Sudden Commencements and Impulses in Kodaikanal magnetograms -their hourly frequency

The diurnal variation in the frequencies of sudden commencements (SCs) and sudden impulses (SIs) at Kodaikanal (10.2°N, 77.5°E) is analysed from the data for the period 1949-1957.The hourly frequency curve of SCs and SIs (combined) has little resemblance to the curve obtained by Newton from his analysis of Greenwich-Abinger record. The results of harmonic analysis show a nearly semi-diurnal trend the distribution of storm sudden commencements (SSCs); this, however, is small. The hourly frequencies of SIS show s significant diurnal variation with an afternoon maximum and a forenoon maximum and a secondary minimum around 18h local time and a secondary maximum around 08h. These results are also compared with those obtained by Ferraro Parkinson and Unthank.

Disorders of plasma phosphate

The commonest cause of sustained hyperphosphataemia is renal impairment, because the kidney normally excretes phosphate (note that phosphate levels normally rise following meals and that there is significant diurnal variation). A considerable phosphate load may also be provided by some medications, in particular, those used for bowel preparation. Hypophosphataemia may arise from reduced intake or absorption, increased renal excretion, or intracellular redistribution, particularly in response to carbohydrate loads with refeeding after starvation. Excessive renal phosphate loss can reflect tubular damage or inherited phosphate-wasting nephropathies. This chapter reviews the causes of derangements of phosphate metabolism and the clinical consequences.

How does the OH reactivity affect the ozone production efficiency: case studies in Beijing and Heshan

Total OH reactivity measurements have been conducted in August 2013 on the Peking University campus, Beijing and from October to November 2014 in Heshan, Guangdong Province. The daily median result for OH reactivity was 19.98 ± 11.03 s−1 in Beijing and 30.62 ± 19.76 s−1 in Heshan. Beijing presented a significant diurnal variation with maxima over 27 s−1 in the early morning and minima below 16 s−1 in the afternoon. Measurements in Heshan gave a much flatter diurnal pattern. Missing reactivity was observed at both sites, with 21 % missing in Beijing and 32 % missing in Heshan. Unmeasured primary species, such as branched-alkenes could contribute to missing reactivity in Beijing, especially in morning rush hour. An observation-based model with the Regional Atmospheric Chemical Mechanism 2 was used to understand the daytime missing reactivity in Beijing by adding unmeasured oxygenated volatile organic compounds and simulated intermediates of primary VOCs degradation. However, the model failed to explain the missing reactivity in Heshan, where the ambient air was found to be more aged, and the missing reactivity was presumably to attribute to oxidized species, such as aldehydes, acids and di-carbonyls. The ozone production efficiency was 27 % higher in Beijing and 35 % higher in Heshan when constrained by the measured reactivity, compared to the calculation with measured and modeled species included, indicating the importance of quantifying the OH reactivity for better understanding ozone chemistry.

Diurnal Variation in Choroidal and Retinal Thickness of the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study Macular Subfields Determined Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose: To describe diurnal variation in choroidal thickness (CT) and retinal thickness (RT) of the nine Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) macular subfields determined using swept-source optical coherence tomography. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 24 healthy Korean volunteers who underwent two sequential measurements of a randomly selected eye at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 6 p.m. The radial scan mode was used. To determine the repeatability and reliability, we applied intragrader agreement using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Significant diurnal variation in CT was observed. The highest mean CT was found at 9 a.m. The lowest mean CT occurred at 1 p.m. There was excellent intragrader agreement, with the ICC ranging from 0.961 to 0.997. There was no significant diurnal variation in RT. Conclusion: There was significant diurnal variation in CT. The choroid was thinner at 1 p.m. than at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Reduced peak, but no diurnal variation, in thrombin generation upon melatonin supplementation in tetraplegia

