bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of trigeminal nasal TRPM8-expressing afferent neurons in the antitussive effects of menthol
Authors: Plevkova J. , Kollarik M. , Poliacek I. , Brozmanova M. , Surdenikova L. , Tatar M. , Mori N. , Canning B. J.
Published: May 2013

The cold-sensitive cation channel TRPM8 is a target for menthol, which is used routinely as a cough suppressant and as an additive to tobacco and food products. Given that cold temperatures and menthol activate neurons through gating of TRPM8, it is unclear how menthol actively suppresses cough. In this study we describe the antitussive effects of (−)-menthol in conscious and anesthetized guinea pigs. In anesthetized guinea pigs, cough evoked by citric acid applied topically to the tracheal mucosa was suppressed by menthol only when it was selectively administered as vapors to the upper airways. Menthol applied topically to the tracheal mucosa prior to and during citric acid application or administered continuously as vapors or as an aerosol to the lower airways was without effect on cough. These actions of upper airway menthol treatment were mimicked by cold air delivered to the upper airways but not by (+)-menthol, the inactive isomer of menthol, or by the TRPM8/TRPA1 agonist icilin administered directly to the trachea. Subsequent molecular analyses confirmed the expression of TRPM8 in a subset of nasal trigeminal afferent neurons that do not coincidently express TRPA1 or TRPV1. We conclude that menthol suppresses cough evoked in the lower airways primarily through a reflex initiated from the nose.
Analysis of Dual Heat Sources in a Partially Open Enclosure
Authors: McGarry M. , Kohl James G.
Published: May 2013

In this study a partially open enclosure with two heat sources is examined to determine the Nusselt number along the hot wall. The first part of the study examines the effect of the Rayleigh number ratio on the Nusselt number. The largest Rayleigh number ratio results in the highest magnitude of the Nusselt number. The second part of the study examines what happens to the Nusselt number along the hot wall as the Rayleigh number ratio for the two blocks is different. This situation can arise when the two blocks have unequal heat source values. The largest Nusselt numbers correspond to the situation when the block along the top wall has a Rayleigh number ratio that is ten times higher than the Rayleigh number ratio for the block along the hot wall. The largest Nusselt number magnitudes can be attributed to the strong vortex in the corner near the hot wall.
Regioselective and Chemoselective Reduction of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds by NaBH4/Ba(OAc)2 as a Reducing System
Authors: Mohamadi Mina , Setamdideh Davood , Khezri Behrooz
Published: May 2013

α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones are regioselectively reduced to the corresponding allylic alcohols with NaBH4/Ba(OAc)2 system in CH3CN. This system is also efficient for the chemoselective reduction of enals in the presence of enones at room temperature.
Crevicular Alkaline Phosphatase Activity and Rate of Tooth Movement of Female Orthodontic Subjects under Different Continuous Force Applications
Authors: Megat Abdul Wahab Rohaya , Md Dasor Maryati , Senafi Sahidan , Abang Abdullah Asma Alhusna , Yamamoto Zulham , Jemain Abdul Aziz , Zainal Ariffin Shahrul Hisham
Published: May 2013

Purpose. This study is aimed to compare the effects of two different orthodontic forces on crevicular alkaline phosphatase activity, rate of tooth movement, and root resorption.Materials and Methods. Twelve female subjects of class II division 1 malocclusion participated. Maxillary canines with bonded fixed appliances acted as the tested teeth, while their antagonists with no appliances acted as the controls. Canine retraction was performed using nickel titanium coil spring that delivered forces of 100 gm or 150 gm to either side. Crevicular fluid was analyzed for ALP activity, and study models were casted to measure tooth movements. Root resorption was assessed using periapical radiographs before and after the force application.Results. ALP activity at the mesial sites peaked at week 1 for 150 gm group with significant differences when compared with the 100 gm group. Cumulative canine movements were significantly greater in the 150 gm force (2.10±0.50 mm) than in the 100 gm force (1.57±0.44 mm). No root resorption was in the maxillary canines after retraction.Conclusions. A force of 150 gm produced faster tooth movements and higher ALP activity compared with the 100 gm group and had no detrimental effects such as root resorption.
Assessment and Molecular Actions of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals That Interfere with Estrogen Receptor Pathways
Authors: Kerdivel Gwenneg , Habauzit Denis , Pakdel Farzad
Published: May 2013

In all vertebrate species, estrogens play a crucial role in the development, growth, and function of reproductive and nonreproductive tissues. A large number of natural or synthetic chemicals present in the environment and diet can interfere with estrogen signaling; these chemicals are called endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) or xenoestrogens. Some of these compounds have been shown to induce adverse effects on human and animal health, and some compounds are suspected to contribute to diverse disease development. Because xenoestrogens have varying sources and structures and could act in additive or synergistic effects when combined, they have multiple mechanisms of action. Consequently, an important panel ofin vivoandin vitrobioassays and chemical analytical tools was used to screen, evaluate, and characterize the potential impacts of these compounds on humans and animals. In this paper, we discuss different molecular actions of some of the major xenoestrogens found in food or the environment, and we summarize the current models used to evaluate environmental estrogens.
Antibacterial Derivatives of Ciprofloxacin to Inhibit Growth of Necrotizing Fasciitis Associated Penicillin Resistant Escherichia coli
Authors: Bartzatt Ronald , Cirillo Suat L. G. , Cirillo Jeffrey D.
Published: May 2013

