bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Highly tunable spin-dependent electron transport through carbon atomic chains connecting two zigzag graphene nanoribbons
Authors: Xu Yuehua , Wang Bao-Ji , Ke San-Huang , Yang Weitao , Alzahrani A. Z.
Published: September 2012

Motivated by recent experiments of successfully carving out stable carbon atomic chains from graphene, we investigate a device structure of a carbon chain connecting two zigzag graphene nanoribbons with highly tunable spin-dependent transport properties. Our calculation based on the non-equilibrium Green's function approach combined with the density functional theory shows that the transport behavior is sensitive to the spin configuration of the leads and the bridge position in the gap. A bridge in the middle gives an overall good coupling except for around the Fermi energy where the leads with anti-parallel spins create a small transport gap, while the leads with parallel spins give a finite density of states and induce an even-odd oscillation in conductance in terms of the number of atoms in the carbon chain. On the other hand, a bridge at the edge shows a transport behavior associated with the spin-polarized edge states, presenting sharp pure α-spin and β-spin peaks beside the Fermi energy in the transmission function. This makes it possible to realize on-chip interconnects or spintronic devices by tuning the spin state of the leads and the bridge position.
Ion dynamics at supercritical quasi-parallel shocks: Hybrid simulations
Authors: Su Yanqing , Lu Quanming , Gao Xinliang , Huang Can , Wang Shui
Published: September 2012

By separating the incident ions into directly transmitted, downstream thermalized, and diffuse ions, we perform one-dimensional (1D) hybrid simulations to investigate ion dynamics at a supercritical quasi-parallel shock. In the simulations, the angle between the upstream magnetic field and shock nominal direction is θBn=30°, and the Alfven Mach number is MA∼5.5. The shock exhibits a periodic reformation process. The ion reflection occurs at the beginning of the reformation cycle. Part of the reflected ions is trapped between the old and new shock fronts for an extended time period. These particles eventually form superthermal diffuse ions after they escape to the upstream of the new shock front at the end of the reformation cycle. The other reflected ions may return to the shock immediately or be trapped between the old and new shock fronts for a short time period. When the amplitude of the new shock front exceeds that of the old shock front and the reformation cycle is finished, these ions become thermalized ions in the downstream. No noticeable heating can be found in the directly transmitted ions. The relevance of our simulations to the satellite observations is also discussed in the paper.
Magnetization dynamics and ferromagnetic resonance behavior of melt spun FeBSiGe amorphous alloys
Authors: Estévez D. C. , Betancourt I. , Montiel H.
Published: September 2012

Frequency-dependent magnetic properties of melt spun Fe80B10Si10-xGex (x = 0.0–10.0) were studied by means of inductance spectroscopy (using the complex permeability formalism) and ferromagnetic resonance techniques. The magnetization dynamics showed two magnetization mechanisms, reversible bulging of domains and hysteresis. The dominant mechanism changed as Ge progressively replaced Si; the changes reflect the crystallization processes observed for higher Ge contents, x > 5. High relaxation frequencies (above 1 MHz) were observed for alloys with x ≥ 2.5. In the ferromagnetic resonance response, coupling and decoupling between the amorphous and crystalline phases were detected depending on the orientation of the alloy samples. This allowed the calculation of the anisotropy fields of the alloys—the decreasing trend with increasing Ge content was interpreted in terms of a variable easy direction.
Nano-hillock formation in diamond-like carbon induced by swift heavy projectiles in the electronic stopping regime: Experiments and atomistic simulations
Authors: Schwen D. , Bringa E. , Krauser J. , Weidinger A. , Trautmann C. , Hofsäss H.
Published: September 2012

The formation of surface hillocks in diamond-like carbon is studied experimentally and by means of large-scale molecular dynamics simulations with 5 × 106 atoms combined with a thermal spike model. The irradiation experiments with swift heavy ions cover a large electronic stopping range between ∼12 and 72 keV/nm. Both experiments and simulations show that beyond a stopping power threshold, the hillock height increases linearly with the electronic stopping, and agree extremely well assuming an efficiency of approximately 20% in the transfer of electronic energy to the lattice. The simulations also show a transition of sp3 to sp2 bonding along the tracks with the hillocks containing almost no sp3 contribution.
Development of a dielectric barrier discharge enhanced plasma jet in atmospheric pressure air
Authors: Li Xuechen , Chang Yuanyuan , Jia Pengying , Xu Longfei , Fang Tongzhen , Wang Long
Published: September 2012

