bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
One-pot synthesis of β-amido ketones using Brønsted acidic ionic liquid as an efficient and reusable catalyst
Authors: Deshmukh Krishna M. , Qureshi Ziyauddin S. , Nandurkar Nitin S. , Bhanage Bhalchandra M.
Published: February 2009

An efficient protocol was developed for one-pot condensation of an aldehyde, ketone, acetyl chloride, and nitriles catalyzed by a stable and reusable 1-methyl-imidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([Hmim][HSO4]) as a Brønsted acidic ionic liquid. The system tolerated a variety of functional groups affording the corresponding β-amido ketones in moderate to good yields under milder operating conditions.
CANONICAL ANALYSIS OF NONCOMMUTATIVITY OF OPEN BOSONIC STRINGS
Authors: CAO ZHEN-BIN , DUAN YI-SHI
Published: February 2009

Generally, in the presence of an antisymmetric tensor background field, the open string moving with mixed Neumann and Dirichlet boundary conditions will make the spacetime coordinates noncommutative. In this paper, comparing to the flat and static D-brane case studied in the literature, we first generalize the D-branes to be dynamical. And then by using the Hamiltonian approach, through a calculation of the classical Poisson brackets among the Fourier mode components of the string embedding coordinates and a consistent quantization procedure, we show that the spacetime coordinates of the string endpoints in the directions parallel and perpendicular to the D-branes both become noncommutative.
SOME PROPERTIES OF ACCELERATING OBSERVERS IN THE SCHWARZSCHILD SPACE
Authors: HU YAPENG , TIAN GUIHUA , ZHAO ZHENG
Published: February 2009

It is well known that observers will be accelerated when they approach the planets. Thus, discussing the properties of accelerating observers in the Schwarzschild space is meaningful. For the sake of simplicity, we can construct these observers' world lines by comparing with the observers in the Hawking effect and Unruh effect, whose world lines are both hyperbolic curves in the appropriate coordinates. We do it after defining a certain special null hypersurface in the Kruskal coordinates. Our result shows that these accelerating observers defined in our paper can also detect the radiation with the analogy of the Unruh effect, though locally. Furthermore, we conjecture that, for any null hypersurface in any spacetime, the corresponding observers who can at least locally detect the radiation from it can be found.
N = 2 SUSY QED IN NONLINEAR/LINEAR SUSY RELATION
Authors: SHIMA KAZUNARI , TSUDA MOTOMU
Published: February 2009

We show systematically the relation between an N = 2 nonlinear supersymmetric (NLSUSY) model and an N = 2 SUSY QED theory by means of the superfield formulation in two-dimensional spacetime without imposing a priori any special gauge conditions for a gauge superfield.
Dendritic Spine Dynamics
Authors: Bhatt D. Harshad , Zhang Shengxiang , Gan Wen-Biao
Published: February 2009

Dendritic spines are the postsynaptic components of most excitatory synapses in the mammalian brain. Spines accumulate rapidly during early postnatal development and undergo a substantial loss as animals mature into adulthood. In past decades, studies have revealed that the number and size of dendritic spines are regulated by a variety of gene products and environmental factors, underscoring the dynamic nature of spines and their importance to brain plasticity. Recently, in vivo time-lapse imaging of dendritic spines in the cerebral cortex suggests that, although spines are highly plastic during development, they are remarkably stable in adulthood, and most of them last throughout life. Therefore, dendritic spines may provide a structural basis for lifelong information storage, in addition to their well-established role in brain plasticity. Because dendritic spines are the key elements for information acquisition and retention, understanding how spines are formed and maintained, particularly in the intact brain, will likely provide fundamental insights into how the brain possesses the extraordinary capacity to learn and to remember.
Whole body heat stress attenuates baroreflex control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity during postexercise muscle ischemia
Authors: Cui Jian , Shibasaki Manabu , Davis Scott L. , Low David A. , Keller David M. , Crandall Craig G.
Published: February 2009

Both whole body heat stress and stimulation of muscle metabolic receptors activate muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) through nonbaroreflex pathways. In addition to stimulating muscle metaboreceptors, exercise has the potential to increase internal temperature. Although we and others report that passive whole body heating does not alter the gain of the arterial baroreflex, it is unknown whether increased body temperature, often accompanying exercise, affects baroreflex function when muscle metaboreceptors are stimulated. This project tested the hypothesis that whole body heating alters the gain of baroreflex control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and heart rate during muscle metaboreceptor stimulation engaged via postexercise muscle ischemia (PEMI). MSNA, blood pressure (BP, Finometer), and heart rate were recorded from 11 healthy volunteers. The volunteers performed isometric handgrip exercise until fatigue, followed by 2.5 min of PEMI. During PEMI, BP was acutely reduced and then raised pharmacologically using the modified Oxford technique. This protocol was repeated two to three times when volunteers were normothermic, and again during heat stress (increase core temperature ∼ 0.7°C) conditions. The slope of the relationship between MSNA and BP during PEMI was less negative (i.e., decreased baroreflex gain) during whole body heating when compared with the normothermic condition (−4.34 ± 0.40 to −3.57 ± 0.31 units·beat−1·mmHg−1, respectively; P = 0.015). The gain of baroreflex control of heart rate during PEMI was also decreased during whole body heating ( P < 0.001). These findings indicate that whole body heat stress reduces baroreflex control of MSNA and heart rate during muscle metaboreceptor stimulation.
Genesis of gasping is independent of levels of serotonin in the Pet-1 knockout mouse
Authors: St.-John Walter M. , Li Aihua , Leiter J. C.
Published: February 2009

