bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rainfall Variability over Mountainous and Adjacent Lake Areas: The Case of Lake Tana Basin at the Source of the Blue Nile River
Authors: Haile Alemseged T. , Rientjes Tom , Gieske Ambro , Gebremichael Mekonnen 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
The water resource of the Blue Nile River is of key regional importance to the northeastern African countries. However, little is known about the characteristics of the rainfall in the basin. In this paper, the authors presented the space–time variability of the rainfall in the vicinity of Lake Tana, which is the source of the Blue Nile River. The analysis was based on hourly rainfall data from a network of newly installed rain gauges, and cloud temperature indices from the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG–2) Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) satellite sensor. The spatial and temporal patterns of rainfall were examined using not only statistical techniques such as exceedance probabilities, spatial correlation structure, harmonic analysis, and fractal analysis but also marginal statistics such as mean and standard deviation. In addition, a convective index was calculated from remote sensing images to infer the spatial and temporal patterns of rainfall. Heavy rainfall is frequent at stations that are relatively close to the lake. The correlation distances for the hourly and the daily rainfall are found at about 8 and 18 km, respectively. The rainfall shows a strong spatially varying diurnal cycle. The nocturnal rainfall was found to be higher over the southern shore of Lake Tana than over the mountainous area farther to the south. The maximum convection occurs between 1600 and 1700 local standard time (LST) over the Gilgel Abbay, Ribb, and Gumara catchments, and between 2200 and 2300 LST over Lake Tana and the Megech catchments. In addition, the hourly rainfall of the station with the highest elevation is relatively closely clustered as compared to those stations at lower elevation. The study provides relevant information for understanding rainfall variation with elevation and distance from a lake. This understanding benefits climate and hydrological studies, water resources management, and energy development in the region.
Understanding Land–Sea Warming Contrast in Response to Increasing Greenhouse Gases. Part I: Transient Adjustment
Authors: Dong Buwen , Gregory Jonathan M. , Sutton Rowan T. 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
Climate model simulations consistently show that surface temperature over land increases more rapidly than over sea in response to greenhouse gas forcing. The enhanced warming over land is not simply a transient effect caused by the land–sea contrast in heat capacities, since it is also present in equilibrium conditions. This paper elucidates the transient adjustment processes over time scales of days to weeks of the surface and tropospheric climate in response to a doubling of CO2 and to changes in sea surface temperature (SST), imposed separately and together, using ensembles of experiments with an atmospheric general circulation model. These adjustment processes can be grouped into three stages: immediate response of the troposphere and surface processes (day 1), fast adjustment of surface processes (days 2–5), and adjustment of the whole troposphere (days 6–20).
Some land surface warming in response to doubled CO2 (with unchanged SSTs) occurs immediately because of increased downward longwave radiation. Increased CO2 also leads to reduced plant stomatal resistance and hence restricted evaporation, which increases land surface warming in the first day. Rapid reductions in cloud amount lead in the next few days to increased downward shortwave radiation and further warming, which spreads upward from the surface, and by day 5 the surface and tropospheric response is statistically consistent with the equilibrium value. Land surface warming in response to imposed SST change (with unchanged CO2) is slower. Tropospheric warming is advected inland from the sea, and over land it occurs at all levels together rather than spreading upward from the surface. The atmospheric response to prescribed SST change in about 20 days is statistically consistent with the equilibrium value, and the warming is largest in the upper troposphere over both land and sea. The land surface warming involves reduction of cloud cover and increased downward shortwave radiation, as in the experiment with CO2 change, but in this case it is due to the restriction of moisture supply to the land (indicated by reduced soil moisture), whereas in the CO2 forcing experiment it is due to restricted evaporation despite increased moisture supply (indicated by increased soil moisture). The warming over land in response to SST change is greater than over the sea and is the dominant contribution to the land–sea warming contrast under enhanced CO2 forcing.
