bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interdependence of pyrene interactions and tetramolecular G4-DNA assembly
Authors: Doluca Osman , Withers Jamie M. , Loo Trevor S. , Edwards Patrick J. B. , González Carlos , Filichev Vyacheslav V.
Published: February 2015

Our results demonstrate the expanded capabilities of G-quadruplex DNAs for directed chromophore arrangements and show new perspectives in the design of G-quadruplexes governed by non-guanine moieties.
Silver@graphene oxide nanocomposite-based optical sensor platform for biomolecules
Authors: Zangeneh Kamali Khosro , Pandikumar Alagarsamy , Sivaraman Gandhi , Lim Hong Ngee , Wren Stephen Paul , Sun Tong , Huang Nay Ming
Published: February 2015

A silver incorporated graphene oxide nanocomposite was prepared and used for the detection of biomolecules using an absorbance based optical sensing method.
Role of antimony in the phase structure and electrical properties of potassium–sodium niobate lead-free ceramics
Authors: Wu Jiagang , Tao Hong , Yuan Yuan , Lv Xiang , Wang Xiangjian , Lou Xiaojie
Published: February 2015

In the past ten years, antimony has been reported to strongly affect the developments in the piezoelectric properties of (K,Na)NbO3 (KNN) lead-free ceramics, that is, its enhanced piezoelectric activity is closely related to the doped antimony as well its content.
Dye sensitized solar cell with lawsone dye using a ZnO photoanode: experimental and TD-DFT study
Authors: Khadtare Shubhangi S. , Ware Anuja P. , Salunke-Gawali Sunita , Jadkar Sandesh R. , Pingale Subhash S. , Pathan Habib M.
Published: February 2015

A dye sensitized solar cell with lawsone dye and a ZnO photoanode exhibited a 0.68% power conversion efficiency. TD-DFT was used to explore the UV-Vis spectral features of lawsone.
Facile fabrication of graphene–polypyrrole–Mn composites as high-performance electrodes for capacitive deionization
Authors: Gu Xiaoyu , Yang Yu , Hu Yang , Hu Meng , Huang Jian , Wang Chaoyang
Published: February 2015

Reduced graphene oxide–polypyrrole–MnO2 composites are facilely prepared for high performance electrodes for capacitive deionization.
A novel blue fluorescent polymer for solution-processed fluorescent–phosphorescent hybrid WOLEDs
Authors: Wang Jinshan , Xu Xinjun , Tian Yuan , Yao Chuang , Liu Ronghua , Li Lidong
Published: February 2015

Blue-emitting polymers with small singlet–triplet splitting (ΔEST < 0.5 eV) as host materials for solution-processed fluorescent–phosphorescent hybrid WOLEDs were achieved.
Nanosecond and ultrafast optical power limiting in luminescent Fe2O3 hexagonal nanomorphotype
Authors: Thomas Paulose , Sreekanth P. , Abraham K. E.
Published: February 2015

Nonlinear optical absorption and optical power limiting properties of Fe2O3 hexagonal nanomorphotype are investigated using open aperture Z-scan technique with the 5 ns and 100 fs laser pulses, at 532 nm and 800 nm excitation domains. At relatively low pulse energies (below 5 μJ), sample shows saturable absorption (SA), but on going to the higher energies an interesting switchover from saturable absorption to effective two photon absorption is observed in both excitation domains. The magnitude of effective two photon absorption coefficients is calculated to be in the range of 10−10 m/W for nanosecond and 10−15 m/W for femtosecond laser pulse energies, respectively. XRD and TEM study reveals the polycrystalline nature, hexagonal morphology, and size of the nanostructure. The luminescence emission property is examined by photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). It is found that some strange features exist in the luminescence spectra that are consistent with the nanoparticles size distribution. The PL emission lines are explained as originated from various optical band edges due to the size induced quantum confinement and band gap resonant PL absorption/emission behavior of semiconductor nanostructures.
Up-conversion enhancement in Er3+ doped TiO2 through plasmonic coupling: Experiments and finite-element modeling
Authors: Johannsen Sabrina R. , Madsen Søren P. , Jeppesen Bjarke R. , Nygaard Jens V. , Julsgaard Brian , Balling Peter , Larsen Arne Nylandsted
Published: February 2015

Silver nanoparticles, placed on top of an Er3+ doped TiO2 thin film, were investigated as a means of achieving enhanced up-conversion. Finite-element modeling was used to determine the nanoparticle dimensions (height and diameter) yielding the largest plasmonic enhancement for an incident light wavelength of 808 nm. In order to mimic the experimentally observed up-conversion enhancement, the electric-field enhancement from the Ag nanoparticles was integrated over the entire thickness of the thin film. Based on these calculations, four samples were prepared and tested. The trends predicted by the models were found to correlate well with the trends of the experimentally obtained plasmonic enhanced up-conversion yields. The largest plasmonic enhancement for 808 nm excitation was observed for Ag nanoparticles of diameter 91 ± 5 nm and height 14 ± 1 nm, yielding 163- and 51-fold enhancements for the green (525 nm and 550 nm) and red (660 nm) emissions peaks, respectively.
Corrigendum to: Public sector residential aged care: identifying novel associations between quality indicators and other demographic and health-related factors
Authors: Moore Kirsten J. , Doyle Colleen J. , Dunning Trisha L. , Hague Ann T. , Lloyd Lucas A. , Bourke Jo , Gill Stephen D.
Published: February 2015

Objective
To explore associations among quality indicators (QI; e.g. pressure ulcers, falls and/or fractures, physical restraint, use of multiple medications, unplanned weight loss) of the Victorian Public Sector Residential Aged Care Services (VPSRACS) with other demographic and health-related factors.

