bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Variations in North American Summer Precipitation Driven by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation
Authors: Hu Qi , Feng Song , Oglesby Robert J. 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Understanding the development and variation of the atmospheric circulation regimes driven by the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) is essential because these circulations interact with other forcings on decadal and interannual time scales. Collectively, they determine the summer (June, July, and August) precipitation variations for North America. In this study, a general circulation model (GCM) is used to obtain such understanding, with a focus on physical processes connecting the AMO and the summertime precipitation regime change in North America. Two experimental runs are conducted with sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies imposed in the North Atlantic Ocean that represent the warm and cold phases of the AMO. Climatological SSTs are used elsewhere in the oceans. Model results yield summertime precipitation anomalies in North America closely matching the observed anomaly patterns in North America, suggesting that the AMO provides a fundamental control on summertime precipitation in North America at decadal time scales. The impacts of the AMO are achieved by a chain of events arising from different circulation anomalies during warm and cold phases of the AMO. During the warm phase, the North Atlantic subtropical high pressure system (NASH) weakens, and the North American continent is much less influenced by it. A massive body of warm air develops over the heated land in North America from June–August, associated with high temperature and low pressure anomalies in the lower troposphere and high pressure anomalies in the upper troposphere. In contrast, during the cold phase of the AMO, the North American continent, particularly to the west, is much more influenced by an enhanced NASH. Cooler temperatures and high pressure anomalies prevail in the lower troposphere, and a frontal zone forms in the upper troposphere. These different circulation anomalies further induce a three-cell circulation anomaly pattern over North America in the warm and cold phases of the AMO. In particular, during the cold phase, the three-cell circulation anomaly pattern features a broad region of anomalous low-level southerly flow from the Gulf of Mexico into the U.S. Great Plains. Superimposed with an upper-troposphere front, more frequent summertime storms develop and excess precipitation occurs over most of North America. A nearly reversed condition occurs during the warm phase of the AMO, yielding drier conditions in North America. This new understanding provides a foundation for further study and better prediction of the variations of North American summer precipitation, especially when modulated by other multidecadal variations—for example, the Pacific decadal oscillation and interannual variations associated with the ENSO and the Arctic Oscillation.
River Network Routing on the NHDPlus Dataset
Authors: David Cédric H. , Maidment David R. , Niu Guo-Yue , Yang Zong-Liang , Habets Florence , Eijkhout Victor 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe mapped rivers and streams of the contiguous United States are available in a geographic information system (GIS) dataset called National Hydrography Dataset Plus (NHDPlus). This hydrographic dataset has about 3 million river and water body reaches along with information on how they are connected into networks. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System (NWIS) provides streamflow observations at about 20 thousand gauges located on the NHDPlus river network. A river network model called Routing Application for Parallel Computation of Discharge (RAPID) is developed for the NHDPlus river network whose lateral inflow to the river network is calculated by a land surface model. A matrix-based version of the Muskingum method is developed herein, which RAPID uses to calculate flow and volume of water in all reaches of a river network with many thousands of reaches, including at ungauged locations. Gauges situated across river basins (not only at basin outlets) are used to automatically optimize the Muskingum parameters and to assess river flow computations, hence allowing the diagnosis of runoff computations provided by land surface models. RAPID is applied to the Guadalupe and San Antonio River basins in Texas, where flow wave celerities are estimated at multiple locations using 15-min data and can be reproduced reasonably with RAPID. This river model can be adapted for parallel computing and although the matrix method initially adds a large overhead, river flow results can be obtained faster than with the traditional Muskingum method when using a few processing cores, as demonstrated in a synthetic study using the upper Mississippi River basin.
Fluorinated mix in plain ZDDP oil and commercial oil using design of experiment analysis of all interactions and fundamental study of fluorinated mix in plain ZDDP oils under 2 different r/min test cycles and extreme boundary lubrication
Authors: Nehme G , Dib M 
Published: April 2011

