bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Doubly fed induction generator wind turbines: A novel integrated protection circuit for low-voltage ride-through strategy
Authors: Justo Jackson John , Mwasilu Francis , Jung Jin-Woo
Published: October 2014

This paper proposes an integrated low-voltage ride-through (ILVRT) scheme to improve the transient responses of the doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) based wind turbines. The proposed strategy integrates a series-dynamic-resistor, a dc-link chopper, and a crowbar (CRW) with a coordinated switching control strategy. Generally, when the CRW short-circuits the rotor windings, the rotor-side power converter (RSPC) is blocked and the DFIG becomes a squirrel-cage induction generator. This temporary configuration acquires its magnetization current from the grid, which leads to a more voltage-dip. On the other hand, if the CRW is combined with the series R-L circuit, the RSPC remains connected to the slip-rings, and hence, the active/reactive (P-Q) control is partially maintained. Moreover, the terminal voltage depression is reduced compared to when only the CRW scheme is applied. Following a brief discussion of two conventional LVRT strategies, the proposed ILVRT scheme is designed with an improved switching control algorithm which minimizes the CRW activation time. By applying the proposed ILVRT approach, the negative effects of the grid faults and two conventional strategies can be avoided. Finally, the performance comparison between the two conventional LVRT strategies and the proposed ILVRT scheme is conducted with the simulation results using MATLAB/Simulink software.
Current-driven spin orbit field in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures
Authors: Narayanapillai Kulothungasagaran , Gopinadhan Kalon , Qiu Xuepeng , Annadi Anil , Ariando  , Venkatesan Thirumalai , Yang Hyunsoo
Published: October 2014

We demonstrate a current tunable Rashba spin orbit interaction in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) quasi two dimensional electron gas system. Anisotropic magnetoresistance measurements are employed to detect and understand the current-induced Rashba field. The effective Rashba field scales with the current and a value of 2.35 T is observed for a dc-current of 200 μA. The results suggest that LAO/STO heterostructures can be considered for spin orbit torque based magnetization switching.
Electrical and physical characterization of the Al2O3/p-GaSb interface for 1%, 5%, 10%, and 22% (NH4)2S surface treatments
Authors: Peralagu Uthayasankaran , Povey Ian M. , Carolan Patrick , Lin Jun , Contreras-Guerrero Rocio , Droopad Ravi , Hurley Paul K. , Thayne Iain G.
Published: October 2014

In this work, the impact of ammonium sulfide ((NH4)2S) surface treatment on the electrical passivation of the Al2O3/p-GaSb interface is studied for varying sulfide concentrations. Prior to atomic layer deposition of Al2O3, GaSb surfaces were treated in 1%, 5%, 10%, and 22% (NH4)2S solutions for 10 min at 295 K. The smallest stretch-out and flatband voltage shifts coupled with the largest capacitance swing, as indicated by capacitance-voltage (CV) measurements, were obtained for the 1% treatment. The resulting interface defect trap density (Dit) distribution showed a minimum value of 4 × 1012 cm−2eV−1 at Ev + 0.27 eV. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy examination revealed the formation of interfacial layers and increased roughness at the Al2O3/p-GaSb interface of samples treated with 10% and 22% (NH4)2S. In combination, these effects degrade the interface quality as reflected in the CV characteristics.
Stark effect of excitons in individual air-suspended carbon nanotubes
Authors: Yoshida M. , Kumamoto Y. , Ishii A. , Yokoyama A. , Kato Y. K.
Published: October 2014

We investigate electric-field induced redshifts of photoluminescence from individual single-walled carbon nanotubes. The shifts scale quadratically with field, while measurements with different excitation powers and energies show that effects from heating and relaxation pathways are small. We attribute the shifts to the Stark effect and characterize nanotubes with different chiralities. By taking into account exciton binding energies for air-suspended tubes, we find that theoretical predictions are in quantitative agreement.
Measurement of quasiparticle transport in aluminum films using tungsten transition-edge sensors
Authors: Yen J. J. , Shank B. , Young B. A. , Cabrera B. , Brink P. L. , Cherry M. , Kreikebaum J. M. , Moffatt R. , Redl P. , Tomada A. , Tortorici E. C.
Published: October 2014

We report on experimental studies of phonon sensors which utilize quasiparticle diffusion in thin aluminum films connected to tungsten transition-edge-sensors (TESs) operated at 35 mK. We show that basic TES physics and a simple physical model of the overlap region between the W and Al films in our devices enables us to accurately reproduce the experimentally observed pulse shapes from x-rays absorbed in the Al films. We further estimate quasiparticle loss in Al films using a simple diffusion equation approach. These studies allow the design of phonon sensors with improved performance.
Microfiber-based gold nanorods as saturable absorber for femtosecond pulse generation in a fiber laser
Authors: Wang Xu-De , Luo Zhi-Chao , Liu Hao , Liu Meng , Luo Ai-Ping , Xu Wen-Cheng
Published: October 2014

