Sedimentological characterization of Antarctic moraines using UAVs and Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry

In glacial environments particle-size analysis of moraines provides insights into clast origin, transport history, depositional mechanism and processes of reworking. Traditional methods for grain-size classification are labour-intensive, physically intrusive and are limited to patch-scale (1m2) observation. We develop emerging, high-resolution ground- and unmanned aerial vehicle-based ‘Structure-from-Motion’ (UAV-SfM) photogrammetry to recover grain-size information across an moraine surface in the Heritage Range, Antarctica. SfM data products were benchmarked against equivalent datasets acquired using terrestrial laser scanning, and were found to be accurate to within 1.7 and 50mm for patch- and site-scale modelling, respectively. Grain-size distributions were obtained through digital grain classification, or ‘photo-sieving’, of patch-scale SfM orthoimagery. Photo-sieved distributions were accurate to <2mm compared to control distributions derived from dry sieving. A relationship between patch-scale median grain size and the standard deviation of local surface elevations was applied to a site-scale UAV-SfM model to facilitate upscaling and the production of a spatially continuous map of the median grain size across a 0.3 km2 area of moraine. This highly automated workflow for site scale sedimentological characterization eliminates much of the subjectivity associated with traditional methods and forms a sound basis for subsequent glaciological process interpretation and analysis

Survival of breast cancer in southern Iran

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women in the western world. With breast cancer now affecting one in ten women, it is important to know how this disease burden is shared among women. Aims: This study was undertaken to determine the survival rate of breast cancer in southern Iran. Methods and Material: From December 2001 to December 2006, among 8000 hospital-based registered cancer cases in southern Iran, 863 individuals with breast cancer entered our study. One, 5, 10 and 15 year-survival rates were estimated by Kaplan Meier function. Results: Mean age at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer was 46.3 years (SD=11.5). About 25.4% had a previous family history of cancer in their first and 13.8% in their second degree relatives. About 92.5%, 71.3% and 41.4% of breast cancer cases underwent surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, respectively. Nearly 11.7% of patients had a history of exposure to chemical materials. About 32.3% were passive and 19.2% were active smokers. Totally, one, 5, 10 and 15 year-survival rates were 97%, 67%, 45% and 25%, respectively. The survival rate had a significant negative correlation with age at the time of diagnosis. Conclusions: The survival rate of women with breast cancer in southern Iran seems to be identical to other parts of the country and stands between western and eastern European countries

Age-related differences in breast cancer mortality according to race/ethnicity, insurance, and socioeconomic status.

BackgroundWe assessed breast cancer mortality in older versus younger women according to race/ethnicity, neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES), and health insurance status.MethodsThe study included female breast cancer cases 18 years of age and older, diagnosed between 2005 and 2015 in the California Cancer Registry. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to generate hazard ratios (HR) of breast cancer specific deaths and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for older (60+ years) versus younger (&lt; 60 years) patients separately by race/ethnicity, nSES, and health insurance status.ResultsRisk of dying from breast cancer was higher in older than younger patients after multivariable adjustment, which varied in magnitude by race/ethnicity (P-interaction&lt; 0.0001). Comparing older to younger patients, higher mortality differences were shown for non-Hispanic White (HR = 1.43; 95% CI, 1.36-1.51) and Hispanic women (HR = 1.37; 95% CI, 1.26-1.50) and lower differences for non-Hispanic Blacks (HR = 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04-1.31) and Asians/Pacific Islanders (HR = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.02-1.31). HRs comparing older to younger patients varied by insurance status (P-interaction&lt; 0.0001), with largest mortality differences observed for privately insured women (HR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.43-1.59) and lowest in Medicaid/military/other public insurance (HR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.10-1.26). No age differences were shown for uninsured women. HRs comparing older to younger patients were similar across nSES strata.ConclusionOur results provide evidence for the continued disparity in Black-White breast cancer mortality, which is magnified in younger women. Moreover, insurance status continues to play a role in breast cancer mortality, with uninsured women having the highest risk for breast cancer death, regardless of age

Surgical Music Therapy: A Narrative Review

This study is aimed to review the documents and clarify the relation between music therapy and surgical procedures. Surgical procedures are often accompanied by psychological feelings such as fear and anxiety, which can affect the anesthesia process and lead to increased sedation and undesirable physiological and metabolic changes. These changes can cause deleterious effects when exaggerated. According to neuroscience-based evidences, music can activate limbic and paralimbic brain structures, which play a role in changing the emotional state. In conclusion, music could help to alleviate unwanted feelings and control surgical stress

