Absolute Elevation Research Articles

Global warming, renal function and heart failure over 20 years

BackgroundThe impact of increasing temperatures on renal function in heart failure (HF) outpatients has never been specifically analyzed. MethodsWe retrieved creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values of all HF outpatients followed at a HF clinic and temperature data from 2002 to 2021. For each patient and each year we averaged values of creatinine, eGFR and monthly temperatures during summer and the rest of the year. ResultsThe study cohort included 2167 HF patients undergoing 25,865 elective visits, with a median of 14 visits for each patient (interquartile range 7–23). At the first visit, patients (70% men) had an age of 67 ± 13 years, and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 35 ± 14%. Creatinine was 1.25 ± 0.51 mg/dL, and eGFR was 65 ± 25 mL/min/1.73 m2. When pooling together all average values of creatinine and eGFR measured during summer or in the rest of the year, creatinine was significantly higher in summer (difference 0.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04 to 0.05, p < 0.001), and eGFR was slightly lower (difference − 2.0, 95% CI -2.3 to −1.8, p < 0.001). Temperature rise during summer increased from 2002 to 2021. The absolute (Δ) and percent (Δ%) elevation in temperature during summer displayed independent associations with Δ and Δ% creatinine and eGFR after adjusting for age, sex, plasma creatinine, and HF therapies. ConclusionsThe magnitude of temperature elevation during summer has increased over 20 years. This elevation correlates with the decline in renal function during summer. This might be an example of how global warming is affecting human health.

Exploring Sonification Mapping Strategies for Spatial Auditory Guidance in Immersive Virtual Environments

Spatial auditory cues are important for many tasks in immersive virtual environments, especially guidance tasks. However, due to the limited fidelity of spatial sounds rendered by generic Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs), sound localization usually has a limited accuracy, especially in elevation, which can potentially impact the effectiveness of auditory guidance. To address this issue, we explored whether integrating sonification with spatial audio can enhance the perceptions of auditory guidance cues so user performance in auditory guidance tasks can be improved. Specifically, we investigated the effects of sonification mapping strategy using a controlled experiment that compared four elevation sonification mapping strategies: absolute elevation mapping, unsigned relative elevation mapping, signed relative elevation mapping, and binary relative elevation mapping. In addition, we examined whether azimuth sonification mapping can further benefit the perception of spatial sounds. The results demonstrate that spatial auditory cues can be effectively enhanced by integrating elevation and azimuth sonification, where the accuracy and speed of guidance tasks can be significantly improved. In particular, the overall results suggest that binary relative elevation mapping is generally the most effective strategy among four elevation sonification mapping strategies, which indicates that auditory cues with clear directional information are key to efficient auditory guidance.

An Improved Independent Parameter Decomposition Method for Gaofen-3 Surveying and Mapping Calibration

The Gaofen-3 (GF-3) satellite can provide digital elevation model (DEM) data from its interferogram outputs. However, the accuracy of these data cannot be ensured without applying a surveying and mapping (SAM) calibration process, thus necessitating geometric and interferometric calibration technologies. In this paper, we propose an independent parameter decomposition (IPD) method to conduct SAM calibration on GF-3 data and generate high-accuracy DEMs. We resolved the geometric parameters to improve the location accuracy and resolved the interferometric parameters to improve the height accuracy. First, we established a geometric calibration model, analyzed the Range–Doppler (RD) model and resolved the initial imaging time error as well as the initial slant range error. Then, we established a three-dimensional reconstruction (TDR) model to analyze the height error sources. Finally, the interferometric phase error and baseline vector error were precisely estimated to ensure the vertical accuracy of the interferometric results by establishing the interferometric calibration model. We then used the GF-3 interferometric data derived on the same orbit in a north–south distribution to conduct the calibration experiment. The results show that the plane positioning accuracy was 5.09 m following geometric calibration, that the vertical accuracy of the interferometric results was 4.18 m following interferometric calibration and that the average absolute elevation accuracy of the derived DEM product was better than 3.09 m when using the GF-3 SAR data, thus confirming the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed GF-3 IPD calibration method. These results provide a technical basis for SAM calibration using GF-3 interferograms at the 1:50,000 scale in China.

