bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Load Transmission Through Ice Rubble on the Gulf
Molikpaq
Authors: Timco G. W.
Published: June 2008

A test program has been performed in an ice modeling basin to measure the load apportioning through ice rubble around Gulf’s Molikpaq, a steel caisson offshore structure. A model of the Molikpaq and its supporting submarine berm was built at a 1:75 scale. The Molikpaq and berm were instrumented independently, so the load apportioning could be determined. Thirty-six ice-loading events, including rubble formation from level ice as well as impacts through the rubble by extreme ice features, were analyzed. The results of the tests show that the ice rubble can deform and transmit load to the structure at force levels well below those predicted by a rigid-body analysis of the rubble.
A New Tightening Technique for Threaded Fasteners
Authors: Hagiwara M. , Ohashi N.
Published: June 2008

A new technique for tightening threaded fasteners was proposed aiming to assure the quality and the reliability in the tightening operations. The technique is based on the torque difference and the relative rotation angle in tightening and loosening process, and no preliminary experiment is required. Repeated tightening (and loosening) experiments were performed for different types of lubricant to verify the applicability of this technique. Experimental results show that the preload provided to the joint can be estimated with high accuracy and precision by this technique, and the possibility to boost the reliability of tightening control is confirmed.
Hydrodynamic Heave Damping Estimation and Scaling for Tension Leg Platforms
Authors: Thiagarajan K. P. , Troesch A. W.
Published: June 2008

Resonant heave excitation of tension leg platform (TLP) tendons is typically of high frequency and small amplitude. The response of the tendons to this excitation is non-negligible due to a very small drag coefficient of the structure in this mode of oscillation. Small values of the drag force complicate experimental estimation in a laboratory due to the dominating inertial force. Model tests conducted at the University of Michigan investigating the damping experienced by a cylinder of 0.457 m (1.5 ft) diameter and 1.219 m (4.0 ft) draft are described here. The cylinder is vertical and surface-piercing, and oscillates parallel to its axis. The amplitude of the forcing is varied to give a Keulegan-Carpenter (KC) number range of 0.1–1.0. The frequency parameter β is 89236, corresponding to an oscillation frequency of 0.41 Hz. From these experiments, a definite nonlinear trend is observed between the drag force and velocity conflicting with some of the results reported by Huse (1990) and Chakrabarti and Hanna (1991). The heave damping coefficients of individual structural components of a TLP follow different scaling laws. Rules are presented for scaling friction and form drag components from model to full scale. Results from experiments are used to obtain a scaling law for vertical columns of a TLP. Previously published results are used for horizontal pontoons. An example TLP calculation shows that the heave damping ratio of horizontal cylinders is approximately 0.049–0.078 percent, depending upon cylinder shape, and that for vertical cylinders is in the range 0.025–0.171 percent, depending upon KC.
A Soil Resistance Model for Pipelines Placed on Sandy
Soils
Authors: Verley R. L. P. , Sotberg T.
Published: June 2008

This paper presents a pipe-soil interaction model for sand soils capable of predicting the development of pipe penetration into the soil and the associated soil resistance that may be mobilized against horizontal pipe motions. The model is based on dimensional analysis and development of appropriate empirical equations which are fitted to large-scale laboratory data from several sources. The development of penetration is described by considering the work done by the pipe on the soil. For a given penetration, the force-displacement curve is described. The model has been used to predict time histories of penetration and horizontal pipe displacement from large-scale laboratory tests where pipe sections were subjected to forces representative of those from irregular waves and currents. A good reproduction of the time development of both penetration and displacement is given over the whole range of relevant hydrodynamic and soil parameters.
Stochastic Modeling of Icicle Formation
Authors: Szilder K. , Lozowski E. P.
Published: June 2008

A discrete random walk model has been developed to simulate icicle formation. A three-dimensional icicle is represented by a two-dimensional model with cylindrical symmetry around the vertical axis. The water flux along the icicle is divided into fluid elements which follow a stochastic path downwards towards the tip. During its walk, a fluid element may freeze on the icicle’s lateral surface or at the tip. The fluid elements can also form a pendant drop which may drip from the icicle tip. The freezing probability and the shedding parameter, which are the discrete model’s parameters, are expressed as functions of the heat loss to the airstream and the water supply rate, using simple analytical considerations. The predicted rates of icicle length and diameter growth agree well with experimental data. In addition, the model icicles exhibit the characteristic icicle ribs.
Complete Six-Degrees-of-Freedom Nonlinear Ship Rolling Motion
Authors: Taz Ul Mulk M. , Falzarano J.
Published: June 2008

