bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teaching natural history at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
Authors: SUNDERLAND MARY E.
Published: December 2011

During its centennial celebrations in 2008, the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ) at the University of California, Berkeley paid homage to its founding director, Joseph Grinnell. Recognized as a leading scientific institution, the MVZ managed to grow throughout the twentieth century, a period often characterized by the decline of natural history. To understand how and why research flourished at the MVZ, this paper looks closely at Grinnell's undergraduate course, the Natural History of the Vertebrates (NHV). Taught by MVZ affiliates since 1914, the NHV offers an important window on Grinnell's approach and legacy. This paper argues that the NHV contributed to the MVZ's long-term success by acting as, first, a gateway to natural history; second, a vector for the MVZ's research programme; and third, a shared faculty responsibility. Grinnell's significance in the history of science is understated, in part because his writing style de-emphasized the importance of his theoretical contributions, including his development of the niche concept, his emphasis on population thinking and geographic isolation in studies of evolution, and his effort to integrate speciation questions and genetics. Studying the NHV highlights these contributions because Grinnell freely communicated his ideas to his students. An analysis of Grinnell's course material shows that his theoretical and methodological approach pre-dated the evolutionary synthesis and inspired natural-history research throughout the past century.
Tracks in the City: Technology, mobility and society in colonial Rangoon and Singapore
Authors: FRASCH TILMAN
Published: December 2011

Around the turn of the twentieth century, electric tramways made their appearance in the cities of Asia, but despite being a universal technology, and despite the considerable impact they had upon life in these cities, the history of tramways in Asia has hardly ever been studied. Trams, wherever they ran, mobilized the urban population to a degree unseen before—their track network could restructure the urban topography and re-evaluate its segments, as independent villages became suburbs and residential quarters rose or fell in status, and add to the segregation of workplaces and residential areas. The two cities of Singapore and Rangoon, which have been selected because of their comparability, provide two contrasting examples of how trams functioned and eventually failed in an Asian urban environment.
‘Race’, ‘Nation’, ‘People’: Ethnic Identity-Construction in 1 Peter 2.9
Authors: Horrell David G.
Published: December 2011

1 Peter 2.4–10 is a significant passage within the letter, rich in material from the Jewish scriptures. Verse 9 is particularly significant for the construction of Christian group-identity in that it uniquely applies three words from the vocabulary of ethnic identity to the Church: γένος, ἔθνος, and λαός, widely translated as ‘race’, ‘nation’, and ‘people’. A survey of these words in pre-Christian Jewish literature (especially the LXX), in the NT, and in other early Christian literature, reveals how crucial this text in 1 Peter is to the process by which Christian identity came to be conceived in ethnoracial terms. Drawing on modern definitions of ethnic identity, and ancient evidence concerning the fluidity of ethnic identities, it becomes clear that ‘ethnic’ and ‘racial’ identities are constructed, believed, and sustained through discourse. 1 Peter, with both aggregative and oppositional modes of ethnic reasoning, makes a crucial contribution to the construction of an ethnic form of Christian identity.
Orality, Writing, and Phantom Sources: Appeals to Ancient Media in Some Recent Challenges to the Two Document Hypothesis
Authors: Kirk Alan
Published: December 2011

In different ways and with quite different outcomes Dunn, Mournet, Baum, and Burkett invoke practices associated with orality and writing in the ancient world to call into question all or some aspects of the Two Document Hypothesis and to build rationales for alternative source hypotheses. In a criticism of their appeals to ancient media this essay works out the significance of cultural practices associated with orality, writing, and memory for further work on the synoptic problem, especially as regards the uneven patterns of variation and agreement in the tradition.
Out-foxing the red fox: how best to protect the nests of the Endangered loggerhead marine turtleCaretta carettafrom mammalian predation?
Authors: Kurz David J. , Straley Katherine M. , DeGregorio Brett A.
Published: December 2011

Recovery plans for the Endangered loggerhead marine turtleCaretta carettacite mammalian predation as a major threat, and recommend nest protection efforts, already present at many rookery beaches, to protect eggs and hatchlings. Nest protection techniques vary but wire box cages and plastic mesh screens are two common tools used to deter predation by a host of beach-foraging, opportunistic mammalian predators. We empirically tested the efficacy of wire cages and plastic mesh screens in preventing red foxVulpes vulpespredation on artificial nests. Both techniques averted fox predation (0%), whereas unprotected control nests suffered 33% predation under conditions of normal predator motivation, or a level of motivation stimulated by loggerhead turtle egg scent. However, in side-by-side comparisons under conditions of presumed high predator motivation, 25% of mesh screens were breached whereas no cage-protected nests were successfully predated. In addition to effectiveness at preventing predation, factors such as cost, ease of use, deployment time, and magnetic disturbance were evaluated. Our study suggests that the efficacy of plastic screens and the potential disadvantages associated with galvanized wire should influence selection of mechanical barriers on beaches where fox predation threatens loggerhead nests.
Community attitudes towards the reintroduction programme for the Endangered pepperbark tree Warburgia salutaris: implications for plant conservation in south-east Zimbabwe
Authors: Maroyi A.
Published: December 2011

