bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nascent-Seq reveals novel features of mouse circadian transcriptional regulation
Authors: Menet Jerome S , Rodriguez Joseph , Abruzzi Katharine C , Rosbash Michael
Published: November 2012

A substantial fraction of the metazoan transcriptome undergoes circadian oscillations in many cells and tissues. Based on the transcription feedback loops important for circadian timekeeping, it is commonly assumed that this mRNA cycling reflects widespread transcriptional regulation. To address this issue, we directly measured the circadian dynamics of mouse liver transcription using Nascent-Seq (genome-wide sequencing of nascent RNA). Although many genes are rhythmically transcribed, many rhythmic mRNAs manifest poor transcriptional rhythms, indicating a prominent contribution of post-transcriptional regulation to circadian mRNA expression. This analysis of rhythmic transcription also showed that the rhythmic DNA binding profile of the transcription factors CLOCK and BMAL1 does not determine the transcriptional phase of most target genes. This likely reflects gene-specific collaborations of CLK:BMAL1 with other transcription factors. These insights from Nascent-Seq indicate that it should have broad applicability to many other gene expression regulatory issues.
A square‐torsion modification of Einstein‐Cartan theory
Authors: Vignolo S. , Fabbri L. , Stornaiolo C.
Published: November 2012

In the present paper a theory of gravity is considered in which not only curvature but also torsion is explicitly present in the Lagrangian, both with their own coupling constant. In particular, the couplings to Dirac fields and spin fluids are discussed: in the case of Dirac fields, it is discusses how the Dirac self‐interactions depend on the coupling constant as a parameter that may even make these non‐linearitiesmanifest at subatomic scales, showing different applications according to the value of the parameter assigned; in the case of spin fluids, FLRW cosmological models arising from the proposed theory are discussed.
Adaptive Neural Dynamic Surface Control For Nonlinear Pure‐Feedback Systems With Multiple Time‐Varying Delays: A Lyapunov‐Razumikhin Method
Authors: Yu Zhao‐Xu , Yu Zhao‐Sheng
Published: November 2012

This paper focuses on the problem of adaptive neural control for a class of uncertain nonlinear pure‐feedback systems with multiple unknown time‐varying delays. The considered problem is challenging due to the non‐affine pure‐feedback form and the unknown system functions with multiple unknown time‐varying delays. Based on a novel combination of mean value theorem, Razumikhin functional method, dynamic surface control (DSC) technique and neural network (NN) parameterization, a new adaptive neural controller which contains only one parameter is developed for such systems. Moreover, The DSC technique can overcome the problem of ‘explosion of complexity’ in the traditional backstepping design procedure. All closed‐loop signals are shown to be semi‐globally uniformly ultimately bounded, and the tracking error converges to a small neighborhood of the origin. Two simulation examples are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed design.
Pollution Prevention and Service Stewardship Strategies in the Third‐Party Logistics Industry: Effects on Firm Differentiation and the Moderating Role of Environmental Communication
Authors: Maas Steffen , Schuster Tassilo , Hartmann Evi
Published: November 2012

A growing number of firms are considering the incorporation of environmental thinking into their business strategies, hoping to improve their competitiveness. In this paper, we analyze the effects of pollution prevention and service stewardship capabilities on firm differentiation advantage in the third‐party logistics industry. Since prior research claims that complementary assets play an important role in fully understanding the environmental‐management‐competitiveness link, we furthermore examine the moderating role of environmental communication on the pollution‐prevention‐differentiation and the service‐stewardship‐differentiation linkages. We theoretically base our research in natural‐resource‐based thinking. Drawing on survey data, we apply multivariate regression and moderation analysis. The results highlight that pollution prevention and service stewardship capabilities can help third‐party logistics providers to achieve a differentiation advantage. Also, the results show that environmental communication moderates the effect of pollution prevention on differentiation advantage and can hence be considered a valuable complementary asset. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Symbol error rate analysis and power allocation for hybrid cooperation in Rayleigh fading environment
Authors: Li Guoyan , Zhang Youguang
Published: November 2012

In this paper, we investigate the symbol error rate (SER) performance and power allocation for hybrid cooperation (HC) system in a Rayleigh fading environment. Specifically, we derive closed‐form and approximate SER expressions for the HC system by using the moment generating function (MGF)‐based approach. However, the resultant SER expressions contain an MGF of the harmonic mean of two independent random variables, which is not tractable in SER analysis. Then, we present simple and tight bounds on the SER to show the asymptotic behavior of the HC system. It is shown that the HC system achieves full diversity order. On the basis of the tight SER bound, the power allocation is investigated. It is found that the optimal power allocation (OPA) of the HC system does not depend on the fading parameter of the source‐to‐destination channel and it only depends on the channel links related to the relay. With the increase of the ratio of mean channel power gains (i.e., the ratio of the relay‐to‐destination channel gain to the source‐to‐relay channel gain), more performance gain can be acquired by using the OPA scheme. Finally, the analytical results are validated through computer simulations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
One‐Pot Synthesis of N‐(Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐3‐yl)‐ and N‐(Imidazo[2,1‐b][1,3]thiazol‐5‐yl)sulfonamides
Authors: Rozentsveig Igor B. , Serykh Valery Y. , Chernysheva Gulnur N. , Chernyshev Kirill A. , Kondrashov Evgeniy V. , Tretyakov Evgeny V. , Romanenko Galina V.
Published: November 2012

