bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geologic Life: Prehistory, Climate, Futures in the Anthropocene
Authors: Yusoff Kathryn
Published: September 2013

The diagnostic of the Anthropocene proposes a new geological epoch that designates humans as beings capable of geomorphic force, shaping Earth systems on a par with inhuman forces. This social geology marks an ascendance to inhuman planetary power fuelled by fossil fuels from the Carboniferous. Yet nowhere are the geophysical, genomic, and social narratives of this geologic subjectification considered together to interrogate these geologic capacities, not just in terms of impacts on the Earth, but as forces that subjects share—geologic forces that compose and differentiate corporeal and collective biopolitical formations. I argue in this paper that the concept of the Anthropocene is axiomatic of new understandings of time, matter, and agency for the human as a collective being and as a subject capable of geomorphic acts; a being that not just affects geology, but is an intemperate force within it. This immersion of humanity into geologic time suggests both a remineralisation of the origins of the human and a shift in the human timescale from biological life course to that of epoch and species—life. The paper is structured as a modest conversation between two fossilised subjects that define the imagined origin and ending of the narrative arc of the Anthropocene—one from the prehistory of human origins, the other from the future of the Anthropocene—in a conversation about time, geology, and inhuman becomings. Examining fossils as material and discursive knots in the narrative arc of human becoming, I argue for a ‘geological turn’ that takes seriously not just our biological (or biopolitical) life, but also our geological (or geopolitical) life and its forms of differentiation. Fossils unlock this life—death, time—untimely, corporeal—incorporeal equation, suggesting the need for a theory of the geologic and a reckoning with the forces of mute matter in lively bodies: a corporeality that is driven by inhuman forces. This paper investigates what I am calling “geologic life”—a mineralogical dimension of human composition that remains currently undertheorised in social thought and is directly relevant for the material, temporal, and corporeal conceptualisation of fossil fuels. This geologic life prompts a need to rethink the coherency of the human as a territorialising force of the Earth in its prehistoric, contemporary, and future-orientated incarnation. As such, this paper proposes a speculative theoretical framework for thinking modes of geologic life within the Anthropocene.
Golden Perception: Simulating Perceptual Habits of the Past
Authors: Carbon Claus-Christian , Deininger Pia
Published: September 2013

Medieval times were neither dark nor grey; natural light illuminated colourful scenes depicted in paintings through coloured windows and via artificial beeswax candlelight. When we enter, for example, a church to inspect its historic treasures ranging from mosaics to depictions of saints, we do this under quite unfavourable conditions; particularly as we mainly depend on artificial halogen, LED or fluorescent light for illuminating the desired object. As these light spectrums are different from the natural light conditions under which the old masterpieces were previously developed and perceived, the perceptual effects may dramatically differ, leading to significantly altered affective and cognitive processing. Different qualities of processing might particularly be triggered when perceiving artworks which deal with specific material prone to strong interaction with idiosyncratic light conditions, for instance gold-leafed surfaces that literally start to glow when lit by candles. We tested the perceptual experiences of a figurative piece of art which we created in 3 (foreground) by 3 (background) versions, illuminated under three different light conditions (daylight, coloured light and beeswax candlelight). Results demonstrated very different perceptual experiences with stunning effects for the interaction of the specific painting depicted on a gold-leafed background lit by candlelight.
Biomedical Applications of Clay
Authors: Chrzanowski Wojciech , Kim Sally Yunsun , Abou Neel Ensanya Ali
Published: September 2013

Traditional applications of clay mineral mainly revolved around cosmetics and industrial products, but their scope of application is continuously expanding into pharmaceutics including drug delivery and tissue engineering. The interest in clays amongst the scientific community has increased dramatically in recent years due to its composition and structure which can be easily modified to serve different purposes. Largely due to structural flexibility and its small particle size, clay nanostructure can be modified to tune rheological and mechanical properties, and can entrap moisture to suit a particular application. Additionally, interest in the synthesis of polymer-clay nanocomposites in tissue engineering is growing as it is cheap, easily available, and environmentally-friendly. The structure of clay allows the interclaysion of different biomolecules between the clay layers. These biomolecules can be released in a controlled manner which can be utilised in drug delivery and cosmetic applications.
Distribution of organic carbon and nitrogen in soil aggregates of aspen (Populus simonii Carr.) woodlands in the semi-arid Loess Plateau of China
Authors: Gao Hailong , Qiu Liping , Zhang Yanjiang , Wang Liaohong , Zhang Xingchang , Cheng Jimin
Published: September 2013

