bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystal-Field Engineering of Solid-State Laser Materials
Authors: Henderson Brian , Bartram Ralph H.
Published: December 2009

This book is concerned with the underlying science and design of laser materials. It emphasizes the principles of crystal–field engineering and discusses the basic physical concepts that determine laser gain and nonlinear frequency conversion in optical crystals. A concise review of the essential underlying science is presented, and the predictive capabilities of crystal-field engineering are developed to show how modification of the symmetry and composition of optical centres can improve laser performance. Applications of the principles of crystal-field engineering to a variety of optical crystals are also discussed in relation to the performances of laser devices. This book will be of considerable interest to physical, chemical and material scientists and to engineers involved in the science and technology of solid state lasers. It will be used by senior undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as by established scientists.
Cosmic Odyssey
Authors: Heidmann Jean
Published: December 2009

The immensity of the cosmos, the richness of the Universe, the limits of space and time: these are the themes of Cosmic Odyssey, which takes the reader on imaginary journeys through the past, present and future of our universe.
Quantum Field Theory for Mathematicians
Authors: Ticciati Robin
Published: December 2009

The approach to quantum field theory in this book is part way between building a mathematical model of the subject and presenting the mathematics that physicists actually use. It starts with the need to combine special relativity and quantum mechanics and culminates in a basic understanding of the standard model of electroweak and strong interactions. The book is divided into five parts: 1. Canonical quantization of scalar fields; 2. Weyl, Dirac and vector fields; 3. Functional integral quantization; 4. The standard model of the electroweak and strong interactions; 5. Renormalization. This should be a useful reference for anybody with interests in quantum theory and related areas of function theory, functional analysis, differential geometry or topological invariant theory.
Medical Harm
Authors: Sharpe Virginia Ashby , Faden Alan I.
Published: December 2009

It is estimated that up to thirteen percent of hospital admissions result from the adverse effects of diagnosis or treatment, and that almost seventy percent of iatrogenic complications are preventable. The obligation to 'do no harm' has been central to medical conduct since ancient times, yet iatrogenic illness has now come to be recognized as a significant risk factor in health care delivery. This book integrates history, philosophy, medical ethics and empirical data to examine the concept and phenomenon of medical harm. Issues covered include appropriateness of care, acceptable risk and practitioner accountability, and the book concludes with recommendations for limiting iatrogenic harm. Essential reading for medical ethicists, physicians and those involved in health care policy and administration, this stimulating and highly readable book will be of interest to all providers of health care, and many of their patients.
Myth and Archive
Authors: Echevarría Roberto González
Published: December 2009

This book offers a theory about the origin and evolution of the Latin American narrative, and about the emergence of the modern novel. It argues that the novel developed from the discourse of the law in the Spanish Empire during the sixteenth century, while many of the early historical documents concerning the New World assumed the same forms, furnished by the notarial arts. Thus, both the novel and these first Latin American narratives imitated the language of authority. The book explores how the same process is repeated in two key moments in the history of the Latin American narrative. In the nineteenth century, the model was the discourse of scientific travellers such as von Humboldt and Darwin, while in the twentieth century, the discourse of anthropology - the study of language and myth - has come to shape the narrative. Professor González Echevarría's theoretical approach is drawn from a reading of Carpentier's Los pasos perdidos, and the book centres on major figures in the tradition such as Columbus, Garcilaso el Inca, Sarmiento, Gallegos, Borges and Garcia Marquez.
Natural Kinds and Conceptual Change
Authors: LaPorte Joseph
Published: December 2009

According to the received tradition, the language used to to refer to natural kinds in scientific discourse remains stable even as theories about these kinds are refined. In this illuminating book, Joseph LaPorte argues that scientists do not discover that sentences about natural kinds, like 'Whales are mammals, not fish', are true rather than false. Instead, scientists find that these sentences were vague in the language of earlier speakers and they refine the meanings of the relevant natural-kind terms to make the sentences true. Hence, scientists change the meaning of these terms, This conclusions prompts LaPorte to examine the consequences of this change in meaning for the issue of incommensurability and for the progress of science. This book will appeal to students and professional in the philosophy of science, the philosophy of biology and the philosophy of language.
The Radical Bourgeoisie
Authors: Auspitz Katherine
Published: December 2009

The Radical Bourgeoisie traces the development of the political culture that sustained the Third Republic in France. It examines the centrality of education to Republican ideology and describes the political organization of the center-left alliance that coalesced in the Radical Party. Professor Auspitz challenges several widely held interpretations of modern French history and reassesses the role of French Radicals as thinkers and politicians. Against complaints of the left that they were petty bourgeois ideologues, of the right that they were dogmatic atheists, and of the center that they were small-minded and corrupt, Professor Auspitz attempts to vindicate the radicals as generous in their objectives, serious in their reflections, and effective in their strategies. The study also explains the importance of anticlericalism and of a new concern for the role of women and workers in defining an emerging secular culture.
“Who has the Youth has the Future”
Authors: Linton Derek S.
Published: December 2009

