bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Simulation of Optically-Induced Dielectrophoresis Using a Voltage-Transformation-Ratio Model
Authors: Hung Shih-Hsun , Huang Sheng-Chieh , Lee Gwo-Bin
Published: February 2013

Optically-induced dielectrophoresis (ODEP) has been extensively used for the manipulation and separation of cells, beads and micro-droplets in microfluidic devices. With this approach, non-uniform electric fields induced by light projected on a photoconductive layer can be used to generate attractive or repulsive forces on dielectric materials. Then, moving these light patterns can be used for the manipulation of particles in the microfluidic devices. This study reports on the results from numerical simulation of the ODEP platform using a new model based on a voltage transformation ratio, which takes the effective electrical voltage into consideration. Results showed that the numerical simulation was in reasonably agreement with experimental data for the manipulation of polystyrene beads and emulsion droplets, with a coefficient of variation less than 6.2% (n = 3). The proposed model can be applied to simulations of the ODEP force and may provide a reliable tool for estimating induced dielectrophoretic forces and electric fields, which is crucial for microfluidic applications.
A Selective Iodide Ion Sensor Electrode Based on Functionalized ZnO Nanotubes
Authors: Ibupoto Zafar , Khun Kimleang , Willander Magnus
Published: February 2013

In this research work, ZnO nanotubes were fabricated on a gold coated glass substrate through chemical etching by the aqueous chemical growth method. For the first time a nanostructure-based iodide ion selective electrode was developed. The ZnO nanotubes were functionalized with miconazole ion exchanger and the electromotive force (EMF) was measured by the potentiometric method. The iodide ion sensor exhibited a linear response over a wide range of concentrations (1 × 10−6 to 1 × 10−1 M) and excellent sensitivity of –62 ± 1 mV/decade. The detection limit of the proposed sensor was found to be 5 × 10−7 M. The effects of pH, temperature, additive, plasticizer and stabilizer on the potential response of iodide ion selective electrode were also studied. The proposed iodide ion sensor demonstrated a fast response time of less than 5 s and high selectivity against common organic and the inorganic anions. All the obtained results revealed that the iodide ion sensor based on functionalized ZnO nanotubes may be used for the detection of iodide ion in environmental water samples, pharmaceutical products and other real samples.
Occupy Education: Living and Learning Sustainability. By Tina Lynn Evans, Peter Lang Publishing, 2012; 356 Pages. Price: $39.95, ISBN 978-1-4331-1966-8
Authors: Lin Shu-Kun
Published: February 2013

Occupy Education is motivated by the sustainability crisis and energized by the drive for social justice that inspired the Occupy movement. Situated within the struggle for sustainability taking place amid looming resource shortages, climate change, economic instability, and ecological breakdown, the book is a timely contribution to community education and action. It opens a whole realm of integrated theory to educators and sustainability activists-and demonstrates how that theory can be moved into practice. Occupy Education is an excellent text for courses in sustainability studies, social philosophy, globalization, social justice, food system praxis, sustainability education, political economy, and environmental studies.
Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Botulinum Toxin Injections in Dystonia
Authors: Ramirez-Castaneda Juan , Jankovic Joseph
Published: February 2013

Local chemodenervation with botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections to relax abnormally contracting muscles has been shown to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment in a variety of movement disorders and other neurological and non-neurological disorders. Despite almost 30 years of therapeutic use, there are only few studies of patients treated with BoNT injections over long period of time. These published data clearly support the conclusion that BoNT not only provides safe and effective symptomatic relief of dystonia but also long-term benefit and possibly even favorably modifying the natural history of this disease. The adverse events associated with chronic, periodic exposure to BoNT injections are generally minor and self-limiting. With the chronic use of BoNT and an expanding list of therapeutic indications, there is a need to carefully examine the existing data on the long-term efficacy and safety of BoNT. In this review we will highlight some of the aspects of long-term effects of BoNT, including efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity.
Low-dose patterning of platinum nanoclusters on carbon nanotubes by focused-electron-beam-induced deposition as studied by TEM
Authors: Ke Xiaoxing , Bittencourt Carla , Bals Sara , Van Tendeloo Gustaaf
Published: February 2013

Focused-electron-beam-induced deposition (FEBID) is used as a direct-write approach to decorate ultrasmall Pt nanoclusters on carbon nanotubes at selected sites in a straightforward maskless manner. The as-deposited nanostructures are studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in 2D and 3D, demonstrating that the Pt nanoclusters are well-dispersed, covering the selected areas of the CNT surface completely. The ability of FEBID to graft nanoclusters on multiple sides, through an electron-transparent target within one step, is unique as a physical deposition method. Using high-resolution TEM we have shown that the CNT structure can be well preserved thanks to the low dose used in FEBID. By tuning the electron-beam parameters, the density and distribution of the nanoclusters can be controlled. The purity of as-deposited nanoclusters can be improved by low-energy electron irradiation at room temperature.
Contraception for Adolescents
Authors: Yen Sophia , Martin Susanne
Published: February 2013

CME Educational Objectives

1.

Identify and explain the four currently available methods of emergency contraception.

2.

Discuss the risk and benefits of intrauterine devices as a first-line option for contraception in adolescents.

3.

Review strategies for explaining the most common contraceptive methods to an adolescent.

