bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Method for improving the audio susceptibility and input impedance of stacked boost converters
Authors: Li Yan , Chen Qian , Zheng Trillion Q.
Published: July 2014

Stacked boost converter (SBC) is widely adopted in aerospace applications because of the superiority of high efficiency, continuous current and easily controlled system. In the SBC with three‐capacitor, the resonance of the stray inductance of stacked branch and output capacitors worsen the closed‐loop input impedance and audio susceptibility. In order to eliminate the resonance, three‐capacitor is optimised as single‐capacitor in this study. An accurate model considering the parasitic parameters is also developed to analyse the loop gain, output impedance, input impedance and audio susceptibility under two types of capacitor structures. The calculated and experimental results demonstrate that single‐capacitor is more suitable for SBC.
Belastungsinduzierte laryngeale Obstruktion in Abgrenzung zum Asthma bronchiale
Authors: Miller S. , Jungheim M. , Schwemmle C. , Schoof S. , Ptok M.
Published: July 2014

Hintergrund: Induzierbare laryngeale Obstruktionen (ILO) beschreiben anfallsartig auftretende Atembeschwerden bis hin zur Atemnot und können durch verschiedene Faktoren ausgelöst werden. Die Symptomausprägung ist dem des Asthma bronchiale sehr ähnlich. Im Folgenden werden 3 Kasuistiken zu einer Sonderform der ILO, der belastungsinduzierten laryngealen Obstruktion (exercise induced laryngeal obstruction/EILO), beschrieben und dargestellt, wie die EILO in Abgrenzung zum Asthma bronchiale sicher diagnostiziert werden kann.

Methodik: Provokation der laryngealen Symptome durch körperliche Belastung über eine Laufband- bzw. Fahrradspiroergometrie bei 3 Patientinnen mit anschließender Lupenlaryngoskopie.

Ergebnisse: Bei allen 3 Patientinnen konnten die beschriebenen Symptome mittels Laufband- bzw. Fahrradspiroergometrie provoziert werden. Spiroergometrisch zeigte sich eine Plateaubildung bzw. ein Absinken der Kohlenstoffdioxidabgabekurve und der Sauerstoffaufnahmekurve mit Einsetzen des Stridors, jeweils 1½–2 min nach dem Überschreiten der anaerobe Schwelle. Laryngoskopisch war eine Adduktionsbewegung der Stimmlippen während der Inspiration teilweise mit einem Kollaps der supraglottischen Strukturen nach endolaryngeal zu beobachten.

Diskussion: Hier wurde erstmals beschrieben, dass eine EILO eindeutig anhand der im Rahmen einer Spiroergometrie aufgezeichneten Respirationskurven dargestellt werden kann. Bei den beschriebenen Kasuistiken zeigte sich eine reproduzierbare Plateaubildung bzw. ein Absinken der Kohlenstoffdioxidabgabekurve und der Sauerstoffaufnahmekurve mit Einsetzen des Stridors, jeweils 1½–2 min nach dem Überschreiten der „ventilatorischen Schwelle 1“. Auch wird mit der unmittelbar nach dem Belastungshöhepunkt erfolgenden Endoskopie ein praxistaugliches Untersuchungsverfahren zur Diagnosestellung einer EILO in Abgrenzung zum Asthma bronchiale vorgestellt.
Rates of exponential decay in systems of discrete energy levels by Stieltjes imaging
Authors: Craigie Jacob , Hammad Ali , Cooper Bridgette , Averbukh Vitali
Published: July 2014

An isolated bound state coupled to a continuum shows an exponential decay of its survival probability. Rates of the exponential decay occurring due to the bound-continuum coupling can be recovered from discretized continuum (L2) calculations using a computational technique known as Stieltjes-Chebyshev moment theory or Stieltjes imaging. At the same time, some genuinely discrete level systems, e.g., Bixon-Jortner model, also show an exponential (or approximately exponential) decay of the initially populated level before the onset of quantum revivals. Here, we demonstrate numerically that Stieltjes imaging can be used for calculation of the rates of the exponential decay in such discrete level systems. We apply the Stieltjes imaging technique to the approximately exponential decay of inner-valence vacancies in trans-butadiene in order to show that the breakdown of the molecular orbital picture of ionization in the inner valence region can be physically interpreted as an energy-forbidden Coster-Kronig transition.
A statistical theory of cosolvent-induced coil-globule transitions in dilute polymer solution
Authors: Budkov Yu. A. , Kolesnikov A. L. , Georgi N. , Kiselev M. G.
Published: July 2014