Thresholds in Road Network Functioning on US Atlantic and Gulf Barrier Islands

AbstractBarrier islands predominate the Atlantic and Gulf coastlines of the USA, where population and infrastructure growth exceed national trends. Forward‐looking models of barrier island dynamics often include feedbacks with real estate markets and management practices aimed at mitigating damage to buildings from natural hazards. However, such models thus far do not account for networks of infrastructure, such as roads, and how the functioning of infrastructure networks might influence management strategies. Understanding infrastructure networks on barrier islands is an essential step toward improved insight into the future dynamics of human‐altered barriers. Here, we examine thresholds in the functioning of 72 US Atlantic and Gulf Coast barrier islands. We use digital elevation models to assign an elevation to each intersection in each road network. From each road network we sequentially remove intersections, starting from the lowest elevation. We use the maxima of the second giant connected component to identify a specific intersection—and corresponding elevation—at which functioning of the network fails, and we match the elevation of each critical intersection to local annual exceedance probabilities for extreme high‐water levels. We find a range of failure thresholds for barrier island road network functioning, and also find that no single metric—absolute elevation, annual exceedance probability, or a quantitative metric of robustness—sufficiently ranks the susceptibility of barrier road networks to failure. Future work can incorporate thresholds for road network into forward‐looking models of barrier island dynamics that include hazard‐mitigation practices for protecting infrastructure.

Prevention of rock and gas outbursts in superdeep-level mining in Internatsionalny Mine of ALROSA

Since 2019 development heading and construction of permanent roadways in Internatsionalny diamond mine of ALROSA below the absolute elevation of &ndash;790 m (depth 1190 m) is carried out in complicated geological and geotechnical conditions due to susceptibility of enclosing rock mass to rock and gas outbursting. The outbursting nature assessment and development of safe mining methods in such conditions were implemented in association with top academic institutions specializing in safe underground mineral mining under geodynamic hazard, namely, the Institute of Mining of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, VostNII Research Center, VNIMI Research Institute, RMS Mining Solutions, etc. The main method to prevent gas dynamics phenomena is assumed as the controlled advance shooting in adjacent rock mass by means of drilling-and-blasting of rocks in front of a fore-breast to a depth of 1.7&ndash;2.5 m. The current outburst hazard prediction in dolomite rocks is implemented daily by measuring initial gas flow velocity in test holes with diameter of 43 mm using MIG-TS1 tool. For enhancing prediction efficiency, the optimized shooting chart design includes three operating stages: stage 1 is advance shooting to 6.5 m; stages 2 and 3 are blasting intended to advance the face by 2.2&ndash;2.5 m with regard to the assumed fragmentation factor. These measures enable an essential increase in the rate of heading and mining at the required level of safety.

Acute kidney injury definition following PCI and cardiovascular outcomes

Abstract Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), known to increase rates of adverse medical events. We aimed to identify the optimal definition of AKI in predicting of adverse cardiovascular outcomes and mortality post PCI. Methods From a large registry of patients undergoing PCI between 2006–2018 (n=25,690) at two hospitals, consecutive patients were assessed for the presence of AKI according to four different definitions: a relative elevation of ≥25% or ≥50%; or an absolute elevation of ≥0.3 mg/dL or ≥0.5 mg/dL in serum creatinine at 48 hours post PCI. We assessed the calculated rates of AKI according to the different definitions. The discriminant capacity for 30-day and 1-year mortality and MACE (MACE: all-cause death, myocardial infarction, target-vessel revascularization and coronary artery bypass graft surgery) of each definition was calculated using ROC curves and AUCs. Results Data of 15,153 patients was available for final analysis. Rates of AKI were 12.1%, 3.2%, 8.1% and 3.9% according to the four definitions, respectively. The discriminant capacity of adverse outcomes was highest among those defined as AKI according to the third definition - an absolute elevation of ≥0.3 mg/dL in serum creatinine with an AUC of 0.82 (95% CI 0.80–0.84) for 30-day mortality (P value = 0.036) and an AUC of 0.78 (CI 0.76–0.79) for 30 days MACE. Conclusions An absolute elevation of ≥0.3 mg/dL in serum creatinine 48 hours post PCI predicts overall mortality and MACE most accurately. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

High-resolution topography of the Antarctic Peninsula combining the TanDEM-X DEM and Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA) mosaic

