Split Rate Research Articles

Model for macroevolutionary dynamics.

The highly skewed distribution of species among genera, although challenging to macroevolutionists, provides an opportunity to understand the dynamics of diversification, including species formation, extinction, and morphological evolution. Early models were based on either the work by Yule [Yule GU (1925) Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 213:21-87], which neglects extinction, or a simple birth-death (speciation-extinction) process. Here, we extend the more recent development of a generic, neutral speciation-extinction (of species)-origination (of genera; SEO) model for macroevolutionary dynamics of taxon diversification. Simulations show that deviations from the homogeneity assumptions in the model can be detected in species-per-genus distributions. The SEO model fits observed species-per-genus distributions well for class-to-kingdom-sized taxonomic groups. The model's predictions for the appearance times (the time of the first existing species) of the taxonomic groups also approximately match estimates based on molecular inference and fossil records. Unlike estimates based on analyses of phylogenetic reconstruction, fitted extinction rates for large clades are close to speciation rates, consistent with high rates of species turnover and the relatively slow change in diversity observed in the fossil record. Finally, the SEO model generally supports the consistency of generic boundaries based on morphological differences between species and provides a comparator for rates of lineage splitting and morphological evolution.

Financial statement comparability and credit risk

Prior research shows that firms’ financial statement comparability improves the accuracy of market participants’ valuation judgments and thus may reduce firms’ costs of capital. Distinct from prior research focusing on the equity market, we develop measures of comparability relevant to debt market participants based on the within-industry variability of Moody’s adjustments to reported accounting numbers for the purposes of credit rating. We examine two sets of adjustments: (1) to the interest coverage ratio and (2) to non-recurring income items. We validate these comparability measures by providing evidence that greater comparability is associated with lower frequency and magnitude of split ratings by credit rating agencies. We predict and find that greater comparability is associated with (1) lower estimated bid-ask spreads for traded bonds, (2) lower credit spreads for both bonds and five-year credit default swaps, and (3) a steeper one- to five-year credit default swap term structure. Our results are consistent with financial statement comparability reducing debt market participants’ uncertainty about and pricing of firms’ credit risk.

Excretory urography and renal scintigraphy for chronic obstructed kidney: does nonopacity mean nonsalvageability?

This study aimed to ascertain whether nonopacified kidney on excretory urography (also known as intravenous urography [IVU]) indicates nonsalvageability. We retrospectively reviewed 45 adult patients with chronic unilateral urinary tract obstruction, in whom IVU revealed nonopacified kidney on one side but normal excretion on the contralateral side. Affected kidneys with split glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 10 mL/min/1.73 m2 on 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid diuretic renal scintigraphy were considered nonsalvageable. Non-function was defined based on cutoff points (< 15% and < 20%) to determine the sensitivity and specificity of differential renal function. Differences in IVU and renal scintigraphy findings, with respect to the duration of delayed filming on IVU, were analysed for significance. The results of IVU and renal scintigraphy findings for 34 (75.6%) nonopacified kidneys matched, representing nonsalvageable kidneys. Sensitivity and specificity of differential renal function were 76% and 100%, respectively, when the cutoff point for non-function was set at < 15%. Sensitivity and specificity were 97% and 82%, respectively, when the cutoff point was < 20%. There was no significant difference between renal scintigraphy findings and IVU with 2-hour and > 2-hour delayed films (p = 0.96). Although most nonopacified kidneys on IVU were nonsalvageable, a quarter of them were found to be salvageable on renal scintigraphy. Besides split GFR, differential function at cutoff point < 15% could be used to determine non-function of a chronic obstructed kidney when the contralateral kidney is normal. Delayed filming beyond two hours appears unnecessary in ensuring non-excretion on IVU.

A traffic-condition-based route guidance strategy for a single destination road network

Most of existing route guidance strategies achieves user optimal equilibrium by comparing travel time. Measuring travel time, however, might be uneasy on an urban road network. To contend with the issue, the paper mainly considers easily obtained inflow and outflow of a link and road capacity as input, and proposes a route guidance strategy for a single destination road network based on the determination of free-flow or congested conditions on alternative routes. An extended strategy for a complex network and a feedback approximation for avoiding forecast are further explored. Weaknesses of the strategy are also explicitly analyzed. To test the strategy, simulation investigations are conducted on two networks with multiple parallel routes. The results indicate that the strategy is able to provide stable splitting rates and to approximate user optimal equilibrium in different conditions, in particular when traffic demand is high. This strategy has potential to be applied in an urban road network due to its simplicity and easily obtained input data. The strategy is also applicable for single destination if some alternatives and similar routes are available.

