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Remote sensing of cloud properties using ground-based measurements of zenith radiance
We have conducted the first extensive field test of two new methods to retrieve optical properties for overhead clouds that range from patchy to overcast. The methods use measurements of zenith radiance at 673 and 870 nm wavelengths and require the presence of green vegetation in the surrounding area. The test was conducted at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program Oklahoma site during September–November 2004. These methods work because at 673 nm (red) and 870 nm (near infrared (NIR)), clouds have nearly identical optical properties, while vegetated surfaces reflect quite differently. The first method, dubbed REDvsNIR, retrieves not only cloud optical depth τ but also radiative cloud fraction. Because of the 1-s time resolution of our radiance measurements, we are able for the first time to capture changes in cloud optical properties at the natural timescale of cloud evolution. We compared values of τ retrieved by REDvsNIR to those retrieved from downward shortwave fluxes and from microwave brightness temperatures. The flux method generally underestimates τ relative to the REDvsNIR method. Even for overcast but inhomogeneous clouds, differences between REDvsNIR and the flux method can be as large as 50%. In addition, REDvsNIR agreed to better than 15% with the microwave method for both overcast and broken clouds. The second method, dubbed COUPLED, retrieves τ by combining zenith radiances with fluxes. While extra information from fluxes was expected to improve retrievals, this is not always the case. In general, however, the COUPLED and REDvsNIR methods retrieve τ to within 15% of each other
Quantum Gravitational Corrections to the Nonrelativistic Scattering Potential of Two Masses
We treat general relativity as an effective field theory, obtaining the full
nonanalytic component of the scattering matrix potential to one-loop order. The
lowest order vertex rules for the resulting effective field theory are
presented and the one-loop diagrams which yield the leading nonrelativistic
post-Newtonian and quantum corrections to the gravitational scattering
amplitude to second order in G are calculated in detail. The Fourier
transformed amplitudes yield a nonrelativistic potential and our result is
discussed in relation to previous calculations. The definition of a potential
is discussed as well and we show how the ambiguity of the potential under
coordinate changes is resolved.Comment: 27 pages, 17 figure
The β-decay approach for studying 12C
6 pags., 3 figs. -- 9th International Conference on Clustering Aspects of Nuclear Structure and Dynamics (CLUSTERS'07) 3–7 September 2007, Stratford upon Avon, UKThe β-decays of the mirror nuclei 12B and 12N both populate states in 12C and they are therefore a precious source of information about this nucleus. Due to the selection rules of β-decay only 0+, 1+ and 2+ states are populated. This allows a very clean study of unbound states just above the 3α-threshold with those spin and parities. This probe has been applied in two experiments using two complementary experimental techniques: in the first the three α-particles emitted after β-decay are measured in coincidence in separate detectors using the ISOL method, while in the second method 12B and 12N are implanted in a detector and the summed energy of the three α-particles is measured directly. Preliminary results from the two approaches are presented. © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd
The origins and development of Zuwīla, Libyan Sahara: an archaeological and historical overview of an ancient oasis town and caravan centre
Zuwīla in southwestern Libya (Fazzān) was one of the most important early Islamic centres in the Central Sahara, but the archaeological correlates of the written sources for it have been little explored. This paper brings together for the first time a detailed consideration of the relevant historical and archaeological data, together with new AMS radiocarbon dates from several key monuments. The origins of the settlement at Zuwīla were pre-Islamic, but the town gained greater prominence in the early centuries of Arab rule of the Maghrib, culminating with the establishment of an Ibāḍī state ruled by the dynasty of the Banū Khaṭṭāb, with Zuwīla its capital. The historical sources and the accounts of early European travellers are discussed and archaeological work at Zuwīla is described (including the new radiocarbon dates). A short gazetteer of archaeological monuments is provided as an appendix. Comparisons and contrasts are also drawn between Zuwīla and other oases of the ash-Sharqiyāt region of Fazzān. The final section of the paper presents a series of models based on the available evidence, tracing the evolution and decline of this remarkable site
Large scale meta-analysis characterizes genetic architecture for common psoriasis associated variants
Psoriasis is a complex disease of skin with a prevalence of about 2%. We conducted the largest meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for psoriasis to date, including data from eight different Caucasian cohorts, with a combined effective sample size >39,000 individuals. We identified 16 additional psoriasis susceptibility loci achieving genome-wide significance, increasing the number of identified loci to 63 for European-origin individuals. Functional analysis highlighted the roles of interferon signalling and the NFκB cascade, and we showed that the psoriasis signals are enriched in regulatory elements from different T cells (CD8+ T-cells and CD4+ T-cells including TH0, TH1 and TH17). The identified loci explain ∼28% of the genetic heritability and generate a discriminatory genetic risk score (AUC=0.76 in our sample) that is significantly correlated with age at onset (p=2 × 10−89). This study provides a comprehensive layout for the genetic architecture of common variants for psoriasis
Association between DNA methylation and ADHD symptoms from birth to school age: a prospective meta-analysis
Attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood disorder with a substantial genetic
component. However, the extent to which epigenetic mechanisms play a role in the etiology of the disorder is
unknown. We performed epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) within the Pregnancy And Childhood
Epigenetics (PACE) Consortium to identify DNA methylation sites associated with ADHD symptoms at two methylation
assessment periods: birth and school age. We examined associations of both DNA methylation in cord blood with
repeatedly assessed ADHD symptoms (age 4–15 years) in 2477 children from 5 cohorts and of DNA methylation at
school age with concurrent ADHD symptoms (age 7–11 years) in 2374 children from 9 cohorts, with 3 cohorts
participating at both timepoints. CpGs identified with nominal significance (p < 0.05) in either of the EWAS were
correlated between timepoints (ρ = 0.30), suggesting overlap in associations; however, top signals were very different.
