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Selected AbstractsSonochemical synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanorod/Ag nanoparticle compositesCRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 11 2009Fei Li Abstract A simple sonochemical route for the synthesis of Ag nanoparticles on ZnO nanorods is reported. Ultrasonic irradiation of a mixture of ZnO nanorods, Ag(NH3)2+, and formaldehyde in an aqueous medium yields ZnO nanorod/Ag nanoparticle composites. The powder X-ray diffraction of the ZnO/Ag composites shows additional diffraction peaks corresponding to the face-center-cubic structured Ag crystalline, apart from the signals from the ZnO nanorods. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images of the ZnO/Ag composites reveal that the ZnO nanorods are coated with Ag nanoparticles with a mean size of several tens nanometer. The absorption band of ZnO/Ag composites is distinctly broadened and red-shifted, indicating the strong interfacial interaction between ZnO nanorods and Ag nanoparticles. This sonochemical method is simple, mild and readily scaled up, affording a simple way for synthesis of other composites. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Education and the Dangerous Memories of Historical Trauma: Narratives of Pain, Narratives of HopeCURRICULUM INQUIRY, Issue 2 2008MICHALINOS ZEMBYLAS ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to explore the meanings and implications of dangerous memories in two different sites of past traumatic memories: one in Israel and the other in Cyprus. Dangerous memories are defined as those memories that are disruptive to the status quo, that is, the hegemonic culture of strengthening and perpetuating existing group-based identities. Our effort is to outline some insights from this endeavor,insights that may help educators recognize the potential of dangerous memories to ease pain and offer hope. First, a discussion on memory, history and identity sets the ground for discussing the meaning and significance of dangerous memories in the history curriculum. Next, we narrate two stories from our longitudinal ethnographic studies on trauma and memory in Israel and Cyprus; these stories are interpreted through the lens of dangerous memories and their workings in relation to the hegemonic powers that aim to sustain collective memories. The two different stories suggest that collective memories of historical trauma are not simply "transmitted" in any simple way down the generations,although there are powerful workings that support this transmission. Rather, there seems to be much ambivalence in the workings of memories that under some circumstances may create openings for new identities. The final section discusses the possibilities of developing a pedagogy of dangerous memories by highlighting educational implications that focus on the notion of creating new solidarities without forgetting past traumas. This last section employs dangerous memories as a critical category for pedagogy in the context of our general concern about the implications of memory, history and identity in educational contexts. [source] On the analysis of non-linear allometriesECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2009ROBERT J. KNELL Abstract 1.,Non-linear allometries are those where a log,log scatterplot of trait size against body size deviates from simple linearity. These are found in many insects, including the horns of beetles, the forceps of earwigs, and the heads of certain castes of ant. 2.,Non-linear allometries are often associated with polyphenism that is itself related to behaviour: for example, the alternative mating tactics displayed by many species of beetle are widely associated with dimorphisms in horn size. 3.,This paper critically reviews the current techniques used to analyse these datasets. 4.,Recommendations include the use of scatterplots and assessment of the goodness of fit of simple linear models as an initial screen for non-linear allometry. The use of recently developed algorithms for ,segmented' regression to analyse continuous allometric relationships, and a pragmatic approach to the analysis of discontinuous relationships that recognises that there is no simple way to distinguish between morphs in some cases, and that all of the proposed methods for doing so have some drawbacks. 5.,Worked examples of the analysis of two sets of data from animals that have been the subject of controversy regarding the nature of their allometric relationships are given: further worked examples are provided as online Supporting Information. [source] GENETIC DISSECTION OF HYBRID INCOMPATIBILITIES BETWEEN DROSOPHILA SIMULANS AND D. MAURITIANA.: III.EVOLUTION, Issue 11 2003AND IMPLICATIONS FOR HALDANE, DEGREE OF DOMINANCE, HETEROGENEOUS ACCUMULATION OF HYBRID INCOMPATIBILITIES Abstract The genetic basis of Haldane,rule was investigated through estimating the accumulation of hybrid incompatibilities between Drosophila simulans and D. mauritiana by means of introgression. The accumulation of hybrid male sterility (HMS) is at least 10 times greater than that of hybrid female sterility (HFS) or hybrid lethality (HL). The degree of dominance for HMS and HL in a pure D. simulans background is estimated as 0.23,0.29 and 0.33,0.39, respectively; that for HL in an F1 background is unlikely to be very small. Evidence