bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Syn‐convergent extension observed using the RETREAT GPS network, northern Apennines, Italy
Authors: Bennett R. A. , Serpelloni E. , Hreinsdóttir S. , Brandon M. T. , Buble G. , Basic T. , Casale G. , Cavaliere A. , Anzidei M. , Marjonovic M. , Minelli G. , Molli G. , Montanari A.
Published: February 2012

We present crustal deformation results from a geodetic experiment (Retreating‐Trench, Extension, and Accretion Tectonics (RETREAT)) focused on the northern Apennines orogen in Italy. The experiment centers on 33 benchmarks measured with GPS annually or more frequently between 2003 and 2007, supplemented by data from an additional older set of 6 campaign observations from stations in northern Croatia, and 187 continuous GPS stations within and around northern Italy. In an attempt to achieve the best possible estimates for rates and their uncertainties, we estimate and filter common mode signals and noise components using the continuous stations and apply these corrections to the entire data set, including the more temporally limited campaign time series. The filtered coordinate time series data are used to estimate site velocity. We also estimate spatially variable seasonal site motions for stations with sufficient data. The RMS scatter of residual time series are generally near 1 mm and 4 mm, horizontal and vertical, respectively, for continuous and most of the new campaign stations, but scatter is slightly higher for some of the older campaign data. Velocity uncertainties are below 1 mm/yr for all but one of the stations. Maximum rates of site motion within the orogen exceed 3 mm/yr (directed NE) relative to stable Eurasia. This motion is accommodated by extension within the southwestern and central portions of the orogen, and shortening across the foreland thrust belt to the northeast of the range. The data set is consistent with contemporaneous extension and shortening at nearly equal rates. The northern Apennines block moves northeast faster than the Northern Adria microplate. Convergence between the Northern Apennines block and the Northern Adria microplate is accommodated across a narrow zone that coincides with the northeastern Apennines range front. Extension occurs directly above an intact vertically dipping slab inferred by previous authors from seismic tomography. The observed crustal deformation is consistent with a buried dislocation model for crustal faulting, but associations between crustal motion and seismically imaged mantle structure may also provide new insights on mantle dynamics.
Evolution of aerosol properties impacting visibility and direct climate forcing in an ammonia‐rich urban environment
Authors: Langridge Justin M. , Lack Daniel , Brock Charles A. , Bahreini Roya , Middlebrook Ann M. , Neuman J. Andrew , Nowak John B. , Perring Anne E. , Schwarz Joshua P. , Spackman J. Ryan , Holloway John S. , Pollack Ilana B. , Ryerson Thomas B. , Roberts James M. , Warneke Carsten , de Gouw Joost A. , Trainer Michael K. , Murphy Daniel M.
Published: February 2012

Airborne measurements of sub‐micron aerosol and trace gases downwind of Los Angeles are used to investigate the influence of aging on aerosol properties relevant to climate forcing and visibility. The analysis focuses on the Los Angeles plume, which in addition to strong urban emissions is influenced by local agricultural emissions. Secondary organic aerosol formation and repartitioning of semi‐volatile ammonium nitrate were identified as key factors controlling the optical behavior observed. For one case study, ammonium nitrate contributed up to 50% of total dry extinction. At 85% relative humidity, extinction in the fresh plume was enhanced by a factor of ∼1.7, and 60–80% of this was from water associated with ammonium nitrate. On this day, loss of ammonium nitrate resulted in decreasing aerosol hygroscopicity with aging. Failing to account for loss of ammonium nitrate led to overestimation of the radiative cooling exerted by the most aged aerosol by ∼35% under dry conditions. These results show that changes to aerosol behavior with aging can impact visibility and climate forcing significantly. The importance of ammonium nitrate and water also highlight the need to improve the current representation of semi‐volatile aerosol species in large‐scale climate models.
Why Can't We All Just Get Along? Evolutionary Perspectives on Violence, Homicide, and War
Authors: Liddle James R. , Shackelford Todd K. , Weekes–Shackelford Viviana A.
Published: February 2012

We review and discuss the evolutionary psychological literature on violence, homicide, and war in humans and nonhumans, and in doing so argue that an evolutionary perspective can substantially enhance our understanding of these behaviors. We provide a brief primer on evolutionary psychology, describing the basic tenets of the field. The theories of sexual selection and parental investment are explained and subsequently used to highlight the evolutionary logic underlying the use of violence by humans and other animals. Our examination of violent behavior begins with a focus on nonhuman animals, reviewing the different contexts in which violence occurs and discussing how an evolutionary perspective can explain why it occurs in these contexts. We then examine violence in humans and illustrate the similarities and differences between human and nonhuman violence. Finally, we summarize what an evolutionary perspective can offer in terms of understanding violence, homicide, and war, and discuss directions for future research.
Promotion of L1 ordering of FePd films with amorphous CoFeB thin interlayer
Authors: Khan M. N. I. , Inami N. , Naganuma H. , Ohdaira Y. , Oogane M. , Ando Y.
Published: February 2012

