bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On Estimating Dry Deposition Rates in Complex Terrain
Authors: Hicks Bruce B. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
In complex terrain, horizontal advection and filtration through a canopy can add substantially to the vertical diffusion component assumed to be the dominant transfer mechanism in conventional deposition velocity formulations. To illustrate this, three separate kinds of terrain complexity are addressed here: 1) a horizontal landscape with patches of forest, 2) a uniformly vegetated gentle hill, and 3) a mountainous area. In flat areas with plots of trees, the elevation of the standard area-weighted dry deposition velocity will likely depend on the product hn1/2, where h is the tree height and n is the number of plots per unit area. For the second case, it is proposed that the standard “flat earth” deposition velocity might need to be increased by a factor like [1 + Ra/(Rb + Rc)]1/2. For mountainous ecosystems, where no precise estimate of local dry deposition appears attainable, the actual dry deposition rate is probably bounded by the extremes associated with 1) the flat earth assumption involving aerodynamic, quasi-boundary layer, and canopy resistances as in conventional formulations, and 2) an alternative assumption that the aerodynamic resistance is zero. Such issues are of particular importance in the context of atmospheric loadings to sensitive ecosystems, where the concepts of critical loads and deposition forecasting are now of increasing relevance. They are probably of less importance if the emphasis is on air quality alone, because air quality responds slowly to changes in deposition rates. The issues addressed here are mainly appropriate in the context of air surface exchange that is not controlled by surface resistance (e.g., for deposition of easily captured chemicals such as nitric acid vapor, and perhaps for atmospheric momentum) and for chemicals that have no local sources. It is argued that dry deposition rates derived from classical applications of deposition velocities are often underestimates.
Dewpoint Temperature Prediction Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Shank D. B. , Hoogenboom G. , McClendon R. W. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractDewpoint temperature, the temperature at which water vapor in the air will condense into liquid, can be useful in estimating frost, fog, snow, dew, evapotranspiration, and other meteorological variables. The goal of this study was to use artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict dewpoint temperature from 1 to 12 h ahead using prior weather data as inputs. This study explores using three-layer backpropagation ANNs and weather data combined for three years from 20 locations in Georgia, United States, to develop general models for dewpoint temperature prediction anywhere within Georgia. Specific objectives included the selection of the important weather-related inputs, the setting of ANN parameters, and the selection of the duration of prior input data. An iterative search found that, in addition to dewpoint temperature, important weather-related ANN inputs included relative humidity, solar radiation, air temperature, wind speed, and vapor pressure. Experiments also showed that the best models included 60 nodes in the ANN hidden layer, a ±0.15 initial range for the ANN weights, a 0.35 ANN learning rate, and a duration of prior weather-related data used as inputs ranging from 6 to 30 h based on the lead time. The evaluation of the final models with weather data from 20 separate locations and for a different year showed that the 1-, 4-, 8-, and 12-h predictions had mean absolute errors (MAEs) of 0.550°, 1.234°, 1.799°, and 2.280°C, respectively. These final models predicted dewpoint temperature adequately using previously unseen weather data, including difficult freeze and heat stress extremes. These predictions are useful for decisions in agriculture because dewpoint temperature along with air temperature affects the intensity of freezes and heat waves, which can damage crops, equipment, and structures and can cause injury or death to animals and humans.
A Two-Tier Statistical Forecast Method for Agricultural and Resource Management Simulations
Authors: Mauget Steven A. , Ko Jonghan 
Published: July 2008

