bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variation in corticosterone response and corticosteroid binding‐globulin during different breeding sub‐stages in Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus)
Authors: Li Mo , Sun Yanfeng , Wu Junzhe , Zhang Xiaorui , Li Juyong , Yao Yao , Liu Xuelu , Li Dongming , Wu Yuefeng
Published: December 2015

In free‐living animals, it has been well demonstrated that the intensity of the adrenocortical response to acute restraint stress can vary with reproductive investment during breeding. The parental care hypothesis posits that the stress response is negatively correlated with parental investment in avian species. To further test this hypothesis, we examined changes in both free and total corticosterone (CORT) at baseline and stress‐induced levels (maximal CORT) and corticosteroid‐binding globulin (CBG) capacities, in both sexes of a multi‐brooded Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus), during the nest building, the early nestling, the later egg‐laying, and the later nestling stages. Our results showed Eurasian tree sparrows did not exhibit any differences between sexes in CORT and CBG levels during the egg‐laying or nestling stages. Both sexes had lowered CBG capacities and females exhibited lower maximal CORT during the early compared to later nestling stages. In addition, both sexes had lower maximal free CORT levels during the nest building stage than those of the early nestling stages, and males expressed higher total maximal CORT levels than females during nest building stage. The variation in CORT response and CBG levels during different breeding sub‐stages in Eurasian tree sparrow may correlate with their energetic situations and parental investments.J. Exp. Zool. 325A:75–83, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Where is the Evo in Evo‐Devo (evolutionary developmental biology)?
Authors: Diogo Rui
Published: December 2015

I provide a brief discussion of the present/future of Evo‐Devo, reviewing opinions expressed by colleagues with different opinions/backgrounds about what Evo‐Devo should be and the potential of this flourishing field and combining them with an analysis of the recent, and excellent inaugural meeting of the Pan‐American Society for Evo‐Devo. As an advocate of Evo‐Devo and its enormous future potential, I feel that despite our different views and fields of research, we Evo‐Devoists are all in the same boat and should try our best to make sure this potential is fully expressed. Therefore, I call attention to some concerns raised by other colleagues, which in my opinion are demonstrated by a quantitative analysis of the titles/abstracts of the 56 talks at this meeting. This analysis is very simple, in order to maintain the needed objectivity and minimize bias. Yet, it is profound in its implications, precisely because of its simplicity and because this meeting is clearly a major landmark for the development/future directions of Evo‐Devo. The analysis shows that terms associated with development at the more molecular/genetic level were vastly overrepresented compared to terms related to evolution or to development at the whole organism level. That is, it provides support for the idea that current Evo‐Devo is mainly focused on Devo, and that Devo itself is largely focused on “Geno,” that is, on molecular/genetic developmental studies. This trend seems to be leading towards a loss of focus on the whole organism and on the major microevolutionary and macroevolutionary questions/theories that remain to be solved/tested. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 326B:9–18, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Orienting Triangulations
Authors: Albar Boris , Gonçalves Daniel , Knauer Kolja
Published: December 2015

We prove that any triangulation of a surface different from the sphere and the projective plane admits an orientation without sinks such that every vertex has outdegree divisible by three. This confirms a conjecture of Barát and Thomassen and is a step toward a generalization of Schnyder woods to higher genus surfaces.
Exploring the Online Communicative Themes of Child Sex Offenders
Authors: McManus Michelle A. , Almond Louise , Cubbon Ben , Boulton Laura , Mears Ian
Published: December 2015

This exploratory study aimed to examine online communications between contact reality and non‐contact fantasy child sex offenders (CSOs). This research wanted to ascertain whether it was possible to differentiate between these offenders based on the content of their online communications, something which has not previously been examined. The sample consisted of five contact reality and seven non‐contact fantasy offenders, all convicted of a Child Sex Offence. Content analysis revealed 26 them. Results showed that non‐contact fantasy offenders discussed Adult sexual relationships significantly more than contact reality offenders. All other comparisons were non‐significant. The themes were then grouped into five higher order themes: (i) Adult relationships, (ii) Child sexual interest, (iii) Media, (iv) Sexual self, and (v) Rapport. The average largest proportion of the online communication related to Child sexual interest (34%) followed by Rapport (28%). There were no significant differences between the two types of offenders in relation to these five higher order themes. Explanations for the findings are discussed with implications for police investigations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation of crosslinked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) of acid urease with urethanase activity and their application
Authors: Zhang Qian , Zha Xiaohong , Zhou Nandi , Tian Yaping
Published: December 2015