The reaction of 2‐aminopyridines or 2‐aminothiazole with N‐(2,2‐dichloro‐2‐phenylethylidene)arensulfonamides affords the corresponding products of nucleophilic addition to the azomethine group, N‐[2,2‐dichloro‐2‐phenyl‐1‐(heterylamino)ethyl]sulfonamides, in good yields. The latter are easily cyclized to (imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐3‐yl)sulfonamides and (imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazol‐5‐yl)sulfonamides in the presence of alkali, whereas the expected isomeric (imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridin‐2‐yl)sulfonamides and (imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazol‐6‐yl)sulfonamides are not formed. A one‐pot two‐stage method for the synthesis of target heterocyclic compounds without the isolation of intermediates has been developed. A tentative mechanism of the formation of annulated heterocyclic derivatives has been proposed.
Electrogenerated N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes in the Room Temperature Parent Ionic Liquid as an Efficient Medium for Transesterification/Acylation Reactions
Authors: Chiarotto Isabella , Feroci Marta , Sotgiu Giovanni , Inesi Achille
Published: November 2012

N‐Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), generated by electrochemical reduction under galvanostatic control of 1,3‐dialkylimidazolium‐based ionic liquids, were employed as catalysts in transesterification reactions in the parent, room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) as solvents, without the utilisation of any volatile organic solvent or base. The reaction between isopropenyl or ethyl acetate and an alcohol (not efficient in the absence of catalyst) was induced by the presence of an electrogenerated NHC, which seems to assist the proton transfer from the alcohol to the ester, yielding the corresponding acetate. The reaction also proceeds with methyl nicotinate as starting ester and 2‐(diethylamino)ethanol or benzyl alcohol as alcohols and leads to the corresponding biologically active compounds, nicametate and benzyl nicotinate, in good yields. All products were isolated in good to excellent yields and complete recyclability of the ionic liquid as solvent has been demonstrated.
Direct Access to Fully Substituted 3‐Formyl‐4‐iodofurans through Iodocyclization of α‐Alkynyl β‐Alkoxy Enones
Authors: Raffa Guillaume , Balme Geneviève , Monteiro Nuno
Published: November 2012

A facile access to 3‐formyl‐4‐iodofurans is presented. This protocol consists of a Sonogashira cross‐coupling of an α‐iodo β‐alkoxy enone with a terminal alkyne and the subsequent iodonium‐promoted heteroannulation–dealkoxylation of the resulting α‐alkynyl β‐alkoxy enone by treatment with N‐iodosuccinimide in aqueous medium.
The Anthropocene: is there a geomorphological case?
Authors: Brown Antony G. , Tooth Stephen , Chiverrell Richard C. , Rose James , Thomas David S. G. , Wainwright John , Bullard Joanna E. , Thorndycraft Varyl R. , Aalto Rolf , Downs Peter
Published: November 2012

The ‘Anthropocene’, as used to describe the interval of recent Earth history during which humans have had an ‘overwhelming’ effect on the Earth system, is now being formally considered as a possible new geological Epoch. Such a new geological time interval (possibly equivalent to the Pleistocene Epoch) requires both theoretical justification as well as empirical evidence preserved within the geological record. Since the geological record is driven by geomorphological processes that produce terrestrial and near‐shore stratigraphy, geomorphology has to be an integral part of this consideration. For this reason, the British Society for Geomorphology (BSG) has inaugurated a Fixed Term Working Group to consider this issue and advise the Society on how geomorphologists can engage with debates over the Anthropocene. This ESEX Commentary sets out the initial case for the formalisation of the Anthropocene and a priori considerations in the hope that it will stimulate debate amongst, and involvement by, the geomorphological community in what is a crucial issue for the discipline. The Working Group is now considering the practical aspects of such a formalization including the relative magnitude problem, the boundary problem and the spatial diachrony of ‘anthropogenic geomorphology’. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of group psychotherapy for sub‐clinical depression in older adults
Authors: Krishna Murali , Honagodu Abhijit , Rajendra Rajgopal , Sundarachar Rajesh , Lane Steven , Lepping Peter
Published: November 2012

Objectives

Studies investigating the effectiveness of group psychotherapy intervention in sub‐threshold depression have shown varying results with differing effect sizes. A systematic review of randomised controlled trials of group psychotherapy in older adults with sub‐threshold depression was conducted to present the best available evidence in relation to its effect on depressive symptomatology and the prevention of major depression.

