bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A high‐resolution, multi‐model analysis of Irish temperatures for the mid‐21st century
Authors: O'Sullivan John , Sweeney Conor , Nolan Paul , Gleeson Emily 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTThere is a paucity of dynamically downscaled climate model output at a high resolution over Ireland, of temperature projections for the mid‐21st century. This study aims to address this shortcoming. A preliminary investigation of global climate model (GCM) data and high‐resolution regional climate model (RCM) data shows that the latter exhibits greater variability over Ireland by reducing the dominance of the surrounding seas on the climate signal. This motivates the subsequent dynamical downscaling and analysis of the temperature output from three high‐resolution (4–7 km grid size) RCMs over Ireland. The three RCMs, driven by four GCMs from CMIP3 and CMIP5, were run under different Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) and representative concentration pathway (RCP) future scenarios. Projections of mean and extreme temperature changes are considered for the mid‐century (2041–2060) and assessed relative to the control period of 1981–2000.Analysis of the RCM data shows that annual mean temperatures are projected to rise between 0.4 and 1.8 °C above control levels by mid‐century. On a seasonal basis, results differ by forcing scenario. Future summers have the largest projected warming under RCP 8.5, where the greatest warming is seen in the southeast of Ireland. The remaining two high emission scenarios (SRESs A1B and A2) project future winters to have the greatest warming, with almost uniform increases of 1.5–2 °C across the island.Changes in the bidecadal 5th and 95th percentile values of daily minimum and maximum temperatures, respectively, are also analysed. The greatest change in daily minimum temperature is projected for future winters (indicating fewer cold nights and frost days), a pattern that is consistent across all scenarios/forcings.An investigation into the distribution of temperature under RCP 8.5 shows a strong summer increase compounded by increased variability, and a winter increase compounded by an increase in skewness.
Decreasing US aridity in a warming climate
Authors: Finkel J. M. , Canel‐Katz L. M. , Katz J. I. 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTThe mean North American and world climates have warmed since the 19th century following the anthropogenic emission of large quantities of greenhouse gases. It has been suggested that this warming may increase the frequency or severity of droughts. We define a quantitative and objective aridity index that describes the precipitation forcing function of drought. Using the extensive historical database of precipitation records, we evaluate changes in the aridity in the 48 contiguous United States. The area‐averaged mean fractional rate of change of aridity of 1218 sites in the period 1893–2013 was (−6.6 ± 0.4) × 10− 4 per year; the 48 contiguous United States became less arid. The rate of decrease of aridity was roughly consistent with expectations from the Clausius–Clapeyron relation and the rate of warming. The fractional rate of change of aridity was nearly uncorrelated with the aridity itself, but there were regional differences: many Western and coastal Southeastern sites showed increasing aridity, but regions of rapidly decreasing aridity were found in a band 85∘–100∘W and the Northeast.
Spatiotemporal structures of rainfall over the Amazon basin derived from TRMM data
Authors: Hierro R. , Llamedo P. , de la Torre A. , Alexander P. 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTOn the basis of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) daily accumulated rainfall data (3B42 v7 product) covering 16 years (1998–2013), the Amazon Basin (AB) time and space rainfall variability is analysed. Different behaviours of precipitation over AB are found to the north and south of 8°S when the longitudinal band 70°–50°W is considered. The sample is then split into northern and southern sectors with respect to 8°S, describing their monthly evolution as a function of longitude. The main spatial oscillation modes are isolated and analysed through continuous wavelet transform analysis. Intense spatial oscillations are found close to the western side of the studied region. Several temporal modes in different scales are detected within each sample. Two of them show scales longer than 12 months, which are probably associated with ENSO phases. Smaller scale oscillations, evaluated from daily data, are also found. The northern sector of AB shows more daily data variability than the southern one and seems to be more affected by large temporal processes than the southern sector.
Linking interannual variability in extreme Greenland blocking episodes to the recent increase in summer melting across the Greenland ice sheet
Authors: McLeod Jordan T. , Mote Thomas L. 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTAtmospheric blocking commonly occurs over the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, resulting from the development of persistent areas of high pressure that lead to warmer‐than‐average surface temperatures west of the high centre. While the variability and trends in anticyclonic circulation patterns (including blocking) over Greenland have been previously documented, an analysis of the most extreme blocking events within the observational record is lacking. In this study, a historical climatology of extreme Greenland blocking episodes (GBEs) from 1958 to 2013 is examined within the context of anomalous anticyclonic circulation patterns over the North Atlantic region during recent years. Based on a combination of the ERA‐40 (1958–1978) and ERA‐Interim (1979–2013) reanalysis data sets, the Greenland Blocking Index (GBI) is used to quantify 500 hPa geopotential height anomalies for the identification of extreme GBEs. The annual rate of extreme blocking days has doubled since 1958, reaching an average of approximately 20 days per year by 2013. The frequency and, to some extent, duration of extreme GBEs were unprecedentedly high from 2007 to 2013 compared to the 56‐year period of record, with a majority of the increase occurring during the spring (MAM) and summer (JJA). A multiple linear regression analysis reveals that interannual variability in extreme blocking and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) are the two predominant drivers of surface meltwater production across the entire Greenland ice sheet (GrIS), but Arctic sea ice extent and North Atlantic cyclone activity can also influence the extent of summer melting over portions of the GrIS. Thus, in addition to the larger‐scale atmospheric and oceanic variability, smaller‐scale features such as extratropical cyclones can play a significant role in modulating GrIS surface melting each summer.
Design surfaces by laser remelting
Authors: Temmler A. , Willenborg E. , Wissenbach K. 
Published: July 2015

