bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aposematism and mimicry in soft‐bodied beetles of the superfamily Cleroidea (Insecta)
Authors: Bocakova Milada , Bocak Ladislav , Gimmel Matthew L. , Motyka Michal , Vogler Alfried P.
Published: August 2015

The evolution of animal life strategies is among the main themes of current evolutionary biology. Checkered beetles, soft‐winged flower beetles and their allies (superfamily Cleroidea), exhibit well‐known aposematic colour patterns, particularly in the family Cleridae, which participate in mimicry complexes mostly with unpalatable beetles, ants and velvet ants representing a Müllerian–Batesian continuum. Many cleroids also exhibit attenuated hardening of cuticular layers resulting in a soft‐bodied appearance. Here, a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the entire Cleroidea was performed using sequences of two nuclear and two mitochondrial loci of ~4 kb total length. Inferred phylogenies were used to reconstruct ancestral colour patterns and involvement in mimicry complexes. The hypothesis of a soft‐bodied ancestor of Cleridae and allies was tested. The phylogenetic analyses corroborated the expanded Cleroidea concept including Byturidae and Biphyllidae formerly classified as Cucujoidea. Character state optimization showed cryptic coloration was the ancestral state in Cleroidea, from which aposematic coloration originated several times in distant cleroid lineages. Within Cleridae, mimicry also arose from an ancestor that was cryptic, and multiple lineages that mimicked unpalatable beetles (Chrysomelidae, Meloidae, Lycidae) and stinging Hymenoptera evolved. Aposematic coloration was acquired in all major clerid lineages including Thanerocleridae, which are either the sister group of Chaetosomatidae or Cleridae. These findings suggest that mimetic traits in the clerid clade evolved at various times, possibly soon after the origin of soft‐bodiedness. The adaptive value of aposematism in cleroids is likely to be enhanced in soft‐bodied species, as this trait provides limited means of protection against predators, and therefore may promote the acquisition of aposematic and mimetic coloration in various ecological situations.
Correspondence Relations Between Deflection, Buckling Load, and Frequencies of Thin Functionally Graded Material Plates and Those of Corresponding Homogeneous Plates
Authors: Li Shi-Rong , Wang Xuan , Batra Romesh C.
Published: August 2015

Based on the classical plate theory (CPT), we derive scaling factors between solutions of bending, buckling and free vibration of isotropic functionally graded material (FGM) thin plates and those of the corresponding isotropic homogeneous plates. The effective material properties of the FGM plate are assumed to vary piecewise continuously in the thickness direction except for the Poisson ratio that is taken to be constant. The correspondence relations hold for plates of arbitrary geometry provided that the governing equations and boundary conditions are linear. When the stretching and bending stiffnesses of the FGM plate satisfy a relation, Poisson's ratio is constant and the boundary conditions are such that the in-plane membrane forces vanish, then there exists a physical neutral surface for the FGM plate that is usually different from the plate midsurface. Example problems studied verify the accuracy of scaling factors.
The Overall Elastic Dielectric Properties of Fiber-Strengthened/Weakened Elastomers
Authors: Lefèvre Victor , Lopez-Pamies Oscar
Published: August 2015

By employing recent results (Lopez-Pamies, O., 2014, “Elastic Dielectric Composites: Theory and Application to Particle-Filled Ideal Dielectrics,” J. Mech. Phys. Solids, 64, p. 6182 and Spinelli, S. A., Lefèvre, V., and Lopez-Pamies, O., “Dielectric Elastomer Composites: A General Closed-Form Solution in the Small-Deformation Limit,” J. Mech. Phys. Solids, 83, pp. 263–284.) on the homogenization problem of dielectric elastomer composites, an approximate solution is generated for the overall elastic dielectric response of elastomers filled with a transversely isotropic distribution of aligned spheroidal particles in the classical limit of small deformations and moderate electric fields. The solution for such a type of dielectric elastomer composites is characterized by 13 (five elastic, two dielectric, and six electrostrictive) effective constants. Explicit formulae are worked out for these constants directly in terms of the elastic dielectric properties of the underlying elastomer and the filler particles, as well as the volume fraction, orientation, and aspect ratio of the particles. As a first application of the solution, with the objective of gaining insight into the effect that the addition of anisotropic fillers can have on the electromechanical properties of elastomers, sample results are presented for the case of elastomers filled with aligned cylindrical fibers. These results are confronted to a separate exact analytical solution for an assemblage of differential coated cylinders (DCC), wherein the fibers are polydisperse in size, and to full-field simulations of dielectric elastomer composites with cylindrical fibers of monodisperse size. These results serve to shed light on the recent experimental findings concerning the dielectric elastomers filled with mechanically stiff fibers. Moreover, they serve to reveal that high-permittivity liquid-like or vacuous fibers—two classes of filler materials yet to be explored experimentally—have the potential to significantly enhance the electrostriction capabilities of dielectric elastomers.
Thermal Mechanical Modeling of the Plunge Stage During Friction-Stir Welding of Dissimilar Al 6061 to TRIP 780 Steel
Authors: Liu Xun , Lan Shuhuai , Ni Jun
Published: August 2015

