bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antimigratory and antimetastatic effect of heparin-derived 4–18 unit oligosaccharides in a preclinical human melanoma metastasis model
Authors: Kenessey István , Simon Erika , Futosi Krisztina , Bereczky Bíborka , Kiss Andrea , Erdödi Ferenc , Gallagher John , Tímár József , Tóvári József
Published: October 2009

Heparin and its derivatives have been shown to inhibit angiogenesis and metastasis formation. Accordingly, we investigated the effect of heparin fragments containing 4 to 22 monomers on human melanoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro as well as on the in vivo metastatic potential in a SCID mouse model. Only oligosaccharide dp18 had significant inhibitory effect on cell proliferation. In contrast, cell migration was inhibited by all oligosaccharides studied except dp8 and dp22. Anti CD44v3 antibody stimulated cell migration and invasion, and this effect could be attenuated by oligosaccharides dp4 and dp18. These fragments also inhibited the catalytic activity of myosin light chain phosphatase as well. Moreover, oligosaccharides dp4 and dp18 reduced the number of lung colonies formed in SCID mice intravenously injected with human melanoma cells, while dp22 proved to be ineffective in this respect.These studies revealed that fragments of heparin have an antimigratory and antimetastatic potential. These fragments lack the haemostatic effect of heparin, suggesting that they are potential specific antimetastatic agents in anticancer therapy.
Megakaryocyte and platelet abnormalities in a patient with a W33C mutation in the conserved SH3-like domain of myosin heavy chain IIA
Authors: Savoia Anna , Pluthero Fred , Li Ling , Christensen Hilary , De Rocco Daniela , Traivaree Chanchai , Butchart Sheila , Curtin Julie , Stollar Elliott , Forman-Kay Julie , Blanchette Victor , Kahr Walter
Published: October 2009

Heterozygous mutations in MYH9, which encodes non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (MHC-IIA),result in autosomal dominant inherited MYH9-related disorders characterised by macrothrombocytopenia, granulocyte inclusions, variable sensorineural deafness, cataracts and nephritis. MHC-IIA is assembled into a complex consisting of two pairs of light chains and two heavy chains, where the latter contain a neck region, SH3-like, motor and rod domains. We describe a patient with a Trp33Cys missense mutation in the SH3-like domain of MHC-IIA. Abnormal platelet function was observed using platelet aggregometry with the agonists epinephrine and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Patient granulocytes and megakaryocytes, but not platelets, contained abnormal MHC-IIA inclusions visualised by confocal immunofluorescence or electron microscopy. Megakaryocytes grown in culture were smaller and contained hypolobulated nuclei compared to controls. Bone marrow-derived megakaryocytes revealed a preponderance of immature forms, the presence of structurally diverse inclusion bodies, and frequent emperipolesis as assessed by electron microscopy. Platelets and leukocytes contained indistinguishable amounts of total MHCIIA determined by immunoblotting. Molecular modelling studies indicated that mutation of Trp33 destabilises the interface between the SH3-like and motor domain of MHC-IIA, which is close to previously described motor domain mutations, implying an important structural and/or functional role for this region in MHC-IIA.
Infection of the endothelium by members of the order Rickettsiales
Authors: Walker David , Valbuena Gustavo
Published: October 2009

The vascular endothelium is the main target of a limited number of infectious agents; Rickettsia, Ehrlichia ruminantium, and Orientia tsutsugamushi are among them. These arthropod-transmitted obligately-intracellular bacteria cause serious systemic diseases that are not infrequently lethal. In this review, we discuss the bacterial biology, vector biology, and clinical aspects of these conditions with particular emphasis on the interactions of these bacteria with the vascular endothelium and how it responds to intracellular infection. The study of these bacteria in relevant in vivo models is likely to offer new insights into the physiology of the endothelium that have not been revealed by other models.
Antimicrobial and immunoregulatory effector mechanisms in human endothelial cells
Authors: Schmidt Silvia , Heseler Kathrin , Spekker Katrin , MacKenzie Colin , Däubener Walter
Published: October 2009

In infectious diseases, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is generally accepted as one of the most important inducers of antimicrobial and immunoregulatory effects, and both seemingly contradictory effects, can be mediated by the same effector molecules. In detail, several IFN-γ induced enzymes such as the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as well as the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) also exert this double function. In this review we focus on antimicrobial and immunoregulatory properties of both enzymes expressed by human endothelial cells, which are prominent players in infectious diseases, tumour immunology and transplant medicine.
Alteration of fibrin clot properties by ultrafine particulate matter
Authors: Metassan Sofian , Charlton Alexander , Routledge Michael , Scott D. Julian , Ariëns Robert
Published: October 2009

