bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Contract ineffectiveness in emerging markets: An institutional theory perspective⋆
Authors: Shou Zhigang , Zheng Xu (Vivian) , Zhu Wenting 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe effectiveness of contracts is bounded by the institutional environment in which they are designed and enforced. When firms form supply chain partnerships in emerging markets, they may experiencecontract ineffectiveness, which is defined as a firm's perceived limits of contracts with respect to safeguarding interests and coordinating activities. Specifically, we identify two institutional factors that may give rise to contract ineffectiveness, information transparency and legal enforceability, as they determine how effectively a firm designs and enforces a contract. In addition, we reveal that contract ineffectiveness prompts a firm to seek social ties, including business ties and political ties, to overcome the institutionally induced limits of contracts. These efforts, however, are moderated by the type of predominant pressure a firm bears. While equity pressure strengthens the relationship between contract ineffectiveness and a firm's pursuit of social ties, efficiency pressure weakens this relationship, because seeking social ties imposes an extra burden of efficiency. Tested by data collected from 187 distributors in China, our study reveals the institutional causes and the consequences of contract ineffectiveness, which is a common problem encountered by firms when forming supply chain partnerships in emerging markets.
Evolución de la evaluación del desempeño docente en la Facultad de Medicina; evidencia de validez y confiabilidad
Authors: Flores Hernández Fernando , Gatica Lara Florina , Sánchez-Mendiola Melchor , Martínez González Adrián 
Published: August 2016

Introducción: Existen diversos modelos encaminados a evaluar el desempeño docente, los cuales consideran a la docencia como un proyecto institucional dirigido a elevar la calidad de la educación.
Objetivo: Se analizó la evolución y la transición de los distintos instrumentos asociados al proceso de evaluación del desempeño docente en la Facultad de Medicina de la UNAM en términos de su contenido y la evidencia de validez y confiabilidad de los mismos.
Método: El estudio tuvo un carácter analítico, longitudinal, retrospectivo, en el cual se analizaron los instrumentos METEBQ-B, COED, y OPINEST en tres fases; a) contraste de estructura y contenido; b) contraste de valores psicométricos y c) contraste de las dimensiones con las tendencias y modelos predominantes vigentes.
Resultados: Los instrumentos tuvieron una escala tipo Likert, con una confiabilidad superior a 0.95, con una varianza explicada superior al 50% y una extensión variable de 24 a 44 ítems. En contenido los instrumentos migraron de una evaluación centrada en valorar la satisfacción de los estudiantes, a una evaluación de las competencias docentes. En relación con las dimensiones el OPINEST fue congruente con los referentes nacionales e internacionales.
Discusión y conclusión: La evaluación del desempeño docente es uno de los pilares que pueden sustentar la calidad del sistema educativo, en este sentido destacó el aporte del Departamento de Evaluación Educativa de la Secretaría de Educación Médica de la Facultad de Medicina de la UNAM, que contribuyó al desarrollo de los diversos instrumentos, los mismos que en su conjunto consideraron los criterios generales que denotan la evidencia que sustenta las fuentes necesarias de validez y confiabilidad para su aplicación.
Premorbid cannabis use is associated with more symptoms and poorer functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorder
Authors: Ringen P. A. , Nesvåg R. , Helle S. , Lagerberg T. V. , Lange E. H. , Løberg E. M. , Agartz I. , Andreassen O. A. , Melle I. 
Published: August 2016

BackgroundCannabis use disorder is associated with an earlier age at onset and a more severe outcome of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The role of cannabis use before the onset of illness (premorbid cannabis use) has not been fully investigated. We here examined how amount and type of premorbid cannabis use was associated with the later course of illness including current substance use, symptoms and level of functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorder.MethodWe used a naturalistic sample of patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia spectrum disorders with a comprehensive history of illness and substance use. Data on premorbid substance use was obtained from comprehensive self-report. The relationship to outcome was investigated using regression models that included current substance use and premorbid functioning.ResultsPre-schizophrenia cannabis use was significantly associated with more severe psychotic symptoms and impaired functioning. Higher levels of premorbid cannabis use were associated with higher levels of current psychotic symptoms. These associations were independent of current substance use and premorbid functioning. Early use of cannabis (age <17 years) was associated with earlier age at onset of psychosis, independently of potential confounders.ConclusionsPre-psychosis cannabis use affects illness outcome in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and is associated with lower age at onset of psychosis. These findings of independent negative effects of premorbid cannabis use in schizophrenia suggest that a limitation of the general use of cannabis may have beneficial health effects.
L'évolution des terrains incultes en Belgique
Authors: Clicheroux Emile 
Published: August 2016

