bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Client Perceptions of Therapy Component Helpfulness in Group Cognitive‐Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety Disorders
Authors: Smith Angela H. , Norton Peter J. , McLean Carmen P.
Published: October 2012

Objective(s):

Treatment credibility and client satisfaction have received relatively little research attention, but extant findings indicate that some clients and therapists differ in their perceptions of what is helpful about therapy, with greater divergence related to poorer outcomes. This study examined relationships between treatment credibility, perceptions of therapy helpfulness, and treatment response.

Method:

Participants were 48 individuals (60.4% female; 53.2% Caucasian; mean age 32.79 years) with an anxiety disorder diagnosis. Participants completed a 12‐week transdiagnostic treatment protocol; treatment credibility was rated after session 2, and treatment component helpfulness was rated posttreatment.

Results:

Treatment response was significantly correlated with perceived helpfulness of cognitive restructuring and exposure techniques, but not treatment credibility. Treatment responders recognized the helpfulness of factors considered to be important therapeutic processes.

Conclusions:

Findings emphasize the importance of client perceptions of cognitive and behavioral techniques in treatment and suggest the need to monitor client perceptions throughout the treatment process.
Simultaneous analysis of 11 main active components in Cirsium setosum based on HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS and combined with statistical methods
Authors: Sun Qian , Chang Lu , Ren Yanping , Cao Liang , Sun Yingguang , Du Yingfeng , Shi Xiaowei , Wang Qiao , Zhang Lantong
Published: October 2012

A novel method based on high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was developed for simultaneous determination of the 11 major active components including ten flavonoids and one phenolic acid in Cirsium setosum. Separation was performed on a reversed‐phase C18 column with gradient elution of methanol and 0.1‰ acetic acid (v/v). The identification and quantification of the analytes were achieved on a hybrid quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer. Multiple‐reaction monitoring scanning was employed for quantification with switching electrospray ion source polarity between positive and negative modes in a single run. Full validation of the assay was carried out including linearity, precision, accuracy, stability, limits of detection and quantification. The results demonstrated that the method developed was reliable, rapid, and specific. The 25 batches of C. setosum samples from different sources were first determined using the developed method and the total contents of 11 analytes ranged from 1717.460 to 23028.258 μg/g. Among them, the content of linarin was highest, and its mean value was 7340.967 μg/g. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis were performed to differentiate and classify the samples, which is helpful for comprehensive evaluation of the quality of C. setosum.
Distribution of duck broods relative to habitat characteristics in the Prairie Pothole Region
Authors: Walker Johann , Rotella Jay J. , Schmidt Joshua H. , Loesch Charles R. , Reynolds Ronald E. , Lindberg Mark S. , Ringelman James K. , Stephens Scott E.
Published: October 2012

Conservation programs for breeding ducks in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of the United States and Canada require effective means of evaluating and characterizing breeding habitat across large landscapes. Extensive surveys of the distribution of duck broods in late‐summer could help identify wetland basins with greater probabilities of occupancy. Broods are difficult to detect, however, rendering presence–absence data from single‐visit surveys difficult to interpret, particularly when probability of detection is related to habitat features. Multiple‐visit occupancy surveys offer a potential solution. From 20 July to 5 August 2007–2009, we conducted a 3‐visit survey of wetland basins located on 167 10.4‐km2 study plots in the PPR. Our survey focused on broods of the 5 most common breeding duck species (Anas spp.). Our main objectives were to investigate ecological relationships between occupancy of wetland basins by broods and habitat characteristics and to examine if habitat‐specific detection was of enough concern to warrant multi‐survey approaches in the future. We surveyed 3,226 wetland basins during the study. Probability of occupancy of a wetland basin by a brood was positively related to the log of wet area for all 5 study species and was greater on wetlands located on plots with a greater proportion of herbaceous perennial cover for 4 of 5 species. For example, the median probability of occupancy for gadwall (Anas strepera) increased from 0.08 (90% Credible Interval [CrI]: 0.07, 0.10) to 0.28 (90% CrI: 0.23, 0.33) as wet area increased from 0.19 ha to 2.12 ha, and increased from 0.12 (90% CrI: 0.09, 0.16) to 0.20 (90% CrI: 0.16, 0.25) as proportion of perennial grass cover on the study plot increased from 0.03 to 0.99. Because occupancy and detection were both related to attributes of wetland basins, we concluded that the multiple‐visit survey was a useful approach for identifying habitat relationships of duck broods. Our results indicated that most broods of the study species were found in 10.4‐km2 landscapes with greater densities of small‐ to mid‐sized wetland basins and a greater proportion of herbaceous perennial vegetation. Our study provided new empirical support that could be used to help target conservation actions to the most productive landscapes for breeding ducks. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Red deer habitat selection and movements in relation to roads
Authors: Meisingset Erling L. , Loe Leif E. , Brekkum Øystein , Van Moorter Bram , Mysterud Atle
Published: October 2012