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is associated with necrotizing fasciitis (type I) and can induce enough damage to tissue causing hypoxia. Three ester derivatives of the broad-spectrum antibiotic ciprofloxacin were placed into bacteria culture simultaneously with the parent ciprofloxacin (drug 1) to ascertain the level of antibacterial activity. The n-propyl (drug 2), n-pentyl (drug 3), and n-octyl (drug 4) esters of ciprofloxacin were synthesized under mixed phase conditions and by microwave excitation. The formation of ester derivatives of ciprofloxacin modified important molecular properties such as Log P and polar surface area which improves tissue penetration, yet preserved strong antibacterial activity. The Log P values for drugs 1, 2, 3, and 4 became −0.701, 0.437, 1.50, and 3.02, respectively. The polar surface areas for drugs 1, 2, 3, and 4 were determined to be 74.6 Angstroms2, 63.6 Angstroms2, 63.6 Angstroms2, and 63.6 Angstroms2, respectively. These values of Log P and polar surface area improved tissue penetration, as indicated by the determination of dermal permeability coefficient (Kp) and subsequently into the superficial fascial layer. All drugs induced greater than 60% bacterial cell death at concentrations less than 1.0 micrograms/milliliter. The ester derivatives of ciprofloxacin showed strong antibacterial activity toward penicillin resistant E. coli.
Characterization and Dynamic Behavior of Wild Yeast during Spontaneous Wine Fermentation in Steel Tanks and Amphorae
Authors: Díaz Cecilia , Molina Ana María , Nähring Jörg , Fischer Rainer
Published: May 2013

We studied the dynamic behavior of wild yeasts during spontaneous wine fermentation at a winery in the Valais region of Switzerland. Wild yeasts in the winery environment were characterized using a PCR-RFLP method. Up to 11 different yeast species were isolated from the vineyard air, whereas only seven were recovered from the grapes surface. We initially investigated a cultureindependent method in pilot-scale steel fermentation tanks and found a greater diversity of yeasts in the musts from two red grape varieties compared to three white grape varieties. We found that the yeastsMetschnikowia pulcherrima,Rhodotorula mucilaginosa,Pichia kluyveri,P. membranifaciensandSaccharomyces cerevisiaeremained active at the end of the fermentation. We also studied the dynamic behavior of yeasts in Qvevris for the first time using a novel, highlysensitive quantitative real-time PCR method. We found that non-Saccharomycesyeasts were present during the entire fermentation process, withR. mucilaginosaandP. anomalathe most prominent species. We studied the relationship between the predominance of different species and the output of the fermentation process. We identified so-called spoilage yeasts in all the fermentations, but high levels of acetic acid accumulated only in those fermentations with an extended lag phase.
Boundary Surface of 5-Valued Memory
Authors: Guzan Milan
Published: May 2013

The subject of research in this paper is multiple-valued (MV) memory cell—particularly the morphology of boundary surface of five-valued memory. By accepting the values of parasitic accumulation elements on the chip, very complicated morphology of the boundary surfaces occurs, which separates various attractors from each other. This is due to the occurrence of undesirable oscillations—a stable limit cycles, which makes it impossible to control memory. These dynamic attractors are so dominant that their regions of attraction even surround regions of attraction of static attractors—required logic levels of memory. Therefore, in the realization of the MV memory on the chip is necessary to know the values of the parasitic elements, because their presence may cause a malfunction of the memory. In this case, only calculation and displaying the boundary surface provides exact answers related to operation of the MV memory.
Modeling and Analysing of Air Filter in Air Intake System in Automobile Engine
Authors: Manikantan R. , Gunasekaran E. James
Published: May 2013

As the legislations on the emission and performance of automobiles are being made more stringent, the expected performance of all the subsystems of an internal combustion engine is also becoming crucial. Nowadays the engines are downsized, and their power increased the demand on the air intake system that has increased phenomenally. Hence, an analysis was carried on a typical air filter fitted into the intake system to determine its flow characteristics. In the present investigation, a CAD model of an existing air filter was designed, and CFD analysis was done pertaining to various operating regimes of an internal combustion engine. The numerical results were validated with the experimental data. From the postprocessed result, we can see that there is a deficit in the design of the present filter, as the bottom portion of the filter is preventing the upward movement of air. Hence, the intake passage can be rearranged to provide an upward tangential motion, which can enhance the removal of larger dust and soot particles effectively by the inertial action of air alone.
Staging Laparoscopy in Carcinoma of Stomach: A Comparison with CECT Staging
Authors: Kakroo Showkat Majeed , Rashid Arshad , Wani Ajaz Ahmad , Akhtar Zahida , Chalkoo Manzoor Ahamad , Laharwal Asim Rafiq
Published: May 2013

