bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrating governance and socioeconomic indicators to assess the performance of community-based natural resources management in Caprivi (Namibia)
Authors: COLLOMB J.G.E. , MUPETA P. , BARNES G. , CHILD B.
Published: September 2010

The achievements of community-based natural resources management (CBNRM) in southern Africa over the past 20 years have been hampered by the struggle to develop institutions of good governance. This paper explores what good governance is, how it can be measured and why it is relevant to communities' socioeconomic development goals. Horizontal accountability, used as a proxy for good governance, and people's perception of CBNRM benefits were documented through 236 individual interviews in five conservancies in the Caprivi Province (Namibia). These complex concepts were captured in order to strengthen performance assessments of CBNRM. Horizontal accountability was weak across the five conservancies studied and conservancy leaders could transfer more information to their constituents. Smaller and older conservancies displayed higher rates of information transfer, but horizontal accountability was not linked to different levels of socioeconomic benefits. In order to properly study the potential connections between good governance and the provision of socioeconomic benefits within CBNRM, the measures used in this study require further refinement.
Formal polytypic programs and proofs
Authors: VERBRUGGEN WENDY , DE VRIES EDSKO , HUGHES ARTHUR
Published: September 2010

The aim of our work is to be able to do fully formal, machine-verified proofs over Generic Haskell-style polytypic programs. In order to achieve this goal, we embed polytypic programming in the proof assistantCoqand provide an infrastructure for polytypic proofs. Polytypic functions are reified within Coq as a datatype and they can then be specialized by applying a dependently typed term specialization function. Polytypic functions are thus first-class citizens and can be passed as arguments or returned as results. Likewise, we reify polytypic proofs as a datatype and provide a lemma that a polytypic proof can be specialized to any datatype in the universe. The correspondence between polytypic functions and their polytypic proofs is very clear: programmers need to give proofs for, and only for, the same cases that they need to give instances for when they define the polytypic function itself. Finally, we discuss how to write (co)recursive functions and do (co)recursive proofs in a similar way that recursion is handled in Generic Haskell.
Event conceptualization by early Dutch–German bilinguals: Insights from linguistic and eye-tracking data
Authors: FLECKEN MONIQUE
Published: September 2010

This experimental study investigates event construal by early Dutch–German bilinguals, as reflected in their oral depiction of everyday events shown in video clips. The starting point is the finding that the expression of an aspectual perspective (progressive aspect), and its consequences for event construal, is dependent on the extent to which means are grammaticalized, as in English (e.g., progressive aspect) or not, as in German (von Stutterheim & Carroll, 2006). The present study shows that although speakers of Dutch and German have comparable means to mark this aspectual concept, at a first glance at least, they differ markedly both in the contexts as well as in the extent to which this aspectual perspective is selected, being highly frequent in specific contexts in Dutch, but not in German. The present experimental study investigates factors that lead to the use of progressive aspect by early bilinguals, using video clips (with different types of events varied along specific dimensions on a systematic basis). The study includes recordings of eye movements, and examines how far an aspectual perspective drives allocation of attention during information intake while viewing the stimulus material, both for and while speaking. Although the bilinguals have acquired the means to express progressive aspect in Dutch, their use shows a pattern that differs from monolingual Dutch speakers. Interestingly, these differences are reflected in different patterns in the direction of attention (eye movements) when verbalizing information on events.
The changing face of enmity: Carl Schmitt’s international theory and the evolution of the legal concept of war
Authors: Werner Wouter G.
Published: September 2010

The past few decades have witnessed a renewed interest in the work of Carl Schmitt. Scholars from various disciplines have claimed that Schmitt’s critique of universalism, together with his analysis of irregular warfare, provides useful lenses to make sense of the post 9/11 world. In this article, I will critically assess whether Schmitt’s work is indeed useful for understanding the post 9/11 world. To that end, I will concentrate on one of the core arguments put forward by Schmitt: that the laws of armed conflict are unable to regulate irregular warfare, including acts of terrorism. In order to determine the validity of Schmitt’s arguments, I will focus on one of the instruments used in contemporary counter-terrorism policies: the deliberate killing of specific individuals who are regarded as a security threat (‘targeted killing’). Based on an analysis of US and Israeli practice, the article argues that using Schmitt’s work as an analytical tool yields mixed results. While his analysis of irregular warfare remains relevant for contemporary conflicts, his denouncement of universalism blinds us to the transformational potential of international law.
Realism and international law: the challenge of John H. Herz
Authors: Sylvest Casper
Published: September 2010

The proliferation, globalization, and fragmentation of law in world politics have fostered an attempt to re-integrate International Law (IL) and International Relations (IR) scholarship, but so far the contribution of realist theory to this interdisciplinary perspective has been meagre. Combining intellectual history, the jurisprudence of IL and IR theory, this article provides an analysis of John H. Herz’s classical realism and its perspective on international law. In retrieving this vision, the article emphasizes the political and intellectual context from which Herz’s realism developed: the study of public law in Germany during the interwar period and in particular the contribution of Hans Kelsen and the pure theory of law to the study of international law. Herz was deeply inspired by Kelsen but he criticized the pure theory for ignoring the sociological foundations of law. Following his emigration to the United States, Herz embraced realism but without disregarding international law. Indeed, his mature, globally oriented realism offers a balanced, fruitful perspective for thinking about the relationship between politics and law that is deeply relevant for contemporary theory: it challenges modern, law-blind variants of realism and holds considerable potential for contributing to the approaches that have most successfully studied the law–politics nexus.
Why democracy must be global: self-founding and democratic intervention
Authors: Agné Hans
Published: September 2010

