bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BAYESIAN ANALYSIS OF THE MASS DISTRIBUTION OF NEUTRON STARS
Authors: VALENTIM RODOLFO , HORVATH JORGE E. , RANGEL ERALDO M.
Published: January 2012

The distribution of masses for neutron stars is analyzed using the Bayesian statistical inference, evaluating the likelihood of two a priori gaussian peaks distribution by using fifty-five measured points obtained in a variety of systems. The results strongly suggest the existence of a bimodal distribution of the masses, with the first peak around 1.35M⊙ ± 0.06 M ⊙ and a much wider second peak at 1.73M⊙ ± 0.36 M ⊙. We compared the two gaussian's model centered at 1.35M⊙ and 1.55M⊙ against a "single gaussian" model with 1.50M⊙ ± 0.11 M ⊙ using 3σ that provided a wide peak covering objects the full range of observed of masses. In order to compare models, BIC (Baysesian Information Criterion) can be used and a strong evidence for two distributions model against one peak model was found. The results support earlier views related to the different evolutionary histories of the members for the first two peaks, which produces a natural separation (in spite that no attempt to "label" the systems has been made). However, the recently claimed low-mass group, possibly related to O - Mg - Ne core collapse events, has a monotonically decreasing likelihood and has not been identified within this sample.
MASS, RADIUS AND MOMENT OF INERTIA OF NEUTRON STARS
Authors: BELVEDERE RICCARDO , ARMANDO RUEDA JORGE , RUFFINI REMO
Published: January 2012

We construct the ground-state equilibrium configurations of neutron star cores. The system of equilibrium equations, taking into account quantum statistics, electro-weak, and strong interactions, is formulated within the framework of general relativity both in the rotating and non-rotating spherically symmetric case. The core is assumed to be composed of interacting degenerate neutrons, protons and electrons in beta equilibrium. The strong interaction between nucleons is mediated by the sigma-omega-rho virtual mesons. The mass-radius relation for neutron star cores is obtained for various parametrizations of the nuclear model. The equilibrium conditions are given by our recently developed theoretical framework based on the Einstein-Maxwell-Thomas-Fermi equations along with the constancy of the general relativistic Fermi energies of particles, the "Klein potentials", throughout the configuration. These equations are here solved numerically in the case of zero temperatures and for selected parameterizations of the nuclear model. We present here the new neutron star mass-radius relation.
A RELATIVISTIC EFFECTIVE MODEL WITH PARAMETERIZED COUPLINGS FOR NEUTRON STARS
Authors: MARTÍNEZ AURORA PÉREZ , ROJAS HUGO PÉREZ , PARET DARYEL MANREZA , MESQUITA ALEXANDRE , RAZEIRA MOISÉS , VASCONCELLOS CÉSAR A. Z. , GOMES ROSANA O. , HADJIMICHEF DIMITER
Published: January 2012

We present a relativistic effective model with derivative couplings which includes genuine many-body forces simulated by nonlinear interaction terms involving scalar-isoscalar (σ, σ*), vector-isoscalar (ω, ɸ), vector-isovector (ϱ), scalar-isovector (δ) mesons. The effective model presented in this work has a philosophy quite similar to the original version of the model with parameterized couplings. But unlike that, in which the parametrization is directly inserted in the coupling constants of the Glendenning model, we present here a method for the derivation of the parametric dependence of the coupling terms, in a way that allows in one side to consistently justify this parametrization and in the other to extend in a coherent way the range of possibilities of parameterizations in effective models with derivative couplings. The extended model is then applied to the description of the mass of neutron stars.
ON THE STABILITY OF THE DILATON MEAN FIELD
Authors: CABO ALEJANDRO , ROOS MATTS , ERFANI ENCIEH
Published: January 2012

The extension of study done in a previous work about the dilaton mean field stabilization thanks to the potential generated by massive fermions, is reviewed. Three loop corrections were evaluated in addition to the previously calculated two loop terms. The results indicate that the dilaton vacuum field tend to be fixed at a high value close to the Planck scale, in accordance with the need for predicting Einstein gravity from string theory. Moreover, the mass of the dilaton is evaluated to be also a high value close to the Planck mass, which implies the absence of dilaton scalar signals in modern cosmological observations. These properties arise when the fermion mass is chosen to be either at a lower bound corresponding to the top quark mass, or alternatively, at a very much higher value assumed to be in the grand unification energy range.
EXOTIC CARBON SYSTEMS IN TWO-NEUTRON HALO THREE-BODY MODELS
Authors: TOMIO LAURO , DELFINO ANTONIO , FREDERICO TOBIAS , HADIZADEH M. R. , YAMASHITA M. T. , MARQUES DE CARVALHO RAQUEL S.
Published: January 2012

