bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A hybrid model for customer portfolio analysis in retailing
Authors: Norouzi Ashraf , Albadvi Amir 
Published: June 2016

Purpose
Marketing/finance interface and application of its new insights in marketing decisions have recently found great interest among marketing researchers and practitioners. There is a relatively large body of marketing literature about incorporating modern portfolio theory (MPT) into customer portfolio context and taking advantage of it in marketing resource allocation decisions. Previous studies have modelled customer portfolio risk in the form of historical return/profitability volatility of customer base. However, the risk is a future-oriented measure, and deals with future volatility associated with return stream. This study aims to address this research problem.

Design/methodology/approach
The well-known Pareto/non-binomial distribution (NBD) approach is used to model customer purchases in a non-contractual setting of research practice. Then, the results were used to simulate the customers’ future buying behaviour and associated returns via the Monte Carlo simulation approach. Subsequently, the mean-variance portfolio optimization model was applied to find the optimal customer portfolio mix.

Findings
The results illustrated the better performance of the proposed efficient portfolio versus the current customer portfolio. These results are applicable in analyzing customer portfolio composition, and can be used as a guidance to make decisions about marketing resource allocation in different segments.

Originality/value
This study proposes a new approach to analyze customer portfolio by using the customers’ future buying behaviour. Taking advantage of rich marketing literature about statistical assumptions describing the customers’ buying behaviour, this study tries to take some steps forward in the application of the MPT theory in customer portfolio management context.
Synthesis of curcumin catalyzed by KF/Al2O3
Authors: Gao Lihong , Chen Jiang , Zheng Jun , Zhang Haiyan 
Published: June 2016

Purpose
The purpose of the study reported in this paper is to synthesis curcumin, which was reported to possess broad pharmacological effects and excellent dyeing properties, via Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction catalysed by an efficient and green solid base catalyst, KF/Al2O3.

Design/methodology/approach
A series of catalysts with different KF loadings and varying calcination temperatures had been prepared, characterised by Brunauer–Emmett–Taller surface area, temperature-programmed desorption with CO2 using infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and tested in the Claisen–Schmidt condensation reaction. The effects of different reaction parameters such as temperature, the amount of catalyst, reactant ratio and time on the synthesis of curcumin were examined. The possibility of recycling the catalyst was also investigated in detail. Moreover, the reaction mechanism and the role of KF/Al2O3 in the synthetic process were discussed.

Findings
The study provides an efficient and green solid base catalyst, KF/Al2O3, and 64.3 per cent yield of curcumin was obtained under the optimum reaction conditions. Experimental results indicate that the third reused catalyst could retain part of the catalytic activity, and the regenerated one could be reused with reasonable catalytic activity. Besides, K3AlF6 was proposed as the active site of the catalyst for the reaction by the analysis of the characterization results of KF/Al2O3.

Originality/value
KF/Al2O3 was found to be an efficient catalyst for catalytic synthesis of curcumin and could be easily recycled several times. This information may be useful for further research and practical applications of curcumin.
Consumers’ attitude towards e-banking services in Islamic banks: the case of Sudan
Authors: Mansour Ilham Hassan Fathelrahman , Eljelly Abuzar M.A. , Abdullah Abdelgardir M.A. 
Published: June 2016

Purpose
This study aims to provide an analysis of the attitude toward three banking services technologies in Sudan, namely, automated teller machines (ATMs), mobile banking and internet (online) banking. The study started by conducting an exploratory factor analysis, on the valid responses received from a random sample of bank customers in Sudan toward the three technologies.

Design/methodology/approach
The study used the “technology acceptance model” as a conceptual framework to investigate the factors that influence customers’ acceptance and intention to use bank technologies.

Findings
The study found that the customers’ attitude toward various bank technologies is not the same and is influenced by different factors. The results revealed that bank customers who are users of ATMs are influenced by its convenience, ease of use and service quality, whereas credibility was not seen as a significant driver. Mobile users were found to be influenced more by the benefits and ease of use and service quality, whereas internet customers were influenced by the benefits and ease of use and credibility of the systems. Under the three models, attitude emerged as a fully mediating factor for customers’ behavioral intentions.

Practical implications
The implications of this study are obvious for both regulators and bankers in Sudan for careful designing and implementation of their technology-based banking systems and focusing on the features of concern and desirable most by bank customers and necessary for secure and safe adoption of technology-based banking.