Roads affect wildlife in many direct and indirect ways. For ungulates, roads may inhibit seasonal migration and may cause an effective loss of habitat due to avoidance. On the other hand, roadsides and associated agricultural lands offer high quality forage that may attract ungulates and increase the frequency of car accidents. Mitigating actions require detailed knowledge on space use in relation to roads. Using data from 67 global positioning system (GPS)‐marked red deer in Norway, we quantified 1) scale of avoidance of roads, 2) crossing frequency, and 3) selection of crossing sites. Red deer avoided roads only on a very local scale and only during daytime, with minor influence of variation in road size (traffic burden). Marked red deer crossed roads, on average, 2 times per day. Females crossed more frequently than males and crossings were most frequent during autumn and winter and during night. Deer selected forested crossing sites close to agricultural pastures, reflecting that roads are crossed most often on nightly feeding excursions. Our findings imply that red deer in our study area have adjusted to exploit feeding habitat close to roads at times of low traffic burden. The high frequency of crossings suggests a limited influence on seasonal migration patterns. The frequency at which red deer cross highways suggests that mitigation measures to reduce road mortality may be effective if targeted in the right areas. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Phenotypic and reproductive variation in female white‐tailed deer: The role of harvest and environment
Authors: Strickland Bronson K. , Demarais Stephen , Jones Phillip D. , Dacus Chad M.
Published: October 2012

Animal density and stochastic environmental events affect physical development and recruitment of cervids. Biologists who manage cervid populations based on a density‐dependent paradigm may need to also consider environmental effects. We analyzed 12‐ to 25‐year time series of 3 harvested white‐tailed deer populations in Mississippi to determine the relative influence of harvest and environmental factors on female reproduction and phenotypic quality. Using simple and multiple linear regression, we related body mass of 1.5‐, 2.5‐, and ≥3.5‐year females, and 2.5‐ and ≥3.5‐year percent lactation to variables representing deer harvest, growing season precipitation and temperatures, high‐quality agronomic plantings, and flooding events. Response across populations varied greatly, with harvest variables explaining most, some, or no variation in body mass and percent lactation. Biologists should consider the potential influence of environmental factors on phenotypic and reproductive variation when making management decisions. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Do trappers understand marten habitat?
Authors: Wiebe Philip A. , Fryxell John M. , Thompson Ian D. , Börger Luca , Baker James A.
Published: October 2012

Previous studies of the effects of fur trapping on marten populations have not considered habitat variation and how trappers use available habitat. We investigated the behavior of fur trappers with respect to roads, waterways, and the forest habitats on trap lines, using registered trap lines in northern Ontario as a study system. The objectives of this study were to 1) develop models for predicting trap location based on access and habitat features, 2) determine whether trappers target the same habitat preferred by American marten, and 3) investigate effects of spatial resolution on predictive models, using a geographic information system (GIS) for coarse resolution variables and direct forest mensuration for fine resolution variables. Distance to roads and water were by far the most influential factors in logistic models for predicting trap presence, accounting for 51.2–61.7% of the observed deviance. At a coarse spatial resolution, trappers selected sites that were close to vehicular access, and in older mixed wood forest stands. Similarly, at a coarse resolution, marten selected old stands, but dominated by coniferous trees. At a finer spatial resolution, trappers selected sites with high basal area of trees, pronounced proportion of black spruce, high canopy cover, and high density of coarse woody debris, consistent with previous studies on marten habitat selection at a fine resolution. Although coarse resolution models are easily applicable because of the wide availability of GIS land cover data, fine resolution models had greater predictive power when considering habitat variables. By quantifying trapper behaviors, these results suggest that the effectiveness of marten sanctuaries used in forest management depend not only on the age and species composition of forest stands left unlogged, but also on the degree to which they are accessible to trappers. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
A novel regulator RcdA of the csgD gene encoding the master regulator of biofilm formation in Escherichia coli
Authors: Shimada Tomohiro , Katayama Yasunori , Kawakita Shuichi , Ogasawara Hiroshi , Nakano Masahiro , Yamamoto Kaneyoshi , Ishihama Akira
Published: October 2012

The FixJ/LuxR family transcription factor CsgD is a master regulator of biofilm formation in Escherichia coli. Previously, we identified more than 10 transcription factors that participate in regulation of the csgD promoter. After genomic SELEX screening of regulation targets, an uncharacterized TetR‐type transcription factor YbjK was found to be involved in regulation of the csgD promoter. In addition, a number of stress‐response genes were found to be under the direct control of YbjK. Taken together, we propose to rename it to RcdA (regulator of csgD). One unique feature of RcdA is its mode of DNA binding. Gel shift, DNase‐I footprinting, and atomic force microscopic (AFM) analyses indicated that RcdA is a DNA‐binding protein with a high level of cooperativity, with which it covers the entire surface of probe DNA through protein–protein interaction and moreover it induces the formation of aggregates of DNA–RcdA complexes.
Genetic modification of the association of paraquat and Parkinson's disease
Authors: Goldman Samuel M. , Kamel Freya , Ross G. Webster , Bhudhikanok Grace S. , Hoppin Jane A. , Korell Monica , Marras Connie , Meng Cheryl , Umbach David M. , Kasten Meike , Chade Anabel R. , Comyns Kathleen , Richards Marie B. , Sandler Dale P. , Blair Aaron , Langston J. William , Tanner Caroline M.
Published: October 2012

