bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mean and Flux Horizontal Variability of Virtual Potential Temperature, Moisture, and Carbon Dioxide: Aircraft Observations and LES Study
Authors: Górska Monica , Vilà-Guerau de Arellano Jordi , LeMone Margaret A. , van Heerwaarden Chiel C. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
The effects of the horizontal variability of surface properties on the turbulent fluxes of virtual potential temperature, moisture, and carbon dioxide are investigated by combining aircraft observations with large-eddy simulations (LESs). Daytime fair-weather aircraft measurements from the 2002 International H2O Project’s 45-km Eastern Track over mixed grassland and winter wheat in southeast Kansas reveal that the western part of the atmospheric boundary layer was warmer and drier than the eastern part, with higher values of carbon dioxide to the east. The temperature and specific humidity patterns are consistent with the pattern of surface fluxes produced by the High-Resolution Land Data Assimilation System. However, the observed turbulent fluxes of virtual potential temperature, moisture, and carbon dioxide, computed as a function of longitude along the flight track, do not show a clear east–west trend. Rather, the fluxes at 70 m above ground level related better to the surface variability quantified in terms of the normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI), with strong correlation between carbon dioxide fluxes and NDVI.
A first attempt is made to estimate the ratios of the flux at the entrainment zone to the surface flux (entrainment ratios) as a function of longitude. The entrainment ratios averaged from these observations (βθυ ≈ 0.10, βq ≈ −2.4, and βCO2 ≈ −0.58) are similar to the values found from the homogeneous LES experiment with initial and boundary conditions similar to observations.
To understand how surface flux heterogeneity influences turbulent fluxes higher up, a heterogeneous LES experiment is performed in a domain with higher sensible and lower latent heat fluxes in the western half compared to the eastern half. In contrast to the aircraft measurements, the LES turbulent fluxes show a difference in magnitude between the eastern and western halves at 70 and 700 m above ground level. Possible reasons for these differences between results from LES and aircraft measurements are discussed.
Numerical Analysis of a Mediterranean “Hurricane” over Southeastern Italy
Authors: Moscatello Agata , Miglietta Mario Marcello , Rotunno Richard 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
The presence of a subsynoptic-scale vortex over the Mediterranean Sea in southeastern Italy on 26 September 2006 has been recently documented by the authors. The transit of the cyclone over land allowed an accurate diagnosis of the structure of the vortex, based on radar and surface station data, showing that the cyclone had features similar to those observed in tropical cyclones. To investigate the cyclone in greater depth, numerical simulations have been performed using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, set up with two domains, in a two-way-nested configuration. Model simulations are able to properly capture the timing and intensity of the small-scale cyclone. Moreover, the present simulated cyclone agrees with the observational analysis of this case, identifying in this small-scale depression the typical characteristics of a Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone. An analysis of the mechanisms responsible for the genesis, development, and maintenance of the cyclone has also been performed. Sensitivity experiments show that cyclogenesis on the lee side of the Atlas Mountains is responsible for the generation of the cyclone. Surface sensible and latent heat fluxes become important during the subsequent phase of development in which the lee-vortex shallow depression evolved as it moved toward the south of Sicily. During this phase, the latent heating, associated with convective motions triggered by a cold front entering the central Mediterranean area, was important for the intensification and contraction of the horizontal scale of the vortex. The small-scale cyclone subsequently deepened as it moved over the Ionian Sea and then maintained its intensity during its later transit over the Adriatic Sea; in this later stage, latent heat release continued to play a major role in amplifying and maintaining the vortex, while the importance of the surface fluxes diminished.
Effects of an expanded cardiac rehabilitation programme in patients treated for an acute myocardial infarction or a coronary artery by-pass graft operation
Authors: Plüss C Edström , Karlsson M Rydell , Wallen NH , Billing E. , Held C. 
