bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of compact multiresonator‐loaded planar antenna with quad‐band working properties for wireless communication
Authors: Hu Wei , Li Rui , Ren Xue‐Shi , Yin Ying‐Zeng , Yang Jing‐Hua
Published: August 2013

In this study, a novel design of a compact multiresonator‐loaded planar antenna with quad‐band working properties is proposed for wireless communication. Multiresonator‐loaded structures are employed, which include a pair of symmetrical edge resonators embedded into the edges of the monopole, a T‐shaped stub resonator extended from the ground and an inverted U‐shaped narrow slot resonator etched on the T‐shaped stub. By loading these resonators, a modified U‐shaped monopole antenna can easily produce four separate working bands while achieving a very compact size of 18 × 20 mm2. Based on this concept, a prototype of quad‐band antenna is designed, fabricated and tested. The measured results demonstrate that the proposed antenna is capable of operating over the frequency ranges, 2.39–2.49, 3.37–4.06, 4.73–5.46 and 5.69–6.31 GHz, suitable for wireless local area network 2.4/5.2/5.8 GHz and worldwide interoperability for microwave access 3.5 GHz applications.
Directional modulation transmitter radiation pattern considerations
Authors: Ding Yuan , Fusco Vincent
Published: August 2013

A pattern synthesis approach is applied to a directional modulation (DM) system. A systematic synthesis procedure is suggested which ensures optimal constellation patterns production along pre‐specified communication directions, whereas simultaneously conserving energy dispersal in other directions. In this study, the properties of DM systems synthesised from Gaussian magnitude far‐field radiation pattern templates are used to illustrate performance benefits with regards to DM bit error rate response compared with those achieved by a conventional steered array.
The X‐connected inverter: a topology with higher fundamental and reduced low‐order harmonic voltages
Authors: Maiti Dipten , Biswas Sujit K.
Published: August 2013

A new inverter topology is presented in the paper, which produces a reduced low‐order harmonic voltage waveform because of a natural harmonic cancellation process. Two switches of each limb operate at low switching frequency, whereas the other two switches of the same limb operate at higher switching frequency in conjunction with two additional capacitors. The four switches in each limb are controlled in such a way that the sequence of switching along with the voltage of two additional capacitors cancels out the low‐frequency harmonics, thereby creating a pulse‐width modulation (PWM) voltage with reduced low‐order harmonics at the output with respect to the dc midpoint. By selection of the PWM pattern, the magnitude of fundamental voltage produced at the output can be higher than what would be achieved using sinusoidal PWM from the same dc bus voltage, without bothering about its inherent lower‐order harmonics as they would be anyway cancelled. It is thus possible to achieve maximum possible dc bus utilisation theoretically.
New direct regular‐sampled pulse‐width modulation applicable for grid and islanding operation of current source inverters
Authors: Azmi Syahrul Ashikin , Adam Grain Philip , Williams Barry
Published: August 2013

This study presents new direct regular‐sampled pulse width modulation (DRSPWM) for grid connected three‐phase current source inverters. The theoretical basis of the presented modulation strategy is described in detail and includes dwell time calculations and switching sequence selection. The modulation strategy is simple and suited for digital implementation, and has the flexibility and degree of freedoms of space vector modulation. This is because some switch sequences ensure a minimum number of switching transitions per fundamental cycle, unlike other methods presented in the literature. It is therefore applicable for high‐power medium‐voltage applications. The validity of the presented DRSPWM is confirmed using simulation and experimentation of a current source inverter, in open and closed‐loop operations.
Interleaving of local code replicas‐based rapid acquisition method for time division data multiplexing long pseudo‐noise‐code signals
Authors: Li Hong , Lu Mingquan , Feng Zhenming
Published: August 2013

In global navigation satellite system, to further improve acquisition and tracking performance and consequently improve anti‐jamming capability of long pseudo‐noise (PN)‐code signals, time division data multiplexing technique is utilised. For the signals, how to avoid possible energy cancellation of odd and even chips and how to quickly test code phases as many as possible in parallel are two keys for rapid acquisition. In this study, an interleaving of local code replicas‐based acquisition method is proposed. By interleaving odd‐number and even‐number chips of local code replicas, the proposed method breaks the intrinsic code phase relation of PN‐codes, avoids the possible energy cancellation of odd and even chips, and accelerates the search process by testing more code phases through interleaved chips. The detection and mean acquisition time performance of the proposed method is analysed. It is shown that compared with the previous time‐gate method, the proposed method greatly saves computation requirement by taking the advantage of frequency‐domain correlation technique over time‐domain one. Compared with the L2C‐like method, the proposed method enhances the capability of testing code phases in parallel twice at the expense of degrading detection performance. Numerical results demonstrate that when the capability dominates over detection performance the proposed method is more desirable.
Adaptive probability hypothesis density filter based on variational Bayesian approximation for multi‐target tracking
Authors: Yang Jinlong , Ge Hongwei
Published: August 2013