The distribution and turnover of organic carbon (OC) and nitrogen (N) associated with aggregates in soils is critical for understanding the behaviour of C and N in soils. We collected soil samples from aspen (Populus simonii Carr.) woodland in the semi-arid Loess Plateau of China to investigate the distribution of aggregate-associated OC and N. The distribution of aggregates and aggregate-associated OC and N were measured, and OC and N stocks in each aggregate fraction were calculated. Across the sites and soil depths, microaggregates and the silt + clay fraction dominated the distribution of soil aggregates, which varied with site. Organic C and N accumulated mainly in the macro- and micro-aggregate fractions in loamy soils but in the silt + clay fractions in sandy soils. The OC and N stocks in the bulk soil of aspen woodland were determined by the OC and N stocks associated with silt + clay fraction. The results of this study indicate that soil texture may play an important role in assessing the distributions of soil OC and N in both bulk soils and aggregate size fractions in aspen woodland, especially in semi-arid regions. Furthermore, the establishment of aspen woodland would result in greater accumulation of OC and N in loam soils than in sandy soils.
Phased addition of organic and phenolic acids with phosphate fertiliser increases P availability in an acid soil
Authors: Schefe C. R. , Tymms K.
Published: September 2013

The role of carboxylic acids in increasing soil phosphorus (P) availability has been well established, using both organic and phenolic acids. However, the practical application of this knowledge in farming systems is still a developing research area. This study determined the amount of carboxylic acid required per unit P fertiliser for increased solution P concentrations and the optimum order of application, with carboxylic acids applied before (phased addition), or in conjunction with (co-addition), the P fertiliser. Two inorganic P fertilisers (potassium dihydrogen phosphate, KH2PO4; diammonium phosphate, DAP) were applied to an acid soil in conjunction with seven carboxylic acids (oxalic, malic, citric, 4-hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic, 4-hydroxycinnamic, and caffeic acids) in a series of short-term adsorption and desorption experiments. When the carboxylic acids were applied to soil without P, they all increased solution P concentrations. When applied with P fertiliser, the highest solution P concentrations were measured when solutions of oxalic, citric, or protocatechuic acids were equilibrated with soil before the addition of DAP fertiliser (phased addition). In comparison, phased addition of KH2PO4 fertiliser with malic or citric acids resulted in the greatest potential for subsequent desorption of P from the soil. It is proposed that coating of DAP fertiliser granules with an organic/phenolic acid blend may enhance P fertiliser efficiency in acidic cropping soil through reduced P loss via adsorption onto soil surfaces.
Changes in soil phosphorus availability and potential phosphorus loss following cessation of phosphorus fertiliser inputs
Authors: Dodd R. J. , McDowell R. W. , Condron L. M.
Published: September 2013

Long-term application of phosphorus (P) fertilisers to agricultural soils can lead to in the accumulation of P in soil. Determining the rate of decline in soil P following the cessation of P fertiliser inputs is critical to evaluating the potential for reducing P loss to surface waters. The aim of this study was to use isotope exchange kinetics to investigate the rate of decline in soil P pools and the distribution of P within these pools in grazed grassland soils following a halt to P fertiliser application. Soils were sourced from three long-term grassland trials in New Zealand, two of which were managed as sheep-grazed pasture and one where the grass was regularly cut and removed. There was no significant change in total soil P over the duration of each trial between any of the treatments, although there was a significant decrease in total inorganic P on two of the sites accompanied by an increase in the organic P pool, suggesting that over time P was becoming occluded within organic matter, reducing the plant availability. An equation was generated using the soil-P concentration exchangeable within 1 min (E1 min) and P retention of the soil to predict the time it would take for the water-extractable P (WEP) concentration to decline to a target value protective of water quality. This was compared with a similar equation generated in the previous study, which used the initial Olsen-P concentration and P retention as a predictor. The use of E1 min in place of Olsen-P did not greatly improve the fit of the model, and we suggest that the use of Olsen-P is sufficient to predict the rate of decline in WEP. Conversely, pasture production data, available for one of the trial sites, suggest that E1 min may be a better predictor of dry matter yield than Olsen-P.
Intraislet SLIT–ROBO signaling is required for beta-cell survival and potentiates insulin secretion
Authors: Yang Yu Hsuan Carol , Manning Fox Jocelyn E. , Zhang Kevin L. , MacDonald Patrick E. , Johnson James D.
Published: September 2013

Significance

There is an unmet need for factors that can protect pancreatic islet beta cells from apoptosis and improve insulin secretion in the context of diabetes. There are many candidate factors produced locally in islets. We investigated the role of axon guidance factors and found that the SLIT–Roundabout receptors system is present, where it responds to stress. Full expression of SLIT ligands is essential for optimal beta-cell survival. Recombinant SLIT promotes survival and increases insulin secretion via mechanisms involving Ca
2+
and actin.
10. Conclusion: why politics can’t do without ideology
Authors: Freeden Michael
Published: September 2013

If discourse, emotion, criticism, culture all intersect with the concept of ideology and claim it for their own, can politics still declare a prior vested interest in ideology? Can ‘ideology’ still be employed as shorthand for political ideology? This ‘Conclusion: why politics can't do without ideology’ makes the case for its core role in political ideology. Why is ideology central to the domain of politics? Four features make it central: its typical forms in which ideologies are presented; its influential kinds of political thought; its instances of imaginative creativity; and the necessity that ideologies need to be communicable.
6. Philosophical problems in physics, biology, and psychology
Authors: Okasha Samir
Published: September 2013

