Air-sea interactions and water mass transformation during a katabatic storm in the Irminger Sea

We use a global 5-km resolution model to analyse the air-sea interactions during a katabatic storm in the Irminger Sea originating from the Ammassalik valleys. Katabatic storms have not yet been resolved in global climate models, raising the question of whether and how they modify water masses in the Irminger Sea. Our results show that dense water forms along the boundary current and on the shelf during the katabatic storm due to the heat loss caused by the high wind speeds and the strong temperature contrast. The dense water contributes to the North Atlantic Deep Water and thus to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The katabatic storm triggers a polar low, which in turn amplifies the near-surface wind speed in a positive feedback, in addition to acceleration from a breaking mountain wave. Resolving katabatic storms in global models is therefore important for the formation of dense water in the Irminger Sea, which is relevant to the AMOC, and for the large-scale atmospheric circulation by triggering polar low

Predictors for surgical site infection in patients undergoing therapeutic or prophylactic intra-abdominal onlay mesh (IPOM) implantation in clean and contaminated surgical fields.

BACKGROUND Prophylactic intra-abdominal onlay mesh (IPOM) implantation has been shown to reduce the rate of fascial dehiscence and incisional hernia. However, surgical site infection (SSI) in presence of an IPOM remains a concern. The aim of this study was to assess predictors for SSI following IPOM placement in hernia and non-hernia abdominal surgery in clean and contaminated surgical fields. METHODS Observational study including patients undergoing IPOM placement at a Swiss tertiary care hospital 2007-2016. IPOM implantation was performed in hernia and non-hernia elective and emergency abdominal surgery, including contaminated and infected surgical fields. The incidence of SSI was prospectively assessed by Swissnoso according to CDC criteria. The effect of disease- and procedure-related factors on SSI was assessed in multivariable regression analysis, adjusting for patient-related factors. RESULTS A total of 1072 IPOM implantations were performed. Laparoscopy was performed in 415 patients (38.7%), laparotomy in 657 patients (61.3%). SSI occurred in 172 patients (16.0%). Superficial, deep, and organ space SSI were found in 77 (7.2%), 26 (2.4%), and 69 (6.4%) patients, respectively. Multivariable analysis revealed emergency hospitalization (OR 1.787, p = 0.006), previous laparotomy (1.745, p = 0.029), duration of operation (OR 1.193, p < 0.001), laparotomy (OR 6.167, p < 0.001), bariatric (OR 4.641, p < 0.001), colorectal (OR 1.941, p = 0.001), and emergency (OR 2.510, p < 0.001) surgery, wound class ≥ 3 (OR 3.878, p < 0.001), and non-polypropylene mesh (OR 1.818, p = 0.003) as independent predictors for SSI. Hernia surgery was independently associated with a lower risk for SSI (OR 0.165, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION This study revealed emergency hospitalization, previous laparotomy, duration of operation, laparotomy, as well as bariatric, colorectal, and emergency surgery, abdominal contamination or infection, and usage of non-polypropylene mesh as independent predictors for SSI. In contrast, hernia surgery was associated with a lower risk for SSI. The knowledge of these predictors will help to balance benefits of IPOM implantation against the risk for SSI

Comparison of ocean vertical mixing schemes in the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model (MPI-ESM1.2)

