bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the performance of transparent conductive oxide-less back contact dye-sensitized solar cells by facile diffusion of cobalt species through TiO2nanopores
Authors: Molla Md. Zaman , Kawano Minobu , Baranwal Ajay K. , Pandey Shyam S. , Ogomi Yuhei , Ma Tingli , Hayase Shuzi
Published: March 2016

TCO-less DSSC using cobalt electrolyte in a novel device structure is proposed. Dye surface passivation of TiO2nanoparticle (TN) spacer boosts bulky Co3+ion diffusion. Dramatic enhancement in DSSC performance for dye surface passivated TN spacer.
Phosphorene as a promising anchoring material for lithium–sulfur batteries: a computational study
Authors: Zhao Jingxiang , Yang Yongan , Katiyar Ram S. , Chen Zhongfang
Published: March 2016

Phosphorene is a good host material for Li-S battery cathodes with moderate adsorption strength, ultrahigh diffusivity, and enhanced electrical conductivity.
A low-temperature processed flower-like TiO2 array as an electron transport layer for high-performance perovskite solar cells
Authors: Chen Xiao , Tang Li Juan , Yang Shuang , Hou Yu , Yang Hua Gui
Published: March 2016

A low-temperature processed flower-like TiO2 array layer was prepared and utilized as ETL in perovskite solar cells, leading to an enhanced power conversion efficiency (15.71 %) than that of traditional mesoporous TiO2 layer based devices (13.25 %) with less hysteresis.
The improvement of the shape memory function of poly(ε-caprolactone)/nano-crystalline cellulose nanocomposites via recrystallization under a high-pressure environment
Authors: Wang Wenxi , Liu Dian , Lu Liuxuan , Chen Hongmei , Gong Tao , Lv Jun , Zhou Shaobing
Published: March 2016

The influence of extreme conditions such as high pressure and high temperature on the shape memory function of polymers has received little attention.
Lucigenin/Co(tryptophan)2complex bifunctionalized graphene oxide: facile synthesis and unique chemiluminescence
Authors: Li Qi , Li Fang , Shen Wen , Liu Xiangyang , Cui Hua
Published: March 2016

In this manuscript, lucigenin and Co2+complex bifunctionalized graphene oxide hybrids (Co(Trp)2/Luc/GO) were synthesizedviaa facile and simple strategy. The as-prepared Co(Trp)2/Luc/GO hybrids exhibited excellent CL activity with H2O2and ascorbic acid.
Design and fabrication of 3D‐printed planar Fresnel zone plate lens
Authors: Zhang S.
Published: March 2016

3D‐printing has been used for rapidly prototyping a low‐cost and light‐weight dielectric Fresnel zone plate lens. This lens was comprised of four dielectric zones and they were fabricated in one process with the tailored permittivities. Measurements show that this lens provides 7.3–12.8 dB gain enhancement over the frequency band from 8 to 12 GHz.
Reliable and confidential cloud storage with efficient data forwarding functionality
Authors: Liu Jian , Wang Huimei , Xian Ming , Rong Hong , Huang Kun
Published: March 2016

Cloud computing is a promising computing paradigm which has drawn extensive attention. Serious concerns over the reliability and confidentiality of the outsourced data are arising. Traditional encryption methods can, guarantee data confidentiality, however, it also limits the cloud's functionality as few operations are supported over encrypted data. In this study, the authors construct an enhanced cloud that not only provides secure and robust data storage, but also supports the functionality that the cipher data can be forwarded without being retrieved back. Specifically, they design an all‐or‐nothing‐transform‐based encryption and a variant of ElGamal‐based proxy re‐encryption algorithms, blending them with Reed–Solomon code, the authors’ scheme is quite more efficient compared with previous studies because it only needs to update partial data blocks instead of the whole file for data forwarding. Besides, the authors’ scheme also satisfies another practical property that the original data owner can no longer decrypt or forward the re‐encrypted data to others after a complete forwarding instance, which is termed to be ‘original inaccessibility’ in this study. Analysis shows that the authors’ scheme is secure and satisfactory. Finally, the authors theoretically and experimentally evaluate its performance and the results indicate that their scheme is efficient during file dispersal, forward and retrieval.
Manoeuvring target detection based on keystone transform and Lv's distribution
Authors: Li Xiaolong , Cui Guolong , Yi Wei , Kong Lingjiang
Published: March 2016

This study considers the coherent integration problem for detecting a manoeuvring target, involving range migration (RM) and Doppler frequency migration (DFM) within the coherent processing interval. An efficient coherent integration method based on keystone transform (KT) and Lv's distribution (LVD) is proposed. It can not only correct the RM effect by KT and fold factor phase compensation, but also remove the DFM effect and achieve the coherent accumulation via LVD. Compared with the moving target detection, Radon‐Fourier transform, and Radon‐fractional Fourier transform algorithms, the proposed method can obtain better detection ability under low signal‐to‐noise ratio environment. Finally, several simulations are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness.
Gene selection approach based on improved swarm intelligent optimisation algorithm for tumour classification
Authors: Jin Cong , Jin Shu‐Wei
Published: March 2016

