bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Late Pliocene–Quaternary evolution of redox conditions in the western Qaidam paleolake (NE Tibetan Plateau) deduced from Mn geochemistry in the drilling core SG-1
Authors: Yang Yibo , Fang Xiaomin , Appel Erwin , Galy Albert , Li Minghui , Zhang Weilin
Published: August 2013

Manganese (Mn) in lake sediments reacts strongly to changes of redox conditions. This study analyzed Mn concentrations in oxides, carbonates, and bulk phases of the calcareous lacustrine sediments of a 938.5-m-long core (SG-1) taken from the western Qaidam Basin, well dated from 2.77 Ma to 0.1 Ma. Comparisons of extractions from diluted hydrochloric acid, acetic acid and citrate"bicarbonate"dithionite demonstrate that variations of Mn concentrations from acetic acid leaching (MnHOAc) are mostly responsible for Mn (II) fluctuations in the carbonate phase. Taking into account the relevant processes during weathering, transportation, deposition and post-deposition of Mn-bearing rocks, we conclude that Mn input from catchment weathering and paleolake redox condition provide the primary controls on variations in the Mn records of carbonate and oxide phases. We propose MnHOAc as a new sensitive indicator of paleolake redox evolution and catchment-scale climate change. The MnHOAc variations show a long-term upward decreasing trend, indicating a long-term decrease of Mn input from catchment weathering associated with increasing oxygen content in the paleolake bottom water. The great similarities of the MnHOAc record with other regional and global records suggest that paleolake redox changes and climatic drying in the Qaidam Basin may be largely related to global cooling.
Effect of feeding diets containing a probiotic or antibiotic on broiler performance, intestinal mucosa-associated avian pathogenic E. coli and litter water-soluble phosphorus
Authors: Amerah A. M. , Jansen van Rensburg C. , Plumstead P. W. , Kromm C. , Dunham S.
Published: August 2013

The aim of the present experiment was to examine the influence of feeding diets containing a probiotic containing three Bacillus subtilis strains or zinc bacitracin (BMD) on bird performance, intestinal mucosa-associated avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), intestinal morphology and litter water-soluble phosphorus (WSP) of broilers fed corn-based diets. Three treatments were employed, either a control diet; the control diet supplemented with probiotic at 7.5 × 104 colony forming units (cfu) /g of feed or the supplemented with BMD (50g/tonne feed). Broiler starter and finisher diets, based on corn and soybean meal, were formulated and fed ad libitum to seven pens of 50 male broilers per treatment from days 1 to 42. During the 1-35 d periods, feed intake and weight gain were not influenced (P > 0.05) by dietary treatments, but probiotic supplementation improved (P < 0.05) 35-d FCR compared to the control and BMD-supplemented diets (1.395, 1.447 and 1.484, respectively). During the 1-42d period, feed intake and weight gain were not influenced (P > 0.05) by dietary treatments. However, probiotic improved (P = 0.05) and BMD tended (P = 0.07) to improve FCR compared to control diet. Villus height and crypt depth in the duodenum and jejunum were not influenced (P > 0.05) by dietary treatment. The number of mucosa-associated APEC was not influenced (P > 0.05) by dietary treatments. Probiotic and BMD supplementation had no effect (P > 0.05) on litter total phosphorus. However, BMD reduced (P < 0.05) litter WSP compared to control and probiotic supplemented diet. In conclusion, probiotic supplementation had no effect on intestinal morphology or WSP but improved broiler performance and can be used as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters.
CONGRUENCES MODULO POWERS OF 2 FOR FU’S 5 DOTS BRACELET PARTITIONS
Authors: XIA ERNEST X. W. , YAO OLIVIA X. M.
Published: August 2013

In 2007, Andrews and Paule introduced a new class of combinatorial objects called broken $k$-diamond partitions. Recently, Shishuo Fu generalised the notion of broken $k$-diamond partitions to combinatorial objects which he termed $k$ dots bracelet partitions. Fu denoted the number of $k$ dots bracelet partitions of $n$ by ${\mathfrak{B}}_{k} (n)$ and proved several congruences modulo primes and modulo powers of 2. More recently, Radu and Sellers extended the set of congruences proven by Fu by proving three congruences modulo squares of primes for ${\mathfrak{B}}_{5} (n)$, ${\mathfrak{B}}_{7} (n)$ and ${\mathfrak{B}}_{11} (n)$. In this note, we prove some congruences modulo powers of 2 for ${\mathfrak{B}}_{5} (n)$. For example, we find that for all integers $n\geq 0$, ${\mathfrak{B}}_{5} (16n+ 7)\equiv 0\hspace{0.167em} ({\rm mod} \hspace{0.334em} {2}^{5} )$.
Correlation of the base of the Serpukhovian Stage (Mississippian) in NW Europe
Authors: SEVASTOPULO GEORGE D. , BARHAM MILO
Published: August 2013

