bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a low‐temperature insert for the measurement of remanent magnetization direction using superconducting quantum interference device rock magnetometers
Authors: Smirnov Aleksey V. , Tarduno John A.
Published: April 2011

Data on the directional changes of a full magnetization vector during cycling to cryogenic temperatures can provide important insights into the low‐temperature magnetic properties of natural and synthetic materials. These data also provide an empirical basis for the application of low‐temperature treatments in paleomagnetism, for example, the removal of viscous magnetization in magnetite‐bearing rocks. However, existing instruments only allow continuous measurement of magnetization along a single axis, hampering experimental and theoretical advances in rock magnetism and the implementation of low‐temperature techniques into regular paleomagnetic practices. Here we describe development of a novel low‐temperature insert designed in collaboration with William S. Goree Inc., which allows measurement of directional behavior of a full magnetization vector during zero‐field low‐temperature cycling. Pilot experiments on well‐controlled polycrystalline samples of pseudo‐single‐domain (PSD) and multidomain magnetite as well as on a natural sample containing PSD magnetite indicate that the orientation of a saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) imparted at room temperature remains constant during low‐temperature cycling to 20 K. This observation lends additional support to low‐temperature cycling as a cleaning technique in paleomagnetism. The SIRM imparted in an individual crystal of magnetite showed systematic, albeit small changes upon both cooling and warming through the Verwey temperature, which may reflect switching between the easy magnetization directions. However, the switching effect may be significantly attenuated by crystallographic twinning in magnetite below the transition. Overall, our results demonstrate the potential of the directional low‐temperature magnetometry for the advancement of our understanding of the properties of natural and synthetic materials.
Gabapentin reduces infarct volume but does not suppress peri-infarct depolarizations
Authors: Hoffmann Ulrike , Lee Jeong Hyun , Qin Tao , Eikermann-Haerter Katharina , Ayata Cenk
Published: April 2011

Spreading depression (SD) is an intense depolarization wave implicated in brain injury. In focal ischemia, recurrent peri-infarct depolarization (PID) waves akin to SD worsen the ischemic injury by exacerbating the blood flow-metabolism mismatch. We recently showed that gabapentin suppresses SD. We, therefore, tested gabapentin on PIDs and stroke outcome. Gabapentin pretreatment (200 mg/kg, intravenously) reduced the infarct volume by 23% after transient focal ischemia in mice. However, the frequency and duration of PIDs were not suppressed when recorded for 2hours during ischemia, suggesting that gabapentin reduces infarct volume independent of PID suppression.
Lower incidence of cerebral infarction correlates with improved functional outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Vergouwen Mervyn DI , Etminan Nima , Ilodigwe Don , Macdonald R Loch
Published: April 2011

Despite an undisputed association between vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), there is debate if this association implies causality. It has been suggested that cerebral infarction is a better outcome measure than vasospasm in clinical trials and observational studies. To further investigate the relationship between infarction and outcome, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials that studied the efficacy of pharmaceutical preventive strategies in SAH patients, and had both cerebral infarction and clinical outcome as outcome events. Effect sizes were expressed in (pooled) risk ratio (RR) estimates with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Sensitivity analyses were performed for studies with a low risk of bias and for those who reported outcome at 3 months after SAH. Twenty-four studies including 8,552 patients were included. Pharmaceutical treatments decreased the incidence of both cerebral infarction (RR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.74 to 0.93) and of poor functional outcome (RR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.86 to 0.98). The sensitivity analyses did not change the results essentially. These data suggest that the previously observed association between cerebral infarction and functional outcome implies causality, and that cerebral infarction is a better outcome measure than vasospasm in clinical trials and observational studies.
Cortical Depth-Dependent Temporal Dynamics of the BOLD Response in the Human Brain
Authors: Siero Jeroen CW , Petridou Natalia , Hoogduin Hans , Luijten Peter R , Ramsey Nick F
Published: April 2011

Recent animal studies at high field have shown that blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) contrast can be specific to the laminar vascular architecture of the cortex, by differences in its temporal dynamics in reference to cortical depth. In this study, we characterize the temporal dynamics of the hemodynamic response (HDR) across cortical depth in the human primary motor and visual cortex, at 7T and using very short stimuli and with high spatial and temporal resolution. We find that the shape and temporal dynamics of the HDR changed in an orderly manner across cortical depth. Compared with the pial vasculature, HDRs in deeper gray matter are significantly faster in onset time (by ∼ 0.5 second) and peak time (∼2 seconds), and are narrower (by ∼1 second) and with smaller amplitude, in line with the known vascular organization across cortical depth and the transit of deoxygenated blood through the vasculature. The width of the HDR in deeper gray matter was as short as 2.1 seconds, indicating that neurovascular coupling takes place at a shorter timescale than previously reported in the human brain. These findings open the possibility to probe layer-specific hemodynamics and neurovascular coupling mechanisms in human gray matter.
Two-Photon Fluorescence Microscopy Study of Cerebrovascular Dynamics in Ultrasound-Induced Blood—Brain Barrier Opening
Authors: Cho Eunice E , Drazic Jelena , Ganguly Milan , Stefanovic Bojana , Hynynen Kullervo
Published: April 2011

