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The objective of this paper is to present an overview of preliminary results obtained during the SemiArid Land-Surface-Atmosphere (SALSA) programme. It highlights some of the findings in the fields of remote sensing and surface-atmosphere interaction.

The objective of this paper is to present an overview of preliminary results obtained during the SemiArid Land-Surface-Atmosphere (SALSA) programme. It highlights some of the findings in the fields of remote sensing and surface-atmosphere interaction.

The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the primary results of the Semi-Arid Land-Surface-Atmosphere (SALSA) Program in the context of improvements to our overall understanding of hydrologic, ecologic, and atmospheric processes and their interactions in a semi-arid basin. The major findings and future research needs associated with the different core components of the program are emphasized. First, remote-sensing investigations are discussed, especially those directed toward taking full advantage of the capabilities of the new generation of satellites (ERS2/ATSR2, VEGETATION, LANDSAT7, NASA-EOS). Second, we discuss parameterization of the water and energy fluxes in arid and semi-arid regions, with special emphasis on methods to aggregate these fluxes from patch scale to grid scale. Third, we address the issues related to grassland ecology and competition for water between native grass and invasive mesquite species. Fourth, findings related to the interactions between surface water, ground water, and vegetation in a semi-arid riparian system are discussed. Next, an assessment of land use and land cover change over the entire basin over a quarter century is reviewed. Finally, unsolved issues and the needs for further research are outlined.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with robust declines in well-being for collegiate student-athletes. Worries about COVID-19 have frequently been associated with worsening well-being; therefore, it is important to examine protective factors against well-being decrements. Resilience, one's ability to respond to stress and adversity, may be one such factor. Despite this possible influence, resilience has not yet been studied in student-athletes in this context as the pandemic has progressed. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the moderating role of resilience on the relationship between COVID-19 worries and well-being. In this cross-sectional design, National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III athletes ( N = 91) at one university completed surveys on COVID-19 worries, resilience, and well-being between February and March 2021. All competitions had been postponed until the Spring 2021 semester. The findings revealed a negative correlation between COVID-19 worries and well-being ( r = -0.21, p = 0.05) and a positive correlation between resilience and well-being ( r = 0.44, p < 0.001). Additionally, multiple regression and simple slopes analyses showed that individuals with higher resilience endorsed greater scores of well-being, even when COVID-19 worries increased (β = 0.38, p = 0.02). In conclusion, our results suggest that resilience had a moderating effect on the relationship between COVID-19 worries and well-being., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Watts, Hilliard and Graupensperger.)

A series of potent, selective and long-acting quinoline-based sulfonamide human H 1 histamine receptor antagonists, designed for once-daily intranasal administration for the treatment of rhinitis were developed. Sulfonamide 33b had a slightly lower affinity for the H 1 receptor than azelastine, had low oral bioavailability in the rat and dog, and was turned over to five major metabolites. Furthermore, 33b had longer duration of action than azelastine in guinea pigs, lower rat brain-penetration, and did not cause time dependent inhibition of CYP2D6 or CYP3A4. The clinical dose in humans is expected to be low (approximately 0.5mg per day) based on the clinical dose used for azelastine and a comparison of efficacy data from animal models for 33b and azelastine., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Global-scale studies suggest that dryland ecosystems dominate an increasing trend in the magnitude and interannual variability of the land CO 2 sink. However, such analyses are poorly constrained by measured CO 2 exchange in drylands. Here we address this observation gap with eddy covariance data from 25 sites in the water-limited Southwest region of North America with observed ranges in annual precipitation of 100-1000 mm, annual temperatures of 2-25°C, and records of 3-10 years (150 site-years in total). Annual fluxes were integrated using site-specific ecohydrologic years to group precipitation with resulting ecosystem exchanges. We found a wide range of carbon sink/source function, with mean annual net ecosystem production (NEP) varying from -350 to +330 gCm -2 across sites with diverse vegetation types, contrasting with the more constant sink typically measured in mesic ecosystems. In this region, only forest-dominated sites were consistent carbon sinks. Interannual variability of NEP, gross ecosystem production (GEP), and ecosystem respiration (R eco ) was larger than for mesic regions, and half the sites switched between functioning as C sinks/C sources in wet/dry years. The sites demonstrated coherent responses of GEP and NEP to anomalies in annual evapotranspiration (ET), used here as a proxy for annually available water after hydrologic losses. Notably, GEP and R eco were negatively related to temperature, both interannually within site and spatially across sites, in contrast to positive temperature effects commonly reported for mesic ecosystems. Models based on MODIS satellite observations matched the cross-site spatial pattern in mean annual GEP but consistently underestimated mean annual ET by ~50%. Importantly, the MODIS-based models captured only 20-30% of interannual variation magnitude. These results suggest the contribution of this dryland region to variability of regional to global CO 2 exchange may be up to 3-5 times larger than current estimates., (Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.)

