bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LE ROLE DES BIOTECHNOLOGIES DE LA REPRODUCTION POUR LA CONSERVATION DES RESSOURCES GENETIQUES ANIMALES
Authors: Chupin D.
Published: August 2011

RESUME

Cet article analyse dans quelle mesure les nouvelles perspectives offertes par les biotechnologies de la reproduction s'appliquent aux activités de conservation des ressources génétiques animales. Ces activités ont été regroupées autour de cinq thémes: Décrire, Détruire, Défendre, Stocker, Recréer. Ces techniques n'apportent aucun plus pour la description des caractéristiques d'une population ou d'une race. La principals menace qui pése sur une race d'animaux domestiques est de disparaitre par croisement avec une autre, et l'insémination artificielle représente de ce point de vue un danger certain. Inversement, l'insémination artificielle peut devenir un instrument de défense des races locales. II serait plus difficile de trouver une justification A l'utilisation de la plupart des autres biotechnologies (transfert d'embryons, sexage, clonage) pour la protection et la promotion des races locales. Pour la conservation des ressources génétiques, la cryoconservation des spermatozdides et des embryons, mais également les ovocytes, voire des morceaux de gonades et des cellules somatiques est un outil irremplagable. La demiére partie présente des calculs sur les possibilités de re-création de races, selon la nature du matériel stocks.
Caracterización de los animales domésticos en España
Authors: Delgado J.V. , Barba C. , Camacho M.E. , Sereno F.T.P.S. , Martínez A. , Vega-Pla J.L.
Published: August 2011

La expansión actual de los criterios conservacionistas han promovido la utilización de las modernas metodologías que brinda la genética molecular para la caracterización de las razas, aunque la caracterización genética clásica basada en marcadores bioquímicos e inmunogenéticos se ha aplicado durante muchos años sobre todo en rumiantes y equinos en pruebas de identidad y control de filiación. El estudio del polimorfismo de los microsatélites del ADN han ofrecido muy buenos resultados, aunque también se ha trabajado con éxito en la investigación del ADN mitocondrial y de fragmentos de ADN amplificados aleatoriamente. En España estos métodos han sido utilizados en las especies bovina, ovina, caprina, porcina, equina y canina.

De cualquier forma, es importante considerar que la obtención de perfiles genéticos poblacionales para los caracteres morfológicos y productivos, es obligada en una aplicación práctica de los resultados obtenidos con los marcadores genéticos. En el presente trabajo se describen las principales iniciativas desarrolladas en los aspectos mencionados, ubicando los equipos españoles especializados.
Establishing a National Focal Point for farm animal genetic resources in South Africa
Authors: Ramsay K.
Published: August 2011

The recent call from FAO to take part in the process of preparing the First Report on the State of the World Animal Genetic Resources (SoW) stressed the need to develop management capacity at country level to facilitate the preparation of country reports (CRs). A key role is played by the National Focal Points (NFPs) and the National Coordinators (NCs).

A national workshop was held in South Africa in 1998 and a National Committee for Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FanGR) was established. The existing Indigenous Livestock Committee was reviewed and adapted to make it more focused on the management of FAnGR. At the same time a National Coordinator was also identified and the Animal Improvement Institute was nominated as national coordinating institute for FAnGR.

The collaboration with some NGOs was strongly suggested, particularly with:

a) the Farm Animal Conservation Trust (FACT), to assist with the conservation of farm animal genetic resources. This NGO was modelled on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) in the United Kingdom and on Rare Breeds International (RBI)

b) The South African Stud Book and Livestock Improvement Association (SASB) and

c) many Rural Communities and National and Provincial animal genetic resource centres

The institutional frame for AnGR conservation in South Africa is briefly described, together with the aims of the South African conservation activities.
European approaches to conservation of farm animal genetic resources
Authors: Simon D.L.
Published: August 2011

Based on several sources of information an overview has been given on the development, present situation and problems of conservation of animal genetic resources in Europe.

Presently, 1 029 breeds of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses and asses are registered by the EAAP-Animal Genetic Data Bank, Hanover. 42.8 % of the breeds are classified as being ‘at risk’. More than 360 conservation programmes are underway, which, however, in many cases seem to be operated independently of the status of endangerment and of similar breeds in other countries.

The primary objectives of conservation in Europe, i.e. ‘conservation for potential use, later’ and ‘conservation for cultural reasons’, are different from the objective ‘conservation for sustainable use, now’, which is primarily expressed for developing countries. Different objectives call for different answers to questions, such as: are breeds appropriate units of genetic diversity, how should endangerment be defined, what should be conserved and is incrossing and selection compatible with conservation?