AbstractSimple phase schemes to predict seasonal climate based on leading ENSO indicators can be used to estimate the value of forecast information in agriculture and watershed management, but may be limited in predictive skill. Here, a simple two-tier statistical method is used to hindcast seasonal precipitation over the continental United States, and the resulting skill is compared with that of ENSO phase systems based on Niño-3 sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) and Southern Oscillation index (SOI) persistence. The two-tier approach first predicts Niño-3 winter season SSTA, and then converts those predictions to categorical precipitation hindcasts via a simple phase translation process. The hindcasting problem used to make these comparisons is relevant to winter wheat production over the central United States. Thus, given the state of seasonal SOI and Niño-3 indicators defined before August, the goal is to predict the tercile category of the following November–March precipitation. Generally, it was found that the methods based on either predicted or persisted winter Niño-3 conditions were skillful over areas where ENSO affects U.S. winter precipitation—that is, the Southeast and the Gulf Coast, Texas, the southern and central plains, the Southwest, Northwest, and the Ohio River valley—and that the two-tier approach based on predicted Niño-3 conditions was more likely to provide the best skill. Skill based on SOI persistence was generally lower over many of those regions and was insignificant over broad parts of the central and southwest United States, but did lead the other methods over the Ohio River valley and the northwest. A more restrictive test of leading hindcast skill showed that the skill advantages of the two-tier approach over the central and western United States were not substantial, and mainly highlighted SOI persistence’s lack of skill over the central United States and leading skill over the Ohio River valley. However, two-tier hindcasts based on neural-network-predicted Niño-3 SSTA were clearly more skillful than both ENSO phase methods over areas of the Southeast. It is suggested that the relative skill advantage of the two-tier approach may be due in part to the use of arbitrary thresholds in ENSO phase systems.
Infrared Continental Surface Emissivity Spectra Retrieved from AIRS Hyperspectral Sensor
Authors: Péquignot E. , Chédin A. , Scott N. A. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS; NASA Aqua platform) observations over land are interpreted in terms of monthly mean surface emissivity spectra at a resolution of 0.05 μm and skin temperature. For each AIRS observation, an estimation of the atmospheric temperature and water vapor profiles is first obtained through a proximity recognition within the thermodynamic initial guess retrieval (TIGR) climatological library of about 2300 representative clear-sky atmospheric situations. With this a priori information, all terms of the radiative transfer equation are calculated by using the Automatized Atmospheric Absorption Atlas (4A) line-by-line radiative transfer model. Then, surface temperature is evaluated by using a single AIRS channel (centered at 12.183 μm) chosen for its almost constant emissivity with respect to soil type. Emissivity is then calculated for a set of 40 atmospheric windows (transmittance greater than 0.5) distributed over the AIRS spectrum. The overall infrared emissivity spectrum at 0.05-μm resolution is finally derived from a combination of high-spectral-resolution laboratory measurements of various materials carefully selected within the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer/University of California, Santa Barbara (MODIS/UCSB) and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (ASTER/JPL) emissivity libraries. It is shown from simulations that the accuracy of the method developed in this paper, the multispectral method (MSM), varies from about 3% around 4 μm to considerably less than 1% in the 10–12-μm spectral window. Three years of AIRS observations (from April 2003 to March 2006) between 30°S and 30°N have been processed and interpreted in terms of monthly mean surface skin temperature and emissivity spectra from 3.7 to 14.0 μm at a spatial resolution of 1° × 1°. AIRS retrievals are compared with the MODIS (also flying aboard the NASA/Aqua platform) monthly mean L3 products and with the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies baseline-fit method (UW/CIMSS BF) global infrared land surface emissivity database.
A Modification to the NOAH LSM to Simulate Heat Mitigation Strategies in the New York City Metropolitan Area
Authors: Lynn Barry H. , Carlson Toby N. , Rosenzweig Cynthia , Goldberg Richard , Druyan Leonard , Cox Jennifer , Gaffin Stuart , Parshall Lily , Civerolo Kevin 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
A new approach to simulating the urban environment with a mesocale model has been developed to identify efficient strategies for mitigating increases in surface air temperatures associated with the urban heat island (UHI). A key step in this process is to define a “global” roughness for the cityscape and to use this roughness to diagnose 10-m temperature, moisture, and winds within an atmospheric model. This information is used to calculate local exchange coefficients for different city surface types (each with their own “local roughness” lengths); each surface’s energy balances, including surface air temperatures, humidity, and wind, are then readily obtained. The model was run for several summer days in 2001 for the New York City five-county area. The most effective strategy to reduce the surface radiometric and 2-m surface air temperatures was to increase the albedo of the city (impervious) surfaces. However, this caused increased thermal stress at street level, especially noontime thermal stress. As an alternative, the planting of trees reduced the UHI’s adverse effects of high temperatures and also reduced noontime thermal stress on city residents (and would also have reduced cooling energy requirements of small structures). Taking these results together, the analysis suggests that the best mitigation strategy is planting trees at street level and increasing the reflectivity of roofs.
Modelling Service User Participation in Social Care
Authors: Webb Stephen A. 
Published: July 2008