Paraquat is one of the most widely used herbicides worldwide. It produces a Parkinson's disease (PD) model in rodents through redox cycling and oxidative stress (OS) and is associated with PD risk in humans. Glutathione transferases provide cellular protection against OS and could potentially modulate paraquat toxicity. We investigated PD risk associated with paraquat use in individuals with homozygous deletions of the genes encoding glutathione S‐transferase M1 (GSTM1) or T1 (GSTT1). Eighty‐seven PD subjects and 343 matched controls were recruited from the Agricultural Health Study, a study of licensed pesticide applicators and spouses in Iowa and North Carolina. PD was confirmed by in‐person examination. Paraquat use and covariates were determined by interview. We genotyped subjects for homozygous deletions of GSTM1 (GSTM1*0) and GSTT1 (GSTT1*0) and tested interaction between paraquat use and genotype using logistic regression. Two hundred and twenty‐three (52%) subjects had GSTM1*0, 95 (22%) had GSTT1*0, and 73 (17%; all men) used paraquat. After adjustment for potential confounders, there was no interaction with GSTM1. In contrast, GSTT1 genotype significantly modified the association between paraquat and PD. In men with functional GSTT1, the odds ratio (OR) for association of PD with paraquat use was 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6–3.6); in men with GSTT1*0, the OR was 11.1 (95% CI: 3.0–44.6; P interaction: 0.027). Although replication is needed, our results suggest that PD risk from paraquat exposure might be particularly high in individuals lacking GSTT1. GSTT1*0 is common and could potentially identify a large subpopulation at high risk of PD from oxidative stressors such as paraquat. © 2012 Movement Disorder Society
Utility of ultrasound‐guided near‐nerve needle recording for lateral femoral cutaneous sensory nerve conduction study: Does it increase reliability compared with surface recording?
Authors: Deimel George W. , Hurst Richard W. , Sorenson Eric J. , Boon Andrea J.
Published: October 2012

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of a near‐nerve needle recording technique in lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) sensory nerve conduction studies (NCS). Methods: Bilateral LFCN sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs) were recorded from 10 healthy volunteers using surface and near‐nerve needle recording electrodes. Absolute amplitudes were compared side‐to‐side in each subject and between the 2 techniques. Results: Near‐nerve needle electrode recording amplitude was significantly higher when compared with surface electrode recording (surface 9 μV, needle 58 μV; P < 0.0001), whereas side‐to‐side variability did not differ (surface 37%, needle 37%; P = 0.94). Conclusions: We propose that near‐nerve needle recording is a simple technique to employ for clinicians with experience in ultrasound‐guided needle placement, especially when evaluation is critical and responses are difficult to obtain. However, given the degree of side‐to‐side variability in healthy subjects, we recommend caution when interpreting side‐to‐side differences. Muscle Nerve, 2013
Batch scheduling with step‐deteriorating processing times to minimize flowtime
Authors: Mor Baruch , Mosheiov Gur
Published: October 2012

Both topics of batch scheduling and of scheduling deteriorating jobs have been very popular among researchers in the last two decades. In this article, we study a model combining these two topics. We consider a classical batch scheduling model with unit‐jobs and batch‐independent setup times, and a model of step‐deterioration of processing times. The objective function is minimum flowtime. The optimal solution of the relaxed version (allowing non‐integer batch sizes) is shown to have a unique structure consisting of two consecutive decreasing arithmetic sequences of batch sizes. We also introduce a simple and efficient rounding procedure that guarantees integer batch sizes. The entire solution procedure requires an effort of O(n) (where nis the number of jobs.) © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2012
Controlling arrangement of multi‐layer microcellular materials by using supercritical fluids
Authors: Wang Dong , Zhao Yuzhen , Xing Yan , Gao Hong , Wang Xiangke , Yang Huai
Published: October 2012

A series of semicrystalline microcellular materials were prepared by the foaming technology using supercritical fluids. The distribution of multi‐size microcellulars and multi‐layer arrangement was observed by scanning electronic microscopy. By controlling the foaming condition accurately, the alternated arrangement of variable in cellular size may be tuned. One key point was discussed here to understand the phenomenon: the prior sequencing of the crystal nucleation and cellular nucleation. As the supporting experiments, the gravimetric desorption data of CO2 were kinetically and thermodynamically evaluated by three diffusion equations. The concepts of local crystal nucleation and local cellular nucleation were introduced first, and the mechanism of multi‐layer arrangement was proved. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Consistency in the safety labeling of bioequivalent medications
Authors: Duke Jon , Friedlin Jeff , Li Xiaochun
Published: October 2012

Purpose

Bioequivalent medications are required by the Food and Drug Administration to have identical warnings on their labels. This requirement has both clinical and legal importance, yet has never been validated. We sought to determine the real‐world consistency of electronic labeling for bioequivalent drugs from different manufacturers.