Both long- and short-term (1–2 hours) exposure to particulate matter (PM) are associated with morbidity and mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases. One of the underlying mechanisms may be due to changes to blood coagulability upon exposure to PM. We investigated this possibility by measuring differences in blood clots formed in the presence of particulate matter in vitro. Total (T)PM increased the permeation of clots in a dose-dependant manner. Filtered (F)PM (17 μg/ml) also produced a significant increase in permeation. Turbidity measured as maximum optical density (ODmax) was increased in a dose-dependant manner with increasing concentration of TPM and FPM. Turbidity measurements also showed a significantly faster rate of polymerisation in the presence of 68 μg/ml FPM. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) showed a decrease in fibre density without a significant increase in fibre diameter. However, LSCM showed increased clot heterogeneity due to fibre clustering, creating areas of denser fibrin network surrounded by looser network. The presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger mannitol inhibited the effects on fibre clustering. Our data show that TPM and FPM cause alterations in fibrin clot structure, likely through the formation of ROS. These changes in fibrin clot structure may play a role in thromboembolic events upon PM exposure.
Platelet-endothelial cell interactions in cerebral malaria: The end of a cordial understanding
Authors: Faille Dorothée , El-Assaad Fatima , Alessi Marie-Christine , Fusai Thierry , Combes Valéry , Grau Georges
Published: October 2009

Cerebral malaria is an acute encephalopathy evolving from an infection with Plasmodium falciparum which kills more than one million people each year. Brain tissues from patients who died with cerebral malaria revealed multifocal capillary obstruction by parasitised red blood cells, platelets, and leukocytes. Many studies are unified in their proposal of two major hypotheses consisting of cell adhesion to the brain endothelium and excessive immune stimulation resulting in further vascular inflammation, prothrombotic cell activation, mechanical obstruction of cerebral capillaries and, consequently, blood-brain barrier disruption. Platelets and endothelial cells communicate on multiple levels. Infection-induced changes in platelets and endothelial cells occur in cerebral malaria, resulting in their concomitant activation, increased interactions between these two cell types, and a secondary procoagulant or hypercoagulable state. Here we review evidence for these mechanisms and highlight the possible role of platelets as effectors of endothelial damage in cerebral malaria. A better understanding of the complex regulation of these various interactions between brain endothelial cells and platelets in the context of cerebral malaria may prove useful in the development of new approaches to the treatment of this disease.
Gender as a risk factor for pulmonary embolism after air travel
Authors: Le Toumelin Philippe , Chassery Carine , Galinski Michel , Ameur Lydia , Jabre Patricia , Lapandry Claude , Adnet Frédéric , Lapostolle Frédéric
Published: October 2009

It was the objective of this study to confirm the hypothesis that women experience an increased risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) and/or thromboembolic events after long-distance air travel. We systematically reviewed the records of all patients with confirmed pulmonary embolism after arrival at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG) Airport (Paris, France) during a 13-year period.The incidence of PE was calculated as a function of distance travelled and gender using Bayesian conditional probabilities obtained in part from a control population of long-distance travellers arriving in French Polynesia (Tahiti). A total of 287.6 million passengers landed at CDG airport during the study period. The proportion of male to female long-distance travellers was estimated to be 50.5% to 49.5%. Overall, 116 patients experienced PE after landing [90 females (78%), 26 males (22%)]. The estimated incidence of PE was 0.61 (0.61–0.61) cases per million passengers in females and 0.2 (0.20–0.20) in males, and reached 7.24 (7.17–7.31) and 2.35 (2.33–2.38) cases, respectively, in passengers travelling over 10,000 km. Our study strongly suggests that there is a relationship between risk of PE after air travel and gender.This relationship needs to be confirmed in order to develop the best strategy for prophylaxis.
Management of Antithrombotic Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Presenting with Acute Coronary Syndrome and/or Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/ Stenting
Authors: Huber Kurt , Andreotti Felicita , Arnesen Harald , Airaksinen K. Juhani , Cuisset Thomas , Kirchhof Paulus , Marín Francisco , Lip Gregory
Published: October 2009

There remains uncertainty over optimal antithrombotic management strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) presenting with an acute coronary syndrome and/or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention/stenting. Clinicians need to balance the risk of stroke and thromboembolism against the risk of recurrent cardiac ischaemia and/ or stent thrombosis, and the risk of bleeding. This consensus document comprehensively reviews the published evidence and presents a consensus statement on a ‘best practice’ antithrombotic therapy guideline for the management of antithrombotic therapy in such AF patients.
Musical Theory and Philosophy: The Case of Archestratus
Authors: Barker Andrew
Published: October 2009

