bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Degradation of Radar Reflectivity by Cloud Attenuation at Microwave Frequency
Authors: Pujol Olivier , Georgis Jean-François , Féral Laurent , Sauvageot Henri 
Published: April 2007

Abstract
The main object of this paper is to emphasize that clouds—the nonprecipitating component of condensed atmospheric water—can produce a strong attenuation at operational microwave frequencies, although they present a low reflectivity preventing their radar detection. By way of a simple and realistic model, simulations of radar observations through warm precipitating targets are thus presented in order to quantify cloud attenuation. Simulations concern an airborne radar oriented downward and observing precipitation at four frequencies: 3, 10, 35, and 94 GHz. Two cases are first considered: a convective cell (vigorous cumulus congestus plus rain) and a stratiform one (nimbostratus plus drizzle) superimposed on the previous one. Other simulations are then performed on different types of cumulus (congestus, mediocris, and humilis) with various thicknesses characterized, in a microphysical sense, by their maximum liquid water content.
Simulations confirm the low cumulus reflectivity ranging from −45 dBZ for the weakest cumulus (i.e., the humilis one) to −5 dBZ for the strongest one (i.e., the vigorous cumulus congestus). It reaches −35 dBZ for the nimbostratus cloud. On the other hand, cumulus attenuation [precisely path-integrated cloud attenuation (PICA)] is not negligible and, depending on the frequency, can be very strong: the higher the frequency, the stronger the PICA. At 3 GHz, the far less attenuated frequency, PICA for the vigorous cumulus congestus alone in the convective cell (embedded into the stratiform background) is on the order of 1.2 dB (1.5 dB) at 10 GHz, 16 dB (20 dB) at 35 GHz, and 80 dB (100 dB) at 94 GHz. For weaker cumulus, PICA is lower but, in certain cases, significant. All these results mean that it is necessary to be very careful about radar measurements if reliable information on precipitation—for example, the precipitation rate R—has to be deduced, particularly at high operational frequencies.
Interpretation of Coastal HF Radar–Derived Surface Currents with High-Resolution Drifter Data
Authors: Ohlmann Carter , White Peter , Washburn Libe , Emery Brian , Terrill Eric , Otero Mark 
Published: April 2007

Abstract
Dense arrays of surface drifters are used to quantify the flow field on time and space scales over which high-frequency (HF) radar observations are measured. Up to 13 drifters were repetitively deployed off the Santa Barbara and San Diego coasts on 7 days during 18 months. Each day a regularly spaced grid overlaid on a 1-km2 (San Diego) or 4-km2 (Santa Barbara) square, located where HF radar radial data are nearly orthogonal, was seeded with drifters. As drifters moved from the square, they were retrieved and replaced to maintain a spatially uniform distribution of observations within the sampling area during the day. This sampling scheme resulted in up to 56 velocity observations distributed over the time (1 h) and space (1 and 4 km2) scales implicit in typical surface current maps from HF radar. Root-mean-square (RMS) differences between HF radar radial velocities obtained using measured antenna patterns, and average drifter velocities, are mostly 3–5 cm s−1. Smaller RMS differences compared with past validation studies that employ current meters are due to drifter resolution of subgrid-scale velocity variance included in time and space average HF radar fields. Roughly 5 cm s−1 can be attributed to sampling on disparate time and space scales. Despite generally good agreement, differences can change dramatically with time. In one instance, the difference increases from near zero to more than 20 cm s−1 within 2 h. The RMS difference and bias (mean absolute difference) for that day exceed 7 and 12 cm s−1, respectively.
Current Patterns on the West Florida Shelf from Joint Self-Organizing Map Analyses of HF Radar and ADCP Data
Authors: Liu Yonggang , Weisberg Robert H. , Shay Lynn K. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTo assess the spatial structures and temporal evolutions of distinct physical processes on the West Florida Shelf, patterns of ocean current variability are extracted from a joint HF radar and ADCP dataset acquired from August to September 2003 using Self-Organizing Map (SOM) analyses. Three separate ocean–atmosphere frequency bands are considered: semidiurnal, diurnal, and subtidal. The currents in the semidiurnal band are relatively homogeneous in space, barotropic, clockwise polarized, and have a neap-spring modulation consistent with semidiurnal tides. The currents in the diurnal band are less homogeneous, more baroclinic, and clockwise polarized, consistent with a combination of diurnal tides and near-inertial oscillations. The currents in the subtidal frequency band are stronger and with more complex patterns consistent with wind and buoyancy forcing. The SOM is shown to be a useful technique for extracting ocean current patterns with dynamically distinctive spatial and temporal structures sampled by HF radar and supporting in situ measurements.
An Integrating Velocity–Azimuth Process Single-Doppler Radar Wind Retrieval Method
Authors: Liang Xudong 
Published: April 2007

