Regional Topography Research Articles

Intraoperative ICG-fluorescence imaging of ureteral defect: case report and literature review

Iatrogenic ureteral injury is the most frequent trauma during pelvic surgery. Due to the peculiarities of this topographic region, assessment of ureteral wall perfusion is critical for prevention of ischemic complications.In modern surgical practice, assessing local ureteral perfusion is often based on the surgeon’s subjective opinion. Intraoperative angiography with indocyanine green (indocyanine green, ICG) has been shown to be an adequate reflection of tissue perfusion and potentially influence the outcome of surgery.Currently, there are insufficient data regarding the use of ICG in iatrogenic ureteral injury. In this article, we describe a successful ICG fluorescence-guided middle third ureteroplasty in a 92-year-old patient with uterine cancer who underwent a simple hysterectomy. We also review the literature on this topic. The literature search for the review was performed using the PubMed database.Based on currently available data, the use of ICG for defect detection and control during ureteral resection is feasible and safe. However, the significance of this procedure should be evaluated in further studies.

Rain event detection and magnitude estimation during Indian summer monsoon: Comprehensive assessment of gridded precipitation datasets across hydroclimatically diverse regions

Accurate precipitation estimates are quintessential for hydrologic modeling and climate studies. Different gridded precipitation products are available in any region, and selecting the best one is essential for hydroclimatic modeling and analysis. In the current study, observation- (APHRODITE), reanalysis- (IMDAA, ERA5-Land, PGF), satellite-based (IMERG, CHIRPS, PERSIANN-CDR), and hybrid (MSWEP) gridded precipitation products with different spatial and temporal resolutions are evaluated using several continuous, categorical, graphical, and interval-based performance measures towards detecting Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) events and estimating their magnitudes for the subcontinent of India, considering IMD gauge-based gridded as reference product. We confine our analysis to the monsoon season (i.e., June to September), the principal rainy season in the Indian sub-continent. The dearth of data and limited rain gauge-based observations from non-uniform sparse monitoring networks across India necessitated grid-to-grid comparative evaluations instead of point-to-grid assessments. We propose a new ranking framework to determine the suitability of precipitation datasets for twenty-seven hydroclimatic regions comprising homogeneous rainfall zones, Köppen-Geiger climate zones, and major river basins. Results from the comprehensive evaluation suggest that (1) APHRODITE, MSWEP, and ERA5-Land best approximate precipitation event occurrences across India, (2) MSWEP and ERA5-Land are most suitable (highest rank) alternatives at the regional level, while APHRODITE is found to be next suitable dataset owing to its persistent dry bias, (3) performances of CHIRPS and IMERG have reasonably lower rank score across India, (4) close agreement of examined datasets is noted over semi-arid and sub-humid regions (e.g., peninsular and central India), whereas ERA5-Land, IMDAA, and APHRODITE fail to detect and reproduce the intensity of the events along the west coast and northeastern India, (5) PGF and PERSIANN-CDR are the least situated datasets. Moreover, the present study provides a unique and innovative perspective to characterise the precipitation over a vast topographic, ecologic, and climatic gradient region like India.

Citizen-Based Water Quality Monitoring: Field Testing a User-Friendly Sensor for Phosphate Detection in Global Surface Waters.

Widespread concern over surface water pollution has led to interest in developing easy-to-use accurate tools for citizen-based measurements that provide high spatial and temporal resolution while maintaining accuracy. Excessive anthropogenic phosphate significantly contributes to global eutrophication and necessitates regular on-site phosphate monitoring in surface waters. Traditional instrumentation for quantifying phosphate is labor-intensive, expensive, and performed in laboratories. Existing on-site testing methods relying on phosphomolybdenum blue (PMB) have limited sensitivity and stability under ambient conditions. To overcome these limitations, a novel low-cost, rapid, and user-friendly sensor for citizen-led phosphate monitoring in surface water is introduced and demonstrated with a global sampling campaign. The fast-flow microfluidic device provides user-friendly operation, achieving an environmentally relevant limit of detection (LoD) of 190 ppb, which is near the EPA-recommended maximum for phosphate. The dip-and-read operation reduces procedural steps while delivering accurate sample volume, making it well-suited for citizen-led science initiatives. This sensor exhibits high selectivity and prolonged stability for two months under ambient conditions. The sensor's performance was validated using the industry-standard UV-Vis method with 90% correlation. More than 1000 sensors were deployed in different continents, facilitating phosphate mapping in diverse water sources across multiple continents. The initiative covered much of the globe, including Thailand, Nepal, Brazil, Chile, the USA, and Germany. In some cases, phosphate levels exceeded legislative guidelines by 100-fold. Through the collaboration of citizen scientists, we analyzed regional topography and socioeconomic practices near water sources, identifying potential sources that could contribute to eutrophication in these areas.