Molds and dies are used today in the manufacturing of a wide range of industrial products. They have a broad field of applications from the air and space technology, the automotive sector, to electrical engineering, to household products and consumer goods. The surface of a part or product strongly influences its properties and functions e.g. it's visual appearance. The gloss thereby reflects one of the most important properties of a surface when it comes to evaluate the visual appearance. Therefore, among others, in this paper the influence of laser polishing on the generated specular gloss is investigated for the hot work steel 1.2343 (AISI: H11). On the one hand laser polished surfaces are measured by WLI and investigated by a spectral analysis of surfaces roughness. A spectral analysis is achieved by a discrete convolution of the surface profile with a Gaussian loaded function similar to ISO 11562. On the other hand specular gloss measurements were carried out at 20°, 60° and 85°. For the experiments a fiber‐coupled solid state disc laser (Yb : YAG; Q‐switched) is used (PL,max = 550 W; repetition frequency: fP = 5–20 kHz, pulse duration: tP = 0,7–3,5 µs, pulsed and cw‐operation). In general, scanning velocity and average laser power are two crucial procedural parameters for laser polishing with significant influence on the resulting surface roughness. These procedural parameters are investigated systematically, while other procedural parameters, such as laser beam diameter dL = 250 µm and track offset dy = 25 µm were kept constant. By this a significant reduction of roughness was achieved, especially for the wavelength interval λ < 320 µm. A correlation between specular gloss of surfaces and the measured micro‐roughness is carried out. In order to make a systematic classification laser polished fields are compared to surfaces which were prepared by conventional mechanical manufacturing processes, such as turning, milling, grinding, high end manual polishing etc. Specular gloss shows a good exponential correlation with micro‐ and meso‐roughness were as macro roughness shows no significant influence on the specular gloss. Additionally, a complete process chain for selectively laser polishing of metallic surfaces was developed in order to apply different levels of gloss onto free formed work pieces. Selective laser polishing and the process chain are demonstrated for a free formed tool insert with leather textured surface, where only the indentations of the leather texture were laser polished selectively.
Adipose‐derived stem cells protect against endoneurial cell death: Cell therapy for nerve autografts
Authors: Tomita Koichi , Nishibayashi Akimitsu , Yano Kenji , Hosokawa Ko 
Published: July 2015

