Broken Lines Research Articles

NUMERICAL STUDY ON RANDOM WAVES AND WAVE-INDUCED LONG-SHORE CURRENTS AT LEADBETTER BEACH

Shallow coastal zone is extremely dynamic region, where the hydrodynamics are complicated as evident in the refraction, diffraction, shoaling and breaking of water waves, as well as the presence of wave-induced near-shore currents. In this paper, the distribution of waves and wave-induced long-shore currents formed by the breaking of obliquely incident random waves at Leadbetter Beach, Santa Barbara, USA are numerically studied. In the present numerical models, the random water waves are simulated based on the parabolic mild slope equation, and so the wave radiation stresses exerted on waveinduced currents are calculated based on variables in the parabolic mild slope equation, and the wave-induced longshore currents are simulated based on these. The numerical results have also been validated by field data and show good agreement with field data. In the process of numerical modeling, it is found that the bathymetry gradient is determinant to the distribution of wave transformation and wave-induced long-shore current in this coastal zone. In the areas where the bathymetry gradients are greater, the break line is closer from the shoreline, and the radiation stresses and radiation stress gradients are both greater than else areas associating with the presence of the relatively greater maximum wave heights, which result in slightly greater wave-induced long-shore currents, whereas, in the areas where the bathymetry gradients are smaller, the distribution of the break line, wave heights and wave-induced long-shore currents are just opposite. On the side, the wave-induced long-shore current deflects with the variation of bathymetry gradients.

Jūrų transporto raidos įtaka uostamiesčių urbanistinei plėtrai (Klaipėdos pavyzdžiu)

Straipsnis skirtas uosto ir miesto teritorijų ryšio stiprinimo problemai nagrinėti. Jūrų transporto raidos ypatumai pastaraisiais dešimtmečiais uostamiesčių urbanistinei plėtrai suteikė naujų postūmių, todėl atsirado naujų galimybių šią problemą spręsti būdais, naudingais tiek uostui, tiek miestui. Europos uostų praktika rodo, jog uosto ir miesto teritorijų ryšius galima stiprinti analizuojant transporto prigimtį, teritorijų efektyvumą, uosto raidos ciklą bei skatinant mišrių funkcijų atsiradimą ir visuomenės susidomėjimą pakrantėmis. Vadovaujantis šia patirtimi, siūlomos gairės, kaip jūrų transporto raida ir jos teikiamos galimybės galėtų pakeisti Klaipėdos urbanistinės plėtros perspektyvas.

Spatial genetic structure of Campanula thyrsoides across the European Alps: Indications for glaciation-driven allopatric subspeciation

Abstract Quaternary climate change had profound impacts on the geographical distribution and genetic structure of plant species which is hypothesized to have triggered allopatric speciation due to spatial isolation. However, evidence is scarce despite recent advances that indicate glacial history and substrate requirements as main drivers of spatial genetic structures. Here we built upon these studies to test the role of glaciations on the morphological and ecological differentiation within the calcicolous Campanula thyrsoides across its European Alpine distribution range. We collected samples from 51 populations (1173 plants), used five microsatellite markers, estimated diversity ( N a , H E ) and differentiation ( D est , G ST_est , F ST ) and applied Bayesian clustering analysis and tessellation methods. We found support for four genetically distinct groups of populations, arranged from West to East: (i) France and Western Switzerland, (ii) Central and most of Eastern Switzerland, (iii) parts of Eastern Switzerland and Central Austria, and (iv) Southeastern Austria, Slovenia and Northeastern Italy. Among-subspecies variance was 8.4% and each subspecies was highly differentiated ( C.*thyrsoides : D est = 0.47; C.*carniolica : D est = 0.58). Geographic structuring of within-population diversity was not related to refugia outside of previously-glaciated terrain but to subspecies: the more thermophilic C.*carniolica showed significantly lower levels of within-population diversity and higher numbers of private alleles. The location of the genetic break lines between these four groups of populations corresponds to well-known biogeographic barriers. However, the phylogeographic pattern has elements formerly found in both calcicolous and silicicolous species and thus questions the generality of substrate-related patterns. Within C.*thyrsoides , population admixture upon secondary contact may have led to high genetic diversity across the distribution range. Given the geographic and genetic differences of the subspecies we conclude that differentiation between C.*thyrsoides and C.*carniolica represents a case of glaciation-driven allopatric subspeciation reinforced by missing secondary contact due to incomplete post-glacial recolonization of potential habitats.

