bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High connectivity among habitats precludes the relationship between dispersal and range size in tropical reef fishes
Authors: Mora Camilo , Treml Eric A. , Roberts Jason , Crosby Kate , Roy Denis , Tittensor Derek P.
Published: June 2011

The hypothesis that pelagic larval duration (PLD) influences range size in marine species with a benthic adult stage and a pelagic larval period is intuitively attractive; yet, studies conducted to date have failed to support it. A possibility for the lack of a relationship between PLD and range size may stem from the failure of past studies to account for the effect of species evolutionary ages, which may add to the dispersal capabilities of species. However, if dispersal over ecological (i.e. PLD) and across evolutionary (i.e. species evolutionary age) time scales continues to show no effect on range size then an outstanding question is why? Here we collected data on PLD, evolutionary ages and range sizes of seven tropical fish families (five families were reef‐associated and two have dwell demersal habitats) to explore the independent and interactive effects of PLD and evolutionary age on range size. Separate analyses on each family showed that even after controlling for evolutionary age, PLD has an insignificant or a very small effect on range size. To shed light on why dispersal has such a limited effect on range size, we developed a global ocean circulation model to quantify the connectivity among tropical reefs relative to the potential dispersal conferred by PLD. We found that although there are several areas of great isolation in the tropical oceans, most reef habitats are within the reach of most species given their PLDs. These results suggest that the lack of habitat isolation can potentially render the constraining effect of dispersal on range size insignificant and explain why dispersal does not relate to range size in reef fishes.
Rapid altitudinal migration of mountain plants in Taiwan and its implications for high altitude biodiversity
Authors: Jump Alistair S. , Huang Tsurng‐Juhn , Chou Chang‐Hung
Published: June 2011

Mountain systems throughout the globe are characterized by high levels of species richness and species endemism. Biodiversity, however, is not distributed evenly with altitude, but often declines from mid to high altitudes. Conversely, endemic species may be over‐represented at high altitudes. Upward elevational range shifts of mountain species have been reported in response to ongoing changes in climate, yet the reports are dominated by studies on woody species and mountains at high latitudes. We investigated spatial and temporal changes in the mountain biodiversity in the subtropical island of Taiwan, based on historical survey and resurvey data during the period 1906–2006. We found that upper altitudinal limits of mountain plant distributions have risen by ca 3.6 m yr−1 during the last century, in parallel with rising temperatures in the region. Although species, genus, and family richness decline with altitude, ca 55% of species at the highest altitudes are endemic to the island. Given the steep decline in land area with increasing elevation, these high altitude areas are disproportionately important for plant biodiversity when richness and endemism are standardized by available land area. We argue that the distributional shift that we report, in combination with the altitudinal distribution of plant diversity, is likely to pose a major threat to high mountain species of this highly biodiverse island, a threat that is becoming increasingly evident for high mountain plants throughout the globe.
Extracellular matrix in angiogenesis: dynamic structures with translational potential
Authors: Eming Sabine A. , Hubbell Jeffrey A.
Published: June 2011

Abstract:  The vascular network is an integral component of most organs. Beyond assuring an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients for normal tissue function, vascular structures provide also a critical interface in the balance of tissue homoeostasis and immune functions. Therefore, understanding the biology of the vascular system is a challenging and important objective because it is vital to many physiological and pathological processes. Unravelling mechanisms of blood vessel expansion and remodelling would offer therapeutic options to ameliorate disorders that are currently leading causes of mortality and morbidity, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic inflammatory disorders, diabetic retinopathy, tissue defects caused by trauma or chronic skin ulcers. This article will review cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling angiogenesis in the light of recent reports and data from our own laboratories. We will focus on the interaction of growth factors with extracellular matrix (ECM) components during the formation of vascular structures in health and disease. Finally, this article will provide a rationale for targeting the ECM–morphogen interplay for therapeutic angiogenesis.
Tacit Consent: The Church and Birth Control in Northern Italy
Authors: Dalla‐Zuanna Gianpiero
Published: June 2011

This article employs novel documentation to examine ways in which the Church's moral rules on contraception were (or were not) communicated to parishioners in a predominantly Catholic context in a period of rapid fertility decline: the diocese of Padua, in the northeastern Italian region of Veneto, during the first half of the twentieth century. The account is based on documents that have until now been overlooked: the moral cases discussed during the periodic meetings among Padua priests in the years 1916–58, and the written answers provided by priests in response to a question asked of them concerning their efforts to combat the limiting of births. This documentation reveals the limited effect on the reproductive behavior of the position of the Catholic Church against birth control.
Overcoming Methodological Challenges in Evaluating Health Communication Campaigns: Evidence from Rural Bangladesh
Authors: Guilkey David K. , Hutchinson Paul L.
Published: June 2011