• Summary: This article develops a means of evaluating service user participation in social care by modelling from a social network analysis framework. • Findings: The three sections of the article cover: i) an overview of the literature identifying the main agendas and influences of practical and theoretical models; ii) mapping the meanings and the mechanisms of interpretation of participation in social care; iii) a positive proposal of a network analytic model for evaluating the degrees of participation in social care agencies for monitoring and evaluation. The conclusion raises some criticisms of the ways social care research has engaged in too general discussions of participation such that they cannot be operationalized. Some observations about the politics of `representation' and `faith' in calls for participation are also raised. • Applications : A positive proposal of a network analytic model for evaluating the degrees of service user participation in social care agencies for monitoring and accountability is developed. The value of social network analysis is outlined by its emphasis on relationships between actors, as distinct from an emphasis on the attributes of individual and groups of actors. To this end a new model of participation for social care derived from network analysis is developed.
Role of IGF-1/IGF-1R in regulation of invasion in DU145 prostate cancer cells
Authors: Saikali Zeina , Setya Hemani , Singh Gurmit , Persad Sujata 
Published: July 2008

Abstract

Background
Prostate cancer progression to androgen independence is the primary cause of mortality by this tumor type. The IGF-1/IGF-1R axis is well known to contribute to prostate cancer initiation, but its contribution to invasiveness and the downstream signalling mechanisms that are involved are unclear at present.

Results
We examined the invasive response of androgen independent DU145 prostate carcinoma cells to IGF-1 stimulation using Matrigel assays. We then examined the signaling mechanisms and protease activities that are associated with this response. IGF-1 significantly increased the invasive capacity of DU145 cells in vitro, and this increase was inhibited by blocking IGF-1R. We further demonstrated that specific inhibitors of the MAPK and PI3-K pathways decrease IGF-1-mediated invasion. To determine potential molecular mechanisms for this change in invasive capacity, we examined changes in expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases. We observed that IGF-1 increases the enzymatic activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in DU145 cells. These changes in activity are due to differences in expression in the case of MMP-9 but not in the case of MMP-2. This observation is corroborated by the fact that correlated changes of expression in a regulator of MMP-2, TIMP-2, were also seen.

Conclusion
This work identifies a specific effect of IGF-1 on the invasive capacity of DU145 prostate cancer cells, and furthermore delineates mechanisms that contribute to this effect.
Evidence for PI-3K-dependent migration of Th17-polarized cells in response to CCR2 and CCR6 agonists
Authors: Webb Adam , Johnson Andrew , Fortunato Mara , Platt Adam , Crabbe Tom , Christie Mark I , Watt Gillian F , Ward Stephen G , Jopling Louise A 
Published: June 2008

