bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Piecewise affine approximations of fluxes and enzyme kinetics from in vivo13C labeling experiments
Authors: Abate Alessandro , Hillen Robert C. , Aljoscha Wahl S.
Published: March 2012

Owing to the ever increasing amount of available information on metabolic networks and, in particular, to the increase in information content from in vivo 13C dynamic labeling experiments, this work investigates the problem of reconstructing dynamic fluxes and enzyme kinetics. The model structure is based on the use of piecewise affine approximations. The optimization procedure at the basis of the model identification is improved by separating the parameter estimation procedure into two different phases. As a first step, a dynamic flux profile in time is reconstructed using functions that are piecewise affine (in time). To achieve scalability for this step, several approaches have been developed and compared. Afterwards, the time‐dependent profiles are embedded in the concentration space and the enzyme kinetic functions for single reactions are identified independently. This is an advantage compared with standard complete kinetic network approaches, which are typically characterized by hundreds of parameters, because now only a few need to be optimized simultaneously. Additionally, different kinetic formats can be rapidly compared. The overall approach is demonstrated using an informative in silico experiment. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Three‐Dimensional Electrospun Alginate Nanofiber Mats via Tailored Charge Repulsions
Authors: Bonino Christopher A. , Efimenko Kirill , Jeong Sung In , Krebs Melissa D. , Alsberg Eben , Khan Saad A.
Published: March 2012

The formation of 3D electrospun mat structures from alginate–polyethylene oxide (PEO) solution blends is reported. These unique architectures expand the capabilities of traditional electrospun mats for applications such as regenerative medicine, where a scaffold can help to promote tissue growth in three dimensions. The mat structures extend off the surface of the flat collector plate without the need of any modifications in the electrospinning apparatus, are self‐supported when the electric field is removed, and are composed of bundles of nanofibers. A mechanism for the unique formations is proposed, based on the fiber–fiber repulsions from surface charges on the negatively charged alginate. Furthermore, the role of the electric field in the distribution of alginate within the nanofibers is discussed. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy is used to analyze the surface composition of the electrospun nanofiber mats and the data is related to cast films made in the absence of the electric field. Further techniques to tailor the 3D architecture and nanofiber morphology by changing the surface tension and relative humidity are also discussed.
(Lysozyme Type VI)‐Stabilized Au8 Clusters: Synthesis Mechanism and Application for Sensing of Glutathione in a Single Drop of Blood
Authors: Chen Tzu‐Heng , Tseng Wei‐Lung
Published: March 2012

This paper presents a one‐pot approach for preparing highly fluorescent Au8 clusters by reacting the Au3+ precursor solution with lysozyme type VI (Lys VI) at pH 3. The fluorescence band of (Lys VI)‐stabilized Au8 clusters is centered at 455 nm on the excitation at 380 nm. Blue‐emitting Au8 clusters have a high quantum yield (∼56%), two fluorescence lifetimes, and a rare amount of Au+ on the surface of the Au core. When the pH of a solution of Au8 clusters increases suddenly to 12, the Au8 clusters gradually convert to Au25 clusters over time. This conversion is also observed in the case of (Lys VI)‐directed synthesis of Au25 clusters at pH 12. The pH‐induced conversion of Au8 to Au25 clusters suggests that the size of (Lys VI)‐stabilized gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) relies on the secondary structure of Lys VI, which is susceptible to pH change. Based on these results and previous literature, this paper proposes the possible mechanism for growing (Lys VI)‐stabilized Au8 and Au25 clusters. Additionally, (Lys VI)‐stabilized Au8 clusters could sense glutathione (GSH) through GSH‐induced core‐etching of Au8 clusters; the limit of detection at a signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3 for GSH is determined to be 20 nm. Except for cysteine, the selectivity of (Lys VI)‐stabilized Au8 clusters for GSH over amino acids is remarkably high. The practicality of using Au8 clusters to determine the concentration of GSH in a single drop of blood is also validated.
Interpretation of Tap Induced Cyclic Temperatures in the Blast Furnace Lining
Authors: Swartling Maria , Tilliander Anders , Saxén Henrik , Jönsson Pär G.
Published: March 2012

The thermal behavior of the blast furnace hearth was studied using modeling. The focus was the effect of the size and shape of the taphole clay layer around the taphole. Four different cases have been calculated: one reference case and three cases with different taphole clay layer geometries. It was found that the calculated peak‐to‐peak amplitudes of the lining temperatures during the tap cycles at the location of a thermocouple can be approximated as a linear function of the taphole clay layer thicknesses for all calculated cases. Modeling was also done where both the 90th and the 10th percentile of the observed peak‐to‐peak values of the studied tap cycles were included to describe the behavior of the operating furnace. The taphole region can be divided into three categories based on how well the model can describe the measured process data: below, at, and above taphole level. Below the taphole level, the measured lining temperature variations are smaller than for the calculated results. At the taphole level, the model can describe the behavior well. Above the taphole level the measured lining temperature variations are larger than for the calculated results. It was concluded that in order to make a more accurate heat transfer model of the taphole region, the presence of a skull build‐up below the taphole, erosion above the taphole, and the bath level variations need to be taken into account.
Efficient mutation testing of multithreaded code
Authors: Gligoric Milos , Jagannath Vilas , Luo Qingzhou , Marinov Darko
Published: March 2012

