bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying Essential Test Locations for Oat Breeding in Eastern Canada
Authors: Yan Weikai , Frégeau‐Reid Judith , Pageau Denis , Martin Richard , Mitchell‐Fetch Jennifer , Etienne Mark , Rowsell John , Scott Peter , Price Mike , de Haan Brad , Cummiskey Allan , Lajeunesse Julie , Durand Julie , Sparry Ellen
Published: February 2010

The oat (Avena sativa L.) breeding program at the Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre of Agriculture & Agri‐Food Canada has the responsibility to breed new oat cultivars for producers in eastern Canada, which includes Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces. A 3‐yr multilocation test was conducted to understand the genotype × location interaction patterns and the relationships among test locations in eastern Canada. A genotype + genotype × environment interaction biplot analysis of yield data revealed three distinct oat mega‐environments in eastern Canada: (i) northern Ontario, (ii) southern and eastern Ontario, and (iii) Quebec and Atlantic Canada. To breed for all mega‐environments, initial yield screening must be conducted at locations representing each of these mega‐environments. Based on the relationships among test locations, six essential test locations were identified: three in Ontario, two in Quebec, and one in Atlantic Canada. Testing at all six locations appeared to provide a good coverage of the whole oat‐growing area in eastern Canada. Based on these findings, a breeding and test strategy was developed. This includes conducting initial yield screening at three locations in Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada, followed by a formal yield test at all six essential test locations. Specifically adapted genotypes selected from this test will then be tested in the Registration Tests in their respectively adapted subregions.
Potential for Simultaneous Improvement of Corn Grain Yield and Stover Quality for Cellulosic Ethanol
Authors: Lewis Magan Friskop , Lorenzana Robenzon E. , Jung Hans‐Joachim G. , Bernardo Rex
Published: February 2010

Corn (Zea mays L.) stover, the residue left after harvest, is an abundant biomass source for producing cellulosic ethanol in the United States. Corn has been bred for increased grain yield but not for stover quality for cellulosic ethanol production. Our objective in this study was to assess the feasibility of breeding corn for grain yield and agronomic traits as well as stover quality traits for cellulosic ethanol production. Testcrosses of 223 B73 × Mo17 recombinant inbreds were evaluated at four Minnesota locations in 2007. Three stover quality traits were measured: concentration of cell wall glucose in dry stover (“Glucose”); cell wall glucose released from the stover by thermochemical pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification (“Glucose Release”); and concentration of lignin on a cell wall basis (“Lignin”). Genetic variances were significant for grain yield, moisture, stalk and root lodging, plant height, and all three stover quality traits. Heritabilities of the stover quality traits were 0.57 for Glucose, 0.63 for Glucose Release, and 0.68 for Lignin. Phenotypic and genetic correlations were favorable or neutral among grain yield, agronomic traits, Glucose, Glucose Release, and Lignin. Lines selected with a multiple‐trait index for grain yield, agronomic traits, and stover quality traits had improved means for each trait in the index. Current corn breeding programs should be able to incorporate stover quality for cellulosic ethanol as a breeding objective, without having to use unadapted or exotic germplasm and without adversely affecting genetic gains for grain yield and agronomic traits.
Kenaf Forage Yield and Quality as Affected by Population Density
Authors: Reta‐Sánchez David Guadalupe , Hernández‐Dozal Beatríz , Cueto‐Wong José Antonio , Olague‐Ramírez Jesús , Serrato‐Corona J. Santos
Published: February 2010

Population density can affect kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) forage morphology, yield, and nutritive value. The impact of plant population density on dry matter (DM) yield, DM partitioning in aerial organs, and forage quality parameters such as crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was determined. This study was conducted in Matamoros, Coahuila, Mexico, in the summers (June–September) of 2005 and 2006. Kenaf response to six plant population densities, ranging from 160,000 to 1,860,000 plants ha−1, was determined using a randomized complete block design with four replications. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between plant density and parameters measured. Response of DM yield to population density was quadratic with maximum production (7078–7469 kg ha−1) between 920,000 and 1,245,000 plants ha−1 Dry matter yields per plant, number of nodes, and stem diameter declined as population density increased in a quadratic fashion, primarily between 160,000 and 840,000 plants ha−1 Dry matter partitioning into aerial organs and nutritive value were not affected by plant population. To reduce lodging susceptibility due to overly slender stems and to achieve about 95% of maximum yield, the proper population range for kenaf forage harvested at 89 d after sowing would appear to be 343,500 to 637,000 plants ha−1
Quantitative Trait Loci and Trait Correlations for Maize Stover Cell Wall Composition and Glucose Release for Cellulosic Ethanol
Authors: Lorenzana Robenzon E. , Lewis Magan Friskop , Jung Hans‐Joachim G. , Bernardo Rex
Published: February 2010