Globalization, foreign intervention, and failed states have drawn new attention to theoretical issues of how political orders and communities can be legitimately founded, and what it means for a people to be self-governing. In this article, I will challenge an argument in this debate saying that the founding of new political orders is always in some sense illegitimate insofar as it cannot be decided democratically. In opposition to this view, I will suggest that the founding of political orders is legitimate even from a democratic point of view when decided together by people within as well as beyond the boundaries inherent in the foundation. In case of persisting disagreement over boundary issues, political decisions can still derive democratic legitimacy from global procedures that are equally inclusive of everyone capable of contesting those decisions. Elaborating on the implications of this argument, I will also reject the notion that foreign interventions for establishing democracy are themselves necessarily illegitimate or undemocratic.
Detector commissioning and development for PETRA-III
Authors: Pennicard David , Graafsma Heinz , Lohmann Michael
Published: September 2010

The new synchrotron light source PETRA-III produced its first beam last year. The extremely high brilliance of PETRA-III and the large energy range of many of its beamlines make it useful for a wide range of experiments, particularly in materials science. The detectors at PETRA-III will need to meet several requirements, such as operation across a wide dynamic range, high-speed readout and good quantum efficiency even at high photon energies. PETRA-III beamlines with lower photon energies will typically be equipped with photon-counting silicon detectors for two-dimensional detection and silicon drift detectors for spectroscopy and higher-energy beamlines will use scintillators coupled to cameras or photomultiplier tubes. Longer-term developments include ‘high-Z’ semiconductors for detecting high-energy X-rays, photon-counting readout chips with smaller pixels and higher frame rates and pixellated avalanche photodiodes for time-resolved experiments.
Design of the experimental stage for coherent diffraction imaging
Authors: Pešić Z. D. , Wagner U. H. , Rau C.
Published: September 2010

The I13 beamline of Diamond Light Source encompasses two fully independent branches devoted for coherent imaging experiments (coherent X-ray diffraction and ptychography) and X-ray imaging and tomography (full-field microscopy and in-line phase contrast imaging). This contributed paper outlines the main features of the coherence beamline and a preliminary design of the experimental station for coherent X-ray diffraction imaging.
Distress in Response to Infidelities Committed by the Partners of Close Others 1It is journal policy that submissions coauthored by a current editor are handled by a guest editor. We thank Rainer Banse, who handled the current manuscript, for his efforts.
Authors: Bohner Gerd , Echterhoff Gerald , Glaß Christian , Patrzek Justine , Lampridis Efthymios
Published: September 2010

To test rival explanations for sex differences in distress over sexual vs. emotional infidelity, evolutionary psychologists have studied people’s reactions to the infidelity suffered by close relatives, claiming that sex-of-target effects would support an evolutionary explanation but refute a sociocultural explanation. This paradigm was extended by comparing genetically related and unrelated targets in two cultures. Students (N = 566) in Greece and Germany reported how much infidelity committed by the partners of siblings versus friends would distress them. Sex-of-target effects were found, though they were limited to Greek participants and to genetically unrelated targets. Across targets, a sex-of-participant effect emerged, with men being more distressed by sexual (vs. emotional) infidelity than women. The results are discussed with respect to evolutionary and sociocultural theorizing.
The Presence of Others, Prosocial Traits, Machiavellianism
Authors: Kerekes Zsuzsanna
Published: September 2010

The presence of others has long been known to have an effect on people’s decisions to engage in more helping behavior, but relatively few studies have examined the interaction between the observation of the helping act and various personality traits of the altruist person. In the present study, subjects were asked to volunteer by offering a less and a more costly charity service in public and under anonymous conditions. We found that prosocial personality traits showed relative independence of situational factors. Scores on the scale of Machiavellianism, in contrast, proved to be strongly dependent on the presence of others, but not on the cost of the offered charity act. Those obtaining high scores on this scale (high-Mach persons) disguised their selfishness and pretended altruism in the presence of others, but realized their self-interest when others were not observing their behavior. This responsiveness to the strategic distinction between the presence and absence of others is discussed in terms of reputation-gaining and competitive altruism.
Causal Evidence that Terrorism Salience Increases Authoritarian Parenting Practices 1It is journal policy that submissions coauthored by a current editor are handled by a guest editor. We thank Guido Gendolla, who handled the current manuscript, for his efforts.
Authors: Fischer Peter , Fischer Julia , Frey Dieter , Such Michelle , Smyth Madleine , Tester Michelle , Kastenmüller Andreas
Published: September 2010