Eupnea is normal breathing. If eupnea fails, as in severe hypoxia or ischemia, gasping is recruited. Gasping can serve as a powerful mechanism for autoresuscitation. A failure of autoresuscitation has been proposed as a basis of the sudden infant death syndrome. In an in vitro preparation, endogenous serotonin is reported to be essential for expression of gasping. Using an in situ preparation of the Pet-1 knockout mouse, we evaluated such a critical role for serotonin. In this mouse, the number of serotonergic neurons is reduced by 85–90% compared with animals without this homozygous genetic defect. Despite this reduction in the number of serotonergic neurons, phrenic discharge in eupnea and gasping of Pet-1 knockout mice was not different from that of wild-type mice. Indeed, gasping continued unabated, even after administration of methysergide, a blocker of many types of receptors for serotonin, to Pet-1 knockout mice. We conclude that serotonin is not critical for expression of gasping. The proposal for such a critical role, on the basis of observations in the in vitro slice preparation, may reflect the minimal functional neuronal tissue and neurotransmitters in this preparation, such that the role of any remaining neurotransmitters is magnified. Also, rhythmic activity of the in vitro slice preparation has been characterized as eupnea or gasping solely on the basis of activity of the hypoglossal nerve or massed neuronal activities of the ventrolateral medulla. The accuracy of this method of classification has not been established.
PDGF-A, -C, and -D but not PDGF-B Increase TGF-β1 and Chronic Rejection in Rat Cardiac Allografts
Authors: Tuuminen Raimo , Nykänen Antti I. , Krebs Rainer , Soronen Jarkko , Pajusola Katri , Keränen Mikko A.I. , Koskinen Petri K. , Alitalo Kari , Lemström Karl B.
Published: February 2009

Objective—

Chronic rejection is the main reason for the poor long-term survival of heart transplant recipients and is characterized by cardiac allograft inflammation, fibrosis, and arteriosclerosis. We examined the specific roles of different platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) ligands (A–D)—potent mesenchymal cell mitogens—in rat cardiac allografts.

Methods and Results—

PDGFR-α mRNA was upregulated in acutely-rejecting, and PDGF-A and PDGF-C mRNA in chronically-rejecting cardiac¢hatn allografts. In acute rejection, PDGFR-α immunoreactivity increased in the media of arteries. In chronically-rejecting allografts, immunoreactivity of all PDGF ligands and receptors—except that of PDGF-B ligand—was found in the intima of arteries, and the expression of PDGF-A and PDGF-C was seen in cardiomyocytes. Intracoronary adeno-associated virus-2 (AAV2)-mediated PDGF-A and -D gene transfer enhanced cardiac allograft inflammation. AAV2-PDGF-A, AAV2-PDGF-C, and AAV2-PDGF-D significantly upregulated profibrotic TGF-β1 mRNA and accelerated cardiac fibrosis and arteriosclerosis. In contrast, AAV2-PDGF-B did not aggravate chronic rejection.

Conclusions—

We found that alloimmune response induces PDGF-A, PDGF-C, and PDGF-D expression in the graft vasculature. PDGF-A, PDGF-C, and PDGF-D mediated profibrotic and proarteriosclerotic effects in transplanted hearts involving the TGF-β1 pathway. Inhibition of signaling of all PDGF-ligands except that of PDGF-B may thus be needed to inhibit chronic rejection in cardiac allografts.
Genome-Wide Identification of Allelic Expression in Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Dmitrieva Renata I. , Hinojos Cruz A. , Grove Megan L. , Bell Rebecca J. , Boerwinkle Eric , Fornage Myriam , Doris Peter A.
Published: February 2009

Background—

Identification of genes involved in complex cardiovascular disease traits has proven challenging. Inbred animal models can facilitate genetic studies of disease traits. The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) is an inbred model of hypertension that exists in several closely related but genetically distinct lines.

Methods and Results—

We used renal gene-expression profiling across 3 distinct SHR lines to identify genes that show different expression in SHR than in the genetically related normotensive control strain, Wistar-Kyoto. To ensure robust discovery of genes showing SHR-specific expression differences, we considered only those genes in which differential expression is replicated in multiple animals of each of multiple hypertensive rat lines at multiple time points during the ontogeny of hypertension. Mutation analysis was performed on the identified genes to uncover allelic variation. We identified those genes in which all SHR lines share a single allele of the gene when normotensive controls (Wistar-Kyoto) have fixed the alternative allele. We then identified which of the differentially expressed genes show expression that is controlled by the alleleic variation present in and around the gene. Allelic expression was demonstrated by observing the effect on gene expression of alleles inherited in the freely segregating F
2
progeny of a cross between SHR and Wistar-Kyoto animals.

