bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Are health inequalities really not the smallest in the Nordic welfare states? A comparison of mortality inequality in 37 countries
Authors: Popham Frank , Dibben Chris , Bambra Clare 
Published: February 2013

BackgroundResearch comparing mortality by socioeconomic status has found that inequalities are not the smallest in the Nordic countries. This is in contrast to expectations given these countries’ policy focus on equity. An alternative way of studying inequality has been little used to compare inequalities across welfare states and may yield a different conclusion.MethodsWe used average life expectancy lost per death as a measure oftotal inequalityin mortality derived from death rates from the Human Mortality Database for 37 countries in 2006 that we grouped by welfare state type. We constructed a theoretical ‘lowest mortality comparator country’ to study, by age, why countries were not achieving the smallest inequality and the highest life expectancy. We also studied life expectancy as there is an important correlation between it and inequality.ResultsOn average, Nordic countries had the highest life expectancy and smallest inequalities for men but not women. For both men and women, Nordic countries had particularly low younger age mortality contributing to smaller inequality and higher life expectancy. Although older age mortality in the Nordic countries is not the smallest. There was variation within Nordic countries with Sweden, Iceland and Norway having higher life expectancy and smaller inequalities than Denmark and Finland (for men).ConclusionsOur analysis suggests that the Nordic countries do have the smallest inequalities in mortality for men and for younger age groups. However, this is not the case for women. Reducing premature mortality among older age groups would increase life expectancy and reduce inequality further in Nordic countries.
Predictive Biomarkers to Anti-VEGF Therapy: Progress toward an Elusive Goal
Authors: Gyanchandani Rekha , Kim Seungwon 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
The search for reliable biomarkers predictive of response to anti-VEGF therapy has been elusive. VEGF-A, the therapeutic target of bevacizumab, is an intuitive candidate as a predictive biomarker to bevacizumab-based anticancer therapy. However, there remains much controversy in the use of VEGF-A as a predictor of response to bevacizumab. Clin Cancer Res; 19(4); 755–7. ©2012 AACR.
Temporal–Spatial Climate Variability in the Headwater Drainage Basins of the Yangtze River and Yellow River, China
Authors: Sang Yan-Fang , Wang Zhonggen , Liu Changming , Gong Tongliang 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
Variability of the climate in the headwater drainage basins of the Yangtze River and Yellow River during 1961–2010 was investigated by examining four typical climatic variables: daily minimum, mean, and maximum temperatures and daily precipitation. The results indicate that the temporal trends vary among the climatic variables and the time periods examined. The increase in daily minimum temperature began later than the daily mean and maximum temperatures, but the increase rate of the former was relatively greater after 1985. The abrupt increases in precipitation that occurred near 1978 were much clearer than the three temperature variables. Four dominant periodicities (3, 7, 11, and 18–20 yr) of temperature and precipitation were identified, and these variation patterns directly determined the periodic discharge variations in the two rivers. Under climate change impacts, periodic variations in temperature and precipitation at long temporal scales were intensified after the 1980s. Comparatively, climate change more severely impacts the minimum temperature and precipitation than the maximum and mean temperatures in the study area, and the variability of daily precipitation is more complex than the three temperature variables. Overall, the headwater drainage basin of the Yellow River is more susceptible to climate change compared with the other basin. After 2008, the increase rate of temperature (especially the daily mean and minimum temperatures) became greater, and precipitation showed a downward trend in the study areas. These trends are unfavorable for the safety of water resources and for eco-environmental safety in the two basins.