In view of the large number of breeds ‘at risk’ and of similar breeds existing in different countries as well as the high costs of conservation it is concluded that characterisation of breeds for genetic uniqueness is presently the most urgent task in conservation. This requires effective co-operation across national borders in Europe.
NOTE ON THE FOUNDING OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE EARLY DOMESTICATED ANIMALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
Authors: Bester J.
Published: August 2011

South Africa is a major livestock region of the African continent and a country rich in local animal genetic resources (AnGR). Archaeological research and the important rock paintings found in the region confirm the existence of domesticated ruminant populations, at least baclc to 300 AD. The dwindling of the pool of AnGR in recent years justifies the creation of ACEDA, which can and should play a major role in AnGR conservation policy and activities.
European Commission Project: European Guideline for Target Group-Oriented Psychosocial Aftercare—Implementation
Authors: Vymetal Stepan , Deistler Albert , Bering Robert , Schedlich Claudia , Rooze Magda , Orengo Francisco , Zurek Gisela , Krtickova Michaela
Published: August 2011

After disasters, the individual health and well-being of first responders and affected population are affected for years. Therefore, psychosocial help is needed. Although most victims recover on their own, a minority of survivors, members of rescue teams, or relatives develop long-term, disaster-related psychic disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This subgroup especially should receive timely and appropriate psychosocial help. Many European countries offer post-disaster psychosocial care from a variety of caregivers (i.e., professionals and volunteers, non-governmental organizations, church or commercial organizations). Therefore, European standards for providing post-disaster psychosocial support currently is required. This article describes the project European Guideline for Target Group-Oriented Psychosocial Aftercare—Implementation, supported by the European Commission.
Self-ratings of spoken language dominance: A Multilingual Naming Test (MINT) and preliminary norms for young and aging Spanish–English bilinguals
Authors: GOLLAN TAMAR H. , WEISSBERGER GALI H. , RUNNQVIST ELIN , MONTOYA ROSA I. , CERA CYNTHIA M.
Published: August 2011

This study investigated correspondence between different measures of bilingual language proficiency contrasting self-report, proficiency interview, and picture naming skills. Fifty-two young (Experiment 1) and 20 aging (Experiment 2) Spanish–English bilinguals provided self-ratings of proficiency level, were interviewed for spoken proficiency, and named pictures in a Multilingual Naming Test (MINT); in Experiment 1, the Boston Naming Test (BNT) was also used. Self-ratings, proficiency interview, and the MINT did not differ significantly in classifying bilinguals into language-dominance groups, but naming tests (especially the BNT) classified bilinguals as more English-dominant than other measures. Strong correlations were observed between measures of proficiency in each language and language-dominance, but not degree of balanced bilingualism (index scores). Depending on the measure, up to 60% of bilinguals scored best in their self-reported non-dominant language. The BNT distorted bilingual assessment by underestimating ability in Spanish. These results illustrate what self-ratings can and cannot provide, illustrate the pitfalls of testing bilinguals with measures designed for monolinguals, and invite a multi-measure goal-driven approach to classifying bilinguals into dominance groups.
Climate simulations of the Permian‐Triassic boundary: Ocean acidification and the extinction event
Authors: Montenegro A. , Spence P. , Meissner K. J. , Eby M. , Melchin M. J. , Johnston S. T.
Published: August 2011

The causes for the Permian‐Triassic Boundary (PTB) extinction, the largest mass extinction on record, remain enigmatic. The period is marked by large‐scale volcanic eruptions and evidence for widespread ocean anoxia, which have led to suggestions that these events generated, or played a part in, the extinction. Furthermore, hypercapnia and ocean acidification caused by volcanic emissions of CO2 and CH4 have been put forward as potential kill mechanisms. We present the first PTB climate simulations in which ocean acidity is evaluated directly with a coupled climate‐carbon cycle model. The experiments also address the sensitivity of ocean circulation and oxygen levels to uncertainties in paleogeography and to different bottom topographies. Modeled temperature and precipitation‐evaporation are in good agreement with reconstructions and climate‐sensitive sediments. There is also good agreement between modeled vegetation and reconstructed biomes. The reduction in ocean pH brought about by the increase in atmospheric CO2 is biologically significant. Aragonite saturation levels are low enough to make the whole ocean unsuitable to aragonitic species, and large areas of the ocean become unsaturated in relationship to calcite. No general bottom anoxia is reproduced. Modeled deep ocean O2 concentrations are not significantly impacted by changes in paleogeography and bathymetry, an indication that in our model a change in ocean dynamics resulting from climate warming is not sufficient by itself to generate widespread anoxic conditions during the period.
Concerns Over Modeling and Warning Capabilities in Wake of Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: August 2011

Improved earthquake models, better tsunami modeling and warning capabilities, and a review of nuclear power plant safety are all greatly needed following the 11 March Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, according to scientists at the European Geosciences Union's (EGU) General Assembly, held 3–8 April in Vienna, Austria. EGU quickly organized a morning session of oral presentations and an afternoon panel discussion less than 1 month after the earthquake and the tsunami and the resulting crisis at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant, which has now been identified as having reached the same level of severity as the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Many of the scientists at the EGU sessions expressed concern about the inability to have anticipated the size of the earthquake and the resulting tsunami, which appears likely to have caused most of the fatalities and damage, including damage to the nuclear plant.
Advances in Coastal Digital Elevation Models
Authors: Eakins Barry W. , Taylor Lisa A. , Carignan Kelly S. , Kenny Maureen R.
Published: August 2011

