Understanding future changes in hydroclimatic variables plays a crucial role in improving resilience and adaptation to extreme weather events such as floods and droughts. In this study, we develop ...high-resolution climate projections over Texas by using the convection-permitting Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with 4 km horizontal grid spacing, and then produce the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC)-based hydrologic forecasts in the Guadalupe River basin which is the primary concern of the Texas Water Development Board and the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority. The Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) dataset is used to verify the WRF climate simulations. The Model Parameter Estimation Experiment (MOPEX) dataset is used to validate probabilistic hydrologic predictions. Projected changes in precipitation, potential evapotranspiration (PET) and streamflow at different temporal scales are examined by dynamically downscaling climate projections derived from 15 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) general circulation models (GCMs). Our findings reveal that the Upper Coast Climate Division of Texas is projected to experience the most remarkable wetting caused by precipitation and PET changes, whereas the most significant drying is expected to occur for the North Central Texas Climate Division. The dry Guadalupe River basin is projected to become drier with a substantial increase in future drought risks, especially for the summer season. And the extreme precipitation events are projected to increase in frequency and intensity with a reduction in overall precipitation frequency, which may result in more frequent occurrences of flash floods and drought episodes in the Guadalupe River basin.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
We investigate the role of disorder on the various topological magnonic phases present in deformed honeycomb ferromagnets. To this end, we introduce a bosonic Bott index to characterize the topology ...of magnon spectra in finite, disordered systems. The consistency between the Bott index and Chern number is numerically established in the clean limit. We demonstrate that topologically protected magnon edge states are robust to moderate disorder and, as anticipated, localized in the strong regime. We predict a disorder-driven topological phase transition, a magnonic analog of the "topological Anderson insulator" in electronic systems, where the disorder is responsible for the emergence of the nontrivial topology. Combining the results for the Bott index and transport properties, we show that bulk-boundary correspondence holds for disordered topological magnons. Our results open the door for research on topological magnonics as well as other bosonic excitations in finite and disordered systems.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Background The detection of pulmonary nodules (PNs) is likely to increase, especially with the release of the National Lung Screen Trials. When tissue diagnosis is desired, transthoracic needle ...aspiration (TTNA) is recommended. Several guided-bronchoscopy technologies have been developed to improve the yield of transbronchial biopsy for PN diagnosis: electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB), virtual bronchoscopy (VB), radial endobronchial ultrasound (R-EBUS), ultrathin bronchoscope, and guide sheath. We undertook this meta-analysis to determine the overall diagnostic yield of guided bronchoscopy using one or a combination of the modalities described here. Methods We performed a MEDLINE search using “bronchoscopy” and “solitary pulmonary nodule.” Studies evaluating the diagnostic yield of ENB, VB, R-EBUS, ultrathin bronchoscope, and/or guide sheath for peripheral nodules were included. The overall diagnostic yield and yield based on size were extracted. Adverse events, if reported, were recorded. Meta-analysis techniques incorporating inverse variance weighting and a random-effects meta-analysis approach were used. Results A total of 3,052 lesions from 39 studies were included. The pooled diagnostic yield was 70%, which is higher than the yield for traditional transbronchial biopsy. The yield increased as the lesion size increased. The pneumothorax rate was 1.5%, which is significantly smaller than that reported for TTNA. Conclusion This meta-analysis shows that the diagnostic yield of guided bronchoscopic techniques is better than that of traditional transbronchial biopsy. Although the yield remains lower than that of TTNA, the procedural risk is lower. Guided bronchoscopy may be an alternative or be complementary to TTNA for tissue sampling of PN, but further study is needed to determine its role in the evaluation of peripheral pulmonary lesions.
