bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-Feedback Operation of Power Electronic Converters
Authors: Zhusubaliyev Zhanybai , Mosekilde Erik , Andriyanov Alexey , Mikhal'chenko Gennady
Published: March 2013

The purpose of this review is to provide a survey of some of the most important bifurcation phenomena that one can observe in pulse-modulated converter systems when operating with high corrector gain factors. Like other systems with switching control, electronic converter systems belong to the class of piecewise-smooth dynamical systems. A characteristic feature of such systems is that the trajectory is “sewed” together from subsequent discrete parts. Moreover, the transitions between different modes of operation in response to a parameter variation are often qualitatively different from the bifurcations we know for smooth systems. The review starts with an introduction to the concept of border-collision bifurcations and also demonstrates the approach by which the full dynamics of the piecewise-linear, time-continuous system can be reduced to the dynamics of a piecewise-smooth map. We describe the main bifurcation structures that one observes in three different types of converter systems: (1) a DC/DC converter; (2) a multi-level DC/DC converter; and (3) a DC/AC converter. Our focus will be on the bifurcations by which the regular switching dynamics becomes unstable and is replaced by ergodic or resonant periodic dynamics on the surface of a two-dimensional torus. This transition occurs when the feedback gain is increased beyond a certain threshold, for instance in Electronics 2013, 2 114 order to improve the speed and accuracy of the output voltage regulation. For each of the three converter types, we discuss a number of additional bifurcation phenomena, including the formation and reconstruction of multi-layered tori and the appearance of phase-synchronized quasiperiodicity. Our numerical simulations are compared with experimentally observed waveforms.
The Use of Energy Storage Systems for Supporting the Voltage Needs of Urban and Suburban Railway Contact Lines
Authors: Iannuzzi Diego , Pagano Enrico , Tricoli Pietro
Published: March 2013

The paper aims to contribute to the use of electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) sets for boosting voltages of contact lines in urban and suburban railway traction systems. Different electrical configurations of contact lines are considered and investigated. For each of them, proper mathematical models are suggested to evaluate the electrical performances of the contact lines. They give rise, also, to sample design procedures for the sizing of the most appropriate energy storage systems, to be distributed along the lines, for boosting line voltages and avoiding undesired voltage drops. A numerical example based on the “Cumana” suburban Naples railway network is presented to give an idea of the weights and sizes of electric double layer capacitors needed to boost the voltage of a sample contact line. In particular, three different EDLC systems, for a overall installed energy of 9.6 kWh, have been placed nearby the stations presenting the highest voltage drops during the most representative situation of trains’ service. The new voltage drop is equal to 32% of that obtained in absence of EDLCs.
Do Quiet Areas Afford Greater Health-Related Quality of Life than Noisy Areas?
Authors: Shepherd Daniel , Welch David , Dirks Kim , McBride David
Published: March 2013

People typically choose to live in quiet areas in order to safeguard their health and wellbeing. However, the benefits of living in quiet areas are relatively understudied compared to the burdens associated with living in noisy areas. Additionally, research is increasingly focusing on the relationship between the human response to noise and measures of health and wellbeing, complementing traditional dose-response approaches, and further elucidating the impact of noise and health by incorporating human factors as mediators and moderators. To further explore the benefits of living in quiet areas, we compared the results of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaire datasets collected from households in localities differentiated by their soundscapes and population density: noisy city, quiet city, quiet rural, and noisy rural. The dose-response relationships between noise annoyance and HRQOL measures indicated an inverse relationship between the two. Additionally, quiet areas were found to have higher mean HRQOL domain scores than noisy areas. This research further supports the protection of quiet locales and ongoing noise abatement in noisy areas.
Disruption of AtWNK8 Enhances Tolerance of Arabidopsis to Salt and Osmotic Stresses via Modulating Proline Content and Activities of Catalase and Peroxidase
Authors: Zhang Baige , Liu Kaidong , Zheng Yan , Wang Yingxiang , Wang Jinxiang , Liao Hong
Published: March 2013

With no lysine kinases (WNKs) play important roles in plant growth and development. However, its role in salt and osmotic stress tolerance is unclear. Here, we report that AtWNK8 is mainly expressed in primary root, hypocotyl, stamen and pistil and is induced by NaCl and sorbitol treatment. Compared to the wild-type, the T-DNA knock-out wnk8 mutant was more tolerant to severe salinity and osmotic stresses, as indicated by 27% and 198% more fresh weight in the NaCl and sorbitol treatment, respectively. The wnk8 mutant also accumulated 1.43-fold more proline than the wild-type in the sorbitol treatment. Under NaCl and sorbitol stresses, catalase (CAT) activity in wnk8 mutant was 1.92- and 3.7-times of that in Col-0, respectively. Similarly, under salt and osmotic stress conditions, peroxidase (POD) activities in wnk8 mutant were 1.81- and 1.58-times of that in Col-0, respectively. Taken together, we revealed that maintaining higher CAT and POD activities might be one of the reasons that the disruption of AtWNK8 enhances the tolerance to salt stress, and accumulating more proline and higher activities of CAT and POD might result in the higher tolerance of WNK8 to osmotic stress.
Lipid Status of the Two High Latitude Fish Species, Leptoclinus maculatus and Lumpenus fabricii
Authors: Murzina Svetlana , Nefedova Zinaida , Falk-Petersen Stig , Ripatti Pauli , Ruokolainen Tatiana , Pekkoeva Svetlana , Nemova Nina
Published: March 2013

