bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Linear Markov Model for East Asian Monsoon Seasonal Forecast
Authors: Wu Qiaoyan , Yan Ying , Chen Dake 
Published: January 2013

Abstract
A linear Markov model has been developed to predict the short-term climate variability of the East Asian monsoon system, with emphasis on precipitation variability. Precipitation, sea level pressure, zonal and meridional winds at 850 mb, along with sea surface temperature and soil moisture, were chosen to define the state of the East Asian monsoon system, and the multivariate empirical orthogonal functions of these variables were used to construct the statistical Markov model. The forecast skill of the model was evaluated in a cross-validated fashion and a series of sensitivity experiments were conducted to further validate the model. In both hindcast and forecast experiments, the model showed considerable skill in predicting the precipitation anomaly a few months in advance, especially in boreal winter and spring. The prediction in boreal summer was relatively poor, though the model performance was better in an ENSO decaying summer than in an ENSO developing summer. Also, the prediction skill was better over the ocean than the land. The model's forecast ability is attributed to the domination of the East Asian monsoon climate variability by a few distinctive modes in the coupled atmosphere–ocean–land system, to the strong influence of ENSO on these modes, and to the Markov model's capability to capture these modes.
Impact of Strong Tropical Volcanic Eruptions on ENSO Simulated in a Coupled GCM
Authors: Ohba Masamichi , Shiogama Hideo , Yokohata Tokuta , Watanabe Masahiro 
Published: January 2013

Abstract
The impact of strong tropical volcanic eruptions (SVEs) on the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and its phase dependency is investigated using a coupled general circulation model (CGCM). This paper investigates the response of ENSO to an idealized SVE forcing, producing a peak perturbation of global-mean surface shortwave radiation larger than −6.5 W m−2. Radiative forcing due to volcanic aerosols injected into the stratosphere induces tropical surface cooling around the volcanic forcing peak. Identical-twin forecast experiments of an ENSO-neutral year in response to an SVE forcing show an El Niño–like warming lagging one year behind the peak forcing. In addition to a reduced role of the mean subsurface water upwelling (known as the dynamical thermostat mechanism), the rapid land surface cooling around the Maritime Continent weakens the equatorial Walker circulation, contributing to the positive zonal gradient of sea surface temperature (SST) and precipitation anomalies over the equatorial Pacific. Since the warm and cold phases of ENSO exhibit significant asymmetry in their transition and duration, the impact of a SVE forcing on El Niño and La Niña is also investigated. In the warm phase of ENSO, the prediction skill of the SVE-forced experiments rapidly drops approximately six months after the volcanic peak. Since the SVE significantly facilitates the duration of El Niño, the following transition from warm to cold ENSO is disrupted. The impact of SVE forcing on La Niña is, however, relatively weak. These results imply that the intensity of a dynamical thermostat-like response to a SVE could be dependent on the phase of ENSO.
A Trajectory Approach to Analyzing the Ingredients Associated with Heavy Winter Storms in Central North Carolina
Authors: Fuhrmann Christopher M. , Konrad Charles E. 
Published: January 2013

Abstract
Winter storms, namely snowstorms and ice storms, are a major hazard and forecasting challenge across central North Carolina. This study employed a trajectory approach to analyze the ingredients (i.e., temperature, moisture, and lift) associated with heavy snowstorms and ice storms that occurred within the Raleigh, North Carolina, National Weather Service forecast region from 2000 to 2010. The Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) tool was used to calculate 72-h backward (i.e., upstream) air parcel trajectories from three critical vertical pressure levels at the time and location of heaviest precipitation for each storm. Analysis of composite trajectories revealed the source regions and meteorological properties of air parcels associated with heavy winter storms. Adiabatic and diabatic contributions to air parcel temperature and moisture content were also estimated along each trajectory to assess the physical processes connected with heavy winter precipitation in the region. Results indicate that diabatic warming and cooling contribute significantly to the vertical temperature profile during heavy winter storms and therefore dictate the resulting precipitation type. The main source of diabatic warming is fluxes of sensible and latent heat within the marine atmospheric boundary layer over the Gulf Stream. These fluxes contribute to a warming and moistening of air parcels associated with heavy ice storms. In contrast, heavy snowstorms are characterized by diabatic cooling in the lower troposphere above the marine atmospheric boundary layer. The most significant moisture source for heavy snowfall is the Caribbean Sea, while heavy ice storms entrain moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and Gulf Stream region near the Carolina coast.
Handling ability of gaseous microemboli of two pediatric arterial filters in a simulated CPB model
Authors: Strother A , Wang S , Kunselman AR , Ündar A 
Published: January 2013

