THE CALIPSO MISSION Winker, D. M.; Pelon, J.; Coakley, J. A. ...
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society,
09/2010, Letnik:
91, Številka:
9
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Aerosols and clouds have important effects on Earth's climate through their effects on the radiation budget and the cycling of water between the atmosphere and Earth's surface. Limitations in our ...understanding of the global distribution and properties of aerosols and clouds are partly responsible for the current uncertainties in modeling the global climate system and predicting climate change. The CALIPSO satellite was developed as a joint project between NASA and the French space agency CNES to provide needed capabilities to observe aerosols and clouds from space. CALIPSO carries CALIOP, a two-wavelength, polarization-sensitive lidar, along with two passive sensors operating in the visible and thermal infrared spectral regions. CALIOP is the first lidar to provide long-term atmospheric measurements from Earth's orbit. Its profiling and polarization capabilities offer unique measurement capabilities. Launched together with the CloudSat satellite in April 2006 and now flying in formation with the A-train satellite constellation, CALIPSO is now providing information on the distribution and properties of aerosols and clouds, which is fundamental to advancing our understanding and prediction of climate. This paper provides an overview of the CALIPSO mission and instruments, the data produced, and early results.
Given recent advances in and wider availability of complex imaging, physicians are expected to understand imaging appropriateness. We introduced second-year medical students to the American College ...of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria (ACR-AC) in an interactive case-based elective to demonstrate their use in imaging for common emergency department clinical complaints.
Prospective pre- and post-test design assessed second-year medical students' performance on case-based knowledge applications and self-assessed confidence related to ACR-AC guidelines compared to second-year students participating in a different concurrent radiology elective. Students participated in a 3-day elective covering the ACR-AC, comparative effective imaging, and risks associated with imaging radiation exposure, with outcomes of perceived confidence using a 5-point Likert scale and knowledge of ACR-AC using case-based multiple choice questions. Analysis included computing mean scores and assessing effect sizes for changes in knowledge.
Before the elective, 24 students scored an average of 3.45 questions correct of 8 (43.1%). On course completion, students scored an average of 5.3 questions correct of the same questions (66.3%) (P < .001; effect size Cohen's d = 1.3940. In the comparison group, 12 students scored an average of 3.08 questions (38.5%) correctly pretest and 3.09 questions (38.6%) correctly post-test (P > .85; effect size = 0.008). Students' confidence in ordering appropriate imaging improved nearly 2-fold from a range of 1.9 to 3.2 (on a scale of 1.0 to 5.0) to a range of 3.7 to 4.5.
Following a short radiology elective, second-year medical students improved their knowledge of appropriate image utilization and perceived awareness of the indications, contraindications, and effects of radiation exposure related to medical imaging.
The classical Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI) is a hydrodynamic instability characterizing the evolution of an interface following shock loading. In contrast to other hydrodynamic instabilities ...such as Rayleigh-Taylor, it is known for being unconditionally unstable: regardless of the direction of shock passage, any deviations from a flat interface will be amplified. In this article, we show that for negative Atwood numbers, there exist special sequences of shocks which result in a nearly perfectly suppressed instability growth. Here, we demonstrate this principle computationally and experimentally with stepped fliers and phase transition materials. A fascinating immediate corollary is that in specific instances, a phase-transitioning material may self-suppress RMI.
Elevated Levels of Inflammation, D-Dimer, and Homocysteine Are Associated With Adverse Calf Muscle Characteristics and Reduced Calf Strength in Peripheral Arterial Disease Mary M. McDermott, Luigi ...Ferrucci, Jack M. Guralnik, Lu Tian, David Green, Kiang Liu, Jin Tan, Yihua Liao, William H. Pearce, Joseph R. Schneider, Paul Ridker, Nader Rifai, Frederick Hoff, Michael H. Criqui Among 423 persons with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD), higher levels of inflammatory markers and D-dimer were associated with smaller calf muscle area and lower calf muscle density. Higher levels of homocysteine were also associated with lower calf muscle density. Findings were independent of physical activity levels. These associations may contribute to previously established associations between elevated biomarkers and functional impairment and functional decline in PAD.
Caseinomacropeptide (CMP) is a peptide released by chymosin in cheese production, remaining in whey. Thus, CMP can be used as a biomarker to fluid milk adulteration through whey addition. Commonly, ...CMP is analyzed by reversed phase (RP-HPLC) or size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). However, some psychrotropic microorganisms – specially Pseudomonas fluorescens – when present in storaged milk, can produce, by enzymatic pathway, a CMP-like peptide generally called pseudo-CMP. These two peptides differ from each other only by one amino acid. RP-HPLC and SEC methods are unable to distinguish these two peptides, which demand development of a confirmatory method with high selectivity. Considering the several degrees of glycosilation and phosphorylation sites in CMP, allied with possible genetic variation (CMP A and CMP B), analytical methods able to differentiate these peptides are extremely complex. In the present work, we developed a proteomic-like technique for separation and characterization of these peptides, using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization able to differentiate and subsequently quantify CMP and pseudo-CMP in milk samples in order to identify adulteration or contamination of these products. The method shows satisfactory precision (<11%) with a detection limit of 1.0µgmL−1 and quantification limit of 5.0µgmL−1. Specificity, matrix effects and applicability to real samples analysis were also performed and discussed.