Probability hypothesis density (PHD) filter has been demonstrated a promising algorithm for tracking an unknown number of targets in real time. However, this method can only be used in the multi‐target tracking systems with known measurement noise variances; otherwise, the tracking performance will decline greatly. To solve this problem, an adaptive PHD filter algorithm is proposed based on the variational Bayesian approximation technique to recursively estimate the joint PHDs of the multi‐target states and the time‐varying measurement noise variances. First, the variational calculus method is employed to derive the multi‐target estimate recursions, and then the Gaussian and the inverse Gamma distributions are introduced to approximate the joint posterior PHD, and achieve a closed‐form solution. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively estimate the unknown measurement noise variances and has a good performance of multi‐target tracking with a strong robustness.
On deception jamming for countering bistatic ISAR based on sub‐Nyquist sampling
Authors: Pan Xiaoyi , Wang Wei , Feng Dejun , Liu Yongcai , Fu Qixiang , Wang Guoyu
Published: August 2013

Bistatic inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) operates with spatially separated transmitting and receiving antennas. This study presents a method capable of generating deceptive images from a series of intercepted bistatic ISAR chirp pulses. It is demonstrated that deceptive false‐target images will be induced by the under‐sampled pulses which are retransmitted to a moving target and scattered by it under the principles of bistatic ISAR configuration. Additionally, the jamming idea is proved to be applicable based on the characteristics of the false‐target images and the requirement of jamming power. A scattering model of Yak‐42 plane with 330 point scatterers is adopted to verify the effectiveness of the jamming idea.
Signal processing for harmonic pulse radar based on spread spectrum technology
Authors: Jau Pei‐Hung , Tsai Zuo‐Min , Kuo Nai‐Chung , Kao Jui‐Chi , Lin Kun‐You , Chang Fan‐Ren , Yang En‐Cheng , Wang Huei
Published: August 2013

This study presents the signal processing techniques applied on a 9.4/18.8 GHz harmonic radar, which is used to investigate behaviours of small insects such as bees, beetles and butterflies. It is still a challenge to achieve high accuracy and long detection range simultaneously in a harmonic pulse radar system. The authors combine the spread spectrum technology with the classic pulse harmonic radar system to overcome the dilemma between accuracy and detection range. The processing gain of the pseudo‐random code from the spread spectrum technology is used to increase the sensitivity and makes the system able to detect the signal with the weak power strength below the system noise level. To eliminate the effect caused by the local leakage, the signal‐processing method provided to cancel the leakage through applying the symmetric property of the autocorrelation function of the pseudo‐random code. In the field tests, the proposed system achieves a 60 m detection range within 1 m ranging accuracy by using 1.75 W transmitting power corresponding to 40.430 dBW equivalent‐isotropically radiated power (EIRP). It is estimated to extend to at least 900 m detection range by using a 3 kW transmitting power corresponding to 72.771 dBW EIRP.
Failure correction in time‐modulated linear arrays
Authors: Poli Lorenzo , Rocca Paolo , Oliveri Giacomo , Massa Andrea
Published: August 2013

A technique for failure correction in time‐modulated linear arrays is presented. Starting from the knowledge of the array elements with failures, the on–off behaviour of the switches at the other elements is properly reconfigured to radiate a pattern as close as possible to the ideal one in terms of pattern features. The array reconfiguration is carried out by solving an optimisation problem through the minimisation of a suitable cost function proportional to the mismatch between ideal and reconfigured pattern features. Representative results are reported and discussed to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach as well as to assess the robustness to failures of time‐modulated arrays thanks to their real‐time reconfigurability.
Analysing the orbit influence on multipath fading in global navigation satellite systems
Authors: Gao Yang , Yao Zheng , Cui Xiaowei , Lu Mingquan
Published: August 2013

For some critical static applications of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as monitoring station and reference station in the GNSS control segment, multipath error shows regular fading characteristics related to satellite orbit type. However, for Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites, observations under different systems show great diversity, the regularity of the multipath fading characteristic for GEO satellite is not apparent, and the reason is not clear as these observations can be influenced by various factors. To know the reason and the mechanism of these differences is very important for GNSS system building and monitoring, especially for the control segment, one major function of which is monitoring the whole system states and ensuring the system reliability. To explain the differences among these observations, a theoretical analysis about the satellite orbit influence on multipath fading is made in this study. The analysis is based on a proposed factor named orbit multipath fading factor, which can reflect the orbit influence independent from the uncontrolled environment factors. The analysis result shows that for GEO satellites, the multipath fading frequency varies large with time, and is very sensitive to orbit inclination, which can well explain the various fading characteristics actually observed in theory.
Inverse synthetic aperture radar imaging of ship targets with complex motion based on match Fourier transform for cubic chirps model
Authors: Wang Chao , Wang Yong , Li ShaoBin
Published: August 2013

