On 19 March 2020, California put in place Stay‐At‐Home orders to reduce the spread of SARS‐CoV‐2. As a result, decreases up to 50% in traffic occurred across the South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB). We ...report that, compared to the 19 March to 30 June period of the last 5 years, the 2020 concentrations of PM2.5 and NOx showed an overall reduction across the basin. O3 concentrations decreased in the western part of the basin and generally increased in the downwind areas. The NOx decline in 2020 (approximately 27% basin‐wide) is in addition to ongoing declines over the last two decades (on average 4% less than the −6.8% per year afternoon NO2 concentration decrease) and provides insight into how air quality may respond over the next few years of continued vehicular reductions. The modest changes in O3 suggests additional mitigation will be necessary to comply with air quality standards.
Plain Language Summary
On 19 March 2020, California put in place Stay‐At‐Home orders to reduce the spread of SARS‐CoV‐2. As a result, there was much less traffic in Southern California. Reduced traffic along with a month‐long stretch of unusually rainy weather at the beginning of the lockdown led to significant reductions in PM2.5 and NOx levels across the basin. Concentrations of O3, on the other hand, showed inconsistent changes across the basin. The response of O3 to these large changes in nitrogen oxide concentrations suggests mitigation efforts beyond those associated with continuing vehicle emission reductions will be important to meet clean air goals.
Key Points
SoCAB maximum 1‐hr NOx and 24‐hr PM2.5 concentrations decreased 27% and 29%, respectively, between 19 March and 30 June of 2015–2019 and 2020
The 8‐hr daily maximum O3 showed inconsistent changes across the basin during the COVID‐19 associated decrease of atmospheric NOx concentrations
During a shift to a NOx‐limited regime, a better understanding of VOC emission sources is needed to improve air quality in the SoCAB
The present study investigated to what extent a systematic evaluation of electronic condylar motion recordings leads to reproducible results in different examiners. The study was based on the ...anonymized condylar motion recordings of 20 patients (Cadiax compact II system). These were recruited consecutively from the examinations in a center specializing in diagnosing and managing temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Four trained practitioners independently evaluated the identical movement recordings of all patients after calibration. The evaluation was based on the previously published evaluation system. The results were recorded digitally in a database. The findings were then compared, and the matching values were determined (Fleiss' Kappa). The evaluation, according to Fleiss' Kappa, showed that the consistency of the assessment of the findings among the examiners is excellent (mean value 0.88, p < 0.00001). The study shows that calibrated dentists achieved reproducible results using this evaluation system and computer-assisted reporting. Good reproducibility confirms the reliability of systematic evaluation of clinical motion analysis. The ambiguities uncovered and eliminated in the study should avoid misunderstandings in the future. Both factors establish the prerequisites for applying condylar motion analysis in clinical practice.
The Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2), launched on 2 July 2014, is a NASA mission designed to measure the column-averaged CO2 dry air mole fraction, XCO2. Towards that goal, it will collect ...spectra of reflected sunlight in narrow spectral ranges centered at 0.76, 1.6 and 2.0 μm with a resolving power (λ/Δ λ) of 20 000. These spectra will be used in an optimal estimation framework to retrieve XCO2. About 100 000 cloud free soundings of XCO2 each day will allow estimates of net CO2 fluxes on regional to continental scales to be determined. Here, we evaluate the OCO-2 spectrometer performance using pre-launch data acquired during instrument thermal vacuum tests in April 2012. A heliostat and a diffuser plate were used to feed direct sunlight into the OCO-2 instrument and spectra were recorded. These spectra were compared to those collected concurrently from a nearby high-resolution Fourier Transform Spectrometer that was part of the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). Using the launch-ready OCO-2 calibration and spectroscopic parameters, we performed total column scaling fits to all spectral bands and compared these to TCCON results. On 20 April, we detected a CO2 plume from the Los Angeles basin at the JPL site with strongly enhanced short-term variability on the order of 1% (3–4 ppm). We also found good (< 0.5 ppm) inter-footprint consistency in retrieved XCO2. The variations in spectral fitting residuals are consistent with signal-to-noise estimates from instrument calibration, while average residuals are systematic and mostly attributable to remaining errors in our knowledge of the CO2 and O2 spectroscopic parameters. A few remaining inconsistencies observed during the tests may be attributable to the specific instrument setup on the ground and will be re-evaluated with in-orbit data.
