bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glutathione-Related Systems and Modulation of Extracellular Signal–Regulated Kinases Are Involved in the Resistance of AGS Adenocarcinoma Gastric Cells to Diallyl Disulfide–Induced Apoptosis
Authors: Filomeni Giuseppe , Aquilano Katia , Rotilio Giuseppe , Ciriolo Maria R. 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
We have previously characterized the cytotoxic action of diallyl disulfide (DADS) on neuroblastoma cells, and we have shown the crucial role of an early and massive reactive oxygen species production in the induction of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase–mediated apoptotic pathway. In the present work, we report that DADS is ineffective in inducing apoptosis in a human adenocarcinoma gastric cell line (AGS). In particular, we show that AGS cells are able to recover from the p53/p21-mediated cell cycle arrest in the G2-M phase upon DADS treatment without committing cells to death. This event is most likely due to a peculiar surviving pathway of these cells involving: (a) the formation of mixed disulfides between reduced glutathione (GSH) and protein thiols, (b) a higher and inducible glutathione peroxidase activity, and/or (c) an efficient modulation of the phospho-active levels of the extracellular signal–regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK 1/2). Moreover, by increasing glutathione peroxidase expression or GSH concentrations, cell cycle arrest is fully abolished; the apoptotic death is induced by either decreasing the availability of intracellular GSH or inhibiting the reactivation of ERK 1/2. Altogether, our data show that ERK 1/2 participates in the active proliferation of AGS cells and that an efficient reactive oxygen species buffering system makes these cells resistant to DADS-mediated detrimental effects. (Cancer Res 2005; 65(24): 11735-42)
Akt Phosphorylates and Regulates Pdcd4 Tumor Suppressor Protein
Authors: Palamarchuk Alexey , Efanov Alexey , Maximov Vadim , Aqeilan Rami I. , Croce Carlo M. , Pekarsky Yuri 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
Programmed cell death 4 (Pdcd4) is a tumor suppressor protein that interacts with eukaryotic initiation factor 4A and inhibits protein synthesis. Pdcd4 also suppresses the transactivation of activator protein-1 (AP-1)–responsive promoters by c-Jun. The Akt (protein kinase B) serine/threonine kinase is a key mediator of phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, survival, and growth. Because Pdcd4 has two putative Akt phosphorylation sites at Ser67 and Ser457, we investigated whether Akt phosphorylates and regulates Pdcd4. Our results show that Akt specifically phosphorylates Ser67 and Ser457 residues of Pdcd4 in vitro and in vivo. We further show that phosphorylation of Pdcd4 by Akt causes nuclear translocation of Pdcd4. Using luciferase assay, we show that phosphorylation of Pdcd4 by Akt also causes a significant decrease of the ability of Pdcd4 to interfere with the transactivation of AP-1–responsive promoter by c-Jun. (Cancer Res 2005; 65(24): 11282-6)
Twenty-Four-Hour Observations of the Marine Boundary Layer Using Shipborne NOAA High-Resolution Doppler Lidar
Authors: Wulfmeyer Volker , Janjić Tijana 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
Shipborne observations obtained with the NOAA high-resolution Doppler lidar (HRDL) during the 1999 Nauru (Nauru99) campaign were used to study the structure of the marine boundary layer (MBL) in the tropical Pacific Ocean. During a day with weak mesoscale activity, diurnal variability of the height of the convective MBL was observed using HRDL backscatter data. The observed diurnal variation in the MBL height had an amplitude of about 250 m. Relations between the MBL height and in situ measurements of sea surface temperature as well as latent and sensible heat fluxes were examined. Good correlation was found with the sea surface temperature. The correlation with the latent heat flux was lower, and practically no correlation between the MBL height and the sensible heat and buoyancy fluxes could be detected. Horizontal wind profiles were measured using a velocity–azimuth display scan of HRDL velocity data. Strong wind shear at the top of the MBL was observed in most cases. Comparison of these results with GPS radiosonde data shows discrepancies in the wind intensity and direction, which may be due to different observation times and locations as well as due to multipath effects at the ship’s platform. Vertical wind profiles corrected for ship’s motion were used to derive vertical velocity variance and skewness profiles. Motion compensation had a significant effect on their shape. Normalized by the convective velocity scale and by the top of the mixed layer zi, the variance varied between 0.45 and 0.65 at 0.4z/zi and decreased to 0.2 at 1.0z/zi. The skewness ranged between 0.3 and 0.8 in the MBL and showed in almost all cases a maximum between 1.0z/zi and 1.1z/zi. These profiles revealed the existence of another turbulent layer above the MBL, which was probably driven by wind shear and cloud condensation processes.
