bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Numerical Simulation of Heavy Precipitation in Northern Baja California and Southern California
Authors: Cerezo-Mota Ruth , Cavazos Tereza , Farfán Luis M. 
Published: March 2006

Abstract
The fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5) was used to simulate the heavy-precipitation events of 6–21 January 1993 during a moderate El Niño that produced severe flooding, landslides, and the loss of many lives near the border of California and Baja California, Mexico. The mean synoptic-scale condition consisted of a strong upper-level subtropical westerly jet over the U.S.–Mexico western border and the passage of three surface fronts, along with intense low-level advection of tropical moisture and convective activity over the region. The MM5 reproduced the mean observed circulation patterns of the study period but with less intensity. During the first extreme event on 6 January, the model sounding profile in San Diego, California, was more unstable and saturated than observed, the horizontal winds were weaker in the lower troposphere, and the simulated precipitation was slightly underestimated. The model precipitation was verified with hourly and daily precipitation records in California and Baja California, respectively, and regional errors were obtained for the 16-day period. The simulation showed an improvement when the resolution increased from 90 to 30 km, but there was not a significant improvement from 30 to 10 km; however, extreme rainfall events (&gt;10 mm day−1) were better resolved by the 10-km grid, possibly due to the finer-scale topography.
Daily Precipitation over Southern Africa: A New Resource for Climate Studies
Authors: Layberry R. , Kniveton D. R. , Todd M. C. , Kidd C. , Bellerby T. J. 
Published: March 2006

Abstract
This paper describes a new high-resolution multiplatform multisensor satellite rainfall product for southern Africa covering the period 1993–2002. The microwave infrared rainfall algorithm (MIRA) employed to generate the rainfall estimates combines high spatial and temporal resolution Meteosat infrared data with infrequent Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) overpasses. A transfer function relating Meteosat thermal infrared cloud brightness temperatures to SSM/I rainfall estimates is derived using collocated data from the two instruments and then applied to the full coverage of the Meteosat data. An extensive continental-scale validation against synoptic station data of both the daily MIRA precipitation product and a normalized geostationary IR-only Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) precipitation index (GPI) demonstrates a consistent advantage using the former over the latter for rain delineation. Potential uses for the resulting high-resolution daily rainfall dataset are discussed.
Neural Error Regression Diagnosis (NERD): A Tool for Model Bias Identification and Prognostic Data Assimilation
Authors: Abramowitz Gab , Gupta Hoshin , Pitman Andy , Wang Yingping , Leuning Ray , Cleugh Helen , Hsu Kuo-lin 
Published: March 2006

Abstract
Data assimilation in the field of predictive land surface modeling is generally limited to using observational data to estimate optimal model states or restrict model parameter ranges. To date, very little work has attempted to systematically define and quantify error resulting from a model's inherent inability to simulate the natural system. This paper introduces a data assimilation technique that moves toward this goal by accounting for those deficiencies in the model itself that lead to systematic errors in model output. This is done using a supervised artificial neural network to “learn” and simulate systematic trends in the model output error. These simulations in turn are used to correct the model's output each time step. The technique is applied in two case studies, using fluxes of latent heat flux at one site and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of carbon dioxide at another. Root-mean-square error (rmse) in latent heat flux per time step was reduced from 27.5 to 18.6 W m−2 (32%) and monthly from 9.91 to 3.08 W m−2 (68%). For NEE, rmse per time step was reduced from 3.71 to 2.70 μmol m−2 s−1 (27%) and annually from 2.24 to 0.11 μmol m−2 s−1 (95%). In both cases the correction provided significantly greater gains than single criteria parameter estimation on the same flux.
Seasonal Variations in Terrestrial Water Storage for Major Midlatitude River Basins
Authors: Hirschi Martin , Seneviratne Sonia I. , Schär Christoph 
Published: March 2006