The general properties of exotic carbon systems, considered as a core with a two-neutron (n - n) halo, are described within a renormalized zero-range three-body model. In particular, it is addressed the cases with a core of 18C and 20C. In such a three-body framework, 20C has a bound subsystem (19C), whereas 22C has a Borromean structure with all subsystems unbound. 22C is also known as the heaviest carbon halo nucleus discovered. The spatial distributions of such weakly-bound three-body systems are studied in terms of a universal scaling function, which depends on the mass ratio of the particles, as well as on the nature of the subsystems.
CONCLUDING REMARKS TO THE STARS 2011
Authors: HORVATH JORGE E.
Published: January 2012

We highlight and discuss the several scientific contributions to the STARS 2011 Workshop held in Havana.
GIS-based techniques for assessing the vulnerability of buildings to tsunami: current approaches and future steps
Authors: Tarbotton C. , Dominey-Howes D. , Goff J. R. , Papathoma-Kohle M. , Dall'Osso F. , Turner I. L.
Published: January 2012

The Papathoma Tsunami Vulnerability Assessment (PTVA) model offers a GIS (geographical information system)-based method of estimating the vulnerability of buildings to a potential tsunami threat. In the absence of fully validated building fragility curves, it provides an effective means of identifying vulnerable buildings/populations and estimating the loss associated with a tsunami. However, the PTVA model is limited by a number of factors, including a poor representation of the tsunami hazard, insufficient field testing/validation, and a data intensive and highly qualitative framework. These limitations significantly reduce its capacity as an accurate and practical tool for end users, such as emergency services and community planners. Presented in this paper is an extensive review of the PTVA methodology and recommendations on how the PTVA model can be improved to address the needs of end users. It is argued that the most recent version of the PTVA model, PTVA-3, offers the best available method for assessing the vulnerability of buildings to tsunamis. As such, the future development of new, and the refinement of existing, GIS-based tsunami vulnerability assessment techniques should consider the PTVA-3 model as the baseline.
Earthquake catastrophe models in disaster response planning, risk mitigation and financing in developing countries in Asia
Authors: Winspear Nigel , Musulin Rade , Sharma Mohan
Published: January 2012

Earthquake catastrophe models combine simulated earthquake hazard intensity parameters, such as ground-shaking intensity and liquefaction potential, with spatial data layers describing the geography and vulnerability of exposed assets at risk (property, populations and infrastructure) to calculate the probability of loss. There is significant scope for applying catastrophe models to disaster relief planning, risk mitigation and financing, especially for earthquake-prone developing economies in Asia. Potential uses of earthquake catastrophe models in these areas include the following.

Estimating probable levels of damage across an area resulting from a range of possible earthquake events. These estimates are useful in assessing the scale of the response required when an earthquake event actually occurs and for devising a realistic plan for the disaster response effort.

Quantifying the humanitarian and economic benefit of introducing or upgrading existing risk mitigation measures in advance of their introduction; and assessing the loss potential of possible sites for future infrastructure and/or industrial facilities.

Quantifying risk metrics fundamental to the pricing of financial risk transfer solutions that enable the transfer of the cost of relief and reconstruction away from the damaged national economy, thereby cushioning it from financial shock caused by major earthquake damage.
Geological hazards of SW Natib Volcano, site of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, the Philippines
Authors: Lagmay A. M. F. , Rodolfo R. , Cabria H. , Soria J. , Zamora P. , Abon C. , Lit C. , Lapus M. R. T. , Paguican E. , Bato M. G. , Tiu G. , Obille E. , Pellejera N. E. , Francisco P. C. , Eco R. N. , Aviso J.
Published: January 2012

The SW sector of Mount Natib, a potentially active volcano in the Bataan volcanic arc in western Luzon, is the site of a mothballed nuclear power plant that members of the national legislature have proposed to activate. Detailed geological fieldwork was conducted to assess the capability of the volcano and to identify any volcanic hazards it might pose to the nuclear plant. The nearest eruptive centre is 5.5 km away from the plant. SW Natib Volcano is underlain by lava flows, lahar deposits and at least six pyroclastic density current (PDC) deposits, three directly underlying the nuclear reactor facility. A fault trending N30°E is aligned with the Lubao Fault, a capable fault NE of the volcanic edifice. Radon emissions at the traces of these faults are high and comparable to those at known active faults. An associated thrust fault at the nuclear site cuts through lahars up to the ground surface. The results presented here can be used for general hazard preparedness of local communities, and may assist the government to decide whether or not to recommission the nuclear power plant.
Exploratory spatial analysis of typhoon characteristics in the North Pacific basin
Authors: Feng Chen-Chieh , Terry James P.
Published: January 2012

This paper analyses the spatial pattern of three tropical storm migratory behaviour parameters – track sinuosity, minimum pressure and duration of intense typhoons. The best-track data of the western North Pacific basin archived by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center in Tokyo were used. The local Getis–Ord
G

i

*
(
d
) statistic (where
d
is distance) was employed in a geographical information system (GIS) environment to identify clusters of hot spots and cold spots of the three parameters. The analysis of storm-track sinuosity identified one dominant hot-spot cluster of sinuously tracking storms far from the continental margins of the North Pacific Ocean, with three small cold-spot clusters of straight-tracking storms relatively close to mainland SE Asia. The analysis of the second and third parameters revealed extensive overlap between the cluster of very intense typhoons (i.e. hot-spot cluster of minimum pressure, mean 926 hPa) and the cluster of long-duration typhoons (i.e. hot-spot cluster of duration at typhoon intensity, mean 5.4 days). The findings suggest that the Philippines and the Northern Marianas Islands are vulnerable to strike by both longer-lived and extremely violent typhoons. Overall, the technique highlights the strong potential for statistical clustering analysis to visualize and understand geospatial patterns in typhoon meteorological characteristics.
Geovisualization of tropical cyclone behaviour in the South Pacific
Authors: Gienko Gennady A. , Terry James P.
Published: January 2012

