bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Practical Method for Quantifying Eco‐efficiency Using Eco‐design Support Tools
Authors: Kobayashi Yoshinori , Kobayashi Hideki , Hongu Akinori , Sanehira Kiyoshi 
Published: January 2006

SummaryEco‐efficiency at the product level is defined as product value per unit of environmental impact. In this paper we present a method for quantifying the eco‐efficiency using quality function deployment (QFD) and life‐cycle impact assessment (LCIA). These well‐known tools are widely used in the manufacturing industry.QFD, which is one of the methods used in product development based on consumer preferences, is introduced to calculate the product value. An index of the product value is calculated as the weighted average of improvement rates of quality characteristics. The importance of customer requirements, derived from the QFD matrix, is applied.Environmental impacts throughout a product life cycle are calculated based on an LCIA method widely used in Japan. By applying the LCIA method of endpoint type, the endpoint damage caused by various life‐cycle inventories is calculated. Willingness to pay is applied to integrate it into a single index.Eco‐design support tools, namely, the life‐cycle planning (LCP) tool and the life‐cycle assessment (LCA) tool, have already been developed. Using these tools, data required for calculation of the eco‐efficiency of products can be collected. The product value is calculated based on QFD data stored in the LCP tool and the environmental impact is calculated using the LCA tool.Case studies of eco‐efficiency are adopted and the adequacy of this method is clarified. Several advantages of this method are characterized.
Supply Curves for Eco‐efficient Environmental Improvements Using Different Weighting Methods
Authors: Nieuwlaar Evert , Warringa Geert , Brink Corjan , Vermeulen Walter 
Published: January 2006