The Task Group charged with proposing the GSSP for the base of the Serpukhovian Stage (Mississippian, Lower Carboniferous) is likely to use the global First Appearance Datum (FAD) of the conodontLochriea ziegleriin the lineageLochriea nodosa–L.zieglerifor the definition and correlation of the base of the stage. It is important to establish that the FAD ofL.ziegleriin different basins is penecontemporaneous. Ammonoids provide high-resolution biostratigraphy in the Late Mississippian but their use in international correlation is limited by provincialism. However, it is possible to assess the levels of diachronism of the First Occurrence Datum (FOD) ofL.ziegleriin sections in NW Europe using ammonoid zones. Published conodont distribution in the Rhenish Slate Mountains of Germany show the FOD ofL.ziegleriin theEmstites novalisBiozone (upper part of the P2czone of the UK and Ireland) butL.zieglerihas also been reported as occurring in theNeoglyphioceras spiraleBiozone (P1dzone). In the Yoredale Group of northern England, the FOD ofL.ziegleriis in either the P1cor P1dzone. In NW Ireland, the oldest records of bothL.nodosaandL.ziegleriare from theLusitanoceras granosumBiozone (P2a). Although there is some discrepancy in the recorded levels of the FOD ofL.ziegleriin NW Europe, this may be as a result of collection failure. The base of the Serpukhovian based on the FAD ofLochriea ziegleriwill be in the middle of the Brigantian regional Substage.
Sucrose metabolism in the subtending leaf to cotton boll at different fruiting branch nodes and the relationship to boll weight
Authors: LIU J. , WANG Y. , CHEN J. , LV F. , MA Y. , MENG Y. , CHEN B. , ZHOU Z.
Published: August 2013

Changes of sucrose metabolism in the subtending leaf to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) boll at different fruiting branch nodes (FBN) were investigated. Two cotton cultivars, Kemian 1 and Sumian 15, were grown in the field at three planting dates in 2009 and 2011. Cotton planted on different dates but experiencing similar climatic factors flowered on the same date and had similar boll opening dates, but had different FBN. In the present study, boll weight and carbohydrate content were significantly affected by both flowering date (FD) and FBN. However, only cystolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (cy-FBPase) and sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS) activities of the sucrose-metabolizing enzymes were influenced significantly by FBN, and the influence of FBN was lower with delayed FD. In general, effects of FBN on boll weight and sucrose metabolism in the subtending leaf were higher at the optimal FD (13 August) than those at later FD (9 September 2009 and 2 September 2011), and total fruiting branches were used to characterize cotton physiological age in the current study. Sucrose transport capacity (Tn) and SPS in the subtending leaf had significantly positive correlations with boll weight at 17–24 days post anthesis (DPA), a crucial period when boll weight was significantly affected. In addition, higher SPS activity was favourable for sucrose export and boll weight during boll development.
The development of a dynamic, mechanistic, thermal balance model for Bos indicus and Bos taurus
Authors: THOMPSON V. A. , BARIONI L. G. , RUMSEY T. R. , FADEL J. G. , SAINZ R. D.
Published: August 2013

The dynamic model presented in the current paper estimates heat production and heat flow between growing and mature cattle (Bos indicus and Bos taurus) and the surrounding environment. Heat production was calculated using the NRC (2000) and heat flows between the animal and the environment were based largely on existing models and physical principles. Heat flows among the body core, the skin, the coat and the environment were calculated. Heat flows from and to the environment included solar radiation, long wave radiation, convection and evaporative heat loss. Physiological responses of cattle (sweating, panting and vasodilation) were modelled through mechanistic equations. The model required weather (radiation, temperature, wind and vapour pressure), animal (body-core weight and genotype-specific parameters) and dietary inputs (dry matter intake rates and diet composition) and estimated heat balance and the physiological responses of the animal to within-day weather variation. The current paper has focused on heat stress, although the model was designed to run under both hot and cold climatic conditions. The model developed in the current paper provides researchers and livestock producers with the ability to predict heat stress and to evaluate mitigating procedures.
Bioeconomic modelling of compensatory growth for grass-based dairy calf-to-beef production systems
Authors: ASHFIELD A. , WALLACE M. , MCGEE M. , CROSSON P.
Published: August 2013

Feed makes up c. 0·7 of total variable costs on Irish beef farms. A period of reduced growth (caused by nutritional restriction) followed by a period of accelerated growth (compensatory growth) can be used to take advantage of lower cost feedstuffs (grazed grass) during the grazing season. The Grange Dairy Beef Systems Model (GDBSM) was modified to capture more accurately the implications of compensatory growth and, thus, the energy demand of beef cattle was partitioned into energy required for maintenance and energy required for growth. For the current study, three production systems were evaluated where the male progeny of dairy cows were finished as steers at 24 (S24), 28 (S28) and 30 (S30) months of age. Three different live weight gains (RESLWG; 0·4, 0·6 and 0·8 kg/day), reflecting different levels of nutritional restriction, were simulated during the first winter feeding period (November–February) for S24 and during the second winter feeding period for S28 and S30. This allowed the effect of different live weight gains during a nutritional restriction period on farm profitability to be determined. Results indicated that for S24 the most profitable RESLWG was 0·6 kg/day. However, for S28 and S30 the most profitable systems were RESLWG of 0·4 kg/day. Financial performance of all systems was very sensitive to variation in beef carcass and calf prices but less sensitive to concentrate and fertilizer price variation. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis showed that the level of maintenance energy reduction and the duration of this reduction had a modest impact on results. The GDBSM is demonstrated as a quantitative framework for simulating compensatory growth and determining its effects on the profitability of dairy calf-to-beef production systems.
Singapore, 1915, and the Birth of the Asian Underground
Authors: HARPER TIM
Published: August 2013

