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On 15 September 2015, a convective storm yielded heavy rainfalls that caused the strongest flash flood in the last 50 years in the South Negev Desert (Israel). None of the operational forecast models predicted the event, and thus, no warning was provided. We analyzed this event using satellite, radar, and numerical weather prediction model data. We generated cloud-free climatological values on a pixel basis using Temporal Fourier Analysis on a time series of MSG geostationary satellite data. The discrepancy between the measured and climatological values was used to detect “cloud-contaminated” pixels. This simple, robust, fast, and accurate method is valuable for the early detection of convection. The first clouds were detected 30 min before they were detected by the official MSG cloud mask, 4.5 h before the radar, and 10 h before the flood reached the main road. We used the “severe storms” RGB composite and the satellite-retrieved vertical profiles of cloud top temperature–particle’s effective radius relations as indicators for the development of a severe convective storm. We also reran the model with different convective schemes, with much-improved results. Both the satellite and model-based analysis provided early warning for a very high probability of flooding a few hours before the actual flooding occurred.

Measurement(s) temperature of air • land surface temperature Technology Type(s) satellite imaging of a planet • computational modeling technique Factor Type(s) year of data collection • daytime and nighttime surface temperature bands Sample Characteristic - Environment climate system Sample Characteristic - Location Eastern Mediterranean Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.14035028

Environmental and economic constraints are forcing farmers to be more precise in the rates and timing of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application to wheat. In practice, N is frequently applied without knowledge of the precise amount needed or the likelihood of significant protein enhancement. The objective of this study was to help farmers optimize top dress N application by adopting the use of within-field reference N strips. We developed an assisting app on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to map the spatial variability of four different vegetation indices (VIs) in each field by calculating the mean VI, masking extreme values (three standard deviations, 3σ) of each field, and presenting the anomaly as a deviation of ±σ and ±2σ or deviation of percentage. VIs based on red-edge bands (REIP, NDRE, ICCI) were very useful for the detection of wheat above ground N uptake and in-field anomalies. VENµS high temporal and spatial resolutions provide advantages over Sentinel-2 in monitoring agricultural fields during the growing season, representing the within-field variations and for decision making, but the spatial coverage and accessibility of Sentinel-2 data are much better. Sentinel-2 data is already available on the GEE platform and was found to be of much help for the farmers in optimizing topdressing N application to wheat, applying it only where it will increase grain yield and/or grain quality. Therefore, the GEE anomaly app can be used for top-N dressing application decisions. Nevertheless, there are some issues that must be tested, and more research is required. To conclude, satellite images can be used in the GEE platform for anomaly detection, rendering results within a few seconds. The ability to use L1 VENµS or Sentinel-2 data without atmospheric correction through GEE opens the opportunity to use these data for several applications by farmers and others.

Climatic conditions during the grain-filling period are a major factor affecting wheat grain yield and quality. Wheat in many semi-arid and arid areas faces high-temperature stress during this period. Remote sensing can be used to monitor both crops and environmental temperature. The objective of this study was to develop a tool to optimize field management (cultivar and sowing time). Analysis of 155 cultivar experiments (from 10 growth seasons) representing different environmental conditions revealed the required degree-days for each Israeli spring wheat cultivar to reach heading (from emergence). We developed a Google Earth Engine (GEE) app to analyze time series of gap-filled 1 km MODIS land surface temperature (LSTcont). By changing the cultivar and/or emergence date in the GEE app, the farmer can “expose” each wheat field to different climatic conditions during the grain-filling period, thereafter enabling him to choose the best cultivar to be sown in the field with the right timing. This approach is expected to reduce the number of fields that suffer from heat stress during the grain-filling period. The app can be also used to assess the effects of different global warming scenarios and to plan adaptation strategies in other regions too.

