bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
International Multicenter Evaluation of Autoantibodies to Ribosomal P Proteins
Authors: Mahler Michael , Kessenbrock Kai , Szmyrka Magdalena , Takasaki Yoshinari , Garcia-De La Torre Ignacio , Shoenfeld Yehuda , Hiepe Falk , Shun-le Chen , von Mühlen Carlos A. , Locht Henning , Höpfl Peter , Wiik Allan , Reeves Westley , Fritzler Marvin J. 
Published: January 2006

ABSTRACT

Autoantibodies to the ribosomal phosphoproteins (Rib-P) are a serological feature of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The reported prevalence of anti-Rib-P antibodies in SLE ranges from 10 to 40%, being higher in Asian patients. The variation in the observed frequency may be related to a number of factors but is dependent in large part on the test system used to detect the autoantibodies. An association of anti-Rib-P with central nervous system involvement and neuropsychiatric manifestations of SLE has been controversial. In the present international multicenter study, we evaluated the clinical accuracy of a new sensitive Rib-P-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on recombinant Rib-P polypeptides. The results showed that 21.3% of 947 SLE patients, but only 0.7% of 1,113 control patients, had a positive test result (
P
< 0.0001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic efficiency were determined to be 21.3%, 99.3%, 95.6%, 62.2%, and 65.3%, respectively. When evaluated in the context of participating centers, the prevalence of anti-Rib-P antibodies was found in descending frequency, as follows: China (35%) > Poland (34%) > Japan (28%) > United States (26%) > Germany (Freiburg; 23.3%) > Denmark (20.5%) > Germany (Berlin; 19%) > Mexico (15.7%) > Israel (11.7%) > Brazil (10%) > Canada (8%). The substantial data from this study indicate that the prevalence of anti-Rib-P antibodies may not be restricted to the genetic background of the patients or to the detection system but may depend on regional practice differences and patient selection. We confirm previously reported associations of antiribosomal antibodies with clinical symptoms and serological findings. Remarkably, we found a lower occurrence of serositis in Rib-P-positive lupus patients.
Detection of Immunoglobulin G Antibodies toNeospora caninumin Humans: High Seropositivity Rates in Patients Who Are Infected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Have Neurological Disorders
Authors: Lobato Janaína , Silva Deise A. O. , Mineo Tiago W. P. , Amaral Jodi D. H. F. , Segundo Gesmar R. Silva , Costa-Cruz Julia M. , Ferreira Marcelo S. , Borges Aércio S. , Mineo José R. 
Published: January 2006

ABSTRACTConsidering that little is known about the epidemiology ofNeospora caninuminfection in humans, particularly in populations with highToxoplasma gondiiinfection rates, the present study aimed to investigate the presence of antibodies toN. caninuminT. gondii-seropositive and -seronegative individuals. A total of 256 serum samples divided into four groups (61 samples from human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]-positive patients, 50 samples from patients with neurological disorders, 91 samples from newborns, and 54 samples from healthy subjects) were assessed forN. caninumandT. gondiiserologies by indirect fluorescent-antibody test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunoblotting (IB). Immunoglobulin G antibodies toN. caninumwere predominantly detected in HIV-infected patients (38%) and patients with neurological disorders (18%), while newborns and healthy subjects showed lower seropositivity rates (5% and 6%, respectively). Seropositivity toN. caninumwas significantly associated with seropositivity toT. gondiiin both HIV-infected patients and patients with neurological disorders. Seroreactivity toN. caninumwas confirmed by IB, with positive sera predominantly recognizing the 29-kDa antigen ofN. caninum. The results of this study indicate the presence ofN. caninuminfection or exposure in humans, particularly in HIV-infected patients or patients with neurological disorders, who could have opportunistic and concurrent infections withT. gondii. These findings may bring a new concern for the unstable clinical health of HIV-infected patients and the actual role ofN. caninuminfection in immunocompromised patients.
