bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Annual Cycle of Southeast Asia—Maritime Continent Rainfall and the Asymmetric Monsoon Transition
Authors: Chang C-P. , Wang Zhuo , McBride John , Liu Ching-Hwang 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
In general, the Bay of Bengal, Indochina Peninsula, and Philippines are in the Asian summer monsoon regime while the Maritime Continent experiences a wet monsoon during boreal winter and a dry season during boreal summer. However, the complex distribution of land, sea, and terrain results in significant local variations of the annual cycle. This work uses historical station rainfall data to classify the annual cycles of rainfall over land areas, the TRMM rainfall measurements to identify the monsoon regimes of the four seasons in all of Southeast Asia, and the QuikSCAT winds to study the causes of the variations.
The annual cycle is dominated largely by interactions between the complex terrain and a simple annual reversal of the surface monsoonal winds throughout all monsoon regions from the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea and the equatorial western Pacific. The semiannual cycle is comparable in magnitude to the annual cycle over parts of the equatorial landmasses, but only a very small region reflects the twice-yearly crossing of the sun. Most of the semiannual cycle appears to be due to the influence of both the summer and the winter monsoon in the western part of the Maritime Continent where the annual cycle maximum occurs in fall. Analysis of the TRMM data reveals a structure whereby the boreal summer and winter monsoon rainfall regimes intertwine across the equator and both are strongly affected by the wind–terrain interaction. In particular, the boreal winter regime extends far northward along the eastern flanks of the major island groups and landmasses.
A hypothesis is presented to explain the asymmetric seasonal march in which the maximum convection follows a gradual southeastward progression path from the Asian summer monsoon to the Asian winter monsoon but experiences a sudden transition in the reverse. The hypothesis is based on the redistribution of mass between land and ocean areas during spring and fall that results from different land–ocean thermal memories. This mass redistribution between the two transition seasons produces sea level patterns leading to asymmetric wind–terrain interactions throughout the region, and a low-level divergence asymmetry in the region that promotes the southward march of maximum convection during boreal fall but opposes the northward march during boreal spring.
North Atlantic Decadal Variability: Air–Sea Coupling, Oceanic Memory, and Potential Northern Hemisphere Resonance*
Authors: Wu Lixin , Liu Zhengyu 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
In this paper, the causes and mechanisms of North Atlantic decadal variability are explored in a series of coupled ocean–atmosphere simulations. The model captures the major features of the observed North Atlantic decadal variability. The North Atlantic SST anomalies in the model control simulation exhibit a prominent decadal cycle of 12–16 yr, and a coherent propagation from the western subtropical Atlantic to the subpolar region. A series of additional modeling experiments are conducted in which the air–sea coupling is systematically modified in order to evaluate the importance of air–sea coupling for the North Atlantic decadal variability being studied. This shall be referred to as “modeling surgery.” The results suggest the critical role of ocean–atmosphere coupling in sustaining the North Atlantic decadal oscillation at selected time scales. The coupling in the North Atlantic is characterized by a robust North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)-like atmospheric response to the SST tripole anomaly, which tends to intensify the SST anomaly and, meanwhile, also provide a delayed negative feedback. This delayed negative feedback is predominantly associated with the adjustment of the subtropical gyre in response to the anomalous wind stress curl in the subtropical Atlantic. Atmospheric stochastic forcing can drive SST patterns similar to those in the fully coupled ocean–atmosphere system, but fails to generate any preferred decadal time scales. The simulated North Atlantic decadal variability, therefore, can be viewed as a coupled ocean–atmosphere mode under the influence of stochastic forcing.
This modeling study also suggests some potential resonance between the Pacific and the North Atlantic decadal fluctuations mediated by the atmosphere. The modeling surgery indicates that the Pacific climate, although not a necessary precondition, can impact the North Atlantic climate variability substantially.
Impact of Indian Ocean Sea Surface Temperature on Developing El Niño*