The pepperbark tree Warburgia salutaris is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, primarily because of human-induced habitat degradation and over-collection for herbal medicine. Benefits from the reintroduction programme for the species in Tanganda Halt, on the edge of the Mutema Highlands in south-east Zimbabwe, are unequally distributed. This has influenced the attitudes of the local people towards the project and any future plant conservation initiatives. People receiving indirect benefits from the programme expressed positive attitudes towards W. salutaris for cultural, aesthetic and ecological reasons; those receiving direct benefits cited positive impacts on their household welfare. If the reintroduction programme for W. salutaris is to play a part in sustainable development in Tanganda Halt then inequalities in the distribution of benefits need to be addressed. The W. salutaris reintroduction programme is still evolving. Evaluating the attitudes of local people towards the programme provides valuable insights for development planning and for future plant conservation programmes in south-east Zimbabwe.
Comparison of alternative models for personality disorders, II: 6-, 8- and 10-year follow-up
Authors: Morey L. C. , Hopwood C. J. , Markowitz J. C. , Gunderson J. G. , Grilo C. M. , McGlashan T. H. , Shea M. T. , Yen S. , Sanislow C. A. , Ansell E. B. , Skodol A. E.
Published: December 2011

Background

Several conceptual models have been considered for the assessment of personality pathology in DSM-5. This study sought to extend our previous findings to compare the long-term predictive validity of three such models: the Five-Factor Model (FFM), the Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality (SNAP), and DSM-IV personality disorders (PDs).

Method

An inception cohort from the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorder Study (CLPS) was followed for 10 years. Baseline data were used to predict long-term outcomes, including functioning, Axis I psychopathology, and medication use.

Results

Each model was significantly valid, predicting a host of important clinical outcomes. Lower-order elements of the FFM system were not more valid than higher-order factors, and DSM-IV diagnostic categories were less valid than dimensional symptom counts. Approaches that integrate normative traits and personality pathology proved to be most predictive, as the SNAP, a system that integrates normal and pathological traits, generally showed the largest validity coefficients overall, and the DSM-IV PD syndromes and FFM traits tended to provide substantial incremental information relative to one another.

Conclusions

DSM-5 PD assessment should involve an integration of personality traits with characteristic features of PDs.
Echocardiographic evaluation of cardiac structure and function in obese Egyptian adolescents
Authors: Kamal Hanan M. , Atwa Hoda A. , Saleh Omar M. , Mohamed Faten A.
Published: December 2011

Objective

The objective of this study was to detect structural and functional changes in the left and right ventricles in obese Egyptian adolescents.

Methods and results

Anthropometric and echocardiographic parameters, including tissue Doppler imaging, were obtained from 70 obese adolescents with average body mass index of 34 plus or minus 3.8 and compared with 50 age- and sex-matched controls, with a body mass index of 21.6 plus or minus 1.9. Cardiac dimensions, stroke volume, left ventricular and right ventricular systolic and diastolic functions were evaluated. The obese group had a higher end-diastolic septal and posterior wall thickness and left ventricular mass index than the non-obese group. Body mass index, mid-arm and hip circumference values showed significant correlations with these echocardiographic variables. Systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle were normal in both groups, although stroke volume was high in the obese group. The right ventricle tissue Doppler parameters were similar in both groups. However, the S wave of the septal/lateral tricuspid valve annulus was reduced in the obese group, but not to the level reflecting systolic dysfunction. This was inversely correlated with hip, waist, and mid-arm circumference. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the mid-arm and hip circumference followed by the body mass index are significant predictors of these early cardiac abnormalities.

Conclusion

Left ventricular hypertrophy is present in obese children, although both systolic and diastolic functions are normal. Tissue Doppler imaging revealed a minor, but still significant, reduction in the right ventricular systolic function. Mid-arm and hip circumference are predictors of left ventricular hypertrophy.
Dual Task Abilities as a Possible Preclinical Marker of Alzheimer's Disease in Carriers of the E280A Presenilin-1 Mutation
Authors: MacPherson Sarah E. , Parra Mario A. , Moreno Sonia , Lopera Francisco , Della Sala Sergio
Published: December 2011

Previous dual task studies have demonstrated that patients with sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) are impaired in their ability to perform two tasks simultaneously compared with healthy controls, despite being able to successfully perform the tasks alone relatively well. Yet, it remains unclear what the earliest clinical manifestation of this dual task coordination deficit is. This study examined dual task abilities in individuals who are at risk of early-onset familial AD due to an E280A presenilin-1 mutation. Thirty-nine carriers of the gene mutation who did not meet the criteria for AD and 29 non-carrier healthy controls were asked to perform digit recall accompanied by a secondary tracking task. Individuals who were carriers of the genetic mutation demonstrated significantly higher dual task costs than healthy non-carriers. Dual task performance was found to be more sensitive to this very early stage of FAD than episodic memory measures. The findings support the notion that a deficit in the coordination mechanism of the central executive may be a pre-clinical marker for the early detection of AD due to the E280A presenilin-1 gene mutation. (JINS, 2012, 18, 234–241)
Dorsal Stream Contributions to Perceptual Asymmetries
Authors: Thomas Nicole A. , Schneider Oliver , Gutwin Carl , Elias Lorin J.
Published: December 2011

