Reanalysis Product-Based Nonstationary Frequency Analysis for Estimating Extreme Design Rainfall

Nonstationarity is one major issue in hydrological models, especially in design rainfall analysis. Design rainfalls are typically estimated by annual maximum rainfalls (AMRs) of observations below 50 years in many parts of the world, including South Korea. However, due to the lack of data, the time-dependent nature may not be sufficiently identified by this classic approach. Here, this study aims to explore design rainfall with nonstationary condition using century-long reanalysis products that help one to go back to the early 20th century. Despite its useful representation of the past climate, the reanalysis products via observational data assimilation schemes and models have never been tested in representing the nonstationary behavior in extreme rainfall events. We used daily precipitations of two century-long reanalysis datasets as the ERA-20c by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the 20th century reanalysis (20CR) by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The AMRs from 1900 to 2010 were derived from the grids over South Korea. The systematic errors were downgraded through quantile delta mapping (QDM), as well as conventional stationary quantile mapping (SQM). The evaluation result of the bias-corrected AMRs indicated the significant reduction of the errors. Furthermore, the AMRs present obvious increasing trends from 1900 to 2010. With the bias-corrected values, we carried out nonstationary frequency analysis based on the time-varying location parameters of generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution. Design rainfalls with certain return periods were estimated based on the expected number of exceedance (ENE) interpretation. Although there is a significant range of uncertainty, the design quantiles by the median parameters showed the significant relative difference, from −30.8% to 42.8% for QDM, compared with the quantiles by the multi-decadal observations. Even though the AMRs from the reanalysis products are challenged by various errors such as quantile mapping (QM) and systematic errors, the results from the current study imply that the proposed scheme with employing the reanalysis product might be beneficial to predict the future evolution of extreme precipitation and to estimate the design rainfall accordingly

Role of G{alpha}12 and G{alpha}13 as Novel Switches for the Activity of Nrf2, a Key Antioxidative Transcription Factor

G{alpha}12 and G{alpha}13 function as molecular regulators responding to extracellular stimuli. NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is involved in a protective adaptive response to oxidative stress. This study investigated the regulation of Nrf2 by G{alpha}12 and G{alpha}13. A deficiency of G{alpha}12, but not of G{alpha}13, enhanced Nrf2 activity and target gene transactivation in embryo fibroblasts. In mice, G{alpha}12 knockout activated Nrf2 and thereby facilitated heme catabolism to bilirubin and its glucuronosyl conjugations. An oligonucleotide microarray demonstrated the transactivation of Nrf2 target genes by G{alpha}12 gene knockout. G{alpha}12 deficiency reduced Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK)-dependent Nrf2 ubiquitination required for proteasomal degradation, and so did G{alpha}13 deficiency. The absence of G{alpha}12, but not of G{alpha}13, increased protein kinase C {delta} (PKC {delta}) activation and the PKC {delta}-mediated serine phosphorylation of Nrf2. G{alpha}13 gene knockout or knockdown abrogated the Nrf2 phosphorylation induced by G{alpha}12 deficiency, suggesting that relief from G{alpha}12 repression leads to the G{alpha}13-mediated activation of Nrf2. Constitutive activation of G{alpha}13 promoted Nrf2 activity and target gene induction via Rho-mediated PKC {delta} activation, corroborating positive regulation by G{alpha}13. In summary, G{alpha}12 and G{alpha}13 transmit a JNK-dependent signal for Nrf2 ubiquitination, whereas G{alpha}13 regulates Rho-PKC {delta}-mediated Nrf2 phosphorylation, which is negatively balanced by G{alpha}12

In-situ fabrication of cobalt-doped SrFe2As2 thin films by using pulsed laser deposition with excimer laser

The remarkably high superconducting transition temperature and upper critical field of iron(Fe)-based layered superconductors, despite ferromagnetic material base, open the prospect for superconducting electronics. However, success in superconducting electronics has been limited because of difficulties in fabricating high-quality thin films. We report the growth of high-quality c-axis-oriented cobalt(Co)-doped SrFe2As2 thin films with bulk superconductivity by using an in-situ pulsed laser deposition technique with a 248-nm-wavelength KrF excimer laser and an arsenic(As)-rich phase target. The temperature and field dependences of the magnetization showing strong diamagnetism and transport critical current density with superior Jc-H performance are reported. These results provide necessary information for practical applications of Fe-based superconductors.Comment: 8 pages, 3figures. to be published at Appl. Phys. Let

EFFECTIVE DOSE MEASUREMENT FOR CONE BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY USING GLASS DOSIMETER

During image-guided radiation therapy, the patient is exposed to unwanted radiation from imaging devices built into the medical LINAC. In the present study, the effective dose delivered to a patient from a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) machine was measured. Absorbed doses in specific organs listed in ICRP Publication 103 were measured with glass dosimeters calibrated with kilovolt (kV) X-rays using a whole body physical phantom for typical radiotherapy sites, including the head and neck, chest, and pelvis. The effective dose per scan for the head and neck, chest, and pelvis were 3.37±0.29, 7.36±0.33, and 4.09±0.29 mSv, respectively. The results highlight the importance of the compensation of treatment dose by managing imaging dose

Intracranial Dural Metastasis of Ewing's Sarcoma: a Case Report

Although intracranial dural metastasis of Ewing's sarcoma is a very rare finding, its imaging characteristics are similar to those of its primary form in the central nervous system. Thus, this tumor must be considered in the differential diagnosis of extra-axial dural masses