bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Lyapunov controller for self-balancing two-wheeled vehicles
Authors: Maddahi A. , Shamekhi A. H. , Ghaffari A.
Published: March 2014

Segway is a self-balancing motorized two-wheeled vehicle which is able to carry the human body. The main issue in design of such a vehicle is to choose a stable control system capable of keeping the rider close to the upright position over smooth and non-smooth surfaces. This work extends the research previously performed by the authors for design of a controller, using the feedback linearization technique, to increase the stability of a two-wheeled vehicle carrying human. This paper investigates the design and validation of a controller for an inertial mobile vehicle using the Lyapunov's feedback control design technique. The system equations of motion are derived followed by finding the Lyapunov function required to design the controller. Owing to the discontinuity, originating from a sign function in the control law, the proposed control system is discontinuous. Therefore, the existence, continuity, and uniqueness of the solution are proven utilizing the Filippov's solution. Afterwards, the asymptotic stability of the control system is proven using the extensions of Lyapunov's stability theory to nonsmooth systems, and LaSalle's invariant set theorem. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control system is validated using simulation studies. Results confirm that the controller keeps the system stable while provides good position tracking responses.
Finite-time coordination control for networked bilateral teleoperation
Authors: Yang Yana , Hua Changchun , Ding Huafeng , Guan Xinping
Published: March 2014

A continuous finite-time control scheme for networked bilateral teleoperation is proposed in this brief. The terminal sliding mode technology is used and new master–slave torques are designed. With the new controller, the coordination error of the master manipulator and the slave manipulator converges to zero in finite time. Moreover, the reaching time and the sliding time can be derived. Finally, the comparisons are performed and simulations show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Design optimization of a cable-based parallel tracking system by using evolutionary algorithms
Authors: Hernandez Eusebio E. , Valdez S.-I. , Ceccarelli M. , Hernandez A. , Botello S.
Published: March 2014

In this paper, an optimization design of a 6 DOF parallel measuring system is analyzed. First, a closed form direct kinematics formulation based on Cayley–Menger determinants is considered in the objective function, in order to measure the manipulator singularities, then an estimation of distribution algorithm is proposed to solve the optimization problem. It is shown that the evolutionary algorithm can find close to optimal solutions for minimum pose error estimation. Additionally, these global optimizers significantly reduce the computational burden in comparison with exhaustive search and other global optimization techniques. The sensitivity of the pose error estimation in the prescribed robots' workspace is analyzed and used to guide a designer in choosing the best structural configuration. Numerical examples are discussed to show the feasibility of the proposed optimization methodology.
Unmanned aerial vehicle dynamic path planning in an uncertain environment
Authors: Yao Min , Zhao Min
Published: March 2014

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dynamic path planning method is proposed to avoid not only static threats but also mobile threats. The path of a UAV is planned or modified by the potential trajectory of the mobile threat, which is predicted by its current position, velocity, and direction angle, because the positions of the UAV and mobile threat are dynamically changing. In each UAV planning path, the UAV incurs some costs, including control costs to change the direction angle, route costs to bypass the threats, and threat costs to acquire some probability to be destroyed by threats. The model predictive control (MPC) algorithm is used to determine the optimal or sub-optimal path with minimum overall costs. The MPC algorithm is a rolling-optimization feedback algorithm. It is used to plan the UAV path in several steps online instead of one-time offline to avoid sudden and mobile threats dynamically. Lastly, solution implementation is described along with several simulation results that demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The coastal topography of the Moray Firth
Authors: Smith J. S.
Published: March 2014

Synopsis

The geology, glaciation, deglaciation and sea level history are summarised in relation to the evolution of the coastline. Deglaciation and sea level are established as particularly important factors responsible for the distribution of sand and shingle beach forelands. Forelands in the middle coastline of the southern shore of the firth are currently undergoing relatively severe coastal erosion. It is argued that this results from a diminution of nearshore sediment supplies combined with a unidirectional longshore movement of material along the beach face.
Coastal planning in the Moray Firth
Authors: Turnbull R. G. H.
Published: March 2014

Synopsis

Since the late 1940s coastal planning in the Moray Firth, as elsewhere in Britain, has been carried out by appropriate planning authorities within the framework of the statutory development planning and development control system. In the formulation of plans and policies for the coast, regional and district authorities have responded to national policy guidelines and to the advice received from statutory organisations and others. Controversy and differences have been dealt with by consultation and by local public inquiries.

In safeguarding the coastline, particularly in the inner Moray Firth, planning authorities have had environmental management responsibility for oil and gas-related activities, recreational and tourist facilities, pollution protection and beach erosion. Continuing pressures and uncertainties about future prospects for oil and gas developments have also generated an unusual amount of administrative, survey and research activity at national, regional and district levels. However, the expertise and knowledge gained provide a unique and valuable information base upon which to prepare an overall coastal strategy.
The distribution and local movements of shorebirds within the Moray Firth
Authors: Symonds F. L. , Langslow D. R.
Published: March 2014

Synopsis

The shorebird populations of the Moray Firth mudflats were studied between 1981 and 1985. Peak numbers of waders were found in midwinter when the total population may exceed 36,000 birds. More than 1% of the total northwest European population of oystercatchers (Haematopus osiralegus), redshank (Tringa totanus), bar-tailed godwit (Limosa tapponica) and knot (Calidris canutus) were recorded. Wildfowl reach peak numbers in October and November (approximately 45,000); numbers decline gradually thereafter as some birds move on to wintering sites elsewhere in Britain. Ringing and colour-marking studies showed that turnstone (Arenaria interpres), curlew (Numenius arquata), ringed plover (Charadrius hialicula), oystercatcher and redshank remained loyal to selected feeding areas within the Moray Firth while bar-tailed godwit, knot and dunlin (Calidris alpina) ranged widely throughout the winter.

