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Determining the fundamental causes of scuba diver contact with coral reefs is vitally important for the marine tourism sector. This information can provide management authorities and dive operators with methods to promote and demonstrate sustainable dive practices in order to reduce physical interaction by divers on coral reefs. This study provides an insight into what variables influence physical contact by scuba divers on coral reefs around Praslin Island, Seychelles. Underwater behavior was studied from 205 divers to identify what factors significantly influence contacts on coral reefs at dive sites. Male divers contacted the reef twice as much as female ones (0.25 ± 0.04 vs. 0.12 ± 0.02 contacts min–1). Photographers contacted the reef significantly more than those divers without cameras (0.30 ± 0.06 vs. 0.10 ± 0.02 contacts min–1), as did diving at midday versus in the morning (0.46 ± 0.13 vs. 0.16 ± 0.02 contacts min–1). Diver age had a significant effect on contact rates, with the 41–50 age category responsible for the highest amount contacts (0.31 ± 0.07 contacts min–1). Dive operators need to be extra vigilant with these high-risk divers, utilizing a combination of damage prevention methods for camera users, providing closer supervision for older divers and reminding divers about ecofriendly dive techniques who are completing more than one dive that day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little has been written about the history of English underwater salvage in the mid-seventeenth century. The navy of the 1650s and the 1660s needed divers and salvagers for their expanded operations, especially during wars against the Dutch. Ships sunk deep at sea were irretrievable, but vessels lost near shore in tidal waters could yield recoverable materials. This article offers new insights into wreck recovery during the period of the Interregnum and the Restoration. It investigates the archival evidence of efforts to recover ordnance from the English naval vessels Liberty (also named Charles) that sank in the North Sea in 1650, and the London that blew up in the Thames in 1665. Despite difficult tidal and weather conditions, Robert Willis and others were able to recover several tons of bronze guns for re-use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the funerary inscriptions dedicated to children in the Roman period in the Conventus Cluniensis. The rate of infant mortality was high in this period but only a low percentage of inscriptions were dedicated to children. This underrepresentation of infant mortality has been analyzed from different perspectives, including the emotional attachment of the parents or archaeological funerary remains connected to non-adults. The aim of this article is to contextualize the epitaphs dedicated to children within the general analysis of funerary epigraphy, comparing the representation of children with other social groups and the use of Latin epigraphy in the provinces. Cet article porte sur les inscriptions funéraires dédiées aux enfants à l'époque romaine dans le Conventus Cluniensis. Malgré le taux élevé de mortalité infantile qui prévalait, seule une petite partie des épitaphes leur étaient consacrées. Cette sous-représentation a d'ailleurs fait l'objet d'analyses variées. On s'est entre autres intéressé à l'attachement émotionnel des parents, de même qu'aux divers vestiges archéologiques d'ordre funéraire étant parvenus jusqu'à nous. Cet article tente d'appréhender la question des épitaphes dédiées aux enfants dans le contexte d'une analyse plus large de l'épigraphie funéraire, cela en comparant les données dons nous disposons à celles d'autres groupes sociaux et en se questionnant sur l'usage de l'épigraphie latine dans les provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Motion sickness (MS) is a familiar condition to scuba divers. The purpose of this study was to compare otolith organ function of scuba divers who have MS to those without MS.Method: Video-oculography (VOG) goggles were used to measure video ocular counter-roll (vOCR) in 50 healthy scuba divers with no vestibular pathology. Divers with MS (n = 30) had Graybiel motion sickness (GMS) scores of ≥1 point, and divers without MS (n = 20) had GMS scores of 0. Divers with MS also completed the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire short form (MSSQs). For all divers, otolith-ocular function of both ears was tested separately via vOCR testing, which was performed during 30° head tilt. An R-L side asymmetry ratio for vOCR values (%OCRA) was compared to divers' static OCR.Results: MSSQs and %OCRA scores differed significantly (p<0.01and p<0.001, respectively) between divers with MS and divers without MS. Their %OCRA scores and severity of MS were significantly correlated. Female divers were more susceptible to MS. ROC analysis for %OCRA revealed that the AUC for divers with MS and divers without MS was 0.8967 (95% CI, 0.8114 to 0.9819), the specificity was 1.000, and the sensitivity was 0.700, with a cutoff value of 45.946.Conclusion: Physiological differences between R-L otolith organ function could affect the severity and susceptibility to MS. Female hormones may also increase susceptibility to MS. Thus, MS may be a physiological phenomenon induced by functional