Neurologically normal individuals show a bias toward the left side of space, referred to as pseudoneglect due to its similarity to clinical hemispatial neglect. The left bias appears to be stronger in the lower visual field during free-viewing, which could result from preferential dorsal stream processing. The current experiments used modified greyscales tasks, incorporating motion and isoluminant color, to explore whether targeting dorsal or ventral stream processing influenced the strength of the left bias. It was expected that the left bias would be stronger on the motion task than on a task incorporating isoluminant color. In Study 1, similar left biases were observed during prolonged viewing for luminance, motion and red, but not green color. The unexpected finding of a leftward bias for red under prolonged viewing was replicated in Study 2. A leftward bias for motion was also evident during 150 ms viewing in Study 2. In Study 3, the left bias was not apparent when using a blue/yellow condition, suggesting the left bias for red under prolonged viewing was likely unique to red. Furthermore, the leftward bias for red disappeared under brief viewing conditions. It is suggested that dorsal stream processing likely underlies visual field differences in pseudoneglect. (JINS, 2012,18, 251–259)
Kindliche Regulation von Wut
Authors: Otterpohl Nantje , Imort Stephanie , Lohaus Arnold , Heinrichs Nina
Published: December 2011

In der vorliegenden Studie wurde ein konzeptuelles Rahmenmodell zum Einfluss familiärer Kontextfaktoren auf die kindliche Emotionsregulation (ER) am Beispiel kindlicher Wut überprüft. Dazu wurden Fragebogen- bzw. Interviewdaten von N = 135 Eltern und ihren Kindern (drei bis elf Jahre) erhoben. Pfadanalysen ergaben Zusammenhänge zwischen den spezifischen elterlichen Reaktionen auf kindliche Wut sowie dem allgemeinen Erziehungsverhalten und adaptiven bzw. maladaptiven kindlichen ER-Strategien. Der Zusammenhang zwischen der elterlichen psychischen Belastung und der kindlichen ER wurde vollständig über die spezifischen elterlichen Reaktionen auf die Wut des Kindes und das allgemeine Erziehungsverhalten mediiert. Die Effekte waren vom kindlichen Alter oder Geschlecht unabhängig. Insgesamt stützen die Ergebnisse größtenteils die Modellannahmen und verdeutlichen das Potential von Elterntrainings, den negativen Einfluss elterlicher psychischer Belastung auf die kindliche ER über das emotionsbezogene Elternverhalten zu reduzieren.
Job Resources Buffer the Impact of Work-Family Conflict on Absenteeism in Female Employees
Authors: Demerouti Evangelia , Bouwman Karin , Sanz-Vergel Ana Isabel
Published: December 2011

This study examines the relationship between work-family conflict and objective absenteeism 1 year later, by demonstrating that several job resources buffer the impact of work-family conflict on absenteeism. Female employees (N = 386) of a large financial services organization participated in the study. Four job resources (i.e., relationship with colleagues, relationship with supervisor, participation in decision-making, and developmental possibilities) were used to test the central hypothesis that the interaction between (high) work-family conflict and (low) job resources results in absenteeism (absence frequency and duration). Results of moderated structural equation modeling showed that only participation buffered the effect of work-family conflict on absence frequency, while the buffer hypothesis was confirmed for absence duration since all four two-way interactions were significant. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Applicant Reactions to Rejection
Authors: Schinkel Sonja , van Dierendonck Dirk , van Vianen Annelies , Ryan Ann Marie
Published: December 2011

While applicant reactions to selection (un)fairness have often been investigated, less is known about applicants’ attributions and reactions to specific performance feedback. This paper discusses two studies into the influence of fairness perceptions and attributional processing on well-being and organizational perceptions after rejection. In both studies, distributive fairness and attributional style interactively influenced post-rejection well-being, with optimistically attributing individuals showing higher well-being when fairness perceptions were low. In Study 2, performance feedback negatively influenced rejected individuals’ well-being, and influenced the interaction effect of fairness and attributional style. Distributive fairness positively affected post-rejection organizational perceptions. Finally, performance feedback and attributional style interactively influenced post-rejection organizational perceptions. Implications for future research and practice concerning this issue are considered.
Conceptualizations of Workplace Bullying
Authors: Escartín Jordi , Salin Denise , Rodríguez-Carballeira Álvaro
Published: December 2011

Two studies were conducted to examine the significance of gender for how employees define workplace bullying and how severe they rate different forms of bullying to be. The first study showed that female employees emphasized emotional abuse and professional discredit more than male employees in their definitions of bullying, while men emphasized abusive working conditions more than women. The second study showed that female employees rated the severity of many types of negative acts as somewhat more severe than men did. These studies question the prevailing assumption that bullying is a gender-neutral phenomenon and instead provide converging support for the notion that perceptions of bullying are gendered. The discussion addresses implications for interventions and HR practice.
The influence of spectral solar irradiance data on stratospheric heating rates during the 11 year solar cycle
Authors: Oberländer S. , Langematz U. , Matthes K. , Kunze M. , Kubin A. , Harder J. , Krivova N. A. , Solanki S. K. , Pagaran J. , Weber M.
Published: December 2011

