bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognitive‐behavioral therapy for persistent pain: Does adherence after treatment affect outcome?
Authors: Curran Charlotte , de Williams Amanda C. C. , Potts Henry W.W.
Published: July 2008

It is a tenet of cognitive behavioral treatment of persistent pain problems that ex‐patients should adhere to treatment methods over the longer term, in order to maintain and to extend treatment gains. However, no research has quantified the causal influence of adherence on short‐term outcome in this field. The aims of this study are to assess determinants of adherence to treatment recommendations in several domains, and to examine the extent to which cognitive and behavioral adherence predicts better outcome of cognitive behavioral treatment for persistent pain. Longitudinal data from a sample of 2345 persistent pain patients who attended a multicomponent treatment programme were subjected to structural equation modeling. Adherence emerged as a mediating factor linking post‐treatment and follow‐up treatment outcome, but contributed only 3% unique variance to follow‐up outcomes. Combined end‐of‐treatment outcomes and adherence factors accounted for 72% of the variance in outcome at one‐month follow‐up. Notwithstanding shortcomings in the measurement of adherence, these findings question the emphasis normally given to adherence in the maintenance of behavioral and cognitive change, and clinical implications are discussed.
Fibromyalgia pain and its modulation by hypnotic and non‐hypnotic suggestion: An fMRI analysis
Authors: Derbyshire Stuart W.G. , Whalley Matthew G. , Oakley David A.
Published: July 2008

The neuropsychological status of pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, commonly categorized as ‘psychosomatic’ or ‘functional’ disorders, remains controversial. Activation of brain structures dependent upon subjective alterations of fibromyalgia pain experience could provide an insight into the underlying neuropsychological processes. Suggestion following a hypnotic induction can readily modulate the subjective experience of pain. It is unclear whether suggestion without hypnosis is equally effective. To explore these and related questions, suggestions following a hypnotic induction and the same suggestions without a hypnotic induction were used during functional magnetic resonance imaging to increase and decrease the subjective experience of fibromyalgia pain. Suggestion in both conditions resulted in significant changes in reported pain experience, although patients claimed significantly more control over their pain and reported greater pain reduction when hypnotised. Activation of the midbrain, cerebellum, thalamus, and midcingulate, primary and secondary sensory, inferior parietal, insula and prefrontal cortices correlated with reported changes in pain with hypnotic and non‐hypnotic suggestion. These activations were of greater magnitude, however, when suggestions followed a hypnotic induction in the cerebellum, anterior midcingulate cortex, anterior and posterior insula and the inferior parietal cortex. Our results thus provide evidence for the greater efficacy of suggestion following a hypnotic induction. They also indicate direct involvement of a network of areas widely associated with the pain ‘neuromatrix’ in fibromyalgia pain experience. These findings extend beyond the general proposal of a neural network for pain by providing direct evidence that regions involved in pain experience are actively involved in the generation of fibromyalgia pain.
Randomized placebo‐controlled trial of pantoprazole for daytime sleepiness in GERD and obstructive sleep disordered breathing
Authors: Suurna Maria V. , Welge Jeff , Surdulescu Victoria , Kushner Jonathan , Steward David L.
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of pantoprazole therapy for daytime somnolence, psychomotor vigilance, and quality of life in patients with mild‐moderate obstructive sleep disordered breathing (OSDB) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover trial.

METHODS

Sixty patients with daytime sleepiness, mildmoderate OSDB and GERD were randomly assigned a 2‐week treatment with pantoprazole 40 mg or placebo followed by a 2‐week washout period and crossover respectively to 2‐week treatment with placebo or pantoprazole. Outcomes included Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS), sleep‐related quality‐of‐life (FOSQ), and reaction time.

RESULTS

With pantoprazole, patients reported statistically significantly greater improvement of overall reflux symptoms (P = 0.0003) and in ESS (P = 0.04). A significant improvement was noted in FOSQ for both treatments with a trend toward greater improvement with pantoprazole (P = 0.058). No improvement in reaction times was observed.

CONCLUSION

Patients with coexistent GERD and OSDB noted significant improvement in daytime sleepiness after treatment with pantoprazole over placebo likely related to a reduction in nocturnal reflux‐related arousals.
Radiologic and histologic characterization of silk fibroin as scaffold coating for rabbit tracheal defect repair
Authors: Ni Yusu , Zhao Xia , Zhou Liang , Shao Zhengzhong , Yan Wenhong , Chen Xin , Cao Zhengbing , Xue Zhen , Jiang Jack J.
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVES

To explore the feasibility of silk fibroin as a biomaterial coating used in tracheal defect reconstruction.

METHODS

Silk fibroin was subcutaneously embedded in three rabbits and as an artificial implant material coating to reconstruct 12 rabbits' tracheal defects. The postoperative radiologic and histologic characterization was summarized.

RESULTS

The thickness of the fibroblasts layer covering the porus and nonporus silk fibroin film was 240.4 ± 9.9 and 302.3 ± 10.5 μm, respectively, and there was no statistical difference (P < 0.05) within each group. There was no foreign‐body granuloma or macrophagocyte infiltration around the silk film. The tracheal reconstruction study showed a normal mucous membrane with normal cilial growth on the artificial implant and no visible granulation tissue in the reconstructed tracheal cavity.