The L10-ordered FePd thin films were prepared using an ultrahigh vacuum magnetron sputtering system on MgO(001) substrates at 300 °C. The crystallographic and magnetic properties and the surface morphology of films with and without a very thin amorphous CoFeB intermediate layer inserted between the FePd and the MgO layers were systematically investigated as a function of the thickness of the FePd layer. The perpendicular anisotropy of the samples was increased by inserting the thin CoFeB as an intermediate layer below the FePd with a thickness of 4.0 nm. The reason for the enhancement by inserting the amorphous CoFeB layer is attributed to: (i) the promotion of the L10 ordering of the FePd due to the reduction of the lattice mismatch between the MgO and FePd, and (ii) the fact that thin CoFeB has a perpendicular anisotropy at the interface of the MgO, which superposed the perpendicular anisotropy of the L10-FePd.
Effect of milling time on magnetic properties and structures of bulk Sm-Co/α-(Fe, Co) nanocomposite magnets
Authors: Shen Y. , Huang M. Q. , Turgut Z. , Lucas M. S. , Michel E. , Horwath J. C.
Published: February 2012

Bulk Sm-Co/α-(Fe,Co) nanocomposite magnets were fabricated by hot pressing composite powders prepared by high-energy ball milling of magnetically hard SmCo5 powder and magnetically soft Fe powder. The bulk magnets had a nanocomposite structure consisting of Sm-Co matrix (1:5 H and 1:7 H phases) and α-(Fe,Co) phases. The Fe-Co particles were distributed uniformly in the Sm-Co matrix. The milling time strongly affects the structures and the magnetic properties of the bulk magnets. Increasing milling time led to a decrease of the amount of 1:5 H phase, an increase in the phase fraction of the 1:7 H phase, and a decrease in the amount of soft phase, which resulted in an increase in magnetization and a decrease in coercivity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses revealed that inter-diffusion took place between the Sm-Co matrix and Fe particles during the processing.
Large magnetocaloric effect and refrigerant capacity in Gd–Co–Ni metallic glasses
Authors: Zhong X. C. , Tang P. F. , Liu Z. W. , Zeng D. C. , Zheng Z. G. , Yu H. Y. , Qiu W. Q. , Zhang H. , Ramanujan R. V.
Published: February 2012

The thermal stability, magnetocaloric effect, and refrigerant capacity (RC) of Gd–Co–Ni metallic glasses were investigated. These alloys possess high glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature as well as a relatively wide supercooled liquid region ΔTx(ΔTx = Tx − Tg) (40–55 K). With increasing the Co/Ni ratio, the Curie temperature TC of the amorphous Gd–Co–Ni increases from 140 K to 192 K. For a magnetic field change of 0–5 T, the maximum magnetic entropy change (−ΔSMmax) and RC values are in the range of 6.04–6.47 J kg−1 K−1 and 450–502 J kg−1, respectively. These values are comparable with that of La(Fe0.88Si0.12)13 and higher than those for the well known magnetic refrigerant Gd5Si2Ge1.9Fe0.1 alloy. The large magnetic entropy change and refrigerant capacity as well as high thermal stability make the alloys attractive candidates as magnetic refrigeration materials for service temperatures of 100–230 K.
Topology selection and design optimization for magnetostrictive inertial actuators
Authors: Noh Myounggyu D. , Park Young-Woo
Published: February 2012

When designing a magnetostrictive inertial actuator, it is important to minimize the amount of magnetostrictive material and permanent magnet while satisfying design requirements. In this paper, we developed a magnetic circuit model that is simple yet realistic, as verified through finite element analyses. Using this model, different actuator topologies are compared in terms of the least necessary magnet size and leakage/fringing fluxes. If the magnets are in direct contact with the magnetostrictive rod, much smaller magnets can generate the required bias level than the case where the magnets are located in the flux return path, at the cost of significant field variations inside the magnetostrictive material.
On the inverse temperature transition and development of an entropic elastomeric force of the elastin mimetic peptide [LGGVG]3, 7
Authors: Huang Jiaxin , Sun Cheng , Mitchell Odingo , Ng Nicole , Wang Zhao Na , Boutis Gregory S.
Published: February 2012

We report on a molecular dynamics simulation based study of the thermal and mechanical properties of the elastin mimetic peptide [LGGVG]n (n = 3, 7). Our findings indicate that this peptide undergoes an inverse temperature transition as the temperature is raised from ∼20 °C to 42 °C. The thermal behavior is similar to what has been observed in other well studied short mimetic peptides of elastin. Both [LGGVG]n (n = 3, 7) peptides exhibit an increase in the number of side chain contacts and peptide-peptide hydrogen bonds when the temperature is raised from ∼20 °C to 42 °C. These observations are accompanied by a decrease in the number of proximal water molecules and number of peptide-water hydrogen bonds. This work also reports on a comparison of the thermal and mechanical properties of [LGGVG]3 and [VPGVG]3 and quantifies the interaction with surrounding waters of hydration under mechanically strained conditions. It is demonstrated, via a quasi-harmonic approach, that both model peptides exhibit a reduction in the population of low-frequency modes and an increase in population of high-frequency modes upon elongation. The shift in population of frequency modes causes the peptide entropy to decrease upon elongation and is responsible for the development of an entropic force that gives rise to elasticity. These observations are in disagreement with a previously published notion that model elastin peptides, such as [VPGVG]18, increase in entropy upon elongation.
Lateral in-plane coupling between graphene nanoribbons: A density functional study
Authors: Zhao Jianhua , Dai Xianqi , Dai Yawei , Zhao Bao , Xie Maohai
Published: February 2012