At birth, we identified nine CpGs that predicted later ADHD symptoms (p < 1 × 10–7
), including ERC2 and CREB5.
Peripheral blood DNA methylation at one of these CpGs (cg01271805 in the promoter region of ERC2, which regulates
neurotransmitter release) was previously associated with brain methylation. Another (cg25520701) lies within the gene
body of CREB5, which previously was associated with neurite outgrowth and an ADHD diagnosis. In contrast, at school
age, no CpGs were associated with ADHD with p < 1 × 10−7
. In conclusion, we found evidence in this study that DNA
methylation at birth is associated with ADHD. Future studies are needed to confirm the utility of methylation variation
as biomarker and its involvement in causal pathways
Search for leptophobic Z ' bosons decaying into four-lepton final states in proton-proton collisions at root s=8 TeV
Peer reviewe
Search for black holes and other new phenomena in high-multiplicity final states in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV
Peer reviewe
Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks, 1990-2015: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015
Background: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2015 provides an up-to-date synthesis of the evidence for risk factor exposure and the attributable burden of disease. By providing national and subnational assessments spanning the past 25 years, this study can inform debates on the importance of addressing risks in context.
Methods: We used the comparative risk assessment framework developed for previous iterations of the Global Burden of Disease Study to estimate attributable deaths, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and trends in exposure by age group, sex, year, and geography for 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks from 1990 to 2015. This study included 388 risk-outcome pairs that met World Cancer Research Fund-defined criteria for convincing or probable evidence. We extracted relative risk and exposure estimates from randomised controlled trials, cohorts, pooled cohorts, household surveys, census data, satellite data, and other sources. We used statistical models to pool data, adjust for bias, and incorporate covariates. We developed a metric that allows comparisons of exposure across risk factors—the summary exposure value. Using the counterfactual scenario of theoretical minimum risk level, we estimated the portion of deaths and DALYs that could be attributed to a given risk. We decomposed trends in attributable burden into contributions from population growth, population age structure, risk exposure, and risk-deleted cause-specific DALY rates. We characterised risk exposure in relation to a Socio-demographic Index (SDI).
Findings: Between 1990 and 2015, global exposure to unsafe sanitation, household air pollution, childhood underweight, childhood stunting, and smoking each decreased by more than 25%. Global exposure for several occupational risks, high body-mass index (BMI), and drug use increased by more than 25% over the same period. All risks jointly evaluated in 2015 accounted for 57·8% (95% CI 56·6–58·8) of global deaths and 41·2% (39·8–42·8) of DALYs. In 2015, the ten largest contributors to global DALYs among Level 3 risks were high systolic blood pressure (211·8 million [192·7 million to 231·1 million] global DALYs), smoking (148·6 million [134·2 million to 163·1 million]), high fasting plasma glucose (143·1 million [125·1 million to 163·5 million]), high BMI (120·1 million [83·8 million to 158·4 million]), childhood undernutrition (113·3 million [103·9 million to 123·4 million]), ambient particulate matter (103·1 million [90·8 million to 115·1 million]), high total cholesterol (88·7 million [74·6 million to 105·7 million]), household air pollution (85·6 million [66·7 million to 106·1 million]), alcohol use (85·0 million [77·2 million to 93·0 million]), and diets high in sodium (83·0 million [49·3 million to 127·5 million]). From 1990 to 2015, attributable DALYs declined for micronutrient deficiencies, childhood undernutrition, unsafe sanitation and water, and household air pollution; reductions in risk-deleted DALY rates rather than reductions in exposure drove these declines. Rising exposure contributed to notable increases in attributable DALYs from high BMI, high fasting plasma glucose, occupational carcinogens, and drug use. Environmental risks and childhood undernutrition declined steadily with SDI; low physical activity, high BMI, and high fasting plasma glucose increased with SDI. In 119 countries, metabolic risks, such as high BMI and fasting plasma glucose, contributed the most attributable DALYs in 2015. Regionally, smoking still ranked among the leading five risk factors for attributable DALYs in 109 countries; childhood underweight and unsafe sex remained primary drivers of early death and disability in much of sub-Saharan Africa.
Interpretation: Declines in some key environmental risks have contributed to declines in critical infectious diseases. Some risks appear to be invariant to SDI. Increasing risks, including high BMI, high fasting plasma glucose, drug use, and some occupational exposures, contribute to rising burden from some conditions, but also provide opportunities for intervention. Some highly preventable risks, such as smoking, remain major causes of attributable DALYs, even as exposure is declining. Public policy makers need to pay attention to the risks that are increasingly major contributors to global burden.
Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
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