Response of the West African Monsoon to the Madden–Julian Oscillation

Observations show that rainfall over West Africa is influenced by the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). A number of mechanisms have been suggested: 1) forcing by equatorial waves; 2) enhanced monsoon moisture supply; and 3) increased African easterly wave (AEW) activity. However, previous observational studies are not able to unambiguously distinguish between cause and effect. Carefully designed model experiments are used to assess these mechanisms. Intraseasonal convective anomalies over West Africa during the summer monsoon season are simulated in an atmosphere-only global circulation model as a response to imposed sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies associated with the MJO over the equatorial warm pool region. 1) Negative SST anomalies stabilize the atmosphere leading to locally reduced convection. The reduced convection leads to negative midtropospheric latent heating anomalies that force dry equatorial waves. These waves propagate eastward (Kelvin wave) and westward (Rossby wave), reaching Africa approximately 10 days later. The associated negative temperature anomalies act to destabilize the atmosphere, resulting in enhanced monsoon convection over West and central Africa. The Rossby waves are found to be the most important component, with associated westward-propagating convective anomalies over West Africa. The eastward-propagating equatorial Kelvin wave also efficiently triggers convection over the eastern Pacific and Central America, consistent with observations. 2) An increase in boundary layer moisture is found to occur as a result of the forced convective anomalies over West Africa rather than a cause. 3) Increased shear on the African easterly jet, leading to increased AEW activity, is also found to occur as a result of the forced convective anomalies in the model

Physical oceanography

The physical oceanography component of the AMLR program provides information on the hydrography of the upper water column with the objective of assessing its influence on the observed distribution of krill (Euphausia superba). By making closely spaced CTD/rosette casts, the water masses of the Elephant Island region can be identified, and the mean current flow deduced. This component also records the meteorological and sea surface conditions continuously while the Surveyor is in the study region to study the effect of atmospheric conditions on the upper-water-layer structure. AMLR 1992 is the third field season for the collaboration of physical measurements with biological studies.Marine Scienc

Hearing voices network groups: experiences of eight voice hearers and the connection to group processes and recovery

Voice hearing has a diverse history but is often understood as symptomatic of a psychotic disorder. Alternatives to “treatment” include peer-support “Hearing Voices Network groups” (HVNGs) which have grown in popularity and exist alongside professional-led hearing voices groups. Few studies have investigated processes underlying change in HVNGs. Established research into therapeutic factors and personal recovery may provide frameworks elucidating change processes. This study aimed to investigate how HVNG attendees experienced change within the group and how this change influenced their lives. A qualitative design was employed using interpretative phenomenological analysis to elucidate group processes through immersion in the perspectives of group attendees. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight voice hearers from two HVNGs. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Four superordinate themes emerged: “healing: connecting with humanity”; “group as an emotional container”; “making sense of the voices and me”; and “freedom to be myself and grow”. Relationships, safety, exploration of voices and group ownership were key components of HVNG, but require further study. These components were consistent with therapeutic factors and known recovery processes, so these established frameworks could be used to further investigate change processes in HVNGs. Background Voice hearing (VH) or“auditory hallucinations”are typically defined as symptoms of psychiatric illnesses requiring treatment. However, research has estimated that 5–28% of people have experienced VH during their lives (De Leede-Smith & Barkus, 2013) and not all of them become “ill”. Those reporting VH accompanied by distress or culturally unusual beliefs often end up in mental health services, diag- nosed with a psychotic illness and treated with medication. Whilst service user experiences of mental health services vary, many have felt failed by “a broken and demoralised system that does not deliver the quality of treatment that is needed for people to recover.” (Schizophrenia Commission, 2012, p. 4). An alternative approach to VH emerged from the Hearing Voices Movement (HVM) in Holland. Its foundation stemmed from a key study demonstrating that 33% of voice hearers coped with VH experi- ences (Romme & Escher, 1989). This endeavour was driven by social needs and political/emancipatory aims (Romme, Honig, Noorthoorn, & Escher, 1992): empowering voice hearers to explore their experi- ences (Coleman & Smith, 1997); disseminating coping strategies; promoting alternatives to dominant. CONTACT Tom Payne [email protected] © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Grou

Final report on an inventory of flowing artesian wells in Florida: leading to the enforcement of sections 373.021 - 373.061 Florida Statutes 1957

This report published as Information Circular No. 21, together with the interim report published in 1957 as Information Circular No. 10, Florida Geological Survey, illustrates as completely as possible the situation that now exists among the freely flowing wells of the State. (PDF contains 40 pages.

