bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of electric vehicles in smart grids
Authors: Galus Matthias D. , Vayá Marina González , Krause Thilo , Andersson Göran
Published: October 2012

The electrification of transportation is seen as one of the solutions to challenges such as global warming, sustainability, and geopolitical concerns on the availability of oil. From the perspective of power systems, an introduction of plug‐in electric vehicles presents many challenges but also opportunities to the operation and planning of power systems. On the one hand, if vehicles are considered regular loads without flexibility, uncontrolled charging can lead to problems at different network levels endangering secure operation of installed assets. However, with direct or indirect control approaches the charging of vehicles can be managed in a desirable way, e.g., shifted to low‐load hours. Furthermore, vehicles can be used as distributed storage resources to contribute to ancillary services for the system, such as frequency regulation and peak‐shaving power or help integrate fluctuating renewable resources. All these modes of operation need appropriate regulatory frameworks and market design if the flexibility of the vehicles is to be capitalized. In most of the proposed approaches, a so‐called aggregator could be in charge of directly or indirectly controlling the charging of vehicles and serve as an interface with other entities such as the transmission system operator or energy service providers. However, fully decentralized schemes without an aggregator are also conceivable, for instance, to provide primary frequency control. Communication also plays a key role, as in most of the control schemes a significant amount of information needs to be transmitted between vehicles and control entities. The management of electric vehicles as distributed resources fits well in the paradigm of smart grids, where an advanced use of communication technologies and metering infrastructure, increased controllability and load flexibility, and a larger share of fluctuating and distributed resources are foreseen.

This article is categorized under:

Energy Infrastructure > Economics and Policy

Energy Systems Economics > Systems and Infrastructure

Energy Systems Analysis > Systems and Infrastructure
Single-valued harmonic polylogarithms and the multi-Regge limit
Authors: Dixon Lance J. , Duhr Claude , Pennington Jeffrey
Published: October 2012

Abstract

We argue that the natural functions for describing the multi-Regge limit of six-gluon scattering in planar
$ \mathcal{N}=4 $
super Yang-Mills theory are the single-valued harmonic polylogarithmic functions introduced by Brown. These functions depend on a single complex variable and its conjugate, (w, w
∗). Using these functions, and formulas due to Fadin, Lipatov and Prygarin, we determine the six-gluon MHV remainder function in the leading-logarithmic approximation (LLA) in this limit through ten loops, and the next-to-LLA (NLLA) terms through nine loops. In separate work, we have determined the symbol of the four-loop remainder function for general kinematics, up to 113 constants. Taking its multi-Regge limit and matching to our four-loop LLA and NLLA results, we fix all but one of the constants that survive in this limit. The multi-Regge limit factorizes in the variables (ν, n) which are related to (w, w
∗) by a Fourier-Mellin transform. We can transform the single-valued harmonic polylogarithms to functions of (ν, n) that incorporate harmonic sums, systematically through transcendental weight six. Combining this information with the four-loop results, we determine the eigenvalues of the BFKL kernel in the adjoint representation to NNLLA accuracy, and the MHV product of impact factors to N3LLA accuracy, up to constants representing beyond-the-symbol terms and the one symbol-level constant. Remarkably, only derivatives of the polygamma function enter these results. Finally, the LLA approximation to the six-gluon NMHV amplitude is evaluated through ten loops.
Voisin-Borcea manifolds and heterotic orbifold models
Authors: Buchmuller W. , Louis J. , Schmidt J. , Valandro R.
Published: October 2012

Abstract

We study the relation between a heterotic
${T^6 \left/ {{{{\mathbb{Z}}_6}}} \right.}$
orbifold model and a compactification on a smooth Voisin-Borcea Calabi-Yau three-fold with non-trivial line bundles. This orbifold can be seen as a
${{\mathbb{Z}}_2}$
quotient of
${T^4 \left/ {{{{\mathbb{Z}}_3}}} \right.}\times {T^2}$
. We consider a two-step resolution, whose intermediate step is
$\left( {K3\times {T^2}} \right){{\mathbb{Z}}_2}$
. This allows us to identify the massless twisted states which correspond to the geometric Kähler and complex structure moduli. We work out the match of the two models when non-zero expectation values are given to all twisted geometric moduli. We find that even though the orbifold gauge group contains an SO(10) factor, a possible GUT group, the subgroup after higgsing does not even include the standard model gauge group. Moreover, after higgsing, the massless spectrum is non-chiral under the surviving gauge group.
Vacuum Evaporation of Pure Metals
Authors: Safarian Jafar , Engh Thorvald A.
Published: October 2012

