bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stability analysis of impulsive switched singular systems
Authors: Feng Guizhen , Cao Jinde
Published: November 2014

This study investigates the exponential stability problems of singular impulsive switched systems. Using the switched Lyapunov function method and algebraic inequality, sufficient conditions are expressed as arbitrary and conditioned impulsive switching has been obtained. In addition, with the introduction of the impulsive controller, several exponential stability criteria are derived when the impulsive controllers are stabilising. Finally, two numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed criteria.
Modeling of long-term defect evolution in heavy-ion irradiated 3C-SiC: Mechanism for thermal annealing and influences of spatial correlation
Authors: Guo Daxi , Martin-Bragado Ignacio , He Chaohui , Zang Hang , Zhang Peng
Published: November 2014

Based on the parameters from published ab-initio theoretical and experimental studies, and combining molecular dynamics and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, a framework of multi-scale modeling is developed to investigate the long-term evolution of displacement damage induced by heavy-ion irradiation in cubic silicon carbide. The isochronal annealing after heavy ion irradiation is simulated, and the annealing behaviors of total interstitials are found consistent with previous experiments. Two annealing stages below 600 K and one stage above 900 K are identified. The mechanisms for those recovery stages are interpreted by the evolution of defects. The influence of the spatial correlation in primary damage on defect recovery has been studied and found insignificant when the damage dose is high enough, which sheds light on the applicability of approaches with mean-field approximation to the long-term evolution of damage by heavy ions in SiC.
Reversible emission evolution from Ag activated zeolite Na-A upon dehydration/hydration
Authors: Lin Hui , Imakita Kenji , Fujii Minoru
Published: November 2014

Reversible emission evolution of thermally treated Ag activated zeolite Na-A upon dehydration/hydration in vacuum/water vapor was observed. The phenomenon was observed even for the sample with low Ag+-Na+ exchanging (8.3%), indicating that the emission from Ag activated zeolites may not come from Ag clusters while from the surrounding coordinated Ag+ ions or Ag0 atoms. It was disclosed that the characteristic yellow-green emission at ∼560 ± 15 nm is strongly associated with the coordinating water molecules to the Ag+ ions or Ag0 atoms, which is clear evidence for that the efficient emission from Ag activated zeolites may not originate from the quantum confinement effect.
Enhanced detection sensitivity of higher-order vibrational modes of gold nanodisks on top of a GaN nanorod array through localized surface plasmons
Authors: Yang Szu-Chi , Wei Pei-Kuen , Hsiao Hui-Hsin , Mante Pierre-Adrien , Huang Yu-Ru , Chen I-Ju , Chang Hung-Chun , Sun Chi-Kuang
Published: November 2014

We report a method that enables the excitation of localized surface plasmons (LSPs) in a gold nanodisk array by placing each nanodisk on top of a GaN nanorod. When the rod length was much longer than the plasmon penetration depth inside the nanorod, the plasmonic field was found to be localized, and coupling between neighboring gold nanodisks was eliminated. The interaction between LSPs and acoustic vibrations in gold nanodisks was then investigated. Owing to the strong localization of the plasmonic field, weak, higher-order vibrational modes of gold nanodisk could be optically observed. Furthermore, such an LSP-based acoustic sensor could be operated at any angle of incident light. Our study not only provides an approach to excite LSPs in high-density metallic arrays, but also opens one of the possible solutions for the development of highly sensitive sub-terahertz hypersonic sensors with high angle tolerance of incident light.
Atomistic study on dithiolated oligo-phenylenevinylene gated device
Authors: Mahmoud Ahmed , Lugli Paolo
Published: November 2014

Thanks to their semiconducting behavior, conjugated molecules are considered as an attractive candidate for future electronic devices. Understanding the charge transport characteristics through such molecules for different device applications would accelerate the progress in the field of molecular electronics. In addition, it would become more feasible to introduce/enhance specific properties of molecular devices. This theoretical paper focuses on atomistic simulation and characterization of novel molecular FET employing dithiolated oligo-phenylenevinylene molecules. The simulation is validated by its agreement with the experimental measurements conducted on the same molecules. The employed molecule has oxygen linkers, which are responsible for the strongly nonlinear current characteristics on the molecular device. We perform a thorough atomistic device analysis to illustrate the principles behind the nonlinear current characteristics and the gating effect.
A high performance semitransparent organic photodetector with green color selectivity
Authors: Kim Dae-Ho , Kim Kyu-Sik , Shim Hyun-Sub , Moon Chang-Ki , Jin Yong Wan , Kim Jang-Joo
Published: November 2014

We report a high performance green color selective semitransparent inverted organic photodetectors (OPDs) with a detectivity of 2.1 × 1012 cm Hz1/2/W at the wavelength of 530 nm which has the comparable performance to the reported metal electrode based OPDs due to low dark current density of 3.8 × 10−10 A/cm2 at −1 V. The transparent OPD showed high transparency of 26% and 60% in the blue and red regions, respectively. The relatively low transmittance in the blue region can be improved using appropriate selection of active materials which absorb only the green region.
Melting analysis on microbeads in rapid temperature-gradient inside microchannels for single nucleotide polymorphisms detection
Authors: Li Kan-Chien , Ding Shih-Torng , Lin En-Chung , Wang Lon (Alex) , Lu Yen-Wen
Published: November 2014

