bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection ofOphiocordyceps sinensisin soil by quantitative real-time PCR
Authors: Peng Qingyun , Zhong Xin , Lei Wei , Zhang Guren , Liu Xin
Published: January 2013

Ophiocordyceps sinensis, one of the best known entomopathogenic fungi in traditional Chinese medicine, parasitizes larvae of the moth genus Thitarodes, which lives in soil tunnels. However, little is known about the spatial distribution of O. sinensis in the soil. We established a protocol for DNA extraction, purification, and quantification of O. sinensis in soil with quantitative real-time PCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer region. The method was assessed using 34 soil samples from Tibet. No inhibitory effects in purified soil DNA extracts were detected. The standard curve method for absolute DNA quantification generated crossing point values that were strongly and linearly correlated to the log10of the initial amount of O. sinensis genomic DNA (r2= 0.999) over 7 orders of magnitude (4 × 101to 4 × 107fg). The amplification efficiency and y-intercept value of the standard curve were 1.953 and 37.70, respectively. The amount of O. sinensis genomic DNA decreased with increasing soil depth and horizontal distance from a sclerotium (P < 0.05). Our protocol is rapid, specific, sensitive, and provides a powerful tool for quantification of O. sinensis from soil.
Inner-shell filling and X-ray emission of Ar17+ ion in grazing incidence on an Al (111) surface
Authors: Zhang Zheng-rong , Cheng Xin-lu , Li Hui-fang , Zhang Hong , Liu Zi-jiang
Published: January 2013

Based on “length and energy scale matching” theory, we put forward a model for the Ar17+ ion in grazing incidence on an Al surface. Using the model and a more detailed side feeding rate, the inner-shell filling and X-ray emission of the incident Ar17+ ion are minutely studied. The results show that the final charged state of the ion gradually increases with increasing incident velocity, which is in accordance with experimental results. The central energies of K X-ray lines (Kα and Kβ) are mainly influenced by the vertical energy of the ion, that is, for a given incident angle the X-ray spectrum from the ion with bigger incident energy is dominated by the decay of the ion with fewer L- and M-shell vacancies. However, the intensity of the lines depends not only on the vertical velocity, but also the horizontal velocity of the incident ion. In addition, both of the K X-ray lines have large widths, which shows that they are emitted from an ion with a broad spectrum of L- and M-shell populations.
NEUTRINO FLAVOR RATIOS ON THE EARTH FOR DECAY AND OSCILLATION SCENARIOS
Authors: LIU T. C. , LAI KWANG-CHANG , LIN GUEY-LIN
Published: January 2013

Due to flavor transition mechanisms in neutrino propagations, both neutrino oscillation and decay, neutrinos flavor ratio at astrophysical sources can quite different from observed ratios on the Earth.1 We use the recent global fitting result of the mixing angle values2 to determine the allowed neutrino flavor ratios on the Earth for standard neutrino oscillation and general decay mechanisms. In this analysis, four types of the neutrino decay mechanisms can be distinguished from the oscillation case easily with arbitrary initial neutrino flavor ratio and the other four types of neutrino decay mechanisms can be distinguished from the oscillation case with the specified source. The rest types of neutrino decays strongly overlap with the oscillation and cannot be identified.
SPACETIME EMERGENCE AND GENERAL COVARIANCE TRANSMUTATION
Authors: HO CHIU MAN , KEPHART THOMAS W. , MINIC DJORDJE , NG Y. JACK
Published: January 2013

Spacetime emergence refers to the notion that classical spacetime "emerges" as an approximate macroscopic entity from a non-spatio-temporal structure present in a more complete theory of interacting fundamental constituents. In this paper, we propose a novel mechanism involving the "soldering" of internal and external spaces for the emergence of spacetime and the twin transmutation of general covariance. In the context of string theory, this mechanism points to a critical four-dimensional spacetime background.
THE SEARCH FOR, AND DISCOVERY OF, THE HIGGS BOSON AT CMS
Authors: GREEN DANIEL
Published: January 2013

The Higgs field was first proposed almost 50 years ago. Twenty years ago the tools needed to discover the Higgs boson, the large hadron collider and the CMS and ATLAS experiments, were initiated. Data taking was begun in 2010 and culminated in the announcement of the discovery of a "Higgs-like" boson on 4 July 2012. This discovery completes the Standard Model (SM) of high energy physics, if it is indeed the hypothesized SM Higgs particle. Future data taking will explore the properties of the new 125 GeV particle to see if it has all the attributes of an SM Higgs and to explore the mechanism that maintains its "low" mass.
FABRICATION OF SU-8 BASED ELECTRO-OPTIC SWITCH USING ALL-WET ETCHING TECHNIQUE
Authors: WANG XIBIN , SUN JIAN , JIN LIN , MENG JIE , YAN YUNFEI , CHEN CHANGMING , WANG FEI , ZHANG DAMING
Published: January 2013