A number of different gene selection approaches based on gene expression profiles (GEP) have been developed for tumour classification. A gene selection approach selects the most informative genes from the whole gene space, which is an important process for tumour classification using GEP. This study presents an improved swarm intelligent optimisation algorithm to select genes for maintaining the diversity of the population. The most essential characteristic of the proposed approach is that it can automatically determine the number of the selected genes. On the basis of the gene selection, the authors construct a variety of the tumour classifiers, including the ensemble classifiers. Four gene datasets are used to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach. The experimental results confirm that the proposed classifiers for tumour classification are indeed effective.
Ion temperature and gas pressure effects on the magnetized sheath dynamics during plasma immersion ion implantation
Authors: Khoram M. , Ghomi H. , Navab Safa N.
Published: March 2016

Here, a collisional magnetized plasma with finite ion temperature is considered to examine the effects of the ion temperature and gas pressure on the plasma-sheath dynamics. We use the two-fluid model of plasma-sheath where the nonlinear equations of a dynamic sheath are solved using a full implicit scheme of finite difference method along with some convenient initial and boundary conditions at the plasma center and target. It is found that the ion temperature only has a significant effect on the characteristics of low voltage sheath, while the gas pressure (collision rate) seriously affects the dynamic characteristics of the low and high voltage plasma-sheath. One can see, increasing the ion temperature in low voltage plasma-sheath causes to increase the temporal curve of the ion dose and the ion impact energy on the target, reduces the temporal curve of the sheath width, and has no any effect on the temporal curve of the ion incident angle on the target. However, rising the gas pressure in low and high voltage plasma-sheath reduces all of these temporal curves.
Unusual high Bs for Fe-based amorphous powders produced by a gas-atomization technique
Authors: Yoshida K. , Bito M. , Kageyama J. , Shimizu Y. , Abe M. , Makino A.
Published: March 2016

Fe-based alloy powders with a high Fe content of about 81 at.% were produced by a gas-atomization technique. Powders of Fe81Si1.9B5.7P11.4 (at.%) alloy showed a good glass forming ability and exhibited unusual high saturation magnetic flux density of 1.57 T. The core-loss property at a frequency of 100 kHz for the compacted core made of the Fe81Si1.9B5.7P11.4 powder is evaluated to be less than 500 kW/m3 under a maximum induction of 100 mT. Moreover, good DC-superposition characteristic of the core was also confirmed. These results suggest that the present Fe-based alloy powder is promising for low-loss magnetic-core materials and expected to contribute in miniaturization of electric parts in the near future.
Mechanically strong nanocrystalline Fe-Si-B-P-Cu soft magnetic powder cores utilizing magnetic metallic glass as a binder
Authors: Luan Jian , Sharma Parmanand , Yodoshi Noriharu , Zhang Yan , Makino Akihiro
Published: March 2016

We report on the fabrication and properties of soft magnetic powder cores with superior mechanical strength as well as low core loss (W). Development of such cores is important for applications in automobiles/devices operating in motion. High saturation magnetic flux density (Bs) Fe-Si-B-P-Cu powder was sintered with Fe55C10B5P10Ni15Mo5 metallic glass (MG) powder in its supercooled liquid state by spark plasma sintering. The sintered cores are made from the nanocrystalline powder particles of Fe-Si-B-P-Cu alloy, which are separated through a magnetic Fe55C10B5P10Ni15Mo5 MG alloy. Low W of ∼ 2.2 W/kg (at 1T and 50 Hz), and high fracture strength (yielding stress ∼500 MPa), which is an order of magnitude higher than the conventional powder cores, were obtained. Stronger metal-metal bonding and magnetic nature of MG binder (which is very different than the conventional polymer based binders) are responsible for the superior mechanical and magnetic properties. The MG binder not only helps in improving the mechanical properties but it also enhances the overall Bs of the core.
Micromagnetic analysis of current-induced domain wall motion in a bilayer nanowire with synthetic antiferromagnetic coupling
Authors: Komine Takashi , Aono Tomosuke
Published: March 2016

We demonstrate current-induced domain wall motion in bilayer nanowire with synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) coupling by modeling two body problems for motion equations of domain wall. The influence of interlayer exchange coupling and magnetostatic interactions on current-induced domain wall motion in SAF nanowires was also investigated. By assuming the rigid wall model for translational motion, the interlayer exchange coupling and the magnetostatic interaction between walls and domains in SAF nanowires enhances domain wall speed without any spin-orbit-torque. The enhancement of domain wall speed was discussed by energy distribution as a function of wall angle configuration in bilayer nanowires.
Stress-anneal-induced magnetic anisotropy in highly textured Fe-Ga and Fe-Al magnetostrictive strips for bending-mode vibrational energy harvesters
Authors: Park Jung Jin , Na Suok-Min , Raghunath Ganesh , Flatau Alison B.
Published: March 2016

