Analysis of rainfall over northern Peru during El Nino: A PCDS application

In an examination of GOES satellite data during the 1982 through 1983 El Nino period, the appearance of lee wave cloud patterns was revealed. A correlation was hypothesized relating an anomalous easterly flow across the Andes with the appearance of these wave patterns and with the subsequent onset of intense rainfall. The cloud patterns are belived to be associated with the El Nino period and could be viewed as precursors to significant changes in weather patterns. The ultimate goal of the researchers will be the ability to predict occurrences of rainstorms associated with the appearance of lee waves and related cloud patterns as harbingers of destruction caused by flooding, huaycos, and other catastrophic consequences of heavy and abnormal rainfall. Rainfall data from about 70 stations in northern Peru from 1980 through 1984 were formatted to be utilized within the Pilot Climate Data System (PCDS). This time period includes the 1982 through 1983 El Nino period. As an example of the approach, a well-pronounced lee wave pattern was shown from a GOES satellite image of April 4, 1983. The ground truth data were then displayed via the PCDS to graphically demonstrate the increase in intensity and areal distribution of rainfall in the northern Peruvian area in the next 4 to 5 days

Scintillation observations at Ancon and Jicamarca Observatories

Satellite scintillation and diffraction pattern scale size distribution from ionospheric irregularitie

Recent trends in chronic disease, impairment and disability among older adults in the United States

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To examine concurrent prevalence trends of chronic disease, impairment and disability among older adults.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed the 1998, 2004 and 2008 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative survey of older adults in the United States, and included 31,568 community dwelling adults aged 65 and over. Measurements include: prevalence of chronic diseases including hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease and arthritis; prevalence of impairments, including impairments of cognition, vision, hearing, mobility, and urinary incontinence; prevalence of disability, including activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The proportion of older adults reporting no chronic disease decreased from 13.1% (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 12.4%-13.8%) in 1998 to 7.8% (95% CI, 7.2%-8.4%) in 2008, whereas the proportion reporting 1 or more chronic diseases increased from 86.9% (95% CI, 86.2%-89.6%) in 1998 to 92.2% (95% CI, 91.6%-92.8%) in 2008. In addition, the proportion reporting 4 or more diseases increased from 11.7% (95% CI, 11.0%-12.4%) in 1998 to 17.4% (95% CI, 16.6%-18.2%) in 2008. The proportion of older adults reporting no impairments was 47.3% (95% CI, 46.3%-48.4%) in 1998 and 44.4% (95% CI, 43.3%-45.5%) in 2008, whereas the proportion of respondents reporting 3 or more was 7.2% (95% CI, 6.7%-7.7%) in 1998 and 7.3% (95% CI, 6.8%-7.9%) in 2008. The proportion of older adults reporting any ADL or IADL disability was 26.3% (95% CI, 25.4%-27.2%) in 1998 and 25.4% (95% CI, 24.5%-26.3%) in 2008.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Multiple chronic disease is increasingly prevalent among older U.S. adults, whereas the prevalence of impairment and disability, while substantial, remain stable.</p

Reducing the consumption of fresh water in the process of alginate extraction using Macrocystis pyrifera (Phaeophyta, Laminariales), by recirculating the residual liquids from the pre-extraction and precipitation

The recirculation of the residual liquid from the pre-extraction stage and precipitation using samples of Macrocystis pyrifera was studied to reduce the consumption of fresh water in the process of alginate extraction in the laboratory. An average yield of 28.44% was obtained with three recirculations in the pre-extraction stage, with a saving of 25% in the consumption of fresh water and of 56.25% in the consumption of concentrated hydrochloric acid. The consumption of fresh water was reduced by 50% with three recirculations of the residual liquid from the precipitation in the alkaline extraction stage, with an average yield of sodium alginate of 33.45%. The sodium alginates obtained had high viscosity and pH values within the maximum stability range (pH 5-9)

Assessing the Effectiveness of Breast Cancer Education Workshops among Samoan and Pacific Islander Women in Southern California

