August October Research Articles

Mangrove Plant Community Structure of Kwala Indah Village, Batu Bara Regency

Coastal areas are transitional areas between land and marine ecosystems that have high biological productivity. Mangroves are a type of plant that grows in coastal areas or river estuaries and has an ecological function by acting as the last defense against sea waves after coral reef and seagrass ecosystems, as sediment traps, as a place to find fish food, as a fish spawning ground, as a shelter, and as a place for fish farming. Mangrove Plant Community Structure Research in the Kwala Indah Village Area was conducted in August–October 2023 with the aim of knowing the types of mangroves, mangrove diversity and uniformity, dominance, Important Value Index (INP), and mangrove crown cover in Kwala Indah Village. The method used in the observation of mangrove plant community structure is to use the quadrant transect method by analyzing species density, relative density, species frequency, relative frequency, species dominance, relative dominance, and important value index at the tree, sapling, and seedling levels, as well as crown cover. Based on the results of the study, 7 species were found, namely Xylocarpus granatum, Xylocarpus mekongensis, Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Soneratia alba, Bruguiera parviflora, and Excoecaria agallocha. Xylocarpus and Rhizopora have the highest INP, diversity, uniformity, and dominance. Canopy cover is in the medium category; coastal areas are transitional areas between terrestrial and marine ecosystems that have high biodiversity values.

Spatiotemporal Variability of Rainfall and Surface Salinity in the Eastern Pacific Fresh Pool: A Joint In Situ and Satellite Analysis During the SPURS‐2 Field Campaign

AbstractWe perform a statistical characterization of the 2016–2017 SPURS‐2 field campaign in situ data and coincident satellite data spanning 8°–12°N, 120°–130°W to quantify the spatial and temporal scales of variability of rain and near‐surface salinity in the Eastern Pacific Fresh Pool. Observations of rain rate and near‐surface to surface salinity are obtained from ships, moorings, autonomous platforms, and satellite remote sensing: Integrated Multi‐satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG); and Soil Moisture Active Passive (NASA SMAP L3 V5). The integral length and time scales of rain and near‐surface salinity vary seasonally. In the rainy season (August–October) when the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) migrates over the SPURS‐2 study site, the integral time scales of rain were about 30–60 min and those of near‐surface salinity were closer to that of the rain, 1–2 days, indicating forcing by rain. Meanwhile, the zonal integral length scale of in situ near‐surface salinity was twice as large as the meridional scale (50 vs. 20 km), consistent with the ITCZ's zonally‐propagating and ‐organized rain features. The magnitude and seasonal variation of the sea surface salinity integral time scale were not captured by SMAP since the rainy ITCZ‐period scales were smaller than SMAP resolution (70 km, 8‐day running mean). In the dry season (February–May), the in situ rain integral time scale reduced to less than 30 min while that of the near‐surface salinity increased to 1–5 days, the ocean mesoscale. IMERG overestimated the rain integral time scale by a factor of two to ten in both seasons.

Analyses of intra-annual density fluctuation signals in Himalayan cedar trees from Himachal Pradesh, western Himalaya, India, and its relationship with apple production

Intra-annual density fluctuation (IADF) refers to anatomical changes in the tree ring caused by a sudden change in wood density triggered by a combination of climate variations and various biotic and abiotic influences. To reveal the occurrence of IADFs, we analyze the growth rings of Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) growing over the Kullu region, Himachal Pradesh, western Himalaya. Using 30 increment cores, we precisely dated and developed a 214-year-long tree-ring chronology extending back to AD 1808. The tree–growth–climate relationship using ring-width chronology and observed climate data revealed that cool and moist condition provides favorable condition for Himalayan cedar tree growth. Delving deeper into wood anatomy of growth rings, we revealed the frequent occurrences of IADFs in both earlywood (IADFe) and latewood (IADFl). The formation of IADFs in earlywood (IADFe) is related to the reduced precipitation from April to July, causing moisture stress in the soil and surrounding climate. However, wetter conditions in the late growing season, mainly August–October, activated the formation of IADFs in latewood (IADFl). The study revealed several IADF years in earlywood and latewood, such as 1901, 1902, 1903, 1914, 1915, 1919, 1920, 1923, 1925, 1943, 1958, 1959 and 1937, 1955, 1956, 1988, respectively. These IADF years corresponded with unusual climatic fluctuations that severely affected apple production, the major cash crop in the region. The analyses demonstrated that the IADF chronology of Himalayan cedar would be a valuable proxy to understand abrupt and unusual climatic fluctuations from a long-term perspective for the data-scarce western Himalayan region.