Theories on the evaporation of pure substances are reviewed and applied to study vacuum evaporation of pure metals. It is shown that there is good agreement between different theories for weak evaporation, whereas there are differences under intensive evaporation conditions. For weak evaporation, the evaporation coefficient in Hertz-Knudsen equation is 1.66. Vapor velocity as a function of the pressure is calculated applying several theories. If a condensing surface is less than one collision length from the evaporating surface, the Hertz-Knudsen equation applies. For a case where the condensing surface is not close to the evaporating surface, a pressure criterion for intensive evaporation is introduced, called the effective vacuum pressure, p
eff. It is a fraction of the vapor pressure of the pure metal. The vacuum evaporation rate should not be affected by pressure changes below p
eff, so that in lower pressures below p
eff, the evaporation flux is constant and equal to a fraction of the maximum evaporation flux given by Hertz-Knudsen equation as 0.844
$$ \dot{n}_{\hbox{Max} } $$
. Experimental data on the evaporation of liquid and solid metals are included.
Palmitoleic (16:1 cis‐9) and cis‐Vaccenic (18:1 cis‐11) Acid Alter Lipogenesis in Bovine Adipocyte Cultures
Authors: Burns T. A. , Kadegowda A. K. G. , Duckett S. K. , Pratt S. L. , Jenkins T. C.
Published: October 2012

Our objectives were to: (1) confirm elongation products of palmitoleic acid (16:1 cis‐9) elongation in vitro using stable isotopes and (2) evaluate if exogenous supplementation of palmitoleic acid, elongation products, or both are responsible for decreased desaturation and lipogenesis rates observed with palmitoleic acid supplementation in bovine adipocytes. Stromal vascular cultures were isolated from adipose tissue of two beef carcasses, allowed to reach confluence, held for 2 days, and differentiated with a standard hormone cocktail (day 0). On day 2, secondary differentiation media containing 1 of 4 fatty acid treatments [0 μM fatty acid (control), or 150 μM palmitic (16:0), palmitoleic, or cis‐vaccenic (18:1 cis‐11)] was added for 4 days. On day 6, cells were incubated with [13C] 16:1, [13C] 2, or [13C] 18:0 to estimate elongation, lipogenic, and desaturation rates using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Enrichment of [13C] 18:1 cis‐11 confirmed 18:1 cis‐11 is an elongation product of 16:1. Additionally, [13C] label was seen in 20:1 cis‐13 and cis‐9, cis‐11 CLA. Synthesis of [13C] 16:0 from [13C] 2 was reduced (P < 0.05) in palmitoleic acid and cis‐vaccenic acid‐treated compared with control cells following 36 h incubation. By 12 h of [13C] 18:0 incubation, cells supplemented with palmitoleic acid had reduced (P < 0.05) [13C] 18:1 cis‐9 compared with all other treatments. Gene expression and fatty acid results support isotopic data for lipogenesis and desaturation. Therefore, palmitoleic acid is actively elongated in vitro and its elongation product, cis‐vaccenic acid, can also reduce lipogenesis. However, inhibition of desaturation can be directly attributed to palmitoleic acid and not its elongation products, 18:1 cis‐11 or 20:1 cis‐13.
A distributed controller for a virtualized router
Authors: Mellah H. , Cherkaoui O. , Lemieux Y.
Published: October 2012

In this paper, a distributed controller for a virtualized router is proposed. This controller enables the dynamic and automatic resource allocation between the different virtual routers (called slices) running on top of the physical router. The controller is designed on a two-layer architecture. A slice controller (one for each slice) estimates the relationship between the past performances and resource allocations of the slice using a linear model, and then determines the requested allocation for the slice to meet its target performance. The physical router consists of a set of modular linecards. A resource controller (one for each linecard), collects the resource allocation requests from the different slices using the resources it controls and determines the allocations based on the available capacities of the resources. Resources are allocated to slices to guarantee their target performances if possible, or provide service differentiation if the total requests from all the slices exceeds the capacities of the shared resources. We have found that the convergence of the controller depends on different parameters (such as the number of slices and the parameters of the linear model) and therefore some tuning of these parameters is needed for the system to achieve the stability.
Maternal Education, Birth Weight, and Infant Mortality in the United States
Authors: Gage Timothy B. , Fang Fu , O’Neill Erin , DiRienzo Greg
Published: October 2012

This research determines whether the observed decline in infant mortality with socioeconomic level, operationalized as maternal education (dichotomized as college or more, versus high school or less), is due to its “indirect” effect (operating through birth weight) and/or to its “direct” effect (independent of birth weight). The data used are the 2001 U.S. national African American, Mexican American, and European American birth cohorts by sex. The analysis explores the birth outcomes of infants undergoing normal and compromised fetal development separately by using covariate density defined mixture of logistic regressions (CDDmlr). Among normal births, mean birth weight increases significantly (by 27–108 g) with higher maternal education. Mortality declines significantly (by a factor of 0.40–0.96) through the direct effect of education. The indirect effect of education among normal births is small but significant in three cohorts. Furthermore, the indirect effect of maternal education tends to increase mortality despite improved birth weight. Among compromised births, education has small and inconsistent effects on birth weight and infant mortality. Overall, our results are consistent with the view that the decrease in infant death by socioeconomic level is not mediated by improved birth weight. Interventions targeting birth weight may not result in lower infant mortality.
The intersection of identity development and peer relationship processes in adolescence and young adulthood: Contributions of the special issue
Authors: Galliher Renee V. , Kerpelman Jennifer L.
Published: October 2012