An acid urease from Providencia rettgeri JN‐B815 was purified via ultrasonication, ethanol precipitation, and DEAE ion‐exchange column chromatography. It was found that the enzyme exhibits not only urease activity, but also urethanase activity, which made it possible to reduce EC already existed or would produce and its precursor urea at the same time. Then, crosslinked enzyme aggregates of P. rettgeri urease (PRU‐CLEAs) were prepared using genipin as crosslinking agent. The purification process of acid urease, the effects of genipin concentration, and crosslinking time on PRU‐CLEAs activity were investigated. The crosslinking was performed at pH 4.5 for 2.5 h, using 0.3% genipin as crosslinking agent, and 0.3 g · L−1 bovine serum albumin as protein feeder. Using the obtained PRU‐CLEAs, the removal rate of urea was up to 9.31 mg · L−1 · h−1. The removal rate of urea was still up to 7.56 mg · L−1 · h−1 after PRU‐CLEAs was re‐used for 6 times. When PRU‐CLEAs were applied in a batch stirred and membrane reactor, the removal rate of urea in rice wine reached 5.16 mg · L−1 · h−1 and the removal rate of EC was 9.21 μg · L−1 · h−1. Furthermore, the treatment with PRU‐CLEAs revealed no significant change of volatile flavor substances in Chinese rice wine. Thus PRU‐CLEAs have great potential in the elimination of EC in Chinese rice wine.
Construct damage and loosening around glenoid implants: A longitudinal micro‐CT study of five cadaver specimens
Authors: Lewis Gregory S. , Brenza Jacob B. , Paul Emmanuel M. , Armstrong April D.
Published: December 2015

The evolution of failure of bone and cement leading to loosening of glenoid components following shoulder arthroplasty is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to identify and visualize potential mechanisms of mechanical failure within cadavers, cemented with two types of components, and subject to cyclic loading. Five glenoid cadaver bones were implanted with either a three‐pegged polyethylene component, or prototype posteriorly augmented component which addresses posterior bone loss. Specimens were loaded by constant glenohumeral compression combined with cyclic anterior–posterior displacement of the humeral head relative to the glenoid. At six time points across 100,000 cycles, implant loosening micromotions were optically measured, and specimens were imaged by micro‐computed tomography. Scans were 3D registered and inspected for crack initiation and progression, and micro‐CT based time‐lapse movies were created. Cement cracking initiated at stress concentrations and progressed with additional cyclic loading. Failure planes within trabecular bone and the bone–cement interface were identified in four of the five specimens. Implant subsidence increased to greater than 1.0 mm in two specimens. Cemented glenoid structural failure can occur within the cement, along planes of trabecular bone, or at the bone cement interface. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1053–1060, 2016.
Design considerations for SERS detection in colloidal solution: reduce spectral intensity fluctuation
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Yuan Yufeng , Wang Changping , Zhou Zhengjie , Li Li , Zhang Sanjun , Xu Jianhua
Published: December 2015

The intensity fluctuation of surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has seriously hampered its practical applications. The previous studies that involved SERS intensity fluctuation mostly focus on the assembled substrates or single molecule and single nanoparticle but have few attention on colloidal solutions containing numerous molecules and/or nanoparticles. Here, we studied the time‐elapsed SERS spectra of three different analytes in colloidal solution. Their peak intensities fluctuated simultaneously and uniformly throughout the acquisition process and had no correlation with their wavenumber wandering. Gravity‐induced inhomogeneous distributions of Ag nanocubes in solution led to the spatial and temporal variations of peak intensities, which could be reduced by altering the integration time, particle concentration, and solvent viscosity and density. Furthermore, the dissimilar interactions between analytes and Ag nanocubes showed non‐detectable influence over their intensity fluctuations. This investigation gives out the significant guidance for SERS detection in colloidal solution. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stage II differentiated thyroid cancer: A mixed bag
Authors: Pathak Kumar Alok , Klonisch Thomas C. , Nason Richard W.
Published: December 2015

Background and Objectives

AJCC‐TNM Stage II well‐differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) comprises T2N0M0 tumors in patients ≥45 years of age or metastatic WDTC in patients younger than 45 years. The objectives of this study were to assess the oncological outcome of stage II WDTC and to compare the oncological outcome of metastatic WDTC in patient younger (stage II) and older (stage IVC) than 45 years.

Methods

This study involved review of clinical presentation and oncological outcome of population cohort of 2,128 consecutive WDTC, diagnosed during 1970–2010 that includes 215 Stage II WDTC and 61 metastatic WDTC. Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess independent impact of prognostic factors on disease‐specific survival (DSS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) as calculated by Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

Metastatic and non‐metastatic stage II WDTC had a 15‐year DSS of 41.7% and 96.7%, respectively (P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed a 52 times higher risk of death in metastatic stage II WDTC and the DSS of metastatic stage II WDTC was not statistically different from that of stage IVC WDTC.

Conclusion

Metastatic stage II WDTC is very different from non‐metastatic stage II WDTC with oncological outcome similar to stage IVC WDTC. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;113:94–97. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The role of preoperative breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for surgical decision in patients with triple‐negative breast cancer
Authors: Lee Jeeyeon , Jung Jin Hyang , Kim Wan Wook , Hwang Seung Ook , Kim Hye Jung , Park Ji Young , Chae Yee Soo , Yang Jung Dug , Park Ho Yong
Published: December 2015

Background

Several reliable randomized studies do not recommend routine preoperative breast MR imaging for patients with breast cancer. However, because the principle of MR imaging is based on the dynamics of contrast enhancement, a specific biologic subgroup of tumors should sensitively respond to the imaging process.