Methods
Data for 380 residents over a 3-month period were extracted retrospectively from client databases at four VPSRAC facilities.

Results
Four significant logistic regression models were developed. The strongest models related to falls and polypharmacy. Significant associations for these models included the following: (1) residents with a higher body mass index were 6% less likely (95% confidence interval (CI) 1%–11%) to fall, whereas high levels of cognitive impairment increased the risk of falling by 8% (95% CI 2%–14%); (2) being ambulant with a gait aid more than doubled the risk of falling compared with non-ambulant residents (95% CI 19%–546%); and (3) higher cognitive impairment was associated with a 6% (95% CI 1%–11%) reduction in the likelihood of polypharmacy.

Conclusions
Identification of significant relationships between the VPSRACS QI and other demographic and health-related factors is a preliminary step towards a more in-depth understanding of the factors that influence the QI and predict adverse events.

What is known about the topic?
Currently, the VPSRACS report on five QI. Previous research has shown associations between several of these indicators, but not all.

What does this paper add?
This paper examines associations between the five VPSRAC QI as well as other key demographic and health-related factors. Novel findings from regression analyses included an increased risk of falls associated with recommended body mass index and using gait aids, but no association between pressure ulcers and the Norton score. Regression models for other QI were limited by the small occurrences of the QI. However, significant associations were identified indicating that residents using a gait aid had a lower level of unplanned weight loss and residents with polypharmacy had higher unplanned weight loss.

What are the implications for practitioners?
This paper reinforces the value of collecting VPSRAC QI data to enable facilities to consider how these variables could impact on care quality and to proactively plan to reduce the risk of adverse events. Although QI data can be used to benchmark with other settings, this paper shows how QI data can be used to inform practice within a facility and help identify patient-related factors that may warrant further investigation.
Using defamilisation typologies to study the Confucian welfare regime
Authors: Yu Sam , Chau C.M. , Lee K.M.
Published: February 2015

Since Esping-Andersen classified the 18 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries into the “three worlds of welfare capitalism” in 1990, the comparative studies of welfare have been dominated by the responses to this study. This paper focuses on two of these responses. The first response is concerned with the gender insensitivity of Esping-Andersen's way of categorizing the welfare regimes. The second response is concerned with the issue that the East Asian countries are under-represented in the 18 OECD countries. To make contributions to these responses, two analytical tasks are conducted. First, we build new defamilisation typologies covering both East Asian countries and OECD countries. Second, we demonstrate that the evidence generated from the typologies suggest that some of the indispensable conditions for the development of a Confucian welfare regime do not exist.
Biofilm/Mat Assays for Budding Yeast
Authors: Cullen Paul J.
Published: February 2015

Many microbial species form biofilms/mats under nutrient-limiting conditions, and fungal pathogens rely on this social behavior for virulence. In budding yeast, mat formation is dependent on the mucin-like flocculin Flo11, which promotes cell-to-cell and cell-to-substrate adhesion in mats. The biofilm/mat assays described here allow the evaluation of the role of Flo11 in the formation of mats. Cells are grown on surfaces with different degrees of rigidity to assess their expansion and three-dimensional architecture, and the cells are also exposed to plastic surfaces to quantify their adherence. These assays are broadly applicable to studying biofilm/mat formation in microbial species.
Governmental management by trust communication: German organizational rhetoric in the 2008 financial crisis
Authors: König Jan C. L. , Wiedmann Klaus-Peter
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of the authors of this paper is to observe the German Government’s rhetorical communication measurements during the 2008 financial crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors compiled approaches of organizational rhetoric and pragma-linguistics first to offer a consistent concept and method for observation and analysis. Later on, they give an overview of the problem of trust and confidence according to Luhmann’s approach and its meaning for crisis rhetoric and marketing and managing approaches.

Findings

– In the following case study, the authors offer a rhetorical text analysis, combined with a pragmatic perspective of accompanying legal measurements of the government as non-verbal communication. The authors show how the government re-established trust among German consumers and eventually overcame the crisis mainly by rhetorical action.

Research limitations/implications

– Regarding future crises, the authors suggest that the interaction of trust, financial markets and rhetorical approaches could be better understood. This could include both more quantitative research and qualitative rhetorical approaches.

Practical implications

– Practical implications clearly show the importance of rhetorical education, especially for crises. This counts for governmental managers, as well as entrepreneurs and spokesmen.

