bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Coastal Boundaries and Small Hills on the Precipitation Distribution across Southern Connecticut and Long Island, New York
Authors: Colle Brian A. , Yuter Sandra E. 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
The modification of precipitation by the coastal land areas of Long Island (LI), New York, and southern Connecticut (CT) is examined for an extratropical cyclone over the northeast United States on 1 December 2004, which produced strong southerly flow (15–30 m s−1) below 900 mb and heavy precipitation over LI. The differential surface roughness at the coast and the hills of LI (30–80 m) and southern CT (100–250 m) enhanced the surface precipitation by 30%–50% over these regions compared with the nearby water region of LI Sound. The three-dimensional precipitation structures are shown using composite Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler radar data interpolated to a Cartesian grid, which is compared with a 4-km simulation using the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5). As the low-level stratification and flow increased at low levels, the MM5 produced a terrain-forced gravity wave over LI and CT upward through 6 km MSL. Precipitation enhancement (2–3 dBZ) occurred from the surface upward to around the freezing level (3 km MSL) across central LI and southern CT, while there was a localized precipitation minimum over LI Sound. A factor separation on a few sensitivity MM5 runs was performed to isolate the impact of small hills and differential friction across the LI coastline. Both the hills and frictional effects have similar contributions to the total precipitation enhancement and the vertical circulations below 3 km. The hills of LI enhanced the gravity wave circulations slightly more than the differential friction above 3 km, while there was little flow and precipitation interaction between the hills and differential friction. A sensitivity simulation without an ice/snow cloud above 3 km MSL revealed that the seeder-feeder process enhanced surface precipitation by about a factor of 4.
A Phase-Plot Method for Diagnosing Vorticity Concentration Mechanisms in Mesoscale Convective Vortices
Authors: Kirk James R. 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
Mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) analysis results show that these vortices form by way of different evolutionary paths. Rewriting the traditional form of the relative vertical vorticity equation in terms of momentum advection curl produces an alternative form of the equation containing two terms. When the terms are normalized and plotted on orthogonal axes, a phase-plot path depicting MCV evolutionary growth is created. Thermodynamics is included in the phase plot by correlating the path to the heating characteristics of the troposphere. The application of the phase-plot scheme to several cases shows that for MCV formation events, there are two interconnected regions that combine to produce the vortex. The upper-middle- and upper-troposphere vorticity growth is governed primarily by vertical motion, with heating driving the vorticity growth in the upper-middle region. The lower-middle and lower-troposphere vorticity growth is governed primarily by horizontal motion, with the vertical heating gradient driving the vorticity growth in the lower-middle region. Which regime leads the vorticity growth is found to be case dependent. In the middle troposphere, evolutionary paths are governed by the relative strengths of heating and heating gradient. Additional phase-plot and mesoscale analyses clarify the characteristics of two MCV formation modes. In some cases, heating drives the complete formation of the MCV, whereas in cases with lesser heating, tipping is vital to the MCV formation process. In total, these results help synthesize many of the various discoveries regarding the origin and formation of the MCV.
Ground-Based Velocity Track Display (GBVTD) Analysis of W-Band Doppler Radar Data in a Tornado near Stockton, Kansas, on 15 May 1999
Authors: Tanamachi Robin L. , Bluestein Howard B. , Lee Wen-Chau , Bell Michael , Pazmany Andrew 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
On 15 May 1999, a storm intercept team from the University of Oklahoma collected high-resolution, W-band Doppler radar data in a tornado near Stockton, Kansas. Thirty-five sector scans were obtained over a period of approximately 10 min, capturing the tornado life cycle from just after tornadogenesis to the decay stage. A low-reflectivity “eye”—whose diameter fluctuated during the period of observation—was present in the reflectivity scans. A ground-based velocity track display (GBVTD) analysis of the W-band Doppler radar data of the Stockton tornado was conducted; results and interpretations are presented and discussed. It was found from the analysis that the axisymmetric component of the azimuthal wind profile of the tornado was suggestive of a Burgers–Rott vortex during the most intense phase of the life cycle of the tornado. The temporal evolution of the axisymmetric components of azimuthal and radial wind, as well as the wavenumber-1, -2, and -3 angular harmonics of the azimuthal wind, are also presented. A quasi-stationary wavenumber-2 feature of the azimuthal wind was analyzed from 25 of the 35 scans. It is shown, via simulated radar data collection in an idealized Burgers–Rott vortex, that this wavenumber-2 feature may be caused by the translational distortion of the vortex during the radar scans. From the GBVTD analysis, it can be seen that the maximum azimuthally averaged azimuthal wind speed increased while the radius of maximum wind (RMW) decreased slightly during the intensification phase of the Stockton tornado. In addition, the maximum azimuthally averaged azimuthal wind speed, the RMW, and the circulation about the vortex center all decreased simultaneously as the tornado decayed.
Nocturnal Meso-Beta Basin and Katabatic Flows on a Midlatitude Island
Authors: Cuxart J. , Jiménez M. A. , Martínez D. 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
A mesoscale simulation for the island of Majorca, Spain, in the western Mediterranean Sea is used to study the nocturnal system of winds under weak synoptic pressure gradients. A very high vertical resolution is used in the first 500 m above ground level to characterize with large detail the thin circulations close to ground, namely, basin and katabatic flows. It is found that the island, the basin, and the slope scales interact strongly, especially when a quasi-steady state is reached in the second part of the night. A high mountain range creates a high pressure area upwind where local winds can develop. Katabatic flows converge to the valleys where they interact with a cold pool, which is advected slowly to sea by the land–sea night-breeze effect combined with a topographic forcing. The katabatic flows experience small entrainment at the top and have well-defined characteristics. The results are partially confirmed by the observations and some satellite images.
A Nonlinear Statistical Model of Turbulent Air–Sea Fluxes
Authors: Bourras Denis , Reverdin Gilles , Caniaux Guy , Belamari Sophie 
Published: March 2007