Properties brought about by lateral in-plane coupling between graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are investigated using the first-principle total energy calculations. It is found that, when two GNRs approach each other, the lateral coupling between the two brings about edge state splitting. Between zigzag-edged graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs), the coupling mainly results from Coulomb and spin-spin interaction, while for armchair-edged graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs), it is from Coulomb interaction only. It is further found that the maximum inter-ribbon distance for effective coupling depends on the type of ribbons, which is ∼10 Å for ZGNRs, but ∼6 Å for AGNRs. Also, displacements of the GNRs along the ribbon direction are found to affect the electronic properties of the coupled GNRs. The results may be important for the microminiaturization of future nanoelectronic and spintronic devices based on graphene.
Ab initio study of dynamical E × e Jahn-Teller and spin-orbit coupling effects in the transition-metal trifluorides TiF3, CrF3, and NiF3
Authors: Mondal Padmabati , Opalka Daniel , Poluyanov Leonid V. , Domcke Wolfgang
Published: February 2012

Multiconfiguration ab initio methods have been employed to study the effects of Jahn-Teller (JT) and spin-orbit (SO) coupling in the transition-metal trifluorides TiF3, CrF3, and NiF3, which possess spatially doubly degenerate excited states (ME) of even spin multiplicities (M = 2 or 4). The ground states of TiF3, CrF3, and NiF3 are nondegenerate and exhibit minima of D3h symmetry. Potential-energy surfaces of spatially degenerate excited states have been calculated using the state-averaged complete-active-space self-consistent-field method. SO coupling is described by the matrix elements of the Breit-Pauli operator. Linear and higher order JT coupling constants for the JT-active bending and stretching modes as well as SO-coupling constants have been determined. Vibronic spectra of JT-active excited electronic states have been calculated, using JT Hamiltonians for trigonal systems with inclusion of SO coupling. The effect of higher order (up to sixth order) JT couplings on the vibronic spectra has been investigated for selected electronic states and vibrational modes with particularly strong JT couplings. While the weak SO couplings in TiF3 and CrF3 are almost completely quenched by the strong JT couplings, the stronger SO coupling in NiF3 is only partially quenched by JT coupling.
Continuous wave cavity ring down spectroscopy measurements of velocity distribution functions of argon ions in a helicon plasma
Authors: Chakraborty Thakur Saikat , McCarren Dustin , Carr Jerry , Scime Earl E.
Published: February 2012

We report continuous wave cavity ring down spectroscopy (CW-CRDS) measurements of ion velocity distribution functions (VDFs) in low pressure argon helicon plasma (magnetic field strength of 600 G, Te ≈ 4 eV and n ≈ 5 × 1011 cm−3). Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) is routinely used to measure VDFs of argon ions, argon neutrals, helium neutrals, and xenon ions in helicon sources. Here, we describe a CW-CRDS diagnostic based on a narrow line width, tunable diode laser as an alternative technique to measure VDFs in similar regimes but where LIF is inapplicable. Being an ultra-sensitive, cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopic technique; CW-CRDS can also provide a direct quantitative measurement of the absolute metastable state density. The proof of principle CW-CRDS measurements presented here are of the Doppler broadened absorption spectrum of Ar II at 668.6138 nm. Extrapolating from these initial measurements, it is expected that this diagnostic is suitable for neutrals and ions in plasmas ranging in density from 1 × 109 cm−3 to 1 × 1013 cm−3 and target species temperatures less than 20 eV.
Non-equilibrium longitudinal and transverse optical phonons in terahertz quantum cascade lasers
Authors: Vitiello Miriam S. , Iotti Rita C. , Rossi Fausto , Mahler Lukas , Tredicucci Alessandro , Beere Harvey E. , Ritchie David A. , Hu Qing , Scamarcio Gaetano
Published: February 2012

We report on the experimental observation of non-equilibrium longitudinal (LO) and interface transverse-like (IF-TO) optical phonons populations associated with electron transport in resonant-phonon THz quantum-cascade lasers. The measured LO-phonon occupation numbers are in excellent agreement with the result of Monte Carlo simulations at a phonon in-plane wave number q = 4.2 × 10+4 cm−1, and they remain about 40% larger than the IF-TO ones.
Effects of P implantation and post-implantation annealing on defect formation in ZnO
Authors: Wang X. J. , Chen W. M. , Ren F. , Pearton S. , Buyanova I. A.
Published: February 2012

Photoluminescence (PL) and optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) techniques are utilized to examine the effects of P implantation and post-implantation annealing on defect formation in ZnO single crystals. From ODMR, the main defects created by ion implantation include oxygen and zinc vacancies as a well as a deep donor labeled as PD. The formation of the PD defect is likely promoted by the presence of P as it could only be detected in the P-containing ZnO. The VO and PD centers are found to exhibit low thermal stability and can be annealed out at 800 °C. On the other hand, a new set of defects, such as Z, T, and D* centers, is detected after annealing. Based on measured spectral dependences of the ODMR signals, the VO, VZn, and PD centers are shown to participate in spin-dependent recombination processes related to red emissions, whereas the Z, T, and D* centers are involved in radiative recombination over a wide spectral range of 1.55–2.5 eV. From the PL measurements, combined effects of implantation and annealing also lead to appearance of a new PL band peaking at ∼3.156 eV, likely due to donor-acceptor-pair recombination. The formation of the involved deep acceptor is concluded to be facilitated by the presence of P.
A unified interdiffusivity model and model verification for tensile and relaxed SiGe interdiffusion over the full germanium content range
Authors: Dong Yuanwei , Lin Yiheng , Li Simon , McCoy Steve , Xia Guangrui
Published: February 2012