AbstractIL-17-producing Th cells (Th17) are a distinct subset of effector cells that bridge the innate and adaptive immune system and are implicated in autoimmune disease processes. CD4+ splenocytes from DO11.10 mice were activated with OVA peptide323–339 and maintained under Th17 polarization conditions, resulting in significantly higher proportions of IL-17+ T cells compared with nonpolarized (Th0) cells. Th17-polarizing conditions significantly increased the proportion of cells expressing the chemokine receptors CCR2, CCR6, and CCR9 when compared with Th0 cells. In contrast, there was a significant decrease in the proportion of cells expressing CXCR3 under Th17-polarizing conditions compared with nonpolarizing conditions. The respective chemokine agonists for CCR2 (CCL2 and CCL12), CCR6 (CCL20), and CCR9 (CCL25) elicited migration and PI-3K-dependent signaling events in Th17-polarized cells, thus indicating that all three receptors were functionally and biochemically responsive. Furthermore, postmigration phenotypic analysis demonstrated that the agonists for CCR2 and CCR6, but not CCR9, stimulated a modest enrichment of IL-17+ cells compared with the premigration population. Pan-isoform inhibitors of PI-3K/Akt signaling prevented CCR2- and CCR6-mediated, polarized Th17 cell migration in a concentration-dependent manner. The unique chemokine receptor expression pattern of Th17 cells and their corresponding PI-3K-dependent migratory responses are important for understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and may provide opportunities for the application of CCR2 and CCR6 antagonists and PI-3K isoform-selective inhibitors in defined inflammatory settings.
Complex sexual courtship displays by luminescent male marine ostracods
Authors: Rivers Trevor J. , Morin James G. 
Published: June 2008

SUMMARYIn the western Caribbean Sea, about an hour after the sun sets, a complex and ritualized light show of precise, vertically placed luminescent pulses erupts over shallow grassbeds. These are among the most complex displays known in marine systems. Displays consist of repeated trains of secreted bioluminescent pulses in a specific pattern ejected into the water column as courtship signals by male Vargula annecohenae, which are small (&lt;2 mm) myodocopid ostracod crustaceans. Although these animals display in near darkness, we have used image intensification and infrared videography and three-dimensional analysis in the lab to demonstrate that each luminescent display train, which can be up to 60 cm long, consists of two distinct luminescent and swimming phases. The first, or `stationary,' phase consists of three (usually) bright, longer pulses placed close together, with the male swimming in a looping pattern. We hypothesize that this pattern acts as an attention-grabbing signal for receptive females. The stationary phase is followed by the `helical phase,' which consists of about a dozen evenly placed dimmer, shorter pulses secreted by an individual male rapidly spiraling upward in a helical pattern. We hypothesize that this phase, which has very uniform interpulse intervals and distances, helps an approaching female target and intercept the rapidly moving male. Here we provide details of these two phases, and produce a three-dimensional model of a multiply-displaying male.
Oxygen dependency of hydrogen sulfide-mediated vasoconstriction in cyclostome aortas
Authors: Olson Kenneth R. , Forgan Leonard G. , Dombkowski Ryan A. , Forster Malcolm E. 
Published: June 2008

SUMMARY
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been proposed to mediate hypoxic vasoconstriction (HVC), however, other studies suggest the vasoconstrictory effect indirectly results from an oxidation product of H2S. Here we examined the relationship between H2S and O2 in isolated hagfish and lamprey vessels that exhibit profound hypoxic vasoconstriction. In myographic studies, H2S (Na2S) dose-dependently constricted dorsal aortas (DA) and efferent branchial arteries (EBA) but did not affect ventral aortas or afferent branchial arteries; effects similar to those produced by hypoxia. Sensitivity of H2S-mediated contraction in hagfish and lamprey DA was enhanced by hypoxia. HVC in hagfish DA was enhanced by the H2S precursor cysteine and inhibited by amino-oxyacetate, an inhibitor of the H2S-synthesizing enzyme,cystathionine β-synthase. HVC was unaffected by propargyl glycine, an inhibitor of cystathionine λ-lyase. Oxygen consumption(ṀO2) of hagfish DA was constant between 15 and 115 mmHg PO2 (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), decreased when PO2 &lt;15 mmHg, and increased after PO2 exceeded 115 mmHg. 10 μmol l–1 H2S increased and ⩾100μmol l–1 H2S decreased ṀO2. Consistent with the effects on HVC, cysteine increased and amino-oxyacetate decreased ṀO2. These results show that H2S is a monophasic vasoconstrictor of specific cyclostome vessels and because hagfish lack vascular NO, and vascular sensitivity to H2S was enhanced at low PO2, it is unlikely that H2S contractions are mediated by either H2S–NO interaction or an oxidation product of H2S. These experiments also provide additional support for the hypothesis that the metabolism of H2S is involved in oxygen sensing/signal transduction in vertebrate vascular smooth muscle.
Are Periods of Low Atmospheric Pressure Associated with an Increased Risk of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Rupture?
Authors: Smith RA , Edwards PR , da Silva AF 
Published: June 2008