Background. aim of this study was to compare the role of diagnostic laparoscopy and contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of abdomen in the staging of stomach carcinoma.Methods. This was a prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital over a period of two years and included 50 patients of endoscopy and biopsy proven stomach carcinoma that were found to be operable on CECT. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed in all patients before proceeding to a formal laparotomy.Results. Metastasis was detected at diagnostic laparoscopy in 14 (28%) patients. CECT correctly identified the T stage in 22 (61%) patients. Overall accuracy of CECT for T staging was 74% with a a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 79%. Laparoscopy correctly identified the T stage in 26 (72%) patients. Overall accuracy of laparoscopy for T staging was 81% with a sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 86%. the most common N stage on CECT was N0 (50%). CECT correctly identified the N stage in 26 (72%) patients. Overall accuracy of CECT for N staging was 86% with a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 90%. the most common N stage on laparoscopy was N0 and N2 (42% each). Laparoscopy correctly identified the N stage in 27 (75%) patients. Overall accuracy of Laparoscopy for N staging was 88% with a sensitivity of 53% and specificity of 91%.Conclusion. Laparoscopy is a valuable technique in staging of stomach carcinoma and has an important role in the detection of intra-abdominal metastasis missed by CECT.
Effect of Humidity and Hydrophobicity on the Tribological Properties of Self‐Assembled Monolayers
Authors: Liao Yen-Chih , Hargrove William , Weeks Brandon L.
Published: May 2013

The tribological properties of two distinctive alkanethiol SAMs, 16‐mercaptohexadecanoic acid (MHA) and 1‐octadecanethiol (ODT), on gold substrates in various humidity conditions were examined by lateral force microscopy (LFM). The results suggest that hydrophobic ODT SAM is insensitive to humidity. The difference of lateral force signal is within ±10% regardless of humidity. The lateral force signal of hydrophilic MHA SAMs has a significant decrease in signal in humid environments. The influence of bulk water was also investigated by LFM. By imaging under water, the capillary force is eliminated on ODT SAMs, which leads to a lower lateral force. However, the lateral force image was reversed on MHA SAMs, which suggested that hydrophobic forces dominated in water.
Employing Common Limit Range Property to Prove Unified Metrical Common Fixed Point Theorems
Authors: Imdad Mohammad , Chauhan Sunny
Published: May 2013

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the role of “common limit range property” to ascertain the existence of common fixed point in metric spaces satisfying an implicit function essentially due to the paper of Ali and Imdad (2008). As an application to our main result, we derive a fixed point theorem for four finite families of self-mappings which can be utilized to derive common fixed point theorems involving any finite number of mappings. Our results improve and extend a host of previously known results including the ones contained in the paper of Ali and Imdad (2008). We also furnish some illustrative examples to support our main results.
Endoscopic Resection of Sinonasal Hemangiopericytoma following Preoperative Embolisation: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Ledderose Georg J. , Gellrich Donata , Holtmannspötter Markus , Leunig Andreas
Published: May 2013

Objectives. Hemangiopericytoma is a rare tumor entity deriving from pericytes. Less than 5% of hemangiopericytoma occur in the nasal cavity and are characterised by a rather benign nature with low tendency of metastasis. However, as the recurrence rate in the literature ranges from 9.5% to 50%—depending on the length of followup—a radical surgical resection is considered as the gold-standard treatment. Only a few years ago, a wide external approach, usually via lateral rhinotomy or Caldwell-Luc, was performed. Endoscopic techniques were regarded as appropriate for small low-vascularised tumors only.Methods. We present the case of a 64-year-old patient with an extended sinonasal hemangiopericytoma, who was successfully treated by an endoscopic controlled endonasal tumor resection after embolisation with Onyx. Further, to support the new treatment option, we review the literature concerning all features of sinonasal hemangiopericytomas and their therapeutical management.Results/Conclusion. Onyx, which has not been described in the context of hemangiopericytoma yet, is a very effective embolic agent for a preoperative embolisation of sinonasal hemangiopericytoma allowing a safe endoscopic surgery.
Gait Performance and Lower-Limb Muscle Strength Improved in Both Upper-Limb and Lower-Limb Isokinetic Training Programs in Individuals with Chronic Stroke
Authors: Milot Marie-Hélène , Nadeau Sylvie , Gravel Denis , Bourbonnais Daniel
Published: May 2013

Background. Limited improvement in gait performance has been noted after training despite a significant increase in strength of the affected lower-limb muscles after stroke. A mismatch between the training program and the requirements of gait could explain this finding. Objective. To compare the impact of a training program, matching the requirements of the muscle groups involved in the energy generation of gait, to a control intervention, on gait performance and strength. Methods. 30 individuals with chronic stroke were randomly assigned into two groups (n = 15), each training three times/week for six weeks. The experimental group trained the affected plantarflexors, hip flexors, and extensors, while the control group trained the upper-limb muscles. Baseline and posttraining values of gait speed, positive power (muscles’ concentric action during gait), and strength were retained and compared between groups. Results. After training, both groups showed a similar and significant increase in gait speed, positive power of the hip muscles, and plantarflexors strength. Conclusion. A training program targeting the lower-limb muscles involved in the energy generation of gait did not lead to a greater improvement in gait performance and strength than a training program of the upper-limb muscles. Attending the training sessions might have been a sufficient stimulus to generate gains in the control group.
Current Genetics and Epigenetics of Smoking/Tobacco-Related Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Breitling Lutz P.
Published: May 2013

