Assessment of CMIP6 performance and projected temperature and precipitation changes over South America

We evaluate the performance of a large ensemble of Global Climate Models (GCMs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) over South America for a recent past reference period and examine their projections of twenty-first century precipitation and temperature changes. The future changes are computed for two time slices (2040–2059 and 2080–2099) relative to the reference period (1995–2014) under four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs, SSP1–2.6, SSP2–4.5, SSP3–7.0 and SSP5–8.5). The CMIP6 GCMs successfully capture the main climate characteristics across South America. However, they exhibit varying skill in the spatiotemporal distribution of precipitation and temperature at the sub-regional scale, particularly over high latitudes and altitudes. Future precipitation exhibits a decrease over the east of the northern Andes in tropical South America and the southern Andes in Chile and Amazonia, and an increase over southeastern South America and the northern Andes—a result generally consistent with earlier CMIP (3 and 5) projections. However, most of these changes remain within the range of variability of the reference period. In contrast, temperature increases are robust in terms of magnitude even under the SSP1–2.6. Future changes mostly progress monotonically from the weakest to the strongest forcing scenario, and from the mid-century to late-century projection period. There is an increase in the seasonality of the intra-annual precipitation distribution, as the wetter part of the year contributes relatively more to the annual total. Furthermore, an increasingly heavy-tailed precipitation distribution and a rightward shifted temperature distribution provide strong indications of a more intense hydrological cycle as greenhouse gas emissions increase. The relative distance of an individual GCM from the ensemble mean does not substantially vary across different scenarios. We found no clear systematic linkage between model spread about the mean in the reference period and the magnitude of simulated sub-regional climate change in the future period. Overall, these results could be useful for regional climate change impact assessments across South America

Refining Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder Genetic Loci by Integrating Summary Data From Genome-wide Association, Gene Expression, and DNA Methylation Studies

Background: Recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) identified the first genetic loci associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The next step is to use these results to increase our understanding of the biological mechanisms involved. Most of the identified variants likely influence gene regulation. The aim of the current study is to shed light on the mechanisms underlying the genetic signals and prioritize genes by integrating GWAS results with gene expression and DNA methylation (DNAm) levels. Methods: We applied summary-data–based Mendelian randomization to integrate ADHD and ASD GWAS data with fetal brain expression and methylation quantitative trait loci, given the early onset of these disorders. We also analyzed expression and methylation quantitative trait loci datasets of adult brain and blood, as these provide increased statistical power. We subsequently used summary-data–based Mendelian randomization to investigate if the same variant influences both DNAm and gene expression levels. Results: We identified multiple gene expression and DNAm levels in fetal brain at chromosomes 1 and 17 that were associated with ADHD and ASD, respectively, through pleiotropy at shared genetic variants. The analyses in brain and blood showed additional associated gene expression and DNAm levels at the same and additional loci, likely because of increased statistical power. Several of the associated genes have not been identified in ADHD and ASD GWASs before. Conclusions: Our findings identified the genetic variants associated with ADHD and ASD that likely act through gene regulation. This facilitates prioritization of candidate genes for functional follow-up studies

Slow-motion smartphone video improves interobserver reliability of gait assessment in ambulatory cerebral palsy.

PURPOSE: Structured visual gait assessment is essential for the evaluation of pediatric patients with neuromuscular conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefit of slow-motion video recorded on a standard smartphone to augment visual gait assessment. METHODS: Coronal and sagittal plane videos of the gait of five pediatric subjects were recorded on a smartphone, including four subjects with ambulatory cerebral palsy and one subject without gait pathology. Twenty-one video scorers were recruited and randomized to evaluate slow-motion or normal-speed videos utilizing the Edinburgh Visual Gait Score. The slow-motion group (N = 11) evaluated the videos at one-eighth speed, and the normal-speed group (N = 10) evaluated the same videos at normal speed. Interrater reliabilities were determined by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients for each group as a whole, for each Edinburgh Visual Gait Score item, and after stratification by evaluator experience level. RESULTS: The slow-motion group exhibited an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.65 (95% confidence interval: 0.58-0.73), whereas the normal-speed group exhibited an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.57 (95% confidence interval: 0.49-0.65). For less-experienced scorers, intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.62 (95% confidence interval: 0.53-0.71) and 0.50 (95% confidence interval: 0.40-0.59) were calculated for slow motion and normal speed, respectively. For more-experienced scorers, intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.69 (95% confidence interval: 0.61-0.76) and 0.67 (95% confidence interval: 0.58-0.75) were calculated for slow motion and normal speed, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Visual gait assessment is enhanced by the use of slow-motion smartphone video, a tool widely available throughout the world with no marginal cost. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: level I, randomized study

Total levels, localization patterns, and proportions of sperm exhibiting phospholipase C zeta are significantly correlated with fertilization rates after intracytoplasmic sperm injection