The present research experimentally investigated the impact of terrorism salience on authoritarian practices. It was found that terrorist threat cues (induced by reminders of terrorist incidents) had a significant impact upon both attitudes and behaviors regarding authoritarian parenting practices (Studies 1 and 2) as well as their actual occurrence in a real parent-child playing interaction (Study 3). The implications of these findings for the social psychological perspective on threat and parenting style are discussed.
“Not in My Back Yard”
Authors: Thornton Bill , Tizard Hayley J.
Published: September 2010

“Not in my back yard” (NIMBY) is characterized as behavioral opposition to proposed change and reflects vested interest and perceived negative personal consequences. The present research examined the role of arousal in moderating the relationship between vested interest and oppositional behavior. Two studies replicated previous research with high vested interest associated with greater oppositional behavior and greater attitude-behavior consistency than that observed with low vested interest. Moreover, a misattribution of arousal manipulation (Study 1) resulted in reduced oppositional behavior, whereas an induced arousal manipulation (Study 2) resulted in greater oppositional behavior. These results provide experimental support for the role of arousal underlying vested interest and behavioral opposition. Implications of the results for applications and further research are considered.
Dynamic formation of extreme ozone minimum events over the Tibetan Plateau during northern winters 1987–2001
Authors: Liu Chuanxi , Liu Yi , Cai Zhaonan , Gao Shouting , Bian Jianchun , Liu Xiong , Chance Kelly
Published: September 2010

Wintertime extreme ozone minima in the total column ozone over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) between 1978 and 2001 are analyzed using observations from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS), Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME), and reanalysis data from both National Centers for Environmental Prediction and European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts. Results show that total column ozone reduction in nine persistent (lasting for at least 2 days) and four transient events can be substantially attributed to ozone reduction in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere region (below 25 km). This reduction is generally caused by uplift of the local tropopause and northward transport of tropical ozone‐poor air associated with an anomalous anticyclone in the upper troposphere. These anticyclonic anomalies are closely related to anomalous tropical deep convective heating, which is, however, not necessarily phase locked with the tropical Madden‐Julian Oscillation as in our earlier case study. Considering stratospheric processes, the selected 13 events can be combined into nine independent events. Moreover, five of the nine independent events, especially the persistent events, are coupled with contributions from stratospheric dynamics between 25 and 40 km, i.e., 15%–40% derived from GOME observations for events in November 1998, February 1999, and December 2001. On the basis of these events, stratospheric column ozone reduction over the TP region can be attributed to the dynamics (development and/or displacement) of the two main stratospheric systems, namely, the polar vortex and the Aleutian High. The effect of a “low‐ozone pocket” inside the Aleutian High on the total column ozone in East Asia requires further study.
Tidally induced variations of polar mesospheric cloud altitudes and ice water content using a data assimilation system
Authors: Stevens Michael H. , Siskind David E. , Eckermann Stephen D. , Coy Lawrence , McCormack John P. , Englert Christoph R. , Hoppel Karl W. , Nielsen Kim , Kochenash Andrew J. , Hervig Mark E. , Randall Cora E. , Lumpe Jerry , Bailey Scott M. , Rapp Markus , Hoffmann Peter
Published: September 2010

A variety of spaceborne experiments have observed polar mesospheric clouds (PMC) since the late 20th century. Many of these experiments are on satellites in Sun‐synchronous orbits and therefore allow observations only at fixed local times (LT). Temperature oscillations over the diurnal cycle are an important source of PMC variability. In order to quantify long‐term natural or anthropogenic changes in PMCs, it is therefore essential to understand their variation over the diurnal cycle. To this end, we employ a prototype global numerical weather prediction system that assimilates satellite temperature and water vapor observations from the ground to ∼90 km altitude. We assemble the resulting 6 hourly high‐altitude meteorological assimilation fields from June 2007 in both LT and latitude and use them to drive a one‐dimensional PMC formation model with cosmic smoke serving as nucleation sites. We find that there is a migrating diurnal temperature tide at 69°N with a variation of ±4 K at 83 km, which controls the variation of PMC total ice water content (IWC) over the diurnal cycle. The calculated IWC is normalized to observations at 2300 LT by the Solar Occultation for Ice Experiment and allowed to vary with temperature over the diurnal cycle. We find that the IWC at 69°N has a single maximum between 0700 and 0800 LT and a minimum between 1900 and 2200 LT and varies by at least a factor of 5. The calculated variation of IWC with LT is substantially larger at 57°N, with a single prominent peak near 0500 LT.
Polar Airborne Observations Fill Gap in Satellite Data
Authors: Koenig Lora , Martin Seelye , Studinger Michael , Sonntag John
Published: September 2010

In October 2009, NASA's Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) stopped collecting science data. However, noting the progressive degradation of ICESat's Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS), NASA had begun the previous year to plan a series of instrumented aircraft missions to fill the impending gap in satellite observations due to the loss of GLAS. Called Operation IceBridge, the project has been collecting data since March 2009 and will continue until the scheduled launch of ICESat's replacement, ICESat‐2, in about 2015.