SummaryTetraplegic patients have increased risk of venous thrombosis despite anti-thrombotic prophylaxis. Moreover, they have blunted plasma variations in melatonin and altered diurnal variation of several haemostatic markers, compared with able-bodied. However, whether healthy individuals and tetraplegic patients, with or without melatonin, display abnormalities in thrombin generation during a 24-hour (h) cycle, is unknown. We therefore used the Calibrated Automated Thrombogram (CAT) assay to examine diurnal variations and the possible role of melatonin in thrombin generation. Six men with long-standing complete tetraplegia were included in a randomised placebo-controlled cross-over study with melatonin supplementation (2 mg, 4 consecutive nights), whereas six healthy, able-bodied men served as controls. Ten plasma samples were collected frequently during a 24-h awake/sleep cycle. No significant diurnal variation of any of the measured CAT indices was detected in the three study groups. Whereas endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) was independent (p > 0.05) of whether the tetraplegic men received melatonin or placebo, melatonin decreased (p = 0.005) peak values in tetraplegia compared with those given placebo. Able-bodied men had lower (p = 0.019) ETP and Lag-Time (p = 0.018) compared with tetraplegics receiving placebo. Neither the Time-to-Peak nor the Start-Tail was affected (p > 0.05) by melatonin in tetraplegia. In conclusion, indices of thrombin generation are not subjected to diurnal variation in healthy able-bodied or tetraplegia, but peak thrombin generation is reduced in tetraplegic men receiving oral melatonin.

Cyclic variations in demand for out-of-hours services in child and adolescent psychiatry: implications for service planning

Aims and methodWe examined peaks and troughs in demand for out-of-hours consultations and assessments in child and adolescent psychiatry and whether these have implications for service development. All out-of-hours referrals in three teaching hospitals providing services to a large and diverse inner-city population were prospectively registered from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2005.ResultsIn total, 323 individuals under 18 years were referred; 21.6 (95% CI 19.3-24.0) per 100 000 general population per year. Bedside assessments were required in 37%, the remainder were dealt with by telephone. The work took more than 4 h for 22%; 46% of individuals presenting were aged 16-18 years. Significant diurnal variation was observed with a peak in referrals between 17.00 h and 00.59 h. More referrals were made when daytime liaison services were closed (odds ratio (OR) = 2.46, 95% CI 1.15-1.87), after referral pathways had been clarified (OR = 2.33, 95% CI 1.92-3.23) and during spring (OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.14-1.98). Other factors analysed showed no association with referral activity.Clinical implicationsCyclic variations in the demand for out-of-hours services in child and adolescent psychiatry should be considered for service planning. Although paediatric psychiatric emergencies are relatively rare, they can take up considerable clinician time.

Aged organic aerosol in the Eastern Mediterranean: the Finokalia Aerosol Measurement Experiment – 2008

Aged organic aerosol (OA) was measured at a remote coastal site on the island of Crete, Greece during the Finokalia Aerosol Measurement Experiment-2008 (FAME-2008), which was part of the EUCAARI intensive campaign of May 2008. The site at Finokalia is influenced by air masses from different source regions, including long-range transport of pollution from continental Europe. A quadrupole aerosol mass spectrometer (Q-AMS) was employed to measure the size-resolved chemical composition of non-refractory submicron aerosol (NR-PM1), and to estimate the extent of oxidation of the organic aerosol. Factor analysis was used to gain insights into the processes and sources affecting the OA composition. The particles were internally mixed and liquid. The largest fraction of the dry NR-PM1 sampled was ammonium sulfate and ammonium bisulfate, followed by organics and a small amount of nitrate. The variability in OA composition could be explained with two factors of oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA) with differing extents of oxidation but similar volatility. Hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA) was not detected. There was no statistically significant diurnal variation in the bulk composition of NR-PM1 such as total sulfate or total organic aerosol concentrations. However, the OA composition exhibited statistically significant diurnal variation with more oxidized OA in the afternoon. The organic aerosol was highly oxidized, regardless of the source region. Total OA concentrations also varied little with source region, suggesting that local sources had only a small effect on OA concentrations measured at Finokalia. The aerosol was transported for about one day before arriving at the site, corresponding to an OH exposure of approximately 4×1011 molecules cm−3 s. The constant extent of oxidation suggests that atmospheric aging results in a highly oxidized OA at these OH exposures, regardless of the aerosol source.