Abstract Background: Samoans experience among the worst five-year breast cancer survival rates in the U.S., largely due to late stage diagnosis. There is great potential for screening interventions to reduce cancer mortality among Samoans. This paper examines the effectiveness of a culturally and linguistically tailored breast cancer education workshop for Samoan and other Pacific Islander women in Southern California. Methods: Educational workshops were conducted in churches, homes, and the Samoan National Nurses Association office to Pacific Islander women. Effectiveness was assessed using pre-and post-tests. Selfadministered questionnaires queried participants about demographics, access, personal or family breast cancer history, screening knowledge and behaviors, and plans to obtain screening (n=495). Results: Participants were predominantly Samoan, with 57% reporting they were ≥40 years of age. At pre-test, half of the participants did not know how to perform Breast Self Examination (BSE), 40% never had a Clinical Breast Examination (CBE), and 30% never had a mammogram. Less than 40% reported having a mammogram in the past two years. At post-test, 98% reported increased knowledge. Older women were more likely to report plans for screening at post-test. Conclusions: Health educators in Samoan and other Pacific Islander communities must recognize and appropriately address screening barriers such as cultural beliefs and lack of knowledge, and should consider working with important institutions such as the church

Sodium and potassium alginates extracted from Macrocystis pyrifera algae for use in dental impression materials

 Sodium and potassium alginates were extracted at the pilot plant scale from the giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, from Bahía Tortugas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Alginates were coded as S1, S2 and S3 for sodium alginate, and as P1, P2 and P3 for potassium alginate. The average viscosities of the sodium and potassium alginates in aqueous 1% solution were 58, 145 and 506 mPa s, and 48, 155 and 200 mPa s, respectively. Results showed that dental impresion material prepared with sodium alginate with extra low viscosities (S1 = 58 mPa s) and low viscosities (S2 = 145 m Pa s) did not form gels, the material prepared with medium viscosity (S3 = 506 mPa s) produced a gel type II (regular set) in 70% of the 10 formulations experimented, and the material prepared with potassium alginate with extra low viscosity (P1 = 48 mPa s) produced a gel type II in 90% of the formulations. Using potassium alginate with low viscosity (P2 = 155 mPa s), 90% of the formulations were type I (fast set), and using potassium alginate with medium viscosity (P3 = 200 mPa s), 80% of the formulations were type I. The highest compressive strength was obtained using sodium alginate of 506 mPa s and the three potassium alginates experimented at 25% concentration, with values of 2474, 1209, 2101 and 2124 g cm–2 for S3, P1, P2 and P3 alginates, respectively. The elasticity order of formulation with 25% alginates compared with a commercial product (Jeltrate®) was as follows: Jeltrate® > P2 > S3 > P3 > P1. It was concluded that S3, P1, P2 and P3 alginates have good potential for use in the production of dental impression materials

Patient Perceptions Regarding the Likelihood of Cure After Surgical Resection of Lung and Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND: The objective of the current study was to characterize the prevalence of the expectation that surgical resection of lung or colorectal cancer might be curative. The authors sought to assess patient-level, tumor-level, and communication-level factors associated with the perception of cure. METHODS: Between 2003 and 2005, a total of 3954 patients who underwent cancer-directed surgery for lung (30.3%) or colorectal (69.7%) cancer were identified from a population-based and health system-based survey of participants from multiple US regions. RESULTS: Approximately 80.0% of patients with lung cancer and 89.7% of those with colorectal cancer responded that surgery would cure their cancer. Even 57.4% and 79.8% of patients with stage IV lung and colorectal cancer, respectively, believed surgery was likely to be curative. On multivariable analyses, the odds ratio (OR) of the perception of curative intent was found to be higher among patients with colorectal versus lung cancer (OR, 2.27). Patients who were female, with an advanced tumor stage, unmarried, and having a higher number of comorbidities were less likely to believe that surgery would cure their cancer; educational level, physical function, and insurance status were not found to be associated with perception of cure. Patients who reported optimal physician communication scores (reference score, 0-80; score of 80-100 [OR, 1.40] and score of 100 [OR, 1.89]) and a shared role in decision-making with their physician (OR, 1.16) or family (OR, 1.17) had a higher odds of perceiving surgery would be curative, whereas patients who reported physician-controlled (OR, 0.56) or family-controlled (OR, 0.72) decision-making were less likely to believe surgery would provide a cure. CONCLUSIONS: Greater focus on patient-physician engagement, communication, and barriers to discussing goals of care with patients who are diagnosed with cancer is needed. (c) 2015 American Cancer Society