These observations are discussed in relation to the value of the Moray Firth to shorebirds and the problems posed by the reclamation of intertidal habitats and pollution of the intertidal areas.
Moray Firth marine fouling communities
Authors: Picken Gordon B.
Published: March 2014

Synopsis

Fouling communities typical of shallow water inshore sites were found at three locations in the Moray Firth. At each, an initial background cover of solitary tubeworms and barnacles was overgrown by secondary fouling organisms. On the piles of Nigg jetty, overgrowth consisted of mussels in the depth range 0–6 m and hydroids, sponges, soft corals and anemones from 6–26 m. Buoys in the approaches to Cromarty Firth were completely covered by a mixture of algae and mussels. Sunlit areas of the float cleaned annually bore a diverse algal cover, whereas uncleaned shaded areas and the freely hanging chain had three-year-old mussels up to 7 cm long. Mussel fouling extended down the chain to within 1 m of the seabed at 26 m depth. Concrete anchor blocks on the seabed were covered with solitary tubeworms and hydroids. Steel piled platforms in the Beatrice Field were completely fouled after four years. Mussels and seaweeds were abundant from 0–5 m. In the depth range 8–35 m the background calcareous layer was overgrown by soft corals up to 10 cm long and hydroids. From 35 m to the seabed at 46 m, soft overgrowth was provided mainly by hydroids and ascidians, with only a few small corals.
Regulation of pollution: controls and responsibilities
Authors: Buchanan D.
Published: March 2014

Synopsis

The most pertinent sources of pollution in the Moray Firth are considered to be direct discharges of sewage and trade effluents and indirect discharges of trade effluent through public sewers; discharges to underground strata; the deposit of waste on land and at sea, and oil discharge from shore and offshore installations and vessels. The distribution of the main function and responsibilities for the administrative control of pollution and the concomitant statutory powers are explained under the relevant sources of pollution identified.
Water quality in the Inverness and Beauly Firths
Authors: Hunter J. , Rendall D.
Published: March 2014

Synopsis

The Highland River Purification Board is carrying out a detailed study of the effect of Inverness sewage on the Beauly and Inverness Firths to ascertain the present degree of pollution and the best location for a new outfall. The survey comprises hydrographic work to identify the main currents in the Longman area, analysis of water and sewage quality and surveys of the littoral and sub-littoral fauna.
JOHANN GOTTFRIED HERDER AND ENLIGHTENMENT POLITICAL THOUGHT: FROM THE REFORM OF RUSSIA TO THE ANTHROPOLOGY OFBILDUNG
Authors: SPECK RETO
Published: March 2014

This essay revises customary interpretations of Johann Gottfried Herder that stress the non-political or anarchical nature of his philosophy and his opposition to Enlightenment thought. Approaching his politics through the idea ofBildung, it argues that Herder first elaborated on this seminal concept in a series of early texts concerned with the reform of Russia. It analyses Herder's writings on Russia in the context of wider Enlightenment debates about the reform of the empire, and shows thatBildungwas employed as a means to mediate between contrasting models of political action put forward by contemporaries such as Voltaire and Denis Diderot. An outline of the subsequent development ofBildungin his anthropological works reinforces the political intention behind the concept, and situates Herder's political thought firmly within late eighteenth-century controversies.
GETTING OVER IT? FROM THE SOCIAL TO THE HUMAN SCIENCES
Authors: ROSS DOROTHY
Published: March 2014

The history of the social sciences in the United States—like many other fields of intellectual history—confirms John Dewey's observation: “Intellectual progress usually occurs through sheer abandonment of questions together with both of the alternatives they assume—an abandonment that results from their decreasing vitality and a change of urgent interest. We do not solve them: we get over them.” As Dewey suggests, two fine new books mark intellectual progress in the field through a change of generational interest. As he also implies, new perspectives leave important issues behind.1
Gearing up to support urban farming in California: Preliminary results of a needs assessment
Authors: Surls Rachel , Feenstra Gail , Golden Sheila , Galt Ryan , Hardesty Shermain , Napawan Claire , Wilen Cheryl
Published: March 2014