We reported on the femtosecond pulse generation from an erbium-doped fiber (EDF) laser by using microfiber-based gold nanorods (GNRs) as saturable absorber (SA). By virtue of the geometric characteristic of microfiber-based GNRs, the optical damage threshold of GNRs-SA could be greatly enhanced. The microfiber-based GNRs-SA shows a modulation depth of 4.9% and a nonsaturable loss of 21.1%. With the proposed GNRs-SA, the fiber laser emitted a mode-locked pulse train with duration of ∼887 fs. The obtained results demonstrated that the GNRs deposited microfiber could indeed serve as a high-performance SA towards the practical applications in the field of ultrafast photonics.
Oxide-free InAs(111)A interface in metal-oxide-semiconductor structure with very low density of states prepared by anodic oxidation
Authors: Valisheva N. A. , Aksenov M. S. , Golyashov V. A. , Levtsova T. A. , Kovchavtsev A. P. , Gutakovskii A. K. , Khandarkhaeva S. E. , Kalinkin A. V. , Prosvirin I. P. , Bukhtiyarov V. I. , Tereshchenko O. E.
Published: October 2014

In this letter, we present structural, compositional, and electrical characteristics of anodic oxide layer-based metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors on n-type InAs(111)A, along with the effect of a thin fluorinated interfacial passivation layer. Electrochemical oxidation in acid electrolyte with addition of fluorine (NH4F) led to the formation of oxygen free well-ordered wide gap fluorinated interfacial layer at InAs(111)A with the fixed charge (Qfix) and density of interface states (Dit) in the range of (4–6) × 1010 cm−2 and (2–12) × 1010 eV−1 cm−2, respectively. We found that MOS capacitors showed excellent capacitance-voltage characteristics with very small frequency dispersion (<1% and <15 mV). Fluorinated interfacial layer consists of crystalline isostructural compound with the InAs substrate, which remains intact with the atomic smoothness and sharpness that explain unpinned behavior of the Fermi level.
Nanoscale constrictions in superconducting coplanar waveguide resonators
Authors: Jenkins Mark David , Naether Uta , Ciria Miguel , Sesé Javier , Atkinson James , Sánchez-Azqueta Carlos , Barco Enrique del , Majer Johannes , Zueco David , Luis Fernando
Published: October 2014

We report on the design, fabrication, and characterization of superconducting coplanar waveguide resonators with nanoscopic constrictions. By reducing the size of the center line down to 50 nm, the radio frequency currents are concentrated and the magnetic field in its vicinity is increased. The device characteristics are only slightly modified by the constrictions, with changes in resonance frequency lower than 1% and internal quality factors of the same order of magnitude as the original ones. These devices could enable the achievement of higher couplings to small magnetic samples or even to single molecular spins and have applications in circuit quantum electrodynamics, quantum computing, and electron paramagnetic resonance.
Evidence of guided acoustic waves propagating along a micrometric fiber
Authors: Khelfa Haithem , Mounier Denis , Poilâne Christophe , Picart Pascal
Published: October 2014

We propose a contactless optical method to determine the dispersion curves of guided acoustic modes propagating along a micrometric fiber. Subnanosecond laser pulses are used to generate guided acoustic waves, and an optical probe is used for measuring the ultrasonic displacements at the fiber surface. The test sample is an aluminum fiber of diameter 33 μm. The comparison between the experimental and theoretical dispersion curves is presented.
Meaningful grammar is binary, local, anti-symmetric, recursive and incomplete
Authors: Cremers Crit , Hijzelendoorn Maarten
Published: October 2014

Meaning is computed best in the context of explicit grammar. Automated grammar
for parsing and generation is formal. Its representations and its architecture
are determined by the interaction of form and meaning. Serious form and serious
meaning, however, cannot be projected on each other. Therefore, the representations
and techniques for automation of grammar had better be as strict
as possible, to limit the degree of imprecision and to maximize the linguistic
coverage. In this article, we identify five aspects of formal grammar that according
to our experience with grammar-in-action are worth to be observed when
targeting logical form. Three aspects concern rules and representations: binarity,
antisymmetry and locality. Two aspects relate to the architecture of meaningful
grammar: recursion and incompleteness.
How prosody is both mandatory and optional
Authors: Cutler Anne , McQueen James
Published: October 2014

Speech signals originate as a sequence of linguistic units selected by speakers,
but these units are necessarily realised in the suprasegmental dimensions of
time, frequency and amplitude. For this reason prosodic structure has been
viewed as a mandatory target of language processing by both speakers and
listeners. In apparent contradiction, however, prosody has also been argued to
be ancillary rather than core linguistic structure, making processing of prosodic
structure essentially optional. In the present tribute to one of the luminaries of
prosodic research for the past quarter century, we review evidence from studies
of the processing of lexical stress and focal accent which reconciles these views
and shows that both claims are, each in their own way, fully true.
Does boundary tone production in whispered speech depend on its bearer? Exploring a case of tonal crowding in whisper
Authors: Heeren Willemijn
Published: October 2014

How does boundary tone production in whisper depend on the presence of a
pitch accent in the same syllable? Acoustic correlates of boundary tones were
investigated when produced on disyllabic, utterance-final words that carried
a nuclear accent, and that varied in lexical stress position (strong-weak versus
weak-strong). In the former case, boundary tone and nuclear accent do not
coincide, whereas in the latter, they land on the same syllable. Acoustic analyses
showed that intensity, the second formant, and the power of the first and second
formants were higher when a question as opposed to a statement was produced.
Not all differences became significant in both word types; in the tonal crowding
case acoustic differences were smaller.
The effects of age and level of education on the ability of adult native speakers of Dutch to segment speech into words
Authors: Hulstijn Jan H. , Andringa Sible
Published: October 2014