Magnetostrictive Fe-Ga and Fe-Al alloys are promising materials for use in bending-mode vibrational energy harvesters. For this study, 50.8 mm × 5.0 mm × 0.5 mm strips of Fe-Ga and Fe-Al were cut from 0.50-mm thick rolled sheet. An atmospheric anneal was used to develop a Goss texture through an abnormal grain growth process. The anneal lead to large (011) grains that covered over 90% of sample surface area. The resulting highly-textured Fe-Ga and Fe-Al strips exhibited saturation magnetostriction values (λsat =  λ∥ − λ⊥) of ∼280 ppm and ∼130 ppm, respectively. To maximize 90° rotation of magnetic moments during bending of the strips, we employed compressive stress annealing (SA). Samples were heated to 500°C, and a 100-150 MPa compressive stress was applied while at 500°C for 30 minutes and while being cooled. The effectiveness of the SA on magnetic moment rotation was inferred by comparing post-SA magnetostriction with the maximum possible yield of rotated magnetic moments, which is achieved when λ∥ = λsat and λ⊥ = 0. The uniformity of the SA along the sample length and the impact of the SA on sensing/energy harvesting performance were then assessed by comparing pre- and post-SA bending-stress-induced changes in magnetization at five different locations along the samples. The SA process with a 150 MPa compressive load improved Fe-Ga actuation along the sample length from 170 to 225 ppm (from ∼60% to within ∼80% of λsat). The corresponding sensing/energy harvesting performance improved by as much as a factor of eight in the best sample, however the improvement was not at all uniform along the sample length. The SA process with a 100 MPa compressive load improved Fe-Al actuation along the sample length from 60 to 73 ppm (from ∼46% to ∼56% of λsat, indicating only a marginally effective SA and suggesting the need for modification of the SA protocol. In spite of this, the SA was effective at improving the sensing/energy harvesting performance by a factor of ∼2.5 in the best sample. As with the Fe-Ga strip, improvement in performance was quite varied along the strip length.
Intra- and inter-layer charge redistribution in biased bilayer graphene
Authors: Wang Rui-Ning , Dong Guo-Yi , Wang Shu-Fang , Fu Guang-Sheng , Wang Jiang-Long
Published: March 2016

We investigate the spatial redistribution of the electron density in bilayer graphene in the presence of an interlayer bias within density functional theory. It is found that the interlayer charge redistribution is inhomogeneous between the upper and bottom layers and the transferred charge from the upper layer to the bottom layer linearly increases with the external voltage which further makes the gap at K point linearly increase. However, the band gap will saturate to 0.29 eV in the strong-field regime, but it displays a linear field dependence at the weak-field limit. Due to the AB-stacked way, two carbon atoms per unit cell in the same layer are different and there is also a charge transfer between them, making the widths of π valence bands reduced. In the bottom layer, the charge transfers from the direct atoms which directly face another carbon atom to the indirect atoms facing the center of the hexagon on the opposite layer, while the charge transfers from the indirect atoms to the direct atoms in the upper layer. Furthermore, there is a diploe between the upper and bottom layers which results in the reduction of the interlayer hopping interaction.
Exploring non-stationary and scale-dependent relationships between walleye (Sander vitreus) distribution and habitat variables in Lake Erie
Authors: Liu Changdong , Wan Rong , Jiao Yan , Reid Kevin B.
Published: March 2016

Global regression techniques that assume spatial stationarity are usually used to study the interaction between aquatic species distribution and habitat variables. In the present study, a local regression model, named geographically weighted regression (GWR), was used to question the spatial stationarity assumption in exploring the relationships between walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) distribution and habitat variables in Lake Erie. The GWR model resulted in a significant improvement of model performance over the two global linear and non-linear regression methods (a generalised least-squares (GLS) model and a generalised additive mixed model (GAMM)), accounting for residual spatial autocorrelation using the same response and explanatory variables as in the GWR model. The values of local regression coefficients from the GWR model changed among spatial locations significantly, implying spatially varying and scale-dependent relationships between walleye distribution and habitat variables. The k-means cluster analyses based on the t-values of local regression coefficients of GWR model characterised special zones of species–environment relationships of walleye in Lake Erie. In conclusion, spatial stationarity needs to be questioned in studying the relationships between aquatic species distribution and habitat variables and a non-stationary approach, such as GWR, is recommended as a complementary tool.
The denial of moral dilemmas as a regulative ideal
Authors: Cholbi Michael
Published: March 2016

The traditional debate about moral dilemmas concerns whether there are circumstances in which an agent is subject to two obligations that cannot both be fulfilled. Realists maintain there are. Irrealists deny this. Here I defend an alternative, methodologically-oriented position wherein the denial of genuine moral dilemmas functions as a regulative ideal for moral deliberation and practice. That is, moral inquiry and deliberation operate on the implicit assumption that there are no genuine moral dilemmas. This view is superior to both realism and irrealism in accounting for moral residue and other crucial phenomenological dimensions of our experience of moral dilemmas.
Curricular orientations to real‐world contexts in mathematics
Authors: Smith Cathy , Morgan Candia
Published: March 2016

