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Increasing the operating speed of trains in modern railway networks can induce greater actions on the infrastructure than was previously the case. This is due, in particular, to the occurrence of the resonance phenomenon in railway bridges, which is the focus of this paper and was not traditionally considered as a concern. In this context, the vibrations experienced by bridges, both vertical accelerations and displacements, are limited by design regulations to ensure that the safety of train passages over bridges and the comfort of passengers are guaranteed. However, previous studies have shown that the conventional dynamic design methods do not always result in conservative designs, nor is the achieved safety always consistent. Therefore, a probabilistic approach is adopted in this study to optimize the cross-section properties of various railway bridges in a wide design range including section types, span lengths, and number of spans. For this purpose, an iterative line search-based optimization problem is formulated to minimize the thickness of the cross-sections under consideration and consequently the linear mass of the bridges. Meanwhile, the associated failure probabilities of the above dynamic limit states are constrained to be less than the desired level of safety by incorporating them into the optimization constraint. In this regard, First-Order Reliability Method (FORM) is adopted to perform reliability analyses. Thus, the obtained results are presented in the form of design curves that may assist designers to select minimum cross-section dimensions satisfying the desired level of safety in terms of dynamic limit states. This objective can be achieved using the proposed design curves without the need to construct associated complex computational models and perform computationally expensive dynamic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The organization of healthcare could have an impact on the outcome of patients treated for acute cholecystitis (AC). The aim of this study was to analyze the way in which patients with AC are managed relative to the level of care by the treating hospital.Methods: Data were collected from the Swedish Register for Gallstone Surgery and ERCP (GallRiks). Cholecystectomies between 2010 and 2019 were included. The inclusion criterion was acute cholecystectomy in patients with AC operated at either tertiary referral centers (TRCs) or regional hospitals.Results: A total of 24,194 cholecystectomies with AC met the inclusion criterion. The time between admission and acute surgery was significantly elongated at TRCs compared with regional hospitals (2.2 ± 1.7 days vs. 1.6 ± 1.4 days, mean ± SD; p < 0.0001). Patients with a history of AC were more frequent at TRC (10.1% vs. 8.9%, p < 0.0056) and had a higher adverse event rate compared with those at regional hospitals (OR 1.61; CI 1.40-1.84, p < 0.0001). Surprisingly, an increased number of hospital beds correlated slightly with an increased number of days between admission and surgery (R2 = 0.132; p = 0.0075).Conclusion: Compared with regional hospitals, patients with AC had to wait longer at TRCs before surgery. A history of AC significantly increased the risk of adverse events. These findings indicate that logistic and organizational aspects of hospital care may affect the management of patients with AC. However, whether these findings can be generalized to healthcare organizations outside Sweden requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive vertical acceleration of ballastless railway bridges subjected to vibrations induced by passing trains is one of the governing design criteria for bridges in high-speed lines. However, to the authors' knowledge, the corresponding design limit is not based on a solid theoretical or experimental background. Moreover, the traditionally applied safety factor also suffers from these concerns. Therefore, in the present study, a crude probabilistic approach is adopted to evaluate the consistency and reliability of this safety factor. For this purpose, deterministically designed bridges (using conventional methods) with short to medium spans are considered. Then, their reliability is evaluated using simulation-based techniques and extreme value theory, i.e., tail approximation. Then, the existing safety factor is calculated to evaluate the consistency of the current approaches, and possible new values are proposed based on the desired target reliabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Targeted surveillance of at-risk individuals in families with increased risk of hereditary cancer is an effective prevention strategy if relatives are identified, informed and enrolled in screening programs. Despite the potential benefits, many eligible at-risk relatives remain uninformed of their cancer risk. This study describes the general public's opinion on disclosure of hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC) risk information, as well as preferences on the source and the mode of information. Methods: A random sample of the general public was assessed through a Swedish citizen web-panel. Respondents were presented with scenarios of being an at-risk relative in a family that had an estimated increased hereditary risk of CRC; either 10% (moderate) or 70% (high) lifetime risk. A colonoscopy was presented as a preventive measure. Results were analysed to identify significant differences between groups using the Pearson's chi-square (χ2) test. Results: Of 1800 invited participants, 977 completed the survey (54%). In the moderate and high-risk scenarios, 89.2 and 90.6% respectively, would like to receive information about a potential hereditary risk of CRC (χ2, p =.755). The desire to be informed was higher among women (91.5%) than men (87.0%, χ2, p =.044). No significant differences were found when comparing different age groups, educational levels, place of residence and having children or not. The preferred source of risk information was a healthcare professional in both moderate and high-risk scenarios (80.1 and 75.5%). However, 18.1 and 20.1% respectively would prefer to be informed by a family member. Assuming that healthcare professionals disclosed the information, the favoured mode of information was letter and phone (38.4 and 33.2%). Conclusions: In this study a majority of respondents wanted to be informed about a potential hereditary risk of CRC and preferred healthcare professionals to communicate this information. The two presented levels of CRC lifetime risk did not significantly affect the interest in being informed. Our data offer insights into the needs and preferences of the Swedish population, providing a rationale for developing complementary healthcare-assisted communication pathways to realise the full potential of targeted prevention of hereditary CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an investigation on finite control set model predictive current control, validated experimentally with a rear axle electrical drive unit used in automotive applications. An improved problem formulation is suggested which lowers the computational turnaround time of the solver with approximately $\text{40}\%$ for an horizon length of $N=4$. Apart from the computational requirement aspects, the assessment focuses on inverter efficiency, phase current total demand distortion, and acoustic performance. The proposed solution is evaluated against a standard double proportional and integrator (PI) field-oriented current controller with pulsewidth modulation. It is shown that the proposed solution is feasible, the associated optimization problem at hand can be solved in real time, while exploiting the attractiveness of the proposed improvements. In summary, it is concluded that the inverter efficiency can be improved without deteriorating neither the phase current harmonics nor the acoustic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the influence of Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) on the dynamic behavior of a three-span concrete slab railway bridge with integrated retaining walls is investigated. The bridge is subjected to controlled excitations using a hydraulic actuator with different frequencies and load amplitudes. A 3D model of the railway