Authors: Annamalai H. , Xie S. P. , McCreary J. P. , Murtugudde R. 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Prior to the 1976–77 climate shift (1950–76), sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the tropical Indian Ocean consisted of a basinwide warming during boreal fall of the developing phase of most El Niños, whereas after the shift (1977–99) they had an east–west asymmetry—a consequence of El Niño being associated with the Indian Ocean Dipole/Zonal mode. In this study, the possible impact of these contrasting SST patterns on the ongoing El Niño is investigated, using atmospheric reanalysis products and solutions to both an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) and a simple atmospheric model (LBM), with the latter used to identify basic processes. Specifically, analyses of reanalysis products during the El Niño onset indicate that after the climate shift a low-level anticyclone over the South China Sea was shifted into the Bay of Bengal and that equatorial westerly anomalies in the Pacific Ocean were considerably stronger. The present study focuses on determining influence of Indian Ocean SST on these changes.
A suite of AGCM experiments, each consisting of a 10-member ensemble, is carried out to assess the relative importance of remote (Pacific) versus local (Indian Ocean) SST anomalies in determining precipitation anomalies over the equatorial Indian Ocean. Solutions indicate that both local and remote SST anomalies are necessary for realistic simulations, with convection in the tropical west Pacific and the subsequent development of the South China Sea anticyclone being particularly sensitive to Indian Ocean SST anomalies. Prior to the climate shift, the basinwide Indian Ocean SST anomalies generate an atmospheric Kelvin wave associated with easterly flow over the equatorial west-central Pacific, thereby weakening the westerly anomalies associated with the developing El Niño. In contrast, after the shift, the east–west contrast in Indian Ocean SST anomalies does not generate a significant Kelvin wave response, and there is little effect on the El Niño–induced westerlies. The Linear Baroclinic Model (LBM) solutions confirm the AGCM’s results.
A Study of the Impact of Off-Equatorial Warm Pool SST Anomalies on ENSO Cycles
Authors: Solomon Amy , Jin Fei-Fei 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Concurrent with most large El Niño events, cold sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies are observed over the western Pacific warm pool region (WPWP). Observational evidence that SST anomalies that form in the off-equatorial western Pacific during El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycles are forced by subsurface ocean processes equatorward of 12°N and air–sea fluxes poleward of 12°N is presented. It is demonstrated that diurnal mixing in the ocean equatorward of 12°N plays a significant role in bringing subsurface temperature anomalies to the sea surface during an El Niño event.
The role of SST anomalies equatorward of 12°N in ENSO cycles is tested in the Zebiak–Cane coupled model, modified to allow for the impact of subsurface temperatures on SSTs. This coupled model successfully simulates cold SST anomalies in the off-equatorial northwestern Pacific that are observed to occur during the warm phase of ENSO and the atmospheric response to these anomalies, which is composed of both westerlies in the central Pacific and easterlies in the far western equatorial Pacific. It is found that there is little net change in the zonal mean wind stress at the equator, suggesting that the westerlies cancel the impact of the easterlies on the basin-scale tilt of the equatorial zonal mean thermocline depth. The anomalous westerly winds in the central equatorial Pacific are found to increase the amplitude of an El Niño event directly by increasing anomalous warm zonal advection and reducing upwelling. Moreover, the off-equatorial anticyclonic wind stress associated with the cold SST anomalies during the warm phase of ENSO tends to reduce the discharge of the equatorial heat content. Thus, the coupled processes over the western Pacific warm pool can serve as a positive feedback to amplify ENSO cycles.
Presence of factors that activate platelet aggregation in mitral stenotic patients' plasma
Authors: Tengiz Istemihan , Ercan Ertugrul , Sahin Fahri , Alioglu Emin , Duman Can , Saydam Guray , Buyukkececi Filiz 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Background
Although the association between mitral stenosis (MS) and increased coagulation activity is well recognized, it is unclear whether enhanced coagulation remains localized in the left atrium or whether this represents a systemic problem. To assess systemic coagulation parameters and changes in platelet aggregation, we measured fibrinogen levels and performed in vitro platelet function tests in plasma obtained from mitral stenotic patients' and from healthy control subjects' peripheral venous blood.