Methods

Systematic search of electronic databases and random effects model for meta‐analysis.

Results

Four clinical trials met the full inclusion criteria. Group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective intervention for reducing depressive symptoms in older adults with sub‐threshold depression in comparison to waiting list. Computerised CBT is at least as effective as group CBT in reducing depressive symptoms. The benefit of group CBT at follow‐up is not maintained. Group psychotherapy does not appear to reduce the risk of depressive disorder during follow‐up. There are fewer drop outs from group psychotherapy when compared with control conditions. The methodological quality of the studies and their reporting are sub‐optimal.

Conclusions

Group psychological interventions in older adults with sub‐threshold depression have a significant effect on depressive symptomatology, which is not maintained at follow‐up. Group psychotherapy does not appear to reduce the incidence of major depressive disorders. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Embodied Product Perception: Effects of Verticality Cues in Advertising and Packaging Design on Consumer Impressions and Price Expectations
Authors: van Rompay Thomas J. L. , de Vries Peter W. , Bontekoe Fenna , Tanja‐Dijkstra Karin
Published: November 2012

As consumers increasingly turn to luxury brands and associated benefits, brand managers face the question how to convey luxury perceptions via marketing communications such as packaging and advertising design. Inspired by theories addressing embodied cognition and symbolic meaning portrayal, this paper argues that visual cues inspiring verticality perceptions (i.e., camera angle and advertising background orientation) affect luxury perceptions and, consequently, consumer evaluations and price expectations. Across three experiments, verticality cues fostered perceptions of product luxury but differentially affected price expectations and purchase considerations depending on product type. Moreover, findings show that effects of vertical orientation are more pronounced for participants high on sociable dominance. Implications of these findings for visual brand management are discussed.
Brand‐Situation Congruity: The Roles of Self‐Construal and Brand Commitment
Authors: Sung Yongjun , Choi Sejung Marina , Tinkham Spencer F.
Published: November 2012

The present research examines the moderating roles of self‐construal and brand commitment in brand‐situation congruity effects in persuasion. Self‐construal refers to how individuals perceive themselves in the context of relationships with others (Singelis, 1994). Individuals with independent self‐construal, who emphasize autonomy and assertiveness, value consistency regardless of social contexts, whereas people with interdependent self‐construal value their relationships with others and adapt with flexibility to social situations. Commitment is a psychological state that globally represents the experience of dependence on a relationship and denotes a long‐term orientation, including a feeling of attachment to a relational partner and a desire to maintain a relationship (Rusbult, 1983). In the same vein, brand commitment refers to emotional or psychological attachment to and dependence on a brand (Beatty & Kahle, 1988x). Experiment 1 demonstrated that brand‐situation congruity, for which brand preference increases when the brand personality is congruent (vs. incongruent) with social situational cues, was stronger for interdependent (vs. independent) self‐construal individuals. Experiment 2 provided further support for the moderating role of self‐construal, when primed, in situation congruity effects as well as evidence for another moderator, brand commitment. That is, the moderating effect of self‐construal on brand‐situation congruity was stronger when consumers held weak (vs. strong) commitment to the target brand.
The Role of Ad‐Evoked Consumption Visions in Predicting Brand Attitudes: A Relevancy Principle Model
Authors: Chang Chingching
Published: November 2012

This study examined ad‐evoked consumption visions to argue that when people are concerned about consumption experiences, they consider consumption visions relevant in formulating brand attitudes. To the degree that consumers perceive consumption visions as relevant, they should significantly influence brand attitudes. This research proposed a relevancy principle model to show that three possible factors likely enhance the relevancy of consumption visions and thus increase their influences on brand attitudes: product characteristics (i.e., hedonic nature), ad characteristics (i.e., consumption ad copy), and consumer characteristics (i.e., processing styles).
Gay Consumers and Brand Usage: The Gender‐Flexing Role of Gay Identity
Authors: Oakenfull Gillian
Published: November 2012

Prior research suggests that gender identity congruity between an individual and product brand will yield positive responses in terms of consumer behavior, However, gender atypicality has been observed among gay males and lesbians, which may confound previous research conducted under a heteronormative gaze. Drawing on research in psychology that considers gay identity as a cognitive construct and a component of self‐concept, the findings of this study indicate that an individual's strength of gay identity and involvement in the gay community appear to invert effects of “typical” gender schema congruity on brand usage for both gay males and lesbians.
Positive and Negative Affectivity as Mediators of Volunteerism and Service‐Oriented Citizenship Behavior and Customer Loyalty
Authors: Jain Ajay K. , Malhotra Naresh K. , Guan Chong
Published: November 2012