An Algorithm for the Constraining of Radiative Transfer Calculations to CERES-Observed Broadband Top-of-Atmosphere Irradiance
Authors: Rose Fred G. , Rutan David A. , Charlock Thomas , Smith G. Louis , Kato Seiji 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
NASA’s Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) project is responsible for operation and data processing of observations from scanning radiometers on board the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), Terra, Aqua, and Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellites. The clouds and radiative swath (CRS) CERES data product contains irradiances computed using a radiative transfer model for nearly all CERES footprints in addition to top-of-atmosphere (TOA) irradiances derived from observed radiances by CERES instruments. This paper describes a method to constrain computed irradiances by CERES-derived TOA irradiances using Lagrangian multipliers. Radiative transfer model inputs include profiles of atmospheric temperature, humidity, aerosols and ozone, surface temperature and albedo, and up to two sets of cloud properties for a CERES footprint. Those inputs are adjusted depending on predefined uncertainties to match computed TOA and CERES-derived TOA irradiance. Because CERES instantaneous irradiances for an individual footprint also include uncertainties, primarily due to the conversion of radiance to irradiance using anisotropic directional models, the degree of the constraint depends on CERES-derived TOA irradiance as well. As a result of adjustment, TOA computed-minus-observed standard deviations are reduced from 8 to 4 W m−2 for longwave irradiance and from 15 to 6 W m−2 for shortwave irradiance. While agreement of computed TOA with CERES-derived irradiances improves, comparisons with surface observations show that model constrainment to the TOA does not reduce computation bias error at the surface. After constrainment, shortwave down at the surface has an increased bias (standard deviation) of 1% (0.5%) and longwave increases by 0.2% (0.1%). Clear-sky changes are negligible.
Salinity Transport in the Florida Straits
Authors: Szuts Zoltan B. , Meinen Chris 
Published: February 2013

AbstractA submarine cable across the Florida Straits yields a time series of volume and temperature transports using previously determined calibrations, and here a calibration is defined for salinity transport using data not yet compared to the cable. Since 2001, 32 transects were collected with conductivity–temperature–depth (CTDs) sensors and lowered acoustic Doppler current profilers (LADCPs). Calibrations for volume and temperature transports using CTD/LADCP data are consistent with previous studies. A salinity calibration is obtained by regressing salinity transport against volume transport, where salinity transport is calculated relative to the basin-averaged salinity at 26°N (Sref = 35.156 psu). On average, the transect-derived salinity transport is 33.0 Sv psu (1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1), has a standard deviation of 2.8 Sv psu, and has a 90th percentile range of 29.1–37.4 Sv psu. The cable-derived salinity transport has a root-mean-square error of 2.2 Sv psu compared to the CTD/LADCP transects. Inherent spatial fluctuations and their covariability in the Florida Straits are responsible for noise in the calibrations and for slight increases in accuracy from salinity to temperature to volume calibrations. Salinity fluctuations are strongest in middepth waters of intermediate salinity, where velocity is neither particularily fast nor variable. In contrast, temperature is highly stratified and warm near-surface waters coincide with fast and variable velocities. Temperature additionally exhibits seasonality near the surface, whereas no robust seasonality is found for salinity or velocity. Temperature and salinity transports are largely driven by volume transport, which in turn, because of a large average electrical conductivity, is closely related to the conductivity-weighted velocity that generates the cable-measured voltage.
Signal Postprocessing and Reflectivity Calibration of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program 915-MHz Wind Profilers
Authors: Tridon Frédéric , Battaglia Alessandro , Kollias Pavlos , Luke Edward , Williams Christopher R. 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
The Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program has recently initiated a new research avenue toward a better characterization of the transition from cloud to precipitation. Dual-wavelength techniques applied to millimeter-wavelength radars and a Rayleigh reference have a great potential for rain-rate retrievals directly from dual-wavelength ratio measurements. In this context, the recent reconfiguration of the ARM 915-MHz wind profilers in a vertically pointing mode makes these instruments the ideal candidate for providing the Rayleigh reflectivity/Doppler velocity reference. Prior to any scientific study, the wind profiler data must be carefully quality checked. This work describes the signal postprocessing steps that are essential for the delivery of high-quality reflectivity and mean Doppler velocity products—that is, the estimation of the noise floor from clear-air echoes, the absolute calibration with a collocated disdrometer, the dealiasing of Doppler velocities, and the merging of the different modes of the wind profiler. The improvement added by the proposed postprocessing is confirmed by comparison with a high-quality S-band profiler deployed at the ARM Southern Great Plains site during the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment. With the addition of a vertically pointing mode and with the postprocessing described in this work in place, besides being a key asset for wind research wind profilers observations may therefore become a centerpiece for rain studies in the years to come.