The US has the highest pregnancy rate of any industrialized nation, approximately twice that of Canada, four times that of France, and eight times that of Japan or Italy.
1
In recent years, the rate has declined, partially due to delayed coitarche (age of onset of vaginal sexual intercourse) but mainly due to greater use of contraception.
2
Per the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (a national survey of about 15,000 youth in schools), 33% of high school freshmen, 44% of sophomores, 53% of juniors, and 63% of seniors have had vaginal sexual intercourse. To prevent unplanned and unwanted teenage pregnancies, which have negative consequences on a teenager’s health and future, pediatricians must be able to provide birth control or at least know where to refer their patients in need.
Differentiation, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Osteoarthritis, Osteonecrosis, and Rapidly Progressive Osteoarthritis
Authors: Pivec Robert , Johnson Aaron J. , Mont Michael A.
Published: February 2013

Osteoarthritis, osteonecrosis, and rapidly progressive osteoarthritis are hip arthropathies that result in marked pain and disability. Although these diseases share features of arthritis-like symptoms and are all treated with total hip arthroplasty, they are separate diseases with distinct epidemiologic, radiographic, and histopathologic findings. In this article, the authors present clinical tips and techniques that will aid the surgeon in diagnosing and treating these different entities.
Effect of Gravity on Movement and Muscle Characteristics for Daily Occupational Performance in Sitting and Side-Lying Positions in Adults
Authors: Maitra Kinsuk , Park Hae Yean
Published: February 2013

The purpose of this study was to compare differences in the activation of biceps and triceps, if any, in patients with stroke in a simple reaching and grasping task under two body orientations, one performed under constant gravity and the other against gravity. Twenty healthy adults from the midwestern United States were randomly assigned to either an against gravity (sitting) or a constant gravity (side-lying) body orientation in a within-subject repeated measure design. Each participant performed the task of moving a filled soda can from a fixed start and end position. The results showed that the reaching velocity was significantly lower ( p < .0001) and muscle activations of biceps and triceps as measured by surface electromyography were significantly less pronounced ( p < .00001) in the side-lying position compared to the sitting position. The data suggest that the muscle activation patterns differ under different biomechanical constraints created by different gravity situations. Thus, the same functional task done in different body orientations may not necessarily fully recruit the same muscle groups in all orientations.
Changes in the phospholipid fraction of intramuscular fat from pork loin (fresh and marinated) with different irradiation and packaging during storage
Authors: García-Márquez I. , Narváez-Rivas M. , Gallardo E. , Cabeza C. M. , León-Camacho M.
Published: February 2013

A study on the effect of E-beam (1 and 2 kGy) on the phospholipid classes of fresh and marinated pork loin stored at 4 °C and 8 °C under different atmospheres (air, vacuum and carbon dioxide enriched atmospheres) has been conducted. This is the first time that a study of this kind has been carried out on these types of samples. The combined statistical treatment of the distinct variables shows that minor changes (cardiolpin and sphingomyelin between both types of loin, cardiolipin vs storage temperatures and phosphatidylethanolamine vs the modified atmospheres) are produced in the individual phospholipids subjected to the different selected conditions. The more relevant result was that no effect of the irradiation doses on the phospholipids classes was found, so the E-beam can be considered a useful tool to extend the shelf-life of fresh meat without changes in the phospholipid fraction.
White Bean seeds and Pomegranate peel and fruit seeds as hypercholesterolemic and hypolipidemic agents in albino rats
Authors: Abdel-Rahim E. A. , El-Beltagi H. S. , Romela R. M.
Published: February 2013

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of soaked white bean seeds, pomegranate seeds and dried peels and their mixtures on the lipid profiles of rats suffering from hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia. The chemical compositions of dried soaked beans and pomegranate (seeds and peels) were determined on dry matter which amounted to good values for proteins, lipids, crude fiber and phenols. Also, the phenol contents of pomegranate seeds and peels showed 16 compounds varying in amount between them. It was noticed that catechin and phenol are the dominating compounds. The obtained results showed a good hypolipidemic ability for soaked bean seeds and pomegranate (seeds, peels and their mixtures) as well as their mixtures. A bean seeds diet produced a general improvement in the clinical status of blood lipid profile (total lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c and VLDL-c), liver function (ALT, AST and bilirubin), kidneys function (uric acid, urea and creatinine), blood lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) by which hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia were reduced. The mixed diet had the best influence concerning biological studies than the other treatments which used bean seeds and pomegranate (seeds and peels) alone.
MEDIA COMPOSITION INFLUENCES GREEN ROOF PLANT VIABILITY IN THE OZARK HIGHLANDS
Authors: Toland D. C. , West C. P. , Boyer M. E.
Published: February 2013