Spatial Interpolation of Seasonal Precipitations Using Rain Gauge Data and Convection‐Permitting Regional Climate Model Simulations in a Complex Topographical Region

ABSTRACTIn mountainous areas, accurately estimating the long‐term climatology of seasonal precipitations is challenging due to the lack of high‐altitude rain gauges and the complexity of the topography. This study addresses these challenges by interpolating seasonal precipitation data from 3189 rain gauges across France over the 1982–2018 period, using geographical coordinates, and altitude. In this study, an additional predictor is provided from simulations of a Convection‐Permitting Regional Climate Model (CP‐RCM). The simulations are averaged to obtain seasonal precipitation climatology, which helps capture the relationship between topography and long‐term seasonal precipitation. Geostatistical and machine learning models are evaluated within a cross‐validation framework to determine the most appropriate approach to generate seasonal precipitation reference fields. Results indicate that the best model uses a machine learning approach to interpolate the ratio between long‐term seasonal precipitation from observations and CP‐RCM simulations. This method successfully reproduces both the mean and variance of observed data, and slightly outperforms the best geostatistical model. Moreover, incorporating the CP‐RCM outputs as an explanatory variable significantly improves interpolation accuracy and altitude extrapolation, especially when the rain gauge density is low. These results imply that the commonly used altitude‐precipitation relationship may be insufficient to derive seasonal precipitation fields. The CP‐RCM simulations, increasingly available worldwide, present an opportunity for improving precipitation interpolation, especially in sparse and complex topographical regions.

Effects of sea surface temperatures on monthly and dekadal Kiremt rainfall variability in the contrasting topographical regions of northern Ethiopia

Effects of sea surface temperatures on monthly and dekadal Kiremt rainfall variability in the contrasting topographical regions of northern Ethiopia

Heatwave Intensifications in Armenia: Evidence From Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Observational Data Over the Last Decades

ABSTRACTIncreasing temperatures cause the weather to become more severe. Studying how heatwaves (HWs) impact individual heat exposure and susceptibility is vital for building climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. So, this study explores the impact of HWs on individual heat exposure and susceptibility. The assessment was based on the highly complex topographic region contribution to HWs in the Republic of Armenia (RA) using data from 16 meteorological stations for the extended warm season (May–September). We developed a regional HW catchment program to estimate the HW indices' responses to climatic change and to present them in terms of topography changes. The Mann–Kendall (MK) test was used to determine the statistical significance of the trends for 10 distinct HW indicators using linear and exponential trends along with graphical interpretations. This study reveals a large‐scale, significant increasing trend in annual maximum temperatures (Tmax) and observed HWs over the period 1955–2019. The rising temperature is accompanied by an increase in HW indices, particularly at low altitudes up to 1250 m above sea level (ASL), where the main population centres and national crop production are concentrated. According to our classification, the above‐mentioned areas have faced extreme and severe increases in HW intensity, covering more than 60% of the country's territory. Moreover, not only the intensity and frequency have been identified but the HW period extension as well. This extreme increase has been found in the low‐lying highly populated and intensively cultivated areas, such as in the Ararat valley. These results have implications for future climate assessments, adaptation strategies, agriculture and public health in Armenia. The development of targeted mitigation measures and adaptation strategies informed by these findings is essential for addressing the escalating challenges posed by HWs in the region.

