Satellite Observing Systems (United Kingdom)

The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term outcomes of tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) and tibial tuberosity transposition (TTT) for the combined treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture and medial patellar luxation (MPL) in small-breed dogs weighing up to 15 kg.Retrospective case series of dogs treated with a single session TPLO-TTT from five referral centres between 2015 and 2023. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were assessed. Osteotomy healing, lameness and presence of patellar luxation or tibial thrust were assessed at a 6- to 12-week follow-up.A total of 37 stifles in 35 dogs. At the time of follow-up, the tibial compression test was negative in all stifles. The MPL grade improved from a median of 3/4 preoperatively to a median of 0/4 (p = 0.0001) postoperatively. Lameness grade improved from a median of 3/5 to 1/5. There were seven minor complications and seven major complications. No catastrophic complications occurred. Osteotomy healing was appropriate in all dogs. Three intraoperative complications related to a TPLO screw near the joint required replacement. Postoperative MPL was noted in three stifle joints (grade 1/4, 3/4 and 4/4). One distal tibial tuberosity fracture and one patella fracture were managed conservatively. Patella ligament desmitis was managed conservatively in five stifles.Combined TPLO-TTT is an effective treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture and MPL in small-breed dogs, but surgical accuracy is needed to minimize complications. High-grade patellar luxation may require alternative methods of stabilization.

There have been anecdotal reports of episodic involuntary movements in the Border Terrier dog breed for over a decade. Recently, it has been hypothesized that this condition may be a form of paroxysmal dystonic choreoathetosis. The aim of this study was to characterize the phenomenology and clinical course of this condition and compare it to known human movement disorders. Data were collected retrospectively from clinical cases treated by veterinary neurologists and additional information was collected prospectively with an ad-hoc online survey directed to owners of affected dogs. The episodes are characterized by generalized dystonia, tremors, titubation, and, in some cases, autonomic signs, such as salivation and vomiting. The median age at onset of the episodes was 3 years and the interval between clusters of episodes could last several months. Most of the episodes occurred from rest, and 67% of the owners reported that the episodes were associated with a trigger, most often excitement. Some owners reported an improvement after changing their dog's diet. We hypothesize that the Border Terrier attacks represent a form of paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia. The finding of a dystonia phenotype within an inbred population suggests a genetic predisposition, and elucidating the genetic cause could facilitate improved understanding of dystonia. This genetic predisposition and the effect of treatment with anticonvulsant drugs and dietary changes on the severity of the paroxysms warrant further investigation on this condition.

