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Purpose To assess the influence of distance and near visual impairment on self-reported near visual functioning (VF) among adults in a multi-country study. Design Population-based cross-sectional study. Participants Participants aged ≥35 years were randomly selected with cluster sampling at seven sites: rural sites in Nepal (Kaski) and India (Madurai), a semi-rural site in China (Shunyi), semi-urban sites in South Africa (Durban) and Niger (Dosso), and urban sites in the United States (Los Angeles) and China (Guangzhou). Methods Binocular presenting distance and near visual acuity (VA) were measured with a LogMAR tumbling E chart at 4 meters and 40 cm, respectively. A 12-item near VF questionnaire interview was administered by trained local interviewers, with responses scored from 100 to 0 as visual “disability” increased. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate the association of age, gender, education and VA with overall eyesight, difficulty with activities and social functioning subscale scores. Main Outcome Measures VF subscale scores. Results The study sample consisted of 6,851 questionnaire respondents. The VF subscale scores decreased significantly with worse distance and near VA, and even mildly impaired VA could result in reduced VF at all sites. In multiple linear regression modeling, lower VF subscale scores were associated with older age in four sites, female gender in three sites, and greater education in two sites. The influence of near VA was greater than that of distance VA in three sites, and in one site distance VA was more influential than near VA. With study site included in the regression modeling, lower scores for the overall eyesight subscale (compared to the Shunyi reference site) were found in Guangzhou, Kaski and Durban; lower difficulty in activities scores were found in Kaski and Durban, but better scores in Guangzhou and Madurai; social functioning scores were lower in Kaski, Durban and Dosso. Conclusions Along the entire VA spectrum, lower levels of distance and near VA led to significant reductions in VF subscale scores, with wide variation both within and between study sites. The impact of near vision on VF should receive greater emphasis with further investigation in various socio-economic and cultural settings.

This investigation intends to study and characterize the mortars and bricks from walls and floors used in the funerary nucleus of the archaeological site of Dr. Gonçalo Sampaio Street (Braga, Portugal), associated with the Via XVII necropolis of the Bracara Augusta Roman city. The diversity of the funeral structures and their exceptional state of conservation make this sector of the necropolis an unprecedented case and a reference site in the archaeology of Braga, a determinant for its conservation and musealization. Nineteen mortars samples were analysed by X-ray Fluorescence. The results showed clear chemical composition differences among coating and floor mortars (CFM), masonry mortars (MM) and bricks (B) groups of samples. The chemical affinity between CFM from the V to IV centuries, CFM from the IV to V centuries, MM from brick walls (IV–V centuries), MM from stone walls (V–VII centuries) and B from the IV to V centuries samples were confirmed by statistical analyses. Their composition was distinctly related to the use of different raw materials, according to their chronological context; in mortars, according to their function in the structures; and in some samples, from contamination., Ana Fragata acknowledges grant SFRH/BPD/101517/2014 from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). This research was supported by GeoBioTec Research Centre (UID/GEO/04035/2019 + UIDB/04035/2020), funded by FCT, FEDER funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness Factors COMPETE and by national funds (OE), through FCT, in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of 29 August, changed by Law 57/2017, of 19 July

Understanding the effects of environmental contaminants on honeybees is essential to minimize their impacts on these important pollinating insects. The aim of this study was to assess the ecotoxicological status of honeybees in environments undergoing different anthropic pressure: a wood (reference site), an orchard, an agricultural area, and an urban site, using a multi-biomarker approach. To synthetically represent the ecotoxicological status of the honeybees, the responses of the single biomarkers were integrated by the Integrated Biological Response (IBRv2) index. Overall, the strongest alteration of the ecotoxicological status (IBRv2 = 7.52) was detected in the bees from the orchard due to the alteration of metabolic and genotoxicity biomarkers indicating the presence of pesticides, metals, and lipophilic compounds. Honeybees from the cultivated area (IBRv2 = 7.18) revealed an alteration especially in neurotoxicity, metabolic, and genotoxicity biomarkers probably related to the presence of pesticides, especially fungicides. Finally, in the urban area (IBRv2 = 6.60), the biomarker results (GST, lysozyme, and hemocytes) indicated immunosuppression in the honeybees and the effects of the presence of lipophilic compounds and metals in the environment.

Reference site selection associated with mining and resource development requires a comprehensive approach so that stakeholders can be confident that restoration efforts have appropriate target ecosystems. Here, we present our process to select reference sites, within a savanna ecosystem, which will be used to develop and assess closure criteria and restoration guidelines for Ranger Mine (Northern Territory, Australia). The selection of reference sites followed five steps involving desktop and field methods. We recommend that restoration projects consider inclusion criteria, randomly select sites from areas matching the chosen criteria, conduct preliminary data analysis, estimate and update sampling effort and precession at several points throughout the project, and invite stakeholder feedback and revision of the process as often as required. This detailed approach appears to be the first to demonstrate how to use available data to reduce bias, address sampling effort and site selection quantitatively, involve stakeholders, and provide useful data which can be used to calibrate ecological restoration outcomes for savanna ecosystems

Background: IVUS-derived FFR (IVUS-FFR) is a novel technique to estimate functional severity of coronary stenosis. Using a fluid dynamics algorithm, pressure loss (ΔP) across a stenosis is calculated as ΔP = FV + SV 2 , where V is the flow velocity; F and S are the coefficients defined based on IVUS-determined minimum lumen area (MLA), stenosis length, and reference lumen area (RLA). While the first 2 variables are well defined by IVUS, the RLA can be affected by the presence of side branches near the target lesion due to blood flow distribution. Methods: To determine the threshold of side branch size that affects the RLA for IVUS-FFR calculation, 73 coronary lesions (41 LAD: 9 LCx: 23 RCA) underwent both IVUS and wire-derived FFR (W-FFR). RLA was defined as the largest lumen area proximal or distal to the target lesion with no intervening major side branches. In determining the reference site, 3 different definitions of the “major” side branch were used: >25%, >50%, and >75% of the main vessel in diameter. The diagnostic accuracy of calculated IVUS-FFR was then evaluated with each definition as referenced to W-FFR. Results: In this patient population, 42% of the lesions were physiologically significant (W-FFR 2 and 0.81±0.1, respectively. Overall, IVUS-FFR showed significant linear correlations with W-FFR (p50% definition showed the highest diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.95) for physiologic ischemia (Figure). Conclusion: In defining the reference site for IVUS-FFR calculation, the optimal definition of the major side branch was >50% of main vessel in diameter. The current results help to develop objective and automated estimation of FFR using IVUS. Further investigation is warranted to evaluate clinical utility of combined anatomical and physiological information that IVUS may offer through this technology.