Antigen Mining with Iterative Genome Screens Identifies Novel Diagnostics for the
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Complex
Authors: Ewer Katie , Cockle Paul , Gordon Steve , Mansoor Huma , Govaerts Marc , Walravens Karl , Marché Sylvie , Hewinson Glyn , Vordermeier Martin 
Published: January 2006

ABSTRACT

The definition of antigens for the diagnosis of human and bovine tuberculosis is a research priority. If diagnosis is to be used alongside
Mycobacterium bovis
BCG-based vaccination regimens, it will be necessary to have reagents that allow the discrimination of infected and vaccinated animals. A list of 42 potential
M. bovis-
specific antigens was prepared by comparative analysis of the genomes of
M. bovis
,
M. avium
subsp.
avium
,
M. avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
, and
Streptomyces coelicolor
. Potential antigens were tested by applying them in a high-throughput peptide-based screening system to
M. bovis
-infected and BCG-vaccinated cattle and to cattle without prior exposure to
M. bovis
. A response hierarchy of antigens was established by comparing responses in infected animals. Three antigens (Mb2555, Mb2890, and Mb3895) were selected for further study, as they were strongly recognized in experimentally infected animals but with low or no frequency in BCG-vaccinated and naïve cows. Interestingly, all three antigens were recognized in animals vaccinated against Johne's disease, suggesting the presences of epitopes cross-reacting with
M. avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
antigens. Eight peptides from the three antigens studied in detail were identified as immunodominant and were characterized in terms of major histocompatibility complex class II restriction element usage and shown to be restricted through both DR and DQ molecules. Reasons for antigenic cross-reactivity with
M. avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
and refinement of the in silico strategy to predict such cross-reactivity from the primary protein sequence will be discussed. Evaluation of the peptides identified from the three dominant antigens by use of larger field studies is now a priority.
1-Vertex-Hamiltonian-Laceability of Hypercubes with Maximal Edge Faults
Authors: Hsieh Sun-Yuan , Kuo Che-Nan 
Published: January 2006

Suppose that G = (V0 ∪ V1, E) is a bipartite graph with two partite sets V0 and V1 of equal size. Let x and y be two arbitrary distinct, vertices and let w be another vertex different from x and y. G is said to be 1-vertex-Hamiltonian-laceable if G - w satisfies the following three properties: P1. There is a (|V0| + |V1| - 2)-length path between x and y, where x and y are in the same partite set and w is in the other partite set; P2. There is a (|V0| + |V1| - 3)-length path between x and y, where x and y are in different partite sets and w is in any partite set; P3. There is a (|V0| + |V1| - 4)-length path between x and y, where x, y, w are in the same partite set. Let Fe be the set of faulty edges of an n-dimensional hypercube Qn. In this paper, we show that Qn - Fe (the graph obtained by deleting all edges of Fe from Qn) remains 1-vertex-Hamiltonian-laceable when |Fe| ≤ n - 3.
Reference Station Networks for Monitoring Climatic Change in the Conterminous United States
Authors: Vose Russell S. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractSet cover models are used to develop two reference station networks that can serve as near-term substitutes (as well as long-term backups) for the recently established Climate Reference Network (CRN) in the United States. The first network contains 135 stations distributed in a relatively uniform fashion in order to match the recommended spatial density for CRN. The second network contains 157 well-distributed stations that are generally not in urban areas in order to minimize the impact of future changes in land use. Both networks accurately reproduce the historical temperature and precipitation variations of the twentieth century.
Evaluation and Comparison of MODIS and IMS Snow-Cover Estimates for the Continental United States Using Station Data
Authors: Brubaker K. L. , Pinker R. T. , Deviatova E. 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
Satellite-derived information on fractional snow cover is essential to resource monitoring, hydrologic modeling, and climate change assessment. Evaluating the accuracy of remotely sensed snow-cover products is important but difficult, largely because point-scale surface observations are spatially sparse and generally nonrepresentative of the remote sensor footprint.