A plasma jet equipped with dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is developed to generate diffuse air plasma with fairly large gap and cross sectional area. The diffuse air plasma has two discharge modes under different gap widths from the nozzle to the ground plate electrode. For large gap width, a diffuse plume fills the whole space between the nozzle and the plate electrode after coaxial DBD is ignited when the applied voltage reaches a certain value. Rather than diffuse plasma plume, a bright plasma column bridges the nozzle and the plate electrode with further increasing the applied voltage under small gap width. By optical and electrical measurement, results show that the macroscopically diffuse discharge in air is obtained by the superimposition of radially distributed streamers that appear at different cycles of the applied voltage, and the bright plasma column belongs to atmospheric pressure glow discharge. The molecular vibrational temperature and the gas temperature are given as functions of the peak value of the applied voltage.
Enhanced recovery of light-induced degradation on the micromorph solar cells by electric field
Authors: Sun H.-C. , Yang Y.-J. , Chen J. Y. , Chao T.-M. , Liu C. W. , Lin W.-Y. , Bi C.-C. , Yeh C.-H.
Published: September 2012

The recovery of light-induced degradation of the tandem micromorph solar cell by applying reverse bias is compared with the single-junction amorphous silicon solar cell. The illuminated current density-voltage characteristics and external quantum efficiency show that the degradation of both the micromorph and the amorphous silicon cells can be recovered by applying sufficient reverse bias. The micromorph cell was recovered at smaller reverse bias than amorphous silicon cell. The abundant H in the microcrystalline silicon bottom cell of the micromorph cell can act as a reservoir to repair the defects in the amorphous silicon top cell at the reverse bias. This is responsible for small recovery bias of tandem cells.
Do Incomers Pay More for Rural Housing?
Authors: Liu Nan , Roberts Deborah
Published: September 2012

The paper explores whether incomers pay a price premium for rural housing and, if so, whether it varies according to the origin of the buyer. Empirical analysis focuses on Aberdeenshire, Scotland, distinguishing between housing in the accessible and remote rural locations within the region. Buyers originating from Aberdeen city are found to pay more than locals in accessible rural housing markets, with the price premium highest in the high-quality housing-market segment. There is, however, no evidence that a price premium is paid by in-migrants from more distant locations. In contrast, consistent with information asymmetry and higher search costs, buyers from the rest of the UK are found to pay significantly more for high-quality properties in the remote rural area. From a methodological perspective the findings support the use of multilevel models which allow for unobserved neighbourhood effects.
Wildfire ignition-distribution modelling: a comparative study in the Huron–Manistee National Forest, Michigan, USA
Authors: Bar Massada Avi , Syphard Alexandra D. , Stewart Susan I. , Radeloff Volker C.
Published: September 2012

Wildfire ignition distribution models are powerful tools for predicting the probability of ignitions across broad areas, and identifying their drivers. Several approaches have been used for ignition-distribution modelling, yet the performance of different model types has not been compared. This is unfortunate, given that conceptually similar species-distribution models exhibit pronounced differences among model types. Therefore, our goal was to compare the predictive performance, variable importance and the spatial patterns of predicted ignition-probabilities of three ignition-distribution model types: one parametric, statistical model (Generalised Linear Models, GLM) and two machine-learning algorithms (Random Forests and Maximum Entropy, Maxent). We parameterised the models using 16 years of ignitions data and environmental data for the Huron–Manistee National Forest in Michigan, USA. Random Forests and Maxent had slightly better prediction accuracies than did GLM, but model fit was similar for all three. Variables related to human population and development were the best predictors of wildfire ignition locations in all models (although variable rankings differed slightly), along with elevation. However, despite similar model performance and variables, the map of ignition probabilities generated by Maxent was markedly different from those of the two other models. We thus suggest that when accurate predictions are desired, the outcomes of different model types should be compared, or alternatively combined, to produce ensemble predictions.
Physical manipulation of the
Escherichia coli
chromosome reveals its soft nature
Authors: Pelletier James , Halvorsen Ken , Ha Bae-Yeun , Paparcone Raffaella , Sandler Steven J. , Woldringh Conrad L. , Wong Wesley P. , Jun Suckjoon
Published: September 2012

