bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity in the Overland Reintensification of Tropical Cyclone Erin (2007) to Near-Surface Soil Moisture Characteristics
Authors: Evans Clark , Schumacher Russ S. , Galarneau Thomas J. 
Published: July 2011

Abstract
This study investigates the impact of abnormally moist soil conditions across the southern Great Plains upon the overland reintensification of North Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Erin (2007). This is tested by analyzing the contributions of three soil moisture–related signals—a seasonal signal, an along-track rainfall signal, and an early postlandfall rainfall signal—to the intensity of the vortex. In so doing, a suite of nine convection-permitting numerical simulations using the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF-ARW) is used. Of the signals tested, soil moisture contributions from the anomalously wet months preceding Erin are found to have the greatest positive impact upon the intensity of the vortex, though this impact is on the order of that from climatological soil moisture conditions. The greatest impact of the early rainfall signal contributions is found when it is added to the seasonal signal. Along-track rainfall during the simulation period has a minimal impact.
Variations in soil moisture content result in impacts upon the boundary layer thermodynamic environment via boundary layer mixing. Greater soil moisture content results in weaker mixing, a shallower boundary layer, and greater moisture and instability. Differences in the intensity of convection that develops and its accompanying latent heat release aloft result in greater warm-core development and surface vortex intensification within the simulations featuring greater soil moisture content. Implications of these findings to the tropical cyclone development process are discussed. Given that the reintensification is shown to occur in, apart from land, an otherwise favorable environment for tropical cyclone development and results in a vortex with a structure similar to developing tropical cyclones, these findings provide new insight into the conditions under which tropical cyclones develop.
Retrieval of Ice Cloud Optical Thickness and Effective Particle Size Using a Fast Infrared Radiative Transfer Model
Authors: Wang Chenxi , Yang Ping , Baum Bryan A. , Platnick Steven , Heidinger Andrew K. , Hu Yongxiang , Holz Robert E. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractA computationally efficient radiative transfer model (RTM) is developed for the inference of ice cloud optical thickness and effective particle size from satellite-based infrared (IR) measurements and is aimed at potential use in operational cloud-property retrievals from multispectral satellite imagery. The RTM employs precomputed lookup tables to simulate the top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) radiances (or brightness temperatures) at 8.5-, 11-, and 12-μm bands. For the clear-sky atmosphere, the optical thickness of each atmospheric layer resulting from gaseous absorption is derived from the correlated-k-distribution method. The cloud reflectance, transmittance, emissivity, and effective temperature are precomputed using the Discrete Ordinate Radiative Transfer model (DISORT). For an atmosphere containing a semitransparent ice cloud layer with a visible optical thickness τ smaller than 5, the TOA brightness temperature differences (BTDs) between the fast model and the more rigorous DISORT results are less than 0.1 K, whereas the BTDs are less than 0.01 K if τ is larger than 10. With the proposed RTM, the cloud optical and microphysical properties are retrieved from collocated observations from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) in conjunction with the Modern Era Retrospective-Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) data. Comparisons between the retrieved ice cloud properties (optical thickness and effective particle size) based on the present IR fast model and those from the Aqua/MODIS operational collection-5 cloud products indicate that the IR retrievals are smaller. A comparison between the IR-retrieved ice water path (IWP) and CALIOP-retrieved IWP shows robust agreement over most of the IWP range.
Improved Analyses and Forecasts of Hurricane Ernesto’s Genesis Using Radio Occultation Data in an Ensemble Filter Assimilation System
Authors: Liu Hui , Anderson Jeffrey , Kuo Ying-Hwa 
Published: July 2011