bridge-soil system is implemented and calibrated using the experimental frequency response functions at each sensor location. A soil-free model is also created to compare with the calibrated model. It is observed that the dynamic behavior of the railway bridge is substantially altered by the presence of the surrounding soils, and neglecting SSI can lead to underestimation and inaccurate results. Additionally, the calibrated model is used for further train-passage analyses. For the studied bridge, neglecting SSI increases the maximum acceleration response of the bridge during high-speed train passages from 5.5 m/s 2 up to 14.5 m/s 2. It is also shown that the response of the bridge during train passage is predominantly influenced by its first bending mode, with higher modes inducing no discernible effect. Finally, parametric studies are performed in order to study the uncertainties related to the soil properties. • A 3D model of a three-span railway bridge and the surrounding soils is analyzed. • Model calibration using forced vibration and train passage experiments. • SSI influences the dynamic response of the bridge during high-speed train passages. • Comparison between a soil-free model and the calibrated model. • Sensitivity analyses on different soil properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with multiple organ failure (MOF) often receive large amounts of resuscitation fluid, making them at high risk of fluid overload (FO). Our main objective was to investigate if the ability to achieve a negative fluid balance during the first 3 continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) days was associated with mortality in children with MOF.Methods: Retrospective cohort study in a tertiary multidisciplinary academic paediatric hospital. The study included 63 patients (age 0-18 years) with 3 or more failing organs receiving CRRT due to acute kidney injury and/or fluid overload.Results: The median age was 4 months, and PICU mortality was 29%. Survivors had significantly lower degree of FO at CRRT initiation, (median 15% (Interquartile range 9-22)) than non-survivors (24% (17%-37%), P = 0.002). On PICU admission, PIM-3 score was significantly higher in non-survivors (P = 0.01), but at CRRT initiation there was no difference in PELOD-2 score (P = 0.98). Mortality in patients achieving a cumulative net negative fluid balance during the first 3 days after CRRT initiation was 12%, compared to 86% in those not achieving this (P < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, the inability to achieve a net negative fluid balance during 3 days after CRRT initiation (P < 0.0001) and FO >20% at CRRT initiation (P = 0.0019) remained associated with mortality.Conclusion: Our results suggest that early fluid removal is associated with improved patient outcome in critically ill children receiving CRRT, and that prompt measures should be taken to prevent fluid overload in critical illness. These results need to be verified in further, prospective studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an action a of Rn on a C-algebra A and a skew-symmetric n×n matrix Θ, one can consider the Rieffel deformation AΘ of A, which is a C-algebra generated by the α-smooth elements of A with a new multiplication. The purpose of this article is to obtain explicit formulas for K-theoretical quantities defined by elements of AΘ. We give an explicit realization of the Thom class in KK in any dimension n and use it in the index pairings. For local index formulas we assume that there is a densely defined trace on A, invariant under the action. When n is odd, for example, we give a formula for the index of operators of the form PπΘ(u)P, where πΘ(u) is the operator of left Rieffel multiplication by an invertible element u over the unitization of A and P is the projection onto the nonnegative eigenspace of a Dirac operator constructed from the action α. The results are new also for the undeformed case Θ=0. The construction relies on two approaches to Rieffel deformations in addition to Rieffel's original one: Kasprzak deformation and warped convolution. We end by outlining potential applications in mathematical physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, coral reef ecosystems are experiencing increasing pressure from a variety of anthropogenic perturbations including ocean warming and acidification, increased sedimentation, eutrophication, and overfishing, which could shift reefs to a condition of net calcium carbonate (CaCO3) dissolution and erosion. Herein, we determine the net calcification potential and the relative balance of net organic carbon metabolism (net community production; NCP) and net inorganic carbon metabolism (net community calcification; NCC) within 23 coral reef locations across the globe. In light of these results, we consider the suitability of using these two metrics developed from total alkalinity (TA) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) measurements collected on different spatiotemporal scales to monitor coral reef biogeochemistry under anthropogenic change. All reefs in this study were net calcifying for the majority of observations as inferred from alkalinity depletion relative to offshore, although occasional observations of net dissolution occurred at most locations. However, reefs with lower net calcification potential (i.e., lower TA depletion) could shift towards net dissolution sooner than reefs with a higher potential. The percent influence of organic carbon fluxes on total changes in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) (i.e., NCP compared to the sum of NCP and NCC) ranged from 32% to 88% and reflected inherent biogeochemical differences between reefs. Reefs with the largest relative percentage of NCP experienced the largest variability in seawater pH for a given change in DIC, which is directly related to the reefs ability to elevate or suppress local pH relative to the open ocean. This work highlights the value of measuring coral reef carbonate chemistry when evaluating their susceptibility to ongoing global environmental change and offers a baseline from which to guide future conservation efforts aimed at preserving these valuable ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the question whether electromagnetism can be derived from the theory of quantum measurements. It turns out that this is possible, both for quantum and classical electromagnetism, if we use more recent innovations such as smearing of observables and simultaneous measurability. In this way, we justify the use of von Neumann-type measurement models for physical processes. We apply the operational quantum measurement theory to gain insight into fundamental aspects of quantum physics. Interactions of von Neumann type make the Heisenberg evolution of observables describable using explicit operator deformations. In this way, one can obtain quantized electromagnetism as a measurement of a system by another. The relevant deformations (Rieffel deformations) have a mathematically well-defined "classical" limit which is indeed classical electromagnetism for our choice of interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a unital completely positive map $${\Phi}$$ ('quantum channel') governing the time propagation of a quantum system, the Stinespring representation gives an enlarged system evolving unitarily. We argue that the Stinespring representations of each power $${\Phi^m}$$ of the single map together encode the structure of the original quantum channel and provide an interaction-dependent model for the bath. The same bath model gives a 'classical limit' at infinite time $${m\to\infty}$$ in the form of a noncommutative 'manifold' determined by the channel. In this way, a simplified analysis of the system can be performed by making the large- m approximation. These constructions are based on a noncommutative generalization of Berezin quantization. The latter is shown to involve very fundamental aspects of quantum-information theory, which are thereby put in a completely new light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air–sea gas transfer velocity for O 2 is calculated using directly measured fluxes with the eddy covariance technique. It is a direct method and is frequently used to determine fluxes of