Methods
Sixteen newly diagnosed patients with rheumatic MS (Group P) and 16 healthy subjects (Group N) were enrolled in the study. Platelet-equalized plasma samples were evaluated to determine in vitro platelet function, using adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen and epinephrine in an automated aggregometer. In vitro platelet function tests in group N were performed twice, with and without plasma obtained from group P.

Results
There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to demographic variables. Peripheral venous fibrinogen levels in Group P were not significantly different from those in Group N. Adenosine diphosphate, epinephrine and collagen-induced platelet aggregation ratios were significantly higher in Group P than in Group N. When plasma obtained from Group P was added to Group N subjects' platelets, ADP and collagen-induced, but not epinephrine-induced, aggregation ratios were significantly increased compared to baseline levels in Group N.

Conclusion
Platelet aggregation is increased in patients with MS, while fibrinogen levels remain similar to controls. We conclude that mitral stenotic patients exhibit increased systemic coagulation activity and that plasma extracted from these patients may contain some transferable factors that activate platelet aggregation.
GC-compositional strand bias around transcription start sites in plants and fungi
Authors: Fujimori Shigeo , Washio Takanori , Tomita Masaru 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Background
A GC-compositional strand bias or GC-skew (=(C-G)/(C+G)), where C and G denote the numbers of cytosine and guanine residues, was recently reported near the transcription start sites (TSS) of Arabidopsis genes. However, it is unclear whether other eukaryotic species have equally prominent GC-skews, and the biological meaning of this trait remains unknown.

Results
Our study confirmed a significant GC-skew (C > G) in the TSS of Oryza sativa (rice) genes. The full-length cDNAs and genomic sequences from Arabidopsis and rice were compared using statistical analyses. Despite marked differences in the G+C content around the TSS in the two plants, the degrees of bias were almost identical. Although slight GC-skew peaks, including opposite skews (C < G), were detected around the TSS of genes in human and Drosophila, they were qualitatively and quantitatively different from those identified in plants. However, plant-like GC-skew in regions upstream of the translation initiation sites (TIS) in some fungi was identified following analyses of the expressed sequence tags and/or genomic sequences from other species. On the basis of our dataset, we estimated that >70 and 68% of Arabidopsis and rice genes, respectively, had a strong GC-skew (>0.33) in a 100-bp window (that is, the number of C residues was more than double the number of G residues in a +/-100-bp window around the TSS). The mean GC-skew value in the TSS of highly-expressed genes in Arabidopsis was significantly greater than that of genes with low expression levels. Many of the GC-skew peaks were preferentially located near the TSS, so we examined the potential value of GC-skew as an index for TSS identification. Our results confirm that the GC-skew can be used to assist the TSS prediction in plant genomes.

Conclusion
The GC-skew (C > G) around the TSS is strictly conserved between monocot and eudicot plants (ie. angiosperms in general), and a similar skew has been observed in some fungi. Highly-expressed Arabidopsis genes had overall a more marked GC-skew in the TSS compared to genes with low expression levels. We therefore propose that the GC-skew around the TSS in some plants and fungi is related to transcription. It might be caused by mutations during transcription initiation or the frequent use of transcription factor-biding sites having a strand preference. In addition, GC-skew is a good candidate index for TSS prediction in plant genomes, where there is a lack of correlation among CpG islands and genes.
Determinants of health insurance ownership among South African women
Authors: Kirigia Joses M , Sambo Luis G , Nganda Benjamin , Mwabu Germano M , Chatora Rufaro , Mwase Takondwa 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Background
Studies conducted in developed countries using economic models show that individual- and household- level variables are important determinants of health insurance ownership. There is however a dearth of such studies in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between health insurance ownership and the demographic, economic and educational characteristics of South African women.