The authors address the problem of high‐resolution inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging of ship targets with complex motion, and the cubic chirps model of ship motions is established to avoid the image deterioration for the traditional range‐Doppler algorithm. A novel ISAR imaging scheme based on the extension form of match Fourier transform (EMFT) is proposed, which estimates the parameters of multi‐component cubic chirps via two‐dimensional maximisations and Fourier transform. The corresponding asymptotic statistical performance for the EMFT is analysed, and the results of simulated and real data demonstrate the validity of the proposed method.
Soil potassium—crop response calibration relationships and criteria for field crops grown in Australia
Authors: Brennan Ross F. , Bell Michael J.
Published: August 2013

The Better Fertiliser Decision for Crops (BFDC) National Database holds historic data for 356 potassium (K) fertiliser rate experiments (431 treatment series) for different rain-fed grain crops and soil types across Australia. Bicarbonate-extractable K (Colwell soil-test K) is the most extensively used soil test reported in the database. Data are available for several crop species grown on a range of soil types from all states except Tasmania. Species represented and number of treatment series in the database are: wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), 254; barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), 5; canola (Brassica napus L.), 130; lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.), 32; sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), 10; sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), 5; and faba bean (Vicia faba L.), 2. About 77% of the available soil-test K (STK) data on wheat, canola, and lupin are from Western Australia. The usual sampling depth of 0–10 cm is recorded for all treatment series within the database, while 68% of experiments have STK information from other soil horizons down the profile, usually in 10-cm increments.
The BFDC Interrogator, a comprehensive data search and calibration support tool developed for use with the BFDC National Database, was used to examine STK–yield relationships for each crop across Australia, with more detailed analysis by state/region and then by soil type if data were available. The BFDC Interrogator was used to determine a critical STK concentration to achieve 90% of the maximum relative yield (90%RY) for each crop species, with a critical range (determined by the 70% confidence limit for the 90%RY) also reported.
The STK for 90%RY for wheat was 40–41 mg/kg on Tenosols and Chromosols, ~49 mg/kg on Kandosols, and ~64 mg/kg on Brown Ferrosols. There was some evidence of critical values increasing with increasing crop yield and on soils with no acidity constraints to root growth, with effects presumably driven by increased crop K demand. The STK for 90%RY for canola, grown mainly on Tenosols, was similar to that for wheat, ranging from 43 to 46 mg K/kg, but for lupin, also grown mainly on Tenosols, the STK for 90%RY was a relatively low ~25 mg K/kg. Data for sunflower were limited and the STK for 90%RY was poorly defined. A comparison of critical STK concentrations for different crops grown on Tenosols suggested that critical ranges for 90%RY of lupin (22–27 mg K/kg) were significantly lower than that for wheat (32–52 mg K/kg) and canola (44–49 mg K/kg). Critical STK values were not determined for sorghum and faba bean.
Modelling the effectiveness of vaccination in controlling bovine tuberculosis in wild boar
Authors: Anderson Lucy G. , Gortázar Christian , Vicente Joaquin , Hutchings Michael R. , White Piran C. L.
Published: August 2013

Context
Bovine tuberculosis is a persistent disease of livestock in many parts of the world, especially where wildlife hosts co-exist with livestock. In south-western Spain, despite the widespread implementation of test-and-cull strategies for cattle, the herd prevalence in areas with high wild boar densities remains stable. The control of M. bovis infection in wild boar is likely to be essential for effective disease control in livestock.

Methods
We developed an individual-based model to evaluate whether vaccinating wild boar piglets with oral bait would be an effective strategy to reduce the prevalence of M. bovis infection in wild boar populations. Specifically, we quantified the proportion of piglets requiring vaccination and the number of years the vaccination programme would need to continue to eradicate bTB from wild boar within 25 years, comparing ‘managed’ populations on hunting estates where supplementary food is provided, with ‘unmanaged’, free-living populations. Successful vaccination was defined as the proportion of piglets that were delivered the vaccine and were effectively protected from infection.

Key results
Longer-term (25-year) vaccination strategies were more successful than short-term (5-year) strategies at either eradicating M. bovis or reducing it to below 90% of its original prevalence. M. bovis infection could be eradicated under a 25-year vaccination strategy if 80% of piglets were vaccinated in a managed population or 70% of piglets were vaccinated in an unmanaged population. In contrast, 5-year strategies in which 80% of piglets were vaccinated reduced the prevalence of M. bovis only by 27% or 8% in the managed and unmanaged populations, respectively.

Conclusions
The results of our simulation model, coupled with the promising results of initial vaccine and oral bait-uptake trials in wild boar indicated that vaccination could be an effective strategy to reduce the prevalence of M. bovis infection in wild boar if used in conjunction with other disease-control measures.