Abstract
This paper presents a new diagnostic dataset of monthly variations in terrestrial water storage for 37 midlatitude river basins in Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. Terrestrial water storage is the sum of all forms of water storage on land surfaces, and its seasonal and interannual variations are in principle determined by soil moisture, groundwater, snow cover, and surface water. The dataset is derived with the combined atmospheric and terrestrial water-balance approach using conventional streamflow measurements and atmospheric moisture convergence data from the ECMWF 40-yr Re-Analysis (ERA-40). A recent study for the Mississippi River basin (Seneviratne et al. 2004) has demonstrated the validity of this diagnostic approach and found that it agreed well with in situ observations in Illinois. The present study extends this previous analysis to other regions of the midlatitudes.
A systematic analysis is presented of the slow drift that occurs with the water-balance approach. It is shown that the drift not only depends on the size of the catchment under consideration, but also on the geographical region and the underlying topography. The drift is in general not constant in time, but artificial inhomogeneities may result from changes in the global observing system used in the 44 yr of the reanalysis. To remove this time-dependent drift, a simple high-pass filter is applied. Validation of the results is conducted for several catchments with an appreciable coverage of in situ soil moisture and snow cover depth observations in the former Soviet Union, Mongolia, and China. Although the groundwater component is not accounted for in these observations, encouraging correlations are found between diagnostic and in situ estimates of terrestrial water storage, both for seasonal and interannual variations. Comparisons conducted against simulated ERA-40 terrestrial water storage variations suggest that the reanalysis substantially underestimates the amplitude of the seasonal cycle.
The basin-scale water-balance (BSWB) dataset is available for download over the Internet. It constitutes a useful tool for the validation of climate models, large-scale land surface data assimilation systems, and indirect observations of terrestrial water storage variations.
Evaluation of RadVil, a Radar-Based Very Short-Term Rainfall Forecasting Model
Authors: Boudevillain Brice , Andrieu Hervé , Chaumerliac Nadine 
Published: March 2006

Abstract
A very short-term rainfall forecast model is tested on actual radar data. This model, called RadVil, takes advantages of voluminal radar data through vertically integrated liquid (VIL) water content measurements. The model is tested on a dataset collected during the intensive observation period of the Mesoscale Alpine Program (MAP). Five rain events have been studied during this experiment. The results confirm the interest of VIL for quantitative precipitation forecasting at very short lead time. The evaluation is carried out in qualitative and quantitative ways according to Nash and correlation criteria on forecasting times ranging from 10 to 90 min and spatial scales from 4 to 169 km2. It attempts to be consistent with the hydrological requirements concerning the rainfall forecasting, for instance, by taking account of the relation between the catchments' size, their response time, and the required forecasting time. Several versions of RadVil corresponding to several VIL measurement strategies have been tested. Improvements offered by RadVil depend on meteorological situations. They are related to the spatial and temporal evolution of the VIL field structure and the validity of the models assumptions. Finally, a relationship between the temporal structure of VIL fields and forecast quality is established.
The Use of an Automated Nowcasting System to Forecast Flash Floods in an Urban Watershed
Authors: Sharif Hatim O. , Yates David , Roberts Rita , Mueller Cynthia 
Published: March 2006

Abstract
Flash flooding represents a significant hazard to human safety and a threat to property. Simulation and prediction of floods in complex urban settings requires high-resolution precipitation estimates and distributed hydrologic modeling. The need for reliable flash flood forecasting has increased in recent years, especially in urban communities, because of the high costs associated with flood occurrences. Several storm nowcast systems use radar to provide quantitative precipitation forecasts that can potentially afford great benefits to flood warning and short-term forecasting in urban settings. In this paper, the potential benefits of high-resolution weather radar data, physically based distributed hydrologic modeling, and quantitative precipitation nowcasting for urban hydrology and flash flood prediction were demonstrated by forcing a physically based distributed hydrologic model with precipitation forecasts made by a convective storm nowcast system to predict flash floods in a small, highly urbanized catchment in Denver, Colorado. Two rainfall events on 5 and 8 July 2001 in the Harvard Gulch watershed are presented that correspond to times during which the storm nowcast system was operated. Results clearly indicate that high-resolution radar-rainfall estimates and advanced nowcasting can potentially lead to improvements in flood warning and forecasting in urban watersheds, even for short-lived events on small catchments. At lead times of 70 min before the occurrence of peak discharge, forecast accuracies of approximately 17% in peak discharge and 10 min in peak timing were achieved for a 10 km2 highly urbanized catchment.
Estimating the Long-Term Hydrological Budget over Heterogeneous Surfaces
Authors: Song J. , Wesely M. L. , Holdridge D. J. , Cook D. R. , Klazura J. 
Published: March 2006