According to the United States Census, California is the most urban state in the nation. Although there are many outstanding examples of urban farms in California, in general, urban agriculture (UA) has been slower to gain momentum here than in some other states with large urban populations. Over the past several years, urban agriculture's popularity in California has begun to escalate, with strong emerging interest in San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, San Diego, Los Angeles and other metropolitan communities. One challenge for urban farmers and municipal decision makers engaged with UA in California has been limited availability of relevant information and technical assistance. A new project team at the University of California Cooperative Extension, part of the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) is working to develop web-based educational resources that will be grounded in a needs assessment that is currently underway. The needs assessment includes a literature review, an internal survey of UC ANR personnel, and community clientele interviews. This paper will report on preliminary findings and analyses of the needs assessment, particularly how UC ANR personnel are engaged with UA, and what tools they think would best serve urban farmers. We suggest implications for those involved with UA, such as personnel of land-grant universities, local governments and non-profits seeking to address the needs of urban farmers in an environment of constrained resources.
The role of health-related data in promoting the security of health care in armed conflict and other emergencies
Authors: Coupland Robin
Published: March 2014

Health-related data provide the basis of policy in many domains. By using a methodology specifically designed to gather data about any form of violence and its impact, violence affecting health-care personnel, health-care facilities, and the wounded and sick in these facilities can be quantified on an objective basis. The impact of this form of violence and its accompanying insecurity goes beyond those directly affected to the many who are ultimately denied health care. Reliable data about both the violence affecting health-care personnel and facilities and the ‘knock-on’ effects of this violence on the health of many others have a critical role to play in influencing the policies of all stakeholders, including governments, in favour of greater security of effective and impartial health care in armed conflict and other emergencies. The International Committee of the Red Cross has undertaken a study that attempts to understand on a global basis the nature and impact of the many different kinds of violence affecting health care.
ECETOC TRA version 3: capturing and consolidating the experiences of REACH
Authors: Money Chris , Schnoeder Frank , Noij Dook , Chang Hsieng-Ye , Urbanus Jan
Published: March 2014

This article outlines the pertinent considerations when developing and sustaining exposure models that are intended for use in regulatory processes.
The antimalarial drug atovaquone binds to saposin B with comparable affinity to coenzyme Q10
Authors: Huta B. P. , Roberts A. M. , Waters E. S. , Yu V. Y. , Doyle R. P. , Mehlenbacher M. R. , Bou-Abdallah F.
Published: March 2014

Saposin B, a known binder/transporter of coenzyme Q10, is shown to strongly bind atovaquone, a front-line antimalarial drug and competitive inhibitor of CoQ10.
Synthesis and synergistic antimycobacterial screening of chlorpromazine and its metabolites
Authors: Kigondu Elizabeth M. , Njoroge Mathew , Singh Kawaljit , Njuguna Nicholas , Warner Digby F. , Chibale Kelly
Published: March 2014

Chlorpromazine (CPZ) metabolites naturally generated in vivo were synthesized via a non-classical Polonovski reaction. CPZ and the synthesized metabolites exhibited clear synergy when tested in combination with a number of antituberculosis drugs.
The vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction (VMAR) in natural product synthesis
Authors: Kalesse Markus , Cordes Martin , Symkenberg Gerrit , Lu Hai-Hua
Published: March 2014

This review will provide an overview on the recent developments of polyketide synthesis using the vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction for the construction of advanced intermediates. In general, four different motifs can be constructed efficiently using the recent developments of asymmetric variants of this strategy.
P(O)R2directed Pd(ii)-catalyzed C(sp2)–H acylation
Authors: Ma Yan-Na , Tian Qiu-Ping , Zhang Hong-Yu , Zhou An-Xi , Yang Shang-Dong
Published: March 2014

A novel method for the Pd(ii)-catalyzed C–H acylation of 2-phosphorylbiphenyl with α-oxocarboxylic acids, aldehydes, alcohols and toluene is reported.
Interaction of human serum albumin with liposomes of saturated and unsaturated lipids with different phase transition temperatures: a spectroscopic investigation by membrane probe PRODAN
Authors: Thakur Raina , Das Anupam , Chakraborty Anjan
Published: March 2014

The interaction of human serum albumin (HSA) with liposomes made of saturated and unsaturated phosphocholines has been studied using circular dichroism (CD), steady state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopic techniques.
Chemical cross-linking abrogates adjuvant potential of natural polymers
Authors: Shakya Akhilesh Kumar , Kumar Ashok , Nandakumar Kutty Selva
Published: March 2014

Natural polymers like chitosan and alginic acid are extensively used in biomedicine for different applications.
Photoelectrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of thermally oxidized copper oxide for efficient solar fuel production
Authors: Garcia-Esparza Angel T. , Limkrailassiri Kevin , Leroy Frederic , Rasul Shahid , Yu Weili , Lin Liwei , Takanabe Kazuhiro
Published: March 2014

A thorough characterization of thermally obtained Cu(i)/Cu(ii) oxide (photo)electrodes has been conducted for applications of solar fuel generation.
Muon studies of Li+ diffusion in LiFePO4 nanoparticles of different polymorphs
Authors: Ashton Thomas E. , Laveda Josefa Vidal , MacLaren Donald A. , Baker Peter J. , Porch Adrian , Jones Martin O. , Corr Serena A.
Published: March 2014

Lithium diffusion investigation of nanostructured olivine LiFePO4 for the first time using muon spectroscopy (μSR).
Rapid formation of black titania photoanodes: pulsed laser-induced oxygen release and enhanced solar water splitting efficiency
Authors: Nakajima Tomohiko , Nakamura Takako , Shinoda Kentaro , Tsuchiya Tetsuo
Published: March 2014