This study tested Hulstijn’s (2011) hypothesis that adult native speakers share
the ability to process every-day speech, although older people do so more slowly
than younger people. In two segmentation tasks, segments of speech were
presented consisting of two to four highly common words. In the Count Task,
participants decided as quickly as possible how many words they had heard. In
the Dictation Task, participants wrote down what they had heard. Participants
(N = 235) were selected on the basis of their age (young vs senior) and level of
education (low vs high). Some of the findings are at variance with the predictions,
which may or may not have been caused by a task confound.
Phonetic aspects of polar questions in Sienese
Authors: Lusini Sara , D'Alessandro Roberta , Rooryck Johan
Published: October 2014

This study provides empirical evidence for the monoclausal status of a specific
polar interrogative construction in Sienese, an Italian dialect spoken in Tuscany.
At first sight, this question type looks like a biclausal discourse including two
separate questions. There is however considerable syntactic evidence in favor
of a monoclausal analysis. A production experiment was conducted to find out
whether any correlations can be established between the underlying syntactic
structure and the phonetic realization of polar questions in Sienese. The results
indicate that these structures systematically correlate with distinctive prosodic
properties that unambiguously establish their monoclausal status. This contribution
shows how experimental approaches may be used as a powerful tool for
testing syntactic hypotheses.
Do speakers try to distract attention from their speech errors? The prosody of self-repairs
Authors: Nooteboom Sieb G. , Hugo Quené
Published: October 2014

Self-repairs of segmental speech errors come in two varieties: repairs of early
and of late-detected errors. Early-detected errors are detected in inner, late
detected errors in overt speech. Late-detected errors are those in which the
word or phrase containing the error is completed before the repair is made.
We made acoustic measurements of both the reparandum and the repair, and
also ran a loudness judgment experiment on pairs of CV fragments excised
from reparandum and repair. Repairs of early-detected errors but not of latedetected
errors had shorter durations, higher intensity, pitch and subjective
loudness than those from the corresponding reparandums. It is concluded that
speakers tend to distract the listeners’ attention from early but not from latedetected
errors.
Cross-regional differences in the perception of fricative devoicing
Authors: Pinget Anne-France , Van de Velde Hans , Kager René
Published: October 2014

In Dutch, onset /v/ is becoming voiceless. Regional differences have been
observed in the degree of devoicing and in the acoustic implementation of the
/v/–/f/ contrast. We test whether these regional differences – reflecting different
stages of the change in progress – are reflected in perception. We present
the results of a speeded categorization task of stimuli that were systematically
varied for periodicity and duration. Listeners were selected in three regions:
West-Flanders (incipient phase), Randstad (intermediate phase) and Groningen
(advanced phase). Twenty participants per region categorized 405 stimuli as v
or f. Periodicity is a strong cue in all regions, duration only plays a minor role.
Regional differences show up in the degree of categoricity and in uncertainty.
Evidence for three-level vowel length in Ageer Dinka
Authors: Remijsen Bert
Published: October 2014

Three-level vowel length is typologically unusual, and the supporting evidence
is limited (Odden, 2011). One of the most compelling hypothesized cases for
this configuration is Dinka, a Western Nilotic language. This paper expands the
evidence base for Dinka, through an acoustic study of the Ageer dialect. Ageer
is geographically distant from the Agar dialect, for which three-level vowel
length was first postulated in Dinka (Andersen, 1987). It is also distant from
the Luanyjang and Bor dialects, on the basis of which this hypothesis was tested
acoustically. The results corroborate the three-level vowel length hypothesis for
Dinka: lexical and morphological quantity condition a salient three-way split
in vowel duration. Coda duration and vowel quality do not reveal comparable
differences.
The acoustics of English vowels in the speech of Dutch learners before and after pronunciation training
Authors: Smakman Dick , De France Thomas
Published: October 2014

Amongst all second-language skills, pronunciation seems to be in a league of its
own. It is difficult to teach and acquire as it is a highly intuitive and physiological
skill. This research describes the successes of pronunciation training, specifically
related to Dutch learners of English. Acoustic measurements were done on
selected vowels. The F1 and F2 values – showing degree of vowel openness and
front/back-ness, respectively – before and after training showed that an individual
learner’s progress in the production of one vowel does not necessarily
imply equal success in another. Types of learners could be distinguished; while
most learners improved, others stagnated or regressed. The results suggest that
Dutch learners should focus more on vowel openness than on front/back-ness.
Affricates in English as a natural class
Authors: van de Weijer Jeroen
Published: October 2014

This paper investigates the role of affricates in the phonotactics of English, and
notes that these segments behave differently from stops and differently from
fricatives. This is taken as evidence against the proposal that affricates cannot
form a natural class by themselves, which is inherent in the so-called “Stop
Approach” to the representation of affricates. Two other cases from the literature,
from Pengo and Cimbrian German, provide additional evidence against
this approach.
Influence of Forest Road Culverts and Waterfalls on the Fine‐Scale Distribution of Brook Trout Genetic Diversity in a Boreal Watershed
Authors: Torterotot Jean‐Baptiste , Perrier Charles , Bergeron Normand E. , Bernatchez Louis
Published: October 2014

