bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Operational hydrological data assimilation with the recursive ensemble Kalman filter
Authors: McMillan H. K. , Hreinsson E. Ö. , Clark M. P. , Singh S. K. , Zammit C. , Uddstrom M. J.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. This paper describes the design and use of a recursive ensemble Kalman filter (REnKF) to assimilate streamflow data in an operational flow forecasting system of seven catchments in New Zealand. The REnKF iteratively updates past and present model states (soil water, aquifer and surface storages), with lags up to the concentration time of the catchment, to improve model initial conditions and hence flow forecasts. We found the REnKF overcame instabilities in the standard EnKF, which were associated with the natural lag time between upstream catchment wetness and flow at the gauging locations. The forecast system performance was correspondingly improved in terms of Nash–Sutcliffe score, persistence index and bounding of the measured flow by the model ensemble. We present descriptions of filter design parameters and explanations and examples of filter behaviour, as an information source for other groups wishing to assimilate discharge observations for operational forecasting.
Variation in turbidity with precipitation and flow in a regulated river system – River Göta Älv, SW Sweden
Authors: Göransson G. , Larson M. , Bendz D.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. The turbidity variation in time and space is investigated in the downstream stretch of the river Göta Älv in Sweden. The river is heavily regulated and carries the discharge from the largest fresh water lake in Sweden, lake Vänern, to the outflow point in Göteborg Harbour on the Swedish west coast. The river is an important waterway and serves as fresh-water supply for 700 000 users. Turbidity is utilised as an indicator to ensure sufficient quality of the intake water to the treatment plant. The overall objective of the study was to investigate the influence of rainfall, surface runoff, and river water flow on the temporal and spatial variability of the turbidity in the regulated river system by employing statistical analysis of an extensive data set. Six-year long time series of daily mean values on precipitation, discharge, and turbidity from six stations along the river were examined primarily through linear correlation and regression analysis, combined with nonparametric tests and analysis of variance. The analyses were performed on annual, monthly, and daily basis, establishing temporal patterns and dependences, including seasonal changes, impacts from extreme events, influences from tributaries, and the spatial variation along the river. The results showed that there is no simple relationship between discharge, precipitation, and turbidity, mainly due to the complexity of the runoff process, the regulation of the river, and the effects of lake Vänern and its large catchment area. For the river Göta Älv, significant, positive correlations between turbidity, discharge, and precipitation could only be found during periods with high flow combined with heavy rainfall. Local precipitation does not seem to have any significant impact on the discharge in the main river, which is primarily governed by the precipitation at catchment scale. The discharge from the lake Vänern determines the base level for the turbidity in the river, whereas local surface runoff and tributary discharge induced by rainfall govern the temporal variability in turbidity. Autocorrelation analysis indicates a temporal persistence in turbidity of about 10 days. The results also show that erosion in the main river, from the river bed and banks, is not a dominant contributor to the suspended sediment transport in the river. Further studies on the correlation between turbidity and suspended sediment transport and in relation to erosion processes are suggested.
Stress distribution and seismicity patterns of the 2011 seismic swarm in the Messinia basin, (South-Western Peloponnesus), Greece
Authors: Chouliaras G. , Drakatos G. , Pavlou K. , Makropoulos K.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. In this investigation we examine the local stress field and the seismicity patterns associated with the 2011–2012 seismicity swarm in the Messinia basin, south-western Peloponnesus, Greece, using the seismological data of the National Observatory of Athens (NOA). During this swarm more than 2000 events were recorded in a 12 month period by the Hellenic Unified Seismological Network (HUSN) and also by the additional local installation of four portable broadband seismographic stations by NOA. The results indicate a Gaussian distribution of swarm activity and the development of a seismicity cluster in a pre-existing seismic gap within the Messinia basin. Centroid Moment Tensor solutions demonstrate a normal fault trending northwest–southeast and dipping to the southwest primarily due to an extensional stress field. During this seismicity swarm an epicentre migration of the three largest shocks is observed, from one end of the rupture zone in the north-western part of the cluster, towards the other edge of the rupture in the south-eastern part of the cluster. This migration is found to follow the Coulomb failure criterion that predicts the advancement and retardation of the stress field and the patterns of increases and decreases of the seismicity rate (b-value) of the frequency–magnitude relation.
Reference Analysis in a Misclassification Model for the Meiosis I Nondisjunction Fraction in Trisomies
Authors: Loschi Rosangela H. , Mayrink Vinicius D.
Published: January 2013

The determination of the meiosis I nondisjunction fraction plays an important role in identifying the characteristics of affected individuals and their mothers, which can generate aneuploidies. The number of individuals with one, two, and three peaks pattern is used to obtain the information; however, the data are susceptible to misclassification. We review the misclassification model previously introduced in the literature which considers a common misclassification error. This paper aims to introduce a joint prior distribution for the meiosis I nondisjunction fraction and the misclassification error. We prove that the reference prior is a proper distribution. We analyze a Brazilian Down syndrome dataset and compare the results with those obtained through Bayes-Laplace and beta prior distributions.
Jump Processes in the Market for Crude Oil
Authors: Wilmot Neil A. , Mason Charles F.
Published: January 2013