Abstract
Estimates of the hydrological budget in the Walnut River Watershed (WRW; ∼5000 km2) of southern Kansas were made with a parameterized subgrid-scale surface (PASS) model for the period 1996–2002. With its subgrid-scale distribution scheme, the PASS model couples surface meteorological observations with satellite remote sensing data to update root-zone available moisture and to simulate surface evapotranspiration rates at high resolution over extended areas. The PASS model is observationally driven, making use of extensive parameterizations of surface properties and processes. Heterogeneities in surface conditions are spatially resolved to an extent determined primarily by the satellite data pixel size. The purpose of modeling the spatial and interannual variability of water budget components at the regional scale is to evaluate the PASS model's ability to bridge a large grid cell of a climate model with its subgrid-scale variation. Modeled results indicate that annual total evapotranspiration at the WRW is about 66%–88% of annual precipitation—reasonable values for southeastern Kansas—and that it varies spatially and temporally. Seasonal distribution of precipitation plays an important role in evapotranspiration estimates. Comparison of modeled runoff with stream gauge measurements demonstrated close agreement and verified the accuracy of modeled evapotranspiration at the regional scale. In situ measurements of energy fluxes compare favorably with the modeled values for corresponding grid cells, and measured surface soil moisture corresponds with modeled root-zone available moisture in terms of temporal variability despite very heterogeneous surface conditions. With its ability to couple remote sensing data with surface meteorology data and its computational efficiency, PASS is easily used for modeling surface hydrological components over an extended region and in real time. Thus, it can fill a gap in evaluations of climate model output using limited field observations.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Navigation
Authors: Plaweski Stephan , Cazal Julian , Rosell Philip , Merloz Philippe 
Published: March 2006

Background Poor outcome in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is often related to tunnel position. Hypothesis Improving accuracy of the tunnel position will lead to improved outcome. Study Design Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods Sixty patients were randomized to either standard instrumentation or computer-assisted guides to position the tibial and femoral tunnels. The results were evaluated on clinical outcome based on International Knee Documentation Committee form (laxity) and radiologic assessment: radiologic Lachman (Telos at 150 and 200 N) and analysis of the tunnel positions. Results International Knee Documentation Committee laxity was level A in 22 knees in the conventional group (mean, 1.5 mm at 200 N) compared with 26 navigated knees (mean laxity, 1.3 mm; P= .49). Laxity was less than 2 mm in 96.7% of the navigated group and 83% of the conventional group (P= .292). The variability of laxity in the navigated group was significantly less than in the conventional group, with the standard deviation of the navigated group being smaller than that in the conventional group (P= .0003 at 150 N and .0005 at 200 N Telos). A significant difference (P= .03) was found between the groups in the ATB value (distance between the projection of the Blumensaat line on the tibial plateau and the anterior edge of the tibial tunnel), characterizing the sagittal position of the tibial tunnel (negative ATB values imply graft impingement in extension). In the conventional group, mean ATB was –0.2 (–5 to + 4), whereas it was 0.4 (0 to 3) in the navigated patients. There were no negative ATB values in the navigated group. Conclusion This study confirms that the accuracy and consistency of tibial tunnel position can be improved by the use of computer-assisted navigation and that the clinical result in terms of laxity is more reliable.
Cancer Symptom Assessment Instruments: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kirkova Jordanka , Davis Mellar P. , Walsh Declan , Tiernan Eoin , O'Leary Norma , LeGrand Susan B. , Lagman Ruth L. , Russell K. Mitchell 
Published: March 2006

