bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Broadening the Spatial Applicability of Paleoclimate Information—A Case Study for the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia
Authors: Ho Michelle , Verdon-Kidd Danielle C. , Kiem Anthony S. , Drysdale Russell N. 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Recent advances in the collection and analysis of paleoclimate data have provided significant insights into preinstrumental environmental events and processes, enabling a greater understanding of long-term environmental change and associated hydroclimatic risks. Unfortunately, it is often the case that there is a dearth of readily available paleoclimate data from regions where such insights and long-term data are most needed. The Murray–Darling basin (MDB), known as Australia’s “food bowl,” is an example of such a region where currently there are very limited in situ paleoclimate data available. While previous studies have utilized paleoclimate proxy records of large-scale climate mechanisms to infer preinstrumental MDB hydroclimatic variability, there is a lack of studies that utilize Australian terrestrial proxy records to garner similar information. Given the immediate need for improved understanding of MDB hydroclimatic variability, this paper identifies key locations in Australia where existing and as yet unrealized paleoclimate records will be most useful in reconstructing such information. To identify these key locations, rainfall relationships between MDB and non-MDB locations were explored through correlations and principal component analysis. An objective analysis using optimal interpolation was then used to pinpoint the most strategic locations to further develop proxy records and gain insights into the benefits of obtaining this additional information. The findings reveal that there is potential for the future assembly of high-resolution paleoclimate records in Australia capable of informing MDB rainfall variability, in particular southeast Australia and central-northern Australia. This study highlights the need for further investment in the development of these potential proxy sources to subsequently enable improved assessments of long-term hydroclimatic risks.
Comparing Limited-Area 3DVAR and Hybrid Variational-Ensemble Data Assimilation Methods for Typhoon Track Forecasts: Sensitivity to Outer Loops and Vortex Relocation
Authors: Schwartz Craig S. , Liu Zhiquan , Huang Xiang-Yu , Kuo Ying-Hwa , Fong Chin-Tzu 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
The Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) “hybrid” variational-ensemble data assimilation (DA) algorithm was used to initialize WRF model forecasts of three tropical cyclones (TCs). The hybrid-initialized forecasts were compared to forecasts initialized by WRF's three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) DA system. An ensemble adjustment Kalman filter (EAKF) updated a 32-member WRF-based ensemble system that provided flow-dependent background error covariances for the hybrid. The 3DVAR, hybrid, and EAKF configurations cycled continuously for ~3.5 weeks and produced new analyses every 6 h that initialized 72-h WRF forecasts with 45-km horizontal grid spacing. Additionally, the impact of employing a TC relocation technique and using multiple outer loops (OLs) in the 3DVAR and hybrid minimizations were explored.
Model output was compared to conventional, dropwindsonde, and TC “best track” observations. On average, the hybrid produced superior forecasts compared to 3DVAR when only one OL was used during minimization. However, when three OLs were employed, 3DVAR forecasts were dramatically improved but the mean hybrid performance changed little. Additionally, incorporation of TC relocation within the cycling systems further improved the mean 3DVAR-initialized forecasts but the average hybrid-initialized forecasts were nearly unchanged.
An Early Performance Evaluation of the NEXRAD Dual-Polarization Radar Rainfall Estimates for Urban Flood Applications
Authors: Cunha Luciana K. , Smith James A. , Baeck Mary Lynn , Krajewski Witold F. 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Dual-polarization radars are expected to provide better rainfall estimates than single-polarization radars because of their ability to characterize hydrometeor type. The goal of this study is to evaluate single- and dual-polarization radar rainfall fields based on two overlapping radars (Kansas City, Missouri, and Topeka, Kansas) and a dense rain gauge network in Kansas City. The study area is located at different distances from the two radars (23–72 km for Kansas City and 104–157 km for Topeka), allowing for the investigation of radar range effects. The temporal and spatial scales of radar rainfall uncertainty based on three significant rainfall events are also examined. It is concluded that the improvements in rainfall estimation achieved by polarimetric radars are not consistent for all events or radars. The nature of the improvement depends fundamentally on range-dependent sampling of the vertical structure of the storms and hydrometeor types. While polarimetric algorithms reduce range effects, they are not able to completely resolve issues associated with range-dependent sampling. Radar rainfall error is demonstrated to decrease as temporal and spatial scales increase. However, errors in the estimation of total storm accumulations based on polarimetric radars remain significant (up to 25%) for scales of approximately 650 km2.
Impact of blood collection method on first-trimester dried blood free Beta hCG and PAPP-A
Authors: Krantz David A , Carmichael Jonathan B 
Published: August 2013