MODELING LONGITUDINAL FLOOD DATA IN WEST SUMATRA USING THE GENERALIZED ESTIMATING EQUATION (GEE) APPROACH

Flooding is one of the many natural disasters that often hit Indonesia. In July 2023, three areas in West Sumatra experienced floods and landslides which caused damages and even 2 missing victims. Since November 16th, 2023, 8 hamlets in Meranti Village, Landak District, West Sumatra have been inundated by floods which affected families and many public facilities. This research uses data from West Sumatra Province Central Statistics Agency. The data used is 2014, 2018 and 2021. The response variable used is the number of villages/sub-districts experiencing natural disasters according to district/city ( ). The predictor variables used are regional topography , the number of water channels such as rivers, reservoirs, etc. , the number of fields cleared through burning , the number of villages/sub-districts in C excavation area , and the number of dumpsters . This research uses Negative Binomial Regression with the Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) approach. In the Poisson regression test, the QIC value based on Independent Working Correlation Structure (WCS) is with deviance value of , degree of freedom of , and dispersion score of 4,6144. Because the dispersion value is greater than 1, it can be concluded that there is overdispersion. Because there is more than one overdispersion, it is overcome by using negative binomial. The results of parameter estimation using negative binomial regression based on Independent WCS showed that only one variable was significant, which is the number of fields cleared through burning with deviance value of , degrees of freedom of and a QIC of . Negative Binomial regression model that was formed is ). From the two regression models used, namely Poisson and negative binomial, it was found that the negative binomial regression model was the best model because it had the lowest QIC value of .

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease exhibits sex-specific microbial heterogeneity within intestinal compartments.

Evidence suggests that the gastrointestinal microbiome plays a significant role in the biology of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, it remains unclear whether disparities in the gut microbiome across intestinal tissular compartments between the sexes lead to MASLD pathogenesis. Sex-specific analyses of microbiome composition in two anatomically distinct regions of the gut, the small intestine and colon, were performed using an experimental model of MASLD. The study involved male and female spontaneously hypertensive rats and the Wistar-Kyoto control rat strain, which were fed either a standard chow diet or a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to induce MASLD (12 rats per group). High-throughput 16S sequencing was used for microbiome analysis. There were significant differences in the overall microbiome composition of male and female rats with MASLD, including variations in topographical gut regions. The beta diversity of the jejunal and colon microbiomes was higher in female rats than in male rats (PERMANOVA p-value=0.001). Sex-specific analysis and discriminant features using LEfSe showed considerable variation in bacterial abundance, along with distinct functional properties, in the jejunum and colon of animals with MASLD. Significantly elevated levels of lipopolysaccharide and protein expression of Toll-like receptor 4 were observed in the livers of male rats with MASLD compared with their female counterparts. This study uncovered sexual dimorphism in the gut microbiome of MASLD and identified microbial heterogeneity within intestinal compartments. Insights into sex-specific variations in gut microbiome composition could facilitate customised treatment strategies.

Evaluating the ability of the Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS) to simulate near-surface wind speeds in the Inland Pacific Northwest, USA

Wind speed is one of the main control factors of wind erosion and dust emissions, which are major problems in arid and semiarid regions of the world. Accurately simulating highly precise hourly wind speeds is critical and cost-efficient for land management decisions with the goal of mitigating wind erosion and land degradation. The Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS) is a process-based, daily time-step model that simulates changes in the soil–vegetation–atmosphere. However, to date, relatively few studies have been conducted to test the ability of the WEPS in simulating hourly wind speeds. In this study, the performance of the WEPS model was tested in the Inland Pacific Northwest (iPNW), where wind erosion is a serious problem. Hourly wind speeds were observed and simulated by the WEPS at 13 meteorological stations from 2009 to 2018 using the WEPS hourly wind speed probability histogram. Owing to increasing wind shear, the model is not as precise in reproducing high wind speeds. The WEPS inadequately simulated the hourly wind speeds at six of the 13 stations, with a low index of agreement (d < 0.5). The complex regional topography may be one of the reasons for this lack of agreement, because the WEPS’s performance of interpolation relies on spatial distances and surface complexity. Therefore, we validated the model using another wind-speed database to eliminate the impact of spatial interpolation. The performance of the WEPS was improved after removing the impact of spatial interpolation, producing d values > 0.5 at nine of the 13 stations. Our results suggest that the WEPS can accurately simulate hourly wind speeds and assess wind erosion in the absence of interpolation, whereas the model may be uncertain when invoking spatial interpolation. Some evidence also suggests that the model may have a tendency to underestimate observed hourly wind speeds. Pragmatically, this suggests that model users should consider the possibility that WEPS may underestimate wind erosion risk in the iPNW and plan implementation of conservation practices accordingly.

Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy of deep fascia: A cadaveric study evaluating feasibility, accuracy and reliability.

Over the past few decades, researchers and clinicians have dedicated significant attention to fascial tissues. Current interest focuses on their anatomical and pathophysiological features. Breakthroughs in ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have enhanced our ability to study the dynamics and alterations of the tissue structures. However, a microscopic perspective is also essential for a comprehensive understanding of some pathologies of the fasciae. The aim of this study was to investigate, using a cadaveric study: (1) the ease of visualization of the landmarks used for the US-guided fascial core needle biopsy (CNB); (2) the consistency and accuracy of needle placement inside fascial layers using US guidance and confirmed by histological examination; (3) inter-rater reliability. We assessed the feasibility of US-guided CNB in different topographical regions of human cadavers: the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF), fascia lata (FL), and crural fascia (CF). The results, confirmed by histological examination, revealed no significant difference in needle placements between the in-plane approaches in the long and short axes for all locations and fasciae studied (long axis: 91.88%; short axis: 96.22%); p > 0.05. US-guided core needle biopsy with the in-plane approach is feasible, consistent and reliable. It could provide most or all of high-quality fascial tissue samples required for pathological examination. It could also reveal changes in fascial pathologies, capturing the exact site of pathology thanks to US guidance, in particular in patchy diseases such as eosinophilic fasciitis.

GIS Modelling for Prediction of Tsunami Inundation Areas in Coastal Areas of Malang Regency

Abstract This study utilizes Geographic Information System (GIS) modeling to predict potential tsunami inundation areas along the coastal regions of Malang Regency. The capabilities of GIS in this research integrate regional topography and land use data to model tsunami inundation scenarios accurately. The topographic modeling process employs Alos Palsar Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data, which provides detailed elevation information critical for assessing inundation risks. Three altitude scenarios 10 meters, 15 meters, and 20 meters are analyzed to gauge the extent and height of potential tsunami waves. In the 10-meter scenario, the areas most susceptible to inundation include Donomulyo, Bantur, and Gedangan, highlighting these zones as critical areas for immediate attention. As the scenario elevation increases to 15 meters, Gedangan, and Sumbermanjing Wetan emerge as the most vulnerable regions, suggesting a broader risk as tsunami wave heights escalate. The 20-meter scenario further accentuates the vulnerability of Gedangan and Sumbermanjing Wetan Districts, which exhibit the widest potential inundation areas. By identifying the most at-risk areas, this research provides valuable insights for policymakers and planners to develop targeted strategies to mitigate the impact of tsunamis. Advanced GIS modeling is a crucial tool in enhancing the preparedness and resilience of coastal communities against tsunami hazards.

Expression of Neurotrophic Factors and Their Receptors in the Rat Spinal Trigeminal Nucleus

The spinal trigeminal nucleus as part of the trigeminal sensory nuclear complex is associated with the transmission of discriminative tactile sensations, primarily pain, and temperature, from the orofacial region. It is divided into three parts – caudal, interpolar, and oral subnucleus which process pain and temperature stimulate. Our previous experiments have revealed the presence of certain neurotrophic factors such as the nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in this nucleus. These neurotrophins facilitate neuronal differentiation, survival, and plasticity by signalling through high-affinity transmembrane receptors. By using primary antibodies against NGF, BDNF, NT-3, and glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and their corresponding receptors of the tyrosine receptor kinase (Trk) proto-oncogene family and GFRα1, we found immunoreactive cells scattered along the whole length of the nucleus in rats in all three subnuclei. In particular, we observed that the majority of spinal trigeminal neurons were intensely immunostained for all the neurotrophic factors examined and that they were richly endowed with their Trk receptors. Our results also showed that NGF, NT-3, TrkC and GFRα1 expression did not differ between different topographic regions of the nucleus, while BDNF, GDNF, and TrkA expression was highest in the SpVo, and TrkB expression was highest in the SpVi and SpVc. Given that these neurotrophic factors are involved in mechanisms of central sensitization in trigeminal nociceptive pathways, it can be inferred that neurotrophins may contribute to a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of orofacial pain.

