The 2014 Lake Askja rockslide-induced tsunami: Optimization of numerical tsunami model using observed data

A large rockslide was released from the inner Askja caldera into Lake Askja, Iceland, on 21 July 2014. Upon entering the lake, it caused a large tsunami that traveled about ∼3 km across the lake and inundated the shore with vertical runup measuring up to 60–80 m. Following the event, comprehensive field data were collected, including GPS measurements of the inundation and multibeam echo soundings of the lake bathymetry. Using this exhaustive data set, numerical modeling of the tsunami has been conducted using both a nonlinear shallow water model and a Boussinesq-type model that includes frequency dispersion. To constrain unknown landslide parameters, a global optimization algorithm, Differential Evolution, was employed, resulting in a parameter set that minimized the deviation from measured inundation. The tsunami model of Lake Askja is the first example where we have been able to utilize field data to show that frequency dispersion is needed to explain the tsunami wave radiation pattern and that shallow water theory falls short. We were able to fit the trend in tsunami runup observations around the entire lake using the Boussinesq model. In contrast, the shallow water model gave a different runup pattern and produced pronounced offsets in certain areas. The well-documented Lake Askja tsunami thus provided a unique opportunity to explore and capture the essential physics of landslide tsunami generation and propagation through numerical modeling. Moreover, the study of the event is important because this dispersive nature is likely to occur for other subaerial impact tsunamis.Nordic Centre of Excellence on Resilience and Societal Security (NORDRESS) Research Council of Norway -231252 Icelandic Avalanche and Landslide Fund Vatnajokull National ParkPeer Reviewe

Quantitative time-course metabolomics in human red blood cells reveal the temperature dependence of human metabolic networks

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink belowThe temperature dependence of biological processes has been studied at the levels of individual biochemical reactions and organism physiology (e.g. basal metabolic rates) but has not been examined at the metabolic network level. Here, we used a systems biology approach to characterize the temperature dependence of the human red blood cell (RBC) metabolic network between 4 and 37 °C through absolutely quantified exo- and endometabolomics data. We used an Arrhenius-type model (Q10) to describe how the rate of a biochemical process changes with every 10 °C change in temperature. Multivariate statistical analysis of the metabolomics data revealed that the same metabolic network-level trends previously reported for RBCs at 4 °C were conserved but accelerated with increasing temperature. We calculated a median Q10 coefficient of 2.89 ± 1.03, within the expected range of 2-3 for biological processes, for 48 individual metabolite concentrations. We then integrated these metabolomics measurements into a cell-scale metabolic model to study pathway usage, calculating a median Q10 coefficient of 2.73 ± 0.75 for 35 reaction fluxes. The relative fluxes through glycolysis and nucleotide metabolism pathways were consistent across the studied temperature range despite the non-uniform distributions of Q10 coefficients of individual metabolites and reaction fluxes. Together, these results indicate that the rate of change of network-level responses to temperature differences in RBC metabolism is consistent between 4 and 37 °C. More broadly, we provide a baseline characterization of a biochemical network given no transcriptional or translational regulation that can be used to explore the temperature dependence of metabolism.European Research Council United States Department of Energy NHLBI, National Institutes of Healt

Avalanches in the Svarfaðardalur region, northern Iceland: Influence of weather and landscape on activity and classification