Methods

Using natural language processing, we indexed the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) found in the Adverse Reactions and Post‐Marketing sections of 9105 structured product labels. We calculated the standard deviation in ADR labeling for each bioequivalent drug and the percent deviation of each generic label from its corresponding brand. We also analyzed the performance of individual generic manufacturers. For the 25 drugs with the greatest discrepancy in labeled ADRs, we performed manual review to identify causes of inconsistency.

Results

68% of multi‐manufacturer drugs had discrepancies in ADR labeling. For a given drug, the mean deviation in number of labeled ADRs was 4.4, and the median was 0.8 (IQR 0 to 3.2). The mean range in number of labeled ADRs was 12 +/− 0.9, and the median was 2 (IQR 0 to 9). Overall, 77.9% of generic manufacturers produced labels differing from brand. Causes of inconsistency included missing tables, outdated post‐marketing reports, and formatting issues.

Conclusions

Despite FDA mandate, bioequivalent drugs often differ in their safety labeling. Physicians should be aware of such differences and regulators should consider new strategies for harmonizing bioequivalent labels. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kanamycin A: imine formation in aqueous solution
Authors: Fuentes‐Martínez Yanet , Godoy‐Alcántar Carolina , Medrano Felipe , Dikiy Alexander
Published: October 2012

Imine formation in aqueous solution of kanamycin A with pyridoxal 5'‐phosphate and other aldehydes was studied by potentiometry, NMR spectroscopy and computational chemistry. It was found that imines are formed with yields near 100 % at pH 7 in equimolar reactant ratio. In order to identify the kanamycin amino groups involved in the reaction, a NMR spectroscopic study was conducted. The structures of possible imines formed between kanamycin and FURAN or PLP were optimized by molecular mechanics with the OPLS‐2005 force field. The 1H NMR spectra were calculated at the DFT‐GIAO B3LYP/6‐31G(d) level of theory for all structures and compared with the experimentally observed spectra. From these results a probable structure of the imines was proposed. The results obtained in this work show that kanamycin has the ability to form imine derivatives in high yields due to its anion recognition properties.

Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A pilot randomized controlled trial of a brief early intervention for reducing posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depressive symptoms in newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients
Authors: Kangas Maria , Milross Chris , Taylor Alan , Bryant Richard A.
Published: October 2012

Objective

Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients have a high incidence of cancer‐related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety and depressive disorders. We report the results from the first pilot randomized controlled trial in which the efficacy of an early cognitive‐behavioral therapy (CBT) program was compared with a non‐directive supportive counseling (SC) intervention in reducing PTSD, general anxiety and depressive symptoms, and improving perceived quality of life in newly diagnosed, distressed HNC patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Patients and methods

Thirty‐five HNC patients (mean age = 54.8 years; 80% males) with elevated levels of PTSD, depression or anxiety were randomized to seven individual sessions of a multi‐modal CBT or non‐directive SC, concurrent with patients' radiotherapy. The SC intervention provided non‐directive counseling support. PTSD, anxiety and depressive symptoms (primary outcomes), and cancer‐related appraisals and quality of life (secondary outcomes) were assessed pre‐intervention (baseline), 1 month, 6 months and 12 months post‐intervention by diagnostic clinical interviews and validated self‐report questionnaires.

Results

The CBT and SC interventions were found to be equal in their effects in reducing PTSD and anxiety symptoms both in the short and longer term. However, up to 67% of patients in the CBT program no longer met clinical or sub‐clinical PTSD, anxiety and/or depression by 12 months post‐treatment compared with 25% of patients who received SC.

Conclusion

Findings indicate that the early provision of psychotherapy has utility in reducing PTSD, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and preventing chronic psychopathology in distressed HNC patients. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phase‐change memory: Science and applications
Authors: Kolobov Alexander V. , Popescu Mihai
Published: October 2012

Note after publication:

The October 2012 issue of physica status solidi (b) was dedicated to the 90th birthday of Stanford Robert Ovshinsky. After the publication of the online version of the special issue, sad news came: on 17 October 2012, Stan Ovshinsky passed away, a month short of his 90th anniversary. ‐ Read the Obituary in the November issue [Phys. Status Solidi B 249(11), 2055–2056 (2012)].
Attenuation of KBrO3‐Induced Renal and Hepatic Toxicity By Cloudy Apple Juice In Rat
Authors: Kujawska Małgorzata , Ignatowicz Ewa , Ewertowska Małgorzata , Adamska Teresa , Markowski Jarosław , Jodynis‐Liebert Jadwiga
Published: October 2012

