bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Programmatic Assessment of Foundation Course for Undergraduate Medical Student’s Immediately following the Course and One-year thereafter: A Post-test Quasiexperimental Study
Authors: Aristotle Sharmila , Ramamoorthy Balakrishnan , Radhakrishnan Arunkumar
Published: October 2024

Introduction: The National Medical Commission (NMC) introduced a one-month “Foundation Course (FC)” at the commencement of medical school to promote better adaptation to the new competence-based medical education curriculum starting from the academic year 2019. The effectiveness of the program was studied in previous researches conducted over one month, and it was found to be effective. However, the effectiveness with which students could implement the acquired basic knowledge and skills in subsequent years of study has not been reported. Aim: To explore the effectiveness of various modules and their competencies in the FC immediately at the end of the program and to assess the usefulness of the acquired competencies in subsequent academic years. Materials and Methods: A post-test quasi-experimental study was conducted at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Kattangulathur, South India, within the education department over a period of three academic years. A total of 450 student participants from the academic years 2019 to 2022 were involved in two stages. A total of 36 competencies were evaluated across the six prescribed modules by the NMC. A five-point Likert scale was used for the evaluation. Feedback questionnaires were administered immediately at the end of the program and again at the completion of the academic year. Analysis was conducted using the non parametric “Wilcoxon signed-rank test” to determine the usefulness of the program in subsequent years by comparing immediate feedback with responses after one year. Results: The mean scores for various competencies ranged between 3.5 and 4.5 out of 5, indicating that the overall competencies in the FC were very effective. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed a p-value of <0.0001, indicating high significance regarding the effectiveness of usage in subsequent years. Out of the 36 competencies, 16 were most frequently used by the students in the following year, 12 were moderately used, and 8 were least used. Conclusion: The evaluation of the NMC-mandated FC program, in terms of overall immediate performance and its effectiveness in subsequent years, yielded very promising results.
Effect of Unexpected Prolonged Fasting on Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery under Spinal Anaesthesia: An Observational Study
Authors: Suryawanshi Chhaya M , Gill Fateh Pal Singh , Dhaliwal Sargam
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Preoperative fasting is a standard practice aimed at minimising the risk of pulmonary aspiration during surgery. However, patients often experience prolonged fasting periods beyond the recommended duration due to unanticipated delays in the operating theatre, communication failures between teams, inadequate preoperative planning and other factors. Aim: To investigate the effects of unexpectedly prolonged fasting on intraoperative and postoperative parameters in patients undergoing elective surgery under spinal anaesthesia. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from October 2023 to June 2024 at the Department of Anaesthesiology, Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India. The study included 70 patients undergoing elective surgery under spinal anaesthesia. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (AM group, n=35), scheduled for surgery between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM and Group B (PM group, n=35), scheduled for surgery after 12:00 PM or with delayed surgeries. Intraoperative parameters, including Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP), Heart Rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) and random blood glucose levels, were recorded at specific time points. Postoperative outcomes, such as nausea, vomiting and random blood glucose levels, were also assessed. Continuous and discrete variables were summarised as mean±SD and median, while categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. Associations between categorical variables were tested using Pearson’s Chi-square or Fisher’s-exact test, with p-values<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The PM group exhibited higher preoperative random blood glucose levels (102.3±18.7 mg/dL) compared to the AM group (89.2±12.5 mg/dL). Postoperative nausea and vomiting were observed in 5 (14.3%) patients in the AM group and 11 (31.4%) patients in the PM group. Both groups showed a gradual decrease in MAP and HR from the preoperative period to 30 minutes after spinal anaesthesia administration, with slightly higher values noted in the PM group. No significant differences in SpO2 were observed between the groups. Conclusion: Unexpected prolonged fasting before elective surgery under spinal anaesthesia may contribute to higher preoperative blood glucose levels and an increased risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting. These findings underscore the importance of adhering to preoperative fasting guidelines and exploring potential strategies to minimise prolonged fasting periods, such as carbohydrate loading or allowing clear fluids closer to surgery
Prevalence of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms among Road Traffic Accident Victims: A Cross-sectional Study from Gujarat, India
Authors: Shah Hetal Jitendrabhai , Patel Sapna , Patel Sandeep
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) can develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to emotional trauma, which significantly affects the quality of life. Despite satisfactory psychological recovery for many RTA victims, a notable percentage of survivors continue to live with PTSD without diagnosis or treatment. In India, the rising number of RTAs necessitates research into their psychological impacts to inform healthcare strategies and interventions. Aim: To assess the prevalence of PTSD symptoms among RTA survivors and explore the association between PTSD and sociodemographic and clinical variables. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted and data was collected from selected trauma centres in Gujarat state, India, from April to May 2024. The study involved 380 participants who had experienced RTAs within 30-40 days prior to data collection. Data collection employed an interviewer-administered questionnaire with two sections: a demographic and clinical questionnaire and the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) for PTSD symptom assessment. The PCL-5 is a 20-item tool, with scores ranging from 0 to 80, where a score of ≥33 indicates PTSD symptoms. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0, employing descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and Confidence Intervals (CI) to determine the significance of associations at a p-value<0.05 level. Results: The prevalence of PTSD symptoms among RTA survivors was 46.3%, with a mean±SD PTSD score of 29.41±10.68. The highest rates of PTSD were observed among younger individuals {18-25 years, 55 (52.4%)} and females 43 (47.3%). Education (p-value=0.027) and monthly income (p-value=0.011) were significantly associated with higher PTSD prevalence. Among clinical variables, the type of vehicle involved in the accident was associated with PTSD prevalence (p-value=0.012). Conclusion: The prevalence of PTSD symptoms among RTA survivors was 46.3%. Lower education levels, lower income, and involvement in two or three-wheeler accidents were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of PTSD.
Comparative evaluation of coronal sealing ability among commercially available three endodontic temporary restorative materials by using methylene blue dye penetration test : an in-vitro study
Authors: Virk Jasleen , sood Himanshu , Sandhu Gursandeep Kaur , Malhan Sunil , Prabhakar Danish , . Ishita
Published: October 2024

