bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The challenge that Confucian filial piety poses for Korean churches
Authors: Park David M. , Müller Julian C.
Published: April 2014

Contemporary ancestor worship is currently practiced around the world in several different forms. However, the essence and practice of ancestor worship varies throughout Asia, Africa, Oceania and Latin America. The context of countries under the influence of Confucianism is very different from that of other countries. Confucianism teaches that ancestor worship is the most prized display of filial piety toward one’s dead ancestors. Amongst Asian countries under the influence of Confucianism – specifically China, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Korea – ancestor worship has not only been accepted and propagated as a culture, but it is also considered to be filial piety. Especially the Korean people think that ancestor worship is a very important expression of filial piety, and it is a ritual which they practice regularly during their festive days. What does Confucianism teach about filial piety, and how is ancestor worship practiced? What does the Bible teach about filial piety? Are practical applications of biblical filial piety present in Korean society? Rather than allowing Confucian ancestor worship to take root in Korean society as a traditional Korean heritage, the conclusion is that Korean Christians must make an effort to teach and facilitate biblical filial piety.
Cranial index of children with normal and abnormal brain development in Sokoto, Nigeria: A comparative study
Authors: Musa Muhammad Awwal , Zagga Abdullahi Daudu , Danfulani Mohammed , Tadros Aziz Abdo , Hamid Ahmed
Published: April 2014

Background: Abnormal brain development due to neurodevelopmental disorders in children has always been an important concern, but yet has to be considered as a significant public health problem, especially in the low- and middle-income countries including Nigeria. Aims: The aim of this study is to determine whether abnormal brain development in the form of neurodevelopmental disorders causes any deviation in the cranial index of affected children. Materials and Methods: This is a comparative study on the head length, head width, and cranial index of 112 children (72 males and 40 females) diagnosed with at least one abnormal problem in brain development, in the form of a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD), in comparison with that of 218 normal growing children without any form of NDD (121 males and 97 females), aged 0-18 years old seen at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, over a period of six months, June to December, 2012. The head length and head width of the children was measured using standard anatomical landmarks and cranial index calculated. The data obtained was entered into the Microsoft excel worksheet and analyzed using SPSS version 17. Results: The mean Cephalic Index for normal growing children with normal brain development was 79.82 ± 3.35 and that of the children with abnormal brain development was 77.78 ± 2.95 and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It can be deduced from this present study that the cranial index does not change in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Lead encephalopathy in adults
Authors: Rao Janapareddy Vijaya Bhaskara , Vengamma Bhuma , Naveen Thota , Naveen Vandanapu
Published: April 2014

Lead poisoning is a common occupational health hazard in developing countries. We report the varied clinical presentation, diagnostic and management issues in two adult patients with lead encephalopathy. Both patients worked in a battery manufacturing unit. Both patients presented with seizures and one patient also complained of abdominal colic and vomiting. Both were anemic and a lead line was present. Blood lead level in both the patients was greater than 25 μg/dl. Magnetic resonance imaging of brain revealed bilateral symmetric involvement of the thalamus, lentiform nucleus in both patients and also the external capsules, sub-cortical white matter in one patient. All these changes, seen as hyperintensities in T2-weighted images suggested demyelination. They were advised avoidance of further exposure to lead and were treated with anti-epileptics; one patient also received D-penicillamine. They improved well on follow-up. Lead encephalopathy is an uncommon but important manifestation of lead toxicity in adults.
Hyperdense large artery sign in meningitis: A marker of ominous thrombogenic potential of pneumococcus?
Authors: Mojumder Deb Kumar , Toledo John De
Published: April 2014

Hyperdensity in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) or posterior cerebral artery (PCA) on non-contrast head CT, suggests the presence of a thrombus inside these vessels, often referred to as the “MCA sign” or “PCA sign” respectively. These two signs are classically associated with strokes secondary to cardiovascular etiologies and are only infrequently reported with other types of stroke. Whereas stroke is a recognized complication of pneumococcal meningitis hyperdense large vessel sign (in this case a combination of MCA and PCA) has not been previously reported. We report a case of rapidly progressive pneumococcal meningitis that presented as acute stroke involving large vessels in the vicinity of the circle of Willis in a patient with a history of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in remission for 6 years. This patient had received a week of high dose steroids before admission. Head CT scan on admission showed the presence of hyperdense MCA and PCA signs. The patient rapidly deteriorated and a follow-up head CT revealed diffuse brain edema and increased density in the basal cisterns without evidence of sub arachnoid hemorrhage.Tc99m exametazime brain flow scan showed no intracerebral blood flow both supra and infratentorially. Steptococcus pneumoniae, NHL cells and high-dose steroid use can upregulate tissue factor synthesis and may have led to a hypercoagulable state via activation of the extrinsic pathway in the large intracerbral arteries.
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus associated with abducens palsy
Authors: Chaker Nibrass , Bouladi Mejda , Chebil Ahmed , Jemmeli Mehdi , Mghaieth Fatma , Matri Leila El
Published: April 2014

