bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Global Flood Detection Using Satellite-Based Rainfall and a Hydrologic Model
Authors: Wu Huan , Adler Robert F. , Hong Yang , Tian Yudong , Policelli Fritz
Published: May 2012

A new version of a real-time global flood monitoring system (GFMS) driven by Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) rainfall has been developed and implemented using a physically based hydrologic model. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the performance of this new version of the GFMS in terms of flood event detection against flood event archives to establish a baseline of performance and directions for improvement. This new GFMS is quantitatively evaluated in terms of flood event detection during the TRMM era (1998–2010) using a global retrospective simulation (3-hourly and ⅛° spatial resolution) with the TMPA 3B42V6 rainfall. Four methods were explored to define flood thresholds from the model results, including three percentile-based statistical methods and a Log Pearson type-III flood frequency curve method. The evaluation showed the GFMS detection performance improves [increasing probability of detection (POD)] with longer flood durations and larger affected areas. The impact of dams was detected in the validation statistics, with the presence of dams tending to result in more false alarms and greater false-alarm duration. The GFMS validation statistics for flood durations >3 days and for areas without dams vary across the four methods, but center around a POD of ~0.70 and a false-alarm rate (FAR) of ~0.65. The generally positive results indicate the value of this approach for monitoring and researching floods on a global scale, but also indicate limitations and directions for improvement of such approaches. These directions include improving the rainfall estimates, utilizing higher resolution in the runoff-routing model, taking into account the presence of dams, and improving the method for flood identification.
The Land Surface Analysis in the NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis
Authors: Meng Jesse , Yang Rongqian , Wei Helin , Ek Michael , Gayno George , Xie Pingping , Mitchell Kenneth
Published: May 2012

The NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) uses the NASA Land Information System (LIS) to create its land surface analysis: the NCEP Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS). Comparing to the previous two generations of NCEP global reanalyses, this is the first time a coupled land–atmosphere data assimilation system is included in a global reanalysis. Global observed precipitation is used as direct forcing to drive the land surface analysis, rather than the typical reanalysis approach of using precipitation assimilating from a background atmospheric model simulation. Global observed snow cover and snow depth fields are used to constrain the simulated snow variables. This paper describes 1) the design and implementation of GLDAS/LIS in CFSR, 2) the forcing of the observed global precipitation and snow fields, and 3) preliminary results of global and regional soil moisture content and land surface energy and water budgets closure. With special attention made during the design of CFSR GLDAS/LIS, all the source and sink terms in the CFSR land surface energy and water budgets can be assessed and the total budgets are balanced. This is one of many aspects indicating improvements in CFSR from the previous NCEP reanalyses.
Simulation of Wave Breaking in One-Dimensional Spectral Environment
Authors: Chalikov Dmitry , Babanin Alexander V.
Published: May 2012

Results of numerical investigations, based on full dynamic equations, are presented for wave breaking in a one-dimensional environment with a wave spectrum. The breaking is defined as a process of irreversible collapse of an individual wave in physical space, and the incipient breaker is a wave that reached a dynamic condition of the limiting stability where the collapse has not started yet but is inevitable. The main attention is paid to documenting the evolution of different wave characteristics before the breaking commences. It is shown that the breaking is a localized process that rapidly develops in space and time. No single characteristic, such as wave steepness, wave height, and asymmetry, can serve as a predictor of the incipient breaking. The process of breaking is intermittent; it happens spontaneously and is individually unpredictable. The evolution of geometric, kinematic, and dynamic characteristics of the breaking wave describes the process of breaking itself rather than indicating an imminent breaking. It is shown that the criterion of breaking, valid for the breaking due to modulation instability in one-dimensional waves trains, is not universal if applied to the conditions of spectral environment. In this context, the development of algorithms for parameterization of breaking for wave prediction models and for direct wave simulations is more important.
Averaging-Related Biases in Monthly Latent Heat Fluxes
Authors: Hughes Paul J. , Bourassa Mark A. , Rolph Jeremy J. , Smith Shawn R.
Published: May 2012

Seasonal-to-multidecadal applications that require ocean surface energy fluxes often require accuracies of surface turbulent fluxes to be 5 W m−2 or better. While there is little doubt that uncertainties in the flux algorithms and input data can cause considerable errors, the impact of temporal averaging has been more controversial. The biases resulting from using monthly averaged winds, temperatures, and humidities in the bulk aerodynamic formula (i.e., the so-called classical method) to estimate the monthly mean latent heat fluxes are shown to be substantial and spatially varying in a manner that is consistent with most prior work. These averaging-related biases are linked to nonnegligible submonthly covariances between the wind, temperature, and humidity. To provide additional insight into the averaging-related bias, the methodology behind the third-generation Florida State University monthly mean surface flux product (FSU3) is detailed to highlight additional sources of errors in gridded datasets. The FSU3 latent heat fluxes suffer from this averaging-related bias, which can be as large as 90 W m−2 in western boundary current regions during winter and can exceed 40 W m−2 in synoptically active portions of the tropics. The regional impacts of these biases on the mixed layer temperature tendency are shown to demonstrate that the error resulting from applying the classical method is physically substantial.
An Analysis of the Nonstationarity in the Bias of Sea Surface Temperature Forecasts for the NCEP Climate Forecast System (CFS) Version 2
Authors: Kumar A. , Chen M. , Zhang L. , Wang W. , Xue Y. , Wen C. , Marx L. , Huang B.
Published: May 2012

For long-range predictions (e.g., seasonal), it is a common practice for retrospective forecasts (also referred to as the hindcasts) to accompany real-time predictions. The necessity for the hindcasts stems from the fact that real-time predictions need to be calibrated in an attempt to remove the influence of model biases on the predicted anomalies. A fundamental assumption behind forecast calibration is the long-term stationarity of forecast bias that is derived based on hindcasts.

