bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nardosinane-Type Sesquiterpenoids from the Formosan Soft Coral Paralemnalia thyrsoides
Authors: Huang Chiung-Yao , Su Jui-Hsin , Chen Bo-Wei , Wen Zhi-Hong , Hsu Chi-Hsin , Dai Chang-Feng , Sheu Jyh-Horng , Sung Ping-Jyun
Published: September 2011

Five new nardosinane-type sesquiterpenoids, paralemnolins Q–U (1–5), along with three known compounds (6–8), were isolated from the Formosan soft coral Paralemnalia thyrsoides. The structures of new metabolites were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, and the absolute configuration of 1 was determined by the application of Mosher’s method on 1. Among these metabolites, 1 and 3 are rarely found nardosinane-type sesquiterpenoids, possessing novel polycyclic structures. Compounds 1, 3, 6 and 7 were found to possess neuroprotective activity.
Thymidine Analogues for Tracking DNA Synthesis
Authors: Cavanagh Brenton L. , Walker Tom , Norazit Anwar , Meedeniya Adrian C.B.
Published: September 2011

Replicating cells undergo DNA synthesis in the highly regulated, S-phase of the cell cycle. Analogues of the pyrimidine deoxynucleoside thymidine may be inserted into replicating DNA, effectively tagging dividing cells allowing their characterisation. Tritiated thymidine, targeted using autoradiography was technically demanding and superseded by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and related halogenated analogues, detected using antibodies. Their detection required the denaturation of DNA, often constraining the outcome of investigations. Despite these limitations BrdU alone has been used to target newly synthesised DNA in over 20,000 reviewed biomedical studies. A recent breakthrough in “tagging DNA synthesis” is the thymidine analogue 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU). The alkyne group in EdU is readily detected using a fluorescent azide probe and copper catalysis using ‘Huisgen’s reaction’ (1,3-dipolar cycloaddition or ‘click chemistry’). This rapid, two-step biolabelling approach allows the tagging and imaging of DNA within cells whilst preserving the structural and molecular integrity of the cells. The bio-orthogonal detection of EdU allows its application in more experimental assays than previously possible with other “unnatural bases”. These include physiological, anatomical and molecular biological experimentation in multiple fields including, stem cell research, cancer biology, and parasitology. The full potential of EdU and related molecules in biomedical research remains to be explored.
An Approach to a Comprehensive Test Framework for Analysis and Evaluation of Text Line Segmentation Algorithms
Authors: Brodic Darko , Milivojevic Dragan R. , Milivojevic Zoran N.
Published: September 2011

The paper introduces a testing framework for the evaluation and validation of text line segmentation algorithms. Text line segmentation represents the key action for correct optical character recognition. Many of the tests for the evaluation of text line segmentation algorithms deal with text databases as reference templates. Because of the mismatch, the reliable testing framework is required. Hence, a new approach to a comprehensive experimental framework for the evaluation of text line segmentation algorithms is proposed. It consists of synthetic multi-like text samples and real handwritten text as well. Although the tests are mutually independent, the results are cross-linked. The proposed method can be used for different types of scripts and languages. Furthermore, two different procedures for the evaluation of algorithm efficiency based on the obtained error type classification are proposed. The first is based on the segmentation line error description, while the second one incorporates well-known signal detection theory. Each of them has different capabilities and convenience, but they can be used as supplements to make the evaluation process efficient. Overall the proposed procedure based on the segmentation line error description has some advantages, characterized by five measures that describe measurement procedures.
Use of a New Ziprasidone-Selective Electrode in Mixed Solvents and Its Application in the Analysis of Pharmaceuticals and Biological Fluids
Authors: García Mª Soledad , Ortuño Joaquín A. , Cuartero María , Abuherba Mustafa Salem
Published: September 2011

The construction and characterization of a new ion-selective electrode for the determination of the antipsychotic ziprasidone in mixed solvents is presented. The electrode contains a plasticized polymeric membrane based on a ziprasidone-tetraphenylborate ion-exchanger. The influence of membrane composition on the electrode response towards ziprasidone in hydroalcoholic solutions was studied. The electrode displayed a stable response in a 2:3 (v/v) methanol/water medium from a ziprasidone concentration of 3 × 10−6 M with a fast response time of less than 20 s. The electrode also showed good selectivity towards ziprasidone over common inorganic and organic compounds and several species with pharmacological activity. The electrode was successfully applied to the determination of ziprasidone in pharmaceuticals and human urine and serum.
Durable Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Decline in Hepatitis B E Antigen-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated with Pegylated Interferon-α2B: Relation to Response and HBV Genotype
Authors: Sonneveld Milan J , Rijckborst Vincent , Cakaloglu Yilmaz , Simon Krzysztof , Heathcote E Jenny , Tabak Fehmi , Mach Tomasz , Boucher Charles AB , Hansen Bettina E , Zeuzem Stefan , Janssen Harry LA
Published: September 2011

Background

On-treatment decline of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) may refect the immunomodulatory effect of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We compared HBsAg decline across HBV genotypes between combined responders (HBeAg loss and HBV DNA<10,000 copies/ml at week 78), HBeAg responders (HBeAg loss with HBV DNA>10,000 copies/ml) and non-responders.