This paper examines the 1915 Singapore Mutiny within the context of border-crossing patriotic and anarchist movements in the early twentieth century world. It traces some of the continuities and discontinuities with later revolutionary movements in Asia, especially in terms of networks and the sites of their interactions. Through this, it reflects on the meaning of the ‘transnational’ at this moment in Asian history.
Place and wellbeing: shedding light on activity interventions for older men
Authors: MILLIGAN C. , PAYNE S. , BINGLEY A. , COCKSHOTT Z.
Published: August 2013

In the United Kingdom, one in five of the population is an older man, many of whom live alone. Loneliness and social isolation is a growing issue for many of these older men, one that has been associated with elevated blood pressure, poor physical health, increased mortality and mental ill-health, including depression, suicide and dementia. Lone dwelling and social isolation have tended to be viewed largely as issues affecting older women due to their greater life expectancy (LE), but the LE gap between men and women is closing, presenting new challenges for the health and wellbeing of older men. This is not unique to the United Kingdom. Yet whilst inclusionary social spaces and supportive social ties can be important for enhancing physical and mental wellbeing amongst older people, evidence suggests that lone-dwelling older men can experience greater difficulty in accessing effective social support, relative to older women. Understanding those spaces of communal activity that are likely to be successful in promoting health and wellbeing amongst older men is thus important if we are to improve their quality of life. In this paper, we draw on research with a ‘Men in Sheds’ pilot programme in the United Kingdom, to illustrate how everyday spaces within local communities might be designed to both promote and maintain the health and wellbeing of older men. In doing so, we aim to offer insights into how Sheds, as created and gendered spaces, may not only engage older men in ways that help to maintain their perceived health and wellbeing, but also provide sites within which older men can perform and reaffirm their masculinity.
Lineage-specific molecular probing reveals novel diversity and ecological partitioning of haplosporidians
Authors: Hartikainen Hanna , Ashford Oliver S , Berney Cédric , Okamura Beth , Feist Stephen W , Baker-Austin Craig , Stentiford Grant D , Bass David
Published: August 2013

Haplosporidians are rhizarian parasites of mostly marine invertebrates. They include the causative agents of diseases of commercially important molluscs, including MSX disease in oysters. Despite their importance for food security, their diversity and distributions are poorly known. We used a combination of group-specific PCR primers to probe environmental DNA samples from planktonic and benthic environments in Europe, South Africa and Panama. This revealed several highly distinct novel clades, novel lineages within known clades and seasonal (spring vs autumn) and habitat-related (brackish vs littoral) variation in assemblage composition. High frequencies of haplosporidian lineages in the water column provide the first evidence for life cycles involving planktonic hosts, host-free stages or both. The general absence of haplosporidian lineages from all large online sequence data sets emphasises the importance of lineage-specific approaches for studying these highly divergent and diverse lineages. Combined with host-based field surveys, environmental sampling for pathogens will enhance future detection of known and novel pathogens and the assessment of disease risk.
Long-term water temperature reconstructions from mountain lakes with different catchment and morphometric features
Authors: Luoto Tomi P. , Nevalainen Liisa
Published: August 2013

Long-term water temperature records are necessary for better understanding climate change impacts on freshwaters. We reconstruct summer water temperatures from three climatically sensitive mountain lakes in Austria using paleolimnological methods aiming to examine long-term thermal dynamics and lakes' responses to regional climate variability since the Little Ice Age. Our results indicate divergent trends for the lakes. In two of the lakes, which are located at the sunny southern slope of mountains, water temperature has increased several degrees concurrent with the observed air temperature increase. In contrast, no change is observed in the reconstructed water temperatures of a shaded lake, located at the northern slope, where also the ecological and thermal changes are most subtle. The results indicate the importance of cold water inputs, such as snowmelt and groundwater, on lakes' thermal conditions and suggest that watershed characteristics and lake stratification play a major role in defining the lake-specific thermal regime.
Porphyrin-containing hyperbranched supramolecular polymers: enhancing 1O2-generation efficiency by supramolecular polymerization
Authors: Liu Yiliu , Huang Zehuan , Liu Kai , Kelgtermans Hans , Dehaen Wim , Wang Zhiqiang , Zhang Xi
Published: August 2013

Porphyrin-containing hyperbranched supramolecular polymers were obtained in aqueous solution, which can function as photosensitizers.
Profile of maternal CD4 T-cell effector function during normal pregnancy and in women with a history of recurrent miscarriage
Authors: Lissauer David , Goodyear Oliver , Khanum Rahela , Moss Paul A. H. , Kilby Mark D.
Published: August 2013