CJR Publications Received List (August–October)

<i>CJR</i> Publications Received List (August–October)

ENSO‐Related Fire Weather Changes in Southeast and Equatorial Asia: A Quantitative Evaluation Using Fire Weather Index

AbstractInterannual variability of tropical fire activity has been linked to the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Here we analyze changes in fire and simultaneous fire weather related to ENSO over Southeast (SEAS) and Equatorial Asia (EQAS) and quantitively evaluate the contribution of key meteorological variables to the fire weather variations for the past decades. During the fire seasons, large increases in fires emerge in El Niño years, which greatly coincides with the more fire‐susceptible weather conditions compared to La Niña years. Moreover, the fires exhibit a more significant correlation with the ENSO index in El Niño years, mainly due to the influence of asymmetry response of the fire weather to ENSO. Composite analysis shows that it is the positive anomalous low‐level geopotential height and less water vapor transportation over SEAS (March–May) and EQAS (August–October) during El Niño that forms the fire‐favoring weather. By conducting tests in calculating fire weather index (FWI) under different ideal conditions, we identified the daily precipitation as the dominant driver of FWI variation, with the contribution reaching 65.5%–77.5% and 60.9%–90.5% for SEAS and EQAS respectively, while decreased relative humidity induces nearly a quarter of increases in FWI in El Niño years. Changes in temperature and wind speed, however, rarely perturb the fire weather for both SEAS and EQAS regions. The quantitative evaluations of individual meteorological variables in shaping fire weather as well as their asymmetrical response in ENSO years could support fire management during fire seasons in Tropical Asia.

Perception and attitude of nursing students toward e-learning

Background: Information technology (IT) has undeniably eased out online teaching in days of social isolation. The sudden closure of institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic brought a halt in academics; later resumed through the inception of e-learning. Pandemics can neither be forecast nor overruled. Striding through this trying trend, it was thought prudent to determine nursing students’ attitude toward acceptance and practice of e-learning. Aims and Objectives: Striding through this trying trend, it was thought prudent to determine nursing students’ attitude toward acceptance and practice of e-learning. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 144 randomly selected nursing students of a Nursing College in Kolkata during August–October 2022. A self-administered structured questionnaire with demographic details incorporating a standard scale admeasuring attitude of students was used. Data were analyzed and validated statistically. Results: The majority used mobile set and cellular data as data-source (95 and 99%, respectively). Advantages of e-learning were screenshot of slides (96%), home-stay (94%), and reduced cost of hostel/transport (84%). Disadvantages included internet problems (83%) and inadequate bedside training (74%). Domain means for perceived usefulness, e-learning versus conventional learning, intention to adapt, ease of learning, and learning stresses were more than scale means reverberating higher acceptability. About 62.5% exhibited a favorable attitude toward e-learning. Family income, age, origin, and past experience were significantly associated with domains of e-learning; of which “Intent to get accustomed” was relevant. All domains related to e-learning found having significant positive correlation with each other indicating the strong value of e-learning among participants. Conclusion: As an alternative during the pandemic, 62.5% of prospective nurses showed a positive attitude toward e-learning. It is recommended that e-learning be made student-friendly through IT training making it a vital option for teaching-learning during catastrophic challenge.