Abstract. The Antarctic Peninsula (AP) is one of the widely studied polar regions because of its sensitivity to climate change and potential contribution of its glaciers to global sea level rise. Precise digital elevation models (DEMs) at a high spatial resolution are much demanded for investigating the complex glacier system of the AP at fine scales. However, the two most recent circum-Antarctic DEMs, the 12 m TanDEM-X DEM (TDM DEM) from bistatic interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data acquired between 2013 and 2014 and the Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica mosaic (REMA mosaic) at an 8 m spatial resolution derived from optical data acquired between 2011 and 2017 have specific individual limitations in this area. The TDM DEM has the advantage of good data consistency and few data voids (approx. 0.85 %), but there exist residual systematic elevation errors such as phase-unwrapping errors in the non-edited DEM version. The REMA mosaic has high absolute vertical accuracy, but on the AP it suffers from extended areas with data voids (approx. 8 %). To generate a consistent, gapless and high-resolution topography product of the AP, we fill the data voids in the TDM DEM with newly processed TDM raw DEM data acquired in austral winters of 2013 and 2014 and detect and correct the residual systematic elevation errors (i.e., elevation biases) in the TDM DEM with the support of the accurately calibrated REMA mosaic. Instead of a pixelwise replacement with REMA mosaic elevations, these provide reference values to correct the TDM elevation biases over entire regions detected through a path propagation algorithm. The procedure is applied iteratively to gradually correct the errors in the TDM DEM from a large to small scale. The proposed method maintains the characteristics of an InSAR-generated DEM and is minimally influenced by temporal or penetration differences between the TDM DEM and REMA mosaic. The performance of the correction is evaluated with laser altimetry data from Operation IceBridge and ICESat-2 missions. The overall root mean square error (RMSE) of the corrected TDM DEM has been reduced from more than 30 m to about 10 m which together with the improved absolute elevation accuracy indicates comparable values to the REMA mosaic. The generated high-resolution DEM depicts the up-to-date topography of the AP in detail and can be widely used for interferometric applications as well as for glaciological studies on individual glaciers or at regional scales.

Anthropogenic evolution in an insect wing polymorphism following widespread deforestation.

Anthropogenic environmental change can underpin major shifts in natural selective regimes, and can thus alter the evolutionary trajectories of wild populations. However, little is known about the evolutionary impacts of deforestation-one of the most pervasive human-driven changes to terrestrial ecosystems globally. Absence of forest cover (i.e. exposure) has been suggested to play a role in selecting for insect flightlessness in montane ecosystems. Here, we capitalize on human-driven variation in alpine treeline elevation in New Zealand to test whether anthropogenic deforestation has caused shifts in the distributions of flight-capable and flightless phenotypes in a wing-polymorphic lineage of stoneflies from the Zelandoperla fenestrata species complex. Transect sampling revealed sharp transitions from flight-capable to flightless populations with increasing elevation. However, these phenotypic transitions were consistently delineated by the elevation of local treelines, rather than by absolute elevation, providing a novel example of human-driven evolution in response to recent deforestation. The inferred rapid shifts to flightlessness in newly deforested regions have implications for the evolution and conservation of invertebrate biodiversity.

The Definition of “Acute Kidney Injury” Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Cardiovascular Outcomes

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), known to increase rates of adverse medical events. We aimed to identify the optimal definition of AKI in predicting adverse cardiovascular outcomes and mortality post PCI. From a large registry of patients undergoing PCI between 2006-2018 (n = 25,690) at our medical center, consecutive patients were assessed for the presence of AKI according to four different definitions: a relative elevation of ≥25% or ≥50%; or an absolute elevation of ≥0.3 mg/dL or ≥0.5 mg/dL in serum creatinine at 48 hours post PCI. We assessed the calculated rates of AKI according to the different definitions. The discriminant capacity for 30-day and 1-year mortality and MACE (MACE: all-cause death, myocardial infarction, target-vessel revascularization and coronary artery bypass graft surgery) of each definition was calculated using ROC curves and AUCs. Data of 15,153 patients was available for the final analysis. Rates of AKI were 12.1%, 3.2%, 8.1% and 3.9% according to the four definitions, respectively. The discriminant capacity of adverse outcomes was highest among those defined as AKI according to the third definition - an absolute elevation of ≥0.3 mg/dL in serum creatinine with an AUC of 0.82 (95% CI 0.80-0.84) for 30-day mortality (P value = 0.036) and an AUC of 0.78 (CI 0.76-0.79) for 30-day MACE. In conclusion, an absolute elevation of ≥ 0.3 mg/dL in serum creatinine 48 hours post PCI predicts overall mortality and MACE most accurately.

