bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of intermolecular interactions in crystalline aspirin: A computational NQR study
Authors: Esrafili Mehdi D. , Alizadeh Vahideh
Published: May 2011

A computational study at the level of density functional theory was carried out to characterize the17O and2H nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) spectroscopy parameters in crystalline aspirin. To include OH···O and CH···O hydrogen bonding effects in the calculations, the most probable interacting molecules with the target molecule in the crystalline phase were considered through a pentamer cluster. The NQR calculations were performed with BLYP, B3LYP, and M06 functionals employing 6‐311++G** and Jensen's polarization‐consistent pcJ‐1 basis sets. Linear correlations are observed between the calculated17O and2H NQR parameters and the hydrogen bond strengths, suggesting the possibility of estimating hydrogen bonding information from calculated NQR data. Different contributions of various nuclei to hydrogen bonding interactions and observed trends of calculated NQR parameters are well justified by atoms in molecules analyses at the BCPs of these interactions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012
Effects of solvent on weak halogen bonds: Density functional theory calculations
Authors: Lu Yunxiang , Li Haiying , Zhu Xiang , Liu Honglai , Zhu Weiliang
Published: May 2011

In recent years, many applications of solution‐phase halogen bonding in anion recognition, catalysis, and pseudorotaxane formation have been reported. Moreover, a number of thermodynamic data of halogen bonding interactions in organic solution are now available. To obtain detailed information of the influence of the surrounding medium on weak halogen bonds, a series of dimeric complexes of halobenzene (PhX) with three electron donors (H2O, HCHO, and NH3) were investigated by means of DFT/PBE calculations in this work. The PCM implicit solvation approach was utilized to include the effects of three solvents (cyclohexane, chloroform, and water) as representatives for a wide range of dielectric constant. In some cases, halogen‐bond distances are shown to shorten in solution, accompanied by concomitant elongation of the CX bonds. For the remaining systems, the intermolecular distances tend to increase or remain almost unchanged under solvent effects. In general, the solvent has a slight destabilizing effect on weak halogen bonds; the strength order of halogen bonds observed in vacuum remains unchanged in liquid phases. Particularly, the interaction strength attenuates in the order I > Br > Cl in solution, consistent with the experimental measurements of weak halogen bond door abilities. The similarities between halogen and hydrogen bonding in solution were also elucidated. The results presented herein would be very useful in future applications of halogen bonding in molecular recognition and medicinal chemistry. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012
Comparison of Tabu/2‐opt heuristic and optimal tree search method for assignment problems
Authors: Jackson J. , Faied M. , Girard A.
Published: May 2011

A nonlinear cooperative control problem involving several vehicles is detailed and solved. The vehicles must be assigned to perform many tasks such that they obey constraints on the order of task completion and minimize a nonlinear objective function, the total time to finish all tasks. This is an example of a combinatorial task assignment problem. A novel heuristic is introduced that represents a new combination of two combinatorial optimization tools. The quality of the solutions produced by this heuristic is demonstrated through comparison with a branch and bound search method. The branch and bound method is a well‐known procedure and finds optimal solutions to the constrained, nonlinear task assignment problem. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Model reference robust adaptive control for a class of uncertain switched linear systems
Authors: Wang Qing , Hou Yanze , Dong Chaoyang
Published: May 2011

In this paper, we proposed a model reference robust adaptive control approach for a class of uncertain switched linear systems, in which subsystems of the switched linear system are in control canonical form. The control architecture is composed of a switched reference system (SRS) and a switched adaptive controller (SAC). The SRS specifies the desired dynamics of the uncertain switched linear system, while the SAC makes the uncertain switched linear system dynamics track the SRS dynamics. By multiple Lyapunov functions method, we prove that the closed‐loop switched system is uniformly bounded under arbitrary switching laws, provided that a linear matrix inequality (LMI)‐based sufficient condition is satisfied. We apply the proposed approach to a typical servo‐hydraulic positioning system. The simulation results show that the proposed approach is fairly insensitive to disturbances, uncertainties and non‐smoothly varying dynamics, and performs better than a proportional‐derivative controller or a minimal controller synthesis controller. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An implicit Lyapunov control for finite‐dimensional closed quantum systems
Authors: Zhao Shouwei , Lin Hai , Sun Jitao , Xue Zhengui
Published: May 2011

In this paper, the state convergence problem for closed quantum systems is investigated. We consider two degenerate cases, where the internal Hamiltonian of the system is not strongly regular or the linearized system around the target state is not controllable. Both the cases are closely related to practical systems such as one‐dimensional oscillators and coupled two spin systems. An implicit Lyapunov‐based control strategy is adopted for the convergence analysis. In particular, two kinds of Lyapunov functions are defined by implicit functions and their existences are guaranteed by a fixed point theorem. The convergence analysis is investigated by the LaSalle invariance principle for both cases. Moreover, the two Lyapunov functions are unified in a general form, and the characterization of the largest invariant set is presented. Finally, simulation studies are included to show the effectiveness and advantage of the proposed methods. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Constraint‐admissible sets for systems with soft constraints and their application in model predictive control
Authors: Wang Chen , Ong Chong‐Jin
Published: May 2011

