bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transformation of Arsenobetaine and Growth of Bacteria on Zeolitic Tuffs
Authors: Mattusch J. , Elizalde‐González M. P. , Pérez‐Cruz M. A. , Ondruschka J. , Wennrich R. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractArsenobetaine (AsB) is a known organoarsenical of harmless toxicity. It is formed mainly by the metabolization of arsenate in marine organisms such as fish, mollusks and crustaceans. Preliminary investigations have shown that AsB can be degraded in contact with zeolites used as feed additives. Employing high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with simultaneous parallel electrospray ionization (ESI) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (ICP‐MS) detection, the formation of degradation products was monitored over fifty days in batch reactors containing AsB and clinoptilolites in an aqueous solution. After a 50‐day contact with different natural Mexican zeolites, the AsB concentration decreased by 37 to 100 %. In contrast, no degradation products of AsB were detected after contact with a synthetic clinoptilolite. The formation of dimethyl (1‐carboxymethyl) arsine and arsenate proceeded with different yields in the set of four natural zeolites. To search for the presence of bacteria on the zeolites as an alternative explanation for the metabolism of AsB in our experiments, the growth of microorganisms was studied on two natural clinoptilolites from Hungary and Mexico after severe acid wash. After 10 days of cultivation in iron and sulfur media, almost a threefold increase of the microbial population was observed. In further experiments on the retention of inorganic arsenic, one sample retained, for example, 25 μg/g As(V) and 2.5 μg/g As(III) from a 400 μg/L arsenic solution.
Redox Dynamics of Arsenic Species in the Root‐Near Environment of Juncus effusus Investigated in a Macro‐Gradient‐Free Rooted Gravel Bed Reactor
Authors: Rahman K. Z. , Wiessner A. , Kuschk P. , Mattusch J. , Offelder A. , Kästner M. , Müller R. A. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractIn the framework of investigating the dynamics of As species within the planted soil beds of treatment wetlands, the redox dynamics of As species particularly in the root‐near environment of the rhizosphere were investigated. For this purpose, long‐term experiments were carried out using a specially designed macro‐gradient‐free rooted gravel bed reactor, planted with Juncus effusus to treat an artificial wastewater containing As (200 μg As/L). The exceptional quality of the biofilm processes at the helophyte root‐surfaces in treatment wetlands were of special importance in this investigation. The results showed that under C‐deficient conditions, a highly efficient As immobilization (> 85 %), obviously due to adsorption and/or co‐precipitation, was attained. The addition of organic carbon immediately caused an elevated As concentration and enrichment of As(III) (nearly 80 % of total As) in the reactor. Increasing the SO42– concentration in the artificial wastewater inflow facilitated a high As immobilization (> 82 %) under sulfate reducing condition. In principle, a highly efficient microbial dissimilatory sulfate reduction contributed to S2– formation and a greater As immobilization (most likely as As2S3) under C surplus and reducing conditions. Significant differences in As immobilization were observed by varying the inflow of the SO42– concentration (0.2, 5, 10, 25 S/L) under C surplus conditions. More As(III) precipitates (15 % less in the outflow) when the inflow of the SO42– concentration was decreased from 25 mg S/L to 10 mg S/L. Immobilized As showed greater instability by releasing As(V) (up to 85 % of total As) due to changes in the dynamic redox conditions inside the reactor. Re‐oxidation of reduced sulfur into other S species (e.g. S0, SO42–) due to plant‐root mediated O2 release probably caused an oxidative dissolution of already precipitated insoluble As (e.g. As2S3) and as a consequent As remobilization. The findings of this study highlighted the significance of SO42– in relation to organic C supply in planted soil beds treating As‐contaminated wastewater under constructed wetland conditions.
Biotechnological Coproduction of Compatible Solutes and Polyhydroxyalkanoates using the Genus Halomonas
Authors: Mothes G. , Schubert T. , Harms H. , Maskow T. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAn increased usage of poly‐β‐hydroxyalkanoates (PHA), for instance as bulk biodegradable and biocompatible plastics, will require a cheaper production and downstream processing. If the synthesis of this intracellular biopolyester could be combined with the production of another valuable intracellular product, the economic balance of the process could be improved. It was found that the moderately halophilic bacterium Halomonas elongata simultaneously synthesizes PHA and a protector molecule, called ectoine. Whereas the synthesis of PHA is a response to the shortage of nutrients, the production of ectoine counteracts osmotic imbalances. This behavior is in so far surprising as the conditions of a bi‐factorial stress initiate the fast simultaneous synthesis of ectoine and PHA. In the presence of 100 g/L NaCl, Halomonas elongata accumulated up to 50 % w/w PHA and up to 14 % ectoine within 2–3 days under so far non‐optimized conditions. Furthermore, it was found that other Halomonas species (e.g. Halomonas halodenitrificans and own isolates of Halomonas halodeneurihalina and Halomonas salina) were able to produce both ectoine and PHA.