Hindcasts require specification of initial conditions for various components of the prediction system (e.g., ocean, atmosphere) that are generally taken from a long reanalysis. Trends and discontinuities in the reanalysis that are either real or spurious can arise due to several reasons, for example, the changing observing system. If changes in initial conditions were to persist during the forecast, there is a potential for forecast bias to depend over the period it is computed, making calibration even more of a challenging task. In this study such a case is discussed for the recently implemented seasonal prediction system at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), the Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFS.v2).

Based on the analysis of the CFS.v2 for 1981–2009, it is demonstrated that the characteristics of the forecast bias for sea surface temperature (SST) in the equatorial Pacific had a dramatic change around 1999. Furthermore, change in the SST forecast bias, and its relationship to changes in the ocean reanalysis from which the ocean initial conditions for hindcasts are taken is described. Implications for seasonal and other long-range predictions are discussed.
Impact of Microphysics Scheme Complexity on the Propagation of Initial Perturbations
Authors: Wang Hongli , Auligné Thomas , Morrison Hugh
Published: May 2012

The study of evolution characteristics of initial perturbations is an important subject in four-dimensional variational data assimilation (4DVAR) and mesoscale predictability research. This paper evaluates the impact of microphysical scheme complexity on the propagation of the perturbations in initial conditions for warm-season convections over the central United States. The Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF), in conjunction with four schemes of the Morrison microphysics parameterization with varying complexity, was used to simulate convective cases using grids nested to 5-km horizontal grid spacing. Results indicate that, on average, the four schemes show similar perturbation evolution in amplitude and spatial pattern during the first 2 h. After that, the simplified schemes introduce significant error in amplitude and spatial pattern. The simplest (liquid only) and most complex schemes show almost the same growth rate of initial perturbations with different amplitudes during 6-h forecast, suggesting that the simplest scheme does not reduce the nonlinearity in the most complex scheme. The evolution of vertical velocity and total condensates is more nonlinear than horizontal wind, temperature, and humidity, which suggest that the observations of cloud variables and vertical velocity should have a shorter time window (less than 1 h) compared to horizontal wind, temperature, and humidity observations. The simplified liquid-only microphysics scheme can be used as an acceptable substitute for the more complex one with a short time window (less than 1 h).
Application of Boyd’s Periodization and Relaxation Method in a Spectral Atmospheric Limited-Area Model. Part II: Accuracy Analysis and Detailed Study of the Operational Impact
Authors: Degrauwe Daan , Caluwaerts Steven , Voitus Fabrice , Hamdi Rafiq , Termonia Piet
Published: May 2012

Spectral limited-area models face a particular challenge at their lateral boundaries: the fields need to be made periodic. Boyd proposed a windowing-based method to improve the periodization and relaxation. In a companion paper, the implementation of this windowing method in the operational semi-implicit semi-Lagrangian spectral HARMONIE system was described and some first reproducibility tests, comparing this method to the old existing one, were presented.

The present paper provides an in-depth study of the impact of this method for different configurations of the implementation. This is carried out in three steps in well-controlled experimental setups of increasing complexity. First, different aspects of Boyd’s method are analyzed in an idealized perfect-model test using a representative 1D shallow-water model. Second, the implementation is tested in an adiabatic 3D numerical weather prediction (NWP) model with perfect-model experiments. Finally, the impact of using Boyd’s method in a more operational-like NWP context is investigated as well. The presented tests show that, while the implementation of Boyd’s method is neutral in terms of scores, it is superior to the existing spline method in the case of strong dynamical forcings at the lateral boundaries.
Application of Boyd’s Periodization and Relaxation Method in a Spectral Atmospheric Limited-Area Model. Part I: Implementation and Reproducibility Tests
Authors: Termonia Piet , Voitus Fabrice , Degrauwe Daan , Caluwaerts Steven , Hamdi Rafiq
Published: May 2012

This paper describes the implementation of a proposal of Boyd for the periodization and relaxation of the fields in a full three-dimensional spectral semi-implicit semi-Lagrangian limited-area model structure of an atmospheric modeling system called HARMONIE that is used for numerical weather prediction and regional climate studies. Some first feasibility tests in an operational numerical weather prediction context are presented. They show that, in terms of standard operational forecast scores, Boyd’s windowing-based method provides comparable performance as the old existing spline-based periodization procedure. However, the real improvements of this method should be expected in specific cases of strong dynamical forcings at the lateral boundaries. An extensive demonstration of the superiority of this windowing-based method is provided in an accompanying paper.
Influence of the Lake Erie Overlake Boundary Layer on Deep Convective Storm Evolution
Authors: Workoff Thomas E. , Kristovich David A. R. , Laird Neil F. , LaPlante Robert , Leins Daniel
Published: May 2012

