bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
NADP+Reduction with Reduced Ferredoxin and NADP+Reduction with NADH Are Coupled via an Electron-Bifurcating Enzyme Complex inClostridium kluyveri
Authors: Wang Shuning , Huang Haiyan , Moll Johanna , Thauer Rudolf K. 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTIt was recently found that the cytoplasmic butyryl-coenzyme A (butyryl-CoA) dehydrogenase-EtfAB complex fromClostridium kluyvericouples the exergonic reduction of crotonyl-CoA to butyryl-CoA with NADH and the endergonic reduction of ferredoxin with NADH via flavin-based electron bifurcation. We report here on a second cytoplasmic enzyme complex inC. kluyvericapable of energetic coupling via this novel mechanism. It was found that the purified iron-sulfur flavoprotein complex NfnAB couples the exergonic reduction of NADP+with reduced ferredoxin (Fdred) and the endergonic reduction of NADP+with NADH in a reversible reaction: Fdred2−+ NADH + 2 NADP++ H+= Fdox+ NAD++ 2 NADPH. The role of this energy-converting enzyme complex in the ethanol-acetate fermentation ofC. kluyveriis discussed.
A Novel Replicative Enzyme Encoded by the LinearArthrobacterPlasmid pAL1
Authors: Kolkenbrock Stephan , Naumann Bianca , Hippler Michael , Fetzner Susanne 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTThe soil bacteriumArthrobacter nitroguajacolicusRü61a contains the linear plasmid pAL1, which codes for the degradation of 2-methylquinoline. Like other linear replicons of actinomycetes, pAL1 is characterized by short terminal inverted-repeat sequences and terminal proteins (TPpAL1) covalently attached to its 5′ ends. TPpAL1, encoded by thepAL1.102gene, interactsin vivowith the protein encoded bypAL1.101.Bioinformatic analysis of the pAL1.101 protein, which comprises 1,707 amino acids, suggested putative zinc finger and topoisomerase-primase domains and part of a superfamily 2 helicase domain in its N-terminal and central regions, respectively. Sequence motifs characteristic of the polymerization domain of family B DNA polymerases are partially conserved in a C-terminal segment. The purified recombinant protein catalyzed the deoxycytidylation of TPpAL1in the presence of single-stranded DNA templates comprising the 3′-terminal sequence (5′-GCAGG-3′), which in pAL1 forms the terminal inverted repeat, but also at templates with 5′-(G/T)CA(GG/GC/CG)-3′ ends. Enzyme assays suggested that the protein exhibits DNA topoisomerase, DNA helicase, and DNA- and protein-primed DNA polymerase activities. The pAL1.101 protein, therefore, may act as a replicase of pAL1.
Bathy Phytochromes in Rhizobial Soil Bacteria
Authors: Rottwinkel Gregor , Oberpichler Inga , Lamparter Tilman 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

Phytochromes are biliprotein photoreceptors that are found in plants, bacteria, and fungi. Prototypical phytochromes have a Pr ground state that absorbs in the red spectral range and is converted by light into the Pfr form, which absorbs longer-wavelength, far-red light. Recently, some bacterial phytochromes have been described that undergo dark conversion of Pr to Pfr and thus have a Pfr ground state. We show here that such so-called bathy phytochromes are widely distributed among bacteria that belong to the order
Rhizobiales
. We measured
in vivo
spectral properties and the direction of dark conversion for species which have either one or two phytochrome genes.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
C58 contains one bathy phytochrome and a second phytochrome which undergoes dark conversion of Pfr to Pr
in vivo
. The related species
Agrobacterium
vitis
S4 contains also one bathy phytochrome and another phytochrome with novel spectral properties.
Rhizobium leguminosarum
3841,
Rhizobium etli
CIAT652, and
Azorhizobium caulinodans
ORS571 contain a single phytochrome of the bathy type, whereas
Xanthobacter autotrophicus
Py2 contains a single phytochrome with dark conversion of Pfr to Pr. We propose that bathy phytochromes are adaptations to the light regime in the soil. Most bacterial phytochromes are light-regulated histidine kinases, some of which have a C-terminal response regulator subunit on the same protein. According to our phylogenetic studies, the group of phytochromes with this domain arrangement has evolved from a bathy phytochrome progenitor.
