Signatures of wave erosion in Titan's coasts.

The shorelines of Titan's hydrocarbon seas trace flooded erosional landforms such as river valleys; however, it is unclear whether coastal erosion has subsequently altered these shorelines. Spacecraft observations and theoretical models suggest that wind may cause waves to form on Titan's seas, potentially driving coastal erosion, but the observational evidence of waves is indirect, and the processes affecting shoreline evolution on Titan remain unknown. No widely accepted framework exists for using shoreline morphology to quantitatively discern coastal erosion mechanisms, even on Earth, where the dominant mechanisms are known.

Reconstructing river flows remotely on Earth, Titan, and Mars.

Alluvial rivers are conveyor belts of fluid and sediment that provide a record of upstream climate and erosion on Earth, Titan, and Mars. However, many of Earth's rivers remain unsurveyed, Titan's rivers are not well resolved by current spacecraft data, and Mars' rivers are no longer active, hindering reconstructions of planetary surface conditions. To overcome these problems, we use dimensionless hydraulic geometry relations-scaling laws that relate river channel dimensions to flow and sediment transport rates-to calculate in-channel conditions using only remote sensing measurements of channel width and slope.

Quantifying groundwater flow variability in a poorly cemented fractured sandstone aquifer to inform in situ remediation.

This study applies innovative methods to characterize and quantify the magnitude of groundwater flow in a fractured and variably cemented sandstone aquifer to inform an in-situ remediation strategy for trichloroethene (TCE) contamination. A modified active-distributed temperature sensing (A-DTS) approach in which fiber optic cables were permanently grouted in the borehole was used to quantify groundwater flow rates. Two additional tracer tests were conducted: 1) fluorescein tracer injection followed by rock coring and sampling for visual mapping and porewater analysis, and 2) deployment of passive flux meters in conventional monitoring wells to evaluate groundwater velocity and mass flux distributions.

A comparison of risk profile for orthopaedic operations when utilizing individually wrapped screws (IWS) when compared with sterile screw caddies (screw racks).

Introduction: There has been a global trend towards individually packaged screws for orthopaedic operations. Traditional practice makes use of screw caddies that require re-sterilization. Individually wrapped screws (IWS) are purported to decrease infection rates and avoid the deleterious effects of repeated screw sterilizations, despite marginal evidence.

Femoral side-only revision options for the Birmingham resurfacing arthroplasty.

Background: The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) system (Smith and Nephew) was developed as an alternative to conventional total joint replacement for younger, more active patients. Among other complications exists the risk for femoral component failure. The only marketed revision option for such a complication involves exchange of all components for a total replacement arthroplasty.

Consistent head up cardiopulmonary resuscitation haemodynamics are observed across porcine and human cadaver translational models.

Aim: The objectives were: 1) replicate key elements of Head Up (HUP) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) physiology in a traditional swine model of ventricular fibrillation (VF), 2) compare HUP CPR physiology in pig cadavers (PC) to the VF model 3) develop a new human cadaver (HC) CPR model, and 4) assess HUP CPR in HC.

Methods: Nine female pigs were intubated, and anesthetized. Venous, arterial, and intracranial access were obtained.

Chest compliance is altered by static compression and decompression as revealed by changes in anteroposterior chest height during CPR using the ResQPUMP in a human cadaver model.

Introduction: Chest compliance plays a fundamental role in the generation of circulation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). To study potential changes in chest compliance over time, anterior posterior (AP) chest height measurements were performed on newly deceased (never frozen) human cadavers during CPR before and after 5min of automated CPR. We tested the hypothesis that after 5min of CPR chest compliance would be significantly increased.

Instability and finite-amplitude self-organization of large-scale coastline shapes.

Recent research addresses the formation of patterns on sandy coastlines on alongshore scales that are large compared with the cross-shore extent of active sediment transport. A simple morphodynamic instability arises from the feedback between wave-driven alongshore sediment flux and coastline shape. Coastline segments with different orientations experience different alongshore sediment fluxes, so that curvatures in coastline shape drive gradients in sediment flux, which can augment the shoreline curvatures.

Fluvial response to climate variations and anthropogenic perturbations for the Ebro River, Spain in the last 4,000 years.

Fluvial sediment discharge can vary in response to climate changes and human activities, which in return influences human settlements and ecosystems through coastline progradation and retreat. To understand the mechanisms controlling the variations of fluvial water and sediment discharge for the Ebro drainage basin, Spain, we apply a hydrological model HydroTrend. Comparison of model results with a 47-year observational record (AD 1953-1999) suggests that the model adequately captures annual average water discharge (simulated 408 m(3)s(-1) versus observed 425 m(3)s(-1)) and sediment load (simulated 0.

Instability and finite-amplitude self-organization of large-scale coastline shapes.

Recent research addresses the formation of patterns on sandy coastlines on alongshore scales that are large compared with the cross-shore extent of active sediment transport. A simple morphodynamic instability arises from the feedback between wave-driven alongshore sediment flux and coastline shape. Coastline segments with different orientations experience different alongshore sediment fluxes, so that curvatures in coastline shape drive gradients in sediment flux, which can augment the shoreline curvatures.

Reliability of three methods of computer-aided thermal pattern analysis.

Background: The objective of this study was to assess three methods of computer-aided thermal pattern analysis for a) examiner reliability, b) inter-method differences, and c) determine which method yields the highest percent-similarity between paired test-retest scans.

Methods: Three examiners compared two sets of thermal scans from the same 30 subjects using three different methods of scan alignment. The results were evaluated by the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, at the 5% level of significance.

Towards evidence based emergency medicine: best BETs from the Manchester Royal Infirmary. Antithrombotic treatment of below knee deep venous thrombosis.

A short cut review was carried out to establish whether oral anticoagulation is necessary to prevent pulmonary embolisation in patients with below knee deep venous thrombosis. A total of 425 papers were found using the reported search, of which 11 presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these best papers are tabulated.

Prevention of heterotopic bone formation in high risk patients post-total hip arthroplasty.

A retrospective study was carried out to evaluate prophylaxis for heterotopic ossification (HO) about the hip joint post total hip arthroplasty (THA). Between 1990 and 1996, 20 patients with known risk for developing HO were treated prophylactically to prevent this complication. Patients at risk were divided into 3 groups based on risk factors for HO formation (previous ipsilateral hip HO formation, previous contralateral hip HO formation and bilateral hypertrophic osteoarthritis) Single fraction radiotherapy of 600, 700 or 800 cGy was administered postoperatively to all patients.

Foot and ankle injuries occurring in inflatable rescue boats (IRB) during surf lifesaving activities.

Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRBs) are utilised by the Surf Life Saving Association (SLSA) in Australia to perform rescue operations and in regional competitions between surf clubs. These activities have resulted in a number of serious foot and ankle injuries which reflect the high impact of this activity in heavy and unpredictable surf. We have retrospectively reviewed 12 significant injuries relating to IRB usage presented to our regional hospital emergency department over a 3-year period.

Osteoporosis: A possible aetiological factor in the development of Scheuermann's disease.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that spinal osteoporosis is an aetiological factor in the development of Scheuermann's disease in adolescents. Clinical and radiological data was collected on 12 individuals with Scheuermann's disease (SD). Lumbar spine bone mineral density (L2-4) was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Peroneal compartment syndrome of non-traumatic origin: A case report.

A patient with acute peroneal compartment syndrome is presented. This case is unusual because the pathology was localised to the peroneal compartment only and because trauma was not an aetiological factor. Acute and chronic compartment syndromes are discussed and differentiated, and the importance of a high index of suspicion in all cases is emphasised.