bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Upper limits to absorption enhancement in thick solar cells using diffraction gratings
Authors: Mellor A. , Tobías I. , Martí A. , Mendes M.J. , Luque A.
Published: January 2011

The application of diffraction gratings to solar cells is a promising approach to superseding the light trapping limits of conventional Lambertian structures. In this paper a mathematical formalism is derived for calculating the absorption that can be expected in a solar cell equipped with a diffraction grating, which can be applied to any lattice geometry and grating profile. Furthermore, the formalism is used to calculate the upper limit of total absorption that can theoretically be achieved using a diffraction grating. The derived formalism and limits are valid when the solar cell thickness is greater than the coherence length of the illuminating solar spectrum. Comparison is made to the upper limit achievable using an angularly selective Rugate filter, which is also calculated. Both limits are found to be considerably higher than the Lambertian limit within the range of sunlight concentration factors practically employed in photovoltaic systems (1–1000×). The upper limit of absorption using the diffraction grating is shown to be equal to the thermodynamic limit for all absorbances and concentration factors. The limit for the Rugate filter is generally lower, but tends to the thermodynamic limit for lower cell absorbances. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, Structure, and Physical Properties of a Barium Complex with 5‐Sulfoisophthalic Acid Sodium Salt
Authors: Wu Gang , Yin Fun‐Jun , Wei Hao , Liu Zhen‐Feng , Wang Xiao‐Feng
Published: January 2011

The complex [Ba3(sip)2(H2O)9]·H2O (1) (NaH2sip = 5‐sulfoisophthalic acid sodium) was synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Structural determination reveals that the asymmetric unit in 1 contains two crystallographically independent BaII atoms. The Ba1 atom is eight‐coordinate with distorted monocapped pentagonal bipyramidal arrangement, whereas the Ba2 atom is ten‐coordinated with bicapped tetragonal prismatic arrangement. The two carboxylate groups of sip3– adopt different coordination modes, μ2‐η1:η1‐bridging, and μ2‐η2:η1‐bridging. The sulfonate group coordinates to three different BaII atoms in a tridentate μ3 mode to generate a ladder‐like one‐dimensional chain. The chains are connected by μ2‐η1:η1‐bridging carboxylate groups to form a wave‐like two‐dimensional network, which are further linked by sip3– anions to generate a three‐dimensional structure. The thermal stability and luminescence properties of complex 1 were also investigated.
Anti-metabolic syndrome and immunostimulant activities of Egyptian fenugreek seeds in diabetic/obese and immunosuppressive rat models
Authors: Ramadan Gamal , El-Beih Nadia M. , Abd El-Kareem Hanaa F.
Published: January 2011

Preliminary trials have suggested possible hypoglycaemic, hypolipidaemic and immunomodulatory properties of the fenugreek plant. Here, we evaluated and compared the efficacy of Egyptian fenugreek seed powder (FSP, 0·5 and 1·0 g/kg body weight) in alleviating the experimentally induced metabolic syndrome (in type 1 diabetic and obese rat models) and experimentally induced immunosuppression and delay in burn-healing (in cyclophosphamide (CP)-treated rats). FSP significantly alleviated (P < 0·05–0·001) most signs of the metabolic syndrome resulting from experimentally induced type 1 diabetes and obesity by 40–76 and 56–78 %, respectively, including hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia, elevation in atherogenic indices, impairment of liver functions, severe changes in body weight and oxidative stress. Besides, FSP (especially the high dose) completely modulated the immunosuppressive activity of CP including leucopenia (resulting from neutropenia and lymphopenia), decrease in weights and cellularity of lymphoid organs, serum γ-globulin level, delayed type of hypersensitivity response and delay in the skin-burning healing process. FSP decreased the immunosuppressive activity of CP by 57–108 %. These beneficial effects of FSP were dose dependent in most cases, and FSP doses used here were considered safe in general. FSP was more efficient in alleviating the signs of the metabolic syndrome in the obese animals (over 9 %) than in the type 1 diabetic animals. Moreover, the immunostimulant activity of fenugreek seeds exceeded their anti-metabolic syndrome activity by 15–24 %. In conclusion, fenugreek seeds may be useful not only as a dietary adjunct for the control of the metabolic syndrome in diabetic/obese patients, but also as an immunostimulant in immunocompromised patients such as those under chemotherapeutic interventions.
Iron deficiency up-regulates iron absorption from ferrous sulphate but not ferric pyrophosphate and consequently food fortification with ferrous sulphate has relatively greater efficacy in iron-deficient individuals
Authors: Zimmermann Michael B. , Biebinger Ralf , Egli Ines , Zeder Christophe , Hurrell Richard F.
Published: January 2011