Conclusions—

The result of these studies is the identification of several genes (
Ptprj, Ela1, Dapk-2
, and
Gstt2
) in which each of 4 SHR lines examined have fixed the same allele and in which each of 2 Wistar-Kyoto lines have a contrasting allele for which the inherited allele influences the level of gene expression. We further show that alleles of these genes lie in extensive haplotype blocks that have been inherited identical by descent in the hypertensive lines.
Novel Loci, Including Those Related to Crohn Disease, Psoriasis, and Inflammation, Identified in a Genome-Wide Association Study of Fibrinogen in 17 686 Women
Authors: Danik Jacqueline S. , Paré Guillaume , Chasman Daniel I. , Zee Robert Y.L. , Kwiatkowski David J. , Parker Alex , Miletich Joseph P. , Ridker Paul M
Published: February 2009

Background—

Fibrinogen is a multifunctional circulating glycoprotein involved in wound healing, thrombosis, platelet aggregation, and inflammation, and elevated levels predict vascular disease. Despite evidence of crucial biological function and moderate heritability, comprehensive analysis of the influence of genetic variation on fibrinogen is not available.

Methods and Results—

To address this issue, we undertook a genome-wide association study evaluating the potential relationships between 337 343 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and plasma fibrinogen levels among 17 686 apparently healthy women participating in the Women’s Genome Health Study. As C-reactive protein is also an inflammatory marker known to predict cardiovascular diseases, we compared the determinants of fibrinogen levels with those of C-reactive protein. Four novel loci were identified, in addition to the fibrinogen gene cluster, which were associated with fibrinogen levels at genome-wide levels of significance (range of probability values from 8.82�10
−09
to 8.04�10
−39
). Two of the loci are related to common chronic inflammatory diseases: the first, at locus 5q31.1 (
SLC22A5
,
SLC22A4
,
IRF1
), lies immediately adjacent to a locus linked to Crohn disease (
P
value for lead SNP, 1.24�10
−12
) and the second, at locus 17q25.1 (
CD300LF
,
SLC9A3R1
,
NAT9
), has been associated with psoriasis (
P
value for lead SNP, 7.72�10
−11
). A third locus at 1q21.3 (
IL6R
) lies within the interleukin 6 receptor gene, a critical component of the inflammatory cascade (
P
value for lead SNP, 1.80�10
−11
). A novel locus at 2q34 (
CPSI
) participates in the urea cycle (
P
=8.82�10
−09
). The majority of implicated SNPs showed little evidence of dual association with C-reactive protein levels.

Conclusions—

A genome-wide survey of the human genome identifies novel loci related to common chronic inflammatory diseases as genetic determinants of fibrinogen levels, in addition to loci that relate to the inflammatory cascade, the urea cycle, and the fibrinogen gene cluster.
Dynamic Protein Kinase A Activities Induced by β-Adrenoceptors Dictate Signaling Propagation for Substrate Phosphorylation and Myocyte Contraction
Authors: Soto Dagoberto , De Arcangelis Vania , Zhang Jin , Xiang Yang
Published: February 2009

cAMP/protein kinase (PK)A activation represents a key signaling mechanism for neurohormonal stimulation of diversified physiological processes. Using real-time, fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based imaging of PKA activity in neonatal cardiac myocytes, we report that sustained activation of PKA induced by β-adrenoceptor (βAR) dictates signaling propagation for substrate phosphorylation and myocyte contraction. Activation of βARs in wild-type myocytes induces strong and sustained PKA activities, which are rapidly attenuated on washing away agonist or adding antagonist to the cells. The sustained PKA activities promote signaling propagation to the sarcoplasmic reticulum for phosphorylation of phospholamban and increases in myocyte contraction. Addition of antagonist after βAR stimulation significantly attenuates PKA phosphorylation of phospholamban and rapidly reduces contraction rate increases. Moreover, stimulation of β
1
AR subtype induces PKA activities similar to those in wild-type cells. In contrast, stimulation of β
2
AR subtype induces strong initial activation of PKA similar to those induced by β
1
AR; however, the activities are rapidly decreased to baseline levels. The transient PKA activities are sufficient for phosphorylation of the overexpressed β
2
ARs under agonist stimulation, but not phospholamban. Further analysis reveals that phosphodiesterase 4 is the major family that shapes PKA activities under βAR stimulation. Inhibition of phosphodiesterase 4 extends β
2
AR-induced PKA activities, promotes PKA phosphorylation of phospholamban, and ultimately enhances myocyte contraction responses. Together, our data have revealed insights into kinetics of PKA activities in signaling propagation under neurohormonal stimulation.
The Orphan Nuclear Receptor Nur77 Suppresses Endothelial Cell Activation Through Induction of IκBα Expression
Authors: You Bei , Jiang Yuan-Ying , Chen Shaoping , Yan Guijun , Sun Jianxin
Published: February 2009

