Bonpland and Humboldt Specimens, Field Notes, and Herbaria; New Insights from a Study of the Monocotyledons Collected in Venezuela

Abstract: Abstract Stauffer, F. W., J. Stauffer & L. J. Dorr (2012). Bonpland and Humboldt specimens, field notes, and herbaria; new insights from a study of the monocotyledons collected in Venezuela. Candollea 67: 75–130. In English, English and French abstracts. The monocotyledon collections emanating from Humboldt and Bonpland's expedition are used to trace the complicated ways in which botanical specimens collected by the expedition were returned to Europe, to describe the present location and to explore the relationship between specimens, field notes, and descriptions published in the multi-volume “Nova Genera et Species Plantarum” (1816–1825). Collections in five European herbaria were searched for monocotyledons collected by the explorers. In Paris, a search of the Bonpland Herbarium (P-Bonpl.), the most important repository of the expedition's botanical collections, uncovered about 350 specimens of monocotyledon and more or less the same number of species. The Venezuelan material represents 86 species belon...


FK506 disturbs cellular CA regulation in a pharmacological model of heart failure

Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology


VENOM OF THE SOUTH WEST AFRICAN CORAL SNAKEASPIDELAPS LUBRICUS INFUSCATUSMertens

The Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa


Studies on the aerobic deterioration of whole-crop cereal silages


The dispersion of red knots Calidris canutus in Africa—is southern Africa a buffer for West Africa?

Abstract: The Siberian subspecies of the red knot Calidris canutus canutus spends the non-breeding season largely in West Africa (Mauritania and Guinea Bissau), where approximately half a million occurred in the 1980s. It was a rarely seen in southern Africa in the early part of the 20th century, but there were about 12 500 in the 1970s and 1980s. The main sites were Langebaan Lagoon, Berg River Estuary, Olifants River Estuary (South Africa) and Walvis Bay Lagoon (Namibia). There was a decline in the number of red knots at Langebaan Lagoon in the 1990s, to around 20% of the number that occurred there in the 1980s. Numbers remained low in the 2000s. In addition, the percentage that remained during the austral winter (the breeding season in the Arctic) declined, and there was none during the period 2001–2009. This suggested that first-year birds, which largely comprise the austral winter population, were no longer travelling to southern Africa. The decline in numbers coincided with the decline in West Africa, but it ...


Evaluation of statistical models for genetic analysis of challenge test data on furunculosis resistance in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): Prediction of field survival

Abstract: Abstract Challenge test data of Atlantic salmon for survival to Aeromonas salmonicida infection were used in genetic analyses, by defining survival as either a binary trait (test period survival), repeated measures of a binary trait (test-day survival), or time until death. Test period survival was analyzed by a linear and a threshold model, while a linear repeatability model was used for analysis of test-day survival, and a proportional hazards Weibull model was applied to time until death. The threshold and the proportional hazards models resulted in the highest heritabilities (0.59 and 0.63, respectively), while the lowest heritability was found for the linear repeatability test-day model (0.02). The different models were ranked according to their ability to predict full-sib family survival to disease outbreak in the field. All models proved to be good predictors, with correlations between predicted full-sib family effects from challenge test and full-sib family field survival ranging from 0.71 to 0.75. The linear repeatability model had the best predictive ability, followed by the cross-sectional threshold model, the Weibull frailty model, and the cross-sectional linear model. The Weibull frailty model was unable to include common environmental family effects in addition to additive genetic effects of sire and dam, possibly reducing the predictive ability of this model. However, a high Spearman correlation coefficient (0.98) was found between the predicted breeding values of the Weibull and the linear repeatability models, both defining survival as a longitudinal trait. If the endpoint of recording was set at 50% mortality, Spearman correlations among predicted breeding values from the different models were all very high (> 0.98).


CLUSTER ANALYSIS OF ANTHER-DERIVED PLANTS OF SOLANUM PHUREJA (SOLANACEAE) BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract: The feasibility of grouping anther-derived plants of Solanum phureja according to ploidy based on their morphological characteristics was studied. Canonical discriminant analysis identified four characteristics (anther length, number of chloroplasts per pair of guard cells, leaf width, corolla width at widest diam) of nine measured as the most effective combination for diagnosing ploidy. Data for these characteristics from two sets of plants were subjected to two clustering techniques, one using the average linkage clustering (UPGMA of the NT-SYS programs) and the other using centroid sorting (SAS-Fastclus). Screening of anther-derived plants by cluster analysis proved to be an efficient means of separating monoploids from the other ploidy levels. THE MAIN APPLICATION of anther culture to plant breeding is the development of haploid and subsequently homozygous diploid plants; therefore, it is essential that the ploidy level of regenerated plants be known. Anther-derived plants have frequently been observed to vary with respect to chromosome number (Wenzel and Uhrig, 198 1; Bhaskaran, Smith and Finer,


A New Specimen of Nothosaurus youngi from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou, China


Seasonal productivity in a population of migratory songbirds: why nest data are not enough

Abstract: Population models for many animals are limited by a lack of information regarding juvenile survival. In particular, studies of songbird reproductive output typically terminate with the success or failure of nests, despite the fact that adults spend the rest of the reproductive season rearing dependent fledglings. Unless fledgling survival does not vary, or varies consistently with nest productivity, conclusions about population dynamics based solely on nest data may be misleading. During 2007 and 2008, we monitored nests and used radio telemetry to monitor fledgling survival for a population of Ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapilla) in a managed-forest landscape in north-central Minnesota, USA. In addition to estimating nest and fledgling survival, we modeled growth for population segments partitioned by proximity to edges of non-nesting cover types (regenerating clearcuts). Nest survival was significantly lower, but fledgling survival was significantly higher, in 2007 than in 2008. Despite higher nest productivity in 2008, seasonal productivity (number of young surviving to independence per breeding female) was higher in 2007. Proximity to clearcut edge did not affect nest productivity. However, fledglings from nests near regenerating sapling-dominated clearcuts (7–20 years since harvest) had higher daily survival (0.992 ± 0.005) than those from nests in interior forest (0.978 ± 0.006), which in turn had higher daily survival than fledglings from nests near shrub-dominated clearcuts (≤6 years since harvest; 0.927 ± 0.030) in 2007, with a similar but statistically non-significant trend in 2008. Our population growth models predicted growth rates that differed by 2–39% (x¯ = 25%) from simpler models in which we replaced our estimates of first-year survival with one-half adult annual survival (an estimate commonly used in songbird population growth models). We conclude that nest productivity is an inadequate measure of songbird seasonal productivity, and that results based exclusively on nest data can yield misleading conclusions about population growth and clearcut edge effects. We suggest that direct estimates of juvenile survival could provide more accurate information for the management and conservation of many animal taxa.


Quantifying ecological change through discriminant analysis: a paleoecological example from the Peruvian Amazon

Abstract: Question: Can discriminant analysis be used to quantify ecological change? Can fossil pollen data be used as a proxy to quantify moisture availability change through discriminant analysis? ::: ::: Location: Lake Sauce, Amazonian piedmont of Peru. ::: ::: Methods: A linear discriminant function was used to classify taxa found through pollen analysis into wet and dry indicators. The data set was filtered to exclude rare taxa from the analysis. Given that after application of the filter there were more variables (samples) than observations (taxa), the model was “de-saturated” through simulation of samples based on the existing data set. ::: ::: Results: The inclusion of taxa that have a relative abundance of 1% or more in at least 5% of the samples reduces noise in the data set. Application of discriminant analysis to pollen data gave an error of 18% when classifying taxa by affinity with dry or wet conditions. The inferred moisture availability curve shows consistency with independent proxies from the same core and with identified local and sub-continental moisture patterns. ::: ::: Conclusions: The method provides a reliable means to reduce a complex paleoecological data set to proportional change in a single pre-defined variable. The output is a relative scale of change of a defined environmental gradient through time, without reliance on an extensive array of modern analogues. The results appear to provide a comparable quality of information to that of isotopic analysis derived from speleothem or sedimentary records.


Bioluminescent-bioreporter integrated circuits form novel whole-cell biosensors

Abstract: The bioluminescent-bioreporter integrated circuit represents a new advance in the development of whole-cell biosensors, consisting of a genetically engineered bioreporter organism interfaced with an integrated circuit. The bioreporter is engineered to luminesce when a targeted substance is encountered, with the circuit being designed to detect this luminescence, process the signal and communicate the results. The bioreporters are thus available to the circuit designer as another component, analogous to a transistor or a resistor, albeit a living entity. The concept has been demonstrated using Pseudomonas putida TVA8 to sense the environmental pollutant toluene.


Wnt2a/2b are required for lung specification and development through activation of canonical signaling.