Fe absorption from water-soluble forms of Fe is inversely proportional to Fe status in humans. Whether this is true for poorly soluble Fe compounds is uncertain. Our objectives were therefore (1) to compare the up-regulation of Fe absorption at low Fe status from ferrous sulphate (FS) and ferric pyrophosphate (FPP) and (2) to compare the efficacy of FS with FPP in a fortification trial to increase body Fe stores in Fe-deficient childrenv. Fe-sufficient children. Using stable isotopes in test meals in young women (n49) selected for low and high Fe status, we compared the absorption of FPP with FS. We analysed data from previous efficacy trials in children (n258) to determine whether Fe status at baseline predicted response to FSv. FPP as salt fortificants. Plasma ferritin was a strong negative predictor of Fe bioavailability from FS (P < 0·0001) but not from FPP. In the efficacy trials, body Fe at baseline was a negative predictor of the change in body Fe for both FPP and FS, but the effect was significantly greater with FS (P < 0·01). Because Fe deficiency up-regulates Fe absorption from FS but not from FPP, food fortification with FS may have relatively greater impact in Fe-deficient children. Thus, more soluble Fe compounds not only demonstrate better overall absorption and can be used at lower fortification levels, but they also have the added advantage that, because their absorption is up-regulated in Fe deficiency, they innately ‘target’ Fe-deficient individuals in a population.
Relationship between mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) landing rates on a human subject and numbers captured using CO2-baited light traps
Authors: Barnard D.R. , Knue G.J. , Dickerson C.Z. , Bernier U.R. , Kline D.L.
Published: January 2011

Capture rates of insectary-reared femaleAedes albopictus(Skuse),Anopheles quadrimaculatusSay,Culex nigripalpusTheobald,Culex quinquefasciatusSay andAedes triseriatus(Say) in CDC-type light traps (LT) supplemented with CO2and using the human landing (HL) collection method were observed in matched-pair experiments in outdoor screened enclosures. Mosquito responses were compared on a catch-per-unit-effort basis using regression analysis with LT and HL as the dependent and independent variables, respectively. The average number of mosquitoes captured in 1 min by LT over a 24-h period was significantly related to the average number captured in 1 min by HL only forCx. nigripalpusandCx. quinquefasciatus. Patterns of diel activity indicated by a comparison of the mean response to LT and HL at eight different times in a 24-h period were not superposable for any species. The capture rate efficiency of LT when compared with HL was ≤15% for all mosquitoes exceptCx. quinquefasciatus(43%). Statistical models of the relationship between mosquito responses to each collection method indicate that, except forAe. albopictus, LT and HL capture rates are significantly related only during certain times of the diel period. Estimates of mosquito activity based on observations made between sunset and sunrise were most precise in this regard forAn. quadrimaculatusandCx. nigripalpus, as were those between sunrise and sunset forCx. quinquefasciatusandAe. triseriatus.
Significance, progress and prospects for research in simplified cultivation technologies for rice in China
Authors: HUANG M. , IBRAHIM MD. , XIA B. , ZOU Y.
Published: January 2011

Simplified cultivation technologies for rice have become increasingly attractive in recent years in China because of their social, economical and environmental benefits. To date, several simplified cultivation technologies, such as conventional tillage and seedling throwing (CTST), conventional tillage and direct seeding (CTDS), no-tillage and seedling throwing (NTST), no-tillage and direct seeding (NTDS) and no-tillage and transplanting (NTTP), have been developed in China. Most studies have shown that rice grown under each of these simplified cultivation technologies can produce a grain yield equal to or higher than traditional cultivation (conventional tillage and transplanting). Studies that have described the influences of agronomic practices on yield formation of rice under simplified cultivation have demonstrated that optimizing agronomy practices would increase the efficiencies of simplified cultivation systems. Further research is needed to optimize the management strategies for CTST, CTDS and NTST rice which have developed quickly in recent years, to strengthen basic research for those simplified cultivation technologies that are rarely used at present (such as NTTP and NTDS), to select and breed cultivars suitable for simplified cultivation and to compare the practicability and effectiveness of different simplified cultivation technologies in different rice production regions.
Estimating the impact of climate change on the occurrence of selected pests at a high spatial resolution: a novel approach
Authors: KOCMÁNKOVÁ E. , TRNKA M. , EITZINGER J. , DUBROVSKÝ M. , ŠTĚPÁNEK P. , SEMERÁDOVÁ D. , BALEK J. , SKALÁK P. , FARDA A. , JUROCH J. , ŽALUD Z.
Published: January 2011

The present study is focused on the potential occurrence of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Say 1824), an important potato pest, and the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis, Hübner 1796), the most important maize pest, during climate change. Estimates of the current potential distribution of both pest species as well as their distribution in the expected climate conditions are based on the CLIMEX model. The study covers central Europe, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and parts of Germany, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Ukraine, Slovenia, the northern parts of Serbia, parts of Croatia and northern Italy. The validated model of the pests’ geographical distribution was applied within the domain of the regional climate model (RCM) ALADIN, at a resolution of 10 km. The weather series that was the input for the CLIMEX model was prepared by a weather generator (WG) which was calibrated with the RCM-simulated weather series (for the period of 1961–90). To generate a weather series for two future time periods (2021–50 and 2071–2100), the WG parameters were modified according to 12 climate change scenarios produced by the pattern scaling method. The standardized scenarios derived from three global climate models (HadCM, NCAR-PCM and ECHAM) were scaled by low, middle and high values of global temperature change estimated by the Model for the Assessment of Greenhouse-gas Induced Climate Change (MAGICC) model (assuming three combinations of climatic sensitivity and emission scenarios). The results of present study suggest the likely widening of the pests’ habitats and an increase in the number of generations per year. According to the HadCM-high scenario, the area of arable land affected by a third generation per season of Colorado potato beetle in 2050 is c. 45% higher, and by a second generation of the European corn borer is nearly 61% higher, compared to present levels.
Metabolizable protein and energy supply in lambs fed annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorumLam.) supplemented with sources of protein and energy
Authors: AMARAL G. A. , KOZLOSKI G. V. , SANTOS A. B. , CASTAGNINO D. S. , FLUCK A. C. , FARENZENA R. , ALVES T. P. , MESQUITA F. R.
Published: January 2011