ear differences in the absence of pathology. As MS is caused by multiple factors, otolaryngologists need to consider various causative factors beyond those related to otolith organ function in scuba divers with MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine diff erences between vital capacity and length of a dive in dynamics (DYN) with and without glossopharyngeal insuffl ation in breath-hold divers. The sample consisted of 15 elite breath-hold divers (12 male subjects and 3 female subjects) who were in regular training process and members of national team in Croatia. The sample of variables consisted two measures for estimating valuation of vital capacity (VC and VCP) and two measures for determining length of a dive in meters (URON and URONP). All variables have standard their basic statistic parameters and were tested to determine statistically signifi cant diff erences between the vital capacity and length of a dive with and without glossopharyngeal insuffl ation as technique of air packaging. One-sided t- test for dependent samples was used and with results (signifi cance level of p = 0.00) it can be concluded that there is a statistically signifi cant diff erence between vital capacity and length of a dive with and without glossopharyngeal insuffl ation. Technique of packing air (glossopharyngeal insuffl ation) is producing better results for competitors, but with this advantage athletes must be aware of disadvantages of using this technique which can cause injuries to respiratory system and its organs.

Pulmonary barotrauma may occur in diving and can result in a spectrum of injuries referred to as pulmonary over-inflation syndrome (POIS). Pneumomediastinum is a part of the POIS spectrum and only rarely results in respiratory symptoms. We present a case of a civilian diver who developed pneumomediastinum with respiratory symptoms which did not respond to normobaric 100% oxygen. After investigation for pneumothorax, he underwent hyperbaric oxygen treatment which resulted in significant alleviation of his symptoms. This is a novel case example of this treatment algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A diver returned to diving, 15 months after an episode of neuro-spinal decompression sickness (DCS) with relapse, after which she had been found to have a moderate to large provoked shunt across a persistent (patent) foramen ovale (PFO), which was not closed. She performed a single highly conservative dive in line with the recommendations contained in the 2015 position statement on PFO and diving published jointly by the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society and the United Kingdom Sports Diving Medical Committee. An accidental Valsalva manoeuvre shortly after surfacing may have provoked initial symptoms which later progressed to DCS. Her symptoms and signs were milder but closely mirrored her previous episode of DCS and she required multiple hyperbaric oxygen treatments over several days, with residua on discharge. Although guidance in the joint statement was mostly followed, the outcome from this case indicates that there may be a subgroup of divers with an unclosed PFO, who have had a previous episode of serious DCS, who may not be safe to dive, even within conservative limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study identified characteristics and diving practices of victims of fatal surface supplied breathing apparatus (SSBA) incidents in Australia from 1965--2019 to determine underlying factors and risks associated with these activities, better educate the diving community and prevent such deaths. Methods: A hand search was made of 'Project Stickybeak' reports from 1965-2000 and SSBA fatality data were compared to the Australasian Diving Safety Foundation fatality database. The National Coronial Information System was searched to identify SSBA diving deaths for 2001-2019. Extracted data were collated and analysed using descriptive statistics and Poisson Regression. A chain of events analysis was used to determine the likely sequence of events. Results: There were 84 identified SSBA-related deaths during the study period. Most victims were relatively young, healthy males (median age 33 years). At least 50% of victims were undertaking work-related diving, and 37% were recreational diving. Equipment issues, mainly compressor-related, were the main contributor, identified as a predisposing factor in 48% of incidents and as triggers in 24%. Conclusions: Preventable surface-supplied diving deaths still occur in both occupational and recreational diving, often from poor equipment maintenance and oversight. Incorrect configuration of the SSBA and lack of training remain on-going problems in recreational users. These could be addressed by improved education, and, failing this, regulatory oversight. The increase in health-related incidents in older participants may be controlled to some extent by greater medical oversight, especially in recreational and non-certified occupational divers who should be encouraged to undergo regular diving medical assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scuba diving could increase free radicals production which acts as signaling molecules to induce adaptation against oxidative attack. The aim of the new research was to study the impact of scuba diving effects