obtained here was used to test the Turelli-Orr model of Haldane's rule. Composite causes, especially, faster-male evolution and recessive hybrid incompatibilities, underlie Haldane's rule in heterogametic male taxa such as Drosophila (XY male and XX female). However, if faster-male evolution is driven by sexual selection, it contradicts Haldane's rule for sterility in hetero-gametic-female taxa such as Lepidoptera (ZW female and ZZ male). The hypothesis of a faster-heterogametic-sex evolution seems to fit the current data best. This hypothesis states that gametogenesis in the heterogametic sex, instead of in males per se, evolves much faster than in the homogametic sex, in part because of sex-ratio selection. This hypothesis not only explains Haldane's rule in a simple way, but also suggests that genomic conflicts play a major role in evolution and speciation. [source] Fuzzy sliding-mode control with rule adaptation for nonlinear systemsEXPERT SYSTEMS, Issue 4 2006Lon-Chen Hung Abstract: A fuzzy sliding-mode control with rule adaptation design approach with decoupling method is proposed. It provides a simple way to achieve asymptotic stability by a decoupling method for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems. The adaptive fuzzy sliding-mode control system is composed of a fuzzy controller and a compensation controller. The fuzzy controller is the main rule regulation controller, which is used to approximate an ideal computational controller. The compensation controller is designed to compensate for the difference between the ideal computational controller and the adaptive fuzzy controller. Fuzzy regulation is used as an approximator to identify the uncertainty. The simulation results for two cart,pole systems and a ball,beam system are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the method. In addition, the experimental results for a tunnelling robot manipulator are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the system. [source] Isolation and identification of equol-producing bacterial strains from cultures of pig faecesFEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 1 2008Zhuo-Teng Yu Abstract Transformation of daidzein to equol was compared during fermentation of three growth media inoculated with faeces from Erhualian piglets, but equol was produced from only one medium, M1. Two equol-producing strains (D1 and D2) were subsequently isolated using medium M1. Both strains were identified as Eubacterium sp., on the basis of morphological and physiological characteristics, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strains D1 and D2 were most closely related to previously characterized daidzein-metabolizing bacteria isolated from human faecal and rumen samples, respectively. This suggests that the ability to metabolize daidzein can be found among bacteria present within the mammalian intestine. The results provided the first account of conversion of daidzein directly to equol by bacterial species from farm animals. These strains may be of importance to the improvement of animal performance, and the use of medium M1 could provide a simple way to isolate bacterial strains capable of transforming daidzein into equol. [source] Heat transfer by radiation and convection in fire testingFIRE AND MATERIALS, Issue 5 2004Ulf Wickström Abstract Fire safety engineers, especially those experts writing fire test standards, often have different understandings of the concepts of heat transfer from a fire to a surface by radiation and convection. The concepts are therefore often not very well defined, in e.g. ISO and CEN standards, leading in many cases to confusions, misunderstandings and considerable errors. This paper is an effort, in a very simple way, to make the issue a little clearer, particularly for use in international standardization work. ISO/TC92 and the International FORUM of Fire Research Directors are currently endorsing very important work on procedures to calibrate heat flux meters. The two entities, heat transfer by radiation and convection, may be treated independently. The presentation below is deliberately very short and basic avoiding many phenomena that are not immediately needed in most fire standardization work. Recommendations are reached on how to define and measure heat transfer in fire testing. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Tendaguru Formation (Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, southern Tanzania): definition, palaeoenvironments, and sequence stratigraphyFOSSIL RECORD-MITTEILUNGEN AUS DEM MUSEUM FUER NATURKUNDE, Issue 2 2009Robert Bussert Abstract The well-known Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Tendaguru Beds of southern Tanzania have yielded fossil plant remains, invertebrates and vertebrates, notably dinosaurs, of exceptional scientific importance. Based on data of the German-Tanzanian Tendaguru Expedition 2000 and previous studies, and in accordance with the international stratigraphic guide, we raise the Tendaguru Beds to formational rank and recognise six members (from bottom to top): Lower Dinosaur Member, Nerinella Member, Middle Dinosaur Member, Indotrigonia africana Member, Upper Dinosaur Member, and Rutitrigonia bornhardti-schwarzi Member. We characterise and discuss each member in detail in terms of derivation of name, definition of a type