Fast alignment of a complex tracking detector using advanced track models

The inner silicon detector of the Compact Muon Solenoid experiment (CMS) at CERNʼs LHC consists of 16 588 modules. Charged-particle tracks in the detector are used to improve the accuracy to which the position and orientation of the modules are known. This contribution focuses on the Millepede-II algorithm, one of the two alignment algorithms used by CMS. Recently an advanced track model has been introduced into the CMS alignment procedure, which is based on the “Broken Lines” model and is able to take multiple Coulomb scattering in the detector material properly into account. We show the unique approach needed for solving the alignment problem in a reasonable amount of time. Emphasis is given to the mathematical treatment of the problem.

Associative Cortex Features in the First Olfactory Brain Relay Station

Synchronized firing of mitral cells (MCs) in the olfactory bulb (OB) has been hypothesized to help bind information together in olfactory cortex (OC). In this survey of synchronized firing by suspected MCs in awake, behaving vertebrates, we find the surprising result that synchronized firing conveys information on odor value ("Is it rewarded?") rather than odor identity ("What is the odor?"). We observed that asmice learned to discriminate between odors, synchronous firing responses to the rewarded and unrewarded odors became divergent. Furthermore, adrenergic blockage decreases the magnitude of odor divergence of synchronous trains, suggesting that MCs contribute to decision-making through adrenergic-modulated synchronized firing. Thus, in the olfactory system information on stimulus reward is found in MCs one synapse away from the sensory neuron.

A HIGH SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO COMPOSITE SPECTRUM OF GAMMA-RAY BURST AFTERGLOWS

We present a composite spectrum of 60 long duration gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows with redshifts in the range 0.35<z<6.7 observed with low resolution optical spectra. The composite spectrum covers the wavelength range 700-6600 A in the rest frame and has a mean signal-to-noise ratio of 150 per 1 A pixel and reaches a maximum of ~300 in the range 2500-3500 A. Equivalent widths are measured from metal absorption lines from the Lya line to ~5200 A, and associated metal and hydrogen lines are identified between the Lyman break and Lya line. The average transmission within the Lyman forest is consistent with that found along quasar lines of sight. We find a temporal variation in fine structure lines when dividing the sample into bursts observed within 2 hours from their trigger and those observed later. Other lines in the predominantly neutral gas show variations too, but this is most likely a random effect caused by weighting of individual strong absorption lines and which mimics a temporal variation. Bursts characterized with high or low prompt GRB energy release produce afterglows with similar absorption line strengths, and likewise for bursts with bright or faint optical afterglows. Bursts defined as dark from their optical to X-ray spectral index have stronger absorption lines relative to the optically bright bursts. The composite spectrum has strong CaII and MgII absorption lines as commonly found in dusty galaxies, however, we find no evidence for dust or a significant molecular content based on the non-detection of diffuse interstellar bands. Compared to starburst galaxy spectra, the GRB composite has much stronger fine structure lines, while metal absorption lines are weaker.

Adaptation by stochastic switching of a monostable genetic circuit in Escherichia coli

Stochastic switching is considered as a cost-saving strategy for adaptation to environmental challenges. We show here that stochastic switching of a monostable circuit can mediate the adaptation of the engineered OSU12-hisC Escherichia coli strain to histidine starvation. In this strain, the hisC gene was deleted from the His operon and placed under the control of a monostable foreign promoter. In response to histidine depletion, the OSU12-hisC population shifted to a higher HisC expression level, which is beneficial under starving conditions but is not favoured by the monostable circuit. The population shift was accompanied by growth recovery and was reversible upon histidine addition. A weak directionality in stochastic switching of hisC was observed in growing microcolonies under histidine-free conditions. Directionality and fate decision were in part dependent on the initial cellular status. Finally, microarray analysis indicated that OSU12-hisC reorganized its transcriptome to reach the appropriate physiological state upon starvation. These findings suggest that bacteria do not necessarily need to evolve signalling mechanisms to control gene expression appropriately, even for essential genes.

