Shape of the Cochlear Basal Turn: An Indicator for an Optimal Electrode-to-Modiolus Proximity With Precurved Electrode Type

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the shape of cochlear basal turn through basic cochlear parameters measurement. The secondary aim was to overlay an image of the precurved electrode array on top of the three-dimensional (3D) image of the cochlea to determine which shape of the cochlear basal turn gives optimal electrode-to-modiolus proximity. Materials and Methods: Computed tomography (CT) preoperative image-data sets of 117 ears were made available for the measurements of cochlear parameters retrospectively. Three-dimensional slicer was used in the visualization and measurement of cochlear parameters from both 3D and 2D (2-dimensional) images of the inner ear. Cochlear parameters including basal turn diameter ( A), width of the basal turn ( B), and cochlear height (H) were measured from the appropriate planes. B/ A ratio was made to investigate which ratios correspond to round and elliptical shape of the cochlear basal turn. Results: The cochlear size as measured by A value ranged between 7.4 mm and 10 mm. The B value and the cochlear height ( H) showed a weak positive linear relation with A value. The ratio between the B and A values anything above or below 0.75 could be an indicator for a more round- or elliptical shaped cochlear basal turn, respectively. One sized/shaped commercially available precurved electrode array would not offer a tight electrode-to-modiolus in the cochlea that has an elliptical shaped basal turn as identified by the B/A ratio of <0.75. Conclusion: Accurate measurement of cochlear parameters adds value to the overall understanding of the cochlear geometry before a cochlear implantation procedure. The shape of cochlear basal turn could have clinical implications when comes to electrode-to-modiolus proximity.

SPATIAL VARIATION OF URBAN HEAT ISLAND INTENSITY IN URBAN CITIES USING MODIS SATELLITE DATA

Urban Heat Island (UHI) refers to the occurrence of higher temperatures in urban areas than the neighbouring rural areas. The neighbouring land cover also has some influence on the urban temperatures. The present study focuses on the UHI effect observed in four different cities i.e. Bikaner, Hyderabad, Vadodara and Varanasi which were surrounded by different natural land covers using MODIS satellite images. Bikaner shows Urban Cool Island (UCI) and Varanasi show UHI during day time. Vadodara and Hyderabad do not show much variation in urban and rural LST during day time. However, UHI effect was found clearly significant during night time in the four cities. UHI intensity was calculated using night LST and found highest in Hyderabad and lowest in Bikaner. The relation of LST with % Impervious was studied which shows good positive linear relation when significant UHI effect was observed and negative linear relation when UCI effect was observed. The slope obtained from linear regression of night LST with % Impervious was compared with the UHI intensity in the four cities and found to show good positive linear relation. Therefore, % Impervious can be used to quantify UHI intensity in urban areas.

EFEITOS DA TEMPERATURA AMBIENTE E DA VELOCIDADE DO VENTO NO DESEMPENHO DE MÓDULOS SOLARES FOTOVOLTAICOS

EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE AND WIND SPEED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR MODULESEFECTOS DE LA TEMPERATURA AMBIENTAL Y LA VELOCIDAD DEL VIENTO EN EL DESEMPEÑO DE LOS MÓDULOS SOLARES FOTOVOLTAICOSRESUMOOs efeitos da temperatura ambiente e da velocidade dos ventos na análise de desempenho de um módulo fotovoltaico solar de silício monocristalino foram analisados em Campo Grande, MS, para o período janeiro a dezembro de 2017. O trabalho de pesquisa foi realizado monitorando a variação da eficiência do módulo em função desses parâmetros. Uma análise estatística é apresentada e o resultado indica que os valores do coeficiente de correlação são 96% e 68% para a temperatura ambiente e para velocidade dos ventos, respectivamente, considerando o nível de confiança de 95%. Os resultados mostram que existe uma forte relação linear positiva entre a eficiência do módulo e a temperatura ambiente, e uma relação linear positiva moderada com a velocidade dos ventos.Palavras-chave: Módulo Fotovoltaico; Predição de Eficiência; Condições Climáticas.ABSTRACTThe effects of ambient temperature and wind velocity on the performance analysis of a monocrystalline silicon solar photovoltaic module were analyzed in Campo Grande, MS, from January to December 2017. The research work was carried out by monitoring the efficiency variation of the module according to these parameters. A statistical analysis is presented and the result indicates that the values of the correlation coefficient are 96% and 68% for the ambient temperature and for wind speed, respectively, considering the 95% confidence level. The results show that there is a strong positive linear relationship between the modulus efficiency and the ambient temperature, and a moderate positive linear relation with the velocity of the winds.Keywords: Photovoltaic Module; Prediction of Efficiency; Climate Conditions.RESUMENLos efectos de la temperatura ambiente y de la velocidad de los vientos en el análisis de desempeño de un módulo fotovoltaico solar de silicio monocristalino fueron analizados en Campo Grande, MS, para el período enero a diciembre de 2017. El trabajo de investigación fue realizado monitoreando la variación de la eficiencia del módulo en función de estos parámetros. Se presenta un análisis estadístico y el resultado indica que los valores del coeficiente de correlación son 96% y 68% para la temperatura ambiente y para la velocidad de los vientos, respectivamente, considerando el nivel de confianza del 95%. Los resultados muestran que existe una fuerte relación lineal positiva entre la eficiencia del módulo y la temperatura ambiente, y una relación lineal positiva moderada con la velocidad de los vientos.Palabras clave: Módulo Fotovoltaico; Predicción de Eficiencia; Condiciones Climáticas.