A continuous-flow microchip with a temperature gradient in microchannels was utilized to demonstrate spatial melting analysis on microbeads for clinical Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) genotyping on animal genomic DNA. The chip had embedded heaters and thermometers, which created a rapid and yet stable temperature gradient between 60 °C and 85 °C in a short distance as the detection region. The microbeads, which served as mobile supports carrying the target DNA and fluorescent dye, were transported across the temperature gradient. As the surrounding temperature increased, the fluorescence signals of the microbeads decayed with this relationship being acquired as the melting curve. Fast DNA denaturation, as a result of the improved heat transfer and thermal stability due to scaling, was also confirmed. Further, each individual microbead could potentially bear different sequences and pass through the detection region, one by one, for a series of melting analysis, with multiplex, high-throughput capability being possible. A prototype was tested with target DNA samples in different genotypes (i.e., wild and mutant types) with a SNP location from Landrace sows. The melting temperatures were obtained and compared to the ones using a traditional tube-based approach. The results showed similar levels of SNP discrimination, validating our proposed technique for scanning homozygotes and heterozygotes to distinguish single base changes for disease research, drug development, medical diagnostics, agriculture, and animal production.
On-chip multi-gas incubation for microfluidic cell cultures under hypoxia
Authors: Takano Atsushi , Tanaka Masato , Futai Nobuyuki
Published: November 2014

We developed a simple system that regulates CO2 and O2 levels within a microfluidic chip. This system enables long-term cell culture under hypoxic conditions without the need of a CO2 incubator or a multi-gas incubator. Hypoxic conditions were generated using a miniature water jacket containing dissolved ascorbate as an oxygen scavenger. Formulations of the water jacket were determined that enables both 5% pCO2 and desired pO2 levels ranging from 5 to 15%. We also cultured PC-12 cells and primary neuronal cells from chick embryos under hypoxia and observed hypoxia-induced cell death and inhibition of neurite outgrowth.
Fatigueless response of spider draglines in cyclic torsion facilitated by reversible molecular deformation
Authors: Kumar Bhupesh , Singh Kamal P.
Published: November 2014

We demonstrate that spider draglines exhibit a fatigueless response in extreme cyclic torsion up to its breaking limit. The well defined Raman bands at 1095 and 1245 cm–1 shifted linearly towards lower wavenumbers versus increasing twist in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. Under thousands of continuous loading cycles of twist strain approaching its breaking limit, all the Raman bands were preserved and the characteristic Raman peak shifts were found to be reversible. Besides, nanoscale surface profile of the worked silk appeared as good as the pristine silk. This unique fatigueless twist response of draglines, facilitated by reversible deformation of protein molecules, could find applications in durable miniatured devices.
Femtosecond laser induced periodic surface structures on multi-layer graphene
Authors: Beltaos Angela , Kovačević Aleksander G. , Matković Aleksandar , Ralević Uroš , Savić-Šević Svetlana , Jovanović Djordje , Jelenković Branislav M. , Gajić Radoš
Published: November 2014

In this work, we present an observation of laser induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on graphene. LIPSS on other materials have been observed for nearly 50 years, but until now, not on graphene. Our findings for LIPSS on multi-layer graphene were consistent with previous reports of LIPSS on other materials, thus classifying them as high spatial frequency LIPSS. LIPSS on multi-layer graphene were generated in an air environment by a linearly polarized femtosecond laser with excitation wavelength λ of 840 nm, pulse duration τ of ∼150 fs, and a fluence F of ∼4.3–4.4 mJ/cm2. The observed LIPSS were perpendicular to the laser polarization and had dimensions of width w of ∼30–40 nm and length l of ∼0.5–1.5 μm, and spatial periods Λ of ∼70–100 nm (∼λ/8–λ/12), amongst the smallest of spatial periods reported for LIPSS on other materials. The spatial period and width of the LIPSS were shown to decrease for an increased number of laser shots. The experimental results support the leading theory behind high spatial frequency LIPSS formation, implying the involvement of surface plasmon polaritons. This work demonstrates a new way to pattern multi-layer graphene in a controllable manner, promising for a variety of emerging graphene/LIPSS applications.
Viscoelastic creep elimination in dielectric elastomer actuation by preprogrammed voltage
Authors: Zhang Junshi , Wang Yanjie , McCoul David , Pei Qibing , Chen Hualing
Published: November 2014