Formation of the asymmetric pattern of a river lithological catchment basin in relation to specific features of the tectonic structure of the territory

A digital terrain model of the Izh River lithological catchment basin located within the Russian Plain was developed on the basis of the ESRI ArcGIS 10.4 technologies using the SRTM 30 data. The Hydrology tool of the Spatial Analyzer set was applied to vectorize the river network and boundaries of the individual catchments forming the Izh River basin. The basin area was evaluated by a complex of morphometric indicators, such as geometrical indices (the area, the basin length, and width, the length of erosion network, the roundness coefficient) and geomorphologic indices (mean absolute elevation of the basin and the altitudinal difference, the basin slope, gradient and density of the river network, the energy of relief). The analysis of morphometric indices proved that the right bank is structurally most pronounced in relief and differs from the relatively flattened left bank in a number of indicators, namely absolute elevation difference, surface slope, gradient of the river network, and ruggedness of relief. The highest asymmetry coefficient suggests the asymmetric configuration of the basin which is due to the left-hand shift of the catchment towards the right bank. The spatial analysis of geological-tectonic organization of the basin revealed heterogenic tectonic structures and showed the correlation of relief structure of the Izh River with the spatial pattern of tectonic structures. It is argued that the basin asymmetry is, on the one hand, due to the difference in tectonic structures of its right and left bank areas, and, on the other hand, owing to the intrusion of several right-bank tributaries of the Kama River, which is the main watercourse of the 1st order, into the left-bank part of the Izh River basin. Thus, it is shown that the asymmetry of the basin could be explained by the presence of tectonic contacts, which separate geological structures different in lithological composition, genesis and age, in which the rivers have channeled their ways.

Thermochemical State of the Upper Mantle Beneath South China From Multi‐Observable Probabilistic Inversion

AbstractWe present an upper mantle model of seismic velocities, temperature, density, and bulk composition for the South China Block (SCB) and adjacent areas by jointly inverting Rayleigh wave phase and group dispersion data, absolute elevation, geoid height, and surface heat flow using a probabilistic inversion method. The lithospheric structure of this region is dominated by a thick root (200–240 km) under the western Yangtze and thinner lithosphere (70–120 km) under the eastern SCB, in agreement with independent xenolith data. We reveal for the first time the extent of metasomatism/refertilization in the lithospheric mantle beneath the Yangtze Craton (YC). Our results show pervasive refertilization of the lithospheric mantle associated with the basaltic lavas of the Emeishan large igneous province. We also show that the refertilized mantle identified in the northern boundaries of the YC extends into the interior of the craton further than previously recognized, reaching at least parts of the Sichuan basin. The only region that preserve a depleted mantle signature is the central segment of the Yangtze craton. In contrast, the eastern SCB lithosphere is characterized by an alternating pattern of fast/slow seismic and depleted/fertile anomalies, supporting the hypothesis that the lithospheric mantle has been partly replaced/modified by deep mantle processes during the Phanerozoic. Also, we found no evidence for a linear plume track associated with the Hainan plume that can be used to independently constrain the plate motion history of the SCB.

An uncertainty-focused database approach to extract spatiotemporal trends from qualitative and discontinuous lake-status histories

Changes in lake status are often interpreted as palaeoclimate indicators due to their dependence on precipitation and evaporation. The Global Lake Status Database (GLSDB) has since long provided a standardised synopsis of qualitative lake status over the last 30,000 14C years. Potential sources of uncertainty however are not recorded in the GLSDB. Here we present an updated and improved relational-database framework that incorporates uncertainty in both chronology and the interpretation of palaeoenvironmental data. The database uses peer-reviewed palaeolimnological studies to produce a consensus on qualitative lake-status histories, whose chronologies are revised and standardized through the recalibration of radiocarbon dates and the application of Bayesian age-depth modelling for stratigraphic archives. Quantitative information on absolute water-level elevation is preserved if available from geomorphological sources. We also propose a new probabilistic analytical framework that accounts for these uncertainties to reconstruct synoptic, integrated environmental signals. The process is based on a Monte Carlo algorithm that iteratively samples individual lake-status histories within the limits of their uncertainties to produce many possible scenarios. We then use Recursively-Subtracted Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis to extract dominant patterns of lake-status variability from these scenarios.As a proof of concept, we apply this framework to 67 sites in eastern and southern Africa whose lake-status histories cover part of the late Pleistocene and/or Holocene. We show that, despite the sometimes large temporal and interpretation uncertainties, and the inclusion of highly discontinuous lake-status time series, identifying the major known millennial-scale climatic phases during the last 20,000 years is possible. Our framework was also able to identify an antiphased response between the lake basins in eastern and interior southern Africa to these changes. We propose that our new database and methodology framework serves as a template for efficient lake-status data synthesis, encourages the incorporation of lake-status data in palaeoclimate syntheses, and expands the possibilities for the use of such data in the evaluation of climate models.

