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PubMedDate not supplied

Ecology of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in areas of Serra do Mar State Park, State of São Paulo, Brazil. III. Daily biting rhythms and lunar cycle influence.

The ecology of mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) was studied in areas of the Serra do Mar State Park, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The influence of the lunar cycle and the daily biting rhythms of mosquito populations were analyzed. Systematized biweekly human bait collections were made in a silvatic environment for 24 consecutive months (January 1991 to December 1992). A total of 20,591 specimens of adult mosquitoes belonging to 55 species were collected from 545 catches. Sabethini species were captured exclusively during daylight periods, with the exception of Trichoprosopon digitatum, while members of Anophelinae predominated during nocturnal hours. Members of the subfamily Culicinae that were collected primary during nocturnal periods included Culex nigripalpus, Coquillettidia chrysonotum and Cq. venezuelensis while daytime catches included Psorophora ferox and Ps. albipes. Others members of culicines mosquitoes that were collected during both day and night included: Aedes serratus, Ae. scapularis and Ae. fulvus. Lunar cycles did not appear to influence the daily biting rhythms of most mosquito species in the area, but larger numbers of mosquitoes were collected during the new moon. Ae. scapularis were captured mainly during the full moon.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Geophysical variables and behavior: LXVIII. Distal and lunar variables and traffic accidents in Saskatchewan 1984-1989.

The daily total number of traffic accidents and traffic accident severity for the years 1984 to 1989 in Saskatchewan were analyzed to estimate relationships with day of the week, season of the year, and various lunar variables (lunar phase, distance of the moon from the earth, and moon-sun tidal index). A regression model with both a linear term and a trigonometric term was fitted to the data. No relationship between lunar cycles and total accidents or severity of accident was found. A larger number of total accidents was found during the winter months and weekends; however, more severe accidents tended to occur during the summer months. A slight linear trend was uncovered for total accidents over the time period under consideration.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Charged-particle telescope experiment on Clementine.

The charged-particle telescope (CPT) onboard the Clementine spacecraft measured the fluxes of energetic protons emitted in solar energetic particle events. Protons in the energy range from 10 to 80 MeV were of greatest interest for radiation effects such as total dose and single event upsets. Energetic electrons were also of interest for spacecraft charging and their contribution to total dose. The lower-energy CPT electron channels (25-500 keV) were mainly of geophysical interest. While orbiting the moon, the CPT observed the wake created by the moon when it blocked the flow of energetic particles in the magnetotail region. The CPT provided opportunities to observe energetic electron bursts during magnetic storms and magnetospheric substorms. CPT data are particularly useful in multispacecraft studies of interplanetary disturbances and their interaction with the magnetosphere. The proton channels on the CPT provided data on solar energetic protons and storm-time protons associated with the passage of an interplanetary shock at 0903 UT on Feb. 21, 1994. Results are compared with those from GOES-7, SAMPEX, and GEOTAIL.

Astronomy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pseudogout: timing of attacks and the cosmogeophysical environment.

OBJECTIVE: To search for a time parallelism between lunar and solar rotation cycles and calendar dates of attacks of pseudogout--chondrocalcinosis articularis (pyrophosphate arthropathy). METHODS: Seventy-four documented attacks with known calendar dates of onset recorded in 16 patients of one family cluster between 1955 and 1995 were examined in this study. Their daily frequencies during the given time span (chronogram) were transformed into frequencies pertaining to separate days of the corresponding cycle (plexogram). The latter data were processed by the cosinor analysis to test the presence of a priori supposed periodicities. RESULTS: The most pronounced time parallelism was found with the Bartels solar rotation cycle, covering a period of 27 days. The cosinor regression explained 95% of the total variance in the data. The plexogram of the attacks displayed 4 clear peaks and 4 troughs. Besides the 27-day cycling, its 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th harmonics, i.e. approximately 14-, 9-, 7- and 5 day rhythms were also statistically significant. Some periodic changes were also found during lunar cycles. The maximum frequency was encountered shortly after the full moon and after the moon perigee. CONCLUSION: A causal connection between fluctuations of the geomagnetic field, such as that during solar rotation and perhaps also lunar cycles, and the occurrence of pseudogout attacks could exist and should be studied more extensively.