The emphasis of this paper is on nonlinear ship roll motion, because roll is the most critical ship motion of all six modes of motion. However, coupling between roll and the other modes of motion may be important and substantially affect the roll. Therefore, the complete six-degrees-of-freedom Euler’s equations of motion are studied. In previous work (Falzarano et al., 1990, 1991), roll linearly coupled to sway and yaw was studied. Continuing in this direction, this work extends that analysis to consider the dynamically more exact six-degrees-of-freedom Euler’s equations of motion and associated Euler angle kinematics. A combination of numerical path-following techniques and numerical integrations are utilized to study the steady-state response determined using this more exact modeling. The hydrodynamic forces are: linear frequency-dependent added-mass, damping, and wave-exciting, which are varied on a frequency-by-frequency basis. The linearized GM approximation to the roll-restoring moment is replaced with the nonlinear roll-restoring moment curve GZ(φ), and the linear roll wave damping is supplemented by an empirically derived linear and nonlinear viscous damping. A particularly interesting aspect of this modeling is the asymmetric nonlinearity associated with the heave and pitch hydrostatics. This asymmetric nonlinearity results in distinctive “dynamic bias,” i.e., a nonzero mean in heave and pitch time histories for a zero mean periodic forcing, and a substantial second harmonic. A Fourier analysis of the nonlinear response indicates that the harmonic response is similar to the linear motion response.
A Numerical Study of the Hydrodynamics of Reversing Flows Around a Cylinder
Authors: Nakajima K. , Kallinderis Y. , Sibetheros I. , Miksad R. W. , Lambrakos K.
Published: June 2008

A numerical study of the nonlinear and random behavior of flow-induced forces on offshore structures and experimental verification of the results are presented. The numerical study is based on a finite-element method for the unsteady incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in two dimensions. The momentum equations combined with a pressure correction equation are solved employing fourth-order artificial dissipation with a nonstaggered grid, instead of the more commonly used staggered meshes. The solution is advanced in time with a combined explicit and implicit marching scheme. Emphasis is placed on study of reversing flows around a cylinder. Comparisons with experimental data evaluate accuracy and robustness of the method.
Reliability-Based Optimization of Multi-Component Welded Structures
Authors: Cramer E. H. , Friis-Hansen P.
Published: June 2008

Sufficient safety of welded structures against fatigue damage is achieved through the use of several safety procedures, design of the structure, quality control of the welding procedure during fabrication, and inspection for fatigue cracks with subsequent repair of detected cracks. Each safety procedure has a certain cost, and it is important to minimize the total expected cost over the lifetime of the structure. The present paper presents a probability-based optimization procedure defining optimal initial design, quality of welding procedure at fabrication, time of inspections, quality of inspections, and length of weld to be inspected at each inspection for a continuous weld. The cost considered in the optimization is cost-related to initial design, cost of fabrication, cost of inspection, expected repair cost, and expected failure cost. The probabilistic optimization problem is formulated for a homogeneous continuously welded structure containing hazardous material for which no leakage is permissible. The weld seam considered has multiple potential crack initiation sites from weld defects, where all the crack initiation sites are exposed to the same stochastic loading condition. Two models are applied to define the distribution of weld defects over the weld seam: a model where the locations of the crack initiation sites are known, and a model where the locations and number of crack initiation sites are unknown and described through a homogeneous Poisson distribution process. Uncertainties in the long-term stochastic load process, the fatigue strength, and the crack size of the different initial defects are considered in the procedure.
Effect of Interfacial Waves on Turbulence Structure in Stratified Duct Flows
Authors: Fernandino M. , Ytrehus T.
Published: June 2008

Stratified flows are encountered in many industrial applications. The determination of the flow characteristics is essential for the prediction of pressure drop and holdup in the system. The aim of this study is to gain insight into the interaction of a gas and a liquid phase flowing in a stratified regime, with especial focus on the effect of interfacial waves on the turbulence structure of the liquid phase. Measurements of mean velocities and turbulent intensities in the liquid phase of a stratified air-water duct flow are performed. Mean velocity profiles and turbulence structure are affected differently for different wave amplitudes. The effect of small amplitude waves is restricted to the near-interface region, resembling the effect of increasing shear rate on a flat interface. On the other hand, large amplitude waves modify the flow structure throughout the whole liquid depth. The mean velocity is greatly enhanced, resulting in a higher bulk velocity. Turbulent intensities are also significantly enhanced especially in the interface region. This big difference in flow structure is not observed after the appearance of the first waves but rather when a certain critical wave amplitude is triggered, indicating that the prediction of this critical wave type turns out to be more important than the determination of the transition from a smooth to a stratified wavy regime.
Influence of Upstream Conditions and Gravity on Highly Inertial Thin-Film Flow
Authors: Khayat Roger E.
Published: June 2008

Steady two-dimensional thin-film flow of a Newtonian fluid is examined in this theoretical study. The influence of exit conditions and gravity is examined in detail. The considered flow is of moderately high inertia. The flow is dictated by the thin-film equations of boundary layer type, which are solved by expanding the flow field in orthonormal modes in the transverse direction and using Galerkin projection method, combined with integration along the flow direction. Three types of exit conditions are investigated, namely, parabolic, semiparabolic, and uniform flow. It is found that the type of exit conditions has a significant effect on the development of the free surface and flow field near the exit. While for the parabolic velocity profile at the exit, the free surface exhibits a local depression, for semiparabolic and uniform velocity profiles, the height of the film increases monotonically with streamwise position. In order to examine the influence of gravity, the flow is studied down a vertical wall as well as over a horizontal wall. The role of gravity is different for the two types of wall orientation. It is found that for the horizontal wall, a hydraulic-jump-like structure is formed and the flow further downstream exhibits a shock. The influence of exit conditions on shock formation is examined in detail.
Some Exact Solutions to Equations of Motion of an Incompressible Third Grade Fluid
Authors: Ullah Saif
Published: June 2008

