bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tunable impedance transformer using multiconductor coupled lines
Authors: Jeong Jinho , Kim Junghyun , Jeon Sanggeun
Published: February 2012

A new tunable impedance transformer is presented using multiconductor coupled line of quarter‐wave length.The switches are connected at the ends of the conductor lines in the coupled line, and they are used to adjust the equivalent capacitance of the line. It leads to the variation of characteristic impedance of the quarter‐wave long line, resulting in the tunable impedance transformer. The measurement around 1.9 GHz shows that the characteristic impedance of the transformer using five‐conductor coupled line can be adjusted from 29.5 to 56.5 Ω. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:851–853, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26690
Atom bottom‐up manipulation controlled by light for nanobattery use
Authors: Ismail F. D. , Teeka C. , Ali J. , Yupapin P. P.
Published: February 2012

We propose a new design of the atom bottom‐up technique that uses an optical trapping tool to form the atom trapping layer within a thin film grating. By using a PANDA ring resonator, where atoms can be trapped, pumped and controlled by light, where finally, the trapped atoms/molecules can be selected, filtered, and embedded within the required thin film grating layers, which later can form the nanobattery. In application, P‐type or N‐type atom can be prepared, trapped and embedded within the desired thin film layers, where finally, the nanobattery can be manipulated. The theoretical background of light pulse in a PANDA ring resonator is also reviewed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1097–1100, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26691
A 77‐GHz miniaturized slow‐wave SIR bandpass filter fabricated using 0.18‐μm standard CMOS technology
Authors: Lin Hong‐Ru , Hsu Cheng‐Ying , Chuang Huey‐Ru , Chen Chu‐Yu
Published: February 2012

This article presents a 77‐GHz miniaturized on‐chip bandpass filter using a 0.18‐μm standard CMOS process. At first the stepped impedance resonator is used to reduce the length of the stub resonator. Then the slotted ground slow‐wave structure (SGSWS) is applied for further reducion of the overall component size. The size of the designed filter with SGSWS is smaller than that of the original stub filter with a size reduction of 40% when operating at the same resonant frequency. The simulated and measured results are in good agreement. The return loss is better than 15 dB within the passband and a low insertion loss of 2.9 dB is obtained. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1063–1066, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26693
Double H‐shaped metamaterial resonator for low phase noise voltage controlled oscillator
Authors: Lee Chongmin , Seo Chulhun
Published: February 2012

In this article, we propose a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) using a double H‐shaped metamaterial resonator (DHMR) based on a high Q value.The proposed DHMR exhibits a metamaterial characteristic which has a zero phase coefficient at the vicinity of resonance frequency. The proposed DHMR is designed to be a high Q by a strong coupling of the E‐field at the resonance frequency. These characteristics made phase noise performance in the synthesizer using the proposed VCO excellent. The proposed VCO with DHMR is designed to apply to an X‐Band frequency synthesizer of radar systems. The output power, the phase noise and the tuning range are 7.33 dBm, −121.3 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz offset carrier frequency and over 120 MHz, respectively. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1059–1063, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26694
IE‐FFT for the combined field integral equation applied to electrically large objects
Authors: Xie Jia‐Ye , Zhou Hou‐Xing , Li Wei‐Dong , Hong Wei
Published: February 2012

A new scheme of the integral equation fast Fourier transform for the combined field integral equation applied to electrically large objects is presented in this article. Lagrange interpolation is applied to the gradient of the Green's function on regular Cartesian grids, which is similar to the method of interpolating the Green's function. Compared with the gradient operator acting on the interpolated Green's function, the present method can provide higher accuracy with slightly more storage. The error analysis and some numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed scheme. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:891–896, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26697
Multi‐functional channel selective RF receiver system for low‐power sensor network applications
Authors: Lee Kyoung‐Joo , Lee Heejong , Kim Young‐Sik , Lim Jongsik , Han Sang‐Min
Published: February 2012

A novel multifunctional channel selective RF receiver system architecture is proposed for low‐power sensor networks. The proposed system can recognize received radio channels at an RF front‐end process by a frequency‐to‐voltage conversion technique. Moreover, the dual system‐functionalities can be performed from a common detection circuit for the spectrum sensing and digital data recovery, simultaneously. The multifunctional system has been designed and implemented for the performance evaluations. From the experimental results, the on‐off keying modulated RF signal with 50 kHz data rate has been sensed at a carrier frequency of 2.4 GHz with an excellent resolution. Thanks to the simply architecture, it is expected to contribute to efficient sensor receiver design technologies such as small form‐factor, high‐speed sensing, low‐power, and multifunctionality. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:847–851, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26699
Design and implementation of UWB planar monopole antenna with dual‐band rejection characteristics
Authors: Kim Woo Chan , Yang Woon Geun
Published: February 2012

