Spatial and temporal variability of methane emissions from cascading reservoirs in the Upper Mekong River.

Reservoirs are an important source of atmospheric methane (CH4), a potent greenhouse gas. The Mekong, one of the largest Asian rivers, has been heavily dammed and can be a potential hotspot for CH4 emissions. While low diffusive CH4 flux was previously reported from cascading reservoirs in the Upper Mekong, the contribution of ebullition (bubbling) remained unexplored. To better constrain the magnitude and drivers of ebullition from these reservoirs, automated bubble traps were deployed in four reservoirs, allowing for continuous measurement of the ebullitive flux with high temporal resolution for a period of six months. To characterize the spatial variability of CH4 fluxes mediated by ebullition and diffusion, whole-reservoir surveys were conducted using a scientific echo sounder for bubble observations together with a gas equilibrator for mapping dissolved CH4 concentration in surface water from which diffusive fluxes were estimated. Potential production and anaerobic oxidation rates of CH4 were estimated in laboratory incubations of sediment cores collected near the bubble trap deployment sites. The CH4 production potential in sediments increased strongly along the reservoir cascade, with mostly minor reduction by anaerobic oxidation. Surface CH4 fluxes, in contrast, showed high spatial variability in both ebullitive and diffusive pathways (ranging 0.05-44 and 1.8-6.4 mg m-2 d-1, respectively, among all reservoirs). Ebullitive fluxes were about one order of magnitude higher than diffusive fluxes and remained significant at sites as deep as 30-45 m. The repeated spatial pattern of ebullition (higher fluxes at the dam area than in upstream sections) suggests the possible control of emission rates by sediment transport and deposition.

Longitudinal monthly body measurements from 1 to 12 months of age: a study by practitioners for practitioners. Zurich Association of Practicing Paediatricians.

UNLABELLED: A longitudinal growth study with monthly measurements during the 1st year of life was conducted by nine paediatricians working in private practice in Zurich. Of 92 children, none was lost to the study and only 32 of 1104 planned visits were missed; the quality of the measurements was comparable to that of a specialised university clinic. Compared to the Zurich Longitudinal Growth Studies, children of this study were considerably heavier and taller. In 92% of the subjects, growth velocity was at least once outside the reference range (3rd 97th percentile). For weight increments, the corresponding proportion was 87%. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that current standards for the 1st year of life for the Zurich area might no longer be appropriate and need to be updated. The currently used velocity percentiles based on 3-monthly measurements are not suitable to assess individual height and weight increments calculated from monthly measurements.

[Acute mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (Kawasaki-syndrome) with fatal periarteritis nodosa of the coronary arteries. Another case from Europe]. / Akutes mukokutanes Lymphknotensyndrom (Kawasaki-Syndrom) mit letaler Periarteriitis nodosa der Kranzarterien. Ein weierer Fall aus Europa.

Case report of a 1 8/12-year-old boy suffering from an acute febrile disease with phlegmonous cervical lymphadenopathy, skin rash and other septic symptoms. Bacterial cultures were sterile, and antibiotics had no effect, whereas prednisone made an immediate improvement. On the 23rd day of illness the patient died unexpectedly. Autopsy revealed a ruptured coronary aneurysm due to periarteritis nodosa. This curious disease of yet unknown cause is quite frequent in Japan, but very rare in Europe.