Genetic and epigenetic factors are of great importance in cardiovascular biology and disease. Tobacco-smoking, one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors, is itself partially determined by genetic background and is associated with altered epigenetic patterns. This could render the genetics and epigenetics of smoking-related cardiovascular disease a textbook example of environmental epigenetics and modern approaches to multimodal data analysis. A pronounced association of smoking-related methylation patterns in the
F2RL3
gene with prognosis in patients with stable coronary heart disease has recently been described. Nonetheless, surprisingly little concrete knowledge on the role of specific genetic variants and epigenetic modifications in the development of cardiovascular diseases in people who smoke has been accumulated. Beyond the current knowledge, the present review briefly outlines some chief challenges and priorities for moving forward in this field.
Notch1 Promotes the Pro-Osteogenic Response of Human Aortic Valve Interstitial Cells via Modulation of ERK1/2 and Nuclear Factor-κB Activation
Authors: Zeng Qingchun , Song Rui , Ao Lihua , Weyant Michael J. , Lee Joon , Xu Dingli , Fullerton David A. , Meng Xianzhong
Published: May 2013

Objective—

Calcific aortic valve disease is a leading cardiovascular disease in the elderly, and progressive calcification results in the failure of valvular function. Aortic valve interstitial cells (AVICs) from stenotic valves express higher levels of bone morphogenetic protein-2 in response to Toll-like receptor 4 stimulation. We recently found that Toll-like receptor 4 interacts with Notch1 in human AVICs. This study tests the hypothesis that Notch1 promotes the pro-osteogenic response of human AVICs.

Approach and Results—

AVICs isolated from diseased human valves expressed higher levels of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and alkaline phosphatase after lipopolysaccharide stimulation. The augmented pro-osteogenic response is associated with elevated cellular levels of Notch1 and enhanced Notch1 cleavage in response to lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Inhibition or silencing of Notch1 suppressed the pro-osteogenic response in diseased cells, and the Notch 1 ligand, Jagged1, enhanced the response in AVICs isolated from normal human valves. Interestingly, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and nuclear factor-κB phosphorylation induced by lipopolysaccharide was markedly reduced by inhibition or silencing of Notch1 and enhanced by Jagged1. Inhibition of ERK1/2 or nuclear factor-κB also reduced bone morphogenetic protein-2 and alkaline phosphatase expression induced by lipopolysaccharide.

Conclusions—

Notch1 mediates the pro-osteogenic response to Toll-like receptor 4 stimulation in human AVICs. Elevated Notch1 levels and enhanced Notch1 activation play a major role in augmentation of the pro-osteogenic response of AVICs of stenotic valves through modulation of ERK1/2 and nuclear factor-κB activation. These pathways could be potential therapeutic targets for prevention of the progression of calcific aortic valve disease.
Statins Exert the Pleiotropic Effects Through Small GTP-Binding Protein Dissociation Stimulator Upregulation With a Resultant Rac1 Degradation
Authors: Tanaka Shin-ichi , Fukumoto Yoshihiro , Nochioka Kotaro , Minami Tatsuro , Kudo Shun , Shiba Nobuyuki , Takai Yoshimi , Williams Carol L. , Liao James K. , Shimokawa Hiroaki
Published: May 2013

Objective—

The pleiotropic effects of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) independent of cholesterol-lowering effects are thought to be mediated through inhibition of the Rho/Rho-kinase pathway. However, we have previously demonstrated that the pleiotropic effects of regular-dose statins are mediated mainly through inhibition of the Rac1 signaling pathway rather than the Rho/Rho-kinase pathway, although the molecular mechanisms of the selective inhibition of the Rac1 signaling pathway by regular-dose statins remain to be elucidated. In this study, we tested our hypothesis that small GTP-binding protein GDP dissociation stimulator (SmgGDS) plays a crucial role in the molecular mechanisms of the Rac1 signaling pathway inhibition by statins in endothelial cells.

Approach and Results—

In cultured human umbilical venous endothelial cells, statins concentration-dependently increased SmgGDS expression and decreased nuclear Rac1. Statins also enhanced SmgGDS expression in mouse aorta. In control mice, the protective effects of statins against angiotensin II–induced medial thickening of coronary arteries and fibrosis were noted, whereas in SmgGDS-deficient mice, the protective effects of statins were absent. When SmgGDS was knocked down by its small interfering RNA in human umbilical venous endothelial cells, statins were no longer able to induce Rac1 degradation or inhibit angiotensin II–induced production of reactive oxygen species. Finally, in normal healthy volunteers, statins significantly increased SmgGDS expression with a significant negative correlation between SmgGDS expression and oxidative stress markers, whereas no correlation was noted with total or low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol.