Constraint‐admissible sets have been widely used in the study of control systems with hard constraints. This paper proposes a generalization of the maximal constraint‐admissible set for constrained linear discrete‐time systems to the case where soft or probabilistic constraints are present. Defined in the most obvious way, the maximal probabilistic constraint‐admissible set is not invariant. An inner approximation of it is proposed which is invariant and has other nice properties. The application of this approximate set in a model predictive control framework with probabilistic constraints is discussed, including the feasibility and stability of the resulting closed‐loop system. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is illustrated via numerical examples. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Label‐free discrimination of normal and fibroadenomal breast tissues using second harmonic generation imaging
Authors: Zheng Liqin , Zhuo Shuangmu , Chen Gang , Zhu Xiaoqin , Jiang Xingshan , Yan Jun , Chen Jianxin , Xie Shusen
Published: May 2011

Early detection of fibroadenoma (FA) is critical for preventing subsequent breast cancer. In this work, we show that label‐free second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging is feasible and effective in quantitatively differentiating the fibroadenomal tissue from normal breast tissue. With the advent of the clinical portability of miniature SHG microscopy, we believe that the technique has great potential in offering a noninvasive in vivo imaging tool for early detection of FA and monitoring the treatment responses of FA in clinics. SCANNING 33: 208–210, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Analysis of spontaneous adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports using supplementary information
Authors: Ghosh Palash , Dewanji Anup
Published: May 2011

Assessment of safety of newly marketed drugs is an important public health issue. Once the drug is in the market, clinicians and/or health professionals are responsible for recognizing and reporting suspected side effects known as adverse drug reaction (ADR). Such reports are collected in a so‐called spontaneous reporting (SR) system. The primary purpose of spontaneous ADR reporting is to provide early warnings or suspicions, which have not been recognized prior to marketing of a drug because of limitations of clinical trials. We shall discuss the existing work to analyze the SR database and their drawbacks and also suggest methodologies to tackle these drawbacks by defining a source population and considering the problem of under‐reporting, with the help of supplementary data. Unbiased estimate of population odds‐ratio has been obtained and the corresponding asymptotic results are derived. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Being, Engaging, Contextualizing and Managing Matrix—a Means for Nonspecialists to Assess Group Dynamics?
Authors: Bell Simon , Morse Stephen
Published: May 2011

In April 1999, academics from the Systems Department at the Open University in UK devised a matrix for assessing third‐level systems students—the matrix was based upon systemic practitioner behaviours taught in the course. It was based upon earlier methods that sought to understand and assess student progress based upon evidence of changing behavioural traits rather than the expression of learned responses or ‘right’ answers. This was the beginning of the being, engaging, contextualizing and managing (BECM) matrix. The European Union‐funded research project called Policy Influence of Indicators (POINT) made use of BECM as part of a process for exploring ways in which groups make use of indicators in several domains. This paper tells the story of how BECM was used in the POINT project to gain an understanding of group behaviour by observation of four segregated but linked qualities. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Instandsetzung der Druckrohrleitung des Kraftwerks Cleuson‐Dixence, Schweiz — Eine Herausforderung an den Stahlbau
Authors: Riesinger Robert
Published: May 2011

Das Kraftwerk Cleuson‐Dixence in der Schweiz mit 1269 MW Nennleistung zählt zu den eindrucksvollsten Wasserkraftanlagen Europas. Die technischen Leistungen vereinigen einige Weltrekorde: Die größte Leistung pro Pelton‐Turbine mit 423 MW, die größte Pol‐Leistung je Wechselstromgenerator und die größte Fallhöhe von 1883 m — aus welcher eine Druckrohrleitung mit dem bisher höchsten Innendruck von 2070 m Wasserhöhe resultiert.

Ein Schadensfall an der bestehenden Druckrohrleitung im Jahre 2000 setzte das gesamte Krafthaus Bieudron für fast ein Jahrzehnt außer Betrieb. Der Schaden wurde offenbar durch einen Kaltriss in einer mangelhaft geschweißten Werksschweißnaht ausgelöst, welcher auch bei der original durchgeführten zerstörungsfreien Werkstoffprüfung nicht ausreichend detektiert werden konnte. Basierend auf den Ergebnissen der eingehenden Untersuchungen wurde beschlossen, dass der gesamte Druckschacht mit einer Länge von über 4 km erneuert werden musste. Diese Rehabilitation sah vor, dass in dem bestehenden Druckschacht eine zusätzliche Stahlpanzerung (= Druckrohrleitung) eingebaut werden muss. Der Nominal‐Ringraum zwischen der bestehenden und der neuen Stahlpanzerung wurde so klein wie möglich mit 130 mm definiert. Dieser Ringraum muss nach der Montage sukzessive mit Beton hinterfüllt werden.

Dieses Konzept war Grundlage für die Auftragserteilung im Jahre 2006. Die Auswahl der Fertigungs‐ und Montageverfahren stellte aufgrund der Geschichte dieses Superlativ‐Projektes eine Herausforderung dar.