Use of Real-Time Multisensor Data to Assess the Relationship of Normalized Corn Yield with Monthly Rainfall and Heat Stress across the Central United States
Authors: Westcott Nancy E. , Hollinger Steven E. , Kunkel Kenneth E. 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
This study evaluated the suitability of rain estimates based on the National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) network to estimate yield response to rainfall on a county scale and to provide real-time information related to crop stress resulting from deficient or excessive precipitation throughout the summer. The relationship between normalized corn yield and rainfall was examined for nine states in the central United States for 1997–99 and 2001–02. Monthly rainfall estimates were computed employing multisensor precipitation estimate (MPE) data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction and quality-controlled (QC_Coop) and real-time (RT_Coop) NWS cooperative gauge data. In-season MPE rain estimates were found to be of comparable quality to the postseason QC_Coop estimates for predicting county corn yields. Both MPE and QC_Coop estimates were better related to corn yield than were RT_Coop estimates, presumably because of the lower density of RT_Coop gauges. Large corn yields typically resulted when May rain was less than 125 mm and July rain was greater than 50 mm. Low yields often occurred when July rainfall was less than 100 mm. For moderate July rains (50–100 mm), positive and negative normalized yields resulted. Parameterization of heat stress (number of July days &gt; 32.2°C) improved the correlation between rainfall and normalized corn yield, particularly for years with the poorest yield-vs-rain relationship (1998 and 1999). For the combined analysis years, the multiple regression correlation coefficient was 0.56, incorporating May and July rainfall and July heat stress and explaining 31% of the variance of normalized corn yield. Results show that MPE rainfall estimates provide timely yield projections within the growing season.
Effects of Cloud Microphysics on Tropical Atmospheric Hydrologic Processes and Intraseasonal Variability
Authors: Lau K. M. , Wu H. T. , Sud Y. C. , Walker G. K. 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
The sensitivity of tropical atmospheric hydrologic processes to cloud microphysics is investigated using the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) general circulation model (GCM). Results show that a faster autoconversion rate leads to (a) enhanced deep convection in the climatological convective zones anchored to tropical land regions; (b) more warm rain, but less cloud over oceanic regions; and (c) an increased convective-to-stratiform rain ratio over the entire Tropics. Fewer clouds enhance longwave cooling and reduce shortwave heating in the upper troposphere, while more warm rain produces more condensation heating in the lower troposphere. This vertical differential heating destabilizes the tropical atmosphere, producing a positive feedback resulting in more rain and an enhanced atmospheric water cycle over the Tropics. The feedback is maintained via secondary circulations between convective tower and anvil regions (cold rain), and adjacent middle-to-low cloud (warm rain) regions. The lower cell is capped by horizontal divergence and maximum cloud detrainment near the freezing–melting (0°C) level, with rising motion (relative to the vertical mean) in the warm rain region connected to sinking motion in the cold rain region. The upper cell is found above the 0°C level, with induced subsidence in the warm rain and dry regions, coupled to forced ascent in the deep convection region.