Cancer and circulatory disease risks for the largest solar particle events in the space age

In this paper we use the NASA Space Cancer Risk (NSCR version 2022) model to predict cancer and circulatory disease risks using energy spectra representing the largest SPE's observed in the space age. Because tissue dose-rates behind shielding for large SPE's lead to low dose-rates (<0.2 Gy/h) we consider the integrated risk for several historical periods of high solar activity, including July–November, 1960 events and August–October 1989 events along with the February 1956 and August 1972 events. The galactic cosmic ray (GCR) contribution to risks is considered in predictions. Results for these largest historical events show risk of exposure induced death (REID) are mitigated to < 1.2 % with a 95 % confidence interval with passive radiation shielding of 20 g/cm2 aluminum, while larger amounts would support the application of the ALARA principle. Annual GCR risks are predicted to surpass the risks from large SPEs by ∼30 g/cm2 of aluminum shielding.

The analysis of fire hotspot distribution in Kalimantan and its relation- ship with ENSO phases

Kalimantan experiences fire hazards almost every year, which threaten the largest tropical forest in South- east Asia. Climatic conditions, such as increasing surface temperature and decreasing rainfall, become important es- pecially when El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) occurs. Studies on fire are commonly conducted based on the climatic condition such as the dry or wet season, but those which focused on analysis of fire occurrences with the specific ENSO phases are still limited. This study aims to identify the spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall, land surface temperature, and soil moisture and analyses the distribution of hotspots in Kalimantan from 2014 to 2020 dur- ing different ENSO phases. The data used are Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) for hotspot analysis, Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) for rainfall analysis, MODIS Land Surface Temperature (LST) for surface temperature analysis and Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) for soil moisture analysis. The methods used were descriptive and spatial analyses based on each ENSO phase, which were then combined to analyse the temporal and spatial distribution of fire, rainfall, LST and soil moisture. The temporal distribution shows a positive relationship between ENSO, rainfall, LST, soil moisture and hotspots with a confidence level of 90% in the dry months of August– October. Fire occurred in most parts of West and Central Kalimantan, associated with low elevation, organic soil types and agricultural peatland. The average trend of increasing hotspots is 17.4% in the El Nino phase and decreasing hot- spots by 84.7% in the La Nina phase during August–October in Kalimantan.

Biomass burning in the Neotropics is exposing migrating birds to elevated fine particulate matter concentrations

AbstractAimA unique risk faced by nocturnally migrating birds is the disorienting influence of artificial light at night (ALAN). ALAN originates from anthropogenic activities that can generate other forms of environmental pollution, including the emission of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). PM2.5 concentrations can display strong seasonal variation whose origin can be natural or anthropogenic. How this variation affects seasonal associations with ALAN and PM2.5 for nocturnally migrating bird populations has not been explored.LocationWestern Hemisphere.Time Period2021Major Taxa StudiedNocturnally migrating passerine (NMP) bird species.MethodsWe combined monthly estimates of PM2.5 and ALAN with weekly estimates of relative abundance for 164 NMP species derived using observations from eBird. We identified groups of species with similar associations with monthly PM2.5. We summarized their shared environmental, geographical, and ecological attributes.ResultsPM2.5 was lowest in North America, especially at higher latitudes during the boreal winter. PM2.5 was highest in the Amazon Basin, especially during the dry season (August–October). ALAN was highest within eastern North America, especially during the boreal winter. For NMP species, PM2.5 associations reached their lowest levels during the breeding season (&lt;10 μg/m3) and highest levels during the nonbreeding season, especially for long‐distance migrants that winter in Central and South America (~20 μg/m3). Species that migrate through Central America in the spring encountered similarly high PM2.5 concentrations. ALAN associations reached their highest levels for species that migrate (~12 nW/cm2/sr) or spend the nonbreeding season (~15 nW/cm2/sr) in eastern North America.Main ConclusionsWe did not find evidence that the disorienting influence of ALAN enhances PM2.5 exposure during stopover in the spring and autumn for NMP species. Rather, our findings suggest biomass burning in the Neotropics is exposing NMP species to consistently elevated PM2.5 concentrations for an extended period of their annual life cycles.