The Genome Sequence of the Cyanobacterium
Oscillatoria
sp. PCC 6506 Reveals Several Gene Clusters Responsible for the Biosynthesis of Toxins and Secondary Metabolites
Authors: Méjean Annick , Mazmouz Rabia , Mann Stéphane , Calteau Alexandra , Médigue Claudine , Ploux Olivier 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT

We report a draft sequence of the genome of
Oscillatoria
sp. PCC 6506, a cyanobacterium that produces anatoxin-a and homoanatoxin-a, two neurotoxins, and cylindrospermopsin, a cytotoxin. Beside the clusters of genes responsible for the biosynthesis of these toxins, we have found other clusters of genes likely involved in the biosynthesis of not-yet-identified secondary metabolites.
Reproducibility of [11C]Choline-Positron Emission Tomography and Effect of Trastuzumab
Authors: Kenny Laura M. , Contractor Kaiyumars B. , Hinz Rainer , Stebbing Justin , Palmieri Carlo , Jiang Jie , Shousha Sami , Al-Nahhas Adil , Coombes R. Charles , Aboagye Eric O. 
Published: August 2010

Abstract
Purpose: This study sought to evaluate the reproducibility of [11C]choline-positron emission tomography and the effect of trastuzumab in breast cancer.
Experimental Design: Twenty-one patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent breast cancer stage II-IV had a baseline dynamic [11C]choline-PET scan, 10 patients had a second [11C]choline-PET scan to examine reproducibility, and 6 patients had a second scan within a month after trastuzumab. Analysis of [11C]choline uptake was measured as the semiquantitative standardized uptake value at 30 and 60 minutes (SUV30 and SUV60), and quantitatively as the net irreversible retention of the radiotracer at steady-state (Ki) and plasma to tissue exchange at 60 minutes (IRF60min).
Results: Breast tumor lesions in all patients were visualized by [11C]choline PET. The difference in tumor versus normal tissue uptake was significant for SUV30, SUV60, Ki, and IRF60 minutes (Wilcoxon P &lt; 0.0001). At 60 minutes postinjection, 15.1 ± 2.16% of plasma radioactivity was due to unmetabolized [11C]choline radioactivity. [11C]Choline uptake was reproducible in breast tumor lesions (r2 = 0.9 for SUV, 0.9 for Ki, and 0.8 for IRF60). Early responses to trastuzumab measured by [11C]choline-PET were significant in three lesions occurring in two patients who responded clinically.
Conclusions: [11C]Choline-PET uptake variables can be reproducibly assessed. Initial studies show that trastuzumab decreases [11C]choline uptake. Clin Cancer Res; 16(16); 4236–45. ©2010 AACR.
'Progressive Multiculturalism': Minority Women and Cultural Diversity
Authors: Malik Maleiha 
Published: July 2010

AbstractRecent criticisms of policies which advocate the public accommodation of cultural and religious difference have focused on the fact that 'multiculturalism is bad for women'. Making more explicit the way in which public accommodations of some minority group 'differences' are a requirement of the liberal commitment to individual autonomy and pluralism allows us to develop a version of 'progressive multiculturalism' which also safeguards the autonomy of minority women. This approach integrates two components both of which are important for minority women's autonomy: first, it gives weight to the importance of 'recognition' of cultural and religious difference in the public sphere; and, second, it facilitates full participation by minority women in mainstream political, social and economic processes.
Gender and Its Inter-Sectional Dimension in International Minority Law
Authors: Bantekas Ilias 
Published: July 2010

AbstractIntersectional gender discrimination in the field of minority law encompasses discrimination not only in respect of one's minority status, but additionally on account of that person being a woman. Such discrimination many times affects female group members only, as in the case of ethnic cleansing through rape, and is thus inapplicable to men. Although the two forms of discrimination (i.e. minority and gender) are not treated as a single act in the relevant international legal documents, the recent practice of United Nations human rights rapporteurs is to identify a unified violation that is gender-specific. This has not yet trickled down to the domestic level, but I argue that a purposive and evolutionary interpretation of the law should move towards recognition of a single violation.
