bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intercerebellar Coupling Contributes to Bimanual Coordination
Authors: Pollok Bettina , Butz Markus , Gross Joachim , Schnitzler Alfons 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
Compared to unimanual task execution, simultaneous bimanual tapping tasks are associated with a significantly reduced intertap variability. It has been suggested that this bimanual advantage is based on the integration of timing signals which otherwise control each hand independently. Although its functional and anatomic foundations are poorly understood, functional coupling between cerebellar hemispheres might be behind this process. Because the execution of fast alternating fingertaps increases intertap variability, it is hypothesized that intercerebellar coupling is reduced in such tasks. To shed light on the functional significance of intercerebellar coupling, 14 right-handed subjects performed unimanual right, bimanual simultaneous, and bimanual alternating synchronization tasks with respect to a regular auditory pacing signal. In all conditions, within-hand intertap interval was 500 msec. Continuous neuromagnetic activity, using a 122-channel wholehead neuromagnetometer and surface electromyograms of the first dorsal interosseus muscle of both hands, were recorded. For data analysis, we used the analysis tool Dynamic Imaging of Coherent Sources, which provides a tomographic map of cerebromuscular and cerebrocerebral coherence. Analysis revealed a bilateral cerebello-thalamo-cortical network oscillating at alpha (8–12 Hz) and beta (13–24 Hz) frequencies associated with bimanual synchronization. In line with our hypothesis, coupling between cerebellar hemispheres was restricted to simultaneous task execution. This result implies that intercerebellar coupling is key for the execution of simultaneous bimanual movements. Although the criticality of a specific magneto-encephalography pattern for behavioral changes should be interpreted with caution, data suggest that intercerebellar coupling possibly represents the functional foundation of the bimanual advantage.
A Method to Correct the Thermal Dome Effect of Pyranometers in Selected Historical Solar Irradiance Measurements
Authors: Ji Qiang 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
In using pyranometers to measure solar irradiance, it is important to know the magnitudes and the consequences of the thermal effect, which is introduced by the glass domes of the instruments. Historically, the thermal dome effect was not monitored on a regular basis. Case studies show that, due to the thermal dome effect, the output of the pyranometers altered from less than 5 W m−2 in the nighttime to over 20 W m−2 around noontime during the Aerosol Recirculation and Rainfall Experiment (ARREX) in 1999 and the Southern African Fire–Atmosphere Research Initiative (SAFARI) in 2000 field campaigns, depending on sky conditions. A calibration and data processing procedure with the thermal dome effect incorporated has been tested to resolve the issue. It is demonstrated that the intrinsic calibration constants of the pyranometers can be obtained if two pyranometers are used side by side, and the thermal dome effect may be inferred whenever a pyranometer and a pyrgeometer are collocated.
Determining Weather Radar Antenna Pointing Using Signals Detected from the Sun at Low Antenna Elevations
Authors: Huuskonen Asko , Holleman Iwan 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
A method to determine the elevation and azimuth biases of the radar antenna using solar signals observed by a scanning radar is presented. Data recorded at low elevation angles where the atmospheric refraction has a significant effect on the propagation of the radio wave are used, and a method to take the effect of the refraction into account in the analysis is presented. A set of equations is given by which the refraction of the radio waves as a function of the relative humidity can easily be calculated. Also, a simplified model for the calculation of the atmospheric attenuation is presented. The consistency of the adopted models for the atmospheric refraction and atmospheric attenuation is confirmed by data collected at a single elevation pointing, but over a long observing time. Finally, the method is applied to datasets based on operational measurements at the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) and Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), and elevation and azimuth biases of the radars are shown.