BackgroundOne of the major problems with nerve grafts is that the survival of a graft segment, including endoneurial Schwann cells (SCs), is uncertain. We investigated whether the survival of nerve grafts is improved when adipose‐derived stem cells (ASCs) are incorporated into the grafts.MethodsTo examine the cell‐protective effects of ASCs on SCs in vitro, we used an indirect coculture system. In vivo effects of the incorporation of ASCs into grafts were examined using a graft model in the rat common peroneal nerve. Grafts were entubulated to isolate them from the surrounding tissues, mimicking the clinical conditions of a poorly vascularized recipient bed. Thirty‐six Lewis rats were divided into three groups, i.e., nerve graft only, entubulated nerve graft, and entubulated nerve graft + ASC transplantation. In each group, four rats and eight rats were used for short‐term (10 days) and long‐term (12 weeks) follow‐up study, respectively.ResultsAfter 24 hours of serum deprivation, the numbers of 7‐aminoactinomycin D, and TUNEL‐positive SCs significantly decreased when indirectly cocultured with ASCs (P < 0.01). When ASCs were transplanted to the epineurial layer of the grafts, the number of endoneurial TUNEL‐positive cells decreased significantly, as compared with grafts without ASCs, at 10 days postoperatively (P < 0.05). Postoperative walking track analysis showed that the ASC‐transplanted grafts showed significantly faster function recovery, as compared with grafts without ASCs (P < 0.05).ConclusionThese results suggest that nerve autografts + ASC therapy could offer a new approach to obtaining optimal outcomes after peripheral nerve injury. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 35:474–480, 2015.
Adaptively optimized combination (AOC) of magnetic resonance spectroscopy data from phased array coils
Authors: Fang Liang , Wu Minjie , Ke Hengyu , Kumar Anand , Yang Shaolin 
Published: July 2015

PurposeMR spectroscopy (MRS) can benefit from multi‐element coil arrays with enhanced signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). However, how to combine the MRS data in an optimized way from a multi‐element coil array has been studied much less than MRI. A recently published method and routine combination methods have detrimental effects on SNR. We present herein a new method for optimal combination of multi‐coil MRS data.MethodsBased on an analytical solution for maximizing the SNR of the combined spectrum, a new method called “adaptively optimized combination (AOC)” of MRS data from phased array coils was developed in which the inversion of the full noise correlation matrix was incorporated into the coil weighting coefficients. Simulations were carried out to demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed AOC method in various noise scenarios. Validation experiments on human subjects were performed with different voxel locations and sizes on a 3T MRI scanner using an eight‐element phased array head coil.ResultsCompared with a recently published method (i.e., weighting with the ratio of signal to the square of noise) and routine methods, our proposed AOC method adaptively and robustly produced significant SNR improvement in the combined spectra.ConclusionThe simulation and human experiments demonstrate that the proposed AOC method represents the theoretical optimal combination of MR spectroscopic data from multi‐element coil arrays. Magn Reson Med 75:2235–2244, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Using the robust principal component analysis algorithm to remove RF spike artifacts from MR images
Authors: Campbell‐Washburn Adrienne E. , Atkinson David , Nagy Zoltan , Chan Rachel W. , Josephs Oliver , Lythgoe Mark F. , Ordidge Roger J. , Thomas David L. 
Published: July 2015