Wind erosion and blowing dust threaten food security, human health and ecosystem services across global drylands. Monitoring wind erosion is needed to inform management, with explicit monitoring objectives being critical for interpreting and translating monitoring information into management actions. Monitoring objectives should establish quantitative guidelines for determining the relationship of wind erosion indicators to management benchmarks that reflect tolerable erosion and dust production levels considering impacts to, for example, ecosystem processes, species, agricultural production systems and human well-being. Here we: 1) critically review indicators of wind erosion and blowing dust that are currently available to practitioners; and 2) describe approaches for establishing benchmarks to support wind erosion assessments and management. We find that while numerous indicators are available for monitoring wind erosion, only a subset have been used routinely and most monitoring efforts have focused on air quality impacts of dust. Indicators need to be related to the causal soil and vegetation controls in eroding areas to directly inform management. There is great potential to use regional standardized soil and vegetation monitoring datasets, remote sensing and models to provide new information on wind erosion across landscapes. We identify best practices for establishing benchmarks for these indicators based on experimental studies, mechanistic and empirical models, and distributions of indicator values obtained from monitoring data at historic or existing reference sites. The approaches to establishing benchmarks described here have enduring utility as monitoring technologies change and enable managers to evaluate co-benefits and potential trade-offs among ecosystem services as affected by wind erosion management.

The success of a reclamation process could be evaluated by calculating the carbon stocks in the area. Carbon stock is an ecosystem service that can be assessed quantitatively. The reclamation process in the coal post-mining area in East Kalimantan needs to be assessed by comparing it to the reference area. The aim of this study was to determine the value of carbon stock in the three types of coal post-mining reclamation areas (Type A: without shade trees, Type B: with one species shade trees, Type C: with more than one species of shade trees), then compared to the natural forest area used as the reference site. The research was carried out by making plots inside the reference site and in the reclamation areas, at the tree, poles, and sapling stages. The results were analyzed descriptively and statistically for each reclamation type refer to the conservation area. The results showed that reclamation type C, with older year plant, had higher carbon stock compared to Type B, or Type A, ie. 51.9 t C/ha, 37.8 t C/ha, and 2.9 t C/ha respectively. However, the carbon stock in the three types of reclamation area is still much lower, than the conservation area which reaches 296.8 t C/ha. Thus, the older and more diverse species planted in a reclamation area plant, the higher carbon stock saved. Moreover, planting shade trees can also help increase the value of carbon stocks in a reclamation area.

The urban heat island, where the urban area air temperature is higher than the nearby rural or semi-rural air temperature reference site, is now hopefully well known. The urban heat island intensity is the actual urban air temperature minus the rural air temperature. However, the “air conditioned urban heat island intensity” is measured by the air temperature sensor in an air conditioning condenser unit minus the rural air temperature. This is often different to the standard urban heat island intensity. Designers need to appreciate this difference, as it determines how the air conditioning system performs. It is most likely affected by the radiant temperature. This can also vary significantly from the rural, semi-rural radiant temperature due to the variation in solar absorptance of the urban buildings and the shading effects. Measurements have shown significant variations in the infrared temperatures over the urban areas. Calculations of the radiant absorption and long wave radiation loss also show significant differences to the rural counterparts in frequency and magnitude. This “surface urban heat island” is important for air conditioning plant situated often in areas exposed to solar irradiation. The exhaust air from the air conditioning units itself is also briefly considered. This paper examines these effects and proposes how the engineer can include for them in design. Practical application:The results of this paper will be useful for designers of buildings with air conditioning and air conditioning plant itself to assess the effect of the micro urban heat island. This micro urban heat island surrounds the air conditioning plant. The example is for London.

Our early study reported an extraordinarily high Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) of PCBs of lactating mothers from Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China (based on a food consumption survey and food basket analysis). The EDI well exceeded the intake limit stipulated by FAO/WHO 70 pg TEQ/kg body weight (bw)/month. The present pilot study provided further information on PCBs body burden in lactating mothers of Taizhou. The total PCBs detected in human milk, placenta and hair samples of these lactating mothers were 363 ng/g lipid, 224 ng/g lipid, and 386 ng/g dry wt. Respectively, three times higher than those samples collected from the reference site (Lin'an). Compared with the previous reported values in the 3rd WHO coordinated study, Taizhou topped the list of 32 countries/regions with regards to WHO-PCB-TEQ values of milk samples, which could be attributed to the relatively higher level of PCB-126 derived from electronic waste. In addition, the corresponding EDI of PCBs of Taizhou mothers (12.9 pg WHO-PCB-TEQ/kg bw/day) and infants (438 pg WHO-PCB-TEQ/kg) were derived from individual congener levels in human milk. The results were also higher than the tolerable daily intakes recommended by WHO (1-4 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bw/day) by 3 and 110 times, for mothers and infants, respectively. A more intensive epidemiological study on the potential health effects of e-waste recycling activities affecting both workers and residents seems to be of top priority, based on findings of this pilot study.

One of the limitations of Differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPS) is that accuracy decreases as the distance between the user and a base station increases. We have developed a new DGPS positioning strategy that is less affected by baseline length and enables better accuracy. We found correlations between satellite elevation angle and Pseudo-Range Correction (PRC) through extensive tests. As a result, better PRC values were obtained by considering differences in satellite elevation angles at a reference site and the user location. We tested the model for a variety of baseline lengths greater than 250 km, and the positioning accuracy improved by 29–66% compared with traditional DGPS based on a single reference station. Positioning accuracies comparable to those of multi-reference DGPS were achieved in some cases.

Differences in the progression of periodontitis have been observed between smokers and non-smokers. The aim of the present study was to compare vascular and inflammatory cell densities in periodontitis lesions from smokers and non-smokers to gain further understanding of the influence of smoking on histopathological characteristics of the disease. Two groups of patients with generalized severe periodontitis were recruited. One group consisted of 25 current smokers, aged 33-69 yr, while the second group comprised 21 non-smokers, aged 35-76 yr. From each patient, gingival biopsies were harvested from one periodontitis site (probing pocket depth ≥6 mm and bleeding on probing) and one site without clinical signs of gingival inflammation (reference site). Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to assess the density of vessels and inflammatory cells. Small differences existed between smokers and non-smokers regarding the size, proportion, number, and density of cells in periodontitis lesions. However, the vascular density in periodontitis lesions was significantly higher in non-smokers than in smokers. In clinically healthy reference sites, lesions were considerably smaller than in periodontitis sites and presented with similar vascular densities in smokers and non-smokers.

