Criteria for the use of regression analysis for remote sensing of sediment and pollutants

Data analysis procedures for quantification of water quality parameters that are already identified and are known to exist within the water body are considered. The liner multiple-regression technique was examined as a procedure for defining and calibrating data analysis algorithms for such instruments as spectrometers and multispectral scanners

Phase function, backscatter, extinction, and absorption for standard radiation atmosphere and El Chichon aerosol models at visible and near-infrared wavelengths

Tabular values of phase function, Legendre polynominal coefficients, 180 deg backscatter, and extinction cross section are given for eight wavelengths in the atmospheric windows between 0.4 and 2.2 microns. Also included are single scattering albedo, asymmetry factor, and refractive indices. These values are based on Mie theory calculations for the standard rediation atmospheres (continental, maritime, urban, unperturbed stratospheric, volcanic, upper atmospheric, soot, oceanic, dust, and water-soluble) assest measured volcanic aerosols at several time intervals following the El Chichon eruption. Comparisons of extinction to 180 deg backscatter for different aerosol models are presented and related to lidar data

Satellite estimates of shortwave surface radiation and atmospheric meteorology for the BOREAS experiment region

This report provides background data for the Boreal Ecosystem Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) sites, including daily, seasonal, interannual, and spatial variability of shortwave (SW) radiation at the Earth's surface. This background data, from the Version 1.1 SW data set, was provided by the Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) Climatology Project established by the World Climate Research Program (WCRP)

Surface radiation observations for October 27-28, 1986 during the Wisconsin FIRE/SRB experiment

A portion of both the shortwave and longwave surface radiation data is presented which was measured during the combined FIRE (First ISCCP Regional Experiment) and SRB (Surface Radiation Budget) experiments conducted in central Wisconsin from October 14 to November 2, 1988. The time periods from which high quality measurement values were obtained are summarized. Data gaps exist because of either equipment malfunctions or electrical power failures. Intercomparison of pre-experiment measurements by the various organizations involved suggests that all stations are accurate (relative to each other) to within about 10 W/m(sup -2) on a 24-hour daily average basis. Most of the instruments were calibrated by the National Radiation Centers in either the U.S. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) or Canada (Atmospheric Environment Service). October 27 and 28, 1986 were selected for detailed case study because a large amount of cirrus clouds existed over the experiment region on those days. Downwelled irradiance values are shown at each surface station at the time of afternoon NOAA-9 overpasses. Values shown are 10-minute averages centered about each overpass time, but minute-average data are available

Comparison of surface-derived and ISCCP cloud optical properties

One objective of the FIRE Project is to validate the cloud parameters given on ISCCP tapes. ISCCP first defines whether or not a region is clear or has clouds based on two threshold algorithms. If the region has clouds, then a cloud optical depth is given as well as a cloud height. Special high resolution ISCCP CX tapes were created for the time period of the Wisconsin FIRE experiment. These tapes did not include the cloud height product, however, other parameters used to make up the standard ISCCP Cl products were available. The ISCCP cloud/no cloud and cloud depth parameters are compared with surface derived values for the Wisconsin FIRE region during the October 27 and 28 case study days

Critical analysis of self-doping and water-soluble n-type organic semiconductors: structures and mechanisms

Self-doping organic semiconductors provide a promising route to avoid instabilities and morphological issues associated with molecular n-type dopants. Structural characterization of a naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide (NDI) semiconductor covalently bound to an ammonium hydroxide group is presented. The dopant precursor was found to be the product of an unexpected base catalyzed hydrolysis, which was reversible. The reversible hydrolysis had profound consequences on the chemical composition, morphology, and electronic performance of the doped films. In addition, we investigated the degradation mechanism of the quaternary ammonium group and the subsequent doping of NDI. These findings reveal that the products of more than one chemical reaction during processing of films must be considered when utilizing this promising class of water-soluble semiconductors

Clinical Outcomes with Rapid Detection of Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Routine Blood Cultures

Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of bacteremia, with a substantial impact on morbidity and mortality. Because of increasing rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin has become the standard empirical therapy. However, beta-lactam antibiotics remain the best treatment choice for methicillin-susceptible strains. Placing patients quickly on the optimal therapy is one goal of antimicrobial stewardship. This retrospective, observational, single-center study compared 33 control patients utilizing only traditional full-susceptibility methodology to 22 case patients utilizing rapid methodology with CHROMagar medium to detect and differentiate methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strains hours before full susceptibilities were reported. The time to targeted therapy was statistically significantly different between control patients (mean, 56.5 ± 13.6 h) and case patients (44.3 ± 17.9 h) (P = 0.006). Intensive care unit status, time of day results emerged, and patient age did not make a difference in time to targeted therapy, either singly or in combination. Neither length of stay (P = 0.61) nor survival (P = 1.0) was statistically significantly different. Rapid testing yielded a significant result, with a difference of 12.2 h to targeted therapy. However, there is still room for improvement, as the difference in time to susceptibility test result between the full traditional methodology and CHROMagar was even larger (26.5 h). This study supports the hypothesis that rapid testing plays a role in antimicrobial stewardship by getting patients on targeted therapy faster

