bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Toward a seasonal precipitation prediction system for West Africa: Performance of CFSv2 and high‐resolution dynamical downscaling
Authors: Siegmund Jonatan , Bliefernicht Jan , Laux Patrick , Kunstmann Harald 
Published: June 2015

AbstractSeasonal precipitation forecasts are important sources of information for early drought and famine warnings in West Africa. This study presents an assessment of the monthly precipitation forecast of the Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2) for three agroecological zones (Sudan‐Sahel, Sudan, and Guinean zone) of the Volta Basin. The CFSv2 performance is evaluated for the Sahel drought 1983 and for all August months of the reforecast period (1982–2009) with lead times up to 8 months using a quantile‐quantile transformation for bias correction. In addition, an operational experiment is performed for the rainy season 2013 to analyze the performance of a dynamical downscaling approach for this region. Twenty‐two CFSv2 ensemble members initialized in February 2013 are transferred to a resolution of 10 km × 10 km using the Weather and Research Forecasting (WRF) model. Since the uncorrected CFSv2 precipitation forecasts are characterized by a high uncertainty (up to 175% of the observed variability), the quantile‐quantile transformation can clearly reduce this overestimation with the potential to provide skillful and valuable early warnings of precipitation deficits and excess up to 6 months in ahead, particularly for the Sudan‐Sahel zone. The operational experiment illustrates that CFSv2‐WRF can reduce the CFSv2 uncertainty (up to 69%) for monthly precipitation and the onset of the rainy season but has still strong deficits regarding the northward progression of the rain belt. Further studies are necessary for a more robust assessment of the techniques applied in this study to confirm these promising outcomes.
Traffic‐related air quality trends in São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Pérez‐Martínez Pedro José , de Fátima Andrade María , de Miranda Regina Maura 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe urban population of South America has grown at 1.05%/yr, greater urbanization increasing problems related to air pollution. In most large cities in South America, there has been no continuous long‐term measurement of regulated pollutants. One exception is São Paulo, Brazil, where an air quality monitoring network has been in place since the 1970s. In this paper, we used an air quality‐based approach to determine pollutant trends for emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3), and coarse particulate matter (PM10), mostly from mobile sources, in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo for the 2000–2013 period. Mobile sources included light‐duty vehicles (LDVs, comprising gasoline‐ or ethanol‐powered cars and motorcycles) and heavy‐duty vehicles (HDVs, comprising diesel‐powered trucks and buses). Pollutant concentrations for mobile source emissions were measured and correlated with fuel sales by the emission factors. Over the 2000–2013 period, concentrations of NOx, CO, and PM10 decreased by 0.65, 0.37, and 0.71% month−1, respectively, whereas sales of gasoline, ethanol, and diesel increased by 0.26, 1.96, and 0.38% month−1, respectively. LDVs were the major mobile source of CO, whereas LDVs were the major source of NOx and PM10. Increases in fuel sales and in the corresponding traffic volume were partially offset by decreases in pollutant concentrations. Between 2000 and 2013, there was a sharp (−5 ppb month−1) decrease in the concentrations of LDV‐emitted CO, together with (less dramatic) decreases in the concentrations of HDV‐emitted NOx and PM10 (−0.25 and −0.09 ppb month−1, respectively). Variability was greater for HDV‐emitted NOx and PM10 (R = −0.47 and −0.41, respectively) than for LDV‐emitted CO (R = −0.72). We draw the following conclusions: the observed concentrations of LDV‐emitted CO decreased at a sharper rate than did those of HDV‐emitted NOx and PM10; mobile source contributions to O3 formation varied significantly, LDVs making a greater contribution during the 2000–2008 period, whereas HDVs made a greater contribution during the 2009–2013 period, and decreases in NOx emissions resulted in increases in O3 observations.