The extraocular muscle palsies associated with herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) are transient, self-limiting conditions, usually seen in elderly patients. There are different treatment recommendations for paralytic complications, but prognosis has generally reported to be favorable. A 75-year-old male patient presented with diplopia. Clinical history revealed left facial vesicular eruptions and pain treated by oral aciclovir 1 week following symptom onset. On examination, we observed cicatricial lesions with crusts involving left hemiface, a limitation in abduction of the left eye, and a superficial punctuate keratitis (SPK) with decreased visual acuity (4/10). Examination of the right eye was unremarkable. Hess screen test confirmed left six nerve palsy.
Parry-Romberg syndrome with hemimasticatory spasm in pregnancy; A dystonia mimic
Authors: Panda Akhila Kumar , Gopinath Godhavarma , Singh Shaily
Published: April 2014

Parry-Romberg syndrome (PRS) with hemimasticatory spasm (HMS) is quite an uncommon overlapping phenomenon which very often mimics jaw closing dystonia. A previously healthy 35-year-old female, during her 5 th month of pregnancy started developing intermittent unilateral painful spasms of jaw while conversation, clinching of teeth, or eating, which led to frequent tongue bites. The spasms were worsened during pregnancy. She used to do certain manoeuvre like sensory tricks in form of touching involved side of the face to relieve the symptoms. Apart from this, she developed progressive hemifacial and hemitongue atrophy. Other medical and neurological examinations were normal. Laboratory investigations as well as neuroimaging were noncontributory. The spasm responded to carbamazepine but hemifacial atrophy persists. To our best knowledge, onset and worsening of this syndrome in pregnancy has not been described earlier which might be correlated either with some hormonal imbalance or some unknown mechanisms.
Epidural hematoma with detachment of the dural sinuses
Authors: Lapadula Gennaro , Federico Caporlingua , Paolini Sergio , Missori Paolo , Domenicucci Maurizio
Published: April 2014

Epidural hematoma (EH) is a neurosurgical emergency that requires early surgical treatment. It is rarely extended bilaterally causing a detachment of the dural sinus or sinuses. The authors present two rare cases of EH with dural sinus detachment and describe how they suspend them. In these cases it is crucial to firmly suspend the dura mater and the dural sinus to the inner skull surface to prevent postoperative rebleeding.
Internet and Video Game Use in Relation to Overweight in Young Adults
Authors: Melchior Maria , Chollet Aude , Fombonne Eric , Surkan Pamela J. , Dray-Spira Rosemary
Published: April 2014

Purpose.

To examine the relationship between interactive media use (Internet and video games) and overweight risk in young adults.

Design.

Prospective cohort study.

Setting.

France (TEMPO study).

Subjects.

Community sample of 674 young adults aged 22 to 35 in 2009 (response rate to the original mail out: 44.3%).

Measures.

Data were collected through mail-based questionnaires from study participants in 1999 (juvenile overweight, juvenile TV use) and 2009 (overweight, Internet and video game use, regular physical activity), and from their parents who participated in the GAZEL study from 1989 to 2009 (parental overweight).

Analysis.

Logistic regression.

Results.

Participants who engaged in regular video game use (> 1 time/wk) were more likely to be overweight than those who did not (odds ratio [OR] 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42–3.42). Adjusting for sex, regular athletic activity, juvenile overweight, juvenile TV use, and parental overweight, the OR associated with video game use decreased but remained statistically significant (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.15–3.28). We found no significant association between Internet use and overweight.

Conclusion.

