Grain Harvesting as a Local Source of Cladosporium 1 spp. in Denmark

Cladosporium spp. are omnipresent moulds that grow on multiple substrates. Their spores possess a high allergenic potential. Currently, little is known about the incidence and the sources of airborne Cladosporium spores in Denmark. Air samples were collected between 31 May and 22 September 2015 in Viborg (Jutland, western Denmark). Eighteen out of 21 days with daily average concentrations exceeding the health relevant threshold of 3,000 Spores m-3, including the day with peak daily (13,553 Spores m-3) and 3-h concentrations (35,662 Spores m-3), occurred in August. The air masses that approached Viborg during the longest episode of elevated spore concentrations originated from northern Poland, the Baltics, passing over southern Sweden and the eastern Danish island of Zealand. The Cladosporium spore concentrations from Viborg were compared with the Cladosporium spore concentrations from the operational monitoring station in Copenhagen (Zealand, eastern Denmark). During the episode concentrations in Viborg were on average 2,268 spores m-3 higher than in Copenhagen. On the peak day between 8:00-15:00 concentrations in Viborg were 4-7 times higher than in Copenhagen, which we associated with grain crop harvesting in eastern Jutland. Elevated day time concentrations in Viborg on the days with daily average concentrations exceeding the threshold also indicate the local character of the sources

Natural disturbance impacts on trade-offs and co-benefits of forest biodiversity and carbon

With accelerating environmental change, understanding forest disturbance impacts on trade-offs between biodiversity and carbon dynamics is of high socio-economic importance. Most studies, however, have assessed immediate or short-term effects of disturbance, while long-term impacts remain poorly understood. Using a tree-ring-based approach, we analysed the effect of 250 years of disturbances on present-day biodiversity indicators and carbon dynamics in primary forests. Disturbance legacies spanning centuries shaped contemporary forest co-benefits and trade-offs, with contrasting, local-scale effects. Disturbances enhanced carbon sequestration, reaching maximum rates within a comparatively narrow post-disturbance window (up to 50 years). Concurrently, disturbance diminished aboveground carbon storage, which gradually returned to peak levels over centuries. Temporal patterns in biodiversity potential were bimodal; the first maximum coincided with the short-term post-disturbance carbon sequestration peak, and the second occurred during periods of maximum carbon storage in complex old-growth forest. Despite fluctuating local-scale trade-offs, forest biodiversity and carbon storage remained stable across the broader study region, and our data support a positive relationship between carbon stocks and biodiversity potential. These findings underscore the interdependencies of forest processes, and highlight the necessity of large-scale conservation programmes to effectively promote both biodiversity and long-term carbon storage, particularly given the accelerating global biodiversity and climate crises

Genetic Disruption of Both Tryptophan Hydroxylase Genes Dramatically Reduces Serotonin and Affects Behavior in Models Sensitive to Antidepressants

The neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) plays an important role in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. The biosynthesis of serotonin is regulated by two rate-limiting enzymes, tryptophan hydroxylase-1 and -2 (TPH1 and TPH2). We used a gene-targeting approach to generate mice with selective and complete elimination of the two known TPH isoforms. This resulted in dramatically reduced central 5-HT levels in Tph2 knockout (TPH2KO) and Tph1/Tph2 double knockout (DKO) mice; and substantially reduced peripheral 5-HT levels in DKO, but not TPH2KO mice. Therefore, differential expression of the two isoforms of TPH was reflected in corresponding depletion of 5-HT content in the brain and periphery. Surprisingly, despite the prominent and evolutionarily ancient role that 5-HT plays in both vertebrate and invertebrate physiology, none of these mutations resulted in an overt phenotype. TPH2KO and DKO mice were viable and normal in appearance. Behavioral alterations in assays with predictive validity for antidepressants were among the very few phenotypes uncovered. These behavioral changes were subtle in the TPH2KO mice; they were enhanced in the DKO mice. Herein, we confirm findings from prior descriptions of TPH1 knockout mice and present the first reported phenotypic evaluations of Tph2 and Tph1/Tph2 knockout mice. The behavioral effects observed in the TPH2 KO and DKO mice strongly confirm the role of 5-HT and its synthetic enzymes in the etiology and treatment of affective disorders

