bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Numerical Simulation of Convectively Induced Turbulence above Deep Convection
Authors: Kim Jung-Hoon , Chun Hye-Yeong 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAt 1034 UTC 2 September 2007, a commercial aircraft flying from Jeju, South Korea, to Osaka, Japan, at an altitude of approximately 11.2 km encountered severe turbulence above deep convection. To investigate the characteristics and generation mechanism of this event, the real atmosphere is simulated using the Weather Research and Forecasting model with six nested domains, the finest of which is a horizontal grid spacing of 120 m. The model reproduces well the observed large-scale flows and the location and timing of the turbulence along the evolving deep convection. Three hours before the incident, isolated deep convection with two overshooting tops develops in a warm area ahead of the cold front in the southwestern region of the turbulence. As the deep convection moves with the dominant southwesterly flow toward the incident region, its thickness shrinks significantly because of weakening of upward motions inside the convection. Twenty minutes before the incident, the dissipating convection disturbs the southwesterly flow at the incident altitude, enhancing local vertical wind shear above the dissipating convection. The leading edge of the cloud stretches toward the lee side because of shear-induced y vorticity, finally overturning. This activates turbulence and vertical mixing at the cloud boundary through convective instability in the entrainment process. While the dissipating convection, its thickness still shrinking, continues to move toward the observed turbulence region, the turbulence generated at the cloud interface is advected by the dominant southwesterly flow, emerging about 1–2 km above the dissipating convection and intersecting the aircraft’s flight route at the incident time.
The Lower-Stratospheric Response to 11-Yr Solar Forcing: Coupling to the Troposphere–Ocean Response
Authors: Hood Lon L. , Soukharev Boris E. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
The origin of the tropical lower-stratospheric response to 11-yr solar forcing and its possible coupling to a troposphere–ocean response is investigated using multiple linear regression (MLR) analyses of stratospheric ozone and temperature data over the 1979–2009 period and tropospheric sea level pressure (SLP) data over the 1880–2009 period. Stratospheric MLR results, comparisons with simulations from a chemistry–climate model, and analyses of decadal variations of meridional eddy heat flux indicate that the tropical lower-stratospheric response is produced mainly by a solar-induced modulation of the Brewer–Dobson circulation (BDC), with a secondary contribution from the Hadley circulation in the lowermost stratosphere. MLR analyses of long-term SLP data confirm previous results indicating a distinct positive response, on average, during the northern winter season in the North Pacific. The mean response in the Northern Hemisphere resembles a positive Arctic Oscillation mode and can also be characterized as “La Niña–like,” implying a reduction of Rossby wave forcing, a weakening of the BDC, and an increase in tropical lower-stratospheric ozone and temperature near solar maxima. However, MLR analyses of different time periods show that the Pacific SLP response is not always present during every cycle; it was most clearly detected mainly during the ~1938–93 period when 11-yr solar variability was especially strong. During the 1979–93 period, the SLP response was strongly present when the lower-stratospheric responses were large. But during the 1994–2009 period, the SLP response was much less significant and the lower-stratospheric responses were weak, supporting the hypothesis that the lower-stratospheric and surface climate responses are dynamically coupled.
Objective Optimization of Weather Radar Networks for Low-Level Coverage Using a Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Kurdzo James M. , Palmer Robert D. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
The current Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) radar network is approaching 20 years of age, leading researchers to begin exploring new opportunities for a next-generation network in the United States. With a vast list of requirements for a new weather radar network, research has provided various approaches to the design and fabrication of such a network. Additionally, new weather radar networks in other countries, as well as networks on smaller scales, must balance a large number of variables in order to operate in the most effective way possible. To offer network designers an objective analysis tool for such decisions, a coverage optimization technique, utilizing a genetic algorithm with a focus on low-level coverage, is presented. Optimization is achieved using a variety of variables and methods, including the use of climatology, population density, and attenuation due to average precipitation conditions. A method to account for terrain blockage in mountainous regions is also presented. Various combinations of multifrequency radar networks are explored, and results are presented in the form of a coverage-based cost–benefit analysis, with considerations for total network lifetime cost.
Characterizing Soil Physical Properties for Soil Moisture Monitoring with the North Carolina Environment and Climate Observing Network
Authors: Pan Weinan , Boyles R. P. , White J. G. , Heitman J. L. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Soil moisture has important implications for meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and agriculture. This has led to growing interest in development of in situ soil moisture monitoring networks. Measurement interpretation is severely limited without soil property data. In North Carolina, soil moisture has been monitored since 1999 as a routine parameter in the statewide Environment and Climate Observing Network (ECONet), but with little soils information available for ECONet sites. The objective of this paper is to provide soils data for ECONet development. The authors studied soil physical properties at 27 ECONet sites and generated a database with 13 soil physical parameters, including sand, silt, and clay contents; bulk density; total porosity; saturated hydraulic conductivity; air-dried water content; and water retention at six pressures. Soil properties were highly variable among individual ECONet sites [coefficients of variation (CVs) ranging from 12% to 80%]. This wide range of properties suggests very different behavior among sites with respect to soil moisture. A principal component analysis indicated parameter groupings associated primarily with soil texture, bulk density, and air-dried water content accounted for 80% of the total variance in the dataset. These results suggested that a few specific soil properties could be measured to provide an understanding of differences in sites with respect to major soil properties. The authors also illustrate how the measured soil properties have been used to develop new soil moisture products and data screening for the North Carolina ECONet. The methods, analysis, and results presented here have applications to North Carolina and for other regions with heterogeneous soils where soil moisture monitoring is valuable.
Application of Theory to Simulations of Observed Cases of Orographically Forced Convective Rainfall
Authors: Miglietta Mario Marcello , Rotunno Richard 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
In two recent papers, the authors reported on numerical simulations of conditionally unstable flows past an idealized mesoscale mountain ridge. These idealized simulations, which were performed with a three-dimensional, explicitly cloud-resolving model, allowed the investigation of simulated precipitation characteristics as a function of the prescribed environment. The numerical solutions were carried out for a uniform wind flowing past a bell-shaped ridge and using an idealized unstable sounding with prescribed values of the relevant parameters.
In the present work the application of these theoretical results to observed cases of orographically forced convective rainfall including the Big Thompson flood (1976, Colorado), the Oahu flood (1974, Hawaii), and the Gard flood (2002, France) is reported. Specifically, numerical simulations have been carried out using observed and idealized soundings relevant to these cases but with idealized topography. It is found that using the observed soundings, but with idealized constant-wind profiles, the simulated rain rates fit reasonably well within the previous theoretically derived parameter space for intense orographic convective rainfall. However, in order to reproduce larger rainfall rates, in closer agreement with observations, in the first two cases it was necessary to initialize the sounding with a wind profile characterized by low-level flow toward the mountain with weak flow aloft (as observed for the across-mountain wind component). For the Gard case, the situation was more complex and it is found unlikely that the situation can be reduced to a simple two-dimensional problem.
Hail Swaths Observed from Satellite Data and Their Relation to Radar and Surface-Based Observations: A Case Study from Iowa in 2009
Authors: Gallo Kevin , Smith Travis , Jungbluth Karl , Schumacher Philip 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Several storms produced extensive hail damage over Iowa on 9 August 2009. The hail associated with these supercells was observed with radar data, reported by surface observers, and the resulting hail swaths were identified within satellite data. This study includes an initial assessment of cross validation of several radar-derived products and surface observations with satellite data for this storm event. Satellite-derived vegetation index data appear to be a useful product for cross validation of surface-based reports and radar-derived products associated with severe hail damage events. Satellite imagery acquired after the storm event indicated that decreased vegetation index values corresponded to locations of surface reported damage. The areal extent of decreased vegetation index values also corresponded to the spatial extent of the storms as characterized by analysis of radar data. While additional analyses are required and encouraged, these initial results suggest that satellite data of vegetated land surfaces are useful for cross validation of surface and radar-based observations of hail swaths and associated severe weather.
Curcumin Protects Against Regional Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Through Activation of RISK/GSK-3β and Inhibition of p38 MAPK and JNK
Authors: Jeong Cheol-Won , Yoo Kyung Yeon , Lee Seong Heon , Jeong Hye Jin , Lee Cha Sup , Kim Seok Jai 
Published: March 2012

