bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Meeting the Challenges of Natural Hazards
Authors: Anonymous  
Published: June 2008

Natural disasters in 2004 and 2005, including the Sumatra earthquake and tsunami, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, and the Kashmir earthquake, provided dramatic evidence of the hazards posed to the global community by the forces of Nature. Responsible for more than 350,000 deaths and combined economic losses on the order of US$300 billion, those powerful events ranked among the most deadly and costly disasters of the past 100 years.According to UN sources, in 2008, for the first time, more people will live in cities than in rural areas. This global trend toward urbanization concentrates millions into dense megacities, many of which are vulnerable to natural hazards. Coastal communities are becoming more vulnerable due to increasing development, the destruction of natural defenses such as wetlands and sand dunes, and the growing risk associated with human influences on the Earth system, such as sea level rise. In megacities exposed to seismic hazards, inappropriate land‐use and construction practices, along with population pressures, are also increasing vulnerability.
Internet Users as Seismic Sensors for Improved Earthquake Response
Authors: Bossu Rémy , Mazet‐Roux Gilles , Douet Vincent , Rives Sergio , Marin Sylvie , Aupetit Michael 
Published: June 2008

Many seismological centers now have Web sites that provide real‐time earthquake information. Webmasters who maintain these sites are aware that the daily rate of “hits” to, or views of, the sites' pages increases when an earthquake attracts public and/or media attention. However, many seismic network operators and webmasters may not be fully aware of how abrupt and rapid a hits surge might be following a felt earthquake as people visit the Web pages to find out information about what they have felt.Within 1 minute to a few minutes of an earthquake's occurrence, the European‐Mediterranean Seismological Centre's (EMSC) Web site (http://www.emsc‐csem.org) can detect the surge in hits (Figure 1). At EMSC, we have developed a system to use this information to discriminate felt events regardless of their magnitude, and to gather in situ information on an earthquake's effects within 10–20 minutes of its occurrence—at a time when any such information is critical to evaluating its impact.
Understanding Crust Dynamics and Subduction in Southern Italy
Authors: Margheriti Lucia 
Published: June 2008

To mark the centennial anniversary of the 1908 earthquake that shook Messina, Italy, the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) began the [Messina 1908–2008] research project. The aim is to clarify the extension deformation processes that occur in the Strait of Messina and to understand relationships between subduction and crustal deformation there by merging existing data and studies, and by collecting new and more detailed seismological, geodetic, historical, and satellite observations.The Mw 7.1 earthquake that struck the Strait of Messina on 28 December 1908 is one of the largest events ever recorded in the central Mediterranean region, and estimates of fatalities range from 60,000 to 100,000. Numerous studies agree that the rupture occurred on a north‐northeast striking normal fault located in the strait, although the precise location and dip of the fault are still being debated [Pino et al., 2000].
Ocean and Climate Studies: Linking Physical, Biogeochemical, and Ecosystems Research: Climate Driving of Marine Ecosystem Changes (CLIMECO): Training for Young Marine Scientists; Brest, France, 21–24 April 2008
Authors: Hazeleger Wilco 
Published: June 2008

Earth system science has inherent interdisciplinary aspects. In the marine environment, biogeochemical, ecological, and physical climate science processes interact strongly. Examples of these interactions are feedbacks between variations in the marine carbon cycle and radiative forcing in the atmosphere, variations in the distribution of tuna related to El Niño Southern Oscillation, and the distribution of nutrients in ventilated water masses that are subject to climate variability.International research programs recognize the importance of these interactions but are organized primarily along disciplinary sciences. The Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) project of the World Climate Research Program has a focus on the physical aspects of the climate system, and the Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research (IMBER) and Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics (GLOBEC) projects of the International Geosphere‐Biosphere Programme focus on both biogeochemistry and ecosystems research. In an attempt to link research on physical climate variability with marine environmental research, IMBER, GLOBEC, and CLIVAR organized training for young marine scientists in Brest, France.
Importance of vagally mediated bradycardia for the induction of torsade de pointes in an in vivo model
Authors: Farkas A , Dempster J , Coker S J 
Published: June 2008