Video game use may be a relevant target for interventions aiming to decrease the burden of overweight and associated consequences in young adults.
Interpreting aerosol lifetimes using the GEOS-Chem model and constraints from radionuclide measurements
Authors: Croft B. , Pierce J. R. , Martin R. V.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Aerosol removal processes control global aerosol abundance, but the rate of that removal remains uncertain. A recent study of aerosol-bound radionuclide measurements after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident documents 137Cs removal (e-folding) times of 10.0–13.9 days, suggesting that mean aerosol lifetimes in the range of 3–7 days in global models might be too short by a factor of two. In this study, we attribute this discrepancy to differences between the e-folding and mean aerosol lifetimes. We implement a simulation of 137Cs and 133Xe into the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model and examine the removal rates for the Fukushima case. We find a general consistency between modelled and measured e-folding times. The simulated 137Cs global burden e-folding time is about 14 days. However, the simulated mean lifetime of aerosol-bound 137Cs over a 6-month post-accident period is only 1.8 days. We find that the mean lifetime depends strongly on the removal rates in the first few days after emissions, before the aerosols leave the boundary layer and are transported to altitudes and latitudes where lifetimes with respect to wet removal are longer by a few orders of magnitude. We present sensitivity simulations that demonstrate the influence of differences in altitude and location of the radionuclides on the mean lifetime. Global mean lifetimes are shown to strongly depend on the altitude of injection. The global mean 137Cs lifetime is more than one order of magnitude greater for the injection at 7 km than into the boundary layer above the Fukushima site. Instantaneous removal rates are slower during the first few days after the emissions for a free tropospheric versus boundary layer injection and this strongly controls the mean lifetimes. Global mean aerosol lifetimes for the GEOS-Chem model are 3–6 days, which is longer than that for the 137Cs injected at the Fukushima site (likely due to precipitation shortly after Fukushima emissions), but similar to the mean lifetime of 3.9 days for the 137Cs emissions injected with a uniform spread through the model's Northern Hemisphere boundary layer. Simulated e-folding times were insensitive to emission parameters (altitude, location, and time), suggesting that these measurement-based e-folding times provide arobust constraint on simulated e-folding times. Despite the reasonable global mean agreement of GEOS-Chem with measurement e-folding times, site by site comparisons yield differences of up to a factor of two, which suggest possible deficiencies in either the model transport, removal processes or the representation of 137Cs removal, particularly in the tropics and at high latitudes. There is an ongoing need to develop constraints on aerosol lifetimes, but these measurement-based constraints must be carefully interpreted given the sensitivity of mean lifetimes and e-folding times to both mixing and removal processes.
A new model of ragweed pollen release based on the analysis of meteorological conditions
Authors: Menut L. , Vautard R. , Colette A. , Khvorostyanov D. , Potier A. , Hamaoui-Laguel L. , Viovy N. , Thibaudon M.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. In order to propose a new deterministic ragweed pollen emission scheme, the meteorological conditions conducive to common ragweed pollen emission are studied over Europe between 2005 and 2011. Correlations are calculated between daily modelled meteorological variables (wind speed, temperature, humidity, precipitations rates, surface fluxes) and surface concentrations at nine stations in Hungary, Croatia and France. We found that the 2 m temperature is the most correlated parameter, followed by convective velocity and incoming shortwave radiation. On the other hand, the precipitation rate and the 2 m specific humidity act as limiting factors. A new emission scheme is designed. Compared to two existing schemes, we show that it is able to better estimate the daily release of ragweed pollen in 73% of modelled cases.
Recent advances in understanding the Arctic climate system state and change from a sea ice perspective: a review
Authors: Döscher R. , Vihma T. , Maksimovich E.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. The Arctic sea ice is the central and essential component of the Arctic climate system. The depletion and areal decline of the Arctic sea ice cover, observed since the 1970's, have accelerated after the millennium shift. While a relationship to global warming is evident and is underpinned statistically, the mechanisms connected to the sea ice reduction are to be explored in detail. Sea ice erodes both from the top and from the bottom. Atmosphere, sea ice and ocean processes interact in non-linear ways on various scales. Feedback mechanisms lead to an Arctic amplification of the global warming system. The amplification is both supported by the ice depletion and is at the same time accelerating the ice reduction. Knowledge of the mechanisms connected to the sea ice decline has grown during the 1990's and has deepened when the acceleration became clear in the early 2000's. Record summer sea ice extents in 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2012 provided additional information on the mechanisms. This article reviews recent progress in understanding of the sea ice decline. Processes are revisited from an atmospheric, ocean and sea ice perspective. There is strong evidence for decisive atmospheric changes being the major driver of sea ice change. Feedbacks due to reduced ice concentration, surface albedo and thickness allow for additional local atmosphere and ocean influences and self-supporting feedbacks. Large scale ocean influences on the Arctic Ocean hydrology and circulation are highly evident. Northward heat fluxes in the ocean are clearly impacting the ice margins, especially in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic. Only little indication exists for a direct decisive influence of the warming ocean on the overall sea ice cover, due to an isolating layer of cold and fresh water underneath the sea ice.
Field calibrations of a low-cost aerosol sensor at a regulatory monitoring site in California
Authors: Holstius D. M. , Pillarisetti A. , Smith K. R. , Seto E.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Health effects attributed to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) now rank it among the risk factors with the highest health burdens in the world, but existing monitoring infrastructure cannot adequately characterize spatial and temporal variability in urban PM2.5 concentrations, nor in human population exposures. The development and evaluation of more portable and affordable monitoring instruments based on low-cost sensors may offer a means to supplement and extend existing infrastructure, increasing the density and coverage of empirical measurements and thereby improving exposure science and control. Here, we report on field calibrations of a custom-built, battery-operated aerosol monitoring instrument we developed using low-cost, off-the-shelf optical aerosol sensors. We calibrated our instruments using 1 h and 24 h PM2.5 data from a class III US EPA Federal Equivalent Method (FEM) PM2.5 β-attenuation monitor in continuous operation at a regulatory monitoring site in Oakland, California. We observed negligible associations with ambient humidity and temperature; linear corrections were sufficient to explain 60% of the variance in 1 h reference PM2.5 data and 72% of the variance in 24 h data. Performance at 1 h integration times was comparable to commercially available optical instruments costing considerably more. These findings warrant further exploration of the circumstances under which this class of aerosol sensors may profitably be deployed to generate improved PM2.5 data sets.