In this letter, we design a planar monopole antenna with dual‐band rejection characteristics for ultrawideband (UWB) wireless communication.The proposed antenna has a radiating patch with two slots. Owing to these two slots, dual‐notched properties are achieved in the world interoperability for microwave access and wireless local area network bands. A high‐frequency structure simulator is used to analyze the proposed antenna in the design process and to compare the simulation and experimental results. The bandwidth of the proposed antenna is measured as 3.0–11.0 GHz for voltage standing wave ratio of less than 2, except for the dual rejection bands of 3.13–3.83 GHz and 5.10–5.80 GHz. The measured maximum gain is ∼7.51 dBi at 10.0 GHz. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:990–993, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26707
Design of a microstrip‐fed monopole antenna with a rectangular slit ground and a rectangular projection strip for dual‐band WLAN operations
Authors: Yoon JoongHan , RLee Young Chul
Published: February 2012

In this study, a novel dual‐band planar monopole antenna for wireless local area network (WLAN) application was designed, fabricated, and measured.The proposed antenna was fabricated on a low‐cost, easily available FR4 substrate, which effectively covers both the 2.4GHz and 5.2/5.8‐GHz WLAN bands. The proposed antenna consists of two branches, an asymmetric ground plane, a rectangular projection strip, and a rectangular slit in the ground plane. The rectangular projection strip and the rectangular slit in the ground plane were introduced to enhance the performance of the proposed antenna. The obtained numerical results agree well with the experiment data. It was validated that the configuration can meet the demands of WLAN systems and effectively enhanced the impedance bandwidth to 39.7% for the lower band and 23.1% for the upper band when the impedance bandwidth was −10 dB. This article also presents and discusses the 2D radiation patterns and gains according to the results of the experiment that was conducted. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1039–1044, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26725
A compact asymmetric coplanar strip fed dual‐band antenna for DCS/WLAN applications
Authors: Ashkarali P. , Sreenath S. , Sujith R. , Dinesh R. , Krishna D. D. , Aanandan C. K.
Published: February 2012

A compact asymmetric coplanar strip (ACS) fed dual‐band antenna suitable for DCS/WLAN applications is presented. Dual‐band operation is achieved by modifying the signal strip of the ACS monopole. Parametric studies indicate that operating frequencies of the antenna are determined by the dimensions of the strip monopole. Measurements on the optimized antenna printed on an FR4 substrate with εr = 4.4 and height = 1.6 mm indicate good radiation characteristics with moderate gain. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1087–1089, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26731
Wideband uniplanar compact electromagnetic bandgap structure with diagonal connecting elements
Authors: Trang Nguyen Dang , Lee Dong Hyun , Park Hyun Chang
Published: February 2012

A wideband uniplanar compact electromagnetic bandgap structure with diagonal connecting elements (UC‐DEBG) is proposed. Compared with a conventional uniplanar compact electromagnetic bandgap (UC‐EBG) structure of similar dimensions with horizontal and vertical connecting elements, the UC‐DEBG structure significantly increases the equivalent inductance while decreases the equivalent capacitance, resulting in a much wider bandgap. Dispersion diagram method was used to calculate and compare bandgaps of both structures. Bandstop filters using each structure were simulated and fabricated to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed structure. Larger bandgap (31%) was achieved from the UC‐DEBG structure over the conventional UC‐EBG structure. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:979–983, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26736
Influence of number of split rings on the leaky radiation of a metamaterial transmission line based on complementary split ring resonators
Authors: Eggermont Stephanie , Huynen Isabelle
Published: February 2012

This article discusses the influence of the number of concentric split rings on the radiation performances of a leaky wave antenna (LWA) created by a microstrip transmission line periodically loaded by series gaps and complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs) in its ground plane.The addition of a second concentric split ring in the CSRR structure strongly modifies the distribution of electric and magnetic currents in each cell of the periodic LWA structure. As a consequence, the far‐field radiation pattern of the cell shows a zero in the broadside direction, which is responsible for an apparent split of the LWA radiation pattern at the upper frequency of the backward scanning range, predicted by full‐wave simulations and validated by measurements in anechoic chamber. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:867–875, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26739
One‐decibel insertion loss 1–14.3 GHz ultrawideband bandpass filter using standard 0.18 μm CMOS technology
Authors: Lin Chih‐Ying , Cheng Chia‐Hao , Lin Yo‐Sheng , Wang Chien‐Chin
Published: February 2012

A low insertion loss ultrawideband (UWB) bandpass filter (BP filter) with two finite transmission zeros (fz1 and fz2) at high‐frequency stopband by 0.18 μm CMOS technology was demonstrated. fz1 (the lower frequency one) and fz2 can be tuned individually by the shunt branch (L2, Rs2, C3, and C4 + Cp2) and the series inductor (L1, Rs1, and Cp1), respectively. The microstrip line interconnection lines as well as the spiral inductors were implemented by the 2.34‐μm‐thick topmost metal (M6) to minimize the resistive loss. This filter achieved insertion loss (1/S21) lower than 3 dB for frequencies 1–14.3 GHz, stopband rejection better than 20 dB for frequencies higher than 20.4 GHz, and input return loss (S11) better than −10 dB for frequencies 2.4–16.4 GHz. The minimum insertion loss was 1 dB at 4.2 GHz. To our knowledge, this is one of the best results ever reported for a CMOS UWB BP filter in the literature. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1044–1047, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26743
Studies on crude oil‐water biphasic mixtures by low‐field NMR
Authors: Silva Renzo C. , Carneiro Giovanna F. , Barbosa Lúcio L. , Lacerda Valdemar , Freitas Jair C. C. , de Castro Eustáquio V. R.
Published: February 2012