In many commodity markets, the arrival of new information leads to unexpectedly rapid changes—or jumps—in commodity prices. Such arrivals suggest the assumption that log-return relatives are normally distributed may not hold. Combined with time-varying volatility, the possibility of jumps offers a potential explanation for fat tails in oil price returns. This article investigates the potential presence of jumps and time-varying volatility in the spot price of crude oil and in futures prices. The investigation is carried out over three data frequencies (Monthly, Weekly, Daily j, which allows for an investigation of temporal properties. Employing likelihood ratio tests to compare among four stochastic data-generating processes, we find that that allowing for both jumps and time-varying volatility improves the model’s ability to explain spot prices at each level of temporal aggregation; this combination also provides a statistically compelling improvement in model fit for futures prices at the Daily and Weekly level. At the monthly level, allowing for jumps does not provide a statistically significant increase in model fit after incorporating time-varying volatility into the model.
Dead Battery? Wind Power, the Spot Market, and Hydropower Interaction in the Nordic Electricity Market
Authors: Mauritzen Johannes
Published: January 2013

It is well established within both the economics and power system engineering literature that hydropower can act as a complement to large amounts of intermittent energy. In particular hydropower can act as a “battery” where large amounts of wind power are installed. In this paper I use simple distributed lag models with data from Denmark and Norway. I find that increased wind power in Denmark causes increased marginal exports to Norway and that this effect is larger during periods of net exports when it is difficult to displace local production. Increased wind power can also be shown to slightly reduce prices in southern Norway in the short-run. Finally, I estimate that as much as 40 percent of wind power produced in Denmark is stored in Norwegian hydropower magazines. Keywords: Wind Power, Hydropower, Nordic Electricity Market, Empirical, Time Series

http://dx.doi.org/10.5547/01956574.34.1.5
Formation and Structure of [(CO)4Mo(Et4Sb2)]2
Authors: Breunig Hans Joachim , Lork Enno , Moldovan Ovidiu , Raţ Ciprian Ionuţ
Published: January 2013

The formation and the structure of [(CO)4Mo(Et4Sb2)]2 (1) and of a complex with distibane and distibane oxide ligands (2) are reported.
Hydrogen Insertion Effects on the Electronic Structure of Equiatomic MgNi Traced by ab initio Calculations
Authors: Matar Samir F. , Al Alam Adel F. , Ouaini Naim
Published: January 2013

For equiatomic MgNi which can be hydrogenated up to the composition MgNiH1.6 at an absorption/ desorption temperature of 200 °C, the effects of hydrogen absorption are approached with the model structures MgNiH, MgNiH2 and MgNiH3. From full geometry optimization and calculated cohesive energies obtained within DFT, the MgNiH2 composition close to the experimental limit is identified as most stable. Charge density analysis shows an increasingly covalent character of hydrogen: MgNiH (H-0.67) → MgNiH2 (H-0.63) ! MgNiH3 (H-0.55). While Mg-Ni bonding prevails in MgNi and hydrogenated model phases, extra itinerant low-energy Ni states appear when hydrogen is introduced signaling Ni-H bonding which prevails over Mg-H as evidenced from total energy calculations and chemical bonding analyses.
SrCo2Sn8 and BaCo2Sn8: Tin-rich Stannides with Distorted SnSn6 Octahedra within Three-dimensional [Co2Sn8] Networks
Authors: Schwickert Christian , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: January 2013

The tin-rich stannides SrCo2Sn8 and BaCo2Sn8 were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum tubes. They crystallize with a new structure type, space group Cccm with a=1006.0(3), b=1514.4(6), c=1385.0(6) pm for SrCo2Sn8 and a=1032.8(2), b=1516.8(3), c=1405.1(3) pm for BaCo2Sn8. The structure of the barium compound was refined on the basis of single-crystal Xray diffractometer data: wR2=0.0450, 1715 F2 values, 57 variables. The cobalt atoms have seven nearest tin neighbors with Co-Sn distances ranging from 257 to 273 pm. These CoSn7 units are condensed via common rectangular faces to [Co2Sn10] double units which build up a covalently bonded three-dimensional network through Sn-Co-Sn bridges. Larger voids left by this network are filled by the barium and the Sn2 atoms. The latter have distorted octahedral tin coordination with Sn2- Sn distances of 311 - 315 pm. The barium atoms have 13 nearest tin neighbors (352 - 399 pm Ba-Sn). Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility data of BaCo2Sn8 show Pauli paramagnetism.
The Stannides RE2Ni2Sn (RE = Pr, Ho, Er, Tm) – Structural Transition from the W2B2Co to the Mo2B2Fe Type as a Function of the Rare Earth Size
Authors: Heying Birgit , Rodewald Ute Ch. , Chevalier Bernard
Published: January 2013