We present a statistical model of a dilute polymer solution in good solvent in the presence of low-molecular weight cosolvent. We investigate the conformational changes of the polymer induced by a change of the cosolvent concentration and the type of interaction between the cosolvent and the polymer. We describe the polymer in solution by the Edwards model, where the partition function of the polymer chain with a fixed radius of gyration is described in the framework of the mean-field approximation. The contributions of polymer-cosolvent and the cosolvent-cosolvent interactions in the total free energy are treated also within the mean-field approximation. For convenience we separate the system volume on two parts: the volume occupied by the polymer chain expressed through its gyration volume and the bulk solution. Considering the equilibrium between the two subvolumes we obtain the total free energy of the solution as a function of radius of gyration and the cosolvent concentration within gyration volume. After minimization of the total free energy with respect to its arguments we obtain a system of coupled equations with respect to the radius of gyration of the polymer chain and the cosolvent concentration within the gyration volume. Varying the interaction strength between polymer and cosolvent we show that the polymer collapse occurs in two cases—either when the interaction between polymer and cosolvent is repulsive or when the interaction is attractive. The reported effects could be relevant for different disciplines where conformational transitions of macromolecules in the presence of a cosolvent are of interest, in particular in biology, chemistry, and material science.
Dynamics and spatial correlation of voids in dense two dimensional colloids
Authors: Kim Jeongmin , Sung Bong June
Published: July 2014

Two dimensional (2D) colloids show interesting phase and dynamic behaviors. In 2D, there is another intermediate phase, called hexatic, between isotropic liquid and solid phases. 2D colloids also show strongly correlated dynamic behaviors in hexatic and solid phases. We perform molecular dynamics simulations for 2D colloids and illustrate how the local structure and dynamics of colloids near phase transitions are reflected in the spatial correlations and dynamics of voids. Colloids are modeled as hard discs and a void is defined as a tangent circle (a pore) to three nearest hard discs. The variation in pore diameters represents the degree of disorder in voids and decreases sharply with the area fraction (ϕ) of colloids after a hexagonal structural motif of colloids becomes significant and the freezing transition begins at ϕ ≈ 0.7. The growth of ordered domains of colloids near the phase transition is captured in the spatial correlation functions of pores. We also investigate the topological hopping probability and the topological lifetime of colloids in different topological states, and find that the stability of different topological states should be related to the size variation of local pores: colloids in six-fold states are surrounded by the most ordered and smallest pores with the longest topological lifetime. The topological lifetime of six-fold states increases by about 50 times as ϕ increases from liquid to hexatic to solid phases. We also compare four characteristic times in order to understand the slow and unique dynamics of two dimensional colloids: a caging time (τc), a topological lifetime (τtop), a pore lifetime (τp), and a translational relaxation time (τα).
Spin dynamics simulation of electron spin relaxation in Ni2 +(aq)
Authors: Rantaharju Jyrki , Mareš Jiří , Vaara Juha
Published: July 2014

The ability to quantitatively predict and analyze the rate of electron spin relaxation of open-shell systems is important for electron paramagnetic resonance and paramagnetic nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. We present a combined molecular dynamics (MD), quantum chemistry (QC), and spin dynamics simulation method for calculating such spin relaxation rates. The method is based on the sampling of a MD trajectory by QC calculations, to produce instantaneous parameters of the spin Hamiltonian used, in turn, to numerically solve the Liouville-von Neumann equation for the time evolution of the spin density matrix. We demonstrate the approach by simulating the relaxation of electron spin in an aqueous solution of Ni2 + ion. The spin-lattice (T1) and spin-spin (T2) relaxation rates are extracted directly from the simulations of the time dependence of the longitudinal and transverse magnetization, respectively. Good agreement with the available, indirectly obtained experimental data is obtained by our method.
Evidence of the existence of the high-density and low-density phases in deeply-cooled confined heavy water under high pressures
Authors: Wang Zhe , Liu Kao-Hsiang , Harriger Leland , Leão Juscelino B. , Chen Sow-Hsin
Published: July 2014

The average density of D2O confined in a nanoporous silica matrix (MCM-41-S) is studied with neutron scattering. We find that below ∼210 K, the pressure-temperature plane of the system can be divided into two regions. The average density of the confined D2O in the higher-pressure region is about 16% larger than that in the lower-pressure region. These two regions could represent the so-called “low-density liquid” and “high-density liquid” phases. The dividing line of these two regions, which could represent the associated 1st order liquid-liquid transition line, is also determined.
Vibrational dynamics of zero-field-splitting hamiltonian in gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents from ab initio molecular dynamics
Authors: Lasoroski Aurélie , Vuilleumier Rodolphe , Pollet Rodolphe
Published: July 2014

The electronic relaxation of gadolinium complexes used as MRI contrast agents was studied theoretically by following the short time evolution of zero-field-splitting parameters. The statistical analysis of ab initio molecular dynamics trajectories provided a clear separation between static and transient contributions to the zero-field-splitting. For the latter, the correlation time was estimated at approximately 0.1 ps. The influence of the ligand was also probed by replacing one pendant arm of our reference macrocyclic complex by a bulkier phosphonate arm. In contrast to the transient contribution, the static zero-field-splitting was significantly influenced by this substitution.
Quantum corrections to nonlinear ion acoustic wave with Landau damping
Authors: Mukherjee Abhik , Bose Anirban , Janaki M. S.
Published: July 2014

Quantum corrections to nonlinear ion acoustic wave with Landau damping have been computed using Wigner equation approach. The dynamical equation governing the time development of nonlinear ion acoustic wave with semiclassical quantum corrections is shown to have the form of higher KdV equation which has higher order nonlinear terms coming from quantum corrections, with the usual classical and quantum corrected Landau damping integral terms. The conservation of total number of ions is shown from the evolution equation. The decay rate of KdV solitary wave amplitude due to the presence of Landau damping terms has been calculated assuming the Landau damping parameter α1=me/mi to be of the same order of the quantum parameter Q=ℏ2/(24m2cs2L2). The amplitude is shown to decay very slowly with time as determined by the quantum factor Q.
Thermoelectric properties of two-dimensional topological insulators doped with nonmagnetic impurities
Authors: Li L. L. , Xu W.
Published: July 2014