This study sought to examine the impact of volunteerism (motivation to help) on service‐oriented organizational citizenship behavior (S‐OCB) of salespeople as mediated by the positive and negative affectivity, and further how the involvement of salespeople in S‐OCB would affect the customer loyalty toward the company. The context chosen for empirical investigation was the Indian pharmaceutical sector and the sample consists of 125 medical sales representatives from four companies that are well‐established players, including three multinational firms and one Indian company, as well as their supervisors (n = 48) and doctors (n = 150). The data are analyzed through partial least squares approach to path modeling to estimate the measurement and structural parameters. All of the hypotheses are confirmed. The results of this study indicate that volunteerism exhibits a significant positive impact on S‐OCB and customer loyalty. In addition, this positive impact is partially mediated by positive and negative affectivity. In sum, the proposed model explains a large amount of variance in S‐OCB and customer loyalty, suggesting that it will serve as a useful tool for analyzing service‐oriented organizational sale persons’ behavior and customers’ reactions. The implications of these results include improving service OCB by promoting volunteerism in the service industry and emphasizing the important roles of service staff in enhancing the customer loyalty.
The Netherlands Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Association (NOCDA) study: design and rationale of a longitudinal naturalistic study of the course of OCD and clinical characteristics of the sample at baseline
Authors: Schuurmans Josien , van Balkom Anton J.L.M. , van Megen Harold J.G.M. , Smit Johannes H. , Eikelenboom Merijn , Cath Danielle C. , Kaarsemaker Maarten , Oosterbaan Desiree , Hendriks Gert‐Jan , Schruers Koen R.J. , van der Wee Nic J.A. , Glas Gerrit , van Oppen Patricia
Published: November 2012

In half of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) patients the disorder runs a chronic course despite treatment. The factors determining this unfavourable outcome remain unknown.

The Netherlands Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Association (NOCDA) study is a multicentre naturalistic cohort study of the biological, psychological and social determinants of chronicity in a clinical sample. Recruitment of OCD patients took place in mental health organizations. Its design is a six‐year longitudinal cohort study among a representative clinical sample of 419 OCD patients. All five measurements within this six‐year period involved validated semi‐structured interviews and self‐report questionnaires which gathered information on the severity of OCD and its co‐morbidity as well as information on general wellbeing, quality of life, daily activities, medical consumption and key psychological and social factors. The baseline measurements also include DNA and blood sampling and data on demographic and personality variables. The current paper presents the design and rationale of the study, as well as data on baseline sample characteristics. Demographic characteristics and co‐morbidity ratings in the NOCDA sample closely resemble other OCD study samples. Lifetime co‐morbid Axis I disorders are present in the majority of OCD patients, with high current and lifetime co‐morbidity ratings for affective disorders (23.4% and 63.7%, respectively) and anxiety disorders other than OCD (36% current and 46.5% lifetime). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Double Mover–Stayer model on customer switching in telecommunications industry
Authors: Ng Michael K. , Chung Yuho
Published: November 2012

Customer acquisition and customer retention are the most important challenges in the increasingly competitive telecommunications industry. Traditional studies of customer switching always assume that customers are homogeneous, and thus that model customer switching behavior follows a Markov formulation. However, this postulation is obviously inappropriate in most instances. Blumen et al. (Cornell Studies of Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1955) developed the Mover–Stayer (MS) model, a generalization of the Markov chain model, to relax the requirement of homogeneity and allow the presence of heterogeneity with two different types of individuals—“stayers,” who purchase the same kinds of products or services throughout the entire observation period; and “movers,” who look for variety in products or services over time. There are two purpose of this article. First, we extend the MS model to a Double Mover‐Stayer (DMS) model by assuming the existence of three types of individuals in the market: (1) stable and loyal customers, who have stable usage within the same company; (2) instable but loyal customers, whose usage varies within the same company over time; and (3) disloyal customers, who switch from one company to another to seek for new experiences or/and benefits. We also propose an estimation method for the DMS model. Second, we apply the DMS model to telecommunications data and demonstrate how it can be used for pattern identification, hidden knowledge discovery, and decision making. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2012
Comet: An open‐source MS/MS sequence database search tool
Authors: Eng Jimmy K. , Jahan Tahmina A. , Hoopmann Michael R.
Published: November 2012

Proteomics research routinely involves identifying peptides and proteins via MS/MS sequence database search. Thus the database search engine is an integral tool in many proteomics research groups. Here, we introduce the Comet search engine to the existing landscape of commercial and open‐source database search tools. Comet is open source, freely available, and based on one of the original sequence database search tools that has been widely used for many years.
Optical and mechanical properties of transparent SrTiO3 thin films deposited by ECR ion beam sputter deposition
Authors: Panomsuwan Gasidit , Takai Osamu , Saito Nagahiro
Published: November 2012