In cellulosic ethanol production, the efficiency of converting maize (Zea mays L.) stover into fermentable sugars partly depends on the stover cell wall structure. Breeding for improved stover quality for cellulosic ethanol may benefit from the use of molecular markers. However, limited quantitative trait loci (QTL) studies have been published for maize stover cell wall components, and no QTL study has been published for glucose release (GLCRel) from stover by a cellulosic ethanol conversion process. Our objectives were to characterize the relationships among stover cell wall components and GLCRel, and to identify QTL with major effects, if any, influencing stover cell wall composition and GLCRel. Testcrosses of 223 intermated B73 × Mo17 recombinant inbreds and the parent lines were analyzed for cell wall composition and GLCRel after acid pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis. As expected, glucose (GLC), xylose (XYL), and Klason lignin (KL) composed the bulk (∼72%) of the stover dry matter. Significant genetic variance and moderate heritability were observed for all traits. Genetic and phenotypic correlations among traits were generally in the favorable direction but also reflected the complexity of maize stover cell wall composition. We found 152 QTL, mostly with small effects, for GLCRel and cell wall components on both a dry matter and cell wall basis. Because no major QTL were found, methods that increase the frequency of favorable QTL alleles or that predict performance based on markers would be appropriate in marker‐assisted breeding for maize stover quality for cellulosic ethanol.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Aegilops sharonensis
Authors: Olivera Pablo D. , Anikster Yehoshua , Steffenson Brian J.
Published: February 2010

Sharon goatgrass (Aegilops sharonensis Eig) is a useful source of genes for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) improvement, but little is known about its genetic diversity in Israel. We analyzed genetic diversity and population structure of 106 Ae. sharonensis accessions. Twenty‐one microsatellites revealed a high level of diversity that was comparable to Triticeae species with larger geographic distribution. The genetic structure of Ae. sharonensis is characterized by high diversity within location and by a short distance (15 km) similarity between populations. Accessions from the Sharon Plain exhibited the highest level of diversity. Because the Sharon Plain is located in the center of geographic distribution of the species and includes the three most genetically diverse sites, it may be the center of diversity of Ae. sharonensis A wide range of variation was observed in the 11 morphological traits evaluated, and the regional effect on the phenotypic variability was higher than the one observed for genetic diversity. Considerable variability was found in response to leaf rust and stem rust among regions, as a very low frequency of resistance was found for both diseases in the northern regions of Israel. The diversity pattern found in populations of Ae. sharonensis indicate that, to optimize the capture of the greatest diversity, collection and utilization programs should include multiple individuals from as many sites as possible.
Genetic Analysis of Fiber Length Uniformity in Upland Cotton
Authors: Smith C. Wayne , Braden Chris A. , Hequet Eric F.
Published: February 2010

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) has been used from antiquity for its seed hairs in the production of yarn and fabric. Fibers vary in length from less than 12.7 mm, which cannot be spun into yarns, to over 30 mm. Variation in fiber lengths and therefore shape of the distribution curves vary across cultivars with more uniform length and distribution desirable to reduce wastage in spinning and to produce better yarn. A diallel analysis and broad sense heritability (H2) study for three measures of fiber length distribution in upland cotton was conducted in 2001 and 2002 in College Station, TX. Four genotypes with long upper half mean length (UHML), ‘TAM 94L‐25’ (PI 631440), ‘Fibermax 832’ (PI 603955), ‘TTU 202’ (PI 613162), and ‘Acala 1517‐99’ (PI 612326), and one genotype with short UHML, ‘Tamcot CAMD‐E’ (PI 529633), were crossed and evaluated in a diallel without reciprocals, including the F2 generation. Fiber length distributions, based on fiber length by weight (FLw), of parents, F1, and F2 generations were evaluated in terms of cross‐entropy, kurtosis, and skewness. Tamcot CAMD‐E and Acala 1517‐99 were identified as potential parents to increase kurtosis and decrease cross‐entropy values. The lack of heterosis and the low H2 values among these genotypes suggested that additional potential parents for improving FLw distribution patterns need to be evaluated. Additional information also will be mandatory relative to the most desirable fiber length distribution.
Mega‐Environment Differences Affecting Genetic Progress for Yield and Relative Value of Component Traits
Authors: de la Vega Abelardo J. , Chapman Scott C.
Published: February 2010

Large and regional genotype × environment interactions can be a major impediment to sunflower (Helianthus annuus L) genetic progress in Argentina, where yield improvements have slowed since the mid‐1990s. Previous studies in the central subregion show that oil yield gains were maintained for the last 20 yr and contributed to counteracting a decline in agronomic quality of the sunflower area. In this study, mixed models, quantile regression, and pattern analyses were applied to three long‐term (18 yr) multienvironment datasets (67 sites) to show that: (i) in high‐yielding hybrids, oil yield has increased linearly by 6.7, 10.5, and 6.2 kg ha−1 yr−1 over 25 yr in the northern, central, and southern subregions, respectively; (ii) selection for specific adaptation to the central region did not improve oil yield in northern environments (consistent with previous pattern analysis–based predictions), nor in the southern region, suggesting that the south is a third mega‐environment; (iii) the central subregion had the greatest, most consistent genetic gain; (iv) while the relative regional responses of hybrid groups were similar for oil concentration and grain yield, there was strong hybrid × region crossover for relative responses of time to flowering; and (v) the merger of the original gene pools via breeding for oil yield reduced the original range on phenological responses within subregions and produced different maturity types for each region.
Weather Effects on Cross‐Pollination in Maize
Authors: Vogler André , Bertossa Mario , Aulinger‐Leipner Ingrid , Stamp Peter
Published: February 2010

