bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An observing‐system experiment with ground‐based GPS zenith total delay data using HIRLAM 3D‐Var in the absence of satellite data
Authors: Eresmaa Reima , Salonen Kirsti , Järvinen Heikki
Published: July 2010

Ground‐based receiver networks of the Global Positioning System (GPS) provide observations of atmospheric water vapour with a high temporal and horizontal resolution. Variational data assimilation allows researchers to make use of zenith total delay (ZTD) observations, which comprise the atmospheric effects on microwave signal propagation. An observing‐system experiment (OSE) is performed to demonstrate the impact of GPS ZTD observations on the output of the High Resolution Limited Area Model (HIRLAM). The GPS ZTD observations for the OSE are provided by the EUMETNET GPS Water Vapour Programme, and they are assimilated using three‐dimensional variational data assimilation (3D‐Var).

The OSE covers a five‐week period during the late summer of 2008. In parallel with GPS ZTD data assimilation in the regular mode, the impact of a static bias‐correction algorithm for the GPS ZTD data is also assessed.

Assimilation of GPS ZTD data, without bias correction of any kind, results in a systematic increase in the forecast water‐vapour content, temperature and tropospheric relative topography. A slightly positive impact is shown in terms of decreased forecast‐error standard deviation of lower and middle tropospheric humidity and lower tropospheric geopotential height. Moreover, verification of categorical forecasts of 12 h accumulated precipitation shows a positive impact. The application of the static bias‐correction scheme is positively verified in the case of the mean forecast error of lower tropospheric humidity and when relatively high precipitation accumulations are considered. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Enhancement of composite‐metal interfacial adhesion strength by dendrimer
Authors: Mei Lei , He Xiaodong , Li Yibin , Peng Qingyu , Wang Rongguo , Xu Jian
Published: July 2010

The interface between carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites and metal plays a critical role in determining the strength of epoxy/metal laminated composites. We propose to introduce one dendrimer layer into the epoxy/metal interface, aiming to enhance the interfacial adhesion strength so that the interface could more effectively transfer the load from epoxy to metal. In this paper, the preparation and adsorption of dendrimer layer onto the alumina surface were systematically investigated. The results show that a highly stable and nanopatterned dendrimers layer was dip‐coated onto alumina substrates by adsorbing poly (amidoamine) dendrimers. It was confirmed that the dendrimers were adsorbed onto the alumina via acid‐base chemical interactions. The adsorption depends on the reaction time. The adhesion property between dendrimers and alumina was examined by sonication method. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A two‐stage receiver with soft interference cancellation for space–time block code and spatial multiplexing combined systems
Authors: Tu Yung‐Ping , Fang Wen‐Hsien , Chen Yie‐Tarng
Published: July 2010

This paper presents a new space–time two‐stage receiver with the assistance of soft information for the Alamouti space–time block code (STBC) and spatially multiplexing (SM) combined multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) systems, which possess both the advantages of high diversity gain and high data rates to entail the next generation wireless communication systems. The first stage of the receiver, utilizing the inherent structure of the STBC, consists of a bank of soft generalized sidelobe canceller (GSC)‐based detectors, each for every STBC block, and intends to yield a more precise initial estimate of the transmitted symbols. In the second stage, the groupwise detection is conducted successively by using the matched filters (MFs) to simultaneously detect the two consecutive symbols in one STBC block with the removal of the soft interferences in between. Since the interferences have been faithfully reproduced and thoroughly annihilated, the new receiver can yield accurate symbol detection even with simple MFs. Moreover, some extreme cases regarding the soft information employed in the new receiver and its extension to the multiuser (MU) MIMO downlink are addressed as well. Conducted simulations show that the developed receiver, with modest computational load, can provide superior performance compared with pervious works, especially in the MU MIMO downlink. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Record linkage
Authors: Herzog Thomas H. , Scheuren Fritz , Winkler William E.
Published: July 2010

This article describes methods for matching duplicates within or across files using non‐unique identifiers such as first name, last name, date of birth, address, and other characteristics. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This article is categorized under:

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Data Reduction, Smoothing, and Filtering
Youth mentoring with a balanced focus, shared purpose, and collaborative interactions
Authors: Karcher Michael J. , Nakkula Michael J.
Published: July 2010

This opening article defines the ways in which three mentoring interaction elements—focus, purpose, and authorship—distinguish between effective and ineffective mentoring relationship styles. The framework described can help mentors better understand the difference between prescriptive and instrumental styles and differentiate laissez‐faire from developmental mentoring. It also reveals unique ways for program staff to develop training materials and for researchers to better study mentoring activities. The authors suggest that being able to articulate the importance of focus, purpose, and authorship is critical for shaping program practices, designing relevant research, and guiding program evaluations.
“I dunno, what do you wanna do?”: Testing a framework to guide mentor training and activity selection
Authors: Karcher Michael J. , Herrera Carla , Hansen Keoki
Published: July 2010

