bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Thermal Stresses and Strand Bending on Surface Defects Formation in Continuously Cast Strands
Authors: Hadała B. , Cebo-Rudnicka A. , Malinowski Z. , Gołdasz A.
Published: June 2011

The Influence of Thermal Stresses and Strand Bending on Surface Defects Formation in Continuously Cast Strands

Improvement of slab surface quality is a very important goal in continues casting process of steel. It is closely coupled with casting line productivity and tendency to increase casting speed. In such a case rapid cooling of strand surface mast be employed. It results in thermal stresses development and formation of surface cracks if casting speed, cooling conditions or the arc of casting machine are not appropriate. The strain and stress fields in continuously cast strand have been determined based on the developed thermo-mechanical model and finite element software. It allowed to calculate variation of selected criterions integrals over the hole casting line starting from solidification process in the mould and ending at cutting section. Steady solution to heat transfer equation has been used to calculate strand temperature field. Mould temperature has been calculated from the three dimensional transient model. Finite element method has been employed to build steady and transient heat transfer models. Finite element solution accuracy to the temperature field has been improved. New algorithm of the solidification heat handling has been developed to stabilize a steady solution to the heat transport equation. Damageability of the strand has been evaluated based on four fracture criterions.
Investigation of Thermomechanical Properties of Ferromagnetic NiFeGa Shape Memory Alloy Subjected to Pseudoelastic Compression Test
Authors: Pieczyska E. , Dutkiewicz J. , Masdeu F. , Luckner J. , Maciak R.
Published: June 2011

Investigation of Thermomechanical Properties of Ferromagnetic NiFeGa Shape Memory Alloy Subjected to Pseudoelastic Compression Test

In the study stress-induced reversible phase transformation in NiFeGa magnetically controlled shape memory alloy subjected to pseudoelastic compression test was investigated. The specimen's mechanical characteristics and temperature changes related to the exothermic martensite transformation and endothermic reverse transformation were measured in contact-less way by using a fast and sensitive infrared camera (IR). It was found that the stress-induced phase transformation process occurs in this alloy in heterogeneous way, since the observed specimen's temperature distribution was not uniform. Stress-strain curves obtained for the first, as well as for the subsequent six loading-unloading compression cycles and their related temperature changes, elaborated as average from the specimen's surface, were analyzed. It was concluded that the stress and the temperature changes developing in the subsequent cycles depend on the applied test conditions, however the highest discrepancies were observed between the first and the second cycles of the compression loading.
The Exchanged Portrait and the Lethal Picture: Visualization Techniques and Native Knowledge in Samuel Hearne's Sketches from His Trek to the Arctic Ocean and John Webber's Record of the Northern Pacific
Authors: Despoix Philippe
Published: June 2011

Published accounts of the British circumnavigations from the 1770-80s effect the passage from complex knowledge inscribed in logbooks, astronomical and longitude calculations, charts, and natural history drawings to a new type of illustrated travelogue that associated the art of writing with techniques of visualizing the unknown. This model of maritime exploration and publication remained dominant for at least a century, obscuring other exploratory practices that will be investigated comparatively in this essay. I will contrast the uses of visual media in Samuel Hearne's trek through the plains of Canada (1769-72) with the artistic production developed by John Webber during James Cook's last voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1776-80). In comparing engravings from the two accounts, I will examine the ways in which different forms of expeditions and their specific visualizing techniques affect power relations during encounters as well as the subsequent production of knowledge. The different uses and appropriations of inscription techniques played a decisive role in the relationship established with the natives who were encountered by scientific maritime expeditions and by individual (or small team) explorations by ground.
L'Anecdote historique en texte e en image: d'Arnaud et d'Ussieux
Authors: Moser-Verrey Monique
Published: June 2011

L'anecdote historique, imprégnée de religion, apparaît de façon résiduelle dans les deux premiers tomes des Épreuves du sentiment de Baculard d'Arnaud et dans le Décaméron françois de Louis d'Ussieux, où elle côtoie des histoires, des nouvelles et d'autres types d'anecdotes. La prise en compte de l'histoire de la publication des récits composant ces recueils ainsi que l'observation détaillée des rapports qu'entretiennent avec la narration les images des fleurons, des frontispices, des vignettes d'en-tête et des culs-de-lampe, dus pour la plupart à Charles Eisen et Joseph Longueil, permet de déceler des stratégies de mise en marché soutenues par une illustration mixte, tant réaliste qu'allégorique. L'exacerbation progressive des épreuves du sentiment fait basculer le propos des recueils de l'exaltation de la vertu vers la représentation de la terreur, voire de l'horreur, suivant la mouvance européenne.
The Trans-National Dimensions of the Émigré Novel during the French Revolution
Authors: Astbury Katherine
Published: June 2011

Writers across Europe found inspiration in the events and social ramifications of the French Revolution, which exerted a harmonizing effect on novelistic production. The dispersal of émigrés provided a common series of plot devices through which writers could explore notions of identity and the interplay of politics and sensibility. Émigrés drew on personal experiences for their own novels about emigration, but other European writers also used emigration in their work. Interaction, adaptation, translation, and illustration across nations and languages all contributed to the development of the émigré novel as a genre. This article explores how closely writers of different nationalities, especially French, German, Swiss, and English, were linked by a common approach and how shared plot devices and themes lead to a homogenization of the émigré novel as a sub-genre of the sentimental novel.
A Simulation Approach to Veritistic Social Epistemology
Authors: Olsson Erik J.
Published: June 2011

