Tests of ocean-tide models by analysis of satellite-to-satellite range measurements: An update.

Seven years of GRACE intersatellite range-rate measurements are used to test the new ocean tide model FES2014 and to compare against similar results obtained with earlier models. These qualitative assessments show that FES2014 represents a marked improvement in accuracy over its earlier incarnation, FES2012, with especially notable improvements in the Arctic Ocean for constituents K1 and S2. Degradation appears to have occurred in two anomalous regions: the Ross Sea for the O1 constituent and the Weddell Sea for M2.

ArcTiCA: Arctic tidal constituents atlas.

Tides in the Arctic Ocean affect ocean circulation and mixing, and sea ice dynamics and thermodynamics. However, there is a limited network of available in situ tidal coefficient data for understanding tidal variability in the Arctic Ocean; e.g., the global TICON-3 database contains only 111 sites above 60°N and 21 above 70°N. At the same time, the presence of sea ice and latitude limits of satellite altimetry complicate altimetry-based retrievals of Arctic tidal coefficients. This leads to a reliance on ocean tide models whose accuracy depend on having sufficient in situ data for validation and assimilation. Here, we present a comprehensive new dataset of tidal constituents in the Arctic region, combining analyses of in situ measurements from tide gauges, ocean bottom pressure sensors and GNSS interferometric reflectometry. The new dataset contains 914 measurement sites above 60°N and 399 above 70°N, with each site being quality-assessed and expert guidance provided to help maximise the usage of the dataset. We also compare the dataset to recent tide models.

Offsets in tide-gauge reference levels detected by satellite altimetry: ten case studies.

Comparing measurements of absolute sea level by satellite altimetry and relative sea level by a tide gauge can reveal errors in either measurement system. Combining the measurements can determine vertical land motion (VLM) at the tide gauge. We here discuss ten case studies in which a tide gauge has likely experienced a small (≤10 cm), discontinuous offset in the vertical, suggesting inadvertent loss of reference-level stability. Proper interpretation of offsets is helped if independent VLM measurements from nearby geodetic stations are available. In two cases, earthquake-induced VLM cannot be ruled out, although it appears unlikely. Offsets as small as 1-2 cm can be detected when both altimeter and tide gauge successfully observe the same ocean signal. This is most likely to occur for tide gauges located on small, open-ocean islands. Tide gauges near large land masses are typically more challenging owing to inadequacies of satellite altimetry near land and to differences between coastal and open-ocean sea levels. The case studies highlight the utility of satellite altimetry for tide-gauge quality control. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00190-023-01800-7.

Lysozyme in epiphyseal cartilage. II. The effect of egg white lysozyme on mouse embryonic femurs in organ cultures.

Embryonic mouse femoral cartilage, like the epiphyseal cartilage of the calf scapula, contains large amounts of lysozyme. The addition of egg white lysozyme to organ cultures of embryonic mouse femurs induces unique alterations in the gross and microscopic morphology of the femurs. The sites of these alterations are precisely related to the natural distribution of lysozyme in calf scapula. If the exogenous lysozyme is withdrawn from the culture, the morphological changes disappear, accompanied by a resumption or derepression of growth. The effect on growth is evident only in 17-day embryos. These observations support the idea that lysozyme has a physiological role in cartilage, perhaps related to a regulatory mechanism in bone formation.

Diurnal and Semidiurnal Variations in the Earth's Rotation Rate Induced by Oceanic Tides.

Recent space-geodetic observations have revealed daily and subdaily variations in the Earth's rotation rate. Although spectral analysis suggests that the variations are primarily of tidal origin, comparisons to previous theoretical predictions based on various ocean models have been less than satisfactory. This disagreement is partly caused by deficiencies in physical modeling. Rotation predictions based on a reliable tidal-height model, with corresponding tidal currents inferred from a modified form of Laplace's momentum equations, yield predictions of tidal variations in Universal Time that agree with very long baseline interferometer observations to 2 microseconds. This agreement resolves a major discrepancy between theory and observation and establishes the dominant role of oceanic tides for inducing variation in the Earth's rotation at these frequencies.

A Simulation-based, cognitive assessment of resident decision making during complex urinary catheterization scenarios.

BACKGROUND: This study explores general surgery residents' decision making skills in uncommon, complex urinary catheter scenarios. METHODS: 40 residents were presented with two scenarios. Scenario A was a male with traumatic urethral injury and scenario B was a male with complete urinary blockage. Residents verbalized whether they would catheterize the patient and described the workup and management of suspected pathologies. Residents' decision paths were documented and analyzed. RESULTS: In scenario A, 45% of participants chose to immediately consult Urology. 47.5% named five diagnostic tests to decide if catheterization was safe. In scenario B, 27% chose to catheterize with a 16 French Coude. When faced with catheterization failure, participants randomly upsized or downsized catheters. Chi-square analysis revealed no measurable consensus amongst participants. CONCLUSIONS: Residents need more training in complex decision making for urinary catheterization. The decision trees generated in this study provide a useful blueprint of residents' learning needs. SUMMARY: Exploration of general surgery residents' decision making skills in uncommon, complex urinary catheter scenarios revealed major deficiencies. The resulting decision trees reveal residents' learning needs.

