bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceived Control and Appraisal of Obsessional Intrusive Thoughts: A Replication and Extension
Authors: Purdon Christine , Clark David A.
Published: June 2009

The present study had two purposes: 1) to examine the relationship between tendency to experience obsessional intrusive thoughts and tendency to worry; 2) to replicate and extend earlier findings (Purdon and Clark, 1993, 1994) on appraisal and thought suppression strategies in the persistence and control of obsessional intrusive thoughts. A sample of 160 college students were administered the Revised Obsessional Intrusions Inventory (ROII), the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI). The ROII total score had minimal association with worry, trait thought suppression, or depressive symptoms, thereby supporting the distinctiveness of obsessional intrusive thoughts. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that cognitive appraisal, especially worries that the intrusion might come true in real life, accounted for a significant amount of variance in thought frequency and controllability. Thought suppression strategies accounted for substantially less variance in both frequency and control of intrusive thoughts. The results are discussed in terms of their support for Rachman's (1993) and Salkovskis' (1985, 1989) theories regarding the role of personal responsibility in the persistence of obsession-like intrusive thoughts.
Sexual Abuse and Psychological Disorders: The Role of Cognitive Processes
Authors: Waller Glenn , Smith Rachel
Published: June 2009

A history of sexual abuse is reported by a large proportion of women with psychological disorders. Cognitive approaches to therapy for this group aim to change the dysfunctional cognitions that are associated with abusive experiences, but often lack a clear model of the psychological processes that might be involved. This study examines the relationship between the overt cognitive correlates of sexual abuse (self-denigratory beliefs) and the covert correlates (information-processing bias). Women with psychological disorders who reported a history of sexual abuse had greater levels of self-denigratory beliefs and of information-processing bias than women who had a history of abuse but had no psychological disorder. The difference in overt self-denigratory cognitions was partly explained by the clinical women's higher level of covert information-processing bias. The information-processing bias appears to reflect a specific schema, which involves beliefs about the individual having been “contaminated” by the abusive experience. Therapeutic implications are discussed, including targets for treatment and evaluation. Further research is needed, to allow these cognitive correlates to be understood in relation to different psychological syndromes and symptoms.
Characteristics of Traumatic Memories in Normal Subjects
Authors: Wessel Ineke , Merckelbach Harald
Published: June 2009

In recent years, there has been considerable debate about how accurately people remember emotionally significant information. Early studies concerned with “flashbulb memories” claimed that emotional memories are accurate and persistent. However, recent studies indicate that flashbulb memories are subject to deterioration over time. This finding fits with the idea that individuals who have experienced a traumatic event do not retain all the details of the trauma equally well. Instead, they have relatively good memory for central detail information and relatively poor memory for peripheral details of the traumatic situation. Using self-report data of a normal, healthy sample, Christianson and Loftus (1990) found evidence for this idea. The current study is an attempt to replicate Christianson and Loftus' finding in a normal student population (N = 106). Subjects were asked to describe their most traumatic situation. They rated the vividness of the memory, the intensity of emotion at the time of the trauma and at the time of recall, the amount of reliving, and the amount of central and peripheral detail information remembered. Results indicate that subjects who reported strong emotion at the time of the trauma remembered significantly more central detail information than subjects with relatively low past emotionality ratings. However, no differences in the amount of peripheral detail information remembered were found.
Patient and Therapist Views of Different Waiting List Procedures
Authors: Westbrook David
Published: June 2009

One way of trying to minimize the problems arising from long waiting lists for psychological treatment is to see patients for assessment soon after referral, with the aims of making some contact, helping to reduce demoralization, and perhaps providing some practical coping advice. There is some evidence that such procedure may produce better outcomes in subsequent treatment, but also relevant is how people feel about these procedures and whether they meet patients' perceived needs. This paper reports some data on these questions. The data suggest that such an early contact procedure was strongly preferred by patients, but less strongly by therapists, particularly if the therapist treating a patient was not the same person who made the early contact. What patients liked about the early contact seemed to be mainly “non-specific” components such as reduced isolation and increased understanding. As such procedures seem to produce at least as good outcomes, and are preferred by patients, it is suggested that they should be the treatment of choice for clinics with long waiting lists.
The Role of Dissociation Between Cardiorespiratory and Metabolic Responses in Angina-Like Chest Pain Panic Patients
Authors: Kopp Maria S. , Litavszky Zsuzsa , Temesvári Agnes
Published: June 2009