Chondrocalcinosis↗
PubMed1997

The origin of the Earth.

It is not possible to consider the formation of the Earth in isolation without reference to the formation of the rest of the solar system. A brief account is given of the current scientific consensus on that topic, explaining the origin of an inner solar system rocky planet depleted in most of the gaseous and icy components of the original solar nebula. Volatile element depletion occurred at a very early stage in the nebula, and was probably responsible for the formation of Jupiter before that of the inner planets. The Earth formed subsequently from accumulation of a hierarchy of planetesimals. Evidence of these remains in the ancient cratered surfaces and the obliquities (tilts) of most planets. Earth melting occurred during this process, as well as from the giant Moon-forming impact. The strange density and chemistry of the Moon are consistent with an origin from the mantle of the impactor. Core-mantle separation on the Earth was coeval with accretion. Some speculations are given on the origin of the hydrosphere.

Atmosphere↗
PubMed1990

Life sciences issues affecting space exploration.

The U.S. space program is undertaking a serious examination of new initiatives in human space exploration involving permanent colonies on the Moon and an outpost on Mars. Life scientists have major responsibilities to the crew, to assure their health, productivity, and safety throughout the mission and the postflight rehabilitation period; to the mission, to provide a productive working environment; and to the scientific community, to advance knowledge and understanding of human adaptation to the space environment. Critical areas essential to the support of human exploration include protection from the radiation hazards of the space environment, reduced gravity countermeasures, artificial gravity, medical care, life support systems, and behavior, performance, and human factors in an extraterrestrial environment. Developing solutions to these concerns is at the heart of the NASA Life Sciences ground-based and flight research programs. Facilities analogous to planetary outposts are being considered in Antarctica and other remote settings. Closed ecological life support systems will be tested on Earth and Space Station. For short-duration simulations and tests, the Space Shuttle and Spacelab will be used. Space Station Freedom will provide the essential scientific and technological research in areas that require long exposures to reduced gravity conditions. In preparation for Mars missions, research on the Moon will be vital. As the challenges of sustaining humans on space are resolved, advances in fundamental science, medicine and technology will follow.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1964

Problems in sterilization of unmanned space vehicles.

The probability of achieving and maintaining sterility of an unmanned spacecraft with varied suggested procedures is examined in detail, as are alternative techniques for avoiding biological contamination of the planets. The required degree of assurance against contamination of Mars, Venus and the Moon with Earth organisms is also considered. For Mars landers and orbiters, sterilization of the spacecraft or capsule by dry heat, with no subsequent access, is found to be desirable. For the present, sterilization of Venus landers still seems desirable. For Mars flybys, and for Venus orbiters and flybys, control of the trajectory to minimize the chance of unintentionally entering the planetary atmosphere appears the method of choice. For the Moon, sterilization seems unnecessary, but microbial counts should be kept low. Sterilization lowers spacecraft and system reliability. It reduces the chance of launching within periods fixed by astronomical constraints and increases costs. The gain which should be achieved through spacecraft sterilization, in return of significant biological information about the planets, must be balanced against these losses. In particular, one should keep in mind the loss in return of biological data occasioned by failure of a spacecraft to fulfill its mission; the probability of such failure is increased by sterilization.

Containment of Biohazards↗
PubMed2003

Lunar phase does not influence surgical quality.

INTRODUCTION: 10.5% of the German population believes in the effects of lunar phase on disease. The topic is hot in German TV program. It is believed that at new moon the rate of bleeding complications is increased and operations during the waning phase of the moon would be best to avoid complications, pain and scaring. To our knowledge the effect of lunar phase has not been studied in ambulatory surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 782 patients were evaluated for complications and perception of the personal health after herniotomy, haemorrhoidectomy and crossectomy with partial vein stripping with or without phlebectomy as part of a quality control study. A questionnaire has been sent out to the patients asking the patient to rate postoperative pain, pain medication, restriction of daily activity, mental health and emotion, status of complaints after the operation. RESULTS: In 782 patients (mean age 50 years) 866 operations were performed. There were no major complications and only in 3.71% minor complications (local bleeding, haematoma, inflammation, abscess, seroma, lymphatic fistula, dehiscence) were observed. The operations were equally distributed to the lunar phases. Complications and patient's subjective perception of pain, restriction of daily activity, mental health and emotion, status of complaints after the operation were not associated with a lunar phase. CONCLUSIONS: The hypothesis that lunar phase influences the outcome of ambulatory operations is not valid. With regard to the organization of operations in the hospital and the patient's uncertainty to decide the right time the lunar phase philosophy may have an socio-economic impact not yet understood.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lunar phase influence on the glycemia of worker honeybees.