Plant selection and establishment are critical components for green roof health and success. Plant palettes (sets of plant species selected for specific conditions) for green roofs vary in their ability to confer benefits depending on the species make-up and their adaptation to particular environments and climates. The response of various species to climatic factors on rooftops is unknown for the Ozark Highlands region. The objective of this study was to compare plant survival and spread in three growing medium treatments (course and fine texture with compost and fine texture with no compost) installed as part of a green roof system. The study was performed on a green roof system at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville over 3 years. Data were collected on 13 species installed in September of 2006 and surveyed on three dates thereafter: April 30, 2007; May 19, 2009; September 10, 2009. The treatments with added compost had statistically greater vegetated cover (from 73 to 87%) compared to the fine medium without compost (36 to 43%). In most cases the spread of individual plants was not significantly different between treatments. Results indicated that rooting medium containing compost increased survival and overall vegetated roof coverage, and identified various potential green roof plant species for the Ozark Highland environment. Two species, Sedum middendorffianum var. diffusum and Sedum spurium ‘Roseum’, did particularly well in all treatments. One species, Sedum kamtschaticum, did well only in the treatments with compost.
POST-OCCUPANCY EVALUATION OF EMPLOYEES' WORK PERFORMANCE AND SATISFACTION AS RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE DESIGN CRITERIA AND WORKSTATION TYPE
Authors: Guerin Denise A. , Brigham Jonee Kulman , Kim Hye-Young , Choi SeonMi , Scott Angelita
Published: February 2013

This case study investigated employees' work performance and satisfaction in relation to sustainable design criteria used to design the interior of their office building. The case study is part of ongoing research to continue testing a questionnaire for validity and reliability, which will contribute to the development of sustainable design/occupant scales relating to satisfaction and performance. A self-administered, Internet-based questionnaire was developed that reflects a set of recognized sustainable design guidelines. It was submitted to over 200 employees of a business housed in a newly built office building in a mid-western city. Generally positive results were found for employees' satisfaction with the new facility (site, building, and interior) and their performance as related to sustainable design criteria in the new facility. Dissatisfaction with acoustic and privacy conditions were found for employees of open-office workstation types (cubicles). Exploration of prior workstation types showed that moving from private offices to cubicles decreased employees' satisfaction with new cubicles compared to moving from cubicles in a prior building to cubicles in the new building, though dissatisfaction with these two criteria was found despite prior workstation type. These findings concur with other sustainable design studies and demonstrate that the questionnaire can be used by sustainable designers to document and explore design outcomes.
Physical and biological controls on larval dispersal and connectivity in a highly energetic shelf sea
Authors: Robins Peter E. , Neill Simon P. , Giménez Luis , Jenkins Stuart R. , Malham Shelagh K.
Published: February 2013

Connectivity within marine species plays a fundamental role in population dynamics, genetic diversity, spread of disease, and resilience to human exploitation. However, for shellfish species that are sessile as adults, the larval‐dispersal stage remains largely unresolved. Appreciation of larval connectivity is therefore crucial to population genetics and marine management. We describe a coupled three‐dimensional hydrodynamic and Lagrangian particle tracking model used to simulate larval transport and show how temporal and spatial hydrodynamic changes, together with larval behavior, are likely to affect dispersal. A case study of Irish Sea (United Kingdom) shellfish populations incorporates a wide range of hydrodynamic environments that are prevalent in other marine systems around the world. Our simulations tested two main processes that control larval dispersal: hydrodynamics and vertical migration. Simulated larval cohorts were released from estuaries and soft sediment locations in regions that were oceanographically distinct. Larvae originating from exposed areas could migrate offshore (low retention and high connectivity) and disperse farther than larvae that remained in flood‐dominant estuaries, which promote retention. Simulated self‐recruitment and connectivity with neighboring populations (∼ 50 km apart) were generally high, although well‐developed mesoscale residual currents were important, controlling dispersal pathways offshore. Vertical migration strategies, synchronized either with the tide (tidal stream transport) or with the Earth's rotation (diel transport), enabled more larvae to remain close to the coast, and simulations indicated higher retention than for passive larvae. However, the probability of connectivity with other populations and potential survivorship was greater for tidal strategies than for passive (although passive transport populated more distinct areas albeit in smaller proportions, as more larvae remained stranded offshore), or diel, where larvae remained close to their release location.
Ultrafine sea spray aerosol over the south eastern Pacific: open-ocean contributions to marine boundary layer CCN
Authors: Blot R. , Clarke A. D. , Freitag S. , Kapustin V. , Howell S. G. , Jensen J. B. , Shank L. M. , McNaughton C. S. , Brekhovskikh V.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. Accurate measurements of natural aerosol emissions over the ocean are needed to estimate the anthropogenic impact on the environment. In this study, we measured Sea Spray Aerosol (SSA) concentrations with diameters larger than 0.040 μm produced by open-ocean breaking waves over the SEP (South Eastern Pacific). Robust statistics were established through repeated airborne flights over 1000 km along 20° S from the coastline of Chile to 85° W during VOCALS-Rex (VAMOS Ocean-Cloud-Atmosphere-Land-Study Regional Experiment). Non-volatile SSA number concentrations were inferred using a thermally resolved technique constrained for clean conditions with Ångström exponent below 0.5, Black Carbon (BC) mass concentration at values lower than 15 ng m−3 and Organic aerosols (Org) concentration less than 0.02 μg m−3. We found that number concentrations of SSA active as CCN for a supersaturation of 0.25% varied between 17 cm−3 and 36 cm−3 but these did not increase with the increasing mean wind speed typically observed further offshore along 20° S. Concurrent increases in mean offshore precipitation rate in excess of about 1 mm d−1 indicate scavenging of SSA by precipitation exceeds increases in production at wind speeds above about 8 m s−1. This demonstrates the critical role of precipitation as a major sink of SSA over the remote ocean. Finally, we found that under clean conditions and for estimated stratus supersaturations between 0.20% and 0.43%, SSA represented about 20% of the total ambient CCN along 20° S.
ACE-FTS observations of acetonitrile in the lower stratosphere
Authors: Harrison J. J. , Bernath P. F.
Published: February 2013