Evidence That Prestin Has at Least Two Voltage-dependent Steps

Prestin is a voltage-dependent membrane-spanning motor protein that confers electromotility on mammalian cochlear outer hair cells, which is essential for normal hearing of mammals. Voltage-induced charge movement in the prestin molecule is converted into mechanical work; however, little is known about the molecular mechanism of this process. For understanding the electromechanical coupling mechanism of prestin, we simultaneously measured voltage-dependent charge movement and electromotility under conditions in which the magnitudes of both charge movement and electromotility are gradually manipulated by the prestin inhibitor, salicylate. We show that the observed relationships of the charge movement and the physical displacement (q-d relations) are well represented by a three-state Boltzmann model but not by a two-state model or its previously proposed variant. Here, we suggest a molecular mechanism of prestin with at least two voltage-dependent conformational transition steps having distinct electromechanical coupling efficiencies.

A version of the relations for the damage tensor of an elastoplastic medium

An approach to the description of damage accumulation in the deformation of an elastoplasticmaterial, based on Il’yushin's ideas in the theory of elastoplastic processes, is proposed. A version of the relations for the damage tensor is formulated, from which the well-known Kolmogorov model follows as a special case. As an example, a class of deformation processes is considered for which the trajectories of the deformations are broken lines with extended links.

Terrain Generalization with Multi-scale Pyramids Constrained by Curvature

This paper presents a method for terrain generalization using Laplacian pyramids. The method pre-processes digital terrain for generating cartographically generalized 3D maps. Map authors can attenuated or amplify selected frequency bands of the terrain with a graphical interface imitating an audio equalizer. Ridge lines and valley lines are localized by curvature indices, and their characteristic shapes are preserved or emphasized using additional sets of equalizer controls. Frequency bands are adjusted separately for the foreground and the background to remove visually disturbing terrain detail in the background. This is relevant for 3D maps in central perspective projection that considerably compresses distant terrain features. The proposed generalization method was implemented in Terrain Equalizer, a free and open-source application providing a graphical interface with interactive 3D previews (available at http://www.terraincartography.com/). Using this application, disturbing high frequency details can be easily removed and major mountain forms can be accentuated. The level of generalization can be adjusted seamlessly from the foreground to the background of the 3D map. Topographic break lines, such as ridge or valley lines, are successfully preserved, which is important for conveying the characteristic shape of a generalized terrain.

Two steps numerical method for calculating the AC interference from a faulty power line on nearby buried pipelines

The paper presents a numerical method for evaluating induced voltages and currents, at power frequency, on a buried pipeline due to inductive and conductive coupling with a power line in fault condition; both the systems can have generic layouts represented by broken lines. The algorithm consists of a two steps solution of a two wires transmission line model applied at first to the circuit shield wire(s) with earth return and then to the circuit pipeline with earth return. This calculation method is particularly tailored for industrial and real cases applications. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Organized Convective Structures over the Northeast and Their Ambient Conditions

Abstract Organized convective structures over the northeastern United States were classified for two warm seasons (May–August) using 2-km composite radar [i.e., the National Operational Weather Radar (NOWrad)] data. Nine structures were identified: three types of cellular convection (clusters of cells, isolated cells, and broken lines), five types of linear convection (lines with no stratiform precipitation, lines with trailing stratiform precipitation, lines with parallel stratiform precipitation, lines with leading stratiform precipitation, and bow echoes), and one nonlinear system. The occurrence of all structures decreases from the western Appalachian slopes eastward to the Atlantic coast. Isolated cellular convection forms primarily during the morning to late afternoon (1200–2100 UTC) mainly over the high terrain. Clusters of cells form primarily over the Appalachians and the Atlantic coastal plain during the daytime (1200–0000 UTC). Linear convection is favored from midafternoon to early evening (1800–0000 UTC) over land areas. Nonlinear systems develop mainly from midafternoon to late evening (1800–0600 UTC) over the inland areas and over the coastal zone during the early morning (∼1200 UTC). Composites using the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) highlight the ambient conditions for three main convective structures: cellular, linear, and nonlinear. Cellular convection initiates with limited quasigeostrophic forcing and moderate instability [i.e., average most unstable CAPE (MUCAPE) ∼973 J kg−1]. A majority of cells develop in orographically favored upslope areas. Linear convection organizes along surface troughs, supported by 900-hPa frontogenesis and an average ambient MUCAPE of ∼1011 J kg−1. Nonlinear convection organizes along warm fronts associated with larger-scale baroclinic systems, and the MUCAPE is relatively small (∼207 J kg−1).