Control of pollen dispersal is critical for the successful coexistence of genetically modified (GM) maize (Zea mays L.) and conventional maize. The impact of climate on cross‐pollination by GM pollen was simulated in two field experiments with a color‐recessive white‐grain receptor DSP17007 and a color‐dominant yellow‐grain pollen donor in 2005 and 2006. The day after silk exertion of about 2500 marked single plants was taken as the basis for comparing weather data (maximum and minimum temperatures, relative humidity, wind speed, and average wind direction) with data on the cross‐pollination of the white‐grain receptor. Scattered significant correlations were found for all weather factors; only the minimum temperature at night had consistent negative correlations with rates of cross‐pollination ranging from r = −0.22 to −0.45, indicating that the latter decreased as temperatures at night increased. In previous complementary field and growth chamber experiments, the grain set on one inbred line correlated significantly negatively with temperature up to 24 h before pollination (r = −0.55 to −0.66) because of pollen agglutination. This affects medium‐distance pollen dispersals to a greater extent than short‐distance ones; thus, cross‐pollination with GM maize may be lower when the pollen donor has a proclivity for pollen agglutination at a high minimum temperature at night.
Genotyping of U.S. Wheat Germplasm for Presence of Stem Rust Resistance Genes Sr24, Sr36 and Sr1RSAmigo
Authors: Olson Eric L. , Brown‐Guedira Gina , Marshall David S. , Jin Yue , Mergoum Mohamed , Lowe Iago , Dubcovsky Jorge
Published: February 2010

The stem rust resistance genes Sr24, Sr26, Sr36, and Sr1RSAmigo confer resistance to race TTKSK (= Ug99) of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Pers. (Pgt). A collection of 776 cultivars and breeding lines of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from all growing regions of the United States were screened with simple sequence repeat and sequence tagged site markers linked to Sr24, Sr26, Sr36, and Sr1RSAmigo to determine frequencies of these genes in U.S. wheat germplasm. Marker efficacy in predicting the presence of these genes was evaluated via comparison with assayed seedling infection type. Among the lines evaluated, the most predominant gene is Sr24, present in hard winter, hard spring, and soft winter wheat lines. Resistance in soft winter wheat is primarily due to Sr36 The 1RS·1AL rye translocation carrying Sr1RSAmigo is present at equal frequencies in hard winter and soft winter wheat. Utilization of marker‐assisted selection for stem rust resistance genes can hasten the development of wheat cultivars resistant to TTKSK and its variants and allow for the development of resistance gene pyramids for more durable stem rust resistance.
Measurement of Golf Ball Lie in Various Turfgrasses Using Digital Image Analysis
Authors: Richardson Michael D. , Karcher Douglas E. , Patton Aaron J. , McCalla John H.
Published: February 2010

Lie is the position in which a golf ball comes to rest following a stroke. Although the lie of a golf ball is an important factor affecting the play of the next stroke, there have been few attempts to measure this characteristic or determine how management practices, turfgrass species, or cultivars affect ball lie. The objective of this study was to develop and demonstrate a new technique using digital image analysis for measuring ball lie in various turfgrasses. The technique uses a stage that positions a digital camera at the top of a mowed turfgrass canopy and collects an image of a golf ball positioned at the same focal length in each frame. The image was then subjected to digital image analysis to determine the percentage of the golf ball that was visible above the canopy. The new technique was calibrated by positioning a golf ball at a defined height above the soil and also compared with another published technique, called Lie‐N‐Eye, for accuracy and ease of use. The image analysis technique could distinguish changes in ball height within a turfgrass canopy. In addition, collecting data with the technique was easier and faster compared with the Lie‐N‐Eye, the only other method of ball lie analysis available. However, the two devices produced data that were highly correlated. Two cultivar trials of bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) and zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) were evaluated using the technique, and significant differences among cultivars in both species were demonstrated.
Rate and Duration of Seed Component Accumulation in Water‐Stressed Soybean
Authors: Rotundo José L. , Westgate Mark E.
Published: February 2010

Lack of adequate soil moisture during seed filling limits seed size in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], generally by shortening the duration of seed fill. Seed growth rate typically remains largely unaffected. The smaller seeds often have increased seed protein concentration due to less detrimental effect on final protein accumulation relative to other major seed components. Such changes in seed composition despite stable rates of seed filling suggest compensation may occur among component accumulation rates or the duration of accumulation of individual seed components is affected differentially by water stress. We examined these possibilities by evaluating the rates and durations of protein, oil, and residual accumulation in two soybean lines subjected to limited soil moisture during seed filling. Results indicated that both responses (rate and duration of accumulation) to water deficit can occur. The rates of accumulation of the different seed components often compensated, resulting in a constant seed growth rate, typically favoring protein accumulation. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a differential response among rates and durations of seed component accumulation when soil moisture becomes limiting. The relative stability of protein accumulation likely reflects the availability of remobilizable N late in seed filling and the dependence of oil accumulation on current photosynthesis.
Relationship of Genetic Diversity of Inbred Lines with Different Reactions to Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth and the Performance of Their Crosses
Authors: Menkir Abebe , Adetimirin Victor O. , Yallou Chabi G. , Gedil Melaku
Published: February 2010

