Few Months Of Observation Research Articles

Cognitive Functions in Scuba, Technical and Saturation Diving.

Scuba diving as a recreational activity is becoming increasingly popular. However, the safety of this activity, especially in the out-of-comfort zone, has been discussed worldwide. The latest publications bring conclusions regarding negative effects on cognitive functions. We compare the acute and chronic effects of diving on cognitive functioning depending on the type of dive performed, including recreational, technical and saturation diving. However, the results of research show that acute and chronic effects on cognitive functions can be negative. While acute effects are reversible after the ascent, chronic effects include white matter lesions in magnetic resonance imaging scans. We believe that more investigations should be performed to determine the chronic effects that could be observed after a few months of observations in a group of regular, intense divers. In addition, publications referring to technical divers are very limited, which is disquieting, as this particular group of divers seems to be neglected in research concerning the effects of diving on cognitive functions.

Polypoid Endometriosis, a Benign Tumor with Perplexing Radiologic Features: A Case Report

Polypoid endometriosis is a rare form of endometriosis. It is a benign variant but its radiologic findings trick clinicians into concern about the tumor being malignant. A 42-year-old patient with a history of dysmenorrhea and adenomyosis presented a 60 mm-sized mass in the Douglas pouch with irregular echogenicity. The patient went under the first surgery for tumor removal, and its histopathologic diagnosis was endometriosis. We started daily dienogest medication to suppress tumor recurrence, but after 10 months we decided to stop the medication due to the side effects. Four months after the cessation, a new tumor recurred and after few months of observation, we performed the second surgery of tumor removal and total hysterectomy because of adenomyosis. The tumor was located in the retroperitoneal space in the Douglas pouch with severe adhesions. After the second surgery, the tumor marker Cancer antigen-125 level was normalized and the histopathologic result was endometriosis, which we concluded as polypoid endometriosis.

Technical Monitoring System for a New Part of Gdańsk Deepwater Container Terminal

Abstract Development strategy for the port of Gdańsk assumes that , up to 2027, it will become the main transport centre in the Baltic Sea region. To this end , for many years work has been carried out to facilitate access to the port both by sea and land. One of the elements of extension of the port is the building of another terminal of Deepwater Container Terminal, Gdańsk. In this task, geotechnical operations aimed at appropriate preparation of subgrade for storage of containers and operation of cranes, have been especially important. Effectiveness of the assumed design solution of land-side girder for gantry crane has been verified by means of a technical monitoring system. This paper presents main elements of design the land-side girder of a new quay of the container terminal in Gdańsk, together with its computational analysis, as well as the results collected during a few months of observation, which have revealed real work of monitored elements.

Schizophrenia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: drug abuse as a cause of wrong diagnosis

Introduction It is common to find patients with overlapping attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance abuse disorder, specially alcohol, cannabis and cocaine. The anxiety, impulsivity and even psychosis derived from consumption often induce wrong diagnosis of patients, due to the camouflage of the basic psychopathology of ADHD. Objectives Analyze a clinical case in order to point out the difficulty of diagnosis existent in ADHD patients with substance abuse disorder comorbidity. Aims To gain insight in the psychopathology of ADHD patients, to make the right discernment and to improve the quality of their lives. Methods Thirty-four-year-old man, ex-drug user of cannabis and cocaine, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia several years ago on an outpatient basis. Currently in prison, with regular follow-up by psichiatry in the last year. The toxic withdrawal, the collection of medical history and the successive consultations finally orientated the diagnosis to ADHD-combined subtype, receiving treatment with atomoxetine instead of antipsychotics. After few months of observation, we confirmed an excellent general clinical response and a better adaptation to the prison environment. Results Psychoticism disappeared with drug abstinence. Antipsychotics were interrupted due to the absence of psychopathology of schizophrenia. Free of psychotropic drugs, ADHD symptoms became apparent. Conclusions Due to ADHD comorbidity, it is important to pay attention to the profile to make the right discrimination between different entities for therapeutic and prognosis implications.

