Representing the function and sensitivity of coastal interfaces in Earth system models.

Between the land and ocean, diverse coastal ecosystems transform, store, and transport material. Across these interfaces, the dynamic exchange of energy and matter is driven by hydrological and hydrodynamic processes such as river and groundwater discharge, tides, waves, and storms. These dynamics regulate ecosystem functions and Earth's climate, yet global models lack representation of coastal processes and related feedbacks, impeding their predictions of coastal and global responses to change. Here, we assess existing coastal monitoring networks and regional models, existing challenges in these efforts, and recommend a path towards development of global models that more robustly reflect the coastal interface.

Frequency domain thermoreflectance technique for measuring the thermal conductivity of individual micro-particles.

The thermal properties of micron scale particles are an important factor in the design of composite materials and other applications. Here we present an optical technique based on frequency domain thermoreflectance (FDTR) that is capable of measuring the thermal conductivity of individual particles a few microns across. In addition, the technique can provide values for a particle's effective volume which is a new capability compared to conventional FDTR applied to multilayer samples. We also show and explain the response of systems that constrain heat flow along the in-plane direction due to a boundary. We tested this technique with natural diamond and doped silicon particles of different sizes. For the diamond particles, the thermal conductivity values obtained were within the range of reported literature values, while for the silicon particles, the thermal conductivities were slightly lower than the bulk sample they were fabricated from, possibly due to defects introduced during the fabrication process.

Unusual high thermal conductivity in boron arsenide bulk crystals.

Conventional theory predicts that ultrahigh lattice thermal conductivity can only occur in crystals composed of strongly bonded light elements, and that it is limited by anharmonic three-phonon processes. We report experimental evidence that departs from these long-held criteria. We measured a local room-temperature thermal conductivity exceeding 1000 watts per meter-kelvin and an average bulk value reaching 900 watts per meter-kelvin in bulk boron arsenide (BAs) crystals, where boron and arsenic are light and heavy elements, respectively. The high values are consistent with a proposal for phonon-band engineering and can only be explained by higher-order phonon processes. These findings yield insight into the physics of heat conduction in solids and show BAs to be the only known semiconductor with ultrahigh thermal conductivity.

Detection of maltreatment of people with dementia in Spain: usefulness of the Caregiver Abuse Screen (CASE).

The objective of our study is to validate the Caregiver Abuse Screen (CASE) as an instrument for detecting the maltreatment of people with dementia in Spain. In total, 326 informal caregivers of people with different types of dementia were interviewed in several cities in northwest Spain. The caregivers were selected from outpatient neurology clinics and associations of relatives of people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. A comprehensive sociodemographic questionnaire was administered to all participants, and several standardized scales were used to assess burden, anxiety, depression, social support and resilience. The "Psychological Aggression" and "Physical Assault" dimensions of the Revised Conflicts Tactics Scale were used as risk factors of caregivers' maltreatment for the construct validation. To establish the probability of maltreatment, a latent class analysis was carried out according to the item responses obtained from the CASE. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) of the CASE was 0.71. The construct validity was explored through factorial analysis, and we found that two dimensions of CASE-i.e., interpersonal abuse and neglect/dependency-explained 62.5% of the variability. According to the latent class probabilities, 20.4% of participants were categorized as possible abusers and 21.4% as non-abusers. The optimal maltreatment cutoff point was six points on the CASE. The validation of the CASE provides us a brief and easy instrument for detecting possible cases of maltreatment of Spanish people with dementia.

Cupric Oxide (CuO) Oxidation Detects Pyrogenic Carbon in Burnt Organic Matter and Soils.