Methods

HBsAg was measured at baseline, on-treatment and 6 months post-treatment in 221 HBeAg-positive CHB patients treated with PEG-IFN with or without lamivudine for 52 weeks, and in a representative subgroup of 142 patients at long-term follow-up (LTFU; mean 3.0 years).

Results

On-treatment HBsAg decline significantly varied according to HBV genotype (A and B more than C and D; P<0.001). On-treatment HBsAg decline also differed between patients with a combined response ( n=43) and those without ( n=178; 3.34 versus 0.69 log IU/ml decline at week 52; P<0.001). Among patients without a combined response, no difference was observed between HBeAg responders ( n=41) versus non-responders ( n=137). HBsAg decline was sustained in combined responders and progressed to 3.75 log IU/ ml at LTFU. Patients with a combined response achieved pronounced HBsAg declines, irrespective of HBV genotype, and those who achieved HBsAg levels <1,000 IU/ ml at week 78 had a high probability of a sustained response and HBsAg clearance through LTFU.

Conclusions

On-treatment HBsAg decline during PEG-IFN therapy for HBeAg-positive CHB depends upon HBV genotype. Patients with a combined response to PEG-IFN achieve a pronounced HBsAg decline, irrespective of HBV genotype, which is sustained through 3 years of off-treatment follow-up.
CD4+CD25highCD127low/- Treg Cell Frequency from Peripheral Blood Correlates with Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: KAWASHIRI SHIN-YA , KAWAKAMI ATSUSHI , OKADA AKITOMO , KOGA TOMOHIRO , TAMAI MAMI , YAMASAKI SATOSHI , NAKAMURA HIDEKI , ORIGUCHI TOMOKI , IDA HIROAKI , EGUCHI KATSUMI
Published: September 2011

Objective.

To investigate whether the frequency of peripheral blood (PB) regulatory T cells (Treg) correlates with the clinical disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods.

PB Treg cells, defined as the CD4+CD25highCD127low/- population, were examined by flow cytometry in 48 patients with RA, including 13 who had never received disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD), 19 with active disease who were receiving (n = 14) or had received (n = 5) DMARD, and 16 receiving DMARD whose disease was in remission. The clinical disease activity of the patients was defined by the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28). The association of DAS28, C-reactive protein (CRP), or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) with the frequency of PB Treg cells was examined.

Results.

The frequency of PB Treg cells in patients with RA was significantly low compared with that of healthy controls (n = 14). Among the 3 populations of patients with RA, Treg cell frequency was lowest in patients with active RA. In contrast, the Treg cell frequency of patients with RA in remission was similar to that of healthy controls. Accordingly, the frequency of CD4+CD25highCD127low/- Treg cells negatively correlated with DAS28, CRP, and ESR in patients with RA.

Conclusion.

The data suggest that Treg cells, defined as the CD4+CD25highCD127low/- population, may contribute to the pathogenesis of RA and be an indicator of disease activity.
Interfaces portuaires et compositions spatiales : instabilités africaines
Authors: Debrie Jean , De Guio Sandrine
Published: September 2011

Résumé L’évolution généralisée du rôle des ports vers une fonction d’interface de réseaux mondiaux consacre l’émergence de logiques spatiales qui dépassent les arrières-pays traditionnels. À partir de la desserte portuaire, des espaces concurrentiels sont produits en fonction des stratégies de différents opérateurs de transport. Les ports ouest-africains sont inscrits dans ce processus global d’intégration des segments maritimes et terrestres. Interfaces historiques majeures de l’intégration africaine au système économique mondial, ces ports sont actuellement le terrain de stratégies d’opérateurs privés qui évoluent dans le cadre libéralisé impulsé par les plans d’ajustement structurel. À travers l’exemple de quelques dispositifs privés de transport, il s’agit d’interroger l’impact de cette desserte portuaire sur la composition et l’orientation de certains espaces en Afrique. L’adaptation des stratégies à l’environnement africain consacre des pratiques d’acteurs faites de changements et d’instabilité. La conséquence de cette action portée par les nouveaux pouvoirs privés semble valoriser des logiques d’espaces et d’axes mouvants au détriment de dynamiques stables et territoriales.
Lieu du transport et polycentrisme : une expérience américaine
Authors: Ghorra-Gobin Cynthia
Published: September 2011

Résumé À partir d’une étude de cas, le Mall of America (Minnesota), ce texte rend compte d’un processus ayant conduit à intégrer dans la figure du centre commercial le lieu du transport. Après avoir resitué le contexte de création de ce mall et souligné les raisons de la greffe du lieu du transport, l’analyse met en évidence trois facteurs ayant contribué à l’avènement d’un pôle Mall of America . Elle souligne le poids de la volonté politique du Conseil métropolitain pour faire du lieu du transport un vecteur du polycentrisme.
Les rues de Dakar : espaces de négociation des transports collectifs
Authors: Lombard Jérôme , Sakho Papa , Bruez Frank , Baillon Axel
Published: September 2011