In this study, two remotely sensed snow-cover products [the Interactive Multisensor Snow and Ice Mapping System (IMS) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Climate Modeling Grid (CMG), v.3] are evaluated against ground observations from the Cooperative Observing Network and SNOTEL on a daily basis over the continental United States for calendar year 2000. Ground observations are treated as points in space and time; no physical modeling or statistical interpolation is applied. Hypothesis tests based on discrete and continuous distributions are developed to assess agreement between ground observations and the remotely sensed snow-cover products at 0.25° resolution. (The MODIS CMG product was degraded from 0.05° for this study, thus its potential is not fully evaluated.)
As overall snow extent increases in the course of the season, both MODIS and IMS improve in identifying snow-covered areas (fewer errors of omission), but deteriorate in identifying snow-free areas (more errors of commission). The detection of scattered areas of snow is generally better during ablation than during accumulation. Weaknesses of the statistical methods and assumptions are discussed.
This work will help to identify areas for improvement in snow-cover detection algorithms and provides a framework to assess the accuracy of remotely sensed snow cover used as model input and/or confirmation.
Comparing Aircraft-Based Remotely Sensed Energy Balance Fluxes with Eddy Covariance Tower Data Using Heat Flux Source Area Functions
Authors: Chávez JoséL. , Neale Christopher M. U. , Hipps Lawrence E. , Prueger John H. , Kustas William P. 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
In an effort to better evaluate distributed airborne remotely sensed sensible and latent heat flux estimates, two heat flux source area (footprint) models were applied to the imagery, and their pixel weighting/integrating functionality was investigated through statistical analysis. Soil heat flux and sensible heat flux models were calibrated. The latent heat flux was determined as a residual from the energy balance equation. The resulting raster images were integrated using the 2D footprints and were compared to eddy covariance energy balance flux measurements. The results show latent heat flux estimates (adjusted for closure) with errors of (mean ± std dev) −9.2 ± 39.4 W m−2, sensible heat flux estimate errors of 9.4 ± 28.3 W m−2, net radiation error of −4.8 ± 20.7 W m−2, and soil heat flux error of −0.5 ± 24.5 W m−2. This good agreement with measured values indicates that the adopted methodology for estimating the energy balance components, using high-resolution airborne multispectral imagery, is appropriate for modeling latent heat fluxes. The method worked well for the unstable atmospheric conditions of the study. The footprint weighting/integration models tested indicate that they perform better than simple pixel averages upwind from the flux stations. In particular the flux source area model (footprint) seemed to better integrate the resulting heat flux image pixels. It is suggested that future studies test the methodology for heterogeneous surfaces under stable atmospheric conditions.
Ocean Data Assimilation and Initialization Procedure for the Coupled GFDL/URI Hurricane Prediction System
Authors: Falkovich Aleksandr , Ginis Isaac , Lord Stephen 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
A new ocean data assimilation and initialization procedure is presented. It was developed to obtain more realistic initial ocean conditions, including the position and structure of the Gulf Stream (GS) and Loop Current (LC), in the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory/University of Rhode Island (GFDL/URI) coupled hurricane prediction system used operationally at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. This procedure is based on a feature-modeling approach that allows a realistic simulation of the cross-frontal temperature, salinity, and velocity of oceanic fronts. While previous feature models used analytical formulas to represent frontal structures, the new procedure uses the innovative method of cross-frontal “sharpening” of the background temperature and salinity fields. The sharpening is guided by observed cross sections obtained in specialized field experiments in the GS. The ocean currents are spun up by integrating the ocean model for 2 days, which was sufficient for the velocity fields to adjust to the strong gradients of temperature and salinity in the main thermocline in the GS and LC. A new feature-modeling approach was also developed for the initialization of a multicurrent system in the Caribbean Sea, which provides the LC source. The initialization procedure is demonstrated for coupled model forecasts of Hurricane Isidore (2002).