Mutation testing is a well‐established method for measuring and improving the quality of test suites. A major cost of mutation testing is the time required to execute the test suite on all the mutants. This cost is even greater when the system under test is multithreaded: not only are test cases from the test suite executed on many mutants but also each test case is executed—or more precisely, explored—for multiple possible thread schedules. This paper introduces a general framework for efficient exploration that can reduce the time for mutation testing of multithreaded code. The paper presents five techniques (four optimizations and one heuristic) that are implemented in a tool called MuTMuT within the general framework. Evaluation of MuTMuT on mutation testing of 12 multithreaded programs shows that it can substantially reduce the time required for mutation testing of multithreaded code.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
End‐to‐end delay and packet drop rate performance for a wireless sensor network with a cluster‐tree topology
Authors: Liu Wenjuan , Zhao Dongmei , Zhu Gang
Published: March 2012

In this paper, we study the delay performance in a wireless sensor network (WSN) with a cluster‐tree topology. The end‐to‐end delay in such a network can be strongly dependent on the relative location between the sensors and the sink and the resource allocations of the cluster heads (CHs). For real‐time traffic, packets transmitted with excessive delay are dropped. Given the timeline allocations of each CH for local and inter‐cluster traffic transmissions, an analytical model is developed to find the distribution of the end‐to‐end transmission delay for packets originated from different clusters. Based on this result, the packet drop rate is derived. A heuristic scheme is then proposed to jointly find the timeline allocations of all the CHs in a WSN in order to achieve the minimum and balanced packet drop rate for traffic originated from different levels of the cluster tree. Simulation results are shown to verify the analysis and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed CH timeline allocation scheme. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Levels of analysis: philosophical issues
Authors: Houng Allen Y.
Published: March 2012

A focal concern in the philosophy of cognitive science is whether the world is fundamentally organized into hierarchies of levels and whether mental phenomena exemplify such higher‐level regularities and hence are unexplainable by lower‐level theory. Levels of analysis represent different stances from which predictive and explanatory theories are constructed, and each level of analysis contains a set of kind terms representing things in nature, predicates representing properties or relations, and law‐like generalizations or principles. The concept of levels of analysis, which plays a central role in debates over the cognitive architecture of the mind in cognitive science, is concerned mainly with the choice of which level of analysis can be expected to maximize the predictability and explanatory power of cognitive modeling. The core philosophical issues concerning the levels of analysis are the problem of theoretical reduction between the levels, the concept of supervenience, the problem of emergent properties, and the conceptual coherence of the notion of downward causation. WIREs Cogn Sci 2012, 3:315–325. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1179

This article is categorized under:

Philosophy > Foundations of Cognitive Science
An early scientific report of ball lightning from Brazil
Authors: Farrona A. M. M. , Vaquero J. M.
Published: March 2012

Ball lightning is a curious, complex and multifaceted atmospheric phenomenon whose nature remains a subject of some controversy. Eyewitness reports of ball lightning allow a fuller and more objective description of the phenomenon to be formulated. This work presents a report describing a ball lightning event observed on 19 February 1783 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) by Bento Sanches Dorta.
FCNC portals to the dark sector
Authors: Kamenik Jernej F. , Smith Christopher
Published: March 2012

Abstract

The most general basis of operators parametrizing a low-scale departure from the SM particle content is constructed. The SM gauge invariance is enforced, and operators of lowest dimensions are retained separately for a new light neutral particle of spin 0, 1/2, 1, and 3/2. The basis is further decomposed into couplings to the SM Higgs/gauge fields, to pairs of quark/lepton fields, and to baryon/lepton number violating combinations of fermion fields. This basis is then used to systematically investigate the discovery potential of the rare FCNC decays of the K and B mesons with missing energy in the final state. The most sensitive decay modes in the s → d, b → d, and b → s sectors are identified and compared for each type of couplings to the new invisible state.
Moulting Black Holes
Authors: Bena Iosif , Chowdhury Borun D. , de Boer Jan , El-Showk Sheer , Shigemori Masaki
Published: March 2012

Abstract

We find a family of novel supersymmetric phases of the D1-D5 CFT, which in certain ranges of charges have more entropy than all known ensembles. We also find bulk BPS configurations that exist in the same range of parameters as these phases, and have more entropy than a BMPV black hole; they can be thought of as coming from a BMPV black hole shedding a “hair” condensate outside of the horizon. The entropy of the bulk configurations is smaller than that of the CFT phases, which indicates that some of the CFT states are lifted at strong coupling. Neither the bulk nor the boundary phases are captured by the elliptic genus, which makes the coincidence of the phase boundaries particularly remarkable. Our configurations are supersymmetric, have non-Cardy-like entropy, and are the first instance of a black hole entropy enigma with a controlled CFT dual. Furthermore, contrary to common lore, these objects exist in a region of parameter space (between the “cosmic censorship bound” and the “unitarity bound”) where no black holes were thought to exist.
Fire in the ashes: Can failed Alzheimer's disease drugs succeed with second chances?
Authors: Becker Robert E. , Greig Nigel H.
Published: March 2012

Background

Since Cognex, more than 200 Alzheimer's disease (AD) drug candidates have failed. Investigations have identified vulnerabilities of these AD drug developments to methodological errors. (−)‐Phenserine has been discussed as possibly failing due to flawed methods and practices in development.