A comparative study of the lipid status (i.e., the total lipid and phospholipid concentrations and the percentage of fatty acids of the total lipids) of adult specimens of daubed shanny (Leptoclinus maculatus) from Svalbard waters (Isfjord) and slender eel blenny (Lumpenus fabricii) from the White Sea (Onega Bay and Tersky shore) was performed to study the metabolism and functions of lipids of these fishes in ontogeny and under various ecological conditions. Slender eel blenny from both areas of the White Sea were distinguished by a high level of sphingomyelin compared with the daubed shanny from Svalbard, and the amount of total phospholipids was higher in slender eel blenny from Onega Bay than in slender eel blenny from the Tersky shore. The extent of saturation and the signature of polyenic fatty acids varied according to the specific species of the Stichaeidae family under study. These results demonstrate the differences in the trophoecological and hydrobiological conditions of habitations of these species and highlighted the importance of considering certain trends in the lipid profiles of these fishes as specific features of the organization of the ecological and biochemical mechanisms of adaptation.
Half-Heusler (TiZrHf)NiSn Unileg Module with High Powder Density
Authors: Populoh Sascha , Brunko Oliver , Gałązka Krzysztof , Xie Wenjie , Weidenkaff Anke
Published: March 2013

(TiZrHf)NiSn half-Heusler compounds were prepared by arc melting and their thermoelectric properties characterized in the temperature range between 325 K and 857 K, resulting in a Figure of Merit ZT ≈ 0.45. Furthermore, the prepared samples were used to construct a unileg module. This module was characterized in a homemade thermoelectric module measurement stand and yielded 275 mW/cm2 and a maximum volumetric power density of 700 mW/cm3. This was reached using normal silver paint as a contacting material; from an improved contacting, much higher power yields are to be expected.
Use of a Th1 Stimulator Adjuvant for Vaccination against Neospora caninum Infection in the Pregnant Mouse Model
Authors: Monney Thierry , Grandgirard Denis , Leib Stephen , Hemphill Andrew
Published: March 2013

Vertical transmission from an infected cow to its fetus accounts for the vast majority of new Neospora caninum infections in cattle. A vaccine composed of a chimeric antigen named recNcMIC3-1-R, based on predicted immunogenic domains of the two microneme proteins NcMIC1 and NcMIC3, the rhoptry protein NcROP2, and emulsified in saponin adjuvants, significantly reduced the cerebral infection in non-pregnant BALB/c mice. Protection was associated with a mixed Th1/Th2-type cytokine response. However, the same vaccine formulation elicited a Th2-type immune response in pregnant mice and did not prevent vertical transmission or disease, neither in dams nor in offspring mice. In this study, an alternative vaccine formulation containing recNcMIC3-1-R emulsified in Freund’s incomplete adjuvant, a stimulator of the cellular immunity, was investigated. No protection against vertical transmission and cerebral infection in the pregnant mice and a very limited protective effect in the non-pregnant mice were observed. The vaccine induced a Th1-type immune response characterized by high IgG2a titres and strong IFN-γ expression, which appeared detrimental to pregnancy.
Ratiometric Optical Temperature Sensor Using Two Fluorescent Dyes Dissolved in an Ionic Liquid Encapsulated by Parylene Film
Authors: Kan Tetsuo , Aoki Hironori , Binh-Khiem Nguyen , Matsumoto Kiyoshi , Shimoyama Isao
Published: March 2013

A temperature sensor that uses temperature-sensitive fluorescent dyes is developed. The droplet sensor has a diameter of 40 µm and uses 1 g/L of Rhodamine B (RhB) and 0.5 g/L of Rhodamine 110 (Rh110), which are fluorescent dyes that are dissolved in an ionic liquid (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate) to function as temperature indicators. This ionic liquid is encapsulated using vacuum Parylene film deposition (which is known as the Parylene-on-liquid-deposition (PoLD) method). The droplet is sealed by the chemically stable and impermeable Parylene film, which prevents the dye from interacting with the molecules in the solution and keeps the volume and concentration of the fluorescent material fixed. The two fluorescent dyes enable the temperature to be measured ratiometrically such that the droplet sensor can be used in various applications, such as the wireless temperature measurement of microregions. The sensor can measure the temperature of such microregions with an accuracy of 1.9 °C, a precision of 3.7 °C, and a fluorescence intensity change sensitivity of 1.0%/K. The sensor can measure temperatures at different sensor depths in water, ranging from 0 to 850 µm. The droplet sensor is fabricated using microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology and is highly applicable to lab-on-a-chip devices.
A Two-Dimensional Laser Scanning Mirror Using Motion-Decoupling Electromagnetic Actuators
Authors: Shin Bu , Oh Dongho , Lee Seung-Yop
Published: March 2013