Social implications

– The authors also revealed the problem of unjustified trust which can become dangerous for social welfare, even if it is only produced by misleading communication. This problem can only be solved by a careful public regulation.

Originality/value

– Finally, the authors could describe the importance of effective language and communication as a tool for the German Government in the financial crisis in 2008. It can be also described as an example for decision-makers in similar situations.
Analyzing pedagogical components using multiple regression
Authors: Kalish Mia
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to show how one instructor used an integrated collection of technological and cognitive tools that consistently led to student success. Educators today struggle with the need to improve student success in a dynamic and increasingly technological world. Learners need to master more, more quickly and educators need to upgrade their skills to meet these needs.

Design/methodology/approach

– This vision-based research design focused on the goal that all students can succeed. The design took the non-traditional approach of separating pedagogical models that worked from those that did not. The objectives were achieved by successively improving the pedagogy. The components of the final model were evaluated using multiple regression to determine individual and summative effectiveness.

Findings

– The pedagogical model designed around the goals of allowing adequate time for scaffolded acquisition and increasing skill development demonstrated consistent student success in the A and B grade range.

Research limitations/implications

– A sophisticated knowledge of the issues involved underlies the actualization of this research. The success of the approach will be determined by the author’s ability to enable the method to function on its own.

Practical implications

– With the increasing sophistication of teaching and learning tools, opportunities arise for more detailed and complex pedagogical analyses.

Social implications

– With improved pedagogies, more students will succeed.

Originality/value

– Using Microsoft® Excel® for evaluation of a pedagogical model that is also quantitatively analyzable.
The development and administration of collaborative social work programs: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Wang Donna
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this exploratory research was to document the history, structure and administration of current collaboratives, as well as overall challenges and benefits. Little is known about how and why collaborative graduate social work programs were started, how they operate or what are the challenges and benefits.

Design/methodology/approach

– Six case studies were conducted through semi-structured interviews of a purposive sample of key personnel from collaborative programs.

Findings

– Findings revealed that each collaborative program grew from existing undergraduate social work programs. Key primary benefits include that collaborative programs provide service to regions that would otherwise not have access to graduate social work education and added diversity and depth to programs. Greatest challenges are day-to-day operationalization and the cohesiveness to be “one program” among faculty and students.

Practical implications

– Suggestions are provided to programs interested in developing a collaborative program.

Originality/value

– Because such little is known about collaborative programs, it is hoped that this article offers insight and issues to consider when beginning and administering collaborative social work programs.
Social expectations, gender and job satisfaction: Front‐line employees in China's retail sector
Authors: Huang Qihai , Gamble Jos
Published: February 2015

This study aims to enhance our understanding of gender and employment in China. Analysing data collected from over 1,800 employees at 22 foreign‐invested and locally owned retail stores in eight Chinese cities, it firstly explores whether, like their counterparts in Western countries, female employees have higher levels of job satisfaction than their male colleagues. Secondly, it distinguishes the key differential predictors of female and male employees' job satisfaction levels. This article extends gender role theory on job satisfaction by showing how traditional values, the structure of work and a nation's dominant gender ideology combine to shape women and men's job satisfaction and work experiences in a transitional context.
Does complete plastid genome sequencing improve species discrimination and phylogenetic resolution in Araucaria?
Authors: Ruhsam Markus , Rai Hardeep S. , Mathews Sarah , Ross T. Gregory , Graham Sean W. , Raubeson Linda A. , Mei Wenbin , Thomas Philip I. , Gardner Martin F. , Ennos Richard A. , Hollingsworth Peter M.
Published: February 2015

Obtaining accurate phylogenies and effective species discrimination using a small standardized set of plastid genes is challenging in evolutionarily young lineages. Complete plastid genome sequencing offers an increasingly easy‐to‐access source of characters that helps address this. The usefulness of this approach, however, depends on the extent to which plastid haplotypes track morphological species boundaries. We have tested the power of complete plastid genomes to discriminate among multiple accessions of 11 of 13 New Caledonian Araucaria species, an evolutionarily young lineage where the standard DNA barcoding approach has so far failed and phylogenetic relationships have remained elusive. Additionally, 11 nuclear gene regions were Sanger sequenced for all accessions to ascertain the success of species discrimination using a moderate number of nuclear genes. Overall, fewer than half of the New Caledonian Araucaria species with multiple accessions were monophyletic in the plastid or nuclear trees. However, the plastid data retrieved a phylogeny with a higher resolution compared to any previously published tree of this clade and supported the monophyly of about twice as many species and nodes compared to the nuclear data set. Modest gains in discrimination thus are possible, but using complete plastid genomes or a small number of nuclear genes in DNA barcoding may not substantially raise species discriminatory power in many evolutionarily young lineages. The big challenge therefore remains to develop techniques that allow routine access to large numbers of nuclear markers scaleable to thousands of individuals from phylogenetically disparate sample sets.
The Influence of News Media on Political Elites: Investigating Strategic Responsiveness in Congress
Authors: Arceneaux Kevin , Johnson Martin , Lindstädt René , Vander Wielen Ryan J.
Published: February 2015