Whether relational or goal‐directed interactions are most useful in youth mentoring has been frequently debated, but until recently, little work had been done to understand how such interactions manifest to create viable relationship styles. The authors' findings in the first study they explore in this article support Karcher and Nakkula's assertion that relational and goal‐directed interactions are distinct. The authors found that both made significant contributions to relationship quality, but for children and preadolescents, relational interactions appeared to be more strongly associated with the quality of the mentoring relationship than did goal‐oriented interactions. Karcher and Nakkula further suggest that it is when the focus of interactions (relational and goal‐directed) emerges through collaborative dialogue that the strongest relationship styles emerge. In their second study, the authors found that cross‐age peer mentoring (school‐based) matches that selected their activities collaboratively had higher‐quality mentoring relationships (mentor and youth reported) than those matches whose activities were typically selected unilaterally by either the program or the mentee alone.
Structuring mentoring relationships for competence, character, and purpose
Authors: Rhodes Jean E. , Spencer Renée
Published: July 2010

We close this volume with a final commentary from two leaders in the mentoring field. Rhodes and Spencer articulate how the contributions to this volume offer a richer, more complex rendering of relational styles and processes than has been laid out previously in the mentoring literature. They suggest that these efforts should provoke discussion and debate on how relationship styles and mentor‐youth interactions influence youth outcomes, particularly as this work continues to draw on knowledge from related fields. The authors conclude with the hope that the work presented here will inform mentoring practices in ways that help youth successfully meet the demands of and flourish in an increasingly complex world.
Husbandry of a pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus): case study of a cryptic and little known species in captivity
Authors: Superina Mariella
Published: July 2010

Pink fairy armadillos, Chlamyphorus truncatus, are poorly known fossorial mammals that are endemic to central Argentina. These smallest of all extant armadillos are rarely observed in the field and extremely difficult to maintain under captive conditions. This case study describes the husbandry of a male pink fairy armadillo that was maintained in an artificial environment for 8 months. A stable, undisturbed environment consisting of abundant compact sand and hiding places on the surface was the key to its successful maintenance. The artificial diet consisted of a semiliquid mixture of ground cat food, insectivore diet, mashed banana, vitamins, and minerals. Any slight modification to its environment or diet triggered a stress response. Zoo Biol 30:225–231, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Postprandial changes of amino acid and acylcarnitine concentrations in dried blood samples
Authors: Fingerhut Ralph , De Jesus Silva Arevalo Gabriel , Baumgartner Matthias R. , Häberle Johannes , Rohrbach Marianne , Figueroa Andrés Weinfeld Ávalos , Fresse Elena María Dardón , Polanco Olga Leticia , Torresani Toni
Published: July 2010

Blood sampling for newborn screening cannot be standardized as for example blood collection in adults after an overnight fast. Therefore the influence of postprandial changes and individual variation is valuable information for the assessment of sensitivity and specificity of newborn screening for certain disorders. We have analyzed 92 pairs of dried blood samples taken pre‐ and one hour postprandially, respectively. We have determined the mean increase in metabolite concentration and calculated its significance. Individual variation after an overnight fast in healthy adults (n = 3) was between 12 and 32% (SD). Postprandial increases of acylcarnitines were mostly not significant and not exceeding 10%. Postprandial increase of amino acids was highly significant for most proteinogenic amino acids, but not for all. With the collected data we were able to estimate that mainly decreased levels of methionine and, to a lesser extent, of free carnitine could be “masked” by postprandial increases of the respective metabolites, and could therefore lead to false negative results for the detection of disorders of cobalamin metabolism and carnitine transporter deficiency.
Pattern of Peroxide Value Changes in Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) Due to Photo‐Oxidation Sensitized by Chlorophyll
Authors: Rukmini Ambar , Raharjo Sri
Published: July 2010

The effect of chlorophyll in photo‐oxidation of virgin coconut oil (VCO) during production and storage was studied. Photo‐oxidation during VCO production was performed under accelerated conditions using fluorescent lights (4,000 lux) for 8 h. Peroxide values (PVs) and chlorophyll contents of the samples were measured at 1 h intervals. To compare the photo‐oxidation during storage, VCO samples were separately stored under ambient and normal room light intensity (380–400 lux) for up to 4 months and PVs were measured weekly. The results indicated that relatively low light intensity during the settling stage of VCO production had no significant effect on photo‐oxidation. Photo‐oxidation of VCO, however, was observed during storage when exposed to high intensity fluorescent light. The degradation of chlorophyll content in VCO was evident during exposure to a high fluorescent light intensity which was accompanied by high lipid peroxide accumulation. A significant negative correlation between PV and chlorophyll content was found in VCO without light protection. The storage of VCO significantly increased the PV after 10 weeks. This study confirmed that chlorophyll which is naturally present in VCO even at a very low level (less than 0.1 ppm) could initiate a photo‐oxidation reaction leading to quality deterioration during prolonged storage or display at retailers.
Population pharmacokinetic—pharmacodynamic modeling of ketamine‐induced pain relief of chronic pain
Authors: Dahanl Albert , Olofsenl Erik , Sigtermans Marnix , Noppers Ingeborg , Niesters Marieke , Aarts Leon , Bauer Martin , Sarton Elise
Published: July 2010

Aims: Pharmacological treatment of chronic (neuropathic) pain is often disappointing. In order to enhance our insight in the complex interaction between analgesic drug and chronic pain relief, we performed a pharmacokinetic—pharmacodynamic (PK—PD) modeling study on the effect of S(+)‐ketamine on pain scores in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type 1 (CRPS‐1) patients.

