bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Discrimination of Solid from Liquid Precipitation over Northern Eurasia Using Surface Atmospheric Conditions*
Authors: Ye Hengchun , Cohen Judah , Rawlins Michael 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Daily synoptic observations were examined to determine the critical air temperatures and dewpoints that separate solid versus liquid precipitation for the fall and spring seasons at 547 stations over northern Eurasia. The authors found that critical air temperatures are highly geographically dependent, ranging from −1.0° to 2.5°C, with the majority of stations over European Russia ranging from 0.5° to 1.0°C and those over south-central Siberia ranging from 1.5° to 2.5°C. The fall season has a 0.5°–1.0°C lower value than the spring season at 42% stations. Relative humidity, elevation, the station's air pressure, and climate regime were found to have varying degrees of influences on the distribution of critical air temperature, although the relationships are very complex and cannot be formulated into a simple rule that can be applied universally. Although the critical dewpoint temperatures have a spread of −1.5° to 1.5°C, 92% of stations have critical values of 0.5°–1.0°C. The critical dewpoint is less dependent on environmental factors and seasons. A combination of three critical dewpoints and three air temperatures is developed for each station for spring and fall separately that has improved snow event predictability when the dewpoint is in the range of −0.5°–1.5°C and has improved rainfall event predictability when the dewpoint is higher than or equal to 0°C based on the statistics of all 537 stations. Results suggest that application of site-specific critical values of air temperature and dewpoint to discriminate between solid and liquid precipitation is needed to improve snow and hydrological modeling at local and regional scales.
Multiyear Subinertial and Seasonal Eulerian Current Observations near the Florida Big Bend Coast
Authors: Maksimova Ekaterina V. , Clarke Allan J. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractMultiyear in situ Eulerian acoustic Doppler current profiler measurements were obtained at 5-, 10-, and 19-m depths off the Big Bend coast, and in 19 m off the Florida Peninsula to the south. Analysis on subinertial time scales, dominated by weatherband frequencies, led to the following conclusions. At the 19-m Big Bend site (K-Tower), consistent with coastally trapped wave (CTW) theory, the along-isobath flow is not proportional to the local along-isobath wind stress, but rather to the alongshore wind stress to the south along the west Florida shelf (WFS). At the southern 19-m site, consistent with previous work, the along-isobath flow is driven by , but is weakened by an alongshore pressure gradient brake. Via CTW dynamics this brake is due to the abrupt “end” of the WFS at the Florida Keys. By contrast, along-isobath flow at the shallow 5-m site is driven by the local wind in a constant stress turbulent frictional layer. Because of the freshwater flux near the coast, density usually increases seaward. This leads to a strong asymmetry in the cross-isobath frictional bottom boundary layer (BBL) flow when the subinertial along-isobath flow direction changes. In one case the BBL flow is shoreward and gravitationally stable while, in the other, the BBL flow is gravitationally unstable as less dense water is forced under more dense water. Seasonal changes in the seaward horizontal density gradient also shear the seasonal along-isobath flow via thermal wind dynamics.
Transfusion suppresses erythropoiesis and increases hepcidin in adult patients with β-thalassemia major: a longitudinal study
Authors: Pasricha Sant-Rayn , Frazer David M. , Bowden Donald K. , Anderson Gregory J. 
Published: May 2013

Key Points
In β-thalassemia major, hepcidin levels are simultaneously associated with erythropoiesis and iron loading pre- and posttransfusion. Transfusion improves anemia, suppressing erythropoiesis and in turn increasing hepcidin in patients with β-thalassemia major.
Recombinant HPA-1a antibody therapy for treatment of fetomaternal alloimmune thrombocytopenia: proof of principle in human volunteers
Authors: Ghevaert Cedric , Herbert Nina , Hawkins Louise , Grehan Nicola , Cookson Philip , Garner Steve F. , Crisp-Hihn Abigail , Lloyd-Evans Paul , Evans Amanda , Balan Kottekkattu , Ouwehand Willem H. , Armour Kathryn L. , Clark Mike R. , Williamson Lorna M. 
Published: May 2013