In a seminal book, Alvin I. Goldman outlines a theory for how to evaluate social practices with respect to their “veritistic value”, i.e., their tendency to promote the acquisition of true beliefs (and impede the acquisition of false beliefs) in society. In the same work, Goldman raises a number of serious worries for his account. Two of them concern the possibility of determining the veritistic value of a practice in a concrete case because (1) we often don't know what beliefs are actually true, and (2) even if we did, the task of determining the veritistic value would be computationally extremely difficult. Neither problem is specific to Goldman's theory and both can be expected to arise for just about any account of veritistic value. It is argued here that the first problem does not pose a serious threat to large classes of interesting practices. The bulk of the paper is devoted to the computational problem, which, it is submitted, can be addressed in promising terms by means of computer simulation. In an attempt to add vividness to this proposal, an up-and-running simulation environment (Laputa) is presented and put to some preliminary tests.
Democracy, Public Policy, and Lay Assessments of Scientific Testimony
Authors: Anderson Elizabeth
Published: June 2011

Responsible public policy making in a technological society must rely on complex scientific reasoning. Given that ordinary citizens cannot directly assess such reasoning, does this call the democratic legitimacy of technical public policies in question? It does not, provided citizens can make reliable second-order assessments of the consensus of trustworthy scientific experts. I develop criteria for lay assessment of scientific testimony and demonstrate, in the case of claims about anthropogenic global warming, that applying such criteria is easy for anyone of ordinary education with access to the Web. However, surveys show a gap between the scientific consensus and public opinion on global warming in the U.S. I explore some causes of this gap and argue that democratic reforms of our culture of political discourse may be able to address it.
Historical land use databases: a new layer of information for geographical research
Authors: Kramer H. (Henk) , Mücher C.A. (Sander) , Hazeu G.W. (Gerard)
Published: June 2011

In this paper we describe how historical land use information has been derived for the whole of Europe, using the World Atlas of Agriculture, scale 1: 2,500,000. This paper describes the process of converting the analog land-use maps to a digital European historical land-use database, the Historical Land Use Database 1960 (HISLU60). The processing techniques that are applied in this process are commonly used for the processing of satellite imagery. The paper maps were scanned and geo-referenced. Image filtering techniques were used to eliminate the cartographic elements like text and boundaries. Land-use classes were created from the colours in the maps using image classification techniques. As a last step, GIS filtering functions were used to eliminate remaining cartographic elements and small classification errors. The HISLU60 database contains six land-use classes; arable land, grassland, forest, non-agricultural land, inland water and urban. It is a raster dataset with a cell size of 250 meters. The HISLU60 database was validated by performing a statistical comparison with three reference datasets. The overall classification accuracy is around 50 percent. Despite its limitations, the HISLU60 database gives an overview of the pan-European land use around 1960.
E-learning platforms and humanities education: an African case study
Authors: Ikpe Ibanga B.
Published: June 2011

The advent of e-learning has been a welcomed development in African universities, especially in countries where the demand for university education far outstrips capacity. This form of instruction not only has helped in reducing the problem of managing and testing large classes, but it also has helped lecturers in providing valuable assistance to students who would otherwise not have such access. The limitations of the e-learning platform coupled with a distorted student-teacher ratio has raised concerns about quality, especially for traditional humanities disciplines where the emphasis on argumentative rigor and critical thinking are at odds with the science-leaning orientation of e-learning platforms. This concern is especially important because the technology is relatively new and there are problems of access not only in terms of infrastructure but also in terms of the relevant computer literacy skills required of users of the technology. This essay examines the problems associated with the use of e-learning in teaching and examining traditional humanities courses in general but especially the problems encountered in using e-learning in teaching and assessing critical thinking courses at the University of Botswana. I argue that although certain aspects of e-learning are structured, confining, and therefore unsuitable for traditional humanities disciplines, e-learning can still be an appropriate tool for the humanities if used appropriately and creatively.
Effective Complexity of Stationary Process Realizations
Authors: Ay Nihat , Müller Markus , Szkoła Arleta
Published: June 2011

The concept of effective complexity of an object as the minimal description length of its regularities has been initiated by Gell-Mann and Lloyd. The regularities are modeled by means of ensembles, which is the probability distributions on finite binary strings. In our previous paper [1] we propose a definition of effective complexity in precise terms of algorithmic information theory. Here we investigate the effective complexity of binary strings generated by stationary, in general not computable, processes. We show that under not too strong conditions long typical process realizations are effectively simple. Our results become most transparent in the context of coarse effective complexity which is a modification of the original notion of effective complexity that needs less parameters in its definition. A similar modification of the related concept of sophistication has been suggested by Antunes and Fortnow.
Prevalence of Children with Severe Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Communities Near Rome, Italy: New Estimated Rates Are Higher than Previous Estimates
Authors: May Philip A. , Fiorentino Daniela , Coriale Giovanna , Kalberg Wendy O. , Hoyme H. Eugene , Aragón Alfredo S. , Buckley David , Stellavato Chandra , Gossage J. Phillip , Robinson Luther K. , Jones Kenneth Lyons , Manning Melanie , Ceccanti Mauro
Published: June 2011