For the first time, we compare the effects of four different ocean vertical mixing schemes on the mean state of the ocean and atmosphere in the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model (MPI-ESM1.2). These four schemes are namely the default Pacanowski and Philander (1981) (PP) scheme, the K-profile parameterization (KPP) from the Community Vertical Mixing (CVMix) library, a recently implemented scheme based on turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), and a recently developed prognostic scheme for internal wave dissipation, energy, and mixing (IDEMIX) to replace the often assumed constant background diffusivity in the ocean interior. In this study, the IDEMIX scheme is combined with the TKE scheme (collectively called the TKE+IDEMIX scheme) to provide an energetically more consistent framework for mixing, as it does not rely on the unwanted effect of creating spurious energy for mixing. Energetic consistency can have implications on the climate. Therefore, we focus on the effects of TKE+IDEMIX on the climate mean state and compare them with the first three schemes that are commonly used in other models but are not energetically consistent. We find warmer sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the North Atlantic and Nordic Seas using KPP or TKE(+IDEMIX), which is related to 10 % higher overflows that cause a stronger and deeper upper cell of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and thereby an enhanced northward heat transport and higher inflow of warm and saline water from the Indian Ocean into the South Atlantic. Saltier subpolar North Atlantic and Nordic Seas lead to increased deep convection and thus to the increased overflows. Due to the warmer SSTs, the extratropics of the Northern Hemisphere become warmer with TKE(+IDEMIX), weakening the meridional gradient and thus the jet stream. With KPP, the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere also become warmer without weakening the jet stream. Using an energetically more consistent scheme (TKE+IDEMIX) produces a more heterogeneous and realistic pattern of vertical eddy diffusivity, with lower diffusivities in deep and flat-bottom basins and elevated turbulence over rough topography. IDEMIX improves in particular the diffusivity in the Arctic Ocean and reduces the warm bias in the Atlantic Water layer. We conclude that although shortcomings due to model resolution determine the global-scale bias pattern, the choice of the vertical mixing scheme may play an important role for regional biases.. © 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). All rights reserve

Prevalence of spontaneous, induced labour or planned caesarean section and factors associated with caesarean scetion and factors associated with caesarian section in low-risk women in southern Brazil

Objective This study aimed to examine the prevalence of spontaneous labour, induced labour and planned caesarean section in low-risk women; to identify the contribution of each group to the overall caesarean section rate; and to estimate factors associated with caesarean section in low-risk women according to spontaneous labour, induced labour and planned caesarean section. Design Cross-sectional hospital-based study of postpartum women and newborns, using data from the survey Birth in Brazil, Southern region. In the sample of 2,668 low-risk women, a descriptive analysis was undertaken and a Multinomial Logistic Regression model was applied to verify associations among caesarean section and spontaneous labour, induced labour and planned caesarean section in comparison with vaginal birth. Measurements and Findings The results showed the prevalence of spontaneous labour (48.0%), induced labour (14.0%) and planned caesarean sections (38.0%); these frequencies contributed to an overall caesarean section rate of 50.5%. Obstetric characteristics like previous vaginal birth or previous caesarean section were differentially associated with caesarean section, independently of the labour. Caesarean section without labour was significantly associated with age ≥ 35 years (ORadj 5.45 95%CI 3.16-9.39), economic class A and B (ORadj 3.10 95%CI 1.92-4.99), pregnancy between 37 and 38 weeks (ORadj 1.65 95%CI 1.22-2.24), same obstetrician in prenatal and childbirth (ORadj 13.83 95%CI 8.85-21.61) and private payment source at birth (ORadj 11.50 95%CI 6.64-19.93). Key conclusion For low-risk women in Southern Brazil, the results identify high planned caesarean section rates, not associated with socioeconomic, obstetric, institutional or prenatal factors that justify these rates

Nested Regular Expressions can be Compiled to Small Deterministic Nested Word Automata

International audienceWe study the problem of whether regular expressions for nested words can be compiled to small deterministic nested word au-tomata (NWAs). In theory, we obtain a positive answer for small deter-ministic regular expressions for nested words. In practice of navigational path queries, nondeterministic NWAs are obtained for which NWA de-terminization explodes. We show that practical good solutions can be obtained by using stepwise hedge automata as intermediates

ICON-O: The Ocean Component of the ICON Earth System Model - Global simulation characteristics and local telescoping capability

Abstract We describe the ocean general circulation model ICON-O of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, which forms the ocean-sea ice component of the Earth system model ICON-ESM. ICON-O relies on innovative structure-preserving finite volume numerics. We demonstrate the fundamental ability of ICON-O to simulate key features of global ocean dynamics at both uniform and non-uniform resolution. Two experiments are analyzed and compared with observations, one with a nearly uniform and eddy-rich resolution of ?10?km and another with a telescoping configuration whose resolution varies smoothly from globally ?80?km to ?10?km in a focal region in the North Atlantic. Our results show first, that ICON-O on the nearly uniform grid simulates an ocean circulation that compares well with observations and second, that ICON-O in its telescope configuration is capable of reproducing the dynamics in the focal region over decadal time scales at a fraction of the computational cost of the uniform-grid simulation. The telescopic technique offers an alternative to the established regionalization approaches. It can be used either to resolve local circulation more accurately or to represent local scales that cannot be simulated globally while remaining within a global modeling framework