The primary goal of IceBridge is to use airborne laser altimetry to monitor rapidly changing areas of ice sheets, glaciers, and sea ice; a secondary goal is to acquire ice‐penetrating‐radar data to map the bedrock topography beneath the ice sheets. Data collected by IceBridge will yield a three‐dimensional view of ice sheets and sea ice as they change. IceBridge will improve modeling efforts and knowledge of the contribution of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets to sea level rise. The project will also contribute to scientific understanding of changes in the extent and thickness of the sea ice cover as the planet warms. IceBridge flights maintain altimetry time series over outlet glaciers started by NASA in the early 1990s, expand airborne altimeter coverage to new areas, and add grids of ice‐penetrating‐radar data to better resolve bedrock topography.
Amazonia and Global Change
Authors: Ofori Leslie
Published: September 2010

The Large‐Scale Biosphere‐Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia (LBA) is a multidisciplinary international scientific project that seeks to understand the functioning of Amazonia as a unique ecosystem. The AGU monograph Amazonia and Global Change, edited by Michael Keller, Mercedes Bustamante, John Gash, and Pedro Silva Dias, synthesizes the results of the study. In this interview, Eos talks with micrometeorologist John Gash, who specializes in measuring and modeling evaporation from forests. He is a senior researcher in the Department of Hydrology and Geo‐environmental Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and an honorary research fellow at the U.K. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
Formation of cratonic mantle keels by arc accretion: Evidence from S receiver functions
Authors: Miller Meghan S. , Eaton David W.
Published: September 2010

Delineating mantle interfaces can provide important clues for understanding the formation of continents. We use S‐wave receiver functions to investigate lithospheric structure along a transect extending from Vancouver Island to Baffin Island. Observed Sp converted waves allow for interpretation of boundaries in the depth range expected for tectonic plates. Receiver functions show a distinct negative amplitude feature, interpreted as the lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary, at shallow depths beneath British Columbia (∼85km), deepening abruptly at the eastern edge of the Cordillera to ∼260km beneath the Canadian Shield. Dipping mid‐lithospheric discontinuities extend beneath several giant ca. 1.8 Ga epicontinental magmatic arcs, consistent with formation of cratonic lithosphere by arc accretion. This model provides a plausible explanation for global mid‐lithospheric discontinuities within cratons and aids in understanding their formation.
Explosion dynamics from strainmeter and microbarometer observations, Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat: 2008–2009
Authors: Chardot L. , Voight B. , Foroozan R. , Sacks S. , Linde A. , Stewart R. , Hidayat D. , Clarke A. , Elsworth D. , Fournier N. , Komorowski J.‐C. , Mattioli G. , Sparks R. S. J. , Widiwijayanti C.
Published: September 2010

Vulcanian explosions with plumes to 12 km occurred at Soufrière Hills volcano (SHV) between July 2008 and January 2009. We report strainmeter and barometric data, featuring quasi‐linear strain changes that correlate with explosive evacuation of the conduit at rates of ∼0.9−2 × 107 kg s−1. July and January explosion‐generated strains were similar, ∼20 nanostrain at ∼5 km, and interpreted as contractions of a quasi‐cylindrical conduit, with release of magmastatic pressure, and exsolution‐generated overpressure of order 10 MPa. The 3 December 2008 event was distinctive with larger signals (∼140–200 nanostrain at 5–6 km) indicating that a rapid pressurization preceded and triggered the explosion. Modeling suggests a dike with ENE trend, implying that feeder dikes at SHV had diverse attitudes at different times during the eruption. All explosions were associated with acoustic pulses and remarkable atmospheric gravity waves.
Pedersen current carried by electrons in auroral D‐region
Authors: Hosokawa K. , Ogawa Y.
Published: September 2010

We present, for the first time, an appearance of Pedersen current layer carried by the electrons in the auroral D‐region. Such a layer was detected by the EISCAT VHF radar in Tromsø, Norway when an intense pulsating aurora (PA) occurred. Due to the high‐energy electron precipitation during the PA, a significant ionization was observed not only in the E‐region but also in the upper part of the D‐region (80–95 km). An altitude profile of the Pedersen conductance derived from EISCAT exhibited two distinct layers of enhanced conductance. The upper one occurred at ≈120 km altitude which corresponded to the normal Pedersen current layer carried by the ions. The lower one appeared as a thin layer between 80 and 95 km in altitude, which was mainly carried by the collisional motion of electrons. Such an electron Pedersen layer is detectable only when the electron density is sufficiently high for allowing an appreciable current to flow in the D‐region. The Pedersen conductance at the peak of the electron Pedersen layer was ≈8 × 10−5 S m−1, which is only 13% of that at the peak of the ion Pedersen layer (6 × 10−4 S m−1). However, the electron Pedersen current flows exactly in the altitudes where the pulsating ionization occurs; thus, it would play more important role in the closure of FAC associated with the patch of PA.
Reexamination of the Sq‐EEJ relationship based on extended magnetometer networks in the east Asian region
Authors: Yamazaki Y. , Yumoto K. , Uozumi T. , Abe S. , Cardinal M. G. , McNamara D. , Marshall R. , Shevtsov B. M. , Solovyev S. I.
Published: September 2010