SummaryEco‐efficiency implies environmental improvement at the lowest possible cost. When several environmental measures are possible, these can be ranked according to their cost per unit of environmental improvement, after which an eco‐efficient set of measures can be selected that yields a given level of environmental improvement at least cost. This procedure can be visualized as a supply curve for environmental improvement. Such a curve plots cumulative cost or cost per unit of environmental improvement against cumulative environmental improvement, with measures ordered according to increasing cost per unit of environmental improvement. This paper presents supply curves for environmental improvement on the basis of a set of possible environmental measures for a company in the Dutch oil and gas producing industry.To measure aggregated potential environmental improvement for a given measure, different environmental impacts are lumped together using weighting factors. We compare five methods for weighting environmental impacts, covering a wide range of current practices.The supply curves that were determined for each of the five weighting methods show relatively small differences, except for one (the distance‐to‐target method). The ranking of measures differs significantly, though, and as a result, so do the measures that are selected if total costs are restricted to a certain budget. Also, the consequent reduction in emissions of specific substances, in particular nitrogen oxides (NOx), depends on the weighting method selected.
A Microphysical Bulk Formulation Based on Scaling Normalization of the Particle Size Distribution. Part II: Data Assimilation into Physical Processes
Authors: Laroche Stéphane , Szyrmer Wanda , Zawadzki Isztar 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
Microphysical schemes based on the scaling normalization of the particle size distribution (PSD) are cast into a variational data assimilation method to assess their ability to retrieve the precipitation structure and humidity from moments of the PSD that can be derived from radar- and ground-based disdrometer measurements. The sedimentation and evaporation, which are the main processes below the cloud base, are examined. Various identical twin experiments are presented in the context of a column time-dependent model used to simulate the passage of precipitating cells over a short period of time. The relative humidity profile is assumed constant. The feedback of the microphysical processes on the thermodynamic fields is ignored. Observations are generated from a three-moment scheme having the zeroth, third, and sixth moments of the PSD as prognostic variables. The model is discretized in terms of the logarithms of the predictive moments, which render the adjustment of the model variables easier to the observations. An upper bound for the characteristic diameter for the sixth moment is however necessary to prevent numerical instabilities from developing during the data assimilation process.
The tangent linear model of the three-moment scheme reproduces well the difference between two nonlinear integrations over the assimilation window (8 min), which validates the use of its adjoint in the minimization of the cost function that measures the misfit between observations and corresponding model variables. A weak smoothness penalty function should be added to the cost function when noisy observations are assimilated.
When all the predicted moments are observed and assimilated, the minimization converges very well, even with 40% observation error. In this case, the reflectivity factor, which is related to the sixth moment, can be retrieved with 0.2-dB accuracy. When only the sixth moment is observed, the total number of concentration (related to the zeroth moment) cannot be recovered. However, the constant relative humidity can be obtained with 1% accuracy. When simpler one-moment and two-moment schemes are used to retrieve the precipitation structure from the observed sixth moment, the model error strongly projects on the nonobserved moments of the PSD.
Experimental Studies of Droplet Evaporation Kinetics: Validation of Models for Binary and Ternary Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Xue Huiwen , Moyle Alfred M. , Magee Nathan , Harrington Jerry Y. , Lamb Dennis 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
Experiments were conducted with an electrodynamic levitation system to study the kinetics of droplet evaporation under chemically rich conditions. Single solution droplets of known composition (HNO3/H2O or H2SO4/HNO3/H2O) were introduced into an environmentally controlled cubic levitation cell. The gaseous environment was set intentionally out of equilibrium with the droplet properties, thus permitting the HNO3 mass accommodation coefficient to be determined. Measurements were performed at room temperature and various pressures (200–1000 hPa). Droplet sizes (initial radii in the range 12–26 μm) were measured versus time to high precision (±0.03 μm) via Mie scattering and compared with sizes computed by different models for mass and heat transfer in the transition regime. The best agreement between the theoretical calculations and experimental results was obtained for an HNO3 mass accommodation coefficient of 0.11 ± 0.03 at atmospheric pressure, 0.17 ± 0.05 at 500 hPa, and 0.33 ± 0.08 at 200 hPa. The determination of the mass accommodation coefficient was not sensitive to the transport model used. The results show that droplet evaporation is strongly limited by HNO3 and occurs in two stages, one characterized by rapid H2O mass transfer and the other by HNO3 mass transfer. The presence of a nonvolatile solute (SO2−4) affects the activities of the volatile components (HNO3 and H2O) and prevents complete evaporation of the solution droplets. These findings validate recent attempts to include the effects of soluble trace gases in cloud models, as long as suitable model parameters are used.
Surface clustering of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 induced by long Homer proteins
Authors: Kammermeier Paul J 
Published: January 2006

AbstractBackgroundMetabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) regulate neuronal excitability and synaptic strength. The group I mGluRs, mGluR1 and 5, are widespread in the brain and localize to post-synaptic sites. The Homer protein family regulates group I mGluR function and distribution. Constitutively expressed 'long' Homer proteins (Homer 1b, 1c, 2 and 3) induce dendritic localization of group I mGluRs and receptor clustering, either internally or on the plasma membrane. Short Homer proteins (Homer 1a, Ania-3) exhibit regulated expression and act as dominant negatives, producing effects on mGluR distribution and function that oppose those of the long Homer proteins.There remains some controversy over whether long Homer proteins induce receptor internalization by inducing retention in the endoplasmic reticulum, or induce mGluR clustering on the plasma membrane. Further, an exhaustive study of the effects of each long Homer isoform on mGluR distribution has not been published.ResultsThe distribution of a GFP-tagged group I mGluR, mGluR1-GFP, was examined in the absence of Homer proteins and in the presence of several Homer isoforms expressed in sympathetic neurons from the rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF-M) and confocal microscopy. Quantitative analysis of mGluR1-GFP fluorescence using TIRF-M revealed that expression of each long Homer isoform tested (Homer 1b, 1c, 2b and 3) induced a significant degree of surface clustering. Using confocal imaging, Homer-induced mGluR clusters were observed intra-cellularly as well as on the plasma membrane. Further, in approximately 40% of neurons co-expressing mGluR1-GFP and Homer 1b, intracellular inclusions were observed, but plasma membrane clusters were also documented in some Homer 1b coexpressing cells.ConclusionAll long Homer proteins examined (Homer 1b, 1c, 2b and 3) induced a significant degree of mGluR1-GFP clustering on the plasma membrane compared to cells expressing mGluR1-GFP alone. Clusters induced by long Homers appeared on the plasma membrane and intracellularly, suggesting that clusters form prior to plasma membrane insertion and/or persist after internalization. Finally, while Homer 1b induced surface clustering of mGluR1 in some cells, under some conditions intracellular retention may occur.
Chronic exposure to MDMA (Ecstasy) elicits behavioral sensitization in rats but fails to induce cross-sensitization to other psychostimulants
Authors: Modi Gunjan M , Yang Pamela B , Swann Alan C , Dafny Nachum 
Published: January 2006