Viscoelasticity causes a time-dependent deformation and lowers the response speed and energy conversion efficiency of VHB-based dielectric elastomers (DEs), thus seriously restricting a wide range of applications of this otherwise versatile soft smart material. The viscoelastic deformation of a prestretched VHB film in a circular actuator configuration is studied both theoretically and experimentally. By adjusting the applied voltage, viscoelastic creep can be dispelled and an invariable strain is obtained by simulation. Subsequently, an experiment was designed to validate the simulation and the results indicate that a constant strain can be achieved by preprogramming the applied actuation voltage.
Insulin-like growth factor II mRNA binding protein 3 (IMP3) expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and its relationship with HIV-infection status
Authors: Del Gobbo Alessandro , Bonoldi Emanuela , Cribiù Fulvia Milena , Franceschetti Ilaria , Matinato Caterina , Fiori Stefano , Gianelli Umberto , Bosari Silvano
Published: November 2014

Background Cervical cancer is preventable through screening, and HIV treatment guidelines recommend that all HIV-infected women receive cervical cancer twice during the year after HIV diagnosis and annually thereafter. Different immunohistochemical markers have been studied to highlight cervical intraepithelial lesions of low and high grade, the most widely used being p16. Recent studies have shown that insulin-like growth factor mRNA binding protein 3 (IMP3) plays a role in the development of invasive squamous cell carcinoma from cervical dysplasia, both in histology and in liquid-based cytology. Methods: We evaluated the clinical significance of the immunohistochemical expression of IMP3 and p16 in histological samples of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia from 56 samples of HIV-positive and 30 samples of HIV-negative patients. Results: A significant difference was found in IMP3 and p16 protein expression between HIV-positive and HIV-negative specimens. All cases of HIV-positive low grade squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (L-SIL) with IMP3 expression progressed in high grade (H)-SIL. However, the HIV-positive patients with IMP3-negative L-SIL remained stable or had a negative follow up. The L-SIL of HIV-negative patients with IMP3 protein expression had an uneventful follow up. IMP3-positive H-SIL recurred with low- or high-grade dysplasia during follow up after conisation in both populations. All IMP3-negative L-SIL and H-SIL had negative pap tests at follow up. Conclusions: In HIV-positive cases, IMP3 showed a higher sensitivity than p16 in identifying patients at risk of progression and recurrence.
Groups graded by root systems and property (
T
)
Authors: Ershov Mikhail , Jaikin-Zapirain Andrei , Kassabov Martin , Zhang Zezhou
Published: November 2014

Significance

In 1967 Kazhdan invented certain property of locally compact groups defined in terms of their unitary representations, called property (
T
). It has important applications in representation theory, theory of algebraic groups, ergodic theory, geometric group theory, operator algebras, network theory, and expander graphs. While a variety of methods for constructing groups with property (
T
) have been developed, the question of whether a given group has property (
T
) remains open in many important cases. In this paper we develop a method that allows to establish property (
T
) for a large class of groups, which includes elementary Chevalley groups and Steinberg groups of rank at least 2 over finitely generated commutative rings with 1. This opens a door for further interesting applications.
Shooting, Killing and Dying
Authors: Bennett Jonathan
Published: November 2014

There was a duel at dawn between A and B. A shot B, who lingered on until dusk of that day, and then died of his bulletwound. Certain background conditions are satisfied (it doesn't matter now what they are) which make it right to say not just that A caused B's death but that he killed him. So, A shot B and killed him. This seems to be structurally different from "A shot B and he kicked him," but what is this structural difference? How does the shooting relate to the killing?
Our Knowledge and Our Language
Authors: Ware Robert X.
Published: November 2014

I am not sure how confident we can be about our knowledge of the meaning of a sentence, but I am sure that we should be much less confident than we often are about the meaning of a word or non-sentential expression. This paper is an attempt to whittle away our confidence about word-meaning, and it is to this end that I investigate the meaning of the word ‘know'. But the point of the investigation is to show that it is not enough to investigate just the meaning of a word. We must investigate the syntax as well, something that philosophers have often ignored. A theory of meaning must be closely tied to a theory of syntax, and for one to be acceptable the other must be acceptable as well. A theory of language must be an integrated theory, and hypotheses about syntax and meaning stand or fall together.
The Logic of Assertion and Pragmatic Inconsistency
Authors: Humphries Jill
Published: November 2014

Although there has been considerable interest recently in statements that have been described as pragmatically inconsistent or self-defeating (for example, the statement ‘I do not exist’), the notion of pragmatic inconsistency has not been clearly defined and little attention has been paid to the relation between the assertion of these statements and the statements themselves. Hintikka [1] and Nakhnikian [2], for example mention that ‘I do not exist’ cannot be asserted without pragmatic inconsistency, but they are concerned mainly with belief statements that are pragmatically inconsistent rather than with the assertion of them. In doing so they have missed an important point—that it is the characteristics of statements that cannot be asserted without pragmatic inconsistency that render other statements pragmatically inconsistent.
Emotional Objects and Criteria
Authors: Tietz John
Published: November 2014