The stannides RE2Ni2Sn (RE=Pr, Ho, Er, Tm) were synthesized by arc-melting of the elements and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction. Pr2Ni2Sn crystallizes with the orthorhombic W2B2Co-type structure, Immm, a=443.8(1), b=572.1(1), c=855.1(2) pm, wR2=0.0693, 293 F2 values, 13 variables. A structural transition to the tetragonal Mo2B2Fe type occurs for the heavier rare earth elements. The structures of Ho2Ni2Sn (a=729.26(9), c=366.66(7) pm, wR2=0.0504, 250 F2 values, 12 variables), Er2Ni2Sn (a=727.2(2), c=364.3(1) pm, wR2=0.0397, 262 F2 values, 12 variables), and Tm2Ni2Sn (a=725.2(1), c=362.8(1) pm, wR2=0.0545, 258 F2 values, 12 variables) were refined from single-crystal diffractometer data. The switch in structure type is driven by the size of the rare earth element. The [Ni2Sn] substructures are composed of Ni2Sn2 squares and Ni4Sn2 hexagons in Pr2Ni2Sn, and of Ni3Sn2 pentagons in Er2Ni2Sn. The Ni4Sn2 hexagons and Ni3Sn2 pentagons exhibit Ni2 pairs with Ni-Ni distances of 247 pm in Pr2Ni2Sn, and of 250 pm in Er2Ni2Sn.
C-Space Compression for Robots Motion Planning
Authors: Medina Oded , Taitz Ariel , Moshe Boaz Ben , Shvalb Nir
Published: January 2013

Exact motion planning for hyper-redundant robots under complex constraints is computationally intractable. This paper does not deal with the optimization of motion planning algorithms, but rather with the simplification of the configuration space presented to the algorithms. We aim to reduce the configuration space so that the robot's embedded motion planning system will be able to store and access an otherwise immense data file. We use a n-DCT compression algorithm together with a Genetic based compression algorithm, in order to reduce the complexity of motion planning computations and reduce the need for memory. We exemplify our algorithm on a hyper-redundant worm-like climbing robot with six degrees of freedom (DOF).
Key Object Discovery and Tracking Based on Context-Aware Saliency
Authors: Zhang Geng , Yuan Zejian , Zheng Nanning
Published: January 2013

In this paper, we propose an online key object discovery and tracking system based on visual saliency. We formulate the problem as a temporally consistent binary labelling task on a conditional random field and solve it by using a particle filter. We also propose a context-aware saliency measurement, which can be used to improve the accuracy of any static or dynamic saliency maps. Our refined saliency maps provide clearer indications as to where the key object lies. Based on good saliency cues, we can further segment the key object inside the resulting bounding box, considering the spatial and temporal context. We tested our system extensively on different video clips. The results show that our method has significantly improved the saliency maps and tracks the key object accurately.
Visual Appearance-Based Unmanned Vehicle Sequential Localization
Authors: Liu Wei , Zheng Nanning , Xue Jianru , Zhang Xuetao , Yuan Zejian
Published: January 2013

Localizationis of vital importance for an unmanned vehicle to drive on the road. Most of the existing algorithms are based on laser range finders, inertial equipment, artificial landmarks, distributing sensors or global positioning system(GPS) information. Currently, the problem of localization with vision information is most concerned. However, vision-based localization techniquesare still unavailable for practical applications. In this paper, we present a vision-based sequential probability localization method. This method uses the surface information of the roadside to locate the vehicle, especially in the situation where GPS information is unavailable. It is composed of two step, first, in a recording stage, we construct a ground truthmap with the appearance of the roadside environment. Then in an on-line stage, we use a sequential matching approach to localize the vehicle. In the experiment, we use two independent cameras to observe the environment, one is left-orientated and the other is right. SIFT features and Daisy features are used to represent for the visual appearance of the environment. The experiment results show that the proposed method could locate the vehicle in a complicated, large environment with high reliability.
Service Robot SCORPIO with Robust Speech Interface
Authors: Ondas Stanislav , Juhar Jozef , Pleva Matus , Cizmar Anton , Holcer Roland
Published: January 2013

The SCORPIO is a small-size mini-teleoperator mobile service robot for booby-trap disposal. It can be manually controlled by an operator through a portable briefcase remote control device using joystick, keyboard and buttons. In this paper, the speech interface is described. As an auxiliary function, the remote interface allows a human operator to concentrate sight and/or hands on other operation activities that are more important. The developed speech interface is based on HMM-based acoustic models trained using the SpeechDatE-SK database, a small-vocabulary language model based on fixed connected words, grammar, and the speech recognition setup adapted for low-resource devices. To improve the robustness of the speech interface in an outdoor environment, which is the working area of the SCORPIO service robot, a speech enhancement based on the spectral subtraction method, as well as a unique combination of an iterative approach and a modified LIMA framework, were researched, developed and tested on simulated and real outdoor recordings.
Robust Backstepping Control Based on a Lyapunov Redesign for Skid-Steered Wheeled Mobile Robots
Authors: Hwang Eun-Ju , Kang Hyo-Seok , Hyun Chang-Ho , Park Mignon
Published: January 2013