Seismic behavior of single‐story asymmetric‐plan buildings under uniaxial excitation
Authors: Lucchini Andrea , Monti Giorgio , Kunnath Sashi 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe critical parameters that influence the nonlinear seismic response of asymmetric‐plan buildings are identified by evaluating the effects of different asymmetries that may characterize the structure of a building as well as exploring the influence of the ground motion features. First, the main findings reported in the literature on both the linear and nonlinear dynamic response of asymmetric‐plan buildings are presented. The common findings and the conflicting conclusions reached in different investigations are pointed out. Then, the results of comprehensive nonlinear dynamic analyses performed for evaluating the seismic response of systems characterized by different strength and stiffness configurations, representative of a large class of asymmetric‐plan buildings, are reported. Findings from the study indicate that the building response changes when moving from the linear to the nonlinear range, so that the seismic behavior of asymmetric‐plan buildings, apart from the source of asymmetry, can be always classified as irregular. Additionally, it was observed that as the seismic demands cause amplification of system nonlinearity with increasing earthquake intensity, the maximum displacement demand in the different resisting elements tends to be reached with the same deformed configuration of the system. The resultant of the seismic forces producing such a maximum demand is located at the center of resistance and corresponds to the collapse mechanism of the system that provides the maximum lateral strength in the exciting direction of the seismic action. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Real‐time implementation of digital relay models using MATLAB/SIMULINK and RTDS
Authors: Apostolopoulos Christos A. , Korres George N. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractIn this paper, an integrated environment for real‐time simulation, analysis and validation of digital relay models, based on MATLAB/SIMULINK and RTDS, is presented. A detailed analysis and discussion for this environment is given and example cases are used to illustrate its implementation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nutlet micromorphology and its systematic implication in Stachys L. (Lamiaceae) in Iran
Authors: Salmaki Y. , Zarre S. , Jamzad Z. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractNutlets of 31 taxa of Stachys (29 species and two subspecies), representing nine of the currently recognized sections and one species of the closely related genus Sideritis (S. montana) distributed in Iran were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. The basic shape of nutlets in most taxa studied is ovate, but rounded; broad ovate, oval, triangular and oblong can also be found in few species. Regarding sculpturing pattern of nutlet surface seven basic types can be distinguished: reticulate, colliculate, scalariform, verrucate, ruminate, foveate and rugose. The reticulate type is the most common among the studied species, but the variation in alignment, size and shape of its composing cells provide further evidence that are useful as diagnostic characteristics. However, the type of sculpturing is more useful for separating species within the sections, rather than correlating the related ones to each other. For example in sect. Eriostemum, five species known in Iran, show four different types of sculpturing. However, nutlet microsculpturing is not useful in separating large natural groups like sections in this genus. It seems also that contrary to other genera of Lamiaceae, nutlet characters are of low phylogenetic value in this genus, especially due to high variation even among closely related species. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Editorial
Authors: Weatherill Nigel P. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis special issue contains selected high‐quality papers from the invited lectures of the Fourth International Symposium on Finite Volumes for Complex Applications—Problems and Perspectives (FVCA), which was sponsored by Marrakech University of Science and Technology in Morocco and held in the university on July 4–8, 2005. The FVCA symposia series aims to provide an international and privileged forum for the exchange and profitable discussions bringing together mathematicians, physicists and engineers concerned with finite volume techniques in both theory and practice. Indeed, the finite volume method is nowadays adopted by a broad base of the scientific community including those concerned with the use of numerical simulations in the resolution of complex physical problems in industry, civil engineering and the environmental.This special issue contains six papers based on those that were presented as invited lectures at FVCA4. Particular attention is focused on convergence, error analysis and new fields of application. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PEL: an unbiased method for estimating age‐dependent genetic disease risk from pedigree data unselected for family history
Authors: Alarcon F. , Bourgain C. , Gauthier‐Villars M. , Planté‐Bordeneuve V. , Stoppa‐Lyonnet, D. , Bonaïti‐Pellié C. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractProviding valid risk estimates of a genetic disease with variable age of onset is a major challenge for prevention strategies. When data are obtained from pedigrees ascertained through affected individuals, an adjustment for ascertainment bias is necessary. This article focuses on ascertainment through at least one affected and presents an estimation method based on maximum likelihood, called the Proband's phenotype exclusion likelihood or PEL for estimating age‐dependent penetrance using disease status and genotypic information of family members in pedigrees unselected for family history. We studied the properties of the PEL and compared with another method, the prospective likelihood, in terms of bias and efficiency in risk estimate. For that purpose, family samples were simulated under various disease risk models and under various ascertainment patterns. We showed that, whatever the genetic model and the ascertainment scheme, the PEL provided unbiased estimates, whereas the prospective likelihood exhibited some bias in a number of situations. As an illustration, we estimated the disease risk for transthyretin amyloid neuropathy from a French sample and a Portuguese sample and for BRCA1/2 associated breast cancer from a sample ascertained on early‐onset breast cancer cases. Genet. Epidemiol. 33:379–385, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Examining career success of minority and women emergency medical technicians (EMTs): A LEADS project
Authors: Russ‐Eft Darlene F. , Dickison Philip D. , Levine Roger 
Published: December 2008

AbstractEmergency medical technicians (EMTs) are a critical segment in prehospital medical care. This study examined EMT‐paramedic career success focused on minorities and women, as part of the Longitudinal Emergency Medical Technician Attributes and Demographics Study (LEADS). The LEADS data come from a representative sampling of EMTs throughout the United States. Analyses examined factors related to objective and subjective career success and did so with samples from 2000 and 2004. Regression results showed that education, experience, and hours worked predicted objective career success. In contrast, satisfaction with others and with supervisor predicted subjective career success. Minority status was not related to either objective or subjective career success, while gender appeared to have a negative influence on objective career success but was unrelated to subjective career success. Implications for HRD practitioners and researchers are discussed.