Atmospheric composition and thermodynamic retrievals from the ARIES airborne FTS system – Part 1: Technical aspects and simulated capability
Authors: Illingworth S. M. , Allen G. , Newman S. , Vance A. , Marenco F. , Harlow R. C. , Taylor J. , Moore D. P. , Remedios J. J.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. In this study we present an assessment of the retrieval capability of the Airborne Research Interferometer Evaluation System (ARIES): an airborne remote-sensing Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) operated on the UK Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurement (FAAM) aircraft. Simulated maximum a posteriori retrievals of partial column trace gas concentrations, and thermodynamic vertical profiles throughout the troposphere and planetary boundary layer have been performed here for simulated infrared spectra representative of the ARIES system operating in the nadir-viewing geometry. We also describe the operational and technical aspects of the pre-processing necessary for routine retrieval from the FAAM platform and the selection and construction of a priori information. As exemplars of the capability of the ARIES retrieval system, simulated retrievals of temperature, water vapour (H2O), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and methane (CH4), and their corresponding sources of error and potential vertical sensitivity, are discussed for ARIES scenes across typical global environments. The maximum Degrees of Freedom for Signal (DOFS) for the retrievals, assuming a flight altitude of 7 km, were 3.99, 2.97, 0.85, 0.96, and 1.45 for temperature, H2O, CO, O3, and CH4, respectively, for the a priori constraints specified. Retrievals of temperature display significant vertical sensitivity (DOFS in the range 2.6 to 4.0 across the altitude range) as well as excellent simulated accuracy, with the vertical sensitivity for H2O also extending to lower altitudes (DOFS ranging from 1.6 to 3.0). It was found that the maximum sensitivity for CO, O3, and CH4 was approximately 1–2 km below the simulated altitudes in all scenarios. Comparisons of retrieved and simulated-truth partial atmospheric columns are used to assess the capability of the ARIES measurement system. Maximum mean biases (and bias standard deviations) in partial columns (i.e. below aircraft total columns) were found to be +0.06 (±0.02 at 1σ)%, +3.95 (±3.11)%, +3.74 (±2.97)%, −8.26 (±4.64)%, and +3.01 (±2.61)% for temperature, H2O, CO, O3, and CH4, respectively, illustrating that the retrieval system performs well compared to an optimal scheme. The maximum total a posteriori retrieval errors across the partial columns were also calculated, and were found to be 0.20, 22.57, 18.22, 17.61, and 16.42% for temperature, H2O, CO, O3, and CH4, respectively.
A new differential absorption lidar to measure sub-hourly fluctuation of tropospheric ozone profiles in the Baltimore–Washington DC region
Authors: Sullivan J. T. , McGee T. J. , Sumnicht G. K. , Twigg L. W. , Hoff R. M.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Tropospheric ozone profiles have been retrieved from the new ground based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center TROPospheric OZone DIfferential Absorption Lidar (GSFC TROPOZ DIAL) in Greenbelt, MD (38.99° N, 76.84° W, 57 m a.s.l.) from 400 m to 12 km a.g.l. Current atmospheric satellite instruments cannot peer through the optically thick stratospheric ozone layer to remotely sense boundary layer tropospheric ozone. In order to monitor this lower ozone more effectively, the Tropospheric Ozone Lidar Network (TOLNet) has been developed, which currently consists of five stations across the US. The GSFC TROPOZ DIAL is based on the Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) technique, which currently detects two wavelengths, 289 and 299 nm. Ozone is absorbed more strongly at 289 nm than at 299 nm. The DIAL technique exploits this difference between the returned backscatter signals to obtain the ozone number density as a function of altitude. The transmitted wavelengths are generated by focusing the output of a quadrupled Nd:YAG laser beam (266 nm) into a pair of Raman cells, filled with high pressure hydrogen and deuterium. Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) within the focus generates a significant fraction of the pump energy at the first Stokes shift. With the knowledge of the ozone absorption coefficient at these two wavelengths, the range resolved number density can be derived. An interesting atmospheric case study involving the Stratospheric–Tropospheric Exchange (STE) of ozone is shown to emphasize the regional importance of this instrument as well as assessing the validation and calibration of data. The retrieval yields an uncertainty of 16–19% from 0–1.5 km, 10–18% from 1.5–3 km, and 11–25% from 3 km to 12 km. There are currently surface ozone measurements hourly and ozonesonde launches occasionally, but this system will be the first to make routine tropospheric ozone profile measurements in the Baltimore–Washington DC area.
Gap-filling strategies for annual VOC flux data sets
Authors: Bamberger I. , Hörtnagl L. , Walser M. , Hansel A. , Wohlfahrt G.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Up to now the limited knowledge about the exchange of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) between the biosphere and the atmosphere is one of the factors which hinders more accurate climate predictions. Complete long-term flux data sets of several VOCs to quantify the annual exchange and validate recent VOC models are basically not available. In combination with long-term VOC flux measurements the application of gap-filling routines is inevitable in order to replace missing data and make an important step towards a better understanding of the VOC ecosystem–atmosphere exchange on longer timescales. We performed VOC flux measurements above a mountain meadow in Austria during two complete growing seasons (from snowmelt in spring to snow reestablishment in late autumn) and used this data set to test the performance of four different gap-filling routines, mean diurnal variation (MDV), mean gliding window (MGW), look-up tables (LUT) and linear interpolation (LIP), in terms of their ability to replace missing flux data in order to obtain reliable VOC sums. According to our findings the MDV routine was outstanding with regard to the minimization of the gap-filling error for both years and all quantified VOCs. The other gap-filling routines, which performed gap-filling on 24 h average values, introduced considerably larger uncertainties. The error which was introduced by the application of the different filling routines increased linearly with the number of data gaps. Although average VOC fluxes measured during the winter period (complete snow coverage) were close to zero, these were highly variable and the filling of the winter period resulted in considerably higher uncertainties compared to the application of gap-filling during the measurement period. The annual patterns of the overall cumulative fluxes for the quantified VOCs showed a completely different behaviour in 2009, which was an exceptional year due to the occurrence of a severe hailstorm, compared to 2011. Methanol was the compound which, at 381.5 mg C m−2 and 449.9 mg C m−2, contributed most to the cumulative VOC carbon emissions in 2009 and 2011, respectively. In contrast to methanol emissions, however, considerable amounts of monoterpenes (−327.3 mg C m−2) were deposited onto the mountain meadow during 2009 caused by a hailstorm. Other quantified VOCs had considerably lower influences on the annual patterns.
Late Glacial–Holocene climatic transition record at the Argentinian Andean piedmont between 33 and 34° S
