bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
the early history of weather modification
Authors: Schaefer Vincent J. 
Published: May 2018

Since ancient times man has dreamed of manipulating the weather to his advantage. His efforts to this end have ranged from drawing pictographs, lighting ceremonial fires, participating in rain dances and then during the past twenty-one years in directing his attention toward utilizing certain scientific relationships to initiate physical and chemical reactions in the atmosphere.
There are certain of these reactions which can be demonstrated in both the laboratory and the field. They are spectacular to see, are fairly well understood from the scientific viewpoint and can be used to produce definite and predictable reactions.
There no longer is any question that it is quite feasible to modify supercooled clouds wherever they occur. There is still much uncertainty as to subsequent developments which may occur due to such actions especially in unstable cloud systems. Unlike supercooled fogs and stratus clouds where the seeding results may be photographed and quantitatively measured, these less stable systems involving convection, convergence and divergence of moist and dry air are difficult systems to evaluate.
This paper reviews briefly certain aspects of weather control prior to 1946 and then attempts to provide an accurate historical chronology of the significant advances which occurred during the early period of this new phase of atmospheric science.
The control of the weather within our global atmosphere has been a dream of man for many centuries. In its earliest phases this ambition was limited to the rain needed for a tiny patch of corn or some similar local and immediate need. As man's knowledge of the atmosphere increased and his needs became more urgent and widespread, his approach to such problems were increasingly directed toward a scientific consideration of the possibilities as well as limitations of changing atmospheric processes.
Prior to 1946, all of the proposals advanced toward doing something about modifying atmospheric processes failed to consider the massive nature of the atmosphere and the need to depend on triggering mechanisms to utilize the latent energy which develops from some of the physical reactions and interactions which occur in clear and cloudy skies.
the Yuba City flood: a case study of weather modification litigation*
Authors: Mann Dean E. 
Published: May 2018

In December 1955 a severe tropical storm caused severe flooding throughout Northern California with damage exceeding $200,000,000. One area suffering large-scale flooding was at Yuba City, at the confluence of the Feather and Yuba Rivers. The levees broke and consequent damage was in the magnitude of $65 million. Property-owners sought recompense through suits brought in the Superior Court of Sutter County against the State of California, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), and North American Weather Consultants (NAWC).
PG&E, through its contracting agent, NAWC, had undertaken cloud seeding operations in three places in the high Sierras, one of which was in the Lake Almanor water-shed in the Feather River system. NAWC had interrupted seeding activities in that area three days before the levees broke at Yuba City. Plaintiffs charged that PG&E and NAWC were negligent in the operation of their generators, had contributed to the total quantity of water produced by the watershed and therefore were legally liable, and that cloud seeding was ultra-hazardous activity so that those engaged in such activities were strictly liable for damages.
The suit was begun in 1958 and concluded in 1964. Trial before a judge only began in October 1963 and a decision was rendered in April 1964. The judge ruled that neither PG&E nor NAWC was liable. In accordance with an agreement among the parties no appeal was taken. Plaintiffs were successful, however, against the State, basing their claim for damages on the doctrine of inverse condemnation which holds that the State must recompense for damages incurred in the lawful exercise of its powers—in this case, the construction of levees.
The litigation raises important questions of public policy with regard to weather modification and these are considered in the light of this case.
recent studies of urban effects on precipitation in the United States
Authors: Changnon Stanley A. 
Published: May 2018