The relevance of organizational subculture for motivation to transfer learning
Authors: Egan Toby Marshall 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAlthough human resource development practitioners and researchers emphasize organizational culture as a major contributor to employee learning and development, results from this study suggest organizational subculture has greater influence on employee‐related learning motivation. The relationships among organizational culture, organizational subculture, leadership style, and motivation to transfer learning are examined in this study of 354 randomly selected health care providers from a population of 1,255 employees of three of the largest health care organizations in the United States. Study findings indicate that organizational subculture was highly associated with employee motivation to transfer learning—far higher than organizational culture overall. Supportive and innovative subcultures have clear positive relationships, while bureaucratic subcultures negatively influenced motivation to transfer learning. Findings also support the differences between leadership style types and particular subculture types in relation to motivation to transfer learning. In terms of leadership style, a consideration style had a stronger relationship to motivation to transfer learning than did structuring style. Implications for HRD research and practice are explored.
The effect of formal mentoring program characteristics on organizational attraction
Authors: Horvath Michael , Wasko Laurie E. , Bradley Jessica L. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAlthough the extant mentoring literature describes the post‐hire benefits of mentoring programs, less is known about how mentoring programs affect pre‐hire perceptions of organizations—perceptions that may have subsequent implications for the success of mentoring programs and other HRD practices. To explore this issue, we used a policy‐capturing design to examine the influence of formal mentoring program characteristics on organizational attraction. Results from a sample of 254 undergraduate participants indicated preferences for organizations offering mentorship programs that are voluntary, that give protégé input into the choice of mentor, that link protégés with individuals who hold higher rank (that is, supervisors), and that offer both career and psychosocial support. Furthermore, one of these relationships was moderated by participants' Need for Dominance. Implications for practice and research are discussed.
The effects of scenario planning on participant decision‐making style
Authors: Chermack Thomas J. , Nimon Kim 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis research examines changes in decision‐making styles as a result of participation in scenario planning. A quasi‐experimental pretest‐posttest design and several nonparametric tests were used to analyze data gathered from research participants in a technology firm in the Northeastern United States. Results show that participants tend to transition toward more intuitive‐based decision‐making styles after participation in scenario planning. Limitations are examined and conclusions are drawn concerning the effects of scenario planning on participation decision‐making styles as measured by the General Decision‐Making Style Survey.
