SUMMARY
In this work, we propose a hydro-mechanical simulation model to study the strong interaction of fluid flow and fracture deformation under in situ stress conditions. The general model is ...reduced under physics-based assumptions to provide an efficient numerical approach for inverse analysis of experimental studies and is applied to experimental field data obtained from hydraulic tests conducted at the Grimsel Test Site, Switzerland. The present set of hydro-mechanical measurement data provides not only valuable information about the transient pressure and flow evolution but also the transient change of fracture deformation. We aim to introduce a strongly coupled hydro-mechanical model to numerically characterize the fractured reservoir based on experimental data below the limit of hydraulically induced irreversible changes of the reservoir’s properties. Insights into the leading mechanisms of flow processes throughout hydraulic testing under in situ conditions are then gained by best numerical fits of the measurement data. Based on the experimental and numerical findings, this study emphasizes the importance of a consistent consideration of local and non-local fracture deformation throughout inverse analysis of hydraulic testing data to (a) better understand hydro-mechanical flow processes in fractured reservoirs and (b) increase the estimation quality of hydraulic properties of tested fractures.
Sleep-disordered breathing is associated with major morbidity and mortality. However, its prevalence has mainly been selectively studied in populations at risk for sleep-disordered breathing or ...cardiovascular diseases. Taking into account improvements in recording techniques and new criteria used to define respiratory events, we aimed to assess the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing and associated clinical features in a large population-based sample.
Between Sept 1, 2009, and June 30, 2013, we did a population-based study (HypnoLaus) in Lausanne, Switzerland. We invited a cohort of 3043 consecutive participants of the CoLaus/PsyCoLaus study to take part. Polysomnography data from 2121 people were included in the final analysis. 1024 (48%) participants were men, with a median age of 57 years (IQR 49-68, range 40-85) and mean body-mass index (BMI) of 25·6 kg/m(2) (SD 4·1). Participants underwent complete polysomnographic recordings at home and had extensive phenotyping for diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and depression. The primary outcome was prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing, assessed by the apnoea-hypopnoea index.
The median apnoea-hypopnoea index was 6·9 events per h (IQR 2·7-14·1) in women and 14·9 per h (7·2-27·1) in men. The prevalence of moderate-to-severe sleep-disordered breathing (≥15 events per h) was 23·4% (95% CI 20·9-26·0) in women and 49·7% (46·6-52·8) in men. After multivariable adjustment, the upper quartile for the apnoea-hypopnoea index (>20·6 events per h) was associated independently with the presence of hypertension (odds ratio 1·60, 95% CI 1·14-2·26; p=0·0292 for trend across severity quartiles), diabetes (2·00, 1·05-3·99; p=0·0467), metabolic syndrome (2·80, 1·86-4·29; p<0·0001), and depression (1·92, 1·01-3·64; p=0·0292).
The high prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing recorded in our population-based sample might be attributable to the increased sensitivity of current recording techniques and scoring criteria. These results suggest that sleep-disordered breathing is highly prevalent, with important public health outcomes, and that the definition of the disorder should be revised.
Faculty of Biology and Medicine of Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital, Swiss National Science Foundation, Leenaards Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline, Ligue Pulmonaire Vaudoise.
Individuals with depressive symptoms are more likely to be isolated in their social networks, which can further increase their symptoms. Although social interactions are an important aspect of ...individuals' social lives, little is known about how depressive symptoms affect behavioral patterns in social interaction networks. This article analyzes the effect of depressive symptoms on social interactions in two empirical settings (N
= 123, N
= 2,454) of students spending a weekend together in a remote camp house. We measured social interactions between participants with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) nametags. Prior to the weekend, participants were surveyed on their depressive symptoms and friendship ties. Using state-of-the-art social network analysis methods, we test four preregistered hypotheses. Our results indicate that depressive symptoms are associated with (1) spending less time in social interaction, (2) spending time with similarly depressed others, (3) spending time in pair-wise interactions rather than group interactions but not with (4) spending relatively less time with friends. By "zooming in" on face-to-face social interaction networks, these findings offer new insights into the social consequences of depressive symptoms.
In the 21st century, in a context where milk and dairy products are at the centre of many debates, this article wonders how doubts about these products are perceived in a gastronomic context where ...they are particularly appreciated and used. This article focuses on a Swiss context, since milk and dairy products are an integral part of Swiss culture. The article explores the history of milk in the Western world and highlights the fact that milk has had an ambiguous position throughout the centuries. Some studies make it possible to question the consumption of such products, while in Switzerland there is no doubt that they are products strongly rooted in the country's heritage. Eighteen interviews with gastronomic chefs were conducted to develop answers to the questions raised by the potential questioning of milk and dairy products in Swiss gastronomy. The results show that the reflections about dairy do not impact the gastronomic field, and that chefs are inclined to keep these products, as long as moderate use is made of them. In a Swiss context, the results show that milk and dairy products are untouchable and that it is important to defend the cultural heritage of the country.