Analysis of Determinants of Split Ratings and Rating Conservativeness between Japanese and US Credit Rating Agencies

In the previous paper, we confirmed the existence of the split ratings between Japanese and US credit rating agencies (CRAs). Our study did not support early studies suggesting that the split ratings were merely random occurrences. Rather, our findings suggested that the split ratings occurring between Japanese and US CRAs were not random and frequently occurring. The Japanese CRA assigned less conservative ratings than the US CRAs. In this paper, we performed the multivariate regression analysis to find variables which would differentiate the degree of rating conservativeness. Our samples were 192 Japanese companies which were assigned their ratings by Japanese and US credit rating agencies. We used 10-year bond ratings of these companies from 2000 and 2009. Our data sources were Nikkei NEEDS-Financial Quest for Japanese ratings and financial information and Thomson Reuters Datastream for US ratings. All financial data of the 192 firms were collected from Nikkei NEEDS-Financial Quest. According to our findings, Japanese agency seems to put higher weight on ROA than US agencies while all agencies seem to use variables such as asset, liquidity, and leverage to assign ratings. We assume that this is the main variable that has differentiated the degree of rating conservativeness.

Foliar fertilization with molybdenum in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The objective of the vegetation experiment established in 2008&amp;ndash;2011 was to explore the effect of the time and dose of foliar molybdenum (Mo) application on the yield and quality of sunflower. Four treatments were established in the experiment: (1) control &amp;ndash; not fertilised with Mo; (2) application of 125 g Mo/ha in the growing stage of 4 developed leaves (V-4); (3) application of 125 g Mo/ha at the beginning of elongation growth (R-1), and (4) split rate of Mo application of 62 g Mo/ha at stage V-4 (4 developed leaves) and 62 g Mo/ha at stage R-1 (terminal bud forms). Foliar application of molybdenum increased the biomass production of sunflower plants and its content in dry matter. A statistically significant effect of molybdenum foliar application on sunflower yields was found. Foliar application of Mo up to a dose of 125 g Mo/ha at the beginning of vegetation (stage V-4) and developmental stage R-1 increased yields of achenes. The relative increase in the oil content after foliar nutrition was not significant and ranged between 1.4% and 2.6%. Oil production increased due to increased yields and stabilised oil content. Foliar application of molybdenum had no effect on the content of oleic acid.

Effect of Lower-Limb Compression Clothing on 400-m Sprint Performance

This study investigated the effects of wearing a variety of lower-limb compression garments on 400-m sprint performance. Eleven 400-m male runners (23.7 ± 5.7 years, 1.78 ± 0.08 m, and 75.3 ± 10.0 kg) completed six, 400-m running tests on an outdoor, all-weather running track on separate occasions. The participants completed 2 runs with long-length lower-limb compression garments (LG; hip-to-ankle), a combination of short-length lower-limb compression garments (SG; hip-to-knee) with calf compression sleeves (ankle-to-knee), or without compression garments (CON; shorts), in a randomized, counterbalanced order. Overall lap time and 100-m split times, heart rate, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPEs) were measured during the 400-m run. Blood lactate concentration, visual analogue scales for perceived soreness, feeling and arousal, and scales for perceived comfort and tightness when wearing compression garments, were assessed before (preexercise, post-warm-up) and after 400-m performance (post, 4 minutes postexercise, after a warm-down). Statistical analysis revealed no differences between conditions in overall 400-m performance, 100-m split times, or blood lactate concentration (p > 0.05), although there was a trend for an increased rate of blood lactate clearance when wearing compression garments. A significantly lower RPE (p > 0.05) was however observed during LG (13.8 ± 0.9) and SG (13.4 ± 1.1) when compared with CON (14.0 ± 1.0). This study has demonstrated that lower-limb compression garments may lower the effort perception associated with 400-m performance, despite there being no differences in overall athletic performance.