Conclusions—

These results indicate that statins exert their pleiotropic effects through SmgGDS upregulation with a resultant Rac1 degradation and reduced oxidative stress in animals and humans.
Calvin’s Geneva Confronts Magic and Witchcraft: The Evidence from the Consistory
Authors: Watt Jeffrey R.
Published: May 2013

Abstract

This essay examines the actions of the Consistory of Geneva, a morals court created and dominated by John Calvin, against reputed cases of magic and superstition. During the ministry of Calvin, the most common of these involved white magic to cure people of various illnesses. The Consistory was not unduly harsh in dealing with therapeutic magic, usually just rebuking the miscreants and temporarily excluding them from communion. It also showed a remarkable degree of skepticism when confronting accusations of maleficia, at times viewing the allegations as a form of defamation of the person accused of witchcraft. The Consistory, like the Catholic Inquisition, attacked superstition, but it extended superstition to include numerous practices that Catholics accepted. Calvinism’s elimination of many rituals and sacramentals greatly restricted access to the supernatural. Evidence from the Consistory suggests that Calvinism promoted the professionalization of medicine and, in the long run, the disenchantment of the world.
Orthodox Reform in Seventeenth-Century Kiev: The Evidence of a Library
Authors: Charipova Liudmila V.
Published: May 2013

Abstract

Drawing on the surviving lists of books from the private collection of Peter Mohyla, the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Kiev in 1633-1646, the crucial period that followed the restoration of his confession’s legal status in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the article examines the place of Western monastic works in shaping the spiritual and doctrinal parameters of Orthodox reform. Beginning in the Archdiocese of Kiev, it subsequently spread to other branches of the Eastern Church, which remained outside communion with Rome in the seventeenth century: Greek, Moldavian, and Russian. The article establishes vital links between the process of Orthodox renewal and the European movement for religious change and considers the case for the applicability of the confessionalization model as a suitable analytical framework for Orthodox religious reforms.
“Chinese, but not quite”: Huaqiaoand the Marginalization of the Overseas Chinese
Authors: Ong Soon Keong
Published: May 2013

Abstract

This article reflects on the representations of overseas Chinese in Chinese political and popular discourses from the late Qing to World War II. It argues that contrary to prevalent views, which credit the success of the Chinese nationalist discourse in mobilizing the overseas Chinese to their re-incorporation into the Chinese nation, extraterritorial Chinese nationalism depended not so much on the rhetoric of inclusion, but rather on the separation of the overseas Chinese as a sub-ethnic group, particularly after they were “rebranded” as huaqiao, or Chinese sojourners. This analysis begins by looking at the key reasons for Chinese political activists’ newfound interest in the diasporas — in soliciting huaqiao contributions to China’s state-building projects — and argues that they imbued huaqiao with certain positive qualities only insofar as these made them relevant to China. The truth is, prejudices against the emigrants have persisted and Chinese within China continue to view huaqiao as uncouth, uncultured, and even “unChinese.”
A new species of Quwatanabius Smetana (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae) from Guangxi, South China
Authors: HU JIA-YAO , LI LI-ZHEN , ZHAO MEI-JUN
Published: May 2013

A new species of Quwatanabius Smetana, Q. dayaoensis Hu, Li & Zhao sp. n. from Dayao Mountain, Guangxi Province, China, is described and illustrated. An identification key to species of Quwatanabius is provided.
ANTONIO ROSSANO MENDES PONTES, JOSÉ RAMON GADELHA, ÉVERTON R. A. MELO, FABRÍCIO BEZERRA DE SÁ, ANA CAROLINA LOSS, VILACIO CALDARA JUNIOR, LEONORA PIRES COSTA & YURI L. R. LEITE (2013) A new species of porcupine, genus Coendou (Rodentia: Erethizontidae) from the Atlantic forest of northeastern Brazil. Zootaxa, 3636(3): 421–438.
Authors: PONTES ANTONIO ROSSANO MENDES , GADELHA JOSÉ RAMON , MELO ÉVERTON R. A. , DE SÁ FABRÍCIO BEZERRA , LOSS ANA CAROLINA , JUNIOR VILACIO CALDARA , COSTA LEONORA PIRES , LEITE YURI L. R.
Published: May 2013

In Description, section Skull, on page 426, line 27: "fossa ?-shaped" should read "fossa V-shaped".
Evaluation of WRF-Predicted Near-Hub-Height Winds and Ramp Events over a Pacific Northwest Site with Complex Terrain
Authors: Yang Qing , Berg Larry K. , Pekour Mikhail , Fast Jerome D. , Newsom Rob K. , Stoelinga Mark , Finley Catherine
Published: May 2013

One challenge with wind-power forecasts is the accurate prediction of rapid changes in wind speed (ramps). To evaluate the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model's ability to predict such events, model simulations, conducted over an area of complex terrain in May 2011, are used. The sensitivity of the model's performance to the choice among three planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes [Mellor–Yamada–Janjić (MYJ), University of Washington (UW), and Yonsei University (YSU)] is investigated. The simulated near-hub-height winds (62 m), vertical wind speed profiles, and ramps are evaluated against measurements obtained from tower-mounted anemometers, a Doppler sodar, and a radar wind profiler deployed during the Columbia Basin Wind Energy Study (CBWES). The predicted winds at near–hub height have nonnegligible biases in monthly mean under stable conditions. Under stable conditions, the simulation with the UW scheme better predicts upward ramps and the MYJ scheme is the most successful in simulating downward ramps. Under unstable conditions, simulations using the YSU and UW schemes show good performance in predicting upward ramps and downward ramps, with the YSU scheme being slightly better at predicting ramps with durations longer than 1 h. The largest differences in mean wind speed profiles among simulations using the three PBL schemes occur during upward ramps under stable conditions, which were frequently associated with low-level jets. The UW scheme has the best overall performance in ramp prediction over the CBWES site when evaluated using prediction accuracy and capture-rate statistics, but no single PBL parameterization is clearly superior to the others when all atmospheric conditions are considered.
Development of Global Hourly 0.5° Land Surface Air Temperature Datasets
Authors: Wang Aihui , Zeng Xubin
Published: May 2013

Land surface air temperature (SAT) is one of the most important variables in weather and climate studies, and its diurnal cycle is also needed for a variety of applications. Global long-term hourly SAT observational data, however, do not exist. While such hourly products could be obtained from global reanalyses, they are found to be unrealistic in representing the SAT diurnal cycle.