CALENDAR FOR PLANTING SEAWEED EUCHEUMA SP. IN MALLASORO BAY, JENEPONTO DISTRICT, BASED ON LANDSAT-8 IMAGES

Seaweed cultivation activities in Jeneponto Regency have been practised for a long time and have become the main livelihood for most of the Mallasoro Bay community. In cultivating seaweed, obstacles often arise in the form of failures experienced by seaweed farmers or poor-quality yields. This study was aimed to develop alternative planting calendars for Eucheuma sp. in Mallasoro Bay, Jeneponto Regency based on sea surface temperature and distribution of chlorophyll-a obtained from Landsat-8 imagery. Image Processing Sea Surface Temperature and Chlorophyll-a were processed using ENVI 4.8 AND 5.3 software, the satellite images used were clean and without cloud disturbance. In this study, data analysis was carried out descriptively. The water temperature that is good for seaweed growth is 27-30˚C, for Mallasoro Bay Sea Surface Temperature which is suitable for seaweed cultivation, namely April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November. While the classification is based on the criteria for chlorophyll-a trophic status in marine waters, namely the range &lt; 1 mg/L is classified as Oligotrophic, ≥ 1–3 mg/L is classified as Mesotrophic, ≥ 3–5 mg/L is classified as Eutrophic, and &gt; 5 mg/L is classified as Hypertrophic. , from the results of image analysis for the distribution of chlorophyll-a in Mallasoro Bay, it shows that Mallasoro Bay is at the Mesotrophic level throughout the year or the fertility level of the waters is quite fertile because it is in the range of ≥ 1–3 mg/L. so that a seaweed planting calendar can be obtained in Mallasoro Bay, namely in January, February and December, preparation of tools such as cleaning and repair of seaweed planting tools can be carried out, then at the end of March, the end of May, the end of July and the end of September, the procurement of seaweed seeds is carried out. , in early April, early June, early August, and early October, seaweed seeds can be spread, then in mid-May, mid-July, mid-September, and mid-November, harvesting can be carried out, so that seaweed cultivation can be carried out 4 times in one year. cycle.

An emerging aerosol climatology via remote sensing over Metro Manila, the Philippines

Abstract. Aerosol particles in Southeast Asia are challenging to characterize due to their complex life cycle within the diverse topography and weather of the region. An emerging aerosol climatology was established based on AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) data (December 2009 to October 2018) for clear-sky days in Metro Manila, the Philippines. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) values were highest from August to October, partly from fine urban aerosol particles, including soot, coinciding with the burning season in insular Southeast Asia when smoke is often transported to Metro Manila during the southwest monsoon. Clustering of AERONET volume size distributions (VSDs) resulted in five aerosol particle sources based on the position and magnitude of their peaks in the VSD and the contributions of specific particle species to AOD per cluster based on MERRA-2. The clustering showed that the majority of aerosol particles above Metro Manila were from a clean marine source (58 %), which could be related to AOD values there being relatively low compared to other cities in the region. The following are the other particle sources over Metro Manila: fine polluted sources (20 %), mixed-dust sources (12 %), urban and industrial sources (5 %), and cloud processing sources (5 %). Furthermore, MERRA-2 AOD data over Southeast Asia were analyzed using empirical orthogonal functions. Along with AOD fractional compositional contributions and wind regimes, four dominant aerosol particle air masses emerged: two sulfate air masses from East Asia, an organic carbon source from Indonesia, and a sulfate source from the Philippines. Knowing the local and regional aerosol particle air masses that impact Metro Manila is useful in identifying the sources while gaining insight into how aerosol particles are affected by long-range transport and their impact on regional weather.