Background: Curcumin, the active ingredient of turmeric ( Curcuma longa), is known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. The present study was aimed to determine the effect of curcumin in regional myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and its underlying mechanisms involving the role of prosurvival kinases and apoptotic kinases. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 109) subjected to a 30-minute left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion followed by reperfusion were assigned to receive saline (control), curcumin (100 mg/kg), wortmannin (inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase [PI3K]-Akt), wortmannin + curcumin, U0126 (inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase [ERK1/2]), U0126 + curcumin, SB216763 (inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase [GSK-3β]), and SB216763 + curcumin 20 minutes before LAD occlusion. Infarct size was measured after 2 hours of reperfusion by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. The phosphorylation of Akt, ERK1/2, GSK-3β, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) was determined by immunoblotting after 10 minutes of reperfusion. Results: Curcumin significantly reduced the infarct size compared with the control (33.1% ± 6.2% vs 50.1% ± 3.9%; P < .05). Wortmannin or U0126 alone did not affect the infarct size but abolished the curcumin-induced cardioprotective effect. Curcumin significantly enhanced the phosphorylation of Akt, ERK1/2, and GSK-3β, while it reduced that of p38 and JNK. Wortmannin or U0126 abolished enhanced phosphorylation of GSK-3β induced by curcumin. SB216763 alone or combined with curcumin reduced the infarct size and enhanced phosphorylation of GSK-3β compared with the control. Conclusions: Preconditioning by curcumin effectively protects against regional myocardial I/R injury through the activation of prosurvival kinases involving PI3K-Akt, ERK1/2, and GSK-3β, and attenuation of p38 and JNK.
The efficacy of octreotide LAR in acromegalic patients as primary or secondary therapy
Authors: Velija-Asimi Zelija 
Published: March 2012