Abstract. This work reports the first infrared satellite remote-sensing measurements of acetonitrile (CH3CN) in the Earth's atmosphere using solar occultation measurements made by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier transform spectrometer (ACE-FTS) between 2004 and 2011. The retrieval scheme uses new quantitative laboratory spectroscopic measurements of acetonitrile (Harrison and Bernath, 2012). Although individual ACE-FTS profile measurements are dominated by measurement noise, median profiles in 10° latitude bins show a steady decline in volume mixing ratio from ~150 ppt at 11.5 km to <40 ppt at 25.5–29.5 km. These new measurements agree well with the scant available air- and balloon-borne data in the lower stratosphere. An acetonitrile stratospheric lifetime of 73 ± 20 yr has been determined.
Validation of two informant-based screening instruments for personality disorders in a psychiatric outpatient population
Authors: Germans Sara , Heck Guus L.Van , Hodiamont Paul PG , Elshoff Danielle , Kondakci Habib , Kloet Jeroen , Rijnders Cees A. Th.
Published: February 2013

Purpose: The predictive validity of two informant-based screening instruments for personality disorders (PDs), the Standardized Assessment of Personality (SAP) and a short eight-item version (SAPAS-INF), were studied in 103 Dutch psychiatric outpatients, using the SCID-II as the ‘gold standard’. Methods: All patients and their informants were interviewed separately and independently by different interviewers who were unaware of the results in the other conditions. Results: According to the SCID-II, 66 patients had at least one personality disorder (PD). The SAP correctly classified 72% of all participants in the category PD present/absent. The sensitivity and specificity were 69% and 76%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 84% and 58%. The SAPAS-INF, using a cut-off score of 3, correctly classified 70%; the sensitivity and specificity were 76% and 58%, respectively. The positive and the negative predictive values were 77% and 57%. Conclusion: These results show that the informant-based SAP as well as the shorter informant-based SAPAS-INF are adequate; though rather moderate screening instruments for identifying PD. The SAP and the SAPAS-INF, however, both performed worse than the SAPAS-SR, which is based on the patient’s self-report. Therefore, it is concluded that the SAP or the SAPAS-INF can be used as a satisfactory screening instruments for the presence/absence of PD in those cases where patients themselves are unable to provide the required information.
Mass Dependence of Iron Isotope Fractionation in Fe(II)–Fe(III) Electron Exchange Equilibration
Authors: Fujii Yasuhiko , Kim Sang-Ho , Nomura Masao , Kawakami Fumiaki
Published: February 2013

A one hundred meter long ion-exchange chromatograph was used to establish rigorously the mass effects in the iron isotope fractionation in the Fe(II)-Fe(III) electron exchange equilibration.We used a highly porous, strongly basic anion exchange resin packed in glass columns. The abundance ratios of all natural iron isotopes, 54Fe, 56Fe, 57Fe, and 58Fe, in the effluent at the iron adsorption band boundary were measured with a mass spectrometer. The enrichment correlations among these isotopes were analyzed by three-isotope plots. The results clearly showed that the isotope fractionation of Fe(II)-Fe(III) is governed by the normal mass effect; the iron isotope fractionation is not proportional to the nuclear size, but proportional to the reduced mass difference of the pair of iron isotopes.
Relation between the Surface Tension and Roughness of the Intrinsic Liquid Surface
Authors: Jedlovszky Pál , Darvasd Mária , Horvai George
Published: February 2013

Previously published computer simulation data concerning the surface tension and surface roughness of various different liquid systems (i. e., binary water-methanol and water-dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) mixtures, water-poly-(ethylene-oxide) systems containing adsorbed sodium dodecyl sulphate, and room temperature ionic liquids) are re-analysed in order to find a relation between these quantities. It is found that the amplitude of the molecularly wavy liquid surface is inversely proportional to the logarithm of the surface tension while no clear correlation between the periodicity of the wavy surface and the surface tension is observed. It is also seen that the determination of the roughness parameters in a way analogous with the Langmuir formalism results in considerably more robust values than when an extra parameter is introduced in the procedure using a formula in analogy with the Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm.
Influence of the Dynamic Quantum Shielding on the Transition Bremsstrahlung Spectrum and the Gaunt Factor in Strongly Coupled Semiclassical Plasmas
Authors: Jung Young-Dae , Hong Woo-Pyo
Published: February 2013

The influence of the dynamic quantum shielding on the transition bremsstrahlung spectrum is investigated in strongly coupled semiclassical plasmas. The effective pseudopotential and the impact parameter analysis are employed to obtain the bremsstrahlung radiation cross section as a function of the de Broglie wavelength, Debye length, impact parameter, radiation photon energy, projectile energy, and thermal energy. The result shows that the dynamic screening effect enhances the transition bremsstrahlung radiation cross section. It is found that the maximum position of the transition bremsstrahlung process approaches to the center of the shielding cloud with increasing thermal energy. It is also found that the dynamic screening effect on the bremsstrahlung radiation cross section decreases with an increase of the quantum character of the semiclassical plasma. In addition, it is found that the peak radiation energy increases with an increase of the thermal energy. It is also found that the dynamic quantum screening effect enhances the bremsstrahlung Gaunt factor, especially for the soft-photon case.
The Uncertainty in Neutron Diffraction Results Caused by Solving Systems of Linear Equations to Compute the Partial Structural Features
Authors: Bakó Imre , Grósz Tamás , Bálint Szabolcs , Pálinkásc Gábor
Published: February 2013