Objective: To determine the population-based epidemiology of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and other fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in towns representative of the general population of central Italy. Methods: Slightly revised U.S. Institute of Medicine diagnostic methods were used among children in randomly-selected schools near Rome. Consented first grade children (n = 976) were screened in Tier I for height, weight, or head circumference and all children
A Framework for Integrating Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis
Authors: Nweke Onyemaechi  C.
Published: June 2011

With increased interest in integrating environmental justice into the process for developing environmental regulations in the United States, analysts and decision makers are confronted with the question of what methods and data can be used to assess disproportionate environmental health impacts. However, as a first step to identifying data and methods, it is important that analysts understand what information on equity impacts is needed for decision making. Such knowledge originates from clearly stated equity objectives and the reflection of those objectives throughout the analytical activities that characterize Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA), a process that is traditionally used to inform decision making. The framework proposed in this paper advocates structuring analyses to explicitly provide pre-defined output on equity impacts. Specifically, the proposed framework emphasizes: (a) defining equity objectives for the proposed regulatory action at the onset of the regulatory process, (b) identifying specific and related sub-objectives for key analytical steps in the RIA process, and (c) developing explicit analytical/research questions to assure that stated sub-objectives and objectives are met. In proposing this framework, it is envisioned that information on equity impacts informs decision-making in regulatory development, and that this is achieved through a systematic and consistent approach that assures linkages between stated equity objectives, regulatory analyses, selection of policy options, and the design of compliance and enforcement activities.
Infrared Ellipsometric Study of Hydrogen-Bonded Long-Chain Thiolates on Gold: Towards Resolving Structural Details
Authors: Tsankov Dimiter , Philipova Irena , Kostova Kalina , Hinrichs Karsten
Published: June 2011

A set of newly synthesized aryl-substituted amides of 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid (R = 4-OH; 3,5-di-OH) are self-assembled on Au(111) substrate. Self assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed by these molecules are studied by ellipsometry from infrared to visible spectral range. Best fit calculations based on the three-phase optical model are employed in order to determine the average tilt angle of the hydrocarbon chains. The data revealed that the SAMs reside in a crystalline-like environment as the long methylene chains predominantly exist in all-trans conformation. The calculated tilt angle of the hydrocarbon chain is decreased by approximately 12° in comparison with the one for the correspondent long-chain n-alkyl thiols. Strong hydrogen bonded networks were detected between the amide proton and the carbonyl oxygen as well as between hydroxyl groups in the end aryl substituents. The transition dipole moments of the C=O, N-H and O-H modes are oriented almost parallel to the gold surface.
Interactions of Tenofovir, Lamivudine, Abacavir and Didanosine in Primary Human Cells
Authors: Janneh Omar , Khoo Saye H.
Published: June 2011

Certain triple nucleoside/tide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) regimens containing tenofovir (TDF) have been associated with rapid early treatment failure. The mechanism is unknown, but may be at the level of drug transport. We measured the lipophilicity of the drugs [3H]-lamivudine (3TC), -didanosine (ddI), -TDF and -ABC. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were used to evaluate drug–drug interactions at the level of drug transport. PBMCs were measured for the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated protein-1 (MRP-1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) by flow cytometry. The rank order of the lipophilicity of the drugs were ABC>>>3TC³ddI>TDF. The accumulation of [3H]-3TC, -ddI and -TDF were temperature sensitive (suggesting facilitated transport), in contrast to [3H]-ABC. ABC reduced the accumulation of [3H]-3TC, and cell fractionation experiments suggested this was mainly in membrane-bound [3H]-3TC. ABC/TDF and ABC/ddI increased the accumulation of [3H]-3TC and 3TC/TDF also increased the accumulation of [3H]-TDF. In contrast, none of the NRTI/NtRTI incubations (alone or in combination) altered the accumulation of [3H]-ABC and -ddI. PBMC expression of P-gp, MRP1 and BCRP were detected, but none correlated with the accumulation of the drugs. The high failure rates seen with TDF, ABC and 3TC are not fully explained by an interaction at transporter level.
Understanding Personal Change in a Women’s Faith-Based Transitional Center
Authors: Kerley Kent R. , Copes Heith , Linn Alana J. , Eason Lauren , Nguyen Minh H. , Stone Ariana Mishay
Published: June 2011

An impressive research literature has emerged that identifies linkages between religion and a wide range of attitudes, behaviors, and life events. We contribute to this literature by exploring how women undergoing difficult life circumstances—such as incarceration, drug and alcohol addiction, domestic violence, unemployment, and homelessness—use faith to cope with and change these circumstances. To address this issue we analyze semi-structured interviews with 40 residents of a faith-based transitional center for women in the Southern United States. The residents outline a narrative of change in which they distinguish between the “old self” and “new self.” The narratives also specify the role of religiosity in facilitating change, the creation of a faith-based identity, and the strategies used for maintaining change. We conclude with implications for faith-based treatment programs, local pastors and religious congregants involved in social outreach ministry, sociology of religion scholars, and policy makers.
Correction: Yoshie, T. et al. Optical Microcavity: Sensing downto Single Molecules and Atoms. Sensors 2011, 11, 1972-1991
Authors: Yoshie Tomoyuki , Tang Lingling , Su Shu-Yu
Published: June 2011