Wildfire greatly impacts the composition and quantity of organic carbon stocks within watersheds. Most methods used to measure the contributions of fire altered organic carbon-i.e. pyrogenic organic carbon (Py-OC) in natural samples are designed to quantify specific fractions such as black carbon or polyaromatic hydrocarbons. In contrast, the CuO oxidation procedure yields a variety of products derived from a variety of precursors, including both unaltered and thermally altered sources. Here, we test whether or not the benzene carboxylic acid and hydroxy benzoic acid (BCA) products obtained by CuO oxidation provide a robust indicator of Py-OC and compare them to non-Py-OC biomarkers of lignin. O and A horizons from microcosms were burned in the laboratory at varying levels of fire severity and subsequently incubated for 6 months. All soils were analyzed for total OC and N and were analyzed by CuO oxidation. All BCAs appeared to be preserved or created to some degree during burning while lignin phenols appeared to be altered or destroyed to varying extents dependent on fire severity. We found two specific CuO oxidation products, o-hydroxybenzoic acid (oBd) and 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTC2) that responded strongly to burn severity and withstood degradation during post-burning microbial incubations. Interestingly, we found that benzene di- and tricarboxylic acids (BDC and BTC, respectively) were much more reactive than vanillyl phenols during the incubation as a possible result of physical protection of vanillyl phenols in the interior of char particles or CuO oxidation derived BCAs originating from biologically available classes of Py-OC. We found that the ability of these compounds to predict relative Py-OC content in burned samples improved when normalized by their respective BCA class (i.e. benzene monocarboxylic acids (BA) and BTC, respectively) and when BTC was normalized to total lignin yields (BTC:Lig). The major trends in BCAs imparted by burning persisted through a 6 month incubation suggesting that fire severity had first order control on BCA and lignin composition. Using original and published BCA data from soils, sediments, char, and interfering compounds we found that BTC:Lig and BTC2:BTC were able to distinguish Py-OC from compounds such as humic materials, tannins, etc. The BCAs released by the CuO oxidation procedure increase the functionality of this method in order to examine the relative contribution of Py-OC in geochemical samples.

On the validity and improvement of the ultrasonic pulse-echo immersion technique to measure real attenuation.

A fundamental assumption embraced in conventional use of the ultrasonic pulse-echo immersion technique to measure attenuation in solid materials is revisited. The cited assumption relies on perfect and immutable adhesion at the water to sample interface, a necessary condition that allows calculating the reflection coefficient at any interface from elastic wave propagation theory. This parameter is then used to correct the measured signal and obtain the real attenuation coefficient of the sample under scrutiny. In this paper, cases in which the perfectly cohesive interfacial condition is not satisfied are presented. It is shown also that in those cases, the repeatability of the conditions at the interface is always uncertain. This implies that the reflection coefficients are unknown, even when density is known. A new method of simultaneously measuring the reflection coefficients for both exposed interfaces that are normal to the transducer, and the attenuation coefficient of the specimen is developed and is presented here. The robustness of the new method is proven, as we demonstrate that the proper value of attenuation is achieved independently of the continuously varying interfacial conditions of these non-ideal cases.

Occurrence and sources of polar lipid tracers in sediments from the Shatt al-Arab River of Iraq and the northwestern Arabian Gulf.

Shallow surface sediment samples from the southern part of the Shatt al-Arab River estuary of Iraq and the northwestern Arabian Gulf were analyzed for polar lipid compounds including n-alkanoic acids, n-alkanols, steroids and triterpenoids. The results showed that the n-alkanoic acids, methyl n-alkanoates and n-alkanols typically ranged from C12 to C32 with total concentrations of 3.2 to 108.2 µg g(-1)dwt sample, from C12 to C30 with totals of 1.1 to 18.9 µg g(-1)dwt sample, and from C14 to C32 at 1.8 to 112.6 µg g(-1)dwt sample, respectively. Steroids and triterpenoids were detected and included stenols, stanols, stenones, stanones, tetrahymanol, tetrahymanone and extended ßß-hopanes. The total steroid concentrations ranged from 2.8 to 78.4 µg g(-1)dwt sample, whereas the triterpenoids varied from 0.05 to 7.6 µg g(-1)dwt sample. The simple regression analysis of the results and the spatial distribution patterns of the identified organic tracers indicated that the inter-compound relationships were related mainly to their major sources. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) of data set showed that the sampling sites are similar. These sources were allochthonous (terrestrial vegetation), autochthonous (plankton residues and bacteria in the sediments) and anthropogenic (sewage and petroleum).

Analysis of the C9orf72 gene in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Spain and different populations worldwide.

