bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seasonal prediction of East African rainfall
Authors: Chen Chia‐Jeng , Georgakakos Aris P. 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTThe detrimental impacts of climate variability on water, agriculture, and food resources in East Africa underscore the importance of reliable seasonal climate predictions. This study compares several forecasting methods using sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies to predict East African rains with various lead times. It is shown that the forecasts can explain more than 50% of the short rains (boreal autumn) variance across large regions of Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya, and reaffirm the importance of the Walker‐like circulation over the Indian Ocean. The forecasts also explain more than 50% of the long rains (boreal spring) over Uganda, Lake Victoria, and western Kenya, and demonstrate the strong connection of the long rains to the SSTs in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, southwestern Indian Ocean, and Arabian Sea. For the unimodal rains in Tanzania, the forecasts explain more than 40% of the rainfall variance over northwestern Tanzania based on SST predictors in the southwestern Indian Ocean and the subtropical North Atlantic. For the South Sudan and Ethiopian Kiremt rains, the forecast skill is less pronounced. The predictor regions (dipoles) for a recently developed method are validated through composite maps of surface and atmospheric reanalysis variables. Lastly, 2010–2011 forecasts for both the long and short rains demonstrate skill in predicting the recent drought suggesting that seasonal climate forecasts can inform natural disaster preparedness and water resources planning in East Africa.
An assessment of real‐time extended range forecast of 2013 Indian summer monsoon
Authors: Borah N. , Sahai A. K. , Abhilash S. , Chattopadhyay R. , Joseph S. , Sharmila S. , Kumar A. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractSeveral aspects of real‐time forecast of Indian summer monsoon (ISM) in 3–4 pentad lead time (extended range) are discussed in this study to explore the operational capability of the Climate Forecast System model version 2 (CFSv2) developed by National Centre for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). 2013 summer monsoon was a near excess monsoon year in terms of seasonal mean and was a result of rich diversity of phenomena including strong intraseasonal variations and intense northward propagations over the Indian region. Eleven‐member forecasts were made at every 5‐day interval during the June–September monsoon season which included monsoon onset and withdrawal phases. The ensemble members were created by perturbing the initial conditions at each start time. In addition to the CFSv2 forecasts, we also carried out forecasts using the atmospheric‐only component (GFSv2) forced with CFSv2‐derived sea surface temperature (SST) subjected to a bias correction based on historical observations (GFSbc runs).Both the CFSv2 and GFSbc runs were able to predict the progression of ISM over the Indian region and the subsequent intraseasonal oscillations (active and break phases). The analysis for an extreme event (Uttarakhand flood) and monsoon revival (MR) towards the end of the season was also performed. Comparison between the two runs shows that active and break spells were predicted with good fidelity over the Indian region, though GFSbc outperforms CFSv2 on several occasions. Thus, improvement of the operational monsoon forecast over Indian region using NCEP CFSv2 requires better representation of air–sea interaction and mean states of ocean.
Optimized conditions for determination of total soil organic matter in diverse samples by mass loss on ignition
Authors: Ghabbour Elham A. , Davies Geoffrey , Cuozzo Nicolas P. , Miller Robert O. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractReliable measurement of soil organic matter (SOM) contents is crucial to assessment of soil health, productive longevity and the effects of climate change. In this study, the loss‐on‐ignition (LOI) method has been used to determine the SOM of dried soil samples with a wide range of clay, sand and silt contents from the Agricultural Laboratory Proficiency (ALP) program. Regressions of ALP participant data against LOI measurements at 350–650°C indicate that the extent of SOM oxidation depends more on the ignition temperature and time than on the sample compositions. Thus, LOI data from ignition at 350–550°C for 12 h relative to ignition at 650°C for 12 h converge at 650°C and the average coefficient of variance decreases to ≈ 4% at 650°C. Also examined are regressions of soil organic C from direct dry combustion as standards with LOI measured at 360°C for 2 h, LOI measured at 650°C for 12 h and with the Walkley‐Black procedure used in the ALP program.