In this study, a coupled thermomechanical model has been developed for the plunge stage of friction-stir welding (FSW) for joining dissimilar Al 6061 to TRIP steel. Governing equations of mass, momentum, and energy have been formulated for the bulk material and the interface, respectively. Generalized material properties defined with the field variable α are introduced for material identification at different regions. Local instant formulation based on binary phase flow theories has been proposed for developing conservation equations at the interface. These analytical derivations are then implemented into a finite-element model for numerical simulations. In the early stage of plunging, the estimated axial force correlates well with the experimental results, where a short plateau can be observed before the final peak occurs. Discrepancies at the later stage can be attributed to different experimental configurations and related simplified model assumptions.
Application of Rigid-Body-Linkage Static Balancing Techniques to Reduce Actuation Effort in Compliant Mechanisms
Authors: Deepak Sangamesh R. , Hansoge Amrith N. , Ananthasuresh G. K.
Published: August 2015

There are analytical methods in the literature where a zero-free-length spring-loaded linkage is perfectly statically balanced by addition of more zero-free-length springs. This paper provides a general framework to extend these methods to flexure-based compliant mechanisms through (i) the well know small-length flexure model and (ii) approximation between torsional springs and zero-free-length springs. We use first-order truncated Taylor's series for the approximation between the torsional springs and zero-free-length springs so that the entire framework remains analytical, albeit approximate. Three examples are presented and the effectiveness of the framework is studied by means of finite-element analysis and a prototype. As much as 70% reduction in actuation effort is demonstrated. We also present another application of static balancing of a rigid-body linkage by treating a compliant mechanism as the spring load to a rigid-body linkage.
Enhanced Polynomial Chaos-Based Extended Kalman Filter Technique for Parameter Estimation
Authors: Kolansky Jeremy , Sandu Corina
Published: August 2015

The generalized polynomial chaos (gPC) mathematical technique, when integrated with the extended Kalman filter (EKF) method, provides a parameter estimation and state tracking method. The truncation of the series expansions degrades the link between parameter convergence and parameter uncertainty which the filter uses to perform the estimations. An empirically derived correction for this problem is implemented, which maintains the original parameter distributions. A comparison is performed to illustrate the improvements of the proposed approach. The method is demonstrated for parameter estimation on a regression system, where it is compared to the recursive least squares (RLS) method.
Entropy Analysis of Industrial Accident Data Series
Authors: Lopes António M. , Tenreiro Machado J. A.
Published: August 2015

Complex industrial plants exhibit multiple interactions among smaller parts and with human operators. Failure in one part can propagate across subsystem boundaries causing a serious disaster. This paper analyzes the industrial accident data series in the perspective of dynamical systems. First, we process real world data and show that the statistics of the number of fatalities reveal features that are well described by power law (PL) distributions. For early years, the data reveal double PL behavior, while, for more recent time periods, a single PL fits better into the experimental data. Second, we analyze the entropy of the data series statistics over time. Third, we use the Kullback–Leibler divergence to compare the empirical data and multidimensional scaling (MDS) techniques for data analysis and visualization. Entropy-based analysis is adopted to assess complexity, having the advantage of yielding a single parameter to express relationships between the data. The classical and the generalized (fractional) entropy and Kullback–Leibler divergence are used. The generalized measures allow a clear identification of patterns embedded in the data.
Nanoparticle Characteristic Interaction Effects on Pulmonary Toxicity: A Random Forest Modeling Framework to Compare Risks of Nanomaterial Variants
Authors: Gernand Jeremy M. , Casman Elizabeth A.
Published: August 2015

Due to their unique physicochemical properties, nanomaterials have the potential to interact with living organisms in novel ways. Nanomaterial variants are too numerous to be screened for toxicity individually by traditional animal testing. Existing data on the toxicity of inhaled nanomaterials in animal models are sparse in comparison to the number of potential factors that may affect toxicity. This paper presents meta-analysis-based risk models developed with the machine-learning technique, random forests (RFs), to determine the relative contribution of different physical and chemical attributes on observed toxicity. The findings from this analysis indicate that carbon nanotube (CNT) impurities explain at most 30% of the variance in pulmonary toxicity as measured by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) count. Titanium dioxide nanoparticle size and aggregation affected the observed toxic response by less than 10%. Differences in observed effects for a group of metal oxide nanoparticles associated with differences in Gibbs free energy on lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentrations amount to only 4% to the total variance.
Optical emission diagnostics of plasmas in chemical vapor deposition of single-crystal diamond
Authors: Hemawan Kadek W. , Hemley Russell J.
Published: August 2015

A key aspect of single crystal diamond growth via microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition is in-process control of the local plasma–substrate environment, that is, plasma gas phase concentrations of activated species at the plasma boundary layer near the substrate surface. Emission spectra of the plasma relative to the diamond substrate inside the microwave plasma reactor chamber have been analyzed via optical emission spectroscopy. The spectra of radical species such as CH, C2, and H (Balmer series) important for diamond growth were identified and analyzed. The emission intensities of these electronically excited species were found to be more dependent on operating pressure than on microwave power. Plasma gas temperatures were calculated from measurements of the C2 Swan band (d3Π → a3Π transition) system. The plasma gas temperature ranges from 2800 to 3400 K depending on the spatial location of the plasma ball, microwave power and operating pressure. Addition of Ar into CH4+H2 plasma input gas mixture has little influence on the Hα, Hβ, and Hγ intensities and single-crystal diamond growth rates.
Acquisition of speech rhythm in a second language by learners with rhythmically different native languages
Authors: Ordin Mikhail , Polyanskaya Leona
Published: August 2015

