Coherence of global hydroclimate classification systems

Abstract. Climate classification systems are useful for investigating future climate scenarios, water availability, and even socioeconomic indicators as they relate to climate dynamics. There are several classification systems that apply water and energy variables to create zone boundaries, although there has yet to be a simultaneous comparison of the structure and function of multiple existing climate classification schemes. Moreover, there are presently no classification frameworks that include evapotranspiration (ET) rates as a governing principle. Here, we developed a new system based on precipitation and potential evapotranspiration rates as well as three systems based on ET rates, which were all compared against four previously established climate classification systems. The within-zone similarity, or coherence, of several long-term hydroclimate variables was evaluated for each system based on the premise that the interpretation and application of a classification framework should correspond to the variables that are most coherent. Additionally, the shape complexity of zone boundaries was assessed for each system, assuming zone boundaries should be drawn efficiently such that shape simplicity and hydroclimate coherence are balanced for meaningful boundary implementation. The most frequently used climate classification system, Köppen–Geiger, generally had high hydroclimate coherence but also had high shape complexity. When compared to the Köppen–Geiger framework, the Water-Energy Clustering classification system introduced here showed overall improved or equivalent coherence for hydroclimate variables, yielded lower spatial complexity, and required only 2, compared to 24, parameters for its construction.

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Coherence of Global Hydroclimate Classification Systems

10.5194/hess-2020-522 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kathryn L. McCurley Pisarello ◽

James W. Jawitz

Keyword(s):

Water Budget ◽

Potential Evapotranspiration ◽

Classification Systems ◽

Socioeconomic Indicators ◽

Climate Classification ◽

Spatial Complexity ◽

Classification Framework ◽

Governing Principle ◽

And Function

Abstract. Climate classification systems are useful for investigating future climate scenarios, water availability, and even socioeconomic indicators as they relate to climate dynamics. These classification systems typically utilize various forms of water and energy indicators to create zone boundaries. However, there has yet to be a classification framework that includes evapotranspiration (ET) rates as a governing principle, nor has there been an effort to simultaneously compare the structure and function of multiple existing classification schemes. Here, we developed three new classification systems based on ET rates and one new system based on precipitation and potential evapotranspiration, and we compared these four new systems against four previously established climate classification systems. The within-zone similarity, or coherence, of long-term water budget components was evaluated for each system based on the premise that the application of a climate classification framework should correspond to those variables that are most coherent. Additionally, the complexity of zone boundaries in each system was assessed. The most frequently used system, Koppen-Geiger, had high hydroclimate coherence but also high spatial complexity. This study produced classification systems of improved coherence for individual water budget components, lower spatial complexity, and fewer parameters needed for their construction. The Water-Energy Clustering classification system is the primary framework proposed here for future investigations in which regions of interest include zones of differing hydrologic dynamics.

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Do Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Severity Sub-classification Systems Help to Identify People Who Go on to Experience Long-Term Symptoms?

Brain Impairment ◽

10.1017/brimp.2017.11 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 119-132

Author(s):

Alice Theadom ◽

Suzanne Barker-Collo ◽

Andrea Greenwood ◽

Priya Parmar ◽

Kelly Jones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Classification System ◽

Injury Severity ◽

Contextual Factors ◽

Classification Systems ◽

Post Injury ◽

Mild Tbi

Objective: To identify the systems available to sub-classify mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to determine their utility in predicting 1-year outcome.Methods: A systematic review to identify mild-TBI sub-classification systems was conducted until March 2016. The identified systems were applied to a cohort ofN= 290 adults who had experienced a mild-TBI, and who had been assessed for post-concussion symptoms 1-year post injury. ANOVAs and regression models were used to determine whether each sub-classification system could distinguish between outcomes and to explore their contribution to explaining variance in post-concussion symptoms 1-year post injury.Results: Nineteen sub-classification systems for mild-TBI met the inclusion criteria for this review. The Saal (1991) classification system significantly differentiated the experience of post-concussion symptoms in our cohort 1-year post injury (F= 2.39,p= 0.05). However, the findings did not remain significant following correction for multiple comparisons and inclusion of socio-demographic and contextual factors in the regression model.Conclusions: Current sub-classification systems fail to explain much of the variance in post-concussion symptoms 1 year following mild-TBI. Further research is needed to identify the factors (including socio-demographic and contextual factors) to determine, who may be at risk of developing persistent post-concussion symptoms.