The coefficient of the expression of Equation (6) was not properly written. [...]
INVESTIGATION AND EVALUATION OF CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM SOIL IN NERIS REGIONAL PARK / ANGLIES DVIDEGINIO EMISIJŲ IŠ DIRVOŽEMIO NERIES REGIONINIAME PARKE TYRIMAI IR VERTINIMAS / ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ И ОЦЕНКА ВЫБРОСОВ ДВУОКИСИ УГЛЕРОДА ИЗ ПОЧВЫ В РЕГИОНАЛЬНОМ ПАРКЕ «НЕРИС»
Authors: Baltrėnas Pranas , Pranskevičius Mantas , Lietuvninkas Arvydas
Published: June 2011

Soils release around 20% of the total CO2 content to the atmosphere; consequently, forest and agricultural ecosystems have a big influence on CO2 balance. Until recently, the majority of CO2 measurements of Lithuanian soils were either carried out under laboratory conditions or obtained by applying outdated research methods. CO2 investigations in Neris Regional Park were carried out under field conditions during plant vegetation by using the CO2 emission measuring instrument ADC BioScientific and soil chamber, the analysis system of which includes a metal collar of ∼0.9 m2 area. This infrared gas analysis system performs measurements within the range of 0–2000 ppm, with an error of 1 ppm. The emission's error is a mere ±2%. The system allows making reliable measurements within the temperature range of −5 °C to +50 °C. Santrauka Apie 20% viso CO2 kiekio, patenkančio įatmosferą, išskiria dirvožemiai, todėl miškų bei agroekosistemos daro nemažįtaką CO2 balansui. Lietuvoje iki pastarųjų metų dirvožemio CO2 matavimai daugeliu atveju buvo atliekami laboratorinėmis sa˛lygomis, arba duomenys surinkti taikant senstelėjusius tyrimų metodus. CO2tyrimai Neries regioniniame parke atlikti lauko sąlygomis augalų vegetacijos metu matuojant ADC BioScientific CO2 emisijos matuokliu. Šios infraraudonųjų spindulių dujų analizavimo sistemos skalė 0–2000 ppm, paklaida 1 ppm. Emisijos paklaida tesudaro ±2%. Matavimai šiuo prietaisu patikimi −5–+50 °C temperatūroje. Резюме Около 20% CO2 от общего объема попадает в атмосферу из почвы, поэтому столь велико влияние лесов и агроэкосистем на баланс CO2. В Литве измерения эмиссий CO2 с поверхности почв проводились в лабораторных условиях либо применялись старые методы исследования. В региональном парке «Нерис» эмиссии CO2 с поверхности почв измерялись новым прибором ADC BioScientific. Для исследований применялся прибор с системой инфракрасного газового анализа по шкале от 0 до 2000 частей на миллион. Выбросы учитывались с погрешностью ±2%. Устройство позволяет надежно измерять эмиссии CO2 в диапазоне температур от −5 °C до +50 °C.
Actors of Columbian drug trade: development and transformation
Authors: Smolikova Sona , Smolik Josef
Published: June 2011

The aim of this article is to portray the main shifts which have been taking place in Colombian drug scene since the 70's up to the present especially in relation to actors of this business and form of their activity. At first the development of Colombian drug trade till the 80's when two big cartels centered in Medellín and Cali arose will be briefly outlined. These cartels were able to control a great part of domestic drug trade and due to their enormous power represented serious threat to Colombian state. Thus the cartels declared open warfare with the state in the 80's. After the cartels' elimination in the middle of 90's new actors represented by small drug organizations arose in Colombian drug scene. These small groups were dependent upon cooperation with foreign partners, especially with Mexican cartels. Ever more important role in drug business is played by Colombian left-wing guerilla groups which will be described in the next part of the article. The problem of right-wing paramilitary groups and their participation in Colombian drug trade will be mentioned as well.
Bush doctrine in the Middle East
Authors: Hoder Lukas , Suchy Petr
Published: June 2011

The article is focused at the most important elements of the US foreign policy towards the Middle East during the administration of George W. Bush (2001 - 2009). The text has two parts. The first part shows three important influences on creation and formulation of the US foreign policy towards the region. At the first place it was an effort to preserve unipolar character of the international system, hegemonic possition of the USA and its dominance in all regions. The second source was specific decision-making process set up by president Bush and the third source of the Bush strategy was a partial transformation of the US longtime policy towards the Middle East. The second part of the article discuss results of the Bush doctrine in the region. The text is focused at five most important consequences of the US foreign policy, which are the fight against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the pursuit of the democratization throughout the region, the Israel-Palestinian conflict, regional "cold war" between Iran and Saudi Arabia and finally the struggle to stabilize the post-conflict Iraq.
Development of a Chimeric Replicon System for Phenotypic Analysis of Ns3 Protease Sequences from HCV Clinical Isolates
Authors: Sheaffer Amy K , Lee Min S , Hernandez Dennis , Chaniewski Susan , Yu Fei , Falk Paul , Friborg Jacques , Zhai Guangzhi , McPhee Fiona
Published: June 2011

Background

To support clinical development of HCV non-structural protein (NS) 3 protease inhibitors (PIs), phenotypic monitoring of patient isolates is a prerequisite for understanding the emergence of resistance. HCV isolates typically fail to replicate in cell culture, necessitating the use of alternative phenotyping methods.