Little is known about the harmonic theorist Archestratus (probably early 3rd century BC). Our only substantial information comes from Porphyry, who quotes a brief comment by a certain Didymus on his epistemological stance, and seeks to justify it through reflection on a rather startling technical doctrine which Archestratus propounded; and from Philodemus, who comments scathingly on his view of the relation between harmonic theory and philosophy. Neither passage is easy to interpret; this paper tries to make sense of them, and to set them in an intelligible relation to one another. It argues that the doctrine recorded by Porphyry becomes comprehensible when it is placed against the background of Aristoxenus' work in harmonics, and it discusses Porphyry's inferences about the way in which his epistemological position diverged from that of Aristoxenus. It argues that Philodemus' report gives evidence of Archestratus' interest in issues of central concern to philosophy and in particular of an engagement with Aristotelian thought; it tries to identify some specific questions which attracted his attention, and to explain how he seems to have answered them, and why. It suggests that the two reports can be brought together as elements in a single, though fragmentary picture, and finally that Archestratus can be assigned an interesting though minor role in the history of Peripatetic philosophy and science.
The Political Economy of Academic Publishing
Authors: Pirie Iain
Published: October 2009

The digitisation of academic journals has created the technical possibility that research can be made available to any interested party free of charge. This possibility has been undermined by the proprietary control that commercial publishers exercise over the majority of this material. The control of commercial publishers over publicly-funded research has been criticised by charitable bodies, politicians and academics themselves. While the existing critical literature on academic publishers has considerable value, it fails to link questions of control within the journal-industry to the wider restructuring of economic and social relations that has taken place over the last three decades. This article seeks to complement this literature by highlighting how broader profitability pressures and the subsequent attempts by state-managers to expand the social space for capitalist accumulation have structured the development of the journal-industry.
Egyptian Family Courts: A Pathway of Women's Empowerment?
Authors: Al-Sharmani Mulki
Published: October 2009

A significant new law was passed by Egyptian legislators in 2004 introducing family courts to arbitrate family conflict in an effort to promote non-adversarial legal mechanisms. The aim of this paper is to examine how this new legal system is working for female plaintiffs. Through an analysis of court practices in a number of divorce and maintenance cases, this essay will make two central arguments: First, I will argue that the benefits family courts are currently providing to female plaintiffs are limited due to a number of gaps and shortcomings in the legislation, mechanisms of implementation, resources, and the capacity and the training of court personnel. In addition, the legal process in the new courts as well as the substantive family laws that are being implemented continue to reflect gender inequality and biases against women. Secondly, I will argue that the shortcomings of the new court system also result from the approach of addressing gender inequalities through the piecemeal approach of fragmented procedural reforms as well as the contradictions arising from the divergent agendas of the alliances built between different reform actors (e.g. women's rights organizations, government bodies, and legal institution).
Arab Women and Work: The Interrelation Between Orientalism and Historiography
Authors: Abisaab Malek
Published: October 2009

This essay examines the approaches and themes in two overlapping historiographical areas on women and labor since the sixties. The first area examines the scholarship on Lebanese women and modernization. The second area covers the scholarship on women, labor and the family in Arab Middle Eastern society. Despite their general critique of Orientalist representations of the “Muslim” woman, several scholars continue to invest cognate features of the modernization discourse and West-centered models of womanhood. For one, scholars have persistently stated that the social structures in Middle Eastern/Islamic society do not lend themselves to class or gendered divisions. Using classical Eurocentric criteria for gauging women's “empowerment,” these scholars tried to show that Arab working-women are unable to organize themselves on the basis of gender due to cultural taboos, sectarian affiliations, provincial loyalties, family authority, and lack of education. At times, “Islam” or “culture” is presented as operating from above-creating social attitudes that limit women's public activities and involvement in waged work. The primacy given to cultural difference prevents comparability between Western and Middle Eastern/Muslim women on the basis of shared socio-economic experiences. Several studies overlooked the complex interconnections among family, sect, class and gender expressed through the range of activities and experiences linking women's domestic and waged work. There is indeed an overwhelming focus on the ideas and attitudes of bourgeois woman and their legal rights, which are rarely analyzed in connection to historical context, economic arrangements, productive patterns, or social interest. Rather, they are discussed in connection to women's education and work and ultimately levels of modernization. These prevalent features of the historiographical literature give shape to new and subtle Orientalist narratives about Muslim/Middle Eastern women.
Rationality, Religion and Intentional Systems Theory: From Objective Ethnography to the Critical Study of Religious Beliefs
Authors: Kappinen Matti
Published: October 2009

Rationality pervades the study of religion. This essay argues that rationality has three roles in this context. First, it functions as a presupposition in the ethnographic descriptions of religious behaviour; second, it functions as the explanatory principle in ethnography of religion; third, rationality functions as a normative tool in the critical assessments of religion. It is argued that all three roles are rooted in the Dennettian intentional system theory and are thus intricately linked with each other. It is further argued that any ethnographic study of religion that uses the best available scientific methods in the description and explanation of human behaviour, commits itself to the relative optimality of scientific outlook and to the critique of religion in principle.
Ritual Individuation and Ritual Change
Authors: Seaquist Carl
Published: October 2009

