bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supportive culture for efficient project uncertainty management
Authors: Terje Karlsen Jan
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effectiveness of current uncertainty management practice in projects with a special focus on the organization's cultural dimension.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical data were obtained using in‐depth interviews with project management professionals in three project‐oriented organizations in Norway, Statsbygg, Telenor and the Norwegian Defence Logistic Organization. All the respondents from these three organizations are people who actively work with projects and uncertainty management.

Findings

The study results show that a supportive uncertainty management culture is characterized by: positive attitude, commitment of time and resources, openness and respect, understanding of uncertainty management, uncertainty management internalized into daily work, senior managers asking for and using uncertainty information, proactive uncertainty management, a focus on opportunities, clear areas of responsibility, accepted and operationalized policy and terminology, and a holistic uncertainty view. Moreover, the interviews revealed that commitment, knowledge, communication, openness, and trust are factors that contribute to building a supportive uncertainty management culture.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should investigate other organizations, types of projects, and countries, so that these findings may be generalized.

Practical implications

This paper concludes that a supportive culture is important for achieving effective uncertainty management in projects. Uncertainty management practice will run more smoothly, there will be less problems and benefits of the uncertainty management activities will be more easily achieved.

Originality/value

A supportive organizational culture for creating a well‐performing management of uncertainties in projects is studied in this research paper.
How actor‐network theories can help in understanding project complexities
Authors: Sage Daniel , Dainty Andrew , Brookes Naomi
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to question why current thinking towards project complexity ignores the role of objects in achieving social order and transformation. An alternative, but complementary, approach to address project complexities, drawing upon actor‐network theory (ANT), is offered to redress this concern.

Design/methodology/approach

Current thinking towards project complexity is briefly reviewed in the first section to illustrate the reasons why nonhumans are downplayed. An historical case study, the Skye road bridge project, is mobilized to explain, and develop, an ANT perspective on project complexities, and responses to such complexities.

Findings

ANT develops accounts of project complexity by highlighting the role of nonhumans in influencing how practitioners register, respond and stabilize project complexities. Front‐end planning and stakeholder analysis is shown to be only one narrow element of four moments through which actors apprehend and stabilize project complexities.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical case study is developed to suggest some significant ways in which ANT could contribute, and complement, extant theories of project complexity. Alternative approaches to socio‐materiality are noted and may yield other important insights.

Originality/value

The paper positions ANT to offer a novel theory of project complexity. It is intended to be primarily of use to project management researchers, and theoretically informed practitioners, who are interested in developing fresh insights into notions of project complexities (unintended consequences, emergence and unpredictability).
Collaboration and the use of online collaborative toolsets in the project management environment
Authors: Harley James
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe and summarise a PhD thesis that investigates the extent to which collaboration occurs through the use of online technologies in the project management environment (PME).

Design/methodology/approach

Six PMEs and their use of online collaborative toolsets (OCTs) were investigated, using a collaboration scale developed specifically to measure the level of collaboration existing within each PME. The comparative case study approach was chosen as it provided the capacity to develop in‐depth analysis of multiple cases, whilst catering for the use of multiple sources and methods of data to be used for analysis. This approach enabled the author to gain an understanding of how each case used the OCT, whilst also identifying patterns of use across the cases. The analysis also included testing for the extent to which collaboration was occurring in the PME.

Findings

The conclusions drawn from this research are: OCTs can contain a variety of features, several of which are common amongst all features; although OCTs are capable of facilitating a high level of collaboration, project managers do not use OCTs for this purpose; OCTs are used predominantly for cooperation and coordinating activities within the PME; and collaboration exists in degrees, at times being identified with cooperative functions, and at other times coordinating functions. The findings demonstrate a consistent pattern of collaboration across all cases.

Practical implications

The collaboration scale is a tool that can be used to measure the extent of collaboration within many contexts and is not restricted to the PME.

Originality/value

There has been scant academic treatment or quantifiable analysis that reviews OCTs to assess their use in the PME and as such this thesis contributes specific knowledge and intelligence to organisations using OCTs. The collaboration scale has been specifically designed for this thesis.
International university‐industry collaboration to bridge R&D globalization and national innovation system in China
Authors: Jin Jun , Wu Shanchao , Chen Jin
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the issues of integrating R&D globalization, national innovation system, university‐industry (U‐I) knowledge transfer, and international U‐I collaboration.

Design/methodology/approach

A framework for research on internationalization of U‐I collaboration is proposed and the process of international U‐I collaboration could be categorized Processes A (including A1‐A2‐A3), B, C and D. The framework is applied to explore the process and contribution of international U‐I collaboration in China based on the cases studies of Philips' Brainbridge program and institute for the study of the ancient world (ISAW) international cooperation.

Findings

Processes A and B are confirmed in this research. Through the international U‐I collaboration, foreign universities contribute to the development of innovative capabilities of industries in China, while the foreign companies could play roles in the China's national innovation system. The research suggests that the international U‐I collaboration could be used as a bridge to connect strategies of R&D globalization to the improvement of national innovation system. With the internationalization of U‐I collaboration, the national innovation system would be developing to global innovation system. Moreover, this paper provides a method of technological internationalization and practical suggestions to the management of U‐I collaboration.