This paper represents a robust backstepping tracking control based on a Lyapunov redesign for Skid-Steered Wheeled Mobile Robots (WMRs). We present kinematic and dynamic models that explicitly relate the perturbations to the skidding in order to improve the tracking performance during real running. A robust controller is synthesized in the backstepping approach and the Lyapunov redesign technique, which forces the error dynamics to stabilize to the reference trajectories. We design an additional feedback control - a Lyapunov redesign - such that the overall control stabilizes the actual system in the presence of uncertainty and perturbation with the knowledge of the Lyapunov function. Simulation results are provided to validate and analyse the performance and stability of the proposed controller.
Second Order Sliding Mode-Based Output Feedback Tracking Control for Uncertain Robot Manipulators
Authors: Van Mien , Kang Hee-Jun , Suh Young-Soo
Published: January 2013

In this paper, a robust output feedback tracking control scheme for motion control of uncertain robot manipulators without joint velocity measurement based on a second-order sliding mode (SOSM) observer is presented. Two second-order sliding mode observers with finite time convergence are developed for velocity estimation and uncertainty identification, respectively. The first SOSM observer is used to estimate the state vector in finite time without filtration. However, for uncertainty identification, the values are constructed from the high switching frequencies, necessitating the application of a filter. To estimate the uncertainties without filtration, a second SOSM-based nonlinear observer is designed. By integrating two SOSM observers, the resulting observer can theoretically obtain exact estimations of both velocity and uncertainty. An output feedback tracking control scheme is then designed based on the observed values of the state variables and the direct compensation of matched modelling uncertainty using their identified values. Finally, results of a simulation for a PUMA560 robot are shown to verify the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Chattering-Free Neuro-Sliding Mode Control of 2-DOF Planar Parallel Manipulators
Authors: Le Tien Dung , Kang Hee-Jun , Suh Young-Soo
Published: January 2013

This paper proposes a novel chattering free neuro-sliding mode controller for the trajectory tracking control of two degrees of freedom (DOF) parallel manipulators which have a complicated dynamic model, including modelling uncertainties, frictional uncertainties and external disturbances. A feedforward neural network (NN) is combined with an error estimator to completely compensate the large nonlinear uncertainties and external disturbances of the parallel manipulators. The online weight tuning algorithms of the NN and the structure of the error estimator are derived with the strict theoretical stability proof of the Lyapunov theorem. The upper bound of uncertainties and the upper bound of the approximation errors are not required to be known in advance in order to guarantee the stability of the closed-loop system. The example simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy for the tracking control of a 2-DOF parallel manipulator. It results in its being chattering-free, very small tracking errors and its robustness against uncertainties and external disturbances.
Synthesis and Study of Electrical Properties of Di Ethylene Glycol Embedded ZrO2 Films as a Gas Sensor
Authors: More Pravin Sadashiv , Khollam Y. B. , Gawande S. G.
Published: January 2013

In this paper, the effect of Di ethylene glycol (DEG) embedded zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) on microstructure and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) sensing characteristics of ZrO2 thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis method were investigated. The films are prepared at X wt. % concentrations (X = 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) of DEG. Microstructure of ZrO2 thin film was drastically changed by the addition of DEG, indicating that the addition of DEG was effective to prevent the agglomeration of ZrO2 particles. The high material and phase purities are found from the characterization studies in all as-prepared films. The better sensitivity factor (SF) values SF ~102 (at T = 450C) and SF = 100 (at T = 37oC) are obtained at 1 wt. % and 5 wt. % of DEG respectively. It is observed that the gas sensing characteristics of these films are strongly influenced by the optimum concentration of DEG due to the high surface area of nano-sized ZrO2 particles.
How to Detect Deception in Everyday Life and the Reasons Underlying It
Authors: agosta sara , pezzoli patrizia , sartori giuseppe
Published: January 2013

The autobiographical Implicit Association Test (aIAT) evaluates which of two contrasting autobiographical events is true for an individual on the basis of implicit associations and corresponding reaction times in classifying sentences. In this research, white lies and corresponding reasons to lie were investigated. White lies are social lies. They are widespread in our in our daily lives, in the business world and in the forensic contexts. The ability to deceive is essential for polite interactions and, at times, self‐preservation, but little research was conducted so far on this type of deception. The authors tested the efficiency of the aIAT in identifying a white lie and the real reason for producing a white lie, contrasting each participant's real motivation for lying and a false (faked) one. In both cases, aIAT differentiated truth from white lies and also identified the real reason from the faked one for all 20 participants. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ionic Liquid Confined in Nafion: Toward Molecular‐Level Understanding
Authors: Sun Delin , Zhou Jian
Published: January 2013

In this article, multiscale simulation methods were used to study structural and transport properties of Nafion–ionic liquid composite membranes that are novel proton conducting materials for fuel cells. Coarse‐grained model for 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF4]) ionic liquid was first developed in the framework of BMW‐MARTINI force field. Coarse‐grained simulation results of bulk [bmim][BF4] ionic liquid show good agreement with all‐atom simulation results and experimental data. Nafion–[bmim][BF4] composite membranes were then simulated using all‐atom and coarse‐grained models. Ionic liquid cluster formation inside Nafion was revealed by coarse‐grained simulations. Diffusion coefficients of both [bmim]+ cations and
anions are reduced by one to two orders of magnitude depending on their concentrations in Nafion membrane. [Bmim]+ cations have faster self‐diffusion coefficient than
anions, while this phenomenon is more pronounced when ionic liquids are confined in Nafion. This work provides molecular basis for understanding Nafion–ionic liquid composite membranes. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 2630–2639, 2013
Role of Guest Molecules on the Hydrate Growth at Vapor‐Liquid Interfaces
Authors: Bai Dongsheng , Liu Bei , Chen Guangjin , Zhang Xianren , Wang Wenchuan
Published: January 2013