SPARC: New Cloud, Snow, and Cloud Shadow Detection Scheme for Historical 1-km AVHHR Data over Canada
Authors: Khlopenkov Konstantin V. , Trishchenko Alexander P. 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
The identification of clear-sky and cloudy pixels is a key step in the processing of satellite observations. This is equally important for surface and cloud–atmosphere applications. In this paper, the Separation of Pixels Using Aggregated Rating over Canada (SPARC) algorithm is presented, a new method of pixel identification for image data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on board the NOAA satellites. The SPARC algorithm separates image pixels into clear-sky and cloudy categories based on a specially designed rating scheme. A mask depicting snow/ice and cloud shadows is also generated. The SPARC algorithm has been designed to work year-round (day and night) over the temperate and polar regions of North America, for current and historical AVHRR/NOAA High-Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT) and Local Area Coverage (LAC) data with original 1-km spatial resolution. The algorithm was tested and applied to data from the AVHRR sensors flown on board NOAA-6 to NOAA-18. The method was employed in generating historical clear-sky composites for the 1982–2005 period at daily, 10-day, and monthly time scales at 1-km resolution for an area of 5700 km × 4800 km centered over Canada. This region also covers the northern part of the United States, including Alaska, as well as Greenland and the surrounding oceans.
The SPARC algorithm is designed to produce an aggregated rating that accumulates the results of several tests. The magnitude of the rating serves as an indicator of the probability for a pixel to belong to the clear-sky, partly cloudy, or overcast categories. The individual tests employ the spectral properties of five AVHRR channels, as well as surface skin temperature maps from the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) dataset. These temperature fields are available at 32 km × 32 km spatial resolution and at 3-h time intervals. Combining all test results into one final rating for each pixel is beneficial for the generation of multiscene clear-sky composites. The selection of the best pixel to be used in the final clear-sky product is based on the magnitude of the rating. This provides much-improved results relative to other approaches or “yes/no” decision methods.
The SPARC method has been compared to the results of supervised classification for a number of AVHRR scenes representing various seasons (snow-free summer, winter with snow/ice coverage, and transition seasons). The results show an overall agreement between the automated (SPARC) and the supervised classification at the level of 80% to 91%.
Directional Validation of Wave Predictions*
Authors: Rogers W. Erick , Wang David W. C. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA methodology for quantitative, directional validation of a long-term wave model hindcast is described and applied. Buoy observations are used as ground truth and the method does not require the application of a parametric model or data-adaptive method to the observations. Four frequency ranges, relative to the peak frequency, are considered. The validation of the hindcast does not suggest any systematic bias in predictions of directional spreading at or above the spectral peak. Idealized simulations are presented to aid in the interpretation of results.
Comparison of 3 Preventive Methods to Reduce the Recurrence of Ankle Inversion Sprains in Male Soccer Players
Authors: Mohammadi Farshid 
Published: March 2007

Background Ankle sprains are frequent injuries in soccer. Several strategies can be used to prevent further ankle sprains in athletes: the most common are proprioceptive training, strength training, and orthoses. Objective To investigate which of these 3 interventions is the most effective in preventing ankle sprains in athletes with previous ankle inversion sprain. Study Design Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods and Measures Eighty male soccer players (age, 24.6 ± 2.63 years; height, 175.60 ± 4.36 cm; weight, 64.26 ± 8.37 kg) in the first division of a men's league who had experienced previous ankle inversion sprain were randomly selected from an original population of 120 players. The subjects were individually and randomly assigned to 4 study groups: group 1 (n = 20) followed the proprioceptive program, group 2 (n = 20) followed the strength program, group 3 (n = 20) used orthoses, and group 4 (n = 20) was the control group. Data on the frequency of ankle sprain reinjury were collected at the end of the session. Results There were no significant differences among the groups in the number of exposures. The incidence of ankle sprains in players in the proprioception training group was significantly lower than in the control group (relative risk of injury, 0.13; 95% confidence interval, 0.003-0.93; P = .02). The findings with respect to the strength and orthotic groups in comparison with the control group were not significant (relative risk of injury, 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-1.87; P = .27 for strength; relative risk of injury, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-1.25; P = .06 for orthotic group). Conclusion Proprioceptive training, compared with no intervention, was an effective strategy to reduce the rate of ankle sprains among male soccer players who suffered ankle sprain.