Polymeric Disperse Red 1 (DR1)/SU-8 electro-optic (EO) switch incorporating inverted-rib waveguide structure is designed and fabricated by all-wet etching process. The guest-host EO material DR1/SU-8 has been successfully synthetized and its optical properties are characterized in detail. The DR1/SU-8 material presents a low processing cost, an excellent photostability and a large EO coefficient of 15.4 pm/V. The characteristic parameters of both the inverted-rib waveguide and the coplanar waveguide electrodes are carefully designed and simulated. By all-wet etching process, the optimized Mach–Zehnder interferometer switch is successfully fabricated with a lower fiber-to-fiber insertion loss of 9.6 dB. The switch rise time and fall time are 322 ns and 294 ns, respectively.
OBSERVATION OF FIELD DRIVEN-METAMAGNETIC BEHAVIOR AND THERMOMAGNETIC IRREVERSIBILITY IN SrRu0.8Fe0.2O3
Authors: FAN JIYU , ZHU YAN , ZHANG LEI , TONG WEI , SHI YANGGUANG , ZHANG WEICHUN , HU DAZHI , HONG BO , YING YAO , LING LANGSHENG , PI LI , ZHANG YUHENG
Published: January 2013

In this paper, we have systematically investigated the thermomagnetic properties of SrRu 0.8 Fe 0.2 O 3. An exceptional large thermomagnetic irreversibility has been found in the measurement of magnetization with zero-field cooling and field cooling mode. Moreover, as one increases the applied magnetic field, the thermomagnetic irreversibility is further enlarged. Even though an obvious antiferromagnetic phase transition occurs in T = 50 K , the main reason for the thermomagnetic irreversibility derives from the field driven-antiferromagnetic–ferromagnetic transition in higher temperature region, where spin fluctuation induced by Fe -dopant shifts the pristine FM exchange into antiferromagnetic exchange interaction in Ru 4+– O 2-– Ru 4+ spin network.
COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR OF INTERACTING PARTICLES: RADIUS-DEPENDENT PHASE TRANSITION
Authors: TARRAS I. , MOUSSA N. , MAZROUI M. , BOUGHALEB Y. , HAJJAJI A.
Published: January 2013

The aim of this paper is to study and discuss the effect of three zones (repulsion zone, orientation zone and attraction zone) on the phase transition in 2D-collective moving particles. Our main motivation is to better understand the complex behavior of non-equilibrium multi-agent system by extending the earlier and original model proposed by Viscek et al. [T. Viscek et al., Phys. Rev. Lett.75 (1995) 1226] for one zone. The analysis is performed over different situations by using a numerical simulation method. It is found that the radius R2of orientation zone plays an important role in the system. In effect, by varying the parameter R2a phase transition can be achieved from disordered moving of individuals to a group to highly aligned collective motion. The results also show that, the critical value of R2at which the transition emerges depends strongly on the size of the repulsion zone but not on the size of attraction one.
SIZE-DEPENDENT FERROMAGNETISM AND ITS AGING BEHAVIOR IN PURE Y2O3 NANOPARTICLES
Authors: ZHU ZHONG HUA , GAO DA QIANG , YANG ZHAO LONG , ZHANG JING , SHI ZHEN HUA , ZHANG ZHI PENG , XUE DE SHENG
Published: January 2013

A series of Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles of average particle size 19–37 nm are synthesized by a glycine-nitrate method. Room temperature ferromagnetism is observed in all samples. The magnetization of these samples decreases with increasing annealing temperature, showing a size-dependent ferromagnetism. Vacuum-heating effect on the ferromagnetism is also investigated, which indicates that the observed ferromagnetism is possibly associated with oxygen defects. Interestingly, an aging behavior of the ferromagnetism is observed when the sample is exposed to air or immersed in ethanol. These results further support the oxygen-vacancy-mediated ferromagnetism mechanism.
SUBMODULARITY-BASED DECOMPOSING FOR VALUED CSP
Authors: HELAOUI MAHER , NAANAA WADY , AYEB BECHIR
Published: January 2013

Many combinatorial problems can be formulated as Valued Constraint Satisfaction Problems (VCSPs). In this framework, the constraints are defined by means of valuation functions to reflect several degrees of coherence. Despite the NP-hardness of the VCSP, tractable versions can be obtained by forcing the allowable valuation functions to have specific features. This is the case for submodular VCSPs, i.e. VCSPs that involve submodular valuation functions only.

In this paper, we propose a problem decomposition scheme for binary VCSPs that takes advantage of submodular functions even when the studied problem is not submodular. The proposed scheme consists in decomposing the problem to be solved into a set of submodular, then tractable, subproblems. The decomposition scheme combines two techniques that where already used in the framework of constraint-based reasoning, but in separate manner. These techniques are domain partitioning and value permutation.
The Human Microbiome: From Symbiosis to Pathogenesis
Authors: Eloe-Fadrosh Emiley A. , Rasko David A.
Published: January 2013

The human microbiota is a complex assemblage of the microbes inhabiting many sites in the human body. Recent advances in technology have enabled deep sequencing and analysis of the members and structures of these communities. Two sites, the vagina and gastrointestinal tract, are highlighted to exemplify how technological advances have enhanced our knowledge of the host–microbiota system. These examples represent low- and high-complexity communities, respectively. In each example, certain community structures are identified that can be extrapolated to larger collections representing multiple individuals and potential disease or health states. One common feature is the unexpected diversity of the microbiota at any of these locations, which poses a challenge for relating the microbiota to health and disease. However, we anticipate microbiota compositional measurements could become standard clinical practice in the future and may become diagnostic for certain diseases or increased susceptibility to certain disorders. The microbiota of a number of disease states are currently being examined to identify potential correlations. In line with these predictions, it is possible that existing conditions may be resolved by altering the microbiota in a positive way.
New Therapies for Gout
Authors: Crittenden Daria B. , Pillinger Michael H.
Published: January 2013