Methods

From 2008 to 2013, 918 eligible patients with breast cancer underwent breast surgery and were divided into two groups based on preoperative breast MR findings: patients in whom the surgical plan was changed and those in whom the surgical plan remained unchanged. We investigated the changing patterns of breast surgery based on routine mammography, ultrasound, and preoperative breast magnetic resonance (MR) findings and analyzed the association between additional suspicious lesions on breast MR imaging and clinicopathologic factors.

Results

Additional suspicious breast lesions were detected on preoperative MR imaging in 104 cases (11.3%), and the surgical strategy was changed as the final decision in 97 cases (10.6%). There was no difference between oncologic results between two groups. However, the triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) was significantly associated with changing of the surgical strategy based on breast MR findings (P = 0.048).

Conclusions

Additional preoperative breast MR imaging may be helpful in surgical decision for patients with TNBC. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;113:12–16. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fluorescent Unimolecular Conjugated Polymeric Micelles for Biological Applications
Authors: Qiu Feng , Huang Yu , Zhu Xinyuan
Published: December 2015

Over the past decades, fluorescent conjugated polymers with unique optical properties have been well developed and widely applied in biological science. However, the emission of conjugated polymers is weakened dramatically in an aggregate state due to the strong intermolecular interaction from hydrophobic conjugated segments. Recently, the unimolecular conjugated polymeric micelles (UCPMs), consisting of hydrophobic conjugated polymer core and flexible hydrophilic polymer shell, have become one of effective ways to solve the fluorescence quenching in aqueous medium. In this progress report, the typical fabrication methods, self‐assembly characteristics, and optical properties of UCPMs are summarized and then their current advances in various biomedical fields, including living cell imaging, drug release monitoring, target protein labeling, gene transfection, bacterial detection, and DNA sensors, are discussed.

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Identification of regions within the Legionella pneumophila VipA effector protein involved in actin binding and polymerization and in interference with eukaryotic organelle trafficking
Authors: Bugalhão Joana N. , Mota Luís Jaime , Franco Irina S.
Published: December 2015

The Legionella pneumophila effector protein VipA is an actin nucleator that co‐localizes with actin filaments and early endosomes in infected macrophages and which interferes with organelle trafficking when expressed in yeast. To identify the regions of VipA involved in its subcellular localization and functions, we ectopically expressed specific VipA mutant proteins in eukaryotic cells. This indicated that the characteristic punctate distribution of VipA depends on its NH2‐terminal (amino acid residues 1–133) and central coiled‐coil (amino acid residues 133–206) regions, and suggested a role for the COOH‐terminal (amino acid residues 206–339) region in association with actin filaments and for the NH2‐terminal in co‐localization with early endosomes. Co‐immunoprecipitation and in vitro assays showed that the COOH‐terminal region of VipA is necessary and sufficient to mediate actin binding, and is essential but insufficient to induce microfilament formation. Assays in yeast revealed that the NH2 and the COOH‐terminal regions, and possibly an NPY motif within the NH2 region of VipA, are necessary for interference with organelle trafficking. Overall, this suggests that subversion of eukaryotic vesicular trafficking by VipA involves both its ability to associate with early endosomes via its NH2‐terminal region and its capacity to bind and polymerize actin through its COOH‐terminal region.
Mulberry and cherry anthocyanin consumption prevents oxidative stress and inflammation in diet‐induced obese mice
Authors: Wu Tao , Yin Jinjin , Zhang Guohua , Long Hairong , Zheng Xiaodong
Published: December 2015

Scope

This study aimed to determine whether cherry anthocyanin (CA) and mulberry anthocyanin (MA) can alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation associated with developing obesity in mice fed with high‐fat diet (HFD).

Methods and results

CA and MA were added in the daily food of mice throughout the experiment. Sixty mice were randomly divided into two groups: a low‐fat diet (LFD, n = 12) group and HFD (n = 48) group. Mice in the HFD group were supplied with a HFD for 8 wks to induce obesity. The HFD‐fed mice were then divided into four subgroups for another 8‐wk experiment. The subgroups included the control group, HFD plus Orlistat group, and HFD plus CA or MA group, with each group consisting of 12 mice. Consumption of CA and MA at 200 mg/kg food reduced bodyweight gain by 29.6 and 32.7%, respectively, in HFD‐fed C57BL/6 mice. CA and MA supplementation could effectively improve the lipid profiles, decrease serum glucose and leptin levels, reduce MDA production, increase SOD and GPX activities, and down‐regulate the expression of the TNFα, IL‐6, iNOS, and NF‐кB genes.