On the disintegration of (proto-)languages

AbstractDo languages split into dialects and subsequently into new languages at regular rates? Does such a regular splitting rate also apply to speech communities ancestral to the world's current language families? Do linguistic phylogenies exhibit intermediate levels (“genera”) which are somehow objectively identifiable? These questions are rarely raised, much less answered. In this article we present a simple method that provides insights into all the questions, drawing upon data from a world-wide sample of languages. It will be shown that splitting rates are approximately regular even if the languages studied are proto-languages spoken at very different points in prehistory and different places in the world. Ancestors of the world's linguistic families tend to have similar life-times. An intermediate transitional level corresponding to the point where genera appear can be objectively inferred from differences among descendant languages even without previously having established the structure of the phylogenetic tree.

Surface Plasmon assisted Cu_xO photocatalyst for pure water splitting

In this paper, Cu(x)O photocatalyst on plasmonic nanoporous Au film is proposed to enhancing the H(2) evolution rate of pure water splitting. The nanoporous Au film can simultaneously provide surface-enhanced absorption and built-in potential. The reflection spectrum shows that the surface plasmon (SP) assisted absorption wavelength of the Cu(x)O on the nanoporous Au film can be modified by changing the annealing temperature. It is found that the enhancement of the H(2) evolution rate highly depends on the SP-assisted absorption. As the annealing temperature is 220 ° C, the H(2) evolution rate is 58 μmol hr(-1) under the condition that the device area is 0.25 cm(2).

Gasification of polyethylene in a bubbling fluidized bed operated with the air staging

Gasification is a thermochemical process that converts different solid fuels into a synthetic gas (syngas) that can be utilized for different purposes. The possibility to gasify different kind of waste, as alternative to the traditional combustion processes, is attractive for several reasons, by way of an example the small scale of plants and the related social acceptability can be cited. Main constraint to a wide utilization of gasification is the parallel and undesired production of by-products that are mainly constituted by heavy hydrocarbons condensable at ambient temperature (tar) and carbonaceous particle fines. This work is conceptually divided into two parts: a description of the main reaction pathways occurring in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor operated as gasifier (BFBG) with the aim to highlight what is the pathway (and the reactor zone) that favors the heavy hydrocarbons formation; a discussion about experimental results obtained by operating a pre-pilot BFB gasifier under different operating conditions with the aim to reduce the formation of heavy hydrocarbons. The experimental tests have been carried out by feeding polyethylene in a BFB gasifier and by injecting the air stream, utilized as gasifying agent, in different positions: (a) at bed bottom (indicated also as primary zone) without any splitting of the flow rate; (b) at bed bottom and in the splashing zone, that is the volume just above primary zone, by splitting into two streams the necessary air flow rate; (c) at bed bottom, in the splashing zone and in the freeboard region, by splitting into three streams the air flow rate. Results indicate that staging of air stream can be a valid method to impede or reduce the formation of condensable compounds provided that air is well distributed in order to avoid segregation, the injection is made in the zone were heavy stable hydrocarbons are not yet formed and the splitting rates between primary and secondary streams is accurately calculated.

Effect of Modified Single Cell Fixation Method on Cell-Nuclear Areas and Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization Signals

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is an irreplaceable method in pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. We explored the effects of a modified single cell fixation method on the cell-nuclear area and FISH signal. From January 2006 to March 2008, the blastomeres with marked nuclei from D3 embryos were selected. Cells were fixed with three different methods. The effects of the three methods on the cell-nuclear areas and FISH signals were then analyzed. The cell fixation rate was higher in conventional (Group B, 94.85%) and modified (Group C, 95.79%) Tween-20/HCl + methanol/glacial acetic acid methods than in the methanol/glacial acetic acid method (Group A, 86.73%) with p < 0.05. The complete signal rates in group A, B, and C were 95.3%, 93.5%, and 93.4%, respectively, with p > 0.05. The mean cell-nuclear areas in groups A, B, and C were 55.3, 46.2, and 49.5 microm3, respectively, with p < 0.05 in group A compared with group B or C, but with p > 0.05 between Group B and C. There was no significant difference in signal overlap and splitting rates between the three groups. Modified Tween-20/HCl + methanol/glacial acetic acid method fails to increase FISH signal overlap and splitting rates. It is simple and its fixation time is short. It can be widely used in clinical practice.

