Αναγκαιότητα και σχεδιασμός μιας καλωδιωμένης πολυπαραμετρικής πλατφόρμας οργάνων για μεγάλα θαλάσσια βάθη

76 σ.Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο--Μεταπτυχιακή Εργασία. Διεπιστημονικό-Διατμηματικό Πρόγραμμα Μεταπτυχιακών Σπουδών (Δ.Π.Μ.Σ.) “Ναυτική και Θαλάσσια Τεχνολογία και Επιστήμη”Η παρούσα διπλωματική έχει σαν σκοπό μια προτεινόμενη αρχιτεκτονική κατασκευής ενός πολυπαραμετρικού παρατηρητηρίου για μεγάλα βάθη στην περιοχή ΝΔ της Πελοποννήσου μέσα από την παρουσίαση των υπαρχόντων συστημάτων παρακολούθησης του βενθοπελαγικού οικοσυστήματος και βιοποικιλότητας, των επικίνδυνων γεωλογικών και γεωφυσικών φαινομένων όπως σεισμοί, υποθαλάσσιες κατολισθήσεις, κυμάτων tsunami, την επίδραση των κλιματικών αλλαγών και πως αυτές επιδρούν στο βαθύ υδρολογικό περιβάλλον και το οικοσύστημα, την υδροακουστική και βιοακουστική παρατήρηση πελαγικών ιχθυοπληθυσμών και θαλάσσιων θηλαστικών με έμφαση στην αναγκαιότητα ύπαρξης τους για συνεχείς μετρήσεις και τροφοδοσία σε μοντέλα ανάλυσης και πρόβλεψης για μια πληρέστερη και αξιόπιστη αποτίμηση των περιβαλλοντικών αλλαγών. Η διπλωματική κινείται μέσα στα πλαίσια αρχιτεκτονικής όπως αυτά διαγράφονται από την Ευρωπαϊκή υποδομή EMSO για υποθαλάσσια συστήματα μακροχρόνιας παρατήρησης και αποστολής δεδομένων σε πραγματικό χρόνο.An architectural recommendation for the realisation of a multiparametric deep sea observatory in the area South West of the Peloponese guided within the framework of the EMSO for long term, real time, monitoring.Παρασκευάς Ν. Παγώνη

Incident venous thromboembolic events in the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER)

<p>Background: Venous thromboembolic events (VTE), including deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, are common in older age. It has been suggested that statins might reduce the risk of VTE however positive results from studies of middle aged subjects may not be generalisable to elderly people. We aimed to determine the effect of pravastatin on incident VTE in older people; we also studied the impact of clinical and plasma risk variables.</p> <p>Methods: This study was an analysis of incident VTE using data from the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER), a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pravastatin in men and women aged 70-82. Mean follow-up was 3.2 years. Risk for VTE was examined in non-warfarin treated pravastatin (n = 2834) and placebo (n = 2865) patients using a Cox's proportional hazard model, and the impact of other risk factors assessed in a multivariate forward stepwise regression analysis. Baseline clinical characteristics, blood biochemistry and hematology variables, plasma levels of lipids and lipoproteins, and plasma markers of inflammation and adiposity were compared. Plasma markers of thrombosis and hemostasis were assessed in a nested case (n = 48) control (n = 93) study where the cohort was those participants, not on warfarin, for whom data were available.</p> <p>Results: There were 28 definite cases (1.0%) of incident VTE in the pravastatin group recipients and 20 cases (0.70%) in placebo recipients. Pravastatin did not reduce VTE in PROSPER compared to placebo [unadjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) 1.42 (0.80, 2.52) p = 0.23]. Higher body mass index (BMI) [1.09 (1.02, 1.15) p = 0.0075], country [Scotland vs Netherlands 4.26 (1.00, 18.21) p = 0.050 and Ireland vs Netherlands 6.16 (1.46, 26.00) p = 0.013], lower systolic blood pressure [1.35 (1.03, 1.75) p = 0.027] and lower baseline Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score [1.19 (1.01, 1.41) p = 0.034] were associated with an increased risk of VTE, however only BMI, country and systolic blood pressure remained significant on multivariate analysis. In a nested case control study of definite VTE, plasma Factor VIII levels were associated with VTE [1.52 (1.01, 2.28), p = 0.044]. However no other measure of thrombosis and haemostasis was associated with increased risk of VTE.</p> <p>Conclusions: Pravastatin does not prevent VTE in elderly people at risk of vascular disease. Blood markers of haemostasis and inflammation are not strongly predictive of VTE in older age however BMI, country and lower systolic blood pressure are independently associated with VTE risk.</p&gt

Discrete Riccati Equation Solutions: Distributed Algorithms

In this paper new distributed algorithms for the solution of the discrete Riccati equation are introduced. The algorithms are used to provide robust and computational efficient solutions to the discrete Riccati equation. The proposed distributed algorithms are theoretically interesting and computationally attractive

Increased Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake Following Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: A Predictor of Endoleak?

The main criterion for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is an AAA diameter ≥5.5 cm. However, some AAAs rupture when they are smaller. Size alone may therefore not be a sufficient criterion to determine rupture risk. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake is increased in the presence of inflammation and it was suggested that this may be a better predictor of rupture risk than AAA size. Furthermore, increased FDG uptake following endovascular AAA repair may be an indirect predictor of continuous AAA sac enlargement due to the presence of an endoleak (even if this is not detected by imaging modalities) and/or increased AAA rupture risk. The role of FDG uptake needs to be explored further in the management of AAAs

Persistent median artery in the carpal tunnel: anatomy, embryology, clinical significance, and review of the literature

The median artery usually regresses after the eighth week of intrauterine life, but in some cases it persists into adulthood. The persistent median artery (PMA) passes through the carpal tunnel of the wrist, accompanying the median nerve. During anatomical dissection in our department, we found two unilateral cases of PMA originating from the ulnar artery. In both cases the PMA passed through the carpal tunnel, reached the palm, and anastomosed with the ulnar artery, forming a medio-ulnar type of superficial palmar arch. In addition, in both cases we observed a high division of the median nerve before entering the carpal tunnel. Such an artery may result in several complications such as carpal tunnel syndrome, pronator syndrome, or compression of the anterior interosseous nerve. Therefore, the presence of a PMA should be taken into consideration in clinical practice. This study presents two cases of PMA along with an embryological explanation, analysis of its clinical significance, and a review of the literature. The review of the literature includes cases observed during surgical procedures or anatomical dissections. Cases observed by means of imaging techniques were not included in the study

Excavated type of rhomboid fossa of the clavicle: a radiological study

The excavated type of rhomboid fossa of the clavicle is a relatively neglected anatomical structure that can potentially cause diagnostic problems. Its unilateral occurrence may be confused by the physician as avascular necrosis, osteomyelitis, or even a tumour. We studied 80 routine chest radiographs and identified the clavicles with excavated type of rhomboid fossa. The sex, sidedness, and handedness were recorded. An excavated type of rhomboid fossa was present in 43 clavicles (26.88%), appearing more frequently in males than in females. In addition, the incidence of the excavated type of rhomboid fossa was greater on the right side than on the left. That type of fossa was also present more frequently on the right side in right-handed specimens and on the left side in left-handed specimens. The high incidence of the excavated type of rhomboid fossa on the dominant hand supports the mechanical theory of fossa formation. Radiologists and physicians should be aware of this fossa, as it may resemble a pathological condition