CONCLUSIONS

Silk fibroin is a potential new biomaterial coating for tracheal defect reconstruction. The mechanism of silk fibroin appears to promote tracheal mucous membrane, which may be related to its molecular structure and biology.
A comparison of postoperative pain and complications in tonsillectomy using BiClamp forceps and electrocautery tonsillectomy
Authors: Lee Seung Won , Jeon Soo Sung , Lee Jong Dae , Lee Jae Yong , Kim Shi Chan , Koh Yoon Woo
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVES

To compare the efficacy and safety of BiClamp forceps tonsillectomy (BT) with standard electrocautery tonsillectomy (ET) in terms of postoperative pain and complication rates.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective randomized study.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The following variables were examined: postoperative complications, intraoperative blood loss, operating time, postoperative pain and diet scores using visual analog scales, and time until return to normal activity.

RESULTS

The mean operating time and the grade of intraoperative blood loss were significantly lower in the BT group than in the ET group for both pediatric and adult patients. For adult patients, the overall complication rates were significantly lower in the BT group. In addition, a significant early decrease in the pain score and significant improvement in dietary intake until postoperative day 14 were observed in the BT group for both pediatric and adult patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of BiClamp forceps in tonsillectomy reduces the intraoperative blood loss and postoperative pain score, and facilitates an early return to normal diet and activity.
Effect of absence of malleus on ossiculoplasty in human temporal bones
Authors: Shimizu Yoshitaka , Goode Richard L.
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the effect of malleus presence or absence on middle ear sound transmission after middle ear reconstruction in a temporal bone model.

STUDY DESIGN

Human cadaveric temporal bone study.

METHODS

The velocity of the stapes footplate was measured using a laser Doppler vibrometer. After baseline measurements in eight intact temporal bones, reconstructed middle ear transmission with and without the malleus was analyzed. Furthermore, to assess the influence of interposed cartilage, cartilage pieces of three different diameters were inserted and the three test conditions compared.

RESULTS

Reconstruction without a malleus tended to be slightly worse at 0.6 to 3.0 kHz. However, these differences were not statistically significant. In the cartilage experiments, the large‐diameter cartilage was the worst at 0.25 kHz and 0.5 kHz but was better than the medium‐diameter cartilages at 3.0 kHz and 4.0 kHz (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Absence of the malleus impaired middle ear sound transmission slightly in the mid frequencies compared to reconstruction with the malleus present; the differences were not statistically significant.
Expression of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1a in the nasal polyps by real‐time RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry
Authors: Chien Chen‐Yu , Tai Chih‐Feng , Ho Kuen‐Yao , Kuo Wen‐Rei , Chai Chee‐Yin , Hsu Ying‐Che , Wang Ling‐Feng
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVE

Hypoxia may result in increased recruitment of inflammatory cells and release of various inflammatory cytokines. Local hypoxia within the sinus is believed to aggravate sinus inflammation. In this study, we tried to investigate the correlation of hypoxia‐inducible factor, which is upregulated under hypoxic condition, and nasal polyposis.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Forty‐four polyps from patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery and 38 inferior turbinate mucosa were obtained for immunohistochemical staining. Twenty‐three polyps and 22 turbinate mucosa also underwent real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction for quantification of messenger RNA (mRNA). The severity of the disease was judged by the Lund‐Mackay CT scoring.

RESULTS

Expression of hypoxia‐inducible factor protein, but not mRNA, was significantly increased in nasal polyps compared with that in the turbinate mucosa, but it did not correlate with the disease severity.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that hypoxia may have a role in the initiation of nasal polyposis.
Effect of deep breathing exercises on oxygenation after major head and neck surgery
Authors: Genç Arzu , Ikiz Ahmet Omer , Güneri Enis Alpin , Günerli Ali
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVES

To investigate respiratory and hemodynamic responses to deep breathing exercise (DBE) during the follow‐up period in the intensive care unit after major head and neck surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective study.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Thirty‐five patients were instructed to perform DBE every hour for 3 consecutive hours during the first postoperative day. The ratio of the partial pressure of arterial oxygen to the fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2), oxygen saturation (SpO2), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was recorded.

RESULTS

DBE increased the PaO2/FiO2 ratio from 416.7 ± 143.6 to 453.4 ± 141.4 mm Hg and increased SpO2 from 97.4 ± 1.9 to 99.2 ± 0.9. DBE decreased the RR from 24.1 ± 3.3 to 21.8 ± 2.9 breaths/min (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference in HR or MAP was observed after DBE (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

DBE improves oxygenation after major head and neck surgery, without causing additional harmful hemodynamic effects.
The safety of multi‐dose vials in allergy immunotherapy
Authors: Lin Sandra Y. , Lay P. Chase , Hughes Larry F. , Bass Richard
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively evaluate the risks of vial contamination after routine clinical use of multiple‐dose vials for immunotherapy.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective observational study of immunotherapy vial cultures from June 2007 to January 2008.

SETTING

Tertiary care outpatient otolaryngology clinic.

RESULTS

Over an 8‐month period, 136 consecutive vials were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria at the 3‐month expiration date after regular use in an outpatient allergy clinic and dispensation of multiple doses of injection immunotherapy from each vial. All vials had negative cultures.

