bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
FE modelling of excavation and operation of a shield tunnelling machine
Authors: Komiya Kazuhito 
Published: April 2009

AbstractA shield tunnelling machine is driven forward by applying mechanical jack forces behind the shield machine tail while excavating the soil in front of the shield machine with its cutting face. In this study, the advance and excavation processes of the shield tunnelling operation are modelled using the finite element method in order to investigate the effect of these construction processes on the ground response. An excavating finite element is introduced, which models the disturbed soil in front of the cutting face. The operation of shield advance and of soil excavation is simulated using the finite element re‐meshing technique at each time step of the analysis. The proposed modelling techniques of shield tunnelling construction are applied to simulate a deep and a triple‐face shield tunnelling project in Tokyo and the numerical results are compared with the field measurements.
Non‐pharmacological management of behavioural symptoms in nursing homes
Authors: Deudon Audrey , Maubourguet Nathalie , Gervais Xavier , Leone Elsa , Brocker Patrice , Carcaillon Laure , Riff Simone , Lavallart Benoît , Robert Philippe Henri 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackgroundBehavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are often reported in institutions for the elderly.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of a staff education intervention to manage BPSD in older people with a diagnosis of dementia.MethodsThe trial was conducted in 16 nursing homes; 306 patients with a diagnosis of dementia and presenting BPSD were selected. Nursing homes were randomly allocated to an intervention group or a control group. An 8‐week staff education and training programme was conducted in the nursing homes in the intervention group. The main outcome measures were the Cohen‐Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) and an Observation Scale (OS) score. Assessments were done at baseline (W0), at the end of the ‘intervention’ period (W8) and 12 weeks after (W20).ResultsThere was a significant decrease in the global CMAI score between baseline and W8 (−7.8; p > 0.01) and between baseline and W20 (−6.5; p > 0.01) in the intervention group but not in the control group. Results of mixed linear models showed that the CMAI global score, the CMAI physically non‐aggressive behaviours subscale score and verbally non‐aggressive behaviours subscale score significantly decreased in the intervention group (p < 0.001) although there was no significant evolution in the control group. Direct assessment with the OS produced the same pattern of results, with a significant decrease only in the intervention group.ConclusionThe intervention reduced BPSD in severely demented nursing home residents and this effect was still present 3 months after the end of the programme. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microstructural status of ipsilesional and contralesional corticospinal tract correlates with motor skill in chronic stroke patients
Authors: Schaechter Judith D. , Fricker Zachary P. , Perdue Katherine L. , Helmer Karl G. , Vangel Mark G. , Greve Douglas N. , Makris Nikos 
Published: April 2009

AbstractGreater loss in structural integrity of the ipsilesional corticospinal tract (CST) is associated with poorer motor outcome in patients with hemiparetic stroke. Animal models of stroke have demonstrated that structural remodeling of white matter in the ipsilesional and contralesional hemispheres is associated with improved motor recovery. Accordingly, motor recovery in patients with stroke may relate to the relative strength of CST degeneration and remodeling. This study examined the relationship between microstructural status of brain white matter tracts, indexed by the fractional anisotropy (FA) metric derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data, and motor skill of the stroke‐affected hand in patients with chronic stroke. Voxelwise analysis revealed that motor skill significantly and positively correlated with FA of the ipsilesional and contralesional CST in the patients. Additional voxelwise analyses showed that patients with poorer motor skill had reduced FA of bilateral CST compared to normal control subjects, whereas patients with better motor skill had elevated FA of bilateral CST compared to controls. These findings were confirmed using a DTI‐tractography method applied to the CST in both hemispheres. The results of this study suggest that the level of motor skill recovery achieved in patients with hemiparetic stroke relates to microstructural status of the CST in both the ipsilesional and contralesional hemispheres, which may reflect the net effect of degeneration and remodeling of bilateral CST. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Does income‐related health inequality change as the population ages? Evidence from Swedish panel data