Methods

We analyzed documentation of (−)‐phenserine's development for vulnerabilities to errors and designed interventions for a redevelopment that could provide fair or unbiased assessments of (−)‐phenserine target engagement, target relevance for human diseases, and adequate presumptive evidence of efficacy as a therapeutic for one or more diagnoses to justify registration‐required clinical trials.

Results

Similar to studies of 40 other AD developments, with (−)‐phenserine, we found little evidence of preemptive interventions against potentially invalidating errors, grounds to judge progress in development through stages as not scientifically justifiable, and variance excess and placebo group improvements as capable of accounting for outcomes from various studies in the development. We propose to compare a redevelopment resourced to counter these deficiencies with the original development as historical control to evaluate further our hypothesis that errors in development accounted for the (−)‐phenserine failure, specifically, and other AD drug failures, potentially.

Conclusions

We find support for our earlier proposal that (−)‐phenserine did not fail, but the methods of development did fail, to provide conditions where efficacy could be tested. We propose that redevelopment under conditions aimed to correct methodological deficiencies common in AD drug developments will successfully test efficacy for (−)‐phenserine and hopefully lead to a disease‐modifying addition to the AD therapeutic armamentarium.
Outcomes of Children With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome After Intensive Inpatient Rehabilitation
Authors: Brooke Valerie , Janselewitz Steven
Published: March 2012

Objective

To examine the effectiveness of an inpatient treatment program on eliminating pain and increasing function for children with complex regional pain syndrome.

Design

A retrospective chart review and follow‐up telephone survey.

Setting

A tertiary care hospital.

Patients

Retrospective chart review of 32 children admitted for treatment of complex regional pain syndrome. Nineteen completed the telephone survey.

Intervention

Intensive inpatient physical and occupation therapy in conjunction with psychological counseling, art therapy, recreational therapy, and child life specialists who focused on improving physical function and conditioning, stress management, and the development of self‐efficacy related to pain and stress.

Main Outcome Measurements

Resolution of pain and restoration of full function by patient or family report.

Results

All the children had failed various prior treatment approaches: 34% had resolution at the time of discharge; 78% of admissions and 89% of those with follow‐up had eventual resolution of pain; and 95% had full restoration of physical function at a median time from start of treatment of 2 months. Seven had recurrence and 5 were able to resolve the recurrence without further intervention from the medical community.

Conclusions

Intensive inpatient rehabilitation is effective for children with complex regional pain syndrome. Additional studies are necessary to compare this treatment with other approaches.
Why ‘Together We Are Strong’ does not work
Authors: Curry Jane L. , Göedl Doris
Published: March 2012

The Serbian Revolution of 2000, Georgian Rose Revolution of 2003, and Ukrainian Orange Revolution of 2004 are examined from the perspective of both the causes of popular engagement and the elite interaction. The authors argue that the model of Electoral Revolutions based on democracy promotion from outside and election fraud as a trigger for action does not fully explain either what brought people to the streets or why there was not a clear move to democratization in these cases. Instead, they show that corruption, failed administration, and state weakness were the triggers, that the opposition politicians were from the old administration, that people were repeating what they had done before in demonstrating, and that the mass movements did not result in the growth of civil society, increased popular engagement, or (on their own) significant democratization.
The fragmentation of the ocean: spray formation
Authors: Couder Yves
Published: March 2012

By what process can droplets be extracted out of the sea? This is an old problem, well-documented by precise field measurements of the size distribution of the spray aerosols. Lhuissier & Villermaux (J. Fluid Mech., this issue, vol. 696, 2012, pp. 5–44) study and characterize the bursting of an emerging bubble. They show that this single type of event can, by itself, generate the droplet size distributions in a sea spray. This is a remarkable result showing how, in a complex system, a statistical distribution can be entirely produced by the dynamics of one dominant phenomenon.
Slender-body theory for the generation of micrometre-sized emulsions through tip streaming
Authors: Castro-Hernández E. , Campo-Cortés F. , Gordillo José Manuel
Published: March 2012