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption can be achieved with ultrasound (US) and circulating microbubble (MB) contrast agent. Using dorsal US sonication and Definity, an MB contrast agent, responses of the cortical cerebral vasculature to BBB opening were observed with varying acoustic peak negative pressure (0.071 to 0.25 MPa) under two-photon microscope. Wistar rats with a craniotomy were sonicated with a single piezoelectric transducer following the intravenous injection of Texas Red for visualization of vasculature and leakage from BBB opening. Based on time-dependent intensity change in the extravascular area, the leakage was classified into three types: fast, sustained, and slow. Fast leakage was characterized by a rapid increase to peak intensity during sonication, but a decrease afterwards, occurring at all pressures and vessels sizes analyzed in our study. Sustained leakage was indicated by a similar, immediate increase to peak intensity but one that remained elevated for the duration of imaging, occurring at low-to-intermediate pressures. Slow leakage began 5 to 15 minutes after sonication, dominating at low pressures, and was more prevalent among smaller vessels than fast and sustained leakage. Our study showed the possibility of controlling leakage type and vessel size in US-induced BBB opening through varying acoustic pressure.
Role of CellML and FieldML in VPH/Physiome Applications
Authors: Hunter Peter
Published: April 2011

Discusses the use of the VPH/Physiome markup languages in VPH applications.
Spiders (Araneae) from Agricultural fields near foothill of Satpura Mountain ranges of Amravati District, Maharashtra, India.
Authors: Warghat Nanduwarghat , Gaur Anil , Sharma Navin , Chirde Sudhir , Pachalore Gajendra , Chandrakar Mamata
Published: April 2011

This paper deals with the study of spider distribution in agricultural fields adjoining the Satpura Mountain Ranges of the Amravati district. The total collection of spiders comprises 12 families, 37 genera and 76 species. The Araneidae and Thomisidae families were dominant, followed by Saltisidae from the selected agricultural area. Lycosidae and Tetragnathidae were also found in a decreasing number of species due to their specific habitation. The analysis of guild structure revealed six feeding guilds. Orb web weavers and Ambushers constituted the dominant feeding guild representing 33% and 22% of the total collection respectively. Stalkers and ground runners represent 20% and 17% and foliage hunters and sheet web weavers represent 5% and 3% respectively. A new species of genus Sassacus (Beetle like spider), family Saltisidae was found for the first time in the Vidarbha region. The richness of spider diversity is a sign of the overall biodiversity which is a useful indicator of the species richness of the agro-ecosystem.
MicroRNA profiling in cancer
Authors: Munker Reinhold , Calin George A.
Published: April 2011

The diagnosis of cancer has undergone major changes in the last 40 years. Once based purely on morphology, diagnosis has come to incorporate immunological, cytogenetic and molecular methods. Many cancers, especially leukaemias, are now defined by molecular markers. Gene expression profiling based on mRNA has led to further refinement of the classification and diagnosis of cancer. More recently, miRNAs (microRNAs), among other small non-coding RNA molecules, have been discovered and found to be major players in cell biology. miRNAs, having both oncogenic and tumour-suppressive functions, are dysregulated in many types of cancer. miRNAs also interfere with metastasis, apoptosis and invasiveness of cancer cells. In the present review, we discuss recent advances in miRNA profiling in human cancer. We discuss both frequent and rare tumour types and give an outlook on future developments.
Symbolic or Substantive Policy? Measuring the Extent of Local Commitment to Climate Protection
Authors: Krause Rachel M
Published: April 2011

Over 1000 US municipalities have formally committed to reduce their local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through participation in one of several climate-protection networks. This has attracted the attention of researchers interested in theories of free riding and local political decision making who question why municipalities become engaged in this global effort. However, whereas joining a climate-protection network or adopting an emissions-reduction goal are relatively low-cost acts, the implementation of such policies entails higher costs. This raises legitimate questions about the extent and type of follow-through made on municipal climate-protection commitments. With this paper I begin to fill in the data gap around municipal climate-protection initiatives and construct an index that quantifies the GHG-reduction policies implemented by local governments. Data informing the index are collected on municipalities in the US state of Indiana and are used to test theories of local political decision making. Findings point to the important role that policy entrepreneurs play in advancing local climate protection as well as to the potential inadequacy of membership in climate-protection organizations as an indicator of increased implementation of GHG-reducing activities.
Changes in the Probability of Voter Turnout When Resiting Polling Stations: A Case Study in Brent, UK
Authors: Orford Scott , Railings Colin , Thrasher Michael , Borisyuk Galina
Published: April 2011