Heating rate calculations with the FUBRad shortwave (SW) radiation parameterization have been performed to examine the effect of prescribed spectral solar fluxes from the NRLSSI, MPS and IUP data sets on SW heating rates over the 11 year solar cycle 22. The corresponding temperature response is derived from perpetual January General Circulation Model (GCM) simulations with prescribed ozone concentrations. The different solar flux input data sets induce clear differences in SW heating rates at solar minimum, with the established NRLSSI data set showing the smallest solar heating rates. The stronger SW heating in the middle and upper stratosphere in the MPS data warms the summer upper stratosphere by 2 K. Over the solar cycle, SW heating rate differences vary up to 40% between the irradiance data sets, but do not result in a significant change of the solar temperature signal. Lower solar fluxes in the newer SIM data lead to a significantly cooler stratosphere and mesosphere when compared to NRLSSI data for 2007. Changes in SW heating from 2004 to 2007 are however up to six times stronger than for the NRLSSI data.
Transdimensional inversion of receiver functions and surface wave dispersion
Authors: Bodin T. , Sambridge M. , Gallagher K. , Rawlinson N.
Published: December 2011

We present a novel method for joint inversion of receiver functions and surface wave dispersion data, using a transdimensional Bayesian formulation. This class of algorithm treats the number of model parameters (e.g. number of layers) as an unknown in the problem. The dimension of the model space is variable and a Markov chain Monte Carlo (McMC) scheme is used to provide a parsimonious solution that fully quantifies the degree of knowledge one has about seismic structure (i.e constraints on the model, resolution, and trade‐offs). The level of data noise (i.e. the covariance matrix of data errors) effectively controls the information recoverable from the data and here it naturally determines the complexity of the model (i.e. the number of model parameters). However, it is often difficult to quantify the data noise appropriately, particularly in the case of seismic waveform inversion where data errors are correlated. Here we address the issue of noise estimation using an extended Hierarchical Bayesian formulation, which allows both the variance and covariance of data noise to be treated as unknowns in the inversion. In this way it is possible to let the data infer the appropriate level of data fit. In the context of joint inversions, assessment of uncertainty for different data types becomes crucial in the evaluation of the misfit function. We show that the Hierarchical Bayes procedure is a powerful tool in this situation, because it is able to evaluate the level of information brought by different data types in the misfit, thus removing the arbitrary choice of weighting factors. After illustrating the method with synthetic tests, a real data application is shown where teleseismic receiver functions and ambient noise surface wave dispersion measurements from the WOMBAT array (South‐East Australia) are jointly inverted to provide a probabilistic 1D model of shear‐wave velocity beneath a given station.
Snow particle orientation observed by ground‐based microwave radiometry
Authors: Xie Xinxin , Löhnert Ulrich , Kneifel Stefan , Crewell Susanne
Published: December 2011

This study analyzes the effect of snow particle orientation on polarization differences (PDs) observed with a ground‐based radiometer at 150 GHz on the basis of a 1 year time series of snowfall observations. The observations performed on Mount Zugspitze (German Alps) at 2650 meters above sea level reveal that brightness temperature (TB) differences between vertical and horizontal polarizations reach up to −10 K at an elevation angle of 34.8° during snowfall. The analysis of 458 h of snowfall data shows that PDs can be explained by the occurrence of oriented snow particles and supports the potential role of polarization measurements for improved retrievals of snowfall microphysical parameters. The dependence of measured PD and TB on integrated K band radar reflectivity (at 24.1 GHz) and independently derived cloud liquid water path (LWP) has been analyzed. The higher snow water path (SWP) indicated by high values of integrated reflectivity enhances both TB and PD because of the scattering of snow particles. TBs are also found to increase during snowfall when supercooled liquid water is present. The increase of LWP enhances the TB but damps the PD resulting from oriented snow particles. To evaluate the effects of SWP and LWP on PD and TB, radiative transfer simulations assuming horizontally aligned snow oblates using a radiative transfer model have been carried out. PD and TB observations can be captured well by the model given realistic assumptions on mass size relationship and aspect ratio of the oriented snow oblates.
An aspartate residue in the external vestibule of GLYT2 (glycine transporter 2) controls cation access and transport coupling
Authors: Pérez-Siles Gonzalo , Núñez Enrique , Morreale Antonio , Jiménez Esperanza , Leo-Macías Alejandra , Pita Guillermo , Cherubino Francesca , Sangaletti Rachele , Bossi Elena , Ortíz Ángel R. , Aragón Carmen , López-Corcuera Beatriz
Published: December 2011