Research limitations/implications

More empirical research is necessary to further examine this framework.

Originality/value

This paper provides a framework to analyse the process of international U‐I collaboration. Additionally, it enriches the research on R&D globalization from the industrial fields to the academics and the research on national innovation system. The findings will contribute to the practice and diffusion of international U‐I collaboration from the industrial and governmental levels.
The dynamic patent output elasticity of high tech industry in China
Authors: Niu Xin , Chen Xiangdong
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between the patenting movement and economic growth by analyzing development states and raising possible questions of high‐tech industries in order to provide lessons for policy makers.

Design/methodology/approach

A model of polynomial distribution with lagging effect was applied to patenting data and economic operation data, including revenue from new products.

Findings

Through three grouped investigations, namely: short term, medium term, and long term, it was found that innovation activities significantly influence positive economic growth in high‐tech industries. However, total patent output elasticity (POE) in some high‐tech industries is lower than in non‐high‐tech industries. Among the detailed sectors selected in this study, medical equipment and measuring instruments show higher POE.

Originality/value

This paper focuses on an industry‐level study of the relationship between the patenting movement and economic growth, which has important theoretical and practical significance to promoting high‐tech industry innovation capability and enhancing the technological innovation competitive advantage of China.
User acceptance of information technology innovations in the remote areas of China
Authors: Qi Dong John
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report an exploratory study based on the Chinese user technology acceptance model (CUTAM), by testing CUTAM and developing a model to predict user acceptance of information technology innovations in the remote areas of China.

Design/methodology/approach

By collecting the data from a survey in Hainan province, the paper is able to empirically examine the explanative power of CUTAM in the remote context of China. The author further developed a new model for user acceptance in the remote areas of China, based on analysis discussion on the empirical results from a perspective of computer self‐efficacy across regions. The model fit was examined and it was found that the new model is better than CUTAM to fit the data from remote areas of China.

Findings

Perceived usefulness, result demonstrability and facilitating condition were found to be salient behavioral beliefs determining behavior intention of Chinese users of information technology innovations in the remote areas. The effects of perceived usefulness and results demonstrability on behavioral intention were mediated by attitude toward behavior. Facilitating condition was found to be the most important determinant of user acceptance in remote areas of China, which directly affected behavioral intention.

Originality/value

The paper contributes an insight of individual‐level technology adoption and innovation diffusion in the remote areas of China, which has been paid little attention to in prior literature. Solid empirical evidence is provided to validate a model for Chinese user acceptance in the remote areas of China, based on the development of the theory of CUTAM.
A fuzzy version of default logic
Authors: Ray Kumar S. , Chakraborty Arpan
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The importance of fuzzy logic (FL) in approximate reasoning, and that of default logic (DL) in reasoning with incomplete information, is well established. Also, the need for a commonsense reasoning framework that handles both these aspects has been widely anticipated. The purpose of this paper is to show that fuzzyfied default logic (FDL) is an attempt at creating such a framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The basic syntax, semantics, unique characteristics and examples of its complex reasoning abilities have been presented in this paper.

Findings

Interestingly, FDL turns out to be a generalization of traditional DL, with even better support for non‐monotonic reasoning.

Originality/value

The paper presents a generalized tool for commonsense reasoning which can be used for inference under incomplete information.
Modified shuffled frog leaping algorithm for optimization of UAV flight controller
Authors: Pu Huangzhong , Zhen Ziyang , Wang Daobo
Published: April 2011

Purpose

Attitude control of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is the purposeful manipulation of controllable external forces to establish a desired attitude, which is inner‐loop of the autonomous flight control system. In the practical applications, classical control methods such as proportional‐integral‐derivative control are usually selected because of simple and high reliability. However, it is usually difficult to select or optimize the control parameters. The purpose of this paper is to investigate an intelligent algorithm based classical controller of UAV.

Design/methodology/approach

Among the many intelligent algorithms, shuffled frog leaping algorithm (SFLA) combines the benefits of the genetic‐based memetic algorithm as well as social behavior based particle swarm optimization. SFLA is a population based meta‐heuristic intelligent optimization method inspired by natural memetics. In order to improve the performance of SFLA, a different dividing method of the memeplexes is presented to make their performance balance; moreover, an evolution mechanism of the best frog is introduced to make the algorithm jump out the local optimum. The modified SFLA is applied to the tuning of the proportional coefficients of pitching and rolling channels of UAV flight control system.

Findings

Simulation of a UAV control system in which the nonlinear model is obtained by the wind tunnel experiment show the rapid dynamic response and high control precision by using the modified SFLA optimized attitude controller, which is better than that of the original SFLA and particle swarm optimization method.

