Assessing the potential of VEGETATION sensor data for mapping snow and ice cover: a Normalized Difference Snow and Ice Index

Abstract. The VEGETATION (VGT) sensor in SPOT 4 has four spectral bands that are equivalent to Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) bands (blue, red, near-infrared and mid-infrared spectral bands) and provides daily images of the global land surface at a 1-km spatial resolution. We propose a new index for identifying and mapping of snow/ice cover, namely the Normalized DiVerence Snow/Ice Index (NDSII), which uses re ectance values of red and mid-infrared spectral bands of Landsat TM and VGT. For Landsat TM data, NDSII is calculated as NDSIITM=(TM3 TM5)/(TM3+TM5); for VGT data, NDSII is calculated as NDSIIVGT=(B2 MIR)/(B2+MIR). As a case study we used a Landsat TM image that covers the eastern part of the Qilian mountain range in the Qinghai– Xizang (Tibetan) plateau of China. NDSIITM gave similar estimates of the area and spatial distribution of snow/ice cover to the Normalized DiVerence Snow Index (NDSI=(TM2 TM5)/(TM2+TM5)) which has been proposed by Hall et al. The results indicated that the VGT sensor might have the potential for operational monitoring and mapping of snow/ice cover from regional to global scales, when using NDSIIVGT. 1

Outcomes and prognostic factors for surgically treated patients with breast cancer spine metastases

Purpose: The aim of this study is to provide some useful insights into the treatments, outcomes, and prognostic factors of patients with breast cancer spine metastases (BCSM). Methods: We report a retrospective case series analyzing 87 patients with BCSM who underwent surgical interventions. Independent prognostic factors for SMFS and OS were extracted using univariate and multivariate analyses, the Kaplan–Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The mean time between primary diagnoses and spinal metastases was 46.8 (median 41, range 0–147 months) months. The analysis showed that lymph node metastasis (p = 0.043, HR 10.498, 95%CI 1.074–102.588) and estrogen receptor (ER) status (p = 0.004, HR 0.368, 95%CI 0.189–0.721) can significantly affect SMFS. Furthermore, visceral metastasis (p = 0.042, HR 2.383, 95%CI 1.032–5.501), multiple metastases (p = 0.035, HR 2.538, 95%CI 1.066–6.048) and post-op chemotherapy (p = 0.003, HR 0.312, 95%CI 0.144–0.675) have significant effects on OS. Lastly, patients identified as Luminal A subtype have longer OS. Conclusions: Lymph node metastases and ER status are independent risk factors in predicting BCSM. Moreover, visceral metastasis, multiple metastases of the spine and post-op chemotherapy are independent prognostic factors. Luminal subtypes have higher rate, but late onset of spine metastases and prolonged survival. Keywords: Breast cancer spine metastasis, Prognostic factors, Survival, Kaplan–Meier method, Perou's classificatio

Supplementary document for Secondary cavitation bubble dynamics during laser-induced bubble formation in a small container - 6788581.pdf

Complete time-resolved photo series of bubble dynamics within a partially confined small container at various pulse energie