‘Philosophical problems in physics, biology, and
psychology’ examines three philosophical questions that are specific to particular sciences. Firstly, the debate between Gottfried Leibniz (1646–1716) and Isaac Newton (1642–1727), two of the outstanding scientific intellects of the 17th century, concerning the nature of space and time is discussed. Secondly, the problem of biological classification is considered beginning with the Linnaen taxonomic system and then moving on to the rival taxonomic schools: the cladists and the pheneticists. Finally, the modularity of mind hypothesis in cognitive psychology is addressed. The work of philosopher and psychologist Jerry Fodor and linguist Noam Chomsky is used to illustrate this topic.
4. Who are Republicans? Who are Democrats? Who are the “others”?
Authors: Maisel L. Sandy
Published: September 2013

‘Who are the Republicans? Who are the Democrats? Who are the ‘‘others’’?’ looks at the different relationships citizens have with political parties. Most American citizens have no formal affiliation with a political party but hold a strong impression of what the two major parties stand for. Many who consider themselves independent will vote for either Democrats or Republicans. Candidates run with the support of party organizations but once elected they identify with a party label but exercise a great deal of independence, whilst the electorate frequently switches support from one party to another.
5. Presidential elections: Nominating campaigns and general elections
Authors: Maisel L. Sandy
Published: September 2013

‘Presidential elections: nominating campaigns and general elections’ explores the complexities of how candidates for President are chosen and how they are elected. The nominating campaign is to many Americans confusing and opaque. The lengthy timescale of primary and caucus elections means that some States have a disproportionate influence on the outcome. Two factors have even greater influence in the election process: the funding of campaigns and the nature of the electoral college system, which means that much of the debate will be conducted in a few battleground States where a few votes can make a difference to the electoral college.
4. Making and Remaking a Presidency
Authors: Jones Charles O.
Published: September 2013

A separated power system will inevitably feature differing tenures and work habits among its institutional components. Even though a change at the top is important, programs and people already in place do most of the work. A huge bureaucracy is needed to administer programs costing billions of dollars. ‘Making and Remaking a Presidency’ looks at how the presidency manages the day-to-day running of government. A new president will be held accountable for what happens in the labyrinth of federal units, programs, rules, and procedures. The new incoming team has to learn on the job. The presidency is a dynamic institution, one constantly being shaped and reshaped.
What is global warming?
Authors: Maslin Mark
Published: September 2013

‘What is global warming?’ explains what greenhouse gases are and how they act to keep the Earth warm. Measurements of greenhouse gases in ice cores from Antarctica and Greenland have allowed scientists to link high levels of carbon dioxide and methane gases in the atmosphere to global warming. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was created to produce the first international agreement on reducing global man-made greenhouse gas emissions from energy production, industry, transport, and land-use changes. The Kyoto Protocol, theoretical models of climate change, and the ways that the different parts of the climate system interact are discussed to show how future climate change might be predicted.
Politics
Authors: Maslin Mark
Published: September 2013

‘Politics’ shows that global warming can only be solved by binding international agreements to cut global greenhouse gas emissions. The management and enforcement of the Kyoto Protocol is explained. Only a few countries were on target to make their 2012 legally binding cuts with no truly effective way of censuring countries that do not make them. Greenhouse gas emissions are now rising faster than the worst-case scenario of the IPCC. To combat this, a strong post-2012 agreement must be negotiated that includes developing countries and must enshrine the principle of contraction and convergence, protect the rapid development of the very poorest parts of the world, and include global carbon trading.
Why trust and trustworthiness matter
Authors: Hawley Katherine
Published: September 2013

A trusted person's life runs more smoothly than a distrusted one's. Trust is a compliment, distrust an insult. However, trust can be a burden when we suspect we're not up for the job or when we don't want to do the job. ‘Why trust and trustworthiness matter’ looks at the advantages of trusting well and the disadvantages of trusting poorly. What is a ‘high trust’ society like? How about a ’low trust’ society? How do we start trusting? We should aspire to trustworthiness and to wise trusting. Trust and trustworthiness matter and can form a self-reinforcing positive spiral. The reverse happens with distrust.
Evolving trust and cooperation
Authors: Hawley Katherine
Published: September 2013

Where does the concept of trust fit into evolutionary theory? The gene selection idea has a disadvantage: it appears unable to explain the altruistic behaviour of certain animals. ‘Evolving trust and cooperation’ looks at possible explanations for this behaviour and applies it to humans. We often face situations in which we must decide whether to help others. Sometimes this decision is based on gain but often the decision is complex. ‘Social dilemmas’ involve decisions in which we consider the overall outcome as well as personal outcomes. Evolutionary psychologists think we can explain at least some aspects of our thinking and behaviour as the result of natural selection.
Take the money and run
Authors: Hawley Katherine
Published: September 2013