Wear performance of engine oil was studied in the presence of submicron iron fluoride (FeF3) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) using 2 different r/min test cycles and a ball-on-ring wear tester apparatus under boundary lubrication. The submicron powder mix was called fluorinated mixture with FeF3 catalyst to PTFE ratio of [1:2]. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry analysis of PTFE and FeF3 presented clear evidence of the catalyst importance in preparing the surface and lowering energy barrier. An explicit design of experiment analysis was developed to investigate the interactions of the fluorinated mix in commercial fully formulated oil and in plain oils subject to 2 different r/min test cycles of 100 r/min for the first 5000 revolutions and a 700 r/min until failure or 100 000 revolutions whichever comes first. All tests were generated under extreme boundary lubrication (Hertzian contact pressure of 2.72 GPa) and compared with 1 cycle at 700 r/min. The tests cylinders were baked in oil for a specific period of time and this was included as a factor in the 2-level factorial of the design of experiment (DOE). A fundamental and analytical study of the friction and wear performance was carried out on the plain zinc dialkyldithiophosphates (ZDDP) oil+(FeF3, PTFE) optimized DOE combination to justify the model predictions of the DOE. The fundamental analysis did not include commercial oils in the study since there were many components that affect the wear performance and frictional behaviour. Friction coefficient under boundary lubrication is affected by many factors. In order to study the friction characteristic of optimized tests, DOE was used to simplify experimentations and to investigate the failure and wear responses with respect to fluorinated mix interactions in plain and fully formulated oils. The 2 different r/min cycles tests indicate better performance than the one continuous 700 r/min cycle tests. Findings indicate that the positive factors affecting friction and wear are fluorinated mix concentrations together with oil formulations. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, focus ion beam, X-ray of wear track, and Auger electron spectroscopy were used to characterize the tribofilm of the two optimized tests of fluorinated mix in plain ZDDP oil under 1 continuous 700 r/min and 2 different r/min test cycles. Results indicate that the thickness of the tribofilms is in the range of 220 nm and phosphorus exists in both wear tracks with more traces in the 2 r/min cycles sample.
The impact of intensity variations in T1-hypointense lesions on clinical correlations in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Tam RC , Traboulsee A , Riddehough A , Sheikhzadeh F , DKB Li  
Published: April 2011

Background: The correlations between T1-hypointense lesion (‘black hole’) volume and clinical measures have varied widely across previous studies. The degree of hypointensity in black holes is associated with the severity of tissue damage, but the impact on the correlation with disability is unknown. Objectives: To determine how variations in the intensity level used for lesion classification can impact clinical correlation, specifically with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and whether using a restricted range can improve correlation. Methods: A highly automated image analysis procedure was applied to the scans of 24 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with well-distributed EDSS scores to compute their black hole volumes at nine different levels of intensity relative to the reference intensities sampled in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Two methods of volume computation were used. Results: The black hole volume–EDSS Spearman correlations ranged between 0.49–0.73 (first method) and 0.54–0.74 (second method). The strongest correlations were observed by only including the voxels with maximum intensities at 30–40% of the CSF to NAWM range. Conclusions: Intensity variations can have a large impact on black hole–EDSS correlation. Restricting the measurement to a subset of the darkest voxels may yield stronger correlations.
A randomized, double-blind study of romiplostim to determine its safety and efficacy in children with immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Bussel James B. , Buchanan George R. , Nugent Diane J. , Gnarra David J. , Bomgaars Lisa R. , Blanchette Victor S. , Wang Yow-Ming , Nie Kun , Jun Susie 
Published: April 2011