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of octreotide therapy in acromegalic patients as primary or secondary therapy. Methods: Ten acromegalic patients diagnosed at the Endocrinology Clinic in Sarajevo (seven females and three males, mean age 55.2 ± 7.2 years, age range 40–65 years, five patients with microadenoma and five patients with macroadenoma) were treated with octreotide. Among them, 60% of patients were operated on and the majority of the procedures were performed transnasaly (90%). That group of patients had recidivism of disease (pituitary adenoma and acromegaly). The concentration of human growth hormone (HGH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) was evaluated at 0, 6 and 12 months, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was taken before the treatment and 12 months after. Eight patients received octreotide 30 mg/28 days, one patient received a dose of 20 mg and the other received 60 mg/28 days. Results: Before treatment growth hormone (GH) levels were 50.87 ± 10.56 ng/ml (range: 26–64.9), IGF-1 were 776.66 ± 118.40 ng/ml (range: 526–934). Four patients (40%) were treated with primary octreotide treatment and six patients (60%) with secondary somatostatin analog treatment. At the beginning of therapy, there were no differences in terms of age, HGH levels and IGF-1 levels between primary and secondary treatment groups ( p > 0.05). The difference between groups was only in regard to the size of tumors ( p = 0.01). After 6 and 12 months the GH levels decreased to 1.61 ± 0.86 ng/ml (range: 0.7–2.65) and 1.85 ± 2.40 ng/ml (range: 0.0–8.3), respectively, while the IGF-1 became 305.90 ± 43.19 ng/ml after 6 months of treatment (range: 240–376) and 256.99 ± 71.43 ng/ml after 12 months of octreotide treatment (range: 126–325), respectively. The pituitary adenomas size prior to treatment was 9.57 mm, while after 12 months of treatment, the size decreased to 8.0 mm. After therapy, a GH decrease to less than 2.5 ng/ml was achieved in 90% of cases; tumor size decrease was achieved in 60% while normalization of IGF-1 was achieved in 100% of the patients, respectively. All differences about HGH and IGF-1 in each group were statistically significant ( p < 0.05). In the group of acromegalic patients treated with octreotide LAR as primary therapy, the difference was more significant for GH and IGF-1 than for adenomas size. Conclusions: Octreotide treatment of acromegaly not only decreases GH and IGF-1 concentrations, but also appears to diminish the size of the tumor in about 60% of cases. The somatostatin analogs are more efficient in the primary treatment of acromegalic patients, due to the fact that primary therapy is as effective as secondary therapy but primary therapy has small advantages when compared with secondary octreotide therapy because no surgical treatment is required before.
Hypoxia promotes dissemination of multiple myeloma through acquisition of epithelial to mesenchymal transition-like features
Authors: Azab Abdel Kareem , Hu Jinsong , Quang Phong , Azab Feda , Pitsillides Costas , Awwad Rana , Thompson Brian , Maiso Patricia , Sun Jessica D. , Hart Charles P. , Roccaro Aldo M. , Sacco Antonio , Ngo Hai T. , Lin Charles P. , Kung Andrew L. , Carrasco Ruben D. , Vanderkerken Karin , Ghobrial Irene M. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
The spread of multiple myeloma (MM) involves (re)circulation into the peripheral blood and (re)entrance or homing of MM cells into new sites of the BM. Hypoxia in solid tumors was shown to promote metastasis through activation of proteins involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. We hypothesized that MM-associated hypoxic conditions activate EMT-related proteins and promote metastasis of MM cells. In the present study, we have shown that hypoxia activates EMT-related machinery in MM cells, decreases the expression of E-cadherin, and, consequently, decreases the adhesion of MM cells to the BM and enhances egress of MM cells to the circulation. In parallel, hypoxia increased the expression of CXCR4, consequently increasing the migration and homing of circulating MM cells to new BM niches. Further studies to manipulate hypoxia to regulate tumor dissemination as a therapeutic strategy are warranted.
Approximate Euler-Lagrange quadratic mappings
Authors: Kim Hark-Mahn , Lee Juri , Son Eunyoung 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
For any fixed integer k with k ≠ 0, 1, we prove the Hyers-Ulam stability of an Euler-Lagrange-type quadratic functional equation