The traditional paradigm suggests that during normal pregnancy maternal immunological tolerance of the allogenic fetus is association with a maternal T-lymphocyte shift from a Th1 to a Th2 phenotype, with the opposite effect reported in patients with recurrent miscarriage. However, studies on maternal peripheral blood are conflicting. In the present study, we characterized the maternal CD4 T-cell effector subsets, including the recently described Th17 subset, during normal pregnancy (cross-sectional cohort, n=71; longitudinal cohort, n=17) and contrasted this with women with recurrent miscarriage (n=24). Longitudinal analysis of peripheral blood from normal pregnancy demonstrated a fall in the percentage of Th17 cells between the first and second trimester (P≤0.05), but no significant changes were observed across gestation or the post-natal period in Th1 or Th2 subsets. In contrast, in women with a history of recurrent miscarriage, an elevated proportion of Th17 (0.314% compared with 0.097%; P=0.0009) and Th1 (12.4% compared with 5.3%; P=0.0002) cells was detected. The suggestion that Th17 cells may have a role in the normal events of implantation and early pregnancy requires further evaluation and mechanistic studies. The results of the present study, by conducting a careful longitudinal analysis, demonstrate that a peripheral Th1/Th2 shift is not a requirement for normal pregnancy. By contrast, the profound increase in Th1 and Th17 cells in women with recurrent miscarriage indicates that peripheral immunological dysfunction may be important in this group specifically, and these assays may be important in guiding therapeutic interventions in this group and warrant further investigation to determine whether they are predictive of outcome or responses to immunomodulatory therapy.
Fine granularity resource allocation algorithm for video transmission in orthogonal frequency division multiple access system
Authors: Zhang Yimin , Liu Guizhong
Published: August 2013

In this study, the authors propose a fine granularity resource allocation algorithm for enhancing overall quality of users’ received video in the orthogonal frequency division multiple access system. Subcarrier's contribution for video transmission is used as the guideline of resource allocation in this algorithm. The subcarrier with the largest contribution is given priority to be allocated on the basis of two‐level paths search in the whole resource allocation tree. Moreover, the authors design the full search implementation scheme and the simplified implementation scheme for the resource allocation algorithm, respectively. The full search implementation scheme can obtain superior performance gain with high complexity. For reducing the complexity, the authors further propose a simplified implementation scheme subject to some minor quality degradation. At last, the authors compare the fine granularity resource allocation algorithm with other existing resource allocation algorithms for video transmission. In the simulation results, it is shown that the proposed algorithm acquires much more superior performance in overall quality of users’ received video.
Efficient complex radial basis function model for multiuser detection in a space division multiple access/multiple‐input multiple‐output–orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system
Authors: Praveen Bagadi Kala , Das Susmita
Published: August 2013

An adaptive multiuser detection (MUD) technique using the complex radial basis function (CRBF) network is proposed for space division multiple access–orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (SDMA–OFDM) system. Among various MUDs, the linear minimum mean‐square error (MMSE) MUD suffers from poor performance and the maximum likelihood (ML) detector is restricted by high computational complexity. Hence, the cost function minimisation‐based detector like minimum symbol error rate (MSER) is preferred because of significant performance gain over MMSE MUD and complexity gain over ML detector. Moreover, the MSER detector also has a potential of surviving in overload scenario, where the number of users are more than that of the number of receiving antennas. However, in all these techniques, the requirement of channel estimation adds an extra complexity whereas, the proposed CRBF detector approximates the channel parameters in training phase and detects signals in testing phase. It also has low complexity, better performance compared with MSER MUD and also supports overload scenario. Each neuron in the proposed CRBF network is assembled with ‘sech’ activation function, as this function can do better complex non‐linear mapping than Gaussian activation. The simulation study and performance evaluation of CRBF MUD is investigated, considering both data and image transmission.
Number of tunable wavelength converters and internal wavelengths needed for cost‐effective design of asynchronous optical packet switching system with shared or output fibre delay line buffer
Authors: Lim Huhnkuk
Published: August 2013

Optical packet switching (OPS) is being considered as one of the switching technologies for a future optical internet. For contention resolution in an optical packet switching (OPS) system, the wavelength dimension is generally used in combination with a fibre delay line (FDL) buffer. In this study, the authors propose to reduce the number of tunable wavelength converters (TWCs) by sharing TWCs for cost‐effective design of an asynchronous OPS system with a shared or an output FDL buffer. Asynchronous and variable‐length packets are considered in the OPS system design. To investigate the number of TWCs needed for the OPS system, an algorithm is proposed, which searches for an available TWC and an unused internal wavelength, as well as an outgoing channel. This algorithm is applied to an OPS system with a shared or an output FDL buffer. Also, the number of internal wavelengths (i.e. the conversion range of the TWC) needed for an asynchronous OPS system is presented for cost reduction of the OPS system.
Design of distributed collaborative space‐time block codes for two‐way relaying networks
Authors: Gong Fengkui , Zhang Jian‐Kang , Wang Hui , Ge Jianhua
Published: August 2013