Low‐field 1H NMR was used in this work for the analysis of mixtures involving crude oils and water. CPMG experiments were performed to determine the transverse relaxation time (T2) distribution curves, which were computed by the inverse Laplace transform of the echo decay data. The instrument's ability of quantifying water and petroleum in biphasic mixtures following different methodologies was tested. For mixtures between deionized water and petroleum, one achieved excellent results, with root mean squared error of cross‐validation (RMSECV) of 0.8% for a regression between the water content (wt %) and the relative area of the water peak in the T2 distribution curve, or a standard deviation of 0.9% for the relationship between the water content and the relative water peak area, corrected by the relative hydrogen index of the crude. In the case of biphasic mixtures of Mn2+‐doped water and crude oils, the best result of RMSECV = 1.6% was achieved by using the raw magnetization decay data for a partial least squares regression. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Administrative complexities for a European observational study despite directives harmonising requirements
Authors: Gülmez Sinem Ezgi , Lignot‐Maleyran Séverine , de Vries Corinne S. , Sturkenboom Miriam , Micon Sophie , Hamoud Fatima , Blin Patrick , Moore Nicholas
Published: February 2012

Purpose

For pharmacoepidemiological studies in Europe, accessing data should require only authorisation by the relevant data protections committees, as expected from the 1995 Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC). Our experience from a multinational observational study across seven European countries shows that this is certainly not the case.

Methods

The study was a multicentre, multinational, case‐population study in European liver transplant centres in seven countries, retrospectively evaluating a 3‐year period. Before data collection started, the procedures to obtain the necessary authorisations for the participating countries were defined.

Remarks

In France, a single opinion from a single data protection committee was enough to start the study. In Italy, Portugal, Greece and the UK, there was a national authority, but the hospitals requested the approval by their local committees/bodies irrespective of whether the authorisation of the national committee came after or before that of local ones. In Ireland, only one hospital participated, and the opinion of its ethics committee was sufficient. In the Netherlands, the opinion of the institutional review board of the local coordinating centre was necessary to obtain the opinions from the institutional review boards of the other hospitals. The information requested by the different committees and the time to obtain the approvals varied, even within the same country.

Conclusion

This degree of complexity and disharmony, and resulting cost, was observed in a simple retrospective study. Regulators will need to be aware that these time‐consuming, expensive and useless complexities must be factored in when estimating the time and cost of a study. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Violation detection method for vehicular ad hoc networking
Authors: Sridharamurthy Kumar , Govinda Abhilash Pernaje , Gopal Jyothi D. , Varaprasad Golla
Published: February 2012

Every hour, nearly 40 people under the age of 25 die in road accidents around the world. According to the World Health Organization, this is the second most important cause of death for 5‐ to 29‐year‐olds. In India, drunk driving and inefficient law enforcements are major contributing factors. The current system of visual identification of traffic violation, conducted by the traffic authorities, cannot work everywhere and every time. There is a great demand for simple and cost‐effective solutions to traffic safety problem. In this paper, we propose a traffic violation detection technique for vehicular ad hoc networks to detect crossing speed limits and analyzing the behavior of driver. In this work, we used a sensor device, a digital map and GPS‐based system for area of 1000 m × 1000 m. We analyzed the behavior of each vehicle in the network. Here, we have divided a network into a number of clusters, and each cluster has an infrastructure node (base station); the infrastructure node will be the point of contact for all the vehicles in that area. All infrastructure nodes communicate with a control center (master control room). If the driver violates traffic rule(s), then the infrastructure node will send an alert message to the control center. We have simulated our proposed model on a graphics package, and the simulation result suggests that drunken drivers can no longer escape from the law enforcers, which is the foundation for traffic safety. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Zipping Effect on Omniphobic Surfaces for Controlled Deposition of Minute Amounts of Fluid or Colloids
Authors: Dufour Renaud , Brunet Philippe , Harnois Maxime , Boukherroub Rabah , Thomy Vincent , Senez Vincent
Published: February 2012

When a drop sits on a highly liquid‐repellent surface (super‐hydrophobic or super‐omniphobic) made of periodic micrometer‐sized posts, its contact‐line can recede with very weak mechanical retention providing that the liquid stays on top of the microsized posts. Occurring in both sliding and evaporation processes, the achievement of low‐contact‐angle hysteresis (low retention) is required for discrete microfluidic applications involving liquid motion or self‐cleaning; however, careful examination shows that during receding, a minute amount of liquid is left on top of the posts lying at the receding edge of the drop. For the first time, the heterogeneities of these deposits along the drop‐receding contact‐line are underlined. Both nonvolatile liquid and particle‐laden water are used to quantitatively characterize what rules the volume distribution of deposited liquid. The experiments suggest that the dynamics of the liquid de‐pinning cascade is likely to select the volume left on a specific post, involving the pinch‐off and detachment of a liquid bridge. In an applied prospective, this phenomenon dismisses such surfaces for self‐cleaning purposes, but offers an original way to deposit controlled amounts of liquid and (bio)‐particles at well‐targeted locations.
Inapplicability of fractional moving blood volume technique to standardize Virtual Organ Computer‐aided AnaLysis indices for quantified three‐dimensional power Doppler
Authors: Welsh A. W. , Collins S. L. , Stevenson G. N. , Noble J. A. , Impey L.
Published: February 2012