Virtually all discussions of the problematic character of youth and society in twentieth-century Germany begin with the middle class Wandervogel and end with the Hitler Youth. In this revisionist study Derek S. Linton argues that youth emerged as an important social problem around 1900 without any reference to the Wandervogel. Instead, fears of socialism, urban disorder, mass culture, and youthful independence prompted liberal social reformers to constitute young workers as a social problem. Linton traces the 'natural history' of this social problem from recognition to institutional reform. He especially explores such institutions as mandatory evening vocational schools and adult sponsored youth clubs designed to integrate young workers into Wilhelmine society. Based on his analysis of youth reform, Linton ends by discussing some of the debates between historians over the reformability of Imperial Germany and relations between the Empire and the Nazi regime.
The Culture of Consent
Authors: De Grazia Victoria
Published: December 2009

The efforts of fascism to form a 'culture of consent,' or shape depoliticized activities, in Italy between the world wars, make a unique portrait of fascist political tactics. Professor de Grazia focuses on the dopolavoro or fascist leisure-time organization, the largest of the regime's mass institutions. She traces its gradual rise in importance for the consolidation of fascist rule; its spread in the form of thousands of local clubs into every domain of urban and rural life; and its overwhelming impact on the distribution, consumption, and character of all kinds of recreational pursuits - from sports and adult education to movies, traveling theaters, radio, and tourism. The author shows how fascism was able, between 1926 and 1939, to build a new definition of the public sphere. Recasting the public sphere entailed dispensing with traditional class and politically defined modes of organizing those social roles and desires existing outside the workplace.
Shadows of Empire
Authors: Garrett David T.
Published: December 2009

The Indian nobility of the Andes - largely descended from the Inca monarchs and other pre-conquest lords - occupied a crucial economic and political position in late colonial Andean society, a position widely accepted as legitimate until the Túpac Amaru rebellion. Shadows of Empire, first published in 2005, traces the history of this late colonial elite and examines the pre-conquest and colonial foundations of their privilege and authority. It brings to light the organization and the ideology of the Indian nobility in the bishopric of Cusco in the decades before the rebellion, and uses this nobility as a lens through which to study the internal organization and tension of late colonial Indian communities. The work analyzes the significance of the collapse of the Indian nobility, both repudiated by the Indian commons and the crown in the last years of Spanish rule, following the rebellion to the emergence of the creole-dominated republican order after 1825.
Colombia before Independence
Authors: McFarlane Anthony
Published: December 2009

This book describes and analyses economic and political developments in Colombia during the final century of Spanish rule. Its purpose is threefold: first, to provide a general portrait of Colombian society during the late colonial period, showing the character of economic, social, and political life in the territory's principal regions; second, to assess the impact on the region of European imperialist expansion during the eighteenth century; and third, to provide a context for understanding the causes of independence. The book offers the only available survey of Colombian history and historiography for this period.
Many-Body Tree Methods in Physics
Authors: Pfalzner Susanne , Gibbon Paul
Published: December 2009

Studying the dynamics of a large number of particles interacting through long-range forces, commonly referred to as the 'N-body problem', is a central aspect of many different branches of physics. In recent years, significant advances have been made in the development of fast N-body algorithms to deal efficiently with such complex problems. This book is the first to give a thorough introduction to these so-called 'tree methods', setting out the basic principles and giving many practical examples of their use. No prior specialist knowledge is assumed, and the techniques are illustrated throughout with reference to a broad range of applications. The book will be of great interest to graduate students and researchers working on the modelling of systems in astrophysics, plasma physics, nuclear and particle physics, condensed matter physics and materials science.
Digital SLR Astrophotography
Authors: Covington Michael A.
Published: December 2009

In the last few years, digital SLR cameras have taken the astrophotography world by storm. It is now easier to photograph the stars than ever before! They are compact and portable, flexible to adapt with different lenses and for telescope use, and above all DSLR cameras are easy and enjoyable to use. In this concise guide, experienced astrophotography expert Michael Covington outlines the simple, enduring basics that will enable you to get started, and help you get the most from your equipment. He covers a wide selection of equipment, simple and advanced projects, technical considerations and image processing techniques. Unlike other astrophotography books, this one focuses specifically on DSLR cameras, not astronomical CCDs, non-DSLR digital cameras, or film. This guide is ideal for astrophotographers who wish to develop their skills using DSLR cameras and as a friendly introduction to amateur astronomers or photographers curious about photographing the night sky.
Observing the Moon
Authors: North Gerald
Published: December 2009

