bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tree-ring-based reconstructions of North American glacier mass balance through the Little Ice Age — Contemporary warming transition
Authors: Malcomb Nathan L. , Wiles Gregory C.
Published: January 2013

Glacier mass-balance reconstructions provide a means of placing relatively short observational records into a longer-term context. In western North America, mass-balance records span four to five decades and capture a relatively narrow window of glacial behavior over an interval that was dominated by warming and ablation. We use temperature- and moisture-sensitive tree-ring series to reconstruct annual mass balance for six glaciers in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Mass-balance models rely on the climatic sensitivity of tree-ring chronologies and teleconnection patterns in the North Pacific. The reconstructions extend through the mid to latter portions of the Little Ice Age (LIA) and explore the role of climate variability in forcing mass balance across multiple environmental gradients. Synchronous positive mass-balance intervals coincide with regional moraine building and solar minima, whereas differences in LIA glacier behavior are related to synoptic climate forcing. Secular warming in the late 19th century to present corresponds with the only multi-decadal intervals of negative mass balance in all glacier reconstructions. This suggests that contemporary retreat in western North America is unique with respect to the last several centuries and that regional patterns of glacier variability are now dominated by global climate forcing.
Carbohydrate quality is not associated with liver enzyme activity and plasma TAG and HDL concentrations over 5 years in an older population
Authors: Goletzke Janina , Buyken Anette E. , Gopinath Bamini , Rochtchina Elena , Barclay Alan W. , Cheng Guo , Brand-Miller Jennie C. , Mitchell Paul
Published: January 2013

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with insulin resistance and obesity. Hence, carbohydrate quality could be of relevance to the risk of NAFLD, but prospective data are lacking. The aim of the present study was to investigate longitudinal associations between carbohydrate quality (including dietary glycaemic index (GI) and intakes of sugar, starch and fibre) and markers of liver function in an older Australian population. The analysis was based on 866 participants ( ≥ 49 years) of the Blue Mountains Eye Study with fasting blood specimens and dietary intake data at baseline and 5-year follow-up. Multi-level mixed regression analysis was used to relate dietary GI and sugar, starch and fibre intake to the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), as well as fasting TAG and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C). After adjustment for potential confounding factors, a lower fibre intake was cross-sectionally related to higher GGT (P= 0·02) and fasting TAG (P= 0·002) levels, with fruit fibre being the most relevant fibre source (P= 0·095 for GGT; P= 0·003 for TAG). A higher dietary GI was associated with lower HDL-C (P= 0·046). Changes in carbohydrate quality during 5 years were not related to changes in ALT, GGT, TAG or HDL-C (P≥ 0·08). In conclusion, the absence of longitudinal associations between carbohydrate quality and liver enzymes and serum lipids in this older population does not support a major role of carbohydrate nutrition in liver function among the elderly.
“Our Present Work Will Be All Doors”: Writers and Periodical Culture in 1860s San Francisco
Authors: FLOYD JANET
Published: January 2013

This article examines the periodical culture of 1860s San Francisco, a challenging and brittle print culture environment for editors and writers. It focusses on theGolden Eraand the collective life it produced, in its pages, for the city's unstable population. TheEracelebrated a masculine culture of street and saloon, while making social and literary convention the focus of aggressive attack. Writers in this setting developed their assault on literary form in a range of material that dismantled popular modes of writing and pressed questions about writing and reading on its audiences. Their work constitutes a distinctive strain of western writing during this period, by turns critical of and indifferent to contemporary forms of representation of the cultures of the region. It also develops a mode of response to industrial urban experience during this period that makes an address to readers nationally and internationally as well as locally.
Gait generation via unified learning optimal control of Hamiltonian systems
Authors: Satoh Satoshi , Fujimoto Kenji , Hyon Sang-Ho
Published: January 2013

This paper proposes a repetitive control type optimal gait generation framework by executing learning control and parameter tuning. We propose a learning optimal control method of Hamiltonian systems unifying iterative learning control (ILC) and iterative feedback tuning (IFT). It allows one to simultaneously obtain an optimal feedforward input and tuning parameter for a plant system, which minimizes a given cost function. In the proposed method, a virtual constraint by a potential energy prevents a biped robot from falling. The strength of the constraint is automatically mitigated by the IFT part of the proposed method, according to the progress of trajectory learning by the ILC part.
First reported case of fatal tuberculosis in a wild African elephant with past human–wildlife contact
Authors: OBANDA V. , POGHON J. , YONGO M. , MULEI I. , NGOTHO M. , WAITITU K. , MAKUMI J. , GAKUYA F. , OMONDI P. , SORIGUER R. C. , ALASAAD S.
Published: January 2013

Tuberculosis is emerging/re-emerging in captive elephant populations, where it causes morbidity and deaths, although no case of TB in wild African elephants has been reported. In this paper we report the first case of fatal TB in an African elephant in the wild. The infection withMycobacterium tuberculosiswas confirmed by post-mortem and histological examinations of a female sub-adult elephant aged >12 years that died in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya, while under treatment. This case is unique in that during its lifetime the elephant had contact with both humans and wild elephants. The source of the infection was unclear because the elephant could have acquired the infection in the orphanage or in the wild. However, our results show that wild elephants can maintain human TB in the wild and that the infection can be fatal.
A New Bound for the 2/3 Conjecture
Authors: KRÁL' DANIEL , LIU CHUN-HUNG , SERENI JEAN-SÉBASTIEN , WHALEN PETER , YILMA ZELEALEM B.
Published: January 2013