Fundamental Physics and General Relativity with the LARES and LAGEOS satellites

Current observations of the universe have strengthened the interest to further test General Relativity and other theories of fundamental physics. After an introduction to the phenomenon of frame-dragging predicted by Einsteinʼs theory of General Relativity, with fundamental astrophysical applications to rotating black holes, we describe the past measurements of frame-dragging obtained by the LAGEOS satellites and by the dedicated Gravity Probe B space mission. We also discuss a test of String Theories of Chern-Simons type that has been carried out using the results of the LAGEOS satellites. We then describe the LARES space experiment. LARES was successfully launched in February 2012 to improve the accuracy of the tests of frame-dragging, it can also improve the test of String Theories. We present the results of the first few months of observations of LARES, its orbital analyses show that it has the best agreement of any other satellite with the test-particle motion predicted by General Relativity. We finally briefly report the accurate studies and the extensive simulations of the LARES space experiment, confirming an accuracy of a few percent in the forthcoming measurement of frame-dragging.

Testing General Relativity and gravitational physics using the LARES satellite

The discovery of the accelerating expansion of the Universe, thought to be driven by a mysterious form of `dark energy' constituting most of the Universe, has further revived the interest in testing Einstein's theory of General Relativity. At the very foundation of Einstein's theory is the geodesic motion of a small, structureless test-particle. Depending on the physical context, a star, planet or satellite can behave very nearly like a test-particle, so geodesic motion is used to calculate the advance of the perihelion of a planet's orbit, the dynamics of a binary pulsar system and of an Earth orbiting satellite. Verifying geodesic motion is then a test of paramount importance to General Relativity and other theories of fundamental physics. On the basis of the first few months of observations of the recently launched satellite LARES, its orbit shows the best agreement of any satellite with the test-particle motion predicted by General Relativity. That is, after modelling its known non-gravitational perturbations, the LARES orbit shows the smallest deviations from geodesic motion of any artificial satellite. LARES-type satellites can thus be used for accurate measurements and for tests of gravitational and fundamental physics. Already with only a few months of observation, LARES provides smaller scatter in the determination of several low-degree geopotential coefficients (Earth gravitational deviations from sphericity) than available from observations of any other satellite or combination of satellites.

Effects of short spin-up periods on soil moisture simulation and the causes over New Zealand

[1] A spin-up is needed for a land surface model (LSM) to simulate reliable soil moisture. The best spin-up is to integrate a LSM for many consecutive years before the start of an experimental period. Alternatively, a one-year spin-up period (defined in the text) can be used to spin-up a LSM if longer periods of forcing data are not available. However, for special cases with only a few months of observations, can one use a few months to spin-up a LSM? If yes, what are the conditions? To answer these questions, we have run a LSM during 1 August 2008–31 July 2010 at 4 sites in New Zealand with widely different annual rainfall amount and soil textures. Two test groups were conducted at each station. Each group had 6 spin-up tests differing only in spin-up periods, ranging from 2 months to 1 year (CTRL). For the 4 stations, a few months had the same effect as CTRL except at Winchmore, where significant differences in simulated soil moisture between a test and CTRL still occurred at or after the equilibrium state. The results at Winchmore repeated at the other 3 stations with reduced rainfall rates, and vice versa. Sensitivity tests with decreased or increased rainfall rates showed that quite large differences in simulated soil moisture at the equilibrium states between CTRL and a test occurred in an annual rainfall window from 350–1000 mm. Further analyses suggested a E/R ratio (the ratio of evaporation accumulation to rainfall accumulation during the spin-up period at the last spin-up cycle) to determine whether or not a few months can be used to spin-up a LSM. A simple rule was suggested for application of these results in New Zealand and other areas with almost similar climates to those of New Zealand.