Ten Polwarth×Texel lambs (26±2·1 kg live weight (LW)), housed in metabolism cages and offered ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)ad libitum, were used in a 5×5 Latin Square experiment to evaluate the effect of supplement type on digestion processes and on amino acid and energy supplies. Five of the 10 lambs were fitted with a rumen catheter and duodenal cannulae. Treatments included no supplement (control); 7 g/kg LW daily of cassava meal (Manihot esculenta, high-starch low-nitrogen (HS-LN)), cassava meal plus corn gluten meal (2:1, high-starch high-undegradable N (HS-UN)), cassava meal plus calcium caseinate (2·8:1, high-starch high-degradable N (HS-DN)) or corn gluten feed (low-starch high-degradable N (LS-DN)). Total intake of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and N, as well as digestible OM intake were increased with HS-UN, HS-DN and LS-DN (P⩽0·050). Forage DM intake was reduced by HS-LN (P=0·030). Apparent digestibility of DM and OM was increased by HS-LN and HS-DN (P⩽0·038). Digestibility of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and OM true digestibility were similar for all treatments. Supplementation with HS-LN decreased duodenal flux of total N, amino acid N, ammonia N and feed residual N (P⩽0·023). None of the supplements affected rumen microbial protein entering the small intestine, whereas the efficiency of rumen microbial protein synthesis (EMPS) was reduced by HS-LN and HS-DN (P⩽0·036). Ruminal degradability of dietary N (RDN) was increased by HS-LN, HS-DN and LS-DN (P⩽0·050). In conclusion, supplementing lambs fed ryegrass with degradable or undegradable high-protein concentrate increased the amino acid supply without affecting the supply of digestible energy, regardless of either the starch content or the degree of ruminal degradability of the protein source. These results indicate that supplementation of ryegrass-based diets should include both starch and protein sources.
THE CATEGORIES OF EVIDENCE RELATING TO THE HYPOTHESIS THAT MAMMALIAN SEX RATIOS AT BIRTH ARE CAUSALLY RELATED TO THE HORMONE CONCENTRATIONS OF BOTH PARENTS AROUND THE TIME OF CONCEPTION
Authors: JAMES WILLIAM H.
Published: January 2011

This note categorizes the evidence for the hypothesis that mammalian offspring sex ratios (proportions male) are causally related to the hormone levels of both parents around the time of conception. Most of the evidence may be acknowledged to be correlational and observational. As such it might be suspected of having been selected; or of having been subject to other forms of bias or confounding; or, at any rate, of being inadequate as a firm basis for causal inference. However, there are other types of evidence that are not vulnerable to these types of criticism. These are from the following sources: (1) previously neglected data from Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia; (2) fulfilled predictions; (3) genetics; and (4) a network of logically (mathematically) related propositions, for some of which there is overwhelming empirical evidence. It is suggested that this variety of evidence confers greater overall credibility on the hypothesis than would be the case if all the evidence were of the same observational/correlational status. This observational/correlational evidence is tabulated to illustrate its consistency.
DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND PRETERM BIRTHS AMONG NATIVES AND IMMIGRANTS IN GREECE: AN ANALYSIS USING NATIONWIDE VITAL REGISTRATION MICRO-DATA
Authors: TSIMBOS CLEON , VERROPOULOU GEORGIA
Published: January 2011

The present study makes use of nationwide individual-level vital registration data on the single live births occurring in Greece in 2006 to explore associations of socio-demographic factors with adverse pregnancy outcomes, using multinomial logistic regression models. The findings indicate that important risk factors associated with low birth weight preterm and intra-uterine growth retarded births (IUGR) include female sex, primiparity, age of mother over 35, illegitimacy and prior history of stillbirths, infant and child deaths. These constitute risk factors for normal weight preterm births as well, though associations with sex and primiparity in this case point to the opposite direction. Residing in large metropolitan areas is related to a greater risk of an IUGR birth. Among Greek women, educational attainment has a protective effect while housewife status is linked to higher chances of an IUGR birth. For immigrant mothers however, the opposite holds. The study also shows that normal weight preterm births form a distinct group.
Spreading of superfluid vorticity clouds in normal-fluid turbulence
Authors: KIVOTIDES DEMOSTHENES
Published: January 2011