Endothelial inflammation plays a critical role in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease, albeit the mechanisms need to be fully elucidated. Nur77 is highly expressed in vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and plays a role in the regulation of cell proliferation and angiogenesis; its role in vascular inflammation, however, remains unknown. Treatment of human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α substantially increased the transcription and protein expression of Nur77 in a dose and time-dependent manner, as determined by Northern blot and Western blot analysis. Adenovirus mediated overexpression of Nur77 markedly increased the intracellular levels of IκBα by approximately 4-fold, whereas overexpression of dominant negative Nur77 (DN-Nur77), which lacks its transactivation domain, had no effect on IκBα expression, suggesting that Nur77 is an important transcriptional factor in controlling IκBα expression in ECs. Furthermore, overexpression of Nur77 significantly increased IκBα promoter activity via directly binding to a Nur77 response element in the IκBα promoter. Importantly, overexpression of Nur77, but not DN-Nur77, protected ECs against the TNF-α– and interleukin-1β–induced endothelial activation, as characterized by attenuation in the nuclear factor κB activation, expression of adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, and monocytic adherence to ECs. These results indicate that Nur77 negatively regulates the TNF-α– and interleukin-1β–induced vascular EC activation by transcriptionally upregulation of IκBα expression.
Birth Parameters Are Associated With Late-Life White Matter Integrity in Community-Dwelling Older People
Authors: Shenkin Susan D. , Bastin Mark E. , MacGillivray Tom J. , Deary Ian J. , Starr John M. , Wardlaw Joanna M.
Published: February 2009

Background and Purpose—

Lower birth weight is associated with increased risk of stroke, but little is known about the mechanism for this association or influence in addition to vascular risk factors. We investigated whether there was an association between birth parameters and imaging markers of white matter integrity in community-dwelling older people.

Methods—

One hundred seven volunteers, age 75 to 81 years, had birth parameters (weight, length, placental weight, gestational age) extracted from archives. Neuroimaging included assessment of white matter lesions and diffusion tensor–magnetic resonance imaging parameters in normal-appearing white matter.

Results—

Lower placental weight was correlated with increased white matter lesion load (
P
<0.05) and diffusion tensor–magnetic resonance imaging parameters (
P
<0.05). Birth weight and frontal white matter fractional anisotropy were significantly correlated (
P
<0.05). These associations were only slightly attenuated when corrected for gestational age, sex, age at scan, and vascular risk factors.

Conclusions—

Lower placental and possibly lower birth weight were associated with sensitive neuroimaging measures of white matter lesions in this cohort, independent of vascular risk factors later in life. Further studies are required to confirm these findings to explore life-long risk factors for age-related white matter changes.
Ethnic Distribution of ECG Predictors of Atrial Fibrillation and Its Impact on Understanding the Ethnic Distribution of Ischemic Stroke in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study
Authors: Soliman Elsayed Z. , Prineas Ronald J. , Case L. Douglas , Zhang Zhu-ming , Goff David C.
Published: February 2009

Background and Purpose—

The paradox of the reported low prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in blacks compared with whites despite higher stroke rates in the former could be related to limitations in the current methods used to diagnose AF in population-based studies. Hence, this study aimed to use the ethnic distribution of ECG predictors of AF as measures of AF propensity in different ethnic groups.

Methods—

The distribution of baseline measures of P-wave terminal force, P-wave duration, P-wave area, and PR duration (referred to as AF predictors) were compared by ethnicity in 15 429 participants (27% black) from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study by unpaired
t
test, χ
2
, and logistic-regression analysis, as appropriate. Cox proportional-hazards analysis was used to separately examine the association of AF predictors with incident AF and ischemic stroke.

Results—

Whereas AF was significantly less common in blacks compared with whites (0.24% vs 0.95%,
P
<0.0001), similar to what has been reported in previous studies, blacks had significantly higher and more abnormal values of AF predictors (
P
<0.0001 for all comparisons). Black ethnicity was significantly associated with abnormal AF predictors compared with whites; odds ratios for different AF predictors ranged from 2.1 to 3.1. AF predictors were significantly and independently associated with AF and ischemic stroke with no significant interaction between ethnicity and AF predictors, findings that further justify using AF predictors as an earlier indicator of future risk of AF and stroke.

Conclusions—

There is a disconnect between the ethnic distribution of AF predictors and the ethnic distribution of AF, probably because the former, unlike the latter, do not suffer from low sensitivity. These results raise the possibility that blacks might actually have a higher prevalence of AF that might have been missed by previous studies owing to limited methodology, a difference that could partially explain the greater stroke risk in blacks.
Comparisons of Satellite-Derived Atmospheric Motion Vectors, Rawinsondes, and NOAA Wind Profiler Observations
Authors: Bedka Kristopher M. , Velden Christopher S. , Petersen Ralph A. , Feltz Wayne F. , Mecikalski John R.
Published: February 2009