News media play a central role in democratic politics, yet we know little about how media affect the behavior of policy makers. To understand the conditions under which news media influence political elites, we advance a theory of strategic responsiveness, which contends that elected representatives are more likely to heed their constituents' preferences when voters are attentive. Accordingly, news media's influence on legislative behavior should be most apparent near elections and dependent on the partisan composition of the constituency. We capitalize on the incremental rollout of the conservative Fox News Channel in the late 1990s to evaluate our theoretical predictions. Fox News caused both Republicans and Democrats in Congress to increase support for the Republican Party position on divisive votes, but only in the waning months of the election cycle and among those members who represent districts with a sizable portion of Republican voters.
Noninvasive Fetal Electrocardiography: An Overview of the Signal Electrophysiological Meaning, Recording Procedures, and Processing Techniques
Authors: Agostinelli Angela , Grillo Marla , Biagini Alessandra , Giuliani Corrado , Burattini Luca , Fioretti Sandro , Di Nardo Francesco , Giannubilo Stefano R. , Ciavattini Andrea , Burattini Laura
Published: February 2015

Background

Noninvasive fetal electrocardiography (fECG), obtained positioning electrodes on the maternal abdomen, is important in safeguarding the life and the health of the unborn child. This study aims to provide a review of the state of the art of fECG, and includes a description of the parameters useful for fetus clinical evaluation; of the fECG recording procedures; and of the techniques to extract the fECG signal from the abdominal recordings.

Methods

The fetus clinical status is inferred by analyzing growth parameters, supraventricular arrhythmias, ST‐segment variability, and fetal‐movement parameters from the fECG signal. This can be extracted from an abdominal recording obtained using one of the following two electrode‐types configurations: pure‐abdominal and mixed. Differently from the former, the latter also provides pure maternal ECG tracings. From a mathematical point of view, the abdominal recording is a summation of three signal components: the fECG signal (i.e., the signal of interest to be extracted), the abdominal maternal ECG (amECG), and the noise. Automatic extraction of fECG includes noise removal by abdominal signal prefiltration (0.5–45 Hz bandpass filter) and amECG cancellation.

Conclusions

Differences among methods rely on different techniques used to extract fECG. If pure abdominal electrode configurations are used, fECG is extracted directly from the abdominal recording using independent component analysis or template subtraction. Eventually, if mixed electrode configurations are used, the fECG can be extracted using the adaptive filtering fed with the maternal ECG recorded by the electrodes located in the woman thorax or shoulder.
Pediatric ovarian neoplastic tumors: incidence, age at presentation, tumor markers and outcome
Authors: Taskinen Seppo , Fagerholm Riitta , Lohi Jouko , Taskinen Mervi
Published: February 2015

Objective

To investigate the incidence, age of onset and tumor marker levels in benign and malignant pediatric ovarian neoplastic tumors.

Design

Retrospective database study.

Setting

Single‐center study.

Population

Forty‐five 0–15‐year‐old girls operated on for ovarian neoplastic tumors from the beginning of 1999 to the end of 2013.

Methods

Serum alpha‐fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin and CA 125 levels as well as follow‐up data were recorded from patient charts and tumor histology was re‐evaluated.

Main outcome measures

Incidence of ovarian neoplastic tumors in the pediatric population. Differences in patient characteristics and tumor marker levels between those with benign and malignant tumors.

Results

The annual incidence of ovarian tumors was 2.2/100 000 females. Median age at presentation was 13.0 years (range 0.9–15.7), similar in both the 33 (73%) girls with a benign tumor and the 12 (27%) girls with a malignant tumor. The tumors with the highest propensity to metastasize (yolk sac tumors, mixed germ cell tumors, small cell carcinoma) were only found in girls > 9 years. Elevated serum alpha‐fetoprotein and CA 125 values associated more often with malignant tumors (p < 0.001 and p < 0.031, respectively). There were no deaths or local recurrences. Four girls with a mature teratoma developed a contralateral benign ovarian tumor during follow up.

Conclusions

Both benign and malignant ovarian tumors are rare in the pediatric population, but the incidence increases with age. High alpha‐fetoprotein and CA 125 levels were associated with malignant tumors. The prognosis of the pediatric ovarian tumors seems to be favorable.
The accessory organ, a scolopidial sensory organ, in the cave cricket Troglophilus neglectus (Orthoptera: Ensifera: Rhaphidophoridae)
Authors: Strauß Johannes , Stritih Nataša
Published: February 2015