Abstract
Among the single-Doppler radar wind analysis methods, the velocity–azimuth display (VAD), velocity–azimuth process (VAP), and uniform-wind (UW) methods are widely used because of their simplicity. This paper shows that the VAD, VAP, and UW methods can all be derived from the same relationship based on the azimuthal uniform-wind assumption. Using this assumption, an integrating VAP (IVAP) method is developed that can provide a smoother wind field than the VAP and UW methods and a higher resolution than the VAD method. Using the IVAP technique, the wind fields associated with a heavy rainfall case in Shanghai, China, are retrieved and compared with those from surface observations and wind-profiler data.
Macrophage Activation by Poly(maleic acid-alt-2-cyclohexyl-1,3-dioxap-5-ene) Encapsulated in Polysaccharide-Coated Liposomes
Authors: Sato Toshinori , Kojima Kazuyuki , Ihda Taka-Aki , Sunamoto Junzo , Ottenbrite Raphael M. 
Published: April 2007

An increase in the efficiency of macrophage activation has been tried by en capsulating potent polyanionic polymer immunomodulators into polysac charide-coated liposomes. For this purpose, several alternating copolymers of maleic acid (MA) and itaconic acid (IT) with 2-cyclohexyl-1,3-dioxap-5-ene (CDA), styrene (ST), and other monomers have been synthesized and frac tionated. First, the interaction between the liposomes and polyanionic polymers was investigated. As a result, poly(maleic acid-alt-2-cyclohexyl-1,3-dioxap-5-ene) (MA-CDA) was found to be the best candidate for encapsulating in the liposome while poly(itaconic acid-alt-styrene)(IA-ST) strongly perturbed these vesicles. Based on these results, MA-CDA was encapsulated in the mannan derivative- coated liposomes and the macrophage activation activity was evaluated from the superoxide production of the activated macrophages in vivo. Compared with the administration of free MA-CDA, the maximum in the superoxide pro duction appeared faster (2 h after injection) and the activity was significantly increased.
Poverty and Adequacy of Social Security in Europe: a Comparative Analysis
Authors: Deleeck Herman , Van den Bosch Karel 
Published: April 2007

The aims of this collective research project in seven countries and regions in the EC, as regards content, were to establish in a comparative way the number of poor households in each country, to identity social groups at high risk of poverty, to assess the adequacy of social security in guaranteeing a minimum income (thus focusing on results, instead of on the means involved), and to distinguish between temporary and longer- term poverty by means of the panel method. The number of poor households varies from 10-40 per cent (more generous standard) or from 6-20 per cent (strictest standard). The number of long-term poor is much lower. Very few households are in absolute poverty. Important factors determining poverty are: unemployment, social status, age, whether single or not, and whether having only one income in the household (in Ireland and Greece also labour incomes that are too low). The impact of social security transfers on poverty is the strongest in the Benelux countries, least and in fact rather low in Catalonia and in Greece. This inadequacy can be explained by two factors: in many cases the amounts of benefits going to the poor are too low; and the redistributive effect of social security is horizontal rather than vertical, i.e. a large part of the benefits is not going to the bottom groups. From a methodological point of view, several poverty lines were tested. The so- called subjective standard is more realistic (also with regards to the equivalence scales) because it is based on the evaluation of a minimum income made by the population itself; but fluctuations complicate comparative analysis of countries over time. The so-called relative or statistical EC-standard is more appropriate for comparative purposes, but the level of the standard is arbitrarily defined (which is also true for the equivalence scale) and this method measures income-inequality rather than poverty. It is advisable to use the statistical method for the future comparative studies. Poverty-lines will always be based on a reasonable convention. grounded in a generous or restrictive notion of poverty.
Winner or Loser in the New Europe?
Authors: Thomas Dennis 
Published: April 2007

