bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smoothing algorithms for mean-flow extraction in large-eddy simulation of complex turbulent flows
Authors: Cahuzac A. , Boudet J. , Borgnat P. , Lévêque E.
Published: December 2010

Based on physical arguments, the importance of separating the mean-flow from turbulence in the modeling of the subgrid-scale eddy-viscosity is emphasized. Therefore, two distinct time-domain smoothing algorithms are proposed to estimate the mean-flow as the simulation progresses, namely, an exponentially weighted moving average (or exponential smoothing) and an adaptive low-pass Kalman filter. These algorithms highlight the longer-term evolution or cycles of the flow but erase short-term fluctuations. Indeed, it is our assumption that the mean-flow (in the statistical sense) may be approximated as the low-frequency component of the velocity field and that the turbulent part of the flow adds itself to this “unsteady mean.” The cutoff frequency separating these two components is fixed according to some characteristic time-scale of the flow in the exponential smoothing, but inferred dynamically from the recent history of the flow in the Kalman filter. In practice, these two algorithms are implemented in large-eddy simulations that rely on a shear-improved Smagorinsky’s model. In this model, the magnitude of mean-flow rate of strain is subtracted from the magnitude of the instantaneous rate of strain in the subgrid-scale eddy-viscosity. Two test-cases have been investigated: a turbulent plane-channel flow (Rew=395) and the flow past a circular cylinder in the subcritical turbulent regime (ReD=4.7×104). Comparisons with direct numerical simulation and experimental data demonstrate the good efficiency of the whole modeling. This allows us to address nonhomogeneous unsteady configurations without adding significant complication and computational cost to the standard Smagorinsky’s model. From a computational viewpoint, this modeling deserves interest since it is entirely local in space. It is therefore adapted for parallelization and convenient for boundary conditions.
Shape memory effects and pseudoelasticity in bcc metallic nanowires
Authors: Cao Ajing
Published: December 2010

In this paper, using molecular dynamic simulation and ab initio calculations, a novel pseudoelasticity is uncovered in a variety of bcc single crystalline nanowires. Specifically, an initial wire with a ⟨100⟩ axis and {100} surfaces has been transformed to a new configuration with a ⟨110⟩ axis and {111} lateral surfaces under uniaxial tensile loading. The loaded ⟨110⟩ wire spontaneously reorients back to the original one upon unloading, giving rise to about 41% recoverable strains. The primary deformation mechanisms associated with the reversible lattice reorientation are twinning and detwinning, i.e., forward and backward twin boundary migration on adjacent {112} slip planes. We reveal that the physics underlying the novel behavior in these bcc nanowires is the high propensity for twinning and detwinning, which is characterized as the small ratio of twin boundary migration energy to twin boundary formation energy. Furthermore, the relatively weaker temperature dependence of shape memory effects and larger applicable size range observed in these bcc nanowires render themselves more promising for the future nanotechnology applications.
The $\chi ^2$χ2-divergence and mixing times of quantum Markov processes
Authors: Temme K. , Kastoryano M. J. , Ruskai M. B. , Wolf M. M. , Verstraete F.
Published: December 2010

We introduce quantum versions of the \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\chi ^2$\end{document}χ2-divergence, provide a detailed analysis of their properties, and apply them in the investigation of mixing times of quantum Markov processes. An approach similar to the one presented in the literature for classical Markov chains is taken to bound the trace-distance from the steady state of a quantum processes. A strict spectral bound to the convergence rate can be given for time-discrete as well as for time-continuous quantum Markov processes. Furthermore, the contractive behavior of the \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\chi ^2$\end{document}χ2-divergence under the action of a completely positive map is investigated and contrasted to the contraction of the trace norm. In this context we analyze different versions of quantum detailed balance and, finally, give a geometric conductance bound to the convergence rate for unital quantum Markov processes.
Spatial wave functions of photon and electron
Authors: Khokhlov D. L.
Published: December 2010

The quantum mechanical model of the photon and electron is considered. The photon is conceived of as a particle moving with the speed of light which is accompanied by the wave function of the photon spreading out with an infinite speed. The wave function of the electron is introduced in terms of virtual photons tied to the electron. A description of electrostatic and magnetostatic interactions is given through the wave functions of electrons. The approach provides an explanation of the results of recent experiments measuring the speed of propagation of the bound magnetic field.
Influence of crystal phase and transparent substrates on electro-optic properties of lead zirconate titanate films
Authors: Zhu M. M. , Du Z. H. , Ma J.
Published: December 2010

Pb ( Zr x Ti 1 − x ) O 3 [x=0.52, PZT(52) near morphotropic phase boundary], tetragonal PZT(65), and rhombohedral PZT(20) thin films have been fabricated on different transparent substrates by radio frequency sputtering. The optical studies show that the band gap energies and refractive indices of the PZT thin films are crystal phase dependent. The largest electro-optic (EO) coefficient of 219.6 pm/V has been achieved by controlling the crystal phase of the PZT thin films. The linear EO coefficients of PZT(52) films on the (Pb0.86La0.14)TiO3-coated glass, indium tin oxides, and MgO substrates are also studied. Such study could contribute to the crystal phase and substrate dependent PZT films for electro-optic devices and multifunctional integrated circuits.
Thermodynamics of the interconversion of heat and work via plasma electric fields
Authors: Avinash K.
Published: December 2010

