Canopy structure, topography, and weather are equally important drivers of small-scale snow cover dynamics in sub-alpine forests

In mountain regions, forests that overlap with seasonal snow mostly reside in complex terrain. Due to persisting major observational challenges in these environments, the combined impact of forest structure and topography on seasonal snow cover dynamics is still poorly understood. Recent advances in forest snow process representation and increasing availability of detailed canopy structure datasets, however, now allow for hyper-resolution (&lt;5 m) snow model simulations capable of resolving tree-scale processes. These can shed light on the complex process interactions that govern forest snow dynamics. We present multi-year simulations at 2 m resolution obtained with FSM2, a mass- and energy-balance-based forest snow model specifically developed and validated for metre-scale applications. We simulate an ∼3 km2 model domain encompassing forested slopes of a sub-alpine valley in the eastern Swiss Alps and six snow seasons. Simulations thus span a wide range of canopy structures, terrain characteristics, and meteorological conditions. We analyse spatial and temporal variations in forest snow energy balance partitioning, aiming to quantify and understand the contribution of individual energy exchange processes at different locations and times. Our results suggest that snow cover evolution is equally affected by canopy structure, terrain characteristics, and meteorological conditions. We show that the interaction of these three factors can lead to snow accumulation and ablation patterns that vary between years. We further identify higher snow distribution variability and complexity in slopes that receive solar radiation early in winter. Our process-level insights corroborate and complement existing empirical findings that are largely based on snow distribution datasets only. Hyper-resolution simulations as presented here thus help to better understand how snowpacks and ecohydrological regimes in sub-alpine regions may evolve due to forest disturbances and a warming climate. They could further support the development of process-based sub-grid forest snow cover parameterizations or tiling approaches for coarse-resolution modelling applications.</p

Dynamics of Inflammatory Responses After SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Vaccination Status in the USA: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Cytokines and chemokines play a critical role in the response to infection and vaccination. We aimed to assess the longitudinal association of COVID-19 vaccination with cytokine and chemokine concentrations and trajectories among people with SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: In this longitudinal, prospective cohort study, blood samples were used from participants enrolled in a multi-centre randomised trial assessing the efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy for ambulatory COVID-19. The trial was conducted in 23 outpatient sites in the USA. In this study, participants (aged ≥18 years) were restricted to those with COVID-19 before vaccination or with breakthrough infections who had blood samples and symptom data collected at screening (pre-transfusion), day 14, and day 90 visits. Associations between COVID-19 vaccination status and concentrations of 21 cytokines and chemokines (measured using multiplexed sandwich immunoassays) were examined using multivariate linear mixed-effects regression models, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, hypertension, diabetes, trial group, and COVID-19 waves (pre-alpha or alpha and delta). FINDINGS: Between June 29, 2020, and Sept 30, 2021, 882 participants recently infected with SARS-CoV-2 were enrolled, of whom 506 (57%) were female and 376 (43%) were male. 688 (78%) of 882 participants were unvaccinated, 55 (6%) were partly vaccinated, and 139 (16%) were fully vaccinated at baseline. After adjusting for confounders, geometric mean concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2RA, IL-7, IL-8, IL-15, IL-29 (interferon-λ), inducible protein-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and tumour necrosis factor-α were significantly lower among the fully vaccinated group than in the unvaccinated group at screening. On day 90, fully vaccinated participants had approximately 20% lower geometric mean concentrations of IL-7, IL-8, and vascular endothelial growth factor-A than unvaccinated participants. Cytokine and chemokine concentrations decreased over time in the fully and partly vaccinated groups and unvaccinated group. Log INTERPRETATION: Initially and during recovery from symptomatic COVID-19, fully vaccinated participants had lower concentrations of inflammatory markers than unvaccinated participants suggesting vaccination is associated with short-term and long-term reduction in inflammation, which could in part explain the reduced disease severity and mortality in vaccinated individuals. FUNDING: US Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, Bloomberg Philanthropies, State of Maryland, Mental Wellness Foundation, Moriah Fund, Octapharma, HealthNetwork Foundation, and the Shear Family Foundation

COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Therapy Decreases Inflammatory Cytokines: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study examined the role that cytokines may have played in the beneficial outcomes found when outpatient individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 were transfused with COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) early in their infection. We found that the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 decreased significantly faster in patients treated early with CCP. Participants with COVID-19 treated with CCP later in the infection did not have the same effect. This decrease in IL-6 levels after early CCP treatment suggests a possible role of inflammation in COVID-19 progression. The evidence of IL-6 involvement brings insight into the possible mechanisms involved in CCP treatment mitigating SARS-CoV-2 severity

Organ donation in the ICU - a survey on next of kin response in two Swiss academic centres.