Dans un précédent article, nous avons étudié l'évolution de la forêt en Belgique et nous sommes arrivé à la conclusion que la transformation de la forêt était intimement liée à la mise en valeur des terrains incultes.Nous étudierons dans les pages qui vont suivre l'évolution de l'étendue des terrains incultes en Belgique.Par terrains incultes, il faut entendre les étendues couvertes de bruyères, les sarts, les broussailles non exploitées, les étendues marécageuses ou rocailleuses, les landes, les fagnes, les dunes ne portant pas de culture, en un mot tout terrain qui n'est employé régulièrement à aucun usage agricole ou forestier.
Béla Bartók's Evolutionary Model of Folk Music
Authors: BENNETT JAMES 
Published: August 2016

AbstractIn his ethnomusicological writings and lectures, Béla Bartók describes folk music as ‘a natural product, just like the various forms of animal and vegetable life’ and elaborates this view, going on to describe a collection of developmental processes modelled explicitly on biological evolution. In this article, I characterize Bartók's evolutionary model by laying bare the taxonomies and genealogies inherent in his classificatory system. Then, through an analysis of the fifth of hisEight Improvisations on Hungarian Folk Songs(1920), I suggest the outlines of a method for interpreting and analysing Bartók's music engendered from this evolutionary model, a method that involves the elaboration of two ideas: (1) a conceptual shift from a relatively historically static major/minor tonality to a multivalent, ‘evolving’ tonality, and (2) the reconception of motives or themes as having no single original forms, but rather as being related genetically, as somehow evolving in their own right.
The Great War: World war, total war
Authors: Becker Annette 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe Great War was globalized and totalized1 by the inclusion of colonial and newly independent people from all over the world and of civilians, old people, women and children. The European war became a laboratory for all the suffering of the century, from the extermination of the Armenians to the refugee crisis, the internments, and the unending modernization of warfare.
Des rythmes séculaires d’expansion des industries houillères européennes dans leurs rapports avec les prix et les coûts de production
Authors: Saudée Edouard de Bivort de La 
Published: August 2016

Avant la guerre de 1914, quatre principaux pays producteurs se partageaient le marché charbonnier européen: le Royaume-Uni, l’Allemagne, la France et la Belgique, suivant leur ordre d’importance.La position centrale que ces pays occupent en Europe, des frontières communes, des voies de communication courtes et rapides, enfin la pratique d’une politique commerciale encore largement libre-échangiste, maintenaient les industries houillères respectives de ces pays dans une très grande interdépendance les unes vis-à-vis des autres. L’expansion de ces industries s’est néanmoins faite suivant des rythmes différents.L’analyse comparative de ces rythmes séculaires et de longue durée sur le plan national et international fait l’objet de cette étude.Sur le plan international on comparera directement les rythmes d’expansion respectifs. Pour chaque pays, on cherchera à établir l’expansion différentielle de l’industrie houillère par rapport au développement industriel général.
MAVS maintains mitochondrial homeostasis via autophagy
Authors: Sun Xiaofeng , Sun Liwei , Zhao Yuanyuan , Li Ying , Lin Wei , Chen Dahua , Sun Qinmiao 
Published: August 2016