An interdiffusivity model was established for SiGe interdiffusion under tensile or relaxed strain over the full Ge content (xGe) range (0 ≤ xGe ≤ 1), which is based on the correlations between self-diffusivity, intrinsic diffusivity, and interdiffusivity. It unifies available interdiffusivity models over the full Ge range and applies to a wider temperature range up to 1270 °C at the xGe = 0 end and to 900 °C at the high xGe = 1 end. Interdiffusion experiments under soak and spike rapid thermal annealing conditions were conducted to verify the model. Literature interdiffusion data under furnace annealing conditions were also used for the same purpose. The interdiffusivity model of this work has been implemented in major process simulation tools, and the simulation results showed good agreement with experimental data under furnace annealing and soak and spike rapid thermal annealing conditions. This work demonstrated a new approach in studying SiGe interdiffusion, which has the advantage of studying interdiffusion under non-isothermal annealing conditions.
Effects of boron composition on tunneling magnetoresistance ratio and microstructure of CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB pseudo-spin-valve magnetic tunnel junctions
Authors: Kodzuka M. , Ohkubo T. , Hono K. , Ikeda S. , Gan H. D. , Ohno H.
Published: February 2012

The effect of B concentration on the tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) of (Co25Fe75)100−xBx/MgO/(Co25Fe75)100−xBx (x = 22 and 33) pseudo-spin-valve (P-SV) magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) was investigated. The TMR ratios for optimally annealed MTJs with x = 22 and 33 were 340% and 170%, respectively, at room temperature. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observation showed a weaker (001) texture in the MgO barrier in the MTJ with x = 33. The bottom electrode was not fully crystallized even with a considerable amount of B in the (Co25Fe75)67B33, while good epitaxy was observed between (001) textured MgO and (Co25Fe75)78B22 electrodes.
Strong dipole coupling in nonpolar nitride quantum dots due to Coulomb effects
Authors: Schuh K. , Barthel S. , Marquardt O. , Hickel T. , Neugebauer J. , Czycholl G. , Jahnke F.
Published: February 2012

Optical properties of polar and nonpolar nitride quantum dots (QDs) are determined on the basis of a microscopic theory which combines a continuum elasticity approach to the polarization potential, a tight-binding model for the electronic energies and wavefunctions, and a many-body theory for the optical properties. For nonpolar nitride quantum dots, we find that optical absorption and emission spectra exhibit a weak ground-state oscillator strength in a single-particle calculation whereas the Coulomb configuration interaction strongly enhances the ground-state transitions. This finding sheds new light on existing discrepancies between previous theoretical and experimental results for these systems, as a weak ground state transition was predicted because of the spatial separation of the corresponding electron and hole state due to intrinsic fields whereas experimentally fast optical transitions have been observed.
A light emitting transistor based on a hybrid metal oxide-organic semiconductor lateral heterostructure
Authors: Ooi Zi-En , Foong Thelese R. B. , Singh Samarendra P. , Leok Chan Khai , Dodabalapur Ananth
Published: February 2012

A light-emitting field-effect transistor was fabricated, with its architecture based on a distinct heterojunction located midway between the source and drain contacts. Tetracene enabled hole transport on one side of the heterojunction (hole mobility ∼0.071 cm2/Vs), while amorphous solution-processed zinc tin oxide supported electron transport on the other side (electron mobility ∼0.81 cm2/Vs). The drain current vs. gate voltage curves of this device have a bell-shaped profile that is characteristic of lateral heterojunction bipolar field-effect transistors. The green light emission—from tetracene—closely follows the trend in drain current and is naked-eye visible in a darkened room.
Note: Theoretical mixing coefficients for hybrid functionals
Authors: Cortona Pietro
Published: February 2012

The theoretical foundations of the double hybrid exchange-correlation functionals have been recently analyzed by Sharkas et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 134, 064113 (2011)10.1063/1.3544215] and, successively, by Brémond and Adamo [J. Chem. Phys. 135, 024106 (2011)10.1063/1.3604569] and by Toulouse et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 135, 101102 (2011)10.1063/1.3640019]. This analysis partially resulted in the introduction of a new class of double hybrids depending on just one parameter, the value of which was assumed to be 0.5 by Brémond and Adamo. In this note, I will suggest that other values can be chosen and that all these choices can be justified using the same theoretical arguments. These values are also “theoretical” mixing coefficients for single-hybrids, i.e., functional where only the exchange is hybridized.
The complex of creole typological features
Authors: Grant Anthony P. , Guillemin Diana
Published: February 2012

