarum (48 isolates), followed by E. faecium (9) and E. faecalis (5). Eight VRE harboured the vanA and ermB genes. Seven vanA‐carrying VRE originated from the Czech Republic and one from Germany. All vanA‐carrying VRE were identified as E. faecium. Based on MLST analysis, six vanA‐positive isolates were grouped as ST92 type, one isolate belonged to ST121, and the remaining one was described as a novel type ST671. Seven out of eight isolates were able to transfer the vancomycin resistance trait via filter mating with a transfer rate of 8.95 ± 3.25 × 10−7 transconjugants per donor. In conclusion, wintering rooks in some European countries may disseminate clinically important enterococci and pose a risk for environmental contamination.
Clone libraries and single cell genome amplification reveal extended diversity of uncultivated magnetotactic bacteria from marine and freshwater environments
Authors: Kolinko Sebastian , Wanner Gerhard , Katzmann Emanuel , Kiemer Felizitas , M. Fuchs Bernhard , Schüler Dirk
Published: September 2012

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), which orient along the earth's magnetic field using magnetosomes, are ubiquitous and abundant in marine and freshwater environments. Previous phylogenetic analysis of diverseMTBhas been limited to few cultured species and the most abundant and conspicuous members of natural populations, which were assigned to various lineages of theProteobacteria, theNitrospiraephylum as well as the candidate divisionOP3. However, their known phylogenetic diversity still not matches the large morphological and ultrastructural variability of unculturedMTBfound in environmental communities. Here, we used analysis of 16S rRNAgene clone libraries in combination with microsorting and whole‐genome amplification to systematically address the entire diversity of unculturedMTBfrom two different habitats. This approach revealed extensive and novel diversity ofMTBwithin the freshwater and marine sediment samples. In total, single‐cell analysis identified eight different phylotypes, which were only partly represented in the clone libraries, and which could be unambiguously assigned to their respective morphotypes. IdentifiedMTBbelonged to theAlphaproteobacteria(seven species) and theNitrospiraephylum (two species). End‐sequencing of a small insert library created fromWGA‐derivedDNAof a novel conspicuous magnetotactic vibrio identified genes with highest similarity to two cultivatedMTBas well as to other phylogenetic groups. In conclusion, the combination of metagenomic cloning and single cell sorting represents a powerful approach to recover maximum bacterial diversity including low‐abundant magnetotactic phylotypes from environmental samples and also provides access to genomic analysis of uncultivatedMTB.
A type VI secretion system regulated by OmpR in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis functions to maintain intracellular pH homeostasis
Authors: Zhang Weipeng , Wang Yao , Song Yunhong , Wang Tietao , Xu Shengjuan , Peng Zhong , Lin Xiaoli , Zhang Lei , Shen Xihui
Published: September 2012

Type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) which widely distributed in Gram‐negative bacteria have been primarily studied in the context of cell interactions with eukaryotic hosts or other bacteria. We have recently identified a thermoregulated T6SS4 in the enteric pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Here we report that OmpR directly binds to the promoter of T6SS4 operon and regulates its expression. Further, we observed that the OmpR‐regulated T6SS4 is essential for bacterial survival under acidic conditions and that its expression is induced by low pH. Moreover, we showed that T6SS4 plays a role in pumping H+ out of the cell to maintain intracellular pH homeostasis. The acid tolerance phenotype of T6SS4 is dependent on the ATPase activity of ClpV4, one of the components of T6SS4. These results not only uncover a novel strategy utilized by Y. pseudotuberculosis for acid resistance, but also reveal that T6SS, a bacteria secretion system known to be functional in protein transportation has an unexpected function in H+ extrusion under acid conditions.
Familial trichotillomania: role of genetic factors in the determination of subtypes
Authors: Alireza Ghaffari Nejad , Estilaee Fariborz , Sadeghi Mohammad M.
Published: September 2012

Objectives

Trichotillomania (TTM) is a psychiatric syndrome characterised by the inability to control repetitive hair pulling. Psychiatric data reveal that TTM is not usually prevalent among all family members of patients, and so far only one case of familial TTM has been reported.

Methods

In this study, we report a case of familial TTM that afflicted four sisters and discuss the importance of genetic factors in this disorder.

Results

This report suggests that, similar to many other psychiatric disorders, TTM can be detected in other family members and that genetic factors not only have a significant role in the development of such disorders but also in determination of the disorder subtype. This report also shows that the comorbidities in one member of the family might predict the existence of comorbidities in other members. On the basis of response to medication.

Conclusion

the authors suggest that a genetic disorder like polymorphism in serotonin receptors or dopamine can cause such a disorder.
Abnormalities in extracellular glycine and glutamate levels in the striatum of sandy mice
Authors: Kitaichi Yuji , Hashimoto Ryota , Inoue Takeshi , Abekawa Tomohiro , Kakuta Aya , Hattori Satoko , Koyama Tsukasa
Published: September 2012

Objective

Glycine regulates glutamatergic neurotransmission, and several papers have reported the relationship between glycine and schizophrenia. The dysbindin-1 (DTNBP1: dystrobrevin-binding protein 1) gene is related to glutamatergic neurotransmission and has been found to be a strong candidate gene for schizophrenia. In this study, we clarified the relationship between dysbindin, glutamate, and glycine with in vivo microdialysis methods.