We report experiments in which a flow rate ${Q}_{i} $ of a fluid with a viscosity ${\ensuremath{\mu} }_{i} $ discharges into an immiscible liquid of viscosity ${\ensuremath{\mu} }_{o} $ that flows in parallel with the axis of the injector. When the outer capillary number verifies the condition ${\mathit{Ca}}_{o} = {\ensuremath{\mu} }_{o} {U}_{o} / \sigma ~\geqslant ~5$, where ${U}_{o} $ and $\sigma $ indicate, respectively, the outer velocity and the interfacial tension coefficient, and if the inner-to-outer velocity ratio is such that ${U}_{i} / {U}_{o} = {Q}_{i} / (\lrm{\pi} {U}_{o} { R}_{i}^{2} )\ll 1$, with ${R}_{i} $ the inner radius of the injector, a jet is formed with the same type of cone–jet geometry as predicted by the numerical results of Suryo & Basaran (Phys. Fluids, vol. 18, 2006, p. 082102). For extremely low values of the velocity ratio ${U}_{i} / {U}_{o} $, we find that the diameter of the jet emanating from the tip of the cone is so small that drops with sizes below $1~\lrm{\ensuremath{\mu}} \mathrm{m} $ can be formed. We also show that, through this simple method, concentrated emulsions composed of micrometre-sized drops with a narrow size distribution can be generated. Moreover, thanks to the information extracted from numerical simulations of boundary-integral type and using the slender-body approximation due to Taylor (Proceedings of the 11th International Congress of Applied Mechanics, Munich, 1964, pp. 790–796), we deduce a third-order, ordinary differential equation that predicts, for arbitrary values of the three dimensionless numbers that control this physical situation, namely, ${\mathit{Ca}}_{o} $, ${\ensuremath{\mu} }_{i} / {\ensuremath{\mu} }_{o} $ and ${U}_{i} / {U}_{o} $, the shape of the jet and the sizes of the drops generated. Most interestingly, the influence of the geometry of the injector system on the jet shape and drop size enters explicitly into the third-order differential equation through two functions that can be easily calculated numerically. Therefore, our theory can be used as an efficient tool for the design of new emulsification devices.
Asymptotic analysis of a Hiemenz flow in a low-porosity medium with phase change
Authors: Kokubun Max A. E. , Fachini Fernando F.
Published: March 2012

In the present work, the features of liquid evaporation inside a low-porosity medium subjected to an impinging stream of hot gas is investigated analytically. The flow is analysed for a non-Darcy model, in which viscous and convective terms are considered in the Darcy pressure equation. A low-volatility liquid is considered, so that a low-vaporization regime is established. The rates of heat transfer between gas and solid and between liquid and solid are assumed to be high. Owing to differences between phase properties, in the system under study, different physical processes occur at different length scales. Using asymptotic expansions, expressions for the three phases that occur in this problem are obtained, in each of their length scales. The results predict that high injection temperatures are needed for phase change to occur, as a result of the low volatility of the liquid. Likewise, the enhancement of the vaporization rate due to heat conduction in the porous medium is quantified. The Hiemenz flow pressure term is modified to incorporate the effect of the porous medium, which is necessary for a solution to be found.
ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOUR OF RANDOM MARKOV CHAINS WITH TRIDIAGONAL GENERATORS
Authors: KLOEDEN PETER E. , KOZYAKIN VICTOR S.
Published: March 2012

Continuous-time discrete-state random Markov chains generated by a random linear differential equation with a random tridiagonal matrix are shown to have a random attractor consisting of singleton subsets, essentially a random path, in the simplex of probability vectors. The proof uses comparison theorems for Carathéodory random differential equations and the fact that the linear cocycle generated by the Markov chain is a uniformly contractive mapping of the positive cone into itself with respect to the Hilbert projective metric. It does not involve probabilistic properties of the sample path and is thus equally valid in the nonautonomous deterministic context of Markov chains with, say, periodically varying transition probabilities, in which case the attractor is a periodic path.
A Defence of AI-Functionalism Against Brandom’s Arguments from Holism and the Frame Problem
Authors: Schaefer Reiner
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT: Brandom argues that functionalism must ultimately fail because it will not be able to explain how we can holistically update our beliefs solely in terms of abilities possessed by non-linguistic things. In this paper I respond to this argument by arguing that non-linguistic animals encounter and overcome an analogous sort of holistic updating problem. I will also try to demystify holism and de-intellectualize language use/reasoning.
Pragmatisme et idées-forces. Alfred Fouillée fut-il une source du pragmatisme américain?
Authors: Chevalier J. M. C.
Published: March 2012

RESUME : La théorie des idées-forces d’Alfred Fouillée manifeste une proximité historique et intellectuelle avec la philosophie de la volonté de William James. Mais les critiques de Fouillée envers le pragmatisme le rapprochent aussi d’une interprétation peircienne valorisant la résistance du réel et la clarification des concepts. En revanche, la seule influence explicitement attestée par Peirce, concernant son tychisme, est une mystification.
ON KELLOGG'S THEOREM FOR QUASICONFORMAL MAPPINGS
Authors: KALAJ DAVID
Published: March 2012

We give some extensions of classical results of Kellogg and Warschawski to a class of quasiconformal (q.c.) mappings. Among the other results we prove that a q.c. mappingf, between two planar domains with smoothC1,αboundaries, together with its inverse mappingf−1, isC1,αup to the boundary if and only if the Beltrami coefficient μfis uniformly α Hölder continuous (0 < α < 1).
BEST CONSTANTS IN THE WEAK-TYPE ESTIMATES FOR UNCENTERED MAXIMAL OPERATORS
Authors: OSȨKOWSKI ADAM
Published: March 2012