‘Take the money and run’ explains the ‘basic trust game’ which is an economic experiment asking participants to make decisions of trust without communicating with others. This test tells researchers that trust is risky; trust can benefit the truster; when one person trusts, two people benefit; people don't always act in self-interest; and people don't always expect others to follow the path of self-interest. These sorts of experiments suggest that when people work together trustingly, they can get a lot done to the benefit of everyone. They also allow researchers to put numbers on trusting and trustworthy behaviour. They don't explain the sort of trust we have for family and friends, or even institutions.
Honesty and dishonesty
Authors: Hawley Katherine
Published: September 2013

To trust someone based on what they say has an expectation of honesty and knowledge. It also has an expectation of good intentions and of skill or ability. Judgements about good intentions are more morally based than those about knowledge or skill. Sometimes we can hold people morally responsible for their ignorance. Trust involves an expectation of honesty, knowledge, skill, or ability. ‘Honesty and dishonesty’ asks: how good at we at spotting liars? Whilst most of us think we can recognise a liar, this is a false theory. Getting the right balance between trust and distrust is a challenge.
Asteroids in retrograde resonance with Jupiter and Saturn
Authors: Morais M. H. M. , Namouni F.
Published: September 2013

We identify a set of asteroids among Centaurs and Damocloids, which orbit contrary to the common direction of motion in the Solar system and which enter into resonance with Jupiter and Saturn. Their orbits have inclinations I ≳ 140° and semimajor axes a < 15 au. Two objects are currently in retrograde resonance with Jupiter: 2006 BZ8 in the 2/−5 resonance and 2008 SO218 in the 1/−2 resonance. One object, 2009 QY6, is currently in the 2/−3 retrograde resonance with Saturn. These are the first examples of Solar system objects in retrograde resonance. The present resonant configurations last for several thousand years. Brief captures in retrograde resonance with Saturn are also possible during the 20 000 yr integration timespan, particularly in the 1/−1 resonance (2006 BZ8) and the 9/−7 resonance (1999 LE31).
A dual weighted residual method applied to complex periodic gratings
Authors: Lord Natacha H. , Mulholland Anthony J.
Published: September 2013

An extension of the dual weighted residual (DWR) method to the analysis of electromagnetic waves in a periodic diffraction grating is presented. Using the
α
,0-quasi-periodic transformation, an upper bound for the
a posteriori
error estimate is derived. This is then used to solve adaptively the associated Helmholtz problem. The goal is to achieve an acceptable accuracy in the computed diffraction efficiency while keeping the computational mesh relatively coarse. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the advantage of using DWR over the global
a posteriori
error estimate approach. The application of the method in biomimetic, to address the complex diffraction geometry of the Morpho butterfly wing is also discussed.
Large deformation contact mechanics of long rectangular membranes. I. Adhesionless contact
Authors: Srivastava Abhishek , Hui Chung-Yuen
Published: September 2013

In part I of this work, we study adhesionless contact of a long rectangular elastic membrane with a rigid substrate. Our model is based on finite strain theory and is valid for arbitrarily large deformations. Both frictionless and no-slip contact conditions are considered. Exact closed form solutions are obtained for frictionless contact. For small contact, the differences between these two contact conditions are small. However, significant differences occur for large contacts. For example, frictionless contact predicts a maximum pressure (and contact region) beyond which there is no solution; while the no-slip model places no restriction on both quantities. The effect of adhesion will be considered in part II of this work.
Trajectory data mining: integrating semantics
Authors: Elragal Ahmed , El-Gendy Nada
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– Trajectory is the path a moving object takes in space. To understand the trajectory movement patters, data mining is used. However, pattern analysis needs semantics to be understood. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to enrich trajectories with semantic annotations, such as the name of the location where the trajectory has stopped, so that the paper is able to attain quality decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

– An experiment was conducted to explain that the use of raw trajectories alone is not enough for the decision-making process and detailed pattern extraction.

Findings

– The findings of the paper indicates that some fundamental patterns and knowledge discovery is only obtainable by understanding the semantics underlying the position of each point.

Research limitations/implications

– The unavailability of data are a limitation of the paper, which would limit its generalizability. Additionally, the lack of availability of tools for automatically adding semantics to clusters posed as a limitation of the paper.

Practical implications

– The paper encourages governments as well as businesses to analyze movement data using data mining techniques, in light of the surrounding semantics. This will allow, for example, solving traffic congestions, since by understanding the movement patterns, the traffic authority could make decisions in order to avoid such congestions. Moreover, it could also help tourism authorities, at national levels, to know tourist movement patterns and support these patterns with the required logistical support. Additionally, for businesses, mobile operators could dynamically enhance their services, voice and data, by knowing the semantically enriched patterns of movement.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to the already rare literature on trajectory mining, enhanced with semantics. Mainstream literature focusses on either trajectory mining or semantics, therefore the paper claims that the approach is novel and is needed as well. By integrating mining outcomes with semantic annotation, the paper contributes to the body of knowledge and introduces, with lab evidence, the new approach.
Development and evaluation of wiki collaboration space for e-Learning
Authors: Esichaikul Vatcharaporn , Myint Aung Win , Bechter Clemens , Rehman Mariam
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to define standard guidelines for the development of a wiki collaboration space for e-Learning, in order to provide collaborative activities among students, and between instructors and students.

