Determination of Tropical Belt Widening Using Multiple GNSS Radio Occultation Measurements

In the last decades, Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) have provided an exceptional opportunity to retrieve atmospheric parameters globally through GNSS radio occultation (GNSS-RO). In this paper, data of 12 GNSS-RO missions from June 2001 to November 2020 with high resolution were used to investigate the possible widening of the tropical belt along with the probable drivers and impacts in both hemispheres. Applying both lapse rate tropopause (LRT) and cold point tropopause (CPT) definitions, the global tropopause height shows increase of approximately 36 m/decade and 60 m/decade, respectively. Moreover, the tropical edge latitude (TEL) estimated based on two tropopause height metrics, in the northern hemisphere (NH) and southern hemisphere (SH), are different from each other. For the first metric, subjective method, the tropical width from GNSS has expansion behavior in NH with ~ 0.41°/decade and a minor expansion in SH with ~ 0.08°/decade. In case of ECMWF Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) there is no significant contraction in both NH and SH. For Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), there are expansion behavior in NH with ~ 0.34°/decade and strong contraction in SH with ~ −0.48°/decade. Using the second metric, objective method, the tropical width from GNSS has expansion in NH with ~ 0.13°/decade, and no significant expansion in SH. In case of ERA5, there is no significant signal in NH while SH has a minor contraction. AIRS has an expansion with ~ 0.13°/decade in NH, and strong contraction in SH with ~ −0.37°/decade. The variability of tropopause parameters (temperature and height) is maximum around the TEL locations at both hemispheres. The total column ozone (TCO) shows increasing rates globally, and the rate of increase at the SH is higher than that of the NH. There is a good agreement between the spatial and temporal patterns of TCO variability and the TEL location estimated from GNSS LRT height. Carbon dioxide (CO2), and Methane (CH4), the most important greenhouse gases (GHGs) and the main drivers of global warming, have a global increasing rate and the increasing rate of the NH is similar to that of the SH. The spatial pattern in the NH is located more pole ward than its equivalent at the SH. Both surface temperature and precipitation increase in time and have strong correlation with GNSS LRT height. Both show higher increasing rates at the NH, while the precipitation at the SH has slight decrease and the surface temperature increases. The surface temperature shows a spatial pattern with strong variability, which broadly agrees with the TEL locations. The spatial pattern of precipitation shows northward occurrence. In addition, Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) has no direct connection with the TEL behavior.

Signs and Symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorder in Male Narghile Smokers versus Male Cigarette Smokers.

Objective: Narghile smoking is highly prevalent in Egypt. The act of narghile smoking involves strong contraction of the jaw muscles, which would putatively cause overloading of the temporomandibular joint; thereby leading to internal derangement of the joint. The current study compared symptoms and signs related to temporomandibular disorder in male narghile smokers versus male cigarette smokers. Methods: This prospective clinical study involved 233 male narghile smokers and 233 male cigarette smokers. A questionnaire and examination findings protocol was applied for each participant. Results: There was a significant increase in incidence of signs of internal derangement in the temporomandibular joints of narghile smokers versus those of cigarette smokers (p=0.001). Tympanic membrane retractions were also more common in narghile smokers versus cigarette smokers(p=0.001), reflecting the significant effects of jaw muscle mechanical efforts on the middle ear system, associated with narghile smoking. Conclusion: Narghile smoking is a traumatizing habit as regards its effects on the temporomandibular joints and ear structures.

Structural shifts in household consumption of the Chuvash Republic: causes and effects

The analysis of structural changes in the consumption of households of the Chuvash Republic over the past two decades has been carried out, highlighting cause-effect relationships. Special attention is paid to the crisis of income and consumption in recent years, which in turn has caused a strong contraction in domestic demand.

Первый опыт применения экстракорпоральной магнитной стимуляции в лечении недостаточности анального сфинктера