In this paper, we formulate a self-consistent model of thermal superfluid dynamics. By solving it, we analyse the problem of superfluid vorticity cloud propagation in normal-fluid turbulence. We show that superfluid cloud expansion is driven by pattern-forming superfluid vortex instabilities taking place in the interface layer between the cloud's bulk and the outer undisturbed normal-fluid turbulence. The radius of the cloud increases linearly with time. Mutual friction transfers energy from the normal-fluid turbulence to the superfluid cloud, whilst damping the smallest normal-fluid turbulence motions. This damping action is much weaker than viscous dissipation effects in a corresponding pure normal-fluid turbulence. The energy spectrum of superfluid turbulence presents the k−3 scaling that characterizes the spiral superfluid vorticity patterns of normal vortex tube–superfluid vortex interactions. The corresponding k−2 pressure spectrum signifies the singular nature of superfluid vorticity. These two scalings coincide in wavenumber space with the Kolmogorov regime in the normal-fluid turbulence. We compute a fractal dimension df ≈ 1.652 for superfluid vorticity. Due to simpler underlying superfluid vortex dynamics in relation to the strongly nonlinear classical vortex dynamics, this fractal dimension is smaller than the corresponding dimension of vortex tube centrelines in classical turbulence.
Dynamics of reorientations and reversals of large-scale flow in Rayleigh–Bénard convection
Authors: MISHRA P. K. , DE A. K. , VERMA M. K. , ESWARAN V.
Published: January 2011

We present a numerical study of the reversals and reorientations of the large-scale circulation (LSC) of convective fluid in a cylindrical container of aspect ratio one. We take Prandtl number to be 0.7 and Rayleigh numbers in the range from 6 × 105 to 3 × 107. It is observed that the reversals of the LSC are induced by its reorientation along the azimuthal direction, which are quantified using the phases of the first Fourier mode of the vertical velocity measured near the lateral surface in the midplane. During a ‘complete reversal’, the above phase changes by around 180°, leading to reversals of the vertical velocity at all the probes. On the contrary, the vertical velocity reverses only at some of the probes during a ‘partial reversal’ with phase change other than 180°. Numerically, we observe rotation-led and cessation-led reorientations, in agreement with earlier experimental results. The ratio of the amplitude of the second Fourier mode and the first Fourier mode rises sharply during the cessation-led reorientations. This observation is consistent with the quadrupolar dominant temperature profile observed during the cessations. We also observe reorientations involving double cessation.
Vortex-enhanced propulsion
Authors: RUIZ LYDIA A. , WHITTLESEY ROBERT W. , DABIRI JOHN O.
Published: January 2011

It has been previously suggested that the generation of coherent vortical structures in the near-wake of a self-propelled vehicle can improve its propulsive efficiency by manipulating the local pressure field and entrainment kinematics. This paper investigates these unsteady mechanisms analytically and in experiments. A self-propelled underwater vehicle is designed with the capability to operate using either steady-jet propulsion or a pulsed-jet mode that features the roll-up of large-scale vortex rings in the near-wake. The flow field is characterized by using a combination of planar laser-induced fluorescence, laser Doppler velocimetry and digital particle-image velocimetry. These tools enable measurement of vortex dynamics and entrainment during propulsion. The concept of vortex added-mass is used to deduce the local pressure field at the jet exit as a function of the shape and motion of the forming vortex rings. The propulsive efficiency of the vehicle is computed with the aid of towing experiments to quantify hydrodynamic drag. Finally, the overall vehicle efficiency is determined by monitoring the electrical power consumed by the vehicle in steady and unsteady propulsion modes. This measurement identifies conditions under which the power required to create flow unsteadiness is offset by the improved vehicle efficiency. The experiments demonstrate that substantial increases in propulsive efficiency, over 50 % greater than the performance of the steady-jet mode, can be achieved by using vortex formation to manipulate the near-wake properties. At higher vehicle speeds, the enhanced performance is sufficient to offset the energy cost of generating flow unsteadiness. An analytical model explains this enhanced performance in terms of the vortex added-mass and entrainment. The results suggest a potential mechanism to further enhance the performance of existing engineered propulsion systems. In addition, the analytical methods described here can be extended to examine more complex propulsion systems such as those of swimming and flying animals, for whom vortex formation is inevitable.
Influence of petroleum hydrocarbons on the endoparasitic helminths of the common eider, Somateria mollissima, from Newfoundland
Authors: Khan R.A. , Chandra C.V. , Earle P.J. , Robertson G.J. , Ryan P. , Jamieson S.
Published: January 2011

A comparison of commonly occurring metazoan parasites in the digestive tract was made between common eiders, Somateria mollissima, that were contaminated with oil and reference birds confiscated from illegal hunting. There was a greater number of commonly occurring parasites and their abundance in reference than in oiled eiders. Except for an acanthocephalan, Polymorphus botulus, which was embedded in the wall of the intestinal tract, most of the other taxa of parasites, including trematodes, cestodes and nematodes, were probably voided from the birds following ingestion of oil. Reference eiders harboured fewer species and a substantially lower mean abundance of parasites than those studied in Newfoundland and Labrador more than four decades ago; this may be a signal of a changing prey base or an increase in prey availability as winter ice cover continues to decline.
A combination of twoBrugia malayifilarial vaccine candidate antigens (BmALT-2 and BmVAH) enhances immune responses and protection in jirds
Authors: Anand S.B. , Kodumudi K.N. , Reddy M.V. , Kaliraj P.
Published: January 2011