on multiple gas composition responses from the exhaled breath of professional divers. Ethylene, ammonia, and carbon dioxide concentrations from diver’s respiration were measured before and after the immersion to 8 m depth in the Black Sea. The ethylene gas (for oxidative stress condition), the ammonia gas (for proteins degradation) and the carbon dioxide gas from the respiration of the six divers were evaluated by mean of the breath test using infrared laser absorption spectroscopy. The experimental results for each breath test of scuba divers will be presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breath-hold divers (BHD) enduring apnea for more than 4 min are characterized by resistance to release of reactive oxygen species, reduced sensitivity to hypoxia, and low mitochondrial oxygen consumption in their skeletal muscles similar to northern elephant seals. The muscles and myocardium of harbor seals also exhibit metabolic adaptations including increased cardiac lactate-dehydrogenase-activity, exceeding their hypoxic limit. We hypothesized that the myocardium of BHD possesses similar adaptive mechanisms. During maximum apnea 15O-H2O-PET/CT (n = 6) revealed no myocardial perfusion deficits but increased myocardial blood flow (MBF). Cardiac MRI determined blood oxygen level dependence oxygenation (n = 8) after 4 min of apnea was unaltered compared to rest, whereas cine-MRI demonstrated increased left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT). Arterial blood gases were collected after warm-up and maximum apnea in a pool. At the end of the maximum pool apnea (5 min), arterial saturation decreased to 52%, and lactate decreased 20%. Our findings contrast with previous MR studies of BHD, that reported elevated cardiac troponins and decreased myocardial perfusion after 4 min of apnea. In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time with 15O-H2O-PET/CT and MRI in elite BHD during maximum apnea, that MBF and LVWT increases while lactate decreases, indicating anaerobic/fat-based cardiac-metabolism similar to diving mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heritage sites and studies of the pearling industry in Arab Gulf nations focus predominantly on men who labored as merchants, boat captains, and pearl divers. They represent merchants as having reaped the greatest returns and divers as having endured the greatest hardships over the history of the industry. Recently published memoirs and interviews feature elder men's recollections of their experiences as divers during their youth; these men focus on the hardships that they endured and attribute their success – even their survival – to chance or divine intervention. British records from the 1930s not only document the tribulations that divers reported; they also, as this article argues, depict human agency – instead of nature, chance, or divine intervention – as the main source of misfortune for divers. These findings trouble "official" representations of pearl diving, particularly the treatment of the divers, at such heritage sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1628 the Dutch seized the New Spain Fleet and its precious cargo in the Bay of Matanzas. After the Dutch withdrawal, the Spanish government rescued some of the sunken assets with divers, this being one of the least known aspects in the history of the encounter. Here is provided, through an analysis of primary sources, a new perspective and data on said dive and rescue. Based on these, areas of high archaeological potential are identified according to underwater geomorphology. It is concluded that there is perhaps little material evidence left in the shallow parts of the bay, where the rescue dives were carried out, since the amount of the wealth was taken by the Dutch, and what was submerged was later rescued by the Spanish. These new data contribute to the historical overview of the encounter and the archaeological research that could be conducted in the waters of the bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Espacio, Tiempo y Forma. Serie IV, Historia Moderna is the property of Editorial UNED and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cold-water diving exposes the divers to highly stressful conditions at physical and mental level. Scientific divers of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution are routinely exposed to low temperatures during the winter months. The main reported physical impact resulted to be loss of dexterity with reduction of manipulative capacity. The impact on mental functions was represented by a general slowing down of the elaborative capacity and reduction of situational awareness and short-term memory. Several key-points have been identified as viable defense against the cold-related risk including limited dive-time, adequate thermal protection, proper rest before the dive, strong team mutual support and training and rehearsal of the operations. Diving protocols have been developed allowing for safe and proficient operations in cold water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the project was to develop a miniaturised and cost-optimised autonomous CTD instrument that could be carried or deployed by divers to provide accurate, precise and georeferenced physico-chemical measurements. The device (160 mm in length and 25 