Improved Wind and Rain Estimation Over the Ocean Using QuikSCAT

The QuikSCAT scatterometer has proved to be a valuable tool in measuring the near-surface wind vector over the ocean. In raining conditions the instrument effectiveness is diminished by rain contamination of the radar return. To compensate for rain effects, two alternative estimation techniques have been proposed, simultaneous wind-rain retrieval and rainonly retrieval, which are appropriate under certain conditions. This paper proposes and outlines a Bayes estimator selection technique whereby a best estimate is selected from the simultaneous wind-rain, the rain-only and the conventional wind-only estimates. In this paper the Bayes estimator selection technique is introduced with a quick overview of the application to QuikSCAT wind and rain estimation. Results are demonstrated at both conventional and high resolutions for a case study which indicate that wind and rain estimates after Bayes estimator selection are more consistent with measured rain and have reduced noise levels over those produced by any of the individual estimators

Running demands in New Zealand club, semi-professional and professional rugby union competitions

Game demands of professional rugby players are well documented, however, there is minimal research on the running demands in amateur and semi-professional competitions. To the authors knowledge, no research has compared the running demands in club, national (division 1 (NPC) and division 2 (Heartland)) or international provincial (Super rugby) competitions. Information on the running demands of each competition would enable trainers to develop training programs specific to player’s needs and assist in the transition of players between competitions. Players from a team in each competition level wore a 10 Hz GPS unit during all games in a rugby season. Total distance (m), running distance (≥7 km.h-1(m)) and high intensity running (≥16 km.h-1(m)) were recorded. The research was approved by an Institutional Ethics Board and the NZ Rugby Union. Lower competition (club and division 2) players covered greater distances (150m to 400m) per game than higher level players. As in total distance, division 2 players ran (≥7 km.h-1) more in games (120m) compared to higher level players. However, club players typically covered less running distance than higher level players (3102m vs 3237 to 3319m, p=0.10 to 0.00). In contrast, Super rugby players typically ran greater distances (962m) at higher speeds (≥16 km.h-1) per game. This information could assist in the development of competition-specific training programs, and the monitoring of training loads during a season and when a player returns from an injury. Further analysis will investigate running demands of rugby positions in each competition to enable the development of position-specific-training programs

Use of Heated Humidified Gases for Early Stabilization of Preterm Infants: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Large observational studies in preterm infants have shown an increase in mortality and morbidity when admission temperature is below 36.5°C. Recent randomized controlled studies have shown a reduction in admission hypothermia and an increase in the number of infants admitted with normal temperature (36.5–37.5°C) when heated humidified gases were used for initial stabilization of preterm infants.Objective: The goal of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of published randomized trials using heated humidified gas compared to cold dry gas in preterm infants immediately after birth and during transport to the neonatal unit. Specific research aims were to determine the magnitude of the reduction in hypothermia and to examine neonatal outcomes including mortality.Methods: A literature search was conducted in accordance with the standard methods of the Cochrane Neonatal Work Group. Randomized trials were identified and data entered into RevMan5. A fixed effects statistical model was used. Risk of bias was assessed for included studies and the GRADE approach used to determine quality of evidence. The primary outcome was admission hypothermia (< 36.5°C). Secondary outcomes included admission temperature in the normothermic range (36.5–37.5°C) and neonatal outcomes including mortality.Results: Two studies met inclusion criteria and a total of 476 preterm infants were enrolled, all of whom were < 32 weeks gestation. Studies were not blinded but the overall risk of bias was low. Admission hypothermia was reduced by 36% (CI 17–50%), while admission normothermia was significantly increased. GRADE quality of evidence was high for these outcomes. The number of infants with more severe hypothermia (< 35.5°C) was significantly reduced (RR 0.32 CI 0.14-0.73). In addition, preterm infants < 28 weeks had significantly less admission hypothermia (RR 0.61 CI 0.42, 0.90) Mortality and measures of respiratory outcome were not significantly different (studies were not powered for these outcomes), though there was a trend to improvement in all respiratory measures assessed. There were no significant adverse events and no increase in admission hyperthermia (>37.5°C).Conclusions: Heating and humidification of inspired gases immediately after birth and during transport to the neonatal unit improves admission temperature in preterm infants. Consideration should be given to incorporating this technique into other strategies (e.g., use of plastic wrap) designed to keep preterm infants warm on admission to the neonatal unit

Adaptive Stress Testing of Airborne Collision Avoidance Systems

This paper presents a scalable method to efficiently search for the most likely state trajectory leading to an event given only a simulator of a system. Our approach uses a reinforcement learning formulation and solves it using Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS). The approach places very few requirements on the underlying system, requiring only that the simulator provide some basic controls, the ability to evaluate certain conditions, and a mechanism to control the stochasticity in the system. Access to the system state is not required, allowing the method to support systems with hidden state. The method is applied to stress test a prototype aircraft collision avoidance system to identify trajectories that are likely to lead to near mid-air collisions. We present results for both single and multi-threat encounters and discuss their relevance. Compared with direct Monte Carlo search, this MCTS method performs significantly better both in finding events and in maximizing their likelihood