AbstractRomiplostim, a thrombopoietin-mimetic peptibody, increases and maintains platelet counts in adults with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). In this first study of a thrombopoietic agent in children, patients with ITP of ≥ 6 months' duration were stratified by age 1:2:2 (12 months-< 3 years; 3-< 12 years; 12-< 18 years). Children received subcutaneous injections of romiplostim (n = 17) or placebo (n = 5) weekly for 12 weeks, with dose adjustments to maintain platelet counts between 50 × 109/L and 250 × 109/L. A platelet count ≥ 50 × 109/L for 2 consecutive weeks was achieved by 15/17 (88%) patients in the romiplostim group and no patients in the placebo group (P = .0008). Platelet counts ≥ 50 × 109/L were maintained for a median of 7 (range, 0-11) weeks in romiplostim patients and 0 (0-0) weeks in placebo patients (P = .0019). The median weekly dose of romiplostim at 12 weeks was 5 μg/kg. Fourteen responders received romiplostim for 4 additional weeks for assessment of pharmacokinetics. No patients discontinued the study. There were no treatment-related, serious adverse events. The most commonly reported adverse events in children, as in adults, were headache and epistaxis. In this short-term study, romiplostim increased platelet counts in 88% of children with ITP and was well-tolerated and apparently safe.The trial was registered with http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00515203.
Chemoimmunotherapy with O-FC in previously untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Wierda William G. , Kipps Thomas J. , Dürig Jan , Griskevicius Laimonas , Stilgenbauer Stephan , Mayer Jiří , Smolej Lukáš , Hess Georg , Griniute Rasa , Hernandez-Ilizaliturri Francisco J. , Padmanabhan Swaminathan , Gorczyca Michele , Chang Chai-Ni , Chan Geoffrey , Gupta Ira , Nielsen Tina G. , Russell Charlotte A. 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
We conducted an international phase 2 trial to evaluate 2 dose levels of ofatumumab, a human CD20 mAb, combined with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (O-FC) as frontline therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Patients with active CLL were randomized to ofatumumab 500 mg (n = 31) or 1000 mg (n = 30) day 1, with fludarabine 25 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 250 mg/m2 days 2-4, course 1; days 1-3, courses 2-6; every 4 weeks for 6 courses. The first ofatumumab dose was 300 mg for both cohorts. The median age was 56 years; 13% of patients had a 17p deletion; 64% had β2-microglobulin > 3.5 mg/L. Based on the 1996 National Cancer Institute Working Group (NCI-WG) guidelines, the complete response (CR) rate as assessed by an independent review committee was 32% for the 500-mg and 50% for the 1000-mg cohort; the overall response (OR) rate was 77% and 73%, respectively. Based on univariable regression analyses, β2-microglobulin and the number of O-FC courses were significantly correlated (P < .05) with CR and OR rates and progression-free survival (PFS). The most frequent Common Terminology Criteria (CTC) grade 3-4 investigator-reported adverse events were neutropenia (48%), thrombocytopenia (15%), anemia (13%), and infection (8%). O-FC is active and safe in treatment-naive patients with CLL, including high-risk patients. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00410163.
Membrane CD14, but not soluble CD14, is used by exoenzyme S fromP. aeruginosato signal proinflammatory cytokine production
Authors: Berenger Byron M , Hamill Jay , Stack Danuta , Montgomery Elisha , Huston Shaunna M , Timm-McCann Martina , Epelman Slava , Mody Christopher H 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTRecognition of TLR agonists involves a complex interplay among a variety of serum and cell membrane molecules, including mCD14 and sCD14 that is not fully understood. TLR activation results in downstream signaling that induces inflammatory cytokine production in response to pathogenic molecules, such as ExoS, which is a TLR2 and TLR4 agonist produced by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We reasoned that responses to ExoS, a protein, might differ from canonical TLR agonists such as LPS. Stimulating the expression of mCD14 with vitamin D3 enhanced the response to ExoS and LPS. Also, blocking anti-CD14 antibody or removing mCD14 using PLC reduced responses to ExoS and LPS. Furthermore, CD14-deficient cells were unable to bind and respond to ExoS, which was restored by stable transfection of mCD14, indicating that mCD14 was required for the response to ExoS. However, addition of sCD14 to culture enhanced responsiveness to LPS but not ExoS. Moreover, the addition of serum did not alter the response to ExoS but enhanced the response to LPS. Despite differences of adaptor molecule use between ExoS and LPS, lipid antagonists that compete for LPS binding to CD14 also inhibited the response to ExoS. These results highlight a fundamental difference between TLR agonists in their requirements for CD14 and serum components. These results suggest that understanding the dissimilarities and targeting overlapping sites of interaction on CD14 may yield a synergistic, clinical benefit during infections where a variety of TLR agonists are present.
Cigarette Smoking Is Associated With Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Tsivian Matvey , Moreira Daniel M. , Caso Jorge R. , Mouraviev Vladimir , Polascik Thomas J. 
Published: April 2011

Purpose Cigarette smoking is a recognized risk factor for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but little data are available on the association between smoking and RCC biology. We investigated the association between cigarette smoking and RCC stage in a large contemporary multiethnic surgical cohort. Patients and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the demographic, clinical, and pathologic data of patients undergoing surgery for RCC between 2000 and 2009. Advanced RCC was defined as metastatic disease, pathologic stage ≥ T3, and/or lymph node involvement. Self-reported smoking history included smoking status, duration, intensity, cumulative exposure, and cessation. Patient and tumor characteristics were compared between the groups in univariate and multivariate analyses. Results Of the 845 eligible patients, 19.4% and 29.1% were current and former smokers, respectively, and 207 patients (24.5%) had advanced disease. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, smoking was consistently associated with advanced RCC, and cessation reversed the risk. Current and former smokers had 1.5- and 1.6-fold increased odds of advanced disease, respectively. Heavier smoking (longer duration and exposure) was associated with increased risk of advanced RCC, whereas durable cessation reduced the odds of advanced disease. Conclusion Cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor for advanced RCC. Heavier smoking increases the likelihood of advanced disease. Durable smoking cessation attenuated the risk of advanced disease. Given that cigarette smoking is among the few modifiable risk factors for RCC, our results reinforce the importance of smoking cessation and encourage further investigation of the association between smoking and RCC biology.
Randomized Trial of the Effect of the Low Molecular Weight Heparin Nadroparin on Survival in Patients With Cancer
Authors: van Doormaal Frederiek F. , Di Nisio Marcello , Otten Hans-Martin , Richel Dick J. , Prins Martin , Buller Harry R. 
Published: April 2011