The present study investigates the differences between panic disorder patients with and without angina-like chest pain. The patients were diagnosed according to DSM-III criteria and were divided into chest-pain and no chest-pain subgroups according to the occurrence of angina-like chest pain during their panic attacks. In the first stage of the study, transcutaneous arterial CO2 tension was recorded at rest, during and after a hyperventilation provocation test in 20 panic patients (8 with chest pain and 12 without chest pain during panic attacks) and 23 matched control persons. In the second stage of the study, panic symptom checklists, panic diary, depression, anxiety and fear questionnaires, and surface integrated EMG were documented in 85 panic patients (43 with chest pain and 42 without chest pain during panic attacks). The resting pCO2 level was significantly lower in panic patients with chest pain compared to the controls and to panic patients without chest pain. The pCO2 level after recovery was also significantly lower in the chest pain panic group than in controls. Further significant differences were identified between the two subgroups of panic patients, although the initial mean anxiety level failed to differentiate between subgroups. The surface integrated EMG and the sum of panic symptom checklist were higher in the chest-pain subgroup. The derealization score and the suicide subscale of Beck Depression Inventory were significantly higher in the no-chest pain group. These results underline the significance of reduction of pCO2 level in panic attacks with angina-like chest pain; that is, the significance of dissociation of cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses in this group of patients. These findings may offer an important link in the understanding of physiological responses in anxiety attacks.
Teaching Visual Analysis of Time Series Data
Authors: James Ian A. , Smith Paul S. , Milne Derek
Published: June 2009

Visual analysis, or “eyeballing”, of single subject (N=l) data is the commonest technique for analysing time series data. The present study examined firstly, psychologists' abilities to determine significant change between baseline (A) and therapeutic (B) phases, and secondly, the decision making process in relation to the visual components of such graphs. Thirdly, it looked at the effect that a training programme had on psychologists' abilities to identify significant A−B change. The results revealed that the participants were poor at identifying significant effects from non-significant changes. In particular, the study found a high rate of false alarms (Type 1 errors), and a low rate of misses (Type 2 errors), i.e. high sensitivity but poor specificity. The only visual components to significantly alter decisions were the degree of serial dependency and the mean shift component. The teaching influenced the participants' judgements. In general, participants became more conservative, but there was limited evidence of a significant improvement in their judgements following the teaching.
Compliance Therapy: An Intervention Targeting Insight and Treatment Adherence in Psychotic Patients
Authors: Kemp Roisin , David Anthony , Hayward Peter
Published: June 2009

A randomized controlled trial of a new intervention based on motivational interviewing and cognitive approaches to psychosis (Compliance Therapy) has shown improvements in insight, attitudes to medication and compliance in an unselected sample of consecutively admitted patients with acute psychotic disorders. In the introduction, previous research focusing on cognitive interventions in psychosis and systematically tested psychoeducational approaches to compliance are reviewed. The content of our intervention is described with examples of the principal techniques used, together with a description of the progress of therapy in two individual cases. We conclude that the intervention is eminently applicable in the typical clinical setting.
Cognitive-Behavioural Treatment of Tinnitus in Otosclerosis: A Case Report
Authors: Andersson Gerhard , Larsen Hans-Christian
Published: June 2009

Tinnitus is a symptom of ear disease that may cause psychological distress. We report here on the successful treatment of stress-related tinnitus in a patient with otosclerosis (an ear disease). The patient experienced stress-induced attacks during which tinnitus became unbearable. A cognitive-behavioural treatment programme of 10 sessions was given during two weeks. Results assessed at pre-and post-treatment showed decreased annoyance and increased coping with tinnitus. The attacks became less frequent and easier to handle. The results support the application of cognitive-behavioural treatment in cases with difficult tinnitus.
Maintenance of Intrusive Memories in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Cognitive Approach
Authors: Ehlers Anke , Steil Regina
Published: June 2009

Intrusive recollections are very common immediately after traumatic events and are considered necessary aspects of emotional processing. However, if these intrusive recollections persist over a long time, they are linked to long-term psychiatric disorder, especially Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This paper discusses the need to investigate factors involved in the maintenance of intrusive traumatic recollections. It is suggested that the idiosyncratic meaning of the intrusive recollections predicts the distress caused by them, and the degree to which the individual engages in strategies to control the intrusions. These control strategies maintain the intrusive recollections by preventing a change in the meaning of the trauma and of the traumatic memories. It is further suggested that what is needed is a comprehensive assessment of the processes that prevent change in meaning, going beyond the assessment of avoidance. In particular, safety behaviours, dissociation and numbing, suppression of memories and thoughts about trauma, rumination, activation of other emotions such as anger and guilt and corresponding cognitions, and selective information processing (attentional and memory biases) may be involved in the maintenance of intrusive recollections. Preliminary data supporting these suggestions from studies of individuals involved in road traffic accidents and survivors of child sexual abuse are described.
Motivational Interviewing: A Special Ethical Dilemma?
Authors: Withers Jacqueline M. J.
Published: June 2009

This paper aims to contribute to the discussion of the ethical issues in motivational interventions which have recently been raised by Miller (1994). Motivational interviewing is typically used when a therapist perceives a need for behaviour change in someone who is ambivalent about such change. Motivational interviewing aims to evoke motivation by making salient the inconsistency of continuing with a problem behaviour and other longer term or wider life goals. Miller (1994) discussed what was manipulative about this approach and considered both a descriptive and evaluative component. The ethics of motivational interviewing are considered here, within the context of psychological therapy in a general sense, and questions whether the ethical issues relevant to motivational interviewing are different from other psychological interventions. A distinction between the goals and the means of obtaining therapeutic goals is suggested as useful.
The Ethics of Motivational Interviewing Revisited
Authors: Miller William R.
Published: June 2009