GSTP1 expression and promoter methylation in epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Abstract: Context: GSTP1 is a subgroup of glutathione-S-transferase family, which provides cellular protection against free radical and carcinogenic compounds due to its detoxifying function. Altered GSTP1 activity due to down regulation of enzyme activity and DNA methylation has been reported in many tumors, although data for ovarian cancer are few. In this study, we aimed at determining the expression of GSTP1 in relation to the methylation of the GSTP1 promoter in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Materials and Methods: GSTP1 mRNA expression and GSTP1 enzyme concentration were assessed by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively, in 88 EOCs, 14 low malignant potential (LMP) tumors, and 20 benign tumors. The promoter methylation of GSTP1 gene was evaluated by methylation-specific PCR. Results: Reduced GSTP1 mRNA expression was observed in 49% EOCs, 21.4% LMP, and 45% benign tumors. Significantly lower levels of plasma GSTP1 were observed in all tumor samples compared to normal. GSTP1 promoter methylation was detected in 10 (11.4%) EOCs and 1 (7.3%) LMP tumors. No methylation was observed in benign tumors and normal ovaries. Conclusions: Our results show that there is a significant down regulation of GSTP1 expression while hypermethylation of the GSTP1 gene promoter is not very frequent in EOC. Further studies are needed to study underlying mechanisms leading to decreased expression.


Fifty years of devotion to spiders: a concise biography of Christo Deltshev, with a complete list of his publications and described taxa


Effect of replacement rate, crossbreeding and sexed semen on the efficiency of beef production from dairy herds in Finland

Abstract: In Finland, during the past 10 years, the number of dairy cows has declined considerably leading to decreased domestic beef production which is partly compensated by increased suckler beef production. However, production of meat originating from dairy herds has been shown to be economically more profitable and to produce less greenhouse gas emissions per unit of product than beef production from suckler cow systems. Therefore, when safeguarding beef self-sufficiency, the intensification of beef production from dairy herds is a more promising option to consider. In this study, the possibility of different options for increasing dairy beef production was assessed by using a deterministic simulation. Increasing the use of crossbreeding in dairy herds, especially when combined with the use of Y-sorted semen, appeared to be the most efficient strategy for increasing dairy beef production. The decrease in the replacement rate increased beef production through the potential for enhancing crossbreeding.

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section A-animal Science


Characterization of bacterial communities associated with seasonal water masses from Tongyoung in South Sea of Korea

Abstract: Understanding the patterns of microbial diversity and their composition in seawater is necessary to assess the impacts of microbes on marine ecosystem. Although the potential roles of microbes in the ocean have been studied, their diversity and relationship with environmental factors remain unclear. In this study, we adopted a 16S rRNA gene tag-pyrosequencing technique to investigate the bacterial communities associated with two different water masses from Tongyoung in the South Sea of Korea. Our results revealed highly diverse bacterial communities up to 900 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) estimated from each seawater which was collected in the month of March and May, when the environmental conditions including temperature differed significantly: 7.2°C and 17.6°C in March and May, respectively. Altogether, 13 bacterial phyla were recovered from the seawater, of which Proteobacteria was the most dominant group. In addition, the value of the Shannon index, which measures the evenness of the distribution of individuals among OTUs, in May is higher than that in March, indicating that it displays a wider diversity of bacteria. Interestingly, the proportion of pathogenic bacteria was significantly increased in the month of May compared to March, suggesting that pathogenic bacteria were increasingly emerging in May. In particular, Pseudoalteromonas and Vibrio spp. were determined as major pathogenic bacteria from both water masses, of which Vibrio spp. were dominant.


Alteration of ceramide monohexoside in human diploid fetal lung fibroblasts during cell aging.

Abstract: Abstract Serially cultured human diploid fibroblasts have a finite lifetime in vitro, and this phenomenon was postulated as cellular aging. Neutral glycosphingolipids (GSLs) from human fetal lung-derived diploid fibroblast cell lines, WI-38 and TIG-1 cells, were studied during cellular aging. Both cell lines had at least four types of neutral GSLs. It was found that neutral GSLs changed with aging, the most conspicuous alteration being a 2-4-fold increase in the content of ceramide monohexoside. This change was invariably observed in either WI-38 or TIG-1 cells.


Atomic Basis for Potassium Channel Potentiation by A Novel Class of Anti-Epileptic Drugs

Abstract: Retigabine is the prototypical member of a recently discovered class of anti-epileptic drugs that act by potentiating the neuronal M-current formed by KCNQ2-5 potassium channel subunits. Retigabine interacts with the pore of KCNQ2-5 channels, requiring a Trp residue present in KCNQ2-5 to exert its effects, suggesting the notion of a hydrophobic binding pocket. We have used nonsense suppression to subtly alter the properties of this Trp residue (265) in homomeric KCNQ3 channels and identify the specific chemical interactions required for retigabine effects. Remarkably, simply changing the position of the indole nitrogen atom from Trp265 (removing its hydrogen bonding ability) completely abolishes the effects of retigabine. This finding suggests that retigabine interacts with KCNQ channels via a hydrogen bond with the Trp indole group, a rarely demonstrated mode of drug:target interaction. Supporting this model, substitution with fluorinated Trp analogs can strengthen retigabine potency by increasing the indole N-H bond polarity. Lastly, the potency of numerous retigabine analogs for KCNQ3 channels was found to correlate with the negative electrostatic surface potential of a conserved carbonyl oxygen atom. These findings demonstrate the detailed chemical interactions and functional groups that likely underlie the effects of retigabine and other KCNQ activators, highlighting a rarely observed mode of drug interaction with multifunctional amphipathic Trp side chains. These stringent constraints for models of retigabine interactions with KCNQ channels may guide the rational development of improved retigabine derivatives.


Myxarium nucleatum and its conidial state

Abstract: The asexual conidial state is described for Myxarium nucleatum and is found to resemble that in Auricularia mesenterica, A. auricula-judae and Exidia glandulosa .

Transactions of The British Mycological Society


Book Review:The Indians of the Americas. John Collier


Review Article The many faces of egg activation at fertilization

Abstract: signaling pathways in different species. The signaling pathways responsible for the release of calcium seen at fertilization vary from species to species, yet they center around the importance of IP3-mediated signaling. Similarly, while there are differences in the mechanisms of regulated secretion between species and between intracellular membrane trafficking events, particularly with respect to time and space, all seem to be dependent on the SNARE proteins and their regulator and effector proteins. What has been most helpful in these studies is the convergence of studies from many different species of eggs. With the amazing divergence of reproductive processes and mechanisms that exists throughout phylogeny, it is comforting to see such strong overlapping roles of key players in widely disparate eggs.


705. CARPINUS FANGIANA

Abstract: Carpinus fangiana Hu, from wet mountains of western China, is illustrated and described. Its habitat and associated species are discussed.


The biology of six South Island ponds

Abstract: Abstract General descriptions are given of six ponds, between latitudes 42° and 44° S, from seasonal visits between 1969 and 1971. All the ponds were permanent with rooted macrophytes. They had a wide range of physical and chemical conditions, and associated variations of flora and fauna. Special attention was given to fauna in the areas of aquatic macrophytes.

Journal of The Royal Society of New Zealand


The effects of cutting frequency on natural Glyceria maxima stands

Abstract: Abstract Reed sweetgrass, Glyceria maxima , (Hartm.) Holmb., is potentially suitable for concomitantly accomplishing wastewater nutrient removal and biomass production. In this study, the effects of two different harvest frequencies on shoot and rhizome growth during two consecutive years were investigated in two fertilized natural stands. Three plots (20 and 24 m 2 ) were used in each stand and were treated as follows; unharvested; two harvests per year; or three harvests per year. Harvesting two or three times per year affected the stands to about the same degree. The harvested biomass was significantly lower in Year 2 with 60 and 75% of that in the first year. In the harvested stands the rhizome biomass decreased significantly during the first year. There was a strong relationship between the amount of non-structural carbohydrates stored in the rhizomes in November of Year 1 and the number of shoots with basal diameter > 5 mm in June of Year 2. A lack of carbohydrates during shoot initiation seemed to result in thinner shoots. This effect may have been accentuated by a lack of N during late summer and autumn. During Year 1 the amount of N used for shoot growth was 40–80% higher than in the control plots, whereas in Year 2 the relationship was reversed. The results imply that harvesting G. maxima either two or three times per season will cause a decrease in shoot biomass even in highly productive stands. A sustained high biomass yield may be promoted by continuous application of nutrients, but this remains to be verified.