A review of recent research in the United States concerning urban effects on precipitation has revealed that relatively few studies have been performed. The lack of densely spaced precipitation stations with good historical records, inadequate instruments for airborne measurements of the mechanisms that affect precipitation systems, and the difficulties associated with separating orographic, maritime, and gage-exposure effects are the primary reasons for so little research.
However, certain climatological studies of four variously sized cities in the midwest and two large cities in the east have shown apparent urban-produced increases ranging from 5 to 16% in annual precipitation and rain days, with 7 to 20% increases in summer thunderstorm days. Substantially greater increases in precipitation, thunderstorms, and hailfalls, 31 to 246%, have been shown in a recent study of an area downwind from a major steel mill complex. The available results show little evidence of urban effects on the occurrence of excessive rainfall rates or on the amount of snowfall, although little study of these conditions has been performed.
The recent development of airborne nuclei measuring instruments has led to selected measurements of condensation and freezing nuclei over several urban areas. These furnish evidence that urban-induced nuclei concentrations are high and probably sufficient to produce the observed changes in precipitation, whereas other American studies have indirectly shown the importance of the urban thermal effects. The study of inadvertent precipitation increases from urban areas has particular significance for planned weather modification since the amounts of the inadvertent increases approximate those confirmed for planned experiments. The results of the urban studies may indicate the effectiveness of ground-based seeding, the possibility of successful increases in all seasons, the likelihood of thunderstorm and hailstorm increases with rainfall increases, and the need for dense raingage networks to adequately determine the area and amount of increase.
Improvements in Nonconvective Aviation Turbulence Prediction for the World Area Forecast System
Authors: Kim Jung-Hoon , Sharman Robert , Strahan Matt , Scheck Joshua W. , Bartholomew Claire , Cheung Jacob C. H. , Buchanan Piers , Gait Nigel 
Published: May 2018

AbstractFor the next generation of the World Area Forecast System (WAFS), the global Graphical Turbulence Guidance (G-GTG) has been developed using global numerical weather prediction (NWP) model outputs as an input to compute a set of turbulence diagnostics, identifying strong spatial gradients of meteorological variables associated with clear-air turbulence (CAT) and mountain-wave turbulence (MWT). The G-GTG provides an atmospheric turbulence intensity metric of energy dissipation rate (EDR) to the 1/3 power (m2/3 s–1), which is the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard for aircraft reporting. Deterministic CAT and MWT EDR forecasts are derived from ensembles of calibrated multiple CAT and MWT diagnostics, respectively, with the final forecast provided by the gridpoint-by-gridpoint maximum of the CAT and MWT ensemble means. In addition, a probabilistic EDR forecast is produced by the percentage agreement of the individual CAT and MWT diagnostics that exceed a certain EDR threshold for turbulence (i.e., multidiagnostic ensemble). Objective evaluations of the G-GTG against global in situ EDR measurement data show that both deterministic and probabilistic G-GTG significantly improve the current WAFS CAT product, mainly because the G-GTG takes into account turbulence from various sources related to CAT and MWT. The probabilistic G-GTG forecast is more reliable at predicting light-or-greater (EDR > 0.15)- than moderate-or-greater (EDR > 0.22)-level turbulence, although it suffers from overforecasting. This will be improved in the future when we use this methodology with NWP ensembles and more observation data will be available for calibration. We expect that the new G-GTG forecasts will be beneficial to aviation users globally.
Capturing Size and Intensity Changes of Hurricanes Irma and Maria (2017) from Polar-Orbiting Satellite Microwave Radiometers
Authors: Tian Xiaoxu , Zou Xiaolei 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
A recently refined hurricane warm-core retrieval algorithm was applied to data from multiple polar-orbiting satellites that carry the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) and the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) to examine the diurnal variability of the warm cores of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. These hurricanes occurred during the 2017 hyperactive Atlantic hurricane season. Compared with data gathered by dropsondes within 100–1700 km of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey, the means and standard deviations of the differences between ATMS-derived and dropsonde-measured temperature profiles were less than 0.7 and 1 K, respectively, in the vertical layer between ~180 and 750 hPa. The temporal evolutions of the ATMS-derived and AMSU-A-derived maximum warm-core temperature anomalies followed more closely that of the minimum mean sea level pressure and slightly less closely that of the maximum sustained wind. The radii of the ATMS-derived warm cores at 4 and 6 K compared favorably with the 34- and 50-kt-wind radii, respectively, of Hurricane Irma (1 kt = 0.51 m s−1). The vertical extent of the warm core toward lower levels increased with increasing intensity when Hurricane Irma experienced a strong intensification because of an enhanced latent heat release associated with diabatic processes. The tropical cyclone (TC) inner cores at upper-tropospheric levels (~250 hPa) were characterized by a single-peaked diurnal cycle with a maximum around midnight. This warm-core cycle may be an important element of TC dynamics and may have relevance to TC structural and intensity changes.
Desorption characteristics and kinetic parameters determination of molecular sieve by thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermogravimetric analysis technique
Authors: Guo Yalou , Zhang Hui , Liu Yingshu 
Published: May 2018

