bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gain enhancement in embedded microstrip antennas
Authors: Fallah‐Rad M. , Shafai L.
Published: December 2007

A microstrip antenna embedded inside a dielectric medium representing the building material is investigated for its gain. It is shown that coupling the embedded antenna to a parasitic patch, placed outside the embedding material, can increase the antenna gain significantly. In addition, by properly selecting the antenna depth inside the embedded material its radiation characteristics can be made less sensitive to the material parameters of the surrounding. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 269–271, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23070
CP‐microstrip coplanar patch antenna for satellite reception
Authors: Krzysztofik Wojciech J.
Published: December 2007

A design of a broadband circularly polarized coplanar‐square‐patch antenna, CSPA, for Iridium satellite reception via handset is proposed and experimentally studied. With the introduction of some asymmetry in the structure to a single‐feed coplanar‐sqaure‐patch microstrip antenna, it is possible to excite two orthogonal degenerate resonant modes for circular polarization (CP) radiation. Experimental results of constructed prototypes show that the obtained 3‐dB axial‐ratio bandwidths can reach as large as 8.5%. The proposed antenna has a peak antenna gain of about 4.2 dBi, with efficiency 85% for frequencies within the CP. Some prototypes of the proposed CP design CSPA antennas have been implemented and experimental results are presented and discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 372–375, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23071
Implementation of a 5‐GHz LTCC bandpass filter using vertically‐interdigitated capacitors and via engineering
Authors: Lim JuHwan , Jung DongYun , Park ChulSoon , Hwang SungWoo
Published: December 2007

A low‐temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) LC resonator bandpass filter for 5‐GHz wireless LAN applications is implemented. The miniaturization of the filter is achieved by utilizing vertically‐interdigitated capacitors as resonator capacitors, and the required small inductance (∼ 0.1 nH) is realized by via holes. The inductances of via‐holes connecting the capacitor plates also considerably affect the filter characteristics, and they are considered in circuit design stage of the filter. The fabricated bandpass filter has five layers with the size of 2.4 × 4.18 × 0.56 mm3. The measured center frequency, bandwidth, and insertion loss are 5.32 GHz, 340 MHz, and 2.87 dB, respectively. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 339–341, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23072
Study of Raman amplification with low cost incoherent pumps
Authors: Rocha Ana M. , Neto B. , Facão M. , André P.S.
Published: December 2007

In this study, we report the implementation and analysis of a Raman fiber amplifier based on low cost incoherent pumps. The amplifier performance was compared experimentally and theoretically, with a coherent pumping amplifier. A decrease of 0.03 dB/nm on the gain spectral tilt is achieved with the incoherent pumping amplifier, in co‐ and counter‐pumping configurations using a SMF fiber. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 301–303, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23074
Broadband quadrature coupler with slotted ground plane
Authors: Abbosh Amin M.
Published: December 2007

The design of an edge‐coupled quadrature directional coupler, which has a broadband performance and relaxed coupled‐line spacing, is presented. A slotted ground plane is used underneath the coupled region in order to relax the requirement for a narrow slot between the coupled lines. The simulated and measured results show that the designed coupler exhibits a coupling of 3 ± 1 dB across the band 3.8 GHz to 9.8 GHz, when the spacing between the coupled lines is 0.12 mm. Without the slot in the ground plane, the spacing should be less than 0.001 mm to achieve the same value of coupling across that band. This broadband coupling is accompanied by an isolation and return loss in the order of 13 dB or better across the band 3–10 GHz. The designed device has a compact size with a dimension of 30 mm × 20 mm. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 328–331, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23080
Printed holey plate Luneburg lens
Authors: Xue L. , Fusco V. F.
Published: December 2007

A printed Luneburg lens whose permittivity distribution is controlled by photo lithographically etching holes of different sizes into one side of a PCB ground plane is reported. The lens designed to operate in TE01 mode has a measured −3‐dB beamwidth of 5.2° with 14.2‐dB gain at 27.22 GHz for a 12.2λ, 13.4‐cm diameter lens. Its low profile, 3.175‐mm thickness, 85 g, ±20° scanning range, and 15% bandwidth makes it useful for land mobile telemetry and vehicular applications in the millimeter waveband. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 378–380, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23087
Particle swarms applied to array synthesis and planar near‐field antenna measurements
Authors: Pérez J. R. , Basterrechea J.
Published: December 2007

The usefulness and limitations of several particle swarm optimization schemes when applied to linear array synthesis considering directive element patterns and to antenna far‐field pattern reconstruction from planar near‐field acquisition are presented. Particle swarm optimization with either synchronous or asynchronous updates of the swarm as well as global or local topologies have been considered. For both applications, results comparing the four optimization techniques are reported and discussed. Finally, results considering complex and phase‐only linear array synthesis, along with results of near‐field to far‐field transformation for a pyramidal horn are also included. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 544–548, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23089
Design of capacitive coupled resonator microstrip filter
Authors: Mandeep J. S. , Prabhu  , Jovanovic S.
Published: December 2007