In utero exposure to nanoparticle-rich diesel exhaust suppressed testicular function in immature male rats


Identification of N-acetylglucosamine and 4-O-[1-carboxyethyl]mannose in the exopolysaccharide from Cyanospira capsulata


A highly substituted glucan that coats the seeds of Helipterum eximium


SOME PROBLEMS OF THE SOCIETY


Transformation of Indigo carmine by Phanerochaete chrysosporium ligninolytic enzymes

Abstract: Abstract The reaction between P. chrysosporium extracellular ligninolytic peroxidases and the dye Indigo carmine was studied. This dye can be successfully decolorized by both manganese (MnP) and lignin (LiP) peroxidases. By using a proper culture medium composition, a growth medium exhibiting high MnP or high LiP activity was obtained. Additionally, some peroxidase isoenzymes were isolated. Although the dye was successfully decolorised by both groups of extracellular peroxidases, the reaction by MnP was faster. Besides a yellow final product, the decolorization of Indigo carmine by MnP resulted in a red product formation that was not observed at the decolorization by LiP. The final concentration of the red product can be influenced by the pH value of the reaction mixture as well as by the initial dye concentration. The maximum formation of the red product was achieved at pH 5 with 60 mg/liter of the Indigo carmine in the reaction mixture. The red product was isolated and partially characterized using UV-VIS and 1 H NMR spectroscopy, and TLC.


Toxic effects of radiation-derived lipid peroxidation products on liver microsomal membrane


A Combined Refolding Technique for Recombinant Human Interferon-γ Inclusion Bodies by Ion-exchange Chromatography with a Urea Gradient

Abstract: A refolding strategy was described for on-column refolding of recombinant human interferon-γ (rhIFN-γ) inclusion bodies by ion-exchange chromatography (IEC). The rhIFN-γ was expressed in E. colias inclusion bodies. Triton X-100 was used first to wash the rhIFN-γ inclusion bodies before chromatographic refolding. The refolding process was performed by gradually decreasing the concentration of urea in the column after the denatured rhIFN-γ protein had bound onto the ion-exchange gel SP-Sepharose Fast Flow. The refolding and purification process for the denatured rhIFN-γ was carried through simultaneously and the purity of the refolded rhIFN-γ was up to 95%. The effects of protein loading, flow rate, urea gradient length and final urea concentration on the refolding were investigated in detail. Under the optimum conditions, the specific activity of rhIFN-γ was up to 7.5 × 105 IU mg−1and active protein recovery was up to 54%.

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology


The amino-acid composition of cuticles from Tenebrio molitor with special reference to the action of juvenile hormone

Abstract: Abstract The cuticles of Tenebrio molitor contain a high percentage of apolar amino-acids and lack cystine and methionine. Larval and pupal cuticles from the pronotum and dorsal and ventral abdomen were indistinguishable. Adult cuticles from the pronotum and ventral abdomen were also similar but differed from the cuticles of the adult dorsal abdomen by having a higher percentage of apolar amino-acids. Glycine was the predominant adult cuticular amino-acid, alanine was the major larval and pupal constituent. Cuticles from second pupae produced by animals treated with juvenile hormone were indistinguishable from normal pupal cuticles, but there were differences between these cuticles and the pupal-like cuticles from animals which had been treated with actinomycin D. We have tried to correlate these data with the structure of the cuticles, and with the action of juvenile hormone and its mimics.


138. Desiccation sensitivity and cryopreservation of dehisched ginseng seeds


MOLECULAR MECHANISM OF FERTILIZATION IN THE PIG


Quantitative Determination of Sugars in Various Food Products

Abstract: Glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose, and lactose were determined in 128 processed food products by high pressure liquid chromatography. Sugars in the foods were separated on a μ-Bondapticarbohydrate column with acetonitrile-water (82 + 18) as mobile phase. Eighty-two baby food products, six types of crackers, four diet or breakfast bars, eleven condiments, twelve cookies and candies, and thirteen miscellaneous food products were analyzed and the sugar contents tabulated.


Clavulicium extendens sp. nov (Corticiaceae), a fungus spreading on twigs in Queensland rainforests

Abstract: Clavulicium extendenssp. nov., is newly described from Queensland. It occurs in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest where it forms an extensive, white, external, mycelial membrane on dead and living twigs and stems, and spreads aerially between branches by means of attachment pads. No evidence was found that C. extendens is able to penetrate or injure living plant tissue, but it is not yet possible to conclude that this fungus is non-pathogenic.


Comparison of Antibiotics for Dairy Calves on Two Levels of Milk Feeding

Abstract: Growth studies were conducted with 96 Holstein calves to determine the effects of chlortetracycline, streptomycin, and a mixture of bacitracin and penicillin at three levels for two periods, and the effects of two levels of milk feeding. The antibiotics tended to increase the performance of the calves with greater effects on the calves fed the low milk ration. The mixture of bacitracin and penicillin was net as effective as the chlortetracycline and streptomycin except in controlling diarrhea. Calves fed 350 lb. of milk grew faster for the first seven weeks than those fed 175 lb., but the antibiotics minimized this by increasing the performance of the low-milk group. The antibiotics may have a milk-sparing effect. Editor. The early reports of Loosli and Wallace (11), Bartley et al. (2), and Rusoff (15) stimulated considerable research on the value of antibiotics in the nutrition and upon the health of the dairy calf, and this has been reviewed by Knodt (9), Reid et al. (14), and Lassiter (10). However, several papers pertinent to this study have appeared since these reviews. Swanson et al. (19) fed calves a liberal ration of milk and grain during early life and demonstrated no consistent increase in growth rate when cblortetracycline was added to the diet. The mean growth rates, however, were slightly in favor of the supplemented group. Bartley et al. (3) compared chlortetracycline with streptomycin and found streptomycin increased daily gain and feed efficiency and decreased scours somewhat, when compared with the control calves, but ~vas not as effective as chlortetracycline in regard to any of these criteria. Both 30 and 90 rag. per 100 lb. body wt. per day of streptomycin were fed, whereas only the 30-rag. level of chlortetracycline was used. No differences were noted between the two streptomycin levels. Research regarding the possibilities of antibiotics acting on calves through changes in digestibility of feed components is conflicting and incomplete. Bartley's results (4) did not indicate a consistent improvement in digestibility of any of the feed components by addi~lg chlortetracycliue to the ratioll of dairy calves at either nine or 13 weeks of age. Hogue et al. (8), however, have obtained improvement in protein digestibility and nitrogen retention when chlortetraeycline was added to the ration of calves. The same type of responses was obtained when bacitracin was used, but these responses were not as great as those observed with chlortetracyclinc. Radisson st al. (12, 13) have indicated that the effect of antibiotics may be through alteration of the intestinal flora of the dairy calf. MATERIALS AND METHODS


Invertebrate herbivory during the regeneration phase: experiments with a freshwater angiosperm

Abstract: 1 Invertebrate grazing during the regeneration phase is well known to exert a strong structuring effect in terrestrial plant communities. However, very few studies have investigated the effect of invertebrate herbivores on regenerating freshwater angiosperms, despite the obvious benefits for the development of general theories in plant community ecology. 2 Our study investigated the parameters that determine the sensitivity of the freshwater macrophyte Potamogeton pectinatus L. to herbivory by the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis (L.). P. pectinatus was raised from winter-collected tubers in aquatic microcosms and submitted to grazing by snails at various densities and starvation levels. 3 Newly sprouted P. pectinatus was much more sensitive to snail grazing than mature plants: survival of newly sprouted plants decreased as snail density increased, whereas the survival rate of mature plants was unaffected by snail density. Moreover, the sensitivity of newly sprouted P. pectinatus to herbivory decreased as its initial tuber mass increased. The damage to newly sprouted P. pectinatus by herbivory increased with snail starvation. However, the presence of an alternative, highly pala 4 These results demonstrate the potential structuring role exerted by gastropods during the regeneration of freshwater macrophytes, supporting results from terrestrial systems. They also suggest that regenerating plants may avoid invertebrate herbivory by modulating their intrinsic characteristics (e.g. increasing propagule size) or by emerging under favourable environmental conditions (e.g. low invertebrate density, presence of alternative food). Herbivory during the regeneration phase is ther


A catalogue, bibliographical and synonymical, of the species of moths of the lepidopterous superfamily Noctuidae, found in boreal America, with critical notes

Bulletin of the United States National Museum


Conservation status of the Endangered Nubian dragon tree Dracaena ombet in Gebel Elba National Park, Egypt

Abstract: The Nubian dragon tree Dracaena ombet, which is categorizedas Endangered onthe IUCN RedList,is found on the highest slopes of Gebel Elba National Park in Egypt, with scattered populations in Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia. The Gebel Elba population is threatened by drought. Surveys were conducted in the Park to assess the condition and document the distribution of the species to prepare a baseline for conservation efforts. Eight sites were surveyed during 2007-2009: trees were tagged and their locations were recorded using a global positioning system, and tree density, diameter at breast height and population status were estimated. Of 353 trees recorded only 46% (161 individuals) were alive and only 27 %( 96 individuals) were in a healthy condition. Only 1 %( 2 individuals) were young trees, indicating a low regeneration level. Field-based observations suggest that 80% of the D. ombet population in Gebel Elba may soon be extinct. A conservation action plan is needed for this flagship species in Egypt and throughout its range.