We present a theoretical study on the thermoelectric properties of two-dimensional topological insulators (2DTIs) doped with nonmagnetic impurities. We develop a tractable model to calculate the electronic band structure without additional input parameters and to evaluate the thermoelectric properties of 2DTIs based on CdTe/HgTe quantum wells. We find that with increasing the doping concentration of nonmagnetic impurity, the edge states dominate the thermoelectric transport and the bulk-state conduction is largely suppressed. For typical sample parameters, the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT (a quantity used to characterize the conversion efficiency of a thermoelectric device between the heat and electricity) can be much larger than 1, which is a great advance over conventional thermoelectric materials. Furthermore, we show that with decreasing the 2DTI ribbon width or the Hall-bar width, ZT can be considerably further improved. These results indicate that the CdTe/HgTe 2DTIs doped with nonmagnetic impurities can be potentially applied as high-efficiency thermoelectric materials and devices.
A model code for the radiative theta pinch
Authors: Lee S. , Saw S. H. , Lee P. C. K. , Akel M. , Damideh V. , Khattak N. A. D. , Mongkolnavin R. , Paosawatyanyong B.
Published: July 2014

A model for the theta pinch is presented with three modelled phases of radial inward shock phase, reflected shock phase, and a final pinch phase. The governing equations for the phases are derived incorporating thermodynamics and radiation and radiation-coupled dynamics in the pinch phase. A code is written incorporating correction for the effects of transit delay of small disturbing speeds and the effects of plasma self-absorption on the radiation. Two model parameters are incorporated into the model, the coupling coefficient f between the primary loop current and the induced plasma current and the mass swept up factor fm. These values are taken from experiments carried out in the Chulalongkorn theta pinch.
Observations of Rabi oscillations in a non-polar InGaN quantum dot
Authors: Reid Benjamin P. L. , Kocher Claudius , Zhu Tongtong , Oehler Fabrice , Emery Robert , Chan Christopher C. S. , Oliver Rachel A. , Taylor Robert A.
Published: July 2014

Experimental observation of Rabi rotations between an exciton excited state and the crystal ground state in a single non-polar InGaN quantum dot is presented. The exciton excited state energy is determined by photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy using two-photon excitation from a pulsed laser. The population of the exciton excited state is seen to undergo power dependent damped Rabi oscillations.
Strain induced vortex-to-uniform polarization transitions in soft-ferroelectric nanoparticles
Authors: Lee Byounghak , Nakhmanson Serge M. , Heinonen Olle
Published: July 2014

Domain structures of ferroelectric polarization in patterned nanostructures depend sensitively on an interplay between their geometry and crystallographic anisotropy. In the recently predicted layered perovskite PbSr2Ti2O7 [S. M. Nakhmanson and I. Naumov, Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 097601 (2010)], the in-plane anisotropy can be controlled by strain to be along in-plane [110]-directions or to vanish, in which case the polarization is free to rotate in the perovskite-layer. Using a microscopic Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire free energy functional theory, we demonstrate that the domain structure in patterned disks of PbSr2Ti2O7 can be varied between uniform polarization and a vortex structure, analogous to vortices in soft magnetic disks. This opens up the possibility of designing nanostructured layered materials whose dielectric response can be manipulated with small elastic distortions.
Structural influences on charge carrier dynamics for small-molecule organic photovoltaics
Authors: Wang Zhiping , Miyadera Tetsuhiko , Saeki Akinori , Zhou Ying , Seki Shu , Shibata Yosei , Yamanari Toshihiro , Matsubara Koji , Yoshida Yuji
Published: July 2014

We investigated the structural influences on the charge carrier dynamics in zinc phthalocyanine/fullerene (ZnPc/C60) photovoltaic cells by introducing poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) and 2,5-bis(4-biphenylyl)-bithiophene (BP2T) between indium tin oxide and ZnPc layers. ZnPc films can be tuned to be round, long fiber-like, and short fiber-like structure, respectively. Time-resolved microwave conductivity measurements reveal that charge carrier lifetime in ZnPc/C60 bilayer films is considerably affected by the intra-grain properties. Transient photocurrent of ZnPc single films indicated that the charge carriers can transport for a longer distance in the long fiber-like grains than that in the round grains, due to the greatly lessened grain boundaries. By carefully controlling the structure of ZnPc films, the short-circuit current and fill factor of a ZnPc/C60 heterojunction solar cell with BP2T are significantly improved and the power conversion efficiency is increased to 2.6%, which is 120% larger than the conventional cell without BP2T.
Enhanced Mn2+ emission in ZnS:Mn nanoparticles by surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles
Authors: Zhou Shuyao , Chu Xueying , Li Jinhua , Fang Fang , Fang Xuan , Wei Zhipeng , Chen Feng , Wang Xiaohua
Published: July 2014