AbstractMitochondrial antiviral signalling protein (MAVS) acts as a critical adaptor protein to transduce antiviral signalling by physically interacting with activated RIG-I and MDA5 receptors. MAVS executes its functions at the outer membrane of mitochondria to regulate downstream antiviral signalling, indicating that the mitochondria provides a functional platform for innate antiviral signalling transduction. However, little is known about whether and how MAVS-mediated antiviral signalling contributes to mitochondrial homeostasis. Here we show that the activation of MAVS is sufficient to induce autophagic signalling, which may mediate the turnover of the damaged mitochondria. Importantly, we find MAVS directly interacts with LC3 through its LC3-binding motif ‘YxxI’, suggesting that MAVS might act as an autophagy receptor to mediate mitochondrial turnover upon excessive activation of RLR signalling. Furthermore, we provide evidence that both MAVS self-aggregation and its interaction with TRAF2/6 proteins are important for MAVS-mediated mitochondrial turnover. Collectively, our findings suggest that MAVS acts as a potential receptor for mitochondria-associated autophagic signalling to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis.
In situ high-resolution structure of the baseplate antenna complex in Chlorobaculum tepidum
Authors: Nielsen Jakob Toudahl , Kulminskaya Natalia V. , Bjerring Morten , Linnanto Juha M. , Rätsep Margus , Pedersen Marie Østergaard , Lambrev Petar H. , Dorogi Márta , Garab Győző , Thomsen Karen , Jegerschöld Caroline , Frigaard Niels-Ulrik , Lindahl Martin , Nielsen Niels Chr. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractPhotosynthetic antenna systems enable organisms harvesting light and transfer the energy to the photosynthetic reaction centre, where the conversion to chemical energy takes place. One of the most complex antenna systems, the chlorosome, found in the photosynthetic green sulfur bacterium Chlorobaculum (Cba.) tepidum contains a baseplate, which is a scaffolding super-structure, formed by the protein CsmA and bacteriochlorophyll a. Here we present the first high-resolution structure of the CsmA baseplate using intact fully functional, light-harvesting organelles from Cba. tepidum, following a hybrid approach combining five complementary methods: solid-state NMR spectroscopy, cryo-electron microscopy, isotropic and anisotropic circular dichroism and linear dichroism. The structure calculation was facilitated through development of new software, GASyCS for efficient geometry optimization of highly symmetric oligomeric structures. We show that the baseplate is composed of rods of repeated dimers of the strongly amphipathic CsmA with pigments sandwiched within the dimer at the hydrophobic side of the helix.
Role of peripheral blood minimum residual disease at day 8 of induction therapy in high-risk pediatric patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Salina Thais Ditolvo da Costa , Ferreira Yvelise Antunes , Alves Eliana Brasil , Ferreira Cristina Motta , De Paula Erich Vinícius , Mira Marcelo Távora , Passos Leny da Mota 
Published: August 2016

AbstractRisk stratification and treatment intensification, based on minimal residual disease (MRD) mensurement, changed the prognosis of pediatric patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). The main aim of this study was to investigate whether peripheral blood (PB) MRD measurement at day 8 (D8) could predict the risk stratification category determined by bone marrow (BM) MRD at day 15 (D15). The study was performed prospectively, in a cohort of 40 children with B-lineage ALL, adopting the protocol of the Brazilian Cooperative Group of the Treatment Childhood Leukemia (GBTLI-2009). MRD was detected by flow cytometry (FC) using a simplifed panel that can reliably identify MRD at early phases of induction therapy. Upon diagnosis, the proportion of low and high-risk patients, was 24:16 (60%:40%). The main result of our study demonstrated the potential of D8 MRD in anticipating of week the risk stratification of high-risk patients as determined by D15 BM MRD. In these patients D8 MRD level of 1% was able to segregate high risk fast responders from high risk slow responders (p = 0.0097). This result could represent an opportunity for early treatment intensification, as already performed in some protocols.
Spatiotemporal structure of intracranial electric fields induced by transcranial electric stimulation in humans and nonhuman primates
Authors: Opitz Alexander , Falchier Arnaud , Yan Chao-Gan , Yeagle Erin M. , Linn Gary S. , Megevand Pierre , Thielscher Axel , Deborah A. Ross , Milham Michael P. , Mehta Ashesh D. , Schroeder Charles E. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractTranscranial electric stimulation (TES) is an emerging technique, developed to non-invasively modulate brain function. However, the spatiotemporal distribution of the intracranial electric fields induced by TES remains poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear how much current actually reaches the brain, and how it distributes across the brain. Lack of this basic information precludes a firm mechanistic understanding of TES effects. In this study we directly measure the spatial and temporal characteristics of the electric field generated by TES using stereotactic EEG (s-EEG) electrode arrays implanted in cebus monkeys and surgical epilepsy patients. We found a small frequency dependent decrease (10%) in magnitudes of TES induced potentials and negligible phase shifts over space. Electric field strengths were strongest in superficial brain regions with maximum values of about 0.5 mV/mm. Our results provide crucial information of the underlying biophysics in TES applications in humans and the optimization and design of TES stimulation protocols. In addition, our findings have broad implications concerning electric field propagation in non-invasive recording techniques such as EEG/MEG.
Integrated identification, qualification and quantification strategy for pharmacokinetic profile study of Guizhi Fuling capsule in healthy volunteers
Authors: Zhong Yun-Xi , Jin Xiao-Liang , Gu Shi-Yin , Peng Ying , Zhang Ke-Rong , Ou-Yang Bing-Chen , Wang Yu , Xiao Wei , Wang Zhen-Zhong , Aa Ji-Ye , Wang Guang-Ji , Sun Jian-Guo 
Published: August 2016