CONCLUSION

Immunotherapy vials are at low risk to undergo contamination in routine use. Important factors include aseptic technique, bacteriostatic agents, and expiration dating.
Anatomical variations of the paranasal sinuses in Polynesian and New Zealand European computerized tomography scans
Authors: Keast Allan , Sofie Yelavich , Dawes Patrick , Lyons Brett
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to compare the incidence of anatomical variations displayed on computerized tomography scans of individuals that identify as Polynesian or New Zealand Europeans.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective analysis of computerized tomography of the paranasal sinuses. All scans were examined for a number of anatomical variations and the prevalence directly compared according to ethnic group.

SETTING

All scans were performed at a tertiary referral center (Dunedin Public Hospital).

SUBJECTS

Participants underwent computerized tomography of the paranasal sinuses for various indications. Ethnicity was determined from the electronic hospital record.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the prevalence of anatomical variations between Polynesians and New Zealand Europeans. Our study results are comparable with other studies of Caucasian paranasal sinus anatomy.

CONCLUSIONS

When performing endoscopic sinus surgery on those with Polynesian ethnicity, there are no specific anatomical variations to take into account.
Capillary blood gas: A novel means of assessing free flap perfusion in an animal model
Authors: Lesnik Gregory T. , Remenschneider Aaron K. , Herman Peter , Ross Ann , Ross Douglas A.
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate that in comparison to implantable O2 microelectrodes, capillary blood gas measurements represent a reliable, accessible, and easy method of identifying failing free flaps.

STUDY DESIGN

Groin fasciocutaneous flaps were elevated in 10 rats and following venous occlusion, O2 microelectrode measurements (pO2 and flow), and capillary blood gas measurements (pO2, pCO2, pH, HCO3) were obtained at 10‐minute intervals.

RESULTS

Measurements with capillary blood gas paralleled measurements with O2 microelectrodes. Average capillary blood gas pO2 fell from 42.71 to 31.57 mm Hg at 10 minutes and then to 28.67 mm Hg at 20 minutes. Average pH fell from 7.38 to 7.33 at 10 minutes and to 7.30 at 20 minutes. Results were statistically significant with both the paired Student's t test and the Wilcoxon signed rank test.

CONCLUSION

While providing users an ability to simultaneously monitor accepted modalities of flap surveillance, pH and pO2, capillary blood gas is a reliable, accessible, and reproducible marker of flap health.
Quality of life is more than the sum of its parts
Authors: Gourin Christine G.
Published: July 2008

The mean quality of life (QOL) score has been shown to be an insensitive measure of the effect of a treatment on QOL because of patient adaptation to disability. Stage, primary tumor site, surgical treatment, chemotherapy, and high attrition rates influence QOL assessment and need to be incorporated into QOL analysis.
The effect of comorbidity on quality of life during radiotherapy in head and neck cancer
Authors: Oozeer Nashreen Banon , Benbow Jen , Downs Carole , Kelly Charles , Welch Andrew , Paleri Vinidh
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVE

To identify the impact of comorbidity on quality of life during radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective assessment of quality of life and retrospective assessment of comorbidity.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Patients' quality of life was assessed at the start and twice during radiation treatment with the University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire. Comorbidity was assessed from the case notes of 91 patients with the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation‐27 index.

RESULTS

A mean comorbidity burden of 1.07 was found. Comorbid illnesses afflicted a little more than 60 percent of our cohort. Patients with moderate to severe comorbidity had statistically significantly worse quality of life at the start (P = 0.044) and midpoint of treatment (P = 0.005), but not at the end of treatment (P = 0.114). The magnitude of change of these scores after treatment was not influenced by comorbidity.

CONCLUSION

On the basis of severity of decompensation, radiotherapy does not produce a differential impact on the quality of life.
Dietary Sphingomyelin Alleviates Experimental Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Mice
Authors: Furuya  , Ohkawara  , Nagashima  , Asanuma  , Hino
Published: July 2008

The effect of dietary sphingomyelin (SM) on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) induced with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was examined in mice. Although the severity of IBD as expressed by the disease activity index (DAI) markedly increased with DSS administration, feeding a diet containing SM lowered the DAI value significantly. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in colonic tissue also increased with DSS administration, suggesting the development of inflammation. Because simultaneous administration of SM with DSS prevented the MPO activity increase, we concluded that SM could suppress the development of inflammation. These results provide novel evidence that dietary supplementation with SM can alleviate the symptoms of IBD in mice. Dietary SM also increased the amount of IgA in the large intestine, suggesting that SM promotes IgA secretion into the large intestine. These results suggest that the mechanism of IBD mitigation by SM is complex and involves the immune system.
Leptin, Soluble Leptin Receptor, Lipid Profiles, and LEPR Gene Polymorphisms in Thai Children and Adolescents
Authors: Popruk  , Tungtrongchitr  , Petmitr  , Pongpaew  , Harnroongroj  , Pooudong  , Phonrat  , Yamborisut  , Chongviriyaphan  , Tungtrongchitr
Published: July 2008

