bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From This Point on It's All about Loss: Attachment to Loss in the Novels of Don DeLillo, from Underworld to Falling Man
Authors: MARSHALL ALAN
Published: August 2012

Between 1997 and 2007, Don DeLillo published three novels concerned with loss and mourning. Two of these, Underworld (1997) and Falling Man (2007), revolve around unique historical events in which the question of American exceptionality is foregrounded, and both relate this question of exceptionality to the experience of loss. This essay argues that while DeLillo accepts the historical specificity of the events of 9/11, his novel Falling Man is wary of any claim to their exceptionality. It argues further that while Falling Man and Underworld both contain moving explorations of the vicissitudes of loss, Falling Man is more concerned with the loss of loss, the end of mourning, an idea which illuminates the novel's arresting juxtaposition of Søren Kierkegaard and T. S. Eliot. As the three novels appeared, DeLillo seemed increasingly concerned to explore the overcoming of grief, the loss of loss, in the context of female subjectivity, and to trace the failure to overcome it to the masculine psyche, and I draw upon the work of Julia Kristeva in order to address this. The pattern is at its starkest in The Body Artist (2001), with which the essay briefly concludes. We begin by looking at Underworld, where loss seems to be the presiding masculine emotion.
Sternum and appendicular skeleton: morphometric differences between the species of genus Sotalia (Cetacea: Delphinidae)
Authors: Fettuccia D.C. , da Silva V.M.F. , Rocha M.S. , Simões-Lopes P.C.
Published: August 2012

Two distinct species have been recently recognized for the genus Sotalia: S. fluviatilis, occurring in the Amazon River basin, and S. guianensis, from Honduras (15°58′N and 85°42′W) to Santa Catarina State (Florianópolis, southern Brazil—27°35′S and 48°34′W). For the first time the sternum and the appendicular skeleton of the two species of the genus Sotalia are compared. A comparative osteological work was performed with marine samples (from the States of Ceará, north-eastern and Santa Catarina, southern regions of Brazil) and riverine samples (Amazonas State) in relation to metric characters (scapula, flipper and sternum). There was a clear distinction of two species in relation to postcranial skeleton in the morphometric analysis (canonical variate analysis) presented. The flipper and the glenoid cavity of the scapula were proportionally wider in the fluvial species. The sternum, however, was smaller in this species in relation to the maximum width of the manubrium. Nevertheless, this structure still needs to be further studied.
IV. The Use of the Shield: Combat and Display
Authors: Härke Heinrich
Published: September 2012

Very little work has been done on the use of the shield, and it is the aim of this chapter to demonstrate how this aspect may be approached using archaeological evidence. Although the use of the shield is easier to infer from written and pictorial sources, written evidence on this aspect is few and far between, and pictorial evidence is generally later than the period dealt with here. Archaeological evidence that can be adduced includes sizes and shapes of shield boards and bosses, damage and repairs, decoration and some board fittings. Weapon combinations in burials do not give much straightforward information on fighting practices involving the shield (see p. 67). The archaeological record is also unlikely to throw any light on the use of the shield in battlefield tactics, such as the ‘shield wall’ referred to in several sources (Beowulf, line 3118; Battle of Maldon; and the Battle of Brunanburh in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, AD 937).
‘It is Germany where he Truly Lives’: Nazi Claims on Shakespearean Drama
Authors: Heinrich Anselm
Published: August 2012

That the Nazis tried to claim Shakespeare as a Germanic playwright has been well documented, but recently theatre historians have claimed that their ‘success’ was rather limited. Instead, commentators have asserted that plays such as Othello, Antony and Cleopatra, and The Merchant of Venice offended National Socialist precepts and were sidelined. This article attempts a re-evaluation and shows that the effect of the Nazi claims on Shakespeare was substantial, and the official efforts that went into realizing these in productions were considerable. It is also argued that the Nazis established a particular reading of Shakespeare, which lasted well into the 1960s and dominated the aesthetics of West German productions of his drama. Anselm Heinrich is Lecturer and Head of Theatre Studies at the University of Glasgow. He is the author of Entertainment, Education, Propaganda: Regional Theatres in Germany and Britain Between 1918 and 1945 (2007), and has co-edited a collection of essays on Ruskin, the Theatre, and Victorian Visual Culture (2009). His new monograph on theatre in Westphalia and Yorkshire for the German publishers Schoeningh is forthcoming.
Embodying Resistance: Gendering Public Space in Ragtime Social Dance
Authors: Maples Holly
Published: August 2012