3D modeling of box-section road surface

In road design, it is most important to obtain an optimum road surface (left and right traffic ways, left and right road sides, left and right slopes, etc.) using a number of criteria (sometimes hundreds of criteria), which include a slope, absolute elevation, elevation relative to the groundwater level, distance from the top of pipe-culvert, and others. In most computer-aided design systems, a digital model of the project is built by using a Delone triangulation.This paper deals with a new mathematical apparatus for spatial setting out of box-section roads in the form of a nonclosed polyhedron. The proposed approach to optimizing the road design utilizes the building information modeling for box-section roads in the form of a moving unclosed smooth curvilinear polyhedron.

Production, Validation and Morphometric Analysis of a Digital Terrain Model for Lake Trichonis Using Geospatial Technologies and Hydroacoustics

Covering an area of approximately 97 km2 and with a maximum depth of 58 m, Lake Trichonis is the largest and one of the deepest natural lakes in Greece. As such, it constitutes an important ecosystem and freshwater reserve at the regional scale, whose qualitative and quantitative properties ought to be monitored. Depth is a crucial parameter, as it is involved in both qualitative and quantitative monitoring aspects. Thus, the availability of a bathymetric model and a reliable DTM (Digital Terrain Model) of such an inland water body is imperative for almost any systematic observation scenario or ad hoc measurement endeavor. In this context, the purpose of this study is to produce a DTM from the only official cartographic source of relevant information available (dating back approximately 70 years) and evaluate its performance against new, independent, high-accuracy hydroacoustic recordings. The validation procedure involves the use of echosoundings coupled with GPS, and is followed by the production of a bathymetric model for the assessment of the discrepancies between the DTM and the measurements, along with the relevant morphometric analysis. Both the production and validation of the DTM are conducted in a GIS environment. The results indicate substantial discrepancies between the old DTM and contemporary acoustic data. A significant overall deviation of 3.39 ± 5.26 m in absolute bottom elevation differences and 0.00 ± 7.26 m in relative difference residuals (0.00 ± 2.11 m after 2nd polynomial model corrector surface fit) of the 2019 bathymetric dataset with respect to the ~1950 lake DTM and overall morphometry appear to be associated with a combination of tectonics, subsidence and karstic phenomena in the area. These observations could prove useful for the tectonics, geodynamics and seismicity with respect to the broader Corinth Rift region, as well as for environmental management and technical interventions in and around the lake. This dictates the necessity for new, extensive bathymetric measurements in order to produce an updated DTM of Lake Trichonis, reflecting current conditions and tailored to contemporary accuracy standards and state-of-the-art research in various disciplines in and around the lake.

The Origin of Terraces in Buried Valleys in the Northwest of the East European Plain

Abstract —The paper considers the origin of terraces that often complicate the slopes of abnormally deep buried valleys in the northwest of the East European Plain. The Izborsk–Maly valley (Pskov Region, Russia), which is half filled with Quaternary sediments, was chosen as the object of study. Since the upper part of the valley remains unfilled, it is possible to study in detail both geologic and geomorphologic structures of its terraced slopes being of particular interest in the context of the origin of buried valleys and the role of substrate in it. The four denudation-terrace levels that have been identified on the slopes of the Izborsk–Maly valley at absolute elevations of 53, 56–58, 70–72, and 75–77 m formed during the destruction of the preglacial karst landscape under the influence of Pleistocene glaciations. The formation of the terraces was probably linked with several stages of overdeepening of the valley and its expansion by the glacial erosion processes, which corresponded to at least two stages of the ice sheet advance in this area. The last stage may have been the beginning of the Late Valdai (Weichselian) glaciation or the activation of the edge of an ice sheet during its Luga phase (~15.7 cal kyr BP). Results of the study suggest that the Izborsk–Maly valley formed in subglacial conditions. The degree of glacial erosion was determined primarily by the coherence of Devonian carbonate-terrigenous rocks hosting the valley and the degree of the area transformation by karst processes. The cirque shape of slopes is the evidence of karst processes expression in pre-glacial time. Analysis of literature data shows that the origin of denudation terraces in the buried valleys in the northwest of the East European Plain has been paid little attention. The obtained data contribute to the study of this problem and provide insights into the origin of buried valleys.