What makes a ritual performance an instance of one ritual and not another? When we observe unfamiliar rituals, how do we know where one ends and the next begins? Is there a principled way of distinguishing mere preparations from the ritual proper? Can rituals change, and how do we know if they have changed? Current ritual studies methods give us no systematic means of answering such questions. Individuation is a familiar and fundamental concept in philosophy, and it should belong to the methodological toolbox of every student of ritual. This paper provides a solid introduction to some basic problems in ritual studies theory, illustrated by detailed examples from Episcopal liturgy and ritual in New Ireland (Papua New Guinea).
Diagnosing the Surface Layer Parameters for Dispersion Models within the Meteorological-to-Dispersion Modeling Interface
Authors: Sofiev M. , Genikhovich E. , Keronen P. , Vesala T.
Published: October 2009

The problem of providing dispersion models with meteorological information from general atmospheric models used, for example, for weather forecasting is considered. As part of a generalized meteorological-to-dispersion model interface, a noniterative scheme diagnosing the surface layer characteristics from wind, temperature, and humidity profiles was developed. The scheme verification included long-term comparison with data of meteorological masts at Cabauw, the Netherlands, and Hyytiälä, Finland. The algorithm compatibility and consistency with the High-Resolution Limited-Area Model (HIRLAM) was also checked, as this model is routinely used as a meteorological driver for the Air Quality and Emergency Modeling System (SILAM). The comparison with Cabauw mast data showed a good quantitative agreement between observed and diagnosed heat and momentum fluxes: the temporal correlation coefficient was ∼0.8, bias was less than 10% of the absolute flux levels, regression slope deviated from unity for less than 20% with the intercept being less than 10% of the absolute flux values, and so on. In the case of complex surface features (Hyytiälä mast in forest) the scheme proved to be robust with large deviations appearing only if the input profile data were taken outside the constant-flux layer. Comparison with the HIRLAM model showed qualitatively good agreement but also highlighted several differences between the goals, standards, and methodologies of meteorological and dispersion models. The scheme was implemented in SILAM, which served as the development platform.
Elevated Ozone Layers over the Seoul Metropolitan Region in Korea: Evidence for Long-Range Ozone Transport from Eastern China and Its Contribution to Surface Concentrations
Authors: Oh In-Bo , Kim Yoo-Keun , Hwang Mi-Kyung , Kim Cheol-Hee , Kim Soontae , Song Sang-Keun
Published: October 2009

Elevated layers of high ozone concentration were observed over the Seoul metropolitan region (SMR) in Korea by ozonesonde measurements during 6–9 June 2003. An analysis of the synoptic-scale meteorological features and backward trajectories revealed that the layers were associated with the long-range transport of ozone from eastern China. Further examination of the long-range transport process responsible for the development of these layers was performed using the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. CMAQ demonstrated that the upward mixing of ozone by convective activity in eastern China and subsequent horizontal transport aloft in the periphery of a slow-moving high pressure system led to the development of thick ozone layers over the SMR. Through comparative simulation studies, it was found that the surface ozone levels in the SMR can be significantly enhanced by the vertical down-mixing of ozone from the layer aloft with the growing mixed layer. On average, about 25% of the surface peak concentration in a given area during a high-ozone episode was due to the influence of the ozone layer aloft developed by the long-range transport process.
A Joint Estimate of the Precipitation Climate Signal in Europe Using Eight Regional Models and Five Observational Datasets
Authors: Tapiador Francisco J.
Published: October 2009

This paper presents an analysis of the precipitation climate signal in Europe emerging from a simulation of heterogeneous regional climate models (RCMs) using five observational datasets as the reference for present day climate conditions. Current climate simulations, as well as those from the A2 family of scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES-A2), from eight RCMs involved in the Prediction of Regional Scenarios and Uncertainties for Defining European Climate Change Risks and Effects (PRUDENCE) project have been cross-compared with data from the Climate Research Unit (CRU), the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP), the Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC), the Climate Prediction Center (CPC), and the CPC Merged Analysis of Precipitation (CMAP) databases for Europe. The RCMs used are HIRHAM, the Climate High Resolution Model (CHRM), the Rossby Centre Atmosphere–Ocean (RCAO) model, the GKSS Climate Version of the Local Model (CLM), the Hadley Center RCM (HadRM3H), the Atmospheric Hydrostatic Regional Model (REMO), the Prognostic Model at the Mesoscale (PROMES), and the regional coupled ocean–atmosphere–ice model (RACMO). The comparison shows that the climate signal has to be interpreted depending on the reference data used. Although each validation dataset has its own relative merits and shortcomings, it is known that all of the datasets present variable uncertainties and error sources, which impedes consideration of a single dataset as the only valid representation of actual precipitation. Hence, it is suggested that a robust joint estimate of changes in future precipitation might include the uncertainties of both the RCMs and those of the observational datasets. After accounting for the difference between observed and simulated precipitation in the present climate, the analysis of such joint estimates reveals significant agreement in the climate signal for most of Europe. This lends confidence to the idea that the RCMs are able to correctly simulate future changes in precipitation.
A Regime View of the North Atlantic Oscillation and Its Response to Anthropogenic Forcing
Authors: Woollings Tim , Hannachi Abdel , Hoskins Brian , Turner Andrew
Published: October 2009

The distribution of the daily wintertime North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index in the 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40) is significantly negatively skewed. Dynamical and statistical analyses both suggest that this skewness reflects the presence of two distinct regimes—referred to as “Greenland blocking” and “subpolar jet.” Changes in both the relative occurrence and in the structure of the regimes are shown to contribute to the long-term NAO trend over the ERA-40 period.

