Recognition of differences in the capacity to deal with floods—A cross-country comparison of flood risk management

Flood risks worldwide are increasing due to climate change. Managing these risks is ever more necessary. Although flood risk management (FRM) is often understood as a technical challenge, it also involves decisions about the distribution of resources and risks in floods, which can be inherently unfair. People are disparately affected by floods due to their location. Because of their various socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, they also differ in their capacity to deal with floods. These differences need to be recognised in FRM to prevent disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities. However, at present, a knowledge gap exists on how to make FRM more inclusive and just, and discussions on recognition justice in the context of FRM are scarce. This article therefore examines recognition of differences in the capacity of people to deal with floods in FRM in England (United Kingdom), Finland, Flanders (Belgium) and France. We analyse if, and how, these differences are recognised in FRM policy and practice and through decision-making procedures, drawing on examples from the implementation of five FRM strategies in each country (flood risk prevention, flood defence, flood risk mitigation, flood preparation and flood recovery). Furthermore, we aim to highlight opportunity spaces to strengthen recognition justice in future FRM

Thermal Control of Plasmonic Surface Lattice Resonances

Plasmonic metasurfaces exhibiting collective responses known as surface lattice resonances (SLRs) show potential for realizing tunable and flat photonic components for wavelength-selective processes, including lasing and optical nonlinearities. However, post-fabrication tuning of SLRs remains challenging, limiting the applicability of SLR-based components. Here, we demonstrate how the properties of high quality factor SLRs are easily modified by breaking the symmetry of the nanoparticle surroundings. We break the symmetry by changing the refractive index of the overlying immersion oil simply by controlling the ambient temperature of the device. We show that already modest temperature changes of 10{\deg}C can increase the quality factor of the investigated SLR from 400 to 750. Our results demonstrate accurate and reversible modification of the properties of the SLRs, paving the way towards tunable SLR-based photonic devices. On a more general level, our results demonstrate how symmetry breaking of the surrounding dielectric environment can be utilized for efficient and potentially ultrafast modification of the SLR properties

Phase-Matched Second-Harmonic Generation from Metasurfaces Inside Multipass Cells

We demonstrate a simple and scalable approach to increase conversion efficiencies of nonlinear metasurfaces by incorporating them into multipass cells and by letting the pump beam to interact with the metasurfaces multiple times. We experimentally show that by metasurface design, the associated phase-matching criteria can be fulfilled. As a proof of principle, we achieve phase matching of second-harmonic generation (SHG) using a metasurface consisting of aluminium nanoparticles deposited on a glass substrate. The phase-matching condition is verified to be achieved by measuring superlinear dependence of the detected SHG as a function of number of passes. We measure an order of magnitude enhancement in the SHG signal when the incident pump traverses the metasurface up to 9 passes. Results are found to agree well with a simple model developed to estimate the generated SHG signals. We also discuss strategies to further scale-up the nonlinear signal generation. Our approach provides a clear pathway to enhance nonlinear optical responses of metasurface-based devices. The generic nature of our approach holds promise for diverse applications in nonlinear optics and photonics

Scattering of therapeutic radiation in the presence of craniofacial bone reconstruction materials

PurposeRadiation scattering from bone reconstruction materials can cause problems from prolonged healing to osteoradionecrosis. Glass fiber reinforced composite (FRC) has been introduced for bone reconstruction in craniofacial surgery but the effects during radiotherapy have not been previously studied. The purpose of this study was to compare the attenuation and back scatter caused by different reconstruction materials during radiotherapy, especially FRC with bioactive glass (BG) and titanium.MethodsThe effect of five different bone reconstruction materials on the surrounding tissue during radiotherapy was measured. The materials tested were titanium, glass FRC with and without BG, polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and bone. The samples were irradiated with 6 MV and 10 MV photon beams. Measurements of backscattering and dose changes behind the sample were made with radiochromic film and diamond detector dosimetry.ResultsAn 18% dose enhancement was measured with a radiochromic film on the entrance side of irradiation for titanium with 6 MV energy while PEEK and FRC caused an enhancement of 10% and 4%, respectively. FRC‐BG did not cause any measurable enhancement. The change in dose immediately behind the sample was also greatest with titanium (15% reduction) compared with the other materials (0–1% enhancement). The trend is similar with diamond detector measurements, titanium caused a dose enhancement of up to 4% with a 1 mm sample and a reduction of 8.5% with 6 MV energy whereas FRC, FRC‐BG, PEEK or bone only caused a maximum dose reduction of 2.2%.ConclusionsGlass fiber reinforced composite causes less interaction with radiation than titanium during radiotherapy and could provide a better healing environment after bone reconstruction.</p

Effect of the frequency spectrum of road traffic noise on sleep: A polysomnographic study

Spectrum of sound affects noise annoyance. Spectral differences of road traffic noise (RTN) transmitted indoors are usual because of spectrally different sound insulation of facades. The purpose was to compare the effect of RTN spectrum on sleep. Twenty-one volunteers slept three nights in a sleep laboratory in three sound conditions: low-frequency (LF) RTN, high-frequency (HF) RTN, and quiet (control). The A-weighted equivalent levels were 37, 37, and 17 dB LAeq,8h, respectively. The nocturnal time profiles of LF and HF were equal. Sleep was measured with polysomnography and questionnaires. HF and LF did not differ from each other in respect to their effects on both objective and subjective sleep quality. The duration of deep sleep was shorter, satisfaction with sleep lower, and subjective sleep latency higher in HF and LF than in quiet. Contrary to subjective ratings given right after the slept night, HF was rated as the most disturbing condition for sleep after the whole experiment (retrospective rating). The finding suggests the sound insulation spectrum of the facade construction might play a role regarding the effects of RTN. More research is needed about the effects of spectrum on sleep because the field is very little investigated