Thermodynamics of a system where a group of cold charged particles locally confined in a volume VP within a warm plasma of temperature T and volume V (VP<V) is presented. Various thermodynamic functions of the model, e.g., Helmholtz free energy, internal energy, entropy, electrostatic pressure of charged particles, are calculated from first principles. In the homogeneous limit, an equation of state for the electrostatic (ES) pressure of charged particles is derived and the internal energy is shown to consist solely of the thermal energy of the background plasma. The interconversion of plasma heat and mechanical work via isothermal compression/expansion of plasma electric field (associated with charged particles) in a plasma heat pump and ES heat engine cycle is demonstrated. The efficiency of the plasma heat pump is discussed in terms of its power efficiency ηP and is shown to be close to unity
Enhancement and suppression effect of molecules on nanocavity plasmon emissions excited by tunneling electrons
Authors: Zhang Y. , Geng F. , Gao H. Y. , Liao Y. , Dong Z. C. , Hou J. G.
Published: December 2010

We use tunneling electron induced luminescence techniques to investigate the role of adsorbed molecules in nanocavity plasmon (NCP) mediated emissions. Porphyrin molecules directly adsorbed on metals are found to suppress NCP emissions, while molecules on top of an inserted ultrathin oxide layer on the metal substrate yield enhanced NCP emissions. We attribute such difference in enhancement versus suppression to a competing mechanism of two major roles of molecules on the local field enhancement: geometrical spacer and dynamic dipole oscillator. The latter could become dominant when molecules are sufficiently decoupled from the substrate, leading to the overall enhancement of NCP emissions.
Growth kinetics in position-controlled and catalyst-free InAs nanowire arrays on Si(111) grown by selective area molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Hertenberger S. , Rudolph D. , Bichler M. , Finley J. J. , Abstreiter G. , Koblmüller G.
Published: December 2010

We investigated the interwire distance dependence on the growth kinetics of vertical, high-yield InAs nanowire arrays on Si(111) grown by catalyst-free selective area molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Utilizing lithographically defined SiO2 nanomasks on Si(111) with regular hole patterns, catalyst-free and site-selective growth of vertically (111)-oriented InAs nanowires was achieved with very high yields of ∼90 percent. Interestingly, the yield of vertically ordered nanowires was independent of the interwire distance and the initial growth stages. Significant size variation in the nanowires was found to depend critically on the interwire distance and growth time. Two growth regimes were identified—(i) a competitive growth regime with shorter and thinner nanowires for narrow interwire distances and (ii) a diffusion-limited growth regime for wider distances, providing good estimates for the surface diffusion lengths. Surprisingly, despite these size-dependent effects the nanowire geometries remained unaltered with uniform, almost nontapered morphologies even over large variation in nanowire density (∼mid−106–109 cm−2 range). X-ray diffraction further confirmed the vertical (111) directionality with low crystal tilt by rocking curve widths (ω scans) as low as ∼0.6°. These findings demonstrate the capability to precisely tailor the position and size of well-oriented III-V semiconductor nanowires through noncatalytic MBE selective area growth and provide an important step toward fully integrated, uniform vertical III-V nanowire array-on-Si devices.
Flutter instability of rectangle and trapezoid flags in uniform flow
Authors: Pang Zhen , Jia Lai-bing , Yin Xie-zhen
Published: December 2010

An experiment on the flutter instability of rectangle and trapezoid flags is conducted in a low speed wind tunnel and a physical model is proposed to predict the critical velocity of flutter instability of the flags. The nondimensional second moment of area is used to depict the effect of the flag shape on the flutter. The result shows that the method presented in this paper can be used to predict the lower-critical velocity. The change of the flutter envelope and critical velocity is found to be related to the dominant mode.
Magnetic noise evolution in CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB tunnel junctions during annealing
Authors: Stearrett Ryan , Wang W. G. , Shah L. R. , Xiao J. Q. , Nowak E. R.
Published: December 2010

We report on the evolution of equilibrium magnetoresistive (MR) 1/f noise due to the exchange-biased magnetic layer in MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions as a function of annealing time at 380 and 430 °C. The resistance susceptibility and MR noise are observed to increase rapidly with annealing time at a fixed temperature. The magnetic losses responsible for MR noise are not significantly affected by the structural crystallization at the CoFeB/MgO interface during short annealing times. After prolonged annealing, the decrease in magnetic losses is attributed to reduced disorder in the magnetic layers that result in thermally driven fluctuations in local micromagnetic structure.
Transformations of Vietnamese Shrimp Aquaculture Policy: Empirical Evidence from the Mekong Delta
Authors: Ha Tran Thi Thu , Bush Simon R
Published: December 2010