In this study, we examine the effectiveness of the Smiling Sun multimedia health communication campaign in encouraging women to use family health services in rural Bangladesh. We control for endogenous program placement and address the potential endogeneity of self‐reported campaign exposure in health‐behavior equations by estimating a set of exposure, contraceptive‐use, and antenatal‐care equations by full information maximum likelihood (FIML). We find that evaluation methods that do not take into account these nonrandom characteristics of communication and program exposure may produce underestimates of program benefits. Relative to the exposure effect of 3.7 percentage points in the simple model of contraceptive use, the exposure effect in the FIML model is a larger 5.5 percentage points, corresponding to as many as 40,000 additional contraceptive users. We conclude that evaluations of health communication campaigns would benefit from methods such as estimation by FIML that address nonrandom exposure and program targeting.
Scaling Up Community Provision of Injectables through the Public Sector in Uganda
Authors: Krueger Kirsten , Akol Angela , Wamala Patricia , Brunie Aurélie
Published: June 2011

This case study presents service monitoring data and programmatic lessons from scaling up Uganda's community‐based distribution of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA, marketed as Depo‐Provera) to the public sector in two districts. We describe the process and identify implementation opportunities and challenges, including modifications to the service model. Analysis of monitoring data indicates that the number of women initiating DMPA with a community health worker (CHW) was 56 percent higher than the number of new DMPA acceptors served by clinics. Including continuing DMPA users, about three of every four DMPA clients chose CHWs as their service delivery point. CHW provision appears to be the preferred method of delivery for new DMPA users in this study, and may appeal even more to continuing clients. Lessons from scaling up in Uganda's public sector include recognizing the needs for ongoing assessment of support, a process to gain community “ownership,” and spontaneous innovations to supplement CHW supervision.
Non‐Bisphosphonate Inhibitors of Isoprenoid Biosynthesis Identified via Computer‐Aided Drug Design
Authors: Durrant Jacob D. , Cao Rong , Gorfe Alemayehu A. , Zhu Wei , Li Jikun , Sankovsky Anna , Oldfield Eric , McCammon J. Andrew
Published: June 2011

The relaxed complex scheme, a virtual‐screening methodology that accounts for protein receptor flexibility, was used to identify a low‐micromolar, non‐bisphosphonate inhibitor of farnesyl diphosphate synthase. Serendipitously, we also found that several predicted farnesyl diphosphate synthase inhibitors were low‐micromolar inhibitors of undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase. These results are of interest because farnesyl diphosphate synthase inhibitors are being pursued as both anti‐infective and anticancer agents, and undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase inhibitors are antibacterial drug leads.
Unique Challenges of Child Development Research in Sovereign Nations in the United States and Canada
Authors: Thompson Nicole L. , Whitesell Nancy Rumbaugh , Galliher Renee V. , Gfellner Barbara M.
Published: June 2011

Abstract— Native children have been underrepresented in child development research in the United States and Canada. Their omission from studies is often attributable to specific challenges that add layers of complexity to the research process and require extensive commitment, time, and resources on the part of researchers. This article provides an overview of challenges specific to research in sovereign Native nations, including coordinating tribal and university research review processes, allowing for tribal review of publications and presentations, advocating for funding, adapting research timelines, and negotiating ownership of data. In the end, the complex interplay between tribal governments, review boards, academic institutions, and funding agencies is worth navigating, not only because of the benefits that researchers may be able to bring to Native children but also because of the important lessons that Native children can bring to researchers, helping them to broaden their perspectives on the processes of child development.
Culture and Neuroscience in Developmental Psychology: Contributions and Challenges
Authors: Miller Joan G. , Kinsbourne Marcel
Published: June 2011

Abstract— Even with the recent exponential growth in neuroscience research, relatively little attention has been given to cultural influences on brain maturation. In the case of psychological processes that are culturally variable, work in cultural developmental neuroscience is vital in determining the degree of generality that can be attributed to neuroscientific findings and in providing unique insight into how developmental neurobiology interacts with sociocultural parameters. The present article highlights contributions of cultural research in developmental neuroscience in identifying both common and culturally variable brain–behavior pathways and in understanding the nature and extent of brain plasticity. It also points to the importance of cultural work in highlighting the constitutive role of collective meanings in psychological phenomena and in preventing the drawing of unwarranted deterministic conclusions from neurological evidence.
Genotyping HapSTR loci: phase determination from direct sequencing of PCR products
Authors: SORENSON MICHAEL D. , DaCOSTA JEFFREY M.
Published: June 2011

HapSTRs combine information from a microsatellite (or simple tandem repeat, STR) with one or more single nucleotide polymorphisms in the DNA sequence immediately flanking the STR. These loci may offer increased power for the estimation of demographic parameters, but also present some challenges for data collection and analysis. We describe a process for inferring HapSTR alleles, including the flanking haplotypes, STR alleles and their phase relative to each other, directly from DNA sequence electropherograms of PCR products from heterozygous individuals. Our approach eliminates the need for more costly and time‐consuming processes, such as cloning or acrylamide gel electrophoresis to separate alleles prior to sequencing.
Recent discoveries of armyworms in Japan and their species identification using DNA barcoding
Authors: SUTOU M. , KATO T. , ITO M.
Published: June 2011

