bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extracellular matrix and airway smooth muscle interactions: a target for modulating airway wall remodelling and hyperresponsiveness?This article is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Issue on Recent Advances in Asthma Research.
Authors: Tran Thai , Halayko Andrew J. 
Published: September 2007

The airway smooth muscle from asthmatic airways produces increased amounts and an altered composition of extracellular matrix proteins. The extracellular matrix can in turn influence the phenotype and function of airway smooth muscle cells, affecting the biochemical, geometric, and mechanical properties of the airway wall. This review provides a brief overview of the current understanding of the biology associated with airway smooth muscle interactions with the extracellular matrix. We present future directions needed for the study of cellular and molecular mechanisms that determine the outcomes of extracellular matrix – airway smooth muscle interactions, and discuss their possible importance as determinants of airway function in asthma.
Neuroprotective effect of dauricine in cortical neuron culture exposed to hypoxia and hypoglycemia: involvement of correcting perturbed calcium homeostasis
Authors: Li Yan-Hong , Gong Pei-Li 
Published: September 2007

We have previously reported that dauricine protects brain tissues from focal cerebral ischemia. To corroborate this effect, neurotoxicity due to hypoxia and hypoglycemia was assessed in primary cultures of rat cortical neurons by using a trypan blue exclusion method. To further clarify the mechanism, the intracellular Ca2+concentration ([Ca2+]i) and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) of dissociated rat cortical cells were monitored by fura-2 fluorescence measurements and flow cytometry, respectively. The results showed that 1 and 10 μmol/L dauricine significantly enhanced neuronal survival during 4 h of hypoxia and hypoglycemia. Dauricine inhibited the increase in [Ca2+]iand decrease in ΔΨminduced by 30 min of hypoxia and hypoglycemia. When exploring the pathway, we found that 1 μmol/L dauricine inhibited the [Ca2+]iincrease induced by 7.5 nmol/L thapsigargin in either the presence or absence of extracellular Ca2+and by 1 mmol/L l-glutamate in the presence of extracellular Ca2+. These results suggest that dauricine prevents neuronal loss from ischemia in vitro, which is in accordance with our previous research in vivo. In addition, by inhibiting Ca2+release from the endoplasmic reticulum and Ca2+influx from the extracellular space, dauricine suppressed the increase in [Ca2+]iand, subsequently, the decrease in ΔΨminduced by hypoxia and hypoglycemia. This effect may underlie the mechanism of action of dauricine on cerebral ischemia.
Three paradigms of airway smooth muscle hyperresponsiveness in young guinea pigsThis article is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Issue on Recent Advances in Asthma Research.
Authors: Chitano Pasquale , Wang Lu , Murphy Thomas M. 
Published: September 2007

Evidence for contributions of airway smooth muscle (ASM) to the hyperresponsiveness of newborn and juvenile airways continues to accumulate. In our laboratory, 3 novel paradigms of hyperresponsiveness of newborn and young ASM have recently emerged using a guinea pig model of maturation in 3 age groups: 1 week (newborn), 3 weeks (juvenile), and 2–3 months (adult). The first paradigm includes evidence for a natural decline after newborn and juvenile life of the velocity of ASM shortening associated with a decrease in regulatory myosin light chain phosphorylation and a parallel decline in the content of myosin light chain kinase. Associated with the decrease in ASM shortening with age is an increase in the internal resistance to shortening. Dynamic stiffness is shown to relate inversely to the expression of myosin light chain kinase. This suggests that developmental changes in shortening relate inversely to the stiffness of the ASM early in shortening, suggesting a dynamic role for the cytoskeleton in facilitating and opposing ASM shortening. This relationship can be approximated as (dP/dt)max ≈ (dP/dL)passive × (dL/dt)max(the maximal rate of increase of active stress generation ≈ to the passive stiffness × the maximal shortening velocity). The second paradigm demonstrates that newborn ASM, unlike that in adults, does not relax during prolonged electric field stimulation. The impaired relaxation is related to changes in prostanoid synthesis and acetylcholinesterase function. The third paradigm demonstrates that, whereas oscillatory strain serves to transiently relax adult ASM, in newborns it induces (after the initial relaxation) a sustained potentiation of active stress. This is related to developmental changes in the prostanoid release. Together, these paradigms demonstrate that ASM contributes by multiple mechanisms to the natural hyperresponsiveness of newborn and juvenile airways. Future studies will elaborate the mechanisms and extend these paradigms to ASM hyperresponsiveness following sensitization in early life.
Stochastic Modeling of Daily Summertime Rainfall over the Southwestern United States. Part II: Intraseasonal Variability
Authors: Wang Jingyun , Anderson Bruce T. , Salvucci Guido D. 
Published: September 2007