A combination of computational power, dynamic graphics and geographical information system (GIS) packages creates a powerful platform for advanced visualization tools to explore complex geographical phenomena in an interactive computer environment – known as geovisualization. Geovisualization is a relatively new computer-based approach that refers to a set of methods and techniques to support geospatial data analysis through the use of four-dimensional (4D), multi-variable and interactive visualization. In this paper, we illustrate and discuss the value of several spatialization techniques that are used to perform analysis of spatial structures of climatic and meteorological elements, especially through the geovisualization of characteristics and behaviour of tropical cyclones in the South Pacific Ocean. Preliminary findings are encouraging, allowing patterns and dependencies between chosen cyclone features to be identified, in turn indicating the enormous potential of geovisualization for analysing multi-variate spatial attributes within large tropical cyclone datasets.
The value of a Pacific-wide tsunami database to risk reduction: putting theory into practice
Authors: Goff James R. , Chagué-Goff Catherine , Terry James P.
Published: January 2012

The recent 2011 Tōhoku Tsunami showed yet again the devastating impact that these events can have on coastal communities. Even prior to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami there had been a growing awareness of the need to document a record of past tsunamis for risk reduction purposes. The bulk of such early databases were based on historical data. Only in recent years have palaeotsunami databases started to be collated. When one considers that the Pacific region accounts for 85% of known historical tsunamis worldwide, it is unsettling that we have only documented 11 palaeotsunamis throughout all Pacific Island countries (PICs). The way forward to enhance our understanding of palaeotsunamis, and to better understand the magnitude and frequency of events from local, regional and distant Pacific sources, is to gather data from each PIC. By collating data from each island it should be possible to map the spatial and temporal distribution of past events over the last several thousand years throughout the entire Pacific region. These data will provide the essential baseline information needed for achieving more effective disaster risk reduction for PICs.
Flood generation during the SW monsoon season in northern Thailand
Authors: Lim Han She , Boochabun Kanokporn
Published: January 2012

This paper analyses the annual floods for the city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand using a relatively long dataset (1921–2009) to study the mechanisms behind flood generation in this region. Four floods of different magnitudes were chosen for the empirical analysis. Daily rainfall, flow and baseflow data are analysed together with information about tropical storm occurrence–frequency and El Ninõ Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events to identify the occurrence and causes of floods. We found that floods are caused by a variety of factors but the most extreme floods are often caused by a combination of wet catchment conditions and heavy rainfall due to monsoonal effects or tropical storms. Tropical storms play a variable role in that their occurrence in the earlier part of the monsoon season may only wet up the catchment and have no part to play in the peak-flow generation. However, heavy rainfall due to tropical storms during the later part of the monsoon season may result in extreme floods. Typhoon Damrey (2005) is such an example as a 100 year flood event occurred after the passage of this typhoon across northern Thailand. Flood forecasting and management therefore need more high-resolution information about rainfall patterns and tropical storm activity.
Marine inundation hazards in French Polynesia: geomorphic impacts of Tropical Cyclone Oli in February 2010
Authors: Etienne Samuel
Published: January 2012

Marine inundation hazards in French Polynesia are various and unevenly distributed in the territory; they are strongly related to the physiography (topography, bathymetry, coral reef development) of these oceanic islands. Cyclones and tsunamis appear as predominant processes in the definition of coastal flooding risks for Polynesian people. This study examines the geomorphic impacts of Tropical Cyclone Oli, which struck the western part of French Polynesia in February 2010. Submarine reef erosion is quantified through coral colony degree of destruction and massive coral colony displacement. Sediment transport and beach retreat are quantified, and flow velocities at the coastline are estimated through boulder analysis. Erosion and resilience of a sandy bank (cay) at the reef margin is also considered on Tubuai Island through satellite image analysis and GPS field survey. Outer-reef slope angle appears as a major control factor for coral destruction, with vertical submarine cliffs relatively shielded compared to gentle slopes. Submarine boulder measurements provide valuable estimates of flow velocity profile with depth. Beachrock slab measurements also provide estimates of flow velocities at the reef–beach junction. Combining these different geomorphic markers might be a way to apprehend the flow velocity variation when the cyclone waves cross the coral reef.
Partial factorization of a dense symmetric indefinite matrix
Authors: Reid John K. , Scott Jennifer A.
Published: January 2012

At the heart of a frontal or multifrontal solver for the solution of sparse symmetric sets of linear equations, there is the need to partially factorize dense matrices (the frontal matrices) and to be able to use their factorizations in subsequent forward and backward substitutions. For a large problem, packing (holding only the lower or upper triangular part) is important to save memory. It has long been recognized that blocking is the key to efficiency and this has become particularly relevant on modern hardware. For stability in the indefinite case, the use of interchanges and 2 × 2 pivots as well as 1 × 1 pivots is equally well established. In this article, the challenge of using these three ideas (packing, blocking, and pivoting) together is addressed to achieve stable factorizations of large real-world symmetric indefinite problems with good execution speed.