Radio detection of cosmic ray air showers with LOPES

In the last few years, radio detection of cosmic ray air showers has experienced a true renaissance, becoming manifest in a number of new experiments and simulation efforts. In particular, the LOPES project has successfully implemented modern interferometric methods to measure the radio emission from extensive air showers. LOPES has confirmed that the emission is coherent and of geomagnetic origin, as expected by the geosynchrotron mechanism, and has demonstrated that a large scale application of the radio technique has great potential to complement current measurements of ultra-high energy cosmic rays. We describe the current status, most recent results and open questions regarding radio detection of cosmic rays and give an overview of ongoing research and development for an application of the radio technique in the framework of the Pierre Auger Observatory.Comment: 8 pages; Proceedings of the CRIS2006 conference, Catania, Italy; to be published in Nuclear Physics B, Proceedings Supplement

Carbon allocation and carbon isotope fluxes in the plant-soil-atmosphere continuum: A review

The terrestrial carbon (C) cycle has received increasing interest over the past few decades, however, there is still a lack of understanding of the fate of newly assimilated C allocated within plants and to the soil, stored within ecosystems and lost to the atmosphere. Stable carbon isotope studies can give novel insights into these issues. In this review we provide an overview of an emerging picture of plant-soil-atmosphere C fluxes, as based on C isotope studies, and identify processes determining related C isotope signatures. The first part of the review focuses on isotopic fractionation processes within plants during and after photosynthesis. The second major part elaborates on plant-internal and plant-rhizosphere C allocation patterns at different time scales (diel, seasonal, interannual), including the speed of C transfer and time lags in the coupling of assimilation and respiration, as well as the magnitude and controls of plant-soil C allocation and respiratory fluxes. Plant responses to changing environmental conditions, the functional relationship between the physiological and phenological status of plants and C transfer, and interactions between C, water and nutrient dynamics are discussed. The role of the C counterflow from the rhizosphere to the aboveground parts of the plants, e.g. via CO2 dissolved in the xylem water or as xylem-transported sugars, is highlighted. The third part is centered around belowground C turnover, focusing especially on above- and belowground litter inputs, soil organic matter formation and turnover, production and loss of dissolved organic C, soil respiration and CO2 fixation by soil microbes. Furthermore, plant controls on microbial communities and activity via exudates and litter production as well as microbial community effects on C mineralization are reviewed. A further part of the paper is dedicated to physical interactions between soil CO2 and the soil matrix, such as CO2 diffusion and dissolution processes within the soil profile. Finally, we highlight state-of-the-art stable isotope methodologies and their latest developments. From the presented evidence we conclude that there exists a tight coupling of physical, chemical and biological processes involved in C cycling and C isotope fluxes in the plant-soil-atmosphere system. Generally, research using information from C isotopes allows an integrated view of the different processes involved. However, complex interactions among the range of processes complicate or currently impede the interpretation of isotopic signals in CO2 or organic compounds at the plant and ecosystem level. This review tries to identify present knowledge gaps in correctly interpreting carbon stable isotope signals in the plant-soil-atmosphere system and how future research approaches could contribute to closing these gaps

A new method to measure the attenuation of hadrons in extensive air showers

Extensive air showers are generated through interactions of high-energy cosmic rays impinging the Earth's atmosphere. A new method is described to infer the attenuation of hadrons in air showers. The numbers of electrons and muons, registered with the scintillator array of the KASCADE experiment are used to estimate the energy of the shower inducing primary particle. A large hadron calorimeter is used to measure the hadronic energy reaching observation level. The ratio of energy reaching ground level to the energy of the primary particle is used to derive an attenuation length of hadrons in air showers. In the energy range from $10^6$ GeV to $3\cdot10^7$ GeV the attenuation length obtained increases from 170 \gcm2 to 210 \gcm2. The experimental results are compared to predictions of simulations based on contemporary high energy interaction models.Comment: accepted for publication in Physical Review