A Middle Palaeolithic site in the southern North Sea: investigating the archaeology and palaeogeography of Area 240
Authors: TIZZARD L. , BICKET A. R. , BENJAMIN J. , LOECKER D. DE 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTThe potential for Middle Palaeolithic sites to survive beneath the sea in northern latitudes has been established by intensive investigation within Area 240, a marine aggregate licence area situated in the North Sea, 11 km off the coast of Norfolk, England. The fortuitous discovery of bifacial handaxes, and Levallois flakes and cores, led to a major programme of fieldwork and analysis between 2008 and 2013. The artefacts were primarily recovered from Marine Isotope Stage 8/7 floodplain sediments deposited between 250 and 200 ka. It is considered that the hand axes and Levallois products are contemporaneous in geological terms with taphonomically complex sedimentary contexts, as observed in several north‐west European sites. The Early Middle Palaeolithic (EMP) lithics have survived multiple phases of glaciation and marine transgression. The investigations confirm that the artefacts are not a ‘chance’ find, but indicate clear relationships to submerged and buried landscapes that, although complex, can be examined in detail using a variety of existing fieldwork and analytical methods. The palaeogeographical context of the finds also offers expanded interpretations of the distribution of EMP hominins in the southern North Sea, not predictable from onshore archaeological records.
Biochronological data inferred from the Early Pleistocene small mammals of the Barranc de la Boella site (Tarragona, north‐eastern Spain)
Authors: LOZANO‐FERNÁNDEZ IVÁN , BAÑULS‐CARDONA SANDRA , BLAIN HUGUES‐ALEXANDRE , LÓPEZ‐GARCÍA JUAN MANUEL , VALLVERDÚ JOSEP , AGUSTÍ JORDI , CUENCA‐BESCÓS GLORIA 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTIn 2007, remains of Mammuthus meridionalis and 334 lithic artefacts were recovered in level 2 of Barranc de la Boella. The presence of M. meridionalis allows us to assign an age older than 700 ka to this level, which represents one of the few sites of this age with palaeontological remains associated with lithic industry. It also enables us to shed light on questions pertaining to the chronology and the biogeography of the earliest European human settlements. In this paper, the small mammals from the Barranc de la Boella site are described for the first time, with special emphasis on the arvicolines. The presence of Victoriamys chalinei and Mimomys savini allows us to estimate the age of level 2. Level 2 of the Barranc de la Boella site ranges between the top of the Jaramillo subchron (0.99 Ma) and shortly after the Brunhes–Matuyama transition at 0.78 Ma, thus covering a time span of great importance for our knowledge of the earliest human occupations in Western Europe.
Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Deep Brain Stimulation Screening for Parkinson Patients: No Room for “Short Cuts”
Authors: Abboud Hesham , Mehanna Raja , Machado Andre , Ahmed Anwar , Gostkowski Michal , Cooper Scott , Itin Ilia , Sweeney Patrick , Pandya Mayur , Kubu Cynthia , Floden Darlene , Ford Paul J. , Fernandez Hubert H. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractCareful, often cumbersome, screening is a fundamental part of DBS evaluation in Parkinson's disease (PD). It often involves a brain MRI, neuropsychological testing, neurological, surgical, and psychiatric evaluation, and “ON/OFF” motor testing. Given that DBS has now been a standard treatment for advanced PD, with clinicians’ improved comfort and confidence in screening and referring patients for DBS, we wondered whether we can now streamline our lengthy evaluation process. We reviewed all PD patients evaluated for DBS at our center between 2006 and 2011 and analyzed the reasons for exclusion and for dropping out despite passing the screening process. A total of 223 PD patients who underwent DBS evaluation had complete charting. Only 131 (58.7%) patients were successfully implanted. Sixty‐one (27.3%) patients were excluded after screening because of significant cognitive decline (32.7%), early disease with room for medication adjustment (29.5%), behavioral dysfunction (21.3%), suspected secondary parkinsonism or atypical parkinsonism syndrome (13.1%), PD, but with poor levodopa response (11.4%), unrealistic goals (9.8%), PD with predominant axial symptoms (6.5%), significant comorbidities (6.5%), or abnormal brain imaging (3.2%). In addition, 31 (13.9%) patients were cleared for surgery, but either chose not have it (18 patients), were lost to follow‐up (12 patients), or were denied by medical insurance (1 patient). Through careful screening, a significant percentage of surgical candidates continue to be identified as less suitable because of a variety of reasons. This underscores the continued need for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary screening process.