This paper presents morphosyntactic and sentential information on Mauritian Creole (MC), a French-lexifier creole which has been underrepresented in many studies of Creole morphosyntactic typology. Typological features from Holm & Patrick (2007), Bickerton (1981, 1984), Taylor (1971, 1977), Markey (1982), and Dryer (1992), most of which have previously been assembled as being diagnostic of a language’s creole status, are presented here with examples from contemporary MC. MC sentences from sets of comparative creolistic sentences in Hancock (1975, 1987) are presented in Appendix A. The material demonstrates abundantly that MC exhibits the vast majority of features which have been deemed typical of creole languages over the past four decades.
Social influence in the use of the present perfect in Bilbao
Authors: Burgo Clara
Published: February 2012

The Present Perfect (PP) in some Peninsular Spanish dialects is following the same path as other Romance languages; it is going through a grammaticalization process where the PP is usurping the semantic domains of the Preterite. This is the case of many Peninsular dialects such as Alicante (Schwenter, 1994) and Madrid (Serrano, 1994) among others as well as Bilbao (Kempas, 2005). He found that the frequencies of PPs in hodiernal contexts were higher than in other Spanish cities so these findings point out to a more advanced path of grammaticalization in this city. Previous studies have paid more attention to the linguistic constraints that favor the use of the PP instead of the Preterite rather than the social factors that influence this linguistic change. In this article, I focus on the study of three social variables (age, gender and class) to account for evidence of a change in progress in Bilbao Spanish.
El sujeto pronominal usted/ustedes y su posición. Variación y creación de estilos comunicativos
Authors: Serrano María José
Published: February 2012

La variación en la expresión preverbal o posverbal del sujeto pronominal usted/ustedes obedece a una gradación de prominencia cognitiva e informatividad que genera significados en el discurso. Estos significados, puestos de manifiesto en la interacción comunicativa a través de diversos contextos sociosituacionales, dan lugar a distintos estilos comunicativos. En este trabajo se estudia la posición de este pronombre en textos de los medios de comunicación procedentes del Corpus Conversacional del Español de Canarias (CCEC). La variante posverbal se relaciona con la noción de transitividad, toda vez que ocupa la posición sintáctica de los objetos, de modo que puede clasificarse como un caso de transitividad baja o no prototípica. Esta variación y sus propiedades cognitivas, en conjunción con los géneros textuales analizados, categorías profesionales y sexo, permite desarrollar ciertos estilos comunicativos basados en dimensiones del continuum objetividad-subjetividad.
Multistability and metastability: understanding dynamic coordination in the brain
Authors: Kelso J. A. Scott
Published: February 2012

Multistable coordination dynamics exists at many levels, from multifunctional neural circuits in vertebrates and invertebrates to large-scale neural circuitry in humans. Moreover, multistability spans (at least) the domains of action and perception, and has been found to place constraints upon, even dictating the nature of, intentional change and the skill-learning process. This paper reviews some of the key evidence for multistability in the aforementioned areas, and illustrates how it has been measured, modelled and theoretically understood. It then suggests how multistability—when combined with essential aspects of coordination dynamics such as instability, transitions and (especially) metastability—provides a platform for understanding coupling and the creative dynamics of complex goal-directed systems, including the brain and the brain–behaviour relation.
United we sense, divided we fail: context-driven perception of ambiguous visual stimuli
Authors: Klink P. C. , van Wezel R. J. A. , van Ee R.
Published: February 2012

Ambiguous visual stimuli provide the brain with sensory information that contains conflicting evidence for multiple mutually exclusive interpretations. Two distinct aspects of the phenomenological experience associated with viewing ambiguous visual stimuli are the
apparent stability
of perception whenever one perceptual interpretation is dominant, and the
instability
of perception that causes perceptual dominance to alternate between perceptual interpretations upon extended viewing. This review summarizes several ways in which contextual information can help the brain resolve visual ambiguities and construct temporarily stable perceptual experiences. Temporal context through prior stimulation or internal brain states brought about by feedback from higher cortical processing levels may alter the response characteristics of specific neurons involved in rivalry resolution. Furthermore, spatial or crossmodal context may strengthen the neuronal representation of one of the possible perceptual interpretations and consequently bias the rivalry process towards it. We suggest that contextual influences on perceptual choices with ambiguous visual stimuli can be highly informative about the neuronal mechanisms of context-driven inference in the general processes of perceptual decision-making.
The initial phase of auditory and visual scene analysis
Authors: Hupé Jean-Michel , Pressnitzer Daniel
Published: February 2012

Auditory streaming and visual plaids have been used extensively to study perceptual organization in each modality. Both stimuli can produce bistable alternations between grouped (one object) and split (two objects) interpretations. They also share two peculiar features: (i) at the onset of stimulus presentation, organization starts with a systematic bias towards the grouped interpretation; (ii) this first percept has ‘inertia’; it lasts longer than the subsequent ones. As a result, the probability of forming different objects builds up over time, a landmark of both behavioural and neurophysiological data on auditory streaming. Here we show that first percept bias and inertia are independent. In plaid perception, inertia is due to a depth ordering ambiguity in the transparent (split) interpretation that makes plaid perception tristable rather than bistable: experimental manipulations removing the depth ambiguity suppressed inertia. However, the first percept bias persisted. We attempted a similar manipulation for auditory streaming by introducing level differences between streams, to bias which stream would appear in the perceptual foreground. Here both inertia and first percept bias persisted. We thus argue that the critical common feature of the onset of perceptual organization is the grouping bias, which may be related to the transition from temporally/spatially local to temporally/spatially global computation.
Perceptuo-motor interactions in the perceptual organization of speech: evidence from the verbal transformation effect
Authors: Basirat Anahita , Schwartz Jean-Luc , Sato Marc
Published: February 2012