Systematic molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to illustrate the roles of guest molecules played in the process of hydrate growth at vapor‐liquid interfaces. In our simulations, guest molecules are represented by a commonly used single‐site Lennard–Jones model, and the roles of guest molecules on hydrate growth have been investigated separately from the effect of water–guest molecule attractive interaction ε and that of molecular size σ, respectively. Our simulation results demonstrate that the water‐guest molecule attraction regulates the pathway and rate of nucleus growth, whereas the size of guest molecules determines the dynamically preferable structure. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 2621–2629, 2013
Predicting the Solubility of Solid Phenanthrene: A Combined Molecular Simulation and Group Contribution Approach
Authors: Paluch Andrew S. , Maginn Edward J.
Published: January 2013

A simple correction to the infinite dilution activity coefficient computed via molecular simulation for a nonelectrolyte solid solute in solution is proposed. The methodology adopts the concept that the activity coefficient may be fundamentally interpreted as a product of a residual and combinatorial term. The residual contribution is assumed to be insensitive to concentration, and the combinatorial term is modeled using the athermal Flory–Huggins theory. The proposed method uses only properties for the solute computed at infinite dilution to estimate solution‐phase properties at finite concentrations. Properties of the pure solid solute are estimated using the group contribution method of Gani and coworkers, allowing for efficient blind solubility predictions to be made. The method is applied to predict the solubility of solid phenanthrene in 17 different solvents. For all cases, the combinatorial correction lowers the predicted solubility relative to the infinite dilution approximation, and in general, improves agreement with experiment. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 2647–2661, 2013
Valid Inequalities Based on Demand Propagation for Chemical Production Scheduling MIP Models
Authors: Velez Sara , Sundaramoorthy Arul , Maravelias Christos T.
Published: January 2013

Although several mixed‐integer programming (MIP) models have been proposed for the scheduling of chemical manufacturing facilities, the development of solution methods for these formulations has received limited attention. In this article, we develop a constraint propagation algorithm for the calculation of lower bounds on the number and size of tasks necessary to satisfy given demand. These bounds are then used to express four types of valid inequalities which greatly enhance the computational performance of the MIP scheduling model. Specifically, the addition of these inequalities leads to reductions in the computational requirements of more than three orders of magnitude, thereby allowing us to address medium‐sized problems of industrial relevance. Importantly, the proposed methods are applicable to a wide range of problem classes and time‐indexed MIP models for chemical production scheduling. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59:872‐887, 2013
Mapping of regimes for the key processes in wet granulation: Foam vs. spray
Authors: Tan Melvin X.L. , Hapgood Karen P.
Published: January 2013

The evaluation of foam and spray granulation mechanisms and their performances in achieving uniform liquid distribution in a high‐shear mixer‐granulator is presented. A regime map is presented to describe the granulation mechanisms for the foam and spray systems. Foam and spray granulation are shown to successfully create granules of well‐distributed moisture at the end of wet massing despite there was a deviation from the theoretical moisture content at the end of binder addition. In the wetting and nucleation regime, spray granulation involves drop penetration nucleation outside of the drop‐controlled regime, whereas foam granulation operates favorably in the mechanical dispersion regime. For foam granulation, mechanical dispersion produces more uniform granule‐size distributions below the overwetting limit. Spray granulation exhibits steady granule growth, whereas foam granulation shows induction granule growth followed by rapid granule growth. The regime map provides a basis to customize formulations and compare the different foam and spray granulation mechanisms. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 2328–2338, 2013
Diagnostic outcomes of 27 children referred by pediatricians to a genetics clinic in the Netherlands with suspicion of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Authors: Abdelmalik Nadia , van Haelst Mieke , Mancini Grazia , Schrander‐Stumpel Connie , Marcus‐Soekarman Dominique , Hennekam Raoul , Cobben Jan Maarten
Published: January 2013

The characteristics of fetal acohol spectrum disorders (FASD) constitute a specific facial phenotype, growth failure and neurodevelopmental defects. Reported FASD prevalences vary widely from 0.08 per 1,000 up to 68.0–89.2 per 1,000. We aimed to evaluate to which extent children referred with a suspicion of FASD, indeed have FASD. We included all 27 children referred to our genetic department with a suspicion of FASD between 2005 and 2010. Nineteen children (70.3%) were of non‐Dutch ancestry, and 24 (88.9%) had been adopted. We used both the 4‐Digit Code and the Revised Institute of Medicine criteria. More than half of the children did not meet either criteria for the diagnosis of FASD. Of note, after evaluation 8/27 children appeared not to have confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure. Two children referred for suspicion of FASD (neither of which were exposed to alcohol or met the criteria for FASD) had a pathogenic microstructural chromosomal rearrangement (del16p11.2 of 542 KB and dup1q44 of 915 KB). In 22/24 children (91.7%) there were other factors that may have affected their intellectual abilities, such as familial intellectual disability and social deprivation. We recommend a critical approach towards the diagnosis FASD, and to investigate all patients suspected to have FASD for other causative factors including genetic abnormalities. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Expanding the phenotype associated with 17q12 duplication: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Bierhals Tatjana , Maddukuri Satish Babu , Kutsche Kerstin , Girisha Katta Mohan
Published: January 2013