The development of speech rhythm in second language (L2) acquisition was investigated. Speech rhythm was defined as durational variability that can be captured by the interval-based rhythm metrics. These metrics were used to examine the differences in durational variability between proficiency levels in L2 English spoken by French and German learners. The results reveal that durational variability increased as L2 acquisition progressed in both groups of learners. This indicates that speech rhythm in L2 English develops from more syllable-timed toward more stress-timed patterns irrespective of whether the native language of the learner is rhythmically similar to or different from the target language. Although both groups showed similar development of speech rhythm in L2 acquisition, there were also differences: German learners achieved a degree of durational variability typical of the target language, while French learners exhibited lower variability than native British speakers, even at an advanced proficiency level.
Variability of the coherent arrivals extracted from low-frequency deep-ocean ambient noise correlations
Authors: Woolfe Katherine F. , Sabra Karim G.
Published: August 2015

Correlation processing of ocean noise can be used to develop totally passive ocean monitoring methods. Using various hydrophone pair orientations, this study investigates the frequency dependence, seasonal variability, and emergence rate of coherent arrivals from cross-correlations of low frequency ambient noise (f < 40 Hz) recorded on triangular hydrophones arrays. These arrays are located at five existing hydroacoustic stations of the International Monitoring System (IMS), situated in the deep-sound channel, and distributed across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean basins. For the majority of studied sites, persistent and fast-emerging coherent arrivals are reliably obtained if the axis connecting the selected hydrophone pair has a direct line-of-sight with regions of the globe containing stable and diffuse noise sources (e.g., polar-ice or seismic noise). Furthermore, for this favorable orientation, the emergence rate of coherent arrivals extracted between hydrophone pairs separated by long ranges (here ∼130 km) can be approximated based on measurements made between hydrophone pairs separated by short ranges (∼2 km) in the Atlantic Ocean. Hence, results from this study, obtained using existing hydrophone configurations of the IMS hydroacoustic stations, could be used to guide the placement of other hydrophone arrays over the globe for future long-range passive ocean monitoring experiments.
Room for Improvement in Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Intake of Male Football (Soccer) Players in Australia
Authors: Andrews Michael C. , Itsiopoulos Catherine
Published: August 2015

Athletes require sufficient nutrition knowledge and skills to enable appropriate selection and consumption of food and fluids to meet their health, body composition, and performance needs. This article reports the nutrition knowledge and dietary habits of male football (soccer) players in Australia. Players age 18 years and older were recruited from 1 A-League club (professional) and 4 National Premier League clubs (semiprofessional). No significant difference in general nutrition knowledge (GNK; 54.1% ± 13.4%; 56.8% ± 11.7%; M ± SD), t(71) = -0.91, p = .37, or sports nutrition knowledge (SNK; 56.9% ± 15.5%; 61.3% ± 15.9%), t(71) = -1.16, p = .25) were noted between professional (n = 29) and semiprofessional (n = 44) players. In general, players lacked knowledge in regard to food sources and types of fat. Although nutrition knowledge varied widely among players (24.6–82.8% correct responses), those who had recently studied nutrition answered significantly more items correctly than those who reported no recent formal nutrition education (62.6% ± 11.9%; 54.0% ± 11.4%), t(67) = 2.88, p = .005). Analysis of 3-day estimated food diaries revealed both professionals (n = 10) and semiprofessionals (n = 31) consumed on average less carbohydrate (3.5 ± 0.8 gC/kg; 3.9 ± 1.8 gC/kg) per day than football-specific recommendations (FIFA Medical and Assessment Research Centre [F-MARC]: 5–10 gC/kg). There was a moderate, positive correlation between SNK and carbohydrate intake (n = 41, ρ = 0.32, p = .04), indicating that players who exhibited greater SNK had higher carbohydrate intakes. On the basis of these findings, male football players in Australia would benefit from nutrition education targeting carbohydrate and fat in an attempt to improve nutrition knowledge and dietary practices.
Caffeinated Energy Drinks Improve High-Speed Running in Elite Field Hockey Players
Authors: Del Coso Juan , Portillo Javier , Salinero Juan José , Lara Beatriz , Abian-Vicen Javier , Areces Francisco
Published: August 2015

