Anatomy of extraordinary rainfall and flash flood in a Dutch lowland catchment

On 26 August 2010 the eastern part of The Netherlands and the bordering part of Germany were struck by a series of rainfall events lasting for more than a day. Over an area of 740 km2 more than 120 mm of rainfall were observed in 24 h. This extreme event resulted in local flooding of city centres, highways and agricultural fields, and considerable financial loss. In this paper we report on the unprecedented flash flood triggered by this exceptionally heavy rainfall event in the 6.5 km2 Hupsel Brook catchment, which has been the experimental watershed employed by Wageningen University since the 1960s. This study aims to improve our understanding of the dynamics of such lowland flash floods. We present a detailed hydrometeorological analysis of this extreme event, focusing on its synoptic meteorological characteristics, its space-time rainfall dynamics as observed with rain gauges, weather radar and a microwave link, as well as the measured soil moisture, groundwater and discharge response of the catchment. At the Hupsel Brook catchment 160 mm of rainfall was observed in 24 h, corresponding to an estimated return period of well over 1000 years. As a result, discharge at the catchment outlet increased from 4.4 × 10-3 to nearly 5 m3 s-1. Within 7 h discharge rose from 5 × 10-2 to 4.5 m3 s-1. The catchment response can be divided into four phases: (1) soil moisture reservoir filling, (2) groundwater response, (3) surface depression filling and surface runoff and (4) backwater feedback. The first 35 mm of rainfall were stored in the soil without a significant increase in discharge. Relatively dry initial conditions (in comparison to those for past discharge extremes) prevented an even faster and more extreme hydrological response

The Effect of Changing Sea Ice on the Vulnerability of Arctic Coasts

Shorefast sea ice prevents the interaction of the land and the ocean in the Arctic winter and influences this interaction in the summer by governing the fetch. In many parts of the Arctic the sea-ice-free season is increasing in duration, and the summertime sea ice extents are decreasing. Sea ice provides a first order control on the vulnerability of Arctic coasts to erosion, inundation, and damage to settlements and infrastructure. We ask how the changing sea ice cover has influenced coastal erosion over the satellite record. First, we present a pan-Arctic analysis of satellite-based sea ice concentration specifically along the Arctic coasts. The median length of the 2012 open water season in comparison to 1979 expanded by between 1.5 and 3-fold by Arctic sea sector which allows for open water during the stormy Arctic fall. Second, we present a case study of Drew Point, Alaska, a site on the Beaufort Sea characterized by ice-rich permafrost and rapid coastal erosion rates where both the duration of the sea ice free season and distance to the sea ice edge, particularly towards the northwest, has increased. At Drew Point, winds from the northwest result in increased water levels at the coast and control the process of submarine notch incision, the rate-limiting step of coastal retreat. When open water conditions exist, the distance to the sea ice edge exerts control on the water level and wave field through its control on fetch. We find that the extreme values of water level set-up have increased, consistent with increasing fetch

Extreme regenval en overstromingen in het stroomgebied van de Hupselse Beek

Op 26 en 27 augustus 2010 werd het stroomgebied van de Hupselse Beek getroffen door extreme neerslag: 160 mm in 24 uur (herhalingstijd: meer dan 1.000 jaar). Hierdoor steeg de afvoer in 22 uur van vier naar 5.000 liter per seconde. Door deze stortvloed in detail te onderzoeken, is meer inzicht ontstaan in de werking van stroomgebieden tijdens extreme situaties. Deze informatie kan gebruikt worden om modellen en hoogwatervoorspellingen te verbetere

Letter to the Editor:Liver Cell Models for Premature Termination Codon Readthrough Analyses

Amzal and colleagues (1) reported about the prospect of pharmacological premature termination codon (PMT) readthrough of ABCB11 mRNA in bile salt export pump deficiency, the latter causing progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC)-type 2. The authors demonstrate that aminoglycoside antibiotics can stimulate readthrough of nonsense mutation-induced PMT in the ABCB11 mRNA, thereby rescuing full-length ABCB11 protein synthesis. The study provides proof-of-principle for a potential new therapy for nonsense mutation-associated PFIC2. The authors acknowledge that their cell line-based model does not take nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) into account, which however determines whether PFIC2 patients may actually benefit from PMT readthrough therapy. Importantly, other cell models exist that do take NMD into account and we believe these should be discussed as part of the path to bring their exciting findings closer to the clinic

Cognitive complaints in patients with untreated obstructive sleep apnea versus patients with neurological and respiratory diseases:Prevalence, severity and risk factors

