bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In Silico Post Genome-Wide Association Studies Analysis of C-Reactive Protein Loci Suggests an Important Role for Interferons
Authors: Vaez Ahmad , Jansen Rick , Prins Bram P. , Hottenga Jouke-Jan , de Geus Eco J.C. , Boomsma Dorret I. , Penninx Brenda W.J.H. , Nolte Ilja M. , Snieder Harold , Alizadeh Behrooz Z. 
Published: March 2015

Background—
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have successfully identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). An important limitation of GWASs is that the identified variants merely flag the nearby genomic region and do not necessarily provide a direct link to the biological mechanisms underlying their corresponding phenotype. Here we apply a bioinformatics-based approach to uncover the functional characteristics of the 18 SNPs that had previously been associated with CRP at a genome-wide significant level.

Methods and Results—

In the first phase of in silico sequencing, we explore the vicinity of GWAS SNPs to identify all linked variants. In the second phase of expression quantitative trait loci analysis, we attempt to identify all nearby genes whose expression levels are associated with the corresponding GWAS SNPs. These 2 phases generate several relevant genes that serve as input to the next phase of functional network analysis. Our in silico sequencing analysis using 1000 Genomes Project data identified 7 nonsynonymous SNPs, which are in moderate to high linkage disequilibrium (
r
2
>0.5) with the GWAS SNPs. Our expression quantitative trait loci analysis, which was based on one of the largest single data sets of genome-wide expression probes (n>5000) identified 23 significantly associated expression probes belonging to 15 genes (false discovery rate <0.01). The final phase of functional network analysis revealed 93 significantly enriched biological processes (false discovery rate <0.01).

Conclusions—
Our post-GWAS analysis of CRP GWAS SNPs confirmed the previously known overlap between CRP and lipids biology. Additionally, it suggested an important role for interferons in the metabolism of CRP.
Lack of Association Between Epicardial Fat Volume and Extent of Coronary Artery Calcification, Severity of Coronary Artery Disease, or Presence of Myocardial Perfusion Abnormalities in a Diverse, Symptomatic Patient Population
Authors: Tanami Yutaka , Jinzaki Masahiro , Kishi Satoru , Matheson Matthew , Vavere Andrea L. , Rochitte Carlos E. , Dewey Marc , Chen Marcus Y. , Clouse Melvin E. , Cox Christopher , Kuribayashi Sachio , Lima Joao A.C. , Arbab-Zadeh Armin 
Published: March 2015

Background—
Epicardial fat may play a role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). We explored the relationship of epicardial fat volume (EFV) with the presence and severity of CAD or myocardial perfusion abnormalities in a diverse, symptomatic patient population.

Methods and Results—

Patients (n=380) with known or suspected CAD who underwent 320-detector row computed tomographic angiography, nuclear stress perfusion imaging, and clinically driven invasive coronary angiography for the CORE320 international study were included. EFV was defined as adipose tissue within the pericardial borders as assessed by computed tomography using semiautomatic software. We used linear and logistic regression models to assess the relationship of EFV with coronary calcium score, stenosis severity by quantitative coronary angiography, and myocardial perfusion abnormalities by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Median EFV among patients (median age, 62.6 years) was 102 cm
3
(interquartile range: 53). A coronary calcium score of ≥1 was present in 83% of patients. Fifty-nine percent of patients had ≥1 coronary artery stenosis of ≥50% by quantitative coronary angiography, and 49% had abnormal myocardial perfusion results by SPECT. There were no significant associations between EFV and coronary artery calcium scanning, presence severity of ≥50% stenosis by quantitative coronary angiography, or abnormal myocardial perfusion by SPECT.