SrTiO3 (STO) thin films have been deposited on glass substrates by electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion beam sputter deposition at different substrate temperatures (100–600 °C). The structural characteristics of the deposited films show a transition from amorphous phase to polycrystalline phase at 600 °C. The films exhibit good transparency with an interference pattern in the visible region and a very smooth surface without cracks. The refractive index of the films increases with an increase of the substrate temperature, and their dispersion was analyzed by a single‐oscillator model. The extinction coefficient of the films in the visible region is of the order of 10−3–10−2. The estimated values of the direct and indirect bandgap energies for the polycrystalline STO film are 3.80 and 3.32 eV, respectively. Its density is almost identical to the bulk STO single crystal, which is relatively high in comparison with those prepared by other techniques. The mechanical stability of the films is also improved with an increase of substrate temperature. Young's modulus and hardness of the polycrystalline STO film are 194.1 ± 15.5 and 22.5 ± 2.0 GPa, respectively.
Magnetic ordering and structural stability of La2/3Sr1/3MnO3/SrTiO3 (001) interfaces: A density‐functional theory study
Authors: Chen Li Yong , Le Chen Chang , Jin Ke Xin , Wang Su Fang , Du Xiu Juan
Published: November 2012

The magnetic ordering and relative structural stability (phase diagram) of La2/3Sr1/3MnO3/SrTiO3 (LSMO/STO) (001) interfaces are considered by performing generalized gradient approximation plus on‐site Coulomb correction calculations. A potential antiferromagnetic alignment between the interface layer and bulk is conjectured for the b‐type LSMO/STO (001) interface where the atomic‐layer stacking near interface is $\cdots $LaOMnO2LaOMnO2SrOMnO2SrOTiO2$\cdots $ (SrO termination). This is in qualitative agreement with the fact that suppression of ferromagnetism at the SrO‐terminated (001) interface is found at some experiments. The small magnetic exchange energies, for the SrO‐terminated LSMO/STO (001) interfaces, suggest that Mn spins at the interface are likely to reverse as the temperature changes. Hence, possible magnetic reconstructions will be expected to occur at the SrO‐terminated (001) interfaces when temperature increases. Under thermodynamic equilibrium, the calculated phase diagrams show that, with the exception of the c‐type (001) interface where the atomic‐layer stacking near interface is $\cdots $La2/3Sr1/3OMnO2SrOTiO2$\cdots $ (SrO termination), all other considered LSMO/STO (001) interfaces may be stabilized in the proper conditions. The spin‐resolved density of states shows that high spin‐transport behaviors could be achieved at the ferromagnetic TiO2‐terminated (001) interfaces. The results of the calculations can compare favorably with the experimental results for the LSMO/STO (001) junctions.
Effects of optical depth variability on contrail radiative forcing
Authors: Kärcher Bernd , Burkhardt Ulrike
Published: November 2012

Line‐shaped contrails arising from aircraft emissions affect radiative forcing. The magnitude of the radiative forcing from contrails depends strongly on their optical depth and their spatial and temporal variability caused by dynamical and microphysical processes. Here we investigate the significance of this variability, both for modelling contrail radiative forcing and estimating thresholds for the detection of contrails in satellite imagery. Ignoring the variability of contrail optical depth in models by prescribing a mean optical depth may overestimate mean net radiative forcing by 10−20%. Undersampling of optically thin line‐shaped contrails by passive satellite remote sensing is linked to the inability to detect flux changes in the outgoing long‐wave radiation below ≈︁3 W m−2 for conditions over the eastern North Pacific. Consideration of these findings aids efforts to better quantify uncertainties in aviation climate assessments.
Efficient and adaptively secure broadcast encryption systems
Authors: Zhang Mingwu , Yang Bo , Chen Zhenhua , Takagi Tsuyoshi
Published: November 2012

Broadcast encryption is an effective way to broadcast a message securely such that more than one privileged receiver can decrypt it. The well‐known constructions of identity‐based broadcast encryption only support bounded broadcast users that had to deploy the maximum user number in advance. This is somewhat inefficient and impractical if the broadcast user number is predetermined. In this paper, we propose an adaptively secure identity‐based broadcast encryption in the standard model that supports arbitrary number of users in broadcast set, which eliminates the size of public parameters with a constant number of group elements and obtain short ciphertexts, secret keys, and public parameters. We use the techniques of semi‐functional ciphertexts and semi‐functional keys in orthogonal subgroups to implement the boundless broadcast set and adaptive security by means of dual‐system encryption mechanism in a composite‐order group, and we prove the scheme to be fully secure without the random oracles in the static assumptions. The proposed scheme captures the properties of confidentiality, adaptive security, constant key, and short ciphertext. We also evaluate the computational costs and communication overheads and give the deployment in secure set‐top box broadcast systems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using multi criteria decision making in analysis of alternatives for selection of enabling technology
Authors: Georgiadis Daniel R. , Mazzuchi Thomas A. , Sarkani Shahram
Published: November 2012

