The use of distributed hydrological models for the Gard 2002 flash flood event: Analysis of associated hydrological processes

Summary This paper presents a detailed analysis of the September 8-9, 2002 flash flood event in the Gard region (southern France) using two distributed hydrological models: CVN built within the LIQUID® hydrological platform and MARINE. The models differ in terms of spatial discretization, infiltration and water redistribution representation, and river flow transfer. MARINE can also account for subsurface lateral flow. Both models are set up using the same available information, namely a DEM and a pedology map. They are forced with high resolution radar rainfall data over a set of 18 sub-catchments ranging from 2.5 to 99 km2 and are run without calibration. To begin with, models simulations are assessed against post field estimates of the time of peak and the maximum peak discharge showing a fair agreement for both models. The results are then discussed in terms of flow dynamics, runoff coefficients and soil saturation dynamics. The contribution of the subsurface lateral flow is also quantified using the MARINE model. This analysis highlights that rainfall remains the first controlling factor of flash flood dynamics. High rainfall peak intensities are very influential of the maximum peak discharge for both models, but especially for the CVN model which has a simplified overland flow transfer. The river bed roughness also influences the peak intensity and time. Soil spatial representation is shown to have a significant role on runoff coefficients and on the spatial variability of saturation dynamics. Simulated soil saturation is found to be strongly related with soil depth and initial storage deficit maps, due to a full saturation of most of the area at the end of the event. When activated, the signature of subsurface lateral flow is also visible in the spatial patterns of soil saturation with higher values concentrating along the river network. However, the data currently available do not allow the assessment of both patterns. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations for enhancing field observations in order to progress in process understanding and gather a larger set of data to improve the realism of distributed models

Numerical and experimental analysis of the Bell Tower of St. Jacob's Church in Kutná Hora Town

Dynamická analýza nám pomůže identifikovat parametry, které jsou potřeba pro zjištění globálního chování konstrukce. To je zvláště cenné při výpočtu historických konstrukcí, kde není možné odebrat vzorky pro destruktivní testy. Pomocí výsledků z dynamických experimentů můžeme kalibrovat FEM model a ten pak použít pro další účely. Cíle disertační práce jsou využít dynamické testování k zjištění stavu zvonové věže v kostelu sv. Jiří v Kutné Hoře. Všechny výsledky získané numerickým modelem jsou porovnány s výsledky získanými experimentálním měřením. Setování okrajových podmínek a materiálových vlastností numerického modelu bylo provedeno z vlastních frekvencí, získaných při měření. Po spočtení sil od zvonění se provedl výpočet vynuceného kmitání. Získané výsledky posunů byly v souladu s experimentem. Zároven lze říci, že zvonění nezpůsobuje žádné resonance a konstrukce je zezpečná.Dynamic analysis techniques are a way of identifying the global behaviour of a structure. It is beneficial in heritage engineering works because the testing causes no damage to the building and can indicate a lot about its current properties, as well as potential concerns for damage. Dynamic testing results can also be used to calibrate FEM models to be used as an engineering tool in design and analysis. The objectives of this paper are to use dynamic testing and analysis to determine the safety of the bell tower in the St. James Church in Kutná Hora, Czech Republic. All numerical results are compared with experimental values to verify acceptability. First, dynamic testing is completed to get experimental results of the fundamental frequencies of the tower. These are then used to develop a numerical model. The model is then used to simulate the ringing of the bell to check for signs of resonance, such as large displacements. Conclusions are made about the safety of continued bell use and the viability of the results

International periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, cervical adenitis syndrome cohort: description of distinct phenotypes in 301 patients