Conclusions—
In a diverse population of symptomatic patients referred for invasive coronary angiography, we did not find associations of EFV with the presence and severity of CAD or with myocardial perfusion abnormalities. The clinical significance of quantifying EFV remains uncertain but may relate to the pathophysiology of acute coronary events rather than the presence of atherosclerotic disease.
Ethos and Logos: A Second-Century Debate Between “Pagan” and Christian Philosophers
Authors: Ramelli Ilaria L.E. 
Published: March 2015

This essay analyses the most significant sources—some overlooked so far—on the debate on ethos and logos that was lively between “pagan” and Christian philosophers in the second century ce. Epictetus’s attribution of a behaviour based on ethos to the Christians should not be regarded as utterly negative, but should rather be connected with his teacher Musonius’s high appreciation of ethos, even over logos. Marcus Aurelius’s and Celsus’s negative attitude toward Christianity as an obstinate, irrational habit can be explained by the possible influence of Montanism, while the Syriac apology to Marcus ascribed to Melito reacts to anti-Christian accusations of irrationality by attaching logos to the Christians and a behaviour based on a bad ethos to “paganism”—the same as was done by Clement of Alexandria, one of the Christian intellectuals most committed to demonstrating the rationality of Christian belief. Literary problems related to the apology are tackled, and parallels are pointed out with both Justin and Bardaisan, two other Christian Platonists who attempted to construe Christianity as philosophy.
Galen’s judgment about the Christians shows interesting parallels with, and differences from, that of Epictetus. For both intellectuals an engagement with Christian doctrines of creation is argued for (this is usually admitted in the case of Galen, but not in that of Epictetus). Another second-century anti-Christian accusation of the lack of logos is the charge of onolatry. Lucian’s attitude toward the Christians is showed to be less simplistic than generally believed: he allowed for the ascription of logos and a certain intellectual development to Christianity and its founder. But for Christians to claim that the Logos was on their side, they had to develop a theology of the Logos, which identified Jesus Christ with God’s Logos. This operation, anticipated by Philo and Hellenistic Judaism, started from the Prologue of John and was continued by Justin, most Valentinians, Clement, and especially Origen, and then by the Patristic philosophy which depended on Origen. Thanks to Origen, who was deeply respected by “pagan” philosophers too, Christianity could no longer be charged with being a religion for irrational people.
The Microphysics of Ice and Precipitation Development in Tropical Cumulus Clouds
Authors: Lawson R. Paul , Woods Sarah , Morrison Hugh 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
The rapid glaciation of tropical cumulus clouds has been an enigma and has been debated in the literature for over 60 years. Possible mechanisms responsible for the rapid freezing have been postulated, but until now direct evidence has been lacking. Recent high-speed photography of electrostatically suspended supercooled drops in the laboratory has shown that freezing events produce small secondary ice particles. Aircraft observations from the Ice in Clouds Experiment–Tropical (ICE-T), strongly suggest that the drop-freezing secondary ice production mechanism is operating in strong, tropical cumulus updraft cores. The result is the production of small ice particles colliding with large supercooled drops (hundreds of microns up to millimeters in diameter), producing a cascading process that results in rapid glaciation of water drops in the updraft. The process was analyzed from data collected using state-of-the-art cloud particle probes during 54 Learjet penetrations of strong cumulus updraft cores over open ocean in a temperature range from 5° to −20°C. Repeated Learjet penetrations of an updraft core containing 3–5 g m−3 supercooled liquid showed an order-of-magnitude decrease in liquid mass concentration 3 min later at an elevation 1–1.5 km higher in the cloud. The aircraft observations were simulated using a one-dimensional cloud model with explicit bin microphysics. The model was initialized with drop and ice particle size distributions observed prior to rapid glaciation. Simulations show that the model can explain the observed rapid glaciation by the drop-freezing secondary ice production process and subsequent riming, which results when large supercooled drops collide with ice particles.
Satellite Inference of Thermals and Cloud-Base Updraft Speeds Based on Retrieved Surface and Cloud-Base Temperatures
Authors: Zheng Youtong , Rosenfeld Daniel , Li Zhanqing 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Updraft speeds of thermals have always been difficult to measure, despite the significant role they play in transporting pollutants and in cloud formation and precipitation. In this study, updraft speeds in buoyancy-driven planetary boundary layers (PBLs) measured by Doppler lidar are found to be correlated with properties of the PBL and surface over the Southern Great Plains (SGP) site operated by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM). Based on the relationships found here, two approaches are proposed to estimate both maximum (Wmax) and cloud-base (Wcb) updraft speeds using satellite data together with some ancillary meteorological data of PBL depth, wind speed at 10-m height, and air temperature at 2-m height. The required satellite input data are cloud-base and surface skin temperatures. PBL depth can be determined by using cloud-base temperature in combination with European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) interim reanalysis data. Validation against lidar-measured updraft speeds demonstrated the feasibility of retrieving Wmax and Wcb using high-resolution Suomi–National Polar-Orbiting Partnership Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (Suomi-NPP VIIRS) measurements over land for PBLs with thermally driven convective clouds during the satellite overpass time. The root-mean-square errors (RMSE) of Wmax and Wcb are 0.32 and 0.42 m s−1, respectively. This method does not work for a stable or a mechanically driven PBL.
