bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sustainable growth rates: refining a measure
Authors: Ashta Arvind 
Published: October 2008

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to improve clarity and financial analysis for calculating a firm's sustainable growth rate, a useful concept for firms growing very fast as well as those in financial distress.

The paper is based on a review of literature and textbooks concerning the concept of sustainable growth rate.

The sustainable growth rate is the rate at which a company can grow without creating a cash flow problem, a concept developed by Robert C. Higgins in 1977 and in 1981 extended by him for continuous time frameworks. For discrete time frameworks, his textbook describes sustainable growth rates as a product of four ratios: the profit margin, the retention ratio, the asset turnover and the financial leverage ratio, of which the latter divides closing total assets by opening equity.

I agree with the components but suggest a slight modification. The leverage ratio should use the figures of the same date: it should use opening total assets divided by opening equity. Mathematically, this change would require modifying the asset turnover ratio to make it sales divided by opening total assets, instead of dividing by closing total assets as used by Higgins. This modification makes more intuitive sense since sales are created by assets rather than the other way round, which is far more indirect and remote and because of the timing problem.

The paper provides a simple illustration.

This modification would also require précising that the sustainable growth rate of firms in financial distress should use the asset turnover ratio using opening assets.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antioxidant properties and shelf‐life extension of fresh‐cut tomatoes stored at different temperatures
Authors: Odriozola‐Serrano Isabel , Soliva‐Fortuny Robert , Martín‐Belloso Olga 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: The feasibility of using modified atmosphere packaging (5 kPa O2 + 5 kPa CO2) to maintain the antioxidant properties of fresh‐cut tomatoes during shelf‐life was assessed through storage at different temperatures (5, 10, 15 and 20 °C). Health‐related compounds, antioxidant capacity, microbiological counts, physicochemical parameters and in‐package atmosphere of tomato slices were determined.RESULTS: Initial lycopene, vitamin C and phenolic contents and physicochemical parameters of tomato slices were well maintained for 14 days at 5 °C. Lycopene and total phenolic contents were enhanced over time in tomato slices stored at 15 and 20 °C. However, this increase in antioxidant compounds of fresh‐cut tomatoes during storage may be associated with excessive amounts of CO2 (R2 = 0.5679–0.7328) in the packages due to microbial growth. Although keeping tomato slices at temperatures above 10 °C increased their antioxidant content, the shelf‐life of the product was reduced by up 4 days.CONCLUSIONS: A storage temperature of 5 °C is appropriate for maintaining the microbiological shelf‐life of fresh‐cut tomatoes for up to 14 days and also allows the antioxidant properties of tomato slices to be retained over this period, thus reducing wounding stress and deteriorative changes. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Hypocholesterolaemic and antioxidant effects of kombucha tea in high‐cholesterol fed mice
Authors: Yang Zhi‐Wei , Ji Bao‐Ping , Zhou Feng , Li Bo , Luo Yangchao , Yang Li , Li Tao 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Traditional kombucha tea (TKT) is produced by mixed tea fungus. We previously proposed Gluconacetobacter sp. A4 as the key functional strain in kombucha culture, because it had strong ability to produce D‐saccharic acid‐1,4‐lactone (DSL, a crucial functional component in KT). This study investigated the hypocholesterolaemic and antioxidant activities of TKT and modified KT (MKT, tea broth fermented by single Gluconacetobacter sp. A4).RESULTS: In vitro, TKT and MKT, but not DSL equally increased the radical scavenging effects and inhibited low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. In vivo, the total cholesterol and LDL‐cholesterol (LDL‐C) lowering effects were not different between MKT and TKT. Compared with TKT, MKT showed a significantly elevated effect on the increase of antioxidantive enzymes activities (total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase) and the decrease of malondialdehyde. Meanwhile DSL demonstrated an enhanced activity in lipid profile and antioxidant activities.CONCLUSION: KT had the hypocholesterolaemic and antioxidant effects. These effects were largely attributed to DSL. MKT was similar to or even more powerful than TKT in antioxidant and hypocholesterolaemic effects. Thus, Gluconacetobacter sp. A4 was further established as the main functional microorganism in kombucha culture. Moreover, KT may be useful in treating obesity. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Network effects with quality change: an empirical analysis of the Japanese mobile telecommunications market, 1995–2001