To compare the outcomes of seismic hazard models with accelerometric records, the seismic ground motion at the reference soil conditions considered by the hazard estimates must be reconstructed. Here we illustrate the procedure proposed and operated to this purpose in the frame of the Italian DPC-INGV-S2 project. This includes two phases: the geological/geophysical characterization of the sites to be analysed and a numerical deconvolution analysis, carried on by considering specific records representative of the maximum ground motion observed at the relevant accelerometric sites. Particular attention was addressed to manage the uncertainty associated to this kind of analysis. Results are then compared with those obtained by simply applying the “correction” coefficients provided by the Italian National Seismic Code to account for site conditions.

La degradación de los recursos naturales genera la necesidad de recuperarlos mediante estrategias de restauración ecológica, para lo cual, es necesario identificar de manera sencilla las zonas a restaurar y priorizar las actividades a realizar. El objetivo de este trabajo fue utilizar la evaluación multicriterio para identificar las áreas prioritarias que necesitan ser restauradas en la región Chignahuapan-Zacatlán, Puebla; así como determinar mediante teledetección los sitios de referencia para las zonas identificadas para su restauración. Se utilizó el Proceso Analítico Jerarquizado en un entorno de sistemas de información geográfica para definir prioridades de atención. Para esto, se consideraron 12 criterios ambientales y se incorporó el conocimiento de 21 expertos en restauración ecológica a través de matrices de comparación pareada. Los sitios de referencia se determinaron mediante la clasificación supervisada de imágenes de satélite y la exclusión de las áreas con algún tipo de perturbación. Los resultados indican que cerca de 80% de la superficie se clasificó con algún nivel de prioridad a restauración. A pesar de esto, solamente 0.8% se clasificó con prioridad máxima a restaurar. Por otro lado, la superficie con potencial para servir de referencia es de 4753 ha. Además, se generaron mapas de las zonas que necesitan atención prioritaria en restauración ecológica y de los sitios de referencia; lo anterior favorece una planificación eficaz de las áreas a restaurar.

Transplantation of mussels to new aquaculture sites is currently being undertaken in Istria (Croatia) to increase production, minimize potential seasonal urban contamination, and secure safer seafood products. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of season and transplantation on physiological indices (condition index and meat yield) of mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis. Mussels were obtained from five aquaculture areas in Istria (central Lim Bay, Rasa, Budava, Vabriga, and Pomer) and moved to a reference site in inner Lim Bay from April to July. Results showed that both season and transplantation affected physiological indices of mussels. Higher physiological indices were found in cultivated mussels from all areas in summer compared to spring, except in mussels from Vabriga and Pomer. In addition, higher physiological indices were found in mussels transplanted from central Lim Bay to the reference site in inner Lim Bay. Transplantation negatively affected physiological indices of mussels from Vabriga and Pomer, with no change in mussels from Rasa and Budava. In conclusion, mussels from all areas exhibit satisfactory commercial results (≥15%) during the peak summer harvesting season. For most transplanted mussels, transplantation itself represents additional stress, bringing into focus adaptation processes, stock genetics, and favorable ecological conditions.

Many advances in the field of bioassessment have focused on approaches for objectively selecting the pool of reference sites used to establish expectations for healthy waterbodies, but little emphasis has been placed on ways to evaluate the suitability of the reference-site pool for its intended applications (e.g., compli- ance assessment vs ambient monitoring). These evaluations are critical because an inadequately evaluated ref- erence pool may bias assessments in some settings. We present an approach for evaluating the adequacy of a reference-site pool for supporting biotic-index development in environmentally heterogeneous and pervasively altered regions. We followed common approaches for selecting sites with low levels of anthropogenic stress to screen 1985 candidate stream reaches to create a pool of 590 reference sites for assessing the biological integrity of streams in California, USA. We assessed the resulting pool of reference sites against 2 performance criteria. First, we evaluated how well the reference-site pool represented the range of natural gradients present in the entire population of streams as estimated by sites sampled through probabilistic surveys. Second, we eval- uated the degree to which we were successful in rejecting sites influenced by anthropogenic stress by comparing biological metric scores at reference sites with the most vs fewest potential sources of stress. Using this approach, we established a reference-site pool with low levels of human-associated stress and broad coverage of environmen- tal heterogeneity. This approach should be widely applicable and customizable to particular regional or program- matic needs.

The work at hand attempts to propose a local pile design method based on pile load test results for a reference site. Such LPDM is simply based on the identification of three dimensionless quantities, such as the capacity ratio CR, the stiffness ratio SR, and the group settlement ratio Rs. To prove the LPDM reliability, experimental data collected during years in the Neapolitan area (Italy) have been used to obtain the abovementioned coefficients. Then, LPDM has been applied, as a preliminary design method, to three well-documented case histories applying capacity and settlement-based design (CBD and SBD) approaches. The satisfactory agreement between the geometry in the original design of piles and the one obtained by applying the LPDM proves that the proposed methodology may be very helpful for preliminary design, allowing for reasonable accuracy while requiring few hand calculations.

This paper develops a mathematical formulation to model and optimise site facility locations inside a construction site for a construction project's different stages. The existence and dimensions of a construction project's available locations and site facilities can be varied across the construction stages. Without proper planning, unnecessary facility relocations may be required in each construction stage, resulting in a higher construction cost and longer construction time due to the need to dismantle and set up site facilities. Site layout plans should be optimised using a multiple-stage model to avoid unnecessary changes to facility settings across construction stages, improving efficiency. The proposed site layout problem with multiple construction stages is formulated as a binary-mixed-integer-linear programme, which can be solved by a standard branch-and-bound algorithm using the commercial software package LINGO. The mathematical objective function established in the solution process aims to minimise the total cost, which consists of the material transportation cost between the relevant site facilities and the dismantling, setup and relocation costs for all of the involved site facilities in each construction stage. Numerical examples using the proposed mathematical model to optimise different site layout settings for a construction site are given, including (1) a reference site layout plan using the conventional static single-stage approach, (2) a multiple-stage construction site layout plan and (3) a multiple-stage site layout plan with additional safety design considerations.