This investigation deals with some exact solutions of the equations governing the steady plane motions of an incompressible third grade fluid by using complex variables and complex functions. Some of the solutions admit, as particular cases, all the solutions of Moro et al. [1990, “Steady Flows of a Third Grade Fluid by Transformation Methods,” ZAMM, 70(3), pp. 189–198]
Germination, Genetics, and Growth of an Ancient Date Seed
Authors: Sallon Sarah , Solowey Elaine , Cohen Yuval , Korchinsky Raia , Egli Markus , Woodhatch Ivan , Simchoni Orit , Kislev Mordechai
Published: June 2008

An ancient date seed (Phoenix dactylifera L.) excavated from Masada and radiocarbon-dated to the first century Common Era was germinated. Climatic conditions at the Dead Sea may have contributed to the longevity of this oldest, directly dated, viable seed. Growth and development of the seedling over 26 months was compatible with normal date seedlings propagated from modern seeds. Preliminary molecular characterization demonstrated high levels of genetic variation in comparison to modern, elite date cultivars currently growing in Israel. As a representative of an extinct date palm population, this seedling can provide insights into the historic date culture of the Dead Sea region. It also has importance for seed banking and conservation and may be of relevance to modern date palm cultivation.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation: Global Land-Use Implications
Authors: Miles Lera , Kapos Valerie
Published: June 2008

Recent climate talks in Bali have made progress toward action on deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, within the anticipated post-Kyoto emissions reduction agreements. As a result of such action, many forests will be better protected, but some land-use change will be displaced to other locations. The demonstration phase launched at Bali offers an opportunity to examine potential outcomes for biodiversity and ecosystem services. Research will be needed into selection of priority areas for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation to deliver multiple benefits, on-the-ground methods to best ensure these benefits, and minimization of displaced land-use change into nontarget countries and ecosystems, including through revised conservation investments.
Changing Governance of the World's Forests
Authors: Agrawal Arun , Chhatre Ashwini , Hardin Rebecca
Published: June 2008

Major features of contemporary forest governance include decentralization of forest management, logging concessions in publicly owned commercially valuable forests, and timber certification, primarily in temperate forests. Although a majority of forests continue to be owned formally by governments, the effectiveness of forest governance is increasingly independent of formal ownership. Growing and competing demands for food, biofuels, timber, and environmental services will pose severe challenges to effective forest governance in the future, especially in conjunction with the direct and indirect impacts of climate change. A greater role for community and market actors in forest governance and deeper attention to the factors that lead to effective governance, beyond ownership patterns, is necessary to address future forest governance challenges.
Transfer of Learning After Updating Training Mediated by the Striatum
Authors: Dahlin Erika , Neely Anna Stigsdotter , Larsson Anne , Bäckman Lars , Nyberg Lars
Published: June 2008

Process-specific training can improve performance on untrained tasks, but the magnitude of gain is variable and often there is no transfer at all. We demonstrate transfer to a 3-back test of working memory after 5 weeks of training in updating. The transfer effect was based on a joint training-related activity increase for the criterion (letter memory) and transfer tasks in a striatal region that also was recruited pretraining. No transfer was observed to a task that did not engage updating and striatal regions, and age-related striatal changes imposed constraints on transfer. These findings indicate that transfer can occur if the criterion and transfer tasks engage specific overlapping processing components and brain regions.
The Impact of Stratospheric Ozone Recovery on the Southern Hemisphere Westerly Jet
Authors: Son S.-W. , Polvani L. M. , Waugh D. W. , Akiyoshi H. , Garcia R. , Kinnison D. , Pawson S. , Rozanov E. , Shepherd T. G. , Shibata K.
Published: June 2008

In the past several decades, the tropospheric westerly winds in the Southern Hemisphere have been observed to accelerate on the poleward side of the surface wind maximum. This has been attributed to the combined anthropogenic effects of increasing greenhouse gases and decreasing stratospheric ozone and is predicted to continue by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change/Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC/AR4) models. In this paper, the predictions of the Chemistry-Climate Model Validation (CCMVal) models are examined: Unlike the AR4 models, the CCMVal models have a fully interactive stratospheric chemistry. Owing to the expected disappearance of the ozone hole in the first half of the 21st century, the CCMVal models predict that the tropospheric westerlies in Southern Hemisphere summer will be decelerated, on the poleward side, in contrast with the prediction of most IPCC/AR4 models.
Electrical Resistance of Long Conjugated Molecular Wires
Authors: Ho Choi Seong , Kim BongSoo , Frisbie C. Daniel
Published: June 2008

The charge transport mechanism of a wire can be revealed by how its electrical resistance varies with length. We have measured the resistance and current-voltage characteristics of conjugated molecular wires ranging in length from 1 to 7 nanometers, connected between metal electrodes. We observe the theoretically predicted change in direct-current transport from tunneling to hopping as a function of systematically controlled wire length. We also demonstrate that site-specific disruption of conjugation in the wires greatly increases resistance in the hopping regime but has only a small effect in the tunneling regime. These nanoscale transport measurements elucidate the role of molecular length and bond architecture on molecular conductivity and open opportunities for greater understanding of electrical transport in conjugated polymer films.
Laser-Induced Electron Tunneling and Diffraction
Authors: Meckel M. , Comtois D. , Zeidler D. , Staudte A. , Pavičić D. , Bandulet H. C. , Pépin H. , Kieffer J. C. , Dörner R. , Villeneuve D. M. , Corkum P. B.
Published: June 2008

