Multi-decadal temperature changes off Iberia over the last two deglaciations and interglacials and their connection with the polar climate

The Iberian margin provides climatic and environmental sediment records with multi-decadal resolution over the last two deglaciations and interglacials. These records allow us to identify climatic structures and discuss interhemispherical connections.Peer reviewe

The response of SST to insolation and ice sheet variability from MIS 3 to MIS 11 in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Lions)

Here we present a sea surface temperature (SST) record based on the Uk′ 37 index from the PRGL1 borehole (Promess1) drilled on the upper slope of the Gulf of Lions (GL). This is the first continuous and high-resolution record in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea from marine oxygen isotope stage 3 (MIS) 3 to MIS 11. Due the location of the GL, the SST proxy can be considered to be a reliable tool to study the climate link between high latitude and midlatitude. During glacial inceptions, the northern ice sheet signal via cold northwesterly winds was first recorded in our study area in comparison with southern locations, highlighting the strong sensitivity of this location to high-latitude dynamics. Moreover, the amplitude of the millennial-scale variability in the western Mediterranean basin seems to be the result of both ice sheet and insolation variability. © 2015. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.Two anonymous reviewers are greatly acknowledged for their comments that improved the final version of this manuscript. This work was funded by GRACCIE project (CONSOLIDERINGENIO CSD 2007–00067) and by the Formación de Personal Investigador (FPI) grant BES-2007-17602. Supporting data available at http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.854682Peer reviewe

Clinical Profile and Outcome among Infants of Diabetic Mothers Delivered At the Brooklyn Hospital Center

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the commonest complication of pregnancy, negatively impacting mothers and fetuses. Few studies suggest amelioration of negative outcomes of DM-associated pregnancies in recent years, due in part to improved care. But increasing prevalence of overweight in developed countries is also affecting many women of childbearing age with concomitant poor glycemic control especially in pregnancy. Hyperglycemia, even at sub-diabetic levels, is associated with increased risk of macrosomia and Cesarean section. There is evidence demonstrating that outcomes of DM-associated pregnancies are similar with those characterized by hyperglycemia of sub-diabetic levels. Perhaps, improvement of care for DM-associated pregnancies on one hand, and the impact of obesity epidemic may have changed the relative frequencies of negative outcomes typically reported for infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) compared with controls.Aims/Objective: We re-evaluated the relative frequencies of negative outcomes of pregnancies complicated by DM compared with non-diabetic pregnancies.Method/Design: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted.Result: There were 50 diabetic and 83 non-diabetic mother-infant pairs. Mothers with DM-associated pregnancies had increased risk of delivery by C/Sxn, macrosomic babies, admission to NICU and prolonged hospitalization. Only IDMs had documented birth defects. Notable improvements over previous studies for IDMs include similar gestational ages at delivery and excellent APGAR scores in both groups.Conclusion: IDMs still have higher frequencies of negative outcomes compared with controls but some improvements are noteworthy and should provide impetus for efforts at reducing prevalence of obesity while improving care for DM-associated pregnancies

Optimization of Ultrasound Assisted Extraction of Antioxidant Compounds from Marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) Using Response Surface Methodology

The present study optimized the ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) conditions to maximize the antioxidant activity [Ferric ion Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)], total phenol content (TP) and content of individual polyphenols of extracts from marjoram. Optimal conditions with regard to amplitude of sonication (24.4–61.0 μm) and extraction temperature (15–35 °C) and extraction time (5–15 min) were identified using response surface methodology (RSM). The results showed that the combined treatment conditions of 61 μm, 35 °C and 15 min were optimal for maximizing TP, FRAP, rosmarinic acid, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, caffeic acid, carnosic acid and carnosol values of the extracts. The predicted values from the developed quadratic polynomial equation were in close agreement with the actual experimental values with low average mean deviations (E%) ranging from 0.45% to 1.55%. The extraction yields of the optimal UAE were significantly (p \u3c 0.05) higher than solid/liquid extracts. Predicted models were highly significant (p \u3c 0.05) for all the parameters studied with high regression coefficients (R2) ranging from 0.58 to 0.98

Global observational diagnosis of soil moisture control on the land surface energy balance