In this article Holly Maples examines how the controversy surrounding the ragtime dance craze in the United States allowed women to renegotiate acceptable gendered behaviour in the public sphere. In the early 1910s many members of the public performed acts of resistance to convention by dancing in the workplace, on the street, and in public halls. Civic institutions and private organizations sought to censor and control both the public space of the dance hall and the bodies of its participants. The controlling of social dance was an attempt to restrain what those opposed to the dances saw as unrestrained and indecent physical behaviour by the nation's youth, primarily targeting ragtime dancing's ‘moral degradation’ of young women. It was not merely the public nature of the dancing that was seen as dangerous to women, however, but the dances themselves, many of which featured chaotic, off-centred choreography, with either highly sexualized behaviour, as seen in the tango and the apache dance, or clumsy, un-gendered movement, popular in the animal dances of the day. Through ragtime dancing, women performed acts of rupture on their bodies and the urban cityscape, transforming social dancing into public statements of gendered resistance. Holly Maples is a lecturer in Drama at the University of East Anglia. Both a theatre practitioner and a scholar, she trained as an actress at Central School of Speech and Drama in London and completed her PhD in Theatre Studies at Trinity College Dublin. Her book, Culture War: Conflict, Commemoration, and the Contemporary Abbey Theatre, has recently been published in the ‘Reimagining Ireland’ series by Peter Lang.
In Defence of the Priority View
Authors: PORTER THOMAS
Published: September 2012

In their paper ‘Why It Matters That Some Are Worse Off Than Others: An Argument against the Priority View’, Michael Otsuka and Alex Voorhoeve argue that prioritarianism is mistaken. I argue that their case against prioritarianism has much weaker foundations than it might at first seem. Their key argument is based on the claim that prioritarianism ignores the fact of the ‘separateness of persons’. However, prioritarianism, far from ignoring that fact, is a plausible response to it. It may be that prioritarianism disregards the fact of the ‘unity of the individual’. But even if this is true, that doesn't straightforwardly tell against prioritarianism as a view about distributive justice. In the end, Otsuka and Voorhoeve's argument relies on a non-decisive intuition that they appeal to early in their paper. Their conclusion, as a result, is not compelling.
Another Defence of the Priority View
Authors: PARFIT DEREK
Published: September 2012

This article discusses the relation between prioritarian and egalitarian principles, whether and why we need to appeal to both kinds of principle, how prioritarians can answer various objections, especially those put forward by Michael Otsuka and Alex Voorhoeve, the moral difference between cases in which our acts could affect only one person or two or more people, veil of ignorance contractualism and utilitarianism, what prioritarians should claim about cases in which the effects of our acts are uncertain, the relative moral importance of actual and expectable benefits, whether people should sometimes be given various chances of receiving benefits, and principles that appeal to competing claims.
The Priority View Bites the Dust?
Authors: WILLIAMS ANDREW
Published: September 2012

This article distinguishes between atelicand adeonticversion of Derek Parfit's influential Priority View. Employing the distinction, it shows that the existence of variations in how intrapersonal and interpersonal conflicts should be resolved fails to provide a compelling case in favour of relational egalitarianism and against all pure versions of the Priority View. In addition, the article argues that those variations are better understood as providing counterevidence to certain distribution-sensitive versions of consequentialism.
REAL EFFECTS OF MONETARY POLICY IN LARGE EMERGING ECONOMIES
Authors: Mallick Sushanta K. , Sousa Ricardo M.
Published: September 2012

This paper provides evidence on monetary policy transmission for five key emerging market economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Monetary policy (interest rate) shocks are identified using modern Bayesian methods along with the more recent sign restrictions approach. We find that contractionary monetary policy has a strong and negative effect on output. We also show that such contractionary monetary policy shocks do tend to stabilize inflation in these countries in the short term, while producing a strongly persistent negative effect on real equity prices. Overall, the impulse responses are robust to the alternative identification procedures.
Patterns of weight change and progression to overweight and obesity differ in men and women: implications for research and interventions
Authors: Kimokoti Ruth W , Newby PK , Gona Philimon , Zhu Lei , McKeon-O'Malley Catherine , Pablo Guzman J , D'Agostino Ralph B , Millen Barbara E
Published: September 2012

Objective

To evaluate long-term patterns of weight change and progression to overweight and obesity during adulthood.

Design

Prospective study. Changes in mean BMI, waist circumference (WC) and weight were assessed over a mean 26-year follow-up (1971–1975 to 1998–2001). Mean BMI (95 % CI) and mean WC (95 % CI) of men and women in BMI and age groups were computed. Mean weight change in BMI and age categories was compared using analysis of covariance.

Setting

Framingham Heart Study Offspring/Spouse Nutrition Study.

Subjects

Men and women (n2394) aged 20–63 years.

Results

During follow-up, increases in BMI (men: 2·2 kg/m2; women: 3·7 kg/m2) and WC (men: 5·7 cm; women: 15·1 cm) were larger in women than men. BMI gains were greatest in younger adults (20–39 years) and smallest in obese older adults (50–69 years). The prevalence of obesity doubled in men (to 33·2 %) and tripled in women (to 26·6 %). Among normal-weight individuals, abdominal obesity developed in women only. The prevalence of abdominal obesity increased 1·8-fold in men (to 53·0 %) and 2·4-fold in women (to 71·2 %). Weight gain was greatest in the youngest adults (20–29 years), particularly women. Gains continued into the fifth decade among men and then declined in the sixth decade; in women gains continued into the sixth decade.

