Morphodynamics of the exit of a cutoff meander: experimental findings from field and laboratory studies

The morphological evolution of the entrances and exits of abandoned river channels governs their hydrological connectivity. The study focusses on flow and sediment dynamics in the exit of a cut-off meander where the downstream entrance is still connected to the main channel, but the upstream entrance is closed. Two similar field and laboratory cases were investigated using innovative velocimetry techniques (acoustic Doppler profiling, image analysis). Laboratory experiments were conducted with a mobile-bed physical model of the Morava river (Slovakia). Field measurements were performed in the exit of the Port-Galland cut-off meander, Ain river (France). Both cases yielded consistent and complementary results from which a generic scheme for flow patterns and morphological evolution was derived. A simple analogy with flows in rectangular side cavities was used to explain the recirculating flow patterns which developed in the exit. A decelerating inflow deposits bedload in the downstream part of the cavity, while the upstream part is eroded by an accelerating outflow, leading to the retreat of the upstream bank. In the field, strong secondary currents were observed, especially in the inflow, which may enhance the scouring of the downstream corner of the cavity. Also, fine sediment deposits constituted a silt layer in a transitional zone, located between the mouth of the abandoned channel and the oxbow-lake within the cut-off meander. Attempts at morphological prediction should consider not only the flow and sediment conditions in the cavity, but also the dynamics of the main channel

Role of liraglutide in Alzheimer's disease pathology

Background The described relationship between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the fact that AD has no succesful treatment has led to the study of antidiabetic drugs that may limit or slow down AD pathology. Main body Although T2D treatment has evident limitations, options are increasing including glucagon-like peptide 1 analogs. Among these, liraglutide (LRGT) is commonly used by T2D patients to improve beta cell function and suppress glucagon to restore normoglycaemia. Interestingly, LRGT also counterbalances altered brain metabolism and has anti-inflammatory properties. Previous studies have reported its capacity to reduce AD pathology, including amyloid production and deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, or neuronal and synaptic loss in animal models of AD, accompanied by cognitive improvement. Given the beneficial effects of LRGT at central level, studies in patients have been carried out, showing modest beneficial effects. At present, the ELAD trial (Evaluating Liraglutide in Alzheimer's Disease NCT01843075) is an ongoing phase IIb study in patients with mild AD. In this minireview, we resume the outcomes of LRGT treatment in preclinical models of AD as well as the available results in patients up to date. Conclusion The effects of LRGT on animal models show significant benefits in AD pathology and cognitive impairment. While studies in patients are limited, ongoing clinical trials will probably provide more definitive conclusions on the role of LRGT in AD patients

Glasses of stoichiometric (As2Se3)​100-​x(Sb2Se3)​x system

International audienc

Assessment of methods used in 1D models for computing bedload transport in a large river: the Danube River in Slovakia

[Departement_IRSTEA]Eaux [TR1_IRSTEA]ARCEAUComprehensive measurements of bedload sediment transport through a section of the Danube River, located approximately 70km downstream from Bratislava, Slovakia, are used to assess the accuracy of bedload formulae implemented in 1D modelling. Depending on water discharge and water level, significant variations in the distribution of bedload across the section were observed. It appeared that, whatever the water discharge, the bed shear stress tau is always close to the estimated critical bed shear stress for the initiation of sediment transport . The discussion focusses on the methods used in 1D models for estimating bedload transport. Though usually done, the evaluation of bedload transport using the mean cross-sectional bed shear stress yields unsatisfactory results. It is necessary to use an additional model to distribute the bed shear stress across the section and calculate bedload locally. Bedload predictors also need to be accurate for tau close to tau. From that point of view, bedload formulae based on an exponential decrease of bedload transport close to tau appear to be more appropriate than models based on excess bed shear stress. A discussion on the bedload formula capability to reproduce grain sorting is also provided

Self-stigma and quality of life in patients with depressive disorder: a cross-sectional study