Objective

To determine whether the technique of fractional moving blood volume (FMBV) is applicable to Virtual Organ Computer‐aided AnaLysis II (VOCAL II™)‐based indices to quantify three‐dimensional power Doppler ultrasound (3D‐PDU) by investigating the effect of gain level on the indices measured at a possible reference point for standardization.

Methods

Ten women with singleton pregnancy between 33 + 3 and 37 + 5  weeks' gestation were recruited. The optimal position for 3D acquisition of cord insertion into the placenta was identified and static 3D‐PDU volumes were acquired using consistent machine configurations. Without moving the probe or the participant changing position, successive 3D volumes were stored at −3, –5, –7 and −9 dB and at the individualized sub‐noise gain (SNG) level. Volumes were excluded if flash artifact was present, in which case all five volumes were reacquired. Using 4D View software, the cord insertion was magnified and the smallest sphere possible was used to measure vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI). The associations between VOCAL indices and gain level were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient.

Results

VOCAL indices for cord insertion correlated poorly with gain level, whether fundamental or relative to SNG level (R2 = 0.07 and 0.04, respectively). VI was consistently 100% and mean FI and VFI were 99.5 (SD, 0.57), with all values > 97 irrespective of gain level.

Conclusions

Whilst previous work has shown that gain correlates well with placental tissue VOCAL indices, the correlation between gain level and VOCAL indices in an area of 100% vascularity at the cord insertion is poor. Regions of 100% vascularity appear to be artificially assigned a value approaching 100% for all VOCAL indices irrespective of gain level. This precludes using the technique of VOCAL indices from large vessels to standardize power Doppler measurements and the FMBV index is therefore not applicable to image analysis using VOCAL.
Numerical and behavioural response of Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus on population growth of the expansive Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans
Authors: Skórka Piotr , Wójcik Joanna D. , Martyka Rafał , Lenda Magdalena
Published: February 2012

We monitored population size from 1996 to 2003 and studied behavioural interactions (in 2001) between the native Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusand an expansive, opportunistic predator, the Caspian GullLarus cachinnans, at water reservoirs in Poland. The expansive species caused a population decline in the native species and affected its choice of nest sites. The Black-headed Gulls perceived the risk of predation on the part of the larger Caspian Gulls. When both species occurred in close proximity, the native gull breeding pairs built nests where the vegetation was higher and its cover greater than at the sites chosen by pairs breeding far away from the expansive species. The native gulls in proximity to the expansive species spent more time guarding their nests. However, this was not compensatory, as egg losses were higher and breeding success much lower in pairs breeding near the Caspian Gulls than in those breeding far from the latter. Such a low breeding performance in the Black-headed Gulls was probably caused either by predation on the part of Caspian Gulls or by aggressive interactions among Black-headed Gulls. In fact, the rate of intraspecific aggression in native gulls was higher in pairs breeding in proximity to the expansive species than in those breeding far away from it. These intraspecific fights, caused by the presence of the expansive species were, at least partially, responsible for egg and chick losses. We did not find the presence of native gulls to have any effect on the behaviour and breeding performance of the expansive gull. These results indicate that the expansive predatory Caspian Gull negatively affects local population size and alters the behaviour of the native Black-headed Gull, and may, both directly and indirectly, affect its reproductive performance.
Clinical variability of isovaleric acidemia in a genetically homogeneous population
Authors: Dercksen M. , Duran M. , IJlst L. , Mienie L. J. , Reinecke C. J. , Ruiter J. P. N. , Waterham H. R. , Wanders R. J. A.
Published: February 2012

Isovaleric acidemia (IVA) is one of the most common organic acidemias found in South Africa. Since 1983, a significant number of IVA cases have been identified in approximately 20,000 Caucasian patients screened for metabolic defects. IVA is caused by an autosomal recessive deficiency of isovaleryl‐CoA dehydrogenase (IVD) resulting in the accumulation of isovaleryl‐CoA and its metabolites. In total, 10 IVA patients and three carriers were available for phenotypic and genotypic investigation in this study. All patients were found to be homozygous for a single c.367 G > A (p.G123R) mutation. The amino acid substitution of a glycine to arginine resulted in a markedly reduced steady‐state level of the IVD protein, which explains the nearly complete lack of IVD enzyme activity as assessed in fibroblast homogenates. Despite the genetic homogeneity of this South African IVA group, the clinical presentation varied widely, ranging from severe mental handicap and multiple episodes of metabolic derangement to an asymptomatic state. The variation may be due to poor dietary intervention, delayed diagnosis or even epigenetic and polygenetic factors of unknown origin.
Proliferation of Epithelial Cells on PDMS Substrates with Micropillars Fabricated with Different Curvature Characteristics
Authors: Ng C. K. M. , Yu K. N.
Published: February 2012