Originality/value

A modification scheme is presented to improve the global searching capability of SFLA. The modified SFLA based intelligent determination method of the UAV flight controller parameters is proposed, in order to improve the attitude control performance of UAV.
A novel auto‐adapted path‐planning method for a shape‐shifting robot
Authors: Liu Tonglin , Wu Chengdong , Li Bin , Ma Shugen , Liu Jinguo
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a shape‐shifting robot with diverse configurations, named “AMOEBA‐I”, which has been developed for search and rescue operations. The accessibility of this robot to unstructured environment is efficiently enhanced by changing its configuration. So the shape and reconfiguration of the robot should be considered in AMOEBA‐I path planning to improve work ability of the robot in complex environment. The unique accessibility of AMOEBA‐I is thus fully displayed.

Design/methodology/approach

An auto‐adapted path‐planning method is presented for AMOEBA‐I by introducing the reconfigurable ability of the robot into the modified potential field method. The modified potential field method solves the local minimum problem and goal‐unreachable with nearby obstacles (GUWNO) effectively. A method of the shape‐shifting robot's passing through the narrow space is studied by combining the corner detection with the modified potential field method.

Findings

The ability of the robot to automatically change configuration to pass through a narrow space is proven through the experiment. Simulation results show that the robot can change its own configurations to perform auto‐adapted path planning corresponding to the environmental variation. Therefore, the proposed method can improve the probability of completing the path planning. As a result, this method will shorten the path length and complete the rescue operation more effectively.

Originality/value

The paper presents an effective auto‐adapted path‐planning method that integrates the reconfigurable ability of the robot into the modified potential field method in order to realize the auto‐adapted path planning.
Flight control iron bird based on passive electric‐hydraulic servo loading system
Authors: Tian Yong , Li Tian
Published: April 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel type of full‐size flight control iron bird based on a passive electronic hydraulic servo loading system.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of mathematical modeling of passive loading system math model, the detailed design process of the flight control iron bird is presented. Subsequently, the system digital simulation and physical verification are also given.

Findings

Experimental results show that the proposed approach can reduce the redundant forces and improve the system dynamic and force‐tracking accuracy.

Practical implications

This newly‐developed flight control iron bird system has been successfully applied in the flight control system design of some fighters.

Originality/value

The proposed approach for flight control iron bird is new and significant for the design of fighter flight control systems.
Two Arabidopsis cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, CYP714A1 and CYP714A2, function redundantly in plant development through gibberellin deactivation
Authors: Zhang Yingying , Zhang Baichen , Yan Dawei , Dong Weixin , Yang Weibing , Li Qun , Zeng Longjun , Wang Jianjun , Wang Linyou , Hicks Leslie M. , He Zuhua
Published: April 2011

The rice gene ELONGATED UPPERMOST INTERNODE1 (EUI1) encodes a P450 monooxygenase that epoxidizes gibberellins (GAs) in a deactivation reaction. The Arabidopsis genome contains a tandemly duplicated gene pair ELA1 (CYP714A1) and ELA2 (CYP714A2) that encode EUI homologs. In this work, we dissected the functions of the two proteins. ELA1 and ELA2 exhibited overlapping yet distinct gene expression patterns. We showed that while single mutants of ELA1 or ELA2 exhibited no obvious morphological phenotype, simultaneous elimination of ELA1 and ELA2 expression in ELA1‐RNAi/ela2 resulted in increased biomass and enlarged organs. By contrast, transgenic plants constitutively expressing either ELA1 or ELA2 were dwarfed, similar to those overexpressing the rice EUI gene. We also discovered that overexpression of ELA1 resulted in a severe dwarf phenotype, while overexpression of ELA2 gave rise to a breeding‐favored semi‐dwarf phenotype in rice. Consistent with the phenotypes, we found that the ELA1‐RNAi/ela2 plants increased amounts of biologically active GAs that were decreased in the internodes of transgenic rice with ELA1 and ELA2 overexpression. In contrast, the precursor GA12 slightly accumulated in the transgenic rice, and GA19 highly accumulated in the ELA2 overexpression rice. Taken together, our study strongly suggests that the two Arabidopsis EUI homologs subtly regulate plant growth most likely through catalyzing deactivation of bioactive GAs similar to rice EUI. The two P450s may also function in early stages of the GA biosynthetic pathway. Our results also suggest that ELA2 could be an excellent tool for molecular breeding for high yield potential in cereal crops.
Blue‐light‐mediated shade avoidance requires combined auxin and brassinosteroid action in Arabidopsis seedlings
Authors: Keuskamp Diederik H. , Sasidharan Rashmi , Vos Irene , Peeters Anton J. M. , Voesenek Laurentius A. C. J. , Pierik Ronald
Published: April 2011