Background Analysis of dried blood specimens has been an integral part of laboratory medicine dating back to the early 1960s when they were introduced as part of neonatal screening programs. More recently, they have been used in Down syndrome screening programmes. Dried blood spot specimens can be collected either by finger-stick or by traditional venipuncture and spotted onto filter paper. We sought to evaluate whether first-trimester free Beta hCG and PAPP-A multiples of the median (MoMs) were different in dried blood specimens collected via finger-stick compared to specimens collected via venipuncture. Methods A total of 2786 consecutive dried blood specimens were evaluated including 2144 collected using finger-stick and 644 specimens collected using venipuncture and spotted onto filter paper. Linear regression was used to assess the overall impact of collection method on dried blood free Beta hCG and PAPP-A and the impact of collection method on the trend of dried blood free Beta hCG and PAPP-A with transport time. Results For finger-stick and venipuncture, the median for free Beta hCG MoM was 0.99 and 1.04, respectively while the median PAPP-A MoM was 1.00 and 1.01, respectively. The regression formula for free Beta hCG was ln(MoM) = −0.00918 + 0.05112×Venipuncture + 0.00299×Days −0.00983×Days×Venipuncture and for PAPP-A the formula was ln(MoM) = −0.01000 + 0.04779×Venipuncture −0.00051×Days −0.02117×Days×Venipuncture. None of the coefficients were significant. Conclusions Collection method does not impact MoM values. Thus, centres have flexibility in the collection method utilized while being able to use a single reference database for all dried blood specimens.
A Strategically Timed Verbal Task Improves Performance and Neurophysiological Alertness During Fatiguing Drives
Authors: Atchley Paul , Chan Mark , Gregersen Sabrina 
Published: August 2013

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate if a verbal task can improve alertness and if performance changes are associated with changes in alertness as measured by EEG. Background: Previous research has shown that a secondary task can improve performance on a short, monotonous drive. The current work extends this by examining longer, fatiguing drives. The study also uses EEG to confirm that improved driving performance is concurrent with improved driver alertness. Method: A 90-min, monotonous simulator drive was used to place drivers in a fatigued state. Four secondary tasks were used: no verbal task, continuous verbal task, late verbal task, and a passive radio task. Results: When engaged in a secondary verbal task at the end of the drive, drivers showed improved lane-keeping performance and had improvements in neurophysiological measures of alertness. Conclusion: A strategically timed concurrent task can improve performance even for fatiguing drives. Application: Secondary-task countermeasures may prove useful for enhancing driving performance across a range of driving conditions.
Optimising heating system structure using exergy Branch and Bound
Authors: Fisk DJ 
Published: August 2013

To reduce work in assessing alternative system structures in low-energy design, a Branch and Bound method is proposed. The bound is based on exploiting the thermodynamic constraint of exergy destruction along a heat flow path. A novel derivation of exergy in a flow system is provided and used to show its fundamental relationship with temperature and primary energy. The method is applied to two simple systems. Practical application: In novel low-energy design, there can be many structural solutions that meet the client brief, especially at early stages in design, before full simulation/optimisation can be efficiently applied. The technique presented offers an application of the Branch and Bound algorithm that can be implemented on a spread sheet and which usually reduces the number of full structural solutions that have to be produced. It relies on working in exergy as the metric rather than temperature, and the work explains why this approach, common in optimising services components, can be applied to heating systems.
Novel modulated flow, self configuring, siphonic roof drainage system
Authors: Campbell DP 
Published: August 2013