Conclusions

Patterns of weight change and progression to obesity during adulthood differ in men and women. Preventive intervention strategies for overweight and obesity need to consider age- and sex-specific patterns of changes in anthropometric measures.
The x-ray source application test cassette for radiation exposures at the OMEGA laser
Authors: Fournier K. B. , Rekow V. , Emig J. , Fisher J. H. , Newlander C. D. , Horton R. , Davis J.
Published: September 2012

We have designed a sample cassette that can be used to position up to six samples in the OMEGA laser chamber. The cassette accommodates round samples up to 38.1 mm (1.5″) in diameter and square samples up to 27 mm on a side, any of which can be up to 12.7 mm thick. Smaller specimens are centered with spacers. The test cassette allows each sample to have a unique filter scheme, with multiple filter regions in front of each sample. This paper will present mechanical design considerations and operational aspects of the x-ray source application cassette.
Analytical insights into the partially integrated transport modeling method for hybrid Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations-large eddy simulations of turbulent flows
Authors: Chaouat Bruno , Schiestel Roland
Published: September 2012

The basis of the partially integrated transport modeling (PITM) method was introduced by Schiestel and Dejoan [“Towards a new partially integrated transport model for coarse grid and unsteady turbulent flow simulations,” Theor. Comput. Fluid Dyn. 18, 443 (2005)]10.1007/s00162-004-0155-z and Chaouat and Schiestel [“A new partially integrated transport model for subgrid-scale stresses and dissipation rate for turbulent developing flows,” Phys. Fluids 17, 065106 (2005)]10.1063/1.1928607. This method provides a continuous approach for hybrid RANS-LES (Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations-large eddy simulations) simulations with seamless coupling between RANS and LES regions. The main ingredient of the method is the new dissipation-rate equation that can be applied as a subfilter scale turbulence model. Then, it becomes easy to convert almost any usual RANS transport model into a subfilter scale model. In particular, the method can be applied to two equation models and to stress transport models as well. In the derivation of the method, the partial integration technique allows to keep a link between the spectral space and the physical space of the resulting model. The physical turbulent processes involving the production, dissipation, and flux transfer of the turbulent energy are introduced in the equations. The present work, after recalling the main building steps of the PITM method, brings further insight into the physical interpretation of the method, its underlying hypotheses and its internal acting mechanisms. In particular, the finiteness of the coefficients used in the dissipation-rate equation is discussed in detail from a theoretical point of view. Then, we consider the analytical example of self-similar turbulent flow for analyzing the dissipation-rate equation. From an analytical solution obtained by Taylor series expansions taking into account the Kovasznay hypothesis for evaluating the transfer term, we compute the functional coefficients \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$c_{{\epsilon }_2}$\end{document}cε2 and \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$c_{sfs{\epsilon }_2}$\end{document}csfsε2 used in RANS and LES methodologies, respectively, and we demonstrate that both coefficients take on finite values when the Reynolds number goes to infinity. Finally, after briefly mentioning some flow illustrations to get a real appraisal of the PITM method in its capabilities to simulate unsteady flows on relatively coarse grids with a sufficient accuracy for engineering computations, we study the coefficient \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$c_{sfs{\epsilon }_2}$\end{document}csfsε2 through one chosen example.
Relating normal vibrational modes to local vibrational modes with the help of an adiabatic connection scheme
Authors: Zou Wenli , Kalescky Robert , Kraka Elfi , Cremer Dieter
Published: September 2012

Information on the electronic structure of a molecule and its chemical bonds is encoded in the molecular normal vibrational modes. However, normal vibrational modes result from a coupling of local vibrational modes, which means that only the latter can provide detailed insight into bonding and other structural features. In this work, it is proven that the adiabatic internal coordinate vibrational modes of Konkoli and Cremer [Int. J. Quantum Chem. 67, 29 (1998)]10.1002/(SICI)1097-461X(1998)67:1<29::AID-QUA3>3.0.CO;2-0 represent a unique set of local modes that is directly related to the normal vibrational modes. The missing link between these two sets of modes are the compliance constants of Decius, which turn out to be the reciprocals of the local mode force constants of Konkoli and Cremer. Using the compliance constants matrix, the local mode frequencies of any molecule can be converted into its normal mode frequencies with the help of an adiabatic connection scheme that defines the coupling of the local modes in terms of coupling frequencies and reveals how avoided crossings between the local modes lead to changes in the character of the normal modes.
Effect of grain orientation in x-ray diffraction pattern on residual stress in polycrystalline ferroelectric thin film
Authors: Xu L. H. , Jiang D. D. , Zheng X. J.
Published: September 2012