Plant growth in dense vegetation can be strongly affected by competition for light between neighbours. These neighbours can not only be detected through phytochrome‐mediated perception of a reduced red:far‐red ratio, but also through altered blue light fluence rates. A reduction in blue light (low blue) induces a set of phenotypic traits, such as shoot elongation, to consolidate light capture; these are called shade avoidance responses. Here we show that both auxin and brassinosteroids (BR) play an important role in the regulation of enhanced hypocotyl elongation of Arabidopsis seedlings in response to blue light depletion. Only when both hormones are experimentally blocked simultaneously, using mutants and chemical inhibitors, will the response be fully inhibited. Upon exposure to low blue several members of the cell wall modifying XYLOGLUCAN ENDOTRANSGLUCOSYLASE/HYDROLASE (XTH) protein family are regulated as well. Interestingly, auxin and BR each regulate a subset of these XTHs, by which they could regulate cell elongation. We hypothesize that auxin and BR regulate specific XTH genes in a non‐redundant and non‐synergistic manner during low‐blue‐induced shade avoidance responses of Arabidopsis seedlings, which explains why both hormones are required for an intact low‐blue response.
Involvement of Phytophthora citrophthora in Kiwifruit Decline in Turkey
Authors: Akilli Seçİl , Serçe Çİğdem Ulubaş , Zekaİ Katircioğlu Yakup , Karakaya Azİz , Maden Salİh
Published: April 2011

Vine decline of kiwifruit was found in an orchard in the Rize province in Turkey. About half of the vines showed poor growth, leaf discoloration and dieback symptoms. From the necrotic feeder roots of the diseased vines, a Phytophthora sp. was isolated. The causal agent of the disease was identified as Phytophthora citrophthora by morphological characteristics and comparing sequences of Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region. Phytophthora citrophthora caused bark necroses averaging 4.2 ± 1.4 cm in length when inoculated on the rooted canes.
Differential Expression of Connexin 43 in Adult Pig Testes During Normal Spermatogenic Cycle and After Flutamide Treatment
Authors: Kopera I , Durlej M , Hejmej A , Knapczyk‐Stwora K , Duda M , Slomczynska M , Bilinska B
Published: April 2011

Contents

Evidence is mounting that the foetal and neonatal period of reproductive tract development is highly sensitive to hormonal disruption induced by various endocrine active compounds. Thus, we asked whether androgen withdrawal caused by prenatal (GD20, GD80) or neonatal (PD2) exposure to an anti‐androgen flutamide alters Cx43 gene expression and may induce delayed effects on morphology and function of adult pig testes. Flutamide was given in five doses (50 mg/kg bw). Our histological analysis and TUNEL staining revealed varying degrees of seminiferous tubules abnormalities in all experimental pigs. Testes of pigs exposed to flutamide in utero exhibited moderate alterations of the spermatogenic process, whereas those of exposed neonatally were severely impaired. The most striking effects were spermatogenic arrest, germ cell detachment and a statistically significant increase in the frequency of germ cell apoptosis (p < 0.01). Moreover, all pigs exposed to flutamide displayed Leydig cell hyperplasia. Because the network of cell–cell communication provided by gap junction channels plays an essential role in the regulation and maintenance of spermatogenesis, the physiological significance of Cx43‐based gap junctions with regards to the gonadal impairment was evaluated by analysis of its expression using immunohistochemical, Western blot and qRT‐PCR approaches. Significantly, lower Cx43 expression was found when flutamide was administered neonatally, which has coincided with severe disruption of spermatogenesis. Our data suggest that neonatal exposure to flutamide induces long‐term effects on the spermatogenic capacity of the pig testis through alterations of Cx43‐mediated intercellular communication and permanent alteration of both Sertoli and Leydig cell functions.
Structure–Activity Relationship Investigations Of Leishmanicidal N‐Benzylcytisine Derivatives
Authors: Turabekova Malakhat A. , Vinogradova Valentina I. , Werbovetz Karl A. , Capers Jeffrey , Rasulev Bakhtiyor F. , Levkovich Mikhail G. , Rakhimov Shukhrat B. , Abdullaev Nasrulla D.
Published: April 2011

In vitro leishmanicidal activity of 16 N‐benzylcytisine derivatives has been evaluated using Leishmania donovani axenic amastigotes. In general, halogen (bromo‐, chloro‐) derivatives appeared to be more toxic against parasites than their parent compounds. Quantum‐chemical calculations helped to recognize certain patterns in the structure of frontier orbitals related to bioactivity of compounds. Thus, the presence of halogen atom is shown to have a significant effect on both distribution and the energy of LUMOs thereby on potent activity that was also confirmed by Quantitative‐Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR) analysis. Experimentally and theoretically observed structure–cytotoxicity relationships are described.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Isosteric Analogs of Mandipropamid for the Control of Oomycete pathogens
Authors: Su Na , Wang Zhen‐Jun , Wang Li‐Zhong , Zhang Xiao , Dong Wei‐Li , Wang Hong‐Xue , Li Zheng‐Ming , Zhao Wei‐Guang
Published: April 2011

A series of isosteric analogs of mandipropamid were designed and synthesized via ‘click chemistry’. The amide bond of mandipropamid was substituted by a 1,2,3‐triazole functional group. The bioassay results have indicated that some of the title compounds exhibited moderate fungicidal activity against Pseudoperonospora cubensis, and the activity has been systematically studied as a function of molecular structure. The low activity of the mandipropamid analog that contains a lipid chain is likely due to the presence of a weak hydrogen bond donor in the 1,2,3‐triazole. Furthermore, we have performed the molecular modeling and found that N‐methylamide could be more effective than amide as the surrogates to 1,2,3‐triazole, which ultimately leads to a longer distance (1.1 Å longer) between the two substitutes in the 1,4‐disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazole compound.
Insight into Amyloid Structure Using Chemical Probes
Authors: Reinke Ashley A. , Gestwicki Jason E.
Published: April 2011