It is that warm rain plays an important role in regulating the time scales of convective cycles, and in altering the tropical large-scale circulation through radiative–dynamic interactions. Reduced cloud–radiation feedback due to a faster autoconversion rate results in intermittent but more energetic eastward propagating Madden–Julian oscillations (MJOs). Conversely, a slower autoconversion rate, with increased cloud radiation produces MJOs with more realistic westward-propagating transients embedded in eastward-propagating supercloud clusters. The implications of the present results on climate change and water cycle dynamics research are discussed.
Recent Stratospheric Climate Trends as Evidenced in Radiosonde Data: Global Structure and Tropospheric Linkages
Authors: Thompson David W. J. , Solomon Susan 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
The global structure of recent stratospheric climate trends is examined in radiosonde data. In contrast to conclusions published in previous assessments of stratospheric temperature trends, it is demonstrated that in the annual mean the tropical stratosphere has cooled substantially over the past few decades. The cooling of the tropical stratosphere is apparent in both nighttime and adjusted radiosonde data, and seems to be robust to changes in radiosonde instrumentation. The meridional structure of the annual-mean stratospheric trends is not consistent with our current understanding of radiative transfer and constituent trends but is consistent with increased upwelling in the tropical stratosphere.
The annual-mean cooling of the tropical stratosphere is juxtaposed against seasonally varying trends in the extratropical stratosphere dominated by the well-known springtime cooling at polar latitudes. The polar stratospheric trends are accompanied by similarly signed trends at tropospheric levels in the Southern Hemisphere but not in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Thinning of Arctic Sea Ice, 1988–2003: Have We Passed a Tipping Point?
Authors: Lindsay R. W. , Zhang J. 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
Recent observations of summer Arctic sea ice over the satellite era show that record or near-record lows for the ice extent occurred in the years 2002–05. To determine the physical processes contributing to these changes in the Arctic pack ice, model results from a regional coupled ice–ocean model have been analyzed. Since 1988 the thickness of the simulated basinwide ice thinned by 1.31 m or 43%. The thinning is greatest along the coast in the sector from the Chukchi Sea to the Beaufort Sea to Greenland.
It is hypothesized that the thinning since 1988 is due to preconditioning, a trigger, and positive feedbacks: 1) the fall, winter, and spring air temperatures over the Arctic Ocean have gradually increased over the last 50 yr, leading to reduced thickness of first-year ice at the start of summer; 2) a temporary shift, starting in 1989, of two principal climate indexes (the Arctic Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation) caused a flushing of some of the older, thicker ice out of the basin and an increase in the summer open water extent; and 3) the increasing amounts of summer open water allow for increasing absorption of solar radiation, which melts the ice, warms the water, and promotes creation of thinner first-year ice, ice that often entirely melts by the end of the subsequent summer.
Internal thermodynamic changes related to the positive ice–albedo feedback, not external forcing, dominate the thinning processes over the last 16 yr. This feedback continues to drive the thinning after the climate indexes return to near-normal conditions in the late 1990s. The late 1980s and early 1990s could be considered a tipping point during which the ice–ocean system began to enter a new era of thinning ice and increasing summer open water because of positive feedbacks. It remains to be seen if this era will persist or if a sustained cooling period can reverse the processes.
Estimating the Vertical Structure of Intense Mediterranean Precipitation Using Two X-Band Weather Radar Systems
Authors: Berne A. , Delrieu G. , Andrieu H. 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
The present study aims at a preliminary approach of multiradar compositing applied to the estimation of the vertical structure of precipitation—an important issue for radar rainfall measurement and prediction. During the HYDROMET Integrated Radar Experiment (HIRE’98), the vertical profile of reflectivity was measured, on the one hand, with an X-band vertically pointing radar system, and, on the other hand, with an X-band RHI scanning protocol radar. The analysis of the raw data highlights the effects of calibration and attenuation problems affecting the measurements of both radar systems. Once the two radar systems have been intercalibrated, various attenuation correction techniques are applied. The comparison of raw, intercalibrated, and corrected radar measurements for the two radar systems stresses the importance of calibration and attenuation correction. The applied corrections improve the consistency of the vertical profile of reflectivity that is measured by the two radar systems. However, a significant uncertainty remains when strong radar signal attenuations occur.