Résumé La réalité du transport urbain de personnes à Dakar obéit à la loi d’un marchéþdérégulé : face à une demande de mobilité urbaine croissante, une offre plurielle s’invente. Dans un contexte où l’écroulement du service public de transport de personnes est patent, la consolidation du transport privé artisanal à Dakar constitue un potentiel de captage économique important, fruit de négociations quotidiennes entre professionnels, agents de l’État et usagers. L’étude du système de transport par les lieux où il est produit amène à en comprendre les grandes logiques. Leur déploiement à l’échelle de l’agglomération et la multiplicité des acteurs et d’intérêts économiques dérivés du transport de personnes rendent leur observation intéressante. L’émergence d’espaces publics, devenus les points majeurs du réseau de transport collectif privé, résulte de choix de la part des professionnels ou de demandes formulées par des citadins. Espaces stratégiques dans leurs fonctions d’articulation du réseau urbain de desserte, ces lieux ont aussi leur figure emblématique, les coxeurs ou rabatteurs. La création d’un système d’information géographique sur les lieux de transport permet d’analyser, non seulement, la vitalité du secteur privé du transport, mais aussi la répartition géographique de l’offre ainsi que les inégalités socio-spatiales du transport en cours d’accentuation dans l’agglomération.
L'invention du patrimoine urbain à Singapour
Authors: Hamonic Gilbert
Published: September 2011

Résumé Le patrimoine urbain de Singapour s’est moins constitué à partir d’un contenu concret à découvrir que comme une pure invention, certes en rapport avec une histoire et une certaine mémoire, mais surtout créé à des fins relatives à la citoyenneté, l’identité nationale et l’image internationale de la cité-État. Plutôt que d’évoquer en détail les caractéristiques d’un inventaire (travail déjà fort bien réalisé par les autorités locales), on s’attache davantage ici à la manière dont ont surgi les modalités de classement et de mise en valeur des bâtiments ou des quartiers sauvegardés ; étant entendu que ce que l’on recense et ce que l’on ignore, ce que l’on conserve et ce que l’on détruit, est extrêmement révélateur d’une politique patrimoniale, et plus largement d’une conception de l’urbanisme, qui outre Singapour, inspire désormais plusieurs mégapoles d’Asie du Sud-Est.
Homoxi : ruée vers l'or chez les Indiens Yanomami du haut rio Mucajaí (Brésil)
Authors: Albert Bruce , Le Tourneau François-Michel
Published: September 2011

Résumé Société amérindienne de chasseurs-cueilleurs et horticulteurs pratiquant la culture itinérante sur brûlis, les Yanomami occupent un territoire d’environ 192 000 km 2 situé entre le Brésil et le Venezuela, de part et d’autre de la chaîne de la Serra Parima . Des années 1910 aux années 1960 les Yanomami du Brésil n’ont connu que des contacts sporadiques avec le monde « blanc ». Ils connaîtront pour la première fois, entre 1973 et 1976, une forme de contact plus intense, durant la construction d’un tronçon de la route Perimetral Norte dans le sud-est de leur territoire. Après une décennie de répit relatif, le projet Calha Norte (1985-1986) et, surtout, la ruée vers l’or du Roraima (1987-1989), intensifieront brutalement l’avancée de la société régionale sur le territoire de ces Indiens, déclenchant de très vives réactions de protestation tant au Brésil que dans le monde et aboutissant, en 1992, à l’homologation de leurs terres sous forme d’une aire protégée de 96 650 km 2 , la Terra Indígena Yanomami . Dans les années suivantes, une structure d’assistance sanitaire, d’abord précaire puis de plus en plus efficace, a rendu possible une reprise de l’essor démographique de cette ethnie. Malgré ces succès, dans les régions où l’impact des activités minières clandestines a été le plus intense, les groupes locaux yanomami ont connu, depuis la fin des années 1980, des changements sociaux et économiques importants. Durement affectés sur le plan démographique et environnemental, ils ont opéré une série de réaménagements de leur mode traditionnel d’occupation de l’espace forestier en fonction de la présence des chercheurs d’or puis de la structure d’assistance installée durant le processus de leur expulsion. Cet article propose l’analyse d’un exemple de cette géométrie variable des stratégies spatiales yanomami face au contact, ceci à partir d’une étude détaillée de la région du haut rio Mucajaí dite « Homoxi ». À cette fin, nous décrivons dans un premier temps le contexte économique et géopolitique régional, en particulier la ruée vers l’or dans l’état de Roraima à la fin des années 1980, peu documentée dans la littérature scientifique. Changeant d’échelle, nous étudions ensuite l’histoire de trois communautés de la région de Homoxi ( Tirei , Xere u et Yaritha, totalisant, à l’époque de l’enquête de terrain, quelque 360 personnes) et le processus de transformation de leur modèle spatial et productif, d’abord face l’invasion des orpailleurs, puis, après l’éviction de ces derniers, face à la structure d’assistance locale mise en place (FNS, FUNAI). Nous mettons ainsi en évidence la flexibilité du système social yanomami et sa capacité à générer des adaptations rapides aux situations les plus adverses.
Le rôle de la socialisation artistique durant l'enfance
Authors: Christin Angèle
Published: September 2011