We show that anyn-vertex complete graph with edges coloured with three colours contains a set of at most four vertices such that the number of the neighbours of these vertices in one of the colours is at least 2n/3. The previous best value, proved by Erdős, Faudree, Gould, Gyárfás, Rousseau and Schelp in 1989, is 22. It is conjectured that three vertices suffice.
Peer Relationships of Children with Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Yeates Keith Owen , Gerhardt Cynthia A. , Bigler Erin D. , Abildskov Tracy , Dennis Maureen , Rubin Kenneth H. , Stancin Terry , Taylor H. Gerry , Vannatta Kathryn
Published: January 2013

This study examined peer relationships in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) relative to children with orthopedic injuries (OI), and explored whether differences in peer relationships correlated with white matter volumes. Classroom procedures were used to elicit peer perceptions of social behavior, acceptance, and friendships for eighty-seven 8- to 13-year-old children, 15 with severe TBI, 40 with complicated mild/moderate TBI, and 32 with OI. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) were used to investigate volumetric correlates of peer relationship measures. Children with severe TBI were rated higher in rejection-victimization than children with OI, and were less likely than children with OI to have a mutual friendship in their classroom (47% vs. 88%). Children with TBI without a mutual friend were rated lower than those with a mutual friend on sociability-popularity and prosocial behavior and higher on rejection-victimization, and had lower peer acceptance ratings. Mutual friendship ratings were related to white matter volumes in several posterior brain regions, but not to overall brain atrophy. Severe TBI in children is associated with detrimental peer relationships that are related to focal volumetric reductions in white matter within regions of the brain involved in social information-processing. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–10)
Low noise amplifier for radio astronomy
Authors: Smith David M.P. , Bakker Laurens , Witvers Roel H. , Woestenburg Bert E.M. , Palmer Keith D.
Published: January 2013

A compact, microstrip, two-stage, room temperature, single-ended low noise amplifier (LNA) is designed using commercial components for Aperture Tile in Focus (APERTIF), a square kilometre array (SKA) pathfinder project. Various techniques are investigated to insert inductance between the source pad of the package and the ground plane of the printed circuit board (PCB), with the chosen design able to do this using standard manufacturing techniques. The desired noise temperature of 25 K (noise figure (NF) of 0.36 dB) is met over the 1.0–1.8 GHz band, with an input return loss better than 10 dB.
Recovering low‐rank and sparse components of matrices for object detection
Authors: Zhang Hanling , Liu Liangliang
Published: January 2013

It is shown that object detection can be addressed in the authors' unified framework, where the observed video matrix is decomposed into the low‐rank matrix and the sparse matrix. The recovering problem can be solved by the proposed variant of the Douglas‐Rachford splitting method, which accomplishes recovery by exploiting the separable structure property of the model. The effectiveness of the proposed object detection scheme is illustrated on two data: simulated data and real sequences applications. The numerical experiments verify that the proposed algorithm has attractive robustness and high accuracy for illumination variation and dynamic texture.
Improved algorithm of muscle fatigue detection using linear regression analysis
Authors: Hu W.W. , Huang Y.C. , Li C.P.
Published: January 2013

Conventional linear regression analysis methods used to measure muscle fatigue based on mean power frequency (MPF) can yield results that are dependent on the epoch of each MPF value. An improved algorithm containing two window segmenting methods, overlapped and non‐overlapped schemes, is provided to investigate the effect of window length on linear regression analysis during sustained isometric constant force muscle contraction. The minimal length of each segment can be determined by making the slope sign changes to be zero. In conclusion, the minimal length is independent of the epoch of each MPF value.
OCDMA receiver with built‐in all‐optical clock recovery
Authors: Idris S.K. , Osadola T.B. , Glesk I.
Published: January 2013

A receiver that incorporates an all‐optical clock recovery approach for synchronisation suitable for use in incoherent OCDMA transmission is demonstrated. The developed solution was implemented and tested in a multiuser environment using the 2D‐WHTS coding scheme on incoherent OCDMA transmission with 2.5 Gbit/s data rate. The receiver with built‐in all‐optical clock recovery was tested by taking the BER for the received data when synchronised with the all‐optically recovered clock from the incoming OCDMA traffic and when an RF synthesiser was used to the generate the clock. Improvement of ∼7.5 dBm was observed with the all‐optical clock recovery approach. The related eye diagrams and the wavelength spectrum were also recorded.
Energy harvesting from ambient electromagnetic wave using human body as antenna
Authors: Hwang J.H. , Hyoung C.H. , Park K.H. , Kim Y.T.
Published: January 2013

