Development of nowcasting technique and evaluation of convective indices for thunderstorm prediction in Gangetic West Bengal (India) using Doppler Weather Radar and upper air data

Thunderstorm and hailstorm are well known short term severe weather phenomena which sometimes turn in to natural hazard especially in Gangetic West Bengal region of India. Large vertical extent of the cumulonimbus cloud, very high reflectivity, squally wind speed sometimes exceeding 100 km/h and heavy rainfall are the main features of these thunderstorms during pre-monsoon period in this region. A study of 70 thunderstorms has been carried out during the pre-monsoon season (March-May) of the year 2005 around Kolkata (22.5° N, 88.5° E) using Doppler Weather Radar and Upper air data. Standard convective indices like CAPE, CINE, LI, BRN and VGP have been evaluated and analyzed statistically. As no definite thresholds of the convective indices are available for thunderstorm prediction in this region, an attempt has been made to find threshold of these indices for possible occurrences of thunderstorms in Gangetic West Bengal region after the analysis of the thunderstorms during year 2005. The validity of these convective indices has been checked with 34 occurrences of thunderstorms during 2006-2007 recorded by Doppler Weather Radar Kolkata. The study reveals that nowcasting of thunderstorms may be done at least 2-3 hrs in advance witha fair degree of accuracy using Doppler radar products only. However, the lead time of nowcasting may be further improved if the convective indices are also analyzed and used in addition to the DWR data. A simple technique has been suggested by the authors for better prediction of thunderstorms at least three to four hours in advance.

Victims’ Proactive Role in the Evidence-Gathering Process at the icc: Toward an Expressivist Justice Model

The Rome Statute (rs) of the International Criminal Court (icc) failed to reach a fair degree of legal certainty for the role of victims, leaving the task of defining the scope of their participation to the Chambers. As result, the Court allowed victims to present and examine evidence on their initiative. However, no effort has been made, either at the icc or in the scholarship, to provide a justification for this modality of victims’ participation. This article posits that the icc’s approach to victims’ active role in the evidence-gathering process is key for expressivist purposes, which see victims as a crucial constituency of the trial, able to contributing to conveying disavowal of the atrocities committed, crafting historical records and reinforcing the respect for basic human rights. An expressivist foundation for this modality of victims’ participation has the potential to reinvigorate our understanding of the evidence-gathering process at the icc.

Caretaker Score Reliability for Personality Assessment of Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

The evaluation of zoo animals’ personalities can likely lead to a range of benefits, including improving breeding success, creating stable social groups, and designing and developing environmental enrichment programmes. The goal of this study was to use caretakers scores to evaluate personality in bottlenose dolphins and to assess the reliability of scores within each rater and among raters from each centre. To this end, 24 caretakers from 3 countries (Spain, France, and Argentina), including a total of 5 dolphinariums and 6 groups of dolphins, used a questionnaire based on the Five-Factor Model of Personality to score bottlenose dolphins on a number of personality traits in three different contexts. Each caretaker evaluated the animals under their care twice, ensuring that raters did not share thoughts nor impressions with other raters. Our findings showed a good degree of agreement between each rater’s scores and a fair degree of agreement among scores of raters from the same centre. We also identified which raters and centres had significant mean score differences and detected that 4 out of 24 raters from two different centres showed such differences systematically. The evaluation of raters’ reliability and the identification of particular inconsistent raters and centres is critical to make more appropriate and realistic management decisions that, in turn, directly impact animals’ welfare.

Applications of ground penetrating radar in geotechnical investigation

There are clearly risks and a fair degree of uncertainties involved in geotechnical investigation for the reason that only limited boreholes can be used in projects, due to budget restraints. These risks are further increased or decreased subject to the geotechnical engineers’ experiences and judgments. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a geophysical technique that provides continuous non-destructive soil profiling from the surface or from inside a borehole by sending, receiving and averaging multiple radio wave pulses into the subsurface at centimeter increments (cm) scale normally ranging between 0.5cm to 1cm step size. This project focuses on the principles, procedures, applications and limitations of GPR use in geotechnical exploration. To evaluate its potentials for reducing risk and uncertainties associated with soil profile presumptions between boreholes, also to evaluate if GPR can provide objective quantifiable data that can be understood by any level of geotechnical engineers.