Topographical metal burden correlates with brain atrophy and clinical severity in Wilson's disease

BackgroundQuantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is a post-processing technique that creates brain susceptibility maps reflecting metal burden through tissue magnetic susceptibility. We assessed topographic differences in magnetic susceptibility between participants with and without Wilson's disease (WD), correlating these findings with clinical severity, brain volume, and biofluid copper and iron indices. MethodsA total of 43 patients with WD and 20 unaffected controls, were recruited. QSM images were derived from a 3T MRI scanner. Clinical severity was defined using the minimal Unified Wilson's Disease Rating Scale (M-UWDRS) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scoring. Differences in magnetic susceptibilities between groups were evaluated using general linear regression models, adjusting for age and sex. Correlations between the susceptibilities and clinical scores were analyzed using Spearman's method. ResultsIn age- and sex-adjusted analyses, magnetic susceptibility values were increased in WD patients compared with controls, including caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra (all p < 0.01). Putaminal susceptibility was greater with an initial neuropsychiatric presentation (n = 25) than with initial hepatic dysfunction (n = 18; p = 0.04). Susceptibility changes correlated negatively with regional brain volume in almost all topographic regions. Serum ferritin, but not serum copper or ceruloplasmin, correlated positively with magnetic susceptibility level in the caudate nucleus (p = 0.04), putamen (p = 0.04) and the hippocampus (p = 0.03). The dominance of magnetic susceptibility in cortical over subcortical regions correlated with M-UWDRS scores (p < 0.01). ConclusionThe magnetic susceptibility changes could serve as a surrogate marker for patients with WD.

Evaluation of an immersed boundary numerical framework to address the wind field in complex urban topographies

Estimating the wind velocity field in an urban area is important for pedestrian comfort and safety, as the local wind velocities dictate the transport of heat and air pollution in urban environments. Therefore, it is an essential requirement to assess wind patterns when designing urban areas. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) numerical solvers are usually employed to estimate the wind comfort in an urban area under different wind intensities and directions. However, CFD simulations are expensive in terms of time, especially when many scenarios are addressed to ensure safety and comfort for multiple conditions. Here, a CFD framework based on an immersed boundary approach to discretize the urban topography is developed and validated against experimental data in a wind tunnel and two different standard body-fitted mesh codes. The new solver employs a structured cartesian octree grid automatically generated from Lidar data of urban topographies. The advantages are eliminating the complex and time-consuming pre-processing of urban topographies and making the framework accessible to urban planners without CFD expertise. Furthermore, the code is equipped with GPU parallelization that further reduces the computational time. Provided that the best practice guidelines for urban simulations are satisfied, in particular at least 10 cells between two buildings, the code shows very good agreement in all the tests comprising of a simplified and real urban neighborhood highlighting the importance of accurately solving the complex terrain topography of an urban region when non-negligible elevation changes of the order of 20/40 meters are present.

2D and 3D microstructural analysis of the iliotibial tract.