Methods
The analysis was based on data from a cross-sectional national household sample derived from the South African Health Inequalities Survey (SANHIS). The study subjects consisted of 3,489 women, aged between 16 and 64 years. It was a non-interventional, qualitative response econometric study. The outcome measure was the probability of a respondent's ownership of a health insurance policy.

Results
The χ2 test for goodness of fit indicated satisfactory prediction of the estimated logit model. The coefficients of the covariates for area of residence, income, education, environment rating, age, smoking and marital status were positive, and all statistically significant at p ≤ 0.05. Women who had standard 10 education and above (secondary), high incomes and lived in affluent provinces and permanent accommodations, had a higher likelihood of being insured.

Conclusion
Poverty reduction programmes aimed at increasing women's incomes in poor provinces; improving living environment (e.g. potable water supplies, sanitation, electricity and housing) for women in urban informal settlements; enhancing women's access to education; reducing unemployment among women; and increasing effective coverage of family planning services, will empower South African women to reach a higher standard of living and in doing so increase their economic access to health insurance policies and the associated health services.
Food selection associated with sense of coherence in adults
Authors: Lindmark Ulrika , Stegmayr Birgitta , Nilsson Berit , Lindahl Bernt , Johansson Ingegerd 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Background
Favorable dietary habits promote health, whereas unfavorable habits link to various chronic diseases. An individual's "sense of coherence" (SOC) is reported to correlate with prevalence of some diseases to which dietary habits are linked. However, understanding what determines an individual's dietary preferences and how to change his/her behavior remains limited. The aim of the present study was to evaluate associations between dietary intake and SOC in adults.

Methods
Diet intake was recorded by an 84-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and SOC was measured by the 13-item Antonovsky questionnaire in 2,446 men and 2,545 women (25–74 years old) from the population based northern Sweden MONICA screening in 1999.

Results
Intakes of energy, total and saturated fat, ascorbic acid, sucrose, and servings of fruits, vegetables, cereals, and sweets correlated with SOC among women, whereas intakes of total and saturated fat, ascorbic acid, fiber, and alcohol, and servings of fruits, vegetables, bread, bread and cereals, fish, and potatoes correlated with SOC among men. With a few exceptions, intakes of these nutrients/foods were significantly explained by SOC quartile scores in linear GLM models. Both women and men classified into the highest SOC quartile had significantly higher age-BMI-education standardized mean intakes of vegetables than those in the lowest quartiles. Women in the highest SOC quartile also had higher intake of fruits but lower intakes of energy, total and saturated fat, sucrose, and sweets.
Projection to latent structures (PLS) multivariate modeling of intakes of the 84 food items and food aggregates simultaneously on SOC scores supported low SOC to coincide with a presumably less health promoting dietary preference, e.g. intake of pizza, soft drinks, candies, sausages for main course, hamburgers, mashed potato, chips and other snacks, potato salad, French fries, whereas men and women with high SOC scores were characterized by e.g. high intake of rye crisp whole meal bread, boiled potato, vegetables, berries, and fruits.

Conclusion
Both men and women in the highest, as compared with the lowest, SOC score quartile reported more "healthy" food choices. Dietary habits for individuals in the lowest SOC quartile therefore may render a higher risk for various endemic diseases.
L-histidine inhibits production of lysophosphatidic acid by the tumor-associated cytokine, autotaxin
Authors: Clair Timothy , Koh Eunjin , Ptaszynska Malgorzata , Bandle Russell W , Liotta Lance A , Schiffmann Elliott , Stracke Mary L 
Published: March 2005