Mechanoreceptor organs occur in great diversity in insect legs. This study investigates sensory organs in the leg of atympanate cave crickets (Troglophilus neglectus KRAUSS, 1879) by neuronal tracing. Previously, the subgenual and the intermediate organs were recognised in the subgenual organ complex, lacking the tympanal membranes present for example in the tibial hearing organs of Gryllidae and Tettigoniidae. We document the presence of the accessory organ in T. neglectus. This scolopidial organ is located in the posterior tibia close to the subgenual organ and can be identified by position, innervation and orientation of the dendrites of sensory neurons. The main motor nerve in the leg innervates a part of the subgenual organ and the accessory organ. The dendrites of sensory neurons in the accessory organ are characteristically bent in proximo‐dorsal direction, while the subgenual organ dendrites run distally along the longitudinal axis of the leg. The accessory organ contains 6–10 scolopidial sensilla, and no differences in neuroanatomy occur between the three thoracic leg pairs. Hence, the subgenual organ complex in cave crickets is more complex than previously known. The wider taxonomic distribution of the accessory scolopidial organ among orthopteroid insects is inconsistent, indicating its repeated losses or convergent evolution.
Aromatic stacking interactions govern catalysis in aryl‐alcohol oxidase
Authors: Ferreira Patricia , Hernández‐Ortega Aitor , Lucas Fátima , Carro Juan , Herguedas Beatriz , Borrelli Kenneth W. , Guallar Victor , Martínez Angel T. , Medina Milagros
Published: February 2015

Aryl‐alcohol oxidase (AAO, EC 1.1.3.7) generates H2O2 for lignin degradation at the expense of benzylic and other π system‐containing primary alcohols, which are oxidized to the corresponding aldehydes. Ligand diffusion studies on Pleurotus eryngii AAO showed a T‐shaped stacking interaction between the Tyr92 side chain and the alcohol substrate at the catalytically competent position for concerted hydride and proton transfers. Bi‐substrate kinetics analysis revealed that reactions with 3‐chloro‐ or 3‐fluorobenzyl alcohols (halogen substituents) proceed via a ping–pong mechanism. However, mono‐ and dimethoxylated substituents (in 4‐methoxybenzyl and 3,4‐dimethoxybenzyl alcohols) altered the mechanism and a ternary complex was formed. Electron‐withdrawing substituents resulted in lower quantum mechanics stacking energies between aldehyde and the tyrosine side chain, contributing to product release, in agreement with the ping–pong mechanism observed in 3‐chloro‐ and 3‐fluorobenzyl alcohol kinetics analysis. In contrast, the higher stacking energies when electron donor substituents are present result in reaction of O2 with the flavin through a ternary complex, in agreement with the kinetics of methoxylated alcohols. The contribution of Tyr92 to the AAO reaction mechanism was investigated by calculation of stacking interaction energies and site‐directed mutagenesis. Replacement of Tyr92 by phenylalanine does not alter the AAO kinetic constants (on 4‐methoxybenzyl alcohol), most probably because the stacking interaction is still possible. However, introduction of a tryptophan residue at this position strongly reduced the affinity for the substrate (i.e. the pre‐steady state Kd and steady‐state Km increase by 150‐fold and 75‐fold, respectively), and therefore the steady‐state catalytic efficiency, suggesting that proper stacking is impossible with this bulky residue. The above results confirm the role of Tyr92 in substrate binding, thus governing the kinetic mechanism in AAO.
Personal values and support of welfare policy among undergraduate students in Israel
Authors: Guy Anat
Published: February 2015

Sociological and socio‐psychological theories maintain that values play an essential role in predicting attitudes. Most research portraying the effect of a single value on various attitudes claims that the effect of values on attitudes increases if the attitudes and the specific values are related or if the attitudes involve objects or situations that reflect specific values. This exploratory study examined the relationship between personal values, considered as components of an individual's mindset or psychological structure, and attitudes supporting social welfare policy. The participants in the study were Israeli Bachelor of Arts students from four institutions of higher learning. The students' personal values were measured, and the effect of their values (beyond the students' socio‐demographic characteristics such as gender, religiosity etc.) on social support for welfare policy was tested.
Impacts of uncertain project duration and asymmetric risk sensitivity information in project management
Authors: Yang Kai , Zhao Ruiqing , Lan Yanfei
Published: February 2015

This paper investigates the impacts of uncertain project duration and asymmetric risk sensitivity information on the structure of incentive contract and profits in project management where a risk‐neutral project manager (she) engages a risk‐averse contractor (he) to complete a project. The project manager offers a duration‐based incentive contract to the contractor to ensure that he invests his effort to shorten the project duration and reports his risk sensitivity information truthfully. Within the framework of principal‐agent theory, we first develop a duration‐based incentive contract model, and then derive the optimal contract mechanism by solving its equivalent optimal control problem with Pontryagin maximum principle. We show that if the contractor is highly risk averse and the project duration is highly volatile, the project manager should lower the penalty term to motivate the contractor to make duration‐reduction efforts. Moreover, comparing with the symmetric information scenario, we find that the project manager distorts the penalty term for all contractor's risk types (but the lowest) downward. Our results show that the project manager is more willing to acquire the contractor's risk sensitivity information under the uncertain project duration. The results also suggest that from the project manager's perspective, it is beneficial to have better information about the contractor's risk sensitivity by using a numerical analysis.
Minimal Truthmakers
Authors: O'Conaill Donnchadh , Tahko Tuomas E.
Published: February 2015