f

(

k
x
+
y

)

+
f

(

k
x
-
y

)

=
k
f

(

x
+
y

)

+
k
f

(

x
-
y

)

+
2
k

(

k
-
1

)

f

(

x

)

-
2

(

k
-
1

)

f

(

y

)

in normed spaces and in non-Archimedean normed spaces.
Association analysis of photoperiodic flowering time genes in west and central African sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]
Authors: Bhosale Sankalp U , Stich Benjamin , Rattunde H Frederick W , Weltzien Eva , Haussmann Bettina IG , Hash C Thomas , Ramu Punna , Cuevas Hugo E , Paterson Andrew H , Melchinger Albrecht E , Parzies Heiko K 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBackgroundPhotoperiod-sensitive flowering is a key adaptive trait for sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in West and Central Africa. In this study we performed an association analysis to investigate the effect of polymorphisms within the genes putatively related to variation in flowering time on photoperiod-sensitive flowering in sorghum. For this purpose a genetically characterized panel of 219 sorghum accessions from West and Central Africa was evaluated for their photoperiod response index (PRI) based on two sowing dates under field conditions.ResultsSorghum accessions used in our study were genotyped for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in six genes putatively involved in the photoperiodic control of flowering time. Applying a mixed model approach and previously-determined population structure parameters to these candidate genes, we found significant associations between several SNPs with PRI for the genesCRYPTOCHROME 1(CRY1-b1) andGIGANTEA(GI).ConclusionsThe negative values of Tajima's D, found for the genes of our study, suggested that purifying selection has acted on genes involved in photoperiodic control of flowering time in sorghum. The SNP markers of our study that showed significant associations with PRI can be used to create functional markers to serve as important tools for marker-assisted selection of photoperiod-sensitive cultivars in sorghum.
Ezrin phosphorylation on tyrosine 477 regulates invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells
Authors: Mak Hannah , Naba Alexandra , Varma Sonal , Schick Colleen , Day Andrew , SenGupta Sandip K , Arpin Monique , Elliott Bruce E 
Published: March 2012

Abstract

Background
The membrane cytoskeletal crosslinker, ezrin, a member of the ERM family of proteins, is frequently over-expressed in human breast cancers, and is required for motility and invasion of epithelial cells. Our group previously showed that ezrin acts co-operatively with the non-receptor tyrosine kinase, Src, in deregulation of cell-cell contacts and scattering of epithelial cells. In particular, ezrin phosphorylation on Y477 by Src is specific to ezrin within the ERM family, and is required for HGF-induced scattering of epithelial cells. We therefore sought to examine the role of Y477 phosphorylation in ezrin on tumor progression.