Широколиственные леса Северо-Западного Кавказа. I. Порядок Carpinetalia betuli P. Fukarek 1968

Braun-Blanquet classification of the piedmont and mountain broad-leaved forests (formed by Carpinus betulus, Quercus petraea/hartwissiana/robur, Fraxinus excelsior) was done basing on 224 relevés collected in 2014–2018 in the North-Western Caucasus (N 43,5–44,8°, E 38,5–41,5°; Fig. 2). DCA-ordination of the data corresponds to their correlation with environment variables (absolute elevation, geographical coordinates, tree canopy density) in Landolt’s ecological scales was carried out. Suballiance Tamo communis–Carpinenion betuli suball. nov. prov. and new lower syntaxa are proposed (Table 1) within the alliance Crataego–Carpinion caucasicae Passarge 1981. Nomenclature type of the suballiance is the ass. Tamo communis–Carpinetum betuli ass. nov. (Table 3, holotypus is relevé 4: author’s number 83, author N. E. Shevchenko, 19.07.2016, N 44.257°, E 39.760°, 352 m above sea level, slope 5°NE) with three variants: typica ­(Table 3: 1–15), Staphylea colchica (Table 3: 16–27) and Festuca drymeja (Table 3: 28–38). Also, there are ass. Aro macu­lati–Carpinetum betuli (Table 4: 1–15; holotypus is relevé 5: author’s number 427, author N. E. Shevchenko, 12.05.2017, N 44.471°, E 40.516°, 455 m above sea level, slope 6°NE) as well as Abies nordmanniana–Carpinus betulus community (Table 4: 16–27) in new suballiance. Not too common in the North-Western Caucasus are ash (Fraxinus excelsior) forests which have no suffiicient floristic peculiarity and are considered as facies in associations Tamo communis–Carpinetum betuli var. typica and Aro maculati–Carpinetum betuli. The specificity of the studied forests in comparison with hornbeam and oak forests in the Central Caucasus (Georgia), North Turkey, the Balkans and the Crimea (Passarge, 1981a; Korzhenevskiy, 1982; Didukh, 1996; Korkmaz et al., 2008; Košir et al. 2013; Çoban, Willner, 2019; Novak et al., 2019) is that the North-­Western Caucasus forest flora includes (Table­ 2), besides European species of temperate broad-leaved forests (Acer campestre, Euonymus europaea, Carex sylvatica, Convallaria majalis, Rubus caesius), also southern European species of thermophilous broad-leaved forests (Acer tataricum, Cornus mas, Ligustrum vulgare, Lonicera caprifolium, Tamus communis, Vincetoxicum scandens, Hedera helix, Festuca drymeja), and reduced set of species which are character for Euxinian and ­Caucasian ­forests (Quercus­­ ­hartwissiana, Tilia begoniifolia, Rhododendron luteum, Daphne caucasica, Staphylea colchica, Smilax excelsa, Paris incompleta, Polygonatum orientale, Lathyrus roseus, Campanula alliariifolia, but without Daphne pontica, Epimedium pubigerum, Erica arborea, Ostrya carpinifolia, Salvia forskahlei, Vaccinium arctostaphylos). DCA-ordination (Fig. 8) showed that the differences in species composition of the broad-leaved ­forest syntaxa are due to both absolute elevation (vector Elev in Fig. 7) and geographic longitude (vector E) of the relevés. So, forests of ass. Aro maculati–Carpinetum betuli and community Abies nordmanniana–Carpinus betulus are situated, in general, at higher positions than forests of ass. Tamo communis–Carpinetum betuli, and the first syntaxon is situated east of the two last ones. Floristic difference between these syntaxa corresponds with parameters assessed by values of Landolt’s scales: soil aeration (vector D), climate continentality (vector K) and light regime (vector L). The lowest α-diversity is in ass. Tamo communis–Carpinetum betuli, and the highest is in the ass. Aro maculati–Carpinetum betuli and community Abies nordmanniana–Carpinus betulus it (Fig. 9). Associations Carpino betuli–Quercetum petraeae Grebenshchikov et al. 1990 and Rhododendro lutei–Quercetum petraeae Grebenshchikov et al. 1990, earlier described on small sets of relevés in the North-Western Caucasus (Grebenshchikov et al. 1990) within the alliance Carpino betuli–Quercion petraeae Grebenshchikov et al. 1990 (now invalid due to absence of stated holotypus), are very close to the new ass. Tamo communis–Carpinetum betuli. Recently described (also on small sets of data) five associations (Akatova, Ermakov, 2020), within the alliance Crataego–Carpinion caucasicae Passarge 1981, are valid. Therefore, further clarification and optimization of the North-Western Caucasus oak-hornbeam forest classification is required, having in mind the final decision on the alliance/suballiance names and diagnosis. Their belonging to the order (Carpinetalia betuli or Rhododendro pontici–Fagetalia orientalis) is also a debatable question, because researchers working in such forests on Balkans, in the Crimea and the North Turkey have come to different conclusions. The analysis of species with constancy 60–80 % in 224 relevés from the studied area reveals 8 diagnostic ones of the order Carpinetalia betuli vs. only 3 diagnostic ones of the order Rhododendro pontici–Fagetalia orientalis, that allows to assign these oak-hornbeam forests to the first order. The Abies nordmanniana–Carpinus betulus community is intermediate between these two orders but after trees from shade-tolerant fir undergrowth become, the canopy mature will be mixed that is character for forests of the order Rhododendro pontici–Fagetalia orientalis.

