Creature forcing and large continuum: The joy of halving

For $f,g\in\omega^\omega$ let $c^\forall_{f,g}$ be the minimal number of uniform $g$-splitting trees needed to cover the uniform $f$-splitting tree, i.e., for every branch $\nu$ of the $f$-tree, one of the $g$-trees contains $\nu$. Let $c^\exists_{f,g}$ be the dual notion: For every branch $\nu$, one of the $g$-trees guesses $\nu(m)$ infinitely often. We show that it is consistent that $c^\exists_{f_\epsilon,g_\epsilon}=c^\forall_{f_\epsilon,g_\epsilon}=\kappa_\epsilon$ for continuum many pairwise different cardinals $\kappa_\epsilon$ and suitable pairs $(f_\epsilon,g_\epsilon)$. For the proof we introduce a new mixed-limit creature forcing construction

Evaluation of a Number of Grass Species for Restoring Degraded Semi-Arid Rangelands in Southern Africa

The biophysical environment is an important determinant of land degradation in both commercial and communal land tenure systems in South Africa. According to a recent study on the status of land degradation, approximately 25% of the total land cover in South Africa is degraded. Several technologies exist to restore the soil and vegetation degraded areas in natural pastures. To improve the production and biodiversity potential for agricultural and conservation uses in these rangelands, a common restoration technology includes the cultivation the eroded and compacted soil surfaces by rip- ploughing and the re-vegetation with high productive, palatable and perennial species. Five grasses, Chloris gayana, Digitaria eriantha, Anthephora pubescens, Cenchrus ciliaris and Panicum maximum, were used in over-sowing trials in an semi-arid region with two types of soils, to evaluate their effectiveness to restore the degraded natural pasture. Results show that D. eriantha, C. gayana and P. maximum should be used in an over-sowing treatment to restore high clay or silt soil types, whereas A. pubescens and C. ciliaris are more suitable for sandy soils. The diversity in areas which were only rip-ploughed also increased considerably with palatable, perennial species such as Themeda triandra, Setaria sphacelata and Eragrostis curvula

Rotating Directional Solidification of Ternary Eutectic Microstructures in Bi-In-Sn: A Phase-Field Study

For the first time, the experimental processing condition of a rotating directional solidification is simulated in this work, by means of a grand-potential-based phase-field model. To simulate the rotating directional solidification, a new simulation setup with a rotating temperature field is introduced. The newly developed configuration can be beneficent for a more precise study of the ongoing adjustment mechanisms during temperature gradient controlled solidification processes. Ad hoc, the solidification of the ternary eutectic system Bi-In-Sn with three distinct solid phases α,β,δ is studied in this paper. For this system, accurate in situ observations of both directional and rotating directional solidification experiments exist, which makes the system favorable for the investigation. The two-dimensional simulation studies are performed for both solidification processes, considering the reported 2D patterns in the steady state growth of the bulk samples. The desired αβαδ phase ordering repeat unit is obtained within both simulation types. By considering anisotropy of the interfacial energies, experimentally reported tilted lamellae with respect to normal vectors of the solidification front, as well as predominant role of αβ anisotropy in tilting phenomenon, are observed. The results are validated by using the Jackson–Hunt analysis and by comparing with the existing experimental data. The convincing agreements indicate the applicability of the introduced method

The SPF27 Homologue Num1 Connects Splicing and Kinesin 1-Dependent Cytoplasmic Trafficking in Ustilago maydis

The conserved NineTeen protein complex (NTC) is an integral subunit of the spliceosome and required for intron removal during pre-mRNA splicing. The complex associates with the spliceosome and participates in the regulation of conformational changes of core spliceosomal components, stabilizing RNA-RNA- as well as RNA-protein interactions. In addition, the NTC is involved in cell cycle checkpoint control, response to DNA damage, as well as formation and export of mRNP-particles. We have identified the Num1 protein as the homologue of SPF27, one of NTC core components, in the basidiomycetous fungus Ustilago maydis. Num1 is required for polarized growth of the fungal hyphae, and, in line with the described NTC functions, the num1 mutation affects the cell cycle and cell division. The num1 deletion influences splicing in U. maydis on a global scale, as RNA-Seq analysis revealed increased intron retention rates. Surprisingly, we identified in a screen for Num1 interacting proteins not only NTC core components as Prp19 and Cef1, but several proteins with putative functions during vesicle-mediated transport processes. Among others, Num1 interacts with the motor protein Kin1 in the cytoplasm. Similar phenotypes with respect to filamentous and polar growth, vacuolar morphology, as well as the motility of early endosomes corroborate the genetic interaction between Num1 and Kin1. Our data implicate a previously unidentified connection between a component of the splicing machinery and cytoplasmic transport processes. As the num1 deletion also affects cytoplasmic mRNA transport, the protein may constitute a novel functional interconnection between the two disparate processes of splicing and trafficking

Health service accreditation stimulating change in clinical care and human resource management processes : a study of 311 Australian hospitals

Objective This study aimed to establish whether longitudinal participation in an accreditation program is translated into improvement in continuity of quality patient care and human resource management (HRM) processes outcomes. Materials and methods This was a secondary data analysis of accreditation panel data from acute hospitals participating in the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards’ Evaluation and Quality Improvement Program (EQuIP). EQuIP criteria data from 311 hospitals were collected by external surveyors across 2003–2006 (Time 1) and 2007–2010 (Time 2). Mandatory accreditation criteria ratings at Time 1 were used to determine hospital performance group membership (1 = below moderate, 2 = moderate, 3 = above moderate). Analysis was undertaken of ratings across continuity of quality patient care and HRM process criteria, at Time 1 and 2. Results Continuity of quality patient care and HRM processes improved across time in the three performance groups. Lower performing hospitals improved at a greater rate than moderate and higher performing hospitals. The groupings and performance order did not change over time. Conclusions An accreditation program is an external driver that facilitates continual and systemic quality improvement changes to sub-systems with an organisation

Media events, spectacles and risky globalization: a critical review and possible avenues for future research

We review the research conducted to date on media events and media spectacles. We posit that the main phenomena challenging the current conceptualizations of media event and media spectacle are (1) the understanding of risk, (2) the context of disasters and (3) globalization and the mediation of news in the context of transnational and transitional societies. We suggest that more research on disruptive events is needed. In the context of the new media landscape in particular, the ritual researcher may need to take into account the concepts of temporality and unpredictability as inherent features of media events and rituals – the traumatic events researcher may benefit from the concept of global risk society. Finally, we argue that more research needs to be carried out on transitional societies, as we need to learn more about the role of mediation, events and spectacles in democratization processes and in contemporary revolutions. Overall, our findings indicate that in the context of global risk society, constant disruptions and unplanned events, together with the changes in news transmission, need to be taken as a starting point also in the research frames used to understand the mediation of events in contemporary society

Stepwise fabrication and optimization of coplanar waveguide resonator hybrid devices

From the background of microwave-optomechanical experiments involving carbon nanotubes, the optimization of superconducting coplanar waveguide resonator devices is discussed. Two devices, one with unmodified geometry compared to previous work and one integrating several improvements, are lithographically built up step by step. After each step, the low temperature GHz transmission properties are retested. This allows to identify the impact of the fabrication and the geometry modification on the device properties. In addition, simplified circuit geometries are modeled numerically, confirming the experimental results and providing further insights for optimization.Comment: 4 figure, 5 page