The grain orientation is represented by orientation distribution function through the volume fraction in case of discrete oriented grains, and we propose an orientation average method to evaluate residual stress in polycrystalline ferroelectric thin film from mesomechanics to continuum mechanics. In order to verify the method’s validity, x-ray diffraction patterns of the previous polycrystalline ferroelectric thin films with random orientation and preferred orientation are chosen as samples to evaluate surface residual stresses, and they are compared with the residual stresses evaluated by the conventional and extended sin2 ψ methods. Furthermore, the origin of the total residual stress is theoretically discussed from epitaxial stress, intrinsic stress, thermal stress, and phase transition stress, in order to verify the reliability of the orientation average method. It is only appropriate for thin film with random orientation via the specific diffraction peak however appropriate for thin film with not only random orientation but also preferred orientation via all the diffraction peaks. It is very necessary to consider grain orientation for evaluating residual stress in polycrystalline ferroelectric thin film.
Metal nanoantenna plasmon resonance lineshape modification by semiconductor surface native oxide
Authors: Davies D. G. , Whittaker D. M. , Wilson L. R.
Published: September 2012

We present reflectivity spectra of gold nanoantenna arrays fabricated directly onto GaAs substrates, which exhibit highly asymmetric line-shapes close to the localised surface plasmon resonance wavelength. Using detailed scattering matrix simulations, we show that the asymmetry is caused by an interference effect that is enhanced by the presence of a thin (few nm) native oxide layer on the GaAs surface. Our results have important implications for the correct design of nanoplasmonic systems for enhanced incoupling of light in semiconductor-based photovoltaic systems.
Magnetorheological behavior of magnetite covered clay particles in aqueous suspensions
Authors: Galindo-Gonzalez C. , Lopez-Lopez M. T. , Duran J. D. G.
Published: September 2012

Montmorillonite clay particles coated with magnetite nanoparticles suspended in aqueous media behave as magnetorheological fluids with enhanced stability as compared to conventional ones. In this work, the study of the magnetorheological behavior of these suspensions of magnetite-clay composite particles has been carried out. For this purpose, both steady and dynamic rheological measurements were carried out in the absence and in the presence of external magnetic fields. In the first kind of experiments, the rheograms of the suspensions (shear stress versus shear rate plot) are analyzed as a function of the strength of the magnetic field applied. In the second one, oscillatory stresses are applied to the system, and the storage modulus is studied as a function of the external magnetic field. In the absence of magnetic field, the suspensions develop a weak yield stress due to the aggregation of the magnetite covered clay particles. In the presence of magnetic field, the yield stress is strongly dependent on the magnetic field strength inside the samples, demonstrating that the suspensions experience a magnetorheological effect, moderate when the magnetic field strength is weak and stronger for values of magnetic field higher than 150–200 kA/m. Actually, the most intriguing result is the change of the trend in the dependence of the yield stress with the field. This dependence is approximately linear with the field for strength values smaller than 150–200 kA/m. On the other hand, for higher values, the yield stress increases with magnetic field following a power law with exponent 4.5.The results are interpreted by means of a model that relates the structure of the particles in the suspensions to the magnetic field applied and using the interaction energy between particles calculated by the extended DLVO theory to include magnetic interaction.
A mean curvature model for capillary flows in asymmetric containers and conduits
Authors: Chen Yongkang , Tavan Noël , Weislogel Mark M.
Published: September 2012

Capillarity-driven flows resulting from critical geometric wetting criterion are observed to yield significant shifts of the bulk fluid from one side of the container to the other during “zero gravity” experiments. For wetting fluids, such bulk shift flows consist of advancing and receding menisci sometimes separated by secondary capillary flows such as rivulet-like flows along gaps. Here we study the mean curvature of an advancing meniscus in hopes of approximating a critical boundary condition for fluid dynamics solutions. It is found that the bulk shift flows behave as if the bulk menisci are either “connected” or “disconnected.” For the connected case, an analytic method is developed to calculate the mean curvature of the advancing meniscus in an asymptotic sense. In contrast, for the disconnected case the method to calculate the mean curvature of the advancing and receding menisci uses a well-established procedure. Both disconnected and connected bulk shifts can occur as the first tier flow of more complex compound capillary flows. Preliminary comparisons between the analytic method and the results of drop tower experiments are encouraging.
Despite gloomy economy, signs good for billion-dollar US telescope
Authors: Feder Toni
Published: September 2012

The LSST will produce vast amounts of data, address important questions, and nudge astronomy toward the mega-collaborations typical of high-energy physics.
Competition boosts clean-energy startups
Authors: Matthews Jermey N. A.
Published: September 2012

Can alliances of entrepreneurial scientists and business students fuel the sluggish economy?
Geometric cohesion in granular materials
Authors: Franklin Scott V.
Published: September 2012

Stacks made up of rods or staples display many behaviors not seen in the more familiar and better-studied sand piles.
Use of Bacterial Cellulose from Nata de Coco as Base Polymer for Liquid Membranes Containing Ionic Liquids
Authors: Matsumoto Michiaki , Yamamoto Masashi , Kondo Kazuo
Published: August 2012