International environmental and social concerns about tropical shrimp production have led to the emergence of private transnational governance and regulation. Using cases from Ca Mau we investigate how the shift to private transnational regulatory networks has changed the role of the government from a regulator to a facilitator of global private governance interests and arrangements. The rise of these various schemes has also been part of a shift from quantitative to qualitative policy goals within the Vietnamese aquaculture sector. In turn, this has led to new internal relationships, most notably the repositioning of private interests and community-based management within the Vietnamese state framework. We conclude that the ongoing transformation of the government's role in environmental shrimp governance requires mechanisms that foster improved participation and compliance between the state and private actors. To achieve this efforts are needed to better include local government at both communal and village levels and to use existing global market incentives more strategically.
Exploring food policy developments within the United Kingdom
Authors: Midgley Jane
Published: December 2010

In this paper I focus on the emergence of discrete food policy approaches throughout the UK over the last decade. I review key developments and argue that greater awareness of, and engagement with, policy making is crucial to understandings of contemporary food debates and adds to understandings of the changing alternative and mainstream food systems. The development of food policies by the UK government and the administrations of Wales and Scotland are explored through convention theory. The analysis suggests that the creation and existence of a food policy, expressing what is effectively a common good, are of more strategic value than the actual policy content. The challenge to existing food ‘policy competency’ (the power to legislate) can be identified as a strategic disruption to existing food governance practices. This is particularly the case when the multiple roles adopted by policy makers are considered in relation to the justification and evaluation of policy approaches.
Environmental Policy Integration: The Role of Policy Windows in the Integration of Noise and Spatial Planning
Authors: Weber Miriam , Driessen Peter P J
Published: December 2010

Interest in environmental policy integration (EPI) has recently been strong, both in the literature and in practice. We explore Dutch initiatives to integrate noise management into spatial planning policy in light of the body of literature on EPI. The main approaches of EPI are translated into a conceptual framework consisting of organizational, procedural, and contextual factors. The objective of this literature review is to relate paradigm shifts and policy innovations regarding noise management and spatial planning to empirical windows of opportunity for and barriers to implementation of EPI. It shows how instruments allowing a flexible approach and deviation from standards at the local level fit in with the discourse on decentralized and area-oriented policy. The analysis suggests that procedural and decision-making rules and organizational arrangements can bridge implementation gaps in local-level planning practice. However, EPI in the Netherlands has not solved the noise problem, and the number of affected inhabitants is increasing. We conclude the paper by examining the conceptual and normative issues affecting the integration and prioritization of noise management policy.
Cluster Policies in the US and Germany: Varieties of Capitalism Perspective on Two High-Tech States
Authors: Sternberg Rolf , Kiese Matthias , Stockinger Dennis
Published: December 2010

Despite the diffusion of cluster policies across time and space, the universal applicability of the underlying concept or its otherwise necessary adaptation to national, regional, and local peculiarities are rarely questioned. Drawing on the varieties of capitalism approach, we adopt an institutional perspective to compare the cluster policies of North Carolina and Bavaria, situated in their countries' multilevel governance frameworks in which the state level interacts with federal and local policies. Contrasting North Carolina and Bavaria, we link the differences in the design and implementation of cluster policies to characteristics of the national institutional environment, as well as to regional specifics and path dependencies. Our findings highlight the importance of institutional contexts that needs to be considered when adapting cluster policies to specific circumstances.
Physicochemical, microbiological and sensory properties of Sudanese yoghurt (zabadi) made from goat's milk
Authors: Eissa Eshraga A. , Babiker Elfadil E. , Yagoub Abu ElGasim A.
Published: December 2010

Physicochemical, microbiological and sensory attributes of fresh and cold-stored (5–15 days) fermented zabadi from goat’s milk were analysed and then compared with those of cow’s milk. Results indicated that the gross nutrients of fresh goat’s milk changed after processing. Zabadi fermentation significantly decreased the lactose content and pH of the fresh milk in both zabadi types. Cow-milk zabadi was more viscous than goat-milk zabadi. Cold storage resulted in significant changes in gross composition of both zabadi types, in particular after 10 days of storage. Lactose and pH decreased further if the storage period was prolonged. Lactobacillus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are the main active organisms in goat- and cow-milk zabadi. The number of total bacteria and yeast increased significantly within 10 days of storage, decreasing thereafter. Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. were absent. Coliforms and faecal coliforms were detected in both zabadi types; however, they disappeared after 5 days of storage. Goat-milk zabadi showed significantly lower sensory scores than cow-milk zabadi. Both zabadi types can withstand storage to a maximum of 10 days, with the sensory scores decreasing thereafter.
Enhancing fatty acid composition of milk and meat through animal feeding
Authors: Doreau M. , Bauchart D. , Chilliard Y.
Published: December 2010

