Remote sensing for optimal estimation of water temperature dynamics in shallow tidal environments

Given the increasing anthropogenic pressures on lagoons, estuaries, and lakes and considering the highly dynamic behavior of these systems, methods for the continuous and spatially distributed retrieval of water quality are becoming vital for their correct monitoring and management. Water temperature is certainly one of the most important drivers that influence the overall state of coastal systems. Traditionally, lake, estuarine, and lagoon temperatures are observed through point measurements carried out during field campaigns or through a network of sensors. However, sporadic measuring campaigns or probe networks rarely attain a density sufficient for process understanding, model development/validation, or integrated assessment. Here, we develop and apply an integrated approach for water temperature monitoring in a shallow lagoon which incorporates satellite and in-situ data into a mathematical model. Specifically, we use remote sensing information to constrain large-scale patterns of water temperature and high-frequency in situ observations to provide proper time constraints. A coupled hydrodynamic circulation-heat transport model is then used to propagate the state of the system forward in time between subsequent remote sensing observations. Exploiting the satellite data high spatial resolution and the in situ measurements high temporal resolution, the model may act a physical interpolator filling the gap intrinsically characterizing the two monitoring techniques

Ultrasound evaluation of ovarian dynamics in Indubrasil cows submitted to two nutritional managements.

The objective of this study was to compare ovarian dynamics of Indubrasil cows submitted to grazing or confinement regimes. Follicular growth was monitored daily starting at estrus during two consecutive estrous cycles in seven adult non-lactating Indubrasil cows with body score 4 (classification 1 to 5), in 2x7 experiment. The first evaluation was in the grazing regime, when animals were kept in pastures of Brachiaria brizantha cv Marandu intercropped with Leucaena leococephala, with water and mineral salt ad libitum. The second evaluation was performed during the following estrous cycle when animals were submitted to the confinement regime, and fed with corn silage, proteinated mineral salt and water ad libitum. An ultrasound HS 1500 (Honda®, Japan) equipped with a linear 7.5 MHZ probe was used to assess follicle and luteal dynamics. Data were recorded according to the day of the cycle and are presented as means ± standard deviation. Means were compared by T Tests and differences considered significant when P<0.05. The duration of the first estrous was 20±1.6 and 21±1.22 days for grazing and confined animals, respectively. The number of follicular waves was 2±0.49 and 3±0.40 and their duration was 9±1.99 and 9±1.65 days, for grazing and confined animals, respectively. The maximum diameter of the ovulatory follicle was larger in confined (15±0.51mm; p <0.05) than grazing animals (13±0.87mm). For subordinate follicles, the maximum diameter was 9±1.13mm and 9±0.82mm for grazing and confined animals, respectively. The dominant follicle persisted for 7±1.41 and 6±0.82 days in grazing and confined animals, respectively. Finally, the persistence of the corpus luteum was 14±1.59 and 15±1.06 days for grazing and confined animals, respectively. These data suggest that diet influences growth rate and size of the ovulatory follicle in Indubrasil cows. We speculate that greater dry matter intake in the confinement regime may have promoted an increase in the metabolism of steroid hormones, influencing dominant follicle growth. This abstract describes for the first time follicle dynamics in Indubrasil cows, which was found to be very similar to other Bos indicus breeds

