bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A population-based temporal logic gate for timing and recording chemical events
Authors: Hsiao Victoria , Hori Yutaka , Rothemund Paul W.K. , Murray Richard M. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractSingle-cell bacterial sensors have numerous applications in human health monitoring, environmental chemical detection, and materials biosynthesis. Such bacterial devices need not only the capability to differentiate between combinations of inputs, but also the ability to process signal timing and duration. In this work, we present a two-input temporal logic gate that can sense and record the order of the inputs, the timing between inputs, and the duration of input pulses. The temporal logic gate design relies on unidirectional DNA recombination with bacteriophage integrases to detect and encode sequences of input events. When implemented in a chromosomally-modifiedE. colistrain, we can utilize stochastic single cell responses to predict overall heterogeneous population behavior. We show that a stochastic model can be used to predict final population distributions of thisE. colistrain, and thus that final differentiated sub-populations can be used to deduce the timing and duration of transient chemical events.
Xylem traits and growth phenology predict growth and mortality response to defoliation in temperate forests
Authors: Foster Jane R. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractDefoliation outbreaks are biological disturbances that alter tree growth and mortality in temperate forests. Trees respond to defoliation in many ways; some recover rapidly, while others decline gradually or die. These differences may arise from species functional traits that constrain growth such as xylem anatomy, growth phenology or non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) storage, but this has not been shown. Although many studies address these phenomena, varied and idiosyncratic measures limit our ability to generalize and predict defoliation responses across species. I synthesized and translated published growth and mortality data into consistent standardized variables suitable for numerical models. I analyzed data from 32 studies, including 16 tree species and 10 defoliator systems from North America and Eurasia, and quantitatively compared responses to defoliation among species and tree functional groups using linear mixed-effects models.Relative growth decreased linearly or curvilinearly as defoliation stress accumulated across species. Growth decreased by only 5-20% following 100% defoliation in ring-porousQuercus,whereas growth of diffuse-porous hardwoods and conifers declined by 50-100%. Mortality increased exponentially with defoliation, more rapidly forPinusand diffuse-porous species than forQuercusandAbies.Species-specific mixed models were best (R2c = 0.83-0.94), yet functional-group models lost little in terms of goodness-of-fit (R2c = 0.72-0.92), providing useful alternatives when species data is lacking. These responses are consistent with functional differences in wood growth phenology and NSC storage. Ring-porous spring xylem growth precedes budburst. Defoliators whose damage follows foliar development can only affect development of later wood. Growth of diffuse-porous and coniferous species responds more drastically, yet differences in NSC storage make them more vulnerable to mortality as stress accumulates. Ring-porous species resist defoliation-related changes in growth and mortality more than diffuse-porous and coniferous species. These findings apply in general to disturbances that cause spring defoliation and should be incorporated into forest vegetation models.
Regulatory capital and its effect on credit growth, non-performing loans and bank efficiency
Authors: Osei-Assibey Eric , Asenso Joseph Kwadwo 
Published: October 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to investigate the influence of the central bank’s regulatory capital on commercial banks specific performance outcomes such as credit supply, interest rate spread (as a measure of efficiency) and non-performing loans (NPLs).

Design/methodology/approach
– Using specific commercial bank-level panel data from 2002-2012, a system of equations was modeled that allows us to apply the system generalized methods of moment approach and estimate the equations, while controlling for specific bank level, industry and macroeconomic variables.

Findings
– The study finds a positive relationship between a net minimum capital ratio and the net interest margin. Although this is in contrast with the study expectations, the result suggests that a high net minimum capital requirement would widen the spread between the lending and saving rates. The study further finds evidence to support the fact that high minimum capital requirement and excess capital above the minimum required drive credit growth in the banking sector of Ghana. However, high excess capital increases risk-taking activities of the banks, as excess capital is found to be associated with high NPL ratios.

Practical implications
– Given the economic benefits and costs of sharply increasing bank regulatory capital, our results speak to the ongoing debates on the right level of capital, the effectiveness of the Bank of Ghana policy rate (PR) and the high lending rates that appear to respond only slowly to macroeconomic indicators such as the PR and the inflation rate. The finding also has practical implications for the adoption of the Basel III accord.

