Comparison of Thermal Variance Dissipation Rates from Moored and Profiling Instruments at the Equator

As a quantitative test of moored mixing measurements using [subscript χ]pods, a comparison experiment was conducted at 0°, 140°W in October–November 2008. The following three measurement elements were involved: (i) NOAA’s Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) mooring with five [subscript χ]pods, (ii) a similar mooring 9 km away with seven [subscript χ]pods, and (iii) Chameleon turbulence profiles at an intermediate location. Dissipation rates of temperature variance and turbulent kinetic energy are compared. In all but 3 of 17 direct comparisons 15-day mean values of [subscript χT] agreed within 95% bootstrap confidence limits computed with the conservative assumption that individual 1-min [subscript χ]pod averages and individual Chameleon profiles are independent. However, significant mean differences occur on 2-day averages. Averaging in time reduces the range (95%) in the observed differences at two locations from a factor of 17 at 1-day averaging time to less than a factor of 2 at 15 days, presumably reflecting the natural variability in both the turbulence and the small-scale fluid dynamics that lead to instability and turbulence. The motion of [subscript χ]pod on a mooring beneath a surface buoy is complex and requires a complete motion package to define in detail. However, perfect knowledge of the motion of the sensor tip is not necessary to obtain a reasonable measure of [subscript χT]. A sampling test indicated that the most important motion sensor is a pressure sensor sampled rapidly enough to resolve the surface wave–induced motion.Keywords: Microscale processes/variability, Buoy observations, Turbulence, Mixing, Data processin

Progressive refinement rendering of implicit surfaces

The visualisation of implicit surfaces can be an inefficient task when such surfaces are complex and highly detailed. Visualising a surface by first converting it to a polygon mesh may lead to an excessive polygon count. Visualising a surface by direct ray casting is often a slow procedure. In this paper we present a progressive refinement renderer for implicit surfaces that are Lipschitz continuous. The renderer first displays a low resolution estimate of what the final image is going to be and, as the computation progresses, increases the quality of this estimate at an interactive frame rate. This renderer provides a quick previewing facility that significantly reduces the design cycle of a new and complex implicit surface. The renderer is also capable of completing an image faster than a conventional implicit surface rendering algorithm based on ray casting

Scatterometer and Model Wind and Wind Stress in the Oregon–Northern California Coastal Zone

Measurements of surface wind stress by the SeaWinds scatterometer on NASA's Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) satellite are analyzed and compared with several different atmospheric model products, from an operational model and two high-resolution nested regional models, during two summer periods, June through September 2000 and 2001, in the coastal region west of Oregon and northern California. The mean summer wind stress had a southward component over the entire region in both years. Orographic intensifications of both the mean and fluctuating wind stress occurred near Cape Blanco, Cape Mendocino, and Point Arena. Substantial differences between the model products are found for the mean, variable, and diurnal wind stress fields. Temporal correlations with the QuikSCAT observations are highest for the operational model, and are not improved by either nested model. The highest-resolution nested model most accurately reproduced the mean observed stress fields, but slightly degrades the temporal correlations due to incoherent high-frequency (0.5–2 cpd) fluctuations. The QuikSCAT data reveal surprisingly strong diurnal fluctuations that extend offshore 150 km or more with magnitudes that are a significant fraction of the mean wind stress. Wind stress curl fields from QuikSCAT and the models show local cyclonic and anticyclonic maxima associated with the orographic wind intensification around the capes. The present results are consistent with the hypothesis of a wind-driven mechanism for coastal jet separation and cold water plume and anticyclonic eddy formation in the California Current System south of Cape Blanco

LAPAROSCOPIC RECONSTRUCTION OF THE URINARY TRACT IN PATIENTS WITH URETERAL STRICTURE AFTER KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION

Aim. Ureteral obstruction secondary to ischemia is the most common urologic complication of kidney trans- plantation. Pyeloureteral anastomosis with recipient ureter has shown most satisfactory long-term results in its management. Existing urinary infection and immunosupression determine the high risk of wound complications. We have experience more than 50 reconstructive procedures of urinary tract after kidney transplantation by open surgery during 25 years. Till last time this procedure has been performed through open surgery. Method. We used pyeloureteral anastomosis with recipient ureter in two patients with ureteral stricture after kidney transplantation by laparoscopic approach. The operations lasted 215 and 275 min respectively. In both cases the surgery was per- formed after percutaneous nephrostomy because of deterioration of transplanted kidney function. Internal stent was indwelled laparoscopicaly. No drain tube was left. Results. The nephrostomy tubes were removed after 10 and 7 days respectively. The stents were removed after 27 and 20 days respectively. No complications were seen during the surgery and postoperative period. Now serum creatinine level is 0.12 mmol/l and 0.15 mmol/l after 15 and 12 months after surgery respectively. Conclusion. In spite of some difficulties related with topographic land- marks and severe tissues fibrosis after transplantation laparoscopic pyeloureterostomy in transplanted kidney is safe and feasible procedure. The main advantage is absence of risk of most serious complications related with wound infection in immune compromised patients. Moreover, early recovery to usual activity and diet facilita- tes to prevent pulmonary infections and to normalize intestinal absorbability of the immunosuppressive drugs

Development stage-specific proteomic profiling uncovers small, lineage specific proteins most abundant in the Aspergillus Fumigatus conidial proteome

Background The pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus is the most frequent infectious cause of death in severely immunocompromised individuals such as leukemia and bone marrow transplant patients. Germination of inhaled conidia (asexual spores) in the host is critical for the initiation of infection, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms of this process. Results To gain insights into early germination events and facilitate the identification of potential stage-specific biomarkers and vaccine candidates, we have used quantitative shotgun proteomics to elucidate patterns of protein abundance changes during early fungal development. Four different stages were examined: dormant conidia, isotropically expanding conidia, hyphae in which germ tube emergence has just begun, and pre-septation hyphae. To enrich for glycan-linked cell wall proteins we used an alkaline cell extraction method. Shotgun proteomic resulted in the identification of 375 unique gene products with high confidence, with no evidence for enrichment of cell wall-immobilized and secreted proteins. The most interesting discovery was the identification of 52 proteins enriched in dormant conidia including 28 proteins that have never been detected in the A. fumigatus conidial proteome such as signaling protein Pil1, chaperones BipA and calnexin, and transcription factor HapB. Additionally we found many small, Aspergillus specific proteins of unknown function including 17 hypothetical proteins. Thus, the most abundant protein, Grg1 (AFUA_5G14210), was also one of the smallest proteins detected in this study (M.W. 7,367). Among previously characterized proteins were melanin pigment and pseurotin A biosynthesis enzymes, histones H3 and H4.1, and other proteins involved in conidiation and response to oxidative or hypoxic stress. In contrast, expanding conidia, hyphae with early germ tubes, and pre-septation hyphae samples were enriched for proteins responsible for housekeeping functions, particularly translation, respiratory metabolism, amino acid and carbohydrate biosynthesis, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Conclusions The observed temporal expression patterns suggest that the A. fumigatus conidia are dominated by small, lineage-specific proteins. Some of them may play key roles in host-pathogen interactions, signal transduction during conidial germination, or survival in hostile environments

Enhanced turbulence due to the superposition of internal gravity waves and a coastal upwelling jet

