Interannual to Interdecadal variability of winter and summer southern African rainfall, and their teleconnections.

25 pagesInternational audienceThis study examines for the first time the changing characteristics of summer and winter southern African rainfall and their teleconnections with large-scale climate through the dominant time scales of variability. As determined by wavelet analysis, the austral summer and winter rainfall indices exhibit three significant time scales of variability over the twentieth century: interdecadal (15–28 years), quasi-decadal (8–13 years), and interannual (2–8 years). Teleconnections with global sea surface temperature and atmospheric circulation anomalies are established here but are different for each time scale. Tropical/subtropical teleconnections emerge as the main driver of austral summer rainfall variability. Thus, shifts in the Walker circulation are linked to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and, at decadal time scales, to decadal ENSO-like patterns related to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation. These global changes in the upper zonal circulation interact with asymmetric ocean-atmospheric conditions between the South Atlantic and South Indian Oceans; together, these lead to a shift in the South Indian Convergence Zone and a modulation of the development of convective rain-bearing systems over southern Africa in summer. Such regional changes, embedded in quasi-annular geopotential patterns, consist of easterly moisture fluxes from the South Indian High, which dominate southerly moisture fluxes from the South Atlantic High. Austral winter rainfall variability is more influenced by midlatitude atmospheric variability, in particular the Southern Annular Mode. The rainfall changes in the southwestern regions of southern Africa are determined by asymmetrical changes in the midlatitude westerlies between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans

The impact of ENSO on Southern African rainfall in CMIP5 ocean atmosphere coupled climate models

We study the ability of 24 ocean atmosphere global coupled models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) to reproduce the teleconnections between El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Southern African rainfall in austral summer using historical forced simulations, with a focus on the atmospheric dynamic associated with El Niño. Overestimations of summer rainfall occur over Southern Africa in all CMIP5 models. Abnormal westward extensions of ENSO patterns are a common feature of all CMIP5 models, while the warming of the Indian Ocean that happens during El Niño is not correctly reproduced. This could impact the teleconnection between ENSO and Southern African rainfall which is represented with mixed success in CMIP5 models. Large-scale anomalies of suppressed deep-convection over the tropical maritime continent and enhanced convection from the central to eastern Pacific are correctly simulated. However, regional biases occur above Africa and the Indian Ocean, particularly in the position of the deep convection anomalies associated with El Niño, which can lead to the wrong sign in rainfall anomalies in the northwest part of South Africa. From the near-surface to mid-troposphere, CMIP5 models underestimate the observed anomalous pattern of pressure occurring over Southern Africa that leads to dry conditions during El Niño years

A comparison of multidisciplinary team residential rehabilitation with conventional outpatient care for the treatment of non-arthritic intra-articular hip pain in UK Military personnel:a protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Non-arthritic hip disorders are defined as abnormalities of the articulating surfaces of the acetabulum and femur before the onset of osteoarthritis, including intra-articular structures such as the acetabular labrum and chondral surfaces. Abnormal femoroacetabular morphology is commonly seen in young men who constitute much of the UK military population. Residential multidisciplinary team (MDT) rehabilitation for patients with musculoskeletal injuries has a long tradition in the UK military, however, there are no studies presenting empirical data on the efficacy of a residential MDT approach compared with individualised conventional outpatient treatment. With no available data, the sustainability of this care pathway has been questioned. The purpose of this randomised controlled trial is to compare the effects of a residential multidisciplinary intervention, to usual outpatient care, on the clinical outcomes of young active adults undergoing treatment for non-arthritic intra-articular hip pain. METHODS/DESIGN: The trial will be conducted at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court, UK. One hundred military male participants with clinical indicators of non-arthritic intra-articular hip pain will be randomly allocated to either: (1) 7-day residential multidisciplinary team intervention, n = 50; (2) 6-week physiotherapist-led outpatient intervention (conventional care), n = 50. Measurements will be taken at baseline, post-treatment (1-week MDT group; 6-weeks physiotherapy group), and 12-weeks. The primary outcome measures are the function in daily living sub-scale of the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS), the physical function subscale of the Non-arthritic Hip Score (NAHS), and VAS pain scale. Secondary outcomes include objective measures of physical capacity and general health. An intention-to-treat analysis will be performed using linear and mixed models. DISCUSSION: This study will be the first to assess the efficacy of intensive MDT rehabilitation, versus conventional outpatient care, for the management of non-arthritic hip pain. The results from this study will add to the evidence-base and inform clinical practice for the management of intra-articular non-arthritic hip pain and femoroacetabular impingement in young active adults. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Reference: ISRCTN 59255714 dated 11-Nov-2015 ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1309-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Mediaction bâtiment II. Evaluation of the building jobs image and tools of beneficients' follow-up.