Written by an experienced and well-known lunar observer, this is a hands-on primer for the aspiring observer of the Moon. Whether you are a novice or are already experienced in practical astronomy, you will find plenty in this book to help you raise your game to the next level and beyond. In this thoroughly updated second edition, the author provides extensive practical advice and sophisticated background knowledge of the Moon and of lunar observation. It incorporates the latest developments in lunar imaging techniques, including digital photography, CCD imaging and webcam observing, and essential advice on collimating all common types of telescope. Learn what scientists have discovered about our Moon, and what mysteries remain still to be solved. Find out how you can take part in the efforts to solve these mysteries, as well as enjoying the Moon's spectacular magnificence for yourself!
Deep-Sky Companions: Hidden Treasures
Authors: O'Meara Stephen James
Published: December 2009

Stephen O'Meara's new and exciting observing guide spotlights an original selection of 109 deep-sky objects that will appeal to sky-watchers worldwide. His 'hidden treasures' include a wonderful assortment of galaxies, open clusters, planetary nebulae and more, all of which have been carefully chosen based on their popularity and ease of observing. None of these objects are included in either the Messier or the Caldwell catalogs, and all are visible in a 4-inch telescope under dark skies. Stunning photographs and beautiful drawings accompany detailed visual descriptions of the objects, which include their rich histories and astrophysical significance. The author's original finder charts are designed to help observers get to their targets fast and efficiently.
Spray Simulation
Authors: Fritsching Udo
Published: December 2009

Spray forming combines the metallurgical processes of metal casting and powder metallurgy to fabricate metal products with enhanced properties. This book provides an introduction to the various modelling and simulation techniques employed in spray forming, and shows how they are applied in process analysis and development. The author begins by deriving and describing the main models. He then presents their application in the simulation of the key features of spray forming. Wherever possible he discusses theoretical results with reference to experimental data. Building on the features of metal spray forming, he also derives common characteristic modelling features that may be useful in the simulation of related spray processes. The book is aimed at researchers and engineers working in process technology, chemical engineering and materials science.
Networking Wireless Sensors
Authors: Krishnamachari Bhaskar
Published: December 2009

Wireless sensor networks promise an unprecedented fine-grained interface between the virtual and physical worlds. They are one of the most rapidly developing information technologies, with applications in a wide range of fields including industrial process control, security and surveillance, environmental sensing, and structural health monitoring. Originally published in 2005, this book provides a detailed and organized survey of the field. It shows how the core challenges of energy efficiency, robustness, and autonomy are addressed in these systems by networking techniques across multiple layers. The topics covered include network deployment, localization, time synchronization, wireless radio characteristics, medium-access, topology control, routing, data-centric techniques, and transport protocols. Ideal for researchers and designers seeking to create algorithms and protocols and engineers implementing integrated solutions, it also contains many exercises and can be used by graduate students taking courses in networks.
Life at the Limits
Authors: Wharton David A.
Published: December 2009

We are fascinated by the seemingly impossible places in which organisms can live. There are frogs that freeze solid, worms that dry out and bacteria that survive temperatures over 100˚C. What seems extreme to us is, however, not extreme to these organisms. In this captivating account, the reader is taken on a tour of extreme environments, and shown the remarkable abilities of organisms to survive a range of extreme conditions, such as high and low temperatures and desiccation. This book considers how organisms survive major stresses and what extreme organisms can tell us about the origin of life and the possibilities of extraterrestrial life. These organisms have an extreme biology, which involves many aspects of their physiology, ecology and evolution.
Neanderthals and Modern Humans
Authors: Finlayson Clive
Published: December 2009

Neanderthals and Modern Humans develops the theme of the close relationship between climate change, ecological change and biogeographical patterns in humans during the Pleistocene. In particular, it challenges the view that Modern Human 'superiority' caused the extinction of the Neanderthals between 40 and 30 thousand years ago. Clive Finlayson shows that to understand human evolution, the spread of humankind across the world and the extinction of archaic populations, we must move away from a purely theoretical evolutionary ecology base and realise the importance of wider biogeographic patterns including the role of tropical and temperate refugia. His proposal is that Neanderthals became extinct because their world changed faster than they could cope with, and that their relationship with the arriving Modern Humans, where they met, was subtle.
Polynomials and Vanishing Cycles
Authors: Tibăr Mihai
Published: December 2009

The behaviour of vanishing cycles is the cornerstone for understanding the geometry and topology of families of hypersurfaces, usually regarded as singular fibrations. This self-contained tract proposes a systematic geometro-topological approach to vanishing cycles, especially those appearing in non-proper fibrations, such as the fibration defined by a polynomial function. Topics which have been the object of active research over the past 15 years, such as holomorphic germs, polynomial functions, and Lefschetz pencils on quasi-projective spaces, are here shown in a new light: conceived as aspects of a single theory with vanishing cycles at its core. Throughout the book the author presents the current state of the art. Transparent proofs are provided so that non-specialists can use this book as an introduction, but all researchers and graduate students working in differential and algebraic topology, algebraic geometry, and singularity theory will find this book of great use.
Knowledge Representation, Reasoning and Declarative Problem Solving
Authors: Baral Chitta
Published: December 2009