In ruminants, extensive ruminal biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids (FA) results in numerous cis and trans isomers of 18:1 and of conjugated and non-conjugated 18:2, the incorporation of which into ruminant products depends on the composition of the diet (forage vs concentrate) and of dietary lipid supplements. The low amount of 18:3n-3 (α-linolenic acid) absorbed explains its limited incorporation in meat and milk lipids. Its protection against hydrogenation has been an objective for several decades, but only encapsulation in a protein matrix is efficient. In non-ruminants, the FA composition of products is determined by dietary FA, despite minor differences in digestibility and in metabolic activity. Physicochemical differences in intestinal absorption processes between ruminants and non-ruminants can explain the lower FA digestibility in non-ruminants, especially for saturated FA. Unlike in non-ruminants, FA digestibility in ruminants does not depend on FA intake, except for 18:0. The decrease in cow butterfat, especially with concentrate diets, is generally attributed to t10–18:1 or t10,c12–18:2, but the regulation is probably more complex. Differences in terms of butterfat content and FA composition of milk between cow, ewe and goat responses to the amount and composition of ingested lipids are due to between-species variations in mammary metabolism. In animals bred for meat production, dietary 18:3n-3 results in increases in this FA and in n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated FA (20:5n-3, 22:5n-3) in muscles. The extent of this increase depends both on animal and nutritional factors. Grass is a source of 18:3n-3, which contributes to increased 18:3n-3 in muscle of ruminants as well as of pigs. Conjugated linoleic acids are mainly present in fat tissues and milk due to t11–18:1 desaturation. Their concentration depends on tissue type and on animal species. Non-ruminants fed synthetic conjugated linoleic acids incorporate them in significant amounts in muscle, depending on the isomer. All dietary manipulations favouring polyunsaturated FA incorporation in milk and meat lipids increase the risk of lipoperoxidation, which can be efficiently prevented by use of dietary combined hydro- and lipophilic antioxidants in the diet. Putative effects on organoleptic and technological quality of products deserve further studies.
Perception in France of the Australian system for the prediction of beef quality (Meat Standards Australia) with perspectives for the European beef sector
Authors: Hocquette J. F. , Legrand I. , Jurie C. , Pethick D. W. , Micol D.
Published: December 2010

Australia has developed the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grading scheme to predict beef quality for consumers. This system is comprehensive, accurate and scientifically supported. It is based on the development and the use of a research database with a large amount of data, including the use of a large-scale consumer testing system with cuts cooked in different ways as well as information on the corresponding animals, carcasses and cuts. The system is also based on statistical analyses carried out on this database to identify the critical control points of beef palatability which is indicated for individual muscles and for a specific cooking method and aging time. Experts involved in the French beef industry were questioned about their knowledge and views on the application of the MSA system. They recognised many qualities of the MSA system and it was judged as original, relevant and sufficiently mature in its application, and favouring scientifically based prediction of beef quality rather than replying on tradition and perceptions of quality. It was also thought to be credible, flexible and open ended. However, it was still considered to possess some weak points. Thus, while its development in Australia at the farmer and abattoir level has been impressive in a relatively short time, the final delivery of precise quality grades to consumers is still lacking at retail due to only partial implementation of the system. Its adaptability to France would be difficult due to the complexity of the French beef industry and market. But, the program is uniquely innovative and deserves consideration. It will facilitate awareness and induce much needed changes to underpin the preservation and the development of the beef sector in France and eventually in Europe.
Effect of nitrogen application on dry matter yields, nutritive characteristics and mineral content of summer-active forage crops in southern Australia
Authors: Jacobs J. L. , Ward G. N.
Published: December 2010

In the dryland areas of southern Australia, summer-active forage crops have been traditionally grown to provide additional home-grown feed during a period when pasture is often in short supply. Dry matter (DM) yields are often variable and the use of nitrogen (N) fertiliser is considered a viable option to increase such yields. The effect of applying N fertiliser to the summer-active species, forage brassica cv. Hunter (Brassica campestris L. × Brassica napus L.), forage brassica cv. Winfred (Brassica napus L.), turnips (Brassica rapa L. cv. Barkant), chicory (Chichorium intybus L. cv. Grouse), plantain (Plantago lanceolata L. cv. Tonic), sorghum sudangrass hybrid cv. Sweet Jumbo [Sorghum bicolour (L.) Moench × Sorghum sudanese (Piper) Stapf.], millet (Echinochloa utilis Ohwi & Yabuno) and a mixture of Winfred and millet (1 : 5) over two summer periods were measured. N was applied at 0, 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 kg N/ha with half of the N being applied ~5–6 weeks after sowing for all crops and the remainder immediately following the first grazing of regrowth crops and at 9 weeks after sowing for turnips. DM yield responses to applied N were variable, with increases only being observed in the first year. For the regrowth forages (all forages except turnips), the DM yield increase occurred during the second growth period and reflects higher than average rainfall during that period. The crude protein content of all forages generally increased with increasing N application in both years, with the highest response being 0.14% per kg N applied. In contrast, the water-soluble carbohydrate content of forages decreased with N application. The results from this study indicate that the effect of applying N fertiliser to summer forages is limited by available moisture and subsequent active growth of the forage. Where there is adequate moisture, N application can improve DM yield and also the crude protein content of most summer forages. Application of N to summer forages should be seen as a tactical decision based on available soil moisture and active plant growth to ensure N uptake and subsequent DM accumulation.
Comparison of two instruments (G2 Tenderometer and a Lloyd Texture analyser) for measuring the shear force of cooked meat
Authors: Hopkins D. L. , Toohey E. S. , Kerr M. J. , van de Ven R.
Published: December 2010

