bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interdecadal Variability of Summer Rainfall in Taiwan Associated with Tropical Cyclones and Monsoon
Authors: Chen Jau-Ming , Chen Hui-Shan 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
This study investigates interdecadal variability of summer (June–August) rainfall in Taiwan for the 1950–2008 period. Summer rainfall in Taiwan is partitioned into two components: tropical cyclone (TC) rainfall caused by TC passage and seasonal monsoon rainfall associated with monsoon southwesterly flows. The joint interdecadal mode of TC rainfall and seasonal monsoon rainfall is extracted by empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. The first interdecadal mode features an increasing trend plus a near-20-yr oscillation. The spatial patterns of this mode are uniform in sign over the entirety of Taiwan with positive anomalies for TC rainfall and negative anomalies for seasonal monsoon rainfall. These results reveal that TC rainfall and seasonal monsoon rainfall tend to vary inversely in interdecadal variability, with a positive trend in TC rainfall and a negative trend in seasonal monsoon rainfall. Large-scale regulating processes associated with this interdecadal rainfall mode are interpreted from the correlation patterns. Significant warm sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies exist in the tropical central and eastern Pacific and the Indian Ocean. At the low levels, an anomalous large-scale divergent center occurs in the Australian regions, which in turn evokes an anomalous cyclonic circulation in the subtropical North Pacific. Taiwan is on its western edge and affected by anomalous northeasterly flows, in company with weakening in the prevailing southwesterly flows and moisture transport from the South China Sea into Taiwan. As such, negative seasonal monsoon rainfall anomalies occur in Taiwan with a decreasing trend. The subtropical anomalous cyclonic circulation also weakens vertical wind shear over the major TC genesis region, that is, the Philippine Sea. Warm SST anomalies in this region and accompanying anomalous ascending motion provide additional favorable conditions for TC genesis. More TCs are thus formed in the Philippine Sea. The appearance of an anomalous cyclonic circulation in the subtropical North Pacific reflects a weakening of the Pacific subtopical high, which tends to retreat eastward and provides southeasterly or southerly flows on its western boundary to guide TCs formed in the Philippine Sea northwestward toward Taiwan. TC frequency and TC rainfall thus increase in Taiwan with an increasing trend.
The Distribution of Cloud Horizontal Sizes
Authors: Wood Robert , Field Paul R. 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Cloud horizontal size distributions from near-global satellite data, from aircraft, and from a global high-resolution numerical weather prediction model, are presented for the scale range 0.1–8000 km and are shown to be well-represented using a single power-law relationship with an exponent of β = 1.66 ±0.04 from 0.1 to 1500 km or more. At scales longer than 1500 km, there is a statistically significant scale break with fewer very large clouds than expected from the power law. The size distribution is integrated to determine the contribution to cloud cover and visible reflectance from clouds larger than a given size. Globally, clouds with a horizontal dimension of 200 km or more constitute approximately 50% of the cloud cover and 60% of the reflectance, and this result is not sensitive to the minimum size threshold assumed in the integral assuming that the power law can be extrapolated below 100-m scale. The result is also not sensitive to whether the size distribution is determined using cloud segment length or cloud area. This emphasizes the great role played by large cloud sheets in determining the earth’s albedo. On the other hand, some 15% of global cloud cover comes from clouds smaller than 10 km, thus emphasizing the broad range of cloud sizes that contribute significantly to the earth’s radiation budget. Both of these results stem from the fact that β is slightly less than 2. The data are further divided and geographical and seasonal variations in the cloud size L50 for which clouds larger than L50 constitute 50% of the cloud cover are determined. The largest clouds (L50 &gt; 300 km) are found over the midlatitude oceans, particularly in summer, and over the tropical convective regions of the west Pacific and Indian Oceans and the monsoon-influenced landmasses. The smallest clouds (L50 &lt; 100 km) are found over the trade wind regions of the tropics/subtropics and over arid land areas. Small variations in the exponent β contribute significantly to the variations in L50. Finally, it is shown that a bounded cascade model can faithfully simulate the observed cloud size distributions and use this to examine the effects of limiting sensor resolution (pixel size) and domain size (number of pixels across image). Sensor resolution is not found to strongly impact the cloud size distribution provided the ratio of the domain to pixel size remains greater than ~1000. Thus, previous studies with small domain–pixel size ratios may provide biased information about the true cloud size distribution, and should be interpreted with caution.