This work proposes a two-dimensional (2-D) laser scanning mirror with a novel actuating structure composed of one magnet and two coils. The mirror-actuating device generates decoupled scanning motions about two orthogonal axes by combining two electromagnetic actuators of the conventional moving-coil and the moving-magnet types. We implement a finite element analysis to calculate magnetic flux in the electromagnetic system and experiments using a prototype with the overall size of 22 mm (W) × 20 mm (D) × 15 mm (H) for the mirror size of 8 mm × 8 mm. The upper moving-coil type actuator to rotate only the mirror part has the optical reflection angle of 15.7° at 10 Hz, 90° at the resonance frequency of 60 Hz at ±3 V (±70 mA) and the bandwidth of 91 Hz. The lower moving-magnet type actuator has the optical reflection angle of 16.20° at 10 Hz and 50° at the resonance frequency of 60 Hz at ±5 V (±34 mA) and the bandwidth of 88 Hz. The proposed compact and simple 2-D scanning mirror has advantages of large 2-D angular deflections, wide frequency bandwidth and low manufacturing cost.
Pauvreté et exclusion
Authors: Martinache Igor
Published: March 2013

En ces temps de crise économique et sociale globale, rien ne paraît plus concret que la pauvreté. Ses multiples manifestations ne cessent de se rappeler à nous, qu’il s’agisse des reportages récurrents sur les conséquences des politiques d’austérité, des mobilisations organisées aux quatre coins du continent européen, ou plus prosaïquement des femmes, hommes et enfants qui mendient ou sont simplement échoués sur les trottoirs de nos villes. Il pourrait donc sembler choquant, sinon inacceptable, d’affirmer, dans un tel contexte, que la pauvreté comme l’exclusion sont en fait des phénomènes sociaux éminemment relatifs. Cela mérite en effet quelques explications.
Croissance économique et automobile : une analogie
Authors: Marcé Marielle
Published: March 2013

Lorsque l’ancien programme de terminale était encore en vigueur, même si cette exigence n’y figurait pas explicitement, je m’attachais, comme probablement de nombreux professeurs de SES, à faire le distinguo entre sources de court terme et sources de long terme de la croissance. La comparaison de l’économie nationale avec une automobile m’était alors venue à l’esprit, peut-être aiguillée par l’expression consacrée « moteurs de la croissance ». L’introduction de la notion de croissance potentielle et du thème de l’instabilité de la croissance dans le nouveau programme m’ont conduite à approfondir cette analogie pédagogique, qui a l’avantage, me semble-t-il, de se référer à un objet « civilisationnel » avec lequel l’ensemble des professeurs et des lycéens sont en contact quotidien en tant que conducteurs, passagers ou piétons. Il s’agit donc de rendre plus accessible aux élèves les éléments théoriques suivants : les tenants et les aboutissants de la dichotomie court terme/long terme dans l’analyse de la croissance ; la différence entre croissance effective, croissance potentielle et croissance maximale.
Les Entretiens enseignants-entreprises 2012 : marchés et concurrence
Authors: Fleutôt Daniel
Published: March 2013

Créés en 2003, les Entretiens Louis-le-Grand, rebaptisés en 2011 Entretiens enseignants-entreprises (EEE), sont un volet du programme enseignants-entreprises de l’Institut de l’entreprise. Organisée en partenariat avec l’inspection générale de SES et la direction générale de l’enseignement scolaire (Dgesco), cette manifestation rapproche le monde économique et l’enseignement et crée des liens pérennes. Pendant deux jours se tiennent des conférences visant à dégager les enjeux du thème choisi ; deux demi-journées sont consacrées à des échanges au sein d’ateliers animés par des économistes réputés et des cadres de grandes entreprises en direction des professeurs de SES et d’économie-gestion. La 9 e édition s’est déroulée les 30 et 31 août 2012, sur le campus de Veolia Environnement à Jouy-le-Moutier dans la région parisienne 1  , et a pris pour thème « Marchés et concurrence ». Nous présentons ici quelques moments forts de cette manifestation.
Redéfinir l'agenda stratégique israélien : une urgence nouvelle à régler des problèmes anciens
Authors: Heller Mark A.
Published: March 2013

Du nucléaire iranien aux conséquences des soulèvements arabes, les sujets de préoccupation ne manquent pas pour les autorités israéliennes. La question palestinienne, éludée depuis quelque temps, pourrait redevenir d’une actualité brûlante en 2013. En Israël, le coût du statu quo dans le dossier palestinien est jugé négligeable. Cette perception est erronée pour plusieurs raisons, et notamment parce que la perspective d’une nouvelle intifada n’est pas improbable. politique étrangère
Une armée israélienne en pleine mutation
Authors: Razoux Pierre
Published: March 2013

L’armée israélienne se prépare à mener des opérations variées, aux portes du pays ou à des milliers de kilomètres. La supériorité technologique israélienne ne garantit toutefois pas l’invulnérabilité. Tsahal est confrontée à des évolutions sociologiques qui pourraient la fragiliser, les dispositifs antimissiles ne sont pas infaillibles, de nouvelles menaces – notamment cybernétiques – émergent, et les relations avec l’allié américain, principal fournisseur d’armes, sont des plus tendues. politique étrangère
Du dirigisme militaro-industriel au libéralisme civil : l'économie israélienne dans tous ses états
Authors: Bendelac Jacques
Published: March 2013