A comparison of the peak shear force results for a Lloyd texture analyser and a G2 Tenderometer was undertaken using both sheep and beef meat. The G2 is a new version of the Tenderometer developed originally by the Meat Industry Research Institute of New Zealand and uses an electric linear motor to compress the sample, but still retains the blunt wedge-shaped ‘tooth’. By comparison the Lloyd texture analyser can be used with a shearing head derived from the Warner–Bratzler type of head. Analysis of sheep samples (n = 148) and beef samples (n = 192) of the same size revealed that the average G2 Tenderometer shear force results were ~1.3 times those for the Lloyd when testing less tender samples. An examination of the repeatability within cook block samples for these less tender sub-samples revealed a coefficient of variation of ~12% for both the Lloyd and Tenderometer instruments. For the more tender samples, the average results for the two instruments did not differ significantly, but for less tender samples it was observed that the results for the Tenderometer were more variable than those for the Lloyd texture analyser. Data on shear force generated by the G2 are not equivalent to that generated by the Lloyd and use of the G2 requires more replicates to be tested per sample to achieve an equivalent level of precision to that of a Lloyd texture analyser. As a guide only, G2 Tenderometer values can by multiplied by 0.75–0.80 to give approximate Lloyd results if required for samples of average toughness, otherwise the following model can be used Lloyd = 2.49 Tenderometer0.72.
NMR analysis of the αIIbβ3 cytoplasmic interaction suggests a mechanism for integrin regulation
Authors: Metcalf Douglas G. , Moore David T. , Wu Yibing , Kielec Joseph M. , Molnar Kathleen , Valentine Kathleen G. , Wand A. Joshua , Bennett Joel S. , DeGrado William F.
Published: December 2010

The integrin αIIbβ3 is a transmembrane (TM) heterodimeric adhesion receptor that exists in equilibrium between resting and active ligand binding conformations. In resting αIIbβ3, the TM and cytoplasmic domains of αIIb and β3 form a heterodimer that constrains αIIbβ3 in its resting conformation. To study the structure and dynamics of the cytoplasmic domain heterodimer, we prepared a disulfide-stabilized complex consisting of portions of the TM domains and the full cytoplasmic domains. NMR and hydrogen-deuterium exchange of this complex in micelles showed that the αIIb cytoplasmic domain is largely disordered, but it interacts with and influences the conformation of the β3 cytoplasmic domain. The β3 cytoplasmic domain consists of a stable proximal helix contiguous with the TM helix and two distal amphiphilic helices. To confirm the NMR structure in a membrane-like environment, we studied the β3 cytoplasmic domain tethered to phospholipid bilayers. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, as well as circular dichroism spectroscopy, demonstrated that the β3 cytoplasmic domain becomes more ordered and helical under these conditions, consistent with our NMR results. Further, these experiments suggest that the two distal helices associate with lipid bilayers but undergo fluctuations that would allow rapid binding of cytoplasmic proteins regulating integrin activation, such as talin and kindlin-3. Thus, these results provide a framework for understanding the kinetics and thermodynamics of protein interactions involving integrin cytoplasmic domains and suggest that such interactions act in a concerted fashion to influence integrin stalk separation and exposure of extracellular ligand binding sites.
Negation in Persian
Authors: Kwak Saera
Published: December 2010

This paper classifies Persian negative elements and analyzes the negative structures based on Minimalism and Distributed Morphology. Negative Polarity Items (NPIs) in Persian which have [−neg] check its feature against [+neg] of negative marker for convergence. Negative Concord Items (NCIs), which are inherently negative, have [+neg]. Thus, in the NC Sentences, we have two [+neg]—one in negative marker, and the other in NCI. It can be misread that a NC structure, like Double Negation, delivers an affirmative reading. To prevent the misreading, we assumed Neg-absorption and Neg-criterion. However, that is impossible in Double Negation with two negative markers placed in different NegP, so the [+neg] in the sentence remain till Logical Form (LF) and they cancel each other and, as a result, the sentence becomes affirmative. Based on Minimalism and Distributed Morphology, the unified account on the structure of negation is examined.
Discomforting pedagogies: Emotional tensions, ethical dilemmas and transformative possibilities
Authors: Zembylas Michalinos , McGlynn Claire
Published: December 2010