Aim: To evaluate and compare the coronal sealing ability among commercially available three endodontic temporary restorative materials by using methylene blue dye penetration test. Methods and Material: 90 extracted mandibular and maxillary premolar teeth were taken. Samples were divided into four experimental groups of 20 each (n-20). In the experimental group, endodontic access cavity was created, and in each group, then the teeth were restored with Orafil G, Coltosol F and IRM. A positive control group was taken (n -5), access cavities were prepared, but not resored. A negative control group was taken (n-5), access cavities were not prepared. Samples were placed in normal saline for 2 hours and thermocycled at 5 ± 2ºC to 55 ± 2ºC for 30 seconds for 100 cycles. Then samples were immersed in methylene blue dye for 7 days. Longitudinal sectioning (mesiodistally) of samples were done with diamond disc and dye penetration was graded using a stereomicroscope at 10 x magnification. Statistical analysis used: The statistical analysis used was Kruskal-Walli’s test and one way ANOVA test to compare the Microleakage. Results: Microleakage was observed in Orafil G followed by Coltosol F. No significant difference was seen between two groups of IRM.Conclusions: Orafil G showed considerably good results compare to Coltosol F and IRM
Pioneering Laser Applications In Modern Strategies For Sterilizing Periodontal Tissues
Authors: Wadhawan Richa , Jhade Shikha , Kamad Kaunteya , Bhargava Rishabh , Tyagi Sunny , Bansal Divya
Published: October 2024

The integration of laser technology into periodontal therapy represents a revolutionary leap forward in the management of periodontal diseases, as it provides a highly precise and minimally invasive alternative to traditional mechanical methods such as air turbines and ultrasonic scalers, which frequently cause significant patient discomfort. Lasers, with their advanced delivery systems—including articulated arms, hollow waveguides, and fiber optics—leverage mechanisms such as photo thermal and photomechanical ablation, as well as photochemical effects, aids in accomplishing improved bacterial reduction, tissue coagulation, and regeneration. These innovations extend to a wide array of clinical applications, from soft tissue procedures like gingivectomy and laser-assisted new attachment procedures to hard tissue treatments and implant maintenance. Recent breakthroughs, including femto second and pico second pulsed lasers, continuous-wave lasers, and laser-induced plasma; have markedly enhanced precision and efficacy in periodontal care. Innovations in photo activated antimicrobial agents and laser-assisted microbial detection further optimize sterilization and treatment outcomes. This review accentuates the transformative impact of these cutting edge technologies, demonstrating their ability to enhance patient outcomes, reduce postoperative discomfort, and hasten up recovery. However, despite these promising advancements, continued research is crucial to establish lasers as a standard component of periodontal care. Hence, this ongoing exploration will pave the way for laser technology's further progression and incorporation into contemporary periodontal treatment strategies,ultimately redefining the parameters of care and establishing new benchmarks for patient comfort and clinical efficacy
Reduction Of Uterine Fibroid Size Through Integrated Yoga And Naturopathy: A Case Report
Authors: Pavithra Dr R , Sivaprasath Dr R , Kumar Dr K Santhosh , Pandiaraja Dr M
Published: October 2024

This case study investigates the possible efficacy of Yoga and Naturopathy therapies for controlling uterine fibroids. A 51-year-old lady with a big subserous fibroid (64mm x 47mm) and symptoms of excessive bleeding and discomfort underwent a six-month treatment regimen that included Yoga, hydrotherapy, mud therapy, and dietary/lifestyle changes. Ultrasound revealed that the fibroid size (58mm x 40mm) had significantly shrunk following the intervention. This instance implies that Yoga and Naturopathy may have a role in the management of fibroids, presumably through their combined impact on inflammation, oxidative stress, and overall health. Further study with bigger cohorts is required to corroborate these results
Effect Of Injectable Trace Minerals on The Humoral Immune Response to Multivalent Viral Vaccine in Dairy Cows
Authors: Allam Ahmed F. , Fayed Adel Abdel-Azim , Hamid Samia Abdel , Abaza Fayez , El-Bardisy Harb A. E. , Sobhy Mona M.
Published: October 2024