mm in diameter) consisted of an ARM Cortex M4 microprocessor with floating point unit, a two-electrode conductivity measurement system, a GPS module and three temperature sensors. All data were stored in an internal memory with user configurable sample rates between 1 s and 60 s. GPS coordinates were captured automatically on surfacing and an integrated WiFi modem (ESP8266) permitted configuration of the device via a smartphone. Once the device was in reach of a known WiFi network, data were automatically uploaded either via MQTT protocol or FTP. The device was successfully tested in laboratory pressure chambers and during sea dives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mycosystema is the property of Mycosystema Editorial Board and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

En 1688, Louis-Augustin Alemand publiait ses I Nouvelles observations, ou Guerre civile des François sur la langue. i Quatre siècles plus tard, c'est sur le I genre i que les débats se cristallisent, fixant dans la société française des tensions si fortes que même les dernières élections présidentielles ont été le théâtre de combats linguistiques inédits: le genre, dans la langue, fut ramené à une franche binarité «pour ou contre l'écriture inclusive», chacun des candidats trouvant nécessaire de se déclarer à l'aune de cette étrange et impérieuse injonction. Les «dites/ne dites pas» sont des avatars médiocres de la pensée de la langue, promus par des locuteurs normatophiles - si l'on me permet ce néologisme - souvent marqués par l'insécurité que peut susciter le souci de la bonne conduite et de son affichage. Et si ces sinuosités de la pensée du genre sont finalement plutôt ce qui caractérise les discours dans le temps, c'est peut-être aussi pour laisser place à l'inattendu: il semblerait bien que les locuteurs ordinaires aient toujours bricolé avec la langue, sans pour autant se placer sous tel ou tel pavillon. [Extracted from the article]

SCUBA divers are predisposed to otitis externa caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is becoming increasingly multi-drug resistant (MDR). The present work assessed the antibiotic resistance profiles of P. aeruginosa obtained from SCUBA divers and their environment in Sodwana Bay, South Africa. Bacterial isolates from a total of 137 random water and ear swab samples were identified using biochemical and molecular methods. P. aeruginosa strains were further evaluated for antibiotic susceptibility using the Kirby–Bauer assay. Double disk synergy test (DDST) to confirm metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) production and PCR amplification of specific antibiotic resistance genes was performed. All (100%) 22 P. aeruginosa isolates recovered were resistant to 6 of the β-lactams tested including imipenem but exhibited susceptibility to trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole. MBL production was observed in 77% of isolates while the most prevalent extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes present included blaAmpC (86.9%) followed by blaTEM (82.6%). Sulfonamide resistance was largely encoded by sul1 (63.6%) and sul2 (77.3%) genes with a high abundance of class 1 integrons (77.3%) of which 18.2% carried both Intl1 and Intl2. P. aeruginosa found in Sodwana Bay exhibits multi-drug resistance (MDRce) to several pharmaceutically important drugs with the potential to transfer antibiotic resistance to other bacteria if the judicious use of antibiotics for their treatment is not practiced.

[Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diving chamber is an important system needed for diving operations in the oil and gas industry. Divers use it for various purposes. Thus, the safety level of the diving chamber needs to be very high at all times and the system needs to be in a good state. To achieve this, various control measures such as control measures 1 and 2 can be adopted in preventing failures/hazards or mitigate their consequences. In this study, fuzzy cost algorithm is used to estimate the cost of using control measures 1 and 2 in ensuring optimal operational level for the diving chamber, while the preference degree approach is adopted in prioritizing the aforementioned cost of control measures 1 and 2. The result of the analysis indicated that control measure 2 is the most cost effective approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Critical flicker fusion frequency (CFFF) has been used in various studies to measure the cognitive effects of gas mixtures at depth, sometimes with conflicting or apparently paradoxical results. This study aimed to evaluate a novel automatic CFFF method and investigate whether CFFF can be used to monitor gas-induced narcosis in divers. Methods: Three hyperbaric chamber experiments were performed: 1) Automated and manual CFFF measurements during air breathing at 608 kPa (n = 16 subjects); 2) Manual CFFF measurements during air and heliox breathing at sea level (101.3 kPa) and 608 kPa (n = 12); 3) Manual CFFF measurements during oxygen breathing at sea level, 142 and 284 kPa (n = 10). All results were compared to breathing air at sea level. Results: Only breathing oxygen at sea level, and at 284 kPa, caused a significant decrease in CFFF (2.5% and 2.6% respectively compared to breathing air at sea level. None of the