The verbal transformation effect (VTE) refers to perceptual switches while listening to a speech sound repeated rapidly and continuously. It is a specific case of perceptual multistability providing a rich paradigm for studying the processes underlying the perceptual organization of speech. While the VTE has been mainly considered as a purely auditory effect, this paper presents a review of recent behavioural and neuroimaging studies investigating the role of perceptuo-motor interactions in the effect. Behavioural data show that articulatory constraints and visual information from the speaker's articulatory gestures can influence verbal transformations. In line with these data, functional magnetic resonance imaging and intracranial electroencephalography studies demonstrate that articulatory-based representations play a key role in the emergence and the stabilization of speech percepts during a verbal transformation task. Overall, these results suggest that perceptuo (multisensory)-motor processes are involved in the perceptual organization of speech and the formation of speech perceptual objects.
Investigation of the genetic architecture of a bone carcass weightQTLonBTA6
Authors: Gutiérrez‐Gil B. , Wiener P. , Williams J. L. , Haley C. S.
Published: February 2012

A previous analysis of anF2/BackcrossCharolais × Holstein cross population identified the presence of a highly significantQTLon chromosome 6 (BTA6) affecting the proportion of bone in the carcass. Two closely linkedQTLaffected birth weight (BW) and body length at birth (BBL). In this report, the marker density around theQTLonBTA6 was increased, adding four additional microsatellite markers across the chromosome and 46SNPs within the targetQTLconfidence interval. Of theSNPs, 26 were in positional candidate genes and the remaining 20 provided an even distribution of markers in the targetQTLregion. As a bone‐related trait, the sum of the bone weight for all the left fore‐ and hindquarter joints of the carcass was analysed. We also studied the BW and BBL. Analyses of the data substantially reduced theQTLconfidence interval. No strong evidence was found that theQTLfor the three traits studied are different, and we conclude that the results are consistent with a single pleiotropicQTLinfluencing the three traits, with the largest effects on the proportion of bone in the carcass. The analyses also suggest that none of theSNPs tested is the sole causative variant of theQTLeffects. Specifically, theSNPin theNCAPGgene previously reported as a causal mutation for foetal growth and carcass traits in other cattle populations was excluded as the causal mutation for theQTLreported here. Polymorphisms located in other previously identified candidate genes includingSPP1,ABCG2,IBSP,MEPEandPPARGC1Awere also excluded. The results suggest thatSNP51_BTA‐119876is the polymorphism in strongest linkage disequilibrium with the causal mutation(s). Further research is required to identify the causal variant(s) associated with this bone‐relatedQTL.
Genome‐wide association analysis for quantitative trait loci influencing Warner–Bratzler shear force in five taurine cattle breeds
Authors: McClure M. C. , Ramey H. R. , Rolf M. M. , McKay S. D. , Decker J. E. , Chapple R. H. , Kim J. W. , Taxis T. M. , Weaber R. L. , Schnabel R. D. , Taylor J. F.
Published: February 2012

We performed a genome‐wide association study for Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF), a measure of meat tenderness, by genotyping 3360 animals from five breeds with 54 790 BovineSNP50 and 96 putative single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within μ‐calpain [HUGO nomenclature calpain 1, (mu/I) large subunit; CAPN1] and calpastatin (CAST). Within‐ and across‐breed analyses estimated SNP allele substitution effects (ASEs) by genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) and variance components by restricted maximum likelihood under an animal model incorporating a genomic relationship matrix. GBLUP estimates of ASEs from the across‐breed analysis were moderately correlated (0.31–0.66) with those from the individual within‐breed analyses, indicating that prediction equations for molecular estimates of breeding value developed from across‐breed analyses should be effective for genomic selection within breeds. We identified 79 genomic regions associated with WBSF in at least three breeds, but only eight were detected in all five breeds, suggesting that the within‐breed analyses were underpowered, that different quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlie variation between breeds or that the BovineSNP50 SNP density is insufficient to detect common QTL among breeds. In the across‐breed analysis, CAPN1 was followed by CAST as the most strongly associated WBSF QTL genome‐wide, and associations with both were detected in all five breeds. We show that none of the four commercialized CAST and CAPN1 SNP diagnostics are causal for associations with WBSF, and we putatively fine‐map the CAPN1 causal mutation to a 4581‐bp region. We estimate that variation in CAST and CAPN1 explains 1.02 and 1.85% of the phenotypic variation in WBSF respectively.
Contributions of FASN and SCD gene polymorphisms on fatty acid composition in muscle from Japanese Black cattle
Authors: Yokota S. , Sugita H. , Ardiyanti A. , Shoji N. , Nakajima H. , Hosono M. , Otomo Y. , Suda Y. , Katoh K. , Suzuki K.
Published: February 2012