An understanding of where and how strongly the surface energy budget is constrained by soil moisture is hindered by a lack of large-scale observations, and this contributes to uncertainty in climate models. Here we present a new approach combining satellite observations of land surface temperature and rainfall.We derive a Relative Warming Rate (RWR) diagnostic, which is a measure of how rapidly the land warms relative to the overlying atmosphere during 10 day dry spells. In our dry spell composites, 73% of the land surface between 60°S and 60°N warms faster than the atmosphere, indicating water-stressed conditions, and increases in sensible heat. Higher RWRs are found for shorter vegetation and bare soil than for tall, deep-rooted vegetation, due to differences in aerodynamic and hydrological properties. We show how the variation of RWR with antecedent rainfall helps to identify different evaporative regimes in the major nonpolar climate zones

Millennial-scale vegetation changes in the tropical Andes using ecological grouping and ordination methods

We compare eight pollen records reflecting climatic and environmental change from northern and southern sites in the tropical Andes. Our analysis focuses on the last 30ĝ€ 000 years, with particular emphasis on the Pleistocene to Holocene transition. We explore ecological grouping and downcore ordination results as two approaches for extracting environmental variability from pollen records. We also use the records of aquatic and shoreline vegetation as markers for lake level fluctuations and moisture availability. Our analysis focuses on the signature of millennial-scale climate variability in the tropical Andes, in particular Heinrich stadials (HS) and Greenland interstadials (GI). The pollen records show an overall warming trend during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, but the onset of post-glacial warming differs in timing among records. We identify rapid responses of the tropical vegetation to millennial-scale climate variability. The signatures of HS and the Younger Dryas are generally recorded as downslope upper forest line (UFL) migrations in our transect, and are likely linked to air temperature cooling. The GI1 signal is overall comparable between northern and southern records and indicates upslope UFL migrations and warming in the tropical Andes. Our marker for lake level changes indicated a north-To-south difference that could be related to moisture availability. The air temperature signature recorded by the Andean vegetation was consistent with millennial-scale cryosphere and sea surface temperature changes but suggests a potential difference between the magnitude of temperature change in the ocean and the atmosphere. We also show that arboreal pollen percentage (AP %) and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) scores are two complementary approaches to extract environmental variability from pollen records

Reward During Arm Training Improves Impairment and Activity After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Learning and learning-related neuroplasticity in motor cortex are potential mechanisms mediating recovery of movement abilities after stroke. These mechanisms depend on dopaminergic projections from midbrain that may encode reward information. Likewise, therapist experience confirms the role of feedback/reward for training efficacy after stroke. Objective To test the hypothesis that rehabilitative training can be enhanced by adding performance feedback and monetary rewards. Methods This multicentric, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial used the ArmeoSenso virtual reality rehabilitation system to train 37 first-ever subacute stroke patients in arm-reaching to moving targets. The rewarded group (n = 19) trained with performance feedback (gameplay) and contingent monetary reward. The control group (n = 18) used the same system without monetary reward and with graphically minimized performance feedback. Primary outcome was the change in the two-dimensional reaching space until the end of the intervention period. Secondary clinical assessments were performed at baseline, after 3 weeks of training (15 1-hour sessions), and at 3 month follow-up. Duration and intensity of the interventions as well as concomitant therapy were comparable between groups. Results The two-dimensional reaching space showed an overall improvement but no difference between groups. The rewarded group, however, showed significantly greater improvements from baseline in secondary outcomes assessing arm activity (Box and Block Test at post-training: 6.03±2.95, P = .046 and 3 months: 9.66±3.11, P = .003; Wolf Motor Function Test [Score] at 3 months: .63±.22, P = .007) and arm impairment (Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity at 3 months: 8.22±3.11, P = .011). Conclusions Although neutral in its primary outcome, the trial signals a potential facilitating effect of reward on training-mediated improvement of arm paresis. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT02257125)

Supervision multidistribuida de un secadero solar de madera empleando sensores de bajo coste

Multi-distributed supervision of wood in solar dryers is carried out by means of high performance low cost ambient sensors. An experimental dryer of 0.3 m 3 is used for testing the proposed instrumentation mainly based on thermocouples and SENSIRION TM which are combined with the psychometric model defined by ASABE in order to assess the amount of water released by the wood during the drying process. Continuous monitoring enables the Implementation of automated control of the dryer by means of regulating the fan speed and the amount of re-circulated air