Objective: The purpose of this experiment was to compare the Sorin KIDS D131 and the Terumo Capiox AF02 pediatric arterial filters in a simulated CPB procedure to determine which filter is the better for clinical use. Methods: The experimental circuit was primed with an 800 ml combination of lactated Ringer’s solution and human blood (hematocrit (Hct) 30%). The two filters were tested under flow rates of 500, 1000, and 1500 ml/min at room temperature and their purge lines opened and closed as 5cc of air was injected into the circuit. Results: As the flow rates increased, the number of gaseous microemboli (GME) being returned to the pseudo patient increased for both of the pediatric arterial filters. Having an open purge line increased the number of GME removed from the CPB circuit, caused less of a pressure drop than when closed and increased the total hemodynamic energy loss than when closed. Both of the filters performed and reacted similarly in decreasing GME, hemodynamic energy loss and pressure drop. The only minor difference was that the Capiox AF02 had slightly less stolen blood flow (109.5 ± 1.7 ml/min at 500 ml/min, 114.7 ± 1.1 ml/min at 1000 ml/min and 105.8 ± 4.2 ml/min at 1500ml/min) from the open purge line than the KIDS D131 (119.5 ± 2.5 ml/min at 500 ml/min, 128.3 ± 1.0 ml/min at 1000 ml/min and 126.3 ± 3.1 ml/min at 1500 ml/min). Conclusion: Our study confirmed that both the Sorin KIDS D131 and the Terumo Capiox AF02 were equivalent in their ability to remove significant numbers of GME, the amount of pressure drop and the total hemodynamic energy loss across the arterial filters at the various flow rates. An arterial filter is not an option, but a necessity for removing microemboli delivered to the patient.
Interictal cortical hyperresponsiveness in migraine is directly related to the presence of aura
Authors: Datta Ritobrato , Aguirre Geoffrey K , Hu Siyuan , Detre John A , Cucchiara Brett 
Published: January 2013

Objective The objective of this study was to compare the interictal cortical response to a visual stimulus between migraine with aura (MWA), migraine without aura (MwoA), and control subjects. Methods In a prospective case-control study, blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI) was used to assess the response to a visual stimulus and arterial spin labeled perfusion MR to determine resting cerebral blood flow. A standardized questionnaire was used to assess interictal visual discomfort. Results Seventy-five subjects (25 MWA, 25 MwoA, and 25 controls) were studied. BOLD fMRI response to visual stimulation within primary visual cortex was greater in MWA (3.09 ± 0.15%) compared to MwoA (2.36 ± 0.13%, p = 0.0008) and control subjects (2.47 ± 0.11%, p = 0.002); responses were also greater in the lateral geniculate nuclei in MWA. No difference was found between MwoA and control groups. Whole brain analysis showed that increased activation in MWA was confined to the occipital pole. Regional resting cerebral blood flow did not differ between groups. MWA and MwoA subjects had significantly greater levels of interictal visual discomfort compared to controls ( p = 0.008 and p = 0.005, respectively), but this did not correlate with BOLD response. Conclusions Despite similar interictal symptoms of visual discomfort, only MWA subjects have cortical hyperresponsiveness to visual stimulus, suggesting a direct connection between cortical hyperresponsiveness and aura itself.
Treatment outcomes following leukemic transformation in Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms
Authors: Kennedy James A. , Atenafu Eshetu G. , Messner Hans A. , Craddock Kenneth J. , Brandwein Joseph M. , Lipton Jeffrey H. , Minden Mark D. , Schimmer Aaron D. , Schuh Andre C. , Yee Karen W. , Gupta Vikas 
Published: January 2013