Abstract
The intraseasonal variability of summertime precipitation over the southwestern United States is examined using stochastic daily occurrence models combined with empirical daily rainfall distributions to document 1) the seasonal evolution of the frequency and intensity of rainfall events across the summertime monsoon season and 2) the climatological evolution of wet spells, dry spells, and storm events. Study results indicate that the evolution of the North American monsoon system (NAMS) is most apparent in the occurrence of daily rainfall events, which exhibit clear time dependence across the summer season over the southwestern United States and can be principally portrayed by stochastic models. In contrast, the seasonal evolution of NAMS is largely absent in the averaged daily rainfall amount time series. There is also a significant seasonal evolution in the length of dry spells. In the central area of the domain (approximately 39 out of 78 stations) dry-spell lengths tend to increase over the course of the summer season, while on the western fringe (8 out of 78 stations) dry-spell lengths tend to decrease. In contrast, wet spells tend to exhibit constant lengths over the course of the season (44 out of 78 stations). The seasonal trend for storms indicates that the number and duration of storms tend to decrease in September; however, the storm depths tend to be more intense, particularly over the western portion of the domain. Overall, 90% of the area-averaged variance for dry-spell lengths can be explained by the random daily evolution of the stochastic model alone. For wet-spell lengths, the area-averaged variance explained by the stochastic models is 98% and for storm amounts it is 92%. These results suggest that the characteristics of most intraseasonal events over this region (i.e., spell lengths and storm amounts) can be captured by the random evolution of daily rainfall models, even with constant year-to-year statistical parameters, indicating that systematic variations in the background climatic conditions from one year to the next may contribute little to the characteristics of these events.
Precipitation Extremes Estimated by GPCP and TRMM: ENSO Relationships
Authors: Curtis Scott , Salahuddin Ahmed , Adler Robert F. , Huffman George J. , Gu Guojun , Hong Yang 
Published: September 2007

Abstract
Global monthly and daily precipitation extremes are examined in relation to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation phenomenon. For each month around the annual cycle and in each 2.5° grid block, extremes in the Global Precipitation Climatology Project dataset are defined as the top five (wet) and bottom five (dry) mean rain rates from 1979 to 2004. Over the tropical oceans El Niño–Southern Oscillation events result in a spatial redistribution and overall increase in extremes. Restricting the analysis to land shows that El Niño is associated with an increase in frequency of dry extremes and a decrease in wet extremes resulting in no change in net extreme months. During La Niña an increase in frequency of dry extremes and no change in wet extremes are observed. Thus, because of the juxtaposition of tropical land areas with the ascending branches of the global Walker Circulation, El Niño (La Niña) contributes to generally dry (wet) conditions in these land areas.
In addition, daily rain rates computed from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis are used to define extreme precipitation frequency locally as the number of days within a given season that exceeded the 95th percentile of daily rainfall for all seasons (1998–2005). During this period, the significant relationships between extreme daily precipitation frequency and Niño-3.4 in the Tropics are spatially similar to the significant relationships between seasonal mean rainfall and Niño-3.4. However, to address the shortness of the record extreme daily precipitation frequency is also related to seasonal rainfall for the purpose of identifying regions where positive seasonal rainfall anomalies can be used as proxies for extreme events. Finally, the longer (1979–2005) but coarser Global Precipitation Climatology Project analysis is reexamined to pinpoint regions likely to experience an increase in extreme precipitation during El Niño–Southern Oscillation events. Given the significance of El Niño–Southern Oscillation predictions, this information will enable the efficient use of resources in preparing for and mitigating the adverse effects of extreme precipitation.
A Numerical Modeling System of the Hydrological Cycle for Estimation of Water Fluxes in the Huaihe River Plain Region, China
Authors: Chen Xi , Chen Yongqin David , Zhang Zhicai 
Published: September 2007