Methods

An NS3 protease chimeric replicon system was developed to monitor the phenotype of clinical isolates. The transfer of NS3 protease domain sequences from HCV-infected patients to the background of genotype (Gt) 1a-H77c, 1b-Con1 and 2a-JFH-1 lab strain replicons adapted to high-level cell culture replication was investigated.

Results

NS3 protease sequences derived from HCV Gt 1a or Gt 1b infected patients were transferred into Gt 1a and 1b replicons, respectively. Replication was detected for 20% of Gt 1a and 75% of Gt 1b sequences. Incorporation of known cell culture adaptive change NS3-E176G improved replication of Gt 1b but not of Gt 1a sequences. Transfer of Gt 1a clinical sequences into the Gt 1b background enhanced replication and allowed phenotypic analysis of all sequences. A correlation was observed between clinical isolate sequence polymorphisms and reduced susceptibility to NS3 PI. In mixed populations containing known NS3 PI resistance changes NS3-R155K or D168E/V, sensitivity of resistance detection was ≥10%.

Conclusions

An HCV replicon capable of supporting phenotypic characterization of patient-derived HCV NS3 protease sequences was developed. Pre-existence of amino acid changes associated with NS3 PI resistance highlights the need for combination therapies in the treatment of HCV.
L'Asie d'une crise à l'autre : l'impact sur l'intégration régionale
Authors: Figuière Catherine , Guilhot Laëtitia
Published: June 2011

Cette contribution montre en quoi le cheminement du processus d’intégration régionale à l’œuvre en Asie orientale est corrélé à l’histoire des crises que traverse l’Asie à dix ans d’intervalle. En 1997, l’Asie entre en crise et réagit en jetant les bases d’un régime monétaire et financier régional. En 2007, la crise qui débute aux États-Unis se diffuse, ensuite, en Asie, qui réagit en intensifiant la coopération interétatique, toujours dans le domaine monétaire, jusqu’à constituer un régime régional.
Le droit de la mer, régulateur des crises pour le contrôle des espaces et des ressources : quel poids pour des États en développement ?
Authors: Galletti Florence
Published: June 2011

Certains conflits entre États sont spécifiques. Ils portent sur des espaces et des ressources liés au milieu marin et ils mobilisent un droit particulier : le droit international de la mer . Celui-ci, en plus de répartir les droits des États sur ces espaces marins, remplit, depuis les années 1950, une autre fonction : la régulation des crises, conflits et guerres maritimes pour le contrôle des espaces côtiers et jusqu’à la haute mer. Les règles juridiques se sont multipliées, proposant des solutions de droit aux conflits d’accès aux ressources naturelles et à leur exploitation, et elles ont été appliquées par un nombre croissant d’États, d’institutions et de juridictions. Après une période d’influence des "États en développement" dans la construction d’un droit qui apportait des solutions stratégiques, la part des "États en développement" ne disparait-elle pas au profit des "États maritimes" regroupés désormais autour de références environnementales ou halieutiques plus que développementalistes ?
Le concept de crise : un paradigme explicatif obsolète ? Une approche sexospécifique
Authors: Ordioni Natacha
Published: June 2011

Cet article s’attache à comprendre pourquoi, en dépit de l’inflation de ses usages et du brouillage conceptuel qui en résulte, la notion de crise demeure un concept explicatif central des sciences économiques et des discours qui s’en inspirent. L’instrumentalisation du paradigme explicatif de la crise contribue, en outre, à légitimer des politiques qui ne sont pas toujours favorables au développement, notamment en matière de genre.
The Heidelberg Drilling Project (Upper Rhine Graben, Germany)
Authors: Ellwanger Dietrich , Gabriel G. , Hoselmann C. , Lämmermann‑Barthel J. , Weidenfeller M.
Published: June 2011