Authors: Sunada Mitsuru 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis study assesses the role of network effects under rapid quality change in the Japanese mobile telecommunications market by utilizing a simple framework based on a discrete choice model of product differentiation. The results indicate the existence of network effects in the Japanese mobile telecommunications market during the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, changes in the value of mobile telecommunications services mainly depend on quality changes; the contribution of network effects is negligible. Additionally, over time, network effects make a diminishing contribution to improving consumers' valuations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extended testing across, not within, tasks raises diagnostic accuracy of smell testing in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Boesveldt Sanne , de Muinck Keizer Robert‐Jan O. , Knol Dirk L. , Wolters Erik Ch. , Berendse Henk W. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine whether extended olfactory testing within a single olfactory task and/or across olfactory tasks increases diagnostic accuracy of olfactory testing in Parkinson's disease (PD). Olfactory function was assessed using an extended version of the “Sniffin' Sticks”, comprising 32‐item odor identification and discrimination tasks, and a detection threshold task in 52 PD patients and 50 controls, all aged between 49 and 78 years. ROC curves based on sensitivity and specificity estimates were used to compare the diagnostic accuracy of extended and combined olfactory testing. There was no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between the 16‐item and the 32‐item versions of the odor identification or discrimination test. The single olfactory test that was best in discriminating between PD patients and controls was a 16‐item odor identification test. A combination of the 16‐item identification test and the detection threshold task had a significantly higher area under the curve than the 16‐item odor identification test alone. In conclusion, extended testing across, and not within, olfactory tasks increases diagnostic accuracy of olfactory testing in PD. A combination of an odor detection threshold task and a 16‐item odor identification test had the highest sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing between PD patients and controls. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Approximate implicit subspace iteration with alternating directions for LTI system model reduction
Authors: Zhou Yunkai , Sorensen D. C. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWe propose an approximate implicit subspace iteration with alternating directions framework for linear time‐invariant system model reduction. Within this framework, dominant eigensubspaces of the product of the system Gramians are approximated directly. This has advantage over approaches that consider the system Gramians separately. We construct two methods within the framework, one uses the QR updates and the other uses the SVD updates. Numerical results show the efficiency of the proposed methods. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Growth effects of methylphenidate among childhood cancer survivors: A 12‐month case‐matched open‐label study
Authors: Jasper Bruce W. , Conklin Heather M. , Lawford Joanne , Morris E. Brannon , Howard Scott C. , Wu Shengjie , Xiong Xiaoping , Shelso John , Khan Raja B. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBackgroundTo investigate the effect of stimulant medication [methylphenidate (MPH)] on growth patterns among survivors of childhood cancer (acute lymphoblastic leukemia or brain tumor).ProcedureUsing a case‐matched comparison design, childhood cancer survivors participating in a 12‐month open‐label MPH trial (n = 51) were compared with childhood cancer survivors not taking MPH (n = 51). Measures of body mass index (BMI), height, and weight were obtained at hospital visits and corrected for gender and age using Centers for Disease Control normative data.ResultsSignificant deceleration of BMI and weight, but not height, was observed during the 12‐month MPH trial for those children taking MPH.ConclusionsChildhood cancer survivors taking MPH experience significant, though modest, deceleration of BMI and weight across the first year of MPH intervention. The absence of height deceleration, and the presence of only modest BMI and weight deceleration, suggests that MPH is reasonably well tolerated by childhood cancer survivors with respect to growth. Such findings are encouraging in light of increasing evidence that MPH mitigates some of the cognitive late‐effects of cancer treatments. Nevertheless, on a case‐by‐case basis, clinicians should balance the intended benefits of MPH with potential growth effects in this vulnerable population. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:39–43. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Late presentation of retinoblastoma in Malaysia
Authors: Menon Bina S. , Alagaratnam Joseph , Juraida Eni , Mohamed Mahfuzah , Ibrahim Hishamshah , Naing Nyi Nyi 
Published: October 2008