Efficient formation of black titania photoanodes that had 2.6-fold higher solar-to-hydrogen efficiency than that of a pristine titania film was achieved by pulsed UV laser irradiation.
Spontaneous liquid crystal alignment on solution-derived nanocrystalline tin-oxide films
Authors: Park Hong-Gyu , Jeong Hae-Chang , Han Jae-Jun , Kim Seon Yeong , Kim Jeong-Hwan , Kim Dai-Hyun , Seo Dae-Shik
Published: March 2014

We investigated the use of solution-derived nanocrystalline SnO2 films to promote the self-alignment of liquid crystal (LC) molecules.
The finite and large-N behaviors of independent-value matrix models
Authors: Ben Geloun Joseph , Klauder John R.
Published: March 2014

We investigate the finite and large N behaviors of independent-value O(N)-invariant matrix models. These are models defined with matrix-type fields and with no gradient term in their action. They are generically nonrenormalizable but can be handled by nonperturbative techniques. We find that the functional integral of any O(N) matrix trace invariant may be expressed in terms of an O(N)-invariant measure. Based on this result, we prove that, in the limit that all interaction coupling constants go to zero, any interacting theory is continuously connected to a pseudo-free theory. This theory differs radically from the familiar free theory consisting in putting the coupling constants to zero in the initial action. The proof is given for generic, finite-size matrix models, whereas, in the limiting case N → ∞, we succeed in showing this behavior for restricted types of actions using a particular scaling of the parameters.
Mappings of open quantum systems onto chain representations and Markovian embeddings
Authors: Woods M. P. , Groux R. , Chin A. W. , Huelga S. F. , Plenio M. B.
Published: March 2014

We study systems coupled linearly to a bath of oscillators. In an iterative process, the bath is transformed into a chain of oscillators with nearest neighbour interactions. A systematic procedure is provided to obtain the spectral density of the residual bath in each step, and it is shown that under general conditions these data converge. That is, the asymptotic part of the chain is universal, translation invariant with semicircular spectral density. The methods are based on orthogonal polynomials, in which we also solve the outstanding so-called “sequence of secondary measures problem” and give them a physical interpretation.
The crystal structure and magnetic properties of Ba2−xSrxCo2Fe12O22
Authors: Cho Kwang Lae , Rhee Chan Hyuk , Kim Chul Sung
Published: March 2014

We have synthesized the Ba2−xSrxCo2Fe12O22 samples (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) by the solid-state reaction method and investigated their crystalline and magnetic properties by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Mössbauer spectrometer, vibrating sample magnetometer, and network analyzer. XRD patterns show that all samples are rhombohedral with space group R-3m. The lattice constants a0 and c0 decrease with Sr substitution due to smaller ion radius of Sr2+ (1.27 Å) than that of Ba2+ (1.43 Å). The Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements show that the relative area ratios of Fe ion were maintained constant regardless of the Sr concentration. However, average magnetic hyperfine field slightly increased with the Sr concentration. This observation agrees with the fact that the saturation magnetization (Ms) linearly increases due to the increasing super-exchange interaction, originated from the difference in the ionic radius between Ba2+ and Sr2+. To investigate its properties at high frequency range, all samples were sintered at 1100 °C, and complex permeability and permittivity were measured by network analyzer between 100 MHz and 4 GHz. For x below 0.3, the initial permeability at 100 MHz increases, at higher values of x, its value decreases. Our study shows that magnetic properties of Sr2+ substitution for Ba2+ in Y-type hexaferrite as well as low magnetic loss less than 0.1 in 1 GHz band, indicating the potential application of Ba2−xSrxCo2Fe12O22 samples for RF and antenna devices in ultra high frequency band.
Hydrostatic pressure effect on hydrophobic hydration and pairwise hydrophobic interaction of methane
Authors: Graziano Giuseppe
Published: March 2014

At room temperature, the Ben-Naim standard hydration Gibbs energy of methane is a positive quantity that increases markedly with hydrostatic pressure [M. S. Moghaddam and H. S. Chan, J. Chem. Phys. 126, 114507 (2007)]. This finding is rationalized by showing that the magnitude of the reversible work to create a suitable cavity in water increases with pressure due to both the increase in the volume packing density of water and the contribution of the pressure-volume work. According to the present approach, at room temperature, the Gibbs energy of the contact-minimum configuration of two methane molecules is a negative quantity that increases in magnitude with hydrostatic pressure. This result is not in line with the results of several computer simulation studies [T. Ghosh, A. E. Garcia, and S. Garde, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 123, 10997–11003 (2001)], and emerges because pairwise association causes a decrease in solvent-excluded volume that produces a gain of configurational/translational entropy of water molecules, whose magnitude increases with the volume packing density of the liquid phase.
High efficiency InGaN/GaN light emitting diodes with asymmetric triangular multiple quantum wells
Authors: Chang Chiao-Yun , Li Hen , Lu Tien-Chang
Published: March 2014