The fascial system has gained recognition for its integral role in connecting skin, superficial and deep fasciae, and underlying muscles. However, consensus on its microstructure depending on its topography remains elusive as well as its implications in clinical practices, such as reconstructive surgery and physiotherapy techniques. This study focuses on the iliotibial tract (ITT) implicated in the iliotibial band syndrome. The goal is to describe microstructural characteristics using classical 2D histology and cryogenic contrast-enhanced microcomputed tomography (cryo-CECT) such as the total thickness, number of layers, layer thickness, fibre orientation and tortuosity, according to the specific topography. The total thickness of the ITT varied across topographic regions, with the superior part being on average thicker but non-significantly different from the other regions. The inferior part showed heterogeneity, with the anterior region (AI) being the thinnest and the posterior one (PI) the thickest. The ITT exhibited 1-3 layers, with no significant differences among regions. Most commonly, it consisted of two layers, except for the antero-superior (AS) and antero-middle (AM) regions, which sometimes had only one layer. The posterior regions frequently had 2 or 3 layers, with the PI region having the highest mean (2.7 layers). The intermediate layer was the thickest one, varying from the AI region (0.368 mm ± 0.114) to the PI region (0.640 mm ± 0.305). The superficial layer showed regional variability, with the AS region being the thinnest. The deep layer appeared thinner than the superficial one. Fibre orientation analysis indicated that the intermediate layer mainly consisted of oblique longitudinal fibres, orientated downward and forward, while the superficial and deep layers had transversal or oblique transversal fibres. Cryo-CECT 3D observations confirmed these findings, revealing distinct orientations for different layers. Fibre tortuosity exhibited differences based on orientation. Transversal fibres (>65°) were significantly less tortuous than longitudinal fibres (<25°) and oblique intermediate fibres (25°-65°), aligning with 3D plot observations. This quantitative study highlights various microstructural characteristics of the ITT, offering insights into its regional variations. The analysis accuracy is increased due to the novel technology of cryo-CECT which emerges as a valuable tool for precise assessment of 3D fibre orientation and tortuosity. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the ITT structure, useful in clinical practices, such as reconstructive surgery and physiotherapy, and future research endeavours.

Study of regional topography and rainfall distribution using the inverse distance weighted (idw) interpolation method in serang city

Study of regional topography and rainfall distribution using the inverse distance weighted (idw) interpolation method in serang city

Thunderstorm climatology of Slovakia between 1984–2023

Thunderstorms are among the most extreme meteorological phenomena that can cause widespread destruction and loss of life. Their occurrence varies significantly across different regions and times of the year. Despite various studies on thunderstorm activity across Central Europe, direct analyses based on data from the Slovak territory still need to be made available. Given Slovakia’s diverse natural conditions, there is a need for detailed knowledge about the frequency and spatial distribution of thunderstorms in this region. To address this knowledge gap, we analysed the frequency and spatiotemporal distribution of days with thunderstorm occurrences in Slovakia between 1984 and 2023, utilising climatological data from the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute. We limited our analysis to data of days with close thunderstorms (thunderstorms occurring within 3 km of the monitoring station). Our findings reveal a significant variation in thunderstorm occurrences across Slovakia, with peak activity in the summer, especially in June and July. However, the spatial distribution of thunderstorms differed significantly across the country, with the highest frequency observed in mountainous regions and the east-central part of Slovakia. We found significant deceasing signals of the thunderstorm activity trends during the studied period, including analyses during the colder part of the year. Furthermore, our results underscore the critical role of synoptic situations in shaping these trends, where changes in certain atmospheric patterns were closely aligned with variations in thunderstorm frequency. The interaction between these synoptic conditions and regional topography was particularly evident, reinforcing the notion that topographical and environmental complexities substantially contribute to the observed thunderstorm distribution.

Immediate and Transient Perturbances in EEG Within Seconds Following Controlled Soccer Head Impact.

Athletes in contact and collision sports can sustain frequent subconcussive head impacts. Although most impacts exhibit low kinematics around or below 10g of head linear acceleration, there is growing concern regarding the cumulative effects of repetitive sports head impacts. Even mild impacts can lead to brain deformations as shown through neuroimaging and finite element modeling, and thus may result in mild and transient effects on the brain, prompting further investigations of the biomechanical dose-brain response relationship. Here we report findings from a novel laboratory study with continuous monitoring of brain activity through electroencephalography (EEG) during controlled soccer head impacts. Eight healthy participants performed simulated soccer headers at 2 mild levels (6g, 4rad/s and 10g, 8rad/s) and three directions (frontal, oblique left, oblique right). Participants were instrumented with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) bite bar and EEG electrodes for synchronized head kinematics and brain activity measurements throughout the experiment. After an impact, EEG exhibited statistically significant elevation of relative and absolute delta power that recovered within two seconds from the impact moment. These changes were statistically significantly higher for 10g impacts compared with 6g impacts in some topographical regions, and oblique impacts resulted in contralateral delta power increases. Post-session resting state measurements did not indicate any cumulative effects. Our findings suggest that even mild soccer head impacts could lead to immediate, transient neurophysiological changes. This study paves the way for further dose-response studies to investigate the cumulative effects of mild sports head impacts, with implications for long-term athlete brain health.