The influence that the overlake boundary layer has on storm intensity and structure is not well understood. To improve scientists’ understanding of the evolution of storms crossing Lake Erie, 111 events during 2001–09 were examined using observations from Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D), surface, buoy, and rawinsonde sites. It was found that on average, all storm modes tended to weaken over the lake; however, considerable variability in changes of storm intensity existed, with some storms exhibiting steady-state or increasing intensity in specific environments. Noteworthy changes in the storm maximum reflectivity generally occurred within 60 min after storms crossed the upwind shoreline. Isolated and cluster storm modes exhibited much greater weakening than those storms organized into lines or convective complexes. The atmospheric parameters having the greatest influence on storm intensity over Lake Erie varied by mode. Isolated and cluster storms generally weakened more rapidly with increasingly cold overlake surface air temperatures. Linear and complex systems, on the other hand, tended to exhibit constant or increasing maximum reflectivity with cooler overlake surface air temperatures. It is suggested that strongly stable conditions near the lake surface limit the amount of boundary layer air ingested into storms in these cases.
Convective Modes for Significant Severe Thunderstorms in the Contiguous United States. Part I: Storm Classification and Climatology
Authors: Smith Bryan T. , Thompson Richard L. , Grams Jeremy S. , Broyles Chris , Brooks Harold E.
Published: May 2012

Radar-based convective modes were assigned to a sample of tornadoes and significant severe thunderstorms reported in the contiguous United States (CONUS) during 2003–11. The significant hail (≥2-in. diameter), significant wind (≥65-kt thunderstorm gusts), and tornadoes were filtered by the maximum event magnitude per hour on a 40-km Rapid Update Cycle model horizontal grid. The filtering process produced 22 901 tornado and significant severe thunderstorm events, representing 78.5% of all such reports in the CONUS during the sample period. The convective mode scheme presented herein begins with three radar-based storm categories: 1) discrete cells, 2) clusters of cells, and 3) quasi-linear convective systems (QLCSs). Volumetric radar data were examined for right-moving supercell (RM) and left-moving supercell characteristics within the three radar reflectivity designations. Additional categories included storms with marginal supercell characteristics and linear hybrids with a mix of supercell and QLCS structures. Smoothed kernel density estimates of events per decade revealed clear geographic and seasonal patterns of convective modes with tornadoes. Discrete and cluster RMs are the favored convective mode with southern Great Plains tornadoes during the spring, while the Deep South displayed the greatest variability in tornadic convective modes in the fall, winter, and spring. The Ohio Valley favored a higher frequency of QLCS tornadoes and a lower frequency of RM compared to the Deep South and the Great Plains. Tornadoes with nonsupercellular/non-QLCS storms were more common across Florida and the high plains in the summer. Significant hail events were dominated by Great Plains supercells, while variations in convective modes were largest for significant wind events.
Letters to a Young Psychologist
Authors: Israel Tania
Published: May 2012

In this response to the major contribution, “Voices of Early Career Psychologists in the Society of Counseling Psychology,” the past president of the Society of Counseling Psychology (SCP) expresses appreciation, describes aspects of her early career experience in light of the survey findings in the major contribution, offers reflections concerning membership and leadership, and makes recommendations for future research and organizational development. The author invites dialogue and collaboration with early career counseling psychologists in order to promote membership and leadership of early career professionals in the SCP.
Foreign Direct Investment and Territorial Disputes
Authors: Lee Hoon , Mitchell Sara McLaughlin
Published: May 2012

This study evaluates the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and interstate conflict, focusing on four prominent causal mechanisms: the declining benefits of territorial conquest, increasing preference similarity, increasing opportunity costs of violence, and improved information signaling. Empirical analyses show that new territorial issues are less likely to arise as global levels of FDI increase, although monadic and bilateral FDI flows have no effect on states’ decisions to start new issue claims. Higher bilateral FDI flows between two disputants significantly reduce the chances for escalation to high levels of violence over issues and improve the chances for peaceful management. Increasing global levels of FDI also reduce the chances for severe militarized conflicts. Opportunity costs are an important mechanism linking FDI and states’ conflict management practices, as the pacifying effect of bilateral and monadic FDI on militarized conflict becomes stronger in dyads with a history of militarization over the issues at stake.
Comfort properties of functional three-dimensional knitted spacer fabrics for home-textile applications
Authors: Onal Levent , Yildirim Mustafa
Published: May 2012