A microstrip bandpass filter with a new type of capacitive‐coupled resonator is presented. The filter is designed to be smaller compared with the same type of parallel‐coupled bandpass filter. The filter is designed for a centre frequency of 2.5 GHz that lies in the S‐band frequency range. The insertion loss at fo is 2.4 dB and the measured 3‐dB bandwidth is 8.6%. The agreement between the predicted and measured results is excellent, and even the circuit simulator gives a very good prediction for the filter characteristics. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 460–462, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23094
A compact UWB bandpass filter with a wide upper stopband using multiple transmission zeros
Authors: Hon Kuan , Min‐Hang Weng
Published: December 2007

In this article, a compact bandpass filter is proposed for lower band (3.1–4.9 GHz) of ultra‐wideband applications. The filter is mainly composed of a pseudo‐interdigital wideband bandpass filter (PI‐WBF) and a multiple transmission‐zeros structure (MTZS), being a bandstop filter. By using the MTZS, multiple transmission zeros can be located in the upper stopband of the PI‐WBF. The design procedure is discussed in detail. The designed filter was fabricated and measured. Measured results also have a good agreement with the simulated results. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 380–382, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23103
New λ/2 microstrip bandpass filters using skew‐symmetric feed structure
Authors: Zhu Yong Zhong , Xie Yong Jun
Published: December 2007

One type of magnetic coupling filter using skew‐symmetric feed structure can create two transmission zeros in the upper stopband. The mixed coupling filter can generate one transmission zero lying on each side of the passband and the S11 spectrum is slightly asymmetrically shaped in the vicinity of the center frequency. A two‐pole hexagonal magnetic coupling filter using skew‐symmetric feed structure is designed and fabricated. The filter has a fractional bandwidth of 3% at 2.45 GHz. The transmission zeros are obtained in the upper stopband at f1 = 2.63 GHz and f2 = 2.97 GHz. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 440–442, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23108
Bandwidth enhancement of open slot antenna for UWB applications
Authors: Chen Wen‐Shan , Ku Kuang‐Yuan
Published: December 2007

A novel open slot antenna for bandwidth enhancement is presented. The bandwidth enhancement of the proposed antenna is achieved by cutting two notches along the invert‐L shape open slot in the ground plane. The frequency range of the proposed antenna is from 2.3 to 10.9 GHz, which can cover the WLAN bands (2.4/5 GHz) and UWB frequency range (3.1–10.6 GHz). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 438–4399, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23109
Cross‐coupled dual‐band filter using folded tri‐section stepped impedance resonators
Authors: Fan J. W. , Liang C. H. , Wu B.
Published: December 2007

A compact dual‐band bandpass filter using folded tri‐section stepped impedance resonators (FTSIRs) is proposed in this article. Resonance characteristics of the tri‐section stepped impedance resonator (TSIR) are derived and described in detail. A cross‐coupled dual‐band filter for WLAN(2.4/5.2 GHz) is designed with four FTSIRs. The measurement of the filter is in good agreement with the simulation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 407–409, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23110
Compact coaxial‐line‐fed flat‐plate dipole antenna for WLAN applications
Authors: Su Saou‐Wen , Chou Jui‐Hung
Published: December 2007

A novel coaxial‐line‐fed flat‐plate dipole antenna for WLAN operation in the 2.4 GHz band is presented. The dipole antenna is rectangular in shape and can easily be fabricated by stamping a metal plate at low cost. The two radiating arms of the dipole antenna are first bent into a compact structure with the dimensions 10 mm × 38 mm and further short‐circuited with a narrow shorting strip, which allows the antenna to be obtained from one single, stamped metal plate only. In addition, good impedance matching for 2.4 GHz operation can also be achieved by controlling the distance between the feeding points and the shorting strip. The design prototype of the antenna is elaborated and discussed in detail in the article. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 420–422, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23116
Wideband bandpass filter of folded substrate‐integrated waveguide integrating with stripline compact resonant cell
Authors: Geng Liang , Che Wenquan , Deng Kuan
Published: December 2007

A wideband bandpass filter constructed into folded substrate‐integrated waveguide (FSIW) is proposed, incorporating with the stripline compact resonant cell (CRC). The folded SIW preserves nearly the same propagation characteristics with its counterpart substrate‐integrated waveguide (SIW); however, the width of FSIW is only half of SIW, providing a more compact platform for many novel circuits or subsystems. A prototype of this wideband bandpass filter was fabricated and measured. Good agreements are observed between the experimental results and the simulations. The results demonstrate a wide passband about 83.7% (from 3.3 to 8.05 GHz) at −10 dB return loss and the insertion loss in the entire passband is less than 0.26 dB. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 390–393, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23117
Design of a dual‐mode bandpass filter with wide stopband performance for GPS application
Authors: Kuan Hon , Pan Heng‐Yau
Published: December 2007

In this article, we propose a dual‐mode bandpass filter (BPF) at 1.575 GHz using periodic meander slotted ground structures (M‐SGSs) which are etched on the ground plane for spurious suppression. First, single M‐SGS is analyzed. Second, the M‐SGSs are used to provide a good stopband‐rejection to the second harmonics of the dual‐mode BPF with level of over −40 dB. Finally, a dual‐mode BPF with improved stopband is designed, fabricated, and measured. The experimental results of the fabricated filter measured by the network analyzer have good agreement with the simulation results. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 445–447, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23123
Leaky mode dispersions of Goubau lines
Authors: Kim Ki Young
Published: December 2007