Conclusion

Therefore, MA and CA can potentially alter bodyweight by alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation in diet‐induced obesity.
The effect of dissolved oxygen on the relaxation rates of blood plasma: Implications for hyperoxia calibrated BOLD
Authors: Ma Yuhan , Berman Avery J.L. , Pike G. Bruce
Published: December 2015

Purpose

To determine the contribution of paramagnetic dissolved oxygen in blood plasma to blood‐oxygenation‐level‐dependent (BOLD) signal changes in hyperoxic calibrated BOLD studies.

Methods

Bovine blood plasma samples were prepared with partial pressures of oxygen (pO2) ranging from 110 to 600 mmHg. R1, R2, and R2* of the plasma with dissolved oxygen were measured using quantitative MRI sequences at 3 Tesla. Simulations were performed to predict the relative effects of dissolved oxygen and deoxyhemoglobin changes in hyperoxia calibrated BOLD.

Results

The relaxivities of dissolved oxygen in plasma were found to be r1, O2 =1.97 ± 0.09 ×10‐4 s‐1mmHg‐1, r2, O2 =2.3 ± 0.7 ×10‐4 s‐1mmHg‐1, and r2, O2* = 2.3 ± 0.7 ×10‐4 s‐1mmHg‐1. Simulations predict that neither the transverse nor longitudinal relaxation rates of dissolved oxygen contribute significantly to the BOLD signal during hyperoxia.

Conclusion

During hyperoxia, the increases in R2 and R2* of blood from dissolved oxygen in plasma are considerably less than the decreases in R2 and R2* from venous deoxyhemoglobin. R1 effects due to dissolved oxygen are also predicted to be negligible. As a result, dissolved oxygen in arteries should not contribute significantly to the hyperoxic calibrated BOLD signal. Magn Reson Med 76:1905–1911, 2016. © 2015 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Effect of ammonium polyphosphate and fillers on flame retardant and mechanical properties of recycled PET injection molded
Authors: Thumsorn Supaphorn , Negoro Takanori , Thodsaratpreeyakul Wiranphat , Inoya Hiroyuki , Okoshi Masayuki , Hamada Hiroyuki
Published: December 2015

Ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and inorganic fillers were applied for improving flame retardancy and mechanical performance of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (RPET). RPET was compounded with 5–10 wt% of talc and glass bead using twin screw extruder then were injection molded with 2 wt% of APP. The effects of fillers contents and APP on properties and flame retardancy of RPET composites were investigated. The incorporation of talc and glass bead as well as the adding of APP significantly improved tensile and flexural modulus of RPET composites. Scanning electron microscope micrographs indicated good distribution of talc, while glass bead was agglomerated on the RPET matrix. Flame‐retardant property of neat RPET and the RPET composites revealed V‐2 of UL‐94 flammability rating. It can be noted that the composites were less dripping because of the synergistic effect of adding talc and glass bead with APP. From thermogravimetric analysis results, larger of residual char contents and lower values of the activation energy were considered for enhancing flame retardancy in the RPET composites. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Considerations in the Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Patients With Favorable Histology Wilms Tumor Who Present With Only Pulmonary Nodules
Authors: Green Daniel M.
Published: December 2015

More than 70% of children with stage IV, favorable histology (FH) Wilms tumor will be relapse‐free survivors 16 years after diagnosis. Successful treatment generally includes whole lung radiation therapy and doxorubicin. Such therapy is associated with adverse, long‐term effects, including impaired pulmonary function, congestive heart failure, and second malignant neoplasms, especially breast cancer. Cooperative groups have adopted a risk‐based approach to the treatment of these patients. It is important to recall the good overall prognosis for this group before recommendations for intensification are made based on preliminary data and in the absence of histological confirmation of persistent malignant disease.
Lithalsas in the Sentsa River Valley, Eastern Sayan Mountains, Southern Russia
Authors: Vasil'chuk Yurij K. , Alexeev Sergey V. , Arzhannikov Sergey G. , Alexeeva Ludmila P. , Budantseva Nadine A. , Chizhova Julia N. , Arzhannikova Anastasia V. , Vasil'chuk Alla C.
Published: December 2015

Perennial frost mounds identified as lithalsas occur in the Sentsa River valley of the Eastern Sayan Mountains, Russia. We report the first detailed study of permafrost in this region, based on analysis of the cryostructure and distribution of stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen, and ion concentrations from the ice‐rich cores of two lithalsas 3–7 m high. Their main cryostructures are reticulate and lenticular, with visible ice contents exceeding 50–60%. The vertical and lateral distribution of δ18О and δD values show a step‐by‐step mechanism of lithalsa growth: in the first stage a large lithalsa formed, and in the second stage a small lithalsa formed. The more negative isotope values of ice in the large lithalsa ice probably resulted from gradual release of isotopically depleted water from the central to peripheral part of the massif during ice segregation in water‐saturated fine‐grained lake sediments. Minor variations of isotope values suggest intensive recharge of lake‐fen and meteoric water supply during freezing and lithalsa growth. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and Degradation of Hexamethylene Triperoxide Diamine (HMTD)
Authors: Oxley Jimmie C. , Smith James L. , Porter Matthew , McLennan Lindsay , Colizza Kevin , Zeiri Yehuda , Kosloff Ronnie , Dubnikova Faina
Published: December 2015