In this study filarial recombinant protein or DNA vaccine constructs encoding BmALT-2 and BmVAH as single or as cocktail antigens were evaluated. Male jirds were immunized intramuscularly with DNA vaccine constructs or were immunized intraperitoneally with protein vaccine. The single and bicistronic DNA constructs induced substantial interferon-γ responses in spleen cells; antigen-specific responses were higher following immunization with the bicistronic cocktail construct and evoked a significant protective response of 57% in jirds challenged withBrugia malayithat was similar in the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) assay and micropore chamber experiment. The cocktail protein vaccines induced a mixture of IgG2a (Th1) and IgG1 (Th2) responses with 80% protective response when challenged withB. malayiinfective larvae. However, the single protein vaccine rALT-2 induced Th2 (IgG1/IgG3) with a 70% protective response and rVAH induced Th1 (IgG2a) with a lower proliferative response with 60% protection following challenge withB. malayiinfective larvae. These results suggest that filarial cocktail protein vaccines are able to elicit substantial immune and protective responses when compared with single antigen vaccination in suitably vaccinated jirds.
Role of the image force in charging of dust grains in complex plasmas
Authors: SODHA M. S. , SRIVASTAVA S. , MISHRA S. K.
Published: January 2011

This paper presents an analytical study of the impact of image force on the kinetics of an irradiated complex plasma. The formulation is based on the average charge theory and includes both the number and energy balance of electrons/ions along with the charge neutrality condition. The dependence of reduction in the potential energy surface barrier (and work function) on the number density of dust particles has been investigated and its impact on the charging of dust grains and other physical plasma parameters has been discussed. An interesting conclusion is the fact that the image force consideration leads to larger magnitude of negative charge on the dust particles and the effective work function approaches the value for plane surface with increasing size and number density of dust grains.
Abundance of sedentary consumers and sessile organisms along the wave exposure gradient of subtropical rocky shores of the south-west Atlantic
Authors: Christofoletti Ronaldo A. , Takahashi Camila K. , Oliveira Diogo N. , Flores Augusto A.V.
Published: January 2011

Sedentary consumers play an important role on populations of prey and, hence, their patterns of abundance, distribution and coexistence on shores are important to evaluate their potential influence on ecosystem dynamics. Here, we aimed to describe their spatio-temporal distribution and abundance in relation to wave exposure in the intertidal rocky shores of the south-west Atlantic to provide a basis for further understanding of ecological processes in this system. The abundance and composition of the functional groups of sessile organisms and sedentary consumers were taken by sampling the intertidal of sheltered and moderately exposed shores during a period of one year. The sublittoral fringe of sheltered areas was dominated by macroalgae, while the low midlittoral was dominated by bare rock and barnacles. In contrast, filter-feeding animals prevailed at exposed shores, probably explaining the higher abundance of the predator Stramonita haemastoma at these locations. Limpets were more abundant at the midlittoral zone of all shores while sea urchins were exclusively found at the sublittoral fringe of moderately exposed shores, therefore, adding grazing pressure on these areas. The results showed patterns of coexistence, distribution and abundance of those organisms in this subtropical area, presumably as a result of wave action, competition and prey availability. It also brought insights on the influence of top-down and bottom-up processes in this area.
Age and growth of the sandpaper skate,Bathyraja kincaidii,using vertebral centra, with an investigation of caudal thorns
Authors: Perez Colleena R. , Cailliet Gregor M. , Ebert David A.
Published: January 2011

The sandpaper skate,Bathyraja kincaidii, is one of four skate species commonly taken in trawl fisheries off central California although very little is known about its life history. In this study, age and growth were evaluated from 187 vertebrae using a common growth band counting method. An attempt to use marginal increment analysis and centrum edge analysis failed to validate the annual periodicity of growth band formation; however, it is a valid assumption based on structural similarity from other studies. Assuming annual band formation, von Bertalanffy growth parameters were determined for females (L∞ = 537.3 mm; k = 0.237; to = –1.629; N = 99) and males (L∞ = 580.2 mm; k = 0.185; to = –2.530; N = 88). Maximum likelihood ratios indicated no significant difference (P > 0.05) between male and female von Bertalanffy growth parameters, thus data were combined (L∞ = 557.8 mm; k = 0.207; to = –2.147; N = 187). Age estimates from band counts in vertebral centra indicated a minimum longevity of 17 and 18 years for female and maleB. kincaidii, respectively. Caudal thorns were also assessed for age analyses, but were deemed unreliable and could not be used to verify age estimates from vertebral centra.
The Grammar of Life: The Areopagus Speech and Pagan Tradition
Authors: Rowe C. Kavin
Published: January 2011