AbstractMost of the bulk algorithms used to calculate turbulent air–sea fluxes of momentum and heat are iterative algorithms whose convergence is slow and not always achieved. To avoid these drawbacks that are critical when large datasets must be processed, a statistical model of bulk air–sea fluxes based on artificial neural networks was developed. It was found that classical bulk algorithms were slower than the statistical model, by a factor of 1.75–7 depending on the bulk algorithm selected for the comparison. A set of 12 global analyses of an operational meteorological model as well as in situ data corresponding to equatorial and midlatitude conditions were used to assess the accuracy of the proposed model. The wind stress, latent, and sensible heat fluxes calculated with neural networks have acceptable biases with respect to bulk fluxes, between 0.4% and 1% depending on the flux magnitudes. Moreover, the rms deviation between bulk fluxes and neural network flux estimates is only 0.003 N m−2 for the momentum flux, 0.5 W m−2 for the sensible heat flux, and 1.8 W m−2 for the latent heat flux, at global scale, which is small compared with the natural variability of these quantities or the expected error.
Impact of psychiatric disorders on health-related quality of life: general population survey
Authors: Saarni Samuli I. , Suvisaari Jaana , Sintonen Harri , Pirkola Sami , Koskinen Seppo , Aromaa Arpo , Lönnqvist Jouko 
Published: March 2007

BackgroundMeasurement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with generic preference-based instruments enables comparisons of severity across different conditions and treatments. This is necessary for rational public health policy.AimsTo measure HRQoL decrement and loss of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) associated with pure and comorbid forms of depressive and anxiety disorders and alcohol dependence.MethodA general population survey was conducted of Finns aged 30 years and over. Psychiatric disorders were diagnose with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and HRQoL was measured with the 15D and EQ–5D questionnaires.ResultsDysthymia, generalised anxiety disorder and social phobia were associated with the largest loss of HRQoL on the individual level before and after adjusting for somatic and psychiatric comorbidity. On the population level, depressive disorders accounted for 55%, anxiety disorders 30%, and alcohol dependence for 15% of QALY loss identified in this study.ConclusionsChronic anxiety disorders and dysthymia are associated with poorer HRQoL than previously thought.
Extraosseous Localized Ewing Tumors: Improved Outcome With Anthracyclines—The French Society of Pediatric Oncology and International Society of Pediatric Oncology
Authors: Castex Marie-Pierre , Rubie Hervé , Stevens Michael C.G. , Escribano Carlota Calvo , de Gauzy Jérôme Sales , Gomez-Brouchet Anne , Rey Annie , Delattre Olivier , Oberlin Odile 
Published: March 2007