Authors: Islam M. Kamrul , Gerdtham Ulf‐G. , Clarke Philip , Burström Kristina 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThis paper explains and empirically assesses the channels through which population aging may impact on income‐related health inequality. Long panel data of Swedish individuals is used to estimate the observed trend in income‐related health inequality, measured by the concentration index (CI). A decomposition procedure based on a fixed effects model is used to clarify the channels by which population aging affects health inequality. Based on current income rankings, we find that conventional unstandardized and age–gender‐standardized CIs increase over time. This trend in CIs is, however, found to remain stable when people are instead ranked according to lifetime (mean) income. Decomposition analyses show that two channels are responsible for the upward trend in unstandardized CIs – retired people dropped in relative income ranking and the coefficient of variation of health increases as the population ages. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Labour participation of people living with HIV/AIDS in Spain
Authors: Oliva Juan 
Published: April 2009

AbstractObjective: This study explores the relationship between the employment status of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐positive individuals and socioeconomic and health characteristics in Spain.Methods: Data were obtained from four waves of the HIV/AIDS Hospital Survey from the period 2001 to 2004. The sample was composed of 3376 individuals between 16 and 64 years. Assessment of employment participation was performed using a probit model on a wide range of socioeconomic and lifestyle‐related variables.Results: The main variables explaining the probability of participation in the labour market were age, gender, education level, CD4 cell count, health status, time since HIV diagnosis, psychological impact of contracting the disease or its progression, the most likely means of transmission and intravenous drug use (IDU). The significance of each of these variables differs for men and women as well as for injecting drug users (IDUs) and non‐IDUs.Conclusions: The employment status of HIV‐positive individuals is directly related to their health status and other personal characteristics. Policies to improve the well‐being of HIV‐positive individuals should not be limited to any one sector as their needs require strategies with a multidisciplinary approach. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Social determinants of health: an economic perspective
Authors: Epstein David , Jiménez‐Rubio Dolores , Smith Peter C. , Suhrcke Marc 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe World Health Organization has recently received the findings of its Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. The Commission's report offers a remarkable summary of the evidence, and makes a passionate case for government action to address the social determinants of health, especially as they relate to health inequity. This paper summarizes the ways in which economic analysis could strengthen policy under three headings: examining the causal impact of the determinants of health and of associated policies; prioritising actions; and determining the role of government in influencing behaviour. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phoneutria spider toxins block ischemia‐induced glutamate release, neuronal death, and loss of neurotransmission in hippocampus
Authors: Pinheiro Ana Cristina do Nascimento , da Silva Adriano Jesus , Prado Marco Antonio M. , Cordeiro Marta do Nascimento , Richardson Michael , Batista Monalise Costa , de Castro Junior Célio José , Massensini André Ricardo , Guatimosim Cristina , Romano‐Silva Marco A. , Kushmerick Christopher , Gomez Marcus Vinicius 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of spider toxins on brain injury induced by oxygen deprivation and low glucose (ODLG) insult on slices of rat hippocampus. After ODLG insult cell viabilility in hippocampal slices was assessed by confocal microscopy and epifluorescence using the live/dead kit containing calcein‐AM and ethidium homodimer and CA1 population spike amplitude recording during stimulation of Schaffer collateral fibers. Spider toxins Tx3–3 or Tx3–4 and conus toxins, ω‐conotoxin GVIA or ω‐conotoxin MVIIC are calcium channel blockers and protected against neuronal damage in slices subjected to ODLG insult. Confocal imaging of CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices subject to ischemic insult treated with Tx3–3, Tx3–4, ω‐conotoxin GVIA or ω‐conotoxin MVIIC showed a decrease in cell death that amounted to 68 ± 4.2%, 77 ± 3.8%, 32 ± 2.3%, and 46 ± 2.9%, respectively. This neuroprotective