heat, humidity, and CO 2 , but has not previously been used to estimate transfer velocities for O 2 , using atmospheric eddy covariance data. The measured O 2 fluxes are upward directed, in agreement with the measured air–sea gradient of the O 2 concentration, and opposite to the direction of the simultaneously measured CO 2 fluxes. The transfer velocities estimated from measurements are compared with prominent wind speed parameterizations of the transfer velocity for CO 2 and O 2 , previously established from various measurement techniques. Our result indicates stronger wind speed dependence for the transfer velocity of O 2 compared to CO 2 starting at intermediate wind speeds. This stronger wind speed dependence appears to coincide with the onset of whitecap formation in the flux footprint and the strong curvature of a cubic wind-dependent function for the transfer velocity provides the best fit to the data. Additional data using the measured O 2 flux and an indirect method (based on the Photosynthetic Quotient) to estimate oxygen concentration in water, support the stronger wind dependence for the transfer velocity of O 2 compared to CO 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oceanic uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) has acidified open-ocean surface waters by 0.1 pH units since preindustrial times. Despite unequivocal evidence of ocean acidification (OA) via open-oceanmeasurements for the past several decades, it has yet to be documented in near-shore and coral reef environments. A lack of long-term measurements from these environments restricts our understanding of the natural variability and controls of seawater CO2-carbonate chemistry and biogeochemistry, which is essential to make accurate predictions on the effects of future OA on coral reefs. Here, in a 5-y study of the Bermuda coral reef, we show evidence that variations in reef biogeochemical processes drive interannual changes in seawater pH and Ωaragonite that are partly controlled by offshore processes. Rapid acidification events driven by shifts toward increasing net calcification and net heterotrophy were observed during the summers of 2010 and 2011, with the frequency and extent of such events corresponding to increased offshore productivity. These events also coincided with a negative winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, which historically has been associated with extensive offshore mixing and greater primary productivity at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site. Our results reveal that coral reefs undergo natural interannual events of rapid acidification due to shifts in reef biogeochemical processes that may be linked to offshore productivity and ultimately controlled by larger-scale climatic and oceanographic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the use of external damping systems for vibration mitigation of railway bridge dynamics is studied. For a presented case study bridge, the performance of different tuned mass damper systems (TMDs) is studied. During train passage, the change in dynamic characteristics of the bridge may produce a significant detune to a passive TMD. Therefore, routines for a variable stiffness TMD using incremental frequency estimates are developed. Based on numerical simulations, the cumulative fatigue damage is calculated for different damper systems. Due to resonant behavior, the results are found to highly depend on the train speed. Based on an assumed probability density function for the train speed, fragility curves are produced to express the probability of fatigue failure as a function of the number of train passages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents numerical and experimental analyses of a steel truss railway bridge. The main feature of this work is that dynamic experiments have been performed before and after the ballasted track was placed on the bridge. Consequently, it has been possible to quantify the effect of the ballast and the rails on the dynamic properties of the bridge. For that, two finite element models, with and without the ballasted track, have been implemented and calibrated using the experimental results. It appears that the ballast gives an additional stiffness of about 25–30% for the lowest three eigenmodes. This additional stiffness can be only partly explained by the stiffness of the ballast. In fact, it seems that this additional stiffness is also due to a change in the support conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Ocean acidification (OA) research seeks to understand how marine ecosystems and global elemental cycles will respond to changes in seawater carbonate chemistry in combination with other environmental perturbations such as warming, eutrophication, and deoxygenation. Here, we discuss the effectiveness and limitations of current research approaches used to address this goal. A diverse combination of approaches is essential to decipher the consequences of OA to marine organisms, communities, and ecosystems. Consequently, the benefits and limitations of each approach must be considered carefully. Major research challenges involve experimentally addressing the effects of OA in the context of large natural variability in seawater carbonate system parameters and other interactive variables, integrating the results from different research approaches, and scaling results across different temporal and spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study quantum phase slips (QPS) in ultrathin superconducting wires. Starting from an effective one-dimensional microscopic model, which includes electromagnetic fluctuations, we map the problem to a (1+1)-dimensional gas of interacting instantons. We introduce a method to calculate the tunneling amplitude of quantum phase slips directly from Monte Carlo simulations. This allows us to go beyond the dilute instanton gas approximation and study the problem without any limitations of the density of QPS. We find that the tunneling amplitude shows a characteristic scaling behavior near the superconductor-insulator transition. We also calculate the voltage-charge relation of the insulating state, which is the dual of the Josephson current-phase relation in ordinary superconducting weak links. This evolves from a sinusoidal form in the regime of dilute QPS to more exotic shapes for higher QPS densities, where interactions are important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the years 2010-13, atmospheric eddy covariance measurement of oxygen was performed at the marine site Östergarnsholm in the Baltic Sea. The fast response optode Microx TX3 was used with two different types of tapered sensors. In spite of the increased lifetime, the optical isolated sensor is limited by the slower response time and is unsuitable for ground-based eddy covariance measurements. The sensor without optical isolation shows a −⅔ slope within the inertial subrange and attains sufficient response time and precision to be used in air-sea applications during continuous periods of 1-4 days. Spectral and cospectral analysis shows oxygen measured with the nonoptical isolated sensor to follow the same shape as for CO2 and water vapor when normalized. The sampling rate of the Microx TX3 is 2 Hz; however, the sensor was found to have a limited response and resolution, yielding a flux loss in the frequency range f > 0.3 Hz. This can be corrected for by applying cospectral similarity simultaneously using measurements of latent heat as the reference signal. On average the magnitude of the cospectral correction added 20% to the uncorrected oxygen flux during neutral atmospheric stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The dynamic response from passing trains at high speed is studied for a short span soil–steel composite bridge. [•] Soil material damping properties are estimated through analysis of the field measurements. [•] Both 2D and 3D continuum models are compared with the measured response. [•] The 3D-model enables estimation of the load distribution, which is found to increase at higher train speeds. [•] An effective width to be used in 2D analyses is proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, we develop a rigorous observable- and symmetry generator-related framework for quantum