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Long-term Effects on the Histology and Function of Livers and Spleens in Rats after 33% Toploading of PEG-PLA-nano Artificial Red Blood Cells

Artificial Cells Blood Substitutes and Biotechnology ◽

10.1080/10731190802554224 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 36 (6) ◽

pp. 513-524 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Zun Chang Liu ◽

Thomas M.S. Chang

Keyword(s):

Red Blood Cells ◽

Blood Cells ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

And Function

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Climate Mobility and Development Cooperation

Population and Environment ◽

10.1007/s11111-021-00387-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Robert Stojanov ◽

Sarah Rosengaertner ◽

Alex de Sherbinin ◽

Raphael Nawrotzki

Keyword(s):

Climate Adaptation ◽

Human Mobility ◽

Climate Impacts ◽

Development Cooperation ◽

Climate Variability And Change ◽

Policy Frameworks ◽

And Migration ◽

And Function ◽

Role And Function

AbstractDevelopment cooperation actors have been addressing climate change as a cross-cutting issue and investing in climate adaptation projects since the early 2000s. More recently, as concern has risen about the potential impacts of climate variability and change on human mobility, development cooperation actors have begun to design projects that intentionally address the drivers of migration, including climate impacts on livelihoods. However, to date, we know little about the development cooperation’s role and function in responding to climate related mobility and migration. As such, the main aim of this paper is to outline the policy frameworks and approaches shaping development cooperation actors’ engagement and to identify areas for further exploration and investment. First, we frame the concept of climate mobility and migration and discuss some applicable policy frameworks that govern the issue from various perspectives; secondly, we review the toolbox of approaches that development cooperation actors bring to climate mobility; and third, we discuss the implications of the current Covid-19 pandemic and identify avenues for the way forward. We conclude that ensuring safe and orderly mobility and the decent reception and long-term inclusion of migrants and displaced persons under conditions of more severe climate hazards, and in the context of rising nationalism and xenophobia, poses significant challenges. Integrated approaches across multiple policy sectors and levels of governance are needed. In addition to resources, development cooperation actors can bring data to help empower the most affected communities and regions and leverage their convening power to foster more coordinated approaches within and across countries.

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A New Classification System to Predict Functional Outcome after Laryngectomy and Laryngopharyngectomy

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13061474 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 1474

Author(s):

Stefan Grasl ◽

Elisabeth Schmid ◽

Gregor Heiduschka ◽

Markus Brunner ◽

Blažen Marijić ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Outcome ◽

Classification System ◽

Salvage Surgery ◽

Tumor Resection ◽

Previous Treatment ◽

Extent Of Resection ◽

Voice Rehabilitation ◽

Pharyngocutaneous Fistula ◽

Oral Nutrition

(1) Objective: To evaluate long-term functional outcome in patients who underwent primary or salvage total laryngectomy (TL), TL with partial (TLPP), or total pharyngectomy (TLTP), and to establish a new scoring system to predict complication rate and long-term functional outcome; (2) Material and Methods: Between 1993 and 2019, 258 patients underwent TL (n = 85), TLPP (n = 101), or TLTP (n = 72). Based on the extent of tumor resection, all patients were stratified to (i) localization I: TL; II: TLPP; III: TLTP and (ii) surgical treatment (A: primary resection; B: salvage surgery). Type and rate of complication and functional outcome, including oral nutrition, G-tube dependence, pharyngeal stenosis, and voice rehabilitation were evaluated in 163 patients with a follow-up ≥ 12 months and absence of recurrent disease; (3) Results: We found 61 IA, 24 IB, 63 IIA, 38 IIB, 37 IIIA, and 35 IIIA patients. Complications and subsequently revision surgeries occurred most frequently in IIIB cases but rarely in IA patients (57.1% vs. 18%; p = 0.001 and 51.4% vs. 14.8%; p = 0.002), respectively. Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) was the most common complication (33%), although it did not significantly differ among cohorts (p = 0.345). Pharyngeal stenosis was found in 27% of cases, with the highest incidence in IIIA (45.5%) and IIIB (72.7%) patients (p < 0.001). Most (91.1%) IA patients achieved complete oral nutrition compared to only 41.7% in class IIIB patients (p < 0.001). Absence of PCF (odds ratio (OR) 3.29; p = 0.003), presence of complications (OR 3.47; p = 0.004), and no need for pharyngeal reconstruction (OR 4.44; p = 0.042) represented independent favorable factors for oral nutrition. Verbal communication was achieved in 69.3% of patients and was accomplished by the insertion of voice prosthesis in 37.4%. Acquisition of esophageal speech was reached in 31.9% of cases. Based on these data, we stratified patients regarding the extent of surgery and previous treatment into subgroups reflecting risk profiles and expectable functional outcome; (4) Conclusions: The extent of resection accompanied by the need for reconstruction and salvage surgery both carry a higher risk of complications and subsequently worse functional outcome. Both factors are reflected in our classification system that can be helpful to better predict patients’ functional outcome.