Habitat fragmentation has become an increasing concern in conservation biology and is of prime importance with the expansion of forest road networks toward boreal and arctic regions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of artificial and natural barriers to fish movement on the fine‐scale distribution of genetic diversity in Brook TroutSalvelinus fontinalis. We genotyped 995 individuals sampled from 25 locations in a boreal watershed fragmented by culverts and natural waterfalls. Using a landscape genetics approach, we tested whether the presence of both types of barrier resulted in decreased genetic diversity and increased divergence within isolated locations. Results showed that genetic divergence was enhanced between sites separated by barriers and that genetic diversity was reduced within sites located upstream of barriers. Moreover, the observed changes in levels of divergence and diversity were correlated with the number of barriers. Overall, our results suggested that the effects of culverts and natural waterfalls were similar. To our knowledge, this is the first study illustrating the effects of forest road culverts and natural waterfalls on the distribution of genetic diversity in Brook Trout within a boreal watershed. We discuss our results in the context of boreal forest road network expansion and in light of the need to better understand the potential impacts of road infrastructure on the long‐term persistence of fish populations.

Received January 24, 2014; accepted July 11, 2014
Teachers using annotations to engage students in assessment conversations: recontextualising knowledge
Authors: Willis Jill , Adie Lenore
Published: October 2014

Assessment for Learning practices with students such as feedback, and self‐ and peer assessment are opportunities for teachers and students to develop a shared understanding of how to create quality learning performances. Quality is often represented through achievement standards. This paper explores how primary school teachers in Australia used the process of annotating work samples to develop shared understanding of achievement standards during their curriculum planning phase, and how this understanding informed their teaching so that their students also developed this understanding. Bernstein%s concept of the pedagogic device is used to identify the ways teachers recontextualised their assessment knowledge into their pedagogic practices. Two researchers worked alongside seven primary school teachers in two schools over a year, gathering qualitative data through focus groups and interviews. Three general recontextualising approaches were identified in the case studies; recontextualising standards by reinterpreting the role of rubrics, recontextualising by replicating the annotation process with the students and recontextualising by reinterpreting practices with students. While each approach had strengths and limitations, all of the teachers concluded that annotating conversations in the planning phase enhanced their understanding, and informed their practices in helping students to understand expectations for quality.
Authenticity and Textual Transvestism in the Memoirs of the Abbé de Choisy
Authors: Scott Paul
Published: October 2014

The memoirs of the abbé de Choisy, published posthumously, relate the narrator's adventures under three female disguises during his younger years, when he seduced a series of young women, most of whom were unaware that he was a man. The memoirs have been the focus of much attention from scholars during recent years and constitute a fascinating account by a pillar of the ecclesiastical and secular establishment. This article contends that the memoirs are not an autobiographical document but represent a sustained fantasy on their creator's part. This thesis is supported by the lack of contemporary corroboration, by internal inconsistencies and anachronisms, and by the memoirs' general implausibility. Notwithstanding its lack of historical and personal authenticity, the text stands as an important example of generic blending, incorporating elements from the novel, memoirs, and fairy tales. The document contains many pointers, conscious or otherwise, to its fictive status; and the author's purpose, in addition to rewriting his youth, might well constitute an attempt to overcompensate for his own deep-seated insecurities about his sexuality, since the memoirs constantly and hyperbolically reinforce their author's heterosexuality.
Etiology of a Tuber Rot and Foliar Blight of Potato Caused by Phytophthora nicotianae
Authors: Taylor Raymond J. , Pasche Julie S. , Gudmestad Neil C.
Published: October 2014

Although Phytophthora nicotianae is not normally considered to be an important pathogen of potato (Solanum tuberosum), intermittent outbreaks of a foliar blight and tuber rot have been reported in the United States over the past 75 years. Due to the sporadic nature of these reports, little is known about the etiology of the disease in potato. However, foliar disease and tuber rots caused by this pathogen are usually centered near areas of standing water in the field and along pivot tracks. Moreover, soil particles adhering to the foliage of infected potato plants suggest that water splash is involved in P. nicotianae dissemination and infection. Soil infestation and water splash dissemination studies were conducted under greenhouse conditions to examine the role that zoospores of P. nicotianae may play in disease on potato. In the soil infestation study, inoculum of P. nicotianae was added to soil at four rates (0.0, 1.0 × 103, 5.0 × 103, and 4.0 × 104 zoospores/ml) and three timings (at planting and 7 and 14 days after planting). Direct infection of aboveground plant tissues was achieved via splash dissemination of inoculum onto potato foliage. All soil infestations significantly reduced emergence, with the exception of the 1.0 × 103 zoospores/ml treatment, and no plants emerged from soil infested with 4.0 ×104 zoospores/ml. Significant reductions in stem number were observed with infestations of 1.0 × 103 and 5.0 × 103 zoospores/ml at planting and 5.0 × 103 zoospores/ml at 7 days after planting. Progeny tuber infections were confirmed with infestations at 1.0 × 103 zoospores/ml at planting and 7 days after planting. Lesions developed on leaflets, petioles, leaf axils, and stems in all water splash dissemination treatments within 3 days of inoculation, significant differences in the lesion number were observed, and disease severity generally was proportional to inoculum concentration. Relative area under the disease progress curve of the 5.0 × 103 and 4.0 × 104 zoospores/ml splash dissemination treatments was significantly greater than the 0.0 zoospore and 1.0 × 103 zoospores/ml treatments. Progeny tuber infections were observed with all water splash dissemination treatments but infection rates did not differ significantly among treatments. These studies confirm the hypothesis that water splash dissemination of P. nicotianae inoculum is a likely means by which infections of this pathogen are initiated in potato.
First Report of Stem Rot of Konjac Caused by Phytophthora nicotianae in China
Authors: Shao M. , Du W. F. , Yu D. C. , Du P. , Ni S. J. , Xu Y. C. , Zhang H. J.
Published: October 2014