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the deposition of amyloids in the brain. One prominent form of amyloid is composed of repeating units of the amyloid‐β (Aβ) peptide. Over the past decade, it has become clear that these Aβ amyloids are not homogeneous; rather, they are composed of a series of structures varying in their overall size and shape and the number of Aβ peptides they contain. Recent theories suggest that these different amyloid conformations may play distinct roles in disease, although their relative contributions are still being discovered. Here, we review how chemical probes, such as Congo red, thioflavin T and their derivatives, have been powerful tools for the better understanding of amyloid structure and function. Moreover, we discuss how design and deployment of conformationally selective probes might be used to test emerging models of AD.
Synthesis of 4‐aminoquinoline‐1,2,3‐triazole and 4‐aminoquinoline‐1,2,3‐triazole‐1,3,5‐triazine Hybrids as Potential Antimalarial Agents
Authors: Manohar Sunny , Khan Shabana I. , Rawat Diwan S.
Published: April 2011

We report herein synthesis of a series of 4‐aminoquinoline‐1,2,3‐triazole and 4‐aminoquinoline‐1,2,3‐triazole‐1,3,5‐triazine hybrids and evaluate their antimalarial activity against D6 and W2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum. To study the structure–activity relationship of substituted 4‐aminoquinoline–based hybrids, 34 structurally diverse compounds were synthesized and tested against D6 and W2 strains of P. falciparum. Some of the compounds have shown promising antimalarial activity without toxicity against Vero cells.
Changes in eccrine sweating on the glabrous skin of the palm and finger during isometric exercise
Authors: Amano T. , Kato Y. , Machado‐Moreira C. A. , Taylor N. A. , Inoue Y. , Nishiyasu T. , Kondo N.
Published: April 2011

Aim:  The goals of this study were to investigate changes in the sweating and cutaneous vascular responses on the palm and the volar aspect of the index finger during sustained static exercise of increasing intensity and to determine whether the former can be attributed to altered sweat gland activity.

Methods:  Five male and five female subjects performed maximal voluntary handgrip contractions (MVC: right hand) for 60 s at 20, 35 and 50% MVC (ambient temperature 25 °C, relative humidity 50%).

Results:  The sweat rate and the number of activated sweat glands on the non‐exercised hand showed intensity‐dependent increases (P < 0.05). At 35 and 50% MVC, finger sweat secretion was significantly higher than on the palm, which was primarily associated with the number of activated sweat glands (P < 0.05). In addition, there was a marked simultaneous decrease in the cutaneous vascular conductance for the finger at 35 and 50% MVC (P < 0.05), but not for the palm.

Conclusion:  Our results suggest that a difference exists between intensity‐dependent increases of sudomotor responses within more than one glabrous skin site. Specifically, markedly greater sweating occurs on the volar finger than on the palmar surface during sustained static exercise. These differences in sweat rate mainly resulted from changes in the number of activated sweat glands. In addition, intra‐segment variations in cutaneous blood flow on the glabrous hand are shown.
Genetic correlations between adults and larvae in a marine fish: potential effects of fishery selection on population replenishment
Authors: Johnson Darren W. , Christie Mark R. , Moye Jessica , Hixon Mark A.
Published: April 2011

Correlated genetic responses have been hypothesized as important components of fishery‐induced evolution, although predictive data from wild populations have been difficult to obtain. Here, we demonstrate substantial genetic correlations between a trait often subjected to fishery selection (adult body length) and traits that affect survival of larvae (length and swimming performance) in a wild population of a marine fish (bicolor damselfish,Stegastes partitus). Through both genetic covariance and size‐dependent maternal effects, selection on adult size may cause a considerable, correlated response in larval traits. To quantify how variation in larval traits may affect survival, we introduce a flexible method that uses information from selection measurements to account for frequency dependence and estimate the relationship between phenotype and relative survival across a broad range of phenotypic values. Using this method, we synthesize studies of selective mortality on larval size for eight species of fish and show that variation in larval size may result in considerable variation in larval survival. We predict that observed rates of fishery selection on adult marine fishes may substantially reduce larval size and survival. The evolution of smaller larvae in response to fishery selection may therefore have substantial consequences for the viability of fished populations.
The stepwise two‐photon excited melanin fluorescence is a unique diagnostic tool for the detection of malignant transformation in melanocytes
Authors: Leupold Dieter , Scholz Matthias , Stankovic Goran , Reda Julian , Buder Susanne , Eichhorn Reinhold , Wessler Gert , Stücker Markus , Hoffmann Klaus , Bauer Jürgen , Garbe Claus
Published: April 2011