Global hourly 0.5° SAT datasets are developed here based on four reanalysis products [Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA for 1979–2009), 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40 for 1958–2001), ECMWF Interim Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim for 1979–2009), and NCEP–NCAR reanalysis for 1948–2009)] and the Climate Research Unit Time Series version 3.10 (CRU TS3.10) for 1948–2009. The three-step adjustments include the spatial downscaling to 0.5° grid cells, the temporal interpolation from 6-hourly (in ERA-40 and NCEP–NCAR reanalysis) to hourly using the MERRA hourly SAT climatology for each day (and the linear interpolation from 3-hourly in ERA-Interim to hourly), and the bias correction in both monthly-mean maximum (Tmax) and minimum (Tmin) SAT using the CRU data.

The final products have exactly the same monthly Tmax and Tmin as the CRU data, and perform well in comparison with in situ hourly measurements over six sites and with a regional daily SAT dataset over Europe. They agree with each other much better than the original reanalyses, and the spurious SAT jumps of reanalyses over some regions are also substantially eliminated. One of the uncertainties in the final products can be quantified by their differences in the true monthly mean (using 24-hourly values) and the monthly averaged diurnal cycle.
Amplified Inception of European Little Ice Age by Sea Ice–Ocean–Atmosphere Feedbacks
Authors: Lehner Flavio , Born Andreas , Raible Christoph C. , Stocker Thomas F.
Published: May 2013

The inception of the Little Ice Age (~1400–1700 AD) is believed to have been driven by an interplay of external forcing and climate system internal variability. While the hemispheric signal seems to have been dominated by solar irradiance and volcanic eruptions, the understanding of mechanisms shaping the climate on a continental scale is less robust. In an ensemble of transient model simulations and a new type of sensitivity experiments with artificial sea ice growth, the authors identify a sea ice–ocean–atmosphere feedback mechanism that amplifies the Little Ice Age cooling in the North Atlantic–European region and produces the temperature pattern suggested by paleoclimatic reconstructions. Initiated by increasing negative forcing, the Arctic sea ice substantially expands at the beginning of the Little Ice Age. The excess of sea ice is exported to the subpolar North Atlantic, where it melts, thereby weakening convection of the ocean. Consequently, northward ocean heat transport is reduced, reinforcing the expansion of the sea ice and the cooling of the Northern Hemisphere. In the Nordic Seas, sea surface height anomalies cause the oceanic recirculation to strengthen at the expense of the warm Barents Sea inflow, thereby further reinforcing sea ice growth. The absent ocean–atmosphere heat flux in the Barents Sea results in an amplified cooling over Northern Europe. The positive nature of this feedback mechanism enables sea ice to remain in an expanded state for decades up to a century, favoring sustained cold periods over Europe such as the Little Ice Age. Support for the feedback mechanism comes from recent proxy reconstructions around the Nordic Seas.
An Application of Linear Programming to Polarimetric Radar Differential Phase Processing
Authors: Giangrande Scott E. , McGraw Robert , Lei Lei
Published: May 2013

Differential phase and its range derivative KDP are of interest to several hydrological applications from weather radar systems. Despite the attractive qualities of polarimetric differential phase measurements, the usefulness of these radar measurements is potentially undermined as a consequence of measurement fluctuations and physical or beam geometry artifacts. This paper presents an application of linear programming for physical retrievals, here designed to improve estimates of differential propagation phase by allowing realistic physical constraints of monotonicity and polarimetric radar self-consistency. Results of the linear programming methods to the phase-processing problem are demonstrated at several common weather radar wavelengths (10, 5, and 3 cm).
Components of cognitive competence predictive of occupational competence in persons with dementia: A Delphi study
Authors: Zur Briana M. , Rudman Debbie Laliberte , Johnson Andrew M. , Roy Eric A. , Wells Jennie L.
Published: May 2013

Background

Within the area of dementia care, occupational therapists are asked to predict occupational competence in everyday living and often do so by assessing cognitive competence. Considering the cognitive changes that occur with dementia over time, the construct of cognitive competence is a key consideration. Still, a gap exists in the literature examining the relationship between cognitive competence and occupational competence.

Purpose

This study developed a consensus among participating Canadian occupational therapists regarding the components of cognitive competence they considered essential to predict occupational competence in people with dementia.

Method

A three-round Delphi study was completed with English- and French-speaking occupational therapists ( n = 127; 116; 125) experienced in dementia care.

Findings

Ten cognitive components were identified as essential to predict occupational competence in individuals with dementia.