measurement theory by applying operator deformation techniques previously used in noncommutative quantum field theory. This enables the conventional observables (represented by unbounded operators) to play a role also in the more general setting. In addition, it gives a way of explicitly calculating the so-called instrument of the measurement process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) into the mid-latitudes of the North Atlantic Ocean through the production of wintertime Sub-Tropical Mode Water (STMW) also known as Eighteen Degree Water (EDW) is poorly quantified and constrained. Nonetheless, it has been proposed that the EDW could serve as an important short-term sink of anthropogenic CO2. The objective of the present investigation was to determine sea–air CO2 gas exchange rates and seawater CO2 dynamics during wintertime formation of EDW in the North Atlantic Ocean. During 2006 and 2007, several research cruises were undertaken as part of the CLIMODE project across the northwest Atlantic Ocean with the intent to study the pre-conditioning, formation, and the evolution of EDW. Sea–air CO2 exchange rates were calculated based on measurements of atmospheric pCO2, surface seawater pCO2 and wind speed with positive values denoting a net flux from the surface ocean to the atmosphere. Average sea–air CO2 flux calculated along cruise tracks in the formation region equaled −18±6mmol CO2 m−2 d−1 and −14±9mmol CO2 m−2 d−1 in January of 2006 and March of 2007, respectively. Average sea–air CO2 flux in newly formed outcropping EDW in February and March of 2007 equaled −28±10mmol CO2 m−2 d−1. These estimates exceeded previous flux estimates in this region by 40–185%. The magnitude of CO2 flux was mainly controlled by the observed variability in wind speed and ΔpCO2 with smaller changes owing to variability in sea surface temperature. Small but statistically significant difference (4.1±2.6μmolkg−1) in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) was observed in two occurrences of newly formed EDW in February and March of 2007. This difference was explained either by differences in the relative contribution from different water masses involved in the initial formation process of EDW or temporal changes owing to sea–air CO2 exchange (∼25%) and vertical and/or lateral mixing (∼75%) with water masses high in DIC from the cold side of the Gulf Stream and/or from below the permanent thermocline. Based on the present estimate of sea–air CO2 flux in newly formed EDW and a formation rate of 9.3Svy (Sverdrup year=106 m3 s−1 flow sustained for 1 year), CO2 uptake by newly formed EDW may constitute 3–6% of the total North Atlantic CO2 sink. However, advection of surface waters that carry an elevated burden of anthropogenic CO2 that are transported to the formation region and transformed to mode water may contribute additional CO2 to the total net uptake and sequestration of anthropogenic CO2 to the ocean interior. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We revisit the scaling properties of the resistivity and the current-voltage characteristics at and below the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition, both in zero and nonzero magnetic fields. The scaling properties are derived by integrating the renormalization group flow equations up to a scale where they can be reliably matched to simple analytic expressions. The vortex fugacity turns out to be dangerously irrelevant for these quantities below Tc, thereby altering the scaling behavior. We derive the possible crossover effects as the current, magnetic field, or system size is varied, and find a strong multiplicative logarithmic correction near Tc, all of which is necessary to account for when interpreting experiments and simulation data. Our analysis clarifies a longstanding discrepancy between the finite size dependence found in many simulations and the current-voltage characteristics of experiments. We further show that the logarithmic correction can be avoided by approaching the transition in a magnetic field, thereby simplifying the scaling analysis. We confirm our results by large-scale numerical simulations, and calculate the dynamic critical exponent z, for relaxational Langevin dynamics and for resistively and capacitively shunted Josephson junction dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endothelin-1 is a potent endogenous vasoconstrictor that contributes to renal microcirculatory impairment during endotoxemia and sepsis. Here we investigated if the renal circulatory and metabolic effects of endothelin during endotoxemia are mediated through activation of endothelin-A receptors. Methods and Findings: A randomized experimental study was performed with anesthetized and mechanically ventilated pigs subjected to Escherichia coli endotoxin infusion for five hours. After two hours the animals were treated with the selective endothelin receptor type A antagonist TBC 3711 (2 mg·kg-1, n = 8) or served as endotoxin-treated controls (n = 8). Renal artery blood flow, diuresis and creatinine clearance decreased in response to endotoxemia. Perfusion in the cortex, as measured by laser doppler flowmetry, was reduced in both groups, but TBC 3711 attenuated the decrease in the medulla (p = 0.002). Compared to control, TBC 3711 reduced renal oxygen extraction as well as cortical and medullary lactate/ pyruvate ratios (p<0.05) measured by microdialysis. Furthermore, TBC 3711 attenuated the decline in renal cortical interstitial glucose levels (p = 0.02) and increased medullary pyruvate levels (p = 0.03). Decreased creatinine clearance and oliguria were present in both groups without any significant difference. Conclusions: These results suggest that endothelin released during endotoxemia acts via endothelin A receptors to impair renal medullary blood flow causing ischemia. Reduced renal oxygen extraction and cortical levels of lactate by TBC 3711, without effects on cortical blood flow, further suggest additional metabolic effects of endothelin type A receptor activation in this model of endotoxin induced acute kidney injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study heat transport and thermoelectric effects in two-dimensional superconductors in a magnetic field. These are modeled as granular Josephson-junction arrays, forming either regular or random lattices. We employ two different models for the dynamics: relaxational model-A dynamics or resistively and capacitively shunted Josephson junction dynamics. We derive expressions for the heat current in these models, which are then used in numerical simulations to calculate the heat conductivity and Nernst coefficient for different temperatures and magnetic fields. At low temperatures and zero magnetic field the heat conductivity in the RCSJ model is calculated analytically from a spin wave approximation, and is seen to have an anomalous logarithmic dependence on the system size, and also to diverge in the completely overdamped limit C→0. From our simulations we find at low magnetic fields that the Nernst signal displays a characteristic "tilted hill" profile similar to experiments and a nonmonotonic temperature dependence of the heat conductivity. We also investigate the effects of granularity and randomness, which become important for higher magnetic fields. In this regime geometric frustration strongly influences the results in both regular and random systems and leads to highly nontrivial magnetic field dependencies of the studied transport coefficients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: During routine inspections of the Söderström Bridge in central Stockholm, one of Sweden’s most important railway bridges, cracks were found in the web of the main steel beams. The finding initiated theoretical studies which showed that the cracks developed mainly due to poorly designed connections of the cross beams and out-of-plane bending of the web. The studies also showed an alarming result regarding the remaining fatigue life of the stringers and the cross beams. However, no cracks or other damage have been found on these components during the inspections. To explore the differences between the theoretical indications and the inspected reality, an extensive monitoring program has been performed. This article describes the monitoring program and the analysis methods used. Some results regarding the remaining fatigue life based on measured and theoretical values are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Microcirculatory dysfunction is a common feature of sepsis. The potent vasoconstrictor endothelin (ET) is released in sepsis and endotoxemia, potentially contributing to sepsis-induced microcirculatory failure. In this study we tested the hypothesis that mixed ET receptor antagonism with tezosentan would improve splanchnic microcirculatory blood flow in acute porcine endotoxemia. Materials and methods: Sixteen anesthetized and mechanically ventilated pigs received an infusion of endotoxin for 300 min. After 120 min eight pigs received a bolus dose of tezosentan 1 mg/kg followed by an infusion of tezosentan of 1 mg/kg/h throughout the experiment. Eight pigs served as endotoxin controls. Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to measure microcirculatory blood flow in the liver and in the ileal and colon mucosa. PCO2 in the ileal mucosa was measured by air tonometry and portal vein flow by an ultrasonic flow probe. Results: Endotoxin administration induced a state of shock with impaired splanchnic microcirculatory blood flow. Microcirculation in the mucosa of the colon and ileum and mucosal-arterial PCO2 gap were improved by tezosentan. Portal vein flow was increased, but hepatic microcirculatory blood flow was not significantly improved. Tezosentan preserved cardiac index and decreased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure compared to controls, without causing any differences in the heart rate or mean arterial blood pressure response. Tezosentan also distinctly improved pH and arterial lactate values. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that ET is involved in the microcirculatory dysfunction seen in the ileal and colon mucosa in early endotoxemia. Moreover, this detrimental effect was counteracted by i.v. administration of the mixed ET receptor antagonist tezosentan. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article explores the notion of a 'Nordic approach' to peace support operations by analysing the Nordic states' commitment to UN interventions during the period of 1991-99. The Nordic states varied considerably in their individual choices on where, when and by what magnitude to commit to such interventions. The observed discrepancies reveal that the notion of a 'Nordic approach' is beset with strong limitations; the concept's implied homogeneity is simply missing. To convincingly capitalize on the notion of a Nordic approach, the Nordic states would have needed to put the issue on a common agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Carbonate-rich sediments at shoal to shelf depths (<200m) represent a major CaCO3 reservoir that can rapidly react to the decreasing saturation state of seawater with respect to carbonate minerals, produced by the increasing partial pressure of atmospheric carbon dioxide (pCO2) and “acidification” of ocean waters. Aragonite is usually the most abundant carbonate mineral in these sediments. However, the second most abundant (typically ∼24wt%) carbonate mineral is high Mg-calcite (Mg-calcite) whose solubility can exceed that of aragonite making it the “first responder” to the decreasing saturation state of seawater. For the naturally occurring biogenic Mg-calcites, dissolution experiments have been used to predict their “stoichiometric solubilities” as a function of mol% MgCO3. The only valid relationship that one can provisionally use for the metastable stabilities for Mg-calcite based on composition is that for the synthetically produced phases where metastable equilibrium has been achieved from both under- and over-saturation. Biogenic Mg-calcites exhibit a large offset in solubility from that of abiotic Mg-calcite and can also exhibit a wide range of solubilities for biogenic Mg-calcites of similar Mg content. This indicates that factors other than the Mg content can influence the solubility of these mineral phases. Thus, it is necessary to turn to observations of natural sediments where changes in the saturation state of surrounding waters occur in order to determine their likely responses to the changing saturation state in upper oceanic waters brought on by increasing pCO2. In the present study, we investigate the responses of Mg-calcites to rising pCO2 and “ocean acidification” by means of a simple numerical model based on the experimental range of biogenic Mg-calcite solubilities as a function of Mg content in order to bracket the behavior of the most abundant Mg-calcite phases in the natural environment. In addition, observational data from Bermuda and the Great Bahama Bank are also presented in order to project future responses of these minerals. The numerical simulations suggest that Mg-calcite minerals will respond to rising pCO2 by sequential dissolution according to mineral stability, progressively leading to removal of the more soluble phases until the least soluble phases remain. These results are confirmed by laboratory experiments and observations from Bermuda. As a consequence of continuous increases in atmospheric CO2 from burning of fossil fuels, the average composition of contemporary carbonate sediments could change, i.e., the average Mg content in the sediments may slowly decrease. Furthermore, evidence from the Great Bahama Bank indicates that the amount of abiotic carbonate production is likely to decline as pCO2 continues to rise. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The democratic peace proposition has generated the widely supported claim that democratic norms affect states' behaviour, in that democracies rarely, if ever, fight each other. Hitherto, the relationship between norms and the distribution of UN interventions among state conflicts has escaped attention. This article expands the research on state use of force by using quantitative methodology to examine the relationship between democratic norms, conflict issue and allocation of UN interventions. There is a tendency for less democratic state conflicts to experience more of these interventions than other states, as well as a tendency for state conflicts over government to experience more of these interventions than other states. That norms, rather than process, account for the effect of democracy is congruent with most findings in the democratic peace proposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper deals with the dynamic effects on a tied arch railway bridge during train passages. The bridge is located in Ånge municipality in central Sweden. Large vibrations of the hangers were observed during train passages and field measurements have been performed to study the train induced vibrations of the hangers. According to the Palmgren–Miners linear damage rule, there is a great risk of fatigue in the threaded parts of the hangers. The low damping in the hangers has a large influence of the risk of fatigue failure. A 3D finite element model of the bridge has been developed where the dynamic vehicle–bridge interaction was modelled using contact surface formulation with a sprung mass train system. The measured data results are compared with the results from the FE model to give a better understanding of the dynamic behaviour of the bridge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The behavior of the ocean carbon cycle has been, and will continue to be, modified by the increase in atmospheric CO2 due to fossil fuel combustion and land-use emissions of this gas. The consequences of a high-CO2 world and increasing riverine transport of organic matter and nutrients arising from human activities were investigated by means of two biogeochemical box models. Model numerical simulations ranging from the year 1700 to 2300 show that the global coastal ocean changes from a net source to a net sink of atmospheric CO2 over time; in the 18th and 19th centuries, the direction of the CO2 flux was from coastal surface waters to the atmosphere, whereas at present or in the near future the net CO2 flux is into coastal surface waters. These results agree well with recent syntheses of measurements of air-sea CO2 exchange fluxes from various coastal ocean environments. The model calculations also show that coastal