Sufficiency of broken lines in the modulus method and removable sets

We establish the sufficiency of the family of broken lines in calculating the modulus of a condenser. We extend the Ahlfors-Beurling definition of removable sets basing on rectangles to weighted Sobolev spaces with a Muckenhoupt weight. We obtain exact characteristics of removable sets in terms of girth by broken lines. We prove the invariance of weighted Sobolev spaces under quasi-isometric mappings.

The Probabilistic Method of Failure Analysis to Transmission Facilities under Ice Storms

Based on Extreme Value Theory (EVT), the Generalized Pareto Distributions (GPDs) of meteorological variables wind speed and freezing precipitation is simulated. Considering the dependence of them, a joint probability distribution is calculated by the Copula function. Further more, the probability distributions of ice loads and wind loads on transmission lines are analyzed, and the failure probability of broken lines and collapsed towers under ice storms is calculated. The accuracy and validity of this analytical method is demonstrated with comparison between numerical results and the historical datas of Chen Zhou power transmission systems.

Report of the committee on the classification and diagnostic criteria of diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Concept of Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases associated with various metabolic disorders, the main feature of which is chronic hyperglycemia due to insufficient insulin action. Its pathogenesis involves both genetic and environmental factors. The long‐term persistence of metabolic disorders can cause susceptibility to specific complications and also foster arteriosclerosis. Diabetes mellitus is associated with a broad range of clinical presentations, from being asymptomatic to ketoacidosis or coma, depending on the degree of metabolic disorder.

50 Years AGo in CORR: Dupuytren's contracture: a guide for management L. D. Howard MD CORR 1959;15:118-126.

50 Years AGo in CORR: Dupuytren's contracture: a guide for management L. D. Howard MD CORR 1959;15:118-126.

Structure of Cinaciguat (BAY 58–2667) Bound to Nostoc H-NOX Domain Reveals Insights into Heme-mimetic Activation of the Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase

Heme is a vital molecule for all life forms with heme being capable of assisting in catalysis, binding ligands, and undergoing redox changes. Heme-related dysfunction can lead to cardiovascular diseases with the oxidation of the heme of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) critically implicated in some of these cardiovascular diseases. sGC, the main nitric oxide (NO) receptor, stimulates second messenger cGMP production, whereas reactive oxygen species are known to scavenge NO and oxidize/inactivate the heme leading to sGC degradation. This vulnerability of NO-heme signaling to oxidative stress led to the discovery of an NO-independent activator of sGC, cinaciguat (BAY 58-2667), which is a candidate drug in clinical trials to treat acute decompensated heart failure. Here, we present crystallographic and mutagenesis data that reveal the mode of action of BAY 58-2667. The 2.3-A resolution structure of BAY 58-2667 bound to a heme NO and oxygen binding domain (H-NOX) from Nostoc homologous to that of sGC reveals that the trifurcated BAY 58-2667 molecule has displaced the heme and acts as a heme mimetic. Carboxylate groups of BAY 58-2667 make interactions similar to the heme-propionate groups, whereas its hydrophobic phenyl ring linker folds up within the heme cavity in a planar-like fashion. BAY 58-2667 binding causes a rotation of the alphaF helix away from the heme pocket, as this helix is normally held in place via the inhibitory His(105)-heme covalent bond. The structure provides insights into how BAY 58-2667 binds and activates sGC to rescue heme-NO dysfunction in cardiovascular diseases.

Broken Lines: Genealogical Literature in Medieval Britain and France

Broken Lines: Genealogical Literature in Medieval Britain and France

Mesh Topological Optimization for Improving Piecewise-Linear Image Registration

This paper presents a mutual-information based optimization algorithm for improving piecewise-linear (PWL) image registration. PWL-registration techniques, which are well-suited for registering images of the same scene with relative local distortions, divide the images in conjugate triangular patches that are individually mapped through affine transformations. For this process to be accurate, each pair of corresponding image triangles must be the projections of a planar surface in space; otherwise, the registration incurs in errors that appear in the resultant registered image as local distortions (distorted shapes, broken lines, etc.). Given an initial triangular mesh onto the images, we propose an optimization algorithm that, by swapping edges, modifies the mesh topology looking for an improvement in the registration. For detecting the edges to be swapped we employ a cost function based on the mutual information (MI), a metric for registration consistency more robust to image radiometric differences than other well-known metrics such as normalized cross correlation (NCC). The proposed method has been successfully tested with different sets of test images, both synthetic and real, acquired from different angles and lighting conditions.