The aim of this investigation was to determine the efficacy of a caffeine-containing energy drink to improve physical performance of elite field hockey players during a game. On 2 days separated by a week, 13 elite field hockey players (age and body mass = 23.2 ± 3.9 years and 76.1 ± 6.1 kg) ingested 3 mg of caffeine per kg of body mass in the form of an energy drink or the same drink without caffeine (placebo drink). After 60 min for caffeine absorption, participants played a simulated field hockey game (2 × 25 min). Individual running pace and instantaneous speed during the game were assessed using GPS devices. The total number of accelerations and decelerations was determined by accelerometry. Compared with the placebo drink, the caffeinated energy drink did not modify the total distance covered during the game (6,035 ± 451 m and 6,055 ± 499 m, respectively; p = .87), average heart rate (155 ± 13 beats per min and 158 ± 18 beats per min, respectively; p = .46), or the number of accelerations and decelerations (697 ± 285 and 618 ± 221, respectively; p = .15). However, the caffeinated energy drink reduced the distance covered at moderate-intensity running (793 ± 135 and 712 ± 116, respectively; p = .03) and increased the distance covered at high-intensity running (303 ± 67 m and 358 ± 117 m; p = .05) and sprinting (85 ± 41 m and 117 ± 55 m, respectively; p = .02). Elite field hockey players can benefit from ingesting caffeinated energy drinks because they increase the running distance covered at high-intensity running and sprinting. Increased running distance at high speed might represent a meaningful advantage for field hockey performance.
Immune-mediated necrotising myopathy associated with antibodies to the signal recognition particle treated with a combination of rituximab and cyclophosphamide
Authors: Fernandes das Neves Marisa , Caetano Joana , Oliveira Susana , Delgado Alves José
Published: August 2015

A 50-year-old man presented with dysphagia and proximal muscle weakness. He was diagnosed with immune-mediated necrotising myopathy associated with antibodies to the signal recognition particle. After an initial response following treatment with high-dose steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin and methotrexate, there was a relapse of the immune condition. The clinical deterioration occurred less than 2 months after disease onset. The refractoriness of this disease was characterised by an increase of the already severe muscle wasting that led to respiratory failure and progressive dysphagia, regardless of the immunosuppressant treatment. At this time the patient was referred to our department. He was restarted on intravenous pulses of methylprednisolone associated with intravenous cyclophosphamide, but with no effect. After 3 weeks, rituximab was started with a dramatic and progressive improvement. There were no complications associated with rituximab/cyclophosphamide treatment and the disease has been kept in remission, for the last 3 years.
Leiomyoma in the thumb causing trigger finger
Authors: Pozzatti Rodrigo Roitman , Cordeiro Caio Passos , da Cruz Julia de Menezes Araujo , Araújo Gabriel Costa Serrão de
Published: August 2015

Leiomyoma is a generally benign tumour and common in the uterine smooth muscle. In some cases, it is found in other parts of the human body. In our study, we report the case of a 61-year-old woman with a painless cystic lesion on the first left thumb associated with trigger finger. The first diagnostic hypotheses were ganglionic cyst and giant cell tumour, however, after surgical excision and histological analysis, it was revealed to be a rare leiomyoma of the hand. We report a clinical case and detailed histopathological study, with 12 high-resolution images stained with: H&E, Smooth Muscle Actin, Desmin, S-100 and CD34.
Two typical cases of pseudoankylosis of the jaw: same treatment, different outcome
Authors: Allevi Fabiana , Battista Valeria , Moneghini Laura , Biglioli Federico
Published: August 2015

Pseudoankylosis of the temporomandibular joint is a rare, extra-articular form of ankylosis of the jaw. It is characterised by limited mandibular movement caused by an extrinsic condition of the joint leading to fusion between the coronoid process and temporal, zygomatic or maxillary bone. Pseudoankylosis is less frequent than the intracapsular form. Extracapsular ankylosis can be congenital or acquired; approximately 70% of cases are associated with trauma. A CT scan is usually requested to achieve a diagnosis. CT can detect bony fusion, thus differentiating pseudoankylosis from true ankylosis. Once symptomatic bone ankylosis is diagnosed, surgery with postoperative physiotherapy is the recommended treatment. The ankylotic bone is removed together with the coronoid process and the mouth is forced open under general anaesthesia. Two cases of post-traumatic pseudoankylosis of the jaw treated with bilateral coronoidectomy and postoperative physiotherapy are described.
Lingual thyroid: can we ‘wait and see’?
Authors: Magalhães Clara , Azevedo Paula , Nakamura Roberto , Duarte Delfim
Published: August 2015

A 42-year-old Caucasian woman presented with a sensation of fullness in the throat and dry cough of 1-month duration. Physical examination showed a mass located in the midline of the tongue base. Cervical ultrasound confirmed the absence of thyroid gland tissue in the normal position. MRI of the neck showed a mass suggestive of lingual thyroid and scintigraphy confirmed the diagnosis. Thyroid function was normal. Despite normal thyroid function, to decrease the size of the mass and perhaps solve the problem, we decided to start levothyroxine suppression therapy. The patient had palpitations and one episode of angina pectoris as a side effect, resulting in the medication being interrupted. After 3 years of follow-up, she remains in clinical surveillance and without symptoms.
An unusual cause of pancreatitis in a 46-year-old returning traveller
Authors: Pimenta Dominic , Dawood Naghum
Published: August 2015