In two separate commentaries, Withers and Seager offer constructive critiques of “The Ethics of Motivational Intervention.” It is difficult to render ethical judgments regarding a method apart from the goals and contexts within which it is to be applied. A clearer and transtheoretical understanding of the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of motivational interviewing may better inform future discussions of these ethical concerns that pertain to psychotherapy more generally.
Group Cognitive Therapy in Chronic Depression: Results From Two Intervention Studies
Authors: Bristow Michael , Bright Jenifer
Published: June 2009

This paper describes two interventions used to treat patients suffering with chronic depression. In the first (Study 1), a group of five sufferers from depression of more than one year's duration who had been unresponsive to, or declined drugs were given cognitive therapy for depression in a group format and followed up for a year afterwards. They were compared with a wait-list group with a similar natural history. The treatment group showed greater improvement than the wait list group and maintained most of their gains at follow-up. In the second (Study 2) four patients also suffering from chronic depression who scored highly on the Hollon Severity Index were treated in a cognitive therapy group over a more extended period (28 weeks) using the approach designed to treat personality disorder. Modest gains were made by some patients. The findings are discussed and suggestions for improvement are made.
Identification of Prodromal Signs and Symptoms and Early Intervention in Manic Depressive Psychosis Patients: A Case Example
Authors: Perry Alison , Tarrier Nicholas , Morriss Richard
Published: June 2009

Recent research has revealed that relapse in manic depressive psychosis and schizophrenia is preceded by specific prodromal signs and symptoms that include dysphoria, other non-psychotic symptoms and features unique to individual patients. Treatment studies in schizophrenia have shown that early pharmacological intervention during a prodromal phase of psychotic relapse may be effective in the prevention of hospitalization. This paper describes the procedure of prodromal signs identification in manic depressive psychosis and the negotiation of an appropriate plan of action with the mental health services in order to abort the relapse or reduce its severity through early pharmacological intervention. A case example is presented to demonstrate this approach.
Dissociation, Reality Monitoring, Trauma, and Thought Suppression
Authors: van den Hout Marcel , Merckelbach Harald , Pool Karin
Published: June 2009

The tendency to dissociate is characterized by deficits in autobiographical memory. Poor reality monitoring, i.e., the ability to decide whether an event truly happened or was imagined may give rise to autobiographical memory problems. It was hypothesized that the tendency to dissociate, as measured by the Dissociation Experience Scale (DES), is related to deficiencies in reality monitoring. Yet, the results of two laboratory measures of reality monitoring showed no such relationship in a sample of undergraduate students scoring high on the DES. The tendency to dissociate was found to be related to self-reports of traumatization. This association, however, was mediated by a measure of deliberate attempts to suppress memory elements from entering consciousness. This finding suggests that memory problems relating to trauma may be due to “willful forgetting”.
Long Term Reduction of Nightmares with Imagery Rehearsal Treatment
Authors: Krakow Barry , Kellner Robert , Pathak Dorothy , Lambert Lori
Published: June 2009

An eighteen month follow-up of chronic nightmare sufferers treated with imagery rehearsal, a cognitive-behavioral method, demonstrated significant and clinically meaningful decreases in nightmare frequency. Sixty-eight percent of subjects decreased their nightmares below criteria for a “Chronic Nightmare Disorder”. Significant improvement was also noted for sleep quality and daytime anxiety. The findings support the theory that nightmares may be clinically conceptualized as a primary sleep disorder in some chronic sufferers.
The Immediate Effects of Exposure Versus Response Prevention in the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Keijsers Ger P. J. , Hoogduin Cees A. L. , Schaap Cas P. D. R. , de Jong Trix , de Koning Erica
Published: June 2009

Several empirical studies suggest that exposure in vivo and response prevention have a differential treatment effect on the complaints presented by patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In the present study it was hypothesized that exposure in vivo would result in a greater decrease of obsessional fear, whereas response prevention would result in a greater decrease of rituals. Forty patients, diagnosed with OCD, participated in the study. Half of the patients received exposure in vivo alone, followed by response prevention alone, and half received response prevention alone, followed by exposure in vivo alone. No differential treatment effects between exposure in vivo alone and response prevention alone could be found, although ritualistic behaviour was less strongly affected by exposure in vivo following response prevention.
Short and Long-Term Effectiveness of Group Anxiety Management Training
Authors: Ormrod John
Published: June 2009

This study explored both the short-term and long-term effectiveness of group anxiety management training. The treatment package employed ran along cognitive-behavioural principles. Consistent with previous evaluations the groups had a significant effect on levels of anxiety and depression as measured by self-report instruments. Participants rated “meeting people with similar problems” and “learning about anxiety” as the two most important therapeutic ingredients. At a follow-up period of greater than two years therapeutic gains, at least in part, seemed to have been maintained.
Cognitive Treatment Through Positive Self-Verbalization: A Multiple Case Study
Authors: Lange Alfred , Richard René , Kiestra Jette , van Oostendorp Elien
Published: June 2009