Implications
The vaccination of piglets over a long-term period has the potential to make an important contribution to the eradication of M. bovis infection from wild boar reservoirs in southern Spain.
Discovery of the cellular and molecular basis of cholesterol control
Authors: Schekman Randy
Published: August 2013

The cellular control of cholesterol metabolism mediated by lipoproteins was first appreciated in pioneering work published in a 1974 PNAS Classic by Michael Brown and Joseph Goldstein. We know from this paper that the LDL binds to a cell surface receptor and dampens the activity of a key enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis and that a receptor deficiency is responsible for a major genetic cause of hypercholesterolemia and premature atherosclerosis.
Appearances are not skin deep
Authors: Jiang Haowen
Published: August 2013

This paper investigates the functions of a previously neglected collocation, the nominalizer 的 de and the noun 樣子 yàngzi ‘appearance’ (DYZ) in colloquial Mandarin discourse. DYZ is shown to be either denotational or non-denotational. In the denotational use, yàngzi denotes various entity concepts, including bodily appearances, behavioral demeanor, and visual percepts of an event. In the non-denotational use, however, yàngzi does not denote, but instead, in tandem with the nominalizer de, functions as an inferential marker, meaning a grammatical device that indicates inference or assumption on the part of the speaker while at the same time signaling the speaker’s medium epistemic certainty about a statement. The underlying mechanism of recruiting the noun for “appearance” to mark inferentials may be attributable to the widespread conceptualization of basing the epistemology of perception on “how things look” (Lyons 2005).
Attitudes toward accents of Mandarin in Singapore
Authors: Chong Rachael Hui-Hui , Tan Ying-Ying
Published: August 2013

Like many other countries, Singapore has seen some public tension fermenting over what is sometimes perceived as the government’s generous open-door immigration policy. Some Singaporeans appear to have taken to regarding themselves as rightful “natives” by distinguishing between local and foreign accents (see Jacobs 2012; Oon 2012). With a sizeable number of foreigners hailing from China, do Singaporeans have negative attitudes toward non-local Chinese accents because of these ‘anti-foreigner’ sentiments? This paper examines the language attitudes of Chinese Singaporeans towards speakers of Mandarin from three locales: Beijing, Taiwan and Singapore. It describes an attitudinal test using the verbal guise technique, comparing the attitudes of 100 Singaporean Chinese youths toward the Beijing, Taiwanese and Singaporean accents of Mandarin along the dimensions of prestige and solidarity. This study shows that there are distinct differences in the ways in which the three accents are perceived by Singaporeans. However, contrary to expectations, the foreign accents are not discriminated against, but are in fact ranked more favourably as compared to the local accent. Ultimately, functionality and economic goals of advancement seem to override other socio-cultural aims of the nation as Singaporeans focus on the prestige that the foreign Chinese accents can bring them.
Maternal communicative style in interaction with infant siblings of children with Autism
Authors: Quigley Jean , McNally Sinéad
Published: August 2013

Functional aspects of infant-directed speech (IDS) in face-to-face interaction play a central role in infant development (Venuti et al. 2012b) and are important in shaping infant responsiveness (Goldstein et al. 2003), yet have rarely been examined and there is little consensus on specific infant outcomes. Infant siblings of children with autism are at increased risk of developing this disorder characterised by socio-communicative impairments and present particular challenges for parents in interaction. Using a prospective video analysis design, we had two objectives: to investigate maternal functional speech styles in interaction with these infant siblings, and to analyse the relationship between maternal functional style and infants’ cognitive, language and socio-communicative development. We found significantly lower rates of maternal responsive-contingent utterances to the infant siblings and significant associations between maternal IDS and infant test scores only for the typical dyads.
Protein–ligand binding site recognition using complementary binding-specific substructure comparison and sequence profile alignment
Authors: Yang Jianyi , Roy Ambrish , Zhang Yang
Published: August 2013

Motivation: Identification of protein–ligand binding sites is critical to protein function annotation and drug discovery. However, there is no method that could generate optimal binding site prediction for different protein types. Combination of complementary predictions is probably the most reliable solution to the problem.

Results: We develop two new methods, one based on binding-specific substructure comparison (TM-SITE) and another on sequence profile alignment (S-SITE), for complementary binding site predictions. The methods are tested on a set of 500 non-redundant proteins harboring 814 natural, drug-like and metal ion molecules. Starting from low-resolution protein structure predictions, the methods successfully recognize >51% of binding residues with average Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) significantly higher (with P-value <10–9 in student t-test) than other state-of-the-art methods, including COFACTOR, FINDSITE and ConCavity. When combining TM-SITE and S-SITE with other structure-based programs, a consensus approach (COACH) can increase MCC by 15% over the best individual predictions. COACH was examined in the recent community-wide COMEO experiment and consistently ranked as the best method in last 22 individual datasets with the Area Under the Curve score 22.5% higher than the second best method. These data demonstrate a new robust approach to protein–ligand binding site recognition, which is ready for genome-wide structure-based function annotations.

Availability:  http://zhanglab.ccmb.med.umich.edu/COACH/

Contact:  zhng@umich.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
RNA secondary structure diagrams for very large molecules: RNAfdl
Authors: Hecker Nikolai , Wiegels Tim , Torda Andrew E.
Published: August 2013

Summary: There are many programs that can read the secondary structure of an RNA molecule and draw a diagram, but hardly any that can cope with 103 bases. RNAfdl is slow but capable of producing intersection-free diagrams for ribosome-sized structures, has a graphical user interface for adjustments and produces output in common formats.