In September 2009 the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported, “Defense Acquisitions: Many Analyses of Alternatives Have Not Provided a Robust Assessment of Weapon System Options” [U.S. Government Accountability Office, Pub. No. GAO‐09‐665, 2009, p. 1]. In their focused review of 32 Acquisition Category I programs, it was found that 10 did not conduct an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), but rather focused on an already selected weapon system solution. Prior to Milestone A, the Department of Defense (DoD) requires that service sponsors conduct an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA). The AoA is an analytical comparison of multiple alternatives to be completed prior to committing and investing costly resources to one project or decision. Typically, however, sponsors will circumvent the process in an effort to save money or schedule, and capability requirements are proposed that are so specific that they effectively eliminate all but the preferred concepts, practically ignoring other alternatives. Decision making is one of the most challenging parts of Systems Engineering. How one feeds the decision making process is key to eliminating long term waste. “About three‐quarters of a program”s total life cycle cost is influenced by decisions made before it is approved to start development“[U.S. Government Accountability Office, Pub. No. GAO‐09‐665, 2009, pp. “2]. This study evaluates the positive benefits of defining the problem domain prior to expeditiously turning to the solution domain. The goal in any decision making process is to provide the decision maker with the ability to look into the future, and to make the best possible decision based on past and present information and future predictions. There is a need for approaches that combine available quantitative data with the more subjective knowledge of experts. Decision theory techniques have been successfully used for contrasting expert judgments and making educated choices for many years. For a successful analysis, one must focus on selection of specific criteria that are key performance drivers that can lead to an informed selection of the enabling technology. Understanding the requirements of the end state goal is key to a successful analysis and should also assist in the selection of key performance parameters. A case study example is presented to demonstrate a third tier AoA identifying an enabling technology using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) while successfully accounting for tacit knowledge of expert practitioners. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 16
Deuterium atomic density estimation in recombining plasmas using self‐absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Kajita Shin , Nishiwaki Toshihiro , Ohno Noriyasu , Sawada Keiji , Takagi Makoto
Published: November 2012

Deuterium atomic density in the divertor region of fusion reactors is an important parameter. In this study, atomic density is estimated in the divertor simulator NAGDIS‐T by use of an absorption effect of Lyman‐β, of which the wavelength is in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV). The calibration of the spectrometer in the VUV wavelength was performed by using a branching ratio method. The intensity ratio of Lyman‐β to Balmer‐α significantly decreased in detached plasmas because of radiation trapping. The atomic density was estimated by use of self‐absorption effect. © 2012 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Offshore wind turbine environment, loads, simulation, and design
Authors: Vorpahl Fabian , Schwarze Holger , Fischer Tim , Seidel Marc , Jonkman Jason
Published: November 2012

In the design, certification, and optimization of offshore wind turbines, extensive loads simulation is inevitable to develop reliable and cost‐effective turbines. Description of the marine environment is based on a variety of techniques taking the stochastic nature of both, the wind and the water waves into account. The wind turbine is a highly dynamic system including effects of heavy rotating machinery and other significant nonlinearities leading to static, cyclic, transient, and stochastic loads. Due to the nature of the external loading, the system properties and the turbine design lifetime, offshore wind turbines are prone to fatigue‐driven failure. For loads assessment, aero‐hydro‐servo‐elastic tools are used including the coupled effects of the environment and the turbine to simulate the overall lifetime of the turbine in the harsh marine environment. These tools are constantly further developed and adapted to the needs of a fast‐growing industry and newly arising turbine concepts. Engineering approaches to allow for certification and reliable design are summarized in extensive guidelines and standards supporting engineers in daily design work.

This article is categorized under:

Wind Power > Science and Materials

Wind Power > Systems and Infrastructure
On the economic foundations of green growth discourses: the case of climate change mitigation and macroeconomic dynamics in economic modeling
Authors: Scrieciu S. , Rezai A. , Mechler R.
Published: November 2012

‘Greening’ economic growth discourses are increasingly replacing the catchword of ‘sustainable development’ within national and international policy circles. The core of the argument is that the growth of modern economies may be sustained or even augmented, while policy intervention simultaneously ensures sustained environmental stewardship and improved social outcomes. But how well are these claims scientifically grounded or supported by economic theory, evidence, and applied modeling? We address this question with reference to the economic modeling of climate mitigation policies. We argue that orthodox economic equilibrium and optimization thinking offers, in effect, little support to and insufficiently meaningful interpretations of green growth claims. There are several exciting strands of new economic thinking that are emerging, offering a more robust and empirically validated understanding of the potential for green growth paths. Nonoptimizing simulation models are arguably in a better position to capture socioeconomic system dynamics and the role of macroeconomic policies for sustainability governance. An important caveat, nevertheless, is that when judged against the evidence, greening growth remains to some extent an oxymoron as to date there has been little evidence of substantial decoupling ofGDPfrom carbon‐intensive energy use on a wide scale. Moreover, although the rhetoric on ‘greening the economy’ actively supports the need for policy intervention, the macroeconomic reasoning behind this, remains ambiguous. We finally suggest that, although focusing on the dichotomy between growth and the environment is clearly important, the quality of growth and beyond growth dimensions are at least as important for delivering improved macroeconomic governance for sustainability.