Replicating bacterial chromosomes continuously demix from each other and segregate within a compact volume inside the cell called the nucleoid. Although many proteins involved in this process have been identified, the nature of the global forces that shape and segregate the chromosomes has remained unclear because of limited knowledge of the micromechanical properties of the chromosome. In this work, we demonstrate experimentally the fundamentally soft nature of the bacterial chromosome and the entropic forces that can compact it in a crowded intracellular environment. We developed a unique “micropiston” and measured the force-compression behavior of single
Escherichia coli
chromosomes in confinement. Our data show that forces on the order of 100 pN and free energies on the order of 10
5
 
k
B
T
are sufficient to compress the chromosome to its in vivo size. For comparison, the pressure required to hold the chromosome at this size is a thousand-fold smaller than the surrounding turgor pressure inside the cell. Furthermore, by manipulation of molecular crowding conditions (entropic forces), we were able to observe in real time fast (approximately 10 s), abrupt, reversible, and repeatable compaction–decompaction cycles of individual chromosomes in confinement. In contrast, we observed much slower dissociation kinetics of a histone-like protein HU from the whole chromosome during its in vivo to in vitro transition. These results for the first time provide quantitative, experimental support for a physical model in which the bacterial chromosome behaves as a loaded entropic spring in vivo.
Uniform homeomorphisms of Banach spaces and asymptotic structure
Authors: Kalton N.
Published: September 2012

We give a general result on the behavior of spreading models in Banach spaces which coarse Lipschitz-embed into asymptotically uniformly convex spaces. We use this result to study the uniqueness of the uniform structure in

ℓ
p

\ell _p

-sums of finite-dimensional spaces for

1
>
p
>
∞

1>p>\infty

; in particular we give some new examples of spaces with unique uniform structure.
Extra-binomial variation approach for analysis of pooled DNA sequencing data
Authors: Yang Xin , Todd John A. , Clayton David , Wallace Chris
Published: September 2012

Motivation: The invention of next-generation sequencing technology has made it possible to study the rare variants that are more likely to pinpoint causal disease genes. To make such experiments financially viable, DNA samples from several subjects are often pooled before sequencing. This induces large between-pool variation which, together with other sources of experimental error, creates over-dispersed data. Statistical analysis of pooled sequencing data needs to appropriately model this additional variance to avoid inflating the false-positive rate.

Results: We propose a new statistical method based on an extra-binomial model to address the over-dispersion and apply it to pooled case-control data. We demonstrate that our model provides a better fit to the data than either a standard binomial model or a traditional extra-binomial model proposed by Williams and can analyse both rare and common variants with lower or more variable pool depths compared to the other methods.

Availability: Package ‘extraBinomial’ is on http://cran.r-project.org/

Contact: chris.wallace@cimr.cam.ac.uk

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Online.
Impaired coenzyme A synthesis in fission yeast causes defective mitosis, quiescence-exit failure, histone hypoacetylation and fragile DNA
Authors: Nakamura Takahiro , Pluskal Tomáš , Nakaseko Yukinobu , Yanagida Mitsuhiro
Published: September 2012

Biosynthesis of coenzyme A (CoA) requires a five-step process using pantothenate and cysteine in the fission yeastSchizosaccharomyces pombe. CoA contains a thiol (SH) group, which reacts with carboxylic acid to form thioesters, giving rise to acyl-activated CoAs such as acetyl-CoA. Acetyl-CoA is essential for energy metabolism and protein acetylation, and, in higher eukaryotes, for the production of neurotransmitters. We isolated a novelS. pombetemperature-sensitive strainppc1-537mutated in the catalytic region of phosphopantothenoylcysteine synthetase (designated Ppc1), which is essential for CoA synthesis. The mutant becomes auxotrophic to pantothenate at permissive temperature, displaying greatly decreased levels of CoA, acetyl-CoA and histone acetylation. Moreover,ppc1-537mutant cells failed to restore proliferation from quiescence. Ppc1 is thus the product of a super-housekeeping gene. Theppc1-537mutant showed combined synthetic lethal defects with five of six histone deacetylase mutants, whereassir2deletion exceptionally rescued theppc1-537phenotype. In synchronous cultures,ppc1-537cells can proceed to the S phase, but lose viability during mitosis failing in sister centromere/kinetochore segregation and nuclear division. Additionally, double-strand break repair is defective in theppc1-537mutant, producing fragile broken DNA, probably owing to diminished histone acetylation. The CoA-supported metabolism thus controls the state of chromosome DNA.
Methylopila musalis sp. nov., an aerobic, facultatively methylotrophic bacterium isolated from banana fruit
Authors: Doronina Nina V. , Kaparullina Elena N. , Bykova Tatjana V. , Trotsenko Yuri A.
Published: September 2012