Philosophers commonly distinguish emotions from other feelings. For example, Anthony Kenny distinguishes emotions from both sensations and perceptions. Perceptions are connected with a specific organ or part of the body and sensations such as hunger or thirst are sometimes characteristically located in parts of the body. Emotions, however, are neither connected with organs nor characteristically felt in specific parts of the body (pp. 57–58). Kenny rightly points out that emotions and sensations are alike in one important respect, namely they are both linked to characteristic forms of expression. He then says “ … the existence of characteristic expre5sions of emotion itself provides a further link between emotion and sensations: for the expression characteristic of each emotion—e.g., weeping—is itself felt, and this feeling is a genuine sensation” (p. 59).
Counting the Consequences
Authors: Vollrath John F.
Published: November 2014

What makes one event have more historical importance than another event? Why, for example, do historians consider Caesar's decision to cross the Rubicon more important than Caesar's decision to shave in the morning? In this example, the answer should be obvious. The contrast is between a decision of great consequence and a decision of little consequence. Perhaps we can generalize from the example to say that the ranking of events with respect to their historical importance is a function of the magnitude of their respective consequences.

W. H. Dray holds that in some cases historical importance is determined by factors other than the size of consequences. For example, events may be important because of what they anticipate or what they reveal.
Making Sense of Economic Determinism
Authors: McMurtry John
Published: November 2014

Perhaps no doctrine in our intellectual history has received more attention—critical, puzzled and celebrative—than that of “economic determinism”. To adequately catalogue the literature on Karl Marx’s epoch-making theory would require, no doubt, a considerable tome.

I am not, therefore, going to attempt such a task here, illuminating though it might be as a study in the history and sociology of ideas. Rather I am going to outline an interpretation which will—if I am successful—be both faithful to Marx’s texts and immune to the standard philosophical criticisms which have been hitherto advanced against the theory (e.g., that it is intolerably imprecise, that it is indefensibly monocausal, that it is refuted by historical fact, that it is committed to logically improper prediction, that it is incompatible with ethical and personal responsibility, etc.).
Trust and Teleology: Locke’s Politics and his Doctrine of Creation
Authors: Sparkes A. W.
Published: November 2014

I shall argue that the central doctrines of Locke's politics have a theological basis, a doctrine of Creation similar to the Thomist one. Locke does not elaborate this doctrine; he presupposes it. It is not a hidden, esoteric element in his thought; it is there on the surface, but in a scattered and fragmentary form.

I shall proceed in this fashion: First, I shall set out this doctrine of Creation and show its connexion with Locke's moral theory by way of an examination of his doctrines of property and power. I shall then show that Locke extends this doctrine of Creation to human productive activity with crippling results for his political theory.
A. J. Ayer on the Argument from Illusion
Authors: McKee P. L.
Published: November 2014

In his paper “Has Austin Refuted the Sense-Datum Theory?” A. J. Ayer contends that the argument from illusion calls attention to perspectival distortion, perceptual misidentification and elusive perceptual belief only in order to establish the possibility of perceptual error. Pointing to our occasional perceptual failures reminds us that perceptual error is always logically possible—that any particular perceptual belief to the effect that one is perceiving a physical surface could be mistaken. This in turn is thought by Ayer to show that the ordinary belief that we perceive physical surfaces requires qualification—along lines urged by sense-datum philosophers—to the effect that even in those situations properly described for non-philosophical purposes as perceptions of physical surfaces it cannot be physical surfaces that are literally present to one's senses. Ayer believes that this can be established, for any given case, by the possibility of perceptual error alone.
The Planets are Nine in Number
Authors: Margolis Joseph
Published: November 2014

W. V. Quine had, in Word and Object, drawn prominent attention to the opacity of the necessity operator, by comparing the sentences

(1) Necessarily 9 > 4

and

(2) Necessarily the number of major planets > 4.

Of these, Quine had said, “surely, on any plausible interpretation, (1) is true and (2) is false. Since 9 = the number of major planets, we can conclude that the position of ‘9’ in (1) is not purely referential and hence that the necessity operator is opaque.” The puzzle has generated a good deal of interest, particularly with an eye to the prospects of quantifying in modal contexts. But, given the substantial literature that has sprung up around the issue, it is rather easy to misunderstand the force of any challenge to Quine's account.
Compatibilism Again
Authors: Hausman David B.
Published: November 2014

Lately, the attitude of philosophers generally toward the free will issue has taken what I regard as an inauspicious turn. Where the predominant opinion had been that determinism and freedom were at harmony with one another, today it is incompatibilism which seems to prevail, and new voices raised in defense of libertarianism now offer their promise that problems once thought prohibitive to an acceptance of contra-causal freedom might be surmounted. I shall attempt to show that this recent rejection of compatibilism in fact rests on a mistake, and I shall suggest the outline of a solution to the free will issue which reconciles determinism and freedom.

We shall say that an event is nomologically necessary if and only if given a specified set of conditions (the initial conditions) and the actually existing laws of nature, the statement of that event could in principle be deduced as the conclusion of a valid deductive argument having the statement of initial conditions and the statement of the relevant law(s) as premises.
Rationality and Revolution
Authors: Holmstrom Nancy
Published: November 2014

The question of an action's rationality has two aspects: 1) the ‘appropriateness’ of the action given the beliefs held and 2) the ‘reasonableness’ of the beliefs themselves or of holding those beliefs. The former involves questions of motivation, the latter epistemology. This paper will concentrate on the former aspect of the question.