Utilising the recently‐developed unique factorisation of signals and distributed Alamouti coding, a distributed collaborative space‐time block code design is presented for a two‐way amplify‐and‐forward (AF) relaying network, where all nodes are equipped with a single antenna. Two asymptotic pairwise error probability (PEP) formulae are firstly derived for both fixed‐gain AF and variable‐gain AF over Rayleigh channels with the maximum‐likelihood detector. Then, subject to the constraints on a fixed transmission bit rate and unity average transmission energy, the optimal constellation combinations with the optimal coefficients are attained by minimising the dominant term of PEP. It is shown that the PEP and the average block error rate of the newly‐designed code are superior to those of the conventional distributed Alamouti code while the prior still has linear‐decoding complexity.
Performance evaluation on correlation detection and energy detection for ultra wideband‐impulse radio communication with multi‐pulse position modulation scheme in implant body area networks
Authors: Katsu Kenta , Anzai Daisuke , Wang Jianqing
Published: August 2013

Ultra wideband‐impulse radio (UWB‐IR) transmission, which can provide high data rate for real‐time transmission and low‐power consumption in transceivers, is one of promising transmission technologies in implant body area networks (BANs). Some studies on UWB‐IR propagation characteristics in implant BANs have reported that UWB‐IR signals suffer from large attenuation in human body channels. It is therefore necessary to clarify the actual performance of UWB‐IR modulation and demodulation methods in implant BANs. In this study, the authors focus on experimental evaluation of the correlation detection and energy detection for UWB‐IR transmission with multi‐pulse position modulation (MPPM). For this purpose, the authors develop a UWB‐IR communication system with MPPM scheme, and experimentally evaluate the transmission performance of the developed systems with the two detection methods. In addition to the experimental evaluation, the authors also theoretically analyse the bit‐error rate (BER) performance of the correlation detection and energy detection methods by using Gaussian approximation. From the experimental results, the developed system has achieved a BER of 10− 2 at the propagation loss of 75 dB with a data rate of 2 Mbps in the correlation detection. This result shows the feasibility of reliable UWB‐IR communication in actual implant BANs.
Sparse block circulant matrices for compressed sensing
Authors: Sun Jingming , Wang Shu , Dong Yan
Published: August 2013

An undetermined measurement matrix can capture sparse signals losslessly if the matrix satisfies the restricted isometry property (RIP) in compressed sensing (CS) framework. However, existing measurement matrices suffer from high computational burden because of their completely unstructured nature. In this study, the authors propose to construct a novel measurement matrix with a specific structure, called sparse block circulant matrix (SBCM), to reduce the computational burden. The RIP of the proposed SBCM is also guaranteed with overwhelming probability. The simulation results validate that SBCM reduces the computational burden significantly whereas keeps similar signal recovery accuracy as Gaussian random matrices.
Spectral, energy and economic efficiency of relay‐aided cellular networks
Authors: Ku Ivan , Wang Cheng‐Xiang , Thompson John
Published: August 2013

The authors investigate the relay‐aided multicell multiple‐input–multiple‐output (MIMO) cellular network by comparing both the signal forwarding and interference forwarding relaying paradigms, each employing the adaptive MIMO relay scheme. The spectral, energy and economic efficiency values are utilised as key performance metrics. Furthermore, both radio frequency and circuit power consumption are considered in the energy calculation. They demonstrate that there is a tradeoff between spectral and energy efficiency. Thus, economic profitability is used to find a balance in the tradeoff as profitability is important to the long term deployment of a scheme. They introduce the economic efficiency metric which considers the inherent tradeoff as a complementary performance measure to obtain maximum economic profitability while maintaining gains in both spectral and energy efficiency.
Impact of channel models on compressed sensing recovery algorithms‐based ultra‐wideband channel estimation
Authors: Thanh Son Nguyen , Guo Shuxu , Chen Haipeng
Published: August 2013

Multipath arrivals in an ultra‐wideband (UWB) channel have long time intervals between clusters and rays where the signal takes on zero or negligible values. It is precisely this signal sparsity of the impulse response of the UWB channel that is suitable for the application of compressed sensing (CS) theory. However, these multipath arrivals mainly depend on the channel models that generate different sparse levels (low‐sparse or high‐sparse) of channels according to which, the authors have analysed and chosen the best recovery algorithms which are suitable for the sparse level for each type of channel model. Criteria for evaluating the algorithms are based on computational complexity, ability to reduce the sampling rate and processing time. Besides, the results of this work are an open topic for further research aimed at creating an optimal algorithm specially for application of CS‐based UWB systems.
Cooperative vehicle‐actuator system: a sequence‐based framework of cooperative intersections management
Authors: Wu Jia , Perronnet Florent , Abbas‐Turki Abdeljalil
Published: August 2013

With the emergence of cooperative driving, an innovative traffic control concept, Cooperative Intersection Management (CIM), has emerged. In the framework of CIM, vehicles can wirelessly communicate with the intersection controller for negotiating the right‐of‐way. Each vehicle is dealt with individually by the controller. Thus, the right‐of‐way can be customised on measurement of vehicles’ state. CIM has a great potential to increase the capacity of intersections. However, this new concept deserves a profound research such as finding an efficient control mechanism that can balance between safety and efficiency issues. This study proposes a sequence‐based system, which is referred to as cooperative vehicle‐actuator system, to achieve this purpose. The control in this system turns to determine the vehicle passing sequence under safety constraints. Two control strategies under this system are introduced to find the vehicles passing sequence in real time. Microscopic simulations are implemented to verify the performance of the proposed system. Besides, a real intersection test is carried out to prove the feasibility of the system in real world applications.
Fourier transform analysis of graphene‐based multilayer structures
Authors: Ardakani Hossein Hatefi , Kashani Zahra Ghattan , Amirkalaee Mohammad Keramat , Rashed‐Mohassel Jalil
Published: August 2013