Published: April 2008

Objective: To investigate the effects of expanded cardiac rehabilitation with multifactorial interventions on metabolic and inflammatory markers, exercise performance and on established cardiovascular risk factors. Design: Single-centre prospective randomized controlled trial. Setting: A university hospital. Subjects: Two hundred and twenty-four patients with an acute myocardial infarction or patients undergoing coronary artery by-pass grafting. Intervention: Patients were randomized to expanded cardiac rehabilitation including stress management, increased physical training, staying at a 'patient hotel' and cooking sessions, or to usual cardiac rehabilitation Main measures: Biochemical risk markers and exercise performance; follow-up was one year. Results: There were no significant differences between the two treatment groups in the changes of biochemical risk markers or in exercise performance. Thus, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels decreased from 3.00 (0.97) to 2.54 (0.66) mmol/L in the intervention group and from 3.20 (0.85) to 2.54 (0.63) mmol/L in the control group, fibrinogen levels decreased from 5.30 (2.00) to 4.25 (1.01) g/L in the intervention group and from 5.29 (1.89) to 4.33 (0.83) g/L in the control group and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels decreased from 3.04 (2.79) to 2.09 (2.13) mg/L in the intervention group and from 4.01 (3.49) to 2.39 (2.49) mg/L in the control group. Total workload (W) improved from 118 (35) to 136 (34) in the intervention group and from 117 (36) to 133 (39) in the control group. Conclusion: There was no further significant benefit in biochemical risk markers or in exercise performance among patients undergoing the expanded rehabilitation as compared to the control group which received usual cardiac rehabilitation.
In-vivo evaluation in rats of colon-specific microspheres containing 5-fluorouracil
Authors: Rahman Ziyaur , Kohli Kanchan , Zhang Shuang-Qing , Khar Roop K , Ali Mushir , Charoo Naseem A , Tauseef Mohammad , Shamsher Areeg A A , Mohammed Noorullah N , Repka Michael A 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
The aims of this investigation were to determine the distribution in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of Eudragit S-100 encapsulated colon-specific sodium alginate microspheres containing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in rats, and to perform pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies. Comparisons were with a control immediate-release (IR) formulation of 5-FU. 5-FU was distributed predominantly in the upper GI tract from the IR formulation but was distributed primarily to the lower part of the GI tract from the microsphere formulation. No drug was released in the stomach and intestinal regions from the colon-specific microspheres. Significantly, a high concentration of the active drug was achieved in colonic tissues from the colon-specific microspheres (P &lt; 0.001), which was higher than the IC50 required to halt the growth of and/or kill colon cancer cells. Colon cancer was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (40 mg kg−1) for 10 weeks. The tumours induced were non-invasive adenocarcinomas and were in Duke's stage A. The 5-FU formulations were administered for 4 weeks after tumour induction. Non-significant reductions in tumour volume and multiplicity were observed in animals given the colon-specific microspheres. Enhanced levels of liver enzymes (SGOT, SGPT and alkaline phosphatase) were found in animals given the IR formulation of 5-FU, and values differed significantly (P &lt; 0.001) from those in animals treated with the colon-specific microspheres. Elevated levels of serum albumin and creatinine, and leucocytopenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in the animals given the IR formulation. In summary, Eudragit S-100 coated alginate microspheres delivered 5-FU to colonic tissues, with reduced systemic side-effects. A long-term dosing study is required to ascertain the therapeutic benefits.
Synthesis, pharmacological activity and nitric oxide generation by nitrate derivatives of theophylline
Authors: Korzycka Lucyna , Górska Dorota 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Nitrates of theophylline derivatives — potential nitric oxide (NO) donors — were synthesized by esterification of 7-hydroxyalkyl theophylline derivatives with fuming nitric acid. The nitrates obtained were tested in-vitro in reactions with sulfydryl compounds at appropriately adjusted pH and temperature. Under the applied conditions, the synthesized compounds underwent decomposition to release NO, quantified using a polarographic method using a selective isolated (ISO-NO) sensor. The effects of dyphylline and proxyphylline and their new synthesized nitrates on arterial blood pressure (BP) were measured in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats. BP was measured in conscious SH rats using the tail-cuff method. Both short- and long-term administration of the xanthines tested significantly decreased systolic, diastolic and mean BP. The hypotensive effect of a single dose of nitrate dyphylline on mean BP was greater than that of the parent compound (P = 0.000012; P = 0.000472 at 30 and 60 min post-dose, respectively), whereas proxyphylline and its nitrate derivative had similar activity. In rats treated with the tested compounds for 9 days twice daily, the decrease in BP persisted for at least 16 h after the last dose. Proxyphylline produced the most marked decrease in diastolic and mean BP. Among the xanthines examined, proxyphylline nitrate had the strongest hypotensive effect when administered in a single dose to animals pretreated with the same compound for 9 days. These results indicate that insertion of a nitrate group weakly modifies the hypotensive action of the studied xanthines in SH rats.