The kinetics of the thermal desorption of CO2adsorbed on zeolite 13X were obtained using a differential thermogravimetric analyser under two different carrier gas conditions. The varying heating rates were set as 8, 12, 16, and 20 K min−1, respectively. The desorption activation energy of the physisorption sites for this experiment evaluated by an integral method without prediction of the reaction order ranged from 12.15 to 14.12 kJ mol−1(CO2as the carrier gas) and 43.32 to 50.42 kJ mol−1(Ar as the carrier gas), respectively. The desorption activation energy of the chemisorption sites ranged from 57.95 to 58.53 kJ mol−1(CO2as the carrier gas) and 74.02 to 79.92 kJ mol−1(Ar as the carrier gas), respectively.
The engagement of young people in their own advance care planning process: A systematic narrative synthesis
Authors: Hughes Ben , O’Brien Mary R , Flynn Anita , Knighting Katherine 
Published: May 2018

Background: An increasing number of young people are living with life-limiting conditions. Current research about advance care planning for young people indicates differing experiences for those involved. Understanding how far young people are engaged in their own advance care plan is important to shape future practice and facilitate young people’s wishes. Aim: To identify and assess the current evidence to determine the barriers and facilitators to the engagement of young people in their own advance care planning process. Design: A systematic narrative synthesis according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Study quality was assessed using a quality assessment framework previously used in similar research. Data sources: CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, PubMed and PsycINFO were searched for articles published between 1 January 1990 and 31 October 2017. Grey literature was searched using Google Scholar and Open Grey. Results: Most studies related to the engagement of young people were conducted in hospitals or other institutions. Research reported not only the aim to include young people in their own advance care planning but also potential barriers to engagement. Barriers include poor communication, conflict within relationships of those in the planning process and patchy education and training for healthcare professionals. Some existing studies are characterised by a lack of rigorous, high-quality research, limiting their impact. Conclusion: Irrespective of setting, engagement of young people would benefit their advance care planning. More detailed, high-quality research is needed to understand the extent of the barriers to young people’s engagement in their own advance care plan and how to facilitate their involvement.
Are Results of Arthroscopic Labral Repair Durable in Dysplasia at Midterm Follow-up? A 2-Center Matched Cohort Analysis
Authors: Hevesi Mario , Hartigan David E. , Wu Isabella T. , Levy Bruce A. , Domb Benjamin G. , Krych Aaron J. 
Published: May 2018