The Heidelberg basin hosts one of the thickest successions of unconsolidated Pliocene and Quaternary deposits in continental middle Europe, and certainly the thickest succession built by the Geosystem Rhine, connecting Alps, Rhine Graben, North Sea and English Channel. Also local Geosystems, first place the Neckar System, contribute to the basin infill. The more or less continuous subsidence of the Upper Rhine Graben (URG) during all periods of Tertiary Graben history, but especially during the last few million years, led to a succession of alternating fluvial and lacustrine environments of various provenances. This archive contains not only various proxies of the mid-European climate evolution during the Plio-Quaternary, but also signals of geodynamic processes controlled by tectonics. Various pre project activities during the last years prove the feasibility of an extensive research project to begin in late 2005. In its centre will be three drillings envisaged to become 300 m, 350 m and 500 m deep which are all designed to expose the Plio-Quaternary transition. The various techniques of facies analysis, geophysical exploration, geochronology, climate and tectonics modelling, to be combined in a comprehensive 3D evolutionary scenario, will – hopefully – enable us to read and understand the archive of the Heidelberg basin fill. The expected results will not only contribute to the data pools of palaeoclimate and neotectonics, but are also a methodological test in handling complex Geosystems. A considerable fallout with regard to societal use and handling of the geo-environment is also expected: from use of geothermal energy, hydrogeology and pollution handling in a highly industrialized region, right to assessment of climate and seismic risks.The project will be run by a co-operation of the Leibniz Institute for Applied Geosciences (Hannover) and the Geological Services of the three German federal States sharing the territories of the Heidelberg basin (Baden‑Württemberg, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz). This paper is designed to outline the project, present some very preliminary results of pre-project research, and stimulate further collaboration into the main project to come.
L’enregistrement tardiglaciaire de Dourges (Nord de la France, bassin de la Deûle) : évolution d’une zone lacustre et gisements archéologiques associés
Authors: Deschodt Laurent , Teheux Eric , Lantoine J. , Auguste Patrick , Limondin‑Lozouet Nicole
Published: June 2011

Une dépression dans le fond de la vallée de la Deûle, au pied du versant crayeux de la Gohelle (bassin minier de Lens), a permis la mise en place et la conservation de sédiments tardiglaciaires lacustres et palustres avec des sites paléontologiques et archéologiques associés. La nature des dépôts est commandée par les variations d’humidité. Un épisode lacustre est daté du Bølling. Il est caractérisé par le développement d’une biocénose aquatique (poissons et mollusques). Un fragment de harpon magdalénien et les restes d’un aurochs de grande taille ont été trouvés dans le tuf lacustre. Le Dryas moyen se distingue par un assèchement et un hiatus stratigraphique. Après une nouvelle période d’hydrologie plus marquée (récurrence de crues de courte durée), la zone redevient marécageuse à l’Allerød. Elle est fréquentée par des chasseurs Federmesser ainsi qu’en témoigne une halte de chasse qui a livré des éléments fugaces mais caractéristiques : sagaie, pointe en os barbelée, pointe de flèche. La fin de l’Allerød se caractérise par un retour à des conditions sèches et la formation d’un sol humifère. Le refroidissement du Dryas récent engendre une déstabilisation du versant et le début du comblement de la dépression par des colluvions limoneuses. Leur base a livré un crâne d’élan.
Canonical and Alternative Pathways in Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 1/Cyclin B Inactivation upon M-Phase Exit inXenopus laevisCell-Free Extracts
Authors: Kubiak Jacek Z. , El Dika Mohammed
Published: June 2011

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 1 (CDK1) is the major M-phase kinase known also as the M-phase Promoting Factor or MPF. Studies performed during the last decade have shown many details of how CDK1 is regulated and also how it regulates the cell cycle progression.Xenopus laeviscell-free extracts were widely used to elucidate the details and to obtain a global view of the role of CDK1 in M-phase control. CDK1 inactivation upon M-phase exit is a primordial process leading to the M-phase/interphase transition during the cell cycle. Here we discuss two closely related aspects of CDK1 regulation inXenopus laeviscell-free extracts: firstly, how CDK1 becomes inactivated and secondly, how other actors, like kinases and phosphatases network and/or specific inhibitors, cooperate with CDK1 inactivation to assure timely exit from the M-phase.
Technical Challenges in the Derivation of Human Pluripotent Cells
Authors: Noisa Parinya , Parnpai Rangsun
Published: June 2011

It has long been discovered that human pluripotent cells could be isolated from the blastocyst state of embryos and called human embryonic stem cells (ESCs). These cells can be adapted and propagated indefinitely in culture in an undifferentiated manner as well as differentiated into cell representing the three major germ layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. However, the derivation of human pluripotent cells from donated embryos is limited and restricted by ethical concerns. Therefore, various approaches have been explored and proved their success. Human pluripotent cells can also be derived experimentally by the nuclear reprogramming of somatic cells. These techniques include somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), cell fusion and overexpression of pluripotent genes. In this paper, we discuss the technical challenges of these approaches for nuclear reprogramming, involving their advantages and limitations. We will also highlight the possible applications of these techniques in the study of stem cell biology.
B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in the Critically Ill with Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: de Cal Massimo , Haapio Mikko , Cruz Dinna N. , Lentini Paolo , House Andrew A. , Bobek Ilona , Virzì Grazia M. , Corradi Valentina , Basso Flavio , Piccinni Pasquale , D'Angelo Angela , Chang Jamie W. , Rosner Mitchell H. , Ronco Claudio
Published: June 2011