Konjac (Amorphophallus) is an important economic crop widely used in health products and biomaterials in Asia (2). A serious foliage disease of Konjac was observed in Fuyuan County, Yunnan Province, China, in July 2012. The symptoms began with leaf color changes from light green to yellow, followed by discoloration on the stem base, plant wilting, bulb rotting, and ultimately plant death. Symptomatic tissues were cut into small pieces, surface-sterilized, and cultured on 20% V8 juice agar at 28°C. Five days after incubation, white fluffy colonies with the typical sporangium of Phytophthora sp. were observed from root and stem pieces. Isolates were identified as P. nicotianae based on morphological characteristics and DNA analysis. The growth rate of the colonies was 16 mm/d at 28°C. Sporangia were pyriform, ovoid to spherical, and papillate, and the dimensions of the 80 sporangia measured ranged from 23.7 to 60.4 × 19.4 to 45.7 μm (avg. 42.4 × 31.5 μm) with length-to-breadth ratios of 1.19 to 1.44 (avg. 1.34). The chlamydospores were spherical with a smooth surface, and their dimensions ranged from 20.3 to 47.3 × 18.9 to 45.9 μm (avg. 32.7 × 30.4 μm) (3). DNA was extracted from one colony containing spores and hyphae of the isolated P. nicotianae, and the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified with primers ITS6 and ITS4 (4). The obtained 854-bp amplicon was purified and sequenced. NCBI BLAST retrieved a 100% identity with P. nicotianae (GenBank Accession No. KJ506732). A pathogenicity test of the isolated P. nicotianae was conducted in a greenhouse. After 7 days in a humidity-controlled greenhouse, all 10 inoculated plants showed similar symptoms as observed initially in the field, while control plants were symptomless. P. nicotianae was re-isolated from the inoculated stems, thus successfully completing Koch's postulates (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. nicotianae as a pathogen of Konjac in China.

References: (1) B. Alvarez-Rodriguez et al. Plant Dis. 97:1257, 2013. (2) H. Ban, et al. Plant Cell Rep. 28:1847, 2009. (3) D. C. Erwin and O. K. Ribeiro. Phytophthora Diseases Worldwide. APS Press, St. Paul, MN, 1996. (4) J. M. French et al. Plant Dis. 95:1028, 2011.
Population Structure of the Blueberry PathogenMonilinia vaccinii-corymbosiin the United States
Authors: Burchhardt Kathleen M. , Cubeta Marc A.
Published: October 2014

The fungus Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi causes disease of blueberry (Vaccinium section Cyanococcus) shoots, flowers, and fruit. The objective of our research was to examine the population biology and genetics of M. vaccinii-corymbosi in the United States. A total of 480 samples of M. vaccinii-corymbosi were collected from 18 blueberry fields in 10 states; one field in Georgia, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington and nine fields in North Carolina. Analysis with 10 microsatellite markers revealed 247 unique multilocus haplotypes (MLHs), with 244 MLHs detected within 11 fields in the Northeast, Northwest, Midwest, and Southeast and three MLHs detected within seven fields in the Southeast United States. Genetic similarity and low genetic diversity of M. vaccinii-corymbosi isolates from the seven fields in the Southeast United States suggested the presence of an expansive, self-fertile population. Tests for linkage disequilibrium within 10 fields that contained ≥12 MLHs supported random mating in six fields and possible inbreeding and/or self-fertilization in four fields. Analysis of molecular variance, discriminate analysis of principal components, and Bayesian cluster analysis provided evidence for population structure and restricted gene flow among fields. This research represents the first comprehensive investigation of the genetic diversity and structure of field populations of M. vaccinii-corymbosi.
Epidural Steroid Injections, Conservative Treatment, or Combination Treatment for Cervical Radicular Pain
Authors: Cohen Steven P. , Hayek Salim , Semenov Yevgeny , Pasquina Paul F. , White Ronald L. , Veizi Elias , Huang Julie H. Y. , Kurihara Connie , Zhao Zirong , Guthmiller Kevin B. , Griffith Scott R. , Verdun Aubrey V. , Giampetro David M. , Vorobeychik Yakov
Published: October 2014

Background:

Cervical radicular pain is a major cause of disability. No studies have been published comparing different types of nonsurgical therapy.