Optimal Model for Path Loss Predictions using Feed-Forward Neural Networks

[EN] In this paper, an optimal model is developed for path loss predictions using the Feed-Forward Neural Network (FFNN) algorithm. Drive test measurements were carried out in Canaanland Ota, Nigeria and Ilorin, Nigeria to obtain path loss data at varying distances from 11 different 1,800 MHz base station transmitters. Single-layered FFNNs were trained with normalized terrain profile data (longitude, latitude, elevation, altitude, clutter height) and normalized distances to produce the corresponding path loss values based on the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. The number of neurons in the hidden layer was varied (1-50) to determine the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model with the best prediction accuracy. The performance of the ANN models was evaluated based on different metrics: Mean Absolute error (MAE), Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), standard deviation, and regression coefficient (R). Results of the machine learning processes show that the FNN architecture adopting a tangent activation function and 48 hidden neurons produced the least prediction error, with MAE, MSE, RMSE, standard deviation, and R values of 4.21 dB, 30.99 dB, 5.56 dB, 5.56 dB, and 0.89, respectively. Regarding generalization ability, the predictions of the optimal ANN model yielded MAE, MSE, RMSE, standard deviation, and R values of 4.74 dB, 39.38 dB, 6.27 dB, 6.27 dB, and 0.86, respectively, when tested with new data not previously included in the training process. Compared to the Hata, COST 231, ECC-33, and Egli models, the developed ANN model performed better in terms of prediction accuracy and generalization ability.This work was supported by Covenant University [grant number CUCRID-SMARTCU-000343].Popoola, SI.; Adetiba, E.; Atayero, AA.; Faruk, N.; Tavares De Araujo Cesariny Calafate, CM. (2018). Optimal Model for Path Loss Predictions using Feed-Forward Neural Networks. 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Applicability evaluation of Okumura, Ericsson 9999 and winner propagation models for coverage planning in 3.5 GHZ WiMAX systems.Erceg, V., Greenstein, L. J., Tjandra, S. Y., Parkoff, S. R., Gupta, A., Kulic, B., … Bianchi, R. (1999). An empirically based path loss model for wireless channels in suburban environments. IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, 17(7), 1205-1211. doi:10.1109/49.778178Farhoud, M., El-Keyi, A., & Sultan, A. (2013). Empirical correction of the Okumura-Hata model for the 900 MHz band in Egypt. 2013 Third International Conference on Communications and Information Technology (ICCIT). doi:10.1109/iccitechnology.2013.6579585Faruk, N., Adediran, Y. A., & Ayeni, A. A. (2013). Error bounds of empirical path loss models at VHF/UHF bands in Kwara State, Nigeria. Eurocon 2013. doi:10.1109/eurocon.2013.6625043Faruk, N., Ayeni, A., & Adediran, Y. A. (2013). ON THE STUDY OF EMPIRICAL PATH LOSS MODELS FOR ACCURATE PREDICTION OF TV SIGNAL FOR SECONDARY USERS. 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RADIO FREQUENCY OPTIMIZATION OF MOBILE NETWORKS IN ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA FOR IMPROVED QUALITY OF SERVICE. International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology, 03(08), 174-180. doi:10.15623/ijret.2014.0308027Phillips, C., Sicker, D., & Grunwald, D. (2013). A Survey of Wireless Path Loss Prediction and Coverage Mapping Methods. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 15(1), 255-270. doi:10.1109/surv.2012.022412.00172Popoola, S. I., Atayero, A. A., Badejo, J. A., John, T. M., Odukoya, J. A., & Omole, D. O. (2018). Learning analytics for smart campus: Data on academic performances of engineering undergraduates in Nigerian private university. Data in Brief, 17, 76-94. doi:10.1016/j.dib.2017.12.059Popoola, S. I., Atayero, A. A., & Faruk, N. (2018). Received signal strength and local terrain profile data for radio network planning and optimization at GSM frequency bands. Data in Brief, 16, 972-981. doi:10.1016/j.dib.2017.12.036Popoola, S. I., Atayero, A. A., Faruk, N., & Badejo, J. 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Adverse Drug Reactions in Children—A Systematic Review

Adverse drug reactions in children are an important public health problem. We have undertaken a systematic review of observational studies in children in three settings: causing admission to hospital, occurring during hospital stay and occurring in the community. We were particularly interested in understanding how ADRs might be better detected, assessed and avoided

TFOS European ambassador meeting:Unmet needs and future scientific and clinical solutions for ocular surface diseases

The mission of the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) is to advance the research, literacy, and educational aspects of the scientific field of the tear film and ocular surface. Fundamental to fulfilling this mission is the TFOS Global Ambassador program. TFOS Ambassadors are dynamic and proactive experts, who help promote TFOS initiatives, such as presenting the conclusions and recommendations of the recent TFOS DEWS II™, throughout the world. They also identify unmet needs, and propose future clinical and scientific solutions, for management of ocular surface diseases in their countries. This meeting report addresses such needs and solutions for 25 European countries, as detailed in the TFOS European Ambassador meeting in Rome, Italy, in September 2019

Numerical modelling of structure responses for high-speed planing craft in waves

The paper presents an approach for time-domain simulation of structure responses, along with hydromechanic and structure inertia loads and motions responses, for high-speed planing craft in waves. Hydromechanic loads and motion responses are calculated with a non-linear time-domain strip method. A pressure shape function is introduced which enables formulation of detailed slamming pressure distributions sequences from the section forces in the strip method simulations. Structure responses are calculated quasi-dynamically by applying the momentary distributed pressure loads on a global finite element representation of the hull structure with use of inertia relief. From the time series output extreme responses are determined by means of short-term statistics. Promising results are demonstrated in applications on a high-speed planing craft, where extreme values of simulated structure responses are compared with responses to uniform design pressures from classification rules and measured responses from full-scale trials. The approach is concluded to be a useful tool for further research which has potential to form the basis for establishment of a computationally efficient simulation-based design methodology. A corresponding experimental modelling approach is presented in a parallel paper