The Mn2+ emission of ZnS:Mn nanoparticles was enhanced by a simple procedure. 3-Mercaptopropionic acid was used as a complexing agent in the synthesis of ZnS:Mn nanoparticles. Sulfydryl groups of 3-mercaptopropionic acid acted as bridging groups, to form composites of ZnS:Mn and Au nanoparticles. The peak wavelength of Au surface plasmons was red-shifted by 5 nm upon compositing. The intensity of Mn2+ emission at 590 nm because of the 4T1-6A1 transition was enhanced by 469% from the effects of the surface plasmon resonance. The enhancement was greatly influenced by the ratio of ZnS:Mn and Au. Enhancement was primarily attributed to localized surface plasmon resonance on the Au nanoparticle surface.
Extracting the complex optical conductivity of mono- and bilayer graphene by ellipsometry
Authors: Chang You-Chia , Liu Chang-Hua , Liu Che-Hung , Zhong Zhaohui , Norris Theodore B.
Published: July 2014

A method for analysis of spectroscopic ellipsometry data is demonstrated to extract the optical conductivity of mono- and bilayer chemical-vapor-deposited graphene. We model graphene as a truly two-dimensional (2D) material with a sheet conductivity, rather than a phenomenological effective refractive index as has been used in the literature. This technique measures both the real and imaginary part of the optical conductivity, which is important for graphene optoelectronics and metamaterials. Using this method, we obtain broadband measurements of the complex optical conductivity for mono- and bilayer graphene from ultraviolet to mid-infrared wavelengths. We also study how chemical doping with nitric acid modifies the complex optical conductivity.
The Perception of Natural and Modulated Movement Sounds
Authors: Kennel Christian , Pizzera Alexandra , Hohmann Tanja , Schubotz Ricarda Ines , Murgia Mauro , Agostini Tiziano , Raab Markus
Published: July 2014

The motor system is engaged when we perceive movement in the environment, even when we have no sensorimotor experience of that movement. It has been suggested that this ability relies on internal models that comprise specific exteroceptive representations, such as audition and vision. It has been shown that, for human movements, the quality of perception depends on the closeness between the perceived movement and the perceiver's own capability of reproducing it. Thus, if we are able to reproduce a movement, we also have the interoceptive motor memories that enable us to run internal models and perceive the same movements more accurately when merely observed. In a behavioral study we investigated if participants would be able to distinguish between self-produced and other-produced movement sounds from a previously recorded hurdling performance. We also analyzed if participants' discriminative ability would vary as a function of specific sound features, examining rhythmic step structure and amplitude range. The results reveal that participants were able to distinguish between their own and others' movement sounds. However, changing either rhythmic step structure or amplitude range of the sounds did not influence this self-other discrimination. We suggest that identification of one's own movement sounds is holistically achieved as an auditory gestalt.
Delusions about Illusions
Authors: Rogers Brian
Published: July 2014

For centuries, philosophers and psychologists have distinguished between correct or veridical perception and illusory perception. Illusions have become an essential topic in textbooks on perception, and we amuse our lecture classes with demonstrations that reveal the fallibility of perceptual systems—what we see, hear, feel, taste, and smell does not correspond to what is really there. This special issue of Perception contains the descriptions of many new and interesting illusions as well as speculations about the causes of familiar illusions. There have also been many attempts to classify illusions that date back to Al-Haytham (1083) in the 11th century through to Richard Gregory (2009 Seeing through Illusions, Oxford: Oxford University Press) in the last decade, but there have been far fewer attempts to analyse and critique the concept itself. That is the purpose of this paper, and the conclusion reached is that there is no satisfactory way of distinguishing between those aspects of our perception that we regard as veridical and those we label as illusions.
Quantifying the interactions between grazing interval, grazing intensity, and nitrogen on the yield and growth rate of dryland and irrigated perennial ryegrass
Authors: Rawnsley R. P. , Langworthy A. D. , Pembleton K. G. , Turner L. R. , Corkrey R. , Donaghy D. J.
Published: July 2014

In temperate regions of Australasia, feed-base management is the key determinant of the economic viability of dairy enterprises. However, conjecture exists regarding agreed grazing management practices for pasture-based dairy systems, because of the combined effects of variable seasonal conditions and input management (irrigation and nitrogen (N) usage). To address this conjecture a 2-year defoliation study was undertaken in the high-rainfall zone of north-western Tasmania, to examine the effect of these interactions on the yield of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) dominated pasture. Treatments were imposed in a split-split-plot design with moisture availability the main plot treatment (irrigated or dryland), defoliation intervals (full emergence of 1, 2, or 3 new leaves/tiller) assigned to subplots, and both defoliation intensity (30, 55 and 80 mm) and N application rate (0.0, 1.5 and 3.0 kg N/ha.day) treatments crossed within sub-subplots. Although the independent effects of each treatment on total yield were significant (P < 0.05), the effect of N application was found to diminish with time (P < 0.05). Furthermore, under periods of high pasture growth resulting from the absence of moisture stress (irrigation), shortening the grazing rotation via defoliating at the second leaf stage had no detrimental impact on growth rates. However, to optimise growth rates during periods of either soil moisture deficits or low temperatures, longer rotation lengths (to the 3-leaf stage) were required. High response rates to N fertiliser were found during the initial (first 6 month) period of this 2-year study; however, these responses diminished with time, with plots receiving zero N fertiliser achieving growth rates comparable to those plots that received rates as high as 3 kg N/ha.day.
Resource quality controls detritivore consumption, growth, survival and body condition recovery of reproducing females
Authors: Larrañaga Aitor , Basaguren Ana , Pozo Jesús
Published: July 2014

