Live coral cover has declined precipitously on Caribbean reefs in recent decades. Acropora cervicornis coral has been particularly decimated, and few Western Atlantic Acropora spp. refugia remain. ...Coral Gardens, Belize, was identified in 2020 as a long-term refugium for this species. This study assesses changes in live A. cervicornis coral abundance over time at Coral Gardens to monitor the stability of A. cervicornis corals, and to explore potential threats to this important refugium. Live coral cover was documented annually from 2012-2019 along five permanent transects. In situ sea-surface temperature data were collected at Coral Gardens throughout the study period and compared with calibrated satellite data to calculate Maximum Monthly Mean (MMM) temperatures and Degree Heating Weeks (DHW). Data on bathymetry, sediment, substrate, herbivore abundance, and macroalgal abundance were collected in 2014 and 2019 to assess potential threats to Coral Gardens. Live coral cover declined at all five transect sites over the study period. The greatest loss of live coral occurred between 2016 and 2017, coincident with the earliest and highest maximum average temperatures recorded at the study site, and the passage of a hurricane in 2016. Structural storm damage was not observed at Coral Gardens, though live coral cover declined after the passage of the storm. Uranium-thorium (230Th) dating of 26 dead in situ fragments of A. cervicornis collected in 2015 from Coral Gardens revealed no correlation between coral mortality and tropical storms and hurricanes in the recent past. Our data suggest that several other common drivers for coral decline (i.e. herbivory, predation, sedimentation, pH) may likely be ruled out for Coral Gardens. At the end of the study period, Coral Gardens satisfied most criteria for refugium status. However, the early onset, higher mean, and longer duration of above-average temperatures, as well as intermittent temperature anomalies likely played a critical role in the stability of this refugium. We suggest that temperature stress in 2016 and perhaps 2015 may have increased coral tissue vulnerability at Coral Gardens to a passing hurricane, threatening the status of this unique refugium.
Pelvic dissections are difficult for students to visualize and complete given the standard dissection approach and limited time provided in standard anatomy curricula at U.S. medical schools. The ...purpose of this project is to propose a novel approach to dissecting the pelvis with aims of increasing student understanding of pelvic anatomy. The proposed novel technique allows for ease of viewing by making the donor more mobile and more model‐like, like what is seen with common anatomical models used at medical schools.
The technique begins with transverse sectioning of the body into, an upper, mid, and lower section with the mid‐section containing the pelvic region. This section allows the dissector to utilize the pelvic bowl in a standing position, show cross‐sectional anatomy of the thigh muscles, and provide focus on three different dissection pathways. The pathways created include, neurovascular, organ, and muscle specific.
On a preliminary dissection, this method provided ease at dissecting this region, a structurally similar view to live bodies and models, and additional pathways for learning. This dissection was done by a first‐year medical student six months following typical anatomical dissection. The technique is beginning to redefine in situ study of the pelvis and perineum by providing an alternative, more focused way to utilize donors for this region. Models tend to provide the “perfect” anatomy, which can be useful in understanding the typical relationships, however, it is important for students to understand this region and the relationships found with each structure to help better prepare them for future patients.
Future studies to enhance this technique will determine how the pathways can be better utilized. In having students perform this technique alongside the typical techniques, a comparison can be made with a larger population. By having subjective feedback, it can show how students interacted with the dissection, as well as how it was utilized throughout this region of study.
Purpose
Iatrogenic injury of the chorda tympani is a well-known complication of middle ear surgery, yet few studies have investigated the intraosseous course of the nerve. The aim of this study was ...to accurately delineate the posterior canaliculus in the temporal bone, particularly its relationship to the tympanic annulus, which is critical during the insertion of subannular ventilation tubes.
Methods
Forty temporal bones from 27 cadavers (15 male, mean age 75 years, 13 bilateral) were scanned using a micro-CT scanner, and standardised 3-D multiplanar reconstructions were generated using a software platform. The posterior canaliculus was measured in relation to reproducible bony landmarks.
Results
In 6 (15%) specimens, the chorda tympani originated from the facial nerve outside the skull and in 34 (85%) from within the facial canal at a mean of 3.2 ± 1.8 mm above the stylomastoid foramen. The posterior canaliculus was 12.3 ± 3.8 mm long and converged on the tympanic sulcus cranially. It entered the middle ear at 62 ± 10% of the height of the tympanic membrane.