Roles of protein kinase C in radiation-induced apoptosis signaling pathways in murine thymic lymphoma cells (3SBH5 cells)

Abstract: Abstract Murine thymic lymphoma cells and 3SBH5 cells are quite sensitive to X-rays and undergo apoptosis shortly after X-irradiation. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC), blocked the radiation-induced apoptosis in the 3SBH5 cells. On the other hand, chelerythrine, a PKC inhibitor, enhanced the radiation-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that PKC plays a key role in the regulation of radiation-induced apoptosis in 3SBH5 cells. Irradiation alone had no effect on the distribution of PKC subtypes (α, βI, βII and δ) in the 3SBH5 cells. The amounts of PKC βI in the cytosol of the 3SBH5 cells decreased in the cells pretreated with PMA. Irradiation did not change the decrease of PKC βI. In contrast, treatment with PMA had no effect on the distribution of the other PKC subtypes. PMA appears to influence processes of radiation-induced apoptosis through the change in the distribution of PKC βI. In addition, it was demonstrated that immunoprecipitates by anti-PKC α antibody included Raf-1, one of stress response proteins, in 3SBH5 cells after irradiation. These results suggest that PKC α might participate as a regulator in radiation-induced apoptosis, but PKC βI might influence the apoptosis indirectly through the PMA-induced change of the distribution.


Reproductive Biology and Annual Population Cycle of Oxyloma retusum (Pulmonata: Succineidae)*

Abstract: Abstract: I studied the reproduction and the population turnover of a succineid land snail living by a small lake in central Maryland. The identity of the snail, deduced from its external characteristics and the genitalia, comes closest to Oxyloma retusum (Lea, 1834). The species has a semelparous life cycle. The snails that survive the winter grow and reproduce from late March until the end of June when they reach their maximum size and die off. Their offspring (the spring generation) grow throughout the spring and the summer and reproduce briefly near the end of August. In the fall, the survivors from the spring generation and their offspring hibernate from November until the end of March. Snails mate by shell-mounting. In 89% of pairs, mating was anatomically reciprocal. During courtship, one snail climbs on the shell of a prospective mate and circles the shell to initiate mating. In mating pairs with a shell length difference of more than 1 mm, the smaller snail was always on top. This suggests that o...


Facilitating Sustainable Agriculture: Participatory Learning and Adaptive Management in Times of Environmental Uncertainty, eds. N. G. Roling & M. A. E. Wagemakers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (1998). £50.00 or $80.00 (hardback). ISBN 0 521 58174 5.


The Zonal Practice of Second-year Students in the Biological Faculty of Moscow University


Validation of measurement of nonsteady post-hepatic insulin appearance in the dog: a new noninvasive method for determination of hepatic insulin extraction


Aplicação de produtos químicos na repicagem da figueira

Abstract: This research deals with the effects of chemicals on, transplantation of Ficus carica L. cv. Roxo de Valinhos. Fig plants were sprayed with Transplantone (naphthaleneacetamide plusnaphtaleneacetic acid) 10 g/1 , Oed green (oxyethylene docosanol) 40 ml/1, Good-rite peps (polyethylene polysulfite) 0,6 ml/1, and Mobileaf 200 ml/1. A check treatment and aereduction to half of leaf area were also established. Reduction of leaf area and application of oxyethylene docosanol promoted higher plant survival. The chemicals did not affect the growth of transplanted plants. Auxins constituents of Transplantone increased leaf number of fig plants.

Anais Da Escola Superior De Agricultura Luiz De Queiroz


Variable selection in regression models using principal components

Abstract: In this paper, we present a new stepwise method for selecting predictor variables in linear regression models. This method is an extension of principal component regression, and it consists of iteratively selecting original predictor variables one at a time from repeatedly selected subsets of principal components. Application of the method is discussed and illustrated by an example.

Communications in Statistics-theory and Methods


Direct perturbation theory of relativistic effects for explicitly correlated wave functions: The He isoelectronic series

Abstract: Direct perturbation theory (DPT) of relativistic effects is formulated for two-electron states described by a Dirac-Coulomb or a Dirac-Gaunt Hamiltonian. The relativistic wave function, a 16-component spinor, is—after a change of the metric—expanded in powers of c−2. An expression for the leading relativistic correction E2 to the energy is derived, that reduces to the Breit-Pauli form if the nonrelativistic problem is solved exactly; otherwise a correction term appears. The method is applied in two ways to the ground state of He-like ions including electron correlation. In the first way, via a conventional configuration interaction (partial wave expansion) in a Slater-type orbital (STO) basis, the nonrelativistic partial wave increments to the energy go as (l+1/2)−4, and those of the leading relativistic correction as (l+1/2)−2. Knowing the exact analytic behaviour of the leading terms in the partial wave expansions, an extrapolation to l→∞ is possible. More accurate results, with a rather rapidly converg...


Geometrical factors affecting the operational efficiency of the planned Baksan interferometric gravitational-wave antenna


Receiver-buffer-driven approach to adaptive Internet video streaming

Abstract: While existing adaptive video streaming schemes are mainly designed for particular congestion control algorithms, a receiver-buffer-driven adaptive streaming scheme is proposed which can be applied in combination with different congestion control algorithms. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme gives satisfactory video quality under various Internet conditions.


Study on CuGe0.9885Si0.0115O3 in high magnetic fields by specific heat measurements

Abstract: Abstract Specific heat is measured for a single crystal of CuGe 1− x Si x O 3 ( x =0.0115) in magnetic fields up to 14.5 T. In zero field two peaks at ∼3 and ∼10 K were observed, suggesting that the coexistence of the antiferromagnetic and spin-Peierls orders are realized. In our previous measurements of specific heat in high-field region around 15 T a small but clear anomaly was observed at ∼4.2 K for x =0.01, while a sharp peak was observed at ∼5 K for x =0.015, which corresponds to the transition in the magnetic-field-induced phases between M phase and M′ phase. They appear very different from each other. In the present study for x =0.0115 we observe a clear peak at 14.5 T which is just intermediate between those for x =0.01 and 0.015 in temperature and in size. This systematic change in the transition with varying x shows that these transitions in the high-field phases are of the same kind in this range of x , though it also shows that small change in Si concentration affects the magnetic-field-induced states to a large extent.


Characterization of sources of 2π phase discontinuity in speckle interferograms

Abstract: One of the most successful phase-unwrapping algorithms uses branch cuts to join discontinuity sources that mark the beginning or the end of a 2π phase discontinuity. Here, using phase-stepping speckle interferometry, we verify that these sources coincide with points of very low or zero modulus and that the displacement of sources as a result of speckle decorrelation between measurements of two phase maps leads to closely spaced dipole pairs of sources in the phase-difference map. By measuring the movement of sources at high magnification, we find that the length distribution of correct branch cuts needed to unwrap a phase-difference map is approximately Gaussian. This provides a theoretical justification for unwrapping with the set of branch cuts that minimizes the sum of squares of cut lengths.

Journal of The Optical Society of America A-optics Image Science and Vision


Erratum to “On chemiluminescent emission from an infiltrated chiral sculptured thin film” [Opt. Commun. 284 (2011) 2382–2392]


First order number theory

Tableau Systems for First Order Number Theory and Certain Higher Order Theories


Numerical parametric studies for controlling the wavelength of minimum dispersion in germania fluoro-phosphosilicate single-mode fibres

Abstract: Chromatic dispersion effects have been calculated for light-guides containing germania-doped silica in the core and fluorine-doped phosphosilicate in the cladding. Numerical results show how to partition core and cladding refractive-index levels in order to control the minimum dispersion wavelength.


Fixed-Point Division

Computer Arithmetic and Verilog HDL Fundamentals


Cosmogony and creation

Abstract: It is convention, which is rarely broken in science, that references to First Causes should be omitted. Pragmatically, this convention enables agnostics, theists and atheists to work together in common scientific tasks. Even the theist, who might be expected to have a vested interest in referring to God, can view the convention as a positive advantage. For, without it, a consistent theist would always have to give accounts of events in terms of divine agency as well as proximate physical causes; and this would be extremely cumbersome. Unless the policy be consistently applied, the theist risks giving the impression that God is at work only in some situations and not in others. This may develop into the theological confusion of the 'god-of-the-gaps', which portrays God as active only in areas where there are at present no scientific explanations. So, if this convention of silence about God can be viewed as having advantages all round, why break it? Part of the answer to this question is: because there is a growing tendency for others to do so in certain branches of physics and in so doing to make assertions which stand in need of comment. Another part of the answer is that, despite the convention that talk of God has no place in science, theistic questions do arise within an educational context. Pupils and students ask questions about science-and-religion from time to time and they expect nonevasive answers. Their informal learning, arising out of television and the popular writings of experts, often has a component of philosophical and religious ideas. This is particularly so with science fiction.