Key Points
Recombinant HPA-1a antibody B2G1Δnab protects platelets from destruction by anti–HPA-1a in the circulation of HPA-1a1b human volunteers. B2G1Δnab is a potential therapeutic agent for antenatal treatment of fetomaternal alloimmune thrombocytopenia due to HPA-1a antibodies.
Diagnostic prediction of complex diseases using phase-only correlation based on virtual sample template
Authors: Wang Shu-Lin , Fang Yaping , Fang Jianwen 
Published: May 2013

Abstract

Motivation
Complex diseases induce perturbations to interaction and regulation networks in living systems, resulting in dynamic equilibrium states that differ for different diseases and also normal states. Thus identifying gene expression patterns corresponding to different equilibrium states is of great benefit to the diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases. However, it remains a major challenge to deal with the high dimensionality and small size of available complex disease gene expression datasets currently used for discovering gene expression patterns.

Results
Here we present a phase-only correlation (POC) based classification method for recognizing the type of complex diseases. First, a virtual sample template is constructed for each subclass by averaging all samples of each subclass in a training dataset. Then the label of a test sample is determined by measuring the similarity between the test sample and each template. This novel method can detect the similarity of overall patterns emerged from the differentially expressed genes or proteins while ignoring small mismatches.

Conclusions
The experimental results obtained on seven publicly available complex disease datasets including microarray and protein array data demonstrate that the proposed POC-based disease classification method is effective and robust for diagnosing complex diseases with regard to the number of initially selected features, and its recognition accuracy is better than or comparable to other state-of-the-art machine learning methods. In addition, the proposed method does not require parameter tuning and data scaling, which can effectively reduce the occurrence of over-fitting and bias.
Robust PCA based method for discovering differentially expressed genes
Authors: Liu Jin-Xing , Wang Yu-Tian , Zheng Chun-Hou , Sha Wen , Mi Jian-Xun , Xu Yong 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
How to identify a set of genes that are relevant to a key biological process is an important issue in current molecular biology. In this paper, we propose a novel method to discover differentially expressed genes based on robust principal component analysis (RPCA). In our method, we treat the differentially and non-differentially expressed genes as perturbation signals S and low-rank matrix A, respectively. Perturbation signals S can be recovered from the gene expression data by using RPCA. To discover the differentially expressed genes associated with special biological progresses or functions, the scheme is given as follows. Firstly, the matrix D of expression data is decomposed into two adding matrices A and S by using RPCA. Secondly, the differentially expressed genes are identified based on matrix S. Finally, the differentially expressed genes are evaluated by the tools based on Gene Ontology. A larger number of experiments on hypothetical and real gene expression data are also provided and the experimental results show that our method is efficient and effective.
Candidate gene association studies: a comprehensive guide to useful in silicotools
Authors: Patnala Radhika , Clements Judith , Batra Jyotsna 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThe candidate gene approach has been a pioneer in the field of genetic epidemiology, identifying risk alleles and their association with clinical traits. With the advent of rapidly changing technology, there has been an explosion ofin silicotools available to researchers, giving them fast, efficient resources and reliable strategies important to find casual gene variants for candidate or genome wide association studies (GWAS). In this review, following a description of candidate gene prioritisation, we summarise the approaches to single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) prioritisation and discuss the tools available to assess functional relevance of the risk variant with consideration to its genomic location. The strategy and the tools discussed are applicable to any study investigating genetic risk factors associated with a particular disease. Some of the tools are also applicable for the functional validation of variants relevant to the era of GWAS and next generation sequencing (NGS).
The juvenile alopecia mutation (jal) maps to mouse Chromosome 2, and is an allele of GATA binding protein 3 (Gata3)
Authors: Ramirez Francisco , Feliciano Aaron M , Adkins Elisabeth B , Child Kevin M , Radden II Legairre A , Salas Alexis , Vila-Santana Nelson , Horák José M , Hughes Samantha R , Spacek Damek V , King Thomas R 
Published: May 2013

