We estimate the extent of upper tropospheric aerosol layers (UT ALs) surrounding mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) and explore the relationships between UT AL extent and the morphology, location, ...and developmental stage of collocated MCSs in the tropics. Our analysis is based on satellite data collected over equatorial Africa, South Asia, and the Amazon basin between June 2006 and June 2008. We identify substantial variations in the relationships between convective properties and aerosol transport by region and stage of convective development. The most extensive UT ALs over equatorial Africa are associated with mature MCSs, while the most extensive UT ALs over South Asia and the Amazon are associated with growing MCSs. Convective aerosol transport over the Amazon is weaker than that observed over the other two regions despite similar transport frequencies, likely due to the smaller sizes and shorter mean lifetimes of MCSs over the Amazon. Variations in UT ALs in the vicinity of tropical MCSs are primarily explained by variations in the horizontal sizes of the associated MCSs and are largely unrelated to aerosol loading in the lower troposphere. We also identify potentially important relationships with the number of convective cores, vertical wind shear, and convective fraction during the growing and mature stages of MCS development. Relationships between convective properties and aerosol transport are relatively weak during the decaying stage of convective development. Our results provide an interpretive framework for devising and evaluating numerical model experiments that examine relationships between convective properties and ALs in the upper troposphere.
Key Points
Transport of aerosols to the upper troposphere
Influence of convective life cycle on aerosol transport
Collocation of different satellite data sets
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Inhibition of NF-κB inducing kinase (NIK) has been pursued as a promising therapeutic target for autoimmune disorders due to its highly regulated role in key steps of the NF-κB ...signaling pathway. Previously reported NIK inhibitors from our group were shown to be potent, selective, and efficacious, but had higher human dose projections than desirable for immunology indications. Herein we report the clearance-driven optimization of a NIK inhibitor guided by metabolite identification studies and structure-based drug design. This led to the identification of an azabicyclo3.1.0hexanone motif that attenuated in vitro and in vivo clearance while maintaining NIK potency and increasing selectivity over other kinases, resulting in a greater than ten-fold reduction in predicted human dose.
Abstract Antibiotic spacer designs have proven effective at eradicating infection during a two-stage revision arthroplasty. Temporary reuse of the steam-sterilized femoral component and a new all ...poly tibia component has been described as an effective articulating antibiotic spacer, but sterility concerns persist. Six explanted cobalt chrome femurs from patients with grossly infected TKA's and six stock femurs inoculated with different bacterial species were confirmed to be bacteria-free after autoclaving under a standard gravity-displacement cycle. The effect of steam sterilization on cobalt chrome fragments contaminated with MRSA biofilm was analyzed microscopically to quantify remaining biofilm. The autoclave significantly reduced the biofilm burden on the cobalt chrome fragments. This study confirmed sterility of the femur after a standard gravity–displacement cycle (132 °C, 27 PSIG, 10 minutes).
INTRODUCTION: Although there are numerous studies that demonstrate that color vision deficient (CVD) individuals perform less well than color vision normal (CVN) individuals in tasks that require ...discrimination or identification of colored stimuli, there remains a need to quantify
the relationship between the type and severity of CVD and performance on operationally relevant tasks.METHODS: Participants were classified as CVN (N = 45) or CVD (N = 49) using the Rabin cone contrast test, which is the standard color vision screening test used by
the United States Air Force. In the color condition, test images that were representative of the size, shape, and color of symbols and lines used on fifth-generation fighter aircraft displays were used to measure operational performance. In the achromatic condition, all symbols and lines had
the same chromaticity but differed in luminance. Subjects were asked to locate and discriminate between friend vs. foe symbols (red vs. green, or brighter vs. dimmer) while speed and accuracy were recorded.RESULTS: Increasing color deficiency was associated with decreasing speed
and accuracy for the color condition (R2 > 0.2), but not for the achromatic condition. Mean differences between CVN and CVD individuals showed the same pattern.DISCUSSION: Although lower CCT scores are clearly associated with lower performance in color related tasks,
the magnitude of the performance loss was relatively small and there were multiple examples of high-performing CVD individuals who had higher operational scores than low-performing CVN individuals.Gaska JP, Wright ST, Winterbottom MD, Hadley SC. Color vision and performance on color-coded cockpit displays. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(11):921-927.
The ground state millimeter/submillimeter rotational spectrum of pyruvic acid, a potential interstellar precursor to alanine, was collected and assigned from 90 GHz to 1 THz with extension of the ...assignments up to maximum J = 99, K a = 49, and K c = 99. Previous work on pyruvic acid collected and assigned its spectrum up to 314 GHz with maximum J = 70, K a = 42, and K c = 70. Fitting was conducted using the ERHAM program due to the presence of an internally rotating methyl group. This fit resulted in the refinement of the rotational constants making the spectrum of pyruvic acid well-predicted across the entire spectral range of ground-based far-IR telescopes. A subsequent search for pyruvic acid in 30 different astronomical sources was conducted using the results from the experimental spectrum. No definitive detection of pyruvic acid was identified. The results of the laboratory and observational work are presented herein and discussed in the context of prebiotic astrochemistry.
Current U.S. Air Force medical standards allow applicants to enter pilot training with up to 1.50 D of astigmatism. However, waivers are considered for individuals with up to 3.00 D of astigmatism. ...Although typically a benign finding, higher levels of astigmatism may be progressive and can be associated with corneal ectasia (e.g., keratoconus or pellucid marginal degeneration) leading to reduced visual acuity with spectacles and/or soft contact lenses. The goal of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of pilot applicants waivered into training with astigmatism exceeding the aeromedical standard.
