THE IMPACT OF UPPER-LEVEL PROCESSES ON THE INTENSITY AND STRUCTURAL CHANGES OF HURRICANE SANDY (2012)

The first part of this study examines the relative roles of frontogenesis and tropopause undulation in determining the intensity and structural changes of Hurricane Sandy (2012) using a high-resolution cloud-resolving model. A 138-h simulation reproduces Sandy’s four distinct development stages: (i) rapid intensification, (ii) weakening, (iii) steady maximum surface wind but with large continued sea-level pressure (SLP) falls, and (iv) re-intensification. Results show typical correlations between intensity changes, sea-surface temperature and vertical wind shear during the first two stages. The large SLP falls during the last two stages are mostly caused by Sandy’s moving northward into lower-tropopause regions associated with an eastward-propagating midlatitude trough, where the associated lower-stratospheric warm air wraps into the storm and its surrounding areas. The steady maximum surface wind occurs because of the widespread SLP falls with weak pressure gradients lacking significant inward advection of absolute angular momentum (AAM). Meanwhile, there is a continuous frontogenesis in the outer region during the last three stages. Cyclonic inward advection of AAM along each frontal rainband accounts for the continued expansion of the tropical-storm-force wind and structural changes, while deep convection in the eyewall and merging of the final two survived frontal rainbands generate a spiraling jet in Sandy’s northwestern quadrant, leading to its re-intensification prior to landfall. The physical, kinematic and dynamic aspects of an upper-level outflow layer and its possible impact on the re-intensification of Sandy are examined in the second part of this study. Above the outflow layer isentropes are tilted downward with radius as a result of the development of deep convection and an approaching upper-level trough, causing weak subsidence. Its maximum outward radial velocity is located above the cloud top, so the outflow channel experiences cloud-induced long-wave cooling. Because Sandy has two distinct convective regions (an eyewall and a frontal rainband), it has multiple outflow layers, with the eyewall’s outflow layer located above that of the frontal rainband. During the re-intensification stage, the eyewall’s outflow layer interacts with a jet stream ahead of the upper-level trough axis. Because of the presence of inertial instability on the anticyclonic side of the jet stream and symmetric instability in the inner region of the outflow layer, Sandy’s secondary circulation intensifies. Its re-intensification ceases when these instabilities disappear. The relationship between the intensity of the secondary circulation and dynamic instabilities of the outflow layer suggests that the re-intensification occurs in response to these instabilities. Additionally, it is verified that the long-wave cooling in the outflow layer helps induce symmetric instability by reducing static stability

Drugs of abuse inhibit striatal dopamine transmission evoked by prefrontal cortex inputs

Drugs of abuse target the reward system and have one common action in the brain: increasing dopamine (DA) in the striatum. Recently, it was shown that the activation of prefrontal cortex (PFC) inputs can evoke DA transients in the striatum, comparable to more conventional DA transients evoked by firing of midbrain DA neurons (DANs). In response to stimulation of glutamatergic inputs from the PFC, cholinergic interneurons fire action potentials and release acetylcholine (ACh), which in turns activate nicotinic ACh receptors on DA fibers and triggers DA release. It is yet unclear what is the function of this new form of DA transmission in vivo and the effects of drugs of abuse on it. Using in vitro voltammetry and transgenic mice with optogenetic techniques, DA transients were recorded in dorsal striatum by stimulating either PFC inputs or DAN fibers in the same brain slice. To our surprise, bath application of either cocaine, nicotine, ethanol, morphine, fentanyl, or THC all inhibited PFC-driven DA transients without affecting DAN-driven DA transients. Further experiments showed that while each drugs of abuse inhibit the PFC-driven DA transient, the mechanisms by which they do so differ. Furthermore, PFC-driven and DAN-driven DA transmission antagonized each other. When the stimulation of PFC fibers preceded stimulation of DAN fibers, the DAN-driven DA transient was depressed, and vice versa. These antagonistic effects were significantly reduced in the presence of cocaine. These findings encourage a reconsideration of how DA transmission in the striatum is affected by drugs of abuse and also reveal a novel interaction between two mechanisms of DA release that may be compromised by drugs of abuse.Fil: Shin, Jung Hoon. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Adrover, Martín Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Authement, Michael. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Álvarez, Verónica. National Institutes of Health; Estados Unidos10th IBRO World Congress of NeuroscienceDaeguCorea del SurInternational Brain Research Organizatio

Detection of anomalies in software architecture with connectors

AbstractThis paper describes an approach to detecting anomalies in a software architectural style that is structured with components and connectors between the components. Each component is designed with tasks (concurrent or active objects), connectors between tasks, and passive objects accessed by tasks. Anomalies in the software architecture are detected twofold by each Component Monitor, which supervises objects in a component, and by a System Monitor, which monitors message communications between components. The monitors encapsulate the specifications of objects being monitored, which are represented using statecharts. The execution of statecharts in the monitors depends on notification messages from connectors between tasks, passive objects accessed by tasks in a component, and connectors between components

Bacterial community analysis in upflow multilayer anaerobic reactor (UMAR) treating high-solids organic wastes

A novel anaerobic digestion configuration, the upflow multi-layer anaerobic reactor (UMAR), was developed to treat high-solids organic wastes. The UMAR was hypothesized to form multi-layer along depth due to the upflow plug flow; use of a recirculation system and a rotating distributor and baffles aimed to assist treating high-solids influent. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency and methane (CH4) production rate were 89% and 2.10 L CH4/L/day, respectively, at the peak influent COD concentration (110.4 g/L) and organic loading rate (7.5 g COD/L/day). The 454 pyrosequencing results clearly indicated heterogeneous distribution of bacterial communities at different vertical locations (upper, middle, and bottom) of the UMAR. Firmicutes was the dominant (>70%) phylum at the middle and bottom parts, while Deltaproteobacteria and Chloroflexi were only found in the upper part. Potential functions of the bacteria were discussed to speculate on their roles in the anaerobic performance of the UMAR system

Sediment transport rate-based model for rainfall-induced soil erosion

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VCG-4TP7HC2-1/2/2a6275ceb0176f80cedfb5efe5ef248

Radiofrequency Ablation of Thyroid Nodules: Basic Principles and Clinical Application

Radiofrequency (RF) ablation has been gaining popularity as a minimally invasive treatment for benign thyroid nodules regardless of the extent of the solid component. RF ablation of benign nodules demonstrated volume reductions of 33–58% after one month and 51–85% after six months, while solving nodule-related clinical problems. RF ablation has recently shown positive short-term results for locoregional control as well as symptom improvement in patients with recurrent thyroid cancers. This paper reviews the basic physics, indications, patient preparation, devices, procedures, clinical results, and complications of RF ablation