Long columns of migrating larval sciarid armyworms were discovered in central and northern Japan, specifically Kanagawa, Gunma, Miyagi and Akita prefectures, as well as Hokkaido. This is the first examination of armyworms in East Asia. In Europe, armyworms have been identified as Sciara militaris, belonging to the family Sciaridae (sciarid flies or black fungus gnats), by rearing them to adulthood. In Japan, we were unable to obtain live samples for rearing; therefore, DNA barcodes were obtained from the samples of armyworms collected in the Gunma and Miyagi prefectures. The DNA barcodes were compared with those obtained from the following samples: pupae of S. militaris from UK, adults of Sciara kitakamiensis, Sciara humeralis, Sciara hemerobioides, Sciara thoracica, Sciara helvola and Sciara melanostyla from Japan, and adults of one undescribed Sciara species from Malaysia. Neighbour‐joining, maximum parsimony, and maximum likelihood analyses revealed that the armyworms discovered in Japan are S. kitakamiensis. Although adults of this species have been recorded in several locations in Japan, this is the first report of migrating larval armyworms. DNA barcodes were effectively used to link different life stages of this species. The average intraspecific and interspecific pairwise genetic distances of the genus Sciara were 0.3% and 12.6%, respectively. The present study illustrates that DNA barcodes are an effective means of identifying sciarid flies in Japan.
Toll‐like receptor signaling in liver regeneration, fibrosis and carcinogenesis
Authors: Seki Ekihiro , Park EekJoong , Fujimoto Jiro
Published: June 2011

Toll‐like receptors (TLR) are the germline‐coded pattern recognition receptors that sense microbial products. This signaling orchestrates complex signaling pathways that induce expression of inflammatory genes for host defense against invading microorganisms. Recent studies illustrate the role of TLR on non‐infectious inflammatory diseases. The liver has a unique anatomy bridging with the intestine by portal vein and bile ducts. This allows delivery of products from intestinal microflora directly into the liver. Subsequently, microbial products cause acute and chronic inflammation through TLR signaling in the liver. Not only exogenous products, but endogenous denatured products released from dying cells also facilitate inflammation even in sterile conditions. Consequently, these responses elicit tissue repairing including liver regeneration and fibrogenesis. An aberrant regenerative response may lead to hepatic carcinogenesis. In this review, we highlight the recently accumulated knowledge about TLR signaling in liver regeneration, fibrosis and carcinogenesis.
A comparison of the content, themes, and features of intrusive memories and rumination in major depressive disorder
Authors: Newby Jill M. , Moulds Michelle L.
Published: June 2011

Objectives. We compared the content/themes and features of intrusive memories versus rumination about such intrusions in a depressed sample.

Method. Participants with major depressive disorder (MDD) (N= 38) completed self‐report measures about a negative intrusive memory, and rumination in response to their memory.

Results. Both rumination and intrusive memories were highly sensory, and associated with similar negative emotions (commonly helplessness and sadness). Preliminary findings suggested that intrusive memories were experienced more frequently during the day, and rumination lasted longer. Participants ruminated about a wide range of themes including the causes of the event in the memory, and the negative impact of the memory (and the recalled event) on their relationships, identity, and the future.

Conclusions. The shared features and bidirectional relationship between rumination and intrusive memories suggest that both potentially contribute to prolonged repetitive thinking in depression, and need to be addressed in treatment.
A text message programme designed to modify patients’ illness and treatment beliefs improves self‐reported adherence to asthma preventer medication
Authors: Petrie Keith J. , Perry Kate , Broadbent Elizabeth , Weinman John
Published: June 2011

Objective. While effective preventative medication is readily available for asthma, adherence is a major problem due to patients’ beliefs about their illness and medication. We investigated whether a text message programme targeted at changing patients’ illness and medication beliefs would improve adherence in young adult asthma patients.

Methods. Two hundred and sixteen patients aged between 16 and 45 on asthma preventer medication were recruited from pamphlets dispensed with medication and e‐mails sent to members of a targeted marketing website. Participants were randomized to receive individually tailored text messages based on their illness and medication beliefs over 18 weeks or no text messages. Illness and medication beliefs were assessed at baseline and at 18 weeks. Adherence rates were assessed by phone calls to participants at 6, 12, and 18 weeks and at 6 and 9 months.

Results. At 18 weeks, the intervention group had increased their perceived necessity of preventer medication, increased their belief in the long‐term nature of their asthma, and their perceived control over their asthma relative to control group (all p's < .05). The intervention group also significantly improved adherence over the follow‐up period compared to the control group with a relative average increase in adherence over the follow‐up period of 10% (p < .001). The percentage taking over 80% of prescribed inhaler doses was 23.9% in the control group compared to 37.7% in the intervention group (p < .05).