Objective: To evaluate the relationships between leptin, soluble leptin receptor, lipid profiles, and LEPR gene polymorphisms in child and adolescent Thai subjects. Design: Cross-sectional study of Thai children and adolescents. Subjects: 116 male and 65 female at risk for overweight/overweight child and adolescent Thai subjects, and 33 male and 62 female healthy child and adolescent Thai subjects (age: 5–19 years). Measurements: Leptin levels, soluble leptin receptor levels, lipid profiles, LEPR gene polymorphisms. Results: Significantly higher levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and leptin levels were observed in at risk for overweight/overweight group. On the other hand, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and soluble leptin receptor levels were significantly lower in the same group. Serum soluble leptin receptor levels were significantly negatively correlated with leptin. The at risk for overweight/overweight subjects with the Lys656Lys homozygous wild type LEPR gene had significantly higher cholesterol and LDL-C levels than those with Lys656Asn heterozygous and Asn656Asn homozygous mutant type. In contrast, subjects with Lys656Lys homozygous wild type had significantly lower leptin levels than those with Lys656Asn heterozygous and Asn656Asn homozygous mutant type. There was a statistically significant association between body mass index (BMI) and hyperleptinemia (odds ratio; OR = 2.49, p = 0.000) and females had more increased risk of hyperleptinemia than males (OR = 15.74, p = 0.004) in adolescent Thai subjects. Conclusion: The present study is the first report of Lys656Asn polymorphism of the LEPR gene associated with cholesterol, LDL-C, and leptin levels in Thai children and adolescents. Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in the at risk for overweight/overweight. In contrast, there were significantly lower soluble leptin receptor levels in the same group. In addition, there was a statistically significant association between BMI, sex, and hyperleptinemia in adolescent Thai subjects.
Doppeldiagnose Psychose und Sucht - Grundlagen und Therapie
Authors: Gouzoulis-Mayfrank Euphrosyne
Published: July 2008

Zusammenfassung: Patienten mit der Doppeldiagnose Psychose und Sucht (DD-Patienten) sind keine Randgruppe, sondern eine große und schwer behandelbare Kerngruppe unter den Patienten mit Schizophrenie. Vor allem unter Patienten im jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenenalter steht der Missbrauch von Cannabis an erster Stelle. Unter den verschiedenen Erklärungsmodellen für die hohe Prävalenz der Komorbidität werden derzeit das Modell einer Induktion der Psychose durch den Cannabiskonsum bei primär erhöhter Vulnerabilität für Psychosen sowie das Modell gemeinsamer Vulnerabilitätsfaktoren für beide Störungen favorisiert. Die DD-Patienten haben überwiegend eine schlechte Compliance und einen ungünstigen langfristigen Verlauf ihrer Psychose mit häufigeren Rezidiven und stationären Aufenthalten. Im Sinne einer effizienteren Behandlung dieser Patientengruppe ist es erforderlich Ansätze aus der psychiatrischen Krankenversorgung und der Suchttherapie zu integrieren und aufeinander anzupassen. Die erfolgreichsten Therapiemodelle bieten die Behandlung beider Störungen zeitlich parallel und integriert in einem Setting. Sie haben in der Regel ihren Schwerpunkt im ambulanten Sektor, bieten Pharmakotherapie, Motivationsstärkung, Psychoedukation, kognitiv-verhaltenstherapeutische Ansätze und Familieninterventionen an, und sie können alltagsrelevante Besserungen der sozialen Anpassung und Reduktionen des Konsums erzielen.
Zur Situation der Musiktherapie in der stationären Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie
Authors: Stegemann Thomas , Mauch Christine , Stein Vera , Romer Georg
Published: July 2008

Zusammenfassung: Einleitung und Fragestellung: Bei der Musiktherapie handelt es sich um ein in der Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie häufig eingesetztes Verfahren. Bisher liegen jedoch keine Daten vor, die eine Beschreibung der Arbeitssituation und Versorgungslage in diesem Bereich erlauben würden. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, einen aktuellen Überblick über die musiktherapeutische Versorgung in der stationären Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie zu erhalten. Methode: Mittels einer fragebogenbasierten Querschnittserhebung an allen kinder- und jugendpsychiatrischen Kliniken mit stationärem Behandlungsangebot in Deutschland (n = 134) wurden Informationen zu strukturellen und inhaltlichen Merkmalen der Musiktherapie erhoben. Ergebnisse: Musiktherapie wird an 63,4% der kinder- und jugendpsychiatrischen Kliniken als psychotherapeutisches Verfahren im stationären Setting eingesetzt (Rücklaufquote: 77,7%). Der Artikel gibt ferner Auskunft zu den Themenkomplexen Rahmenbedingungen der Musiktherapie, Therapiesetting und Klientel, räumliche Bedingungen der musiktherapeutischen Arbeit und Ausstattung (Instrumentarium) sowie über Qualifikation und therapeutische Ausrichtung der Musiktherapeuten. Schlussfolgerungen: Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass die in der Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie tätigen Musiktherapeuten über eine fundierte psychotherapeutische Qualifikation und langjährige Berufserfahrung verfügen. Es bedarf jedoch weiterer wissenschaftlicher und berufspolitischer Arbeit, um einerseits das psychotherapeutische Profil des Musiktherapeuten zu schärfen und um andererseits einen fundierten spezifischen Wirksamkeitsnachweis musiktherapeutischer Interventionen zu führen.
Eine seltene Differenzialdiagnose somatoformer autonomer Funktionsstörung des Abdominaltraktes: das hepatozelluläre Leberkarzinom in der Kindheit
Authors: Voll Renate
Published: July 2008