Synaptic glycine levels are controlled by GLYTs (glycine transporters). GLYT1 is the main regulator of synaptic glycine concentrations and catalyses Na+–Cl−–glycine co-transport with a 2:1:1 stoichiometry. In contrast, neuronal GLYT2 supplies glycine to the presynaptic terminal with a 3:1:1 stoichiometry. We subjected homology models of GLYT1 and GLYT2 to molecular dynamics simulations in the presence of Na+. Using molecular interaction potential maps and in silico mutagenesis, we identified a conserved region in the GLYT2 external vestibule likely to be involved in Na+ interactions. Replacement of Asp471 in this region reduced Na+ affinity and Na+ co-operativity of transport, an effect not produced in the homologous position (Asp295) in GLYT1. Unlike the GLYT1-Asp295 mutation, this Asp471 mutant increased sodium leakage and non-stoichiometric uncoupled ion movements through GLYT2, as determined by simultaneously measuring current and [3H]glycine accumulation. The homologous Asp471 and Asp295 positions exhibited distinct cation-sensitive external accessibility, and they were involved in Na+ and Li+-induced conformational changes. Although these two cations had opposite effects on GLYT1, they had comparable effects on accessibility in GLYT2, explaining the inhibitory and stimulatory responses to lithium exhibited by the two transporters. On the basis of these findings, we propose a role for Asp471 in controlling cation access to GLYT2 Na+ sites, ion coupling during transport and the subsequent conformational changes.
The crystal structure of human UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase reveals a latch effect that influences enzymatic activity
Authors: Yu Quan , Zheng Xiaofeng
Published: December 2011

UGPase (UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase) is highly conserved among eukaryotes. UGPase reversibly catalyses the formation of UDP-glucose and is critical in carbohydrate metabolism. Previous studies have mainly focused on the UGPases from plants, fungi and parasites, and indicate that the regulatory mechanisms responsible for the enzyme activity vary among different organisms. In the present study, the crystal structure of hUGPase (human UGPase) was determined and shown to form octamers through end-to-end and side-by-side interactions. The observed latch loop in hUGPase differs distinctly from yUGPase (yeast UGPase), which could explain why hUGPase and yUGPase possess different enzymatic activities. Mutagenesis studies showed that both dissociation of octamers and mutations of the latch loop can significantly affect the UGPase activity. Moreover, this latch effect is also evolutionarily meaningful in UGPase from different species.
Vapor-liquid-solid growth of Ge nanowhiskers enhanced by high-temperature glancing angle deposition
Authors: Suzuki Motofumi , Hamachi Kenji , Hara Hideki , Nakajima Kaoru , Kimura Kenji , Hsu Chia-Wei , Chou Li-Jen
Published: December 2011

We have demonstrated that the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth of Ge nanowhiskers is significantly enhanced by high-temperature glancing angle deposition (HT-GLAD). At the substrate temperature of 420 °C, the Ge nanowhiskers grow on the sample deposited at the deposition angle of α = 85°, whereas no long nanowhisker grows on the samples deposited at α ≤ 73°. The kinetic growth model that takes into account the directional incidence of the vapor flux agrees with the experimental results and suggests that the atoms deposited on the side surface of the nanowhiskers play an essential role in the HT-GLAD assisted VLS growth. Supplying the atoms on the side surface of the nanowhiskers is expected to accelerate the growth of the nanowhiskers in any vapor phase growth methods, such as molecular beam epitaxy and chemical vapor deposition.
Built-in field reduction in InGaN/GaN quantum dot molecules
Authors: Schulz S. , O’Reilly E. P.
Published: December 2011

We use a tight-binding model to study the electronic structure of InGaN/GaN quantum dot molecules grown along the c-axis. This analysis is carried out as a function of the barrier thickness between the two non-identical dots. Our results show that the built-in field is effectively reduced in systems of coupled nitride quantum dots, leading to an increased spatial overlap of electron and hole wave functions compared to an isolated dot. This finding is in agreement with experimental data reported in the literature and is directly related to the behavior of the built-in potential outside an isolated dot.
The Role of Government in Disaster Management: The Case of the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill Compensation
Authors: Cheong So-Min
Published: December 2011

Despite trends toward decentralized disaster management inclusive of local governments, civil organizations, and the private sector, we see centralized management and strong government involvement in the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage and the International Oil Pollution Compensation's compensation for large oil spills around the world including the Hebei Spirit oil spill in Korea. Why does the government inevitably become involved and provide a portion of the compensation when the settlement is to occur between the insured company and the affected groups and individuals? To answer this question I examine government's role in disaster management, broadly, and the role of government in disaster compensation, specifically, examining the case of the Hebei Spirit oil spill that occurred off the coast of Korea in December 2007. We witness some structural constraints as well as local-specific reasons for centralization in the Korean case. The slow progress of compensation was a major structural constraint that prompted central government involvement. Moreover, the lack of skills and knowledge on the part of affected individuals and groups regarding compensation procedures, a culture of dependence on the central government, and the negative impact of geographic proximity in the distribution of relief funds further increased the role of central government in oil spill compensation. The case of the Hebei Spirit oil spill emphasizes the advantages of a nuanced approach to disaster management—one that recognizes that decentralized management may not be feasible or successful in every aspect of the response. Further research is necessary to understand why disaster compensations including oil spill cases are more centralized than other types of disaster management.
From Discourse to Implementation: Enterprise Policy Development in Postcommunist Albania
Authors: Xheneti Mirela , Kitching John
Published: December 2011