En dépit de l’instabilité qui règne au Proche-Orient, l’économie israélienne se porte bien. Depuis l’arrivée au pouvoir de la droite en 1977, une politique libérale a été mise en œuvre. Les gouvernements successifs ont privatisé des dizaines d’entreprises publiques, baissé les charges patronales et pris des mesures pour favoriser l’innovation. Israël est devenu une « nation start-up ». La réussite économique insolente de ce pays n’a toutefois pas manqué de créer de forts déséquilibres sociaux. politique étrangère
La Syrie, quel enjeu pour la Russie ?
Authors: Pichon Frédéric
Published: March 2013

Très variés sont les intérêts russes qui se manifestent dans l’affaire syrienne. Les livraisons d’armement ont aisément survécu à l’effondrement de l’URSS. Mais Moscou défend aussi traditionnellement dans cette région les minorités chrétiennes, en même temps qu’elle valorise le laïcisme affiché du régime alaouite contre les tentations islamistes. Plus largement, la Russie se réinsère dans le jeu moyen-oriental, tout en réaffirmant contre l’Occident la prééminence du principe de non-ingérence. politique étrangère
Russie-Israël : les défis d'une relation ambivalente
Authors: Delanoë Igor
Published: March 2013

La fin de l’URSS a permis à Moscou de redéfinir radicalement ses relations avec Israël. L’immigration russe dans le pays, des échanges économiques substantiels, y compris dans le domaine de l’armement, et des préoccupations communes sur les conséquences des printemps arabes expliquent le développement de relations soutenues. Moscou cherche à dialoguer avec tous les acteurs du Moyen-Orient. Et Israël pousse jusqu’au Caucase une politique qui vise à encercler la menace iranienne. politique étrangère
L'Iran et la Russie face aux crises du Moyen-Orient : entre connivence et divergence
Authors: Therme Clément
Published: March 2013

Au-delà d’une ancienne proximité historique, Moscou et Téhéran ont dû redéfinir leur relation après la disparition de l’URSS. Cette relation intègre, entre autres, des approches différentes des évolutions politiques au Moyen-Orient ; une coopération ambiguë en matière nucléaire et d’armements conventionnels et une convergence de vues sur la crise syrienne. Les deux capitales devront néanmoins prendre garde que cette dernière position ne leur aliène pas les grands acteurs de la région. politique étrangère
Chine : nouveaux dirigeants, nouvelles réformes ?
Authors: Ekman Alice
Published: March 2013

À l’issue du xviii e congrès du Parti communiste, la Chine dispose d’une nouvelle équipe dirigeante. Celle-ci marchera dans les pas de Jiang Zemin et poursuivra les réformes économiques. Au niveau politique, l’objectif ultime demeure la stabilité du système. Les dirigeants chinois ont toutefois tiré les leçons du printemps arabe et savent qu’ils doivent donner des gages à la population, notamment dans le domaine de la lutte contre la corruption. politique étrangère
Bien face à ses homologues en d'autres langues romanes : divergences, influences, convergences
Authors: Aslanov Cyril
Published: March 2013

La comparaison entre les diverses langues romanes fait apparaître qu’à partir d’une même origine latine vulgaire, l’adverbe bene a connu de nombreuses variations. La mise en contraste de ces divers emplois peut même toucher à des questions de pragmatique : il n’est que de comparer la différence entre le français je veux bien , expression affaiblie de la volonté ou du consentement mou, avec l’italien ti voglio bene , variante à peine atténuée de ti amo . Dans d’autres langues romanes, les locutions comportant les aboutissements de l’adverbe latin bene se sont figées au point de devenir de simples procédés visant à exprimer l’action ou l’état de ‘plaire’ : on pense notamment au roumain pare bine ou à l’espagnol caer bien ‘plaire’, à parecer bien , quasi-équivalent d’un verbe d’approbation, ou mieux encore, à l’italien va bene ‘d’accord’. Le spectre différentiel des diverses acceptions des continuateurs de bene selon les langues romanes amène à se poser la question de savoir si les développements sémantiques de cet adverbe ressortissent à une logique de monogenèse qui s’est ramifiée dans diverses directions ou bien à une polygenèse présentant quelques points communs inhérents à la valeur initiale de bene en latin tardif.
Aussi bien que et le marquage de l'adjonction
Authors: Pierrard Michel
Published: March 2013

L’objectif de cette étude est de préciser le statut de aussi bien que à partir de sa composition interne, mais aussi en situant son emploi en coordination par rapport à celui des autres adjonctifs. Dans la construction adjonctive, le morphème bien cesse d’être le noyau syntaxo-sémantique de aussi bien que , mais continue à remplir un rôle de support indispensable envers aussi et à déterminer la structuration informationnelle de la coordination adjonctive. L’analyse des emplois de l’ensemble des marqueurs adjonctifs nous a appris que la distinction entre ceux qui soulignent l’égalité ou l’identité par rapport à une propriété donnée et ceux qui expriment la concomitance de manière se reflète aussi dans leur emploi dans la construction adjonctive. Dans ce cadre, l’étude nous a permis de mettre en évidence les propriétés spécifiques de aussi bien que adjonctif en emploi scindé ( aussi bien X que Y ) et en emploi lié ( X aussi bien que Y ).
Successful snakebite treatment in three juvenile African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) with polyvalent antivenom: A Namibian case report
Authors: Weise Florian J. , Van Vuuren Rudie J. , Echement Katherine E. , Cleverley Matthew P. , Van Vuuren Marlice
Published: March 2013