The Impact of Altimeter Sampling Patterns on Estimates of Background Errors in a Global Wave Model
Authors: Greenslade Diana J. M. , Young Ian R. 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
One of the main limitations to current wave data assimilation systems is the lack of an accurate representation of the structure of the background errors. One method that may be used to determine background errors is the observational method of Hollingsworth and Lönnberg. The observational method considers correlations of the differences between observations and the background. For the case of significant wave height (SWH), potential observations come from satellite altimeters. In this work, the effect of the irregular sampling pattern of the satellite on estimates of background errors is examined. This is achieved by using anomalies from a 3-month mean as a proxy for model errors. A set of anomaly correlations is constructed from modeled wave fields. The isotropic length scales of the anomaly correlations are found to vary considerably over the globe. In addition, the anomaly correlations are found to be significantly anisotropic. The modeled wave fields are then sampled at simulated altimeter observation locations, and the anomaly correlations are recalculated from the simulated altimeter data. The results are compared to the original anomaly correlations. It is found that, in general, the simulated altimeter data can capture most of the geographic and seasonal variability in the isotropic anomaly correlation length scale. The best estimates of the isotropic length scales come from a method in which correlations are calculated between pairs of observations from prior and subsequent ground tracks, in addition to along-track pairs of observations. This method was found to underestimate the isotropic anomaly correlation length scale by approximately 10%. The simulated altimeter data were not so successful in producing realistic anisotropic correlation functions. This is because of the lack of information in the zonal direction in the simulated altimeter data. However, examination of correlations along ascending and descending ground tracks separately can provide some indication of the areas on the globe for which the anomaly correlations are more anisotropic than others.
Performance Evaluation of Honeywell Silicon Piezoresistive Pressure Transducers for Oceanographic and Limnological Measurements*
Authors: Kumar Vijay , Joseph Antony , Prabhudesai R. G. , Prabhudesai S. , Nagvekar Surekha , Damodaran Vimala 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
Simultaneous calibrations of three temperature-compensated piezoresistive ruggedized precision “absolute” pressure transducers (Honeywell model PPTR0040AP5VB-BD), which have been designed specially for long-term coastal oceanographic and limnological measurements, have been carried out at four differing temperatures (10°, 20°, 30°, and 40°C) to evaluate their suitability for such applications. The full-scale pressure range of these shallow water absolute pressure sensors is ≈ 2800 hPa (equivalent to water depth of ≈ 18 m). Measurement results have been used to examine the transducers’ performance indicators, such as zero-point offset, accuracy, linearity, hysteresis, temperature sensitivity, and slope. Differing piezoresistive ruggedized precision absolute pressure transducers (PPTRs) exhibited differing zero-point offset values, ranging from 2 to −79 hPa. Temperature sensitivity of zero-point offset was ≈0.3 hPa over the temperature range 10°–40°C. The mean hysteresis over the full-scale absolute pressure range (≈2800 hPa) varied from approximately 2 to 8 hPa over the temperature range 10°–40°C. The slope of the least squares–fitted linear graph (taking the mean of ascending and descending pressures) was close to the ideal value of unity (deviation from 1 over the temperature range 10°–40°C was in the range of −0.001 to +0.005). Linearity was excellent, its mean over the entire pressure range being between ≈ −0.006% and 0.008% of full-scale (FS) over the above temperature range. The worst performance was exhibited at input pressures below ≈1500 hPa. Zero-point offset has played a significant role in deteriorating the accuracy of the PPTR, the mean accuracy (within ≈0.1% and −5%) having been exhibited by those transducers having offsets of 2 and −79 hPa, respectively. The mean accuracy exhibited temperature sensitivity of ≈1% in the range 10°–20°C and negligible sensitivity beyond 20°C. Use of a calibration equation significantly improved the mean static accuracy obtainable from the PPTR, to between −0.04% and 0.01% of FS. Evaluation results have indicated that a suitably calibrated temperature-compensated Honeywell PPTR provides an alternate cost-effective means for pressure measurements for coastal oceanographic and limnological studies.