This is contrasted with the simulation of the NAO in 100-yr control and doubled CO2 integrations of the third climate configuration of the Met Office Unified Model (HadCM3). The model has clear deficiencies in its simulation of the NAO in the control run, so its predictions of future behavior must be treated with caution. However, the subpolar jet regime does become more dominant under anthropogenic forcing and, while this change is small it is clearly statistically significant and does represent a real change in the nature of NAO variability in the model.
Diurnal Cycle of Convection during the 2004 North American Monsoon Experiment
Authors: Johnson Richard H. , Ciesielski Paul E. , L’Ecuyer Tristan S. , Newman Andrew J.
Published: October 2009

The diurnal cycle of summer monsoon convection in the coastal, mountainous region of northwestern Mexico is investigated using data from the 2004 North American Monsoon Experiment (NAME). Data from a special sounding network consisting of research and operational sites have been quality controlled and combined with surface, wind profiler, and pibal observations to create a gridded dataset over the NAME domain. This study concentrates on results from the interior portion of the NAME sounding network, where gridded analysis fields are independent of model data. Special attention is given to surface and pibal observations along the western slope of the Sierra Madre Occidental (SMO) in order to obtain an optimal analysis of the diurnally varying slope flows.

Results show a prominent sea-breeze–land-breeze cycle along the western slopes of the SMO. There is a deep return flow above the afternoon sea breeze as a consequence of the elevated SMO immediately to the east. The upslope flow along the western slope of the SMO is delayed until late morning, likely in response to early morning low clouds over the SMO crest and reduced morning insolation over the west-facing slopes. The diurnal cycle of the net radiative heating rate is characterized by a net cooling during most of the daytime except for net heating in the lower and upper troposphere at midday. The diurnal cycle of the apparent heat source Q1 minus the radiative heating rate QR (providing a measure of net condensational heating) and the apparent moisture sink Q2 over the SMO is indicative of shallow convection around noon, deep convection at 1800 LT, evolving to stratiform precipitation by midnight, consistent with the radar-observed diurnal evolution of precipitation over this coastal mountainous region as well as the typical evolution of tropical convective systems across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Convection over the Gulf of California is strikingly different from that over land, namely, heating and moistening are confined principally to the lower troposphere below 700 hPa, peaking during the nighttime hours.
Global Warming Pattern Formation: Sea Surface Temperature and Rainfall*
Authors: Xie Shang-Ping , Deser Clara , Vecchi Gabriel A. , Ma Jian , Teng Haiyan , Wittenberg Andrew T.
Published: October 2009

Spatial variations in sea surface temperature (SST) and rainfall changes over the tropics are investigated based on ensemble simulations for the first half of the twenty-first century under the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission scenario A1B with coupled ocean–atmosphere general circulation models of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) and National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Despite a GHG increase that is nearly uniform in space, pronounced patterns emerge in both SST and precipitation. Regional differences in SST warming can be as large as the tropical-mean warming. Specifically, the tropical Pacific warming features a conspicuous maximum along the equator and a minimum in the southeast subtropics. The former is associated with westerly wind anomalies whereas the latter is linked to intensified southeast trade winds, suggestive of wind–evaporation–SST feedback. There is a tendency for a greater warming in the northern subtropics than in the southern subtropics in accordance with asymmetries in trade wind changes. Over the equatorial Indian Ocean, surface wind anomalies are easterly, the thermocline shoals, and the warming is reduced in the east, indicative of Bjerknes feedback. In the midlatitudes, ocean circulation changes generate narrow banded structures in SST warming. The warming is negatively correlated with wind speed change over the tropics and positively correlated with ocean heat transport change in the northern extratropics. A diagnostic method based on the ocean mixed layer heat budget is developed to investigate mechanisms for SST pattern formation.

Tropical precipitation changes are positively correlated with spatial deviations of SST warming from the tropical mean. In particular, the equatorial maximum in SST warming over the Pacific anchors a band of pronounced rainfall increase. The gross moist instability follows closely relative SST change as equatorial wave adjustments flatten upper-tropospheric warming. The comparison with atmospheric simulations in response to a spatially uniform SST warming illustrates the importance of SST patterns for rainfall change, an effect overlooked in current discussion of precipitation response to global warming. Implications for the global and regional response of tropical cyclones are discussed.
Comparison of Rain Gauge Measurements in the Mid-Atlantic Region
Authors: Tokay Ali , Bashor Paul G. , McDowell Victoria L.
Published: October 2009

A comparative study of daily and monthly rainfall between research and operational gauges was conducted at the mid-Atlantic region. Fifty research tipping-bucket gauges were deployed to 20 sites where each site had dual or triple gauges. The gauges were in place to validate the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s newly developed polarimetric radar rainfall estimate. For logistic purposes, these research gauges were collocated with operational gauges and were operated over a year at each site. Therefore, this is an experimental study, which involves a mixture of one to five sites of seven operational gauge networks.