Bacterial cellulose is becoming a promising biopolymer for membrane separation due to its biocompatibility. We prepared bacterial cellulose membranes from nata de coco, an indigenous dessert of the Philippines, as a support or a base polymer in the liquid membrane process. When we prepared bacterial cellulose membranes in the presence of Aliquat 336 as an ionic liquid, we obtained stable bacterial cellulose membranes. We carried out two different permeation experiments on lactate and organic nitrogen compounds. In the case of lactate permeation, the lactate remained in the membrane phase due to the strong interaction between the cellulose and the lactate by hydrogen bonding. For organic nitrogen compounds without strong hydrogen bonding moieties, quinoline and pyridine successfully permeated through the membranes. Higher selectivity against heptane was observed than previously reported results. The bacterial membranes from nata de coco containing Aliquat 336 were found to be promising for the separation of organic nitrogen compounds.
‘Eat coffee candy and die’: sex, death and Huli funerals
Authors: Gibbs Philip , Worth Heather
Published: August 2012

Background: Sex and death have traditionally been linked in Huli culture in the Southern Highlands in Papua New Guinea. Huli regarded that close contact with women could result in men becoming sick or dying. However, there has been rapid social and economic development in the area and Huli traditions are changing. At the same time, HIV prevalence is rising. Methods: Twenty-five semistructured in-depth interviews were carried out with key informants during a study on HIV risk in the Southern Highlands. Interviews were conducted mostly in Tok Pisin. Interviews were transcribed and the data were analysed though thematic coding. Results: Huli people use ‘eating coffee candy’ as a metaphor for engaging in sex at funerals. This is very new and against traditional values, where women attended funerals and men only built the coffins and buried the body. Nowadays, sex occurs at funerals. This change has disturbed older people because it has not only changed the customary meaning of the funeral space, but it has also encouraged the spread of HIV. Huli use the fatalistic expression ‘Eat coffee candy and die,’ to refer to funerals as a space of HIV risk. Conclusion: Huli community and church leaders, and health workers are attempting to deal with the situation by not allowing men to stay at the funeral site overnight, burying the dead on the same day they die and using customary village law to charge men caught having sex at a funeral. However, traditional beliefs and rapid social change in the context of an HIV epidemic need to be taken into account.
CULTURAL AND MORAL CLASS BOUNDARIES IN A NORDIC CONTEXT
Authors: Skjøtt-Larsen Jakob
Published: September 2012

One of the major contributions of Pierre Bourdieu in Distinction was to illuminate the function of cultural consumption as a marker of status in 1960s' France. Since then, there has been an ongoing debate as to whether these findings are applicable in other national contexts, and not least whether other forms of symbolic boundary-drawing might be more relevant. Based on a survey conducted in the Danish municipality of Aalborg in 2004 and by using multiple correspondence analysis, I am able to show that both cultural consumption and politico-moral stances serve as markers of class positions. By introducing a range of qualitative semi-structured interviews, I argue that politico-moral boundaries are at least as important as cultural boundaries, and that both are used to establish symbolic boundaries between social positions, divided by the same principles as those found by Bourdieu in Distinction; that is, by the volume and the composition of economic and cultural capital. One of the distinctions cutting across both the cultural and the politico-moral modes of drawing boundaries is a divide between what I have termed a global and a local mode of orientation. Finally, antipathies towards cultural elites are expressed through aversions against state subsidisation of highbrow culture.
More than Mean Effects: Modeling the Effect of Climate on the Higher Order Moments of Crop Yields
Authors: Tack Jesse , Harri Ardian , Coble Keith
Published: September 2012

This article proposes the use of moment functions and maximum entropy techniques as a flexible approach for estimating conditional crop yield distributions. We present a moment‐based model that extends previous approaches, and is easily estimated using standard econometric estimators. Predicted moments under alternative regimes are used as constraints in a maximum entropy framework to analyze the distributional impacts of switching regimes. An empirical application for Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas upland cotton demonstrates how climate and irrigation affect the shape of the yield distribution, and allows us to illustrate several advantages of our moment‐based maximum entropy approach.
Bartonella jaculi sp. nov., Bartonella callosciuri sp. nov., Bartonella pachyuromydis sp. nov. and Bartonella acomydis sp. nov., isolated from wild Rodentia
Authors: Sato Shingo , Kabeya Hidenori , Fujinaga Yuta , Inoue Kai , Une Yumi , Yoshikawa Yasuhiro , Maruyama Soichi
Published: September 2012

Four novel strains of members of the genus

Bartonella

, OY2-1T, BR11-1T, FN15-2T and KS2-1T, were isolated from the blood of wild-captured greater Egyptian jerboa (Jaculus orientalis), plantain squirrel (Callosciurus notatus), fat-tailed gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi) and golden spiny mouse (Acomys russatus). All the animals were imported to Japan as pets from Egypt, Thailand and the Netherlands. The phenotypic characterization (growth conditions, incubation periods, biochemical properties and cell morphologies), DNA G+C contents (37.4 mol% for strain OY2-1T, 35.5 mol% for strain BR11-1T, 35.7 mol% for strain FN15-2T and 37.2 mol% for strain KS2-1T), and sequence analyses of the 16S rRNA genes indicated that those strains belong to the genus

