Chemical characteristics of Pacific tropospheric air in the region of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and South Pacific Convergence Zone

The Pacific Exploratory Mission (PEM)-Tropics provided extensive aircraft data to study the atmospheric chemistry of tropospheric air in Pacific Ocean regions, extending from Hawaii to New Zealand and from Fiji to east of Easter Island. This region, especially the tropics, includes some of the cleanest tropospheric air of the world and, as such, is important for studying atmospheric chemical budgets and cycles. The region also provides a sensitive indicator of the global-scale impact of human activity on the chemistry of the troposphere, and includes such important features as the Pacific "warm pool," the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ), and Walker Cell circulations. PEM-Tropics was conducted from August to October 1996. The ITCZ and SPCZ are major upwelling regions within the South Pacific and, as such, create boundaries to exchange of tropospheric air between regions to the north and south. Chemical data obtained in the near vicinity of the ITCZ and the SPCZ are examined. Data measured within the convergent zones themselves are not considered. The analyses show that air north and south of the convergent zones have different chemical signatures, and the signatures are reflective of the source regions and transport histories of the air. Air north of the ITCZ shows a modest urban/industrialized signature compared to air south of the ITCZ. The chemical signature of air south of the SPCZ is dominated by combustion emissions from biomass burning, while air north of the SPCZ is relatively clean and of similar composition to ITCZ south air. Chemical signature differences of air north and south of the zones are most pronounced at altitudes below 5 km, and, as such, show that the ITCZ and SPCZ are effective low-altitude barriers to the transport of tropospheric air. At altitudes of 8 to 10 km, chemical signatures are less dissimilar, and air backward trajectories (to 10 days) show cross-convergent-zone flow. At altitudes below about 5 km, little cross-zonal flow is observed. Chemical signatures presented include over 30 trace chemical species including ultrafine, fine, and heated-fine (250°C) aerosol. Copyright 1999 by the American Geophysical Union

Evaluation des caractéristiques, morphologiques physico-chimiques et sensorielles de la purée de deux variétés de tomates locales produites à petite échelle à Man (Côte d’Ivoire)

Cette étude découle d’un vaste projet de production sur différents substrats (hors sol, plein champs) et de valorisation de la tomate, dans la région montagneuse de Man. Aussi, ces expériences, qui s’inscrivent dans le cadre de la valorisation par la transformation des fruits de la production, ont-elles été menées dans l’optique d’évaluer les caractéristiques morphologiques, physico-chimiques et sensorielles des fruits et de la purée des deux variétés de tomates produites. Il s’agit de la tomate traditionnelle (Tmt 1), variété la plus utilisée dans les ménages ruraux de la région montagneuse de Man et la tomate (Tmt 2), d’usage commun pour les plats de salades en zone urbaine. Cette dernière se reconnaît par ses fruits de forme allongée (Cf= 1,93±0,10> 1), de couleur rouge et moins foncée (Couleur ΔE 26,5±0,00) que la première variété (Couleur ΔE 30,3±0,00). Avec des taux de matière sèche différents ; (11,93±0,49% pour la purée de tomate Tmt 1 et de 8,81±0,52% pour la purée de tomate Tmt2, les purées qui en sont produites ont des teneurs très importantes en minéraux. Ces taux élevés pourraient ainsi permettre de compenser des carences en nutriments des populations de la zone. De plus, les pH aussi bas (3,93±0,00) pour la purée de Tmt1 et 4,13±0,01 pour celle de Tmt2, confèrent une acidité élevée à ces purées et donc une meilleure conservation. Le traitement thermique appliqué au produit à 80 °C pendant 15 Minutes garantit à la purée une bonne stabilité microbiologique conforme à la norme AFNOR (NFV-08-402). L’analyse sensorielle, basée sur les critères de la couleur (rouge), le goût salé, l’acidité et la consistance révèle que la purée produite à partir de la tomate Tmt1 est la plus appréciée des dégustateurs.Mots clés : Tomate, Morphologie, purées, physico-chimique, Man, Côte d’Ivoir