Neutron diffraction plays an important role in structural chemistry. In order to reveal the solution structure, the partial radial distribution functions have to be determined by using isotope substitution technique yielding different diffraction pattern while the structural parameters remain unchanged. The extraction of parameters from the series of measurements thus reduces to solving a system of linear equations that is affected by experimental errors. In this article, we give an estimation of the size of this error and also directions on how to minimize this effect by properly selecting the systems to be studied.
Collaboration 2.0
Authors: Walsh Joseph J.
Published: February 2013

Teachers share success stories and ideas that stimulate thinking about the effective use of technology in K–grade 6 classrooms. This month, Walsh reports on using such components as discussion boards, blogs, wiki lessons, and other computer-generated assignments in his methods course.
Un poème de Pizarnik sous toutes ses coutures : vers une nouvelle méthode d’analyse des traductions poétiques
Authors: Stratford Madeleine
Published: February 2013

Depuis John Dryden, la plupart des typologies de traductions poétiques sont de nature prescriptive, tendent à se fonder sur une conception restrictive du genre poétique et ne renvoient souvent qu’à une facette du texte. Puisque nous considérons que la traduction du vers peut être traitée sous trois aspects différents (conceptuel, sonore et spatial), nous proposons une méthode d’analyse susceptible de donner lieu à une catégorisation plus spécifique des traductions. Ensuite, nous appliquons notre méthodologie à l’analyse de six versions anglaises du premier poème d’Árbol de Diana de l’auteure argentine Alejandra Pizarnik (1936-1972). Cette étude de cas montrera comment une analyse rigoureuse des aspects conceptuel, sonore et spatial peut aider à identifier les particularités du poème source, puis à évaluer dans quelle mesure elles ont été accueillies dans ses traductions.
Problems in Translating Culture: The Translated Titles of Fusheng Liuji1
Authors: Kwong Charles
Published: February 2013

Translating culture poses fundamental problems of perception and conception far deeper than matters of linguistic expression. This essay explores some of these problems by examiningFusheng liuji(Six Records of a Floating Life), a Chinese autobiographical text that has been translated into fourteen Asian and European languages. Even without going into the details of the rendered versions, one can notice various forms of intercultural mediation and reshaping in the translated titles and added subtitles. At one end is direct, partly helpless substitution: lexically flawless “float” cannot encompass the rich matrix of philosophical connotations and artistic resonances offuin the source culture. At the other end is active reshaping: recasting, addition and omission based on interpretive (mis)reading, including a reduction of imagistic language into abstract concept (e.g.,fubecomes “fleeting”). Through examining 17 renditions of the title ofFusheng liuji, this essay offers a case study that helps to cast light on the unavoidable factor of intercultural mediation in the translation process, with special focus on the translation of philosophical and aesthetic concepts. Some forms of mediation carry more significant effects than others, and there may be differences in verbal resources and orientations in various languages worthy of notice.
Le vécu d’adolescents toxicomanes en traitement présentant des comportements suicidaires
Authors: Ledoux Cinthia , Brunelle Natacha , Bertrand Karine
Published: February 2013

Les comportements suicidaires ne sont que peu considérés dans le traitement de la toxicomanie chez les adolescents. Les connaissances des particularités liées à leur processus de rétablissement et à leur perception des services reçus sont très limitées, mais elles sont nécessaires afin de leur offrir des services mieux adaptés à leur réalité. Cette étude vise à explorer le vécu et les perceptions quant au processus de rétablissement de jeunes qui présentent des comportements suicidaires lors de leur admission en traitement de la toxicomanie. En vue de mieux comprendre les particularités de leur expérience, un sous-objectif de l’étude est de la mettre en contraste avec celle des adolescents ne rapportant pas de tels comportements. Dans le cadre d’entretiens semi-structurés, 27 jeunes ont été rencontrés six mois après leur admission dans un centre de traitement de la toxicomanie. De ce nombre, huit jeunes ont évoqué avoir eu des comportements suicidaires au cours de leur rétablissement ou en présentaient à leur admission en traitement. Des analyses thématiques ont été réalisées. Les jeunes présentant des comportements suicidaires rapportent davantage l’influence d’une personne modèle sur leur choix de commencer un traitement ou de réduire leur consommation. Ils nomment également avoir vécu des difficultés entravant l’établissement de l’alliance thérapeutique ainsi que des difficultés à rompre les liens avec les pairs consommateurs. Les comportements suicidaires qu’ils décrivent semblent liés à des événements difficiles ou à une détresse psychologique persistante. Ces résultats mettent en évidence des pistes d’intervention afin d’orienter le traitement de la toxicomanie en fonction des besoins des adolescents qui présentent à la fois un problème de toxicomanie et des comportements suicidaires.
Differential Correlations of Digit Ratio (2D:4D) with Aggressive Dominance and Sociable Dominance Are Not Demonstrated: Commentary on van der Meij, Almela, Buunk, Dubbs, and Salvador (2012, Aggressive Behavior, 38(3), 208–212)
Authors: Voracek Martin
Published: February 2013