An Estimate of the Vertical Ozone Profile Discrepancy between the Australian Brewer–Mast and Electrochemical Concentration Cell Ozonesondes
Authors: Lehmann Paul 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
An analysis is described that provides an additive correction for referencing the vertical ozone profiles of the Australian Brewer–Mast (BM; October 1984–December 1990) ozonesonde to those of the electrochemical concentration cell (ECC; January 1991–December 1999) using approximately coincident Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II satellite ozone profile data. Because Australian BM ozonesondes may have been prepared differently from BM ozonesondes elsewhere, other results of intercomparisons between the two different ozonesonde types cannot be used. However, the present results are consistent with previously reported intercomparison studies between these two ozonesonde types, where the lowest altitude tropospheric ozone levels measured by the BM ozonesonde were approximately 25% lower than the values measured by the ECC ozonesonde. The magnitudes of the BM corrections were found to be generally less than about 0.5 mPa in partial pressure up to an altitude of approximately 28 km. Without direct intercomparison measurements, the corrections given here provide the only means of removing the discontinuity in the Melbourne ozonesonde dataset that occurred when ECC ozonesondes replaced the BM ozonesondes in 1991.
Detection of the MJO Signal from QuikSCAT
Authors: Arguez Anthony , Bourassa Mark A. , O’Brien James J. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractWind data from the SeaWinds instrument on NASA’s Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) satellite are investigated to ascertain how well the surface manifestation of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) can be resolved. The MJO signal is detected in nonfiltered gridded data using extended EOF analysis of the zonal wind field, overshadowed by annual, semiannual, and monsoon-related modes. After bandpass filtering with Lanczos weights, MJO signals are clearly detected in several kinematic quantities, including the zonal wind speed, the zonal pseudostress, and the velocity potential. Extraction of the MJO using QuikSCAT winds compares favorably with extraction using NCEP Reanalysis 2, except that the QuikSCAT signal appears to be more robust.In addition, an alternative bandpass-filtering technique using variable filter weights near time series endpoints is presented. The method uses least squares minimization to match newly created frequency response functions in edge zones as closely as possible to the predetermined frequency response function of interior points. This method stands in contrast to the common practice of simply discarding those endpoints where a convolution cannot be computed.
Estimation of Ultraviolet-A Irradiance from Measurements of 368-nm Spectral Irradiance
Authors: Grant R. H. , Slusser J. R. 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
The estimation of ultraviolet-A (UV-A) radiation across the earth’s surface is needed to model plant productivity and future impacts of ultraviolet-B radiation on plant productivity. We have developed two models to estimate the UV-A irradiance from measurements of the diffuse and global spectral irradiance at 368 nm. The models were developed from 30-min-interval measurements made throughout 2000 at three locations across the United States and evaluated from 30-min measurements made throughout 2000 at three additional locations and throughout 2001 and 2002 at seven locations. UV-A irradiance was best estimated from measured global 368-nm irradiance and empirical functions defining the UV-A and 368-nm irradiance values estimated from a theoretical pseudospherical two-stream discrete-ordinates radiative transfer model. The radiative transfer model provided baseline irradiance relationships between UV-A irradiance and 368-nm spectral irradiance. The semiempirical model estimated the UV-A irradiance at seven locations across the United States with a mean bias error of 0.5 W m−2 and a root-mean-square error of 2 W m−2, corresponding to approximately ±4% of a clear-sky irradiance of 50 W m−2 for a solar zenith angle of 30°. This model error was comparable to the combined effect of previously estimated UV-A and 368-nm irradiance measurement errors.
Sensitivity of the Sandblasting Flux Calculations to the Soil Size Distribution Accuracy
Authors: Menut Laurent , Schmechtig Catherine , Marticorena Béatrice 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
Atmospheric dust concentrations are very sensitive to the dust surface emissions that are mainly controlled by saltation and sandblasting processes. Thus, a correct modeling of concentrations directly depends on mass flux parameterization accuracy. In 2001, Alfaro and Gomes proposed a whole set of parameterizations linking the dust flux to surface wind speed and soil characteristics. Their formulation is based on the integration of elementary fluxes, discretized along a soil size distribution. But, because the sandblasting is a threshold process, this discretization must be as fine as possible when the threshold acts. And because this threshold depends on dynamic parameters, it is necessary to always integrate fluxes with a high resolution. This leads to large numerical simulations. In this paper it is shown that it is possible to estimate fluxes with a good accuracy by adding equations that are dedicated to better describing the sensitive parts of the emission scheme.