The routine use of molecular karyotyping in the evaluation of patients with idiopathic developmental delay with/without dysmorphic features, has led to the delineation of several submicroscopic deletion/duplication syndromes. De novo copy number variations are often presumed to be pathogenic and inherited ones from a healthy parent likely to be not relevant for the phenotype. However, it is difficult to draw such a conclusion for an inherited copy number variation not known to be a common variation. We report on a child with developmental delay, seizures, microcephaly, hypotonia, unusual stereotypical movements, and changes in the white matter who inherited a 17q12 tandem duplication of ∼1.4 Mb from his healthy father. Copy number variations in this chromosomal region are thought to be pathogenic and associated with various phenotypes including developmental delay, growth retardation, seizures, renal disease, and diabetes mellitus. We review all reported cases with 17q12 duplication and discuss the novelty of the phenotype in the present case. We also share our thoughts on submicroscopic complexity that may underlie, at least in part, the wide range of phenotypes in patients with 17q12 duplication. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Wide clinical variability in conditions with coarse facial features and hypertrichosis caused by mutations in ABCC9
Authors: Czeschik Johanna Christina , Voigt Claudia , Goecke Timm O. , Lüdecke Hermann‐Josef , Wagner Nicholas , Kuechler Alma , Wieczorek Dagmar
Published: January 2013

We present two previously unreported and unrelated female patients, one with the tentative diagnosis of acromegaloid facial appearance (AFA), the other with the tentative diagnosis of hypertrichosis with acromegaloid facial appearance (HAFF) with or without gingival hyperplasia. Main clinical features of HAFF were generalized hypertrichosis terminalis and coarse facial features. In both patients, pregnancy was complicated by polyhydramnios, and both had hyperbilirubinemia and persistent fetal circulation. Development was normal in one patient and slightly delayed in the other. At 13 years, both had round faces with full cheeks, thick scalp hair and eyebrows, a low frontal hairline, hirsutism, hyperextensible joints and deep palmar creases. One of them additionally showed gingival hypertrophy and epicanthus, the other one was macrocephalic at birth and at the age of 13 years and suffered from repeated swelling of the soft tissue. Array analysis excluded a 17q24.2‐q24.3 microdeletion, which has been reported in patients with hypertrichosis terminalis with or without gingival hyperplasia. Sequencing of the mutational hotspots of the ABCC9 gene revealed two different de novo missense mutations in the two patients. Recently, identical mutations have been found recurrently in patients with Cantú syndrome. Therefore, we propose that ABCC9 mutations lead to a spectrum of phenotypes formerly known as Cantú syndrome, HAFF and AFA, which may not be clearly distinguishable by clinical criteria, and that all patients with clinical signs belonging to this spectrum should be revisited and offered ABCC9 mutation analysis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Social Tolerance in Wild Female Crested Macaques (Macaca nigra) in Tangkoko‐Batuangus Nature Reserve, Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: DUBOSCQ JULIE , MICHELETTA JÉRÔME , AGIL MUHAMMAD , HODGES KEITH , THIERRY BERNARD , ENGELHARDT ANTJE
Published: January 2013

In primates, females typically drive the evolution of the social system and present a wide diversity of social structures. To understand this diversity, it is necessary to document the consistency and/or flexibility of female social structures across and within species, contexts, and environments. Macaques (Macaca sp.) are an ideal taxon for such comparative study, showing both consistency and variation in their social relations. Their social styles, constituting robust sets of social traits, can be classified in four grades, from despotic to tolerant. However, tolerant species are still understudied, especially in the wild. To foster our understanding of tolerant societies and to assess the validity of the concept of social style, we studied female crested macaques, Macaca nigra, under entirely natural conditions. We assessed their degree of social tolerance by analyzing the frequency, intensity, and distribution of agonistic and affiliative behaviors, their dominance gradient, their bared‐teeth display, and their level of conciliatory tendency. We also analyzed previously undocumented behavioral patterns in grade 4 macaques: reaction upon approach and distribution of affiliative behavior across partners. We compared the observed patterns to data from other populations of grade 4 macaques and from species of other grades. Overall, female crested macaques expressed a tolerant social style, with low intensity, frequently bidirectional, and reconciled conflicts. Dominance asymmetry was moderate, associated with an affiliative bared‐teeth display. Females greatly tolerated one another in close proximity. The observed patterns matched the profile of other tolerant macaques and were outside the range of patterns of more despotic species. This study is the first comprehensive analysis of females’ social behavior in a tolerant macaque species under natural conditions and as such, contributes to a better understanding of macaque societies. It also highlights the relevance of the social style concept in the assessment of the degree of tolerance/despotism in social systems. Am. J. Primatol. 75:361‐375, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Microsatellite DNA Suggests that Group Size Affects Sex‐Biased Dispersal Patterns in Red Colobus Monkeys
Authors: MIYAMOTO MICHAEL M. , ALLEN JULIE M. , GOGARTEN JAN F. , CHAPMAN COLIN A.
Published: January 2013