AbstractGuizhi Fuling capsule (GZFL), a traditional Chinese medicine formulation, is widely used in China to relieve pain from dysmenorrhea and is now in a Phase II clinical trial in the USA. Due to the low exposure of the five main medicative ingredients (amygdalin, cinnamic acid, gallic acid, paeoniflorin and paeonol) of GZFL in human, a strategy was built to qualitatively and quantitatively identify the possible metabolites of GZFL and to describe the pharmacokinetic profiles of GZFL in human. In this strategy, LC-Q-TOF/MS was used to identify and structurally elucidate the possible metabolites of GZFL in vivo; and a time-based metabolite-confirming step (TBMCs) was used to confirm uncertain metabolites. The simultaneously quantitation results by LC-MS/MS showed low exposure of the five medicative ingredients. According to the strategy we built, a total of 36 metabolites were found and structurally elucidated. The simultaneously semi-quantitative analysis by LC-MS/MS showed that obvious time-concentration curves could be established for 12 of the metabolites and most of them showed a relatively higher exposure. This study provides a better understanding of the metabolic processes of GZFL in human.
Directed self-assembly of block copolymer films on atomically-thin graphene chemical patterns
Authors: Chang Tzu-Hsuan , Xiong Shisheng , Jacobberger Robert M. , Mikael Solomon , Suh Hyo Seon , Liu Chi-Chun , Geng Dalong , Wang Xudong , Arnold Michael S. , Ma Zhenqiang , Nealey Paul F. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractDirected self-assembly of block copolymers is a scalable method to fabricate well-ordered patterns over the wafer scale with feature sizes below the resolution of conventional lithography. Typically, lithographically-defined prepatterns with varying chemical contrast are used to rationally guide the assembly of block copolymers. The directed self-assembly to obtain accurate registration and alignment is largely influenced by the assembly kinetics. Furthermore, a considerably broad processing window is favored for industrial manufacturing. Using an atomically-thin layer of graphene on germanium, after two simple processing steps, we create a novel chemical pattern to direct the assembly of polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate). Faster assembly kinetics are observed on graphene/germanium chemical patterns than on conventional chemical patterns based on polymer mats and brushes. This new chemical pattern allows for assembly on a wide range of guiding periods and along designed 90° bending structures. We also achieve density multiplication by a factor of 10, greatly enhancing the pattern resolution. The rapid assembly kinetics, minimal topography and broad processing window demonstrate the advantages of inorganic chemical patterns composed of hard surfaces.
Magnetic properties of nitrogen-doped ZrO2: Theoretical evidence of absence of room temperature ferromagnetism
Authors: Albanese Elisa , Leccese Mirko , Di Valentin Cristiana , Pacchioni Gianfranco 
Published: August 2016