Siphonic roof drainage systems are an efficient method of removing rainwater rapidly from roofs. Siphonic roof drainage systems are designed to run full-bore, resulting in sub-atmospheric system pressures, higher driving heads and higher system flow velocities. Hence, siphonic roof drainage systems normally require far fewer downpipes, and the depressurised conditions also mean that much of the collection pipework can be routed at high level, thus reducing the extent of any underground pipework. But, they work properly at only one roof run-off rate and therefore suffer from sizing and operational problems that limit their performance. Climate change is creating situations where normal ranges of rainfall intensity are being frequently exceeded, and this may have an impact on the performance of siphonic roof drainage systems. A multiple parallel pipe siphonic roof drainage system appears to offer benefits and avoids sizing problems associated with current siphonic roof drainage systems. A movable cap covering the inlet to a small bank of parallel pipes has the potential to avoid noise associated with making and breaking siphonic action through flow modulation. Laboratory scale tests demonstrate the basic feasibility of the multiple parallel pipe system and indicate that handover of flow between pipes occurs smoothly and that the flow modulation cap functions reliably. This technology includes moving parts and smaller diameters (19 mm ID) than are currently accepted (32 mm ID) in the British Standards and product development will be required. Practical application: Original research detailing an innovative development of a multi-pipe siphonic roof drainage system. This provides a wide design flow rate range and flow modulation caps reduce noise significantly by avoiding priming failure. Potentially extends the technique to a smaller building size than with current siphonic systems and offers climate change resilience potential.
The effect of altering a single component of a rehabilitation programme on the functional recovery of stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hayward Kathryn S , Barker Ruth N , Carson Richard G , Brauer Sandra G 
Published: August 2013

Objective: To evaluate the effect of altering a single component of a rehabilitation programme (e.g. adding bilateral practice alone) on functional recovery after stroke, defined using a measure of activity. Data sources: A search was conducted of Medline/Pubmed, CINAHL and Web of Science. Review methods: Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility. Randomized controlled trials were included if all participants received the same base intervention, and the experimental group experienced alteration of a single component of the training programme. This could be manipulation of an intrinsic component of training (e.g. intensity) or the addition of a discretionary component (e.g. augmented feedback). One reviewer extracted the data and another independently checked a subsample (20%). Quality was appraised according to the PEDro scale. Results: Thirty-six studies ( n = 1724 participants) were included. These evaluated nine training components: mechanical degrees of freedom, intensity of practice, load, practice schedule, augmented feedback, bilateral movements, constraint of the unimpaired limb, mental practice and mirrored-visual feedback. Manipulation of the mechanical degrees of freedom of the trunk during reaching and the addition of mental practice during upper limb training were the only single components found to independently enhance recovery of function after stroke. Conclusion: This review provides limited evidence to support the supposition that altering a single component of a rehabilitation programme realises greater functional recovery for stroke survivors. Further investigations are required to determine the most effective single components of rehabilitation programmes, and the combinations that may enhance functional recovery.
Platelet-Rich Plasma for Arthroscopic Repair of Large to Massive Rotator Cuff Tears
Authors: Jo Chris Hyunchul , Shin Ji Sun , Lee Young Gil , Shin Won Hyoung , Kim Hyang , Lee Seung Yeon , Yoon Kang Sup , Shin Sue 
Published: August 2013