Japan's 11 March Tohoku disaster vividly illustrates how tsunamis have the power to unleash widespread destruction on coasts, in this instance both in Japan and elsewhere after traveling across the Pacific Ocean. But when and where do coastal residents and visitors need to evacuate, and where will they be safe? During the event, computer modeling was used to forecast tsunami arrival time, duration, and wave height for communities around the Pacific. These forecasts were then used by emergency managers to identify areas that needed to be evacuated and, perhaps as important, areas that did not need to be evacuated, allowing evacuation plans to be specifically targeted to communities at risk.
Scoping Completed for an Experiment to Assess Vulnerability of Arctic and Boreal Ecosystems
Authors: Goetz Scott , Kimball John , Mack Michelle , Kasischke Eric
Published: August 2011

Over the past 100 years, high northern latitude regions have experienced more rapid warming than elsewhere on Earth. This trend is expected to continue over the next century. Arctic tundra, boreal forests, and peatlands are already undergoing major changes, reinforced by the cascading effects of thawing permafrost, increasing disturbance (particularly fire and insect pests), and altered surface hydrology. These changes influence processes at the ecosystem and landscape scales, including energy balance and vegetation productivity, which feed back to regional and global climate in addition to affecting wildlife habitat and ecosystem resources available to local communities.
Using Web 2.0 Technologies to Help During Flood Events
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: August 2011

Monday, 4 October 2010, dawned as a typical gray and rainy autumn day in Varazze, a seaside town with 14,000 inhabitants and a complex orography in the northern Italian region of Liguria, about 30 kilometers west of Genoa. With the weather forecast calling for 30 millimeters of rain that day, Massimo Lanfranco, a geologist who is a doctoral student at the University of Turin, had planned to travel to Turin from Varazze. But after driving his child to elementary school, he decided to stay home because the rain had picked up. The storm—with peak rainfall of 30 millimeters in 15 minutes, 96 in 1 hour, and 300 in 6 hours—led to a number of flash floods and debris floods that inundated the coastal plain, destroyed some houses, and caused about 50 landslides in the region but, fortunately, no fatalities. It was one of the worst storms in Italy in the past several decades, according to Lanfranco.
Carbon Sequestration and Its Role in the Global Carbon Cycle
Authors: Schultz Colin
Published: August 2011

The science of climate change, and the role carbon dioxide (CO2) plays in it, was launched into the public consciousness by Charles David Keeling's investigations in the late 1950s. Keeling conducted early atmospheric carbon measurements high on Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano and found that even after ruling out natural fluctuations, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was increasing year after year. The findings, published in the 1960s, led to the now iconic Keeling curve and raised several questions about the contribution of fossil fuel burning to atmospheric CO2 concentrations. The AGU monograph Carbon Sequestration and Its Role in the Global Carbon Cycle, edited by Brian J. McPherson and Eric T. Sundquist, moves beyond the “how much?” and “where is it coming from?” of atmospheric CO2 and provides an interdisciplinary look at what we can do to address imbalances in the carbon cycle. In this interview, Eos talks with McPherson.
Outstanding Student Paper Awards
Authors: Anonymous
Published: August 2011

The following AGU members received Outstanding Student Paper Awards at the 2010 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, Calif. See also “Outstanding Student Paper Awards” published previously (Eos, 92(18), 155) and in future issues of Eos.
Glaciologist studies Greenland snow conditions and helps calibrate CryoSat instrument
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: August 2011

GREENLAND—On a typically frigid mid‐July day at Summit Station, almost smack in the middle of Greenland, with the temperature hovering around −10°C, Elizabeth Morris and John Sweeny were bundled up against the cold atop their black Ski‐Doo snowmobiles, which Morris described as being similar to motorcycles on ski tracks. They drove the vehicles—without yet attaching three wooden sleds that would be pulled during their summer scientific traverse across part of central Greenland—on a practice spin along the perimeter of Summit's groomed, approximately 4600‐meter × 60‐meter snow runway. One of the longest runways in the world, it lies atop 3.2 kilometers of ice, with the horizon stretching in every direction. Morris, a glaciologist who is a senior associate at the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University, United Kingdom, and Sweeny, her polar guide, were taking advantage of an unexpected extra day at Summit, a scientific research station sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), before the traverse began. They hoped that the socked‐in visibility just a few hours earlier that morning, 16 July, would not be repeated the following day so that a U.S. Air National Guard 109th Airlift Wing C‐130 cargo plane would be cleared to fly to Summit from Kangerlussuaq on Greenland's west coast with needed supplies. Morris and Sweeny would load up each sled with about 270 kilograms of gear.
Determining the trigger of East Asian dust storms
Authors: Schultz Colin
Published: August 2011