Real-time imaging of antiprotons stopping in biological targets – Novel uses of solid state detectors

Abstract: Abstract Antiprotons have special properties which makes them possible candidates for particle beam cancer therapy. They behave nearly identical to protons in the entrance channel but deposit additional annihilation energy when they come to rest in the Bragg peak region. A significant part of this energy results in the creation of high energy pions. They exit the body mostly non-interacting and can be detected with an external detector, enabling a real-time supervision of the antiproton stopping distribution during the irradiation process. This is currently not possible in any other particle treatment method. In this contribution, the feasibility of using a silicon pixel detector in the Antiproton Cell Experiment (ACE) at the Antiproton Decelerator (AD) at CERN as well as simulations of the experiment for a more clinical environment are shown.


and Low Roundoff Implementation of rature Mirror Filters for Subband Coding

Abstract: In this paper, we propose a fast and low roundof€- noise implementation of alias-free quadrature mirror Uten (QMF's) for tree-structured subband coding. When N-tap FIR QMF's are directly utilized, they require 21V multipkations and 2(N - 1) additions to obtain a pair of high-band and low-band decimated outputs. Using recursive formulas and the polyphase concept, a QMF implementation is proposed that, for both analysis and synthesis stages, needs only (N/2 + 2) multiplications and (3N/2 + 8) additions to compute the same outputs. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm can reduce roundoff error when finite-wordlength processors are used to implement the encoder and decoder. Simulation examples for image coding are also given to demonstrate the differences between the proposed and previously-known algorithms.


An electron spectrometer for measuring both angular and energy distributions of photoemitted electrons

Abstract: A velocity spectrum is obtained by dispersing the photoelectrons with a uniform electrostatic field; it is recorded on an electronographic film with the help of an electronic camera. To each point of the plate correspond definite values of the tangential and normal velocities of photoelectrons. The angular and energetic distribution N(W, φ) is calculated from the density of the electronographic plate. We hereby show the first structures obtained from thin films of gold.


The radix 4 base number system for use in theoretical genetics

Abstract: The paper will introduce the quaternary, or radix 4, based system for use as a fundamental standard beyond the traditional binary, or radix 2, based system in use today. A greater level compression is noted in the radix 4 based system when compared to the radix 2 base as applied to a model of information theory. The application of this compression algorithm to both DNA and RNA sequences for compression will be reviewed in this paper.


Cold start characteristics study based on real time no emissions in an LPG SI engine

Abstract: Normally, cylinder pressure was used as a criterion of combustion occurrence, ::: while in some conditions, it may be unreliable when identifying lean mixture ::: combustion. This is particularly important for fuels like liquefied petroleum ::: gas, which has good capacity for lean combustion. In this study, a fast ::: response NO detector, based on the chemiluminescence method, was used to ::: measure real time NO emissions in order to evaluate the technique as a ::: criterion for establishing combustion occurrence. Test results show that real ::: time NO emissions can be used to identify the cylinder combustion and misfire ::: occurrence during engine cranking, and real time NO emissions can be used to ::: understand the combustion and misfire occurrence. Real time NO emissions ::: mostly happened in first several cycles during cold start, and NO emissions ::: increased with the spark timing advancing.


Transport properties of HCl doped polyaniline and polyaniline–methyl cellulose dispersion

Abstract: Electrical resistance and magnetoresistance of the HCl doped polyaniline (PANI) in aqueous ethanol medium and polyaniline–methyl cellulose dispersion (PANI–MC) has been investigated at low temperature down to 1.8 K and in magnetic field up to 8 T. The weaker temperature dependence of resistivity characterized by the resistivity ratio ρr=ρ(1.8 K)/ρ(300 K) indicates that a better homogeneity and less disorder can be obtained by protonation with HCl in ethanol media. The temperature dependence of resistivity for both PANI and PANI–MC has been analyzed by three-dimensional variable range hopping (VRH) type of conduction. The samples with the resistivity ratio lying in the range of 102⩽ρr⩽103 exhibit a crossover from Mott to Efros–Shklovskii VRH conduction below 10 K. A large positive magnetoresistance at low temperature has been obtained.


Information content of the born series

Abstract: Abstract It is a commonplace observation that if one tries to extrapolate a function to points far away from the region where the function is known, the results may be very sensitive to slight changes in the known values. A numerical example is used to show how very serious this problem may become when one attempts to extrapolate the Born series for scattering by strong potentials.


Interval system reduction using Padé approximation to allow retention of dominant poles

Abstract: This paper presents a method of model reduction for interval systems using the Pade approximation to allow retention-dominant poles, where the denominator d m (s) of the reduced model is formed by retaining the dominant poles of the original interval system, and the numerator n m (s) of the reduced model is obtained by matching the first r interval time moments of the reduced model with that of the system. A numerical example illustrates the procedure.

International Journal of Modelling and Simulation


Some Practical Issues Related to the Estimation of Latent Class and Latent Transition Parameters

Categorical Variables in Developmental Research


Noise performance of a white-light optical signal processor. I. Temporally partially coherent illumination

Abstract: White-light optical processors are known to perform better under noisy conditions as compared with their monochromatic counterparts. Here we give an analysis of their performance under temporally incoherent illumination and obtain quantitative results to support the claim. The output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the proposed white-light optical processor is evaluated as a measure of performance. We study the behavior of the system when the noise is presented at the input or at the Fourier plane. We show that, except for the case when the amplitude noise is present at the input plane, the resulting output SNR improves considerably with the increasing bandwidth of the light source employed.


Beamforming performance for a reconfigurable sparse array smart antenna system via multiple mobile robotic systems

Abstract: This paper describes and evaluates the beamforming performance for a flexible sparse array smart antenna system that ::: can be reconfigured through the use of multiple mobile robots. Current robotic systems are limited because they cannot ::: utilize beamforming due to their limited number of antennas and the high computational requirement of beamformers. ::: The beamforming techniques used in this paper are unique because unlike current beamformers, the antennas in the ::: sparse array are not connected together; instead, each robot has a single antenna. This work is made possible through ::: breakthroughs by the authors on ultra-low computational complexity beamforming and multi-mobile robot cluster ::: control. This new beamforming paradigm provides spatial reconfigurability of the array to control its location, size, ::: inter-antenna spacing and geometry via multi-robot collaborative communications. Simulation results evaluate the ::: effectiveness of smart antenna beamforming techniques when 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 robots are utilized with and without ::: interference signals present.


Feedback Control of Flutter Instability in a Continuous Elastic System


POD-morphing, an a posteriori grid parametrization method for shape optimization

Abstract: Shape optimization typically involves geometries characterized by several dozen design variables set with no prior knowledge of the design domain topology. A surrogate model can replace the numerous geometry-based design variables with a much more compact set of design variables that have a built-in global understanding of the geometry, thus reducing the size of the optimization problem. In this paper, we present a grid parametrization approach for the design domain geometry based on the method of Proper Orthogonal Decomposition using the method of snapshots, and replace the geometry-based design variables with the smallest possible set of POD coefficients. We demonstrate this method in the well-known problem of designing the section of an air-conditioning duct to maximize the permeability evaluated using CFD with an incompressible 2D model implemented in OpenFOAM.

European Journal of Computational Mechanics


Misalignment angles and the 2D–3D temperature crossover in Bi2212 multifilaments studied using transport critical current densities

Abstract: Misalignment angles in multifilamentary Bi2212 tapes have been obtained by measuring transport critical current densities. The study shows that two misalignment angles exist in such materials. The samples studied give a transversal misalignment angle ?*, perpendicular to the filaments, of close to 8? and a longitudinal one ?*, parallel to the filaments, of about 5.5?. The 2D?3D temperature crossover T* of the vortices network has also been estimated using the angular dependence of transport Jc in a magnetic field at different temperatures.


Charge disorder in granular arrays

Abstract: It is demonstrated that already weakly disordered distribution of offset charges destroys the Kosterlitz-Thouless-Berezinskii charge-unbinding phase transition in two dimensional normal and superconducting granular arrays and films. Under these conditions the array conductance shows a purely thermally activated behavior with the effective Coulomb gap being decreased due to charge disorder. Our results may account for recent experimental findings in two dimensional arrays of tunnel junctions.


Studies of pulsation feature of the diffraction beam in a nematic liquid crystals

Abstract: Pulsation feature of the diffraction beam in the phase-shifted refractive index grating under an electric field was studied in C_ 60-doped nematic liquid crystal by two-beam coupling experiment. Different Pulsation feature for pre-irradiation and non pre-irradiation sample were observed in experiment. In order to investigate these distinct properties, a molecular equilibrium equation of torques and a director distribution model was presented. By means of the equation and scheme of molecular reorientation, the pulsation feature of the diffraction beam was illustrated qualitatively.

Journal of Natural Science of Heilongjiang University


Sexual Selection in the Black-tipped Hangingfly


Approximation by Maxwell–Herglotz‐fields

Abstract: By a general argument, it is shown that Maxwell–Herglotz-fields are dense (with respect to the C∞(Ω)-topology) in the space of all solutions to Maxwell's equations in Ω. This is used to provide corresponding approximation results in global spaces (e.g. in L2-Sobolev-spaces Hm(Ω)) and for boundary data. Proofs are given within the framework of generalized Maxwell's equations using differential forms. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Mathematical Methods in The Applied Sciences


A generalization of the Birman trace theorem

Abstract: Abstract A simple and direct proof is presented of a version of the Birman trace theorem which is sufficiently general to apply to potential scattering with absorption at local singularities.