Although the effect of resource quality on density, biomass, growth rate and secondary production of consumers has been frequently documented, the direct repercussion of resource quality on reproduction has been less investigated. Here we tested the hypothesis that resource quality can limit body-condition recovery of reproducing individuals. For this, we reared ovigerous females of the freshwater amphipod Echinogammarus berilloni in the laboratory and fed them with leaves differing in quality (native Alnus, Quercus, or the exotic Eucalyptus) conditioned in three streams differing in the concentration of dissolved nutrients. Both consumption and growth rate, as well as the length-corrected mass and protein content of females after the release of the eggs, were negatively related to the C : N and C : P ratios of the resource. Survival was significantly lower with the exotic eucalypt leaf litter compared to native alder and oak, a result likely explained by the toxicity of the leaves. The conditioning of the leaves in the different streams did not affect the measured variables, although it interacted with survival. The present study suggests that resource quality can affect the recovery of body condition of reproducing females and shape the population structure of iteroparous species.
Environmental flow management using transparency and translucency rules
Authors: Growns Ivor , Reinfelds Ivars
Published: July 2014

River flow regimes and their variability are considered by many authors to be the most important factor structuring their physical and ecological environment. In regulated rivers, environmental or instream flows are the main management technique used to ameliorate the ecological effects of flow alteration. We highlight two concepts that are not commonly used in a managed flow regime but help return natural flow variability to a managed river, namely, transparent and translucent flow rules. Transparency flows target lower flows up to a defined threshold so that all inflows are released from a dam or are protected from abstraction. Translucency flows form a percentage of inflows greater than the transparency threshold that are released to maintain a proportion of flow pulses in the river system. The main ecological concept underlying transparency and translucency flows is that riverine biota are adapted to the historical flow regime. Although the loss of small to moderate flood events may arise from implementation of translucency and/or transparency flow regimes, we advocate that these rule types would, nonetheless, be beneficial in many managed flow regimes and present two case studies where they have been defined and implemented.
Individual-specific transgenerational marking of common carp Cyprinus carpio, L., using 86Sr/84Sr double spikes
Authors: Zitek A. , Irrgeher J. , Cervicek M. , Horsky M. , Kletzl M. , Weismann T. , Prohaska T.
Published: July 2014

Transgenerational isotopic marking has been recognised as an efficient tool for mass marking of high numbers of fish larvae by injecting female spawners with enriched isotope solutions. So far, mainly enriched stable barium isotopes have been applied for this purpose. Here, we present an alternative approach for individual-specific transgenerational marking using strontium 86Sr/84Sr double spikes. Four isotonic double-spike solutions with different molar fractions of 86Sr and 84Sr and different total Sr concentrations were administered to four female spawners of common carp, Cyprinus carpio, L., by intraperitoneal injection, and one additional female spawner was injected a blank isotonic solution as control. Otoliths (lapilli) were sampled from juvenile offspring and analysed for their Sr isotopic composition by laser ablation–multi collector–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. Central otolith regions of the progeny of female carps treated with concentrations of at least 0.45 mg 84Sr kg–1 bodyweight and 2.28 mg 86Sr kg–1 bodyweight showed a significant shift of the absolute 88Sr/86Sr and 88Sr/84Sr isotope ratios from the natural baseline. Isotope pattern deconvolution was successfully applied for the identification of the originally injected 86Sr/84Sr molar fraction ratios of the individual double spikes. Enriched stable Sr isotope double spikes represent an important alternative to enriched stable Ba isotopes for transgenerational marking, especially in freshwater systems.
A novel method for the age estimation of Saddletail snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus) using Fourier Transform-near infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy
Authors: Wedding B. B. , Forrest A. J. , Wright C. , Grauf S. , Exley P. , Poole S. E.
Published: July 2014

Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was investigated as a potential rapid method of estimating fish age from whole otoliths of Saddletail snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus). Whole otoliths from 209 Saddletail snapper were extracted and the NIR spectral characteristics were acquired over a spectral range of 800–2780 nm. Partial least-squares models (PLS) were developed from the diffuse reflectance spectra and reference-validated age estimates (based on traditional sectioned otolith increments) to predict age for independent otolith samples. Predictive models developed for a specific season and geographical location performed poorly against a different season and geographical location. However, overall PLS regression statistics for predicting a combined population incorporating both geographic location and season variables were: coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.94, root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) = 1.54 for age estimation, indicating that Saddletail age could be predicted within 1.5 increment counts. This level of accuracy suggests the method warrants further development for Saddletail snapper and may have potential for other fish species. A rapid method of fish age estimation could have the potential to reduce greatly both costs of time and materials in the assessment and management of commercial fisheries.
Modification and periplasmic translocation of the biofilm exopolysaccharide poly-β-1,6-
N
-acetyl-
d
-glucosamine
Authors: Little Dustin J. , Li Grace , Ing Christopher , DiFrancesco Benjamin R. , Bamford Natalie C. , Robinson Howard , Nitz Mark , Pomès Régis , Howell P. Lynne
Published: July 2014