Recent initiatives for increasing participation in UK elections have yet to replace the traditional method of in-person voting at designated polling stations. Recent research has shown that voter turnout can be sensitive to geographical factors relating to the costs of voting, such as distance travelled to the polling station; government policy has stated that accessibility is a key criterion when siting polling stations. With this paper we directly address these important issues by predicting the probability of electoral turnout to parliamentary, local, and European elections when polling stations are resited to optimal and suboptimal locations based on polling district voter density in the London Borough of Brent. The differences in these predicted probabilities show that, for some polling districts, resiting the polling place could improve the probability of turnout by up to five percentage points. These findings lead to some recommendations for future policy relating to the siting of polling places in the UK.
Institutional Entrepreneurship for Knowledge Regions: In Search of a Fresh Set of Questions for Regional Innovation Studies
Authors: Sotarauta Markku , Pulkkinen Riina
Published: April 2011

We investigate conceptually the institutional change process and innovation underpinning knowledge-based regional development from the point of view of institutional entrepreneurship. The main aim is to raise institutional entrepreneurship among debated concepts in regional development studies. We set out to discuss the following question: what kind of conceptual base provides empirical studies with a fresh set of research questions and hence point of departure in a study of the ways in which actors influence the course of events and aim to change the very institutional setting in which they are embedded?
Estimating body mass of pumas (Puma concolor)
Authors: Jansen Brian D. , Jenks Jonathan A.
Published: April 2011

Context
Body mass of animals has been estimated using body measurements and formulas have been developed for some species of large ungulates and carnivores. Pumas (Puma concolor) are often captured for sport and research in remote and rugged terrain and equipment needed to weigh a captured animal is not often carried because of the remoteness.

Aims
We investigated whether body measurements were related to body mass for pumas, to develop an equation that would accurately estimate body mass of pumas within desired tolerances (~10 kg). We also used our model to predict the body mass of pumas captured in other locales, to investigate the effectiveness of our model on other populations.

Methods
We used multiple regression to determine the relationships between body measurements and body mass for 58 pumas in the Black Hills. We then applied our top equation to eight pumas that we captured in areas outside the Black Hills study population.

Key results
We found that a model using body length (cm) and head and chest circumferences (cm) explained 89% of the variation in body mass; sex and age-class information did not contribute significantly to the model. Our top equation was as follows: body mass (kg) = –61.07 + 0.21 × body length (cm) + 0.56 × head circumference (cm) + 0.83 × chest circumference (cm). The 95% prediction interval for our top model was –6.3–6.3 kg. We found the difference between predicted and actual body mass of pumas from other populations was –0.40 kg ± 1.45 (s.e.).

Conclusions
We found the relationship between body measurements and body mass to be similar, despite the differences in location and environments.

Implications
This model could be used by researchers and sport hunters to estimate the mass of a pumas that were not weighed with a scale.
Functional responses of an invasive top predator Mustela erminea to invasive meso-predators Rattus rattus and Mus musculus, in New Zealand forests
Authors: Jones Christopher , Pech Roger , Forrester Guy , King Carolyn M. , Murphy Elaine C.
Published: April 2011

Context
Management of suites of invasive mammal species can lead to perverse outcomes, such as meso-predator release, or can achieve desirable reductions in the abundance of top-order predators by controlling their prey. Predictive models for predator–prey systems require estimates of predator functional responses, i.e. predation rates as functions of prey density.

Aims
In New Zealand, estimates of the functional responses of stoats (Mustela erminea) to mice (Mus musculus) and ship (black) rats (Rattus rattus) are required to improve management models for these invasive species.

Methods
We derived fitted relationships between the presence or absence of mouse or ship-rat remains in stoat guts and corresponding indices of prey abundance in beech and podocarp forests, respectively. To convert field data on stoat-gut contents to minimum kill rates, we used data on feeding activity and estimates of gut-passage time, observed in captive stoats.

Key results
The most parsimonious fitted curves were Type II functional responses, with a steeper stoat–mouse curve for autumn–winter, indicating a more specialist feeding habit than that in spring–summer. Estimated kill rates of mice per stoat per day reached an asymptote of 1.13 during autumn–winter. Our maximum observed kill rate for spring–summer was 11% less than the extrapolated upper limit of 1.04 mice per stoat per day for New Zealand ecosystems. No asymptote was reached within the limits of the data for the stoat–rat relationship.

Conclusions
Recent models for trophic interactions between stoats and the primary rodent prey have overestimated kill rates by stoats in forested ecosystems, particularly at very low and very high densities of mice. We show how data on stoat-gut contents can be rescaled to estimate minimum kill rates of rodent prey.

Implications
The functional-response relationships we have derived can be used to improve modelled predictions of the effects of natural or management-driven perturbations of invasive stoats and their primary rodent-prey populations.
Modelling climate-change-induced shifts in the distribution of the koala
Authors: Adams-Hosking Christine , Grantham Hedley S. , Rhodes Jonathan R. , McAlpine Clive , Moss Patrick T.
Published: April 2011

Context
The impacts of climate change on the climate envelopes, and hence, distributions of species, are of ongoing concern for biodiversity worldwide. Knowing where climate refuge habitats will occur in the future is essential to conservation planning. The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is recognised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a species highly vulnerable to climate change. However, the impact of climate change on its distribution is poorly understood.