Gout prevalence is increasing, yet management remains suboptimal. Fortunately, new insights into gout biology are permitting the development of novel, potentially more effective strategies for both gouty inflammation and urate lowering. Colchicine, a drug long used for gout, has been recently approved (for the first time ever) by the FDA, based on a new, safer dosing regimen. The recently appreciated centrality of IL-1β in acute gouty inflammation has prompted studies of agents blocking the IL-1β receptor or soluble IL-1β signaling (canakinumab, rilonacept, anakinra). Novel approaches to urate lowering have led to mechanism-based therapies such as urate synthesis inhibitors (febuxostat is already FDA approved and BCX4208 is in development), URAT-1 inhibitors promoting renal uric acid excretion (lesinurad), and recombinant uricase to directly catabolize urate (pegloticase). These new treatments do not obviate the need for lifestyle and dietary management, another area in which significant scientific and clinical progress has recently been made.
Toward the Treatment and Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease: Rational Strategies and Recent Progress
Authors: Gandy Sam , DeKosky Steven T.
Published: January 2013

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the major cause of late-life brain failure. In the past 25 years, autosomal dominant forms of AD were found to be primariy attributable to mutations in one of two presenilins, polytopic proteins that contain the catalytic site of the γ-secretase protease that releases the amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide. Some familial AD is also due to mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP), but recently a mutation in APP was discovered that reduces Aβ generation and is protective against AD, further implicating amyloid metabolism. Prion-like seeding of amyloid fibrils and neurofibrillary tangles has been invoked to explain the stereotypical spread of AD within the brain. Treatment trials with anti-Aβ antibodies have shown target engagement, if not significant treatment effects. Attention is increasingly focused on presymptomatic intervention, because Aβ mismetabolism begins up to 25 years before symptoms begin. AD trials deriving from new biological information involve extraordinary international collaboration and may hold the best hope for success in the fight against AD.
Hepatic stellate cells and portal fibroblasts are the major cellular sources of collagens and lysyl oxidases in normal liver and early after injury
Authors: Perepelyuk Maryna , Terajima Masahiko , Wang Andrew Y. , Georges Penelope C. , Janmey Paul A. , Yamauchi Mitsuo , Wells Rebecca G.
Published: January 2013

Liver fibrosis is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins by myofibroblasts derived from hepatic stellate cells and portal fibroblasts. Activation of these precursors to myofibroblasts requires matrix stiffness, which results in part from increased collagen cross-linking mediated by lysyl oxidase (LOX) family proteins. The aims of this study were to characterize the mechanical changes of early fibrosis, to identify the cells responsible for LOX production in early injury, and to determine which cells in normal liver produce collagens and elastins, which serve as substrates for LOXs early after injury. Hepatocytes and liver nonparenchymal cells were isolated from normal and early-injured liver and examined immediately for expression of LOXs and matrix proteins. We found that stellate cells and portal fibroblasts were the major cellular sources of fibrillar collagens and LOXs in normal liver and early after injury (1 day after bile duct ligation and 2 and 7 days after CCl4 injury). Activity assays using stellate cells and portal fibroblasts in culture demonstrated significant increases in LOX family enzymatic activity as cells became myofibroblastic. LOX family-mediated deoxypyridinoline and pyridinoline cross-links increased after CCl4-mediated injury. There was a significant association between liver stiffness (as quantified by the shear storage modulus G′) and deoxypyridinoline levels; increased deoxypyridinoline levels were also coincident with significantly increased elastic resistance to large strain deformations, consistent with increased cross-linking of the extracellular matrix. These data suggest a model in which the liver is primed to respond quickly to injury, activating potential mechanical feed-forward mechanisms.
Angiotensin II receptor blocker improves the lowered exercise capacity and impaired mitochondrial function of the skeletal muscle in type 2 diabetic mice
Authors: Takada Shingo , Kinugawa Shintaro , Hirabayashi Kagami , Suga Tadashi , Yokota Takashi , Takahashi Masashige , Fukushima Arata , Homma Tsuneaki , Ono Taisuke , Sobirin Mochamad A. , Masaki Yoshihiro , Mizushima Wataru , Kadoguchi Tomoyasu , Okita Koichi , Tsutsui Hiroyuki
Published: January 2013

NAD(P)H oxidase-induced oxidative stress is at least in part involved with lowered exercise capacity and impaired mitochondrial function in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice. NAD(P)H oxidase can be activated by activation of the renin-angiotensin system. We investigated whether ANG II receptor blocker can improve exercise capacity in diabetic mice. C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet (ND) or HFD, and each group of mice was divided into two groups: treatment with or without olmesartan (OLM; 3 mg·kg−1·day−1in the drinking water). The following groups of mice were studied: ND, ND+OLM, HFD, and HFD+OLM ( n = 10 for each group). After 8 wk, HFD significantly increased body weight, plasma glucose, and insulin compared with ND, and OLM did not affect these parameters in either group. Exercise capacity, as determined by treadmill tests, was significantly reduced in HFD, and this reduction was ameliorated in HFD+OLM. ADP-dependent mitochondrial respiration was significantly decreased, and NAD(P)H oxidase activity and superoxide production by lucigenin chemiluminescence were significantly increased in skeletal muscle from HFD, which were attenuated by OLM. There were no such effects by OLM in ND. We concluded that OLM ameliorated the decrease in exercise capacity in diabetic mice via improvement in mitochondrial function and attenuation of oxidative stress in skeletal muscle. These data may have a clinical impact on exercise capacity in the medical treatment of diabetes mellitus.
Myeloid-Specific Expression of Ron Receptor Kinase Promotes Prostate Tumor Growth
Authors: Gurusamy Devikala , Gray Jerilyn K. , Pathrose Peterson , Kulkarni Rishikesh M. , Finkleman Fred D. , Waltz Susan E.
Published: January 2013