This article is categorized under:

Energy and Climate > Climate and Environment

Energy and Development > Economics and Policy
Comparison of genetic diversity in the two arctic–alpine plants Diapensia lapponica var. obovata (Diapensiaceae) and Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum (Empetraceae) between Sakhalin in Russian Far East and Jeju Island in Korea, the southernmost edge of their distribution range
Authors: Chung Mi Yoon , López‐Pujol Jordi , Moon Myung‐Ok , Chung Jae Min , Kim Chan Soo , Sun Byung‐Yun , Kim Ki‐Joong , Chung Myong Gi
Published: November 2012

We compared allozyme variation in the two arctic–alpine plants Diapensia lapponica var. obovata and Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum between Sakhalin Island in Russian Far East, within their range core, and the Korean island of Jeju, their world's southernmost distribution. For D. lapponica var. obovata, Sakhalin populations harbored moderate levels of within‐population genetic variation and low among‐population divergence, whereas extremely low levels of within‐population genetic diversity and high among‐population differentiation were found in Jeju Island populations. In contrast, we found moderate levels of within‐population variation and low among‐population differentiation in E. nigrum var. japonicum in both northern populations (those of Sakhalin and an additional population from northern Japan) and Jeju Island populations. Under a similar scenario of immigration history of arctic–alpine plants on Jeju Island during the glacial periods of the Pleistocene and local persistence through glacial/interglacial cycles, the contrasting genetic structure between D. lapponica var. obovata and E. nigrum var. japonicum is mainly attributable to their different life‐history, ecological, and demographic traits: (1) hermaphroditic versus monoecious, dioecious or polygamous, (2) seeds with no adaptations for long‐distance dispersal versus berry‐like drupes dispersed by animals and birds, and (3) a very small patch near the peak of Mt. Halla with a few hundred individuals versus a relatively continuous distribution around the peak of Mt. Halla with numerous individuals. From a conservation perspective, in situ and ex situ conservation measures should be strengthened for D. lapponica var. obovata on Jeju Island given their extreme rarity there.
Acidification of Alperujo Paste Prevents Off‐Odors During Their Storage in Open Air
Authors: Ruiz‐Méndez M. V. , Romero C. , Medina E. , García A. , de Castro A. , Brenes M.
Published: November 2012

Alperujo is the main paste produced by the olive oil industry that must be stored in big open air ponds for months before pomace olive oil is extracted. During this period, malodorous 4‐ethylphenol is formed, and it represents a big environmental problem for the oil extracting factories. The aim of this investigation was to prevent the formation of this substance by acidification of the fresh paste. Several batches of fresh Alperujo were stored in 100‐L plastic containers for 6 months without pH control and acidified up to pH 2 or 3. Acidification inhibited the formation of 4‐ethylphenol as well as the growth of yeasts. By contrast, acidification of the paste did not affect oil acidity, triterpenic acid concentration, waxes or fatty acid composition. An increase in hydroxytyrosol of the aqueous phase of Alperujo was also observed because of hydroxytyrosol glucoside hydrolysis. The results indicated that acidification of Alperujo during storage under open air conditions reduced the formation of 4‐ethylphenol, thereby diminishing the environmental impact of the pomace olive oil production.
Two-Categorical Bundles and their Classifying Spaces
Authors: Baas Nils A. , Bökstedt Marcel , Kro Tore August
Published: November 2012

For a 2-category 2C we associate a notion of a principal 2C-bundle. For the 2-category of 2-vector spaces, in the sense of M.M. Kapranov and V.A. Voevodsky, this gives the 2-vector bundles of N.A. Baas, B.I. Dundas and J. Rognes. Our main result says that the geometric nerve of a good 2-category is a classifying space for the associated principal 2-bundles. In the process of proving this we develop powerful machinery which may be useful in further studies of 2-categorical topology. As a corollary we get a new proof of the classification of principal bundles. Another 2-category of 2-vector spaces has been proposed by J.C. Baez and A.S. Crans. A calculation using our main theorem shows that in this case the theory of principal 2-bundles splits, up to concordance, as two copies of ordinary vector bundle theory. When 2C is a cobordism type 2-category we get a new notion of cobordism-bundles which turns out to be classified by the Madsen–Weiss spaces.
A Preliminary Examination of Cognitive Factors that Influence Interest in Quitting During Pregnancy
Authors: Ferguson Stuart G. , Hansen Emily C.
Published: November 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between risks associated with smoking and the effectiveness of quit-smoking techniques and interest in quitting among pregnant smokers. It was hypothesised that both knowledge of smoking-related harm and knowledge of efficacious smoking cessation methods would be significant predictors of interest in quitting in the next 30 days. This preliminary study involved 72 pregnant smokers who completed a questionnaire assessing smoking-related knowledge and perceived efficacy of cessation methods. Of the 11 smoking-related risks probed, the least acknowledged were those associated with pregnancy and post-natal conditions, with 38% of the sample responding incorrectly to all four of the pregnancy and post-natal conditions probed. Knowledge of the efficacy of smoking medications was also poor: 32.9% of the sample reported believing that all three pharmacotherapies were ineffective for promoting cessation. A high level of knowledge about the harms of smoking was related to an increased intention to quit in the next 30 days (39.5% versus 15.8%; Odds Ratio [OR] = 3.5). Results from this preliminary study showed support for previous research regarding smoking-related knowledge in non-pregnant smokers. Further research in the area is viewed as particularly important to confirm the current results and guide intervention to increase the level of smoking related knowledge in this at-risk group.
Japanese Colonialism and the Asia-Pacific War in Japan's History Textbooks: Changing representations and their causes
Authors: CAVE PETER
Published: November 2012