Background and purpose:Bradycardia is a risk factor for the development of torsade de pointes (TdP). The aim of this work was to compare the importance of changes in heart rate and arterial blood pressure in the development of drug‐induced TdP and to investigate the role of vagal influences.Experimental approach:Experiments were performed in open‐chest, pentobarbital‐anaesthetized, male rabbits which were given clofilium (20, 60 and 200 nmol kg−1 min−1) with rising doses of either phenylephrine (75, 150, 225 and 300 nmol kg−1 min−1), angiotensin II (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 nmol kg−1 min−1) or saline. A fourth group received phenylephrine and cloflium after bilateral vagotomy. ECGs, haemodynamics and epicardial monophasic action potentials were recorded.Key results:TdP occurred in 57% of rabbits given phenylephrine and clofilium. Replacement of phenylephrine with saline or angiotensin II reduced the incidence of TdP to 0 and 17%, respectively. Vagotomy prevented TdP in rabbits given phenylephrine and clofilium. Increases in blood pressure induced by phenylephrine and angiotensin II were similar. Bradycardia only occurred with phenylephrine and was reduced but not abolished by vagotomy. Neither short‐term variability of repolarization nor action potential triangulation could predict TdP.Conclusions and implications:These results indicate that reflex activation of vagal nerve activity is essential for the induction of drug‐induced TdP in α1‐adrenoceptor‐stimulated anaesthetized rabbits. This implies that alterations in vagal activity may also precipitate episodes of drug‐induced TdP in man and that this should be considered in selecting models used in drug development.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 154, 958–970; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.154; published online 21 April 2008
Urocortin ameliorates diabetic nephropathy in obese db/db mice
Authors: Li X , Hu J , Zhang R , Sun X , Zhang Q , Guan X , Chen J , Zhu Q , Li S 
Published: June 2008

Background and purpose:Hyperglycaemia induces overproduction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in endothelial cells, which is believed to be a major molecular mechanism underlying complications of diabetes, including diabetic nephropathy. Impairment of endothelium‐dependent vasodilatation is found in type 2 diabetes. Urocortin is a 40 amino‐acid peptide related to the corticotrophin‐releasing factor (CRF) family, which suppresses production of ROS in endothelial cells and sustains endothelium‐dependent relaxations of rat coronary artery. However, it is not clear if urocortin has any effect on diabetic nephropathy.Experimental approach:Possible mechanisms underlying the effects of urocortin on diabetic nephropathy were investigated in db/db mice and cultured rat mesangial cells.Key results:Urocortin decreased body weight, plasma levels of advanced glycation end‐products, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. However, food intake, plasma insulin and glucose levels remained unaffected. Superoxide dismutase activity was increased markedly, whereas malonaldehyde levels in kidney homogenate and sorbitol concentrations in red blood cells were decreased significantly in urocortin‐treated mice. Urocortin significantly decreased glomerular extracellular matrix expansion and accumulation in kidney. Moreover, urocortin inhibited the overexpression of transforming growth factor‐beta 1 and connective tissue growth factor in rat mesangial cells induced by 25 mM glucose. All the effects of urocortin, except sorbitol accumulation, were abolished by the non‐selective CRF receptor blocker, astressin.Conclusion and implications:Urocortin could significantly ameliorate diabetic nephropathy and this effect was mediated via the CRF receptor.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 154, 1025–1034; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.155; published online 21 April 2008
Anticonvulsant effect of BmK IT2, a sodium channel‐specific neurotoxin, in rat models of epilepsy
Authors: Zhao R , Zhang X‐Y , Yang J , Weng C‐C , Jiang L‐L , Zhang J‐W , Shu X‐Q , Ji Y‐H 
Published: June 2008