Résumé Bien que de nombreuses recherches insistent sur le rôle central de la socialisation artistique durant l’enfance dans la formation des pratiques culturelles à l’âge adulte, peu d’analyses quantitatives existent sur le sujet. Cet article prend l’exemple de l’écart entre les pratiques culturelles des hommes et celles des femmes afin d’explorer ce phénomène. Dans la plupart des pays occidentaux, les femmes participent en effet davantage que les hommes aux activités culturelles les plus légitimes. À partir de régressions sur des données américaines récentes (Survey of Public Participation in the Arts 2008), il s’avère que la socialisation artistique durant l’enfance est un élément déterminant pour expliquer la différence entre les pratiques culturelles des hommes et celles des femmes. Une analyse par classes d’âge montre de plus que la socialisation artistique durant l’enfance joue un rôle particulièrement important pour les enquêtés les plus jeunes.
Assessing Organizational Readiness for Electronic Health Record Adoption in Long-Term Care Facilities
Authors: Cherry Barbara
Published: September 2011

Methods to support long-term care (LTC) providers to successfully implement electronic health records (EHR) are vital as they move to leverage the potential for improvements in quality, efficiency, and effectiveness through EHRs. This article reports the development of a readiness assessment tool to allow LTC facilities to measure their capacity for successful EHR implementation. The LTC Readiness Assessment Tool for EHR Implementation was developed through a literature review and qualitative study to establish content validity, followed by the current study to assess the tool’s internal reliability. The tool was mailed to administrators or directors of nursing at 600 LTC facilities in Texas with instructions for survey completion. Ninety-three surveys were returned. Item means ranged from 2.72 to 5.07 on a 7-point scale (1 =
strongly disagree
to 7 =
strongly agree
), with the category of state regulatory support receiving the lowest mean and physical plant requirements receiving the highest. Internal reliability was supported with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.95.
Adiponectin in Cardiovascular Inflammation and Obesity
Authors: Aprahamian Tamar R. , Sam Flora
Published: September 2011

Inflammation is widely known to play a key role in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. It is becoming increasingly evident that obesity is linked to many proinflammatory and obesity-associated cardiovascular conditions (e.g., metabolic syndrome, acute coronary syndrome, and congestive heart failure). It has been observed that adipokines play an increasingly large role in systemic and local inflammation. Therefore, adipose tissue may have a more important role than previously thought in the pathogenesis of several disease types. This review explores the recently described role of adiponectin as an immunomodulatory factor and how it intersects with the inflammation associated with both cardiovascular and autoimmune pathologies.
Endoscopic Resection of Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma: The Role of Radio-Frequency Coblation
Authors: Ali Rohana , Keogh Ivan , Lang John
Published: September 2011

Nasopharyngeal angiofibromas are histologically benign but locally aggressive vascular tumors that can result in major morbidity and mortality. They exclusively affect adolescent male and are rare in patients older than 25 years. The management of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is primarily surgical. Most small and medium sized tumors are resected endoscopically with a microdebrider. Our presentation demonstrates the role of radio-frequency coblation in the endoscopic management of angiofibroma that is confined to the nasal cavity, nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses. Through a brief video presentation, viewers will be able to appreciate the role of this instrument. We reviewed the case of an adult male patient who presented to our institute with nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. He underwent pre-operative embolization followed by endoscopic coblation of the tumor. A video demonstration is presented of a patient with nasopharyngeal angiofibroma who underwent successful transnasal endoscopic coblation. The coblator was used to resect the tumour attachment at the posterior end of the middle turbinate and the nasopharynx. The tumor was resected en-bloc and pushed into the oropharynx and eventually removed trans-orally. The natural ostium of the sphenoid sinus was enlarged and the residual tumor was removed. Absorbable nasal packing was inserted for haemostasis. Intra-operative bleeding was negligible. Radio-frequency coblation has a definite role in the endoscopic resection of small and medium sized nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. This technique is easy to learn and is extremely efficient. Tumors can be removed with minimal or no damage to surrounding tissues and intra-operative bleeding is negligible.
Cobham's theorem for substitutions
Authors: Durand Fabien
Published: September 2011

The seminal theorem of Cobham has given rise during the last 40 years to a lot of works about non-standard numeration systems and has been extended to many contexts. In this paper, as a result of fifteen years of improvements, we obtain a complete and general version for the so-called substitutive sequences.

Let

\alpha

and

\beta

be two multiplicatively independent Perron numbers. Then, a sequence

x\in A^\mathbb{N}

, where

A

is a finite alphabet, is both

\alpha

-substitutive and

\beta

-substitutive if and only if

x

is ultimately periodic.
Affected Upper-Extremity Movement Ability Is Retained 3 Months After Modified Constraint-Induced Therapy
Authors: Page Stephen J. , Murray Colleen , Hermann Valerie
Published: September 2011

The practicality and patient compliance of constraint-induced movement therapy limit its application in many clinical environments. For more than a decade, the principal investigator's laboratory has shown efficacy of an outpatient, modified constraint-induced therapy (mCIT). The current study examined whether participants administered mCIT retained motor changes 3 mo after intervention. The upper-extremity section of the Fugl-Meyer Impairment Scale (FM) and the Action Research Arm Test (ARA) were administered directly after mCIT intervention. Thirteen patients poststroke were tracked prospectively from directly after intervention concluded to 3 mo after intervention, at which time the FM and ARA were readministered. Three months after intervention, 25 of the 26 scores on the FM and ARA increased between the time after intervention and 3 months after intervention, reflecting continued increases in affected extremity movement ability. It is believed that the continued motor changes were caused by the comparatively larger number of extremity-use opportunities during the 10-wk mCIT intervention period. These opportunities encourage habitual extremity use even after the intervention period has concluded, leading to the changes observed.
Effectiveness of a Handwriting Readiness Program in Head Start: A Two-Group Controlled Trial
Authors: Lust Carol A. , Donica Denise K.
Published: September 2011

OBJECTIVE. This study measured skill improvement in prewriting skills, kindergarten readiness, first-name writing, and handwriting-nonspecific fine motor skills of students at Head Start who participated in Handwriting Without Tears®–Get Set for School (HWT–GSS) programming.