This paper examines changes between 1992 and 2010 in Japanese junior high school history textbooks’ representations of imperial Japan's colonialism and aggression in Asia, using documentary study and interviews with actors in the textbook production process. Following a trend to increase textbook material on Japan's wartime aggression in the mid-1990s, after 2000 publishers approached this topic in contrasting ways, some expanding and some reducing their coverage, with dramatically varying results in terms of market share. Publishers’ decisions on content were related to their market position and to changes in local textbook adoption procedures that have increased the decision-making power of appointed boards of education at the expense of teachers. Increased market share since 2000 is associated primarily with a progressive pedagogy in tune with recent curriculum reforms. The recent spotlight on textbook adoption has exposed weaknesses in the system, such as inadequate representation of the local community and insufficient guarantee of teachers’ expert input in the adoption process. With the introduction of new textbook approval criteria requiring their conformity with the patriotic emphases of the revised Fundamental Law on Education of 2006, the content of future textbooks will clearly be strongly influenced by both approval and adoption processes.
Climate change and sustainable food production
Authors: Smith Pete , Gregory Peter J.
Published: November 2012

One of the greatest challenges we face in the twenty-first century is to sustainably feed nine to ten billion people by 2050 while at the same time reducing environmental impact (e.g. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, biodiversity loss, land use change and loss of ecosystem services). To this end, food security must be delivered. According to the United Nations definition, ‘food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life’. At the same time as delivering food security, we must also reduce the environmental impact of food production. Future climate change will make an impact upon food production. On the other hand, agriculture contributes up to about 30% of the anthropogenic GHG emissions that drive climate change. The aim of this review is to outline some of the likely impacts of climate change on agriculture, the mitigation measures available within agriculture to reduce GHG emissions and outlines the very significant challenge of feeding nine to ten billion people sustainably under a future climate, with reduced emissions of GHG. Each challenge is in itself enormous, requiring solutions that co-deliver on all aspects. We conclude that the status quo is not an option, and tinkering with the current production systems is unlikely to deliver the food and ecosystems services we need in the future; radical changes in production and consumption are likely to be required over the coming decades.
Granville Barker's Ensemble as a Model of Fabian Theatre
Authors: Burt Philippa
Published: November 2012

While the dialogical relationship between the early twentieth-century British theatre and the rise of socialism is well documented, analysis has tended to focus on the role of the playwright in the dissemination of socialist ideas. As a contrast, in this article Philippa Burt examines the directorial work of Harley Granville Barker, arguing that his plans for a permanent ensemble company were rooted in his position as a member of the Fabian Society. With reference to Pierre Bourdieu's concept of habitus and Maria Shevtsova's development of it in reference to the theatre, this article identifies a correlation between Barker's political and artistic approaches through extrapolating the central tenets of his theory on ensemble theatre and analyzing them alongside the central tenets of Fabianism. Philippa Burt is currently completing her PhD in the Department of Theatre and Performance at Goldsmiths, University of London. This article is developed from a paper presented at the conference on ‘Politics, Performance, and Popular Culture in Nineteenth-Century Britain’ at the University of Lancaster in July 2011.
The Style of Commedia dell'Arte Acting: Observations Drawn from the Scenarios of Flaminio Scala
Authors: Schmitt Natalie Crohn
Published: November 2012

The only collection of commedia dell'arte scenarios to have been published in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries is that of the actor-manager Flaminio Scala, in 1611. This can serve, among other things, as a primary source of information about the style of acting in commedia dell'arte performance in its golden age, from 1570 to 1630. While English drama of the same period provides us, in the main, with only the words the actors were to have spoken, the Scala collection rarely provides us with these, but rather, with a wealth of descriptions of actions and emotions. These descriptions enable us to make inferences about the style in which they were acted – that is, about the particular way in which the stories the actors presented were said, performed, or expressed. Natalie Crohn Schmitt is Professor of Theatre, Emerita, University of Illinois at Chicago. She has published on commedia dell'arte in Viator, Renaissance Drama, and Text and Performance Quarterly, and previously in New Theatre Quarterly on Stanislavsky (NTQ 8), on theatre in its historic moment (NTQ 23), and on John Cage (NTQ 41).