The technical feasibility of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) has been demonstrated for the first time in fractured crystalline basement rocks at the Soultz-sous Forets project (France), thus creating a unique and vast data base. At this EGS reference site, different hydraulic and chemical stimulation procedures and experiments were performed in four wells at three different reservoir levels located between 2 and 5 km depth. These measures enhanced significantly the hydraulic yield of the three reservoirs, in some instances by about two orders of magnitude. In this compilation of hydraulic data, we summarize the achievements at Soultz during the development of three reservoirs by more than 15 major stimulations over a 20-year period between 1988 and 2007. We evaluate the efficiency of the different injection schemes used and provide details on the performance history and testing conditions. In addition to the 52 experiments described for the testing phase, this compilation includes nine tests under operational conditions conducted over the 2008–2013 period. The evolution of hydraulic yield resulting from various injection, production, and circulation experiments is a major achievement of the Soultz reservoir development. This experience points to two important results: 1) the amount of total volume circulated between wells has a very significant effect on reservoir performance and 2) given the large flow rate variation a common linear trend of pressure increase at higher fluid flow rates develops that manifests over all three reservoirs. A strong focus is on the well tests in the intermediate reservoir allowing for a characterization of productivity and injectivity indices. Our analysis showed that initial hydraulic conditions from single-well injection tests are comparable to each other in the three reservoirs, but individual fault zones may determine the stimulation behaviour. We identify progressive cyclic injection in combination with circulation between wells reaching high hydraulic yields at comparatively low pressure. The Soultz data suggest how to maximize injection and minimize induced seismicity. This unique data base illustrates the learning curve achieved in Soultz and provides a strong basis for further conceptual model developments.

The exposure level of gamma radiation and its consequent annual dose rate from the blocks faculty of sciences University of Uyo, Nigeria were investigated. An in -situ measurements of the exposure level were conducted using Radex radiation meter model RD 1212. The mean exposure measured for the different locations within the departments ranged between 0.096 ± 0.003 µSv/h µSv/h to 0.140± 0.007 µSv/h and the corresponding calculated annual dose rate (ADR ) ranged between 0.742 ± 0.021 mSv/y to 0.981± 0.049 mSv/y with department of chemistry contributing the highest value. Taking the football field as the reference site, the results show that the presence of chemicals have slightly increased the radiation level in the studied area; but not large enough for being concern as the annual dose rate is below the acceptable dose limit of 1mSv/y for the public and 20mSv/y occupational limit for personnel in the department. The area of study is new hence it is recommended that routine radiation level monitoring should be carried out for possible rise in the radiation level to be observed. For the safety, it is recommended for staff and students should spend less time indoors. The proper application of gamma rays are used for sterilization and cancer therapy.

It is believed that offshore wind farms may satisfy an increasing portion of the energy demand in the next years. This paper presents a comparative study of the fatigue performances of tripod and jacket steel support structures for offshore wind turbines in waters of intermediate depth (20-50 m). A reference site at a water depth of 45 m in the North Atlantic Ocean is considered. The tripod and jacket support structures are conceived according to typical current design. The fatigue behavior is assessed in the time domain under combined stochastic wind and wave loading and the results are compared in terms of a lifetime damage equivalent load.

Reference sites, comparable in physical and chemical characteristics to test sites with the exception of the effect of interest, provide a set of species to contrast against test site data and assign a condition to test sites in the Reference Condition Approach. However, what if disturbance is ubiquitous and comparable reference sites are absent? Here, we use the Detroit River as a case study where development and industrialization has rendered reference sites absent. In this paper, a novel application of best professional judgment was developed to generate a set of species characteristic of reference conditions. The synthesized assemblage functions as substitute to a sampled reference site and can be applied analogously towards determining condition and assessing recovery. Members of the Huron–Erie Corridor Steering Committee, comprised of agency partners that manage the corridor, were surveyed to produce a hypothetical data matrix of the fishes present in the river in the absence of anthropogenic disturbance. The synthesized assemblages were assessed using an Index of Biotic Integrity and subsequently integrated into a Principal Coordinates Analysis with test site fish assemblage data. Recovery and response to remediation was determined by the position of the test sites within confidence ellipses. The results indicated signs of recovery in upstream sites of the Detroit River, but no recovery at downstream sites. The application of the best professional judgment approach towards reference conditions provides a novel and versatile method to interpret species assemblage change and allows practitioners the ability to select specific assemblages coincident with restoration objectives.

In the present discussion, reliability of input parameters of site response analysis utilized by the author is investigated. Various issues such as selection of modulus reduction and damping curves, compatibility of input motion with reference site condition, and type of site response analysis are discussed here. Hence it seems that further clarifications by the author should be made.

Action Plan B3 of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) focuses on the integrated care of chronic diseases. Area 5 (Care Pathways) was initiated using chronic respiratory diseases as a model. The chronic respiratory disease action plan includes (1) AIRWAYS integrated care pathways (ICPs), (2) the joint initiative between the Reference site MACVIA-LR (Contre les MAladies Chroniques pour un VIeillissement Actif) and ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma), (3) Commitments for Action to the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing and the AIRWAYS ICPs network. It is deployed in collaboration with the World Health Organization Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD). The European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing has proposed a 5-step framework for developing an individual scaling up strategy: (1) what to scale up: (1-a) databases of good practices, (1-b) assessment of viability of the scaling up of good practices, (1-c) classification of good practices for local replication and (2) how to scale up: (2-a) facilitating partnerships for scaling up, (2-b) implementation of key success factors and lessons learnt, including emerging technologies for individualised and predictive medicine. This strategy has already been applied to the chronic respiratory disease action plan of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13601-016-0116-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

South Chattanooga has been home to foundries, coke furnaces, chemical, wood preserving, tanning and textile plants for over 100 years. Most of the industries were in place before any significant development of residential property in the area. During the 1950s and 1960s, however, the government purchased inexpensive property and constructed public housing projects in South Chattanooga. Many neighborhoods that surround the Chattanooga Creek were previous dumping grounds for industry. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) comprised the largest component of the dumping and airborne industrial emissions. To address the human exposure to these PAHs, a broad study of South Chattanooga soil contaminant concentrations was conducted on 20 sites across the city. Sixteen priority pollutant PAHs were quantified at two depths (0-10cm and 10-20cm) and compared against reference site soils, as well as to soils from industrially-impacted areas in Germany, China, and the US. From these data, the probability that people would encounter levels exceeding EPA Residential Preliminary Remediation Goals (PRG) was calculated. Results indicate that South Chattanooga soils have relatively high concentrations of total PAHs, specifically Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). These high concentrations of B[a]P were somewhat ubiquitous in South Chattanooga. Indeed, there is a high probability (88%) of encountering soil in South Chattanooga that exceeds the EPA PRG for B[a]P. However, there is a low probability (15%) of encountering a site with ∑PAHs exceeding EPA PRG guidelines.