PurposeA variety of assessment instruments have been created to identify cancer symptoms. We reviewed systematically cancer symptom assessment instruments published in English.MethodsA systematic search of the MEDLINE database, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and EMBASE was performed. Non–peer-reviewed articles were identified through BIOSIS. Articles were accessed through the related article links in PubMed and references were searched by hand. Studies were included if the instrument had symptom assessment as the primary outcome. Quality-of-life instruments were excluded.ResultsWe identified 21 instruments; some had undergone modification or validation. An additional 28 studies examined symptom prevalence and interrelations; many involved symptom checklists. Studies varied in design, patient characteristics, symptoms, and outcome. Meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity in design, study outcomes, and validation. Seventy-six articles and two conference abstracts (derived from MEDLINE, Cochrane, CINAHL, EMBASE, BIOSIS, related articles link in PubMed, and search by hand) met inclusion/exclusion criteria. The electronic search (without related links) yielded only 26% of those articles and conference abstracts that met inclusion criteria. Searches by hand of related articles identified 59% of studies.ConclusionTwenty-one instruments were identified as appropriate for clinical use. The instruments vary in symptom content and extent of psychometric validation. Both comprehensive and shorter instruments have been developed, and some instruments are intended for specific symptom assessment or symptoms related to treatment. There is no ideal instrument, and the wide variety of instruments reflects the different settings for symptom assessment. Additional research is necessary.
Antibiotic Treatment Is Not Effective in Patients Infected With Helicobacter pylori Suffering From Extragastric MALT Lymphoma
Authors: Grünberger Birgit , Wöhrer Stefan , Streubel Berthold , Formanek Michael , Petkov Ventzislav , Puespoek Andreas , Haefner Michael , Hejna Michael , Jaeger Ulrich , Chott Andreas , Raderer Markus 
Published: March 2006

Purpose Apart from anecdotal reports implicating Helicobacter pylori (HP) in the development of extragastric mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, no large scale prospective studies have been performed on this topic. Patients and Methods A total of 77 patients with extragastric MALT lymphoma were prospectively studied. The presence or absence of HP was tested by histology, urease breath test, and serology. Patients were also tested for hepatitis A, B, and C and autoimmune conditions along with assessment of MALT lymphoma-specific genetic changes. Results Evidence for infection with HP was present in 35 of 77 patients (45%), and three of 75 patients tested (4%) were positive for hepatitis C and one for hepatitis B. All patients with HP-infection underwent eradication, 16 before initiation of further therapy. Apart from one patient with lymphoma involving parotid and colon, who achieved regression of the colonic lesions, none of these 16 patients showed regression of the lymphoma after a median follow-up of 14 months (range, 8 to 48+ months) before initiation of definitive treatment. No correlation between HP-status, localization, stage, autoimmune diseases, and genetic findings was seen. Conclusion In our series, HP-eradication was ineffective for treatment of extragastric MALT lymphomas. This finding, along with an infection rate of 45%—as could also be expected in the general Austrian population—suggests that HP does not play a role in the development of these lymphomas. Antibiotic treatment targeting HP should, therefore, be discouraged in patients with extragastric MALT lymphomas.
Phase II Study of Donepezil in Irradiated Brain Tumor Patients: Effect on Cognitive Function, Mood, and Quality of Life
Authors: Shaw Edward G. , Rosdhal Robin , D'Agostino Ralph B. , Lovato James , Naughton Michelle J. , Robbins Michael E. , Rapp Stephen R. 
Published: March 2006