Introduction. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in the intensive care unit (ICU) and associated with poor outcome. Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a biomarker related to myocardial overload, and is elevated in some ICU patients. There is a high prevalence of both cardiac and renal dysfunction in ICU patients.Aims. To investigate whether plasma BNP levels in the first 48 hours were associated with AKI in ICU patients.Methods. We studied a cohort of 34 consecutive ICU patients. Primary outcome was presence of AKI on presentation, or during ICU stay.Results. For patients with AKI on presentation, BNP was statistically higher at 24 and 48 hours than No-AKI patients (865 versus 148 pg/mL; 1380 versus 131 pg/mL). For patients developing AKI during 48 hours, BNP was statistically higher at 0, 24 and 48 hours than No-AKI patients (510 versus 197 pg/mL; 552 versus 124 pg/mL; 949 versus 104 pg/mL).Conclusion. Critically ill patients with AKI on presentation or during ICU stay have higher levels of the cardiac biomarker BNP relative to No-AKI patients. Elevated levels of plasma BNP may help identify patients with elevated risk of AKI in the ICU setting. The mechanism for this cardiorenal connection requires further investigation.
Thyroid Hormone and Cardiac Disease: From Basic Concepts to Clinical Application
Authors: Mourouzis Iordanis , Forini Francesca , Pantos Constantinos , Iervasi Giorgio
Published: June 2011

Nature's models of regeneration provide substantial evidence that a natural healing process may exist in the heart. Analogies existing between the damaged myocardium and the developing heart strongly indicate that regulatory factors which drive embryonic heart development may also control aspects of heart regeneration. In this context, thyroid hormone (TH) which is critical in heart maturation during development appears to have a reparative role in adult life. Thus, changes in TH -thyroid hormone receptor (TR) homeostasis are shown to govern the return of the damaged myocardium to the fetal phenotype. Accordingly, thyroid hormone treatment preferentially rebuilds the injured myocardium by reactivating developmental gene programming. Clinical data provide further support to this experimental evidence and changes in TH levels and in particular a reduction of biologically active triiodothyronine (T3) in plasma after myocardial infarction or during evolution of heart failure, are strongly correlated with patients morbidity and mortality. The potential of TH to regenerate a diseased heart has now been testing in patients with acute myocardial infarction in a phase II, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study (the THiRST study).
Nonlinear potential estimates in parabolic problems
Authors: Kuusi Tuomo , Mingione Giuseppe
Published: June 2011

We report on some recent result allowing to get pointwise bounds for the spatial gradient of solutions to degenerate and singular parabolic equations via linear and nonlinear potentials of the data.
Critical Behaviour of the Ising S=l/2 and S=l Model on (3,4,6,4) and (3,3,3,3,6) Archimedean Lattices
Authors: Lima F. W. S. , Mostowicz J. , Malarz K.
Published: June 2011

We investigate the critical properties of the Ising S = 1/2 and S = 1 model on (3,4,6,4) and (34,6) Archimedean lattices. The system is studied through the extensive Monte Carlo simulations. We calculate the critical temperature as well as the critical point exponents γ/ν, β/ν, and ν basing on finite size scaling analysis. The calculated values of the critical temperature for S = 1 are kBTC/J=1.590(3), and kBTC/J=2.100(4) for (3,4,6,4) and (34,6) Archimedean lattices, respectively. The critical exponents β/ν, γ/ν, and 1/ν, for S=1 are β/ν=0.180(20), γ/ν=1.46(8), and 1/ν=0.83(5), for (3,4,6,4) and 0.103(8), 1.44(8), and 0.94(5), for (34,6) Archimedean lattices. Obtained results differ from the Ising S = 1/2 model on (3,4,6,4), (34,6) and square lattice. The evaluated effective dimensionality of the system for S = 1 are Deff=1.82(4), for (3,4,6,4), and Deff = 1.64(5) for (34,6).
Staggered Lagrangian Discretization Based on Cell-Centered Riemann Solver and Associated Hydrodynamics Scheme
Authors: Maire Pierre-Henri , Loubère Raphaël , Váchal Pavel
Published: June 2011

The aim of the present work is to develop a general formalism to derive staggered discretizations for Lagrangian hydrodynamics on two-dimensional unstructured grids. To this end, we make use of the compatible discretization that has been initially introduced by E. J. Caramana et al., in J. Comput. Phys., 146 (1998). Namely, momentum equation is discretized by means of subcell forces and specific internal energy equation is obtained using total energy conservation. The main contribution of this work lies in the fact that the subcell force is derived invoking Galilean invariance and thermodynamic consistency. That is, we deduce a general form of the sub-cell force so that a cell entropy inequality is satisfied. The subcell force writes as a pressure contribution plus a tensorial viscous contribution which is proportional to the difference between the nodal velocity and the cell-centered velocity. This cell-centered velocity is a supplementary degree of freedom that is solved by means of a cell-centered approximate Riemann solver. To satisfy the second law of thermodynamics, the local subcell tensor involved in the viscous part of the subcell force must be symmetric positive definite. This subcell tensor is the cornerstone of the scheme. One particular expression of this tensor is given. A high-order extension of this discretization is provided. Numerical tests are presented in order to assess the efficiency of this approach. The results obtained for various representative configurations of one and two-dimensional compressible fluid flows show the robustness and the accuracy of this scheme.
Gyrokinetic Simulation of Magnetic Compressional Modes in General Geometry
Authors: Porazik Peter , Lin Zhihong
Published: June 2011

