Retrieving Decadal Climate Change from Satellite Radiance Observations-A 100-year CO2 Doubling OSSE Demonstration.

Preparing for climate change depends on the observation and prediction of decadal trends of the environmental variables, which have a direct impact on the sustainability of resources affecting the quality of life on our planet. The NASA Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) mission is proposed to provide climate quality benchmark spectral radiance observations for the purpose of determining the decadal trends of climate variables, and validating and improving the long-range climate model forecasts needed to prepare for the changing climate of the Earth. The CLARREO will serve as an in-orbit, absolute, radiometric standard for the cross-calibration of hyperspectral radiance spectra observed by the international system of polar operational satellite sounding sensors. Here, we demonstrate that the resulting accurately cross-calibrated polar satellite global infrared spectral radiance trends (e.g., from the Metop IASI instrument considered here) can be interpreted in terms of temperature and water vapor profile trends. This demonstration is performed using atmospheric state data generated for a 100-year period from 2000-2099, produced by a numerical climate model prediction that was forced by the doubling of the global average atmospheric CO2 over the 100-year period. The vertical profiles and spatial distribution of temperature decadal trends were successfully diagnosed by applying a linear regression profile retrieval algorithm to the simulated hyperspectral radiance spectra for the 100-year period. These results indicate that it is possible to detect decadal trends in atmospheric climate variables from high accuracy all-sky satellite infrared radiance spectra using the linear regression retrieval technique

Executive Compensation and Federal Securities Legislation

In this article we first consider the type of compensation plan or arrangement which must be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We shall then outline the requirements for disclosing the plan and its terms, as imposed by federal securities legislation and administrative regulation thereunder

Observations of the diffuse UV radiation field

Spectra are presented for the diffuse UV radiation field between 1250 to 3100 A from eight different regions of the sky, which were obtained with the Johns Hopkins UVX experiment. UVX flew aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-61C) in January 1986 as part of the Get-Away Special project. The experiment consisted of two 1/4 m Ebert-Fastie spectrometers, covering the spectral range 1250 to 1700 A at 17 A resolution and 1600 to 3100 A at 27 A resolution, respectively, with a field of view of 4 x .25 deg, sufficiently small to pick out regions of the sky with no stars in the line of sight. Values were found for the diffuse cosmic background ranging in intensity from 300 to 900 photons/sq cm/sec/sr/A. The cosmic background is spectrally flat from 1250 to 3100 A, within the uncertainties of each spectrometer. The zodiacal light begins to play a significant role in the diffuse radiation field above 2000 A, and its brightness was determined relative to the solar emission. Observed brightnesses of the zodiacal light in the UV remain almost constant with ecliptic latitude, unlike the declining visible brightnesses, possibly indicating that those (smaller) grains responsible for the UV scattering have a much more uniform distribution with distance from the ecliptic plane than do those grains responsible for the visible scattering

Susceptibility to intestinal infection and diarrhoea in Zambian adults in relation to HIV status and CD4 count.

BACKGROUND: The HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa has had a major impact on infectious disease, and there is currently great interest in the impact of HIV on intestinal barrier function. A three year longitudinal cohort study in a shanty compound in Lusaka, Zambia, carried out before anti-retroviral therapy was widely available, was used to assess the impact of HIV on susceptibility to intestinal infectious disease. We measured the incidence and seasonality of intestinal infection and diarrhoea, aggregation of disease in susceptible individuals, clustering by co-habitation and genetic relatedness, and the disease-to-infection ratio. METHODS: Adults living in a small section of Misisi, Lusaka, were interviewed every two weeks to ascertain the incidence of diarrhoea. Monthly stool samples were analysed for selected pathogens. HIV status and CD4 count were determined annually. RESULTS: HIV seroprevalence was 31% and the prevalence of immunosuppression (CD4 count 200 cells/microL or less) was 10%. Diarrhoea incidence was 1.1 episodes per year and the Incidence Rate Ratio for HIV infection was 2.4 (95%CI 1.7-3.3; p < 0.001). The disease-to-infection ratio was increased at all stages of HIV infection. Aggregation of diarrhoea in susceptible individuals was observed irrespective of immunosuppression, but there was little evidence of clustering by co-habitation or genetic relatedness. There was no evidence of aggregation of asymptomatic infections. CONCLUSION: HIV has an impact on intestinal infection at all stages, with an increased disease-to-infection ratio. The aggregation of disease in susceptible individuals irrespective of CD4 count suggests that this phenomenon is not a function of cell mediated immunity