The aim of the study was to evaluate a protective effect of apple juice on KBrO3‐induced oxidative stress in rats. Male Wistar rats were administered apple juice per os, 10 ml/kg b.w. for 28 days. On 27 day of the experiment, some rats were given i.p. a single 125 mg/kg b.w. dose of KBrO3. Markers of oxidative damage and clinical chemistry parameters were determined. Treatment with apple juice prior to KBrO3 challenge prevented an increase in hepatic and renal microsomal lipid peroxidation by 25 and 44%, respectively, increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the liver by 29 – 59% and decreased the plasma content of carbonyl groups by 19%. Aminotransferases activity in plasma was reduced by 19% and 36%, concentrations of plasma bilirubin, cholesterol and creatinine were suppressed by 21%, 16% and 26%, respectively, in rats supplemented with juice before KBrO3 injection. No protective effect of apple juice on nuclear DNA was observed. Supplementation with cloudy apple juice to some extent attenuated oxidative damage induced by KBrO3 in the liver and kidney of rats as evidenced by alterations of certain oxidative stress markers and clinical chemistry parameters. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Leonurus cardiaca L. (Motherwort): A Review of its Phytochemistry and Pharmacology
Authors: Wojtyniak Katarzyna , Szymański Marcin , Matławska Irena
Published: October 2012

Leonurus cardiaca is a perennial plant indigenous to central Europe and Scandinavia, but it is also found in the area spanning temperate Russia to central Asia. It has been introduced to North America and has become established locally in the wild. Motherwort (Leonuri cardiacae herba) consists of aerial parts of Leonurus cardiaca gathered during the flowering period, dried at 35 °C and, according to European Pharmacopoeia 7th edition, should contain a minimum of 0.2% flavonoids, expressed as hyperoside. Compounds belonging to the group of monoterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes, nitrogen‐ containing compounds, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids and phenolic acids, as well as volatile oils, sterols and tannins, have been identified in motherwort. Traditionally, extracts of the herb have been used internally, mainly for nervous heart conditions and digestive disorders. However, they have also been used for bronchial asthma, climacteric symptoms and amenorrhoea, as well as externally in wounds and skin inflammations. Mild negative chronotropic, hypotonic and sedative effects can be attributed to the herb and preparations thereof. Pharmacological studies have confirmed its antibacterial, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and analgesic activity, as well as its effects on the heart and the circulatory system. Sedative and hypotensive activity has been demonstrated in clinical trials. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibitory Effects of Ginsenoside Rb1 on Neuroinflammation Following Systemic Lipopolysaccharide Treatment in Mice
Authors: Lee Joon‐Suk , Song Jeong‐Ho , Sohn Nak‐Won , Shin Jung‐Won
Published: October 2012

Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) is a major ingredient of ginseng and has a wide range of neuroprotection effects. Neuroinflammation is a feature of neurodegenerative conditions and is characterized by microglia activation and the expression of major inflammatory mediators. The present study investigated the modulatory effect of GRb1 on microglia activation, the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2 in the brain induced by systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment in C57BL/6 mice. Systemic LPS treatment induces immediate microglia activation in the brain. Based on this information, GRb1 was administered orally, at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg, 1 h prior to the LPS (3 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) injection. At a dose of 20 mg/kg GRb1 attenuated Iba1 protein expression and morphological activation of microglia by LPS. GRb1 significantly reduced the upregulation of tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β and IL‐6 mRNA in the brain tissue at 4 h after LPS injection. In addition, the expression of COX‐2 mRNA and protein in the brain tissue were also attenuated at the 20 mg/kg dose of GRb1. These results indicate that GRb1 plays a modulatory role in microglia activation and neuroinflammation. This study shows that GRb1 attenuates microglia activation in the brain using an in vivo animal model. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Virtual Mass Method for Solution of Dynamic Response of Composite Cushion Packaging System
Authors: Lu Fu‐de , Tao Wei‐ming , Gao De
Published: October 2012

A composite package cushioning system consists of multiple layers of cushioning materials in series. Such composite cushioning systems will enhance the protection capability to the packaged products. However, the dynamic analysis of the composite cushioning system becomes more difficult because of the strong nonlinear characteristics of cushioning materials. To overcome the difficulty in calculation, the method of virtual mass is proposed to form the system equations of motion as a set of multidimensional ordinary differential equations so that the Runge–Kutta method can be applied to obtain the numerical solution of the system response. The rationale of the method is shown both analytically and numerically by assessing the reliability of the virtual mass method. For a specific composite cushioning system consisting of two layers of expanded polystyrene (EPS) and expanded polyethylene (EPE) materials, experiments were carried out first for each material to obtain the stress–strain behaviours under both static and dynamic loadings. On the basis of these data, the stress–strain constitutive models were developed for EPS and EPE. Then, experiments were conducted for the composite cushioning system under different system parameters, and the measured data are compared with the analytical results using the method of virtual mass. The agreement between the analytical and the experimental results substantiates the accuracy of the proposed virtual mass method. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Novel Multi‐hidden Semi‐Markov Model for Degradation State Identification and Remaining Useful Life Estimation
Authors: Su Chun , Shen Jinyun
Published: October 2012