Time Series of Daily Averaged Cloud Fractions over Landfast First-Year Sea Ice from Multiple Data Sources
Authors: Jin Xin , Hanesiak John M. , Barber David G. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
The time series of daily averaged cloud fractions (CFs) collected from different platforms—two Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments on Terra and Aqua satellites, the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) model, a Vaisala 25K laser ceilometer, and ground-based manual observations (manobs)—above the winter camp of the Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study (CASES) field experiment are analyzed in this study. Taking the manobs as standard, the authors conclude that 1) the NCEP products considerably underestimated CFs in spring (e.g., from April to May) and 2) the performance of two MODIS products depends on the variation of solar zenith angle (SZA). Aqua MODIS misrepresents the snow-covered surface as clouds with almost randomly distributed CFs during the dark winter [cos(SZA) &lt; 0], leading to the overestimation of CFs in winter while Terra MODIS has good agreement with manobs. When 0.1 &lt; cos(SZA) &lt; 0.4, both MODIS products regularly misrepresent the snow-covered background as clouds, leading to the significant overestimation of CFs in late winter (February) and early spring (March). When cos(SZA) &gt; 0.4, both MODIS products have good performance in detecting cloud masks over snow backgrounds. If the sky is slightly cloudy, surface-based meteorological observers tend to underestimate cloud amounts when there is a lack of light. Comparing the CFs from Terra and manobs, the authors conclude that this bias can be over 10%. Power spectral analysis and wavelet analysis show three results: 1) High clouds more frequently appear in winter than in spring with periods between 8 and 16 days, indicating their close connection with synoptic events. Current NCEP products can predict this periodicity but have a phase lag. 2) Middle and low clouds are more local and are common in mid- and late spring (April and May) with periods between 2 and 4 days. At the CASES winter and spring field site, the periodicity of high clouds is dominant. 3) The time-scale-dependent correlation coefficients (CCs) between both MODIS products, NCEP and manobs, show that with high frequent CF sampling per day, the CCs are stable when the time scale varies between 1 and 4 days: with Terra MODIS and NCEP, the value is about 0.6; with Aqua MODIS, between 0.4 and 0.5. All CCs get smaller when the time scale increases beyond 8 days: with respect to both MODIS products, the CCs get closer with values between 0.3 and 0.4; with respect to NCEP, the CC dramatically decreases from positive values to negative values, indicating the lack of accuracy in current NCEP cloud schemes.
A Quality Assurance System for Canadian Hourly Pressure Data
Authors: Wan Hui , Wang Xiaolan L. , Swail Val R. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
In this study a comprehensive quality assurance (QA) system, which includes the hydrostatic check combined with a statistical homogeneity test, is designed and applied to hourly pressure records (for 1953–2002) from 761 Canadian stations, to produce a high-quality database of hourly station and sea level pressures for various climate studies. The main principles of the QA system are described in detail, followed by a brief emphasis on the error correction algorithms. The general performance of the QA system and the main problems in the Canadian historical hourly pressure database are discussed and illustrated through various examples. The results show that there are serious systematic errors (i.e., sudden changes in the mean, or mean shifts) in the Canadian hourly pressure database, which are caused either by the use of incorrect station elevation values in the reduction of barometer readings to station or sea level pressure values (e.g., the “50-ft rule” or station relocation without updates to the station elevation), by transposing/swapping station and sea level pressure values, or by mistakes made in the archive data ingestion or data recording/digitization processes (e.g., use of a wrong base number). Random errors also exist and are mainly due to the transposition of two digits or miscoding of one or two digits. These errors must be corrected before the data are used in various climate studies, especially climate change–related studies.