Background: This study was done to investigate the effects of injectable trace minerals on the humeral immune response of dairy cows receiving multivalent viral vaccine. Materials and methods: Forty cows divided into 2 groups; average BW = 350 - 420 kg. All were seronegative for FMD virus, lumpy skin, BFV, BVD and IBRV. First group (Gp1) n= 20 Holstein cows vaccinated with FMD virus, lumpy skin, BFV, BVD and IBRV, and the 2 nd group (Gp2) vaccinated and treated with injectable trace mineral supplement 7 mL subcutaneous (MultiMin 90, USA) containing Cu, Zn, Mn (all as disodium EDTAsalts), and Se. Humoral immunity was detected by neutralizing antibody titers measured on day one, 7th week and 14th weeks experiment relative to vaccines administration. All cows were seronegative for each of the 5 viruses on day zero, serum mineral concentrations were evaluated on day one, 7 w and 14 w. Results: The higher average of milk production in 7 th and 14th week in the Gp2 compared to Gp1, there are clear increases in the concentration of minerals (Cu, Zn, Se, Mo, Co, Mn, Fe) in Gp2 compared to Gp1, which indicates better absorption of these minerals when they are injection. The mean antibodies titers were gradually increased from 7th weeks post-vaccines till reached higher level at 14th weeks post- vaccines for all viral vaccines as measured by SNT and ELISA test. The antibodies peak titer was observed higher at 14th w post-vaccination in Gp2 significantly greater than Gp1. Conclusion: Viral vaccination concurrent with ITM, induced a rapid protection against viral infection. In addition, administration of ITM at the time of vaccination was associated with increased humoral immune response, enhanced health status
Influence Des Régimes D’irrigation Sur La Croissance Et La Production Fourragère Du Pois D’angole (Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millsp.) En Période De Forte Chaleur Au Sahel
Authors: Ali Alhassane , Haladou Attahirou Abdoulaye , Idrissa Soumana , Ali Mahamane
Published: October 2024

Résumé Contexte: Au Sahel, l’élevage jour un rôle important dans la vie socioéconomique des populations mais la faible productivité des pâturages naturels rend difficile la pratique de cette activité. La solution pour faire face à cette situation, serait la pratique des cultures fourragères comme le pois d’Angole (Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millsp. une légumineuse alimentaire et fourragère. Matériel et méthodes : En vue de déterminer l’effet des régimes d’irrigation sur la croissance et la production fourragère, des essais ont été conduits en station (au site expérimental de la Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques de l’Université Djibo Hamani de Tahoua) sur la culture du pois d’Angole avec deux régimes d’irrigation sous forme de traitement (Traitement 1 : une irrigation une fois chaque trois jours et traitement T 2 : une irrigation tous les 6 jours). Résultats : Les résultats ont montré que le passage d’une irrigation tous les 6 jours à une irrigation tous les 3 trois jours améliore la production fourragère dès la première coupe (3,20 T de MS/ha pour T1 et 2,19 T de MS/ha pour le traitement 2). Cependant, même avec une irrigation tous les 6 jours, la production fourragère obtenue est dans la fourchette de production attendue et donne des résultats satisfaisants. Conclusion: Ainsi cette culture convient bien à nos conditions de milieu arides et constituer une solution pour faire face aux déficits fourragers récents surtout que c’est une plante très bien appétée par les animaux et très nutritive. Mots clefs: Cultures fourragères, Besoins en eau, Niger
Species Diversity And Pollination Ecology Of Bagale Hills Forest Reserve, Girei Local Government Area, Adamawa State - Nigeria
Authors: M. O Oluwole,
Published: October 2024

Background: This study assessed the pollination ecology and diversity of the Bagale Hills Forest Reserve (BHFR) in Adamawa State. The aim of the study was to understand if biodiversity conservation of the reserve, as planned by the government, is achieved. The objectives were to: assess angiosperm diversity; determine pollinator diversity; evaluate the interaction between angiosperms-pollinators and assess the period of flowering of angiosperms in the transects of the study area. Materials and Methods: The study adopted the systematic line transect procedure in laying out transects. Four transects of 1 km were laid and four sampled plots of 50 m x 50 m size was alternately laid along each of the transect. Three angiosperms were selected at random for data collection on phenology and the diversity of both plants and its associated pollinators. The studied reserve was traversed on foot for three months and the appearance of flower buds and the presence of pollinators on targeted tree species was observed. Data were analyzed and presented using the Descriptive statistics and the Shannon-Wiener diversity index was used for the determination of biodiversity. Results: The result of the Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index indicated pollinator species diversity of 2.686 and angiosperms diversity index of 2.761591 that indicated a very high biodiversity for both the pollinators and its associated plant species in the study area. The phenology result indicated that the pollinators observed were invertebrates that were not evenly distributed and that only about 3.25 % of the tree species were flowering during the wet season. It was also observed that all sampled tree species were generalist in nature. Conclusion: It was concluded that conservation education must be prioritized for the communities surrounding the study area.
Herpetofauna Diversity And Distribution Pattern Of Selected Ecological Sites Of Girei Local Government Area, Adamawa State – Nigeria
Authors: M. O. Oluwole, , Z. B. Yaduma, , D. K. Ayuba
Published: October 2024