Conclusion. A targeted text message programme increases adherence to asthma preventer inhaler and may be useful for other illnesses where adherence is a major issue.
Statistical modelling of network panel data: Goodness of fit
Authors: Schweinberger Michael
Published: June 2011

Networks of relationships between individuals influence individual and collective outcomes and are therefore of interest in social psychology, sociology, the health sciences, and other fields. We consider network panel data, a common form of longitudinal network data. In the framework of estimating functions, which includes the method of moments as well as the method of maximum likelihood, we propose score‐type tests. The score‐type tests share with other score‐type tests, including the classic goodness‐of‐fit test of Pearson, the property that the score‐type tests are based on comparing the observed value of a function of the data to values predicted by a model. The score‐type tests are most useful in forward model selection and as tests of homogeneity assumptions, and possess substantial computational advantages. We derive one‐step estimators which are useful as starting values of parameters in forward model selection and therefore complement the usefulness of the score‐type tests. The finite‐sample behaviour of the score‐type tests is studied by Monte Carlo simulation and compared tot‐type tests.
Intelligent Support for Product Design: Looking Backward, Looking
Forward
Authors: Hayes Caroline C. , Goel Ashok K. , Tumer Irem Y. , Agogino Alice M. , Regli William C.
Published: June 2011

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineering this article will provide a retrospective of past research on intelligent systems in engineering design research, and new perspectives. Intelligent systems and expert design knowledge have become important and integral parts of systems that support product design; they are embedded in many CAD tools, design knowledge repositories, design assistants, and design critics. Such tools have become common place for assisting designers in creating new designs, modifying old ones, or storing expert design knowledge for later use by oneself, other designers or future generations. Intelligent systems are becoming increasingly important as computer technologies have matured, and global competition has demanded increasingly better products, faster. As these trends continue, intelligent systems will be increasingly necessary for competitiveness. This retrospective will present past advances in a range of areas from model-based and case-based reasoning, machine learning, biologically inspired design, creative design, and virtual design. The work described has roots in many disciplines including engineering, artificial intelligence, psychology, human factors and management science. We present this work with an aim to identify directions in which the field is moving, and more importantly, to gain insights into future directions and critical areas for future research investments.
Effects of Cycling Parameters on the Thermal Fatigue Life of Mixed SnAgCu/SnPb Solder Joints
Authors: Meilunas M. , Borgesen P.
Published: June 2011

The mandated switch of the overwhelming part of microelectronics assembly to lead-free soldering has left the manufacturers of many high reliability products, which are still exempt from the requirement to change, with a choice between imperfect alternatives. One of these involves the inclusion of lead-free BGAs and CSPs in a eutectic SnPb solder paste based reflow process. In order to assess the consequences of this for reliability it is not enough to subject samples to common accelerated tests. Mixing of the alloys is almost certain to affect the acceleration factors so that comparisons of test results may not reflect relative performances under service conditions. This was illustrated with for a set of model BGA components with 20 mil (0.5 mm) diameter SAC305 solder balls, which were reflow soldered onto printed circuit boards using a eutectic SnPb solder paste and tested in thermal cycling together with controls soldered with a SAC305 paste. Mixed joints were found to outperform pure SAC305 in −40/125°C tests but not in 0/100°C, and general trends suggest that mixed joints may compare more poorly in service.
Usefulness of specific calibration coefficients for gamma‐emitting sources measured by radionuclide calibrators in nuclear medicine
Authors: Bochud François O. , Laedermann Jean‐Pascal , Baechler Sébastien , Kosinski Marek , Bailat Claude J.
Published: June 2011

Purpose:

In nuclear medicine, the activity of a radionuclide is measured with a radionuclide calibrator that often has a calibration coefficient independent of the container type and filling.

Methods:

To determine the effect of the container on the accuracy of measuring the activity injected into a patient, The authors simulated a commercial radionuclide calibrator and 18 container types most typically used in clinical practice. The instrument sensitivity was computed for various container thicknesses and filling levels. Monoenergetic photons and electrons as well as seven common radionuclides were considered.

Results:

The quality of the simulation with gamma‐emitting sources was validated by an agreement with measurements better than 4% in five selected radionuclides. The results show that the measured activity can vary by more than a factor of 2 depending on the type of container. The filling level and the thickness of the container wall only have a marginal effect for radionuclides of high energy but could induce differences up to 4%.

Conclusions:

The authors conclude that radionuclide calibrators should be tailored to the uncertainty required by clinical applications. For most clinical cases, and at least for the low‐energy gamma and x‐ray emitters, measurements should be performed with calibration coefficients specific to the container type.
ICE decoupling technique for RF coil array designs
Authors: Li Ye , Xie Zhentian , Pang Yong , Vigneron Daniel , Zhang Xiaoliang
Published: June 2011

Purpose:

Parallel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) requires an array of RF coil elements with different sensitivity distributions and with minimal electromagnetic coupling. The goal of this project was to develop a new method based on induced current compensation or elimination (ICE) for improved coil element decoupling and to investigate its performance in phantom MR images.