Striga hermonthica causes significant yield loss in maize (Zea mays L.) and other cereals. Limited studies have been conducted to determine the relationship between marker‐based genetic distance among maize inbred lines expressing varying levels of field resistance to S. hermonthica and the reaction patterns of the resulting crosses to S. hermonthica. Forty‐five diallel crosses of 10 parental lines were evaluated with and without S. hermonthica infestation at two locations each in Benin Republic and Nigeria for 3 yr. Canonical discriminant analysis using nine traits separated the crosses into three distinct groups in each country depending on doses of resistance obtained from their parental lines. Hybrids formed from two resistant parents had the highest levels of resistance, while those formed from two susceptible parents exhibited the lowest levels of resistance to S. hermonthica Crosses that involved one resistant line as a parent showed intermediate levels of field resistance to S. hermonthica Assessment of genetic divergence among the 10 parental lines using 18 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primer combinations generated a total of 1176 polymorphic AFLP fragments. The genetic distance (GD) estimates among all pairs of parental lines varied from 0.44 to 0.93, with an average of 0.63 ±0.023. The correlation between the AFLP‐based GD estimates of parental lines and the means observed in diallel crosses under S. hermonthica infestation were not significant for grain yield and other traits. Some hybrids formed from inbred lines with GD estimates both below and above 0.50 exhibited good performance under S. hermonthica infestation. The observed broad range of genetic divergence detected with AFLP markers indicates the presence of a significant reservoir of diversity among resistant lines that can be exploited in breeding.
Genetic Mapping of an Aegilops tauschii–derived Hessian Fly Resistance Gene in Common Wheat
Authors: Miranda L. M. , Bland D. E. , Cambron S. E. , Lyerly J. H. , Johnson J. , Buntin G. D. , Murphy J. P.
Published: February 2010

Hessian fly [Mayetiola destructor (Say)] is a major threat to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the eastern United States. Cultivar releases containing major Hessian fly resistance genes have proven effective in minimizing losses caused by this pest. Nevertheless, the ephemeral nature of major gene resistance necessitates the identification of novel sources of resistance. Hessian fly resistance from Aegilops tauschii Coss. (2n = 2x = 14; genome DD) was introgressed into the genetic background of the soft red winter wheat cultivar Saluda during the development of the germplasm line NC09MDD14. Our genetic characterization and linkage mapping studies showed that resistance to Hessian Fly biotype L in NC09MDD14 was monogenic and the most likely order of the linked microsatellite markers was: Xcfd13‐ 4.2 cM‐ Xcfd42‐ 1.8 cM‐ Xgdm141‐ 4.9 cM‐ Xgdm36‐ 1.5 cM‐ NC09MDD14 Hf gene/Xcfd132‐ 13.4 cM‐ Xcfd19 This linkage map situated the NCD09MDD14 Hf gene on the short arm of chromosome 6D, within the same deletion bin as the named gene H13 No recombinants between H13 and the NCD09MDD14 Hf gene were found in an allelism study that included 170 F2 individuals from the cross between NCD09MDD14 and Molly (H13). The Hessian fly resistance gene present in the germplasm line NC09MDD14 could be an allele of H13, but unlike H13, the gene in NC09MDD14 provides resistance against biotype vrH13
Effect of Agronomic Practices and Soybean Growth Stage on the Colonization of Basal Stems and Taproots by Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae
Authors: Pedersen Palle , Grau Craig R.
Published: February 2010

Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae is a pathogen of upper stems, pods, and seed of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], with a documented latent infection period. This study investigates D. phaseolorum var. sojae as a pathogen of basal stems and taproots. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of crop rotation and tillage system on the incidence of plants infected by D. phaseolorum var. sojae and subsequent effect on seed yield. Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae was isolated from soybean plants at three growth stages (V1, R1, and R8) from basal and subterranean portions of the soybean stem. Small differences in disease incidence were observed between rotation sequences and tillage systems in 2000. Averaged across tillage systems and rotation sequences in 2001, the incidence of D. phaseolorum var. sojae was greater in no‐tillage systems and in rotation sequences with continuous planted soybean. When averaged across rotation sequences, tillage systems, and years at R1, the incidence of plants infected by D. phaseolorum var. sojae explained 71% of the variation observed for seed yield. It was concluded that D. phaseolorum var. sojae is a pathogen of subterranean basal stems and causes seed yield loss in soybean.
Microsatellite Fingerprinting of the USDA‐ARS Tropical Agriculture Research Station Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) Germplasm Collection
Authors: Irish Brian M. , Goenaga Ricardo , Zhang Dapeng , Schnell Raymond , Brown J. Steve , Motamayor Juan Carlos
Published: February 2010

Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) is an important cash crop in many tropical countries. Cacao accessions must be propagated vegetatively to conserve genetic integrity due to its allogamous nature and its seed recalcitrance (lack of dormancy). Therefore, cacao germplasm is usually maintained as living trees in field collections and has resulted in varying rates of misidentification and duplication. Using a high throughput genotyping system with 15 microsatellite loci, all 924 trees in the USDA‐ARS Mayaguez cacao collection were fingerprinted. Nineteen accessions (12.3%) were found to have intraplant errors while 14 (9.1%) synonymous sets were identified that included replicates of 49 accessions. The average number of alleles (8.8; SE = 0.56) and gene diversity (HObs = 0.65; SE = 0.026) indicate a high allelic diversity in this collection. A distance‐based cluster analysis and a Bayesian assignment test showed that the cacao accessions can be classified into four distinct clusters, with their geographical origins covering most of the cacao growing regions in the Americas. Assessment of the representative diversity of the collection led to the identification of several genetic gaps, including underrepresented genetic populations and particular traits of economic and agronomic value. The improved understanding of identities and structure in the USDA‐ARS cacao collection will contribute to more efficient use of cacao in conservation and breeding.
Identification of New Alleles for Resistance to Soybean Mosaic Virus in Soybean
Authors: Li D. , Chen P. , Alloatti J. , Shi A. , Chen Y. F.
Published: February 2010

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is one of the most prevalent viral diseases in all major soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] growing areas worldwide, causing substantial yield losses and seed quality deterioration in soybean. Seven strain groups of SMV (G1–G7) in the United States and three resistance loci (Rsv1, Rsv3, and Rsv4) have been identified in soybean. The objective of this research was to screen diverse soybean germplasm in attempt to identify new alleles for SMV resistance. A total of 253 soybean accessions collected from 26 countries were screened with six SMV strains in the greenhouse. The results showed that 157 accessions were susceptible to all six tested SMV strains, 75 accessions were resistant to some of strains, while 21 accessions were resistant to all strains tested. Among the resistant accessions, seven showed complete resistance to six strains and presumably carried Rsv1‐h, Rsv4, or combinations of Rsv1, Rsv3, and Rsv4; 14 showed resistance or early seedling stage resistance to six strains and presumably carried the Rsv4 allele; 50 accessions exhibited similar reaction patterns to known alleles: two Rsv1, 22 Rsv1‐k, 16 Rsv1‐y, one Rsv1‐t, and nine Rsv3 Twenty‐five accessions showed distinct reaction patterns and presumably carry new alleles. The resistant accessions identified in this study will be valuable germplasm resources for breeding SMV resistance.
The Second-Mover Advantage in International Trade Negotiations
Authors: Dluhosch Barbara
Published: February 2010

The paper explores incentives of national trade representatives (TRs) in international negotiations when trade policy basically follows a non-cooperative track with countries imposing tariffs on each other's exports due to "terms of trade cum international political economy" considerations. The paper shows that negotiations might get stuck even if a limited form of mutual trade liberalization Pareto-dominates the initial Nash-equilibrium in trade policies. The dilemma is rooted in a second-mover advantage, which adds considerable inertia to the Nash equilibrium of protectionism. The second-mover advantage arises whenever the countries' tariffs are strategic complements, with the latter, in turn, conditional on the traded goods being complements in final demand.
The Obama Administration and the U.S. Financial Crisis
Authors: Rehman Scheherazade S.
Published: February 2010

There has been tremendous pressure on the Obama Administration to justify the actions taken with regards to the U.S. financial crisis which has managed to eliminate, overnight, over a quarter of the middle class wealth and leave one in six adults without a job or underemployed, while generating a bailout debt that was unimaginable in scale and scope only five years ago. In response to this public pressure, in mid-June 2009, the Obama Administration issued a white paper titled “Financial Regulatory Reform - A New Foundation: Rebuilding Financial Supervision and Regulation" (published by the U.S. Department of Treasury) covering a wide range of areas of financial regulation that proposed a new architecture for financial supervision. Although the White Paper touches upon many of the Administration's promised responses to the crisis with regards to new financial regulations and supervisory changes, it has been criticized as being too narrow in the scope and breath needed to manage the sheer size and scale of the impact of the U.S. financial crisis. This paper focuses on ten concerns and issues of note with the Obama Administration's actions and responses to date with regards to the U.S. financial/banking crisis and its 2009 White Paper on “Financial Regulatory Reform." They are as follows: (1) No Discussion and Minimal Attempt by the Administration to Relay Their Understanding of and Global Transmission of This Financial Crisis, (2) Proposed Financial Oversight Council, (3) Increased Powers for the Federal Reserve, (4) Most Recommendations Do Not Follow the Trend Toward Supervision Consolidation, (5) Macroeconomic vs. Microeconomic Supervision, (6) Government in the Financial Markets and Industry, (7) No Significant International Standard Setting or Coordination to Date, (8) Issue of Too Big to Fail Still at Large, (9) Obama Administration's PR Debacle, and (10) Something to Show after Spending $1.4 Trillion Plus.
CFD Simulation of the Effect of Monolith Wall Thickness on the Light off Performance of a Catalytic Converter
Authors: Lun Hua , Xiaowei Niu , Liang Zhou , Yongping Li , He Zhang , Wei Han
Published: February 2010

