The Snowmelt-Runoff Model (SRM) user's manual

A manual to provide a means by which a user may apply the snowmelt runoff model (SRM) unaided is presented. Model structure, conditions of application, and data requirements, including remote sensing, are described. Guidance is given for determining various model variables and parameters. Possible sources of error are discussed and conversion of snowmelt runoff model (SRM) from the simulation mode to the operational forecasting mode is explained. A computer program is presented for running SRM is easily adaptable to most systems used by water resources agencies

Application of ERTS-1 Imagery to Flood Inundation Mapping

Application of ERTS-1 imagery to flood inundation mapping in East and West Nishnabotna basins of southwestern Iow

Routing in mobile opportunistic social networks with selfish nodes

When the connection to Internet is not available during networking activities, an opportunistic approach exploits the encounters between mobile human-carried devices for exchanging information. When users encounter each other, their handheld devices can communicate in a cooperative way, using the encounter opportunities for forwarding their messages, in a wireless manner. But, analyzing real behaviors, most of the nodes exhibit selfish behaviors, mostly to preserve the limited resources (data buffers and residual energy). That is the reason why node selfishness should be taken into account when describing networking activities: In this paper, we first evaluate the effects of node selfishness in opportunistic networks. Then, we propose a routing mechanism for managing node selfishness in opportunistic communications, namely, SORSI (Social-based Opportunistic Routing with Selfishness detection and Incentive mechanisms). SORSI exploits the social-based nature of node mobility and other social features of nodes to optimize message dissemination together with a selfishness detection mechanism, aiming at discouraging selfish behaviors and boosting data forwarding. Simulating several percentages of selfish nodes, our results on real-world mobility traces show that SORSI is able to outperform the social-based schemes Bubble Rap and SPRINT-SELF, employing also selfishness management in terms of message delivery ratio, overhead cost, and end-to-end average latency. Moreover, SORSI achieves delivery ratios and average latencies comparable to Epidemic Routing while having a significant lower overhead cost

Quality of Life in Patients with Small Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: The Effect of Early Endovascular Repair Versus Surveillance in the CAESAR Trial

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate and compare changes over time in health-related quality of life reported by patients with small (4.1–5.4 cm) abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) undergoing endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) or surveillance.MethodsParticipants were randomly assigned to receive either early EVAR or surveillance within a multicentre, randomised clinical trial on small AAA (Comparison of surveillance vs. Aortic Endografting for Small Aneurysm Repair, CAESAR). Patient-reported health-related quality of life was assessed before randomisation, at 6 months and yearly thereafter using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey.ResultsBetween 2004 and 2008, 360 patients (345 males, mean age 68.9 years) were randomised, 182 to early EVAR and 178 to surveillance. There was one perioperative death. Mean follow-up was 31.8 months. No significant difference in survival was found. At baseline, comparable quality of life scores were recorded in both treatment groups: Total SF-36: 73.0 versus 75.5 (p = 0.18), Physical domain: 71.4 versus 73.3 (p = 0.33); Mental health domain: 70.9 versus 72.7 (p = 0.33), in the EVAR arm versus the surveillance arm, respectively. Six months after randomisation, Total SF-36 and Physical and Mental domain scores were all significantly higher with respect to baseline in the EVAR group, while patients of the surveillance group scored lower. The differences between EVAR and surveillance arms in score changes at 6 months were significant and in favour of EVAR: Total score: difference 5.4; p = 0.0017; Physical: difference 3.8; p = 0.02; and Mental: difference 6.0; p = 0.0005. Differences between EVAR and surveillance diminished over time. At the last assessment, patients in both groups had decreased scores with a significant drop with respect to the baseline (−3.9 in EVAR, −6.3 in surveillance). There were no significant differences between the EVAR and surveillance arms: Total score: p = 0.25; Physical: p = 0.47; and Mental: p = 0.38.ConclusionsPatients with small AAA under surveillance compared with early EVAR had significant impaired functional health at 6 months after assignment. After a mean of 31.8 months, SF-36 health-related quality of life in patients allocated to early EVAR and surveillance was similar

Second-generation Thienopyridine use is not Associated with Better Early Perioperative Outcome During Carotid Stenting