Betaine recovers hypothalamic neural injury by inhibiting astrogliosis and inflammation in fructose‐fed rats
Authors: Li Jian‐Mei , Ge Chen‐Xu , Xu Min‐Xuan , Wang Wei , Yu Rong , Fan Chen‐Yu , Kong Ling‐Dong 
Published: October 2014

ScopeHypothalamic astrogliosis and inflammation cause neural injury, playing a critical role in metabolic syndrome development. This study investigated whether and how fructose caused hypothalamic astrogliosis and inflammation in vivo and in vitro. The inhibitory effects of betaine on hypothalamic neural injury, astrogliosis, and inflammation were explored to address its improvement of fructose‐induced metabolic syndrome.Methods and resultsRats or astrocytes were exposed to fructose and then treated with betaine. Neural injury, proinflammatory markers, Toll‐like receptor 4/nuclear factor‐κB (TLR4/NF‐κB) pathway, and histone deacetylases 3 (HDAC3) expressions were evaluated. The reduction of pro‐opiomelanocortin and melanocortin 4 receptor positive neurons in fructose‐fed rats was ameliorated by betaine. Moreover, fructose induced astrogliosis and proinflammatory cytokine production by increasing TLR4, MyD88 (where MyD88 is myeloid differentiation factor 88), and NF‐κB expression in rat hypothalamus and astrocytes. HDAC3 overexpression preserved the prolonged inflammation in fructose‐stimulated astrocytes by regulating nuclear NF‐κB‐dependent transcription. Betaine suppressed TLR4/NF‐κB pathway activation and HDAC3 expression, contributing to its inhibition of hypothalamic astrogliosis and inflammation in animal and cell models.ConclusionThese findings suggest that betaine inhibits fructose‐caused astrogliosis and inflammation by the suppression of TLR4/NF‐κB pathway activation and HDAC3 expression to protect against hypothalamic neural injury, which, at least partly, contributes to the improvement of fructose‐induced metabolic syndrome.
An evolutionary approach to modelling the thermomechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils
Authors: Ahangar‐Asr Alireza , Javadi Akbar A. , Khalili Nasser 
Published: October 2014

SummaryA new data‐mining approach is presented for modelling of the stress–strain and volume change behaviour of unsaturated soils considering temperature effects. The proposed approach is based on the evolutionary polynomial regression (EPR), which unlike some other data‐mining techniques, generates a transparent and structured representation of the behaviour of systems directly from raw experimental (or field) data. The proposed methodology can operate on large quantities of data in order to capture nonlinear and complex relationships between contributing variables. The developed models allow the user to gain a clear insight into the behaviour of the system. Unsaturated triaxial test data from the literature were used for development and verification of EPR models. The developed models were also used (in a coupled manner) to produce the entire stress path of triaxial tests. Comparison of the EPR model predictions with the experimental data revealed the robustness and capability of the proposed methodology in capturing and reproducing the constitutive thermomechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils. More importantly, the capability of the developed models in accurately generalizing the predictions to unseen data cases was illustrated. The results of a sensitivity analysis showed that the models developed from data are able to capture and represent the physical aspects of the unsaturated soil behaviour accurately. The merits and advantages of the proposed methodology are also discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and its propensity for causing bronchiolitis
Authors: Pickles Raymond J , DeVincenzo John P 
Published: October 2014

AbstractInfants and young children with acute onset of wheezing and reduced respiratory airflows are often diagnosed with obstruction and inflammation of the small bronchiolar airways, ie bronchiolitis. The most common aetological agents causing bronchiolitis in young children are the respiratory viruses, and of the commonly encountered respiratory viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has a propensity for causing bronchiolitis. Indeed, RSV bronchiolitis remains the major reason why previously healthy infants are admitted to hospital. Why RSV infection is such a predominant cause of bronchiolitis is the subject of this review. By reviewing the available histopathology of RSV bronchiolitis, both in humans and relevant animal models, we identify hallmark features of RSV infection of the distal airways and focus attention on the consequences of columnar cell cytopathology occurring in the bronchioles, which directly impacts the development of bronchiolar obstruction, inflammation and disease. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A novel way of texturing glass for microcrystalline silicon thin film solar cells application