Conclusions
This novel micro-CT study defines the precise anatomy of the posterior canaliculus housing the chorda tympani and provides data that may help the otologic surgeon protect the nerve from iatrogenic injury.
The success of previous lunar science missions can be expanded upon by using a constellation of satellites to increase the lunar surface coverage. A constellation could also serve as a communications ...or GPS network for a lunar human base. Small-sats, deployed from a single mothercraft, are proposed to achieve a lunar constellation. The establishment of a single- and multi-petal constellation is investigated where the mothercraft does the primary deployment maneuvers. The constellation lifetime and closed-loop maintenance are addressed once higher order lunar gravity fields and Earth/solar perturbations are included.
The orientation of the tympanic membrane McManus, Lauren J.; Dawes, Patrick J. D.; Stringer, Mark D.
Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.),
03/2012, Letnik:
25, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Live coral cover has declined precipitously on Caribbean reefs in recent decades. Acropora cervicornis coral has been particularly decimated, and few Western Atlantic Acropora spp. refugia remain. ...Coral Gardens, Belize, was identified in 2020 as a long-term refugium for this species. This study assesses changes in live A. cervicornis coral abundance over time at Coral Gardens to monitor the stability of A. cervicornis corals, and to explore potential threats to this important refugium. Live coral cover was documented annually from 2012–2019 along five permanent transects. In situ sea-surface temperature data were collected at Coral Gardens throughout the study period and compared with calibrated satellite data to calculate Maximum Monthly Mean (MMM) temperatures and Degree Heating Weeks (DHW). Data on bathymetry, sediment, substrate, herbivore abundance, and macroalgal abundance were collected in 2014 and 2019 to assess potential threats to Coral Gardens. Live coral cover declined at all five transect sites over the study period. The greatest loss of live coral occurred between 2016 and 2017, coincident with the earliest and highest maximum average temperatures recorded at the study site, and the passage of a hurricane in 2016. Structural storm damage was not observed at Coral Gardens, though live coral cover declined after the passage of the storm. Uranium-thorium (230Th) dating of 26 dead in situ fragments of A. cervicornis collected in 2015 from Coral Gardens revealed no correlation between coral mortality and tropical storms and hurricanes in the recent past. Our data suggest that several other common drivers for coral decline (i.e. herbivory, predation, sedimentation, pH) may likely be ruled out for Coral Gardens. At the end of the study period, Coral Gardens satisfied most criteria for refugium status. However, the early onset, higher mean, and longer duration of above-average temperatures, as well as intermittent temperature anomalies likely played a critical role in the stability of this refugium. We suggest that temperature stress in 2016 and perhaps 2015 may have increased coral tissue vulnerability at Coral Gardens to a passing hurricane, threatening the status of this unique refugium.
Modification and individualization of medical treatments due to genetic testing has the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery. As evidence mounts that genetic testing may improve treatment ...decisions for patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD), we explored patient concerns and attitudes toward genetic testing.
Subjects of two USA cross-sectional AUD studies were surveyed regarding their attitudes regarding the use of genetic testing for AUD treatment.
Four hundred and fifty-seven participants were surveyed. Overall, subjects showed a high degree of willingness to provide DNA for clinical use and recognized genetics as important to the pathophysiology of a number of disorders including AUD. There were, however, significant concerns expressed related to insurance denial or employment problems.
We found that patients enrolled in AUD studies had some concerns about use of genetic testing. The patients in these two samples were, however, willing and knowledgeable about providing DNA samples.