The synthesis of potent amide-containing phthalazinone H 1 histamine receptor antagonists is described. Three analogues 3e , 3g , and 9g were equipotent with azelastine and were longer-acting in vitro. Amide 3g had low oral bioavailability, low brain-penetration, high metabolic clearance, and long duration of action in vivo, and it was suitable for once-daily dosing intranasally, with a predicted dose for humans of approximately 0.5 mg per day.

The tritium input to groundwater, represented as volume-weighted mean tritium concentrations in precipitation, has been close to constant in Tucson and Albuquerque since 1992, and the decrease in tritium concentrations at the tail end of the bomb tritium pulse has ceased. To determine the future usefulness of tritium measurements in southwestern North America, volume-weighted mean tritium levels in seasonal aggregate precipitation samples have been gathered from 26 sites. The averages range from 2 to 9 tritium units (TU). Tritium concentrations increase with site latitude, and possibly with distance from the coast and with site altitude, reflecting local ratios of combination of low-tritium moisture advected from the oceans with high-tritium moisture originating near the tropopause. Tritium used alone as a tool for mapping aquifer volumes containing only pre-bomb recharge to groundwater will become ambiguous when the tritium in precipitation at the end of the bomb tritium pulse decays to levels close to the analytical detection limit. At such a time, tritium in precipitation from the last one to two decades of the bomb pulse will become indistinguishable from pre-bomb recharge. The threshold of ambiguity has already arrived in coastal areas with a mean of 2 TU in precipitation and will follow in the next three decades throughout the study region. Where the mean tritium level is near 5 TU, the threshold will occur between 2025 and 2030, given a detection limit of 0.6 TU. Similar thresholds of ambiguity, with different local timing possible, apply globally., (© 2011, The Author(s). Ground Water © 2011, National Ground Water Association.)

A series of potent phthalazinone-based human H(1) and H(3) bivalent histamine receptor antagonists, suitable for intranasal administration for the potential treatment of allergic rhinitis, were identified. Blockade of H(3) receptors is thought to improve efficacy on nasal congestion, a symptom of allergic rhinitis that is currently not treated by current antihistamines. Two analogues (56a and 56b) had slightly lower H(1) potency (pA(2) 9.1 and 8.9, respectively, vs 9.7 for the clinical gold-standard azelastine, and H(3) potency (pK(i) 9.6 and 9.5, respectively, vs 6.8 for azelastine). Compound 56a had longer duration of action than azelastine, low brain penetration, and low oral bioavailability, which coupled with the predicted low clinical dose, should limit the potential of engaging CNS-related side-effects associated with H(1) or H(3) antagonism.

Serious staphylococcal infections frequently begin in the skin. The present study used a mouse model of such infections to evaluate the ability of Staphylococcus aureus to disseminate from the skin and to determine if cutaneous damage from the infections was required for dissemination. The mice were inoculated with S. aureus onto flank skin prepared by a tape-stripping method that caused minimal disruption of the epidermal keratinocyte layers. After these inoculations the staphylococci were found to disseminate to the spleen and kidneys of almost all animals within 6h. Induction of leucopenia did not affect this process. Cutaneous damage was prominent in these experimental infections and included loss of the epidermis, neutrophil infiltration into the epidermis, and complete necrosis of the dermis. The latter also occurred in cyclophosphamide-treated animals, indicating that the organisms themselves and not the host inflammatory responses were responsible. Dermal necrosis did not develop until 48h after inoculation, a time by which dissemination had already occurred. Therefore, in this mouse model system S. aureus is capable of penetrating the epidermal keratinocyte layers and disseminating rapidly after inoculation; the experimental infections do produce significant dermal damage, but the latter develops after dissemination has already taken place.