Molecular structure is usually determined by measuring the diffraction pattern the molecule impresses on x-rays or electrons. We used a laser field to extract electrons from the molecule itself, accelerate them, and in some cases force them to recollide with and diffract from the parent ion, all within a fraction of a laser period. Here, we show that the momentum distribution of the extracted electron carries the fingerprint of the highest occupied molecular orbital, whereas the elastically scattered electrons reveal the position of the nuclear components of the molecule. Thus, in one comprehensive technology, the photoelectrons give detailed information about the electronic orbital and the position of the nuclei.
Regulation of Hepatic Lipogenesis by the Transcription Factor XBP1
Authors: Lee Ann-Hwee , Scapa Erez F. , Cohen David E. , Glimcher Laurie H.
Published: June 2008

Dietary carbohydrates regulate hepatic lipogenesis by controlling the expression of critical enzymes in glycolytic and lipogenic pathways. We found that the transcription factor XBP1, a key regulator of the unfolded protein response, is required for the unrelated function of normal fatty acid synthesis in the liver. XBP1 protein expression in mice was elevated after feeding carbohydrates and corresponded with the induction of critical genes involved in fatty acid synthesis. Inducible, selective deletion of XBP1 in the liver resulted in marked hypocholesterolemia and hypotriglyceridemia, secondary to a decreased production of lipids from the liver. This phenotype was not accompanied by hepatic steatosis or compromise in protein secretory function. The identification of XBP1 as a regulator of lipogenesis has important implications for human dyslipidemias.
Celebrating NASA's Voyages
Authors: Pasachoff Jay M.
Published: June 2008

When We Left Earth
. The NASA Missions.
Richard Dale and Bill Howard, Executive Producers
. Dangerous Films, London, for the Discovery Channel. Six 1-hour episodes, 8, 15, and 22 June 2008. DVD, 6 episodes plus 5 additional hours of NASA film highlights, mission clips, and astronaut interviews. $69.95.
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/nasa/nasa.html

This six-hour television series on the Discovery network celebrating the first 50 years of NASA focuses on the crewed missions.
CENTER BIFURCATION FOR TWO-DIMENSIONAL BORDER-COLLISION NORMAL FORM
Authors: SUSHKO IRYNA , GARDINI LAURA
Published: June 2008

In this work we study some properties associated with the border-collision bifurcations in a two-dimensional piecewise-linear map in canonical form, related to the case where a fixed point of one of the linear maps has complex eigenvalues and undergoes a center bifurcation when its eigenvalues pass through the unit circle. This problem is faced in several applied piecewise-smooth models, such as switching electrical circuits, impacting mechanical systems, business cycle models in economics, etc. We prove the existence of an invariant region in the phase space for parameter values related to the center bifurcation and explain the origin of a closed invariant attracting curve after the bifurcation. This problem is related also to particular border-collision bifurcations leading to such curves which may coexist with other attractors. We show how periodicity regions in the parameter space differ from Arnold tongues occurring in smooth models in case of the Neimark–Sacker bifurcation, how so-called dangerous border-collision bifurcations may occur, as well as multistability. We give also an example of a subcritical center bifurcation which may be considered as a piecewise-linear analogue of the subcritical Neimark–Sacker bifurcation.
ANALYSIS OF TORUS BREAKDOWN INTO CHAOS IN A CONSTRAINT DUFFING VAN DER POL OSCILLATOR
Authors: SEKIKAWA MUNEHISA , INABA NAOHIKO , TSUBOUCHI TAKASHI , AIHARA KAZUYUKI
Published: June 2008

The bifurcation structure of a constraint Duffing van der Pol oscillator with a diode is analyzed and an objective bifurcation diagram is illustrated in detail in this work. An idealized case, where the diode is assumed to operate as a switch, is considered.

In this case, the Poincaré map is constructed as a one-dimensional map: a circle map. The parameter boundary between a torus-generating region where the circle map is a diffeomorphism and a chaos-generating region where the circle map has extrema is derived explicitly, without solving the implicit equations, by adopting some novel ideas. On the bifurcation diagram, intermittency and a saddle-node bifurcation from the periodic state to the quasi-periodic state can be exactly distinguished. Laboratory experiment is also carried out and theoretical results are verified.
BIFURCATIONS OF GENERIC HETEROCLINIC LOOP ACCOMPANIED BY TRANSCRITICAL BIFURCATION
Authors: GENG FENGJIE , LIU DAN , ZHU DEMING
Published: June 2008