other conditions showed a difference with sea level air breathing. Conclusions: CFFF did not significantly change in our experiments when breathing air at 608 kPa compared to air breathing at sea level pressure using both devices. Based on our results CFFF does not seem to be a sensitive tool for measuring gas narcosis in divers in our laboratory setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Carnets: Revue Electronique d'Etudes Françaises / Revista Electrónica de Estudos Franceses is the property of Associacao Portuguesa de Estudos Franceses (APEF) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Extant literature suggests that due to a variety of factors, diving causes long-term neurological sequelae. Effects on cognitive functions have been assessed in previous studies; however, the presence and extent of resultant cognitive impairment is still unclear. This study was done to test the presence of cognitive deficits in divers. Further, the deficits were correlated with the years and depth of diving. Materials and Methods: In this comparative study carried out at a tertiary care hospital, 46 healthy divers were exposed to neuropsychological tests to evaluate their attention, concentration, visuospatial processing, memory, and executive functions. Their performance was compared to that of 46 healthy-matched nondiving sailors. Their performance was also correlated to the years and depth of diving. Results: The study found that the divers performed worse than nondivers in the following indices in the psychometric tests; Stroop Word Component (P = 0.035), Trail A (P = 0.045), number of categories completed in Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (P = 0.007); and in delayed recall (P = 0.007) and visual recognition (P = 0.031) in the Memory Scale. It is inferred that the cognitive domains of visuospatial processing, executive function, and verbal and visual memory are affected. Increase in depth of diving showed worse performance in digit backward (P = 0.032) and verbal memory (P = 0.048) that points to impaired attention, concentration, working memory, and verbal memory. Conclusion: The study suggests that residual cognitive effects are seen in divers. Worsening of the cognitive function is correlated with depth of dives but not total years of diving. The study recommends that further research in the field of cognitive effects of diving is warranted.

The diseases that are related to diving activities among the divers require a special attention. Incorrect diving attitude does not only cause a short-term risk but also a long-term risk. The aim of this study is to descriptively analyze the knowledge of fishermen due to work-related diseases, to analyze the factors of work-related diseases and provide training of standard diving techniques in Lumu-Lumu Island, Makassar. The type of research is observational analytic with the cross-sectional study. The population of this study is all fishermen in Lumu-Lumu Island. The sample was taken using simple random sampling techniques. This study was conducted in MarchAugust 2019 in Lumu-Lumu Island, Makassar. Primary data were collected from the interview using a questionnaire with the fishermen. Secondary data were collected from Puskesmas and Polindes. The result shows that the knowledge, attitude, and actions of the divers increased after the socialization that was conducted in Lumu-Lumu Island with Z value 3,361a, 5,465a, 4,221a. This provides the result of a statistical test that shows Asympsignificance (2- tailed) from knowledge, attitude and the action of divers of 0,001<0,05 for each variable which mean there are an increase of knowledge, attitude and the action after the socialization and training for divers in Lumu-Lumu Island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duoethnography is an emerging methodology in English language teaching (ELT)/applied linguistics where two or more participants critically examine a shared phenomenon or experience as a way to challenge assumptions and develop new understandings of critical events (Lowe & Lawrence, 2020). It is a flexible tool with an emphasis on interaction, both between people, and people and various physical or digital artefacts (e.g., documents, academic literature). In this paper, we outline our duoethnography on our experience with the Certificate for English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) with a focus on how academic literature and social media pervaded our inquiry. We highlight how academic articles and social media were used as artefacts in our study and how their role as "coparticipants" enhanced our investigation. La duoethnographie est une méthodologie émergeante dans l'enseignement de l'anglais (ELT)/en linguistique appliquée dans laquelle deux participants ou plus examinent de façon critique un phénomène ou une expérience partagée comme manière de remettre en question les hypothèses et de créer de nouvelles voies pour comprendre des événements critiques (Lowe & Lawrence, 2020). Il s'agit d'un outil souple qui met l'emphase sur l'interaction, à la fois entre les personnes, ainsi qu'entre les personnes et divers artefacts physiques ou numériques (par exemple, des documents, des écrits universitaires). Dans cet article, nous exposons notre duoethnographie dans notre expérience du Certificat pour