This article examines the potential and limitations of pedagogy of discomfort in a classroom of 10‐ and 11‐year‐old students of an integrated school in Northern Ireland. At the centre of the analysis are the students’ and the teacher's emotional experiences and the resulting consequences when a discomforting pedagogical activity (an adaptation of the classic ‘Blue‐Eyed, Brown‐Eyed’ exercise) is implemented to teach students about social injustice. The theoretical framework that informs this investigation is grounded in the notion of ‘pedagogy of discomfort’. A qualitative, ethnographic perspective forms the basis for the data collection and analysis. The findings show that the pedagogical exercise does not have the same impact on all participants, yet it contains several risks, most notably those of differential power and privilege between teacher and students and the ethical implications of putting some children (even temporarily) in a disadvantaged place. The implications are discussed in terms of teaching and learning through discomfort.
Necessity as the Mother of Intervention: The Industrial Policy Debate in England
Authors: Lee Simon
Published: December 2010

This article seeks to demonstrate two simple points about industrial policy in England. First, industrial policy matters, but if there is to be an effective and fruitful debate about industrial policy, it must not be insular. It must be located within the wider context of the ongoing battle of ideas in the discipline of political economy about the appropriate roles for the state and market in enhancing economic development. Second, the debate about industrial policy must not occur in an historical vacuum, but must learn the lesson of the interventions by the Thatcher, Blair and Brown Governments. These have demonstrated that all British governments have intervened and have picked winners. The Cameron-Clegg coalition government will be no different despite its rhetorical commitment to rolling back radically the frontiers of state spending and intervention
Towards the Resilient Region?
Authors: Dawley Stuart , Pike Andy , Tomaney John
Published: December 2010

Discussions of local and regional development have recently broadened from a preoccupation with growth to one which captures the notion of resilience. This article makes two main contributions to these debates. First, it critiques static equilibrium-based notions of resilience and instead advances a more dynamic evolutionary approach to explain local and regional resilience. Secondly, it seeks to address the widening gap between resilience thinking and its transfer to practical policy prescription. To do this, we explore the notions of adaptability, adaptive capacity and new path creation in developing local and regional resilience. We then focus upon what this might mean for local and regional strategies, and draw on the case study of the renewable energy sector in north-east England to demonstrate the enduring role of policy intervention in stimulating change and building resilience in peripheral regions.
Making a liberal state: ‘good governance’ in Ghana
Authors: Williams David
Published: December 2010

This paper is concerned with the project of constructing a liberal state as evinced through the World Bank's policies and practices of good governance in Ghana. It argues that this project is an expression of characteristically liberal ways of thinking about the state and its relationship with its economy and society. The construction of a liberal state involves more than simply reducing the scope of state power and constraining state action through forms of accountability – although it does involve these. It is also about the constitution of the state as a governmental agency with the capacity to enact reforms on its society – in other words, the liberal state is one with significant autonomy and agency; and it involves the engineering of that very ‘civil society’ to which the state is to be made accountable.
Ties that bind or binds that tie? India's African engagements and the political economy of Kenya
Authors: McCann Gerard
Published: December 2010

This paper analyses contemporary non-Western engagement with Africa through the lens of the second most significant, but surprisingly neglected, ‘Asian driver’ – India. Much of the literature on India's renewed interest in Africa is panoramic, highlighting concepts of ‘South–South’ cooperation in ways relatively uncritical of continued Indian claims to the Nehruvian moral high ground in the developing world. This article, by contrast, focuses on critical realities of India's relations with a single country – Kenya, a nation with which India has had ostensibly close links due to the historic presence of South Asian communities in the region. It critiques notions that ‘diasporic’ ties between India and Kenya facilitate contemporary Indian economic ambitions. Rather, the paper argues, fractious historical race relations in Kenya, and the cynosure of ‘African’ homogenisation of ‘Asians’ within an ‘ethnicised’ post-colonial political economy, might partially impede Indian ambitions relative to capital-rich foreign suitors devoid of such historical baggage. The second major argument holds that the specific state-led imperatives of much economic liaison within Kenya today favour certain ‘partners’ with statist investment models in contrast to India's more explicit, but not absolute, private sector-led engagement. Most importantly, analysis within a localised African context points to African agency in encounters with the ‘Asian drivers’, a term implying a certain unidirectional power flow. The competitive interest of a range of ‘new’ suitors has allowed African leaders, not least in Kenya as this paper suggests, unprecedented choice in international negotiations. The danger, however, is that these new liaisons can reify divisive socio-political conflicts in which many African nations are mired. This appears to be pertinent to Kenya where strains within the elite political sphere are being somewhat exacerbated by foreign investment, particularly from China and the Arab world.
Oil as the ‘curse’ of conflict in Africa: peering through the smoke and mirrors
Authors: Obi Cyril
Published: December 2010

