Exploiting radar polarimetry for nowcasting thunderstorm hazards using deep learning

This work presents the importance of polarimetric variables as an additional data source for nowcasting thunderstorm hazards using an existing neural network architecture with recurrent-convolutional layers. The model can be trained to predict different target variables, which enables nowcasting of hail, lightning, and heavy rainfall for lead times up to 60 min with a 5 min resolution, in particular. The exceedance probabilities of Swiss thunderstorm warning thresholds are predicted. This study is based on observations from the Swiss operational radar network, which consists of five operational polarimetric C-band radars. The study area of the Alpine region is topographically complex and has a comparatively very high thunderstorm activity. Different model runs using combinations of single- and dual-polarimetric radar observations and radar quality indices are compared to the reference run using only single-polarimetric observations. Two case studies illustrate the performance difference when using all predictors compared to the reference model. The importance of the predictors is quantified by investigating the final training loss of the model, with skill scores such as critical success index (CSI), precision, recall, precision–recall area under the curve, and the Shapley value. Results indicate that single-polarization radar data are the most important data source. Adding polarimetric observations improves the model performance compared to reference model in term of the training loss for all three target variables. Adding quality indices does so, too. Including both polarimetric variables and quality indices at the same time improves the accuracy of nowcasting heavy precipitation and lightning, with the largest improvement found for heavy precipitation. No improvement could be achieved for nowcasting of the probability of hail in this way.</p

OPEN FORIS AND GOOGLE EARTH ENGINE LINKING EXPERT PARTICIPATION WITH NATURAL RESOURCE MAPPING AND REMOTE SENSING TRAINING IN TANZANIA

There is an increasing amount of open Earth observation (EO) data available, offering solutions to map, assess and monitor natural resources and to obtain answers to global and local societal challenges. With the help of free and open source software (FOSS) and open access cloud computing resources, the remote sensing community can take the full advantage of these vast geospatial data repositories. To empower developing societies, support should be given to higher education institutions (HEIs) to train professionals in using the open data, software and tools. In this paper, we describe a participatory mapping methodology, which utilizes open source software Open Foris and QGIS, various open Earth observation data catalogues, and computing capacity of the free Google Earth Engine cloud platform. Using this methodology, we arranged a collaborative data collection event, Mapathon, in Tanzania, followed by a training of the related FOSS tools for HEIs’ teaching staff. We collected feedback from the Mapathon participants about their learning experiences and from teachers about the usability of the methodology in remote sensing training in Tanzania. Based on our experiences and the received feedback, using a participatory mapping campaign as a training method can offer effective learning about environmental remote sensing through a real-world example, as well as networking and knowledge sharing possibilities for the participating group

Treatment effect of idebenone on inspiratory function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Assessment of dynamic inspiratory function may provide valuable information about the degree and progression of pulmonary involvement in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The aims of this study were to characterize inspiratory function and to assess the efficacy of idebenone on this pulmonary function outcome in a large and well‐characterized cohort of 10–18 year‐old DMD patients not taking glucocorticoid steroids (GCs) enrolled in the phase 3 randomized controlled DELOS trial. We evaluated the effect of idebenone on the highest flow generated during an inspiratory FVC maneuver (maximum inspiratory flow; V'I,max(FVC)) and the ratio between the largest inspiratory flow during tidal breathing (tidal inspiratory flow; V'I,max(t)) and the V'I,max(FVC). The fraction of the maximum flow that is not used during tidal breathing has been termed inspiratory flow reserve (IFR). DMD patients in both treatment groups of DELOS (idebenone, n = 31; placebo: n = 33) had comparable and abnormally low V'I,max(FVC) at baseline. During the study period, V'I,max(FVC) further declined by −0.29 L/sec in patients on placebo (95%CI: −0.51, −0.08; P = 0.008 at week 52), whereas it remained stable in patients on idebenone (change from baseline to week 52: 0.01 L/sec; 95%CI: −0.22, 0.24; P = 0.950). The between‐group difference favoring idebenone was 0.27 L/sec (P = 0.043) at week 26 and 0.30 L/sec (P = 0.061) at week 52. In addition, during the study period, IFR improved by 2.8% in patients receiving idebenone and worsened by −3.0% among patients on placebo (between‐group difference 5.8% at week 52; P = 0.040). Although the clinical interpretation of these data is currently limited due to the scarcity of routine clinical practice experience with dynamic inspiratory function outcomes in DMD, these findings from a randomized controlled study nevertheless suggest that idebenone preserved inspiratory muscle function as assessed by V'I,max(FVC) and IFR in patients with DMD