Ron receptor kinase (MST1R) is important in promoting epithelial tumorigenesis, but the potential contributions of its specific expression in stromal cells have not been examined. Herein, we show that the Ron receptor is expressed in mouse and human stromal cells of the prostate tumor microenvironment. To test the significance of stromal Ron expression, prostate cancer cells were orthotopically implanted into the prostates of either wild-type or Ron tyrosine kinase deficient (TK−/−; Mst1r−/−) hosts. In TK−/− hosts, prostate cancer cell growth was significantly reduced as compared with tumor growth in TK+/+ hosts. Prostate tumors in TK−/− hosts exhibited an increase in tumor cell apoptosis, macrophage infiltration and altered cytokine expression. Reciprocal bone marrow transplantation studies and myeloid cell–specific ablation of Ron showed that loss of Ron in myeloid cells is sufficient to inhibit prostate cancer cell growth. Interestingly, depletion of CD8+ T cells, but not CD4+ T cells, was able to restore prostate tumor growth in hosts devoid of myeloid-specific Ron expression. These studies show a critical role for the Ron receptor in the tumor microenvironment, whereby Ron loss in tumor-associated macrophages inhibits prostate cancer cell growth, at least in part, by derepressing the activity of CD8+ T cells. Cancer Res; 73(6); 1752–63. ©2012 AACR.
GSTT1 Null Genotype Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Prostate Cancer in Caucasians: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhu Jianguo , Chen Weihong , Xu Shuxiong , Wang Yuanlin , Sun Zhaolin
Published: January 2013

Background: Many studies have investigated the association between glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) null genotype and the risk of prostate cancer (PCa), but the impact of GSTT1 null genotype on PCa risk in Caucasians is still unclear owing to the inconsistency of such studies. The present study aimed to quantify the strength of association between GSTT1 null genotype and the risk of PCa in Caucasians. Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases for studies assessing the association between GSTT1 null genotype and the risk of PCa in Caucasians. We estimated the summary odds ratio (OR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) to assess the association. Results: 16 case-control studies with 11,648 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of a total of 16 studies showed GSTT1 null genotype was significantly associated with an increased risk of PCa in Caucasians (random-effects OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.10-1.53, p = 0.002). After adjustment for heterogeneity, GSTT1 null genotype was still associated with an increased risk of PCa in Caucasians (fixed-effects OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.17-1.52, p < 0.001). The cumulative meta-analyses of all 16 studies showed a trend of more obvious association as information accumulated by year. Conclusions: Meta-analysis of available data suggests the GSTT1 null genotype is significantly associated with an increased risk of PCa in Caucasians.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Clinicopathological Features, Prognostic Factors and Outcome
Authors: Keskin Serkan , Taş Faruk , Vatansever Sezai
Published: January 2013

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with adrenocortical carcinoma (AC). Methods: Twenty-four patients (10 females and 14 males) diagnosed with AC between 1998 and 2009 were evaluated. Clinical features and outcomes were reviewed. Results: Median age was 46.5 years. One (4%) patient was classified as stage I, 10 (42%) were classified as stage II, 8 (33%) were classified as stage III and 5 (21%) were classified as stage IV. Tumor sizes ranged from 3 to 22 cm with a mean diameter of 11 cm. Five patients were locally inoperable at initial diagnosis. In addition to surgery, 2 of 19 patients were treated with an adjuvant cisplatin plus etoposide regimen. Sixteen patients were treated with chemotherapy after recurrence. Median survival time was 18 months. The 1- and 5-year overall survival estimates were 73 and 48%, respectively. Mean survival times for male and female patients were 58 and 12 months, respectively (p = 0.046). Early T stage (p = 0.04), lymph node negativity (p < 0.001), the absence of distant metastases (p < 0.001) and early stage (p < 0.001) were correlated with overall survival. Conclusion: AC is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. There are correlations between gender, stage and survival.
In utero Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Canines: Exploring the Gestational Age Window of Opportunity to Maximize Engraftment
Authors: Petersen Scott M. , Gendelman Mariya , Murphy Kathleen M. , Torbenson Michael , Jones Richard J. , Stetten Gail , Bird Chris , Blakemore Karin J.
Published: January 2013