A common claim about mathematics education is that it should equip students to use mathematics in the ‘real world’. In this paper, we examine how relationships between mathematics education and the real world are materialised in the curriculum across a sample of eleven jurisdictions. In particular, we address the orientation of the curriculum towards application of mathematics, the ways that real‐world contexts are positioned within the curriculum content, the ways in which different groups of students are expected to engage with real‐world contexts, and the extent to which high‐stakes assessments include real‐world problem solving. The analysis reveals variation across jurisdictions and some lack of coherence between official orientations towards use of mathematics in the real world and the ways that this is materialised in the organisation of the content for students.
False Analogy: Transfer of Theories and Methods in Archaeology (The Case of Serbia)
Authors: Palavestra Aleksandar , Babić Staša
Published: March 2016

As an academic discipline, archaeology is deeply rooted in the cultural, social, and political practices of Western Europe of the nineteenth century. The emergence of local scholarly communities in other parts of the continent tends to be described as a process that saw the even spread of ideas and concepts in their original form. This further implies a uniform, unilinear sequence of paradigms (culture-historical, processual, postprocessual), each with their own internal logic. However, more often than not, these transfers of disciplinary knowledge from one academic community to the other have introduced distortions of the original concepts, designed to meet the demands of the different cultural and intellectual traditions and research agendas. In this article, we explore the foundation of academic archaeology in Serbia and of the pivotal figure in this process – Miloje M. Vasić, educated at German universities and considered to be the first academically trained archaeologist in the country. His adaptations of the German tradition of Classical scholarship applied to the study of the Balkan past have marked the theory and practice of archaeology in the country up to the present. This example indicates that we should seek to explore the ways in which the concepts we apply in our study of the past are articulated in particular local settings if we are to achieve a better understanding among various academic and professional communities of archaeologists across Europe.
MLL5 maintains spindle bipolarity by preventing aberrant cytosolic aggregation of PLK1
Authors: Zhao Wei , Liu Jie , Zhang Xiaoming , Deng Lih-Wen
Published: March 2016

Faithful chromosome segregation with bipolar spindle formation is critical for the maintenance of genomic stability. Perturbation of this process often leads to severe mitotic failure, contributing to tumorigenesis. MLL5 has been demonstrated to play vital roles in cell cycle progression and the maintenance of genomic stability. Here, we identify a novel interaction between MLL5 and PLK1 in the cytosol that is crucial for sustaining spindle bipolarity during mitosis. Knockdown of MLL5 caused aberrant PLK1 aggregation that led to acentrosomal microtubule-organizing center (aMTOC) formation and subsequent spindle multipolarity. Further molecular studies revealed that the polo-box domain (PBD) of PLK1 interacted with a binding motif on MLL5 (Thr887-Ser888-Thr889), and this interaction was essential for spindle bipolarity. Overexpression of wild-type MLL5 was able to rescue PLK1 mislocalization and aMTOC formation in MLL5-KD cells, whereas MLL5 mutants incapable of interacting with the PBD failed to do so. We thus propose that MLL5 preserves spindle bipolarity through maintaining cytosolic PLK1 in a nonaggregated form.
Mother centrioles are kicked out so that starfish zygote can grow
Authors: Verlhac Marie-Hélène
Published: March 2016

Most oocytes eliminate their centrioles during meiotic divisions through unclear mechanisms. In this issue, Borrego-Pinto et al. (2016. J Cell. Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201510083) show that mother centrioles need to be eliminated from starfish oocytes by extrusion into the polar bodies for successful embryo development.
Competitiveness of Russian regional oil complexes
Authors: Belyaeva Zhanna , Krivorotov Vadim , Kalina Alexey , Yerypalov Sergey
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the competitiveness of Russian regional medium-sized oil complexes with relatively small fossil oil reserves. Taking into account the urgency for competitiveness, the authors have developed a specific assessment methodology and competitive development strategy that could be implemented within the framework of a scenario approach.

Design/methodology/approach

– The suggested methodology for assessing the competitiveness of regional production complexes is based on the pattern method. Validation is provided for a modular structure and an approach to constructing indices of competitiveness of production complexes. A system of competitiveness indicators has been devised in relation to regional oil complexes.

Findings

– The case study of the oil complex of the Republic of Udmurtia has yielded competitiveness assessment forecast for a variety of development scenarios up until 2025. A methodology of competitiveness assessment is proposed as a result of the analysis of the two cases.

Research limitations/implications

– This analysis is based on the oil complex in Udmurtia, Russia. The main limitation of the research scope is the extent and nature of the industrial complex. The proposed design can be used for large industrial complexes operating in the field of industrial production. It needs to be extended to more clusters, more industries and other countries’ settings for the sake of comparison and generalization.