Sun glint estimation in marine satellite images: a comparison of results from calculation and radiative transfer modeling

The intensity and location of Sun glint in two Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) images was modeled using a radiative transfer model that includes elevation features as well as the slope of the sea surface. The results are compared to estimates made using glint flagging and correction approaches used within standard atmospheric correction processing code. The model estimate gives a glint pattern with a similar width but lower peak level than any current method, or than that estimated by a radiative transfer model with surfaces that include slope but not height. The MERIS third reprocessing recently adopted a new slope statistics model for Sun glint correction; the results show that this model is an outlier with respect to both the elevation model and other slope statistics models and we recommend that its adoption should be reviewed

Automating biomedical data science through tree-based pipeline optimization

Over the past decade, data science and machine learning has grown from a mysterious art form to a staple tool across a variety of fields in academia, business, and government. In this paper, we introduce the concept of tree-based pipeline optimization for automating one of the most tedious parts of machine learning---pipeline design. We implement a Tree-based Pipeline Optimization Tool (TPOT) and demonstrate its effectiveness on a series of simulated and real-world genetic data sets. In particular, we show that TPOT can build machine learning pipelines that achieve competitive classification accuracy and discover novel pipeline operators---such as synthetic feature constructors---that significantly improve classification accuracy on these data sets. We also highlight the current challenges to pipeline optimization, such as the tendency to produce pipelines that overfit the data, and suggest future research paths to overcome these challenges. As such, this work represents an early step toward fully automating machine learning pipeline design.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, to appear in EvoBIO 2016 proceeding

Fluorescent analysis of photosynthetic microbes and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons linked to optical remote sensing

Fluorescence analysis, being a non-invasive technique, has become one of the most powerful and widely used techniques for microbiologists and chemists to study various types of sample from photosynthetic microbes to hydrocarbons. The work reported here focuses on experimental results of fluorescent features of photosynthetic microbial species (cyanobacteria) and also five different crude oil samples. The cyanobacteria samples were collected from the Baltic Sea at the end of July 2011 and were associated with cyanobacterial bloom events, and the crude oil samples were from various oil spill events. The aim of the study was to find fluorescent biosignatures of cyanobacteria (initially a species specific to the Baltic Sea) and the fingerprints of crude oil; oil spills can be difficult to differentiate from biogenic films when using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) or sunglint contaminated optical imagery. All samples were measured using a Perkin Elmer LS55 Luminescence spectrometer over a broad range of excitation and emission wavelength from ultraviolet (UV) to near infrared (NIR). The results are presented in Excitation Emission Matrices (EEMs) that exhibit the fluorescent features of each sample. In the EEM of the seawater sample containing cyanobacteria, there is an intense emission peak from tryptophan with fluorescent excitation and emission peaks at 285 and 345 nm respectively. In addition, fluorescent signatures of phycocyanin and chlorophyll-a are present with excitation and emission centre wavelengths at 555 nm, 645 nm and 390 nm, 685 nm, respectively. Additionally, the fluorescence signatures of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are present in the EEMs of crude oil samples with excitation and emission peaks at 285 nm and 425 nm. This study underpins further research on how to distinguish cyanobacteria species by their fluorescence signatures and the potential role that PAHs play in detection of cyanobacteria fluorescence features

Exploring health professionals’ and women's awareness of models of maternity care evidence

A Cochrane systematic review has shown midwife-led continuity models of care provide explicit benefits for mothers and babies compared with other models of maternity care, with a comparable level of safety. The Cochrane review has had much international impact. This study explored the local impact of the review, alongside other midwife-led care evidence and guidelines. Electronic surveys were undertaken exploring women's and health professionals' awareness of models of maternity care evidence, including midwife-led care and homebirth, and how they utilise evidence to guide their choices and practice. A low awareness of much of the available evidence was shown among the women and the professionals. There is a need for better dissemination of information to professionals as they are women's preferred source of information about the options available for place of birth and midwife-led care

Independent and Interactive Associations of Negative Affect, Restraint, and Impulsivity in Relation to Binge Eating Among Women

There is growing recognition that impulsivity may serve as an underlying risk factor for binge eating. In addition, the association of impulsivity with binge eating may be moderated by other affective and cognitive risk factors. This study examined independent and interactive associations of negative affect, dietary restraint, and facets of impulsivity with binge eating. A diverse sample of 566 undergraduate women completed online questionnaires of study variables. Results revealed a three-way interaction of negative affect, dietary restraint, and attentional impulsivity in relation to binge eating. Women who were high on each of these three variables reported the greatest levels of binge eating. In addition, a two-way interaction was found for negative affect and nonplanning impulsivity in relation to binge eating, such that nonplanning impulsivity strengthened the association between negative affect and binge eating. Attentional and nonplanning facets of impulsivity may function as an underlying trait-level risk factor interacts with affective and/or cognitive risk (e.g., negative affect, dietary restraint) factors to predict elevated binge eating