In the past 2 decades, there has been a dramatic increase in the occurrence of dust storms over East Asia. The trigger for this increase has been elusive because the ability of gusting wind to whip up a dust storm depends on a large number of factors, ranging from the level of snow and vegetation cover to differences in soil moisture and salt levels. Scientists note that these factors fall into two broad categories: Either the wind has increased its ability to wear away at the earth (increased erosivity), or the soil is more susceptible to the wind's assault (increased erodibility). Using a database of wind speed, weather, and dust storm observations stretching back to 1970,Kurosaki et al. sought to determine whether the East Asian increase was caused by changing erosivity or erodibility. The authors found that the rise in dust storms in desert regions could be attributed largely to an increase in the frequency of strong winds. For crops and grasslands, however, the researchers tied the increase in storms to a change in erodibility, indicating that the soil had somehow changed. They propose that changes in the ground cover provided by dead leaves in the spring could be the driving factor. If so, then observations of plant growth and precipitation during the summer could provide a platform on which to base forecasts of the frequency of dust storms the following year. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2011GL047494, 2011)
High‐detail snapshots of rare gigantic jet lightning
Authors: Schultz Colin
Published: August 2011

In the ionosphere, more than 80 kilometers above Earth's surface, incoming radiation reacts with the thin air to produce highly charged ions, inducing an electric potential between the ionosphere and the surface. This charge difference is dissipated by a slow leak from the ionosphere during calm weather and reinvigorated by a charge built up near the surface during a thunderstorm. In 2001, however, researchers discovered gigantic jets (GJs), powerful lightning that arcs from tropospheric clouds up to the ionosphere, suggesting there may be an alternate path by which charge is redistributed. GJs are transient species, and little is known about how much charge they can carry, how they form, or how common they are. In a step toward answering these questions, Lu et al. report on two GJs that occurred near very high frequency (VHF) lightning detection systems, which track the development of lightning in three spatial dimensions, giving an indication of the generation mechanism. The researchers also measured the charge transfer in the two GJs through remote sensing of magnetic fields. They found that both jets originated from the development of otherwise normal intracloud lightning. The dissipation of the cloud's positively charged upper layer allowed the negative lightning channel to break through and travel up out of the top of the cloud to the ionosphere. The first jet, which occurred off the coast of Florida, leapt up to 80 kilometers, depositing 110 coulombs of negative charge in 370 milliseconds. The second jet, observed in Oklahoma, traveled up to 90 kilometers, raising only 10–20 coulombs in 300 milliseconds. Each new observation of gigantic jets such as these can provide valuable information toward understanding this novel atmospheric behavior. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2011GL047662, 2011)
Agricultural drainage affects export of dissolved organic carbon
Authors: Balcerak Ernie
Published: August 2011

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) exported from agricultural lands can affect watershed carbon budgets and aquatic ecosystem functions. Agricultural practices, especially enhanced drainage, which is widespread in the midwestern United States and expanding, can influence how much DOC is exported from an area. Dalzell et al. compared fields that drained water at conventional rates (13 millimeters per day) with fields with intense drainage (51 millimeters per day). They found that intense drainage resulted in 55% more DOC exported per year. This was primarily due to increased water export but also due to increased DOC concentration. The researchers observed that DOC export from drained fields depended strongly on precipitation rates and varied considerably from year to year. DOC concentrations increased in stream networks in the drained watershed and shifted from microbial sources in farm field drainage to more terrestrially derived and higher molecular weight DOC at downstream sites. (Journal of Geophysical Research‐Biogeosciences, doi:10.1029/2010JG001540, 2011)
Episodic tremor triggers small earthquakes
Authors: Balcerak Ernie
Published: August 2011

It has been suggested that episodic tremor and slip (ETS), the weak shaking not associated with measurable earthquakes, could trigger nearby earthquakes. However, this had not been confirmed until recently. Vidale et al. monitored seismicity in the 4‐month period around a 16‐day episode of episodic tremor and slip in March 2010 in the Cascadia region. They observed five small earthquakes within the subducting slab during the ETS episode. They found that the timing and locations of earthquakes near the tremor suggest that the tremor and earthquakes are related. Furthermore, they observed that the rate of earthquakes across the area was several times higher within 2 days of tremor activity than at other times, adding to evidence of a connection between tremor and earthquakes. (Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, doi:10.1029/2011GC003559, 2011)
Turbulent nitrate fluxes in the Amundsen Gulf during ice‐covered conditions
Authors: Bourgault D. , Hamel C. , Cyr F. , Tremblay J.‐É. , Galbraith P. S. , Dumont D. , Gratton Y.
Published: August 2011

Turbulence and nitrate measurements collected in the Amundsen Gulf during ice‐covered conditions in fall 2007 are combined to provide mean vertical profiles of eddy diffusivity and diffusive nitrate fluxes . The mean diffusivity (with 95% confidence intervals) was maximum near the uppermost sampling depth (10 m) with max = 3(2, 5) × 10−3 m2 s−1 and decreased exponentially to a depth of ∼50 m, below which it was roughly constant at the background value b = 3(2, 5) × 10−6 m2 s−1. The nitracline, centered around 62 m depth, was subject to an eddy diffusivity close to the background value b and the mean diffusive nitrate flux across the nitracline was nit = 0.12(0.075, 0.20) mmol m−2 d−1. These observations are compared with other regions and the role of vertical mixing on primary production in the Amundsen Gulf is discussed.
Temperature signature of high latitude Atlantic boundary currents revealed by marine mammal‐borne sensor and Argo data
Authors: Grist Jeremy P. , Josey Simon A. , Boehme Lars , Meredith Michael P. , Davidson Fraser J. M. , Stenson Garry B. , Hammill Mike O.
Published: August 2011

