Abdominoperineal Resection for Rectal Cancer: Is the Pelvic Drain Externalization Site an Independent Risk Factor for Perineal Wound Healing?

Aim. The aim of this paper is to investigate if the insertion of the pelvic drainage tube via the perineal wound could be considered as an independent risk factor for perineal healing disorders, after abdominoperineal resection for rectal malignancy. Patients and Methods. The last two decades, 75 patients underwent elective abdominoperineal resection for malignancy. In 42 patients (56%), the pelvic drain catheter was inserted through the perineal wound (PW group), while in the remaining 33 (44%) through a puncture skin wound of the perineum (SW group). Patients' data with respect to age (P = 0.136), stage (P > 0.05), sex (P = 0.188) and comorbidity (P = 0.128) were similar in both groups. 25 patients (PW versus SW: 8 versus 17, P = 0.0026) underwent neoadjuvant radio/chemotherapy. Results. The overall morbidity rate was 36%, but a significant increase was revealed in PW group (52.4% versus 9%, P = 0.0007). In 33.3% of the patients in the PW group, perineal healing was delayed, while in the SW group, no delay was noted. Perineal healing disorders were revealed as the main source of increased morbidity in this group. Conclusion. The insertion of the pelvic drain tube through the perineal wound should be considered as an independent risk factor predisposing to perineal healing disorders

Algebraic description of spacetime foam

A mathematical formalism for treating spacetime topology as a quantum observable is provided. We describe spacetime foam entirely in algebraic terms. To implement the correspondence principle we express the classical spacetime manifold of general relativity and the commutative coordinates of its events by means of appropriate limit constructions.Comment: 34 pages, LaTeX2e, the section concerning classical spacetimes in the limit essentially correcte

Hybrid integration of microfabricated chemοcapacitor arrays with miniaturized read-out electronics towards low-power gas sensing module

AbstractA hybrid gas sensing module consisting of an array of 8 polymer coated capacitive sensors and low power read-out electronics is introduced. The chemocapacitor array is fabricated with standard microelectronics/micromachining processes allowing for the realization of planar InterDigitated Electrodes (IDEs). The read-out electronics sub- module consists of an analog multiplexer for the sequential measurement of the sensor array elements, a capacitance to 24-bit converter and a USB to I2C interface. The compact hybrid module has been successfully applied in the detection of sub-100ppm concentrations of p-xylene and toluene. The responses to various humidity levels have been also evaluated

Исследование характеристик ядерных трековых мембран для создания дренажной системы в лечении глаукомы

In this article has been researched possibility of using nuclear track membrane for fluid transport in the implementation and maintenance of the cornea weaklydehydrated state

Studio della quota di volo mediante GNSS, altimetro radar e barometro per rilievi di spettroscopia gamma da velivolo

Lo studio della distribuzione dei radionuclidi terrestri (238U, 232Th e 40K) realizzato mediante tecniche di spettroscopia gamma da velivolo è influenzato dalla quota a cui il rivelatore si trova rispetto al suolo. Un'incertezza del 10% a 100 m di altezza origina un errore nella stima del segnale gamma del 208Tl, appartenente alla catena di decadimenti del 232Th, dell’ordine del 7%. L'impiego di una nuova classe di spettrometri montati a bordo di UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) per raffinate misure in contesti ostili o remoti rende necessaria un'accurata stima in real time della quota di volo. Il Radgyro è un velivolo dedicato a survey multiparametrici, capace di trasportare strumentazione pari ad un payload massimo di 120 kg, tra cui quattro spettrometri gamma NaI(Tl). Una stazione inerziale con ricevitore integrato GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) restituisce l'assetto del velivolo con una frequenza massima di 400 Hz. Il velivolo è dotato di un network di tre ricevitori GNSS posizionati alle estremità della carena del velivolo. Un altimetro radar a 24 GHz rileva la quota con una frequenza di 60 Hz. La misura di pressione e temperatura consente di ricavare la quota barometrica a 2 Hz. Con l'obiettivo di studiare le incertezze associate alle misure della quota di volo acquisite dagli altimetri in relazione ai dati GNSS, sono stati realizzati tre voli sul mare in un range di altezze comprese tra 31 m e 249 m, per un totale di 4702 secondi di volo effettivo. Al termine dello studio è possibile concludere che l'errore complessivo delle abbondanze di K, U e Th aumenta di 7.7%, 0.5% e 2.7% rispettivamente, a causa delle incertezze della quota di volo

Mixed-effects height prediction model for Juniperus procera trees from a Dry Afromontane Forest in Ethiopia.