Significance

Extracellular polysaccharides are important for bacterial aggregation and surface attachment during the formation of a biofilm. Bacteria living within a biofilm are more resistant to antibiotics and host defenses than those living in a free planktonic state. Poly-β-1,6-
N
-acetyl-
d
-glucosamine (PNAG) is produced by a number of pathogenic bacteria but is an insoluble polymer, making it difficult to study in vitro. Polyglucosamine subunit B (PgaB) is an outer membrane lipoprotein responsible for the deacetylation of PNAG, a key modification required for biofilm formation. Herein, we address a number of key questions related to the modification and translocation of PNAG/de–
N
-acetylated PNAG through the periplasmic space. The study provides valuable insight for synthase-dependent exopolysaccharide systems and a brute-force molecular dynamics approach for studying insoluble polymers using monosaccharides.
Pussy Riot as a feminist project: Russia's gendered informal politics
Authors: Johnson Janet Elise
Published: July 2014

This article considers Pussy Riot as a feminist project, placing their actions and the regime's reactions in the context of three post-9/11 developments in gender and sexuality politics in Russia. First, I assert that Pussy Riot's stunts are a logical reaction to the Kremlin's masculinity-based nation-rebuilding scheme, which was a cover for crude homophobic misogyny. Second, Pussy Riot is part of the informal feminism emerging in Russia, a response to nongovernmental organization (NGO) feminism and the regime's repression of NGO feminism, albeit likely to be outflanked by regime-supported thuggery. Third, the members of Pussy Riot were so harshly prosecuted because they - swearing, covered up and disloyal - violated the political cleaner role that the Kremlin has given women in the last few years. Feminist social scientists have long looked for politics outside of formal institutions and processes. The Pussy Riot affair makes clear how much gender is central to the informal politics that gender-blind observers of Russia have come to see as crucial to understanding Russia's regime.
Is sextremism the new feminism? Perspectives from Pussy Riot and Femen
Authors: Channell Emily
Published: July 2014

As Pussy Riot has changed the face of political protest in Russia, to the south, Ukraine has seen the emergence of Femen, famous for their topless protests against everything from sex tourism and trafficking to hot water shut-offs in Kyiv to sexism in the Ukrainian government to Putin's visits to Ukraine. Their concurrent appearance in the post-Soviet sphere encourages a discussion around the mobilization of sexuality as protest in the region. Both groups appropriate sexual language and imagery as well as physical sexuality in protest of their current regimes. This article engages the question of similarities between the two groups' efforts and considers what differences structure their political goals and philosophies. What potential does the global visibility of these groups have to influence an emerging women's movement, and, more generally, how can sexuality be harnessed as a unifying force in anti-government activism in post-socialist Russia and Ukraine?
Pussy Riot as agent provocateur: conspiracy theories and the media construction of nation in Putin's Russia
Authors: Yablokov Ilya
Published: July 2014

This article studies the impact of conspiracy theories on post-Soviet Russian nation-building through the analysis of how the Pussy Riot trial was constructed by the Russian media. Conspiracy theory as a phenomenon is defined as a populist tool for relocation of power among different political actors, which creates identities and boosts social cohesion. This interpretation of conspiracy theories helps investigate how the media constructed the image of Pussy Riot and their supporters as a conspiring subversive minority, which threatened the Russian nation. The ability of conspiracy theory for swift social mobilization helped the authorities to strengthen the public support of its policies and model the Russian nation as ethnically and religiously homogeneous.
The Pussy Riot affair: gender and national identity in Putin's Russia
Authors: Rutland Peter
Published: July 2014

The Pussy Riot affair was a massive international cause célèbre that ignited a widespread movement of support for the jailed activists around the world. The case tells us a lot about Russian society, the Russian state, and Western perceptions of Russia. It also raises gender as a frame of analysis, something that has been largely overlooked in 20 years of work by mainstream political scientists analyzing Russia's transition to democracy. It has important implications for how Western feminist categories can be applied to the Russian context. This introduction summarizes the main events associated with the trail of the three group members who were accused of staging a “punk prayer” performance in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in February 2012. It also introduces the findings of the six papers that make up this special section.
Development and measurement properties of a putting skill test for high‐level golf
Authors: Robertson Sam , Gupta Surabhi , Kremer Peter , Burnett Angus F.
Published: July 2014

