bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A physically based model of global freshwater surface temperature
Authors: van Beek Ludovicus P. H. , Eikelboom Tessa , van Vliet Michelle T. H. , Bierkens Marc F. P.
Published: August 2012

Temperature determines a range of physical properties of water and exerts a strong control on surface water biogeochemistry. Thus, in freshwater ecosystems the thermal regime directly affects the geographical distribution of aquatic species through their growth and metabolism and indirectly through their tolerance to parasites and diseases. Models used to predict surface water temperature range between physically based deterministic models and statistical approaches. Here we present the initial results of a physically based deterministic model of global freshwater surface temperature. The model adds a surface water energy balance to river discharge modeled by the global hydrological model PCR‐GLOBWB. In addition to advection of energy from direct precipitation, runoff, and lateral exchange along the drainage network, energy is exchanged between the water body and the atmosphere by shortwave and longwave radiation and sensible and latent heat fluxes. Also included are ice formation and its effect on heat storage and river hydraulics. We use the coupled surface water and energy balance model to simulate global freshwater surface temperature at daily time steps with a spatial resolution of 0.5° on a regular grid for the period 1976–2000. We opt to parameterize the model with globally available data and apply it without calibration in order to preserve its physical basis with the outlook of evaluating the effects of atmospheric warming on freshwater surface temperature. We validate our simulation results with daily temperature data from rivers and lakes (U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), limited to the USA) and compare mean monthly temperatures with those recorded in the Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS) data set. Results show that the model is able to capture the mean monthly surface temperature for the majority of the GEMS stations, while the interannual variability as derived from the USGS and NOAA data was captured reasonably well. Results are poorest for the Arctic rivers because the timing of ice breakup is predicted too late in the year due to the lack of including a mechanical breakup mechanism. Moreover, surface water temperatures for tropical rivers were overestimated, most likely due to an overestimation of rainfall temperature and incoming shortwave radiation. The spatiotemporal variation of water temperature reveals large temperature differences between water and atmosphere for the higher latitudes, while considerable lateral transport of heat can be observed for rivers crossing hydroclimatic zones, such as the Nile, the Mississippi, and the large rivers flowing to the Arctic. Overall, our model results show promise for future projection of global surface freshwater temperature under global change.
Mixed Methods, Culture, and Psychology: A Review of Mixed Methods in Culture-Specific Psychological Research
Authors: Bartholomew Theodore T. , Brown Jill R.
Published: August 2012

This methodological review was undertaken to explore how researchers use mixed methods in culture-specific psychological research. Mixed methods represents a budding approach with the potential to explore the nexus of context and psychology, capturing the uniqueness of psychological phenomena within cultures. Twelve empirical studies that used mixed methods in culturally specific psychology were examined to determine designs commonly used as well as patterns of mixed methods use in culturally driven psychological research. In line with the study by Creswell and Plano Clark (2007) , concurrent, sequential, and embedded designs were identified with some variation. Analyses indicate that mixed methods is an integral means to ask complex psychological questions without imposing Western norms and ignoring contextual factors. Culturally specific psychological research is discussed as an overarching discipline in which culture is at the forefront of psychological discovery and analysis. Mixed methods is situated within this broad discipline as a method that provides distinct contributions to studying the intersections of cultures and psychology.
Sacrifice and Optimism Among Thai Masseuses: The Mediating Role of Pride
Authors: Ariyabuddhiphongs Vanchai , Li Joseph
Published: August 2012

Sacrifice, pride, and optimism were assessed among 329 Thai masseuses/female sex workers. Sacrifice was conceptualized as the financial contribution the masseuses made to their families of origin; pride as the positive affect derived from helping family members through their sacrifice; and optimism as the general belief that good things would happen. In this sample, the majority had secondary or higher level of education and earned income higher than national average. Regression analysis with bootstrapping was used to test the mediating effect of pride on the sacrifice–optimism relationship. Over and above the covariates of education and income, results supported the research model: the indirect effect of Thai masseuses' sacrifice to optimism through the mediating role of pride was significant. This suggests a possible role of pride in sustaining Thai masseuses in their work. Beyond understanding the psychological dynamics in this unique population of sex workers, results contributed to the optimism literature by supporting the conceptualization of optimism as a dependent variable.
Self and Agency in Context: Ecologies of Abundance and Scarcity
Authors: Adams Glenn , Bruckmüller Susanne , Decker Stephanie
Published: August 2012

This work considers sociocultural foundations of self and agency in material affordances associated with affluence and poverty. We first review work that links independent self-construal and disjoint agency to material abundance. We then report an experiment among students at North American ( n = 52) and West African ( n = 60) universities, in which we manipulated abundance and scarcity concepts and assessed effects on a pronoun-selection measure of self-construal. Participants in the North American setting and abundance condition selected first-person pronouns (particularly, I and me) with greater frequency than did participants in the West African setting and scarcity condition. In contrast to modernity accounts, which propose that individualism promotes prosperity, results are consistent with the alternative account: that abundance can promote independent or disjoint varieties of self and agency. Discussion focuses on the distinction between cultural and structural varieties of sociocultural influence and contributions of international perspectives to psychological science.
Two independent activities define Ccm1p as a moonlighting protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Moreno J. Ignacio , Patlolla Babu , Belton Kerry R. , Jenkins Brenita C. , Radchenkova Polina V. , Piva Marta A.
Published: August 2012