The study area is a sewage farm in Saliyar in the state of Uttarakhand, India, which is irrigated using untreated sewage from the nearby city of Roorkee. Previous studies showed that due to sewage irrigation the first unconfined aquifer at a depth of 5–15 m is contaminated. The aim of this study is to characterize the deeper aquifers to a depth of 100 m, underlying the first unconfined aquifer. Therefore 46 in-loop TEM measurements were carried out in the farming area and an uncontaminated reference site with a transmitter loop of 50 x 50 m² and receiver loops of 20 x 20 m² and 5 x 5 m². To benefit from the geologically expected one-dimensional subsurface we applied the spatially constrained inversion technique on the data resulting in a geologically reasonable model and allowing the identification of a conducting layer of 28 Ωm as the second aquifer. The resolution of model parameters was computed using singular value decomposition. The low resistivity of the underlying aquifer, however, is not locally restricted to the sewage farm but is also visible in the reference area; it is therefore unlikely caused by irrigation with untreated sewage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Semiautomated methods for ICA stenosis measurements have the potential to reduce interobserver variability and to speed up its analysis. In this study, we estimate the precision and accuracy of a semiautomated measurement for carotid artery stenosis degree and identify and explain differences compared with the manual method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study involving 90 patients, 2 observers determined the stenosis degree twice, with both the semiautomated and the manual method. Intra- and interobserver correlations were calculated for both methods. The accuracy was estimated by comparing average semiautomated with manual measurements. The semiautomated stenosis calculations were performed using either the minimal or maximal intersection at the reference site. Individual cases with large differences in measurement were retrospectively inspected by 3 observers. RESULTS: Intra- ( R = 0.93, 0.96) and interobserver ( R = 0.98) correlations for the semiautomated method were excellent and exceeded the manual performance correlations ( R = 0.87, 0.86). The semiautomated measurements correlated well with the manual measurements ( R = 0.87), with high specificity of 96% and lower sensitivity of 63%. Large differences were caused by misinterpretations of the semiautomated method associated with calcified plaques, resulting in overestimations of the minimal diameter, underestimation of stenosis degree, and incorrect centerlines. The effect of using the minimal diameter at the reference position resulted in a small, but significant, underestimation of the stenosis degree by the semiautomated method. CONCLUSIONS: The semiautomated method showed an excellent reproducibility and good correlation with manual measurements with a high specificity and lower sensitivity for detecting a significant stenosis. Erroneous semiautomatic stenosis measurements were associated with the presence of calcium.

This paper presents an overview of current decision making approaches. For some approaches abstract information is provided, whereas others require a large amount of labor and time resources to facilitate decision making. However, few address the issues of assisting participants in learning how to make decisions and provide prompt responses to the situations. Harnessing lessons learned from making inappropriate decisions is expensive. To redress this problem, this paper presents a pilot study of the investigation of the psychological behaviors of humans to improve decision making processes with the use of organizational narrative simulation (ONS). By using the ONS method, possible and plausible narrative-based environments can be simulated. Participants can take actions based on their decisions; they can also observe the changes and the consequences. The decisions for handling new challenges generated purposely are validated in a trial that allows prompt responses to the situations. The ONS method is implemented in a selected reference site. The implementation processes, findings, and benefits are presented.

In this paper, we describe guided-mode resonance biochemical sensor technology. We briefly discuss sensor fabrication and show measured binding dynamics for example biomaterials in use in our laboratories. We then turn our attention to a particularly powerful attribute of this technology not possessed by competing methods. This attribute is the facile generation of multiple resonance peaks at an identical physical location on the sensor surface. These peaks respond uniquely to the biomolecular event, thereby enriching the data set available for event quantification. The peaks result from individual, polarization-dependent resonant leaky modes that are the foundation of this technology. Thus, by modeling the binding event and fitting to a rigorous electromagnetic formalism, we can determine individual attributes of the biolayer and its surroundings and avoid a separate reference site for background monitoring. Examples provide dual-polarization quantification of biotin binding to a silane-coated sensor as well as binding of the cancer biomarker protein calreticulin to its monoclonal IgG capture antibody. Finally, we present dual-polarization resonance response for poly (allylamine hydrochloride) binding to the sensor with corresponding results of backfitting to a simple model; this differentiates the contributions from biolayer adhesion and background changes.

Background: There are limited studies on wall imaging of human basilar artery (BA). Our aim was to investigate remodeling mode of advanced BA atherosclerosis using 3-T MRI. Methods: Thirty-two consecutive symptomatic patients with atherosclerotic BA stenosis ≥70% were imaged with a 3-T magnetic resonance scanner. Proton density-weighted (PDW) cross-sectional images with submillimeter voxel size were obtained. The vessel area (VA) and lumen area (LA) at the maximal lumen narrowing (MLN) site and reference site were measured. Intraobserver and interobserver variability was determined by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Wall area (WA) was estimated by VA − LA. Plaque size (PS) was estimated by WA at MLN site − reference WA. Percent plaque burden was calculated as (PS/VA at MLN site) × 100%. Remodeling index (RI) was the ratio of VA at MLN site to reference VA. RI ≥1.05 was defined as positive remodeling (PR) and RI Results: Measurements of cross-sectional BA images were available in 30 of 32 patients. Intraobserver or interobserver variability was small, with ICC ranging from 0.955 to 0.996. The mean RI of the 30 patients was 1.2 ± 0.4. PR was found in 19 (63.3%) patients and non-PR in 11 (36.7%) patients. Compared with the non-PR group, the PR group had greater PS (15.0 ± 9.3 mm 2 vs 6.4 ± 3.9 mm 2 , p = 0.007) and greater percent plaque burden (50.5 ± 9.9% vs 28.5 ± 12.7%, p Conclusions: 3-T high-resolution PDW imaging is a reproducible tool for measuring BA dimensions. In patients with advanced BA atherosclerosis, PR lesions are more frequently observed and contain larger plaques than non-PR lesions.