The feasibility of energy harvesting using the human body, which is used instead of a general antenna as an antenna in a low‐frequency band to harvest energy included in an ambient electromagnetic wave, is investigated. Using the presented method, it is possible to harvest much more power in comparison with that possible with the previous method, in which a general antenna is used to harvest power in the high‐frequency band. Also, this method can be easily applied to mobile devices because no antenna is required.
Wideband and compact quasi‐Yagi antenna integrated with balun of microstrip to slotline transitions
Authors: Nguyen P. T. , Abbosh A. , Crozier S.
Published: January 2013

A wideband quasi‐Yagi antenna utilising a microstrip‐to‐coplanar stripline balun is presented. The antenna is designed to be compact, directional and wideband so that it can be used to form a circular array for a microwave imaging system. The feeding structure of the antenna includes an ultra‐wideband balun that is formed using a pair of microstrip to slotline transitions. The simulated and measured results of the proposed antenna indicate more than 70% fractional bandwidth with more than 10 dB return loss, more than 18 dB front‐to‐back ratio and around 4 dBi gain.
Monolithic patch antenna for dedicated short‐range communications
Authors: Leonardi O. , Pavone M. , Cadili T. , Sorbello G. , Isernia T.
Published: January 2013

Dedicated short‐range communications (DSRCs) is a novel short‐ to medium‐range wireless protocol designed for automotive use. The DSRC signals are circularly polarised and allocated in the 5.8 GHz band. Described is the development of a monolithic and compact patch antenna with left‐hand circular polarisation intended for the on‐board unit equipment of a DSRC system. The 40×60×2.455 mm fabricated prototype exhibits a circularly‐polarised gain of about 5.52 dBc with a cross‐polar discrimination of about 20 dB.
Inverse triangular‐shape CPW‐fed antenna loaded with EBG reflector
Authors: Alam M.S. , Islam M.T. , Misran N.
Published: January 2013

A new compact dual wideband CPW‐fed inverse triangular‐shape antenna is presented. The lower and upper bands are widened from 68.76 and 18.33% to 96.23 and 28.7%, respectively, using a triangular patch‐trapezoidal ground combination. The antenna performance is further enhanced by backing it with a dual‐band uni‐planar EBG reflector. The final design has been prototyped and measured. It sufficiently covers the frequency bands 1.5–5.63 GHz and 9.52–13.06 GHz with enhanced gain up to 5.2 dB. The radiation efficiency is improved to approximately 72%.
Active stabilisation of single drive dual‐parallel Mach‐Zehnder modulator for single sideband signal generation
Authors: Fabbri S.J. , O'Riordan C. , Sygletos S. , Ellis A.D.
Published: January 2013

Presented is a study on a single‐drive dual‐parallel Mach‐Zehnder modulator implementation as a single sideband suppressed carrier generator. High values of both extinction ratio and sidemode suppression ratio were obtained at different modulation frequencies over the C‐band. In addition, a stabilisation loop had been developed to preserve the single sideband generation over time.
Experimental demonstration of high throughput, ultra‐low delay variation packet/circuit fusion network
Authors: Veisllari R. , Bjornstad S. , Hjelme D.R.
Published: January 2013

Delay and packet delay variation are key parameters for real‐time applications and packet‐layer synchronisation. Demonstrated is an Ethernet integrated hybrid network enabling adding packet‐traffic to a 10 Gbit/s Ethernet circuit without impacting packet‐traffic delay, delay variation or packet loss. A scheduling algorithm increasing the throughput efficiency of integrated hybrid networks is demonstrated.
Random‐telegraph‐signal noise in AlGaN/GaN MIS‐HEMT on silicon
Authors: Li Yihu , Ling Goh Wang , Ng Geok Ing , Liu Zhi Hong , Xiong Yong‐Zhong , Lo Patrick
Published: January 2013

The traps in an AlGaN/GaN metal‐insulator‐silicon‐high‐electron‐mobility‐transistor on silicon are investigated by analysing the random‐telegraph‐signal (RTS) noise in the drain current. Two different types of RTS noise due to the traps at the gate‐oxide and AlGaN have been observed in this reported work. Through the analysis of the two RTS noises, the presences of the two trap types are verified and the trap locations have also been identified.
Leaky-surface-wave generated acoustic beam displacement upon reflection in lithium tantalate crystals
Authors: Rimeika R. , Belovickis J. , Čiplys D.
Published: January 2013

The non-specular reflection of a leaky surface acoustic wave radiated beam from the surface of piezoelectric lithium tantalate crystal has been investigated using an acoustoelectric and acousto-optic technique. The Schoch-type beam displacement upon reflection strongly depends on whether the surface is free or metalized. This effect is attributed to the excitation (on the reflecting surface) of the leaky surface wave, the acoustoelectric attenuation of which strongly depends on the surface conductivity.
Buckling induced delamination of graphene composites through hybrid molecular modeling
Authors: Cranford Steven W.
Published: January 2013