We reexamined the daily Sq‐equatorial electrojet (EEJ) relationship based on these extended magnetometer networks in the east Asian region: (1) the Circum‐pan Pacific Magnetometer Network (CPMN), (2) the International Real‐time Magnetic Observatory Network (INTERMAGNET), and (3) the World Data Center for Geomagnetism, Kyoto (WDC). Daily variations of the geomagnetic field for geomagnetically quiet days (Kp ≤ 2+) from 1996 to 2005 were analyzed. Noontime eastward Sq current intensities were estimated by latitudinally integrating the north‐south component of the Sq field. The corresponding EEJ intensities were estimated from the daily geomagnetic field variations observed at Davao station (dip latitude of −0.84°deg). We discovered that these intensities of daily Sq and EEJ are well correlated on a long‐term basis (r = 0.80). The dependences on the solar activity (as indicated by F10.7) and season (the day number) of Sq and EEJ variations were examined. It was demonstrated that both daily Sq and EEJ intensities are correlated to F10.7 with similar sensitivities. F10.7 is known to show similar variations with solar EUV radiation which causes ionization and heating of the ionosphere. For seasonal dependence, both daily Sq and EEJ intensities show predominant semiannual variations with similar spring‐fall asymmetry. The effect of seasonal changes of the EUV flux into the low‐latitude ionosphere is considered. Our results indicate that the daily values of Sq and EEJ react, in the same manner, to temporal changes of solar ionization and heating of the ionosphere.
Estimating the detection capability of the International Monitoring System infrasound network
Authors: Green D. N. , Bowers D.
Published: September 2010

A 59 station infrasound network is being established as part of the verification regime for the Comprehensive Nuclear‐Test‐Ban Treaty. We present a probabilistic model for predicting the network detection threshold (defined as the chemical explosive yield at which two stations will detect signals with 90% probability). We incorporate the influence of stratospheric wind and detection bandwidth while accounting for estimates of noise amplitude and propagation uncertainties. Inclusion of the stratospheric wind, using a state‐of‐the‐art climatological model, tends to reduce the detection threshold. For 66%/88% of Earth's surface area the detection threshold is lower than that expected for the windless case for all/≥90% of the time. However, preferential downwind detection makes location of explosions with yields close to the threshold more difficult due to the restricted azimuthal coverage. Completing the IMS network is also important: the detection threshold for the 39 station network operating in October 2008 is approximately 45% higher than that predicted for the full 59 station network. Moreover, the absolute detection threshold values are highly sensitive to the frequency band in which the noise is evaluated. A detector simulation comprising overlapping two‐octave frequency bands indicates that, when accounting for low noise at frequencies above 0.2 Hz, detection capability at low yields (<0.5 kt) may be considerably better than previously estimated. Our simulations, using a two‐octave bandwidth detector and incorporating stratospheric winds from a climatological model, predict that explosions of >210 t chemical explosive (>420 t nuclear equivalent yield) will be detected over ≥95% of Earth's surface at any time of year (with a 90% probability).
Functional gene diversity of soil microbial communities from five oil-contaminated fields in China
Authors: Liang Yuting , Van Nostrand Joy D , Deng Ye , He Zhili , Wu Liyou , Zhang Xu , Li Guanghe , Zhou Jizhong
Published: September 2010

To compare microbial functional diversity in different oil-contaminated fields and to know the effects of oil contaminant and environmental factors, soil samples were taken from typical oil-contaminated fields located in five geographic regions of China. GeoChip, a high-throughput functional gene array, was used to evaluate the microbial functional genes involved in contaminant degradation and in other major biogeochemical/metabolic processes. Our results indicated that the overall microbial community structures were distinct in each oil-contaminated field, and samples were clustered by geographic locations. The organic contaminant degradation genes were most abundant in all samples and presented a similar pattern under oil contaminant stress among the five fields. In addition, alkane and aromatic hydrocarbon degradation genes such as monooxygenase and dioxygenase were detected in high abundance in the oil-contaminated fields. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that the microbial functional patterns were highly correlated to the local environmental variables, such as oil contaminant concentration, nitrogen and phosphorus contents, salt and pH. Finally, a total of 59% of microbial community variation from GeoChip data can be explained by oil contamination, geographic location and soil geochemical parameters. This study provided insights into the in situ microbial functional structures in oil-contaminated fields and discerned the linkages between microbial communities and environmental variables, which is important to the application of bioremediation in oil-contaminated sites.
An interdomain sector mediating allostery in Hsp70 molecular chaperones
Authors: Smock Robert G , Rivoire Olivier , Russ William P , Swain Joanna F , Leibler Stanislas , Ranganathan Rama , Gierasch Lila M
Published: September 2010