Let μ be a Borel measure on ℝ. The paper contains the proofs of the estimates

and

Here A is a subset of ℝ, f is a μ-locally integrable function, μ is the uncentred maximal operator with respect to μ and cp,q, and Cp,q are finite constants depending only on the parameters indicated. In the case when μ is the Lebesgue measure, the optimal choices for cp,q and Cp,q are determined. As an application, we present some related tight bounds for the strong maximal operator on ℝn with respect to a general product measure.
The Eucharistic Theology and Ethics of Balthasar Hubmaier
Authors: MacGregor Kirk R.
Published: March 2012

During the initial decade of the Protestant Reformation, the German Anabaptist theologian Balthasar Hubmaier (1480–1528)1 functioned as a transitional figure between radical and magisterial reform. This observation is seen most clearly in the fact that Hubmaier, while concurring with his Anabaptist coreligionists on the necessity of believers’ baptism, dissented from their anti-statism and strict pacifism.2 Earning his doctor theologiae from the University of Ingolstadt under famous Catholic polemicist John Eck in 1512, Hubmaier was an essentially independent thinker who employed his academic training in an attempt to formulate doctrine that not only transcended the controversies of his day but also pointed Christians to the necessity of spiritual formation within a life of common discipleship. With this approach, Hubmaier turned to the Eucharist, second only to justification as the most divisive doctrine of the sixteenth century.3 Hubmaier objected to Roman Catholic transubstantiation, Lutheran consubstantiation, and Zwinglian sacramentarianism on the grounds that all of them, in their concern with the status of the elements, had lost sight of the internal transformation that Christ accomplishes in the faithful during the meal.
Changes in crude protein fractions of forage legumes during the spring growth and summer regrowth period
Authors: KRAWUTSCHKE M. , KLEEN J. , WEIHER N. , LOGES R. , TAUBE F. , GIERUS M.
Published: March 2012

Only a few previous studies have analysed the crude protein (CP) fractions of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System during the growth period of forage legumes. The objective of the present study was to investigate the changes in CP fractions during the spring growth and summer–autumn regrowth period of five forage legume species (alfalfa (also known as lucerne,Medicago sativaL.), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatusL.), kura clover (Trifolium ambiguumM.B.), red clover (Trifolium pratenseL.) and white clover (Trifolium repensL.)) grown in binary mixtures with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenneL.) and also in pure stands (two red clover cultivars). Additionally, the specific polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity was measured photometrically in the leaves of pure red clover swards. In both pure and mixed cropping, CP fraction A increased with advancing maturity, except for the legumes from mixed cropping in the summer–autumn growth period 2004 and 2005. The variation of CP fraction A was mostly positively related to the N yield and the amount of dinitrogen fixation. Although CP fraction A of pure red clover was negatively correlated with the specific PPO activity in the spring growth period, the specific PPO activity was less relevant for the variation of CP fraction A with respect to the whole growing season. CP fraction B generally made up the largest proportion of the CP. Pure red clover stands showed reducing amounts of CP fraction C during the growth period, whereas in legumes grown with ryegrass an increase was usually observed. Despite these differences, there was generally an increase of CP fraction C when the content of non-structural carbohydrates decreased. Red clover and birdsfoot trefoil herbage contained the highest proportions of CP fraction C in the CP, regardless of growth period and year. In conclusion, red clover and birdsfoot trefoil had a more favourable CP composition for ruminant nutrition compared to the other legume species, and in red clover this could not be clearly attributed to the specific PPO activity.
Assessment of herbage yield and quality traits of perennial ryegrasses from a national variety evaluation scheme
Authors: BURNS G. A. , GILLILAND T. J. , GROGAN D. , WATSON S. , O'KIELY P.
Published: March 2012

Perennial ryegrass evaluation schemes categorize varieties into three maturity (early, intermediate and late) and two ploidy (diploid and tetraploid) groups, and compare the relative yield, persistence and nutritive quality of varieties within these groups. The present study compared these groups for herbage yield, dry matter (DM) concentration and, using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS), four quality characteristics (in vitrocontent of digestible dry matter (CDDM), water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and crude protein (CP) concentrations, and buffering capacity). A total of 1208 plots were sown across 5 years in Irish Recommended List trials and then harvested 6–7 times in each of 2 harvest years. This also allowed an assessment of the effect of sward age. Maturity group had no significant effect on annual herbage yield, quality or DM concentration except forin vitroCDDM (P<0·01) but differed significantly forin vitroCDDM (P<0·01), WSC concentration (P<0·01) and buffering capacity (P<0·05) at the first silage harvest. Tetraploid swards had greater annual herbage yields (P<0·001),in vitroCDDM values (P<0·001) and WSC concentrations (P<0·01), but lower CP and DM concentrations (P<0·001) than diploids. Swards in their first full year produced an additional 5·17 t/ha DM (P<0·001) and had a higher (P<0·01) WSC concentration at the second silage harvest than in their second year, but did not differ significantly forin vitroCDDM and WSC, CP or DM concentrations. The present study showed that differences exist in yield, nutritive quality and ensilability indices between maturity and ploidy groups. These observations justify their assessment in variety comparative trials and facilitates particular groups being selected for individual farming systems to increase efficiency.
Effects of elevated CO2and temperature on seed quality
Authors: HAMPTON J. G. , BOELT B. , ROLSTON M. P. , CHASTAIN T. G.
Published: March 2012