Summary
In this study, we analyzed 93 whole genomes from Chinese spot‐billed ducks (CSB), meat‐type ducks (MET), and egg and dual purpose‐type ducks (EDT) to characterize the genetic material flowing ...between the CSB and modern ducks. Using a frequency of shared identical‐by‐descent method, approximately 10.9 Mb introgression segments containing 140 genes were identified showing the signatures of introgression between CSB and EDT. Meanwhile, nearly 10.6 M introgression regions containing 149 genes were identified between CSB and MET. Based on the haplotypes tree of each segment, we found that the introgression between CSB and domesticated ducks was asymmetric with a high level of gene flow from domestic to CSB and a low level of migration in the opposite direction. Moreover, we identified several genes that were introgressions from CSB and showed the signature of positive selection, which may contribute to the breeding of modern ducks. Our results provide new insight into the evolution and breeding history of domestic ducks and may be useful for the future management of wild and domestic duck populations.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The climate anomalies leading to the May 2015 floods in Texas and Oklahoma were analyzed in the context of El Niño teleconnection in a warmer climate. A developing El Niño tends to increase ...late‐spring precipitation in the southern Great Plains, and this effect has intensified since 1980. Anthropogenic global warming contributed to the physical processes that caused the persistent precipitation in May 2015: Warming in the tropical Pacific acted to strengthen the teleconnection toward North America, modification of zonal wave 5 circulation that deepened the stationary trough west of Texas, and enhanced Great Plains low‐level southerlies increasing moisture supply from the Gulf of Mexico. Attribution analysis using the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 single‐forcing experiments and the Community Earth System Model Large Ensemble Project indicated a significant increase in the El Niño‐induced precipitation anomalies over Texas and Oklahoma when increases in the anthropogenic greenhouse gases were taken into account.
Key Points
Increased GHG affects the May 2015 floods in Texas
Climate warming intensifies the El Niño teleconnection and climate impacts
Amplified synoptic waves and strengthened LLJ are part of climate trends
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
A theory on skyrmion size Wang, X. S.; Yuan, H. Y.; Wang, X. R.
Communications physics,
07/2018, Volume:
1, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Abstract
A magnetic skyrmion is a topological object consisting of a skyrmion core, an outer domain, and a wall that separates the skyrmion core from the outer domain. The skyrmion size and wall ...width are two fundamental quantities of a skyrmion that depend sensitively on material parameters such as exchange energy, magnetic anisotropy, Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction, and magnetic field. However, quantitative understanding of the two quantities is still very poor. Here we present a general theory on skyrmion size and wall width. The two formulas we obtained agree almost perfectly with simulations and experiments for a wide range of parameters, including most of the existing materials that support skyrmions.
The measurement of ultra-high energy (UHE) neutrinos (E > 1016 eV) opens a new field of astronomy with the potential to reveal the sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays especially if combined with ...observations in the electromagnetic spectrum and gravitational waves. The ARIANNA pilot detector explores the detection of UHE neutrinos with a surface array of independent radio detector stations in Antarctica which allows for a cost-effective instrumentation of large volumes. Twelve stations are currently operating successfully at the Moore’s Bay site (Ross Ice Shelf) in Antarctica and at the South Pole. We will review the current state of ARIANNA and its main results. We report on a newly developed wind generator that successfully operates in the harsh Antarctic conditions and powers the station for a substantial time during the dark winter months. The robust ARIANNA surface architecture, combined with environmentally friendly solar and wind power generators, can be installed at any deep ice location on the planet and operated autonomously. We report on the detector capabilities to determine the neutrino direction by reconstructing the signal arrival direction of a 800 m deep calibration pulser, and the reconstruction of the signal polarization using the more abundant cosmic-ray air showers. Finally, we describe a large-scale design – ARIA – that capitalizes on the successful experience of the ARIANNA operation and is designed sensitive enough to discover the first UHE neutrino.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Background
The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) has increased worldwide in recent decades. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of self‐reported AR and profiles of AR‐related ...comorbidities in the adult population of China over time.
Methods
This study surveyed residents of 18 major cities in mainland China. Telephone interviews were conducted with study participants after sampling target telephone numbers by random digit dialing. The questions asked during telephone interviews were based on those included in validated questionnaires and focused on topics regarding AR, nonallergic rhinitis (NAR), acute/chronic rhinosinusitis (ARS/CRS), asthma, and atopic dermatitis (AD).