METHOD. We conducted a two-group, nonrandomized controlled trial using a pretest–posttest design at a rural Head Start. The effectiveness of adding the HWT–GSS curriculum in one preschool classroom was compared with a control classroom.

RESULTS. On posttesting, the experimental group made significant improvements compared with the control group in prewriting, kindergarten readiness, and fine motor skills. Both groups made significant improvements between pretesting and posttesting in prewriting, first name writing, and school readiness.

CONCLUSION. Adding HWT–GSS to the Head Start program would be beneficial in improving handwriting readiness skills.
Usefulness of Screening Tools for Predicting Driving Performance in People With Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Classen Sherrilene , Witter D. P. , Lanford D. N. , Okun M. S. , Rodriguez R. L. , Romrell J. , Malaty I. , Fernandez H. H.
Published: September 2011

OBJECTIVE. We used screening tests administered by a certified driving rehabilitation specialist and by Parkinson’s disease (PD) specialty neurologists to develop a model to predict on-road outcomes for patients with PD.

METHOD. We administered a battery of screening tests to 41 patients with PD and 41 age-matched control participants before on-road testing. We used statistical models to predict actual on-road performance.

RESULTS. The PD group had a higher failure rate, indicating more on-road errors. For the PD participants, the Useful Field of View (UFOV) Subtest 2 and Rapid Pace Walk were responsible for most of the variance in the on-road test. The model accurately categorized pass–fail outcomes for 81% of PD patients.