CpG oligodeoxynucleotide-enhanced humoral immune response and production of antibodies to prion protein PrPSc in mice immunized with 139A scrapie-associated fibrils
Authors: Spinner Daryl S , Kascsak Regina B , LaFauci Giuseppe , Meeker Harry C , Ye Xuemin , Flory Michael J , Kim Jae Il , Schuller-Levis Georgia B , Levis William R , Wisniewski Thomas , Carp Richard I , Kascsak Richard J 
Published: March 2007

AbstractPrion diseases are characterized by conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) to a protease-resistant conformer, the srapie form of PrP (PrPSc). Humoral immune responses to nondenatured forms of PrPSc have never been fully characterized. We investigated whether production of antibodies to PrPSc could occur in PrP null (Prnp−/−) mice and further, whether innate immune stimulation with the TLR9 agonist CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) 1826 could enhance this process. Whether such stimulation could raise anti-PrPSc antibody levels in wild-type (Prnp+/+) mice was also investigated. Prnp−/− and Prnp+/+ mice were immunized with nondenatured 139A scrapie-associated fibrils (SAF), with or without ODN 1826, and were tested for titers of PrP-specific antibodies. In Prnp−/− mice, inclusion of ODN 1826 in the immunization regime increased anti-PrP titers more than 13-fold after two immunizations and induced, among others, antibodies to an N-terminal epitope, which were only present in the immune repertoire of mice receiving ODN 1826. mAb 6D11, derived from such a mouse, reacts with the N-terminal epitope QWNK in native and denatured forms of PrPSc and recombinant PrP and exhibits a Kd in the 10−11 M range. In Prnp+/+ mice, ODN 1826 increased anti-PrP levels as much as 84% after a single immunization. Thus, ODN 1826 potentiates adaptive immune responses to PrPSc in 139A SAF-immunized mice. These results represent the first characterization of humoral immune responses to nondenatured, infectious PrPSc and suggest methods for optimizing the generation of mAbs to PrPSc, many of which could be used for diagnosis and treatment of prion diseases.
Comparison of the Diagnostic Accuracy of Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and the N-Terminal Part of the Propeptide of BNP Immunoassays in Chronic and Acute Heart Failure: A Systematic Review
Authors: Clerico Aldo , Fontana Marianna , Zyw Luc , Passino Claudio , Emdin Michele 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
Background: We used evidence-based laboratory medicine principles to compare the diagnostic accuracy of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the N-terminal part of the propeptide of BNP (NT-proBNP) assays for the diagnosis of heart failure.
Methods: In May 2006, we performed a computerized literature search of the online National Library of Medicine to select studies specifically designed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of BNP and NT-proBNP assays. The comparison took into account the area under the curve and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) derived from ROC analysis of original studies.
Results: Both BNP and NT-proBNP assays were found to be clinically useful for the diagnosis of heart failure. Metaanalysis of these data was difficult because of the heterogeneity of data regarding patient population, diagnostic criteria, end-points, and immunoassay methods for both BNP and NT-proBNP. Separate metaanalyses were performed for acute and chronic heart failure. In chronic heart failure, the diagnostic DOR for BNP (8.44, 95% CI 4.66–15.30) was not significantly different from that of NT-proBNP (23.36, 95% CI 9.38–58.19). In patients with acute heart failure, the mean DOR for BNP (16.46, 95% CI 10.65–25.43) was not significantly different from that of NT-proBNP (18.61, 95% CI 12.99–26.65).
Conclusion: Our results indicate that both BNP and NT-proBNP assays have a high degree of diagnostic accuracy and clinical relevance for both acute and chronic heart failure.
Gamma Glutamyltransferase and Long-Term Survival: Is It Just the Liver?
Authors: Kazemi-Shirazi Lili , Endler Georg , Winkler Stefan , Schickbauer Thomas , Wagner Oswald , Marsik Claudia 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
Background: Increased gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) is associated with cardiovascular disease. To date, however, few studies with sufficient sample size and follow-up have investigated the association of GGT with all-cause mortality.
Methods: The relation of GGT to the risk of death was examined in a cohort of 283 438 first attendants (inpatients or outpatients) of the Vienna General Hospital with request for GGT analysis as part of a routine screening panel and was monitored for up to 13 years. To evaluate GGT as a predictor, Cox proportional hazards models were calculated, which were adjusted for age and sex.
Results: In both men and women, GGT above the reference category (GGT ≥9 U/L in women, ≥14 U/L in men) was significantly (P &lt;0.001) associated with all-cause, cancer, hepatobiliary, and vascular mortalities. Hazard ratios (HRs) for men and women were similar in all categories. Among patients who presented with GGT above the reference category, those younger than 30 years had higher all-cause mortality rates than did older individuals (HR 1.5–3.3 vs HR 1–1.3 &gt;80 years, respectively).