Implications

The 10 identified components provide direction for assessment practices and education in dementia care and for development of measurement tools.
Working with transgender clients: Learning from physicians and nurses to improve occupational therapy practice
Authors: Beagan Brenda L. , Chiasson Alana , Fiske Cheryl A. , Forseth Stephanie D. , Hosein Alisha C. , Myers Marianne R. , Stang Janine E.
Published: May 2013

Background

Gender identity disorder and the process of transitioning involve both mental and physical health, yet there is virtually no discussion of transgender health care in occupational therapy.

Purpose

This study draws on interviews with primary-care nurses and physicians about their experience with transgender health care, extending the insights gleaned there to make suggestions for occupational therapy practice with this population.

Method

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 primary care nurses and 9 physicians who had clinical experience with lesbian, gay, and bisexual patients.

Findings

Participants felt uncertain about transgender care, wanting more specialized knowledge. Collaborating with patients, acknowledging stigma, ensuring inclusive systems and procedures, navigating health care, and providing holistic care emerged as key elements for best practice. Advocacy was a crucial part of care provision.

Implications

Suggestions are provided for therapists to ensure that space and interactions are welcoming to transgender clients as well as suggestions for occupational therapy intervention in the transitioning process.
Individual and Contextual Correlates of Trust in Media Across 44 Countries
Authors: Tsfati Yariv , Ariely Gal
Published: May 2013

Media research demonstrates that audience trust in the news media is a highly consequential factor, shaping audience selection of and response to media, and potentially impacting citizens’ perceptions of the political system at large. Still, our knowledge about the correlates of trust in media is limited. Only a few studies have utilized a correlational design to explore the associations between trust in media and other factors, and almost all of these studies originate in the U.S. context. The current investigation utilizes data from 44 diverse countries ( n = 57,847), collected as part of the World Values Survey, to broaden our understanding of trust in media. The aim is two-fold—to learn about individual-level correlates across contexts and to demonstrate that macro-level factors play a part in shaping such trust. Our findings indicate that levels of political interest, interpersonal trust, and exposure to television news and newspapers are positively correlated with trust in media, while education and exposure to news on the Internet are negatively associated. On the macro level, postmaterialism emerged as a consistent predictor of trust in media. State ownership of the media industry did not have a main effect on trust in media after controlling for other factors. However, an interaction was found between state ownership and level of democracy: state ownership of television is positively associated with media trust in democratic societies and negatively associated with trust in media in nondemocratic societies.
Assessing Stalking Behaviors in a Control Balance Theory Framework
Authors: Nobles Matt R. , Fox Kathleen A.
Published: May 2013

Tittle’s control balance theory is a modern exemplar of theoretical integration premised on the ratio of perceived control exerted versus control subjected, which predicts the probability of deviant acts. Although the theory offers promise for contextualizing both perpetration and victimization, relatively few empirical tests have been conducted to date. This study describes stalking as a crime representing a unique manifestation of power dynamics and perceived control imbalances for both offenders and victims. Using a large college student sample, we assess the empirical associations between control balance and stalking perpetration and victimization outcomes, including gender-specific models, featuring several different operationalizations of the control balance ratio. Results suggest partial support for the theory, demonstrating that control surpluses are associated with stalking perpetration among men, while control deficits are associated with stalking perpetration and victimization among women, net of controls. Implications for control balance theory and stalking research are discussed.
An Evaluation of the Observer Effect on Treatment Integrity in a Day Treatment Center for Children
Authors: Howard Monica R. , Burke Raymond V. , Allen Keith D.
Published: May 2013

Treatment integrity is an important concern in treatment centers but is often overlooked. Performance feedback is a well-established approach to improving treatment integrity, but is underused and undervalued. One way to increase its value to treatment centers may be to expose unrealized benefits on the observer who collects the performance feedback data. This “observer effect” could increase the value of performance feedback and promote more consistent evaluation of treatment integrity. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the observer effect on treatment integrity. Five supervisors who worked in a day treatment center were asked to collect performance feedback data on staff members’ integrity in following a standard treatment protocol that supervisors were also expected to follow. Results showed an immediate and marked improvement in treatment integrity in three supervisors who collected but never received performance feedback. For two supervisors, this effect was reversed and replicated. Implications are discussed.
Impact of Reinforcement of Diabetes Self-Care on Poorly Controlled Diabetes
Authors: Beverly Elizabeth A. , Fitzgerald Shane M. , Brooks Kelly M. , Hultgren Brittney A. , Ganda Om P. , Munshi Medha , Weinger Katie
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to assess the value of reinforcing diabetes self-management for improving glycemia and self-care among adults with type 2 diabetes who had at least 3 hours of prior diabetes education.

Methods

In this randomized controlled trial, 134 participants (75% white, 51% female, 59 ± 9 years old, 13 ± 8 years with diabetes, A1C = 8.4% ± 1.2%) were randomized to either a group map-based program (intervention) or group education on cholesterol and blood pressure (control). Participants were assessed for A1C levels, diabetes self-care behaviors (3-day pedometer readings, 6-minute walk test, blood glucose checks, frequency of self-care), and psychosocial factors (distress, frustration, quality of life) at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months post intervention and health literacy at baseline.