This article reports the first documented treatment of venomous snakebite with a polyvalent snake antivenom from the South African Institute for Medical Research in endangered African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus). Three juvenile male animals (6.5 months of age) showed clinical signs after being bitten by an unidentified venomous snake. The signs included loss of appetite, disorientation, impaired locomotion, excessive facial swelling, profuse salivation, reduced respiratory effort and an apparent depressed mental state. Intravenous treatment with isotonic Ringer lactate solution, hetastarch 6% and dexamethazone, subcutaneous administration of procaine benzylpenicillin and benzathine benzylpenicillin, and ultimately intravenous administration of the polyvalent snake antivenom resulted in the complete recovery of all three wild dogs.
Graves’ Thyrotoxicosis-Induced Reversible Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report
Authors: Al-Ghamdi Ahmad S. , Aljohani Naji
Published: March 2013

The objective of this report is to present a case of Graves’ thyrotoxicosis-induced cardiomyopathy. This is a case of a 26 year old woman that presented with severe symptomatic congestive heart failure and was subsequently diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy secondary to Graves’ disease. Despite an initial left ventricular systolic ejection fraction of 20% on echocardiography, treatment with anti-thyroid agents led to rapid improvement of her clinical status and normalization of her ejection fraction. The proposed mechanisms underlying the development of systolic dysfunction in thyrotoxicosis are discussed and the literature on similar cases previously reported is highlighted. Cardiomyopathy should be considered even in young patients with Graves’ thyrotoxicosis.
Investigating the Effects of a Math-Enhanced Agricultural Teaching Methods Course
Authors: Stripling Christopher T. , Roberts T. Grady
Published: March 2013

Numerous calls have been made for agricultural education to support core academic subject matter including mathematics. Previous research has shown that the incorporation of mathematics content into a teaching methods course had a positive effect on preservice teachers’ mathematics content knowledge. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a math-enhanced agricultural education teaching methods course on preservice agricultural education teachers’ mathematics ability, personal mathematics efficacy, mathematics teaching efficacy, and personal teaching efficacy. Results indicated that preservice teachers’ mathematics ability increased after the math-enhanced teaching methods course. Interestingly, personal mathematics efficacy decreased while mathematics teaching efficacy and personal teaching efficacy increased slightly after the math-enhanced teaching methods course. Based on the results of this study, peer-teaching that utilizes the seven components of a math-enhanced lesson may be an appropriate means to improve the mathematics ability of preservice agricultural education teachers.
Two Decades of Agricultural Literacy Research: A Synthesis of the Literature
Authors: Kovar Kristin A. , Ball Anna L.
Published: March 2013

The purpose of this investigation was to identify and synthesize research related to agricultural literacy since the publication of Understanding Agriculture—New Directions for Education (1988). The researchers sought to determine where agricultural literacy research was published, which populations were targeted, the purpose of the research, and the findings of agricultural literacy studies published between 1988 and 2011. Overall, a total of 49 studies were found - 17 studies in the Journal of Agricultural Education, seven studies in the NACTA Journal, three studies in the Journal of Extension, 18 studies in national or regional American Association for Agricultural Education (AAAE) conference proceedings, and four miscellaneous studies. The populations targeted in agricultural literacy research were teachers, students, and non-educator adults with elementary teachers and students being the most frequently targeted populations. The purposes of the respective studies were coded into three specific areas: (a) assess agricultural literacy; (b) test the effectiveness of an agricultural literacy program; or (c) develop a framework or guide used to assist educators. While the programs were found to be successful in increasing agricultural literacy, many populations assessed were found to be agriculturally illiterate. Further research is warranted to explain areas of deficiency in agricultural literacy.
Assessing the Impact of a Semester-long Course in Agricultural Mechanics on Pre-service Agricultural Education Teachers’ Importance, Confidence, and Knowledge of Welding
Authors: Leiby Brian L. , Robinson J. Shane , Key James P.
Published: March 2013

This study sought to assess the perceptions of Oklahoma pre-service agricultural education teachers regarding the importance of identified welding skills standards and their confidence to teach them, based on a semester-long course on metals and welding. This study also sought to determine pre-service teachers’ knowledge of welding prior to and at the end of instruction. It was found that pre-service teachers rated the seven constructs above average in importance; yet, they had below average confidence in their abilities to teach them at the beginning of the semester and between average and above average confidence at the end of the semester, which resulted in large practical effect sizes. Further, they increased their knowledge score from an F at the beginning of the semester to a C at the end of the semester, which was both statistically and practically significant. These pre-service teachers should be followed, longitudinally, to determine if and when they are able to fully master the skills and teach them effectively in the classroom and laboratory settings. Because agricultural mechanics is a vast field, future research should assess pre-service teachers’ perceived levels of importance and confidence in areas outside of welding, such as electricity, plumbing, and small gas engines
Variable Relationships Affecting Agriscience Teachers’ Stages of Concern for Content Area Reading Strategies
Authors: Warner Anna J. , Myers Brian E.
Published: March 2013