Background: Previous studies in a murine cutaneous anthrax model have demonstrated that hairless and haired HRS/J mice are extremely resistant to Bacillus anthracis. Because these mice are relatively thymus deficient, we used C57BL/6 athymic nude and euthymic mice to evaluate the relationship between T cell deficiency and this heightened resistance., Methods: Animals were epicutaneously inoculated with 1 X 10(7) B. anthracis (Sterne) spores onto abraded skin or injected with the spores intradermally or subcutaneously. The mice were then either monitored for survival or killed for quantitative histological experiments., Results: Athymic mice were found to be markedly resistant to all 3 inoculation routes, compared with euthymic C57BL/6 mice. Athymic mice rendered leukopenic with cyclophosphamide became susceptible. Histological examination demonstrated increased inflammation and absence of organisms in the skin of athymic mice, compared with euthymic ones. The numbers of organisms in the athymic animals increased markedly after cyclophosphamide treatment. Superficial exudate fluids of inoculated skin showed many more neutrophils and ingested bacilli in the athymic mice., Conclusions: These experiments demonstrate that athymic nude C57BL/6 mice are markedly resistant to experimental cutaneous anthrax, apparently because of a superficial neutrophilic response that clears the inoculated organisms before they can invade the underlying skin.

Hair follicles may allow pathogen entry because they represent potential barrier defects and because there is immunological privilege within actively growing follicles. Experimental cutaneous Bacillus anthracis infections in mice have previously shown prominent organism invasion and proliferation within hair follicles. For the present study, C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with B. anthracis (Sterne) spores onto abraded skin with either anagen (actively growing) or telogen (inactive) hair follicles; skin samples were evaluated by histologic methods and electron microscopy. The infections were found to progress similarly in either anagen or telogen hair follicles, with bacilli occasionally invading deeper sites in anagen hair follicles. The infections progressed from the surface inward, rather than growing outward from within the follicles. Infecting bacilli destroyed the hair follicle keratinocytes and were initially not contacted by inflammatory cells within the follicles. However, at 3-4 days after inoculation, inflammatory cells did contact and disperse the massed follicle bacilli and led to apparent resolution of the follicle infections. Therefore, in this model system B. anthracis initially attacks superficial sites in active or inactive hair follicles and then progresses inward, producing destructive infections of the hair follicles; these infections clear when the massed bacilli are eventually contacted and dispersed by inflammatory cells.

A series of ketopiperazines were prepared and evaluated for their activity as histamine H 3 antagonists. From investigation of the tertiary basic center in the aminopropyloxyphenyl template, the 2( R)-methylpyrrolidine was identified as the most potent amine. In the more rigid piperidineoxyphenyl template the N-cyclobutyl group was the most potent amine. The 4-fluorobenzyol, 4-cyanobenzoyl, and 2,4-difluorobenzoyl groups provided good pharmacokinetic profiles for the various amides. The PSA and log D values of these compounds suggested low brain penetration. The compounds had very high selectivity over other receptors and did not inhibit hepatic cytochrome P450, indicating low drug-drug interaction potential. Compound 22i was identified as the best compound of this series based on its overall profile of high potency, selectivity, low brain penetration, lack of CYP450 inhibition, high oral bioavailability, and pharmacokinetic properties.

Size-exclusion chromatography with multiple detection provides data on the distributions of various properties in a branched polymer sample, for example, distributions of the number, average mass, mean-squared mass, and branching fraction against hydrodynamic volume. A method is developed that provides a basis to use such data for obtaining structural and biosynthetic information on highly branched polymers, such as amylopectin. We generate by simulation a reference distribution of randomly branched polymers from the experimental distribution of debranched chains of the target polymer. We then select from these simulated chains a set with the same number (or other) distribution as the actual polymer sample, using reverse Monte Carlo simulations. Properties of these model polymers are used to interpret the differences with experiment as due to correlations in branching structure. The same methodology can be applied to data from other separation techniques such as field-flow fractionation and high-performance anionic exchange chromatography.

Rationale: Nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB is a transcription factor known to regulate the expression of many inflammatory genes, including cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules. NF-kappaB is held inactive in the cytoplasm, bound to I-kappaB. The removal of I-kappaB, via the actions of inhibitor of kappaB (I-kappaB) kinase-2 (IKK-2), allows NF-kappaB to enter the nucleus., Objectives: To determine the impact of inhibiting IKK-2 on in vitro and in vivo models of airway inflammation., Methods: The effect of inhibiting IKK-2 was assessed in stimulated, cultured, primary human airway smooth muscle cells and an antigen-driven rat model of lung inflammation., Measurements: The release of cytokines from cultured cells and inflammatory cytokine expression and cellular burden in the lung were determined., Main Results: Two structurally distinct molecules and dominant negative technology demonstrated that inhibition of IKK-2 activity completely blocked cytokine release from cultured cells, whereas the two glucocorticoid comparators had limited impact on granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interleukin 8, and eotaxin release. In addition, in an in vivo antigen-driven model of airway inflammation, the IKK-2 inhibitor blocked NF-kappaB nuclear translocation, which was associated with a reduction in inflammatory cytokine gene and protein expression, airway eosinophilia, and late asthmatic reaction, similar in magnitude to that obtained with budesonide., Conclusion: This study demonstrates that inhibiting IKK-2 results in a general reduction of the inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo. Compounds of this class could have therapeutic utility in the treatment of asthma and may, in certain respects, possess a beneficial efficacy profile compared with that of a steroid.