AbstractAimsThe aims of this study were to review the presenting features, treatment and outcome for Malaysian children with retinoblastoma currently.Subjects and MethodsThis was a prospective study, conducted at the General Hospital Kuala Lumpur from August 2001until October 2007. Clinical data were collected at presentation and follow‐up.ResultsOne hundred five children were diagnosed to have retinoblastoma. There were 55 males and 50 females, ranging in age from 1 month to 14 years (median 20 months). Seventy‐six children were Malay in ethnic origin (73%), 14 Chinese (13%), 12 Indian (11%), and other races (3%). Sixty‐four children presented with leukocoria (61%), followed by 23 with proptosis (22%), 13 with squint (12%), and 3 with orbital cellulitis (3%). Thirty‐three children (31%) deferred treatment for 6 months or more. Overall, 56 children had extraocular disease (55%), 52 at presentation, 4 later. Seventy‐one children (68%) underwent primary enucleation, 76 received chemotherapy (72%), and 23 radiotherapy (22%). Fifty‐seven children are alive (54%), of whom 3 are blind (5%). Twenty‐seven children were lost to follow‐up (26%) and 21 have died (20%).ConclusionRetinoblastoma in Malaysia is still characterized by predominantly extraocular disease due to late presentation and high rates of abandonment. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:215–217. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preparation and morphology of amphiphilic polystyrene–poly (2‐vinylpyridine) heteroarm star copolymers prepared by ATRP
Authors: Yu Yang‐Yen , Chien Wen‐Chen , Chen Shih‐Ting 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: The self‐assembly of amphiphilic copolymers has been demonstrated to be a powerful route towards supramolecular objects with novel architectures, functions and physical properties. In this study, the synthesis and morphology of amphiphilic linear polystyrene (PS)‐block‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (P2VP) and heteroarm star PS‐star‐P2VP copolymers are studied. The dispersion of silver nanoparticles with the prepared PS‐block‐P2VP and PS‐star‐P2VP copolymers is also discussed.RESULTS: Amphiphilic copolymers with different P2VP chain lengths were successfully synthesized using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The copolymers prepared had low polydispersity indices. Various aggregate morphologies, including spheres, vesicles, rods, large compound micelles, two‐dimensional ring‐like and three‐dimensional hollow structures, were formed by varying the hydrophilic coil length and the selective solvent content. Silver nanoparticles showed good dispersion behavior in both types of copolymers.CONCLUSION: Based on this study, it will be possible to prepare metal/copolymer nanocomposites by direct mixing. Further, the PS‐block‐P2VP and PS‐star‐P2VP copolymers prepared can be used in the preparation of nanoporous films as templates and nanoparticles as nanoreactors. They can also be applied in terms of oil recovery, paints and cosmetics formulations, as well as in pharmaceutical and medical applications as rheological agents. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Synthesis and evaluation of properties of novel poly(benzimidazole‐amide)s
Authors: Ferreiro Juan J. , Campa José G. de la , Lozano Angel E. , de Abajo J. , Preston Jack 
Published: October 2008