CONCLUSION. Clinical screening batteries may be predictive of driving performance in PD. The UFOV Subtest 2, administered in approximately 15 min, may be the single most useful clinical test for such predictions.
The observation of chemiluminescent NiO* emissions in the laboratory and in the night airglow
Authors: Evans W. F. J. , Gattinger R. L. , Broadfoot A. L. , Llewellyn E. J.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. The recent finding of an orange spectral feature in OSIRIS/Odin spectra of the night airglow near 87 km has raised interest in the origin of the emission. The feature was positively identified as the chemiluminescent FeO* emission where the iron is of meteoric origin. Since the meteorite source of atomic metals in the mesosphere contains both iron and nickel, with Ni being typically 6 % of Fe, it is expected that faint emissions involving Ni should also be present in the night airglow. The present study summarizes the laboratory observations of chemiluminescent NiO* emissions and includes a search for the NiO* signature in the night airglow. A very faint previously unidentified "continuum" extending longwave of 440 nm has been detected in the night airglow spectra obtained with two space-borne limb viewing instruments. Through a comparison with laboratory spectra this continuum is identified as arising from the NiO* emission. The altitude profile of the new airglow emission has also been measured. The similarity of the altitude profiles of the FeO* and NiO* emissions also suggests the emission is NiO as both can originate from reaction of the metal atoms with mesospheric ozone. The observed NiO* to FeO* ratio exhibits considerable variability; possible causes of this observed variation are briefly discussed.
Using boundary layer equilibrium to reduce uncertainties in transport models and CO2 flux inversions
Authors: Williams I. N. , Riley W. J. , Torn M. S. , Berry J. A. , Biraud S. C.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. This paper reexamines evidence for systematic errors in atmospheric transport models, in terms of the diagnostics used to infer vertical mixing rates from models and observations. Different diagnostics support different conclusions about transport model errors that could imply either stronger or weaker northern terrestrial carbon sinks. Conventional mixing diagnostics are compared to analyzed vertical mixing rates using data from the US Southern Great Plains Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility, the CarbonTracker data assimilation system based on Transport Model version 5 (TM5), and atmospheric reanalyses. The results demonstrate that diagnostics based on boundary layer depth and vertical concentration gradients do not always indicate the vertical mixing strength. Vertical mixing rates are anti-correlated with boundary layer depth at some sites, diminishing in summer when the boundary layer is deepest. Boundary layer equilibrium concepts predict an inverse proportionality between CO2 vertical gradients and vertical mixing strength, such that previously reported discrepancies between observations and models most likely reflect overestimated as opposed to underestimated vertical mixing. However, errors in seasonal concentration gradients can also result from errors in modeled surface fluxes. This study proposes using the timescale for approach to boundary layer equilibrium to diagnose vertical mixing independently of seasonal surface fluxes, with applications to observations and model simulations of CO2 or other conserved boundary layer tracers with surface sources and sinks. Results indicate that frequently cited discrepancies between observations and inverse estimates do not provide sufficient proof of systematic errors in atmospheric transport models. Some previously hypothesized transport model biases, if found and corrected, could cause inverse estimates to further diverge from carbon inventory estimates of terrestrial sinks.
Biological residues define the ice nucleation properties of soil dust
Authors: Conen F. , Morris C. E. , Leifeld J. , Yakutin M. V. , Alewell C.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. Soil dust is a major driver of ice nucleation in clouds leading to precipitation. It consists largely of mineral particles with a small fraction of organic matter constituted mainly of remains of micro-organisms that participated in degrading plant debris before their own decay. Some micro-organisms have been shown to be much better ice nuclei than the most efficient soil mineral. Yet, current aerosol schemes in global climate models do not consider a difference between soil dust and mineral dust in terms of ice nucleation activity. Here, we show that particles from the clay and silt size fraction of four different soils naturally associated with 0.7 to 11.8 % organic carbon (w/w) can have up to four orders of magnitude more ice nucleation sites per unit mass active in the immersion freezing mode at −12 °C than montmorillonite, the nucleation properties of which are often used to represent those of mineral dusts in modelling studies. Most of this activity was lost after heat treatment. Removal of biological residues reduced ice nucleation activity to, or below that of montmorillonite. Desert soils, inherently low in organic content, are a large natural source of dust in the atmosphere. In contrast, agricultural land use is concentrated on fertile soils with much larger organic matter contents than found in deserts. It is currently estimated that the contribution of agricultural soils to the global dust burden is less than 20 %. Yet, these disturbed soils can contribute ice nuclei to the atmosphere of a very different and much more potent kind than mineral dusts.
Autofluorescence of atmospheric bioaerosols – fluorescent biomolecules and potential interferences
Authors: Pöhlker C. , Huffman J. A. , Pöschl U.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. Primary biological aerosol particles (PBAP) are an important subset of air particulate matter with a substantial contribution to the organic aerosol fraction and potentially strong effects on public health and climate. Recent progress has been made in PBAP quantification by utilizing real-time bioaerosol detectors based on the principle that specific organic molecules of biological origin such as proteins, coenzymes, cell wall compounds and pigments exhibit intrinsic fluorescence. The properties of many fluorophores have been well documented, but it is unclear which are most relevant for detection of atmospheric PBAP. The present study provides a systematic synthesis of literature data on potentially relevant biological fluorophores. We analyze and discuss their relative importance for the detection of fluorescent biological aerosol particles (FBAP) by online instrumentation for atmospheric measurements such as the ultraviolet aerodynamic particle sizer (UV-APS) or the wide issue bioaerosol sensor (WIBS). In addition, we provide new laboratory measurement data for selected compounds using bench-top fluorescence spectroscopy. Relevant biological materials were chosen for comparison with existing literature data and to fill in gaps of understanding. The excitation-emission matrices (EEM) exhibit pronounced peaks at excitation wavelengths of ~280 nm and ~360 nm, confirming the suitability of light sources used for online detection of FBAP. They also show, however, that valuable information is missed by instruments that do not record full emission spectra at multiple wavelengths of excitation, and co-occurrence of multiple fluorophores within a detected sample will likely confound detailed molecular analysis. Selected non-biological materials were also analyzed to assess their possible influence on FBAP detection and generally exhibit only low levels of background-corrected fluorescent emission. This study strengthens the hypothesis that ambient supermicron particle fluorescence in wavelength ranges used for most FBAP instruments is likely to be dominated by biological material and that such instrumentation is able to discriminate between FBAP and non-biological material in many situations. More detailed follow-up studies on single particle fluorescence are still required to reduce these uncertainties further, however.
Subsidence and carbon loss in drained tropical peatlands: reducing uncertainty and implications for CO2 emission reduction options
Authors: Hooijer A. , Page S. , Jauhiainen J. , Lee W. A. , Lu X. X. , Idris A. , Anshari G.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. Conversion of tropical peatlands to agriculture leads to a release of carbon from previously stable, long-term storage, resulting in land subsidence that can be a surrogate measure of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. We present an analysis of recent large-scale subsidence monitoring studies in Acacia and oil palm plantations on peatland in SE Asia, and compare the findings with previous studies. Subsidence in the first 5 years after drainage was found to be 142 cm, of which 75 cm occurred in the first year. After 5 years, the subsidence rate in both plantation types, at average water table depths of 0.7 m, remained constant at around 5 cm yr−1. Bulk density profiles indicate that consolidation contributes only 7 % to total subsidence, in the first year after drainage, and that the role of compaction is also reduced quickly and becomes negligible after 5 years. Over 18 years after drainage, 92 % of cumulative subsidence was caused by peat oxidation. The average rate of carbon loss over the first 5 years was 178 t ha−1 yr−1 CO2eq, which reduced to 73 t ha−1 yr−1 CO2eq over subsequent years, resulting in an average loss of 100 t ha−1 yr−1 CO2eq annualized over 25 years. Part of the observed range in subsidence and carbon loss values is explained by differences in water table depth, but vegetation cover and addition of fertilizers also influence peat oxidation. A relationship with groundwater table depth shows that subsidence and carbon loss are still considerable even at the highest water table levels theoretically possible in plantations. This implies that improved water management will reduce these impacts by only 20 % at most, relative to current conditions, and that high rates of carbon loss and land subsidence should be accepted as inevitable consequences of conversion of forested tropical peatlands to other land uses.
Inferences on weather extremes and weather-related disasters: a review of statistical methods
Authors: Visser H. , Petersen A. C.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. The study of weather extremes and their impacts, such as weather-related disasters, plays an important role in climate-change research. Due to the great societal consequences of extremes – historically, now and in the future – the peer-reviewed literature on this theme has been growing enormously since the 1980s. Data sources have a wide origin, from century-long climate reconstructions from tree rings to short databases with disaster statistics and human impacts (30 to 60 yr). In scanning the peer-reviewed literature on weather extremes and impacts thereof we noticed that many different methods are used to make inferences. However, discussions on methods are rare. Such discussions are important since a particular methodological choice might substantially influence the inferences made. A calculation of a return period of once in 500 yr, based on a normal distribution will deviate from that based on a Gumbel distribution. And the particular choice between a linear or a flexible trend model might influence inferences as well. In this article we give a concise overview of statistical methods applied in the field of weather extremes and weather-related disasters. Methods have been evaluated as to stationarity assumptions, the choice for specific probability density functions (PDFs) and the availability of uncertainty information. As for stationarity we found that good testing is essential. Inferences on extremes may be wrong if data are assumed stationary while they are not. The same holds for the block-stationarity assumption. As for PDF choices we found that often more than one PDF shape fits to the same data. From a simulation study we conclude that both the generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution and the log-normal PDF fit very well to a variety of indicators. The application of the normal and Gumbel distributions is more limited. As for uncertainty it is advised to test conclusions on extremes for assumptions underlying the modeling approach. Finally, we conclude that the coupling of individual extremes or disasters to climate change should be avoided.
Reconstructing and analyzing China's fifty-nine year (1951–2009) drought history using hydrological model simulation
Authors: Wu Z. Y. , Lu G. H. , Wen L. , Lin C. A.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. The 1951–2009 drought history of China is reconstructed using daily soil moisture values generated by the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) land surface macroscale hydrology model. VIC is applied over a grid of 10 458 points with a spatial resolution of 30 km × 30 km, and is driven by observed daily maximum and minimum air temperature and precipitation from 624 long-term meteorological stations. The VIC soil moisture is used to calculate the Soil Moisture Anomaly Percentage Index (SMAPI), which can be used as a measure of the severity of agricultural drought on a global basis. We have developed a SMAPI-based drought identification procedure for practical uses in the identification of both grid point and regional drought events. As a result, a total of 325 regional drought events varying in time and strength are identified from China's nine drought study regions. These drought events can thus be assessed quantitatively at different spatial and temporal scales. The result shows that the severe drought events of 1978, 2000 and 2006 are well reconstructed, which indicates that the SMAPI is capable of identifying the onset of a drought event, its progression, as well as its termination. Spatial and temporal variations of droughts in China's nine drought study regions are studied. Our result shows that on average, up to 30% of the total area of China is prone to drought. Regionally, an upward trend in drought-affected areas has been detected in three regions (Inner Mongolia, Northeast and North) from 1951–2009. However, the decadal variability of droughts has been weak in the rest of the five regions (South, Southwest, East, Northwest, and Tibet). Xinjiang has even been showing steadily wetter since the 1950s. Two regional dry centres are discovered in China as the result of a combined analysis on the occurrence of drought events from both grid points and drought study regions. The first centre is located in the area partially covered by the North and the Northwest, which extends to the southeastern portion of Inner Mongolia and the southwest part of Northeast. The second one is found on the central to southern portion of the South. Our study demonstrates the applicability and the value of using modeled soil moisture for reconstructing drought histories, and the SMAPI is useful for analyzing drought at different spatial and temporal scales.
Decreased Ocular Pulse Amplitude Associated with Functional and Structural Damage in Open-Angle Glaucoma
Authors: Kynigopoulos Myron , Tzamalis Argyrios , Ntampos Konstantinos , Schlote Torsten
Published: September 2011