Design/methodology/approach

– The general requirements and extended features of wiki collaboration space were determined by conducting a requirement study and discussion with major stakeholders, i.e. students and tutors. Then, the wiki collaboration space was developed based on an open source wiki system. Finally, a wiki collaboration space was evaluated in terms of usability and collaboration effectiveness.

Findings

– A comparison was performed between the wiki collaboration space and the original wiki in students’ works in an online course. The results showed that the effectiveness of collaboration and usefulness of wiki collaboration space were higher than original wiki in collaborative assignment.

Practical implications

– As for practical implications, e-Learning developers/managers can use the outcome of this study as a guideline to integrate wiki and/or other social software to supplement e-Learning systems for better collaboration.

Originality/value

– There is a need to define standard guidelines that provide the necessary features for wiki in e-Learning. In this study, extended features of wiki as collaborative learning tool were identified and evaluated to meet the needs of students in e-Learning environment.
Film Cooling With a Thermal Barrier Coating: Round Holes, Craters, and Trenches
Authors: Davidson F. Todd , KistenMacher David A. , Bogard David G.
Published: September 2013

Little work has been done to understand the interconnected nature of film cooling and thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) on protecting high temperature turbine components. With increasing demands for improved engine performance it is vital that a greater understanding of the thermal behavior of turbine components is achieved. The purpose of this study was to investigate how various film cooling geometries affect the cooling performance of a thermally conducting turbine vane with a TBC. The vane model used in this study was designed to match the thermal behavior of real engine components by properly scaling the convective heat transfer coefficients along with the thermal conductivity of the vane wall. This allowed for the measurement of temperatures at the interface of the TBC and vane wall which, when nondimensionalized, are representative of the temperatures present for actual engine vanes. This study found that the addition of a TBC on the surface of an internally cooled vane produced a near constant cooling performance despite significant changes in the blowing ratio. The craters, trench, and modified trench of this study were found to provide much better film cooling coverage than round holes; however, the improved film cooling coverage led to only slight improvements in temperature at the interface of the TBC and vane wall. These results suggest that there is minimal advantage in using more complicated cooling configurations, particularly since they may be more susceptible to TBC spallation. However, the improved film coverage from the trench and crater designs may increase the life of the TBC, which would be greatly beneficial to the long-term thermal protection of the vane.
Coupled Aerothermodynamics Optimization for the Cooling System of a Turbine Vane
Authors: Chi Zhongran , Ren Jing , Jiang Hongde
Published: September 2013

The cooling system design for air-cooled turbines is a critical issue in modern gas turbine engineering. Advances in the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology and optimization methodology are providing new prospects for turbine cooling system design, in the sense that the optimum cooling system of the vanes and blades could be designed automatically by the optimization search coupled with the full three-dimensional conjugate heat transfer (CHT) analysis. An optimization platform for air-cooled turbines, which consists of the genetic algorithm (GA), a mesh generation tool (Coolmesh), and a CHT solver is presented in this paper. The optimization study was aimed at finding the optimum cooling structure for a 2nd stage vane with, simultaneously, an acceptable metal temperature distribution and limited amount of coolant. The vane was installed with an impingement and pin-fin cooling structure. The optimization search involved the design of the critical parameters of the cooling system, including the size of the impingement tube, diameter and distribution of impingement holes, and the size and distribution of the pin-fin near trailing edge. The design optimization was carried out under two engine operating conditions in order to explore the effects of different boundary conditions. A constant pressure drop was assumed within the cooling system during each optimization. To make the problem computationally faster, the simulations were approached for the interior only (solid and coolant). A weighted function of the temperature distribution and coolant mass flow was used as the objective of the single objective genetic algorithm (SOGA). The result showed that the optimal cooling system configuration with considerable cooling performance could be designed through the SOGA optimization without human interference.
Experimental Research on Velocity Distribution and Attenuation Characteristic of Spiral Flow by Laser Doppler Velocimeter
Authors: Yongchao Rao , Shuli Wang , Shidong Zhou , Entian Li , Wenming Liu
Published: September 2013

An experimental study was conducted to get more insight into the flowing characteristics of single phase spiral flow in the horizontal pipe by the use of a laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV). Water was used as the working medium, and the spiral motion was produced by a vane. The vanes with different spiral angles and vane area were self-made. Influence of flow attenuation, average Reynolds number, spiral angle, and vane area on axial velocity distribution and tangential velocity distribution were studied. Turbulence intensity distribution was studied, and the spiral strength attenuation law was analyzed. The experimental results show that the vane is an efficient spiral device with low pressure drop, and it is used in pipeline, natural gas hydrate formation, and so on.
mTORC1 Status Dictates Tumor Response to Targeted Therapeutics
Authors: Kelsey Ilana , Manning Brendan D.
Published: September 2013