One way of understanding rational motivation is so widely accepted as to seem incontrovertible to many of its proponents. This is the sense of rationality as maximization of utility. Although individual action is motivated by many things, the claim is that when behavior is rational it can be understood as an attempt to maximize utility. Rationality in this view has solely to do with means, not ends. The only restriction on an agent's ends is that they form a coherent set and whatever the content of the utility at which the agent aims, it is presumed to be open-ended. The theory is descriptive in that it says that (normal) people act this way most of the time and also normative in that behavior which does not fit the model is Judged irrational.
Perception and Imagination in Descartes, Boyle and Hooke
Authors: MacIntosh J.J.
Published: November 2014

Descartes, Boyle and Hooke shared, with many other seventeenth-century figures, the view that mechanical explanations were the only intellectually satisfactory ones. They also all accepted the view that we have incorporeal souls. This generated a problem for them when they wrote about perception. In this area, indeed, Descartes seems to be almost a reluctant Cartesian. When we read hisscientificwritings, the incorporeal soul is not stressed, and Descartes happily speaks of physical, or of corporeal,ideasin discussing sensation, memory and imagination.
On Robert Paul Wolff's Transcendental Interpretation of Marx's Labor Theory of Value
Authors: Schweickart David
Published: November 2014

In a recent article Robert Paul Wolff has argued that Marx's theory of capitalist exploitation is incorrect, in that its ground is the premiss that labor is the source of all value.1 This, of course, is a well-rehearsed objection to Marx, but Wolff gives it a novel twist. He notes that the defense of this premise in the opening pages of Capital is inadequate, but he is not troubled by this ‘bad argument,’ for he sees Marx's real argument as something else: the (implicit) claim that unless labor is the source of all value, an adequate account of profit is impossible. In other words Marx is seen to be making a transcendental argument: an inquiry into the conditions for the possibility of profit. Wolff proceeds to argue that Marx goes astray here, but not so far astray that a valid transcendental argument, faithful to Marx's essential insight, cannot be charted.
Propositions for Semantics and Propositions for Epistemology
Authors: Wilson N.L.
Published: November 2014

The title is an allusion to the fact that, traditionally, propositions have served at least two distinct functions in philosophy, even though these functions have not usually been distinguished. Propositions have been invoked as the ‘meanings’ or ‘intensions’ of sentences and as the objects of propositional attitudes. Thus the proposition that Socrates is wise is themeaningof the English sentence, ‘Socrates is wise,’ and iswhatCharles believes when he believes that Socrates is wise. ‘Means that’ and ‘believes that’ take the same kind of object. I shall argue, first, that there are two quite different functions here and it takes two quite different kinds of proposition to serve these distinct functions. The second thing I want to do is examine the suggestion that we can treat propositions as sets of possible worlds. There is a serious difficulty here, and so I shall want to turn that idea on its side: I shall define possible worlds as sets of G-propositions (semantical propositions) and then define E-propositions (epistemic propositions) as sets of possible worlds.
Adhering to Inherence: A New Look at the Old Steps in Berkeley's March to Idealism
Authors: Hausman Alan
Published: November 2014

When Keats identified truth and beauty, he surely intended mere extensionality. I myself have never had much trouble with either half of the equivalence. Others have considerable difficulty. A case in point is the Watson-Allaire-Cummins interpretation of Berkeley's idealism, which I shall refer to henceforth as the inherence account (IA). That account is put forward to answer an extremely perplexing question in the history of philosophy: Why did Berkeley embrace idealism, i.e., why did he hold that esse est percipi, that to be is to be perceived, indeed that what is perceived must be perceived in order to exist? In essence, the IA answers these questions very simply and elegantly: perceived qualities are, for Berkeley, qualities of the mind in the same sense that, in the tradition of substance metaphysics, blue is a quality of a blue flower; just as the blue of the flower is inseparable from it, so the perceived blue is inseparable from the mind that perceives it.
Descartes on God's Ability to Do the Logically Impossible
Authors: La Croix Richard R.
Published: November 2014

With very few exceptions philosophers believe that no account of the doctrine of divine omnipotence is adequate if it entails that God can do what is logically impossible. Descartes is credited with believing otherwise. In his article ‘Descartes on the Creation of the Eternal Truths’ (The Philosophical Review, 86, 1977) Harry Frankfurt attributes to Descartes the belief that God is ‘a being for whom the logically impossible is possible’ (44). In addition, Frankfurt claims that because of this belief Descartes’ account of God's omnipotence is open to the charge of being incoherent. I will argue that it is wrong to attribute this belief to Descartes and that if his account of divine omnipotence is incoherent, it is incoherent for reasons other than that it entails the possibility of what is logically impossible.
The high-altitude research of Mabel Purefoy FitzGerald, 1911–13
Authors: Goodman Martin
Published: November 2014