A New Method for Exploring Coupled Land–Atmosphere Dynamics
Authors: DelSole Timothy , Zhao Mei , Dirmeyer Paul 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
This paper proposes a new method for investigating coupled land–atmosphere interactions. The method is to apply an empirical correction technique to distinct components of a model and then examine differences between forecasts of the empirically corrected models. The correction technique is based on adding a time-dependent term to the tendency equations that subtracts the estimated tendency error at every time step. This methodology can be interpreted more generally as a series of data assimilation experiments in which only certain components of a coupled model are assimilated at a time. The correction is applied to a state-of-the-art coupled land–atmosphere model in three different ways, namely, to the atmosphere only, to the land only, and to the land and atmosphere simultaneously. The land–atmosphere interactions are inferred from monthly-mean differences between experiments. The results suggest that the land–atmosphere coupling in midlatitudes can be understood from straightforward water balance considerations, whereas the coupling in the deep tropics involves a more complicated change in regional circulation. Specifically, in midlatitudes, moisture injected into the soil is transferred to the atmosphere directly above, which in turn advects downstream and subsequently moistens the atmosphere in the downwind regions to produce positive precipitation anomalies. In the deep tropics, the regional circulation, including precipitation, is sensitive to perturbations and has no obvious relation to corrections in the atmosphere or land. The similarity of biases among different models suggests that the conclusions and methodology may be relevant to other models.
Effects of Rain Gauge Temporal Resolution on the Specification of a Z–R Relationship
Authors: Mapiam Punpim Puttaraksa , Sriwongsitanon Nutchanart , Chumchean Siriluk , Sharma Ashish 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
The weather radar is an efficient alternative for measuring spatially varying rainfall covering a large area at a high temporal resolution. This paper studies the impact of rainfall gauge temporal resolution on optimal relationships between radar reflectivity (Z) and rainfall rate (R). Four datasets of radar reflectivity and corresponding rain gauge rainfall data from Sydney and Brisbane, Australia, and one dataset from Bangkok, Thailand, were used in the analysis. Climatological Z–R relationships were calibrated using rainfall aggregated over 1–24 h to investigate the evidence of temporal scaling in the Z–R calibrated parameters. This analysis points to an increase in the multiplicative term (the A parameter) of the Z–R relationship as temporal resolutions become finer. This pattern is repeated in all the datasets analyzed. Thereafter, a simple scaling hypothesis was proposed to develop transformations that could scale the A parameter in the Z–R relation across a range of temporal resolutions. This scaling relationship was found to be suitable, with the scaling exponent attaining values close to 0.055 across all the datasets analyzed. The proposed relationship has a significant role in radar rainfall estimation studies, especially in regions where subdaily gauge rainfall measurements are not readily available to ascertain optimal Z–R parameters.
Exploring the reality of applied partnerships: The case of the Greek school health education curriculum
Authors: Soultatou Pelagia , Duncan Peter 
Published: February 2009

Objective To explore the barriers and facilitators of building partnerships in terms of the national school health education (SHE) curriculum in Greek secondary education. Setting One large urban public secondary school, local authorities and external partners. Methods A single case study, adopting an ethnographic approach, sought to record and explore the reality of partnerships at school level. Multilevel sampling was employed to extract one secondary school as a site for `good practice'. Individual interviews, focus groups, observation and document analysis were used to build this case study of applied partnerships. Grounded theory coding and thematic analysis identified themes associated with the idea of partnerships through the corpus of textual data (verbal and written). Results (a) The key professional in the coordinating mechanism (local authorities) lacked sufficient support. (b) Voluntary collaborations alleviate the gaps in human resources. (c) Parents' engagement was marginal. (d) Top-down imposed partnerships did not work effectively. (e) `Social' health promoters were dismissed in favour of `biomedical' partners. Conclusions Overall an explicit trend of failure in the process of building partnerships was shown in terms of this case of SHE curriculum implementation. To explain this trend, it is necessary to engage in attempts to understand the culture and context of the case.
