Homogenized gridded dataset for drought and hydrometeorological modeling for the continental United States

We present a novel data set for drought in the continental US (CONUS) built to enable computationally efficient spatio-temporal statistical and probabilistic models of drought. We converted drought data obtained from the widely-used US Drought Monitor (USDM) from its native geo-referenced polygon format to a 0.5 degree regular grid. We merged known environmental drivers of drought, including those obtained from the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS-2), US Geological Survey (USGS) streamflow data, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) teleconnections data. The resulting data set permits statistical and probabilistic modeling of drought with explicit spatial and/or temporal dependence. Such models could be used to forecast drought at short-range, seasonal to sub-seasonal, and inter-annual timescales with uncertainty, extending the reach and value of the current US Drought Outlook from the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center. This novel data product provides the first common gridded dataset that includes critical variables used to inform hydrological and meteorological drought.

Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Are They Beneficial for Physical and Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults?

BACKGROUND

There is equivocal evidence about beneficial properties of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 LCPUFA) for older adults.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the relationship between circulating ω-3 LCPUFA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels and their corresponding dietary intakes with cognition and physical function in a cohort of community-dwelling older adults at risk of dementia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 142 community-dwelling older adults (60-85 years) with subjective memory complaints. Erythrocyte fatty acids (ω-3 LCPUFA) and the omega-3 index were measured; dietary DHA and EPA were assessed with a LCPUFA specific questionnaire. Cognition was measured using the Cogstate computerised battery and Trail-making tests. Muscle strength was assessed by grip strength and physical function via the four-square step test, 30-second sit-to-stand, timed up-and-go test, and 4-m walk test. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between erythrocyte ω-3 LCPUFA, dietary intake, cognitive and physical function.

RESULTS

Higher dietary DHA and EPA were associated with better global cognitive function (DHA: β=0.164, p=0.042; EPA: β=0.188, p=0.020). Higher dietary EPA was associated with better attention/psychomotor composite scores (β=0.196, p=0.024), mobility (four-square step test: β=-0.202, p=0.015) and gait speed (4m walk test: β=-0.200, p=0.017). No associations were found between erythrocyte ω-3 LCPUFA and cognitive or functional performance measures.

CONCLUSIONS

In community-dwelling older adults with subjective memory complaints, higher dietary ω-3 LCPUFA intake was associated with better cognitive and physical function, supporting the evidence that ω-3 fatty acids play a role in optimising physical and cognitive health during ageing.

Identifying drivers of spatial variation in occupancy with limited replication camera trap data

Occupancy models are widely used in camera trap studies to analyze species presence, abundance, and geographic distribution, among other important ecological quantities. These models account for imperfect detection using a latent variable to distinguish between true presence/absence and observed detection of a species. Under certain experimental setups, parameter estimation in a latent variable framework can be challenging. Several studies have issued guidelines on the number of independent replicated observations (surveys) needed for each unchanging occupancy field (season) to ensure reliable estimation. In this paper, we present a spatio-temporal occupancy model, and show through a simulation study that it can be fit to data obtained from a single survey per season, so long as the number of seasons is sufficiently large. We include an application using camera-trap data on the Thomson's gazelle in the Serengeti in Tanzania.

[Early cancer diagnosis through automated cytoanalysis (Fazytan system)]

A prescreening system for the early detection of uterine cancer was developed. For the diagnosis of each input specimen (PAP-stained), a figure of malignancy has to be calculated automatically. Methods, problems and results of the system are summarized in this paper. Some thousand microscopic subfields of a specimen are successively scanned by an optimized TV-camera with high spatial resolution. The automated specimen analysis can be described by a two step procedure: single cell classification and evaluation of cell population. For the single cell classifier only features derived from the nucleus are used. The pattern recognition procedures are based on a processor-oriented strategy, and can be adapted to other cytological specimen. The algorithms have been tested with 3 . 10(5) cell images of about 300 specimens.

FAZYTAN: a system for fast automated cell segmentation, cell image analysis and feature extraction based on TV-image pickup and parallel processing

Cell location, segmentation and feature extraction of cell images are principal tasks of a high-resolution system for automated cytology. To perform these tasks with high speed, image processing algorithms and the architecture of a processor have to be optimized mutually. This has led to the development of a fast system for the evaluation of cytologic samples based on an optimized TV microscope, a host minicomputer with different peripheral array processors and digital image storages. The processors are optimized in speed for two-dimensional local operations to investigate neighborhood relations and morphology in cell images. Two-dimensional transformations of TV images (288 x 512 x 8 bit) can be carried out within 20 to 200 msec. The processors are able to realize linear filter functions (correlation, convolution) as well as nonlinear functions (median filtering). A set of measurements like area, circumference and connectivity can be derived parallely from one image in 20 msec. The system performs efficient and fast detection and segmentation of cells scanned in one TV frame within one second as well as the extraction of a large number of morphologic features within a few seconds. Based on these procedures, high-resolution analysis of several thousand cells of a sample within one minute will be possible.

Structure analysis and classification of cervical cells using a processing system based on TV

This paper presents preliminary results of a cell classification experiment using a new approach for feature extraction. The algorithm takes into account the special requirements of a fast parallel processing system (processor-oriented algorithms). A cell image is described by several hundred features derived from the nucleus only. The most significant features with respect to classification are determined by statistical analysis. Applying principal axis transform, a new feature set is computed, reduced considerably in dimensions. The data base (1,925 cell images of Papanicolaou-stained cervical specimens) was divided into a training set (963 images) and a test set (962 images). The classification results of the test set show that the recognition rate for the two-class problem (normal, suspicious) is better than 91%, using only ten morphologic features.

Fast and economic conversion of images to a tactile presentation for blind people

A new procedure for the conversion of binary black and white images to a tactile presentation perceptible by the blind is described. Conventional procedures are very time-consuming and expensive and are not adapted to produce the required low editions of tactile displays, e.g., for schools for the blind or individual applications. The procedure recently developed allows the fast, economical conversion of even single drawings to a tactile display with high resolution. An account of the investigations and valuations of all possible physical procedures of optical-to-tactile conversion is given. The new procedure, based on a slightly modified Xerox copying process in a first step and gumming tactile material with the tone powder at the darkened regions in a second step, is described in detail. The device realised is presented. It allows the conversion of one page of a drawing to a tactile display with a resolution of 0.3 mm within 1 min. Various applications of the system and experiences with blind users are reported. The implement proved to meet most of the requirements of blind people. It is easy to handle and produces tactile drawings of excellent quality. As it is based on commercial subsystems it promises an economical production even at small series.

[Cerebro-organic syndrome during gold therapy. Possible correlation between gold therapy in chronic seronegative polyarthritis and the appearance of a cerebro-organic syndrome. A case contribution]

In this article the possible relationship between gold therapy of a chronic seronegative polyarthritis and the appearance of a cerebro-organic syndrome in a 56-year-old postmenopausal woman will be discussed. We take into consideration the basic illness, the biography, the hormonal situation, the simultaneous chloroquin therapy and the overdosage of the gold drug. After a careful consideration of the different diagnostical possibilities following the above mentioned factors, not only a temporal but also a causative relationship of gold therapy and cerebro-organic syndrome seems to be possible.

[A case of Poland syndrome]

A typical case of Poland syndrome is reported; brachiothoracic hemi-aplasia with absence of major pectoralis muscle, shortening of the arm and symbrachydactylia. Additionally, there was some evidence of debility. There were no malformations in the family history.