Maternal risk factors for gastroschisis: A population‐based case–control study

BackgroundGastroschisis is an open abdominal wall defect with low mortality but significant morbidity. The prevalence has been increasing worldwide for the past decades. Several risk factors for gastroschisis have been identified, but no clear reason for increasing prevalence has been found. In our study, we aimed to assess and identify maternal risk factors for gastroschisis.MethodsIn our nationwide register‐based case–control study, we identified all gastroschisis cases in the Finnish Register of Congenital Malformations from 2004 to 2014. Information on drug prescriptions and purchases was received from Drugs and Pregnancy database. Five healthy age‐matched controls from the same geographical region were randomly selected for each case. Conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate different risk factors.ResultsOne‐hundred‐eighty‐eight cases of gastroschisis were identified and compared with 910 matched controls. Nulliparity was a significant risk factor for gastroschisis, aOR 2.00 (95% CI 1.29–3.11) whereas obesity was protective, aOR 0.35 (95% CI 0.15–0.83). Smoking appeared to increase the risk for gastroschisis, aOR 1.32 (95% CI 0.88–1.97). The mean maternal age of newborns with gastroschisis was significantly lower than average (p  ConclusionAs in previous studies, nulliparity and young maternal age were significant risk factors for gastroschisis. Maternal obesity significantly reduced the risk of gastroschisis regardless of maternal age and gestational diabetes.</p

Plasmodium knowlesi Genome Sequences from Clinical Isolates Reveal Extensive Genomic Dimorphism.

Plasmodium knowlesi is a newly described zoonosis that causes malaria in the human population that can be severe and fatal. The study of P. knowlesi parasites from human clinical isolates is relatively new and, in order to obtain maximum information from patient sample collections, we explored the possibility of generating P. knowlesi genome sequences from archived clinical isolates. Our patient sample collection consisted of frozen whole blood samples that contained excessive human DNA contamination and, in that form, were not suitable for parasite genome sequencing. We developed a method to reduce the amount of human DNA in the thawed blood samples in preparation for high throughput parasite genome sequencing using Illumina HiSeq and MiSeq sequencing platforms. Seven of fifteen samples processed had sufficiently pure P. knowlesi DNA for whole genome sequencing. The reads were mapped to the P. knowlesi H strain reference genome and an average mapping of 90% was obtained. Genes with low coverage were removed leaving 4623 genes for subsequent analyses. Previously we identified a DNA sequence dimorphism on a small fragment of the P. knowlesi normocyte binding protein xa gene on chromosome 14. We used the genome data to assemble full-length Pknbpxa sequences and discovered that the dimorphism extended along the gene. An in-house algorithm was developed to detect SNP sites co-associating with the dimorphism. More than half of the P. knowlesi genome was dimorphic, involving genes on all chromosomes and suggesting that two distinct types of P. knowlesi infect the human population in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. We use P. knowlesi clinical samples to demonstrate that Plasmodium DNA from archived patient samples can produce high quality genome data. We show that analyses, of even small numbers of difficult clinical malaria isolates, can generate comprehensive genomic information that will improve our understanding of malaria parasite diversity and pathobiology

Management of Ocular Manifestations of Atopic Dermatitis : A Consensus Meeting Using a Modified Delphi Process

There is a need for unified guidance on the management of ocular manifestations of atopic dermatitis and ocular manifestations associated with dupilumab in the Nordic region (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden). This initiative gathered Nordic dermatologists and ophthalmologists to identify consensus in this area using a modified Delphi process. The initiative was led by a Nordic expert panel who developed a questionnaire that was circulated to a wider group. The results informed an agenda consisting of 24 statements to be voted on using a 5-point Likert scale at a meeting in Copenhagen on 24 April 2019. A facilitator moderated discussion and revised statements according to expert feedback for a second vote when required to reach consensus. Consensus was reached for 23 statements regarding the diagnosis, treatment and referral of these patients, which we hope will improve patient management in the Nordic region.Peer reviewe