AbstractObjectiveManagement of anti-platelet therapy during carotid artery stenting (CAS) is mainly based on indirect evidence from coronary stenting experience. There is common agreement on the use of thienopyridine (mainly second-generation) during CAS, but some patients are unsuitable for clopidogrel treatment and data on the benefit of its use in large CAS populations are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate whether clopidogrel was associated with reduced perioperative morbidity in patients undergoing CAS.MethodsConsecutive patients undergoing CAS for primary carotid stenosis from 2004 to 2009 were reviewed. The independent association of clopidogrel and perioperative morbidity was assessed using multivariable analysis.ResultsA total of 1083 patients were treated (29% females, mean age 71.6 years); 825 (76%) patients were given clopidogrel starting before treatment. Clopidogrel use was associated with a non-significant reduction of perioperative stroke/death (4.3% vs. 2.4%; p = 0.13) and disabling stroke (1.2% vs. 1.0%; p = 1) rates. The non-significant stroke/death difference was similar in symptomatic (5.8% vs. 4.0%, p = 0.37) and asymptomatic (3.7% vs. 1.9%; p = 0.17) patients. After adjusting for demographics, co-morbidities and other therapies with multivariable analysis, clopidogrel use failed to show any significant independent association in decreasing operative risks. The only independent protective factor was use of statins (p = 0.010). The additional use of dual anti-platelet therapy did not add any advantage to the use of clopidogrel alone.ConclusionsThe suggested benefit of clopidogrel in decreasing the incidence of complications in patients undergoing CAS may be overestimated due to the overlapping effect of other more relevant factors (e.g., pleiotropy and plaque stabilisation from statins). More data and level I evidence are needed to understand which is the best medical management of CAS that will help improve outcomes of the procedure

Bithiazole Inhibitors of Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase (PI4KIIIβ) as Broad-Spectrum Antivirals Blocking the Replication of SARS-CoV-2, Zika Virus, and Human Rhinoviruses

Over half a century since the description of the first antiviral drug, “old” re-emerging viruses and “new” emerging viruses still represent a serious threat to global health. Their high mutation rate and rapid selection of resistance toward common antiviral drugs, together with the increasing number of co-infections, make the war against viruses quite challenging. Herein we report a host-targeted approach, based on the inhibition of the lipid kinase PI4KIIIβ, as a promising strategy for inhibiting the replication of multiple viruses hijacking this protein. We show that bithiazole inhibitors of PI4KIIIβ block the replication of human rhinoviruses (hRV), Zika virus (ZIKV) and SARS-CoV-2 at low micromolar and sub-micromolar concentrations. However, while the anti-hRV/ZIKV activity can be directly linked to PI4KIIIβ inhibition, the role of PI4KIIIβ in SARS-CoV-2 entry/replication is debated

Lactate detection in the brain of growth-restricted fetuses with magnetic resonance spectroscopy

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the feasibility of detecting fetal brain lactate, a marker of fetal metabolic acidemia, using a noninvasive technique, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS), in intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) fetuses. STUDY DESIGN: In vivo human fetal brain lactate detection was determined by 1H MRS in 5 fetuses with IUGR. Oxygenation and acid-base balance data were obtained at birth. RESULTS: 1H MRS analysis showed the presence of a lactate peak in the brain of the most severely affected IUGR fetus, with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler and fetal heart rate tracing. This finding was consistent with the low oxygen content and high lactic acid concentration observed in umbilical blood obtained at delivery. CONCLUSION: 1H MRS allows the noninvasive detection of cerebral lactate in IUGR fetuses. Lactate detected by 1H MRS may represent a possible marker of in utero cerebral injury or underperfusion

Usefulness of multi-parametric MRI for the investigation of posterior cortical atrophy

Background Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a progressive decline in selective cognitive functions anatomically referred to occipital, parietal and temporal brain regions, whose diagnosis is rather challenging for clinicians. The aim of this study was to assess, using quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging techniques, the pattern of regional grey matter loss and metabolism in individuals with PCA to improve pathophysiological comprehension and diagnostic confidence. Methods We enrolled 5 patients with PCA and 5 matched controls who all underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS). Patients also underwent neuropsychological and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) assessments. MRI data were used for unbiased assessment of regional grey matter loss in PCA patients compared to controls. MRS data were obtained from a set of brain regions, including the occipital lobe and the centrum semiovale bilaterally, and the posterior and anterior cingulate. Results VBM analysis documented the presence of focal brain atrophy in the occipital lobes and in the posterior parietal and temporal lobes bilaterally but more pronounced on the right hemisphere. MRS revealed, in the occipital lobes and in the posterior cingulate cortex of PCA patients, reduced levels of N-Acetyl Aspartate (NAA, a marker of neurodegeneration) and increased levels of Myo-Inositol (Ins, a glial marker), with no hemispheric lateralization. Conclusion The bilateral but asymmetric pattern of regional grey matter loss is consistent with patients' clinical and neuropsychological features and with previous literature. The MRS findings reveal different stages of neurodegeneration (neuronal loss; gliosis), which coexist and likely precede the occurrence of brain tissue loss, and might represent early biomarkers. In conclusion, this study indicates the potential usefulness of a multi-parametric MRI approach for an early diagnosis and staging of patients with PCA