Effects of External Coloured Shade Nets on Sweet Peppers Cultivated in Walk-in Plastic Tunnels

Shading effect of external nets of different colours (white, green, yellow and red) on the yield of two “kapija” pepper (Capsicum anuum L.) cultivars was examined in walk-in plastic tunnels in Hungary under real cultivation circumstances. Shading nets decreased incoming radiation by 23-39% and reduced photosynthetically active radiation by 32-46%. The highest retention was obtained by yellow and green nets, in the range of 450-550 nm and 550-670 nm, respectively. Relation was reported between the degree of shading and the average air temperature of the tunnels, however, treatments did not decrease tunnel air temperature significantly, compared to that of unshaded and paint-shaded control tunnels. This can be explained by the applied proper ventilation and mist irrigation. A strong and negative relation was noted between the intensity of shading and the relative chlorophyll content (SPAD value) of leaves. Shading net treatments did not increase yields, yellow and green nets even decreased it. Instead of tunnel air temperature, yield was mainly affected by photosynthetically active radiation in the experiment. Strong positive linear relation was declared between the chlorophyll content of the leaves and the yield. Results of the current research led to the conclusions that under Hungarian climatic conditions the use of shading nets was less justified if proper cooling techniques (ventilation and mist irrigation) were applied; even under the relatively high incident radiation experienced during the trials. In greenhouses of less favourable climatic conditions, red or white shading nets are recommended instead of commonly used green ones in Hungary.

Age at maturity of Mediterranean marine fishes

In this review we collected data on the age at maturity (tm) and maximum reported age (tmax) for 235 stocks of Mediterranean marine fishes, belonging to 82 species, 37 families, 12 orders and 2 classes (Actinopterygii and Elasmobranchii). Among Actinopterygii (mean tm ± SD = 2.20 ± 1.43 y, n = 215), tm ranged from 0.3 y, for the common goby Pomatoschistus microps, to 12 y, for dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus, while among Elasmobranchii (mean tm ± SD = 5.94 ± 2.47 y, n = 20), tm ranged between 2.7 y, for brown ray Raja miraletus, and 12 y for picked dogfish Squalus acanthias. Overall, the tmax ranged between 1 y, for transparent goby Aphia minuta, and 70 y, for wreckfish Polyprion americanus. The mean tmax of Actinopterygii (tmax ± SD = 10.14 ± 9.42 y) was lower than that of Elasmobranchii (tmax ± SD = 14.05 ± 8.47 y). The tm exhibited a strong positive linear relation with tmax for both Actinopterygii (logtm = 0.58 ´ logtmax – 0.25, r2 = 0.51, P < 0.001) and Elasmobranchii (logtm = 0.67 ´ logtmax – 0.006, r2 = 0.51, P = 0.007). The mean tm/tmax did not differ significantly with sex within Actinopterygii (ANOVA: F = 0.27, P = 0.60, n = 90; females: mean ± SD = 0.276 ± 0.143; males: mean ± SD = 0.265 ± 0.138) and Elasmobranchii (ANOVA: F = 1.44, P = 0.25, n = 10; females: mean ± SD = 0.499 ± 0.166; males: mean ± SD = 0.418 ± 0.133). Finally, the dimensionless ratio tm/tmax was significantly lower (ANOVA: F = 31.04, P < 0.001) for Actinopterygii (mean ± SD = 0.270 ± 0.135, n = 180) than for Elasmobranchii, (mean ± SD = 0.458 ± 0.152, n = 20), when stocks with combined sexes were excluded from the analysis.