Originality/value
– The empirical literature has not paid enough attention to the impact of regulatory capital on the three specific bank-level outcomes – NPLs, interest rate spread and the nature of interrelationships among these variables, particularly in the African context.
Determinants of systemically important banks: the case of Europe
Authors: Kleinow Jacob , Nell Tobias 
Published: October 2015

Purpose– This paper aims to investigate the drivers of systemic risk and contagion among European banks from 2007 to 2012. The authors explain why some banks are expected to contribute more to systemic events in the European financial system than others by analysing the tail co-movement of banks’ security prices.Design/methodology/approach– First, the authors derive a systemic risk measure from the concepts of marginal expected shortfall and conditional value at risk analysing tail co-movements of daily bank stock returns. The authors then run panel regressions for the systemic risk measure using idiosyncratic bank characteristics and a set of country and policy control variables.Findings– The results comprise highly significant drivers of systemic risk in the European banking sector with important implications for research and banking regulation. Using a set of panel regressions, the authors identify bank size, asset and income structure, loss and liquidity coverage, profitability and several macroeconomic conditions as drivers of systemic risk.Research limitations/implications– Analysing the tail co-movement of security prices excludes a number of “smaller” institutions without publicly listed securities. The other shortfall is that we do not assess the systemic impact of non-bank financial institutions.Practical implications– Regulators have to consider a broad variety of indicators for assessing systemic risks. Existing microprudential-oriented rules are less effective, and policymakers may consider new measures like asset diversification to mitigate systemic risks in the banking system.Originality/value– The authors contribute to existing empirical analyses in three ways. First, they propose a method to identify systemically important banks (SIBs). Second, they develop two measures to assess their potential negative impact on the system. Third, they contribute to the closing of the research gaps by analysing which macroprudential regulations for SIBs are most effective without hampering free market forces.
Macroeconomic fundamentals and dynamics of the Indian rupee-dollar exchange rate
Authors: Sharma Chandan , Setia Rajat 
Published: October 2015

Purpose– This paper aims to examine the relationship between Indian rupee-US dollar exchange rate and the macroeconomic fundamentals for the post-economic reform period.Design/methodology/approach– The authors have used an empirical model which includes a range of important macroeconomic variables based on the basic monetary theories of exchange rate determination. At the first stage of the analysis, they have tested structural break in the data. Subsequently, they have employed the fully modified ordinary least square, Wald’s coefficient restriction and impulse response functions (IRF) to estimate the monetary model in the long- and short-run horizons.Findings– Results of analyses indicate that the macroeconomic fundamentals determine exchange rate in a significant way, but their effect varies sizably across the periods. The IRF illustrate the importance of interest rate in controlling exchange rate volatility.Practical implications– The analysis of the behavior of inter-relationship among macroeconomic variables will help policymakers in a deep-rooted understanding of this complex and time-varying relationship.Originality/value– Most of the existing studies have tested the impact of a single or a few macroeconomic fundamentals on exchange rate. But in the present study, we have tested the impact of a range of important variables, i.e. money supply, real income or output, price level and trade balance. Further, considering the importance of structural breaks in data, they authors have employed standard tests of structural break and incorporated the issue in the cointegration analysis.
Banks under X-rays: business model choices and trading
Authors: Campolongo Francesca , Cariboni Jessica , Ndacyayisenga Nathalie , Pagano Andrea 
Published: October 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to do an empirical analysis assessing whether banks highly involved into trading activities show specific business model choices. Key factors in the analysis are a proper measure for trading activities and a consistent classification of banks in terms of business choices.Design/methodology/approach– We investigate three measures for trading activities proposed by regulators in the context of bank structural reform in Europe. Through robust statistics we identify the key trading players and classify banks into a limited number of business model clusters, relying on a set of balance sheet and income statement indicators.Findings– Using a sample of 100 European banks in 2007-2012, results show that the measures identify similar, but not identical, sets of banks highly involved into trading. The measure proposed by the European Commission selects fewer banks and is more consistent over time. The business model analysis identifies six rather stable clusters, from small-medium retail-focused banks to very large investment groups. The measures coherently identify as key trading players the largest investment groups and select very few retailed focused banks. Differences among measures arise for very large retail-diversified and medium/large wholesale banks.Originality/value– These results could feed the debate on which measures for trading regulators could consider depending on the target of the reform they would implement. For instance we show that the measure proposed by the European Commission selects less well capitalized retail-diversified banks compared to the others.
“It takes fire to make steel”
Authors: Hines Erik M. , Borders L. DiAnne , Gonzalez Laura M. 
Published: October 2015

