bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Urban warming in Japanese cities and its relation to climate change monitoring
Authors: Fujibe Fumiaki 
Published: April 2010

AbstractThis article briefly reviews urban warming studies in Japan, where many of the stations established by the beginning of the 20th century are located in cities that have undergone rapid industrialization. The recorded rate of temperature increase is a few degrees per century in large cities and tends to be larger at night than during the daytime. In some cities, the increase in annual extreme minimum temperature exceeds 10 °C century−1. On the other hand, recent numerical studies have revealed widespread urban warming around Tokyo and other megacities during afternoons of the warm season as a result of extensive urbanization that enhances daytime surface heating. An analysis using data from the dense Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System network has shown that an urban bias in recent temperature trends is detectable not only in densely inhabited areas but also at slightly urbanized sites with 100–300 people km−2, indicating the need for careful assessment of the background climate change. There is also some evidence of microscale effects on observed temperature, as revealed by an analysis of the relationship between trends in temperature and wind speed. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Rainfall history for the Hexi Corridor in the arid northwest China during the past 620 years derived from tree rings
Authors: Yang Bao , Qin Chun , Bräuning Achim , Burchardt Iris , Liu Jingjing 
Published: April 2010

AbstractWe present a 620‐year long ring width record from the middle Qilian Mountains, where it is presently controlled by the Westerlies. The chronology was developed from Qilian juniper (Sabina przewalskii) growing at sites near the western distribution limit of the species in the northern Qilian Mountains, Gansu Province, China. A linear regression model between ring width and annual (July to June) precipitation accounts for 34.9% of the observed instrumental precipitation variance during the period 1952 to 2007. Spatial correlation analyses between the reconstruction and gridded precipitation data shows that the annual precipitation reconstruction captures regional climatic variations over the Qilian Mountains and the nearby Hexi Corridor. We also show the scaled standard chronology adjusted to the mean and variance of the instrumental data. Relatively wet periods are identified for AD 1390–1413, 1425–1450, 1530–1649, 1792–1920, 1937–1949 and 1980–1985. Dry conditions prevailed during AD 1414–1424, 1451–1529, 1650–1791, 1921–1936, 1950–1979 and 1986–2007. In comparison with the regression‐based reconstruction, the scaled reconstruction indicates considerably wetter conditions during 1390–1413, 1425–1450, 1570–1630 and 1790–1920. The interval AD 1451–1529 was the most intense and longest drought epoch in the Hexi Corridor over the past six centuries. This drought was not only recorded in the Qilian Mountains but also occurred in northern and eastern China. It might be caused by a substantial weakening of the Asian summer monsoon induced by the joint effects of solar and volcanic activities at that time. Our results also suggest that the Hexi Corridor was under the control of the Asian monsoon circulation on inter‐decadal to centennial timescales in the past centuries. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Global memory analysis in observed and simulated CAPE and CIN
Authors: Riemann‐Campe Kathrin , Blender Richard , Fraedrich Klaus 
Published: April 2010

AbstractThe memory of convective precipitation is estimated via the analysis of the convective parameters convective available potential energy (CAPE) and convective inhibition (CIN). The variability of mixed layer (ML) CAPE and CIN in present‐day climate is presented in terms of a linear decay time scale for short‐term memory and the Hurst exponent for long‐term memory (determined by detrended fluctuation analysis). Regional and global memory in CAPE and CIN is compared between observations (ECMWF re‐analysis, in 1979–2001) and simulated data (ECHAM5/MPIOM, 20C simulation, in 1900–2001). Both datasets agree on the memory pattern in CAPE and CIN with highest values of the Hurst exponent along the equatorial Pacific which decrease towards higher latitudes; however, longest memory up to decades is found in CAPE south‐east of Greenland. The memory in CIN is weaker than in CAPE regarding strength and spatial extent. To determine the origin of memory in CAPE and CIN, ML temperature and specific humidity, enthalpy, and latent heat equivalent of precipitable water (LPW) are analysed. In the tropics the spatial characteristics of the memory in CAPE coincide with memory in LPW, while in the extra‐tropics ML temperature and humidity have the strongest impact. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Prioritizing Hits with Appropriate Trade‐Offs Between HIV‐1 Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitory Efficacy and MT4 Blood Cells Toxicity Through Desirability‐Based Multiobjective Optimization and Ranking
Authors: Cruz‐Monteagudo Maykel , PhamThe Hai , Cordeiro M. Natalia D. S. , Borges Fernanda 
Published: April 2010

AbstractNonnucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNRTIs) constitute a promising therapeutic option for AIDS. However, the emergence of virus‐NNRTIs resistance was found to be a major problem in the field. Toward that goal, a “knock‐out” strategy stands out between the several options to circumvent the problem. However the high drug or drug‐drug concentrations often used generate additional safety concerns. The need for approaches able to early integrate drug‐ or lead‐likeness, toxicity and bioavailability criteria in the drug discovery phase is an emergent issue. Given that, we propose a combined strategy based on desirability‐based multiobjective optimization (MOOP) and ranking for the prioritization of HIV‐1 NNRTIs hits with appropriate trade‐offs between inhibitory efficacy over the HIV‐1 RT and toxic effects over MT4 blood cells. Through the MOOP process, the theoretical levels of the predictive variables required to reach a desirable RT inhibitor candidate with the best possible compromise between efficacy and safety were found. This information is used as a pattern to rank the library of compounds according to a similarity‐based structural criterion, providing a ranking quality of 64 %/71 %/73 % in training/validation/test set. A comparative study between the sequential, parallel and multiobjective virtual screening revealed that the multiobjective approach can outperform the other approaches. These results suggest that the identification of NNRTIs hits with appropriate trade‐offs between potency and safety, rather than fully optimized hits solely based on potency, can facilitate the hit to lead transition and increase the likelihood of the candidate to evolve into a successful antiretroviral drug.
Electrical stimulation impairs early functional recovery and accentuates skeletal muscle atrophy after sciatic nerve crush injury in rats
Authors: Gigo‐Benato Davilene , Russo Thiago Luiz , Geuna Stefano , Domingues Natalia Rezende Santa Rosa , Salvini Tania Fátima , Parizotto Nivaldo Antonio 
Published: April 2010

AbstractNeuromuscular recovery after peripheral nerve lesion depends on the regeneration of severed axons that re‐establish their functional connection with the denervated muscle. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of electrical stimulation (ES) on the neuromuscular recovery after nerve crush injury in rats. Electrical stimulation was carried out on the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle after sciatic nerve crush injury in a rat model. Six ES sessions were administered every other day starting from day 3 postinjury until the end of the experiment (day 14). The sciatic functional index was calculated. Muscle excitability, neural cell adhesion molecule (N‐CAM) expression, and muscle fiber cross‐sectional area (CSA) were accessed from TA muscle. Regenerated sciatic nerves were analyzed by light and confocal microscopy. Both treated (crush+ES) and untreated (crush) groups had their muscle weight and CSA decreased compared with the normal group (P < 0.05). Electrical stimulation accentuated muscle fiber atrophy more in the crush+ES than in the crush group (P < 0.05). N‐CAM expression increased in both crush and crush+ES groups compared with the normal group (P < 0.05). Regenerated nerves revealed no difference between the crush and crush+ES groups. Nevertheless, functional recovery at day 14 post‐injury was significantly lower in crush+ES group compared with the crush group. In addition, the crush+ES group had chronaxie values significantly higher on days 7 and 13 compared with the crush group, which indicates a decrease in muscle excitability in the crush+ES animals. The results of this study do not support a benefit of the tested protocol of ES during the period of motor nerve recovery following injury. Muscle Nerve, 2010
Sonographic evaluation of the sciatic nerve in patients with lower‐limb amputations
Authors: Göktepe A. Salim , Özçakar Levent , Kömürcü Erkam , Safaz İsmail , Yazicioğlu Kamil 
Published: April 2010

AbstractHypertrophy of the sciatic nerve after lower‐limb amputation in patients with sarcomas has been previously reported by magnetic resonance imaging; however, sonographic evaluation of the sciatic nerve after lower‐limb amputation due to nonmalignant causes has not been done before. Therefore, the aim of this study was to perform imaging of the sciatic nerve in lower‐limb amputees and to find out whether sonographic findings were related to clinical characteristics. Twenty‐three males with lower‐limb amputations due to traumatic injuries were enrolled. Sonographic evaluations were performed using a linear array probe (Aloka UST‐5524‐7.5 MHZ). Sciatic nerve diameters were measured bilaterally at the same level, and the values of the normal limbs were taken as controls. Sciatic nerve width and thickness values were found to be greater on the amputated sides than the normal sides (P = 0.001). The thickness values were greater in above‐knee amputees than below‐knee amputees (P = 0.05). Subjects with a neuroma also had thicker sciatic nerves (P = 0.04). The diameters were found not to change between subjects with different liners (P > 0.05), but they were correlated with time after amputation (r = 0.6, P = 0.006; r = 0.4, P = 0.05, respectively). Our results clearly show that the sciatic nerves were wider and thicker on the amputated sides. Amputation level, duration, and the presence of a neuroma seem to affect the eventual diameters of the nerves. Muscle Nerve, 2010
Mycophenolate mofetil in AChR‐antibody‐positive myasthenia gravis: Outcomes in 102 patients
Authors: Hehir Michael K. , Burns Ted M. , Alpers Joshua , Conaway Mark R. , Sawa Michael , Sanders Donald B. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractTwo recent randomized, controlled trials failed to demonstrate a benefit of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) over prednisone in the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). We reviewed our experience with MMF in MG to determine whether these trials may have been unsuccessful because of their short duration and the unpredicted benefit of prednisone. We reviewed outcomes and prednisone dosage for all our acetylcholine‐receptor (AChR)‐antibody positive MG patients treated with MMF alone or with prednisone for at least 3 months. The percentage of patients with a desirable outcome (MG‐specific Manual Muscle Test score <4 or Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America post‐invention status of minimal manifestations or better) began to increase after 6 months; 80% of those followed for >24 months had a desirable outcome. Prednisone dose decreased after 12 months; after 25 months, 54.5% of patients took no prednisone and 75% took <7.5 mg/day. This retrospective analysis provides class IV evidence that MMF begins to improve AChR‐positive MG after 6 months, both with prednisone and as monotherapy. Muscle Nerve 41: 593–598, 2010
Crimson carrier, A long‐acting contrast agent for in vivo near‐infrared imaging of injured and diseased muscle
Authors: Prajapati Suresh I. , Martinez Carlo O. , Abraham Jinu , Mccleish Amanda T. , Michalek Joel E. , McManus Linda M. , Rubin Brian P. , Shireman Paula K. , Keller Charles 
Published: April 2010