The efficiency of graphene-based composites relies on mechanical stability and cooperativity, whereby separation of layers (i.e., delamination) can severely hinder performance. Here we study buckling induced delamination of mono- and bilayer graphene-based composites, utilizing a hybrid full atomistic and coarse-grained molecular dynamics approach. The coarse-grain model allows exploration of an idealized model material to facilitate parametric variation beyond any particular molecular structure. Through theoretical and simulation analyses, we show a critical delamination condition, where ΔD∝kL4, where ΔD is the change in bending stiffness (eV), k the stiffness of adhesion (eV/Å4), and L the length of the adhered section (Å).
Electron field emission from reduced graphene oxide on polymer film
Authors: Sameera I. , Bhatia Ravi , Ouyang Jianyong , Prasad V. , Menon R.
Published: January 2013

Field emission of reduced graphene oxide coated on polystyrene film is studied in both parallel and perpendicular configurations. Low turn-on field of 0.6 V/μm and high emission current density of 200 mA/cm2 are observed in perpendicular configuration (along the cross section), whereas a turn-on field of 6 V/μm and current density of 20 μA/cm2 are obtained in parallel configuration (top surface). The emission characteristics follow Fowler–Nordheim (FN) tunneling and the values of enhancement factor estimated from FN plots are 5818 (perpendicular) and 741 (parallel). Furthermore, stability and repeatability of the field emission characteristics in perpendicular configuration are presented.
Decay instability of an upper hybrid wave in a magnetized dusty plasmas
Authors: Gahlot Ajay , Walia Ritu , Sharma Jyotsna , Sharma Suresh C. , Sharma Rinku
Published: January 2013

The decay instability of an upper hybrid wave into an upper hybrid sideband wave and low frequency ion-cyclotron wave are studied in a magnetized dusty plasma cylinder. The growth rate and ion-cyclotron mode frequencies were evaluated based on existing dusty plasma parameters. It is found that the unstable mode frequency increases linearly with δ (ion-to-electron density ratio). In addition, the growth rate of the unstable ion-cyclotron mode decreases sharply for lower values of δ in the presence of dust charge fluctuations, i.e., the dust grains increases the damping effect in three wave interaction process.
Derivation of stochastic differential equations for scrape-off layer plasma fluctuations from experimentally measured statistics
Authors: Mekkaoui A.
Published: January 2013

A stochastic differential equation for intermittent plasma density dynamics in magnetic fusion edge plasma is derived, which is consistent with the experimentally measured gamma distribution and the theoretically expected quadratic nonlinearity. The plasma density is driven by a multiplicative Wiener process and evolves on the turbulence correlation time scale, while the linear growth is quadratically damped by the fluctuation level. The sensitivity of intermittency to the nonlinear dynamics is investigated by analyzing the nonlinear Langevin representation of the beta process, which leads to a root-square nonlinearity.
A comparison of the quality of dry-cured loins obtained from the native pig breed (Chato Murciano) and from a modern crossbreed pig
Authors: Salazar E. , Cayuela J. M. , Abellán A. , Poto A. , Peinado B. , Tejada L.
Published: January 2013

The effect of the Chato Murciano genotype (CM) and pig crossbreed genotypes (CG) on dry-cured loin quality was studied. Intramuscular fat and monounsaturated fatty acids were significantly higher in loins of CM than in CG (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Dry-cured loins from CM, which showed the highest intramuscular fat, showed higher scores for redness (P < 0.01), brightness (P < 0.001), marbling level (P < 0.05) and marbling size (P < 0.01), odour intensity (P < 0.05) and cured odour (P < 0.01), hardness (P < 0.001) and some flavour traits such as intensity (P < 0.05), cured flavour (P < 0.05) and after-taste (P < 0.05), and lower scores for sweetness (P < 0.01) and adhesiveness (P < 0.05), than dry-cured CG loins. Dry-cured loin from CM showed the highest level of consumer preference and acceptability.
Aberrant splicing of
HTT
generates the pathogenic exon 1 protein in Huntington disease
Authors: Sathasivam Kirupa , Neueder Andreas , Gipson Theresa A. , Landles Christian , Benjamin Agnesska C. , Bondulich Marie K. , Smith Donna L. , Faull Richard L. M. , Roos Raymund A. C. , Howland David , Detloff Peter J. , Housman David E. , Bates Gillian P.
Published: January 2013

Huntington disease (HD) is a devastating, late-onset, inherited neurodegenerative disorder that manifests with personality changes, movement disorders, and cognitive decline. It is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in exon 1 of the
HTT
gene that translates to a polyglutamine tract in the huntingtin protein (HTT). The formation of HTT fragments has been implicated as an essential step in the molecular pathogenesis of HD and several proteases that cleave HTT have been identified. However, the importance of smaller N-terminal fragments has been highlighted by their presence in HD postmortem brains and by the fact that nuclear inclusions are only detected by antibodies to the N terminus of HTT. Despite an intense research effort, the precise length of these fragments and the mechanism by which they are generated remains unknown. Here we show that CAG repeat length–dependent aberrant splicing of exon 1
HTT
results in a short polyadenylated mRNA that is translated into an exon 1 HTT protein. Given that mutant exon 1 HTT proteins have consistently been shown to be highly pathogenic in HD mouse models, the aberrant splicing of
HTT
mRNA provides a mechanistic basis for the molecular pathogenesis of HD. RNA-targeted therapeutic strategies designed to lower the levels of HTT are under development. Many of these approaches would not prevent the production of exon 1 HTT and should be reviewed in light of our findings.
The Effects of Fresh Eggs, Egg White, and Egg Yolk, Separately and in Combination with Salt, on Mixogram Properties
Authors: Van Steertegem Bénédicte , Pareyt Bram , Brijs Kristof , Delcour Jan A.
Published: January 2013