The correct authorship and type locality of Melanocorypha leucoptera (Aves: Passeriformes, Alaudidae)

Mlíkovský (2013) proposed replacing the widely-used Melanocorypha leucoptera (Pallas, 1811) with Melanocorypha leucoptera (Hablizl, 1785) as the correct name for the White-winged Lark, with consequent shift in type locality from the Irtyš River-Baraba steppe region in south Siberia to the Crimea. This action breaches Art. 80.9 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999), hereafter "the Code". That article states that "no ruling given by the Commission in relation to a particular work, name, or nomenclatural act is to be set aside without the consent of the Commission". Melanocorypha leucoptera of Pallas (1811), as published in his Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica, was conserved explicitly in Opinion 403 of the Commission (ICZN 1956), and no consent to Mlíkovský's findings has been given since

Validity and reliability of the semi-quantitative self-report Home Food Availability Inventory Checklist (HFAI-C) in White and South Asian populations.

Despite interest in the importance of the home food environment and its potential influence on children's diets and social norms, there remain few self-report checklist methods that have been validated against the gold standard of researcher-conducted inventories. This study aimed to assess the criterion validity and reliability of the 'Home Food Availability Inventory Checklist' (HFAI-C), a 39-item checklist including categories of fruit, vegetables, snacks and drinks.The HFAI-C was completed by 97 participants of White and Pakistani origin in the UK. Validity was determined by comparing participant-reported HFAI-C responses to data from researcher observations of home food availability using PABAK and weighted kappa statistics. The validity of measuring the amount of items (in addition to presence/absence) available was also determined. Test-retest reliability compared repeated administrations of the HFAI-C using intra-class correlation coefficients.Validity and reliability was fair to moderate overall. For validity, the average category-level PABAK ranged from 0.31 (95 % CI: 0.25, 0.37) for vegetables to 0.44 (95 % CI: 0.40, 0.49) for fruits. Assessment of the presence/absence of items demonstrated higher validity compared to quantity measurements. Reliability was increased when the HFAI-C was repeated close to the time of the first administration. For example, ICCs for reliability of the measurement of fruits were 0.52 (95 %CI: 0.47, 0.56) if re-administered within 5 months, 0.58 (95 % CI: 0.51, 0.64) within 30 days and 0.97 (95 %CI: 0.94, 1.00) if re-administered on the same day.Overall, the HFAI-C demonstrated fair to moderate validity and reliability in a population of White and South Asian participants. This evaluation is consistent with previous work on other checklists in less diverse, more affluent populations. Our research supports the use of the HFAI-C as a useful, albeit imperfect, representation of researcher-conducted inventories. The feasibility of collecting information using the HFAI-C in large, multi-ethnic samples can facilitate examination of home food availability in relation to exposures such as ethnicity and outcomes including behavioural, social and health outcomes. Future work using the HFAI-C could provide important insights into a modifiable influence with potential to impact health

The association of Step-based metrics and adiposity in the Hispanic community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Objective: Examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of accelerometer measured step volume (steps/day) and cadence with adiposity and six-year changes in adiposity in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Methods: HCHS/SOL's target population was 60% female with a mean age of 41 years. Cross-sectional (n = 12,353) and longitudinal analyses (n = 9,077) leveraged adjusted complex survey regression models to examine associations between steps/day, and cadence with weight (kg), waist circumference (cm) and body mass index (kg/m2). Effect measure modification by covariates was examined. Results: Lower steps/day and intensity was associated with higher adiposity at baseline. Compared to those in the highest quartile of steps/day those in the lowest quartile have 1.42 95% CI (1.19, 1.70) times the odds of obesity. Compared to those in the highest categories of cadence step-based metrics, those in the lowest categories had a 1.62 95% CI (1.36, 1.93), 2.12 95% CI (1.63, 2.75) and 1.41 95% CI (1.16, 1.70) odds of obesity for peak 30-minute cadence, brisk walking and faster ambulation and bouts of purposeful steps and faster ambulation, respectively. Compared to those with the highest stepping cadences, those with the slowest peak 30-minute cadence and fewest minutes in bouts of purposeful steps and faster ambulation had 0.72 95% CI (0.57, 0.89) and 0.82 95% CI (0.60, 1.14) times the odds of gaining weight, respectively. Conclusion: Inverse cross-sectional relationships were found for steps/day and cadence and adiposity. Over a six-year period, higher step intensity but not volume was associated with higher odds of gaining weight