Background: The Unlinked Anonymous Prevalence Monitoring Programme for HIV in England and Wales was set up in 1989 and has been operational for over a decade. This paper describes a wide-ranging evaluation of the programme encompassing different perspectives and approaches: epidemiological, ethical, social scientific and economic., Material and Methods: Epidemiological and ethical evaluation by critical review of the literature. Evaluation of the public's views on unlinked anonymous testing of blood by questions inserted into the Omnibus National Survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics. Evaluation of the views of planners of HIV/AIDS services by telephone questionnaire survey. Economic analysis by costing of the programme., Results: Epidemiologically the programme's results contribute to the jigsaw of knowledge about HIV. The ethical debate has shifted with time, and moral justification for the programme was more valid at its inception than now. The majority of the public was unaware of unlinked anonymous testing of blood for HIV, and 25-30% disagreed with the policy. Local planners of HIV services found the programme generally useful. There are concerns about the programme's hidden costs and funding., Conclusions: To improve awareness and respect autonomy information leaflets, explaining opting out of testing, should be handed to all individuals at centres where the programme is operational. Data from the programme should be fed back quicker to local planners, and the programme's funding needs reappraisal. Further research on patients' views is indicated. Generic conclusions include the need for a definition of 'public health emergency', and establishment of a national healthcare ethics committee.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether information from the Unlinked Anonymous Prevalence Monitoring Programme for HIV in England and Wales is useful to planners of HIV/AIDS services. The study involved 2 stages: examination of 1997 AIDS Control Act Reports for England and Wales, and a telephone questionnaire survey of local planners of HIV/AIDS services. Forty-eight out of 55 health authorities (87.3%) found information from the programme to be useful in general; 37/55 (67.3%) found the information useful for targeting of health promotion; 35/55 (63.6%) found the information useful for assessing the effectiveness of preventive measures aimed at reducing the spread of HIV; and 28/55 (50.9%) found the information useful for planning of medical or social services. If information from the programme was no longer available, 36/55 (65.5%) said it would make some difference to local planning, although 12/55 (21.8%) said it would make no difference. Local planners were generally supportive of the programme, and complaints were mostly directed at funding and timeliness of the reports.

Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption is an important health behaviour. Parental and other psychosocial influences on children's fruit and vegetable consumption are poorly understood. The contribution of a variety of psychosocial and environmental factors to consumption of fruit and vegetables by children aged 9-11 years was explored. Ninety-two mothers and children (48 girls and 44 boys) were recruited via urban primary health-care practices. Socio-economic and educational level, nutritional knowledge and health- and diet-related beliefs and attitudes were assessed in mothers and children by questionnaires and semistructured interviews. Mothers>> diets were measured by a food frequency questionnaire, while children's diets were assessed by 3-day diaries (N=80). The pattern of influence of the various measures on fruit and vegetable consumption was compared with that on children's confectionery intake. The children's intakes of macronutrients were typical for the U.K. (37% fat, 50% carbohydrate and 13% protein by energy; 12 g/day fibre), while median fruit, fruit juice and vegetable intake amounted to about 2.5 servings/day. Univariate correlations and subsequent multiple regression analyses revealed quite different influences on the three food types. Independent predictors of children's fruit intake included mothers>> nutritional knowledge (beta=0.37), mothers>> frequency of fruit consumption (beta=0.30) and mothers>> attitudinal conviction that increasing fruit and vegetable consumption by their children could reduce their risk of developing cancer (beta=0.27; multiple r2=0.37,p<0.0001). Children's vegetable consumption was independently explained by the child's liking for commonly eaten vegetables (beta=0.36) and the mother's belief in the importance of disease prevention when choosing her child's food (beta=-0.27 r2=0.20,p<0.001). Children's confectionery consumption was predicted by the mother's liking for confectionery (beta=0.32) and the children's concern for health in choosing what to eat (beta=-0.26 r2=0.16, p<0.005). Children's consumption of fruit and vegetables are related to different psychosocial and environmental factors. Promotion of this behaviour may require attention to nutritional education and child feeding strategies of parents., (Copyright 1998 Academic Press)