Background: Studies assessing dysplasia’s effect on hip arthroscopy are often limited to the short term and unable to account for demographic factors that may vary between dysplastic and nondysplastic populations. Purpose: To determine the midterm failure rate and patient-reported outcomes of arthroscopic labral repair in the setting of dysplasia and make subsequent failure and outcome comparisons with a rigorously matched nondysplastic control group. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Primary arthroscopic labral repair cases at 2 centers from 2008 to 2011 were reviewed. Patients with lateral center edge angle (LCEA) <25° were matched to nondysplastic controls by age, sex, laterality, body mass index (BMI), Tönnis grade, and capsular repair per a 1:2 matching algorithm. Groups were compared with a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), and Hip Outcome Score–Sports Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS) to determine predictors of outcome and failure. Results: Forty-eight patients with dysplasia (mean LCEA, 21.6°; range, 13.0°-24.9°; n = 25 with capsular repair) were matched to 96 controls (mean LCEA, 32.1°; range, 25°-52°; n = 50 with capsular repair) and followed for a mean of 5.7 years (range, 5.0-7.7 years). Patients achieved mean VAS improvements of 3.3 points, mHHS of 19.5, and HOS-SSS of 29.0 points ( P < .01) with no significant differences between the dysplasia and control populations ( P > .05). Five-year failure-free survival was 83.3% for patients with dysplasia and 78.1% for controls ( P = .53). No survival or outcomes difference was observed between patients with dysplasia who did or did not have capsular repair ( P ≥ .45) or when comparing LCEA <20° and LCEA 20° to 25° ( P ≥ .60). BMI ≤30 was associated with increased revision surgery risk ( P < .01). Age >35 years ( P < .05) and Tönnis grade 0 radiographs ( P < .01) predicted failure to reach minimal clinically important differences. Conclusion: With careful selection and modern techniques, patients with dysplasia can benefit significantly and durably from arthroscopic labral repair. The dysplastic cohort had outcomes and failure rates similar to those of rigorously matched controls at midterm follow-up. Subanalyses comparing LCEA <20° and LCEA 20° to 25° are presented for completeness; however, this study was not designed to detect differences in dysplastic subpopulations. BMI ≤30 was associated with increased revision risk. Age >35 years and Tönnis grade 0 radiographs predicted failure to achieve minimal clinically important differences.
Large Critical Shoulder Angle Has Higher Risk of Tendon Retear After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
Authors: Li Hong , Chen Yuzhou , Chen Jiwu , Hua Yinghui , Chen Shiyi 
Published: May 2018

Background: The critical shoulder angle (CSA) is the angle created between the superior and inferior bone margins of the glenoid and the most lateral border of the acromion. A few studies recently investigated the relation between CSA and functional outcomes after rotator cuff repair. However, there is a lack of research investigating the effect of CSA on postoperative tendon integrity after rotator cuff repair. Purpose: To assess the effects of the CSA on postoperative tendon integrity after rotator cuff repair. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: All patients who underwent rotator cuff repair for full-thickness supraspinatus tears by 1 senior surgeon between January 2010 and January 2014 were included in this study. All patients had standardized anteroposterior shoulder radiographs the day before surgery. CSA and acromial index (AI) were measured. AI was derived by measuring the distance from the glenoid plane to the lateral border of the acromion and dividing it by the distance from the glenoid plane to the lateral aspect of the humeral head. Functional scores—including American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder evaluation form, modified University of California at Los Angeles score, Constant-Murley score, and visual analog scale for pain—were used to evaluate shoulder function at a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Meanwhile, magnetic resonance imaging examinations were performed to evaluate rotator cuff integrity according to the Sugaya method and the signal/noise quotient (SNQ) of the rotator cuff tendon. Results: A total of 90 patients were included in this study: 42 patients with a single-row repair and 48 with a double-row repair. There was a significant positive correlation between CSA or AI and tendon SNQ. On the basis of CSA, the patients were divided into 2 groups: large CSA (>38°) and control (CSA ≤38°). At final follow-up, the large CSA group and the control CSA group demonstrated no significant differences in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, University of California at Los Angeles, Constant, and visual analog scale scores. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the large CSA group had 9 cases of retear, with a significantly higher retear rate than the control group (15% vs 0%, P = .03). Furthermore, the tendon SNQ of the large CSA group was significantly greater than that of the control group. Conclusion: CSA did not appear to influence postoperative functional outcomes, while those in the large CSA group had poor tendon integrity after rotator cuff repair. These findings indicate that a large CSA is associated with an increased risk of rotator cuff tendon retear after repair.
Analysis of Rothman Index Data to Predict Postdischarge Adverse Events in a Medical Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Gotur Deepa Bangalore , Masud Faisal , Paranilam Jaya , Zimmerman Janice L. 
Published: May 2018