Stability and Instability Criteria for Idealized Precipitating Hydrodynamics
Authors: Hernandez-Duenas Gerardo , Smith Leslie M. , Stechmann Samuel N. 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
A linear stability analysis is presented for fluid dynamics with water vapor and precipitation, where the precipitation falls relative to the fluid at speed VT. The aim is to bridge two extreme cases by considering the full range of VT values: (i) VT = 0, (ii) finite VT, and (iii) infinitely fast VT. In each case, a saturated precipitating atmosphere is considered, and the sufficient conditions for stability and instability are identified. Furthermore, each condition is linked to a thermodynamic variable: either a variable θs, which denotes the saturated potential temperature, or the equivalent potential temperature θe. When VT is finite, separate sufficient conditions are identified for stability versus instability: dθe/dz &gt; 0 versus dθs/dz &lt; 0, respectively. When VT = 0, the criterion dθs/dz = 0 is the single boundary that separates the stable and unstable conditions; and when VT is infinitely fast, the criterion dθe/dz = 0 is the single boundary. Asymptotics are used to analytically characterize the infinitely fast VT case, in addition to numerical results. Also, the small-VT limit is identified as a singular limit; that is, the cases of VT = 0 and small VT are fundamentally different. An energy principle is also presented for each case of VT, and the form of the energy identifies the stability parameter: either dθs/dz or dθe/dz. Results for finite VT have some resemblance to the notion of conditional instability: separate sufficient conditions exist for stability versus instability, with an intermediate range of environmental states where stability or instability is not definitive.
Characterizing ENSO Coupled Variability and Its Impact on North American Seasonal Precipitation and Temperature
Authors: L’Heureux Michelle L. , Tippett Michael K. , Barnston Anthony G. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractTwo questions are addressed in this paper: whether ENSO can be adequately characterized by simple, seasonally invariant indices and whether the time series of a single component—SST or OLR—provides a sufficiently complete representation of ENSO for the purpose of quantifying U.S. climate impacts. Here, ENSO is defined as the leading mode of seasonally varying canonical correlation analysis (CCA) between anomalies of tropical Pacific SST and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR). The CCA reveals that the strongest regions of coupling are mostly invariant as a function of season and correspond to an OLR region located in the central Pacific Ocean (CP-OLR) and an SST region in the eastern Pacific that coincides with the Niño-3 region. In a linear context, the authors explore whether the use of a combined index of these SST and OLR regions explains additional variance of North American temperature and precipitation anomalies beyond that described by using a single index alone. Certain seasons and regions benefit from the use of a combined index. In particular, a combined index describes more variability in winter/spring precipitation and summer temperature.
The Link between the North Pacific Climate Variability and the North Atlantic Oscillation via Downstream Propagation of Synoptic Waves
Authors: Drouard Marie , Rivière Gwendal , Arbogast Philippe 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) response to the northeast Pacific climate variability is examined using the ERA-40 dataset. The main objective is to validate a mechanism involving downstream wave propagation processes proposed in a recent idealized companion study: a low-frequency planetary-scale ridge (trough) anomaly located in the eastern Pacific–North American sector induces more equatorward (poleward) propagation of synoptic-scale wave packets on its downstream side, which favors the occurrence of anticyclonic (cyclonic) wave breakings in the Atlantic sector and the positive (negative) NAO phase.The mechanism first provides an interpretation of the canonical impact of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation on the NAO in late winter. The wintertime relationship between the Pacific–North American oscillation (PNA) and the NAO is also investigated. For out-of-phase fluctuations between the PNA and NAO indices (i.e., the most recurrent situation in late winter), the eastern Pacific PNA ridge (trough) anomaly modifies the direction of downstream wave propagation, triggering more anticyclonic (cyclonic) wave breakings over the North Atlantic. For in-phase fluctuations, the effect of the eastern Pacific PNA anomalies is cancelled out by the North American PNA anomalies. The latter anomalies being deeper and more centered in the latitudinal band of downstream wave propagation, they are able to reverse the direction of wave propagation just before waves enter the Atlantic domain. The contrasting relationship between the PNA and NAO is similar to what occurs for the two leading hemispheric EOFs of geopotential height: the northern annular mode (NAM) and the cold ocean–warm land (COWL) pattern. The proposed mechanism provides a physical meaning for the NAM and COWL patterns.
Rainfall in the Andean Páramo: New Insights from High-Resolution Monitoring in Southern Ecuador
Authors: Padrón Ryan S. , Wilcox Bradford P. , Crespo Patricio , Célleri Rolando 
Published: March 2015