Risk factors associated with calcinosis of juvenile dermatomyositis

OBJETIVO: Identificar fatores de risco associados à calcinose em crianças e adolescentes com dermatomiosite juvenil. MÉTODOS: Prontuários de 54 pacientes com dermatomiosite juvenil foram estudados. Foram avaliados dados demográficos; características clínicas: grau de força muscular (I a V do Medical Research Council), presença de comprometimentos pulmonar (distúrbio ventilatório restritivo com presença ou ausência do anticorpo anti-Jo-1), gastrointestinal (refluxo gastroesofágico) e cardíaco (pericardite e/ou miocardite); exames laboratoriais: elevação de enzimas musculares (creatinoquinase, aspartato aminotransferase, alanina aminotransferase e desidrogenase lática) e terapias utilizadas: corticoterapia isolada ou associada à cloroquina e/ou imunossupressor. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos de acordo com a presença ou ausência de calcinose e foram avaliados através de análise univariada e multivariada. RESULTADOS: Calcinose foi evidenciada em 23 (43%) pacientes, sendo em seis (26%) antes do diagnóstico e em 17 (74%) após. A análise univariada revelou que comprometimentos cardíaco (p = 0,01) e pulmonar (p = 0,02) e necessidade da utilização de um ou mais imunossupressores (metotrexato, ciclosporina A e/ou pulsoterapia com ciclofosfamida endovenosa) no tratamento da dermatomiosite juvenil (p = 0,03) foram associados com uma maior incidência de calcinose. A análise multivariada mostrou que comprometimento cardíaco (OR = 15,56; IC95% 1,59-152,2) e uso de um ou mais imunossupressores (OR = 4,01; IC95% 1,08-14,87) foram as únicas variáveis independentes associadas à presença de calcinose. CONCLUSÕES: O aparecimento da calcinose foi freqüente na dermatomiosite juvenil, habitualmente na evolução da doença. A calcinose foi associada aos casos mais graves, que apresentaram envolvimento cardíaco e necessitaram da utilização de imunossupressores no seu tratamento.OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors associated with calcinosis in children and adolescents with juvenile dermatomyositis. METHODS: A review was carried out of the medical records of 54 patients with juvenile dermatomyositis. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, clinical features: muscle strength (stages I to V of the Medical Research Council scale), pulmonary involvement (restrictive pulmonary disease with presence or absence of anti-Jo1 antibodies), gastrointestinal problems (gastroesophageal reflux) and/or heart disease (pericarditis and/or myocarditis); laboratory tests: elevated muscle enzyme levels in serum (creatine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and/or lactate dehydrogenase); and on the treatments given: corticoid therapy in isolation or associated with hydroxychloroquine and/or immunosuppressants. The patients were divided into two groups, depending on presence or absence of calcinosis and data were evaluated by both univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Calcinosis was identified in 23 (43%) patients, and in six (26%) patients it had emerged prior to diagnosis while in 17 (74%) it was post diagnosis. The univariate analysis revealed that cardiac (p = 0.01) and pulmonary (p = 0.02) involvement and the need for one or more immunosuppressor (methotrexate, cyclosporine A and/or pulse therapy with intravenous cyclophosphamide) to treat juvenile dermatomyositis (p = 0.03) were all associated with an increased incidence of calcinosis. The multivariate analysis then demonstrated that only cardiac involvement (OR = 15.56; 95%CI 1.59-152.2) and the use of one or more immunosuppressor (OR = 4.01; 95%CI 1.08-14.87) were independently associated with the presence of calcinosis. CONCLUSIONS: Calcinosis was a frequent development among these juvenile dermatomyositis cases, generally emerging as the disease progressed. Calcinosis was associated with the more severe cases that also had cardiac involvement and where immunosuppressors had to be included in the treatment

Free-flight experiments in LISA Pathfinder

The LISA Pathfinder mission will demonstrate the technology of drag-free test masses for use as inertial references in future space-based gravitational wave detectors. To accomplish this, the Pathfinder spacecraft will perform drag-free flight about a test mass while measuring the acceleration of this primary test mass relative to a second reference test mass. Because the reference test mass is contained within the same spacecraft, it is necessary to apply forces on it to maintain its position and attitude relative to the spacecraft. These forces are a potential source of acceleration noise in the LISA Pathfinder system that are not present in the full LISA configuration. While LISA Pathfinder has been designed to meet it's primary mission requirements in the presence of this noise, recent estimates suggest that the on-orbit performance may be limited by this `suspension noise'. The drift-mode or free-flight experiments provide an opportunity to mitigate this noise source and further characterize the underlying disturbances that are of interest to the designers of LISA-like instruments. This article provides a high-level overview of these experiments and the methods under development to analyze the resulting data.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures. Accepted to Journal Of Physics, Conference Series. Presented at 10th International LISA Symposium, May 2014, Gainesville, FL, US

Prevalence of common mental disorders among Syrian refugee children and adolescents in Sultanbeyli district, Istanbul: results of a population-based survey.

AIMS: Research demonstrates elevated levels of common mental disorders among Syrian refugees, but the majority of studies have, to date, focused on adult populations. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Syrian children and adolescents living in Sultanbeyli district of Istanbul, Turkey. METHODS: A population-based survey among Syrian children and adolescents aged 8-17 years living in Sultanbeyli district was conducted in 2019, as part of an all-age survey of disability. 80 clusters of 50 participants (all-ages) were selected from the local municipality's refugee registration database using probability proportionate to size sampling. Children aged 8-17 years were assessed for symptoms of common mental disorders using the Child Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-8) and abbreviated versions of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED). RESULTS: Of the 852 participants, 23.7% (95% CI 19.9-27.2) screened positive for symptomatic depression, PTSD and anxiety. The prevalence estimates for depression, PTSD and anxiety were 12.5% (95% CI 9.8-15.6), 11.5% (95% CI 9.1-14.4) and 9.2% (95% CI 6.8-12.1), respectively. Depression and PTSD were significantly more common in older adolescents, whilst anxiety and PTSD were significantly more common in girls. Depression was more common in children from poorer households and those who had received no education. Children coming from larger households were less likely to show symptoms of PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: Syrian refugee children and adolescents are vulnerable to common mental disorders, and culturally appropriate prevention and intervention support are needed for this population

A strategy to characterize the LISA-Pathfinder cold gas thruster system

The cold gas micro-propulsion system that will be used during the LISA-Pathfinder mission will be one of the most important component used to ensure the "free-fall" of the enclosed test masses. In this paper we present a possible strategy to characterize the effective direction and amplitude gain of each of the 6 thrusters of this system