The variations of the concentrations of trehalose and glucose, the major components of the haemolymph of emerging worker honeybees, have been examined with respect to the lunar phase. Two series of experiments were performed independently, from April to June and from July to September respectively. The results revealed significant peakings for both carbohydrates at full moon and at new moon, and also a minor peak at last quarter. The data obtained for trehalose in the July-September period are consistent with the existence of a circaseptan subcomponent of period tau congruent to 132h.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1981

The extra digit. A pointer to the eye?

The syndrome associated with an extra digit which is commonly seen by the ophthalmologist is that of Laurence-Moon-Biedl, with its well-known association with retinal dystrophy. However, there are several other syndromes in which there is polydactyly and an ocular malformation. Many have colobomata and microphthalmos. Other syndromes show various orbital and eyelid abnormalities, such as ptosis, hypertelorism, and lateral displacement of the canthi. In three syndromes other than the Laurence-Moon-Biedl there is a retinal dystrophy. In Trisomy 13 there is a severe retinal dysplasia, and in Bloom's syndrome excrescences on Bruch's membrane have been described. There have been several cases of asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy (Jeune's syndrome) described with a retinal dystrophy, and we present a case of the closely-related Ellis-van Creveld syndrome with a retinal dystrophy. We also present a case with a chromosomal defect (an addition to the short arm of chromosome 2), polydactyly, and a retinal dystrophy.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1997

[Incidence of lunar position in the distribution of deliveries. A statistical analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To point out the influence of the lunar position on the distribution of deliveries. METHODS: We examined all the full-term spontaneous deliveries that occurred at the Civil Hospital in Fano (March) throughout 24 synodic months in a 2-year period (1993-1994). In order to perform the statistical analysis, each delivery was considered as a single measure. We used techniques of circular statistics to execute data analysis. RESULTS: A significant relationship between lunar position and distribution of deliveries was pointed out in multigravidae (in detail, the deliveries resulted clustered around the full moon phase). On the contrary, no significant relation was observed in primigravidae. CONCLUSIONS: The observed results evidence a significant influence of the position of the moon on the distribution of deliveries, especially in multigravidae.

Delivery, Obstetric↗
PubMed1996

Lunar influence on atrial fibrillation?

The most popular periodicities in biology and medicine-the circadians and circannuals-stem undoubtedly from the Earth's rotation and its revolution around the sun. The problem is how to explain the existence of circaseptan, i.e. 5-9-day, and other infradian rhythms. They may correspond to the lunar cycles and their 2nd to 6th harmonics. To test such hypothesis, the calendar dates of 127 attacks of atrial fibrillation in one male subject (M.M.) between 1980 and 1994 were transformed into the days numbered 0-29 for the synodic, and 0-26 for tropic lunar cycle. The daily frequencies obtained in this way were smoothed by moving averages of three successive days each. Considerable fluctuations of frequencies of attacks during both cycles were visible by inspection of the corresponding graphs, called lunar plexograms. Thus, a conspicuous nadir is found under the full moon in the synodic cycle, and a marked peak shortly after the extreme southern position of the moon in the tropic cycle. Halberg's cosinor analysis testing the presence of the 1st to 6th harmonic of either lunar cycle rejected the null hypothesis at the alpha = 0.05 level for all harmonics. Accordingly, the occurrence of attacks was cycling with the period lengths of synodic and tropic lunar cycles, and with those of their 1/2-1/6 period lengths, i.e. with a cluster of approximately circa(di)-septan rhythms. This conclusion is supported by similar findings obtained earlier for various medical and biological events.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Keratocyte-like locomotion in amiB-null Dictyostelium cells.