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is expected to have a biological augmentation potential in the healing of various diseases and injuries, including rotator cuff tears. However, few evaluations have been performed specifically for large to massive tears. Purpose: To assess the efficacy of PRP augmentation in patients undergoing arthroscopic repair for large to massive rotator cuff tears. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: A total of 48 patients scheduled for arthroscopic repair of large to massive rotator cuff tears were randomly assigned to receive either PRP-augmented (PRP group) or conventional treatment (conventional group). In the PRP group, 3 PRP gels (3 × 3 mL) were applied to each patient between the torn end and the greater tuberosity. The primary outcome measure was the retear rate assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomographic arthrography (CTA) at a minimum of 9 months after surgery. Secondary outcome measures included pain, range of motion, muscle strength, overall satisfaction, functional scores, and the change in cross-sectional area (CSA) of the supraspinatus. Results: The retear rate of the PRP group (20.0%) was significantly lower than that of the conventional group (55.6%) ( P = .023). Clinical outcomes showed no statistical difference between the 2 groups (all P > .05) except for the overall function ( P = .043). The change in 1-year postoperative and immediately postoperative CSA was significantly different between the 2 groups: –15.54 ± 94.34 mm2 in the PRP group versus −85.62 ± 103.57 mm2 in the conventional group ( P = .047). Conclusion: The application of PRP for large to massive rotator cuff repairs significantly improved structural outcomes, as evidenced by a decreased retear rate and increased CSA of the supraspinatus compared with repairs without PRP augmentation. While there was no significant difference in clinical outcomes except the overall shoulder function after 1-year follow-up, better structural outcomes in the PRP group might suggest improved clinical outcomes at longer term follow-up.
Are Navigation Systems Accurate Enough to Predict the Correction Angle During High Tibial Osteotomy?
Authors: Kyung Bong Soo , Kim Jae Gyoon , Jang Ki-Mo , Chang Minho , Moon Young-Wan , Ahn Jin Hwan , Wang Joon Ho 
Published: August 2013

Background: Unpredicted overcorrection of the mechanical axis can occur during navigation-assisted high tibial osteotomy (HTO). It is not clear whether the erroneous overcorrection stems from the navigation system itself or from other causes. Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of the navigation system in HTO by comparing the change in the femorotibial angle provided by the navigation system with the bony correction angle of the proximal tibia on 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) and with the change in mechanical femorotibial alignment on standing whole-leg radiographs. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 16 knees underwent navigation-assisted HTO, and their alignment data were obtained before and after correction. For comparison, preoperative and follow-up standing whole-leg anteroposterior radiographs, lateral knee radiographs, and preoperative and postoperative 3D CT scans were taken. The medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), posterior tibial slope, and mechanical femorotibial angle (mFTA) were measured in these images, and the 3 coronal and 3 sagittal correction angles were compared with each other. Results: In the coronal plane, the mean correction angle of the navigation system was 9.3° ± 2.0° valgus (range, 6°-13°), and the mean MPTA on 3D CT increased 9.7° ± 2.0° (range, 6.7°-13.8°) after correction. The mean correction angle of the mFTA on standing radiographs was 11.9° ± 3.2° valgus (range, 6.9°-16.5°). There was no statistical significance between the navigation system and 3D CT ( P = .187), but there was a statistically significant difference between the navigation system and standing radiographs ( P = .001). The results of the correction angle in the sagittal plane were similar to those in the coronal plane. Conclusion: The correction of the femorotibial angle by the navigation system was not different from the bony correction angle on 3D CT. There was a discrepancy between the correction angle of the navigation system and that of the standing radiograph. Clinical Significance: Surgeons must be cautious about the tension of soft tissue, even when using the navigation system during HTO.
Effect of high porosity on biodegradation of poly (4-hydroxybutyrate) in vivo
Authors: Liu Yunqi , Yin Shengli , Wang Yujie , Cai Dongmei , Zhang Xi , Zhang Wenbo 
Published: August 2013