AbstractThe near‐infrared wavelengths (700–900 nm) are the most suitable optical window for light penetration and deep tissue imaging in small animals. Herein we report a near‐infrared fluorescent contrast agent, crimson carrier, which acts as a blood pool contrast agent to detect and quantify injury and disease in live animals. After determining the excitation–emission spectra and pharmacokinetics, crimson carrier was injected into myoinjured mice to monitor their recovery. Crimson carrier was also used to image transgenic mice with spontaneous tumors. Crimson carrier has maximal excitation and emission wavelengths of 745 nm and 820 nm, respectively. Elimination occurs predominantly via urinary excretion. We demonstrate the utility of this contrast agent for serial imaging of traumatized muscle as well as muscle tumors. The unique long‐acting pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion route characteristics make crimson carrier a contrast agent of choice for the visualization of tumors and injured muscle or other tissues in live animal studies. Muscle Nerve, 2010
Edward McGuire's influence in the field of stress urinary incontinence and bladder storage symptoms
Authors: Chai Toby C. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractAimsDr. Edward McGuire's academic career spans four decades. His impact in our field of female urology and urodynamics is reflected by the many residents and fellows he has trained that are now academic leaders in our subspecialty. For this festschrift, my goals are to: (1) review the history of the surgical approaches to alleviate stress urinary incontinence (SUI) (2) discuss recent research in SUI and bladder storage symptoms and the influence of Dr. McGuire in these areas and (3) propose a paradigm shift in the understanding of the function of the bladder urothelium from providing barrier function to providing afferent input that affects bladder storage function.MethodsA literature review of the publications related to SUI and bladder storage symptoms was performed. Using Thompson Reuters ISI Web of Knowledge, the two most cited papers by Dr. McGuire are discussed.ResultsDr. McGuire's two most cited publications are related to valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP) and the utility of the American Urologic Association Symptom Index (AUASI). These two instruments, one objective and one subjective, address two canonical areas in our subspecialty: 1. role of urethral function in continence and 2. pathophysiology of lower urinary tract symptoms. These two areas continue today to be fertile areas for research and creativity. Recent investigations have proposed that bladder urothelium may play a role in bladder afferent function; thus mediating bladder storage.ConclusionsDr. McGuire helped establish the scientific foundation for our subspecialty. His influence remains pertinent today as it ever has. Neurourol. Urodynam. 29:S32–S35, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Management of difficult cases in female urology and neurourology at the Reed M. Nesbit society meeting festschrift in honor of Edward J. McGuire, MD
Authors: Blaivas Jerry , McGuire Edward J. , Stöhrer Manfred , Webster George D. , Cameron Anne P. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractThis is a panel discussion of seven complex urologic cases in female urology and neurourology. Differences in diagnosis and management are discussed by this international panel of experts. Neurourol. Urodynam. 29:S2–S12, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vaginal flap urethroplasty for female urethral stricture disease
Authors: Gormley E. Ann 
Published: April 2010