The leaky dispersion characteristics of a Goubau line were numerically investigated for three lower‐order transverse magnetic (TM) modes by determining a complex propagation constant using Davidenko's method. As a result, physically meaningful spectral ranges of leaky modes were found to exist below the cutoff frequency of the Goubau line. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 523–525, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23136
1H NMR study of internal motions and quantum rotational tunneling in (CH3)4NGeCl3
Authors: Mallikarjunaiah K. J. , Jugeshwar Singh K. , Ramesh K. P. , Damle R.
Published: December 2007

(CH3)4NGeCl3 is prepared, characterized and studied using 1H NMR spin lattice relaxation time and second moment to understand the internal motions and quantum rotational tunneling. Proton second moment is measured at 7 MHz as function of temperature in the range 300–77 K and spin lattice relaxation time (T1) is measured at two Larmor frequencies, as a function of temperature in the range 270–17 K employing a homemade wide‐line/pulsed NMR spectrometers. T1 data are analyzed in two temperature regions using relevant theoretical models. The relaxation in the higher temperatures (270–115 K) is attributed to the hindered reorientations of symmetric groups (CH3 and (CH3)4N). Broad asymmetric T1 minima observed below 115 K down to 17 K are attributed to quantum rotational tunneling of the inequivalent methyl groups. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Origin of 13C complexation shifts in the adduct formation of 2‐butyl phenyl ethers with a dirhodium tetracarboxylate complex
Authors: Gómez Edison Díaz , Duddeck Helmut
Published: December 2007

Complexation of the oxygen atom in 2‐butyl phenyl ethers to a rhodium atom of the dirhodium tetracarboxylate Rh(II)2[(R)‐(+)‐MTPA]4(Rh*, MTPA‐H = methoxytrifluoromethylphenylacetic acid ≡ Mosher's acid) deshields an sp3‐hybridized 13C nucleus directly bonded to the ether oxygen; apparently, the inductive effect of the oxygen is enhanced when it is complexed to the rhodium atom. On the other hand, deshielding complexation shifts of aromatic ipso‐carbons (α‐positioned) are minute but ortho‐ and para‐carbon signals are influenced by the resonance effect of oxygen. This effect can be modulated by further substituents at the benzene ring. In turn, this modulation of the resonance correlates linearly ith the magnitude of the inductive effect exerted on the aliphatic α–carbon atoms. Diastereomeric dispersion effects at 13C signals can be observed for most compounds, indicating that enantiodifferentiation is possible in this class of ethers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural determination of two new sesquiterpenes biotransformed from germacrone by Mucor alternata
Authors: Jia Niu , Xiao Chi MA , Xiu Lan Xin , Hong Wei Jin , Dean Guo
Published: December 2007

Eight transformed sesquiterpenes of germacrone by Mucor alternata were obtained. Their structures were characterized on the basis of spectral methods including 2D NMR. Among them, (1S, 4S, 5S, 10R)‐isozedoarondiol (2) and (1R, 4S, 5S, 10R)‐diepoxy‐12‐hydroxygermacrone (3) are new compounds. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proteomic analysis of bovine conceptus fluids during early pregnancy
Authors: Riding George A. , Jones Alun , Holland Michael K. , Hill Jonathan R. , Lehnert Sigrid A.
Published: December 2007

A proteomic analysis of bovine amniotic and allantoic fluids collected around Day 45 of gestation was performed using gel‐based and LC‐based MS workflows. A depletion/enrichment protocol using ultrafiltration under denaturing and reducing conditions produced an enriched fraction containing protein species predominantly between 5 and 50 kDa molecular weight. The analyses of conceptus fluid proteins were performed using two strategies; first, 2‐DE coupled with MALDI‐TOF‐MS/MS and LC‐ESI‐MS/MS analysis of individual protein spots and second, a global protein snapshot of the enriched 5–50 kDa protein fraction by LC‐ESI‐MS/MS and LC‐MALDI‐TOF‐MS/MS. Allocation of bovine specific protein identities was achieved by searching the Interactive Bovine In Silico SNP (IBISS) and NCBInr protein sequence databases resulting in the confident PMF identification and MS/MS confirmation of >200 2‐DE generated allantoic fluids protein spots (74 individual protein species identified) and the MS/MS peptide identification of 105 LC‐ESI‐MS/MS generated protein identities. In total, the identity of 139 individual protein species from allantoic fluids was confirmed with peptide sequence probability MOWSE scores at the p<0.05 level or better. The comparison of bovine Day 45 amniotic and allantoic fluids protein profiles revealed differences between these two conceptus fluids in early pregnancy.
Use of 2‐D DIGE analysis reveals altered phosphorylation in a tropomyosin mutant (Glu54Lys) linked to dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Warren Chad M. , Arteaga Grace M. , Rajan Sudarsan , Ahmed Rafeeq P. H. , Wieczorek David F. , Solaro R. John
Published: December 2007