INTRODUCTION Seasonal variation in rates of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture has previously been described. However, only two studies, to date, have suggested that periods of low atmospheric pressure may account for this observation and both returned apparently contradictory findings. The objective of this study was to demonstrate whether periods of low atmospheric pressure are indeed associated with an increased likelihood of AAA rupture presentation. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 182 cases of ruptured AAA were identified retrospectively from two centres over a 6-year period from January 2000 to December 2005. Local meteorological data for the corresponding period was obtained from the UK Meteorological Office which was recorded daily at a local weather station. Statistical analysis using Student's t-test, ANOVA (Kruskal–Wallis), linear regression and multiple logistic regression was conducted to identify significant relationships from the data. RESULTS Days of rupture presentation were associated with a significantly lower daily mean atmospheric pressure when compared with days when no rupture occurred (P = 0.025). Multiple logistic regression demonstrated a significant association between low daily atmospheric pressure and rupture incidence (P = 0.033) which appeared to be independent of temperature. A significant seasonal trough in atmospheric pressure was observed in October and November (Kruskal–Wallis, P < 0.001); however, there was no corresponding autumnal peak in rupture incidence (P = 0.232). CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study appear to confirm the assertion that low atmospheric pressure is associated with an increased risk of AAA rupture on a day-to-day basis; however, no evidence was identified to support a change in policy regarding prioritising elective surgery based on seasonal risk.
The Benefit of Modified Rehabilitation and Minimally Invasive Techniques in Total Hip Replacement
Authors: Lilikakis Anastasios K , Gillespie Beryl , Villar Richard N 
Published: June 2008

INTRODUCTION We wished to assess if an intensive rehabilitation regimen alone, or one combined with modified anaesthetic and surgical techniques, can change the speed of rehabilitation or the length of hospital stay after total hip replacement. PATIENTS AND METHODS We compared 44 patients who had followed a traditional care pathway, with 38 patients who had rehabilitated under a new rehabilitation protocol, with 40 patients who had also received modified, minimally invasive techniques. The speed of rehabilitation was measured in terms of three specific milestones accomplished on the day after surgery. RESULTS We found a statistically significant improvement in the day after surgery each activity was possible. The length of hospital stay was reduced from 6.5 days to 5.4 days to 4.1 days, a difference which was also statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The data support the view that a new rehabilitation protocol alone can reduce the length of hospital stay and hasten rehabilitation. The combination of modified anaesthetic and minimally invasive surgical techniques with the new rehabilitation regimen can further improve short-term outcome after total hip replacement.
Investigating Bacterial Growth in Surgical Theatres: Establishing the Effect of Laminar Airflow on Bacterial Growth on Plastic, Metal and Wood Surfaces
Authors: da Costa Alex Rodrigues , Kothari Ami , Bannister Gordon C , Blom Ashley W 
Published: June 2008

INTRODUCTION Infection is a devastating complication of surgery. Intra-operative wound contamination is a common cause of infection. A number of measures have been effective in reducing wound contamination. One such measure is laminar flow. Controversy exists as to whether it is safe to keep open instruments and implants outside the laminar flow. This study compares bacterial contamination of wood, plastic and stainless steel within and outside the laminar flow. MATERIALS AND METHODS Identically shaped and sized tiles were left for 90 min within and outside the laminar flow and then cultured for bacterial growth. RESULTS A third of metal and plastic tiles were contaminated, but only 10% of wooden tiles, suggesting that wood is a more hostile environment for bacteria. There was no difference in contamination between tiles placed inside and those placed outside the laminar flow. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that placing instruments and implants outside the laminar flow is a safe practice.