Recent studies indicate that sustained mTORC1 signaling can cause resistance to pathway-specific kinase inhibitors in cancer.
IL-29 Is Produced by T
H
17 Cells and Mediates the Cutaneous Antiviral Competence in Psoriasis
Authors: Wolk Kerstin , Witte Katrin , Witte Ellen , Raftery Martin , Kokolakis Georgios , Philipp Sandra , Schönrich Günther , Warszawska Katarzyna , Kirsch Stefan , Prösch Susanna , Sterry Wolfram , Volk Hans-Dieter , Sabat Robert
Published: September 2013

Psoriasis, but not atopic dermatitis patients, express elevated antiviral proteins in lesional skin because of the T
H
17 cytokine IL-29.
A spatial capture–recapture model to estimate fish survival and location from linear continuous monitoring arrays
Authors: Raabe Joshua K. , Gardner Beth , Hightower Joseph E.
Published: September 2013

We developed a spatial capture–recapture model to evaluate survival and activity centres (i.e., mean locations) of tagged individuals detected along a linear array. Our spatially explicit version of the Cormack–Jolly–Seber model, analyzed using a Bayesian framework, correlates movement between periods and can incorporate environmental or other covariates. We demonstrate the model using 2010 data for anadromous American shad (Alosa sapidissima) tagged with passive integrated transponders (PIT) at a weir near the mouth of a North Carolina river and passively monitored with an upstream array of PIT antennas. The river channel constrained migrations, resulting in linear, one-dimensional encounter histories that included both weir captures and antenna detections. Individual activity centres in a given time period were a function of the individual’s previous estimated location and the river conditions (i.e., gage height). Model results indicate high within-river spawning mortality (mean weekly survival = 0.80) and more extensive movements during elevated river conditions. This model is applicable for any linear array (e.g., rivers, shorelines, and corridors), opening new opportunities to study demographic parameters, movement or migration, and habitat use.
FRAMING AMBIGUITY DURING PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: A KNOWLEDGE-INVOLVED PERSPECTIVE
Authors: GOMES PAULO J.
Published: September 2013

Product development teams sustain the level of ambiguity in product development projects through product configuration and project planning decisions. In this paper, we represent these decisions in terms of earliness, specificity and contingency of front-end activities and test their impact on project performance. We propose that product novelty mediates the impact of configuration and project decisions on performance. Our hypotheses are tested using data from a sample of radical and incremental product development projects. The results support a positive relation between earliness and contingency of front-end activities and development performance for incremental projects. Radical projects benefit from early milestones set during project planning.
CURVATURE-INDUCED MAGNETOCHIRALITY
Authors: HERTEL RICCARDO
Published: September 2013

Curved geometries like nanotubes and flexible membranes generally differ from flat films by internal strain, geodesic pathways for transport phenomena, and a break of the local inversion symmetry. In ferromagnetism, these characteristics can lead to surprising effects, especially when the curvature radius reaches intrinsic length scales, like the domain wall width or the magnon wave length. Simulation studies demonstrate that curved ferromagnetic thin films display magnetochiral properties similar to the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI). In close analogy to the emerging field of flexoelectricity, it is suggested that the controlled bending of ferromagnetic membranes provides a new, reversible and universal method to manipulate their magnetic properties.
Illuminating the Petite Picture of T Cell Memory Responses toListeria monocytogenes
Authors: Tufail Saba , Badrealam Khan Farheen , Owais Mohammad , Zubair Swaleha
Published: September 2013

The ease to culture, moderately less safety constraints in handling, and above all, hurdle free induction of an anticipated infection in mouse renderedListeria monocytogenesthe rank of a model organism for studying a variety of host immune responses.Listeria monocytogenesbeing an intracellular pathogen evokes potent CD8 T cell response during which CD8 T cells pass through a massive expansion phase. This is generally followed by contraction phase wherein majority of activated cells undergo apoptosis leaving behind a population of memory CD8 T cells that has potential to confer enhanced protection upon reencounter with the same pathogen. Functional attributes of various cytokines, transcription factors, receptors, adaptors, and effectors pertaining to the generation of robust memory T cell response have begun to be unravelled for better understanding of memory and opening avenues to create superior vaccine strategies. This review is an attempt to unveil related discoveries along with updating recent advances on this issue.
The Flow Simulation and Experimental Study of a Large Low-Head Mixed-Flow Pumping System
Authors: Yang Fan , Liu Chao
Published: September 2013

