The scope of this study is the application of a new approach for the estimation of potential soil erosion using a physically-based erosion model Erosion 3D for modelling potential erosion in the ...Myjava River basin, Slovakia. Erosion 3D is a physically-based model for predicting soil erosion by water on agricultural land. The model is predominantly based on physical principles and it simulates surface runoff, erosion, deposition and the detachment of soil particles for single events, and provides good tool to simulate and quantify soil erosion, but has not been established in Slovakian basins yet. The soil system of Erosion 3D is based on the fourth edition of the soil classification of "Bodenkundliche Kartieranleitung" („KA 4", AG Boden, 1994). Because of different soil classification it was required in the first step to create an overplot of KA 4 textural system with the USDA textural system used in Slovakia. The model requires three input parameters - relief, precipitation and soil parameters. The first two parameters are easy to obtain but soil input parameters are more complicated mainly for different areas where the model was calibrated and validated. In this study we focused to creation of the soil input data sets for Slovak condition including establishment of Parameter catalogue for every soil input parameters. The catalogue has been configured based on overplotted textural triangle. The Erosion 3D model was applied to a small catchment Tura Luka situated in the Myjava Hill Land which is known for its quick runoff response and related muddy floods. Four scenarios of initial moisture parameter, which is considered as the most sensitive soil input parameter, were applied in fallow and winter wheat. Simulations were done for 100-year design rainfall of 60 minutes duration. The results of potential erosion are well-capable to point to the spatial and temporal variability of the rainfall event with the wide range of the values.
Abstract only
Introduction:
Fabry disease (FD) is a rare X-linked genetic disorder caused by α-galactosidase A (AGALA) deficiency. While "classic" variant has multisystemic manifestation, the more ...recently described "later-onset" variant is characterized by predominant cardiac involvement that often mimics hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Hypothesis:
Routine screening in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may detect patients with Fabry disease who are not clinically characterized by a typical multi-organ disorder.
Methods:
Consecutive unrelated patients with HCM were screened for FD in 16 (out of 17) cardiac centers in the Czech Republic covering specialized cardiology care from June 2017 to December 2018. AGALA activity and globotriaosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb
3
) levels were measured in all subjects using the dry blood spot method. FD was suspected in male patients with AGALA activity <1.2μmol/h/L and in females with either low AGALA activity or lyso-Gb
3
>3.5ng/mL. Positive screening results were confirmed by genetic testing.
Results:
We evaluated 589 patients (390 males, 66%) with HCM (mean maximal myocardial thickness 19.1±4.3 mm). The average age was 58.4±14.7 years. In total, 17 patients (11 males, 6 females) had a positive screening results and subsequently six of them (4 males and 2 females) had a genetically confirmed pathogenic variant (total prevalence of 1.02 %). Five of these patients were carrying the p.N215S mutation known to cause a typical later-onset cardiac FD.
Conclusions:
We confirmed the prevalence of FD repeatedly reported in previous screening programs (approximately 1 % irrespective of gender) in a non-selected HCM population in Central Europe. Our findings advocate a routine screening for FD in all adult patients with HCM phenotype including both genders. The dry blood spot method used led to identification of clearly pathogenic variants.
Wildlife observations submitted by volunteers through citizen science initiatives are increasingly used within research and policy. Ladybirds are popular and charismatic insects, with most species ...being relatively easy to identify from photographs. Therefore, they are considered an appropriate taxonomic group for engaging people through citizen science initiatives to contribute long-term and large-scale datasets for use in many different contexts. Building on the strengths of a mass participation citizen science survey on ladybirds in the United Kingdom, we have developed a mobile application for ladybird recording and identification across Europe. The main aims of the application are to: (1) compile distribution data for ladybird species throughout Europe, and use this to assess changes in distribution over time; (2) connect and engage people in nature and increase awareness about the diversity and ecological importance of ladybirds. In developing the application we first constructed a database including ladybird species from the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Belgium, and Portugal with associated information on relevant morphological features (e.g., size, main color, pronotum pattern) to inform identification. Additionally, the species were assessed on the basis of probability of occurrence within each country which enables users to reduce the number of species to only those with relevance to the location of the recorder. This is amongst the first collaborative citizen science approaches aimed at involving participants across Europe in recording a group of insects. In the near future, we aim to expand the use of the application to all countries in Europe.
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