Imaging of ischemia, obstruction and infection in the abdomen

Intestinal ischemia is a serious condition that continues to be associated with mortalities in excess of 70%. Intestinal obstruction and gastrointestinal tract sepsis are common conditions, accounting for a large proportion of patients admitted to emergency departments with acute abdominal symptoms. This article discusses the imaging methods and key findings of these entities in the emergency radiology department. The article includes imaging examples, diagnostic options, protocol selections, diagnostic criteria, and differential diagnoses

The X-ray Luminosity Function of Nearby Rich and Poor Clusters of Galaxies: A Cosmological Probe

In this letter, we present a new determination of the local (z<0.09) X-ray luminosity function (XLF) using a large, statistical sample of 294 Abell clusters and the ROSAT All-Sky-Survey. Given our large sample size, we have reduced errors by a factor of two for L(X)(0.5-2keV)>10^43 ergs/sec. We combine our data with previous work in order to explore possible constraints imposed by the shape of the XLF on cosmological models. A set of currently viable cosmologies is used to construct theoretical XLFs assuming Lx is proportional to M^p and a sigma_8-Omega_0 constraint (from Viana & Liddle 1996) based on the local X-ray temperature function. We fit these models to our observed XLF and verify that the simplest adiabatic, analytic scaling relation (e.g. Kaiser 1986) disagrees strongly with observations. If we assume that clusters can be described by the pre-heated, constant core-entropy models of Evrard & Henry (1991) then the observed XLF is consistent only with 0.1 < Omega_0 < 0.4 if the energy per unit mass in galaxies is roughly equal to the gas energy (ie if beta=1). (abridged)Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letters. uses emulateapj.st

Selection of chromosomal DNA libraries using a multiplex CRISPR system.

The directed evolution of biomolecules to improve or change their activity is central to many engineering and synthetic biology efforts. However, selecting improved variants from gene libraries in living cells requires plasmid expression systems that suffer from variable copy number effects, or the use of complex marker-dependent chromosomal integration strategies. We developed quantitative gene assembly and DNA library insertion into the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome by optimizing an efficient single-step and marker-free genome editing system using CRISPR-Cas9. With this Multiplex CRISPR (CRISPRm) system, we selected an improved cellobiose utilization pathway in diploid yeast in a single round of mutagenesis and selection, which increased cellobiose fermentation rates by over 10-fold. Mutations recovered in the best cellodextrin transporters reveal synergy between substrate binding and transporter dynamics, and demonstrate the power of CRISPRm to accelerate selection experiments and discoveries of the molecular determinants that enhance biomolecule function

Sequential quasi-Monte Carlo: Introduction for Non-Experts, Dimension Reduction, Application to Partly Observed Diffusion Processes

SMC (Sequential Monte Carlo) is a class of Monte Carlo algorithms for filtering and related sequential problems. Gerber and Chopin (2015) introduced SQMC (Sequential quasi-Monte Carlo), a QMC version of SMC. This paper has two objectives: (a) to introduce Sequential Monte Carlo to the QMC community, whose members are usually less familiar with state-space models and particle filtering; (b) to extend SQMC to the filtering of continuous-time state-space models, where the latent process is a diffusion. A recurring point in the paper will be the notion of dimension reduction, that is how to implement SQMC in such a way that it provides good performance despite the high dimension of the problem.Comment: To be published in the proceedings of MCMQMC 201

International Retrovirology Association brings together scientists and clinicians to bridge discoveries about human T-lymphotropic viruses from the laboratory to clinical trials

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and HTLV-2 were among the first human retroviruses discovered in the early 1980's. The International Retrovirology Association is an organized effort that fostered the efforts of scientists and clinicians to form interdisciplinary groups to study this group of retroviruses and their related diseases. The Association promotes excellent science, patient education, and fosters the training of young scientists to promote "bench-to-bedside" research. The International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and Related Viruses sponsored by the Association supports clinicians and researchers in the exchange of research findings and stimulation of new research directions. This years conference will be held from June 22 to 25, in Montego Bay, Jamaica . Since its inception in 1988, these conferences have provided a highly interactive forum for the global community of HTLV scientists. This is of particular importance as HTLV research enters its third decade and a new generation of scientists takes over this important work. Many of the scientists attending the meeting will be from developing countries where HTLV is endemic, consistent with the history of international collaborations that have characterized HTLV research. The International Conference on Human Retrovirology provides a unique opportunity for researchers of all disciplines interested in HTLV infections to meet their peers and to address the questions facing clinicians and scientists who study retroviruses, like HTLV