This analysis of the papers in the special section on the intersection of identity development and peer relationship processes calls attention to conceptual contribution this collection of papers makes to the literature on identity development. Together these ten papers build on strong theoretical foundations in identity development, which posit close relationship contexts as central to the development of self‐awareness and self‐representation. The complex and innovative methodologies employed across these studies allow for the analysis of intersecting and interacting influence of multiple relationship types, and facilitate the analysis of culture and gender as they relate to identity development and peer processes. Together, these papers make a powerful contribution to the current literature and provide a foundation for future research.
The E. coli SufS–SufE sulfur transfer system is more resistant to oxidative stress than IscS–IscU
Authors: Dai Yuyuan , Outten F. Wayne
Published: October 2012

During oxidative stress in Escherichia coli, the SufABCDSE stress response pathway mediates iron–sulfur (Fe–S) cluster biogenesis rather than the Isc pathway. To determine why the Suf pathway is favored under stress conditions, the stress response SufS–SufE sulfur transfer pathway and the basal housekeeping IscS–IscU pathway were directly compared. We found that SufS–SufE cysteine desulfurase activity is significantly higher than IscS–IscU at physiological cysteine concentrations and after exposure to H2O2. Mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated that IscS–IscU is more susceptible than SufS–SufE to oxidative modification by H2O2. These important results provide biochemical insight into the stress resistance of the Suf pathway.
Resolvin E1 maintains macrophage function under cigarette smoke‐induced oxidative stress
Authors: Takamiya Rina , Fukunaga Koichi , Arita Makoto , Miyata Jun , Seki Hiroyuki , Minematsu Naoto , Suematsu Makoto , Asano Koichiro
Published: October 2012

Cigarette smoke (CS) induces oxidative stress, which disables macrophage function. In this study, we examined whether Resolvin E1 (RvE1), a pro‐resolving mediator known to enhance macrophage functions, attenuates the damage of macrophages by CS extract (CSE) induced oxidative stress. RvE1 blocked p47phox translocation to plasma membrane induced by CSE in a macrophage cell line, RAW264.7 cells, resulting in suppression of superoxide production. Furthermore, pretreatment of RAW264.7 cells with RvE1 restored the phagocytic activity and reduced cell death induced by treatment of CSE. These results suggest that RvE1 plays important roles in preserving macrophage function under CS‐induced oxidative stress.
Comparison selection: An approach to the study of consumer judgment and choice
Authors: Simonson Itamar , Bettman James R. , Kramer Thomas , Payne John W.
Published: October 2012

We introduce an alternative perspective on the study of consumer judgment and decision making, which is based on the notion that judgment and choice problems consist of comparisons that decision makers might select. Our new perspective proposes that if we can predict the likelihood that particular comparisons will become focal in a judgment or choice task, we will be able to gain a better understanding of and anticipate the resulting effect. Building on related literatures, we propose that comparison selection is driven by the task's latitude of acceptance (LOA) and comparison fluency (i.e., the overall ease of making that comparison). The task's LOA curve represents the range and concentration of potentially acceptable comparisons, whereas comparison fluency refers to the salience and ease of making the comparison. We illustrate our approach using previously studied problems (e.g., choice, variety seeking, the “jacket and calculator” problem, and contingent valuation) as well as new empirical tests.
Choice theories: What are they good for?
Authors: Johnson Eric J.
Published: October 2012

Simonson et al. present an ambitious sketch of an integrative theory of context. Provoked by this thoughtful proposal, I discuss what is the function of theories of choice in the coming decades. Traditionally, choice models and theory have attempted to predict choices as a function of the attributes of options. I argue that to be truly useful, they need to generate specific and quantitative predictions of the effect of the choice environment upon choice probability. To do this, we need to focus on rigorously modeling and measuring the underlying processes causing these effects, and use the Simonson et al. proposal to provide some examples. I also present some examples from research in decision‐making and decision neuroscience, and argue that models that fail, and fail spectacularly are particularly useful. I close with a challenge: How would consumer researcher aid the design of real world choice environments such as the health exchanges under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act?
The influence of context and fluency
Authors: Arkes Hal R.
Published: October 2012

Simonson et al. propose a framework that emphasizes the roles of context and fluency in perception and choice. The importance of context has been emphasized throughout a very long tradition of research, and fluency has been a more recent and active topic of investigation. Simonson et al. combine them in a way that should organize a multitude of studies and make new predictions possible. However I suggest two portions of their framework that might be pruned without jeopardizing the value of their model: their motion of “latitude of acceptance” and the System1/System 2 distinction.
Attenuation of post-myocardial infarction depression in rats byn-3 fatty acids or probiotics starting after the onset of reperfusion
Authors: Gilbert Kim , Arseneault-Bréard Jessica , Flores Monaco Fabio , Beaudoin Alexanne , Bah Thierno Madjou , Tompkins Thomas A. , Godbout Roger , Rousseau Guy
Published: October 2012

