Towards a simplified taxonomy of Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. (Brassicaceae)

Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. is a species with a cosmopolitan distribution which shows considerable morphological variation. Numerous authors have recognised widely differing numbers of varieties, microspecies or other infraspecific subdivisions (segregates) of this species. In an attempt to clarify this situation, we grew British material of the species under controlled conditions through to the F) generation to remove environmental variation, and assessed the plants on the basis of a range of morphological criteria, namely leaf shape, capsule size and also length of time taken to flower. Analysis of these characteristics consistently produced four basic groups, which had been previously described. Herbarium specimens could also nearly always be assigned to one of these groups. Limited chromosome counts suggest that two of these groups are diploid and two are tetraploid. We suggest this fourfold division into broad groups reflects the major genetic separations within the species, but that there is also considerable phenotypic plasticity shown by C. bursapastoris in response to factors such as shade or trampling. These four groups appear to differ in their geographic.al distribution in Britain. KEYWORDS: Shepherd's Purse, morphological variation, leaf characters, capsule characters, chromosom

The Konya earthquakes of 10–11 September 2009 and soil conditions in Konya, Central Anatolia, Turkey

Earthquakes registering magnitudes <i>M</i><sub>d</sub> = 4.5 and 4.7 struck the city of Konya, Central Anatolia, on 10–11 September 2009, causing very slight damages. The earthquake epicenters were located at the east of Sille District along the Konya Fault Zone, a dip-slip fault. The nature and seismicity of the fault zone indicates that it is capable of producing earthquakes of moderate magnitudes. This paper summarizes the geologic data along the fault zone and documents groundwater conditions and analyzes borehole and geotechnical data of the Konya city. The residential area of the city covers an area of approximately 1150 square kilometers and consists almost entirely of flat land except for a small part of rugged land in the southwestern corner. Groundwater and geotechnical data were collected and analyzed to evaluate the liquefaction potential of deposits under the Konya city. This preliminary investigation indicates that areas for liquefaction are generally limited to the eastern and east central parts of the city

Force spectroscopy using bimodal frequency modulation atomic force microscopy

Cataloged from PDF version of article.We propose a force-spectroscopy technique where a higher order mode of a cantilever is excited simultaneously with the first. Resonance tracking of both vibration modes through a frequency modulation scheme provides a way to extract topographical information and the gradient of the tip-sample interaction within a single surface scan. We provide an analytic treatment of the scheme, derive expressions relating frequency shifts of the higher mode and the tip-sample forces, and offer two methods of improving the accuracy of reconstruction of the force gradient. Finally, we confirm our predictions by numerical simulations. © 2011 American Physical Society

Erfolgsfaktoren zur Implementierung eines erfolgsabhängigen Vergütungssystems für Innendienstmitarbeiterinnen und Innendienstmitarbeiter von Lebensversicherungsunternehmen

The aim of this research is to identify the relevant factors for a successful implementation of a performance-based compensation in the life insurance industry in Germany. This investigation was conducted by means of qualitative social research. The target group of this examination were employees from various German life insurance companies whose task it was to examine and correct new life insurance applications and to approve contracts. Currently, it is not usual to pay performance-based compensation to the target group, although this type of compensation is common practice among sales representatives. This investigation studied which factors were key in ensuring the intended positive effects of performance-based compensation. The introduction of this type of compensation to the target group faced challenges due to its lack of experience with these types of salary systems. In addition the motivational process including incentives to motivate the target group were considered. Another objective of this research was to define appropriate performance goals for the target group. Individual as well as group performance goals were evaluated. For the target group performance goals involving the processing and editing of new applications, contract approvals as well as telephone consultations were found to be suitable. A composition of a various type of salary system was also examined. It was found that the successful implementation of a performance-based compensation is based on legal, economic and social factors. The results of this research showed that performance-based compensation can also have positive effects on the company as well as other employees outside of the target group. In addition to the positive effects, there were various risks found in the introduction of performance-based compensation, mainly involving the employees due to their inexperience with this type of salary system. In conclusion, the implementation of a performance-based compensation received wide approval from the life insurance companies and their employees. Due to the wide acceptance, open-mindedness and curiosity that this compensation received from the employees, a practical implementation would be recommended

Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Yabancı Dilde Yazılmış Metinleri Anlama Becerilerinin Sınanmasında Özet Yazma Tekniğinin Kullanılması

The use of multiple choice questions in testing students' reading comprehension of foreign language texts has become a widespread practice. However, not only does this technique ignore and/or override most of the reading skills that we train our students in but it also establishes in them the habit o f reading not for total comprehension but only enough to answer the questions in the test. The validity of any test will be achieved only to the degree that it tests our students' ability in the manner it has been taught in the classroom, not to mention that it will reflect on what is taught and how it is taught in the classroom (backwash effect). Considering the fact that reading ability consists of certain strategies and sub-skills which interact with each other, we need to use a testing technique which can capture the complexity of the process. As an example of such a technique, summarization was used with university students following their reading of two texts - expository and narrative - and results from this technique were correlated with scores gained from a multiple choice test constructed for the same two texts. Based on the results of the study, we conclude that summarization can be a reliable way of testing reading comprehension, and to use this technique more effectively it is suggested that students receive prior training in summarization.Yabancı dilde okuma-anlama becerisinin sınanmasında kullanılan çoktan seçmeli tekniğinin kullanımı fazlasıyla yaygınlaşmasına karşın, bu teknik okuma-anlama sürecinde öğrencide geliştirilmesi amaçlanan becerilerin birçoğunu ölçmenıekle birlikte, öğrenciyi okuduğunu tümüyle anlamaya değil de soruyu cevaplamaya yönelten bir okuma alışkanlığını yerleştiriyor. Kullandığımız test tekniğinin geçerliliği öğrenciye kazandırmak istediğimiz becerileri ölçmesi oranında sağlanacaktır ve ayın zamanda bu teknik öğretim programlarının içeriğini belirlemede etkili olacaktır. Okuma-anlama becerisinin birçok strateji ve alt becerilerin karşılıklı iletişiminden oluşması nedeniyle, bunu sınavlara yansıtabilecek bir sınama tekniği olarak özet çıkarma üniversite öğrencileri üzerinde iki ayrı türde "öykü ve düzyazı" okuma parçası kullanılarak denendi ve sonuçlar aynı okuma parçaları için geliştirilmiş çoktan seçmeli sınav sonuçları ile karşılaştırıldı. Toplanan verilerden elde edilen sonuçlar özet yazmanın okuma-anlamayı ölçmeye yönelik kullanılabilirliğine ve bu tekniğin daha verimli kullanılabilmesi için öğrencilerin bu yönde eğitilmelerinin gerekliliğine dikkat çekmektedir

Cooling and heating by adiabatic magnetization in the Ni50_{50}Mn34_{34}In16_{16} magnetic shape memory alloy

We report on measurements of the adiabatic temperature change in the inverse magnetocaloric Ni$_{50}$Mn$_{34}$In$_{16}$ alloy. It is shown that this alloy heats up with the application of a magnetic field around the Curie point due to the conventional magnetocaloric effect. In contrast, the inverse magnetocaloric effect associated with the martensitic transition results in the unusual decrease of temperature by adiabatic magnetization. We also provide magnetization and specific heat data which enable to compare the measured temperature changes to the values indirectly computed from thermodynamic relationships. Good agreement is obtained for the conventional effect at the second-order paramagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition. However, at the first order structural transition the measured values at high fields are lower than the computed ones. Irreversible thermodynamics arguments are given to show that such a discrepancy is due to the irreversibility of the first-order martensitic transition.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in the Physical Review