Ensemble Kalman Filter Assimilation of Simulated HIWRAP Doppler Velocity Data in a Hurricane
Authors: Sippel Jason A. , Braun Scott A. , Zhang Fuqing , Weng Yonghui 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
This study utilizes ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs) to analyze the potential impact of assimilating radial velocity observations of hurricanes from the High-altitude Imaging Wind and Rain Airborne Profiler (HIWRAP). HIWRAP is a new Doppler radar mounted on the NASA Global Hawk unmanned airborne system that flies at roughly 19-km altitude and has the benefit of a 25–30-h flight duration, which is 2–3 times that of conventional aircraft. This research is intended as a proof-of-concept study for future assimilation of real HIWRAP data. The most important result from this research is that HIWRAP data can potentially improve hurricane analyses and prediction. For example, by the end of a 12-h assimilation period, the analysis error is much lower than that in deterministic forecasts. As a result, subsequent forecasts initialized with the EnKF analyses also improve. Furthermore, analyses and forecasts clearly benefit more from a 12-h assimilation period than for shorter periods, which highlights a benefit of the Global Hawk's potentially long on-station times.
Dryline Position Errors in Experimental Convection-Allowing NSSL-WRF Model Forecasts and the Operational NAM
Authors: Coffer Brice E. , Maudlin Lindsay C. , Veals Peter G. , Clark Adam J. 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
This study evaluates 24-h forecasts of dryline position from an experimental 4-km grid-spacing version of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) run daily at the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), as well as the 12-km grid-spacing North America Mesoscale Model (NAM) run operationally by the Environmental Modeling Center of NCEP. For both models, 0000 UTC initializations are examined, and for verification 0000 UTC Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) analyses are used. For the period 1 April–30 June 2007–11, 116 cases containing drylines in all three datasets were identified using a manual procedure that considered specific humidity gradient magnitude, temperature, and 10-m wind. For the 24-h NAM forecasts, no systematic east–west dryline placement errors were found, and the majority of the east–west errors fell within the range ±0.5° longitude. The lack of a systematic bias was generally present across all subgroups of cases categorized according to month, weather pattern, and year. In contrast, a systematic eastward bias was found in 24-h NSSL-WRF forecasts, which was consistent across all subgroups of cases. The eastward biases seemed to be largest for the subgroups that favored “active” drylines (i.e., those associated with a progressive synoptic-scale weather system) as opposed to “quiescent” drylines that tend to be present with weaker tropospheric flow and have eastward movement dominated by vertical mixing processes in the boundary layer.
Socioeconomic and Outdoor Meteorological Determinants of Indoor Temperature and Humidity in New York City Dwellings*
Authors: Tamerius J. D. , Perzanowski M. S. , Acosta L. M. , Jacobson J. S. , Goldstein I. F. , Quinn J. W. , Rundle A. G. , Shaman J. 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
Numerous mechanisms link outdoor weather and climate conditions to human health. It is likely that many health conditions are more directly affected by indoor rather than outdoor conditions. Yet, the relationship between indoor temperature and humidity conditions to outdoor variability, and the heterogeneity of the relationship among different indoor environments are largely unknown. The authors use 5–14-day measures of indoor temperature and relative humidity from 327 dwellings in New York City New York, for the years 2008–11 to investigate the relationship between indoor climate, outdoor meteorological conditions, socioeconomic conditions, and building descriptors. Study households were primarily middle income and located across the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Manhattan. Indoor temperatures are positively associated with outdoor temperature during the warm season and study dwellings in higher socioeconomic status neighborhoods are significantly cooler. During the cool season, outdoor temperatures have little effect on indoor temperatures; however, indoor temperatures can range more than 10°C between dwellings despite similar outdoor temperatures. Apartment buildings tend to be significantly warmer than houses and dwellings on higher floors are also significantly warmer than dwellings on lower floors. Outdoor specific humidity is positively associated with indoor specific and relative humidity, but there is no consistent relationship between outdoor and indoor relative humidity. In New York City, the relationship between indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity conditions varies significantly between dwellings. These results can be used to inform studies of health outcomes for which temperature or humidity is an established factor affecting human health. The results highlight the need for more research on the determinants of indoor climate.