Response function for 3He neutron spectrometers

Abstract: Abstract The response to monoenergetic neutrons in the energy range 130–3030 keV for 3 He-filled ionization chambers of type FNS-1 is experimentally determined. The experiment is performed using beams of monoenergetic neutrons produced in proton induced reactions in thin LiF targets at a 5 MeV Van de Graaff accelerator. The measured pulse height spectra are fitted with regard to the full energy neutron peak, wall effects, and recoil distributions of elastically scattered hydrogen and helium nuclei. The absolute efficiency of the detectors in determined. Effects of neutron scattering in the stainless steel housing of the detector are discussed.

Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section A-accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment


Multiple-input, multiple-output time-series models from short data records

Abstract: An algorithm to estimate multiple-input, multiple-output, time-series models for structural system identification using short time histories is presented. The method uses order overspecification to reduce estimation bias and automatically sorts identified system modes from computational modes. The system natural frequencies, damping factors, mode shapes, and modal participation factors are estimated and can be used to reconstruct singleinput, single-output models for every input-output pair. Experimental data from a large cantilevered flexible truss are used to demonstrate the technique. Modal estimates are comparable to those obtained using accepted methods such as the eigensystem realization algorithm.

Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics


Structural and magnetic property studies on BaREBiO4 (where RE = Sm and Nd) system

Abstract: The new ceramic compounds type BaREBiO4 (where RE = Sm and Nd) have been reported for the first time. The sample was prepared by solid-state reaction technique. The orthorhombic crystallization with a = 6.429(4) A, b = 6.536(5) A, c = 8.648(4) A for BaSmBiO4 and a = 6.485(3) A, b = 6.561(4) A, c = 8.686(4) A for BaNdBiO4 was studied from powder X-ray diffraction studies. The semiconducting nature of the compounds was observed with the energy gap measurement from diffused reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) studies. The paramagnetic nature of the compounds at room temperature and low temperature conditions was identified by magnetization measurements as a function of magnetic fields and temperature. The effective magnetic moment of the samples was found to be 2.126 μB and 4.272 μB.

International Journal of Modern Physics B


COMPARAISONAL RESEARCH BETWEEN THEORETIC SPECIFIC HEAT AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS IN FeAs SUPERCONDUCTORS

Abstract: Based on the magnetic order of FeAs superconductors from the experiments,we apply Heisenberg interaction model and analyze systematically the antiferromagnetic configuration with the spin-density-wave,through the strictly mathematical-physical derivation,to suggest the analytic expressions of internal energy and specific heat under the long-wave conditions.The theoretic values show good consistence with the experiments,and both theoretic and experimental results are discussed sufficiently through the phonon contribution to the specific heat in general,therefore,the spin density wave theory can properly describe the physical characteristics of FeAs superconductors.Especially,we analyse and discusse in detail that electrons and phonons respectively play the function for the specific heat in the different scopes of low temperature,the relevant experiments show the similar characteristcs.

Chinese Journal of Low Temperature Physics


Anisotropies in the cosmic neutrino background after Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe five-year data

Abstract: We search for the presence of cosmological neutrino background (CNB) anisotropies in recent Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) five-year data using their signature imprinted on modifications to the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy power spectrum. By parameterizing the neutrino background anisotropies with the speed viscosity parameter cvis, we find that the WMAP five-year data alone provide only a weak indication for CNB anisotropies with cvis2>0.06 at the 95% confidence level. When we combine CMB anisotropy data with measurements of galaxy clustering, the SN-Ia Hubble diagram, and other cosmological information, the detection increases to cvis2>0.16 at the same 95% confidence level. Future data from Planck, combined with a weak lensing survey such as the one expected with DUNE from space, will be able to measure the CNB anisotropy parameter at about 10% accuracy. We discuss the degeneracy between neutrino background anisotropies and other cosmological parameters such as the number of effective neutrinos species and the dark energy equation of state.

Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics


Whispering gallery mode biosensors in the low-Q limit

Abstract: Whispering gallery modes (WGM) of dye-doped polystyrene beads with diameters from 20 down to 1.5 μm are studied with respect to their appearance and linewidth by excitation of the entire mode spectrum within the emission range of the dye. The lowest order (q=1) modes, which travel most closely to the inner particle surface, are assigned to their individual quantum numbers by means of a least-square-fit, resulting in a precise determination of particle radius and eccentricity. On this basis, the suitability of these microscopic cavities for applications in optical (bio-)sensing is explored. Due to the low quality (Q) factors of these small cavities, particles with diameters below 6 μm exhibit only q=1 modes, thereby causing a drastic simplification of the WGM spectrum. In such spectra, the shift in the WGM positions upon molecular adsorption can be easily monitored, as we demonstrate for the adsorption of bovine serum albumin as well as multiple layers of polyelectrolytes onto the surface of particles with 2 μm diameter. Mie simulations are used to confirm our findings. With a mass sensitivity limit of 3 fg, these microscopic sensors are highly competitive in the field of label-free detection techniques. Moreover, their small size and the simplified, dye-mediated excitation and detection scheme may pave the way to remote in-vitro biosensing in the future.


Disorder-induced positive magnetoresistivity in itinerant metamagnets

Abstract: Abstract We discuss results on magnetoresistivity of structurally disordered alloys (Y 1− x Gd x )Co 2 . Large positive magnetoresistivity is observed in the alloys with magnetic ground state at temperatures T T c . This feature is directly linked to a combination of structural disorder and metamagnetic instability of itinerant Co-3d electrons.

Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials


Roles of phonon interaction on the pairing in high Tc superconductors

Abstract: The effects of phonon interactions for the superconducting pairing, in the background of a d-wave pairing mediated by Antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin fluctuations, are studied. We found that anisotropic phonon interaction, together with the AFM spin fluctuations interaction, can dramatically enhance the d-wave pairing itself and therefore Tc. This (Dafm + Dph) type pairing, however, exhibits strongly reduced isotope coefficient despite the large enhancement of Tc.


Data-driven smooth test for a location-scale family

Abstract: A combination of a smooth test statistic and (an approximate) Schwarz's selection rule has been proposed by Inglot, T., Kallenberg, W. C. M. and Ledwina, T. ((1997). Data-driven smooth tests for composite hypotheses. Ann. Statist. 25, 1222–1250) as a solution of a standard goodness-of-fit problem when nuisance parameters are present. In the present paper we modify the above solution in the sense that we propose another analogue of Schwarz's rule and rederive properties of it and the resulting test statistic. To avoid technicalities we restrict our attention to location-scale family and method of moments estimators of its parameters. In a parallel paper [Janic-Wroblewska, A. (2004). Data-driven smooth tests for the extreme value distribution. Statistics, in press] we illustrate an application of our solution and advantages of modification when testing of fit to extreme value distribution.


The discovery of a young radio galaxy at Z = 2.390 - Probing initial star formation at Z less than approximately 3.0

Abstract: We present the discovery of a weak radio galaxy from the Leiden Berkeley Deep Survey at a redshift of 2.390, the faint optical and IR counterpart of the steep-spectrum, compact radio source 53W002. Its lambda-dependent optical continuum morphology is compact with linear size approximately 10-35 kpc (H0 = 50, q0 = 0). In redshifted Ly-alpha, the galaxy is somewhat more extended (less-than-or-similar-to 67 kpc x 40 kpc). Its radio source is 7 times smaller than, and confined by, the Ly-alpha gas. It shows alignment with the Ly-alpha gas and the best seeing optical continuum images. We present nine-band photometry (Ly-alpha U BgriJHK) for the galaxy as well as surrounding objects. The source 53W002 is not variable on time scales of years, in either radio or optical. We compare its rest-frame UV continuum with IUE spectra of various nearby galaxies with relatively recent starbursts, and nearby active galactic nuclei (AGNs). The C IV/Ly-alpha and N v/Ly-alpha ratios suggest that 53W002 has a Seyfert 1-like AGN, and constrain the nonthermal component to be approximately 35% of the observed UV continuum. Several independent age estimates yield a consistent value of 0.25-0.32 Gyr: (1) its small 4000 angstrom break or UV-visual continuum amplitude compared with nearby galaxies; (2) a best model fit to the downturn of its UV spectrum below approximately 2000 angstrom; (3) limits from the lack of detected stellar absorption features; (4) its total stellar mass (from its V- and K-band luminosity) compared with its SFR [from W-lambda (Ly-alpha, z = 0)]. These parameters together suggest that at z = 2.390, 53W002 had processed only a few times 10(11) M. into stars, significantly less than most powerful radio galaxies have converted into stars at z approximately 2-3.8. Hence, star formation in 53W002 has proceeded slower, and started at a later epoch, than in the most powerful high-redshift radio galaxies. The available data are consistent with 53W002 being a genuinely young (radio) galaxy seen at z = 2.390 during its first major starburst. It likely started forming most of its current stars at redshifts 2.5-3.0 (for H0 = 50-100, q0 = 0.0-0.5). This suggests that (radio) galaxies do not form the bulk of their stars coevally, but start doing so over a wide range of cosmic time.