In this study, a generic multilayer structure containing metals, dielectrics, line sources and graphene sheets is considered and analysed. The spectral domain techniques (SDTs) have been known as an efficient method for analysis of planar structures. However, since existence of graphene sheet imposes a new boundary condition, conventional SDTs cannot deal with it. Therefore a spectral‐based method is proposed by applying the two‐dimensional Fourier transform to the fields’ equations. First, a graphene sheet described by a conductivity tensor is assumed to be placed between two arbitrary dielectric layers. A generalised transformation matrix is then calculated which relates the electromagnetic fields of the top layer in terms of the ones of the bottom layer. It is shown that considering the tangential electric fields as supporting field components makes an easier analysis and results in more simplified expressions. The proposed method is evaluated through some examples of guiding and radiating structures. Some novel characteristics are observed, which are promising in providing new applications.
Phase compensation of intermodulation‐induced spurs in fractional‐N frequency synthesisers
Authors: Wang Hongyu
Published: August 2013

Intermodulation effect occurs when the nonlinearity of a device or system with multiple frequencies causes undesired outputs at other frequencies. Intermodulation effect may cause high amplitude spurs on some dedicated channels in addition to the spurs introduced by nonlinear distortion in the modulator of fractional‐N synthesisers, which severely degrade the signal‐to‐noise ratio. In this study, a phase compensation technique is proposed to suppress at least part of these fractional spurs – in particular the most dominant sidebands. A small amount of controlled amplitude and phase voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) signal is coupled onto the phase/frequency detector input to cancel‐out the potential intermodulation‐induced spurious component. A prototype of fractional‐N frequency synthesiser based on the proposed technique has been developed. The synthesiser has measured −113 dBc/Hz in‐band phase noise benefiting from the high speed sigma–delta noise shaper. A modest degrees of VCO to phase detector cross‐coupling suppressed the spurious components by 18 dB. A variety of measured results are shown to demonstrate a substantial improvement in spectra purity.
Wideband planar Goubau line (PGL) couplers and six‐port circuits compatible with short range (60 GHz) radio
Authors: Xu Yansheng , Bosisio Renato G.
Published: August 2013

In this study, wideband planar Goubau line (PGL) couplers were simulated, designed, fabricated and measured. The designed PGL edge coupler is simple, compact and with broad bandwidth. Based on the results of these couplers, six‐port circuits and their application to the digital communication wave radio were studied. Simulated and measurement results show that PGL couplers and PGL six ports work well over a wide frequency range (more than one octave) as six‐port demodulators for digital communications systems, including short range (60 GHz) wave radio.
Effect of antenna array properties on multiple‐input–multiple‐output system performance in an underground mine
Authors: Emami Forooshani Arghavan , D. White Robert , Michelson David G.
Published: August 2013

There is no deployment strategy or capacity prediction available for wireless multiple‐input–multiple‐output (MIMO) communication systems inside underground mines. In such environments with low angular spread, the authors showed how antenna properties including antenna spacing, polarisation and height impact a 4 × 4‐MIMO system performance. They used channel‐frequency‐response data near the 2.4 GHz obtained from measurements collected in a short underground mine, along with the recently developed multimode waveguide model. Several uniform‐linear‐array configurations were assessed for various propagation scenarios in the mine. They used the singular value, correlation coefficient and capacity analysis to compare their performance. Based on the results, they proposed an array orientation and element spacing, which provides sufficient spatial decorrelation among MIMO subchannels. The spatial decorrelation results are close to that of an i.i.d. Rayleigh channel and are not sensitive to different propagation scenarios. The authors' study of the array height and element polarisation revealed that they mainly impact the subchannels’ power, which leads to offering different MIMO channel capacities. They also observed that in spite of geometrical dissimilarities between underground mines and large tunnels, some of their measurement results in the mine are similar to those of subway tunnels obtained by previous studies.
Mutual coupling compensation for a practical VHF/UHF Yagi‐Uda antenna array
Authors: Parhizgar Naser , Alighanbari Abbas , Masnadi‐Shirazi Mohammad‐Ali , Sheikhi Abbas
Published: August 2013