Aims
We aimed to predict the likely shifts in the climate envelope of the koala throughout its natural distribution under various climate change scenarios and identify potential future climate refugia.

Methods
To predict possible future koala climate envelopes we developed bioclimatic models using Maxent, based on a substantial database of locality records and several climate change scenarios.

Key results
The predicted current koala climate envelope was concentrated in south-east Queensland, eastern New South Wales and eastern Victoria, which generally showed congruency with their current known distribution. Under realistic projected future climate change, with the climate becoming increasingly drier and warmer, the models showed a significant progressive eastward and southward contraction in the koala’s climate envelope limit in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. The models also indicated novel potentially suitable climate habitat in Tasmania and south-western Australia.

Conclusions
Under a future hotter and drier climate, current koala distributions, based on their climate envelope, will likely contract eastwards and southwards to many regions where koala populations are declining due to additional threats of high human population densities and ongoing pressures from habitat loss, dog attacks and vehicle collisions. In arid and semi-arid regions such as the Mulgalands of south-western Queensland, climate change is likely to compound the impacts of habitat loss, resulting in significant contractions in the distribution of this species.

Implications
Climate change pressures will likely change priorities for allocating conservation efforts for many species. Conservation planning needs to identify areas that will provide climatically suitable habitat for a species in a changing climate. In the case of the koala, inland habitats are likely to become climatically unsuitable, increasing the need to protect and restore the more mesic habitats, which are under threat from urbanisation. National and regional koala conservation policies need to anticipate these changes and synergistic threats. Therefore, a proactive approach to conservation planning is necessary to protect the koala and other species that depend on eucalypt forests.
Road proximity and traffic flow perceived as potential predation risks: evidence from the Tibetan antelope in the Kekexili National Nature Reserve, China
Authors: Lian Xinming , Zhang Tongzuo , Cao Yifan , Su Jianping , Thirgood Simon
Published: April 2011

Context
The risk-disturbance hypothesis predicts that animals exhibit risk-avoidance behaviours when exposed to human disturbance because they perceive the disturbance as a predatory threat.

Aims
This study aimed to examine whether Tibetan antelopes (Pantholops hodgsoni) exhibit risk-avoidance behaviour with proximity to a major highway and with increasing traffic flow consistent with the risk-disturbance hypothesis.

Methods
Focal-animal sampling was used to observe the behaviour of Tibetan antelopes. The behaviours were categorised as foraging, vigilance, resting, moving, or other. The time, frequency, and duration of foraging and vigilance were calculated.

Key results
As distance from the road increased, time spent foraging and foraging duration increased while foraging frequency, time spent being vigilant and vigilance frequency decreased, indicating that there is a risk perception associated with roads. Tibetan antelopes presented more risk-avoidance behaviours during high-traffic periods compared with low-traffic periods.

Conclusions
Tibetan antelopes exhibited risk-avoidance behaviour towards roads that varied with proximity and traffic levels, which is consistent with the risk-disturbance hypothesis.

Implications
The consequences of risk-avoidance behaviour should be reflected in wildlife management by considering human disturbance and road design.
Diurnal habitat suitability for a Mediterranean steppeland bird, identified by Ecological Niche Factor Analysis
Authors: Triolo Stefano , Campobello Daniela , Sarà Maurizio
Published: April 2011

Context
The negative effects of agricultural intensification and policies, use of pesticides, fertilisers and mechanised harvesting on several populations of pseudo-steppe birds have increasingly required more detailed and effective habitat suitability models. Distribution models of farmland species are prone to incur recordings of false absence data. Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) allows identification of environmental predictors of species distribution by using presence data only.

Aims
We quantified the diurnal habitat preferences and niche width of one steppe species, the stone curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus), with unfavourable conservations status in a Mediterranean area and reclassified a map with respect to habitat suitability classes according to the resulting distribution model.

Methods
Ecological Niche Factor Analysis was used with GIS cartography customised with habitat and anthropogenic variables recorded during field surveys carried out in four study plots (~500 ha) and at different spatial scales.

Key results
The stone curlew selected areas with low vegetation cover, such as fields following artichoke harvesting and tillage, close to rural buildings and unpaved roads. In contrast, the stone curlew avoided areas with high vegetation cover and areas highly disturbed by human-induced fires. The occurrence of natural vegetation was neither preferred nor avoided. The most robust model was based on a large-scale analysis (200 m from the bird location points), according to which the optimal area for stone curlew distribution during its breeding season was restricted to 1% of the entire study area.

