The Canadian Earth System Model version 5 (CanESM5) is a global
model developed to simulate historical climate change and variability, to
make centennial-scale projections of future climate, and to ...produce
initialized seasonal and decadal predictions. This paper describes the model
components and their coupling, as well as various aspects of model
development, including tuning, optimization, and a reproducibility strategy.
We also document the stability of the model using a long control simulation,
quantify the model's ability to reproduce large-scale features of the
historical climate, and evaluate the response of the model to external
forcing. CanESM5 is comprised of three-dimensional atmosphere (T63 spectral
resolution equivalent roughly to 2.8∘) and ocean (nominally 1∘) general
circulation models, a sea-ice model, a land surface scheme, and explicit
land and ocean carbon cycle models. The model features relatively coarse
resolution and high throughput, which facilitates the production of large
ensembles. CanESM5 has a notably higher equilibrium climate sensitivity
(5.6 K) than its predecessor, CanESM2 (3.7 K), which we briefly discuss, along
with simulated changes over the historical period. CanESM5 simulations
contribute to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6)
and will be employed for climate science and service applications in Canada.
OBJECTIVE: No quantitative systematic review or meta-analysis of population-based epidemiological studies has been conducted to assess the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) ...levels and the risk of depression. This study aimed to summarize the current evidence from cross-sectional and prospective cohort studies that have evaluated the association between 25(OH)D levels and the risk of depression. METHODS: Relevant studies were identified by systematically searching the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases through April 2012. Cross-sectional and cohort studies that reported adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association of interest were included. The reported risk estimates for 25(OH)D categories were recalculated, employing a comprehensive trend estimation from summarized dose-response data. A pooled OR was calculated separately for cross-sectional and cohort studies using random-effects models. RESULTS: In the meta-analysis, 25(OH)D levels were significantly inversely associated with depression in 5 of 11 case-control studies and 2 of 5 cohort studies. The pooled estimate of the adjusted OR of depression in 11 cross-sectional studies (n = 43,137) was 0.96 (95% CI = 0.94–0.99, I² = 63%) for a 10 ng/ml increase in 25(OH)D levels. The 5 included cohort studies comprised 12,648 participants, primarily elderly individuals, whose serum 25(OH)D levels were measured, and 2,663 experienced depression events during follow-up. The pooled adjusted OR of depression was 0.92 (95% CI = 0.87–0.98, I² = 50%) for a 10 ng/ml increase in 25(OH)D levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate an inverse association between serum 25(OH)D levels and the risk of depression. Further studies are warranted to establish whether this association is causal.
The density matrix quantum Monte Carlo (DMQMC) method is used to sample exact-on-average N-body density matrices for uniform electron gas systems of up to 10^{124} matrix elements via a stochastic ...solution of the Bloch equation. The results of these calculations resolve a current debate over the accuracy of the data used to parametrize finite-temperature density functionals. Exchange-correlation energies calculated using the real-space restricted path-integral formalism and the k-space configuration path-integral formalism disagree by up to ∼10% at certain reduced temperatures T/T_{F}≤0.5 and densities r_{s}≤1. Our calculations confirm the accuracy of the configuration path-integral Monte Carlo results available at high density and bridge the gap to lower densities, providing trustworthy data in the regime typical of planetary interiors and solids subject to laser irradiation. We demonstrate that the DMQMC method can calculate free energies directly and present exact free energies for T/T_{F}≥1 and r_{s}≤2.
Graphene has emerged as the most popular topic in the active research field since graphene's discovery in 2004 by Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov. Since then, graphene research has exponentially ...accelerated because of its extraordinary properties, which have attracted the interest of researchers all over the world. For example, among the key properties are its thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, optical transparency, and mechanical properties. These remarkable properties of graphene show its promise for applications in different industries including optical electronics, photovoltaic systems and others. However, the large-scale production and transfer method onto target substrates of monolayer graphene for commercial and industrial applications are still under study in the improvement stage. Therefore, this review presents the state-of-the-art research activities and latest advancement in the synthesis of graphene using various carbon precursors including solid, liquid and gas carbon feedstocks. The characterization methods have also been critically discussed in this review. In addition, the advancement in the transfer methods onto target substrates for achieving clean and high-quality transferred graphene have been thoroughly reviewed. Furthermore, the current growth mechanisms of single and multilayer graphene have also been discussed.