The synthesis and decomposition of hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD) were studied. Mechanisms were proposed based on isotopic labeling and mass spectral interpretation of both condensed phase products and head‐space products. Formation of HMTD from hexamine appeared to proceed from dissociated hexamine as evident from scrambling of the 15N label when synthesis was carried out with equal molar labeled/unlabeled hexamine. Decomposition of HMTD was considered with additives and in the presence and absence of moisture. In addition to mass spectral interpretation, density functional theory (DFT) was used to calculate energy differences of transition states and the entropies of intermediates along different possible decomposition pathways. HMTD is destabilized by water and citric acid making purification following initial synthesis essential in order to avoid unanticipated violent reaction.
Role of Sb dopant in Ag:GeSx‐based conducting bridge random access memories
Authors: d'Acapito F. , Souchier E. , Noé P. , Blaise P. , Bernard M. , Jousseaume V.
Published: December 2015

The local structure around Sb dopants in the electrolyte of conducting bridge random access memories with Ag:GeSx composition has been investigated by grazing incidence X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (GIXAS). Sb is shown to be strongly bound to the matrix via bonds to S ions and a well‐defined second coordination shell. The GIXAS analysis on Ag revealed an increased amount of metallic Ag in samples containing Sb. These data explain the improved behaviour, in terms of data retention, of this class of materials upon Sb addition.
Conversion Reaction‐Based Oxide Nanomaterials for Lithium Ion Battery Anodes
Authors: Yu Seung‐Ho , Lee Soo Hong , Lee Dong Jun , Sung Yung‐Eun , Hyeon Taeghwan
Published: December 2015

Developing high‐energy‐density electrodes for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) is of primary importance to meet the challenges in electronics and automobile industries in the near future. Conversion reaction‐based transition metal oxides are attractive candidates for LIB anodes because of their high theoretical capacities. This review summarizes recent advances on the development of nanostructured transition metal oxides for use in lithium ion battery anodes based on conversion reactions. The oxide materials covered in this review include oxides of iron, manganese, cobalt, copper, nickel, molybdenum, zinc, ruthenium, chromium, and tungsten, and mixed metal oxides. Various kinds of nanostructured materials including nanowires, nanosheets, hollow structures, porous structures, and oxide/carbon nanocomposites are discussed in terms of their LIB anode applications.
Parallel Markov chain Monte Carlo for non‐Gaussian posterior distributions
Authors: Miroshnikov Alexey , Wei Zheng , Conlon Erin Marie
Published: December 2015

Recent developments in big data and analytics research have produced an abundance of large data sets that are too big to be analysed in their entirety, because of limits on computer memory or storage capacity. To address these issues, communication‐free parallel Markov chain Monte Carlo methods have been developed for Bayesian analysis of big data. These methods partition data into manageable subsets, perform independent Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis on each subset and combine the subset posterior samples to estimate the full data posterior. Current approaches to combining subset posterior samples include sample averaging, weighted averaging and kernel smoothing techniques. Although these methods work well for Gaussian posteriors, they are not well suited to non‐Gaussian posterior distributions. Here, we develop a new direct density product method for combining subset marginal posterior samples to estimate full data marginal posteriors. Using commonly implemented distance metrics, we show in simulation studies of Bayesian models with non‐Gaussian posteriors that our method outperforms the existing methods in approximating the full data marginal posteriors. Because our method estimates only marginal densities, there is no limitation on the number of model parameters analysed. Our procedure is suitable for Bayesian models with unknown parameters with fixed dimension in continuous parameter spaces. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Landslide hydrology: from hydrology to pore pressure
Authors: Bogaard Thom A. , Greco Roberto
Published: December 2015

Rainfall‐triggered landslides are among the most widespread hazards in the world. The hydrology in and around a landslide area is key to pore pressure buildup in the soil skeleton which reduces shear strength due to the buoyancy force exerted by water in a saturated soil and to soil suction in an unsaturated soil. Extraordinary precipitation events trigger most of the landslides, but, at the same time, the vast majority of slopes do not fail. The intriguing question is: ‘When and where exactly can a slope become triggered to slide and flow downwards?’ The objective of this article is to present and discuss landslide hydrology at three scales—pore, hillslope, and catchment—which, taken together, give an overview of this interdisciplinary science. We argue that ‘filling, storing, and draining’ of water are all equally relevant to understand and to quantify landslide behavior. Furthermore, by addressing landslide hydrology from both earth sciences and soil mechanics perspectives, we aim to manifest the hydrological processes in hillslopes and their influence on behavior and triggering of landslides and vice versa. The challenge of landslide hydrological research is matching, at hillslope scale, causal hydrological processes with detailed physics of triggering mechanisms. At the same time, mass movements initiate changes in the hydraulic character of the soil which are important for better understanding short‐ and long‐term hydrogeomorphic responses of soil and hillslope. Interdisciplinarity is key in advancing our knowledge on water flows in (un)stable slopes. WIREs Water 2016, 3:439–459. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1126