Attenuation of frontal asymmetry in pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder.

BACKGROUND: Volumetric imaging research has shown abnormal brain morphology in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when compared with matched control subjects. In this article, we present brain imaging findings from a study of children with PTSD symptoms. METHODS: Twenty-four children between the ages of 7 and 14 with a history of trauma and PTSD symptoms were assessed with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents (CAPS-CA). The sample underwent magnetic resonance imaging in a 1.5 T scanner. Brain images were analyzed by raters blind to diagnostic status using well-standardized methods, and images were compared with age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects. RESULTS: The clinical group demonstrated attenuation of frontal lobe asymmetry and smaller total brain and cerebral volumes when compared with the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in hippocampal volume between clinical and control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Frontal lobe abnormalities may occur as a result of PTSD in children or, alternatively, be a risk factor for the development of the syndrome in this age group. The implications of the findings and their consistency with previous research are discussed.

Cellular and humoral immune response analysis of bone-allografted rats.

Long-term cellular and humoral immune responses were studied in inbred rats in which bone was allografted. Transplants were made across major histocompatibility barriers. Mixed lymphocyte culture tests and humoral cytotoxicity assays were performed in order to determine degrees of cellular and humoral immunity. Grafts of complete bone and of bone free of marrow elicited both types of immune response and it is proposed that transplantation antigens for both types of reaction exist in the bone tissue itself. A gene-dose effect was found. Allogeneic bone grafts gave a stronger reaction than semiallogeneic grafts, and second-set grafts triggered a hypersensitivity type of humoral immune response. This study suggests that until the host-bone graft immunological relationship is better understood, the graft tissue should be matched to the host for major transplantation antigens to help prevent unexpected failures in massive bone allotransplantation.

Hip fusion utilizing the cobra head plate.

Sixteen consecutive patients underwent hip fusion with fixation by a cobra head compression plate. In six patients on osteotomy of the innominate bone also was done. Four patients had no osteotomy whatsoever, while in six patients medial displacement of the femur was accomplished by centrally dislocating the femoral head through the acetabulum. This modification made the surgical procedure and postoperative care simpler, and rehabilitation was easily accomplished. All of the hips treated in this series had successful bone fusion. All of the patients were out of bed within the first postoperative week, and ambulation with crutches was begun after the second week.

Intraosseous pressure in the lumbar spine.

Intraosseus pressure in the lumbar spine is defined as the hydrostatic pressure of venous blood in the trabecular sinusoids of cancellous bone. Measurements of it in the lumbar vertebrae and the inferior vena cava confirm that the intraosseus pressure in the lumbar spine is identical to, and dependent upon, the pressure in the inferior vena cava. With Valsalva maneuver in the decubitus position, the pressure reaches levels of 90 mm Hg in the inferior vena cava and intraosseus space of lumbar spine.

In vitro studies of transplantation antigens present on bone cells in the rat.

In vitro studies on isolated bone cells were undertaken to investigate the presence of transplantation (histocompatibility) antigens. Bone cells were cultured with allogeneic lymphocytes and exposed to cytotoxic sera containing antibodies against transplantation antigens, to determine their antigenic profile. Preliminary results suggest that bone cells may not express lymphocyte stimulating antigens in an active form, at least after the isolation procedure performed. On the other hand, bone cells were killed by cytotoxic antibodies in a specific way, providing evidence for the presence of serologically defined (SD) transplantation antigens on the cell surface. Additional studies with absorbed sera suggest "sharing" of histocompatibility antigens between bone cells and lymphocytes. The relevance of the surface antigens of bone cells to clinical fields such as bone allotransplantation, susceptibility to various orthopaedic diseases and skeletal sarcomata is discussed.

Correlation of arthroscopy with other diagnostic modalities.

In our experience arthroscopy proved to be the most reliable method of evaluating internal derangement of the knee. Among 96 patients who underwent arthrotomy, the arthroscopic diagnosis was confirmed in 96 per cent. The combined anteromedial, anterolateral, and posteromedial approaches consistently demonstrated all intraarticular disorders. We found the posterolateral approach of little benefit.

The theory and practice of safe handling temperatures.

Many hot objects which may be touched or handled every day can cause either discomfort, pain or burning of the skin. The precise effect will depend on the Contact Temperature tC, an intermediate value between the hot object and the skin temperature. The value of tC varies with the material, and is governed by the Contact Coefficient b, a property of the material which has a wide range of values from metals to plastics. In the experiments with 48 female subjects, surface and contact temperatures for three materials were measured over a wide range, and subject reactions recorded on a five-point comfort scale. From the heat conduction theory outlined, and using the calculated values of b for the three materials, the predicted safe surface temperatures were determined. These predicted values were then compared with the observed temperatures and with those recommended in British Standards.