We examine enterprise policy development in Albania, a neglected postcommunist context. Using a policy transfer approach, we explore whether the Albanian government has adopted, or adapted, enterprise policies originating elsewhere, what this has meant in practice, and how and why such processes have occurred. Enterprise policy development in Albania can be conceptualised as a process of indirect coercive transfer through transnational communication mechanisms—policy discourses, target setting, monitoring, evaluation, and ‘best practice’—that disguise the power relations in which they are embedded. The transition from adoption at the level of discourse (soft transfer) to implementation of programmes, actions, and tools (hard transfer) is shaped by knowledge, finance and legitimacy ‘deficits’, and communist-era legacies. The paper develops a deeper understanding of enterprise policy processes, their drivers, and constraints in postcommunist contexts, addressing a gap in the transition literature, by investigating these processes as complex and crowded policy spaces from design through to implementation.
Potent and selective activation of abscisic acid receptors in vivo by mutational stabilization of their agonist-bound conformation
Authors: Mosquna Assaf , Peterson Francis C. , Park Sang-Youl , Lozano-Juste Jorge , Volkman Brian F. , Cutler Sean R.
Published: December 2011

Pyrabactin resistance (PYR) 1 and its relatives belong to a family of soluble abscisic acid (ABA) receptors that inhibit type 2C protein phosphatases (PP2C) when in their agonist-stabilized conformation. Given their switch-like properties, we envisioned that mutations that stabilize their agonist-bound conformation could be used to activate signaling in vivo. To identify such mutations, we subjected PYR1 to site-saturation mutagenesis at 39 highly conserved residues that participate in ABA or PP2C contacts. All 741 possible single amino acid substitutions at these sites were tested to identify variants that increase basal PYR1-PP2C interactions, which uncovered activating mutations in 10 residues that preferentially cluster in PYR1's gate loop and C-terminal helix. The mutations cause measurable but incomplete receptor activation in vitro; however, specific triple and quadruple mutant combinations were constructed that promote an agonist-bound conformation, as measured by heteronuclear single quantum coherence NMR, and lead to full receptor activation. Moreover, these mutations retain functionality when introduced into divergent family members, and can therefore be used to dissect individual receptor function in vivo, which has been problematic because of redundancy and family size. Expression of activated PYL2 in
Arabidopsis
seeds activates ABA signaling by a number of measures: modulation of ABA-regulated gene expression, induction of hyperdormancy, and suppression of ABA deficiency phenotypes in the
aba2-1
mutant. Our results set the stage for systematic gain-of-function studies of PYR1 and related ABA receptors and reveal that, despite the large number of receptors, activation of a single receptor is sufficient to activate signaling
in planta
.
Bardet-Biedl syndrome 3 (Bbs3) knockout mouse model reveals common BBS-associated phenotypes and Bbs3 unique phenotypes
Authors: Zhang Qihong , Nishimura Darryl , Seo Seongjin , Vogel Tim , Morgan Donald A. , Searby Charles , Bugge Kevin , Stone Edwin M. , Rahmouni Kamal , Sheffield Val C.
Published: December 2011

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by obesity, retinopathy, polydactyly, and congenital anomalies. The incidence of hypertension and diabetes are also increased in BBS patients. Mutation of 16 genes independently causes BBS, and seven BBS proteins form the BBSome that promotes ciliary membrane elongation. BBS3 (ARL6), an ADP ribosylation factor-like small GTPase, is not part of the BBSome complex. The in vivo function of BBS3 is largely unknown. Here we developed a Bbs3 knockout model and demonstrate that

Bbs3
−/−

mice develop BBS-associated phenotypes, including retinal degeneration, male infertility, and increased body fat. Interestingly,

Bbs3
−/−

mice develop some unique phenotypes not seen in other BBS knockout models: no overt obesity, severe hydrocephalus, and elevated blood pressure (shared by some but not all BBS gene knockout mice). We found that endogenous BBS3 and the BBSome physically interact and depend on each other for their ciliary localization. This finding explains the phenotypic similarity between

Bbs3
−/−

mice and BBSome subunit knockout mice. Loss of Bbs3 does not affect BBSome formation but disrupts normal localization of melanin concentrating hormone receptor 1 to ciliary membranes and affects retrograde transport of Smoothened inside cilia. We also show that the endogenous BBSome and BBS3 associate with membranes and the membrane association of the BBSome and BBS3 are not interdependent. Differences between BBS mouse models suggest nonoverlapping functions to individual BBS protein.
Introduction: nature at risk.
Authors: Storey K. B. , Tanino K. K.
Published: December 2011

This introductory chapter provides an overview of the impact of global climate change on non-human life on Earth. It then discusses the huge consequences of a warming climate, be it natural and/or driven by human action. They include melting of polar ice caps, thawing of permafrost, a rise in sea level, shifting ocean currents, ocean acidification, altered weather patterns over continents (especially precipitation patterns), changes in the distribution of arable land, and changes in the habitats available for many plant and animal species including man.
On thin ice: marine mammals and climate change.
Authors: Castellini M.
Published: December 2011

This chapter discusses the impact of climate change on ice-associated marine mammal habitat; and temperature regulation in marine mammals. It is suggested that climate-induced changes on the water temperatures of the ocean will have an impact on marine mammals. The impact may not happen directly on the physiology and biochemistry of the animals themselves, but through ecosystem alterations, ice platform changes and subsequent behavioural modifications.
Climate change and plant diseases.
Authors: Gaudet D. A. , Tronsmo A. M. , Laroche A.
Published: December 2011