A newly isolated, facultatively methylotrophic bacterium (strain MUSAT) was investigated. The isolate was strictly aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, asporogenous, motile, rod-shaped and multiplied by binary fission. The strain utilized methanol, methylamine and an apparently narrow range of multi-carbon compounds, but not methane, dichloromethane or CO2/H2, as the carbon and energy sources. Growth occurred at pH 5.5–9.5 (optimum, pH 7.0) and 16–40 °C (optimum, 28–30 °C). The major fatty acids of methanol-grown cells were C18 : 1ω7c, C18 : 0and 11-methyl-C18 : 1ω7c. The predominant phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine. The major ubiquinone was Q-10. The strain had methanol and methylamine dehydrogenases as well as the enzymes of theN-methylglutamate pathway (lyases of γ-glutamylmethylamide andN-methylglutamate). C1assimilation occurs via the isocitrate lyase-negative serine pathway. Ammonium was assimilated by glutamate dehydrogenase and the glutamate cycle (glutamate synthase/glutamine synthetase). The DNA G+C content of the strain was 64.5 mol% (determined from the melting temperature). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (97.0–98.9 %) and DNA–DNA relatedness (36–38 %) with representatives of the genusMethylopila(Methylopila capsulataIM1TandMethylopila jiangsuensisJZL-4T) the isolate was classified as a novel species of the genusMethylopila, for which the nameMethylopila musalissp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MUSAT( = VKM B-2646T = DSM 24986T = CCUG 61696T).
Novel polyomaviruses in South American bats and their relationship to other members of the family Polyomaviridae
Authors: Fagrouch Zahra , Sarwari Roya , Lavergne Anne , Delaval Marguerite , de Thoisy Benoît , Lacoste Vincent , Verschoor Ernst J.
Published: September 2012

Bats are the natural reservoir of a variety of viruses, including a polyomavirus (PyV) from a North American brown bat. We investigated 163 spleen samples from 22 bat species from French Guiana for the presence of PyVs. In total, we detected 25 PyV-positive animals belonging to nine different bat species. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the genomes of eight representative PyVs, and showed that the bat PyVs form three distinct lineages within the genusOrthopolyomavirusand are genetically different from the previously described North American bat virus. Interestingly, two lineages cluster with PyVs found in chimpanzees, orangutans and gorillas. In addition, one group of bat PyVs is genetically related to the human Merkel cell polyomavirus.
Predictive Modeling of Biomass Component Tradeoffs in Brassica napus Developing Oilseeds Based on in Silico Manipulation of Storage Metabolism
Authors: Schwender Jörg , Hay Jordan O.
Published: September 2012

Seed oil content is a key agronomical trait, while the control of carbon allocation into different seed storage compounds is still poorly understood and hard to manipulate. Using bna572, a large-scale model of cellular metabolism in developing embryos of rapeseed (Brassica napus) oilseeds, we present an in silico approach for the analysis of carbon allocation into seed storage products. Optimal metabolic flux states were obtained by flux variability analysis based on minimization of the uptakes of substrates in the natural environment of the embryo. For a typical embryo biomass composition, flux sensitivities to changes in different storage components were derived. Upper and lower flux bounds of each reaction were categorized as oil or protein responsive. Among the most oil-responsive reactions were glycolytic reactions, while reactions related to mitochondrial ATP production were most protein responsive. To assess different biomass compositions, a tradeoff between the fractions of oil and protein was simulated. Based on flux-bound discontinuities and shadow prices along the tradeoff, three main metabolic phases with distinct pathway usage were identified. Transitions between the phases can be related to changing modes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, reorganizing the usage of organic carbon and nitrogen sources for protein synthesis and acetyl-coenzyme A for cytosol-localized fatty acid elongation. The phase close to equal oil and protein fractions included an unexpected pathway bypassing α-ketoglutarate-oxidizing steps in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The in vivo relevance of the findings is discussed based on literature on seed storage metabolism.
Targeted Systems Biology Profiling of Tomato Fruit Reveals Coordination of the Yang Cycle and a Distinct Regulation of Ethylene Biosynthesis during Postclimacteric Ripening
Authors: Van de Poel Bram , Bulens Inge , Markoula Aikaterina , Hertog Maarten L.A.T.M. , Dreesen Rozemarijn , Wirtz Markus , Vandoninck Sandy , Oppermann Yasmin , Keulemans Johan , Hell Ruediger , Waelkens Etienne , De Proft Maurice P. , Sauter Margret , Nicolai Bart M. , Geeraerd Annemie H.
Published: September 2012