Graphene has emerged as the most popular topic in the active research field since graphene's discovery in 2004 by Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov.
The conversion of gas into stars is a fundamental process in astrophysics and cosmology. Stars are known to form from the gravitational collapse of dense clumps in interstellar molecular clouds, and ...it has been proposed that the resulting star formation rate is proportional to either the amount of mass above a threshold gas surface density, or the gas volume density. These star formation prescriptions appear to hold in nearby molecular clouds in our Milky Way Galaxy's disc as well as in distant galaxies where the star formation rates are often much larger. The inner 500 pc of our Galaxy, the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), contains the largest concentration of dense, high-surface density molecular gas in the Milky Way, providing an environment where the validity of star formation prescriptions can be tested. Here, we show that by several measures, the current star formation rate in the CMZ is an order-of-magnitude lower than the rates predicted by the currently accepted prescriptions. In particular, the region 1° < l < 3°.5, |b| < 0°.5 contains ∼107 M of dense (> several 103 cm−3) molecular gas - enough to form 1000 Orion-like clusters - but the present-day star formation rate within this gas is only equivalent to that in Orion. In addition to density, another property of molecular clouds must be included in the star formation prescription to predict the star formation rate in a given mass of molecular gas. We discuss which physical mechanisms might be responsible for suppressing star formation in the CMZ.
Aims
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lactobacilli strains in preventing the recurrences of vaginal candidiasis (VC) in 78 pregnant women with VC (lactobacilli, n = 39; ...placebo, n = 39) and the potential benefits on quality of life.
Methods and Results
The lactobacilli putative probiotic (SynForU‐HerCare; two capsules/day of 9·5 log CFU per capsule) or placebo was administered for 8‐weeks in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study. Subjects were assessed for vaginal and gut health conditions at baseline, week‐4 and week‐8 via questionnaires. The vulvovaginal symptom questionnaire not only covered aspects pertaining to vulvovaginal symptoms but also the quality of life impacts such as emotional, social and sexual. The administration of lactobacilli reduced symptoms of irritation (P = 0·023) and discharge (P = 0·011) starting week‐4 and continued after week‐8 (P < 0·05), accompanied by reduced symptoms for burning after week‐8 (P = 0·046) as compared to the placebo. Patients consuming lactobacilli also showed reduced concern about symptoms after week‐4 (P = 0·010) and continued after week‐8 (P = 0·001), accompanied by reduced impairment of daily activities attributed to vulvovaginal symptoms (P = 0·012) and continued after week‐8 (P = 0·026). Insignificant differences were observed for sexual impacts between treatment groups. The administration of lactobacilli also reduced recurrences of both emotional and social stress as compared to the placebo at both week‐4 and week‐8 (P < 0·05). Patients consuming lactobacilli showed higher defecation times per week at week‐4 (P = 0·010) and week‐8 (P = 0·001) as compared to the placebo group, indicating the potential to reduce risks of pregnancy‐induced constipation.
Conclusions
Lactobacilli probiotics are beneficial towards pregnant women, especially in reducing vulvovaginal symptoms and recurrences of VC, accompanied by improved emotional and social distress attributed to VC.
Significance and Impact of the Study
The study demonstrated the preventive and modulatory roles of lactobacilli strains against VC in pregnant women. Taken altogether, our present data illustrated that lactobacilli probiotics are beneficial towards pregnant women, especially in reducing vulvovaginal symptoms and recurrences of VC, accompanied by improved emotional and social distress attributed to VC, thus could be a potential strategy for the maintenance of vaginal health during pregnancy.
Pulse pressure variation (PPV) is widely used as a predictor of fluid responsiveness. However, a previous study has suggested a ‘grey zone’ between 9 and 13% in which PPV would be inconclusive to ...predict fluid responsiveness. Considering PPV is based on cardiopulmonary interactions, we evaluated whether an augmented PPV using a temporary increase in tidal volume (VT) from 8 to 12 ml kg−1 has the predictability for fluid responsiveness in patients within the grey zone.