Rehabilitation of the penstock of the power plant Cleuson‐Dixence, Swiss — Challenges for the steel constructor. The power plant Cleuson‐Dixence in Swiss with its 1269 MW nominal capacity is one of the most impressive hydroelectric power plants all over Europe. Three world records are held of this plant: the highest output per Pelton‐turbine with 423 MW, the highest pole‐output of each AC generator and the highest head of 1883 m — resulting in a penstock of a designed internal pressure of 2070 m water column.

An accident on the existing penstock in the year 2000 has led to a stop of operations for almost a decade. The damage was apparently caused by a cold crack in a shop weld seam, which couldn’t be detected properly during the originally performed NDT. Based on the results of detailed investigations it had been decided, that the entire penstock over its more than 4 km length had to be renewed completely. The concept of the rehabilitation was the construction of an additional penstock, inserted in the existing one. The nominal gap between the existing and the new penstock should be as small as possible and was defined with 130 mm. The gap shall be backfilled with concrete continuously after installation.

This concept was the basis for the award of the construction contract in the year 2006. The selection of the most proper fabrication‐ and installation procedures was a challenge in this project of superlatives.
Einfluss imperfekter Ringflanschverbindungen auf die Ermüdungsfestigkeit von kreiszylindrischen Stützen
Authors: Lener G. , Schweigkofler Hermann
Published: May 2011

Bei Seilbahnen, Windenergieanlagen, Kaminen etc. werden oft turmartige Stahlkonstruktionen aus kreiszylindrischen oder konischen Rohrabschnitten verwendet, welche mittels L‐förmiger Flanschverbindungen verschraubt sind. Auf Grund von Imperfektionen zufolge Schweißverzug und hohen dynamischen Beanspruchungen werden häufig die Grenzen der Beanspruchbarkeit der Flanschverbindungen erreicht. In vielen Fällen ist nicht der Nachweis der Traglast (ULS) von Bedeutung, vielmehr ist der Grenzzustand der Ermüdung (FLS) maßgebend für die Dimensionierung.

Der vorliegende Beitrag beinhaltet die Untersuchung imperfekter Ringflanschverbindungen von kreisförmigen Seilbahnstützen auf Ermüdung. An einem Bauteilversuch im Maßstab 1 : 1 wurde die Ermüdungsfestigkeit der gesamten Flanschverbindung (Schrauben, Schweißnaht, Rohrmantel) untersucht. Parallel durchgeführte FE‐Berechnungen dienen als Vergleich zu den Laborergebnissen. Zum Abschluss wird eine Möglichkeit der Berücksichtigung der Flanschimperfektionen für die praktische Bemessung aufgezeigt.

Effects of imperfect ring flange connections on the fatigue resistance of cylindrical columns. For cableway installations, wind turbines, chimneys etc. often tower‐like steel constructions from cylindrical or conical tubing sections are used, which are bolted by means of L‐shaped flange connections. Due to imperfections from welding distortion and high dynamic loads the resistance of the flange connections will be frequently achieved. In many cases the ultimate load (ULS) proof becomes less important and the fatigue assessment (FLS) is determining the dimensions.

This contribution contains investigations of imperfect flange connections of circular cable car towers on fatigue. A large scale test was performed to prove the fatigue strength of the entire flange connection (bolts, welding seam, tube section). Parallel accomplished FE‐computations serve as comparison to the laboratory test results. As conclusion a possible procedure to consider flange imperfections for the practical dimensioning is pointed out.
Entwicklung einer neuartigen Verbundfahrbahnplatte für Eisenbahnbrücken
Authors: Fink Josef , Herrmann Paul , Juen Lukas
Published: May 2011

Eisenbahnbrücken älterer Bauart nähern sich mit zunehmender Anzahl dem Ende ihrer planmäßigen Lebensdauer. Im Gegensatz zur früher üblichen offenen Fahrbahn beinhalten moderne Brücken aus Gründen des Lärmschutzes in der Regel jedoch ein Schotterbett oder eine feste Fahrbahn. Daraus resultiert zwangsläufig ein Anstieg der erforderlichen Bauhöhe. Bei Brückenerneuerungen ist das Gleichbleiben der Höhendifferenz zwischen Konstruktionsunterkante und Schienenoberkante (Bauhöhe) aber oft eine wesentliche Randbedingung. Aus diesem Grund wurde eine neuartige, extrem schlanke Verbundfahrbahnplatte entwickelt.

Im Zuge der bisherigen Forschungsarbeit wurden vier Versuchskörper im statischen Versuch getestet und numerische sowie analytische Modelle zur Beschreibung des Tragverhaltens abgeleitet. Im Folgenden werden das Konstruktionsprinzip, das Herstellungsverfahren und die grundlegenden Tragmechanismen vorgestellt. Zusätzlich werden entwickelte globale und lokale Berechnungsmodelle beschrieben und deren Ergebnisse mit den Messdaten der Versuchsserie verglichen.