Source apportionment study on particulate air pollution in two high-altitude Bolivian cities: La Paz and El Alto

Abstract. La Paz and El Alto are two fast-growing, high-altitude Bolivian cities forming the second-largest metropolitan area in the country. Located between 3200 and 4050 m a.s.l. (above sea level), these cities are home to a burgeoning population of approximately 1.8 million residents. The air quality in this conurbation is heavily influenced by urbanization; however, there are no comprehensive studies evaluating the sources of air pollution and their health impacts. Despite their proximity, the substantial variation in altitude, topography, and socioeconomic activities between La Paz and El Alto result in distinct sources, dynamics, and transport of particulate matter (PM). In this investigation, PM10 samples were collected at two urban background stations located in La Paz and El Alto between April 2016 and June 2017. The samples were later analyzed for a wide range of chemical species including numerous source tracers (OC, EC, water-soluble ions, sugar anhydrides, sugar alcohols, trace metals, and molecular organic species). The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF v.5.0) receptor model was employed for the source apportionment of PM10. This is one of the first source apportionment studies in South America that incorporates an extensive suite of organic markers, including levoglucosan, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), hopanes, and alkanes, alongside inorganic species. The multisite PMF resolved 11 main sources of PM. The largest annual contribution to PM10 came from the following two major sources: the ensemble of the four vehicular emissions sources (exhaust and non-exhaust), accountable for 35 % and 25 % of the measured PM in La Paz and El Alto, respectively; and dust, which contributed 20 % and 32 % to the total PM mass. Secondary aerosols accounted for 22 % (24 %) in La Paz (El Alto). Agricultural smoke resulting from biomass burning in the Bolivian lowlands and neighboring countries contributed to 9 % (8 %) of the total PM10 mass annually, increasing to 17 % (13 %) between August–October. Primary biogenic emissions were responsible for 13 % (7 %) of the measured PM10 mass. Additionally, a profile associated with open waste burning occurring from May to August was identified. Although this source contributed only to 2 % (5 %) of the total PM10 mass, it constitutes the second largest source of PAHs, which are compounds potentially hazardous to human health. Our analysis additionally resolved two different traffic-related factors, a lubricant source (not frequently identified), and a non-exhaust emissions source. Overall, this study demonstrates that PM10 concentrations in La Paz and El Alto region are predominantly influenced by a limited number of local sources. In conclusion, to improve air quality in both cities, efforts should primarily focus on addressing dust, traffic emissions, open waste burning, and biomass burning.

Incidence of catastrophic health spending in Indonesia: insights from a Household Panel Study 2018–2019

BackgroundIndonesia implemented one of the world’s largest single-payer national health insurance schemes (the Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional or JKN) in 2014. This study aims to assess the incidence of catastrophic health spending (CHS) and its determinants and trends between 2018 and 2019 by which time JKN enrolment coverage exceeded 80%.MethodsThis study analysed data collected from a two-round cross-sectional household survey conducted in ten provinces of Indonesia in February–April 2018 and August–October 2019. The incidence of CHS was defined as the proportion of households with out-of-pocket (OOP) health spending exceeding 10% of household consumption expenditure. Chi-squared tests were used to compare the incidences of CHS across subgroups for each household characteristic. Logistic regression models were used to investigate factors associated with incurring CHS and the trend over time. Sensitivity analyses assessing the incidence of CHS based on a higher threshold of 25% of total household expenditure were conducted.ResultsThe overall incidence of CHS at the 10% threshold fell from 7.9% to 2018 to 4.4% in 2019. The logistic regression models showed that households with JKN membership experienced significantly lower incidence of CHS compared to households without insurance coverage in both years. The poorest households were more likely to incur CHS compared to households in other wealth quintiles. Other predictors of incurring CHS included living in rural areas and visiting private health facilities.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that the overall incidence of CHS decreased in Indonesia between 2018 and 2019. OOP payments for health care and the risk of CHS still loom high among JKN members and among the lowest income households. More needs to be done to further contain OOP payments and further research is needed to investigate whether CHS pushes households below the poverty line.