This article examines the prospects for the Welsh economy in a changing European context. To a large extent Wales' economic transformation in recent years has been enabled and supported by regional aid funding at UK and European levels. The run-down of regional support may have major implications for Wales' attractiveness to mobile international investment, which is itself changing in volume and nature, as well as the promotion of indigenous firm growth. These concerns together with local difficulties affecting the role of the development agencies cast doubt on the economy's capability for maintaining progress. Wales is certainly not unique among the EU's 'northern' regions in facing an uncertain future in the 'new' Europe but its case would seem to be particularly interesting for two reasons. First the Welsh economy's performance in recent years has been widely presented as an economic success story. Secondly Wales has been presented as possessing a reasonable degree of institutional capacity by UK standards, reflecting a quasi-regional state with the potential for developing a regional innovation system.
The Electrorheological Effect in Activated Suspensions
Authors: Korobko E.V. , Mokeev A.A. 
Published: April 2007

There are known models of mechanical behaviour of electrorheological fluids (ERF) in the presence of an electric field for low-concentration suspensions subject to infinite shear strains or to small static shears not disturbing their structure. The present authors have developed a physical-mathematical model of electrorhcological effect in high-concentration ERF activated by a poor-conducting substance with a large dielectric constant. Such ERFs find more frequent application in practice. The model takes into consideration the competition between the Maxwell tension in a disperse medium with solvation repulsion and the Maxwell pressure in a micro-nonuni form electric field between solid particles. The tension/pressure ratio specifies the strength and stability of a formed structure. The calculated strength of a suspension layer vs. the electric intensity and time after an electric field has been applied is in agreement with experimental data.
The China outbound market: An evaluation of key constraints and opportunities
Authors: Zhou Li , King Brian , Turner Lindsay 
Published: April 2007

Chinese outbound tourism has grown rapidly, reaching 5 million in 1995 and with the potential for significant further growth. This potential was boosted in late 1996 when the Chinese Government relaxed its foreign exchange policy for outbound tourists and out bound travel businesses, thereby overcoming a major constraint to outbound tourism. A Chinese outbound tourist is defined here as a resident of mainland China and travels tem porarily outside mainland China for any pur pose. Drawing upon a survey of constumers and of key informants, this paper outlines the main characteristics of tourists from mainland China and identifies main impediments to continuing market growth. It is concludet that Chinese tourists are drawn initially to the most frequented attrac tions overseas, and particularly to those which offer a marked contrast with what is found in China. The intrinsic attributes of the attrac tions are found to be of secondary importance. It is suggested that destination countries serious about the Chinese market need to liberalise booking procedures as a matter of urgency. Greater promotion by destination countries is needed within China to improve travel industry and consumer awareness.
A preliminary study of the Northern Ireland hotel classification scheme as a reffection of customers' needs
Authors: Callan Roger J. , Shenton Lisa 
Published: April 2007

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board has recently developed new systems for classifying hotels. Under the old schemes one grade was given to reflect facilitics and their quality, but under the new scheme the classification is determined solely by the presence or absence of designated facilities and services. The preliminary study of managers' and customers' views coucludes that the NITB classification scheme does not measure some of the attributes which were perceived as import ant by the customers when assessing the quality and desirability of a hotel, and that a review of the criteria (together with the desira bility of assessing the quality of the services and facilities) is required.
Long-haul tourism 2005 - Delphi study
Authors: Müller Hansruedi 
Published: April 2007

Tourism to distant countries is booming, as many statistics confirm. And the forecasts indicate that long-haul tourism, with its advantages and disadvantages for travellers and host populations, for the economy and for nature, is set to increase still further. The positive and negative impacts on tourism des tinations in developing countries in particular are the subject of countless studies and discus sions. The Delphi study involving just under 150 experts from Germany, Austria and Switzer land conducted between April and December 1996 provides a sophisticated picture of pos sible future development patterns in long-haul tourism. The experts believe that a broad range of qualitative aspects will gradually gain in importance, with security aspects having top priority. Many tourism-generated problems will become more and more acute in the developing countries. There will also be quite a few changes in long-haul travel behaviour which the majority of experts see as undesir able. The anticipated long-haul tourism growth rate of approximately 5 per cent per year will impact on holiday travel, both in the tourist's home country and in other European countries.
Patient-sensitive treatment decision- making? Preferences and perceptions in a sample of renal patients
Authors: Caress Ann-Louise , Luker Karen A. , Ackrill Peter 
Published: April 2007