effect of Tx3–4 was corroborated by eletrophysiological recordings of population spikes amplitudes in CA1. The neuroprotection promoted on hippocampal slices by Tx3–3 or Tx3–4 was also observed when the toxins were applied 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, or 120 min after induction of the ODLG injury. During the ischemic insult, glutamate release from slices was increased by 71% (from 7.0 ± 0.3 nM/mg of protein control slices not subjected to ischemia to 12 ± 0.4 nM/mg of protein in slices exposed to ischemia). Tx3–3, Tx3–4, ω‐conotoxin GVIA or ω‐conotoxin MVIIC inhibited the ischemia‐induced increase on glutamate release by 54, 72, 60, and 70%, respectively. Thus Tx3–3 and Tx3–4 provided robust ischemic neuroprotection showing potential as a novel class of agent that exerts neuroprotection in an in vitro model of brain ischemia. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High chloride concentrations in the soil and groundwater under an oak hedge in the West of France: an indicator of evapotranspiration and water movement
Authors: Grimaldi C. , Thomas Z. , Fossey M. , Fauvel Y. , Merot P. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractChloride is a major anion in soil water and its concentration rises essentially as a function of evapotranspiration. Compared to herbaceous vegetation, high transpiration rates are measured for isolated trees, shelterbelts or hedgerows. This article deals with the influence of a tree hedge on the soil and groundwater Cl− concentrations and the possibility of using Cl− as an indicator of transpiration and water movements near the tree rows. Cl− concentrations were measured over 1 year at different depths in the unsaturated zone and in the groundwater along a transect intersecting a bottomland oak hedge. We observed a strong spatial heterogeneity of Cl− concentrations, with very high values up to 2 g l−1 in the unsaturated zone and 1·2 g l−1 in the upper part of the groundwater. This contrasts with the low and homogeneous concentrations (60–70 mg l−1) in the deeper part of the groundwater. Cl− accumulation in the unsaturated zone at the end of the vegetation season allows us to identify the active root zone extension of trees. In winter, upslope of the tree row, downwards leaching partly renews the soil solution in the root zone, while the slow water movement under the trees or farther downslope results in Cl− accumulation and leads to a salinization of the soil and groundwater. This salinization is of the same order as experimental conditions produce negative effects on oak seedlings. The measurement of Cl− concentrations in the unsaturated zone under tree rows at the end of the vegetation season would indicate whether certain topographic, pedological or climatic conditions are likely to favour a strong salinization of the soil, as observed in the present study. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A multimodel assessment of future climatological droughts in the United Kingdom
Authors: Vidal Jean‐Philippe , Wade Steven 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThis paper presents a detailed assessment of future rainfall drought patterns over the United Kingdom. Previously developed bias‐corrected high‐resolution gridded precipitation time series are aggregated to the scale relevant for water resources management, in order to provide 21st‐century time series for 183 hydrologic areas, as computed by six General Circulation Models (GCMs) under two emissions scenarios. The control run data are used as a ‘learning time series’ to compute the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) at four different time scales. SPI values for three 30‐year future time slices are computed with respect to these learning time series in order to assess the changes in drought frequency. Multimodel results under the A2 scenario show a dramatic increase in the frequency of short‐term extreme drought class for most of the country. A decrease of long‐term droughts is expected in Scotland, due to the projected increase in winter precipitation. The analysis for two catchment case studies also showed that changes under the B2 scenario are generally consistent with those of the A2 scenario, with a reduced magnitude in changes. The overall increase with time in the spread of individual GCM results demonstrates the utility of multimodel statistics when assessing the uncertainty in future drought indices to be used in long‐term water resources planning. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Seasonal prediction of lake inflows and rainfall in a hydro‐electricity catchment, Waitaki river, New Zealand