Выявление ценных биотопов на предлагаемых к охране территориях Санкт-Петербурга на основе детального геоботанического картирования

Identification of valuable biotopes was carried out on the example of a small territory —the “Gagarka” forest park, located on the Northern coast of the Gulf of Finland within the borders of St. Petersburg (Fig. 1). Field data on landscapes, vegetation, flora and fauna were collected in 2018 to proof the need to create a specially protected natural territory of regional significance. The study area of 58.7 ha is an accumulative sea terrace with absolute elevations not exceeding 2.5 m above sea level. Despite of small area size, the vegetation is quite diverse and it is represented by the coniferous (spruce and pine) forests, several types of black alder forests, tree and shrub fens, littoral meadows, coastal and aquatic vegetation. Rare species of herbaceous plants and shrubs listed in the Red books of the Russian Federation (Krasnaya…, 2008) and St. Petersburg (Krasnaya…, 2018) are recorded and they often dominate in the plant communities. The preservation of biological diversity may be successful only if the landscapes and the biotopes hosting plant and animal species, including rare ones, are protected. Objects of protection can be both rare and typical ones for the regional biotopes. The environmental value of biotopes of the “Gagarka” forest park was assessed according to the following criteria: ecotopic (areas with rare and specific landforms, soils, hydrochemical regime), geobotanical (the presence of primary plant communities, rare plant communities; widespread, but with a tendency to reduce the area as a result of natural or anthropogenic impacts), floristic (the presence of rare species and species located on the border of their ranges), faunistic (the pre­sence of rare animal species, the species richness of fauna, the presence of permanent habitats of animals and birds, as well as biotopes used in certain seasons: during breeding, nesting, molting and migration). In addition, the compliance of biotopes with the European habitat classification EUNIS (European Nature Information System) was taken into account (Davies et al., 2004, EUNIS, 2018). Plant communities are the main indicator of habitats, and their borders mark the boundaries of habitats. In this regard, the geobotanical map (Fig. 2) is the basis for creating a map of biotopes. In addition to the geobotanical map, the map of actual landscapes, the map of the locations of rare plant species, and faunistic materials were used to create a map of valuable biotopes (Materialy…, 2018). It shows 6 types of habitats, that are particularly important for the conservation of biological and biotopic diversity (Fig. 3). All valuable habitats of the “Gagarka” forest park are located in the littoral zone of the Gulf of Finland and near its coast. They are grouped into 4 categories: black alder forests as a model of natural tree communities of the Littorina terrace and habitats of rare plant and animal species, coastal fens as rare plant communities on the territory of St. Petersburg and habitats of rare plant species, littoral meadows as rare plant communities on the territory of St. Petersburg and habitats of rare plant and animal species, shallow waters of the Gulf of Finland as habitats with highly productive communities of macrophytes, rare plant species, with a large species diversity and a high number of birds, including rare ones. The creation of new protected area “Gagarka” is necessary to preserve the habitats and rare species that grow and live here.