Successful crop production depends initially on the availability of high-quality seed. By 2050 global climate change will have influenced crop yields, but will these changes affect seed quality? The present review examines the effects of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) and temperature during seed production on three seed quality components: seed mass, germination and seed vigour.

In response to elevated CO2, seed mass has been reported to both increase and decrease in C3plants, but not change in C4plants. Increases are greater in legumes than non-legumes, and there is considerable variation among species. Seed mass increases may result in a decrease of seed nitrogen (N) concentration in non-legumes. Increasing temperature may decrease seed mass because of an accelerated growth rate and reduced seed filling duration, but lower seed mass does not necessarily reduce seed germination or vigour.

Like seed mass, reported seed germination responses to elevated CO2have been variable. The reported changes in seed C/N ratio can decrease seed protein content which may eventually lead to reduced viability. Conversely, increased ethylene production may stimulate germination in some species. High-temperature stress before developing seeds reach physiological maturity (PM) can reduce germination by inhibiting the ability of the plant to supply the assimilates necessary to synthesize the storage compounds required for germination.

Nothing is known concerning the effects of elevated CO2on seed vigour. However, seed vigour can be reduced by high-temperature stress both before and after PM. High temperatures induce or increase the physiological deterioration of seeds. Limited evidence suggests that only short periods of high-temperature stress at critical seed development stages are required to reduce seed vigour, but further research is required.

The predicted environmental changes will lead to losses of seed quality, particularly for seed vigour and possibly germination. The seed industry will need to consider management changes to minimize the risk of this occurring.
In vitro encystment of Himasthla elongata cercariae (Digenea, Echinostomatidae) in the haemolymph of blue mussels Mytilus edulis as a tool for assessing cercarial infectivity and molluscan susceptibility
Authors: Levakin I.A. , Losev E.A. , Nikolaev K.E. , Galaktionov K.V.
Published: March 2012

Infectivity of Himasthla elongata cercariae to mussels, their second intermediate hosts, and resistance by these hosts to infection were assessed on the basis of the cercariae's ability to encyst in mussel haemolymph in vitro. A series of experimental in vivo infections of mussels with batches of cercariae, each batch released from a different single infected mollusc and referred to as a clone (due to their shared genotype), demonstrated that the results of the in vitro tests corresponded to the actual indices of infectivity/susceptibility of the parasites and their hosts. Most cercarial clones had high infectivity, with a few clones having very high or, at the other extreme, very low infectivity. A similar pattern was revealed in mussel resistance to cercarial infection. Most of the molluscs tested were moderately susceptible to cercarial infection, but at each extreme a small fraction (less than 10%) displayed very high or very low susceptibility. It was shown that there were no totally compatible or totally incompatible ‘cercaria clone/mussel’ combinations. Results obtained are compared with the data on intra-population variability using the characters parasite infectivity/host compatibility for trematode/mollusc–first intermediate host associations. Results are made relevant to actual infection levels in mussel settlements at the White Sea.
Agreement, attraction and architectural opportunism
Authors: ACUÑA-FARIÑA JUAN CARLOS
Published: March 2012

The purpose of this paper is to examine psycholinguistic work onattractionwith a view to enriching our knowledge of the grammar of agreement. Following Franck et al. (2006), I assume that the different theories of agreement should relate to the way speakers err when they implement agreement operations. As an aberrant computation of the mind, attraction is interesting due to its frequency: in English experiments 13% of complex NPs (i.e. NPs which consist of two or more constituent NPs) establish incorrect agreement with the verb (as in *the key to the cabinets are in the kitchen; Eberhard, Cooper Cutting & Bock 2005). This is what makes it a magnet for both linguistic and psycholinguistic research. Here I examine the main findings and models in the psycholinguistic literature, and how they relate to existing theories of agreement in grammar. It will be argued that agreement cannot be properly understood unless models incorporate an adequate measurement of the size of the morphological component of every language studied, as agreement operations are continuously sensitive to this. The general idea, which I extend from Berg (1998) and Acuña-Fariña (2009) is that a strong morphosyntactic component blocks (rather than facilitates) semantic interference, and that languages opportunistically use more or less semantics in establishing agreement ties depending not only on morphological richness but also on the direction of encoding.
Electromagnetic emission from laser wakefields in underdense magnetized plasmas
Authors: HU Z. D. , SHENG Z. M. , DING W. J. , WANG W. M. , DONG Q. L. , ZHANG J.
Published: March 2012