Methods:

An electromagnetic decoupling method based on induced current compensation or elimination for nonoverlapping RF coil arrays was developed with the design criteria of high efficiency, easy implementation, and no physical connection to RF array elements. An eigenvalue/eigenvector approach was employed to analyze the decoupling mechanism and condition. A two‐channel microstrip array and an eight‐channel coil array were built to test the performance of the method. Following workbench tests, MR imaging experiments were performed on a 7T MR scanner.

Results:

The bench tests showed that both arrays achieved sufficient decoupling with a S21 less than −25 dB among the coil elements at 298 MHz. The MR phantom images demonstrated well‐defined sensitivity distributions from each coil element and the unique decoupling capability of the proposed ICE decoupling technique.B1 distributions of the individual elements were also measured and calculated.

Conclusions:

The theoretical analysis and experiments demonstrated the feasibility of the decoupling method for high field RF coil array designs without overlapping or direct physical connections between coil elements, which provide more flexibility for coil array design and optimization. The method offers a new approach to address the RF array decoupling issue, which is a major challenge in implementing parallel imaging.
Leveraging Crowdsourcing to Facilitate the Discovery of New Medicines
Authors: Norman Thea C. , Bountra Chas , Edwards Aled M. , Yamamoto Keith R. , Friend Stephen H.
Published: June 2011

Empowering the collective brain trust to perform drug discovery in an open access environment may de-risk an inherently tricky endeavor.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Enters a Nogo Zone
Authors: Muñoz Juan Pablo , Zorzano Antonio
Published: June 2011

In response to hypoxia-induced stress, the vascular remodeling protein Nogo-B plays a role in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
E-Cadherin and the Esophagus
Authors: Lin Richard J.
Published: June 2011

A molecular marker of gastroesophageal reflux disease might lead to early diagnosis and treatment.
The Israeli abortion committees' process of decision making: an ethical analysis
Authors: Rimon-Zarfaty Nitzan , Jotkowitz Alan
Published: June 2011

The Israeli law of abortions (1977) legally authorises hospital committees to decide upon women's requests for selective abortion. One of the law's clauses determines that abortions can be approved in cases of an embryopathy. However, the law does not provide any clear definitions of those fetal ‘physical or mental defects’ in terms of severity and/or likelihood, which remain open to interpretation by the committee members. This paper aimed to determine which ethical methodologies are used by committee members and advisors as they face the dilemma of abortion approval due to mild to moderate possible embryopathy. Twenty interviews demonstrated that they use mainly a combination of deontology and a contextual–relational model. Their ethical considerations are both contextual such as the family's/woman's relational network and are influenced by the ethical principles of autonomy and in cases of late abortions the value of life. The findings reveal a paradoxical picture: on the one hand, committee members hold liberal perceptions and in practice abortion requests are very seldom rejected. On the other hand, the Israeli abortion law and practice of abortion committees is still problematical from liberal and feminist rights perspectives. This paradox is discussed further by reflecting upon the relevant theory as well as the Israeli context. The paper concludes by suggesting that within the specific Israeli sociopolitical climate the requirement for committee approval of what should be a private decision might be necessary in order to placate religious or other opposition to abortion.
Treatment of a intracranial stenosis with a vulnerable plaque under proximal flow reversal with balloon angioplasty and stent placement: Figure 1
Authors: Gao Michael C , Gemmete Joseph J , Pandey Aditya S , Chaudhary Neeraj
Published: June 2011

Intracranial stenosis is associated with a high risk of ischemic events, even with medical treatment. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) is an accepted intervention for addressing a moderate intracranial stenosis (≥50%) that is refractory to medical treatment. Distal emboli are seen in 34% to 70% of patients on MRI diffusion weighted images post PTAS. We present a unique case of an intracranial stenosis with a vulnerable plaque treated with PTAS under proximal flow reversal to decrease the risk of possible distal embolization.
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing for the evaluation of perioperative risk in non-cardiopulmonary surgery
Authors: Hennis Philip J , Meale Paula M , Grocott Michael P W
Published: June 2011

The use of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) as a preoperative risk stratification tool for a range of non-cardiopulmonary surgery is increasing. The utility of CPET in this role is dependent on the technology being able to identify accurately and reliably those patients at increased risk of perioperative events when compared with existing risk stratification tools. This article identifies and reviews systematically the current literature regarding the use of CPET as a preoperative tool for stratifying risk in major non-cardiopulmonary surgery. Specifically, it focuses on evaluating the capacity of CPET variables to predict the risk of postoperative complications and mortality in comparison to other methods of risk assessment. Furthermore, the potential for combining results from CPET and non-CPET methods of risk prediction to enhance the capacity to identify high risk patients is considered. The review indicates that CPET can identify patients at increased risk of adverse perioperative outcomes. However, the selection of variables and threshold values to indicate high risk differ for different surgical procedures and underlying conditions. Furthermore, the available data suggest that CPET variables outperform alternative methods of preoperative risk stratification. Several studies also identify that CPET variables may be used in combination with non-CPET variables to increase perioperative risk prediction accuracy. These findings illustrate that CPET has the capacity to identify patients at increased risk of adverse outcome before a range of non-cardiopulmonary surgical procedures. Further research is required to optimise its use, potentially by combining CPET results with alternative methods of risk stratification.
SEPARABILITY OF THE MASSIVE DIRAC EQUATION AND HAWKING RADIATION OF DIRAC PARTICLES IN THE CHARGED AdS–KERR–TAUB–NUT BLACK HOLE
Authors: MAO PU-JIAN , JIA LIN-YU , REN JI-RONG
Published: June 2011

