Plot and field scale soil moisture dynamics and subsurface wetness control on runoff generation in a headwater in the Ore Mountains

This study presents an application of an innovative sampling strategy to assess soil moisture dynamics in a headwater of the Weißeritz in the German eastern Ore Mountains. A grassland site and a forested site were instrumented with two Spatial TDR clusters (STDR) that consist of 39 and 32 coated TDR probes of 60 cm length. Distributed time series of vertically averaged soil moisture data from both sites/ensembles were analyzed by statistical and geostatistical methods. Spatial variability and the spatial mean at the forested site were larger than at the grassland site. Furthermore, clustering of TDR probes in combination with long-term monitoring allowed identification of average spatial covariance structures at the small field scale for different wetness states. The correlation length of soil water content as well as the sill to nugget ratio at the grassland site increased with increasing average wetness and but, in contrast, were constant at the forested site. As soil properties at both the forested and grassland sites are extremely variable, this suggests that the correlation structure at the forested site is dominated by the pattern of throughfall and interception. We also found a very strong correlation between antecedent soil moisture at the forested site and runoff coefficients of rainfall-runoff events observed at gauge Rehefeld. Antecedent soil moisture at the forest site explains 92% of the variability in the runoff coefficients. By combining these results with a recession analysis we derived a first conceptual model of the dominant runoff mechanisms operating in this catchment. Finally, we employed a physically based hydrological model to shed light on the controls of soil- and plant morphological parameters on soil average soil moisture at the forested site and the grassland site, respectively. A homogeneous soil setup allowed, after fine tuning of plant morphological parameters, most of the time unbiased predictions of the observed average soil conditions observed at both field sites. We conclude that the proposed sampling strategy of clustering TDR probes is suitable to assess unbiased average soil moisture dynamics in critical functional units, in this case the forested site, which is a much better predictor for event scale runoff formation than pre-event discharge. Long term monitoring of such critical landscape elements could maybe yield valuable information for flood warning in headwaters. We thus think that STDR provides a good intersect of the advantages of permanent sampling and spatially highly resolved soil moisture sampling using mobile rods

Rashba spin-orbit coupling and spin relaxation in silicon quantum wells

Silicon is a leading candidate material for spin-based devices, and two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) formed in silicon heterostructures have been proposed for both spin transport and quantum dot quantum computing applications. The key parameter for these applications is the spin relaxation time. Here we apply the theory of D'yakonov and Perel' (DP) to calculate the electron spin resonance linewidth of a silicon 2DEG due to structural inversion asymmetry for arbitrary static magnetic field direction at low temperatures. We estimate the Rashba spin-orbit coupling coefficient in silicon quantum wells and find the $T_{1}$ and $T_{2}$ times of the spins from this mechanism as a function of momentum scattering time, magnetic field, and device-specific parameters. We obtain agreement with existing data for the angular dependence of the relaxation times and show that the magnitudes are consistent with the DP mechanism. We suggest how to increase the relaxation times by appropriate device design.Comment: Extended derivations and info, fixed typos and refs, updated figs and data. Worth a re-downloa

Governing Gene Drive Technologies:A Qualitative Interview Study

Background: Gene drive technologies (GDTs) bias the inheritance of a genetic element within a population of non-human organisms, promoting its progressive spread across this population. If successful, GDTs may be used to counter intractable problems such as vector-borne diseases. A key issue in the debate on GDTs relates to what governance is appropriate for these technologies. While governance mechanisms for GDTs are to a significant extent proposed and shaped by professional experts, the perspectives of these experts have not been explored in depth. Methods: A total of 33 GDT experts from different professional disciplines were interviewed to identify, better understand, and juxtapose their perspectives on GDT governance. The pseudonymized transcripts were analyzed thematically. Results: Three main themes were identified: (1) engagement of communities, stakeholders, and publics; (2) power dynamics, and (3) decision-making. There was broad consensus amongst respondents that it is important to engage communities, stakeholders, and publics. Nonetheless, respondents had diverging views on the reasons for doing so and the timing and design of engagement. Respondents also outlined complexities and challenges related to engagement. Moreover, they brought up the power dynamics that are present in GDT research. Respondents stressed the importance of preventing the recurrence of historical injustices and reflected on dilemmas regarding whether and to what extent (foreign) researchers can legitimately make demands regarding local governance. Finally, respondents had diverging views on whether decisions about GDTs should be made in the same way as decisions about other environmental interventions, and on the decision-making model that should be used to decide about GDT deployment. Conclusions: The insights obtained in this interview study give rise to recommendations for the design and evaluation of GDT governance. Moreover, these insights point to unresolved normative questions that need to be addressed to move from general commitments to concrete obligations