Conclusions
Two uncorrelated factors, ‘marginality’ and ‘tolerance’, described the stone curlew’s niche in the area. The first index indicated selection for habitats that were marginal with respect to those available in the area, whereas the second indicated a species with a medium–wide environmental niche. In particular, the stone curlew occupied a much more restricted niche (low tolerance) in relation to individual variables. The use of customised databases at a large scale of analysis was found to more effectively reveal ecological requirements of this marginal and specialised species.

Implications
Our results allowed us to indicate practical land management actions for the stone curlew, such as prevention of human-induced fires and increase of pastoral activities. Our results indicated a potentially positive role of little-disturbed service roads along rural buildings in stone curlew distribution, which warrants further research. In addition, studies are needed to verify the presence of an ecological trap in artichoke fields, their preferred habitat. As we showed for the stone curlew, niche analyses conducted at a large scale using customised databases could greatly improve habitat suitability models of farmland species.
A field test of attractant traps for invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) in southern Florida
Authors: Reed Robert N. , Hart Kristen M. , Rodda Gordon H. , Mazzotti Frank J. , Snow Ray W. , Cherkiss Michael , Rozar Ronald , Goetz Scott
Published: April 2011

Context Invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) are established over thousands of square kilometres of southern Florida, USA, and consume a wide range of native vertebrates. Few tools are available to control the python population, and none of the available tools have been validated in the field to assess capture success as a proportion of pythons available to be captured. Aims Our primary aim was to conduct a trap trial for capturing invasive pythons in an area east of Everglades National Park, where many pythons had been captured in previous years, to assess the efficacy of traps for population control. We also aimed to compare results of visual surveys with trap capture rates, to determine capture rates of non-target species, and to assess capture rates as a proportion of resident pythons in the study area. Methods We conducted a medium-scale (6053 trap nights) experiment using two types of attractant traps baited with live rats in the Frog Pond area east of Everglades National Park. We also conducted standardised and opportunistic visual surveys in the trapping area. Following the trap trial, the area was disc harrowed to expose pythons and allow calculation of an index of the number of resident pythons. Key results We captured three pythons and 69 individuals of various rodent, amphibian, and reptile species in traps. Eleven pythons were discovered during disc harrowing operations, as were large numbers of rodents. Conclusions The trap trial captured a relatively small proportion of the pythons that appeared to be present in the study area, although previous research suggests that trap capture rates improve with additional testing of alternative trap designs. Potential negative impacts to non-target species were minimal. Low python capture rates may have been associated with extremely high local prey abundances during the trap experiment. Implications Results of this trial illustrate many of the challenges in implementing and interpreting results from tests of control tools for large cryptic predators such as Burmese pythons.
Spreading dynamics and wetting transition of cellular aggregates
Authors: Douezan Stéphane , Guevorkian Karine , Naouar Randa , Dufour Sylvie , Cuvelier Damien , Brochard-Wyart Françoise
Published: April 2011

We study the spreading of spheroidal aggregates of cells, expressing a tunable level of E-cadherin molecules, on glass substrates decorated with mixed fibronectin and polyethylene glycol. We observe the contact area by optical interferometry and the profile by side-view microscopy. We find a universal law of aggregate spreading at short times, which we interpret through an analogy with the spreading of viscoelastic droplets. At long times, we observe either partial wetting or complete wetting, with a precursor film of cells spreading around the aggregate with two possible states. In strongly cohesive aggregates this film is a cellular monolayer in the liquid state, whereas in weakly cohesive aggregates, cells escape from the aggregate, forming a 2D gas. The escape of isolated cells is a physical mechanism that appears also to be present in the progression of a noninvasive tumor into a metastatic malignant carcinoma, known as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
Visual Representations of Iranian Transgenders
Authors: Shakerifar Elhum
Published: April 2011

Transsexuality in Iran has gained much attention and media coverage in the past few years, particularly in its questionable depiction as a permitted loophole for homosexuality, which is prohibited under Iran's Islamic-inspired legal system. Of course, attention in the West is also encouraged by the “shock” that sex change is available in Iran, a country that Western media and society delights in portraying as monolithically repressive. As a result, Iranian filmmakers inevitably have their own agendas, which are unsurprisingly brought into the film making process—from a desire to sell a product that will appeal to the Western market, to films that endorse specific socio-political agendas. This paper is an attempt to situate sex change and representations of sex change in Iran within a wider theoretical framework than the frequently reiterated conflation with homosexuality, and to open and engage with a wider debate concerning transsexuality in Iran, as well as to specifically analyze the representation of transexuality, in view of its current prominent presence in media.
Iranian War Cinema: Between Reality and Fiction
Authors: Abecassis Michaël
Published: April 2011