In spite of national initiatives such as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, American students continue to be struggling readers. Research on content area reading strategies (CARS) has shown that such strategies increase students’ ability to read and comprehend text. The purpose of this research was to assess agricultural educators’ implementation of content area reading strategies in their classroom. A tailoreddesign, web-based questionnaire was distributed to 371 Florida agriscience educators to complete this descriptive, census survey. The results indicated the total number of hours of CARS professional development was not related to progression through the stages of concern. This study also underscored the lack of consistency in the professional development programs these teachers completed. In order to better understand the differences of the professional development programs, research should be conducted to determine the characteristics of various CARS professional development programs. Practitioners should provide a consistent, in depth professional development program to provide ongoing training and support throughout a several year process.
Investigation of aged Asian dust particles by the combined use of quantitative ED-EPMA and ATR-FTIR imaging
Authors: Song Y.-C. , Eom H.-J. , Jung H.-J. , Malek M. A. , Kim H. K. , Geng H. , Ro C.-U.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. In our previous works, it was demonstrated that the combined use of quantitative energy-dispersive electron probe X-ray microanalysis (ED-EPMA), which is also known as low-Z particle EPMA, and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) imaging has great potential for a detailed characterization of individual aerosol particles. In this study, extensively chemically modified (aged) individual Asian dust particles collected during an Asian dust storm event on 11 November 2002 in Korea were characterized by the combined use of low-Z particle EPMA and ATR-FTIR imaging. Overall, 109 individual particles were classified into four particle types based on their morphology, elemental concentrations, and molecular species and/or functional groups of individual particles available from the two analytical techniques: Ca-containing (38%), NaNO3-containing (30%), silicate (22%), and miscellaneous particles (10%). Among the 41 Ca-containing particles, 10, 8, and 14 particles contained nitrate, sulfate, and both, respectively, whereas only two particles contained unreacted CaCO3. Airborne amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) particles were observed in this Asian dust sample for the first time, where their IR peaks for the insufficient symmetric environment of CO32− ions of ACC were clearly differentiated from those of crystalline CaCO3. This paper also reports the first inland field observation of CaCl2 particles probably converted from CaCO3 through the reaction with HCl(g). HCl(g) was likely released from the reaction of sea salt with NOx/HNO3, as all 33 particles of marine origin contained NaNO3 (no genuine sea salt particle was encountered). Some silicate particles with minor amounts of calcium were observed to be mixed with nitrate, sulfate, and water. Among 24 silicate particles, 10 particles are mixed with water, the presence of which could facilitate atmospheric heterogeneous reactions of silicate particles including swelling minerals, such as montmorillonite and vermiculite, and nonswelling ones, such as feldspar and quartz. This paper provides detailed information on the physicochemical characteristics of these aged individual Asia dust particles through the combined use of the two single-particle analytical techniques, and using this analytical methodology it is clearly shown that internal mixing states of the aged particles are highly complicated.
Limitations of wind extraction from 4D-Var assimilation of ozone
Authors: Allen D. R. , Hoppel K. W. , Nedoluha G. E. , Kuhl D. D. , Baker N. L. , Xu L. , Rosmond T. E.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Time-dependent variational data assimilation allows the possibility of extracting wind information from observations of ozone or other trace gases. Since trace gas observations are not available at sufficient resolution for deriving feature-track winds, they must be combined with model background information to produce an analysis. If done with time-dependent variational assimilation, wind information may be extracted via the adjoint of the linearized tracer continuity equation. This paper presents idealized experiments that illustrate the mechanics of tracer–wind extraction and demonstrate some of the limitations of this procedure. We first examine tracer–wind extraction using a simple one-dimensional advection equation. The analytic solution for a single trace gas observation is discussed along with numerical solutions for multiple observations. The limitations of tracer–wind extraction are then explored using highly idealized ozone experiments performed with a development version of the Navy Global Environmental Model (NAVGEM) in which globally distributed hourly stratospheric ozone profiles are assimilated in a single 6 h update cycle in January 2009. Starting with perfect background ozone conditions, but imperfect dynamical conditions, ozone errors develop over the 6 h background window. Wind increments are introduced in the analysis in order to reduce the differences between background ozone and ozone observations. For "perfect" observations (unbiased and no random error), this results in root-mean-square (RMS) vector wind error reductions of up to ~4 m s−1 in the winter hemisphere and tropics. Wind extraction is more difficult in the summer hemisphere due to weak ozone gradients and smaller background wind errors. The limitations of wind extraction are also explored for observations with imposed random errors and for limited sampling patterns. As expected, the amount of wind information extracted degrades as observation errors or data voids increase. In the case of poorly specified observation error covariances, assimilation of ozone data with imposed errors may result in increased RMS wind error, since the assimilation is constrained too tightly to the noisy observations.
Formation and growth of nucleated particles into cloud condensation nuclei: model-measurement comparison