Shattered glass of Beirut: collaboration between the Archaeological Museum (American University of Beirut) and international partners following the 2020 port explosion

The Archaeological Museum at the American University of Beirut (AUB) lies approximately 3 km west of the main port of Beirut, the site of the massive explosion that sent a catastrophic shockwave through the city on 4 August 2020. A display case containing Classical and early Islamic period glass vessels was smashed against the museum’s stone floor, shattering 72 vessels into thousands of shards. This paper overviews how the Archaeological Museum (AM) responded to the situation with international partners to document, collect, identify, study, conserve and restore the broken pieces, and how this process of recovery would ultimately imbue the vessels with new historical resonance. In particular, the paper presents a collaborative project with the British Museum (BM) that developed from broader international-AM efforts. The partnership had three objectives: (i) to reconstruct eight of the shattered vessels in conservation laboratories at the BM; (ii) to provide training for a museum professional from the AM as part of the restoration programme in London; and (iii) to conduct scientific analyses of the broken shards before conservation. A fourth objective was realized August–October 2022, when the reconstructed vessels were featured in a single-room exhibition at the BM titled Shattered Glass of Beirut, jointly developed by AM and BM curators, in which the vessels helped tell a broader story about the port explosion and its effects on the people of Lebanon.

Modeling atmosphere–land interactions at a rainforest site – a case study using Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO) measurements and reanalysis data

Abstract. Modeling the interactions between atmosphere and soil at a forest site remains a challenging task. Using tower measurements from the Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO) in the rainforest, we evaluated the performance of the land surface model JSBACH, focusing especially on processes influenced by the forest canopy. As a first step, we analyzed whether high-resolution global reanalysis data sets are suitable to be used as land surface model forcing. Namely, we used data from the fifth-generation ECMWF atmospheric reanalysis of the global climate (ERA5) and the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2). Comparing 5 years of ATTO measurements to near-surface reanalysis data, we found a substantial underestimation of wind speeds by about 1 m s−1. ERA5 captures monthly mean temperatures quite well but overestimates annual mean precipitation by 30 %. Contrarily, MERRA-2 overestimates monthly mean temperatures in the dry season (August–October) by more than 1 K, while mean precipitation biases are small. To test how much the choice of reanalysis data set and the reanalysis biases affect the results of the land surface model, we performed spin-up and model runs using either ERA5 or MERRA-2 and with and without a bias correction for precipitation and wind speed and compared the results. The choice of reanalysis data set results in large differences of up to 1.3 K for soil temperatures and 20 % for soil water content, which are non-negligible, especially in the first weeks after spin-up. Correcting wind speed and precipitation biases also notably changes the land surface model results – especially in the dry season. Based on these results, we constructed an optimized forcing data set using bias-corrected ERA5 data for the spin-up period and ATTO measurements for a model run of 2 years and compared the results to observations to identify model shortcomings. Generally, the shape of the soil water profile is not reproduced correctly, which might be related to a lack of vertical variability of soil properties or of the root density. The model also shows a positive soil temperature bias and overestimates the penetration depth of the diurnal cycle. To tackle this issue, potential improvements can be made by improving the processes related to the storage and vertical transport of energy. For instance, incorporating a distinct canopy layer into the model could be a viable solution.

Southern Annular Mode: A New Factor Impacts the East African Short Rains after the Early 1990s