Knowledge management and knowledge-based intelligence are areas of importance in the economy and society, and to exploit them fully and efficiently it is necessary both to represent and reason about knowledge via a declarative interface whose input language is based on logic. In this book, originally published in 2003, Chitta Baral shows exactly how to go about doing that: how to write programs that behave intelligently by giving them the ability to express knowledge and reason about it. He presents a language, AnsProlog, for both knowledge representation and reasoning, and declarative problem solving. The results have been organised here into a form that will appeal to practising and would-be knowledge engineers wishing to learn more about the subject, either in courses or through self-teaching. A comprehensive bibliography rounds off the book.
Automated Rendezvous and Docking of Spacecraft
Authors: Fehse Wigbert
Published: December 2009

The definitive reference for space engineers on rendezvous and docking/berthing (RVD/B) related issues, this book answers key questions such as: How does the docking vehicle accurately approach the target spacecraft? What technology is needed aboard the spacecraft to perform automatic rendezvous and docking, and what systems are required by ground control to supervise this process? How can the proper functioning of all rendezvous-related equipment, systems and operations be verified before launch? The book provides an overview of the major issues governing approach and mating strategies, and system concepts for rendezvous and docking/berthing. These issues are described and explained such that aerospace engineers, students and even newcomers to the field can acquire a basic understanding of RVD/B. The author would like to extend his thanks to Dr Shufan Wu, GNC specialist and translator of the book's Chinese edition, for his help in the compilation of these important errata.
Stalkers and their Victims
Authors: Mullen Paul E. , Pathé Michele , Purcell Rosemary
Published: December 2009

Stalking has moved from being a novel area for study to become a core area of concern for mental health professionals, lawyers and other members of the criminal justice system. It has emerged as a significant social problem which not only commands considerable public attention but is now, in many jurisdictions, a specific form of criminal offence. This new edition brings the reader completely up-to-date with the explosion in published research and clinical studies in the field, and covers new issues such as cyberstalking, stalking health professionals, stalking in the workplace, female stalkers, juvenile stalkers, stalking celebrities, evaluating risk in the stalking situation, as well as exploring changes to the legal status of the behaviour. Illustrated with case studies throughout, this is the definitive guide and reference for anyone with professional, academic or other interests in this complex behaviour.
Treatment Manual for Smoking Cessation Groups
Authors: Stritzke Werner G. K. , Chong Joyce L. Y. , Ferguson Diane
Published: December 2009

Treatment Manual for Smoking Cessation Groups guides the reader through step-by-step instructions on how to implement treatments to help smokers give up their habit in a group environment. The manual describes how to successfully deliver group interventions through an evidence-based, modular approach designed to suit a wide range of service settings. Each module contains therapist guidelines, client handouts and worksheets, designed with the busy clinician in mind. The treatment modules are structured in two parts: part one contains the therapist guidelines explaining the rationale behind the strategies and how to deliver the treatments effectively; part two contains the client materials supporting the program and providing self-help tools. Appealing to anyone involved in the provision of smoking cessation services; this manual is an essential tool for clinical psychologists, health psychologists, addiction counselors, mental health workers, health promotion officers and smoking cessation nurses and GPs.
Case Studies in Stroke
Authors: Hennerici Michael G. , Daffertshofer Michael , Caplan Louis R. , Szabo Kristina
Published: December 2009

Neurologists learn from their patients, and this selection of 60 stroke cases will inform and challenge clinicians at all stages in their careers. Including both common and unusual cases, the aim is to reinforce diagnostic skills through careful analysis of individual presenting patterns, and to guide treatment decisions. Each case consists of a clinical history, examination findings and special investigations, usually involving imaging before a diagnosis is given. There then follows for each case a discussion of the clinical issues raised by the case, in which the main teaching points are emphasized. Selected references, frequently including the first description, are provided at the conclusion of each case. Drawing on the expertise of leading teachers and practitioners, and liberally illustrated, these case studies and the discussions that accompany them are an essential guide to learning the complexity of stroke diagnosis.
Dependence and Autonomy in Old Age
Authors: Agich George
Published: December 2009

Respecting the autonomy of disabled people is an important ethical issue for providers of long-term care. In this influential book, George Agich abandons comfortable abstractions to reveal the concrete threats to personal autonomy in this setting, where ethical conflict, dilemma and tragedy are inescapable. He argues that liberal accounts of autonomy and individual rights are insufficient, and offers an account of autonomy that matches the realities of long-term care. The book therefore offers a framework for carers to develop an ethic of long-term care within the complex environment in which many dependent and aged people find themselves. Previously published as Autonomy and Long-term Care, this revised edition, in paperback for the first time, takes account of recent work and develops the author's views of what autonomy means in the real world. It will have wide appeal among bioethicists and health care professionals.
Induction and regulation ofTrypanosoma bruceiVSG-specific antibody responses
Authors: BLACK S. J. , GUIRNALDA P. , FRENKEL D. , HAYNES C. , BOCKSTAL V.
Published: December 2009

