Description: Dynamically-based seasonal forecasts are prone to systematic spatial biases due to imperfections in the underlying global climate model (GCM). This can result in low forecast skill when the GCM misplaces teleconnections or fails to resolve geographic barriers, even if the prediction of large scale dynamics is accurate. To characterize and address this issue, this study applies objective climate regionalization to identify discrepancies between the Climate Forecast System Version 2 (CFSv2) and precipitation observations across the Contiguous United States (CONUS). Regionalization shows that CFSv2 one month forecasts capture the general spatial character of warm season precipitation variability, but that forecast regions systematically differ from observation in some transition zones. CFSv2 predictive skill for these misclassified areas is systematically reduced relative to correctly regionalized areas and CONUS as a whole. In these incorrectly regionalized areas, higher skill can be obtained by using a regional-scale forecast in place of the local grid cell prediction.

Description: Background Anti-desmoglein (Dsg) 3 serum antibody titers are usually correlated with the disease activity of pemphigus vulgaris (PV), but some patients retain high titers even in remission. Objectives The aim of our study was to determine whether anti-Dsg3 antibodies in PV sera recognized calcium (Ca 2+ )-dependent or non-Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes, and evaluate their pathogenicity. Methods Dsg3 baculoprotein-coated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) plates were treated with 0.5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The binding ability of anti-Dsg3 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was analyzed. Eight of the 83 PV patients screened had elevated Dsg3 ELISA index values greater than 100 index values in remission. The binding ability of those PV sera was analyzed. We evaluated the pathogenicity of anti-Dsg3 serum antibodies against the non-Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes using dissociation assay. Results The reactivity of pathogenic anti-Dsg3 mAbs against the Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes diminished markedly in EDTA-treated ELISA, whereas no such reduction was observed in mAbs against the non-Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes. All patients’ sera contained antibodies against both Ca 2+ -dependent and non-Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes. In 6 out of the 8 patients, the ratio of antibodies against Ca 2+ -dependent to non-Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes decreased in remission. EDTA-treated Dsg3 baculoproteins adsorbed anti-Dsg3 serum antibodies against the non-Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes, but the remnant PV antibodies retained the ability to induce acantholysis in dissociation assay. Conclusions We have established an assay to indirectly measure the titers of anti-Dsg3 serum antibodies against the Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes, which are the differences between EDTA-untreated and EDTA-treated ELISA index values, as a routine laboratory test to reflect the pathogenic anti-Dsg3 serum antibody titers more accurately.

Description: Background Anti-desmoglein (Dsg) 3 serum antibody titers are usually correlated with the disease activity of pemphigus vulgaris (PV), but some patients retain high titers even in remission. Objectives The aim of our study was to determine whether anti-Dsg3 antibodies in PV sera recognized calcium (Ca 2+ )-dependent or non-Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes, and evaluate their pathogenicity. Methods Dsg3 baculoprotein-coated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) plates were treated with 0.5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The binding ability of anti-Dsg3 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was analyzed. Eight of the 83 PV patients screened had elevated Dsg3 ELISA index values greater than 100 index values in remission. The binding ability of those PV sera was analyzed. We evaluated the pathogenicity of anti-Dsg3 serum antibodies against the non-Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes using dissociation assay. Results The reactivity of pathogenic anti-Dsg3 mAbs against the Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes diminished markedly in EDTA-treated ELISA, whereas no such reduction was observed in mAbs against the non-Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes. All patients’ sera contained antibodies against both Ca 2+ -dependent and non-Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes. In 6 out of the 8 patients, the ratio of antibodies against Ca 2+ -dependent to non-Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes decreased in remission. EDTA-treated Dsg3 baculoproteins adsorbed anti-Dsg3 serum antibodies against the non-Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes, but the remnant PV antibodies retained the ability to induce acantholysis in dissociation assay. Conclusions We have established an assay to indirectly measure the titers of anti-Dsg3 serum antibodies against the Ca 2+ -dependent epitopes, which are the differences between EDTA-untreated and EDTA-treated ELISA index values, as a routine laboratory test to reflect the pathogenic anti-Dsg3 serum antibody titers more accurately.