AbstractBackgroundMice homozygous for the juvenile alopecia mutation (jal) display patches of hair loss that appear as soon as hair develops in the neonatal period and persist throughout life. Although a report initially describing this mouse variant suggested thatjalmaps to mouse Chromosome 13, our preliminary mapping analysis did not support that claim.ResultsTo mapjalto a particular mouse chromosome, we produced a 103-member intraspecific backcross panel that segregated forjal,and typed it for 93 PCR-scorable, microsatellite markers that are located throughout the mouse genome. Only markers from the centromeric tip of Chromosome 2 failed to segregate independently fromjal, suggesting thatjalresides in that region. To more precisely definejal’s location, we characterized a second, 374-member backcross panel for the inheritance of five microsatellite markers from proximal Chromosome 2. This analysis restrictedjal’s position betweenD2Mit359andD2Mit80, an interval that includesIl2ra(for interleukin 2 receptor, alpha chain), a gene that is known to be associated with alopecia areata in humans. Complementation testing with an engineered null allele ofIl2ra, however, showed thatjalis a mutation in a distinct gene. To further refine the location ofjal, the 374-member panel was typed for a set of four single-nucleotide markers located betweenD2Mit359andD2Mit80, identifying a 0.55 Mb interval wherejalmust lie. This span includes ten genes—only one of which,Gata3(for GATA binding protein 3)—is known to be expressed in skin. Complementation testing betweenjaland aGata3null allele produced doubly heterozygous, phenotypically mutant offspring.ConclusionsThe results presented indicate that thejalmutation is a mutant allele of theGata3gene on mouse Chromosome 2. We therefore recommend that thejaldesignation be changed toGata3jal,and suggest that this mouse variant may provide an animal model for at least some forms of focal alopecia that have their primary defect in the hair follicle and lack an inflammatory component.
Improved quality of life after surgery for pelvic organ prolapse in Nepalese women
Authors: Dhital Rolina , Otsuka Keiko , Poudel Krishna C , Yasuoka Junko , Dangal Ganesh , Jimba Masamine 
Published: May 2013

Abstract

Background
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common gynecological condition that can affect quality of life (QOL) in women. In Nepal, the prevalence of POP is high, but many affected women are still deprived of treatment. Vaginal hysterectomy with pelvic floor repair is one of the common treatment options for advanced POP. However, QOL outcomes after surgery have not been reported in low-income countries. Thus, we aimed to examine changes in QOL among Nepalese women with POP after such surgery.

Methods
This longitudinal study was conducted in the selected central and peripheral hospitals in Nepal where vaginal hysterectomy was being performed free of cost for POP. A baseline study first measured the QOL domains (physical, psychological, social relationships and environment) among 252 women with advanced POP. Follow-up data was then collected at six weeks and three months after surgery. Among the 177 women that were available at six weeks post-surgery, 166 participated in the follow-up study at three months post-surgery. To evaluate QOL at baseline, 142 women with no history of POP were included as a comparison group.

Results
The mean scores across QOL domains improved from baseline to 3 months after surgery. The baseline score for the physical domain increased from 11.2 to 12.8 at six weeks and 13.5 at three months post-surgery (p < 0.001); the psychological domain score increased from 11.6 to 13.1 at six weeks and 13.8 at three months post-surgery (p < 0.001); the social relationships domain score increased from 13.6 to 14.4 at six weeks and 15.0 at three months post-surgery (p < 0.001); and the environmental domain score increased from 12.9 to 13.9 at six weeks and 14.0 at three months post-surgery (p < 0.001).

Conclusion
QOL progressively improved among women undergoing surgery for POP. Such surgical services need to be scaled up for treatment of advanced POP in low-income countries.
Role of Kir6.2 subunits of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in endotoxemia-induced cardiac dysfunction
Authors: Yang Zhong-Wei , Chen Ji-Kuai , Ni Min , Zhao Ting , Deng Ya-Ping , Tao Xia , Jiang Guo-Jun , Shen Fu-Ming 
Published: May 2013

Abstract

Background
Cardiac dysfunction is well-described in endotoxemia and diagnosed in up to 60% of patients with endotoxic shock. ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels are critical to cardiac function. This study investigates the role of Kir6.2 subunits of KATP channels on cardiac dysfunction in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia.