Atmospheric Moisture Transports from Ocean to Land and Global Energy Flows in Reanalyses
Authors: Trenberth Kevin E. , Fasullo John T. , Mackaro Jessica 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
An assessment is made of the global energy and hydrological cycles from eight current atmospheric reanalyses and their depiction of changes over time. A brief evaluation of the water and energy cycles in the latest version of the NCAR climate model referred to as CCSM4 is also given. The focus is on the mean ocean, land, and global precipitation P; the corresponding evaporation E; their difference corresponding to the surface freshwater flux E–P; and the vertically integrated atmospheric moisture transports. Using the model-based P and E, the time- and area-average E–P for the oceans, P–E for land, and the moisture transport from ocean to land should all be identical but are not close in most reanalyses, and often differ significantly from observational estimates of the surface return flow based on net river discharge into the oceans. Their differences reveal outstanding issues with atmospheric models and their biases, which are manifested as analysis increments in the reanalyses. The NCAR CCSM4, along with most reanalysis models, the exception being MERRA, has too-intense water cycling (P and E) over the ocean although ocean-to-land transports are very close to observed. Precipitation from reanalyses that assimilate moisture from satellite observations exhibits large changes identified with the changes in the observing system, as new and improved temperature and water vapor channels are assimilated and, while P improves after about 2002, E–P does not. Discrepancies among hydrological cycle components arise from analysis increments that can add or subtract moisture. The large-scale moisture budget divergences are more stable in time and similar across reanalyses than model-based estimates of E–P. Results are consistent with the view that recycling of moisture is too large in most models and the lifetime of moisture is too short. For the energy cycle, most reanalyses have spurious imbalances of ~10 W m−2 within the atmosphere, and ~5–10 W m−2 in net fluxes into the surface and to space. Major improvements are needed in model treatment and assimilation of moisture, and surface fluxes from reanalyses should only be used with great caution.
Flooding in Western Washington: The Connection to Atmospheric Rivers*
Authors: Neiman Paul J. , Schick Lawrence J. , Ralph F. Martin , Abel Mimi R. , Wick Gary A. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThis study utilizes multiple decades of daily streamflow data gathered in four major watersheds in western Washington to determine the meteorological conditions most likely to cause flooding in those watersheds. Two are located in the Olympic Mountains and the other two in the western Cascades; and each has uniquely different topographic characteristics. The flood analysis is based on the maximum daily flow observed during each water year (WY) at each site [i.e., the annual peak daily flow (APDF)], with an initial emphasis on the 12 most recent water years between WY1998 and 2009, and then focusing on a 30-year interval between WY1980 and 2009. The shorter time period coincides with relatively complete passive microwave satellite coverage of integrated water vapor (IWV) over the Pacific basin. The combination of IWV imagery and streamflow data highlights a close link between landfalling atmospheric rivers (ARs) and APDFs (i.e., 46 of the 48 APDFs occurred with landfalling ARs). To complement this approach, the three-decade time series of APDFs, which correspond to the availability of the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) dataset, are examined. The APDFs occur most often, and are typically largest in magnitude, from November to January. The NARR is used to assess the composite meteorological conditions associated with the 10 largest APDFs at each site during this 30-year period. Heavy precipitation fell during the top 10 APDFs, and anomalously high composite NARR melting levels averaged ~1.9 km MSL, which is primarily above the four basins of interest. Hence, on average, mostly rain rather than snow fell within these basins, leading to enhanced runoff. The flooding on the four watersheds shared common meteorological attributes, including the presence of landfalling ARs with anomalous warmth, strong low-level water vapor fluxes, and weak static stability. There were also key differences that modulated the orographic control of precipitation. Notably, two watersheds experienced their top 10 APDFs when the low-level flow was southwesterly, while the other two basins had their largest APDFs with west–southwesterly flow. These differences arose because of the region’s complex topography, basin orientations, and related rain shadowing.