Objectives. The aims of this study were to describe the clinical features of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) and identify distinct phenotypes in a large cohort of patients from different countries. Methods. We established a web-based multicentre cohort through an international collaboration within the periodic fevers working party of the Pediatric Rheumatology European Society (PReS). The inclusion criterion was a diagnosis of PFAPA given by an experienced paediatric rheumatologist participating in an international working group on periodic fever syndromes. Results. Of the 301 patients included from the 15 centres, 271 had pharyngitis, 236 cervical adenitis, 171 oral aphthosis and 132 with all three clinical features. A total of 228 patients presented with additional symptoms (131 gastrointestinal symptoms, 86 arthralgias and/or myalgias, 36 skin rashes, 8 neurological symptoms). Thirty-one patients had disease onset after 5 years and they reported more additional symptoms. A positive family history for recurrent fever or recurrent tonsillitis was found in 81 patients (26.9%). Genetic testing for monogenic periodic fever syndromes was performed on 111 patients, who reported fewer occurrences of oral aphthosis or additional symptoms. Twenty-four patients reported symptoms (oral aphthosis and malaise) outside the flares. The CRP was >50 mg/l in the majority (131/190) of the patients tested during the fever. Conclusion. We describe the largest cohort of PFAPA patients presented so far. We confirm that PFAPA may present with varied clinical manifestations and we show the limitations of the commonly used diagnostic criteria. Based on detailed analysis of this cohort, a consensus definition of PFAPA with better-defined criteria should be propose

DataSHIELD:An Ethically Robust Solution to Multiple-Site Individual-Level Data Analysis

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Background:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; DataSHIELD (Data Aggregation Through Anonymous Summary-statistics from Harmonised Individual levEL Databases) has been proposed to facilitate the co-analysis of individual-level data from multiple studies without physically sharing the data. In a previous paper, we investigated whether DataSHIELD could protect participant confidentiality in accordance with UK law. In this follow-up paper, we investigate whether DataSHIELD addresses a broader range of ethics-related data-sharing concerns. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Ethics-related data-sharing concerns of Institutional Review Boards, ethics experts, international research consortia and research participants were identified through a literature search and systematically examined at a multidisciplinary workshop to determine whether DataSHIELD proposes mechanisms which can address these concerns. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; DataSHIELD addresses several ethics-related data-sharing concerns related to privacy, confidentiality, and the protection of the research participant's rights while sharing data and after the data have been shared. The data remain entirely under the direct management of the study that collected them. Data processing commands are strictly supervised, and the data are queried in a protected environment. Issues related to the return of individual research results when data are shared are eliminated; the responsibility for return remains at the study of origin. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; DataSHIELD can provide an innovative and robust solution for addressing commonly encountered ethics-related data-sharing concerns.</jats:p

Barns och ungdomars framtidstr(o)ro En strukturerad litteraturöversikt om barn och ungas uppväxtvillkor och framtidsutsikter i särskilt utsatta områden

Barn och ungas framtidstro i utsatta områden påverkas av de svårigheter och utmaningar som finns i samhället. Forskningen visar att de ungdomar som växer upp i utsatta områden upplever att deras möjligheter är begränsade på grund av sämre levnadsvillkor. För att få en överblick över fältet görs en strukturerad litteraturöversikt. Syftet med denna litteraturöversikt är att sammanställa forskningen om barn och ungas röster vad gäller möjligheter, utmaningar och framtidstro i särskilt utsatta områden. Litteraturöversikten avser också att sammanställa professionellas, forskare och vårdnadshavarnas beskrivning av situationen och de möjligheter och utmaningar dem anser finns i området. I denna litteraturöversikt analyseras 14 vetenskapliga artiklar. Tematisk analys har använts som metod för att analysera studierna. Resultaten visar på att barn och unga har olika uppfattningar om begreppen och hur de påverkar deras liv. Det handlar mycket om de förutsättningar som barn och unga har som växer upp i särskilt utsatta områden och de olika perspektiv vad gäller framtidstro och dess betydelse kopplat till möjligheter och utmaningar. Barn och unga upplever att utmaningarna är större än möjligheterna att uppväxten i särskilt utsatta områden starkt bidrar till deras negativa syn på framtidstro. De har svårt att känna någon framtidstro eftersom de inte har något hopp. Vuxenperspektivet handlar om förebyggande åtgärder i de särskilt utsatta områdena. De handlar också om hur man kan hjälpa barn och unga. Föräldrarna lyfter socialt, ekonomiskt – och utbildnings kapital som något centralt för att förverkliga barn och ungas framtidstro