Proinflammatory cytokines play a central role in depression-like behaviour and apoptosis in the limbic system after myocardial infarction (MI). A PUFAn-3 diet or the combination ofLactobacillus helveticusR0052 andBifidobacterium longumR0175 probiotics, when given before the ischaemic period, reduce circulating proinflammatory cytokines as well as apoptosis in the limbic system. The present study was designed to determine if the same nutritional interventions maintain their beneficial effects when started after the onset of the reperfusion period and attenuate depression-like behaviour observed after MI. MI was induced by the occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 40 min in rats. After the onset of reperfusion, animals were fed with a high- or low-PUFAn-3 diet, combined or not with one billion live bacteria ofL. helveticusandB. longum. At 3 d post-MI, caspase-3 enzymatic activities and terminal 2′-deoxyuridine, 5′-triphosphate (dUTP) nick-end labelling (TUNEL)-positive cells were decreased in the CA1, dentate gyrus (DG) and amygdala with the high-PUFAn-3 diet, as compared to the three other diets. Probiotics attenuated caspase-3 activity and TUNEL-positive cells in the DG and the medial amygdala. At 2 weeks post-MI, depression-like behaviour was observed in the low-PUFAn-3 diet without probiotics-group, and this behaviour was attenuated with the high-PUFAn-3 diet or/and probiotics. These results indicate that a high-PUFAn-3 diet or the administration of probiotics, starting after the onset of reperfusion, are beneficial to attenuate apoptosis in the limbic system and post-MI depression in the rat.
Tomato juice consumption reduces systemic inflammation in overweight and obese females
Authors: Ghavipour Mahsa , Saedisomeolia Ahmad , Djalali Mahmoud , Sotoudeh Giti , Eshraghyan Mohammad Reza , Moghadam Ali Malekshahi , Wood Lisa G.
Published: October 2012

Tomatoes are the richest source of lycopene, a potent antioxidant. Tomato products improve antioxidant defences and reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases, at least partly, due to the presence of lycopene. Lycopene, as an anti-inflammatory agent, prevents the production of inflammatory cytokines. Obesity is a chronic inflammatory condition in which the increased level of body fat leads to an increase in circulating inflammatory mediators. We hypothesised that the consumption of a lycopene-rich food would reduce inflammation in people who are overweight or obese. A total of 106 overweight or obese female students of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences were enrolled and randomly allocated to an intervention group (n 53) or a control group (n 53) consuming 330 ml/d of tomato juice or water, respectively, for 20 d. At baseline and day 20, serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and TNF-α were analysed by ELISA and compared between the groups. Serum concentrations of IL-8 and TNF-α decreased significantly in the intervention group compared with the control group and with baseline. Subgroup analysis indicated that this effect was confined to subjects who were overweight. Among obese subjects, serum IL-6 concentration was decreased in the intervention group compared with the control group, with no differences in IL-8 and TNF-α observed. Tomato juice reduces inflammation in overweight and obese females. Thus, increasing tomato intake may provide a useful approach for reducing the risk of inflammatory diseases such as CVD and diabetes, which are associated with obesity.
Sequence variability in four mitochondrial genes amongBunostomum trigonocephalumisolates from four provinces in China
Authors: Wang C.R. , Gao J.F. , Chang Q.C. , Zou F.C. , Zhao Q. , Zhu X.Q.
Published: October 2012

The present study examined sequence variability in four mitochondrial genes, namely cytochromecoxidase subunit (cox1), cytochromeb(cytb) and NADH dehydrogenase subunits 1 and 5 (nad1 andnad5), amongBunostomum trigonocephalumisolates from four different geographic regions in China. TenB. trigonocephalumsamples were collected from each of the four provinces (Heilongjiang, Jilin, Shaanxi and Yunnan), China. A part of thecox1 (pcox1),cytb (pcytb),nad1 andnad5 genes (pnad1 and pnad5) were amplified separately from individual hookworms by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and were subjected to direct sequencing in order to define sequence variations and their phylogenetic relationships. The intra-specific sequence variations withinB. trigonocephalumwere 0–1.9% for pcox1, 0–2.0% for pcytb, 0–1.6% for pnad1 and 0–1.7% for pnad5. The A+T contents of the sequences were 69.6–70.4% (pcox1), 71.9–72.7 (pcytb), 70.4–71.1% (pnad1) and 72.0–72.6% (pnad5). However, the inter-specific sequence differences among members of the family Ancylostomatidae were significantly higher, being 12.1–14.2% for pcox1, 13.7–16.0 forcytb, 17.6–19.4 fornad1 and 16.0–21.6 fornad5. Phylogenetic analyses based on the combined partial sequences ofcox1,cytb,nad1 andnad5 using three inference methods, namely Bayesian inference (Bayes), maximum likelihood (ML) and maximum parsimony (MP), revealed that all theB. trigonocephalumsamples form monophyletic groups, but samples from the same geographical origin did not always cluster together, suggesting that there was no obvious geographical distinction withinB. trigonocephalumbased on sequences of the four mtDNA genes. These results demonstrated the existence of low-level intra-specific variation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences amongB. trigonocephalumisolates from different geographic regions.
Investigating the role of wild carnivores in the epidemiology of bovine neosporosis
Authors: STUART PETER , ZINTL ANNETTA , WAAL THEO DE , MULCAHY GRACE , HAWKINS CONALL , LAWTON COLIN
Published: October 2012