Background and purpose: The sodium channel is a primary target for treating central nervous system disorders such as epilepsy. In this study the anticonvulsant effect of BmK IT2, a sodium channel‐specific neurotoxin, was evaluated in different animal models of epilepsy.Experimental approach: Experiments were performed on freely moving rats made epileptic by administration of either pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) or pilocarpine. BmK IT2 (0.05–0.5 μg in 2 μl) was microinjected into the CA1 area and its effects on PTZ‐induced widespread, seizure‐like behaviour and cortex epileptiform EEG, as well as on pilocarpine‐induced seizure‐like behaviour and c‐Fos expression were studied.Key results: Intrahippocampal application of BmK IT2 dose‐dependently inhibited PTZ‐induced seizure‐like behaviour, and reduced the numbers and duration of the high amplitude and frequency discharges (HAFDs) of the epileptiform EEG component induced by PTZ. Similarly, in the pilocarpine‐induced status epilepticus (SE) model, BmK IT2 significantly prolonged the latency to onset of the SE, reduced the severity of SE and suppressed hippocampal c‐Fos expression during SE.Conclusions and implications: BmK IT2 showed anticonvulsant activity as it inhibited the widespread seizures induced by PTZ and pilocarpine‐induced SE in rats. This activity might be due to the modulation of sodium channels in the hippocampus. Hence, BmK IT2 could be used as a novel tool to explore the molecular and pathological mechanisms of epilepsy with regard to the involvement of sodium channels.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 154, 1116–1124; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.156; published online 21 April 2008
Pharmacological profiling of neuropeptides on rabbit vaginal wall and vaginal artery smooth muscle in vitro
Authors: Aughton K L , Hamilton‐Smith K , Gupta J , Morton J S , Wayman C P , Jackson V M 
Published: June 2008

Background and purpose:Hypothalamic neuropeptides centrally modulate sexual arousal. However, the role of neuropeptides in peripheral arousal has been ignored. Vascular and non‐vascular smooth muscle relaxation in the vagina is important for female sexual arousal. To date, in vitro studies have focused on vaginal strips with no studies on vaginal arteries. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of sexual hypothalamic neuropeptides on rabbit vaginal wall strips and arteries.Experimental approach:Tissue bath and wire myography techniques were used to measure isometric tension from strips and arteries, respectively.Key results:Pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) relaxed both preparations, effects that were only antagonized by the VIP/PACAP antagonist VIP6–28 (10 nM) and the PAC1 antagonist PACAP 6–38 (1 μM). The melanocortin agonist α‐melanocortin‐stimulating hormone (1 μM), but not bremelanotide (1 μM), also relaxed both preparations. Oxytocin and vasopressin contracted vaginal preparations, which could be antagonized by the V1A antagonist SR 49059. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and the NPY Y1 agonist Leu31, Pro34 NPY only contracted arteries, which was antagonized by the NPY Y1 receptor antagonist BIBP 3226. Melanin‐concentrating hormone (MCH; 1 μM) contracted arteries.Conclusion and implications:Hypothalamic neuropeptides can exert contractile and relaxant effects on vaginal strips and arteries. NPY Y1, V1A, MCH1 antagonists as well as VIP/PAC1 agonists may have therapeutic potential in both central and peripheral female sexual arousal. Differences in effect of neuropeptides between preparations raise the question of which preparation is important for female sexual arousal.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 155, 236–243; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.253; published online 30 June 2008
PMX464, a thiol‐reactive quinol and putative thioredoxin inhibitor, inhibits NF‐κB‐dependent proinflammatory activation of alveolar epithelial cells
Authors: Callister M E , Pinhu L , Catley M C , Westwell A D , Newton R , Leaver S K , Quinlan G J , Evans T W , Griffiths M J , Burke‐Gaffney A 
Published: June 2008