Purpose Earlier studies showed that low molecular weight heparin significantly prolongs the survival of a wide variety of patients with cancer without venous thromboembolism. This study was designed to confirm these findings in a more homogeneous group of patients with cancer. Patients and Methods In this multicenter, randomized, open-label study, patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (stage IIIB), hormone-refractory prostate cancer, or locally advanced pancreatic cancer were randomly assigned to nadroparin or to no nadroparin in addition to their standard anticancer treatment. In the nadroparin arm, subcutaneous nadroparin was administered for 6 weeks (2 weeks at therapeutic dose, and 4 weeks at half therapeutic dose). The patients were eligible to receive additional cycles of nadroparin (2 weeks at therapeutic dose, and 4 weeks of washout period). Outcomes were overall survival, time to progression, and major bleeding. All study outcomes were adjudicated by an independent, blinded committee. Results A total of 244 patients were allocated to nadroparin, and 259 were allocated to the control group. A median survival of 13.1 months was observed in the nadroparin recipients compared with 11.9 months in the no-treatment arm (hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.75 to 1.18, adjusted for cancer type). No difference in time to progression was observed. The number of major bleedings was comparable at 4.1% in the nadroparin set and 3.5% in the control set. Conclusion This study did not show a survival benefit of nadroparin in patients with advanced prostate, lung, or pancreatic cancer. Given the ongoing studies in this area and the previous data, the role of low molecular weight heparins in cancer survival remains undefined.
Phase II Study of Belinostat in Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Advanced Thymic Epithelial Tumors
Authors: Giaccone Giuseppe , Rajan Arun , Berman Arlene , Kelly Ronan J. , Szabo Eva , Lopez-Chavez Ariel , Trepel Jane , Lee Min-Jung , Cao Liang , Espinoza-Delgado Igor , Spittler John , Loehrer Patrick J. 
Published: April 2011

Purpose Thymic epithelial tumors are rare malignancies, and there is no standard treatment for patients with advanced disease in whom chemotherapy has failed. Antitumor activity of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors in this disease has been documented, including one patient with thymoma treated with the pan-HDAC inhibitor belinostat. Patients and Methods Patients with advanced thymic epithelial malignancies in whom at least one line of platinum-containing chemotherapy had failed were eligible for this study. Other eligibility criteria included adequate organ function and good performance status. Belinostat was administered intravenously at 1 g/m2 on days 1 to 5 of a 21-day cycle until disease progression or development of intolerance. The primary objective was response rate in patients with thymoma. Results Of the 41 patients enrolled, 25 had thymoma, and 16 had thymic carcinoma; patients had a median of two previous systemic regimens (range, one to 10 regimens). Treatment was well tolerated, with nausea, vomiting, and fatigue being the most frequent adverse effects. Two patients achieved partial response (both had thymoma; response rate, 8%; 95% CI, 2.2% to 25%), 25 had stable disease, and 13 had progressive disease; there were no responses among patients with thymic carcinoma. Median times to progression and survival were 5.8 and 19.1 months, respectively. Survival of patients with thymoma was significantly longer than that of patients with thymic carcinoma (median not reached v 12.4 months; P = .001). Protein acetylation, regulatory T-cell numbers, and circulating angiogenic factors did not predict outcome. Conclusion Belinostat has modest antitumor activity in this group of heavily pretreated thymic malignancies. However, the duration of response and disease stabilization is intriguing, and additional testing of belinostat in this disease is warranted.
Leptin/adiponectin ratio in patients with coronary heart disease: comparing subjects with and without metabolic syndrome
Authors: Hall J I , Vora N , Langworthy R , Stock S , Momin A , Sherwood R A , le Roux C W , Alaghband-Zadeh J 
Published: April 2011

Background Adiponectin and leptin are adipose tissue-derived hormones, shown to have opposing associations with the metabolic syndrome and coronary heart disease (CHD). This study evaluated the association between the leptin/adiponectin ratio and the components of the metabolic syndrome in a cohort with CHD. Methods and results This cross-sectional study included data from 105 subjects (men = 91), undergoing first-time elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Leptin and adiponectin concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Association was found between the leptin/adiponectin ratio and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) ( rs = 0.34, P = 0.0006), fasting insulin concentrations ( rs = 0.37, P = 0.0001), fasting glucose concentrations ( rs = 0.24, P = 0.01), systolic blood pressure ( rs = 0.20, P = 0.05), diastolic blood pressure ( rs = 0.24, P = 0.02), waist circumference ( rs = 0.55, P < 0.0001), body mass index (BMI) ( rs = 0.55, P < 0.0001) and waist/hip ratio ( rs = 0.38, P = 0.0001). A significant difference was found in ratios between those with and without insulin resistance (HOMA > 3 and HOMA ≤ 3) ( P = 0.029) and those with and without metabolic syndrome, defined by the International Diabetes Federation, ( P < 0.001). However, using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and assessment of area under curve (AUC), the leptin/adiponectin ratio did not perform significantly better than its components. Conclusion In patients with severe CHD, the leptin/adiponectin ratio was not found to be a robust tool to distinguish patients with and without insulin resistance and those with and without the metabolic syndrome.