Practical implications

– The practical effects of the study suggest a set of strategic development tools of assessment of the dynamics of industrial complexes’ development, identification of competitive advantage and “bottlenecks” and definition of the objectives and programs of their long-term development and justification of policies and programs of perspective development.

Originality/value

– This paper reveals specific features of oil complexes’ competitiveness, which has seldom been investigated both theoretically and empirically.
Impact on lesson study for initial teacher training in Japan
Authors: Chichibu Toshiya
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explain how initial teachers in Japan can develop instructional and thinking skills through lesson study with mentors. It will clarify the point of view in which mentors evaluate the lesson plan, research lessons and kyouzai-kenkyuu of initial teachers.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study adopts a case analysis that shows how a mentor gives advice to an initial teacher in the post-lesson discussion. In Japanese lesson study, the time schedule of the post-lesson discussion is well structured, so the time for a mentor to state his or her comment is limited to around ten minutes. Mentors try to help initial teachers develop instructional and thinking skills.

Findings

– From simple problem to high-level cases in which finding the problem of a lesson is difficult, only a highly competent mentor can find the problem and suggest improvements. Mentors need the competency to observe the lesson and the knowledge and skills to improve the lesson.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper focusses on how mentors can help develop the kyouzai-kenkyuu understanding of initial teachers. More studies that focus on how mentors can train initial teachers to understand how students learn during lessons are needed.

Originality/value

– This paper discloses what Japanese teachers think of lesson plans and kyouzai-kenkyuu and how mentors help develop kyouzai-kenkyuu understanding among initial teachers.
Case studies of lesson and learning study in initial teacher education programmes
Authors: Lamb Penny , Ko Po Yuk
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The integration of Lesson and Learning Study within initial teacher education programmes is still evolving and subject to many constraints (Parks, 2008). The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue which intends to stimulate and facilitate continued growth and interest in fostering models of Lesson and Learning Study within initial teacher education programmes.

Design/methodology/approach

– The guest editors present each of the papers and introduce key themes and concepts.

Findings

– The collection of papers shows the richness and value of embracing Lesson and Learning Study within initial teacher education programmes; whilst being mindful of the challenges and constraints inherent in the nature of national policy towards the training of teachers.

Originality/value

– The collection of papers contribute to existing literature exploring the effectiveness and impact of Lesson and Learning Study within initial teacher education.
Mentors and student-teachers “lesson studying” in initial teacher education
Authors: Cajkler Wasyl , Wood Phil
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study an adapted version of lesson used with mentors and student-teachers in a one-year initial teacher education (ITE) programme for prospective teachers of geography and modern languages. In partnership with eight secondary schools, the effectiveness of the lesson study cycle was evaluated as a vehicle for exploration of approaches to aid student-teacher learning during school placements.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 12 lesson study case studies were completed and analysed.

Findings

– Three principal findings emerged: first, most collaborating mentors and student-teachers reported that they engaged in a reflexive process, exploring the complexity of teaching, each learning more about the characteristics of teaching; second, in cases where collaboration allowed student-teachers a degree of autonomy, lesson study provided a collaborative scaffold for understanding the complexity of teaching, contributing to professional development along a continuum which the authors tentatively term “pedagogic literacy”; third and less positively, some mentors struggled to shed the shackles of traditional roles, dominating the discourse as advice-givers so that a traditional “parallel” approach to mentoring continued.

Originality/value

– The work expands the experiential base of lesson study efforts in ITE in the UK and elaborates a view of teacher learning that challenges reductive approaches to the preparation of new teachers. For the first time, it presents student-teacher and mentor perspectives on the use of lesson study in teaching practice in England.
Job-major match and job satisfaction in Italy
Authors: Boccuzzo Giovanna , Fabbris Luigi , Paccagnella Omar
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study how graduates’ jobs may be determined by their educational performances and social background. In particular, the authors investigate job-education mismatch and job satisfaction to evaluate whether time spent and effort exerted during university studies were compensated with a good job.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data on the occupational status of the graduates 36 months after graduation, collected by the Padua University on its graduates, are analysed by means of univariate and multivariate methodologies. In particular, the pathways from graduates’ social capital to job satisfaction are investigated through a structural equation modelling approach.

Findings

– The authors find that a minority of graduates can be considered as overeducated when considering the requirements of the labour market, but many graduates state that any degree would suffice for their job. Multivariate analyses show that graduates’ job quality is related to their university choice and outcome, high school choice and performance, social capital. Destiny is written from the beginning of the educational pathway, but students can affect their labour market future with an appropriate choice of university programme.

Originality/value

– The qualified point of this paper lies on the complexity of the model adopted for the analysis and its ability to highlight direct and indirect effects: two job outcomes (job-major match and job satisfaction) are the variables of interest, analysed within a structural model covering all educational stages of the Italian educational pathway, from parental social background to university degree.
The impact of repeated ad exposure on spillover from low fit extensions to a global brand
Authors: Lane Vicki R. , Fastoso Fernando
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– Previous research warns against low-fit extensions as prone to causing negative spillover and, through it, harming the parent brand equity. Using the theory of schema-triggered affect and the link formation hypothesis, the purpose of this paper is to develop and tests predictions as to how negative spillover from low-fit extensions can be actively managed through repeated ad exposure.