Purpose To assess the transferability of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) multislice multiecho T2* technique for global and segmental measurement of iron overload in thalassemia patients. Materials and Methods Multiecho T2* sequences were installed on six MRI scanners. Five healthy subjects (n = 30) were scanned at each site; five thalassemia major (TM) patients were scanned at the reference site and were rescanned locally (n = 25) within 1 month. T2* images were analyzed using previously validated software. Results T2* values of healthy subjects showed intersite homogeneity. On TM patients, for global heart T2* values the correlation coefficient was 0.97, coefficients of variation (CoVs) ranged from 0.04–0.12, and intraclass coefficients (ICCs) ranged from 0.94–0.99. The mean CoV and ICC for segmental T2* distribution were 0.198 and 88, respectively. Conclusion The multislice multiecho T2* technique is transferable among scanners with good reproducibility. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:62–68. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Purpose To determine the reference site for relative apparent diffusion coefficient (rADC) and to evaluate the benefit of rADC for detecting metastatic lymph nodes in uterine cervical cancer. Materials and Methods Two observers independently measured ADCs in the spleen, liver, renal cortex, lumbar spine, lumbar spinal cord, and gluteus maximus on diffusion-weighted images (b value, 0 and 1000 mm/sec2) in 50 patients. The reference site for rADC was determined using the intra- and interobserver coefficient of variation (CV) of ADC in these organs. rADC was calculated by ADClesion/ADCreference site. The benefit of rADC over ADC was validated by comparing the area under the receiver operating curve for identifying metastatic lymph nodes in uterine cervical cancer in 130 patients. Results The renal cortex was determined to be the reference site for rADC, as its CVs (intraobserver, 5%–7%; interobserver, 5%) were less than those of the other organs (P < 0.05). The ADC and rADC of metastatic lymph nodes (n = 29, ADC, 0.7483 × 10−3 mm2/sec; rADC, 0.3832) were less than those of nonmetastatic lymph nodes (n = 229, ADC, 0.9960 × 10−3 mm2/sec; rADC, 0.5383) (P < 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve for differentiating metastatic from nonmetastatic lymph nodes was greater for rADC (0.914; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.872–0.945) than for ADC (0.872; 95% CI, 0.825–0.910) (P = 0.007). Conclusion The renal cortex is an appropriate reference site for rADC and rADC may improve the accuracy for diagnosing metastatic lymph nodes in uterine cervical cancer. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;29:383–390. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

We tested the hypotheses that mature horses without lameness have a repeatable radiopharmaceutical uptake pattern in the stifle, which is bilaterally symmetric; immature horses have a different radiopharmaceutical uptake pattern; and forelimb lameness alters the radiopharmaceutical uptake pattern in the stifle. The objectives of the study were to describe the normal radiopharmaceutical uptake patterns using region of interest (ROI) analysis; to compare uptake patterns between left and right stifles of the same horse and between mature and immature horses; to compare radiopharmaceutical uptake in mature normal horses with those with forelimb lameness. Lateral scintigraphic images of the stifle from 51 horses aged 2-16 years were evaluated using seven ROIs and a reference site (midfemur). After subtraction of a background count, ratios between the mean counts per pixel for each ROI to the reference site were calculated. There was a repeatable radiopharmaceutical uptake pattern in mature normal horses that was bilaterally symmetrical. The caudoproximal aspect of the tibia and the patella had the highest ratios. Radiopharmaceutical uptake patterns in horses with forelimb lameness were not significantly different. Immature normal horses had a different symmetric pattern, with greatest radiopharmaceutical uptake ratios in the caudoproximal aspect of the tibia and the tibial crest. It was concluded that there are symmetric, repeatable radiopharmaceutical uptake patterns in both immature and mature horses, which are not altered by forelimb lameness.

The objective of this research is to assess and analyze the biometeorological perception in complex microenvironments in the Athens University Campus (AUC) using urban micromodels, such as RayMan. The human thermal sensation in such a place was considered of great significance due to the great gathering of student body and staff of the University. The quantification of the biometeorological conditions was succeeded by the estimation of the physiologically equivalent temperature (PET), which is a biometeorological index based on the human energy balance. We carried out, on one hand, field measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and global solar irradiance for different sites (building atrium, open area, and green atrium) of the examined microurban environment in order to calculate PET during January-July 2013. Additionally, on the other hand, PET modeling was performed using different sky-view factors and was compared to a reference site (meteorological station of Laboratory of Climatology and Atmospheric Environment, University of Athens). The global radiation was transferred to the examined sites with the RayMan model, which considers the sky-view factors for the adaptation of the radiation fluxes to simple and complex environments. The results of this study reveal the crucial importance of the existence of trees and green cover in a complex environment, as a factor that could be the solution to the efforts of stake holders in order to mitigate strong heat stress and improve people's living quality in urban areas.

International audience; The broad concept of Active and Healthy Ageing was proposed by WHO as the process of optimizing opportunities for health to enhance quality of life as people age. It applies to both individuals and population groups. A universal active and healthy ageing definition is not available and may differ depending on the purpose of the definition and/or the questions raised. The European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) has had a major impact but a definition of Active and Healthy Ageing is urgently needed. A meeting was organised in Montpellier October 20-21, 2014 as the annual conference of the EIP on AHA Reference Site MACVIA-LR (contre les MAladies Chroniques pour un VIeillissement Actif en Languedoc Roussillon). The goal of the meeting was to propose an operational definition of Active and Healthy Ageing as well as tools that may be used for this definition. The current paper provides a summary of the plenary presentations that were given during the meeting.

The use of the reference condition approach (RCA) in environmental assessments is becoming more prevalent. Although the RCA was not explicitly described in Green's (1979) book on statistical methods for environmental biologists, we expanded his decision key for selecting an appropriate environmental study design to include this approach. The RCA compares the biological community at a potentially impacted ‘test’ site to communities found in minimally impacted ‘reference’ sites. However, to implement the RCA there are a number of assumptions and decisions that must be made. We compare several common multimetric and multivariate bioassessment methods to illustrate that four key decisions inherent in the RCA framework (i.e., criteria used for reference site selection, for grouping similar reference sites, for comparing test and reference sites, and for evaluating the cause of impacts) can markedly affect test site appraisals. Specific guidelines should be developed to select appropriate reference sites. Based on analyses of real and simulated data, we recommend a minimum of 20, but preferably 30 to 50 reference sites per group, and verification of groupings with more than one classification method. New approaches (e.g., test site analysis) incorporating the strengths of both multimetric and multivariate methods can be used to compare test and reference sites. Additional ecological information, models relating degree of impact to a stressor or habitat gradient, and variance partitioning can also be used to isolate the probable cause of impairment, and are particularly valuable when appropriate reference sites are unavailable.

The paper reports a methodology adopted to face problems related to quality assurance in soil sampling. The SOILSAMP project, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency of Italy (APAT), is aimed at (i) establishing protocols for soil sampling in different environments; (ii) assessing uncertainties associated with different soil sampling methods in order to select the "fit-for-purpose" method; (iii) qualifying, in term of trace elements spatial variability, a reference site for national and international inter-comparison exercises. Preliminary results and considerations are illustrated.

Site effects were studied for the individual sites of the 25 elements of the German Experimental Seismic System (GERESS) array based on the traditional spectral ratio (TSR) technique and horizontal-to-vertical ratios (HVRs) for earthquakes and microtremors, commonly referred to as Nakamura9s technique. An understanding of these site effects is required for various applications, in particular for the discrimination of seismic events. The spectral ratio technique identifies three stations (A0, A3, B3) as showing prominent peaks in the frequency band from 1 to 17 Hz up to a factor of 30, with A0 and B3 having the largest site effect at a frequency of 7 Hz. These stations are situated in the immediate vicinity of the array center. A number of other stations, such as A1, B1, B4, B5, C1, C3–C5, D2, D5, and D7–D9, display a broad frequency range preferably above 10 Hz, where the spectral ratios indicate up to 10 times higher spectral amplitudes compared to the reference site, C2. The remaining stations, A2, B2, C6, C7, D1, D3, D4, and D6, show no noticeable site effects. Further study considers the appropriateness for the selection of C2 as reference site for the TSR technique and the comparison of TSR and HVR techniques for the three-component elements of the array. Although typically site response refers to the site amplification of horizontal ground motions, the assessed site response of vertical ground motions seems to yield comparable results. The spectral variance, a parameter based on the smoothness of stacked array spectra from the best 17 array elements of the GERESS array, has been used successfully to distinguish between local earthquakes and mining explosions. It is shown that the spectral variance estimate is considerably improved using all 25 array elements and applying a site response correction.

Fix success and accuracy of GPS (Global Positioning System) telemetry both depend on the number of visible satellites and their geometry. Due to the topography of the mountain environment the efficiency of GPS is compromised, field tests were conducted to analyze how it can affect fix success and rate of 3D locations (≥ 4 visible satellites) as regards slope orientation, using pooled data from GPS collars in solved- and differential-mode. Ten test sites were defined in the periphery of the Vanoise National Park. Fixes were simultaneously recorded at the bottom and top of cliffs facing each of the 4 main orientations or at the bottom of valleys oriented £-W and N-S and at a reference site (open field). Fix success and rate of 3D locations were significantly negatively correlated with an increasing obstruction level. Cliff orientation affected both fix success (significantly higher for cliffs facing the North) and rate of 3D locations (significantly higher for cliffs facing the South).

The paper reports the approach followed in the SOILSAMP project, funded by the National Environmental Protection Agency (ANPA)of Italy. SOILSAMP is aimed at assessing uncertainties associated with soil sampling in agricultural, semi-natural, urban, and industrial environments. The uncertainty assessment is based on a bottom-up approach, according to the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). A designated agricultural area, which has been characterized in terms of elemental spatial distribution, will be used in future as a reference site for soil sampling intercomparison exercises.

The Canadian federal government instituted an environment effects monitoring (EEM) program for the pulp and paper industry to ensure the long-term integrity of fish populations below the discharge of mill effluents. The program is cyclical in nature (every three to four years) and one of the components of the program is an adult fish survey which monitors wild fish health in the receiving environments. Cycle 1 reports were submitted in April of 1996, and the report for the James Maclaren Inc. mill at Thurso, Quebec, suggested some responses were evident in fish downstream of the mill discharge. However, the receiving environment was subject to inputs from other potential sources or confounding factors such as farm runoff, storm sewers, municipal discharges and and upstream paper mills. A review of other Cycle 1 studies also identified a number of problems encountered during the adult fish surveys. At this time, Maclaren researchers and Environment Canada set up a collaborative research project as part of their Cycle 2 studies at the Thurso site. Objectives of the study included a comparison of Cycle 2 results to their Cycle 1 studies, an assessment of the potential for the use of forage fish in the EEM program as well as an evaluation of reference site variability in the required EEM fish parameters. Collections in 1997 confirmed an increased male yellow perch liver size downstream of the discharge, but could not confirm reproductive alterations in exposed fish. It was possible to obtain all of the required EEM fish parameters from a small forage fish species such as the johnny darter, which may reduce the influence of fish mobility and other confounding factors on fish responses at some sites. Reference site variability was not a contributing factor in evaluating fish responses to effluent sources at this site.

This research aim to make ordination of Blue Rivers on Dusun Wonorejo, Desa Tulungrejo, Kecamatan Bumiaji, Kota Batu based on macrozoobenthos and environmental variable which support. The research is conducted in the early of February to mid of August. Items at the research consisting of macrozoobenthos community, water, environmental physical on Blur Rivers. Intake of some sample conducted in 15 sites which done only one intake as long as Blue River which representing reference site area. Way of intake of the makrozoobenthos sample are done with kicking sampling methods. Macrozoobenthos which had been taken would be identified and calculated as data sampling. Data analysis technique use CANOCO (“Canonical Community Ordination”) programs on 4.5 version for determining the ordination of ecology group based on makrozoobenthos. From data analysis use CANOCO to be got Blue River ordination from 15 sites that is A ordination counted 7 site that means are good condition proven by finding of Glossomatidae. B rdination counted 8 site that means are site that begin to degradation proven by finding of Simuliidae.

2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant severe accident was caused by both earthquake and tsunami, which results in large amount of radioactive nuclides release. That accident has caused the radioactive contamination on the surrounding environment. Although this accident probability is extremely small, once such an accident happens that is likely to release a lot of radioactive materials into the environment, and cause radiation contamination. Therefore, studying accidents consequences is important and essential to improve nuclear power plant design and management. Level 3 PSA methods of nuclear power plant can be used to analyze radiological consequences, and quantify risk to the public health effects around nuclear power plants. Based on multiple external hazards compound level 3 PSA methods studies of nuclear power plant, and the description of the multiple external hazards compound level 3 PSA technology roadmap and important technical elements, as well as taking a coastal nuclear power plant as the reference site, we analyzed the impact of off-site consequences of nuclear power plant severe accidents caused by multiple external hazards. At last we discussed the impact of off-site consequences probabilistic risk studies and its applications under multiple external hazards compound conditions, and explained feasibility and reasonableness of emergency plans implementation.