The laser wakefield structure in a magnetized underdense plasma is studied analytically and numerically. Because of the DC magnetic field perpendicular to the laser propagation direction, an electromagnetic component appears in addition to the normal electrostatic component. This electromagnetic component can transmit partially into vacuum at the plasma–vacuum boundary as shown by particle-in-cell simulation. It is found that the emission has components both at the fundamental plasma frequency and its harmonics if the wakefield is driven at a high amplitude. Comparing with the emission at the plasma frequency, the harmonic emission depends weakly upon the density profile at plasma–vacuum boundary and it can pass through the boundary almost without energy loss, providing a new method for the diagnostic of wakefields.
Measuring Living Standards in Different Colonial Systems: Some Evidence from South East Asia, 1900–1942
Authors: BOOTH ANNE
Published: March 2012

This paper investigates the evidence on living standards in colonial economies, with particular reference to South East Asia in the decades from 1900 to 1942. Various measures are investigated, including availability of basic needs, demographic indicators, especially mortality rates, anthropometric measures and wage data. The paper concludes that in spite of the growth in GDP which occurred in most parts of the region between 1900 and 1940, improvements in living standards were modest, and by the late 1930s most colonies had low educational enrolments and high mortality rates. The Philippines had probably the highest living standards in the region, using educational indicators, mortality rates and per capita GDP estimates. But even in the Philippines rice availability per capita was low, and nutritional levels among some segments of the population were also below acceptable standards.
XUV spectroscopic characterization of warm dense aluminum plasmas generated by the free-electron-laser FLASH
Authors: Zastrau U. , Burian T. , Chalupsky J. , Döppner T. , Dzelzainis T.W.J. , Fäustlin R.R. , Fortmann C. , Galtier E. , Glenzer S.H. , Gregori G. , Juha L. , Lee H.J. , Lee R.W. , Lewis C.L.S. , Medvedev N. , Nagler B. , Nelson A.J. , Riley D. , Rosmej F.B. , Toleikis S. , Tschentscher T. , Uschmann I. , Vinko S.M. , Wark J.S. , Whitcher T. , Förster E.
Published: March 2012

We report on experiments aimed at the generation and characterization of solid density plasmas at the free-electron laser FLASH in Hamburg. Aluminum samples were irradiated with XUV pulses at 13.5 nm wavelength (92 eV photon energy). The pulses with duration of a few tens of femtoseconds and pulse energy up to 100 µJ are focused to intensities ranging between 1013 and 1017 W/cm2. We investigate the absorption and temporal evolution of the sample under irradiation by use of XUV and optical spectroscopy. We discuss the origin of saturable absorption, radiative decay, bremsstrahlung and atomic and ionic line emission. Our experimental results are in good agreement with simulations.
Analysis of Orbital Dynamic Equation in Navigation for a Mars Gravity-Assist Mission
Authors: Ma Xin , Ning Xiaolin , Fang Jiancheng
Published: March 2012

Gravity Assist (GA) is a kind of transfer orbit technology widely used in interplanetary missions, which highly depends on navigation performance to succeed. The Orbital Dynamic Equation is an essential component in the navigation system, affected by factors including the numerical integrator, perturbing planets, integration step size, gravitational constant and planet ephemerides. To analyse the impact factors mentioned above and investigate an efficient system model, the propagation and navigation results are carried out in a Mars-assist explorer scenario; a specific case study is also provided in this paper. The results indicate that the planetary ephemeris uncertainty and integration size are the dominant error sources, and the integration step size is the dominant impact factor on the real-time performance. In this specific case, the ‘Orbital Dynamic Equation’ considering Sun and Mars perturbation is suggested for integration by RK4 with 60 s integration step size. The conclusions drawn by this study are particularly useful in the design, construction, and analysis of an autonomous navigation system for a GA explorer.
The Transformation of Political Institutions: Investments in Institutional Resources and Gradual Change in the National Party Committees
Authors: Galvin Daniel J.
Published: March 2012

Institutional theorists have made major progress in recent years examining gradual processes of endogenous institutional change. Building on this line of theorizing, this article highlights an often overlooked source of incremental change in political institutions: investments ininstitutional resources. Unlike path-dependent processes, which are relatively open at the front end and relatively closed at the back end, resource investments made in one period serve to widen an institution's path and enhance its capacity to undertake a broader range of activities in subsequent periods. Drawn out over time, these investments can gradually transform institutional operations and purposes. To illustrate these dynamics, this article reconsiders the transformation of the national party committees into “parties in service” to their candidates. The most influential theoretical explanation for this change is supplied by actor-centered functionalist accounts that either ignore the parties' institutional forms or treat them as mere reflections of actors' preferences. As an alternative, I suggest that investments in two types of institutional resources—human resources and information assets—were integral to the process through which each party changed. Piecemeal investments in these resources gradually enabled each national party committee to provide a wider range of campaign services to its candidates, thereby producing ostensibly new “functions” over time. Though the process of institutional change unfolded at very different times in each party, the same dynamics were on display in both cases.
Typing of the rabies virus in Chile, 2002–2008
Authors: YUNG V. , FAVI M. , FERNANDEZ J.
Published: March 2012