Home schooled without a science education, Mabel Purefoy FitzGerald (1872–1973) attended physiology lectures at Oxford in 1897, even though the school was closed to women. She found work as a researcher, published early noted papers and earned the active respect and support of senior scientists of her day. Her laboratory work with the physiologist J. S. Haldane saw her invited to the join the Pikes Peak Expedition in 1911. While the male team members measured the physiological effects of long-term residency at 14 101 feet, as the sole woman FitzGerald took measurements of haemoglobin and alveolar air from herself and from mining staff and families at altitudes from 6000 to 12 500 feet, travelling to remote mining communities in the Colorado Rockies. A subsequent expedition collected data at lower altitudes. Recorded in two papers, the results presented pioneering evidence of the role of oxygen in breathing.
Halotia gen. nov., a phylogenetically and physiologically coherent cyanobacterial genus isolated from marine coastal environments
Authors: Genuário Diego Bonaldo , Vaz Marcelo Gomes Marçal Vieira , Hentschke Guilherme Scotta , Sant’Anna Célia Leite , Fiore Marli Fátima
Published: November 2014

Nostoc

is a common and well-studied genus of cyanobacteria and, according to molecular phylogeny, is a polyphyletic group. Therefore, revisions of this genus are urged in an attempt to clarify its taxonomy. Novel strains isolated from underexplored environments and assigned morphologically to the genus

Nostoc

are not genetically related to the ‘true Nostoc’ group. In this study, four strains isolated from biofilms collected in Antarctica and five strains originated from Brazilian mangroves were evaluated. Despite their morphological similarities to other morphotypes of

Nostoc

, these nine strains differed from other morphotypes in ecological, physiological and genetic aspects. Based on the phylogeny of the 16S rRNA gene, the Antarctic sequences were grouped together with the sequences of the Brazilian mangrove isolates and Nostoc sp. Mollenhauer 1 : 1-067 in a well-supported cluster (74 % bootstrap value, maximum-likelihood). This novel cluster was separated phylogenetically from the ‘true Nostoc’ clade and from the clades of the morphologically similar genera Mojavia and Desmonostoc. The 16S rRNA gene sequences generated in this study exhibited 96 % similarity to sequences from the nostocacean genera mentioned above. Physiologically, these nine strains showed the capacity to grow in a salinity range of 1–10 % NaCl, indicating their tolerance of saline conditions. These results provide support for the description of a new genus, named Halotia gen. nov., which is related morphologically to the genera

Nostoc

, Mojavia and Desmonostoc. Within this new genus, three novel species were recognized and described based on morphology and internal transcribed spacer secondary structures: Halotia branconii sp. nov., Halotia longispora sp. nov. and Halotia wernerae sp. nov., under the provisions of the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi and Plants.
Novosphingobium marinum sp. nov., isolated from seawater
Authors: Huo Ying-Yi , You Hong , Li Zheng-Yang , Wang Chun-Sheng , Xu Xue-Wei
Published: November 2014

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, short rod-shaped bacterium, strain LA53T, was isolated from a deep-sea water sample collected from the eastern Pacific Ocean. Strain LA53T grew in the presence of 0–7.0 % (w/v) NaCl and at 15-37 °C; optimum growth was observed with 1.0–2.0 % (w/v) NaCl and at 35 °C. Chemotaxonomic analysis showed ubiquinone-10 as the predominant respiratory quinone, C18 : 1ω7c and summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c) as major fatty acids, and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and sphingoglycolipid as major polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 57.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strain LA53T belongs to the genus

Novosphingobium

. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain LA53T and the type strains of species of the genus

Novosphingobium

with validly published names ranged from 93.1 to 96.3 %. In addition, strain LA53T could be differentiated from

Novosphingobium pentaromativorans

DSM 17173T and

Novosphingobium indicum

DSM 23608T as well as the type strain of the type species of the genus,

Novosphingobium capsulatum

DSM 30196T, by some phenotypic characteristics, including hydrolysis of substrates, utilization of carbon sources and susceptibility to antibiotics. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic data, strain LA53T represents a novel species within the genus

Novosphingobium

, for which the name Novosphingobium
marinum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LA53T ( = CGMCC 1.12918T = JCM 30307T).
Spider web DNA: a new spin on noninvasive genetics of predator and prey
Authors: Xu Charles Cong Yang , Yen Ivy J , Bowman Dean , Turner Cameron R.
Published: November 2014

Noninvasive genetic approaches enable biomonitoring without the need to directly observe or disturb target organisms. Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods have recently extended this approach by assaying genetic material within bulk environmental samples without a priori knowledge about the presence of target biological material. This paper describes a novel and promising source of noninvasive spider DNA and insect eDNA from spider webs. Using black widow spiders (Latrodectus spp.) fed with house crickets (Acheta domesticus), we successfully extracted and amplified mitochondrial DNA sequences of both spider and prey from spider web. Detectability of spider DNA did not differ between assays with amplicon sizes from 135 to 497 base pairs. Spider DNA and prey eDNA remained detectable at least 88 days after living organisms were no longer present on the web. Spider web DNA may be an important tool in conservation research, pest management, biogeography studies, and biodiversity assessments.
Two Cytoplasmic Effectors of Phytophthora sojae Regulate Plant Cell Death via Interactions with Plant Catalases
Authors: Zhang Meixiang , Li Qi , Liu Tingli , Liu Li , Shen Danyu , Zhu Ye , Liu Peihan , Zhou Jian-Min , Dou Daolong
Published: November 2014

