scholarly journals Quantifying bankfull flow width using preserved bar clinoforms from fluvial strata

Geology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan Greenberg ◽  
Vamsi Ganti ◽  
Elizabeth Hajek

Reconstruction of active channel geometry from fluvial strata is critical to constrain the water and sediment fluxes in ancient terrestrial landscapes. Robust methods—grounded in extensive field observations, numerical simulations, and physical experiments—exist for estimating the bankfull flow depth and channel-bed slope from preserved deposits; however, we lack similar tools to quantify bankfull channel widths. We combined high-resolution lidar data from 134 meander bends across 11 rivers that span over two orders of magnitude in size to develop a robust, empirical relation between the bankfull channel width and channel-bar clinoform width (relict stratigraphic surfaces of bank-attached channel bars). We parameterized the bar cross-sectional shape using a two-parameter sigmoid, defining bar width as the cross-stream distance between 95% of the asymptotes of the fit sigmoid. We combined this objective definition of the bar width with Bayesian linear regression analysis to show that the measured bankfull flow width is 2.34 ± 0.13 times the channel-bar width. We validated our model using field measurements of channel-bar and bankfull flow widths of meandering rivers that span all climate zones (R2 = 0.79) and concurrent measurements of channel-bar clinoform width and mud-plug width in fluvial strata (R2 = 0.80). We also show that the transverse bed slopes of bars are inversely correlated with bend curvature, consistent with theory. Results provide a simple, usable metric to derive paleochannel width from preserved bar clinoforms.

2020 ◽  
Vol 189 (12) ◽  
pp. 1623-1627
Author(s):  
Francisco M Barba ◽  
Lieven Huybregts ◽  
Jef L Leroy

Abstract Child acute malnutrition (AM) is an important cause of child mortality. Accurately estimating its burden requires cumulative incidence data from longitudinal studies, which are rarely available in low-income settings. In the absence of such data, the AM burden is approximated using prevalence estimates from cross-sectional surveys and the incidence correction factor $K$, obtained from the few available cohorts that measured AM. We estimated $K$ factors for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) from AM incidence and prevalence using representative cross-sectional baseline and longitudinal data from 2 cluster-randomized controlled trials (Innovative Approaches for the Prevention of Childhood Malnutrition—PROMIS) conducted between 2014 and 2017 in Burkina Faso and Mali. We compared K estimates using complete (weight-for-length z score, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and edema) and partial (MUAC, edema) definitions of SAM and MAM. $K$ estimates for SAM were 9.4 and 5.7 in Burkina Faso and in Mali, respectively; K estimates for MAM were 4.7 in Burkina Faso and 5.1 in Mali. The MUAC and edema–based definition of AM did not lead to different $K$ estimates. Our results suggest that $K$ can be reliably estimated when only MUAC and edema-based data are available. Additional studies, however, are required to confirm this finding in different settings.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e039459
Author(s):  
Abdallah Y Naser ◽  
Zahra Khalil Alsairafi ◽  
Ahmed Awaisu ◽  
Hassan Alwafi ◽  
Oriana Awwad ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo evaluate the attitudes of undergraduate pharmacy students towards patient safety in six developing countries.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingParticipants were enrolled from the participating universities in six countries.ParticipantsUndergraduate pharmacy students from the participating universities in six developing countries (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, India and Indonesia) were invited to participate in the study between October 2018 and September 2019.Primary outcomeAttitudes towards patient safety was measured using 14-item questionnaire that contained five subscales: being quality-improvement focused, internalising errors regardless of harm, value of contextual learning, acceptability of questioning more senior healthcare professionals’ behaviour and attitude towards open disclosure. Multiple-linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of positive attitudes towards patient safety.ResultsA total of 2595 students participated in this study (1044 from Jordan, 514 from Saudi Arabia, 134 from Kuwait, 61 from Qatar, 416 from India and 429 from Indonesia). Overall, the pharmacy students reported a positive attitude towards patient safety with a mean score of 37.4 (SD=7.0) out of 56 (66.8%). The ‘being quality-improvement focused’ subscale had the highest score, 75.6%. The subscale with the lowest score was ‘internalising errors regardless of harm’, 49.2%. Female students had significantly better attitudes towards patient safety scores compared with male students (p=0.001). Being at a higher level of study and involvement in or witnessing harm to patients while practising were important predictors of negative attitudes towards patient safety (p<0.001).ConclusionPatient safety content should be covered comprehensively in pharmacy curricula and reinforced in each year of study. This should be more focused on students in their final year of study and who have started their training. This will ensure that the next generation of pharmacists are equipped with the requisite knowledge, core competencies and attitudes to ensure optimal patient safety when they practice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Yin ◽  
Minghui Li ◽  
Lingling Yu ◽  
Feng Hu ◽  
Yu Yu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) always remains in a potential association with arterial stiffness, however, this association has not been fully discovered and needs to be studied in depth in large hypertensive patient populations. The present analysis thus sought to further explore the association that exists between AIP and arterial stiffness in Chinese patients diagnosed with arterial hypertension. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed 4744 Chinese individuals with essential hypertension. AIP was defined as the base 10 logarithm of the ratio of plasma of triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels indicated in molar concentrations. Measurement of arterial stiffness was carried out via brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Results Data were adjusted for potential confounding variables, and multivariate linear regression analysis revealed AIP to be positively correlated with baPWV (β = 1.34, 95% CI: 0.96 to 1.72, P < 0.001). When AIP was instead treated as a categorical variable divided into quartiles, the same relationship was observed (P for trend < 0.001). We additionally found AIP and baPWV had a stronger positive association in individuals with a body mass index (BMI) < 24 kg/m2 (P for interaction < 0.05). Conclusion AIP and arterial stiffness were positively correlated in essential hypertension patients in China, especially in those with a BMI < 24 kg/m2. Clinical trial registration ChiCTR1800017274.