Applications of ground penetrating radar in geotechnical investigation

There are clearly risks and a fair degree of uncertainties involved in geotechnical investigation for the reason that only limited boreholes can be used in projects, due to budget restraints. These risks are further increased or decreased subject to the geotechnical engineers’ experiences and judgments. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a geophysical technique that provides continuous non-destructive soil profiling from the surface or from inside a borehole by sending, receiving and averaging multiple radio wave pulses into the subsurface at centimeter increments (cm) scale normally ranging between 0.5cm to 1cm step size. This project focuses on the principles, procedures, applications and limitations of GPR use in geotechnical exploration. To evaluate its potentials for reducing risk and uncertainties associated with soil profile presumptions between boreholes, also to evaluate if GPR can provide objective quantifiable data that can be understood by any level of geotechnical engineers.

Uncovering Genomic Regions Regulating the Superoxide Dismutase, Flavonoids, Anthocyanins, Carotenoids, γ-Oryzanol and Antioxidant Activity in Rice Through Association Mapping

Consumption of antioxidants rich rice has impressive health benefits. Five antioxidant traits viz., superoxide dismutase, flavonoids, anthocyanins, γ-oryzanol and ABTS were mapped in a panel population using 136 SSR markers through association mapping. A panel population containing 120 germplasm lines by including genotypes from all the phenotypic groups of the six antioxidant traits from the original shortlisted 270 rice genotypes. Donor lines rich in multiple antioxidant compounds were identified from the population. The population was classified into 4 genetic groups and showed fair degree of correspondence with the antioxidants content. A total of 14 significant marker-trait associations for antioxidants were detected of which 3 QTLs namely qANC3, qPAC12-2 for anthocyanin content and qAC12 for ABTS activity were validated in the population. Eleven putative QTLs such as qTAC1.1 and qTAC5.1 for anthocyanin content; qSOD1.1, qSOD5.1 and qSOD10.1 for SOD; qTFC6.1, qTFC11.1 and qTFC12.1 for TFC; qOZ8.1 and qOZ11.1 for γ-oryzanol and qAC11.1 for ABTS were detected to be novel loci. Co-localization of the QTLs detected for OZ11.1, TFC11.1 and AC11.1 regulating γ-oryzanol, flavonoid and anthocyanin content, respectively while PAC12.2 for anthocyanin content remained closer to TFC12.1 for flavonoid content. These QTLs will be useful in the antioxidant improvement programs in rice.

572 Utility of Split Night Polysomnograms in Children

Introduction Overnight in-lab polysomnograms (PSG) are the gold standard for diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing in children. As the wait time for adenotonsillectomy (T & A) at our institution was several months, we implemented split night PSGs with positive airway pressure (PAP) during the initial diagnostic PSG if AHI>30 (Emergency SNPSG). Planned SNPSG were performed on children who are undergoing PSG after T & A, eliminating follow-up titration PSG if the PSG is positive for OSA (residual AHI>10/hour). We present data on the outcomes of the SNPSG. Methods Retrospective chart review of consecutive SNPSGs done over last 2 years at our institution was performed. Data on SNPSGs (planned or emergency), age, sex, diagnostic study duration, diagnostic study AHI, PAP pressure and subsequent PAP adherence were collected. Data on sleep efficiency, arousal, sleep architecture, REM sleep were compared between diagnostic and titration part of the SNPSG. Study was considered successful if patient was able to tolerate PAP during titration and also if adherent to PAP at follow up. Results 48 studies met the criteria for SNPSG, with 60% of SNPSG being emergency SNPSG with AHI>30. Our cohort’s age ranged from 2–18 years (median age 8 years); 33 were males. Majority of the emergency SNPSG were in younger children (80% < 5 years), 75% of them continued to use PAP (mostly CPAP) until T & A with wait time being more than 3 months. Average wait time for T & A was 4 months. 25% of patients continued to use PAP following T & A as residual AHI was >10/hour. 98% of the patients were able to tolerate PAP during titration section with restoration of sleep architecture including REM with reduction in AHI, arousals and improved sleep efficiency. Bilevel PAP was used in 10% of patients in mostly planned SNPSG. Conclusion SNPSG can be implemented with fair degree of success during initial PSG with PAP used until T & A is performed. Planned SNPSG are also useful with residual severe OSA eliminating need for subsequent titration study. When indicated, 75% of our cohort continued to use PAP with fair adherence (>70% nightly use) following SNPSG. Support (if any):