International audienc

Quelles sont les conditions au maintien de l’intégration culture – élevage ? Analyse rétrospective dans le Gers, de 1950 à nos jours

International audienc

Quelles sont les conditions au maintien de l’intégration culture – élevage ? Analyse rétrospective dans le Gers, de 1950 à nos jours

International audienc

The Great Sumatran Fault Strike-slip Syntaxes in North Sumatra: New Insights From DEM and Fieldwork Data Analyses

Oblique subduction produces slip partitioning or decoupling, in which underthrusting of the subducting slab accommodates the margin-normal component of slip while a trench-parallel strike-slip fault accommodates margin-parallel slip. This process triggers the individualization of slivers of lithosphere between the trench slope and the large-scale strike-slip fault, that control the location of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. This tectonic setting is seen in the Sumatran section of the Sunda arc-trench system, in which the Great Sumatran Fault (GSF) acts as the main strike-slip system. The accurate definition of the structure and geometry of the GSF, as well as that of its main splays, allow proper constraints on the relative motion of the fore-arc sliver plate and its internal deformation. We present a detailed structural analysis on the basis of GDEM and outcrop data at the northernmost tip of Sumatra, including the northwest islands (i.e., between 4,5N and 6N). In this area, we identify two main deformation domains along the GSF, in relation to a western and an eastern branch. The GSF's splays form the structural highs bounding the Aceh Basin as well as distinctive offshore strike-slip syntaxes responsible for the formation of the NW Sumatra islands. Fieldwork observations in relation to the western branch of the GSF show strike-slip or oblique-slip motions and roughly N-S main stress indicators. A >500m2 fault plane exposure shows well-preserved calcite crystallizations and slickenlines, which mark a transition from pure strike to oblique-slip during N-S transpression. In the offshore, the Pulau Aceh islands developed as a transpressional system of thrust splays splitting westwards from the NNW-SSE western trending line of the GSF. These top-to-the-north thrusts, which become younger northward, formed by N-S to NE-SW main stresses. A tectonic restoration based on the geometry of the thrust system points to >20% shortening accommodated by pure reverse dip-slip. The eastern branch of the GSF built the Pulau Weh Island, a tens-of-kms scale Riedel system, which principal stress axis is N-S. The GSF eastern branch further bifurcates in Pulau Weh, resulting in the development of two NNW-trending ridges to the sides of the island, which are parallel to the main deformation zone. Synthetic R and P systems, with N and NW orientations, are marked regionally by structural highs. The strike-slip syntaxes and the wide distribution of deformation of and within the Sumatra fore-arc sliver document the delocalization of the GSF system. More than 20% of the strike-slip motion in the GSF is accommodated by pure contraction and similar or larger percentages are expected from associated fault splays and strike-slip systems at oblique angles

Contribution des méthodes physicochimiques d'analyse a l'étude de 13 icônes appartenant au Musée Byzantin d'Athènes

Μη διαθέσιμη περίληψηno abstrac

Contribution des méthodes physicochimiques d'analyse a l'étude de 13 icônes appartenant au Musée Byzantin d'Athènes

Μη διαθέσιμη περίληψηno abstrac