Objective: Currently, there are no objective metrics included in the intensive care unit (ICU) discharge decision making process. In this study, we evaluate Rothman Index(RI) data for a possible metric as part of a quality improvement project. Our objectives were to determine whether RI could predict adverse events occurring within 72 hours of ICU discharge decision, the optimal clinical cutoff value for this metric, and to determine whether there is a relation between the RI warning alert 24 hours prior to discharge and adverse events postdischarge. Design: Retrospective observational study. Setting: Single center tertiary hospital. Patients: Adult medical ICU patients discharged from the ICU between January 20, 2015 and March 14, 2015. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 194 patients were studied with mean age of 62.74 (18.37) years. Data collection included RI at the time of decision-making for ICU discharge and the presence of any warning signals in the previous 24 hours. A 72-hour follow-up chart review recorded any adverse events, including readmission to a higher level of care, discontinuation of discharge due to clinical status change, emergency department visit if discharged home, rapid response activation, or cardiopulmonary arrest postdischarge. Adverse events after ICU discharge were observed in 31 (16%) patients with 9 events being ICU readmission (4.6%). Based on an age-adjusted multivariate model, a higher RI was associated with lower odds of an adverse event (odds ratio [OR] = 0.969, P = .006, confidence interval [CI]: 0.9487-0.9911). An RI value ≥ 50 was associated with 72% lower odds of an adverse event (OR = 0.2887, 95% CI = 0.1278-0.6517 and P = .003) compared to RI < 50. This RI cutoff value was associated with the largest decrease in odds of events. As expected, patients with a very high-risk warning alert had a higher proportion of adverse events compared to patients who did not. (31.75% vs 12.65%, P = < .02). Conclusions: Patients who have an RI < 50 or a very high-risk warning alert have a higher risk of adverse events postdischarge from the ICU. Rothman Index may be a useful metric for ICU discharge decision-making.
High-Density Lipoprotein, Mean Platelet Volume, and Uric Acid as Biomarkers for Outcomes in Patients With Sepsis: An Observational Study
Authors: Montero-Chacón Luis Bolívar , Padilla-Cuadra Juan Ignacio , Chiou Sy Han , Torrealba-Acosta Gabriel 
Published: May 2018

Background: We conducted an observational study evaluating the association between uric acid, mean platelet volume (MPV), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) with complications and outcomes of patients with sepsis in a critical care setting. Methods: We followed patients with a diagnosis of severe sepsis and septic shock for a maximum of 28 days. Main outcomes assessed included length of stay (LOS), the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), assisted mechanical ventilation (AMV), and vasopressor support as well as in-unit mortality. Results: The overall average age of the 37 patients enrolled was 48.1 (19.8) years; among them, 37.8% were male. Abdominal related (43.2%) and pulmonary (29.7%) were the main sites of infection. The overall Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation 2 (APACHE-2) median score was 19 (9-24). Acute kidney injury (AKI) was observed in 46.9% of the sample. In all, 54.1% required vasopressor support, 54.1% AMV, and 35.1% RRT. Patients with bacteremia were significantly more likely to require vasopressor support and those with urinary tract infections were significantly younger. We found increasing ΔMPV levels, higher APACHE-2 scores, lower HDL values, and a reduced age to be associated with a longer LOS. Higher scores on the APACHE-2 scale and lower levels of HDL significantly associated with higher odds for developing AKI. The need for vasopressor support was significantly associated with higher values of 72-hour MPV and with higher levels of baseline uric acid and lower values of initial HCO3. Initial and 72-hour levels of MPV and higher scores in the APACHE-2 were all significantly correlated with the need for AMV. An increased probability of dying during follow-up was significantly correlated with increasing age. Conclusion: We were able to establish significant associations between our candidate biomarkers and relevant outcomes for patients with sepsis. Our results support the use of these low-cost biomarkers in the assessment of prognosis of patients with sepsis.