Purpose

To assess the relationship of ocular pulse amplitude (OPA), as measured by dynamic contour tonometry (DCT), with structural and functional damage in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG).

Methods

In this cross-sectional, observational study, 242 eyes of 139 patients with OAG underwent Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), DCT, central corneal thickness (CCT) measurement, visual fields examination (Octopus, Haag Streit), and complete ophthalmologic examination. Linear regression analysis was used to analyze the effect of OPA, DCT, GAT, and CCT to the mean defect (MD) of the visual fields and to the vertical cup to disc ratio (CDR).

Results

Ocular pulse amplitude was the only variable that showed a significant association with MD (slope=–1.1, p=0.012), in contrast to GAT (p=0.98), DCT (p=0.32), and CCT (p=0.42). Ocular pulse amplitude was also negatively associated with CDR (slope=–0.028, p=0.0001). Additional multiple regression analysis revealed that OPA (R2=0.12, r=–0.25, slope=–0.02, p=0.033), GAT (r=–0.27, slope=–0.01, p=0.027), and CCT (r=–0.18, slope=–0.001, p=0.012) were statistically significantly correlated to CDR, while DCT was not (r=–0.20, slope=0.003, p=0.46). Ocular pulse amplitude did not differ statistically significantly (p=0.93) between eyes with (2.79±1.42) and without (2.77±1.21) prior trabeculectomy. No statistically significant difference of OPA was observed between diagnosis groups (p=0.255).