Ccm1p is a nuclear-encoded PPR (pentatricopeptide repeat) protein that localizes into mitochondria of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It was first defined as an essential factor to remove the bI4 [COB (cytochrome b) fourth intron)] and aI4 [COX1 (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1) fourth intron] of pre-mRNAs, along with bI4 maturase, a protein encoded by part of bI4 and preceding exons that removes the intronic RNA sequence that codes for it. Later on, Ccm1p was described as key to maintain the steady-state levels of the mitoribosome small subunit RNA (15S rRNA). bI4 maturase is produced inside the mitochondria and therefore its activity depends on the functionality of mitochondrial translation. This report addresses the dilemma of whether Ccm1p supports bI4 maturase activity by keeping steady-state levels of 15S rRNA or separately and directly supports bI4 maturase activity per se. Experiments involving loss of Ccm1p, SMDC (sudden mitochondrial deprivation of Ccm1p) and mutations in one of the PPR (pentatricopeptide repeat) motifs revealed that the failure of bI4 maturase activity in CCM1 deletion mutants was not due to a malfunction of the translational machinery. Both functions were found to be independent, defining Ccm1p as a moonlighting protein. bI4 maturase activity was significantly more dependent on Ccm1p levels than the maintenance of 15S rRNA. The novel strategy of SMDC described here allowed the study of immediate short-term effects, before the mutant phenotype was definitively established. This approach can be also applied for further studies on 15S rRNA stability and mitoribosome assembly.
Swinging reciprocating Mach probes for the high field side scrape-off layer in DIII-D
Authors: Tsui C. K. , Taussig D. A. , Watkins M. G. , Boivin R. L. , Stangeby P. C.
Published: August 2012

A new pair of in situ reciprocating Mach probes termed swing probes has been deployed on the DIII‑D centerpost for the 2012 experimental campaign. When not deployed, the entire assembly is housed in a <5 cm space underneath the centerpost tiles. This design is unique in that the probe swings vertically through the edge plasma, taking measurements along a 180° arc with a 20 cm radius. The motion is powered by actuator coils that interact with the tokamak's magnetic field. Two electrodes maintain a Mach-pair orientation throughout the swing and provide measurements of saturation current, electron temperature, and parallel flow speeds up to the separatrix.
Investigation of iron opacity experiment plasma gradients with synthetic data analyses
Authors: Nagayama T. , Bailey J. E. , Rochau G. A. , Hansen S. B. , Mancini R. C. , MacFarlane J. J. , Golovkin I.
Published: August 2012

Experiments have been performed at Sandia National Laboratories Z-facility to validate iron opacity models relevant to the solar convection/radiation zone boundary. Sample conditions were measured by mixing Mg with the Fe and using Mg K-shell line transmission spectra, assuming that the plasma was uniform. We develop a spectral model that accounts for hypothetical gradients, and compute synthetic spectra to quantitatively evaluate the plasma gradient size that can be diagnosed. Two sample designs are investigated, assuming linear temperature and density gradients. First, Mg uniformly mixed with Fe enables temperature gradients greater than 10% to be detected. The second design uses Mg mixed into one side and Al mixed into the other side of the sample in an attempt to more accurately infer the sample gradient. Both temperature and density gradients as small as a few percent can be detected with this design. Experiments have successfully recorded spectra with the second design. In future research, the spectral model will be used to place bounds on gradients that exist in Z opacity experiments.
A hydrodynamic focusing microchannel based on micro-weir shear lift force
Authors: Yang Ruey-Jen , Hou Hui-Hsiung , Wang Yao-Nan , Lin Che-Hsin , Fu Lung-Ming
Published: August 2012

A novel microflow cytometer is proposed in which the particles are focused in the horizontal and vertical directions by means of the Saffman shear lift force generated within a micro-weir microchannel. The proposed device is fabricated on stress-relieved glass substrates and is characterized both numerically and experimentally using fluorescent particles with diameters of 5 μm and 10 μm, respectively. The numerical results show that the micro-weir structures confine the particle stream to the center of the microchannel without the need for a shear flow. Moreover, the experimental results show that the particles emerging from the micro-weir microchannel pass through the detection region in a one-by-one fashion. The focusing effect of the micro-weir microchannel is quantified by computing the normalized variance of the optical detection signal intensity. It is shown that the focusing performance of the micro-weir structure is equal to 99.76% and 99.57% for the 5-μm and 10-μm beads, respectively. Overall, the results presented in this study confirm that the proposed microcytometer enables the reliable sorting and counting of particles with different diameters.
Photophysics of fluorinated benzene. III. Hexafluorobenzene
Authors: Mondal T. , Reddy S. Rajagopala , Mahapatra S.
Published: August 2012