A minimal truthmaker for a given proposition is the smallest portion of reality which makes this proposition true. Minimal truthmakers are frequently mentioned in the literature, but there has been no systematic account of what they are or of their importance. In this article we shall clarify the notion of a minimal truthmaker and argue that there is reason to think that at least some propositions have minimal truthmakers. We shall then argue that the notion can play a useful role in truthmaker theory, by helping to explain the truth of certain propositions as precisely as possible.
Mobility of Top Incomes inGermany
Authors: Jenderny Katharina
Published: February 2015

I analyzeGerman top income mobility using micro‐level panel data of personal income tax returns which are highly representative for top income taxpayers for the years 2001–06. Top income mobility is assessed in three dimensions: (i) persistence in top income fractiles and its stability over time, (ii) measures of individual mobility that are not dependent on the fractile size: the degree of mobility between equally sized groups and mobility in ranks, and (iii) mobility's impact on top income shares. Persistence in top income fractiles is comparatively high and fairly stable across the analyzed period. Top income recipients are less prone to downward mobility and see less variation in annual ranks than less rich tax units. Mobility's impact on income concentration is moderate. The top percentile's share is reduced by roughly 5 percent over six years.
The Priority and Posteriority of Right
Authors: Garthoff Jon
Published: February 2015

In this article I articulate two pairs of theses about the relationship between the right and the good and I sketch an account of morality that systematically vindicates all four theses, despite a nearly universal consensus that they are not all true. In the first half I elucidate and motivate the theses and explain why leading ethical theorists maintain that at least one of them is false; in the second half I present the outlines of an account of the relationship between the right and the good satisfying all four theses.
The effect of speech modification on non-native listeners for matrix-style sentences
Authors: Cooke Martin , García Lecumberri María Luisa , Tang Yan
Published: February 2015

Speech can be modified to promote intelligibility in noise, but the potential benefits for non-native listeners are difficult to predict due to the additional presence of distortion introduced by speech alteration. The current study compared native and non-native listeners' keyword scores for simple sentences, unmodified and with six forms of modification. Both groups showed similar patterns of intelligibility change across conditions, with the native cohort benefiting slightly more in stationary noise. This outcome suggests that the change in masked audibility rather than distortion is the dominant factor governing listeners' responses to speech modification.
Disproportionate emission of bubble streams with killer whale biphonic calls: Perspectives on production and function
Authors: Bowles Ann E. , Grebner Dawn M. , Musser Whitney B. , Nash Juliette S. , Crance Jessica L.
Published: February 2015

Stereotyped pulsed calls were attributed to 11 killer whales (Orcinus orca) with and without synchronous bubble streams in three datasets collected from two facilities from 1993 to 2012. Calls with and without synchronous bubble streams and divergent overlapping high frequency components (“biphonic” vs “monophonic”) were compared. Subjects produced bubbles significantly more often when calls had divergent high frequency components. However, acoustic features in one biphonic call shared by five subjects provided little evidence for an acoustic effect of synchronous bubble flow. Disproportionate bubbling supported other evidence that biphonic calls form a distinct category, but suggested a function in short-range communication.
The influence of pause, attack, and decay duration of the ongoing envelope on sound lateralization
Authors: Dietz Mathias , Klein-Hennig Martin , Hohmann Volker
Published: February 2015

Klein-Hennig et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 129, 3856–3872 (2011)] introduced a class of high-frequency stimuli for which the envelope shape can be altered by independently varying the attack, hold, decay, and pause durations. These stimuli, originally employed for testing the shape dependence of human listeners' sensitivity to interaural temporal differences (ITDs) in the ongoing envelope, were used to measure the lateralization produced by fixed interaural disparities. Consistent with the threshold ITD data, a steep attack and a non-zero pause facilitate strong ITD-based lateralization. In contrast, those conditions resulted in the smallest interaural level-based lateralization.
Effects of Low-Impact Dance on Blood Biochemistry, Bone Mineral Density, the Joint Range of Motion of Lower Extremities, Knee Extension Torque, and Fall in Females
Authors: Wu Hui Ying , Tu Jui Hung , Hsu Chin Hsing , Tsao Te Hung
Published: February 2015

The effect of low-impact dance on blood metabolites, the joint range of motion (ROM) of the lower extremities, knee extension torque, bone mass density (BMD), the number of falls, and the confidence to perform daily activities (Modified Falls Efficacy Scale [MFES]) was examined in older sedentary women (age: 59 ± 4 years) before and after a 16-week intervention. Results showed that the average score for the MFES, some parameters of blood chemistry, and joint ROM were significantly improved after low-impact intervention. In addition to improvements in blood lipids and body fat percentages, the increases shown in the parameters regarding the lower extremities may contribute to confidence in performing common daily activities in older women, although the number of falls did not significantly differ between the two groups during the 16-week period.
Environments Change Child Behavior, But Who Changes Environments?
Authors: Bartholomew John B.
Published: February 2015

Numerous interventions have been designed to modify children's physical activity and eating behaviors. While early research centered on the individual as the target of intervention, more recent work targets change in the environment. These studies have consistently supported the importance of environmental contributors to both physical activity and eating behavior, but little research has considered those who are responsible for implementing environmental change. For example, if we expect school environments to support activity and healthy eating, we must consider the motivation of school administrators to affect change. This review will present examples of an ecological approach to behavior change along with recent data to support this approach.
The Utilization of Biomechanics to Understand and Manage the Acute and Long-term Effects of Concussion
Authors: Alberts Jay L. , Linder Susan M.
Published: February 2015