Key Points
Induction followed by allo-transplantation can achieve long-term disease control in select patients with AML arising from a Ph-MPN. In this population, transplant should be the goal in patients treated with curative intent, as induction alone provides limited benefit.
Estimation of data-specific constitutive exons with RNA-Seq data
Authors: Patrick Ellis , Buckley Michael , Yang Yee Hwa 
Published: January 2013

Abstract

Background
RNA-Seq has the potential to answer many diverse and interesting questions about the inner workings of cells. Estimating changes in the overall transcription of a gene is not straightforward. Changes in overall gene transcription can easily be confounded with changes in exon usage which alter the lengths of transcripts produced by a gene. Measuring the expression of constitutive exons— exons which are consistently conserved after splicing— offers an unbiased estimation of the overall transcription of a gene.

Results
We propose a clustering-based method, exClust, for estimating the exons that are consistently conserved after splicing in a given data set. These are considered as the exons which are “constitutive” in this data. The method utilises information from both annotation and the dataset of interest. The method is implemented in an openly available R function package, sydSeq.

Conclusion
When used on two real datasets exClust includes more than three times as many reads as the standard UI method, and improves concordance with qRT-PCR data. When compared to other methods, our method is shown to produce robust estimates of overall gene transcription.
Characterisation of the bacterial microbiota of the vagina of dairy cows and isolation of pediocin-producing Pediococcus acidilactici
Authors: Wang Yvonne , Ametaj Burim N , Ambrose Divakar J , Gänzle Michael G 
Published: January 2013

Abstract

Background
Uterine infections in dairy cows lower profitability of dairy operations. Infections of the reproductive tract are related to the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria during the first three weeks after parturition. However, alterations in the vaginal microbiota composition in the first weeks after parturition remain poorly documented.

Results
In this study, bacteria isolated from the vagina of healthy pregnant, and infected postpartum cows were characterised by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and partial 16S ribosomal RNA (rDNA) gene sequencing. Populations of bacilli and lactic acid bacteria of the genera Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus were present in both healthy and infected cows. Infected cows had a significant increase in the vaginal enteric bacteria population which consisted mainly of Escherichia coli. Three E. coli isolates harboured the gene coding for Shiga-like-toxin (SLT) I or II. Several isolates of the Pediococcus acidilactici were found to produce the bacteriocin pediocin AcH/PA-1. Quantitative PCR analyses of vaginal mucus samples collected from ten metritic cows before and after parturition confirmed the presence of the Lactobacillus group (Lactobacillus spp., Pediococcus spp., Leuconostoc spp., and Weissella spp.); Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli, and bacilli. The presence of the pediocin AcH/PA-1 structural gene and SLT genes were also confirmed with qPCR.

Conclusions
In conclusion, overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, particularly E. coli, after parturition likely contributes to the development of metritis. Our microbiota analysis extends the information related to the composition of commensal bacteria in the bovine female reproductive tract and may facilitate the development of novel intervention strategies for prevention of uterine infections in dairy cows.
Genome-wide analysis validates aberrant methylation in fragile X syndrome is specific to the FMR1locus
Authors: Alisch Reid S , Wang Tao , Chopra Pankaj , Visootsak Jeannie , Conneely Karen N , Warren Stephen T 
Published: January 2013

Abstract

Background
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a common form of inherited intellectual disability caused by an expansion of CGG repeats located in the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of the FMR1 gene, which leads to hypermethylation and silencing of this locus. Although a dramatic increase in DNA methylation of the FMR1 full mutation allele is well documented, the extent to which these changes affect DNA methylation throughout the rest of the genome has gone unexplored.

Methods
Here we examined genome-wide methylation in both peripheral blood (N = 62) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs; N = 10) from FXS individuals and controls.

Results
We not only found the expected significant DNA methylation differences in the FMR1 promoter and 5′ UTR, we also saw that these changes inverse in the FMR1 gene body. Importantly, we found no other differentially methylated loci throughout the remainder of the genome, indicating the aberrant methylation of FMR1 in FXS is locus-specific.