This article is categorized under:

Science of Water > Hydrological Processes
Integrierte Stadtentwicklung und die Gestaltung nachhaltiger Mobilität – Zum Stand der Planungspraxis am Beispiel der Stadt Leipzig
Authors: Blechschmidt M.A. Andreas , Lanzendorf Martin , Wilde Mathias
Published: December 2015

Many cities in Germany are currently facing complex economic, ecological and social problems that cannot be resolved with traditional, departmentalized planning concepts. Integrated urban development concepts are therefore in high demand. However, the planning approaches associated with such integrated concepts hardly provide immediately applicable strategies. In this context, the paper discusses approaches for sustainable-mobility oriented urban development, using the German city of Leipzig as an example. Building on previous findings, the paper presents infrastructure-based concepts for advancing inner-city living, strengthening urban centres and promoting local mass transit. In addition, political, organizational and communicative courses of action will be demonstrated. Those measures include steps for improving the wider basic planning framework, concepts for strengthening inter- and intra-communal cooperation as well as integrated urban mobility concepts. The example of Leipzig shows clearly that infrastructure-based approaches are insufficient for sustainable-mobility oriented urban development. Rather, urban and transit planning needs to be much more attuned to the needs of the general public. This includes the integration of measures for mobility management with urban transit concepts. Finally, a political and legal framework focusing on sustainability goals, and a stronger consideration of regional links in urban planning are necessary for a more effective transformation of integrated urban development concepts.
Evaluating damage in optical elements using an amplified spontaneous emission beam
Authors: Zhou Qiong , Wang Jiangfeng , Guo Yajing , Liu Dean , Zhu Jianqiang
Published: December 2015

A method to evaluate damage in optical elements with the near field of an amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) beam has been developed. Local peak intensities are generally distributed randomly in the near field of a laser beam. The partial coherence of the ASE source results in a very smooth beam profile. The coherence time of ASE is much less than the pulse width. Small-scale intensity modulations can be smoothed out rapidly within the time of a pulse width. In the experiments, ASE is generated from a multifunctional high-performance Nd:glass system, with a pulse duration of 3 ns, a spectral width (full width at half maximum, FWHM) of 1 nm and an adjustable energy range from 1 to 10 J. The damage thresholds of samples induced by ASE are two to three times higher than those induced by a laser with the same size of test spot. Furthermore, the ASE beam has great potential for the detection of defects over a large area and the conditioning of optical elements.
Particle dispersion by nonlinearly damped random waves
Authors: Bühler Oliver , Guo Yuan
Published: December 2015

We present a theoretical study of the dispersion of particles along quasi-horizontal stratification surfaces induced by small-amplitude internal gravity waves that are forced by white noise and dissipated by linear or nonlinear damping. This extends previous studies in which only linear damping was considered. The damping itself is a toy model for the nonlinear processes that would attenuate a wave mode in a broad spectrum of internal waves such as the Garrett–Munk spectrum for ocean internal waves. We compute the velocity covariance using an eigenfunction expansion of the Kolmogorov backward equation and investigate how the degree of nonlinearity affects the scaling of diffusivity with wave amplitude. We find a simple new expression for the diffusivity that is valid in both the linear and nonlinear cases, and we consider the likely quantitative importance of these process in the context of data from field experiments on small-scale ocean tracer dispersion.
Craft Beer in the United States: History, Numbers, and Geography
Authors: Elzinga Kenneth G. , Tremblay Carol Horton , Tremblay Victor J.
Published: December 2015

We provide a mini-history of the craft beer segment of the U.S. brewing industry with particular emphasis on producer-entrepreneurs but also other pioneers involved in the promotion and marketing of craft beer who made contributions to brewing it. In contrast to the more commodity-like lager beer produced by the macrobrewers in the United States, the output of the craft segment more closely resembles the product differentiation and fragmentation in the wine industry. We develop a database that tracks the rise of craft brewing using various statistical measures of output, number of producers, concentration within the segment, and compares output with that of the macro and import segment of the industry. Integrating our database into Geographic Information Systems software enables us to map the spread of the craft beer segment from its taproot in San Francisco across the United States. Finally, we use regression analysis to explore variables influencing the entrants and craft beer production at the state level from 1980 to 2012. We use Tobit estimation for production and negative binomial estimation for the number of brewers. We also analyze whether strategic effects (e.g., locating near competing beer producers) explain the location choices of craft beer producers. (JEL Classifications: L26, L66, N82, R12)
The Veldwezelt site (province of Limburg, Belgium): environmental and stratigraphical interpretations
Authors: Meijs E.P.M.
Published: December 2015

