Potential of remote sensing and open street data for flood mapping in poorly gauged areas: a case study in Gonaives, Haiti

The Hispaniola Island, in the Caribbean tropical zone, is prone to extreme flood events. Floods are caused by tropical springs and hurricanes and may lead to human losses, economical damages, and spreading of waterborne diseases. Flood studies based upon hydrological and hydraulic modelling are hampered by almost complete lack of hydro-meteorological data. Thenceforth, and given the cost and complexity in the organization of field measurement campaigns, the need for exploitation of remote sensing data, and open source data bases. We present here a feasibility study to explore the potential of (i) high-resolution of digital elevation models (DEMs) from remote imagery and (ii) remotely sensed precipitation data, to feed hydrological flow routing and hydraulic flood modelling, applied to the case study of river La Quinte closed to Gonaives (585 km2), Haiti. We studied one recent flood episode, namely hurricane Ike in 2008, when flood maps from remote sensing were available for validation. The atmospheric input given by hourly rainfall was taken from downscaled Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) daily estimates, and subsequently fed to a semi-distributed DEM-based hydrological model, providing an hourly flood hydrograph. Then, flood modelling using Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System (HEC-RAS 1D, one-dimensional model for unsteady open channel flow) was carried out under different scenarios of available digital elevation models. The DEMs were generated using optical remote sensing satellite WorldView-1 and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), combined with information from an open source database (OpenStreetMap). Observed flood extent and land use have been extracted using Système Pour l’Observation de la Terre-4 (SPOT-4) imagery. The hydraulic model was tuned for floodplain friction against the observed flooded area. We compared different scenarios of flood simulation and the predictive power given by model tuning. Our study provides acceptable results in depicting flooded areas, especially considering the tremendous lack of ground data, and shows the potential of hydrological modelling approach fed by remote sensing information in Haiti, and in similarly data-scarce areas. Our approach may be useful to provide depiction of flooded areas for the purpose of (i) flood design for urban planning under a frequency-driven approach and (ii) forecasting of flooded areas for warning procedures, pending availability of weather forecast with proper lead time

Therapy-induced antitumor vaccination in neuroblastomas by the combined targeting of IL-2 and TNF alpha

L19-IL2 and L19TNF are fusion proteins composed of L19(scFv), specific for the angiogenesis-associated ED-B containing fibronectin isoform and IL-2 or TNF. Because of the tumor targeting properties of L19, IL-2 and TNF concentrate at therapeutic doses at the tumor vascular level. To evaluate the therapeutic effects of L19-IL2 and L19mTNF in neuroblastoma (NB)-bearing mice, A/J mice bearing Neuro2A or NIE115 NB were systemically treated with L19-IL2 and L19mTNF, alone or in combination protocols. Seventy percent of Neuro2A- and 30% of NIE115-bearing mice were cured by the combined treatment with L19-IL2 and L19mTNF, and further rejected a homologous tumor challenge, indicating specific antitumor immune memory. The immunological bases of tumor cure and rejection were studied. A highly efficient priming of CD4+ T helper cells and CD8+ CTL effectors was generated, paralleled by massive infiltration in the tumor tissue of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells at day 16 after tumor cell implantation, when, after therapy, tumor volume was drastically reduced and tumor necrosis reached about 80%. The curative treatment resulted in a long-lasting antitumor immune memory, accompanied by a mixed Th1/Th2 type of response. Concluding, L19-IL2 and L19mTNF efficiently cooperate in determining a high percentage of NB cure that, in our experimental models, is strongly associated to the generation of adaptive immunity involving CD4+ and CD8+ T cells

Modelling hydrological components of the Rio Maipo of Chile, and their prospective evolution under climate change

We used the Poly-Hydro model to assess the main hydrological components of the snow-ice melt driven Maipo River in Chile, and glaciers' retreat under climate change therein until 2100. We used field data of ice ablation, ice thickness, weather and hydrological data, and precipitation from TRMM. Snow cover and temperature were taken from MODIS. We forced the model using weather projections until 2100 from three GCMs from the IPCC AR5, under three different radiative concentration pathways (RCPs 2.6, 4.5, 8.5). We investigated trends of precipitation, temperature, and hydrology until 2100 in the projection period (PR, 2014-2100) and the whole period (CM 1980-2100, composite), against historical trends in control period (CP, 1980-2013). We found potentially increasing temperature until 2100, except for Spring (OND). In the PR period, yearly flow decreases significantly under RCP85, on average -0.25 m 3 \ub7s -1 \ub7year -1 , and down to -0.48 m 3 \ub7s -1 \ub7year -1 , i.e., -0.4% year -1 against CP yearly average (120 m 3 s -1 ). In the long run (CM) significant flow decrease would, occur under almost all scenarios, confirming persistence of a historical decrease, down to -0.39 m 3 \ub7s -1 \ub7year -1 during CM. Large flow decreases are expected under all scenarios in Summer (JFM) during PR, down to -1.6 m 3 \ub7s -1 \ub7year -1 , or -1% year -1 against CP for RCP8.5, due to increase of evapotranspiration in response to higher temperatures. Fall (AMJ) flows would be mostly unchanged, whileWinter (JAS) flows would be projected to increase significantly, up to 0.7 m 3 \ub7s -1 \ub7year -1 during 2014-2100, i.e., +0.9% year -1 vs. CP under RCP8.5, due to large melting therein. Spring (OND) flows would decrease largely under RCP8.5, down to -0.67 m 3 s -1 \ub7year -1 , or -0.4% year -1 vs. CP, again due to evapotranspiration. Glacier down wasting is projected to speed up, and increasingly so with RCPs. Until 2100 ice loss would range from -13% to -49% (-9%, and -39% at 2050) of the estimated volume at 2012, which changed by -24% to -56% (-21%, and -39% at 2050) vs. ice volume in 1982, thus with rapider depletion in the first half of the century. Policy makers will have to cope with modified hydrological cycle in the Maipo River, and greatly decreasing ice cover in the area