Current electrophoretic methods have not been optimized to fully separate post‐translationally modified mutant forms of tropomyosin (Tm) from wild‐type cardiac samples. We describe here a method employing a modified 2‐D PAGE/2‐D DIGE protocol, to fully separate native, mutant (E54K), and phosphorylated forms of Tm. Our data demonstrate the first evidence of a significant (˜40%) decrease in Tm phosphorylation in transgenic compared to non‐transgenic mouse hearts, and indicate that altered phosphorylation may be a significant factor in the linkage of the E54K mutation to dilated cardiomyopathy.
Synthesis of hyperbranched polymer having binaphthol units via oxidative cross‐coupling polymerization
Authors: Temma Tomohisa , Habaue Shigeki
Published: December 2007

The oxidative coupling polymerization of triphenylamine derivatives having 2‐naphthol moieties with a CuCl‐2,2′‐isopropylidenebis(4‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline) catalyst under an O2 atmosphere was carried out. The polymerization of the monomer bearing both the hydroxynaphthoate and naphthol units afforded a hyperbranched polymer with a high cross‐coupling selectivity of > 99%, which showed a number‐average molecular weight of 20.3 × 103. In addition, the obtained polymer was quite soluble in THF. The photoluminescence and electrochemical properties of the obtained polymers were also examined. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1034–1041, 2008
Evolution of dislocations in perylene films with thickness and deposition rate
Authors: Beigmohamadi M. , Niyamakom P. , Farahzadi A. , Kremers S. , Michely T. , Wuttig M.
Published: December 2007

The growth of perylene films on an amorphous oxide bottom layer is investigated. The perylene films show clear spiral growth and formation of screw dislocations. As a function of deposition rate and film thickness the densities of screw dislocations, grains as well as the roughness and the lateral correlation length are determined from AFM images. The evolution of microstrain as calculated from an XRD peak profile analysis corresponds to the dislocation density. The simultaneous decrease of grain density and dislocation density with film thickness is explained by considering the overgrowth of grains due to loss of dislocations acting as growth spirals. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

magnified image

3.5 μm AFM images of 700 nm perylene film. Left: topography. Right: edge enhanced, showing steps and spiral growth. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Plasmon energy chemical phase mapping of reactive multilayers
Authors: Mat Yajid M. A. , Wagner T. , Möbus G.
Published: December 2007

An analytical method of quantitative phase identification and mapping on the nanoscale is presented based on correlative similarity mapping from spectrum images within electron energy loss spectroscopy across the low‐loss plasmon region. The method is applied to map the reaction layer formation for heat treated Cu–Al–Al2O3 thin films. Coexistence of residual Al pockets next to polycrystalline but epitaxial CuAl2 as main reaction product is found as well as a distinctive interfacial plasmon region. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Approaches for assessing hazards and risks to workers and the public from contaminated land
Authors: Gochfeld Michael , Burger Joanna , Friedlander Barry , Powers Charles
Published: December 2007

Many public agencies and private entities are faced with assessing the risks to humans from contamination on their lands. The United States Department of Energy (US DOE) and Department of Defense are responsible for large holdings of contaminated land and face a long‐term and costly challenge to assure sustainable protectiveness. With increasing interest in the conversion of brownfields to productive uses, many former industrial properties must also be assessed to determine compatible future land uses. In the United States, many cleanup plans or actions are based on the Comprehensive Environmental Responsibility, Compensation, and Liability Act, which provides important but incomplete coverage of these issues, although many applications have tried to involve stakeholders at multiple steps. Where there is the potential for exposure to workers, the public, and the environment from either cleanup or leaving residual contamination in place, there is a need for a more comprehensive approach to evaluate and balance the present and future risk(s) from existing contamination, from remediation actions, as well as from postremediation residual contamination. This article focuses on the US DOE, the agency with the largest hazardous waste remediation task in the world. Presented is a framework extending from preliminary assessment, risk assessment and balancing, epidemiology, monitoring, communication, and stakeholder involvement useful for assessing risk to workers and site neighbors. Provided are examples of those who eat fish, meat, or fruit from contaminated habitats. The US DOE's contaminated sites are unique in a number of ways: (1) huge physical footprint size, (2) types of waste (mixed radiation/chemical), and (3) quantities of waste. Proposed future land uses provide goals for remediation, but since some contamination is of a type or magnitude that cannot be cleaned up with existing technology, this in turn constrains future land use options, requiring an iterative approach. The risk approaches must fit a range of future land uses and end‐states from leave‐in‐place to complete cleanup. This will include not only traditional risk methodologies, but also the assessment and surveillance necessary for stewards for long‐term monitoring of risk from historic and future exposure to maintain sustainable protectiveness. Because of the distinctiveness of DOE sites, application of the methodologies developed here to other waste site situations requires site‐specific evaluation © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Treatment technologies for mercury in soil, waste, and water
Authors: Otto Martha , Bajpai Sankalpa
Published: December 2007

Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and can be found in elemental (metallic), inorganic, and organic forms. Modern uses for mercury include chemical manufacturing, thermometers, and lighting (mercury vapor and fluorescent lamps). The chemical and allied products industry group is responsible for the largest quantity of mercury used in the United States. Mercury, particularly the organic methylmercury form, is a potent neurotoxin capable of impairing neurological development in fetuses and young children and of damaging the central nervous system of adults. Mercury regulations span multiple federal and state environmental statutes, as well as multiple agency jurisdictions. In August 2007, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (US EPA's) Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI) published a report titled “Treatment Technologies for Mercury in Soil, Waste, and Water.“ The report identifies eight treatment technologies and 57 projects, 50 of which provide performance data. This information can help managers at sites with mercury‐contaminated media and generators of mercury‐contaminated waste and wastewater to identify proven and effective mercury treatment technologies; screen technologies based on application‐specific goals, characteristics, and costs; and apply experiences from sites with similar treatment challenges. This article provides a synopsis of the US EPA report, which is available at http://clu‐in.org/542R07003. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.*

This article is a U.S. Government work and, as such, is in the public domain of the United States of America.
The scholarship of curriculum practice and undergraduate program reform: Integrating theory into practice
Authors: Hubball Harry , Gold Neil
Published: December 2007

Scholarly approaches to curriculum practice are critical to the success of undergraduate program reform.
Between cultures: Using curriculum assessment to develop and deliver the integrated core of an arts and sciences program
Authors: Pennee Donna Palmateer
Published: December 2007

This chapter describes how student‐ and faculty‐driven curriculum assessment has facilitated the stability and coherence of a variable‐content interdisciplinary program core.
Supporting curriculum assessment and development: Implications for the faculty role and institutional support
Authors: Christensen Hughes Julia
Published: December 2007

This chapter argues that increased curriculum assessment and development activities are both essential and inevitable. The question is how best to support them?
INTER-GENERATION SOCIAL MOBILITY MODIFIES FRAMINGHAM RISK SCORE IN POLISH MIDDLE-AGED MEN, BUT NOT IN WOMEN
Authors: JANKOWSKA EWA ANITA , SZKLARSKA ALICJA , LIPOWICZ ANNA , ŁOPUSZAŃSKA MONIKA , KOZIEL SŁAWOMIR , BIELICKI TADEUSZ
Published: December 2007

In modern societies, there are regular social gradients in most health parameters, and also in the structure of morbidity and mortality. However, the significance of inter-generation social mobility for general health status still remains equivocal. This study was therefore performed in order to compare the effect of social mobility on coronary heart disease (CHD) risk between middle-aged Polish men and women. A total of 342 men and 458 women, aged 40 and 50 and inhabitants of Wrocław, were examined. Risk of CHD was estimated using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), calculated for each individual. Social mobility was defined as an inter-generation change in social status expressed as educational level between the examined individual and his/her father. Using two-variable regression models, it was demonstrated that FRS in men was determined by both their father’s education level (β=0·33, p<0·0001) and inter-generation change in educational status (β=0·18, p=0·008). In contrast, FRS in women was related only to their father’s education level (β=0·35, p<0·0001), but not to inter-generation social mobility (β=0·35, p=0·25). In particular, an incremental change in educational level among those men whose father had finished primary school at the very most or among those whose father had finished basic trade school was accompanied by a significant decrease in FRS (F=4·12, p=0·009 and F=3·25, p=0·04, respectively). It is concluded that inter-generation social mobility modifies CHD risk (as estimated using FRS) in middle-aged Polish men, but not in women. The precise mechanisms responsible for the observed sex difference in this phenomenon need to be established in further studies.
VIRTUE AND NATURE
Authors: Gowans Christopher W.
Published: December 2007

The Neo-Aristotelian ethical naturalism of Philippa Foot and Rosalind Hursthouse purports to establish a naturalistic criterion for the virtues. Specifically, by developing a parallel between the natural ends of nonhuman animals and the natural ends of human beings, they argue that character traits are justified as virtues by the extent to which they promote and do not inhibit natural ends such as self-preservation, reproduction, and the well-being of one’s social group. I argue that the approach of Foot and Hursthouse cannot provide a basis for moral universalism, the widely-accepted idea that each human being has moral worth and thus deserves significant moral consideration. Foot and Hursthouse both depict a virtuous agent as implicitly acting in accord with moral universalism. However, with respect to charity, a virtue they both emphasize, their naturalistic criterion (especially in the more elaborate form developed by Hursthouse) at best provides a warrant for a restricted form of charity that extends only to a limited number of persons. There is nothing in the natural ends of human beings, as Foot and Hursthouse understand these, that gives us a reason for having any concern for the well-being of human beings as such.
WHY MORAL JUDGMENTS CAN BE OBJECTIVE
Authors: Machan Tibor R.
Published: December 2007

Are we able to make objective moral judgments? This perennial philosophical topic needs often to be revisited because it is central to human life. Judging how people conduct themselves, the institutions they devise, whether, in short, they are doing what's right or what's wrong, is ubiquitous. In this essay I defend the objectivity of ethical judgments by deploying a neo-Aristotelian naturalism by which to keep the “is-ought” gap at bay and place morality on an objective footing. I do this with the aid of the ideas of Ayn Rand as well as, but only by implication and association, those of Martha Nussbaum and Philippa Foot.
MORAL CONSTRUCTION AS A TASK: SOURCES AND LIMITS
Authors: Hill Thomas E.
Published: December 2007