Authors: Purdie J. M. , Bardsley W. E. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe Waitaki River is located in the centre of the South Island of New Zealand, and hydro‐electricity generated on the river accounts for 35–40% of New Zealand's electricity. Low inflows in 1992 and 2001 resulted in the threat of power blackouts. Improved seasonal rainfall and inflow forecasts will result in the better management of the water used in hydro‐generation on a seasonal basis.Researchers have stated that two key directions in the fields of seasonal rainfall and streamflow forecasting are to a) decrease the spatial scale of forecast products, and b) tailor forecast products to end‐user needs, so as to provide more relevant and targeted forecasts.Several season‐ahead lake inflow and rainfall forecast models were calibrated for the Waitaki river catchment using statistical techniques to quantify relationships between land–ocean–atmosphere state variables and seasonally lagged inflows and rainfall. Techniques included principal components analysis and multiple linear regression, with cross‐validation techniques applied to estimate model error and randomization techniques used to establish the significance of the skill of the models.Many of the models calibrated predict rainfall and inflows better than random chance and better than the long‐term mean as a predictor. When compared to the range of all probable inflow seasonal totals (based on the 80‐year recorded history in the catchment), 95% confidence limits around most model predictions offer significant skill. These models explain up to 19% of the variance in season‐ahead rainfall and inflows in this catchment.Seasonal rainfall and inflow forecasting on a single catchment scale and focussed to end‐user needs is possible with some skill in the South Island of New Zealand. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Latitudinal height couplings between single tropopause and 500 and 100 hPa within the Southern Hemisphere
Authors: Yuchechen Adrián E. , Bischoff Susana A. , Canziani Pablo O. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractIn order to provide further insights into the relationships between the tropopause and different mandatory levels, this paper discusses the coupling between standardized tropopause height anomalies (STHAs) and standardized 500‐hPa and 100‐hPa height anomalies (S5HAs and S1HAs, respectively) within the ‘climatic year’ for three sets of upper‐air stations located approximately along 20°S, 30°S and 45°S. Data used in this research consists in a radiosonde database spanning the period 1973–2007. The mandatory levels are supposed to be included in each radiosonde profile. The tropopause, on the other hand, is calculated from the significant levels available for each sounding using the lapse rate definition. After applying a selection procedure, a basic statistical analysis combined with Fourier analysis is carried out in order to build up the standardized variables. Empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) in S‐mode are used to get the normal modes of oscillation as well as their time evolution, for STHA/S5HA as well as for STHA/S1HA coupling, separately, within the aforementioned latitudes.Overall, there are definite cycles in the time evolution associated with each EOF structure at all three latitudes, the semi‐annual wave playing the most important role in most of the cases. Nevertheless, 20°S seems to be the only latitude driven by diabatic heating cycles in the middle atmosphere. Certainly, EOF1 at this latitude has a semi‐annual behaviour and seems to be strongly influenced by the tropical convection seasonality. Apparently, the convectively driven release of latent heat in the middle troposphere affects the time evolution of the EOF1 structure. By contrast, the vertical propagation of planetary waves is raised as a possible explanation for the EOF1 and EOF2 behaviour at latitudes beyond 20°S, in view of the close connection existent between the semi‐annual oscillation (SAO) and the reversion in the direction of the zonal wind. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Evaluation of the skill and added value of a reanalysis‐driven regional simulation for Alpine temperature
Authors: Prömmel Kerstin , Geyer Beate , Jones Julie M. , Widmann Martin 
Published: April 2009

AbstractTo determine whether the use of regional climate models improves the representation of climate is a crucial topic in climate modelling. An improvement over coarser scale models is expected especially in areas with complex orography or along coastlines. However, some studies have shown no clear added value for regional climate models. In this study a high‐resolution regional climate simulation performed with REMO 5.0 (regional model) over the whole of Europe over the period 1958–1998 is analysed for 2‐m temperature over the European Alps and their surroundings called the Greater Alpine region (GAR). The simulation is driven by perfect boundary conditions at the lateral boundaries provided by the ERA40 reanalysis and spectral nudging of the large‐scale wind fields towards ERA40 values for the upper