Authors: Mehl A. E. , Zárate M. A.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. The Arroyo La Estacada (~ 33°28' S, 69°02' W), eastern Andean piedmont of Argentina, cuts through an extensive piedmont aggradational unit composed of a dominant Late Pleistocene–early Holocene (LP–EH) alluvial sequence that includes several paleosols. One of these paleosols developed affecting the topmost part of likely Late Glacial aeolian deposits aggraded into a floodplain environment by the end of the Late Pleistocene. The paleosol shows variable grade of development along the arroyo outcrops. Organic matter humification, carbonate accumulation and redox processes were the dominant processes associated with paleosol formation. By the early Holocene, when the formation of the paleosol ended, renewed alluvial aggradation and high magnitude flooding events affected the arroyo's floodplain environment. Accordignly, a period of relative landscape stability in the Arroyo La Estacada basin is inferred from the paleosol developed by the LP–EH transition in response to the climatic conditions in the Andes cordillera piedmont after the Late Glacial arid conditions. The analyzed Late Glacial–Holocene alluvial record of the Andean piedmont constitutes a suitable record of the LP–EH climatic transition in the extra-Andean region of Argentina. It is in agreement with regional paleoclimatic evidence along the southern tip of the South American continent, where other pedosedimentary sequences record similar late Quaternary paleoenvironmental changes over both fluvial and interfluvial areas.
Blue intensity and density from northern Fennoscandian tree rings, exploring the potential to improve summer temperature reconstructions with earlywood information
Authors: Björklund J. A. , Gunnarson B. E. , Seftigen K. , Esper J. , Linderholm H. W.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Here we explore two new tree-ring parameters, derived from measurements of wood density and blue intensity (BI). The new proxies show an increase in the interannual summer temperature signal compared to established proxies, and present the potential to improve long-term performance. At high latitudes, where tree growth is mainly limited by low temperatures, radiodensitometric measurements of wood density, specifically maximum latewood density (MXD), provides a temperature proxy that is superior to that of tree-ring widths. The high cost of developing MXD has led to experimentation with a less expensive method using optical flatbed scanners to produce a new proxy, herein referred to as maximum latewood blue absorption intensity (abbreviated MXBI). MXBI is shown to be very similar to MXD on annual timescales but less accurate on centennial timescales. This is due to the fact that extractives, such as resin, stain the wood differentially from tree to tree and from heartwood to sapwood. To overcome this problem, and to address similar potential problems in radiodensitometric measurements, the new parameters Δblue intensity (ΔBI) and Δdensity are designed by subtracting the ambient BI/density in the earlywood, as a background value, from the latewood measurements. As a case-study, based on Scots pine trees from Northern Sweden, we show that Δdensity can be used as a quality control of MXD values and that the reconstructive performance of warm-season mean temperatures is more focused towards the summer months (JJA – June, July, August), with an increase by roughly 20% when also utilising the interannual information from the earlywood. However, even though the new parameter ΔBI experiences an improvement as well, there are still puzzling dissimilarities between Δdensity and ΔBI on multicentennial timescales. As a consequence, temperature reconstructions based on ΔBI will presently only be able to resolve information on decadal-to-centennial timescales. The possibility of trying to calibrate BI into a measure of lignin content or density, similarly to how radiographic measurements are calibrated into density, could be a solution. If this works, only then can ΔBI be used as a reliable proxy in multicentennial-scale climate reconstructions.
NGRIP CH4 concentration from 120 to 10 kyr before present and its relation to a δ15N temperature reconstruction from the same ice core
Authors: Baumgartner M. , Kindler P. , Eicher O. , Floch G. , Schilt A. , Schwander J. , Spahni R. , Capron E. , Chappellaz J. , Leuenberger M. , Fischer H. , Stocker T. F.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. During the last glacial cycle, Greenland temperature showed many rapid temperature variations, the so-called Dansgaard–Oeschger (DO) events. The past atmospheric methane concentration closely followed these temperature variations, which implies that the warmings recorded in Greenland were probably hemispheric in extent. Here we substantially extend and complete the North Greenland Ice Core Project (NGRIP) methane record from the Preboreal Holocene (PB) back to the end of the last interglacial period with a mean time resolution of 54 yr. We relate the amplitudes of the methane increases associated with DO events to the amplitudes of the local Greenland NGRIP temperature increases derived from stable nitrogen isotope (δ15N) measurements, which have been performed along the same ice core (Kindler et al., 2014). We find the ratio to oscillate between 5 parts per billion (ppb) per °C and 18 ppb °C−1 with the approximate frequency of the precessional cycle. A remarkably high ratio of 25.5 ppb °C−1 is reached during the transition from the Younger Dryas (YD) to the PB. Analysis of the timing of the fast methane and temperature increases reveals significant lags of the methane increases relative to NGRIP temperature for DO events 5, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 19, and 20. These events generally have small methane increase rates and we hypothesize that the lag is caused by pronounced northward displacement of the source regions from stadial to interstadial. We further show that the relative interpolar concentration difference (rIPD) of methane is about 4.5% for the stadials between DO events 18 and 20, which is in the same order as in the stadials before and after DO event 2 around the Last Glacial Maximum. The rIPD of methane remains relatively stable throughout the full last glacial, with a tendency for elevated values during interstadial compared to stadial periods.
The Finite Element Sea Ice-Ocean Model (FESOM) v.1.4: formulation of an ocean general circulation model
Authors: Wang Q. , Danilov S. , Sidorenko D. , Timmermann R. , Wekerle C. , Wang X. , Jung T. , Schröter J.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. The Finite Element Sea Ice-Ocean Model (FESOM) is the first global ocean general circulation model based on unstructured-mesh methods that has been developed for the purpose of climate research. The advantage of unstructured-mesh models is their flexible multi-resolution modelling functionality. In this study, an overview of the main features of FESOM will be given; based on sensitivity experiments a number of specific parameter choices will be explained; and directions of future developments will be outlined. It is argued that FESOM is sufficiently mature to explore the benefits of multi-resolution climate modelling and that its applications will provide information useful for the advancement of climate modelling on unstructured meshes.
Changes in extreme regional sea surface height due to an abrupt weakening of the Atlantic MOC
Authors: Brunnabend S.-E. , Dijkstra H. A. , Kliphuis M. A. , van Werkhoven B. , Bal E. , Seinstra F. , Maassen J. , van Meersbergen M.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. As an extreme scenario of dynamical sea level changes, regional sea surface height (SSH) changes that occur in the North Atlantic due to an abrupt weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) are simulated. Two versions of the same ocean-only model are used to study the effect of ocean model resolution on these SSH changes: a high-resolution (HR) strongly eddying version and a low-resolution (LR) version in which the effect of eddies are parameterized. The weakening of the AMOC is induced in both model versions by applying strong freshwater perturbations around Greenland. A rapid decrease of the AMOC in the HR version induces much shorter return times of several specific regional and coastal extremes in North Atlantic SSH than in the LR version. This effect is caused by a change in main eddy pathways associated with a change in separation latitude of the Gulf Stream.
Functional imaging: A necessary prerequisite to neuropsychological assessment
Authors: Tobe Edward H.
Published: April 2014