Svarfaðardalur er meðal snjóþyngstu byggðarlaga landsins enda eru snjóflóð þar nokkuð tíð og hafa orðið a.m.k. 12 manns að bana. Snjóflóðaaðstæður voru kannaðar við 65 íbúðarhús á svæðinu og þau flokkuð í þrjá flokka með tilliti til snjóflóðahættu. Sjö þeirra eru talin í snjóflóðahættu í venjulegri snjóflóðahrinu, 13 við aftakaaðstæður, 15 af völdum krapaflóða en 31 íbúðarhús eru talin vera þar sem snjóflóðahætta er viðunandi. Snjóflóðahætta skapast helst samfara norðlægum áttum með mikilli snjókomu og skafrenningi en við asahláku geta krapaflóð ógnað byggð. Á einstökum bæjum stýrist snjóflóðahættan jafnt af vindátt sem úrkomumagni. Snjóflóð hafa þrisvar grandað bæjum en í ellefu önnur skipti fallið á byggingar. Ellefu manns hafa borist með snjóflóðum sem þeir settu sjálfir af stað og komist lífs af. Þá ógna snjóflóð vegfarendum um Ólafsfjarðarveg en hafa ekki valdið manntjóni. Áður en þessi rannsókn hófst voru um 50 snjóflóð í Svarfaðardal og nágrenni skráð í gagnasafn Veðurstofunnar en eru nú yfir 500. Viðamiklar úrkomumælingar voru gerðar í Svarfaðardal og nágrenni sumarið 2006. Þær sýna að úrkoma á svæðinu er afar breytileg og stjórnast mest af vindátt. Í norðlægum vindi mældist úrkoma mest norðantil og dofnaði skarpt inn ströndina, þannig mældist mesta úrkoma í Ólafsfjarðarmúla 16-föld sú úrkoma sem mældist 9 km innar. Í SV-átt var mest rigning í fjöllunum syðst sem og vestan dalsins, en nánast þurrt í austurfjöllum og norðantil. Mjög hátt hlutfall heildarúrkomunnar í Ólafsfjarðarmúla féll í ákafri úrkomu. Úrkoma virðist þrefalt til fjórfalt algengari til fjalla en á þurrustu svæðunum. Greining úrkomu á sjálfvirku veðurstöðinni í Ólafsfirði í aðdraganda snjóflóða á og við Ólafsfjarðarveg í Sauðanesi bendir til þess að flóðin stækki eftir því sem uppsöfnuð úrkoma eykst fyrir einn og þrjá sólarhringa. Um 75% flóðanna féllu þegar sólarhringsúrkoma mældist 20 mm eða minni. Þegar sólarhringsúrkoma í Ólafsfirði nær 40 mm eru líkur á snjóflóðum í Sauðanesi yfirgnæfandi miklar.The Svarfaðardalur valley, N-Iceland is known for heavy snow. Avalanches are quite common there and have taken at least 12 lives. The avalanche conditions where investigated at 65 residental houses in the area. The houses were divided into three groups according to avalanche danger. Seven of them are assumed to be in danger in normal avalanche cycles and 13 in extreme conditions. Fifteen houses are belived to be threatened by slushflows but 31 houses should be outside of danger zones. The avalanche danger arises mostly in connection with northerly winds with heavy snowfall and drifting snow, but can arise in sharp thaw periods as well. The wind direction is very critical for the conditions at each house. Avalanches have ruined farms on three occations and damaged houses in eleven other incidents. Eleven people have survieved beeing caught by avalanches triggered by themselves. Avalanches also threaten the road between Dalvík and Ólafsfjörður but haven't caused fatilities there so far. About 50 avalanches in Svarfaðardalur valley were recorded in the database of the Icelandic Meteorological Office before this research was started, but now they are more than 500. In the summer of 2006, a major precipitation measurement campaign was carried out in the region of Svarfaðardalur valley. A large observed precipitation gradient (factor sixteen over a distance of 9 km) indicates that the orographic enhancement of precipitation is very sensitive to the shape of the mountains and the exact aspect of the slopes. In northerly winds, the accumulated precipitation was greatest in the northernmost mountains. In southwesterly winds, it was greatest in the southernmost mountains and west of the valley bottom while the mountains in the north and east were almost dry. High precipitation intensities are frequent in the northernmost part of the area. The proportion of the number of wet hours to the number of dry hours was 3-4 times higher in the mountains than in the valley bottom. Accumulated precipitation at the automatic weather station in Ólafsfjörður has been analyzied one, three and five days before avalanches at the road to Ólafsfjörður. The avalanches tends to be larger as the accumulated precipitation for one and three days increases. About 75% of the avalanches occured when the 24 hours accumulated precipitation was lower than 20 mm. Avalanches will most likely occur close to the road if the 24 hours accumulated precipitation exceeds 40 mm

Perennial snow patch distribution in six case study areas on Tröllaskagi peninsula, northern Iceland (1984-2017)

The data (EPSG:32627 - WGS 84 / UTM zone 27N; resolution 30x30 m) show the perennial snow patch distribution in six case study areas on Tröllaskagi peninsula, northern Iceland (see Further Details, Map Overview). We use freely available optical satellite images (Landsat-5/-7/-8 and Sentinel-2) for the mapping the snow patches (see Further Details, Table 1). Therefore, the Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) is calculated for end of summer season images. For each case study area five time periods are calculated. The results are compared to aerial photos, orthophotos and photos from field work as well as to available temperature, precipitation and wind data from several weather stations

Metabolomic analysis of platelets during storage: a comparison between apheresis- and buffy coat-derived platelet concentrates.

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink at the bottom of the pagePlatelet concentrates (PCs) can be prepared using three methods: platelet (PLT)-rich plasma, apheresis, and buffy coat. The aim of this study was to obtain a comprehensive data set that describes metabolism of buffy coat-derived PLTs during storage and to compare it with a previously published parallel data set obtained for apheresis-derived PLTs.During storage we measured more than 150 variables in 8 PLT units, prepared by the buffy coat method. Samples were collected at seven different time points resulting in a data set containing more than 8000 measurements. This data set was obtained by combining a series of standard quality control assays to monitor the quality of stored PLTs and a deep coverage metabolomics study using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.Stored PLTs showed a distinct metabolic transition occurring 4 days after their collection. The transition was evident in PLT produced by both production methods. Apheresis-derived PLTs showed a clearer phenotype of PLT activation during early days of storage. The activated phenotype of apheresis PLTs was accompanied by a higher metabolic activity, especially related to glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Moreover, the extent of the activation differed between bags resulting in interbag variability in the storage lesion of apheresis-prepared PLTs. This may be related to donor-related polymorphism.This study demonstrated two discrete metabolic phenotypes in stored PLTs prepared with both apheresis and buffy coat methods. PLT activation occurs during the first metabolic phenotype and might lead to a low reproducibility of the apheresis PCs.info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/23281