section, distribution, thickness, lithofacies, boundaries, palaeontology, and age. The age of the whole formation apparently ranges at least from the middle Oxfordian to the Valanginian through Hauterivian or possibly Aptian. The Tendaguru Formation constitutes a cyclic sedimentary succession, consisting of three marginal marine, sandstone-dominated depositional units and three predominantly coastal to tidal plain, fine-grained depositional units with dinosaur remains. It represents four third-order sequences, which are composed of transgressive and highstand systems tracts. Sequence boundaries are represented by transgressive ravinement surfaces and maximum flooding surfaces. In a more simple way, the depositional sequences can be subdivided into transgressive and regressive sequences/systems tracts. Whereas the transgressive systems tracts are mainly represented by shallow marine shoreface, tidal channel and sand bar sandstones, the regressive systems tracts predominantly consist of shallow tidal channel, tidal flat, and marginal lagoonal to supratidal deposits. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Nanofabrication: Curving Nanostructures Using Extrinsic Stress (Adv. Mater.ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 21 201021/2010) A simple way to fabricate simultaneously patterned and curved nanostructures with radii as small as 20 nm is demonstrated on p. 2320 by David Gracias and co-workers. Curved nanostructures with both homogeneous (nanorings, nanotubes) and variable (nanospirals) radii of curvature spontaneously assembled when grain coalescence was induced in electron-beam-patterned thin-film bilayers. In addition, large stresses could be induced after deposition and patterning and only when required, thereby suggesting an extrinsic stress-based strategy to trigger assembly on demand. [source] A Microfluidic Approach for the Formation of Conductive Nanowires and Hollow Hybrid StructuresADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 20 2010Josep Puigmartí-Luis A facile fabrication process for micro- and nanometer-scale hybrid structures employing a microfluidic reactor is described. The unique properties of hydrodynamic flow focusing are exploited to promote the formation of well-defined structures with dissimilar morphology and structure in a fast and simple way. The hybrid nanowires are potential candidates for nanometer-sized sensors due to their electrical conductivity and their ease of functionalization. [source] Hybrid Complementary Logic Circuits of One-Dimensional Nanomaterials with Adjustment of Operation VoltageADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 21 2009Gunho Jo A new layout of complementary logic circuits based on p-channel carbon nanotube and n-channel zinc oxide nanowire transistors is presented, providing a hybrid approach to combine advantageous characteristic functions for the modulation of the current and operating voltage in transistors through proton radiation-generated charges, which allow a simple way to design favorable logic circuits. [source] A simple method for compressible multiphase mixtures and interfacesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN FLUIDS, Issue 2 2003Nikolai Andrianov Abstract We develop a Godunov-type scheme for a non-conservative, unconditional hyperbolic multiphase model. It involves a set of seven partial differential equations and has the ability to solve interface problems between pure materials as well as compressible multiphase mixtures with two velocities and non-equilibrium thermodynamics (two pressures, two temperatures, two densities, etc.).Its numerical resolution poses several difficulties. The model possesses a large number of acoustic and convective waves (seven waves) and it is not easy to upwind all these waves accurately and simply. Also, the system is non-conservative, and the numerical approximations of the corresponding terms need to be provided. In this paper, we focus on a method, based on a characteristic decomposition which solves these problems in a simple way and with good accuracy. The robustness, accuracy and versatility of the method is clearly demonstrated on several test problems with exact solutions. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] On the realization of current transfer function using voltage amplifiers,INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CIRCUIT THEORY AND APPLICATIONS, Issue 5 2006R. Raut Abstract Current transfer function is a feature of current-mode filters. Current-mode filters have so far been realized principally using current amplifiers and current conveyors. Some current-mode filter architecture using operational amplifiers have also been reported. In this article it is shown that by using the principles of transposed network and nullor model for the active device, a current transfer function can be realized in a very simple way using a voltage amplifier, i.e. operational amplifier (OA). The key concept is the knowledge that each ideal (i.e. infinite gain) controlled source is exactly equivalent to a nullor. Thus, a voltage-mode filter implemented using an ideal three terminal (output, input and ground) OA can be very easily converted to a current-mode filter using the same OA. The principle has been illustrated by considering single-OA- and multi-OA-based second-order voltage-mode filters. SPICE simulation results are provided to validate the theoretical concept. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Global classification of human facial healthy skin using PLS discriminant analysis and clustering analysisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 2 2001C Guinot Synopsis Today's classifications of healthy skin are predominantly based on a very limited number of skin characteristics, such as skin oiliness or susceptibility to sun exposure. The aim of the present analysis was to set up a global classification of healthy facial skin, using mathematical models. This classification is based on clinical, biophysical skin characteristics and self-reported information related to the skin, as well as the results of a theoretical skin classification assessed separately for the frontal and the malar zones of the face. In order to maximize the predictive power of the models with a minimum of variables, the Partial Least Square (PLS) discriminant analysis method was used. The resulting PLS components were subjected to clustering analyses to identify the plausible number of clusters and to group the individuals according to their proximities. Using this approach, four PLS components could be constructed and six clusters were found relevant. So, from the 36 hypothetical combinations of the theoretical skin types classification, we tended to a strengthened six classes proposal. Our data suggest that the association of the PLS discriminant analysis and the clustering methods leads to a valid and simple way to classify healthy human skin and represents a potentially useful tool for cosmetic and dermatological research. Résumé Les classifications actuelles qui définissent une peau saine sont fondées principalement sur un nombre très limité de caractéristiques cutanées telles que l'aspect gras de la peau ou sa sensibilité au soleil. Cette analyse a pour but d'établir une classification globale de la peau humaine saine du visage à l'aide de modèles mathématiques. Une recherche de typologie a été effectuée à partir des caractéristiques cliniques et biophysiques de la peau du visage des individus tout en tenant compte d'une classification théorique, reflet de l'expertise des dermatologues, appréciée sur les zones frontale et malaire du visage. Pour accroître l'efficacité prédictive des modèles avec un minimum de variables, la méthode d'analyse discriminante PLS (Partial Least Square) a été utilisée. Des méthodes de classification ont été appliquées aux composantes PLS obtenues afin de déterminer le nombre le plus vraisemblable de classes et pour regrouper les sujets selon leurs proximités. Grâce à cette approche, quatre composantes PLS ont pu être construites et six classes se sont avérées pertinentes. Ce travail a abouti à une proposition de classification à six classes plus vraisemblable et acceptable que les 36 combinaisons possibles de la classification théorique proposée. Nos données suggèrent que l'association de l'analyse discriminante PLS aux méthodes de classification permet d'obtenir de façon simple et appropriée une classification de la peau humaine saine et représente un outil potentiel utile dans le domaine de la recherche en cosmétologie et en dermatologie. [source] Exergetic performance evaluation of a combined heat and power (CHP) system in TurkeyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 9 2007Ozgur Balli Abstract This study deals with the exergetic performance assessment of a combined heat and power (CHP) system installed in Eskisehir city of Turkey. Quantitative exergy balance for each component and the whole CHP system was considered, while exergy consumptions in the system were determined. The performance characteristics of this CHP system were evaluated using exergy analysis method. The exergetic efficiency of the CHP system was accounted for 38.16% with 49 880 kW as electrical products. The exergy consumption occurred in this system amounted to 80 833.67 kW. The ways of improving the exergy efficiency of this system were also analysed. As a result of these, a simple way of increasing the exergy efficiency of the available CHP system was suggested that the valves-I,III and the MPSC could be replaced by a 3500 kW-intermediate pressure steam turbine (IPST). If the IPST is installed to the CHP system (called the modified CHP (MCHP) system), the exergetic efficiency of the MCHP system is calculated to be 40.75% with 53 269.53 kW as electrical products. The exergy consumption is found to be 77 444.14 kW in the MCHP system. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Implementation and evaluation of MPI-based parallel MD programINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2001R. Trobec Abstract The message-passing interface (MPI)-based object-oriented particle,particle interactions (PPI) library is implemented and evaluated. The library can be used in the n -particle simulation algorithm designed for a ring of p interconnected processors. The parallel simulation is scalable with the number of processors, and has the time requirement proportional to n2/p if n/p is large enough, which guarantees optimal speedup. In a certain range of problem sizes, the speedup becomes superlinear because enough cache memory is available in the system. The library is used in a simple way by any potential user, even with no deep programming knowledge. Different simulations using particles can be implemented on a wide spectrum of different computer platforms. The main purpose of this article is to test the PPI library on well-known methods, e.g., the parallel molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of the monoatomic system by the second-order leapfrog Verlet algorithm. The performances of the parallel simulation program implemented with the proposed library are competitive with a custom-designed simulation code. Also, the implementation of the split integration symplectic method, based on the analytical calculation of the harmonic part of the particle interactions, is shown, and its expected performances are predicted. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 84: 23,31, 2001 [source] Constructive modification of conducting polyaniline characteristics in unusual proportion through nanomaterial blend formation with the neutral polymer poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 1 2007E. Subramanian Abstract The present work reports an investigation on the modification of conducting polyaniline (PANI) characteristics favorably on blending with the neutral polymer, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) in a systematic variation of their molar ratios (aniline : PVP = 4 : 1, 2 : 1, 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 1 : 3). Prepared by precipitation technique by conventional in situ chemical oxidative polymerization with ammonium peroxodisulfate in aqueous H2SO4 medium (pH 1.0), these materials have nanometer sizes (, 50,200 nm) and, depending on the molar ratios, exhibit a distinct deviation in physicochemical characteristics from those of pristine PANI prepared in the identical condition. A gradual trend in characteristics is noticed in first three PANI,PVP blends, while an abnormal hike in conductivity, unusual spectral features in IR and UV,vis, hardened nature, and induction of characteristic morphology, crystallinity, and thermal stability are associated with the last two blends that have excess PVP. Thus a division of two sets of nanoblends, one set with less or equal content of PVP and another with excess of PVP, emerges. Evidently, PVP has a tuning effect on PANI through its dopant, supporting matrix and interpenetrating steric stabilizer acts in proportion quite unusual to its neutral nature. The study altogether brings to light a simple way of modification of PANI characteristics by conventional method of blend synthesis. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007 [source] Current Strategy of Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot in Children and Adults: Emphasis on a New Technique to Create a Monocusp-Patch for Reconstruction of the Right Ventricular Outflow TractJOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 6 2008D.Sc., Guo-Wei He M.D., Ph.D. Methods: From 2001 through 2005, 74 patients (50 male, 24 female; mean age of 13.6 ± 0.8 years, ranging from four to 34 years) with TOF (67) or double outlet RV (DORV)-type-TOF (seven) underwent complete repair. The resection of RVOT stenosis ± pulmonary valvotomy was principally through RA. A new two-patch technique to create a folded mono-cusp valve by using autologous pericardium was applied since August 2004. Results: The repair was through RA in 52 patients and through RA + RVOT/PA in 22 patients (18/4). TAPR was performed in 17 patients (23%, eight non-valved and nine valved). The aortic cross-clamp time was 130.1 ± 6.8 min in TAPR group and 85.8 ± 4.6 min in non-TAPR group (p < 0.0001). The operative mortality was 4.0% (3/74) in all and 2.9% (2/67) in TOF patients (due to low output, uncontrollable bleeding, and repeated bleeding from the pulmonary collateral vessels late) and was similar in TAPR or non-TAPR. The valved patch-repaired patients had mild PI and good RV function postoperatively up to eight to 12 months. Conclusions: Repair of TOF in older children/adults should include low rate of TAPR of RVOT. If indicated, the new folded monocusp-patch technique is recommended. It is an effective and simple way to markedly reduce postoperative PI with no additional cost. [source] Surgical Ablation of Permanent Atrial Fibrillation by Means of Maze Radiofrequency:JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 5 2004Mid-Term Results We report our experience with a biatrial pattern of lesions based on the use of epicardial and endocardial radiofrequency ablation in an effort to minimize maze procedure. Method: In 85 patients undergoing cardiac surgery for established permanent atrial fibrillation (>3 months), a biauricular pattern of epicardic,endocardic maze lesions was performed. The main surgical procedures were diverse: 42 mitral valve surgeries, 7 mitrotricuspid valves, 18 mitroaortics, 4 mitroaortic and tricuspids, 2 aortic valves, 3 CABGs, 5 CABG and valve procedures, and 4 atrial septal defects. The mean age of the patients was 61 ± 12 (range 39,78). The mean duration of atrial fibrillation was 5.8 years (range 0.3 to 24). Results: Sixty-two (72.9%) patients presented postoperative supraventricular arrhythmia. Hospital mortality was seen in five patients (5.8%). Two patients died after a 12-month mean follow-up (range 2 to 32). A total of 14.1% of patients remained with their previous atrial fibrillation and 85.9% recovered and maintained sinus rhythm, with two patients having a permanent pacemaker. A total of 56% patients have been followed-up for