How old are the Mojave topographic dunes? The implications of new luminescence dating analyses from the Cady Mountains, Mojave Desert, southwest USA

The aeolian landforms of the Mojave Desert in the SW USA have been studied in detail over the last three decades, particularly in terms of their relationship to the region's topography and Pleistocene climate / sediment supply histories, as well as wider developments, such as the aeolian “sediment state” concept. In this context, the evolution of the Mojave River and its associated palaeolakes is thought to have been a key control on long-term sediment supply to aeolian systems, and luminescence dating chronologies for a range of (resulting) aeolian landforms have been related to these hydrological changes. Here we argue that at least some of these aeolian chronologies need to be re-assessed.We focus on luminescence chronologies for aeolian landforms within and marginal to the Cady Mountains, a mountain block adjacent to the Mojave River and palaeolake Manix, east of Barstow, California. We demonstrate that quartz in this locale exhibits several malign luminescence properties, and that low temperature K-feldspar infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) consistently exhibits high anomalous fading rates. Both contribute to age underestimation. We address these issues via post-infrared IRSL (pIRIR) and post-isothermal post-IR (pIt-IR) analyses of K-feldspars. The resulting ages span the last ~120 ka and imply phases of aeolian activity of a substantially greater antiquity than previously inferred. Notably, at one well-studied site – the Soldier Mountain sand ramp – the new ages suggest a landform dating not to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 1 or 2, as previously suggested, but more likely to MIS 5. The Cady Mountain record indicates that the only period of the last glacial cycle lacking evidence for aeolian sedimentation is ~40–9 ka, broadly consistent with expectations of increased regional humidity. These results also suggest that site topographic context may influence the age structure of aeolian deposits. In this instance, sand ramps consistently represent the oldest type of deposit (range ~ 40–120 ka), while early-mid Holocene dune accumulation is associated with sandsheets and valley-fill sands. Based on these findings, we argue that there is a need to critically re-assess the existing regional luminescence age database, and that there is potential to significantly revise our understanding of the region's aeolian system responses, and associated paleoenvironmental interpretations.

Slopes along Apollo EVAs: Astronaut experience as input for future mission planning

One major factor for operational safety and planning of human extravehicular activities (EVAs) is the topography of the landing region. During planning for EVAs for future crewed missions, digital elevation models (DEMs) and derived slope maps are often used to place constraints on proposed EVA paths to minimize the slopes and vertical meters traveled. However, the specification of these constraints has not yet been studied in detail and has to date relied on generalized assumptions. The Apollo program was the subject of meticulous planning and execution over an extended period. Our study concentrated on the pivotal aspect of mission planning, namely the topographic conditions of all Apollo landing sites. Furthermore, there are numerous conditions of lunar exploration whose "ground truth" can only be fully comprehended by astronauts who have personally visited the Moon. Certainly, there are technical constraints for the use and operation of equipment and tools, such as suits and instrument carts. However, astronaut observational physiological and psychological experiences and constraints are need to be considered for the planning of successful EVAs. In this study, we examined a variety of data sources, including topographic data, Apollo astronaut reports, audio and video recordings, in order to assess their experience and performance in relation to the topography and slopes along each Apollo extra vehicular activity (EVA). The ability of the astronauts to accurately perceive distances, slopes, and to move with confidence is contingent upon topographic and illumination conditions, as well as the specific equipment that they are required to carry. Future mission planning must take realistic traverse speeds into account, as well as the perception of both real and perceived hazards on challenging traverses.