Conclusions: GGT is associated with mortality in both men and women, especially in patients younger than 30 years, and even high-normal GGT is a risk factor for all-cause mortality.
Recent Research on the Legal History of Modern Mexico
Authors: Reich Peter L. 
Published: March 2007

Indígena y Criminal. Interpretaciones del derecho y la antropología en México, 1871–1921. By Beatriz Urías Horcasitas. Mexico: Universidad Ibero-americana, 2000.
Criminal and Citizen in Modern Mexico. By Robert M. Buffington. Lincoln and London: University of Nebraska Press, 2000.
Crimen y Castigo. Legislación penal, interpretaciones de la criminalidad y administración de justicia (Ciudad de México, 1872–1910). By Elisa Speckman Guerra. Mexico: El Colegio de México, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 2002.
City of Suspects. Crime in Mexico City, 1900–1931. By Pablo Piccato. Durham and London: Duke University Press, 2001.
Reconstructing Criminality in Latin America. Ed. Carlos A. Aguirre and Robert Buffington. Wilmington: Scholarly Resources, 2000.
Crime and Punishment in Latin America. Law and Society since Late Colonial Times. Ed. Ricardo D. Salvatore, Carlos Aguirre, and Gilbert M. Joseph. Durham and London: Duke University Press, 2001.
Cbfb Enhances the Osteogenic Differentiation of Both Human and Mouse Mesenchymal Stem Cells Induced by Cbfa-1 via Reducing Its Ubiquitination-Mediated Degradation
Authors: Lien Chun-Yang , Lee Oscar K. , Su Yeu 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
Core-binding factors are a small family of heterodimeric transcription factors that play critical roles in development. Whereas Cbfa-1, one of the three α subunits in the family, is essential for osteogenesis, Cbfb, the only β subunit, forms heterodimers with different Cbfas to increase their DNA binding affinity by inducing conformational changes. Although defective bone formation was found in both Cbfa-1 and Cbfb knockout animals, the precise role of the latter in osteogenesis remains unclear. To dissect the contribution of Cbfb in osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), recombinant adenoviruses carrying Cbfb (AdHACbfb) and Cbfa-1 (AdCbfa-1) were generated and used to infect both the mouse C3H10T1/2 cells and human bone marrow-derived MSCs. Although Cbfb alone failed to trigger osteogenesis of MSCs, it markedly enhanced the gene expression and enzyme activity of alkaline phosphatase as well as osteocalcin activation in those cells overexpressing Cbfa-1. Enhancement of the osteogenic differentiation-inducing effect of Cbfa-1 by Cbfb resulted from an increase in stability of the former due to the suppression of ubiquitination-mediated proteasomal degradation by the latter. Taken together, in addition to defining the role of Cbfb in osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, our results also suggest that the Cbfa-1 and Cbfb coexpressing MSCs might be an appropriate strategy for bone repairing and regeneration therapies.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Characterization of the Potential Subpopulation of Bone Marrow Cells Involved in the Repair of Injured Liver Tissue
Authors: Khurana Satish , Mukhopadhyay Asok 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that bone marrow (BM) stem cells can differentiate into hepatocytes. However, it is not known whether such a differentiation event occurs during normal liver regeneration process. We investigated the role of endogenous BM cells in liver regeneration following acute injury and phenotypically characterized them. We showed that Lin−Sca-1+ cells proliferate in the BM and subsequently mobilize in the peripheral blood in response to liver injury by CCl4 or an injury simulating condition. In vitro studies confirmed that the damaged liver tissue was capable of inducing migration of a distinct population of BM cells, phenotypically characterized as Lin−CXCR4+OSMRβ+, which can differentiate into albumin and cytoketarin-18 expressing cells. In order to study the migration of BM cells to the regenerating liver, the hematopoietic system was reconstituted with green fluorescent protein (GFP)+ BM cells by intra-bone marrow transplantation prior to liver damage. The BM-derived cells were found to express hepatocyte-specific genes and proteins in the regenerating liver. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis for a recipient specific gene (sry) in sorted GFP+Alb+ donor cells suggested that fusion was a rare event in this experimental model. In conclusion, we first demonstrated the potential phenotype of BM cells involved in regeneration of liver from acute injury, primarily by the process of direct differentiation.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Thrombopoietin Enhances Generation of CD34+ Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Srivastava Anand S. , Nedelcu Elena , Esmaeli-Azad Babak , Mishra Rangnath , Carrier Ewa 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