Stellar discs in massive galaxies

Abstract: Excluding those unsettled systems undergoing mergers, bright galaxies come in two flavours: with and without discs. In this work we look for photometric evidence for presence of discs and compare it with kinematic results of the ATLAS 3D survey (Cappellari et al . 2011). We fit a Sersic (1968) function to azimuthally averaged light profiles of ATLAS 3D galaxies to derive single component fits and, subsequently, we fit a combination of the Sersic function (free index n ) and an exponential function ( n =1) with the purpose of decomposing the light profiles into “bulge” and “disc” components (B+D model) of all non-barred sample galaxies. We compare the residuals of the B+D models with those of the single Sersic fits and select the B+D model as preferred only when the improvement is substantial and there are no correlations within residuals. We find that the high angular momentum objects (fast rotators) are disc dominated systems with bulges of typically low n (when their light profiles can be decomposed) or are best represented with a single Sersic function with a low Sersic index ( n

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union


GENERATION OF ANOMALOUS INTENSIVE TRANSITION RADIATION

Abstract: The 3D spin-glass system in the external standing electromagnetic field is considered. It is shown on an example of amorphous quartz, under the influence of a standing microwave field, at its certain parameters, superlattice is created in the medium where difference in values of dielectric constants of neighboring layers can be up to third order. Note that this superlattice exists during the nanosecond however it is sufficient for using it as a radiator for generation of transition radiation by relativistic electrons.


Analytic extensions and selections

Transactions of the American Mathematical Society


Plastic Deformation Bands in Glassy Polystyrene

Abstract: Plastic deformation bands nearly parallel to planes of maximum shear stress have been observed in unoriented glassy polystryene in compression and in preoriented polystyrene in tension and torsion. In the temperature range 77°–375°K, the shear stress for homogeneous nucleation of deformation bands is of the order of a few percent of the shear modulus, and while this shear stress is only moderately dependent on temperature and independent of strain rate, it shows considerable pressure dependence compared to metals. The shear strain of order unity inside the bands, the positive dilatation observed during deformation, and the stress and temperature conditions of band nucleation and propagation suggest a model in which ``rough'' molecules slide through each other in an initially unordered but closely packed molecular tangle.


Admissible Regions for Root Clustering

Ima Journal of Mathematical Control and Information


The influence of uniaxial stress on the hopping conductivity in p-InSb. The anisotropy of the hopping conductivity

Abstract: Abstract We report on the investigation of the influence of uniaxial stress up to 4 kbar on hopping conductivity and its abisotropy in p -InSb:Ge with the acceptor concentration 10 15 -10 17 cm −3 . It was shown that hopping conductivity became anisotropic when the stress was applied. In high-stress limit the value of the anisotropy coefficient is in accordance with the theoretical predictions K  σ ⊥ /σ ⊥ = m ⊥ /m  ≊ 3.5 . It was shown that the stress dependence of the effective volume of acceptor wave function is nonmonotone. It decreases at low compression and increases at high compression.


Discrete particle swarm optimization for solving WTA problem

Abstract: To improve the solving efficiency and performance,a new Discrete Particle Swarm Optimization(DPSO) algorithm for the problem of weapon-target assignment(WTA) was presented,in which the velocity and position in the original PSO formulas were redefined to solve a discrete combination optimization such as WTA.The greedy heuristic policies were exploited to adjust the solutions generated during the execution of the algorithm to find optimal or suboptimal solution rapidly.The experiments show that the new algorithm can get the optimal or suboptimal solution quickly,and the result is satisfying.

Journal of the Harbin Institute of Technology


Constrained total least‐squares‐based extraction of acoustic scattering resonances of elastic targets

Abstract: The analysis of the resonance response of elastic targets to an insonifying beam has been a central theme in acoustic scattering investigations in recent years. The motivation for this work is that the resonance structure of such targets is directly related to both the geometry and material properties of the target and this has a bearing on target classification. The development of robust techniques to estimate the resonance frequencies from the transient scattered field in the presence of noise is an important and open problem that is the subject of the current study. In the following, the efficacy of several competing techniques are examined (i.e., the constrained total least squares [T. J. Abatzoglou et al., IEEE Trans. ASSP (May 1991)], the Prony, and a recently developed singular value decomposition based technique), with theoretically calculated scattering data. To simulate scattering data, the spheroidal coordinate based T‐matrix formalism is utilized [R. H. Hackman and D. G. Todoroff, J. Acoust. S...

Journal of the Acoustical Society of America


Geometric non-linear analysis of box sections under end shortening, using three different versions of the finite-strip method

Abstract: Three finite-strip methods, (FSM) namely the semi-energy, full-energy semi-analytical and the full-energy spline FSM, are developed for predicting the geometrically non-linear response of box sections with simply supported ends when subjected to uniform end shortening in their plane. The developed FSMs are then applied to analyze the post-local-buckling behavior of some representative box sections. Although, in general, a very good agreement is observed to exist among the results obtained by all the different methods, it is revealed that in the advanced stages of post-buckling, the semi-energy method predicts results which are slightly less accurate than those obtained by the full-energy methods. This is due to the fact that a slightly higher level of compressional stiffness is experienced in the case of the results obtained by the semi-energy approach as compared to those observed in the cases of the results obtained by the full-energy methods. It is however worth noting that the current semi-energy analysis is based on a single term approach. Thus, it is expected that the accuracy of the semi-energy approach will improve and correspondingly the number of degrees of freedom involved will increase if more than one term is utilized in its formulation.


Higher Order Unification

Abstract: Higher-order unification is a method for unifying terms in the Simple Theory of Types [28], that is, given two typed lambda-terms e1 and e2, finding a substitution σ for the free variables of the two terms such that σ(e1) and σ(e2) are equivalent under the conversion rules of the calculus. As discussed above, this problem is fundamental to theorem proving in higher-order contexts (see Chapter §1 for references). In this chapter, we adapt the method of transformations to higher-order unification.


The Third EGRET Catalog of High‐Energy Gamma‐Ray Sources

Abstract: The third catalog of high-energy gamma-ray sources detected by the EGRET telescope on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory includes data from 1991 April 22 to 1995 October 3 (cycles 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the mission). In addition to including more data than the second EGRET catalog and its supplement, this catalog uses completely reprocessed data (to correct a number of mostly minimal errors and problems). The 271 sources (E > 100 MeV) in the catalog include the single 1991 solar flare bright enough to be detected as a source, the Large Magellanic Cloud, five pulsars, one probable radio galaxy detection (Cen A), and 66 high-confidence identifications of blazars (BL Lac objects, flat-spectrum radio quasars, or unidentified flat-spectrum radio sources). In addition, 27 lower confidence potential blazar identifications are noted. Finally, the catalog contains 170 sources not yet identified firmly with known objects, although potential identifications have been suggested for a number of those. A figure is presented that gives approximate upper limits for gamma-ray sources at any point in the sky, as well as information about sources listed in the second catalog and its supplement, that do not appear in this catalog.

The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series


Measurement of quantum defects of nS and nD states using field ionization spectroscopy in ultracold cesium atoms

Abstract: This paper reports that ultracold atoms are populated into different nS and nD Rydberg states (n = 25~52) by two-photon excitation. The ionization spectrum of an ultracold Rydberg atom is acquired in a cesium magneto-optical trap by using the method of pulse field ionization. This denotes nS and nD states in the ionization spectrum and fits the data of energy levels of different Rydberg states to obtain quantum defects of nS and nD states.


Elastic wave scattering from complex shaped flaws

Abstract: In the ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation of flaws in elastic solids, the flaw shaped encountered are quite complex. This must be taken into account in the theoretical modelling of flaws. Often one finds a single flaw with a crack emanating from it or two flaws that are close together or intersecting. Numerical results will be presented for several scattering geometries, frequency range and comparisons with experimental results will be made.


Enhanced transmission through the subwavelength magnetic slits

Abstract: According to the standard diffraction theory, apertures much smaller than the wavelength of electromagnetic waves transmit poorly. But it's observed experimentally that the transmission through arrays of subwavelength metallic structures exhibits peaks at some wavelengths. These properties implies novel applications including ::: dynamic optical subwavelength filters, optic switches, and subwavelength optical fiber couplers. In this paper, we theoretically investigate the transmission of electromagnetic waves through subwavelength magnetic slit arrays. The calculated results show that the transmission can be enhanced at wavelengths without exciting surface polaritons. This enhancement is attributed to the slit-perpendicular surface current induced by the incident electromagnetic waves. Additionally, the position of the enhanced peaks shifts to longer wavelengths and the strength of the peaks exhibits more complicated properties with increasing the permeability of the magnetic material constructing the gratings.