A large low-head mixed-flow pumping system has been carried out based on numerical analysis of a three-dimensional viscous flow. For analysis, the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations with a Shear stress transport turbulence model were discretized by finite-volume approximations. The result has shown that the flow in the double-helix volute passage is a spiral movement combining axial and rotary flows; the static pressure distribution in the volute is symmetric; the uniformity of axial velocity distribution and velocity-weighted average swirl angle at the outlet section is relatively low. The static pressure decreases gradually from the blade inlet to the exit on the pressure side, while increasing gradually on the suction side. The axial forces decrease gradually with the decrease of lifting head, and the radial forces decrease first and then increase. The pressure fluctuation at certain sections of the pumping system was measured from the model test. It is concluded that the pressure pulsations of impeller inlet and “ω” back wall of inlet passage are little influenced by operating condition. The domain frequency of the impeller inlet is approximately equal to the rotation frequency, while that of double-helix volute passage is multiple relations with the rotation frequency.
Multiobjective Optimization of a Vehicle Vibration Model Using the Improved Compressed-Objective Genetic Algorithm with Convergence Detection
Authors: Boonlong Kittipong
Published: September 2013

Ride quality and road holding capacity of a vehicle is significantly influenced by its suspension system. In the design process, a number of objective functions related to comfort and road holding capacity are taken into consideration. In this paper, the five-degree-of-freedom system of vehicle vibration model with passive suspension is investigated. This multiobjective optimization problem consists of five objective functions. Based on these five design objectives, this paper formulates four two-objective optimization problems by considering four pairs of design objectives and one five-objective optimization problem. This paper proposes the use of the improved compressed objective genetic algorithm (COGA-II) with convergence detection. COGA-II is intentionally designed for dealing with a problem having many optimized objectives. Furthermore, the performance of COGA-II was benchmarked with the multiobjective uniform-diversity genetic algorithm (MUGA) utilized in the previous study. From the simulation results, with equal population sizes, COGA-II employing the convergence detection for searching termination uses less numbers of generations for most sets of design objectives than MUGA whose termination condition is defined by the constant maximum number of generations. Moreover, the solutions obtained from COGA-II are obviously superior to those obtained from MUGA regardless of sets of design objective.
Comparative Study of Cytomorphological Robinson’s Grading for Breast Carcinoma with Modified Bloom-Richardson Histopathological Grading
Authors: Sood Neelam , Nigam Jitendra Singh , Yadav Poonam , Rewri Shivani , Sharma Ankit , Omhare Anita , Malhotra Jaya
Published: September 2013

Objective. To study the correlation of cytomorphological Robinson’s grading for breast cancers with a modified Bloom-Richardson histopathological grading. Materials and Methods. One hundred sixteen cytologically malignant breast tumour cases were included in this study and correlated with paraffin embedded sections. Breast lumps were varied from less than 1 cm to 11 cm in greatest dimension. FNA was performed from different sites of the breast lump, and smears were stained with Giemsa and H&E stain and evaluated for cytological grading according to Robinson’s grading system. Paraffin embedded tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain and graded according to modified Bloom-Richardson grading system. Comparison between these two grading systems was done. Results. Cytologically grade I, grade II, and grade III cases were 13.8%, 64.65%, and 21.55%, respectively. Histologically 25%, 54.31%, and 20.69% cases were grade I, grade II, and grade III, respectively. Concordance rate between cytology and histology of grade I, grade II, and grade III tumors was 75%, 70.67%, and 60% respectively. The absolute concordance rate was 68.97%. Conclusion. In the era of multiple treatment modalities and neoadjuvant therapy, cytological grading can be used as a prognostic factor for better management of patients.
Study of the Influence of Upper Extremities Variation on Transradial Success
Authors: Yazdankhah Saeed , Assareh Ahmadreza , Easapour Mehdi , Nourizadeh Mohammad , Daeenejad Farzad
Published: September 2013

Background. To investigate whether the presence of arterial anomalies in upper limb arteries can influence the success rate of transradial coronary angiography. Methods. retrograde transarterial sheath injection was done in patients with transradial coronary angiography. Arterial anomalies in the upper limb are evaluated in these patients. There are ten brachial (5.4%), 7 radial (4/2%), 5 subclavian (3%), and 3 brachiocephalic arteries (1.8%). There also were 4 loops in ulnar artery (2.4%) and one in radial (0.6%). Except cannulation time (), there were associations between anomalies and other times () and contrast volume used (). Anomalies did not have any effect on procedural success rate and just in one patient because of subclavian loop,procedure changed to femoral approach (). Discussion. Patients without upper extremities anomalies in comparison with patients with anomalies had significantly shorter periods for angiographic time, catheterization time, and fluoroscopic time. We recommend femoral catheterization instead of radial catheterization in patients with upper extremities anomalies.
Snake Venom PLA2s Inhibitors Isolated from Brazilian Plants: Synthetic and Natural Molecules
Authors: Carvalho B. M. A. , Santos J. D. L. , Xavier B. M. , Almeida J. R. , Resende L. M. , Martins W. , Marcussi S. , Marangoni S. , Stábeli R. G. , Calderon L. A. , Soares A. M. , Da Silva S. L. , Marchi-Salvador D. P.
Published: September 2013