ocean surface water carbonate saturation state would decrease 46 percent by the year 2100 and 73 percent by 2300. Observational evidence from the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans shows that the carbonate saturation state of surface ocean waters has already declined during recent decades. For atolls and other semi-enclosed carbonate systems, the rate of decline depends strongly on the residence time of the water in the system. Based on the experimentally observed positive relationship between saturation state and calcification rate for many calcifying organisms, biogenic production of CaCO3 may decrease by 42 percent by the year 2100 and by 85 to 90 percent by 2300 relative to its value of about 24 × 1012 moles C/yr in the year 2000. If the predicted change in carbonate production were to occur along with rising temperatures, it would make it difficult for coral reef and other carbonate systems, to exist as we know them now into future centuries. Because high-latitude, cold-water carbonates presently occur in waters closer to saturation with respect to carbonate minerals than the more strongly supersaturated waters of the lower latitudes, it might be anticipated that the cool-water carbonate systems might feel the effects of rising atmospheric CO2 (and temperature) before those at lower latitudes. In addition, modeling results show that the carbonate saturation state of coastal sediment pore water will decrease in the future owing to a decreasing pore water pH and increasing CO2 concentrations attributable to greater deposition and remineralization of land-derived and in situ produced organic matter in sediments. The lowered carbonate saturation state drives selective dissolution of metastable carbonate minerals while a metastable equilibrium is maintained between the pore water and the most soluble carbonate phase present in the sediments. In the future, the average composition of carbonate sediments and cements may change as the more soluble Mg-calcites and aragonite are preferentially dissolved and phases of lower solubility, such as calcites with lower magnesium content, increase in percentage abundance in the sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Model predictions suggest that the saturation state of surface ocean waters with respect to carbonate minerals will decline during the twenty-first century owing to increased invasion of atmospheric CO[sub 2]. As a result, calcareous organisms may have difficulty calcifying, leading to production of weaker skeletons and greater vulnerability to erosion. Alternatively, it has been suggested that there will be no significant impact on coral reef ecosystems because any changes in saturation state and pH will be restored by dissolution of metastable carbonate minerals. To resolve this controversy, we employ a physical-biogeochemical box model representative of the shallow-water ocean environment. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the carbonate saturation state of surface waters could significantly decrease and hamper the biogenic production of CaCO[sub 3] during the twenty-first century. Similarly, the average saturation state of marine pore waters could decline significantly, inducing dissolution of metastable carbonate phases within the porewater-sediment system. Such dissolution could buffer the carbon chemistry of the pore waters, but overlying surface waters of reefs and other shallow-water carbonate environments will not accumulate sufficient alkalinity to buffer pH or carbonate saturation state changes owing to invasion of atmospheric CO[sub 2]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ongoing study of the impact of democracy on the incidence of state commitment to UN interventions is examined, with a focus on state participation in UN interventions. It is hypothesized that, of potential committing states, democracies show the greatest propensity to participate in UN interventions. In contrast to the existing literature, which comprises mainly case studies, basic descriptive statistics are utilized in this article to probe the hypothesis on polity and commitment to UN interventions. The less-democratic states are less committed to UN interventions. Overall, the hypothesis is supported by the empirical results in that (a) democracies commit more than other polities to UN interventions, (b) the difference between democracies and anocracies is relatively small and ambiguous in significance compared to the difference between autocracies and democracies/anocracies, and (c) the empirical track record is by and large consistent with previous research on the effect of polity within the realms of war and conventional interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the relationship between the level of democracy in states and the inclination of states in engage in peacekeeping. Among the substantial contributors to peace-support operations, well-consolidated democracies show the greatest propensity to participate. Further, among the states in conflict, the non-democratic states receive a disproportionate number of operations. Another intriguing observation is the fact that despite constituting a minority among the inn-state conflicts, the conflicts over government attract most of the operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the dynamic behavior of four railway bridges with integrated retaining walls, considering the effect of soil–structure interaction (SSI), is investigated both numerically and experimentally. Among these bridges, two are single-span, and the remaining two are three-span. Each bridge is equipped with numerous accelerometers and is excited by a hydraulic actuator across various frequencies. Full 3D solid Finite Element (FE) models incorporating the railway bridges and surrounding soils are developed and calibrated using the Frequency Response Functions (FRFs) from each accelerometer. Furthermore, simplified 3D solid and 2D beam models are created for each railway bridge, incorporating springs and dashpots to account for the effect of surrounding soils. The values for these springs and dashpots are obtained from simple equations, except for the impact of the backfill soil in the simplified 2D beam models, which are derived from the impedance functions of the soil medium. The performance of these simplified models is then compared to the calibrated 3D models in terms of modal properties of the first bending mode and the maximum acceleration response during high-speed train passages. The results indicate that the simplified models closely align with the calibrated models in terms of modal properties and high-speed train passage response and can be used as simple and efficient alternatives for practical usage in bridge design. • Experimental analysis of four railway bridges using a hydraulic actuator. • 3D model calibration of each railway bridge and the surrounding soils using forced vibration experiments. • Simplified 3D and 2D modeling techniques of railway bridges, including the SSI, using springs and dashpots. • High-speed train passage analysis of different modeling alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral reefs are facing threats from a variety of global change stressors, including ocean warming, acidification, and deoxygenation. It has been hypothesized that growing corals near primary producers such as macroalgae or seagrass may help to ameliorate acidification and deoxygenation stress, however few studies have explored this effect in situ. Here, we investigated differences in coral growth rates across a natural gradient in seawater temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen (DO) variability in a nearshore seagrass bed on Dongsha Atoll, Taiwan, South China Sea. We observed strong spatial gradients in temperature (5°C), pH (0.29 pH units), and DO (129 μmol O2 kg-1) across the 1-kilometer wide seagrass bed. Similarly, diel variability recorded by an autonomous sensor in the shallow seagrass measured diel ranges in temperature, pH, and DO of up to 2.6°C, 0.55, and 204 μmol O2 kg-1, respectively. Skeletal cores collected from 15 massive Porites corals growing in the seagrass bed at 4 sites revealed no significant differences in coral calcification rates between sites along the gradients. However, significant