CFD (computational fluid dynamic) simulation that is based on finite volume method is used to study the light off performance of automotive catalytic converter. The flow distribution and the conversion efficiency of CO are achieved first, and the predictions are in good agreement with the experiment and finite difference method reported before. The present work investigates the effect of ceramic monolith wall thickness on the temporal variations of the radial solid temperature, mean solid temperature, axial flow temperature and CO conversion efficiencies in monolithic reactors during the light-off phase. It is found that the wall thickness can have a significant influence on the light off performance. When the monolith wall thickness is thinner, the light off performance of automotive catalytic converter is better. These studies help to understand better the performance of the catalytic converter in order to optimize the converter design.
Learner-Centered Characteristics of Nurse Educators
Authors: Greer Annette G. , Pokorny Marie , Clay Maria C. , Brown Sylvia , Steele Linda L.
Published: February 2010

The purpose of this study was to describe the learner-centered teaching characteristics of nurse faculty who report using contemporary pedagogy. A secondary analysis of data collected by an international survey of nurse educators regarding pedagogical teaching approaches and strategies was used to answer the research questions.The study sought to: 1) describe characteristics emerging from faculty response, 2) make inferences from faculty responses regarding meaning, and 3) make inferences regarding the importance of the meaning to nursing.A qualitative research design was used to address the research question. Themes that emerged were placed under the concepts of power, role of teacher, responsibility of learner, and philosophy of evaluation guided by Weimer's (2002) conceptual framework of a learner-centered philosophy of teaching. Themes and meaning units derived from the study helped to generate textual and structure statements that represent the characterizations of learner-centered nurse educators.
Ready for What? An Exploration of the Meaning of New Graduate Nurses' Readiness for Practice
Authors: Wolff Angela C , Regan Sandra , Pesut Barbara , Black Joyce
Published: February 2010

Dialogue continues on the "readiness" of new graduates for practice despite significant advancements in the foundational educational preparation for nurses. In this paper, the findings from an exploratory study about the meaning of new graduate "readiness" for practice are reported. Data was collected during focus group interviews with one-hundred and fifty nurses and new graduates. Themes were generated using content analysis. Our findings point to agreement about the meaning of new graduate nurses' readiness for practice as having a generalist foundation and some job specific capabilities, providing safe client care, keeping up with the current realities of nursing practice, being well equipped with the tools needed to adapt to the future needs of clients, and possessing a balance of doing, knowing, and thinking. The findings from this exploratory study have implications for policies and programs targeted towards new graduate nurses entering practice.
BCK-monoids
Authors: Subrahmanyam N.
Published: February 2010

We generalize the notions of a pseudo BCK-algebra and a residuated lattice by introducing, respectively, extended BCK-algebras and BCK-monoids, and prove a decomposition theorem for BCK-monoids, generalising a decomposition theorem of Galatos and Tsinakis for GBL-algebras. Also, we specialise this theorem to hoop monoids and Wajsberg monoids, which generalize, respectively, GBL-algebras and GMV-algebras. Finally, we include a discussion on Iséki monoids, which extend the concept of left pseudo Iséki algebras of Iorgulescu.
On lattice embeddings of a lattice into its intervals
Authors: Jakubík Ján
Published: February 2010

In connection with his investigation of convexities generated by fractal lattices, Czédli formulated a conjecture concerning lattice embeddings of a lattice into its intervals. In the present note we modify the conditions from Czédli’s conjecture; we consider only intervals having more than two elements. Further, we prove the validity of Czédli’s conjecture.
Asymptotic formulas for nonoscillatory solutions of conditionally oscillatory half-linear equations
Authors: Pátíková Zuzana
Published: February 2010

We establish asymptotic formulas for nonoscillatory solutions of a special conditionally oscillatory half-linear second order differential equation, which is seen as a perturbation of a general nonoscillatory half-linear differential equation $$
(r(t)\Phi (x'))' + c(t)\Phi (x) = 0,\Phi (x) = |x|^{p - 1} \operatorname{sgn} x,p > 1,
$$ where r, c are continuous functions and r(t) > 0.
A critical oscillation constant as a variable of time scales for half-linear dynamic equations
Authors: Řehák Pavel
Published: February 2010

We present criteria of Hille-Nehari type for the half-linear dynamic equation (r(t)Φ(y
Δ))Δ+p(t)Φ(y
σ) = 0 on time scales. As a particular important case we get that there is a a (sharp) critical constant which may be different from what is known from the continuous case, and its value depends on the graininess of a time scale and on the coefficient r. As applications we state criteria for strong (non)oscillation, examine generalized Euler type equations, and establish criteria of Kneser type. Examples from q-calculus, a Hardy type inequality with weights, and further possibilities for study are presented as well. Our results unify and extend many existing results from special cases, and are new even in the well-studied discrete case.
Open Educational Resources in E-Learning
Authors: Dinevski Dejan , Fošnarič Samo , Arh Tanja
Published: February 2010