In this study, we demonstrated high efficiency InGaN/GaN light emitting diodes (LEDs) with asymmetric triangular multiple quantum wells (MQWs). Asymmetric triangular MQWs not only contribute to uniform carrier distribution in InGaN/GaN MQWs but also yield a low Auger recombination rate. In addition, asymmetric triangular MQWs with gallium face-oriented inclination band profiles can be immune from the polarization charge originating from typical c-plane InGaN/GaN quantum well structures. In the experiment, LEDs incorporated with asymmetric triangular MQWs with gallium face-oriented inclination band profiles exhibited a 60.0% external quantum efficiency at 20 mA and a 27.0% efficiency droop at 100 mA (corresponding to a current density of 69 A/cm2), which accounted for an 11.7% efficiency improvement and a 31.1% droop reduction compared with symmetric square quantum well structure LEDs.
Thermal ionization induced metal-semiconductor transition and room temperature ferromagnetism in trivalent doped ZnO codoped with lithium
Authors: Sivagamasundari A. , Chandrasekar S. , Pugaze R. , Rajagopan S. , Kannan R.
Published: March 2014

Thermal ionization induced metallic to semiconductor (MST) transition occurring at 460 K for Zn0.97Al0.03O, 463 K for Zn0.94Al0.03Li0.03O, and 503 K for Zn0.91Al0.03Li0.03Mn0.03O has been found in the sol-gel synthesized (using hexamethylenetetramine), trivalent doped (Al, Mn) ZnO codoped with lithium. Increase in the thermally ionized carrier concentration due to Al doping is responsible for near band edge (NBE) peak shift causing Fermi level to move into conduction band making it metallic consistent with resistivity results. Free carrier (thermally activated) neutralization with ionized donor is responsible for semiconducting nature, which is supported from the free carrier screening produced energy shift in the NBE of photoluminescence peak. Furthermore, independently band gap shrinkage is also obtained from UV-Visible studies confirming localization induced MST. An anti-correlation is found between defect density (DLE) and room temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) indicating intrinsic defects are not directly responsible for RTFM.
Collisional effects in the ion Weibel instability for two counter-propagating plasma streams
Authors: Ryutov D. D. , Fiuza F. , Huntington C. M. , Ross J. S. , Park H.-S.
Published: March 2014

Experiments directed towards the study of the collisionless interaction between two counter-streaming plasma flows generated by high-power lasers are designed in such a way as to make collisions between the ions of the two flows negligibly rare. This is reached by making flow velocities v as high as possible and thereby exploiting the 1/v4 dependence of the Rutherford cross-section. At the same time, the plasma temperature of each flow may be relatively low so that collisional mean-free paths for the intra-stream particle collisions may be much smaller than the characteristic spatial scale of the unstable modes required for the shock formation. The corresponding effects are studied in this paper for the case of the ion Weibel (filamentation) instability. Dispersion relations for the case of strong intra-stream collisions are derived. It is shown that the growth-rates become significantly smaller than those stemming from a collisionless model. The underlying physics is mostly related to the increase of the electron stabilizing term. Additional effects are an increased “stiffness” of the collisional ion gas and the ion viscous dissipation. A parameter domain where collisions are important is identified.
Bimodal wireless sensing with dual-channel wide bandgap heterostructure varactors
Authors: Deen David A. , Osinsky Andrei , Miller Ross
Published: March 2014

A capacitive wireless sensing scheme is developed that utilizes an AlN/GaN-based dual-channel varactor. The dual-channel heterostructure affords two capacitance plateaus within the capacitance-voltage (CV) characteristic, owing to the two parallel two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) located at respective AlN/GaN interfaces. The capacitance plateaus are leveraged for the definition of two resonant states of the sensor when implemented in an inductively-coupled resonant LRC network for wireless readout. The physics-based CV model is compared with published experimental results, which serve as a basis for the sensor embodiment. The bimodal resonant sensor is befitting for a broad application space ranging from gas, electrostatic, and piezoelectric sensors to biological and chemical detection.
Polymer translocation into a confined space: Influence of the chain stiffness and the shape of the confinement
Authors: Zhang Kehong , Luo Kaifu
Published: March 2014

Using two-dimensional Langevin dynamics simulations, we investigate the dynamics of polymer translocation into a confined space under a driving force through a nanopore, with particular emphasis on the chain stiffness and the shape of the confinement. We observe that with increasing the chain stiffness κ, the translocation time τ always increases for different shapes of confinements. For an ellipse, τ is different for the translocation through its minor and major axis directions. Under the weak confinement, the translocation through the minor axis direction is faster than that through the major axis direction for different κ, while this is true only for high κ under strong confinement. Particularly, for both weak and strong confinements we find that packaging into an ellipse through its minor axis direction is faster than that for a circle of the same area for high κ. These results are interpreted by the chain conformation during the translocation process and the time of an individual segment passing through the pore.
Resistive switching characteristics in dielectric/ferroelectric composite devices improved by post-thermal annealing at relatively low temperature
Authors: Tsurumaki-Fukuchi Atsushi , Yamada Hiroyuki , Sawa Akihito
Published: March 2014