The concept of system 1 and system 2 ethylene biosynthesis during climacteric fruit ripening was initially described four decades ago. Although much is known about fruit development and climacteric ripening, little information is available about how ethylene biosynthesis is regulated during the postclimacteric phase. A targeted systems biology approach revealed a novel regulatory mechanism of ethylene biosynthesis of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) when fruit have reached their maximal ethylene production level and which is characterized by a decline in ethylene biosynthesis. Ethylene production is shut down at the level of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase. At the same time, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase activity increases. Analysis of the Yang cycle showed that the Yang cycle genes are regulated in a coordinated way and are highly expressed during postclimacteric ripening. Postclimacteric red tomatoes on the plant showed only a moderate regulation of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase and Yang cycle genes compared with the regulation in detached fruit. Treatment of red fruit with 1-methylcyclopropane and ethephon revealed that the shut-down mechanism in ethylene biosynthesis is developmentally programmed and only moderately ethylene sensitive. We propose that the termination of autocatalytic ethylene biosynthesis of system 2 in ripe fruit delays senescence and preserves the fruit until seed dispersal.
Pursuing justice: workplace relations in the eyes of Jewish tradition
Authors: Kay Avi
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how traditional Jewish sources view workplace relations, with particular attention to how those sources may aid individuals to best meet the challenges of the contemporary organizational world.

Design/methodology/approach

This work examines the desired nature of employer‐employee relations via an examination of pertinent Jewish sources from a variety of time‐periods and locations.

Findings

Traditional Jewish sources address a wide array of topics associated with the respective obligations and rights of employers and employees at the workplace. These sources allow for an additional way to meet the challenges of a workplace plagued by the lack of trust and common purpose often associated with the contemporary business organization.

Practical implications

The paper provides a conceptual framework through which to understand workplace relations. It presents and explicates various aspects of employer and employee responsibilities, while suggesting possible means by which business leaders can best organize and maintain workplace relations.

Originality/value

There currently exists both an increasing interest in spirituality at the workplace and the acknowledgement that traditional sources may provide important insights into the challenges of contemporary organizations and those who lead them. The paper is the first piece of research addressing how traditional Jewish wisdom can be leveraged to advance on of the most vexing problems in contemporary organizations: the advancement of mutual trust between employer and employee.
Mosaic leadership: charisma and bureaucracy in Exodus 18
Authors: Gottlieb Eli
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relations between charisma and bureaucracy, as presented in rabbinic commentaries on Exodus 18 and Max Weber's Economics and Society. It aims to show that approaches developed in these texts have important practical implications for contemporary managers and leadership development professionals.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is an interpretive study. It uses textual analysis to compare and contrast the dynamics of leadership portrayed in each document.

Findings

Like Weber, the Torah treats charisma and bureaucracy as mutually antagonistic forces that co‐exist in dynamic interaction. However, where Weber's account is descriptive, the Torah's is prescriptive, advocating forms of leadership that deliberately combine bureaucracy and charisma.

Research limitations/implications

The paper's goal is not to review contemporary literature on charismatic versus bureaucratic leadership. Instead, it seeks to investigate approaches to leadership implicit in two “classics” of very different kinds. As such, the approaches explored here are just two among many other possible approaches. The interpretative method developed here could be used in future studies to examine approaches to leadership implicit not only in Jewish and sociological texts but also in other genres and “wisdom” literatures.

Practical implications

The paper presents three practical implications for contemporary leadership development.

Originality/value

The paper presents a novel perspective on leadership – Mosaic leadership – that highlights the multifaceted and dynamic nature of leadership development. In addition, it shows that management wisdom from the Jewish tradition can be meaningfully compared with ideas developed in other traditions – including the tradition of contemporary management studies.
Who is engaging with whom? Internationalizing opportunities for business schools in emerging economies
Authors: Lynne Bevelander Dianne
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the globalization of Business Schools and present different strategies, issues and perspectives on how and why business schools are going global. The paper explores various models for globalization, contrasts and integrates them, and then presents an approach to globalization that is within the reach of these smaller and less endowed schools.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews relevant literature and an analysis of exchange programs amongst the world's leading business schools. Different aspects of the globalization of management education are discussed including internationalizing the curriculum, globalizing research agendas, and the impact of globalized competition.

Findings

A framework has been developed that can be employed by business schools – especially in emerging economies – to internationalize themselves through their education and research programs. Recommendations are made for how business schools with limited resources can meet the challenge of offering the internationally‐oriented education experience increasingly demanded by employers and students alike.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations to this paper result from the use of Financial Times top 100 ranked business schools. Aside from weaknesses inherent the rankings methodology, the choice of these business schools excluded hundreds of high quality business schools around the world – many of which are internationally recognized for quality. Furthermore, the methodology of the scanning of web sites of schools for types of collaboration agreements across borders might not give the full picture of agreements betweens schools.