We investigate the separability of massive Dirac equation in the charged AdS–Kerr–Taub–NUT black hole. It is shown that the Dirac equation can be separated by variables into purely radial and purely angular parts in this background spacetime. From the separated solutions for massive Dirac equation, a first-order symmetric operator that commutes with the Dirac operator is constructed and expressed in terms of Killing–Yano tensor admitted by the charged AdS–Kerr–Taub–NUT spacetime. Then the Hawking radiation of Dirac particles in the background of charged AdS–Kerr–Taub–NUT black hole is investigated via the Damour–Ruffini–Sannan method. It is shown that quantum thermal effect of the Dirac particles in the charged AdS–Kerr–Taub–NUT black hole has the same character with that of the scalar particles.
ORDERS OF BRANCHED COVERINGS OF LINKS
Authors: SALGUEIRO ANTÓNIO
Published: June 2011

Let M, M′ be compact oriented 3-manifolds and L′ a link in M′. We prove that, under certain conditions, the topological types of M and (M′, L′) determine the degree of a cyclic covering p : M → M′, branched over L′.
Efficient synthesis and reactions of 1,2-dipyrrolylethynes
Authors: Tanui Hillary K. , Hao Erhong , Ihachi Moses I. , Fronczek Frank R. , Smith Kevin M. , Vicente M. Graça H.
Published: June 2011

Various dipyrroles possess important motifs for construction of pyrrole-containing pigments. A series of 1,2-dipyrrolylethynes (4a–d) has been efficiently synthesized using an improved one-pot double Sonagashira coupling from trimethylsilylethyne and various 2-iodopyrroles. The resulting 1,2-dipyrrolylethynes were further transformed into novel indolyl-, ethenyl- and carboranyl-dipyrroles (5–7) using the Larock indole synthesis, stereoselective catalytic hydrogenation, or B10H14 . Indolyl-dipyrroles were found to selectively bind fluoride ions using one pyrrolic and the indolyl NHs, whereas the carboranyl- and ethenyl-dipyrroles are potentially valuable precursors for the synthesis of porphyrin isomers and expanded pigments.
Two Examples of Quantum Dynamical Semigroups
Authors: Bodzioch Małgorzata , Domsta Joachim
Published: June 2011

The Hamiltonians of the considered bi-partite systems are of the form [Formula: see text] Subindex S corresponds to the observed system and R to the reservoir (the enviroment of S). Two classes of systems are distinguished: the discrete-continuous (D-C) and the continuous-continuous (C-C) models. In both cases resevoir operators MR and HR are of continuous spectrum type. In D-C models the operators HS and QS possess discrete spectra. In C-C models, the operators HS and QS are of continuous spectrum type. In each case of our examples the semigroup property for the reduced dynamics of system S is obtained under particular circumstances, depending on the diagonal of the density matrix of the reference state for R. In D-C models, due to discrete spectrum of QS, the semigroup property of the reduced dynamics of the reservoir R is shown to be impossible, unless the coupling to S is trivial.
Proof of a Modified Jaynes's Estimation Theory
Authors: Streater R. F.
Published: June 2011

It is proved that the state of maximum entropy, having observed values for the n observables, X1,…,Xn, is the same state that minimises the matrix of covariances of any n locally unbiased estimators for n parameters for the probability distribution of X1,…,Xn. We sketch how to get a similar result in quantum theory, in which X1,…,Xn are (not necessarily commuting) quadratic forms that are bounded relative to a positive self-adjoint operator H such that exp (-βH) is of trace-class for some positive β.
UNDERSTANDING INNOVATION ADOPTION: EFFECTS OF ORIENTATION, PRESSURE AND CONTROL ON ADOPTION INTENTIONS
Authors: UNSWORTH KERRIE , SAWANG SUKANLAYA , MURRAY JENNIFER , NORMAN PAUL , SORBELLO TAMMA
Published: June 2011

We develop and test a theoretically-based integrative framework of key proximal factors (orientation, pressure, and control) that helps to explain the effects of more general factors (the organisation's strategy, structure, and environment) on intentions to adopt an innovation one year later. Senior managers from 134 organizations were surveyed and confirmatory factor analyses showed that these hypothesized core factors provided a good fit to the data, indicating that our framework can provide a theoretical base to the previous, largely atheoretical, literature. Moreover, in a subgroup of 63 organizations, control mediated the effects of organizational strategy and centralisation on organizational innovation adoption intentions one year later. We suggest this model of core factors enables researchers to understand why certain variables are important to organisational innovation adoption and promotes identification of fertile research areas around orientation, pressure and control, and it enables managers to focus on the most proximal triggers for increasing innovation adoption.
GALLIUM NITRIDE NANOWIRES ENHANCED HIGH-EFFICIENCY COLD CATHODE FLUORESCENT LAMP
Authors: TSAI JEFF. T. H. , LIAO ZI-JIE
Published: June 2011