Malignant transformation of melanocytes is associated with changes in melanogenesis. Therefore, fluorescence of melanin may be an informative indicator of this process. But the conventionally excited autofluorescence of melanin in skin tissue is ultra‐weak and its main part in the visible spectral region is hidden by the much stronger fluorescence from other endogenous fluorophores. Here, using a new mode of stepwise two‐photon excitation, melanin‐dominated fluorescence spectra of pigmented skin lesions are reported. From these, pure melanin fluorescence spectra of normal pigmented skin, melanocytic nevi and malignant pigmented melanoma were analyzed. They show distinctly different spectral shapes: melanoma gave a characteristic fingerprint with a fluorescence band peaking at 640 nm, independent of the melanoma subtype. The melanin fluorescence spectra peaked at 590 nm for all types of common melanocytic nevi. These differences in the fluorescence spectra are probably based on different contents of eumelanin and pheomelanin. In a series of 167 cases with melanocytic nevi and melanomas, the sensitivity of this new method to diagnose melanoma was 93.5%, the specificity 80.0% and the diagnostic accuracy 82.6%. The two‐photon excitation fluorescence method is a new diagnostic tool which may in future supplement conventional dermatohistopathology.
Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy for Nonremitted Patients with Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Deckersbach Thilo , Hölzel Britta K. , Eisner Lori R. , Stange Jonathan P. , Peckham Andrew D. , Dougherty Darin D. , Rauch Scott L. , Lazar Sara , Nierenberg Andrew A.
Published: April 2011

Introduction: Bipolar disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of depression and/or mania along with interepisodic mood symptoms that interfere with psychosocial functioning. Despite periods of symptomatic recovery, many individuals with bipolar disorder continue to experience substantial residual mood symptoms that often lead to the recurrence of mood episodes.

Aims: This study explored whether a new mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for bipolar disorder would increase mindfulness, reduce residual mood symptoms, and increase emotion‐regulation abilities, psychological well‐being, positive affect, and psychosocial functioning. Following a baseline clinical assessment, 12 individuals with DSM‐IV bipolar disorder were treated with 12 group sessions of MBCT.

Results: At the end of treatment, as well as at the 3 months follow‐up, participants showed increased mindfulness, lower residual depressive mood symptoms, less attentional difficulties, and increased emotion‐regulation abilities, psychological well‐being, positive affect, and psychosocial functioning.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that treating residual mood symptoms with MBCT may be another avenue to improving mood, emotion regulation, well‐being, and functioning in individuals with bipolar disorder.
Dynamic Response of a High Pressure Hydrogen Generator
Authors: Walter Joshua C. , Wolf Brian J. , Revankar Shripad T.
Published: April 2011

Hydrogen generation from catalyzed solutions of sodium borohydride has been demonstrated experimentally up to 10 MPa. Sodium borohydride solutions are nonflammable, stable in basic solution, and offer a volumetric hydrogen density of 63.2 gH2/l. In the presented work, the reaction rate data for catalyzed hydrolysis of sodium borohydride solutions as a function of hydrogen static pressure are coupled with a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells model. It has been shown that the elevated hydrogen pressure can bring the solution to equilibrium and tends to return to equilibrium upon pressure decrease. The model considers hydrogen demand from a fuel cell and the response of the high pressure hydrogen generator in terms of a mass balance. It is shown that 2–4 g of Co3B is adequate to hydrolyze 60 l of 30 wt %NaBH4 solution.
GDC - Y 2 O 3 Oxide Based Two Phase Nanocomposite Electrolyte
Authors: Raza Rizwan , Abbas Ghazanfar , Imran S. Khalid , Patel Imran , Zhu Bin
Published: April 2011

Oxide based two phase composite electrolyte (Ce0.9Gd0.1O2–Y2O3) was synthesized by coprecipitation method. The nanocomposite electrolyte showed the significant performance of power density 785 mW cm−2 and higher conductivities at relatively low temperature 550°C. Ionic conductivities were measured with ac impedance spectroscopy and four-probe dc method. The structural and morphological properties of the prepared electrolyte were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The thermal stability was determined with differential scanning calorimetry. The particle size that was calculated with Scherrer formula, 15–20 nm, is in a good agreement with the SEM and X- ray diffraction results. The purpose of this study is to introduce the functional nanocomposite materials for advanced fuel cell technology to meet the challenges of solid oxide fuel cell.
Preparation and Characterization of Nanocomposite Calcium Doped Ceria Electrolyte With Alkali Carbonates (NK-CDC) for SOFC
Authors: Abbas Ghazanfar , Raza Rizwan , Chaudhry M. Ashraf , Zhu Bin
Published: April 2011

The entire world’s challenge is to find out the renewable energy sources due to rapid depletion of fossil fuels because of their high consumption. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are believed to be the best alternative source, which converts chemical energy into electricity without combustion. Nanostructure study is required to develop highly ionic conductive electrolytes for SOFCs. In this work, the calcium doped ceria (Ce0.8Ca0.2O1.9) coated with 20% molar ratio of two alkali carbonates (CDC-M: MCO3, where M=Na and K) electrolyte was prepared by coprecipitation method. Ni based electrode was used to fabricate the cell by dry pressing technique. The crystal structure and surface morphology were characterized by an X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The particle size was calculated in the range 10–20 nm by Scherer’s formula and compared with SEM and TEM results. The ionic conductivity was measured by using ac electrochemical impedance spectroscopy method. The activation energy was also evaluated. The performance of the cell was measured 0.567 W/cm2 at temperature 550°C with hydrogen as a fuel.
Reservoir Competence of Various Rodents for the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia spielmanii
Authors: Richter Dania , Schlee Daniela B. , Matuschka Franz-Rainer
Published: April 2011