Van der Meij, Almela, Buunk, Dubbs, and Salvador reported that, among young men (N = 84), a putative biomarker for prenatal androgen exposure (second‐to‐fourth digit ratio; 2D:4D) correlated negatively to self‐reported aggressive dominance, but not to sociable dominance. A critical examination of this allegedly differential effect shows it to be unsupported and unlikely to be replicable. Statistical power of the sample was so low that the nominally significant correlation coefficient with aggressive dominance and the nominally not significant one with sociable dominance actually did not differ significantly from each other. Apart from these data‐analytic and statistical power issues, a number of further substantive comments are raised, including conceptual and study design issues, 2D:4D measurement and reliability issues, and biased presentation (i.e. selective citation) of prior related research evidence. More generally, it is suggested that 2D:4D research would benefit from adopting publishing standards requiring discovery and replication samples (i.e. successful replication of novel findings by the initial researchers themselves), as is now increasingly required for publishing in various fields of inconsistent, hard‐to‐replicate evidence. Aggr. Behav. 39:85–87, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Copulatory and Agonistic Behavior in Syrian Hamsters Following Social Defeat
Authors: Jeffress Elizabeth C. , Huhman Kim L.
Published: February 2013

Syrian hamsters are highly aggressive animals that reliably defend their home territory. After social defeat, however, hamsters no longer defend their home cage but instead display submissive and defensive behavior toward an intruder, a response that we have termed conditioned defeat. Plasma testosterone is significantly reduced in Syrian hamsters following repeated defeat suggesting that social defeat might also impair copulatory behavior. The present study aimed to determine whether copulatory behavior in male Syrian hamsters is suppressed following repeated social defeats and additionally whether exposure to a hormone‐primed stimulus female after social defeat reduces the behavioral response to defeat. Hamsters were paired with an aggressive opponent for one or nine defeats using a resident‐intruder model, while controls were placed into the empty cage of a resident aggressor. On the day after the last treatment, half of the hamsters were paired with a receptive female for 10 min. There were no significant differences in the copulatory behavior of defeated versus non‐defeated hamsters, and the opportunity to copulate had no effect on subsequent conditioned defeat testing, as defeated animals displayed significantly more submissive behavior than did non‐defeated animals. The current data suggest that conditioned defeat is not necessarily a maladaptive response to social stress, at least in terms of reproductive behavior, but may instead represent a viable behavioral strategy adopted by losing animals following social defeat. Further, these data indicate that conditioned defeat is relatively persistent and stable, as the opportunity to copulate does not reduce the subsequent display of submissive behavior. Aggr. Behav. 39 :239‐245, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Suprarmolecular hydrogels based on low‐molecular‐weight poly(ethylene glycol) and α‐cyclodextrin
Authors: Guo Cheng‐Gong , Wang Liang , Li Ya‐Kun , Wang Cai‐Qi
Published: February 2013

In previous studies, crystalline precipitates, not stable hydrogels, were obtained when low‐molecular‐weight (MW) poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG; weight‐average MW = 400–5000) was used to interact with α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CD). In this study, the gelation ability of low‐MW PEG (number‐average MW = 2000, PEG‐2000) and α‐CD was systematically investigated through the variation in the concentration of PEG‐2000 in water (CPEG‐2000) and the feeding molar ratio of the PEG repeat unit to α‐CD (R). The results show that a stable supramolecular hydrogel could be constructed when CPEG‐2000 was kept at 40 mg/mL and R was 6.3. The inclusion complexation between α‐CD and PEG‐2000 and the effect of CPEG‐2000 and R on the stability of the hydrogels were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and rheology measurements. The resulting PEG‐2000‐based hydrogels retained the basic characteristics of supramolecular physical hydrogels, especially the property of shear thinning. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Characterization of soda hardwood lignin and the formation of lignin fibers by melt spinning
Authors: Awal Abdul , Sain Mohini
Published: February 2013

Lignin fibers were developed from a commercial available soda hardwood lignin (SHL) with a melt‐spinning approach. SHL showed spinnability to form the fine fibers when poly(ethylene oxide) was used as a plasticizer with lignin. The thermal properties of lignin provided valuable information to assist the processing steps of the lignin fiber formation. The guaiacyl/syringyl ratio in SHL was determined by 31P‐NMR because it had great influence on the thermal mobility of lignin. A suitable temperature profile for the melt spinning was predicted through rheological studies of lignin. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Influence of silica addition on the properties of epoxidised natural rubber/polyvinyl chloride composite membrane
Authors: Jon Nazwa , Samad Norfarhana Ab. , Abdullah Nurul Amni , Abdullah Ibrahim , Othaman Rizafizah
Published: February 2013

Flexible and porous epoxidised natural rubber (ENR)/polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membranes were prepared via phase inversion technique. The pore formation on ENR/PVC membranes was initiated with the introduction of inorganic particles (silica). Two types of silica, microsilica (microcrystalline silica powder) and nanosilica [generated from Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)] were used. Effects of silica addition on the membrane structure are investigated by means of FTIR, SEM, TGA, and UTM. FTIR results showed the presence of signature peak of SiOSi at 1102 and 1088 cm−1 for ENR/PVC/SiO2 and ENR/PVC/TEOS membrane, respectively. Morphological studies showed that pores developed in ENR/PVC/TEOS membranes were more homogenous as compared to ENR/PVC/SiO2 membranes. Thermal and mechanical stability of the membranes improved with the incorporation of silica. ENR/PVC/SiO2 membrane exhibited better mechanical and thermal properties as compared to ENR/PVC/TEOS membranes. CO2 and N2 gas permeation of silica‐filled membranes increased with increasing silica content and the permeability of ENR/PVC/SiO2 membrane toward N2 and CO2 gasses was higher than ENR/PVC/TEOS membrane. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Effiziente Strahlungssimulation für ein thermisches Behaglichkeitsmodell
Authors: Stratbücker Sebastian , Park Sumee , Bolineni Sandeep Rao
Published: February 2013