Background: This study aimed at understanding the diversity and distribution of herpetofauna resources with the specific objectives to: determine the relative abundance of herpetofauna resources; ascertain the distribution pattern of herpetofauna resources in relation to the ecological sites; and determine herpetofauna resource diversity in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State - Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study area was divided into seven ecological sites: home area, open land area, farmland area, rocky area, grassland area, shrubby area and woodland area. Direct observation method involving an intensive search for the presence of herpetofauna resources was employed for the census. Cluster analysis was used to determine the pattern of distribution of herpetofauna resources while diversity indices were calculated using Simpson’s diversity index. Results: The results obtained showed that herpetofauna resources belonging to seven families were inventoried: Bufonidae, Ranidae, Agamidae, Lacertidae, Scincidae, Ophidae and Chamaeleonidae. The single –linkage cluster analysis showed only one cluster, indicating similar herpetofauna resources distribution in all the ecological sites. The Simpson’s diversity index of the herpetofauna resources was 0.2870. The results therefore suggest high diversity of herpetofauna resources, irrespective of ecological sites in the study area. It was concluded that there should be creation of herpetofauna refuge by encouraging people to establish hedgerows, fencerows, wood piles and preserve forest thickets between farmlands in the study area
Rainfall And Drought Characteristics For Crop Planning In Cuttack District Of Odishastate, India
Authors: Kar Satya Pragyan , Kumar Ramesh , Kumari Pragyan
Published: October 2024

The increasing frequency of agricultural droughts and variability in rainfall patterns over the past three decades prompted this study, which analyzed 34 years of block-wise daily rainfall data (1988-2021) from Cuttack district, Odisha. The aim was to determine the long-term average and temporal variability of rainfall on weekly, monthly, seasonal, and annual scales, with a focus on identifying strategies to mitigate production risks in the region. The average annual rainfall in Cuttack was 1597.6 mm, with August receiving the highest amount of rainfall (476 mm), followed by July (407 mm) during the monsoon season. A trend analysis on rainfall over the past 34 years showed an increasing pattern of an average 6.03 mm and 3.6 mm per year in annual and kharif season rainfall, respectively. Agricultural droughts were frequently observed during the early (22-28 Standard Meteorological Week) and late (36-42 SMW) stages of kharif crops. The study also revealed that the station is prone to mild-moderate meteorological droughts of different intensities, including mild,moderate, and severe. To minimize production risks, short duration, low water-requiring, high-value crops such as maize, pulses, oilseeds, and some vegetables are recommended for this region.
Intelligent Threat Detection And Response Systems For Safeguarding Cloud-Hosted Electronic Health Records From Cyber Attacks
Authors: Akinola Omolola
Published: October 2024

As more people use cloud-based electronic health record (EHR) systems, they make healthcare better, but they also make it easier for cybercriminals to attack. This article describes a system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to intelligently watch cloud-hosted EHR environments for bad behaviour, find cyberattacks, and automatically take the right steps to stop them. Using supervised machine learning models that have been trained on known threat indicators, the suggested framework constantly looks at log and system data. As soon as an attack is found, established containment and mitigation steps are carried out naturally to lower the harm. The test results show that the framework can correctly identify common EHR attack methods like ransomware and data theft, as well as quickly and effectively protect private patient data
Comparison of different algorithms to improve the quality of Image
Authors: Sonavane Mr. Mayur M. , Agrawal Dr. S. S.
Published: October 2024

Super-resolution (SR) become the most important task in image processing because of requirement of high quality of images. It becomes popular in technology like computer vision and pattern recognition. In Single Image Super-resolution (SR) uses the sequences of single low resolution (LR) images from high resolution (HR) to improve the quality of image. The SR is an image processing problem which aims to generate a high resolution (HR) image from low resolution input image. The SR is difficult because of the missing information in the given LR image. Thus in SR it is very important to boost the reconstruction performance so that, there is need of effective prior knowledge. The prior knowledge of image will solve the problem to improve the quality of generated image. The main aim of SR is to generate the HR image with good visual perception as similar as original image. The paper compare two methods of SR that is bi-linear method, and direction group sparsity of image method that is proposed one. These methods will evaluate the accuracy, subjective visual effect, quality of image, time complexity and PSNR, etc. These calculations will enhance nature of picture like better visual impact quality, lower reconstruction error and adequate calculation proficiency, and so on
Beyond The Pitch: Exploring The Impact Of Coaching Leadership And Competency On Athlete Satisfaction In Ethiopian Super League Football Teams
Authors: Gibo Engida Emito , Ajita Dr. , Devi Dr. Sulakshna
Published: October 2024