The acute and long-term effects of concussive and subconcussive head impacts on brain health have gained tremendous attention over the past five years. The treatment and management of concussion involves multiple providers from multiple disciplines and backgrounds. Varied backgrounds and approaches to assessing cognitive and motor function before and post-concussion are limiting factors in the efficient and effective management of concussion as discipline-specific rating scales and assessments serve as a barrier to effective patient hand-offs between providers. Combining principles of motor behavior with biomechanical approaches to data analysis has the potential to improve the continuity of care across the multiple providers managing athletes with concussion. Biomechanical measures have been developed and validated using mobile devices to provide objective and quantitative assessments of information processing, working memory, set switching, and postural stability. These biomechanical outcomes are integral to a clinical management algorithm, the Concussion Care Path, currently used across the Cleveland Clinic Health System. The objective outcomes provide a common data set that all providers in the spectrum of care can access which facilitates communication and the practice of medicine and in understanding the acute and long-term effects of concussion and subconcussive exposure on neurological function.
A Primer on Exercise Pharmacology
Authors: Jacobs Ira , Ruderman Ethan , McLaughlin Mackenzie
Published: February 2015

A traditional focus of exercise scientists studying the interaction of drugs and exercise has been on the effects of drugs on exercise performance or functional capacity. In contrast, there is limited information available about the effects of exercise on the efficacy of drugs that have been prescribed and ingested for therapeutic reasons. Those requesting the approval for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of new drugs to the public are required to submit evidence of drug effectiveness and safety to drug regulatory bodies. But, there is no associated requirement to include among that evidence the interactions of exercise with drugs. However, the physiological adaptations to acute and chronic exercise are such that there is good reason to suspect that exercise has the potential to significantly influence drug absorption and bioavailability, drug distribution within the body, and drug elimination from the body. This paper reviews the potential for interaction between exercise and pharmacokinetics.
Geodynamic setting, crustal architecture, and VMS metallogeny of ca. 2720 Ma greenstone belt assemblages of the northern Wawa subprovince, Superior Province
Authors: Lodge Robert W.D. , Gibson Harold L. , Stott Greg M. , Franklin James M. , Hudak George J.
Published: February 2015

The greenstone belts along the northern margin of the Wawa subprovince of the Superior Province (Vermilion, Shebandowan, Winston Lake, Manitouwadge) formed at ca. 2720 Ma and have been interpreted to be representative of a rifted-arc to back-arc tectonic setting. Despite a common inferred tectonic setting and broad similarities, these greenstone belts have a significantly different metallogeny as evidenced by different endowments in volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS), magmatic sulphide, and orogenic gold deposits. In this paper, we examine differences in geodynamic setting and crustal architecture as they pertain to the metallogeny of each greenstone belt by characterizing the regional-scale trace-element and isotopic (Nd and Pb) geochemistry of each belt. The trace-element geochemistry of the Vermilion greenstone belt (VGB) shows evidence for a transition from arc-like to back-arc mafic rocks in the Soudan belt to plume-driven rifted arcs in the ultramafic-bearing Newton belt. The Shebandowan greenstone belt (SGB) has a significant proportion of calc-alkalic, arc-like basalts, intermediate lithofacies, and high-Mg andesites, which are characteristic of low-angle, “hot” subduction. Extensional settings within the SGB are plume-driven and associated with komatiitic ultramafic and mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-like basalts. The Winston Lake greenstone belt (WGB) is characterized by a transition from calc-alkalic, arc-like basalts to back-arc basalts upward in the strata and is capped by alkalic ocean-island basalt (OIB)-like basalts. This association is consistent with plume-driven rifting of a mature arc setting. Each of the VGB, SGB, and WGB show some isotopic evidence for the interaction with a juvenile or slightly older differentiated crust. The Manitouwadge greenstone belt (MGB) is characterized by isotopically juvenile, bimodal, tholeiitic to transitional volcanic lithofacies in a back-arc setting. The MGB is the most isotopically juvenile belt and is also the most productive in terms of VMS mineralization. The Zn-rich VMS mineralization within the WGB suggests a relatively lower-temperature hydrothermal system, possibly within a relatively shallow-water environment. The Zn-dominated and locally Au-enriched VMS mineralization, as well as mafic lithofacies and alteration assemblages, are characteristic of relatively shallower-water deposition in the VGB and SGB, and indicate that the ideal VMS-forming tectonic condition may have been compromised by a shallower-water depositional setting. However, the thickened arc crust and compressional tectonics of the SGB suprasubduction zone during hot subduction may have provided a crustal setting more favourable for the magmatic Ni–Cu sulphide and relative gold endowment of this belt.
On the Cauchy problem for one dimension generalized Boussinesq equation
Authors: Wang Yinxia
Published: February 2015