PurposeLittle is known about cognitive complaints (self-reported problems in cognitive functioning) in patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). We compared the prevalence and severity of cognitive complaints in patients with untreated OSA to patients with neurological and respiratory diseases. We also studied risk factors for cognitive complaints across these diseases, including OSA.MethodsWe used a convenience sample to compare untreated OSA patients (N = 86) to patients with stroke (N = 166), primary brain tumor (N = 197) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, N = 204) on cognitive complaints (Cognitive Failure Questionnaire, CFQ), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS) and cognitive impairments using neuropsychological tests. We combined all patient groups (OSA, stroke, brain tumor and COPD) and studied potential risk factors (demographic variables, anxiety, depression and cognitive impairments) for cognitive complaints across all patient groups using regression analysis.ResultsThe prevalence of cognitive complaints was higher in OSA patients and complaints of forgetfulness and distractibility were more severe compared to stroke and primary brain tumor patients, but similar to or lower than COPD patients. Regression analysis for the combined sample of all patient groups showed that cognitive complaints were most strongly associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression.ConclusionA high rate of OSA reported clinically significant cognitive complaints, comparable to other respiratory and neurological patients. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are important risk factors for cognitive complaints in patients with various neurological and respiratory diseases. Future studies should examine the relation between anxiety, depression and cognitive complaints in patients with OSA

A grounded theory study on the influence of sleep on Parkinson’s symptoms

Contains fulltext : 167717.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Upon awaking, many Parkinson's patients experience an improved mobility, a phenomenon known as 'sleep benefit'. Despite the potential clinical relevance, no objective correlates of sleep benefit exist. The discrepancy between the patients' subjective experience of improvement in absence of objective changes is striking, and raises questions about the nature of sleep benefit. We aimed to clarify what patients reporting subjective sleep benefit, actually experience when waking up. Furthermore, we searched for factors associated with subjective sleep benefit. METHODS: Using a standardized topic list, we interviewed 14 Parkinson patients with unambiguous subjective sleep benefit, selected from a larger questionnaire-based cohort. A grounded theory approach was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: A subset of the participants described a temporary decrease in their Parkinson motor symptoms after sleep. Others did experience beneficial effects which were, however, non-specific for Parkinson's disease (e.g. feeling 'rested'). The last group misinterpreted the selection questionnaire and did not meet the definition of sleep benefit for various reasons. There were no general sleep-related factors that influenced the presence of sleep benefit. Factors mentioned to influence functioning at awakening were mostly stress related. CONCLUSIONS: The group of participants convincingly reporting sleep benefit in the selection questionnaire appeared to be very heterogeneous, with only a portion of them describing sleep benefit on motor symptoms. The group of participants actually experiencing motor sleep benefit may be much smaller than reported in the literature so far. Future studies should employ careful inclusion criteria, which could be based on our reported data

Twee en een half jaar landsdekkende regenkaarten uit radiostraalverbindingen van een mobiel telefonienetwerk

Alhoewel regenschatting met radiostraalverbindingen van mobiele telefonienetwerken wordt gezien als een nieuwe, veelbelovende meettechniek, moeten de mogelijkheden voor operationele regenmonitoring op grote schaal nog worden aangetoond. Deze studie draagt bij aan deze uitdaging door een dataset van 2,5 jaar aan regenkaarten af te leiden op basis van gemiddeld 3383 straalverbindingen (2044 paden) in Nederland. Kaarten zijn uitgebreid vergeleken met onafhankelijke, met regenmeterdata gecorrigeerde, radarbeelden. De meettechniek werkt vooral goed voor de zomermaanden en geeft dan zelfs betere resultaten dan kaarten gebaseerd op automatische regenmeterdata (1 regenmeter per 1000 km2). In de wintermaanden worden echter grote afwijkingen gevonden. Deze studie laat zien wat de mogelijkheden zijn van commerciële radio-straalverbindingen voor het op grote schaal in kaart brengen van regen in real time

High frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the motor cortex: No diagnostic value for narcolepsy/cataplexy

Contains fulltext : 53462.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access

Protocol of the SOMNIA project : an observational study to create a neurophysiological database for advanced clinical sleep monitoring

Introduction Polysomnography (PSG) is the primary tool for sleep monitoring and the diagnosis of sleep disorders. Recent advances in signal analysis make it possible to reveal more information from this rich data source. Furthermore, many innovative sleep monitoring techniques are being developed that are less obtrusive, easier to use over long time periods and in the home situation. Here, we describe the methods of the Sleep and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Monitoring with Non-Invasive Applications (SOMNIA) project, yielding a database combining clinical PSG with advanced unobtrusive sleep monitoring modalities in a large cohort of patients with various sleep disorders. The SOMNIA database will facilitate the validation and assessment of the diagnostic value of the new techniques, as well as the development of additional indices and biomarkers derived from new and/or traditional sleep monitoring methods. Methods and analysis We aim to include at least 2100 subjects (both adults and children) with a variety of sleep disorders who undergo a PSG as part of standard clinical care in a dedicated sleep centre. Full-video PSG will be performed according to the standards of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Each recording will be supplemented with one or more new monitoring systems, including wrist-worn photoplethysmography and actigraphy, pressure sensing mattresses, multimicrophone recording of respiratory sounds including snoring, suprasternal pressure monitoring and multielectrode electromyography of the diaphragm