Uphill and drainage line environments reveal many hiatuses or discordances, because of truncation by erosion. In downslope position accumulation often prevailed outside the drainage lines and prevented erosion, even during unstable periods. Consequently, downslope sections yield the most detailed environmental data, but often lack contact with uphill series. However, for stratigraphical correlation the contact between downslope and uphill series is essential. In the Veldwezelt loess sequence this contact is intact, which provides additional data on transitional processes. In view of these special palaeoenvironmental conditions, exhibiting a transition between downslope and uphill areas and a south-east trending stream, an extraordinarily detailed Late Saalian, Eemian and Weichselian loess sequence could be reconstructed. The Veldwezelt series furnished important pedological, sedimentological, faunal, tephrochronological and cryogenic data, on the basis of which palaeoenvironmental conclusions could be drawn and six types of pedo-sedimentological cycles distinguished. A stratigraphical overview was obtained by correlating the Veldwezelt section with other west European loess frameworks and tephra sequences; the sedimentary series at Harmignies (Mons Basin, southern Belgium) and the Greenland GRIP ice core.
Risk Perceptions and Management Responses: Producer-Generated Hypotheses For Risk Modeling
Authors: Patrick George R. , Wilson Paul N. , Barry Peter J. , Boggess William G. , Young Douglas L.
Published: December 2015

Farm level risk analyses have used price and yield variability almost exclusively to represent risk. Results from a survey of 149 agricultural producers in 12 states indicate that producers consider a broader range of sources of variability in their operations. Significant differences exist among categories with respect to the importance of the sources of variability in crop and livestock production. Producers also used a variety of management responses to variability. There were significant difference among categories in the importance given to particular responses and their use of them. These results have implications for research, extension, and policy programs.
Learning and control with chaos: From biology to robotics
Authors: Quoy Mathias , Banquet Jean-Paul , Daucé Emmanuel
Published: December 2015

After critical appraisal of mathematical and biological characteristics of the model, we discuss how a classical hippocampal neural network expresses functions similar to those of the chaotic model, and then present an alternative stimulus-driven chaotic random recurrent neural network (RRNN) that learns patterns as well as sequences, and controls the navigation of a mobile robot.
Plan G – A ‘Counterblast’? British Policy towards the Messina Countries, 1956
Authors: Schaad Martin
Published: December 2015

As the new Labour government has declared its intention to enhance Britain's role in Europe, there is renewed interest in the chequered history of Anglo-European relations. Of particular relevance in view of the present policy reappraisal is the period between 1955 and 1963, as the challenge here is to account for perhaps the most fundamental policy reversal: from Britain's refusal to take part in the common market project launched by the six member countries of the European Coal and Steel Community(ECSC) at the Messina conference to Prime Minister Harold Macmillan's effort to negotiate entry into the European Economic Community (EEC). Given that this latter effort proved unsuccessful, it is said by some that the earlier date represents the British failure to seize the opportunity to be part of the European project. The catchphrase‘missing the boat at Messina’ – though not undisputed – is most illustrative of this view.
Hedonic Estimation Applied to the Farmland Market in Georgia
Authors: Elad R.L. , Clifton I.D. , Epperson J.E.
Published: December 2015

Farmland offered for its productive or consumptive value may be viewed as a class of goods characteristic of product differentiation. Using the generalized Box-Cox transformation, an unrestricted hedonic model was employed to derive implicit valuations of parcel attributes. Results suggest that the significance and level of importance of attributes on land pricing depends on the spatial extent of markets in Georgia. Differences in the productive or consumptive use of farmland may imply that different factors and functional forms are appropriate to different farmland markets.
Neurorobiology and Evidence-Based Biological Treatments for Substance Abuse Disorders
Authors: Ivanov Iliyan S. , Schuiz Kurt P. , Palmero Robyn C. , Newcorn Jeffrey H.
Published: December 2015

Behavioral patterns of addiction include compulsive drug-seeking, persistent abuse of substances despite the often dire consequences on social functioning and physical health, and the high probability of relapse even after prolonged drug-free periods.The recent focus on the biological basis of addiction has provided evidence to support the hypothesis that behavioral manifestations for addiction are influenced by biological factors, and biological factors often produce behavioral changes that can further increase risk. The current understanding of the role of the dopaminergic, glutamatergic, γ-aminobutyric acidergic, and opioid receptor systems in the pathophysiology of addiction as well as the clinical implications of these systems for new and emerging treatments will be discussed. This article will also review the pharmacologic agents used in the treatment of substance abuse disorders and presents evidence-based data for their safety, efficacy, and feasibility of use in different patient populations.
Multilingual native language identification
Authors: MALMASI SHERVIN , DRAS MARK
Published: December 2015