Zusammenfassung: Fragestellung: Ein 11-jähriger Junge wurde der Autorin unter der Diagnose einer somatoformen Störung zur Abklärung der schulischen Rehabilitation vorgestellt. Übelkeit, Erbrechen, abdominelle Schmerzen und Durchfälle waren die Leitsymptome. Ergebnisse: Bei der körperlichen Untersuchung zeigte sich ein tastbarer Lebertumor, der im Ultraschall und MRT bestätigt wurde. Die Operation ergab einen 500 ml großes hepatozelluläres Karzinom. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Symptome des in der Kindheit seltenen hepatozellulären Karzinoms können eine somatoforme autonome Störung des Gastrointestinaltraktes täuschend ähnlich imitieren.
Observational studies of planetary waves in PMCs and mesospheric temperature measured by SNOE and SABER
Authors: Merkel A. W. , Garcia R. R. , Bailey S. M. , Russell J. M.
Published: July 2008

A combination of satellite observations is used to study the global variation of polar mesospheric cloud (PMC) brightness and to determine its correlation with transient mesospheric dynamics. The observations include the PMC database from the Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE) satellite and measurements of atmospheric temperature made by the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument onboard the Thermosphere‐Ionosphere‐Mesosphere‐Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) spacecraft. The analysis is unique in that we have contemporaneous measurements of PMCs by SNOE and atmospheric temperature by SABER for three summer mesosphere seasons (two northern, in 2002 and 2003; one southern, 2002–2003). The results show the presence of planetary wave activity in both PMCs and mesospheric temperature that are strongly coherent with each other. The dominant waves present in the polar summer mesosphere are the 5‐day wave number 1 and the 2‐day wave number 2 Rossby normal modes. The maximum amplitude of the temperature perturbations is small (2.0–3.5 K) but has a significant effect on the PMC brightness. The SABER temperature amplitude in the southern season is slightly larger than the northern seasons for both planetary waves with a corresponding increase in PMC planetary wave activity. The phase relationship between temperature and PMCs indicates that they are very close to 180° out of phase (cold temperatures coincide with bright PMC). This analysis establishes the importance of temperature as a forcing mechanism for planetary‐scale variability in PMCs.
Validation of the Community Radiative Transfer Model by using CloudSat data
Authors: Chen Yong , Weng Fuzhong , Han Yong , Liu Quanhua
Published: July 2008

NOAA‐18 Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit‐A (AMSUA), Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS), and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer/3 (AVHRR/3), along with collocated CloudSat data under nonprecipitation conditions, are used to validate the accuracy of the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM). The observed brightness temperatures (BTs) from NOAA‐18 instruments are compared to those simulated by the CRTM using the inputs of CloudSat retrieved hydrometeor profiles. The forward model biases are computed for various cloudy conditions, which are required for the assimilation of satellite cloudy radiances in operational forecast systems. Simulated BTs under nonprecipitation, cloudy conditions are averaged in space to account for the cloud inhomogeneity within the sensors' fields of view. The simulated and observed BT fields, BT distributions, and BT difference distributions show good agreement for all microwave channels. Simulations under clear skies in general have low biases and standard deviation errors, and these errors are only marginally increased under cloudy conditions for microwave channels. For AVHRR channels 4 and 5, the biases and standard deviation errors are low and very accurate for clear and water cloud conditions. However, there are larger standard deviation errors under cirrus and mixed‐phase cloud conditions for those channels. The spatial averaging method significantly reduced the standard deviation errors under cloudy conditions. In this study, we have validated the CRTM modules (gaseous absorption model, cloud absorption and scattering model, and surface emissivity models over ocean) that generate optical properties of the atmosphere and surface in the microwave and thermal infrared spectral region.
Studying the vertical variation of cloud droplet effective radius using ship and space‐borne remote sensing data
Authors: Chen Ruiyue , Wood Robert , Li Zhanqing , Ferraro Ralph , Chang Fu‐Lung
Published: July 2008

The albedo of marine stratocumuli depends upon cloud liquid water content, droplet effective radius (re), and how these parameters vary with height. Using satellite data and shipborne data from the East Pacific Investigation of Climate (EPIC) Stratocumulus Study, this study investigates the cloud re vertical variation for drizzling and nondrizzling clouds. Visible/near‐infrared retrievals from the NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) are used to estimate the vertical profile of re. MODIS re observations and collocated shipborne scanning C‐band precipitation radar data show that re generally increases with height in nondrizzling clouds, consistent with aircraft observations. It is found that in clouds with precipitation rates greater than a few hundredths of a mm h−1 the vertical gradient of re is significantly less than that in nondrizzling clouds and can become negative when the drizzle is heavier than approximately 0.1 mm h−1. High values of re at drizzling cloud base are consistent with estimates of the ratio of liquid water in the drizzle drops to that in the cloud droplets. C‐band derived cloud base precipitation rates are found to be better correlated with re at cloud base than with re at cloud top, suggesting that passive remote sensing may be useful for drizzle detection.
Dynamics of southwest Asian dust particle size characteristics with implications for global dust research
Authors: Reid Jeffrey S. , Reid Elizabeth A. , Walker Annette , Piketh Stuart , Cliff Steve , Al Mandoos Abdulla , Tsay Si‐Chee , Eck Thomas F.
Published: July 2008