Thirty-Eight Years of Training Distribution in Olympic Speed Skaters

During the last decade discussion about training-intensity distribution has been an important issue in sports science. Training-intensity distribution has not been adequately investigated in speed skating, a unique activity requiring both high power and high endurance.Purpose:To quantify the training-intensity distribution and training hours of successful Olympic speed skaters over 10 Olympiads.Methods:Olympic-medal-winning trainers/coaches and speed skaters were interviewed and their training programs were analyzed. Each program was qualified and quantified: workout type (specific and nonspecific) and training zones (zone 1 ≤2 mMol/L lactate, zone 2 2–4 mMol/L lactate, zone 3 lactate >4 mMol/L). Net training times were calculated.Results:The relation between total training hours and time (successive Olympiads) was not progressive (r = .51, P > .5). A strong positive linear relation (r = .96, P < .01) was found between training distribution in zone 1 and time. Zones 2 and 3 both showed a strong negative linear relation to time (r = –.94, P < .01; r = –.97, P < .01). No significant relation was found between speed skating hours and time (r = –.11, P > .05). This was also the case for inline skating and time (r = –.86, P > .05).Conclusions:These data indicate that in speed skating there was a shift toward polarized training over the last 38 y. This shift seems to be the most important factor in the development of Olympic speed skaters. Surprisingly there was no relation found between training hours, skating hours, and time.

A New Principle for Measurement of Cobalamin and Corrinoids, Used for Studies of Cobalamin Analogs on Serum Haptocorrin

Background: Transcobalamin (TC) and haptocorrin (HC) are serum corrinoid–binding proteins. We developed new methods for measurement of the corrinoids bound to HC and TC. Methods: TC (n = 10) or HC (n = 138) was immunoprecipitated, and corrinoids were released by enzymatic degradation [subtilisin Carlsberg (EC 3.4.21.62)] of the binding proteins. Binding of the released corrinoids to added unsaturated TC (apoTC) or HC (apoHC) created holoTC (as measure of cobalamins) and holoHC (as measure of corrinoids). holoTC and holoHC were measured by use of ELISA. The amounts of analogs were calculated as the difference between corrinoids and cobalamins. Corrinoids extracted from HC were separated with HPLC after addition of potassium cyanide (n = 3). Results: The corrinoid- and cobalamin-specific assays had a positive linear relation between analyte concentration and assay signal, detection limits of 8 and 4 pmol/L, and imprecision values (CV) of ≤10% and ≤13% for concentrations between 45–200 and 12–115 pmol/L, respectively. No analogs were bound to serum TC, whereas the mean (95% reference range) for analogs present on HC was 245 (100–380) pmol/L. On HPLC a substantial amount of the analogs showed elution patterns similar to those of dicyanocobinamide. Conclusions: Our methods for measurement of unmodified corrinoids in serum demonstrate that HC carries cobalamin analogs not recognized by TC, and that on HPLC a substantial part of these analogs elute similarly to cobinamide.

Evidence That Latitude is Directly Related to Variation in Suicide Rates

Objective: To use available suicide-rate data from 20 countries to see patterns and relations more clearly. Method: We obtained raw suicide rates from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) database from 1960 through 1997 and calculated averages and standard deviations. Results: There is a positive linear relation between the variation in suicide rate and geographic latitude. Conclusions: The variation in light-dark cycles is superimposed upon human mood.

Control of blood pressure mediated by baroreflex changes of heart rate in the chicken embryo (Gallus gallus)

Pharmacological manipulation of peripheral resistance via sodium nitroprusside and phenylephrine was used to study baroreflex function over the latter two-thirds of incubation in embryonic chickens. From day 9 to day 19of incubation, there is a positive linear relation between heart rate and blood pressure, indicating the feedforward action of arterial pressure on heart rate. A reciprocal relationship between blood pressure and heart rate became pronounced during the last 3 days of incubation. For the purpose of the study, gain of the baroreflex was calculated as maximal gain (only those embryos that demonstrated the response) or average gain (all embryos). Maximal gain increased progressively from 13 ± 7 beats ⋅ min−1 ⋅ kPa−1at 18 days to 105 ± 83 beats ⋅ min−1 ⋅ kPa−1in 2-day-old hatchlings. The percentage of embryos older than 18 days with baroreflex responses increased from 33% on day 19 to 56% on day 21, indicating that baroreflex regulation begins late in incubation (∼90% incubation time), and the gain of this reflex exhibits a maturation over the final 3 days of incubation.