Abstract
Radio occultation (RO) refractivity observations provide information about tropospheric water vapor and temperature in all weather conditions. The impact of using RO refractivity observations on analyses and forecasts of Hurricane Ernesto’s genesis (2006) using an ensemble Kaman filter data assimilation system is investigated. Assimilating RO refractivity profiles in the vicinity of the storm locally moistens the analysis of the lower troposphere and also adjusts the wind analysis in both the lower and upper troposphere through forecast multivariate correlations of RO refractivity and wind. The model forecasts propagate and enhance the added water vapor and the wind adjustments leading to more accurate analyses of the later stages of the genesis of the storm. The root-mean-square errors of water vapor and wind forecasts compared to dropsonde and radiosonde observations are reduced consistently. As a result, assimilating RO refractivity data in addition to traditional observations leads to a stronger initial vortex of the storm and improved forecasts of the storm’s intensification. The benefits of the RO data are much reduced when the RO data in the lower troposphere (below 6 km) are ignored.
Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Results of Arthroscopic Full-Layer Repair of Bursal-Side Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears
Authors: Koh Kyoung Hwan , Shon Min Soo , Lim Tae Kang , Yoo Jae Chul 
Published: July 2011

Background Partial rotator cuff tears are being diagnosed more often because of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Articular-side partial tears are much more common than bursal-side tears, and all-inside or PASTA repairs that preserve the bursal tissue have gained popularity. In contrast, there have been few reports about preserving the articular tissue during bursal tear repair. Purpose To report clinical and radiological results of bursal-side partial-thickness rotator cuff tear (PTRCT) repair with preservation of as much of the intact articular-side tendon as possible. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods From May 2006 to March 2008, 109 patients with PTRCT underwent arthroscopic repair. Among them, 38 consecutive patients who received a full-layer repair on the bursal side for greater than 50% thickness PTRCT were retrospectively evaluated. All repairs were performed with a technique that preserved intact articular fibers. To assess the outcome, pain visual analog scale (PVAS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon (ASES) score, and Constant score were evaluated at final follow-up. Postoperative MRI at least 6 months after surgery was evaluated for repair integrity. Results All 38 patients (21 men and 17 women) were available for final follow-up. The mean age at surgery was 50.8 years (range, 30-58 years), and the mean follow-up time was 26.9 months (range, 24-41 months). There were 21 right shoulders and 17 left shoulders, for which the mean time from the onset of symptoms to surgery was 47.0 months (±83.3 months). The PVAS improved from 5.2 (±2.5) to 1.6 (±1.5), and mean ASES and Constant scores improved from 53.1 (±20.4) and 59.9 (±15.3) to 87.2 (±9.4) and 83.2 (±12.0), respectively. Postoperative MRI was available in 33 patients at a mean 8.2 months after surgery. Twenty-nine shoulders (87.9%) had an intact repaired tendon, while 3 patients had shown partial-thickness delaminated retears, and 1 patient demonstrated a full-thickness retear on postoperative MRI. Conclusion For bursal-side PTRCT, clinical outcomes and tendon healing showed good results at a minimum 2 years after surgery, with minimal damage to intact articular tendon fibers on postoperative MRIs.
Does Platelet-Rich Plasma Accelerate Recovery After Rotator Cuff Repair? A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Jo Chris Hyunchul , Kim Ji Eun , Yoon Kang Sup , Lee Ji Ho , Kang Seung Baik , Lee Jae Hyup , Han Hyuk Soo , Rhee Seung Hwan , Shin Sue 
Published: July 2011

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been recently used to enhance and accelerate the healing of musculoskeletal injuries and diseases, but evidence is still lacking, especially on its effects after rotator cuff repair. Hypothesis: Platelet-rich plasma accelerates recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in pain relief, functional outcome, overall satisfaction, and enhanced structural integrity of repaired tendon. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Forty-two patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears were included. Patients were informed about the use of PRP before surgery and decided themselves whether to have PRP placed at the time of surgery. Nineteen patients underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with PRP and 23 without. Platelet-rich plasma was prepared via plateletpheresis and applied in the form of a gel threaded to a suture and placed at the interface between tendon and bone. Outcomes were assessed preoperatively and at 3, 6, 12, and finally at a minimum of 16 months after surgery (at an average of 19.7 ± 1.9 months) with respect to pain, range of motion, strength, and overall satisfaction, and with respect to functional scores as determined using the following scoring systems: the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon (ASES) system, the Constant system, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) system, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) system, the Simple Shoulder Test (SST) system, and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) system. At a minimum of 9 months after surgery, repaired tendon structural integrities were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Platelet-rich plasma gel application to arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs did not accelerate recovery with respect to pain, range of motion, strength, functional scores, or overall satisfaction as compared with conventional repair at any time point. Whereas magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a retear rate of 26.7% in the PRP group and 41.2% in the conventional group, there was no statistical significance between the groups ( P = .388). Conclusion: The results suggest that PRP application during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair did not clearly demonstrate accelerated recovery clinically or anatomically except for an improvement in internal rotation. Nevertheless, as the study may have been underpowered to detect clinically important differences in the structural integrity, additional investigations, including the optimization of PRP preparation and a larger randomized study powered for healing rate, are necessary to further determine the effect of PRP.
Unexpected Companions
Authors: Wiegand Krista E. , Powell Emilia Justynia 
Published: July 2011