Originality/value
There are no studies to date that provide evidence of customer acceptance and the use of these services, the volume of bank business or profits derived from these services. This is especially important because security concerns are always associated and attached with technology-based services. The identification of technology acceptance factors is very important for bank regulators, bank marketers and banks’ customer base.
Impact of fines and rock wettability on reservoir formation damage
Authors: Al‐Yaseri Ahmed , Al Mukainah Hani , Lebedev Maxim , Barifcani Ahmed , Iglauer Stefan 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTPore throat plugging of porous rock by fine particles causes formation damage, and thus has attracted attention in various areas such as petroleum engineering, hydrology and geothermal energy production. Despite significant efforts, the detailed pore‐scale mechanisms leading to formation damage and the associated permeability reduction are not well understood. We thus investigated plugging mechanisms and characteristics with a combination of ex situ (i.e., coreflooding measurements and scanning electron microscopy imaging) and in situ (i.e., nuclear magnetic resonance and μCT) methods, with a particular focus on the effect of wettability.The corefloods indicated that permeability drops rapidly when fines are injected; mechanistically thin pore throats are plugged first, followed by filling of adjacent pore bodies with the fine material (as evidenced by the nuclear magnetic resonance and μCT experiments, which can measure the pore size distribution evolution with fines injection). Furthermore, it is clear that wettability plays a major role: if fines and rock wettability are identical, plugging is significantly accelerated; wettability also controls the 3D distribution of the fines in the pore space. Furthermore we note that the deposited fines were tightly packed, apparently due to strong adhesion forces.
Analysis of velocity dispersion using full‐waveform multichannel sonic logging data: A case study
Authors: Sun Langqiu F. , Milkereit Bernd , Tisato Nicola 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTSeismic attenuation and velocity dispersion are potentially able to reveal the rock physical properties of the subsurface. Conventionally, a frequency‐independent quality factor (Q) is measured. This Q is equivalent to the total velocity dispersion in a seismic record and is inadequate for analysing the attenuation mechanism or rock physical properties. Here a new method is proposed to extract the velocity dispersion curves so that more attributes can be obtained from full‐waveform multichannel sonic logging data, especially the critical frequency (fc) if it is within the bandwidth of the data. This method first decomposes the seismic data into a series of frequency components, computes the semblance of each frequency component for different velocity values, cross‐correlates the semblance matrices of adjacent frequency components to get the velocity gradients, and finally integrates to obtain a velocity dispersion curve. Results of this method are of satisfactory accuracy and robustness. This method is applied to the data acquired in Mallik 5L‐38 gas hydrate research well in Mackenzie Delta, Northwest Territories, Canada. The observed P‐wave velocity dispersion compares well with the geological setting. In the gas hydrate zone (about 900 m–1100 m), high concentration of gas hydrate causes very strong velocity dispersion and a distinct fc at about 15 kHz, likely due to strong scattering of centimetre‐scale inclusions of gas hydrate; concurrently, water flow in connected cracks in some ranges of this zone adds a large part of velocity dispersion and a dimmer fc at about 9.5 kHz. Immediate underneath the gas hydrate zone, abundant free water in weakly laminated sediments causes quite strong velocity dispersion and an fc at about 6.5 kHz. Velocity dispersion is mild and without an obvious fc in sediments above the gas hydrate zone.
A new laboratory apparatus for the measurement of seismic dispersion under deviatoric stress conditions
Authors: Szewczyk Dawid , Bauer Andreas , Holt Rune M. 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTA better understanding of seismic dispersion and attenuation of acoustic waves in rocks is important for quantitative interpretation of seismic data, as well as for relating seismic data, sonic‐log data, and ultrasonic laboratory data. In the present work, a new laboratory setup is described, allowing for combined measurements of quasistatic deformations of rocks under triaxial stress, ultrasonic velocities, and dynamic elastic stiffness (Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio) at seismic frequencies. The setup has been used mainly for the study of shales. For such rocks, it is crucial that the saturation of the samples is preserved, which requires fast sample mounting. The design of our setup, together with a technique that was developed for rapid mounting of strain gauges onto the sample and subsequent sealing of the sample, allows for sample preservation, which is of particular importance for shales. The performance of the new experimental setup and sample mounting procedure is demonstrated with test materials (aluminium and polyetheretherketone) and two different shale types (Mancos shale and Pierre shale). Furthermore, experimental results are presented that demonstrate the capability of measuring the impact of saturation, stress, and stress path on seismic dispersion. For the tests with Mancos shale and Pierre shale, large dispersion (up to 50% in Young's modulus normal to bedding) was observed. Increased water saturation of Mancos shale results in strong softening of the rock at seismic frequencies, whereas hardening is observed at ultrasonic frequencies due to an increase in dispersion, counteracting the rock softening. The Poisson's ratio of Mancos shale strongly increases with the level of saturation but appears to be nearly frequency independent. We have found that the different types of shale exhibit different stress sensitivities during hydrostatic loading and that the stress sensitivity is different at seismic and ultrasonic frequencies.
Into the functional ecology of ectomycorrhizal communities: environmental filtering of enzymatic activities
Authors: Pierre‐Emmanuel Courty , François Munoz , Marc‐André Selosse , Myriam Duchemin , Stéven Criquet , Fabio Ziarelli , Marc Buée , Claude Plassard , Adrien Taudière , Jean Garbaye , Franck Richard 
Published: June 2016