Цель исследования. В связи с отсутствием четких алгоритмов консервативного лечения анальной инконтиненции и доказанным превосходством мультимодальной терапии, целью исследования было сравнение двух комплексных программ консервативного лечения недостаточности анального сфинктера (НАС), включающих в качестве одной из составляющих анальную электростимуляцию или экстракорпоральную магнитную стимуляцию по специально разработанным протоколам. Методика. В исследование включено 59 чел. с недостаточностью анального сфинктера. В 1-й группе, состоящей из 22 пациентов (20 женщин, 2 мужчины, средний возраст 50,9 ± 5,1 года), анальная электростимуляция сочеталась с БОС-терапией (терапией биологической обратной связью) и тибиальной нейромодуляцией. Во 2-й группе, состоящей из 37 пациентов (33 женщины, 4 мужчин, средний возраст 51 ± 4,4 года), экстракорпоральная магнитная стимуляция сочеталась с БОС-терапией и тибиальной нейромодуляцией. Результаты. У 22 больных 1-й группы показатели тонуса и сократительной способности анальных сфинктеров до лечения составляли 33,3 ± 2,8 мм рт. ст. в покое и 77,3 ± 16,0 при волевом сокращении, а после лечения - 42,6 ± 4,2 и 99,5 ± 19,2, т.е. увеличение давления в анальном канале составило 27,9% и 28,7% соответственно. У 37 пациентов 2-й группы показатели тонуса и сократительной способности анальных сфинктеров до лечения составили 32,4 ± 2,0 и 91,4 ± 9,5 мм рт. ст., а после лечения отмечены на уровне 40,9 ± 3,0 и 109,8 ± 11,9 мм рт. ст., т.е. давление в анальном канале возросло на 26,2% и 20,1% в покое и при волевом сокращении соответственно. Обсуждение. Проводимая консервативная реабилитация оказывает положительное воздействие на мышцы запирательного аппарата прямой кишки у пациентов с анальной инконтиненцией, вызывая увеличение показателей как тонуса, так и сократительной способности анальных сфинктеров, что имеет важное клиническое значение. Статистически значимых различий между приростом показателей давления в группах пациентов с анальной и магнитной стимуляцией не зарегистрировано. Aim. Since clear algorithms for conservative treatment of anal incontinence are unavailable while advantages of the multimodal therapy have been proven, the aim of this study was to compare two complex programs of conservative treatment of anal sphincter failure. The programs included study-specific protocols of anal electrostimulation or extracorporeal magnetic stimulation as one of treatment components. Methods. The study included 59 patients with anal sphincter failure. The first group, which consisted of 22 patients (20 (90.9%) women and 2 (9.1%) men; mean age, 50.9 ± 5.1), underwent anal electrostimulation combined with biofeedback therapy and tibial neuromodulation. The second group, which consisted of 37 patients (33 (89.2%) women and 4 (10.8%) men; mean age, 51 ± 4.4), underwent extracorporeal magnetic stimulation combined with biofeedback therapy and tibial neuromodulation. Results. For 22 patients of the first group, pretreatment values of perianal sphincter tone and contractility were 33.3 ± 2.8 mm Hg at rest and 77.3 ± 16.0 mm Hg during a strong voluntary contraction; posttreatment values increased to 42.6 ± 4.2 mm Hg and 99.5 ± 19.2 mm Hg, respectively, i.e., the anal canal pressure increased by 27.9% and 28.7%, respectively. For 37 patients of the second group, pretreatment values of perianal sphincter tone and contractility were 32.4 ± 2.0 mm Hg and 91.4 ± 9.5 mm Hg; posttreatment values increased to 40.9 ± 3.0 mm Hg and 109.8 ± 11.9 mm Hg, i.e., the anal canal pressure increased by 26.2% and 20.1% at rest and during a strong contraction, respectively. Discussion. The conservative rehabilitation was beneficial for the anal sphincter in patients with anal incontinence by increasing both tone and contractility of perianal sphincters, which is clinically highly important. Statistically significant differences in increments of pressure values between groups of patients with colorectal and magnetic stimulation were absent.

Regulation and dysregulation of esophageal peristalsis by the integrated function of circular and longitudinal muscle layers in health and disease

Muscularis propria throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract including the esophagus is comprised of circular and longitudinal muscle layers. Based on the studies conducted in the colon and the small intestine, for more than a century, it has been debated whether the two muscle layers contract synchronously or reciprocally during the ascending contraction and descending relaxation of the peristaltic reflex. Recent studies in the esophagus and colon prove that the two muscle layers indeed contract and relax together in almost perfect synchrony during ascending contraction and descending relaxation of the peristaltic reflex, respectively. Studies in patients with various types of esophageal motor disorders reveal temporal disassociation between the circular and longitudinal muscle layers. We suggest that the discoordination between the two muscle layers plays a role in the genesis of esophageal symptoms, i.e., dysphagia and esophageal pain. Certain pathologies may selectively target one and not the other muscle layer, e.g., in eosinophilic esophagitis there is a selective dysfunction of the longitudinal muscle layer. In achalasia esophagus, swallows are accompanied by the strong contraction of the longitudinal muscle without circular muscle contraction. The possibility that the discoordination between two muscle layers plays a role in the genesis of esophageal symptoms, i.e., dysphagia and esophageal pain are discussed. The purpose of this review is to summarize the regulation and dysregulation of peristalsis by the coordinated and discoordinated function of circular and longitudinal muscle layers in health and diseased states.

Early Rousseff exit in Brazil appears ever more likely

Significance The largely peaceful demonstrations are the latest chapter in the deepening political crisis. This has been triggered by the ever-expanding 'petrolao' corruption scandal centred on state-controlled oil company Petrobras, and fuelled by a savage recession: the economy shrank by 3.8% last year and will see another strong contraction in 2016. Impacts The PT's crisis will leave the centre-left space in Brazilian politics vacant. Marina Silva's Sustainability Network will likely try to occupy that space. Congressional fragmentation will undermine governance absent an ambitious political reform.