Allosteric coupling between protein domains is fundamental to many cellular processes. For example, Hsp70 molecular chaperones use ATP binding by their actin‐like N‐terminal ATPase domain to control substrate interactions in their C‐terminal substrate‐binding domain, a reaction that is critical for protein folding in cells. Here, we generalize the statistical coupling analysis to simultaneously evaluate co‐evolution between protein residues and functional divergence between sequences in protein sub‐families. Applying this method in the Hsp70/110 protein family, we identify a sparse but structurally contiguous group of co‐evolving residues called a ‘sector’, which is an attribute of the allosteric Hsp70 sub‐family that links the functional sites of the two domains across a specific interdomain interface. Mutagenesis of Escherichia coli DnaK supports the conclusion that this interdomain sector underlies the allosteric coupling in this protein family. The identification of the Hsp70 sector provides a basis for further experiments to understand the mechanism of allostery and introduces the idea that cooperativity between interacting proteins or protein domains can be mediated by shared sectors.
A comprehensive molecular interaction map of the budding yeast cell cycle
Authors: Kaizu Kazunari , Ghosh Samik , Matsuoka Yukiko , Moriya Hisao , Shimizu‐Yoshida Yuki , Kitano Hiroaki
Published: September 2010

With the accumulation of data on complex molecular machineries coordinating cell‐cycle dynamics, coupled with its central function in disease patho‐physiologies, it is becoming increasingly important to collate the disparate knowledge sources into a comprehensive molecular network amenable to systems‐level analyses. In this work, we present a comprehensive map of the budding yeast cell‐cycle, curating reactions from ∼600 original papers. Toward leveraging the map as a framework to explore the underlying network architecture, we abstract the molecular components into three planes—signaling, cell‐cycle core and structural planes. The planar view together with topological analyses facilitates network‐centric identification of functions and control mechanisms. Further, we perform a comparative motif analysis to identify around 194 motifs including feed‐forward, mutual inhibitory and feedback mechanisms contributing to cell‐cycle robustness. We envisage the open access, comprehensive cell‐cycle map to open roads toward community‐based deeper understanding of cell‐cycle dynamics.
Determining the Effectiveness of Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), a Nationally Available Nonprofit Weight Loss Program
Authors: Mitchell Nia S. , Dickinson L. Miriam , Kempe Allison , Tsai Adam G.
Published: September 2010

Obesity is a major public health issue in the United States. Many commercial weight loss programs are available, but their costs prohibit some people from participating. This study evaluated the effectiveness of Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), a low‐cost, nonprofit weight loss program. Longitudinal mixed‐effects repeated‐measures modeling of the TOPS national database was used to model changes in weight for TOPS participants who joined in 2005, 2006, and 2007 and had at least one annual renewal between 2006 and 2008. Separate analyses were performed on individuals with consecutive annual renewal and those with nonconsecutive annual renewal. During the study period, 42,481 individuals renewed their membership at least once, including 2,427 individuals with nonconsecutive renewals. Individuals with consecutive renewals in TOPS lost 5.9–7.1% of their initial weight over a period of 1–3 years. People who remained in the program lost ∼6% of initial weight in the first year and maintained that weight loss for up to 3 years. TOPS participants with nonconsecutive renewal generally lost less weight than those with consecutive renewal. TOPS is associated with moderate weight loss among participants who remain in the program for at least 1 year. This degree of weight loss is likely to be clinically important for many individuals. TOPS is available at substantially lower cost than commercial weight loss programs, with similar results. Head‐to‐head trials of TOPS and popular commercial programs are needed.
Racah’s method for general subalgebra chains: Coupling coefficients of SO(5) in canonical and physical bases
Authors: Caprio M. A. , Sviratcheva K. D. , McCoy A. E.
Published: September 2010

It is shown that the method of infinitesimal generators (“Racah’s method”) can be broadly and systematically formulated as a method applicable to the calculation of reduced coupling coefficients for a generic subalgebra chain G⊃H, provided the reduced matrix elements of the generators of G and the recoupling coefficients of H are known. The calculation of SO(5)⊃SO(4) reduced coupling coefficients is considered as an example, and a procedure for transformation of reduced coupling coefficients between canonical and physical subalegebra chains is presented. The problem of calculating coupling coefficients for generic irreps of SO(5), reduced with respect to any of its subalgebra chains, is completely resolved by this approach.
Matrix permanent and quantum entanglement of permutation invariant states
Authors: Wei Tzu-Chieh , Severini Simone
Published: September 2010

We point out that a geometric measure of quantum entanglement is related to the matrix permanent when restricted to permutation invariant states. This connection allows us to interpret the permanent as an angle between vectors. By employing a recently introduced permanent inequality by Carlen et al. [Methods Appl. Anal. 13, 1 (2006)], we can prove explicit formulas of the geometric measure for permutation invariant basis states in a simple way.
General hypothesis and shell model for the synthesis of semiconductor nanotubes, including carbon nanotubes
Authors: Mohammad S. Noor
Published: September 2010