The Concept of a Microwave Radar with an Asymmetric Knifelike Beam for the Remote Sensing of Ocean Waves
Authors: Karaev V. Yu , Kanevsky M. B. , Balandina G. N. , Challenor P. , Gommenginger C. , Srokosz M. 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
The features of near-nadir probing of the ocean surface from a satellite are investigated, and a new configuration of a microwave radar for the surface slopes measurement is proposed. Numerical modeling is used to examine the feasibility of a spaceborne implementation, to devise a measuring technique, and to develop a data processing algorithm.
It is shown that the radar with a knifelike beam (1° × 25°–30°) can be used to measure the variance of surface wave slopes. Using range selection and a new processing procedure to synthesize data, it is possible to achieve the spatial resolution required to study wave processes on the ocean surface from satellites. A new approach to wind speed retrieval at and near nadir is also discussed.
Quality Control of Pre-1948 Cooperative Observer Network Data
Authors: Kunkel Kenneth E. , Easterling David R. , Hubbard Kenneth , Redmond Kelly , Andsager Karen , Kruk Michael C. , Spinar Michael L. 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
A recent comprehensive effort to digitize U.S. daily temperature and precipitation data observed prior to 1948 has resulted in a major enhancement in the computer database of the records of the National Weather Service’s cooperative observer network. Previous digitization efforts had been selective, concentrating on state or regional areas. Special quality control procedures were applied to these data to enhance their value for climatological analysis. The procedures involved a two-step process. In the first step, each individual temperature and precipitation data value was evaluated against a set of objective screening criteria to flag outliers. These criteria included extreme limits and spatial comparisons with nearby stations. The following data were automatically flagged: 1) all precipitation values exceeding 254 mm (10 in.) and 2) all temperature values whose anomaly from the monthly mean for that station exceeded five standard deviations. Additional values were flagged based on differences with nearby stations; in this case, metrics were used to rank outliers so that the limited resources were concentrated on those values most likely to be invalid. In the second step, each outlier was manually assessed by climatologists and assigned one of the four following flags: valid, plausible, questionable, or invalid. In excess of 22 400 values were manually assessed, of which about 48% were judged to be invalid. Although additional manual assessment of outliers might further improve the quality of the database, the procedures applied in this study appear to have been successful in identifying the most flagrant errors.
Vertical Distribution of the Mirror Image Returns Observed by TRMM PR and Estimated for a 35-GHz Radar
Authors: Li Ji , Nakamura Kenji 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
The vertical distribution of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar (PR)-observed precipitation reflectivity and their mirror image (MI) reflectivity are outlined in this paper. The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility and the limitation of the MI method, which can be used to estimate rain attenuation. Because the MI returns are attenuated much more greatly than the direct image returns, and also because the MI return is affected by the surface reflection and surface scattering, the MI returns are much smaller and more complex than the direct image (DI) returns. However, because the MI returns might be contaminated by the surface or contributed by bistatic scattering near the surface, there are many strong mirror returns between the surface and below surface at 1 km. The ratio of detectable MI return pixels to detected DI return pixels depends on rain rate, target height, and storm height. In addition, differences also exist between the convective and stratiform rain. The reason for this might be because the difference of the surface cross section and the difference of the storm height between the two types of rainfall. Furthermore, the direct and the mirror returns for a 35-GHz radar are also estimated. The virtue of the MI method of the Ka-band radar may reside in expanding the dynamic range of the MI method from 4–30 to 0.6–30 mm h−1.