We present the first comprehensive study of Native Language Identification (NLI) applied to text written in languages other than English, using data from six languages. NLI is the task of predicting an author’s first language using only their writings in a second language, with applications in Second Language Acquisition and forensic linguistics. Most research to date has focused on English but there is a need to apply NLI to other languages, not only to gauge its applicability but also to aid in teaching research for other emerging languages. With this goal, we identify six typologically very different sources of non-English second language data and conduct six experiments using a set of commonly used features. Our first two experiments evaluate our features and corpora, showing that the features perform well and at similar rates across languages. The third experiment compares non-native and native control data, showing that they can be discerned with 95 per cent accuracy. Our fourth experiment provides a cross-linguistic assessment of how the degree of syntactic data encoded in part-of-speech tags affects their efficiency as classification features, finding that most differences between first language groups lie in the ordering of the most basic word categories. We also tackle two questions that have not previously been addressed for NLI. Other work in NLI has shown that ensembles of classifiers over feature types work well and in our final experiment we use such an oracle classifier to derive an upper limit for classification accuracy with our feature set. We also present an analysis examining feature diversity, aiming to estimate the degree of overlap and complementarity between our chosen features employing an association measure for binary data. Finally, we conclude with a general discussion and outline directions for future work.
IDENTIFYING THE SUBSTITUTION EFFECT OF TEMPORARY AGENCY EMPLOYMENT
Authors: Jahn Elke , Weber Enzo
Published: December 2015

This paper investigates whether temporary agency employment complements or substitutes for regular employment. We use unique administrative data that provide information on the overall size of the German market for temporary agency workers for the period 1991–2010. To take into account the interaction between the two employment forms, we identify a SVAR model with correlated innovations by volatility regimes. We find that a positive shock to temporary agency employment increases overall employment, but also leads to substitution for regular jobs.
Monte Carlo Simulations for Applications in Electron Backscatter Diffraction
Authors: Winkelmann A. , Salvat-Pujol F. , Werner W.
Published: December 2015

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, August 4 – August 8, 2013.
Developing a performance framework for measuring comprehensive, community-based primary healthcare for people with HIV
Authors: Johnston Sharon , Hogel Matthew , Burchell Ann N. , Rebick Gabriel , Antoniou Tony , McLaren Meaghan , Loutfy Mona , Liddy Clare , Kendall Claire
Published: December 2015

Objectives

People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are living longer lives and like many other patients, need a health system better adapted for the management of complex chronic conditions. A key element of system transformation is measuring and reporting on system performance indicators relevant to the different stakeholders. Our objective was to produce a performance measurement framework for assessing the quality of comprehensive community-based primary healthcare for people with HIV.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were performed with HIV providers, advocates, and policy-makers to obtain input on a draft performance framework, constructed using existing HIV-specific indicators, as well as the use of performance data in improving care for people with HIV.

Results

Stakeholders were overwhelmingly supportive of the framework’s comprehensiveness. Many noted the absence of indicators addressing social determinants of health and had mixed opinions on the importance of indicators addressing access to after-hours care and the frequency of routine screening for behavioural risk factors. The draft framework was modified to reflect stakeholder input, triangulated against expert opinion and recently released HIV care guidelines, and finalized at 79 indicators. The resources and infrastructure to collect and use performance data will have to be improved for performance measurement to contribute to improving care for people with HIV.

Conclusions

This framework presents a comprehensive though not exhaustive tool to support performance measurement and improvement in the care for people with HIV. However, advances in data collection and use across the system will be needed to support performance measurement driving quality improvement.
Differential Europeanization? Explaining the impact of the early warning system on subnational parliaments in Europe
Authors: Borońska-Hryniewiecka Karolina
Published: December 2015

The inclusion of subnational parliaments into the early warning system (EWS) for subsidiarity control generates transforming dynamics in parliamentary modus operandi in European Union (EU) decentralized states. Empirical findings reveal considerable variations in the pace and scope of subnational parliamentary activity in EU policy control challenging the existing theories of territorial mobilization. Drawing from a comparative institutional analysis, this article offers a theoretical framework that permits accounting for cross-country variations in subnational parliamentary mobilization in EU affairs, under the EWS. By placing an increased focus on the domestic environment, it suggests that the two important factors which might affect the scope of parliamentary activity are (1) the relationship between the executive and legislature at the subnational level, and (2) the position of the regional executive in domestic governance arrangements.
Exercise and gut immune function: evidence of alterations in colon immune cell homeostasis and microbiome characteristics with exercise training
Authors: Cook Marc D , Allen Jacob M , Pence Brandt D , Wallig Matthew A , Gaskins H Rex , White Bryan A , Woods Jeffrey A
Published: December 2015

There is robust evidence that habitual physical activity is anti‐inflammatory and protective against developing chronic inflammatory disease. Much less is known about the effects of habitual moderate exercise in the gut, the compartment that has the greatest immunological responsibility and interactions with the intestinal microbiota. The link between the two has become evident, as recent studies have linked intestinal dysbiosis, or the disproportionate balance of beneficial to pathogenic microbes, with increased inflammatory disease susceptibility. Limited animal and human research findings imply that exercise may have a beneficial role in preventing and ameliorating such diseases by having an effect on gut immune function and, recently, microbiome characteristics. Emerging data from our laboratory show that different forms of exercise training differentially impact the severity of intestinal inflammation during an inflammatory insult (for example, ulcerative colitis) and may be jointly related to gut immune cell homeostasis and microbiota–immune interactions. The evidence we review and present will provide data in support of rigorous investigations concerning the effects of habitual exercise on gut health and disease.