l'enseignement de l'anglais aux adultes (CELTA), en portant une attention particulière à la façon dont les écrits universitaires et les médias sociaux ont imprégné notre enquête. Nous soulignons la manière dont les articles universitaires et les médias sociaux ont été utilisés comme artefacts dans notre étude et de quelle façon leur rôle de « coparticipants » a mis notre enquête en valeur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS) diving medical for recreational scuba divers was last reviewed in 2011. From 2011 to 2019, considerable advancements have occurred in cardiovascular risk assessment relevant to divers. The SPUMS 48th (2019) Annual Scientific Meeting theme was cardiovascular risk assessment in diving. The meeting had multiple presentations updating scientific information about assessing cardiovascular risk. These were distilled into a new set of guidelines at the final conference workshop. SPUMS guidelines for medical risk assessment in recreational diving have subsequently been updated and modified including a new Appendix C: Suggested evaluation of the cardiovascular system for divers. The revised evaluation of the cardiovascular system for divers covers the following topics: 1. Background information on the relevance of cardiovascular risk and diving; 2. Defining which divers with cardiovascular problems should not dive, or whom require treatment interventions before further review; 3. Recommended screening procedures (flowchart) for divers aged 45 and over; 4. Assessment of divers with known or symptomatic cardiovascular disease, including guidance on assessing divers with specific diagnoses such as hypertension, atrial fibrillation, cardiac pacemaker, immersion pulmonary oedema, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and persistent (patent) foramen ovale; 5. Additional cardiovascular health questions included in the SPUMS guidelines for medical risk assessment in recreational diving; 6. Updated general cardiovascular medical risk assessment advice; 7. Referencing of relevant literature. The essential elements of this guideline are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study compared the thermal balance of spinal cord injured (SCI) divers and able-bodied (AB) divers during recreational cold-water dives. Methods: Ten divers (5 AB, 5 SCI) in matched pairs dived in a shallow lake (temperature 6°C) for 30 to 36 min wearing 5 mm ‘Long John’ neoprene wetsuits. A gastrointestinal temperature radio pill recorded gastro-intestinal temperature (Tgi) prior to, immediately after and at 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120 min post-dive. Subjective ratings of temperature perception were recorded concomitantly using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: No difference between SCI and AB divers in Tgi before the dive was observed (P = 0.85). After the dive, SCI divers cooled significantly more than AB at all measured time intervals (P < 0.001). Post dive, the mean maximum fall in Tgi during the recovery phase in SCI divers was 0.85°C (SD 0.20) and in the AB group was 0.48°C (0.48). In addition, there was greater individual variation in SCI divers compared to AB divers. There were no statistically significant differences in temperature perception between the groups either before or at any time after the dives. Conclusions: In contrast to AB divers, divers with SCI were unable to maintain Tgi during short shallow dives in 6°C water and their temperatures fell further post-dive. The reduction in Tgi was not reflected in the subjective ratings of temperature perception by the SCI divers. The study was too small to assess how the level of spinal injury influenced thermal balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notre recherche vise à mettre en évidence le lien entre les techniques du piano et la variété des couleurs sonores dans des miniatures choisies parmi ceux de Játékok (Jeux) composés par György Kurtág. Les clusters et les glissandos font le sujet de cette analyse. Nous avons adapté la méthode aux oeuvres analysées, à cause de deux raisons importantes: la notation graphique non traditionnelle qui ne permet pas une analyse strictement sur la partition et le fait que la sonorité ne peut pas être «visible» qu'à partir d'une représentation graphique. Audacity, Acousmographe et Sonic Visualiser sont les trois logiciels choisis pour démontrer que le différent cluster conduit à des résultats sonores divers et, aussi que les glissandos donnent des spectres sonores très riches. Les Jeux peuvent être considérés comme des études de sonorité et des gestes pianistiques. Dans des miniatures aphoristiques presque comme des haïkus nous entendons une richesse inattendue des couleurs du piano. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis of the sports activities of divers conducted over three years, with boys (n=104) and girls (n=102), has determined that the sports activities of such divers are in general similar. For instance, indicators of physical development and sports-technical preparedness are similar in significance and contribution to the factorial structure for boys (11.4-21.8%) and girls (12.8-22.6%). The indicators of nystagmus reactions to rotational loads in 10-year-olds are common for all groups (boys: 10.0%; girls: 6.9%) but differ in their place in the factorial structure and contribution to the total dispersion. Thus, in the boys' group, indicators of physical development and sports-technical preparedness remain valid throughout the study period, while girls aged 12 to 13 experience changes in the significance of the identified factors and the integration of factors' indicators, which makes their interpretation difficult. The analysis carried out will allow the development of an integrated assessment of athletic suitability, taking into account the rank correlation of the indicators of children's sports-technical preparedness by years of training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gas narcosis impairs divers when diving deeper. Pupillometry is sensitive to alcohol intoxication and it has been used in anaesthesia to assess nitrous oxide narcosis. It is a potential novel method to quantify narcosis in diving. The aim of this study was to evaluate pupillometry for objective measurement of narcosis during exposure to hyperbaric air or nitrous oxide. Method: Pupil size in 16 subjects was recorded directly at surface pressure and during air breathing at 608 kPa (equivalent to 50 metres’ seawater depth) in a hyperbaric chamber. Another 12 subjects were exposed to nitrous oxide at end-tidal percentages of 20, 30 and 40% in random order at surface pressure. Pupil size and pupil light reflex were recorded at baseline and at each level of nitrous oxide exposure. Results: Pupil size did not significantly change during exposure to hyperbaric air or nitrous oxide. The pupil light reflex, evaluated using percentage constriction and minimum diameter after exposure to a light stimulus, was affected significantly only during the highest nitrous oxide exposure – an end-tidal level of 40%. Conclusion: Pupillometry is insensitive to the narcotic effect of air at 608 kPa in the dry hyperbaric environment and to the effects of low dose nitrous oxide. Pupillometry is not suitable as a monitoring method for gas narcosis in diving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In 2018 12 children and one adult were anaesthetised before being extricated through over a kilometre of flooded cave in Thailand. Full face dive masks (FFMs) putatively capable of maintaining constant positive airway pressure (CPAP) were employed. Here we describe the anaesthetic intervention and investigate the CPAP capability of the FFM. Methods: Pressure was measured inside and outside the Interspiro Divator FFM during 10 tidal and 10 vital capacity breaths in divers at the surface and submerged with the mask deployed on open-circuit scuba (10 divers); and a closed-circuit rebreather (five divers). Relative in-mask pressure was calculated as the difference between inside and outside pressures. We also measured the in-mask pressure generated by activation of the second stage regulator purge valve in open-circuit mode. Results: When submerged in open-circuit mode the mean relative in-mask pressure remained positive in normal tidal breathing (inhalation 0.6 kPa [95% CI 0.3–0.9]; exhalation 1.1 [0.8–1.4]) and vital capacity breathing (inhalation 0.8 [0.4–1.1]; exhalation 1.2 [0.9–1.4]). As expected, the relative in-mask pressure was predominantly negative when used on closed-circuit with back mounted counter-lungs due to a negative static lung load. Mean in-mask pressure during purge valve operation was 3.99 kPa (approximately equal to 40 cmH2O) (range: 2.56 to 5.3 kPa). Conclusions: The CPAP function of the Interspiro Divator FFM works well configured with open-circuit scuba. This may have contributed to the success of the Thailand cave rescue. Caution is required in generalising this success to other diving scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study identified characteristics of victims of fatal scuba diving incidents to determine contributing factors and inform appropriate countermeasures. Methods: The National Coronial Information System (NCIS) was searched to identify scuba diving deaths for 2001–2013, inclusive. Data were extracted from witness and police reports, medical histories and autopsies. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse these data. Results: There were 126 scuba diving-related fatalities identified during the study period. The mean age was 44 years, 99 (79%) victims were male and 83 (77%) were either overweight or obese. Most deaths occurred in New South Wales and Queensland, often in a commercial setting. Twenty-three (79%) Queensland victims were overseas tourists. At least 52 (41%) were novices and 17 (13%) died during training or an introductory scuba experience. Only 35 (28%) were with a buddy when the incident occurred and at least 81 (64%) were still wearing weights when recovered. Conclusions: The age of these victims may reflect an older cohort of participants and the associated higher prevalence of chronic medical conditions. The high prevalence of obesity suggests that this may be a risk factor. The high proportion of deaths in overseas tourists highlights an on-going need for appropriate screening and monitoring in what may be a higher risk cohort. The number of deaths that occurred under instruction highlights the importance of careful assessment of the site, prevailing conditions, an appropriate instructor-student ratio and close supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]