Objective
Having a child diagnosed with cancer is distressing for parents. We aimed to compare worries and anxiety in parents of adult childhood cancer survivors with parents of the Swiss general ...population (GP‐parents), and to evaluate characteristics associated with worry in parents of survivors.
Methods
We conducted a nationwide, population‐based study in parents of survivors (survivors aged ≥20 years at study, ≤16 years at diagnosis, >5 years post diagnosis) and GP‐parents (≥1 child aged ≥20 years at study). We used the Worry and Anxiety Questionnaire (WAQ), and computed the WAQ total score (worries; possible range 0–80) and caseness for generalized anxiety disorder (anxiety), cognitive, somatic, and any criteria. We used multilevel, multivariable linear regression to identify characteristics associated with worries in parents of survivors.
Results
We included 787 parents of 513 survivors (41.0% fathers) and 478 GP‐parents (42.3% fathers). Parents of survivors and GP‐parents did not differ regarding worries (16.6 vs. 17.1, p = .977), anxiety (2.7% vs. 3.6%, p = .536), cognitive (p = .440), and somatic criteria (p = .067). Less parents of survivors met any criteria (17.7% vs. 24.0%, p = .039). Half of parents reported current cancer‐related worries. Higher cancer‐related worries were reported by mothers (β = 4.1; 95% CI: 2.0–6.2), parents with one child (β = 5.9; 95% CI: 2.0–9.7), currently experiencing disadvantages because of their child's former disease (β = 7.3; 95% CI: 4.0–10.6), or with support needs (β = 9.0; 95% CI: 3.9–14.2; p = .001).
Conclusions
It is encouraging that most parents of adult survivors report similar worries and anxiety as GP‐parents, but cancer‐related worries are still prevalent. Efforts should be made to empower parents to seek psycho‐social support if required.
Since the novel coronavirus outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 from the first cases whereof were reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, our globalized world has changed enormously. On the 11th of March ...2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and nations around the world have taken drastic measures to reduce transmission of the disease. The situation is similar in Switzerland, a small high-income country in Central Europe, where the first COVID-19 case was registered on the 25th of February 2020. Through literature review as well as correspondence with public health professionals and experts in mathematical modeling, this case study focuses on the outbreak's impact on Switzerland and on the measures this country has implemented thus far. Along with the rapid spread of the virus, the political organization, economy, healthcare system, and characteristics of the country greatly influence the approach taken in facing the crisis. Switzerland appears to be structurally well-prepared, but, according to mathematical modeling predictions, in order to avoid total collapse of healthcare facilities, the measures taken by the Swiss Government need to reduce the virus transmission chain by at least 70%. Fortunately, updated models on April 22nd show evidence that the non-pharmaceutical measures invoked have decreased transmission by an estimated 89%, proving effective management by the federal government and allowing for progressive deconfinement measures.
Abstract
Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a minimally invasive geophysical method that produces a model of subsurface resistivity from a large number of electrical resistance measurements. ...Strong resistivity contrasts usually exist between frozen and unfrozen earth materials, making ERT an effective and increasingly utilized tool in permafrost research. In this paper, we review more than 300 scientific publications dating from 2000 to 2022 to identify the capabilities and limitations of ERT for permafrost applications. The annual publication rate has increased by a factor of 10 over this period, but several unique challenges remain, and best practices for acquiring, processing, and interpreting ERT data in permafrost environments have not been clearly established. In this paper, we make recommendations for ERT surveys of permafrost and highlight recent advances in the field, with the objective of maximizing the utility of existing and future surveys.
Single-measurement-point data collection to assess change has increased with studies assessing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and of its containment, despite evidence of its lack of validity. ...Retrospective change is not equivalent to change in repeated self-reported measures giving raise to questions about the validity of the former. This paper purports to investigate inconsistencies between change measures by confronting retrospective change to information from longitudinally self-reported measures from the C-SURF cohort study. The study sample consists of 2,279 young men who participated in C-SURF between 2020 and 2021, and completed between May and June 2021 a survey covering change in alcohol, cigarette, cannabis and other addictive behaviors related to the pandemic. The aforementioned behaviors were assessed longitudinally at two time points using self-reports, and retrospective change since the onset of the Covid-19 crisis was also assessed at the second measurement time. Information from both prospective and retrospective change measures were confronted to identify inconsistent information for each behavior. Additionally, multiple logistic regressions were performed to assess associations between socioeconomic status, impulsivity, depression, and different indicators of motivation to complete the study and inconsistency between both measures for each behavior of interest. Importantly, inconsistent information in at least one of the investigated behaviors was found in about 90% of the participants. Small associations were found between inconsistency and different factors with a consistent effect of impulsivity. In the absence of evidence of the validity of retrospective change measures, studies relying on retrospective change should be interpreted with caution.
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