Availability and implementation: Source code is available under the GNU General Public License v3.0 at http://sourceforge.net/projects/rnafdl for Linux and similar systems or Windows using MinGW. RNAfdl is implemented in C, uses the Cairo 2D graphics library and offers both command line and graphical user interfaces.

Contact:  hecker@rth.dk

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Saturated excitation of fluorescent proteins for subdiffraction-limited imaging of living cells in three dimensions
Authors: Yamanaka Masahito , Saito Kenta , Smith Nicholas I. , Kawata Satoshi , Nagai Takeharu , Fujita Katsumasa
Published: August 2013

We report, for the first time, the saturated excitation (SAX) of fluorescent proteins for subdiffraction-limited imaging of living cells in three-dimensions. To achieve saturation, a bright yellow and green fluorescent protein (Venus and EGFP) that exhibits a strong nonlinear fluorescence response to the high excitation intensity at the laser focus is used. Harmonic demodulation of the fluorescence signal produced by a modulated excitation light extracts the nonlinear fluorescence signals. After constructing the image from the nonlinear components, we obtain fluorescence images of living cells with spatial resolution beyond the diffraction limit. We also applied linear deconvolution to SAX microscopy and found it effective in further enhancing the contrast of small intracellular structures in the SAX image, confirming the expansion of the optical transfer function in SAX microscopy.
A cell-free approach to accelerate the study of protein–protein interactions
in vitro
Authors: Sierecki E. , Giles N. , Polinkovsky M. , Moustaqil M. , Alexandrov K. , Gambin Y.
Published: August 2013

Protein–protein interactions are highly desirable targets in drug discovery, yet only a fraction of drugs act as binding inhibitors. Here, we review the different technologies used to find and validate protein–protein interactions. We then discuss how the novel combination of cell-free protein expression, AlphaScreen and single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to rapidly map protein interaction networks, determine the architecture of protein complexes, and find new targets for drug discovery.
The Clathrin Adaptor Complex AP-2 Mediates Endocytosis of BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 inArabidopsis
Authors: Di Rubbo Simone , Irani Niloufer G. , Kim Soo Youn , Xu Zheng-Yi , Gadeyne Astrid , Dejonghe Wim , Vanhoutte Isabelle , Persiau Geert , Eeckhout Dominique , Simon Sibu , Song Kyungyoung , Kleine-Vehn Jürgen , Friml Jiří , De Jaeger Geert , Van Damme Daniël , Hwang Inhwan , Russinova Eugenia
Published: August 2013

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) regulates many aspects of plant development, including hormone signaling and responses to environmental stresses. Despite the importance of this process, the machinery that regulates CME in plants is largely unknown. In mammals, the heterotetrameric ADAPTOR PROTEIN COMPLEX-2 (AP-2) is required for the formation of clathrin-coated vesicles at the plasma membrane (PM). Although the existence of AP-2 has been predicted in Arabidopsis thaliana, the biochemistry and functionality of the complex is still uncharacterized. Here, we identified all the subunits of the Arabidopsis AP-2 by tandem affinity purification and found that one of the large AP-2 subunits, AP2A1, localized at the PM and interacted with clathrin. Furthermore, endocytosis of the leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase, BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1), was shown to depend on AP-2. Knockdown of the two Arabidopsis AP2A genes or overexpression of a dominant-negative version of the medium AP-2 subunit, AP2M, impaired BRI1 endocytosis and enhanced the brassinosteroid signaling. Our data reveal that the CME machinery in Arabidopsis is evolutionarily conserved and that AP-2 functions in receptor-mediated endocytosis.
Reversed de Wolff figure of merit and its application to powder indexing solutions
Authors: Oishi-Tomiyasu R.
Published: August 2013

Two new figures of merit for powder indexing solutions are proposed: the reversed figure of meritMnRevand the symmetric figure of meritMnSym. These are naturally suggested by the theory underlying the de Wolff figure of meritMn. Nevertheless,MnRevhas characteristics opposite to those ofMnwith regard to sensitivity to impurity peaks and extinct reflections.MnSymhas intermediate properties betweenMnandMnRev. Applications of the new figures of merit to powder indexing solutions and zero-point shift estimation are introduced. All of the figures of merit are available from the powder auto-indexing softwareConograph(http://sourceforge.jp/projects/conograph/; http://research.kek.jp/people/rtomi/ConographGUI/web_page.html).
Strain distribution in an Si single crystal measured by interference fringes of X-ray mirage diffraction
Authors: Jongsukswat Sukswat , Fukamachi Tomoe , Ju Dongying , Negishi Riichirou , Hirano Keiichi , Kawamura Takaaki
Published: August 2013

In X-ray interference fringes accompanied by mirage diffraction, variations have been observed in the spacing and position of the fringes from a plane-parallel Si single crystal fixed at one end as a function of distance from the incident plane of the X-rays to the free crystal end. The variations can be explained by distortion of the sample crystal due to gravity. From the variations and positions of the fringes, the strain gradient of the crystal has been determined. The distribution of the observed strain agrees with that expected from rod theory except for residual strain. When the distortion is large, the observed strain distribution does not agree with that expected from rod theory.
X-ray analysis of residual stress gradients in TiN coatings by a Laplace space approach and cross-sectional nanodiffraction: a critical comparison
Authors: Stefenelli Mario , Todt Juraj , Riedl Angelika , Ecker Werner , Müller Thomas , Daniel Rostislav , Burghammer Manfred , Keckes Jozef
Published: August 2013