The impact of medical documentaries on attendance to immunization sessions is not documented in developing countries. The impact of a video and TV medical documentary on women's vaccination during a catch-up tetanus collective immunization was studied in Cambodia (2002-2004). A medical video documentary produced locally was publicly shown in 10 villages chosen at random among 63 villages to be covered by collective tetanus immunization. In each village where the video was shown, 33 women, older than age 11, were selected at random and questioned about their tetanus vaccination records, to assess if they attended the video and to evaluate their knowledge about tetanus. A second interview was conducted after the first collective vaccination to check their attendance and to record reasons for non-attendance. The same interview was conducted 10 months later, after the documentary was shown on a local TV channel and a second collective tetanus vaccination conducted. Data were collected from 323 (98%) women. Seventy-eight (24%) women saw the video documentary and only eight (2.4%) saw it on TV. Compared to farmers, shopkeepers saw significantly less the documentary (χ² of Yates: 5.77,P = 0.016; 95% CI: 0.10 < RR = 0.29 < 0.88) and no home keeper or civil servant attended it. Women of childbearing age with no school education were significantly more attracted by the video documentary (χ² of Yates: 5.99,P = 0.01; 95% CI: 1.10 < RR = 1.57 < 2.22) than other childbearing-aged women, although their final immunization coverage was not better. The documentary did not increase the knowledge that contamination for tetanus may come from earth and tools, but not from air and water, and that all ages are at-risk for tetanus, but it increased significantly the knowledge that vaccination can prevent the disease (χ² of Yates: 13.98;P = 0.0001; 95% CI: 1.28 < RR = 1.57 < 1.93). Women who saw the video documentary attended the first collective session more often than those who did not (χ² of Yates: 11.00; P = 0.0006; 95% CI: 1.23 < RR = 1.51 < 1.84)in spite of their better vaccination status before the immunization, and this was mostly significant for farmers and women more than 45 years of age. Women who saw the documentary either on video or on TV also attended more the second collective session, but not significantly (χ² of Yates: 1.23;P = 0.266; 95% CI: 0.91 < RR = 1.23 < 1.66). Forty-nine percent of women had not attended school and the video documentary was re-run twice after the first performance. Women older than 45 years (55%) completely escaped immunization significantly more often than women of childbearing age (35%) (χ² of Yates: 17.26;P = 0.00003, 95% CI: 1.53 < RR = 2.13 < 2.97), who did it more often than schoolgirls (2%) (χ² of Yates: 9.69;P = 0.002; 95% CI: 0.01 < RR = 0.09 < 0.65). The main reasons for not being vaccinated during catch-up collective tetanus vaccinations were a too short interval between doses according to the WHO schedule (25%), agricultural task (18%), leisure travel (8%), fear of injections (7%), and being completely vaccinated according to the WHO schedule (7%). Only 2% of women were not informed, showing that vaccination was well-publicized. This educational technique should be re-used in all villages during coming catch-up tetanus collective immunizations in Cambodia, mostly in urban contexts where coverage during these sessions is lower. Video is still the best method in rural context if some education is also provided to the audience. According to the WHO schedule, the interval between two catch-up tetanus sessions should be extended to over a year to be able to give booster shots to women who already received three or more tetanus doses. Vaccination of schoolgirls is significantly easier to achieve with the help of the teachers. Vaccinating women aged over 45 should be encouraged as they are at risk of tetanus even in developed Asian countries.

In the early morning of 26 December 2004 the ocean research satellite Jason flew over the Indian Ocean and recorded a surface tsunami wave less than 1 meter high. If it was no more than chance that a satellite equipped with a sensitive radar passed over at that precise moment, then the potential role of orbiting spacecraft in future early warning systems was established.This special tsunami workshop was convened during the PORSEC biennial symposium to review the performance of satellites and consider the extent to which future space systems could contribute to reducing the impact of marine hazards.

The Clean Seas project focused on the role that existing Earth observing satellites might play in monitoring marine pollution. Results are presented here from August 1997, for the North Sea test site, using sea surface temperature (SST), colour and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images in conjunction with a hydrodynamic model. There was good correlation between data sources, e.g. between SST and ERS-2 SAR images. Both datasets showed the development of fine plume structures close to the Rhine outflow, apparently associated with the outflow, and possibly caused by tidal pulsing of the Rhine Plume. The model reproduced general temperature and sediment distributions well, but fine structures were not reproduced. Model sediment distribution patterns were verified using ‘chlorophyll concentration’ data from colour sensors, representative of sediment concentration in turbid water. In conjunction with the visible channels of the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer and Along-Track Scanning Radiometer, they give an uncalibrated measure of the sediment load. The model gives a more complete picture of the temporal dispersion of the Rhine Plume over time than is evident from the remotely sensed data alone.

Slant-path propagation measurements using transmissions to and from theOtssatellite are being carried out at Martlesham Heath (Uk)at an elevation angle of 29.9°. The measurements allow the determination of the attenuation and cross-polarization for circularly-polarized signals at 14.5 and 11.8 GHz and attenuation and cross-polarization for a linearly-polarized signal at 11.6 GHz. This paper reports the results of cross-polar measurements made during the summer of 1978 together with examples of particularly severe cross-polar effects from 1979. The measurements are compared with both aCcircurve relating cross-polar discrimination to fade depth for rain and theoretical curves supplied by Essex University. The results clearly demonstrate the superior cross-polar performance of linear polarization compared to circular polarization.