AbstractBackgroundThe recreational use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) among adolescents and young adults has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. While evidence suggests that the long-term consequences of MDMA use include neurodegeneration to serotonergic and, possibly, dopaminergic pathways, little is known about susceptibility, such as behavioral sensitization, to MDMA.MethodsThe objectives of this study were to examine the dose-response characteristics of acute and chronic MDMA administration in rats and to determine whether MDMA elicits behavioral sensitization and whether it cross-sensitizes with amphetamine and methylphenidate. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three MDMA dosage groups (2.5 mg/kg, 5.0 mg/kg, and 10.0 mg/kg) and a saline control group (N = 9/group). All three MDMA groups were treated for six consecutive days, followed by a 5-day washout, and subsequently re-challenged with their respective doses of MDMA (day 13). Rats were then given an additional 25-day washout period, and re-challenged (day 38) with similar MDMA doses as before followed by either 0.6 mg/kg amphetamine or 2.5 mg/kg methylphenidate on the next day (day 39). Open-field locomotor activity was recorded using a computerized automated activity monitoring system.ResultsAcute injection of 2.5 mg/kg MDMA showed no significant difference in locomotor activity from rats given saline (control group), while animals receiving acute 5.0 mg/kg or 10.0 mg/kg MDMA showed significant increases in locomotor activity. Rats treated chronically with 5.0 mg/kg and 10.0 mg/kg MDMA doses exhibited an augmented response, i.e., behavioral sensitization, on experimental day 13 in at least one locomotor index. On experimental day 38, all three MDMA groups demonstrated sensitization to MDMA in at least one locomotor index. Amphetamine and methylphenidate administration to MDMA-sensitized animals did not elicit any significant change in locomotor activity compared to control animals.ConclusionMDMA sensitized to its own locomotor activating effects but did not elicit any cross-sensitization with amphetamine or methylphenidate.
Female Caregivers' Experiences With Intimate Partner Violence and Behavior Problems in Children Investigated as Victims of Maltreatment
Authors: Hazen Andrea L. , Connelly Cynthia D. , Kelleher Kelly J. , Barth Richard P. , Landsverk John A. 
Published: January 2006

OBJECTIVE. We examined the relationship between women's experiences with intimate partner violence and their reports of child behavior problems.
METHODS. Data were from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, a national probability study of children who were the subjects of child abuse and neglect investigations. The sample consisted of 2020 female caregivers of children between the ages of 4 and 14 years who were interviewed about demographic characteristics, child behavior problems, female caregiver mental health, parenting behaviors, experiences with intimate partner violence, and community characteristics. Information on child abuse and neglect was obtained in interviews with child protective services workers. Multiple-regression analyses were used to investigate the association between caregiver victimization and child behavior problems while controlling for the effects of child, family, and environmental characteristics. The potential moderating effects of caregiver depression and parenting practices on the relation between intimate partner violence and child behavior problems were examined also.
RESULTS. Severe intimate partner violence was associated with both externalizing and internalizing behavior problems when other risk factors were controlled. Use of corporal punishment and psychological aggression were significant moderators, but maternal depression did not moderate the relation between intimate partner violence and behavior problems.
CONCLUSIONS. This study adds to the evidence that maternal caregivers' experiences with intimate partner violence are related to child functioning. The findings suggest that systematic efforts are needed to ensure that mental health needs are identified and addressed appropriately in children exposed to this violence.
Changes in Prevalence of Asthma and Allergies Among Children and Adolescents in Italy: 1994–2002
Authors: Galassi Claudia , De Sario Manuela , Biggeri Annibale , Bisanti Luigi , Chellini Elisabetta , Ciccone Giovannino , Petronio Maria Grazia , Piffer Silvano , Sestini Piersante , Rusconi Franca , Viegi Giovanni , Forastiere Francesco 
Published: January 2006