Background: Coaching leadership and coaching competency are essential in molding athletes' experiences and satisfaction levels, which are key to their performance and general well-being. Transformational leadership, which involves inspiring and encouraging athletes, has been demonstrated to increase satisfaction by creating a supportive environment that motivates athletes to exceed their own expectations. The present research was undertaken to understand the effect of coaching leadership behavior and coaching competence influence athlete satisfaction among Ethiopian Super League football players.: Materials and Methods The researcher selected a cross-sectional survey approach for this study to analyze the objectives set forth. A sample of 410 players was drawn from three zones, playing at different positions. The study validated scales by Chelladurai & Saleh (1980), Myers et al. (2006), and Chelladurai & Riemer (1997) to assess Coaching Leadership Behavior, Coaching Competency, and Athlete Satisfaction, respectively. Results: Strong leadership behaviors, such as providing clear direction, motivation, and unwavering support, significantly influence athlete satisfaction. Coaching competence, while positively affecting athlete satisfaction, is less pronounced than leadership behaviors. The study suggests that creating a supportive and nurturing leadership environment is more important than possessing the necessary skills, as it enhances the relationship and satisfaction of athletes. Conclusion: The study's results clearly show that coaching leadership style and coaching competency have a substantial impact on athlete satisfaction among Ethiopian Super League football players. By explaining the pivotal role of coaching leadership behavior and coaching competence, the research provides valuable insights for coaches, sports administrators, and stakeholders alike, emphasizing the critical need to prioritize leadership development and foster supportive coaching environments to enhance athlete satisfaction and overall performance
Phosphorylation of bacterial L9 and its functional implication in response to starvation stress
Authors: Pei Hairun , Han Shengnan , Yang Shaoyuan , Lei Zhen , Zheng Jimin , Jia Zongchao
Published: September 2017

The bacterial L9 (bL9) protein expressed and purified from Escherichia coli is stably phosphorylated. We mapped seven Ser/Thr phosphorylation sites, all of which but one are located at the carboxyl‐terminal domain (CTD). When a histidine tag is fused to the C‐terminus, bL9 is no longer phosphorylated. Phosphorylation of bL9 causes complete disordering of its CTD and helps cell survival under nutrient‐limiting conditions. Previous structural studies of the ribosome have shown that bL9 exhibits two distinct conformations, one of which competes with binding of RelA to the 30s rRNA and prevents RelA activation. Taken together, we suggest that the flexibility of the bL9 CTD enabled by phosphorylation would remove the steric hindrance, serving as a previously unknown mechanism to regulate RelA function and help cell survival under starvation stress.
Early‐Time Solution of the Horizontal Unconfined Aquifer in the Buildup Phase
Authors: Gravanis Elias , Akylas Evangelos
Published: September 2017

We derive the early‐time solution of the Boussinesq equation for the horizontal unconfined aquifer in the buildup phase under constant recharge and zero inflow. The solution is expressed as a power series of a suitable similarity variable, which is constructed so that to satisfy the boundary conditions at both ends of the aquifer, that is, it is a polynomial approximation of the exact solution. The series turns out to be asymptotic and it is regularized by resummation techniques that are used to define divergent series. The outflow rate in this regime is linear in time, and the (dimensionless) coefficient is calculated to eight significant figures. The local error of the series is quantified by its deviation from satisfying the self‐similar Boussinesq equation at every point. The local error turns out to be everywhere positive, hence, so is the integrated error, which in turn quantifies the degree of convergence of the series to the exact solution.
Storm and Substorm Causes and Effects at Midlatitude Location for the St. Patrick's 2013 and 2015 Events
Authors: Guerrero A. , Palacios J. , Rodríguez‐Bouza M. , Rodríguez‐Bilbao I. , Aran A. , Cid C. , Herraiz M. , Saiz E. , Rodríguez‐Caderot G. , Cerrato Y.
Published: September 2017

Midlatitude locations are unique regions exposed to both geomagnetic storm and substorm effects, which may be superposed on specific events imposing an extra handicap for the analysis and identification of the sources and triggers. We study space weather effects at the midlatitude location of the Iberian Peninsula for the St. Patrick's day events in 2013 and 2015. We have been able to identify and separate storm and substorm effects on ground magnetometer data from San Pablo‐Toledo observatory during storm time revealing important contributions of the Substorm Current Wedge on both events. The analysis of these substorm local signatures have shown to be related to the production of effective geomagnetically induced currents and ionospheric disturbances as measured from Global Navigation Satellite Systems data at MAD2 IGS permanent station and not directly related to the storm main phase. The whole Sun‐to‐Earth chain has been analyzed in order to identify the solar and interplanetary triggers. In both events a high‐speed stream (HSS) and a coronal mass ejections (CME) are involved, though for 2015 event, the HSS has merged with the CME, increasing the storm geoeffectiveness. The enhancement of substorm geoeffectiveness is justified by the effects of the inclined magnetic axes of the Sun and of the Earth during equinox period.
The Story of a Yakima Fold and How It Informs Late Neogene and Quaternary Backarc Deformation in the Cascadia Subduction Zone, Manastash Anticline, Washington, USA
Authors: Kelsey Harvey M. , Ladinsky Tyler C. , Staisch Lydia , Sherrod Brian L. , Blakely Richard J. , Pratt Thomas L. , Stephenson William J. , Odum Jack K. , Wan Elmira
Published: September 2017