Open Educational Resources in E-Learning

Open educational resources in e-learning are the future source of information for lifelong learners. Open source and open standards are defined as the basis of the "Open educational resource movement" that is beginning to form on a global level in the last decade. The characteristics of the OS are investigated in the relation to e-Learning, existing and new pedagogical principles and copyright issues. Several good practices, ideas and existing initiatives are presented and the vision of the future of open educational resources is introduced.
The Importance of Perception and Consciousness for E-Learning
Authors: Rebolj Vanda
Published: February 2010

The Importance of Perception and Consciousness for E-Learning

The article presents the results of a research on perception during the learning process of adults in a virtual environment. The aim of the research was to determine why the process of e-learning introduction in Slovenia has been slowed down. Perception and its effects upon learning are important on the conscious as well as on the unconscious level but they have not been given as much attention as in the classical learning environment. Disturbed perception which results from the lack of expertise in preparation of the e-environment is a serious obstacle for learning. The objective of the research was to find solutions for the actual teaching practice but at the same time the research emphasizes that conclusions cannot always be made on the basis of former facts about students. We have to bear in mind that the impact of technology changes the students as well. Lack of professional arguments and of good practice leads to pedagogical conservatism which can cause the school's progress, also in the area of adult education, to be directed in the opposite direction from the one required by business processes in the organizations in which the adult students come from or in which the students are employed after they finish their education.
Developing Soft Skills for Engineering: Experience with Student Team Projects
Authors: Gider Franc , Urbančič Tanja
Published: February 2010

Developing Soft Skills for Engineering: Experience with Student Team Projects

While advanced technologies are entering schools at all levels, we claim that other skills required to deal with them in the complex modern world should not be neglected in the education system. In this article, a promising approach to interdisciplinary postgraduate education is described. The idea of the »Team project« course is to give the students the opportunity to gain experience in an extensive project where various skills are needed, e.g. teamwork, coordinating work, project management, research, problem solving, public presentations, time management, etc. The course is obligatory and held in the first year of the master study program at the School of Engineering and Management of the University of Nova Gorica. The main advantage of the course is to give the students hands-on experience of work on a project that is very close to reality. Students are forced to gain experience in teamwork and to overcome the uncertainties and obstacles that arise in such projects. Since the launch of the course, several improvements have been made with the aim of improving the performance of the course. Nevertheless, the course remains a challenge for both students and teachers.
Challenges of Advanced Technologies and School of the Future
Authors: Gerlič Ivan
Published: February 2010

Challenges of Advanced Technologies and School of the Future

The era of advanced technology claims a different individual. The individual that would undisturbed function in the era of digitalization and would better perceive and protect our environment with the help of accomplishments and benefits of advanced information and communication technology (ICT). There is no better time for learning and concretization of these values as in school. Nowadays pupils, the pupils of digital era, are more and more experienced in the usage of contemporary media and networks. That is why they require the modification of conditions and teachers' role in the school. Will new information and multimedia or hypermedia support for classrooms and new didactical ideas improve learning results, and stimulate innovation and greater pleasure towards learning and knowledge? All these questions will be answered in our contribution.
Regional Analysis of New EU Member States in the Context of Cohesion Policy
Authors: Viturka Milan , Žítek Vladimír , Klímová Viktorie , Tonev Petr
Published: February 2010

Regional Analysis of New EU Member States in the Context of Cohesion Policy

The paper concentrates on the new European Union member states, i.e. the states of central and eastern Europe which entered the Union in 2004 (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Slovenia) and 2007 (Bulgaria and Romania). The basis of the paper is the evaluation of the cohesion policy in the countries in question, which are then analysed at the level of NUTS 2 regions (cohesion regions). The aim of the socioeconomic analysis is to assess the economic level of the regions and to use the results to form their typology. Ten characteristic indicators were chosen so that the study was as complex as possible. For each indicator in the examined countries the average was calculated, which allowed for a considerable increase of the information relevance of the study conclusions. For the cartographic representation of the regional differentiation intervals based on this average and the standard deviation were used. The final part of the study presents a concluding synthesis together with the above-mentioned typology of the regions. The results are interpreted in the context of the optimal strategy selection for the regional policy determined by the EU cohesion policy.
Competitiveness of Czech Enterprises: What affects the performance of the Enterprise?
Authors: Suchánek Petr , Špalek Jiří
Published: February 2010

Competitiveness of Czech Enterprises: What affects the performance of the Enterprise?