Declines in Lower Extremity Amputation in the US Medicare Population, 2000-2010
Authors: Belatti Daniel A. , Phisitkul Phinit 
Published: February 2013

Background: Despite evidence that improved outcomes are associated with more distal lower extremity amputations (LEA), the impact of recent advances in the orthopedic approach to diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) on the use and anatomic level of LEAs is unknown. Methods: We queried the complete Medicare Part B claims database (2000-2010) for volume and reimbursement of all codes designating LEAs (hip and below) as well as a selection representing orthopedic treatments for DFU. Procedures were grouped for analysis; utilization rates per 100,000 Medicare enrollees and compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) of payments were calculated. Data are presented in the context of national health care spending trends. Results: LEA utilization rates declined from 282.5 to 201.0 per 105 enrollees (−28.8%) over the decade. In general, declines were greatest for the most proximal levels and smallest for the most distal sites. Use of orthopedic treatments for DFUs, including Achilles tendon release and total contact casting, rose from 26.0 to 63.3 per 105 enrollees (+143.3%). Payment trends mirrored utilization data. During this period, total health care spending in the United States increased at a CAGR of 6.5%, whereas total Medicare payments rose at a CAGR of 8.9%. Conclusion: The last decade saw a marked decline in the use of LEA in the Medicare population, despite unfavorable demographic changes. Furthermore, it became more likely for LEAs to occur at distal, limb-conserving locations. Over the same period, use of orthopedic treatments for DFU increased sharply. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative database analysis.
Short-Term Radiographic Analysis of Operative Correction of Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity
Authors: Iossi Michael , Johnson Jeffrey E. , McCormick Jeremy J. , Klein Sandra E. 
Published: February 2013

Background: Multiple procedures have been described to treat stage II (flexible) deformities driven by the clinical presence of “mild” versus “severe” deformity. The purpose of this study was to identify the radiographic correction after bony realignment procedures and to compare preoperative measures with postoperative measures to better understand the clinical application of these procedures. Methods: Seventy-two feet in 68 patients treated for stage II deformity between January 1999 and December 2010 were available for retrospective chart review. The average age of the patients was 55 years, and final radiographs were evaluated at an average of 9 months postoperatively. All patients had a flexor digitorum longus transfer to the navicular and bony realignment. Radiographic parameters measured included lateral talus-first metatarsal angle, medial cuneiform-floor distance, calcaneal pitch, anteroposterior talus-second metatarsal angle, and talonavicular coverage angle. Differences in pre- and postoperative measurements and between group comparisons were analyzed. Results: Three patient groups were identified: medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy (group 1), lateral column lengthening (group 2), and both medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy and lateral column lengthening (group 3). The lateral talus-first metatarsal angle mean difference was 5.1 degrees in group 1, 16.2 degrees in group 2, and 16.5 degrees in group 3. The talonavicular coverage angle mean difference was 5.7 degrees in group 1, 24.2 degrees in group 2, and 19.4 degrees in group 3. Changes in pre- to postoperative measures were statistically significant for all groups for the parameters measured. The pairwise group comparison revealed a statistically significant difference in the correction obtained in group 3 compared with that of group 1. Conclusion: Clinical and radiographic parameters are a consideration when choosing bony realignment procedures to reconstruct a flexible flatfoot deformity. In the treatment of more severe deformities, lateral column lengthening resulted in a greater radiographic improvement in alignment. A medial displacement osteotomy alone is also a valuable tool to correct these deformities although it provided a different level of correction compared with the lateral column lengthening. Level of Evidence: Level III, comparative case series.
