Heat Capacity Mapping Mission

The Tasman Front was delineated by airborne expendable bathythermograph survey; and an Heat Capacity Mapping Mission (HCMM) IR image on the same day shows the same principal features as determined from ground-truth. It is clear that digital enhancement of HCMM images is necessary to map ocean surface temperatures and when done, the Tasman Front and other oceanographic features can be mapped by this method, even through considerable scattered cloud cover

Association of executive function impairment, history of falls and physical performance in older adults: A cross-sectional population-based study in Eastern France

To estimate: 1) the association between executive function (EF) impairment and falls; and 2) the association of EF impairment on tests of physical function used in the evaluation of fall risk.Cross-sectional study. Thirteen health examination centres in Eastern France. Four thousand four hundred and eighty one community-dwelling older adults without dementia aged 65 to 97 years (mean age 71.8 +/- 5.4, women 47.6%). Participants underwent a comprehensive medical assessment that included evaluations of EF using the Clock Drawing Test and of physical performance using the Timed Up & Go Test (TUG). Analysis used multivariable modified Poisson regression to evaluate the association between impaired EF and each of the fall outcomes (any fall, recurrent falls, fall-related injuries). Multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate the association between EF impairment and performance on the TUG and grip strength. EF impairment, assessed using the clock drawing test, was present in 24.9% of participants. EF impairment was independently associated with an increased risk of any fall (RR=1.13, 95% CI (1.03, 1.25)) and major soft tissue fall-related injury (RR= 2.42, 95% CI (1.47, 4.00)). Additionally, EF impairment was associated with worse performance on the TUG (p < 0.0001). EF impairment among older adults without dementia was highly prevalent and was independently associated with an increased risk for falls, fall-related injuries and with decreased physical function. The use of the Clock Drawing Test is an easy to administer measure of EF that can be used routinely in comprehensive fall risk evaluations

Case 11 : The Case of the Long-Lived Orchestra Conductors

There may be no part of epidemiology more central to public health practice than the evaluation of causal claims about exposures that keep us healthy, make us sick, and help us get better again. Some causal claims are sufficiently self-evident that we learn them as toddlers: hot stoves cause “owwies”. But causal questions in public health are much more complex, and to approach them we need to learn to ‘think like an epidemiologist’. This requires us to think critically about causal claims as we develop our skills in applying the logic of causal inference. When faced with a causal claim most epidemiologists immediately question the source of data, the appropriateness of the measures, and the soundness of the analysis underlying the causal claim. Epidemiology is firmly grounded in the scientific method, but the components of the scientific method have been modified for use outside the laboratory, as applied to large groups of ‘free range’ humans. Learning these adaptations can be challenging. This case introduces causal critical appraisal using, as an example, the claim that orchestra conductors live longer than members of other occupational groups because they are conductors. It is a suitable introductory case because it does not require subject matter expertise in theories of longevity or causes of death. Learners progress from basic to higherlevel concepts, beginning by recalling parts of the scientific method (e.g. control groups), and thinking about how each might be applied to this causal question. A mid-level objective is evaluating the appropriateness of the outcome measure, which requires understanding how average age at death is a poor measure compared to average life expectancy at birth, which in turn is less appropriate than average life expectancy at the age people typically become orchestra conductors. The case concludes by introducing confounding and confirmation bias

Health-related quality of life in children and emotional reactions of parents following completion of cancer treatment

Contains fulltext : 50105.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)BACKGROUND: Completing therapy is one of the major transitions in care in the practice of pediatric oncology and, therefore, deserves special consideration. The purpose of the study was to investigate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of pediatric patients, and emotional reactions of their parents, shortly after the end of successful treatment. METHODS: HRQOL of 126 patients, aged 1-15 years, on average 2 months after the end of successful treatment, was assessed with the TNO-AZL Pre-school Quality of life Questionnaire and the TNO-AZL Children's Quality of life Questionnaire. Emotional adjustment of 124 mothers and 111 fathers was assessed with the General Health Questionnaire and the Situation Specific Emotional Reaction Questionnaire. The outcomes of the patients and parents were compared with norm data by means of one sample t-tests, one sample sign-tests or binomial tests. RESULTS: All age groups, except patients aged 8-11 years, experienced worse HRQOL than the norm with respect to motor functioning. In addition, pre-school patients were rated worse on sleeping, appetite, stomach, skin, problem behavior, anxiety, and liveliness, and patients aged 6-7 years on autonomy and cognitive functioning. Parents reported more psychological distress than the norm. Compared to parents whose children were 1-5 years after cancer treatment, they suffered more from feelings of loneliness, helplessness, and uncertainty. CONCLUSIONS: A few months after the end of successful cancer treatment, both patients and parents appeared to experience worse well-being than the norm to a clinically relevant extent. Supporting patients and parents should not stop when treatment ends

Systems Failure

“Systems Failure” is a substantial array of digitally created images centered on many social and ethical issues that go undetected for numerous people. Many within our society live in silent anguish, something that remains unseen and undiscussed by others. “Systems Failure” shows the outsider a brief look into this life. While some images may seem as if the ugly side of life is being brought out, they are concentrated on the strength of humans. The focus of these images is on those who are trying to endure situations in which many cannot see or even understand. I intend to bring the viewer into my imagery by combining a number of images into one solid cohesive piece. I will do this by using a variety of hand drawn, photographic and computer generated images, through this type of amalgamation I will be produce several signature images, the goal is to produce 20-25 images. Each individual image will be comprised of at least three different images, using Photomatrix and Photoshop the combined images will be set in a single composition. My first set of files or images are created using Photomatrix, this involves setting three layers of a digital image to bring out underlying details. When creating my final digital images or combining my HDR images I use Adobe CC, Photoshop. My PSD files will be merged for many contain 75 and upwards to 200 layers, this makes for extremely oversized files. Therefore each file/image will be merged as a single layer once all adjustments have been made. Final images will be printed on steel using no white, simply the steel will be utilized as a white. This allows the images to maintain a darker, look along with giving the image third dimensional appearance

Exposure to suicide in the family: Suicide risk and psychache in individualswho have lost a family member by suicide

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare a sample of Portuguese individuals exposed to suicide in their families with a control group, for lifetime suicidality. This study also evaluated the incremental value of psychache (i.e., extreme psychological pain) in determining suicide risk beyond the contribution associated with having lost a family member by suicide. Method: A total of 225 community adults participated. Two groups were defined: a group exposed to suicide (n=53), and a control group (n = 172). Results: Results demonstrated that groups did significantly differ on the total score of the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), on the four individual SBQ-R items, and on psychache. Results from a hierarchical multiple regression analysis demonstrated that having lost a family member by suicide and the construct of psychache each provided a significant unique contribution to explaining variance in suicide risk. The interaction between group membership and psychache also provided a further enhancement to the statistical prediction of suicide risk. Conclusion: Findings are discussed with regard to their implications for clinical intervention and postvention