Dispersal is a major life history trait of social organisms influencing the behavioral and genetic structure of their groups. Unfortunately, primate dispersal is difficult to quantify, because of the rarity of these events and our inability to ascertain if individuals dispersed or died when they disappear. Socioecological models have been partially developed to understand the ecological causes of different dispersal systems and their social consequences. However, these models have yielded confusing results when applied to folivores. The folivorous red colobus monkey (Procolobus rufomitratus) in Kibale National Park, Uganda is thought to exhibit female‐biased dispersal, although both sexes have been observed to disperse and there remains considerable debate over the selective pressures favoring the transfers of males and females and the causes of variation in the proportion of each sex to leave the natal group. We circumvent this problem by using microsatellite DNA data to investigate the prediction that female dispersal will be more frequent in larger groups as compared to smaller ones. The rationale for this prediction is that red colobus exhibit increased within‐group competition in bigger groups, which should favor higher female dispersal rates and ultimately lower female relatedness. Genetic data from two unequally sized neighboring groups of red colobus demonstrate increased female relatedness within the smaller group, suggesting females are less likely to disperse when there is less within‐group competition. We suggest that the dispersal system is mediated to some degree by scramble competition and group size. Since red colobus group sizes have increased throughout Kibale by over 50% in the last decade, these changes may have major implications for the genetic structure and ultimately the population viability of this endangered primate. Am. J. Primatol. 75:478‐490, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
N‐acetylcysteine exerts therapeutic action in a rat model of allergic rhinitis
Authors: Guibas George V. , Spandou Evangelia , Meditskou Soultana , Vyzantiadis Timoleon A. , Priftis Kostas N. , Anogianakis George
Published: January 2013

Background

The pathophysiologic mechanism of allergy is dependent on the action of many redox‐sensitive proinflammatory mediators. However, even though redox disturbances are believed to be a hallmark of inflammation, little is known of the effect of redox imbalance to the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis. We thus opted to investigate the relation of oxidative stress and allergic rhinitis, through the utilization of a potent antioxidant substance (N‐acetylcysteine [NAC]) in a rat model of allergic rhinitis and the evaluation of its action on specific markers of inflammation.

Methods

NAC (50 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered to ovalbumin (OVA)‐sensitized rats prior to intranasal challenge with OVA. Mucosal congregation of inflammatory cells (eosinophils and mast cells), mucosal expression of redox‐sensitive enzymes (inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS] and cyclooxygenase 2 [COX‐2]), and the blood levels of a key proinflammatory mediator (tumor necrosis factor‐α [TNF‐α]) were evaluated.

Results

Intranasal OVA challenges lead to mucosal inflammation, induction of the mucosal expression of iNOS and COX‐2 and elevation of TNF‐α blood levels. NAC significantly inhibited accumulation of inflammatory cells and downregulated iNOS expression and TNF‐α serum levels. The role of COX‐2 appeared to be 2‐fold and its expression was divergently modulated by NAC.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that redox balance is involved in the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis in rats and that NAC can potentially suppress the allergen‐induced nasal inflammatory cascade. The investigation of the role of oxidative stress in atopy could help in the evaluation of the therapeutic potential of antioxidant substances in allergic diseases.
Nanostrukturierte Elektroden für Hochleistungs‐Pseudokondensatoren
Authors: Lu Qi , Chen Jingguang G. , Xiao John Q
Published: January 2013

Der Rückgang der klassischen Energieressourcen und der Wunsch nach Reduktion des hohen CO2‐Ausstoßes bei der Energieproduktion sind Gründe dafür, dass die Frage nach der Energiespeicherung einen immer höheren Stellenwert einnimmt. Energiespeichersysteme wie Superkondensatoren oder Batterien benötigen jedoch dringend neue funktionale Elektrodenmaterialen, um den immer weiter steigenden Bedarf an höherer Energie‐ und Leistungsdichte zu decken. Diese Herausforderungen können nur mithilfe der Nanotechnologie bewältigt werden. So müssen Synthesewege für Nanomaterialien mit verbesserten Eigenschaften gefunden werden. In diesem Kurzaufsatz erörtern wir Entwicklungen bei nanostrukturierten Elektroden für Pseudokondensatoren und fassen die drei wichtigsten Parameter zusammen, die für die Leistungsfähigkeit des Elektrodenmaterials entscheidend sind. Zusätzlich stellen wir eine Technik vor, wie diese Parameter für hohe Energie‐ und Leistungsdichten gleichzeitig optimiert werden können.
Stark fluoreszierende halbleitende Polymerpunkte für Biologie und Medizin
Authors: Wu Changfeng , Chiu Daniel T.
Published: January 2013