Soil respiration across scales: towards an integration of patterns and processes

New Phytologist Forum Editorial The New Phytologist Tansley Medal New Phytologist was founded by Sir Arthur Tansley and was first published in 1902. The long and independent history of the journal has allowed a positive inflow of revenue that is managed by the New Phytologist Trust and which is ploughed back into the scientific community to foster plant science (for a brief history of New Phytologist see Lewis & Ingram, 2002). The Trust currently finances two scientific meetings a year (e.g. Bruns & Kennedy, 2009; Harvey & Strauss, 2009) in addition to providing support for other meetings and activities (see http://www.newphytologist. org). A new innovation from the Trust is an annual com- petition for the New Phytologist Tansley Medal, specifically aimed at plant scientists in the early stages of their career. The plant scientists are required to submit their best research, either as a research article or as a small review, in a global competition for the award of a £2000 prize, in addi- tion to publication of the work and an editorial comment in New Phytologist. Details of the practicalities can be found on the New Phytologist Trust website at http://www. newphytologist.org/tansleymedal.htm. The New Phytologist Tansley Medal competition is a two- round process. In the first round, candidates submit an extended abstract of their work, together with their curricu- lum vitae and a reference from a scientist who has agreed to support the application. The number of applications at this stage is large and they are sifted by two Editors to produce a short list of candidates (seven candidates for the 2009 medal) who progress to the second round. Those who make it to this stage are requested to submit a complete manu- script, which is then peer-reviewed in the usual way. In addition, the Referees and Editors are asked for their assess- ments of the suitability of the manuscript for the Tansley Medal. Two Editors then make the final choice of the medal award. This year we are delighted to award the first Tansley Medal to Steven Spoel from the Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, UK, for his paper on Post-translational protein modification as a tool for transcription reprogramming (this issue, pp. 333–339). As the title suggests, the manuscript deals with the control of transcriptional reprogramming. This process contributes to, for example, the co-ordinated changes in gene expression The Authors (2010) Journal compilation New Phytologist Trust (2010) that occur during development or during adaptation to environmental stress. Spoel and his co-authors focus on the contribution that protein modification makes to the control of transcriptional reprogramming. In a lucid and highly accessible account they discuss how the activation and repression of genes can be achieved by phosphorylation, ubiquitinylation, S-nitrosylation and disulphide-bonding of transcriptional activators, co-activators and repressor pro- teins. The Minireview provides examples of how these processes operate and their significance in relatively well- understood systems such as yeast. However, the main focus is on the plant immune response and especially on how modification of the immune co-activator protein NPR1 can control its localization and abundance in plant cells. The result is a highly authoritative review of an emerging topic of fundamental importance to our understanding of plant cell biology. New Phytologist also publishes papers of candidates in the final short list, following successful review. Congratulations are due to these candidates who have provided manuscripts on a wide range of topics in plant sciences and which can be read in this issue. • Ward Capoen, Sesbania rostrata: a case study of natural variation in legume nodulation (pp. 340–345) • Colleen Iversen, Digging deeper: fine-root responses to rising atmospheric CO 2 concentration in forested ecosystems (pp. 346–357) • Katherine McCulloh, Moving water well: comparing hydraulic efficiency in twigs and trunks of coniferous, ring- porous, and diffuse-porous saplings from temperate and tropi- cal forests (pp. 439–450) • Rebecca Mosher, Maternal control of Pol IV-dependent siRNAs in Arabidopsis endosperm (pp. 358–364) • Nicholas Rouhier, Plant glutaredoxins: pivotal players in redox biology and iron–sulfur center assembly (pp. 365–372) Thank you to the many applicants who submitted extended abstracts and also to those Editors and Referees who contributed in full to this first enterprise for the New Phytologist Tansley Medal. F. Ian Woodward Editor-in-Chief, New Phytologist (email f.i.woodward@sheffield.ac.uk) Alistair M. Hetherington Tansley review Editor, New Phytologist (email alistair.hetherington@bristol.ac.uk) New Phytologist (2010) 186: 263–264 263 www.newphytologist.com