Michaela Holubova,1,2 Jan Prasko,1 Marie Ociskova,1 Marketa Marackova,1 Ales Grambal,1 Milos Slepecky3 1Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, 2Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Liberec, Liberec, Czech Republic; 3Department of Psychology Sciences, Faculty of Social Science and Health Care, Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Slovak Republic Background: Self-stigma is a maladaptive psychosocial phenomenon that can affect many areas of patients’ lives and have a negative impact on their quality of life (QoL). This study explored the association between self-stigma, QoL, demographic data, and the severity of symptoms in patients with depressive disorder. Patients and methods: Patients who met the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, research criteria for depressive disorder were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. All outpatients completed the following measurements: the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale, demographic questionnaire, and the objective and subjective Clinical Global Impression-Severity scales that measure the severity of disorder. A total of 81 depressive disorder patients (with persistent affective disorder – dysthymia, major depressive disorder, or recurrent depressive disorder) and 43 healthy controls participated in this study. Results: Compared with the healthy control group, a lower QoL was observed in patients with depressive disorder. The level of self-stigma correlated positively with total symptom severity score and negatively with QoL. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the overall rating of objective symptom severity and score of self-stigma were significantly associated with QoL. Conclusion: This study suggests a lower QoL in patients with depressive disorder in comparison with healthy controls and a negative impact of self-stigma level on QoL in patients suffering from depressive disorders. Keywords: self-stigma, quality of life, depressive disorde

Quality of life, self-stigma, and coping strategies in patients with neurotic spectrum disorders: a cross-sectional study

Michaela Holubova,1–3 Jan Prasko,1,2,4 Marie Ociskova,1,2 Kryštof Kantor,1,2 Jakub Vanek,1,2 Milos Slepecky,4 Kristyna Vrbova1,2 1Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic; 2Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic; 3Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Liberec, Liberec, Czech Republic; 4Department of Psychology Sciences, Faculty of Social Science and Health Care, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Nitra, Slovakia Background: Modern psychiatry focuses on self-stigma, coping strategies, and quality of life (QoL). This study looked at relationships among severity of symptoms, self-stigma, demographics, coping strategies, and QoL in patients with neurotic spectrum disorders. Methods: A total of 153 clinically stable participants who met criteria for generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, agoraphobia, mixed anxiety–depressive disorder, adjustment disorders, somatoform disorders, or obsessive–compulsive disorder were included in a cross-sectional study. Psychiatrists examined patients during regular psychiatric checkups. Patients completed the Quality of Life Satisfaction and Enjoyment Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q), Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI), a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Stress Coping Style Questionnaire (Strategie Zvládání Stresu [SVF] 78), and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale. Results: The diagnostic subgroups differed significantly in age and use of negative coping strategies, but not in other measured clinical or psychological variables. The findings showed that neither sex nor partnership played a role in perceived QoL. All Q-LES-Q domains correlated negatively with all ISMI domains, except school/study. Unemployed and employed groups of patients differed in QoL. Each of the coping strategies, except the need for social support, was related to self-stigma. The findings showed that sex, partnership, education, and employment played no role in self-stigma. No differences between sexes in positive coping strategies, severity of disorder, self-stigma, or QoL were found. QoL correlated significantly with all coping strategies, except for guilt denial. Multiple regression showed the most important factors to be positive coping, employment, and overall self-stigma rating, explaining 32.9% of QoL. Mediation analysis showed self-stigma level and negative coping strategies to be the most influential. The most substantial factors associated with self-stigma, as indicated by regression analysis, were Q-LES-Q total, subjective CGI, and positive coping strategies, which clarified 44.5% of the ISMI. Conclusion: The study confirmed associations among self-stigma, quality of life, disorder severity, and coping strategies of outpatients with neurotic spectrum disorders. Keywords: self-stigma, quality of life, coping strategies, neurotic spectrum disorder