After traumatic brain injury, neuropsychological testing may be insensitive in documenting functional brain injury. Imaging with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scanning may identify brain injury that is missed on neuropsychological testing. A 27-year-old man had loss of consciousness after hydrogen sulfide exposure and a fall; he had markedly impaired function (short-term memory, sequential thinking, attention, and initiative), but neuropsychological testing showed only mild to moderate impairments. A 37-year-old woman had a whiplash injury and head trauma after an automobile accident; she had apprehension, dysphoria, word finding problems, impaired memory and concentration, and slowed thinking; neuropsy- chological testing was normal. In the man, SPECT scan showed decreased activity in the striatum, amygdala, and hippocampus bilaterally (decreased more in the right than left hemisphere); an FDG-PET scan showed markedly decreased metabolism in the left thalamus, heterogeneous abnormal uptake in the basal ganglia, and abnormally decreased metabolism in both temporal and inferior parietal lobes. In the woman, FDG-PET scan showed several regions of abnormal metabolic activity not restricted to single vascular territories and decreased activity in the left frontal lobe, left thalamus, and left caudate nucleus. Repeat neuropsychiatric testing in both patients showed cognitive and motor impairments that seriously limited routine activities of daily living. In summary, after traumatic brain injury associated with neuropsychological symptoms, SPECT and FDG-PET scanning may be more sensitive than neuropsychological testing in detecting objective signs of brain injury.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Volume 3, Number 2, Sustainable Agriculture Research
Authors: Lee Joan
Published: April 2014