In this paper, we study the Cauchy problem for one dimension generalized damped Boussinesq equation. First, global existence and decay estimate of solutions to this problem are established. Second, according to the detail analysis for solution operator the generalized damped Boussinesq equation, the nonlinear approximation to global solutions is established. Finally, we prove that the global solution u to our problem is asymptotic to the superposition of nonlinear diffusion waves expressed in terms of the self-similar solution of the viscous Burgers equation as time tends to infinity.
Advances in Shell Buckling: Theory and Experiments
Authors: Thompson J. Michael T.
Published: February 2015

In a recent feature article in this journal, coauthored by Gert van der Heijden, I described the static-dynamic analogy and its role in understanding the localized post-buckling of shell-like structures, looking exclusively at integrable systems. We showed the true significance of the Maxwell energy criterion load in predicting the sudden onset of "shock sensitivity" to lateral disturbances. The present paper extends the survey to cover nonintegrable systems, such as thin compressed shells. These exhibit spatial chaos, generating a multiplicity of localized paths (and escape routes) with complex snaking and laddering phenomena. The final theoretical contribution shows how these concepts relate to the response and energy barriers of an axially compressed cylindrical shell.

After surveying NASA's current shell-testing programme, a new nondestructive technique is proposed to estimate the "shock sensitivity" of a laboratory specimen that is in a compressed metastable state before buckling. A probe is used to measure the nonlinear load-deflection characteristic under a rigidly applied lateral displacement. Sensing the passive resisting force, it can be plotted in real time against the displacement, displaying an equilibrium path along which the force rises to a maximum and then decreases to zero: having reached the free state of the shell that forms a mountain-pass in the potential energy. The area under this graph gives the energy barrier against lateral shocks. The test is repeated at different levels of the overall compression. If a symmetry-breaking bifurcation is encountered on the path, computer simulations show how this can be suppressed by a controlled secondary probe tuned to deliver zero force on the shell.
Strange Dynamics in a Fractional Derivative of Complex-Order Network of Chaotic Oscillators
Authors: Pinto Carla M. A.
Published: February 2015

We study the peculiar dynamical features of a fractional derivative of complex-order network. The network is composed of two unidirectional rings of cells, coupled through a "buffer" cell. The network has a Z3 × Z5 cyclic symmetry group. The complex derivative Dα±jβ, with α, β ∈ R+ is a generalization of the concept of integer order derivative, where α = 1, β = 0. Each cell is modeled by the Chen oscillator. Numerical simulations of the coupled cell system associated with the network expose patterns such as equilibria, periodic orbits, relaxation oscillations, quasiperiodic motion, and chaos, in one or in two rings of cells. In addition, fixing β = 0.8, we perceive differences in the qualitative behavior of the system, as the parameter c ∈ [13, 24] of the Chen oscillator and/or the real part of the fractional derivative, α ∈ {0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0}, are varied. Some patterns produced by the coupled system are constrained by the network architecture, but other features are only understood in the light of the internal dynamics of each cell, in this case, the Chen oscillator. What is more important, architecture and/or internal dynamics?
Chaos in Periodic Discrete Systems
Authors: Shi Yuming , Zhang Lijuan , Yu Panpan , Huang Qiuling
Published: February 2015

This paper focuses on chaos in periodic discrete systems, whose state space may vary with time. Some close relationships between some chaotic dynamical behaviors of a periodic discrete system and its autonomous induced system are given. Based on these relationships, several criteria of chaos are established and some sufficient conditions for no chaos are given for periodic discrete systems. Further, it is shown that a finite-dimensional linear periodic discrete system is not chaotic in the sense of Li–Yorke or Wiggins. In particular, an interesting problem of whether nonchaotic rules may generate a chaotic system is studied, with some examples provided, one of which surprisingly shows that a composition of globally asymptotically stable maps can be chaotic. In addition, some properties of sign pattern matrices of non-negative square matrices are given for convenience of the study.
INFLUENCE OF MICROSTRUCTURE OF FRICTION STIR WELDED JOINTS ON GROWTH AND PROPERTIES OF MICROARC OXIDATION COATINGS ON AZ31B MAGNESIUM ALLOY
Authors: CHEN TINGFANG , LI YONGLIANG , XUE WENBIN , YANG CHAOLIN , QU YAO , HUA MING
Published: February 2015

Ceramic coatings on friction stir welded (FSW) joints of AZ31B magnesium alloy were fabricated by microarc oxidation (MAO) method in silicate electrolyte. Microstructure, phase constituents, microhardness and electrochemical corrosion behaviors of bare and coated magnesium alloys at different zones of FSW joints for different oxidation time were investigated. The influence of microstructure at different zones on the growth of MAO coatings was analyzed. The results show that the MAO coatings on FSW joints are uniform, and they have almost the same morphology, phase constituents, hardness and corrosion resistance at base metal, stir zone and heat-affected zone. The properties of MAO coatings are independent on the microstructures of AZ31B alloy. In addition, the microstructures of magnesium alloy near the coating/alloy interface at different zones of FSW joint was not changed by microarc discharge process.