Influence of GPS Precipitable Water Vapor Retrievals on Quantitative Precipitation Forecasting in Southern California
Authors: Marcus Steven , Kim Jinwon , Chin Toshio , Danielson David , Laber Jayme 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
The effects of precipitable water vapor (PWV) retrievals from the Southern California Integrated GPS Network (SCIGN) on quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) skill are examined over two flood-prone regions of Southern California: Santa Barbara (SB) and Ventura County (VC). Two sets of QPFs are made, one using the initial water vapor field from the NCEP 40-km Eta initial analysis, and another in which the initial Eta water vapor field is modified by incorporating the PWV data from the SCIGN receivers. Lateral boundary data for the QPFs, as well as the hydrostatic component of the GPS zenith delay data, are estimated from the Eta analysis. Case studies of a winter storm on 2 February during the 1997/98 El Niño, and storms leading up to the La Conchita, California, landslide on 10 January 2005, show notably improved QPFs for the first 3–6 h with the addition of GPS PWV data. For a total of 47 winter storm forecasts between February 1998 and January 2005 the average absolute QPF improvement is small; however, QPF improvements exceed 5 mm in several underpredicted rainfall events, with GPS data also improving most cases with overpredicted rainfall. The GPS improvements are most significant (above or near the 2σ level) when the low-level winds off the coast of Southern California are from the southern (SW to SE) quadrant. To extend the useful forecast skill enhancement beyond six hours, however, additional sources of water vapor data over broader areas of the adjacent Pacific Ocean are needed.
The Use of Synthetic Hurricane Tracks in Risk Analysis and Climate Change Damage Assessment
Authors: Hallegatte Stéphane 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Because of the lack of data on past hurricanes, empirical evaluations of the statistics needed for risk management are very uncertain. An alternative strategy is to use a hurricane model to produce large sets of synthetic hurricane tracks. This method provides, for 11 regions of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, the annual landfall probabilities of hurricanes from each category of the Saffir–Simpson scale. This model can be used to investigate the future of hurricane risks. As a first step, the model is run with a 10% increase in potential intensity. Annual landfall probabilities increase in all regions, especially for the strongest hurricanes. The vulnerability of each U.S. coastal county is then calibrated using data on past hurricanes and their normalized economic losses. Annual hurricane damages increase by +54% in response to a 10% increase in potential intensity, meaning that the average normalized losses caused by hurricanes would increase from approximately $8 billion to about $12 billion per year. These results suggest that hurricane losses are very sensitive to changes in potential intensity and may rise significantly in response to climate change. This paper calls, therefore, for taking into account hurricane damages in the analysis of climate policies, even though other factors like population evolution, economic growth, and preparedness may remain the main drivers of hurricane damages.
Spatial Interpolation of Daily Maximum and Minimum Air Temperature Based on Meteorological Model Analyses and Independent Observations
Authors: DeGaetano Arthur T. , Belcher Brian N. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Hourly meteorological forecast model initializations are used to guide the spatial interpolation of daily cooperative network station data in the northeastern United States. The hourly model data are transformed to daily maximum and minimum temperature values and interpolated to the station points after standardization to station elevation based on the model temperature lapse rate. The resulting bias (interpolation − observation) is computed and then interpolated back to the model grids, allowing daily adjustment of the temperature fields based on independent observations. These adjusted data can then be interpolated to the resolution of interest. For testing, the data are interpolated to stations that were withheld during the construction of the bias field. The use of the model initializations as a basis for interpolation improves upon the conventional interpolation of elevation-adjusted station data alone. When inverse-distance-weighted interpolation is used in conjunction with data from a 40-km-model grid, mean annual absolute errors averaged 5% smaller than those from interpolation of station data alone for maximum and minimum temperature, which is a significant decrease. Using data from a 20-km-model grid reduces mean absolute error during June by 10% for maximum temperature and 16% for minimum temperature. Adjustment for elevation based on the model temperature lapse rate improved the interpolation of maximum temperature, but had little effect on minimum temperature. Winter minimum temperature errors were related to snow depth, a feature that likely contributed to the relatively high autocorrelation exhibited by the daily errors.