The effect of thermal properties on the three-dimensional knitted spacer fabrics made from functional fibers (i.e. Outlast®, Coolmax®) with different fiber compositions was studied. The spacer fabrics were specifically designed for mattress ticking applications. Samples were manufactured with two fabric tightness and knit designs, and four Outlast® fiber compositions. Thermal conductivity, thermal resistance, thermal absorptivity, thermal diffusivity, and relative water vapor permeability were considered as thermal comfort properties. Alambeta and Permetest devices were used for the measurement of thermal properties. Fabric design was the leading criteria on the thermal resistance and water vapor permeability, while fiber compositions became more important on the thermal absorptivity. The contribution of Outlast® fiber on the thermoregulatory efficiency of spacer fabrics was analyzed using a differential scanning colorimeter. The thermoregulatory effect of Outlast® fiber was slightly observed in the 33% Outlast® fiber composition. Water vapor permeability of open-skin samples was higher than the closed-skin samples, which was due to the holed/meshed structure of the open-skin structure for the same fiber content and fabric construction. Statistical analysis was also performed and confirmed the contribution of each factor, including their interactions. In particular, the interaction became more significant than the main factors for thermal diffusion behavior of samples.
Intelligent detection of defects of yarn-dyed fabrics by energy-based local binary patterns
Authors: Li Wenyu , Xue Wenliang , Cheng Longdi
Published: May 2012

For the purpose of realizing fast and effective detection of defects of yarn-dyed fabric via computer vision, and in consideration of the inherent characteristics of texture, that is, color and structure, an applicable approach for intelligent defect detection is proposed in this paper. The image of yarn-dyed fabric enhanced by fractional differentials is first converted from RGB true color space to L*a*b* color space, and energy-based feature images are acquired after the Log-Gabor filter filters chromatic and brightness channels. Then the paper defines the relations between energy and the local binary pattern as a new concept called energy-based local binary patterns (ELBPs). Finally defects can be detected, using ELBPs rather than grayscale-based local binary patterns. The proposed method can detect chromatic and structural defects. Experimental results for the defect detection from several collections of yarn-dyed fabrics indicate that a detection success rate of more than 94.09% is achieved for the proposed method, and the speed of test is also fast.
Ballistic performance of hybrid panels composed of unidirectional/woven fabrics
Authors: Park Jong Lyoul , Chi Yong-Seung , Kang Tae Jin
Published: May 2012

This paper examines the effect of the layering sequence of unidirectional (UD)/woven fabric hybrid panels on perforation resistance (V50) against a 5.56 mm fragment-simulating projectile and the blunt trauma resistance represented by the backface signature (BFS) caused by a .44 Magnum semi-jacketed hollow point projectile. Some of the woven fabric layers were impregnated with shear thickening fluid (STF) to modify their properties. When layers with a smaller in-plane constraint (neat woven fabric) were laminated behind layers with a larger in-plane constraint (UD or STF-impregnated woven fabric), an increase in perforation resistance was observed due to the decreased out-of-plane constraint. When the layering sequence was reversed, an increase in blunt trauma resistance (i.e. smaller BFS) was observed due to better coupling of yarn elongation in the frontal and rear layers.
Place Disparities in Supportive Environments for Extracurricular Physical Activity in North Carolina Middle Schools
Authors: Edwards Michael B. , Bocarro Jason N. , Kanters Michael A.
Published: May 2012

Disadvantaged rural youth may be especially at risk for obesity and poorer health due to physical inactivity. Research suggests that extracurricular school programs can increase physical activity for this population. This study sought to determine whether local differences existed in the availability of supportive environments for extracurricular physical activity in North Carolina middle schools. Multiple data sources, including a self-administered questionnaire to personnel at 325 schools were integrated. Multilevel models were estimated using a composite index for supportive environments as the dependent variable and school compositional factors, economic resources, and community social factors as explanatory variables. Study findings suggested adolescents living in socioeconomically deprived rural areas had fewer environmental resources for extracurricular physical activity. Rural schools in poor areas of the state with high racial heterogeneity demonstrated the lowest environmental support. Reduced availability of supportive school environments may be one factor contributing to physical inactivity in the state.
Steady‐State Pharmacokinetics of Etravirine and Lopinavir/Ritonavir Melt Extrusion Formulation, Alone and in Combination, in Healthy HIV‐Negative Volunteers
Authors: Schöller‐Gyüre Monika , Kakuda Thomas N. , Witek James , Akuma Sophie H. , Smedt Goedele De , Spittaels Kurt , Vyncke Veerle , Hoetelmans Richard M.W.
Published: May 2012

Background

A previous study investigating coadministration of etravirine, a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, and lopinavir/ritonavir soft‐gel formulation resulted in nonclinically relevant changes in etravirine and lopinavir exposure. The current study evaluated the pharmacokinetic interaction between etravirine and the lopinavir/ritonavir melt extrusion formulation.

Method

Sixteen human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐negative volunteers were randomized to either treatment sequence A/B or B/A, with 14 days— washout between treatments (treatment A: etravirine 200 mg bid for 8 days; treatment B: lopinavir/ritonavir 400/100 mg bid for 16 days with etravirine 200 mg bid on days 9‐16). Steady‐state pharmacokinetics were assessed for all antiretrovirals alone and coadministered; pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained by noncompartmental analysis. Safety and tolerability were assessed.

Results

Coadministration of etravirine and lopinavir/ritonavir resulted in a 35% decrease in etravirine exposure. Smaller decreases (<13%) were observed in lopinavir and ritonavir exposure. Six volunteers reported headache; 1 grade 3 triglyceride increase was reported.