Poly-4-hydroxybutyrate, P(4HB), is a biosynthetic thermoplastic polymer that has been studied as a bio-absorbable medical material. In order to explore the in vivo biodegradation behaviour of porous P(4HB) membranes with specified apertures (89–150 µm), membranes with different porosities were implanted subcutaneously into the backs of 27 eight-week-old Sprague Dawley® rats. The implanted specimens were examined with Masson and hematoxylin and eosin staining. Masson staining indicated that the P(4HB) membranes were encased in fibrous cysts and that more collagen fibers were present within the sections of the hyper-porosity group. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that the residual area of the P(4HB) membranes in the hyper-porosity group decreased sharply compared to the hypo-porosity group, which implied that the P(4HB) membranes with higher porosity degraded faster than those with lower porosity. A slow degradation phase persisted for approximately 14 weeks during the degradation process. After the 16th week, the P(4HB) scaffolds fell into a fast degradation phase. The residual areas of the hyper-porosity P(4HB) membranes at the 32nd week were reduced by 39.76% compared with the second week after implantation. We concluded that P(4HB) membranes manifest a special biodegradation behavior in vivo and that the increased porosity of these membranes is an important factor favoring their biodegradation rates.
Physical and Sociopsychological Characteristics of Older Community Residents With Mild Cognitive Impairment as Assessed by the Japanese Version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment
Authors: Fujiwara Yoshinori , Suzuki Hiroyuki , Kawai Hisashi , Hirano Hirohiko , Yoshida Hideyo , Kojima Motonaga , Ihara Kazushige , Obuchi Shuichi 
Published: August 2013

Background: Although mild cognitive impairment (MCI) criteria are disputable, characterizing various aspects of operational MCI (O-MCI) may lead to a better understanding of potential modulators of cognitive decline and contribute to more effective public health strategies. The aim of the study is to examine characteristics of community-dwelling elderly people with MCI assessed using Japanese version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-J). Methods: A total of 913 community-dwelling Japanese (65-84 years) participated in health examinations in Tokyo, 2011. The MoCA-J, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and other physical and mental tests were conducted. Excluded were those with <24 MMSE scores. Those with <26 in MoCA-J were divided into 2 subgroups, (A) participants independent of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and no memory complaints and (B) participants independent of IADL with memory complaints or partially dependent on IADL with/without memory complaints. Those with ≥26 in MoCA-J and subgroup (A) of MCI were the normal controls (NCs, 57.4%), and subgroup (B) of MCI was O-MCI, 36.5%. We compared each variable between NC and O-MCI, using logistic regression analysis, adjusted for gender and age. Results: The majority of all the groups were independent of IADL. The O-MCI characteristics were increased depressive symptom, worse self-rated health, lower systolic blood pressure, poorer intellectual activities, no hobbies, weaker grip strength, and slower than usual walking speed compared to the NC group. Conclusions: Older persons with O-MCI defined by MoCA-J have partially decreased cognition and physical and sociopsychological functions.
Immediate and Late Outcomes of Bronchial and Systemic Artery Embolization for Palliative Treatment of Patients With Nonsmall-Cell Lung Cancer Having Hemoptysis
Authors: Fujita Takeshi , Tanabe Masahiro , Moritani Kazuko , Matsunaga Naofumi , Matsumoto Tsuneo 
Published: August 2013

Background: Hemoptysis in patients with advanced lung cancer can be a life threatening. Objectives: To evaluate immediate outcomes and late outcomes of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) for palliative treatment in patients with advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) having hemoptysis. Methods: The BAE was performed in 28 patients with NSCLC. Hemoptysis was defined as follows: massive bleeding greater than 300 mL within 24 hours (n = 8), moderate bleeding of 100 to 300 mL within 24 hours (n =12), and slight bleeding less than100 mL within 24 hours (n = 8). Results: Success rate was 96%. Immediate clinical success within 24 hours after BAE was achieved in 22 of the 27 patients who underwent embolization. Conclusions: The BAE with gelatin sponge particles can provide good management of hemoptysis as a palliative treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC.