Adjustment of a wind-driven two-layer system with mid-basin topography

A linear primitive equations model is used to simulate spin-up of a two-layer ocean bisected by a meridional ridge. The ocean is forced with steady zonal winds east of the ridge. When wind-driven barotropic planetary Rossby waves propagate across the ridge, barotropic and baroclinic anomalies are generated as the barotropic flow adjusts. These ridge-generated anomalies propagate westward from the ridge as planetary Rossby waves and their arrival along the basin\u27s western boundary modulates the western boundary current (WBC) transport and vertical structure. Model results suggest that at short (\u3c1 year) and long (\u3e10 years) delay relative to a change in wind stress curl, net WBC transport, TWBC, is that predicted by the Sverdrup balance for a flat ocean, TSv, but at intermediate delay this balance is disrupted by arrival of the additional barotropic ridge-generated anomalies. The magnitude of the anomalous transport, TWBC, depends on the meridional deflection of the flow at the ridge relative to the length-scale over which wind stress curl varies. The timescale, tBT, associated with adjustment at the ridge is a function of latitude, density contrast between layers and ridge width

COMPARATIVE GAIT ANALYSIS BETWEEN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND AGE MATCHED CONTROLS

There are very few studies that have analyzed the gait of children with autism. The purpose of this study was to investigate gait of children with autism using temporal-spatial variables. Fifteen children with autism and fifteen age matched typically developing children walked 3 times on the GAITRite® system. Dependent variables were statistically analyzed using independent samples t-tests with Bonferroni adjustments. Results show a reduction in cadence, gait velocity, step length and an increase in step width for the children with autism. In conclusion, our results suggest that the children with autism have abnormal gait compared to age matched controls

Cost-effectiveness of a medication event monitoring system for tuberculosis management in Morocco

BACKGROUND: Digital health technologies have been used to enhance adherence to TB medication, but the cost-effectiveness remains unclear. METHODS: We used the real data from the study conducted from April 2014 to December 2020 in Morocco using a smart pillbox with a web-based medication monitoring system, called Medication Event Monitoring Systems (MEMS). Cost-effectiveness was evaluated using a decision analysis model including Markov model for Multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB from the health system perspective. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per disability adjusted life-year (DALY) averted. Two-way sensitive analysis was done for the treatment success rate between MEMS and standard of care. RESULTS: The average total per-patient health system costs for treating a new TB patient under MEMS versus standard of care were $398.70 and$155.70, respectively. The MEMS strategy would reduce the number of drug-susceptible TB cases by 0.17 and MDR-TB cases by 0.01 per patient over five years. The ICER of MEMS was $434/DALY averted relative to standard of care, and was most susceptible to the TB treatment success rate of both strategies followed by the managing cost of MEMS. CONCLUSION: MEMS is considered cost-effective for managing infectious active TB in Morocco

RECYCLING PROCESS OF U3O8 POWDER IN MnO-Al2O3 DOPED LARGE GRAIN UO2 PELLETS

The effect of various process variables on the powder properties of recycled U3O8 from MnO-Al2O3 doped large grain UO2 pellets and the effect of those recycled U3O8 powders on the sintered density and grain size of MnO-Al2O3 doped large grain UO2 pellets have been investigated. The evolution of morphology, size, and BET surface area of the recycled U3O8 powders according to the respective variation of the thermo-mechanical treatment variables of oxidation temperature, powder milling, and sequential cyclic heat treatment of oxidation and then reduction was examined. The correlation between the BET surface area of recycled U3O8 powder and the sintered pellet properties of MnO-Al2O3 doped pellets showed that the pellet density and grain size of doped pellets were increased and then saturated by increasing the BET surface area of the recycled U3O8 powder. The density and grain size of the pellets were maximized when the BET surface area of the recycled U3O8 powder was in the vicinity of 3m2/g. Among the process variables applied in this study, the cyclic heat treatment followed by low temperature oxidation was a potential process combination to obtain the sinter-active U3O8 powder

Sensitization rates of airborne pollen and mold in children

PurposeAeroallergens are important causative factors of allergic diseases. Previous studies on aeroallergen sensitization rates investigated patients groups that had visited pediatric allergy clinics. In contrast, we investigated sensitization rates in a general population group of elementary school to teenage students in Incheon, Jeju, and Ulsan.MethodsAfter obtaining parental consent, skin-prick tests were performed on 5,094 students between March and June 2010. Elementary school students were tested for 18 common aeroallergens, whereas middle and high school students were tested for 25 allergens. The 25 allergens included Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, pollen (birch, alder, oak, Japanese cedar, pine, willow, elm, maple, Bermuda grass, timothy grass, rye grass, orchard grass, meadow grass, vernal grass, mugwort, Japanese hop, fat hen, ragweed, and plantain), and mold (Penicillatum, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Alternaria).ResultsThe sensitization rates in descending order were 25.79% (D. pteronyssinus), 18.66% (D. farinae), 6.20% (mugwort), and 4.07% (willow) in Incheon; 33.35% (D. pteronyssinus), 24.78% (D. farinae), 15.36% (Japanese cedar), and 7.33% (Alternaria) in Jeju; and 32.79% (D. pteronyssinus), 30.27% (D. farinae), 10.13% (alder), and 8.68% (birch) in Ulsan. The dust mite allergen showed the highest sensitization rate among the 3 regions. The sensitization rate of tree pollen was the highest in Ulsan, whereas that of Alternaria was the highest in Jeju. The ragweed sensitization rates were 0.99% in Incheon, 1.07% in Jeju, and 0.81% in Ulsan.ConclusionThe differences in sensitization rates were because of different regional environmental conditions and distinct surrounding biological species. Hence, subsequent nationwide studies are required

GAIT ANALYSIS IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM USING TEMPORAL-SPATIAL AND FOOT PRESSURE VARIABLES

The purpose of this study was to investigate gait patterns of children with autism using temporal-spatial and foot pressure variables. A total of 30 children participated; 15 autistic children and 15 age matched controls. Group differences were tested using an independent t-test performed by SPSS. The cadence and step/extremity ratio was significantly lower for the experimental group than the control group. The step width was wider; while cycle time, double support time, stance time was longer for the experimental group. The active pressure area and maximum pressure in the hind foot were lower for the experimental group. There were reduced gait velocities and reduced pressure areas in the hind foot and mid foot