Results
During 2011, a total of 47 216 telephone interviews were conducted, and the overall response rate was 77.5%. When compared with the AR prevalence in 11 cities surveyed in 2005, there was a significant increase in self‐reported adult AR in eight of those cities (P < 0.01). In 2011, the standardized prevalence of self‐reported adult AR in the 18 cities was 17.6%. The concentration of SO2 was positively correlated with the prevalence of AR (r = 0.504, P = 0.033). A multiple regression model showed that the absolute change in household yearly income was significantly associated with the change in the prevalence of AR (R2 = 0.68), after adjusting for PM10, SO2, NO2, temperature, and humidity. The overall prevalences of NAR, ARS, CRS, asthma, and AD in the general population were 16.4%, 5.4%, 2.1%, 5.8%, and 14%, respectively.
Conclusion
During a 6‐year period, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of self‐reported AR in the general Chinese adult population. The incidence of AR being accompanied by rhinosinusitis, asthma, or AD was significantly higher among individuals having self‐reported AR compared with the general population.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Although the magnetoelectric effects - the mutual control of electric polarization by magnetic fields and magnetism by electric fields, have been intensively studied in a large number of inorganic ...compounds and heterostructures, they have been rarely observed in organic materials. Here we demonstrate magnetoelectric coupling in a metal-organic framework (CH3)2NH2Mn(HCOO)3 which exhibits an order-disorder type of ferroelectricity below 185 K. The magnetic susceptibility starts to deviate from the Curie-Weiss law at the paraelectric-ferroelectric transition temperature, suggesting an enhancement of short-range magnetic correlation in the ferroelectric state. Electron spin resonance study further confirms that the magnetic state indeed changes following the ferroelectric phase transition. Inversely, the ferroelectric polarization can be improved by applying high magnetic fields. We interpret the magnetoelectric coupling in the paramagnetic state in the metal-organic framework as a consequence of the magnetoelastic effect that modifies both the superexchange interaction and the hydrogen bonding.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Atmospheric deposition is considered to be a major process that removes pollutants from the atmosphere and an important source of nutrients and contaminants for ecosystems. Trace elements (TEs), ...especially toxic metals deposited on plants and into soil or water, can cause substantial damage to the environment and human health due to their transfer and accumulation in food chains. Despite public concerns, quantitative knowledge of metal deposition from the atmosphere to ecosystems remains scarce. To advance our understanding of the spatiotemporal variations in the magnitudes, pathways, compositions and impacts of atmospherically deposited TEs, precipitation (rain and snow) and dry-deposited particles were collected simultaneously at 10 sites in Northern China from December 2007 to November 2010. The measurements showed that the wet and dry depositions of TEs in the target areas were orders of magnitude higher than previous observations within and outside China, generating great concern over the potential risks. The spatial distribution of the total (wet plus dry) deposition flux was consistent with that of the dry deposition, with a significant decrease from industrial and urban areas to suburban, agricultural and rural sites, while the wet deposition exhibited less spatial variation. In addition, the seasonal variation of wet deposition was also different from that of dry deposition, although they were both governed by the precipitation and emission patterns. For the majority of TEs that exist as coarse particles, dry deposition dominated the total flux at each site. This was not the case for potassium, nickel, arsenic, lead, zinc, cadmium, selenium, silver and thallium, for which the relative importance between wet and dry deposition fluxes varied by site. Whether wet deposition is the major atmospheric cleansing mechanism for the TEs depends on the size distribution of the particles. We found that atmospheric inputs of copper, lead, zinc, cadmium, arsenic and selenium were of the same magnitude as their increases in the topsoil of agricultural systems. At a background forest site in Northern China, the total deposition flux of lead observed in this study (14.1 mg m−2 yr−1) was twice that of the critical load calculated for temperate forest ecosystems in Europe. These findings provide baseline data needed for future targeting policies to protect various ecosystems from long-term heavy metal input via atmospheric deposition.
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