Conclusions

Decreased OPA seems to be correlated with increased glaucomatous functional and structural damage in OAG. Assessment of OPA by DCT could therefore serve as an important additional parameter in the evaluation of glaucoma patients.
Meta-analysis of the prevalence of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy mtDNA mutations in Europe
Authors: Mascialino Barbara , Leinonen Mika , Meier Thomas
Published: September 2011

Purpose

A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the prevalence of patients with molecularly confirmed Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) carrying any of the 3 primary mtDNA mutations (m.11778G>A, m.14484T>C, m.3460G>A) which cause this inherited form of blindness.

Methods

A literature search was conducted to identify primary reports with LHON prevalence data reported for Europe. The overall prevalence of LHON with molecularly confirmed diagnosis was evaluated by weighting the prevalence estimates of the individual studies by the inverse of their variance.

Results

Based on this meta-analysis of 5 European studies providing appropriate information, the estimated prevalence of LHON disease associated with the combined m.11778G>A, m.14484T>C, m.3460G>A mutations was ∼1:45,000 (2.23×10-5; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.01-2.44×10–5). Patients with LHON carrying either the m.11778G>A or the m.3460G>A mutation have a more severe clinical presentation and a much lower chance of spontaneous recovery from vision loss compared to patients with the m.14484T>C mutation. The estimated prevalence for patients with LHON in Europe carrying either of these severe mutations (m.11778G>A or m.3460G>A) was ∼1:65,000 (1.54×10–5; 95% CI 1.33-1.74×10–5).

Conclusions

Although this meta-analysis summarizes the existing prevalence data for the primary, disease-causing mitochondrial DNA mutations of LHON in Europe, there is still a clear lack of reliable primary epidemiologic data for this devastating ophthalmologic disease.
PLFT and TUMT Long-Term Clinical Results in Italy
Authors: Savino Antonio , Prati Andrea , Pieri Annamaria , Uliano Nicoletta , Arnaudi Roberto , Benecchi Luigi , Potenzoni Michele
Published: September 2011

Microwaves are electromagnetic radiations with wavelengths ranging from 300 MHz (0.3 GHz) and 300 GHz. Microwaves treatment reduces prostate tissue using the heat produced by microwaves. When the tissue absorbs the energy from the microwaves it coagulates and tissue necrosis occours. During hyperthermia the intraprostatic temperatures reached 40–45 °C with symptomatic improvement due to destruction of the alpha-adrenergic nerve fibers around the prostate. The term ‘thermotherapy’ was therefore coined to describe treatment temperatures above 45°C and hyperthermia for those below this level. Unlike thermotherapy, high-energy (thermotherapy) can achieve temperatures greater than 70°C (158°F), causing thermoablation of prostatic tissue. The authors report their experience with PLFT over a period of 8 years. They describe the technique of the treatment, the goal and its results. Many of these patients, however, were older, had a larger prostate volume, and had more surgical comorbidities, making this subset more likely to benefit from a minimally invasive option. With PLFT-TUMT, patients have a less-invasive therapy, with a catheter-free rate of 82–91% in selected patients, although the majority must also continue medical therapy.
Industrial Wastes in Soil Improvement
Authors: Rama Subbarao G. V. , Siddartha D. , Muralikrishna T. , Sailaja K. S. , Sowmya T.
Published: September 2011

Soil existing at a
particular site may not be appropriate for
construction of engineering structures. The
present study made an attempt to enhance the
geotechnical properties of a soil replaced with
industrial wastes having pozzolanic value like
rice husk ash (RHA) and fly ash (FA). Soil is
replaced with RHA in 2%, 4%, and 6%
to dry weight of soil. It is observed that soil
replaced with 4% RHA is the optimum for the
soil used in this study from geotechnical point
of view. To know the influence of fly ash, soil
is further replaced with 4% FA along with
4% RHA. It is found that results of soil
replacement by both RHA and FA proved to be soil
modification and not the improvement. Hence, a
cost-effective accelerator like lime is used for
further replacing the above soil-4%,
RHA-4% FA mix. The optimum lime content is
found to be 4%.
Study of Catalytic Effect of Nanolayered Montmorillonite Organoclays in Epoxy Polymer
Authors: Mohan T. P. , Kanny K.
Published: September 2011

This paper is about the study of catalytic effect of nanolayered montmorillonite- (MMT-) based organoclays (OCs) in epoxy polymer by directly monitoring their exothermic temperature versus time during curing. Untreated clays (UCs) of MMT were also filled in the epoxy polymer for comparative study. OCs and UCs were individually filled in epoxy polymer from 0 wt.% to 5 wt.%, and the curing characteristics were examined. The cure behavior of epoxy-OC composites changes as a function of OC concentration. Among the epoxy-OC systems, improved curing reaction was observed at 3 wt.% OC-filled epoxy composites. Addition of OC above 3 wt.% in epoxy reduces its catalytic effect due to presence of two types of cross-linking, namely, intergallery and extragallery cross-linking reactions. The curing behaviours of epoxy-UC composites were almost similar to those of pure epoxy polymer, and hence the results suggest that UC does not act as catalyst in epoxy polymer. The cured composite series was examined by studying their structure and morphology using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis, and the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.