Abstract It is well known that the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are closely related to rainfall variability over East Africa. This study found that the preceding August–October (ASO) Southern Annular Mode (SAM) can influence East African rainfall from October to December [i.e., East African short rains (EASR)], with a strong and significant relationship during the period of 1992–2019 than 1971–91. This is likely a result of the changes in SAM variations. It is further revealed that, during 1992–2019, the ASO SAM, via air–sea interactions, can excite meridional dipole sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) and warm SSTA over the southern Indian and Atlantic Oceans, respectively. In contrast, during 1971–91, the SAM induces warm SSTA over the southern Indian Ocean. Further analysis indicated that these ASO SAM-related SSTA patterns persist through the following October–December and exert a contrasting influence on the EASR. Based on the possible mechanism, the enhanced influence of SAM on EASR appears to be achieved through significant meridional circulation in the Indian Ocean basin, with anomalous sinking motion in the extratropics and the rising motion in the tropical Maritime Continent (MC) region. Correspondingly, strong convection is enhanced over the MC, altering zonal vertical circulation. This process results in anomalous westerlies in the tropical Indian Ocean, which reduces the atmospheric moisture, weakens convection, and suppresses rainfall over the central-western Indian Ocean, including the study region. Further analysis suggests that the prediction skill of the EASR related to the SAM, ENSO, and IOD was enhanced during 1992–2019. Significance Statement Several studies have investigated the influence of tropical climate anomalies, such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the Indian Ocean dipole, on the rainfall variability over East Africa. The region continues to be plagued by numerous climate-related disasters, including flooding and drought, and the associated varying impacts have been detrimental. As such, there is a need to understand further the factors and associated physical processes that cause such events and improve forecasting accuracy. This research emphasizes the role of the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), finding a strengthened lagged relationship with East African rainfall in recent decades. This implies that changes in the SAM should be considered in understanding present and future rainfall variability in the region.

Monitoring of monkeypox viral DNA in Prague wastewater

Monkeypox virus (Mpxv) is a dsDNA virus that has become a global concern for human health in 2022. As both infected people and non-human hosts can shed the virus from their skin, faeces, urine and other body fluids, and the resulting sewage contains viral load representative of the whole population, it is highly promising to detect the spread of monkeypox virus in municipal wastewater. We established a methodology for sewage-based monitoring of Mpxv in Prague and analysed samples (n = 24) already early August–October of 2022 in a municipality with 1.4 million inhabitants that only reported 29 cumulative cases in this period. We isolated Mpxv DNA with the Wizard Enviro Total Nucleic Acid Kit, and thereafter detected Mpxv DNA using the EliGene® Monkeypox RT-PCR Kit. Prague wastewater was positive for Mpxv (in total 9 positive samples in periods with 1—9 new cases per week, coinciding with a weekly incidence of 0.07–0.64 per 100,000 inhabitants. The method for confirmation of wastewater positivity via semi-nested PCR and Sanger sequencing was successfully confirmed on positive controls including Mpxv particles and Mpxv-positive wastewater from the Netherlands. However, for Prague wastewater samples, amplification of Mpxv DNA via semi-semi-nested PCR was unsuccessful. This was probably due to extremely low case count, leading to the amplification of non-target bacterial DNA. Compared to other studies with much higher Mpxv prevalence, we show the outstanding sensitivity of our approach for monitoring the spread of monkeypox using wastewater.

The Fire Inventory from NCAR version 2.5: an updated global fire emissions model for climate and chemistry applications

Abstract. We present the Fire Inventory from National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) version 2.5 (FINNv2.5), a fire emissions inventory that provides publicly available emissions of trace gases and aerosols for various applications, including use in global and regional atmospheric chemistry modeling. FINNv2.5 includes numerous updates to the FINN version 1 framework to better represent burned area, vegetation burned, and chemicals emitted. Major changes include the use of active fire detections from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) at 375 m spatial resolution, which allows smaller fires to be included in the emissions processing. The calculation of burned area has been updated such that a more rigorous approach is used to aggregate fire detections, which better accounts for larger fires and enables using multiple satellite products simultaneously for emissions estimates. Fuel characterization and emissions factors have also been updated in FINNv2.5. Daily fire emissions for many trace gases and aerosols are determined for 2002–2019 (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-only fire detections) and 2012–2019 (MODIS + VIIRS fire detections). The non-methane organic gas emissions are allocated to the species of several commonly used chemical mechanisms. We compare FINNv2.5 emissions against other widely used fire emissions inventories. The performance of FINNv2.5 emissions as inputs to a chemical transport model is assessed with satellite observations. Uncertainties in the emissions estimates remain, particularly in Africa and South America during August–October and in southeast and equatorial Asia in March and April. Recommendations for future evaluation and use are given.