Geostationary satellite-derived atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) have been used over several decades in a wide variety of meteorological applications. The ever-increasing horizontal and vertical resolution of numerical weather prediction models puts a greater demand on satellite-derived wind products to monitor flow accurately at smaller scales and higher temporal resolution. The focus of this paper is to evaluate the accuracy and potential applications of a newly developed experimental mesoscale AMV product derived from Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) imagery. The mesoscale AMV product is derived through a variant on processing methods used within the University of Wisconsin—Madison Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (UW-CIMSS) AMV algorithm and features a significant increase in vector density throughout the troposphere and lower stratosphere over current NOAA/National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) processing methods for GOES-12 Imager data. The primary objectives of this paper are to 1) highlight applications of experimental GOES mesoscale AMVs toward weather diagnosis and forecasting, 2) compare the coverage and accuracy of mesoscale AMVs with the NOAA/NESDIS operational AMV product, and 3) demonstrate the utility of 6-min NOAA Wind Profiler Network observations for satellite-derived AMV validation. Although the more conservative NOAA/NESDIS AMV product exhibits closer statistical agreement to rawinsonde and wind profiler observations than do the experimental mesoscale AMVs, a comparison of these two products for selected events shows that the mesoscale product better depicts the circulation center of a midlatitude cyclone, boundary layer confluence patterns, and a narrow low-level jet that is well correlated with subsequent severe thunderstorm development. Thus, while the individual experimental mesoscale AMVs may sacrifice some absolute accuracy, they show promise in providing greater temporal and spatial flow detail that can benefit diagnosis of upper-air flow patterns in near–real time. The results also show good agreement between 6-min wind profiler and rawinsonde observations within the 700–200-hPa layer, with larger differences in the stratosphere, near the mean top of the planetary boundary layer, and just above the earth’s surface. Despite these larger differences within select layers, the stability of the difference profile with height builds confidence in the use of 6-min, ∼404-MHz NOAA Wind Profiler Network observations to evaluate and better understand satellite AMV error characteristics.
A Comprehensive Habit Diagram for Atmospheric Ice Crystals: Confirmation from the Laboratory, AIRS II, and Other Field Studies
Authors: Bailey Matthew P. , Hallett John
Published: February 2009

Recent laboratory experiments and in situ observations have produced results in broad agreement with respect to ice crystal habits in the atmosphere. These studies reveal that the ice crystal habit at −20°C is platelike, extending to −40°C, and not columnar as indicated in many habit diagrams found in atmospheric science journals and texts. These diagrams were typically derived decades ago from laboratory studies, some with inherent habit bias, or from combinations of laboratory and in situ observations at the ground, observations that often did not account for habit modification by precipitation from overlying clouds of varying temperatures. Habit predictions from these diagrams often disagreed with in situ observations at temperatures below −20°C. More recent laboratory and in situ studies have achieved a consensus on atmospheric ice crystal habits that differs from the traditional habit diagrams. These newer results can now be combined to give a comprehensive description of ice crystal habits for the atmosphere as a function of temperature and ice supersaturation for temperatures from 0° to −70°C, a description dominated by irregular and imperfect crystals. Cloud particle imager (CPI) habit observations made during the Second Alliance Icing Research Study (AIRS II) and elsewhere corroborate this comprehensive habit description, and a new habit diagram is derived from these results.
Turbulence Structure of the Hurricane Boundary Layer between the Outer Rainbands
Authors: Zhang Jun A. , Drennan William M. , Black Peter G. , French Jeffrey R.
Published: February 2009

As part of the Coupled Boundary Layers Air–Sea Transfer (CBLAST)-Hurricane program, flights were conducted to directly measure turbulent fluxes and turbulence properties in the high-wind boundary layer of hurricanes between the outer rainbands. For the first time, vertical profiles of normalized momentum fluxes, sensible heat and humidity fluxes, and variances of three-dimensional wind velocities and specific humidity are presented for the hurricane boundary layer with surface wind speeds ranging from 20 to 30 m s−1. The turbulent kinetic energy budget is estimated, indicating that the shear production and dissipation are the major source and sink terms, respectively. The imbalance in the turbulent kinetic energy budget indicates that the unmeasured terms, such as horizontal advection, may be important in hurricane boundary layer structure and dynamics. Finally, the thermodynamic boundary layer height, estimated based on the virtual potential temperature profiles, is roughly half of the boundary layer height estimated from the momentum flux profiles. The latter height where momentum and humidity fluxes tend to vanish is close to that of the inflow layer and also of the maximum in the tangential velocity profiles.
Fidelity of Analytic Drop Size Distributions in Drizzling Stratiform Clouds Based on Large-Eddy Simulations
Authors: Kogan Yefim L. , Kogan Zena N. , Mechem David B.
Published: February 2009

Cloud microphysical parameterizations and retrievals rely heavily on knowledge of the shape of drop size distributions (DSDs). Many investigations assume that DSDs in the entire or partial drop size range may be approximated by known analytical functions. The most frequently employed approximations of function are of the type of gamma, lognormal, Khrgian–Mazin, and Marshall–Palmer. At present, little is known about the accuracy of these approximations. The authors employ a DSD dataset generated by the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies Large-Eddy Simulation (CIMMS LES) explicit microphysics model for stratocumulus cases observed during the Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) field project. The fidelity of analytic lognormal- and gamma-type DSD functions is evaluated according to how well they represent the higher-order moments of the drop spectra, such as precipitation flux and radar reflectivity. It is concluded that for boundary layer marine drizzling stratocumuli, a DSD based on the two-mode gamma distribution provides a more accurate estimate of precipitation flux and radar reflectivity than the DSD based on the lognormal distribution. The gamma distribution also provides a more accurate radar reflectivity field in two- and three-moment bulk microphysical models compared to the conventional Z–R relationship.
Saturation of the Internal Tides and Induced Mixing in the Abyssal Ocean
Authors: Muller Caroline J. , Bühler Oliver
Published: February 2009