Design/methodology/approach

– A controlled experiment assesses the response of US consumers to the Dutch Heineken brand, a top 100 global brand, following sequential and repeated exposure to print ads depicting extensions for either Heineken wheat beer (i.e. a high-fit extension) or Heineken pretzels (i.e. a low-fit extension). Analytical methods include multiple regression, ANOVA, and t-tests.

Findings

– The findings show that repeated ad exposure has a positive moderating effect on the magnitude of spillover from extension to brand. Second, the findings also show that repeated ad exposure changes the valence of spillover from low-fit extension to brand from negative to positive. In combination, the findings suggest that low-fit brand extensions can, when carefully managed, be a viable strategic option for market growth that is especially relevant for global brands.

Research limitations/implications

– This research shows that repeated ad exposure can change the valence of spillover from low-fit extensions to the parent brand from negative to positive. Future research should extend the work by considering other brands and alternative tools that managers can use to make low-fit extensions a viable strategic choice.

Practical implications

– This study finds, in contrast to previous research, that managers should indeed consider low-fit brand extensions as a viable strategic option for brand growth. This is possible because the findings show that repeated ad exposure can be used to control potential negative spillover from a low-fit extension to parent brand. This conclusion is particularly relevant for global brands, i.e. brands for which the opportunity costs of limiting global expansion and the financial investment necessary to establish a new brand with global appeal are substantial.

Originality/value

– This paper differs from other spillover studies by manipulating repeated ad exposure, a mechanism which the authors theoretically link to spillover and which managers can also directly influence. In doing so, this paper offers a theoretical explanation and an empirical test of how negative spillover from low-fit extensions can be managed.
Collaboration as a strategy for promoting equity in education: possibilities and barriers
Authors: Ainscow Mel
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The paper reflects on the findings of a program of research, which, over many years, has explored ways of promoting greater equity in schools and education systems. Using examples from the field, the paper provides an explanation of what this involves. In so doing it identifies potential barriers that have to be addressed and suggestions as to how these might be overcome. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper draws on a series of studies what uses a “development and research” approach This is one of a family of methodologies referred to by as “design-based implementation research.” These aim to transcend traditional research/practice barriers to facilitate the design of educational interventions that are “effective, sustainable, and scalable.” They are seen as occurring when researcher and practitioner knowledge meet in particular sites, aimed at producing new knowledge about ways in which broad values might better be realized in future practice.

Findings

– The experiences described in this paper suggest a way forward that policy makers could use to ensure that the impetus that comes from greater school autonomy will lead to improvements that will benefit all children and young people.

Research limitations/implications

– In thinking about how the approach described might be used more widely it is essential to recognize that it does not offer a simple recipe that can be lifted and transferred between contexts. Rather, it defines an approach to improvement that uses processes of contextual analysis in order to create strategies that fit particular circumstances.

Practical implications

– The argument presented is based on an assumption that education systems have further potential to improve themselves, provided policy makers allow the space for practitioners to make use of the expertise and creativity that lies trapped within individual classrooms. The aim must be to “move knowledge around” and the best way to do this is through strengthening collaboration within schools, between schools and beyond schools.

Originality/value

– The paper draws together findings from an extensive program of research in order to develop new thinking regarding ways of promoting equity in education.
Ethiopian new public universities
Authors: Van Deuren Rita , Kahsu Tsegazeab , Mohammed Seid , Woldie Wondimu
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to analyze and illustrate achievements and challenges of Ethiopian higher education, both at the system level and at the level of new public universities.

Design/methodology/approach

– Achievements and challenges at the system level are based on literature review and secondary data. Illustrative case studies are based on university data and interviews with university representatives.

Findings

– The Ethiopian higher education system has increased its enrollments substantially. The construction of 13 new universities that started enrolling students around 2007 contributed greatly to this achievement. Challenges accompanying this growth lie in funding, quality and quantity of staffing, teaching practices, research and community service, quality assurance and gender balance.

Originality/value

– The present study contributes to existing literature by describing case studies illustrating challenges and achievements in new public universities in Ethiopian higher education.
A Novel IgM‐capture enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant Vag8 fusion protein for the accurate and early diagnosis of Bordetella pertussis infection
Authors: Otsuka Nao , Gotoh Kensei , Nishimura Naoko , Ozaki Takao , Nakamura Yukitsugu , Haga Kiyohito , Yamazaki Makoto , Gondaira Fumio , Okada Kenji , Miyaji Yusuke , Toyoizumi‐Ajisaka Hiromi , Shibayama Keigo , Arakawa Yoshichika , Kamachi Kazunari
Published: March 2016