AbstractAimsUrethral stricture disease in females is uncommon and is often treated with repeat dilation or internal urethrotomies. Various surgical techniques requiring tissue transfer or grafting to repair strictures have been described with successful results. The vaginal inlay flap is simple and easy to learn. In this follow‐up report of the use of this flap with additional patients more complications with urge symptoms and difficulties with catheterization are reported.MethodsTwelve symptomatic women with a history of traumatic or difficult catheterization, a history of at least 1 urethral dilation or urethrotomy and difficult or a failed attempt at catheter placement underwent urethroplasty. The technique consisted of incising the posterior aspect of the stricture and advancing a vaginal inlay flap. A retrospective chart review was performed.ResultsFollow‐up was 3 months to 9 years. All patients had subjective relief of most of their symptoms and were able to catheterize with a 14Fr catheter. One patient underwent repeat dilation 3 weeks after the primary procedure with no recurrence and another woman required a cystoscopy and catheter insertion in the OR fifty‐eight months post operatively. No patient had stress urinary incontinence. Irritative symptoms, particularly urge, and difficulties with catheterization persisted in some patients post operatively despite having a technically good repair.ConclusionUrethral stricture disease in females is an uncommon entity that can cause voiding symptoms, recurrent infections, retention and renal impairment. This method of surgical repair offers a durable result with a low incidence of complications. Neurourol. Urodynam. 29:S42–S45, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Why do women have stress urinary incontinence?
Authors: DeLancey John O.L. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractThis article reviews progress made in understanding the causes of stress urinary incontinence. Over the last century, several hypotheses have been proposed to explain stress urinary incontinence. These theories are based on clinical observations and focus primarily on the causative role of urethral support loss and an open vesical neck. Recently these hypotheses have been tested by comparing measurements of urethral support and function in women with primary stress urinary incontinence to asymptomatic volunteers who were recruited to be similar in age, race, and parity. Maximal urethral closure pressure is the parameter that differs the most between groups being 43% lower in women with stress incontinence than similar asymptomatic women having as effect size of 1.6. Measures of urethral support effect sizes range from 0.5 to 0.6. Because any one objective measure of support may not capture the full picture of urethrovesical mobility, review of blinded ultrasounds of movements during cough were reviewed by an expert panel. The panel was able to identify women with stress incontinence correctly 57% of the time; just 7% above the 50% that would be expected by chance alone, confirming that urethrovesical mobility is not strongly associated with stress incontinence. Although operations that provide differential support to the urethra are effective, urethral support is not the predominant cause of stress incontinence. Improving our understanding of factors affecting urethral closure may lead to novel treatments targeting the urethra and improved understanding of the small but persistent failure rate of current surgery. Neurourol. Urodynam. 29:S13–S17, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of different types of polyethylene on the morphology and properties of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate)/polyethylene compatibilized blends
Authors: Zhang Yue , Zhang Hongsheng , Guo Weihong , Wu Chifei 
Published: April 2010

AbstractRecycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (R‐PET) was blended with four types of polyethylene (PE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE; LL0209AA, Fs150), low density polyethylene (LDPE; F101‐1), and metallocene‐LLDPE (m‐LLDPE; Fv203) by co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder. Maleic anhydride‐grafted poly(styrene‐ethylene/butyldiene‐styrene) (SEBS‐g‐MA) was added as compatibilizer. R‐PET/PE/SEBS‐g‐MA blends were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and mechanical property testing. The results indicated that the morphology and properties of the blends depended to a great extent on the miscibility between the olefin segments of SEBS‐g‐MA and PE. Due to the proper interaction between SEBS‐g‐MA and LDPE (F101‐1), most SEBS‐g‐MA, located at the interface between two phases of PET and LDPE to increase the interfacial adhesion, lead to better mechanical properties of R‐PET/LDPE (F101‐1) blend. However, both the poor miscibility of SEBS‐g‐MA with LLDPE (LL0209AA) and the excessive miscibility of SEBS‐g‐MA with LLDPE (Fs150) and m‐LLDPE (Fv203) reduced the compatibilization effect of SEBS‐g‐MA. DSC results showed that the interaction between SEBS‐g‐MA and PE obviously affected the crystallization of PET and PE. DMA results indicated that PE had more influence on the movement of SEBS‐g‐MA than PE did. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation and characterization of bacterial cellulose/heparin hybrid nanofiber for potential vascular tissue engineering scaffolds
Authors: Wan Yizao , Gao Chuan , Han Ming , Liang Hui , Ren Kaijing , Wang Yulin , Luo Honglin 
Published: April 2010

AbstractBlending two polymers is a common and effective way to develop a new material with combinations of properties not possessed by individual polymers and to overcome some limitations of individual components. This study aimed at developing a novel scaffold to mimic natural extracellular matrix (ECM) and to promote blood compatibility. Heparin (Hep) and bacterial cellulose (BC), for the first time, were hybridized to prepare a novel class of nanofibrous scaffold for vascular tissue engineering by the co‐synthesis process. The morphology of Hep–BC hybrid nanofiber was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The hybrid was further characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that hybridizing heparin brings anticoagulant sulfate groups into BC nanofiber and that Hep–BC nanofiber has a different structure in comparison to pristine BC. This work paves a new way of improving anticoagulant property of tissue engineered vessels other than coating process. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.