Gate-Controlled Electron Spin Resonance in a GaAs/AlGaAs Heterostructure

The electron spin resonance (ESR) of two-dimensional electrons is investigated in a gated GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure. We found that the ESR resonance frequency can be turned by means of a gate voltage. The front and back gates of the heterostructure produce opposite g-factor shift, suggesting that electron g-factor is being electrostatically controlled by shifting the equilibrium position of the electron wave function from one epitaxial layer to another with different g-factors

Evaluation and Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Le but de ce papier est de faire une étude théorique sur lune des fonctionnalités les plus utilisées en termes de lévaluation et du diagnostic du trouble de déficit de lattention et le trouble dhyperactivité (TDAH). Le TDAH est une condition de la prévalence élevée dans lenfance et ladolescence. La pratique montre une incidence élevée denfants qui cherchent des soins à un diagnostic de TDAH, qui souvent nest pas correcte. Même les études de prévalence montrent que si les conclusions sont tout à fait différent, attirant lattention sur la nécessité de réfléchir sur le processus dévaluation et de diagnostic. Cet article vise à souligner certains des plus largement utilisé des techniques pour lévaluation des enfants et des adolescents, lapproche processus dans son ensemble, en vue dune plus grande fiabilité dans le diagnostic et le traitement.Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a high prevalence pathology during childhood and adolescence. Clinical practice shows a high number of children who seek treatment having a previous ADHD diagnosis, which is, oftentimes, incorrect. Prevalence studies themselves show rather different findings, which alert for the need to question the evaluation and diagnosis process. This study aims to highlight the most used techniques to evaluate the child and the adolescent, focusing on the process as a whole, as well as the instruments and tests that can be used in order to have more reliability on the diagnosis and on the treatment.El objetivo de este trabajo es hacer un estudio teórico sobre algunas de las características más usadas en relación a la evaluación y el diagnóstico del trastorno de déficit de atención e hiperactividad (TDAH). El TDAH es una condición de alta prevalencia en la infancia y adolescencia. La práctica muestra una alta incidencia de niños que buscan la atención con un diagnóstico previo de TDAH, que a menudo no es correcta. Incluso la prevalencia de los estudios muestran que si los resultados son muy diferentes, llamando la atención sobre la necesidad de reflexionar sobre el proceso de evaluación y diagnóstico. Este artículo tiene por objeto señalar algunos de las técnicas más ampliamente utilizadas para la evaluación de los niños, niñas y adolescentes, abordando el proceso en su conjunto, con miras a una mayor fiabilidad en el diagnóstico y tratamiento.O objetivo desse artigo é efetuar um estudo teórico sobre alguns dos recursos mais utilizados em termos de avaliação e diagnóstico do Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH). O TDAH é uma patologia de alta prevalência na infância e adolescência. A prática clínica aponta uma alta incidência de crianças que procuram atendimento com diagnóstico prévio de TDAH, que muitas vezes não é correto. Os próprios estudos de prevalência mostram achados que se diferem bastante, alertando para a necessidade de se refletir sobre o processo de avaliação e diagnóstico. Este artigo visa a apontar algumas das técnicas mais utilizadas para a avaliação da criança e do adolescente, abordando o processo como um todo, tendo em vista maior confiabilidade no diagnóstico e no tratamento