A very good to excellent agreement between the two collocated research gauges at daily time scale raised the authors’ confidence to consider them as a reference before comparing with the operational gauges. Among operational networks, the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS) weighing bucket and the Climate Reference Network and Forest Services tipping-bucket gauges demonstrated high performance for both daily and monthly rainfall, while the Federal Aviation Administration’s Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) tipping-bucket gauges performed poorly. Among the other networks, the ASOS tipping-bucket and Cooperative observer program’s stick gauges seemed to be reliable for monthly rainfall, but not always for daily rainfall. The Virginia Agricultural Experimental Station (VAES) tipping-bucket gauges, on the other hand, had a mixture of high and low performance for daily and monthly rainfall. Unlike other gauge networks, VAES gauges were in place for long-term research applications.
Short-Term Basin-Scale Streamflow Forecasting Using Large-Scale Coupled Atmospheric–Oceanic Circulation and Local Outgoing Longwave Radiation
Authors: Maity Rajib , Kashid S. S.
Published: October 2009

This paper investigates the use of large-scale circulation patterns (El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the equatorial Indian Ocean Oscillation), local outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), and previous streamflow information for short-term (weekly) basin-scale streamflow forecasting. To model the complex relationship between these inputs and basin-scale streamflow, an artificial intelligence approach—genetic programming (GP)—has been employed. Research findings of this study indicate that the use of large-scale atmospheric circulation information and streamflow at previous time steps, along with OLR as a local meteorological input, potentially improves the performance of weekly basin-scale streamflow prediction. The genetic programming approach is found to capture the complex relationship between the weekly streamflow and various inputs. Different input variable combinations were explored to come up with the best one. The observed and predicted streamflows were found to correspond well with each other with a coefficient of determination of 0.653 (correlation coefficient r = 0.808), which may appear attractive for such a complex system.
Seasonality of the Kuroshio Path Destabilization Phenomenon in the Okinawa Trough: A Numerical Study of Its Mechanism
Authors: Nakamura Hirohiko , Nonaka Masami , Sasaki Hideharu
Published: October 2009

Previous observations have indicated that the Kuroshio’s path in the northern Okinawa Trough of the East China Sea is destabilized and accompanied by meanders with periods of 1–3 months during the winter–spring period. The present study investigates the mechanism responsible for this recurrent seasonally fixed phenomenon. A hypothetical mechanism is constructed based on both a simple wind-driven Ekman-pumping model, acting within the Kuroshio, and a bifurcation model of the Kuroshio path states in the northern Okinawa Trough, established in the previous study. A high-resolution ocean general circulation model is used to examine the hypothetical mechanism.

The numerical model reveals the following mechanism: the wintertime northerly wind prevailing over the Okinawa Trough blows against the Kuroshio, generating Ekman divergence, and hence upwelling within the inshore side of the Kuroshio from the sum of the earth’s rotation and the geostrophic current shear. A necessary condition for this upwelling is probably given by the exponential velocity structure of the surface Kuroshio on the inshore side of the current. This kind of wintertime upwelling acts to make the mean Kuroshio path separate from the continental slope in the northern Okinawa Trough, so that baroclinic instability destabilizes the Kuroshio path, as shown by the bifurcation model of Kuroshio path states.
Using ARM Observations to Evaluate Cloud and Clear-Sky Radiation Processes as Simulated by the Canadian Regional Climate Model GEM
Authors: Paquin-Ricard Danahé , Jones Colin , Vaillancourt Paul A.
Published: October 2009

The total downwelling shortwave (SWD) and longwave (LWD) radiation and its components are assessed for the limited-area version of the Global Environmental Multiscale Model (GEM-LAM) against Atmospheric Radiation Measurements (ARM) at two sites: the southern Great Plains (SGP) and the North Slope of Alaska (NSA) for the 1998–2005 period. The model and observed SWD and LWD are evaluated as a function of the cloud fraction (CF), that is, for overcast and clear-sky conditions separately, to isolate and analyze different interactions between radiation and 1) atmospheric aerosols and water vapor and 2) cloud liquid water. Through analysis of the mean diurnal cycle and normalized frequency distributions of surface radiation fluxes, the primary radiation error in GEM-LAM is seen to be an excess in SWD in the middle of the day. The SWD bias results from a combination of underestimated CF and clouds, when present, possessing a too-high solar transmissivity, which is particularly the case for optically thin clouds. Concurrent with the SWD bias, a near-surface warm bias develops in GEM-LAM, particularly at the SGP site in the summer. The ultimate cause of this warm bias is difficult to uniquely determine because of the range of complex interactions between the surface, atmospheric, and radiation processes that are involved. Possible feedback loops influencing this warm bias are discussed. The near-surface warm bias is the primary cause of an excess clear-sky LWD. This excess is partially balanced with respect to the all-sky LWD by an underestimated CF, which causes a negative bias in simulated all-sky emissivity. It is shown that there is a strong interaction between all the components influencing the simulated surface radiation fluxes with frequent error compensation, emphasizing the need to evaluate the individual radiation components at high time frequency.
Impact of Kalpana-1-Derived Water Vapor Winds on Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Forecasts
Authors: Deb S. K. , Kishtawal C. M. , Pal P. K.
Published: October 2009