St. John's wort and Kava in treating major depressive disorder with comorbid anxiety: a randomised double‐blind placebo‐controlled pilot trial
Authors: Sarris Jerome , Kavanagh David J. , Deed Gary , Bone Kerry M. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractObjectiveWe report the first randomised controlled trial (RCT) using a combination of St. John's wort (SJW) and Kava for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) with comorbid anxiety.MethodsTwenty‐eight adults with MDD and co‐occurring anxiety were recruited for a double‐blind RCT. After a placebo run‐in of 2 weeks, the trial had a crossover design testing SJW and Kava against placebo over two controlled phases, each of 4 weeks. The primary analyses used intention‐to‐treat and completer analyses.ResultsOn both intention‐to‐treat (p = 0.047) and completer analyses (p = 0.003), SJW and Kava gave a significantly greater reduction in self‐reported depression on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI‐II) over placebo in the first controlled phase. However, in the crossover phase, a replication of those effects in the delayed medication group did not occur. Nor were there significant effects on anxiety or quality of life.ConclusionThere was some evidence of antidepressant effects using SJW and Kava in a small sample with comorbid anxiety. Possible explanations for the absence of anxiolysis may include a potential interaction with SJW, the presence of depression, or an inadequate dose of Kava. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detection of changes in glacial run‐off in alpine basins: examples from North America, the Alps, central Asia and the Andes
Authors: Casassa Gino , López Paulina , Pouyaud Bernard , Escobar Fernando 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAtmospheric warming and enhanced melting of glaciers is already resulting in changes in the glacial contribution to run‐off in mountain basins around the world. The enhanced melting of glaciers leads at first to increased run‐off and discharge peaks and an increased melt season, while in the longer time frame glacier wasting can be so severe that it results in decreased run‐off. Glacier basins with a decreasing run‐off trend have been observed in south‐central British Columbia, at low elevations in the Swiss Alps and in the central Andes of Chile, which is probably a combined effect of reduced melt from seasonal snow cover as the snow line rises, and relevant glacier area losses. In contrast, significant run‐off increases are reported in Alberta, north‐western British Columbia and Yukon in Canada, in highly glacierized basins in the Swiss and Austrian Alps, the Tianshan Mountains and Tibet in central Asia and in the tropical Andes of Peru. The run‐off increase within these basins is closely related to observed temperature rise, indicating that there is an unequivocal signal of enhanced glacier melting under the present warming trends. In future warming scenarios, glacier run‐off should start to decrease even in high‐altitude basins, affecting water availability. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simulations of future snow cover and discharge in Alpine headwater catchments
Authors: Bavay Mathias , Lehning Michael , Jonas Tobias , Löwe Henning 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe snow cover in the Alps is heavily affected by climate change. Recent data show that at altitudes below 1200 m a.s.l. a time‐continuous winter snow cover is becoming an exception rather than the rule. This would also change the timing and characteristics of river discharge in Alpine catchments. We present an assessment of future snow and runoff in two Alpine catchments, the larger Inn catchment (1945 km2) and the smaller Dischma catchment (43 km2), based on two common climate change scenario (IPCC A2 and B2 (IPCC, 2007)). [etc]. The changes in snow cover and discharge are predicted using Alpine3D, a model for the high‐resolution simulation of Alpine surface processes, in particular snow, soil and vegetation processes. The predicted changes in snow and discharge are extreme. While the current climate still supports permanent snow and ice on the highest peaks at altitudes above 3000 m a.s.l., this zone would disappear under the future climate scenarios. The changes in snow cover could be summarized by approximately shifting the elevation zones down by 900 m. The corresponding changes in discharge are also severe: while the current climate scenario shows a significant contribution from snow melt until middle to late summer, the future climate scenarios would feature a much narrower snow melt discharge peak in spring. A further observation is that heavy precipitation events in the fall would change from mainly snow to mainly rain and would have a higher probability of producing flooding. Future work is needed to quantify the effect of model uncertainties on such predictions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydroecological response of river systems to shrinking glaciers
Authors: Milner Alexander M. , Brown Lee E. , Hannah David M. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAquatic ecosystems in high latitude and altitude environments are strongly influenced by cryospheric and hydrological processes due to links between atmospheric forcing, snowpack/glacier mass‐balance, river discharge, physico‐chemistry and biota. In the current phase of global climate warming, many glaciers are shrinking. Loss of snow and ice‐masses will alter spatial and temporal dynamics in bulk basin runoff with important changes in the relative contributions of snowmelt, glaciermelt and groundwater to stream flow. Accordingly, altered water source contributions will be accompanied by changes to fluvial, solute, sediment and thermal regimes and, thus, channel stability and habitat. The projected reduction in sediment load, warmer water temperature and increased channel stability will drive significant shifts in the floral and faunal composition of glacier‐fed rivers. This paper hypothesizes a general increase in the richness and production of micro‐organisms, algae, macroinvertebrates and fish as glacier hydrological influence shrinks under a warmer climate. With reduced glacial influence, macroinvertebrate species trait diversity will increase with more organisms possessing larger body size, less specialized body shape and lower adult mobility. In larger river systems, potential reduction of meltwater inputs will have a significant influence on off‐channel habitats (e.g. side‐channels and sloughs) that depend on glacial runoff to sustain habitat availability and connectivity, particularly for fish. Some species such as cold stenothermic taxa (including some endemic macroinvertebrates) may be vulnerable to extinction and therefore gamma (regional) diversity will be reduced. These sensitive macroinvertebrate taxa may be important biological indicators of environmental change in glacierized river basins. Moreover, high climatic sensitivity and low human perturbation make glacially influenced river basins early indicator systems for identifying hydrological and ecological responses to climate change/variability. It is concluded that glacier shrinkage and associated changes in runoff amount and timing, water source contributions and physico‐chemical habitat will be a major driver of the future biodiversity of stream communities in cold environments. Research imperatives and future directions are proposed for investigation of glacier‐fed river hydroecology. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.