With the increase of product reliability, collecting time‐to‐failure data is becoming difficult, and degradation‐based method has gained popularity. In this paper, a novel multi‐hidden semi‐Markov model is proposed to identify degradation and estimate remaining useful life of a system. Multiple fused features are used to describe the degradation process so as to improve the effectiveness and accuracy. The similarities of the features are depicted by a new variable combined with forward and backward variables to reduce computational effort. The degradation state is identified using modified Viterbi algorithm, in which linear function is adopted to describe the contribution of each feature to the state recognition. Subsequently, the remaining useful life can be forecasted by backward recursive equations. A case study is presented, and the results demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed method. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
GEOMORPHOLOGY AND FLOODING SHAPE FISH DISTRIBUTION IN A LARGE‐SCALE TEMPERATE FLOODPLAIN
Authors: Górski K. , Buijse A. D. , Winter H. V. , De Leeuw J. J. , Compton T. J. , Vekhov D. A. , Zolotarev D. V. , Verreth J. A. J , Nagelkerke L. A. J.
Published: October 2012

Natural river‐floodplain systems are characterized by their dynamic hydrology and diverse geomorphology resulting in a wide range of habitats that support high fish diversity and production. Various factors (e.g. hydrological dynamics, water quality, and biotic processes) have been proposed to explain fish distribution in large river floodplains, but it is still widely acknowledged that the mechanisms involved may vary in diverse floodplain systems and that they are not fully understood. To determine how flooding dynamics and floodplain geomorphology influence fish species distributions across the Volga‐Akhtuba floodplain, Russian Federation, we examined the distributions of eight species with respect to variables reflecting floodplain hydrology and geomorphology. On the basis of fish catches in 40 floodplain water bodies at the end of summer in 2006–2008, we found that frequency of occurrence of most fish species remained stable along the time. The distribution of fish species was strongly influenced by the size and shape of water bodies as well as flood extent. Therefore, the long‐term flood variability that drives the geomorphic heterogeneity of the floodplain creates suitable habitats across ranges of fish flow guilds (rheophilic, eurytopic, and limnophilic), resulting in high diversity of the floodplain ichthyofauna. We conclude that this diverse habitat availability is a highly significant factor influencing fish distribution in the Volga‐Akhtuba floodplain. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MOMENTUM, ENERGY AND DRAG COEFFICIENTS FOR ICE‐COVERED RIVERS
Authors: Attar S. , Li S. S.
Published: October 2012

A lack of reliable hydraulic parameters has been a main factor hindering the progress in predicting ice‐covered river flows; the predictions need input hydraulic parameters such as the energy, momentum and drag coefficients (α, β and CD). In this paper, a large volume of winter measurements of flow velocity collected from 26 ice‐covered rivers is analysed to determine the coefficients. Using cross‐sectionally distributed streamwise velocities, α and β are evaluated directly. They are also derived from empirical relationships. For both the riverbed and ice cover, CD is evaluated on the basis of turbulent boundary‐layer theory and the quadratic law for friction. The results show that ice‐covered river flows feature a number of velocity distributions: a single core of high velocities in the thalweg, a single core of high velocities off the thalweg and multiple cores of relatively high velocities at the cross section. The velocity distributions are significantly non‐uniform. Direct evaluations give overall averages of α = 1.23 and β = 1.08. They represent 22% and 8.3% corrections to the literature values (overestimates). An examination of the velocity distributions reveals that the ratio of the maximum velocity to the cross‐sectionally averaged velocity equals 1.356. It is recommended that values of CD = 0.004 ± 0.0005 and 0.002 ± 0.0005 be used for the riverbed and ice, respectively. This paper discusses turbulence shear stress and the associated length scale in the boundary layer as well as winter discharges. The results have applications to aquatic ecology, water resources development and flood prevention. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A proactive approach to intrusion detection and malware collection
Authors: Chen Chia‐Mei , Cheng Sheng‐Tzong , Zeng Ruei‐Yu
Published: October 2012

Network continues to be under various attacks every day. One common attack is to use password guessing to intrude a machine and then to inject malware or botnet for future control. To develop counter measures, honeypot technique, which simulates a real system, is often used for capturing attack patterns, malware or botnet, and malware download sites. However, neither low‐interaction nor medium‐interaction honeypot could simulate well the behaviors in a true system as a result of the inborn restrictions in the technology so that the honeypot might be discovered by an attacker or malware. This study proposes a new honeypot system, Jingu, which is constructed with a true environment plus protection mechanism from being circumvented. The proposed high‐interactive honeypot system, Jingu, can achieve the following goals: (1) not be perceived by attackers; (2) to protect against being attacked; (3) to record and learn attack behaviors; (4) to capture malware; and (5) to collect valuable information for detection purpose.