Aged organic aerosol in the Eastern Mediterranean: the Finokalia aerosol measurement experiment-2008

Aged organic aerosol (OA) was measured at a remote coastal site on the island of Crete, Greece during the Finokalia Aerosol Measurement Experiment-2008 (FAME-2008), which was part of the EUCAARI intensive campaign of May 2008. The site at Finokalia is influenced by air masses from different source regions, including long-range transport of pollution from continental Europe. A quadrupole aerosol mass spectrometer (Q-AMS) was employed to measure the size-resolved chemical composition of non-refractory submicron aerosol (NR-PM1), and to estimate the extent of oxidation of the organic aerosol. Factor analysis was used to gain insights into the processes and sources affecting the OA composition. The particles were internally mixed and liquid. The largest fraction of the dry NR-PM1 sampled was ammonium sulfate and ammonium bisulfate, followed by organics and a small amount of nitrate. The variability in OA composition could be explained with two factors of oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA) with differing extents of oxidation but similar volatility. Hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA) was not detected. There was no statistically significant diurnal variation in the bulk composition of NR-PM1 such as total sulfate or total organic aerosol concentrations. However, the OA composition exhibited statistically significant diurnal variation with more oxidized OA in the afternoon. The organic aerosol was highly oxidized, regardless of the source region. Total OA concentrations also varied little with time of day, suggesting that local sources had only a small effect on OA concentrations measured at Finokalia. The aerosol was transported for about one day before arriving at the site, corresponding to an OH exposure of approximately 4×1011 molecules cm−3 s. The constant extent of oxidation suggests that atmospheric aging results in a highly oxidized OA at these OH exposures, regardless of the aerosol source.

The effects of exercise stress testing, diurnal variation and temporal decline on circulating progenitor cells

SummaryEndothelial damage/dysfunction is involved in numerous cardiovascular disease processes. Given that the mature endothelial cells have limited capacity for self regeneration, circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) may modulate the balance between vascular damage and regeneration. The three aims of the present study were 1) to define the influence of exercise treadmill testing (ETT) on peripheral CPC levels; 2) to assess the diurnal variation of CPC counts; and 3) to investigate the rate of temporal decline in CPCs once ex vivo. The dynamics of CPC count changes following an ETT were assessed on consecutive 20 patients referred to our ‘rapid-access’ chest pain clinic (70% male, age 69.9 ± 7.8) with venous blood samples taken pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise and at 30 minutes post-exercise. Diurnal variation in CPCs was assessed in 13 stable in-hospital patients (46% male, age 69.1 ± 7.5 years) with blood samples were taken five times every 6 hours. To investigate the temporal decline, blood samples from 12 patients (58.3% male, age 69.9 ± 7.9 years) were reprocessed for CPC counts at 4 hours and at 24 hours after sample collection. Plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (vWf) and soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) were assessed by ELISA. CPCs were enumerated with flow cytometry as CD34+, CD133+, CD45dim events. Exercise led to significant increases in vWF and sE-selectin levels, but no significant influence on CPC counts were observed. Baseline CPC numbers demonstrated a negative correlation with vWf (r=-0.551, p=0.012) and sE-selectin levels (r=-0.494, p=0.027). CPC counts showed a significant diurnal variation, being significantly higher at 12 a.m. compared to 12 p.m. (p=0.046) and 6 p.m. (p=0.023). A 4 hour delay in sample preparation did not affect CPCs counts, but there was a significant decline in CPC recovery when sample processing was delayed by 24 hours (p<0.05). Routine exercise stress testing does not significantly affect CPC counts. Peripheral CPC levels showed a significant diurnal variation. Delays in sample preparation for CPC counts should be avoided as they may influence the accuracy of the test by resulting in a significant decline in CPC recovery. Thus, various factors may affect accuracy of CPC enumeration that may limit their role as a reliable clinical marker and biomarker of endothelial damage.