This essay first distinguishes different questions regarding moral objectivity and relativism and then sketches a broadly Kantian position on two of these questions. First, how, if at all, can we derive, justify, or support specific moral principles and judgments from more basic moral standards and values? Second, how, if at all, can the basic standards such as my broadly Kantian perspective, be defended? Regarding the first question, the broadly Kantian position is that from ideas in Kant's later formulations of the Categorical Imperative, especially human dignity and rational autonomous law-making, we can develop an appropriate moral perspective for identifying and supporting more specific principles. Both the deliberative perspective and the derivative principles can be viewed as “constructed,” but in different senses. In response to the second question, the essay examines two of Kant's strategies for defending his basic perspective and the important background of his arguments against previous moral theories.
MORAL OBJECTIVITY
Authors: Rescher Nicholas
Published: December 2007

The aim of this essay is to set out an argument for moral objectivity. A brief sketch of the considerations at issue should help make it possible to keep sight of the forest amid the profusion of trees.
Intentionsbildung und Handlungsabbruch
Authors: Hiemisch Anette , Schwabe Lars , Schelske Stefan
Published: December 2007

Zusammenfassung: In zwei Szenariostudien wurden Annahmen des nutzen-kosten-theoretischen Modells von Brandstätter (2003) geprüft sowie Bezüge zu entscheidungstheoretischen Ansätzen hergestellt. Während es in Studie 1 (N = 83) zwei Bedingungen “bisheriger Erfolg” und “bisheriger Misserfolg” gab, wurden in Studie 2 (N = 59) alle Versuchspersonen mit Problemen bei der Zielrealisierung konfrontiert. Sie mussten jeweils über Intentionsbildung und Handlungsabbruch/-fortführung entscheiden. Erwartungskonträr zeigt sich in keiner der Studien eine volitionale Voreingenommenheit. Besonders die Nennung von Nutzen des Handlungsabbruchs differenziert zwischen “Abbrechern” und “Fortführern”. Die Umbewertung solcher Faktoren, die bei der Intentionsbildung für das gewählte Ziel sprachen, korreliert mit der Zielablösung.
Constraints on inner forearc deformation from balanced cross sections, Fila Costeña thrust belt, Costa Rica
Authors: Sitchler Jason C. , Fisher Donald M. , Gardner Thomas W. , Protti Marino
Published: December 2007

The Fila Costeña thrust belt in the forearc of Costa Rica is accommodating a significant portion of the convergence of the Cocos plate and Panama microplate. Geologic mapping of the thrust belt depicts a duplex with three horses that incorporate Eocene limestones and Oligocene to early Miocene clastics inboard of the subducting Cocos Ridge axis. By constructing a cross section at this location along a NE–SW trending transect perpendicular to the thrust belt, we constrain a shortening rate of approximately 40 mm/a and propose that as much as 50% of the total plate convergence rate is taken up in the inner forearc. The Eocene limestones at the base of the thrust sheets pinch out in both directions away from the onland projection of the Cocos Ridge axis owing to decrease in slip on faults and a lateral ramp in the basal décollement. The thrust belt terminates near the Panama border at the onland projection of the subducting Panama Fracture Zone. These observations suggest that shortening is propagating to the east with the migration of the Panama triple junction and the onset of shallow subduction of the thickened edge of the Cocos plate. The absence of similar features in the Nicaraguan forearc, where the subducting crust is older, subducts more steeply, and lacks incoming ridges and seamounts, indicates that deformation of the forearc basin in Costa Rica reflects greater coupling between the converging plates inboard of the Cocos Ridge.
Middle to late Cenozoic basin evolution in the western Alborz Mountains: Implications for the onset of collisional deformation in northern Iran
Authors: Guest Bernard , Horton Brian K. , Axen Gary J. , Hassanzadeh Jamshid , McIntosh William C.
Published: December 2007