A 46-year-old previously fit and well man, travelled to Jhelum, Pakistan for 6 weeks in early 2015. Four weeks after returning to the UK, he developed sudden onset epigastric pain, vomiting and fever. C reactive protein was 232 mg/L and amylase was 2061 U/L. He was treated conservatively as pancreatitis, with peripancreatic streaking and left colic gutter fluid on a CT abdominal scan. He was discharged and later attended the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, after coughing up an 8 cm male ascaris worm. He was treated for acute ascariasis infection, complicated by resolved mild-moderate pancreatitis, a common complication in the developing world but rarely seen among travellers.
Recurrent angioleiomyoma of the middle turbinate
Authors: Bhandarkar Ajay M , Ramaswamy Balakrishnan , Jaiprakash Padmapriya , Chidambaranathan Nithyanand
Published: August 2015

We present a case of a middle-aged woman with a history of not only progressive nasal obstruction, facial pain, hyposmia and epistaxis, but also excision of the nasal mass diagnosed as a vascular leiomyoma. On examination, a smooth bulge was seen over the middle turbinate. Surgical excision along with histopathology and immunohistochemistry revealed a diagnosis of recurrent vascular leiomyoma of the middle turbinate.
Acute unilateral vision loss with optic disc oedema in retinitis pigmentosa
Authors: Patil-Chhablani Preeti , Tyagi Mudit , Kekunnaya Ramesh , Narayanan Raja
Published: August 2015

A 36-year-old woman presented with acute vision loss and was found to have disc oedema and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). She presented with a history of acute, painless vision loss in her left eye over a period of 10 days. Her best-corrected visual acuity was 20/50, N6 in the right eye (OD) and 20/160, N6 in the left eye (OS). She was found to have a swollen optic disc and the examination of her fundus showed changes suggestive of RP. The diagnosis of RP was confirmed by electroretinogram, and after ruling out demyelinating changes in the central nervous system and other possible infectious causes of papillitis, she was treated with intravenous steroids followed by a course of oral steroid therapy. Following treatment, her visual acuity improved to 20/60. Acute vision loss may occur in patients with RP and prompt steroid therapy may result in partial visual recovery.
Hydroclimatic aspects of ice jam flooding near Perth-Andover, New Brunswick
Authors: Beltaos S. , Burrell B.C.
Published: August 2015

Major ice jam floods occurred along the Saint John River at Perth-Andover, New Brunswick, in 1976, 1987, 1993, 2009, and 2012. These floods have been devastating and resulted in relocation or demolition of many buildings in affected areas of the community. The purpose of this paper is to review ice processes along the Saint John River from Grand Falls to Beechwood Dam and their relevance to the ice-related problems that have occurred in Perth-Andover. The HEC-RAS program was chosen for ice jam flood stage computations, and cross-sectional, roughness and flow information entered to create a model of the study reach. The model was calibrated using field data obtained on 31 March 2000 along an ice jam in the Perth-Andover area. Model applications resulted in stage-discharge relationships for ice jams of different lengths and locations within the study stretch (Beechwood Dam to Grand Falls). These relationships indicate that ice jams can cause flooding at Perth-Andover, even with moderate spring breakup flows. The variation of ice jamming potential along the study stretch, and its relation to reservoir bathymetry and slope, are discussed. The increase in the number and severity of ice jam floods that have affected Perth-Andover may have resulted from changes in infrastructure and climate that have occurred since the 1950s. Local ice problems are likely to be aggravated over the next few decades but tempered in the longer term if the climate continues to change according to current projections.
Gravitational induction with Weber’s force
Authors: Tajmar M. , Assis A.K.T.
Published: August 2015

According to Faraday’s law of induction, when we change the current intensity in a primary electric circuit we can induce a current in a secondary circuit under appropriate conditions. An electric current means charges in motion. Microscopically we can express Faraday’s law by saying that when we accelerate charges in the primary circuit, a force is exerted on charges of the secondary circuit, which can accelerate them. A similar effect also exists in gravity with accelerated masses, but of course with much less intensity. The phenomenon is called frame dragging and can be derived from general relativity theory. Here we present an alternative way to calculate such gravitational induction forces based on Weber’s law that only involves simple mathematics and incorporates other fundamental concepts, such as Newton’s third law, and Mach’s principle as the origin of inertia. It therefore summarizes all low-velocity gravitationally relevant effects into a single equation.
THE ROLE OF THE STATE IN SINGAPORE: PRAGMATISM IN PURSUIT OF GROWTH
Authors: TAN KIM SONG , BHASKARAN MANU
Published: August 2015

This paper looks at how government intervention shapes the evolution of the Singapore economy and accounts for its successes and failures over the past 50 years. Compared with other dynamic Asian economies, the Singapore government's approach to intervene in the economy is both more extensive and more intrusive, but with a narrow focus on GDP growth and surplus accumulation as the primary objectives. The ruling government's near complete dominance in politics has enabled it to mobilize resources to create the preconditions for strong GDP growth and high savings. But the impact on the broader development of the economy and the long term sustainability of growth is less obvious. High GDP growth and strong savings have been achieved without developing the inherent production and indigenous innovation capacity, securing a larger hinterland and providing a less skewed income distribution and higher quality of life for residents. As the economy enters a new phase where more complex and multi-faceted development is needed, the Singapore government will require more than its vaunted competency in mobilizing resources to deliver the outcome.
BEING POOR IN A RICH "NANNY STATE": DEVELOPMENTS IN SINGAPORE SOCIAL WELFARE
Authors: NG IRENE Y. H.
Published: August 2015