Originality/value

Although a considerable amount has been written about the globalization imperative facing business schools (with many illustrations of what could be considered best practice), there is a significant lack of information when it comes to the articulation of strategies and implementation challenges facing smaller and less well endowed business schools that want to globalize.
Resolving a difference between cognitive therapy and rational emotive behaviour therapy: towards the development of an integrated CBT model of psychopathology
Authors: Hyland Philip , Boduszek Daniel
Published: September 2012

Purpose

– The field of cognitive-behavioural therapy contains many different theoretical models of psychopathology, with each discipline ascribing greater emphasis to a particular cognitive process or organisation of beliefs. This paper seeks to propose a method of integrating the two most widely practiced and researched schools of CBT; Beck ' s cognitive therapy (CT) and Ellis ' s rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT).

Design/methodology/approach

– Although there exist a large degree of similarity between the two therapeutic approaches, the two models do differ in relation to their respective hypothesises regarding the core psychological variable in psychopathology. Cognitive theory hypothesises that negative representational beliefs are of central importance whereas rational emotive behaviour theory hypothesises that negative evaluative demands lie at the core of psychological disturbance. This paper evaluates these competing predictions on the basis of the available empirical literature.

Results

– The empirical literature provides greater support for the organisation and interrelations of the irrational beliefs proposed by REBT theory over CT theory, however the research data clearly indicate the importance of the cognitive variables stressed by CT theory in the pathogenesis of psychological distress. Based on the available evidence an integrated CBT model which incorporates elements of both CT and REBT theory is presented. It is proposed that this integrated model can serve as the stepping-stone toward a larger, single, coherent CBT model of psychopathology.

Research limitations/implications

– Few empirical studies have directly compared the competing predictions of CT and REBT theory. If future research supports the findings presented in this paper, the proposed model can serve as a template for the development of a unified, general-CBT theory of psychopathology.

Practical implications

– The integrated model presented in this paper can serve as a guiding theoretical model for therapeutic practice which takes into account therapeutic methods from both CT and REBT.

Originality/value

– This paper proposes the first theoretical model which incorporates the competing theoretical conceptualizations of psychological distress from the two main schools of CBT.
Conceptualizing social presence awareness in e‐collaboration of postgraduate students
Authors: Relebogile Seaba Tshinakaho , Mompoloki Kekwaletswe Raymond
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue that an e‐collaboration environment, driven by awareness of social presence, may provide the just‐in‐time learning support needed by postgraduate students. The academic challenges faced by students may be alleviated if a correct electronic platform is provided for them to be able to consult with each other or their instructors, regardless of time or their locations. Thus, the paper conceptualises how awareness of social presence may help address the challenges by facilitating e‐collaboration of postgraduate students.

Design/methodology/approach

The interpretive paradigm was followed in the study, where a university of technology, located in the city of Pretoria, South Africa, was used as a case study. Selective sampling, specifically purposive sampling was then used to select participants. This kind of sampling is suitable for qualitative case studies and focuses on sample selection based on relevance to the context and problem.

Findings

The limited and inconsistent learning support hinders a smooth learning experience, often leading to delayed or incomplete learning tasks, including research works. The alternative for students is then to seek support from knowledgeable peers, who are often dispersed in varied geographical locations. Thus, it is important that the framework for e‐collaboration amongst postgraduate students be developed cognizant of the social presence awareness indicators that would help students to establish sense of togetherness during e‐collaboration.

Originality/value

Social presence and e‐collaboration literature inadequately addresses both, with respect to graduate candidates. This paper looks at how awareness of social presence and context effects e‐collaboration.
Emerging economies and multinational corporations
Authors: Singh Deeksha
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to analyze the impact of the rise of emerging economies and emerging economy firms on multinational corporations (MNCs) with respect to four important strategic decisions for MNCs' foreign investment – control and coordination strategies, geographic and product markets of entry, timing of entry, and organizational design for foreign subsidiaries.

Design/methodology/approach

The author utilizes an integration of institutional perspective with the existing explanations of MNC activities, to support their arguments about the impact of the rise of emerging economies on MNCs' strategy and structure decisions. The author presents propositions linking the type of external governance structure in the emerging economy's institutional environment (rule based or relationship based) with the strategy and structure decisions for MNCs.

Findings

The paper proposes that MNCs will follow different control and coordination strategies, geographic and product market strategies, entry timing strategies and organizational design strategies depending on whether the target emerging economy's institutional environment is characterized by a rule based or a relationship based governance structure.