The ideas are not restricted to frontal and multifrontal solvers and are applicable whenever partial or complete factorizations of dense symmetric indefinite matrices are needed.
Design, implementation, and analysis of maximum transversal algorithms
Authors: Duff Iain S. , Kaya Kamer , Uçcar Bora
Published: January 2012

We report on careful implementations of seven algorithms for solving the problem of finding a maximum transversal of a sparse matrix. We analyze the algorithms and discuss the design choices. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive comparison of maximum transversal algorithms based on augmenting paths. Previous papers with the same objective either do not have all the algorithms discussed in this article or they used nonuniform implementations from different researchers. We use a common base to implement all of the algorithms and compare their relative performance on a wide range of graphs and matrices. We systematize, develop, and use several ideas for enhancing performance. One of these ideas improves the performance of one of the existing algorithms in most cases, sometimes significantly. So much so that we use this as the eighth algorithm in comparisons.
High reliability virtual organizations
Authors: Grabowski Martha , Roberts Karlene
Published: January 2012

Highly reliable organizations (HROs) are those organizations, which by nature or design, cannot or must not fail; the consequences of failure in such systems are usually catastrophic. Systems that combine the characteristics of highly reliable operations and distributed, virtual organizations are known as highly reliable virtual organizations (HRVOs)—distributed and electronically linked groups of organizations that excel in high-consequence settings. Tsunami warning systems (TWS) are one example of virtual organizations that operate under enormous expectations for reliability. Adaptive structuration theory suggests that, in complex systems, technology and organizational structures co-evolve, and users adapt technology to their needs, creating shared meaning about the role and utility of technology in various settings. In this article, we consider how the shared meaning that develops in the social shaping of technology in one HRVO, tsunami warning systems, contributes to reliability enhancement. Following Poole and DeSanctis [2000], this study is a structuration study in a particular context, exploring how structuration occurs, the conditions that influence it, and its consequences or outcomes. We begin by describing HRVOs and the co-adaptive roles that technology and organizational structures play in such organizations. We then describe a global tsunami warning system as an illustrative case of a globally distributed sociotechnical system for which use of technology and distributed organizational structures should enhance reliability. We describe how social media plays a role in adaptive structuration in tsunami warning systems, and then return to consider the nature of HRVOs and their characteristics, en route to identifying challenges in the co-adaptation of technology and organizational structures in highly reliable tsunami warning systems.
Socio-cognitive aspects of interoperability
Authors: Kwon Gyu Hyun , Smith-Jackson Tonya L. , Bostian Charles W.
Published: January 2012

Emergency communication systems (ECS) are a key element in collaborations among different public safety organizations. The need for interoperability in emergency communication systems has hastened the development of interoperable communication technology that is an enabling technology to automatically identify environmental variables including appropriate radio frequencies and to connect different networks used by different organizations. Even though the technology has been researched from many perspectives and has shown that is possible to connect different organizations, there still remain many issues in terms of socio-cognitive aspects. Thus, this study examines the socio-cognitive dimensions of interoperability, which equal the technical dimensions of the problem in importance. The existential-phenomenological study reported here used semistructured interviews to reconceptualize interoperability in the public safety communication domain. Based on 11 interviews with public safety workers, five important factors were identified that have a major impact on the effectiveness of interoperable groups: information sharedness, operational awareness, communication readiness, adaptiveness, and coupledness. Based on these main concepts, high-level suggestions are provided to guide the design of a new public safety communication system. The results can be directly applied to identify the requirements of communication systems and can be extended to design collaboration systems under stressful environments.
Supporting common ground and awareness in emergency management planning
Authors: Convertino Gregorio , Mentis Helena M. , Slavkovic Aleksandra , Rosson Mary Beth , Carroll John M.
Published: January 2012

We present a design research project on knowledge sharing and activity awareness in distributed emergency management planning. In three experiments we studied groups using three different prototypes, respectively: a paper-prototype in a collocated work setting, a first software prototype in a distributed setting, and a second, enhanced software prototype in a distributed setting. In this series of studies we tried to better understand the processes of knowledge sharing and activity awareness in complex cooperative work by developing and investigating new tools that can support these processes. We explicate the design rationale behind each prototype and report the results of each experiment investigating it. We discuss how the results from each prototyping phase brought us closer to defining properties of a system that facilitate the sharing and awareness of both content and process knowledge. Our designs enhanced aspects of distributed group performance, in some respects beyond that of comparable face-to-face groups.
The Team Coordination Game
Authors: Toups Dugas Phoebe O. , Kerne Andruid , Hamilton William A.
Published: January 2012

Crisis response engenders a high-stress environment in which teams gather, transform, and mutually share information. Prior educational approaches have not successfully addressed these critical skills. The assumption has been that the highest fidelity simulations result in the best learning. Deploying high-fidelity simulations is expensive and dangerous; they do not address team coordination. Low-fidelity approaches are ineffective because they are not stressful.

