Multidecadal variability of ENSO in a recharge oscillator framework

We use a conceptual recharge oscillator model to identify changes in El Niño and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO) statistics and dynamics during the observational record. The variability of ENSO has increased during the 20th century. The cross-correlation between sea surface temperature (SST) and warm water volume (WWV) has also changed during the observational record. From the 1970s onwards, the SST drives WWV anomalies with a lead-time of ten months and the WWV feedbacks onto the SST with a lead-time of eight months. This is reminiscent of a recharge-discharge mechanism of the upper ocean heat content. The full recharge-discharge mechanism is only observed from the 1970s onwards. This could be the result of the degradation of the quality of observations in the early part of the 20th century. However, it may also be a consequence of decadal changes in the coupling between WWV and SST. Additional analysis fitting the recharge oscillator model to the coupled state-of-the-art climate models indicates that ENSO properties show little decadal changes in the climate models. The disagreement in changes in ENSO properties between the reanalysis and the climate models can be due to errors in the available observational data or due to the models missing the low frequency variability and decadal wind trends. Longer and more reliable observational records would be required to validate our results.publishedVersio

Complement component C4 structural variation and quantitative traits contribute to sex-biased vulnerability in systemic sclerosis

Altres ajuts: Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), "A way of making Europe".Copy number (CN) polymorphisms of complement C4 play distinct roles in many conditions, including immune-mediated diseases. We investigated the association of C4 CN with systemic sclerosis (SSc) risk. Imputed total C4, C4A, C4B, and HERV-K CN were analyzed in 26,633 individuals and validated in an independent cohort. Our results showed that higher C4 CN confers protection to SSc, and deviations from CN parity of C4A and C4B augmented risk. The protection contributed per copy of C4A and C4B differed by sex. Stronger protection was afforded by C4A in men and by C4B in women. C4 CN correlated well with its gene expression and serum protein levels, and less C4 was detected for both in SSc patients. Conditioned analysis suggests that C4 genetics strongly contributes to the SSc association within the major histocompatibility complex locus and highlights classical alleles and amino acid variants of HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DPB1 as C4-independent signals

New insights into the genetic etiology of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Characterization of the genetic landscape of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADD) provides a unique opportunity for a better understanding of the associated pathophysiological processes. We performed a two-stage genome-wide association study totaling 111,326 clinically diagnosed/'proxy' AD cases and 677,663 controls. We found 75 risk loci, of which 42 were new at the time of analysis. Pathway enrichment analyses confirmed the involvement of amyloid/tau pathways and highlighted microglia implication. Gene prioritization in the new loci identified 31 genes that were suggestive of new genetically associated processes, including the tumor necrosis factor alpha pathway through the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex. We also built a new genetic risk score associated with the risk of future AD/dementia or progression from mild cognitive impairment to AD/dementia. The improvement in prediction led to a 1.6- to 1.9-fold increase in AD risk from the lowest to the highest decile, in addition to effects of age and the APOE ε4 allele

New insights into the genetic etiology of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Characterization of the genetic landscape of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADD) provides a unique opportunity for a better understanding of the associated pathophysiological processes. We performed a two-stage genome-wide association study totaling 111,326 clinically diagnosed/'proxy' AD cases and 677,663 controls. We found 75 risk loci, of which 42 were new at the time of analysis. Pathway enrichment analyses confirmed the involvement of amyloid/tau pathways and highlighted microglia implication. Gene prioritization in the new loci identified 31 genes that were suggestive of new genetically associated processes, including the tumor necrosis factor alpha pathway through the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex. We also built a new genetic risk score associated with the risk of future AD/dementia or progression from mild cognitive impairment to AD/dementia. The improvement in prediction led to a 1.6- to 1.9-fold increase in AD risk from the lowest to the highest decile, in addition to effects of age and the APOE ε4 allele

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Multidecadal variability of ENSO in a recharge oscillator framework