EGFL7 ligates αvβ3 integrin to enhance vessel formation
Authors: Nikolić Iva , Stanković Nevenka Dudvarski , Bicker Frank , Meister Jeannette , Braun Helene , Awwad Khader , Baumgart Jan , Simon Kirsten , Thal Serge C. , Patra Chinmoy , Harter Patrick N. , Plate Karl H. , Engel Felix B. , Dimmeler Stefanie , Eble Johannes A. , Mittelbronn Michel , Schäfer Michael K. , Jungblut Benno , Chavakis Emmanouil , Fleming Ingrid , Schmidt Mirko H. H. 
Published: February 2013

Key PointsEGFL7 promotes angiogenesis via its interaction with integrin αvβ3. EGFL7 is involved in physiological and pathological angiogenesis.
Angiotensin 1-7 and Mas decrease thrombosis in Bdkrb2−/− mice by increasing NO and prostacyclin to reduce platelet spreading and glycoprotein VI activation
Authors: Fang Chao , Stavrou Evi , Schmaier Alec A. , Grobe Nadja , Morris Mariana , Chen Andrew , Nieman Marvin T. , Adams Gregory N. , LaRusch Gretchen , Zhou Yihua , Bilodeau Matthew L. , Mahdi Fakhri , Warnock Mark , Schmaier Alvin H. 
Published: February 2013

Key Points
In Bdkrb2−/− mice, compensatory Mas and AT2R overexpression elevates NO and PGI2 to prolong bleeding times and delay arterial thrombosis. This NO and PGI2 elevation attenuates platelet integrin-dependent spreading and GPVI responses without altering thrombin or ADP activation.
Budesonide suppresses pulmonary antibacterial host defense by down-regulating cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide in allergic inflammation mice and in lung epithelial cells
Authors: Wang Peng , Wang Xiaoyun , Yang Xiaoqiong , Liu Zhigang , Wu Min , Li Guoping 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Background
Glucocorticoids are widely regarded as the most effective treatment for asthma. However, the direct impact of glucocorticoids on the innate immune system and antibacterial host defense during asthma remain unclear. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this process is critical to the clinical application of glucocorticoids for asthma therapy. After sensitization and challenge with ovalbumin (OVA), BALB/c mice were treated with inhaled budesonide and infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). The number of viable bacteria in enflamed lungs was evaluated, and levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in serum were measured. A lung epithelial cell line was pretreated with budesonide. Levels of cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) were measured by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Intracellular bacteria were observed in lung epithelial cells.

Results
Inhaled budesonide enhanced lung infection in allergic mice exposed to P. aeruginosa and increased the number of viable bacteria in lung tissue. Higher levels of IL-4 and lower levels of IFN-γ were observed in the serum. Budesonide decreased the expression of CRAMP, increased the number of internalized P. aeruginosa in OVA-challenged mice and in lung epithelial cell lines. These data indicate that inhaled budesonide can suppress pulmonary antibacterial host defense by down-regulating CRAMP in allergic inflammation mice and in cells in vitro.

Conclusions
Inhaled budesonide suppressed pulmonary antibacterial host defense in an asthmatic mouse model and in lung epithelium cells in vitro. This effect was dependent on the down-regulation of CRAMP.
Common fixed point theorems for two hybrid pairs of mappings satisfying the common property (E.A) in Menger PM-spaces
Authors: Wu Zhaoqi , Zhu Chuanxi , Li Jin 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
In this paper, a new concept of the common property (E.A) for two hybrid pairs of mappings is introduced in Menger PM-spaces. Utilizing this concept, some common fixed point theorems, which shed some new light on the study of fixed point results for hybrid pairs in Menger PM-spaces, are obtained under strict contractive conditions. The corresponding results in metric spaces which generalize many known results are also obtained. Finally, an example is also given to exemplify our main results.