Originality/value

Increasing globalization and rapid rise of emerging economies and emerging economy firms has not only opened up many opportunities for MNCs, but also raised many challenges. Extant literature has, however, not paid enough attention to how MNCs can best make use of the opportunities available in emerging markets, while taking care of the associated challenges. This paper is unique in providing a holistic framework pertaining to important strategic decisions that MNCs have to make, with specific reference to emerging markets.
Evaluating the effectiveness of service user and carer involvement in post qualifying mental health social work education in Scotland: challenges and opportunities
Authors: McCusker Pearse , MacIntyre Gillian , Stewart Ailsa , Jackson Jackie
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of user and carer involvement in a new one‐year postgraduate certificate course for Mental Health Officers (MHOs) in Scotland, covering the first year of its delivery (2009‐2010).

Design/methodology/approach

This was explored in two ways: first, by assessing the level of user and carer involvement against a modified framework; and second, by measuring students' confidence in working with people with mental health issues over the duration of the course, and through interviews with students and service users and documentary analysis.

Findings

The findings indicate user and carer “influence” and “partnership” over the design and delivery of the learning, teaching and assessment strategy, but no degree of “control” over any aspect of the course. Teaching provided by users and carers was associated with marked improvement in students' confidence in engaging with and upholding the rights of users and carers in the context of the MHO role. Students reported increased awareness of the lived reality of compulsory treatment. Users reported benefits from feeling they had helped facilitate future good practice.

Research limitations/implications

The research design does not allow for causal links to be made between increases in student confidence and user and carer involvement.

Practical implications

The study identified substantial barriers to effective user and carer involvement but confirmed its potential as a positive change agent for post‐qualifying social work education.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the evidence base by demonstrating the value of service user and carer involvement in post qualifying social work education.
Student engagement, practice architectures and phronesis in the student transitions and experiences project
Authors: Taylor Carol
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the Student Transitions and Experiences (STEP) project, in which visual and creative research methodologies were used to enhance student engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

The article provides an overview of three main strands within the field of student engagement practice, and explores the STEP project as an instance of the “critical‐transformative” strand. The article draws on recent theorizations by Kemmis et al. of practice architectures and ecologies of practice to propose an understanding of the STEP project as a practice “niche”.

Findings

In thinking through some implications of student engagement as a practice architecture, the article sheds analytical light on student engagement as a specific and complex form of contemporary education practice. The later part of the article focuses on a consideration of phronesis and praxis in specific instances from the STEP project. Working with concepts from Barad, the article develops a conceptualization of the STEP project as an intra‐active, entangled situated and particularistic practice of phronesis‐praxis.

Originality/value

This article aims to contribute to the development of theoretical and empirical understandings of the field of student engagement. It does so by providing insights into a recent empirical study; by developing some new theorisations of student engagement; and by a detailed exploration of specific instances of student engagement practice.
Exploring student understandings of belonging on campus
Authors: Lefever Ruth
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to build upon existing literature regarding student engagement by exploring belonging on campus as an aspect of this. It examines how students understand, experience and articulate belonging at the university wide level and aims to incorporate the student perspective and voice into discussions on engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

The exploratory research employed a mixed method, but largely qualitative approach, to examine the understandings, experiences and perspectives that people hold and make use of. An online questionnaire (using open and closed questions), several snap‐shot interviews and seven in‐depth semi‐structured interviews were used to establish the central issues via thematic analysis.

Findings

A number of key themes are presented in relation to how and why students felt they belonged, and indeed why some students felt that they did not belong, were not included or even excluded. The findings revealed that the campus is a factor worthy of attention when considering student engagement, that students do have a sense of belonging that is related to this and that there could be implications for engagement and even retention for those whose sense of belonging or inclusion is questioned or compromised.

Practical implications

It also raises practical implications for institutions in terms of how to organise and develop campus space and activity to help foster belonging and community. Suggesting that it would be beneficial to consider access to participation and involvement through campus spaces and opportunities in order to enhance engagement and feelings of inclusion and belonging.

Originality/value

This paper offers further insight into student engagement by considering belonging beyond classroom interactions, via the wider campus and at university level.
Student engagement as transformation
Authors: Wright Alison , Angelini Marco
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of student engagement in UCL’s Transition Mentoring scheme upon the individuals who take the role of mentor.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used data gathered from questionnaire responses from four cohorts of mentors from 2008‐2011.

Findings

The findings suggest that by assuming the role of mentor, students experience a development in their ability to critically reflect on their skills, knowledge and approaches to learning. From this increased awareness of their learning conceptions, and critical evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses, mentors actively develop new methods to accelerate their academic and personal development. In this way, the act of mentoring other students seems to enable the mentors to develop a more critical learner self‐concept. Through this process, many mentors experience a transformation from the learner they were before they took the mentoring role.