Results from the development and analysis of a novel temperature dataset for the high latitude North‐West Atlantic are presented. The new 1° gridded dataset (“ATLAS”) has been produced from about 13,000 Argo and 48,000 marine mammal (hooded seal, harp seal, grey seal and beluga) profiles spanning 2004–8. These data sources are highly complementary as marine mammals greatly enhance shelf region coverage where Argo floats are absent. ATLAS reveals distinctive boundary current related temperature minima in the Labrador Sea (−1.1°C) and at the east Greenland coast (1.8°C), largely absent in the widely‐used Levitus'09 and EN3v2a datasets. The ATLAS 0–500 m average temperature is lower than Levitus'09 and EN3v2a by up to 3°C locally. Differences are strongest from 0–300 m and persist at reduced amplitude from 300–500 m. Our results clearly reveal the value of marine mammal‐borne sensors for a reliable description of the North‐West Atlantic at a time of rapid change.
Helping Child Flood Victims Using Group EMDR Intervention in Argentina: Treatment Outcome and Gender Differences
Authors: Adúriz María Elena , Bluthgen Cristina , Knopfler Catalina
Published: August 2011

A comprehensive group intervention with 124 children who experienced disaster-related trauma during a massive flood in Santa Fe, Argentina, in 2003 is illustrated, utilizing a one-session group eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) protocol. A posttreatment session was done 3 months after the treatment intervention to evaluate results. Results of this one-session treatment procedure, utilizing the EMDR-Integrative Group Treatment Protocol, showed statistically significant reduction of symptoms immediately after the intervention. These statistically significant differences were sustained at posttreatment evaluation 3 months later, as measured by psychometric scales, and by clinical and behavioral observation. Data analysis also revealed significant gender differences. Despite methodological limitations, this study supports the efficacy of EMDR group treatment in the amelioration and prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, providing an efficient, simple, and economic (in terms of time and resources) tool for disaster-related trauma.
Capturing lost research
Authors: Lawrence Rebecca
Published: August 2011

A very significant proportion of valuable research conducted is lost, either after presentation at a meeting or even at the stage of the creation of the initial dataset; F1000 Posters and F1000 Research aim to capture this valuable information.
Language Abilities of Children Who Stutter: A Meta-Analytical Review
Authors: Ntourou Katerina , Conture Edward G. , Lipsey Mark W.
Published: August 2011

Purpose

To identify, integrate, and summarize evidence from empirical studies of the language abilities of children who stutter (CWS) and children who do not stutter (CWNS).

Method

Candidate studies were identified through electronic databases, the tables of contents of speech-language journals, and reference lists of relevant articles and literature reviews. The 22 included studies met the following criteria: studied both children who did and did not stutter between ages 2;0 (years;months) and 8;0, and reported norm-referenced language measures and/or measures from spontaneous language samples amenable to effect size calculation. Data were extracted using a coding manual and were assessed by application of general and specialized analytical software. Mean difference effect size was estimated using Hedges’s
g
(Hedges, 1982).

Results

Findings indicated that CWS scored significantly lower than CWNS on norm-referenced measures of overall language (Hedges’s
g
= −0.48), receptive (Hedges’s
g
= −0.52) and expressive vocabulary (Hedges’s
g
= −0.41), and mean length of utterance (Hedges’s
g
= −0.23).

Conclusions

Present findings were taken to suggest that children’s language abilities are potentially influential variables associated with childhood stuttering.
The Future of the Android Operating System for Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Authors: Higginbotham Jeff , Jacobs Steve
Published: August 2011

We have experienced one of the most remarkable years in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The iPad, along with the iPhone, redefined mobile communications and personal computing technology. In the ensuing 9 months after the iPad's release, more than 50 non-iPad tablets have been developed and demonstrated at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show and are ready for the consumer market. For the AAC consumer, the proliferation of these mainstream technologies will result in increasingly inexpensive hardware and software, availability of alternative access methods, opportunity to use standard software applications, and availability of applications that meet the specific needs of individual consumers. Because the Android platform is still in its infancy—especially with respect to AAC—we will focus on the potential effects this operating system could have on AAC. We will describe Android, its current offerings, and future possibilities. The emergence of iOS and Android has disrupted the AAC field, transforming the ways that we look at, purchase, and use technology.
Learning Motivation of Adults Involved in AAC Intervention
Authors: Thiessen Amber , Horn Christy , Beukelman David , Wallace Sarah E.
Published: August 2011

The augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) personnel framework identifies the various types of people involved in successful AAC interventions. The purposes of this article are to summarize information in the AAC intervention literature that documents the role and impact of various AAC personnel, describe key characteristics of adult learners, and review research that focuses on learning motivations and preferences of adults within the AAC framework.
Case Studies in Pre-Service AAC Instruction: Comforting the Client While Stressing the Student
Authors: Cook Albert M.
Published: August 2011

Teaching speech-language pathology (SLP) students about alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) through case studies can provide a more meaningful experience than found in a more traditional didactic approach. Case studies give students a clinical context for the material presented in class. They also enable consideration of a wide range of factors, including family dynamics, school or work contexts, and the participation of other team members (e.g., POT, PT, and teachers). In this course, case studies are the focus, but material is also presented through lecture/discussion, labs (where various AAC devices are used and evaluated by the students), and readings. The focus on case studies presents a number of challenges. For the students, this is one of the first times they are forced to deal with complex clinical problems for which the answers are not readily available in a textbook. They complain that the assignments are vague and that the cases require too much time to complete. For the instructors, the course requires much more time in providing information to the students, answering questions about the cases, and generally supporting the students. In the end, the students manage to “pull it all together” and present thoughtful and thorough implementation plans for their cases. After entering into practice or graduating, students report that the course prepared them for working with a client with AAC needs.
Lagrangian formulation with dissipation of Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics using the density-functional tight-binding method
Authors: Zheng Guishan , Niklasson Anders M. N. , Karplus Martin
Published: August 2011

An important element determining the time requirements of Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) is the convergence rate of the self-consistent solution of Roothaan equations (SCF). We show here that improved convergence and dynamics stability can be achieved by use of a Lagrangian formalism of BOMD with dissipation (DXL-BOMD). In the DXL-BOMD algorithm, an auxiliary electronic variable (e.g., the electron density or Fock matrix) is propagated and a dissipative force is added in the propagation to maintain the stability of the dynamics. Implementation of the approach in the self-consistent charge density functional tight-binding method makes possible simulations that are several hundred picoseconds in lengths, in contrast to earlier DFT-based BOMD calculations, which have been limited to tens of picoseconds or less. The increase in the simulation time results in a more meaningful evaluation of the DXL-BOMD method. A comparison is made of the number of iterations (and time) required for convergence of the SCF with DXL-BOMD and a standard method (starting with a zero charge guess for all atoms at each step), which gives accurate propagation with reasonable SCF convergence criteria. From tests using NVE simulations of C2F4 and 20 neutral amino acid molecules in the gas phase, it is found that DXL-BOMD can improve SCF convergence by up to a factor of two over the standard method. Corresponding results are obtained in simulations of 32 water molecules in a periodic box. Linear response theory is used to analyze the relationship between the energy drift and the correlation of geometry propagation errors.
Effect of composition and pressure on phase transitions in FexO at low temperature
Authors: Glazyrin K. , Dubrovinsky L. , Klotz S. , Uhlarz M. , Wosnitza J. , Hansen Th. , Dubrovinskaia N.
Published: August 2011

We report the results of high-resolution neutron powder diffraction studies of FexO (x = 0.925, 0.94) in the vicinity of the low-temperature antiferromagnetic transition and at pressures up to 8 GPa. Our analysis shows that the P-T phase diagram of FexO is strongly affected by the composition and defect structure of the material. We observe the divergence of critical temperatures of magnetic and structural transitions. In contrast to the stoichiometric antiferromagnet MnO, we find no correlation between the magnitude of the magnetic moment of iron and the degree of the rhombohedral distortion in FexO. We suggest that the defect structure of antiferromagnetic FexO significantly influences the temperature of the structural transition.
Exchange interaction and Curie temperature in Ge1−xMnxTe ferromagnetic semiconductors
Authors: Lim S. T. , Bi J. F. , Hui Lu , Teo K. L.
Published: August 2011

We present the magnetotransport studies of Ge1−xMnxTe ferromagnetic semiconductor under hydrostatic pressure. The investigation of the normal and Hall resistivities provide an insight to the dependence of carrier concentration, mobility, and magnetic properties on pressure. Our results reveal that the application of pressure changes the band structure, which can be explained by a two valence band model. We observe the enhancement and reduction of Curie temperature within a pressure range of 0–24 kbar. Analysis within the framework of the Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida model allows us to identify the factors in controlling the Tc, in which the exchange interaction plays a predominant role in the formation of ferromagnetic phase.
Phase transition and structure of silver azide at high pressure
Authors: Hou Dongbin , Zhang Fuxiang , Ji Cheng , Hannon Trevor , Zhu Hongyang , Wu Jianzhe , Levitas Valery I. , Ma Yanzhang
Published: August 2011