Author(s):  
Eduardo Sánchez-Sánchez ◽  
Ylenia Avellaneda-López ◽  
Esperanza García-Marín ◽  
Guillermo Ramírez-Vargas ◽  
Jara Díaz-Jimenez ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to determine healthcare providers’ knowledge and practices about dysphagia. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out based on a self-administered and anonymous questionnaire addressed to healthcare providers in Spain. A total of 396 healthcare providers participated in the study. Of these, 62.3% knew the definition of dysphagia as a swallowing disorder. In addition, up to 39.2% of the participants reported that they did not know whether the EatingAssessmentTool (EAT-10) dysphagia screening test was usedin their own clinical settings. Similarly, up to 49.1% of them did not know the ClinicalExaminationVolume-Viscosity (MECV-V) method. Nearly all participants (98.8%) reported that thickeners must be used forall liquids administered to patients. A higher percentage of respondents based the choice of texture on patient’s tolerance (78.2%) rather than on the MECV-V result (17.3%). In addition,76.4% of the professionals had witnessed a bronchoaspiration; after it, 44.4% (n = 175) of them reported the appearance of pneumonia, and 14.5% (n = 57) the death of the patient (p = 0.005). The participants revealeda moderate/low knowledge ofthe definition, diagnosis, and clinical management of liquid dysphagia, which indicates some room for improvements.


Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 695
Author(s):  
João P. M. Lima ◽  
Sofia A. Costa ◽  
Teresa R. S. Brandão ◽  
Ada Rocha

Background: A wide variety of social, cultural and economic factors may influence dietary patterns. This work aims to identify the main determinants of food consumption and barriers for healthy eating at the workplace, in a university setting. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 533 participants. Data were obtained through the application of a self-administered questionnaire that included socio-demographic information, food consumption determinants and the main perceived barriers for healthy eating at the workplace. Results: The respondents identified “price” (22.5%), “meal quality” (20.7%), and “location/distance” (16.5%). For women, the determinant “availability of healthy food options” was more important than for men (p < 0.001). The food consumption determinants at the workplace most referred to by respondents were related to the nutritional value. Smell, taste, appearance and texture, and good value for money, were also considered important for choosing food at the workplace. Respondents referred to work commitments and lack of time as the main barriers for healthy eating at the workplace. Conclusions: Identification of determinants involved in food consumption, and the barriers for healthy eating, may contribute to a better definition of health promotion initiatives at the workplace aiming to improve nutritional intake.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Yosuke Yamada ◽  
Hiroyuki Umegaki ◽  
Fumie Kinoshita ◽  
Chi Hsien Huang ◽  
Taiki Sugimoto ◽  
...  

Background: Homocysteine is a common risk factor for cognitive impairment and sarcopenia. However, very few studies have shown an association between sarcopenia and serum homocysteine levels after adjustment for cognitive function. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between homocysteine and sarcopenia in memory clinic patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated outpatients in a memory clinic. We enrolled 1,774 participants (≥65 years old) with measured skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), hand grip strength (HGS), and homocysteine. All participants had undergone cognitive assessments and were diagnosed with dementia, mild cognitive impairment, or normal cognition. Patient characteristics were compared according to sarcopenia presence, SMI level, or HGS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association of homocysteine with sarcopenia, low SMI, or low HGS. Next, linear regression analysis was performed using HGS as a continuous variable. Results: Logistic regression analysis showed that low HGS was significantly associated with homocysteine levels (p = 0.002), but sarcopenia and low SMI were not. In linear regression analysis, HGS was negatively associated with homocysteine levels after adjustment for Mini-Mental State Examination score (β= –2.790, p <  0.001) or clinical diagnosis of dementia (β= –3.145, p <  0.001). These results were similar for men and women. Conclusion: Our results showed a negative association between homocysteine and HGS after adjustment for cognitive function. Our findings strengthen the assumed association between homocysteine and HGS. Further research is needed to determine whether lower homocysteine levels lead to prevent muscle weakness.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2535
Author(s):  
Vanessa Mijares ◽  
Jair Alcivar ◽  
Cristina Palacios

The objective of this study was to explore the associations between food waste and the diet quality of foods purchased and with grocery purchasing behaviors. This was a cross-sectional study among 109 primary household food providers conducting primary shopping. Participants were recruited outside of local grocery stores and were asked to complete a survey assessing amounts of avoidable food waste and grocery purchasing behaviors. The diet quality of the foods purchased was assessed from grocery receipts using the Grocery Purchase Quality Index-2016 (GPQI-2016). Variables were associated using linear regression, analysis of covariance, and point biserial correlations. We found that fresh fruits (63%) and leafy greens (70%) were the foods that were the most wasted. The GPQI-2016 total score was significantly inversely associated with the total amount of food wasted (β  =  −0.63; 95% CI: −1.14,−0.12) after adjusting for important confounders. The reason “food past the date printed on the package” was directly correlated with food wasted (r = 0.40; p < 0.01) but inversely correlated with GPQI-2016 score (r = −0.21; p = 0.04). Food wasted, but not the GPQI-2016 score, was significantly higher among those who grocery shop 2–4 times per week compared to 1 time every 1–2 weeks (p = 0.02). In conclusion, food waste is inversely associated with diet quality and directly associated with grocery purchasing frequency.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Vecsey-Nagy ◽  
B Szilveszter ◽  
M Kolossvary ◽  
X Gonda ◽  
Z Rihmer ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. onbehalf Cardiovascular Imaging Research Group Background Affective temperaments (depressive, anxious, irritable, hyperthymic, cyclothymic) are regarded as the biologically stable core of personality, and accumulating data implies their relationship with cardiovascular diseases. There are currently limited data on the association of affective temperaments and early vascular aging. Purpose The aim of our study was to assess the potential relationship of affective temperaments and vascular age, as assessed by coronary CT. Methods In our current cross-sectional study, 209 patients referred to coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) due to suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), were included. After the evaluation of medical history and demographic parameters, all patients completed the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Vascular age was estimated using coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and we calculated its difference from chronological age for each patient. Linear regression analysis was applied to identify predictors of early vascular aging in the entire cohort and in male and female sub-populations, separately. Results The independent predictors of early vascular aging were female sex (B = -10.82 [95%CI: -15.30 – -6.33]), diabetes mellitus (B = 7.16 [95%CI: 1.20 – 13.12]) and dyslipidemia (B = -8.28 [95%CI: 3.94 – 12.62]). Further assessing gender differences, cyclothymic temperament score proved to be an independent predictor of early vascular aging in women (B = 0.89 [95%CI: 0.04 – 1.75]), while this association was absent in men. Conclusion Our results suggest that cyclothymic affective temperament contribute to early vascular aging in women.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 361-370
Author(s):  
Maria Michou ◽  
Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos ◽  
Christos Lionis ◽  
Vassiliki Costarelli