Salt and eggs are common ingredients in some wheat flour‐based food systems and significantly impact dough mixing behavior. We evaluated the effect of either whole eggs, egg white, or egg yolk on dough formation and properties with the Mixograph. Inclusion of whole eggs in wheat flour dough recipes increased dough development time, dough stability, and dough strength upon further mixing less than inclusion of only egg white. In contrast, egg yolk addition decreased all of these parameters. Salt had a more pronounced impact on dough containing egg yolk than on dough containing egg white. The present observations can be explained in terms of shielding charges of the gluten protein's ionized groups, which largely affects dough mixing behavior. The work demonstrates that in some applications it can be useful to use egg fractions rather than whole eggs.
Fractal geometry of a complex plumage trait reveals bird's quality
Authors: Pérez-Rodríguez Lorenzo , Jovani Roger , Mougeot François
Published: January 2013

Animal coloration is key in natural and sexual selection, playing significant roles in intra- and interspecific communication because of its linkage to individual behaviour, genetics and physiology. Simple animal traits such as the area or the colour intensity of homogeneous patches have been profusely studied. More complex patterns are widespread in nature, but they escape our understanding because their variation is difficult to capture effectively by standard, simple measures. Here, we used fractal geometry to quantify inter-individual variation in the expression of a complex plumage trait, the heterogeneous black bib of the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa). We show that a higher bib fractal dimension (FD) predicted better individual body condition, as well as immune responsiveness, which is condition-dependent in our study species. Moreover, when food intake was experimentally reduced during moult as a means to reduce body condition, the bib's FD significantly decreased. Fractal geometry therefore provides new opportunities for the study of complex animal colour patterns and their roles in animal communication.
Effects of Macroeconomic Policies on Health*
Authors: Ajayi S. Ibi
Published: January 2013

Abstract:  The paper highlights that macroeconomic policies do not often confer anticipated positive benefits in the desired direction. Indeed, macroeconomic policies may impact health outcomes negatively, create inequality and some other undesirable effects which may have significant effects on social well‐being. While macroeconomic policies can have great impacts on health outcomes, the nature of the impacts of macroeconomic variables on health or proximate determinants of health is complex because they operate through the whole economy with significant lags. As a result of the non‐availability of theoretical guidance on the appropriate measurement of health outcomes, the multiplicity of the various indicators gives rise to subjective interpretations of results. There are a number of areas where future research should focus. These include developing a better understanding of the transmission mechanism from macroeconomics policies to health outcome variables, and how macroeconomic policies can be made more effective and minimize the possible negative impacts on health outcomes.
Mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles: A new material for biolistic bombardment
Authors: Hou Liyuan , Wang Pengyu , Kong Fantao , Park Hyunsun , Kobiro Kazuya , Ohama Takeshi
Published: January 2013

To date, only solid heavy metals such as gold or tungsten have been used as DNA carriers in biolistic bombardment of algae. In this study, we show that even a metal oxide of lower density can act as a DNA carrier. We investigated the potency of size‐controlled mesoporous titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles. Among the six tested gas pressures, TiO2 particles best facilitated transformation of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii at 1100 psi (approximately 7.6 MPa) and 2000 psi (approximately 14 MPa). Surprisingly, a mesoporous metal oxide with a density of approximately only one‐tenth that of gold or tungsten could be effective as a DNA carrier in biolistic bombardment of a rigid cell wall‐containing alga. In addition, we found two peaks of gas pressures in the transformation ratio irrespective of whether the particles were made of gold, tungsten, or TiO2.
PROFITABILITY OF PRODUCT BUNDLING*
Authors: Chen Yongmin , Riordan Michael H.
Published: January 2013

Using copulas to model the stochastic dependence of values, this article establishes new general conditions for the profitability of product bundling. A multiproduct monopolist generally achieves higher profit from mixed bundling than from separate selling if consumer values for two of its products are negatively dependent, are independent, or have sufficiently limited positive dependence. The profitability of monopoly bundling also extends to situations where a multiproduct firm competes with a single‐product rival.
GOVERNMENT POLICY IN MONETARY ECONOMIES*
Authors: Martin Fernando M.
Published: January 2013

I study how the general and specific details of a micro‐founded monetary framework affect the determination of policy when the government has limited commitment. In the general framework, policy is determined by the interaction between the incentives to smooth distortion intertemporally and a time‐consistency problem. Resolving financial and trading frictions affects long‐run policy significantly. Policy response to fluctuations in productivity is quantitatively different across model variants, mainly due to the idiosyncratic behavior of the money demand. Other types of shocks, both transitory and permanent, affect policy in a similar manner across a variety of specifications.
COMPETITIVE SEARCH, EFFICIENCY, AND MULTIWORKER FIRMS*
Authors: Hawkins William B.
Published: January 2013