To determine whether the pathogenic Lyme disease spirochete
Borrelia spielmanii
is adapted exclusively to garden dormice, we compared the reservoir competence of various rodent species for this spirochete, including sympatric and peridomestic rodents. The different kinds of rodents varied in their attractiveness to nymphal ticks and their level of susceptibility to tick-borne
B. spielmanii
infection, but only the edible dormouse appeared to be refractory. Although hazel dormice and Norway rats became infectious to ticks somewhat later than did garden dormice, they remained infectious for a longer period of time. During the course of a tick season, garden and hazel dormice contributed theoretically more than twice as many
B. spielmanii
-infected ticks than the somewhat less susceptible Norway rats and wood or yellow-necked mice. Hazel dormice appeared to be extraordinarily competent as reservoir hosts for
B. spielmanii
. Because peridomestic rodents proved to be reservoir competent, urban foci of transmission of
B. spielmanii
may affect the health of townspeople.
Diversity, Evolution, and Functionality of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR) Regions in the Fire Blight Pathogen Erwinia amylovora
Authors: Rezzonico Fabio , Smits Theo H. M. , Duffy Brion
Published: April 2011

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas system confers acquired heritable immunity against mobile nucleic acid elements in prokaryotes, limiting phage infection and horizontal gene transfer of plasmids. In CRISPR arrays, characteristic repeats are interspersed with similarly sized nonrepetitive spacers derived from transmissible genetic elements and acquired when the cell is challenged with foreign DNA. New spacers are added sequentially and the number and type of CRISPR units can differ among strains, providing a record of phage/plasmid exposure within a species and giving a valuable typing tool. The aim of this work was to investigate CRISPR diversity in the highly homogeneous speciesErwinia amylovora, the causal agent of fire blight. A total of 18 CRISPR genotypes were defined within a collection of 37 cosmopolitan strains. Strains from Spiraeoideae plants clustered in three major groups: groups II and III were composed exclusively of bacteria originating from the United States, whereas group I generally contained strains of more recent dissemination obtained in Europe, New Zealand, and the Middle East. Strains from Rosoideae and Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica) clustered separately and displayed a higher intrinsic diversity than that of isolates from Spiraeoideae plants. Reciprocal exclusion was generally observed between plasmid content and cognate spacer sequences, supporting the role of the CRISPR/Cas system in protecting against foreign DNA elements. However, in several group III strains, retention of plasmid pEU30 is inconsistent with a functional CRISPR/Cas system.
Bifidobacterial Diversity and the Development of New Microbial Source Tracking Indicators
Authors: Ballesté Elisenda , Blanch Anicet R.
Published: April 2011

Many studies suggest a close relationship between species of
Bifidobacterium
and their hosts. Thus, species such as
B. adolescentis
and
B. thermacidophilum
subsp.
porcinum
have been proposed as potential indicators of human and porcine fecal pollution. The diversity of bifidobacteria in wastewaters (human and animal) and slurries is analyzed using nested PCR followed by denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The sewage samples showed similar DGGE patterns. The predominant bands were recognized as
B. adolescentis
,
B. longum
, and two unidentified species related to
B. adolescentis
. A single band detected in poultry samples was identified as
B. saeculare
. Bifidobacterial diversity was higher within porcine and bovine samples. The main bands in porcine samples were identified as
B. minimum
, an unknown species, and
B. thermophilum/B. thermacidophilum
subsp.
porcinum
. The latter species was also identified among the main bands in bovine samples together with
B. pseudolongum
and
B. ruminantium
. We then attempted to isolate the host-specific strains. DGGE bands were examined to develop specific probes to screen environmental samples by colony hybridization and further isolation of strains from positively hybridized colonies. Bifidobacterial strains that are host associated by DGGE bands to human and pig were successfully isolated from the environment:
B. adolescentis
from human sewage samples and the unidentified species related to pig from slurries and slaughterhouse wastewater. Neither the poultry-associated
B. saeculare
nor the ruminant-associated
B. pseudolongum
could be isolated with the current methodology, suggesting either a low prevalence in the samples or failure of the culture to grow in the media used.
Influence of Season and Geography on Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli Subtypes in Housed Broiler Flocks Reared in Great Britain
Authors: Jorgensen F. , Ellis-Iversen J. , Rushton S. , Bull S. A. , Harris S. A. , Bryan S. J. , Gonzalez A. , Humphrey T. J.
Published: April 2011