This article is based on an empirical survey performed by the Research Centre for Competitiveness of the Czech Economy in 2007. We analyzed a sample of 432 companies. The main objective of the article is to formulate the factors which decrease the probability that a given company will be rated as competitive. Using advanced statistical methods (particularly statistical method of pattern recognition developed by UTIA ČSAV and modified in a special way for the purpose of our research) we formulate 20 qualitative characteristics, which can cause uncompetitiveness of the selected firm. These characteristics are then discussed and basic recommendations are drawn.
The Challenge of Socio-Economic Coherence for Poland's Economic Policy in Context of Transformation Processes
Authors: Woźniak Michał
Published: February 2010

The Challenge of Socio-Economic Coherence for Poland's Economic Policy in Context of Transformation Processes

The article focuses on Polish socio-economic coherency in the European and regional context during post WWII period. The author argues that the source of this incoherency are faulty mechanisms, its economic, social and regional policies which were before the transformation based on central coordination of strategies and later, prior to Polish membership in the EU, due to autonomic processes. Much of the weaknesses after accession of Polan to the EU have been due to mixed policies practiced. This has been based on competitive harmony in which economic, social and territorial coherence that is augmented by open coordination methods at union, national, regional and sub-regional levels. It is not sufficient applying socio-economic coherence to processes of eliminating disproportions existing in regional development. Their practical utility requires taking cognizance of the specificity of local material, human and social capital resources. The key issue of socio-economic coherence is harmonizing the development of all aspects of human living.
A Bayesian Approach to Ranking and Rater Evaluation
Authors: Cao Jing , Stokes S. Lynne , Zhang Song
Published: February 2010

We develop a Bayesian hierarchical model for the analysis of ordinal data from multirater ranking studies. The model for a rater’s score includes four latent factors: one is a latent item trait determining the true order of items and the other three are the rater’s performance characteristics, including bias, discrimination, and measurement error in the ratings. The proposed approach aims at three goals. First, three Bayesian estimators are introduced to estimate the ranks of items. They all show a substantial improvement over the widely used score sums by using the information on the variable skill of the raters. Second, rater performance can be compared based on rater bias, discrimination, and measurement error. Third, a simulation-based decision-theoretic approach is described to determine the number of raters to employ. A simulation study and an analysis based on a grant review data set are presented.
A thermo-hydrodynamic modelling study of an idealized low-elevation blue-ice area in Antarctica
Authors: Rasmus Kai
Published: February 2010

Low-elevation blue-ice areas in Antarctica can contain significant amounts of subsurface liquid water during summer and may experience internal melt–freeze cycles due to absorption of shortwave radiation. An existing 2-D (x-z) model has been used to study the phenomenon and this is improved by changing the lower boundary condition from a no-flux condition to one that lets heat through, and by changing the bulk optical properties to spectral values. Both changes made the model more realistic. The optical and thermal boundary conditions, together with the optical attenuation coefficient, have a large effect on the amount of water produced in the ice. Our results show that if the lower boundary condition is changed from no flux to radiating, subsurface melting is reduced dramatically. Using a spectral albedo produces less melting than using a corresponding bulk albedo, the other variables left unchanged. If optical properties are changed to spectral values, the melting is different than using bulk values. If the linear extent of the blue-ice area is <0.6 m, subsurface melting is diminished. We found the spatial variability of snow has a significant effect on subsurface melting. Subsurface melting was found to be impossible for albedos >0.7 and the subsurface ponds can persist over the winter if the albedo is <0.4.
Design, optimization and calibration of an automated density gauge for firn and ice cores
Authors: Breton Daniel J. , Hamilton Gordon S. , Hess C.T.
Published: February 2010

A gamma-ray density gauge can provide high-resolution and high-precision density measurements of firn and ice cores. This study describes the design, gamma-ray energy optimization and mass attenuation coefficient calibration of the Maine Automated Density Gauge Experiment (MADGE), a portable, field-operable gamma-ray density gauge used on overland traverses in East Antarctica. The MADGE instrument uses a 241Am gamma-ray source, a pulse-mode counting system and electronic core diameter calipers to collect high-precision (±0.004 g cm−3) density data from 3–8 cm diameter firn and ice cores. The data are collected at a 3.3 mm spatial resolution and an average throughput of 1.5 m h−1 for 5 cm diameter cores.
Modelling snow failure with a fibre bundle model
Authors: Reiweger Ingrid , Schweizer Jürg , Dual Jürg , Herrmann Hans Jürgen
Published: February 2010

Dry-snow slab avalanches initiate from a failure in a weak snow layer below a cohesive slab. Snow is considered as a porous ice structure, and the strength distribution of the single elements of this structure, i.e. grains and bonds between grains, shows a high degree of disorder. On the bond or microstructural level, the failure process is believed to start if the fracturing of bonds between snow grains is not balanced by the formation of new bonds. We use a statistical fracture model – a fibre bundle model – to study the failure process in a weak snow layer. The model consists of fibres of various strengths representing single snow grains between two rigid plates which represent the slab above and the substratum below the weak layer. The fibres deform in a linear elastic manner and break instantly at their rupture strength. Broken fibres may sinter (re-bond) and regain strength after a finite sintering time. We show that the different characteristic times for breaking and sintering lead to the rate dependence of snow strength. This is, to our knowledge, the first statistical model to reproduce the ductile-to-brittle transition which snow exhibits with increasing strain rate. When the model is applied to simulate experimental stress–strain curves for different strain rates, the model and experimental results are in fair agreement.