Despite a recent increase in the amount of research investigating performance in golf, a comprehensive putting skill test has not been reported in the peer‐reviewed literature. In this study, the Golf Australia Putting Test (GAPT) was developed and a series of measurement properties were assessed. Elite (n = 18) and high‐level amateur (HLA; n = 22) participants completed six single putts from various areas on six concentric circles (circle radii = 0.9, 1.5, 3.0, 4.6, 6.1 and 7.6 m). Using a scoring system that rewarded participants for holing putts from longer distances, the maximum score from a single round of the test (i.e. 36 putts) was 27 points. After two rounds of the test were completed by all players, a subsample of participants (elite, n = 15; HLA, n = 7) had their putting performance recorded during tournament play for a period of 90 days to assess criterion (predictive) validity of the test. The reliability, sensitivity and discriminative validity of the GAPT were also assessed. Better agreement between Rounds 1 and 2 scores was noted in the elite group, whilst reliability values were similar for both groups. Further, the GAPT scores were shown to predict players from the elite and high‐ability groups with a low classification error. An equation for predicting on‐course performance from GAPT scores was also developed. Findings from this study indicate that the GAPT is a valid and reliable tool for high‐level players and the GAPT may be used for player evaluation in the field.
Biomechanical analysis to determine the external power output on an immersible ergocycle
Authors: Garzon Mauricio , Gayda Mathieu , Garzon Leonardo , Juneau Martin , Nigam Anil , Leone Mario , Comtois Alain Steve
Published: July 2014

The external power output (Pext) is unknown during chest‐level immersion exercise on water immersible ergocycles (IE). This knowledge will allow the practitioner to prescribe accurately exercise on an IE to the same workload on dryland ergocycle (DE). To develop a mathematical model to calculate Pext during chest‐level immersion exercise on IE at different pedalling rates (rpm) taking into account the water external force exerted on the legs and pedalling mechanism. Thirty healthy participants (age: 33 ± 10 years) performed a maximal incremental exercise test on IE (chest‐level immersion) and on a DE. Pedalling rate was increased by 10 rpm every minute beginning at 40 till 120 rpm. Pext was calculated by applying the general fluid equation on all elements exposed to water external force exertions (legs and pedalling system). Regression analysis yielded the following equations to determine (1) IE Pext (W) based on pedalling rate (rpm): Pext (W) = 0.0004 (rpm)2.993 (r2 = 0.99, SEE = 7.6 W, p < 0.0001) and (2) when DE Pext (W) is known, IE pedalling rate (rpm) = 13.91 × DE Pext (W)0.329 (r2 = 0.99, SEE = 1.5 W, p < 0.0001). This study provides a mathematical model based on the general fluid equation to calculate IE Pext during chest‐level immersion exercise using pedalling rate (rpm), IE pedalling system physical characteristics and lower limb size. This model can be used to determine Pext for any IE type for exercise training prescription.
Effect of sprint training: Training once daily versus twice every second day
Authors: Ijichi Toshiaki , Hasegawa Yuta , Morishima Takuma , Kurihara Toshiyuki , Hamaoka Takafumi , Goto Kazushige
Published: July 2014

This study compared training adaptations between once daily (SINGLE) and twice every second day (REPEATED) sprint training, with same number of training sessions. Twenty physically active males (20.9 ± 1.3 yr) were assigned randomly to the SINGLE (n = 10) or REPEATED (n = 10) group. The SINGLE group trained once per day (5 days per week) for 4 weeks (20 sessions in total). The REPEATED group conducted two consecutive training sessions on the same day, separated by a rest period of 1 h (2–3 days per week) for 4 weeks (20 sessions in total). Each training session consisted of three consecutive 30‐s maximal pedalling sets with a 10‐min rest between sets. Before and after the training period, the power output during two bouts of 30‐s maximal pedalling, exercise duration during submaximal pedalling and resting muscle phosphocreatine (PCr) levels were evaluated. Both groups showed significant increases in peak and mean power output during the two 30‐s bouts of maximal pedalling after the training period (P < 0.05). The groups showed similar increases in after the training period (P < 0.05). The REPEATED group showed a significant increase in the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) after the training period (P < 0.05), whereas no change was observed in the SINGLE group. The time to exhaustion at 90% of and muscle PCr concentration at baseline did not change significantly in either group. Sprint training twice every second day improved OBLA during endurance exercise more than the same training once daily.
Detecting tactical patterns in basketball: Comparison of merge self‐organising maps and dynamic controlled neural networks
Authors: Kempe Matthias , Grunz Andreas , Memmert Daniel
Published: July 2014

The soaring amount of data, especially spatial‐temporal data, recorded in recent years demands for advanced analysis methods. Neural networks derived from self‐organizing maps established themselves as a useful tool to analyse static and temporal data. In this study, we applied the merge self‐organising map (MSOM) to spatio‐temporal data. To do so, we investigated the ability of MSOM′s to analyse spatio‐temporal data and compared its performance to the common dynamical controlled network (DyCoN) approach to analyse team sport position data. The position data of 10 players were recorded via the Ubisense tracking system during a basketball game. Furthermore, three different pre‐selected plays were recorded for classification. Following data preparation, the different nets were trained with the data of the first half. The training success of both networks was evaluated by achieved entropy. The second half of the basketball game was presented to both nets for automatic classification. Both approaches were able to present the trained data extremely well and to detect the pre‐selected plays correctly. In conclusion, MSOMs are a useful tool to analyse spatial‐temporal data, especially in team sports. By their direct inclusion of different time length of tactical patterns, they open up new opportunities within team sports.
‘Don’t You Dare to Vote With the Communists!’: Timeliness, Nostalgia, and the Authenticity of Experience inI’m a Communist Biddy!
Authors: Komporaly Jozefina
Published: July 2014