The present work studied the proliferation of epithelial cells when they were cultivated on substrates with micropillars fabricated with the same height but with different curvature characteristics. A special micro-fabrication method was employed to produce these micropillar substrates. Polyallyldiglycol carbonate (PADC) films were first irradiated by alpha particles and then chemically etched to reach or beyond the “transition” phase to form casts with micrometer-sized pits with the same depth, but with different size and shape. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) replicas of these PADC films then gave the desired substrates with micropillars with the same height but with different curvature characteristics. The micropillars on the PDMS substrates were found to be capable of changing the response of HeLa cells in terms of the percentages of cells in the S-phase and the attached cell numbers after 3-day cell culture. This demonstrated that the proliferation of the HeLa cells could be changed through mechanosensing the substrate curvature.
Localization of residues in a novel DNA‐binding domain of DmSNAP43 required for DmSNAPc DNA‐binding activity
Authors: Hung Ko-Hsuan , Stumph William E.
Published: February 2012

Transcription of snRNA genes depends upon the recognition of the proximal sequence element (PSE) by the snRNA activating protein complex SNAPc. In Drosophila melanogaster, all subunits of DmSNAPc (DmSNAP43, DmSNAP50, and DmSNAP190) are required for PSE‐binding activity. Previous work demonstrated that a non‐canonical DmSNAP43 domain bounded by residues 193–272 was essential for DmSNAPc to bind to the PSE. In this study, the contribution of amino acid residues within this domain to DNA binding by DmSNAPc was investigated by alanine‐scanning mutagenesis. The results have identified two clusters of residues within this domain required for the sequence‐specific DNA‐binding activity of DmSNAPc.
AN ARBITRARY INTERSECTION OFLp-SPACES
Authors: ABTAHI F. , AMINI H. G. , LOTFI H. A. , REJALI A.
Published: February 2012

For a locally compact groupGand an arbitrary subsetJof [1,∞], we introduceILJ(G) as a subspace of ⋂p∈JLp(G) with some norm to make it a Banach space. Then, for some special choice ofJ, we investigate some topological and algebraic properties ofILJ(G) as a Banach algebra under a convolution product.
JURISDICTION IN EMPLOYMENT MATTERS UNDER BRUSSELS I: A REASSESSMENT
Authors: Grušić Uglješa
Published: February 2012

This article examines the rules of jurisdiction in employment matters of Brussels I. It focuses on a paradox in that these rules aim to protect employees jurisdictionally, but in fact fail to accord employees a more favourable treatment when they need it most, namely when they appear as claimants. The article argues that the current rules fail to achieve the objective of employee protection, examines the reasons for this, proposes certain amendments that would improve the existing rules, and thereby engages in the debate surrounding the forthcoming review of Brussels I.
THE FUNCTION OF LITIGATION IN INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY
Authors: Lowe Vaughan
Published: February 2012

The title of this article1 is drawn from Sir Hersch Lauterpacht's famous monograph, published in 1933, entitled The Function of Law in the International Community.2 Writing in a decade when the shattering effects of the physical destruction wrought by World War I were giving way to the debilitating effects of the Great Depression, and when the invasions of Manchuria and Abyssinia would sit side-by-side with the rise of Fascism in Germany and the great Stalinist terror in Russia, Lauterpacht was, not unnaturally, seeking a better way to a peaceful future under the Rule of Law. At that time, the recently established International Court in The Hague was dealing with acutely political cases, such as the question of the compatibility of the Austro-German Customs Union with the post-war peace settlement;3 and the cool rationality of debate in the Peace Palace seemed to offer a better way.
II. THE PALMER REPORT AND THE LEGALITY OF ISRAEL'S NAVAL BLOCKADE OF GAZA
Authors: Buchan Russell
Published: February 2012

On 3 January 2009 Israel deployed a naval blockade against Gaza in order to prevent materials entering or leaving Gaza that could be used by Hamas in its ongoing armed conflict with Israel.1 With the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsening, on 31 May 2010 a flotilla of vessels carrying humanitarian aid expressed its intention to violate the naval blockade and deliver the aid to Gaza. Before violating the blockade and whilst still on the high seas, Israel sought to enforce its blockade and capture the vessels. This occurred largely without incident except in relation to the Mavi Marmara (a vessel sailing under the flag of the Comoros), which resisted capture by the Israeli special forces and continued to sail in the direction of Gaza. As Israel special forces boarded the Mavi violence ensued, with nine crew members of the Mavi being killed and dozens of others injured (principally Turkish nationals). Several members of Israel's special forces were also injured. Israel eventually assumed control of the ship and the crew members were detained and the vessel and its cargo confiscated.
The effect of grazing season length on nitrogen utilization efficiency and nitrogen balance in spring-calving dairy production systems
Authors: RYAN W. , HENNESSY D. , BOLAND T. M. , SHALLOO L.
Published: February 2012