Background and purpose:Subtle changes in the intracellular reduction–oxidation (redox) state can modulate nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) activity. Thioredoxin‐1 (Trx) is a small, ubiquitous, redox‐active thiol (‐SH) protein that, with thioredoxin reductase‐1 (TrxR), modifies the redox status of NF‐κB pathway components. PMX464 is a novel thiol‐reactive quinol thought to inhibit the Trx/TrxR system. The aim of this work was to investigate whether PMX464 inhibited NF‐κB‐mediated proinflammatory activation of human type II alveolar epithelial cells (A549).Experimental approach:Intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1), granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) and CXCL8, NF‐κB DNA binding, nuclear translocation of NF‐κB p65 subunit, IκBα degradation, IκB phosphorylation and IκB kinase (IKK) activity were assessed in A549 cells stimulated with IL‐1β with or without PMX464 pretreatment. Effects of PMX464 on ICAM‐1 expression in human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVEC) were also investigated. For comparison, selected measurements (ICAM‐1 and IκB‐α phospho‐IκB‐α) were made on A549 cells after RNA interference‐mediated silencing (siRNA) of Trx.Key results:PMX464 reduced ICAM‐1, GM‐CSF and CXCL8 expression in IL‐1β‐stimulated A549 cells and ICAM‐1 in HLMVEC. PMX464 inhibited IL‐1β‐induced NF‐κB DNA binding, nuclear translocation of NF‐κB p65 subunit and factors involved in NF‐κB activation; specifically, IκBα degradation, IκB phosphorylation and IκB kinase (IKK) activity in A549. By contrast, Trx siRNA did not alter ICAM‐1 expression or IκBα degradation/phosphorylation in IL‐1β‐stimulated A549 cells.Conclusion and implications:PMX464 inhibits a proinflammatory response in A549 cells targeting the NFκB pathway above IKK. The lack of effect with Trx siRNA suggests that PMX464 acts on thiol proteins, in addition to Trx, to elicit anti‐inflammatory responses in lung epithelial cells.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 155, 661–672; doi:fn1; published online 30 June 2008
Cancer and the blood–brain barrier: ‘Trojan horses’ for courses?
Authors: Mazza M , Uchegbu I F , Schätzlein A G 
Published: June 2008

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) limits the bioavailability of most bioactive molecules and drugs in the CNS, leaving clinicians with only a few options for pharmacotherapy. In this issue Regina et al. demonstrate that a ‘Trojan horse’ drug conjugate, acting as a substrate of a physiological BBB receptor that facilitates transcytosis, significantly improves drug transport into the CNS. Specifically, the low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein (LRP) is used to carry a conjugate of paclitaxel and Angiopep‐2, an aprotinin‐derived peptide, across the BBB. Interestingly, in its conjugated form paclitaxel circumvents the efflux pumps at the BBB but still retains its activity against microtubules. Importantly, the authors were able to demonstrate improved therapeutic efficacy of this approach in orthotopic models of primary and metastatic brain cancer. This proof‐of‐principle study thus represents a milestone for drug delivery across the BBB but also a starting point for studies exploring wider applicability and potential limitations of the approach.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 155, 149–151; doi:fn1; published online 30 June 2008
Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies by Overweight and Obese Adults
Authors: Bertisch Suzanne M. , Wee Christina C. , McCarthy Ellen P. 
Published: June 2008

Objective: Obesity is associated with higher health‐care costs due, in part, to higher use of traditional health care. Few data are available on the relationship between obesity and the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).Methods and Procedures: We analyzed data on CAM use from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Alternative Medicine Supplement (n = 31,044). We compared the use of CAM overall, within the past 12 months, between normal weight (BMI from 18 to <25), overweight (from 25 to <30), mildly obese (from 30 to <35), moderately obese (from 35 to <40), and extremely obese (>40) adults. For the primary analysis, our multivariable model was adjusted for sociodemographic factors, insurance status, medical conditions, and health behaviors. We performed additional analyses to explore the association of BMI and the use of seven CAM modalities.Results: We found that adults with obesity have lower prevalence of use of yoga therapy, and similar prevalence of use of several CAM modalities, including relaxation techniques, natural herbs, massage, chiropractic medicine, tai chi, and acupuncture, compared to normal‐weight individuals. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, insurance status, medical conditions, and health behaviors, adults with obesity were generally less likely to use most individual CAM modalities, although the magnitude of these differences were quite modest in many cases.Discussion: Even though adults with obesity have a greater illness burden and higher utilization of traditional medical care, adults with higher BMIs were no more likely to use each of the individual CAM therapies studied. Additional research is needed to improve our understanding of CAM use by adults with obesity.
English Speech Sound Development in Preschool-Aged Children From Bilingual English–Spanish Environments
Authors: Gildersleeve-Neumann Christina E. , Kester Ellen S. , Davis Barbara L. , Peña Elizabeth D. 
Published: July 2008

Purpose
English speech acquisition by typically developing 3- to 4-year-old children with monolingual English was compared to English speech acquisition by typically developing 3- to 4-year-old children with bilingual English–Spanish backgrounds. We predicted that exposure to Spanish would not affect the English phonetic inventory but would increase error frequency and type in bilingual children.