Starved Dictyostelium amoebae continuously change their shape and they are elongated along the front-rear axis during locomotion. In contrast, we found that disruption of the amiB gene, which had been identified as a gene required for the aggregation process during development, caused these cells to move in a manner similar to fish keratocytes. Starved amiB- cells were elongated laterally and had one large lamellipodium along the front side arc of the cell. These cells moved unidirectionally for long distances maintaining the half-moon shape, and this movement followed the predictions of the graded radial extension model, which was originally developed to describe the keratocyte movements. Furthermore, the distributions of actin, Arp2, and myosin II in amiB- cells were similar to those in keratocytes. Therefore, locomotion by keratocytes and amiB- cells appears to be driven by similar mechanisms of cytoskeletal regulation. Double knockout cells lacking both AmiB and myosin II were still able to move unidirectionally in a keratocyte-like manner, although the frequency of those movements was lower. Thus, myosin II is dispensable for the unidirectional movement, though it likely functions in the maintenance of the characteristic half-moon shape. This mutant cell can be a useful tool for further molecular genetic analysis of the mechanism of cell locomotion.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

On the reaction of adult Rhipicephalus evertsi mimeticus and Hyalomma truncatum to horizontally incidenting optical radiation of various wavelengths ranges and different irradiances and to optical radiation of a sun-simulating wavelength spectrum.

The valence of horizontally incidenting light/optical radiation for host-seeking-inclined ixodid ticks was investigated by exposing male and female adults of Rhipicephalus evertsi mimeticus and Hyalomma truncatum to narrow-band monochromatic radiation in the wavelength range of 300-801 nm at irradiances corresponding to an overcast to clear sunny day, a cloudy day and a full-moon night as well as to optical radiation of a sun-simulating wavelength spectrum of 190-2600 nm within a test chamber from which other stimuli were excluded. It was demonstrated that independent of sex, adult ticks of R. e. mimeticus and H. truncatum responded to a wide wavelength spectrum in the visible and UV range, even at irradiances corresponding to a full-moon night. Interspecific differences existed in the degree and extent of the response as well as in the spectral sensitivity. Ticks of H. truncatum consistently showed a faster and stronger response and reacted phototactically positively in higher percentages than adults of R. e. mimeticus. Independent of wavelength range and irradiance, predominantly only few R. e. mimeticus ticks were stimulated to positive phototaxis, whereas at least 33.3% (in most cases, 50%) and maximally greater than 80% of H. truncatum adults reacted phototactically positively. Spectral sensitivity maxima were demonstrated at the yellow and red light and at the UV-A waveband width for R. e. mimeticus and at the violet, blue, green and yellow light wavelength for H. truncatum. With decreasing irradiance, the spectral sensitivity shifted to the blue wavelength range.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Project Cassini: a Saturn orbiter/Titan probe mission proposal.

Titan is the only moon in the solar system with a substantial atmosphere. The organic chemistry of its N2-CH4 atmosphere may resemble that of the earth's primitive atmosphere before life arose. The investigation of the synthesis of pre-biotic molecules in Titan's atmosphere and the atmospheric and surface environments of this planet-sized moon will be the focal point of the Cassini Project proposed to the European Space Agency for an international Saturn Orbiter/Titan Probe mission.

Extraterrestrial Environment↗
PubMed1986

Pathological anatomy of ventricular septal defect associated with aortic valve prolapse and regurgitation.