I study competitive search equilibrium in an environment where firms operate a decreasing‐returns production technology and hire multiple workers simultaneously. Firms post wages, possibly several of them. The equilibrium can feature wage dispersion even though all firms and workers are ex ante identical. Unlike the benchmark where firms hire a single worker, hiring is constrained inefficient. Efficiency requires that firms commit to the number of hires, pay all applicants, or pay wages that depend on the number of applicants. Under wage‐posting, the inefficiency is highest at intermediate levels of labor market tightness.
The Roles of Saving, Investment and the Renminbi in Rebalancing the Chinese Economy
Authors: Ma Guonan , McCauley Robert , Lam Lillie
Published: January 2013

China's current account surplus widened from the late 1990s, and its private consumption fell to one third of gross domestic product (GDP). We examine these domestic and external imbalances from two perspectives: the saving‐investment balance and the effective renminbi exchange rate. China's large external surplus has arisen neither from anaemic consumption nor from weak investment but rather from the saved windfalls from favorable demographics, market liberalization, robust restructuring and World Trade Organization (WTO) accession. Looking ahead, as these windfalls fade, saving will subside. The exchange rate is already playing a supporting role in rebalancing the Chinese economy, and the real effective exchange rate based on unit labor costs has appreciated very sharply. Prospective savings‐investment and exchange‐rate developments point to a higher consumption share and a narrowing of China's current account surplus.
Planktonic foraminifer biostratigraphy as a tool in constraining the timing of flysch deposition: Gurnigel flysch, Voirons massif (Haute‐Savoie, France)
Authors: Ospina‐ostios Lina M. , Ragusa Jérémy , Wernli Roland , Kindler Pascal
Published: January 2013

New biostratigraphic, sedimentological and petrographic data and a thorough review of existing literature modify existing knowledge on the age, the sedimentology, the petrography and the palaeogeographic origin of the Gurnigel flysch from the Voirons massif (Haute Savoie, France). Planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy assigns the flysch to the upper Middle Eocene (zones P12 to P14) through to Lower Oligocene (zones P16 to P20) stages. This result contrasts with previous work, which assigned the unit to the Lower Palaeocene to upper Middle Eocene on the basis of calcareous nannofossil and dinoflagellate assemblages. The following findings suggest that the Voirons massif comprises several stacked flysch units that do not have exactly the same palaeogeographic origin: (i) the occurrence of flysch exposures in reverse stratigraphic order combined with the lack of evidence for bed overturning; (ii) the variability of palaeo‐depositional settings inferred from different flysch outcrops of similar age; (iii) the differences in the heavy mineral content; and (iv) the anomalous superimposition of distal turbidites and/or basinal contourites (Saxel Marls) over proximal turbidites (Vouan Conglomerates). The young age of these kilometre‐sized flysch slices precludes their hitherto postulated locus of deposition in the South‐Penninic Ocean, and rather indicates a provenance from the Ultrahelvetic and/or North‐Penninic (Valais) palaeogeographical domains. Finally, none of the nannofossil assemblages are contemporaneous with the observed planktonic foraminifera associations, suggesting that they have been reworked, dissolved, or just simply diluted and not found by earlier researchers. This study from the Voirons massif shows that planktonic foraminifera associations are a highly reliable biostratigraphic tool for obtaining accurate ages of flysch successions.
Optimization of the Powder Injection Molding Process Parameters Using the Sequential Simplex Algorithm and Sensitivity Analysis
Authors: Keshavarz Panahi Ali , Mianajiy Hadi , Miandoabchi Elyar , Hussaini Fareed Mohamad
Published: January 2013

In this work, the minimization of warpage was investigated using the “moldflow” software and sequential simplex algorithm based on feedstock properties. Also, the sensitivity analysis was implemented to determine the degree of impact of each parameter on the warpage. This study is divided into two portions: experimental analysis and numerical analysis. First, for the experimental study, four kinds of feedstock with different alumina powder loadings were prepared to investigate the rheological properties. This investigation showed that the feedstock with 60 vol. % alumina powder was the optimum feedstock for the injection molding. Also, the results indicated that the viscosity of feedstock decreases by increasing both the shear rate and temperature. Next, the thermal conductivity of this feedstock was measured at different temperatures and it was found that the change of temperature can greatly influence the thermal conductivity of feedstock. In the numerical study, the injection molding parameters were divided into three categories. Based on the feedstock properties obtained form the first portion, and in order to minimize the warpage, the values of these parameters were sequentially acquired by moldflow and used in the sequential simplex algorithm for gradual convergence to the optimum level. To show the accuracy of numerical results, several samples were injection molded using the injection molding conditions for each vertex; results showed a close correlation between the values obtained by the numerical simulation and by the actual case. After determining the optimum parameter values, the sensitivity analysis was performed to identify the level of influence of each parameter on warpage. The obtained results showed that the most effective parameters on warpage are the mold temperature, packing pressure, and the holding time. Generally, it is demonstrated that the experimental and numerical analysis, performed via the moldflow software and sequential simplex algorithm, together with the sensitivity analysis can be useful in achieving success in the powder injection molding (PIM) technique.
Comparison of Concurrent Multiscale Methods in the Application of Fracture in Nickel
Authors: Iacobellis Vincent , Behdinan Kamran
Published: January 2013