Abstract
To analyze the water budget under human influences in the Huaihe River plain region in China, the authors have developed a numerical modeling system that integrates water flux algorithms into a platform created by coupling a soil moisture model with the modular three-dimensional finite-difference groundwater flow model (MODFLOW). The modeling system is largely based on physical laws and employs a numerical method of the finite difference to simulate water movement and fluxes in a horizontally discretized watershed or field. The majority of model parameters carry physical significance and can be determined by field and laboratory measurements or derived from watershed characteristics contained in GIS and remote sensing data. Several other empirical parameters need to be estimated by model calibration. The numerical modeling system is calibrated in the Linhuanji catchment (2 560 km2) to estimate surface runoff, groundwater recharge, and groundwater loss for evapotranspiration and stream baseflow. Model validation is conducted at a small runoff experimental field (1.36 km2) in the Wuduogou Hydrological Experimental Station to test the model’s capability to simulate hydrological components and estimate water fluxes using observed stream stage and groundwater data, as well as lysimeter-measured precipitation recharge and groundwater loss. As proven by the promising results of model testing, this physically based and distributed-parameter model is a valuable contribution to the ever-advancing technology of hydrological modeling and water resources assessment.
Development and Testing of a Frozen Soil Parameterization for Cold Region Studies
Authors: Zhang Xia , Sun Shu Fen , Xue Yongkang 
Published: September 2007

Abstract
Proper simulation of soil freezing and thawing processes is an important issue in cold region climate studies. This paper reports on a frozen soil parameterization scheme for cold region studies that includes water flow and heat transfer in soil with water phase change. The mixed-form Richards’ equation is adopted to describe soil water flow affected by thermal processes in frozen soil. In addition, both liquid water and ice content have been taken into account in the frozen soil hydrologic and thermal property parameterization. To solve the complex nonlinear equation set and to ensure water conservation during simulation of complex phase change processes, efficient computational procedures have been designed and a new modified Picard iteration scheme is extended to solve the mixed-form Richards’ equation with phase change. The frozen soil model was evaluated using observational data from the field station at Rosemount, Minnesota, and the Tibet D66 site. The results show that the model is capable of providing good simulations of the evolution of temperature and liquid water content in frozen soil. Comparisons of simulation results from sensitivity studies indicate that there is a maximum difference of about 50 W m−2 in sensible and ground heat fluxes with and without the inclusion of the effect of ice content on matric potential and that using the exponential relationship between hydraulic conductivity and ice content produces realistic results.
GEWEX Contributions to Large-Scale Hydrometeorology
Authors: Lawford Richard G. , Roads John , Lettenmaier Dennis P. , Arkin Phillip 
Published: September 2007

Abstract
This paper describes how the articles in this special issue support the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) priorities with a specific focus on the advancement of hydrometeorological sciences. It explores how hydrometeorological research has been used to improve process understanding and forecast models, provide datasets for model validation, and support water resource applications. In particular, in this collection of papers, the water balance is considered at both global and watershed scales. In this process the limitations of reanalysis products and inputs to hydrologic models are identified. Some of these limitations arise from the lack of understanding of orographic processes and the best way to incorporate them into models. Several modeling studies reported in this special issue address different aspects of the role of topography in land–atmosphere interaction over mountain systems including the mountains in Asia and North America. Other land processes are considered as well including soil and vegetation processes. A limitation in these modeling studies arises from issues related to model initialization and validation data. One precipitation paper in this collection considers the information on extreme precipitation events that can be extracted from these data while another reports on a new algorithm for observing light rain and drizzle events. As phase II of GEWEX progresses, more emphasis will be placed on the use of GEWEX products to explore climate science questions related to the global energy and water cycle and its applications. Some areas of opportunity for future GEWEX activities include the development of high-resolution integrated products, flux estimates from satellites, and open processes (or test beds) for product improvement.
Response of Seasonal Simulations of a Regional Climate Model to High-Frequency Variability of Soil Moisture during the Summers of 1988 and 1993
Authors: Yang Song , Yoo S-H. , Yang R. , Mitchell K. E. , van den Dool H. , Higgins R. W. 
Published: September 2007