AbstractIn mountainous regions, rainfall plays a key role in water supply for millions of people. However, rainfall data for these sites are limited and generally of low quality, making it difficult to evaluate the nature, amount, and timing of rainfall. This is particularly true for the páramo, a high-elevation grassland in the northern Andes that is a primary source of water for large populations in Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. In this study, high-resolution laser disdrometer data and standard tipping-bucket rain gauge data were used to improve knowledge of rainfall in the páramo. For 36 months, rainfall was monitored in a high-elevation (3780 m MSL) headwater catchment in southern Ecuador. Average annual rainfall during this period was 1345 mm. Results indicate that (i) when input from very low–intensity events (drizzle) is taken into account, rainfall is 15% higher than previously thought; (ii) rainfall occurs throughout the year (only approximately 12% of the days are dry); (iii) rainfall occurs primarily as drizzle (80% of rainfall duration), which accounts for 29% of total rainfall amount; and (iv) the timing and average intensity of rainfall varies throughout the year (shorter afternoon events are common from October to May, whereas longer night events—with lower intensities—are more frequent from June to September). Although some of these numbers may vary regionally, the results contribute to a better understanding of rainfall in the wet Andean páramo.
On the Use of a Water Balance to Evaluate Interannual Terrestrial ET Variability
Authors: Han Eunjin , Crow Wade T. , Hain Christopher R. , Anderson Martha C. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAccurately measuring interannual variability in terrestrial evapotranspiration ET is a major challenge for efforts to detect trends in the terrestrial hydrologic cycle. Based on comparisons with annual values of terrestrial evapotranspiration derived from a terrestrial water balance analysis, past research has cast doubt on the ability of existing products to accurately capture variability. Using a variety of estimates, this analysis reexamines this conclusion and finds that estimates of variations obtained from a land surface model are more strongly correlated with independently acquired from thermal infrared remote sensing than derived from water balance considerations. This tendency is attributed to significant interannual variations in terrestrial water storage neglected by the water balance approach. Overall, results demonstrate the need to reassess perceptions concerning the skill of estimates derived from land surface models and show the value of accurate remotely sensed ET products for the validation of interannual ET.
Estimation of Spatial Correlation of Drop Size Distribution Parameters and Rain Rate Using NASA’s S-Band Polarimetric Radar and 2D Video Disdrometer Network: Two Case Studies from MC3E
Authors: Bringi V. N. , Tolstoy L. , Thurai M. , Petersen W. A. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractPolarimetric radar data obtained at high spatial and temporal resolutions offer a distinct advantage in estimating the spatial correlation function of drop size distribution (DSD) parameters and rain rate compared with a fixed gauge–disdrometer network. On two days during the 2011 Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) campaign in Oklahoma, NASA’s S-band polarimetric radar (NPOL) performed repeated PPI scans every 40 s over six 2D video disdrometer (2DVD) sites, located 20–30 km from the radar. The two cases were 1) a rapidly evolving multicell rain event (with large drops) and 2) a long-duration stratiform rain event. From the time series at each polar pixel, the Pearson correlation coefficient is computed as a function of distance along each radial in the PPI scan. Azimuthal dependence