Hydrothermal synthesis and electrochemical properties of dispersed LiMnPO4 wedges

A simple one-pot hydrothermal approach was employed to synthesise novel dispersed LiMnPO4 wedges at 200 °C for 10 h. The phase and the morphology of the sample were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was shown that the morphology of the dispersed wedges could be directly tuned by varying the reagents amounts which altered the oversaturation of the solution and consequently the splitting rate as well as degree of LiMnPO4 crystals. The dispersed wedges, the dendritic microspheres and the coarse dendritic microspheres were evaluated electrochemically by charge–discharge measurements. The results showed that the dispersed wedges displayed better electrochemical properties than those of the two microspheres, which could be reasonably ascribed to its great dispersibility and small crystal size. This study can open a new route to fabricating LiMnPO4 crystals with designed morphology for lithium ion batteries.

Initiation Factor 3 (IF3) does not have any Role in the Release of Messenger RNA and Transfer RNA from the Post-Termination Complex during the Ribosome Recycling Reaction Catalyzed by EF-G/GTP and RRF (Ribosome Recycling Factor)

At the end of translation of an ORF, the ribosome meets the termination codon and peptides are released by release factors 1, 2 and 3. The resulting post-termination complex (PoTC) is characterized to have one tRNA and mRNA per ribosome. We showed that it is disassembled by RRF and EF-G/GTP into mRNA, tRNA, and subunits (JBC, 1973, 248, 7580). On the other hand, others claimed that RRF and EF-G split the ribosome but do not release mRNA or tRNA. IF3 was claimed to be necessary to release mRNA and/or tRNA from the complex of 30S/tRNA/mRNA. This wrong conclusion is due to the use of short ORF with strong SD sequence (Mol Cell., 2005, 18, 675; Mol Cell., 2005, 18, 403). We use more natural PoTC which is free of the influence of the SD sequence, and show here that IF3 has no role in the release of mRNA and tRNA from the PoTC. We (RNA, 2005, 8, 1317) and others showed that splitting of subunits occurs due to RRF and EF-G. It has been known that IF3 prevents association of subunits. However, its effect on the rate of ribosomal splitting by EF-G/RRF remains to be elucidated. In this paper, we will present the results which shed lights on this question.

ONION BREEDING PROGRAM IN TURKEY

The bulb onion (Allium cepa L.) has been cultivated for thousands of years and is broadly dispersed over Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and western Pakistan. Onion is one of the earliest produced and consumed crops in Turkey and is used daily in cooking by all Turkish families year-round. In addition to consumption as food, onion and its relatives are still used in remote villages of Turkey to cure or enhance some health problems such as asthma, bolting, fertility, infections, high blood pressure, high fever, kidney stone, parasite, and hemorrhoid. The edible Alliums are grown worldwide and have been historically maintained as open pollinated populations and are grown as fresh shoots for green salad onions and as bulbs to consume as fresh, pickled, dehydrated, cooked, or to produce onion seed or sets. Turkey produces approximately 3% of the world onion production. Our breeding achievements of onion in Turkey are better quality, high yield, uniformity, resistance to diseases, bulb size, shape, color, pungency, single center, firmness, tightness of scale and neck, dormancy, amount of soluble solids, earliness for harvest, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activities. We had improvements in reducing split or multiple centered bulbs rates, increasing earliness and uniformity at harvest, firmness, scale and neck tightness, anthocyanins and antioxidant activities. Our onion breeding program from 2002 to 2010 in Turkey will be discussed at the presentation.

Status and Current Problems in the Allocation System for Pediatric Liver Transplantation in Korea

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the current status and identify any existing problems in the allocation system of liver transplantation (LT) for children in Korea. Methods: The information for the period between January 2006 and March 2012 contained in the Korean Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS) database, and the 2008 and 2010 annual reports from KONOS were analyzed. Detailed information about split LT (SLT) was analyzed using the SLT database which contains data collected since 2010. Results: Of 4,462 cases of LT between January 2006 and December 2010, 243 were pediatric cases (5.4%). Of these pediatric cases, 195 (80.2%) were living donor LT. Of the liver grafts from deceased pediatric donors, 68% were donated to adults and 3.9% were shared with children. Of the 104 splittable donors from January 2010 to March 2012, a split was performed only in 4.6% of cases. The main reason for the low split rate was few pediatric candidate(s) in the waiting list due to strict Korean regulatory requirements for split candidate registration. Conclusions: Under the current liver transplant allocation system, Korean children have less chance to receive a liver graft from a deceased donor. With improvement of the allocation system and the rules governing SLT, children in need may have greater opportunity to receive a deceased donor graft without negatively affecting adult recipients.