Conclusion

Lopinavir/ritonavir induced etravirine metabolism to a similar extent as most other boosted HIV protease inhibitors. The short‐term coadministration of etravirine and lopinavir/ritonavir was well tolerated and did not lead to increased incidences of adverse events.
The Combination of Exposure‐Response and Case‐Control Analyses in Regulatory Decision Making
Authors: Yang Jun , Zhao Hong , Garnett Christine , Rahman Atiqur , Gobburu Jogarao V. , Pierce William , Schechter Genevieve , Summers Jeffery , Keegan Patricia , Booth Brian , Wang Yaning
Published: May 2012

To reduce the bias introduced by confounding risk factors, a case‐control comparison was incorporated in the exposure‐response (ER) analysis to evaluate the recommended dosing regimen for trastuzumab in a pivotal trial. Results of Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis suggest that patients with metastatic gastric cancer (mGC) in the lowest quartile trough concentrations of trastuzumab in cycle 1 (Cmin 1) had shorter overall survival (OS) than did those in other quartiles. The result of the case‐matched control comparison suggests that adjusting for these risk factors, patients with the lowest quartile of trastuzumab exposure did not benefit from addition of trastuzumab treatment to chemotherapy. The identified subgroup without survival benefit and the ER relationship support the recommendation on conducting clinical trials to identify a treatment regimen with greater exposure and acceptable safety profiles and to prospectively evaluate whether this treatment regimen will result in survival benefit for the identified subgroup.
Comparing the Pharmacokinetics of Doxylamine/Pyridoxine Delayed‐Release Combination in Nonpregnant Women of Reproductive Age and Women in the First Trimester of Pregnancy
Authors: Matok Ilan , Clark Shannon , Caritis Steve , Miodovnik Menachem , Umans Jason , Hankins Gary , Koren Gideon
Published: May 2012

Although Diclectin (doxylamine/pyridoxine delayed‐released combination) is widely used in Canada, its pharmacokinetics (PK) during pregnancy has never been described. The objective of this study was to compare the PK of doxylamine/pyridoxine delayed‐released combination in pregnant versus nonpregnant women. The apparent clearances (CL) of doxylamine and pyridoxal 5′‐phosphate (PLP; the active metabolite of vitamin B6) during the first‐trimester pregnancy in women who participated in a Diclectin randomized trial were compared with those of healthy, adult, nonpregnant women who participated in a voluntary PK trial. Eighteen nonpregnant women were compared with 50 pregnant women who were treated with Diclectin. There was no difference in the apparent CL of doxylamine in women in their first trimester of pregnancy when compared with nonpregnant women on day 4 (median = 196.7 vs 249.5 mL/h/kg, respectively, P = .065), day 8 (median = 248.4 vs 249.5 mL/h/kg, respectively, P = .82), and day 15 (median = 200.9 vs 249.5 mL/h/kg, respectively, P = .55). No difference was found in the apparent CL of PLP on day 15 (median = 342.3 vs 314.7 mL/h/kg, respectively, P = .92). There was no pregnancy‐induced effect in the apparent CL of either doxylamine or PLP in women during the first trimester of pregnancy despite the existence of morning sickness.
Motivating Organizations to Learn
Authors: Chadwick Ingrid C. , Raver Jana L.
Published: May 2012

Organizations must learn and adapt to succeed in today’s ever-changing business environment, so it is essential for scholars to better understand the antecedents to learning processes among individuals, teams, and organizations as a whole. In this article, the authors offer a multilevel theory that illustrates how individuals’ motivation for different achievement goals, that is, goal orientations, shape the way they individually and collectively participate in organizational learning processes. This framework is grounded in a theoretical synthesis of organizational learning and achievement goal theories, which highlights the value of using an emergent motivational theory to better understand how predominantly cognitive learning processes may emerge across levels in organizations. In particular, the authors illustrate how mastery- and performance-oriented norms emerge in work groups and influence information interpretation and integration. The authors further describe how groups’ goal orientation norms can become embedded in the organizational culture, which impacts the ways in which learning processes are institutionalized throughout the organization. This theoretical framework provides a fuller depiction of why and how learning unfolds in organizations, which may facilitate future research on the microfoundations of organizational learning and how these can enable organizations to enhance their capabilities.
Lobe-Specific Heterogeneity and Matrix Metalloproteinase Activation after Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rat Livers
Authors: Palladini Giuseppina , Ferrigno Andrea , Rizzo Vittoria , Boncompagni Eleonora , Richelmi Plinio , Freitas Isabel , Perlini Stefano , Vairetti Mariapia
Published: May 2012