Originality/value

This paper explores the role peer learning plays in the development of students’ learning conceptions and is of value to researchers and practitioners with an interest in student engagement and the development of learner identities.
Afro‐Caribbean Societies
Authors: Adams Nessa
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the suggestion that students from disadvantaged backgrounds become segregated from the wider university environment, cutting off their ability of engagement and having a voice within this arena. The limitations of university Student Unions is discussed, in terms of how they are disengaged themselves with understanding and relating to these independently run cultural groups.

Design/methodology/approach

The study has been carried out by a series of interviews within three university Afro‐Caribbean Societies (ACS's). The purpose of this is to create an internal view of the experiences of these groups and examine how being cut off from the wider university experience adds to their losses in equal student participation and engagement.

Findings

Although these societies embrace positive images within their cultures, the findings of this study suggests ways these societies can begin to integrate with their wider university societies and encourage engagement, in order to give their voices a platform in both academic and social arenas.

Originality/value

The study becomes an original contribution to existing literature by taking into account cultural groups which have not been acknowledged as already being segregated from the university experience.
How do high‐performing organizations define their mission in Ghana?
Authors: Phanuel Kofi Darbi William
Published: September 2012

Purpose

High performing firms have been associated with “quality” mission statements defined by the choice of components. In an attempt to extend our knowledge in order to give more legitimacy to these claims and also provide more local and relevant reference for Ghana‐based firms, the purpose of this paper is to investigate, through a component analysis, how high‐performing Ghana‐based firms define their mission.

Design/methodology/approach

Mission statements of 50 of the Ghana Club 100 firms, primarily extracted from the official web sites, Initial Public Offer prospectuses and annual reports of the firms, were subjected to content analysis which evaluated and scored the mission statements based on the occurrence of 20 specific components.

Findings

The paper found that high‐performing Ghana‐based firms define missions to include components that the literature uses to measure quality; and these are similar to those of the UK, Canada and Ireland. Based on the ranking of the components, three categories were identified: the imperatives, the highlights, and the adjuncts.

Research limitations/implications

The paper lumped together all firms irrespective of industry or sector. There is, therefore, the need to conduct further research to identify possible industry or sectoral differences, for better insight and relevance.

Practical implications

Ideas generated in this paper provide a guide to practitioners and firms regarding how they can develop mission statements, drawing on experiences of high‐performing Ghana‐based firms.

Originality/value

This is the first attempt to study how high‐performing Ghana‐based firms define their mission and hence is a major contribution to the scarce if not non‐existent Africa‐specific studies. It also provides a more prescriptive approach to crafting mission statements by proposing hierarchies of the components of mission statements.
Short‐ and long‐term effects of exposure to natural and synthetic glucocorticoids during development
Authors: Singh Reetu R , Cuffe James SM , Moritz Karen M
Published: September 2012

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are necessary for fetal development, but clinical and experimental studies suggest that excess exposure may be detrimental to health in both the short and longer term.

Exposure of the fetus to synthetic GCs can occur if the mother has a medical condition requiring GC therapy (e.g. asthma) or if she threatens to deliver her baby prematurely. Synthetic GCs can readily cross the placenta and treatment is beneficial, at least in the short term, for maternal health and fetal survival.

Maternal stress during pregnancy can raise endogenous levels of the natural GC cortisol. A significant proportion of the cortisol is inactivated by the placental ‘GC barrier’. However, exposure to severe stress during pregnancy can result in increased risk of miscarriage, low birth weight and behavioural deficits in children.

Animal studies have shown that excess exposure to both synthetic and natural GCs can alter normal organ development, including that of the heart, brain and kidney. The nature and severity of the organ impairment is dependent upon the timing of exposure and, in some cases, the type of GC used and the sex of the fetus.

In animal models, exposure to elevated GCs during pregnancy has been associated with adult‐onset diseases, including elevated blood pressure, impaired cardiac and vascular function and altered metabolic function.
bgc: Software for Bayesian estimation of genomic clines
Authors: Gompert Z. , Buerkle C. A.
Published: September 2012

Introgression in admixed populations can be used to identify candidate loci that might underlie adaptation or reproductive isolation. The Bayesian genomic cline model provides a framework for quantifying variable introgression in admixed populations and identifying regions of the genome with extreme introgression that are potentially associated with variation in fitness. Here we describe the bgc software, which uses Markov chain Monte Carlo to estimate the joint posterior probability distribution of the parameters in the Bayesian genomic cline model and designate outlier loci. This software can be used with next‐generation sequence data, accounts for uncertainty in genotypic state, and can incorporate information from linked loci on a genetic map. Output from the analysis is written to an HDF5 file for efficient storage and manipulation. This software is written in C++. The source code, software manual, compilation instructions and example data sets are available under the GNU Public License at http://sites.google.com/site/bgcsoftware/.