differences in skeletal extension rate and density suggest that the dynamic temperature, pH, and/or DO variability may have influenced these properties. The lack of differences in coral growth between sites may be because favorable calcification conditions during the day (high temperature, pH, and DO) were proportionally balanced by unfavorable conditions during the night (low temperature, pH, and DO). Alternatively, other factors were simply more important in controlling coral calcification and/or corals were acclimated to the prevailing conditions at each site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of different test models for sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced irritant contact dermatitis on epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) numbers was examined. Finn Chambers, 8 and 12 mm, containing 15 and 34 or 50 μl, respectively, of 1% aq, solution of SLS were applied to human forearm skin for 48 h as single or repeated application. The results showed a clear difference between the effects with the 2 chamber sizes. The effect of the 8-mm chambers could result in increased, unchanged or decreased LC numbers, while 12-mm chambers always produced a decrease. These results seem to explain, at least partly, the discrepant results reported from various laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of running safety of railway bridges is conditioned by the Eurocode EN 1990 A2 by limiting vertical deck acceleration. On ballastless track bridges, this value is 5 m/s 2. The background for this value is not clear, and it is believed that it originates in the application of an arbitrary safety factor of 2 on accelerations around 1 g to avoid loss of wheel–rail contact. However, studies show that the level of acceleration may not be directly related to the occurrence of derailment. In this work, this idea is expanded by assessing both vertical and lateral dynamics, comparing acceleration values with the Unloading and Nadal derailment criteria. The parametric study is comprised of a set of five representative single-track slab bridges with spans between 10 m and 30 m with two levels of track irregularities, corresponding to a well-maintained track and an Alert limit situation. A three-dimensional articulated FE model based on the load properties of the EN 1991-2 High-Speed Load Model A is presented, crossing the bridges at running speeds from 150 km/h to 400 km/h. Despite the complexity of the models, a large amount (1461) of full 3D train–track–bridge interaction dynamic analyses are performed, to produce a data set representative of the phenomenon. Results show a weak correlation between the criteria and deck acceleration (maximum r 2 of 0.47 for Unloading and 0.15 for Nadal). Additionally, track quality is shown to be a more conditioning factor for derailment when compared to resonance. This work contributes to discussing the thesis of using deck acceleration as an indicator of running safety, considering lateral dynamics. • The study gives a critical view of the Eurocode's vertical deck acceleration limit. • An articulated 3D Finite Element model of the EN1991-2 HSLM is used. • Deck acceleration values above the limit do not correspond to derailment criteria. • Running safety is more conditioned by track quality than by bridge resonance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One approach for upgrading existing high-speed railway bridges which are susceptible to excessive vibrations is to install damping devices. In this article, a model of a simply supported bridge with supplemental fluid viscous dampers installed between the superstructure and the abutments is derived based on an arbitrary mode of vibration. The aim is to ensure the robustness of the proposed vibration mitigation method by conducting Monte Carlo simulations including uncertainties associated with the bridge-damper system. From this statistical screening, it is possible to evaluate the probability of exceedance of a stipulated acceleration level, as well as studying the sensitivity of the ingoing random variables. This probabilistic evaluation highlights the necessity of conducting a statistical assessment to determine an estimate for the distribution of the acceleration limit and model uncertainty for dynamic analyses. The results show that the required damping coefficient could be multiply reduced, as compared to a deterministic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent global studies suggest that the total emission of CO2 from streams and rivers is highly significant and correspond to as much as 85% of the total oceanic CO2 uptake. To address this issue, a large boreal river in Northern Sweden (Indalsälven) was instrumented in April 2018 with water-side measurements combined with an atmospheric eddy-covariance system measuring the vertical fluxes of CO2. This is one of the first known studies of its kind where long term eddy covariance measurements are conducted in a river settingThe river Indalsälven was found to be almost constantly oversaturated with respect to CO2 and with high water-side pCO2 dynamics varying in the range of 400-4500 ppm. During the spring, the pCO2 in the water was in the range of 500-700 ppm and at the same time, large emissions of CO2 from the river were measured. The rapid snowmelt resulting in high water flow in combination with occasionally high winds resulted in high gas transfer velocities, k600. By the beginning of July, the pCO2 in water had increased to over 4000 ppm, likely due to high aquatic degradation of organic material. During the period of July to September, a diel cycle of pCO2 in water was observed with amplitudes of up to several thousand ppm. Simultaneously CO2 emissions in the range of 13-17 µmol m-2s-1 were measured. Wind speed showed a positive correlation with the measured CO2 emissions and k600, with the highest emissions associated to data from the wind sector where the upwind distance to land was greatest.Our data show that a boreal river act as a strong source of atmospheric CO2. The dynamic behaviour in pCO2 and emission clearly highlight the importance of continuous high-frequency CO2 measurements in order to correctly incorporate rivers in landscape carbon balances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) for children has several advantages, including reduced length of hospital stay and costs. A reliable vascular access is key to delivering safe and effective pediatric OPAT. In recent years, midline catheters (MC) have been increasingly used for short-term intravenous antibiotic therapy in children. However, there are no studies investigating the use of MCs in the OPAT setting. The main aim of this paper was to evaluate the success and complications of using MCs for pediatric OPAT. This was a retrospective cohort study from a tertiary academic pediatric hospital. All MCs inserted at the hospital and used for OPAT were eligible for study inclusion. The primary objective was to describe the percentage of patients able to complete OPAT without the need for additional venous access. Forty-one MCs were included in the study. Patient mean (SD) age was 5.9 (4.9) years. In 31 cases (76%, 95% CI 62–86%), the iv therapy could be successfully completed using only the MC. Imbalances between the groups suggested unfavorable outcome for saphenous vein catheters as well as for shorter and smaller-sized catheters. Fourteen patients (34%) were subjected to a MC-related complication. Pain on injection in the MC was the most frequent complication (n = 10, 24%). Conclusion: Midline catheters could be an alternative to central venous access for pediatric OPAT. Avoiding saphenous vein insertion and using longer and larger-sized catheters could increase MC success rate. No severe MC-related complication was found. Further randomized studies comparing different catheter types are needed. What is Known: • For selected patients, pediatric outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is safe and provides health-economic, psychosocial, and medical advantages compared to in-hospital care. • A reliable venous access is one of the key factors to the success of OPAT, but this can be a challenge in children. What is New: • Using midline catheters, 76% of patients could complete their intended iv