Studies assessing the effects of partial-hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury focused on the damage to the ischemic-lobe, whereas few data are available on non-ischemic lobe. This study investigated whether acute liver I/R does affect non-ischemic lobe function via modulation of extracellular matrix remodeling. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent left lateral- and median-lobe ischemia for 30 min and reperfusion for 60 min or sham operation. After reperfusion, blood samples and hepatic biopsies from both the ischemic (left-lobe, LL) and the non-ischemic lobe (right-lobe, RL) were collected. Serum hepatic enzymes and TNF-alpha, tissue matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-9), liver morphology, malondialdehyde (MDA), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were evaluated. Liver I/R injury was confirmed by altered increased hepatic enzymes and TNF-alpha. I/R induced an altered morphology and an increase in MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity not only in left-ischemic lobe (LL) but also in the right-non-ischemic (RL) lobe. A lobar difference was detected for MDA formation and MPO activity in both sham and I/R submitted rats, with higher levels in the left lobe for both groups. This study indicates that an increase in MMPs, which may be TNF-alpha-mediated, occurs in both the ischemic- and the non-ischemic lobes; the heterogeneous lobe concentrations of MDA and MPO suggest that the random sampling of liver tissue should be avoided.
Redox Imbalance and Pulmonary Function in Bleomycin-Induced Fibrosis in C57BL/6, DBA/2, and BALB/c Mice
Authors: Santos-Silva Marco Aurélio , Pires Karla Maria Pereira , Trajano Eduardo Tavares Lima , Martins Vanessa , Nesi Renata Tiscoski , Benjamin Cláudia Farias , Caetano Maurício Silva , Sternberg Cinthya , Machado Mariana Nascimento , Zin Walter Araújo , Valença Samuel Santos , Porto Luis Cristóvão
Published: May 2012

The development of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (BLEO-PF) has been associated with differences in genetic background and oxidative stress status. The authors’ aim was to investigate the crosstalk between the redox profile, lung histology, and respiratory function in BLEO-PF in C57BL/6, DBA/2, and BALB/c mice. BLEO-PF was induced with a single intratracheal dose of bleomycin (0.1 U/mouse). Twenty-one days after bleomycin administration, the mortality rate was over 50% in C57BL/6 and 20% in DBA/2 mice, and BLEO-PF was not observed in BALB/c. There was an increase in lung static elastance ( p < .001), viscoelastic/inhomogeneous pressure ( p < .05), total pressure drop after flow interruption ( p < .01), and ΔE ( p < .05) in C57BL/6 mice. The septa volume increased in C57BL/6 ( p < .05) and DBA/2 ( p < .001). The levels of IFN-γ were reduced in C57BL/6 mice ( p < .01). OH-proline levels were increased in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice ( p < .05). SOD activity and expression were reduced in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice ( p < .001 and p < .001, respectively), whereas catalase was reduced in all strains 21 days following bleomycin administration compared with the saline groups (C57BL/6: p < .05; DBA/2: p < .01; BALB/c: p < .01). GPx activity and GPx1/2 expression decreased in C57BL/6 ( p < .001). The authors conclude that BLEO-PF resistance may also be related to the activity and expression of SOD in BALB/c mice.
Myocardial Mitochondrial Injury Induced by Pulmonary Exposure to Particulate Matter in Rats
Authors: Golomb Eliahu , Matza Didi , Cummings Connie A. , Schwalb Herzl , Kodavanti Urmila P. , Schneider Aviva , Houminer Esther , Korach Amit , Nyska Abraham , Shapira Oz M.
Published: May 2012

Exposure to air pollution has been associated with acute myocardial ischemia, impaired myocardrial function, and ST-segment depression. Particulate matter (PM)–associated metals, especially vanadium and nickel, have been implicated in observed cardiovascular impairments. We aimed to assess the effect of single intratracheal pulmonary exposure to vanadium-rich respirable oil combustion PM (HP-10) on the intrinsic myocardial ischemic tolerance and mitochondrial integrity in rats. The authors subjected isolated heart tissue slices derived from saline or PM-exposed rats to low glucose low oxygen induced ischemia followed by oxygenated condition with glucose supplementation. Mitochondrial structural integrity was determined by TEM (transmission electron microscopy) and functionality by the 3-(4, 5 dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2, 5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Rats exposed to PM exhibited no apparent inhibition of mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity in oxygenated conditions at 24 or 48 hr post–PM exposure. However, in conditions of simulated ischemia/reoxygenation, these heart slices showed a delayed but consistent and significant decrease in dehydrogenase activity compared to controls at 48 hr after exposure to PM. Electron microscopy revealed significant myocardial mitochondrial injury upon exposure to PM characterized by mitochondrial swelling and fusion. The authors conclude that exposure to soluble vanadium-rich PM induces mitochondrial functional impairment and structural abnormality, which compromises mitochondrial respiration and results in decreased tolerance to ischemia/reoxygenation in rats.
Distribution and Systemic Effects of Intranasally Administered 25 nm Silver Nanoparticles in Adult Mice
Authors: Genter Mary Beth , Newman Nicholas C. , Shertzer Howard G. , Ali Syed F. , Bolon Brad
Published: May 2012