AbstractBackgroundAutotaxin (ATX, NPP-2), originally purified as a potent tumor cell motility factor, is now known to be the long-sought plasma lysophospholipase D (LPLD). The integrity of the enzymatic active site, including three crucial histidine moieties, is required for motility stimulation, as well as LPLD and 5'nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) activities. Except for relatively non-specific chelation agents, there are no known inhibitors of the ATX LPLD activity.ResultsWe show that millimolar concentrations of L-histidine inhibit ATX-stimulated but not LPA-stimulated motility in two tumor cell lines, as well as inhibiting enzymatic activities. Inhibition is reversed by 20-fold lower concentrations of zinc salt. L-histidine has no significant effect on the Km of LPLD, but reduces the Vmax by greater than 50%, acting as a non-competitive inhibitor. Several histidine analogs also inhibit the LPLD activity of ATX; however, none has greater potency than L-histidine and all decrease cell viability or adhesion.ConclusionL-histidine inhibition of LPLD is not a simple stoichiometric chelation of metal ions but is more likely a complex interaction with a variety of moieties, including the metal cation, at or near the active site. The inhibitory effect of L-histidine requires all three major functional groups of histidine: the alpha amino group, the alpha carboxyl group, and the metal-binding imidazole side chain. Because of LPA's involvement in pathological processes, regulation of its formation by ATX may give insight into possible novel therapeutic approaches.
Preventing complicated transseptal puncture with intracardiac echocardiography: case report
Authors: Shalganov Tchavdar Nikolov , Paprika Dora , Borbás Sarolta , Temesvári András , Szili-Török Tamás 
Published: March 2005

Abstract

Background
Recently, intracardiac echocardiography emerged as a useful tool in the electrophysiology laboratories for guiding transseptal left heart catheterizations, for avoiding thromboembolic and mechanical complications and assessing the ablation lesions characteristics. Although the value of ICE is well known, it is not a universal tool for achieving uncomplicated access to the left atrium. We present a case in which ICE led to interruption of a transseptal procedure because several risk factors for mechanical complications were revealed.

Case presentation
A case of a patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, and distorted intracardiac anatomy is presented. Intracardiac echocardiography showed a small oval fossa abouting to an enlarged aorta anteriorly. A very small distance from the interatrial septum to the left atrial free wall was seen. The latter two conditions were predisposing to a complicated transseptal puncture. According to fluoroscopy the transseptal needle had a correct position, but the intracardiac echo image showed that it was actually pointing towards the aortic root and most importantly, that it was virtually impossible to stabilize it in the fossa itself. Based on intracardiac echo findings a decision was made to limit the procedure only to ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus and not to proceed further so as to avoid complications.

Conclusion
This case report illustrates the usefulness of the intracardiac echocardiography in preventing serious or even fatal complications in transseptal procedures when the cardiac anatomy is unusual or distorted. It also helps to understand the possible mechanisms of mechanical complications in cases where fluoroscopic images are apparently normal.
Volume-based non-continuum modeling of bone functional adaptation
Authors: Wang Zhengyuan , Mondry Adrian 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Background
Bone adapts to mechanical strain by rearranging the trabecular geometry and bone density. The common finite element methods used to simulate this adaptation have inconsistencies regarding material properties at each node and are computationally demanding. Here, a volume-based, non-continuum formulation is proposed as an alternative. Adaptive processes corresponding to various external mechanical loading conditions are simulated for the femur.

Results
Bone adaptations were modeled for one-legged stance, abduction and adduction. One-legged stance generally results in higher bone densities than the other two loading cases. The femoral head and neck are the regions where densities change most drastically under different loading conditions while the distal area always contains the lowest densities regardless of the loading conditions. In the proposed formulation, the inconsistency of material densities or strain energy densities, which is a common problem to finite element based approaches, is eliminated. The computational task is alleviated through introduction of the quasi-binary connectivity matrix and linearization operations in the Jacobian matrix and is therefore computationally less demanding.

Conclusion
The results demonstrated the viability of the proposed formulation to study bone functional adaptation under mechanical loading.
Aggressive HIV-1?
Authors: Berkhout Ben , de Ronde Anthony , van der Hoek Lia 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
New York City health officials announced on February 11, 2005 that a patient rapidly developed full-blown AIDS shortly after being diagnosed with a rare, drug-resistant strain of HIV-1. The New York City Department of Health issued an alert to all hospitals and doctors and a press conference was held to announce the emergence of an aggressive HIV-1 strain that may be difficult to treat and that appears to trigger rapid progression to AIDS. Is the panic justified?