Oceanic Rings and Jets as Statistical Equilibrium States
Authors: Venaille Antoine , Bouchet Freddy 
Published: April 2011

AbstractEquilibrium statistical mechanics of two-dimensional flows provides an explanation and a prediction for the self-organization of large-scale coherent structures. This theory is applied in this paper to the description of oceanic rings and jets, in the framework of a 1.5-layer quasigeostrophic model. The theory predicts the spontaneous formation of regions where the potential vorticity is homogenized, with strong and localized jets at their interface. Mesoscale rings are shown to be close to a statistical equilibrium: the theory accounts for their shape, drift, and ubiquity in the ocean, independently of the underlying generation mechanism. At basin scale, inertial states presenting midbasin eastward jets (and then different from the classical Fofonoff solution) are described as marginally unstable states. In that case, considering a purely inertial limit is a first step toward more comprehensive out-of-equilibrium studies that would take into account other essential aspects, such as wind forcing.
The Origin of Along-Shelf Pressure Gradient in the Middle Atlantic Bight
Authors: Xu F.-H. , Oey L.-Y. 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
It is quite widely accepted that the along-shelf pressure gradient (ASPG) contributes in driving shelf currents in the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) off the northeastern U.S. coast; its origin, however, remains a subject for debate. Based on analyses of 16 yr (1993–2008) of satellite, tide gauge, river, and wind data and numerical experiments, the authors suggest that river and Coastal Labrador Sea Water (CLSW) transport contribute to a positive mean ASPG (tilt up northward) in the ratio of approximately 1:7 (i.e., CLSW dominates), whereas wind and the Gulf Stream tend to produce a negative mean ASPG in the ratio of approximately 1:6.
Data also indicate seasonal and interannual variations of ASPG that correlate with the Gulf Stream’s shift and eddy kinetic energy north of the Gulf Stream (N-EKE) due to warm-core rings. A southward shift in the Gulf Stream produces a sea level drop north of Cape Hatteras, which is most rapid in winter. The N-EKE peaks in late spring to early summer and is larger in some years than others. A process model is used to show that ring propagation along the MAB slope and ring impingement upon the shelf break north of Cape Hatteras generate along-isobath density gradients and cross-shelfbreak transports that produce sea level change on the shelf; the dominant ageostrophic term in the depth-integrated vorticity balance is the joint effect of baroclinicity and relief (JEBAR) term. In particular, the shelf’s sea surface slopes down to the north when rings approach Cape Hatteras.
Stress Training Improves Performance During a Stressful Flight
Authors: McClernon Christopher K. , McCauley Michael E. , O’Connor Paul E. , Warm Joel S. 
Published: April 2011

Objective: This study investigated whether stress training introduced during the acquisition of simulator-based flight skills enhances pilot performance during subsequent stressful flight operations in an actual aircraft. Background: Despite knowledge that preconditions to aircraft accidents can be strongly influenced by pilot stress, little is known about the effectiveness of stress training and how it transfers to operational flight settings. Method: For this study, 30 participants with no flying experience were assigned at random to a stress-trained treatment group or a control group. Stress training consisted of systematic pairing of skill acquisition in a flight simulator with stress coping mechanisms in the presence of a cold pressor. Control participants received identical flight skill acquisition training but without stress training. Participants then performed a stressful flying task in a Piper Archer aircraft. Results: Stress-trained research participants flew the aircraft more smoothly, as recorded by aircraft telemetry data, and generally better, as recorded by flight instructor evaluations, than did control participants. Conclusions: Introducing stress coping mechanisms during flight training improved performance in a stressful flying task. Application: The results of this study indicate that stress training during the acquisition of flight skills may serve to enhance pilot performance in stressful operational flight and, therefore, might mitigate the contribution of pilot stress to aircraft mishaps.
Setting properties and biocompatibility of dicalcium silicate with varying additions of tricalcium aluminate
Authors: Liu Weining , Chang Jiang 
Published: April 2011

This study sought to prepare biphasic mixtures by adding tricalcium aluminate (Ca3Al2O6) into dicalcium silicate (Ca2SiO4) and to evaluate the effect of Ca3Al2O6 on setting properties and biocompatibility of the Ca2SiO4/Ca3Al2O6 mixtures as compared to pure Ca2SiO4. The results indicated that the addition of Ca3Al2O6 into Ca2SiO4 reduced the setting time and improved the compressive strength. Furthermore, Ca2SiO4/Ca3Al2O6 mixtures were bioactive and biocompatible, and had a stimulatory effect on the L929 cell growth when the content of Ca3Al2O6 was below 10%. Therefore, the mixtures with 10% Ca3Al2O6 produced the best compromise between setting and in vitro biological properties.