A theoretical study of the photoabsorption spectroscopy of hexafluorobenzene (HFBz) is presented in this paper. The chemical effect due to fluorine atom substitution on the electronic structure of benzene (Bz) saturates in HFBz. State- of-the-art quantum chemistry calculations are carried out to establish potential energy surfaces and coupling surfaces of five energetically low-lying electronic (two of them are orbitally degenerate) states of HFBz. Coupling of these electronic states caused by the Jahn-Teller (JT) and pseudo-Jahn-Teller (PJT) type of interactions are examined. The impact of these couplings on the nuclear dynamics of the participating electronic states is thoroughly investigated by quantum mechanical methods and the results are compared with those observed in the experiments. The complex structure of the S1 ← S0 absorption band is found to originate from a very strong nonadiabatic coupling of the S2 (of πσ* origin) and S1 (of ππ* origin) state. While S2 state is orbitally degenerate and JT active, the S1 state is nondegenerate. These states form energetically low-lying conical intersections (CIs) in HFBz. These CIs are found to be the mechanistic bottleneck of the observed low quantum yield of fluorescence emission, non overlapping absorption, and emission bands of HFBz and contribute to the spectral width. Justification is also provided for the observed two peaks in the second absorption (the unassigned “c band”) band of HFBz. The peaks observed in the third, fourth, and fifth absorption bands are also identified and assigned.
Differential phase contrast x-ray microimaging with scanning-imaging x-ray microscope optics
Authors: Takeuchi Akihisa , Suzuki Yoshio , Uesugi Kentaro
Published: August 2012

A novel x-ray microimaging system that consists of a scanning microscope optics with a one-dimensional focusing (line-focusing) device and an imaging microscope optics with a one-dimensional objective is developed. These two optical systems are set normal to each other regarding the optical axis. A two-dimensional image is obtained with one-dimensional translation scan of the line probe. During scans, positional data in the normal to the scanning direction are obtained simultaneously with the imaging microscope optics. Differential phase contrast (DPC) image and absorption contrast (AC) image can be arbitrarily obtained by image processing after data acquisition. Preliminary experiment has been carried out by using a couple of one-dimensional Fresnel zone plate as the linear-focusing device and the one-dimensional objective. Two-dimensional DPC and AC images of test sample have been successfully obtained with 8 keV x-rays.
Analysis of statistical compositional alloy fluctuations in InGaN from aberration corrected transmission electron microscopy image series
Authors: Schulz T. , Remmele T. , Markurt T. , Korytov M. , Albrecht M.
Published: August 2012

We propose an approach that improves the measuring precision of lattice parameters in semiconductor alloys from high resolution transmission electron microscopy images on the unit cell scale. The method is based on the evaluation of a series of images taken under optimized imaging conditions in an aberration corrected microscope. By comparing image simulations with experimental images, we show that hardly avoidable amorphous surface layers are the main cause for the limited measuring precision. We use our approach to analyze the In distribution within a nominal In0.09Ga0.91N and In0.16Ga0.84N layer and show that both layers do not show a deviation from a random alloy. In addition, we are able to resolve local variations of the in-plane (a-lattice) and out of plane (c-lattice) parameter at the unit cell scale. These fluctuations are due to the local strain within the InGaN alloy caused by the different atomic radii of In and Ga.
The coercivity and domain structure of Sm(CobalFe0.1CuxZr0.033)6.9 (x = 0.07, 0.10, 0.13) high temperature permanent magnets
Authors: Wang Guangjian , Jiang Chengbao
Published: August 2012

The domain structures have been found to be different in the Sm(CobalFe0.1CuxZr0.033)6.9 magnets (x = 0.07, 0.10, 0.13) with the abnormal and normal temperature dependence of coercivity by quenching at 400 °C and 600 °C, respectively. In the magnets with abnormal temperature dependence of coercivity, the domain structure shows more like the strip domain which is typical domain shape of the ferromagnets of easy-axis anisotropy, while the domain structure becomes narrower and shows more additional domains in the magnets with normal temperature dependence of coercivity. The difference of the domain structure can be attributed to whether the Cu is homogeneous in the 1:5 cell boundary phase, and this will lead to different domain wall pinning and different temperature dependence of coercivity in the magnets according to the noncontinuous domain wall pinning model. As the Cu is nearly homogeneous in the 1:5 cell boundary phase, the domain wall should be pinned near the interface between 2:17 cell phase and 1:5 cell boundary phase, and the coercivity shows abnormal temperature dependence. On the contrary, the domain wall should be pinned into the 1:5 cell boundary phase, where a gradient of Cu content exists, leading to the normal temperature of coercivity.
Magneto-optic surface plasmon resonance optimum layers: Simulations for biological relevant refractive index changes
Authors: Kämpf Kerstin , Kübler Sebastian , Wilhelm Herberg Friedrich , Ehresmann Arno
Published: August 2012