Development of an innovative composite deck slab for railway bridges. In the past railway bridges were often built without a ballast bed. More and more of these bridges are reaching their calculated end of life. Modern deck slabs of railway bridges usually have to contain a ballast bed, for example for noise protection. This results in an increase of the required construction height for the superstructure. By the replacement of old railway bridges it is often a decisive constraint that the height between rail level and the lowest line of the structure remains equal. In order to fulfil this criterion an innovative and extremely slender composite deck slab was developed.

In the course of research four composite plate specimens were tested experimentally in order to derive analytical and numerical models for the description of the load‐bearing behaviour. The principles of construction and fabrication as well as the basic load‐bearing mechanism will be presented in the following. Furthermore, the derived models will be described and the calculated results will be compared with the measurement data. Additionally to strains and deflections, crack patterns are evaluated.
Fetal adrenal development: Comparing effects of combined exposures to PCB 118 and PCB 153 in a sheep model
Authors: Zimmer Karin E. , Kraugerud Marianne , Aleksandersen Mona , Gutleb Arno C. , Østby Gunn C. , Dahl Ellen , Berg Vidar , Skaare Janneche U. , Olsaker Ingrid , Ropstad Erik
Published: May 2011

This study investigated the effects of exposure to the ubiquitous contaminants polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on the fetal adrenal cortex and on plasma cortisol using the domestic sheep (Ovis aries) as a model. Pregnant ewes were intendedly subjected to oral treatment with PCB 153 (98 μg/kg bw/day), PCB 118 (49 μg/kg bw/day) or the vehicle corn oil from mating until euthanasia on gestation day 134 (±0.25 SE). However, because of accidental cross‐contamination occurring twice causing a mixed exposure scenario in all three groups, the focus of this paper is to compare three distinct groups of fetuses with different adipose tissue PCB levels (PCB 153high, PCB 118high and low, combined groups) rather than comparing animals exposed to single PCB congeners to those of a control group. When comparing endocrine and anatomical parameters from fetuses in the PCB 153high (n = 13) or PCB 118high (n = 14) groups with the low, combined group (n = 14), there was a significant decrease in fetal body weight (P < 0.05), plasma cortisol concentration (P < 0.001) and adrenal cortex thickness (P < 0.001). Furthermore, adrenal weight was decreased and plasma ACTH was increased only in the PCB 118high group. Expression of several genes encoding enzymes and receptors related to steroid hormone synthesis was also affected and mostly down‐regulated in fetuses with high PCB tissue levels. In conclusion, we suggest that mono‐and di‐ortho PCBs were able to interfere with growth, adrenal development and cortisol production in the fetal sheep model. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2013.
Bacterial biosensors for evaluating potential impacts of estrogenic endocrine disrupting compounds in multiple species
Authors: Gierach Izabela , Shapero Kayle , Eyster Thomas W. , Wood David W.
Published: May 2011

To study the effects and possible mechanisms of suspected endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), a wide variety of assays have been developed. In this work, we generated engineered Escherichia coli biosensor strains that incorporate the ligand‐binding domains (LBDs) of the β‐subtype estrogen receptors (ERβ) from Solea solea (sole), and Sus scrofa (pig). These strains indicate the presence of ligands for these receptors by changes in growth phenotype, and can differentiate agonist from antagonist and give a rough indication of binding affinity via dose‐response curves. The resulting strains were compared with our previously reported Homo sapiens ERβ biosensor strain. In initial tests, all three of the strains correctly identified estrogenic test compounds with a high degree of certainly (Z′ typically greater than 0.5), including the weakly binding test compound bisphenol A (BPA) (Z′ ≈ 0.1–0.3). The modular design of the sensing element in this strain allows quick development of new species‐based biosensors by simple LBD swapping, suggesting its use in initial comparative analysis of EDC impacts across multiple species. Interestingly, the growth phenotypes of the biosensor strains indicate similar binding for highly estrogenic control compounds, but suggest differences in ligand binding for more weakly binding EDCs. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2013.
PFOS and PCB 153 have direct adverse effects on neonatal testis modeled using a coculture of primary gonocyte and sertoli cells
Authors: Zhang Jie , Liang Jiren , Zhu Hongyan , Li Cuizhen , Wu Qing
Published: May 2011

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is widely used in industry; it is nonbiodegradable and persistent in the human body and in the environment. Although reports have indicated that young people might have higher PFOS levels in serum or blood than do older people, its adverse effects on neonatal testicular cells had not been investigated previously. PCB 153 is one of the most prevalent polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in biological tissues, but the direct adverse effect of PCB 153 on neonatal testis remains unclear. In this study, we exposed a neonatal Sertoli cell/gonocyte coculture system to PFOS and PCB 153 individually at concentrations of 0, 1, 10, 50, and 100 μM for 24 h. Exposure to either compound reduced the cell viability and induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in dose‐dependent manners, with PCB 153 having a greater effect than PFOS. Whereas PCB 153 induced apoptosis significantly from 10 μM, PFOS induced no obvious change. Morphologically, both PCB 153 and PFOS induced changes in the vimentin and actin filaments in the Sertoli cells, as investigated using confocal argon ion laser scanning microscopy; here, PFOS exhibited a more dramatic effect than did PCB 153. Furthermore, doses of 50 μM for PFOS and 10 μM for PCB 153 were the key concentrations that produced significant differences between the control and exposure groups. We suggest that both PCB 153 and PFOS directly affect neonatal gonocyte and Sertoli cells; the production of ROS and the change in the cytoskeleton in Sertoli cells might be causes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2013.
Involvement of oxidative stress in methyl parathion and parathion‐induced toxicity and genotoxicity to human liver carcinoma (HepG2) cells
Authors: Edwards Falicia L. , Yedjou Clement G. , Tchounwou Paul B.
Published: May 2011