Summary

Characterizing the ecological processes driving the assembly and functional composition of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities is an area of active research.

Here, we applied a trait‐based framework to address whether and how environmental filtering and niche differentiation influence the diversity of ECM fungal enzymatic activities in two oak‐dominated forest ecosystems. We hypothesized that fungal enzymatic activities and ECM community assembly are influenced by the availability of targeted resources in the surrounding soil.

We pinpointed a major influence of environmental filtering on ECM fungal taxonomic and functional composition. Contrasted taxonomic composition among forest ecosystems was linked to broad interspecific trait variation and entailed contrasted functional responses at community level. However, intraspecific trait variation contributed to community response within ecosystems. We characterized a strong relationship between enzymatic activities and targeted resource availability in surrounding soil, suggesting a functional role of the enzymes for the acquisition of these resources. Conversely, we did not find a significant influence of niche differentiation in ECM community assembly.

Synthesis. Heterogeneous distribution of soil resources drives a community‐level functional response and determines the functional and taxonomic mosaic of ECM communities in forest ecosystems.
Effects of Different Processing Methods on the Micronutrient and Phytochemical Contents of Maize: From A to Z
Authors: Suri Devika J. , Tanumihardjo Sherry A. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractMaize is a staple human food eaten by more than a billion people around the world in a variety of whole and processed products. Different processing methods result in changes to the nutritional profile of maize products, which can greatly affect the micronutrient intake of populations dependent on this crop for a large proportion of their caloric needs. This review summarizes the effects of different processing methods on the resulting micronutrient and phytochemical contents of maize. The majority of B vitamins are lost during storage and milling; further loss occurs with soaking and cooking, but fermentation and nixtamalization (soaking in alkaline solution) can increase bioavailability of riboflavin and niacin. Carotenoids, found mainly in the kernel endosperm, increase in concentration after degermination, while other vitamins and minerals, found mainly in the germ, are reduced. Mineral bioavailability can be improved by processing methods that reduce phytic acid, such as soaking, fermenting, cooking, and nixtamalization. Losses of micronutrients during processing can be mitigated by changes in methods of processing, in addition to encouraging consumption of whole‐grain maize products over degermed, refined products. In some cases, such as niacin, processing is actually necessary for nutrient bioavailability. Due to the high variability in the baseline nutrient contents among maize varieties, combined with additional variability in processing effects, the most accurate data on nutrient content will be obtained through analysis of specific maize products and consideration of in vivo bioavailability.
Specific Characteristics of Injuries Inflicted by Claw Hammer
Authors: Buchaillet Céline , Gaudin Arnaud , Rougé‐Maillart Clotilde , Jousset Nathalie 
Published: June 2016

AbstractClaw hammers have the specific characteristic of having two distinct ends: one a flat head of variable form, the other bifurcated. So the use of this tool as a blunt instrument will cause varying injuries. The authors present two clinical cases of assault with a claw hammer. Examinations revealed two types of wound. A first injury composed of integumentary lacerations and underlying bone injuries in terms of “shape” suggested the use of a blunt instrument. A second injury made up of damage showing two parallel wounds or two wounds located one in the extension of the other suggested the use of an object with a bifurcated end. The combination of both types of injury should alert examiners to the possibility of the use of a claw hammer in causing the injuries in order to help direct investigators in their investigations and in the search for the weapon used.
Colonic mucosal N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor mediated visceral hypersensitivity in a mouse model of irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Qi Qing Qing , Chen Fei Xue , Zhao Dong Yan , Li Li Xiang , Wang Peng , Li Yan Qing , Zuo Xiu Li 
Published: June 2016

