Discussion of "Hydraulics of broad-crested weirs with varying side slopes" by J. E. Sargison and A. Percy

The hydraulics of broad-crested weirs is influenced by the weir inflow design. It is highlighted herein that the inflow geometry including the rounding of the weir upstream edge has a marked effect on the flow pattern and discharge coefficient. In the case of an upstream vertical wall, the optimum design includes a rounded upstream corner (Harrison 1967, Bos 1976, Montes 1998). An upstream side slope may provide an alternative design for embankment structure although with a lower discharge coefficient (Sargison and Percy 2009)

Negative surges in open channels: physical and numerical modeling

Negative surges can be caused by a sudden change in flow resulting from a decrease in water depth. In the present study, some physical experiments were conducted in a rectangular channel to characterize the unsteady free-surface profile and longitudinal velocity beneath a negative surge propagating upstream. The physical observations showed that, during the first initial instants, the celerity of the surge leading edge increased rapidly with time, while later the negative surge propagated upstream in a more gradual manner with a celerity decreasing slowly with increasing distance. The velocity data highlighted some relatively large turbulent fluctuations beneath the negative surge. The physical results were used to test the analytical solution of the Saint-Venant equations and some numerical models. The findings suggested that the negative surge propagation appeared relatively little affected by the boundary friction within the investigated flow conditions. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0000674. (C) 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers

Bernoulli theorem, minimum specific energy and water wave celerity in open channel flow

One basic principle of fluid mechanics used to resolve practical problems in hydraulic engineering is the Bernoulli theorem along a streamline, deduced from the work-energy form of the Euler equation along a streamline. Some confusion exists about the applicability of the Bernoulli theorem and its generalization to open-channel hydraulics. In the present work, a detailed analysis of the Bernoulli theorem and its extension to flow in open channels are developed. The generalized depth-averaged Bernoulli theorem is proposed and it has been proved that the depth-averaged specific energy reaches a minimum in converging accelerating free surface flow over weirs and flumes. Further, in general, a channel control with minimum specific energy in curvilinear flow is not isolated from water waves, as customary state in open-channel hydraulics

A vector-encoded bispecific killer engager to harness virus-activated NK cells as anti-tumor effectors

Treatment with oncolytic measles vaccines (MV) elicits activation of immune cells, including natural killer (NK) cells. However, we found that MV-activated NK cells show only modest direct cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. To specifically direct NK cells towards tumor cells, we developed oncolytic measles vaccines encoding bispecific killer engagers (MV-BiKE) targeting CD16A on NK cells and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as a model tumor antigen. MV-BiKE are only slightly attenuated compared to parental MV and mediate secretion of functional BiKE from infected tumor cells. We tested MV-BiKE activity in cocultures of colorectal or pancreatic cancer cells with primary human NK cells. MV-BiKE mediate expression of effector cytokines, degranulation and specific anti-tumor cytotoxicity by NK cells. Experiments with patient-derived pancreatic cancer cultures indicate that efficacy of MV-BiKE may vary between individual tumors with differential virus permissiveness. Remarkably, we confirmed MV-BiKE activity in primaryhuman colorectal carcinoma specimens with autochthonous tumor and NK cells.This study provides proof-of-concept for MV-BiKE as a novel immunovirotherapy to harness virus-activated NK cells as anti-tumor effectors. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Trafficability Prediction Using Depth-to-Water Maps : the Status of Application in Northern and Central European Forestry

DOI 10.1007/s40725-022-00159-w CorrectionPurpose of Review Mechanized logging operations with ground-based equipment commonly represent European production forestry but are well-known to potentially cause soil impacts through various forms of soil disturbances, especially on wet soils with low bearing capacity. In times of changing climate, with shorter periods of frozen soils, heavy rain fall events in spring and autumn and frequent needs for salvage logging, forestry stakeholders face increasingly unfavourable conditions to conduct low-impact operations. Thus, more than ever, planning tools such as trafficability maps are required to ensure efficient forest operations at reduced environmental impact. This paper aims to describe the status quo of existence and implementation of such tools applied in forest operations across Europe. In addition, focus is given to the availability and accessibility of data relevant for such predictions. Recent Findings A commonly identified method to support the planning and execution of machine-based operations is given by the prediction of areas with low bearing capacity due to wet soil conditions. Both the topographic wetness index (TWI) and the depth-to-water algorithm (DTW) are used to identify wet areas and to produce trafficability maps, based on spatial information. Summary The required input data is commonly available among governmental institutions and in some countries already further processed to have topography-derived trafficability maps and respective enabling technologies at hand. Particularly the Nordic countries are ahead within this process and currently pave the way to further transfer static trafficability maps into dynamic ones, including additional site-specific information received from detailed forest inventories. Yet, it is hoped that a broader adoption of these information by forest managers throughout Europe will take place to enhance sustainable forest operations.Peer reviewe

Trafficability Prediction Using Depth-to-Water Maps : the Status of Application in Northern and Central European Forestry

DOI 10.1007/s40725-022-00159-w CorrectionPurpose of Review Mechanized logging operations with ground-based equipment commonly represent European production forestry but are well-known to potentially cause soil impacts through various forms of soil disturbances, especially on wet soils with low bearing capacity. In times of changing climate, with shorter periods of frozen soils, heavy rain fall events in spring and autumn and frequent needs for salvage logging, forestry stakeholders face increasingly unfavourable conditions to conduct low-impact operations. Thus, more than ever, planning tools such as trafficability maps are required to ensure efficient forest operations at reduced environmental impact. This paper aims to describe the status quo of existence and implementation of such tools applied in forest operations across Europe. In addition, focus is given to the availability and accessibility of data relevant for such predictions. Recent Findings A commonly identified method to support the planning and execution of machine-based operations is given by the prediction of areas with low bearing capacity due to wet soil conditions. Both the topographic wetness index (TWI) and the depth-to-water algorithm (DTW) are used to identify wet areas and to produce trafficability maps, based on spatial information. Summary The required input data is commonly available among governmental institutions and in some countries already further processed to have topography-derived trafficability maps and respective enabling technologies at hand. Particularly the Nordic countries are ahead within this process and currently pave the way to further transfer static trafficability maps into dynamic ones, including additional site-specific information received from detailed forest inventories. Yet, it is hoped that a broader adoption of these information by forest managers throughout Europe will take place to enhance sustainable forest operations.Peer reviewe

Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the percentage of positive urine tests for Trichomonas vaginalis

Trichomoniasis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the world. It is caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis, and most infections are asymptomatic – making difficult the diagnosis and allowing the parasite to spread. Due to the COVID19 pandemic in 2020, social isolation measures were taken to prevent the transmission of SARS-Cov-2. Interestingly, some studies have shown an increase in the number of STIs during and after the lockdown ended. In this context, we evaluated the impact that the COVID19 pandemic had on the percentage of positive urine tests for T. vaginalis in an outpatient service of a teaching hospital. A total of 21,762 urine tests were analyzed (0.20% [n=43] positive for T. vaginalis) among January 2018 and July 2023. The temporal analysis showed a percentage of 0.05% and 0.09% of positive urine tests for T. vaginalis, respectively, in the pre-pandemic period (2018 and 2019). There was a trend towards an increase in 2020 (0.18%) which was confirmed in the following years with the relaxation of social isolation measures in Brazil (0.30% and 0.33% in 2021 and 2022, respectively). This increase continued in the following year (0.18% until July 2023), coinciding with the end of the public health emergency declared by the World Health Organization. Of the 38 infected individuals, 34 were women (44.7% pregnant) and 4 were men. Additionally, 50% of the diagnosed trichomoniasis received specific treatment and only 21% of sexual partners were indicated for treatment. Our study highlights the increase in trichomoniasis during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and the reduced number of individuals – and sexual partners – treated. Establishing protocols for early diagnosis and health education are necessary to reduce the number of cases of this STI in the community.La tricomoniasis es la infección de transmisión sexual (ITS) no viral más común en el mundo. Es causada por el protozoo Trichomonas vaginalis, cuya mayoría de infecciones son asintomáticas, lo que dificulta el diagnóstico y permite que el parásito se propague. Con la llegada de la pandemia de COVID19 en 2020, se tomaron medidas de aislamiento social para evitar la transmisión del SARS-Cov-2. Curiosamente, algunos estudios han demostrado un aumento en el número de ITS durante y poco después de que finalice el confinamiento. En este contexto, evaluamos el impacto que tuvo la pandemia de COVID19 en el porcentaje de pruebas de orina positivas para T.vaginalis en un servicio ambulatorio de un hospital universitario. Se analizaron un total de 21.762 exámenes de orina (0,20% [n=43] positivos para T. vaginalis) entre enero de 2018 y julio de 2023. El análisis temporal arrojó que en el período prepandemia (2018 y 2019) se obtuvo un porcentaje del 0,05% y 0,09% de pruebas de orina positivas para T. vaginalis se observaron, respectivamente. Hubo una tendencia de aumento en 2020 (0,18%) que se confirmó en los años siguientes con la flexibilización de las medidas de aislamiento social en Brasil (0,30% y 0,33% en 2021 y 2022, respectivamente). Este aumento continuó el año siguiente (0,18% hasta julio de 2023), coincidiendo con el fin de la emergencia de salud pública declarada por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. De los 38 infectados, 34 fueron mujeres (44,7% embarazadas) y 4 hombres. Además, el 50% de los casos diagnosticados de tricomoniasis recibieron tratamiento específico y sólo el 21% de las parejas sexuales tuvieron indicación de tratamiento. Nuestro estudio llama la atención sobre el aumento de la tricomoniasis durante y después de la pandemia de COVID19 y la reducción del número de personas (y parejas sexuales) tratadas. Introduction: Trichomoniasis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection in the world. It is caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis, and most infections are asymptomatic – making difficult the diagnosis and allowing the parasite to spread. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, social isolation measures were taken to prevent the transmission of SARS-Cov-2. Interestingly, some studies have shown an increase in the number of sexually transmitted infections during and after the lockdown ended. Objective: To evaluate the impact that Covid-19 pandemic had on the percentage of positive urine tests for T. vaginalis in an outpatient service of a teaching hospital, through a retrospective descriptive study. Material and Methods: A total of 21,762 urine tests were analyzed (0.20% [n= 43] positive for T. vaginalis) among January 2018 and July 2023. Results: The temporal analysis showed a percentage of 0.05% and 0.09% of positive urine tests for T. vaginalis, respectively, in the pre-pandemic period (2018 and 2019). There was a trend towards an increase in 2020 (0.18%) which was confirmed in the following years with the relaxation of social isolation measures in Brazil (0.30% and 0.33% in 2021 and 2022, respectively). This increase continued in the following year (0.18% until July 2023), coinciding with the end of the public health emergency declared by the World Health Organization. Of the 38 infected individuals, 34 were women (44.7% pregnant) and 4 were men. Additionally, 50% of the diagnosed trichomoniasis received specific treatment and only 21% of sexual partners were indicated for treatment. Conclusion: The study highlights the increase in trichomoniasis during and after the Covid-19 pandemic and the reduced number of individuals – and sexual partners – treated. Establishing protocols for early diagnosis and health education are necessary to reduce the number of cases of this sexually transmitted infection in the community

Correction: Protocol of the Healthy Brain Study:An accessible resource for understanding the human brain and how it dynamically and individually operates in its bio-social context

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260952.]