Objective: In utero hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (IUHSCT) is a promising therapy for a variety of congenital disorders. Our objective was to determine the optimal time in gestation for IUHSCT in a canine model. Methods: IUHSCT was performed in day 31-50 (term 63) fetal canines with CD34+ cells isolated from paternal bone marrow at doses of 0.09-3.4 × 109 CD34+ cells/kg and T cells (CD3+/CD5+) from paternal blood at 0.11-1.1 × 109 cells/kg. Engraftment was assayed using PCR-based chimerism analysis (SRY gene detection for female recipients, and unique microsatellite loci for both sexes). Results: Microchimerism and chimerism were present in multiple recipients across most gestational ages at transplant. Maximal engraftment was obtained in hematopoietic tissues in transplants performed at 42 days. At extremes of recipient gestational age, minimal to no engraftment was seen. Conclusion: Fetal age at the time of IUHSCT plays an important role in achieving engraftment in our canine model.
Febrile Ulceronecrotic Mucha Habermann Disease: Case Report of a Dark-Skinned Patient
Authors: Moreira Oliveira Lucas , de Seixas Rocha Mário , Sol Patriota Gyoguevara , Tigre Cunha Gabrielli , Rezende Paiva Geise , Campos Souza Angelo Sérgio , Campos Fauth Airton , Guerreiro de Moura Carlos Geraldo , Sampaio Cruz Constança Margarida
Published: January 2013

A male dark-skinned patient, 33 years old, complaining of a 1-month history of skin lesions in the abdominal region and high fever was admitted to the clinical ward. There were ulcerated and coalescent skin lesions all over the body but sparing the palmar region. The culture of material obtained from the penile lesions was positive for Staphylococcus aureus. He was treated with oxacillin and prednisone. The patient persisted with high fever and skin lesions. After histopathological diagnosis of Mucha Habermann’s disease, treatment was started with tetracycline with rapid improvement of the lesions. He was reexamined by the dermatologic service with no recurrences during the 12 months of follow-up. At this time, there was a great number of keloid scars from the skin lesions.
Syphilis Mimicking Other Dermatological Diseases: Reactive Arthritis and Mucha-Habermann Disease
Authors: da Silva Carneiro Sueli Coelho , Pirmez Rodrigo , de Hollanda Taciana Rocha , Cuzzi Tullia , Ramos-e-Silva Marcia
Published: January 2013

The authors present two cases of syphilis: one mimicking reactive arthritis and the other Mucha-Habermann disease. Both reports illustrate syphilis as ‘the great imitator’, a description given by Sir William Osler, and call attention to the strong need for awareness among physicians of all specialties, especially the younger ones, who are not used to seeing this increasingly prevalent disease, as it once was in the past.
The vascular biology of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)
Authors: Asare Yaw , Schmitt Martin , Bernhagen Jürgen
Published: January 2013

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine with chemokine-like functions. MIF is a critical mediator of the host immune and inflammatory response. Dysregulated MIF expression has been demonstrated to contribute to various acute and chronic inflammatory conditions as well as cancer development. More recently, MIF has been identified as an important pro-atherogenic factor. Its blockade could even aid plaque regression in advanced atherosclerosis. Promotion of atherogenic leukocyte recruitment processes has been recognised as a major underlying mechanism of MIF in vascular pathology. However, MIF’s role in vascular biology is not limited to immune cell recruitment as recent evidence also points to a role for this mediator in neo-angiogenesis / vasculogenesis by endothelial cell activation and endothelial progenitor cell recruitment. On the basis of introducing MIF’s chemokine-like functions, the current article focusses on MIF’s role in vascular biology and pathology.
Gene Transfer of Apolipoprotein A-V Improves the Hypertriglyceridemic Phenotype of
apoa5
(−/−) mice
Authors: Sharma Vineeta , Beckstead Jennifer A. , Simonsen Jens B. , Nelbach Lisa , Watson Gordon , Forte Trudy M. , Ryan Robert O.
Published: January 2013

Objective—

Apolipoprotein (apo) A-V is a low abundance protein with a profound influence on plasma triacylglycerol levels. In human populations, single nucleotide polymorphisms and mutations in
APOA5
positively correlate with hypertriglyceridemia. As an approach to preventing the deleterious effects of chronic hypertriglyceridemia, apoA-V gene therapy has been pursued.

Methods and Results—

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) 2/8 harboring the coding sequence for human apoA-V or a control AAV2/8 was transduced into hypertriglyceridemic
apoa5
(−/−) mice. After injection of 1×10
12
viral genome AAV2/8-apoA-V, maximal plasma levels of apoA-V protein were achieved at 3 to 4 weeks, after which the concentration slowly declined. Complementing the appearance of apoA-V was a decrease (50±6%) in plasma triacylglycerol content compared with
apoa5
(−/−) mice treated with AAV2/8-β-galactosidase. After 8 weeks the mice were euthanized and plasma lipoproteins separated. AAV2/8-apoA-V–transduced mice displayed a dramatic reduction in very low–density lipoprotein triacylglycerol content. Vector generated apoA-V in plasma associated with both very low–density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein fractions.