BackgroundLarge deletions of the NF1 gene region occur in ∼5% of patients with neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF1) and are associated with particularly severe manifestations of the disease. However, until ...now, the genotype–phenotype relationship has not been comprehensively studied in patients harbouring large NF1 gene deletions of comparable extent (giving rise to haploinsufficiency of the same genes).MethodWe have performed the most comprehensive clinical/neuropsychological characterisation so far undertaken in NF1 deletion patients, involving 29 patients with precisely determined type-1 NF1 (1.4 Mb) deletions.ResultsNovel clinical features found to be associated with type-1 NF1 deletions included pes cavus (17% of patients), bone cysts (50%), attention deficit (73%), muscular hypotonia (45%) and speech difficulties (48%). Type-1 NF1 deletions were found to be disproportionately associated with facial dysmorphic features (90% of patients), tall stature (46%), large hands and feet (46%), scoliosis (43%), joint hyperflexibility (72%), delayed cognitive development and/or learning disabilities (93%) and mental retardation (IQ<70; 38%), as compared with the general NF1 patient population. Significantly increased frequencies (relative to the general NF1 population) of plexiform neurofibromas (76%), subcutaneous neurofibromas (76%), spinal neurofibromas (64%) and MPNSTs (21%) were also noted in the type-1 deletion patients. Further, 50% of the adult patients exhibited a very high burden of cutaneous neurofibromas (N≥1000).ConclusionThese findings emphasise the importance of deletion analysis in NF1 since frequent monitoring of tumour presence and growth could potentiate early surgical intervention thereby improving patient survival.
The column-averaged dry-air mole fractions of carbon dioxide and methane (XCO2 and XCH4 ) have been retrieved from Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) Short-Wavelength InfraRed (SWIR) ...observations and released as a SWIR L2 product from the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES). XCO2 and XCH4 retrieved using the version 01.xx retrieval algorithm showed large negative biases and standard deviations (-8.85 and 4.75 ppm for XCO2 and -20.4 and 18.9 ppb for XCH4 , respectively) compared with data of the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). Multiple reasons for these error characteristics (e.g., solar irradiance database, handling of aerosol scattering) are identified and corrected in a revised version of the retrieval algorithm (version 02.xx). The improved retrieval algorithm shows much smaller biases and standard deviations (-1.48 and 2.09 ppm for XCO2 and -5.9 and 12.6 ppb for XCH4 , respectively) than the version 01.xx. Also, the number of post-screened measurements is increased, especially at northern mid- and high-latitudinal areas.
We retrieved column‐averaged dry air mole fractions of atmospheric carbon dioxide () from backscattered short‐wave infrared (SWIR) sunlight measured by the Japanese Greenhouse gases Observing ...SATellite (GOSAT). Over two years of retrieved from GOSAT is compared with inferred from collocated SWIR measurements by seven ground‐based Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) stations. The average difference between GOSAT and TCCON for individual TCCON sites ranges from −0.87 ppm to 0.77 ppm with a mean value of 0.1 ppm and standard deviation of 0.56 ppm. We find an average bias between all GOSAT and TCCON retrievals of −0.20 ppm with a standard deviation of 2.26 ppm and a correlation coefficient of 0.75. One year of was retrieved from GOSAT globally, which was compared to global 3‐D GEOS‐Chem chemistry transport model calculations. We find that the latitudinal gradient, seasonal cycles, and spatial variability of GOSAT and GEOS‐Chem agree well in general with a correlation coefficient of 0.61. Regional differences between GEOS‐Chem model calculations and GOSAT observations are typically less than 1 ppm except for the Sahara and central Asia where a mean difference between 2 to 3 ppm is observed, indicating regional biases in the GOSAT retrievals unobserved by the current TCCON network. Using a bias correction scheme based on linear regression these regional biases are significantly reduced, approaching the required accuracy for surface flux inversions.