As part of an ongoing effort to develop a parameterization of wave-induced abyssal mixing, the authors derive an heuristic model for nonlinear wave breaking and energy dissipation associated with internal tides. Then the saturation and dissipation of internal tides for idealized and observed topography samples are investigated. One of the main results is that the wave-induced mixing could be more intense and more confined to the bottom than previously assumed in numerical models. Furthermore, in this model wave breaking and mixing clearly depend on the small scales of the topography below 10 km or so, which is below the current resolution of global bathymetry. This motivates the use of a statistical approach to represent the unresolved topography when addressing the role of internal tides in mixing the deep ocean.
Heavy Precipitation Associated with Southern Appalachian Cold-Air Damming and Carolina Coastal Frontogenesis in Advance of Weak Landfalling Tropical Storm Marco (1990)
Authors: Srock Alan F. , Bosart Lance F.
Published: February 2009

An analysis is presented of Tropical Storm Marco (1990), a storm that dropped copious amounts of rain over the southeast United States. Marco was noteworthy because of its role in the formation and evolution of two distinct episodes of cold-air damming and coastal frontogenesis over Georgia and the Carolinas. These mesoscale features led to greater than 300 mm of precipitation in 2 days over the near-coastal southeast United States; much of the rain occurred while Marco was over 400 km away. This case is further complicated by two other nearby tropical cyclones, which affected Marco’s track and the overall rainfall distribution. Synoptic and mesoscale analyses of the development of the coastal front and cold-air damming episodes show that the location of Marco helped to orient low-level winds toward the Appalachians. As rain developed inland, a pocket of relatively cool air, the “cool pool,” formed near the mountain slopes and was partially blocked by the higher terrain. Low-level analyses show that the coastal front on the oceanward edge of the cool pool became a focusing mechanism for ascent and precipitation, as moist, tropical air advected inland by Marco was forced upward at the density gradient. The results indicate that a weak tropical cyclone can directly effectuate intense precipitation distant from the storm center, both by causing moist tropical flow toward land and by inducing mesoscale features that focus the precipitation and lead to heavy rainfall and flooding.
Weather Forecasts by the WRF-ARW Model with the GSI Data Assimilation System in the Complex Terrain Areas of Southwest Asia
Authors: Xu J. , Rugg S. , Byerle L. , Liu Z.
Published: February 2009

This paper will first describe the forecasting errors encountered from running the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) mesoscale model (the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting model; ARW) in the complex terrain of southwest Asia from 1 to 31 May 2006. The subsequent statistical evaluation is designed to assess the model’s surface and upper-air forecast accuracy. Results show that the model biases caused by inadequate parameterization of physical processes are relatively small, except for the 2-m temperature, as compared to the nonsystematic errors resulting in part from the uncertainty in the initial conditions. The total model forecast errors at the surface show a substantial spatial heterogeneity; the errors are relatively larger in higher mountain areas. The performance of 2-m temperature forecasts is different from the other surface variables’ forecasts; the model forecast errors in 2-m temperature forecasts are closely related to the terrain configuration. The diurnal cycle variation of these near-surface temperature forecasts from the model is much smaller than what is observed.

Second, in order to understand the role of the initial conditions in relation to the accuracy of the model forecasts, this study assimilated a form of satellite radiance data into this model through the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA) analysis system called the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI). The results indicate that on average over a 30-day experiment for the 24- and 48-h (second 24 h) forecasts, the satellite data provide beneficial information for improving the initial conditions and the model errors are reduced to some degree over some of the study locations. The diurnal cycle for some forecasting variables can be improved after satellite data assimilation; however, the improvement is very limited.
Human Rights, the Sex Industry and Foreign Troops
Authors: Zimelis Andris
Published: February 2009

This article explores the relationship between prostitution, nationalism and foreign policies using a feminist analysis framework. Although scholars have dealt with the theoretical role of women in nationalist projects, there is little work factually supporting these theories. There is also a paucity of works demonstrating the role of prostitution in national security policies. This article rectifies these shortcomings and demonstrates that, although prostitution is illegal in Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, these governments have played an active role in supporting and maintaining the prostitution industry geared at servicing US troops. The US troops, in turn, have protected the national security of each of these countries for all of the post-Second World War era. In this context, it seems clear that `national security' does not include the physical, economic, legal and social insecurity of Japanese, Korean and Filipino women despite their contribution to the most quintessential Realist policy — national security.
The Impact of Mass Incarceration on Poverty
Authors: DeFina Robert , Hannon Lance
Published: February 2009