Comparison between five coprological methods for the diagnosis of Balantidium coli cysts in fecal samples from pigs

Background and Aim: Balantidium coli is a protozoan that can infect humans and non-human primates, being the domestic pigs the animals most affected by this parasite. This study aimed to compare the performance of five coprological methods for diagnosis of Balantidium coli cysts in fecal samples from pigs. Materials and Methods: From September to December 2019, 558 fecal samples were collected from the rectum of backyard pigs in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area, Colombia. The average age of the sampled animals was 3-4 months. Fecal samples collected were tested using the following coprological techniques: Direct examination with Lugol's iodine solution, buffered saline, centrifugation/flotation and McMaster techniques, and Ziehl–Neelsen method. Results: The results indicate that B. coli cysts were diagnosed most frequently through direct examination with Lugol's iodine solution (52.7% of the samples) followed by direct examination with a buffered saline solution (37.6%). Moderate concordance (k=0.41; p<0.05) was determined between direct method with Lugol's iodine and buffered saline solution, McMaster and buffered saline (k=0.35; p<0.05), and centrifugation/flotation and buffered saline (k=0.28; p<0.05) showed a fair degree of concordance. The rest of the comparisons were classified as poor. The flotation techniques (centrifugation/ flotation and McMaster) did not show good recovery of cysts. Conclusion: It is concluded that the most efficient method for diagnosing this parasitosis was to an association between direct examination with Lugol's iodine solution and buffered saline.

Developing competency-based assessment at vocational high school (VHS) in Bali

This paper aims to resolve the difficulties of implementing competency-based assessment (CBA) in vocational high school while practicing in the workplace. This research was performed employing a qualitative exploratory descriptive (QED) method. The respondents are 109 participants from vocational teachers, industry experts, VHS students, and technical certification organizations. The implementation of CBA generates graduates' competency standards in schools that meet the industry's competency needs. CBA is carried out by creating competency levels, college and workplace learning as students practice doing industrial work. This study's findings suggest aspects of CBA that provide a fair degree of application of the student's business work activities and presents an approach to explaining training that is not limited to learning contexts.

Affected Ovary Relative Volume: A Novel Sonographic Predictor of Ovarian Reserve in Patients with Unilateral Endometrioma—A Pilot Study

Background: The assessment of ovarian reserve in the case of endometrioma is of pivotal importance for planning a tailored management. However, both the antral follicle count (AFC) and the antimüllerian hormone (AMH) dosage are subject to a fair degree of variability in ovarian endometriosis. This study aimed to identify a sonographic parameter of ovarian reserve that could implement current available markers in patients with unilateral endometrioma. Methods: Patients with unilateral endometrioma admitted to our Endometriosis Center between March 2018 and April 2019 were enrolled. Transvaginal ultrasonography for the evaluation of eight sonographic indicators and AMH level determination were performed. The relationship between AMH level and each indicator was assessed. Results: Thirty-four women were included. There was a positive significant correlation between AMH level and the healthy ovary AFC (HO-AFC) (r = 0.36 p = 0.034). A stronger, negative correlation between AMH level and the ratio between the volume of the affected and the healthy ovary (affected ovary relative volume, AORV) (r = −0.47; p = 0.005) was evidenced. AORV had a satisfactory accuracy (AUC 0.73; CI 0.61–0.90; p = 0.0008), and the cut-off value of 5.96 had the best balance of sensitivity/specificity in distinguishing between patients with a good ovarian reserve (AMH ≥ 2 ng/mL) and those at risk of ovarian reserve depletion after excisional surgery. Conclusion: AORV may be a useful tool to assess ovarian reserve in patients with unilateral endometrioma without previous surgery and to guide physicians in clinical management.