Previous work indicates that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) given IP to mice alter the regulation of inflammation- and oxidative stress–related genes in brain. Here we assessed the distribution and toxic potential of AgNP following intranasal (IN) exposure. Adult male C57BL/6J mice received 25-nm AgNP (100 or 500 mg/kg) once IN. After 1 or 7 days, histopathology of selected organs was performed, and tissue reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were measured as an indicator of oxidative stress. Aggregated AgNP were found in spleen, lung, kidney, and nasal airway by routine light microscopy. Splenic AgNP accumulation was greatest in red pulp and occurred with modestly reduced cellularity and elevated hemosiderin deposition. Aggregated AgNP were not associated with microscopic changes in other tissues except for nasal mucosal erosions. Autometallography revealed AgNP in olfactory bulb and the lateral brain ventricles. Neither inflammatory cell infiltrates nor activated microglia were detected in brains of AgNP-treated mice. Elevated tissue GSH levels was observed in nasal epithelia (both doses at 1 day, 500 mg/kg at 7 days) and blood (500 mg/kg at 7 days). Therefore, IN administration of AgNP permits systemic distribution, produces reversible oxidative stress in the nose and in blood, and mildly enhances macrophage-mediated erythrocyte destruction in the spleen.
Theoretical Frameworks to Guide School Improvement
Authors: Evans Lisa , Thornton Bill , Usinger Janet
Published: May 2012

A firm grounding in change theory can provide educational leaders with an opportunity to orchestrate meaningful organizational improvements. This article provides an opportunity for practicing leaders to review four major theories of organizational change—continuous improvement, two approaches to organizational learning, and appreciative inquiry. These four theories were selected because of their emergence within the field of education, possible adaptability to school systems, and potential to support organizational change. Such theories can provide clear guidelines for successful organizational transformation, promote effective change management, and facilitate operative decision making.
Pedagogical ideas on sonic, mediated, and virtual musical landscapes: Teaching hip hop in a university classroom
Authors: Dhokai Niyati
Published: May 2012

Based on the experience of teaching the history of American hip hop music to a classroom of Canadian university students, the author considers the disjuncture between the cultural orientations of herself and her students. The author considers teaching methods to solve the place-based disjuncture that often occurs when teaching genres such as hip hop, as well as in the teaching of mediated and virtual musics. She draws upon the fields of ethnomusicology and popular music to consider solutions that examine the relationships between the performers and listeners of hip hop music and the mediators that are involved in the process of negotiating the space that is created in the production and consumption of music and who have the greatest influence on how the music is heard by the listeners. This article presents several ideas on how cultural specificity can be dealt with when studying or teaching about a musical system.
Effects of the strategy therapy ‘lexicon pirate’ on lexical deficits in preschool age: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Motsch Hans-Joachim , Ulrich Tanja
Published: May 2012

The most common interventions for children with lexical disorders are forms and combinations of interventions focusing on phonological and semantic elaboration and retrieval. Systematic reviews of intervention studies on children with lexical disorders show that a significant generalization of therapeutic effects to untrained vocabulary was rarely achieved. The aim of this study was to investigate whether preschool children with lexical deficits profit from an intervention approach that focuses on implementing lexical learning strategies. A randomized controlled trial was conducted. The control group consisted of 25 children, who received language support in their kindergarten. The 26 children in the experimental group additionally received 15 intervention sessions of the lexical strategy intervention ‘lexicon pirate’. Intervention effects were measured using a standardized expressive vocabulary assessment one year after the intervention. All children significantly improved on the expressive vocabulary measure. In addition, the gain in expressive vocabulary size was higher for children in the experimental group than for the participants in the control group. Further analysis revealed that ‘lexicon pirate’ was as effective for children with qualitative (word-finding) lexical deficits as for those with quantitative (vocabulary) lexical deficits. The gain in expressive vocabulary size was independent of nonverbal IQ, deficits in phonological working memory or other possible influencing factors.
Dose frequency: Comparison of language outcomes in preschool children with language impairment
Authors: Bellon-Harn Monica L
Published: May 2012

Data regarding treatment intensity provide evidence for service delivery decision-making in schools. In this pilot study, dose frequency effects (i.e. number of therapy sessions per week) on semantic and morphologic abilities in preschool children, ages 4;0 to 5;3 years of age, with language impairment were examined. Children enrolled in a concentrated treatment schedule (4 times per week for 6 weeks) were compared to children enrolled in a distributed treatment schedule (2 times per week for 12 weeks) using a pretest/posttest design. A concentrated schedule provides more therapy per week for fewer weeks than a distributed schedule. Therapy following a scaffolded-language structure with implicit strategies was used. Results indicate positive outcomes following both a concentrated and distributed schedules. No differences between groups were noted. Results suggest goal attainment of semantic and morphologic aspects of language within a school setting could occur in a variety of scheduling frameworks.
Labour market activation in Finland in the 1990s: Workfare reforms and labour market flexibilisation
Authors: Outinen Sami
Published: May 2012

Activation measures in Finland have meant the weakening of the level, qualification criteria, coverage, and time limits of social benefits in a way inimical to the post-Second World War Nordic welfare model. These changes have been accompanied by a growth of labour market flexibility, of non-traditional forms of employment, and a widening wage dispersion. This article traces these developments, but also shows that despite changes in social protection arrangements and labour market organisation, labour market demand has not increased and underemployment has remained at a substantial level in the Finnish labour market.
Experimental evidence of the roles of music choice, social context, and listener personality in emotional reactions to music
Authors: Liljeström Simon , Juslin Patrik N. , Västfjäll Daniel
Published: May 2012