Conclusion—

Taken together, the data show that gene transfer of apoA-V improves the severe hypertriglyceridemia phenotype of
apoa5
(−/−) mice. Given the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia, apoA-V gene therapy offers a potential strategy for maintenance of plasma triacylglycerol homeostasis.
The Copernican Turn in the Study of Religion
Authors: King Richard
Published: January 2013

Abstract

Contemporary theoretical debates within the study of religion reflect the impact of a range of critical theories inspired by feminist, poststructuralist, postcolonial and “queer” perspectives on the field. Much of this work reflects a radicalization of a post-Kantian notion of the social construction of reality. It is argued that such theories represent an unfolding of the social and cultural implications of the Kantian epistemological project and reflects a similar “Copernican Turn” involving the recognition that the object of study—“religion,” is a construct reflecting the methodological and theoretical assumptions of the researcher. The article then offers a postcolonial critique of mainstream “secularist” historiographies of the field and argues for an alternative model for understanding the history and future of the field of the comparative study of religion, grounded in the practice of comparative cultural critique and commentary on dominant models of modernity.
Intraseasonal and Seasonal-to-Interannual Indian Ocean Convection and Hemispheric Teleconnections
Authors: Hoell Andrew , Barlow Mathew , Saini Roop
Published: January 2013

Deep tropical convection over the Indian Ocean leads to intense diabatic heating, a main driver of the climate system. The Northern Hemisphere circulation and precipitation associated with intraseasonal and seasonal-to-interannual components of the leading pattern of Indian Ocean convection are investigated for November–April 1979–2008. The leading pattern of Indian Ocean convection is separated into intraseasonal and seasonal-to-interannual components by filtering an index of outgoing longwave radiation at 33–105 days and greater than 105 days, yielding Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO)- and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-influenced patterns, respectively. Observations and barotropic Rossby wave ray tracing experiments suggest that Indian Ocean convection can influence the ENSO-related hemispheric teleconnection pattern in addition to the regional Asian teleconnection. Equivalent barotropic circulation anomalies throughout the Northern Hemisphere subtropics are associated with both seasonal-to-interannual Indian Ocean convection and ENSO. The hemispheric teleconnection associated with seasonal-to-interannual Indian Ocean convection is investigated with ray tracing, which suggests that forcing over the Indian Ocean can propagate eastward across the hemisphere and back to Asia. The relationship between the seasonal-to-interannual component of Indian Ocean convection and ENSO is investigated in terms of a gradient in sea surface temperatures (SST) over the equatorial western Pacific Ocean. When the western Pacific SST gradient is strong during ENSO, strong Maritime Continent precipitation extends further westward into the Indian Ocean, which is accompanied by enhanced tropospheric Asian circulation, similar to the seasonal-to-interannual component of Indian Ocean convection. Analysis of the three strongest interannual convection seasons shows that the strong Indian Ocean pattern of ENSO can dominate individual seasons.
Influence of Recent Stratification Changes on ENSO Stability in a Conceptual Model of the Equatorial Pacific
Authors: Thual Sulian , Dewitte Boris , An Soon-Il , Illig Serena , Ayoub Nadia
Published: January 2013

Changes in the mean circulation of the equatorial Pacific Ocean partly control the strong decadal modulation of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This relationship is considered from the linear stability of a conceptual recharge/discharge model with parameters tuned from the observed mean state. Whereas decadal changes in the mean thermocline depth alone are usually considered in conceptual ENSO models, here focus is given to decadal changes in the mean stratification of the entire upper ocean (e.g., the mean thermocline depth, intensity, and thickness). Those stratification changes modify the projection of wind stress forcing momentum onto the gravest ocean baroclinic modes. Their influence on the simulated frequency and growth rate is comparable in intensity to the one of usual thermodynamic and atmospheric feedbacks, while they have here a secondary effect on the spatial structure and propagation of SST anomalies. This sensitivity is evidenced in particular for the climate shift of the 1970s in the Simple Ocean Data Assimilation (SODA) dataset, as well as in a preindustrial simulation of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) model showing stratification changes similar to the ones after 2000. Despite limitations of the linear stability approach, conclusions on the sensitivity to stratification may be extended to interpret the modulation and diversity of ENSO in observations and in general circulation models.
An Analysis of the Short-Term Cloud Feedback Using MODIS Data
Authors: Zhou Chen , Zelinka Mark D. , Dessler Andrew E. , Yang Ping
Published: January 2013

The cloud feedback in response to short-term climate variations is estimated from cloud measurements combined with offline radiative transfer calculations. The cloud measurements are made by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Terra satellite and cover the period 2000–10. Low clouds provide a strong negative cloud feedback, mainly because of their impact in the shortwave (SW) portion of the spectrum. Midlevel clouds provide a positive net cloud feedback that is a combination of a positive SW feedback partially canceled by a negative feedback in the longwave (LW). High clouds have only a small impact on the net cloud feedback because of a close cancellation between large LW and SW cloud feedbacks. Segregating the clouds by optical depth, it is found that the net cloud feedback is set by a positive cloud feedback due to reductions in the thickest clouds (mainly in the SW) and a cancelling negative feedback from increases in clouds with moderate optical depths (also mainly in the SW). The global average SW, LW, and net cloud feedbacks are +0.30 ±1.10, −0.46 ±0.74, and −0.16 ±0.83 W m−2 K−1, respectively. The SW feedback is consistent with previous work; the MODIS LW feedback is lower than previous calculations and there are reasons to suspect it may be biased low. Finally, it is shown that the apparently small control that global mean surface temperature exerts on clouds, which leads to the large uncertainty in the short-term cloud feedback, arises from statistically significant but offsetting relationships between individual cloud types and global mean surface temperature.
CO2 Emissions Determined by HadGEM2-ES to be Compatible with the Representative Concentration Pathway Scenarios and Their Extensions
Authors: Liddicoat Spencer , Jones Chris , Robertson Eddy
Published: January 2013