A method for gyrokinetic simulation of low frequency (lower than the cyclotron frequency) magnetic compressional modes in general geometry is presented. The gyrokinetic-Maxwell system of equations is expressed fully in terms of the compressional component of the magnetic perturbation, δB∥, with finite Larmor radius effects. This introduces a “gyro-surface” averaging of δB∥ in the gyrocenter equations of motion, and similarly in the perpendicular Ampere’s law, which takes the form of the perpendicular force balance equation. The resulting system can be numerically implemented by representing the gyro-surface averaging by a discrete sum in the configuration space. For the typical wavelength of interest (on the order of the gyroradius), the gyro-surface averaging can be reduced to averaging along an effective gyro-orbit. The phase space integration in the force balance equation can be approximated by summing over carefully chosen samples in the magnetic moment coordinate, allowing for an efficient numerical implementation.
Picard-Newton Iterative Method with Time Step Control for Multimaterial Non-Equilibrium Radiation Diffusion Problem
Authors: Yue Jingyan , Yuan Guangwei
Published: June 2011

For a new nonlinear iterative method named as Picard-Newton (P-N) iterative method for the solution of the time-dependent reaction-diffusion systems, which arise in non-equilibrium radiation diffusion applications, two time step control methods are investigated and a study of temporal accuracy of a first order time integration is presented. The non-equilibrium radiation diffusion problems with flux limiter are considered, which appends pesky complexity and nonlinearity to the diffusion coefficient. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate that compared with Picard method, for a desired accuracy, significant increase in solution efficiency can be obtained by Picard-Newton method with the suitable time step size selection.
In-cloud oxalate formation in the global troposphere: a 3-D modeling study
Authors: Myriokefalitakis S. , Tsigaridis K. , Mihalopoulos N. , Sciare J. , Nenes A. , Kawamura K. , Segers A. , Kanakidou M.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. Organic acids attract increasing attention as contributors to atmospheric acidity, secondary organic aerosol mass and aerosol hygroscopicity. Oxalic acid is globally the most abundant dicarboxylic acid, formed via chemical oxidation of gas-phase precursors in the aqueous phase of aerosols and droplets. Its lifecycle and atmospheric global distribution remain highly uncertain and are the focus of this study. The first global spatial and temporal distribution of oxalate, simulated using a state-of-the-art aqueous-phase chemical scheme embedded within the global 3-dimensional chemistry/transport model TM4-ECPL, is here presented. The model accounts for comprehensive gas-phase chemistry and its coupling with major aerosol constituents (including secondary organic aerosol). Model results are consistent with ambient observations of oxalate at rural and remote locations (slope = 1.16 ± 0.14, r2 = 0.36, N = 114) and suggest that aqueous-phase chemistry contributes significantly to the global atmospheric burden of secondary organic aerosol. In TM4-ECPL most oxalate is formed in-cloud and less than 5 % is produced in aerosol water. About 62 % of the oxalate is removed via wet deposition, 30 % by in-cloud reaction with hydroxyl radical, 4 % by in-cloud reaction with nitrate radical and 4 % by dry deposition. The in-cloud global oxalate net chemical production is calculated to be about 21–37 Tg yr−1 with almost 79 % originating from biogenic hydrocarbons, mainly isoprene. This condensed phase net source of oxalate in conjunction with a global mean turnover time against deposition of about 5 days, maintain oxalate's global tropospheric burden of 0.2–0.3 Tg, i.e. 0.05–0.1 Tg-C that is about 5–9 % of model-calculated water soluble organic carbon burden.
A reanalysis of MODIS fine mode fraction over ocean using OMI and daily GOCART simulations
Authors: Jones T. A. , Christopher S. A.
Published: June 2011

Abstract. Using daily Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport (GOCART) model simulations and columnar retrievals of 0.55 μm aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and fine mode fraction (FMF) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), we estimate the satellite-derived aerosol properties over the global oceans between June 2006 and May 2007 due to black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), dust (DU), sea-salt (SS), and sulfate (SU) components. Using Aqua-MODIS aerosol properties embedded in the CERES-SSF product, we find that the mean MODIS FMF values for each aerosol type are SS: 0.31 ± 0.09, DU: 0.49 ± 0.13, SU: 0.77 ± 0.16, and (BC + OC): 0.80 ± 0.16. We further combine information from the ultraviolet spectrum using the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) onboard the Aura satellite to improve the classification process, since dust and carbonate aerosols have positive Aerosol Index (AI) values >0.5 while other aerosol types have near zero values. By combining MODIS and OMI datasets, we were able to identify and remove data in the SU, OC, and BC regions that were not associated with those aerosol types. The same methods used to estimate aerosol size characteristics from MODIS data within the CERES-SSF product were applied to Level 2 (L2) MODIS aerosol data from both Terra and Aqua satellites for the same time period. As expected, FMF estimates from L2 Aqua data agreed well with the CERES-SSF dataset from Aqua. However, the FMF estimate for DU from Terra data was significantly lower (0.37 vs. 0.49) indicating that sensor calibration, sampling differences, and/or diurnal changes in DU aerosol size characteristics were occurring. Differences for other aerosol types were generally smaller. Sensitivity studies show that a difference of 0.1 in the estimate of the anthropogenic component of FMF produces a corresponding change of 0.2 in the anthropogenic component of AOT (assuming a unit value of AOT). This uncertainty would then be passed along to any satellite-derived estimates of anthropogenic aerosol radiative effects.