Computational modeling of dissipation and regeneration of fluvial sand dunes under variable discharges
Authors: Nabi M. , Kimura I. , Hsu S. M. , Giri S. , Shimizu Y. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIt is observed, during flood events, that bed forms initially grow in height and make the riverbed rougher. But later, under high discharge, the bed forms grow longer with the opposite effect of making the riverbed smoother. After the discharge drops to a lower value, new bed forms regenerate on top of the elongated bed forms. This mechanism leads to a significant variation in the bed roughness and the water stage and hence determines the behavior of floods and the risk of flood disasters. This work presents detailed modeling of bed forms under discharge hydrographs and simulates the conditions under which the bed is flattened out in the upper plane bed regime. The flow was simulated by large‐eddy simulation, and the sediments were considered as rigid spheres and modeled in a Lagrangian framework. The bed morphodynamics were the result of entrainment and deposition of sediment particles. We examined several discharge hydrographs. In the first case, we increased the discharge linearly and then kept it constant after reaching the upper plane bed condition. The dunes were generated and grew during the rising stage of discharge. When the flow conditions reached the upper plane bed regime, high‐frequency ripples were generated and helped to flatten the bed. The results also showed that in contrast with mechanisms in the dune regime, the flattening of the bed was associated with a distinct pattern of sediment transport which deposited sediment mainly in the lee side of the dunes and led to flattening of the bed. After flattening, the sediments were mainly transported in suspension mode. As long as flow conditions stayed in the upper plane bed regime, the bed remained flat with small high‐frequency ripples. We also examined two other scenarios: one with an immediate falling stage of discharge after the rising stage and the other with a period of constant discharge between the rising and falling stages. Dunes were regenerated during the falling stage of discharge for both cases. In the first case, the dunes were regenerated before the bed was flattened because of a time lag between the flow and the bed deformation. Bed flattening was followed by dune regeneration in the second case. Moreover, a significant reduction in the form drag coefficient was observed after the flattening in the second case. The reduction in form drag led to a reduction in the flood intensity. The model showed its ability to reproduce the key phenomena of the development of subaqueous dunes under conditions of a passing flood wave.
Aeolian creeping mass of different grain sizes over sand beds of varying length
Authors: Cheng Hong , Liu Chenchen , Zou Xueyong , Li Jifeng , He Jiajia , Liu Bo , Wu Yongqiu , Kang Liqiang , Fang Yi 
Published: June 2015

AbstractCreep is an important mode of aeolian sand transport, but it has received little attention in previous studies due to experimental difficulties and insufficient theory. In this study, we conducted 116 groups of experiments with three repeats for each group in a wind tunnel to measure the creeping mass of four different mean grain sizes (152, 257, 321, and 382 µm) over six bed lengths (2.0, 3.5, 5.0, 6.5, 8.0, and 10.0 m) at six different friction velocities (0.23, 0.35, 0.41, 0.47, 0.55, and 0.61 m/s). We attempted to develop a comprehensive model of the aeolian creeping mass by analyzing the effect of wind velocity, the particle size, and the sand bed length based on the experimental data. The primary conclusions are as follows: (1) the complex relationship among the wind velocity, the grain size, the length of the bed, and the surface shape determines sand creep. There was no unified formula to express the effect of particle sizes and the sand bed length on aeolian creeping masses, and their effects appeared to depend on each other and wind velocity, whereas the creeping mass increases with increasing wind velocity for any particle size with any length of sand bed. (2) This paper presented a predicting model to determine the aeolian creeping mass, whose calculating results can match to experimental data with correlation coefficients (R2) of 0.94 or higher. (3) The effect of grain size on creeping mass can be classified into three categories: the creeping mass increases with increasing grain size, the creeping mass initially decreases and subsequently increases with increasing grain size, and the creeping mass fluctuates with the grain size. (4) The effect of increasing bed length appears to depend on the grain size. For mean grain sizes of 152, 257, and 321 µm, creep initially increases with increasing bed length before decreasing above a certain value, while for a mean grain size of 382 µm, the creeping mass gradually increased with increasing bed length. The results help to elucidate aeolian creep and provide an intense foundation for advanced study.
AMISR‐14: Observations of equatorial spread F
Authors: Rodrigues F. S. , Nicolls M. J. , Milla M. A. , Smith J. M. , Varney R. H. , Strømme A. , Martinis C. , Arratia J. F. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractA new, 14‐panel Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar (AMISR‐14) system was recently deployed at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory. We present results of the first coherent backscatter radar observations of equatorial spread F(ESF) irregularities made with the system. Colocation with the 50 MHz Jicamarca Unattended Long‐term studies of the Ionosphere and Atmosphere (JULIA) radar allowed unique simultaneous observations of meter and submeter irregularities. Observations from both systems produced similar Range‐Time‐Intensity maps during bottom‐type and bottomside ESF events. We were also able to use the electronic beam steering capability of AMISR‐14 to “image” scattering structures in the magnetic equatorial plane and track their appearance, evolution, and decay with a much larger field of view than previously possible at Jicamarca. The results suggest zonal variations in the instability conditions leading to irregularities and demonstrate the dynamic behavior of F region scattering structures as they evolve and drift across the radar beams.