We demonstrated a cold cathode fluorescent lamp that contains gallium nitride ( GaN ) nanowires at the electrode surfaces in a gas discharge light source to enhance the power efficiency of this luminance system. GaN in the nanowire structure has a high geometric aspect ratio, which makes it an ideal plasma ignition enhancer. The nanostructure enhancer not only improves a lower ignition voltage but also eliminates the use of mercury in the conventional cold cathode fluorescent lamp system. Due to high temperature of plasma, the GaN nanowires are partially dissociated to release the Ga ions into the lamp. Because the Ga ion has a large capture cross-section of electrons, it helps the lamp electrodes to maintain a high electric resistance. This could enhance the power efficiency and prevent the sputtering effect on the electrode to improve the lifetime of the lamp. This mercury-free approach also makes such cold cathode fluorescent lamp as an environment-friendly device.
ENHANCEMENT OF THERMOELECTRIC POWER FACTOR BY A SILICON SPACER IN MODULATION-DOPED Si-HMS-Si
Authors: HOU Q. R. , GU B. F. , CHEN Y. B. , HE Y. J.
Published: June 2011

The introduction of an un-doped silicon layer (spacer) enhances significantly the thermoelectric power factor in modulation-doped Si(Al)-MnSi1.7-Si(Al) sandwich structure. This un-doped silicon layer is inserted between the MnSi1.7 (HMS) and Al -doped silicon layers. With a proper spacer thickness, the electrical resistivity decreases sharply and is weakly dependent on temperature from 300 K to 683 K. As a result, the thermoelectric power factor can reach 0.973 × 10-3 W/m-K2 at 683 K, which is about ten times larger than that of an ordinary MnSi1.7 film without modulation doping.
SYNTHESIS AND FIELD EMISSION PROPERTIES OF SnS2 AND In-DOPED SnS2 WITH HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE
Authors: ZHONG H. X. , WANG C. X.
Published: June 2011

A simple hydrothermal route was employed to prepare flower-like SnS2 and In -doped SnS2 by using biomolecular L-cysteine as sulfur source. The synthetic samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy in detail. Furthermore, the field emission from both the materials was investigated, it was found that both of them have excellent field emission properties, and the doped In has enhanced the field emission properties.
Equity Trading in the 21st Century
Authors: Angel James J. , Harris Lawrence E. , Spatt Chester S.
Published: June 2011

The US equity market has changed dramatically in recent years. Increasing automation and the entry of new trading platforms have resulted in intense competition among trading platforms.

Despite these changes, traders still face the same challenges as before. They seek to minimize the total cost of trading, including commissions, bid/ask spreads, and market impact. New technologies allow traders to implement traditional strategies more effectively. For example, dark pools and indications of interest are just an updated form of tactics that NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) floor traders used to search for counterparties while minimizing the exposure of their clients' trading interest to prevent front running.

Virtually every measurable dimension of US equity market quality has improved. Execution speeds and retail commissions have fallen. Bid-ask spreads have fallen and remain low, although they spiked upward along with volatility during the recent financial crisis. Market depth has increased. Studies of institutional transactions costs find US costs among the lowest in the world. Unlike during the Crash of 1987, the US equity market mechanism handled the increase in trading volume and volatility without disruption. However, our markets lack a market-wide risk management system that would deal with computer-generated chaos in real time, and our regulators should address this.

"Make or take" pricing, the charging of access fees to market orders that "take" liquidity and paying rebates to limit orders that "make" liquidity, causes distortions that should be corrected. Such charges are not reflected in the quotations used for the measurement of best execution. Direct access by nonbrokers to trading platforms requires appropriate risk management. Front running orders in correlated securities should be banned.
Gene expression analysis characterizes antemortem stress and has implications for establishing cause of death
Authors: Jardine David , Cornel Leanne , Emond Mary
Published: June 2011

Within the field of forensic pathology, determination of the cause of death depends upon identifying physical changes in the corpse or finding diagnostic laboratory abnormalities. When such perturbations are absent, definitive assignment of a cause of death may be difficult or impossible. An example of such a problem is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), a common cause of neonatal mortality that does not produce physical findings or laboratory abnormalities. Although respiratory failure as a cause of SIDS represents the most widely held hypothesis, sudden cardiac death and hyperthermia have also been advanced as possible causes. We hypothesize that each of these physiological stresses would produce a different pattern of premortem gene expression and that these patterns of gene expression would remain evident in tissues collected postmortem. If these patterns were sufficiently distinctive, they could be used to identify the cause of death. Using an infant mouse model, we compared gene expression patterns in liver tissue after sudden death, lethal hyperthermia, and lethal hypoxia. Each of these conditions produced readily distinguishable differences in gene expression patterns. With the K-nearest neighbor classification algorithm, only 10 genes are necessary to correctly classify samples. If the liver tissue was not harvested immediately after death, additional alteration in gene expression patterns resulted; however, these alterations did not affect the group of genes used to classify the samples. Our findings suggest that gene expression analysis from tissues collected postmortem may provide useful clues about certain physiologic stresses that may precede death.
Solving the Minimum Label Spanning Tree Problem by Mathematical Programming Techniques
Authors: Chwatal Andreas M. , Raidl Günther R.
Published: June 2011