The review addresses how infection withTrypanosoma bruceiaffects the development, survival and functions of B lymphocytes in mice. It discusses (1) the contributions of antibodies to trypanosome clearance from the bloodstream, (2) how B lymphocytes, the precursors of antibody producing plasma cells, interact with membrane form variable surface glycoprotein (VSG), i.e. with monovalent antigen that is free to diffuse within the lipid bilayer of the trypanosome plasma membrane and consequently can cross-link B cell antigen specific receptors by indirect processes only and (3) the extent and underlying causes of dysregulation of humoral immune responses in infected mice, focusing on the impact of wild type and GPI-PLC−/−trypanosomes on bone marrow and extramedullary B lymphopoiesis, B cell maturation and survival.
Spoken verb processing in Spanish: An analysis using a new online resource
Authors: RIVERA SEMILLA M. , BATES ELIZABETH A. , OROZCO-FIGUEROA ARACELI , WICHA NICOLE Y. Y.
Published: December 2009

Verbs are one of the basic building blocks of grammar, yet few studies have examined the grammatical, morphological, and phonological factors contributing to lexical access and production of Spanish verb inflection. This report describes an online data set that incorporates psycholinguistic dimensions for 50 of the most common early-acquired Spanish verbs. Using this data set, predictors of response time (RT) from stimulus onset and mean differences at offset are examined. Native Spanish speakers, randomly assigned to one of two tasks, listened to prerecorded verbs and either repeated the verb (single word shadowing) or produced its corresponding pronoun. Factors such as stimulus duration, number of syllables, syllable stress position, and specific levels of initial phoneme facilitated both shadowing of a verb and production of its pronoun. Higher frequency verbs facilitated faster verb repetition, whereas verbs with alternative pronouns increased RT to pronoun production. Mean differences at offset (stimulus duration is removed) indicated that listeners begin speaking earlier when the verb is longer and multisyllabic compared to shorter, monosyllabic words. These results highlight the association between psycholinguistic factors and RT measures of verb processing, in particular, features unique to languages like Spanish, such as alternative pronoun and tense.
Impact of the periconceptional environment on the programming of adult disease
Authors: Watkins A. J. , Lucas E. S. , Fleming T. P.
Published: December 2009

The periconceptional period of mammalian development has been identified as an early ‘developmental window’ during which environmental conditions may influence the pattern of future growth and physiology. Studies in humans and animal models have revealed that factors such as maternal nutritional status orin vitroculture and manipulation of developing gametes and preimplantation embryos can impact upon the long-term health and physiology of the offspring. However, the mechanisms involved in the programming of adult disease in response to altered periconceptional development require increased investigation. The role of epigenetic modifications to DNA and chromatin organisation has been identified as a likely mechanism through which environmental perturbations can affect gene expression patterns resulting in phenotypic change. This study will highlight the sensitivity of two critical stages in early mammalian development, gametogenesis and preimplantation development. We will detail how changes to the immediate environment can not only impact upon developmental processes taking place at that time, but can also affect long-term aspects of offspring health and physiology. We will also discuss the emerging role of epigenetics as a mechanistic link between the environment and the later phenotype of the developing organism.
Nuclear magnetic resonance-based study of ordered layering on the surface of alumina nanoparticles in water
Authors: Gerardi Craig , Cory David , Buongiorno Jacopo , Hu Lin-Wen , McKrell Thomas
Published: December 2009

Layering of water molecules on the surface of alumina nanoparticles in an alumina/water nanofluid is studied using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The data suggest that a thin ordered layer (∼1.4 nm) of water molecules surrounds each nanoparticle. This ordered layer increases the nanoparticle effective volumetric fraction; however, the nanofluid thermal conductivity appears to be unaffected by this layer, and in good agreement with Maxwell’s effective medium theory. Furthermore, the NMR data suggest that the nanoparticles do not enhance, but rather stifle micromixing in the base fluid.
Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Authors: Wainman Paul K , Carr Robin
Published: December 2009

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is defined as an acute infection of the lung parenchyma acquired in the community and is distinct from other ‘chest infections’ such as acute bronchitis and exacerbation of chronic obstructive airways disease. It is the fifth leading cause of death in the UK and hence requires prompt diagnosis, appropriate active treatment, triage and reassessment. This article will discuss the diagnosis, management and follow-up of CAP in primary care incorporating recommendations from the British Thoracic Society. It will also discuss management in children.
Eyebrow anomalies as a diagnostic sign of genomic disorders
Authors: Silengo M , Belligni E , Molinatto C , Baldassare G , Biamino E , Chiesa N , Zuffardi O , Girirajan S , Eichler EE , Ferrero GB
Published: December 2009

Silengo M, Belligni E, Molinatto C, Baldassare G, Biamino E, Chiesa N, Zuffardi O, Girirajan S, Eichler EE, Ferrero GB. Eyebrow anomalies as a diagnostic sign of genomic disorders.