The fascination for the Western world with Iranian cinema lies primarily with the fable-like developments of its stories which often plunge us into a world of exoticism and lured us with its singularity. Iranian war cinema born during the war between Iran and Iraq is not as well distributed in Europe and films with English subtitles are difficult to get hold of. Whether it is interpreted as an anthropological document which opens a dialogue between the protagonist and the spectators, the “I” and the other, Iranian war cinema by Tabrizi, Sinayi, Hatamikia and Ghobadi, among many others, can be seen as a spiritual voyage where the soul hovers between absence and presence. In the wake of war cinema in general, one can draw parallels with mythology, the Judeo-Christian tradition, literature and art. Its function is not only didactic but cathartic, and the particularity of Iranian war cinema like no other is that it participates in the mourning process of a whole nation fighting against its own ghosts and in search of its identity. This article attempts to decipher the myths hidden behind the images presented by Iranian war cinema, paradoxically interweaving the traumatic with the aesthetic.
Some Observations on Visual Representations of the 2009 Iranian Presidential Election Crisis
Authors: Khosronejad Pedram
Published: April 2011

Based on visual representations of the Iranian presidential election crisis of 2009, this article explores the idea of a relationship between the production of images related to crisis, trauma and the legitimacy of such online visual materials. While photos and cell phone video recordings taken in urban spaces bear witness to public acts and encounters, this article explores the role that visual images play in shaping political crisis. The article concludes that the production, purchase and also circulation of such visual materials should be at the center of any further research in this domain.
Small worlds: the best network structure for innovation?
Authors: Steen John , Macaulay Sam , Kastelle Tim
Published: April 2011

The properties of social networks have been used to explain the behaviour and performance of diverse economic and social systems. Recently, attention has been given to a class of network structures identified as ‘small‐worlds’, due to their apparent efficiency in connecting different actors through short path lengths within a relatively sparse network. Intuitively, such network structures should also be conducive for innovation due to better flows of information and the possibility of new connections between skills and ideas. While there is some evidence for this hypothesis, we urge caution in interpreting the results of small‐world studies of innovation and suggest future improvements for empirical research.
Optimized cylindrical invisibility cloak with minimum layers of non-magnetic isotropic materials
Authors: Yu Zhenzhong , Feng Yijun , Xu Xiaofei , Zhao Junming , Jiang Tian
Published: April 2011

We present optimized design of cylindrical invisibility cloak with minimum layers of non-magnetic isotropic materials. Through an optimization procedure based on genetic algorithm, simpler cloak structure and more realizable material parameters can be achieved with better cloak performance than that of an ideal non-magnetic cloak with a reduced set of parameters. We demonstrate that a cloak shell with only five layers of two normal materials can result in an average 20 dB reduction in the scattering width for all directions when covering the inner conducting cylinder with the cloak. The optimized design can substantially simplify the realization of the invisibility cloak, especially in the optical range.
Thermographic analysis of localized conductive channels in bipolar resistive switching devices
Authors: Lu Yi Meng , Jiang Wenkan , Noman Mohammad , Bain James A , Salvador Paul A , Skowronski Marek
Published: April 2011

Temperature distributions in Pt/SrZrO3/SrRuO3 and Pt/TiO2/Pt thin film heterostructures were imaged by infrared thermography while under electrical bias. Local hot spots with lateral sizes between 5 and 30 µm appear during electroforming, they reappear during switching, and they show temperature increases from 50 to above 250 °C. Over 90% of conductivity increases produced by electroforming were confined to the hotspot locations. In some structures, thermography demonstrated that two separate conductive paths could be formed using opposite biases, and their conductivities could be repeatedly switched on and off with opposite voltage dependences. Direct evidence of large temperature increases supports the existence of Joule heating within the conductive channel during resistance switching of oxide heterostructures.
Electron temperature characterization and power balance in a low magnetic field helicon mode
Authors: Lafleur T , Charles C , Boswell R W
Published: April 2011

The electron temperature in a low-field helicon mode has been characterized in the presence of a diverging magnetic field (B
0 < 5 mT), using a number of electrostatic probes. At the low pressures investigated (<0.3 Pa) the electron energy probability function (measured with an rf compensated Langmuir probe) shows a depleted tail in both the upstream and downstream regions, with the tail temperature being about half that of the bulk electron temperature. Independent measurements of the tail temperature have been made with a retarding field energy analyser (operated in electron collection mode), which closely match those from the rf compensated probe. A global model is developed to predict the electron temperature, plasma potential and plasma density during the low-field mode, and is found to be in very good agreement with the experimental measurements.
Three-dimensional modelling of arc behaviour and gas shield quality in tandem gas–metal arc welding using anti-phase pulse synchronization
Authors: Schnick M , Wilhelm G , Lohse M , Füssel U , Murphy A B
Published: April 2011