Ophidian envenomation is an important health problem in Brazil and other South American countries. In folk medicine, especially in developing countries, several vegetal species are employed for the treatment of snakebites in communities that lack prompt access to serum therapy. However, the identification and characterization of the effects of several new plants or their isolated compounds, which are able to inhibit the activities of snake venom, are extremely important and such studies are imperative. Snake venom contains several organic and inorganic compounds; phospholipases A2(PLA2s) are one of the principal toxic components of venom. PLA2s display a wide variety of pharmacological activities, such as neurotoxicity, myotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, anticoagulant, hemorrhagic, and edema-inducing effects. PLA2inhibition is of pharmacological and therapeutic interests as these enzymes are involved in several inflammatory diseases. This review describes the results of several studies of plant extracts and their isolated active principles, when used against crude snake venoms or their toxic fractions. Isolated inhibitors, such as steroids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds, are able to inhibit PLA2s from different snake venoms. The design of specific inhibitors of PLA2s might help in the development of new pharmaceutical drugs, more specific antivenom, or even as alternative approaches for treating snakebites.
Analysis of Essential Elements for Plants Growth Using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis
Authors: Njinga R. L. , Moyo M. N. , Abdulmaliq S. Y.
Published: September 2013

In this study, a total of ten essential elements for plants growth in the Guinea savanna region of Niger State in Northern Nigeria have been identified in the soils using instrumental neutron activation analysis. The experimental results show good agreement with certified or literature values within the agreed percentage range of ±2.35% to ±8.69%. However, the concentration distributions of the ten identified elements in the soil samples within the studied area for plants growth revealed the following: Fe (123.4 ppm), Mn (2100.7 ppm), K (5544.3 ppm), Al (54752.4 ppm), Ti (3082.9 ppm), Ca (4635 ppm), V (54.3 ppm), Na (857.5 ppm), Mg (13924.1 ppm), and Dy (12.1 ppm). A further analysis of the two fundamental soil physical parameters for healthy growth of some common crops like egusimelon, groundnut, rice, yams, soybeans, cassava, and potato analyzed in this work revealed a pH range of 4.0 pH–8.0 pH and a temperature range of 28.0°C to 29.3°C, which are optimal for plant nutrients availability in the soils within the study area.
Recent Advances in Wireless Indoor Localization Techniques and System
Authors: Farid Zahid , Nordin Rosdiadee , Ismail Mahamod
Published: September 2013

The advances in localization based technologies and the increasing importance of ubiquitous computing and context-dependent information have led to a growing business interest in location-based applications and services. Today, most application requirements are locating or real-time tracking of physical belongings inside buildings accurately; thus, the demand for indoor localization services has become a key prerequisite in some markets. Moreover, indoor localization technologies address the inadequacy of global positioning system inside a closed environment, like buildings. Based on this, though, this paper aims to provide the reader with a review of the recent advances in wireless indoor localization techniques and system to deliver a better understanding of state-of-the-art technologies and motivate new research efforts in this promising field. For this purpose, existing wireless localization position system and location estimation schemes are reviewed, as we also compare the related techniques and systems along with a conclusion and future trends.
Type Synthesis and Typical Application of 1T2R-Type Parallel Robotic Mechanisms
Authors: Xie Fugui , Liu Xin-Jun , Li Tiemin
Published: September 2013

This paper focuses on the 1T2R-type (T: translational DOF; R: rotational DOF) parallel robotic mechanisms (PKMs) and discusses their type synthesis and typical application in five-axis machine tools. Based on Grassmann line geometry and atlas method, a systematic method dealing with the type synthesis of lower mobility PKMs is introduced. The Blanding rules and generalized Blanding rules, which are the criterions in realizing the mutual conversion between the freedom-space atlas and the constraint-space atlas, are summarized and discussed in detail. Thereafter, the entire procedure of the type synthesis is presented, and the type synthesis of 1T2R PKMs is carried out. Based on the synthesis results, a five-axis hybrid mechanism is proposed and a machine tool is developed consequently. The type synthesis method presented in this paper is intuitive and concise and can be used in the type synthesis of other lower mobility PKMs.
Dynamic Analysis of Rotating Pendulum by Hamiltonian Approach
Authors: Khan Najeeb Alam , Khan Nadeem Alam , Riaz Fatima
Published: September 2013

A conservative system always admits Hamiltonian invariant, which is kept unchanged during oscillation. This property is used to obtain the approximate frequency-amplitude relationship of the governing equation with sinusoidal nonlinearity. Here, we applied Hamiltonian approach to obtain natural frequency of the nonlinear rotating pendulum. The problem has been solved without series approximation and other restrictive assumptions. Numerical simulations are then conducted to prove the efficiency of the suggested technique.