This study contains a series of laboratory experiments designed to describe the lateral movement and spatial variability of an infiltrated dye tracer across the capillary fringe of homogenous sand in an aquarium. A combination of image analysis and geoelectrical monitoring was used to track the flow paths of the dye with different hydraulic gradients and infiltration rates. Photographs were taken

Numerical weather prediction models are increasing in resolution and becoming capable of explicitly representing individual convective storms, but we do not yet know if it is the improved resolution that is leading to better forecasts.

Clayey and saline soils have been shown to be problematic for time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurements. This study presents some of these problems and discusses solutions to them. Thirteen solute transport experiments were carried out in three undisturbed soil columns of swelling clay soil from Tunisia, labelled S1, S2, and S3 respectively. The columns were collected at three different physiog

A nonlinear prediction method, developed based on the ideas gained from deterministic chaos theory, is employed: (a) to predict monthly runoff; and (b) to detect the possible presence of chaos in runoff dynamics. The method first reconstructs the single-dimensional (or variable) runoff series in a multi-dimensional phase space to represent its dynamics, and then uses a local polynomial approach to

Type specimens of Sympycnus pulicarius, S. annulipes, S. cinerellus and S. desoutteri were examined to clear up a long-lasting taxonomic confusion. Our study revealed that they represent, together with S. pygmaeus and S. annulipes var. brunnitibialis, a single species, with S. pulicarius as the senior subjective synonym, which is redescribed in this paper. Lectotypes were designated for Dolichopus

Solute transport in the unsaturated zone often occurs in preferential How paths. There are several reasons for this, e.g., water repellency, the occurrence of fissures and cracks, animal borrows, decomposed root threads etc. The resulting How patterns often display a fractal resemblance which is difficult to predict using conventional transport models. A way to preserve the fractal property of obs

Interaction of synthetic TiO2 (anatase) nanoparticles in aqueous suspension at pH 5 was investigated as a function of time in the presence of various organic molecules in terms of adsorption and aggregation behaviour. ζ-potential and average particle diameter were determined with electrophoretic and dynamic light scattering, respectively, while batch adsorption experiments were used to quantify th

Terrestrial carbon cycle models have incorporated increasingly more processes as a means to achieve more-realistic representations of ecosystem carbon cycling. Despite this, there are large across-model variations in the simulation and projection of carbon cycling. Several model intercomparison projects (MIPs), for example, the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) (hist

Large-scale linear systems arise in finite-difference and finite-element discretizations of elliptic problems. With increasing computer performance, ever larger systems are solved using direct methods. How large can such systems be without roundoff compromising accuracy? Here we model roundoff dynamics in standard LU and LDLT decompositions with respect to problem size N. For the one-dimensional (

Dipterological surveys were conducted in different sites in western and central parts of northern Iran (Guilan, Mazandaran, Kordestan, East and West Azerbaijan and Ardabil provinces) during 2010–2011 using Malaise traps, and during 2012–2014 employing sweep nets. A total of 110 species were collected, including 42 Dolichopodinae. Eleven dolichopodine species proved new to science, eight of which a

In 1935, a law on prescription-based sterilisation of ‘the idiot, the imbecile, and the mentally ill’ was passed by a majority in the Finnish parliament. Complementary of earlier eugenic legislation, it was considered beneficial for public health and economy, following the examples of ‘advanced’ countries such as Sweden and Germany. The cultural journal Tulenkantajat (The Fire Bearers, 1932-1939)

Hydrological climate change impact assessment is generally performed by following a sequence of steps from global and regional climate modelling, through data tailoring (bias-adjustment and downscaling) and hydrological modelling, to analysis and impact assessment. This “climate-hydrology-assessment chain” has been developed with a primary focus on applicability to a medium-sized rural basin, whic

Aims Optimal antithrombotic therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and atrial fibrillation is uncertain. In this study, we compared antithrombotic regimes with regard to a composite cardiovascular outcome of all-cause mortality, MI or ischaemic stroke, and major bleeds. Methods and results Patients between October 2005 and December 2012 w

Aim: Having a known midwife at birth is valued by women across the world, however it is unusual for women with fear of childbirth to have access to this model of care. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and factors related to having access to a known midwife for women referred to counseling due to childbirth fear. We also wanted to explore if women's levels of childbirth fear cha

At the southern margin of permafrost in North America, climate change causes widespread permafrost thaw. In boreal lowlands, thawing forested permafrost peat plateaus (‘forest’) lead to expansion of permafrost‐free wetlands (‘wetland’). Expanding wetland area with saturated and warmer organic soils is expected to increase landscape methane (CH4) emissions. Here, we quantify the thaw‐induced increa