AbstractN-dopants in bulk monoclinic ZrO2and their magnetic interactions have been investigated by DFT calculations, using the B3LYP hybrid functional. The electronic and magnetic properties of the paramagnetic N species, substitutionals and interstitials, are discussed. Their thermodynamic stability has been estimated as a function of the oxygen partial pressure. At 300 K, N prefers interstitial sites at any range of oxygen pressure, while at higher temperatures (700–1000 K), oxygen poor-conditions facilitate substitutional dopants. We have considered the interaction of two N defects in various positions in order to investigate the possible occurrence of ferromagnetic ordering. A very small magnetic coupling constant has been calculated for several 2N-ZrO2configurations, thus demonstrating that magnetic ordering can be achieved only at very low temperatures, well below liquid nitrogen. Furthermore, when N atoms replace O at different sites, resulting in slightly different positions of the corresponding N 2p levels, a direct charge transfer can occur between the two dopants with consequent quenching of the magnetic moment. Another mechanism that contributes to the quenching of the N magnetic moments is the interplay with oxygen vacancies. These effects contribute to reduce the concentration of magnetic impurities, thus limiting the possibility to establish magnetic ordering.
Enhanced Cationic Charge is a Key Factor in Promoting Staphylocidal Activity of α-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone via Selective Lipid Affinity
Authors: Singh Jyotsna , Joshi Seema , Mumtaz Sana , Maurya Nancy , Ghosh Ilora , Khanna Shivangi , Natarajan Vivek T. , Mukhopadhyay Kasturi 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe steady rise in antimicrobial resistance poses a severe threat to global public health by hindering treatment of an escalating spectrum of infections. We have previously established the potent activity of α-MSH, a 13 residue antimicrobial peptide, against the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Here, we sought to determine whether an increase in cationic charge in α-MSH could contribute towards improving its staphylocidal potential by increasing its interaction with anionic bacterial membranes. For this we designed novel α-MSH analogues by replacing polar uncharged residues with lysine and alanine. Similar to α-MSH, the designed peptides preserved turn/random coil conformation in artificial bacterial mimic 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine:1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1-glycerol) (7:3, w/w) vesicles and showed preferential insertion in the hydrophobic core of anionic membranes. Increased cationic charge resulted in considerable augmentation of antibacterial potency against MSSA and MRSA. With ~18-fold better binding than α-MSH to bacterial mimic vesicles, the most charged peptide KKK-MSH showed enhanced membrane permeabilization and depolarization activity against intact S. aureus. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed a membrane disruptive mode of action for KKK-MSH. Overall, increasing the cationic charge improved the staphylocidal activity of α-MSH without compromising its cell selectivity. The present study would help in designing more effective α-MSH-based peptides to combat clinically relevant staphylococcal infections.
Catalytic Effects of Cr on Nitridation of Silicon and Formation of One-dimensional Silicon Nitride Nanostructure
Authors: Liang Feng , Lu Lilin , Tian Liang , Li Faliang , Zhang Haijun , Zhang Shaowei 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe catalytic effects of chromium (Cr) on the direct nitridation of silicon (Si) and morphology of nitridation product were investigated. Cr dramatically improved the conversation of Si to silicon nitride (Si3N4). The complete conversion was achieved at 1350 °C upon addition of 1.25 wt% Cr. This temperature was much lower than that required in the case without using a catalyst. Meanwhile, Cr played an important role in the in-situ growth of one-dimensional (1-D) α-Si3N4 nanostructures. α-Si3N4 nanowires and nanobelts became the primary product phases when 5 wt% Cr was used as the catalyst. The growth processes of the 1-D α-Si3N4 nanostructures were governed by the vapor-solid mechanism. First-principle calculations suggest that electrons can be transferred from Cr atoms to N atoms, facilitating the Si nitridation.
A conditional likelihood is required to estimate the selection coefficient in ancient DNA
Authors: Valleriani Angelo 
Published: August 2016

AbstractTime-series of allele frequencies are a useful and unique set of data to determine the strength of natural selection on the background of genetic drift. Technically, the selection coefficient is estimated by means of a likelihood function built under the hypothesis that the available trajectory spans a sufficiently large portion of the fitness landscape. Especially for ancient DNA, however, often only one single such trajectories is available and the coverage of the fitness landscape is very limited. In fact, one single trajectory is more representative of a process conditioned both in the initial and in the final condition than of a process free to visit the available fitness landscape. Based on two models of population genetics, here we show how to build a likelihood function for the selection coefficient that takes the statistical peculiarity of single trajectories into account. We show that this conditional likelihood delivers a precise estimate of the selection coefficient also when allele frequencies are close to fixation whereas the unconditioned likelihood fails. Finally, we discuss the fact that the traditional, unconditioned likelihood always delivers an answer, which is often unfalsifiable and appears reasonable also when it is not correct.