Neospora caninumis a protozoan parasite, primarily associated with bovine abortion. The only definitive hosts discovered to date are carnivores. This study aimed to identify the role of mammalian carnivores in the epidemiology of bovine neosporosis. A sample bank of serum, fecal and brain samples was established: American mink (Mustela vison), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), pine martens (Martes martes), badgers (Meles meles), stoats (Mustela erminea), otters (Lutra lutra) and feral ferrets (Mustela putorius). Approximately 1% of mink and 1% of fox samples were positive by IFAT. According to PCR analysis of DNA extracted from brain tissue, 3% of the mink, 4% of the otters and 6% of the foxes examined were infected withN. caninum.All fecal samples tested negative forN. caninumDNA (n = 311), suggesting that the species that tested positive were intermediate not definitive hosts. This is the first time that tissues from mustelids have tested positive forN. caninum. The need to test 2 relatively large (∼200 mg) targeted parts of the brain to avoid false negatives was also identified. The relatively low prevalence ofN. caninumin Irish carnivores suggests that the local ecology of a species has an important influence on its epidemiological role.
Managing the working body: active ageing and limits to the ‘flexible’ firm
Authors: BROOKE ELIZABETH , TAYLOR PHILIP , MCLOUGHLIN CHRISTOPHER , DI BIASE TIA
Published: October 2012

Workforce ageing is considered in the context of four Australian employing organisations which are each in the process of change. In these organisations, perceptions regarding the relationship between the declining body and productivity led to a depreciation of the value of older workers and their consignment to less productive edges of organisations. While this was viewed as benefiting older workers, it was also acknowledged that workforce ageing will place severe constraints on the use of such practices, already regarded with suspicion by operational managers responsible for cost containment. Policies which aim to restrain biological and psychological decline, by supporting individual functional capacity and health, workplace design and ergonomics and developing the work community are advocated.
Exploring motivation for exercise and its relationship with health-related quality of life in adults aged 70 years and older
Authors: FERRAND CLAUDE , MARTINENT GUILLAUME , BONNEFOY MARC
Published: October 2012

The health benefits of regular exercise participation have been widely acknowledged. Drawing upon self-determination theory, the purpose of our study was to identify the motivational profiles for exercise among older adults aged 70 years and older who regularly participated in sporting programmes, and to relate the motivational profiles to health-related quality of life measures (HRQoL). A random sample of 100 older adults (mean age = 75.34 years, standard deviation = 4.89; 57 women and 43 men) belonging to French sports clubs was recruited for the aim of the study. Participants completed a survey including measures of motivation and health-related quality of life, and socio-demographic and health variables. Cluster analyses revealed two distinct motivational profiles among participants: ‘highly self-determined’ (high levels of self-determined motivation and introjected regulation as well as low levels of external regulation and amotivation), and ‘moderately introjected’ (low levels of self-determined motivation, moderate level of introjected regulation and low levels of external regulation and amotivation). Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) results revealed that the most self-determined group reported significantly higher values in four domains of HRQoL, namely role limitations due to physical health, bodily pain, social functioning and role limitations due to emotional health (p = 0.01). These data suggest the importance of taking into account the motivational perspective and considering exercise maintenance among older adults as an important public health challenge.
Optimal torque distribution method for a redundantly actuated 3-RRR parallel robot using a geometrical approach
Authors: Shim Ho-Seok , Seo TaeWon , Lee Jeh Won
Published: October 2012

In this paper, a novel optimal torque distribution method for a redundantly actuated parallel robot is proposed. Geometric analysis based on screw theory is performed to calculate the stiffness matrix of a redundantly actuated 3-RRR parallel robot. The analysis is performed based on statics focusing on low-speed motions. The stiffness matrix consisting of passive and active stiffness is also derived by the differentiation of Jacobian matrix. Comparing two matrices, we found that null-space vector is related to link geometry. The optimal distribution torque is determined by adapting mean value of minimum and maximum angles as direction angles of null-space vector. The resulting algorithm is validated by comparing the new method with the minimum-norm method and the weighted pseudo-inverse method for two different paths and force conditions. The proposed torque distribution algorithm shows the characteristics of minimizing the maximum torque.
Passive and dynamic gait measures for biped mechanism: formulation and simulation analysis
Authors: Mummolo Carlotta , Kim Joo H.
Published: October 2012