Long‐term trend and variability of soil moisture over East Asia
Authors: Cheng Shanjun , Guan Xiaodan , Huang Jianping , Ji Fei , Guo Ruixia 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe variability of soil moisture over East Asia was analyzed using a long‐term data set from the Global Land Data Assimilation System. Overall, a clear decreasing trend occurred over a period of 63 years, with pronounced drying over northeast China, north China, part of Mongolia, and Russia near lake Baikal. Statistical analyses show that decreasing precipitation and global warming have different effects on the decrease in soil moisture. The qualitative analysis and quantitative contributions illustrated that soil drying is driven primarily by decreasing precipitation and is enhanced almost twofold by increasing temperatures. As soil moisture decreases, the positive feedback between soil moisture and temperature may result in future water shortages. Following the Representative Concentration Pathways 8.5 (RCP8.5) and 4.5 (RCP4.5) simulation scenarios of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5, the model‐predicted soil moisture demonstrated a continuously decreasing trend during the 21st century.
Nickel‐ or Cobalt‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Arylsulfonic Acid Salts with Grignard Reagents
Authors: Malapit Christian A. , Visco Michael D. , Reeves Jonathan T. , Busacca Carl A. , Howell Amy R. , Senanayake Chris H. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe use of arylsulfonic acid salts as electrophiles in a nickel‐ or cobalt‐catalyzed cross‐coupling with Grignard reagents is described. Bis(tricyclohexylphosphine)nickel dichloride [NiCl2(PCy3)2] was found to be the optimal catalyst, and reactions with this catalyst proceeded in most cases at room temperature. The analogous cobalt catalyst [CoCl2(PCy3)2] was also found to promote the cross‐coupling reaction at higher temperature (60 °C).magnified image
Analysis of locus D9S1120 and its genetic admixture correlation in seven argentina native american ethnic groups
Authors: Caputo Mariela , Corach Daniel 
Published: June 2015

ObjectiveGenetic data have complemented archaeological and linguistic investigations for understanding the peopling of the Americas. Aiming to investigate the Native South American genetic background in Argentina, seven Amerindian and one urban population were selected. The analysis focused on locus D9S1120 due to its potential anthropological information about Native American origins.MethodsThe sample set included 603 individuals belonging to nine isolated Argentinean aboriginal communities from seven tribes (N = 296), 100 individuals living in Buenos Aires city, and three potentially parental population references samples (N = 207). We computed allele and genotype frequency distributions, genetic distances, and pairwise differences among and within them. Admixture proportion was determined by means of typing 13 autosomal short tandem repeats plus D9S1120 in all populations, and comparing the data with those from three parental groups including Native American, European and Sub Saharan West African.ResultsThe Native American‐specific allele 9RA was found at an average frequency of 0.26 in aboriginal groups. Statistically significant differences were observed among the Native American groups when compared with the Buenos Aires urban population using analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) (Fst = 0.05669; P < 0.0001). Admixture analysis denoted different results between the cohorts of Amerindian samples displaying the specific 9RA allele, compared with those lacking it. A linear correlation was established between positive 9RA and Native American ancestry.ConclusionsAutosomal‐based genetic admixture showed that the studied communities have considerable European and Native America contributions. Our results concerning D9S1120 further contribute to a better understanding of the admixture process between Sub Saharan African, Native American, and European individuals that shaped the genetic background of Argentinean extant population. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:57–66, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hemoglobin levels and blood pressure are associated in rural black africans
Authors: Rasmussen Jon B. , Mwaniki David L. , Kaduka Lydia U. , Boit Mike K. , Borch‐Johnsen Knut , Friis Henrik , Christensen Dirk L. 