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Volume 3, Number 2, Sustainable Agriculture Research
Analysis of Coordinated Motions of Humanoid Robot Fingers Using Interphalangeal Joint Coordination
Authors: Kim Byoung-Ho
Published: April 2014

In this study, we analyse the coordinated motions of humanoid robot fingers using an interphalangeal joint coordination. For this purpose, four humanoid robot fingers with different sizes have been considered. A biomimetic interphalangeal joint coordination (IJC) formulation based on the grasp configuration of human fingers has been presented for humanoid robot fingers. The usefulness of the specified IJC formulation for human-like finger motion has been verified through comparative demonstrations. As a result, a proper coordination of humanoid robot fingertips can be achieved by applying our IJC formulation. Also the IJC formulation can be used to design of humanoid robot fingers.
An Analysis of Clinical Consultation Activities in Clinical Chemistry: Implications for Transformation and Resident Training in Chemical Pathology
Authors: Schmidt Robert L. , Garcia Christopher A. , Panlener Jeanne , Ashwood Edward R. , Jackson Brian R. , Hussong Jerry W.
Published: April 2014

Context.—Clinical consultation is a key role of pathologists. Many have advocated that pathologists expand their consulting activities to improve laboratory utilization. Although many have suggested that residency programs need to provide experience in clinical consultation, little has been written on the nature of consultation or on the methods of training.

Objective.—To characterize the content of consultations and to describe training in consultation in chemical pathology within the residency program at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City.

Design.—Retrospective review of the consultation database for the period between July 2011 and July 2012.

Results.—Residents performed an average of 159 consultations a month covering 276 topics during the course of a year. Each topic involved 1 or more specific tests. Eighty percent of the topics received fewer than 12 calls. The most common topics involved virus testing (eg, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus). Consultations most often involved test interpretation (53%), selection (38%), and performance characteristics (21%). Twenty-seven percent of consultations involved 2 or more consultation categories (eg, interpretation and performance).

Conclusions.—Consultation calls in chemical pathology are widely distributed across topics. Consultations most often involve test interpretation and selection. Methods to assess the effectiveness of consultations and resident teaching should be devised.
Policies and Procedures Related to Testing for Weak D Phenotypes and Administration of Rh Immune Globulin: Results and Recommendations Related to Supplemental Questions in the Comprehensive Transfusion Medicine Survey of the College of American Pathologists
Authors: Sandler S. Gerald , Roseff Susan D. , Domen Ronald E. , Shaz Beth , Gottschall Jerome L.
Published: April 2014

Context.—Advances in RHD genotyping offer an opportunity to update policies and practices for testing weak D phenotypes and administration of Rh immune globulin to postpartum women.

Objectives.—To repeat questions from a 1999 College of American Pathologists proficiency test survey, to evaluate current practices for testing for weak D and administration of Rh immune globulin, and to determine whether there is an opportunity to begin integrating RHD genotyping in laboratory practice.

Design.—The College of American Pathologists Transfusion Medicine Resource Committee sent questions from the 1999 survey to laboratories that participated in the 2012 proficiency test survey. The results of the 2012 survey were compared with those from 1999. Results from published RHD genotyping studies were analyzed to determine if RHD genotyping could improve current policies and practices for serological Rh typing.

Results.—More than 3100 survey participants responded to the 2012 questions. The most significant finding was a decrease in the number of transfusion services performing a serological weak D test on patients as a strategy to manage those with a weak D as Rh negative (from 58.2% to 19.8%, P < .001). Data from RHD genotyping studies indicate that approximately 95% of women with a serological weak D could be managed safely and more logically as Rh positive.

Conclusions.—Selective integration of RHD genotyping policies and practices could improve the accuracy of Rh typing results, reduce unnecessary administration of Rh immune globulin in women with a weak D, and decrease transfusion of Rh-negative red blood cells in most recipients with a serological weak D phenotype.
Determination of Ground Water Quality for Agriculture and Drinking Purpose in Sindh, Pakistan
Authors: Benish Nawaz Merani  , Saghir Ahmed Sheikh  , Shafi Muhammad Nizamani  , Aasia Akbar Panhwar  , Mahvish Jabeen Channa
Published: April 2014

The study was conducted to assess the quality of ground water from different Talukas of district Tando Muhammad Khan for drinking and agriculture purpose. Water samples for determining the water quality were collected in one liter polyethylene bags by observing standard sample collection method. It was ensured that sample collection sites must be at least 500 feet away from each other.Physical and chemical parameters of ground and surface water samples such as pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Turbidity, Colour, Taste, Odour, Alkalinity as CaCO3, Bicarbonate (HCO3), Carbonate (CO3), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Hardness, Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Chloride (Cl), Phosphate (PO4), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Arsenic (As) were determined.The study clarified that pH and odour was within the permissible limits in majority of samples whereas, Arsenic (As),Hardness, Sodium (Na),Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Taste, Chloride (Cl) and turbidity were beyond the permissible limits set by WHO.The groundwater status in Tando Muhammad Khan district, TDS in 50% samples, Chloride in 54.16% samples, Sulphate in 44.8% samples, Calcium in 38.5% samples, Sodium in 54.16% samples, hardness in 21.88% samples were beyond the WHO’s permissible limits for human consumption.
Investigation for the Effects of Omega Fatty Acid and Glutamine-L-Alanine on Morbidity and Mortality in the Critically ILL Patients after Major Abdominal Surgery
Authors: Kaya Bulut Gulsen  , Ozgultekin Asu  , Turan Guldem  , Isıtmangil Gulbu  , Terzioglu Ufuk  , Kurt Nurettin  , Ekinci Osman
Published: April 2014