Methods:

A comparative-effectiveness study was performed in 169 patients with cervical radicular pain less than 4 yr in duration. Participants received nortriptyline and/or gabapentin plus physical therapies, up to three cervical epidural steroid injections (ESI) or combination treatment over 6 months. The primary outcome measure was average arm pain on a 0 to 10 scale at 1 month.

Results:

One-month arm pain scores were 3.5 (95% CI, 2.8 to 4.2) in the combination group, 4.2 (CI, 2.8 to 4.2) in ESI patients, and 4.3 (CI, 2.8 to 4.2) in individuals treated conservatively (P = 0.26). Combination group patients experienced a mean reduction of −3.1 (95% CI, −3.8 to −2.3) in average arm pain at 1 month versus −1.8 (CI, −2.5 to −1.2) in the conservative group and −2.0 (CI, −2.7 to −1.3) in ESI patients (P = 0.035). For neck pain, a mean reduction of −2.2 (95% CI, −3.0 to −1.5) was noted in combination patients versus −1.2 (CI, −1.9 to −0.5) in conservative group patients and −1.1 (CI, −1.8 to −0.4) in those who received ESI; P = 0.064). Three-month posttreatment, 56.9% of patients treated with combination therapy experienced a positive outcome versus 26.8% in the conservative group and 36.7% in ESI patients (P = 0.006).

Conclusions:

For the primary outcome measure, no significant differences were found between treatments, although combination therapy provided better improvement than stand-alone treatment on some measures. Whereas these results suggest an interdisciplinary approach to neck pain may improve outcomes, confirmatory studies are needed.
Island biology: looking towards the future
Authors: Kueffer Christoph , Drake Donald R. , Fernández-Palacios José María
Published: October 2014

Oceanic islands are renowned for the profound scientific insights that their fascinating biotas have provided to biologists during the past two centuries. Research presented at Island Biology 2014—an international conference, held in Honolulu, Hawaii (7–11 July 2014), which attracted 253 presenters and 430 participants from at least 35 countries1—demonstrated that islands are reclaiming a leading role in ecology and evolution, especially for synthetic studies at the intersections of macroecology, evolution, community ecology and applied ecology. New dynamics in island biology are stimulated by four major developments. We are experiencing the emergence of a truly global and comprehensive island research community incorporating previously neglected islands and taxa. Macroecology and big-data analyses yield a wealth of global-scale synthetic studies and detailed multi-island comparisons, while other modern research approaches such as genomics, phylogenetic and functional ecology, and palaeoecology, are also dispersing to islands. And, increasingly tight collaborations between basic research and conservation management make islands places where new conservation solutions for the twenty-first century are being tested. Islands are home to a disproportionate share of the world's rare (and extinct) species, and there is an urgent need to develop increasingly collaborative and innovative research to address their conservation requirements.
Nano-tags for neonates and ocean-mediated swimming behaviours linked to rapid dispersal of hatchling sea turtles
Authors: Scott Rebecca , Biastoch Arne , Roder Christian , Stiebens Victor A. , Eizaguirre Christophe
Published: October 2014

Dispersal during juvenile life stages drives the life-history evolution and dynamics of many marine vertebrate populations. However, the movements of juvenile organisms, too small to track using conventional satellite telemetry devices, remain enigmatic. For sea turtles, this led to the paradigm of the ‘lost years' since hatchlings disperse widely with ocean currents. Recently, advances in the miniaturization of tracking technology have permitted the application of nano-tags to track cryptic organisms. Here, the novel use of acoustic nano-tags on neonate loggerhead turtle hatchlings enabled us to witness first-hand their dispersal and behaviour during their first day at sea. We tracked hatchlings distances of up to 15 km and documented their rapid transport (up to 60 m min
−1
) with surface current flows passing their natal areas. Tracking was complemented with laboratory observations to monitor swimming behaviours over longer periods which highlighted (i) a positive correlation between swimming activity levels and body size and (ii) population-specific swimming behaviours (e.g. nocturnal inactivity) suggesting local oceanic conditions drive the evolution of innate swimming behaviours. Knowledge of the swimming behaviours of small organisms is crucial to improve the accuracy of ocean model simulations used to predict the fate of these organisms and determine resultant population-level implications into adulthood.
Multidimensionality in host manipulation mimicked by serotonin injection
Authors: Perrot-Minnot Marie-Jeanne , Sanchez-Thirion Kevin , Cézilly Frank
Published: October 2014

Manipulative parasites often alter the phenotype of their hosts along multiple dimensions. ‘Multidimensionality’ in host manipulation could consist in the simultaneous alteration of several physiological pathways independently of one another, or proceed from the disruption of some key physiological parameter, followed by a cascade of effects. We compared multidimensionality in ‘host manipulation’ between two closely related amphipods,Gammarus fossarumandGammarus pulex,naturally and experimentally infected withPomphorhynchus laevis(Acanthocephala), respectively. To that end, we calculated in each host–parasite association the effect size of the difference between infected and uninfected individuals for six different traits (activity, phototaxis, geotaxis, attraction to conspecifics, refuge use and metabolic rate). The effects sizes were highly correlated between host–parasite associations, providing evidence for a relatively constant ‘infection syndrome’. Using the same methodology, we compared the extent of phenotypic alterations induced by an experimental injection of serotonin (5-HT) in uninfectedG. pulexto that induced by experimental or natural infection withP. laevis. We observed a significant correlation between effect sizes across the six traits, indicating that injection with 5-HT can faithfully mimic the ‘infection syndrome’. This is, to our knowledge, the first experimental evidence that multidimensionality in host manipulation can proceed, at least partly, from the disruption of some major physiological mechanism.
Nitrosospira lacus sp. nov., a psychrotolerant, ammonia-oxidizing bacterium from sandy lake sediment
Authors: Urakawa Hidetoshi , Garcia Juan C. , Nielsen Jeppe L. , Le Vang Q. , Kozlowski Jessica A. , Stein Lisa Y. , Lim Chee Kent , Pommerening-Röser Andreas , Martens-Habbena Willm , Stahl David A. , Klotz Martin G.
Published: October 2014