Conclusions
This study provides a comprehensive methylation profile of FXS and helps refine our understanding of the mechanisms behind FMR1 silencing.
Radiosensitizing effect of intratumoral interleukin-12 gene electrotransfer in murine sarcoma
Authors: Sedlar Ales , Kranjc Simona , Dolinsek Tanja , Cemazar Maja , Coer Andrej , Sersa Gregor 
Published: January 2013

Abstract

Background
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) based radiosensitization is an effective way of tumor treatment. Local cytokine production, without systemic shedding, might provide clinical benefit in radiation treatment of sarcomas. Therefore, the aim was to stimulate intratumoral IL-12 production by gene electrotransfer of plasmid coding for mouse IL-12 (mIL-12) into the tumors, in order to explore its radiosensitizing effect after single or multiple intratumoral gene electrotransfer.

Methods
Solid SA-1 fibrosarcoma tumors, on the back of A/J mice, were treated intratumorally by mIL-12 gene electrotransfer and 24 h later irradiated with a single dose. Treatment effectiveness was measured by tumor growth delay and local tumor control assay (TCD50 assay). With respect to therapeutic index, skin reaction in the radiation field was scored. The tumor and serum concentrations of cytokines mIL-12 and mouse interferon γ (mIFNγ) were measured. Besides single, also multiple intratumoral mIL-12 gene electrotransfer before and after tumor irradiation was evaluated.

Results
Single intratumoral mIL-12 gene electrotransfer resulted in increased intratumoral but not serum mIL-12 and mIFNγ concentrations, and had good antitumor (7.1% tumor cures) and radiosensitizing effect (21.4% tumor cures). Combined treatment resulted in the radiation dose-modifying factor of 2.16. Multiple mIL-12 gene electrotransfer had an even more pronounced antitumor (50% tumor cures) and radiosensitizing (86.7% tumor cures) effect.

Conclusions
Single or multiple intratumoral mIL-12 gene electrotransfer resulted in increased intratumoral mIL-12 and mIFNγ cytokine level, and may provide an efficient treatment modality for soft tissue sarcoma as single or adjuvant therapy to tumor irradiation.
Physiologic and metabolic characterization of a new marine isolate (BM39) of Pantoea sp. producing high levels of exopolysaccharide
Authors: Silvi Silvia , Barghini Paolo , Aquilanti Arianna , Juarez-Jimenez Belen , Fenice Massimiliano 
Published: January 2013

Abstract

Background
Marine environments are the widest fonts of biodiversity representing a resource of both unexploited or unknown microorganisms and new substances having potential applications. Among microbial products, exopolysaccharides (EPS) have many physiological functions and practical applications. Since EPS production by many bacteria is too scarce for practical use and only few species are known for their high levels of production, the search of new high EPS producers is of paramount importance. Many marine bacteria, that produce EPS to cope with strong environmental stress, could be potentially exploited at the industrial level.

Results
A novel bacterium, strain BM39, previously isolated from sediments collected in the Tyrrhenian Sea, was selected for its production of very high levels of EPS. BM39 was affiliated to Pantoea sp. (Enterobacteriaceae) by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and biochemical tests. According to the phylogenetic tree, this strain, being quite far from the closest known Pantoea species (96% identity with P. agglomerans and P. ananatis) could belong to a new species. EPS production was fast (maximum of ca. 21 g/L in 24 h on glucose medium) and mainly obtained during the exponential growth. Preliminary characterization, carried out by thin layer and gel filtration chromatography, showed that the EPS, being a glucose homopolymer with MW of ca. 830 kDa, appeared to be different from those of other bacteria of same genus. The bacterium showed a typical slightly halophilic behavior growing optimally at NaCl 40 ‰ (growing range 0-100 ‰). Flow cytometry studies indicated that good cell survival was maintained for 24 h at 120 ‰. Survival decreased dramatically with the increase of salinity being only 1 h at 280 ‰. The biochemical characterization, carried out with the Biolog system, showed that MB39 had a rather limited metabolic capacity. Its ability, rather lower than that of P. agglomerans, was almost only confined to the metabolization of simple sugars and their derivatives. Few alcohols, organic acids and nitrogen compounds were partially used too.