The Yakima folds of central Washington, USA, are prominent anticlines that are the primary tectonic features of the backarc of the northern Cascadia subduction zone. What accounts for their topographic expression and how much strain do they accommodate and over what time period? We investigate Manastash anticline, a north vergent fault propagation fold typical of structures in the fold province. From retrodeformation of line‐ and area‐balanced cross sections, the crust has horizontally shortened by 11% (0.8–0.9 km). The fold, and by inference all other folds in the fold province, formed no earlier than 15.6 Ma as they developed on a landscape that was reset to negligible relief following voluminous outpouring of Grande Ronde Basalt. Deformation is accommodated on two fault sets including west‐northwest striking frontal thrust faults and shorter north to northeast striking faults. The frontal thrust fault system is active with late Quaternary scarps at the base of the range front. The fault‐cored Manastash anticline terminates to the east at the Naneum anticline and fault; activity on the north trending Naneum structures predates emplacement of the Grande Ronde Basalt. The west trending Yakima folds and west striking thrust faults, the shorter north to northeast striking faults, and the Naneum fault together constitute the tectonic structures that accommodate deformation in the low strain rate environment in the backarc of the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
Interaction Between Ecohydrologic Dynamics and Microtopographic Variability Under Climate Change
Authors: Le Phong V. V. , Kumar Praveen
Published: September 2017

Vegetation acclimation resulting from elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration, along with response to increased temperature and altered rainfall pattern, is expected to result in emergent behavior in ecologic and hydrologic functions. We hypothesize that microtopographic variability, which are landscape features typically of the length scale of the order of meters, such as topographic depressions, will play an important role in determining this dynamics by altering the persistence and variability of moisture. To investigate these emergent ecohydrologic dynamics, we develop a modeling framework, Dhara, which explicitly incorporates the control of microtopographic variability on vegetation, moisture, and energy dynamics. The intensive computational demand from such a modeling framework that allows coupling of multilayer modeling of the soil‐vegetation continuum with 3‐D surface‐subsurface flow processes is addressed using hybrid CPU‐GPU parallel computing framework. The study is performed for different climate change scenarios for an intensively managed agricultural landscape in central Illinois, USA, which is dominated by row‐crop agriculture, primarily soybean (Glycine max) and maize (Zea mays). We show that rising CO2 concentration will decrease evapotranspiration, thus increasing soil moisture and surface water ponding in topographic depressions. However, increased atmospheric demand from higher air temperature overcomes this conservative behavior resulting in a net increase of evapotranspiration, leading to reduction in both soil moisture storage and persistence of ponding. These results shed light on the linkage between vegetation acclimation under climate change and microtopography variability controls on ecohydrologic processes.
Evidence for the Activation of Shallow Preferential Flow Paths in a Tropical Panama Watershed Using Germanium and Silicon
Authors: Gardner Christopher B. , Litt Guy F. , Lyons W. Berry , Ogden Fred L.
Published: September 2017

In humid tropical watersheds, the hydrologic flow paths taken by rain event waters and how they interact with groundwater and soil matrix water to form streamflow are poorly understood. Preferential flow paths (PFPs) confound storm infiltration processes, especially in the humid tropics where PFPs are common. This work applies germanium (Ge) and silicon (Si) as natural flow path tracers in conjunction with water stable isotopes and electrical conductivity to examine the rapid delivery of shallow soil water, the activation of PFPs, and event water partitioning in an experimental catchment in central Panama. We employed a three‐component mixing model for hydrograph separation using the following end‐member waters: (i) base flow (high [Si], low [Ge], and low Ge/Si ratio), (ii) dilute canopy throughfall (low [Si] and low [Ge]), and (iii) shallow (<15 cm) soil matrix water (low [Si], high [Ge], and high Ge/Si ratio). These three end‐members bounded all observed Ge/Si streamflow ratios. During small rain events (<∼24 mm), base flow and dilute canopy throughfall components dominated stormflow. During larger precipitation events (>∼35 mm), we detected the third shallow soil water component with an elevated [Ge] and Ge/Si ratio. This component reached its maximum during the hydrograph's receding limb coincident with the maximum event fraction, and increased proportionally to the total storm rainfall exceeding ∼35 mm. Only shallow (<15 cm) soil matrix water exhibited elevated Ge concentrations and high Ge/Si ratios. This third component represents rapidly delivered soil matrix water combined with shallow lateral PFP activation through which event waters interact with soil minerals.
River Mixing in the Amazon as a Driver of Concentration‐Discharge Relationships
Authors: Bouchez Julien , Moquet Jean‐Sébastien , Espinoza Jhan Carlo , Martinez Jean‐Michel , Guyot Jean‐Loup , Lagane Christelle , Filizola Naziano , Noriega Luis , Hidalgo Sanchez Liz , Pombosa Rodrigo
Published: September 2017