An ELISA that measures anti‐PT IgG antibody has been used widely for the serodiagnosis of pertussis; however, the IgG‐based ELISA is inadequate for patients during the acute phase of the disease because of the slow response of anti‐PT IgG antibodies. To solve this problem, we developed a novel IgM‐capture ELISA that measures serum anti‐Bordetella pertussis Vag8 IgM levels for the accurate and early diagnosis of pertussis. First, we confirmed that Vag8 was highly expressed in all B. pertussis isolates tested (n = 30), but little or none in other Bordetella species, and that DTaP vaccines did not induce anti‐Vag8 IgG antibodies in mice (i.e. the antibody level could be unaffected by the vaccination). To determine the immune response to Vag8 in B. pertussis infection, anti‐Vag8 IgM levels were compared between 38 patients (acute phase of pertussis) and 29 healthy individuals using the anti‐Vag8 IgM‐capture ELISA. The results revealed that the anti‐Vag8 IgM levels were significantly higher in the patients compared with the healthy individuals (P < 0.001). ROC analysis also showed that the anti‐Vag8 IgM‐capture ELISA has higher diagnostic accuracy (AUC, 0.92) than a commercial anti‐PT IgG ELISA kit. Moreover, it was shown that anti‐Vag8 IgM antibodies were induced earlier than anti‐PT IgG antibodies on sequential patients’ sera. These data indicate that our novel anti‐Vag8 IgM‐capture ELISA is a potentially useful tool for making the accurate and early diagnosis of B. pertussis infection.
Arctic ice edge narratives: scale, discourse and ontological security
Authors: Veland Siri , Lynch Amanda H
Published: March 2016

The Arctic ice edge centres deliberations over the region's futures, either as an explicit policy and research problem, or as an implicit control on innovations. This exploratory paper proposes a narrative approach to examine ontological security, identifying a common epistemic structure in multiple ways of knowing the ice edge, and of devising associated policy. These epistemic narratives weave discourse (ideas, concepts and knowledge) and scale (as relationships, networks and timelines) to provide coordinate systems of purpose and identity that unfold as the material world. Surreptitious, un‐narrated or interfering changes can produce ontological insecurities, often leading to closed decisions in authoritarian forums. Research and policy designed for complexity anticipate ontological insecurities through democratic and deliberative narratives of earth system processes.
Effects of extracerebral dopamine on salsolinol‐ or thyrotropin‐releasing hormone‐induced prolactin (PRL) secretion in goats
Authors: Inaba Yuki , Kato Yuki , Itou Azumi , Chiba Aoi , Sawai Ken , Fülöp Ferenc , Nagy György Miklos , Hashizume Tsutomu
Published: March 2016

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of extracerebral dopamine (DA) on salsolinol (SAL)‐induced prolactin (PRL) secretion in goats. An intravenous injection of SAL or thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH) was given to female goats before and after treatment with an extracerebral DA receptor antagonist, domperidone (DOM), and the PRL‐releasing response to SAL was compared with that to TRH. DOM alone increased plasma PRL concentrations and the PRL‐releasing response to DOM alone was greater than that to either SAL alone or TRH alone. The PRL‐releasing response to DOM plus SAL was similar to that to DOM alone, and no additive effect of DOM and SAL on the secretion of PRL was observed. In contrast, the PRL‐releasing response to DOM plus TRH was greater than that to either TRH alone or DOM alone and DOM synergistically increased TRH‐induced PRL secretion. The present results demonstrate that the mechanism involved in PRL secretion by SAL differs from that by TRH, and suggest that the extracerebral DA might be associated in part with the modulation of SAL‐induced PRL secretion in goats.
Pancreas volume and fat fraction in children with Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Regnell S. E. , Peterson P. , Trinh L. , Broberg P. , Leander P. , Lernmark Å. , Månsson S. , Elding Larsson H.
Published: March 2016

Aims

People with Type 1 diabetes have smaller pancreases than healthy individuals. Several diseases causing pancreatic atrophy are associated with pancreatic steatosis, but pancreatic fat in Type 1 diabetes has not been measured. This cross‐sectional study aimed to compare pancreas size and fat fraction in children with Type 1 diabetes and controls.

Methods

The volume and fat fraction of the pancreases of 22 children with Type 1 diabetes and 29 controls were determined using magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

Pancreas volume was 27% smaller in children with diabetes (median 34.9 cm3) than in controls (47.8 cm3; P < 0.001). Pancreas volume correlated positively with age in controls (P = 0.033), but not in children with diabetes (P = 0.649). Pancreas volume did not correlate with diabetes duration, but it did correlate positively with units of insulin/kg body weight/day (P = 0.048). A linear model of pancreas volume as influenced by age, body surface area and insulin units/kg body weight/day found that insulin dosage correlated with pancreas volume after controlling for both age and body surface area (P = 0.009). Pancreatic fat fraction was not significantly different between the two groups (1.34% vs. 1.57%; P = 0.891).