A hexanucleotide repeat expansion in chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) can cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and/or frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We assessed its frequency in 781 sporadic ALS (sALS) and 155 familial ALS (fALS) cases, and in 248 Spanish controls. We tested the presence of the reported founder haplotype among mutation carriers and in 171 Ceph Europeans from Utah (CEU), 170 Yoruba Africans, 81 Han Chinese, and 85 Japanese subjects. The C9orf72 expansion was present in 27.1% of fALS and 3.2% of sALS. Mutation carriers showed lower age at onset (P = 0.04), shorter survival (P = 0.02), greater co-occurrence of FTD (P = 8.2 × 10(-5)), and more family history of ALS (P = 1.4 × 10(-20)), than noncarriers. No association between alleles within the normal range and the risk of ALS was found (P = 0.12). All 61 of the mutation carriers were tested and a patient carrying 28 hexanucleotide repeats presented with the founder haplotype. This haplotype was found in 5.6% Yoruba Africans, 8.9% CEU, 3.9% Japanese, and 1.6% Han Chinese chromosomes.

[A study of level of knowledge about depressive disorders among general practitioners in Argentina]. / Estudio del conocimiento sobre los Trastornos Depresivos entre los médicos asistenciales en Argentina.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the level of knowledge about depressive disorders including their treatment, comorbidities and suicide potential among a number of general practitioners who agreed to fill out a questionnaire and provided information about their professional activities. METHOD: Exploratory cross-sectional study among a number of general practitioners who answered voluntarily and anonymously to a questionnaire consisting of twelve questions. Data collected from 288 physicians were analyzed. RESULTS: The majority of physicians (97.6%, n=281) considered that depression was a disease, but 39.6% (n=114) believed that it was caused by lack of will power or characterological weaknesses, which create a dissonance with the concept of disease. They also felt that they did not have enough knowledge about Depressive Disorders such as their origins, type of medications and length of treatment, comorbidities and suicide potential. CONCLUSIONS: The results point to the need for continuous medical education about Depressive Disorders among general practitioners.

Estudio del conocimiento sobre los Trastornos Depresivos entre los médicos asistenciales en Argentina / A study of level of knowledge about Depressive Disorders among general practitioners in Argentina

Objetivos: determinar entre los médicos encuestados su especialidad, los años de ejercicio de la profesión, y averiguar el conocimiento que tengan sobre los trastornos depresivos incluyendo su tratamiento, comorbilidad y posibilidad del suicidio. Métodos: el estudio cualitativo se realizó con una entrevista semi-estructurada de doce preguntas, en forma voluntaria, administrada a médicos en actividad asistencial, efectuándose la entrega y recolección de la entrevista por personal entrenado previamente. Se analizaron los datos hallados en los 288 profesionales de distintas especialidades. Resultados: los hallazgos permiten decir que la mayoría de los médicos (97, 6 por ciento, n= 281) consideran que la depresión es una enfermedad, pero de ese total un 39,6 por ciento (n= 114) de ellos piensa que es por falta de voluntad o una debilidad, lo que crea una discordancia en el concepto de enfermedad. Estimaron cuáles son sus falencias frente a los Trastornos Depresivos, cómo y cuánto tiempo medican, su criterio respecto al origen de la misma, el suicidio y la comorbilidad. Conclusiones: los datos encontrados entre los médicos que respondieron el cuestionario permiten deducir que es necesaria la intensificación de los programas de actualización sobre Trastornos Depresivos.

Objectives: To determine the level of knowledge about depressive disorders including their treatment, comorbidities and suicide potential among a number of general practitioners who agreed to fill out a questionnaire and provided information about their professional activities. Method: Exploratory cross-sectional study among a number of general practitioners who answered voluntarily and anonymously to a questionnaire consisting of twelve questions. Data collected from 288 physicians were analyzed. Results: The majority of physicians (97.6 percent, n=281) considered that depression was a disease, but 39.6 percent (n=114) believed that it was caused by lack of will power or characterological weaknesses, which create a dissonance with the concept of disease. They also felt that they did not have enough knowledge .about Depressive Disorders such as their origins, type of medications and length of treatment, comorbidities and suicide potential. Conclusions: The results point to the need for continuous medical education about Depressive Disorders among general practitioners.