Plant pathogenic oomycetes, such as Phytophthora sojae, secrete an arsenal of host cytoplasmic effectors to promote infection. We have shown previously that P. sojae PsCRN63 (for crinkling- and necrosis-inducing proteins) induces programmed cell death (PCD) while PsCRN115 blocks PCD in planta; however, they are jointly required for full pathogenesis. Here, we find that PsCRN63 alone or PsCRN63 and PsCRN115 together might suppress the immune responses of Nicotiana benthamiana and demonstrate that these two cytoplasmic effectors interact with catalases from N. benthamiana and soybean (Glycine max). Transient expression of PsCRN63 increases hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation, whereas PsCRN115 suppresses this process. Transient overexpression of NbCAT1 (for N. benthamiana CATALASE1) or GmCAT1 specifically alleviates PsCRN63-induced PCD. Suppression of the PsCRN63-induced PCD by PsCRN115 is compromised when catalases are silenced in N. benthamiana. Interestingly, the NbCAT1 is recruited into the plant nucleus in the presence of PsCRN63 or PsCRN115; NbCAT1 and GmCAT1 are destabilized when PsCRN63 is coexpressed, and PsCRN115 inhibits the processes. Thus, PsCRN63/115 manipulates plant PCD through interfering with catalases and perturbing H2O2 homeostasis. Furthermore, silencing of catalase genes enhances susceptibility to Phytophthora capsici, indicating that catalases are essential for plant resistance. Taken together, we suggest that P. sojae secretes these two effectors to regulate plant PCD and H2O2 homeostasis through direct interaction with catalases and, therefore, overcome host immune responses.
Structure and effects of annealing in colloidal matrix-free Ge quantum dots
Authors: Zhang Yuanpeng , Karatutlu Ali , Ersoy Osman , Little William , Cibin Giannantonio , Dent Andy , Sapelkin Andrei
Published: November 2014

The structure of small (2–5 nm) Ge quantum dots prepared by the colloidal synthesis route is examined. Samples were synthesized using either GeO2or GeCl4as precursor. As-prepared samples were further annealed under Ar or H2/Ar atmosphere at different temperatures in order to understand the effect of annealing on their structure. It was found that as-prepared samples possess distinctly different structures depending on their synthesis route as indicated by their long-range ordering. An appreciable amount of oxygen was found to be bound to Ge in samples prepared with GeO2as a precursor; however, not for GeCl4. Based on combined transmission electron microscope, Raman, X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption measurements, it is suggested that as-prepared samples are best described by the core-shell model with a small nano-crystalline core and an amorphous outer layer terminated either with oxygen or hydrogen depending on the synthesis route. Annealing in an H2Ar atmosphere leads to sample crystallization and further nanoparticle growth, while at the same time reducing the Ge—O bonding. X-ray diffraction measurements for as-prepared and annealed samples indicate that diamond-type and metastable phases are present.
The pH dependence of Am(III) complexation with acetate: an EXAFS study
Authors: Fröhlich Daniel R. , Skerencak-Frech Andrej , Bauer Nicole , Rossberg André , Panak Petra J.
Published: November 2014

The complexation of acetate with Am(III) is studied as a function of the pH (1–6) by extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The molecular structure of the Am(III)–acetate complexes (coordination numbers, oxygen and carbon distances) is determined from the rawk3-weighted AmLIII-edge EXAFS spectra. The results show a continuous shift of Am(III) speciation with increasing pH value towards the complexed species. Furthermore, it is verified that acetate coordinates in a bidentate coordination mode to Am(III) (Am—C distance: 2.82 ± 0.03 Å). The EXAFS data are analyzed by iterative transformation factor analysis to further verify the chemical speciation, which is calculated on the basis of thermodynamic constants, and the used structural model. The experimental results are in very good agreement with the thermodynamic modelling.
Ethical leadership and Ba Ling: a survey on the perception of accounting interns in CPA firms
Authors: Liu Guangyou , Wang Xiaohui
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the relationship between ethical leadership and Ba Ling (霸凌) perceived by Certified Public Accounting (CPA) interns, and the influence of gender factor of leaders and followers on the relation. Moreover, Workplace Ba-Ling (职场霸凌, a derivation of workplace bullying) as a new conceptual idea, specifically extracted from Chinese context, is first taken into consideration.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research is based on the questionnaire responses of accounting interns enrolled in a university-CPA firms cooperative education programs, and the classical Ethical Leadership Scale and Negative Acts Questionnaire were applied in the survey to get empirical results.