The upwelling-driven coastal jet off Oregon is in geostrophic balance to first order. The accompanying thermal wind shear is stable to shear instability. Yet enhanced turbulence is observed in the upwelling jet, typically as long, thin patches with horizontal to vertical aspect ratios of 10² to 10³ (median value ~300). These patches are clearly defined by regions of low Richardson number and occur where and when the linear superposition of the three dominant shear constituents (near-inertial, M₂, and thermal wind) interferes constructively. This is most pronounced at the base of the coastal jet, where the thermal wind shear is largest. While the effect of the turbulence stress divergence on the jet is small compared to geostrophy (~1%), it is significant in the second-order force balance governing secondary circulation. The timescale associated with the decay of the thermal wind shear via turbulence stress is O(10) days. We confirm that the vertical salt flux due to mixing is comparable to the net Ekman transport of salt onto the shelf within the bottom boundary layer. Because numerical models of coastal circulation lack turbulence in midwater column, any vertical transport of scalars, including salt and heat, must be achieved inshore of the 40-m isobath. This is inconsistent with the observations presented in this study, in which significant vertical turbulent salt transport is found to exist across the entire shelf.Keywords: turbulence, internal gravity wave

Malignant skin neoplasms in patients after kidney transplantation

Introduction. The widespread use of modern immunosuppressive therapy schemes has increased the duration of transplanted organ function. However, along with an increase in life expectancy, there is an elevation in malignant neoplasms in patients with a transplanted organ.Objective. To present own clinical experience in the treatment of patients with malignant skin neoplasms after kidney transplantation.Materials and methods. Four patients with malignant skin neoplasms were observed in our clinic from 2010 to 2017. Three of them developed Kaposi's sarcoma between 6 months and 6 years after kidney transplantation, and one was diagnosed with squamous-cell skin cancer 10 years after the operation.Results. After histological verification of Kaposi's sarcoma, excision of neoplasms was performed in two cases, followed by a decrease in the dosage of immunosuppressive drugs. In one case, a complete conversion of immunosuppressive therapy was performed. Stabilization of the oncological process was noted during therapy. However, subsequent deterioration in the function of the transplanted organ was recorded up to a complete loss of function in all patients, which led to the removal of the kidney. A patient with squamous-cell skin cancer underwent surgical treatment with a course of close-focus radiotherapy, but further progression led to a lethal outcome.Conclusion. Kidney transplant recipients receive lifelong immunosuppressive therapy and represent a high-risk group for developing skin malignancies and an increased risk of cancer mortality. Withdrawal of immunosuppressive drugs, i.e. calcineurin inhibitors, is still the main condition for the complete cure of patients with Kaposi's sarcoma but is accompanied by an extremely high probability of loss of function of the transplanted organ

Energy transport by nonlinear internal waves

Winter stratification on Oregon’s continental shelf often produces a near-bottom layer of dense fluid that acts as an internal waveguide upon which nonlinear internal waves propagate. Shipboard profiling and bottom lander observations capture disturbances that exhibit properties of internal solitary waves, bores, and gravity currents. Wavelike pulses are highly turbulent (instantaneous bed stresses are 1 N m−2), resuspending bottom sediments into the water column and raising them 30+ m above the seafloor. The wave cross-shelf transport of fluid often counters the time-averaged Ekman transport in the bottom boundary layer. In the nonlinear internal waves that were observed, the kinetic energy is roughly equal to the available potential energy and is O(0.1) megajoules per meter of coastline. The energy transported by these waves includes a nonlinear advection term 〈uE〉 that is negligible in linear internal waves. Unlike linear internal waves, the pressure–velocity energy flux 〈up〉 includes important contributions from nonhydrostatic effects and surface displacement. It is found that, statistically, 〈uE〉 ≃ 2〈up〉. Vertical profiles through these waves of elevation indicate that up(z) is more important in transporting energy near the seafloor while uE(z) dominates farther from the bottom. With the wave speed c estimated from weakly nonlinear wave theory, it is verified experimentally that the total energy transported by the waves is 〈up〉 + 〈uE〉 ≃ c〈E〉. The high but intermittent energy flux by the waves is, in an averaged sense, O(100) watts per meter of coastline. This is similar to independent estimates of the shoreward energy flux in the semidiurnal internal tide at the shelf break