The bifurcations of generic heteroclinic loop with one nonhyperbolic equilibrium p1and one hyperbolic saddle p2are investigated, where p1is assumed to undergo transcritical bifurcation. Firstly, we discuss bifurcations of heteroclinic loop when transcritical bifurcation does not happen, the persistence of heteroclinic loop, the existence of homoclinic loop connecting p1(resp. p2) and the coexistence of one homoclinic loop and one periodic orbit are established. Secondly, we analyze bifurcations of heteroclinic loop accompanied by transcritical bifurcation, namely, nonhyperbolic equilibrium p1splits into two hyperbolic saddles [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], a heteroclinic loop connecting [Formula: see text] and p2, homoclinic loop with [Formula: see text] (resp. p2) and heteroclinic orbit joining [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (resp. [Formula: see text] and p2; p2and [Formula: see text]) are found. The results achieved here can be extended to higher dimensional systems.
HYPERCHAOS IN A CHUA'S CIRCUIT WITH TWO NEW ADDED BRANCHES
Authors: BARBOZA RUY
Published: June 2008

In this work a fourth-order Chua's circuit, capable of generating hyperchaotic oscillations in a wide range of parameters, is presented. The circuit is obtained by adding two new branches to the original topology of the Chua's double scroll circuit. One of the added branches is a linear inductor-resistor series connection, and the other one is a nonlinear voltage-controlled current source. A theoretical analysis of the circuit equations is presented, along with numerical and experimental results.
H∞-SYNCHRONIZER FOR CHAOTIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
Authors: MATSUO TAKAMI , TOSHIMITSU YOSHINORI , SUEMITSU HARUO
Published: June 2008

In this paper, we introduce an observer-based chaotic communication system proposed by Grassi et al. to the transmitted signal of a dynamical compensator to improve the robustness of the cryptosystem. Specifically, we parameterize a synchronizer and an H∞synchronizer based on the robust control theory. Furthermore, we design a free parameter in the dynamics to improve the robust stability of the cryptosystem with respect to delays in the transmission line.
SYNCHRONIZATION TRANSITION INDUCED BY SYNAPTIC DELAY IN COUPLED FAST-SPIKING NEURONS
Authors: WANG QINGYUN , LU QISHAO , CHEN GUANRONG
Published: June 2008

Synchronization of coupled fast-spiking neurons with chemical synapses is studied in this paper. It is shown that by varying some key parameters such as the coupling strength and the decay rate of synapses, two coupled fast-spiking neurons can exhibit various firing synchronizations including periodic and chaotic motions. Different types of firing synchronizations are diagnosed by means of bifurcation diagrams and the largest Lyapunov exponent of the error dynamical system. However, with the synaptic delay considered, two coupled neurons can show different types of transitions of in-phase and anti-phase synchronizations and these transitions can be identified from the bifurcation diagrams and the variations of the phase errors of the coupled neurons. The revealed complicated synchronization modes effectively provide important guidelines to understanding collective behaviors of coupled neurons.
THE AESTHETICS AND FRACTAL DIMENSION OF ELECTRIC SHEEP
Authors: DRAVES SCOTT , ABRAHAM RALPH , VIOTTI PABLO , ABRAHAM FREDERICK DAVID , SPROTT JULIAN CLINTON
Published: June 2008

Physicist Clint Sprott demonstrated a relationship between aesthetic judgments of fractal images and their fractal dimensions [1993]. Scott Draves, aka Spot, a computer scientist and artist, has created a space of images called fractal flames, based on attractors of two-dimensional iterated function systems. A large community of users run software that automatically downloads animated fractal flames, known as "sheep", and displays them as their screen-saver. The users may vote electronically for the sheep they like while the screen-saver is running. In this report we proceed from Sprott to Spot. The data show an inverted U-shaped curve in the relationship between aesthetic judgments of flames and their fractal dimension, confirming and clarifying earlier reports.
BALANCED SETS AND THE VECTOR GAME
Authors: NEDEV ZHIVKO , QUAS ANTHONY
Published: June 2008

We consider the notion of a balanced set modulo N. A nonempty set S of residues modulo N is balanced if for each x ∈ S, there is a d with 0 < d ≤ N/2 such that x ± d mod N both lie in S. We define α(N) to be the minimum cardinality of a balanced set modulo N. This notion arises in the context of a two-player game that we introduce and has interesting connections to the prime factorization of N.

We demonstrate that for p prime, α(p) = Θ( log p), giving an explicit algorithmic upper bound and a lower bound using finite field theory and show that for N composite, α(N) = min p|Nα(p).
SMALL ZEROS OF QUADRATIC FORMS OVER $\overline{\mathbb{Q}}$
Authors: FUKSHANSKY LENNY
Published: June 2008

Let N ≥ 2 be an integer, F a quadratic form in N variables over [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] an L-dimensional subspace, 1 ≤ L ≤ N. We prove the existence of a small-height maximal totally isotropic subspace of the bilinear space (Z,F). This provides an analogue over [Formula: see text] of a well-known theorem of Vaaler proved over number fields. We use our result to prove an effective version of Witt decomposition for a bilinear space over [Formula: see text]. We also include some related effective results on orthogonal decomposition and structure of isometries for a bilinear space over [Formula: see text]. This extends previous results of the author over number fields. All bounds on height are explicit.
Selective Labeling of Proteins with Chemical Probes in Living Cells
Authors: Lin Michael Z. , Wang Lei
Published: June 2008

Selective labeling of proteins with small molecules introduces novel chemical and physical properties into proteins, enabling the target protein to be investigated or manipulated with various techniques. Different methods for labeling proteins in living cells have been developed by using protein domains, small peptides, or single amino acids. Their application in cells and in vivo has yielded novel insights into diverse biological processes.
Bio‐Inspired Microsystem for Robust Genetic Assay Recognition
Authors: Lue Jaw-Chyng , Fang Wai-Chi
Published: June 2008