Conclusions
Strain BM39, probably belonging to a new species, due to its remarkable EPS production, comparable to those of known industrial bacterial producers, could be suggested as a new microorganism for industrial applications.
Cardioembolic stroke related to limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 1B
Authors: Chen Chih-Hao , Tang Sung-Chun , Su Yi-Ning , Yang Chih-Chao , Jeng Jiann-Shing 
Published: January 2013

Abstract

Background
Cardioembolic stroke is an under-recognized complication in patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 1B. Here we present a young stroke patient who had a novel lamin A/C gene (LMNA) mutation.

Case presentation
This is a 39-year-old man who had slowly progressive proximal muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmia since adolescent and a family history of similar manifestation. He sustained acute ischemic stroke in the left middle cerebral artery territory. Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator therapy was given with significant neurological improvement. Additionally, genetic sequencing of the LMNA gene of the patient identified a mutation in c.513+1 G>A that resulted in a splicing aberration.

Conclusion
We suggested that LMNA gene related myopathies should be considered in young stroke patients with long-standing myopathic features.
Abnormal hematopoietic phenotypes in Pim kinase triple knockout mice
Authors: An Ningfei , Kraft Andrew S , Kang Yubin 
Published: January 2013

Abstract

Background
Pim (p roviral i nsertion in m urine lymphoma) kinases are a small family of constitutively active, highly conservative serine/threonine oncogenic kinases and have 3 members: Pim1, Pim2, and Pim3. Pim kinases are also implicated in the regulation of B- and T- cell responses to cytokines and hematopoietic growth factors. The roles of Pim kinases in the regulation of primitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are largely unknown.

Methods
In the current study, Pim1−/−2−/−3−/− triple knockout (TKO) mice were used to determine the role of Pim kinases in hematopoiesis. Peripheral blood hematological parameters were measured in Pim TKO mice and age-matched wild-type (WT) controls. Primary, secondary, and competitive transplantations were performed to assay the long-term repopulating HSCs in Pim TKO mice. In vivo BrdU incorporation assay and ex vivo Ki67 staining and caspase 3 labeling were performed to evaluate the proliferation and apoptosis of HSCs in Pim TKO mice.

Results
Compared to age-matched WT controls, Pim TKO mice had lower peripheral blood platelet count and exhibited erythrocyte hypochromic microcytosis. The bone marrow cells from Pim TKO mice demonstrated decreased hematopoietic progenitor colony-forming ability. Importantly, Pim TKO bone marrow cells had significantly impaired capacity in rescuing lethally irradiated mice and reconstituting hematopoiesis in primary, secondary and competitive transplant models. In vivo BrdU incorporation in long-term HSCs was reduced in Pim TKO mice. Finally, cultured HSCs from Pim TKO mice showed reduced proliferation evaluated by Ki67 staining and higher rate of apoptosis via caspase 3 activation.

Conclusions
Pim kinases are not only essential in the hematopoietic lineage cell development, but also important in HSC expansion, self-renewal, and long-term repopulation.
Interictal EEG changes in patients with seizure disorder: experience in Bangladesh
Authors: Chowdhury Rajib Nayan , Hasan ATM Hasibul , Rahman Kazi Mohibur , Mondol Badrul Alam , Deb Sudip Ranjan , Mohammad Quazi Deen 
Published: January 2013

Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the changes and sensitivity of electro encephalogram during interictal period and to evaluate the finding in the clinically suspected seizure events in a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh. This cross sectional study was carried out in the Electrophysiology Laboratory of Dhaka Medical College Hospital from July 2010 to July 2011, which included 767 patients. EEG was obtained through scalp electrodes following international 10/20 system. Patient and their attendants were interviewed using a semi structured questionnaire. The EEG findings and clinical seizure events were then compared. Among the 767 epilepsy patients most were children (39.9% less than 10 years old) and young adult (33.2% in 11–20 years age group). Female patients predominantly had seizure than male (57% and 43% respectively). The overall sensitivity of EEG in yielding abnormal interictal epileptiform discharges was 62.7%. About 48.5% of them were diagnosed as localization related epilepsy and 11.7% were generalized epilepsy. Morphology showed spike and wave in 74% and sharp and wave in 11% tracings. Only 2% had slow waves. The presence of an interictal spike/sharp wave helps to confirm a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy, aids in defining the epilepsy syndrome, provides information that assists in planning drug management.