Semiconductor nanotubes, including carbon nanotubes, have vast potential for new technology development. The fundamental physics and growth kinetics of these nanotubes are still obscured. Various models developed to elucidate the growth suffer from limited applicability. An in-depth investigation of the fundamentals of nanotube growth has, therefore, been carried out. For this investigation, various features of nanotube growth, and the role of the foreign element catalytic agent (FECA) in this growth, have been considered. Observed growth anomalies have been analyzed. Based on this analysis, a new shell model and a general hypothesis have been proposed for the growth. The essential element of the shell model is the seed generated from segregation during growth. The seed structure has been defined, and the formation of droplet from this seed has been described. A modified definition of the droplet exhibiting adhesive properties has also been presented. Various characteristics of the droplet, required for alignment and organization of atoms into tubular forms, have been discussed. Employing the shell model, plausible scenarios for the formation of carbon nanotubes, and the variation in the characteristics of these carbon nanotubes have been articulated. The experimental evidences, for example, for the formation of shell around a core, dipole characteristics of the seed, and the existence of nanopores in the seed, have been presented. They appear to justify the validity of the proposed model. The diversities of nanotube characteristics, fundamentals underlying the creation of bamboo-shaped carbon nanotubes, and the impurity generation on the surface of carbon nanotubes have been elucidated. The catalytic action of FECA on growth has been quantified. The applicability of the proposed model to the nanotube growth by a variety of mechanisms has been elaborated. These mechanisms include the vapor-liquid-solid mechanism, the oxide-assisted growth mechanism, the self-catalytic growth mechanism, and the vapor-quasiliquid-solid mechanism. The model appears to explain most, if not all, of the experimental findings reported to date on semiconductor nanotubes. It addresses various issues related to the uniqueness of the single-walled and multiwalled carbon nanotube growths; it explains why almost all carbon nanotubes are grown at a temperature between 800 and 1000 °C; and why metals, semiconductors, oxides, and clusters serve almost equally well as FECAs to achieve these growths.
Kinetic paths, time scale, and underlying landscapes: A path integral framework to study global natures of nonequilibrium systems and networks
Authors: Wang Jin , Zhang Kun , Wang Erkwang
Published: September 2010

We developed a general framework to quantify three key ingredients for dynamics of nonequilibrium systems through path integrals in length space. First, we identify dominant kinetic paths as the ones with optimal weights, leading to effective reduction of dimensionality or degrees of freedom from exponential to polynomial so large systems can be treated. Second, we uncover the underlying nonequilibrium potential landscapes from the explorations of the state space through kinetic paths. We apply our framework to a specific example of nonequilibrium network system: lambda phage genetic switch. Two distinct basins of attractions emerge. The dominant kinetic paths from one basin to another are irreversible and do not follow the usual steepest descent or gradient path along the landscape. It reflects the fact that the dynamics of nonequilibrium systems is not just determined by potential gradient but also the residual curl flux force, suggesting experiments to test theoretical predictions. Third, we have calculated dynamic transition time scales from one basin to another critical for stability of the system through instantons. Theoretical predictions are in good agreements with wild type and mutant experiments. We further uncover the correlations between the kinetic transition time scales and the underlying landscape topography: the barrier heights along the dominant paths. We found that both the dominant paths and the landscape are relatively robust against the influences of external environmental perturbations and the system tends to dissipate less with less fluctuations. Our general framework can be applied to other nonequilibrium systems.
Formation mechanism of noble metal nanoparticles in reactively sputtered TiO2 films
Authors: Okumu J. , Köhl D. , Sprafke A. , von Plessen G. , Wuttig M.
Published: September 2010

Recently a simple recipe has been developed to prepare Ag nanoparticles in a TiO2 matrix {Okumu et al., [J. Appl. Phys. 97, 094305 (2005)] and Dahmen et al., [Appl. Phys. Lett. 88, 011923 (2006)]}. In this scheme, silver nanoparticles are formed in a TiO2 matrix by sputtering a thin silver film sandwiched between TiO2 layers, followed by an annealing process. To determine the formation mechanism of noble metal nanoparticles in the TiO2 matrix, we compare the behavior of Ag with two similar noble metals, gold and copper. The formation of metal nanoparticles in the TiO2 matrix is investigated using a combination of techniques including x-ray diffraction, x-ray reflectance, and optical spectroscopy. Despite the similarity of the three noble metals, no nanoparticles are formed from Cu and Au. This is in striking contrast to the behavior observed for Ag. The difference can be explained by a three step process, which involves oxidation of the metal, dissociation of the metal oxide upon annealing, and metal aggregation to form nanoparticles.
Fluctuation conductivity of single-crystalline BaFe1.8Co0.2As2 in the critical region
Authors: Kim Soo Hyun , Choi Chang Ho , Jung Myung-Hwa , Yoon Jung-Bum , Jo Young-Hun , Wang X. F. , Chen X. H. , Wang X. L. , Lee Sung-Ik , Choi Ki-Young
Published: September 2010

The magnetofluctuation conductivity, called excess conductivity, originated from the forming of the superconducting droplet near to the mean-field transition temperature, was measured for the optimally doped BaFe1.8Co0.2As2 single crystals with a critical temperature, Tc, of 24.6 K. This measurement of the excess conductivity for magnetic fields up to 9 T was compared with the thermodynamic scaling theory in the critical region, in which not only the Gaussian fluctuation but also fourth order terms of the order parameter are included. An analysis of the excess conductivity showed that the superconductivity followed three-dimensional scaling rather than two-dimensional scaling even though the sample had a layered structure.
First-principles investigations on electronic, elastic and optical properties of XC (X=Si, Ge, and Sn) under high pressure
Authors: Hao Aimin , Yang Xiaocui , Wang Xiaoming , Zhu Yan , Liu Xin , Liu Riping
Published: September 2010