The paper presents a transient three-dimensional model of an anti-phase-synchronized pulsed tandem gas–metal arc welding process, which is used to analyse arc interactions and their influence on the gas shield flow. The shielding gases considered are pure argon and a mixture of argon with 18% CO2. Comparison of the temperature fields predicted by the model with high-speed images indicates that the essential features of the interactions between the arcs are captured. The paper demonstrates strong arc deflection and kinking, especially during the low-current phase of the pulse, in agreement with experimental observations. These effects are more distinct for the argon mixture with 18% CO2. The second part of the paper demonstrates the effects of arc deflection and instabilities on the shielding gas flow and the occurrence of air contamination in the process region. The results allow an improved understanding of the causes of periodic instabilities and weld seam imperfections such as porosity, spatter, heat-tint oxidation and fume deposits.
Influence of SiC reinforcement particles on the tribocorrosion behaviour of Al–SiCp FGMs in 0.05M NaCl solution
Authors: Vieira A C , Rocha L A , Mischler S
Published: April 2011

The main aim of this work was to study and understand the influence of SiC particles on the corrosion and tribocorrosion of Al-matrix composite materials. For that, Al–SiCp functionally graded composites were produced by centrifugal casting and different SiCp contents were achieved. Their mechanical properties were improved by age-hardening heat treatments. The tribocorrosion behaviour was studied in 0.05M NaCl solutions using a reciprocating motion tribometer involving an alumina ball sliding against the Al-based samples. Above critical SiC particles' content the matrix alloy surface was found to be protected against wear by SiC particles protruding from the surface. Below this threshold content, the SiC reinforcement was inefficient and the wear rate of the composite was the same as the non-reinforced alloy.
Substitution-driven structural and magnetic phase transitions in Bi0.86(La, Sm)0.14FeO3 system
Authors: Khomchenko V A , Pereira L C J , Paixão J A
Published: April 2011

Solid-state synthesis and investigation of crystal structure and magnetic properties of Bi0.86La0.14−x
Sm
x
FeO3 (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.14) ceramics were performed. It was found that a rhombohedral to orthorhombic phase transition took place in the series with decreasing average ionic radius of the substituting elements occupying the A-site of the ABO3 perovskite. Magnetic properties of the compounds were shown to correlate with evolution of their structural state. Pure rhombohedral samples 0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.06 were obtained in a mixed antiferromagnetic/weak ferromagnetic state. A small residual magnetization characteristic of the compounds was found to weakly depend on change of the chemical composition. Progressive increase of the residual magnetization was observed upon the rhombohedral-to-orthorhombic transition. Reasons for the appearance of the weak ferromagnetism in orthorhombic and rhombohedral phases of the Bi0.86(La, Sm)0.14FeO3 compounds were analysed.
Finite element analysis of adaptive atom-optical mirrors
Authors: Ross A E , MacLaren D A , Allison W
Published: April 2011

We present finite element analysis of the deflections of clamped, ultrathin single crystals under electrostatic pressure. The crystals form concave mirrors that are suitable for low-aberration reflective focusing of inert atom beams, such as those required for the construction of a scanning helium microscope. The electrostatic and elastic aspects of the problem are coupled in the simulation. Additionally, realistic inhomogeneities in the crystal thickness are considered and it is shown that adaptive optic protocols using a minimal number of optimized electrodes can correct the resultant mirror aberrations.
𝑝(𝑥)-Laplacian with indefinite weight
Authors: Kefi Khaled
Published: April 2011

We consider the eigenvalue problem

−

div

(

|

∇
u

|

p
(
x
)
−
2

∇
u

)

=

-\textrm {div}\big (|\nabla u|^{p(x)-2}\nabla u\big )=

λ
V
(
x
)

|

u

|

q
(
x
)
−
2

u

\lambda V(x)|u|^{q(x)-2}u

, in

Ω
\Omega

,

u
=
0

u=0

on

∂
Ω

\partial \Omega

, where

Ω
\Omega

is a smooth bounded domain in

R

N

\mathbb {R}^{N}

,

λ
>
0

\lambda >0

,

p
,
q

p,q

are continuous functions on

Ω
¯

\overline {\Omega }

and

V
V

is a given function in a generalized Lebesgue space

L

s
(
x
)

(
Ω
)

L^{s(x)}(\Omega )

such that

V
>
0

V>0

in an open set

Ω

0

⊂
Ω

\Omega _{0}\subset \Omega

, where

|

Ω

0

|

>
0

|\Omega _{0}| >0

. We prove under appropriate conditions on the functions

p
,
q

p,q

and

s
s

that any

λ
>
0

\lambda >0

sufficiently small is an eigenvalue of the above nonhomogeneous quasilinear problem. The proof relies on simple variational arguments based on Ekeland’s variational principle.
An upper bound on the number of 𝐹-jumping coefficients of a principal ideal
Authors: Katzman Mordechai , Lyubeznik Gennady , Zhang Wenliang
Published: April 2011

We prove a result relating the Jacobian ideal and the generalized test ideal associated to a principal ideal in

R
=
k
[

x
1

,
…
,

x
n

]

R=k[x_1,\dots ,x_n]

with

[
k
:

k
p

]
>
∞

[k:k^p]>\infty

or in

R
=
k
[
[

x
1

,
…
,

x
n

]
]