This article interrogates the framing of the resource curse as a central causal mechanism in the resource abundance–conflict nexus in Africa. It is argued that explaining such conflicts on the basis of the ways natural resources either act as an incentive/motive for rebel groups, or erode and weaken states, does not adequately capture the complex histories, dimensions and transnational linkages to civil conflict in Africa. The article lays bare the attempts by a hegemonic discourse to obfuscate the reality of the fundamental and transnational underpinnings of the resource–conflict nexus. It is argued that the resource curse perspective cannot fully explain conflict in African oil states, and rather, a case is made for an alternative model based on radical political economy which lays bare the class relations, contradictions and conflicts rooted in the subordination of the continent and its resources to transnational processes and elites embedded in globalised capitalist relations.
“I Allow Myself to FEEL Now …”: Adolescent Girls' Negotiations of Embodied Knowing, the Female Body, and Literacy
Authors: Woodcock Christine
Published: December 2010

This study sought to provide new insights to the following questions: When discussing their literacy practices, how do adolescent girls talk about their bodies? What is the role of the body in some young women's literacy? What are the different forms that (dis)embodied learning can take, and what is its role in girls' literacy education? These questions were developed out of an interest in shedding light upon how particular literacies foster agency, how school and other institutional contexts can sometimes feel physically controlling, and how voice/silence are related to (dis)embodied knowledge. Grounded in the above questions, this article shares a cross-case analysis focused on issues of the body as they relate to case studies of three adolescent girls (ages 18–21) of diverse backgrounds. Informants participated in several interviews and the assembling of literacy artifacts, and the interviews were analyzed with the Listening Guide, a feminist, voice-centered, relational methodology. First, the work is situated theoretically by defining and exploring terms such as agency, embodied knowing, and voice/silence, and how they all relate to literacy, school, and learning. Second, the methodological framework used to collect and analyze data with the female informants is provided. Third, the cross-case analysis of case studies is provided, focusing on the three themes of agency, the physically controlling nature of schools/institutions, and the notion of silence or disembodied knowing when it comes to such issues as sexuality and social class. The three informants all engaged somewhat critically with their literacies, though not in a consistent fashion, exhibiting some dissonance or disembodied knowing in relation to their literacy practices. Even in the face of this dissonance, the informants used a form of play to negotiate the various roles of texts in their lives and their negotiations of body. Last, concluding thoughts are shared, with tangible suggestions for teachers and teacher educators. This study fortified the need to empower girls to critically reflect on their literacies in a consistent manner, so as to inspire educational reform through critical literacy and through emphasis on the affective and bodily dimensions of learning.
Analyzing the Language of Struggle in Search of Hope for Teachers
Authors: Schmidt Renita , Whitmore Kathryn F.
Published: December 2010

This article presents a detailed case study analysis of oral and written language expressed by Jacqueline Meyer, a teacher of elementary English Language Learners (ELL), as she struggled to navigate the current political terrain with her students. Ms. Meyer's district adopted commercial materials and increased the amount and substance of testing for her students, thereby increasing the likelihood that her students would be viewed from a deficit point of view. Ms. Meyer was selected for an in-depth case study because in her words we heard the history of ELL marginalization and the local and federal mandates of NCLB that challenged the core of her beliefs, but we also saw her struggle to maintain her own (and her students') identities. Content, rhetorical, and critical discourse analyses of her talk revealed her teaching identity as a theoretician who speaks with an “ art-full” and strategic voice. The rhetorical analysis illuminated Ms. Meyer's skill with persuasive language that evoked emotion, and the critical discourse analysis illuminated her ability to strategically use language to shift power and positioning. Together, these tools enabled us to see how she effectively used language to improvise a persuasive and poetic argument and to operate strategically in challenging times.
A Robotic Guide for Blind People. Part 1. A Multi‐National Survey of the Attitudes, Requirements and Preferences of Potential End‐Users
Authors: Hersh Marion A. , Johnson Michael A.
Published: December 2010

This paper reports the results of a multi‐national survey in several different countries on the attitudes, requirements and preferences of blind and visually impaired people for a robotic guide. The survey is introduced by a brief overview of existing work on robotic travel aids and other mobile robotic devices. The questionnaire comprises three sections on personal information about respondents, existing use of mobility and navigation devices and the functions and other features of a robotic guide. The survey found that respondents were very interested in the robotic guide having a number of different functions and being useful in a wide range of circumstances. They considered the robot′s appearance to be very important but did not like any of the proposed designs. From their comments, respondents wanted the robot to be discreet and inconspicuous, small, light weight and portable, easy to use, robust to damage, require minimal maintenance, have a long life and a long battery life.
The Evolution of Extracellular Matrix
Authors: Özbek Suat , Balasubramanian Prakash G. , Chiquet-Ehrismann Ruth , Tucker Richard P. , Adams Josephine C.
Published: December 2010

