Operational observations of atypical meteorological features using the WSR-88D

The Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) provides invaluable information on a variety of meteorological phenomena. The high sensitivity of the WSR-88D allows for the observation of phenomena that were not observable with previous WSR`s. Precipitation phase, land-sea breeze circulations, and clouds are examples of phenomena that are now observable by the WSR-88D. The detection of these features has an enormous impact on forecast operations

Effect of high root temperature and excessive insolation upon growth

Summary. 1 1. Under ordinary environmental conditions of temperature and sunlight the growth of peas, as of barley, is seriously hindered by overcrowding, even when each plant receives a similar supply of food and water. Not only is less dry weight produced, but the pods become thin and distorted and fail to develop their seeds properly. 2 Growth tends to be depressed in hot sunny weather when no protection is afforded. The chief detrimental factors concerned appear to be high temperatures at the roots associated with strong and prolonged sunshine, though the two factors acting individually are much less potent for harm. Under these conditions crowding shelters the roots from overheating and the leaves from too much sunlight, and up to a certain point crowded plants make better growth than those spaced well apart. Overcrowding, however, still depresses growth, probably because the light and root temperature reductions are too great. 3 Provided insolation is not excessive the amount of daily fluctuation of root temperature over a total range of about 22oC. (6?7-28-9oC.) has comparatively little influence upon growth; high maxima and low minima give similar results to low maxima and relatively high minima, provided the average mean temperatures are not too dissimilar. 4 With high root temperatures a difference in the degree of insolation or in the angle of incidence of the sun's rays may have a considerable influence on growth, a slight easing off of the solar conditions enabling much better growth to be made. 5 With very strong sunshine reduction of high maximum root temperatures (from 29oC. upwards) allows of satisfactory growth, when unprotected plants are rapidly killed. The inhibitory action of too high temperatures at the roots is thus clearly shown. Nevertheless, the growth so made is less good than under more normal conditions of insolation, thus demonstrating the harmful action of too powerful sunlight, when all the root temperatures rule high. 6 Boot temperatures appear to be of greater importance than atmospheric temperatures, as good growth can be made in hot atmospheres provided the roots are kept relatively cool. 7 There is some reason to believe that the minima are of as much importance as the maxima, i.e. that plants can withstand very high maximum temperatures provided there is a considerable drop to the minima, but cannot put up with the constant conditions of heat induced by fairly high maxima, and high minim

Agreement Among 4 Sampling Methods to Identify Respiratory Pathogens in Dairy Calves with Acute Bovine Respiratory Disease.

BackgroundFour sampling techniques commonly are used for antemortem identification of pathogens from cattle with bovine respiratory disease (BRD): the nasal swab (NS), guarded nasopharyngeal swab (NPS), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and transtracheal wash (TTW). Agreement among these methods has not been well characterized.ObjectiveTo evaluate agreement among TTW and NS, NPS, or BAL for identification of viral and bacterial pathogens in dairy calves with BRD.AnimalsOne hundred dairy calves with naturally acquired BRD.MethodsCalves were sampled by all 4 methods. Viral agents were identified by real-time RT-PCR, bacteria were identified by aerobic culture, and Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) isolates were speciated by PCR. Agreement among TTW and NS, NPS, or BAL was evaluated by calculating the kappa statistic and percent positive agreement. McNemar's exact test was used to compare the proportions of positive results.ResultsAgreement among TTW and NS, TTW and NPS, and TTW and BAL, was very good for identification of P. multocida, M. haemolytica, and M. bovis. For bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), agreement with TTW was moderate for NS, good for NPS, and very good for BAL. For bovine coronavirus (BCV), agreement with TTW was moderate for NS and NPS, and good for BAL. McNemar's test was significant only for BCV, indicating that for this pathogen the proportion of positive results from NS and NPS could not be considered comparable to TTW.Conclusions and clinical importanceThis study provides guidance for veterinarians selecting diagnostic tests for antemortem identification of pathogens associated with BRD

A phase I/II study of bortezomib and capecitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with taxanes and/or anthracyclines.

BACKGROUND Proteasome inhibitors are a novel class of compounds entering clinical trials as a method to increase tumour sensitivity to standard chemotherapy. This phase I/II trial was carried out to evaluate the combination of capecitabine and the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib in anthracycline and/or taxane-pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 35 patients were treated with bortezomib (1.0-1.3 mg/m(2) on days 1, 4, 8 and 11) and capecitabine (1500-2500 mg/m(2) on days 1-14) in 3-week intervals for up to eight cycles. RESULTS The maximum tolerated doses (MTDs) were bortezomib 1.3 mg/m(2) and capecitabine 2500 mg/m(2). The treatment was generally well tolerated and associated with toxic effects that were consistent with the known side-effects of the individual agents. The intent-to-treat overall response rate was 15% and an additional 27% of patients had stable disease (SD). In the 20 patients treated at the MTD, the response rate was 15% and 40% had SD. Median time to progression and overall survival were 3.5 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9-4.4] and 7.5 months (95% CI 5.6-14.6), respectively. Median duration of response was 4.4 months. CONCLUSION The combination of bortezomib and capecitabine is well tolerated and has moderate antitumour activity in heavily pretreated patients