A Note on Reviving the Goddard Satellite-Based Surface Turbulent Fluxes (GSSTF) Dataset

Accurate sea surface flux measurements are crucial for understanding the global water and energy cycles. The oceanic evaporation, which is a major component of the global oceanic fresh water flux, is useful for predicting oceanic circulation and transport. The global Goddard Satellite-based Surface Turbulent Fluxes Version-2 （GSSTF2; July 1987–December 2000） dateset that was o？cially released in 2001 has been widely used by scientific community for global energy and water cycle research, and regional and short period data analyses. We have recently been funded by NASA to resume processing the GSSTF dataset with an objective of continually producing a uniform dataset of sea surface turbulent fluxes, derived from remote sensing data. The dataset is to be reprocessed and brought up-to-date （GSSTF2b） using improved input datasets such as a recently upgraded NCEP/DOE sea surface temperature reanalysis, and an upgraded surface wind and microwave brightness temperature V6 dataset （Version 6） from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager （SSM/I） produced by Remote Sensing Systems （RSS）. A second new product （GSSTF3） is further proposed with a finer temporal （12-h） and spatial （0.25° × 0.25°） resolution. GSSTF2b （July 1987–December 2008） and GSSTF3 （July 1999–December 2009） will be released for the research community to use by late 2009 and early 2011, respectively.

Factors associated with success of telaprevir-and boceprevir-based triple therapy for hepatitis C virus infection

AIM To evaluate new therapies for hepatitis C virus(HCV), data about real-world outcomes are needed.METHODS Outcomes of 223 patients with genotype 1 HCV who started telaprevir-or boceprevir-based triple therapy(May 2011-March 2012) at the Mount Sinai Medical Center were analyzed. Human immunodeficiency viruspositive patients and patients who received a liver transplant were excluded. Factors associated with sustained virological response(SVR24) and relapse were analyzed by univariable and multivariable logistic regression as well as classification and regression trees. Fast virological response(FVR) was defined as undetectable HCV RNA at week-4(telaprevir) or week-8(boceprevir). RESULTS The median age was 57 years, 18% were black, 44% had advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis(FIB-4 ≥ 3.25). Only 42%(94/223) of patients achieved SVR24 on an intention-totreat basis. In a model that included platelets, SVR24 was associated with white race [odds ratio(OR) = 5.92, 95% confidence interval(CI): 2.34-14.96], HCV sub-genotype 1b(OR = 2.81, 95%CI: 1.45-5.44), platelet count(OR = 1.10, per x 104 cells/μL, 95%CI: 1.05-1.16), and IL28 B CC genotype(OR = 3.54, 95%CI: 1.19-10.53). Platelet counts > 135 x 103/μL were the strongest predictor of SVR by classification and regression tree. Relapse occurred in 25%(27/104) of patients with an end-oftreatment response and was associated with non-FVR(OR = 4.77, 95%CI: 1.68-13.56), HCV sub-genotype 1a(OR = 5.20; 95%CI: 1.40-18.97), and FIB-4 ≥ 3.25(OR = 2.77; 95%CI: 1.07-7.22). CONCLUSION The SVR rate was 42% with telaprevir-or boceprevirbased triple therapy in real-world practice. Low platelets and advanced fibrosis were associated with treatment failure and relapse.