To study the relationship of total levels, localization patterns, and proportions of sperm exhibiting phospholipase C zeta, with fertilization rates after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).Laboratory study; controls vs. patients after IVF (n = 27) or ICSI (n = 17) treatment.Fertility center.A total of 44 semen samples, subjected to either IVF or ICSI treatment. Oocyte collection, ICSI or IVF, determination of sperm concentration and motility, and immunocytochemical analyses of phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ).None.Percentages of sperm exhibiting PLCζ.Significant positive correlation between ICSI fertilization rates and total levels, localization patterns, and the proportion (percentage) of sperm exhibiting PLCζ. Total levels, localization patterns, and the proportion of sperm exhibiting PLCζ are correlated with fertilization rates for ICSI, but not for IVF.Evaluating total levels, localization patterns, and proportions of PLCζ may represent a useful diagnostic tool for clinical purposes in men for whom IVF is not advised or has previously failed. This clinical study further supports the fundamental role of PLCζ in the oocyte activation process

H2O2-assisted photoelectrocatalytic degradation of Mitoxantrone using CuO nanostructured films: Identification of by-products and toxicity

CuO nanostructured thin films supported on silicon with 6.5 cm2 area (geometric area greater than the studies reported in the literature) were synthesized by a chemical bath deposition technique. The electrodes were characterized by MEV, XRD, XPS, contact angle, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses. To evaluate the photoelectrochemical properties of the CuO films, photocurrent–voltage measurements were performed using linear voltammetry. The catalytic activities of CuO nanostructures were evaluated by monitoring photodegradation of Mitoxantrone (MTX) under UV-A light irradiation. The method of photoelectrocatalysis (PEC), applying a voltage of 1.5 V and assisted by adding H2O2, was undertaken. To the best of our knowledge, no studies on the degradation of anticancer agents using PEC process have been found in the literature. For comparison purposes, experiments were performed under the same conditions by assisted photocatalysis (PC) with H2O2 and direct photolysis. CuO deposits consists of a needle-like morphology. The presence of CuO in the tenorite phase was evidenced by XRD and the XPS spectra showed the presence of copper(II) oxide. The increase in current under illumination shows that CuO exhibits photoactivity. The PEC system showed a 75% level of MTX degradation, while the level achieved using PC was 50%. Under UV-A light alone only 3% removal was obtained after 180 min. Up to 10 by-products were identified by chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with m/z values ranging between 521 and 285 and a plausible degradation route has been proposed. It is worth mentioning that 9 by-products identified in this work, were not found in the literature in other studies of degradation or products generated as metabolites. The toxicity tests of MTX before and after PEC treatment with Artemia Salina and Allium Cepa showed a decrease in the acute toxicity of the medium as the antineoplastic was degraded

Greenland Temperatures and Solar Activity: A Computational Intelligence Approach

The complexity of the earths climate and its relationship with solar activity are here approached by means of two computational intelligence techniques: Multivariate Time Series Model Mining (MVTSMM) and Genetic Programming (GP). They were applied to a temperature record (Delta O18/16), obtained from an ice core in Central Greenland, representative of the climate variations in the North Atlantic regions, and the International Sunspot Number series, as a proxy of solar activity, both covering the period from 1721 to 1983. Several experiments were conducted using these records jointly and separately with the purpose of characterize and reveal their time dependencies. Preliminary results show this mining approach is a valid and promising research line. The time-lag spectra obtained with MVTSMM seem to point out to time stamps of some of the most important Earth-climate and solar variations, as well as the contribution of solar activity and sunspot solar cycles along time. The GP provided equations which approximate the relative contribution of particular solar time-lags. Although suggestive, this research is at an early stage and the results are preliminary, emphasizing methodological aspects.La complexit\ue9 du climat de la terre et sa relation avec l'activit\ue9 solaire sont abord\ue9es ici, \ue0 l'aide de deux techniques d'intelligence logicielle : L'exploration de mod\ue8les dans des s\ue9ries temporelles multivari\ue9es (MVTSMM, de langlais Multivariate Time SeriesModel Mining) et la programmation g\ue9n\ue9tique (PG). Ces techniques ont \ue9t\ue9 appliqu\ue9es \ue0 un enregistrement de temp\ue9rature (Delta O18/16),obtenu d'un noyau de glace de la partie centrale du Groenland, repr\ue9sentative des variations climatiques dans les r\ue9gions du nord de l'Atlantique et aux s\ue9ries internationales des nombres de taches solaires (International Sunspot Number series), comme indice de l'activit\ue9 solaire, tous deux couvrant la p\ue9riode de 1721 \ue0 1983. Plusieurs exp\ue9riences ont \ue9t\ue9 men\ue9es conjointement et s\ue9par\ue9ment afin de caract\ue9riser et de r\ue9v\ue9ler leurs d\ue9pendances chronologiques. Les r\ue9sultats pr\ue9liminaires d\ue9montrent que cette approche d'exploration est une voie valable et prometteuse pour la recherche. Les spectres de d\ue9calages temporels obtenus \ue0 l'aide de la technique MVTSMM semblent pointer vers des timbres temporels de certaines des plus importantes variations du climat terrestre et de l'activit\ue9 solaire ainsi que vers la contribution des cycles d'activit\ue9 solaire et des cycles solaires/de tache solaire dans le temps. La PG a fourni des \ue9quations qui repr\ue9sentent approximativement la contribution relative de d\ue9calages temporels solaires particuliers. Bien qu'elle donne mati\ue8re \ue0 penser, cette recherche est encore \ue0 ses d\ue9buts et les r\ue9sultats sont pr\ue9liminaires, soulignant les aspects m\ue9thodologiques.NRC publication: Ye