This paper presents the fossil fuel–derived CO2 emissions simulated by the Hadley Centre Global Environmental Model, version 2, Earth System (HadGEM2-ES) to be compatible with four representative concentration pathways (RCPs) from 2006 to 2100. For three of the four RCPs, the analysis is extended to 2300. The compatible emissions compare well with those generated by integrated assessment models from which the RCPs were constructed. Historical compatible emissions are also presented, which closely match observation-based estimates from 1860 to 2005 (cumulatively 330 and 319 GtC, respectively). Simulated land and ocean carbon uptake, which determines the compatible emissions, is examined, with an emphasis on changes in vegetation carbon. In addition, historical land and ocean carbon uptake is compared with observations. The influences of climate change and the carbon cycle on compatible emissions are investigated individually through two additional experiments in which either aspect is decoupled from the CO2 pathway. Exposure of the biogeochemical components of the Earth system to increasing CO2 is found to be responsible for 68% of the compatible emissions of the fully coupled simulation, while increased radiative forcing from the CO2 pathway reduces its compatible emissions by 11%. The importance of dynamic vegetation to compatible emissions is investigated and discussed. Two different methods of determining emissions from land use and land-use change are compared; differencing the land–atmosphere CO2 exchange of two experiments, one with fixed land use and the other variable, results in historical land-use emissions within the uncertainty range of observed estimates, while those simulated directly by the model are well below the lower limit of the observations.
Cloud and Water Vapor Feedbacks to the El Niño Warming: Are They Still Biased in CMIP5 Models?
Authors: Chen Lin , Yu Yongqiang , Sun De-Zheng
Published: January 2013

Previous evaluations of model simulations of the cloud and water vapor feedbacks in response to El Niño warming have singled out two common biases in models from phase 3 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3): an underestimate of the negative feedback from the shortwave cloud radiative forcing (SWCRF) and an overestimate of the positive feedback from the greenhouse effect of water vapor. Here, the authors check whether these two biases are alleviated in the CMIP5 models. While encouraging improvements are found, particularly in the simulation of the negative SWCRF feedback, the biases in the simulation of these two feedbacks remain prevalent and significant. It is shown that bias in the SWCRF feedback correlates well with biases in the corresponding feedbacks from precipitation, large-scale circulation, and longwave radiative forcing of clouds (LWCRF). By dividing CMIP5 models into two categories—high score models (HSM) and low score models (LSM)—based on their individual skills of simulating the SWCRF feedback, the authors further find that ocean–atmosphere coupling generally lowers the score of the simulated feedbacks of water vapor and clouds but that the LSM is more affected by the coupling than the HSM. They also find that the SWCRF feedback is simulated better in the models that have a more realistic zonal extent of the equatorial cold tongue, suggesting that the continuing existence of an excessive cold tongue is a key factor behind the persistence of the feedback biases in models.
CFSv2-Based Seasonal Hydroclimatic Forecasts over the Conterminous United States
Authors: Yuan Xing , Wood Eric F. , Roundy Joshua K. , Pan Ming
Published: January 2013

There is a long history of debate on the usefulness of climate model–based seasonal hydroclimatic forecasts as compared to ensemble streamflow prediction (ESP). In this study, the authors use NCEP's operational forecast system, the Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2), and its previous version, CFSv1, to investigate the value of climate models by conducting a set of 27-yr seasonal hydroclimatic hindcasts over the conterminous United States (CONUS). Through Bayesian downscaling, climate models have higher squared correlation R2 and smaller error than ESP for monthly precipitation, and the forecasts conditional on ENSO have further improvements over southern basins out to 4 months. Verification of streamflow forecasts over 1734 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauges shows that CFSv2 has moderately smaller error than ESP, but all three approaches have limited added skill against climatology beyond 1 month because of overforecasting or underdispersion errors. Using a postprocessor, 60%–70% of probabilistic streamflow forecasts are more skillful than climatology. All three approaches have plausible predictions of soil moisture drought frequency over the central United States out to 6 months, and climate models provide better results over the central and eastern United States. The R2 of drought extent is higher for arid basins and for the forecasts initiated during dry seasons, but significant improvements from CFSv2 occur in different seasons for different basins. The R2 of drought severity accumulated over CONUS is higher during winter, and climate models present added value, especially at long leads. This study indicates that climate models can provide better seasonal hydroclimatic forecasts than ESP through appropriate downscaling procedures, but significant improvements are dependent on the variables, seasons, and regions.
Bias Correction, Quantile Mapping, and Downscaling: Revisiting the Inflation Issue
Authors: Maraun Douglas
Published: January 2013

Quantile mapping is routinely applied to correct biases of regional climate model simulations compared to observational data. If the observations are of similar resolution as the regional climate model, quantile mapping is a feasible approach. However, if the observations are of much higher resolution, quantile mapping also attempts to bridge this scale mismatch. Here, it is shown for daily precipitation that such quantile mapping–based downscaling is not feasible but introduces similar problems as inflation of perfect prognosis (“prog”) downscaling: the spatial and temporal structure of the corrected time series is misrepresented, the drizzle effect for area means is overcorrected, area-mean extremes are overestimated, and trends are affected. To overcome these problems, stochastic bias correction is required.
Sudden Tropical Cyclone Track Changes over the Western North Pacific: A Composite Study
Authors: Wu Liguang , Ni Zhongping , Duan Jingjing , Zong Huijun
Published: January 2013