Der Beitrag untersucht globale und lokale Effekte asymmetrischer kurzwelliger und langwelliger Strahlung in Gebäudemodellen mit komplexen 3D‐Geometrien. Das neu entwickelte Simulationsverfahren berechnet die thermische Last auf Personen durch nicht‐uniforme Umgebungstemperaturen und solare Strahlung in Innenräumen. Das Berechnungsverfahren nutzt dabei eine effiziente Strahlverfolgung und Sichtfaktorberechnung mittels programmierbarer Grafik‐Hardware. Dadurch werden aufwendige geometriebasierte Strahlverfolgungsalgorithmen auf Arbeitsplatzrechnern für die Praxis ermöglicht. Hierzu wird der temperaturabhängige langwellige Strahlungsaustausch berechnet, sowie die Einträge kurzwelliger diffuser und direkter Solarstrahlung. Zur Gesamtbewertung wird die in der Norm definierte langwellige Strahlungstemperatur Tumrt mit den Einträgen kurzwelliger Strahlung zu Tmrt erweitert. Zur lokalen Auswertung aller Strahlungseinträge werden virtuelle “Proben“ modelliert, wie z. B. Globe‐Thermometer, und an ausgewählten Raumpositionen in ein Gebäudemodell integriert. Für eine genauere Analyse der lokalen thermischen Randbedingungen werden detaillierte virtuelle Menschmodelle verwendet. Die Strahlungstemperaturen werden pro Flächenelement durch richtungsabhängige Größen ermittelt, da insbesondere asymmetrische Bestrahlung als Einflussfaktor auf die Behaglichkeit in Innenräumen gilt.

Efficient radiation simulation for thermal comfort. The presented work analyses the local effects of asymmetric shortwave and longwave radiation in complex 3D building models. The new simulation tool provides thermal loads caused by non‐uniform radiant temperatures and solar irradiation in indoor environments. The method implements efficient raytracing and viewfactor calculation on programmable graphic processing units. Therefor temperature based longwave radiation exchange and heat gains from direct and diffuse solar radiation are computed. Models of globe‐ thermometers are placed in selected room positions, in order to investigate local radiation impacts. Accurate analysis of local thermal conditions is enabled by detailed virtual manikin models. Radiant temperatures are evaluated by means of directional quantities, since asymmetric radiation is known to effect thermal comfort.
Numerische Simulation von Gebäudebelüftung mit einem Lattice Boltzmann‐LES‐Modell
Authors: Uphoff Sonja , Krafczyk Manfred , Martin Schönherr , Stiebler Maik , Zargari Mani
Published: February 2013

In diesem Beitrag werden Belüftungseffekte am Beispiel des EnergieForums Berlin untersucht. Um Erkenntnisse über den Einfluss fluktuierender Windfelder auf die Belüftung zu erzielen, wird die Windumströmung und Temperatur im und um das Atriumgebäude mit einer Large Eddy Simulation (LES)‐Modell zeitaufgelöst und räumlich untersucht. Dazu wird das Lattice Boltzmann‐Verfahren mit dem Multi Relaxation Time (MRT)‐Modell auf einem D3Q19‐Gitter verwendet. Das kürzlich entwickelte Eso‐Twist‐Verfahren, das nur einen einzigen Lattice Boltzmann‐Verteilungssatz benötigt, kommt zum Einsatz. Als LES‐Modell wird das Smagorinsky‐Modell verwendet. Zur Temperaturmodellierung dient das HTLB‐Verfahren. Die Simulationen werden CUDA‐basiert auf einer GeForceGTX 580 GPGPU durchgeführt. Anhand der Simulationen wird der Abfall der Tracergaskonzentration über der Zeit sowie der mittlere, durch Temperaturunterschiede und äußeren Wind induzierte Fluss bestimmt.

Numerical simulation of building ventilation with a Lattice Boltzmann LES model. In this contribution ventilation effects are studied for the EnergieForum Berlin. To estimate the influence of external wind fields on the ventilation process, wind and temperature fields are simulated with a large eddy simulation (LES) model. With this approach spatially‐and time‐resolved output is generated. The Lattice Boltzmann method is being used on a D3Q19 grid with a multiple relaxation time (MRT) model. The recently developed EsoTwist scheme, which uses only a single set of LB distributions, is employed. The Smagorinsky model serves as the LES model. To model the temperature dynamics, the HTLBE method is used. The simulations are CUDA‐based and carried out on a GeForce GTX580 GPGPU. The decay of the tracer‐gas concentration over time and the mean flow through the building generated by temperature gradients and external wind is determined.
Methodik zur Quantifizierung der Auswirkung von moderater Wärmebelastung auf die menschliche Leistungsfähigkeit
Authors: Urlaub Susanne , Werth Lioba , Steidle Anna , van Treeck Christoph , Sedlbauer Klaus
Published: February 2013