As part of the United Arab Emirates Unified Aerosol Experiment (UAE2), the size distribution and chemistry of dust particles were measured for the months of August and September 2004 at an Arabian Gulf coastal site impacted by dust from several sources within southwest Asia. The characteristics of common mode dust (0.8 < dp < 10 μm) were examined using an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS), a DRUM cascade impactor, and AERONET Sun/sky retrievals. While size properties from these distinct methods do correlate, accurate dust measurement is still an outstanding challenge. But when instruments are applied consistently in the correct context, the dynamics of dust particle size can be accurately studied. Here, observations are used to study the stability of dust size and chemistry characteristics. We found that dust particle size, chemistry, and morphology appear to be fairly static from individual sources, confirming preliminary hypotheses based on large‐scale observations of Saharan dust. Thus, our data provide experimental evidence that on regional scales, common mode dust is not functionally impacted by production wind speed, but rather influenced by soil properties such as geomorphology or roughness length. Similarly, we found transport processes from the mesoscale to near synoptic scale do not significantly impact common mode dust size either. When combined with other APS observations around the world, the dust coarse mode is found to be fairly robust with a volume median diameter on the order of ∼3.5 μm ± 30%. Finally, evidence for a strong submicron dust mode, suggested in previous studies, was inconclusive.
Cd/Ca ratios of in situ collected planktonic foraminiferal tests
Authors: Ripperger Sonja , Schiebel Ralf , Rehkämper Mark , Halliday Alex N.
Published: July 2008

The Cd/Ca ratios of planktonic foraminiferal tests have been used to reconstruct surface water nutrient utilization and paleoproductivity. The reliability of this proxy has hitherto not been comprehensively studied, however. To fill this gap, we present novel Cd/Ca data for in situ sampled and sedimentary planktonic foraminifers of the species Globigerinoides ruber, G. sacculifer, Globigerina bulloides, Orbulina universa, and Globorotalia truncatulinoides from the Arabian Sea and the North Atlantic. The Cd/Ca ratios obtained for G. ruber sampled from the live habitat generally display a correlation with seawater phosphate content, but no such trend is observed for G. sacculifer. This distinct behavior may reflect different ecological niches or species‐specific incorporation of Cd into the calcite shells of the organisms. The Cd/Ca ratios of G. ruber, G. sacculifer, and G. bulloides from surface sediments are consistently higher than those obtained for live collected specimens of the same species. Postdepositional alteration of the tests is unlikely to be responsible for these systematic differences. Rather, they appear to reflect a combination of factors, including the formation of calcite crusts with high Cd contents, the different timescales that are represented by in situ and sedimentary foraminiferal tests, and the dominance of tests from periods of high productivity in sediments. Our results also reveal higher Cd/Ca ratios for live G. ruber than for settling tests of the same species. This suggests that planktonic foraminiferal shells are partially dissolved while they individually settle through the water column. Sedimentary tests, however, will be less affected by dissolution processes because these shells are primarily deposited in mass sinking events, which feature much higher settling velocities than those experienced by single settling shells.
Predicting dense nonaqueous phase liquid dissolution using a simplified source depletion model parameterized with partitioning tracers
Authors: Basu Nandita B. , Fure Adrian D. , Jawitz James W.
Published: July 2008

Simulations of nonpartitioning and partitioning tracer tests were used to parameterize the equilibrium stream tube model (ESM) that predicts the dissolution dynamics of dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) as a function of the Lagrangian properties of DNAPL source zones. Lagrangian, or stream‐tube‐based, approaches characterize source zones with as few as two trajectory‐integrated parameters, in contrast to the potentially thousands of parameters required to describe the point‐by‐point variability in permeability and DNAPL in traditional Eulerian modeling approaches. The spill and subsequent dissolution of DNAPLs were simulated in two‐dimensional domains having different hydrologic characteristics (variance of the log conductivity field = 0.2, 1, and 3) using the multiphase flow and transport simulator UTCHEM. Nonpartitioning and partitioning tracers were used to characterize the Lagrangian properties (travel time and trajectory‐integrated DNAPL content statistics) of DNAPL source zones, which were in turn shown to be sufficient for accurate prediction of source dissolution behavior using the ESM throughout the relatively broad range of hydraulic conductivity variances tested here. The results were found to be relatively insensitive to travel time variability, suggesting that dissolution could be accurately predicted even if the travel time variance was only coarsely estimated. Estimation of the ESM parameters was also demonstrated using an approximate technique based on Eulerian data in the absence of tracer data; however, determining the minimum amount of such data required remains for future work. Finally, the stream tube model was shown to be a more unique predictor of dissolution behavior than approaches based on the ganglia‐to‐pool model for source zone characterization.
Tetrafluoromethane in the deep North Pacific Ocean
Authors: Deeds Daniel A. , Mühle Jens , Weiss Ray F.
Published: July 2008