We use a conceptual recharge oscillator model to identify changes in El Niño and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO) statistics and dynamics during the observational record. The variability of ENSO has increased during the 20th century. The cross-correlation between sea surface temperature (SST) and warm water volume (WWV) has also changed during the observational record. From the 1970s onwards, the SST drives WWV anomalies with a lead-time of ten months and the WWV feedbacks onto the SST with a lead-time of eight months. This is reminiscent of a recharge-discharge mechanism of the upper ocean heat content. The full recharge-discharge mechanism is only observed from the 1970s onwards. This could be the result of the degradation of the quality of observations in the early part of the 20th century. However, it may also be a consequence of decadal changes in the coupling between WWV and SST. Additional analysis fitting the recharge oscillator model to the coupled state-of-the-art climate models indicates that ENSO properties show little decadal changes in the climate models. The disagreement in changes in ENSO properties between the reanalysis and the climate models can be due to errors in the available observational data or due to the models missing the low frequency variability and decadal wind trends. Longer and more reliable observational records would be required to validate our results

Meteolab as an educational tool for Meteorology in the Classroom

El Presente proyecto es una continuación de proyectos anteriores dentro de la plataforma de divulgación Meteolab. Meteolab es un proyecto de divulgación de Meteorología y Clima que tiene su origen en 2002, cuando se comenzaron a diseñar experimentos de bajo coste con materiales caseros para la Semana de la Ciencia de la Comunidad de Madrid (CAM). Con los años, se generó un conocimiento que se materializó en 2010 con la concesión de un Proyecto de Innovación Educativa (PIE) financiado por la Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), dirigido por Belén Rodríguez de Fonseca. Gracias a este primer proyecto en el que trabajaron muchos profesores y alumnos de ciencias de la atmósfera, se gestó un portal web (meteolab.fis.ucm.es) en el que los experimentos se explicaban y se grababan para impulsar su difusión. Más adelante, en un segundo proyecto de Innovación Educativa, dirigido por la profesora Maria Luisa Montoya, los contenidos fueron traducidos al inglés. En concreto, los experimentos que componen Meteolab tienen como principal objetivo entender los principios y variables que determinan el comportamiento de las masas de aire en la atmósfera y de agua en el océano. La idea consiste en visualizar con experimentos sencillos las leyes físicas que gobiernan la atmósfera y el océano: movimientos horizontales y verticales, cambios de estado, mezcla y equilibrio, así como la interacción entre componentes. Se persigue observar los procesos meteorológicos familiares, como son la formación de una nube, los tornados, la convección, la formación de borrascas o la lluvia, entendiendo los procesos físicos que los producen. Finalmente, Meteolab permite también visualizar fenómenos climáticos como el efecto invernadero, el fenómeno de El Niño, el deshielo del Ártico, la influencia de los volcanes en el clima o la subida del nivel del mar. Existe un catálogo de experimentos, la mayoría de los cuales pueden consultarse a través del portal meteolab.fis.ucm.es, encontrándose todos ellos físicamente localizados en el Laboratorio Elvira Zurita de la Facultad de Ciencias Físicas. Tras la experiencia acumulada durante los 18 años de existencia de Meteolab, en los que se han adecuado las explicaciones de los experimentos a distintos niveles de dificultad (infantil, primaria, secundaria, bachillerato y Universidad de mayores), se ha sugerido la idoneidad de adaptar los contenidos a los estudiantes del Grado en Física y del Máster en Meteorología y Geofísica de la UCM. Así, por ejemplo, cuando se explica la formación de una nube, se puede ir complicando el discurso dependiendo de los diferentes ciclos de la enseñanza. De esta manera, para un nivel de escuela primaria uno sólo tiene que explicar que el aire se enfría al ascender, y al enfriarse se forman gotas de agua que forman las nubes. Al llegar a secundaria, los estudiantes aprenden el concepto de presión atmosférica y la relación entre la temperatura, la presión y el volumen de una parcela de aire. Más adelante, en el Grado en Física, se estudia la tensión de vapor, la expansión adiabática y la existencia de núcleos de condensación. Finalmente, en el Máster en Meteorología se aprenden los distintos procesos de nucleación y tipos de nubes. Todos estos conceptos van complicando la explicación, por lo que un mismo experimento puede explicarse tanto en una escuela infantil como en una Universidad. Es por ello, que, aprovechando la plataforma de divulgación Meteolab, hemos decidido dar un paso adelante y adaptar y ampliar los contenidos de Meteolab, para así