Large hydrological systems aggregate compositionally different waters derived from a variety of pathways. In the case of continental‐scale rivers, such aggregation occurs noticeably at confluences between tributaries. Here we explore how such aggregation can affect solute concentration‐discharge (C‐Q) relationships and thus obscure the message carried by these relationships in terms of weathering properties of the Critical Zone. We build up a simple model for tributary mixing to predict the behavior ofC‐Qrelationships during aggregation. We test a set of predictions made in the context of the largest world's river, the Amazon. In particular, we predict that theC‐Qrelationships of the rivers draining heterogeneous catchments should be the most “dilutional” and should display the widest hysteresis loops. To check these predictions, we compute 10 day‐periodicity time series ofQand major solute (Si, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+, Cl‐,)Cand fluxes (F) for 13 gauging stations located throughout the Amazon basin. In agreement with the model predictions,C‐Qrelationships of most solutes shift from a fairly “chemostatic” behavior (nearly constantC) at the Andean mountain front and in pure lowland areas, to more “dilutional” patterns (negativeC‐Qrelationship) toward the system mouth. More prominentC‐Qhysteresis loops are also observed at the most downstream stations. Altogether, this study suggests that mixing of water and solutes between different flowpaths exerts a strong control onC‐Qrelationships of large‐scale hydrological systems.
Effects of the Structure of Water Rights on Agricultural Production During Drought: A Spatiotemporal Analysis of California's Central Valley
Authors: Nelson K. S. , Burchfield E. K.
Published: September 2017

California's Central Valley region has been called the “bread‐basket” of the United States. The region is home to one of the most productive agricultural systems on the planet. Such high levels of agricultural productivity require large amounts of fresh water for irrigation. However, the long‐term availability of water required to sustain high levels of agricultural production is being called into question following the latest drought in California. In this paper, we use Bayesian multilevel spatiotemporal modeling techniques to examine the influence of the structure of surface water rights in the Central Valley on agricultural production during the recent drought. California is an important place to study these dynamics as it is the only state to recognize the two dominant approaches to surface water management in the United States: riparian and appropriative rights. In this study, Bayesian spatiotemporal modeling is employed to account for spatial processes that have the potential to influence the effects of water right structures on agricultural production. Results suggest that, after accounting for spatiotemporal dependencies in the data, seniority in surface water access significantly improves crop health and productivity on cultivated lands but does not independently affect the ability to maintain cultivated extent. In addition, agricultural productivity in watersheds with more junior surface water rights shows less sensitivity to cumulative drought exposure than other watersheds, however the extent of cultivation in these same watersheds is relatively more sensitive to cumulative drought exposure.
Role of Sectoral Transformation in the Evolution of Water Management Norms in Agricultural Catchments: A Sociohydrologic Modeling Analysis
Authors: Roobavannan M. , Kandasamy J. , Pande S. , Vigneswaran S. , Sivapalan M.
Published: September 2017

This study is focused on the water‐agriculture‐environment nexus as it played out in the Murrumbidgee River Basin, eastern Australia, and how coevolution of society and water management actually transpired. Over 100 years of agricultural development the Murrumbidgee Basin experienced a “pendulum swing” in terms of water allocation, initially exclusively for agriculture production changing over to reallocation back to the environment. In this paper, we hypothesize that in the competition for water between economic livelihood and environmental wellbeing, economic diversification was the key to swinging community sentiment in favor of environmental protection, and triggering policy action that resulted in more water allocation to the environment. To test this hypothesis, we developed a sociohydrology model to link the dynamics of the whole economy (both agriculture and industry composed of manufacturing and services) to the community's sensitivity toward the environment. Changing community sensitivity influenced how water was allocated and governed and how the agricultural sector grew relative to the industrial sector (composed of manufacturing and services sectors). In this way, we show that economic diversification played a key role in influencing the community's values and preferences with respect to the environment and economic growth. Without diversification, model simulations show that the community would not have been sufficiently sensitive and willing enough to act to restore the environment, highlighting the key role of sectoral transformation in achieving the goal of sustainable agricultural development.
Hydrologic Impacts of Landslide Disturbances: Implications for Remobilization and Hazard Persistence
Authors: Mirus Benjamin B. , Smith Joel B. , Baum Rex L.
Published: September 2017

Landslides typically alter hillslope topography, but may also change the hydrologic connectivity and subsurface water‐storage dynamics. In settings where mobile materials are not completely evacuated from steep slopes, influences of landslide disturbances on hillslope hydrology and susceptibility to subsequent failures remain poorly characterized. Since landslides often recur at the site of previous failures, we examine differences between a stable vegetated hillslope (VH) and a recent landslide (LS). These neighboring hillslopes exhibit similar topography and are situated on steep landslide‐prone coastal bluffs of glacial deposits along the northeastern shore of Puget Sound, Washington. Our control hillslope, VH, is mantled by a heterogeneous colluvium, supporting a dense forest. In early 2013, our test hillslope, LS, also supported a forest before a landslide substantially altered the topography and disturbed the hillslope. In 2015, we observed a clay‐rich landslide deposit at LS with sparse vegetation and limited root reinforcement, soil structures, and macropores. Our characterization of the sites also found matrix porosity and hydraulic conductivity are both lower at LS. Continuous monitoring during 2015–2016 revealed reduced effective precipitation at VH (due to canopy interception), an earlier seasonal transition to near‐saturated conditions at LS, and longer persistence of positive pore pressures and slower drainage at LS (both seasonally and between major storm events). These differences, along with episodic, complex slope failures at LS support the hypothesis that, despite a reduced average slope, other disturbances introduced by landsliding may promote the hydrologic conditions leading to slope instability, thus contributing to the persistence of landslide hazards.
Concentration‐Discharge Relations in the Critical Zone: Implications for Resolving Critical Zone Structure, Function, and Evolution
Authors: Chorover Jon , Derry Louis A. , McDowell William H.
Published: September 2017