Bartonella

. Sequence comparisons of gltA and rpoB genes suggested that all of the strains should be classified as novel species of the genus

Bartonella

. In phylogenetic trees based on the concatenated sequences of five loci, including the 16S rRNA, ftsZ, gltA and rpoB genes and the ITS region, and on the concatenated deduced amino acid sequences of three housekeeping genes (ftsZ, gltA and rpoB), all strains formed distinct clades and had unique mammalian hosts that could be discriminated from other known species of the genus

Bartonella

. These data strongly support the hypothesis that strains OY2-1T, BR11-1T, FN15-2T and KS2-1T should be classified as representing novel species of the genus

Bartonella

. The names Bartonella jaculi sp. nov., Bartonella callosciuri sp. nov., Bartonella pachyuromydis sp. nov. and Bartonella acomydis sp. nov. are proposed for these novel species. Type strains of Bartonella jaculi sp. nov., Bartonella callosciuri sp. nov., Bartonella pachyuromydis sp. nov. and Bartonella acomydis sp. nov. are OY2-1T ( = JCM 17712T = KCTC 23655T), BR11-1T ( = JCM 17709T = KCTC 23909T), FN15-2T ( = JCM 17714T = KCTC 23657T) and KS2-1T ( = JCM 17706T = KCTC 23907T), respectively.
Monodentate and bridging behaviour of the sulfur-containing ligand 4′-[4-(methylsulfanyl)phenyl]-4,2′:6′,4′′-terpyridine in two discrete zinc(II) complexes with acetylacetonate
Authors: Granifo Juan , Gaviño Rubén , Freire Eleonora , Baggio Ricardo
Published: September 2012

The Zn complexes bis(acetylacetonato-κ2O,O′)bis{4′-[4-(methylsulfanyl)phenyl]-4,2′:6′,4′′-terpyridine-κN1}zinc(II), [Zn(C5H7O2)2(C22H17N3S)2], (I), and {μ-4′-[4-(methylsulfanyl)phenyl]-4,2′:6′,4′′-terpyridine-κ2N1:N1′′}bis[bis(acetylacetonato-κ2O,O′)zinc(II)], [Zn2(C5H7O2)4(C22H17N3S)], (II), are discrete entities with different nuclearities. Compound (I) consists of two centrosymmetrically related monodentate 4′-[4-(methylsulfanyl)phenyl]-4,2′:6′,4′′-terpyridine (L1) ligands binding to one ZnIIatom sitting on an inversion centre and two centrosymmetrically related chelating acetylacetonate (acac) groups which bindviacarbonyl O-atom donors, giving an N2O4octahedral environment for ZnII. Compound (II), however, consists of a bis-monodentateL1 ligand bridging two ZnIIatoms from two different Zn(acac)2fragments. Intra- and intermolecular interactions are weak, mainly of the C—H...π and π–π types, mediating similar layered structures. In contrast to related structures in the literature, sulfur-mediated nonbonding interactions in (II) do not seem to have any significant influence on the supramolecular structure.
Fouling organisms on the rebars and protection by antifouling paint
Authors: Cagda Kandemir Elif , Alyuruk Hakan , Cavas Levent
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop protective coatings containing antifouling compound for steel rebars.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present study, corrosion and settlement of micro and macro‐fouling organisms on coated and uncoated rebars were investigated. Two different types of coatings were applied: only primer for prevention of corrosion; and rosin‐based antifouling paint after application of primer.

Findings

According to results, the surfaces of the rebars coated by antifouling paints were remarkably cleaner than were those of uncoated and primer‐coated steels. Micro and macro‐organisms that settled on the rebars were identified after 90 days of seawater immersion in Izmir, Turkey.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to scientific literature by providing a protection method based on the use of antifouling coatings for steel rebars used in marine environments (e.g. bridge piers). It was concluded that steel rebars can be coated with antifouling paints before they are used for concrete constructions.
Effects of heat treatment parameters on microstructural changes and corrosion behavior of Al 7075 Alclad alloy
Authors: Askari‐paykani M. , Meratian M. , Shayan M. , Raeissi K.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the microstructural changes and stress corrosion cracking behavior via two‐stage stressing u‐bent tests for T6 and T73 tempers of Al 7075 Alclad alloy.

Design/methodology/approach

Study was made of the effects of heat treatment; two‐stage stressing u‐bent, metallography, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy were employed.