Digital dissection of the model organism Xenopus laevis using contrast-enhanced computed tomography

The African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, is one of the most widely used model organisms in biological research. However, the most recent anatomical description of X. laevis was produced nearly a century ago. Compared with other anurans, pipid frogs – including X. laevis – exhibit numerous unusual morphological features; thus, anatomical descriptions of more ‘typical’ frogs do not detail many aspects of X. laevis skeletal and soft‐tissue morphology. The relatively new method of using iodine‐based agents to stain soft tissues prior to high‐resolution X‐ray imaging has several advantages over gross dissection, such as enabling dissection of very small and fragile specimens, and preserving the three‐dimensional topology of anatomical structures. Here, we use contrast‐enhanced computed tomography to produce a high‐resolution three‐dimensional digital dissection of a post‐metamorphic X. laevis to successfully visualize: skeletal and muscular anatomy; the nervous, respiratory, digestive, excretory and reproductive systems; and the major sense organs. Our digital dissection updates and supplements previous anatomical descriptions of this key model organism, and we present the three‐dimensional data as interactive portable document format (PDF) files that are easily accessible and freely available for research and educational purposes. The data presented here hold enormous potential for applications beyond descriptive purposes, particularly for biological researchers using this taxon as a model organism, comparative anatomy and biomechanical modelling

La musicoterapia como asignatura en los estudios de grado en enfermería

Introduction: Music therapy is understood by the use of music or its elements for therapeutic purposes. Its use in nursing is scarce beyond the use of the NIC 4400 intervention. Objective:The research aims to know and analyze the degree of acceptance by nursing students regarding the possible inclusion of music therapy as a subject in the educational programs of the Nursing Degree studies.Method: A cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study was carried out with a sample of n=346 participants. Conclusion: The results show that 93.93% of the students did include music therapy as an optional subject in Nursing Degree studies, making use of it in their professional future. &nbsp;Introducción: La musicoterapia se entiende por el uso de la música o sus elementos con fines terapéuticos. Su empleo en la enfermería es escaso más allá del uso de la intervención NIC 4400. Objetivo: Conocer y analizar el grado de aceptación por parte de los estudiantes de enfermería ante la posible inclusión de la musicoterapia como asignatura en los programas educativos de los estudios de Grado en Enfermería. Método: Se ha realizado un estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal con una muestra n=346 participantes.Resultados: Los resultados muestran que el 93,93% de los alumnos sí incluirían la musicoterapia como una asignatura Optativa en los estudios de Grado en Enfermería, haciendo uso de ella en su futuro profesional

Apport des techniques d'imagerie pour la caractérisation physique des corridors fluviaux.: Synthèse des connaissances et extraction d'indicateurs.

49 p.Dans le cadre de la mise en place de la Directive Cadre européenne sur l'Eau, un état des lieux des conditions hydromorphologiques s'avère nécessaire afin de renseigner les indicateurs de qualité physique des milieux aquatiques. Cela passe par la mise en place d'outils de caractérisation physique des cours d'eau. Dans ce contexte, l'opportunité d'utilisation des images est envisagée. Un inventaire des différentes techniques d'imagerie, ainsi qu'une sélection des couples capteurs / plateformes les mieux adaptés pour une utilisation opérationnelle de l'imagerie sont réalisées. Un cadre opératoire est proposé pour l'élaboration d'indicateurs pouvant être extraits à partir d'images

Extra note of music in anaesthesia

Role of music has been identified since ancient times for alleviating anxiety. Music has been known for its potential to produce a sense of wellbeing and peace. Anaesthesia and surgery are major stress factors for any person. Preoperative anxiety is a usual phenomenon in patients posted for various surgical interventions as well as those admitted to intensive care units (ICU). Literature shows ample evidence regarding neurohormonal disturbances related to stressful situations like preoperative, intraoperative and post-operative periods. Music has been shown to attenuate release of various biochemical molecules leading to relaxing and sedative effects on the brain. Not only patients under regional anaesthesia who are awake have a positive impact, even patients under general anaesthesia have also been shown to benefit from listening to music intraoperatively. Music is a hazard free intervention which can be added to various drug combinations used by anaesthesiologists