Methods
Kir6.2 subunits knockout (Kir6.2−/−) and wild-type (WT) mice were injected with LPS to induce endotoxemia. Cardiac function was monitored by echocardiography. Left ventricles were taken for microscopy (both light and electron) and TUNEL examination. Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) activities, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in both serum and left ventricular tissues were determined.

Results
Compared to WT, Kir6.2−/− mice showed significantly declined cardiac function 360 min after LPS administration, aggravated myocardial damage and elevated serum LDH and CK activities. Apoptotic cells were obviously increased in heart tissues from Kir6.2−/− mice at 90, 180 and 360 min. TNF-α expression in both serum and heart tissues of Kir6.2−/− mice was significantly increased.

Conclusions
We conclude that Kir6.2 subunits are critical in resistance to endotoxemia-induced cardiac dysfunction through reducing myocardial damage by inhibition of apoptosis and inflammation. KATP channels blockers are extensively used in the treatment of diabetes, their potential role should therefore be considered in the clinic when patients treated with antidiabetic sulfonylureas are complicated by endotoxemia.
Effects of NS lactobacillus strains on lipid metabolism of rats fed a high-cholesterol diet
Authors: Hu Xu , Wang Tao , Li Wei , Jin Feng , Wang Li 
Published: May 2013

Abstract

Background
Elevated serum cholesterol level is generally considered to be a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases which seriously threaten human health. The cholesterol-lowering effects of lactic acid bacteria have recently become an area of great interest and controversy for many researchers. In this study, we investigated the effects of two NS lactobacillus strains, Lactobacillus plantarum NS5 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus NS12, on lipid metabolism of rats fed a high cholesterol diet.

Methods
Thirty-two SD rats were assigned to four groups and fed either a normal or a high-cholesterol diet. The NS lactobacillus treated groups received the high-cholesterol diet supplemented with Lactobacillus plantarum NS5 or Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus NS12 in drinking water. The rats were sacrificed after a 6-week feeding period. Body weights, visceral organ and fat weights, serum and liver cholesterol and lipid levels, intestinal microbiota and liver mRNA expression levels related to cholesterol metabolism were analyzed. Liver lipid deposition and adipocyte size were evaluated histologically.

Results
Compared with rats fed a high cholesterol diet, serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and free fatty acids levels were decreased and apolipoprotein A-I level was increased in NS5 or NS12 strain treated rats, and with no significant change in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. Liver cholesterol and triglyceride levels were also significantly decreased in NS lactobacillus strains treated groups. Meanwhile, the NS lactobacillus strains obviously alleviated hepatic injuries, decreased liver lipid deposition and reduced adipocyte size of high cholesterol diet fed rats. NS lactobacillus strains restored the changes in intestinal microbiota compositions, such as the increase in Bacteroides and the decrease in Clostridium. NS lactobacillus strains also regulated the mRNA expression levels of liver enzymes related to cholesterol metabolism, including the down regulation of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) and the upregulation of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1).