layers inside the model domain. The added value of the regional simulation (1/6° resolution) is analysed with respect to the driving reanalysis (1.125° resolution).Both the REMO simulation and the ERA40 reanalysis are validated against different station datasets of monthly and daily mean 2‐m temperature. Correlation analysis shows that the temporal variability of temperature is well represented by both REMO and ERA40, whereas both show considerable biases. The REMO bias reaches 3 K in summer in regions known to experience a problem with summer drying in a number of regional models. The comparison of REMO and ERA40 shows that an added value of the former exists for all regions in winter. For the regions surrounding the Alps, the added value is absent in summer, whereas in the inner Alpine subregions with most complex orography, REMO performs better than ERA40 during the whole year. The only moderate value added by REMO in this hindcast set‐up may be partly explicable by the fact that meteorological measurements are assimilated in the ERA40 reanalysis but not in the REMO simulation. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Evolution of the oxidative and hydrolytic degradation of biscuits' fatty fraction during storage
Authors: Caponio Francesco , Summo Carmine , Paradiso Vito M. , Pasqualone Antonella , Gomes Tommaso 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND: There is little information in the scientific literature on the degradation of the fatty fraction of biscuits during storage. Thus two trials were performed utilizing two different kinds of margarine for a better evaluation of the phenomenon.RESULTS: Covariance analysis of the data evidenced a significant increase of the oxidized triacylglycerols (P < 0.001), together with a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the amount of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. On the other hand, the level of hydrolytic degradation did not show significant variation.CONCLUSION: Principal components analysis ascertained that about 60% of the variance of the data could be attributed to the quality of the margarine, while about 30% was ascribable to the increase of oxidative degradation induced by storage. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
HSA binding of HIV protease inhibitors: a high‐performance affinity chromatography study
Authors: Bertucci Carlo , Pistolozzi Marco , Felix Guy , Danielson U. Helena 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe binding of HIV protease inhibitors, drugs important for anti‐HIV chemotherapy, to HSA was examined by high‐performance affinity chromatography. Frontal analysis was first used to determine the amount of anchored protein and the binding capacity for selected markers on this column. Zonal elution experiments then ranked the HSA bound fraction of the examined compounds. Information on the binding region was obtained by competitive zonal elution experiments using probe compounds with known sites on HSA. An allosteric competition between HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) and valproate (a probe for the bilirubin site) was detected, consistent with a noncooperative binding mechanism. No significant competition was observed between the examined compounds and salicylate or ibuprofen, probes for sites I and II, respectively. The observations were confirmed by circular dichroism spectroscopy, based on the change in the induced circular dichroism signals of selected markers for the main binding sites of HSA when ritonavir was added as the competitor. These results were in good agreement with previous literature reports and provide more details on how PIs are transported in plasma and how they may compete with other drugs in the body.
Longitudinal trajectories of cigarette smoking following rape
Authors: Amstadter Ananda B. , Resnick Heidi S. , Nugent Nicole R. , Acierno Ron , Rheingold Alyssa A. , Minhinnett Robin , Kilpatrick Dean G. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractAlthough prior research has identified increases in cigarette smoking following trauma exposure, no studies have examined longitudinal trajectories of smoking following rape. The present investigation identified and characterized longitudinal (<3 months, 3–6 months, and >6 months postassault) trajectories of smoking (N = 152) following a rape in a sample of 268 sexual assault victims participating in a forensic medical exam. Further, the authors examined acute predictors of subsequent smoking trajectories. Of participants endorsing smoking postrape, a two‐class solution was identified, with the majority of participants (74.6%) evidencing moderate smoking with a slight decrease over time and remaining participants showing heavy smoking with a slight increase over time. Having sustained an injury, minority status, and postexamination distress all predicted subsequent smoking trajectory.