a period of more than 6 months, and among them prevalence of sinus rhythm is 87.5%. Echocardiography detected biauricular contraction in 65% of them. After analyzing the data, factors involved in postoperative recurrence of atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency surgery were oldness of the atrial fibrillation (p < 0.01) and pre and postoperative left auricle volume (p < 0.04). Conclusion: Intraoperative radiofrequency has permitted us to perform the maze procedure in a simple way, with a low surgical morbid-mortality. We have obtained an 85.9% electrographic effectiveness and a 65% recovery of atrial contraction. Postoperative incidence of arrhythmia is the main postoperative problem. [source] Exploring complex interactions in designed data using GEMANOVA.JOURNAL OF CHEMOMETRICS, Issue 6 2002Color changes in fresh beef during storage Abstract Data from a severely reduced experimental design are investigated in order to obtain detailed information on important factors affecting the changes in quality of meat during storage under different conditions. It is possible to model the response, meat color, using traditional ANOVA (analysis of variance) techniques, but the exploratory and explanatory value of this model is somewhat restricted owing to the number of factors and the fact that several interactions exist. For those reasons, it is not possible to visualize the model in a simple way and therefore not possible to have a clear overview of the total variation in the data. Using a recently suggested alternative to traditional analysis of variance, GEMANOVA (generalized multiplicative ANOVA), it is possible to analyze the data effectively and obtain a more interpretable solution that enables a simple overview of the whole sampling domain. Whereas traditional analysis of variance typically seeks a model with main effects and as few and simple interactions and cross-products as possible, the GEMANOVA model seeks to describe the data primarily by means of higher-order interactions, albeit in a straightforward way. The two approaches are thus complementary. It is shown that the GEMANOVA model is simple to interpret, primarily because the GEMANOVA structure is in agreement with the nature of the data. It is shown that the GEMANOVA model used is mathematically unique, which leads to attractive simplified ways of interpreting the model. The results presented are the first published results where the GEMANOVA model is not simply equivalent to an ordinary PARAFAC model, thus taking full advantage of the additional structural power of GEMANOVA. A new algorithm for fitting the GEMANOVA model is developed and is available from the authors. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] IODINE-FORTIFIED RICE AND ITS ABSORPTIONJOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2009VANNA TULYATHAN ABSTRACT Iodine deficiency remains a major health problem in many parts of Thailand with over 50% of the population lacking sufficient iodine in their diet. Since rice is the main staple for Thai people with rice consumed in one form or another in almost every meal, enrichment of rice with iodine offers an effective way to remedy this deficiency of iodine. The present paper investigates the enrichment of iodine in milled rice seeds using flour gel coating technique. Milled rice (Klong-laung 1 variety) was coated with iodine-enriched flour gel (rice : gel = 100:5 w/w) by mixing at 40 rpm and drying to less than 13% moisture. Washing or cooking of the iodine-enriched rice resulted in about 99% and 94% retention of original iodine, respectively. Sensory properties of the cooked rice were acceptable and almost comparable to non-iodine rice. When the iodine-fortified rice was fed to healthy male and female subjects, significant excretion of iodine in the urine was found. PRACTICAL APPLICATION A common form of rice consumed widely among Thai people (also popular in Laos and Cambodia) is a food known simply as "sticky rice." The reason for its popularity is the simple way it is prepared and, above all, its good taste. It is made from a short type of rice and when prepared, the resulting texture is quite sticky, thus its name. However, its nutritional value is quite low and is a good candidate for the introduction of iodine coating. It can be made by a quick steaming process and this simplicity in preparation makes it widely popular and can be a vehicle for the introduction of iodine to the local mass. [source] Marriage and the Moral Bases of Personal RelationshipsJOURNAL OF LAW AND SOCIETY, Issue 4 2004John Eekelaar Marriage is a legal institution. Current debates about whether it should be extended beyond its traditional heterosexual constitution, and whether many of its legal incidents should apply to couples who live together without marrying, and about the introduction of civil partnership (modelled closely on marriage) for same-sex couples, make an examination of its contemporary role particularly timely. This article is about the interplay between the institution of marriage and ideas of obligation within personal relationships. It takes as its starting point some commonly held opinions. First, that the sense of obligation which hitherto guided people's behaviour in their personal relationships has much diminished or even disappeared. Second, that this diminution is reflected in the decline in