BACKGROUND. Several studies conducted during the 1990s indicated an increase in the prevalence of symptoms of asthma; more recent investigations suggest that the trend is stabilizing or may even be reversing.
OBJECTIVE. We compared 2 cross-sectional surveys conducted in 1994 and 2002 in 8 areas in northern and central Italy, to evaluate prevalence changes for asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema.
METHODS. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood methods and questionnaires were used to investigate 6- to 7-year-old children (16115 and 11287 questionnaires completed by parents in 1994–1995 and 2002, respectively) and 13- to 14-year-old adolescents (19723 and 10267 questionnaires completed by adolescents in 1994–1995 and 2002, respectively). In each phase, the overall response rate was &gt;90%. Prevalence changes were calculated as the absolute difference between the prevalence recorded on the 2 occasions.
RESULTS. The prevalence of wheeze (past 12 months) increased slightly among children (change: 0.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0% to 1.6%) and was rather stable among adolescents. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis (children: change: 5.2%; 95% CI: 4.0% to 6.4%; adolescents: change: 4.1%; 95% CI: 1.9% to 6.3%) and symptoms of atopic eczema (children: change: 4.4%; 95% CI: 3.6% to 5.2%; adolescents: change: 2.1%; 95% CI: 1.2% to 3.0%) increased clearly in both age groups. There was some heterogeneity across the centers among adolescents, especially for allergic rhinitis, with larger increases seen in the 3 metropolitan areas. The changes observed paralleled profound family changes, ie, better parental education, higher rates of maternal employment, and lower rates of exposure to parental smoke. These factors, however, do not explain all of the observed changes in prevalence.
CONCLUSIONS. The results indicate that the epidemiologic features of asthma and allergies in Italy are changing rapidly, although the causes are still uncertain.
Early Puberty-Menarche After Precocious Pubarche: Relation to Prenatal Growth
Authors: Ibáñez Lourdes , Jiménez Rafael , de Zegher Francis 
Published: January 2006

OBJECTIVE. Girls with precocious pubarche (PP; pubic hair at &lt;8 years of age) as a result of an early or amplified adrenarche (high dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate [DHEAS]) tend to be hyperinsulinemic, in particular when born with low birth weight (LBW). The objective of this study was to assess the interrelationship among prenatal growth, PP, the timing of puberty-menarche, and adult stature.
METHODS. We studied 187 PP girls longitudinally: (1) at birth, (2) in prepuberty, (3) at onset of puberty, (4) at menarche, and (5) on reaching adult stature. This PP cohort was divided into subgroups of higher birth weight (&gt;0 SD), intermediate birth weight (0 to −2 SD), and lower birth weight (less than −2 SD).
RESULTS. At the time of PP diagnosis, age, bone age, and BMI were similar across birth weight subgroups; circulating sex hormone–binding globulin and body height were reduced in PP girls with lower birth weight, and these remained so throughout pubertal development. Onset of puberty occurred earlier in PP girls with lower birth weight; so did menarche. Adult height differed by an average of 6.5 cm (∼1 SD) between the upper and lower birth weight subgroups; this difference was essentially achieved before puberty and even before PP. Menarche before age 12.0 years was twofold more prevalent in PP girls than in control subjects. Among PP girls, age at menarche was advanced by 8 to 10 months in lower versus higher birth weight girls. Menarche before age 12.0 years was threefold more prevalent among LBW-PP girls than in control subjects (∼75% vs ∼25%).
CONCLUSIONS. The link between prenatal growth restraint and early menarche is herewith extended to PP girls. In particular LBW-PP girls may become a target group for interventions directed toward normalization of pubertal onset and progression.
Annual Summary of Vital Statistics: 2004
Authors: Hoyert Donna L. , Mathews T.J. , Menacker Fay , Strobino Donna M. , Guyer Bernard 
Published: January 2006