Patient participation in various aspects of healthcare is rapidly expanding. However, patients' preferences with regard to participation in treatment decision-making remain relatively under-explored, as does the congruence between such preferences and patients' perceptions of their actual role in decision-making. The aims of this study were to identify and to compare treatment decision-making role preferences and perceptions of the actual decisional role in a sample of renal patients. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at a single regional renal unit in the North of England. A convenience sample of 405 patients was obtained (pre-dialysis N=155; dialysis N=103; transplant N=147). Preferred and perceived role were identified using a card sort technique (choice of five options, active to passive). Rationales for role preference were recorded verbatim. Most patients were found to prefer passive (N=186, 45.9%; 95% Cl 41.2- 50.9) or collaborative (N=147; 36.3%; 95% Cl 31.3-40.7) decisional roles; perceived role was typically passive (N=319; 78.8%; 95% Cl 74.8-82.8). Trust in health professionals, perceived lack of knowledge and severity of condition were the most frequently cited determinants of role preference. Patients' decisional role preferences were often at variance with their perceived roles. Taking a highly active role in treatment decision-making was undesirable to most patients. Trust in healthcare professionals was an important contributor to desire to defer or retain control over treatment decisions.
meso-Tetrakis(α,α,α,α-o-amidophenyl)porphinatoiron(II) Bearing a Proximal Histidyl Group at the β-Pyrrolic Position via an Acyl Bond: Synthesis and O2 Coordination in Aqueous Media
Authors: Nakagawa Akito , Komatsu Teruyuki , Tsuchida Eishun 
Published: April 2007

Abstract
meso-Tetrakis(α,α,α,α-o-(1-methylcyclohexanamido)phenyl)porphinatoiron(III) bearing a proximal histidyl group at the β-pyrrolic position via an acyl bond (4c) has been synthesized. Human serum albumin (HSA) incorporating the ferrous complex (4d) formed a stable O2 adduct under physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37 °C). Although an electron-withdrawing acyl group is attached to the porphyrin periphery, the O2-binding affinity of HSA-4d was slightly higher than that of a similar analogue with a histidyl–alkylene group (2d).
Ionic Liquid-mediated Preparation Strategy for CuCl Nanocrystal
Authors: Wang Ling , Xu Chao , Zhang Xiaochun , Ying Taokai 
Published: April 2007

Abstract
CuCl was obtained through a novel route in the absence of concentrated acid or additives. The formation of nanocrystal CuCl was confirmed by XRD, SEM, TEM, and EDX studies. In this paper, an ecologically and environmentally friendly preparation route of CuCl nanocrystal was proposed.
Lewis Acid Character of Zero-valent Gold Nanoclusters under Aerobic Conditions: Intramolecular Hydroalkoxylation of Alkenes
Authors: Kamiya Ikuyo , Tsunoyama Hironori , Tsukuda Tatsuya , Sakurai Hidehiro 
Published: April 2007

Abstract
Gold nanoclusters stabilized by poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (Au:PVP NCs, φ = 1.3 nm) behave as Lewis acid catalyst in aqueous media under aerobic conditions, to promote the intramolecular hydroalkoxylation of unactivated alkenes. Molecular oxygen generates a reaction center having the Lewis acidic character on the surface of Au NCs in which constituent gold atoms are formally in zero-valence state.
Amino Acid Derived Epoxide Ring Opening under Microwave Irradiation
Authors: Vaiana Nadia , Rizzi Luca , Romeo Sergio 
Published: April 2007