We have investigated the effects of post-thermal annealing on the resistive switching characteristics of dielectric/ferroelectric composite devices of SrRuO3/LaFeO3/Bi1−δFeO3/SrRuO3. Annealing of the devices above 85 °C enhanced the hysteresis of the current–voltage characteristics, resulting in an increase in the resistive switching ratio. After post-thermal annealing at 200 °C, devices with a thicker LaFeO3 layer exhibited a larger resistive switching ratio, and the device-to-device variation in the resistive switching ratio decreased as the LaFeO3-layer thickness was increased. The pulsed-voltage-induced resistive switching characteristics, such as the resistive switching ratio and the switching speed, were also improved by post-thermal annealing.
Manipulating the negative fixed charge density at the c-Si/Al2O3 interface
Authors: Werner Florian , Schmidt Jan
Published: March 2014

We manipulate the negative fixed charge density Qf at the c-Si/Al2O3 interface by applying a bias voltage in a metal-oxide-semiconductor configuration or by depositing corona charges onto the Al2O3 film. A significant increase of the negative fixed charge density from |Qf| = 4 × 1012 cm−2 to values above 1013 cm−2 is observed for surface Fermi energies close to or within the silicon conduction band. The additional charges are shown to be partly unstable under annealing or changing the polarity of the bias voltage. Our experimental data are best described by assuming at least three different types of charge traps responsible for the formation of the negative fixed charge density at the c-Si/Al2O3 interface.
Environmental stress activation of plant long-terminal repeat retrotransposons
Authors: Alzohairy Ahmed M. , Sabir Jamal S. M. , Gyulai Gábor , Younis Rania A. A. , Jansen Robert K. , Bahieldin Ahmed
Published: March 2014

Genomic retrotransposons (RTs) are major components of most plant genomes. They spread throughout the genomes by a process termed retrotransposition, which consists of reverse transcription and reinsertion of the copied element into a new genomic location (a copy-and-paste system). Abiotic and biotic stresses activate long-terminal repeat (LTR) RTs in photosynthetic eukaryotes from algae to angiosperms. LTR RTs could represent a threat to the integrity of host genomes because of their activity and mutagenic potential by epigenetic regulation. Host genomes have developed mechanisms to control the activity of the retroelements and their mutagenic potential. Some LTR RTs escape these defense mechanisms, and maintain their ability to be activated and transpose as a result of biotic or abiotic stress stimuli. These stimuli include pathogen infection, mechanical damage, in vitro tissue culturing, heat, drought and salt stress, generation of doubled haploids, X-ray irradiation and many others. Reactivation of LTR RTs differs between different plant genomes. The expression levels of reactivated RTs are influenced by the transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene silencing mechanisms (e.g. DNA methylation, heterochromatin formation and RNA interference). Moreover, the insertion of RTs (e.g. Triticum aestivum L. Wis2–1A) into or next to coding regions of the host genome can generate changes in the expression of adjacent host genes of the host. In this paper, we review the ways that plant genomic LTR RTs are activated by environmental stimuli to affect restructuring and diversification of the host genome.
Combinatorial quorum sensing allows bacteria to resolve their social and physical environment
Authors: Cornforth Daniel M. , Popat Roman , McNally Luke , Gurney James , Scott-Phillips Thomas C. , Ivens Alasdair , Diggle Stephen P. , Brown Sam P.
Published: March 2014

Significance

Many bacterial species engage in a form of cell–cell communication known as quorum sensing (QS). Despite great progress in unravelling the molecular mechanisms of QS, controversy remains over its functional role. There is disagreement over whether QS surveys bacterial cell density or rather environmental properties like diffusion or flow, and moreover there is no consensus on why many bacteria use multiple signal molecules. We develop and test a new conceptual framework for bacterial cell–cell communication, demonstrating that bacteria can simultaneously infer both their social (density) and physical (mass-transfer) environment, given combinatorial (nonadditive) responses to multiple signals with distinct half-lives. Our results also show that combinatorial communication is not restricted solely to primates and is computationally achievable in single-celled organisms.
Nucleation of shear bands in amorphous alloys
Authors: Perepezko John H. , Imhoff Seth D. , Chen Ming-Wei , Wang Jun-Qiang , Gonzalez Sergio
Published: March 2014

Significance

A shear band is a region of highly localized plastic flow that develops during loading in both crystalline and amorphous materials. Shear bands directly determine the ductility of an amorphous phase, but relatively little is known about their nucleation. We use nanoindentation to probe shear band nucleation by measuring the first pop-in event during loading which is associated with shear band formation. We analyze a large number of independent measurements on four different metallic glasses and reveal a bimodal distribution of nucleation events that operate at different stress levels. The discovery of multiple shear band nucleation sites challenges the current view of a single type of site and offers opportunities for controlling the ductility of amorphous alloys.
Long-range interaction and correlation between
MYC
enhancer and oncogenic long noncoding RNA
CARLo-5
Authors: Kim Taewan , Cui Ri , Jeon Young-Jun , Lee Ji-Hoon , Lee Ju Hee , Sim Hosung , Park Jong Kook , Fadda Paolo , Tili Esmerina , Nakanishi Hiroshi , Huh Man-Il , Kim Sung-Hak , Cho Ju Hwan , Sung Bong Hwan , Peng Yong , Lee Tae Jin , Luo Zhenghua , Sun Hui-Lung , Wei Huijun , Alder Hansjuerg , Oh Jeong Su , Shim Kang Sup , Ko Sang-Bong , Croce Carlo M.
Published: March 2014