MicroProtein-mediated recruitment of CONSTANS into a TOPLESS trimeric complex represses flowering in Arabidopsis

MicroProteins are short, single domain proteins that act by sequestering larger, multi-domain proteins into non-functional complexes. MicroProteins have been identified in plants and animals, where they are mostly involved in the regulation of developmental processes. Here we show that two Arabidopsis thaliana microProteins, miP1a and miP1b, physically interact with CONSTANS (CO) a potent regulator of flowering time. The miP1a/b-type microProteins evolved in dicotyledonous plants and have an additional carboxy-terminal PF(V/L)FL motif. This motif enables miP1a/b microProteins to interact with TOPLESS/TOPLESS-RELATED (TPL/TPR) proteins. Interaction of CO with miP1a/b/TPL causes late flowering due to a failure in the induction of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) expression under inductive long day conditions. Both miP1a and miP1b are expressed in vascular tissue, where CO and FT are active. Genetically, miP1a/b act upstream of CO thus our findings unravel a novel layer of flowering time regulation via microProtein-inhibition

Juvenile xanthogranuloma involving concurrent iris and skin: Clinical, pathological and molecular pathological evaluations.

To report a case of juvenile xanthogranuloma involving the iris and skin that clincally was diagnosed with an obvious cutaneous lesion. A four month-old girl with hyphema and increased intraocular pressure of the left eye persisting for 2 weeks. A suspicious yellow-brown mass with nodular surface and traversed by irregular vascularization was noted on the inferior iris surface. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM; 35 MHz) of the mass revealed multiple nodular irregular hyperreflective lesions in the peripheral iris. Using a biopsy of an obvious cutaneous abdominal skin lesion a diagnosis was made based on histopathological analyses. The biopsy showed dense dermal infiltrate consisting of foamy histiocytes. Additional stains revealed CD68 positivity and CD1a and S100 negativity. This mass revealed histopathologic features identical to juvenile xanthogranuloma and was concurrent with the iris lesion. Next-generation sequencing using Ion AmpliSeqTM Cancer Hotspot Panel revealed a missense mutation of javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@4b0295bb (p.F386L). The diagnosis of a xanthogranuloma of the iris with hyphema can be made easier in patients with obvious cutaneous lesions as described in our case. The significance of javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@ee9b82a mutation in association with JXG is unknown and should be further investigated

Was it worth it? Benefits of transcatheter aortic valve implantation from a patient's perspective:Benefits of transcatheter aortic valve implantation from a patient's perspective

OBJECTIVES: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an important treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis. To improve patient selection, shared decision‐making is recommended to elicit patients' treatment expectations and goals. We assessed patients' expectations and goals before TAVI treatment and whether these were met after treatment. Additionally, we evaluated how meeting these goals aligned with quality of life and functional recovery. DESIGN: A mixed method study. SETTING: An academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy‐four patients undergoing TAVI between 2015 and 2017. MEASUREMENTS: Patients' expectations and goals were assessed qualitatively before treatment. Six to twelve months post procedure, quality of life was measured with the EuroQuol‐5D and any change in the number of dependencies in (instrumental) activities of daily living was assessed. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 81.5 years, and 37.8% were male. Regaining the ability to engage in a specific hobby or activity was the most important treatment goal (33 patients, 54.1%), followed by reducing symptoms (19 patients 31.1%). 66.2% of patients stated that their treatment goal was met. Quality of life was higher in this group, as compared with patients who had not met their treatment goal. Twenty‐three patients (31.1%) showed functional improvement. CONCLUSION: TAVI patients were quite capable of eliciting treatment goals and a majority stated, after treatment, that these had been met patients' experience of treatment benefits regarding these goals had poor alignment with functional outcomes. This raises questions regarding relevant outcome measurements in this population, and could aid in improving shared decision‐making and patient selection for TAVI