Silver azide (AgN3) was compressed up to 51.3 GPa. The results reveal a reversible second-order orthorhombic-to-tetragonal phase transformation starting from ambient pressure and completing at 2.7 GPa. The phase transition is accompanied by a proximity of cell parameters a and b, a 3° rotation of azide anions, and a change of coordination number from 4-4 (four short, four long) to eight fold. The crystal structure of the high pressure phase is determined to be in I4/mcm space group, with Ag at 4a, N1 at 4d, and N2 at 8h Wyckoff positions. Both of the two phases have anisotropic compressibility: the orthorhombic phase exhibits an anomalous expansion under compression along a-axis and is more compressive along b-axis than c-axis; the tetragonal phase is more compressive along the interlayer direction than the intralayer directions. The bulk moduli of the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases are determined to be KOT = 39 ± 5 GPa with KOT’ = 10 ± 7 and KOT = 57 ± 2 GPa with KOT’ = 6.6 ± 0.2, respectively.
Ac conductivity and relaxation in CdO doped poly ethylene oxide-LiI nanocomposite electrolyte
Authors: Karmakar A. , Ghosh A.
Published: August 2011

We have studied the ac conductivity and relaxation in PEO-LiI electrolytes in which different concentrations of CdO nanoparticles (ranging from 0.05 to 0.2 wt. %) have been introduced. The ac conductivity data have been discussed in the framework of power law and electric modulus formalisms. The hopping frequency obtained from the power law analysis obeys the Vogel–Tamman–Fulcher relation and the sample possessing the highest hopping frequency shows the highest dc conductivity. Furthermore, the frequency exponent decreases with the increase of temperature, suggesting a weaker correlation among the Li+ ions. Scaling of the conductivity spectra has also been performed in order to obtain insight into the relaxation mechanisms. We have observed that the imaginary modulus spectra are much broader than the Debye peak-width, but are asymmetric and skewed toward the high frequency sides of the maxima. The modulus data have been fitted to the non-exponential Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts function and the value of the stretched exponent is fairly low, suggesting a wide distribution of relaxation times and cooperative motion of the ions in the nanocomposites.
Measurement and analysis of micro-scale adhesion for efficient transfer printing
Authors: Kim Min Sock , Park Jungyul , Choi Bumkyoo
Published: August 2011

The adhesion-based transfer printing process allows the devices to be fabricated through low temperature process, which is important for realizing flexible electronics with high mobility. Therefore, comprehensive understanding about adhesion between the solid object and the surface of elastomeric stamp (generally, polydimethylsiloxane is used) and the optimal strategy to control adhesion can support the effective and high yield transfer. In this paper, a novel adhesive force measurement system is developed to measure dynamic adhesive forces from the surface on the flexible stamp. The thermodynamic work of adhesion at the moment of debonding of a tip of sensor from the flexible stamp is modeled and used for developing the adhesion control strategy. The measurement results show that the work of adhesion is strongly dependent on the peel-off velocity of tip, while the indentation force has only minor effects on it. The effect of Young’s modulus of elastomeric stamp is also investigated using the model of work of adhesion based on the relation between the adhesive force and peel-off velocity. The elastomeric stamp with low Young’s modulus is preferred for efficient transfer printing.
Intense 2.0 μm emission properties and energy transfer of Ho3+/Tm3+/Yb3+ doped fluorophosphate glasses
Authors: Tian Ying , Xu Rongrong , Hu Lili , Zhang Junjie
Published: August 2011

Intense 2.0 μm emission has been obtained from Ho3+/Tm3+/Yb3+ triply doped fluorophosphate glass pumped by a conventional 980 nm laser diode. The spectroscopic properties and energy transfer mechanisms between Ho3+, Tm3+ and Yb3+ are analyzed. Based on the absorption spectra, the Judd-Ofelt parameters, radiation emission rates, radiative lifetime and branching ratios of Ho3+ ions are calculated. It is also found that the 2.0 μm emission of Ho3+ can be greatly enhanced under the excitation at 980 nm by incorporating Tm3+ and Yb3+ simultaneously. Additionally, the micro-parameters of the energy transfer processes are quantitatively analyzed. The energy transfer coefficient from Yb3+ to acceptors and from Tm3+ to Ho3+ can reach as high as 13.14 × 10−40 cm6/s and 23.39 × 10−40 cm6/s, respectively. This Ho3+/Tm3+/Yb3+ doped fluorophosphate glass possessing high energy transfer coefficient and excellent thermal stability is a promising candidate for efficient 2.0 μm laser.
Effect of grain sizes and shapes on phonon thermal conductivity of bulk thermoelectric materials
Authors: Wang Xingzhe , Yang Yumei , Zhu Linli
Published: August 2011

This paper presents a phonon transport model for bulk thermoelectric materials to investigate the effect of the grain sizes and grain shapes on phonon thermal conductivity. An analytical solution for the effective thermal conductivity contributing from the grains and grain boundaries of the bulk thermoelectric material is obtained, and the impact of the grain geometric characteristics on the thermal conductivity is analyzed. The theoretical model exhibits quite a well description on the often experimentally observed grain size-dependent thermal conductivity. Meanwhile it is demonstrated that the grain shapes significantly influence the thermal conductivity, especially for small grain sizes (with dimensionless values ξa<10). An optimal grain shape is achieved that leads to a minimum value of thermal conductivity of the bulk thermoelectric material.
Confluent Heun functions and separation of variables in spheroidal coordinates
Authors: Boyack Rufus , Lekner John
Published: August 2011