Purpose To evaluate the outcome of children with an extraosseous Ewing tumor (EOE) according to treatment. Patients and Methods Children with EOE were treated either with the strategy used for malignant mesenchymal tumors (MMTs) by the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) or with the French Society of Pediatric Oncology (SFOP) regimen used for osseous Ewing tumors (OET). The MMT strategy included vincristine/actinomycin for small and resected tumors or ifosfamide/vincristine/actinomycin for unfavorable sites or unresectable tumors. Surgical excision was to be attempted after four courses, followed by local irradiation in case of residue. Osseous Ewing (OE) protocol included three courses of cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin followed either by two similar courses in case of good response or two courses of ifosfamide/etoposide in case of no response. After resection of the primary, treatment included conventional chemotherapy in case of good histologic response and high-dose chemotherapy and radiotherapy for poor response. All diagnosis specimens were reviewed by the panel. Results Between 1989 and 1999, 63 patients were registered. Characteristics of patients treated by both protocols were similar. Five-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) of those treated with the OE protocol are 83% and 75%, respectively, which is significantly better than the OS and EFS of those treated with the MMT strategy (59% and 44%, respectively; P = .04 and .008, respectively). The size of the primary and the type of protocol influenced patients’ EFS. In multivariate analysis, only the regimen had an impact on OS and EFS. Conclusion Our study shows that patients with EOE should be treated with OE regimens, probably because of the use of anthracyclines.
Direct-to-Consumer Advertising in Oncology: A Content Analysis of Print Media
Authors: Abel Gregory A. , Lee Stephanie J. , Weeks Jane C. 
Published: March 2007

Purpose Content analysis of cancer-related direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA), with a focus on how benefit and risk/adverse effect information is presented, is essential to understanding its potential impact on oncology outcomes. Methods We reviewed all oncology DTCA appearing in three patient-focused cancer magazines and a sample of selected popular magazines from January 2003 to June 2006. We determined the Flesch reading ease score (FRES) for the text in each advertisement (a score ≥ 65 is readable for the average person). We also assessed the proportion, type size, and placement of benefits and risks/adverse effects, as well as the nature and content of advertising appeals. Results Of 284 advertisements identified, 49 were unique. Oncology-related DTCA was rare in the popular magazines, and appeared mostly in those aimed at female readership. About equal amounts of text were devoted to benefits and risks/adverse effects, and all text was difficult to read. The mean FRES for benefit text was 39.71; for risk/adverse effect text, it was 38.22, a difference of 1.49 (95% CI, −4.02 to 7.00). The largest font size for benefits was 4.60 mm on average; for risks/adverse effects, it was 2.38 mm, a difference of 2.22 mm (95% CI, 1.35 to 3.09). Appeals to medication effectiveness were frequent (95%) and often made with clinical trial data (61%). Conclusion Oncology print DTCA is prevalent in cancer-related, patient-directed magazines, and infrequent in the popular press. The information presented is considerably difficult to read, raising important questions about the appropriateness of direct-to-consumer marketing for oncologic medications.
Association Between Passive Smoking and Infection WithMycobacterium tuberculosisin Children
Authors: den Boon Saskia , Verver Suzanne , Marais Ben J. , Enarson Donald A. , Lombard Carl J. , Bateman Eric D. , Irusen Elvis , Jithoo Anamika , Gie Robert P. , Borgdorff Martien W. , Beyers Nulda 
Published: April 2007