This paper presents a study of fracture in nickel using multiscale modeling. A comparison of six concurrent multiscale methods was performed in their application to a common problem using a common framework in order to evaluate each method relative to each other. Each method was compared in both a quasi-static case of crack tip deformation as well as a dynamic case in the study of crack growth. Each method was compared to the fully atomistic model with similarities and differences between the methods noted and reasons for these provided. The results showed a distinct difference between direct and handshake coupling methods. In general, for the quasi-static case, the direct coupling methods took longer to run compared to the handshake coupling methods but had less error with respect to displacement and energy. In the dynamic case, the handshake methods took longer to run, but had reduced error most notably when wave dissipation at the atomistic/continuum region was an issue. Comparing each method under common conditions showed that many similarities exist between each method that may be hidden by their original formulation. The comparison also showed the dependency on the application as well as the simulation techniques used in determining the performance of each method.
Apparent failure of the principle of least action
Authors: Spandaw Jeroen
Published: January 2013

In this note, we show that casual application of the principle of least action leads to the erroneous conclusion that things ought to fall upwards. We will analyze this paradox and show which lesson can be learned from it.
Re-examining the value of old quantization and the Bohr atom approach
Authors: Garon Todd S. , Mann Nelia , McManis Ellen M.
Published: January 2013

We use old quantization to predict features of the energy spectrum for bound states in spherically symmetric potentials. We review the application of this method to simple quantum mechanical systems with known analytic results and show that old quantization, while not generally capable of predicting the exact quantum-mechanical spectrum, does consistently give useful information. We then apply the method to a logarithmic potential and compare the results with a numerically calculated spectrum. Finally, we use these techniques to predict the number of bound states in the Yukawa potential and again compare the results with those obtained numerically. In all cases old quantization provides good predictive power for the main features of the true quantum-mechanical problem, and thus can serve as a “back-of-the-envelope” technique for providing rough, qualitative information about the system.
A Splicing Twist on Metastasis
Authors: Olson Oakley C. , Joyce Johanna A.
Published: January 2013

An oncogenic splice variant of the transcription factor KLF6 is associated with metastasis and poor survival in node-negative breast cancer.
Sulfatide Attenuates Experimental Staphylococcus aureus Sepsis through a CD1d-Dependent Pathway
Authors: Kwiecinski Jakub , Rhost Sara , Löfbom Linda , Blomqvist Maria , Månsson Jan Eric , Cardell Susanna L. , Jin Tao
Published: January 2013

Natural killer T (NKT) lymphocytes are implicated in the early response to microbial infection. Further, sulfatide, a myelin self-glycosphingolipid, activates a type II NKT cell subset and can modulate disease in murine models. We examined the role of NKT cells and the effect of sulfatide treatment in a murine model ofStaphylococcus aureussepsis. The lack of CD1d-restricted NKT cells did not alter survival after a lethal inoculum ofS. aureus. In contrast, sulfatide treatment significantly improved the survival rate of mice withS. aureussepsis, accompanied by decreased levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 in the blood. The protective effect of sulfatide treatment depended on CD1d but not on type I NKT cells, suggesting that activation of type II NKT cells by sulfatide has beneficial effects on the outcome ofS. aureussepsis in this model.
Atypical presentation of Lemierre syndrome: role of imaging
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Singh Ragini , Sawlani Kamal Kumar , Kumar Santosh
Published: January 2013

A 51-year-old male patient presented with breathlessness for 10 days. Chest radiograph revealed bilateral moderate pleural effusion. Ultrasound-guided diagnostic pleural aspirate revealed sterile transudative fluid. CT thorax revealed bilateral moderate pleural effusion with partial collapse of both lower lobes and thrombus in right brachiocephalic vein. Two-dimensional-echo revealed circumferential pericardial effusion with mild pericardial thickening and moderate tricuspid regurgitation. Cardiolipin antibodies were within normal limits. d-Dimer assay and C reactive protein were markedly raised. During the period of investigations, the patient had developed mild swelling and pain in right upper limb for which colour Doppler ultrasonography of his right upper limb and neck regions were done. Thrombi in right internal jugular, subclavian and brachiocephalic veins were noted. CT angiography, CT abdomen and chest confirmed the above findings. However, extent of the thrombus and lung lesions was better delineated by CT angiography. We have highlighted the pathognomonic imaging findings of Lemierre syndrome.
Salmonellasternoclavicular osteomyelitis in a patient with Crohn's disease
Authors: Tickell Kirkby Daniel , Banim Ronan , Kustos Ildiko
Published: January 2013

We describe a 73-year-old man with Crohn's disease and previous sternotomies, who developedSalmonellasternoclavicular osteomyelitis subsequent to aSalmonella enteritidissepsis and closed fracture of his clavicle. We include evidence from several cases related to sternoclavicular osteomyelitis, andSalmonellaosteomyelitis. We continue by summarising the aetologies of these diseases, and risk factors that predispose to them.
Pseudohypoparathyroidism: a rare but important cause of hypocalcaemia
Authors: Chong Pui Lin , Meeking Darryl R
Published: January 2013