Oligocene‐Miocene strata preserved in synclinal outcrop belts of the western Alborz Mountains record the onset of Arabia‐Eurasia collision‐related deformation in northern Iran. Two stratigraphic intervals, informally named the Gand Ab and Narijan units, represent a former basin system that existed in the Alborz. The Gand Ab unit is composed of marine lagoonal mudstones, fluvial and alluvial‐fan clastic rocks, fossiliferous Rupelian to Burdigalian marine carbonates, and basalt flows yielding 40Ar/39Ar ages of 32.7 ± 0.3 and 32.9 ± 0.2 Ma. The Gand Ab unit is correlated with the Oligocene–lower Miocene Qom Formation of central Iran and is considered a product of thermal subsidence following Eocene extension. The Narijan unit unconformably overlies the Gand Ab unit and is composed of fluvial‐lacustrine and alluvial fan sediments exhibiting contractional growth strata. We correlate the Narijan unit with the middle to upper Miocene Upper Red Formation of central Iran on the basis of lithofacies similarities, stratigraphic position, and an 8.74 ± 0.15 Ma microdiorite dike (40Ar/39Ar) that intruded the basal strata. Deformation timing is constrained by crosscutting relationships and independent thermochronological data. The Parachan thrust system along the eastern edge of the ancestral Taleghan‐Alamut basin is cut by dikes dated at 8.74 ± 0.15 Ma to 6.68 ± 0.07 Ma (40Ar/39Ar). Subhorizontal gravels that unconformably overlie tightly folded and faulted Narijan strata are capped by 2.86 ± 0.83 Ma (40Ar/39Ar) andesitic lava flows. These relationships suggest that Alborz deformation had migrated southward into the Taleghan‐Alamut basin by late Miocene time and shifted to its present location along the active range front by late Pliocene time. Data presented here demonstrate that shortening in the western Alborz Mountains had started by late middle Miocene time. This estimate is consistent with recent thermochronological results that place the onset of rapid exhumation in the western Alborz at ∼12 Ma. Moreover, nearly synchronous Miocene contraction in the Alborz, Zagros Mountains, Turkish‐Iranian plateau, and Anatolia suggests that the Arabia‐Eurasia collision affected a large region simultaneously, without a systematic outward progression of mountain building away from the collision zone.
Tomography of the Darcy velocity from self‐potential measurements
Authors: Jardani A. , Revil A. , Bolève A. , Crespy A. , Dupont J.‐P. , Barrash W. , Malama B.
Published: December 2007

An algorithm is developed to interpret self‐potential (SP) data in terms of distribution of Darcy velocity of the ground water. The model is based on the proportionality existing between the streaming current density and the Darcy velocity. Because the inverse problem of current density determination from SP data is underdetermined, we use Tikhonov regularization with a smoothness constraint based on the differential Laplacian operator and a prior model. The regularization parameter is determined by the L‐shape method. The distribution of the Darcy velocity depends on the localization and number of non‐polarizing electrodes and information relative to the distribution of the electrical resistivity of the ground. A priori hydraulic information can be introduced in the inverse problem. This approach is tested on two synthetic cases and on real SP data resulting from infiltration of water from a ditch.
Dynamically and statistically downscaled seasonal simulations of maximum surface air temperature over the southeastern United States
Authors: Lim Young‐Kwon , Shin D. W. , Cocke Steven , LaRow T. E. , Schoof Justin T. , O'Brien James J. , Chassignet Eric P.
Published: December 2007

Coarsely resolved surface air temperature (2 m height) seasonal integrations from the Florida State University/Center for Ocean‐Atmospheric Prediction Studies Global Spectral Model (FSU/COAPS GSM) (∼1.8° lon.‐lat. (T63)) for the period of 1994 to 2002 (March through September each year) are downscaled to a fine spatial scale of ∼20 km. Dynamical and statistical downscaling methods are applied for the southeastern United States region, covering Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Dynamical downscaling is conducted by running the FSU/COAPS Nested Regional Spectral Model (NRSM), which is nested into the domain of the FSU/COAPS GSM. We additionally present a new statistical downscaling method. The rationale for the statistical approach is that clearer separation of prominent climate signals (e.g., seasonal cycle, intraseasonal, or interannual oscillations) in observation and GSM, respectively, over the training period can facilitate the identification of the statistical relationship in climate variability between two data sets. Cyclostationary Empirical Orthogonal Function (CSEOF) analysis and multiple regressions are trained with those data sets to extract their statistical relationship, which eventually leads to better prediction of regional climate from the large‐scale simulations. Downscaled temperatures are compared with the FSU/COAPS GSM fields and observations. Downscaled seasonal anomalies exhibit strong agreement with observations and a reduction in bias relative to the direct GSM simulations. Interannual temperature change is also reasonably simulated at local grid points. A series of evaluations including mean absolute errors, anomaly correlations, frequency of extreme events, and categorical predictability reveal that both downscaling techniques can be reliably used for numerous seasonal climate applications.
A potent cytotoxic photoactivated platinum complex
Authors: Mackay Fiona S. , Woods Julie A. , Heringová Pavla , Kašpárková Jana , Pizarro Ana M. , Moggach Stephen A. , Parsons Simon , Brabec Viktor , Sadler Peter J.
Published: December 2007