Improved synthesis of hyaluronic acid hydrogel and its effect on tissue augmentation
Authors: Yan Xiang Mei , Seo Moo Seok , Hwang Eui Jin , Cho Il Hwan , Hahn Sei Kwang , Sohn Uy Dong 
Published: April 2011

HA–HMDA hydrogels were developed by direct amide bond formation between the carboxyl groups of hyaluronic acid (HA) and hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) with an optimized carboxyl group modification in the preliminary experiment. However, these HA–HMDA hydrogels transformed into an unstable liquid form after steam sterilization, and were problematic for application to actual dermal filler. A new method to overcome the problem of the previously developed HA–HMDA hydrogels is to prepare them by adjusting the pH in this study. Not only are these improved HA–HMDA hydrogels prepared with lower amounts of cross-linking and activation agents compared to the previously developed hydrogels, but they also maintain a stable form after steam sterilization. These improved HA–HMDA hydrogels showed higher viscoelasticity and longer lasting effects than the previous ones, despite the fact that the amount of the HMDA used as a cross-linking agent as well as 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide (EDC) and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole monohydrated (HOBt) used as activation agents were substantially reduced. According to an in vivo test using a wrinkled mouse model, the improved HA–HMDA hydrogels exhibited significantly improved tissue augmentation effects compared to a positive control of Restylane, which is widely used for the tissue augmentation throughout the world. Furthermore, histological analysis revealed excellent biocompatibility and safety of the improved synthesized HA–HMDA hydrogels.
Absorption of Hydrocortisone Acetate in Human Connective Tissue Using Phonophoresis
Authors: Gurney A. Burke , Wascher Daniel , Schenck Robert , Tennison Alexandria , Jaramillo Bettina 
Published: April 2011

Background: Therapeutic ultrasound to drive medication (phonophoresis) has been a mainstay in physical therapy. The most common drug used in phonophoresis is hydrocortisone acetate (HA). A number of studies have been done examining phonophoresis in the delivery of HA through the skin to underlying tissues; however, a study has never been done examining the absorption of HA using phonophoresis on human connective tissue. Hypothesis: Phonophoresis will facilitate the transmission of HA in human connective tissue. Study Design: Randomized controlled study. Methods: Twenty-one patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery were randomly assigned to either a sham or true phonophoresis treatment group. The latter group received 6 minutes of 10% HA ultrasound at a point consistent with the gastrocnemius slip of the semitendinosis tendon (treatment site). The sham group received 6 minutes of 10% HA ultrasound to the same area, but the ultrasound was not turned on. The slip and a sample of the distal attachment of the tendon (control) were removed. Samples were analyzed for HA levels. Results: Although the mean and median levels of HA found at the treatment site were greater than those of the control site (means, 34.1 vs 22.9 parts per billion; medians, 7 vs 0 parts per billion), the levels of HA found at the treatment site were not significantly greater than those at the control site (P = 0.15). There were no statistically significant differences between the true and sham phonophoresis groups in HA levels (P = 0.80) nor in age, sex, or skin thickness. Conclusion: Phonophoresis does not appear to facilitate the absorption of HA in connective tissue when compared with simple absorption (sham). Clinical Relevance: Phonophoresis does not appear to enhance the transmission of HA in human connective tissue; therefore, use of phonophoresis should be reconsidered in inflammatory conditions.