Attachment and Autism Spectrum Conditions: Exploring Mary Main’s Coding Notes

Distinguishing autism spectrum behaviours from behaviours relating to disorganised attachment can be challenging. There is, for instance, a notable overlap between both conditions in terms of behaviours deemed stereotypical. In addition, there are also similarities regarding some atypical social overtures. Responding to this overlap has been the subject for much debate in the literature. Disorganised attachment was first introduced and conceptualised by the attachment researcher, Mary Main. Main is considered the leading authority on coding this phenomenon. During the course of archival research, we obtained Main’s notes on coding attachment in a group of fifteen children with autism spectrum conditions (hereafter ASC). Drawing on these texts, this paper explores Main’s reasoning when making distinctions between ASC and attachment at the behavioural level. Our approach is informed by Chang’s (2017) argument for the potential of “history as complementary science. Analysis indicate that, for Main, frequency and timing was an important differential factor when attributing a behaviour to either ASC or the child’s attachment pattern.The authors wish to thank the Wellcome Trust [Grant WT103343MA] and the NIHR School of Primary Care Research [RG94577

Determining the date of diagnosis – is it a simple matter? The impact of different approaches to dating diagnosis on estimates of delayed care for ovarian cancer in UK primary care

Background Studies of cancer incidence and early management will increasingly draw on routine electronic patient records. However, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. We developed a generalisable strategy for investigating presenting symptoms and delays in diagnosis using ovarian cancer as an example. Methods The General Practice Research Database was used to investigate the time between first report of symptom and diagnosis of 344 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer between 01/06/2002 and 31/05/2008. Effects of possible inaccuracies in dating of diagnosis on the frequencies and timing of the most commonly reported symptoms were investigated using four increasingly inclusive definitions of first diagnosis/suspicion: 1. "Definite diagnosis" 2. "Ambiguous diagnosis" 3. "First treatment or complication suggesting pre-existing diagnosis", 4 "First relevant test or referral". Results The most commonly coded symptoms before a definite diagnosis of ovarian cancer, were abdominal pain (41%), urogenital problems(25%), abdominal distension (24%), constipation/change in bowel habits (23%) with 70% of cases reporting at least one of these. The median time between first reporting each of these symptoms and diagnosis was 13, 21, 9.5 and 8.5 weeks respectively. 19% had a code for definitions 2 or 3 prior to definite diagnosis and 73% a code for 4. However, the proportion with symptoms and the delays were similar for all four definitions except 4, where the median delay was 8, 8, 3, 10 and 0 weeks respectively. Conclusion Symptoms recorded in the General Practice Research Database are similar to those reported in the literature, although their frequency is lower than in studies based on self-report. Generalisable strategies for exploring the impact of recording practice on date of diagnosis in electronic patient records are recommended, and studies which date diagnoses in GP records need to present sensitivity analyses based on investigation, referral and diagnosis data. Free text information may be essential in obtaining accurate estimates of incidence, and for accurate dating of diagnoses

Numerical Hermitian Yang-Mills Connections and Vector Bundle Stability in Heterotic Theories

A numerical algorithm is presented for explicitly computing the gauge connection on slope-stable holomorphic vector bundles on Calabi-Yau manifolds. To illustrate this algorithm, we calculate the connections on stable monad bundles defined on the K3 twofold and Quintic threefold. An error measure is introduced to determine how closely our algorithmic connection approximates a solution to the Hermitian Yang-Mills equations. We then extend our results by investigating the behavior of non slope-stable bundles. In a variety of examples, it is shown that the failure of these bundles to satisfy the Hermitian Yang-Mills equations, including field-strength singularities, can be accurately reproduced numerically. These results make it possible to numerically determine whether or not a vector bundle is slope-stable, thus providing an important new tool in the exploration of heterotic vacua.Comment: 52 pages, 15 figures. LaTex formatting of figures corrected in version 2

Comparing seated pressures in daily wheelchair and sports equipment and investigating the skin protective effects of padded shorts.