Significance

Many cancer-associated variants have been found in the 8q24.21 region harboring enhancer activity. However, the functional mechanism of the variants is not clear due to the lack of protein-coding genes in the region and no significant correlation with the nearest oncogene
MYC
. We identified long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) named cancer-associated region long noncoding RNAs (
CARLo
s) in the 8q24.21 region. Interestingly, we found that the cancer-associated variant rs6983267 regulating the enhancer activity is significantly associated with the expression of one of the lncRNAs
CARLo-5
and that
CARLo-5
has an oncogenic function. By showing direct interaction between the enhancer region and active regulatory region of the
CARLo-5
promoter, we provide a regulatory mechanism of cancer susceptibility caused by the cancer-associated variants.
Mannose‐binding lectin 2 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to upper respiratory tract infection among endurance athletes
Authors: Zehsaz Farzad , Farhangi Negin , Legge Michael
Published: March 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of mannose‐binding lectin 2 (MBL2)‐exon‐1 gene polymorphisms on upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) incidence among endurance athletes. To this end, 100 healthy elite male athletes participating in the study were classified as either healthy or prone to frequent URTI. Blood samples, DNA isolation, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and conventional PCR‐RFLP were performed. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral leukocytes of whole blood samples using the QIAmp DNA Blood Mini Kit. For comparison of the distribution of genotypes between two groups and for estimating odds ratios (OR) for URTI susceptibility in relation to the MBL2‐exon‐1 polymorphism, Pearson's chi‐square and logistic regression method were used, respectively. The MBL2‐exon‐1 genotype distribution differed between athletes with URTI and healthy athletes (χ2 = 7.81, p = 0.02). The AO and AO + OO genotypes of MBL2 were observed at a greater frequency in the illness‐prone group compared with the healthy group (34.04% vs. 11.32%). In conclusion, findings from this study have identified a potential role of genetic variation in influencing the risk for URTI in athletic populations and single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MBL2‐exon‐1 genes were associated with an altered risk profile. These measures may have a predictive value in the identification of individuals who are more likely to experience recurrent infections when exposed to high physical stress in the areas of athletic endeavour.
Sensitivity analysis of an inverse problem for the wave equation with caustics
Authors: Bao Gang , Zhang Hai
Published: March 2014

The paper investigates the sensitivity of the inverse problem of recovering the velocity field in a bounded domain from the boundary dynamic Dirichlet-to-Neumann map (DDtN) for the wave equation. Three main results are obtained: (1) assuming that two velocity fields are non-trapping and are equal to a constant near the boundary, it is shown that the two induced scattering relations must be identical if their corresponding DDtN maps are sufficiently close; (2) a geodesic X-ray transform operator with matrix-valued weight is introduced by linearizing the operator which associates each velocity field with its induced Hamiltonian flow. A selected set of geodesics whose conormal bundle can cover the cotangent space at an interior point is used to recover the singularity of the X-ray transformed function at the point; a local stability estimate is established for this case. Although fold caustics are allowed along these geodesics, it is required that these caustics contribute to a smoother term in the transform than the point itself. The existence of such a set of geodesics is guaranteed under some natural assumptions in dimensions greater than or equal to three by the classification result on caustics and regularity theory of Fourier Integral Operators. The interior point with the above required set of geodesics is called “fold-regular”. (3) Assuming that a background velocity field with every interior point fold-regular is fixed and another velocity field is sufficiently close to it and satisfies a certain orthogonality condition, it is shown that if the two corresponding DDtN maps are sufficiently close then they must be equal.
Broad bandwidth acoustic backscattering from sandeel—measurements and finite element simulations
Authors: Forland Tonje Nesse , Hobæk Halvor , Ona Egil , Korneliussen Rolf J.
Published: March 2014

Acoustic backscattering measurements were made of individual sandeel (Ammodytes marinus L.) at frequencies from 100 to 280 kHz in a laboratory tank. Measurements were made versus incidence angle, −30° to 30° relative to both dorsal and lateral aspect directions, for dead whole sandeel and for excised backbones. Backscatter spectra from whole fish have deep minima at frequencies that vary with fish length and shift to lower frequencies at higher incidence angles. The backscatter spectra from dorsal and lateral aspects differ both in amplitude and in positions of the minima. The backscatter from the excised backbone increases almost linearly with frequency and, below about 150 kHz, contributes only a minor amount to the total sandeel backscatter. A finite element model of sandeel backscatter, developed and compared with the measurements, indicates that shear waves in the backbone contribute little to the overall backscatter from sandeel.
Roman Catholic Economics
Authors: Yuengert Andrew
Published: March 2014

The popes do not call for “Roman Catholic Economics,” if by this it is meant a fully integrated treatment of Roman Catholic theology and economics. On the contrary, they repeatedly express respect for an autonomous economic science, whose insights they need for a fuller understanding of person and society. They do not want to build a new economic science on Catholic principles; instead they wish to engage the existing field of economics in a conversation about society. For economics to serve Catholic social teaching there must be a place in its models for personal agency, for the social nature of the person, and for sin. Economics has analytical resources at hand to begin this engagement. Modern economics has much to offer the current CST project: its understanding of the unintended order that exists in markets, and a practical sense of what is possible in a world of scarcity.
Theonomy and Economic Institutions
Authors: Noell Edd
Published: March 2014