Music may arouse intense emotions in listeners, but little is known about the circumstances that contribute to such reactions. Here we report a listening experiment that investigated the roles of selected musical, situational, and individual factors in emotional reactions to music. In a 2 × 2 factorial design, we manipulated music choice (self-chosen vs. randomly sampled) and social context (alone vs. with a close friend or partner). Fifty university students (20–43 years old) rated their emotional responses to the music in terms of overall emotion intensity and 15 emotions. We also measured personality traits (NEO-PI-R) and psychophysiological responses (skin conductance, heart rate). Consistent with predictions based on previous field studies, listeners reported more intense emotions (1) to self-chosen music than to randomly selected music and (2) when listening with a close friend or partner than when listening alone. Moreover, listeners scoring high on the trait Openness to experience experienced more intense emotions than listeners scoring low. All three factors correlated positively with the experience of positive emotions such as happiness and pleasure.
Prevalence of Epilepsy and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD) Disorder
Authors: Cohen Rony , Senecky Yehuda , Shuper Avinoam , Inbar Dov , Chodick Gabriel , Shalev Varda , Raz Raanan
Published: May 2012

Epilepsy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were reported to co-occur at rates higher than expected for coincidental findings. This study investigated the prevalence of both disorders in community-based primary care practice. The central database of the second-largest health maintenance organization in Israel was searched for all children aged 6 to 13 years (n = 284 419; 51.5% males) diagnosed as having ADHD according to the physicians’ records and/or the filling of at least 10 prescriptions for antiepileptic medications according to pharmacy records. The prevalence of epilepsy in the total population was 5 out of 1000 children, and the prevalence of ADHD was 12.6%. More than one-fourth (27.7%) of the epileptic children were also diagnosed as having ADHD. On multivariate analysis, children with ADHD had almost twice the risk of epilepsy than children without ADHD. This study supports hospital-based findings of a strong interrelationship between ADHD and epilepsy. The high rate of ADHD in Israeli children warrants further investigation.
Clinical Features and Ryanodine Receptor Type 1 Gene Mutation Analysis in a Chinese Family With Central Core Disease
Authors: Chang Xingzhi , Jin Yiwen , Zhao Haijuan , Huang Qionghui , Wang Jingmin , Yuan Yun , Han Ying , Qin Jiong
Published: May 2012

Central core disease is a rare inherited neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations in ryanodine receptor type 1 gene. The clinical phenotype of the disease is highly variable. We report a Chinese pedigree with central core disease confirmed by the gene sequencing. All 3 patients in the family presented with mild proximal limb weakness. The serum level of creatine kinase was normal, and electromyography suggested myogenic changes. The histologic analysis of muscle biopsy showed identical central core lesions in almost all of the muscle fibers in the index case. Exon 90-106 in the C-terminal domain of the ryanodine receptor type 1 gene was amplified using polymerase chain reaction. One heterozygous missense mutation G14678A (Arg4893Gln) in exon 102 was identified in all 3 patients. This is the first report of a familial case of central core disease confirmed by molecular study in mainland China.
Antiepileptic Drugs and Bone Metabolism in Children
Authors: Borusiak Peter , Langer Thorsten , Heruth Marion , Karenfort Michael , Bettendorf Ulrich , Jenke Andreas CW
Published: May 2012

There are conflicting results concerning bone metabolism in children receiving antiepileptic medication, with data concentrating on neurologically impaired patients. We performed a multicenter cross-sectional study in otherwise healthy children who received monotherapy with valproic acid, oxcarbazepine, lamotrigine, sulthiame, levetiracetam, or topiramate for at least 6 months. Data on calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, 25-OH vitamin D, and parathormone were collected. Among 128 patients, 24.4% had hypocalcemia, 25.4% hypophosphatemia, and 13.3% (n = 17) 25-OH vitamin D levels <10 ng/mL. All patients were clinically asymptomatic. Mean calcium concentrations were found to be significantly lower among the study population (2.41 mmol/L) compared with healthy controls (2.53 mmol/L). Lowest mean concentration was observed in patients treated with sulthiame followed by oxcarbazepine and valproic acid. No influence of calcium intake or therapy on bone metabolism was noted. Effects on bone metabolism of anticonvulsive monotherapy are not restricted to neurologically impaired children but also affect otherwise healthy children.
SCN1A Mutation Associated With Intractable Myoclonic Epilepsy and Migraine Headache
Authors: Frosk Patrick , Mhanni Aizeddin A. , Rafay Mubeen F.
Published: May 2012

Mutations in the SCN1A gene are associated with a variety of epilepsy syndromes and more recently with familial hemiplegic migraine. The spectrum of phenotypes can be quite broad even within the same family and with the same mutation. Here we describe a child with intractable myoclonic epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder who carries an inherited mutation in SCN1A (c.3521C>G, p.T1174S). Previous reports suggest this mutation causes familial hemiplegic migraine and interestingly both the patient’s mother, who also carries the mutation, and the patient’s maternal grandmother, have frequent migraines with aura.