Geographical and seasonal variation in the incidence and prevalence of
Campylobacter jejuni
and
C. coli
in housed broiler flocks reared in Great Britain in 2004 to 2006 was investigated in this study. Ceca (30) from 797 flocks, not subject to prior partial depopulation and reared on 211 farms, were examined individually for the presence of
Campylobacter
spp. The best-fitting climatic factors explained approximately 46% of the prevalence of
Campylobacter
-colonized flocks at slaughter and consisted of a combination of temperature at slaughter, number of sunshine hours in placement month, and millimeters of rainfall in placement month. Positive flocks were more likely to be slaughtered between June and November than during the rest of the year and to be reared in northern Great Britain than in central or southern Great Britain.
C. jejuni
was identified in approximately 90% of flocks, and
C. coli
was present in 10% of flocks. The most common clonal complexes identified in 226 isolates typed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were ST-45, ST-21, ST-574, ST-443, and ST-828. Flocks slaughtered at the same time were more likely to have similar complexes, and ST-45 had a seasonal pattern, with the highest prevalence in June, and was also more likely to be present in flocks reared in northern Great Britain.
Glutathione Facilitates Antibiotic Resistance and Photosystem I Stability during Exposure to Gentamicin in Cyanobacteria
Authors: Cameron Jeffrey C. , Pakrasi Himadri B.
Published: April 2011

Understanding mechanisms of antibiotic resistance is important to the fields of biology and medicine. We find that glutathione contributes to antibiotic resistance in the cyanobacterium
Synechocystis
sp. PCC 6803. Our results also suggest that glutathione protects photosystem I from oxidative damage resulting from growth in the presence of gentamicin.
Quantification of Propionibacterium acidipropionici P169 Bacteria in Environmental Samples by Use of Strain-Specific Primers Derived by Suppressive Subtractive Hybridization
Authors: Peng Min , Smith Alexandra H. , Rehberger Thomas G.
Published: April 2011

A quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay targeting a gene identified by suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) was developed to detect
Propionibacterium acidipropionici
P169, with a threshold of 10
4
CFU/U of dairy feed or rumen fluid. The report is the first using a molecular marker generated by SSH to quantify a bacterial strain in environmental samples.
Microbes in High Arctic Snow and Implications for the Cold Biosphere
Authors: Harding Tommy , Jungblut Anne D. , Lovejoy Connie , Vincent Warwick F.
Published: April 2011

We applied molecular, microscopic, and culture techniques to characterize the microbial communities in snow and air at remote sites in the Canadian High Arctic (Ward Hunt Island, Ellesmere Island, and Cornwallis Island, latitudes 74 to 83
o
N). Members of the
Bacteria
and
Eukarya
were prevalent in the snow, and their small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene signatures indicated strong local aerial transport within the region over the preceding 8 months of winter snowpack accumulation. Many of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were similar to previously reported SSU rRNA gene sequences from the Arctic Ocean, suggesting the importance of local aerial transport processes for marine microbiota. More than 47% of the cyanobacterial OTUs in the snow have been previously found in microbial mats in the region, indicating that this group was also substantially derived from local sources. Viable cyanobacteria isolated from the snow indicated free exchange between the snow and adjacent mat communities. Other sequences were most similar to those found outside the Canadian Arctic but were from snow, lake and sea ice, glaciers and permafrost, alpine regions, Antarctica, and other regions of the Arctic, supporting the concept of global distribution of microbial ecotypes throughout the cold biosphere.
Acetogens and Acetoclastic Methanosarcinales Govern Methane Formation in Abandoned Coal Mines
Authors: Beckmann Sabrina , Lueders Tillmann , Krüger Martin , von Netzer Frederick , Engelen Bert , Cypionka Heribert
Published: April 2011

In abandoned coal mines, methanogenic archaea are responsible for the production of substantial amounts of methane. The present study aimed to directly unravel the active methanogens mediating methane release as well as active bacteria potentially involved in the trophic network. Therefore, the stable-isotope-labeled precursors of methane, [
13
C]acetate and H
2
-
13
CO
2
, were fed to liquid cultures from hard coal and mine timber from a coal mine in Germany. Guided by methane production rates, samples for DNA stable-isotope probing (SIP) with subsequent quantitative PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoretic (DGGE) analyses were taken over 6 months. Surprisingly, the formation of [
13
C]methane was linked to acetoclastic methanogenesis in both the [
13
C]acetate- and the H
2
-
13
CO
2
-amended cultures of coal and timber. H
2
-
13
CO
2
was used mainly by acetogens related to
Pelobacter acetylenicus
and
Clostridium
species. Active methanogens, closely affiliated with
Methanosarcina barkeri
, utilized the readily available acetate rather than the thermodynamically more favorable hydrogen. Thus, the methanogenic microbial community appears to be highly adapted to the low-H
2
conditions found in coal mines.
Overestimation of the Abundance of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria in Human Feces by Quantitative PCR Targeting the Desulfovibrio 16S rRNA Gene
Authors: Christophersen C. T. , Morrison M. , Conlon M. A.
Published: April 2011

The dominant genus of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in humans is
Desulfovibrio
, and quantitative PCR (QPCR) targeting the 16S rRNA gene is often used in assays. We show that the 16S rRNA gene assay overestimated SRB abundance in feces from 24 adults compared to QPCR assays using primers targeting two genes involved in SRB energy metabolism.