Published: June 2015

ObjectivesThe association between blood levels of hemoglobin (B‐hgb) and blood pressure (BP) has been widely investigated in Caucasians and Asians but there is a paucity of data in rural black Africans. The objective was to investigate the association between B‐hgb and BP in a rural black African population.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted in three districts in Kenya (Bondo, Kitui, and Transmara) with the inclusion of participants aged ≥17 years. Background information, anthropometry, BP, B‐hgb, hepatic insulin resistance (HOMA2‐IR), standard lipid profile, and oral glucose tolerance test were obtained in each participant.ResultsBackground characteristics among 1,167 participants showed that anemic and non‐anemic participants differed significantly from each other as there were more women, lower body mass index and waist circumference (WC), lower degree of hepatic insulin resistance and plasma cholesterols among the anemic participants. Furthermore, anemic participants had significantly lower systolic and diastolic BP (P < 0.01) but not a significantly different prevalence of hypertension (P = 0.08). Multivariate linear regression models adjusted for—age, sex, plasma total‐cholesterol, WC, Log2(HOMA2‐IR), ethnicity, and smoking status—revealed that B‐hgb (per mmol/l increment) was significantly associated with systolic BP (estimate: 1.18 (0.37–1.98)) and diastolic BP (estimate: 1.06 (0.54–1.57)) (P < 0.01).ConclusionsB‐hgb is associated with BP in rural black Africans. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:145–148, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Stimulatory effects of histamine on migration of nasal fibroblasts
Authors: Hong Sung‐Moon , Park Il‐Ho , Um Ji‐Young , Shin Jae‐Min , Lee Heung‐Man 
Published: June 2015

BackgroundFibroblast migration is crucial for normal wound repair after sinonasal surgery. Histamine is known to be involved in wound healing by its effects on cell proliferation and migration. This study aimed to determine whether histamine affects the migration of nasal fibroblasts and to investigate the mechanism of action of histamine on nasal fibroblasts.MethodsPrimary cultures of nasal fibroblasts were established from inferior turbinate samples. Fibroblast migration was evaluated with scratch assays. Cells were treated with histamine and/or histamine receptor‐selective antagonists. U‐73122 and pertussis toxin, which are selective inhibitors of the lower signaling pathway of H1R and H4R, were used to confirm the modulation of nasal fibroblast migration by histamine. Fibroblast cytoskeletal structures were visualized with immunocytochemistry.ResultsHistamine significantly stimulated the migration of nasal fibroblasts. Antagonists selective for HR1 and HR4 significantly reduced nasal fibroblast migration. In immunocytochemical staining, histamine treatment increased membrane ruffling and pyrilamine, diphenhydramine, fexofenadine, and JNJ7777120 decreased histamine‐induced membrane ruffling. U‐73122 and pertussis toxin also decreased histamine‐induced migration of fibroblasts. Histamine maintains its stimulatory effects on fibroblast migration in the presence of mitomycin C, which blocks proliferation of cells.ConclusionWe showed that histamine stimulates fibroblast migration in nasal fibroblasts. This effect appeared to be mediated by HR1 and HR4. However, because fibroblast migration also can be involved in scaring and fibrosis, more research is necessary to determine the effects of antihistamine on wound healing after sinus surgery.
Evaluation of olfactory function in adults with primary hypothyroidism
Authors: Günbey Emre , Karlı Rıfat , Gökosmanoğlu Feyzi , Düzgün Berkan , Ayhan Emre , Atmaca Hulusi , Ünal Recep 
Published: June 2015

BackgroundSufficient clinical data are not available on the effect of hypothyroidism on olfactory function in adults. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the olfactory function of adult patients diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism.MethodsForty‐five patients aged between 18 and 60 years who were diagnosed with clinical primary hypothyroidism and 45 healthy controls who had normal thyroid function tests were included in the study. Sniffin’ Sticks olfactory test results of the 2 groups were compared. The relationships between thyroid function tests and olfactory parameters were evaluated.ResultsOdor threshold, identification, and discrimination scores of the hypothyroid group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was detected between free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels and odor threshold, identification, and discrimination scores (p < 0.001). There was no significant relationship between thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) or free thyroxine (FT4) levels and olfactory parameters.ConclusionOur study revealed diminished olfactory function in adults with hypothyroidism. FT3 levels were found to have a more significant relationship with olfactory parameters than TSH or FT4 levels.