There is a continual requirement for grass-based production systems to optimize economic and environmental sustainability through increased efficiency in the use of all inputs, especially nitrogen (N). An N balance model was used to assess N use efficiency and N surplus, and to predict N losses from grass-based dairy production systems differing in the length of the grazing season (GS). Data from a 3-year grazing study with a 3×3 factorial design, with three turnout dates (1 February, 21 February and 15 March) and three housing dates (25 October, 10 November and 25 November) were used to generate estimates of N use efficiency and N losses. As the length of the GS increased by a mean of 30 days, milk production, milk solids production and milk N output increased by 3, 6 and 6%, respectively. The increase in milk production as the length of the GS increased resulted in a 2% decline in N surplus and a 5% increase in N use efficiency. Increasing GS length increased the proportion of grazed grass in the diet, which increased N cycling within the system, resulting in an 8% increase in milk solids/ha produced/kg of surplus N. The increased cycling of N reduced the quantity of N partitioned for loss to the environment by 8%. Reducing fertilizer N input by 20% increased N use efficiency by 22% and reduced total N losses by 16%. The environmental and production consequences of increased length of the GS and reduced N loss are favourable as the costs associated with N inputs increase.
Hesitating before the Judgment of History
Authors: Brook Timothy
Published: February 2012

The ubiquitous experience of wartime collaboration in East Asia has not yet undergone the analysis that its counterpart in Europe has received. The difficulty has to do with the political legacies that the denunciation of collaboration legitimized, as well as the continuing hegemony of the discourse of nationalism. Both inhibitors encourage the condemnation of collaboration rather than its historicization. Reflecting briefly on the 1946 trial of Liang Hongzhi, China's first head of state under the Japanese, this essay argues that the historian's task is not to create moral knowledge, but to probe the presuppositions that bring the moral subject of the collaborator into being for us, and then ask whether real collaborators correspond to this moral subject. In the face of the natural impulse to render judgment, this essay argues for the wisdom of hesitation.
The occurrence ofTrichinella zimbabwensisin naturally infected wild crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) from the Kruger National Park, South Africa
Authors: La Grange L.J. , Govender D. , Mukaratirwa S.
Published: February 2012

Trichinella zimbabwensishas been found naturally infecting crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Ethiopia and South Africa, as well as monitor lizards (Varanus niloticus) in Zimbabwe. The reports on natural infections were mostly accidental rather than structured surveys and involved very few animals. Previous surveillance studies in South Africa reported a 38.5% prevalence ofT. zimbabwensisamong wild crocodiles tested from the Mpumalanga province and Kruger National Park (KNP). No studies have been conducted to date on the geographical distribution and occurrence ofT. zimbabwensisin wild crocodiles and varans in countries in southern Africa. Recent outbreaks of pansteatitis in crocodile populations of the KNP, South Africa, provided an opportunity to conduct a more structured survey aimed at elucidating the occurrence and distribution ofT. zimbabwensisin culled wild crocodile populations within the KNP. Results from this study showed thatT. zimbabwensisoccurred in 10 out of 12 culled crocodiles form the KNP. The results also showed that the natural distribution ofT. zimbabwensisin crocodiles includes all the major river systems in the KNP. The predilection sites of larvae in muscles followed a different pattern in naturally infected crocodiles compared to observations in experimentally infected mammalian hosts.
Interactions among four parasite species in an amphipod population from Patagonia
Authors: Rauque C.A. , Semenas L.
Published: February 2012

Parasites commonly share their hosts with specimens of the same or different parasite species, resulting in multiple parasites obtaining resources from the same host. This could potentially lead to conflicts between co-infecting parasites, especially at high infection intensities. In Pool Los Juncos (Patagonia, Argentina), the amphipodHyalella patagonicais an intermediate host to three parasites that mature in birds (the acanthocephalanPseudocorynosomasp. and larval stages of two Cyclophyllidea cestodes), in addition to a microsporidian (Thelohaniasp.), whose life cycle is unknown, but very likely to be monoxenous. The aim of this study was to describe interactions between these parasite species in their amphipod host population. Amphipods were collected monthly between June 2002 and January 2004 to assess parasite infection. Infection prevalence and mean intensity were greatest in larger male amphipods for all parasite species. We also found a positive association betweenThelohaniasp. and bothPseudocorynosomasp. and Cyclophyllidea sp. 1 infections, thoughPseudocorynosomasp. and Cyclophyllidea sp. 1 were negatively associated with each other. We conclude that contrasting associations between parasite species may be associated with competition for both food intake and space in the haemocoel.
Short-pulse dielectric two-beam acceleration
Authors: GAI W. , POWER J. G. , JING C.
Published: February 2012