A Gram-negative, spiral-shaped, chemolithotrophic, ammonia-oxidizing bacterium, designated APG3T, was isolated into pure culture from sandy lake sediment collected from Green Lake, Seattle, WA, USA. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain APG3T belongs to cluster 0 of the genus

Nitrosospira

, which is presently not represented by described species, with

Nitrosospira multiformis

(cluster 3) as the closest species with a validly published name (identity of 98.6 % to the type strain). Strain APG3T grew at 4 °C but could not grow at 35 °C, indicating that this bacterium is psychrotolerant. Remarkably, the strain was able to grow over a wide range of pH (pH 5–9), which was greater than the pH range of any studied ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in pure culture. The DNA G+C content of the APG3T genome is 53.5 %, which is similar to that of

Nitrosospira multiformis

ATCC 25196T (53.9 %) but higher than that of

Nitrosomonas europaea

ATCC 19718 (50.7 %) and

Nitrosomonas eutropha

C71 (48.5 %). The average nucleotide identity (ANI) calculated for the genomes of strain APG3T and

Nitrosospira multiformis

ATCC 25196T was 75.45 %, significantly lower than the value of 95 % ANI that corresponds to the 70 % species-level cut-off based on DNA–DNA hybridization. Overall polyphasic taxonomy study indicated that strain APG3T represents a novel species in the genus

Nitrosospira

, for which the name Nitrosospira lacus sp. nov. is proposed (type strain APG3T = NCIMB 14869T = LMG 27536T = ATCC BAA-2542T).
Temperature-dependent radiation sensitivity and order of 70S ribosome crystals
Authors: Warkentin Matthew , Hopkins Jesse B. , Haber Jonah B. , Blaha Gregor , Thorne Robert E.
Published: October 2014

All evidence to date indicates that atT= 100 K all protein crystals exhibit comparable sensitivity to X-ray damage when quantified using global metrics such as change in scalingBfactor or integrated intensityversusdose. This is consistent with observations in cryo-electron microscopy, and results because nearly all diffusive motions of protein and solvent, including motions induced by radiation damage, are frozen out. But how do the sensitivities of different proteins compare at room temperature, where radiation-induced radicals are free to diffuse and protein and lattice structures are free to relax in response to local damage? It might be expected that a large complex with extensive conformational degrees of freedom would be more radiation sensitive than a small, compact globular protein. As a test case, the radiation sensitivity of 70S ribosome crystals has been examined. AtT= 100 and 300 K, the half doses are 64 MGy (at 3 Å resolution) and 150 kGy (at 5 Å resolution), respectively. The maximum tolerable dose in a crystallography experiment depends upon the initial or desired resolution. When differences in initial data-set resolution are accounted for, the former half dose is roughly consistent with that for model proteins, and the 100/300 K half-dose ratio is roughly a factor of ten larger. 70S ribosome crystals exhibit substantially increased resolution at 100 K relative to 300 K owing to cooling-induced ordering and not to reduced radiation sensitivity and slower radiation damage.
Structural characterization of the virulence factor nuclease A fromStreptococcus agalactiae
Authors: Moon Andrea F. , Gaudu Philippe , Pedersen Lars C.
Published: October 2014

The group B pathogenStreptococcus agalactiaecommonly populates the human gut and urogenital tract, and is a major cause of infection-based mortality in neonatal infants and in elderly or immunocompromised adults. Nuclease A (GBS_NucA), a secreted DNA/RNA nuclease, serves as a virulence factor forS. agalactiae, facilitating bacterial evasion of the human innate immune response. GBS_NucA efficiently degrades the DNA matrix component of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which attempt to kill and clear invading bacteria during the early stages of infection. In order to better understand the mechanisms of DNA substrate binding and catalysis of GBS_NucA, the high-resolution structure of a catalytically inactive mutant (H148G) was solved by X-ray crystallography. Several mutants on the surface of GBS_NucA which might influence DNA substrate binding and catalysis were generated and evaluated using an imidazole chemical rescue technique. While several of these mutants severely inhibited nuclease activity, two mutants (K146R and Q183A) exhibited significantly increased activity. These structural and biochemical studies have greatly increased our understanding of the mechanism of action of GBS_NucA in bacterial virulence and may serve as a foundation for the structure-based drug design of antibacterial compounds targeted toS. agalactiae.
Structural insights into the human RyR2 N-terminal region involved in cardiac arrhythmias
Authors: Borko Ľubomír , Bauerová-Hlinková Vladena , Hostinová Eva , Gašperík Juraj , Beck Konrad , Lai F. Anthony , Zahradníková Alexandra , Ševčík Jozef
Published: October 2014