This article explores the interconnection between intellection and life in ancient theology and philosophy by means of a reexamination of Paul's famous Areopagus discourse. Instead of reading the speech as an attempt at theological rapprochement, this essay interprets the speech as a place where fundamentally different grammars for the whole of life come into conflict.
Communicating actionable nutrition messages: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Goldberg Jeanne P. , Sliwa Sarah A.
Published: January 2011

As long as health communications have existed in the USA, Americans have faced the task of sorting the agenda of the source from the advice it provides. That task has become more complicated as advances in the science of nutrition and the technology used to present it have heightened the complexity of nutrition communications. Getting consumers to adopt a healthier diet has been a protracted undertaking with limited successes along the way. The obesity epidemic has added urgency to this discourse: not only do we need to eat better, but most of us also need to eat less. This paper reviews the dynamics that have made the communication of accurate and actionable health behaviour information an ongoing challenge, and outlines strategies for moving ahead. It considers the interplay of four sets of factors: the evolutionary nature of the science on which recommendations are based; the many sources of communication about that science; the agendas or motivations of each source; and finally the multifaceted nature of consumers, the recipients of these communications. Communication alone has not been, and will not be, sufficient for consumers to adopt the behavioural changes endorsed by experts. Broad environmental interventions coupled with individual skills development will need to be part of the process. Ultimately, it is the consumer who decides what is for dinner. Media literacy will play a critical role in building consumer efficacy in sorting fact from fiction in order to select food for a healthful diet.
To Choose or Not to Choose: Locke and Lowe On the Nature and Powers of the Self
Authors: Hannan Barbara
Published: January 2011

I compare Locke's views on the nature and powers of the self with E. J. Lowe's view, ‘non-Cartesian substance dualism’. Lowe agrees with Locke that persons have a power to choose or not to choose. Lowe takes this power to be non-causal. I argue that this move does not obviously succeed in evading the notorious interaction problem that arises for all forms of substance dualism, including those of Locke and Descartes. However, I am sympathetic to Lowe's attempt to give a metaphysical account of a robust sort of agency that would explain how human beings might be genuinely autonomous.
Managing predators, managing reindeer: contested conceptions of predator policies in Finland's southeast reindeer herding area
Authors: Heikkinen Hannu I. , Moilanen Outi , Nuttall Mark , Sarkki Simo
Published: January 2011

Preserving biodiversity and establishing healthy and thriving populations of predator animals are the expressed aims of many wildlife and ecosystem conservation projects and initiatives. However, such conservation strategies are often in conflict with the traditions, practices and land-use priorities of local communities. This article concentrates on the situation concerning the predation of reindeer (mainly by wolves) in Finland's southeast reindeer herding area and its immediate vicinity, but makes reference to the broader situation of predation and reindeer herding in Finland. Based on analysis of statistics and interviews with local stakeholders, the research findings refer to the intermingled contradictions related to conceptual, statistical and other management relevant knowledge and resulting problems, for example, in conservation hunting licensing. The article concludes that the wolf comprises a complex case for nature conservation initiatives and sustainable reindeer husbandry and that, in practice, it has particular implications compared to other policy approaches to dealing with the problem of animal predators. The article ends with some theoretical considerations as to whether we can improve our understanding of modern human-environment relations by deriving ideas from the actor-network theory debates.
Keith Richard Greenaway
Authors: Hattersley-Smith Geoffrey
Published: January 2011

Keith Richard Greenaway, who died on 21 May 2010, aged 94, established himself early in his career as the pre-eminent authority in north America on Arctic air navigation. He was only a flight lieutenant, RCAF, with 11 years service when he published his Arctic air navigation (1951), which immediately became the standard textbook in its field. The book deals with all aspects of air navigation, bringing information scattered in various publications together with the author's already very wide practical experience. The heart of the book details the limitations of the magnetic compass in high latitudes and sets out procedures in the reliable Asco-Gyro system of navigation, which Greenaway did so much to develop and which involves the determination of aircraft heading by astro compass and the maintenance of direction by gyro compass, continuously corrected for gyro-drift.
Records of white-rumped sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) on the South Shetland Islands
Authors: Korczak-Abshire Malgorzata , Angiel Piotr J. , Wierzbicki Grzegorz
Published: January 2011

A programme to monitor non-breeding bird species in the vicinity of Arctowski Station, King George Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica, has been conducted over the past 30 years. The white-rumped sandpiperCalidris fuscicollis(Vieillot 1819) seems to occur now as a vagrant in South Shetlands area more frequently than previously. This trend, and the annual variation in numbers that have been observed could be a result of short term and longer term variation in weather and climate conditions during the austral spring and summer months when this species is observed. A higher air temperature, which is a result of predominant northern winds bringing relatively warm and moist air, would probably result in more open habitats and better food resources that would allow the birds to persist or survive.
Access of emotional information to visual awareness in patients with major depressive disorder
Authors: Sterzer P. , Hilgenfeldt T. , Freudenberg P. , Bermpohl F. , Adli M.
Published: January 2011

Background

According to cognitive theories of depression, negative biases affect most cognitive processes including perception. Such depressive perception may result not only from biased cognitive appraisal but also from automatic processing biases that influence the access of sensory information to awareness.