The Helmholtz equation and Schrödinger's equation for $H_2 ^ +$H2+ are separable in (respectively) oblate and prolate spheroidal coordinates. They share the same form of the angular equation. In both cases the radial and angular equations have solutions in terms of confluent Heun functions. We show that the zeros of the Wronskian of a pair of solutions to the angular equation give the allowed values of the separation of variables parameter. Since the Heun functions and their derivatives are implemented in Maple, this provides a new method of calculating the physical values of the separation of variables parameter, without programming. We also derive the asymptotic forms of the radial solutions of the Helmholtz equation, and obtain integral relations between the radial and angular solutions.
Core-softened fluids, water-like anomalies, and the liquid-liquid critical points
Authors: Salcedo Evy , de Oliveira Alan Barros , Barraz Ney M. , Chakravarty Charusita , Barbosa Marcia C.
Published: August 2011

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to examine the relationship between water-like anomalies and the liquid-liquid critical point in a family of model fluids with multi-Gaussian, core-softened pair interactions. The core-softened pair interactions have two length scales, such that the longer length scale associated with a shallow, attractive well is kept constant while the shorter length scale associated with the repulsive shoulder is varied from an inflection point to a minimum of progressively increasing depth. The maximum depth of the shoulder well is chosen so that the resulting potential reproduces the oxygen-oxygen radial distribution function of the ST4 model of water. As the shoulder well depth increases, the pressure required to form the high density liquid decreases and the temperature up to which the high-density liquid is stable increases, resulting in the shift of the liquid-liquid critical point to much lower pressures and higher temperatures. To understand the entropic effects associated with the changes in the interaction potential, the pair correlation entropy is computed to show that the excess entropy anomaly diminishes when the shoulder well depth increases. Excess entropy scaling of diffusivity in this class of fluids is demonstrated, showing that decreasing strength of the excess entropy anomaly with increasing shoulder depth results in the progressive loss of water-like thermodynamic, structural and transport anomalies. Instantaneous normal mode analysis was used to index the overall curvature distribution of the fluid and the fraction of imaginary frequency modes was shown to correlate well with the anomalous behavior of the diffusivity and the pair correlation entropy. The results suggest in the case of core-softened potentials, in addition to the presence of two length scales, energetic, and entropic effects associated with local minima and curvatures of the pair interaction play an important role in determining the presence of water-like anomalies and the liquid-liquid phase transition.
Explicitly correlated treatment of the Ar–NO+ cation
Authors: Halvick Philippe , Stoecklin Thierry , Lique François , Hochlaf Majdi
Published: August 2011

We present an application of the recently developed explicitly correlated coupled cluster method to the generation of the three-dimensional potential energy surface (PES) of the Ar–NO+ cationic complex. A good overall agreement is found with the standard coupled clusters techniques employing correlation consistent atomic basis sets (aug-cc-pVnZ, n= D, T, Q) of Wright et al. This PES is then used in quantum close-coupling scattering and variational calculations to treat the nuclear motions. The bound states energies of the Ar–NO+ complex obtained by both approaches are in good agreement with the available experimental results. The analysis of the vibrational wavefunctions shows strong anharmonic resonances between the low frequency modes (intermonomer bending and stretching modes) and the wavefunctions exhibit large amplitude motions.
Magnetic state of Mn3CuN explored by soft x ray magnetic circular dichroism
Authors: Takenaka K. , Shibayama T. , Ozawa A. , Hamada T. , Nakamura T. , Kodama K. , Kinoshita T.
Published: August 2011

The tetragonally distorted antiperovskite Mn3CuN exhibits large magnetostriction of up to 2000 ppm, due to the ferromagnetic shape memory effect. Magnetocrystalline anisotropy, which is deeply involved in the magnetostriction, is investigated for Mn3CuN via quantitative evaluation of spin and orbital magnetic moments using soft x ray magnetic circular dichroism. Although Cu and Mn have finite magnetic contributions, the Cu contribution may be too small to dominate the magnetism of Mn3CuN. The orbital magnetic moment of Mn is found to be negligibly small, suggesting small magnetocrystalline anisotropy. Even with small magnetocrystalline anisotropy, the system exhibits ferromagnetic shape memory effects, presumably because the simultaneously small crystallographic anisotropy enhances the magnetic shear stress acting across the twinning plane.
Geometric shape of invariant manifolds for a class of stochastic partial differential equations
Authors: Chen Guanggan , Duan Jinqiao , Zhang Jian
Published: August 2011

Invariant manifolds play an important role in the study of the qualitative dynamical behaviors for nonlinear stochastic partial differential equations. However, the geometric shape of these manifolds is largely unclear. The purpose of the present paper is to try to describe the geometric shape of invariant manifolds for a class of stochastic partial differential equations with multiplicative white noises. The local geometric shape of invariant manifolds is approximated, which holds with significant likelihood. Furthermore, the result is compared with that for the corresponding deterministic partial differential equations.