An investigation on electronic, elastic, and optical properties of XC (X=Si, Ge, and Sn) under high pressure has been conducted using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory with the plane wave basis set as implemented in the CASTEP code. Our results demonstrate that the sequence of the pressure-induced structure transition of these compounds is from zincblende-type (B3) to NaCl-type (B1) structure. The calculated lattice constants and transition pressures are reported, which are in good agreement with the available experimental results and the previous theoretical data. The elastic constants and anisotropy as a function of pressure are presented. These results suggest technological applications of such materials in extreme environments. Debye temperatures of B3–SnC and B1–SnC are determined for the first time.
Temperature-dependent degradation mechanisms of threshold voltage in La2O3-gated n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors
Authors: Wang Ming-Tsong , Hsu De-Cheng , Juan Pi-Chun , Wang Y. L. , Lee Joseph Ya-min
Published: September 2010

Metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors and n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors with La2O3 gate dielectric were fabricated. The positive bias temperature instability was studied. The degradation of threshold voltage (ΔVT) showed an exponential dependence on the stress time in the temperature range from 25 to 75 °C. The degradation of subthreshold slope (ΔS) and gate leakage (IG) with stress voltage was also measured. The degradation of VT is attributed to the oxide trap charges Qot. The extracted activation energy of 0.2 eV is related to a degradation dominated by the release of atomic hydrogen in La2O3 thin films.
A virtual experiment control and data acquisition system for in situ laser heated diamond anvil cell Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Subramanian N. , Struzhkin Viktor V. , Goncharov Alexander F. , Hemley Russell J.
Published: September 2010

Doubled-sided laser heated diamond anvil cell methods allow simultaneous in situ confocal Raman measurements of materials up to megabar pressures and high temperatures. This paper describes a virtual control and data acquisition system developed to automate setups for simultaneous Raman/laser heating experiments. The system enables reduction of experiment time by ∼90% in comparison to manual operations, allowing measurements of high quality Raman spectra of even highly reactive or diffusive samples, such as hydrogen at extreme conditions using continuous wave laser heating. These types of measurements are very difficult and often impossible to obtain in a manual operation mode. Complete data archiving and accurate control of various experimental parameters (e.g., on-the-fly temperature determination and self-adjusting data collection time to avoid signal saturation) can be done, and open up possibilities of other types of experiments involving extreme conditions.
Global existence and uniqueness for a nonlinear Boussinesq system in dimension two
Authors: Sulaiman Samira
Published: September 2010

We study the global well-posedness of a two-dimensional Boussinesq system which couples the incompressible Euler equation for the velocity and a transport equation with fractional diffusion of type |D|α for the temperature. We prove that for α>1, there exists a unique global solution for initial data with critical regularities.
The protein folding transition state: Insights from kinetics and thermodynamics
Authors: Travasso Rui D. M. , Faísca Patrícia F. N. , Rey Antonio
Published: September 2010

We perform extensive lattice Monte Carlo simulations of protein folding to construct and compare the equilibrium and the kinetic transition state ensembles of a model protein that folds to the native state with two-state kinetics. The kinetic definition of the transition state is based on the folding probability analysis method, and therefore on the selection of conformations with 0.4<Pfold<0.6, while for the equilibrium characterization we consider conformations for which the evaluated values of several reaction coordinates correspond to the maximum of the free energy measured as a function of those reaction coordinates. Our results reveal a high degree of structural similarity between the ensembles determined by the two methods. However, the folding probability distribution of the conformations belonging to our definition of the equilibrium transition state (0.2<Pfold<0.8) is broader than that displayed by the kinetic transition state.
Tridiagonal realization of the antisymmetric Gaussian β-ensemble
Authors: Dumitriu Ioana , Forrester Peter J.
Published: September 2010

The Householder reduction of a member of the antisymmetric Gaussian unitary ensemble gives an antisymmetric tridiagonal matrix with all independent elements. The random variables permit the introduction of a positive parameter β, and the eigenvalue probability density function of the corresponding random matrices can be computed explicitly, as can the distribution of {qi}, the first components of the eigenvectors. Three proofs are given. One involves an inductive construction based on bordering of a family of random matrices which are shown to have the same distributions as the antisymmetric tridiagonal matrices. This proof uses the Dixon–Anderson integral from Selberg integral theory. A second proof involves the explicit computation of the Jacobian for the change of variables between real antisymmetric tridiagonal matrices, its eigenvalues, and {qi}. The third proof maps matrices from the antisymmetric Gaussian β-ensemble to those realizing particular examples of the Laguerre β-ensemble. In addition to these proofs, we note some simple properties of the shooting eigenvector and associated Prüfer phases of the random matrices.