The transfer matrix method is used to simulate the magneto-optic surface plasmon resonance (MOSPR) of Au/Co/Au trilayer systems focused on the magneto-optic activity in transverse configuration. The results show a strong thickness dependence of the normalized difference of reflectivity at opposite directions of the magnetization (δ-signal) and a strong change of the δ-signal with the refractive index n of the biologically active layer. Within a range of the refractive index typically covered by a commercial SPR biosensor (n=1.33-1.40), the magnitude of the δ-signal of an Au(10.75 nm)/Co(6 nm)/Au(20.25 nm) trilayer decreases from small to large n by a factor >63. This finding demonstrates that the enhanced sensitivity of an MOSPR biosensor can be exploited only by defined thicknesses of the metal layers for distinct refractive index regions.
The role of compressibility in energy release by magnetic reconnection
Authors: Birn J. , Borovsky J. E. , Hesse M.
Published: August 2012

Using resistive compressible magnetohydrodynamics, we investigate the energy release and transfer by magnetic reconnection in finite (closed or periodic) systems. The emphasis is on the magnitude of energy released and transferred to plasma heating in configurations that range from highly compressible to incompressible, based on the magnitude of the background β (ratio of plasma pressure over magnetic pressure) and of a guide field in two-dimensional reconnection. As expected, the system becomes more incompressible, and the role of compressional heating diminishes, with increasing β or increasing guide field. Nevertheless, compressional heating may dominate over Joule heating for values of the guide field of 2 or 3 (in relation to the reconnecting magnetic field component) and β of 5–10. This result stems from the strong localization of the dissipation near the reconnection site, which is modeled based on particle simulation results. Imposing uniform resistivity, corresponding to a Lundquist number of 103 to 104, leads to significantly larger Ohmic heating. Increasing incompressibility greatly reduces the magnetic flux transfer and the amount of energy released, from ∼10% of the energy associated with the reconnecting field component, for zero guide field and low β, to ∼0.2%−0.4% for large values of the guide field By0>5 or large β. The results demonstrate the importance of taking into account plasma compressibility and localization of dissipation in investigations of heating by turbulent reconnection, possibly relevant for solar wind or coronal heating.
Preparation and atomic structure of reconstructed (0001) InGaN surfaces
Authors: Friedrich C. , Biermann A. , Hoffmann V. , Kneissl M. , Esser N. , Vogt P.
Published: August 2012

The preparation and surface structure of high quality group-III-polar (0001) InGaN layers grown by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy have been investigated. In order to obtain a clean and well-ordered surface we studied the preparation by annealing at various temperatures under ultra high vacuum and nitrogen-rich conditions in nitrogen-plasma. We show that different InGaN surface reconstructions such as (1×1), (1 + 1/6), (2×2), and (3×3)R30° can be obtained as observed by low energy electron diffraction. Dependent on the annealing temperature and nitrogen supply these surfaces exhibit significant differences in stoichiometry and morphology as determined by Auger electron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy measurements. The (1×1), (2×2), and (3×3)R30° superstructures are terminated by single group-III-adatoms, whereas the (1 + 1/6) exhibits a incommensurate overlayer of group-III-atoms. We show that the (2×2) and (3×3)R30° an In depletion in the first group-III layer and In or Ga adatoms in ontop position. Strain-relaxation is suggested to explain this structure formation.
Oscillating plasma bubbles. I. Basic properties and instabilities
Authors: Stenzel R. L. , Urrutia J. M.
Published: August 2012

Plasma bubbles are created in an ambient discharge plasma. A bubble is a plasma volume of typically spherical shape, which is separated from the ambient plasma by a negatively biased grid of high transparency. Ions and electrons from the ambient plasma flow into the bubble volume. In steady state the flow of particles and currents is divergence-free, which is established by the plasma potential inside the bubble. The grid has two sheaths, one facing the ambient plasma, the other the bubble plasma. The inner sheath is observed to become unstable, causing the plasma potential in the bubble to oscillate. The instability arises from an excess of ions and a deficiency of electrons. Its frequency is in the range of the ion plasma frequency but depends on all parameters which influence the charge density in the sheath. When the grid voltage is very negative, electrons cannot enter the outer sheath, and the inner sheath becomes a virtual anode which reflects ions such that the bubble interior is empty. When an electron source is placed into the bubble it can neutralize the ions and the bubble refills. Without plasma sources or sinks the bubble plasma is extremely sensitive to perturbations by probes. Modified current-voltage characteristics of Langmuir and emissive probes are demonstrated. A sequence of papers first describes the basic steady-state properties, then the time evolution of bubbles, the effects of electron sources in bubbles, and the role of the grid and bubble geometry. The physics of plasma bubbles is important to several fields of basic plasma physics such as sheaths, sheath instabilities, diagnostic probes, electrostatic confinement, and current and space charge neutralization of beams.
Defect compensation in LaAlO3 perovskite-based high dielectric constant oxides
Authors: Li H. , Robertson J.
Published: August 2012

We show that the gap states of the oxygen vacancy in LaAlO3 and related high dielectric constant (high K) perovskite oxides can be passivated by fluorine, or by substitutional nitrogen or by substitutional alkaline earth metal atoms at adjacent sites. The mechanism works by the substitutions completing an electronic closed shell, plus a repulsion of the now empty vacancy gap state into the conduction band by a relaxation of the adjacent Al and La ions away from the vacancy because it is locally +2 charged.
Origin of high-temperature relaxor-like behavior in CaCu3Ti4O12
Authors: Wang Chun-Chang , Zhang Mei-Ni , Xu Ke-Biao , Wang Guo-Jing
Published: August 2012