Method

Twenty patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 20 healthy control participants underwent behavioural testing with a variant of binocular rivalry, continuous flash suppression (CFS), to investigate the potency of emotional visual stimuli to gain access to awareness. While a neutral, fearful, happy or sad emotional face was presented to one eye, high-contrast dynamic patterns were presented to the other eye, resulting in initial suppression of the face from awareness. Participants indicated the location of the face with a key press as soon as it became visible. The modulation of suppression time by emotional expression was taken as an index of unconscious emotion processing.

Results

We found a significant difference in the emotional modulation of suppression time between MDD patients and controls. This difference was due to relatively shorter suppression of sad faces and, to a lesser degree, to longer suppression of happy faces in MDD. Suppression time modulation by sad expression correlated with change in self-reported severity of depression after 4 weeks.

Conclusions

Our finding of preferential access to awareness for mood-congruent stimuli supports the notion that depressive perception may be related to altered sensory information processing even at automatic processing stages. Such perceptual biases towards mood-congruent information may reinforce depressed mood and contribute to negative cognitive biases.
The Theory of Event Coding (TEC): A framework for perception and action planning
Authors: Hommel Bernhard , Müsseler Jochen , Aschersleben Gisa , Prinz Wolfgang
Published: January 2011

Traditional approaches to human information processing tend to deal with perception and action planning in isolation, so that an adequate account of the perception-action interface is still missing. On the perceptual side, the dominant cognitive view largely underestimates, and thus fails to account for, the impact of action-related processes on both the processing of perceptual information and on perceptual learning. On the action side, most approaches conceive of action planning as a mere continuation of stimulus processing, thus failing to account for the goal-directedness of even the simplest reaction in an experimental task. We propose a new framework for a more adequate theoretical treatment of perception and action planning, in which perceptual contents and action plans are coded in a common representational medium by feature codes with distal reference. Perceived events (perceptions) and to-be-produced events (actions) are equally represented by integrated, task-tuned networks of feature codes – cognitive structures we call event codes. We give an overview of evidence from a wide variety of empirical domains, such as spatial stimulus-response compatibility, sensorimotor synchronization, and ideomotor action, showing that our main assumptions are well supported by the data.
Does kinship terminology provide evidence for or against universal grammar?
Authors: Behme Christina
Published: January 2011

Jones introduces an intricate machinery of kin classification that overcomes limitations of previous accounts. I question whether such a machinery is plausible. Because individuals never need to learn the entire spectrum of kin terminology, they could rely on data-driven learning. The complexity of Jones's machinery for kin classification casts doubt on the existence of innate structures that cover the complete linguistic domain.
Will Optimality Theory colonize all of higher cognition?
Authors: Biró Tamás
Published: January 2011

To establish Optimality Theory as a framework in anthropology, or as a general model of higher human cognition, researchers have to demonstrate OT is convincing in a number of ways. This commentary summarizes some of them – based on experience obtained in contemporary linguistic OT – including factorial typologies, exact formulation of candidate sets and constraints, and computational plausibility.
Why do we need to coordinate when classifying kin?
Authors: Gerkey Drew , Cronk Lee
Published: January 2011

We suggest that there are two coordination games when it comes to understanding kin terminology. Jones' article focuses on the linguistic coordination inherent in developing meaningful kin terminologies, alluding briefly to the benefits of these kin terminologies for coordination in other domains. We enhance Jones' discussion by tracing the links between the structure of kin terminologies and their functions.
Kin term diversity is the result of multilevel, historical processes
Authors: Jordan Fiona M. , Dunn Michael
Published: January 2011

Explanations in the domain of kinship can be sought on several different levels: Jones addresses online processing, as well as issues of origins and innateness. We argue that his framework can more usefully be applied at the levels of developmental and historical change, the latter especially. A phylogenetic approach to the diversity of kinship terminologies is most urgently required.
Pragmatic and positivistic analyses of kinship terminology
Authors: Leaf Murray J.
Published: January 2011

Jones' article suggests that the anthropological analysis of kinship has followed a single line of development based on a single underlying conception of meaning and method. In fact, there have been two opposed lines of development. Jones' conception is positivistic. The other is pragmatic. Pragmatic theory is superior on every recognized criterion. This briefly describes the differences.
Kinship, optimality, and typology
Authors: Musgrave Simon , Dowe David L.
Published: January 2011

Jones uses a mechanism from the linguistic theory, Optimality Theory, to generate the range of kin systems observed in human cultures and human languages. The observed distribution of kinship systems across human societies suggests that some possibilities are preferred over others, a result that would indicate Jones' model needs to be refined, especially in its treatment of markedness.
Kinship terminology: polysemy or categorization?
Authors: Hogeweg Lotte , Legendre Géraldine , Smolensky Paul
Published: January 2011

The target article offers an analysis of the categorization of kin types and empirical evidence that cross-cultural universals may be amenable to OT explanation. Since the analysis concerns the structuring of conceptual categories rather than the use of words, it differs from previous OT analyses in lexical semantics in what is considered to be the input and output of optimization.
The shallow structure hypothesis of second language sentence processing: What is restricted and why?
Authors: Dowens Margaret Gillon , Carreiras Manuel
Published: January 2011