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate whether colonic mucosal N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) participates in visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).MethodsC57BL/6 mice were administered intrarectally with trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) for the establishment of an IBS‐like visceral hypersensitivity model. Those received an equivalent volume of 50% ethanol were regarded as the controls. Abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scores in response to colorectal distention (CRD) were used to assess visceral sensitivity. NMDAR levels in the colonic mucosa were detected by both immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The concentrations of glutamate and ammonia in the feces of the mice were measured. Changes in visceral sensitivity after the intracolonic administration of ammonia or NMDAR antagonist were recorded.ResultsThe established IBS‐like mouse model of visceral hypersensitivity showed no evident inflammation in the colon. NMDAR levels in the colonic mucosa of the IBS‐like mice were significantly higher compared with the controls, and were positively associated with AWR scores. The glutamate level in the feces of the TNBS‐treated mice was similar to that of the controls, although the ammonia level was significantly higher. Intracolonic administration of ammonia induced visceral hypersensitivity in mice, which was repressed by pretreatment with NMDAR antagonist MK801.ConclusionsOverexpressed NMDAR in the colonic mucosa may participate in the pathogenesis of visceral hypersensitivity in IBS. Our study identifies the effect of ammonia in the colonic lumen on NMDAR in the colonic mucosa as a potential novel targeted mechanism for IBS treatment.
Natural and anthropogenic influences on coarse woody debris stocks in Nothofagus–Araucaria forests of northern Patagonia, Argentina
Authors: Szymañski Carolina , Fontana Gisela , Sanguinetti Javier 
Published: June 2016

AbstractCoarse woody debris (CWD) is an important element driving ecological processes, strengthening ecosystem resilience and for biodiversity within forest ecosystems. However, the abundance and distribution of CWD and their relation to natural and human factors are poorly known in southern South America. In this work we studied the density and volume of CWD types in Nothofagus–Araucaria stands in northern Patagonia (Neuquén – Argentina) and relationships with forest composition and structure. We also studied their relationships with fire history, topography and human‐related variables. Twenty‐three stands with Nothofagus pumilio, Nothofagus antarctica and/or Araucaria araucana were sampled to estimate quantities of logs, snags and dead branches using the planar‐intersect method. CWD density and volume in these forests were moderate and varied across the landscape with a spatial pattern determined by biotic, abiotic and human use–related variables. Mean CWD volume was 52.9 m3 ha−1 (range: 1.6–143.7) and significantly varied among forest types and watersheds. CWD was positively related to dbh, tree height and slope, but negatively related to tree density. CWD was clearly influenced by composition and structural characteristics of stands, where the tree species traits had an important role. As well, the observed amount and type of CWD, whereby most of the stands showed low levels of old (pre‐disturbance) logs/snags and poor new inputs of deadwood, may be explained by fire frequency. Firewood gathering and livestock grazing negatively affected deadwood stocks and topography counteracts this effect by limiting human access. Fire disturbance history, windthrow and dieback pulses produced by insect outbreaks and human access seemed to be the main causes that best explained CWD spatial distribution and abundance patterns in north‐western Patagonian forests.
Pine pest aphids of the genus Eulachnus (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae): how far can their range extend?
Authors: Kanturski Mariusz , Bugaj‐Nawrocka Agnieszka , Wieczorek Karina 
Published: June 2016

Abstract

Species of the aphid genus Eulachnus (Hemiptera, Aphididae), associated with pine trees, are an example of insects reported as rare over their native geographical range in Europe and serious pine pests far from their natural distribution. To predict the risk of invasion of spotted pine aphid Eulachnus agilis (Kaltenbach, 1843), green pine aphid Eulachnus brevipilosus Börner, 1940 and narrow brown pine aphid Eulachnus rileyi (Williams, 1911) on a global scale, ecological niche modelling was applied.
We used the maximum entropy model, based on associations between unique occurrence localities and a set of environmental variables. We obtained models of potentially suitable habitats, based on climatic variables and distribution of host plants, suggesting that favourable conditions for each species may be present on every continent. However, E. agilis and E. rileyi appear to be potentially the most widespread species.
In Europe, models showed that the potential distribution of the representatives of the genus Eulachnus overlapped with that of the host plants. In places where they have been introduced, these aphid species have readily adapted to indigenous or introduced pines, including trees grown commercially for timber.
A jackknife test indicated that annual mean temperature and mean temperature of the coldest quarter were the most important environmental variables restricting the expansion of the species under investigation. Moreover, the most important factor in the decrease in population density of the feeding aphids is the rainy season and, on a smaller scale, the presence of their natural enemies.