Microdeletions and microduplications in the human genome, termed genomic disorders, contribute to a high proportion of human multisystemic neurodevelopmental diseases and are detected by array‐based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). In general, most genomic disorders are associated with craniofacial and skeletal features and behavioural abnormalities, in addition to learning disability and developmental delay (LD/DD). Specifically, recognition of a characteristic ‘acial gestalt’ has been the key to distinguish one genomic disorder from the other. Here, we report our experience concerning the relevance of abnormal eyebrow pattern as a diagnostic indicator of specific genomic disorders.
An Application of Mean Square Calculus to Sliding Wear
Authors: Ávila da Silva Cláudio R. , Pintaude Giuseppe , Al-Qureshi Hazim Ali , Krajnc Marcelo Alves
Published: December 2009

In this paper the Archard model and classical results of mean square calculus are used to derive two Cauchy problems in terms of the expected value and covariance of the worn height stochastic process. The uncertainty is present in the wear and roughness coefficients. In order to model the uncertainty, random variables or stochastic processes are used. In the latter case, the expected value and covariance of the worn height stochastic process are obtained for three combinations of correlation models for the wear and roughness coefficients. Numerical examples for both models are solved. For the model based on a random variable, a larger dispersion in terms of worn height stochastic process was observed.
An Internal Model Control Anti-Windup Scheme With Improved Performance for Input Saturation Via Loop Shaping
Authors: Wu Wei , Jayasuriya Suhada
Published: December 2009

Proposed here is a new approach for synthesizing an internal model control (IMC) anti-windup (AW) compensator for a stable plant subject to input saturation. Built on the conventional IMC AW scheme, which preserves the stability robustness of the unconstrained system, the proposed linear AW compensator improves the performance of the constrained system. The analysis conducted through the loop decomposition of the AW system clearly reveals the impacts of the AW compensator on the closed-loop stability and performance. Loop shaping techniques are executed to design the AW compensator. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated using a numerical example.
Learning the Game of Formulating and Testing Hypotheses and Theories
Authors: Maloney David P. , Masters Mark F.
Published: December 2009

Physics is not immune to questioning by supporters of nonscientific propositions such as “intelligent design” and “creationism.”1 The supporters of these propositions use phrases such as “it's just a theory” to influence those unfamiliar with or even fearful of science, making it increasingly important that all students and in particular science students (since it is often assumed that science students have an innate understanding of science in contradiction to all evidence) learn about the nature of science. Indeed, for at least a century one of the major objectives of science instruction has been to help students develop a sense of the nature of scientific investigation.2–5 In physics, the laboratory experiences are often used as a method to teach the nature of the scientific endeavor. Unfortunately, all too often these experiences are simply directed demonstrations that do no more than teach students to follow directions. In this situation, the scientific processes involved are simply ignored, even among science majors, and this omission is exacerbated when dealing with non-science majors in general education science courses, where the students may have a fear or dislike of science.
Apparent desensitization of the effects of sigma receptor ligand haloperidol in isolated rat and guinea pig hearts after chronic treatmentThis article is one of a selection of papers published in a special issue on Advances in Cardiovascular Research.
Authors: Fialova Katerina , Krizanova Olga , Jarkovsky Jiri , Novakova Marie
Published: December 2009

The supposed role of cardiac sigma receptors is fine tuning of contractility. Sigma receptors affect several ionic channels and hence their signaling is reflected by the electrophysiological properties of the heart. Numerous ligands of sigma receptors are known to prolong the QT interval and therefore cause a variety of arrhythmias, including severe ones. The effects of the prototypical sigma ligand haloperidol have been studied extensively in humans as well as in various animal models, primarily after acute administration. We examined the incidence of arrhythmias, changes in heart rate, and prolongation of QT interval in isolated Langendorff-perfused rat and guinea pig hearts after they were exposed to nanomolar concentrations of haloperidol. Hearts from both untreated (acute) and pretreated (chronic) animals were investigated. While QT prolongation and arrhythmias due to haloperidol administration were observed in untreated rat and guinea pig hearts, arrhythmias were completely prevented in both species of chronically treated animals. In treated guinea pigs, the results were generally less convincing. Since the hearts were exposed to nanomolar concentration of haloperidol, we conclude that our data may be explained by desensitization of sigma receptors.
Myocardial Ca2+handling and cell-to-cell coupling, key factors in prevention of sudden cardiac deathThis article is one of a selection of papers published in a special issue on Advances in Cardiovascular Research.
Authors: Tribulova Narcis , Seki Shingo , Radosinska Jana , Kaplan Peter , Babusikova Eva , Knezl Vladimir , Mochizuki Seibu
Published: December 2009