In den letzten Jahren haben halbleitende Polymernanopartikel beträchtliches Interesse geweckt, und zwar aufgrund ihrer herausragenden Eigenschaften als Fluoreszenzsonden. Diese Nanopartikel, die vorwiegend aus π‐konjugierten Polymeren bestehen und Polymerpunkte (P‐Punkte) genannt werden, wenn sie eine kleine Partikelgröße und eine hohe Helligkeit aufweisen, wurden für eine ganze Reihe verschiedener Anwendungen vorgestellt, darunter auch Fluoreszenzbildgebung und Biosensorik. Dieser Aufsatz gibt einen Überblick über kürzlich erzielte Ergebnisse hinsichtlich der photophysikalischen Eigenschaften von P‐Punkten, die die Vorzüge dieser Substanzklasse als Fluoreszenzmarker unterstreichen. Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt liegt auf der Oberflächenfunktionalisierung und der biomolekularen Konjugation der P‐Punkte sowie deren Anwendungen für die Zellmarkierung, In‐vivo‐Bildgebung, Einzelpartikelverfolgung, Biosensorik und den Wirkstofftransport.
The biodiversity value of marine protected areas for multi‐species fishery management in the Gulf of Maine
Authors: Cook Rosamonde R. , Auster Peter J.
Published: January 2013

This work examined the potential for marine protected areas based on the efficient design of essential fish habitat (EFH) for juvenile life stages of economically important demersal fish species to represent non‐exploited demersal fish species in the Gulf of Maine.

Distribution and abundance data from research trawl surveys conducted from 1963–2000 were pooled into a 10‐min lat/long square sampling grid and density per square of each species was calculated as the mean of counts from all surveys.

A simulated annealing algorithm (Marxan) was used to identify minimum sets of 10‐min squares that represented at least 10–30% of the regional abundance of each species under constraints for degree of spatial aggregation among sites. Numbers of non‐exploited species in these sites, and species represented at abundance levels equal to or greater than the targets set for juveniles of economically important species were identified, and both were compared with mean totals from 100 sets of randomly drawn squares of equivalent number to simulation results.

Percentages of non‐exploited species among all scenarios varied from 81–97%. All species absent from simulation results were rare regionally. Species richness was lower in each case compared with randomly drawn squares, but only marginally. However, more species were represented in complementary sites at abundance levels equal to or greater than the targets set for economically important species.

These results were interpreted with respect to a definition of biodiversity that includes species as well as functional and structural ecosystem components, and it was concluded that the dual objectives of fishery management and biodiversity conservation can be achieved, at least in some cases, within a single network of marine protected areas of moderate size.

Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The ripple effect: Citation chain reactions of a nobel prize
Authors: Frandsen Tove Faber , Nicolaisen Jeppe
Published: January 2013

This paper explores the possible citation chain reactions of a Nobel Prize using the mathematician Robert J. Aumann as a case example. The results show that the award of the Nobel Prize in 2005 affected not only the citations to his work, but also affected the citations to the references in his scientific oeuvre. The results indicate that the spillover effect is almost as powerful as the effect itself. We are consequently able to document a ripple effect in which the awarding of the Nobel Prize ignites a citation chain reaction to Aumann's scientific ouvre and to the references in its nearest citation network. The effect is discussed using innovation decision process theory as a point of departure to identify the factors that created a bandwagon effect leading to the reported observations.
Tuning Optical Properties of Si Quantum Dots by π‐Conjugated Capping Molecules
Authors: Dung Mai Xuan , Tung Dao Duy , Jeong Sohee , Jeong Hyun‐Dam
Published: January 2013

The absorption and photoluminescence (PL) properties of silicon quantum dots (QDs) are greatly influenced by their size and surface chemistry. Herein, we examined the optical properties of three Si QDs with increasing σ–π conjugation length: octyl‐, (trimethylsilyl)vinyl‐, and 2‐phenylvinyl‐capped Si QDs. The PL photon energy obtained from as‐prepared samples decreased by 0.1–0.3 eV, while the PL excitation (PLE) extended from 360 nm (octyl‐capped Si QDs) to 400 nm (2‐phenylvinyl‐capped Si QDs). A vibrational PL feature was observed in all samples with an energy separation of about 0.192±0.013 eV, which was explained based on electron–phonon coupling. After soft oxidization through drying, all samples showed blue PL with maxima at approximately 410 nm. A similar high‐energy peak was observed with the bare Si QD sample. The changes in the optical properties of Si QDs were mainly explained by the formation of additional states arising from the strong σ–π conjugation and QD oxidation.
Compensation for Periodic Star Sensor Measurement Error on Satellite
Authors: Xiong Kai , Liu Liangdong
Published: January 2013

A novel method based on the least squares estimation and the augmented Kalman filter (KF) is proposed to identify and compensate for the star sensor measurement error due to the periodic star sensor alignment change. For the satellite attitude determination system, the periodic star sensor measurement error causes periodic variations in the gyroscope bias estimate. Thus, the gyroscope bias estimate is adopted as an indicator for the identification of the periodic star sensor measurement error. The high performance of the proposed method is illustrated through numerical simulations with the use of the real gyroscope data. It is shown that the proposed method is effective.