This article deals with the modification of self-statements as a specific strategy in cognitive therapy. A method is described in which patients modify their self-talk by reading aloud positive self-statements that are incompatible with original self-deprecatory thoughts. Next, several cases are presented that illustrate how this intervention can effectively be integrated in the treatment of various disorders. In the discussion, the indications for using this intervention are considered and compared to other cognitive strategies.
Are there hybrid regimes? Or are they just an optical illusion?
Authors: Morlino Leonardo
Published: June 2009

In recent years there has been growing interest and a related literature on hybrid regimes. Is there a good definition of such an institutional arrangement? Are there actually sets of stabilized, political institutions that can be labelled in this way? Is it possible that within the widespread process of democracy diffusion these are only ‘transitional’ regimes and the most suitable distinction is still the old one, suggested by Linz and traditionally accepted, between democracy and authoritarianism? This article addresses and responds to these questions by pinpointing the pertinent analytic dimensions, starting with definitions of ‘regime’, ‘authoritarianism’, and ‘democracy’; by defining what a ‘hybrid regime’ is; by trying to answer the key question posed in the title; by disentangling the cases of proper hybrid regimes from the cases of transitional phases; and by proposing a typology of hybrid regimes. Some of the main findings and conclusions refer to the lack of institutions capable of performing their functions as well as the key elements for achieving possible changes towards democracy.
Individual Differences in Response to Treatment
Authors: Watts Fraser N.
Published: June 2009

One aspect of behaviour therapy research that has been surprisingly slow to develop is the prediction of outcome from individual differences. In most other ways (the formulation of treatment methods precisely enough for them to be replicable, the controlled evaluation of treatment efficacy, the investigation of procedural variations which are of theoretical importance etc.) behaviour therapy research is relatively advanced. But curiously, the prediction outcome is much less well investigated than it is in some other treatment fields such as rehabilitation, which are in other ways at a lower level of scientific development than behaviour therapy.
Structure and Function of the BABP
Authors: Fielding Dorothy , Lomas Howard , Sharpe Robert , Whitehead Antonia , Williams Christopher
Published: June 2009

In the last edition of the B.A.B.P. Bulletin Dr. Marks took up the issue of the future structure and organisation of the B.A.B.P., inviting comments on his article thus allowing ‘ideas to be crystallised into practical suggestions for the A.G.M.’ The following represents the personal views of some of the branch representatives to add to the ongoing debate.
Cognitive Behaviour Modification: Mediating with Mahoney
Authors: Marzillier John S.
Published: June 2009

Cullen and Gathercole's review (B.A.B.P. Bull., 1976, Vol.4) of Mahoney's book, Cognition & Behaviour Modification, Ballinger, 1974, prompts me to take up my pen in defense of Mahoney and attack what I believe to be the unfortunate position that some radical behaviourists find themselves in. My reaction to Mahoney's book was very different from that of Cullen and Gathercole's. Fair enough, perhaps, as we each have our own standpoint on how cognitive behaviour modification is or should be. Nevertheless I feel some necessity to present my own views as I do not believe that Cullen and Gathercole's review did justice to the book as a whole. I found Mahoney's book to be an exciting and welcome departure from the current trend of books on behaviour therapy. It is not a review of existing behavioural techniques; nor an idiosyncratic view about what clinical practice should be. Mahoney has focussed carefully on one important and developing area in behaviour modification and provided a lucid, well-informed, thoughtful and at times amusing analysis of the clinical and experimental work pertinent to that area. Regardless of whether one accepts his conclusions or supports his theoretical position, I think the quality of the book should be recognised. Cullen and Gathercole spend most of their review discussing and rejecting Mahoney's theoretical views about mediational models. This is fair enough as their concern is primarily to demonstrate that such models are of little or no use in experimental or clinical psychology.
What Cognitive Behaviour Modification is not - a Reply to Marzillier
Authors: Cullen Chris , Gathercole Chris
Published: June 2009

John Marzillier (BABP last issue) has taken exception to our review of Mahoney's Cognition and Behaviour Modification and it behooves us to add a note in defence or justification. The most cogent way of doing this is to comment in turn on each of the major points made by Marzillier.
Token Economics: I wasn't trained for this
Authors: Presly A. S.
Published: June 2009

The first group project I was involved in which could legitimately be called a token economy started in a long-term psychiatric ward some 4½ yrs. ago and ran for 2½ yrs. I do not intend to go into all the details of the project, as they have been published elsewhere (Presly et al., 1976) and the project was similar to others (e.g. Mumford et al., 1975). I want instead to describe some of the things I learned from running a token economy and also to raise a number of issues which seem to be all too seldom discussed in relation to token economies in particular and to psychologists' involvement with long-term patients in general.
What sort of cognitive processes are involved in cognitive behaviour therapy? Beyond Mahoney
Authors: Watts Fraser N.
Published: June 2009