Abstract
This study employs the NCEP Eta Regional Climate Model to investigate the response of the model’s seasonal simulations of summer precipitation to high-frequency variability of soil moisture. Specifically, it focuses on the response of model precipitation and temperature over the U.S. Midwest and Southeast to imposed changes in the diurnal and synoptic variability of soil moisture in 1988 and 1993.
High-frequency variability of soil moisture increases (decreases) precipitation in the 1988 drought (1993 flood) year in the central and southern-tier states, except along the Gulf Coast, but causes smaller changes in precipitation along the northern-tier states. The diurnal variability and synoptic variability of soil moisture produce similar patterns of precipitation change, indicating the importance of the diurnal cycle of land surface process. The increase (decrease) in precipitation is generally accompanied by a decrease (increase) in surface and lower-tropospheric temperatures, and the changes in precipitation and temperature are attributed to both the local effect of evaporation feedback and the remote influence of large-scale water vapor transport. The precipitation increase and temperature decrease in 1988 are accompanied by an increase in local evaporation and, more importantly, by an increase in the large-scale water vapor convergence into the Midwest and Southeast. Analogous but opposite-sign behavior occurs in 1993 (compared to 1988) in changes in precipitation, temperature, soil moisture, evaporation, and large-scale water vapor transport.
Results also indicate that, in regions where the model simulates the diurnal cycle of soil moisture reasonably well, including this diurnal cycle in the simulations improves model performance. However, no notable improvement in model precipitation can be found in regions where the model fails to realistically simulate the diurnal variability of soil moisture.
Practising history
Authors: Lorenz Walter 
Published: September 2007

English This article calls for open-minded, critical research into the history of social work and a recognition of the discontinuities and diversity that are evident in its development and current forms. Social work as historical practice is about applying hermeneutic skills in order to create shared understandings that engage with issues of identity and culture. French Cet article plaide en faveur d’une recherche critique et ouverte à l’égard de l’histoire du travail social et d’une reconnaissance des ruptures et de la diversité qui sont manifestes dans son cours et aujourd’hui. La pratique historique du travail social consiste en l’application de l’herméneutique afin de créer une compréhension partagée sous-tendue par les enjeux d’identité et de culture. Spanish Este artículo convoca a una mentalidad abierta, a la investigació n crítica sobre la historia del trabajo social y al reconocimiento de las discontinuidades y diversidad que son evidentes en su desarrollo y formas actuales. El trabajo social, como prá ctica histó rica, está llamado a aplicar las herramientas hermenéuticas, a fin de crear comprensiones compartidas que se vinculen con los temas de identidad y cultura.
Linking critical reflection and qualitative research on an African social work master's programme
Authors: Askeland Gurid Aga , Bradley Greta 
Published: September 2007