Lobomycosis-like disease in wild bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus of Laguna, southern Brazil: monitoring of a progressive case

Lobomycosis is a chronic dermal infection affecting humans and small cetaceans. In 1993, a study identified the presence of the etiologic agent of lobomycosis in a resident population of Tursiops truncatus (bottlenose dolphin) in Laguna, Brazil. Until now, no additional information relating to the persistence or prevalence of this pathogen in this population has been available. Numbering less than 60 animals, the residency of these dolphins in an impacted lagoon system has raised concerns about the health and viability of this small population. Using photo-identification data collected between September 2007 and September 2009, this study evaluated the occurrence of lobomycosis-like disease (LLD) throughout this population. Of 47 adult dolphins and 10 calves identified, 7 (12%) presented some form of epidermal lesion and 5 (9%) had evidence of LLD. The lesions were stable in all but 2 cases, in which a progressive development was recorded in a presumed adult female and her calf (referred to here as the LLD pair). During the first few months of observation, the lesion grew slowly and at a constant rate on the adult. However, in the fourteenth month, the growth rate increased rapidly and the first lesions appeared on the calf. Compared to the rest of the population, the LLD pair also presented a different spatial ranging pattern, suggesting a possible social or geographic factor. Current and previous records of LLD or lobomycosis indicate that the disease is endemic in this population. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring both the health of these cetaceans and the quality of their habitat.

HIGH-RESOLUTION TIMING OBSERVATIONS OF SPIN-POWERED PULSARS WITH THEAGILEGAMMA-RAY TELESCOPE

AGILE is a small gamma-ray astronomy satellite mission of the Italian Space Agency dedicated to high-energy astrophysics launched in 2007 April. Its 1 microsecond absolute time tagging capability coupled with a good sensitivity in the 30 MeV-30 GeV range, with simultaneous X-ray monitoring in the 18-60 keV band, makes it perfectly suited for the study of gamma-ray pulsars following up on the CGRO/EGRET heritage. In this paper we present the first AGILE timing results on the known gamma-ray pulsars Vela, Crab, Geminga and B 1706-44. The data were collected from 2007 July to 2008 April, exploiting the mission Science Verification Phase, the Instrument Timing Calibration and the early Observing Pointing Program. Thanks to its large field of view, AGILE collected a large number of gamma-ray photons from these pulsars (about 10,000 pulsed counts for Vela) in only few months of observations. The coupling of AGILE timing capabilities, simultaneous radio/X-ray monitoring and new tools aimed at precise photon phasing, exploiting also timing noise correction, unveiled new interesting features at sub-millisecond level in the pulsars' high-energy light-curves.

Effects of Cotrimoxazole on Hematologic Parameters in HIV-Infected Adults in a Community-Based Clinic in Entebbe, Uganda

We and others have previously reported reduced mortality and malaria incidence with cotrimoxazole prophylaxis for HIV-1-infected adults in Uganda and elsewhere. This evidence has led to widespread implementation of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis for HIV-1-infected persons in sub-Saharan Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that implementation at the country level should be carefully monitored and that this monitoring should evaluate rates of toxicity including hematologic toxicity through the measurement of blood cell counts every 6 months. Cotrimoxazole interferes with folate metabolism and there have been several reports of hematologic abnormalities associated with its use. These abnormalities could potentially worsen if cotrimoxazole is used in conjunction with myelosuppressive or antifolate drugs such as zidovudine. There is scanty evidence of these abnormalities associated with cotrimoxazole use in Uganda however. Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis was introduced in August 2000 in an open cohort of HIV-1-infected participants in EntebbeUganda. Here we report hematologic changes in participants before and after the introduction of cotrimoxazole. (excerpt)

The Cosmic Background Imager

The Cosmic Background Imager (CBI) is an instrument designed to make images of the cosmic microwave background radiation and to measure its statistical properties on angular scales from about 3 arc minutes to one degree (spherical harmonic scales from l ˜ 4250 down to l ˜ 400). The CBI is a 13-element interferometer mounted on a 6 meter platform operating in ten 1-GHz frequency bands from 26 GHz to 36 GHz. The instantaneous field of view of the instrument is 45 arcmin (FWHM) and its resolution ranges from 3 to 10 arcmin; larger fields can be imaged by mosaicing. At this frequency and resolution, the primary foreground is due to discrete extragalactic sources, which are monitored at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory and subtracted from the CBI visibility measurements.The instrument has been making observations since late 1999 of both primordial CMB fluctuations and the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect in clusters of galaxies from its site at an altitude of 5080 meters near San Pedro de Atacama, in northern Chile. Observations will continue until August 2001 or later. We present preliminary results from the first few months of observations.