The role of thrombopoietin (TPO) in adult hematopoiesis is well-established. A recent report suggests that TPO and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) play a role in promoting formation of early erythropoietic progenitors in a nonhuman primate embryonic stem cell (ES) model. No such report exists for human ES cells as yet. Because TPO may become an important factor promoting human ES cell-derived hematopoiesis, we sought to investigate whether TPO in combination with VEGF can enhance human ES-derived hematopoiesis in an EB-derived culture system. The emphasis of this work was to demonstrate the molecular mechanisms involved in this process, specifically the role of c-mpl and its ligand TPO. Human ES cells were cultured to the EB state, and EB-derived secondary cultures supporting hematopoietic differentiation were established: condition 1, control (stem cell factor [SCF] and Flt3 ligand [Flt3L]); condition 2, SCF, Flt3L, and TPO; and condition 3, SCF, Flt3L, TPO, and VEGF. Cells were harvested daily, starting at day 2 and continuing until day 8, for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. There was no evidence of expression of c-mpl and VEGF receptor on the gene or protein level until day 8, when the formation of well-established hematopoietic colonies began. This correlated with the formation of CD34+/CD31− negative progenitors, mostly found in blast-forming units-erythroid-like colonies. We concluded that TPO and VEGF play an important synergistic role in the formation of early ES-derived hematopoietic progenitors that occurs through the c-mpl and VEGF receptors.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Zuverlässigkeitsbetrachtung exzentrisch belasteter Stahlbetonstützen
Authors: Strauss Alfred , Bergmeister Konrad , März Stefan 
Published: March 2007

AbstractFür exzentrisch belastete Stützen, deren Querschnitte durch eine Kombination aus Biegemoment und Normalkraft beansprucht werden, resultiert der Widerstand aus der Wechselbeziehung Normalkraft N zu Biegemoment M. Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung war es, für einachsige Exzentrizitäten e die entsprechend den Normvorgaben bekannten Ansätze auf Sicherheitsreserven zu untersuchen, da in der Praxis die auf diesen Ansätzen beruhenden Interaktionsdiagramme auch für die Beurteilung von bestehenden Strukturen herangezogen werden.Des Weiteren war es von großem Interesse, in welcher Form die nach Eurocode 2 neuen zulässigen nichtlinearen Bemessungsmethoden in die bestehenden Ansätze der Interaktionsdiagramme inkludiert werden können.
Novel biomedical imaging approach for detection of sentinel nodes in an experimental model of gastric cancer
Authors: Koyama T , Tsubota A , Nariai K , Mitsunaga M , Yanaga K , Takahashi H 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to validate a novel imaging system that uses ATX-S10Na(II) to detect sentinel nodes (SNs) in gastric cancer. The new technique was compared with the enhanced visualization method using indocyanine green (ICG).MethodsHuman gastric carcinoma cells were implanted orthotopically into 50 nude rats, which were divided into two groups. In the first group (n = 25), ATX-S10Na(II) was injected subserosally into the implanted site and visualized by a fluorescence spectrolaparoscope. In the second group (n = 25), ICG was similarly injected and observed through a near-infrared laparoscope. The presence of metastatic tumour cells was determined by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction specific for human β-actin.ResultsATX-S10Na(II) was clearly identified as a bright red colour, and was rapidly incorporated into the lymphatic system. Detection rates of SNs were 100 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 52 to 100) per cent (25 of 25) for ATX-S10Na(II) and 95 (95 per cent c.i. 40 to 100) per cent (21 of 22) for ICG. Sensitivity was 96 (95 per cent c.i. 45 to 100) and 81 (95 per cent c.i. 58 to 95) per cent respectively.ConclusionThese results support the validity of the ATX-S10Na(II)-guided approach in the detection of SNs in gastric cancer in vivo.