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In a recent paper by Mattioli et al., a significant difference was observed between upper-tropospheric and lower-stratospheric water vapor profiles as observed by two radiosonde systems operating in the Arctic. The first was the Vaisala RS90 system as operated by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program; the second was the operational radiosondes launched by the U.S. National Weather Service that used the Sippican VIZ-B2 type. Observations of precipitable water vapor by ground-based microwave radiometers and GPS did not reveal these differences. However, both the microwave radiometer profiler (MWRP) and the ground-based scanning radiometer (GSR) contain channels that receive a significant response from the upper-tropospheric region. In this paper, it is shown that brightness temperature (Tb) observations from these instruments are in consistent agreement with calculations based on the RS90 data but differ by several degrees with calculations based on the VIZ radiosondes. It is also shown that calculations of Tb can serve as a gross quality control of upper-tropospheric soundings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During 9 March–9 April 2004, the North Slope of Alaska Arctic Winter Radiometric Experiment was conducted at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program’s (ARM) “Great White” field site near Barrow, Alaska. The major goals of the experiment were to compare microwave and millimeter wavelength radiometers and to develop forward models in radiative transfer, all with a focus on cold (temperature from 0° to -40°C) and dry [precipitable water vapor (PWV) < 0.5 cm] conditions. To supplement the remote sensors, several radiosonde packages were deployed: Vaisala RS90 launched at the ARM Duplex and at the Great White and Sippican VIZ-B2 operated by the NWS. In addition, eight dual-radiosonde launches were conducted at the Duplex with Vaisala RS90 and Sippican GPS Mark II, the latter one modified to include a chilled mirror humidity sensor. Temperature comparisons showed a nighttime bias between VIZ-B2 and RS90, which reached 3.5°C at 30 hPa. Relative humidity comparisons indicated better than 5% average agreement between the RS90 and the chilled mirror. A bias of about 20% for the upper troposphere was found in the VIZ-B2 and the Mark II measurements relative to both RS90 and the chilled mirror. Comparisons in PWV were made between a microwave radiometer, a microwave profiler, a global positioning system receiver, and the radiosonde types. An RMS agreement of 0.033 cm was found between the radiometer and the profiler and better than 0.058 cm between the radiometers and GPS. RS90 showed a daytime dry bias on PWV of about 0.02 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goals Of Work: Cancer-related fatigue is a very frequent problem in cancer, interfering with many patients' life activities. Anaemia is present in a large number of fatigued patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate cancer-related fatigue, in relation with haematic haemoglobin levels and the presence of anxiety and depression.Materials and Methods: The Functional Assessment Of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue scale was used to assess fatigue. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was administered to screen for psychological distress. Haematological values were measured by blood tests. All data were analysed using Chi-squared, and a logistic regression analysis was conducted.Main Results: Eighty patients were enrolled in the study. Significant associations were found between fatigue and depression, fatigue and anxiety and between fatigue and haemoglobin.Conclusion: Anxiety and depression, other than heamoglobin levels, were found associated with fatigue. Hence, implications for a multi-dimensional treatment of fatigue are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer survivors often report post-traumatic growth. Since culture influences the development of post-traumatic growth, the aims of this study were to measure the prevalence of post-traumatic growth in Italian long-term disease-free and treatment-free cancer survivors (≥5 years) and explore the relationship between post-traumatic growth and sociodemographic and clinical variables. Three hundred sixty long-term disease-free and treatment-free cancer survivors were assessed with Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Brief COPE and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Mean age was 58.6 years, and mean survival was 11 years (range 5-32). The PTGI average total score was higher in younger survivors, in those without comorbidities, in survivors engaged in physical activity. Positive correlation between PTGI and Brief COPE and between PTGI and MSPSS were found. The variables more associated with post-traumatic growth were age, comorbidity, physical activity and two coping subscales. The prevalence of post-traumatic growth in this sample of cancer survivors was lower than previous studies. We discussed some possible explanations, including the consideration that cultural differences may affect the development of post-traumatic growth in cancer survivors. Having less comorbidities, receiving social support from friends, having the ability to adaptively cope and engaging in physical activity were found to be strongly associated with post-traumatic growth. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep disturbances are among the most distressing symptoms in cancer: they often co-occur with fatigue, pain and psychological distress. Despite the negative impact on quality of life, patients rarely seek help for managing their sleep disturbances. This paper presents the results of a multicentre observational study on patients' attitudes towards their sleep problems. The study also investigates symptom correlates. Patients responded to a semi-structured interview and completed the following questionnaires: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; Brief Fatigue Inventory; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer ( EORTC) Quality of Life QLQ- C30 Questionnaire ( QLQ- C30). Four hundred and three cancer patients were enrolled in the study. Bad sleepers constituted 66% of the sample. Thirty-eight per cent of them had not turned to any professional to solve their sleep disturbances because they had various beliefs about the importance of the problem and the possibility to be treated. The main correlates of sleep disturbances were psychological distress, reduced physical functioning and reduced overall quality of life. In conclusion, there is a need to sensitise patients to actively search for a solution to their sleep disturbances so they can be solved along with other co-occurring symptoms. Doctors could also be encouraged to dedicate more attention to routinely asking cancer patients about eventual sleep disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that investigates the accuracy of atmospheric columnar integrated water measurements. It notes the campaign of the Atmospheric Water Vapour Effects (METAWAVE) to collect dataset from the microwave radiometers and GPS receivers and analyze their potential in mitigating electromagnetic path in Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR). The results indicate higher requirement for mitigating the effects of turbulent water vapor.

The article presents a study on the accuracy of atmospheric columnar integrated water vapor measurements based on the Mitigation of Electromagnetic Transmission errors induced by Atmospheric Water Vapour Effects (METAWAVE) project. The study investigates the mitigation of integrated water vapor (IWV) effects into the Spaceborne Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR). It concludes that InSAR sensitivity to water vapor turbulent component is higher compared to other instruments.

Goals Of Work: Advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) has recently been treated with monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab. Skin toxicity is a peculiar side effect of cetuximab that may induce patients to interrupt therapy if it becomes serious. This study investigates the psychological and social sequelae of skin rash.Materials and Methods: Patients affected by advanced CRC and treated with cetuximab-based therapy entered the trial. The following questionnaires were used: the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C) to measure quality of life (QoL) and the Psychological Distress Inventory (PDI). A single item regarding social avoidance was added with a three-point Likert scale. Toxicity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Criteria (NCI-2).Main Results: Eighty patients were recruited; 41% presented psychological distress. As regards social avoidance, 53% of patients answered that they did not avoid going out at all. The rest of the sample answered that they "very much" (22%) or "somewhat" (25%) avoided going out. Psychological distress and social avoidance were not correlated to skin rash, but only to QoL.Conclusion: Skin rash was not found to impact patients' psychological status or social life. Two likely explanations for this finding were that (a) patients with advanced cancer consider skin rash as a part of the complex suffering caused by cancer and (b) patients are encouraged by oncologists to continue treatment because skin rash is indicative of response to therapy. This expectation brings hope and helps patients bear the drug-related side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]