Background & Objectives: This study investigated the effects for the addition of omega 3 fatty acids and glutamine-L-alanine to the standard enteral and/or parenteral nutrition regimen on infection and mortality in the critically ill patients after major abdominal surgery.
Methods: This is a prospective, randomized, single center study. A total of 43 patients (age range: 18-85 years), who were in the critical care unit after major abdominal surgery, were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to simple randomized selection [Control group, n=20; Study Group, n=23 (omega3 fatty acids and glutamine-L-alanine)] and were monitored for 21 days. Patients were examined for the assessment of APACHE II Score and existence of ALI (acute lung injury)/ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) requiring mechanical ventilation. In addition to standard enteral or parenteral nutrition, patients in the study group were given parenteral pharmaconutrition products for 10 days postoperatively. Groups were compared for the duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of stay in the intensive care unit and hospitalization, and mortality. Laboratory parameters including CRP, TNF, IL6, IL8, nitrogen balance, albumin, and total lymphocyte count were recorded.
Results:Although the mean APACHE score was higher in study group in which patients received omega-3 fatty acids and glutamine-L-alanine support, the clinical infection rate seemed to decrease insignificantly.
Conclusions: A clinically decreased rate of infection was observed in patients with a high APACHE II score, or who received omega-3 fatty acids, glutamine-L-alanine, are required to be administered more selectively and in larger patient groups in different doses and in combination protocols in accordance with the current pharmaconutritional support and in different timing combinations, including preoperative period
Evidence for the Conversion of Docetaxel into 7-Epidocetaxel in Patients Receiving Conventional Taxotere® Based Chemotherapy
Authors: Martin Czejka  , Ernst Ulsperger  , Heinz Schnait  , Tamara Brumnik  , Joerg Schierholz  , Philipp Buchner  , Richard Greil
Published: April 2014

Purpose:Epimerization at the C7atom of the baccatin moiety is a common in-vitro pathway for all taxanes, including the natural precursor 10-deacetyl baccatin III and the antineoplastic drugs paclitaxel and docetaxel. To date this in-vitro epimerization of both drugs has been elucidated completely, but epimerization of docetaxel in patients during chemotherapy has not yet described. The goal of this study was to identify the epimer of docetaxel in plasma and urine of taxotere treated patients. Patients and Methods:12 patients suffering from mamma carcinoma, lung cancer or prostate cancer were treated with various docetaxel-based schedules. Blood samples were drawn before start of infusion, at the end of infusion and 20 min thereafter, urine was collected and pooled for 6 hours. Docetaxel and its epimer epidocetaxel were quantified by solid phase extraction and reversed phase HPLC. Results:In 8 of 12 patients epidocetaxel could be quantified in plasma at the end of infusion (range 0.05 - 0.54 µg/ml). 20 minutes later concentrations were below LOQ due to rapid distribution of docetaxel into tissue. In urine, epidocetaxel has been found in 7 of 12 patients (range 0.1 - 0.5 µg/ml). Conclusion: Epidocetaxel is a distinct docetaxel metabolite in man. So our knowledge, this is the first time that quantification of epidocetaxel in blood and urine of chemotherapy patients has been reported. This finding is important for designing of new docetaxel generic drugs and the development of new chemotherapeutic schedules using docetaxel. To date the in-vivo pharmacologic and toxic properties of the epimer remain unclear.
Auto-Analysis for Ki-67 Indices of Breast Cancer Using Specified Computer Software and a Virtual Microscopy
Authors: Kazuya Kuraoka  , Kiyomi Taniyama  , Miho Tanaka  , Yukari Nakagawa  , Naoko Yasumura  , Tamaki Toda  , Mikie Shitaune  , Akihisa Saito  , Junichi Sakane  , Yoko Kodama  , Toshinao Nishimura  , Nao Morii  , Hirotoshi Takahashi  , Hiroyasu Yamashiro
Published: April 2014

Ki-67 index is one of important markers that is correlated with chemotherapy response and prognosis of breast cancer patients. However, Ki-67 index is not easily provided and are limited by intra-observer error and potentially subjective decision making. We performed this study to develop an objective auto-analysis system to count Ki-67 indices. A total of185 invasive breast cancer cases were used. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using auto-stainer and MIB-1 antibody. The results were stored digitally by virtual microscopy and auto-analyzed by Genie/Aperio software (Vista, CA, USA). As for Ki-67 indices, a good correlation was observed between direct ocular observations and auto-analysis techniques (r = 0.94, p < 0.001). The index examined by auto-analysis was significantly correlated with nuclear atypia, mitotic counts, and nuclear grade of pT1 breast cancers. Auto-analysis of 5 high power fields was better correlated with nuclear grade than that of whole fields. Further, the Ki-67 index was better correlated with mitotic counts than with nuclear atypia.Auto-analysis can provide results concordant with those obtained by direct ocular observation in a short time. Auto-analysis is more likely to result in an objective observation and provide a means by which to standardize methods for immunohistochemical Ki-67 indices of breast cancer.