AbstractNovel aromatic polyamides have been prepared by a combination of diacids containing preformed benzimidazole rings and aromatic diamines. By the phosphorylation method of polycondensation, polymers of high molecular weight (inherent viscosities between 0.81 and 2.13 dL/g) were obtained, which showed good solubility in polar aprotic solvents. The combination of aromatic amide linkages and benzimidazole rings along the polymer chain endowed the polymers with high thermal resistance and excellent mechanical properties. Glass transition temperatures fell in the range of 290–330 °C as measured by differential scanning calorimetry, and initial decomposition temperatures under nitrogen were over 480 °C as measured by thermogravimetric analysis. Some polymer films showed outstanding tensile strength (over 150 MPa) and moduli (up to 5 GPa). The presence of benzimidazole rings in the current polyamides greatly enhanced their hydrophilicity in comparison with classical wholly aromatic polyamides; thus, although aromatic polyamide films normally show water sorption values of only 4–8%, some of the current poly(benzimidazole amide)s show water sorption up to 19% in a 65% relative humidity atmosphere. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7566–7577, 2008
Electronic structure and optical properties of poly[3‐(4‐octylphenoxy)thiophene]: Experimental and theoretical studies
Authors: Ouhib Farid , Dkhissi Ahmed , Iratçabal Pierre , Hiorns Roger C. , Khoukh Abdel , Desbrières Jacques , Pouchan Claude , Dagron‐Lartigau Christine 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis article reports the synthesis and characterization of a new polythiophene derivative phenoxy‐substituted, the poly[3‐(4‐octylphenoxy)thiophene] (POPOT). The oxidative polymerization was found to yield low molecular weight material, whereas a modified Grignard metathesis (GRIM) yielded polymers of high molecular weights. One‐ and two‐dimensional NMR indicated the latter to be highly regioregular. POPOTs exhibited higher thermal stabilities than equivalent alkoxy‐substituted polythiophenes and exhibited red shifts in the absorption spectra with respect to equivalent. The absorption spectra showed a red shifted λmax at 540 nm in tetrahydrofuran solutions and 580 nm in spin‐coated films, with respect to poly(3‐alkylthiophene)s. A further red shift of 40 nm in going from solution (540 nm) to solid states (580 nm) is correlated with results from density functional theory electronic structure calculations. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7505–7516, 2008
Multi‐scaled microstructures in natural rubber characterized by synchrotron X‐ray scattering and optical microscopy
Authors: Toki Shigeyuki , Burger Christian , Hsiao Benjamin S. , Amnuaypornsri Sureerut , Sakdapipanich Jitladda , Tanaka Yasuyuki 
Published: October 2008

AbstractMulti‐scaled microstructures induced by natural impurities (i.e., proteins, phospholipids, carbohydrates) in natural rubber (NR) were investigated by synchrotron small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), and optical microscopy using several kinds of untreated and chemically treated un‐vulcanized samples. These microstructures include large aggregates (size less than 50 μm), well‐defined crystals (size less than a few 10 μm), and micelles (size much less than 10 μm). In un‐vulcanized NR samples, even though the concentrations of natural impurities are relatively low, the dispersion of these microstructures significantly affects the mechanical properties. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2456–2464, 2008
Morphology control and negative thermal expansion in cubic ZrWMoO8 powders
Authors: Liu Qinqin , Yang Juan , Sun Xiujuan , Cheng Xiaonong 
Published: October 2008

AbstractCubic ZrWMoO8 powders with rod‐like aggregate and thin fasciculus‐like and flower‐like rod cluster morphologies have been successfully fabricated with different amounts of (NH4)2HPO4 as surfactant using a hydrothermal method. X‐ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry were utilized to investigate the influence of the addition of (NH4)2HPO4 on the crystallization process and crystal morphology of the resulting products. The results show that the purity and the thermal expansion property of the resulting products are not influenced by the addition of (NH4)2HPO4. The cubic ZrWMoO8 powders with both rod‐like aggregate and flower‐like rod cluster morphologies show a positive thermal expansion property in the temperature range from room temperature to 120 °C, while they show a negative thermal expansion property in the temperature range from 120 °C to 700 °C. The abnormal thermal expansion property of cubic ZrWMoO8 below 120 °C is caused by the presence of water molecules. Investigations also show that the essence of the different morphologies of the ZrWMoO8 particles obtained is the result of the different aggregation modes of the nanorods, which act as nuclei, and the corresponding aggregation process is dominated by the addition of (NH4)2HPO4 and its amount. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Can nanotubes display auxetic behaviour?
Authors: Yao Yong Tao , Alderson Andrew , Alderson Kim Lesley 
Published: October 2008