Conclusion
This study suggested that the two NS lactobacillus strains may affect lipid metabolism and have cholesterol-lowering effects in rats fed a high cholesterol diet.
Performance of new BOC-AW-modulated signals for GNSS system
Authors: Flissi Mustapha , Rouabah Khaled , Chikouche Djamel , Mayouf Abdehalim , Atia Salim 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
In this paper, we propose efficient signal waveforms (WFs) with optimized spectrum for multipath (MP) mitigation and jamming reduction in global navigation satellite system. These WFs are based on the use of sine-phased binary offset carrier (BOC) with adjustable width (BOC-AW). They are generated by adjusting the width of the three-level WF {-1, 0, 1}. By exploiting the three-level BOC-AW subcarriers in sine-phasing signal model, we developed several forms of BOC-AW by means of superposition and width adjustment. The resulting power spectral densities and autocorrelation functions of the proposed WFs were calculated and introduced. Also calculated were the spectral separation coefficients (SSCs) and the Cramér-Rao lower bounds (CRLBs). The SSCs and CRLBs prove the efficiency of the proposed WFs in terms of interference separation. In addition, the simulation results show that the proposed WFs present better performances in MP mitigation compared to the WFs adopted by the Galileo and global positioning system modernization.
Modified hypothermic circulatory arrest for emergent repair of acute aortic dissection type a: a single-center experience
Authors: Qian Hong , Hu Jia , Du Lei , Xue Ying , Meng Wei , Zhang Er-yong 
Published: May 2013

Abstract

Background
Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) with antegrade cerebral perfusion has been historically preferred for organ protection during surgical repair of the acute aortic dissection type A. However, in the past decades, different perfusion-specific strategies with a growing trend to increase the body temperature at circulatory arrest emerged. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical results of our modified protocol for cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermia management.

Methods
Between February 2007 and September 2012, 54 consecutive patients suffering from acute aortic dissection type A underwent emergent surgery. All patients received hypothermic circulatory arrest in combination with antegrade cerebral perfusion. The patients were divided into two subsets according to the degree of hypothermia and perfusion strategies: namely the DHCA group and the group of modified hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA).

Results
The overall 30-day mortality was 27.8% and was not significantly different between groups (DHCA, 33.3%, MHCA, 19%; p=0.253). The requirement for blood product transfusion in MHCA patients was significantly less as as compared with the patients in the DHCA group. No difference occurred in the incidence of temporary neurologic dysfunction, dialysis-dependent renal failure, or reexploration for bleeding between two groups of patients. The use of MHCA was identified as a protective factor against the postoperative composite complications (OR, 0.78; CI, 0.52 to 0.98; p=0.04) and the prolonged intensive care unit stay (OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.98; p=0.04).

Conclusions
Moderate hypothermia in combination with selective brain perfusion and systemic retrograde perfusion is associated with adequate cerebral and visceral protection, reduced postoperative complications and shortened intensive care unit stay in our series. This modified perfusion strategy may help in improving perioperative outcomes in this particular group of patients.
Preoperative risk stratification models fail to predict hospital cost of cardiac surgery patients
Authors: Badreldin Akmal MA , Doerr Fabian , Kroener Axel , Wahlers Thorsten , Hekmat Khosro 
Published: May 2013

Abstract

Background
Preoperative risk stratification models have previously been suggested to predict cardiac surgery unit costs. However, there is a lack of consistency in their reliability in this field. In this study we aim to test the correlation between the values of six commonly known preoperative scoring systems and evaluate their reliability at predicting unit costs of cardiac surgery patients.

Methods
Over a period of 14 months all consecutive adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass were prospectively classified using six preoperative scoring models (EuroSCORE, Parsonnet, Ontario, French, Pons and CABDEAL). Transplantation patients were the only patients we excluded. Total hospital costs for each patient were calculated independently on a daily basis using the bottom up method. The full unit costs were calculated including preoperative diagnostic tests, operating room cost, disposable materials, drugs, blood components as well as costs for personnel and fixed hospital costs. The correlation between hospital cost and the six models was determined by linear regression analysis. Both Spearman’s and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated from the regression lines. An analysis of residuals was performed to determine the quality of the regression.

Results
A total of 887 patients were operated on for CABG (n = 608), valve (n = 142), CABG plus valve (n = 100), thoracic aorta (n = 33) and ventricular assist devices (n = 4). Mean age of the patients was 68.3±9.9 years, 27.6% were female. 30-day mortality rate was 4.1%. Correlation between the six models and hospital cost was weak (Pearson’s: r < 0.30; Spearman’s: r < 0.40).

Conclusion
The risk stratification models in this study are not reliable at predicting total costs of cardiac surgical patients. We therefore do not recommend their use for this purpose.