Mahoney's recent book, Cognition and Behaviour Modification (1974), has produced some fierce interchanges in the pages of this journal. To me, the surprising feature of the controversy is that it has frowned on Mahoney's arguments about the adequacy of radical behaviourism. I had imagined that the philosophical assumptions of radical behaviourism had long ago been shown to be untenable. However, I do not wish to join in this discussion, or to try and improve on the arguments of Mahoney and Marzillier's (1976) defence of them.
Year‐round observations of carbon biomass and flux variability in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Bishop James K. B. , Wood Todd J.
Published: June 2009

Three Carbon Explorer (CE) floats profiling to kilometer depths in the Southern Ocean tracked dawn‐dusk variations of mixing and stratification, particulate organic carbon, and light scattering and sedimentation at 100, 250, and 800 m continuously from January 2002 to April 2003. Data were analyzed in conjunction with contemporaneous satellite winds and chlorophyll and derived subsurface light fields. The CE deployed at 66°S, 172°W operated in the ice edge zone in absence of light. Two CEs deployed at 55°S, 172°W recorded wintertime mixing to ∼400 m yet observed very different bloom dynamics and sedimentation the following spring. Four hypotheses are explored. The strongest hypothesis is that shallow transient stratification of the deep winter mixed layer to shallower than photosynthetic critical depth occurred more frequently in the nonbloom, higher‐sedimentation case. The lower particle export to 800 m under the bloom was hypothesized to be due to higher interception of sinking carbon by a relatively starved overwintering zooplankton population. In the Southern Ocean, surface phytoplankton biomass may counterindicate particle flux at kilometer depths.
Global bubble distribution seen from ROCSAT‐1 and its association with the evening prereversal enhancement
Authors: Kil Hyosub , Paxton Larry J. , Oh Seung‐Jun
Published: June 2009

The occurrence statistics of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) obtained from low‐inclination orbit satellites are significantly affected by the way the data are sampled and the way that the EPBs are counted. To resolve the discrepancy between the EPB occurrence frequency determined by ground‐based observations and in situ sampling of plasma density from spacecraft, we have developed a new EPB detection method that minimizes the dependence of the EPB occurrence rate on the data processing method. The global EPB distribution maps are created by analyzing the measurements of the ion density from the first Republic of China satellite (ROCSAT‐1) during March 1999 to June 2004. The EPB occurrence probability obtained using our new EPB detection method is a few times greater than that obtained using the conventional method. Our results are comparable to the ground observations. The good agreement of the global EPB distribution with the global morphology of the evening prereversal enhancement (PRE) of vertical ion velocity supports the notion that the PRE is an important factor on a global scale in the generation of EPBs. However, the generation of EPBs is not guaranteed by the occurrence of an intense PRE. Other mechanisms, in addition to the PRE, should be considered as an explanation for the occurrence of EPBs on the topside.
Stratospheric predictability and sudden stratospheric warming events
Authors: Stan Cristiana , Straus David M.
Published: June 2009

A comparative study of the limit of predictability in the stratosphere and troposphere in a coupled general circulation model is carried out using the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Climate Forecast System Interactive Ensemble (CFSIE). In “identical twin experiments”, we compare the forecast errors of zonal wind and potential temperature in the troposphere and stratosphere for various wave groups. The results show smaller intrinsic error growth in the lower stratosphere compared with troposphere. The limit of predictability of sudden stratospheric warming events, measured by the errors in the divergence of the Eliassen‐Palm flux, is dominated by the amplification of small errors in the individual fields due to differences between the phase of the waves.
A new technique for estimating the thickness of mare basalts in Imbrium Basin
Authors: Thomson Bradley J. , Grosfils Eric B. , Bussey D. Ben J. , Spudis Paul D.
Published: June 2009

The total volume of extrusive volcanism on the Moon provides a basic thermal and geologic constraint, and accurate volume assessments are contingent upon constraining lava flow depths. Here, employing UV‐VIS data from the Clementine mission, we estimate mare thickness values in the Imbrium Basin by analyzing ejecta from large (>10 km diameter) impact craters that penetrate (or failed to penetrate) through the mare. Mare thickness values are found to range from at least ∼2 km at the basin center to 1.5–2.0 km in the buried ring shelf annulus. This corresponds to a basalt volume of ∼1.3 × 106 km3, almost a factor of two greater than the volume estimated from partially filled craters alone. Our results indicate that thickness measurements from penetrating craters, combined with minimum estimates from partially filled and non‐penetrating craters, provide a more complete picture of the spatial variation of basalt thickness values than could previously be obtained.
Ability of 1‐Hz GPS data to infer the source process of a medium‐sized earthquake: The case of the 2008 Iwate‐Miyagi Nairiku, Japan, earthquake
Authors: Yokota Yusuke , Koketsu Kazuki , Hikima Kazuhito , Miyazaki Shin'ichi
Published: June 2009