Understanding and mimicking human gait is essential for design and control of biped walking robots. The unique characteristics of normal human gait are described as passive dynamic walking, whereas general human gait is neither completely passive nor always dynamic. To study various walking motions, it is important to quantify the different levels of passivity and dynamicity, which have not been addressed in the current literature. In this paper, we introduce the initial formulations of Passive Gait Measure (PGM) and Dynamic Gait Measure (DGM) that quantify passivity and dynamicity, respectively, of a given biped walking motion, and the proposed formulations will be demonstrated for proof-of-concepts using gait simulation and analysis. The PGM is associated with the optimality of natural human walking, where the passivity weight functions are proposed and incorporated in the minimization of physiologically inspired weighted actuator torques. The PGM then measures the relative contribution of the stance ankle actuation. The DGM is associated with the gait stability, and quantifies the effects of inertia in terms of the Zero-Moment Point and the ground projection of center of mass. In addition, the DGM takes into account the stance foot dimension and the relative threshold between static and dynamic walking. As examples, both human-like and robotic walking motions during single support phase are generated for a planar biped system using the passivity weights and proper gait parameters. The calculated PGM values show more passive nature of human-like walking as compared with the robotic walking. The DGM results verify the dynamic nature of normal human walking with anthropomorphic foot dimension. In general, the DGMs for human-like walking are greater than those for robotic walking. The resulting DGMs also demonstrate their dependence on the stance foot dimension as well as the walking motion; for a given walking motion, smaller foot dimension results in increased dynamicity. Future work on experimental validation and demonstration will involve actual walking robots and human subjects. The proposed results will benefit the human gait studies and the development of walking robots.
Developmental genetics and psychopathology: Some new feathers for a fine old hat
Authors: Johnson Wendy
Published: October 2012

Without even knowing of their existence, Mendel discovered how genes operate when they are completely penetrant, although they rarely are, at least with respect to human personality and psychopathology; yet quantitative genetics results have conclusively demonstrated their substantial macrolevel influence. Now we need to understand just how incompletely penetrant genes make their contributions to psychopathology. Exciting new developments in molecular genetics and epigenetics provide new insight into gene action in principle but have been of limited value so far in understanding the emergence of psychopathology. Some of the most helpful postulates might come from evolutionary and developmental biology and agricultural breeding experiments. I describe the all but forgotten evolutionary mechanisms articulated by Schmalhausen, a Russian evolutionary biologist whose work was suppressed by Stalin in the 1940s. I focus on Schmalhausen's law, the observation that organisms living in conditions at the boundary of their tolerance in any one aspect of existence will be vulnerable to expression of genetic liabilities related to all other aspects of existence. I show how Schmalhausen's ideas are relevant to the results of a century-long corn-breeding experiment and the current concepts of facilitated variation and cryptic genetic variation. I then discuss the relevance of all of these to understanding genetic influences on personality and psychopathology.
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism moderates early deprivation effects on attention problems
Authors: Gunnar Megan R. , Wenner Jennifer A. , Thomas Kathleen M. , Glatt Charles E. , Mckenna Morgan C. , Clark Andrew G.
Published: October 2012

Adverse early care is associated with attention regulatory problems, but not all so exposed develop attention problems. In a sample of 612 youth (girls = 432,M= 11.82 years,SD= 1.5) adopted from institutions (e.g., orphanages) in 25 countries, we examined whether the Val66Met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene moderates attention problems associated with the duration of institutional care. Parent-reported attention problem symptoms were collected using the MacArthur Health and Behavior Questionnaire. DNA was genotyped for the brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met (rs6265) single nucleotide polymorphism. Among youth from Southeast (SE) Asia, the predominant genotype was valine/methionine (Val/Met), whereas among youth from Russia/Europe and Caribbean/South America, the predominant genotype was Val/Val. For analysis, youth were grouped as carrying Val/Val or Met/Met alleles. Being female, being from SE Asia, and being younger when adopted were associated withfewerattention regulatory problem symptoms. Youth carrying at least one copy of the Met allele were more sensitive to the duration of deprivation, yielding an interaction that followed a differential susceptibility pattern. Thus, youth with Val/Met or Met/Met genotypes exhibited fewer symptoms than Val/Val genotypes when adoption was very early and more symptoms when adoption occurred later in development. Similar patterns were observed when SE Asian youth and youth from other parts of the world were analyzed separately.
Developmental psychopathology: The role of structural variation in the genome
Authors: Gill Michael
Published: October 2012

A wide range of developmental disorders present with characteristic psychopathologies and behaviors, with diagnoses including, inter alia, cognitive disorders and learning disabilities, epilepsies, autism, and schizophrenia. Each, to varying extent, has a genetic component to etiology and is associated with cytogenetic abnormalities. Technological developments, particularly array-based comparative genome hybridization and single nucleotide polymorphism chips, has revealed a wide range of rare recurrent and de novo copy number variants (CNVs) to be associated with disorder and psychopathology. It is surprising that many apparently similar CNVs are identified across two or more disorders hitherto considered unrelated. This article describes the characteristics of CNVs and current technological restrictions that make accurately identifying small events difficult. It summarizes the latest discoveries for individual diagnostic categories and considers the implications for a shared neurobiology. It examines likely developments in the knowledge base as well as addressing the clinical implications going forward.
Maternal separation with early weaning: A rodent model providing novel insights into neglect associated developmental deficits
Authors: Carlyle Becky C. , Duque Alvaro , Kitchen Robert R. , Bordner Kelly A. , Coman Daniel , Doolittle Eliza , Papademetris Xenophonios , Hyder Fahmeed , Taylor Jane R. , Simen Arthur A.
Published: October 2012