Method
Single-word speech samples were collected from 33 children. Phonetically transcribed samples for the 3 groups (monolingual English children, English–Spanish bilingual children who were predominantly exposed to English, and English–Spanish bilingual children with relatively equal exposure to English and Spanish) were compared at 2 time points and for change over time for phonetic inventory, phoneme accuracy, and error pattern frequencies.

Results
Children demonstrated similar phonetic inventories. Some bilingual children produced Spanish phonemes in their English and produced few consonant cluster sequences. Bilingual children with relatively equal exposure to English and Spanish averaged more errors than did bilingual children who were predominantly exposed to English. Both bilingual groups showed higher error rates than English-only children overall, particularly for syllable-level error patterns. All language groups decreased in some error patterns, although the ones that decreased were not always the same across language groups. Some group differences of error patterns and accuracy were significant. Vowel error rates did not differ by language group.

Conclusion
Exposure to English and Spanish may result in a higher English error rate in typically developing bilinguals, including the application of Spanish phonological properties to English. Slightly higher error rates are likely typical for bilingual preschool-aged children. Change over time at these time points for all 3 groups was similar, suggesting that all will reach an adult-like system in English with exposure and practice.
Preschool Teachers' Fidelity in Implementing a Comprehensive Language-Rich Curriculum
Authors: Pence Khara L. , Justice Laura M. , Wiggins Alice K. 
Published: July 2008

Purpose
This study examined preschool teachers' fidelity to the language-focused curriculum (LFC; B. Bunce, 1995), a comprehensive classroom curriculum designed to improve at-risk children’s language outcomes through targeted improvements to a classroom’s activity contexts (e.g., dramatic play, art, storybook reading) and instructional processes (e.g., teacher use of open-ended questions, recasts, and expansions). Specific aims included to (a) examine program differentiation by determining how measures of activity contexts and instructional processes differentiated treatment and comparison teachers, (b) determine treatment teachers' adherence to both activity contexts and instructional processes over an entire academic year, and (c) determine treatment teachers' reported quality of program delivery and comfort with curriculum implementation.

Method
Fourteen preschool teachers were randomly assigned to implement the LFC or to maintain their prevailing curriculum. Fidelity was measured 3 times over an academic year using a curriculum fidelity checklist.

Results
LFC teachers exhibited fidelity to activity contexts more readily than to instructional processes. Teacher use of language-focused instructional processes was relatively low even after a year of LFC implementation.

Conclusion
This study supports the need for speech-language pathologists to work closely with preschool educators to implement the activity contexts and instructional processes associated with high-quality preschool language-learning environments.
Knowledge of Morphologically Complex Words: A Developmental Study of Older Children and Young Adolescents
Authors: Nippold Marilyn A. , Sun Lei 
Published: July 2008

PurposeThis study examined knowledge of derived nominals (e.g., measurement, prediction) and derived adjectives (e.g., algebraic, molecular) in older children and young adolescents. Little was known about students' comprehension of these morphologically complex words that occur in textbooks that are used in public schools to teach challenging subjects such as science, mathematics, social studies, health, and literature.MethodThe Word Knowledge Task (WKT), designed for the present study, was used to examine participants' comprehension of 15 derived nominals and 15 derived adjectives that were selected from state-adopted textbooks. This written, multiple-choice task was administered to 10-year-old children and 13-year-old adolescents (N= 94) who were attending public schools. All participants spoke English and were typical achievers.ResultsThe findings indicated that the adolescents outperformed the children on both types of derived words; the derived nominals were more difficult than the derived adjectives for both groups; and comprehension was associated with frequency of occurrence in print, with easier words generally more common than more difficult ones.ImplicationsKnowledge of morphologically complex words such as derived nominals and derived adjectives is a late linguistic attainment. Given the importance of these words for academic success, instructional programs are needed to ensure that children and adolescents are able to learn their meanings using appropriate strategies.