Display omitted Cleavage sites for enzymatic digestion of CMP and pseudo-CMP with pepsin. Two peptides are generated: MAIPPKKNQDKTEIPTINT (MAI-INT, 19 amino acids and MW = 2140 Da) originated from CMP and AIPPKKNQDKTEIPTINT (AI-INT, 18 amino acids and MW = 2008 Da) released from pseudo-CMP cleavage.
•A fast and easy method for milk adulteration with cheese whey detection was developed.•The method was fully validated, including quantitative analysis for real samples.•The method is able to differentiate between milk adulteration and alterations provoked by bacteria.•Chymosin and/or bacterial proteolysis biomarkers are assigned.
Head and neck vascular lesions Hoff, Stephen R; Rastatter, Jeffrey C; Richter, Gresham T
Otolaryngologic clinics of North America,
02/2015, Letnik:
48, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Vascular lesions of the head and neck are complex and diverse. These include infantile hemangioma, venous malformations, lymphatic malformations, and arteriovenous malformations, among others. ...Vascular malformations and tumors display different growth patterns and require different approaches to treatment. Therefore, accurate diagnosis is of utmost importance. This article is a guide for the diagnosis and management of vascular lesions of the head and neck.
Abstract Objective To describe our indications, findings, and outcomes for transcanal endoscopic middle ear exploration in pediatric patients with conductive hearing loss of unknown etiology, without ...effusions. Methods Prospective case series for all pediatric patients undergoing totally endoscopic transcanal middle ear exploration between April 2012 and October 2015 at a pediatric tertiary care referral hospital. Demographic data, operative findings, and hearing results were reviewed. Results 21 cases were performed in 20 ears (1 revision). Average age at surgery was 7.98 years and average follow up was 2.1 years. Middle ear pathology identified on CT imaging was confirmed in 55% of cases while identified in 45% of cases where pre-operative imaging was non-diagnostic. 6/20 patients (30%) had an ossicular deformity. 8/20(40%) had bony ossicular fixation. 5/20(25%) had ossicular discontinuity. 2/20(10%) had facial nerve dehiscence impinging on the stapes. 15% had adhesive myringosclerosis or severe granulation causing hearing loss. Prosthetic ossiculoplasty was done in 7/21 (33.3%) of the cases, with 1 TORP, 3 PORPs, and 3 IS joint replacements. Imaging was predictive of intra-operative findings in 13/20 cases (55%). Trainees assisted in 16/21(76%) of cases. The average improvement of PTA was 11.65 dB (range -10 to 36.25), and the average ABG improved 10.19 (range -11.25 to 28.75). There were no perioperative complications or adverse events. Conclusions The endoscopic transcanal approach for middle ear exploration offers excellent visualization and is one of the best applications for the endoscopes in pediatric otology cases. This is particularly helpful for “unexplained” conductive hearing loss where ossicular deformity/fixation/discontinuity is suspected. The etiology of the conductive hearing loss was definitively found in 100% of cases, and can be repaired in the same sitting when applicable.
A compact axial π-mode extraction scheme, which is based on a patent by Greenwood, is demonstrated in conjunction with the UM/L-3 relativistic magnetron using the particle-in-cell code ICEPIC. Cases ...utilizing Greenwood's extraction technique were compared with power extraction using traditional radial waveguides. Average extracted power values in all simulated axial cases were found to be within +/-6.5% of the radial cases. Cases utilizing 85 ° and 90° sector waveguides were found to have efficiencies up to ten percentage points higher than the radial case. The best performing case was found to use a set of three axially oriented 90 ° sector waveguides, shorted on the upstream side, with the short located 15 cm from the center of the magnetron apertures.
Little is known about the relation between type A acute aortic dissection (TAAAD) and pulse pressure (PP), defined as the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In this study, we ...explored the association between PP and presentation, complications, and outcomes of patients with TAAAD. PP at hospital presentation was used to divide 1,960 patients with noniatrogenic TAAAD into quartiles: narrowed (≤39 mm Hg, n = 430), normal (40 to 56 mm Hg, n = 554), mildly elevated (57 to 75 mm Hg, n = 490), and markedly elevated (≥76 mm Hg, n = 486). Variables relating to index presentation and in-hospital outcomes were analyzed. Patients with TAAAD in the narrowed PP quartiles were frequently older and Caucasian, whereas patients with markedly elevated PPs tended to be male and have a history of hypertension. Patients who demonstrated abdominal vessel involvement more commonly demonstrated elevated PPs, whereas patients with narrowed PPs were more likely to have periaortic hematoma and/or pericardial effusion. Narrowed PPs were also correlated with greater incidences of hypotension, cardiac tamponade, and mortality. Patients with TAAAD who were managed with endovascular and hybrid procedures and those with renal failure tended to have markedly elevated PPs. No difference in aortic regurgitation at presentation was noted among groups. In conclusion, patients with TAAAD in the third PP quartile had better in-hospital outcomes than patients in the lowest quartile. Patients with narrowed PPs experienced more cardiac complications, particularly cardiac tamponade, whereas those with markedly elevated PPs were more likely to have abdominal aortic involvement. Presenting PP offers a clue to different manifestations of acute aortic dissection that may facilitate initial triage and care.
PDF