Estudio del conocimiento sobre los Trastornos Depresivos entre los médicos asistenciales en Argentina / A study of level of knowledge about Depressive Disorders among general practitioners in Argentina

Objetivos: determinar entre los médicos encuestados su especialidad, los años de ejercicio de la profesión, y averiguar el conocimiento que tengan sobre los trastornos depresivos incluyendo su tratamiento, comorbilidad y posibilidad del suicidio. Métodos: el estudio cualitativo se realizó con una entrevista semi-estructurada de doce preguntas, en forma voluntaria, administrada a médicos en actividad asistencial, efectuándose la entrega y recolección de la entrevista por personal entrenado previamente. Se analizaron los datos hallados en los 288 profesionales de distintas especialidades. Resultados: los hallazgos permiten decir que la mayoría de los médicos (97, 6 por ciento, n= 281) consideran que la depresión es una enfermedad, pero de ese total un 39,6 por ciento (n= 114) de ellos piensa que es por falta de voluntad o una debilidad, lo que crea una discordancia en el concepto de enfermedad. Estimaron cuáles son sus falencias frente a los Trastornos Depresivos, cómo y cuánto tiempo medican, su criterio respecto al origen de la misma, el suicidio y la comorbilidad. Conclusiones: los datos encontrados entre los médicos que respondieron el cuestionario permiten deducir que es necesaria la intensificación de los programas de actualización sobre Trastornos Depresivos.(AU)

Objectives: To determine the level of knowledge about depressive disorders including their treatment, comorbidities and suicide potential among a number of general practitioners who agreed to fill out a questionnaire and provided information about their professional activities. Method: Exploratory cross-sectional study among a number of general practitioners who answered voluntarily and anonymously to a questionnaire consisting of twelve questions. Data collected from 288 physicians were analyzed. Results: The majority of physicians (97.6 percent, n=281) considered that depression was a disease, but 39.6 percent (n=114) believed that it was caused by lack of will power or characterological weaknesses, which create a dissonance with the concept of disease. They also felt that they did not have enough knowledge .about Depressive Disorders such as their origins, type of medications and length of treatment, comorbidities and suicide potential. Conclusions: The results point to the need for continuous medical education about Depressive Disorders among general practitioners.(AU)

Manejo inicial del paciente con estado mental alterado. Propuesta para su asistencia en el ámbito prehospitalario / Initial management in patient with alterate mental health. Proposal for its assistence in the range hospital

Es válido apuntar al reconocimiento de las patologías neuro-psiquiátrica o estado mental alterado a través de protocolos diseñados para tal fin como el MINI y entrenar al personal médico y no médico en el uso de los mismos. Estos protocolos de orientación diagnóstica y estratificación de riesgo ayudan a la toma de decisiones en cuanto a la interacción e integración de los equipos. El M.I.N.I. es una entrevista diagnóstica estructurada para adultos, de breve duración, que explora los principales trastornos psiquiátricos utilizando una serie de herramientas y basándose en la lógica y una metodología determinada. Los resultados demuestran que tiene un puntaje de validez y confiabilidad aceptablemente alto. Puede ser hecho en un tiempo promedio de 15 minutos ± 3.4 (11.6 a 18.4 minutos) ya sea por clínicos especializados en psiquiatría o no, luego de una breve o más intensa sesión de entrenamiento.

Manejo inicial del paciente con estado mental alterado. Propuesta para su asistencia en el ámbito prehospitalario / Initial management in patient with alterate mental health. Proposal for its assistence in the range hospital

Es válido apuntar al reconocimiento de las patologías neuro-psiquiátrica o estado mental alterado a través de protocolos diseñados para tal fin como el MINI y entrenar al personal médico y no médico en el uso de los mismos. Estos protocolos de orientación diagnóstica y estratificación de riesgo ayudan a la toma de decisiones en cuanto a la interacción e integración de los equipos. El M.I.N.I. es una entrevista diagnóstica estructurada para adultos, de breve duración, que explora los principales trastornos psiquiátricos utilizando una serie de herramientas y basándose en la lógica y una metodología determinada. Los resultados demuestran que tiene un puntaje de validez y confiabilidad aceptablemente alto. Puede ser hecho en un tiempo promedio de 15 minutos ± 3.4 (11.6 a 18.4 minutos) ya sea por clínicos especializados en psiquiatría o no, luego de una breve o más intensa sesión de entrenamiento. (AU)