Collection and processing of shipboard ADCP velocities from the Barents Sea Polar Front Experiment

The Barents Sea Polar Front Experiment was a combined physical oceanography and acoustic tomography field study which took place from 6-26 August 1992. Both shipboard and moored data were collected in a 80 x 70 km experimental region on the south flank of Sptisbergen Bank about 60 km east of Bear Island. Of principal interest in this report are the data from an Acoustic Doppler Current Profier (ADCP) which was operated continuously during the experimental period as a part of the shipboard instrumentation aboard the USNS Barlett. The data from eight current meters deployed on three moorings in the experimental region are used to supplement the ADCP analysis. Preliminary results showed that velocities in the experimental region were dominated by semi-diurnal tides. The strong tidal oscilations dictated the use of a tide removal scheme to extract a steady flow component from the space-time grid of ADCP velocities. This report describes the configuration and operation of the ADCP, the space-time sampling grid on which the data were collected, the determination of absolute velocity from the ADCP measurements, and the application and results of a tide removal technique which allowed estimation of the sub-tidal flow.Funding was provided by the Office of Naval Research under Grant No. NOOOI4-90-J-1359

Individual differences in the development of early writing skills: testing the unique contribution of visuo-spatial working memory

Visually mediated processes including, exposure to print (e.g. reading) as well as orthographic transcription and coding skills, have been found to contribute to individual differences in literacy development. The current study examined the role of visuospatial working memory (WM) in underpinning this relationship and emergent writing. One hundred and forty-three children in their first year of the UK educational system participated. Hierarchical regressions revealed that visuo-spatial WM predicted a unique proportion of the variance in spelling and independent text writing ability after nonverbal cognitive ability, phonological WM, visual perceptual processing and orthographic transcription skills had been taken into account. Further, they also revealed for the spelling of individual words the unique contribution made by short-term memory retention of the orthographic structure of those words is particularly important. This contrasted with the unique contribution of short-term visuo-spatial coding of novel and unfamiliar visual stimuli for the development of independent writing skills

Integrated approach to oral health in aged care facilities using oral health practitioners and teledentistry in rural Queensland

Residents of residential aged care facilities are at very high risk of developing complex oral diseases and dental problems. Key barriers exist in delivering oral health services to residential aged care facilities, particularly in regional and rural areas.A quality improvement study incorporating pre- and post chart audits and pre- and post consultation with key stakeholders, including staff and residents, expert opinion on cost estimates and field notes were used.One regional and three rural residential aged care facilities situated in a non-metropolitan hospital and health service in Queensland.Number of appointments avoided at an oral health facility Feedback on program experience by staff and residents Compliance with oral health care plan implementation Observations of costs involved to deliver new service.The model developed incorporated a visit by an oral health therapist for screening, education, simple intervention and referral for a teledentistry session if required.Results showed an improvement in implementation of oral health care plans and a minimisation of need for residents to attend an oral health care facility. Potential financial and social cost savings for residents and the facilities were also noted.Screening via the oral health therapist and teledentistry appointment minimises the need for a visit to an oral health facility and subsequent disruption to residents in residential aged care facilities

Intubation drug pack containing pre-filled syringes reduces the time to endotracheal intubation in a simulated paediatric emergency

To determine if an intubation drugs pack containing pre-filled syringes can reduce the time to endotracheal intubation compared with standard care during a simulated paediatric emergency. Twenty doctors (10 consultants and 10 registrars) who worked in the paediatric intensive care unit or anaesthetic department of a tertiary paediatric hospital were asked to participate in an in situ simulated emergency paediatric intubation scenario. The participants were instructed to prepare and administer intubation medications. They were randomised to either an intubation drug pack, containing pre-filled syringes or to standard care where each of the drugs had to be individually drawn-up. The mean time to intubation when using the pre-filled syringes of 159.5 s was over three times faster than with standard care of 497.5 s (p<0.001), allowing intubation to occur on average 5 min and 38 s earlier. Utilising an intubation drug pack containing pre-filled syringes significantly reduced the time from decision to intubate to intubation in a simulated paediatric emergency. This applied irrespective of clinical experience with registrars utilising the pre-filled syringes outperforming consultant anaesthetists when they used standard care

Localisation accuracy with iodine‐125 seed versus wire guidance for breast cancer surgery

Abstract Introduction Impalpable breast lesions generally require image‐guided localisation for breast‐conserving surgery. A standard technique is to place a hook wire (HW) within the lesion. Radioguided occult lesion localisation using iodine seeds (ROLLIS) involves inserting a 4.5 mm iodine‐125 seed (seed) into the lesion. We hypothesised that a seed could be more precisely positioned in relation to the lesion than a HW and that this may be associated with a lower re‐excision rate. Methods Retrospective review of consecutive participant data from three ROLLIS RCT (ACTRN12613000655741) sites. Participants underwent preoperative lesion localisation (PLL) with seed or HW between September 2013 and December 2017. Lesion and procedural characteristics were recorded. Distances between (1) any part of the seed or thickened segment of the HW (‘TSHW’) and the lesion/clip (‘distance to device’ DTD) and (2) centre of the TSHW/seed and centre of the lesion/clip (device centre to target centre ‘DCTC’) were measured on immediate postinsertion mammograms. Pathological margin involvement and re‐excision rates were compared. Results A total of 390 lesions (190 ROLLIS and 200 HWL) were analysed. Lesion characteristics and guidance modality used were similar between groups. Ultrasound‐guided DTD and DCTC for seed were smaller than for HW (77.1% and 60.6%, respectively, P‐value < 0.001). Stereotactic‐guided DCTC for seeds was 41.6% smaller than for HW (P‐value = 0.001). No statistically significant difference in the re‐excision rates was found. Conclusion Iodine‐125 seeds can be more precisely positioned for preoperative lesion localisation than HW, however, no statistically significant difference in re‐excision rates was detected