OBJECTIVE. Tuberculosis and smoking are both significant public health problems. The association between passive smoking and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is not well documented. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of passive smoking on M tuberculosis infection in children.METHODS. A community survey was conducted in 15% of addresses in 2 adjacent low-income suburbs in Cape Town, South Africa. All children (&lt;15 years of age) and their adult household members residing at these addresses were included in the study. Children underwent tuberculin skin testing. An induration of ≥10 mm was considered to define M tuberculosis infection. Passive smoking was defined as living in the household with at least 1 adult who smoked for at least 1 year. Random-effects logistic regression analysis was performed, and odds ratios were adjusted for age, presence of a patient with tuberculosis in the household, average household income, and clustering at the household level.RESULTS. Of 1344 children, 432 (32%) had a positive tuberculin skin test. Passive smoking was significantly associated with M tuberculosis infection in the unadjusted analyses but not in the adjusted analyses. In the 172 households with a patient with tuberculosis, passive smoking was significantly associated with a positive tuberculin skin test (but not in the 492 households without a patient with tuberculosis.CONCLUSIONS. Passive smoking is associated with M tuberculosis infection in children living in a household with a patient with tuberculosis. More studies are needed to confirm this observation, but the possible association is a cause of great concern, considering the high prevalence of smoking and tuberculosis in most developing countries.
Impact of the State Children's Health Insurance Program on Adolescents in New York
Authors: Klein Jonathan D. , Shone Laura P. , Szilagyi Peter G. , Bajorska Alina , Wilson Karen , Dick Andrew W. 
Published: April 2007

OBJECTIVES. Adolescents face financial and nonfinancial barriers to health care. Little is known about the impact of health insurance on health care for adolescents. We assessed the impact of New York's State Children's Health Insurance Program on access, use, and quality of care for adolescents.METHODS. Adolescents and their parents from a stratified random sample of new enrollees in New York's State Children's Health Insurance Program were interviewed by telephone shortly after enrollment (baseline, n = 1118 adolescents and their parents) and 1 year later (follow-up, n = 970). Outcome measures included access (having a usual source of care and reported unmet health needs), use (preventive care and other types of visits), and quality (satisfaction with care, receipt of confidential care and preventive counseling). Outcomes were assessed at baseline (year before the State Children's Health Insurance Program) versus follow-up (year during the State Children's Health Insurance Program).RESULTS. The proportion of adolescents who reported having a usual source of care increased during State Children's Health Insurance Program compared with before (69.9% to 87.1%). The proportion with any unmet health care need (54.3% to 42.1%) or with unmet need for preventive care (53.8% to 40.6%) decreased, with elimination of racial disparities that existed before the State Children's Health Insurance Program. After enrollment in the State Children's Health Insurance Program, more adolescents reported having had a preventive care visit (65.9% to 74.2%); emergency department use did not change. No differences in satisfaction were noted, although significant increases were noted in both parent- and adolescent-reported rates of having received confidential care and preventive counseling.CONCLUSIONS. Adolescents who enrolled in New York's State Children's Health Insurance Program experienced improved access, use, and quality of care. These findings suggest that the provision of health insurance can help to improve health care for adolescents.
Reduction of Frequent Otitis Media and Pressure-Equalizing Tube Insertions in Children After Introduction of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
Authors: Poehling Katherine A. , Szilagyi Peter G. , Grijalva Carlos G. , Martin Stacey W. , LaFleur Bonnie , Mitchel Ed , Barth Richard D. , Nuorti J. Pekka , Griffin Marie R. 
Published: April 2007

