Perspectives and Integration in SOLAS Science

Why a chapter on Perspectives and Integration in SOLAS Science in this book? SOLAS science by its nature deals with interactions that occur: across a wide spectrum of time and space scales, involve gases and particles, between the ocean and the atmosphere, across many disciplines including chemistry, biology, optics, physics, mathematics, computing, socio-economics and consequently interactions between many different scientists and across scientific generations. This chapter provides a guide through the remarkable diversity of cross-cutting approaches and tools in the gigantic puzzle of the SOLAS realm. Here we overview the existing prime components of atmospheric and oceanic observing systems, with the acquisition of ocean–atmosphere observables either from in situ or from satellites, the rich hierarchy of models to test our knowledge of Earth System functioning, and the tremendous efforts accomplished over the last decade within the COST Action 735 and SOLAS Integration project frameworks to understand, as best we can, the current physical and biogeochemical state of the atmosphere and ocean commons. A few SOLAS integrative studies illustrate the full meaning of interactions, paving the way for even tighter connections between thematic fields. Ultimately, SOLAS research will also develop with an enhanced consideration of societal demand while preserving fundamental research coherency. The exchange of energy, gases and particles across the air-sea interface is controlled by a variety of biological, chemical and physical processes that operate across broad spatial and temporal scales. These processes influence the composition, biogeochemical and chemical properties of both the oceanic and atmospheric boundary layers and ultimately shape the Earth system response to climate and environmental change, as detailed in the previous four chapters. In this cross-cutting chapter we present some of the SOLAS achievements over the last decade in terms of integration, upscaling observational information from process-oriented studies and expeditionary research with key tools such as remote sensing and modelling. Here we do not pretend to encompass the entire legacy of SOLAS efforts but rather offer a selective view of some of the major integrative SOLAS studies that combined available pieces of the immense jigsaw puzzle. These include, for instance, COST efforts to build up global climatologies of SOLAS relevant parameters such as dimethyl sulphide, interconnection between volcanic ash and ecosystem response in the eastern subarctic North Pacific, optimal strategy to derive basin-scale CO2 uptake with good precision, or significant reduction of the uncertainties in sea-salt aerosol source functions. Predicting the future trajectory of Earth’s climate and habitability is the main task ahead. Some possible routes for the SOLAS scientific community to reach this overarching goal conclude the chapter

Reviews and syntheses: Abrupt ocean biogeochemical change under human-made climatic forcing – warming, acidification, and deoxygenation

Abrupt changes in ocean biogeochemical variables occur as a result of human-induced climate forcing as well as those which are more gradual and occur over longer timescales. These abrupt changes have not yet been identified and quantified to the same extent as the more gradual ones. We review and synthesise abrupt changes in ocean biogeochemistry under human-induced climatic forcing. We specifically address the ocean carbon and oxygen cycles because the related processes of acidification and deoxygenation provide important ecosystem hazards. Since biogeochemical cycles depend also on the physical environment, we also describe the relevant changes in warming, circulation, and sea ice. We include an overview of the reversibility or irreversibility of abrupt marine biogeochemical changes. Important implications of abrupt biogeochemical changes for ecosystems are also discussed. We conclude that there is evidence for increasing occurrence and extent of abrupt changes in ocean biogeochemistry as a consequence of rising greenhouse gas emissions

Azithromycin and amoxicillin in the treatment of acute maxillary sinusitis

Seventy-eight patients participated in this multicenter, third-party-blinded study comparing a single daily dose of azithromycin for 5 days (500 mg on day 1 followed by 250 mg/day for days 2–5) with amoxicillin (500 mg three times daily) for 10 days in the treatment of acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis. A total of 38 evaluable patients contributed to the efficacy analysis. The overall clinical response rate was 100% for both antibiotics. The clinical cure rate, as determined by the investigator, was 73.9% for azithromycin and 73.3% for amoxicillin; improvement was seen in 26.1% and 26.7% of patients, respectively. The bacteriologic cure rate in these 38 patients was 100% in both groups. Both antibiotics were well tolerated; side effects were reported by 4.9% of patients in the azithromycin group compared with 8.1% in the amoxicillin group. Most of these side effects were gastrointestinal disturbances that were reported by four of five (three amoxicillin, one azithromycin) patients experiencing side effects. All side effects were mild, and in both groups only minor abnormalities in laboratory data were detected. No patient discontinued the study because of treatment-related side effects. In this study, a 5-day course (one dose per day) of azithromycin proved to have efficacy, safety, and tolerability that was equal to a 10-day course (three doses per day) of amoxicillin in the treatment of acute bacterial sinusitis

Efficacy of cold-steel uvulopalatoplasty

Seven patients underwent cold-steel uvulopalatoplasty with tissue removal similar to that being performed with laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty. The severity and length of postoperative pain, days out of work, postoperative complications, and efficacy in reducing snoring were assessed. The minimum follow-up period was 6 months. The average length of postoperative pain (inability to eat a completely normal diet) was 6 days. All but one patient underwent only one session of cold-steel uvulopalatoplasty with satisfactory relief of snoring. The remaining patient required two sessions. One patient had some mild postoperative bleeding, which resolved with silver nitrate. Improvement in snoring goes as follows: marked improvement in three patients, moderate improvement in three patients, and slight improvement in one patient. None of the patients had complete resolution or the same degree of snoring. Patients who underwent concomitant oropharyngeal procedures (i.e., tonsillectomy) in addition to cold-steel uvulopalatoplasty tended to have pain for a longer period of time and required a longer convalescence period. Cold-steel uvulopalatoplasty is an inexpensive and viable option to outpatient laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty for the reduction of snoring in select patients. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1996;115:471-3.

Anterior Table Free Bone Graft Technique for Frontal Sinus Obliteration

The osteoplastic flap technique for exposure of the frontal sinus has been an accepted approach for cases in which obliteration or exploration of the frontal sinus has been necessary. Preservation of vascularized anterior pericranium is credited with reduction of the chances of anterior table bone resorption and subsequent cosmetic deformity. Disadvantages include the need for templates and unpredictable random fracturing in the supraorbital rim area, increasing the chance of potential injury to the periorbita and/or supraorbital neurovascular structures as well as limiting surgical exposure in some cases. Ten patients with chronic frontal sinusitis underwent frontal sinus obliteration using an anterior fable free bone graft technique over a 3 year period. The superior orbital neurovascular pedicles were easily identified and protected within its pericranial sheath in all cases. All patients had precise delineation of the frontal sinus anterior bone flap margins with no need for templates. Bone graft viability was documented in all patients, along with excellent cosmetic results comparable to the osteoplastic flap technique. A review of the literature and description of the technique are presented