poder integrarlos en los currícula del Grado en Física y del Máster en Meteorología y Geofísica de la UCM. Con todo ello, los objetivos del presente proyecto han sido: -Implementar los experimentos de Meteolab en el Aula, tanto en las asignaturas de Grado como en las de Máster. -Adaptar los contenidos existentes del portal web Meteolab (meteolab.fis.ucm.es) a las asignaturas relacionadas con Meteorología del Grado en Física y del Máster en Meteorología y Geofísica, con el fin de visualizar procesos físicos que se explican en el aula. -Añadir a Meteolab nuevos contenidos en relación con la dinámica de la atmósfera y el cambio climático. -Evaluar la mejora de la comprensión por parte del alumnado de los procesos que tienen lugar principalmente en la atmósfera y el océano, y su relación con el clima y su variabilidad.This project is a continuation of previous projects within the Meteolab outreach platform. Meteolab is a Meteorology and Climate outreach project that has its origins in 2002, when low-cost experiments with homemade materials were designed for the Science Week of the Community of Madrid (CAM). Over the years, knowledge was generated and materialized in 2010 with the award of an Educational Innovation Project (PIE) funded by the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), directed by Belén Rodríguez de Fonseca. Thanks to this first project, in which many teachers and students of atmospheric sciences worked, a web portal was created (meteolab.fis.ucm.es) in which the experiments were explained and recorded to promote their dissemination. Later, in a second Educational Innovation project, directed by Professor Maria Luisa Montoya, the contents were translated into English. Specifically, the main objective of the experiments that make up Meteolab is to understand the principles and variables that determine the behavior of air masses in the atmosphere and water masses in the ocean. The idea is to visualize with simple experiments the physical laws that govern the atmosphere and the ocean: horizontal and vertical movements, state changes, mixing and equilibrium, as well as the interaction between components. The aim is to observe meteorological processes, such as cloud formation, tornadoes, convection, squall formation or rain, understanding the physical processes that produce them. Finally, Meteolab also allows to visualize climatic phenomena such as the greenhouse effect, the El Niño phenomenon, the melting of the Arctic ice, the influence of volcanoes on the climate or the rise in sea level. There is a catalog of experiments, most of which can be consulted through the portal meteolab.fis.ucm.es, all of which are physically located in the Elvira Zurita Laboratory of the Faculty of Physical Sciences. After the experience accumulated during the 18 years of existence of Meteolab, in which the explanations of the experiments have been adapted to different levels of difficulty ( primary, secondary, high school and senior university), it has been suggested the suitability of adapting the contents to the students of the Degree in Physics and the Master in Meteorology and Geophysics of the UCM. Thus, for example, when explaining the formation of a cloud, the discourse can be complicated depending on the different teaching cycles. Thus, for an elementary school level, one only has to explain that the air cools as it rises, and as it cools, water droplets form and form clouds. By high school, students learn the concept of atmospheric pressure and the relationship between temperature, pressure and volume of a parcel of air. Later, in the Bachelor's Degree in Physics, vapor tension, adiabatic expansion and the existence of condensation nuclei are studied. Finally, in the Master's Degree in Meteorology, the different processes of nucleation and types of clouds are learned. All these concepts complicate the explanation, so that the same experiment can be explained both in a kindergarten and in a university. That is why, taking advantage of the Meteolab dissemination platform, we have decided to take a step forward and adapt and expand the contents of Meteolab, in order to integrate them into the curricula of the Degree in Physics and the Master in Meteorology and Geophysics of the UCM. With all this, the objectives of the present project have been: -Implement Meteolab experiments in the classroom, both in undergraduate and master's degree courses. -To adapt the existing contents of the Meteolab web portal (meteolab.fis.ucm.es) to the subjects related to Meteorology of the Degree in Physics and the Master in Meteorology and Geophysics, in order to visualize physical processes that are explained in the classroom. -Add to Meteolab new contents related to atmospheric dynamics and climate change. -To evaluate the improvement of the students' understanding of the processes that take place mainly in the atmosphere and the ocean, and their relationship with climate and its variability.Depto. de Física de la Tierra y AstrofísicaFac. de Ciencias FísicasFALSEsubmitte