Purpose A prospective, open-label phase II study was conducted to determine whether donepezil, a US Food and Drug Administration–approved reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s type dementia, improved cognitive functioning, mood, and quality of life (QOL) in irradiated brain tumor patients. Patients and Methods Thirty-four patients received donepezil 5 mg/d for 6 weeks, then 10 mg/d for 18 weeks, followed by a washout period of 6 weeks off drug. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 12, 24 (end of treatment), and 30 weeks (end of wash-out). All tests were administered by a trained research nurse. Results Of 35 patients who initiated the study, 24 patients (mean age, 45 years) remained on study for 24 weeks and completed all outcome assessments. All 24 patients had a primary brain tumor, mostly low-grade glioma. Scores significantly improved between baseline (pretreatment) and week 24 on measures of attention/concentration, verbal memory, and figural memory and a trend for verbal fluency (all P < .05). Confused mood also improved from baseline to 24 weeks (P = .004), with a trend for fatigue and anger (all P < .05). Health-related QOL improved significantly from baseline to 24 weeks, particularly, for brain specific concerns with a trend for improvement in emotional and social functioning (all P < .05). Conclusion Cognitive functioning, mood, and health-related QOL were significantly improved following a 24-week course of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil. Toxicities were minimal. We are planning a double blinded, placebo-controlled, phase III trial of donepezil to confirm these favorable results.
Meta-Analysis of Survival in African American and White American Patients With Breast Cancer: Ethnicity Compared With Socioeconomic Status
Authors: Newman Lisa A. , Griffith Kent A. , Jatoi Ismail , Simon Michael S. , Crowe Joseph P. , Colditz Graham A. 
Published: March 2006

Purpose The extent to which socioeconomic disadvantages and inadequate health care access account for the disproportionately elevated mortality hazard observed in African American compared with white American patients with breast cancer is poorly defined. Methods We identified 20 studies reported between January 1980 and June 2005 that provided survival analyses in patients with breast cancer after adjusting for ethnicity and some measurement of socioeconomic status. These studies also adjusted for age and stage of disease at time of diagnosis. Results The pooled outcome data yielded estimates for the mortality hazard in 14,013 African American and 76,111 white American patients with breast cancer. Studies varied in their methods for assigning socioeconomic status, with most relying on area-wide measures such as census tract and census block data. The combined analysis (adjusted for age, stage, and socioeconomic status) revealed that African American ethnicity was associated with a statistically significant excess mortality risk in overall survival (mortality hazard, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.38) and in breast cancer-specific survival (mortality hazard, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.29). Conclusion Our pooled analysis demonstrated that African American ethnicity is a significant and independent predictor of poor outcome from breast cancer, even after accounting for socioeconomic status by conventional measures. These findings support the need for further investigation of the biologic, genetic, and sociocultural factors that may influence survival in African American patients with breast cancer.
Elevated Incidence of Lung Cancer Among HIV-Infected Individuals
Authors: Engels Eric A. , Brock Malcolm V. , Chen Jinbo , Hooker Craig M. , Gillison Maura , Moore Richard D. 
Published: March 2006

Purpose People with HIV infection in the United States frequently smoke tobacco. We sought to characterize lung cancer incidence among HIV-infected individuals, examine whether cancer risk was related to HIV-induced immunosuppression, and assess whether the high prevalence of smoking explained elevated risk. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study at an HIV specialty clinic in Baltimore, MD (1989-2003). Incident lung cancers were identified using hospital records. We used negative binomial regression to compare incidence across subgroups defined by demographics, use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and HIV markers. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) compared incidence with an urban reference population (Detroit, MI). We adjusted SIRs for the effect of smoking, using smoking prevalences estimated from part of the cohort and the general population. 95% CIs and P values were two sided. Results Thirty-three lung cancers were observed among 5,238 HIV-infected patients (incidence: 170 per 100,000 person-years). Incidence increased with age (P < .0001), but did not differ by sex, race, or CD4 count. Incidence tended to increase with calendar year (P = .09) and HAART use (P = .10), and was inversely related to HIV viral load (P = .03), but these associations were attenuated with age adjustment. The SIR was 4.7 (95% CI, 3.2 to 6.5) versus the general population. Twenty-eight lung cancer patients (85%) and 69% of the cohort were smokers. After smoking adjustment, risk remained elevated (SIR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.6 to 3.5). Conclusion Lung cancer risk was substantially elevated in HIV-infected individuals. Incidence was unrelated to HIV-induced immunosuppression. Notably, incidence remained high after adjustment for smoking, suggesting the involvement of additional factors.