Authors: Westervelt D. M. , Pierce J. R. , Riipinen I. , Trivitayanurak W. , Hamed A. , Kulmala M. , Laaksonen A. , Decesari S. , Adams P. J.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Aerosol nucleation occurs frequently in the atmosphere and is an important source of particle number. Observations suggest that nucleated particles are capable of growing to sufficiently large sizes that they act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), but some global models have reported that CCN concentrations are only modestly sensitive to large changes in nucleation rates. Here we present a novel approach for using long-term size distribution observations to evaluate a global aerosol model's ability to predict formation rates of CCN from nucleation and growth events. We derive from observations at five locations nucleation-relevant metrics such as nucleation rate of particles at diameter of 3 nm (J3), diameter growth rate (GR), particle survival probability (SP), condensation and coagulation sinks, and CCN formation rate (J100). These quantities are also derived for a global microphysical model, GEOS-Chem-TOMAS, and compared to the observations on a daily basis. Using GEOS-Chem-TOMAS, we simulate nucleation events predicted by ternary (with a 10−5 tuning factor) or activation nucleation over one year and find that the model slightly understates the observed annual-average CCN formation, but by no more than 50% in the ternary simulations. At the two locations expected to be most impacted by large-scale regional nucleation, Hyytiälä and San Pietro Capofiume, predicted annual-average CCN formation rates are within 34% and 2% of the observations, respectively. Model-predicted annual-average growth rates are within 25% across all sites but also show a slight tendency to underestimate the observations, at least in the ternary nucleation simulations. On days that the growing nucleation mode reaches 100 nm, median single-day survival probabilities to 100 nm for the model and measurements range from less than 1% to 6% across the five locations we considered; however, this does not include particles that may eventually grow to 100 nm after the first day. This detailed exploration of new particle formation and growth dynamics adds support to the use of global models as tools for assessing the contribution of microphysical processes such as nucleation to the total number and CCN budget.
Biomass burning contribution to Beijing aerosol
Authors: Cheng Y. , Engling G. , He K. B. , Duan F. K. , Ma Y. L. , Du Z. Y. , Liu J. M. , Zheng M. , Weber R. J.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Biomass burning, the largest global source of elemental carbon (EC) and primary organic carbon (OC), is strongly associated with many subjects of great scientific concern, such as secondary organic aerosol and brown carbon which exert important effects on the environment and on climate in particular. This study investigated the relationships between levoglucosan and other biomass burning tracers (i.e. water soluble potassium and mannosan) based on both ambient samples collected in Beijing and source samples. Compared with North America and Europe, Beijing was characterized by high ambient levoglucosan concentrations and low winter to summer ratios of levoglucosan, indicating significant impact of biomass burning activities throughout the year in Beijing. Comparison of levoglucosan and water soluble potassium (K+) levels suggested that it was acceptable to use K+ as a biomass burning tracer during summer in Beijing, while the contribution of fireworks to K+ could be significant during winter. Moreover, the levoglucosan to K+ ratio was found to be lower during the typical summer period (0.21±0.16) compared with the typical winter period (0.51±0.15). On the other hand, levoglucosan correlated strongly with mannosan (R2=0.97) throughout the winter and the levoglucosan to mannosan ratio averaged 9.49±1.63, whereas levoglucosan and mannosan exhibited relatively weak correlation (R2=0.73) during the typical summer period when the levoglucosan to mannosan ratio averaged 12.65±3.38. Results from PMF model analysis showed that about 50% of the OC and EC in Beijing were associated with biomass burning processes. In addition, a new source-identification method was developed based on the comparison of the levoglucosan to K+ ratio and the levoglucosan to mannosan ratio among different types of biomass. Using this method, the major source of biomass burning aerosol in Beijing was suggested to be the combustion of crop residuals, while the contribution from softwood burning was also non-negligible, especially in winter.
Zernike polynomials applied to apparent solar disk flattening for pressure profile retrievals
Authors: Dekemper E. , Vanhellemont F. , Mateshvili N. , Franssens G. , Pieroux D. , Bingen C. , Robert C. , Fussen D.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. We present a passive method for the retrieval of atmospheric pressure profiles based on the measurement of the apparent flattening of the solar disk as observed through the atmosphere by a spaceborne imager. This method was applied to simulated sunsets. It relies on accurate representation of the solar disk, including its limb darkening, and how its image is affected by atmospheric refraction. The Zernike polynomials are used to quantify the flattening in the Sun images. The inversion algorithm relies on a transfer matrix providing the link between the atmospheric pressure profile and a sequence of Zernike moments computed on the sunset frames. The transfer matrix is determined by a training dataset of pressure profiles generated from a standard climatology. The performance and limitations of the method are assessed by two test cases. Pressure profiles similar to the training dataset show that retrieval error can be up to 10 times smaller than the natural variability in the lower mesosphere, and up to 500 times smaller in the upper troposphere. Tests with other independent profiles emphasize the need for better representativeness of the training dataset.
Spatial distribution of benthic foraminiferal stable isotopes and dinocyst assemblages in surface sediments of the Trondheimsfjord, central Norway
Authors: Milzer G. , Giraudeau J. , Faust J. , Knies J. , Eynaud F. , Rühlemann C.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Instrumental records from the Norwegian Sea and the Trondheimsfjord show evidence that changes of bottom water temperature and salinity in the fjord are linked to the salinity and temperature variability of the North Atlantic Current (NAC). Changes in primary productivity and salinity in the surface and intermediate water masses in the Trondheimsfjord as well as the fjord sedimentary budget are mainly driven by changes in riverine input. In this study we use 59 surface sediment samples that are evenly distributed in the fjord to examine whether dinocyst assemblages and stable isotope ratios of benthic foraminifera reflect the present-day hydrology and can be used as paleoceanographic proxies. In general, modern benthic δ18O and δ13C values decrease from the fjord entrance towards the fjord head with lowest values close to river inlets. This is essentially explained by gradients in the amounts of freshwater and terrigenous organic matter delivered from the hinterland. The distribution of benthic δ13C ratios across the fjord is controlled by both the origin (terrigenous vs. marine) of organic matter and local topography-induced variability in organic matter flux at the water-sediment interface. The dinocyst assemblages display the variations in hydrography with respect to the prevailing currents, the topography, and the freshwater and nutrient supply from rivers. The strength and depth of the pycnocline in the fjord strongly varies seasonally and thereby affects water mass characteristics as well as nutrient availability, temporally creating local conditions that explain the observed species distribution. Our results prove that dinocyst assemblages and benthic foraminiferal isotopes reliably mirror the complex fjord hydrology and can therefore be used as proxies of Holocene climatic variability.
Heart Disease: From Psychosocial to Pathophysiological to Treatment with Biofeedback—An Overview
Authors: Newman Jan B.
Published: March 2013