marriage. We will then examine what the evidence of an empirical study conducted by the Oxford Centre for Family Law and Policy reveals about the way people in married and unmarried relationships understand the nature of their personal obligations. In doing this it will be seen that the moral bases which underpin people's personal relationships is complex and does not correspond in a simple way with formal, external social categories. [source] Validation of video versus electromyography for chewing evaluation of the elderly wearing a complete dentureJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 8 2007E. NICOLAS summary, Chewing efficiency may affect nutritional status in the elderly. Many elderly patients are complete denture wearers, and often present cognitive problems. Those two factors make evaluation of mastication difficult with experimental methods. Analysis of video recording may be a simple way to routinely assess chewing parameters. This study aimed at validating several parameters of video evaluation versus electromyography (EMG), which is considered the ,gold standard'. The design was a prospective randomized study, carried out at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France. Twelve complete denture wearers chewed four model foods differing in hardness. Sessions were videotaped and EMG recordings were registered. Mastication time, number of masticatory cycles and cleaning time were recorded simultaneously by video and EMG. Two investigators independently analyzed the videos twice, in random order. Evaluation of criterion validity: a positive video/EMG correlation was found for the parameters ,chewing time' (0·89, Pearson) and ,number of masticatory cycles' (0·94, Spearman), whereas no statistical difference was found between these two EMG and video variables (t -test). Inter and intra-rater reliability gave a positive intraclass coefficient (ICC) for duration of mastication (0·86,0·98), number of masticatory cycles (0·90,0·97) and cleaning time (0·90,0·98). Discriminatory ability was studied using anova (P = 0·01): variation was significant in masticatory duration (F = 10), number of masticatory cycles (F = 10) and cleaning time (F = 4). Video may be a useful assessment tool in prosthetic rehabilitation and can be applied to help choose the type of food (solid, semi-liquid or liquid) to administer to dependent persons, particularly those suffering from dementia. [source] The Effectiveness of Distributive Policy in a Competitive EconomyJOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMIC THEORY, Issue 1 2000Jean Mercier Ythier I consider an abstract social system made of individual owners endowed with nonpaternalistic interdependent preferences, who interact by means of individual gifts and by exchanges on competitive markets. The existence of equilibrium is established. I identify the set of allocations that are decentralizable in the sense that they are general equilibria for some vectors of market prices and initial endowments. This set is characterized in a simple way from the social endowment and individual market and distributive preferences. Decentralizable allocations are all accessible to distributive policy, unless public transfers are confined to some neighborhood of 0. In the latter case, distributive policy remains free to perform local redistributions of wealth across the components of the graph of equilibrium gifts. [source] Simple Synthesis of Submicrometer Lead Titanate Powder by Precipitation of TiO2 Precursor on PbO ParticulatesJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 4 2000Kyoung R. Han A simple way to prepare phase-pure, submicrometer PbTiO3 powder was tried by precipitation. Precipitation was carried out in an aqueous PbO slurry using aqueous TiCl4 and dilute NH4OH at pH 9.5 ± 0.1. The TG/DSC curves of the PT precursor show weight loss of ,7% and two exotherms at 492° and 522°C. They are attributed to the crystallization of tetragonal PbTiO3. XRD shows that tetragonal PbTiO3 can be obtained by heat treatment around 500°C via a noncrystalline state. SEM shows that the PbTiO3 powder calcined at 600°C for 1 h is well crystallized and in the range of 100,300 nm. [source] Efficient use of higher-lag autocorrelations for estimating autoregressive processesJOURNAL OF TIME SERIES ANALYSIS, Issue 3 2002LAURENCE BROZE The Yule,Walker estimator is commonly used in time-series analysis, as a simple way to estimate the coefficients of an autoregressive process. Under strong assumptions on the noise process, this estimator possesses the same asymptotic properties as the Gaussian maximum likelihood estimator. However, when the noise is a weak one, other estimators based on higher-order empirical autocorrelations can provide substantial efficiency gains. This is illustrated by means of a first-order autoregressive process with a Markov-switching white noise. We show how to optimally choose a linear combination of a set of estimators based on empirical autocorrelations. The asymptotic variance of the optimal estimator is derived. Empirical experiments based on simulations show that the new estimator performs well on the illustrative model. [source] Actively Q-switched all-fiber lasersLASER PHYSICS LETTERS, Issue 2 2008M.V. Andrés Abstract Q-switching of fiber lasers using bulk elements has important drawbacks as reduced mechanical stability and high