Theonomy draws upon biblical law for normative economic institutional arrangements as an alternative to modern “value-free” economics. Often identified with the Reformed faith and allied with “Christian Reconstructionism,” theonomists affirm all nations are made up of God’s image-bearers who though sinful remain bound by God’s “dominion covenant” commanding them to subdue the earth. The Old Testament provides God’s law to direct the rule of nations, and it is mandatory for modern civil government to enforce its “cross-boundary laws.” These statutes provide specific applications of the Mosaic covenant regarding theft and deceit in the form of case laws securing property rights, honest weights and measures, and timely wage payments. Theonomists aver that nations will enjoy long-run economic growth if their governments constrain their economic role to securing property rights, punishing economic fraud, and prohibiting economic abuse of the poor, judicial discrimination in terms of wealth or power, and a central bank monopoly over monetary creation.
Pentecostal Approaches to Economics
Authors: Clifton Shane
Published: March 2014

This chapter outlines a Pentecostal approach to engaging with economics. It is tentative not only because there has not been to date substantive Pentecostal thinking about economics but also because it is impossible to make categorical statements about a movement that is rapidly growing and transforming. There is, however, a prevailing spirituality, a set of values and attitudes that are common among Pentecostals, notwithstanding their diversity, that are capable of framing the tenor of a dialogue with economists. The movement can be understood as a free-market religion that has developed alongside the rise of globalizing capitalist society. Pentecostal engagement with economics can be contrasted with the tendency among mainline churches and theologians to reject capitalism and free trade. Instead, it argues that the Pentecostal embrace of the emerging systems of global trade are not mere capitulations to oppressive consumerism but, rather, participate in the redemptive transformation of the market.
Christianity and the Prospects for Development in the Global South
Authors: Heslam Peter S.
Published: March 2014

There are two key facts about development that are obvious yet often overlooked: the solution to material poverty is material wealth and the only sphere of society that generates such wealth is business. From these two foundations, the argument in this chapter is that Christianity can be, and often is, conducive to the kind of environment that business needs to flourish and for business to contribute to the well-being of society. It is remarkable the extent to which the role of religion and business are ignored in mainstream development thinking. One reason this is generally overlooked is that the development community tends to focus on definitions and causes of poverty, rather than what causes wealth. This chapter discusses the role of the Evangelical-Pentecostal-Charismatic Movement in promoting wealth through a sense of calling, a positive mind-set, delaying gratification, stimulating entrepreneurship, rationalization, and nurturing voluntary associations.
Spiritual Capital
Authors: Malloch Theodore Roosevelt
Published: March 2014

The concepts of social capital and human capital are by now rich and extend beyond economics to management, human resources, political science, and sociology. They each operate at individual, corporate, societal, and global levels. Spiritual capital has come to prominence in recent years due to the combination of three related trends: the failure of secularization/modernization theories to account for reality; a rise in religiosity globally; and, the lack of ethics and virtue evidenced in the financial crisis and an ongoing plague of corporate scandals. Conceptions of spiritual capital on offer range from those by Fogel to Coleman to Berger and Putnam and more regularly in the economic and social science literature and popular accounts.
Children, but not chimpanzees, have facial correlates of determination
Authors: Waller B. M. , Misch A. , Whitehouse J. , Herrmann E.
Published: March 2014

Facial expressions have long been proposed to be important agents in forming and maintaining cooperative interactions in social groups. Human beings are inordinately cooperative when compared with their closest-living relatives, the great apes, and hence one might expect species differences in facial expressivity in contexts in which cooperation could be advantageous. Here, human children and chimpanzees were given an identical task designed to induce an element of frustration (it was impossible to solve). In children, but not chimpanzees, facial expressions associated with effort and determination positively correlated with persistence at the task. By contrast, bodily indicators of stress (self-directed behaviour) negatively correlated with task persistence in chimpanzees. Thus, children exhibited more behaviour as they persisted, and chimpanzees exhibited less. The facial expressions produced by children, could, therefore, function to solicit prosocial assistance from others.
Enhanced load-carrying capacity of hairy surfaces floating on water
Authors: Xue Yahui , Yuan Huijing , Su Weidong , Shi Yipeng , Duan Huiling
Published: March 2014

Water repellency of hairy surfaces depends on the geometric arrangement of these hairs and enables different applications in both nature and engineering. We investigate the mechanism and optimization of a hairy surface floating on water to obtain its maximum load-carrying capacity by the free energy and force analyses. It is demonstrated that there is an optimum cylinder spacing, as a result of the compromise between the vertical capillary force and the gravity, so that the hairy surface has both high load-carrying capacity and mechanical stability. Our analysis makes it clear that the setae on water striders' legs or some insects' wings are in such an optimized geometry. Moreover, it is shown that surface hydrophobicity can further increase the capacity of a hairy surface with thick cylinders, while the influence is negligible when the cylinders are thin.