Lack of α4 integrin expression in stem cells restricts competitive function and self-renewal activity
Authors: Priestley Gregory V. , Scott Linda M. , Ulyanova Tatiana , Papayannopoulou Thalia 
Published: December 2005

AbstractAlpha4 integrin or VLA4 (CD49d/CD29) is a multitask molecule with wide expression within and outside the hematopoietic system. Because targeted ablation of α4 integrin leads to embryonic lethality, to study its effects on adult hematopoiesis, we used animals with conditional excision of α4 integrin (α4Δ/Δ) in hematopoietic cells. In such animals, we previously documented weakened bone marrow retention of progenitor cells during homeostasis and impaired homing and short-term engraftment after transplantation. In the present study we show that long-term repopulating cells lacking α4 integrins display a competitive disadvantage in hematopoietic reconstitution compared to normal competitors. Although initial dominance of α4+ competitors is due to their better homing and proliferative expansion early after transplantation, a progressive decline in contribution of α4Δ/Δ hematopoiesis is compatible with neither normal homing nor normal function of α4Δ/Δ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in post-homing hematopoiesis. In the absence of α4+ competitor cells, α4Δ/Δ HSCs can establish long-term hematopoiesis in primary recipients, however, some resurgence of host hematopoiesis is evident, and it becomes dominant in secondary transplants, so that no survivors with exclusively α4Δ/Δ cells are seen in tertiary transplants. Collectively, our data provide compelling evidence that under regenerative stress α4 integrin assumes a greater importance than for maintenance of steady-state hematopoiesis.
T-bet concomitantly controls migration, survival, and effector functions during the development of Vα14i NKT cells
Authors: Matsuda Jennifer L. , Zhang Qianjun , Ndonye Rachel , Richardson Stewart K. , Howell Amy R. , Gapin Laurent 
Published: December 2005

AbstractVα14i natural killer T (NKT)–cell function has been implicated in a number of disease conditions. The molecular events that drive Vα14i NKT-cell development remain elusive. We recently showed that T-bet is required for the terminal maturation of these cells. Here we identify some of the genetic targets of T-bet during Vα14i NKT-cell lineage development. Microarray gene-expression analyses on developing Vα14i NKT cells were performed and provide a molecular framework to study these maturation events. In vitro ectopic expression of T-bet in immature Vα14i NKT cells, which do not yet express T-bet, was sufficient to promote Vα14i NKT-cell maturation, driving the expression of multiple genes, including those that participate in migration, survival, and effector functions. By regulating the expression of T-helper 1 (Th1)–associated cytokines, chemokines, chemokine receptors, and molecules involved in cytolysis, T-bet defines the unique lineage attributes of mature Vα14i NKT cells and acts to link these attributes to a developmental process.
Ectodermally derived steel/stem cell factor functions non–cell autonomously during primitive erythropoiesis in Xenopus
Authors: Goldman Devorah C. , Berg Linnea K. , Heinrich Michael C. , Christian Jan L. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractSignals derived from nonhematopoietic tissues are essential for normal primitive erythropoiesis in vertebrates, but little is known about the nature of these signals. In Xenopus, unidentified factors secreted by ectodermal cells during gastrulation are required to enable the underlying ventral mesoderm to form blood. Steel is expressed in the ectoderm of early Xenopus embryos and is known to regulate definitive erythroid progenitor survival and differentiation in other organisms, making it an excellent candidate regulator of primitive erythropoiesis. In this study, we tested whether steel signaling is required for primitive red blood cell differentiation in mice and frogs. We show that Xsl is expressed in the ectoderm in Xenopus gastrulae and that c-kit homologs are expressed in the underlying mesoderm at the same stages of development. We present loss of function data in whole Xenopus embryos and explants that demonstrate a requirement for ectodermally derived steel to signal through c-kit in the mesoderm to support early steps in the differentiation of primitive erythroid but not myeloid cells. Finally, we show that primitive erythropoiesis is not disrupted in mouse embryos that lack c-kit function. Our data suggest a previously unrecognized and unique function of steel/c-kit during primitive erythropoiesis in Xenopus.