The relaxor-like behavior in CaCu3Ti4O12 was investigated in details. The dielectric anomaly was found to be an extrinsic phenomenon related to oxygen vacancy. Annealing treatments in N2 and O2 atmospheres revealed that the relaxor-like behavior is composed of two types of relaxations with close relaxation parameters. Impedance analysis showed that the relaxations appearing in the low- and high-temperature wings of the anomaly are related to the dipolar and Maxwell-Wagner (MW) relaxation, respectively. Both relaxations are induced by the hopping motions of confined carriers related to single-ionized oxygen vacancies, and they are intimately linked with each other. The relaxor-like anomaly is attributed to the combining effect of these two relaxations, i.e., the dipolar relaxation first creates a steplike increase followed by a rapid decrease in dielectric constant caused by the MW relaxation, thereby, giving rise to the relaxor-like behavior.
Photoexpansion and nano-lenslet formation in amorphous As2S3 thin films by 800 nm femtosecond laser irradiation
Authors: Velea A. , Popescu M. , Sava F. , Lőrinczi A. , Simandan I. D. , Socol G. , Mihailescu I. N. , Stefan N. , Jipa F. , Zamfirescu M. , Kiss A. , Braic V.
Published: August 2012

Two step laser processing has been used for the formation of nano-lenslets transmitting in red/infrared region of the optical spectrum on the surface of arsenic sulphide glass films. In the first step the films were obtained by pulsed laser deposition (248 nm), while in the second step the lenslets were created by low power femtosecond (800 nm) laser irradiation. Photoexpansion of the material along with simultaneous migration of chalcogen atoms in the irradiated area was the main phenomena involved in the generation of these structures. The maximum photoexpansion observed was 5.1%. At higher laser power, material ablation was evidenced.
Tactile feedback control for a gripper driven by SMA springs
Authors: Yan Shaoze , Yang Tianfu , Liu Xiajie , Wang Rencheng
Published: August 2012

This paper presents a gripper actuated by a pair of differential shape memory alloy (SMA) springs with the tactile feedback controller of the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films. The SMA actuator is heated by the electric current and cooled by the fans, and a proportional-integral (PI) controller is proposed to control the output position of the gripper. In order to handle soft, deformable or slippery objects very well, the PVDF sensor is added to the finger of the gripper to perform the tactile feedback when it grasps the objects. The hardware system is established including data acquisition and signal processing parts, the control system is programmed. Experiments of grasping a soft object are carried out, and the gentle grasp ability of the gripper is also tested. Experiments results show that the SMA gripper with the PVDF tactile sensor could grasp a soft object through controlling tactile forces.
Local Computation of Lightness on Articulated Surrounds
Authors: Sawayama Masataka , Kimura Eiji
Published: August 2012

Lightness of a grey target on a uniform light (or dark) surround changes by articulating the surround (articulation effect). To elucidate the processing of lightness underlying the articulation effect, the present study introduced transparency over a dark surround and investigated its effects on lightness of the target. The transparency was produced by adding a contiguous external field to the dark surround while keeping local stimulus configuration constant. Results showed that the target lightness did not change on the articulated surround when a dark transparent filter was perceived over the target, although it did on the uniform surround. These results suggest that image decomposition into a transparent filter and an underlying surface does not necessarily change lightness of the surface if the surface is articulated. Moreover, the present study revealed that articulating the surround does not always enhance lightness contrast; it can reduce the contrast effect when the target luminance is not the highest within the surround. These findings are consistent with the theoretical view that lightness perception on articulated surfaces is determined locally within a spatially limited region, and they also place a constraint on how the luminance distribution within the limited region is scaled.
Looking at Two Paintings at Once: Luminance Edges Can Gate Colors
Authors: Anstis Stuart , Vergeer Mark , Van Lier Rob
Published: August 2012

Two paintings, O1 and O2, were split into their luminance (grayscale) components L1, L2 and their color components C1, C2. The two color components, C1, C2, were transparently superimposed. Adding the grayscale of the first painting (= C1 + C2 + L1) looked like the original O1, while adding the grayscale of the second painting (= C1 + C2 + L2) looked like the original O2. Conclusion: the luminance contours selected or gated the congruent color contours and ignored non-congruent colors from the other painting.
Molecular phylogeny of earthworms (Annelida:Crassiclitellata) based on 28S, 18S and 16S gene sequences
Authors: James Samuel W. , Davidson Seana K.
Published: August 2012