A compact integrated system‐on‐chip (SoC) architecture solution for robust, real‐time, and on‐site genetic analysis has been proposed. This microsystem solution is noise‐tolerable and suitable for analyzing the weak fluorescence patterns from a PCR prepared dual‐labeled DNA microchip assay. In the architecture, a preceding VLSI differential logarithm microchip is designed for effectively computing the logarithm of the normalized input fluorescence signals. A posterior VLSI artificial neural network (ANN) processor chip is used for analyzing the processed signals from the differential logarithm stage. A single‐channel logarithmic circuit was fabricated and characterized. A prototype ANN chip with unsupervised winner‐take‐all (WTA) function was designed, fabricated, and tested. An ANN learning algorithm using a novel sigmoid‐logarithmic transfer function based on the supervised backpropagation (BP) algorithm is proposed for robustly recognizing low‐intensity patterns. Our results show that the trained new ANN can recognize low‐fluorescence patterns better than an ANN using the conventional sigmoid function.
Coe1 in Beta vulgaris L. Has a Tnp2-Domain DNA Transposase Gene within Putative LTRs and Other Retroelement-Like Features
Authors: Kuykendall David , Shao Jonathan , Trimmer Kenneth
Published: June 2008

We describe discovery in Beta vulgaris L. of Coe1, a DNA transposase gene within putative long terminal repeats (LTRs), and other retrotransposon-like features including both a retroviral-like hypothetical gene and an Rvt2-domain reverse transcriptase pseudogene. The central DNA transposase gene encodes, in eight exons, a predicted 160-KDa protein producing BLAST alignments with En/Spm-type transposons. Except for a stop signal, another ORF encodes a Ty1-copia-like reverse transcriptase with amino acid sequence domain YVDDIIL. Outside apparent LTRs, an 8-mer nucleotide sequence motif CACTATAA, near or within inverted repeat sequences, is hypothetical extreme termini. A genome scan of Arabidopsis thaliana found another example of a Tnp2-domain transposase gene within an apparent LTR-retrotransposon on chromosome 4.
On the Rational Recursive Sequence xn+1 = (α − βxn)/(γ − δxn − xn−k)
Authors: Zayed E. M. E. , Shamardan A. B. , Nofal T. A.
Published: June 2008

We study the global stability, the periodic character, and the boundedness character of the positive solutions of the difference equation xn+1 = (α − βxn)/(γ − δxn − xn−k),  n = 0, 1, 2, …,   k ∈ {1, 2, …}, in the two cases: (i) δ ≥ 0,   α > 0,   γ > β > 0; (ii) δ ≥ 0,   α = 0,   γ, β > 0, where the coefficients α,   β,   γ,   and  δ, and the initial conditions x−k, x−k+1, …, x−1, x0 are real numbers. We show that the positive equilibrium of this equation is a global attractor with a basin that depends on certain conditions posed on the coefficients of this equation.
Truncated MTA‐1: A Pitfall in ELISA‐Based Immunoassay of HTLV‐1 Infection
Authors: Abbaszadegan Mohammad Reza , Jafarzadeh Narges , Sankian Mojtaba , Varasteh AbdolReza , Mahmoudi Mahmoud , Sadeghizadeh Majid , Khatami Fatemeh , Mehramiz Neema
Published: June 2008

HTLV‐1 causes adult T‐cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV‐1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Recombinant envelope glycoprotein is used in production of diagnostic enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. There are some reports that a significant percentage of Iranian HTLV‐1 infected patients showed no seroreactivity with MTA‐1 peptide, while HTLV‐1 had been confirmed by PCR detection methods or ELISA kits containing a cocktail of HTLV‐1 specific peptides. This report describes experiments designed to determine whether some discrepancies between ELISA and PCR results could be due to truncation of immunodominant epitopes using immunoassay method. We have cloned the MTA‐1 epitope of env gene from HTLV‐1 in NotI/NdeI sites of pET22b(+) expression vector. Sequencing analysis of recombinant plasmids revealed an insertion of a cytosine in position 271 causing a stop codon in the MTA‐1 protein translation. SDS‐PAGE analysis also failed to reveal the presence of the desired protein. Subjects with a mutant HTLV‐1 env gene were shown to be seronegative using ELISA, but positive with PCR.
Aristotle's 'So-Called Elements'
Authors: Crowley Timothy
Published: June 2008

Aristotle's use of the phrase τα καλουμενα στοιχεια is usually taken as evidence that he does not really think that the things to which this phrase refers, namely, fire, air, water, and earth, are genuine elements. In this paper I question the linguistic and textual grounds for taking the phrase τα καλουμενα στοιχεια in this way. I offer a detailed examination of the significance of the phrase, and in particular I compare Aristotle's general use of the Greek participle καλουμενοζiot (-η, -ον) in other contexts. I conclude that his use of the phrase τα καλουμενα στοιχεια does not carry ironical or sceptical connotations, and that it ought to be understood as a neutral report of a contemporary opinion that the elements of bodies are fire, air, water, and earth. I leave aside the question as to whether or not Aristotle himself endorses this opinion.
Just Skin and Bones: The Longing for Wholeness of the Body in the Book of Job
Authors: Basson Alec
Published: June 2008