OBJECTIVE. Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important cause of otitis media in children. In this study we estimated the effect of routine childhood immunization with heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on frequent otitis media (3 episodes in 6 months or 4 episodes in 1 year) and pressure-equalizing tube insertions.
PATIENTS AND METHODS. The study population included all children who were enrolled at birth in TennCare or selected upstate New York commercial insurance plans as of July 1998 and continuously followed until 5 years old, loss of health plan enrollment, study outcome, or end of the study. We compared the risk of developing frequent otitis media or having pressure-equalizing tube insertion for 4 birth cohorts (1998–1999, 1999–2000, 2000–2001, and 2001–2002) by using Cox regression analysis. We used data from the National Immunization Survey to estimate the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine uptake for children in these 4 birth cohorts in Tennessee and New York.
RESULTS. The proportion of children in Tennessee and New York who received at least 3 doses of heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine by 2 years of age increased from ≤1% for the 1998–1999 birth cohort to ∼75% for the 2000–2001 birth cohort. By age 2 years, 29% of Tennessee and New York children born in 2000–2001 had developed frequent otitis media, and 6% of each of these birth cohorts had pressure-equalizing tubes inserted. Comparing the 2000–2001 birth cohort to the 1998–1999 birth cohort, frequent otitis media declined by 17% and 28%, and pressure-equalizing tube insertions declined by 16% and 23% for Tennessee and New York children, respectively. For the 2000–2001 to the 2001–2002 birth cohort, frequent otitis media and pressure-equalizing tubes remained stable in New York but increased in Tennessee.
CONCLUSIONS. After heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction, children were less likely to develop frequent otitis media or have pressure-equalizing tube insertions.
Improving Informed Consent: Suggestions From Parents of Children With Leukemia
Authors: Eder Michelle L. , Yamokoski Amy D. , Wittmann Peter W. , Kodish Eric D. 
Published: April 2007

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to report suggestions for improving the informed consent process from the perspective of parents of children with leukemia.METHODS. Recommendations for improving informed consent were elicited from 140 parents of children who had been offered participation in a randomized clinical trial for the treatment of their acute leukemia. Four different methods and data collection time points were used with this group of parents, including open-ended, in-person interviews within 72 hours after the informed consent conference; follow-up telephone interviews 6 months after diagnosis; focus groups during year 3 of the project; and a parent advisory group on informed consent meeting in year 4.RESULTS. The most frequently cited suggestions for improving informed consent during the interviews and focus groups related to giving parents more time to make their decision, the amount and type of information provided, organization of the consent conference, communication style, and providing additional materials. During the parent advisory group on informed consent meeting, parents developed specific guidelines for organization of the information that is presented during the consent process that include 7 major components: timing, sequence, checklist, checking for understanding, anticipatory guidance, segue into randomized clinical trial discussion with historical perspective, and choice.CONCLUSIONS. Through the incorporation of parental perspectives that provide an authentic stakeholder voice, our research represents a true partnership approach to improving the consent process. Parents provided practical advice for improving informed consent that can be applied to most adult and pediatric patient populations.
Results of Random Drug Testing in an Adolescent Substance Abuse Program
Authors: Levy Sharon , Sherritt Lon , Vaughan Brigid L. , Germak Matthew , Knight John R. 
Published: April 2007

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to estimate from a random urine drug-testing program for adolescents the proportion of drug tests that are susceptible to interpretation errors.
METHODS. This was a secondary analysis of a clinical database and chart review from an adolescent outpatient substance abuse program at a large children's hospital. We analyzed from 110 adolescent patients (13–21 years of age) all 710 urine drug test results that were collected between December 2002 and July 2005 and 85 original laboratory reports for tests that were collected between December 2002 and May 2006 and were confirmed positive for opioids. We calculated the percentage of tests that were too dilute to interpret (potential false-negatives) and the percentage of confirmed positive tests for oxycodone that did not result in a positive initial screen (potential false-negatives). We also reviewed clinical information to determine whether confirmed positive tests resulted from legitimate use of prescription or over-the-counter medication (potential false-positives).
RESULTS. Of 710 drug tests, 40 negative tests were too dilute to interpret properly, and 45 of 217 positive tests resulted from prescription medication use for a total of 85 tests that were susceptible to error. Of the 85 confirmatory laboratory reports reviewed, 43 were positive for oxycodone, but only 16 of these had produced a positive opiate screen.
CONCLUSIONS. Unless proper procedures are used in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting laboratory testing for drugs, there is a substantial risk for error.