This paper reviews the trends in poverty and inequality in Singapore since independence, as well as policy recommendations adopted through the years, and their results. Poverty is discussed not only in terms of wage earnings, but also in relation to employment conditions, social challenges that pile up together with income poverty, and intergenerational mobility. The paper finds that notwithstanding improvements in early decades, after fifty years, the problems of a social divide and poverty have come full circle. Social policy in Singapore retains its fundamentally productivist philosophical orientation, but the recent deterioration in poverty, inequality and mobility trends is leading to adoption of more welfare-oriented and universalist policy solutions. Social inclusion is now a national priority, and policy redirection for the future needs to take place in wide-ranging policy domains, including the labor market and economic growth.
Quantum stabilization of cosmic strings
Authors: Weigel H. , Quandt M. , Graham N.
Published: August 2015

In the standard model, stabilization of a classically unstable cosmic string may occur through the quantum fluctuations of a heavy fermion doublet. We review numerical results from a semiclassical expansion in a reduced version of the standard model. In this expansion, the leading quantum corrections emerge at one loop level for many internal degrees of freedom. The resulting vacuum polarization energy and the binding energies of occupied fermion energy levels are of the same order, and must therefore be treated on equal footing. Populating these bound states lowers the total energy compared to the same number of free fermions and assigns a charge to the string. Charged strings are already stabilized for a fermion mass only somewhat larger than the top quark mass. Though obtained in a reduced version, these results suggest that neither extraordinarily large fermion masses nor unrealistic couplings are required to bind a cosmic string in the standard model. Furthermore, we also review results for a quantum stabilization mechanism that prevents closed Nielsen–Olesen-type strings from collapsing.
Slow-roll inflation in loop quantum cosmology of scalar–tensor theories of gravity
Authors: Han Yu
Published: August 2015

The slow-roll inflation of scalar–tensor theories (STTs) of gravity in the context of loop quantum cosmology (LQC) is investigated in this paper. After deriving the effective Hamiltonian, we obtain the semiclassical equations of motion for the background variables in both Jordan frame and Einstein frame of STTs. Then we apply these equations in the slow-roll limit and derive the LQC corrections to the scalar spectral index [Formula: see text] and the tensor-to-scalar ratio [Formula: see text] in the two frames of STTs. Finally, we take two special sectors of STTs as specific examples, namely the Starobinsky model and the non-minimally coupled scalar field model (with the coupling function [Formula: see text] and the potential [Formula: see text]). We derive the detailed expressions of the LQC corrections to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in terms of the [Formula: see text]-folding number for these two models in both frames.
Free energy of a baryon at finite temperatures and its implications to the heavy-ion collisions
Authors: Biswal Minati , Digal Sanatan , Saumia P. S.
Published: August 2015

We study the free energy per baryon using canonical formalism in the Polyakov loop Nambu–Jona-Lasinio model with imaginary chemical potential. We find that the free energy decreases rapidly with temperature around the transition temperature. This result coupled with the heavy-ion collision geometry leads to the creation of a free energy well for the baryons. We study the time evolution of this free energy well using hydrodynamic simulations and discuss the implications of this free energy well on the dynamics of the baryons.
A dynamical system analysis of holographic dark energy models with different IR cutoff
Authors: Mahata Nilanjana , Chakraborty Subenoy
Published: August 2015

The paper deals with a dynamical system analysis of the cosmological evolution of an holographic dark energy (HDE) model interacting with dark matter (DM) which is chosen in the form of dust. The infrared cutoff of the holographic model is considered as future event horizon or Ricci length scale.

The interaction term between dark energy (DE) and DM is chosen of following three types: (i) proportional to the sum of the energy densities of the two dark components, (ii) proportional to the product of the matter energy densities and (iii) proportional to DE density.

The dynamical equations are reduced to an autonomous system for the three cases and corresponding phase space is analyzed.
Nonconventional fluctuation dissipation process in non-Hamiltonian dynamical systems
Authors: Bianucci Marco
Published: August 2015

Here, we introduce a statistical approach derived from dynamics, for the study of the geophysical fluid dynamics phenomena characterized by a weak interaction among the variables of interest and the rest of the system. The approach is reminiscent of the one developed some years ago [M. Bianucci, R. Mannella, P. Grigolini and B. J. West, Phys. Rev. E 51, 3002 (1995)] to derive statistical mechanics of macroscopic variables on interest starting from Hamiltonian microscopic dynamics. However, in the present work, we are interested to generalize this approach beyond the context of the foundation of thermodynamics, in fact, we take into account the cases where the system of interest could be non-Hamiltonian (dissipative) and also the interaction with the irrelevant part can be of a more general type than Hamiltonian. As such example, we will refer to a typical case from geophysical fluid dynamics: the complex ocean–atmosphere interaction that gives rise to the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Here, changing all the scales, the role of the “microscopic” system is played by the atmosphere, while the ocean (or some ocean variables) plays the role of the intrinsically dissipative macroscopic system of interest. Thus, the chaotic and divergent features of the fast atmosphere dynamics remains in the decaying properties of the correlation functions and of the response function of the atmosphere variables, while the exponential separation of the perturbed (or close) single trajectories does not play a direct role. In the present paper, we face this problem in the frame of a not formal Langevin approach, limiting our discussion to physically based rather than mathematics arguments. Elsewhere, we obtain these results via a much more formal procedure, using the Zwanzing projection method and some elements from the Lie Algebra field.
Research on the band gaps of the two-dimensional Sierpinski fractal phononic crystals
Authors: Gao Nansha , Wu Jiu Hui , Jing Li
Published: August 2015