Effect of boron foliar application at critical growth stages on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) yield and quality

The objective of the reported vegetation experiment, established in 2008-2011, was to explore the effect of the date of foliar boron application on the yield and quality of sunflower. Four treatments were established in the experiment: 1) control – not fertilised with boron; 2) application of 300 g B ha–1 in the growing stage of 4 developed leaves (V-4); 3) application of 300 g B ha–1 at the beginning of elongation growth (R-1); and 4) split rate of boron application of 150 g B ha–1 at stage V-4 (4 developed leaves) and 150 g B ha–1 at stage R-1 (terminal bud forms). Foliar nutrition with boron increased the content of this element in leaves and stems, and raised the biomass production of sunflower plants. The increased uptake of nutrients by plants was essential for achene production. Application of boron fertilizer at stage V-4 increased the N content in the plant. Boron had a considerable effect on achene production. The highest increase in yields was related to the foliar boron application at stage V-4 (by 8.3% relatively). The relative increase in the oil content in response to boron application, which ranged within 1-2%, was not significant. The higher yields and a constant oil content increased oil production, most markedly after the boron foliar application at stage V-4 (by 10.2% ). It was only the content of stearic acid that was increased significantly by foliar application of B at stage V-4 and split application (by 8.8% and 9.4%, respectively).

Achieving System-Optimal Splitting Rates in a Freeway Network Using a Reverse Stackelberg Approach

A game-theoretical method is proposed to achieve a system-optimal distribution of traffic over a freeway network. In particular, the road authority is represented by a leader player and each follower player embodies a group of drivers with the same value of time that plan to travel between a given origin and destination. In the proposed reverse Stackelberg approach, the leader presents a function to each follower that maps a vector of splitting rates over possibles routes to a monetary incentive. The follower then decides upon a splitting rate and the associated monetary incentive that yield the minimum weighted measure of travel time and monetary fees. In this manner, the road authority can compose an optimal leader function under which the followers will behave as desired, i.e., to achieve the system-optimal splitting rates.

Photon splitting and Compton scattering in strongly magnetized hot plasma

The process of photon splitting is investigated in the presence of strongly magnetized electron-positron plasma. The amplitude of the process is calculated in general case of plasma with nonzero chemical potential and temperature. The polarization selection rules and corresponding partial amplitudes for allowed splitting channels are obtained in the case of charge-symmetric plasma. It is found that the new splitting channel forbidden in magnetized vacuum becomes allowed. The absorption rates of the photon splitting are calculated with taking into account of the photon dispersion and wave function renormalization. In addition, the comparison of photon splitting and Compton scattering process is made. The influence of the reactions under consideration on the radiation transfer in the framework of magnetar model of SGR burst is discussed.

Financial Statement Comparability and Credit Risk

Prior research shows that firms' financial statement comparability improves the accuracy of market participants' valuation judgments and thus may reduce firms' costs of capital. Distinct from prior research focusing on the equity market, we develop measures of comparability relevant to debt market participants based on the within-industry variability of Moody's adjustments to reported accounting numbers for the purposes of credit rating. We examine two sets of adjustments: (1) to the interest coverage ratio and (2) for non-recurring income items. We validate these comparability measures by providing evidence that greater comparability is associated with lower frequency and magnitude of split ratings by credit rating agencies. We predict and find that greater comparability is associated with: (1) lower estimated bid-ask spreads for traded bonds, (2) lower credit spreads for both bonds and five-year credit default swaps, and (3) a steeper one- to five-year credit default swap term structure. Our results are consistent with financial statement comparability reducing debt market participants' uncertainty about and pricing of firms' credit risk.

Infrared Spectroscopy of Tunable Dirac Terahertz Magneto-Plasmons in Graphene

We present infrared spectroscopy study of plasmon excitations in graphene in high magnetic fields. The plasmon resonance in patterned graphene disks splits into edge and bulk plasmon modes in magnetic fields. Remarkably, the edge plasmons develop increasingly longer lifetimes in high fields due to the suppression of backscattering. Moreover, due to the linear band structure of graphene, the splitting of the edge and bulk plasmon modes develops a strong doping dependence, which differs from the behavior of conventional semiconductor two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) systems. We also observe the appearance of a higher order mode indicating an anharmonic confinement potential even in these well-defined circular disks. Our work not only opens an avenue for the investigation of the properties of Dirac magnetoplasmons but also supports the great potential of graphene for tunable terahertz magneto-optical devices.