Investigation using data from ERTS-1 to develop and implement utilization of living marine resources

The author has identified the following significant results. This 15-month ERTS-1 investigation produced correlations between satellite, aircraft, menhaden fisheries, and environmental sea truth data from the Mississippi Sound. Selected oceanographic, meteorological, and biological parameters were used as indirect indicators of the menhaden resource. Synoptic and near real time sea truth, fishery, satellite imagery, aircraft acquired multispectral, photo and thermal IR information were acquired as data inputs. Computer programs were developed to manipulate these data according to user requirements. Preliminary results indicate a correlation between backscattered light with chlorophyll concentration and water transparency in turbid waters. Eight empirical menhaden distribution models were constructed from combinations of four fisheries-significant oceanographic parameters: water depth, transparency, color, and surface salinity. The models demonstrated their potential for management utilization in areas of resource assessment, prediction, and monitoring

Preliminary results of fisheries investigation associated with Skylab-3

The author has identified the following significant results. This investigation is to establish the feasibility of utilizing remotely sensed data acquired from aircraft and satellite platforms to provide information concerning the distribution and abundance of oceanic gamefish. Data from the test area in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico has made possible the identification of fisheries significant environmental parameters for white marlin. Predictive models based on catch data and surface truth information have been developed and have demonstrated potential for reducing search significantly by identifying areas which have a high probability of being productive. Three of the parameters utilized by the model, chlorophyll-a, sea surface temperature, and turbidity have been inferred from aircraft sensor data. Cloud cover and delayed receipt have inhibited the use of Skylab data. The first step toward establishing the feasibility of utilizing remotely sensed data to assess amd monitor the distribution of ocean gamefish has been taken with the successful identification of fisheries significant oceanographic parameters and the demonstration of the capability of measuring most of these parameters remotely

Assessment of Occupant Response in Frontal Bus Crash Scenarios using Human Body Models to Improve Public Transportation Safety

There has been limited investigation regarding occupant safety in transit bus crash scenarios. Experimental testing and numerical modelling can provide the insight required to reduce injury risk to transit bus passengers. Transport Canada (TC) has conducted a series of full-scale bus crash and frontal impact deceleration sled experiments as part of a research program to inform the development of crashworthiness standards for transit buses. Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATD) were used in the TC experiments to assess occupant injury. ATDs have known limitations in replicating the response of a human passenger, primarily due to an overly stiff neck and thorax. Finite element ATDs and Human Body Models (HBM) are biofidelic occupant surrogate models that can be used in numerical crash simulations to predict response and localized tissue injury. This study expanded on the TC experimental work by using numerical simulations to assess transit bus passenger response and injury risk using a contemporary detailed HBM in a frontal impact scenario. A numerical model of the TC sled buck was developed and validated for a series of eight frontal impacts utilizing 50th and 5th percentile Hybrid III (HIII) ATD models as the occupants. The Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) male 50th percentile (M50) and female 5th percentile (F05) HBMs were seated in the test buck model and simulated for a 6.5g frontal impact pulse. The 50th percentile occupants impacted the forward handrail on the anterior side of the neck, which posed a risk of a crushing injury to the larynx cartilage. A crushing injury to the larynx could occlude airways and is a potentially fatal injury. The 5th percentile passenger showed a potential for impacting the forward handrail on the lower face instead of the anterior neck, resulting in a mandible and upper neck injury. This study investigated passive safety designs that could minimize the potential for passenger injury on transit buses without implementing seat belts. A lowered handrail resulted in the passenger being impacted on the thorax instead of the neck, effectively eliminating the injuries of the larynx, mandible, and neck at the expense of increased chest compression. The chest compression of the small stature HBM predicted a sternum fracture, which was still preferable over the crushing larynx injury observed in the experimental test buck design. This study demonstrated that the placement of rigid handrails could put passengers at risk of focal impact injuries during a crash. Simple design changes, such as lowering the handrail to engage the thorax instead of the face or neck, proved to be an effective way to avoid potentially lethal injury. Future work should investigate passenger injury using HBMs in other transit bus impact configurations, such as rear and side impacts with varying pulse severities

First record of Phormia regina (Meigen, 1826) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) from mummies at the Sant’Antonio Abate Cathedral of Castelsardo, Sardinia, Italy

The studies of insects from archaeological contexts can provide an important supplement of information to reconstruct past events, climate and environments. Furthermore, the list of the species present in an area in the past allows the reconstruction of the entomofauna on that area at that time, that can be different from the nowadays condition, providing information about biodiversity changes. In this work, the results of a funerary archaeoentomological study on samples collected from mummified corpses discovered during the restoration of the crypt of the Sant’Antonio Abate Cathedral of Castelsardo (Sardinia, Italy) are reported. The majority of the sampled specimens were Diptera puparia, whereas only few Lepidoptera cocoons and some Coleoptera fragments were isolated. Among Diptera, Calliphoridae puparia were identified as Phormia regina (Meigen, 1826) and Calliphora vicina, (RobineauDesvoidy, 1830) both species typical of the first colonization waves of exposed bodies. Three puparia fragments were also identified as belonging to a Sarcophaga Meigen, 1826, species (Sarcophagidae). Several Muscidae puparia of the species Hydrotaea capensis (Weidmermann, 1818), a late colonizer of bodies, and typical of buried bodies were also collected. The few moth (Lepidoptera) cocoons were identified as belonging to the family Tineidae. This family comprises species feeding on dry tissues and hair typical of the later phases of the human decomposition. Among Coleoptera a single specimen in the family Histeridae, Saprinus semistriatus(Scriba, 1790) and a single elytra, potentially of a species in the family Tenebrionidae, were also collected. Overall, the samples collected indicated an initial colonization of the bodies in an exposed context, mainly in a warm season. This research allows the finding of elements indicating the presence, at least in the past, of P. regina in Sardinia. This species at the moment seems extinct from Sardinia while it is quite common in the continent

Safety of 10,000 Unit Unfractionated Heparin Boluses for Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Emergency Department

Poster presentation completed at ASHP Midyear Clinical Conference & Exhibition. The purpose of this retrospective chart-review study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a 10,000 unit unfractionated heparin bolus in the emergency department prior to PCI. • The primary objective was percentage of ACT values within goal range of 250-300 seconds. • Secondary objectives included major bleeding rate, weight-based UFH bolus dose in comparison to guideline recommended bolus dose, percentage of initial ACT values within goal range, protamine use, and need for additional UFH boluses

Organoide als Modell zur Analyse des zellulären Mikroenvironment und zur personalisierten Diagnostik in der Onkologie

In this study an in vitro model of the intestinal stem cell niche was established. The model relies on the co-culture of intestinal myofibroblasts together with intestinal crypts in three-dimensional system. Myofibroblasts induced tumor-like program in normal intestinal epithelium independent of the canonical Wnt signaling and direct cell-cell contact. In addition, human-derived organoids from Barrett´s Esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma biopsies were established.Im Rahmen dieser Doktorarbeit wurde ein in vitro Modell der adulten Stammzell-Nische etabliert. In diesem Modell wurden Krypten und Myofibroblasten in einem dreidimensionalen System ko-kultiviert. Die Myofibroblasten induzierten tumorähnliche Veränderungen im intestinalen Epithel unabhängig von direktem Zell-Zell-Kontakt und dem Wnt-Signalweg. Zusätzlich wurden die humanen Organoidkulturen aus Barrett-Ösophagus Biopsien und Biopsien vom Adenokarzinom des Ösophagus etabliert