The book of Job recounts the story of an individual who grapples with the enigma of suffering. In addition to his personal loss, the supplicant's body also comes under attack. Furthermore, the physical distress experienced by Job is exacerbated by the attitude of his kinsmen. His disintegrated body has lead to severed social relations. Given the fact that the body mediates the plaintiff's involvement in society and represented social unity in ancient Israel, Job longs for a whole body as the ideal body image. The ancient Israelites only regarded the whole body as pure, real and acceptable. This contribution argues that to appreciate fully the allusions to bodily degeneration in the book of Job, the importance of wholeness of the physical body in ancient Israel and the impact it had on the socio-religious structure should be taken into account.
The Oxford Hebrew Bible: Prologue to a New Critical Edition
Authors: Hendel Ronald
Published: June 2008

The Oxford Hebrew Bible project aims to construct a critical edition—featuring a critical text—of each book of the Hebrew Bible. The "Prologue to a New Critical Edition" addresses the rationale and methodology for this project. Three sample editions, including text-critical commentary, accompany this theoretical statement in order to illustrate its practice and utility. The samples are Deuteronomy 32:1-9, 1 Kings 11:1-8, and Jeremiah 27:1-10 (34 G).
Sample Editions of the Oxford Hebrew Bible: Deuteronomy 32:1-9, 1 Kings 11:1-8, and Jeremiah 27:1-10 (34 G)
Authors: Crawford Sidnie White , Joosten Jan , Ulrich Eugene
Published: June 2008

The Oxford Hebrew Bible project aims to construct a critical edition—featuring a critical text—of each book of the Hebrew Bible. The "Prologue to a New Critical Edition" addresses the rationale and methodology for this project. Three sample editions, including text-critical commentary, accompany this theoretical statement in order to illustrate its practice and utility. The samples are Deuteronomy 32:1-9, 1 Kings 11:1-8, and Jeremiah 27:1-10 (34 G).
The Making of Self-Monitoring Asthma Patients: Mending a Split Reality with Comparative Ethnography
Authors: Ross Winthereik Brit , Langstrup Henriette
Published: June 2008

Those calling for more evidence to support ever-increasing efforts to use information and communication technologies (ICT) in medical work argue that rigorous facts are necessary to make viable in practice substantiated use of these technologies. By contrast, socio-technical studies researchers, who focus on the use of ICT in everyday clinical practices, argue against the need for evidence produced under controlled, thus "unrealistic" conditions. Proponents of both positions, however, seem to operate with "a split reality," whereby they assume the "pseudo" can be readily distinguished from the "real," the "situated" from the "scientific." A comparative ethnographic approach can help mend this split reality approach. We compare how the same internet-based self-monitoring tool for asthmatics was used in a general practice setting and in a randomized clinical study, and thereby show how different effects were produced in these two settings. We propose that these effects are better conceptualized as enacting different assemblages of bodies, identities, and technologies, as opposed to creating either evidence or failed implementation.
Concerning a Serious Misunderstanding of the Essence of the Phenomenological Method in Psychology
Authors: Giorgi Amedeo
Published: June 2008

In an earlier article, Edwards (1991) tried to establish that the Duquesne Phenomenological Research Method (DPRM) was simply a particular type of Case Study research method (CSRM) and he also reproached users of the DPRM for not developing theory. This article rebuts both of Edwards's theses. DPRM is radically different from CSRM in logic and in execution and the article demonstrates that the development of theory is not at all the intent of DPRM. The basic difficulty is that Edwards attempts to understand DPRM from an empirical philosophical perspective whereas a phenomenological philosophical perspective is required to understand DPRM correctly.
Defeating the Attempted Global Jihadist Insurgency: Forty Steps for the Next President to Pursue against al Qaeda, Like-Minded Groups, Unhelpful State Actors, and Radicalized Sympathizers
Authors: Bergen Peter , Footer Laurence
Published: June 2008

Since September 11, 2001, al Qaeda has attempted to morph into a popular movement—what some have called “al Qaeda 2.0.” If the United States is fighting against a global campaign of terrorism and classic insurgencies (or an attempted global jihadist insurgency), then it should employ a global counterinsurgency strategy to combat al Qaeda 2.0. This article recommends such a strategy, including the following suggestions: develop the military, intelligence, and language capabilities needed to win the conflict; improve counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan and eliminate safe havens in Pakistan; expand counterinsurgency strategy in Iraq; manage “blowback” and monitor ungoverned regions; develop an Internet-based strategy to attack the jihadis; start fighting the “war of ideas” like we mean it; adopt a more proactive foreign policy; and better secure the U.S. homeland.
Commemorating Battles and Massacres in the Palestinian Refugee Camps of Lebanon
Authors: Khalili Laleh
Published: June 2008