Die Umgebungstemperatur übt einen vielfältigen Einfluss auf Gesundheit, Wohlbefinden und Leistungsfähigkeit des Menschen aus. Durch die zunehmende Verlagerung von Arbeitsplätzen in Büros rückt der Bereich der moderaten Wärmebelastung, wie er beispielsweise in natürlich belüfteten Gebäuden im Sommer auftritt, in den Fokus. Hierzu ist aus der bisherigen empirischen Forschung ein Zusammenhang zwischen Raumtemperatur und Arbeitsleistung ermittelt worden, der allerdings verschiedene Nachteile für die Tauglichkeit als Planungskriterium für Gebäude aufweist. Der in der Psychologie weit verbreitete Ansatz der Meta‐Analyse kann dabei einen wertvollen Beitrag zur Lösung dieses Problems leisten. In dem Beitrag wird systematisch die Methode der Meta‐Analyse aufgezeigt und anhand einiger konkreter Beispiele das Potential für eine Integration von nutzerbasierten Verhaltensmustern in eine Gebäudesimulation dargestellt.

Methodology for the quantification of the influence of moderate heat stress on human performance. Ambient thermal conditions have fundamental impact on human health, well‐being and working performance. Due to the increasing amount of office‐related work such as in naturally ventilated buildings, the impact of moderate thermal stress to individuals becomes more and more important to be understood. Based on available empirical research, a mathematical relation has been established which, however, shows disadvantages in terms of its eligibility as building design criterion. The method of meta‐analysis, which is a well‐established method of psychological research, can contribute to solve this problem in terms of providing further insight into the mentioned relation. In this paper, the method of meta‐analysis is introduced and its potential is shown by practical illustrations, how occupant‐based data may be integrated into building simulation.
Why coelacanths are not ‘living fossils’
Authors: Casane Didier , Laurenti Patrick
Published: February 2013

A series of recent studies on extant coelacanths has emphasised the slow rate of molecular and morphological evolution in these species. These studies were based on the assumption that a coelacanth is a ‘living fossil’ that has shown little morphological change since the Devonian, and they proposed a causal link between low molecular evolutionary rate and morphological stasis. Here, we have examined the available molecular and morphological data and show that: (i) low intra‐specific molecular diversity does not imply low mutation rate, (ii) studies not showing low substitution rates in coelacanth are often neglected, (iii) the morphological stability of coelacanths is not supported by paleontological evidence. We recall that intra‐species levels of molecular diversity, inter‐species genome divergence rates and morphological divergence rates are under different constraints and they are not necessarily correlated. Finally, we emphasise that concepts such as ‘living fossil’, ‘basal lineage’, or ‘primitive extant species’ do not make sense from a tree‐thinking perspective.

Editor's suggested further reading in BioEssays Tree thinking for all biology: the problem with reading phylogenies as ladders of progress Abstract
How winner cells cause the demise of loser cells
Authors: Lolo Fidel‐Nicolás , Tintó Sergio Casas , Moreno Eduardo
Published: February 2013

Recent results show that, during the process known as cell competition, winner cells identify and kill viable cells from a growing population without requiring engulfment. The engulfment machinery is mainly required in circulating macrophages (hemocytes) after the discrimination between winners and losers is completed and the losers have been killed and extruded from the epithelium. Those new results leave us with the question as to which molecules allow winner cells to recognize and impose cell death on the loser cells during cell competition.
Biochemical characterization of an alcohol dehydrogenase from Ralstonia sp.
Authors: Kulig Justyna , Frese Amina , Kroutil Wolfgang , Pohl Martina , Rother Dörte
Published: February 2013

Stereoselective reduction towards pharmaceutically potent products with multi‐chiral centers is an ongoing hot topic, but up to now catalysts for reductions of bulky aromatic substrates are rare. The NADPH‐dependent alcohol dehydrogenase from Ralstonia sp. (RADH) is an exception as it prefers sterically demanding substrates. Recent studies with this enzyme indicated outstanding potential for the reduction of various alpha‐hydroxy ketones, but were performed with crude cell extract, which hampered its detailed characterization. We have established a procedure for the purification and storage of RADH and found a significantly stabilizing effect by addition of CaCl2. Detailed analysis of the pH‐dependent activity and stability yielded a broad pH‐optimum (pH 6–9.5) for the reduction reaction and a sharp optimum of pH 10–11.5 for the oxidation reaction. The enzyme exhibits highest stability at pH 5.5–8 and 8–15°C; nevertheless, biotransformations can also be carried out at 25°C (half‐life 80 h). Under optimized reaction parameters a thorough study of the substrate range of RADH including the reduction of different aldehydes and ketones and the oxidation of a broad range of alcohols was conducted. In contrast to most other known alcohol dehydrogenases, RADH clearly prefers aromatic and cyclic aliphatic compounds, which makes this enzyme unique for conversion of space demanding substrates. Further, reductions are catalyzed with extremely high stereoselectivity (>99% enantio‐ and diastereomeric excess). In order to identify appropriate substrate and cofactor concentrations for biotransformations, kinetic parameters were determined for NADP(H) and selected substrates. Among these, we studied the reduction of both enantiomers of 2‐hydroxypropiophenone in more detail. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 1838–1848. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.