High fidelity? How should we consider variations in the delivery of school-based health promotion interventions?
Authors: Holliday Jo , Audrey Suzanne , Moore Laurence , Parry-Langdon Nina , Campbell Rona 
Published: February 2009

Objective The complexity and scale of health promotion interventions present challenges for the standardization of delivery. Furthermore, health promotion practice favours adapting interventions according to perceived client need. This paper examines the fidelity of intervention delivery within A Stop Smoking in Schools Trial (ASSIST), identifying if and why variations occurred, the consequences of these variations for the integrity of the intervention, and the broader implications for the delivery of evidence-based health promotion in schools. Design The ASSIST intervention involved influential Year 8 students being trained to encourage their peers, through informal conversations, to be smoke-free. Its effectiveness was evaluated by a pragmatic randomized controlled trial with an integral process evaluation to examine the context, implementation and receipt of the intervention. Setting Thirty secondary schools in South Wales and the west of England. Method A variety of methods, including interviews, questionnaires and observation, were used to obtain data from key participants. Qualitative data were analysed using the constant comparative method. Results Whilst overall fidelity was high, some variations were observed. Despite this variation, the intervention was largely delivered successfully and appropriately across a range of schools. Lessons learned from ASSIST enabled us to develop a model to categorize variations in intervention delivery. Conclusion The model developed can inform the design of health promotion interventions and identify the level of fidelity which should be expected outside of a trial. We believe that this model can contribute to good practice in the implementation of evidence-based health promotion in schools.
Depression and anxiety symptoms after lower limb amputation: the rise and fall
Authors: Singh Rajiv , Ripley David , Pentland Brian , Todd Iain , Hunter John , Hutton Lynne , Philip Alistair 
Published: February 2009

Objective: To examine the time course of anxiety and depressive symptoms over a three year period after amputation. Design and settings: A prospective study in inpatients admitted to a rehabilitation ward after lower limb amputation. Subjects: Successive admissions over a one-year period of whom 68 were alive at follow-up, 2—3 years later. Interventions: Nil. Main measures: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) on admission and discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and at a 2.7(SD=0.4) year mean follow-up period with correlation to demographic and patient features. Results: Of the 68 responding patients, 12 (17.6%) and 13 (19.1%) had symptoms of depression and anxiety respectively. This compared to an original incidence of 16 (23.5%) for both on admission and 2 (2.9%) on discharge. This rise in incidence from time of discharge was highly significant for both depression (P<0.001) and anxiety (P<0.001). Depression at follow-up was correlated to depressive symptoms at admission (P=0.03) and to having other significant comorbidities (P=0.02). Anxiety symptoms were commoner in younger patients (P=0.03). There was no association with age, gender, living in isolation, vascular cause for amputation, wearing a limb prosthesis or length of original inpatient stay. Conclusions: Depression and anxiety are common after lower limb amputation but resolve during inpatient rehabilitation. The incidence then rises again after discharge.
`Listen to me, tell me': a qualitative study of partnership in care for people with non-specific chronic low back pain
Authors: Slade Susan Carolyn , Molloy Elizabeth , Keating Jennifer Lyn 
Published: February 2009

Objective: To investigate and summarize participant experience of exercise programmes for non-specific chronic low back pain and the effects of these experiences on exercise participation and engagement. Subjects: Three groups of six adults (>18 years) who speak, read and understand English and who had participated in an exercise programme for non-specific chronic low back pain. Method: Qualitative research methods were used and three focus groups were conducted by an experienced facilitator. Each group was guided with a set of pre-determined questions and participants were encouraged to give personal opinions. Transcribed data were read independently by two researchers and analysed thematically according to Grounded Theory. Results: Preference for partnership in care emerged as a significant theme from all focus group transcripts. The following subthemes emerged: (1) engagement with the health care process; (2) `listen to me; I know my own body'; (3) `tell me: explain it to me'. People with non-specific chronic low back pain want an active role in their rehabilitation. They expressed anger and frustration at not being listened to, not being provided with adequate explanations and education and not being given credit for knowing their own bodies. Tension existed between patients' wanting a genuine voice in the partnership and them wanting a care-provider to give explicit diagnosis and best management instruction. Conclusion: A gap exists between care-seeker experiences of, and preferences for, exercise programmes for back pain. Care-seekers consider that care-providers should adopt a willingness to listen and consider care-seeker's experiences when designing exercise programmes.