Findings

The results showed that the T6 heat treatment formed some very fine transgranular and coarse intergranular precipitates containing two compositions of (Fe/Cu/Si‐rich) and (Mg/Si‐rich) phases. The T73 treatment also precipitated some fine transgranular precipitates and coarse intermetallics with a (Fe/Cu‐rich) composition. In T6‐treated samples, stress corrosion cracking (SCC) occurred after 155 days due to the high susceptibility of the grain boundaries. In T73‐treated samples, the SCC did not occur even after 210 days. The dissolution of the Alclad layer in the corrosive media increased pH values and left the sample in the passivation region, protecting the sample from further corrosion attack.

Originality/value

Based on microstructural and SCC resistance properties obtained by heat treatments, the T73 heat treatment with a tempering temperature of 107°C for seven hours as the first step and 170°C for 19 hours as the second step can be recommended for Al 7075 Alclad sheets.
Corrosion pit growth on austenitic stainless steels in chloride containing solution: a quantitative approach
Authors: González‐Sánchez J. , Dzib‐Pérez L. , Garcia‐Ochoa E. , Canto G. , Sosa‐Baz M.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to quantitatively assess the pit growth rate on AISI 304L and AISI 316 austenitic stainless steels in natural seawater and 3.5 wt.% NaCl solutions through electrochemical measurements during the potentiostatic growth of pits.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative characterisation was carried out based on chronoamperometric measurements. The volume of dissolved metal per pit was calculated from the charge registered and Faraday's law, considering both, hemispherical and semi‐elliptical pit shapes and the density of the steels. Empirical growth laws for maximum pit depth as a function of polarisation time were obtained and compared with pits volumetric profile obtained from optical microscopy analysis and mechanical removal of material on both steels.

Findings

Electrochemical‐based calculations of localised metal dissolution per pit present acceptable fit with the real volume of dissolved metal on hemispherical pits.

Originality/value

The paper presents the quantitative relationship of the corrosion pit growth rate of stainless steels in chloride containing solution determined by chronoamperometry (electrochemical technique) through the Faraday law's, with the mechanical removal of material (pit profile) through the density of metal.
Evaluation of corrosion protection of carbon steel by anticorrosive paints
Authors: Emira Hassan S. , Shakour Alia A. , Abd El Rehim Sayed S. , Saleh Inas A. , El‐Hashemy Mohammed A.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The paper aims to evaluate the anti‐corrosion performance of inorganic pigments included in paint systems based on plasticized‐chlorinated rubber for carbon steel in different environmental conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

Paint systems based on chlorinated rubber and inorganic pigments such as zinc chromate, zinc phosphate, red iron oxide and treated iron industry waste powder were prepared. Immersion in 3.5 percent salt solution, as well as outdoor exposure tests, were performed and the paint physico‐mechanical properties were tested to evaluate the paints' anti corrosive performance.

Findings

The concentration and the type of pigments included in the prepared paint systems control their anticorrosive performance.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates how pigment consisting of treated iron industry waste powder could be used in anticorrosion paints for carbon steel.
Performance management system effectiveness in Australian local government
Authors: Baird Kevin , Schoch Herbert , Chen Qi (James)
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between three organizational factors (the use of multi‐dimensional performance measures, link to rewards, and training) and three organizational culture dimensions (innovation, outcome orientation, and teamwork) with the effectiveness of performance management systems (PMSs).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected by survey questionnaire from a random sample of 450 Australian local governments.

Findings

The performance management systems of Australian local councils are only moderately effective in relation to performance related outcomes, and less effective in relation to the achievement of staff related outcomes. The results indicate a significant relationship between the use of multidimensional performance measures, link of performance to rewards, training and two organizational culture factors (team work/respect for people and outcome orientation) with the effectiveness of PMSs. Different factors were found to influence the effectiveness of PMSs for large and small sized councils.

Practical implications

The findings imply that there is a need for the managers of local government councils to improve the effectiveness of their PMS.

Originality/value

The study provides an initial empirical examination of the effectiveness of performance management systems and the influential factors in the Australian local government context. The study assists local government managers in effectively managing their employees and operations.
Managerial ownership‐induced income smoothing and information asymmetry
Authors: Habib Ahsan , Jiang Haiyan
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether managerial ownership‐induced income smoothing accentuates or attenuates an information asymmetry problem. Standard agency theory suggests that managerial ownership may play a significant role in alleviating agency problems between managers and external shareholders that can arise from information asymmetry. According to this view, managerial ownership‐induced income smoothing could convey managerial private information and could, therefore, be considered as informative. However, managerial ownership could also entrench managers with absolute control of firms, and encourage them to engage in earnings manipulation, including earnings smoothing, in order to hide private benefits of control.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses two smoothing measures, and separate total smoothing into its innate and discretionary components. The former is determined by firm fundamentals, whereas discretionary smoothing allows managers the flexibility to use it for either informative or opportunistic reasons. The paper then regresses information asymmetry, as proxied by scaled bid‐ask‐spreads, on the interaction between managerial ownership and both these smoothing components.

Findings

The paper documents that managerial ownership‐induced discretionary smoothing has a positive effect on bid‐ask spreads. This result seems to support the entrenchment view of managerial ownership.