Jingu has been deployed on a real network for 2 years. Comparing with the low‐interactive honeypot, honeyd, Jingu can successfully catch attack behaviors as well as can capture malware. The results show that the proposed system is able to block real attacks and to collect valuable information for future detection and malware analysis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Climate policy processes, local institutions, and adaptation actions: mechanisms of translation and influence
Authors: Agarwal Arun , Perrin Nicolas , Chhatre Ashwini , Benson Catherine S. , Kononen Minna
Published: October 2012

This paper reviews and synthesizes the published literature on decentralization of renewable resources and development interventions to identify four key lessons for future adaptation planning at the national level. After presenting an analysis of why studies of decentralization reforms are relevant to adaptation planning, the paper examines priority adaptation projects identified by 47 Least Developed Countries in their National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs). Our research analyzes the range of institutional instruments and relationships visible in contemporary decentralization reforms. The four major lessons for adaptation planning concern the need for national adaptation planners to: (1) attend systematically to local institutions relevant to adaptation and increase local capacity through transfers of information, financial, and technical resources; (2) empower communities and local governments by increasing local autonomy so as to decentralize adaptation planning and implementation; (3) create mechanisms for information sharing among decision makers across sectors and levels of decision making; and (4) improve accountability of local decision makers to their constituents.WIREs Clim Change2012, 3:565–579. doi: 10.1002/wcc.193

This article is categorized under:

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Institutions for Adaptation
Forests and trees for social adaptation to climate variability and change
Authors: Pramova Emilia , Locatelli Bruno , Djoudi Houria , Somorin Olufunso A.
Published: October 2012

Ecosystems provide important services that can help people adapt to climate variability and change. Recognizing this role of ecosystems, several international and nongovernmental organizations have promoted an ecosystem‐based approach to adaptation. We review the scientific literature related to ecosystem‐based adaptation (EBA) with forests and trees, and highlight five cases in which forests and trees can support adaptation: (1) forests and trees providing goods to local communities facing climatic threats; (2) trees in agricultural fields regulating water, soil, and microclimate for more resilient production; (3) forested watersheds regulating water and protecting soils for reduced climate impacts; (4) forests protecting coastal areas from climate‐related threats; and (5) urban forests and trees regulating temperature and water for resilient cities. The literature provides evidence that EBA with forests and trees can reduce social vulnerability to climate hazards; however, uncertainties and knowledge gaps remain, particularly for regulating services in watersheds and coastal areas. Few studies have been undertaken on EBA specifically, but the abundant literature on ecosystem services can be used to fill knowledge gaps. Many studies assess the multiple benefits of ecosystems for human adaptation or well‐being, but also recognize trade‐offs between ecosystem services. Better understanding is needed of the efficiency, costs, and benefits, and trade‐offs of EBA with forests and trees. Pilot projects under implementation could serve as learning sites and existing information could be systematized and revisited with a climate change adaptation lens. WIREs Clim Change 2012, 3:581–596. doi: 10.1002/wcc.195

This article is categorized under:

Climate, Ecology, and Conservation > Modeling Species and Community Interactions
Multidimensional scaling
Authors: Hout Michael C. , Papesh Megan H. , Goldinger Stephen D.
Published: October 2012

The concept of similarity, or a sense of ‘sameness’ among things, is pivotal to theories in the cognitive sciences and beyond. Similarity, however, is a difficult thing to measure. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) is a tool by which researchers can obtain quantitative estimates of similarity among groups of items. More formally, MDS refers to a set of statistical techniques that are used to reduce the complexity of a data set, permitting visual appreciation of the underlying relational structures contained therein. The current paper provides an overview of MDS. We discuss key aspects of performing this technique, such as methods that can be used to collect similarity estimates, analytic techniques for treating proximity data, and various concerns regarding interpretation of the MDS output. MDS analyses of two novel data sets are also included, highlighting in step‐by‐step fashion how MDS is performed, and key issues that may arise during analysis. WIREs Cogn Sci 2013, 4:93–103. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1203

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Perception and Psychophysics
Construction of a cytosolic firefly luciferase reporter cassette for use in PCR‐mediated gene deletion and fusion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Ainsworth W. B. , Rome C. M. , Hjortsø M. A. , Benton M. G.
Published: October 2012

Monitoring promoter response to environmental changes using reporter systems has provided invaluable information regarding cellular state. With the development of in vivo luciferase reporter systems, inexpensive, sensitive and accurate promoter assays have been developed without the variability reported between in vitro samplings. Current luciferase reporter systems, however, are largely inflexible to modifications to the promoter of interest. To overcome problems in flexibility and stability of these expression vectors, we report the creation of a novel vector system which introduces a cytosol‐localized Photinus pyralis luciferase [LUC*(−SKL)] capable of one‐step, in vivo measurements into a promoter–reporter system via PCR‐based gene deletion and fusion. After introduction of the reporter under HUG1 promoter control, cytosolic localization was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. The dose–response of this novel construct was then compared with that of a similar HUG1Δ::yEGFP1 promoter–reporter system and shown to give a similar response pattern. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New Compounds Bearing [M(S2O7)3]2– Anions (M = Si, Ge, Sn): Syntheses and Characterization of A2[Si(S2O7)3] (A = Na, K, Rb), A2[Ge(S2O7)3] (A = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs), A2[Sn(S2O7)3] (A = Na, K), and the Unique Germanate Hg2[Ge(S2O7)3]Cl2 with Cationic 1∞[HgCl2/2]+ Chains
Authors: Logemann Christian , Witt Julia , Gunzelmann Daniel , Senker Jürgen , Wickleder Mathias S.
Published: October 2012