Novel scanning synchrotron cross-sectional nanobeam and conventional laboratory as well as synchrotron Laplace X-ray diffraction methods are used to characterize residual stresses in exemplary 11.5 µm-thick TiN coatings. Both real and Laplace space approaches reveal a homogeneous tensile stress state and a very pronounced compressive stress gradient in as-deposited and blasted coatings, respectively. The unique capabilities of the cross-sectional approach operating with a beam size of 100 nm in diameter allow the analysis of stress variation with sub-micrometre resolution at arbitrary depths and the correlation of the stress evolution with the local coating microstructure. Finally, advantages and disadvantages of both approaches are extensively discussed.
Ultrafast reciprocal-space mapping with a convergent beam
Authors: Schick Daniel , Shayduk Roman , Bojahr André , Herzog Marc , von Korff Schmising Clemens , Gaal Peter , Bargheer Matias
Published: August 2013

A diffractometer setup is presented, based on a laser-driven plasma X-ray source for reciprocal-space mapping with femtosecond temporal resolution. In order to map out the reciprocal space, an X-ray optic with a convergent beam is used with an X-ray area detector to detect symmetrically and asymmetrically diffracted X-ray photons simultaneously. The setup is particularly suited for measuring thin films or imperfect bulk samples with broad rocking curves. For quasi-perfect crystalline samples with insignificant in-plane Bragg peak broadening, the measured reciprocal-space maps can be corrected for the known resolution function of the diffractometer in order to achieve high-resolution rocking curves with improved data quality. In this case, the resolution of the diffractometer is not limited by the convergence of the incoming X-ray beam but is solely determined by its energy bandwidth.
The value of life and its regional difference in China
Authors: Qin Xuezheng , Li Lixing , Liu Yangyang
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the value of a statistical life (VSL) in China using the hedonic wage model, and to explore the regional difference in VSL within the country.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the hedonic wage regression, this paper estimates the compensating wage differential for incremental job mortality risk among Chinese workers. The implied VSL is derived for China and its different regions. The data is from the 2005 China inter‐census population survey, consisting of 1.3 million urban and rural workers. The authors also made important improvement in the model specification to explicitly address the missing variable issue in the previous studies.

Findings

The paper results indicate that the industry mortality risk has a significant impact on the wage rate. The implied VSL is 1.81 million RMB, a value substantially higher than previous estimates. The results also suggest a sizable urban‐rural difference, with the urban VSL being 4.3 times higher than the rural estimate. The strong urban‐rural inequality of income could be attributed to the segregation between the urban and rural labor markets.

Practical implications

The paper findings indicate the importance of reforming the current workers' compensation standard and improving the institutional environment, as well as enhancing the labor protection in the rural labor market.

Originality/value

This paper is the first attempt to estimate the value of life in China using the census based data. The paper results contribute to the growing literature in obtaining comparable VSL estimates in the developing countries.
Plenty of attitude: evaluating measures of attitude toward the site
Authors: Boostrom Robert , Balasubramanian Siva K. , Summey John H.
Published: August 2013

Purpose

Researchers often attempt to assess how different features and content will improve the experience of web site users. One assessment technique is to measure the attitude toward the site. A common version of this measure is the Chen and Wells attitude toward the site scale. The purpose of this paper is to determine if there is a difference in performance between that scale and the less used Bruner and Kumar scale so that researchers might use the better of the two related, but different, published scales.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis is done on survey data from an experiment utilizing three different experimental groups that all completed surveys with both the Chen and Wells and the Bruner and Kumar attitude toward the site scales. Scales are assessed for loading and reliability, as well as measures compared for equivalence within groups and used within partial least squares (PLS) models to compare overall model fit.

Findings

In all tests, the Bruner and Kumar scale is better than, or equivalent to, the Chen and Wells scale in each comparison.

Research limitations/implications

The research implication is that the Bruner and Kumar scale would be a better choice when selecting scales for future research projects.

Originality/value

Although Bruner and Kumar had previously performed comparisons of the two scales, in a follow‐up article, this is the first paper to compare the two scales between three different groups and demonstrate how the two different scales would perform within the same conceptual model using PLS structural equation modeling. It will help researchers select the best scale for attitude toward the site.
What are the relationships among Web 2.0, market orientation and innovativeness?
Authors: Palacios‐Marques Daniel , Zegarra Saldaña Alejandro , Enrique Vila Jose
Published: August 2013

Purpose

Firms are adopting Web 2.0 technologies to improve collaboration, participation and communication; however there are few empirical studies testing the impact of this adoption. The purpose of this article is to analyze if there is a linkage amongst market orientation, Web 2.0 adoption and innovativeness.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling was used to test the relationships amongst the variables. A sample of 244 firms of the hospitality industry was used. The theoretical approach is based on the market orientation and innovativeness, concepts, which have been studied by various authors in the literature.