therapy without the need for additional venous access. Avoiding saphenous vein insertion and using longer and larger-sized catheters could increase the success rate. • Thirty-four percent of catheters were subject to some kind of complication, the most common being pain on injection in the catheter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A unital completely positive map governing the time evolution of a quantum system is usually called a quantum channel, and it can be represented by a tuple of operators which are then referred to as the Kraus operators of the channel. We look at states of the system whose correlations with respect to the channel have a certain symmetry. Then we show that detailed balance holds if the Kraus operators satisfy a very interesting algebraic relation which plays an important role in the representation theory of any compact quantum group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) has been hypothesized to drive interannual variability in Bermudan coral extension rates and reef-scale calcification through the provisioning of nutritional pulses associated with negative NAO winters. However, the direct influence of the NAO on Bermudan coral calcification rates remains to be determined and may vary between species and reef sites owing to implicit differences in coral life history strategies and environmental gradients across the Bermuda reef platform. In this study, we investigated the connection between negative NAO winters and Bermudan Diploria labyrinthiformis, Pseudodiploria strigosa, and Orbicella franksi coral calcification rates across rim reef, lagoon, and nearshore reef sites. Linear mixed effects modeling detected an inverse correlation between D. labyrinthiformis calcification rates and the winter NAO index, with higher rates associated with increasingly negative NAO winters. Conversely, there were no detectable correlations between P. strigosa or O. franksi calcification rates and the winter NAO index suggesting that coral calcification responses associated with negative NAO winters could be species-specific. The correlation between coral calcification rates and winter NAO index was significantly more negative at the outer rim of the reef (Hog Reef) compared to a nearshore reef site (Whalebone Bay), possibly indicating differential influence of the NAO as a function of the distance from the reef edge. Furthermore, a negative calcification anomaly was observed in 100% of D. labyrinthiformis cores in association with the 1988 coral bleaching event with a subsequent positive calcification anomaly in 1989 indicating a post-bleaching recovery in calcification rates. These results highlight the importance of assessing variable interannual coral calcification responses between species and across inshore-offshore gradients to interannual atmospheric modes such as the NAO, thermal stress events, and potential interactions between ocean warming and availability of coral nutrition to improve projections for future coral calcification rates under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to identify the effect of soil-structure interaction on the dynamic response of a portal frame railway bridge. The study aims to validate the accuracy of numerical models in evaluating the dynamic stiffness and modal properties of the bridge–soil system. To achieve this aim, a controlled vibration test has been performed on a full-scale portal frame bridge to determine the modal properties of the system through measuring Frequency Response Functions. The results of the dynamic test provide reference data for FE model calibration as well as valuable information about the dynamic behavior of this type of bridges. Using the experimental data, an FRF-based model updating procedure was used to calibrate a full 3D solid model involving the entire bridge-track-soil system. Both measured and computed responses identify the substantial contribution of the surrounding soil on the global damping of the system and highlight the importance of the soil–structure interaction on the dynamic response of this type of bridges. The identified modal damping ratio corresponding to the fundamental bending mode of the studied bridge was nearly 5 times higher than the recommended design values. A simplified model for the surrounding soil was also proposed in order to attain a less complicated model appropriate for practical design purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Epochs of changing atmospheric CO2 and seawater CO2–carbonic acid system chemistry and acidification have occurred during the Phanerozoic at various time scales. On the longer geologic time scale, as sea level rose and fell and continental free board decreased and increased, respectively, the riverine fluxes of Ca, Mg, DIC, and total alkalinity to the coastal ocean varied and helped regulate the C chemistry of seawater, but nevertheless there were major epochs of ocean acidification (OA). On the shorter glacial–interglacial time scale from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to late preindustrial time, riverine fluxes of DIC, total alkalinity, and N and P nutrients increased and along with rising sea level, atmospheric PCO2 and temperature led, among other changes, to a slightly deceasing pH of coastal and open ocean waters, and to increasing net ecosystem calcification and decreasing net heterotrophy in coastal ocean waters. From late preindustrial time to the present and projected into the 21st century, human activities, such as fossil fuel and land-use emissions of CO2 to the atmosphere, increasing application of N and P nutrient subsidies and combustion N to the landscape, and sewage discharges of C, N, P have led, and will continue to lead, to significant modifications of coastal ocean waters. The changes include a rapid decline in pH and carbonate saturation state (modern problem of ocean acidification), a shift toward dissolution of carbonate substrates exceeding production, potentially leading to the “demise” of the coral reefs, reversal of the direction of the sea-to-air flux of CO2 and enhanced biological production and burial of organic C, a small sink of anthropogenic CO2, accompanied by a continuous trend toward increasing autotrophy in coastal waters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) is considered to be low in the general paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) population, and pharmacological thromboprophylaxis is not routinely used. PICU patients considered at high-risk of VTE could possibly benefit from pharmacological thromboprophylaxis, but the incidence of VTE in this group of patients is unclear. This was an observational, prospective study at a tertiary multi-disciplinary paediatric hospital. We used comprehensive ultrasonography screening for VTE in critically ill children with multiple risk factors for VTE. Patients admitted to PICU ≥ 72 h and with ≥ two risk factors for VTE were included. Patients receiving pharmacological thromboprophylaxis during their entire PICU stay were excluded. The primary outcome of the study was VTEs not related to the use of a CVC. Ultrasonography screening of the great veins was performed at PICU discharge. Seventy patients with median (interquartile range) 3 (2–4) risk factors for VTE were evaluated. Median age was 0.3 years (0.03–4.3) and median PICU length of stay 9 days (5–17). Regarding the primary outcome, no symptomatic VTEs occurred and no asymptomatic VTEs were found on ultrasonography screening, resulting in an incidence of VTEs not related to a vascular catheter of 0% (95% CI: 0–5.1%). Conclusion: Our results indicate that VTEs not related to a vascular catheter are a rare event even in a selected group of severely ill small children considered to be at high risk of VTE. What is Known: • Children in the PICU often have several risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE). • The incidence of VTE in PICU patients is highly uncertain, and there are no evidence-based guidelines regarding VTE prophylaxis. What is New: • This study found an incidence of VTEs not related to a vascular catheter of 0% (95% CI: 0–5.1%). • This indicates that such VTE events are rare even in PICU patients with multiple risk factors for VTE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]