Authors: Yang Guangtao , van Swaaij René A. C. M. M. , Isabella Olindo , Zeman Miro 
Published: October 2014

AbstractIn this paper, we present a novel way of texturing glass facilitated by ZnO:Al thin film as sacrificial layer for thin film silicon solar cell application. We name this technique zinc oxide‐induced texturing (ZIT). The texturing of glass was achieved by wet etching of ZnO:Al covered glass with HF and HNO3 as etchants. We investigated the influence of the ZnO:Al layer sputtering condition, the layer thickness, and the etchant composition on the surface morphology of the textured glass. We demonstrate that we are able to control the roughness of the ZIT glass over a wide roughness range, ranging from 20 to 400 nm. Highly efficient microcrystalline silicon n‐i‐p solar cells were deposited on ZIT glass. The influence of the substrate morphology on the solar cell performance is also discussed. The highest efficiency for a single junction n‐i‐p microcrystalline silicon solar cell obtained in this work is 10.64% (Active area). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Low temperature hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon‐carbon alloys deposited by RF‐PECVD
Authors: Gaiaschi Sofia , Gueunier‐Farret Marie‐Estelle , Johnson Erik V. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractTwo sets of hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon carbon alloys were deposited by standard radio frequency (RF) plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition at a substrate temperature of 175 °C. The effect of the methane flow rate and of the RF‐power were investigated. Samples were deposited from a silane and methane gas mixture, highly diluted in hydrogen. The increase in methane flow rates leads to a decrease of the crystalline volume fraction and an increase in carbon incorporation. On the other hand, decreasing the RF‐power shifts the microcrystalline‐to‐amorphous transition at higher methane flow rates. Moreover, for similar amount of carbon incorporated, the decrease in RF‐power leads to materials showing higher crystalline volume fraction and average grains sizes. Both ion bombardment energy and carbon incorporation contributes to the microstructural properties of the deposited alloys. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Nanoscale electrical characterization of graphene contacts to AlGaN/GaN heterostructures
Authors: Fisichella Gabriele , Greco Giuseppe , Di Franco Salvatore , Roccaforte Fabrizio , Ravesi Sebastiano , Giannazzo Filippo 
Published: October 2014

AbstractIn this paper, we describe a highly reproducible method to transfer graphene (Gr) grown on copper by chemical vapour deposition to the surface of AlGaN/GaN heterostructures and we report a nanoscale electrical characterization of current transport at Gr contact to AlGaN. This latter investigation has been carried out using local current‐voltage measurements by conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM), performed both on the Gr‐coated and bare AlGaN surface (reference). These analyses provide information on the lateral uniformity of the Schottky barrier height (SBH) between Gr and AlGaN. Gr contacts to AlGaN exhibit much more uniform and significantly lower SBH (∼0.4 eV) than common metals, such as gold, with SBH∼0.96 eV. These results can be useful for future applications in high frequency transistors based on AlGaN/GAN heterostructures and Gr. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Optical properties of plasmonic nanoparticles distributed in size determined from a modified Maxwell‐Garnett‐Mie theory
Authors: Battie Y. , Resano‐Garcia A. , Chaoui N. , En Naciri A. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe optical properties of spherical gold and silver nanoparticles distributed in size are investigated through a new effective medium theory. It is about the modified Maxwell‐Garnett‐Mie theory (MMGM) that takes into account the intrinsic confinement, dynamic effects and the nanoparticle radius distribution. In the case of monodispersed nanoparticles with a radius in the 1 nm‐25 nm range, MMGM is equivalent to the Mie theory. Compared to the conventional effective medium theory, we demonstrate that MGMM gives better description of the measured extinction spectra of colloidal gold and silver solutions. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Monte Carlo study of the early growth stages of 3C‐SiC on misoriented <11‐20> and <1‐100> 6H‐SiC substrates: role of step‐island interaction