BACKGROUND: Low Health Literacy (HL) and Nutrition Literacy (NL) are associated with serious negative health outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate certain lifestyle factors and obesity, in relation to HL and NL. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban area of the Attica region, in Greece. The sample consisted of 1281 individuals, aged ≥18 years. HL, NL sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle factors (physical activity, smoking status, alcohol consumption,) were assessed. Mann-Whitney U, the Kruskall Wallis, Pearson chi-square tests and multiple linear regression models were used. RESULTS: Linear regression analysis has shown that smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity, were associated with HL levels (–1.573 points for ex-smokers in comparison to smokers, p = 0.035, –1.349 points for alcohol consumers in comparison to non-consumers, p = 0.006 and 1.544 points for physically active individuals to non-active, p = 0.001). With respect to NL levels, it was also not associated with any of these factors. Obesity was not associated with HL and NL levels. CONCLUSIONS: Certain lifestyle factors, including physical activity, are predicting factors of HL levels, in Greek adults. The results contribute to the understanding of the relationship between lifestyle factors and HL and should be taken into account when HL policies are designed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Bhoite ◽  
H Jinnouchi ◽  
F Otsuka ◽  
Y Sato ◽  
A Sakamoto ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In many studies, struts coverage is defined as &gt;0 mm of tissue overlying the stent struts by optical coherence tomography (OCT). However, this definition has never been validated using histology as the “gold standard”. The present study sought to assess the appropriate cut-off value of neointimal thickness of stent strut coverage by OCT using histology. Methods OCT imaging was performed on 39 human coronary arteries with stents from 25 patients at autopsy. A total of 165 cross-sectional images from 46 stents were co-registered with histology. The optimal cut-off value of strut coverage by OCT was determined. Strut coverage by histology was defined as endothelial cells with at least underlying two layers of smooth muscle cells. Considering the resolution of OCT is 10–20 μm, 3 different cut-off values (i.e. at ≥20, ≥40, and ≥60 μm) were assessed. Results A total of 2235 struts were evaluated by histology. Eventually, 1216 struts which were well-matched struts were analyzed in this study. By histology, uncovered struts were observed in 160 struts and covered struts were observed in 1056 struts. The broadly used definition of OCT-coverage which does not consider neointimal thickness yielded a poor specificity of 37.5% and high sensitivity 100%. Of 3 cut-off values, the cut-off value of &gt;40 μm was more accurate as compared to &gt;20 and &gt;60 mm [sensitivity (99.3%), specificity (91.0%), positive predictive value (98.6%), and negative predictive value (95.6%)] Conclusion The most accurate cut-off value was ≥40 μm neointimal thickness by OCT in order to identify stent strut coverage validated by histology. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document