Host natural killer T cells induce an interleukin-4–dependent expansion of donor CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T regulatory cells that protects against graft-versus-host disease
Authors: Pillai Asha B. , George Tracy I. , Dutt Suparna , Strober Samuel 
Published: February 2009

AbstractAlthough CD4+CD25+ T cells (T regulatory cells [Tregs]) and natural killer T cells (NKT cells) each protect against graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), interactions between these 2 regulatory cell populations after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) have not been studied. We show that host NKT cells can induce an in vivo expansion of donor Tregs that prevents lethal GVHD in mice after conditioning with fractionated lymphoid irradiation (TLI) and anti–T-cell antibodies, a regimen that models human GVHD-protective nonmyeloablative protocols using TLI and antithymocyte globulin (ATG), followed by allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). GVHD protection was lost in NKT-cell–deficient Jα18−/− hosts and interleukin-4 (IL-4)−/− hosts, or when the donor transplant was Treg depleted. Add-back of donor Tregs or wild-type host NKT cells restored GVHD protection. Donor Treg proliferation was lost in IL-4−/− hosts or when IL-4−/− mice were used as the source of NKT cells for adoptive transfer, indicating that host NKT cell augmentation of donor Treg proliferation after TLI/antithymocyte serum is IL-4 dependent. Our results demonstrate that host NKT cells and donor Tregs can act synergistically after BMT, and provide a mechanism by which strategies designed to preserve host regulatory cells can augment in vivo donor Treg expansion to regulate GVHD after allogeneic HCT.
Human and murine amniotic fluid c-Kit+Lin− cells display hematopoietic activity
Authors: Ditadi Andrea , de Coppi Paolo , Picone Olivier , Gautreau Laetitia , Smati Rim , Six Emmanuelle , Bonhomme Delphine , Ezine Sophie , Frydman René , Cavazzana-Calvo Marina , André-Schmutz Isabelle 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWe have isolated c-Kit+Lin− cells from both human and murine amniotic fluid (AF) and investigated their hematopoietic potential. In vitro, the c-Kit+Lin− population in both species displayed a multilineage hematopoietic potential, as demonstrated by the generation of erythroid, myeloid, and lymphoid cells. In vivo, cells belonging to all 3 hematopoietic lineages were found after primary and secondary transplantation of murine c-Kit+Lin− cells into immunocompromised hosts, thus demonstrating the ability of these cells to self-renew. Gene expression analysis of c-Kit+ cells isolated from murine AF confirmed these results. The presence of cells with similar characteristics in the surrounding amnion indicates the possible origin of AF c-Kit+Lin− cells. This is the first report showing that cells isolated from the AF do have hematopoietic potential; our results support the idea that AF may be a new source of stem cells for therapeutic applications.