Improving reflective evaluations of sport through repeated experiences of fun—rationale, design, feasibility, and acceptability of the PlayFit Youth Sport Program

IntroductionAdolescents who drop out of sport often report that it had become less ‘fun’ and ‘enjoyable’ over time. Although preadolescent sport typically emphasizes experiences of fun, emphases on competition and elite performance often dominate during adolescence. We theorized that adherence to adolescent sport might be improved if the overarching goal were to maximize repeated experiences of fun during sport and, subsequently, increase reflective evaluations of sport enjoyment. To that end, this manuscript reports on the rationale and design of the PlayFit Youth Sport Program (PYSP), as well as its preliminary feasibility and acceptability. The main objectives were to evaluate the feasibility of recruitment strategies and data collection procedures and the acceptability of the intervention.SettingAn outdoor, multipurpose grass field at a south-central Pennsylvania middle school.MethodsA mixed-methods, single-arm feasibility trial lasting for 8 weeks (August–October 2021) offered 3-times per week for 1-h per session. The equipment, ruleset, and psychosocial environment of the PYSP sport games were modified to reduce several of the constraints theorized to impair experiences of fun during sport and hamper reflective evaluations of enjoyment afterward. ResultsEleven healthy, but sedentary adolescents in grades 5–7 completed the program. The median number of sessions attended (of 16 possible) was 12 (range = 6–13). Post-intervention, 9/10 respondents indicated that they ‘looked forward’ to the PYSP, 8/10 would recommend it to a friend, and 8/10 were interested in continuing the program. Ten of 11 participant guardians expressed interest in reenrolling their children if the PYSP were offered again. Some changes recommended were to improve recruitment via advertising the positive aspects of the program and “word of mouth” techniques, offering the program immediately following the school day, having contingencies for inclement weather, and minor changes to the sport equipment to improve the experience among the population the PYSP intends to attract.ConclusionsThe adjustments recommended in this preliminary work could be used to further refine the PYSP. A future efficacy trial could explore whether the PYSP may reduce attrition for adolescents who experience existing sport programs negatively by offering an alternative that better matches their unique needs and preferences.

Geographic distribution of micronektonic fish communities in the subtropical North Pacific: The effect of primary productivity and nitrogen fixation

We investigated the geographic variations of micronektonic fish communities along the transects in the subtropical North Pacific (23° N, 138° E–120° W) and California Current (30–45° N, 123–125° W) during August–October 2017 in relation to environmental factors, including primary productivity and nitrogen fixation. Throughout the cruise, 102 species across 31 families were collected at a depth of 0–500 m at night. Clustering analysis indicated that the micronektonic fish were categorized into three communities along the east–west subtropical transect, in addition to the subarctic-transitional water community. Species in the subtropical communities were composed of indicator species, which were characteristically found in their respective community, in addition to the common species (Vinciguerria nimbaria, Notolychnus valdiviae and Bolinichthys longipes), which were regularly found in all communities. Redundancy analysis indicated that the distribution of indicator species in western (Benthosema suborbitale and Lampanyctus alatus) and central (Cyclothone alba and Hygophum proximum) subtropical communities were positively associated with chlorophyll a concentration and nitrogen fixation rate, respectively. Regarding the eastern community indicator species (Ceratoscopelus townsendi, Cyclothone acclinidens, and Diogenichthys laternatus), various factors such as chlorophyll a concentration, dissolved oxygen, temperature and salinity were negatively related to their specific occurrences. In addition, specifically abundant occurrence of V. nimbaria was observed at a station where the thermocline became shallower and the chlorophyll a concentration was highest. Our results suggest that the productivity of the lower trophic level affects the geographic distribution of micronektonic fish in the subtropical North Pacific in addition to physicochemical parameters.