Methods
Using a highly metastatic mouse mammary carcinoma cell line (AC2M2), we tested the effect of over-expressing a non-phosphorylatable form of ezrin (Y477F) on invasive colony growth in 3-dimensional Matrigel cultures, and on local invasion and metastasis in an orthotopic engraftment model.

Results
AC2M2 cells over-expressing Y477F ezrin exhibited delayed migration in vitro, and cohesive round colonies in 3-dimensional Matrigel cultures, compared to control cells that formed invasive colonies with branching chains of cells and numerous actin-rich protrusions. Moreover, over-expression of Y477F ezrin inhibits local tumor invasion in vivo. Whereas orthotopically injected wild type AC2M2 tumor cells were found to infiltrate into the abdominal wall and visceral organs within three weeks, tumors expressing Y477F ezrin remained circumscribed, with little invasion into the surrounding stroma and abdominal wall. Additionally, Y477F ezrin reduces the number of lung metastatic lesions.

Conclusions
Our study implicates a role of Y477 ezrin, which is phosphorylated by Src, in regulating local invasion and metastasis of breast carcinoma cells, and provides a clinically relevant model for assessing the Src/ezrin pathway as a potential prognostic/predictive marker or treatment target for invasive human breast cancer.
Chewing areca nut increases the risk of coronary artery disease in taiwanese men: a case-control study
Authors: Tsai Wei-Chung , Wu Ming-Tsang , Wang Guei-Jane , Lee Kun-Tai , Lee Chien-Hung , Lu Ye-Hsu , Yen Hsueh-Wei , Chu Chih-Sheng , Chen Yi-Ting , Lin Tsung-Hsien , Su Ho-Ming , Hsu Po-Chao , Cheng Kai-Hung , Duh Tsai-Hui , Ko Ying-Chin , Sheu Sheng-Hsiung , Lai Wen-Ter 
Published: March 2012

Abstract

Background
Areca nut chewing has been reported to be associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and cardiovascular mortality in previous studies. The aim of this study was to examine whether chewing areca nut increases the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Taiwanese men.

Methods
This study is a hospital-based case-control study. The case patients were male patients diagnosed in Taiwan between 1996 and 2009 as having a positive Treadmill exercise test or a positive finding on the Thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging. The case patients were further evaluated by coronary angiography to confirm their CAD. Obstructive CAD was defined as a ≥ 50% decrease in the luminal diameter of one major coronary artery. The patients who did not fulfill the above criteria of obstructive CAD were excluded.
The potential controls were males who visited the same hospital for health check-ups and had a normal electrocardiogram but no history of ischemic heart disease or CAD during the time period that the case patients were diagnosed. The eligible controls were randomly selected and frequency-matched with the case patients based on age. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the odds ratio of areca nut chewing and the risk of obstructive CAD.

Results
A total of 293 obstructive CAD patients and 720 healthy controls, all men, were analyzed. Subjects who chewed areca nut had a 3.5-fold increased risk (95% CI = 2.0-6.2) of having obstructive CAD than those without, after adjusting for other significant covariates. The dose-response relationship of chewing areca nut and the risk of obstructive CAD was also noted. After adjusting for other covariates, the 2-way additive interactions for obstructive CAD risk were also significant between areca nut use and cigarette smoking, hypertension and dyslipidemia.

Conclusions
Long-term areca nut chewing was an independent risk factor of obstructive CAD in Taiwanese men. Interactive effects between chewing areca nut and cigarette smoking, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were also observed for CAD risk. Further exploration of their underlying mechanisms is necessary.