Effects of upper body eccentric versus concentric strength training and detraining on maximal force, muscle activation, hypertrophy and serum hormones in women

Effects of eccentric (ECC) versus concentric (CON) strength training of the upper body performed twice a week for 10 weeks followed by detraining for five weeks on maximal force, muscle activation, muscle mass and serum hormone concentrations were investigated in young women (n = 11 and n = 12). One-repetition bench press (1RM), maximal isometric force and surface electromyography (EMG) of triceps brachii (TB), anterior deltoid (AD) and pectoralis major (PM), cross-sectional area (CSA) of TB (Long (LoH) and Lateral Head (LaH)) and thickness of PM, as well as serum concentrations of free testosterone, cortisol, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol and sex hormone-binding globulin were measured. ECC and CON training led to increases of 17.2 ± 11.3% (p \u3c 0.001) and 13.1 ± 5.7% (p \u3c 0.001) in 1RM followed by decreases of-6.6 ± 3.6% (p \u3c 0.01) and-8.0 ± 4.5% (p \u3c 0.001) during detraining, respectively. Isometric force increased in ECC by 11.4 ± 9.6 % (p \u3c 0.05) from week 5 to 10, while the change in CON by 3.9±6.8% was not significant and a between group difference was noted (p \u3c 0.05). Maximal total integrated EMG of trained muscles increased only in the whole subject group (p \u3c 0.05). CSA of TB (LoH) increased in ECC by 8.7 ± 8.0% (p \u3c 0.001) and in CON by 3.4 ± 1.6% (p \u3c 0.01) and differed between groups (p \u3c 0.05), and CSA of TB (LaH) in ECC by 15.7 ± 8.0% (p \u3c 0.001) and CON by 9.7 ± 6.6% (p \u3c 0.001). PM thickness increased in ECC by 17.7 ± 10.9% (p \u3c 0.001) and CON by 14.0 ± 5.9% (p \u3c 0.001). Total muscle sum value (LoH + LaH + PM) increased in ECC by 12.4 ± 6.9% (p \u3c 0.001) and in CON by 7.1 ± 2.9% (p \u3c 0.001) differing between groups (p \u3c 0.05) and decreased during detraining in ECC by-6.5 ± 4.3% (p \u3c 0.001) and CON by-6.1 ± 2.8% (p \u3c 0.001). The post detraining combined sum value of CSA and thickness was in ECC higher (p \u3c 0.05) than at pre training. No changes were detected in serum hormone concentrations, but baseline free testosterone levels in the ECC and CON group combined correlated with changes in 1RM (r = 0.520, p \u3c 0.016) during training. Large neuromuscular adaptations of the upper body occurred in women during ECC, and CON training in 10 weeks. Isometric force increased only in response to ECC, and total muscle sum value increased more during ECC than CON training. However, no changes occurred in serum hormones, but individual serum-free testosterone baseline concentrations correlated with changes in 1RM during strength training in the entire group. Both groups showed significant decreases in neuromuscular performance and muscle mass during detraining, while post detraining muscle sum value was only in ECC significantly higher than at pre training

Day-Scale Variability of 3C 279 and Searches for Correlations in Gamma-Ray, X-Ray, and Optical Bands

Light curves of 3C 279 are presented in optical (R-band), X-rays (RXTE/PCA), and gamma rays (CGRO/EGRET) for 1999 Jan-Feb and 2000 Jan-Mar. During both of those epochs the gamma-ray levels were high, and all three observed bands demonstrated substantial variation, on time scales as short as one day. Correlation analyses provided no consistent pattern, although a rather significant optical/gamma-ray correlation was seen in 1999, with a gamma-ray lag of ~2.5 days, and there are other suggestions of correlations in the light curves. For comparison, correlation analysis is also presented for the gamma-ray and X-ray light curves during the large gamma ray flare in 1996 Feb and the two gamma-bright weeks leading up to it; the correlation at that time was strong, with a gamma-ray/X-ray offset of no more than 1 day.Comment: 20 pages, including 7 figures; accepted by The Astrophysical Journa

Finnish Version of the Eating Assessment Tool (F-EAT-10) : A Valid and Reliable Patient-reported Outcome Measure for Dysphagia Evaluation

Our aim was to validate a Finnish version of the Eating Assessment Tool (F-EAT-10) for clinical use and to test its reliability and validity in a multicenter nationwide study. Normative data were acquired from 180 non-dysphagic participants (median age 57.0 years, 62.2% female). Dysphagia patients (n = 117, median age 69.7 years, 53.0% female) referred to fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) completed F-EAT-10 before the examination and after 2 weeks. Patients underwent the 100-ml water swallow test (WST) and FEES was evaluated using the following three scales: the Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale, Penetration-Aspiration Scale, and the Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale. An operative cohort of 19 patients (median age 75.8 years, 57.9% female) underwent an endoscopic operation on Zenker's diverticulum, tight cricopharyngeal muscle diagnosed in videofluorography, or both. Patients completed the F-EAT-10 preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. The cut-off score for controls was = 3 is abnormal. Re-questionnaires for test-retest reliability analysis were available from 92 FEES patients and 123 controls. The intraclass correlation coefficient was excellent for the total F-EAT-10 score (0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.91-0.95). Pearson correlation coefficients were strong (p < 0.001) for each of the questions and the total score. Internal consistency as assessed by Cronbach's alpha was excellent (0.95). Some correlations between findings in FEES and 100-ml WST with F-EAT-10 were observed. The change in subjective symptoms of operative patients paralleled the change in F-EAT-10. F-EAT-10 is a reliable, valid, and symptom-specific patient-reported outcome measure for assessing dysphagia among Finnish speakers.Peer reviewe