The performance of an antenna array is considerably affected by mutual coupling effects between antenna elements. When a large number of antenna elements are located close to each other, mutual coupling becomes more significant. In this study, by using a new mutual impedance matrix, a decoupling methodology for compensating mutual coupling effects in a practical very high frequency (VHF)/ultra high frequency (UHF) Yagi‐Uda antenna array is introduced. No previous publications have studied VHF/UHF Yagi‐Uda antenna arrays in this context. In the proposed scheme, extreme care has been taken to account for both self‐ and mutual impedance related to mutual coupling effects. Experimental and simulation results show that using the proposed method, a perfect decoupling is achieved. The application of high‐resolution direction of arrival (DOA) estimation algorithms in decoupled experimental data leads to excellent performance of DOA estimation, in terms of accuracy and resolution. In addition, it is concluded (from experimental and simulation results) that mutual coupling effects between array elements as well as the root‐mean‐square error of estimated parameters depend on the direction of arrival. It is also deduced that in the presence of mutual coupling, estimation of signal parameter via rotation invariance techniques algorithm performs better than other subspace‐based algorithms.
Developed cascaded multilevel inverter topology to minimise the number of circuit devices and voltage stresses of switches
Authors: Ajami Ali , Jannati Oskuee Mohammad Reza , Mokhberdoran Ataollah , Van den Bossche Alex
Published: August 2013

In this study, a novel structure for cascade multilevel inverter is presented. The proposed inverter can generate all possible DC voltage levels with the value of positive and negative. The proposed structure results in reduction of switches number, relevant gate driver circuits and also the installation area and inverter cost. The suggested inverter can be used as symmetric and asymmetric structures. Comparing the peak inverse voltage and losses of the proposed inverter with conventional multilevel inverters show the superiority of the proposed converter. The operation and good performance of the proposed multilevel inverter have been verified by the simulation results of a single‐phase nine‐level symmetric and 17‐level asymmetric multilevel inverter and experimental results of a nine‐level and 17‐level inverters. Simulation and experimental results confirmed the validity and effectiveness performance of the proposed inverter.
Speed sensorless control of a six‐phase induction motor drive using backstepping control
Authors: Rastegar Fatemi Seyed Mohammad Jalal , Abjadi Navid Reza , Soltani Jafar , Abazari Saeed
Published: August 2013

In this study, a direct torque and flux control is described for a six‐phase asymmetrical speed and voltage sensorless induction machine (IM) drive, based on non‐linear backstepping control approach. First, the decoupled torque and flux controllers are developed based on Lyapunov theory, using the machine two axis equations in the stationary reference frame. In this control scheme, the actual stator voltages are determined from dc‐link voltage using the switching pattern of the space vector pulse‐width modulation inverter. Then, for a given motor load torque and rotor speed, a so‐called fast search method is used to maximise the motor efficiency. According to this method, the rotor reference flux is decreased in the small steps, until the average of real input power to the motor reaches to a minimum value. In addition, a model reference adaptive system‐based observer is employed for online estimating of the rotor speed. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed control scheme is verified by simulation and experimental results.
Design of a reduced component count single‐phase to three‐phase quasi‐Z‐source converter
Authors: Khosravi Farshad , Ahmad Azli Naziha , Kaykhosravi Avin
Published: August 2013

This study proposes a cost‐effective four‐switch single‐phase to three‐phase converter with an improved space vector pulse width modulation method. This structure employs the quasi‐Z‐source (QZs) topology that can be utilised in induction motor drive applications. Compared with conventional four‐switch structures, buck–boost operation is a unique property of this configuration. This four‐switch QZs structure decreases the switching losses, load current total harmonic distortion and cost in comparison with traditional six‐switch structures. Without using any extra filtering circuits, the applied modulation method can work well to reject the influence of DC‐link voltage ripples on the converter voltage, which can be accomplished by either power supply or voltage variations in the four‐switch structure. The closed‐loop modulation strategy recognises via sensing any unbalanced voltage that occurs across two split capacitors, and by applying the changes in the vector's activation interval time, the three‐phase output voltage can be balanced. The simulation and experimental results of the suggested converter with the improved modulation method have demonstrated the converter's performance and the potential of the structure to be further developed.
Case Study of a Spinal Epidural Capillary Hemangioma: A 4-Year Postoperative Follow-Up
Authors: Seferi Arsen , Alimehmeti Ridvan , Vyshka Gentian , Bushati Teona , Petrela Mentor
Published: August 2013

Study Design

Case study.

Objectives

We report the case of a 58-year-old Caucasian man, who presented with a 4-month history of increasing low back pain and gait difficulty. Objective neurologic examination revealed a severe paraparetic symptomatology without any sphincter involvement.

Methods

Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an extradural mass formation situated dorsally at the level of thoracic vertebrae T2 to T4.

Results

A laminectomy was performed with total removal of the mass; histology suggested a highly vascularized lesion with lobular architecture, which seems a very rare case, compatible with a capillary hemangioma.