Results

Groups did not differ on baseline characteristics including A1C levels, health literacy, or self-care; however, the intervention group had more years of education than controls. Intervention arm participants modestly improved A1C levels at 3 months post intervention but did not maintain that improvement at 6 and 12 months while control patients did not improve A1C levels at any time during follow-up. Importantly, frequency of self-reported self-care, diabetes quality of life, diabetes-related distress, and frustration with diabetes self-care improved in both groups over time.

Conclusions

Reinforcing self-care with diabetes education for patients who have not met glycemic targets helps improve A1C and could be considered a necessary component of ongoing diabetes care. The best method to accomplish reinforcement needs to be established.
The Importance of Inclusion Policies for the Promotion of Development in Brazil and Colombia
Authors: Reiter Bernd , Lezama Paula
Published: May 2013

This article argues that investment in social inclusion policies is an economically efficient option for developing countries. It analyzes different social inclusion policies, particularly those practiced in Brazil and Colombia, as they demonstrate, among other things, the racial dimension of exclusion and the corresponding economic contribution of race-based social inclusion policies to sustained economic growth and development. These cases also demonstrate that educational policies are central to social inclusion programs, because they render the highest economic medium and long-term return. Evidence supporting this argument comes from Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs), a Brazilian social policy that has become a landmark in social policy, as well as from Brazil’s Affirmative Action (AA) policies.
The Glocalization of English
Authors: Shi Xiuhua
Published: May 2013

The spread of English around the world provides an ideal focus for the study of glocalization. Focusing on the glocalization of English as it has spread in the context of Mainland China, this article examines the nature and impact of the social transformations that have taken place as a result of the global expansion of English and how English has been glocalized in the ecology of Mainland China. The article analyzes the appropriation, adaptation, and differentiation of English in Mainland China from a sociolinguistic point of view.
Autophagy in Pancreatic Acinar Cells in Caerulein-treated Mice
Authors: Zhang Leshuai , Zhang Jun , Shea Katherine , Xu Lin , Tobin Grainne , Knapton Alan , Sharron Stewart , Rouse Rodney
Published: May 2013

Drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP) is an underdiagnosed condition that lacks sensitive and specific biomarkers. To better understand the mechanisms of DIP and to identify potential tissue biomarkers, we studied experimental pancreatitis induced in male C57BL/6 mice by intraperitoneal injection of caerulein (10 or 50 μg/kg) at 1-hr intervals for a total of 7 injections. Pancreata from caerulein-treated mice exhibited consistent acinar cell autophagy and apoptosis with infrequent necrosis. Kinetic assays for serum amylase and lipase also showed a dose-dependent increase. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated biotin-dNTP nick labeling (TUNEL) detected dose-dependent acinar cell apoptosis. By light microscopy, autophagy was characterized by the formation of autophagosomes and autolysosomes (ALs) within the cytoplasm of acinar cells. Immunohistochemical studies with specific antibodies for proteins related to autophagy and pancreatic stress were conducted to evaluate these proteins as potential biomarkers of pancreatitis. Western blots were used to confirm immunohistochemical results using pancreatic lysates from control and treated animals. Autophagy was identified as a contributing process in caerulein-induced pancreatitis and proteins previously associated with autophagy were upregulated following caerulein treatment. Autophagosomes and ALs were found to be a common pathway, in which cathepsins, lysosome-associated membrane protein 2, vacuole membrane protein 1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), autophagy-related protein 9, Beclin1,andpancreatitis-associated proteins were simultaneously involved in response to caerulein stimulus. Regenerating islet-derived 3 gamma (Reg3γ), a pancreatic acute response protein, was dose-dependently induced in caerulein-treated mice and colocalized with the autophagosomal marker, LC3. This finding supports Reg3γ as a candidate biomarker for pancreatic injury.
The Common Theoretical Terrain of the Gandhi and Nehru Periods: The Ethic of Reconciliation over Revenge in Nation-making
Authors: Fernée Tadd
Published: May 2013

This article identifies the continuity linking the Gandhi and Nehru historical periods in specific discursive and practical formations. The Indian national movement and the post-Independence period constitute a comprehensive historical entity comparable to the twentieth century’s major revolutions. We find a specific discursive/practical paradigm with identifiable features, since reproduced in other nation-making experiences. Its intellectual coherence is in the principle of non-violence or an ethic of reconciliation over totality. The dominant paradigm of modern nation-making was grounded in total assimilation and positivism’s dichotomous rupture with the ‘traditional’ past, focused on the instant of seizing state power. The practical coherence of the Gandhi–Nehru period is in non-violent conflict resolution based on a temporal horizon of growth over final ends. The Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience movements were participatory mass movements fostering public self-reliance and traditional structures reconstructed towards democratic ends. The Nehru era shifted the non-violence principle from a mass movement to a political party within a democratic framework, with political freedom and economic development joined in an unprecedented fashion. Pluralist and non-interventionist solutions were applied to civil society dilemmas in an open ethic of reconciliation. Difference rather than homogeneity was privileged for secular national cohabitation in an open non-violent ethic.
Book Review: Music as History in Tamilnadu
Authors: Sykes Jim
Published: May 2013

T.K. Venkatasubraminian, Music as History in Tamilnadu, Primus Books, Delhi, 2010, pp. 174, US $64.