Methyl parathion (C8H10NO5PS) and parathion (C10H14NO5PS) are both organophosphate insecticides (OPI) widely used for household and agricultural applications. They are known for their ability to irreversibly inhibit acetylcholinesterase which often leads to a profound effect on the nervous system of exposed organisms. Many recently published studies have indicated that human exposure to OPI may be associated with neurologic, hematopoietic, cardiovascular, and reproductive adverse effects. Studies have also linked OPI exposure to a number of degenerative diseases including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Also, oxidative stress (OS) has been reported as a possible mechanism of OPI toxicity in humans. Hence, the aim of the present investigation was to use human liver carcinoma (HepG2) cells as a test model to evaluate the role of OS in methyl parathion‐ and parathion‐induced toxicity. To achieve this goal, we performed the MTT [3‐(4, 5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2, 5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay for cell viability, lipid peroxidation assay for malondialdehyde (MDA) production, and Comet assay for DNA damage, respectively. Results from MTT assay indicated that methyl parathion and parathion gradually reduce the viability of HepG2 cells in a dose‐dependent manner, showing 48 h‐LD50 values of 26.20 mM and 23.58 mM, respectively. Lipid peroxidation assay resulted in a significant increase (P < 0.05) of MDA level in methyl parathion‐ and parathion‐treated HepG2 cells compared with controls, suggesting that OS plays a key role in OPI‐induced toxicity. Comet assay indicated a significant increase in genotoxicity at higher concentrations of OPI exposure. Overall, we found that methyl‐parathion is slightly less toxic than parathion to HepG2 cells. The cytotoxic effect of these OPI was found to be associated, at least in part, with oxidative cell/tissue damage. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2013.
Channel characteristics of ultra‐wideband systems with single co‐channel interference
Authors: Chiu Chien‐Ching , Liu Chun‐Liang , Liao Shu‐Han
Published: May 2011

In this paper, the channel characteristics of ultra‐wideband systems with single co‐channel interference are investigated. A ray‐tracing technique is developed to calculate channel frequency responses in an indoor environment, of which the frequency dependence for the dielectric constant and the conductivity are carefully considered. By using the frequency responses, the channel capacities with single co‐channel interference are calculated. The outage probability of the channel capacities are also calculated for analyzing the channel statistical property. Furthermore, some useful channel statistical parameters are also investigated for different material partitions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Visual inferences of material changes: color as clue and distraction
Authors: Zaidi Qasim
Published: May 2011

In a snapshot, a scene consists of things, but across time, the world consists of processes. Some are cyclical, for example, trees changing foliage through the seasons, surfaces getting wet and drying out; others are unidirectional, for example, fruit ripening and then decaying, or dust accumulating on surfaces. Chemical and physical properties of objects provide them with specific surface patterns of colors and textures. When endogenous and exogenous forces alter these colors and textures over time, the ability to identify these changes from appearances can have great utility in judging the composition, state, and history of objects. This short review presents thoughts on studying visual inferences of the properties of materials and their changes, including how to acquire calibrated images of time‐varying materials, how to model time‐varying appearance changes, how to measure observers' identification abilities, and how to parse out the perceptual qualities that help or hinder in recognizing materials and their states. For instance, if color information is removed, observers do significantly worse at recognizing materials and their changes, especially for organic materials. The role of color in object and scene recognition is still being debated, so elucidating color's role in material identification may also help to resolve the wider issue. This review introduces material change as an object of study in human perception and cognition, because the visual traces of changes are integral components of material and object identity. Visually based judgments of materials share the property of propensity with mental inferences, and conscious or unconscious visual imagery may play a role in setting expectancies for object shapes and properties. WIREs Cogni Sci 2011 2 686–700 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.148

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Perception and Psychophysics
Is theory of mind related to social dysfunction and emotional problems in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (velo-cardio-facial syndrome)?
Authors: Campbell Linda E. , Stevens Angela F. , McCabe Kathryn , Cruickshank Lynne , Morris Robin G. , Murphy Declan G. M. , Murphy Kieran C.
Published: May 2011