Key Points
Bias and precision should be sufficient to allow improved surface flux estimates
Globally, regional differences are found to be small, except over desert regions
Retrievals should be useful for the inversion of CO2 surface fluxes
IntroductionSatisfactory management of acute pain remains a major medical challenge despite the availability of multiple therapeutic options including the fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs. Tramadol ...and dexketoprofen trometamol (TRAM/DKP) 75/25 mg FDC was launched in 2018 in Asia and is widely used in the management of moderate to severe acute pain. There are limited data on its effectiveness and safety in Asian patients, and therefore, a need to better understand its usage patterns in clinical practice. We aim to understand the usage pattern of TRAM/DKP FDC, its effectiveness and tolerability in patients with moderate to severe acute pain in Asia.Methods and analysisREKOVER is a phase-IV, multicountry, multicentre, prospective, real-world observational study. A total of 750 postsurgical and non-surgical patients (male and female, aged 18–80 years) will be recruited from 13 tertiary-care hospitals (15 sites) in Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia. All patients prescribed with TRAM/DKP FDC and willing to participate in the study will be enrolled. The recruitment duration for each site will be 6 months. The severity of pain will be collected using Numeric Pain Rating Scale through the treatment period from day 1 to day 5, while satisfaction with the treatment will be evaluated using Patient Global Evaluation Scale at the end of treatment. Any adverse event reported during the study duration will be recorded for safety analysis (up to day 6). The study data will be entered into the ClaimIt portal and mobile application (app) (ObvioHealth, USA). All the inpatient data will be entered into the portal by the study site and for outpatient it will be done by patients through an app.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the local ethics committee from each study sites in Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia. Findings will be disseminated through local and global conference presentations, publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and continuing medical education.
Column-averaged volume mixing ratios of carbon dioxide and methane retrieved from the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) Short-Wavelength InfraRed observation (GOSAT SWIR XCO2 and XCH4) ...were compared with the reference calibrated data obtained by ground-based high-resolution Fourier Transform Spectrometers (g-b FTSs) participating in the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). Preliminary results are as follows: the GOSAT SWIR XCO2 and XCH4 (Version 01.xx) are biased low by 8.85 ± 4.75 ppm (2.3 ± 1.2 %) and 20.4 ± 18.9 ppb (1.2 ± 1.1 %), respectively. The standard deviation of the GOSAT SWIR XCO2 and XCH4 is about 1 % (1 σ) after correcting the negative biases of XCO2 and XCH4 by 8.85 ppm and 20.4 ppb, respectively. The latitudinal distributions of zonal means of the GOSAT SWIR XCO2 and XCH4 show similar features to those of the g-b FTS data except for the negative biases in the GOSAT data.
Purpose: To investigate whether depth-gauge burs in veneer preparations influence preparation depth in a randomized, controlled, single-blinded trial and whether inexperienced operators can perform ...adequate veneer preparations.Methods: Participants were 20 undergraduate dental students with no prior veneer preparation experience. The instruments used were the “Laminate Veneer System” (LVS), “Keramik-Veneers. de” (KVD), and a “Freehand” group (FH) for reference. All participants prepared three educational acrylic resin maxillae and three mandibular central incisors mounted in typodonts in patient simulators. The objectives were to achieve a preparation depth of 0.6 mm (tooth 11) and 0.4 mm (tooth 31). The sequences of the instruments used and prepared teeth were randomized. The measurements were performed using a laser triangulation coordinate-measuring machine. The data were stratified according to tooth location.Results: The preparation depths of both depth-gauge-instrument-groups LVS and KVD achieved the objectives significantly better than did the instruments from the “Freehand” group (P < 0.001). The differences between the depth gauge groups were insignificant, although the maximum preparation depths were smaller in the KVD group. Regarding the prepared teeth, the preparation depths in the mandibular incisors were lower, and the differences were smaller.Conclusions: The use of special depth-gauge burs for initial veneer preparation leads to significantly lower preparation depths than “Freehand” preparations. The tapered instruments resulted in a lower incidence of extreme preparation depths. The inexperienced operators performed veneer preparation remarkably well.
We evaluate three estimates of the atmosphere-biosphere exchange against total column CO2 observations from the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). Using the GEOS-Chem transport model, we ...produce forward simulations of atmospheric CO2 concentrations for the 2006–2010 time period using the Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA), the Simple Biosphere (SiB) and the GBiome-BGC models. Large differences in the CO2 simulations result from the choice of the atmosphere-biosphere model. We evaluate the seasonal cycle phase, amplitude and shape of the simulations. The version of CASA currently used as the a priori model by the GEOS-Chem carbon cycle community poorly represents the season cycle in total column CO2. Consistent with earlier studies, enhancing the CO2 uptake in the boreal forest and shifting the onset of the growing season earlier significantly improve the simulated seasonal CO2 cycle using CASA estimates. The SiB model gives a better representation of the seasonal cycle dynamics. The difference in the seasonality of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) between these models is not the absolute gross primary productivity (GPP), but rather the differential phasing of ecosystem respiration (RE) with respect to GPP between these models.
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