Child neglect is the most prevalent form of child maltreatment in the United States, and poses a serious public health concern. Children who survive such episodes go on to experience long-lasting psychological and behavioral problems, including higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, depression, alcohol and drug abuse, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and cognitive deficits. To date, most research into the causes of these life-long problems has focused on well-established targets such as stress responsive systems, including the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis. Using the maternal separation and early weaning model, we have attempted to provide comprehensive molecular profiling of a model of early-life neglect in an organism amenable to genomic manipulation: the mouse. In this article, we report new findings generated with this model using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, diffuse tensor magnetic resonance imaging, and behavioral analyses. We also review the validity of the maternal separation and early weaning model, which reflects behavioral deficits observed in neglected humans including hyperactivity, anxiety, and attentional deficits. Finally, we summarize the molecular characterization of these animals, including RNA profiling and label-free proteomics, which highlight protein translation and myelination as novel pathways of interest.
Childhood adversity and DNA methylation of genes involved in the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis and immune system: Whole-genome and candidate-gene associations
Authors: Bick Johanna , Naumova Oksana , Hunter Scott , Barbot Baptiste , Lee Maria , Luthar Suniya S. , Raefski Adam , Grigorenko Elena L.
Published: October 2012

In recent years, translational research involving humans and animals has uncovered biological and physiological pathways that explain associations between early adverse circumstances and long-term mental and physical health outcomes. In this article, we summarize the human and animal literature demonstrating that epigenetic alterations in key biological systems, the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis and immune system, may underlie such disparities. We review evidence suggesting that changes in DNA methylation profiles of the genome may be responsible for the alterations in hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis and immune system trajectories. Using some preliminary data, we demonstrate how explorations of genome-wide and candidate-gene DNA methylation profiles may inform hypotheses and guide future research efforts in these areas. We conclude our article by discussing the many important future directions, merging perspectives from developmental psychology, molecular genetics, neuroendocrinology, and immunology, that are essential for furthering our understanding of how early adverse circumstances may shape developmental trajectories, particularly in the areas of stress reactivity and physical or mental health.
Age-related changes of gene expression in the neocortex: Preliminary data on RNA-Seq of the transcriptome in three functionally distinct cortical areas
Authors: Naumova Oksana Yu. , Palejev Dean , Vlasova Natalia V. , Lee Maria , Rychkov Sergei Yu. , Babich Olga N. , M. Vaccarino Flora , Grigorenko Elena L.
Published: October 2012

The study of gene expression (i.e., the study of the transcriptome) in different cells and tissues allows us to understand the molecular mechanisms of their differentiation, development and functioning. In this article, we describe some studies of gene-expression profiling for the purposes of understanding developmental (age-related) changes in the brain using different technologies (e.g., DNA-Microarray) and the new and increasingly popular RNA-Seq. We focus on advancements in studies of gene expression in the human brain, which have provided data on the structure and age-related variability of the transcriptome in the brain. We present data on RNA-Seq of the transcriptome in three distinct areas of the neocortex from different ages: mature and elderly individuals. We report that most age-related transcriptional changes affect cellular signaling systems, and, as a result, the transmission of nerve impulses. In general, the results demonstrate the high potential of RNA-Seq for the study of distinctive features of gene expression among cortical areas and the changes in expression through normal and atypical development of the central nervous system.
Saving for Retirement: A Review of Ethnic Minorities in the UK
Authors: Gough Orla , Adami Roberta
Published: October 2012

This article examines the saving behaviour of ethnic minorities in the UK. Within the context of pension planning, we investigate saving for retirement patterns in relation to ethnicity, gender and age. We use data from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) to analyse employment status, income, saving types and levels. Although we find profound heterogeneity, ethnic minorities show higher levels of unemployment, lower income and consistently lower levels of saving for retirement compared to our white control group. Disadvantages of ethnic minorities during their working life persist, especially for women, although to a lesser extent than in the past, and continue to affect private savings and prospective retirement income. Indian and Chinese men have experienced the greatest improvements in terms of employment status and income and this is reflected in higher levels of saving for retirement since the mid 1990s.
Thai Twin Registry: Description of the Initial Stage
Authors: Nanakorn Somsong , Chusilp Kusuma , Kutanan Wibhu
Published: October 2012