We demonstrate the ability of 1‐Hz Global Positioning System (GPS) data to infer a medium‐sized (M6 class) earthquake source process through an inversion study of the 2008 Iwate‐Miyagi Nairiku, Japan, earthquake (M∼6.9). 1‐Hz GPS waveforms for this earthquake are compared, and show good agreement with strong motion waveforms. Ground motions are well recorded at a sufficient number of GPS stations in and around source region, allowing us to perform waveform inversion using 1‐Hz GPS data only. The 1‐Hz GPS inversion result shows fairly good agreement with a joint inversion of geodetic and strong motion data, such as the seismic moment (Mw∼6.9), cumulative slip distribution, and rupture propagation. Such agreements demonstrate that 1‐Hz GPS is able to infer the dynamic features of the rupture process as well as permanent (or static) slip even for a M6 class medium‐sized earthquake.
Stratospheric contribution to high surface ozone in Colorado during springtime
Authors: Langford A. O. , Aikin K. C. , Eubank C. S. , Williams E. J.
Published: June 2009

The contribution of stratosphere‐to‐troposphere transport to high surface ozone (O3) along the Colorado Front Range during spring of 1999 is examined using lidar and surface measurements. A deep tropopause fold brought ∼215 ppbv of O3 to within 1 km of the highest peaks in the Rocky Mountains on 6 May 1999. One‐minute average O3 mixing ratios exceeding 100 ppbv were subsequently measured at a surface site in Boulder, and daily maximum 8‐hour O3 concentrations greater or equal to the 2008 NAAQS O3 standard of 0.075 ppmv were recorded at 3 of 9 Front Range monitoring stations. Other springtime peaks in surface O3 are also shown to coincide with passage of upper level troughs and dry stable layers aloft. These results show that the stratospheric contribution to surface ozone is significant, and can lead to exceedance of the 2008 NAAQS O3 standards in a major U.S. metropolitan area.
Variation of different components of Jupiter's auroral emission
Authors: Nichols J. D. , Clarke J. T. , Gérard J. C. , Grodent D. , Hansen K. C.
Published: June 2009

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) data set obtained over two campaigns in 2007 is used to determine the long‐term variability of the different components of Jupiter's auroras. Three regions on the planet's disc are defined: the main oval, the low‐latitude auroras, and the high‐latitude auroras. The UV auroral power emitted from these regions is extracted and compared to estimated solar wind conditions projected to Jupiter's orbit from Earth. In the first campaign the emitted power originated mainly from the main oval and the high‐latitude regions, and in the second campaign the high‐latitude and main oval auroras were dimmer and less variable, while the low‐latitude region exhibited bright, patchy emission. We show that, apart from during specific enhancement events, the power emitted from the poleward auroras is generally uncorrelated with that of the main oval. The exception events are dawn storms and compression region enhancements. It is shown that the former events, typically associated with intense dawnside main oval auroras, also result in the brightening of the high‐latitude auroras. The latter events associated with compression regions exhibit a particular auroral morphology; that is, where it is narrow and well defined, the main oval is bright and located ∼1° poleward of its previous location, and elsewhere it is faint. Instead there is bright emission in the poleward region in the postnoon sector where distinct, bright, sometimes multiple arcs form.
Radar and rocket comparison of UHF radar scattering from auroral electrojet irregularities: Implications for a nanosatellite radar
Authors: Bahcivan Hasan , Kelley Michael C. , Cutler James W.
Published: June 2009

This article presents the estimates for UHF radar volume scattering coefficient of auroral electrojet irregularities based on previous measurements of absolute radar scattering coefficients and in situ rocket spectra. Both estimates indicate that a low‐earth–orbiting nanosatellite with a 0‐dB gain UHF antenna will be sensitive to bistatic scatter into space from the irregularities illuminated by the ground‐based Poker Flat Incoherent Scatter Radar (PFISR). It is also shown that the change of scattering geometry due to the satellite motion is sufficiently slow to “lock on” the target. That is, the satellite will acquire a statistically large number of samples in a sufficiently small time window to resolve the scattering signal power as a function of the Bragg scattering angle with respect to the magnetic field lines.
Analytic elements for flow in harmonically heterogeneous aquifers
Authors: Craig J. R.
Published: June 2009

Existing implementations of the analytic element method (AEM) for simulating groundwater flow rely upon a zonal representation of hydraulic conductivity, where the conductivity is piecewise constant within the modeled domain. Using a dependent‐variable transformation, the analytic element method is extended to simulate two‐dimensional groundwater flow through smoothly heterogeneous media represented using pilot points; that is, the conductivity field is interpolated between a set of locations with specified conductivity. This new implementation maintains the existing attributes of AEM solutions: the governing equation is met exactly within the domain, and boundary/continuity conditions are met with extremely high precision, all without volumetric discretization. A number of test cases are used to demonstrate and evaluate the efficacy of the new method.
Analysis of Antarctic Ice Core Data (EPICA Dome C) with Flicker-Noise Spectroscopy
Authors: Polyakov Yuriy , Petit Jean Robert , Timashev Serge
Published: June 2009