Human ryanodine receptor 2 (hRyR2) mediates calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, enabling cardiomyocyte contraction. The N-terminal region of hRyR2 (amino acids 1–606) is the target of >30 arrhythmogenic mutations and contains a binding site for phosphoprotein phosphatase 1. Here, the solution and crystal structures determined under near-physiological conditions, as well as a homology model of the hRyR2 N-terminal region, are presented. The N-terminus is held together by a unique network of interactions among its three domains, A, B and C, in which the central helix (amino acids 410–437) plays a prominent stabilizing role. Importantly, the anion-binding site reported for the mouse RyR2 N-terminal region is notably absent from the human RyR2. The structure concurs with the differential stability of arrhythmogenic mutations in the central helix (R420W, I419F and I419F/R420W) which are owing to disparities in the propensity of mutated residues to form energetically favourable or unfavourable contacts. In solution, the N-terminus adopts a globular shape with a prominent tail that is likely to involve residues 545–606, which are unresolved in the crystal structure. Docking the N-terminal domains into cryo-electron microscopy maps of the closed and open RyR1 conformations reveals Cαatom movements of up to 8 Å upon channel gating, and predicts the location of the leucine–isoleucine zipper segment and the interaction site for spinophilin and phosphoprotein phosphatase 1 on the RyR surface.
Effect of the L499M mutation of the ascomycetousBotrytis acladalaccase on redox potential and catalytic properties
Authors: Osipov Evgeny , Polyakov Konstantin , Kittl Roman , Shleev Sergey , Dorovatovsky Pavel , Tikhonova Tamara , Hann Stephan , Ludwig Roland , Popov Vladimir
Published: October 2014

Laccases are members of a large family of multicopper oxidases that catalyze the oxidation of a wide range of organic and inorganic substrates accompanied by the reduction of dioxygen to water. These enzymes contain four Cu atoms per molecule organized into three sites: T1, T2 and T3. In all laccases, the T1 copper ion is coordinated by two histidines and one cysteine in the equatorial plane and is covered by the side chains of hydrophobic residues in the axial positions. The redox potential of the T1 copper ion influences the enzymatic reaction and is determined by the nature of the axial ligands and the structure of the second coordination sphere. In this work, the laccase from the ascomyceteBotrytis acladawas studied, which contains conserved Ile491 and nonconserved Leu499 residues in the axial positions. The three-dimensional structures of the wild-type enzyme and the L499M mutant were determined by X-ray crystallography at 1.7 Å resolution. Crystals suitable for X-ray analysis could only be grown after deglycosylation. Both structures did not contain the T2 copper ion. The catalytic properties of the enzyme were characterized and the redox potentials of both enzyme forms were determined:E0= 720 and 580 mV for the wild-type enzyme and the mutant, respectively. Since the structures of the wild-type and mutant forms are very similar, the change in the redox potential can be related to the L499M mutation in the T1 site of the enzyme.
American Indians in feature films: beyond the big Screen
Authors: V. Domínguez Daisy
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine whether library collections accurately represent the breadth of portrayals of American Indians in feature film. It also provides collection development resources for developing and strengthening feature film collections by and about American Indians.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study compares WorldCat holdings of a sample of theatrically released films about American Indians with independent American Indian-made films.

Findings

– WorldCat holdings as a whole do not represent the breadth of portrayals of American Indians in feature film.

Originality/value

– There are no studies that examine library holdings of feature films by and about American Indians. This paper presents an opportunity to examine our collecting habits and recommends resources for building feature film collections that better represent the manifold Native American experience.
Productivity strategy led power utilities
Authors: Nthikeng Letsoalo Joseph
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to return to a long-term business focus that uses Productivity Accounting methodology as a strategy tool for business operation and for making investments to benefit all producers and consumers in the electricity markets.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research subjected the published annual financial reports data to an analysis using the Productivity Accounting methodology to fathom productivity and price recovery with a focus on productivity changes over the year. Assessment is made of any comments on productivity or efficiency by the utilities in relation to the computed productivity from the methodology of analysis.

Findings

– The financial data as well as the statistical data that went with it could be analysed independently and productivity and price recovery results obtained. It is possible use Productivity Accounting to measure productivity change and use it for influencing investment and operational productivity for each resource and the utility.

Research limitations/implications

– The focus is on power utilities that are experiencing shifts in the way they do business in the environment. However, there is definitely value in using productivity as a strategy for sustainable utilities. It would seem the results may be applicable to other types of businesses.

Practical implications

– It is possible for any utility to use Productivity Accounting as a strategic tool to run the operations and support that with continuous investments as a basis of productivity driven sustainable and profitable businesses. It highlights the faults of the booms and bust of the California power industry against a productivity strategy-led utility.

Social implications

– For both developing and developed countries it would mean that electricity is affordable in the long term as it is not a luxury good. Electricity can be used to leverage economies of countries for competitiveness.

Originality/value

– The paper provides a fresh look at productivity as a strategic focus of a sustained business performance, for all utilities based on their own unchanged data.