Social dysfunction is intrinsically involved in severe psychiatric disorders such as depression and psychosis and linked with poor theory of mind. Children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS, or velo-cardio-facial syndrome) have poor social competence and are also at a particularly high risk of developing mood (40%) and psychotic (up to 30%) disorders in adolescence and young adulthood. However, it is unknown if these problems are associated with theory of mind skills, including underlying social-cognitive and social-perceptual mechanisms. The present cross-sectional study included classic social-cognitive false-belief and mentalising tasks and social-perceptual face processing tasks. The performance of 50 children with 22q11DS was compared with 31 age-matched typically developing sibling controls. Key findings indicated that, while younger children with 22q11DS showed impaired acquisition of social-cognitive skills, older children with 22q11DS were not significantly impaired compared with sibling controls. However, children with 22q11DS were found to have social-perceptual deficits, as demonstrated by difficulties in matching faces on the basis of identity, emotion, facial speech and gaze compared with sibling controls. Furthermore, performance on the tasks was associated with age, language ability and parentally rated social competence and emotional problems. These results are discussed in relation to the importance of a better delineation of social competence in this population.
Correlation Between Enzyme Activity and Stability of a Protease, an Alpha‐Amylase and a Lipase in a Simplified Liquid Laundry Detergent System, Determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry
Authors: Lund Henrik , Kaasgaard Svend Gunnar , Skagerlind Peter , Jorgensen Lene , Jorgensen Christian Isak , van de Weert Marco
Published: May 2011

Enzymes used during washing in laundry detergents have become a universal tool to lower energy consumption and to generate a broad, consumer‐relevant, cleaning effect. However, the stability of these enzymes remains a major obstacle, particularly in liquid products, due to increased interaction between the enzymes and the other components of the detergent. The process of formulation involves extensive shelf‐life stability studies where residual enzyme activities are correlated with formulation variations. As a way to improve the formulation process, we evaluated the possible use of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as a tool to predict enzyme stability in liquid detergents. Thus, residual enzyme activity after incubation in a multitude of formulations was determined and compared to thermodynamic data obtained by DSC. The enzymes tested were a protease, an alpha‐amylase and a lipase. We found a strong linear correlation between DSC‐derived data, in particular Tmax (temperature at peak maximum of the transition from the folded to unfolded state) and enzyme activity studies with R2‐values: 0.98 (protease), 0.99 (amylase) and 0.98 (lipase), respectively. Thus, a higher Tmax for the same enzyme in a particular formulation is directly proportional to longer storage stability. These results suggest a new way of greatly accelerating this type of formulation study, allowing estimation of enzyme compatibility with a specific formulation on a daily, rather than the weekly or monthly basis used at present.
Increased Elongase 6 and Δ9‐Desaturase Activity are Associated with n‐7 and n‐9 Fatty Acid Changes in Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Thomsen Kelly F. , Laposata Michael , Njoroge Sarah W. , Umunakwe Obi C. , Katrangi Waddah , Seegmiller Adam C.
Published: May 2011

Patients with cystic fibrosis, caused by mutations in CFTR, exhibit specific and consistent alterations in the levels of particular unsaturated fatty acids compared with healthy controls. Evidence suggests that these changes may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Among these abnormalities are increases in the levels of n‐7 and n‐9 fatty acids, particularly palmitoleate (16:1n‐7), oleate (18:1n‐9), and eicosatrienoate or mead acid (20:3n‐9). The underlying mechanisms of these particular changes are unknown, but similar changes in the n‐3 and n‐6 fatty acid families have been correlated with increased expression of fatty acid metabolic enzymes. This study demonstrated that cystic fibrosis cells in culture exhibit increased metabolism along the metabolic pathways leading to 16:1n‐7, 18:1n‐9, and 20:3n‐9 compared with wild‐type cells. Furthermore, these changes are accompanied by increased expression of the enzymes that produce these fatty acids, namely Δ5, Δ6, and Δ9 desaturases and elongases 5 and 6. Taken together, these findings suggest that fatty acid abnormalities of the n‐7 and n‐9 series in cystic fibrosis are as a result, at least in part, of increased expression and activity of these metabolic enzymes in CFTR‐mutated cells.
Diagnosis of rheumatic carditis in Mongolian children
Authors: Bolormaa Tovuudorj , Tsogtochir Chimedregzen
Published: May 2011

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and echocardiographic findings in patients with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart diseases (RHD) and to compare echocardiographic findings with the clinical symptoms for the detection of subclinical carditis.

Methods

The study included 156 patients who meet the modified criteria of Jones. M-mode echocardiography was performed using a Sonos-1000 echo machine and 3.5-MHz transducer.

Results

Total of 156 patients with acute RF and RHD (median age 11.9, standard deviation 3.32, range 5–17, male to female ratio 1:1.4) were evaluated. All patients were divided into 2 groups according their diagnosis. The first group included 71 (45.5%) patients with a first onset of rheumatic fever (ARF), the second group—86 (54.5%) patients with a recurrent rheumatic fever (RHD). By echocardiography, 21 (20.1%) patients of first group, who had clinically isolated polyarthritis and chorea were diagnosed a first degree of mitral regurgitation and mitral valve thickening, which is the characteristic finding of rheumatic carditis. Out of all patients, mitral valve regurgitation was detected by 2D echocardiography in 146 (93.5%) patients. The cause of mitral valve regurgitation was annular dilatation in 48%, mitral valve prolapse in 10% and fibrotic change of valve in 42%.