The fatty acid synthase (FASN) and stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (delta‐9‐desaturase) (SCD) genes affect fatty acid composition. This study evaluated the contributions of polymorphisms of these genes on fatty acid composition in muscle in two different populations: 1189 and 1058 Japanese Black cattle from the Miyagi and the Yamagata populations respectively. We sampled intramuscular fat from the longissimus thoracis muscle in the Miyagi population and from the trapezius muscle in the Yamagata population. The collective contributions of FASN and SCD polymorphisms to total additive genetic variance for oleic acid were 13.46% in the Miyagi population and 16.29% in the Yamagata population and to phenotypic variance were 5.45% and 6.54% respectively. Although the individual effects of FASN and SCD polymorphisms on fatty acid composition were small, overall gene substitution may effectively improve fatty acid composition. In addition, we found that gene polymorphism contributions of fatty acids varied by population even in the same breed.
The scale of inland fisheries, can we do better? Alternative approaches for assessment
Authors: De Graaf G. , Bartley D. , Jorgensen J. , Marmulla G.
Published: February 2012

Abstract  The majority of the global inland fisheries catch is obtained in developing countries. However, there are severe constraints in collection of information on inland fisheries leading to doubts over the reliability of the available information at the global and regional scales. A major constraint of data collection is the dispersed characteristics of inland fisheries, which cannot be covered by traditional approaches. Sample‐based monitoring of inland fisheries with an appropriate sample frame will improve the present information on inland fisheries. However, it is argued that further rapid improvement of available information can be obtained by providing assessment tools to a global community of practitioners. One such a tool, a combination of databases making use of Google Earth, analysed in a GIS platform and yield modelling is presented and discussed.
‘Doing things together’: male caregivers' experiences of giving care to patients in forensic psychiatric care
Authors: KUMPULA E. , EKSTRAND P.
Published: February 2012

Accessible summary

The view that male caregivers have of the provision of care is based on social and cultural ideas of masculinity. Experiences of giving care are based on relationships with each other and on their view of what can lead to recreating health.

Activities constitute a natural part of giving care in forensic psychiatric care. The objective of the activities means that patients and personnel share activities. These activities are to contribute to deepening and reinforcing care‐based relationships and creating opportunities for recreating health.

Activities can be coupled to the provision of care on a ward and associated with the inner environment, routines and tasks such as cooking, cleaning, washing and shopping. One interpretation is that these activities can be understood as social and cultural acts that distinguish the provision of care by men from tasks that can be experienced with connotations from traditional female‐gendered tasks.

Studies into work carried out by male caregivers in a care environment in which male patients and male caregivers constitute a majority are lacking. The purpose of this study was to illuminate the experiences of male caregivers in providing care for patients in forensic psychiatric care. The study has a qualitative design and data were constituted by interviews with six male caregivers at a clinic of forensic psychiatry in a town in central Sweden. The method of analysis chosen was latent content analysis. The results consist of four themes: Activities as a component of care, Social training as the basis of care, Feelings of powerlessness and Seeing the complete person. The experience that comes out most distinctly in the descriptions given by caregivers involves performing activities together with the patients. The activities had different significances and these contribute to creating a more secure care relationship, in which the boundaries between personnel and patients become less clear. Physical activities contribute to recreating the patient's health. Social training appears as a component of the care in which the significance of rules and routines in the operations was integrated. Feelings of powerlessness arise when the caregivers do not experience that the care given on the ward contributes to recreating health for the patients. Seeing the complete person behind the crime constitutes the themes that can be said to summarize the meaning of the work carried out by male caregivers.
Importance of stress receptor‐mediated mechanisms in the amygdala on visceral pain perception in an intrinsically anxious rat
Authors: Johnson A. C. , Tran L. , Schulkin J. , Meerveld B. Greenwood‐Van
Published: February 2012

Background  Stress worsens abdominal pain experienced by patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a chronic disorder of unknown origin with comorbid anxiety. Previously, we have demonstrated colonic hypersensitivity in Wistar–Kyoto rats (WKYs), a high‐anxiety strain, which models abdominal pain in IBS. In low‐anxiety rats, we have demonstrated that the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) regulates colonic hypersensitivity and anxiety induced by selective activation of either glucocorticoid receptors (GR) or mineralocorticoid receptors (MR), which is also mediated by the corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) Type‐1 receptor. The goal of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the CeA through GR, MR, and/or CRF‐1R regulates colonic hypersensitivity in WKYs.

Methods  One series of WKYs had micropellets of a GR antagonist, an MR antagonist or cholesterol (control) stereotaxically implanted onto the CeA. Another series were infused in the CeA with CRF‐1R antagonist, or vehicle. Colonic sensitivity was measured as a visceromotor response (VMR) to graded colorectal distension (CRD).

Key Results  The exaggerated VMR to graded CRD in WKYs was unaffected by GR or MR antagonism in the CeA. In contrast, direct CeA infusion of CRF‐1R antagonist significantly inhibited the VMR to CRD at noxious distension pressures.