The pharmacokinetics of antofloxacin in renally impaired rats
Authors: Pang X Y , Liu L , Zhang D M , Wang G J , Xie L , Liu X D 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Our aim was to investigate whether renal impairment induced by cisplatin altered the pharmacokinetics of antofloxacin. Antofloxacin (7.5 mg kg−1, i.v.) was given to normal or renally impaired rats (induced by cisplatin). Concentrations of antofloxacin in plasma and urine were measured using HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated. The plasma concentrations of antofloxacin in the renally impaired rats were significantly higher than those in the normal rats, accompanied by significant increase of the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) (968.78 ± 259.39 μg min mL−1 versus 509.84 ± 46.19 μg min mL−1 in normal rats P &lt; 0.05). The system clearance (CL) and renal clearance (CLR) of antofloxacin decreased from 12.66 ± 1.15 mL kg−1 min−1 and 3.21 ± 1.80 mLkg−1 min−1 in normal rats, to 6.63 ± 2.82 mLkg−1 min−1 and 0.31 ± 0.15 mLkg−1 min−1, respectively. No differences between two treatments in half-life and mean residence time were found. We concluded that renal impairment induced by cisplatin significantly altered the pharmacokinetics of antofloxacin and resulted in decrease of the renal elimination.
A weight-of-evidence approach for the integration of environmental “triad” data to assess ecological risk and biological vulnerability
Authors: Dagnino Alessandro , Sforzini Susanna , Dondero Francesco , Fenoglio Stefano , Bona Elisa , Jensen John , Viarengo Aldo 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
A new Expert Decision Support System (EDSS) that can integrate Triad data for assessing environmental risk and biological vulnerability at contaminated sites has been developed. Starting with ecosystem relevance, the EDSS assigns different weights to the results obtained from Triad disciplines. The following parameters have been employed: 1) chemical soil analyses (revealing the presence of potentially dangerous substances), 2) ecotoxicological bioassays (utilizing classical endpoints such as survival and reproduction rates), 3) biomarkers (showing sublethal pollutant effects), and 4) ecological parameters (assessing changes in community structure and functions). For each Triad discipline, the EDSS compares the data obtained at the studied field sites with reference values and calculates different 0–1 indexes (e.g., Chemical Risk Index, Ecotoxicological Risk Index, and Ecological Risk Index). The EDSS output consists of 3 indexes: 1) Environmental Risk Index (EnvRI), quantifying the level of biological damage at population–community level, 2) Biological Vulnerability Index (BVI), assessing the potential threats to biological equilibriums, and 3) Genotoxicity Index (GTI), screening genotoxicity effects. The EDSS has been applied in the integration of a battery of Triad data obtained during the European Union-funded Life Intervention in the Fraschetta Area (LINFA) project, which has been carried out in order to estimate the potential risk from soils of a highly anthropized area (Alessandria, Italy) mainly impacted by deposition of atmospheric pollutants. Results obtained during 4 seasonal sampling campaigns (2004–2005) show maximum values of EnvRI in sites A and B (characterized by industrial releases) and lower levels in site D (affected by vehicular traffic emissions). All 3 potentially polluted sites have shown high levels of BVI and GTI, suggesting a general change from reference conditions (site C).
The Prevalence of Incidental Findings at Cardiac MRI
Authors: McKenna David A , Laxpati Monish , Colletti Patrick M 
Published: April 2008

Object or purpose of study:
As the field of view of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) includes the thorax and upper abdomen, it is not surprising that these studies can reveal incidental extra-cardiac abnormalities. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of these incidental findings.