Using whole-heart preparations, we tested our hypothesis that Ca2+handling is closely related to cell-to-cell coupling at the gap junctions and that both are critical for the development and particularly the termination of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and hence the prevention of sudden arrhythmic death. Intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), ECG, and left ventricular pressure were continuously monitored in isolated guinea pig hearts before and during development of low K+-induced sustained VF and during its conversion into sinus rhythm facilitated by stobadine. We also examined myocardial ultrastructure to detect cell-to-cell coupling alterations. We demonstrated that VF occurrence was preceded by a 55.9% ± 6.2% increase in diastolic [Ca2+]i, which was associated with subcellular alterations indicating Ca2+overload of the cardiomyocytes and disorders in coupling among the cells. Moreover, VF itself further increased [Ca2+]iby 58.2% ± 3.4% and deteriorated subcellular and cell-to-cell coupling abnormalities that were heterogeneously distributed throughout the myocardium. In contrast, termination of VF and its conversion into sinus rhythm was marked by restoration of basal [Ca2+]i, resulting in recovery of intercellular coupling linked with synchronous contraction. Furthermore, we have shown that hearts exhibiting lower SERCA2a (sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase) activity and abnormal intercellular coupling (as in older guinea pigs) are more prone to develop Ca2+overload associated with cell-to-cell uncoupling than hearts with higher SERCA2a activity (as in young guinea pigs). Consequently, young animals are better able to terminate VF spontaneously. These findings indicate the crucial role of Ca2+handling in relation to cell-to-cell coupling in both the occurrence and termination of malignant arrhythmia.
Omega-3E treatment regulates matrix metalloproteinases and prevents vascular reactivity alterations in diabetic rat aortaThis article is one of a selection of papers published in a special issue on Advances in Cardiovascular Research.
Authors: Zeydanli Esma N. , Turan Belma
Published: December 2009

It is known that increased generation of oxidants and (or) reduced endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms are associated with the etiology of diabetic vascular complications. Although a close correlation exists between increased oxidative stress and the activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), little is known about the effect of hyperglycemia on the regulation and contribution of MMPs in the vascular system. Therefore, we aimed to examine whether omega-3E (50 mg/kg per day for 4 weeks), a long-chain (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid enriched with vitamin E, has a beneficial effect on vascular dysfunction via affecting MMPs in streptozotocin-diabetic rat aorta. Omega-3E treatment improved the diabetes-induced impairment of phenylephrine-induced contraction and isoproterenol-induced relaxation responses of aorta. It also exhibited marked protection against diabetes-induced degenerative changes in smooth muscle cell morphology. Biochemical data showed that this treatment significantly prevented important changes, such as inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity, loss of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-4 (TIMP-4) protein, increase in tissue levels of thiol oxidation, endothelin-1, protein kinase C (PKC), and cAMP production, and decrease in tissue level of nitrite. These results indicated that omega-3E significantly improved impaired vascular responses and regulated the activity of MMPs via preventing oxidative injury. Overall, the data suggest that omega-3E ameliorates or prevents vascular reactivity alterations in diabetes. Such an observation provides preliminary evidence for omega-3E’s potential as a therapeutic agent for the prevention of vascular disorders in diabetes.
Taiwan Automated Telescope Network
Authors: Chou Dean-Yi , Sun Ming-Tsung , Fernandez Fernandez Javier , Wang Li-Han , Jimenez Antonio , Serebryanskiy Alexander , Ehgamberdiev Shuhrat
Published: December 2009

A global network of small automated telescopes, the Taiwan Automated Telescope (TAT) network, dedicated to photometric measurements of stellar pulsations, is under construction. Two telescopes have been installed in Teide Observatory, Tenerife, Spain and Maidanak Observatory, Uzbekistan. The third telescope will be installed at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii, USA. Each system uses a 9‐cm Maksutov‐type telescope. The effective focal length is 225 cm, corresponding to an f‐ratio of 25. The field of view is 0.62 degree square. The images are taken with a 16‐bit 1024 × 1024 CCD camera. The telescope is equipped with UBVRI filters. Each telescope is fully automated. The telescope
can be operated either interactively or fully automatically. In the interactive mode, it can be controlled through the Internet. In the fully automatic mode, the telescope operates with preset parameters without any human care, including taking dark frames and flat frames. The network can also be used for studies that require continuous observations for selected objects.
Noonan Syndrome: The Hypothalamo-Adrenal and Hypothalamo-Gonadal Axes
Authors: Kelnar Christopher J.H.
Published: December 2009