During the past 30 years, U.S. poverty has remained high despite overall economic growth. At the same time, incarceration rates have risen by more than 300%, a phenomenon that many analysts have referred to as mass incarceration. This article explores whether the mass incarceration of the past few decades impeded progress toward poverty reduction. Relying on a state-level panel spanning 1980 to 2004, the study measures the impact of incarceration on three poverty indexes. Estimates are generated using instrumental variable techniques to account for possible simultaneity between incarceration and poverty. The evidence indicates that growing incarceration has significantly increased poverty, regardless of which index is used to gauge poverty. Indeed, the official poverty rate would have fallen considerably during the period had it not been for mass incarceration.
Patient views on three key service areas within hospital COPD care
Authors: Roberts C Michael , Seiger Anil , Ingham Jane
Published: February 2009

Objective The views of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) about three key services (non-invasive ventilation [NIV], early discharge schemes and rehabilitation) were sought in order to inform recommendations for the delivery of optimum care within a national programme of hospital COPD service development.

Design Four focus groups were run involving 36 COPD patients, facilitated by two researchers. Tape recordings were transcribed and emergent grouped themes identified.

Setting Four locations across the UK.

Results Of the three service areas considered, two (NIV and early discharge) were unknown to the majority of patients despite their strong evidence base and national recommendations for implementation. Where patients were familiar with a service they made consistent and useful recommendations for improving care. Those recently hospitalized reported insufficient information provision for them to make personal informed choices about key management interventions.

Conclusion Patients have important views on services with which they are familiar and if consulted can significantly contribute to their development. This report has identified a lack of knowledge amongst the majority of patients consulted about recent key NHS medical and service developments. At a group level this impairs the contributions that patients may make to forming service profiles. At an individual level, lack of prior knowledge places patients in a vulnerable position when admitted to hospital and asked to make informed decisions about their care.
A Spanish language narrative simulation to prevent horseback riding head injury among rural youth
Authors: Arrowsmith Heather E , Cole Henry P , Mazur Joan M
Published: February 2009

Objective A Spanish language version of an exercise about adolescent horseback riders' exposure to traumatic brain injuries was integrated into the Spanish curriculum in a rural Kentucky high school.

Design An exploratory case study design with two groups of students.

Setting and Method Thirty-eight students, enrolled in intermediate Spanish IV and advanced Spanish V language classes, completed the exercise as part of their class work.

Results The students' mean age was 16.3 years with a gender distribution of 32 females, 13 of whom were horseback riders, and six male non-riders. Only six of the 13 female riders reported wearing a helmet at least half the time, and four never wore a helmet. The Spanish V students (11 of whom were riders) scored significantly higher ( p <0.05) on four of the five exercise items than the Spanish IV students (two of whom were riders). However, the groups did not differ and scored low (55.3 per cent) on an item that involved recognizing pre-event contributors to the injury event. Students with riding experience scored significantly higher than non-riders ( p <0.05) in recognizing that donning a helmet prior to riding is the most effective way to prevent a head injury. Although students believed that wearing a helmet could prevent brain injuries, they did not think they were at risk.

Conclusion The exercise was successfully integrated into both classes. Discussing its vocabulary and sentence structure prior to its administration would improve its effectiveness.
Performance of Students With and Without Disabilities Under Modified Conditions
Authors: Randall Jennifer , Engelhard George
Published: February 2009

This study examines the effects of two test modifications—resource guide and read-aloud—on the reading performance of students within the context of a large-scale statewide assessment in Georgia. Schools were both randomly selected and assigned to one of three possible test conditions: resource guide, read-aloud, or standard test condition. Students in the participating schools took the standardized operational version of the assessment in Grades 3 ( n = 945) and 6 ( n = 995), and then they were retested the following spring in Grades 4 and 7 under one of the three test conditions. Results suggest that the use of resource guides was not effective and that they may have been distracting for the students. The findings also indicate that the use of the read-aloud test modification provided a differential boost in reading performance for students with disabilities in the fourth grade but not for seventh-grade students.
Mental Contrasting and Goal Commitment: The Mediating Role of Energization
Authors: Oettingen Gabriele , Mayer Doris , Timur Sevincer A. , Stephens Elizabeth J. , Pak Hyeon-ju , Hagenah Meike
Published: February 2009

Mentally contrasting a desired future with present reality is a self-regulation strategy that leads to goal commitment in line with a person's expectations of success. One possible mediator variable of these effects is level of energization. In Study 1, energization assessed by physiological measures was found to mediate the effect of mental contrasting on goal commitment. In Study 2, feelings of energization, as assessed by self-report, mediated the effect of mental contrasting on goal commitment as gauged by performance on an acute stress paradigm (giving a talk in front of a camera). Results imply that when expectations of success are high, mental contrasting provides the level of energy needed to commit to realizing desired futures.
Cochrane review: information provision for stroke patients and their caregivers
Authors: Smith Jane , Forster Anne , Young John ,   On behalf of the Cochrane Group for information provision after stroke
Published: February 2009

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of information provision strategies in improving the outcome for stroke patients and/or their identified caregivers.

Data sources: We searched: the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; electronic databases MEDLINE; EMBASE; CINAHL; PsycINFO; Science Citation Index and Social Science Citation Index; Assia; Index to UK theses; Dissertation Abstracts; ongoing trials and research registers; bibliographies of retrieved papers, relevant articles, and books; the Journal of Advanced Nursing. We also contacted researchers for additional information.