Materials, Methods and Procedures:
132 volunteer participants with a mean age of 74.2 years (range, 61-89 years; 127 males and 5 females) had CMR with 7 sequences. All images were retrospectively reviewed by a radiologist, specifically assessing for non-cardiac findings. Visualized abnormalities were noted and categorized according to significance. Clinically significant findings were defined as those requiring further clinical or radiological work-up, with moderately significant findings defined as those that may affect patient care depending on medical history or symptoms. Remaining findings were considered clinically insignificant.

Results:
Within the group, 107 participants (81%) had extra-cardiac findings, with 63 (48%) having multiple findings. A total of 224 incidental findings were visualized, with at least one clinically significant and moderately significant finding found in 23 (17%) and 43 (33 %) of the subjects, respectively. Potentially clinically significant findings included pulmonary nodules, solid or complex lesions of the solid abdominal viscera and thyroid, and aortic pathology including aneurysm. The most prevalent incidental findings were however benign appearing, including renal and hepatic cysts, hemangiomas, and atelectasis. The SSFP coronal localizer, SSFP axial localizer, and short axis SSFP cine oblique sequences were most sensitive at detecting incidental findings (p = 0.013 vs four other sequences) with 47%, 46%, and 41% detection respectively, with no significant difference between these three multislice sequences (p = 0.369).

Significance of the conclusions:
In total, 81% of our volunteers had extra-cardiac findings, of which 17% were potentially clinically significant, necessitating further work up. We believe that these numbers appear high compared to prior similar studies performed at Cardiac CT. This may be related to the relatively older cohort examined here. In conclusion it is important to look beyond the heart when reviewing cardiac MRI studies and carefully assess the entire field of view for abnormalities.
The occurrence of Pneumocystis jirovecii in people from three different age groups of Warsaw (Poland) community
Authors: Gołąb Elżbieta , Sadkowska-Todys Małgorzata , Szkoda Marek , Dzbeński Tadeusz 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe three age groups of people from Warsaw: children, young adults and elderly people were examined for the prevalence of infection with Pneumocystis jirovecii. Nested PCR was used to amplify fragment of mitochondrial large subunit rRNA of the fungus in samples of oropharyngeal swabs. Nineteen (12.8%) of the 148 examined samples were positive for DNA of P. jirovecii. The samples collected from children were more often positive than the samples from young adults (p = 0.003) or from both groups of adults (p = 0.0029). Moreover, among adults (n = 99) proportion of infected women (n = 6; 12.5%) was significantly higher than men (n = 1; 2%). Results of the research confirm the high prevalence of Pneumocystis infection in children and indirectly point out to children as a possible source of infection for older people.
Redescription of the tapeworm Monticellia amazonica de Chambrier et Vaucher, 1997 (Cestoda, Proteocephalidea), a parasite of Calophysus macropterus (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae) from the Amazon River
Authors: Scholz Tomáš , Chambrier Alain , Kuchta Roman 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe proteocephalidean cestode Monticellia amazonica de Chambrier et Vaucher, 1997 (nom. nov. for Nomimoscolex piracatinga Woodland, 1935), a parasite of Calophysus macmpterus (Lichtenstein, 1819) (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae), is redescribed on the basis of type specimens and recently collected material from the Amazon River near the type localities in Brazil, and from Peru. This insufficiently known taxon is most similar to M. ventrei de Chambrier et Vaucher, 1999 from Pinirampus spp. from Paraguay and Brazil in having almost indistinguishable internal longitudinal musculature formed by a very few (5–15) tiny bundles of muscle fibres. Monticellia amazonica differs from M. ventrei in the shape of proglottids (much more elongate in the former taxon), absence of medially situated vitelline follicles at the ovarian level (present in M. ventrei) and the number of testes (175–233 in M amazonica vs. 222–325 in M ventrei).