Relationships among, and content of, earthworm families have been controversial and unstable. Here we analyse molecular data from 14 Crassiclitellata families represented by 54 genera, the non-crassiclitellate ‘earthworms’ of the Moniligastridae, plus several clitellate outgroups. Complete 28S and 18S gene sequences and a fragment of the 16S gene analysed separately or in concatenated Bayesian analyses indicate that most previously proposed suprafamilial taxa within the Crassiclitellata are para- or polyphyletic. There is strong support for the Metagynophora, which consists of the Crassiclitellata and Moniligastridae. The most basal within-Clitellata branch leads to the small families Komarekionidae, Sparganophilidae, Kynotidae, and Biwadrilidae, found in widely separated areas. A clade composed of Lumbricidae, Ailoscolecidae, Hormogastridae, Criodrilidae and Lutodrilidae appears near the base of the tree, but Criodrilidae and Biwadrilidae are not closely related because the former is sister to the Hormogastridae + Lumbricidae clade. The Glossoscolecidae is here separated into two families, the Glossoscolecidae s.s. and the Pontoscolecidae (fam. nov.). The Megascolecidae is monophyletic within a clade including all acanthodrilid earthworms. There is strong support for the Benhamiinae (Acanthodrilidae s.l.) as sister to Acanthodrilidae + Megascolecidae, but taxon sampling within other acanthodrilid groups was not sufficient to reach further conclusions. The resulting trees support revised interpretations of morphological character evolution.’
Transitions across thresholds of vegetation states in the grazed rangelands of Western Australia
Authors: Watson I. W. , Novelly P. E.
Published: August 2012

Thresholds and transitions between vegetation states are accepted components of models of rangeland dynamics. By definition, transitions represent changes from one state to another that are enduring, and are unlikely to be reversed within an acceptable management time frame or without significant inputs of management. A monitoring dataset, containing 306 grassland sites and 919 shrubland sites, was used to identify transitions that have occurred in the pastoral rangelands of Western Australia between 1993 and 2010. The grassland sites were assessed on five occasions and the shrubland sites on three occasions. Transition between vegetation states was assessed using the expert knowledge of the authors. A total of 11% of the grassland sites and 1% of the shrubland sites were determined to have undergone a transition, negative as well as positive from a pastoral perspective, over the sampling period. It is argued that, once a transition has occurred, both pastoral managers and government regulators need to adjust to the new conditions, altering management to best address the new state and altering regulatory expectations so that range condition is assessed within the context of the current state and its further capacity to change.
Energy content of common fuels in upland pine savannas of the south-eastern US and their application to fire behaviour modelling
Authors: Reid Angela M. , Robertson Kevin M.
Published: August 2012

Knowing the energy content of wildland fire fuels is important for predicting fire behaviour and for interpreting the pyrogenicity of plant communities. Energy content was determined for fuel categories characteristic of south-eastern US pine savannas, specifically live herbs, 10-h fuels, broadleaf litter, fine dead surface fuels, needle litter from three pine species, and other 1-h fuels combined. Pine needles had higher energy content than the other fuels, fine litter had lower energy content than the other fuels, and all other categories did not differ from each other. Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) needle litter had lower energy content than loblolly (P. taeda) and shortleaf (P. echinata) pines, which did not differ from each other. Measured energy contents were used to estimate energy content for total fuel loads in native and old-field pine savannas of southern Georgia and northern Florida based on data from a previous study that provided fuel loads in each fuel category. Fire behaviour was predicted using the BehavePlus 5.0.0 default and newly estimated energy contents. This comparison revealed that fire behaviour parameters in the studied native and old-field pine savannas are overpredicted using the default energy content. In savannas, energy content estimates should take into consideration the proportion of fuel types, especially tree leaf litter relative to other fine fuels, for accurately predicting fire behaviour.
Australian wildfire litigation
Authors: Eburn Michael , Dovers Stephen
Published: August 2012

Legal liability is an issue that concerns volunteer firefighters and may affect the ability of fire managers to perform their tasks. There are calls to guarantee firefighters will not be personally liable for actions undertaken in good faith. This paper reviews post-wildfire litigation in Australia and claims for compensation made against the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. Although the data are incomplete and likely to underestimate the actual claims history, analysis of the available data does show that the number of claims for compensation is small given the very large number of fires and hazard reduction burns across Australia. There is no evidence of extensive post-fire litigation or of fire agencies or firefighters being held liable for actions taken in the course of firefighting The evidence does not support assertions that there is an ‘increasing flood’ of legal claims arising from firefighting. Post-fire litigation is compared with other proceeding such as Royal Commissions and coronial inquiries. It is argued that it is not liability, but the lengthy post-event inquiry process and the risk of personal criticism that should be the concern of fire managers and firefighters.
A multivariate analysis of biophysical factors and forest fires in Spain, 1991 - 2005
Authors: Verdú Felipe , Salas Javier , Vega-García Cristina
Published: August 2012