Prognostic impact of WT1 mutations in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia: a study of the German-Austrian AML Study Group
Authors: Gaidzik Verena Ingeborg , Schlenk Richard Friedrich , Moschny Simone , Becker Annegret , Bullinger Lars , Corbacioglu Andrea , Krauter Jürgen , Schlegelberger Brigitte , Ganser Arnold , Döhner Hartmut , Döhner Konstanze 
Published: February 2009

AbstractTo evaluate the incidence and clinical impact of WT1 gene mutations in younger adult patients with cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (CN-AML), sequencing of the complete coding region was performed in diagnostic samples from 617 patients who were treated on 3 German-Austrian AML Study Group protocols. WT1 mutations were identified in 78 (12.6%) of the 617 patients; mutations clustered in exon 7 (54 of 78) and exon 9 (13 of 78), but also occurred in exons 1, 2, 3, and 8. WT1 mutations were significantly associated with younger age, higher serum lactate dehydrogenase levels, higher blood blast counts, and the additional presence of FLT3-ITD (P < .001) and CEBPA mutations (P = .004). There was no difference in relapse-free survival and overall survival between patients with (WT1mut) or without WT1 mutations. Subset analysis showed that patients with the genotype WT1mut/FLT3-ITDpos had a lower complete remission rate (P = .003) and an inferior relapse-free survival (P = .006) and overall survival (P < .001) compared with those with the genotype WT1mut/FLT3-ITDneg. In conclusion, in our large cohort of younger adults with CN-AML, WT1 mutation as a single molecular marker did not impact on outcome. However, our data suggest a negative impact of the genotype WT1mut/FLT3-ITDpos.
Muscarinic receptor subtypes in cilia-driven transport and airway epithelial development
Authors: Klein M. K. , Haberberger R. V. , Hartmann P. , Faulhammer P. , Lips K. S. , Krain B. , Wess J. , Kummer W. , König P. 
Published: February 2009

Ciliary beating of airway epithelial cells drives the removal of mucus and particles from the airways. Mucociliary transport and possibly airway epithelial development are governed by muscarinic acetylcholine receptors but the precise roles of the subtypes involved are unknown.This issue was addressed by determining cilia-driven particle transport, ciliary beat frequency, and the composition and ultrastructural morphology of the tracheal epithelium in M1–M5 muscarinic receptor gene-deficient mice.Knockout of M3 muscarinic receptors prevented an increase in particle transport speed and ciliary beat frequency in response to muscarine. Furthermore, the ATP response after application of muscarine was blunted. Pretreatment with atropine before application of muscarine restored the response to ATP. Additional knockout of the M2 receptor in these mice partially restored the muscarine effect, most likely through the M1 receptor, and normalised the ATP response. M1, M4 and M5 receptor-deficient mice exhibited normal responses to muscarine. None of the investigated mutant mouse strains had any impairment of epithelial cellular structure or composition.In conclusion, M3 receptors stimulate whereas M2 receptors inhibit cilia-driven particle transport. The M1 receptor increases cilia-driven particle transport if the M3 and M2 receptors are missing. None of the receptors is necessary for epithelial development.
Association between C-reactive protein and unrecognised sleep-disordered breathing in the elderly
Authors: Roche F. , Gaspoz J-M. , Pichot V. , Picard-Kossovsky M. , Maudoux D. , Garcin A. , Celle S. , Sforza E. , Barthélémy J. C. 
Published: February 2009

Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) have been reported in patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and may represent an inflammatory marker of cardiovascular risk. However, the association of CRP with SBD in presumed healthy elderly subjects is unknown.In total, 851 (58.5% females) 68-yr-old subjects, who were free of any known cardiac or sleep disorders, were prospectively examined. Subjects underwent unattended polygraphy, and the apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) and oxyhaemoglobin desaturation index (ODI) were assessed. Elevated levels of CRP were found on the morning after the sleep study in patients with more severe SDB. A significant correlation was found between CRP levels, time spent at night with arterial oxygen saturation <90% and ODI. No association was found between CRP levels and AHI. After adjustments for body mass index, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia, a significant association remained between CRP levels and ODI >10 events·h−1.CRP levels were frequently increased in a large sample of elderly subjects free of major cardiovascular disease. CRP levels were not correlated with the AHI and the indices of sleep fragmentation; the ODI >10 events·h−1was the strongest predictor of raised CRP level.The present results suggest that, in the elderly, intermittent hypoxaemia may underlie inflammatory processes leading to cardiovascular morbidity.