This chapter reviews the effects of climate change on diseases (focusing on those caused by fungi) in both natural (which include native forests, grasslands and other habitats) and managed ecosystems (that encompass agriculture, horticulture and some silviculture). It also examines the approaches and tools currently available for combating plant diseases (including the use of cultural and chemical control methods as as well as plant genetic resistance) and evaluate their future potential in mitigating losses predicted to increase as a result of climate change.
Conclusion: temperature adaptation across organisms.
Authors: Tanino K. K.
Published: December 2011

This concluding chapter summarizes the challenges and impacts of climate change on temperature adaptation from microorganisms through invertebrates to plants to mammals in terrestrial and marine environments discussed in the previous chapters of the book.
Biology, ecology and spread of the invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus in India.
Authors: Batish D. R. , Kohli R. K. , Singh H. P. , Kaur G.
Published: December 2011

This chapter covers the geographical distribution (including central Argentina, the West Indies, the Gulf of Mexico, China, Taiwan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pacific Islands, Africa, USA, Central America, Australia and India), morphology, ecological and biological traits (growth, survival, stress response and reproduction), invasiveness, allelopathic potential, environmental and agricultural impact, economic importance and management (chemical and biological control methods) of P. hysterophorus.
Ageratum conyzoides: an alien invasive weed in India.
Authors: Kaur S. , Batish D. R. , Kohli R. K. , Singh H. P.
Published: December 2011

This chapter describes the geographical distribution, spread, habitat, invasive potential, ecological impact (i.e. to soil nutrients, native vegetation and biodiversity, humans and animals), chemical composition (volatile compounds and non-volatile compounds), uses (medicinal, insecticidal, bactericidal, antifungal and herbicidal properties), and management (physical, chemical and cultural control) of A. conyzoides.
Biology of Mikania micrantha H.B.K.: a review.
Authors: Tripathi R. S. , Khan M. L. , Yadav A. S.
Published: December 2011

This chapter describes the geographical distribution (including Asia, and Central and South America), morphology, reproductive potential, growth, flowering, chemical composition, allelopathic effects, ecological impact, and management (biological and chemical methods) of M. micrantha.
Anthemis cotula L.: a highly invasive species in the Kashmir Himalaya, India.
Authors: Reshi Z. A. , Shah M. A. , Rashid I. , Rasool N.
Published: December 2011

This chapter describes A. cotula invasion in Kashmir Himalaya, India, and its effects on above- and below-ground communities. Traits associated with its invasive potential (phenotypic variability, seed germination, seedling emergence, allelopathic potential, and mycorrhizal mutualism) are also described.
Invasive alien weeds of the Western Ghats: taxonomy and distribution.
Authors: Rao R. R. , Sagar K.
Published: December 2011

This chapter describes the characteristics of invasive alien species that are associated with their invasive nature, factors influencing the introduction of invasive species, and ecological disturbance resulting from the introduction of invasive species. The taxonomy, morphology and geographical distribution of 42 invasive species in the Western Ghats region in India (i.e. classified under Amaranthaceae, Araceae, Butomaceae, Calceolariaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Convolvulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Melastomataceae, Mimosaceae, Papaveraceae, Pontederiaceae, Salviniaceae, Typhaceae and Verbenaceae) are briefly covered.
Status of alien plant invasions in the North-eastern region of India.
Authors: Shankar U. , Yadav A. S. , Rai J. P. N. , Tripathi R. S.
Published: December 2011

This chapter describes the diversity of invasive alien species in the north-eastern region of India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura, and the three northern districts in West Bengal, i.e. Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar), their dominance patterns, and the mechanisms facilitating the dominance in agricultural systems, forest systems and grasslands/marginal lands.
Invasive alien weeds in the tropics: the changing pattern in the herbaceous flora of Meghalaya in North-east India.
Authors: Rao R. R. , Kavitha Sagar Kavitha Sagar
Published: December 2011

This chapter describes floristic changes, particularly in the herbaceous flora, that have occurred during recent years due to the introduction and spread of alien invasive weeds in Meghalaya and other states in north-east India. Factors favouring biological invasions are briefly covered. Some of the worst invasive weeds that have affected human health and the economic status of the tribal populations of the region are presented: Mikania micrantha, Lantana camara, Chromolaena odorata, Ageratina adenophora, Eichhornia crassipes, Galinsoga quadriradiata and Parthenium hysterophorus.
Risk assessment for management of biological invasions.
Authors: Reshi Z. A. , Irfan Rashid Irfan Rashid
Published: December 2011

This chapter describes a general risk analysis framework for biological invasions, which involves risk analysis for both invasive species and invaded habitats, and discusses its key elements, i.e. (i) problem formulation, (ii) analysis of exposure and effects, (iii) risk characterization and (iv) risk management. Trait-based risk assessment schemes and habitat suitability models for plant invasions are briefly covered. A risk assessment analysis for invasive plants in Kashmir Himalaya is presented.
Population dynamics of invasive alien species of Eupatorium.
Authors: Tripathi R. S. , Yadav A. S.
Published: December 2011