We are exploring a new parameter space of the two-beam acceleration (TBA) scheme based on an ultra-short (~20 ns) rf pulse in a dielectric TBA. All two-beam accelerators (TBAs) use an electron drive beam to generate high-power rf in a decelerator and extract this power to drive an accelerating structure to high gradient. Typically, the rf pulse is on the order of hundreds of ns or greater in order to maintain good rf-to-beam efficiency. However, recent scaling arguments show that the rf breakdown threshold improves with decreasing rf pulse length, so it desirable to find a way to run at short-pulse length with good efficiency. In this paper, we discuss how we chose the design parameters of a short-pulse TBA for a TeV linear collider module. We then present plans for an experimental program to demonstrate TBA at Argonne wakefield accelerator (AWA) facility including high-power rf generation, high-gradient acceleration, and staging.
Non-equilibrium modeling of the PMSE Overshoot Effect revisited: A comprehensive study
Authors: BIEBRICHER ALEXANDER , HAVNES OVE
Published: February 2012

Numerical investigations of the Polar Mesosphere Summer Echoes (PMSE) Overshoot Effect have to date been undertaken under the premise of plasma neutrality and current equilibrium at any time. We find it necessary to revisit the calculations without these restrictions, since electrons and ions are attached to and absorbed by mesospheric dust particles at vastly different rates under PMSE conditions. We find that differences to earlier modeling might be so significant as to warrant further investigation. Furthermore, we conduct comprehensive studies of the PMSE Overshoot Effect and put the results in the context of experimental realities.
Connecting People: A Central Asian Sufi network in turn-of-the-century Istanbul
Authors: CAN LÂLE
Published: February 2012

The role of Sufi networks in facilitating trans-imperial travel and the concomitant social and political connections associated with the pilgrimage to Mecca is often mentioned in the literature on Ottoman-Central Asian relations, yet very little is known about how these networks operated or the people who patronized them. This paper focuses on the Sultantepe Özbekler Tekkesi, a Naqshbandi lodge in Istanbul that was a primary locus of Ottoman state interactions with Central Asians and a major hub of Central Asian diasporic networks. It departs from an exclusive focus on the experiences of elites, to which much of the conventional historiography on Ottoman-Central Asian relations has confined itself, and examines the butchers and bakers, craftsmen and students who set out on the hajj to Mecca in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Drawing on sources from the private archive of this lodge, the paper reconstructs the experiences of a diverse range of remarkably mobile actors and explores the myriad ways in which this Ottoman-administered institution facilitated their travel to and from Mecca. Through its focus on the conduits and mediators, the structures and buildings—the actual sites—where connections were forged, the paper sheds light on the role that such state-administered Sufi lodges played in delivering on the paternalistic rhetoric and system of sultanic charity that was an integral part of late Ottoman politics and society.
New insights into the ecology and biology of Acanthocheilonema reconditum (Grassi, 1889) causing canine subcutaneous filariosis
Authors: BRIANTI EMANUELE , GAGLIO GABRIELLA , NAPOLI ETTORE , GIANNETTO SALVATORE , DANTAS-TORRES FILIPE , BAIN ODILE , OTRANTO DOMENICO
Published: February 2012

In spite of its wide distribution among dogs and the evidence of its implication as a zoonotic agent, scant information is available on the biology of Acanthocheilonema reconditum (Spirurida, Onchocercidae). In this study, blood samples from 152 Sicilian dogs were examined for A. reconditum microfilariae at the beginning of the study and 1 year later. The periodicity of microfilaraemia was investigated by bleeding 2 highly microfilaraemic dogs twice a day for 10 days and, later on, every 2 weeks for 1 year and a third animal every 3 h for 96 h. Fleas and ticks infesting dogs were collected and dissected for the detection of A. reconditum larvae. The prevalence of infestation was 11·2% (17/152) and 13·3% (16/120) at the beginning and at the end of the study, with a 1 year cumulative incidence of 5·9%. Although dogs bled twice a day showed a higher number of microfilariae in most of the morning samples, the absence of any circadian rhythm was suggested by data of the third experiment conducted by bleeding a dog every 3 h for 4 days. A. reconditum developing forms were detected in 5·1% (4/78) of dissected fleas, but not in any of the 272 ticks. The study provides new insights into the biology and ecology of this dog filarioid in its definitive and intermediate hosts.
Proteomic analysis of Plasmodium in the mosquito: progress and pitfalls
Authors: WASS M. N. , STANWAY R. , BLAGBOROUGH A. M. , LAL K. , PRIETO J. H. , RAINE D. , STERNBERG M. J. E. , TALMAN A. M. , TOMLEY F. , YATES J. , SINDEN R. E.
Published: February 2012

Here we discuss proteomic analyses of whole cell preparations of the mosquito stages of malaria parasite development (i.e. gametocytes, microgamete, ookinete, oocyst and sporozoite) of Plasmodium berghei. We also include critiques of the proteomes of two cell fractions from the purified ookinete, namely the micronemes and cell surface. Whereas we summarise key biological interpretations of the data, we also try to identify key methodological constraints we have met, only some of which we were able to resolve. Recognising the need to translate the potential of current genome sequencing into functional understanding, we report our efforts to develop more powerful combinations of methods for the in silico prediction of protein function and location. We have applied this analysis to the proteome of the male gamete, a cell whose very simple structural organisation facilitated interpretation of data. Some of the in silico predictions made have now been supported by ongoing protein tagging and genetic knockout studies. We hope this discussion may assist future studies.
Differences in the ecology ofBartonellainfections ofApodemus flavicollisandMyodes glareolusin a boreal forest
Authors: PAZIEWSKA A. , HARRIS P. D. , ZWOLIŃSKA L. , BAJER A. , SIŃSKI E.
Published: February 2012