The reaction of the group 14 tetrachlorides MCl4 (M = Si, Ge, Sn) with oleum (65 % SO3) at elevated temperatures led to the unique anionic complexes [M(S2O7)3]2– that show the central M atoms in coordination of three chelating S2O72– groups. The mean distances M–O within the complexes increase from 175 pm (M = Si) via 186 pm (M = Ge) up to 200 pm (M = Sn). The charge balance for the [M(S2O7)3]2– anions is achieved by alkaline metal ions A+ (A = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) which were implemented in the syntheses in form of their sulfates. The size of the A+ ions, i.e. their coordination requirement causes the crystallographic differences in the crystal structures, while the structure of the complex [M(S2O7)3]2– anions remains essentially unaffected. Furthermore, we were able to characterize the unique germanate Hg2[Ge(S2O7)3]Cl2 which forms when HgCl2 is added as a source for the counter cation. The Hg2+ and the Cl– ions form infinite cationic chains according to 1∞[HgCl2/2]+ which take care for the charge compensation. For selected examples of the compounds the thermal behavior has been monitored by means of thermal analyses and X‐ray powder diffraction. For A being an alkaline metal the decomposition product is a mixture of the sulfates A2SO4 and the dioxides MO2, whereas Hg2[Ge(S2O7)3]Cl2 shows a more complicated decomposition. The tris‐(disulfato)‐silicate Na2[Si(S2O7)3] has additionally been examined by solid state 29Si and 23Na NMR spectroscopic measurements.
Antenna subtraction at NNLO with hadronic initial states: double real initial-initial configurations
Authors: Gehrmann-De Ridder A. , Gehrmann T. , Ritzmann M.
Published: October 2012

Abstract

The antenna subtraction method handles real radiation contributions in higher order corrections to jet observables. The method is based on antenna functions, which encapsulate all unresolved radiation between a pair of hard radiator partons. To apply this method to compute hadron collider observables, initial-initial antenna functions with both radiators in the initial state are required in unintegrated and integrated forms. In view of extending the antenna subtraction method to next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) calculations at hadron colliders, we derive the full set of initial-initial double real radiation antenna functions in integrated form.
Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 cell surface hydrophobicity and survival of the cells under adverse environmental conditions
Authors: Shakirova Laisana , Grube Mara , Gavare Marita , Auzina Lilija , Zikmanis Peteris
Published: October 2012

Changes in the cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) of probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 and the survival of these cells were examined in response to varied cultivation conditions and adverse environmental conditions. An inverse linear relationship (P < 0.01) was detected between the CSH of intact L. acidophilus La5 and B. lactis Bb12 and survival of cells subjected to subsequent freezing/thawing, long-term storage or exposure to mineral and bile acids. The observed relationships were supported by significant correlations between the CSH and changes in composition of the cell envelopes (proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) of L. acidophilus La5 and B. lactis Bb12 examined using FT-IR spectroscopy and conventional biochemical analysis methods. The results also suggest that the estimates of hydrophobicity, being a generalized characteristic of cell surfaces, are important parameters to predict the ability of intact probiotic bacteria to endure extreme environments and therefore should be monitored during cultivation. A defined balance of cell components, which can be characterized by the reduced CSH values, apparently helps to ensure the resistance, improved viability and hence the overall probiotic properties of bacteria.
The origin and genetic variability of the Czech sika deer population
Authors: Barančeková M. , Krojerová‐Prokešová J. , Voloshina I. V. , Myslenkov A. I. , Kawata Y. , Oshida T. , Lamka J. , Koubek P.
Published: October 2012

Sika deer (Cervus nippon), native to Asia, formed two well‐established free‐living populations in the Czech Republic over the last century and continue to spread. Sika are also maintained in a large number of enclosures; these continue to introduce new individuals from the places of its origin as well as from other European countries. Despite extensive research into the morphology and ethology of the Czech sika deer, conducted over the last three decades, no study using genetic methods has been done. This study aimed to determine the genetic variability and the geographic origin of the Czech sika deer population. Two mitochondrial markers, the cytochrome b and the control region were analyzed in this study. Analysis of the two markers confirmed that the founder individuals of the Czech population originated from both native island (Japanese Islands) and native mainland (Far East Russia) populations. Results showed that the genetic variability of the Czech sika deer population is lower than the variability of the native Japanese population, but higher than that of the sampled part of the native Russian population. Also, the genetic variability was found to be higher within the samples from enclosures.
Sphingobium sp. SYK‐6 LigG involved in lignin degradation is structurally and biochemically related to the glutathione transferase omega class
Authors: Meux Edgar , Prosper Pascalita , Masai Eiji , Mulliert Guillermo , Dumarçay Stéphane , Morel Mélanie , Didierjean Claude , Gelhaye Eric , Favier Frédérique
Published: October 2012

SpLigG
and
SpLigG
bind by X‐ray crystallography (View interaction).