This chapter describes the population dynamics of E. odoratum, E. adenophorum and E. riparium in Shillong, Meghalaya, India. The survival of seeds, seedlings and adult plants as affected by various environmental conditions, and factors affecting the population growth rate (such as burning and associated vegetation) are discussed.
Lantana mulching for soil fertility improvement, soil and water conservation and crop yield enhancement in rainfed rice in the Kumaun hills.
Authors: Kumar P. , Pant M. , Negi G. C. S.
Published: December 2011

This chapter presents a study conducted in 2006-07 on the effects of the application of different combinations of three types of leaf litter (oak [Quercus], pine [Pinus] and Lantana) on soil fertility and rice yield under rainfed conditions in Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand, India. The quantity of mulch materials applied to the experimental plots (surface mulching) just after sowing of rice in late May 2006 was: L1 (25% oak, 1.22 kg; 25% pine, 1.63 kg; and 50% Lantana, 2.07 kg); L2 (33% oak, 1.62 kg; 33% pine, 2.14 kg; and 33% Lantana, 1.37 kg); L3 (12.5% oak, 0.612 kg; 12.5% pine, 0.812 kg; and 75% Lantana, 3.11 kg); and L4 (100% Lantana, 4.116 kg). Three control (conventional tillage) plots were maintained as in the conventional practice of crop cultivation in the region involving farmyard manure (FYM) application (7.5 kg per plot). Four combinations of leaf litter mulch (oak, pine and Lantana), when applied to a mountain rainfed rice cropland, enhanced soil fertility and crop yield over the control (the traditional practice of crop cultivation using FYM). L4 resulted in the highest soil nutrient levels (organic C, total P, available N and microbial biomass), rate of N mineralization and crop yield (greater than than control by 34.0%). The results indicated that the application of Lantana leaves (high N and low C:N ratio compared with the traditionally used oak and pine leaves) at 1.7 t/ha (dry matter basis) presents a suitable alternative in soil fertility management in rainfed rice fields to achieve greater yields.
Woody, alien and invasive Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) D.C.: management dilemmas and regulatory issues in Gujarat.
Authors: Pandey C. N. , Pandey R. , Bhatt J. R.
Published: December 2011

This chapter discusses the ecological impact, beneficial or otherwise, of P. juliflora in Banni grasslands, Jessore Wildlife Sanctuary, Velavadar National Park, Kachchh Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary and Little Rann Wild Ass Sanctuary in Gujarat, India, and describes the economic relevance of this invasive species to the people in the region. Policy and regulatory decisions concerning P. juliflora invasion in Gujarat are briefly covered.
Brevundimonas viscosa sp. nov., isolated from saline soil
Authors: Wang Jiewei , Zhang Jianli , Ding Kai , Xin Yuhua , Pang Huancheng
Published: December 2011

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated F3T, was isolated from a saline soil sample in China and studied by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain F3T was affiliated with the genus

Brevundimonas

, with

Brevundimonas kwangchunensis

KSL-102T (98.4 % similarity) and

Brevundimonas alba

DSM 4736T (98.2 %) as its closest relatives. Strain F3T contained ubiquinone-10 (Q-10) as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1ω7c, C17 : 1ω8c and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content of strain F3T was 66.7 mol%. Levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain F3T and the type strains of closely related

Brevundimonas

species were below 22 %. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics and genotypic distinctiveness, strain F3T should be classified as representing a novel species of the genus

Brevundimonas

, for which the name Brevundimonas viscosa sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is F3T ( = CGMCC 1.10683T = JCM 17426T).
Anaerosalibacter bizertensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a halotolerant bacterium isolated from sludge
Authors: Rezgui Raja , Maaroufi Abderrazak , Fardeau Marie-Laure , Ben Ali Gam Zouhaier , Cayol Jean-Luc , Ben Hamed Saïd , Labat Marc
Published: December 2011

A strictly anaerobic, halotolerant and thermotolerant strain, designated C5BELT, was isolated in north Tunisia from storage tanks holding waste generated by the recycling of discarded motor oils. Cells of strain C5BELT were Gram-stain-positive, motile by laterally inserted flagella, straight, and spore-forming. Their two major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0 dimethyl acetal. Growth was observed at temperatures of 25–55 °C (optimum, 40 °C) and at pH 6–9 (optimum, pH 7.5). The salinity range for growth was 0–100 g l−1 NaCl (optimum, 5 g l−1). Yeast extract was required for growth. Strain C5BELT was heterotrophic, able to use glucose, pyruvate, succinate, yeast extract, bio-trypticase and peptone, but unable to grow on Casamino acids. Sulfate, thiosulfate, sulfite, elemental sulfur, fumarate, nitrate and nitrite were not reduced. The DNA G+C content of strain C5BELT was 31.1 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain C5BELT was a member of the family

Clostridiaceae

, class

Clostridia

, phylum

Firmicutes

and was most closely related to

Sporanaerobacter acetigenes

Lup33T ( = DSM 13106T) (92.4 % similarity). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons and physiological characteristics, strain C5BELT can be classified as a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Anaerosalibacter bizertensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is C5BELT ( = DSM 23801T = JCM 17239T).