Methods

We measured extracellular glycine and glutamate levels in the striatum of sandy (sdy) mice using in vivo microdialysis methods. Sdy mice express no dysbindin protein owing to a deletion in the dysbindin-1 gene. In addition, we measured changes in those amino acids after methamphetamine (METH) administration.

Results

The basal levels of extracellular glycine and glutamate in the striatum of sdy mice were elevated. These extracellular glutamate levels decreased gradually after METH administration and were not subsequently different from those of wild-type mice.

Conclusions

These results suggest that dysbindin might modulate glycine and glutamate release in vivo.
The dopamine transporter gene possibly affects personality traits in patients with early-onset major depressive disorder
Authors: Huang Chang-Chih , Lu Ru-Band , Shih Mei-Chen , Yen Che-Hung , Huang San-Yuan
Published: September 2012

Objective

Comorbid personality pathologies may affect the outcome of patients with major depression (MD). The dopamine transporter gene DAT1 (SLC6A3) has been suggested to play a role in both depression and specific personality traits. The aim of this study was to assess five polymorphisms of the DAT1 gene (rs2550948, rs2975226, rs6347, rs27072, and 3′-VNTR) to determine whether this gene influences personality traits in patients with MD or its subgroups.

Methods

The DAT1 polymorphisms were analysed in 463 unrelated Han Chinese MD patients. The personality traits, novelty seeking (NS), and harm avoidance (HA), were examined using the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. The patients were also divided into four clinical subgroups on the basis of differences in their sex (male or female) and age at disease onset (early or late).

Results

There was no association between the DAT1 gene and either NS or HA in the total MD sample or in the sex-based subgroups. However, early-onset MD patients with the G/G genotype of rs2550948 and the T/T genotype of rs2975226 had lower NS scores than did patients with the other genotypes (pcorrected = 0.05 for rs2550948 and pcorrected = 0.005 for rs2975226).

Conclusion

Our study suggests that DAT1 promoter variants possibly influence specific personality traits in the early-onset subgroup of depressed patients in the Han Chinese population. Further prospective cohort studies are required to verify our preliminary finding and to confirm the effects of personality susceptibility on long-term disease outcomes.
The clinical use of quality-of-life scales in neurological disorders
Authors: Corallo Francesco , De Luca Rosaria , Leonardi Roberta , De Salvo Simona , Bramanti Placido , Marino Silvia
Published: September 2012

Objective

Quality of life (QoL) is a growing issue in medicine, particularly in the
evaluation of rehabilitative care. The concept of QoL is included in and expands
the definition of health given by the WHO (World Health Organization) and
comprises complete physical, mental, and social well-being. It expresses the
degree of satisfaction in various areas as a result of the opportunities that
arise during one's lifetime despite the restrictions and impediments that life
itself puts forth. The last decade has exponentially increased the number of
studies on QoL, although they are still limited.

Methods

We performed a literature review on the QoL scales used in patients with
neurological disorders.

Results

Recent studies have shown the importance of QoL assessment because standard
treatments do not assess the treatment impact felt by the patient. In fact, by
understanding the impact of treatment on survival and QoL, one can make a clearer
interpretation of the health of the patient.

Conclusion

This review has adopted an innovative holistic methodological approach, which
allowed a global evaluation of the comfort reported by the patients. The scales
applied in this study allowed to choose the most suitable therapeutic strategies
and programme individual therapeutic treatment.
Can low-dose propranolol induce a manic syndrome? Case report of an unexpected side effect
Authors: Shahrbabaki Mahin Eslami , Estilaee Fariborz , Shahrbabaki Amir Eslami
Published: September 2012

Objectives

Propranolol, the first discovered b-adrenergic receptor antagonist, has been prescribed by physicians in various fields for more than three decades. It has been applied for treating psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, mania and anxiety disorders, as well as for controlling withdrawal symptoms or other side effects.

Methods

We describe the case of an 11-year-old boy with bipolar-I disorder comorbid with panic disorder who developed manic symptoms with a single dose of 10 mg of propranolol.

Results and Conclusion

Although depression is a better-known side effect of b-adrenergic antagonists, clinicians should take mania as a rare side effect into consideration as well.
Changes in the photoplethysmogram with tracheal intubation and remifentanil concentration
Authors: Wang X. , Chen X. , Ye S. , Feng Y. , Huang C. , Hou L. , Liu J. , Chen H.
Published: September 2012

Autonomic sympathetic activation, for instance following noxious stimuli, decreases the size and flattens the shape of the photoplethysmographic peripheral pulse waveform. We report a simple measure of the waveform shape, the ratio of mean‐to‐peak wave amplitude, for measuring nociception level during general anaesthesia. Fifty participants, anaesthetised with propofol and remifentanil, were randomly allocated to one of three different remifentanil effect‐site concentrations (1, 3 and 5 ng.ml−1). Tracheal intubation increased the mean (SD) plethysmographic ratio from 0.38 (0.06) to 0.48 (0.04), p = 2.6 × 10−16. The mean (SD) ratios following intubation at remifentanil effect‐site concentrations of 1 ng.ml−1, 3 ng.ml−1 and 5 ng.ml−1, were 0.49 (0.03), 0.48 (0.03) and 0.45 (0.04), respectively. Remifentanil therefore suppressed changes in the mean‐to‐peak ratio caused by tracheal intubation (p = 0.006). The ratio of the mean‐to‐peak plethysmographic amplitude may represent a simple measure of the balance of autonomic sympathetic and parasympathetic activity under general anaesthesia, and its performance following intubation was significantly different from peak amplitude (p = 0.046).