Conclusions

Our findings do not indicate that pancreatic atrophy in Type 1 diabetes is associated with an increased pancreatic fat fraction, unlike some other diseases featuring reduced pancreatic volume. We speculate that our results may support the hypotheses that much of pancreatic atrophy in Type 1 diabetes occurs before the clinical onset of the disease and that exogenous insulin administration decelerates pancreatic atrophy after diabetes onset.
Reasons why patients referred to diabetes education programmes choose not to attend: a systematic review
Authors: Horigan G. , Davies M. , Findlay‐White F. , Chaney D. , Coates V.
Published: March 2016

Aims

To identify the reasons why those offered a place on diabetes education programmes declined the opportunity.

Background

It is well established that diabetes education is critical to optimum diabetes care; it improves metabolic control, prevents complications, improves quality of life and empowers people to make informed choices to manage their condition. Despite the significant clinical and personal rewards offered by diabetes education, programmes are underused, with a significant proportion of patients choosing not to attend.

Methods

A systematic search of the following databases was conducted for the period from 2005–2015: Medline; EMBASE; Scopus; CINAHL; and PsycINFO. Studies that met the inclusion criteria focusing on patient‐reported reasons for non‐attendance at structured diabetes education were selected.

Results

A total of 12 studies spanning quantitative and qualitative methodologies were included. The selected studies were published in Europe, USA, Pakistan, Canada and India, with a total sample size of 2260 people. Two broad categories of non‐attender were identified: 1) those who could not attend for logistical, medical or financial reasons (e.g. timing, costs or existing comorbidities) and 2) those who would not attend because they perceived no benefit from doing so, felt they had sufficient knowledge already or had emotional and cultural reasons (e.g. no perceived problem, denial or negative feelings towards education). Diabetes education was declined for many reasons, and the range of expressed reasons was more diverse and complex than anticipated.

Conclusion

New and innovative methods of delivering diabetes education are required which address the needs of people with diabetes whilst maintaining quality and efficiency.
Limited impact of fibromodulin deficiency on the development of experimental skin fibrosis
Authors: Andréasson Kristofer , Gustafsson Renata , Rydell‐Törmänen Kristina , Westergren‐Thorsson Gunilla , Saxne Tore , Hesselstrand Roger
Published: March 2016

Excessive production of collagen is the hallmark of fatal diseases of fibrosis such as systemic sclerosis. Overexpression of the proteoglycan fibromodulin (FMOD) has been associated with improved wound healing and scarless repair. In this study, we have investigated the consequences of FMOD deficiency on the development of experimental skin fibrosis. Using immunohistochemistry, we identified FMOD in both human and murine fibrotic skin. In the bleomycin model of skin fibrosis, FMOD−/− mice developed skin fibrosis to a similar degree compared to FMOD+/+ mice. Analysis of skin ultrastructure using transmission electron microscopy revealed a significant reduction in collagen fibril diameter in FMOD−/− but not FMOD+/+ mice following fibrosis. We conclude that the impact of FMOD deficiency on the development of experimental skin fibrosis is limited.
Is Public Management Neglecting the State?
Authors: Milward Brint , Jensen Laura , Roberts Alasdair , Dussauge‐Laguna Mauricio I. , Junjan Veronica , Torenvlied René , Boin Arjen , Colebatch H. K. , Kettl Donald , Durant Robert
Published: March 2016

Public management is a domain of research that is now roughly three decades old. Researchers in this area have made important advances in understanding about the performance of public organizations. But questions have been raised about the scope and methods of public management research (PMR). Does it neglect important questions about the development of major institutions of the modern state? Has it focused unduly on problems of the advanced democracies? Has it made itself irrelevant to public debates about the role and design of government, and the capacity of public institutions to deal with emerging challenges? This set of eight short essays were prepared for a roundtable held at the research conference of the PMR Association at the University of Aarhus in June 2016. Contributors were asked to consider the question: Is PMR neglecting the state?
Functional annotation of the T‐cell immunoglobulin mucin family in birds
Authors: Hu Tuanjun , Wu Zhiguang , Vervelde Lonneke , Rothwell Lisa , Hume David A. , Kaiser Pete
Published: March 2016

T‐cell immunoglobulin and mucin (TIM) family molecules are cell membrane proteins, preferentially expressed on various immune cells and implicated in recognition and clearance of apoptotic cells. Little is known of their function outside human and mouse, and nothing outside mammals. We identified only two TIM genes (chTIM) in the chicken genome, putative orthologues of mammalian TIM1 and TIM4, and cloned the respective cDNAs. Like mammalian TIM1, chTIM1 expression was restricted to lymphoid tissues and immune cells. The gene chTIM4 encodes at least five splice variants with distinct expression profiles that also varied between strains of chicken. Expression of chTIM4 was detected in myeloid antigen‐presenting cells, and in γδ T cells, whereas mammalian TIM4 is not expressed in T cells. Like the mammalian proteins, chTIM1 and chTIM4 fusion proteins bind to phosphatidylserine, and are thereby implicated in recognition of apoptotic cells. The chTIM4–immunoglobulin fusion protein also had co‐stimulatory activity on chicken T cells, suggesting a function in antigen presentation.