SPIE/OSA/IEEE Asia Communications and Photonics


Conjugate direction particle swarm optimization and its application for high-dimensional chemical engineering data processing

Abstract: Aimed at the data that we get in chemical industry most being high dimensional,and particle swarm optimization(PSO) being easily trapped into local minima value for high dimensional function,a method conjugate direction particle swarm optimization(CDPSO),which combined conjugate direction method with PSO,is proposed to process high-dimensional data.To one optimization problem,after PSO had run some iterations and trapped into local minima and got local optimal solution *,conjugate direction method with * as an initial guess is applied to optimize the problem.By the effectiveness of PSO for low-dimensional function optimization,it would get a better new local optimal solution **,so this tactics helped PSO to overcome local minima.Under ** is present optimal solution;PSO is used for the high-dimensional function optimization again,if it trapped into local minima value again,then conjugate direction method is applied again,running in this way until termination.Experimental results on benchmark functions show that the pro-posed tactics is efficient.At last the algorithm is applied to nonlinear parameter estimation of burning anteiso-dynamics model of sulfur dioxide acted on by caesium-rubidium-vanadium low temperature sulfur acid catalyst and got satisfying results.


Statistical theories of matter, radiation and electricity

Abstract: The atomic or “kinetic” theory of gases, with its interpretations of such qualities as temperature, pressure, viscosity and conductivity, has ranked for more than half a century as a very important part of theoretical physics. A corresponding theory for radiation and for negative electricity is much to be desired, since it is known that in many ways each of these entities behaves as though it were atomic. There are, however, differences among the three, and only within the last five years have these been formulated suitably. This article is devoted to the resulting statistical theories.


Tighter bounds and simplified estimation for moments of some rank statistics

Abstract: Improved lower bounds are obtained for two parameters λ(F) and μ(F) which occur in the variances of linear rank statistics studied by Doksum, Hollander, and Lehmann. Simplified algorithms are developed for efficient estimation of the parameters. The tighter bounds are used to investigate a slightly conservative approach which eliminates lengthy estimation procedures altoget-her, her, with great computational savings.

Communications in Statistics-theory and Methods


Magnetic properties of 6.5 % silicon content non-oriented electrical steel under sine and PWM excitation

Abstract: Abstract The specific total loss of 6.5% silicon content electrical steel, 0.1 mm thick, was measured under sine and pulse width modulation (PWM) excitation conditions. The loss separation is presented in order to assess the effect of high electrical resistivity and the low thickness on the eddy current and excess losses. The hysteresis loss was subdivided into high and low induction and the results were compared to those obtained in 3% SiFe steel. The texture of the samples was measured and discussed relating their effect on the magnetic properties of the material. The results from the texture indicate that its hysteresis loss can be further improved.


Comparison and Application of Time-Frequency Analysis Methods for Nonstationary Signal Processing

Abstract: Most of signals in engineering are nonstationary and time-varying. The Fourier transform as a traditional approach can only provide the feature information in frequency domain. The time-frequency techniques may give a comprehensive description of signals in time-frequency planes. Based on some typical nonstationary signals, five time-frequency analysis methods, i.e., the short-time Fourier transform (STFT), wavelet transform (WT), Wigner- Ville distribution (WVD), pseudo-WVD (PWVD) and the Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT), were performed and compared in this paper. The characteristics of each method were obtained and discussed. Compared with the other methods, the HHT with a high time-frequency resolution can clearly describe the rules of the frequency compositions changing with time, is a good approach for feature extraction in nonstationary signal processing.

Communications in Computer and Information Science


Stretchable and compressible thin films of stiff materials on compliant wavy substrates

Abstract: This letter presents experimental, numerical, and analytical studies of Au thin films on elastomeric substrates of poly(dimethylsiloxane) that are designed with sinusoidal, “wavy” features of surface relief. Such systems can be useful as stretchable conductors in electronic or sensory devices. The maximum film strain is obtained in terms of film and substrate elastic moduli, film thickness, amplitude and wavelength of the wavy profile, and the applied strain. These analytical solutions agree well with both finite element analysis and experimentally measured changes in the sinusoidal profile under small, uniaxial strains. A simple expression for the system stretchability and compressibility is established.


Approximations of discrete time partially observed control problems


Theories of Multiple Equilibria-A Critical Reexamination. Part I: Barotropic Models

Abstract: Abstract Previous results claiming the existence of multiple equilibria based on simple barotropic or two-layer models of the atmosphere are reexamined. While not ruling out the existence of multiple equilibria we find that the application of these results to the atmosphere, especially with regard to high/low zonal index and zonal/blocked situations, is probably problematic. Results based on truncated low-order models are found to change drastically when full nonlinearity is retained. Although multiple equilibria may still exist in some nonlinear models in some restricted parameter regimes, it is argued that the parameter values adopted in previous studies are probably not physically based. Mathematically interesting properties of the nonlinear system, such as resonance bending, hysteresis, bifurcation and multiplicity of solutions are also discussed.


On Solution Existence and Applications of a Class of Nonmonotone Operator Equation

Abstract: By using cone theorem and monotone iterative method, the mixed monotone condition in A(x,y)+Mx in Banach spaces is extended.The traditional mixed monotonicity is replaced by A(x,y)+Tx.Then the existence of solutions for a kind of nonmonotonic operator equation is given and the initial value problems for impulsive differential equations are discussed.

Journal of Xi'an Technological University


On the mechanism of polarized electroluminescence from light‐emitting structures based on GaN

Abstract: Investigations of photoelectromotive force and photoconductivity are made in order to find the mechanism of electroluminescence in the GaN: (Zn, O) light-emitting structures. They enable to detect the existence of two channels of current flow in the structures investigated. One of them is a diode circuit with a potential barrier of ≈ 3 eV. This channel of conductivity is responsible for the unipolar electroluminescence with Emax ≈ 2.6 eV and with polarization degree up to ≈ 60%. The large value of the potential barrier height shows that gallium nitride may be of p-type conductivity. The analysis of the peculiarities of the growth and doping of GaN does not contradict this supposition. ::: ::: ::: ::: [Russian Text Ignored].


The 6− analog-antianalog states of 28Si☆

Abstract: Abstract A resonance is observed in the 27 Al(p, γ) 28 Si reaction at E p =2876±2 keV, which corresponds to an excitation energy of 14356±2 keV. The 14.36 MeV level decays to a new level at 11577±2 keV, which is turn decays to the known level at 9701.8±0.5 keV. With previous information on the 9.70 MeV level and the present γ-ray angular distributions, obtained from singles spectra as recorded by a 40 cm 3 Ge(Li) detector, the spins of the three levels can be limited to J =5, 6; J =6; and J =5, respectively. Transition strength arguments based on measurements of the strength of the 2876 keV resonance and the lifetime of the 11.58 MeV level indicate that the 14.36 MeV level has J π =6 − , T =1 and that the 11.58 MeV level has J π =6 − , T =0.


Nonstationary photocurrent in a Bi12SiO20 crystal grown in an argon atmosphere

Abstract: A detailed investigation of the nonstationary photocurrent in crystals with a sillenite structure grown in an oxygen-free (argon) atmosphere is performed. Basic parameters of the photoinduced charge carriers in the crystals investigated, such as the mean carrier lifetime and mobility, the mean photoconductivity, the carrier diffusion length, and the Debye screening length, are determined.


Unbounded quadrature domains inRn (n≥3)

Abstract: As a result of the powerful tools of complex analysis a lot of problems have been solved in the theory of Q.D.s (quadrature domain) inR2. These problems are almost untouched inRn (n≥3). To study Q.D.s. inRn, one has to supply the subject with new techniques. This is the goal of papers by Shapiro, Khavinson and Shapiro, Sakai, and Gustafsson, where the authors approach the subject inRn by different methods. The main purpose of this paper is to generalize some of the ideas (already known inR2) toRn (n≥3), and we merely work with unbounded Q.D.


Dynamic Analysis of Elastic Mechanism Systems. Part II: Experimental Results

Journal of Dynamic Systems Measurement and Control-transactions of The Asme


On Electromagnetic Momentum


A neutron reflectometer on thermal neutrons with variable wavelength

Abstract: A neutron reflectometer for investigating layered structures was developed as an additional model of the MOND diffractometer on the horizontal experimental channel no. 4 of the IR-8 reactor. The reflectometer was manufactured using standard tuning devices of linear and rotation translations. The experiments were carried out on model samples of layered structures of nanosized thickness. The technical characteristics of the reflectometer were determined and compared with those of the available reflectometric installations on stationary neutron sources.

Journal of Surface Investigation. X-ray, Synchrotron and Neutron Techniques