In an attempt to clarify the pathogenetic morphology of aortic regurgitation (AR) due to prolapse of the aortic valve (prolapsing AR) associated with ventricular septal defect (VSD), 201 specimens from Japanese autopsy series with isolated VSD were examined. Among these hearts, there were 128 cases (64%) of infundibular VSD (IVSD); 29 of them (14%) showed AR due to prolapsed cusp, of which nine cases developed a large aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva. Another 32 cases (16%) had varying degrees of prolapse but without AR and were considered to show the prodrome of prolapsing AR. These 61 cases (30%) were examined with special reference to the type of septal alignment, location of the defect, relation of the defect to the aortic valve, and anomalies of the aortic valve and sinus of Valsalva. There were two principal forms in this syndrome: The common form, i.e., simple punched-hole IVSD with normal septal alignment in 82% (50/61) of cases, and a rare form, i.e., malalignment IVSD in 18% (11/61) of cases. The latter included Eisenmenger-type IVSD due to anteriorly deviated outlet septum (10/11 cases) and coarctation-type IVSD due to posteriorly deviated septum (1/11). Both forms had several subtypes according to the location of the defect, i.e., subpulmonic, muscular, perimembranous, and total IVSD. The relevant anatomical findings of the common form of the syndrome were: There was no septal malalignment with a normal aortic valve position. The VSD was a simple muscular defect in any part of the infundibular septum between the pulmonary valve above and the membranous septum below, the majority of cases (80%), however, showed subpulmonic IVSD. The annulus and sinus of Valsalva wall of the right coronary cusp, which is normally supported firmly by this septum, became exposed in the muscle defect and were poorly supported. The majority of cases showed a normally formed aortic valve but with poor support. The muscular defect was relatively large, but the functioning VSD was usually less than moderate in size with a half-moon shape below the denuded sinus of Valsalva wall and annulus. The functioning VSD appeared to become narrower depending on the degree of prolapse into the defect, resulting in a crescent-moon or slit-like shape, and it may close in rare cases. The major anatomical findings of the rare form were: There was mild to moderate dextroposition (or levoposition) of the aortic valve due to a septal malalignment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Two new motile phototrophic consortia: "Chlorochromatium lunatum" and "Pelochromatium selenoides"

Two new phototrophic consortia, "Chlorochromatium lunatum" and "Pelochromatium selenoides", were observed and collected in the hypolimnion of several dimictic lakes in Wisconsin and Michigan (USA). The two consortia had the same morphology but different pigment composition. The cells of the photosynthetic components of the consortia were half-moon-shaped. This morphology was used to differentiate them from the previously described motile phototrophic consortia "Chlorochromatium aggregatum" and "Pelochromatium roseum". These phototrophic cells did not resemble any described unicellular green sulfur bacteria. The predominant pigments detected were bacteriochlorophyll d and chlorobactene for the green-colored "Clc. lunatum", and bacteriochlorophyll e and isorenieratene for the brown-colored "Plc. selenoides". Their pigment compositions and the presence of chlorosomes attached to the inner face of the cytoplasmic membrane in both kinds of photosynthetic cells confirmed this new half-moon-shaped morphotype as a green sulfur bacterium. Both consortia were found thriving in lakes with low concentrations of sulfide (< 60 &mgr;M), below the layers of "Clc. aggregatum" and "Plc. roseum". The green consortia were observed in lakes where the oxic-anoxic interface was located at shallow depths (2-7 m), while the brown consortia were found at greater depths (8-16 m). The two newly described consortia were never detected together at the same depth in any lake.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Semiautomatic analysis of phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging of cerebrospinal fluid flow through the aqueduct of Sylvius.

OBJECTIVE: Quantification of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow through the aqueduct of Sylvius by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is subject to interobserver variability due to the region of interest (ROI) selection. Our objective is to develop a semiautomatic measurement method to achieve reproducible quantitative analysis of CSF flow rate and stroke volume. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MR examinations were performed using a 1.5 T scanner with a phase contrast sequence (velocity encoding [V(enc)] of 20 cm/s, FOV = 160, 3 mm slice thickness, image matrix size = 256x256, TR = 53 ms, TE = 11 ms, NSA = 2, flip angle = 15 degrees and 23 frames per cardiac cycle with peripheral retrospective pulse gating). Our method was developed using MATLAB R7. Errors introduced by background offset and possible aliased pixels were automatically detected and corrected if necessary in order to calculate the flow parameters that characterize CSF dynamics. The semiautomatic seed method reproducibility was evaluated and compared with the radius method by two observers analysing 21 healthy subjects. RESULTS: The measurements using the semiautomatic seed method reduced the interobservers variability (intra-class correlation [ICC] = 1.0 for stroke volume and for volumetric flow rate) versus the radius method (ICC = 0.46 for stroke volume and 0.65 for flow rate). Normal stroke volume (39.19 +/- 20.13 microl/cycle), flow rate (3.81 +/- 2.81 ml/min), maximal mean systolic velocity (5.27 +/- 1.3 cm/s) and maximal mean diastolic velocity (4.20 +/- 1.4 cm/s) were calculated with the half moon and aliasing corrected seed method. CONCLUSIONS: Semiautomatic measurements (seed method with half moon background and aliasing correction) allow a generalization of the calculus of flow parameters with great consistency and independency of the operator.

Algorithms↗