Background: Adaptive sports are promoted for individuals with spinal cord injury to increase overall health and prevent cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, but the potential risk of pressure ulcer development with adaptive equipment (AE) is a concern. Current research has found seated pressures in AE that exceed clinically accepted values but no studies have measured pressure with a padded short to assess for its potential pressure reducing effects. Objective: Our study sought to evaluate average and peak seating pressure in both static and dynamic sport-specific positions, with and without the presence of three types of over-the-counter padded bicycle shorts, in multiple types of adaptive equipment (AE): Hand cycle, quad rugby, basketball, and mountain hand cycle. Methods: Part One. Pre/Post test design with subjects as their own control. Eight adults with SCI (C5-T6) were pressure mapped under static and dynamic conditions in their daily use wheelchair (WC) and AE. Three conditions were mapped: Daily WC, AE without bicycle shorts, and AE with shorts. AE included: Hand-cycle, quad rugby, basketball, and mountain hand-cycle. Part Two. Static pressure readings in a hand-cycle were taken on 16 able-bodied subjects with and without an impact short and a full-coverage padded short. Part three. Single subject with T5 SCI was pressure mapped in static and dynamic conditions with and without the full-coverage padded short in a basketball chair and mountain hand-cycle. Average pressure (AP) and peak pressure (PP) recordings were taken for 60 seconds (400 frames) using the TekScan Pressure Mapping System. For static recordings the participants were instructed to sit still, while for dynamic recordings participants simulated sport or activity specific movements. Results: Part 1. Significant differences were found between the daily chair and AE for both AP and PP in the static condition (p \u3c 0.05), as well as AP in the dynamic condition (p Part 2. The impact short significantly increased static PP and AP (p0.05). Part 3. The full-coverage padded short increased AP and PP in the basketball chair, decreased AP in the mountain hand cycle and increased PP in the mountain hand cycle. Discussion: Pressure differences between daily WC and AE in static conditions suggests that athletes who are not moving or sitting on the sidelines in their AE may be at greater risk of tissue breakdown than athletes who are playing and experiencing pressure-relieving positions during movement. Padded shorts as a method to reduce PP and AP yielded variable results which may have been influenced by type of AE and posture in the AE. Thus seated posture may influence the pressure relieving capabilities of a padded short. Conclusion: Donning a padded short as a method of skin protection yields highly variable changes in PP and AP and pressure mapping should be performed prior to use in AE by the SCI population. Works Cited: Berthold, J., Dicianno, B.E. & Cooper, R.A. (2013). Pressure mapping to assess seated pressure distributions and the potential risk for skin ulceration in a population of sledge hockey players and control subjects. Disability and Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology, 8(5), 387-39http://doi.org/10.3109/17483107.2013.769123 Darrah, S.D., Dcianno, B.E., Berthold, J., McCoy, A., Haas, M., & Cooper, R.A. (2016). Measuring static seated pressure distributions and risk for skin pressure ulceration in ice sledge hockey players. Disability and Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology, 11(3), 241-246. http://doi.org/10.3109/17483107.2014.92193

Improving Body Mechanics Using Experiential Learning and Ergonomic Tools in Massage Therapy Education

Introduction: Current industry data suggest that the rise in occupational injuries for massage therapists is contributing to a significant number leaving the profession after a few short years. While many massage therapists are taught meth-ods for proper body mechanics and self-care within their career educational programs, there are few consistencies in the theoretical approaches to these concepts, even though it is a required component in massage therapy career training.Purpose: This study demonstrates a measurable and effective teaching method using a combination of experiential and transformative learning theory models and authentic ergonomics measurement tools to teach effective body mechanics in entry level career training that may be sustainable for new massage therapists entering the field. Methods: Four cohorts of students (N = 17) enrolled in a kinesiology course for massage thera-pists were studied using a mixed-methods time series experimental design. A pre- and post-test was conducted by utilizing two industry standard ergo-nomics risk factor assessment tools as measurable data for score comparison, to denote improvements in each student’s risk factor tendencies and provide evidentiary support of learning transfer. Between the pre- and post-test, students participated in a series of experiential learning exercises within class sessions during the semester and completed two reflection journals discussing their experiences. Results: The results showed that there was a statistically significant reduction in ergonomics risk factor scores for all students studied. Conclusion: The success of this study demon-strates that the instructional design using expe-riential and transformative educational theory and general ergonomics concepts is an effective approach to teaching proper body mechanics to massage therapy students which can be adopted into universally accepted curriculum on many levels and could eventually contribute to reduction of occupational injury in the future