Authors: Camarda M. , La Magna A. , La Via F. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractIn this paper, we use three‐dimensional kinetic Monte Carlo simulations on superlattices to study the hetero‐polytypical growth of cubic silicon carbide polytype (3C‐SiC) on hexagonal 6H‐SiC step‐bunched substrates with miscuts towards the <11‐20> and <1‐100> directions. We find that the preferential 3C conversion observed on <1‐100> misoriented substrates could be due to a different step‐to‐island interaction which enhances island stability and expansion in this specific direction. For this reason 3‐4 degrees off step‐bunched 6H substrates with miscut towards the <1‐100> direction should be the best choice for the stable and reproducible hetero‐polytypical growth of high quality cubic epitaxial films. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Screening of six UGT enzyme activities in human liver microsomes using liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry
Authors: Joo Jeongmin , Lee Boram , Lee Taeho , Liu Kwang‐Hyeon 
Published: October 2014

RATIONALEUridine 5'‐diphosphoglucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes are essential for the clearance of many drugs; however, altered UGT activity is a potential cause of adverse drug‐drug interactions (DDI). The early detection of potential DDI is an important aspect of drug discovery that has led to the development of new screening methods for drug interactions. We developed a screening method for the simultaneous evaluation of six human liver UGT enzyme activites using in vitro cocktail incubation and tandem mass spectrometry.METHODSThe two in vitro cocktail doses were developed to minimize drug interactions among substrates. The method is based on liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Electrospray ionization (ESI) in both positive and negative modes was used to quantify the metabolites and the diagnostic loss of the glucuronosyl moiety to form the aglycone product was estimated using the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode.RESULTSThe method was validated by comparing inhibition data obtained from the incubation of each individual probe substrate alone with data from the cocktail method. The intra‐ and inter‐day accuracy and precision data for the six UGT metabolites ranged from 92.2 to 100.3% and less than 15.2%, respectively. The IC50 values showed no significant differences between individual and cocktail incubations.CONCLUSIONSAs a screening technique for inhibitory interactions of these six human liver UGT enzymes, this method will be useful for advancing mechanistic understanding of drug interactions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The formation of [M–H]+ ions in N‐alkyl‐substituted thieno[3,4‐c]‐pyrrole‐4,6‐dione derivatives during atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Sioud Salim , Kharbatia Najeh , Amad Maan H. , Zhu Zhiyong , Cabanetos Clement , Lesimple Alain , Beaujuge Pierre 
Published: October 2014

RATIONALEThe formation of ions during atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) mass spectrometry in the positive mode usually provides radical cations and/or protonated species. Intriguingly, during the analysis of some N‐alkyl‐substituted thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione (TPD) derivatives synthesized in our laboratory, unusual [M–H]+ ion peaks were observed. In this work we investigate the formation of [M–H]+ ions observed under APPI conditions.METHODSMultiple experimental parameters, including the type of ionization source, the composition of the solvent, the type of dopant, the infusion flow rate, and the length of the alkyl side chain were investigated to determine their effects on the formation of [M–H]+ ions. In addition, a comparison study of the gas‐phase tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) fragmentation of [M + H]+ vs [M–H]+ ions and computational approaches were used.RESULTS[M–H]+ ions were observed under APPI conditions. The type of dopant and the length of the alkyl chain affected the formation of these ions. MS/MS fragmentation of [M–H]+ and [M + H]+ ions exhibited completely different patterns. Theoretical calculations revealed that the loss of hydrogen molecules from the [M + H]+ ions is the most favourable condition under which to form [M–H]+ ions.CONCLUSIONS[M–H]+ ions were detected in all the TPD derivatives studied here under the special experimental conditions during APPI, using a halogenated benzene dopant, and TPD containing substituted N‐alkyl side chains with a minimum of four carbon atoms. Density functional theory calculations showed that for [M–H]+ ions to be formed under these conditions, the loss of hydrogen molecules from the [M + H]+ ions is proposed to be necessary. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.