Spermiogenesis and sperm ultrastructure of Carmyerius endopapillatus (Digenea, Gastrothylacidae), a parasite of Bos taurus in Senegal
Authors: Seck Momar , Marchand Bernard , Bâ Cheikh 
Published: April 2008

AbstractUltrastructural study of spermiogenesis and of the spermatozoon of Carmyerius endopapillatus has enabled to describe some characteristics of this digenea. The intercentriolar body situated between the two striated roots and the two centrioles, presents a symmetric organization. Both external bands of this intercentriolar body are made up of a row of granules. During spermiogenesis, a flagellar rotation of 90° is described. The old spermatid does not present external ornamentations. The spermatozoon is characterized, in its anterior region, by the presence of a lateral expansion exhibiting one spinelike body. In C. endopapillatus, external ornamentations are localized only at the level where the lateral expansion appears. The posterior extremity of spermatozoon exhibits a nucleus surrounded by a plasmic membrane lacking microtubules, but presenting a small lateral expansion. This is the first species of Gastrothylacidae family studied by transmission electron microscopy.
Systematic revision of the feather mite genera Apexolichus Gaud et Atyeo and Titanolichus Gaud et Atyeo (Astigmata, Pterolichidae), parasites of parrots of the Old World (Psittaciformes, Psittacidae)
Authors: Dabert Jacek , Mironov Serge , Ehrnsberger Rainer 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWe present a systematic revision and phylogenetic analysis of feather mites of the closely related genera Apexolichus Gaud et Atyeo, 1996 and Titanolichus Gaud et Atyeo, 1996 (Pterolichidae, Pterolichinae). New diagnoses for Apexolichus and Titanolichus and keys to all known species are provided. We redescribe all species of the genus Protolichus Mégnin et Trouessart, 1884, described by E. Trouessart over a century ago, and which have been transferred to these genera. Two new species are described: Apexolichus psephoti sp. nov. from Psephotus varius Clark A.H., 1910 (type host) and P. haematonotus (Gould, 1838); and Titanolichus triangulifer sp. nov. from Barnardius zonaris (Shaw, 1805) (type host) and Northiella haematogaster (Gould, 1838). New synonymies are proposed: Apexolichus splendens (Favette et Trouessart, 1904) syn. nov. is a junior synonym of A. velifer (Trouessart, 1899); A. distensis (Favette et Trouessart, 1904) syn. nov. is a junior synonym of A. affinis (Mégnin et Trouessart, 1884). Apexolichus platycerci (Mironov, Dabert et Proctor, 2003) comb. nov. is a new combination for this species, which was formerly placed in the genus Titanolichus. Phylogenetic analysis (MP) confirms the monophyly of the genera Apexolichus and Titanolichus. Both of these genera, together with the monotypic genus Sideroferus Gaud et Atyeo, 1996 (being a sister group of Titanolichus), form a clade within the Protolichus generic group and are restricted in their host associations to parrots of the tribe Platycercini (Psittacidae, Psittacinae), members of which occur in the Australia and Indo-Malayan region. Representatives of each genus are restricted to a particular genus or a few genera of Platycercini. Host associations of these genera are briefly discussed.
'Nucleating’ succession in recovering neotropical wet forests: The legacy of remnant trees
Authors: Schlawin Justin R. , Zahawi R.A. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractQuestion: What is the influence of remnant trees on secondary forest structure and composition in tropical pastures many years after abandonment?Location: Neotropical lowland wet forest, La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica.Methods: Tree and sapling density, basal area, and species richness were quantified at three distances from remnant trees, 0–10 m (inner), 20–30 m (intermediate), and ca. 50 m (distal) zones. A total of 15 remnant trees were sampled in pastures ~23 years after abandonment.Results: Tree density decreased along a gradient from inner (1117 ± 377 individuals/ha) to distal (592 ± 282 individuals/ha) zones, and the number of large‐seeded individuals (seeds > 1 cm diameter) was significantly greater in the inner zone. Basal area of tree individuals was greater in the inner (25.6 ± 12 m2/ha) and intermediate (28.3 ± 15.6 m2/ha) zones than the distal zone (14.7 ± 7.2 m2/ha), but there were no differences between inner and intermediate zones. Similar patterns are reported for species richness. Additionally, saplings (1 ‐ 5 cm DBH) had higher density directly beneath and adjacent to remnants, suggesting that remnant trees can affect recruitment even many years after pasture abandonment and the formation of a surrounding secondary forest.Conclusions: Results indicate that remnant trees facilitate forest recovery over a broad temporal range, and appear to ‘nucleate’ forest regeneration by expanding their sphere of influence outward over time.