The Region Languedoc-Roussillon is the umbrella organisation for an interconnected and integrated project on AHA covering the 3 pillars of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. All sub-activities (A1: electronic pharmaceutical file, A2: falls prevention initiative, A3: frailty, B3: chronic respiratory diseases, chronic diseases with comorbidities, oral health and hepatitis virus C chronic infection, C2 and D4 active and independent living and handicap) are included in MACVIA-LR that has a strong political commitment and includes all stakeholders (public, private, patients, policy makers). It is one of the Reference Sites of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing built around chronic diseases, ageing and handicap. The framework of MACVIA-LR has the vision that the prevention and management of CDs is essential for AHA promotion and for the reduction of handicap. The main objective of MACVIA-LR is to develop innovative solutions for a network of Living Labs in order to improve the care of patients affected by CDs in the Languedoc-Roussillon area and to disseminate the innovation.

Ambient air samples were taken concurrently at four sites in northwest England to assess the role of domestic burning of coal/wood on ambient levels of PCDD/Fs, PCBs (including co-PCBs), and PAHs. Fifty-six samples (ca. 800 m3 each) were taken in January and February 1998 at an urban site, a rural reference site, and two village sites, which relied on domestic burning for space heating. Correlations with meteorological parameters found the urban site to be a source area of all POPs investigated, while the village sites had a local impact of PAHs and, to a lesser extent, PCDD/Fs. PCDD/F-levels changed simultaneously at all sites, pointing toward a combination of regional meteorological effects and increased domestic burning. Two sampling events, marked by low ambient temperatures and wind speeds, showed substantial increases in PCDD/F and PAH concentrations (by factors of 2−5). We estimate that local sources at the villages accounted for 25% of the ΣTEQ (with 75% stemming from advective transport) and 75% of the ΣPAHs in the ambient air at those sites (25% advective transport) during our winter sampling events. This study singled out PCDFs, notably the lower chlorinated ones, as good indicators of domestic burning, together with a range of PAHs. The co-PCBs #126 and 169 were found to behave like PCDD/Fs and PAHs rather than the more abundant “regular” PCBs, confirming that they have different sources to the environment.

Background —The morphological characteristics of coronary plaques in patients with stable versus unstable coronary syndromes have been described in vivo with intravascular ultrasound, but the relationship between arterial remodeling and clinical presentation is not well known. Methods and Results —We studied 85 patients with unstable and 46 patients with stable coronary syndromes using intravascular ultrasound before coronary intervention. The lesion site and a proximal reference site were analyzed. The remodeling ratio (RR) was defined as the ratio of the external elastic membrane (EEM) area at the lesion to that at the proximal reference site. Positive remodeling was defined as an RR >1.05 and negative remodeling as an RR 2 ; P =0.005), EEM area (16.1±6.2 versus 13.0±4.8 mm 2 ; P =0.004), and the RR (1.06±0.2 versus 0.94±0.2; P =0.008) were significantly greater at target lesions in patients with unstable syndromes than in patients with stable syndromes. Positive remodeling was more frequent in unstable than in stable lesions (51.8% versus 19.6%), whereas negative remodeling was more frequent in stable lesions (56.5% versus 31.8%) ( P =0.001). Conclusions —Positive remodeling and larger plaque areas were associated with unstable clinical presentation, whereas negative remodeling was more common in patients with stable clinical presentation. This association between the extent of remodeling and clinical presentation may reflect a greater tendency of plaques with positive remodeling to cause unstable coronary syndromes.

Recordings were obtained from a total of 25 normal subjects of the electromyographic (EMG) responses in the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) to intense sound stimuli. While previous authors have demonstrated these responses exist, it has remained unclear whether the EMG response is unilateral or bilateral in nature. Accordingly, we chose a remote site, linked-wrists, for our reference electrodes so that we could be certain that no significant volume conduction of potentials could occur from the source in the SCM to the reference site. When this was done we found that if the sternum was used as a reference site, as was the case in previous studies, some subjects exhibited bilateral responses while in others, the response was ipsilateral. However, with linked-wrists as the reference site, responses were always purely ipsilateral. Furthermore, recordings that used the sternum or the ipsilateral mastoid process as active sites and linked-wrists as a reference, exhibited responses which were inverted. Thus, both the sternum and the ipsilateral mastoid process are electrically active due to volume conduction from the nearby source in the SCM. The ambiguity in previous recordings can be attributed to the use of these active sites as a reference. When SCM responses are recorded versus a remote, electrically inactive site, the responses are purely ipsilateral.

Recent histopathologic and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) data indicate that inadequate compensatory enlargement of atherosclerotic lesions contributes to the development of significant arterial stenoses. Such lesions may contain less plaque, which may have implications for atheroablative interventions. In this study, we compared lesions with (group A, n = 16) and without inadequate compensatory enlargement (group B, n = 30) as determined by IVUS. The acute results and the follow-up lumen dimensions of angiographically successful directional coronary atherectomy procedures were compared. Inadequate compensatory enlargement was considered present when the preintervention arterial cross-sectional area at the target lesion site was smaller than that at the (distal) reference site. Three-dimensional IVUS analysis and quantitative angiography were performed in 46 patients before and after intervention. IVUS measurements included the arterial, lumen, and plaque (arterial minus lumen) cross-sectional areas at the target lesion site (i.e., smallest lumen site) and the (distal) reference site. Angiographic follow-up was performed in 42 patients. Preintervention and postintervention angiographic measurements and IVUS lumen cross-sectional area measurements were similar in both groups. However, at follow-up, the angiographic minimum lumen and reference diameters were significantly smaller in group A compared with group B (1.71 +/- 0.47 mm vs 2.14 +/- 0.73 mm, p

Regression analysis of vessel area on plaque area measured in different arteries is unable to discern different patterns of remodeling in vessels. Analyses that compare a target site with a reference site have limitations related to the choice of these sites. An adequate method to analyze the impact of progression of atherosclerosis on vessel area should entail a longitudinal study of a vessel segment over time. 13

This study investigated the potential effects of the fish aquaculture on water quality and enrichment of PAHs in the aquaculture surface sediments. Water quality parameters and PAHs were determined at fish farms and reference sites. A significant decrease in dissolved oxygen at fish farms was observed (p < 0.05). Enrichment of total organic carbons (TOC) and PAHs in comparison to reference site were significant (p < 0.05). Enrichment of TOC had significant correlation with enrichment of PAHs (p < 0.05) especially carcinogenic PAHs. Cluster and principle components analyses revealed an additional source of PAHs (35 %) into the fish farm sediments. The finding of this study indicated fish farming is a significant source of dissolved oxygen deterioration and enrichment of PAHs. Therefore an appropriate monitoring system is required for the sustainable development of fish farming sector.