The present study describes the initial phase of the Thai Twin Registry (TTR) in Khon Kaen University, a pioneer research university located in the Northeast of Thailand. The initial steps of the study included the analysis of dermatoglyphic information in Thai twins for answering the research question: Are monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins different in dermatoglyphic variables? Subjects were 212 twin pairs (81 MZ and 131 DZ), consisting of 155 males and 269 females. Four types of fingerprint pattern (FP) — that is, arch, radial loop, ulnar loop, and whorl — were classified and analyzed and compared between MZ and DZ twins. The arch radial loop and whorl frequencies differ between MZ and DZ twins. When comparing FP in each finger, only the right little finger shows a statistically different FP, while the FP similarity average from 10 homologous fingers of co-twins was greater in MZ than DZ twins. By using the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis, the MZ twins could be differentiated from DZ twins by the FP similarity. Summarizing, this valuable report about TTR was conducted by analysis of FP data, which indicated that the MZ and DZ twins exhibited FP pattern and FP similarity differences. Other dermatoglyphic studies of the existing FP database, such as finger ridge count, finger ridge density, and minutia, will be considered for ongoing research at the TTR.
Berufliche Beanspruchung angehender Lehrkräfte: Die Effekte von Persönlichkeit, pädagogischer Vorerfahrung und professioneller Kompetenz
Authors: Klusmann Uta , Kunter Mareike , Voss Thamar , Baumert Jürgen
Published: October 2012

Der Übergang von der Universität in die berufliche Praxis gilt als eine anspruchsvolle Phase der Professionalisierung junger Lehrkräfte. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht erstens die Höhe der emotionalen Erschöpfung und der Arbeitszufriedenheit von angehenden Lehrkräften im Vorbereitungsdienst und zweitens die Bedeutung von Persönlichkeitsmerkmalen, pädagogischer Vorerfahrungen und der professionellen Kompetenz für das Erleben von Beanspruchung. Auf Basis einer Mehrkohorten-Messwiederholungsstichprobe von über 500 Lehramtskandidaten kann gezeigt werden, dass die emotionale Erschöpfung im ersten Jahr des Vorbereitungsdienstes statistisch signifikant ansteigt. Verglichen mit einer Referenzstichprobe erfahrener Lehrkräfte zeigen sich vergleichbare Werte der emotionalen Erschöpfung sowie eine höhere Berufszufriedenheit der Lehramtskandidaten. Vorhergesagt werden die emotionale Erschöpfung sowie die Arbeitszufriedenheit sowohl durch stabile Persönlichkeitsmerkmale als auch durch die pädagogische Vorerfahrung und das Wissen über Klassenführung.
North Dakota geology school receives major gift
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: October 2012

Petroleum geology and related areas of study at the University of North Dakota (UND) received a huge financial boost with the announcement on 24 September of $14 million in private and public partnership funding. The university announced the naming of the Harold Hamm School of Geology and Geological Engineering, formerly a department within the College of Engineering and Mines, in recognition of $10 million provided as a gift by oilman Harold Hamm and Continental Resources, Inc. Hamm is the chair and chief executive officer of Continental, the largest leaseholder in the Bakken Play oil formation in North Dakota and Montana, and he is also an energy policy advisor to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. UND also received $4 million from the Oil and Gas Research Program of the North Dakota Industrial Commission to support geology and geological engineering education and research.
Notification of upcoming AGU Council meeting
Authors: Williams Billy
Published: October 2012

The AGU Council will meet on Sunday, 2 December 2012, at the InterContinental Hotel in San Francisco, Calif. The meeting, which is open to all AGU members, will include discussions of AGU's new Grand Challenge Project (a project that will be introduced to members at the 2012 Fall Meeting), the proposed AGU scientific ethics policy, publishing strategies, future plans for honors and recognition, and leadership transition as new members join the Council. This year the Council experimented with a new approach to conducting business. By holding virtual meetings throughout the year, Council members have been able to act in a more timely manner and provide input on important membership and science issues on the Board of Directors' agenda. The Council Leadership Team—an elected subset of the Council—also experimented with a new approach, meeting every month to keep moving projects forward. This approach has increased communication and improved effectiveness in Council decision making.
Sharpen your science communication skills at a Fall Meeting workshop
Authors: Adams Mary Catherine
Published: October 2012

Are you eager to share your research and want to help reporters get it right? Do you yearn to enter the climate science debate but are wary of saying the wrong thing? AGU is offering two separate communications skill‐building events on Sunday, 2 December 2012, for Fall Meeting attendees wishing to sharpen their communications skills. For scientists interested in talking about climate science, AGU and the Union of Concerned Scientists, an organization that combines scientific research with citizen action to create practical solutions for a healthy environment and a safer world, will offer the Communicating Climate Science Workshop on Sunday morning. A panel of experienced communicators will share their success stories and offer advice on how to avoid common missteps. Then, in an interactive workshop setting, attendees will practice identifying and effectively responding to misinformation about climate science in front of a variety of audiences.
In California, 5 decades of decreasing emissions
Authors: Bhattacharya Atreyee
Published: October 2012

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are emitted by vehicles and are a leading source of air pollution, have been on the decline in Los Angeles, Calif., one of the densest and most poorly ventilated cities in the United States, a new study finds. Comparing detailed measurements from two aircraft campaigns in the Los Angeles basin in 2002 and 2010, Warneke et al. found that the VOC concentrations in the region's atmosphere declined significantly during those 8 years. Using data from literature statistics and a monitoring network, the authors further show that in the Los Angeles basin, concentrations of VOCs and carbon monoxide (CO) have declined by 2 orders of magnitude compared to the 1960s—a reduction of 7.5% every year since the 1960s in spite of the fact that the sale of fuels has increased threefold during the same interval of time.