High resolution lunar radar studies: Preliminary results

High resolution radar data for the lunar surface were acquired over 14 sites in June and November 1990 using the new 10 MHz data taking system at the Arecibo Observatory. The raw data collected for each site covers an area approximately 100 by 400 km and will be processed using delay-Doppler techniques into images of backscatter cross section with three fo four independent looks. All observations transmitted a circularly polarized signal and both senses of circular polarization were received containing the polarized and depolarized component of the backscatter signal. The relative power in these two polarizations provides useful information on properties of the surface, in particular surface roughness. The effort to date focused on the initial data analysis with new software written to perform a full synthetic aperture focusing on the raw radar data. This analysis will involve the use of complementary high resolution optical and topographic data sets to aid interpretation of surface scattering mechanisms

Management practice evaluation for urban areas in the Hampton Roads vicinity: a report to Hampton Roads Water Quality Agency

Data was collected by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science from study sites in the designated Hampton Roads 208 area, and information from other studies published in the literature were used to examine the change in pollutant loadings brought about by the presence of management practices in urban test watersheds. The focus was on nutrients, BOD, and suspended solids

The relationship between anaesthetic technique, clinicopathological characteristics and the magnitude of the postoperative systemic inflammatory response in patients undergoing elective surgery for colon cancer

Background/aim: The magnitude of the postoperative systemic inflammatory response (SIR) is now recognised to be associated with both short and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for colon cancer. During such surgery, it is unclear whether the anaesthetic regimens influence the magnitude of the postoperative SIR, independent of other factors. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between anaesthetic agents, clinicopathological characteristics and the magnitude of the postoperative SIR in patients undergoing elective surgery for colon cancer. Methods: Patients with colon cancer who underwent elective open or laparoscopic surgery between 2008 and 2016 (n = 409) were studied at a single center. The relationship between type of anaesthesia, surgical technique; open (n = 241) versus laparoscopic (n = 168) and clinicopathological characteristics was examined by using chi-square testing. The chi-square test was used to determine which anaesthetic group influences the POD 2 CRP for only patients undergoing elective open colon surgery. Results: The majority of patients were <75 years old, male, normal weight or obese, underwent open surgery and had regional anaesthesia, in particular an epidural approach. There was a significant association between type of anaesthesia and post-operative CRP on day 2 (p <0.001) in patients undergoing open surgery but not laparoscopic surgery. Other factors associated with type of anaesthesia included; year of operation (p <0.01), surgical technique (p <0.001), and preoperative dexamethasone (p <0.01). Conclusion: In patients undergoing surgery for elective colon cancer, the type of anaesthesia varied over time. The type of anaesthesia appears to influence the magnitude of the postoperative SIR on post-operative day 2 in open surgery but not laparoscopic surgery. Future work using prospective study design is required to better define this relationship

Arctic and Antarctic Sea Ice, 1978-1987: Satellite Passive-Microwave Observations and Analysis

This book contains a description and analysis of the spatial and temporal variations in the Arctic and Antarctic sea ice covers from October 26, 1978 through August 20, 1987. It is based on data collected by the Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) onboard the NASA Nimbus 7 satellite. The 8.8-year period, together with the 4 years of the Nimbus 5 Electrically Scanning Microwave Radiometer (ESMR) observations presented in two earlier volumes, comprises a sea ice record spanning almost 15 years

Possible dose dependent effect of perioperative dexamethasone and laparoscopic surgery on the postoperative systemic inflammatory response and complications following surgery for colon cancer

Background: Perioperative dexamethasone is associated with attenuation of the postoperative systemic inflammatory response and fewer postoperative complications following elective surgery for colorectal cancer. This study examined the impact of different doses of dexamethasone, given to reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after elective colonic resection for cancer, on the postoperative Glasgow Prognostic Score (poGPS) and morbidity. Methods: Patients from a single centre were included if they underwent potentially curative resection of colonic cancer from 2008 to 2017 (n = 480). Patients received no dexamethasone (209, 44%), or either 4 mg (166, 35%), or 8 mg (105, 21%), intravenously during anaesthesia, at the discretion of the anaesthetist. The postoperative Glasgow Prognostic Score (poGPS) on day 3 and 4, and complication rate at discharge were recorded. Results: When patients were grouped by surgical approach (open or laparoscopic) and dexamethasone dose (0 mg, 4 mg or 8 mg), there was a statistically significant linear trend toward a lower postoperative systemic inflammatory response (day 3 poGPS) with the use of minimally invasive surgery and higher doses of dexamethasone (p < 0.001). Furthermore, this combination of laparoscopic surgery and higher doses of dexamethasone was significantly associated with a lower proportion of postoperative complications (p < 0.001). At multivariate Cox regression, dexamethasone was not significantly associated with either improved or poorer cancer specific or overall survival. Conclusions: Higher doses of perioperative dexamethasone are associated with greater reduction in postoperative systemic inflammation and complications following surgery for colonic cancer without negative impact on survival