Review methods: Two review authors independently assessed trial eligibility, extracted data and assessed methodological quality. Primary outcomes were knowledge about stroke and impact on mood. Meta-analyses were undertaken for the domains of knowledge, mood, satisfaction, and mortality.

Results: Seventeen trials were identified and 11 contributed data to the meta-analyses. There were significant effects in favour of the intervention on patient knowledge (standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.12 to 0.46), caregiver knowledge (SMD 0.74 95% CI 0.06 to 1.43), patient depression scores (weighted mean difference (WMD) -0.52, 95% CI -0.93 to -0.10), and one aspect of patient satisfaction (odds ratio (OR) 2.07, 95% CI 1.33 to 3.23). Post-hoc subgroup analyses showed that strategies which actively involved patient and caregivers had a significantly greater effect on patient anxiety (P<0.05) and depression (P<0.02) than passive strategies.

Conclusion: There is some evidence to support the routine provision of information to stroke patients and their families. Although the best way to provide information is still not clear, the results of this review suggest that strategies which actively involve patients and caregivers should be used in routine practice.
Predicting accidental falls in people with multiple sclerosis — a longitudinal study
Authors: Nilsagård Y. , Lundholm Cecilia , Denison E. , Gunnarsson L-G.
Published: February 2009

Objective: To investigate accidental falls and near fall incidents in people with multiple sclerosis with respect to clinical variables and the predictive values of four tests.

Design: A longitudinal, multi-centred cohort study with prospectively collected falls.

Procedures: Self-reported incidents during the three months following a standardized test procedure.

Subjects: Seventy-six people with multiple sclerosis and an Expanded Disability Status Scale score between 3.5 and 6.0.

Main outcome measures: Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go cognitive, Four Square Step Test (FSST) and 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale.

Results: Forty-eight people (63%) registered 270 falls. Most falls occurred indoors during activities of daily life. We found a correlation of rs=0.57 between near falls and falls, and of rs = 0.82 between registered and retrospectively recalled falls. Fallers and non-fallers differed significantly regarding Expanded Disability Status Score (odds ratio (OR) 1.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22; 3.40), spasticity (OR 1.14, CI 1.02; 1.31), proprioception (OR 2.50, CI 1.36; 5.12) and use of walking aids (OR 2.27, CI 1.23; 4.37). Reported use of walking aids both indoors and outdoors increased the odds of falling fivefold while disturbed proprioception increased the odds 2.5—15.6 times depending on severity. The odds of falling were doubled for each degree of increased Expanded Disability Status Score and more than doubled for each degree of increased spasticity. The Berg Balance Scale, use of walking aids and Timed Up and Go cognitive best identified fallers (73—94%) and proprioception, Expanded Disability Status Score, 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale and Four Square Step Test best identified non-fallers (75—93%).

Conclusions: In clinical practice, looking at the use of walking aids, investigating proprioception and spasticity, rating Expanded Disability Status Score and using Berg Balance Scale or Timed Up and Go cognitive all contribute when identifying fallers.
Effects of aerobic or aerobic and resistance training on cardiorespiratory and skeletal muscle function in heart failure: a randomized controlled pilot trial
Authors: Mandic Sandra , Tymchak Wayne , Kim Daniel , Daub Bill , Quinney H Arthur , Taylor Dylan , Al-Kurtass Suhaib , Haykowsky Mark J
Published: February 2009

Objective: To examined the effects of different training modalities on exercise capacity (Vo 2peak), systolic function, muscular strength and endurance and quality of life in heart failure patients.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Cardiac rehabilitation centre in Canada.

Subjects: Forty-two individuals with heart failure (62 ± 12 years; New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes I—III).

Interventions: Aerobic training (n = 14), combined aerobic and resistance training (n = 15) or usual care (n = 13) three times per week for 12 weeks.

Main measures: (1) Vo 2peak measured by symptom-limited graded exercise test on cycle ergometer; (2) systolic function assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography; (3) muscular strength and muscular endurance measured by one-repetition maximum procedure; and (4) quality of life assessed by questionnaires.

Results: In the intention-to-treat analysis, neither aerobic nor combined aerobic and resistance training significantly improved Vo2peak, systolic function or quality of life compared with usual care. However, combined aerobic and resistance training significantly improved upper extremity strength (40.7 (14.0)—48.5 (16.0) kg, P<0.05) and muscular endurance (5.7 (2.7)—11.6 (7.6) reps, P<0.05) compared with aerobic training or usual care. In compliant participants (exercise adherence 80%), Vo2peak increased in the aerobic group (16.9 (6.0)—19.0 (6.8), P= 0.026) and tended to increase in the combined training group (15.9 (5.0)—17.6 (5.6), P= 0.058) compared with usual care. Quality of life was improved in the aerobic group only.

Conclusions: Both aerobic and combined aerobic and resistance training are effective interventions to improve Vo2peak in compliant heart failure patients. Combined training may be more effective in improving muscle strength and endurance.