In this paper, we study the band gaps (BGs) of the two-dimensional (2D) Sierpinski fractal phononic crystals (SFPGs) embedded in the homogenous matrix. The BGs structure, transmission spectra and displacement fields of eigenmodes of the proposed structures are calculated by using finite element method (FEM). Due to the simultaneous mechanisms of the Bragg scattering, the structure can exhibit low-frequency BGs, which can be effectively shifted by changing the inclusion rotation angle. The initial stress values can compress the BGs is proposed for the first time. Through the calculation, it is shown that, in the 2D solid–solid SFPG, the multi-frequency BGs exist. The whole BGs would incline to the low-frequency range with the increase of the fractal dimension. The SFPGs with different shape inclusions, can modulate the number, width and location of BGs. The study in this paper is relevant to the design of tuning BGs and isolators in the low-frequency range.
Vacancy induced Jahn–Teller distortion in silicon and its influence to the electronic structure
Authors: Zhong Shuying , Lei Xueling , Zhou Lang
Published: August 2015

Atomic and electronic structures of monovacancy (V1), divacancy (V2) and ring hexavacancy (V6) in crystalline silicon are studied using first-principles calculations in periodic supercells. Our results show that the V6 defect is the most stable among V1, V2 and V6 defects, and the V2-RB structure is a little more stable than the V2-LP structure due to lower vacancy formation energy. Furthermore, it is found that both V1 and V2 undergo the Jahn–Teller (JT) distortion while V6 does not. As a result, V1 and V2 have deep levels in the gap which mainly come from the neighboring atoms to vacancy. V6 has tailing bands in the gap, and so has a more stable electronic structure than V1 and V2. In addition, the JT distortion also reflects in the band decomposed charge density and the difference charge density.
Temperature diagnostic for laser-induced plasma by electron collision model
Authors: He Jian , Liao Lamei , Zhang Qingguo
Published: August 2015

In this paper, using the collisions between ion and free electron, we analyze the conditions of electron collision equilibrium (ECE) for laser-induced plasma (LIP). Considering the collision excitation and de-excitation, we discuss the principle for temperature diagnostic for the three level ions for LIP. Taking the Ne v ion spectral lines in infrared as an example, for the intensity ratio of the (3-2) transition to the (2-1) transition, we compare the temperature in local thermal equilibrium and electron collision equilibrium when the intensity ratio varies from 0 to 1.8, and we obtain some important conclusions. This discussion is useful in the LIP diagnostic under the conditions of electron collision equilibrium.
Wave-Passage Effect of Earthquake Loadings on Long Structures
Authors: Wang Ding , Li Yueliang , Hao Shengwang , Zhao Dahai
Published: August 2015

The wave-passage effect of earthquake loadings on long-span structures is studied through use of a multiply-supported single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system excited by traveling seismic ground motions. The absolute acceleration response of the SDOF system is represented in the analytical form in the time domain. The frequency-domain analysis results indicate that the wave-passage effect may reduce the absolute acceleration response and the earthquake loading acting on the multiply-supported SDOF system. Further, for different velocities of wave-passage, the response spectra are calculated to represent the reduction of the maximum earthquake loading on the long-span system caused by the wave-passage effect. The computation results of the response spectra indicate that the reduction of the maximum earthquake loading is fluctuant, but has a general tendency to decrease with the increase in the apparent wave velocity and the structural natural period.
MARKOV CHAIN AGGREGATION FOR SIMPLE AGENT-BASED MODELS ON SYMMETRIC NETWORKS: THE VOTER MODEL
Authors: BANISCH SVEN , LIMA RICARDO
Published: August 2015

For Agent-based models, in particular the Voter Model (VM), a general framework of aggregation is developed which exploits the symmetries of the agent network G. Depending on the symmetry group Autω(N) of the weighted agent network, certain ensembles of agent configurations can be interchanged without affecting the dynamical properties of the VM. These configurations can be aggregated into the same macro state and the dynamical process projected onto these states is, contrary to the general case, still a Markov chain. The method facilitates the analysis of the relation between microscopic processes and a their aggregation to a macroscopic level of description and informs about the complexity of a system introduced by heterogeneous interaction relations. In some cases the macro chain is solvable.
Self-assembly of a Ru(II)-deuteroporphyrin lipoic acid derivative on Au(111) surfaces
Authors: Martin-Trasanco Rudy , Cao Roberto , Montforts Franz-Peter
Published: August 2015

