International audienceTwo of the primary goals of the MAVEN mission are to determine how the rate of escape of Martian atmospheric gas to space at the current epoch depends upon solar influences and planetary parameters and to estimate the total mass of atmosphere lost to space over the history of the planet. Along with MAVEN’s suite of nine science instruments, a collection of complementary models of the neutral and plasma environments of Mars’ upper atmosphere and near-space environment are an indispensable part of the MAVEN toolkit, for three primary reasons. First, escaping neutrals will not be directly measured by MAVEN and so neutral escape rates must be derived, via models, from in situ measurements of plasma temperatures and neutral and plasma densities and by remote measurements of the extended exosphere. Second, although escaping ions will be directly measured, all MAVEN measurements are limited in spatial coverage, so global models are needed for intelligent interpolation over spherical surfaces to calculate global escape rates. Third, MAVEN measurements will lead to multidimensional parameterizations of global escape rates for a range of solar and planetary parameters, but further global models informed by MAVEN data will be required to extend these parameterizations to the more extreme conditions that likely prevailed in the early solar system, which is essential for determining total integrated atmospheric loss. We describe these modeling tools and the strategies for using them in concert with MAVEN measurements to greater constrain the history of atmospheric loss on Mars

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BackgroundTimely and adequate laryngeal elevation along with hyoid bone movement is an essential component of the swallowing movement under normal physiological conditions. The purpose of this study was to verify the reproducibility of using ultrasonography to evaluate hyoid bone displacement during swallowing through the assessment of inter- and intrarater reliability and examine its accuracy by comparing the results with videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS).MethodsA self-designed water balloon was fixed to the transducer, which provided good contact between the transducer and the submental skin. Ten participants with dysphagia were recruited. The measurements of hyoid bone displacement using ultrasonography were performed by two of the authors. All the participants underwent ultrasonographic examinations and VFSS within 24 hours.ResultsThe intrarater intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of the two examiners was 0.996 and 0.959, respectively (p < 0.01); the interrater ICC between the two examiners was 0.892 (p < 0.05). ICCs between VFSS and ultrasonography for two researchers were 0.815 and 0.916 (p < 0.01).ConclusionSubmental ultrasonography is a reliable and accurate method for assessing the hyoid bone movement.

In the present study, we illustrate the use of an electrophysiological classification as a guide to the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). A total of 113 CTS patients were assessed with symptom severity scores, hand functional scores and electrophysiological studies. By setting criteria of electrophysiological tests, 179 hands in 113 patients were classified into mild, moderate and severe degrees of CTS. Of these, the 41 hands with severe CTS were referred for surgery. The 58 hands with moderate CTS and 80 hands with mild CTS received conservative treatment. The improvement ratios in the severe group were greater than that in the moderate and mild groups, both at 6 months and at 1 year. Eighteen hands with moderate or mild CTS returned to normal electrophysiology with the conservative treatments. No patient recovered to normal electrophysiology in the severe group. This electrophysiological classification is objective and it may serve as a useful guide for non-surgical and surgical treatment of CTS.

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