Dissolved tetrafluoromethane (CF4) has been measured for the first time in the North Pacific Ocean. Surface water collected during calm weather is near equilibrium with the modern atmosphere. Deep water, isolated from atmospheric exchange for centuries, is near equilibrium with the preindustrial atmosphere, after accounting for an expected 5% addition of this low‐solubility gas due to air injection during high‐latitude deep‐water formation. These results strongly suggest that dissolved CF4 is conservative in seawater and that the oceanic imprint of anthropogenic increases in atmospheric CF4 can be used as a time‐dependent tracer of ocean ventilation and subsurface circulation processes. Although the continental lithosphere is a source of natural atmospheric CF4, we find no evidence of an oceanic lithospheric CF4 input into deep Pacific waters. The estimated upper limit of a potential oceanic lithospheric CF4 flux to the global atmosphere is on the order of 4% of that from the continental lithosphere.
Analysis of aerosol vertical distribution and variability in Hong Kong
Authors: He Qianshan , Li Chengcai , Mao Jietai , Lau Alexis Kai‐Hon , Chu D. A.
Published: July 2008

Aerosol vertical distribution is an important piece of information to improve aerosol retrieval from satellite remote sensing. Aerosol extinction coefficient profile and its integral form, aerosol optical depth (AOD), as well as atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) height and haze layer height can be derived using lidar measurements. In this paper, we used micropulse lidar measurements acquired from May 2003 to June 2004 to illustrate seasonal variations of AOD and ABL height in Hong Kong. On average, about 64% of monthly mean aerosol optical depths were contributed by aerosols within the mixing layer (with a maximum (∼76%) in November and a minimum (∼55%) in September) revealing the existence of large abundance of aerosols above ABL due to regional transport. The characteristics of seasonal averaged aerosol profiles over Hong Kong in the study period are presented to illustrate seasonal phenomena of aerosol transport and associated meteorological conditions. The correlation between AOD and surface extinction coefficient, as found, is generally poor (r2 ∼0.42) since elevated aerosol layers increase columnar aerosol abundance but not extinction at surface. The typical aerosol extinction profile in the ABL can be characterized by a low value near the surface and values increased with altitude reaching the top of ABL. When aerosol vertical profile is assumed, surface extinction coefficient can be derived from AOD using two algorithms, which are discussed in detail in this paper. Preliminary analysis showed that better estimates of the extinction coefficient at the ground level could be obtained using two‐layer aerosol extinction profiles (r2 ∼0.78, slope ∼0.82, and intercept ∼0.15) than uniform profiles of extinction with height within the ABL (r2 ∼0.65, slope ∼0.27, and intercept ∼0.03). The improvement in correlation is promising on mapping satellite retrieved AOD to surface aerosol extinction coefficient for urban and regional environmental studies on air quality related issues.
Seasonality of rDNA- and rRNA-derived archaeal communities and methanogenic potential in a boreal mire
Authors: Juottonen Heli , Tuittila Eeva-Stiina , Juutinen Sari , Fritze Hannu , Yrjälä Kim
Published: July 2008

Methane (CH4) emissions from boreal wetlands show considerable seasonal variation, including small winter emissions. We addressed the seasonality of CH4-producing microbes by comparing archaeal communities and the rates and temperature response of CH4 production in a boreal fen at three key phases of growing season and in winter. Archaeal community analysis by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and cloning of 16S ribosomal DNA and reverse-transcribed RNA revealed slight community shifts with season. The main archaeal groups remained the same throughout the year and were Methanosarcinaceae, Rice cluster II and Methanomicrobiales-associated Fen cluster. These methanogens and the crenarchaeal groups 1.1c and 1.3 were detected from DNA and RNA, but the family Methanosaetaceae was detected only from RNA. Differences between DNA- and RNA-based results suggested higher stability of DNA-derived communities and better representation of the active CH4 producers in RNA. Methane production potential, measured as formation of CH4 in anoxic laboratory incubations, showed prominent seasonality. The potential was strikingly highest in winter, possibly due to accumulation of methanogenic substrates, and maximal CH4 production was observed at ca. 30 °C. Archaeal community size, determined by quantitative PCR, remained similar from winter to summer. Low production potential in late summer after a water level draw-down suggested diminished activity due to oxygen exposure. Our results indicated that archaeal community composition and size in the boreal fen varied only slightly despite the large fluctuations of methanogenic potential. Detection of mRNA of the methanogenic mcrA gene confirmed activity of methanogens in winter, accounting for previously reported winter CH4 emissions.
The rational exploration of microbial diversity
Authors: Quince Christopher , Curtis Thomas P , Sloan William T
Published: July 2008