Conclusions

A careful follow-up for the next 4 years, including control MRIs every postoperative year, showed a very good neurologic condition of the patient and no recurrence on imaging findings.
Insulin responsiveness of glucose transporter 4 in 3T3-L1 cells depends on the presence of sortilin
Authors: Huang Guanrong , Buckler-Pena Dana , Nauta Tessa , Singh Maneet , Asmar Agnes , Shi Jun , Kim Ju Youn , Kandror Konstantin V.
Published: August 2013

Insulin-dependent translocation of glucose transporter 4 (Glut4) to the plasma membrane of fat and skeletal muscle cells plays the key role in postprandial clearance of blood glucose. Glut4 represents the major cell-specific component of the insulin-responsive vesicles (IRVs). It is not clear, however, whether the presence of Glut4 in the IRVs is essential for their ability to respond to insulin stimulation. We prepared two lines of 3T3-L1 cells with low and high expression of myc7-Glut4 and studied its translocation to the plasma membrane upon insulin stimulation, using fluorescence-assisted cell sorting and cell surface biotinylation. In undifferentiated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, translocation of myc7-Glut4 was low regardless of its expression levels. Coexpression of sortilin increased targeting of myc7-Glut4 to the IRVs, and its insulin responsiveness rose to the maximal levels observed in fully differentiated adipocytes. Sortilin ectopically expressed in undifferentiated cells was translocated to the plasma membrane regardless of the presence or absence of myc7-Glut4. AS160/TBC1D4 is expressed at low levels in preadipocytes but is induced in differentiation and provides an additional mechanism for the intracellular retention and insulin-stimulated release of Glut4.
Prevalence and Incidence of Sunflower Downy Mildew in North Dakota Between 2001 and 2011
Authors: Gulya Thomas , Kandel Hans , McMullen Marcia , Knodel Janet , Berglund Duane , Mathew Febina , Lamey H. Arthur , Markell Samuel
Published: August 2013

Sunflower downy mildew, caused by Plasmopara halstedii, can be an economic problem in North Dakota, where approximately half of the United States sunflower crop is grown. Prevalence and incidence of downy mildew in North Dakota was assessed in mid-season and late-season surveys annually from 2001 to 2011. In aggregate, 2,772 fields were evaluated. Downy mildew levels fluctuated annually, and no clear connection between statewide rainfall or management tools available to growers could be made. Surveys at mid season enabled a two-fold higher detection in prevalence and incidence of downy mildew than in late-season surveys due to the disappearance of early infected plants by end of season. Both surveys identified years with relatively higher levels of downy mildew but were inconsistent when lower levels of the pathogen were recorded. The results of this study suggest that mid-season assessment of downy mildew more accurately estimates disease pressure than late-season assessment.

Accepted for publication 3 February 2013. Published 22 May 2013.
Emergence of Single Point Mutation in PvCesA3, Conferring Resistance to CAA Fungicides, in Plasmopara viticola Populations in Japan
Authors: Aoki Yoshinao , Hashimoto Maki , Suzuki Shunji
Published: August 2013

As far as we know, there is no report of fungicide-resistant Plasmopara viticola in Japan. In the present study, we detected a single point mutation in the PvCesA3 of P. viticola sampled from a Japanese vineyard, which conferred resistance to mandipropamid. The emergence of the mandipropamid-resistant PvCesA3 allele may lead to the spread of mandipropamid-resistant P. viticola in vineyards all over Japan in the near future.

Accepted for publication 23 April 2012. Published 29 July 2013.
Prostacyclin Regulates Spinal Nociceptive Processing through Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate–induced Translocation of Glutamate Receptors
Authors: Schuh Claus Dieter , Brenneis Christian , Zhang Dong Dong , Angioni Carlo , Schreiber Yannick , Ferreiros-Bouzas Nerea , Pierre Sandra , Henke Marina , Linke Bona , Nüsing Rolf , Scholich Klaus , Geisslinger Gerd
Published: August 2013

Background:

Prostacyclin (PGI2) is known to be an important mediator of peripheral pain sensation (nociception) whereas little is known about its role in central sensitization.

Methods:

The levels of the stable PGI2-metabolite 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) and of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured in the dorsal horn with the use of mass spectrometry after peripheral inflammation. Expression of the prostanoid receptors was determined by immunohistology. Effects of prostacyclin receptor (IP) activation on spinal neurons were investigated with biochemical assays (cyclic adenosine monophosphate-, glutamate release-measurement, Western blot analysis) in embryonic cultures and adult spinal cord. The specific IP antagonist Cay10441 was applied intrathecally after zymosan-induced mechanical hyperalgesia in vivo.

Results:

Peripheral inflammation caused a significant increase of the stable PGI2 metabolite 6-keto-PGF1α in the dorsal horn of wild-type mice (n = 5). IP was located on spinal neurons and did not colocalize with the prostaglandin E2 receptors EP2 or EP4. The selective IP-agonist cicaprost increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate synthesis in spinal cultures from wild-type but not from IP-deficient mice (n = 5–10). The combination of fluorescence-resonance–energy transfer–based cyclic adenosine monophosphate imaging and calcium imaging showed a cicaprost-induced cyclic adenosine monophosphate synthesis in spinal cord neurons (n = 5–6). Fittingly, IP activation increased glutamate release from acute spinal cord sections of adult mice (n = 13–58). Cicaprost, but not agonists for EP2 and EP4, induced protein kinase A–dependent phosphorylation of the GluR1 subunit and its translocation to the membrane. Accordingly, intrathecal administration of the IP receptor antagonist Cay10441 had an antinociceptive effect (n = 8–11).

Conclusion:

Spinal prostacyclin synthesis during early inflammation causes the recruitment of GluR1 receptors to membrane fractions, thereby augmenting the onset of central sensitization.