Prediction of future hydrological regimes in poorly gauged high altitude basins: the case study of the upper Indus, Pakistan

In the mountain regions of the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalaya (HKH) the "third polar ice cap" of our planet, glaciers play the role of "water towers" by providing significant amount of melt water, especially in the dry season, essential for agriculture, drinking purposes, and hydropower production. Recently, most glaciers in the HKH have been retreating and losing mass, mainly due to significant regional warming, thus calling for assessment of future water resources availability for populations down slope. However, hydrology of these high altitude catchments is poorly studied and little understood. Most such catchments are poorly gauged, thus posing major issues in flow prediction therein, and representing in fact typical grounds of application of PUB concepts, where simple and portable hydrological modeling based upon scarce data amount is necessary for water budget estimation, and prediction under climate change conditions. In this preliminarily study, future (2060) hydrological flows in a particular watershed (Shigar river at Shigar, ca. 7000 km<sup>2</sup>), nested within the upper Indus basin and fed by seasonal melt from major glaciers, are investigated. <br><br> The study is carried out under the umbrella of the SHARE-Paprika project, aiming at evaluating the impact of climate change upon hydrology of the upper Indus river. We set up a minimal hydrological model, tuned against a short series of observed ground climatic data from a number of stations in the area, in situ measured ice ablation data, and remotely sensed snow cover data. The future, locally adjusted, precipitation and temperature fields for the reference decade 2050–2059 from <i>CCSM3</i> model, available within the IPCC's panel, are then fed to the hydrological model. We adopt four different glaciers' cover scenarios, to test sensitivity to decreased glacierized areas. The projected flow duration curves, and some selected flow descriptors are evaluated. The uncertainty of the results is then addressed, and use of the model for nearby catchments discussed. The proposed approach is valuable as a tool to investigate the hydrology of poorly gauged high altitude areas, and to project forward their hydrological behavior pending climate change

Bacteriological Quality of Milk in Raw Bovine Bulk Milk in the Selected Milk Collection Centers : Smallholder Dairy Processing Ethiopia

Cross-sectional study was conducted to examine and identify quality of raw bovine milk from in Arsi Zone and East Shewa Zone, in Oromia, Ethiopia. The purpose of the study was to assess hygienic practices during milking, milk collection and bacteriological quality of cow\u2019s milk in Arsi and East Shewa Zones milk collection centers. Total of 246 bacterial isolates were obtained from milk samples taken from Tiyo, Digeluna Tijo, and Lemuna Bilbilo Districts in Arsi Zone and Ada district in East Shewa Zone. Identification of Escherichia coli done using API 20 E biochemical test kit, Gram stain was used to identify staphylococcus aureus, Listeria was identified using Rapid Listeria monocytogenes (RLM), and Brucella identified using Milk ring test (MRT). These included Escherichia coli 19.8%, Listeria monocytogenes 1.2%, Staphylococcus aureus 3.2% and Brucella 3.3%

Consensus Statement on Animals’ Relationship with Pediatric Oncohematological Patients, on Behalf of Infectious Diseases and Nurse Working Groups of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

: Contact with animals in pediatric oncohematologic patients is associated with many benefits, but the risk of contracting zoonoses, even if low, must be considered by clinicians. In order to assess the awareness about this topic, we surveyed the Italian pediatric oncohematology centers, which resulted in heterogeneous responses. The Infectious Diseases Working Group and the Nurse Working Group of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, together with veterinarians from the National Federation of Italian Veterinarians, drew up a consensus document to unify the indications to be given to families with the aim of guaranteeing a safe interaction between patients and animals and improving the collaboration of clinicians with veterinarians and families

Making the most of data:An information selection and assessment framework to improve water systems operations

Advances in Environmental monitoring systems are making a wide range of data available at increasingly higher temporal and spatial resolution. This creates an opportunity to enhance real-time understanding of water systems conditions and to improve prediction of their future evolution, ultimately increasing our ability to make better decisions. Yet, many water systems are still operated using very simple information systems, typically based on simple statistical analysis and the operator’s experience. In this work, we propose a framework to automatically select the most valuable information to inform water systems operations supported by quantitative metrics to operationally and economically assess the value of this information. The Hoa Binh reservoir in Vietnam is used to demonstrate the proposed framework in a multiobjective context, accounting for hydropower production and flood control. First, we quantify the expected value of perfect information, meaning the potential space for improvement under the assumption of exact knowledge of the future system conditions. Second, we automatically select the most valuable information that could be actually used to improve the Hoa Binh operations. Finally, we assess the economic value of sample information on the basis of the resulting policy performance. Results show that our framework successfully select information to enhance the performance of the operating policies with respect to both the competing objectives, attaining a 40% improvement close to the target trade-off selected as potentially good compromise between hydropower production and flood control