Abstract
A solvent-free microwave-assisted methodology for the obtainment of the hydroxyethylamine (HEA) isostere is described. A phenylalanine derived aminoalkyl epoxide is allowed to react with a dipeptide amine using basic alumina partially deactivated with water under microwave irradiation. The HEA is obtained in very short time (3 min). This methodology is amenable to application in a parallel or automatic sequential format.
Noggin Inhibits Postoperative Resynostosis in Craniosynostotic Rabbits
Authors: Cooper Gregory M , Curry Chris , Barbano Timothy E , Burrows Anne M , Vecchione Lisa , Caccamese John F , Norbutt Craig S , Costello Bernard J , Losee Joseph E , Moursi Amr M , Huard Johnny , Mooney Mark P 
Published: April 2007

Abstract
Inhibition of bone formation after surgery to correct craniosynostosis would alleviate the need for secondary surgeries and decrease morbidity and mortality. This study used a single dose of Noggin protein to prevent resynostosis and improve postoperative outcomes in a rabbit model of craniosynostosis.
Introduction: Craniosynostosis is defined as the premature fusion of one or more of the cranial sutures, which causes secondary deformations of the cranial vault, cranial base, and brain. Current surgical intervention involves extirpation of the fused suture to allow unrestricted brain growth. However, resynostosis of the extirpated regions often occurs. Several bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), well-described inducers of ossification, are involved in bone healing. This study tested the hypothesis that a postoperative treatment with Noggin, an extracellular BMP inhibitor, can inhibit resynostosis in a rabbit model of human familial nonsyndromic craniosynostosis.
Materials and Methods: Thirty-one New Zealand white rabbits with bilateral coronal suture synostosis were divided into three groups: (1) suturectomy controls (n = 13); (2) suturectomy with BSA in a slow-resorbing collagen vehicle, (n = 8); and (3) suturectomy with Noggin in a slow-resorbing collagen vehicle (n = 10). At 10 days of age, a 3 × 15-mm coronal suturectomy was performed. The sites in groups 2 and 3 were immediately filled with BSA-loaded gel or Noggin-loaded gel, respectively. Serial 3D-CT scan reconstructions of the defects and standard radiographs were obtained at 10, 25, 42, and 84 days of age, and the sutures were harvested for histological analysis.
Results: Radiographic analysis revealed that Noggin-treated animals had significantly greater coronal suture marker separation by 25 days and significantly greater craniofacial length at 84 days of age compared with controls. 3D-CT analysis revealed that Noggin treatment led to significantly greater defect areas through 84 days and to increased intracranial volumes at 84 days of age compared with other groups. Histological analysis supported CT data, showing that the untreated and BSA-treated groups had significant healing of the suturectomy site, whereas the Noggin-treated group had incomplete wound healing.
Conclusions: These data support our hypothesis that inhibition of BMP activity using Noggin may prevent postoperative resynostosis in this rabbit model. These findings also suggest that Noggin therapy may have potential clinical use to prevent postoperative resynostosis in infants with craniosynostosis.
Genetic Architecture of Conspecific Sperm Precedence inAllonemobius fasciatusandA. socius
Authors: Britch Seth C , Swartout Emma J , Hampton Daniel D , Draney Michael L , Chu Jiming , Marshall Jeremy L , Howard Daniel J 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe evolution of barriers to gene exchange is centrally important to speciation. We used the crickets Allonemobius fasciatus and A. socius to investigate the genetic architecture of conspecific sperm precedence (CSP), a postinsemination prezygotic reproductive barrier. With amplified fragment-length polymorphism (AFLP) markers and controlled crosses we constructed linkage maps and estimated positions of QTL associated with CSP. The majority of QTL have low to moderate effects, although a few QTL exist in A. socius with large effects, and the numbers of QTL are comparable to numbers of genes accounting for species differences in other studies. The QTL are spread across many unlinked markers, yet QTL placed with linked markers are on a small number of linkage groups that could reflect the role of the large Allonemobius sex chromosome in prezygotic isolation. Although many QTL had positive effects on conspecific sperm utilization several QTL also exerted negative effects, which could be explained by intraspecific sexual conflict, sperm competition, or epistasis of introgressed genes on novel backgrounds. One unexpected outcome was that A. socius CSP alleles have a stronger effect than those from A. fasciatus in hybrid females, causing hybrids to behave like A. socius with regard to sperm utilization. Implications of this asymmetry in the Allonemobius hybrid zone are discussed.