Findings

– The empirical results reveal the fact that ethical leadership of the audit project teams is negatively related to workplace bullying perceived by the accounting interns working in the CPA firms. No significant impacts were found of the gender factor on workplace bullying and ethical leadership; however, the further breakdown of the gender factor into the four dimensions of the leader – follower gender differences lead to the significant difference of ethical leadership among the four redefined gender difference groups. The ranking order in terms of ethical leadership further proves that female leaders tend to show higher ethicality than male ones.

Research limitations/implications

– As public accounting industry has acted an important role throughout the drastic Chinese economic growth of more than three recent decades, this paper provides knowledge of the gender-differentiated relationship between ethical leadership and workplace bullying, which implies serious concerns to be given in the varied business and workplace contexts in China and other emerging economies.

Originality/value

– There has been an increasing literature trend discussing workplace bully in Western business studies; however, rarely has existing literature addresses this kind of issue in the emerging economies like China, where workplace ethics has become a commonly criticized concern with the fast economic growth in recent decades. Additionally, this paper proposes the new Chinese term of Ba Ling corresponding with the Western workplace bullying.
The Transnet pipeline case study
Authors: Maroun Warren , Garnett Robert
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Financial reporting.

Study level/applicability

Postgraduate (honours and masters in financial reporting).

Case overview

Transnet is the utility company responsible for, inter alia, the operation, construction and management of South Africa's fuel pipeline infrastructure. The company is wholly owned by the South African Government and prepares its financial statements in compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). One of Transnet's capital projects involves the construction of an upgraded multi-fuel pipeline. The expected costs of construction ballooned from ZAR12.6 billion (approximately USD120 million) to ZAR24 billion (approximately USD240 million) over a five-year period. This has raised questions about the prudential management of the company's capital projects and the basis on which the government subsidises Transnet's capital costs. The significant increase in project costs also begs the question: how should the cost of the self-constructed pipeline be accounted for in Transnet's annual financial statements?

Expected learning outcomes

Describe and explain the qualitative characteristics of useful information in terms of the Conceptual Framework (2010) and summarise the framework's key principles. Evaluate these principles, drawing connections between them and the relevant academic theory (as per the prescribed readings), with specific reference to the accounting for self-constructed plant and equipment.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 1: Accounting and Finance
Socio-business responsibility in the Gulf Arab states: the case of the Pearl Initiative
Authors: Kemp Linzi J. , Dunlop Imelda
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Leadership, international business, financial reporting, entrepreneurship

Study level/applicability

The case study is aimed at undergraduate students at a 300 level.

Case overview

Mr Badr Jafar, co-founder of the Pearl Initiative (PI), is the chief protagonist in this case study set in the Gulf Arab states. He launched this company at the United Nations in September 2010, and the launch was timely, as business leaders were looking to rebuild the global economy following the economic downturn. The Initiative was originally the idea of a number of leading company owners in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The company vision is to improve business practices for the benefit of business and society in the future, but the context is one of a highly competitive and secretive business environment. The mission of the PI is to improve private sector corporate culture to one of transparency and accountability. The PI approaches that mission through building a network of business leaders in the GCC, particularly those from the family-owned companies in the private sector. A biography of the founder and the background to the founding of the PI is given, followed by a rationale of the company structure. The potential influence of the network of companies and leaders on the socio-business climate is considered. The specific activities are outlined within the strategy of the PI to address four key business areas: anti-bribery and corruption; corporate governance; corporate reporting; and women in leadership The PI focuses on raising awareness about the potential benefits of social entrepreneurship for business and society. To what extent this relatively new model of business can be successful in the context of the GCC is a case dilemma. Key issues: There are two main issues raised in the case study: the rationale for the relatively new business model of social entrepreneurship and the extent to which PI can modify the past and current GCC business environment by addressing the four business areas.

Expected learning outcomes

Students will be able to: analyze the business case for social entrepreneurship and explain the contribution of PI activities for changing the business environment.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
CASEN survey: statistical and methodological misleads in key public policy in Chile
Authors: Galasso Flavio , Farías Pablo
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Discussing statistical error and research design problems and the organizational implications of delivering “good news” at all cost.

Study level/applicability

This case can be used on basic courses of Public Policy, Marketing Research and Quantitative Methods.

Case overview

MIDEPLAN on July 2012 showed the results of the CASEN (Caracterización Socio-Económica or Socio-Economical Characterization) survey of 2011. The results showed that poverty was lowered by 0.6 per cent and was greatly highlighted by the media. Opposition coalition and academics started to ask questions about statistical error, which was not yet known. It was revealed that the government asked Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), a public organization dependent on the United Nations (UN) that was helping Chile to manage the CASEN survey, to review the results and incorporate a variable “y11,” but academics questioned it due to comparability reasons. The statistical error was revealed and it was 0.8 per cent. On October 2012, CEPAL decided to stop helping Chilean institutions.

Expected learning outcomes

The key analysis and conclusions which should arise as a result of teaching this case are: The relevance of the statistical error as a key component of research to evaluate data; the importance of fully implementing research design and accuracy of every step to reach valid results; analyze and discuss organizational implications of delivering “good news” at all cost.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email pfarias@unegocios.cl to request teaching notes.