Purpose– This study aims to understand the asset and success factors that contributed to college completion of African American males who persisted through college. Only a dismal 22 per cent of African American males receive bachelor’s degrees compared to 41 per cent of White males (Kenaet al., 2015).Design/methodology/approach– The data were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. The authors interviewed two first-generation African-American males from rural backgrounds to capture their experiences of their process to college completion.Findings– Themes, based in cultural capital theory, that impacted their college persistence were identified within their pre-college experiences, college experiences and post-college perceptions. Recommendations for helping rural African-American males attend and persist through college are offered.Research limitations/implications– Only two participants from one predominately white institution in the southeastern USA were interviewed. Rural students from other geographical areas might have different backgrounds, challenges, assets and successes. Although the interview questions were based on relevant literature, they may not have covered all key aspects of the participants’ experiences. As in any qualitative study, biases of the researchers and research team may have influenced the results, although these were identified and shared before reading any of the transcripts and then discussed several times during the data analysis process.Practical implications– Educators not only should try to address the cultural capital limitations of these men but also highlight and build on their cultural assets. These assets include familial and platonic individuals who see their potential for success and encourage them to attend college to become something better than what they see in their community, reverse role models who encourage youth to make different choices than they did, media-based examples of successful Black students, cultural messages of strength and determination (e.g. Million Man March) and the exhortation to be an example that other African-American boys could look up to.Originality/value– This paper addresses the need for K-12 and higher education institutions to understand how to assist first-generation, rural African-American males in getting admitted to college, matriculating through college and graduating from college.
The examination of courses in the teacher education programs in terms of multicultural education
Authors: Arsal Zeki 
Published: October 2015

Purpose
– The aim of this study is to examine the pedagogy courses of teacher education programs implemented in two universities in Turkey and the USA in terms of multicultural education. The teaching practices in the pedagogy courses of teacher education programs in the USA might have multicultural education principles, and they could be models for teacher educators in Turkey. In addition, this study can contribute to the cross-cultural studies on teacher education between the USA and Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach
– Ten teacher educators participated in the study; all of them had experience in teaching pedagogy courses in the early childhood teacher education program. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The open-ended questions were related to objectives, content, teaching methods and activities. Assessment procedures and methods were also asked from the participants to evaluate their teaching experiences in terms of multicultural education. Thematic analysis was used to examine data of the study.

Findings
– The results of the study revealed that there were differences between the objectives, content, teaching process and assessment methods of the courses in the teacher education programs in Turkey and the USA in terms of multicultural education. The results of this study revealed that the objectives, content, teaching process and assessment methods planned and implemented by teacher educators in the USA are more multicultural and multiethnic when compared with their counterparts in Turkey.

Originality/value
– This study can contribute to the cross-cultural studies on teacher education between the USA and Turkey.
Pre-service teachers’ preparedness for teaching multicultural students
Authors: Magogwe Joel M. , Ketsitlile Lone E. 
Published: October 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this study was to find out if colleges of education in Botswana were preparing teachers to meet the diverse needs of prospective students in primary schools, and what were the teachers’ attitudes toward teaching such students.

Design/methodology/approach
– This study used questionnaire and interview methods to collect information from the students of a college of education in Botswana, who were undertaking teaching practices in various primary schools at the time of their study.

Findings
– The findings of this study show that the pre-service teachers were aware of multiculturalism in schools, but were not prepared by their colleges of education to teach culturally diverse students.

Research limitations/implications
– The implication is that colleges of education should design programs that adequately prepare teachers to better meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students in formal education to achieve true democracy in education.

Originality/value
– This study is essential in Botswana because multiculturalism seems to be lacking in the Botswana education system. Mokgosi and Jotia (2013) are concerned that the Botswana curricular lacks diversity in approach and is geared toward addressing the needs of the mainstream in Botswana society. In the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the few (if any) studies that explores pre-service teachers’ preparedness for teaching multicultural students.
Partnerships: the engaged university and library publishing
Authors: Cruz Laura , Fleming Rachel 
Published: October 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to delineate a model of library publishing, the library as publishing partner, that reflects the diversity of institutions in higher education.Design/methodology/approach– The model is based on a particular case, but also on the integration of literature on institutional theory, emerging scholarships and library science.Findings– The paper argues that increasing diversity in higher education requires us to think creatively and strategically about different models for library publishing. The library as publishing partner model is presented as an alternative to a one-size-fits-all model based on the experience of research institutions.Research limitations/implications– The library as publishing partner model is intended to spark further research and conversations about models for other institutional types.Practical implications– The library as publishing partner model has potential applications at other public comprehensive institutions (or those with similar missions).Social implications– The library as publishing partner model is intended to combat the tendency in higher education toward academic drift and to contribute to an increasingly diverse landscape in higher education.Originality/value– This paper presents an original model, the library as publishing partner, but also argues for an original perspective, in which academic libraries at different types of institutions can be constructively differentiated from each other.
Understanding the role of argument quality in the adoption of online reviews
Authors: Xu Xi , Yao Zhong 
Published: October 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to develop a research model that examines the effect of argument quality and argument perspective on the adoption of online reviews in a value-based decision model. In addition, the paper investigates the moderating effects of argument quality from needs theory.