Experimental results of the azimuth anisotropy measurements for the radio brightness of rough sea-surface are under discussion here. A statistically valid model of the sea surface has been proposed as a set of dual-slope prisms, orthogonal oriented to the surface wind direction. The conformity of results with other models and the adequacy of dependencies for wind contribution to the brightness temperature been estimated on the basis of this model and experimentally obtained. have been noted in this work. Sea wind-roughness peculiarities responsible for the behavior of angular dependencies of the azimuth anisotropy of radio brightness contrasts are interpreted here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied two sisters who developed large non-toxic goitres in adolescence. Deiodinase deficiency was diagnosed by a rapid thyroid uptake of radioactive iodine (RAI) at 2 hours associated with a marked fall in thyroidal 131I by 24 hours. Serial RAI scans in the second patient documented evolution of the iodine-deficient state. Conservation of intra-thyroidal iodine stores was maintained by avid iodine uptake and failure to release organified 131I. With progressive loss of inorganic iodine, hypothyroidism developed, associated with a rise in serum TSH which further exacerbated the loss of iodine. Treatment with L-thyroxine resulted in an improvement of thyroid function, but normalization was achieved only after small doses of Lugol's iodine were administered. These studies illustrate the variable nature and late onset of an inborn error of thyroid metabolism. This family supports an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance for deiodinase deficiency. We have documented progression from a euthyroid to hypothyroid state resulting from decompensation of iodine conservation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Prolonged hypoglycaemia (serum glucose levels of 50 mg/dl and less, for more than 12 h in spite of treatment with periodic injections of hypertonic glucose) secondary to treatment with glibenclamide was found in 13 hospitalized patients. The mean daily dose of glibenclamide was 6.7 mg. In nine patients, the hypoglycaemia developed within 7 days of treatment. In two patients the tendency to hypoglycaemia lasted for more than 60 h in spite of continuous infusion of 5% or 10% glucose. Old age seems to be a crucial predisposing factor as none of the patients was under the age of 68 years. Contributing factors were renal failure and congestive heart disease. We feel that glibenclamide should be used with care in the elderly and in patients with renal or cardiac failure. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Summary The BH3 mimetic ABT-737 is a potent inhibitor of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and Bcl-w. The Bcl-2 family modulates sensitivity to anticancer drugs in many cancers, including melanomas. In this study, we examined whether ABT-737 is effective in killing melanoma cells either alone or in combination with a proteasome inhibitor already in clinical use (Bortezomib) in vitro and in vivo, and further evaluated the mechanisms of action. Results showed that ABT-737 alone induced modest cytotoxicity in melanoma cells, but only at higher doses. Knock-down of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, or Mcl-1 with siRNAs demonstrated that Mcl-1 is the critical mediator of melanoma's resistance to ABT-737 treatment. However, ABT-737 displayed strong synergistic lethality when combined with Bortezomib. Immunoblot analyses demonstrated that Bortezomib increased expression of Noxa, a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 member that antagonizes Mcl-1. Additionally, siRNA-mediated inhibition of Noxa expression protected melanoma cells from cytotoxicity induced by the combination treatment. These results demonstrate that Bortezomib synergizes with ABT-737 by neutralizing Mcl-1's function via increased levels of Noxa. In a xenograft mouse model, although drug doses were limited due to toxicity, ABT-737 or Bortezomib slowed melanoma tumor growth compared to the control, and the drug combination significantly decreased growth compared to either drug alone. These data imply that less toxic drugs fulfilling a function similar to Bortezomib to neutralize Mcl-1 are promising candidates for combination with ABT-737 for treating melanomas.

A 55 year old woman in thyrotoxic crisis developed atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular block, and sinoatrial block in rapid succession. All of these abnormalities resolved completely after antithyroid treatment. This course of events illustrates the profound effect of thyroid hormones on cardiac function. In view of the potential aggravation of atrioventricular conduction disturbance by beta adrenergic blocking agents, thyrotoxic patients should be carefully screened for electrocardiographic evidence of conduction disturbance before the administration of such drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]