We present a perspective on the molecular evolution of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in metazoa that draws on research publications and data from sequenced genomes and expressed sequence tag libraries. ECM components do not function in isolation, and the biological ECM system or “adhesome” also depends on posttranslational processing enzymes, cell surface receptors, and extracellular proteases. We focus principally on the adhesome of internal tissues and discuss its origins at the dawn of the metazoa and the expansion of complexity that occurred in the chordate lineage. The analyses demonstrate very high conservation of a core adhesome that apparently evolved in a major wave of innovation in conjunction with the origin of metazoa. Integrin, CD36, and certain domains predate the metazoa, and some ECM-related proteins are identified in choanoflagellates as predicted sequences. Modern deuterostomes and vertebrates have many novelties and elaborations of ECM as a result of domain shuffling, domain innovations and gene family expansions. Knowledge of the evolution of metazoan ECM is important for understanding how it is built as a system, its roles in normal tissues and disease processes, and has relevance for tissue engineering, the development of artificial organs, and the goals of synthetic biology.
The Heart Failure Revascularisation Trial (HEART)
Authors: Cleland John G.F. , Calvert Melanie , Freemantle Nick , Arrow Yvonne , Ball Stephen G. , Bonser Robert S. , Chattopadhyay Sudipta , Norell Michael S. , Pennell Dudley J. , Senior Roxy
Published: December 2010

Aims

Revascularization is frequently advocated to improve ventricular function and prognosis for patients with heart failure due to coronary artery disease, especially when there is evidence of extensive myocardial viability.

Methods and results

Patients with heart failure, coronary artery disease, and a left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction <35%, who had a substantial volume of viable myocardium with contractile dysfunction assessed by any standard imaging technique, were randomly assigned to a strategy of conservative management vs. angiography with the intent of percutaneous or surgical revascularization. Patients requiring revascularization for angina or too frail for surgery were excluded. Only 138 of the planned 800 patients were enrolled because of withdrawal of funding due to slow recruitment. Also, a larger trial (The Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure Trial) addressing a similar question became available, which investigators were encouraged to join. Of 69 patients assigned to the invasive strategy, 6 refused angiography, 2 died as a result of the diagnostic procedure, 14 were considered unsuitable for revascularization, 2 refused surgery, and 45 had revascularization. After a median follow‐up of 59 (inter‐quartile range: 33–63) months, there were 51 (37%) deaths; 25 (37%) in those assigned to the conservative strategy, and 26 (38%) in those assigned to the invasive strategy, 13 (29%) of whom had been revascularized.

Conclusion

A conservative management strategy may not be inferior to one of coronary arteriography with the intent to revascularize in patients with heart failure, LV systolic dysfunction, and extensive myocardial viability. However, this study was underpowered and, further, larger trials are required to settle this issue.

Clinical trials Registration No: ISRCTN86284615
Sister acts: coordinating DNA replication and cohesion establishment
Authors: Sherwood Rebecca , Takahashi Tatsuro S. , Jallepalli Prasad V.
Published: December 2010

The ring-shaped cohesin complex links sister chromatids and plays crucial roles in homologous recombination and mitotic chromosome segregation. In cycling cells, cohesin's ability to generate cohesive linkages is restricted to S phase and depends on loading and establishment factors that are intimately connected to DNA replication. Here we review how cohesin is regulated by the replication machinery, as well as recent evidence that cohesin itself influences how chromosomes are replicated.
Gcn5 regulates the dissociation of SWI/SNF from chromatin by acetylation of Swi2/Snf2
Authors: Kim Jeong-Hoon , Saraf Anita , Florens Laurence , Washburn Michael , Workman Jerry L.
Published: December 2010

The positive link between the SWI/SNF and the Gcn5 histone acetyltransferase in transcriptional activation has been well described. Here we report an inhibitory role for Gcn5 in SWI/SNF targeting. We demonstrate that Gcn5-containing complexes directly acetylate the Snf2 subunit of the SWI/SNF complex in vitro, as well as in vivo. Moreover, the acetylation of Snf2 facilitates the dissociation of the SWI/SNF complex from acetylated histones, and reduces its association with promoters in vivo. These data reveal a novel mechanism by which Gcn5 modulates chromatin structure not only through the acetylation of histones, but also by directly acetylating Snf2.
MicroRNAs in embryonic stem cell function and fate
Authors: Tiscornia Gustavo , Izpisúa Belmonte Juan Carlos
Published: December 2010

Since their discovery in the early 1990s, microRNAs (miRs) have gone from initially being considered an oddity to being recognized as a level of gene expression regulation that is integral to the normal function of cells and organisms. They are implicated in many if not all biological processes in animals, from apoptosis and cell signaling to organogenesis and development. Our understanding of cell regulatory states, as determined primarily by transcription factor (TF) profiles, is incomplete without consideration of the corresponding miR profile. The miR complement of a cell provides robust and redundant control over the output of hundreds of possible targets for each miR. miRs are common components of regulatory pathways, and in some cases can constitute on–off switches that regulate crucial fate decisions. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge about the biogenesis and regulation of miRs and describe their involvement in the pathways that regulate cell division, pluripotency, and reprogramming to the pluripotent state.