2-D spatial distribution of rainfall rate through combined use of radar reflectivity and rain gauge data

International audienceThis paper describes and comments the results obtained applying a data processing method to a joint set of radar and a rain gauge data for estimating the 2-D rainfall field at ground averaged over a given observation time T and over a radar coverage area that includes a rain gauge network. The estimate of the rainfall field is based on the processing of a data set composed by rain gauge and horizontal reflectivity radar data gathered during a rainfall phenomenon. The procedure has been tested on an experimental data set collected in Tuscany in 1999

Determination of propofol by GC/MS and fast GC/MS-TOF in two cases of poisoning

Two cases of suspected acute and lethal intoxication caused by propofol were delivered by the judicial authority to the Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care in Palermo, Sicily. In the first case a female nurse was found in a hotel room, where she lived with her mother; four 10 mg/mL vials and two 20 mg/mL vials of propofol were found near the decedent along with syringes and needles. In the second case a male nurse was found in the operating room of a hospital, along with a used syringe. In both cases a preliminary systematic and toxicological analysis indicated the presence of propofol in the blood and urine. As a result, a method for the quantitative determination of propofol in biological fluids was optimized and validated using a liquid-liquid extraction protocol followed by GC/MS and fast GC/MS-TOF. In the first case, the concentration of propofol in blood was determined to be 8.1 \u3bcg/mL while the concentration of propofol in the second case was calculated at 1.2 \u3bcg/mL. Additionally, the tissue distribution of propofol was determined for both cases. Brain and liver concentrations of propofol were, respectively, 31.1 and 52.2 \u3bcg/g in Case 1 and 4.7 and 49.1 \u3bcg/g in Case 2. Data emerging from the autopsy findings, histopathological exams as well as the toxicological results aided in establishing that the deaths were due to poisoning, however, the manner of death in each were different: homicide in Case 1 and suicide in Case 2

Derivation of Clear-Air Turbulence Parameters from High-Resolution Radiosonde Data

The knowledge of atmospheric refractive-index structure constant (Cn2) profiles is fundamental to determine the intensity of turbulence, and hence the impact of the scintillation impairment on the signals propagating in the troposphere. However, their relation with atmospheric variables is not straightforward, and profiles based on statistical considerations are normally employed. This can be a shortcoming when performing simulations for which scintillation disturbances need to be consistent with the assumed atmospheric conditions. In order to overcome this limitation, this work describes a procedure to obtain an estimate of the refractive-index structure constant profile under given atmospheric conditions. The procedure is based on the application of the vertical gradient approach to high resolution radiosonde data. The fact that turbulence is confined to vertically thin layers is accounted for by identifying the turbulent layers through the analysis of the Richardson number profiles, and the value of the outer scale length is estimated using the Thorpe length calculated from potential temperature profile. The procedure is applied to high resolution radiosonde data from the SPARC Data Center and the obtained results are consistent with measured Cn2 profiles previously published in the literature

Partial-Body Cryotherapy Acutely Augments Resting Metabolism in Obese Women

Cryotherapy has been shown to reduce pro-inflammatory response, relieve pain and enhance muscles\u2019 post-exercise recovery. Cryostimulation could be also proposed as an alternative strategy to trigger cold-induced thermogenesis in overweight/obese subjects. In this study, 16 obese (BMI: 32\ub14 kg/m2) women (43.4\ub14.8 years) underwent Partial-Body Cryotherapy (PBC) (-130\ub0C x 150sec) for 5 days (1/day, h 07:00 AM). Resting energy metabolism (REE) was assessed by indirect calorimetry pre- and post-PBC on day 1 and day 5. Subjects were energy-controlled (physical activity and dietary intake). Before 5th-day PBC, REE was increased by 5.5% versus pre-1st-day PBC values (1755\ub1265 vs. 1664\ub1241 kcal/day; p=0.0005). With a similar design, in a larger sample of 80 subjects (F=61; M=19; 34.4\ub111.1 years; BMI: 24.4\ub14.8 kg/m2), REE augmented by 1.89% (p=0.02) after PBC of day 1. In a multivariate analysis, multiple regression output a positive relationship between cryostimulated REE and body weight (Spearman r=0.68; p<0.0001, Figure). Altogether, these preliminary data suggest that cold-induced thermogenesis could be explored as an alternative therapy to combat weight gain and obesity. Longitudinal studies could test chronic effects of cryotherapy, estimating the extent of the metabolic adaptations that could be favorably preserved