In Chile, dog rabies has been controlled and insectivorous bats have been identified as the main rabies reservoir. This study aimed to determine the rabies virus (RABV) variants circulating in the country between 2002 and 2008. A total of 612 RABV isolates were tested using a panel with eight monoclonal antibodies against the viral nucleoprotein (N-mAbs) for antigenic typing, and a product of 320-bp of the nucleoprotein gene was sequenced from 99 isolates. Typing of the isolates revealed six different antigenic variants but phylogenetic analysis identified four clusters associated with four different bat species. Tadarida brasiliensis bats were confirmed as the main reservoir. This methodology identified several independent rabies enzootics maintained by different species of insectivorous bats in Chile.
Aspects of identity in a second language: ING variation in the speech of Polish migrants living in Manchester, UK
Authors: Drummond Rob
Published: March 2012

This study uses variationist methods in an L2 context to investigate ING variation in the English speech of UK-based Polish migrants. The results suggest that such variation is as consistent in an L2 context as it is in an L1 context, with several of the expected L1 factors emerging as statistically significant constraints. However, two social factors emerge as particularly worthy of further discussion: the reversal of the typical gender pattern (in this case women are more likely to use the alveolar variant than men), and the question of whether the speaker intends to return to Poland in the future. Gender is discussed from the perspective of contexts of language use (occupation), and future plans is discussed in terms of its role in the construction of identity. There is a strong indication that the intention to return to Poland encourages the use of an ING variant, [ɪŋk], that signals this allegiance to the L1 identity.
Variation and change in Chinese Korean: The case of vowel /y/
Authors: Jin Wenhua
Published: March 2012

This study investigates the current status of the vowel /y/, a phoneme that has undergone complete diphthongization to [wi] in Seoul Korean (Choo & O'Grady, 2003; Kang, 1997; Kim, 1988; Martin, 1992), in Chinese Korean. Set in the context of language and dialect contact, where Chinese language and different local/supralocal Korean norms all come into play, especially when the closed local social network no longer exists, Chinese Korean develops unique patterns of variation for underlying /y/, patterns heretofore unreported in the studies of other Korean varieties. Chinese Korean provides a case in point toward the explanation for how effects exerted by linguistic and social factors within a speech community may alter the diffusion of a change with origins outside the local network.
Quick recovery of myocardium damage in a case of subacute thyroiditis
Authors: Fan Yang , Sha-yi Lai
Published: March 2012

We describe a case of quick recovery of myocardium damage in a 15-year-old adolescent with subacute thyroiditis. After 1 week of admission, his cardiovascular status began to show signs of improvement accompanied by the recovery of electrocardiogram and indicators of myocardial damage. We speculate that myocardium damage associated with subacute thyroiditis is a complication of common virus, although we did not detect any abnormal virus antibody and deoxyribonucleic acid in the patient's serum.
Beyond an IT-driven Knowledge Society: Knowledge Management as Intertwined Sociotechnical Circulation
Authors: Pellegrino Giuseppina
Published: March 2012

Starting from a critical review of Knowledge Management initiatives in managerial contexts, this contribution proposes an alternative approach to knowledge management as intertwined sociotechnical circulation. In most organizational settings, Knowledge Management has been driven by ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) and has equated knowledge with information, and so faces massive failures and conflicting results. In order to overcome the influence of the managerial debate in Knowledge Management, an alternative approach is proposed. Drawing on the Mobility Paradigm, Science and Technology Studies, and Practice-based Studies, knowledge and its management are re-framed as a collective, situated, heterogeneous and contextual practice, performed through sociotechnical processes embedded in multiple infrastructures. A short agenda of outcomes and consequences of this alternative Knowledge Management is then outlined, in order to emphasize the continuity and dialectic relationship between theory and practice, conceptual and operational levels, in enabling knowledge transformation and circulation.
Mobility of Cultures and Knowledge Management in Contemporary Europe
Authors: Taipale Sakari
Published: March 2012

In the aftermath of the fall of the Iron Curtain, the European Union (EU) has included more and more new member states from Central and Eastern parts of the European continent. This enlargement process has increased the cultural diversity of the European community as new languages and minority groups have been subsumed into the EU. It is the purpose of this article to discuss the challenges that result from the EU's enlargement, together with the added intra-European mobility of cultures, that affect the national knowledge infrastructures. Based on recent social scientific scholarship on mobility and cultures, this article proposes that knowledge management in contemporary Europe is not only a technological or organisational issue but also a cultural question. Since people are free to move within the EU, it becomes of greater importance not only to increase our understanding of other cultures but also to ensure that member states can provide public services for EU citizens arriving from other cultural regimes. The paper shows that, because of the increased mobility of cultures, national knowledge infrastructures have to be opened and remodelled. New forms of collaboration between national knowledge systems are needed to guarantee the equal treatment of people representing different cultures in contemporary Europe.