Copper‐Catalyzed (2+1) Annulation of Acetophenones with Maleimides: Direct Synthesis of Cyclopropanes
Authors: Manna Srimanta , Antonchick Andrey P. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractA practical copper‐catalyzed direct oxidative cyclopropanation of electron‐deficient alkenes with acetophenone derivatives is reported. The dehydrogenative annulation involves a double CH bond functionalization at the α‐position of the ketone using di‐tert‐butyl peroxide as oxidant. The broad scope of the reaction and excellent functional‐group tolerance is demonstrated for the stereoselective synthesis of fused cyclopropanes. The developed transformation revealed an unprecedented reactivity for copper‐catalyzed processes.
1,2‐Azaborine: The Boron‐Nitrogen Derivative of ortho‐Benzyne
Authors: Edel Klara , Brough Sarah A. , Lamm Ashley N. , Liu Shih‐Yuan , Bettinger Holger F. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe BN analogue of ortho‐benzyne, 1,2‐azaborine, is generated by flash vacuum pyrolysis, trapped under cryogenic conditions, and studied by direct spectroscopic techniques. The parent BN aryne spontaneously binds N2 and CO2, thus demonstrating its highly reactive nature. The interaction with N2 is photochemically reversible. The CO2 adduct of 1,2‐azaborine is a cyclic carbamate which undergoes photocleavage, thus resulting in overall CO2 splitting.
Recombinant Expression and Phenotypic Screening of a Bioactive Cyclotide Against α‐Synuclein‐Induced Cytotoxicity in Baker′s Yeast
Authors: Jagadish Krishnappa , Gould Andrew , Borra Radhika , Majumder Subhabrata , Mushtaq Zahid , Shekhtman Alexander , Camarero Julio A. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractWe report for the first time the recombinant expression of fully folded bioactive cyclotides inside live yeast cells by using intracellular protein trans‐splicing in combination with a highly efficient split‐intein. This approach was successfully used to produce the naturally occurring cyclotide MCoTI‐I and the engineered bioactive cyclotide MCoCP4. Cyclotide MCoCP4 was shown to reduce the toxicity of human α‐synuclein in live yeast cells. Cyclotide MCoCP4 was selected by phenotypic screening from cells transformed with a mixture of plasmids encoding MCoCP4 and inactive cyclotide MCoTI‐I in a ratio of 1:5×104. This demonstrates the potential for using yeast to perform phenotypic screening of genetically encoded cyclotide‐based libraries in eukaryotic cells.
Reversible Modulation of Surface Plasmons in Gold Nanoparticles Enabled by Surface Redox Chemistry
Authors: Li Zheng , Foley Jonathan J. , Peng Sheng , Sun Cheng‐Jun , Ren Yang , Wiederrecht Gary P. , Gray Stephen K. , Sun Yugang 
Published: June 2015

AbstractSwitchable surface redox chemistry is demonstrated in gold@iron/iron oxide core–shell nanoparticles with ambient oxidation and plasmon‐mediated reduction to modulate the oxidation state of shell layers. The iron shell can be oxidized to iron oxide through ambient oxidation, leading to an enhancement and red‐shift of the gold surface plasmon resonance (SPR). This enhanced gold SPR can drive reduction of the iron oxide shell under broadband illumination to reversibly blue‐shift and significantly dampen gold SPR absorption. The observed phenomena provide a unique mechanism for controlling the plasmonic properties and surface chemistry of small metal nanoparticles.
Observation of a Thermally Induced Bora‐Nazarov Cyclization at a Phosphole Framework
Authors: Möbus Juri , Kehr Gerald , Daniliuc Constantin G. , Mück‐Lichtenfeld Christian , Erker Gerhard 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe reaction of the bis(enynyl)phosphanes 6 a,b with the electrophilic borane reagents RB(C6F5)2 (R=C6F5, CH2CH2Ph, CH3) gave phospholes cleanly in a 1,1‐carboboration reaction sequence. Depending on the steric bulk, the resulting 2,5‐alkenylphospholes underwent a thermally induced bora‐Nazarov type cyclization. The equilibrium situation of these examples of a bora‐Nazarov type cyclization was investigated in detail by NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray crystal structure analysis, and DFT calculations.