Evolution of Earth’s climate system over the past 800,000 years represents a complex process with successions of uneven glacial and interglacial periods. The length, amplitudes, and development of each climate cycle depend on a number of different factors, including the orbital parameters attributed to insolation and the complex responses of the Earth system to solar radiation primarily through the amplification by Earth’s albedo and greenhouse gas and secondarily through a system of heat reservoirs, such as ice sheet and deep ocean, distributed throughout our planet. The purpose of this study is to analyze the transitions related to climate cycles in Antarctic ice core data (EPICA Dome C) of deuterium composition and dust concentration recorded for the past 800,000 years [1] using Flicker-Noise Spectroscopy (FNS), an analytical toolset for the extraction and analysis of information in stochastic time and space series, containing both regular and chaotic components, by using power spectra and difference moments (structural functions) of various orders [2].The FNS nonstationarity factors for the deuterium composition and dust (logarithm) concentration, which represent the normalized discrete derivative of the second-order structural function of the source signal with respect to a given shifted “window” interval, were built for different intervals of averaging to identify the major changes in the dynamics of both time series and their precursors. It is shown that when displayed together with the source signals, the positive peaks in the nonstationarity factors provide more reliable estimates of the transition of the climate system from one sub-period to another within a specific climate cycle as compared to predefined thresholds in dust or deuterium values. For climatic transitions, the power spectral estimates of the nonstationarity factors contain several periodicities in addition to the orbital ones. These frequencies may be attributed to specific heat accumulation and discharge processes in the climate system. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of FNS in the analysis of climate data series and may be used in refining climate transition models.This study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project no. 08-02-00230a.[1] Lambert F., et al. (2008) Dust-climate couplings over the past 800,000 years from the EPICA Dome C ice core, Nature 452, 616-619.[2] Timashev, S. F., Polyakov Yu. S. (2007) Review of flicker noise spectroscopy in electrochemistry, Fluctuations and Noise Letters 7(2), R15-R47.
Inhibiting Crm1 causes the formation of excess acentriolar spindle poles containing NuMA and B23, but does not affect centrosome numbers
Authors: Rousselet Annie
Published: June 2009

Background. B23/nucleophosmin is present on spindle poles at metaphase. Migration of B23 to the poles is under the control of exportin Crm1. B23 at the centrosome plays a role in the control centrosome duplication.

Results. h‐Tert‐RPE1 cells blocked in prometaphase with low doses of Nocodazol showed a progression to mitosis if Crm1 exportin was inhibited. Under these conditions, the formation of accessory poles containing γ‐tubulin, NuMA (nuclear‐mitotic‐apparatus) and B23 was induced at metaphase. No effect on centrosome number was observed. In quiescent h‐Tert‐RPE1 cells, when Crm1 was active, B23 was not detected at the centrosome as well as B23‐mutants reported to block centrosome duplication. In addition, the modification of B23 nucleo‐cytoplasmic shuttling showed no effect on centrosome duplication.

Conclusion. Inhibition of Crm1 in early metaphase favours the formation of supplementary acentriolar spindle poles. B23 and NuMA are present at these poles that ultimately focus around the centrosome. Inhibition of Crm1 at metaphase has no effect on the control of centrosome numbers.
Divergent regulation of the key enzymes of polyamine metabolism by chiral α-methylated polyamine analogues
Authors: Hyvönen Mervi T. , Howard Michael T. , Anderson Christine B. , Grigorenko Nikolay , Khomutov Alex R. , Vepsäläinen Jouko , Alhonen Leena , Jänne Juhani , Keinänen Tuomo A.
Published: June 2009

The natural polyamines are ubiquitous multifunctional organic cations which play important roles in regulating cellular proliferation and survival. Here we present a novel approach to investigating polyamine functions by using optical isomers of MeSpd (α-methylspermidine) and Me2Spm (α,ω-bismethylspermine), metabolically stable functional mimetics of natural polyamines. We studied the ability of MeSpd and Me2Spm to alter the normal polyamine regulation pathways at the level of polyamine uptake and the major control mechanisms known to affect the key polyamine metabolic enzymes. These include: (i) ODC (ornithine decarboxylase), which catalyses the rate-limiting step of polyamine synthesis; (ii) ODC antizyme, an inhibitor of ODC and polyamine uptake; (iii) SSAT (spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase), the major polyamine catabolic enzyme; and (iv) AdoMetDC (S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase), which is required for the conversion of putrescine into spermidine, and spermidine into spermine. We show that the stereoisomers differ in their cellular uptake and ability to downregulate ODC and AdoMetDC, and to induce SSAT. These effects are mediated by the ability of the enantiomers to induce +1 ribosomal frameshifting on ODC antizyme mRNA, to suppress the translation of AdoMetDC uORF (upstream open reading frame) and to regulate the alternative splicing of SSAT pre-mRNA. The unique effects of chiral polyamine analogues on polyamine metabolism may offer novel possibilities for studying the physiological functions, control mechanisms, and targets of the natural polyamines, as well as advance therapeutic drug development in cancer and other human health-related issues.
Cellular and molecular biology of HCV infection and hepatitis
Authors: Tang Hengli , Grisé Henry
Published: June 2009