Zero-fidelity simulation
develops and invokes the principle of abstraction, focusing on human-information and human-human transfers of meaning, to derive design from work practice. Our principal hypothesis is that crisis responders will experience zero-fidelity simulation as effective simulation of team coordination. We synthesize the sustained iterative design and evaluation of the Team Coordination Game. We develop and apply new experimental methods to show that participants learn to cooperate and communicate, applying what they learn in practice. Design implications address how to employ the abstraction principle to develop zero-fidelity simulations.
EventGuard
Authors: Srivatsa Mudhakar , Liu Ling , Iyengar Arun
Published: January 2012

Publish-subscribe (pub-sub) is an emerging paradigm for building a large number of distributed systems. A wide area pub-sub system is usually implemented on an overlay network infrastructure to enable information dissemination from publishers to subscribers. Using an open overlay network raises several security concerns such as: confidentiality and integrity, authentication, authorization and Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks. In this article we present EventGuard, a framework for building secure wide-area pub-sub systems. The EventGuard architecture is comprised of three key components: (1) a suite of security guards that can be seamlessly plugged-into a content-based pub-sub system, (2) a scalable key management algorithm to enforce access control on subscribers, and (3) a resilient pub-sub network design that is capable of scalable routing, handling message dropping-based DoS attacks, and node failures. The design of EventGuard mechanisms aims at providing security guarantees while maintaining the system’s overall simplicity, scalability, and performance metrics. We describe an implementation of the EventGuard pub-sub system to show that EventGuard is easily stackable on any content-based pub-sub core. We present detailed experimental results that quantify the overhead of the EventGuard pub-sub system and demonstrate its resilience against various attacks.
Experiences after Twenty Months with Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Infection in the Naïve Norwegian Pig Population
Authors: Gjerset B. , Er C. , Løtvedt S. , Jørgensen A. , Hungnes O. , Lium B. , Germundsson A.
Published: January 2012

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza A virus was detected in Norwegian pigs in October 2009. Until then, Norway was regarded free of swine influenza. Intensified screening revealed 91 positive herds within three months. The virus was rapidly transmitted to the susceptible population, including closed breeding herds with high biosecurity. Humans were important for the introduction as well as spread of the virus to pigs. Mild or no clinical signs were observed in infected pigs. Surveillance of SIV in 2010 revealed that 41% of all the Norwegian pig herds had antibodies to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus. Furthermore, this surveillance indicated that pigs born in positive herds after the active phase did not seroconvert, suggesting no ongoing infection in the herds. However, results from surveillance in 2011 show a continuing spread of the infection in many herds, either caused by new introduction or by virus circulation since 2009.
Venus Figurines of the European Paleolithic: Symbols of Fertility or Attractiveness?
Authors: Dixson Alan F. , Dixson Barnaby J.
Published: January 2012

The earliest known representations of the human female form are the European Paleolithic “Venus figurines,” ranging in age from 23,000 to 25,000 years. We asked participants to rate images of Paleolithic figurines for their attractiveness, age grouping and reproductive status. Attractiveness was positively correlated with measures of the waist-to hip ratio (WHR) of figurines, consistent with the “sexually attractive symbolism” hypothesis. However, most figurines had high WHRs (>1.0) and received low attractiveness scores. Participants rated most figurines as representing middle-aged or young adult women, rather than being adolescent or older (postmenopausal). While some were considered to represent pregnant women, consistent with the “fertility symbol” hypothesis, most were judged as being non-pregnant. Some figurines depict obese, large-breasted women, who are in their mature reproductive years and usually regarded as being of lower attractiveness. At the time these figurines were made, Europe was in the grip of a severe ice age. Obesity and survival into middle age after multiple pregnancies may have been rare in the European Upper Paleolithic. We suggest that depictions of corpulent, middle-aged females were not “Venuses” in any conventional sense. They may, instead, have symbolized the hope for survival and longevity, within well-nourished and reproductively successful communities.
Temperature Dependence of GaN HEMT Small Signal Parameters
Authors: Darwish Ali M. , Ibrahim Amr A. , Hung H. Alfred
Published: January 2012

This study presents the temperature dependence of small signal parameters of GaN/SiC HEMTs across the 0–150°C range. The changes with temperature for transconductance (), output impedance ( and ), feedback capacitance (), input capacitance (), and gate resistance () are measured. The variations with temperature are established for , , , , , and in the GaN technology. This information is useful for MMIC designs.
Photocatalytic Properties of Nitrogen-Doped Bi12TiO20Synthesized by Urea Addition Sol-Gel Method
Authors: Wei Jiyong , Huang Baibiao , Wang Peng , Wang Zeyan , Qin Xiaoyan , Zhang Xiaoyang , Jing Xiangyang , Liu Haixia , Yu Jiaoxian
Published: January 2012