The main goal of this study was to explain the relationship between forest fires and different climatic, topographic and vegetation factors, establishing explanatory models from multivariate analysis. The study area comprised peninsular Spain. Two dependent variables were considered: probability of burning and fire size class, from a forest-fire map derived from visual analysis of satellite images from 1991 to 2005 (3337 fires greater than 25 ha). Logistic regression, discriminant analysis and regression trees were used to analyse the probability of burning. The models showed a significant relationship with land cover and slope, where the classification achieved an agreement of ~66%, and this was very similar for the three statistical methods used. Discriminant analysis and regression trees were used to model fire size class. These models appeared more related to ecozones and climatic variables (winter precipitation and mean summer temperature). In this case, the best classification results were obtained in the category of very large fires (>5000 ha), with an agreement above 80%. Regression trees achieved better results for fire size class models.
LABOUR MARKET DUALISATION IN FRANCE
Authors: Marx Paul
Published: August 2012

The dualisation literature has identified the divide between standard and non-standard workers as a new form of inequality in European labour markets. However, we still lack an explanation for this development. One obstacle is that research on the subject is scattered across academic disciplines with different theoretical perspectives. The article confronts a political economy with an economic perspective on dualisation. It discusses how both relate to each other and what the respective empirical implications are. Both perspectives are assessed in a historical case study on the growth of fixed-term contracts (FTCs) in France. It shows that the changing use of FTCs cannot be explained by deregulation and should be seen as part of a broader change toward flexibility-oriented management styles. Rather than the other way around, the factual use of FTCs in France affected the politics of labour market reform by forcing policy makers to respond to the changing behaviour of firms and job seekers.
A Standpipe Screen Design to Prevent Fry Loss during Tank Cleaning
Authors: Clayton Richard D , Summerfelt Robert C
Published: August 2012

Intensive larviculture of walleye Sander vitreus and other fishes require fine screens over the standpipe to retain the small fish. The high feeding rate of small (<710-μm) microparticulate feed requires that screens be removed for daily cleaning with pressurized water to remove waste feed, oil, and biofilm. Standard screens have an open bottom that can trap fry in the space between the standpipe and the screen when the screen is replaced. Here we describe a modification of a standpipe screen that prevents the fry from entrapment in the space between screen and standpipe.

Received April 23, 2010; accepted June 22, 2010
Lipid and Fatty Acid Requirements of Tilapias
Authors: Lim Chhorn , Yildirim-Aksoy Mediha , Klesius Phillip
Published: August 2012

Tilapias have been shown to have a dietary requirement for linoleic (n-6) series fatty acids (FAs; 18:2[n-6] or 20:4[n-6]). The optimum dietary levels of n-6 previously reported were 0.5% for redbelly tilapia Tilapia zillii and 1.0% for Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Tilapias may also have a requirement for the linolenic (n-3) FA series (18:3[n-3], 20:5[n-3], or 22:6[n-3]), but the optimum dietary requirement levels for n-3 in various tilapia species have not been determined. The presence of high levels of either n-6 or n-3 may spare the requirement of the other, although n-6 appears to have a better growth-promoting effect than n-3. Tilapias possess the ability to desaturate and chain elongate 18:2(n-6) to 20:4(n-6) and 18:3(n-3) to 20:5(n-3) and 22:6(n-3). Plant oils that are rich in n-6, n-3, or both FA series (e.g., soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, palm oil products, and linseed oil) have been reported to be good lipid sources for tilapia. Beef tallow and pork lard are poorly utilized by tilapia. However, these lipids can be used in combination with other lipid sources provided that the essential FA requirements are met. Information on the nutritional value of fish oil for tilapias is inconsistent. Some studies have shown that the nutritional value of fish oil is similar to that of plant oils, while others have reported poor performance of diets that contain fish oil. Fish oil provided good spawning performance for tilapia broodstock reared in brackish water, whereas soybean oil yielded good reproductive performance in freshwater. The sparing effect of dietary lipids on protein utilization has also been demonstrated. However, tilapias do not tolerate as high a dietary lipid level as do salmonids. A dietary lipid level of 5–12% has been suggested as optimum in diets for tilapias.

Received April 28, 2010; accepted August 9, 2010
Effects of Dietary Lipid Concentration and a Dairy–Yeast Prebiotic on Growth, Body Composition, and Survival of Stressed Goldfish Challenged with Flavobacterium columnare
Authors: Lochmann Rebecca T , Sink T D , Phillips H
Published: August 2012

Preliminary feeding trials with goldfish Carassius auratus were conducted by using four practical diets with 4% or 10% supplemental poultry fat (PF) and 0% or 2% dairy–yeast prebiotic. Total lipid in the diets ranged from 9.7% to 16.4%, which is higher than the lipid level in most commercial baitfish diets. Aquarium and pool trials were conducted to compare diet effects in the presence or absence of natural foods. In aquaria, weight gain, survival, and feed conversion were similar among diets, but whole-body lipid and dry matter percentages were higher in goldfish that were fed 10% PF diets than in fish receiving 4% PF diets. In pools, weight gain was higher in goldfish that received the 10% PF diets or the 4% PF diet with prebiotic than in fish that were fed the 4% PF diet without prebiotic. Lipid and dry matter were higher in goldfish that were given 10% PF diets than in fish that were given 4% PF diets. The presence of natural foods in pools may partly explain the differences in results between aquaria and pools. Subsequent bacterial challenges with Flavobacterium columnare were conducted separately for fish in pools that received the 4% PF and 10% PF diets. Some groups of fish were stressed prior to exposure. Stressed goldfish that were fed the 4% PF diet with prebiotic had a survival rate similar to that of unstressed fish that were fed the basal or prebiotic diets, but stressed fish that were given the 4% PF diet without prebiotic had lower survival. Unstressed goldfish that received the 10% PF diets had higher survival than stressed fish, but there was no prebiotic effect. Preliminary results indicate that the dairy–yeast prebiotic has some potential to protect stressed goldfish against F. columnare infection, but more studies are needed to determine whether dietary lipid concentration influences the results.