The exploration of the microbial world has been an exciting series of unanticipated discoveries despite being largely uninformed by rational estimates of the magnitude of task confronting us. However, in the long term, more structured surveys can be achieved by estimating the diversity of microbial communities and the effort required to describe them. The rates of recovery of new microbial taxa in very large samples suggest that many more taxa remain to be discovered in soils and the oceans. We apply a robust statistical method to large gene sequence libraries from these environments to estimate both diversity and the sequencing effort required to obtain a given fraction of that diversity. In the upper ocean, we predict some 1400 phylotypes, and a mere fivefold increase in shotgun reads could yield 90% of the metagenome, that is, all genes from all taxa. However, at deep ocean, hydrothermal vents and diversities in soils can be up to two orders of magnitude larger, and hundreds of times the current number of samples will be required just to obtain 90% of the taxonomic diversity based on 3% difference in 16S rDNA. Obtaining 90% of the metagenome will require tens of thousands of times the current sequencing effort. Although the definitive sequencing of hyperdiverse environments is not yet possible, we can, using taxa-abundance distributions, begin to plan and develop the required methods and strategies. This would initiate a new phase in the exploration of the microbial world.
Quantitative Contributions of the Muscles of the Tongue, Floor-of-Mouth, Jaw, and Velum to Tongue-to-Palate Pressure Generation
Authors: Palmer Phyllis M. , Jaffe Debra M. , McCulloch Timothy M. , Finnegan Eileen M. , Van Daele Douglas J. , Luschei Erich S.
Published: July 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the relationship between tongue-to-palate pressure and the electromyography (EMG) measured from the mylohyoid, anterior belly of the digastric, geniohyoid, medial pterygoid, velum, genioglossus, and intrinsic tongue muscles.

Methods

Seven healthy adults performed tongue-to-palate pressure tasks at known percentages of their maximum pressure while intramuscular EMG was recorded from the muscles stated above. Multiple regression analysis was performed.

Results

Predictors of pressure included the posterior fibers of the genioglossus, mylohyoid, anterior belly of digastric, medial pterygoid, and intrinsic tongue.

Conclusions

Increasing tongue-to-palate pressure coincides with increased muscle activity. Activation of the floor-of-mouth, tongue, and jaw closing muscles increased tongue-to-palate pressure. These findings support the use of a tongue-press exercise to strengthen floor-of-mouth muscles, tongue, and jaw-closing muscles.
The Influence of Stuttering Severity on Acoustic Startle Responses
Authors: Ellis John B. , Finan Donald S. , Ramig Peter R.
Published: July 2008

Purpose

This study examined the potential impact of stuttering severity, as measured by the Perceptions of Stuttering Inventory (Woolf, 1967) on acoustic startle responses.

Method

Three groups, consisting of 10 nonstuttering adults, 9 mild stutterering adults, and 11 moderate/severe stutterering adults, were presented with identical 95-dB acoustic stimuli to elicit acoustic startle responses across 10 trials. Electromyographic recordings of orbicularis occuli activity were used to measure individual acoustic startle responses.

Results

Participant groups failed to exhibit statistically significant differences in initial acoustic startle response amplitude, mean acoustic startle response amplitude, habituation rates, and onset latency. Acoustic startle responses were characterized by high levels of variability across all participant groups but with highest levels of variability in the moderate/severe stuttering group.

Conclusions

The current results suggest that stuttering severity, as measured in this study, does not effectively predict acoustic startle responses in groups of adults who stutter.
Identification of Children’s Stuttered and Nonstuttered Speech by Highly Experienced Judges: Binary Judgments and Comparisons With Disfluency-Types Definitions
Authors: Bothe Anne K.
Published: July 2008

Purpose

The purposes of this study were (a) to determine whether highly experienced clinicians and researchers agreed with each other in judging the presence or absence of stuttering in the speech of children who stutter and (b) to determine how those binary stuttered/nonstuttered judgments related to categorizations of the same speech based on disfluency-types descriptions of stuttering.

Method

Eleven highly experienced judges made binary judgments of the presence or absence of stuttering for 600 audiovisually recorded 5-s speech samples from twenty 2- to 8-year-old children who stuttered. These judgments were compared with each other and with disfluency-types judgments in multiple interval-by-interval assessments and by using multiple definitions of agreement.

Results

Interjudge agreement for the highly experienced judges in the binary stuttered/nonstuttered task varied from 39.0% to 89.1%, depending on methods and definitions used. Congruence between binary judgments and categorizations based on disfluency types also varied depending on methods and definitions, from 21.6% to 100%.

Conclusions

Agreement among highly experienced judges, and congruence between their binary judgments of stuttering and categorizations based on disfluency types, were relatively high using some definitions and very low using others. These results suggest the use of measurement methods other than those based on disfluency types for quantifying or describing children’s stuttering. They also suggest both the need for, and potential methods for, training to increase judges’ accuracy and agreement in identifying children’s stuttering.
Speech Production in 12-Month-Old Children With and Without Hearing Loss
Authors: McGowan Richard S. , Nittrouer Susan , Chenausky Karen
Published: July 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to compare speech production at 12 months of age for children with hearing loss (HL) who were identified and received intervention before 6 months of age with those of children with normal hearing (NH).

Method

The speech production of 10 children with NH was compared with that of 10 children with HL whose losses were identified (better ear pure-tone average at 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz poorer than 50 dB HL) and whose intervention started before 6 months of age. These children were recorded at 12 months of age interacting with a parent. Three properties of speech production were analyzed: (a) syllable shape, (b) consonant type, and (c) vowel formant frequencies.

Results

Children with HL had (a) fewer multisyllable utterances with consonants, (b) fewer fricatives and fewer stops with alveolar-velar stop place, and (c) more restricted front-back tongue positions for vowels than did the children with NH.

Conclusion

Even when hearing loss is identified shortly after birth, children with HL do not develop speech production skills as their peers with NH do at 12 months of age. This suggests that researchers need to consider their approaches to early intervention carefully.