Undoped and nitrogen-doped Bi12TiO20materials were synthesized by urea addition sol-gel method. By adding urea, undoped, and N-doped gel-type precursors were synthesized by low-temperature dehydrolyzation. Nitrogen-doped and undoped nanocrystalline Bi12TiO20were prepared by annealing at 600∘C for 30 minutes. From UV-Vis absorption and diffuse reflection spectrum, the absorbing band shifted from 420 to 500 nm by nitrogen doping. The bonds of Ti–N and N–O were identified by XPS spectra from the prepared materials, and the enhancement of visible light absorption was attributed to nitrogen's substitution of oxygen. Photocatalytic properties of prepared materials were characterized by the decomposition of Rhodamine B illuminated by whole spectra of 300 W Xe light. The photocatalystBi12TiO20−yNy(y=0.03) with N/(N+O) mole ratio about 3% shows better performance than that of heavily dopedBi12TiO20−zNz(z=0.06), undoped Bi12TiO20, and light-dopedBi12TiO20−xNx(x=0.01) photocatalysts due to its better crystalline morphology.
Health Behaviour and Health Assessment: Evidence from German Microdata
Authors: Schneider Brit S. , Schneider Udo
Published: January 2012

The importance of the individual’s health behaviour for the health production process is beyond controversy. Health relevant behaviour can be viewed as a key variable in the health production process. Changes in the behaviour may influence individual’s assessment of health. Following this idea, we use German microdata to identify determinants of smoking, drinking, and obesity and their impact on health. Our empirical approach allows for the simultaneity of behaviours and self-reported health. In addition, we account for endogeneity of health behaviours and take aspects of reporting heterogeneity of self-reported health into account. We find that health behaviour is directly related to the socioeconomic status and observe gender-specific differences in the determinants of drinking, smoking, and heavy body weight in particular. The influence on health is also gender specific. While we do not find any impact of smoking, overweight is relevant only for males and no clear pattern for alcohol exists.
Interleukin-4 in the Generation of the AERD Phenotype: Implications for Molecular Mechanisms Driving Therapeutic Benefit of Aspirin Desensitization
Authors: Steinke John W. , Payne Spencer C. , Borish Larry
Published: January 2012

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is explained in part by over-expression of 5-lipoxygenase, leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S) and the cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLT) receptors (CysLT1 and 2), resulting in constitutive over-production of CysLTs and the hyperresponsiveness to CysLTs that occurs with aspirin ingestion. Increased levels of IL-4 have been found in the sinus mucosa and nasal polyps of AERD subjects. Previous studies demonstrated that IL-4 is primarily responsible for the upregulation of LTC4S by mast cells and the upregulation of CysLT1 and 2 receptors on many immune cell types. Prostaglandin E2(PGE2) acts to prevent CysLT secretion by inhibiting mast cell and eosinophil activation. PGE2concentrations are reduced in AERD reflecting diminished expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. IL-4 can inhibit basal and stimulated expression of COX-2 and microsomal PGE synthase 1 leading to decreased capacity for PGE2secretion. Thus, IL-4 plays an important pathogenic role in generating the phenotype of AERD. This review will examine the evidence supporting this hypothesis and describe a model of how aspirin desensitization provides therapeutic benefit for AERD patients.
State Anxiety Is Associated with Cardiovascular Reactivity in Young, Healthy African Americans
Authors: Pointer Mildred A. , Yancey Sadiqa , Abou-Chacra Ranim , Petrusi Patricia , Waters Sandra J. , McClelland Marilyn K.
Published: January 2012

Although several studies have shown that enhanced cardiovascular reactivity can predict hypertension development in African Americans, these findings have not been consistent among all studies examining reactivity and hypertension susceptibility. This inconsistency may be explained by the influence of anxiety (state and trait) on the blood pressure response to stress. Therefore, this study sought to determine whether anxiety is associated with blood pressure response to cold pressor (CP) and anger recall (AR) stress tests in young healthy African Americans. Modeling using state and trait anxiety revealed that state anxiety predicts systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure DBP response to CP and AR (P≤0.02). Interestingly, state anxiety predicted heart rate changes only to CP (P<0.01;P=0.3for AR). Although trait anxiety was associated with SBP response to AR and not CP, it was not a significant predictor of reactivity in our models. We conclude that anxiety levels may contribute to the variable blood pressure response to acute stressors and, therefore, should be assessed when performing cardiovascular reactivity measures.
Distributed Algorithm for Real-Time Energy Optimal Routing Based on Dual Decomposition of Linear Programming
Authors: Trdlička Jiří , Hanzálek Zdeněk
Published: January 2012