An ethnographic and diachronic examination of the commemoration of violent events— battles and massacres—in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon shows the shift in mnemonic frames that helps one to understand political contention and strategies of struggle. The transformations in the representation and remembrance of battles and massacres in response to particular audiences and contexts reveal the dynamic and constructed nature of commemorative practices. The persistence of some commemorative narratives at times and their oblivion at others depend on the character and role of local institutions on one hand—political organizations or nongovernmental organizations—and the available and authorized transnational discourses on the other.
Southern European Environmental Movements in Comparative Perspective
Authors: Kousis Maria , Porta Donatella della , Jiménez Manuel
Published: June 2008

Differential national responses to the European Union's environmental policy have led to the idea that two worlds of environmentalism exist in Europe. In its harsh version, Europe is divided into North and South, with the South suffering from a Mediterranean syndrome. Southern European countries are viewed as environmental laggards, a perception attributed to, among other factors, a weak civil society intertwined with political systems characterized by patronage, clientelism, and lack of respect for public authority. This article provides new evidence documenting that civil society in Greece, Italy, and Spain appears to be much stronger on environmental matters than anticipated by the proponents of the above view. It also offers an alternative theorization of environmental politics, emphasizing aspects of organizational structures and political processes.
Practice Audit of Nutrition Support Certification
Authors: Schwartz Denise Baird , Mirtallo Jay M. , Matarese Laura E.
Published: June 2008

The National Board of Nutrition Support Certification (NBNSC) is an independent credentialing board responsible for administering certification programs in nutrition support. The NBNSC conducted a study (practice audit) of Nutrition Support Professionals (NSP), with the purposes of defining the role of the nutrition support professional and determining the current elements (knowledge or functions) required for competent NSP practice. This article describes the development of the study, results of the study, and use of the information for future certification in nutrition support. A list of the elements required for competent practice was gleaned from a variety of sources. A rating scale was developed to measure the importance of elements required for competent practice and frequency of practice. From this, an online survey instrument was prepared. Surveys were sent to 5964 NSPs; a total of 891 surveys were completed (return rate of 16.8%). There was 98% agreement among the disciplines of the perceived importance of the elements required of competent entry‐level NSP practice; that the survey either completely or adequately described these elements; and that it reflected practice by region as well as among various disciplines and work settings. The results of the practice audit demonstrate a common core of practice (95%) across the nutrition support disciplines as well as a universal core of elements believed to be important for competent nutrition support practice. As a result, the NBNSC has developed 1 examination for future nutrition support certification testing and will confer 1 credential, Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC), to those who pass the exam.
A Prospective, Randomized Trial of Clear Liquids Versus Low‐Fat Solid Diet as the Initial Meal in Mild Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Goday Praveen
Published: June 2008

Background: Patients recovering from mild acute pancreatitis typically receive a clear liquid diet (CLD) when ready to initiate oral nutrition. Patient discharge then depends on their successful advancement to solid food. We hypothesized that initiating oral nutrition with a low‐fat solid diet (LFSD) after mild pancreatitis would be well tolerated and would result in a shorter length of hospitalization (LOH). Methods: Patients with mild pancreatitis were randomized to a CLD or LFSD when they were ready to resume oral nutrition. Decisions about diet advancement and hospital discharge were at the discretion of the medical team, without input from study team members. Patients were monitored daily for recurrence of pain, need to stop feeding, post‐refeeding LOH (primary end point), and for 28 days post‐refeeding to capture readmission rates. Results: We randomized 121 patients: 66 to CLD and 55 to LFSD. The number of patients requiring cessation of feeding because of pain or nausea was similar in both groups (6% for CLD, 11% for LFSD; P = .51). The median LOH after refeeding was identical in both groups (1‐day interquartile range, 1‐2; P = .77). Patients in the LFSD arm consumed significantly more calories and grams of fat than those in the CLD arm during their first meal and on study day 1. There was no difference in the 28‐day readmission rates between the 2 arms. Conclusions: Initiating oral nutrition after mild acute pancreatitis with an LFSD appeared safe and provided more calories than a CLD but did not result in a shorter LOH.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Practical Approach
Authors: Clark Christian , DeLegge Mark
Published: June 2008

Irritable bowel syndrome accounts for approximately 2.7 million physician office visits yearly, although only 10%‐30% of affected patients seek treatment. The disease is predominantly found in women 20‐50 years of age. The etiology of irritable bowel syndrome is likely multifactorial: environmental factors, genetics, gut flora alterations, nervous system alterations (visceral hypersensitivity and motility abnormalities), and psychosocial stressors are thought to contribute. Treatment options are also quite diverse, including both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic modalities. This article summarizes the proposed pathophysiology of and treatment options for irritable bowel syndrome.
Update on Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Gender Differences
Authors: Heitkemper Margaret M. , Jarrett Monica E.
Published: June 2008

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional GI disorder characterized by abdominal pain associated with alterations in defecation or stool frequency and consistency. In Western industrialized countries, women seek health care services for their symptoms more frequently than men. The cause of IBS is likely multifactorial involving altered motility, visceral hypersensitivity, and dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. Many patients note that their symptoms are exacerbated by diet and stress, and women frequently report menstrual cycle fluctuations in symptoms. Current approaches to IBS management include behavioral management therapies such as dietary intake changes and stress reduction cognitive restructuring. Drug therapies are targeted at altering pain sensitivity, motility, and secretion. This review provides an overview of the pathogenesis of IBS, factors that contribute to gender differences, and current therapeutic approaches for symptom management.