HCV (hepatitis C virus) infects nearly 3% of the population worldwide and has emerged as a major causative agent of liver disease, resulting in acute and chronic infections that can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis C represents the leading cause of liver transplantation in the United States and Europe. A positive-strand RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family, HCV contains a single-stranded RNA genome of approx. 9600 nucleotides. The genome RNA serves as both mRNA for translation of viral proteins and the template for RNA replication. Cis-acting RNA elements within the genome regulate RNA replication by forming secondary structures that interact with each other and trans-acting factors. Although structural proteins are clearly dispensable for RNA replication, recent evidence points to an important role of several non-structural proteins in particle assembly and release, turning their designation on its head. HCV enters host cells through receptor-mediated endocytosis, and the process requires the co-ordination of multiple cellular receptors and co-receptors. RNA replication takes place at specialized intracellular membrane structures called ‘membranous webs’ or ‘membrane-associated foci’, whereas viral assembly probably occurs on lipid droplets and endoplasmic reticulum. Liver inflammation plays a central role in the liver damage seen in hepatitis C, but many HCV proteins also directly contribute to HCV pathogenesis. In the present review, the molecular and cellular aspects of the HCV life cycle and the role of viral proteins in pathological liver conditions caused by HCV infection are described.
On the infimum of the energy-momentum spectrum of a homogeneous Bose gas
Authors: Cornean H. D. , Dereziński J. , Ziń P.
Published: June 2009

We consider second-quantized homogeneous Bose gas in a large cubic box with periodic boundary conditions at zero temperature. We discuss the energy-momentum spectrum of the Bose gas and its physical significance. We review various rigorous and heuristic results as well as open conjectures about its properties. Our main aim is to convince the readers, including those with mainly mathematical background, that this subject has many interesting problems for rigorous research. In particular, we investigate the upper bound on the infimum of the energy for a fixed total momentum k given by the expectation value of one-particle excitations over a squeezed states. This bound can be viewed as a rigorous version of the famous Bogoliubov method. We show that this approach seems to lead to a (nonphysical) energy gap. The variational problem involving squeezed states can serve as the preparatory step in a perturbative approach that should be useful in computing excitation spectrum. This version of a perturbative approach to the Bose gas seems (at least in principle) superior to the commonly used approach based on the c-number substitution.
Self-formation of bilayer lipid membranes on agarose-coated silicon surfaces studied by simultaneous electrophysiological and surface infrared spectroscopic measurements
Authors: Hirano-Iwata Ayumi , Oshima Azusa , Onodera Kota , Aoto Kouji , Taira Tasuku , Yamaguchi Ryo-taro , Kimura Yasuo , Niwano Michio
Published: June 2009

Self-formation process of bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) cushioned on agarose-coated Si surfaces was in situ monitored by simultaneous electrophysiological and infrared absorption spectroscopic (IRAS) measurements using IRAS with the multiple internal reflection geometry. IRAS signals corresponding to self-thinning of lipid solution to form BLMs were demonstrated. It was found that the appearance of IRAS bands due to C=O modes of phosphstidylcholine is related to formation of BLMs with a gigaohm seal. The functionality of the present BLM system was also demonstrated by incorporating gramicidin into the BLMs and recording its channel activities.
Hydrogen transfer and hydration properties of HnPO43−n (n=–3) in water studied by first principles molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Tang Emilia , Di Tommaso Devis , de Leeuw Nora H.
Published: June 2009

Density functional theory Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof [Perdew et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 3865 (1996)] molecular dynamics simulations of aqueous solutions of orthophosphate species HnPO43−n (n=0–3) provide new insights into hydrogen transfer and intermolecular and hydration properties of these important aqueous species. Extensive Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations of the orthophosphate ion PO43−, of the hydrogen phosphate anions, HPO42− and H2PO4−, and of the orthophosphoric acid, H3PO4, in explicit water show that the process of proton transfer from HnPO43−n to the surrounding water molecules is very fast, less than 1 ps, and indicate that the dehydrogenation occurs through a concerted proton hopping mechanism, which involves HnPO43−n and three water molecules. Analysis of the intermolecular HnPO43−n-water structure shows that the PO43− anions have a significant effect on the H-bonding network of bulk water and the presence of P–O− moieties induce the formation of new types of H–H interactions around this orthophosphate. Calculated probability distributions of the coordination numbers of the first hydration shell of PO43−, HPO42−, and H2PO4− show that these phosphate species display a flexible first coordination shell (between 7 and 13 water molecules) and that the flexibility increases on going from PO43− to H2PO4−. The strength and number of hydrogen bonds of PO43−, HPO42−, and H2PO4− are determined through a detailed analysis of the structural correlation functions. In particular, the H-bond interactions between the oxygen atoms of the phosphates and the surrounding water molecules, which decrease on going from PO43− to the hydrogenated H2PO4− species, explain the diminished effect on the structure of water with the increasing hydrogenation of the orthophosphate anions.