Tropical cyclones (TCs) over the western North Pacific (WNP) are usually embedded in the multitime-scale summer monsoon circulation and occasionally experience sudden track changes, which are currently a challenge in TC forecasting. A composite analysis of 15 sudden north-turning cases and 14 west-turning cases that occurred during the period 2000–10 was conducted with a focus on influences of low-frequency monsoon circulations. It is found that TCs in the two specific categories of track changes are embedded in a monsoon gyre of about 2500 km in diameter on the quasi-biweekly oscillation (QBW) time scale, which is also embedded in a larger-scale cyclonic gyre or monsoon trough on the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) time scale. The two types of track changes are closely associated with interaction between low-frequency and synoptic flows. Two different types of asymmetric flow patterns are identified on the synoptic time scale in the vicinity of these TCs. In the north-turning case, enhanced winds lie mainly on the southeast side of TCs due to strong ridging associated with interactions between low-frequency and synoptic flows. In the west-turning case, the westward extension of the subtropical high leads to ridging on the northwest side of TCs and the enhanced winds can largely offset the steering of enhanced southwesterly winds on the synoptic time scale. Thus the north-turning (west turning) sudden track changes are affected primarily by the synoptic-scale (low frequency) steering. This may be one of the reasons for the larger forecasting errors in the north-turning case than in the west-turning case.
Mechanism of Orographic Precipitation around the Meghalaya Plateau Associated with Intraseasonal Oscillation and the Diurnal Cycle
Authors: Sato Tomonori
Published: January 2013

Mesoscale processes that cause tremendous amounts of precipitation around the Meghalaya Plateau, northeast India, were investigated using a regional atmospheric model, with a particular focus on the possible role of an intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) and the diurnal cycle. A numerical experiment was conducted using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) to simulate a prominent submonthly-scale ISO event observed during June–July 2004. A WRF experiment successfully simulated the timing and magnitude of precipitation during the first active period and subsequent inactive period of the ISO, despite large biases in the second active period. The WRF experiment revealed that the magnitude of prevailing southwesterly winds in the lower troposphere differs significantly between active and inactive periods; strong southwesterly flow transports abundant moisture to the southern slope of the Meghalaya Plateau during the active period, which triggers forced lifting and brings orographic precipitation. However, low-level wind during the inactive period is too weak to overcome the vertical stratification barrier; hence, it is unable to reach the condensation level. The WRF experiment suggested that the diurnal cycle of precipitation is enhanced during the active period, exhibiting an evening to early morning maximum, as observed by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). The experiment also indicated a prominent nocturnal low-level jet (LLJ) appearing at 900 hPa. The direction of the LLJ varies clockwise with time, which accelerates the preexisting southwesterly flow during 1800–0600 LT. The diurnal variation of the LLJ is responsible for the evening to early morning maximum of precipitation, thus contributing to the precipitation variability in the ISO.
The Impact of Climate on Atmospheric Emissions: Constructing an Index of Heating Degrees for 21 OECD Countries from 1960 to 2005*
Authors: Jahn Detlef
Published: January 2013

The impact of climate on atmospheric emissions is a highly neglected aspect in research on environmental performance. Cold winters may be a major factor for the increase in heating needs and energy consumption, which may in turn lead to substantial increases in atmospheric emissions, thus contributing to climate change. To measure such an impact, this article develops an index that measures the heating requirements in highly populated regions in 21 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries from 1960 to 2005. Applying this index of heating degree months (HDMs) to atmospheric emissions shows that climate has a significant effect. This is above all true for particular atmospheric emissions that have not been substantially reduced over the last three decades. For atmospheric emissions that have been substantially reduced, climate has no explanatory power, suggesting that other factors such as policies and technological development may explain the reduction. These results remain robust when controlling for various aspects of energy production, economic development, and structural changes.
Chinese Monopoly in Rare Earth Elements: Supply–Demand and Industrial Applications
Authors: Mancheri Nabeel A.
Published: January 2013

The concentration of rare earth elements (REEs) production in China raises the vital issue of supply susceptibility. Until recently, the global dependency on China for rare earths was a well-kept secret. But word started to spread fast after Beijing cut export quotas by 70 per cent for the second half of 2010, sending prices of some oxides—the purified form of rare earth elements sky-rocketing. This article seeks to evaluate what rare earth elements are and explores China’s role in the global supply-demand equations. It also explores the history of rare earth elements and China’s current monopoly over the industry, including possible repercussions if rare earth elements supply were to be disrupted.
Lonergan’s Soteriology
Authors: Moloney SJ Raymond
Published: January 2013

The issue of redemption is no marginal concern in the writings of Bernard Lonergan. Though the places where he tackles the subject directly are not numerous, the issue itself pervades his work as an aspect of his views on the nature of history. His principal treatment of the classical themes of soteriology is found in three of the 17 theses of his Christology, De Verbo incarnato. It is the aim of this article to bring to the attention of scholars the distinctive approach of these three theses, leaving to another occasion a broader treatment of the significance of the redemption in his work generally.