The water vapor winds from the operational geostationary Indian National Satellite (INSAT) Kalpana-1 have recently become operational at the Space Applications Centre (SAC). A series of experimental forecasts are attempted here to evaluate the impact of water vapor winds derived from Kalpana-1 for the track and intensity prediction of two Bay of Bengal tropical cyclones (TCs), Sidr and Nargis, using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) modeling system. The assimilation of water vapor winds has made some impact in the initial position errors as well as track forecasts when compared with the corresponding control experiments for both TCs. However, no statistically significant improvement is noticed in the simulations of TC intensities [i.e., minimum sea level pressure (MSLP) and maximum surface winds forecasts when satellite winds are used for assimilation]. Moreover, the performance of Kalpana-1 winds is evaluated by repeating the same sets of experiments using Meteosat-7 winds derived at the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and compared with observed data. The simulation of initial position errors, and track and intensity forecasts using the assimilation of water vapor winds from both satellites are comparable. Though, these results are preliminary with respect to the Kalpana-1 winds, the present study can provide some insight to the WRF model users over the Indian Ocean region.
Spring and Summer Midwestern Severe Weather Reports in Supercells Compared to Other Morphologies
Authors: Duda Jeffrey D. , Gallus William A.
Published: October 2009

This study compares severe weather reports associated with the nine convective system morphologies used in a recent study by Gallus et al. to an additional morphology, supercell storms. As in that previous study, all convective systems occurring in a 10-state region covering parts of the Midwestern United States and central plains were classified according to their dominant morphology, and severe weather reports associated with each morphology were then analyzed. Unlike the previous study, which examined systems from 2002, the time period over which the climatology was performed was shifted to 2007 to allow access to radar algorithm information needed to classify a storm as a supercell.

Archived radar imagery was used to classify systems as nonlinear convective events, isolated cells, clusters of cells, broken lines of cells, squall lines with no stratiform precipitation, trailing stratiform precipitation, parallel stratiform precipitation, and leading stratiform precipitation, and bow echoes. In addition, the three cellular classifications were subdivided to allow an analysis of severe weather reports for events in which supercells were present and those in which they were not.

As in the earlier study, all morphologies were found to pose some risk of severe weather, and differences in the two datasets were generally small. The 2007 climatology confirmed the theory that supercellular systems produce severe weather more frequently than other morphologies, and also produce more intense severe weather. Supercell systems were especially prolific producers of tornadoes and hail relative to all other morphologies, but also produced severe wind and flooding much more often than nonsupercell cellular morphologies. These results suggest that it is important to differentiate between cellular morphologies containing rotation and those that do not when associating severe weather reports with convective morphology.
Norms and Customs: Causally Important or Causally Impotent?
Authors: Jones Todd
Published: October 2009

In this article, I argue that norms and customs, despite frequently being described as being causes of behavior in the social sciences and ordinary conversation, cannot really cause behavior. Terms like “norms” and the like seem to refer to philosophically disreputable disjunctive properties. More problematically, even if they do not, or even if there can be disjunctive properties after all, I argue that norms and customs still cannot cause behavior. The social sciences would be better off without referring to properties like norms and customs as if they could be causal.
Review Essay: Which Way Psychology? A Discussion of Barbara
Authors: Erwin Edward
Published: October 2009

Some psychologists have recently tried to develop new approaches to psychology incompatible with both natural-science views of the discipline and basic tenets of postmodernism. In her new book on psychology’s interpretative turn, Barbara Held refers to these thinkers as “middleground theorists” or MGTs. Most of the MGTs reject psychological laws, defend free choice and agency, stress the role of values in psychological inquiry, and argue for a hermeneutical methodology. Some reject scientific realism and embrace epistemological relativism. Both Held and I express doubts about some of these views.
Assessment of Nevirapine Bioavailability From Targeted Sites in the Human Gastrointestinal Tract
Authors: Macha Sreeraj , Yong Chan‐Loi , MacGregor Thomas R. , Castles Mark , Quinson Anne‐Marie , Rouyrre Nicolas , Wilding Ian
Published: October 2009