Physical activity (PA) represents a primary and secondary modifiable risk factor for chronic diseases such as cancer, a disease with both physical and mental health implications. In particular, PA ...has been shown to have many beneficial effects for cancer survivors, including reduced risk of cancer recurrence and improved well-being. Fear of recurrence (FOR) is often a top concern for cancer patients and their families, and has been associated with distress and disruptions in daily functioning, including health behaviors. An important question yet to be investigated is whether there is a relationship between FOR and PA in both patients and their spouses/partners who are coping with breast cancer. The present study attempted to address this gap in the literature by examining the directionality of the relationship between daily reports of FOR and daily objectively measured PA in both breast cancer survivors and their partners. Using a daily-diary design, patients and spouses each independently reported on their daily experience of FOR for 21 consecutive days as well as wore an accelerometer to measure PA. At the between-persons level, results indicated that patients and spouses who reported higher average FOR across the diary period, also engaged in less moderate-vigorous PA and more sedentary behavior. Patients who engaged in more PA across the diary period reported less average FOR. At a within-person level, results revealed that, for spouses, increased FOR on one day predicted more PA the next day. For patients, increased PA on one day predicted increased FOR the next day. This work has the potential to influence efforts towards developing effective interventions to help patients and spouses engage in regular PA by understanding the dynamic interplay between FOR and PA within the context of intimate relationships.
Lunar science missions such as LADEE and GRAIL achieved unprecedented measurements of the Lunar exosphere and gravity field. These missions were performed with one (LADEE) or two (GRAIL) traditional ...satellites. The global coverage achieved by these missions could have been greatly enhanced with the use of a constellation of satellites. A constellation of communication satellites at the Moon would also be necessary if a Lunar human base were to be established. Constellations with many satellites are expensive with traditional technology, but have become feasible through the technological advancements and affordability of cubesats. Cubesat constellations allow for full surface coverage in science or communication missions at a reasonable mission cost. Repeat ground track orbits offer interesting options for science or communication constellations, since they provide repeat coverage of the surface at a fixed time between sequential visits. Flower constellations are a family of constellations being studied primarily by Daniele Mortari at Texas A University that make use of repeat ground tracks. Orbital parameters are selected such that the nodal period of the orbit matches the nodal period of the primary body by a factor dependent on the number of days and the number of revolutions to repeat the ground track. All orbits in a flower constellation have identical orbital elements, with the exception of the right ascension of the ascending node (RAAN) and the initial mean anomaly, which are determined based on the desired phasing scheme desired. Flower constellations have thus far primarily been studied at Earth. A flower constellation at the Moon could be quite useful for science or communication purposes. In this scenario, the flower constellation satellites would be small satellites, which introduces many unique challenges. The cubesats would have limited propulsion capability and would need to be deployed from a mothercraft. Orbital maintenance would then be required after deployment to retain the repeat ground track nature of flower constellations. The limited fuel on the cubesats and the maneuvers required determine the lifetime of the constellation. The communications range of the cubesats will also be limited; following a successful deployment, the mothercraft must move into a long-term communications orbit where it can see both the children craft and Earth, to act as a communications relay. This work investigates the differences in flower constellations at the Moon versus at Earth. It is found that due to the longer rotation period of the Moon, the number of petals in the flower constellation must be quite large in order to produce reasonable orbit sizes. Two types of flower constellations are investigated: a single-petal and multi-petal constellation. The single-petal constellation consists of a string-of-pearls formation within one inertial flower constellation orbit. The multi-petal configuration has one satellite per inertial orbit, with the orbits spaced symmetrically within a 360 degree RAAN distribution. Optimal methods for deployment are explored for both configurations. Phasing orbits are used to deploy the single-petal constellation. This is found to be a simple and low-cost deployment scheme. The multi-petal configuration requires larger plane change maneuvers, and three-burn transfer orbit solutions that are optimal over single impulsive burn maneuvers are found. The mothercraft maneuver into the long-term communications orbit is also investigated. This maneuver is once again just a phase orbit maneuver for the single-petal constellation and is low cost. A polar mothercraft orbit is desired for the multi-petal configuration, again requiring a large and expensive plane change maneuver. As was the case with the deployment maneuver, a three-burn transfer orbit series is found to be cost optimal over a series of impulsive burns for this maneuver. Finally, once the constellation is established, orbit maintenance maneuvers are calculated. A 4 kg cubesat with 1 kg of fuel is assumed, and various thruster types are used to correlate required maintenance Delta-Vs to propellant mass required. It is found that the flower constellations at the Moon can be maintained for between 100 and 800 days, depending on the eciency of the thruster system used. Ultimately, a small satellite constellation at the Moon is found to be feasible to establish and maintain for a science or communication mission.
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