This work proposes a novel in-network distributed algorithm for real-time energy optimal routing in ad hoc and sensor networks for systems with linear cost functions and constant communication delays. The routing problem is described as a minimum-cost multicommodity network flow problem by linear programming and modified by network replication to a real-time aware form. Based on the convex programming theory we use dual decomposition to derive the distributed algorithm. Thanks to the exact mathematical derivation, the algorithm computes the energy optimal real-time routing. It uses only peer-to-peer communication between neighboring nodes and does not need any central node or knowledge about the whole network structure. Each node knows only the produced and collected data flow and the costs of its outgoing communication links. According to our knowledge, this work is the first, which solves the real-time routing problem with linear cost functions and constant communication delays, using the dual decomposition.
Asymptotic Convergence of the Solutions of a Dynamic Equation on Discrete Time Scales
Authors: Diblík J. , Růžičková M. , Šmarda Z. , Šutá Z.
Published: January 2012

The paper investigates a dynamic equation Δy(tn) = β(tn)[y(tn−j) − y(tn−k)] for n → ∞, where k and j are integers such that k > j ≥ 0, on an arbitrary discrete time scale 𝕋 : = {tn} with tn ∈ ℝ, , n0 ∈ ℕ, tn < tn+1, Δy(tn) = y(tn+1) − y(tn), and limn→∞tn = ∞. We assume β : 𝕋 → (0, ∞). It is proved that, for the asymptotic convergence of all solutions, the existence of
an increasing and asymptotically convergent solution is sufficient. Therefore, the main
attention is paid to the criteria for the existence of an increasing solution asymptotically
convergent for n → ∞. The results are presented as inequalities for the function
β. Examples demonstrate that the criteria obtained are sharp in a sense.
Current Pharmacologic Approaches for Prevention and Treatment of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Authors: Tropea Kristen , Christou Helen
Published: January 2012

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a major complication of preterm birth and has serious adverse long-term health consequences. The etiology of BPD is complex, multifactorial, and incompletely understood. Contributing factors include ventilator-induced lung injury, exposure to toxic oxygen levels, and infection. Several preventive and therapeutic strategies have been developed with variable success. These include lung protective ventilator strategies and pharmacological and nutritional interventions. These strategies target different components and stages of the disease process and they are commonly used in combination. The purpose of this review is to discuss the evidence for current pharmacological interventions and identify future therapeutic modalities that appear promising in the prevention and management of BPD. Continued improved understanding of BPD pathogenesis leads to opportunities for newer preventive approaches. These will need to be evaluated in the setting of current clinical practice in order to assess their efficacy.
Sodium Consumption: An Individual's Choice?
Authors: Campbell Norm R. C. , Johnson Jillian A. , Campbell Tavis S.
Published: January 2012

Excess intake of dietary salt is estimated to be one of the leading risks to health worldwide. Major national and international health organizations, along with many governments around the world, have called for reductions in the consumption of dietary salt. This paper discusses behavioural and population interventions as mechanisms to reduce dietary salt. In developed countries, salt added during food processing is the dominant source of salt and largely outside of the direct control of individuals. Population-based interventions have the potential to improve health and to be cost saving for these countries. In developing economies, where salt added in cooking and at the table is the dominant source, interventions based on education and behaviour change have been estimated to be highly cost effective. Regardless, countries with either developed or developing economies can benefit from the integration of both population and behavioural change interventions.
The Insulin Receptor/Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptor Family as a Therapeutic Target in Oncology
Authors: Pollak Michael
Published: January 2012

Over the past decade, encouraging preclinical and early clinical data concerning the relevance of the insulin receptor/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor family to neoplasia led to ambitious clinical trial programs of more than a dozen drug candidates that target these receptors. These candidates include antireceptor antibodies, antiligand antibodies, receptor-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and agents such as picropodophyllin and metformin that have novel mechanisms of action. Several recently reported phase III clinical trials of anti–IGF-I receptor antibodies have been disappointing and are sufficient to disprove the hypothesis that the antibodies tested have large favorable impacts on unselected patients with cancer. However, many of these trials were designed prior to recent insights concerning pathophysiology and predictive biomarkers. Future studies are required, but it will be important to optimize their design rather than simply repeat the approaches taken to date. Clin Cancer Res; 18(1); 40–50. ©2012 AACR.
Hsp90 Molecular Chaperone Inhibitors: Are We There Yet?
Authors: Neckers Len , Workman Paul
Published: January 2012