PurposeBrief bursts of RF noise during MR data acquisition (“k‐space spikes”) cause disruptive image artifacts, manifesting as stripes overlaid on the image. RF noise is often related to hardware problems, including vibrations during gradient‐heavy sequences, such as diffusion‐weighted imaging. In this study, we present an application of the Robust Principal Component Analysis (RPCA) algorithm to remove spike noise from k‐space. Methods: Corrupted k‐space matrices were decomposed into their low‐rank and sparse components using the RPCA algorithm, such that spikes were contained within the sparse component and artifact‐free k‐space data remained in the low‐rank component. Automated center refilling was applied to keep the peaked central cluster of k‐space from misclassification in the sparse component. Results: This algorithm was demonstrated to effectively remove k‐space spikes from four data types under conditions generating spikes: (i) mouse heart T1 mapping, (ii) mouse heart cine imaging, (iii) human kidney diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data, and (iv) human brain DTI data. Myocardial T1 values changed by 86.1 ± 171 ms following despiking, and fractional anisotropy values were recovered following despiking of DTI data. Conclusion: The RPCA despiking algorithm will be a valuable postprocessing method for retrospectively removing stripe artifacts without affecting the underlying signal of interest. Magn Reson Med 75:2517–2525, 2016. © 2015 The Authors. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
A management architecture for client‐defined cloud storage services
Authors: Chung Jae Yoon , Ha Sangtae , Hong James Won‐Ki 
Published: July 2015

SummaryCloud service providers offer virtual resources to users, who then pay for as much as they use. High‐speed networks help to overcome the limitation of geographical distances between clients and cloud servers, which encourage users to adopt cloud storage services for data backup and sharing. However, users use only a few cloud storage services because of the complexity of managing multiple accounts and distributing data to store. In this paper, we propose the client‐defined management architecture (CLIMA) that redefines a storage service by coordinating multiple cloud storage services from clients. We address practical issues of coordinating multiple cloud service providers using a client‐based approach. We implement a prototype as a realization of CLIMA, which achieves both reliability and privacy protection using erasure code and higher performance by optimally scheduling data transmission. We use our prototype to evaluate the benefits of CLIMA on commercial cloud storage service providers. Finally, CLIMA empowers clients to increase the manageability and flexibility of cloud storage services. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A rotation‐free shell formulation using nodal integration for static and dynamic analyses of structures
Authors: Wang G. , Cui X. Y. , Li G. Y. 
Published: July 2015

SummaryThis paper proposed a rotation‐free thin shell formulation with nodal integration for elastic–static, free vibration, and explicit dynamic analyses of structures using three‐node triangular cells and linear interpolation functions. The formulation is based on the classic Kirchhoff plate theory, in which only three translational displacements are treated as the filed variables. Based on each node, the integration domains are further formed, where the generalized gradient smoothing technique and Green divergence theorem that can relax the continuity requirement for trial function are used to construct the curvature filed. With the aid of strain smoothing operation and tensor transformation rule, the smoothed strains in the integration domain can be finally expressed by constants. The principle of virtual work is then used to establish the discretized system equations. The translational boundary conditions are imposed same as the practice of standard finite element method, while the rotational boundary conditions are constrained in the process of constructing the smoothed curvature filed. To test the performance of the present formulation, several numerical examples, including both benchmark problems and practical engineering cases, are studied. The results demonstrate that the present method possesses better accuracy and higher efficiency for both static and dynamic problems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Two‐year outcomes on bone density and fracture incidence in patients with T2DM randomized to bariatric surgery versus intensive medical therapy
Authors: Maghrabi Adam H. , Wolski Kathy , Abood Beth , Licata Angelo , Pothier Claire , Bhatt Deepak L. , Nissen Steven , Brethauer Stacy A. , Kirwan John P. , Schauer Philip R. , Kashyap Sangeeta R. 
Published: July 2015