Empirical research suggests that the existence of territorial disputes makes armed conflict more likely to occur. Yet, there are many states that have engaged in militarized interstate disputes that not only maintain normalized bilateral relations, but cooperate with one another on an increasing number of bilateral issues. How can disputing states like Argentina and the UK so frequently cooperate with each other on bilateral issues when there remains a significant amount of tension regarding their territorial dispute over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands? Our theory suggests that challengers involved in territorial disputes are willing to engage in bilateral cooperation with their adversaries in order to influence upcoming territorial settlement attempts. Bilateral cooperation is purposively and strategically used by the challengers as a form of confidence building measure (CBM) with the goal of reducing the negative impact of the territorial dispute. Empirical analyses of monthly data (1978—2003) on Argentina—UK relations, as well as qualitative evidence from the case, support our theoretical expectations by showing that challengers deliberately link cooperation on bilateral issues to territorial dispute settlement attempts as a form of bargaining incentive to increase the likelihood of peaceful resolution.
Impact of trandolapril therapy and its combination with a calcium channel blocker on plasma adiponectin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension
Authors: Rubio-Guerra Alberto F. , Vargas-Robles Hilda , Vargas-Ayala German , Rodríguez-Lopez Leticia , Castro-Serna David , Escalante-Acosta Bruno A. 
Published: July 2011

Introduction: Adiponectin is secreted from adipose tissue and exhibits a protective effect against cardiovascular disease; plasma adiponectin concentrations are decreased in type 2 diabetic and in hypertensive patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of trandolapril (T) and its fixed-dose combination with verapamil (FDTV) on adiponectin levels in hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: A total of 40 type 2 diabetic patients with never-treated hypertension were randomly assigned to two groups. One group received FDTV 180 mg + T 2 mg, once a day; the other group received T 2 mg once a day, administered for 3 months in both groups. Adiponectin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at the beginning and end of the study. Patients were evaluated monthly for blood pressure, fasting serum glucose and adverse events. Statistical analysis was performed with analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: All patients experienced a significant reduction of blood pressure. Both therapeutics regimens increased the levels of adiponectin, However, FDTV produces a higher increase in the levels of the hormone (8.15 ± 4.6 to 10.96 ± 5.6 µg/ml) when compared with the T treatment (7.64 ± 3.8 to 8.92 ± 4.4 µg/ml), p < 0.05. None of the patients suffered adverse events. Conclusion: Our results show that the addition of FDTV to T produced a greater increase on adiponectin levels than trandolapril alone.
Improved treatment response to dornase alfa in cystic fibrosis patients using controlled inhalation
Authors: Bakker E.M. , Volpi S. , Salonini E. , van der Wiel-Kooij E.C. , Sintnicolaas C.J.J.C.M. , Hop W.C.J. , Assael B.M. , Merkus P.J.F.M. , Tiddens H.A.W.M. 
Published: July 2011