AbstractFully generalised analytical expressions for longitudinal Poisson's ratio are developed for armchair and zigzag Single‐Walled Nanotubes (SWNTs) using an energy equivalent approach. Deformation is assumed due to simultaneous bond stretching and bond angle variation in response to an applied axial load. A parametric study is then performed to explore under what circumstances SWNTs may exhibit auxetic (negative Poisson's ratio) response. In principle, auxetic behaviour can be achieved by modifying the hexagonal cell shape to adopt a re‐entrant geometry for the case of bond angle variation being the dominant deformation mechanism. Alternatively, altering the length of the characteristic bond oriented in an off‐axis direction to below a critical value or modifying the force constants governing the deformation modes so that bond stretching dominates for the conventional hexagonal cell shape can also lead to auxetic behaviour. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Truss‐type systems exhibiting negative compressibility
Authors: Grima Joseph N. , Attard Daphne , Gatt Ruben 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWe propose novel two‐ and three‐dimensional truss structures made from rods of different materials connected together through pin‐joints to form triangular units which can exhibit anomalous compressibility properties. In particular, we show that these systems may be made to exhibit negative linear compressibility along certain directions or compressibilities that are even more positive than any of the component materials, i.e. the end product is a system with tunable compressibility properties that can be tailor made for particular practical applications. We also show that in specific cases, these systems can exhibit an overall negative area compressibility and sometimes even negative volumetric compressibility (i.e. negative bulk modulus) thus confirming that this property can indeed exist. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Metamodelling of auxetic cellular solids with differential evolution optimisation
Authors: Lew Tze Ling , Scarpa Fabrizio , Spencer Andrew , Worden Keith 
Published: October 2008

AbstractNumerical simulations of mechanical properties involve significant computational effort when implemented in large scale engineering design problems. The large number of computations involved can rule out many approaches due to the expense of carrying out many runs. One way of circumnavigating this problem is to replace the true system by an approximate surrogate model (metamodel), characterised by lower CPU times usage. Metamodels developed using Genetic Programming and Artificial Neural Networks have been developed in conjunction with a Differential Evolution (DE) optimisation framework, to identify optimal shape functions for auxetic honeycombs, both for hexagonal and hexachiral configurations. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
De novo sequencing of peptides secreted by the skin glands of the Caucasian Green Frog Rana ridibunda
Authors: Samgina Tatiana Yu. , Artemenko Konstantin A. , Gorshkov Vladimir A. , Ogourtsov Sergey V. , Zubarev Roman A. , Lebedev Albert T. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractAmphibian skin glands are known to secrete various types of bioactive peptides. The array of these peptides is specific for every frog species. The present research deals with the identification of peptides isolated from the skin secretion of the Marsh frog R. ridibunda inhabiting the Kolkhida Canyon of the Caucasian region. The research is based on comprehensive high‐performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) analysis of intact and chemically modified peptides. In particular, an oxidation procedure was applied directly to the crude skin secretion to open SS loops whereas N‐terminal acetylation was additionally carried out for one individual peptide. Sequences were determined by manual interpretation of electron capture dissociation (ECD) and collisionally induced dissociation (CID) tandem mass spectra. A total of 29 peptides were identified in the skin secretion of the Caucasian Marsh frog. The peptide profile is represented with disulfide‐containing peptides belonging to the brevinin, esculentin and ranatuerin families, neuropeptides of the bradykinin and bombesin families. Two identified peptides belonging to the ranatuerins are the first peptides of this family discovered in the skin secretions of European frogs. Ten of the identified peptides coincide with those reported earlier for the European Edible frog. Another ten are identical to those found in R. ridubunda from the Moscow region. This fact verifies the described method as being an efficient analytical tool to compare intra‐ and interspecific variabilities. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Critical random graphs and the structure of a minimum spanning tree
Authors: Addario‐Berry L. , Broutin N. , Reed B. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWe consider the complete graph on n vertices whose edges are weighted by independent and identically distributed edge weights and build the associated minimum weight spanning tree. We show that if the random weights are all distinct, then the expected diameter of such a tree is Θ(n1/3). This settles a question of Frieze and Mc‐Diarmid (Random Struct Algorithm 10 (1997), 5–42). The proofs are based on a precise analysis of the behavior of random graphs around the critical point. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2009