Emotions have been connected to the heart throughout the ages, yet they have been largely discounted as playing an important role in heart disease. There is mounting evidence that anxiety, anger, depression, and stress play significant contributing roles in cardiac diseases. These emotional states, coronary artery disease, and heart failure have physiology consistent with the ongoing stress response characterized by parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathetic activation. Pharmacological therapies, vagal stimulation, and sympathetic ablation have shown efficacy in these diseases. Similar results can be obtained by biofeedback therapies.
Heart Rate Variability Anatomy and Physiology
Authors: Shaffer Fred , Venner John
Published: March 2013

Heart rate variability (HRV) is generated by the interaction of multiple regulatory mechanisms that operate on different time scales. This article examines the regulation of the heart, the meaning of HRV, Thayer and Lane's neurovisceral integration model, the sources of HRV, HRV frequency and time domain measurements, Porges's polyvagal theory, and resonance frequency breathing. The medical implications of HRV biofeedback for cardiovascular rehabilitation and inflammatory disorders are considered.
Risk Factors for Acute Delirium in Critically Ill Adult Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mattar Ihsan , Chan Moon Fai , Childs Charmaine
Published: March 2013

Background. Delirium is characterized by disturbances of consciousness, attention, cognition, and perception. Delirium is a serious but reversible condition associated with poor clinical outcomes. This has implications for the critically ill patient; the effects of delirium cause long term sequelae, principally cognitive deficits, and functional decline. Objectives. The objective of the paper was to describe risk factors associated with delirium in critically ill adult patients. Methods. Published and unpublished literature from 1990 to 2012, limited to English, was searched using ten databases. Results. Twenty-two studies were included in this paper. A large number of risk factors were presented in the literature; some of these were common across all settings whilst others were exclusive to the type of setting. Benzodiazepines and opioids were shown to be risk factors for delirium independent of setting. Conclusion. With regard to patients admitted to medical and surgical intensive care units, risk factors of older age and comorbidity were common. In the cardiac ICU, older age and lower Mini-Mental Status Examination scores were cited most often as risk factors for delirium, but other risk factors exclusive to the setting were also significant. Benzodiazepines were identified as the most significant pharmacological risk factor for delirium.
Mortality Responses of Spodoptera litura Following Feeding on BT- Sprayed Plants
Authors: Saad A. AlOtaibi
Published: March 2013

Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxins are safe biological insecticidal proteins whose usefulness has long been recognized. The first commercialized Bt insecticidal formulations were composed of spore-crystal preparations derived from wild-type strains. These products generally have a limited insecticidal host range and several genetically modified strains have, therefore, been constructed in this study using conjugation procedure. However, addition of a new plasmids to Bt strains already harboring other genes often resulted in broader - spectrum. Bacillus thuringiensis serovar Kurstaki, Bacillus subtilis and four of their transconjugants were used in this study as a biocontral agents against lepidopterous cotton pest. Bacterial transconjugants were evaluated for their hybrid vigor in relation to the mid parents and better parent. This evaluation was related to survival and mortality percentages induced in Spodoptera littoralis larvae. Two groups of bioinsecticides; crystals, crystals + endospores were used to be evaluated in this study. The results appeared that bioinsecticides containing crystals + endospores was more effective than crystals for increasing mortality percentage and reducing survival percentage. This effective was including reduction in the mean number of Spodoptera littoralis larvae feeding on leaves sprayed with crystals + endospores. Increasing mortality percentage of crystals + endospores was due to higher toxicological effects than that of crystals. This recommended bioinsecticide biologists to use crystals + endospores in all bioinsecticides formulations. Higher positive efficiency was appeared at 168 h of treatments. Recombinant Bacillus thuringiensis was more effective as biocontrol agents against lepidopteran pests at the early instars, because susceptibility was decreased with larval development. This indicated that the first instars were more susceptible to Bt sprayed plants than the later instar stages. The combined effects of crystals + endospores produced higher mortality. This factor was important to be considered in designing resistance management strategies.