Received February 16, 2010; accepted January 20, 2011
Effects of Temperature and Salinity on Larval Growth, Survival, and Development of the Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus
Authors: Li Li , Li Qi , Sun Xiujun , Kong Lingfeng
Published: August 2012

For large-scale seed production of sea cucumbers (class Holothuroidea) through a hatchery system, it is imperative to know the effects of environmental variables on larval growth, survival, and development. In this study, separate experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of temperature and salinity on growth, survival, and development of larval sea cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus before feeding (1–3 d postfertilization) and during feeding (5–9 d postfertilization). On day 3, prefeeding larvae showed a maximum survival rate of 95.9% at 21°C and a minimum survival rate of 77.3% at 27°C. On day 8, the highest growth and survival rates of feeding larvae were observed at 21°C (80.7 μm/d and 90.8%, respectively) and 24°C (93.6 μm/d and 87.7%). The highest percentage of doliolaria-stage larvae (34.3%) was observed at 24°C, indicating that the most rapid development of A. japonicus larvae occurred at this temperature. On day 3, the maximum survival rate of prefeeding larvae (92.4%) was observed at a salinity of 30 practical salinity units (psu). On day 9, the maximum growth rate of feeding larvae (65.6 μm/d) and the highest percentage of doliolaria (26.7%) were observed at 30 psu. On day 9, the maximum survival rate of feeding larvae (89.5%) also occurred at 30 psu, whereas no larvae survived at 10, 15, 40, or 45 psu. These results demonstrate that a water temperature of 21–24°C and a salinity of 30 psu are the most suitable conditions for the early development of A. japonicus.
An Evaluation of Two Egg Collection and Two Fertilization Techniques during Landlocked Fall Chinook Salmon Spawning
Authors: Wipf Matt , Barnes Michael E , Durben Dan J
Published: August 2012

In an attempt to improve embryo survival of landlocked fall Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, we compared two egg collection techniques and two different egg fertilization (sperm activation) protocols on egg survival to the eyed stage of development. A total of four treatments were used with 13 females: egg collection into a suspended net and fertilization either with or without ovarian fluid and egg collection into a hard plastic pan and subsequent fertilization either with or without ovarian fluid. There was no significant difference in survival to the eyed stage with respect to collection technique. However, the presence of ovarian fluid during sperm activation and fertilization had a small but significantly negative effect on egg survival, decreasing mean eyed egg survival by approximately 4.0%. Overall, eyed egg survival was improved in 10 of the 13 spawns fertilized without ovarian fluid. To maximize embryo survival, removal of ovarian fluid prior to fertilization is recommended for landlocked fall Chinook salmon eggs.
Effects of Replacement of Menhaden Fish Meal Protein by Solvent-Extracted Soybean Meal Protein Supplemented with or without l-Methionine and l-Lysine in the Diet of Juvenile Southern Flounder
Authors: Alam Md Shah , Watanabe Wade O , Myers Amanda R , Rezek Troy C , Carroll Patrick M , Longfellow Shawn
Published: August 2012

Two feeding experiments were conducted to study the effects of different levels of solvent-extracted soybean meal on the growth and body composition of juvenile southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma. In experiment 1, seven diets were formulated, replacing menhaden fish meal protein (FMP) with soybean meal protein (SBP) at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60% without supplementing amino acids. In experiment 2, eight diets were formulated, replacing FMP with SBP at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70% and supplementing with l-methionine and l-lysine. In the test diets, l-methionine and l-lysine were supplemented to approximate the methionine and lysine level found in the 45% whole-body protein of southern flounder. All diets were formulated to have the same crude protein (45%) and lipid levels (12%), and all diets contained 9% squid meal and 5% krill meal to improve palatability. Each of the test diets was fed two times a day to triplicate groups of flounder (average weight = 0.61 g for experiment 1 and 1.63 g for experiment 2). Experiments 1 and 2 were conducted for 42 and 60 d, respectively. Fish were held in 75-L recirculating seawater tanks at 15 fish per tank. In both experiments, no significant differences were observed in body weight gain (WG), specific growth rate, feed intake, feed conversion and protein efficiency ratios, and the whole-body proximate composition among fish fed diets replacing 0–40% of FMP with SBP. When compared with fish fed 0% SBP, WG decreased significantly for the fish fed more than 40% SBP. Broken-line regression showed that the optimum levels of FMP replacement with SBP in the diet of southern flounder without and with supplemental methionine and lysine were 35.1% and 38.9%, respectively, when diets contained 9% squid meal and 5% krill meal.