The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis has not been studied systematically in Noonan syndrome (NS), despite potential concerns about other aspects of hypothalamo-pituitary function. While adrenarche may be delayed in children with constitutional growth of puberty and in isolated GH deficiency, this does not generally seem to be the case in hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism due to Turner syndrome (TS) and this is (anecdotally) the usual hormonal profile in NS children and adults. Precocious or ‘exaggerated’ adrenarche can be associated with intrauterine growth retardation and is a forerunner of syndrome X. Although NS neonates often have ‘normal’ birth weights, in some it can be artificially inflated by subcutaneous edema (as in TS, where intrauterine growth retardation is characteristic). Overall, however, a controlling role for adrenarche (whether precocious or delayed) in gonadarche in NS seems unlikely. Neither normally descended testes nor normal (even if delayed) pubertal development implies normal fertility in NS men. Interactions between fetal, neonatal, childhood and pubertal testis development and gonadal axis maturation are complex. There is probably a spectrum of abnormalities in NS, but most commonly primary gonadal failure and hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism – characteristic NS molecular genetic abnormalities – may be important for normal germ cell proliferation, development and migration. The identification of different gene defects facilitates understanding of NS phenotypic diversity and provides opportunities for prospective studies on gonadal and adrenal axes in better defined populations less subject to ascertainment bias. At a clinical level, more longitudinal data are still needed with regard to the natural history of pubertal timing, its tempo of progression and the pattern of pubertal growth.
Nitrite Potently Inhibits Hypoxic and Inflammatory Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Smooth Muscle Proliferation via Xanthine Oxidoreductase–Dependent Nitric Oxide Generation
Authors: Zuckerbraun Brian S. , Shiva Sruti , Ifedigbo Emeka , Mathier Michael A. , Mollen Kevin P. , Rao Jayashree , Bauer Philip M. , Choi Justin J.W. , Curtis Erin , Choi Augustine M.K. , Gladwin Mark T.
Published: December 2009

Background—Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a progressive proliferative vasculopathy of the small pulmonary arteries that is characterized by a primary failure of the endothelial nitric oxide and prostacyclin vasodilator pathways, coupled with dysregulated cellular proliferation. We have recently discovered that the endogenous anion salt nitrite is converted to nitric oxide in the setting of physiological and pathological hypoxia. Considering the fact that nitric oxide exhibits vasoprotective properties, we examined the effects of nitrite on experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Methods and Results—We exposed mice and rats with hypoxia or monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension to low doses of nebulized nitrite (1.5 mg/min) 1 or 3 times a week. This dose minimally increased plasma and lung nitrite levels yet completely prevented or reversed pulmonary arterial hypertension and pathological right ventricular hypertrophy and failure. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that nitrite in the lung was metabolized directly to nitric oxide in a process significantly enhanced under hypoxia and found to be dependent on the enzymatic action of xanthine oxidoreductase. Additionally, physiological levels of nitrite inhibited hypoxia-induced proliferation of cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells via the nitric oxide–dependent induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21Waf1/Cip1. The therapeutic effect of nitrite on hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension was significantly reduced in the p21-knockout mouse; however, nitrite still reduced pressures and right ventricular pathological remodeling, indicating the existence of p21-independent effects as well.

Conclusion—These studies reveal a potent effect of inhaled nitrite that limits pathological pulmonary arterial hypertrophy and cellular proliferation in the setting of experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Neointimal Hyperplasia and Vasoreactivity Are Controlled by Genetic Elements on Rat Chromosome 3
Authors: Nestor Kalinoski Andrea L. , Ramdath Ramona S. , Langenderfer Kay M. , Sikanderkhel Saad , DeRaedt Sarah , Welch Marlene , Park James L. , Pringle Timothy , Joe Bina , Cicila George T. , Allison David C.
Published: December 2009

Neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) can lead to restenosis after clinical vascular interventions. NIH results from complex and poorly understood interactions between signaling cascades in the extracellular matrix and the disrupted endothelium, which lead to vessel occlusion. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were reported previously on rat chromosomes 3 and 6 through linkage analysis of postinjury NIH in midiliac arterial sections. In the current study, substitution mapping validated the RNO3 NIH QTL but not the RNO6 NIH QTL. The SHR.BN3 congenic strain had a 3-fold increase in the percentage of NIH compared with the parental spontaneously hypertensive rat strain. A double congenic study of RNO3+RNO6 NIH QTL segments suggested less than additive effects of these 2 genomic regions. To test the hypothesis that changes in vessel dynamics account for the differences in NIH formation, we performed vascular reactivity studies in the Brown Norway (BN), spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), SHR.BN3, and SHR.BN6 strains. De-endothelialized left common carotid artery rings of the SHR.BN3 showed an increased vascular responsiveness when treated with serotonin or prostaglandin F2
α
, with significant differences in EC
50
and maximum effect (
P
<0.01) values compared with the spontaneously hypertensive rat parental strain. Because both vascular reactivity and percentage of NIH formation in the SHR.BN3 strain are significantly higher than the SHR strain, we postulate that these traits may be associated and are controlled by genetic elements on RNO3. In summary, these results confirm that the RNO3 NIH QTL carries the gene(s) contributing to postinjury NIH formation.
Dual-Doppler Radar Coverage Area as a Function of Measurement Accuracy and Spatial Resolution
Authors: Davies-Jones Robert P.
Published: December 2009

The area effectively covered by dual-Doppler radars is presented as a function of spatioal resolution and accuracy of horizontal velocity measurement. Implications of this relationship for the spacing of a dual-Doppler network tornadic storm research are discussed.