Clahsen and Felser (CF) analyze the performance of monolingual children and adult second language (L2) learners in off-line and on-line tasks and compare their performance with that of adult monolinguals. They conclude that child first language (L1) processing is basically the same as adult L1 processing (the contiguity assumption), with differences in performance being due to cognitive developmental limitations. They argue that differences in L2 performance, however, are more qualitative and not explained by shortage of working memory (WM) resources, differences in processing speed, transfer of L1 processing routines, or incomplete acquisition of the target grammar. They propose a shallow structure hypothesis (SSH) to explain the differences reported in sentence processing. According to this, the syntactic representations computed by L2 learners during comprehension are shallower and less detailed than those computed by native speakers and involve more direct form-function mappings.
Does the shallow structures proposal account for qualitative differences in first and second language processing?
Authors: Sabourin Laura
Published: January 2011

In their Keynote Article, Clahsen and Felser (CF) provide a detailed summary and comparison of grammatical processing in adult first language (L1) speakers, child L1 speakers, and second language (L2) speakers. CF conclude that child and adult L1 processing makes use of a continuous parsing mechanism, and that any differences found in processing can be explained by factors such as limited working memory capacity and incomplete lexical knowledge. The authors then suggest that the existing differences between L1 (both adult and child) and L2 processing provide evidence that parsing mechanisms are qualitatively different between these groups. They posit that this qualitative difference between L1 and L2 is due to L2 speakers having shallower and less detailed syntactic representations than L1 speakers. This commentary focuses on discussing this shallow structures account and considers what this means for L2 processing.
From Site to Text: Australian Aborigines and The Origin of the Family
Authors: Gardner Helen Bethea
Published: January 2011

Missions were not simply sites of modernity, they were also the source of key data for the modernist theories of human progress. The idea that so called “primitive peoples” provided a window to the origins of human institutions seemed axiomatic to nineteenth-century theorists of human society who sought evidence for these ideas from settlers, administrators and particularly missionaries. The 1870s and 1880s were the high point of missionary engagement with study-bound anthropologists, as questionnaires and letters were sent from the centres to the edges of empires. Missionary responses, augmented with settler and explorer observations, became the footnotes in early anthropological texts on “primitive” societies. These analyses were then mined for the foundation texts of the other social sciences in the late nineteenth century. Along with many other scholars, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels read the anthropology of the period and slotted the findings into their analyses of human society.
Effect of target composition on proton acceleration by intense laser pulses in the radiation pressure acceleration regime
Authors: Pae K.H. , Choi I.W. , Lee J.
Published: January 2011

The characteristics of high energy protons generated from thin carbon-proton mixture targets via circularly polarized intense laser pulses are investigated using two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. It is found that the density ratio n between protons and carbon ions plays a key role in determining the acceleration dynamics. For low n values, the protons are mainly accelerated by the radiation pressure acceleration mechanism, resulting in a quasi-monoenergetic energy spectrum. The radiation pressure acceleration mechanism is enhanced by the directed-Coulomb-explosion of carbon ions which gives a high proton maximum energy, though a large energy spread, for high n values. From a proton acceleration point of view, the role of heavy ions is very important. The fact that the proton energy spectrum is controllable based on the target composition is especially useful in real experimental environments.
Interdisciplinarity in the environmental sciences: barriers and frontiers
Authors: HICKS CHRISTINA C. , FITZSIMMONS CLARE , POLUNIN NICHOLAS V. C.
Published: January 2011

Global environmental changes present unprecedented challenges to humans and the ecosystems upon which they depend. The need for interdisciplinary approaches to solve such multidimensional challenges is clear, however less clear is whether current attempts to cross disciplinary boundaries are succeeding. Indeed, efforts to further interdisciplinary approaches remain hampered by failures in assessing their scope and success. Here a set of measures examined the interdisciplinarity of the environmental sciences and tested two literature-based hypotheses: (1) newer and larger disciplines are more interdisciplinary; and (2) interdisciplinary research has lower impact factors than its counterparts. In addition, network analysis was used to map interdisciplinarity and determine the relative extent to which environmental science disciplines draw on alternative disciplinary perspectives. Contrary to expectations, age and size of a discipline had no effect on measures of interdisciplinarity for papers published in 2006, though metrics indicated larger articles and journals were more interdisciplinary. In addition, interdisciplinary research had a greater impact factor than its more strictly disciplinary peers. Network analysis revealed disciplines acting as ‘interdisciplinary frontiers’, bridging critical gaps between otherwise disparate subject areas. Whilst interdisciplinarity is complex, a combination of diversity metrics and network analysis provides valuable preliminary insights for interdisciplinary environmental research policy. The successful promotion of interdisciplinarity is needed to help dispel commonly perceived barriers to interdisciplinarity and create opportunities for such work by increasing the space available for different disciplines to encounter each other. In particular, the networks presented highlight the importance of considering disciplinary functioning within the wider context, to ensure maximum benefit to the scientific community as a whole.