The crude birth rate in 2004 was 14.0 births per 1000 population, the second lowest ever reported for the United States. The number of births and the fertility rate (66.3) increased slightly (by &lt;1%) from 2003 to 2004. Fertility rates were highest for Hispanic women (97.7), followed by Asian or Pacific Islander (67.2), non-Hispanic black (66.7), Native American (58.9), and non-Hispanic white (58.5) women.The birth rate for teen mothers continued to fall, dropping 1% from 2003 to 2004 to 41.2 births per 1000 women aged 15 to 19 years, which is another record low. The teen birth rate has fallen 33% since 1991; declines were more rapid for younger teens aged 15 to 17 (43%) than for older teens aged 18 to 19 (26%). The proportion of all births to unmarried women is now slightly higher than one third. Smoking during pregnancy declined slightly from 2003 to 2004.In 2004, 29.1% of births were delivered by cesarean delivery, up 6% since 2003 and 41% since 1996 (20.7%). The primary cesarean delivery rate has risen 41% since 1996, whereas the rate of vaginal birth after a previous cesarean delivery has fallen 67%. The use of timely prenatal care was 84.0% in both 2003 and 2004.The percentage of preterm births rose to 12.5% in 2004 from 10.6% in 1990 and 9.4% in 1981. The percentage of low birth weight births also increased to 8.1% in 2004, up from 6.7% in 1984. Twin birth rate and triplet/+ birth rates increased by 1% and &lt;1%, respectively, from 2002 to 2003. Multiple births accounted for 3.3% of all births in 2003.The infant mortality rate was 7.0 per 1000 live births in 2002 compared with 6.8 in 2001. The ratio of the infant mortality rate among non-Hispanic black infants to that for non-Hispanic white infants was 2.4 in 2002, the same as in 2001. The United States continues to rank poorly in international comparisons of infant mortality.Expectation of life at birth reached a record high of 77.6 years for all gender and race groups combined. Death rates in the United States continue to decline, with death rates decreasing for 8 of the 15 leading causes. Death rates for children ≤19 years of age declined for 7 of the 10 leading causes in 2003. The death rates did not increase for any cause, and rates for heart disease, influenza, and pneumonia and septicemia did not change significantly for children as a group. A large proportion of childhood deaths, however, continue to occur as a result of preventable injuries.
Riboflavin as a Source of Autofluorescence in Eisenia fetida Coelomocytes
Authors: Koziol Beata , Markowicz Magdalena , Kruk Jerzy , Plytycz Barbara 
Published: January 2006

ABSTRACTImmunocompetent cells of earthworms (coelomocytes) contain adherent amoebocytes and large eleocytes (chloragocytes); the latter are filled with numerous granules. We have previously shown that eleocytes of several (but not all) earthworm species exhibit strong autofluorescence detectable by fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry. In the present article, the molecular origin of eleocytes autofluorescence was elucidated in coelomocytes expelled via dorsal pores in the integument of Eisenia fetida subjected to electric shock (1 min at 4.5 V). Spectrofluorometry (excitation and emission spectra and fluorescence lifetime), together with HPLC analysis of coelomocyte suspensions and supernatants, indicated that riboflavin but not FMN (flavin mononucleotide) or FAD (flavin‐adenine dinucleotide) is the main fluorophore responsible for eleocyte fluorescence in this species. Additionally, lipofuscins are suspected to participate in this phenomenon.