Beryl & Bobo Acrobatic comedy trampolinists in the J.C. Williamson production of The Piddington Show (2) 2 copies [picture]

Part of the collection: J.C. Williamson collection of photographs.; The Piddington show.; Also available in an electronic version via the internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3805403; Seasons in Australasia recorded in programs and ephemera held in J C Williamson collection, PROMPT Collection: 1951 commencing 1 February Empire Theatre, Sydney; 1951 commencing 3 April Comedy Theatre, Melbourne

Mannose and fructose metabolism in red blood cells during cold storage in SAGM

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink belowBACKGROUND: Alternate sugar metabolism during red blood cell (RBC) storage is not well understood. Here we report fructose and mannose metabolism in RBCs during cold storage in SAGM and the impact that these monosaccharides have on metabolic biomarkers of RBC storage lesion. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: RBCs were stored in SAGM containing uniformly labeled 13 C-fructose or 13 C-mannose at 9 or 18 mmol/L concentration for 25 days. RBCs and media were sampled at 14 time points during storage and analyzed using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Blood banking quality assurance measurements were performed. RESULTS: Red blood cells incorporated fructose and mannose during cold storage in the presence of glucose. Mannose was metabolized in preference to glucose via glycolysis. Fructose lowered adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels and contributed little to ATP maintenance when added to SAGM. Both monosaccharides form the advanced glycation end product glycerate. Mannose activates enzymes in the RBC that take part in glycan synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Fructose or mannose addition to RBC SAGM concentrates may not offset the shift in metabolism of RBCs that occurs after 10 days of storage. Fructose and mannose metabolism at 4°C in SAGM reflects their metabolism at physiologic temperature. Glycerate excretion is a measure of protein deglycosylation activity in stored RBCs. No cytoprotective effect was observed upon the addition of either fructose or mannose to SAGM.European Research Council RANNIS Gran

FLOHOF 2007: an overview of the mesoscale meteorological field campaign at Hofsjökull, Central Iceland

The FLOHOF field campaign took place in the period July 21 to August 24, 2007 on and in the surroundings of Hofsjökull glacier in Central Iceland. During the campaign, 18 automatic weather stations (AWS) recording temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, pressure, and precipitation were deployed on and around the glacier. In addition, atmospheric soundings were performed N and S of Hofsjökull by a tethered balloon, pilot balloons, and two unmanned aerial systems (UAS). An energy balance station, consisting of a net radiometer and an eddy correlation flux measurement station, has also been installed. This paper describes the experimental setup of the campaign and presents first results of the data analysis with respect to transience of mountain-induced gravity waves, the extension of katabatic winds into the surrounding of the glacier, the occurrence of katabatic microfronts, and report on novel approaches to probe the vertical structure of the atmospheric boundary layer by UAS. The observed pressure perturbations related to transient gravity wave activity due to changing inflow conditions were between −2 and 2 hPa in general, with positive values upstream and negative values downstream. Differential heating of the glacier and its surrounding is triggering daytime katabatic flow from the glacier into its surrounding. During the campaign, those katabatic winds typically reached out 4–7 km from the edge of the glacier. During late night in clear sky conditions, frontal-like microstructures have been observed frequently with typical repetition times in the order of 30–60 min indicating the interaction of large-scale synoptic and nighttime katabatic density flows close to the ground. The first research application of the newly developed small unmanned meteorological observer proved the applicability of the system for atmospheric boundary layer research by successfully profiling the atmosphere up to 3.5 km above ground

Detailed Multiplex Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Specific Antibodies in COVID-19 Disease

This work was supported in part by The Student Innovation Fund. The funding body had no role in the design of the study, collection, analysis, interpretation of data or writing of the manuscript. Funding Information: We would like to thank Runólfur Pálsson and Elías Eyþórsson for their assistance with the patient demographics. The Department of Clinical Microbiology for their assistance and last but not least the patients. Publisher Copyright: © Copyright © 2021 Brynjolfsson, Sigurgrimsdottir, Einarsdottir, Bjornsdottir, Armannsdottir, Baldvinsdottir, Bjarnason, Gudlaugsson, Gudmundsson, Sigurdardottir, Love, Kristinsson and Ludviksson.A detailed understanding of the antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 is of high importance, especially with the emergence of novel vaccines. A multiplex-based assay, analyzing IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies against the receptor binding domain (RBD), spike 1 (S1), and nucleocapsid proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was set up. The multiplex-based analysis was calibrated against the Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 assay on a Roche Cobas® instrument, using positive and negative samples. The calibration of the multiplex based assay yielded a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 97.7%. SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody levels were analyzed by multiplex in 251 samples from 221 patients. A significant increase in all antibody types (IgM, IgG, and IgA) against RBD was observed between the first and the third weeks of disease. Additionally, the S1 IgG antibody response increased significantly between weeks 1, 2, and 3 of disease. Class switching appeared to occur earlier for IgA than for IgG. Patients requiring hospital admission and intensive care had higher levels of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgA levels than outpatients. These findings describe the initial antibody response during the first weeks of disease and demonstrate the importance of analyzing different antibody isotypes against multiple antigens and include IgA when examining the immunological response to COVID-19.Peer reviewe