The synthesis of a new carbonyl ruthenium(II) deuteroporphyrin-IX lipoic acid derivative (Ru(PLip)(CO)) (4) and its self-assembly on Au(111) surfaces were accomplished. Ru(PLip)(CO) 4 was prepared by reduction of the ester groups of carbonyl-ruthenium(II) deuteroporphyrindimethylester 1 and further esterification with D,L-α-lipoic acid 3. The self-assembly of Ru(PLip)(CO) 4 was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The S2p XP spectrum of SAM formed by Ru(PLip)(CO) showed the S2p3/2 peak at 162.4 eV which corresponds to thiolated species bounded to gold. The influence of the interaction of porphyrin moieties on SAM stability was studied. The reductive desorption voltammogram of Ru(PLip)(CO) 4 self-assembled on gold showed an intense reduction peak at -1.02 V while when pyridine was coordinated to the central ruthenium(II) the reductive desorption peak was shifted to -0.85 V. The capacity of the modified Ru(PLip)(CO) gold electrode to detect nitric oxide (NO) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. An irreversible reduction peak which increased with time on NO exposure was registered at -0.69 V indicating NO coordination to ruthenium(II).
INFLUENCE OF INTERPERSONAL TRUST ON INNOVATIVE BEHAVIOUR OF SERVICE WORKERS: MEDIATING EFFECTS OF KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Authors: SEO HYO MIN , KIM MIN CHEOL , CHANG KYUNGRO , KIM TAEHEE
Published: August 2015

This study investigated the effects of interpersonal trust among service workers (i.e., trust in co-workers and supervisors) on innovative behaviour and examined the mediating effect of knowledge sharing on these relationships. A total of 188 personal trainers from 11 fitness clubs participated in this study. The results revealed that both trust in co-workers and trust in supervisors have a positive effect on knowledge sharing. Although the effect of trust in co-workers on innovative behaviour was non-significant, trust in supervisors had a significant effect on innovative behaviour. The effect of employees’ knowledge sharing on innovative behaviour was also found to be significant. Additionally, the results indicated that knowledge sharing has a full mediating effect on the relationship between trust in co-workers and innovative behaviour and a partial mediating effect on the relationship between trust in supervisors and innovative behaviour.
The Evolution of Social Norms
Authors: Young H. Peyton
Published: August 2015

Social norms are patterns of behavior that are self-enforcing within a group: Everyone conforms, everyone is expected to conform, and everyone wants to conform when they expect everyone else to conform. Social norms are often sustained by multiple mechanisms, including a desire to coordinate, fear of being sanctioned, signaling membership in a group, or simply following the lead of others. This article shows how stochastic evolutionary game theory can be used to study the resulting dynamics. I illustrate with a variety of examples drawn from economics, sociology, demography, and political science. These include bargaining norms, norms governing the terms of contracts, norms of retirement, dueling, foot binding, medical treatment, and the use of contraceptives. These cases highlight the challenges of applying the theory to empirical cases. They also show that the modern theory of norm dynamics yields insights and predictions that go beyond conventional equilibrium analysis.
Cytomegalovirus Immediate-Early Proteins Promote Stemness Properties in Glioblastoma
Authors: Soroceanu Liliana , Matlaf Lisa , Khan Sabeena , Akhavan Armin , Singer Eric , Bezrookove Vladimir , Decker Stacy , Ghanny Saleena , Hadaczek Piotr , Bengtsson Henrik , Ohlfest John , Luciani-Torres Maria-Gloria , Harkins Lualhati , Perry Arie , Guo Hong , Soteropoulos Patricia , Cobbs Charles S.
Published: August 2015

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive human brain tumor. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) immediate-early (IE) proteins that are endogenously expressed in GBM cells are strong viral transactivators with oncogenic properties. Here, we show how HCMV IEs are preferentially expressed in glioma stem–like cells (GSC), where they colocalize with the other GBM stemness markers, CD133, Nestin, and Sox2. In patient-derived GSCs that are endogenously infected with HCMV, attenuating IE expression by an RNAi-based strategy was sufficient to inhibit tumorsphere formation, Sox2 expression, cell-cycle progression, and cell survival. Conversely, HCMV infection of HMCV-negative GSCs elicited robust self-renewal and proliferation of cells that could be partially reversed by IE attenuation. In HCMV-positive GSCs, IE attenuation induced a molecular program characterized by enhanced expression of mesenchymal markers and proinflammatory cytokines, resembling the therapeutically resistant GBM phenotype. Mechanistically, HCMV/IE regulation of Sox2 occurred via inhibition of miR-145, a negative regulator of Sox2 protein expression. In a spontaneous mouse model of glioma, ectopic expression of the IE1 gene (UL123) specifically increased Sox2 and Nestin levels in the IE1-positive tumors, upregulating stemness and proliferation markers in vivo. Similarly, human GSCs infected with the HCMV strain Towne but not the IE1-deficient strain CR208 showed enhanced growth as tumorspheres and intracranial tumor xenografts, compared with mock-infected human GSCs. Overall, our findings offer new mechanistic insights into how HCMV/IE control stemness properties in GBM cells. Cancer Res; 75(15); 3065–76. ©2015 AACR.