We present exact mixed integer programming approaches including branch-and-cut and branch-and-cut-and-price for the minimum label spanning tree problem as well as a variant of it having multiple labels assigned to each edge. We compare formulations based on network flows and directed connectivity cuts. Further, we show how to use odd-hole inequalities and additional inequalities to strengthen the formulation. Label variables can be added dynamically to the model in the pricing step. Primal heuristics are incorporated into the framework to speed up the overall solution process. After a polyhedral comparison of the involved formulations, comprehensive computational experiments are presented in order to compare and evaluate the underlying formulations and the particular algorithmic building blocks of the overall branch-and-cut- (and-price) framework.
Flight Control Design for a Tailless Aircraft Using Eigenstructure Assignment
Authors: Nieto-Wire Clara , Sobel Kenneth
Published: June 2011

We apply eigenstructure assignment to the design of a flight control system for a wind tunnel model of a tailless aircraft. The aircraft, known as the innovative control effectors (ICEs) aircraft, has unconventional control surfaces plus pitch and yaw thrust vectoring. We linearize the aircraft in straight and level flight at an altitude of 15,000 feet and Mach number 0.4. Then, we separately design flight control systems for the longitudinal and lateral dynamics. We use a control allocation scheme with weights so that the lateral pseudoinputs are yaw and roll moment, and the longitudinal pseudoinput is pitching moment. In contrast to previous eigenstructure assignment designs for the ICE aircraft, we consider the phugoid mode, thrust vectoring, and stability margins. We show how to simultaneously stabilize the phugoid mode, satisfy MIL-F-8785C mode specifications, and satisfy MIL-F-9490D phase and gain margin specifications. We also use a cstar command system that is preferable to earlier pitch-rate command systems. Finally, we present simulation results of the combined longitudinal/lateral flight control system using a full 6DOF nonlinear simulation with approximately 20,000 values for the aerodynamic coefficients. Our simulation includes limiters on actuator deflections, deflection rates, and control system integrators.
Analysis of WRF Model Performance over Subtropical Region of Delhi, India
Authors: Mohan Manju , Bhati Shweta
Published: June 2011

Model performance and sensitivity to model physics options are studied with the Weather Research and Forecasting model (version 3.1.1) over Delhi region in India for surface and upper air meteorological parameters in summer and winter seasons. A case study with the model has been performed with different configurations, and the best physics options suited for this region have been, determined. Comparison between estimated and observed data was carried out through standard statistical measures. Generally, the combination of Pleim-Xiu land surface model, Pleim surface layer scheme, and Asymmetric Convective Model has been found to produce better estimates of temperature and relative humidity for Delhi region. Wind speed and direction estimations were observed best for MM5 similarity surface layer along with Yonsei University boundary layer scheme. Nested domains with higher resolutions were not helpful in improving the simulation results as per the current availability of the data. Overall, the present case study shows that the model has performed reasonably well over the subtropical region of Delhi.
Structure and Properties of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes/Polystyrene Composites Prepared via Coagulation Precipitation Technique
Authors: Mazov I. N. , Kuznetsov V. L. , Krasnikov D. V. , Rudina N. A. , Romanenko A. I. , Anikeeva O. B. , Suslyaev V. I. , Korovin E. Yu. , Zhuravlev V. A.
Published: June 2011

Coagulation technique was applied for preparation of multiwall carbon nanotube- (MWNT-)containing polystyrene (PSt) composite materials with different MWNT loading (0.5–10 wt.%). Scanning and transmission electron microscopies were used for investigation of the morphology and structure of produced composites. It was shown that synthesis of MWNT/PSt composites using coagulation technique allows one to obtain high dispersion degree of MWNT in the polymer matrix. According to microscopy data, composite powder consists of the polystyrene matrix forming spherical particles with diameter ca. 100–200 nm, and the surface of MWNT is strongly wetted by the polymer forming thin layer with 5–10 nm thickness. Electrical conductivity of MWNT/PSt composites was investigated using a four-probe technique. Observed electrical percolation threshold of composite materials is near to 10 wt.%, mainly due to the insulating polymer layer deposited on the surface of nanotubes. Electromagnetic response of prepared materials was investigated in broadband region (0.01–4 and 26–36 GHz). It was found that MWNT/PSt composites are almost radiotransparent for low frequency region and possess high absorbance of EM radiation at higher frequencies.