Design/methodology/approach
– To validate the research model, a questionnaire survey was conducted in the Chinese online shopping context. Hypotheses were tested using partial least squares analysis on a data set of 208 online consumers.

Findings
– The results suggest that argument quality and argument perspective have positive impacts on perceived value, further influencing the adoption of online reviews. Moreover, the results confirm that the information credibility and quantity sufficiency of online reviews are positively associated with argument quality. The findings also indicate that argument quality mediates the relationship between argument perspective and perceived value.

Originality/value
– This work contributes to the literature by employing a value-based decision model to study the adoption of online reviews in the online shopping context, as well as the moderating effect of argument quality on the argument perspective to perceived value. The main conclusions of this study can be valuable to online marketing managers.
Preparation and characterisation of novel cross-linked poly (IBOMA-BA-DFMA) latex
Authors: Chen Lijun , Bao Zhongbin , Fu Zhengrong , Li Wen 
Published: October 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this research was to synthesize a novel cross-linked latex copolymerised by butyl acrylate (BA), isobornyl methacrylate (IBOMA), hydroxy propyl methacrylate (HPMA) and dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA). IBOMA is a very useful functional monomer. Its molecular structure not only contains bornyl acetate alkoxy but also includes a double bond, which can be copolymerised with other unsaturated monomers via free radical polymerization. The large nonpolar bicyclic alkyl in bornyl acetate alkoxy offers the polymer chain strong space steric protection, which endows the polymer with some special properties.

Design/methodology/approach
– The semi-continuous seeded emulsion polymerisation technology was adopted to copolymerise BA, IBOMA, HPMA and DFMA in the water phase, which was initiated with potassium persulfate (KPS) and emulsified with the mixed surfactants of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and OP-10.

Findings
– The particle size of the latex decreases with an increase in the amount of IBOMA. All the latexes have good mechanical stability and calcium ion stability. The latex has good film-forming property when the IBOMA amount is controlled moderately. The optimal IBOMA amount is 10.00 g. The thermal stability and water resistance of the film are improved.

Practical implications
– The latexes can be applied as a binder of coatings and adhesions.

Originality/value
– The effect of the amount of IBOMA and BA on the properties of the resultant latex and its film were investigated in detail. In comparison with the latexes copolymerised without IBOMA, the novel latex has better thermal stability and water resistance.
Spectrally selective nano-absorber pigments
Authors: Abdel-Mohsen Fawzia Fahim , Emira Hassan Salah Aly 
Published: October 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this study was to prepare colour pigments for use as spectrally selective coatings for solar absorbers.Design/methodology/approach– Nano-particles cobalt and nickel oxides were prepared by sol–gel techniques. These oxides were prepared with its molar ratios and annealed at 200, 400, 600 and 800°C. The structure of the pigments was characterized by infrared spectrometer, differential scanning calorimetry analysis, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope.Findings– Encapsulated cobalt and nickel oxides were completely formed at 800 and 600°C, and its colour was black and dark green, respectively. The results confirmed that black and green pigments combined selectivity with colour. Optical properties such as absorption and reflection were affected by the firing temperatures on cobalt and nickel oxides–gel polymers. All synthesized pigments consisted of nano-particles.Research limitations/implications– The prepared samples used in the present work were synthesized from cobalt chloride and nickel acetate. The salts were dispersed in polyacrylamide as a precursor.Practical implications– The prepared metal oxides had good solar properties.Originality/value– Colour becomes more important for thermal solar collectors, and it has attracted interest. This might be related to a generally growing attention towards architectural integration of solar energy systems into building. Architects would prefer different colours besides black, even if lower efficiency would have to be accepted.