Surface Energy Components and Land Characteristics of a Rice Paddy
Authors: Tsai Jeng-Lin , Tsuang Ben-Jei , Lu Po-Sheng , Yao Ming-Hwi , Shen Yuan 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Many meteorological and air-quality models require land characteristics as inputs. A field experiment was conducted to study the surface energy budget of a rice paddy in Taiwan. During the day, the energy balance ratio measured by an eddy covariance (EC) system was found to be 95% after considering the photosynthetic and local advected heat fluxes. The observations by the EC system suggest that the Bowen ratio was about 0.18 during the daytime. The EC system also measured the daytime absorbed carbon dioxide flux. The equivalent photosynthetic energy flux was about 1% of the net solar radiation. A reference table describing the land characteristics of rice paddies for use in meteorological and air-quality models is listed that shows that the albedo and the Bowen ratio measured over rice paddies were lower than those listed in many state-of-the-art models. This study proposes simulating latent heat flux by assigning proper values for canopy resistance rather than by assigning constant values for Bowen ratio or surface moisture availability. The diurnal pattern of the canopy resistance of the rice paddy was found to be “U” shaped. Daytime canopy resistance was observed to be 87 s m−1, and a high canopy resistance (∼900 s m−1) should be assigned during nighttime periods.
Evaluation of Dispersion Forecasts Driven by Atmospheric Model Output at Coarse and Fine Resolution
Authors: Nachamkin Jason E. , Cook John , Frost Mike , Martinez Daniel , Sprung Gary 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Lagrangian parcel models are often used to predict the fate of airborne hazardous material releases. The atmospheric input for these integrations is typically supplied by surrounding surface and upper-air observations. However, situations may arise in which observations are unavailable and numerical model forecasts may be the only source of atmospheric data. In this study, the quality of the atmospheric forecasts for use in dispersion applications is investigated as a function of the horizontal grid spacing of the atmospheric model. The Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS) was used to generate atmospheric forecasts for 14 separate Dipole Pride 26 trials. The simulations consisted of four telescoping one-way nested grids with horizontal spacings of 27, 9, 3, and 1 km, respectively. The 27- and 1-km forecasts were then used as input for dispersion forecasts using the Hazard Prediction Assessment Capability (HPAC) modeling system. The resulting atmospheric and dispersion forecasts were then compared with meteorological and gas-dosage observations collected during Dipole Pride 26. Although the 1-km COAMPS forecasts displayed considerably more detail than those on the 27-km grid, the RMS and bias statistics associated with the atmospheric observations were similar. However, statistics from the HPAC forecasts showed the 1-km atmospheric forcing produced more accurate trajectories than the 27-km output when compared with the dosage measurements.
Estimation and Extrapolation of Climate Normals and Climatic Trends
Authors: Livezey Robert E. , Vinnikov Konstantin Y. , Timofeyeva Marina M. , Tinker Richard , van den Dool Huug M. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractWMO-recommended 30-yr normals are no longer generally useful for the design, planning, and decision-making purposes for which they were intended. They not only have little relevance to the future climate, but are often unrepresentative of the current climate. The reason for this is rapid global climate change over the last 30 yr that is likely to continue into the future. It is demonstrated that simple empirical alternatives already are available that not only produce reasonably accurate normals for the current climate but also often justify their extrapolation to several years into the future. This result is tied to the condition that recent trends in the climate are approximately linear or have a substantial linear component. This condition is generally satisfied for the U.S. climate-division data. One alternative [the optimal climate normal (OCN)] is multiyear averages that are not fixed at 30 yr like WMO normals are but rather are adapted climate record by climate record based on easily estimated characteristics of the records. The OCN works well except with very strong trends or longer extrapolations with more moderate trends. In these cases least squares linear trend fits to the period since the mid-1970s are viable alternatives. An even better alternative is the use of “hinge fit” normals, based on modeling the time dependence of large-scale climate change. Here, longer records can be exploited to stabilize estimates of modern trends. Related issues are the need to avoid arbitrary trend fitting and to account for trends in studies of ENSO impacts. Given these results, the authors recommend that (a) the WMO and national climate services address new policies for changing climate normals using the results here as a starting point and (b) NOAA initiate a program for improved estimates and forecasts of official U.S. normals, including operational implementation of a simple hybrid system that combines the advantages of both the OCN and the hinge fit.