Protein kinase C mediates platelet secretion and thrombus formation through protein kinase D2
Authors: Konopatskaya Olga , Matthews Sharon A. , Harper Matthew T. , Gilio Karen , Cosemans Judith M. E. M. , Williams Christopher M. , Navarro Maria N. , Carter Deborah A. , Heemskerk Johan W. M. , Leitges Michael , Cantrell Doreen , Poole Alastair W. 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Platelets are highly specialized blood cells critically involved in hemostasis and thrombosis. Members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family have established roles in regulating platelet function and thrombosis, but the molecular mechanisms are not clearly understood. In particular, the conventional PKC isoform, PKCα, is a major regulator of platelet granule secretion, but the molecular pathway from PKCα to secretion is not defined. Protein kinase D (PKD) is a family of 3 kinases activated by PKC, which may represent a step in the PKC signaling pathway to secretion. In the present study, we show that PKD2 is the sole PKD member regulated downstream of PKC in platelets, and that the conventional, but not novel, PKC isoforms provide the upstream signal. Platelets from a gene knock-in mouse in which 2 key phosphorylation sites in PKD2 have been mutated (Ser707Ala/Ser711Ala) show a significant reduction in agonist-induced dense granule secretion, but not in α-granule secretion. This deficiency in dense granule release was responsible for a reduced platelet aggregation and a marked reduction in thrombus formation. Our results show that in the molecular pathway to secretion, PKD2 is a key component of the PKC-mediated pathway to platelet activation and thrombus formation through its selective regulation of dense granule secretion.
Activation of factor XI by products of prothrombin activation
Authors: Matafonov Anton , Sarilla Suryakala , Sun Mao-fu , Sheehan John P. , Serebrov Vladimir , Verhamme Ingrid M. , Gailani David 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe prothrombinase complex converts prothrombin to α-thrombin through the intermediate meizothrombin (Mz-IIa). Both α-thrombin and Mz-IIa catalyze factor (F) XI activation to FXIa, which sustains α-thrombin production through activation of FIX. The interaction with FXI is thought to involve thrombin anion binding exosite (ABE) I. α-Thrombin can undergo additional proteolysis to β-thrombin and γ-thrombin, neither of which have an intact ABE I. In a purified protein system, FXI is activated by β-thrombin or γ-thrombin, and by α-thrombin in the presence of the ABE I-blocking peptide hirugen, indicating that a fully formed ABE I is not absolutely required for FXI activation. In a FXI-dependent plasma thrombin generation assay, β-thrombin, γ-thrombin, and α-thrombins with mutations in ABE I are approximately 2-fold more potent initiators of thrombin generation than α-thrombin or Mz-IIa, possibly because fibrinogen, which binds to ABE I, competes poorly with FXI for forms of thrombin lacking ABE I. In addition, FXIa can activate factor FXII, which could contribute to thrombin generation through FXIIa-mediated FXI activation. The data indicate that forms of thrombin other than α-thrombin contribute directly to feedback activation of FXI in plasma and suggest that FXIa may provide a link between tissue factor-initiated coagulation and the proteases of the contact system.
Critical band 3 multiprotein complex interactions establish early during human erythropoiesis
Authors: Satchwell Timothy J. , Bell Amanda J. , Pellegrin Stephanie , Kupzig Sabine , Ridgwell Kay , Daniels Geoff , Anstee David J. , van den Akker Emile , Toye Ashley M. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBand 3, the major anion transport protein of human erythrocytes, forms the core of a multiprotein complex in the erythrocyte membrane. Here we studied the spatiotemporal mechanisms of band 3 multiprotein complex assembly during erythropoiesis. Significant pools of intracellular band 3 and Rh-associated glycoprotein (RhAG) were found in the basophilic erythroblast. These intracellular pools decreased in the polychromatic erythroblast, whereas surface expression increased and were lowest in the orthochromatic erythroblast and reticulocytes. Protease treatment of intact cells to remove extracellular epitopes recognized by antibodies to band 3 and RhAG was used to study surface delivery kinetics and intracellular complex composition from the proerythroblast stage to the enucleated reticulocyte. Newly synthesized band 3 and protein 4.2 interact initially in the early stages of the secretory pathway and are found associated at the plasma membrane from the basophilic stage of erythropoiesis. Although we could successfully coimmunoprecipitate Rh with RhAG from plasma membrane pools at a similar stage, no intracellular interaction between these proteins was detectable. Knockdown of RhAG during early erythropoiesis was accompanied by a concomitant drop in membrane expression of Rh polypeptides. These data are consistent with assembly of major components of the band 3 macrocomplex at an early stage during erythropoiesis.