Heat shock protein (Hsp) 90 is an ATP-dependent molecular chaperone that is exploited by malignant cells to support activated oncoproteins, including many cancer-associated kinases and transcription factors, and it is essential for oncogenic transformation. Originally viewed with skepticism, Hsp90 inhibitors are now being actively pursued by the pharmaceutical industry, with 17 agents having entered clinical trials. Investigators established Hsp90′s druggability using the natural products geldanamycin and radicicol, which mimic the unusual ATP structure adopted in the chaperone's N-terminal nucleotide-binding pocket and cause potent and selective blockade of ATP binding/hydrolysis, inhibit chaperone function, deplete oncogenic clients, and show antitumor activity. Preclinical data obtained with these natural products have heightened interest in Hsp90 as a drug target, and 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG, tanespimycin) has shown clinical activity (as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) in HER2+ breast cancer. Many optimized synthetic, small-molecule Hsp90 inhibitors from diverse chemotypes are now in clinical trials. Here, we review the discovery and development of Hsp90 inhibitors and assess their potential. There has been significant learning from studies of the basic biology of Hsp90, as well as translational drug development involving this chaperone, enhanced by the use of Hsp90 inhibitors as chemical probes. Success will likely lie in treating cancers that are addicted to particular driver oncogene products (e.g., HER2, ALK, EGFR, and BRAF) that are sensitive Hsp90 clients, as well as malignancies (especially multiple myeloma) in which buffering of proteotoxic stress is critical for survival. We discuss approaches for enhancing the effectiveness of Hsp90 inhibitors and highlight new chaperone and stress-response pathway targets, including HSF1 and Hsp70. Clin Cancer Res; 18(1); 64–76. ©2012 AACR.
Benefiting From Misfortune
Authors: Inbar Yoel , Pizarro David A. , Cushman Fiery
Published: January 2012

Dominant theories of moral blame require an individual to have caused or intended harm. However, the current four studies demonstrate cases where no harm is caused or intended, yet individuals are nonetheless deemed worthy of blame. Specifically, individuals are judged to be blameworthy when they engage in actions that enable them to benefit from another’s misfortune (e.g., betting that a company’s stock will decline or that a natural disaster will occur). Evidence is presented suggesting that perceptions of the actor’s wicked desires are responsible for this phenomenon. It is argued that these results are consistent with a growing literature demonstrating that moral judgments are often the product of evaluations of character in addition to evaluations of acts.
Psycholinguistic techniques and resources in second language acquisition research
Authors: Roberts Leah
Published: January 2012

In this article, a survey of current psycholinguistic techniques relevant to second language acquisition (SLA) research is presented. I summarize many of the available methods and discuss their use with particular reference to two critical questions in current SLA research: (1) What does a learner’s current knowledge of the second language (L2) look like?; (2) How do learners process the L2 in real time? The aim is to show how psycholinguistic techniques that capture real-time (online) processing can elucidate such questions; to suggest methods best suited to particular research topics, and types of participants; and to offer practical information on the setting up of a psycholinguistics laboratory.
Memory and Reconciliation in Japanese History
Authors: Inagaki Hisakazu
Published: January 2012

Japanese history is a part of the long history of Northeast Asia. Since Japan began to form a unified nation from the time of Shotoku-Taishi (AD. 574-622) in the early seventh century, it continued to cultivate a rather independent culture. In its long history, the most catastrophic era was the Asian-Pacific War in 1931-45, ending with the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The recovery from the aftereffects and trauma of the War Japan has initiated is the topic I would like to write here as a problem of memory and reconciliation with other countries involved in the War.

In 2006, Prime Minister Jyun-ichiro Koizumi, when he worshiped at Yasukuni Shrine, spoke in the meeting of news reporters that “The freedom of the heart is protected by our Constitution, and cannot be violated by anyone.” It was completely unspeakable to me that Mr. Koizumi, in his official role as Prime Minister, made use of the Japanese Constitution for the purpose of defending his personal right to worship at Yasukuni Shrine. A half of the nation, however, accepted this way of speaking. As long as we Japanese insist on and are not liberated from Yasukuni Shrine, we cannot become reconciled and co-exist with other nations, because this shrine is seen as the symbol of the Japanese past militarism which was centered on the Emperor.

But the situation around Yasukuni becomes more complex if we go probe beneath the political dimension, because memory is always deeply connected with the problem of identity regard-less of whether it is personal or collective. For some conservative groups, the formation of modern Japan starts from the Meiji Restoration in 1868, which seeks to center the identity of the modern state in the Emperor, rather than in the democracy starting from the end of the War on August 15, 1945. The difference in the memory of the starting points of modern Japan between conservatives and others shapes the different identities in present-day Japan, sometimes becoming a hindrance to form a civil society. I will call this situation “Yasukuni fundamentalism” in today’s Japan.

The purpose of the present paper is to propose a way to overcome this Yasukuni fundamentalism by developing a public philosophy and by its application to today’s civil society.
The Idea of Trans-national Public Philosophy as a Comprehensive Trans-Discipline for the 21st Century
Authors: Yamawaki Naoshi
Published: January 2012

In my paper, I will try to renew the public philosophy. As a result of specialization and professionalization of academic disciplines since the late 19th centuries, a rather unsound academic situation prevails at many universities in the world; social sciences without any philosophical foundation on the one hand and an academic philosophy without any concern about social theory on the other hand. In order to break out of such deadlock, the public philosophy that has a long tradition since Aristotle to Smith and Hegel must be renewed as a comprehensive trans-discipline now. The public philosophy in this sense is an attempt in the “time of post-specialization of sciences.” What I mean by the time of post-specialization is the academic environment in which social sciences, humanities and natural sciences cooperate with one another to tackle serious problems of our time such as human rights, peace building, dialogue among religions and so on.