Conclusions & Inferences  Stress hormones in the CeA regulate colonic hypersensitivity in the rat through strain‐dependent parallel pathways. The colonic hypersensitivity in WKYs is mediated by a CRF‐1R mechanism in the CeA, independent of GR and MR. These complementary pathways suggest multiple etiologies whereby stress hormones in the CeA may regulate abdominal pain in IBS patients.
Successful treatment with pulse cyclophosphamide of a steroid‐refractory hepatitic variant of liver acute graft‐vs.‐host disease in a child
Authors: Kawahara Yuta , Morimoto Akira , Masuzawa Aki , Ikeda Takae , Hayase Tomomi , Kashii Yoshifumi , Nozaki Yasuyuki , Kanai Nobuyuki , Momoi Mariko Y.
Published: February 2012

Kawahara Y, Morimoto A, Masuzawa A, Ikeda T, Hayase T, Kashii Y, Nozaki Y, Kanai N, Momoi MY. Successful treatment with pulse cyclophosphamide of a steroid‐refractory hepatitic variant of liver acute graft‐vs.‐host disease in a child.  Pediatr Transplantation 2012: 00: 000–000. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  A 13‐yr‐old boy with recurrent acute myeloid leukemia underwent HSCT using cells from an unrelated donor who matched all HLA antigens except one. Forty‐two days later, the patient developed a steroid‐refractory hepatitic variant of liver GVHD with peak ALT and T.Bil values of 1406 mU/mL and 10.4 mg/dL, respectively. He was successfully treated with pulse Cy (1000 mg/dose × one day) without a change in chimerism being observed or acquiring an infection. All immunosuppressant therapies could be discontinued 12 months after HSCT. Two yr after HSCT, the patient remains in CR without chronic GVHD. This single case report suggests that pulse Cy may be a promising therapy for steroid‐refractory GVHD, especially hepatitic GVHD, but needs to be further tested in clinical trials.
Mapping of quantitative trait loci conferring resistance to brown spot in flue‐cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)
Authors: Tong Zhijun , Jiao Tianlei , Wang Fengqing , Li Meiyun , Leng Xiaodong , Gao Yulong , Li Yongping , Xiao Bingguang , Wu Weiren
Published: February 2012

With 2 figures and 1 table

Brown spot (BS) caused by Alternaria alternata is one of the most destructive foliar diseases affecting tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) production and quality in China. Breeding of BS‐resistant cultivars is difficult because the resistance has proved to be quantitatively inherited. To facilitate marker‐assisted selection, we carried out a study of mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for BS resistance. We developed an F2 population consisting of 213 individuals from a cross between a BS‐susceptible cultivar ‘Changbohuang’ (CBH) and a BS‐resistant cultivar ‘Jinyehuang’ (JYH) and constructed a genetic map consisting of 196 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers based on this population. Using disease index (DI) as the indicator of BS resistance, we detected three QTLs located between SSR markers TM20534 and TM10737, TM10589 and TM10216, and TM10443 and PT60669, respectively. The resistant alleles of the three QTLs were all from the resistant parent JYH. The three QTLs together could explain ∼86% of the DI difference between the two parents in total, with ∼61% explained by their additive effects. Therefore, the three QTLs will be useful for BS‐resistance breeding.
APOC3 and PNPLA3 in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease: Need to clear the air
Authors: Duseja Ajay , Aggarwal Rakesh
Published: February 2012

See article in J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2012; 27: 951–956.
Genetic differentiation and diversity of Acacia koa populations in the Hawaiian Islands
Authors: ADAMSKI DANIEL J. , DUDLEY NICKLOS S. , MORDEN CLIFFORD W. , BORTHAKUR DULAL
Published: February 2012

Acacia koa A. Gray (koa) is a leguminous tree endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and can be divided into morphologically distinguishable groups of A. koaia Hillebrand, A. koa and populations that are intermediate between these extremes. The objectives of this investigation were to distinguish among divergent groups of koa at molecular levels, and to determine genetic diversity within and among the groups. Phylogenetic analyses using the ITS/5.8S rDNA and trnK intron sequences did not separate the representative koa types into distinct clusters. An unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis, based on allele profiles of 12 microsatellite loci for 215 individual koa samples, separated the population into three distinct clusters consistent with their morphology, A. koaia, A. koa and intermediate forms. There was an average of 8.8 alleles per polymorphic locus (AP) among all koa and koaia individuals. The intermediate populations had the highest genetic diversity (H′ = 1.599), AP (7.9) and total number of unique alleles (21), whereas A. koaia and A. koa showed similar levels of genetic diversity (H′ = 0.965 and 0.943, respectively). No correlation was observed between geographic distance and genetic distance as determined by a Mantel test (r = 0.027, P = 0.91). The data presented here support previous recommendations that morphological variation within koa should be recognized at the subspecific level rather than as distinct species.
JOB DISPLACEMENT AND THE INTER‐TEMPORAL MOVEMENT OF WORKERS THROUGH THE EARNINGS AND INCOME DISTRIBUTIONS
Authors: JOLLY NICHOLAS A.
Published: February 2012

This paper uses the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to examine how job displacement influences intragenerational earnings and income mobility. Job displacement increases the probability of downward labor earnings mobility for several years after separation occurs. Furthermore, the probability of being in the bottom half of the earnings distribution increases significantly, not only in the year of displacement, but also for several years afterwards. However, after considering additional measures of financial well‐being (income from other family members and government transfer payments), the short‐ and long‐term impact of displacement on movements throughout the distribution is reduced. (JEL J63, J65)