Better treatment of obstructed small airways is needed in cystic fibrosis. This study investigated whether efficient deposition of dornase alfa in the small airways improves small airway obstruction.In a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled clinical trial, cystic fibrosis patients on maintenance treatment with 2.5 mL dornase alfa once daily were switched to a smart nebuliser and randomised to small airway deposition (n=24) or large airway deposition (n=25) for 4 weeks. The primary outcome parameter was forced expiratory flow at 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF75%).FEF75%increased significantly by 0.7sd(5.2% predicted) in the large airways group and 1.2sd(8.8% pred) in the small airways group. Intention-to-treat analysis did not show a significant difference in treatment effect between groups. Per-protocol analysis, excluding patients not completing the trial or with adherence <70%, showed a trend (p=0.06) in FEF75%Z-score and a significant difference (p=0.04) between groups in absolute FEF75%(L·s−1) favouring small airway deposition.Improved delivery of dornase alfa using a smart nebuliser that aids patients in correct inhalation technique resulted in significant improvement of FEF75%in children with stable cystic fibrosis. Adherent children showed a larger treatment response for small airway deposition.
The association between resting and mild-to-moderate exercise pulmonary artery pressure
Authors: Whyte K. , Hoette S. , Herve P. , Montani D. , Jaïs X. , Parent F. , Savale L. , Natali D. , O'Callaghan D.S. , Garcia G. , Sitbon O. , Simonneau G. , Humbert M. , Chemla D. 
Published: July 2011

The mean pulmonary artery pressure (P̄pa) achieved on mild-to-moderate exercise is age related and its haemodynamic correlates remain to be documented in patients free of pulmonary hypertension (PH).Our retrospective study involved patients free of PH investigated in our centre for possible pulmonary vascular disease between January 1, 2007 and October 31, 2009 who underwent right heart catheterisation at rest and during supine exercise up to 60 W. The 38 out of 99 patients aged <50 yrs were included and aP̄paof 30 mmHg was considered the upper limit of normal on exercise.The 24 subjects who developedP̄pa>30 mmHg on exercise had higher restingP̄pa(19±3versus15±4 mmHg) and indexed pulmonary vascular resistance (PVRi; 3.4±1.5versus2.2±1.1 WU·m2; p<0.05) than the remaining 14 subjects. RestingP̄pa>15 mmHg predicted exerciseP̄pa>30 mmHg with 88% sensitivity and 57% specificity. The eight patients with restingP̄pa22–24 mmHg all had exerciseP̄pa>30 mmHg.In subjects aged <50 yrs investigated for possible pulmonary vascular disease and free of PH, patients with mild-to-moderate exerciseP̄pa>30 mmHg had higher resting PVRi and higher restingP̄pa, although there was no restingP̄pathreshold value that could predict normal response on mild-to-moderate exercise. The clinical relevance of such findings deserves further long-term follow-up studies.
Pulmonary fibrosis is associated with an elevated risk of thromboembolic disease
Authors: Sprunger D.B. , Olson A.L. , Huie T.J. , Fernandez-Perez E.R. , Fischer A. , Solomon J.J. , Brown K.K. , Swigris J.J. 
Published: July 2011

Recent epidemiological studies have suggested an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in lung fibrosis. Large-scale epidemiological data regarding the risk of VTE in pulmonary fibrosis-associated mortality have not been published.Using data from the National Center for Health Statistics from 1988–2007, we determined the risk of VTE in decedents with pulmonary fibrosis in the USA.We analysed 46,450,489 records, of which 218,991 met our criteria for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Among these, 3,815 (1.74%) records also contained a diagnostic code for VTE. The risk of VTE in pulmonary fibrosis decedents was 34% higher than in the background population, and 44% and 54% greater than among decedents with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer, respectively. Those with VTE and pulmonary fibrosis died at a younger age than those with pulmonary fibrosis alone (females: 74.3versus77.4 yrs (p<0.0001); males: 72.0versus74.4 yrs (p<0.0001)).Decedents with pulmonary fibrosis had a significantly greater risk of VTE. Those with VTE and pulmonary fibrosis died at a younger age than those with pulmonary fibrosis alone. These data suggest a link between a pro-fibrotic and a pro-coagulant state.
Strategies of muscle training in very severe COPD patients: Figure 1–
Authors: Vogiatzis I. 
Published: July 2011

There is strong evidence that exercise training, constituting the cornerstone of pulmonary rehabilitation, improves exercise tolerance, dyspnoea sensations, functional capacity and quality of life in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, intolerable sensations of breathlessness and/or peripheral muscle discomfort may prevent such patients from tolerating high-intensity exercise levels for sufficiently long periods of time to obtain true physiological training effects.Accordingly, the major issue that arises is the selection of the appropriate training strategy, which is tailored to the cardiovascular, pulmonary and peripheral muscle limitations of the individual patient and is aimed at maximising the effect of exercise conditioning.Within this context, the present article explores the application of strategies that optimise exercise tolerance by reducing dyspnoea sensations, namely noninvasive mechanical ventilation, oxygen and/or heliox supplementation. Administration of heliox or oxygen during exercise also increases peripheral muscle oxygen delivery, thereby delaying the onset of peripheral muscle fatigue. Particular emphasis is also given to interval exercise and resistance-muscle training as both modalities allow the application of intense loads on peripheral muscles with tolerable levels of dyspnoea sensations.In patients with profound muscle weakness and intense breathlessness upon physical exertion, execution of short bouts of interval or local muscle strength conditioning, along with oxygen breathing, may constitute a feasible and effective approach to pulmonary rehabilitation.
Diagnosis of CTEPHversusIPAH using capillary to end-tidal carbon dioxide gradients
Authors: Scheidl S.J. , Englisch C. , Kovacs G. , Reichenberger F. , Schulz R. , Breithecker A. , Ghofrani H-A. , Seeger W. , Olschewski H. 
Published: July 2011

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) represents an important differential diagnosis to idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). We hypothesised that the capillary to end-tidal carbon dioxide gradient at rest and during exercise might help differentiate CTEPH from IPAH.Patients who presented with unequivocal IPAH or CTEPH according to ventilation/perfusion scanning, pulmonary angiography, computed tomography and right heart catheterisation were included in this retrospective study and compared with healthy controls.21 IPAH patients and 16 CTEPH patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Haemodynamics and peak oxygen uptake were comparable, but respiratory rates at rest and during exercise were significantly higher in CTEPH than in IPAH. End-tidal carbon dioxide was significantly lower in CTEPHversusIPAH at rest and during exercise, while capillary carbon dioxide values were similar. Correspondingly, capillary to end-tidal carbon dioxide gradients were significantly increased in CTEPHversusIPAH at rest and during exercise (median (range) 8.6 (3.0–13.7)versus4.4 (0.9–9.0) (p<0.001) and 9.3 (3.3–13.1)versus4.1 (0.0–8.8) mmHg (p<0.001), respectively). Although these values were closer to normal in IPAH they were still significantly elevated compared with healthy controls (2.3 (-4.8–8.1) and -1.9 (-5.7–6.2) mmHg, respectively).Capillary to end-tidal carbon dioxide gradients may help to distinguish CTEPH from IPAH based on resting and exercise values.
Parenchymal trafficking of pleural mesothelial cells in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Mubarak K.K. , Montes-Worboys A. , Regev D. , Nasreen N. , Mohammed K.A. , Faruqi I. , Hensel E. , Baz M.A. , Akindipe O.A. , Fernandez-Bussy S. , Nathan S.D. , Antony V.B. 
Published: July 2011

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterised by myofibroblast proliferation leading to architectural destruction. Neither the origin nor the continued proliferation of myofibroblasts is well understood.Explanted human IPF lungs were stained by immunohistochemistry for calretinin, a marker of pleural mesothelial cells (PMCs). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis (CF) lungs acted as controls. The number of PMCs per 100 nucleated cells and per photomicrograph was estimated along with the Ashcroft score of fibrosis. Mouse PMCs expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) or labelled with nanoparticles were injected into the pleural space of mice given intranasal transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. Mouse lungs were lavaged and examined for the presence of GFP, smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA) and calretinin.Calretinin-positive PMCs were found throughout IPF lungs, but not in COPD or CF lungs. The number of PMCs correlated with the Ashcroft score. In mice, nanoparticle-laden PMCs were recoverable by bronchoalveolar lavage, depending on the TGF-β1 dose. Fluorescent staining showed α-SMA expression in GFP-expressing PMCs, with co-localisation of GFP and α-SMA.PMCs can traffic through the lung and show myofibroblast phenotypic markers. PMCs are present in IPF lungs, and their number correlates with IPF severity. Since IPF presumably begins subpleurally, PMCs could play a pathogenetic roleviamesothelial–mesenchymal transition.