ObjectiveTo determine the 2‐year outcomes of Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) vs. intensive medical therapy (IMT) on lean body mass, total bone mass, and bone mineral density (BMD) measures from the STAMPEDE trial.Methods54 subjects (BMI: 36 ± 1 kg/m2, age: 48 ± 4 years) with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (HbA1c: 9.7 ± 2%) were randomized to IMT, RYGB, or SG and underwent DXA at baseline and at 1 and 2 years.ResultsAt 2 years, the reduction in BMI was similar after RYGB and SG and was greater than IMT (P < 0.001). Lean mass was reduced by ∼10%, total bone mineral content reduced by ∼8%, and hip BMD reduced by ∼9% in both surgical groups and was significantly greater than IMT despite increases in vitamin D intake in all groups. The change in hip BMD correlated with weight loss (r = 0.84, P < 0.0001) and changes in lean mass (r = 0.74, P < 0.0001) and leptin (r = 0.53, P < 0.0001). Peripheral fractures were self‐reported in RYGB (4/18 patients), SG (2/19 patients), and IMT (4/16 patients).ConclusionsSurgically induced weight loss is associated with modest reductions in lean mass, bone mineral content, and BMD, despite calcium and vitamin D supplementation in patients with T2DM. Awareness for bone loss is indicated for patients undergoing bariatric procedures.
Increased placental nutrient transport in a novel mouse model of maternal obesity with fetal overgrowth
Authors: Rosario Fredrick J. , Kanai Yoshikatsu , Powell Theresa L. , Jansson Thomas 
Published: July 2015

ObjectiveTo identify possible mechanisms linking obesity in pregnancy to increased fetal adiposity and growth, a unique mouse model of maternal obesity associated with fetal overgrowth was developed, and the hypothesis that maternal obesity causes up‐regulation of placental nutrient transporter expression and activity was tested.MethodsC57BL/6J female mice were fed a control (C) or a high‐fat/high‐sugar (HF/HS) pelleted diet supplemented by ad libitum access to sucrose (20%) solution, mated, and studied at embryonic day 18.5.ResultsHF/HS diet increased maternal fat mass by 2.2‐fold (P < 0.01) and resulted in glucose intolerance with normal fasting glucose. Maternal circulating insulin, leptin, and cholesterol were increased (P < 0.05) whereas total and high‐molecular‐weight adiponectin was decreased (P < 0.05). HF/HS diet increased fetal weight (+18%, P = 0.0005). In trophoblast plasma membranes (TPM) isolated from placentas of HF/HS‐fed animals, protein expression of glucose transporter (GLUT) 1 and 3, sodium‐coupled neutral amino acid transporter (SNAT) 2, and large neutral amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) was increased. TPM System A and L amino acid transporter activity was increased in the HF/HS group.ConclusionsUp‐regulation of specific placental nutrient transporter isoforms may constitute a mechanism underlying fetal overgrowth in maternal obesity.
Remodeling of plasma lipoproteins in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Interleukin‐6 receptor‐alpha inhibition with tocilizumab
Authors: Lee Janet S. , Chapman M. John , Piraino Paolo , Lamerz Jens , Schindler Thomas , Cutler Paul , Dernick Gregor 
Published: July 2015

PurposeRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, mediated in part by elevated circulating interleukin‐6 levels and proinflammatory changes in plasma lipoproteins. We hypothesized that RA patients acquire inflammation‐induced modifications to the protein cargo of circulating lipoproteins that may be reversed by tocilizumab, an interleukin‐6 receptor‐alpha inhibitor.Experimental designSize‐exclusion chromatography and reverse‐phase protein arrays using 29 antibodies against 26 proteins were applied at baseline and after tocilizumab treatment to analyze the distributions of apolipoproteins, enzymes, lipid transfer proteins, and other associated proteins in plasma lipoprotein fractions from 20 women with RA.ResultsA 30% reduction in high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)–associated serum amyloid A4 and complement C4 occurred with tocilizumab. Levels of C‐reactive protein, associated or comigrating with HDL and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) peaks, were reduced on treatment by approximately 80% and 24%, respectively. Reductions in lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2, lipoprotein (a), and cholesteryl ester transfer protein in the LDL fraction suggest reductions in LDL‐associated proatherogenic factors. Elevations in very low‐density lipoprotein (VLDL) enriched with apolipoprotein E were equally observed.Conclusions and clinical relevanceTocilizumab treatment led to reductions in proinflammatory components and proatherogenic proteins associated with HDL. Whether changes in the proteome of VLDL, LDL, and HDL induced by anti‐inflammatory tocilizumab treatment in RA patients modify cardiovascular disease risk requires further investigation.