Methods: Sixty CRPS‐1 patients were randomly allocated to received a 100‐h infusion of S(+)‐ketamine or placebo. The drug infusion rate was slowly increased from 5 mg/h (per 70 kg) to 20 mg/h based upon the effect/side effect profile. Pain scores and drug blood samples were obtained during the treatment phase and pain scores were further obtained weekly for another 11 weeks. A population PK—PD model was developed to analyze the S(+)‐ketamine‐pain data.

Results: Plasma concentrations of S(+)‐ketamine and its metabolite decreased rapidly upon the termination of S(+)‐ketamine infusion. The chance for an analgesic effect from ketamine and placebo treatment was 67±10% and 23±9% (population value±SE), respectively. The pain data were well described by the PK—PD model with parameters C50=10.5±4.8 ng/ml (95% ci 4.37–21.2 ng/ml) and t½ for onset/offset=10.9±4.0 days (5.3–20.5 days).

Discussion: Long‐term S(+)‐ketamine treatment is effective in causing pain relief in CRPS‐1 patients with analgesia outlasting the treatment period by 50 days. These data suggest that ketamine initiated a cascade of events, including desensitization of excitatory receptor systems in the central nervous system, which persisted but slowly abated when ketamine molecules were no longer present.
Endolymphatic pseudohydrops of the cochlear apex
Authors: Makarem Andres , Fayad Jose N. , Linthicum Fred H.
Published: July 2010

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate that what appears to be endolymphatic hydrops of the apical scala media is normal anatomy.

STUDY DESIGN

Computer‐generated three‐dimensional reconstruction of the cochlear apex and tabulation of the number of cases with arched Reissner's membranes (pseudohydrops) versus flat membranes.

SETTING

Temporal bone laboratory consisting of 809 documented pairs of temporal bones.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Archival temporal bone sections from 107 bones (65 patients) were used to determine the percentage of arched (pseudohydrops) versus flat Reissner's membranes. Two bones, one of each membrane shape, were randomly selected for computer‐generated three‐dimensional reconstructions showing the cochlear apical anatomy.

RESULTS

An arched Reissner's membrane was found in 48.6 percent of bones. In the cochlear apex, Reissner's membrane appears to be distended, simulating hydrops, due to its transition from a conical structure to a triangle bounded by the basilar membrane with the organ of Corti, the stria vascularis, and Reissner's membrane. Membrane findings were similar in both ears in 73.8 percent of the bilateral cases studied. There were no significant relationships between membrane type and clinical characteristics.

CONCLUSION

What appears to be endolymphatic hydrops of the cochlear apex is the transition area of the cochlear duct from a conical shape at the extreme apex to the triangular shape found in the rest of the cochlea. The appearance of distension is dependent upon the cochlear length and the level of the microscopic section.

© 2010 American Academy of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.
Measuring disease‐specific health‐related quality of life to evaluate treatment outcomes in tinnitus patients: A systematic review
Authors: Kamalski Digna M. , Hoekstra Carlijn E. , Zanten Bert G. van , Grolman Wilko , Rovers Maroeska M.
Published: July 2010

OBJECTIVE

To identify all disease‐specific health‐related quality‐of‐life (HR‐QoL) instruments used to assess tinnitus in clinical trials and detail their psychometric properties.

DATA SOURCES

A literature search was performed in the bibliographical databases of PubMed and Embase to identify all articles using specific HR‐QoL instruments in tinnitus trials.

REVIEW METHODS

The HR‐QoL instruments used in these articles were investigated in more detail, focusing on characteristics and psychometric values by two independent reviewers.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies were identified by the systematic search. The most used HR‐QoL questionnaire was the Tinnitus Questionnaire, followed by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, the Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire, and the Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α > 0.9) and reproducibility (> 0.8) were high for all questionnaires, and there was heterogeneity in responses between patients, endorsing the use of these questionnaires for discriminative purposes. However, the responsiveness, i.e., the usefulness of these questionnaires in evaluating treatment effects, is not known yet.

CONCLUSION

The HR‐QoL instruments used in tinnitus trials appear not to be validated to measure effectiveness of interventions. Using tests or instruments that are valid and reliable is a crucial component of research quality, and both should therefore be studied before final conclusions can be drawn from the questionnaires in upcoming clinical trials.

© 2010 American Academy of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.
Utility of elastography for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules
Authors: Kagoya Ryoji , Monobe Hiroko , Tojima Hitoshi
Published: July 2010

OBJECTIVE

1) To classify the appearance of thyroid nodules displayed on ultrasound elastography; 2) to explore the sensitivity and specificity of this examination for differentiating benign and malignant nodules, with histopathologic analysis as the reference standard; and 3) to evaluate its utility for avoiding unnecessary procedures.

STUDY DESIGN

Diagnostic test assessment.

SETTING

Community hospital.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Forty‐seven thyroid nodules in 44 consecutive patients were examined with ultrasound elastography. The images we obtained were classified into four patterns. In addition, the mean strain index of the thyroid nodule and that of the sternocleidomastoid muscle were measured, and the nodule‐tomuscle strain ratio was calculated. As the reference findings, the presence or absence of calcification, irregular margins, and hypoechogenicity of the thyroid nodules were examined using B‐mode ultrasound.

RESULTS

Elastography patterns 3 and 4 were predictive of malignancy, with 73 percent sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI]: 39%‐94%) and 64 percent specificity (95% CI: 46%‐79%). Additionally, all nodules without calcification and those that presented with patterns 1 or 2 were benign. A strain ratio greater than 1.5 was set as the predictor of thyroid malignancy. This criterion showed 90 percent sensitivity (95% CI: 59%‐100%) and 50 percent specificity (95% CI: 33%‐67%).

CONCLUSION

Although elastography can assist in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules, its diagnostic performance is not ideal at present. Further improvements in the technique and the diagnostic criteria are necessary for this examination to provide a useful contribution to diagnosis.

© 2010 American Academy of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.
Article Commentary: Response to Commentary on Clinical practice guideline: Hoarseness (Dysphonia)
Authors: Schwartz Seth , Setzen Gavin
Published: July 2010

The commentary published in this edition of the journal addresses several important issues concerning the clinical practice guideline for hoarseness, which has engendered some controversy since its publication. This response addresses those issues.

© 2010 American Academy of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.
From shopping to social innovation: Getting public financing right in Canada
Authors: Phillips Susan D , Laforest Rachel , Graham Andrew
Published: July 2010

Governments are an important source of funding for the nonprofit and voluntary sector. Yet, the use of funding instruments is conditioned by the political and institutional context. This paper proposes three financing models – charity, welfare state and citizenship – which capture the link between the choice of public financing and the broader institutional context. The financing models are then used to examine the evolution of funding patterns in Canada. We argue that the evolution of financing models in Canada has gradually constrained instrument choice and more importantly, a market-oriented application of funding instruments has dominated the financing debates at the expense of a broader focus on preconditions of applying the instruments effectively. As a result, funding instruments in Canada are poorly suited for fostering innovation and investing in capacity development in the voluntary sector.
No associations between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone and depression among US adults
Authors: Zhao Guixiang , Ford Earl S. , Li Chaoyang , Balluz Lina S.
Published: July 2010

Although there is evidence that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in depression, studies done on the associations have yielded mixed results. The present study aimed to examine the associations between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) and the presence of depression among US adults. A cross-sectional, population-based sample (including 3916 participants aged ≥ 20 years) from the 2005–6 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used. Participants' depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 diagnostic algorithm. The associations of 25(OH)D and PTH with depression were explored using multivariate logistic regression models. For all the participants, the age-adjusted prevalence was 5·3  (95 % CI 4·3, 6·5) % for having moderate-to-severe depression, 2·3  (95 % CI 1·7, 3·1) % for having major depression and 3·8  (95 % CI 3·0, 4·6) % for having minor depression. Although the age-adjusted prevalence and the unadjusted OR of having moderate-to-severe depression or major depression decreased linearly with increasing quartiles of 25(OH)D (P < 0·05 for trends), no significant associations remained after adjusting for multiple potential confounders such as demographic variables, lifestyle factors and coexistence of a number of chronic conditions. Neither the age-adjusted prevalence nor the OR (unadjusted or adjusted) of having depression differed significantly by the quartiles of PTH. Thus, in contrast to some of the previous findings, the present results did not show significant associations between serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and PTH and the presence of moderate-to-severe depression, major depression or minor depression among US adults. However, these findings need to be further confirmed in future studies.
Being mobile: electric mobility-scooters and their use by older people
Authors: MAY ESTHER , GARRETT ROBYNE , BALLANTYNE ALISON
Published: July 2010

There is increasing use of electric mobility-scooters by older people in South Australia, the fourth largest state in Australia. Although various issues about their use have been raised by users, carers, urban planners and legislators, to date they have received little research attention. The purpose of the study reported in this paper was to explore the factors that influence and impact upon older people who use mobility-scooters, particularly from their own perspectives. Data were collected through a survey of 67 current electric mobility-scooter older users, and through two focus groups with other older South Australian people who were users. The data showed that more than 71 per cent of the participants had owned their scooter for more than two years, most had purchased the scooter as new, and 80 per cent owned a four-wheel scooter. The scooter was used predominantly for getting to and from shops, visiting friends and family, and to go for rides. Most respondents used their scooters three to five times each week and travelled between two and five kilometres from their home. The key findings from the focus groups were categorised into three major themes of ‘obtaining a scooter’, ‘the meaning of mobility’ and ‘issues around sharing spaces’. Each is exemplified. The implications for environmental and building design, for the better training of users, and for public education are discussed.
Being physically active in old age: relationships with being active earlier in life, social status and agents of socialisation
Authors: CASTILLO JESUS MARTÍNEZ DEL , NAVARRO JOSÉ EMILIO JIMÉNEZ-BEATTY , SANZ JOSÉ LUIS GRAUPERA , RODRÍGUEZ MARÍA MARTÍN , IZQUIERDO ANTONIO CAMPOS , PINÉS DAVID DEL HIERRO
Published: July 2010

Critical reviews of the literature on the factors that influence physical activity among older adults have argued that existing theoretical frameworks should be extended by integrating those that deal with the complex processes of socialisation and social learning. This paper explores some of the social processes that influence older people's participation in physical activity (beyond that associated with everyday domestic tasks). A questionnaire with items on personal, social and environmental characteristics was completed by a random sample of older adults in the Madrid Autonomous Region (Spain). Significant relationships were found between the type of physical activity participation and: being physically active at earlier life stages, socio-economic status, the encouragement of others or social support in being active, and the knowledge and availability of local facilities. Some cases were observed of re-socialisation into physical activity among those who had been inactive earlier in life, and both appropriate environmental and supportive social conditions appeared instrumental. The findings could usefully inform the design of future social programmes to promote active lifestyles in later life, but given the complexity of the socialisation processes, it would be advisable for future studies to examine other than the four factors featured in the presented analysis, such as the role of cultural differences.
Comprehensive assessment of older people with complex care needs: the multi-disciplinarity of the Single Assessment Process in England
Authors: CHALLIS DAVID , ABENDSTERN MICHELE , CLARKSON PAUL , HUGHES JANE , SUTCLIFFE CAROLINE
Published: July 2010

The quality of assessment of older people with health and social care needs has for some time been a concern of policy makers, practitioners, older people and carers in the United Kingdom and internationally. This article seeks to address a key aspect of these concerns, namely whether sufficient expertise is deployed when, as a basis for a care plan and service allocation, an older person's eligibility for local authority adult social-care services requires a comprehensive needs assessment of their usually complex and multiple problems. Is an adequate range of professionals engaged, and is a multi-disciplinary approach applied? The Single Assessment Process (SAP) was introduced in England in 2004 to promote a multi-disciplinary model of service delivery. After its introduction, a survey in 2005–06 was conducted to establish the prevalence and patterns of comprehensive assessment practice across England. The reported arrangements for multi-disciplinary working among local authority areas in England were categorised and reviewed. The findings suggest, first, that the provision of comprehensive assessments of older people that require the expertise of multiple professionals is limited, except where the possibility arose of placement in a care-home-with-nursing, and second that by and large a systematic multi-disciplinary approach was absent. Policy initiatives to address the difficulties in assessment need to be more prescriptive if they are to produce the intended outcomes.
Optimal cut-off values and population means of waist circumference in different populations
Authors: Wang Zhiqiang , Ma Jun , Si Damin
Published: July 2010

Abdominal obesity is a risk factor for cardiometabolic disease, and has become a major public health problem in the world. Waist circumference is generally used as a simple surrogate marker to define abdominal obesity for population screening. An increasing number of publications solely rely on the method that maximises sensitivity and specificity to define ‘optimal’ cut-off values. It is well documented that the optimal cut-off values of waist circumference vary across different ethnicities. However, it is not clear if the variation in cut-off values is a true biological phenomenon or an artifact of the method for identifying optimal cut-off points. The objective of the present review was to assess the relationship between optimal cut-offs and population waist circumference levels. Among sixty-one research papers, optimal cut-off values ranged from 65·5 to 101·2 cm for women and 72·5 to 103·0 cm for men. Reported optimal cut-off values were highly correlated with population means (correlation coefficient: 0·91 for men and 0·93 for women). Such a strong association was independent of waist circumference measurement techniques or the health outcomes (dyslipidaemia, hypertension or hyperglycaemia), and existed in some homogeneous populations such as the Chinese and Japanese. Our findings raised some concerns about applying the sensitivity and specificity approach to determine cut-off values. Further research is needed to understand whether the differences among populations in waist circumference were genetically or environmentally determined, and to understand whether using region-specific cut-off points can identify individuals with the same absolute risk levels of metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes among different populations.
The role of RNA processing in the pathogenesis of motor neuron degeneration
Authors: Bäumer Dirk , Ansorge Olaf , Almeida Mara , Talbot Kevin
Published: July 2010

Motor neurons are large, highly polarised cells with very long axons and a requirement for precise spatial and temporal gene expression. Neurodegenerative disorders characterised by selective motor neuron vulnerability include various forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). A rapid expansion in knowledge on the pathophysiology of motor neuron degeneration has occurred in recent years, largely through the identification of genes leading to familial forms of ALS and SMA. The major emerging theme is that motor neuron degeneration can result from mutation in genes that encode factors important for ribonucleoprotein biogenesis and RNA processing, including splicing regulation, transcript stabilisation, translational repression and localisation of mRNA. Complete understanding of how these pathways interact and elucidation of specialised mechanisms for mRNA targeting and processing in motor neurons are likely to produce new targets for therapy in ALS and related disorders.
Neuroticism and Speed-Accuracy Tradeoff in Self-Paced Speeded Mental Addition and Comparison
Authors: Flehmig Hagen C. , Steinborn Michael B. , Westhoff Karl , Langner Robert
Published: July 2010

Previous research suggests a relationship between neuroticism (N) and the speed-accuracy tradeoff in speeded performance: High-N individuals were observed performing less efficiently than low-N individuals and compensatorily overemphasizing response speed at the expense of accuracy. This study examined N-related performance differences in the serial mental addition and comparison task (SMACT) in 99 individuals, comparing several performance measures (i.e., response speed, accuracy, and variability), retest reliability, and practice effects. N was negatively correlated with mean reaction time but positively correlated with error percentage, indicating that high-N individuals tended to be faster but less accurate in their performance than low-N individuals. The strengthening of the relationship after practice demonstrated the reliability of the findings. There was, however, no relationship between N and distractibility (assessed via measures of reaction time variability). Our main findings are in line with the processing efficiency theory, extending the relationship between N and working style to sustained self-paced speeded mental addition.
High productivity in an ice melting hot spot at the eastern boundary of the Weddell Gyre
Authors: Geibert W. , Assmy P. , Bakker D. C. E. , Hanfland C. , Hoppema M. , Pichevin L. E. , Schröder M. , Schwarz J. N. , Stimac I. , Usbeck R. , Webb A.
Published: July 2010

The Southern Ocean (SO) plays a key role in modulating atmospheric CO2 via physical and biological processes. However, over much of the SO, biological activity is iron‐limited. New in situ data from the Antarctic zone south of Africa in a region centered at ∼20°E–25°E reveal a previously overlooked region of high primary production, comparable in size to the northwest African upwelling region. Here, sea ice together with enclosed icebergs is channeled by prevailing winds to the eastern boundary of the Weddell Gyre, where a sharp transition to warmer waters causes melting. This cumulative melting provides a steady source of iron, fuelling an intense phytoplankton bloom that is not fully captured by monthly satellite production estimates. These findings imply that future changes in sea‐ice cover and dynamics could have a significant effect on carbon sequestration in the SO.
Hyperbolic decay of the Dst Index during the recovery phase of intense geomagnetic storms
Authors: Aguado J. , Cid C. , Saiz E. , Cerrato Y.
Published: July 2010

What one commonly considers for reproducing the recovery phase of magnetosphere, as seen by the Dst index, is exponential function. However, the magnetosphere recovers faster in the first hours than in the late recovery phase. The early steepness followed by the late smoothness in the magnetospheric response is a feature that leads to the proposal of a hyperbolic decay function to reproduce the recovery phase instead of the exponential function. A superposed epoch analysis of recovery phases of intense storms from 1963 to 2003 was performed, categorizing the storms by their intensity into five subsets. The hyperbolic decay function reproduces experimental data better than what the exponential function does for any subset of storms, which indicates a nonlinear coupling between dDst/dt and Dst. Moreover, this kind of mathematical function, where the degree of reduction of the Dst index depends on time, allows for explaining different lifetimes of the physical mechanisms involved in the recovery phase and provides new insights for the modeling of the Dst index.
High‐frequency forcing and subtidal response of the Hudson River plume
Authors: Hunter Elias J. , Chant Robert J. , Wilkin John L. , Kohut Josh
Published: July 2010

The Lagrangian Transport and Transformation Experiments (LaTTE) document the physical, biological, and chemical evolution of the Hudson River plume during the spring seasons of 2004, 2005, and 2006. While plume variability due to river discharge, subinertial frequency variability in winds, and ambient shelf circulation are important, the observations show that the plume reacts directly to higher‐frequency forcing as well. Mooring records during 2005 and 2006 show that fortnightly variability in tidal mixing is manifested as fortnightly changes in plume stratification. Diurnal variability related to forcing by the sea‐land breeze system (SLBS) is apparent in the Hudson River plume during the 2005 experiment. The SLBS, while episodic, accounts for ∼15% of the kinetic energy in surface currents in the New York Bight apex during the summer months with individual SLBS events providing up to 50% of the total kinetic energy. Simulations of the plume, using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS), demonstrate there is a subtidal response to high‐frequency forcing. Spring‐neap variability in tidal mixing modifies the estuary outflow Rossby and Froude numbers, resulting in increased transport (80% of river discharge) in the New Jersey coastal current during spring tides with lower transport (60% of river discharge) during neap tides. SLBS variability results in greater storage of river discharge water in the recirculating bulge region and increases the net transport of freshwater along the Long Island coast while significantly reducing freshwater supplied to the New Jersey coastal current to as little as 30% of the total river discharge.
Relationships among cloud occurrence frequency, overlap, and effective thickness derived from CALIPSO and CloudSat merged cloud vertical profiles
Authors: Kato Seiji , Sun‐Mack Sunny , Miller Walter F. , Rose Fred G. , Chen Yan , Minnis Patrick , Wielicki Bruce A.
Published: July 2010

A cloud frequency of occurrence matrix is generated using merged cloud vertical profiles derived from the satellite‐borne Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) and cloud profiling radar. The matrix contains vertical profiles of cloud occurrence frequency as a function of the uppermost cloud top. It is shown that the cloud fraction and uppermost cloud top vertical profiles can be related by a cloud overlap matrix when the correlation length of cloud occurrence, which is interpreted as an effective cloud thickness, is introduced. The underlying assumption in establishing the above relation is that cloud overlap approaches random overlap with increasing distance separating cloud layers and that the probability of deviating from random overlap decreases exponentially with distance. One month of Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) and CloudSat data (July 2006) support these assumptions, although the correlation length sometimes increases with separation distance when the cloud top height is large. The data also show that the correlation length depends on cloud top hight and the maximum occurs when the cloud top height is 8 to 10 km. The cloud correlation length is equivalent to the decorrelation distance introduced by Hogan and Illingworth (2000) when cloud fractions of both layers in a two‐cloud layer system are the same. The simple relationships derived in this study can be used to estimate the top‐of‐atmosphere irradiance difference caused by cloud fraction, uppermost cloud top, and cloud thickness vertical profile differences.
Analysis of migrating diurnal tides detected in FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC temperature data
Authors: Pirscher B. , Foelsche U. , Borsche M. , Kirchengast G. , Kuo Y.‐H.
Published: July 2010

The characteristics of atmospheric tides in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere region are investigated using radio occultation (RO) measurements performed by the Formosa Satellite Mission‐3/Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC) satellite constellation and compared to tides observed in short‐term forecast model fields of European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). Spectral analysis of 2 years of monthly data (2007 to 2008) yields the migrating diurnal tide to be the largest spectral component. This diurnal tide shows similar temporal, latitudinal, and altitudinal characteristics in all data sets equatorward of 50°. Beyond 50°, COSMIC local time sampling is insufficient within 1 month, which prevents space‐time spectral analysis from isolating atmospheric waves. Diurnal tides of temperature are characterized by largest amplitudes in the tropics (0.8 K to 1.0 K at an altitude of 30 km). Amplitudes of diurnal tides analyzed in model data are more pronounced by ∼20%. An annual cycle of the amplitudes, characteristically linked to the movement of the intertropical convergence zone, is clearly revealed. Tropical diurnal phase features downward progression of waves fronts with a vertical wavelength of 20 km. Extratropical diurnal tides are most pronounced in the model data sets with amplitudes of up to 0.5 K at 30 km. In this analysis we also see the influence of high‐altitude initialization of RO data by background information in using data processed by two different centers (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and Wegener Center (WEGC)). UCAR data, initialized by a climatology without tidal information, exhibit no appreciable extratropical diurnal tides, while WEGC data, initialized by ECMWF forecasts, show more pronounced ones. Overall the results underpin the utility of the local‐time resolving COSMIC RO constellation data for monitoring diurnal tide dynamics in the stratosphere. The agreement between observational and model data further confirms that the tidal dynamics is appropriately captured in the models, which is important for other (middle/upper) atmosphere models relying on ECMWF or NCEP dynamics.
Mixing of Asian dust with pollution aerosol and the transformation of aerosol components during the dust storm over China in spring 2007
Authors: Huang Kan , Zhuang Guoshun , Li Juan , Wang Qiongzhen , Sun Yele , Lin Yanfen , Fu Joshua S.
Published: July 2010

An intensive spring aerosol sampling campaign over northwestern and northern China and a megacity in eastern China was conducted in the spring of 2007 to investigate the mixing of Asian dust with pollution aerosol during its long‐range transport. On the basis of the results of the three sites near dust source regions (Tazhong, Yulin, and Duolun) and a metropolitan city (Shanghai), three dust sources, i.e., the western high‐Ca dust in the Taklimakan Desert, the northwestern high‐Ca dust and the northeastern low‐Ca dust in Mongolia Gobi, were identified on the basis of the air mass trajectories and the elemental tracer analysis (e.g., Ca/Al, SO42−/S, Ca2+/Ca, and Na+/Na). The western dust was least polluted in comparison to the other two dust sources. The results evidently indicated that the dust could have already mixed with pollution aerosol even in near dust source regions. The concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and S were elevated several times at all sites during dust days, showing the entrainment of pollution elements by dust. The secondary SO42− was observed to show much higher concentration due to the heterogeneous reaction on the alkaline dust during dust storm, while the concentrations of NO3− and NH4+ decreased owing to the dilution of the local pollution by the invaded dust. The western dust contained relatively low anthropogenic aerosols, and it mainly derived from the Taklimakan Desert, a paleomarine source. The northwestern dust had a considerable chemical reactivity and mixing with sulfur precursors emitted from the coal mines on the pathway of the long‐range transport of dust. The northeastern dust reached Shanghai with high acidity, and it became the mixed aerosol with the interaction among dust, local pollutants, and sea salts. Comparison of the speciation of the water‐soluble ions on both nondust and dust days at all sites illustrated the evolution of major ion species from different dust sources during the long‐range transport of dust. The mixing mechanisms of the dust with the pollution aerosol on the local, medium‐range, and long‐range scale revealed from this study would improve the understanding of the impacts of Asian dust on the regional/global climate change.
Permittivity estimation of layers beneath the northern polar layered deposits, Mars
Authors: Lauro Sebastian Emanuel , Mattei Elisabetta , Pettinelli Elena , Soldovieri Francesco , Orosei Roberto , Cartacci Marco , Cicchetti Andrea , Noschese Raffaella , Giuppi Stefano
Published: July 2010

Martian Polar Layered Deposits, most likely dusty ice are transparent to radar waves. In the North Pole bedrock has been detected by MARSIS up to a depth about 2 Km, whereas in the South Pole such interface has been located at about 3.7 Km. The reflected signal is generally above the noise and can be used to estimate the dielectric properties of the bedrock. Assuming the permittivity of the first layer is known, we use a simplified inversion method to extract the bedrock relative dielectric permittivity as 4–9 below the North PLD's. These values are coherent with the basalt nature and so the approach could be used to identify the lithology beneath the Martian Poles.
Global trends in extremal microseism intensity
Authors: Aster Richard C. , McNamara Daniel E. , Bromirski Peter D.
Published: July 2010

Globally ubiquitous seismic background noise peaks near 7 and 14 s period are generated via distinct mechanisms that transfer storm‐generated gravity wave energy to the seismic wave field. We utilize continuous digital ground motion data recorded by the Global Seismographic Network and precursor instrumentation to chronicle microseism power extreme events for 1972–2009. Because most land‐observed microseism surface‐wave energy is generated at or near coasts, microseism metrics are particularly relevant to assessing changes in coastal ocean wave energy. Extreme microseism winter storm season event counts reveal the widespread influence of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Individual station and ensemble slopes trend positive for this study period for Northern Hemisphere stations. The double‐frequency microseism is particularly volatile, suggesting that the weaker single‐frequency microseism directly generated by ocean swell at coasts is likely a more representative seismic proxy for broad‐scale ocean wave energy estimation.
Sphingolipids mediate formation of mRNA processing bodies during the heat-stress response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Cowart L. Ashley , Gandy Jason L. , Tholanikunnel Baby , Hannun Yusuf A.
Published: July 2010

Recent work, especially in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has demonstrated that mRNA movement from active translation to cytoplasmic granules, termed mRNA‘p-bodies’ (processing bodies), occurs in concert with the regulation of translation during cell stress. However, the signals regulating p-body formation are poorly defined. Recent results have demonstrated a function for sphingolipids in regulating translation during heat stress, which led to the current hypothesis that p-bodies may form during heat stress in a sphingolipid-dependent manner. In the present study, we demonstrate that mild-heat-stress-induced formation of p-bodies, as determined by localization of a GFP (green fluorescent protein)-tagged Dcp2p and RFP (red fluorescent protein)-tagged Edc3p to discrete cytoplasmic foci. Sphingoid base synthesis was required for this effect, as inhibition of sphingoid base synthesis attenuated formation of these foci during heat stress. Moreover, treatment of yeast with the exogenous sphingoid bases phyto- and dihydro-sphingosine promoted formation of p-bodies in the absence of heat stress, and the lcb4/lcb5 double-deletion yeast, which accumulates high intracellular levels of sphingoid bases, had large clearly defined p-bodies under non-stress conditions. Functionally, inhibition of sphingolipid synthesis during heat stress did not prevent translation stalling, but extended translation arrest, indicating that sphingolipids mediate translation initiation. These results are consistent with the notion that p-bodies serve not only in mRNA degradation, but also for re-routing transcripts back to active translation, and that sphingolipids play a role in this facet of the heat-stress response. Together, these results demonstrate a critical and novel role for sphingolipids in mediating p-body formation during heat stress.