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Toward the Development of a Comprehensive Clinically Oriented Patient Profile: A Systematic Review of the Purpose, Characteristic, and Methodological Quality of Classification Systems of Adult Spinal Deformity

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1093/neuros/nyab023 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kenny Yat Hong Kwan ◽

J Naresh-Babu ◽

Wilco Jacobs ◽

Marinus de Kleuver ◽

David W Polly ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Decision Making ◽

Classification System ◽

Methodological Quality ◽

Literature Search ◽

Adult Spinal Deformity ◽

Classification Systems ◽

Systematic Literature Search ◽

Patient Profile

Abstract BACKGROUND Existing adult spinal deformity (ASD) classification systems are based on radiological parameters but management of ASD patients requires a holistic approach. A comprehensive clinically oriented patient profile and classification of ASD that can guide decision-making and correlate with patient outcomes is lacking. OBJECTIVE To perform a systematic review to determine the purpose, characteristic, and methodological quality of classification systems currently used in ASD. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science for literature published between January 2000 and October 2018. From the included studies, list of classification systems, their methodological measurement properties, and correlation with treatment outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS Out of 4470 screened references, 163 were included, and 54 different classification systems for ASD were identified. The most commonly used was the Scoliosis Research Society-Schwab classification system. A total of 35 classifications were based on radiological parameters, and no correlation was found between any classification system levels with patient-related outcomes. Limited evidence of limited quality was available on methodological quality of the classification systems. For studies that reported the data, intraobserver and interobserver reliability were good (kappa = 0.8). CONCLUSION This systematic literature search revealed that current classification systems in clinical use neither include a comprehensive set of dimensions relevant to decision-making nor did they correlate with outcomes. A classification system comprising a core set of patient-related, radiological, and etiological characteristics relevant to the management of ASD is needed.

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Shoulder arthroplasty for juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery ◽

10.1177/2309499019890615 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 230949901989061

Author(s):

Suroosh Madanipour ◽

Aditya Prinja ◽

Marcus Lee ◽

Abbas Rashid

Keyword(s):

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis ◽

Shoulder Arthroplasty ◽

Preoperative Evaluation ◽

Implant Design ◽

Significant Heterogeneity ◽

Post Operative Pain ◽

Inflammatory Arthropathy ◽

Long Term Follow Up ◽

And Function

There is limited literature to guide shoulder surgeons in the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). We aim to help clinicians to formulate an approach to the surgical management of the condition through a review of the available literature on arthroplasty in JIA, general considerations when operating on patients with inflammatory arthropathy and recommendations based on the authors’ experience. Four articles report formal data on arthroplasty in JIA with favourable improvements in post-operative pain and function scores after the long-term follow-up. Significant heterogeneity in treatment and a lack of standardisation in quantitative outcomes highlights the need for further larger scale and higher quality research. The aim of this study is to review the evidence and provide information on preoperative evaluation of surgical candidates, operative techniques, choice of implant design and to evaluate functional outcomes in patients who undergo shoulder arthroplasty.

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