We show by x-ray crystallography that the complex
trans
,
trans
,
trans
-[Pt(N
3
)
2
(OH)
2
(NH
3
)(py)] (
1
) contains an octahedral Pt
IV
center with almost linear azido ligands. Complex 1 is remarkably stable in the dark, even in the presence of cellular reducing agents such as glutathione, but readily undergoes photoinduced ligand substitution and photoreduction reactions. When 1 is photoactivated in cells, it is highly toxic: 13–80 x more cytotoxic than the Pt
II
anticancer drug cisplatin, and
ca.
15 x more cytotoxic toward cisplatin-resistant human ovarian cancer cells. Cisplatin targets DNA, and DNA platination levels induced in HaCaT skin cells by 1 were similar to those of cisplatin. However, cisplatin forms mainly intrastrand
cis
diguanine cross-links on DNA between neighboring nucleotides, whereas photoactivated complex 1 rapidly forms unusual
trans
azido/guanine, and then
trans
diguanine Pt
II
adducts, which are probably mainly intrastrand cross-links between two guanines separated by a third base. DNA interstrand and DNA–protein cross-links were also detected. Importantly, DNA repair synthesis on plasmid DNA platinated by photoactivated 1 was markedly lower than for cisplatin or its isomer transplatin (an inactive complex). Single-cell electrophoresis experiments also demonstrated that the DNA damage is different from that induced by cisplatin or transplatin. Cell death is not solely dependent on activation of the caspase 3 pathway, and, in contrast to cisplatin, p53 protein did not accumulate in cells after photosensitization of 1. The
trans
diazido Pt
IV
complex 1 therefore has remarkable properties and is a candidate for use in photoactivated cancer chemotherapy.
Immigrants and the Spatial Mismatch Hypothesis: Employment Outcomes among Immigrant Youth in Los Angeles
Authors: Painter Gary , Cathy Yang Liu  , Duan Zhuang
Published: December 2007

This paper examines the effect of space and race/ethnicity on labour force participation outcomes among minority and immigrant youth in the Los Angeles metropolitan areas. This research contributes to the spatial mismatch literature by analysing the differences between firstand second-generation immigrants in addition to exploring the role of race and job accessibility on the likelihood of working. It does so by comparing the employment status of comparable youth (16—21 years of age) who reside in central cities, inner-ring suburbs and outer-ring suburbs using 2000 Census PUMS data. Finally, the decision to attend school and to work is modelled in a bivariate probit framework to discover how the correlation across decisions may change the estimated impact of race and space on employment. The results of this study suggest that both space and race play a role in the probability that a youth will work, but that the decision to attend school does not influence the estimated impact of space and race on employment.
Terror, Fear and Behaviour in the Jerusalem Housing Market
Authors: Hazam Shlomie , Felsenstein Daniel
Published: December 2007

This paper tests the hypothesis that fear is a central factor in understanding human behaviour in the face of terror. This claim is addressed in the context of behaviour in the Jerusalem housing market over the terror-stricken years in the city, 1999—2004. Using a unique data source and the tools of spatial data analysis, the paper provides support for this hypothesis in three respects. First, patterns of terror in the city are shown to be increasingly deconcentrated over the period studied. Secondly, the types of terror having the sharpest effect on residential property prices are those most associated with randomness. Thirdly, the effect of terror is less on purchasing prices than on rental prices. The former represent revealed long-term behaviour less affected by fear and the latter, short-term behaviour more likely to be influenced by such disutility. The paper concludes with some of the policy implications arising from these findings.
Fbx8 Makes Arf6 Refractory to Function via Ubiquitination
Authors: Yano Hajime , Kobayashi Itaru , Onodera Yasuhito , Luton Frédéric , Franco Michel , Mazaki Yuichi , Hashimoto Shigeru , Iwai Kazuhiro , Ronai Ze'ev , Sabe Hisataka
Published: December 2007

The small GTP-binding protein Arf6 regulates membrane remodeling at cell peripheries and plays crucial roles in higher orders of cellular functions including tumor invasion. Here we show that Fbx8, an F-box protein bearing the Sec7 domain, mediates ubiquitination of Arf6. This ubiquitination did not appear to be linked to immediate proteasomal degradation of Arf6, whereas Fbx8 knockdown caused hyperactivation of Arf6. Expression of Fbx8 protein was substantially lost in several breast tumor cell lines, in which Arf6 activity is pivotal for their invasion. Forced expression of Fbx8 in these cells suppressed their Arf6 activities and invasive activities, in which the F-box and Sec7 domains of Fbx8 are required. Together with the possible mechanism as to how Fbx8-mediated ubiquitination interferes with the functions of Arf6, we propose that Fbx8 provides a novel suppressive control of Arf6 activity through noncanonical ubiquitination. Our results indicate that dysfunction of Fbx8 expression may contribute to the invasiveness of some breast cancer cells.
Breeding racehorses: what price good genes?
Authors: Wilson Alastair J , Rambaut Andrew
Published: December 2007

Horse racing is a multi-million pound industry, in which genetic information is increasingly used to optimize breeding programmes. To maximize the probability of producing a successful offspring, the owner of a mare should mate her with a high-quality stallion. However, stallions with big reputations command higher stud fees and paying these is only a sensible strategy if, (i) there is a genetic variation for success on the racecourse and (ii) stud fees are an honest signal of a stallion's genetic quality. Using data on thoroughbred racehorses, and lifetime earnings from prize money (LE) as a measure of success, we performed quantitative genetic analyses within an animal model framework to test these two conditions. Although LE is heritable (
V
A
=0.299±0.108, Pr=0.002), there is no genetic variance for stud fee and the genetic correlation between traits is therefore zero. This result is supported by an absence of any relationship between stud fees for currently active stallions and the predicted LE for their (hypothetical) offspring. Thus, while there are good genes to be bought, a stallion's fees are not an honest signal of his genetic quality and are a poor predictor of a foal's prize winning potential.