is found, especially for the highly convective event. A pseudo-1D spatial correlation is computed that is fitted to a modified-exponential function with two parameters (decorrelation distance R0 and shape F). The first event showed significantly higher spatial variability in rain rate (shorter decorrelation distance R0 = 3.4 km) compared with the second event with R0 = 10.2 km. Further, for the second event, the spatial correlation of the DSD parameters and rain rate from radar showed good agreement with 2DVD-based spatial correlations over distances ranging from 1.5 to 7 km. The NPOL also performed repeated RHI scans every 40 s along one azimuth centered over the 2DVD network. Vertical correlations of the DSD parameters as well as the rainwater content were determined below the melting level, with the first event showing more variability compared with the second event.
An Immersed Boundary Geometric Preprocessor for Arbitrarily Complex Terrain and Geometry
Authors: Senocak Inanc , Sandusky Micah , DeLeon Rey , Wade Derek , Felzien Kyle , Budnikova Marianna 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThere is a growing interest to apply the immersed boundary method to compute wind fields over arbitrarily complex terrain. The computer implementation of an immersed boundary module into an existing flow solver can be accomplished with minor modifications to the rest of the computer program. However, a versatile preprocessor is needed at the first place to extract the essential geometric information pertinent to the immersion of an arbitrarily complex terrain inside a 3D Cartesian mesh. Errors in the geometric information can negatively impact the correct implementation of the immersed boundary method as part of the solution algorithm. Additionally, the distance field from the terrain is needed to implement various subgrid-scale turbulence models and to initialize wind fields over complex terrain. Despite the popularity of the immersed boundary method, procedures used in the geometric preprocessing stage have received less attention. The present study found that concave and convex regions of complex terrain are particularly challenging to process with existing procedures discussed in the literature. To address this issue, a geometric preprocessor with a distance field solver was presented, and the solver demonstrated its versatility for arbitrarily complex geometry, terrain, and urban environments. The distance field solver uses the initial distance field at the immersed boundaries and propagates it to the rest of the domain by solving the Eikonal equation with the fast sweeping method.
Improved Moments Estimation for VHF Active Phased Array Radar Using Fuzzy Logic Method
Authors: Allabakash S. , Yasodha P. , Bianco L. , Reddy S. Venkatramana , Srinivasulu P. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractVarious nonatmospheric signals contaminate radar wind profiler data, introducing bias into the moments and wind velocity estimation. This study applies a fuzzy logic–based method to Doppler velocity spectra to identify and eliminate the clutter echoes. This method uses mathematical analyses and a fuzzy inference system applied to each Doppler velocity spectrum to separate the atmospheric signals from the clutter. After eliminating the clutter, an adaptive algorithm is used to estimate mean Doppler velocities accurately. This combination of techniques is applied to the spectral data obtained by the newly developed 53-MHz active phased array radar located at the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), Gadanki, India (13.5°N, 79°E). Winds derived using the conventional method and the method developed for this study are compared with those obtained by collocated GPS radiosonde. The comparison shows that the present method derives the winds more accurately compared to the conventional method.