Findings

A positive relationship was found between market orientation and Web 2.0 adoption and between Web 2.0 adoption and innovativeness.

Research limitations/implications

The study was developed in one industry, so in order to generalize the findings, additional testing in other industries should be developed. In addition a longitudinal study is encouraged.

Practical implications

Managers are advised to adopt Web 2.0 technologies to strengthen market orientation behaviors and innovativeness.

Originality/value

This article empirically tested the relationship between market orientation and Web 2.0 adoption and the impact of Web 2.0 adoption on innovativeness. Although some managers and researchers have reported some positive impacts of Web 2.0 on different aspects of the organization, there are still few empirical studies, and the authors contributed to fill this void.
Distinct dissolved organic matter sources induce rapid transcriptional responses in coexisting populations of Prochlorococcus, Pelagibacter and the OM60 clade
Authors: Sharma Adrian K. , Becker Jamie W. , Ottesen Elizabeth A. , Bryant Jessica A. , Duhamel Solange , Karl David M. , Cordero Otto X. , Repeta Daniel J. , DeLong Edward F.
Published: August 2013

A considerable fraction of the Earth's organic carbon exists in dissolved form in seawater. To investigate the roles of planktonic marine microbes in the biogeochemical cycling of this dissolved organic matter (DOM), we performed controlled seawater incubation experiments and followed the responses of an oligotrophic surface water microbial assemblage to perturbations with DOM derived from an axenic culture of Prochlorococcus, or high‐molecular weight DOM concentrated from nearby surface waters. The rapid transcriptional responses of both Prochlorococcus and Pelagibacter populations suggested the utilization of organic nitrogen compounds common to both DOM treatments. Along with these responses, both populations demonstrated decreases in gene transcripts associated with nitrogen stress, including those involved in ammonium acquisition. In contrast, responses from low abundance organisms of the NOR5/OM60 gammaproteobacteria were observed later in the experiment, and included elevated levels of gene transcripts associated with polysaccharide uptake and oxidation. In total, these results suggest that numerically dominant oligotrophic microbes rapidly acquire nitrogen from commonly available organic sources, and also point to an important role for carbohydrates found within the DOM pool for sustaining the less abundant microorganisms in these oligotrophic systems.
Vertical partitioning of nitrogen‐loss processes across the oxic‐anoxic interface of an oceanic oxygen minimum zone
Authors: De Brabandere Loreto , Canfield Don E. , Dalsgaard Tage , Friederich Gernot E. , Revsbech Niels Peter , Ulloa Osvaldo , Thamdrup Bo
Published: August 2013

We investigated anammox, denitrification and dissimilatory reduction of nitrite to ammonium (DNRA) activity in the Eastern Tropical South Pacific oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) off northern Chile, at high‐depth resolution through the oxycline into the anoxic OMZ core. This was accompanied by high‐resolution nutrient and oxygen profiles to link changes in nitrogen transformation rates to physicochemical characteristics of the water column. Denitrification was detected at most depths, but anammox was the most active N2‐producing process, while DNRA was not detectable. Anammox and denitrification were mainly active in the anoxic OMZ core while activity was low to not detectable in the oxycline, except in association with an intrusion of OMZ core water. This indicates that continuous exposure to even submicromolar oxygen levels inhibits the processes either directly or through nitrite limitation. Anammox activity did not peak at the oxic‐anoxic boundary but 20–50 m below matching the salinity maximum of the Equatorial Subsurface Water. This suggests that water history plays a major role for anammox activity possibly due to slow growth of anammox bacteria. Denitrification peaked deeper than anammox, likely reflecting a shift in the balance between this process and nitrate reduction to nitrite, governed by the relative availability of nitrate and nitrite.
Pyrosequencing‐based profiling of archaeal and bacterial 16S rRNA genes identifies a novel archaeon associated with black band disease in corals
Authors: Sato Yui , Willis Bette L. , Bourne David G.
Published: August 2013

Black band disease (BBD) is a microbial consortium that creates anoxic, sulfide‐rich microenvironments and kills underlying coral tissues as it rapidly migrates across colonies. Although bacterial communities associated with BBD have been studied extensively, the presence and roles of archaea are unexplored. Using amplicon‐pyrosequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA genes, we investigated the community structure of both archaea and bacteria within microbial lesions of BBD and the less‐virulent precursor stage, ‘cyanobacterial patches’ (CP), affecting the coral Montipora hispida. We detected characteristic shifts in microbial communities during the development of BBD from CP, reflecting microenvironmental changes within lesions. Archaeal profiles in CP suggested a diverse assemblage affiliated with the Thaumarchaeota and Euryarchaeota, similar to communities described for oxic marine environments. In contrast, a novel ribotype, distantly affiliated to the Euryarchaeota, dominated up to 94% of archaeal sequences retrieved from BBD. The physiological characteristics of this dominant archaeal ribotype are unknown because of the novelty of its 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences; however, their prominent associations with BBD lesions suggest the ability to thrive in the organic‐ and sulfide‐rich anoxic microenvironment characteristic of BBD lesions. Discovery of this novel archaeal ribotype provides new insights into the microbial ecology and aetiology of BBD.
Swimming behaviour and magnetotaxis function of the marine bacterium strain MO‐1
Authors: Zhang Sheng‐Da , Petersen Nikolai , Zhang Wei‐Jia , Cargou Sébastien , Ruan Juanfang , Murat Dorothée , Santini Claire‐Lise , Song Tao , Kato Takayuki , Notareschi Philippe , Li Ying , Namba Keiichi , Gué Anne‐Marie , Wu Long‐Fei
Published: August 2013