AIM OF THE STUDY In the Swiss population, attitudes to organ donation are mostly positive. However, a high refusal rate by the next of kin may be observed. We aimed to investigate potential underlying reasons. METHODS In two independent Swiss tertiary care academic centres 167 next of kin were confronted with potential organ donation, over a period of 18 to 24 months. Of these, 147 could be contacted and were asked &ge;6 months later to participate in a post-hoc survey (72-item questionnaire). Aspects related to conversations, time and care in the intensive care unit (ICU), underlying concepts for organ donation, impact on mourning, and other potential influencing factors were addressed. RESULTS The overall return rate was 66%. Seventy four of 77 (96%) next of kin stated that the request for organ donation was appropriate and they agreed to address the issue. Personal attitudes of next of kin regarding organ donation correlated with the decision for or against organ donation (p &lt;0.0001). Thirteen percent (8/62) reported that conversations with ICU physicians changed their decision. In 56% (18/32) of reports when organ donation was refused, the next of kin stated that presence of a documented will might have changed their decisions. Mourning was reported to be impaired by the request for organ donation in 8% (6/71), facilitated in 14% (10/71) and not affected in 77% (55/71) of cases. Twenty-seven percent (16/59) indicated that an opt-out policy for organ donation would subjectively have facilitated their decision and 81% (34/42) of consenting next of kin stated that an objection law should be put into place (p &lt;0.0001). CONCLUSIONS In this observational study, the majority of the next of kin stated that addressing organ donation did not affect mourning. Presence of a presumed will could likely facilitate grief and provide comfort for affected families. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT03612024. Date of registration: 24 July 2018.)

"BioMolChem" : a tool to assess the defense status of grapevines after stimulations or not of cultivar of resistant genotypes, from genes to the field

Congrès : Ist World Congress on the Use of Biostimulants in Agriculture ; Strasbourg (France) - (2012-11-26 - 2012-11-29)International audienceStimulating plant defenses or resistant plant varieties is promising as an alternative method for limiting pesticide use in agriculture. To assess the defense status of the grapevine we have developed a triple approach called BioMolChem. The biological tests measure the efficacy of grapevine defenses against two major biotrophic pathogens (Erysiphe necator, Plasmopara viticola). Molecular assays by q-RT-qPCR show the expression patterns (over-expression or repression) of 20 genes involved in grapevine defenses, and they can then be correlated or not with the level of protection. Biochemical analyses of phenylpropanoides by HPLC are used to quantify and identify molecules of interest, and correlate them with specific gene expression (stilbene biosynthesis) and the acquired protection. This tool was tested on leaves (Cabernet Sauvignon) after stimulation by different elicitors (benzothiadiazole, phosphonates), on grapevine, Cabernet Sauvignon, genotypes resistant to powdery and downy mildew, and in the vineyard. We obtained correlations between the expression of PR-protein genes and genes coding for biosynthesis pathways (stilbene, tryptophan) and with the level of protection. Similarly, we found correlations between the presence of known and unknown molecules and the level of protection. Resveratrol, a well-known phytoalexin of the grapevine, is a good marker of defense status but not of protection. Therefore, we now have available a tool for understanding the defense and protection status of the grapevine in laboratory and field experiments

The Basic Leucine Zipper Transcription Factor ABSCISIC ACID RESPONSE ELEMENT-BINDING FACTOR2 Is an Important Transcriptional Regulator of Abscisic Acid-Dependent Grape Berry Ripening Processes

International audienc

Organic volatile compounds as suitable markers of grapevine response to defense elicitors in the vineyard

National audienc