Natural History of Arterial Injuries Diagnosed with Arteriography

To evaluate the natural history of untreated arterial injuries identified at arteriography. The medical charts and radiographs were reviewed for all patients with arterial injuries identified during arteriography who were managed by means of nonoperative observation and underwent follow-up arteriography. Eighty-six nonrandomized patients with 105 arterial injuries were identified. These included 33 narrowed segments, two dilated segments, 23 intimal defects, 13 occlusions, 12 false aneurysms, 13 arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs), and five extravasations. Four vessels initially considered normal were subsequently found to have injuries. The average duration of observation was 23.5 days (range, 1-1,900 days). Forty-two arterial abnormalities healed spontaneously without other intervention. Thirty-eight "minimal" injuries improved or healed, whereas 25 worsened. Thirteen transmural injuries improved, whereas 12 progressed. There was no significant morbidity or mortality due to the delay involved with sequential studies. The natural history of these abnormalities was variable and unpredictable. Nonocclusive "minimal" injuries rarely cause ischemic or hemorrhagic complications. Although symptomatic AVFs have a low probability of spontaneous resolution, asymptomatic lesions may close and the risks associated with a few months of observation are minimal. Close follow-up is essential if a nonoperative approach is undertaken.

Analysis of selected nitric oxide observations in the lower thermosphere by HALOE on UARS

Measurements of nitric oxide mixing ratios have been made by the Halogen Occultation Experiment on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite over an altitude range extending from 15 to 130 km on every spacecraft sunrise and sunset event with the exception of about 8% downtime. Selected NO profiles from the first few months of observations were examined with emphasis on the relation between geomagnetic disturbances and enhanced NO in the lower thermosphere. During a large geomagnetic storm on November 8–9, 1991, HALOE obtained 15 NO sunrise profiles along the ∼50°N latitude circle. A factor of 3 increase in NO mixing ratio above ∼115 km at this latitude and a one to two day decay time were observed. The measured NO longitude/altitude cross section on this day shows a longitudinal asymmetry in the NO distribution with a maximum near the geomagnetic pole. From approximately one month's data, a latitude/altitude cross section of zonal mean NO mixing ratio was calculated. An example of such cross sections demonstrates a strong positive correlation between geomagnetic activity and thermospheric NO globally. This auroral forcing has a larger effect on increasing NO at high latitude than at low latitude.

Energetics and Reproduction in Female Scaphiopus multiplicatus from Western Texas

Survival of spadefoot toads in semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States has been attributed, in part, to their adaptation of a sporadic, rainfallstimulated activity regime (Bentley, 1966; McClanahan, 1967; Ruibal et al., 1969; Seymour, 1973a). Furthermore, the annual duration of this intermittent activity may be quite brief (e.g., 2 mo, Seymour, 1973b) and during this time all mating and foraging for the year must occur. Several studies examined the use of lipid as an energy storage substrate in spadefoots (Seymour, 1973b; Dimmitt and Ruibal, 1980; Jones, 1980); however, due to the brevity of the species' annual activity, these studies consisted of only a few months of observation during the year. In general, spadefoots conformed to the hypotheses concerning energy use strategies which predict low levels of stored energy in ectotherms exiting dormancy, continuance of low levels during vitellogenesis, followed by an increase in levels prior to brumation (e.g., Derickson, 1976; Fitzpatrick, 1976). The purpose of this study was to observe the seasonal variation of somatic and ovar-

Absorption in the Atmosphere and Decay of Cosmic Rays

IN a former communication1, an account was given of the hourly records of cosmic-ray intensity which are being made in London by registering threefold coincidences between three trays of Geiger-Muller counters without using any absorbing screen. The full description of the apparatus is given elsewhere, together with a complete account of the analysis of the data corresponding to the first few months of observation.