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) have the unique capacity to align and swim along the geomagnetic field lines downward to the oxic–anoxic interface in chemically stratified water columns and sediments. They are most abundant within the first few centimetres of sediments below the water–sediment interface. It is unknown how MTB penetrate into the sediment layer and swim in the pocket water, while their movements are restricted by the alignment along the magnetic field lines. Here we characterized the swimming behaviour of the marine fast‐swimming magnetotactic ovoid bacterium MO‐1.We found that it rotates around and translates along its short body axis to the magnetic north (northward). MO‐1 cells swim forward constantly for a minimum of 1770 μm without apparent stopping. When encountering obstacles, MO‐1 cells squeeze through or swim southward to circumvent the obstacles. The distance of southward swimming is short and inversely proportional to the magnetic field strength. Using a magnetic shielding device, we provide direct evidence that magnetotaxis is beneficial to MO‐1 growth and becomes essential at low cell density. Environmental implications of the fast‐swimming magnetotactic behaviour of magnetococci are discussed.
Glycolytic fast‐twitch muscle fiber restoration counters adverse age‐related changes in body composition and metabolism
Authors: Akasaki Yuichi , Ouchi Noriyuki , Izumiya Yasuhiro , Bernardo Barbara L. , LeBrasseur Nathan K. , Walsh Kenneth
Published: August 2013

Aging is associated with the development of insulin resistance, increased adiposity, and accumulation of ectopic lipid deposits in tissues and organs. Starting in mid‐life there is a progressive decline in lean muscle mass associated with the preferential loss of glycolytic, fast‐twitch myofibers. However, it is not known to what extent muscle loss and metabolic dysfunction are causally related or whether they are independent epiphenomena of the aging process. Here, we utilized a skeletal‐muscle‐specific, conditional transgenic mouse expressing a constitutively active form of Akt1 to examine the consequences of glycolytic, fast‐twitch muscle growth in young vs. middle‐aged animals fed standard low‐fat chow diets. Activation of the Akt1 transgene led to selective skeletal muscle hypertrophy, reversing the loss of lean muscle mass observed upon aging. The Akt1‐mediated increase in muscle mass led to reductions in fat mass and hepatic steatosis in older animals, and corrected age‐associated impairments in glucose metabolism. These results indicate that the loss of lean muscle mass is a significant contributor to the development of age‐related metabolic dysfunction and that interventions that preserve or restore fast/glycolytic muscle may delay the onset of metabolic disease.
Phenotypic and genetic trends of patellar luxation inDutchFlat‐CoatedRetrievers
Authors: Lavrijsen I. C. M. , Heuven H. C. M. , Breur G. J. , Leegwater P. A. J. , Meutstege F. J. , Hazewinkel H. A. W.
Published: August 2013

Canine patellar luxation has been described in various dog breeds, with high prevalence especially in smaller dogs. Most dogs suffer from medial displacement of the patella, although in larger dogs lateral displacement is also seen. A sex predisposition has been described for females. Patellar luxation is considered a polygenic, multifactorial disorder. From 1990 to 2007, in total 3834 Flat‐Coated Retrievers were screened; 23.6% of those animals were affected with patellar luxation. Lateral displacement of the patella was most common in this breed (61% of cases), whereas medial (31% of cases) and lateral and medial (8% of cases) were less common. Unilateral involvement (51% of cases) was just as often observed as was bilateral involvement (49% of cases). Females were more often affected with patellar luxation (30% of all tested females) than were males (17% of all tested males). The heritability of patellar luxation was 0.17 ± 0.03 in this population, and breeding with one affected parent increased the prevalence of patellar luxation in offspring by 45% compared to that with two unaffected parents. Since the start of the screening program, there was an initial decrease from 28% to 18% in incidence, but this stagnated thereafter. The annual average estimated breeding values followed the same pattern. With approximately one quarter of the Dutch Flat‐Coated Retrievers being affected with patellar luxation, this population shows unusually high prevalence compared with reports in other large‐breed dogs. The heritability for patellar luxation in this population was moderate (0.17), indicating that environmental factors play a large role in the manifestation of the disorder. A screening program reduced the prevalence of patellar luxation in this breed, but improvement has recently stagnated. Inclusion of breeding values in the screening program could improve its effectiveness.