Adult patients requiring general anaesthesia were enrolled. During the period when PPV was within the range of 9–13%, haemodynamic variables such as stroke volume index (SVI) and PPV with an 8 ml kg−1 tidal volume ventilation (PPV8) were obtained before and after volume expansion (6 ml kg−1) under mechanical ventilation. Augmented PPV induced by 2-min ventilation with a VT of 12 ml kg−1 (PPV12) was also recorded immediately before volume loading. The patients whose SVI increased ≥10% after volume expansion were considered responders.
In 38 enrolled patients, 20 were responders. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed PPV12 had an excellent predictability for fluid responsiveness {area under the curve AUC=0.935 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.805–0.989; sensitivity 95%; specificity 72%; P<0.0001}. The optimal threshold for PPV12 was >17%. However, PPV8 failed to show significant predictability AUC=0.668 (95% CI 0.497–0.812); sensitivity 65%; specificity 61%; P=0.06.
In mechanically ventilated patients, our augmented PPV successfully predicted fluid responsiveness in the previously suggested grey zone.
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02653469.
The explosive growth of phytoplankton under favorable conditions in subtropical coastal waters can lead to water discolouration and massive fish kills. Traditional water quality monitoring relies on ...manual field sampling and laboratory analysis of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration, which is resources intensive and time consuming. The cloudy weather of Hong Kong also precludes using satellite images for algal blooms monitoring. This study for the first time demonstrates the use of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAVs) to quantitatively map surface water Chl-a distribution in coastal waters from a low altitude. An estimation model for Chl-a concentration from visible images taken by a digital camera on a UAV has been developed and validated against one-year field data. The cost-effective and robust technology is able to map the spatial and temporal variations of Chl-a concentration during an algal bloom. The proposed method offers a useful complement to traditional field monitoring for fisheries management.
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•First time used a drone to quantitatively map surface chlorophyll-a concentration•Camera spectral response analysed as a function of chlorophyll-a concentrations•Chlorophyll-a estimation model successfully validated against one-year field data•Success in mapping spatial and temporal variation of Chl-a for an algal bloom
Purpose
To identify a cut-off score for the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST) to predict a clinical implication of a high level of financial toxicity (FT).
Methods
A total of 640 ...cancer patients were recruited from three regional hospitals in Hong Kong. They completed a questionnaire comprising the COST measure and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G) instrument. The cut-off score for the COST that predicts the lowest quartile of the FACT-G total score was identified by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The sample was then stratified by this cut-off score, and characteristics were compared using Fisher’s exact, chi-squared or independent sample t-test.
Results
The mean scores were 20.1 ± 8.8 for the COST and 71.6 ± 15.5 for the FACT-G. The ROC analysis suggested that the cut-off of 17.5 yielded an acceptable sensitivity and specificity. Characteristics of patients with a higher level of FT included being younger, having a monthly household income of < 10,000 HKD (approximately 1290 USD), being more likely not employed, having stage IV cancer and receiving targeted and/or immunotherapy. In terms of financial support, a higher proportion of these patients had discussed financial issues with health care professionals and had received financial assistance. In addition, fewer of them were covered by private health insurance.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest a cut-off for the COST that can be used to screen for FT in clinical settings. In addition, while a considerable proportion of high-FT patients received targeted therapy, they often received financial assistance. There is a gap between financial hardship and assistance that warrants attention.
This study examines the interrelationships among Internet literacy, Internet addiction symptoms, Internet activities, and academic performance. Data were gathered from a probability sample of 718 ...children and adolescents, aged 9–19, in Hong Kong, using face-to-face interviews. Regression results show that adolescent Internet addicts tended to be male, in low-income families, and not confident in locating, browsing, and accessing information from multiple resources, but that they were technologically savvy and frequent users of social networking sites (SNS) and online games for leisure. Contrary to what was hypothesized, Internet literacy, especially in publishing and technology, increases—not decreases—the likelihood of someone getting addicted to the Internet. As expected, Internet activities, especially SNS and online games, were significantly and positively linked to Internet addiction as well as to all Internet addiction symptoms. This finding suggests that leisure-oriented Internet activities can be much more addictive than other applications such as communicating by e-mail or browsing webpages. Furthermore, the higher subjects scored on tool and social-structural literacy, the better their academic performance would be; however, technical literacy skills, such as publishing and technology literacy, were not significant predictors for academic performance. This indicates that adolescents who can locate, browse, and access different information resources and who are knowledgable about the context under which the information was created performed better both in overall grades and in academic competence.
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