Tree height is a crucial variable in forestry science. In the current study, an accurate height prediction model for Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endl. trees were developed, using a nonlinear mixed-effects modeling approach on 1215 observations from 101 randomly established plots in the Chilimo Dry Afromontane Forest in Ethiopia. After comparing 14 nonlinear models, the most appropriate base model was selected and expanded as a mixed-effects model, using the sample plot as a grouping factor, and adding stand-level variables to increase the model’s prediction ability. Using a completely independent dataset of observations, the best sampling alternative for calibration was determined using goodness-of-fit criteria. Our findings revealed that the Michaelis–Menten model outperformed the other models, while the expansion to the mixed-effects model significantly improved the height prediction. On the other hand, incorporating the quadratic mean diameter and the stem density slightly improved the model’s prediction ability. The fixed-effects of the selected model can also be used to predict the mean height of Juniperus procera trees as a marginal solution. The calibration response revealed that a systematic selection of the three largest-diameter trees at the plot level is the most effective for random effect estimation across new plots or stands

`Iconoclastic', Categorical Quantum Gravity

This is a two-part, `2-in-1' paper. In Part I, the introductory talk at `Glafka--2004: Iconoclastic Approaches to Quantum Gravity' international theoretical physics conference is presented in paper form (without references). In Part II, the more technical talk, originally titled ``Abstract Differential Geometric Excursion to Classical and Quantum Gravity'', is presented in paper form (with citations). The two parts are closely entwined, as Part I makes general motivating remarks for Part II.Comment: 34 pages, in paper form 2 talks given at ``Glafka--2004: Iconoclastic Approaches to Quantum Gravity'' international theoretical physics conference, Athens, Greece (summer 2004

Comparison of the Electronic Structures and Energetics of Ferroelectric LiNbO3 and LiTaO3

This paper explains the origin of the ferroelectric instability in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 and compares the electronic structures and energetics of the two materials.Comment: 31 pages, 11 Postscript figure

GARRLiC and LIRIC: strengths and limitations for the characterization of dust and marine particles along with their mixtures

The Generalized Aerosol Retrieval from Radiometer and Lidar Combined data algorithm (GARRLiC) and the LIdar-Radiometer Inversion Code (LIRIC) provide the opportunity to study the aerosol vertical distribution by combining ground-based lidar and sun-photometric measurements. Here, we utilize the capabilities of both algorithms for the characterization of Saharan dust and marine particles, along with their mixtures, in the south-eastern Mediterranean during the CHARacterization of Aerosol mixtures of Dust and Marine origin Experiment (CHARADMExp). Three case studies are presented, focusing on dust-dominated, marine-dominated and dust–marine mixing conditions. GARRLiC and LIRIC achieve a satisfactory characterization for the dust-dominated case in terms of particle microphysical properties and concentration profiles. The marine-dominated and the mixture cases are more challenging for both algorithms, although GARRLiC manages to provide more detailed microphysical retrievals compared to AERONET, while LIRIC effectively discriminates dust and marine particles in its concentration profile retrievals. The results are also compared with modelled dust and marine concentration profiles and surface in situ measurements.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme ACTRIS-2 (grant agreement no. 654109). The work has been developed under the auspices of the ESA-ESTEC project “Characterization of Aerosol mixtures of Dust And Marine origin” contract no. IPL-PSO/FF/lf/14.489. The work was also supported by the European Research Council under the European Community’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation framework programme/ERC grant agreement 725698 (D-TECT). The publication was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement no. 602014, project ECARS (East European Centre for Atmospheric Remote Sensing). The authors acknowledge support through the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. BSC-DREAM8b simulations were performed on the Mare Nostrum supercomputer hosted by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Aerosol absorption profiling from the synergy of lidar and sun-photometry : The ACTRIS-2 campaigns in Germany, Greece and Cyprus

© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Aerosol absorption profiling is crucial for radiative transfer calculations and climate modelling. Here, we utilize the synergy of lidar with sun-photometer measurements to derive the absorption coefficient and single scattering albedo profiles during the ACTRIS-2 campaigns held in Germany, Greece and Cyprus. The remote sensing techniques are compared with in situ measurements in order to harmonize and validate the different methodologies and reduce the absorption profiling uncertainties.Peer reviewe