Critical zone science seeks to develop mechanistic theories that describe critical zone structure, function, and long‐term evolution. One postulate is that hydrogeochemical controls on critical zone evolution can be inferred from solute discharges measured down‐gradient of reactive flow paths. These flow paths have variable lengths, interfacial compositions, and residence times, and their mixing is reflected in concentration‐discharge (C‐Q) relations. Motivation for this special section originates from a U.S. Critical Zone Observatories workshop that was held at the University of New Hampshire, 20–22 July 2015. The workshop focused on resolving mechanistic CZ controls over surface water chemical dynamics across the full range of lithogenic (e.g., nonhydrolyzing and hydrolyzing cations and oxyanions) and bioactive solutes (e.g., organic and inorganic forms of C, N, P, and S), including dissolved and colloidal species that may cooccur for a given element. Papers submitted to this special section on “concentration‐discharge relations in the critical zone” include those from authors who attended the workshop, as well as others who responded to the open solicitation. Submissions were invited that utilized information pertaining to internal, integrated catchment function (relations between hydrology, biogeochemistry, and landscape structure) to help illuminate controls on observed C‐Q relations.
Pre‐Darcy Flow in Porous Media
Authors: Dejam Morteza , Hassanzadeh Hassan , Chen Zhangxin
Published: September 2017

Fluid flow in porous media is very important in a wide range of science and engineering applications. The entire establishment of fluid flow application in porous media is based on the use of an experimental law proposed by Darcy (1856). There are evidences in the literature that the flow of a fluid in consolidated and unconsolidated porous media does not follow Darcy law at very low fluxes, which is called pre‐Darcy flow. In this paper, the unsteady flow regimes of a slightly compressible fluid under the linear and radial pre‐Darcy flow conditions are modeled and the corresponding highly nonlinear diffusivity equations are solved analytically by aid of a generalized Boltzmann transformation technique. The influence of pre‐Darcy flow on the pressure diffusion for homogeneous porous media is studied in terms of the nonlinear exponent and the threshold pressure gradient. In addition, the pressure gradient, flux, and cumulative production per unit area are compared with the classical solution of the diffusivity equation based on Darcy flow. The presented results advance our understanding of fluid flow in low‐permeability media such as shale and tight formations, where pre‐Darcy is the dominant flow regime.
Assembly of Dimanganese and Heterometallic Manganese Proteins
Authors: Berggren Gustav , Lundin Daniel , Sjöberg Britt‐Marie
Published: September 2017

Manganese is an essential trace element in all domains of life, and manganese‐dependent enzymes catalyze a wide range of reactions including hydrolysis, phosphorylation, water oxidation, nucleotide reduction, and protection against oxidative stress. Dinuclear manganese‐containing cofactors are both homonuclear and heteronuclear centers. Due to its rich redox chemistry, manganese is found in a number of redox‐active enzymes, where the oxidation state of the metal ion ranges from MnIIto MnIV. Non‐redox‐active metal sites are found in, for example, sweet potato purple acid phosphatase (MnIIFeIII), concanavalin A (MnIICaII), arginase (MnII2), and prolidase (MnII2). Proteins with redox‐active Mn‐containing dinuclear centers generally belong to the ferritin‐like superfamily. Whereas most members of the superfamily have an Fe2center, Mn‐containing metal sites are found in Mn catalase (Mn2), some RNR β subunits (subclasses Ib and Id have Mn2, and subclass Ic has MnFe), and R2lox (MnFe). In addition, a member of DNA‐binding protein from starved cells (Dps) can form an MnFe center. No manganese chaperones are known and Mn‐dependent enzymes plausibly acquire their metals directly from the intracellular pool of Mn2+, which is balanced via different import and efflux transporter systems:

Mn catalase catalyzes the disproportionation of the reactive species hydrogen peroxide by alternating between MnIII2and MnII2in two consecutive reactions, detoxifying two hydrogen peroxide molecules to oxygen and water.

RNR subclass Ib β subunit has an oxidized metal center and a tyrosyl radical. It initially binds Mn2+and forms a complex with a specific flavodoxin‐like protein that oxidizes the metal center to a transient MnIV/IIIspecies, which converts to the active MnIII2‐Tyr•cofactor.

RNR subclass Ic β subunit has an MnIVFeIIIcofactor. It is formed by O2oxidation of a MnIIFeIIcenter, and the initial transient MnIVFeIVcenter is reduced to the active cofactor via an external electron transfer pathway.

RNR subclass Id β subunit is suggested to contain an oxidized Mn2center formed in the absence of a flavodoxin‐like maturase and lacks the tyrosyl radical.

R2‐like ligand‐binding oxidase (R2lox) has an MnIIIFeIIIcofactor that is generated from MnIIFeIIby O2oxidation. It is assumed that an MnIVFeIVintermediate generates a valine–tyrosine cross‐link adjacent to the metal site.

Despite the apparent simplicity of manganese cofactor assembly, nature has developed a number of different methods to control the metalation of manganese proteins and activate the relatively redox‐inert MnIIion.