This study investigated absorption of nevirapine (NVP) from targeted sites of the gastrointestinal tract using remotely activated capsules and gamma scintigraphy. A total of 24 participants were randomized to receive 50 mg NVP orally as a suspension or via remotely activated capsules for release into the ascending colon. The 24 participants were then rerandomized into parallel groups of n = 8 for drug release into the ileum, jejunum, or descending colon. The mean gastric emptying time of capsules ranged from 0.88 to 3.35 hours. The small intestinal and colon transit time ranged from 4.08 to 7.76 hours and 17.6 to 21.2 hours, respectively, and capsule recovery time ranged from 27.6 to 34.4 hours. The relative bioavailability ratio of NVP in the jejunum was 1.06 (90% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.12) compared to suspension. In the ileum, ascending colon, and descending colon, bioavailability decreased to 0.89 (0.80–0.99), 0.82 (0.71–0.95), and 0.58 (0.22–1.53), respectively. The absorption rate decreased by ∼10‐fold from the jejunum (3.83 h−1) to the descending colon (0.338 h−1), and tmax increased from 2.42 hours (jejunum) to 16.3 hours (descending colon). Overall, NVP is absorbed from all 4 sites of the gastrointestinal tract, and the rate of absorption decreased from the jejunum to the descending colon. Relative bioavailability of NVP was in the order of jejunum > ileum > ascending colon > descending colon.
Comparison between Single- and Double-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Aglietti Paolo , Giron Francesco , Losco Michele , Cuomo Pierluigi , Ciardullo Antonio , Mondanelli Nicola
Published: October 2009

Background

Double-bundle ACL reconstruction popularity is increasing with the aim to reproduce native ACL anatomy and improve ACL reconstruction outcome. However, to date, only a few randomized clinical studies have been published.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to prospectively compare the clinical results of single- and double-bundle ACL reconstruction.

Study Design

Randomized controlled clinical trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods

Seventy patients with a chronic unilateral ACL rupture who underwent arthroscopically assisted ACL reconstruction using a hamstring graft were randomized to receive a single- (SB) or double-bundle (DB) reconstruction. Both groups were comparable with regard to preoperative data. A double-incision surgical technique was adopted in both groups. The graft was fixed by looping the hamstring tendons around a bony (DB) or a metallic (SB) bridge on the tibial side and with interference screws reinforced with a staple on the femur. The same rehabilitation protocol was adopted. Outcome assessment was performed by a blinded, independent observer using the visual analog scale (VAS) score, the new International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) form, the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and KT-1000 arthrometer evaluation.

Results

All the patients reached a minimum follow-up of 2 years. No differences between the 2 groups were observed in terms of KOOS and IKDC subjective score. A statistically significant difference in favor of the DB group was found with the VAS (P < .03). The objective IKDC final scores showed statistically significantly more “normal knees” in the DB group than in the SB group (P = .03). There was 1 stability failure in the DB group and 3 in the SB group. The KT-1000 arthrometer data showed a statistically significant decrease in the average anterior tibial translation in the DB group (1.2 mm DB vs 2.1 mm SB; P < .03). The incidence of a residual pivot-shift glide was 14% in DB and 26% in SB (P = .08).

Conclusion

In the 2-year minimum follow-up, DB ACL reconstructions showed better VAS, anterior knee laxity, and final objective IKDC scores than SB. However, longer follow-up and accurate instrumented in vivo rotational stability assessment are needed.
Financialization and Marx: Giving Labor and Capital a Financial Makeover
Authors: Bryan Dick , Martin Randy , Rafferty Mike
Published: October 2009

Financialization challenges some established ways of thinking within Marxist categories. We explore the way in which financialization is not simply shifting the balance of power between classes and generating economic volatility, but also re-constituting our understanding of class (as a formal economic category) and class relations. In particular, we examine how financialization is re-constituting labor as a form of capital, and giving capital a fluidity which serves to intensify competition. JEL classification: B51, G32
Mycotoxins in animal and human patients
Authors: Coppock Robert W , Jacobsen Barry J
Published: October 2009

The majority of human food and animal feed production occurs in a highly managed agroecosystem. Management decisions include variety grown, tillage and irrigation methods and practices, fertilization, pest and disease control, harvesting methods, and storage and transportation practices. This system is generally managed for optimum returns to labor and capital investments. The spores of toxigenic fungi have ubiquitous distribution and toxigenic fungi exploit food sources when conditions of moisture and temperature are above minimums for growth. The safety margins in the agroecosystem are close and are influenced by extrinsic factors such as climatic events. Control of fungal growth is important in management of raw feedstuffs, foodstuffs, condiments-spices, botanicals, and other consumable substances as they are grown, harvested, stored, and transported. The risk factors for mycotoxin production are weather conditions during crop growth and when the crop is mature, damage to seeds before, during, and after harvest, how commodities are physically handled, the presence of weed seeds and other foreign material in grain, and how commodity moisture and temperature are managed during storage and transportation. Diversion of commodities and by-products from human consumption to animal feedstuffs can increase the risk of mycotoxicoses in animals. The toxicology of selected toxigenic fungi and the mycotoxins they produce are reviewed.