We present a 46-year-old Caucasian lady with symptomatic hypocalcaemia. Investigations revealed markedly raised parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels with vitamin D deficiency. A number of conditions causing secondary hyperparathyroidism were ruled out from her medical history and initial investigations. The main differential diagnoses were vitamin D deficiency and PTH resistance (pseudohypoparathyroidism, PHP). With high-normal serum phosphate and normal alkaline phosphatase, and a lack of symptoms associated with osteomalacia, vitamin D deficiency alone was unlikely to be the cause of hypocalcaemia. Given a normal physical appearance, genetic testing was arranged and confirmed the diagnosis of PHP type Ib. She is currently taking activated vitamin D to maintain calcium homeostasis. PTH resistance is the hallmark of PHP, a rare complex genetic disorder, which can be easily missed resulting in potentially serious consequences.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy Improves QTaVI in Hypogonadal Men with Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: La Fountaine Michael F. , Wecht Jill M. , Cirnigliaro Christopher M. , Kirshblum Steven C. , Spungen Ann M. , Bauman William A.
Published: January 2013

Aim: To determine the effect of a 12-month intent-to-treat testosterone (T) replacement therapy (TRT) trial on QTa interval variability (QTaVI) in hypogonadal (HG) men with spinal cord injury (SCI). Method: A prospective, controlled 12-month TRT trial was completed in 22 healthy, chronic, nonambulatory men with SCI. Based on serum T concentration, subjects were designated as HG (≤11.3 nmol/l) or eugonadal (EG ≥11.4 nmol/l). Digital 3-lead electrocardiograms were performed. Heart rate (RR), heart rate variability [including total power (TPRR), low frequency (LFRR) and high frequency (HFRR)], QTa, QTe, and RT intervals, QTC (Bazett formula), QTVN, and QTaVI were calculated and evaluated at baseline and at 12 months. Lipoprotein profiles (triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density and high-density lipoproteins) were obtained at the respective time points. Results: Based on serum T concentration, 13 subjects were designated as HG and 11 as EG. During the trial, there were no group differences for RR, QTa, QTe or RT intervals, QTC, TPRR, HFRR, or lipoproteins. The HG group was older (p < 0.05) and their LFRR was lower (p < 0.05) at baseline. At baseline, QTaVI was significantly greater in the HG group compared to the EG group [-0.17 (0.92) vs. -1.07 (0.90); p < 0.05]. After TRT, this group difference was no longer present [-0.44 (0.87) vs. -0.65 (0.85)] and the change in the HG group was significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Hypogonadism in men with SCI was associated with elevated QTaVI at baseline. After 12 months of physiological TRT, the QTaVI improved in association with raising T into the normal range. These findings occurred independently of the prolongation of the QT interval.
While We Were Sleeping: From Dystopia to Global Awakening
Authors: Abney-Korn Karen , Cassiman Shawn , Fleetham Dana
Published: January 2013

Abstract

Activists and academics have been sounding the alarms for years: climate change, globalization, capitalism, human rights abuses, and more. The alarms appeared to fall upon the deaf ears of the slumbering “multitude.” The Arab Spring, European movements, global and local attacks upon labor, and the Occupy Wall Street movement have awakened us from a slumber reliant upon vacuous media, consumption, alienation and isolationism. In shattering this spell, Occupy Wall Street has called us into the streets in record numbers, opening space for a newopportunity to imagine. Some scholars argue, “. . . we need Marxism to understand the structure of society and anarchism to prefigure or anticipate a new society” (Lynd and Grubacic 2008:xiii). We agree. In this article, we employ a local Occupy case study to briefly discuss 1) the historical contributions to Occupy Wall Street, 2) and to argue that it is precisely the opportunity to imagine, to anticipate, to challenge the “real” that holds the most promise for the development, and future, of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Considering (Economic and Ecological) Crisis from a Communist Perspective
Authors: Liodakis George
Published: January 2013

Abstract

The exacerbated (economic and ecological) crisis and the failure of conventional theories and policies aiming at eco-regulation and sustainable development of capitalism make it imperative to consider this socio-ecological crisis from an anti-systemic, communist perspective. This article is an attempt to articulate a unified and integrated interpretation of this socio-ecological crisis, based on a dialectical conception of the relationship between society and nature. The over-accumulation, rising organic composition of capital, and falling rate of profit play a central role in the analysis of this crisis and the articulation of its particular forms. As argued, capital’s strategic response to crisis and the deep restructuring of capitalism cannot ensure ecological and social sustainability, and more importantly the requirements of a socially acceptable human development. While there is some evidence of a recurrent accumulation and crisis, we are rather witnessing a secular downturn of capitalism and all attempts or tendencies towards “dematerialization” or “decoupling” of capitalist production (and growth) from its detrimental ecological impact fail to effectively encounter the root causes of crisis. An attempt is finally made to draw the “broad contours” of an alternative, communist outlook in overcoming this socio-ecological crisis, and a working-class strategy ensuring the conditions of sustainable human development and an ecologically compatible society.