Subjects were identified on the basis of their enrollment in the Excessive Astigmatism Management Group maintained by the Aeromedical Consultation Service, Ophthalmology branch at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Metrics evaluated included refractive status, visual acuity, aeromedical waiver status, safety data, and the development of corneal ectasia.
Seventy-six subjects were tracked for up to 10 years, with an average follow-up period of 5.5 years. Mean astigmatism at initial examination was 1.91 D, although mean astigmatism on the basis of the most recent examination was 2.19 D. Subjects with excessive astigmatism who were waivered into pilot training showed an average increase in astigmatism of slightly less than 0.05 D annually, which equates to a total increase in astigmatism of approximately 0.25 D for the duration of the study. No subjects developed ectasia or were disqualified from flying for vision or refractive reasons. No mishaps were identified with vision being a causative or contributing factor.
This study supports continuation of current Air Force waiver policy, although a longer follow-up period is required to consider modifying the aeromedical standard for astigmatism.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Mechanisms of sunscreen failure Wright, Mandy Wartha; Wright, Steven T.; Wagner, Richard F.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology,
05/2001, Letnik:
44, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Sunscreen is used as a primary strategy to prevent sunburn and later skin cancer. However, sunscreen use has paradoxically been associated with the increasing incidence of skin cancer. One ...explanation for this puzzling observation is sunscreen failure (sunburn in the setting of sunscreen). Our purpose was to evaluate mechanisms of sunscreen failure in a sunscreen-using population. We carried out an epidemiologic comparison of sunburned and nonsunburned beachgoers who used sunscreen. We found that men were less likely to use sunscreen than women (χ2 = 11.3, df = 1, P = .001), and when it was used, men were less likely to apply sunscreen to all sunlight-exposed skin (χ2 = 18.4, df = 1, P = .0001). Swimmers who used sunscreen were significantly more likely to be sunburned compared with nonswimming sunscreen users (Fisher exact test, df = 1). Sunscreen may fail to prevent sunburn if it is washed off during swimming or if it is not applied to all exposed skin. Epidemiologic studies that link sunscreen use to skin cancer should evaluate whether sunburn occurred in this setting. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;44:781-4.)
Objective This study was designed to determine whether smoking patients have poorer outcomes after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) based on a reliable validated rhinosinusitis‐specific quality‐of‐life ...outcomes test.
Study Design Retrospective chart and computed tomography (CT) review with telephone and letter questionnaire.
Methods Charts of 230 adult patients undergoing ESS for chronic rhinosinusitis between January 1995 and December 1998 were reviewed. Each participating patient completed a detailed questionnaire, including the Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test‐16 (SNOT‐16), at an average of 52 months after surgery. Preoperative CT scans were reviewed and the findings used to stage the patients' conditions. Multivariate analysis was used to assess these data.
Results Eighty‐two patients completed the questionnaire, with 26 who smoked at the time of surgery and continued to smoke at the time of answering the questionnaire (Smokers). Average SNOT‐16 score in Smokers was 27.5, versus 18.2 in those who did not smoke at the time of surgery (Non‐Smokers). There was a statistically significant correlation between elevated SNOT‐16 scores and smoking (P < .001) and antibiotic use within the past year (P < .001). There was an association between high SNOT‐16 scores and both prior smoking and passive smoke exposure that did not reach statistical significance (P = .055 and P = .267, respectively). CT staging scores and prior ESS were not statistically correlated with SNOT‐16 scores.
Conclusions Smoking is associated with statistically worse outcomes after ESS based on average SNOT‐16 scores. Although no investigator has proved that the effects of smoking on sinonasal health are reversible, we counsel smoking patients considering ESS about the desirability of smoking cessation (for this and many health reasons), and the possibility of a poorer postsurgery outcome should they continue smoking.
Eusocial insect societies possess complex multilevel disease defences, including individual level protection conferred by physical (e.g. cuticle) and immunological obstacles and colony level ...protection mediated by collective behaviours (social immunity). It remains unclear whether and how these two levels of disease protection are related to one another in jointly driving colonies’ susceptibility to disease. Here, we examine whether a relationship exists between individual worker survival after exposure to a fungal pathogen (a proxy for immunity) and corpse removal (a colony level social immunity metric) in the acorn ant Temnothorax curvispinosus. Since behavioural avoidance is the first line of defence against infection, we also tested whether individual ants exhibited parasite avoidance behaviour during exploration and whether colonies exhibit avoidance behaviour during foraging. We found that individual level and colony level immunity were negatively correlated: colonies that removed corpses more rapidly contained workers with weaker individual defences. We did not detect parasite avoidance behaviour by individual workers or whole colonies, nor were these two factors related. These data suggest that individual immunity and social immunity may trade off, regulating overall parasite protection. Alternatively, optimized social immunity at the colony level may compensate for disease vulnerability to infection at the individual level, and thus provide a protective benefit in overall colony defence in the absence of pathogen avoidance.
•We measured individual and collective disease protection in acorn ants.•Colonies with stronger individual protection had weaker collective protection.•Avoidance was not detected at the individual or collective level.•Multilevel disease protection trade-offs may vary across colonies and environments.
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