The epidemiology ofBartonellaspecies infectingApodemus flavicollisandMyodes glareolusin a forest in Eastern Poland was followed for 2 years using mark-recapture. Infections could be acquired in any month, but prevalence, and probability of infection, peaked in the summer. There were significant differences in the pattern of infections between the two species. Both hosts were primarily infected as juveniles, but the probability of infection was highest forA. flavicollis, which, evidence suggests, experienced longer-lasting infections with a wider range ofBartonellagenotypes. There was no evidence of increased host mortality associated withBartonella,although the infection did affect the probability of recapture. Animals could become re-infected, generally by differentBartonellagenotypes. Several longer lasting, poorly resolved infections ofA. flavicollisinvolved more than 1 genotype, and may have resulted from sequential infections. Of 22Bartonella gltAgenotypes collected, only 2 (bothB. grahamii) were shared between mice and voles; all others were specific either toA. flavicollisor toM. glareolus,and had their nearest relatives infectingMicrotusspecies in neighbouring fields. This heterogeneity in the patterns ofBartonellainfections in wild rodents emphasizes the need to consider variation between both, host species andBartonellagenotypes in ecological and epidemiological studies.
Bridging the gap between social and existential-mystical interpretations of Schleiermacher's ‘feeling’
Authors: ANDREJČ GORAZD
Published: February 2012

The article engages with two contemporary understandings of Schleiermacher's notion of feeling which are in important aspects in conflict: a social understanding (Kevin W. Hector and Christine Helmer) and an existential-mystical understanding (Thandeka). Using the phenomenological category of ‘existential feelings’ drawn from the work of Matthew Ratcliffe, I argue that they can be brought into a coherent overall account that recognizes different aspects of feeling in Schleiermacher's work. I also suggest that such an interpretation of Schleiermacher's concept of religious feeling offers a different and better understanding of the role of feelings in religious experience and belief than the contemporary ‘perception-model’ of religious experience.
Impacts of internal and external policies on land change in Uruguay, 2001–2009
Authors: REDO DANIEL J. , AIDE T. MITCHELL , CLARK MATTHEW L. , ANDRADE-NÚÑEZ MARÍA JOSÉ
Published: February 2012

Policies play a pivotal role in determining land change. Uruguay has been subject to first a rise and then decline in plantations of exotic trees as a result of internal Uruguayan government policies, and a recent substantial increase in soybean cultivation that may be attributed to Argentinean policies. To properly assess the relationship between land change and changes in land-use policies, vegetation change for Uruguay from 2001 to 2009 was mapped using MODIS imagery. Between 2001 and 2009, the area covered by exotic tree plantations declined by 1435 km2, and 34 681 km2of herbaceous cover was converted to agricultural cover, mainly soybean cultivation. Uruguay and Argentina implemented land-use policy changes following the 2002 economic collapse. Rapid increase in exotic tree plantations, mainly in the 1990s, may have been stimulated by Uruguayan government incentives, while their recent decline coincides with the subsequent elimination of these incentives. The rapid increase in soybean production may be largely attributed to recent tax regimes in Argentina and lack of export tax in Uruguay combining to provide a favourable financial climate for Uruguayan soybean cultivation. Soybean cultivation is predicted to continue to expand in Uruguay, while exotic tree plantations should also increase in importance owing to the recent establishment of the world's largest pulp mill.
The prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in broiler flocks and on broiler carcases, and the risks associated with highly contaminated carcases
Authors: POWELL L. F. , LAWES J. R. , CLIFTON-HADLEY F. A. , RODGERS J. , HARRIS K. , EVANS S. J. , VIDAL A.
Published: February 2012

A baseline survey on the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in broiler flocks and Campylobacter spp. on broiler carcases in the UK was performed in 2008 in accordance with Commission Decision 2007/516/EC. Pooled caecal contents from each randomly selected slaughter batch, and neck and breast skin from a single carcase were examined for Campylobacter spp. The prevalence of Campylobacter in the caeca of broiler batches was 75·8% (303/400) compared to 87·3% (349/400) on broiler carcases. Overall, 27·3% of the carcases were found to be highly contaminated with Campylobacter (⩾1000 c.f.u./g). Slaughter in the summer months (June, July, August) [odds ratio (OR) 3·50], previous partial depopulation of the flock (OR 3·37), and an increased mortality at 14 days (⩾1·25% to <1·75%) (OR 2·54) were identified as significant risk factors for the most heavily Campylobacter-contaminated carcases. Four poultry companies and farm location were also found to be significantly associated with highly contaminated carcases.