Conclusion

Mitral regurgitation is the most common finding on Doppler color imaging in patients with the rheumatic carditis. In patients clinically manifesting only polyarthritis and/or chorea, we should exclude the subclinical carditis that can be easily detected by echocardiography. The presence of subclinical carditis should be accepted as an evidence of carditis.
Bioethics in a Liberal Society
Authors: Charlesworth Max
Published: May 2011

We live in a liberal, democratic, multicultural society where ideally the values of personal liberty and autonomy are paramount. In such a society the state, through the law, should not be concerned with telling people how they should live their lives. In spite of this, many of the ethical stances taken in liberal societies are paternalistic and authoritarian. This readable and balanced book is an original discussion of contemporary issues in bioethics. Max Charlesworth argues that as there can be no public consensus on a set of core values – liberal societies accept a variety of religious, non-religious, political and moral stances - there should be a plurality of ethical stances as well. On this basis he discusses issues such as the ending of human life, the new reproductive technologies and ethical distribution of limited health-care resources, particularly hospital care.
Alban Berg
Authors: Adorno Theodor W.
Published: May 2011

Adorno's study of Alban Berg is a unique document. Itself now a part of music history, it is a personal account, by a pre-eminent philosopher and aesthetician, of the life and musical works of his mentor, friend and composition teacher. Shortly after Berg's death in 1935, Adorno contributed several analyses to the first Berg biography. Thirty years later he incorporated these chapters and several subsequent essays into one volume. Beyond analyses of individual pieces, the book explores the historical and cultural significance of Berg's music, its relationship to that of other twentieth-century composers, and to the larger issues of contemporary life. This is a classic study, made available here for the first time in English, and it provides a key to understanding Adorno himself as well as offering an individual perspective on one of the major composers of the twentieth century.
Myth, Truth and Literature
Authors: Falck Colin
Published: May 2011

Colin Falck's book has had a widespread influence since it first appeared in 1989. Hailed as a work that alters the way we think about literary theory and its institutionalisation in America and Britain, it is a philosophically informed account of the 'paradigm-shift' required to replaced structuralism and post-structuralism as modes of perceiving literature and related culture. Falck now supplements this second paperback edition with an appendix and other new material.
Thomas Hardy
Authors: Butler Lance St John
Published: May 2011

This study of Thomas Hardy provides a substantial introduction to his six major novels and his poems. It deals more briefly with the minor fiction. Hardy now seems a more important novelist and poet than at any previous time. This is only partly due to his capabilities as a social historian or provincial chronicler. Far more important is his faithful exploration of the daily trials and tragedies of men and women as feeling beings. Man and woman in love, man and woman 'up against it', are the central themes of his fiction and poetry. His ability to universalise his tragic material, in which he is akin to Shakespeare, is seen as his abiding achievement. Detailed analyses are made of some crucial passages in the major novels and a serious attempt is made to counter the proposition that Hardy 'wrote badly'.
The Sociology of Post-Colonial Societies
Authors: Goldthorpe J. E.
Published: May 2011

This is the completely revised and updated version of the immensely successful Sociology of the Third World. The book is about the division of the world into rich and poor countries, and the disparities between rich and poor people, especially in poor countries. Chapters on world population trends, colonialism and questions of race set the historical scene for a detailed analysis of economic conditions and living standards in poor countries. New material on droughts, famines, family change and environmental concerns are fully discussed, along with questions about limits to growth and sustainable development. Theoretical perspectives on development and underdevelopment are reviewed. Later chapters summarize the findings of the different social sciences on fundamental issues of modernisation, including expansion, cultural diversity, religious movements, post-colonial politics, and issues involving aid. This new edition contains updated statistics, and discusses the general shift of emphasis away from industrial policies towards basic needs reflected by the United Nations Development Programme.
Political Participation and Democracy in Britain
Authors: Parry Geraint , Moyser George , Day Neil
Published: May 2011

Why do some people involve themselves in politics and others not? Which issues are they concerned with? What do they get out of it? Answering such questions is fundamental to understanding political life and the workings of liberal democracies. This book presents the results of one of the most extensive surveys ever undertaken on the levels and patterns of political involvement in Britain. It is based on the findings of a sample survey of nearly 1,600 people across England, Scotland and Wales as well as a further 1,600 men and women and nearly 300 leaders in six specially selected and contrasting communities. These people were asked about the extent to which they had taken political action, particularly at a local level, and the authors found higher levels of participation than previous research has revealed. They analyse these findings in terms of age, gender, social class and education and look at the reactions of local leaders to the efforts people make to influence them.
Crisis Diplomacy
Authors: Richardson James L.
Published: May 2011

Although much has been written on international crises, the literature suffers from a lack of historical depth, and a proliferation of competing theoretical frameworks. Through case studies drawing on the rich historical experience of crisis diplomacy, James Richardson offers an integrated analysis based on a critical assessment of the main theoretical approaches. Due weight is given to systemic and structural factors, but also to the specific historical factors of each case, and to theories which do not presuppose rationality as well as those which do. Crisis diplomacy the major political choices made by decision makers, and their strategies, judgments and misjudgments - is found to play a crucial role in each of the case studies. This broad historical inquiry is especially timely when the ending of the Cold War has removed the settled parameters within which the superpowers conducted their crisis diplomacy.
From Union to Commonwealth
Authors: Goldman Philip
Published: May 2011

The collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of fifteen independent states on its former territory is one of the most momentous developments of the twentieth century. In this volume, five leading international scholars team up to examine the forces that lay behind the rise of national movements which challenged, then destroyed, the stability and territorial integrity of the former Soviet state offering unique insights into the links between political structure and nationalism. Presenting a broad and timely analysis of the national dimension of politics after perestroika, this book is essential reading for all those seeking to understand the complexities underlying the demise of the Soviet state, as well as the emergence of new states actively engaged in defining their national identities at home and abroad.
Democracy and Welfare Economics
Authors: Doel Hans van den , Velthoven Ben van
Published: May 2011

This is a fully revised and updated version of Hans van der Doel's Democracy and Welfare Economics. It presents the economic theory of political decision-making (otherwise knownn as new political economy, or public choice), providing students with an accessible and clear introduction to this important subject. The authors identify four different methods of decision-making by which the political process transforms the demands of individual citizens into government policy and public goods and services: negotiation, majority decision, representations and bureaucratic implementation. These are analysed, in turn, as independent decision-making models whose effectiveness is examined with reference to economic theory. A final chapter draws conclusions from this analysis, arguing that the size of the public sector is a result of forces that work in different directions at different stages of the political process.
Microfoundations
Authors: Weintraub E. Roy
Published: May 2011

This is the first full-length survey of current work which examines the compatibility of microeconomics and macroeconomics. Its particular distinction is that it makes accessible, to non-specialists, those extensive modern refinements of general equilibrium theory which are linked to macroeconomics and monetary theory. Part I traces the development and interlocking nature of two scientific research prgrams, macroeconomics and neo-Walrasian analysis. The five chapters in this part examine general equilibrium theory, Keynes' contribution, the 'neoclassical synthesis', and the Clower–Leijonhufvud contributions to questions of systemic coordination. The four chapters of Part II place recent work on the micro-foundations of macroeconomics within a taxonomic scheme of Walrasian equilibrium, Walrasian disequilibrium, Edgeworthian equilibrium, and Edgeworthian disequilibrium. Part III, a single chapter, provides an overview of the subject and ventures some conclusions.
The Natural Rate of Unemployment
Authors: Blanchard Olivier
Published: May 2011

For 25 years, theory about the causes of, and possible solutions to, the problem of unemployment has been dominated by Phelps' and Friedman's natural rate of unemployment hypothesis. This postulates that the equilibrium rate of unemployment consistent with steady inflation is determined by structural variables: sustainable reductions in unemployment can be achieved only by measures to change underlying microeconomic structures, such as benefit and pay bargaining systems. Belief in the hypothesis has faltered since the 1980s, the hypothesis being unable to explain the dramatic upward shifts in European unemployment rates. These essays reflect upon the fundamental structures underlying the hypothesis, assess the related evidence, and look forwards, suggesting possible modifications. In contrast to the single rate postulated by the natural rate hypothesis, several of the contributors propose that there are ranges of unemployment rates consistent with steady inflation.
The Bishops' Wars
Authors: Fissel Mark Charles
Published: May 2011

King Charles I twice mobilised England in an attempt to enforce religious uniformity in Scotland, and both times he failed. The result was the resurgence of Parliament as partner in the government of the realm. The Bishops' Wars is an essay in military history in a political context, which analyses the institutions of war, its financing, and above all the recruitment of forces. The main purpose of the book is to explain why the King could not and did not reduce Scotland by force. Its significance lies in that it demonstrates how the military failures of 1639 and 1640 were determined by Charles's hand. Moreover, it seeks to show how poor strategic and tactical operations, coupled with the political controversy surrounding the war, plagued the English army. In the final measure, it is concluded that the King must bear responsibility for defeat at the hands of the Scots.
English and French Towns in Feudal Society
Authors: Hilton Rodney Howard
Published: May 2011

This is a comparative study of the role of English and French towns in feudal society in the middle ages. In bringing together much material which dissolves old categories and simplifications in the study of medieval towns, Professor Hilton provides an important new perspective on medieval society and on the nature of feudalism. He argues that medieval towns were not, as is often thought, the harbingers of capitalism, and emphasises the way in which urban social structures fitted into, rather than challenged, feudalism.
Statistical Analysis of Circular Data
Authors: Fisher N. I.
Published: May 2011

Data measured as angles or two-dimensional orientations are found almost everywhere in science. They commonly arise in biology, geography, geophysics, medicine, meteorology and oceanography, and many other areas. Examples of such data include departure directions of birds from release points, fracture plane orientations, the directional movement of animals after stimulation, wind and ocean current directions, and biorhythms. Statistical methods for handling such data have developed rapidly in the last twenty years, particularly data display, correlation, regression and analysis of tempered or spatially structured data. Further, some of the exciting modern developments in general statistical methodology, particularly nonparametric smoothing methods and bootstrap-based methods, have contributed significantly to relatively intractable data analysis problems. This book provides a unified and up-to-date account of techniques for handling circular data.