This article investigates the parallel adaptation processes between genres and media of Dan Lungu’s celebrated Romanian novel I’m a Communist Biddy! (2007). Drawing on Stere Gulea’s film adaptation ( Sunt a babă comunistă !, MediaPro Pictures, Romania, 2013) and Tamara Török and Judit Csoma’s stage version ( Egy komcsi nyanya vagyok! , Katona József Theatre, Budapest, 2013), the article observes that neither film nor play are governed by an agenda of fidelity to the source text, and they depart from the literary source because of a new historical and economic context, in which the preoccupation with the communist era remains a timely endeavour all the same. Both versions strive for authenticity in terms of location and time period, and to this end they opt for an elaborate recreation of the past in the film and a reduction to literal levels of austerity onstage. Thus, both cinematic and stage adaptation operate as explorations into the protagonist’s past, and in this sense they are illuminating works of art about personal memory, embedded to a certain extent, within collective memory. The adaptations strive to accurately represent selected notions of history, in parallel with which they also create alternative temporalities that mythologize history and favour a nonlinear sense of time. For this reason, I read these adaptations—ranging from transposition to commentary—as a form of translation, that explores the relationship between women and history and intertwines a cluster of influences, from historical plays and films, memory and verbatim plays, as well as staged biographies and enactments ‘on location’.
The Consequences of Obesity for the External Costs of Public Health Insurance in the United States
Authors: MacEwan Joanna P. , Alston Julian M. , Okrent Abigail M.
Published: July 2014

Over the past five decades in the United States, total medical expenditures and the proportion of medical expenditures financed with public funds have both increased significantly. A substantial increase in the prevalence of obesity has contributed to this growth. In this study we measure the external cost of obesity in the form of publicly funded health‐care expenditures, and how this cost changes when the distribution of obesity in the population changes. We use a continuous measure of obesity, Body Mass Index (BMI), rather than discrete BMI categories to represent the distribution of obesity and changes in it. We predict that a one‐unit increase in BMI for every adult in the United States would increase annual public medical expenditures by $6.0 billion. This estimated public cost equates to an average marginal cost of $27 per year, per adult for a one‐unit increase in BMI for each adult in the U.S. population—or $4.35 per pound. Separately, we estimate that if every U.S. adult who is now obese (BMI ≥30) had a BMI of 25 instead, annual public medical expenditures would decline by $166.2 billion (in constant 2009 dollars), or 15.2% of annual public medical expenditures in 2009. Assuming a socially optimal BMI of no more than 25, we estimate that the prevalence of obesity in 2009 resulted in a deadweight loss of $148.2 billion in 2009.
Inter-species prediction of protein phosphorylation in the sbv IMPROVER species translation challenge
Authors: Biehl Michael , Sadowski Peter , Bhanot Gyan , Bilal Erhan , Dayarian Adel , Meyer Pablo , Norel Raquel , Rhrissorrakrai Kahn , Zeller Michael D. , Hormoz Sahand
Published: July 2014

Motivation: Animal models are widely used in biomedical research for reasons ranging from practical to ethical. An important issue is whether rodent models are predictive of human biology. This has been addressed recently in the framework of a series of challenges designed by the systems biology verification for Industrial Methodology for Process Verification in Research (sbv IMPROVER) initiative. In particular, one of the sub-challenges was devoted to the prediction of protein phosphorylation responses in human bronchial epithelial cells, exposed to a number of different chemical stimuli, given the responses in rat bronchial epithelial cells. Participating teams were asked to make inter-species predictions on the basis of available training examples, comprising transcriptomics and phosphoproteomics data.

Results: Here, the two best performing teams present their data-driven approaches and computational methods. In addition, post hoc analyses of the datasets and challenge results were performed by the participants and challenge organizers. The challenge outcome indicates that successful prediction of protein phosphorylation status in human based on rat phosphorylation levels is feasible. However, within the limitations of the computational tools used, the inclusion of gene expression data does not improve the prediction quality. The post hoc analysis of time-specific measurements sheds light on the signaling pathways in both species.

Availability and implementation: A detailed description of the dataset, challenge design and outcome is available at www.sbvimprover.com. The code used by team IGB is provided under http://github.com/uci-igb/improver2013. Implementations of the algorithms applied by team AMG are available at http://bhanot.biomaps.rutgers.edu/wiki/AMG-sc2-code.zip.

Contact:  meikelbiehl@gmail.com
FindPath: a Matlab solution for
in silico
design of synthetic metabolic pathways
Authors: Vieira Gilles , Carnicer Marc , Portais Jean-Charles , Heux Stéphanie
Published: July 2014

Summary: Several methods and computational tools have been developed to design novel metabolic pathways. A major challenge is evaluating the metabolic efficiency of the designed pathways in the host organism. Here we present FindPath, a unified system to predict and rank possible pathways according to their metabolic efficiency in the cellular system. This tool uses a chemical reaction database to generate possible metabolic pathways and exploits constraint-based models (CBMs) to identify the most efficient synthetic pathway to achieve the desired metabolic function in a given host microorganism. FindPath can be used with common tools for CBM manipulation and uses the standard SBML format for both input and output files.

Availability and implementation:  http://metasys.insa-toulouse.fr/software/findpath/ .

Contact:  heux@insa-toulouse.fr

Supplementary information : Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.