Nocturnal Dexamethasone versus Hydrocortisone for the Treatment of Children with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia affects approximately 1 in 15,000 children. Current treatment strategies using multiple daily doses of hydrocortisone lead to suboptimal outcomes. We tested the hypothesis that nocturnal administration of dexamethasone will suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis more effectively than standard hydrocortisone treatment by blocking the inherent diurnal secretion of ACTH. We performed a pilot study of five prepubertal patients comparing CAH control during two 24-hour hospitalizations, one on hydrocortisone and the other on dexamethasone. The patterns of adrenal suppression differed markedly between hydrocortisone and nocturnal dexamethasone, with significant suppression of the morning rise in ACTH, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and androstenedione while on dexamethasone. On hydrocortisone therapy, there is a marked variation in ACTH and adrenal hormones depending on time of day and timing of hydrocortisone administration. Longer-term studies are needed to investigate the lowest effective dose and potential toxicity of nocturnal dexamethasone to determine its utility as a therapy for CAH

STR-815: FEASIBILITY OF USING UNBONDED REINFORCEMENT IN CONCRETE BLOCK WALLS

An experimental program is underway at the University of Saskatchewan to investigate the performance of concrete masonry block walls reinforced with non-prestressed, unbonded reinforcement that are subjected to out-of-plane lateral loads. By eliminating the need for grouting, this construction method may lead to substantially lower wall weights, as well reduced construction times, cost, and workplace injuries. At the same time, the presence of reinforcement will increase the flexural strength of the walls, significantly increasing the allowable vertical spans of such walls as compared to those of comparable unreinforced walls. Unreinforced walls, as well as conventionally reinforced and partially grouted walls, were included in the experimental program to serve as control specimens against which the performance of the walls with unbonded, ungrouted reinforcement could be compared. Although the experimental program is ongoing, preliminary results described herein comparing the unbonded reinforced walls to unreinforced companion specimens suggest that this construction method is a promising alternative to more conventional systems

Performance of a Nonelectric Infant Warmer in Rwandan Health Centers.

Background. Neonatal hypothermia remains a challenge in resource-limited settings. Methods. We conducted a prospective mixed-methods cohort study in rural Rwandan health centers to assess the performance of an infant warmer we designed for low-resource settings. All hypothermic infants were eligible for enrollment. Outcomes. Safety: incidence of adverse reactions. Effectiveness: attainment of euthermia, rate of temperature rise. Feasibility: correct use of warmer, signs of wear. Interviews of caregivers and nurses. Findings. Of 102 encounters, there were no adverse reactions. Of 80 encounters for hypothermia when infants on warmer for ≥1 hour, 79 achieved euthermia; 73 in ≤2 hours. Of the 80 encounters, 64 had temperature rise ≥0.5°C/h. Of the 102 encounters, there were no instances of the warmer being prepared, used, or cleaned incorrectly. Five out of the 12 warmers exhibited wear. Interview participants were predominantly positive; some found time for readiness of warmer challenging. Interpretation. The warmer performed well. It is appropriate to study in larger scale

A New Surrogate Variable for Erectile Dysfunction Status in the Massachusetts Male Aging Study

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the subject of a vast clinical literature, but little information has been gathered from random samples of the general public. The Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS) addressed this important aspect of men\u27s health. The MMAS was conducted in two waves, with baseline data collection in 1987–1989 and follow-up in 1995–1997. Subsequent to the baseline MMAS survey, a consensus developed that subjective measures are optimal for defining ED. Unfortunately, the baseline questionnaire did not ask subjects directly about their erectile functioning. Thus, we previously assigned the MMAS subjects a degree of impotence at baseline using a series of related questions, employing a discriminant formula constructed from a separate sample of urology clinic patients. At follow-up the men classified themselves directly in addition to answering the original series of related questions. In the present article, we report the results of a new discriminant function, based on the MMAS men at follow-up. We also compare the two methods and discuss our reasons for preferring the internally calibrated method