English This article describes concepts of critical reflection, critical incident and qualitative research methods that were taught on a master’s social work programme in an African state, by European colleagues. Student evaluation suggests that they had learned the importance of contextualizing social work knowledge. French Cet article passe en revue les notions de réflexion critique et les méthodes de recherche qualitative et d’incident critique qui ont é té enseignées par des collègues européens dans le cadre d’un programme de maîtrise d’un état africain. L’évaluation de l’étudiant laisse entendre qu’on a saisi l’importance de mettre en contexte le savoir en travail social. Spanish Este artículo describe los conceptos de reflexió n crítica, incidente crítico y métodos de investigació n cualitativa, que fueron enseñ ados en un programa de maestría en trabajo social en un estado africano, por colegas europeos. La evaluació n de los estudiantes sugiere que aprendieron la importancia de contextualizar el conocimiento en trabajo social.
Pilot study of a neurophysiological dysphagia therapy for neurological patients
Authors: Seidl Rainer O , Nusser-Müller-Busch Ricki , Hollweg Wibke , Westhofen Martin , Ernst Arne 
Published: September 2007

Objective: To investigate the success of a neurophysiological dysphagia therapy in patients with neurological disorders. Design: A pre- and post-intervention group study. Setting: Acute rehabilitation unit. Subjects: Ten patients (swallowing rate <1/5 minutes, Frühreha—Barthel Index <—150, tracheostomy as a result of a swallowing disorder) with dysphagia as a result of a head injury or cerebral haemorrhage. Interventions: Therapy was given based on facio-oral tract therapy for three weeks (15 sessions of 1 hour each). Measures: The general scales used were the Frühreha—Barthel Index and Coma Remission Scale. Measures of swallowing rate, alertness and swallowing ability were undertaken before, during and after the treatment sessions and at intervals of 30 minutes for 2 hours after the treatment sessions. Results: On the treatment days, the therapy did not lead to an increase in swallowing rate, but did lead to a significant increase in alertness. After completion of a single treatment session, there was a statistically significant decrease in alertness and swallowing rate for 90 minutes. An increase in alertness (Frühreha—Barthel Index and Coma Remission Scale), swallowing ability (measured using an endoscopic examination) and protection of the respiratory tract was observed over the entire therapy period. Conclusion: Facio-oral tract therapy led to a statistically significant increase in alertness during the treatment session and, over the entire therapy period, to an increase in swallowing rate, alertness and swallowing ability. The decrease in alertness following therapy sessions must be taken into account in planning rehabilitative measures. Further studies on larger populations as well as studies currently in progress should further elucidate the strategies employed to rehabilitate dysphagic patients.
The effects of incremental speed-dependent treadmill training on postural instability and fear of falling in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Cakit Burcu Duyur , Saracoglu Meryem , Genc Hakan , Erdem Hatice Rana , Inan Levent 
Published: September 2007

Objective : To detect the effectiveness of incremental speed-dependent treadmill training on postural instability, dynamic balance and fear of falling in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Design : Randomized controlled trial. Setting : Ankara Education and Research Hospital, 2nd PM&R Clinic, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Unit. Subjects : Fifty-four patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease in stage 2 or 3 of the Hoehn Yahr staging entered, and 31 patients (21 training, 10 control) had outcome data. Interventions : Postural instability of patients with Parkinson's disease was assessed using the motor component of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Berg Balance Test, Dynamic Gait Index and Falls Efficacy Scale. Twenty-one patients with Parkinson's disease participated in an eight-week exercise programme using incremental speed-dependent treadmill training. Before and after the training programme, balance, gait, fear of falling and walking distance and speed on treadmill were assessed in both Parkinson's disease groups. Main measures : Walking distance and speed on treadmill, UPDRS, Berg Balance Test, Dynamic Gait Index and Falls Efficacy Scale. Results : Initial total walking distance of the training group on treadmill was 266.45 ± 82.14 m and this was progressively increased to 726.36 ± 93.1 m after 16 training session (P < 0.001). Tolerated maximum speed of the training group on treadmill at baseline was 1.9 ± 0.75 km/h and improved to 2.61 ± 0.77 km/h (P < 0.001). Berg Balance Test, Dynamic Gait Index and Falls Efficacy Scale scores of the training group were improved significantly after the training programme (P < 0.01). There was no significant improvement in any of the outcome measurements in the control group (P > 0.05). Conclusions : Specific exercise programmes using incremental speed-dependent treadmill training may improve mobility, reduce postural instability and fear of falling in patients with Parkinson's disease.