insertion losses. The development of efficient all-fiber modulation techniques is the key to obtain robust, compact and efficient Q-switched all-fiber lasers. Certainly, the development of fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) has been crucial to make progress on fiber lasers. FBGs permit a simple way to assemble all-fiber laser cavities and can be written in the active fiber itself. The Q-factor of this type of cavities is determined by the reflectivity of the FBGs and the losses of the fiber. Here, we focus on the use of magnetostrictive materials and the acousto-optic interaction to develop efficient Q-factor modulators. Most of these modulators include an FBG and take advantage of the specific interaction of the magnetostrictive materials or the acoustic wave with the FBG itself. Fiber optic technologies permit the development of a rather unique type of fiber lasers, i.e., actively Q-switched distributed feedback (DFB) fiber lasers. In this case, both the use of magnetostrictive materials and the acousto-optic interaction permit the generation of dynamic defects in an FBG that has been previously written in a highly Er-doped fiber. (© 2007 by Astro Ltd., Published exclusively by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA) [source] Direct Microfabrication of Topographical and Chemical Cues for the Guided Growth of Neural Cell Networks on Polyamidoamine HydrogelsMACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE, Issue 8 2010Gabriel Dos Reis Abstract Cell patterning is an important tool for organizing cells in surfaces and to reproduce in a simple way the tissue hierarchy and complexity of pluri-cellular life. The control of cell growth, proliferation and differentiation on solid surfaces is consequently important for prosthetics, biosensors, cell-based arrays, stem cell therapy and cell-based drug discovery concepts. We present a new electron beam lithography method for the direct and simultaneous fabrication of sub-micron topographical and chemical patterns, on a biocompatible and biodegradable PAA hydrogel. The localized e-beam modification of a hydrogel surface makes the pattern able to adsorb proteins in contrast with the anti-fouling surface. By also exploiting the selective attachment, growth and differentiation of PC12 cells, we fabricated a neural network of single cells connected by neuritis extending along microchannels. E-beam microlithography on PAA hydrogels opens up the opportunity of producing multifunctional microdevices incorporating complex topographies, allowing precise control of the growth and organization of individual cells. [source] The nature of galaxy bias and clusteringMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 4 2000A. J. Benson We have used a combination of high resolution cosmological N -body simulations and semi-analytic modelling of galaxy formation to investigate the processes that determine the spatial distribution of galaxies in cold dark matter (CDM) models and its relation to the spatial distribution of dark matter. The galaxy distribution depends sensitively on the efficiency with which galaxies form in haloes of different mass. In small mass haloes, galaxy formation is inhibited by the reheating of cooled gas by feedback processes, whereas in large mass haloes, it is inhibited by the long cooling time of the gas. As a result, the mass-to-light ratio of haloes has a deep minimum at the halo mass, ,1012 M,, associated with L* galaxies, where galaxy formation is most efficient. This dependence of galaxy formation efficiency on halo mass leads to a scale-dependent bias in the distribution of galaxies relative to the distribution of mass. On large scales, the bias in the galaxy distribution is related in a simple way to the bias in the distribution of massive haloes. On small scales, the correlation function is determined by the interplay between various effects including the spatial exclusion of dark matter haloes, the distribution function of the number of galaxies occupying a single dark matter halo and, to a lesser extent, dynamical friction. Remarkably, these processes conspire to produce a correlation function in a flat, ,0=0.3, CDM model that is close to a power law over nearly four orders of magnitude in amplitude. This model agrees well with the correlation function of galaxies measured in the automated-plate measurement survey. On small scales, the model galaxies are less strongly clustered than the dark matter, whereas on large scales they trace the occupied haloes. Our clustering predictions are robust to changes in the parameters of the galaxy formation model, provided only those models which match the bright end of the galaxy luminosity function are considered. [source] On the doping of graphenePHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 9 2008R. Jones Abstract Density functional theory is used to show that charge transfer occurs between chemical dopants in GaAs and adsorbates composed of C60 and graphene lying on the (110) surface of GaAs. In the case of C60, charge transfer only occurs for n-type GaAs in agreement with previous experimental results. However, the calculations show that transfer between graphene and both n- and p-type GaAs can occur which offers a simple way of doping graphene. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. 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