R=k[[x_1,\dots ,x_n]]

with an arbitrary field

k
k

of characteristic

p
>
0

p>0

. As a consequence of this result, we establish an upper bound on the number of

F
F

-jumping coefficients of a principal ideal with an isolated singularity.
Integral homology of loop groups via Langlands dual groups
Authors: Yun Zhiwei , Zhu Xinwen
Published: April 2011

Let

K
K

be a connected compact Lie group, and

G
G

its complexification. The homology of the based loop group

Ω
K

\Omega K

with integer coefficients is naturally a

Z

\mathbb {Z}

-Hopf algebra. After possibly inverting

2
2

or

3
3

, we identify

H
∗

(
Ω
K
,

Z

)

H_*(\Omega K,\mathbb {Z})

with the Hopf algebra of algebraic functions on

B
e
∨

B^\vee _e

, where

B
∨

B^\vee

is a Borel subgroup of the Langlands dual group scheme

G
∨

G^\vee

of

G
G

and

B
e
∨

B^\vee _e

is the centralizer in

B
∨

B^\vee

of a regular nilpotent element

e
∈
Lie
⁡

B
∨

e\in \operatorname {Lie} B^\vee

. We also give a similar interpretation for the equivariant homology of

Ω
K

\Omega K

under the maximal torus action.
KalignP: Improved multiple sequence alignments using position specific gap penalties in Kalign2
Authors: Shu Nanjiang , Elofsson Arne
Published: April 2011

Summary: Kalign2 is one of the fastest and most accurate methods for multiple alignments. However, in contrast to other methods Kalign2 does not allow externally supplied position specific gap penalties. Here, we present a modification to Kalign2, KalignP, so that it accepts such penalties. Further, we show that KalignP using position specific gap penalties obtained from predicted secondary structures makes steady improvement over Kalign2 when tested on Balibase 3.0 as well as on a dataset derived from Pfam-A seed alignments.

Availability and Implementation: KalignP is freely available at http://kalignp.cbr.su.se. The source code of KalignP is available under the GNU General Public License, Version 2 or later from the same website.

Contact:  arne@bioinfo.se

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Drawing on Wisdom From the Past: An Elder Abuse Intervention With Tribal Communities
Authors: Holkup Patricia A. , Salois Emily Matt , Tripp-Reimer Toni , Weinert Clarann
Published: April 2011

Purpose: The Family Care Conference (FCC) is an elder-focused, family-centered, community-based intervention for the prevention and mitigation of elder abuse. It is based on a family conference intervention developed by the Maori people of New Zealand, who determined that Western European ways of working with child welfare issues were undermining such family values as the definition and meaning of family, the importance of spirituality, the use of ritual, and the value of noninterference. The FCC provides the opportunity for family members to come together to discuss and develop a plan for the well-being of their elders.

Design and Methods: Using a community-based participatory research approach, investigators piloted and implemented the FCC in one northwestern Native American community. The delivery of the FCC intervention has grown from having been introduced and facilitated by the researchers, to training community members to facilitate the family meetings, to becoming incorporated into a Tribal agency, which will oversee the implementation of the FCC.

Results: To date, families have accepted and appreciated the FCC intervention. The constructive approach of the FCC process helps to bring focus to families' concerns and aligns their efforts toward positive action.Implications:The strength-based FCC provides a culturally anchored and individualized means of identifying frail Native American elders' needs and finding solutions from family and available community resources.
Step by Step: Integrating Evidence-Based Fall-Risk Management Into Senior Centers
Authors: Baker Dorothy I. , Gottschalk Margaret , Bianco Luann M.
Published: April 2011

Purpose:  Our purpose in this project was to conceptualize and implement evidence-based fall-prevention programming into senior centers. We present challenges to this process and strategies to overcome them. Design and Methods: We carried out a dissemination project in nine diverse senior centers in Connecticut. Participants included investigators from the Connecticut Collaboration for Fall Prevention (CCFP), senior center administrators, and trained staff interventionists implementing a program of fall prevention based on the Yale Frailty and Injury Cooperative Studies of Intervention Trials (known as the Yale FICSIT). Using CCFP materials that were based on the stages of change, senior center staff developed methods to integrate fall-prevention programming into their centers. We extracted implementation challenges, and the strategies that senior center staff developed to overcome them, from the minutes of monthly work-group meetings. Monthly counts of individual assessments were also a source of data. Results: Challenges included staffing and the delineation of authority, structural issues, engaging senior center membership, cultural issues, and the modification of existing practices. Each senior center devised site-specific methods to overcome these challenges when CCFP investigators convened work-group meetings. We developed creative strategies to inform senior center membership about fall prevention, and in the first 18 months, 4% of members scheduled individual assessments. Implications: The challenges of integrating evidence-based fall-prevention programming into existing senior center services can be negotiated by collaboration among senior center administrators, health providers, the center membership, and researchers. This experience suggests that senior centers may be important venues to reach older adults with fall-prevention programming.