Practical implications

This study offers insights to policy makers interested in enhancing the effectiveness of the managerial ownership aspect of corporate governance in New Zealand.

Originality/value

This paper uses agency theory to provide a comparative assessment of the efficient versus the entrenchment hypotheses with respect to managerial ownership.
Corporate social responsibility to build strong Brazilian bank brand
Authors: Roberto Scharf Edson , Fernandes Josiane , Diego Kormann Bruno
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the set of corporate social responsibility actions of a Brazilian bank as support to the strengthening of an organizational brand. The specific scope is to discuss the reflections of sustainable actions adopted for the recognition of the organization's brand.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study, based on Yin, and in‐depth interviews with those responsible for the sustainability department of the studied organization were adopted.

Findings

Literature and the understanding of the organization's executives, when compared to actions adopted by Banco do Brasil, allow the conclusion that the set of corporate social responsibility actions reflects, in its instrumental use, the intention of managing answers to social, economical and environmental demands, and in its conceptual use has helped in strengthening the financial institution's brand.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on the set of corporate social responsibility actions adopted by the largest financial institution in Brazil and its relationship with brand strengthening. It is one of the few studies examining the efforts of corporate social responsibility in a bank's brand.
How banks are supporting local economies facing the current financial crisis
Authors: Condosta Luca
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to understand how Italian banks are supporting their local economies in facing the current financial crisis through corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is the result of research conducted through multiple case studies to identify best practices in the Italian financial sector.

Findings

The research shows that banks are working in the CSR field, not only with a compliance approach, but trying also to support the local economies where they operate.

Research limitations/implications

Only a limited number of banks were studied and the research relied on banks' web sites and documentation – which may be affected by self‐reporting bias.

Practical implications

The paper presents an example of how banks can integrate societal need in their daily business, improving the context and by that improving also their reputation.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates that the current financial crisis offers banks the possibility to rethink their societal role and move from a compliance approach to CSR to a more strategic one.
In good and bad times: the interpersonal nature of brand love in service relationships
Authors: Long‐Tolbert Sylvia J. , Gammoh Bashar S.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address two important gaps in the brand love and consumer‐brand relationships literatures. First, this study aims to investigate several interpersonal antecedents of brand love in a services setting. Second, this study also aims to examine the differential influence of the valence of the service delivery process and the way that brand love develops under qualitatively varied conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

A between‐subjects experiment that varied the valence of the service delivery process (positive/negative) in a relational context was designed to examine the influence of interpersonal antecedents across service delivery levels on brand love.

Findings

This study provides empirical support for the importance of interpersonal antecedents in driving brand love in service relationships. The results also reveal an asymmetrical pattern of effects between study variables across service delivery levels.

Research limitations/implications

These findings can help service firms to better understand the role of interpersonal influences in development of emotional bonds with current customers and to develop strategies to nurture brand love under positive and negative circumstances.

Originality/value

This research helps to establish the transferability of interpersonal love into the services domain and brings service employees and the social aspects of exchange into the discussion of brand love. The research findings suggest consumers have the propensity to perceive and respond to service firms asactiveparticipants in relational exchanges and to use their interaction with frontline employees as a basis for developing brand love.
Determinants of telemarketer misselling in life insurance services
Authors: Taek Yi Ho , Dubinsky Alan J. , Un Lim Chae
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of the article is to present and test a model regarding important factors that may help reduce unethical behavior (i.e. misselling) of salespeople in the financial services industry.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the hypotheses, telemarketers from the life insurance industry in South Korea were surveyed (n=204).

Findings

Using structural equation modeling, the results indicate that: ethics training is positively related to salesperson ethical attitude; ethical climate is positively related to salesperson ethical attitude; selling pressure is unrelated to ethical attitude; competitive intensity is positively related to salesperson ethical attitude; competitive intensity is unrelated to misselling; and misselling is inversely related to salesperson ethical attitude, positively associated with product complexity, and positively related to product variety.

Research limitations/implications

Future empirical work could: investigate different variables from those utilized in this study; consider inter‐country and gender differences; use alternate sources of data to examine stability of the findings; and employ samples of firms in other industries and other marketing channels. Limitations include a limited number of study variables, use of solely the telemarketing channel for life insurance, a preponderance of female respondents, and potential for socially desirable responses.

Practical implications

Management should seek to maintain a high ethical attitude among sales agents to help foster a reduction in unethical behavior. Sales personnel should receive extensive ethics training to help enhance their ethical attitude in the job. Salespeople should also seek to establish and maintain long‐term relationships with their customers and to pursue long‐term profitability. Sales managers should seek to educate consumers about the various types of financial products, their respective strengths and weaknesses, and the appropriate conditions under which they should be purchased.

Originality/value

The potential for financial services industry salespeople to behave unethically has received extensive research attention. A key area, though, which has been virtually ignored is antecedents of misselling of financial services. The article seeks to address partially this gap in the literature.