Morphometric and landscape factors influencing the precipitation and temperature fields in the Western regions of Ukraine

The paper deals with the analysis of the influences of terrain morphometric parameters on the spatial distribution of temperature regime and precipitation amounts in the Western regions of Ukraine. Among the terrain morphometric parameters that presumably influence the distribution of precipitation and temperatures, the absolute elevation, the surface aspect factor and the vertical dissection index have been considered. The latter two were calculated by the respective focal operators applied to DEM. As to the precipitation amounts, the most strongly influencing factors have been the vertical dissection index, the surface aspect factor and the absolute elevation. The absolute elevation was influencing the most strongly when averaged in the 7 km moving window, while the optimal size of the moving window for the vertical dissection index has been 10 km, and 50–70 km for the aspect factor. The largest precipitation amounts are observed on north-western macroslopes, the smallest –on south-eastern ones. The multiple correlation coefficient observed was above 0.98, while the coefficient of partial correlation for the vertical dissection index was above 0.9. When only weather station located in the plains were considered separately from those in the mountains, this relationship nearly disappeared. Thereby the distribution of precipitation is mostly influenced by high-scale terrain dissection, characteristic of mountainous areas. Average monthly air temperatures, however, have shown the strongest relationship with the absolute elevation, while the vertical dissection index is having some impact, and the impact of the surface aspect factor being rather week. The influence of elevation on average monthly temperature appeared to be the strongest in summer and the weakest – in winter, probably because of the frequent development of temperature inversions. Vertical temperature gradient appeared to be lower in months when the cyclonic type of atmospheric circulation prevailed. Under the prevailing anticyclonic weather types eastern slopes were somewhat warmer than the western ones, under the prevailing cyclonic weather types – other way round. It was shown that the terrain morphometric parameters can serve as good predictors of the temperature regime and precipitation amounts and as such can be used for the purpose of the spatial interpolation of weather stations data to obtain spatially distributed data. Key words: precipitation, air temperature, morphometric parameters, multiple regression.

Temporal trends of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention over a span of 12 years

Abstract Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a known complication following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and is associated with higher rates of complications. We sought to determine the potential impact of temporal changes on the rates of AKI over time, as well as possible determinants of risk. Methods From a large prospective registry of patients undergoing PCI, 20,032 consecutive patients were assessed at two time periods: 2006–2012 and 2012–2018. Of these, included were cases for which data existed regarding change in creatinine levels from baseline to 48 hours after PCI. AKI was defined according to two methods- a relative elevation of ≥25% in serum creatinine or an absolute elevation of ≥0.5 mg/dL in serum creatinine at 48 hours. Results 15,153 patients were available for final analysis, 7,913 in the first period and 7,240 in the second. Mean age was 65.0y and 66.0y (p&amp;lt;0.01) and baseline creatinine was 1.08 mg/dL and 1.15 mg/dL respectively (p&amp;lt;0.01, table 1). AKI according to 25% relative rise in serum creatinine was documented in 11.1% in the early period and in 7.3% of the patients in the late period, p&amp;lt;0.01. According to the definition of 0.5 mg/dL absolute rise in serum creatinine, respective rates were 3% and 2.9%, p=0.82 (figure 1). Multivariate analysis demonstrated a lower risk of AKI in the late period (OR- 0.72; CI 0.61–0.85, P&amp;lt;0.01). Factors associated with risk of AKI included reduced ejection fraction (OR-0.98; CI 0.976–0.99, p&amp;lt;0.01), older age (OR-1.01; CI 1.005–1.02, p=0.01) and female gender (OR- 1.73; CI 1.46–2.06, p&amp;lt;0.01). Conclusions We have witnessed an improvement in the rates of post-PCI AKI over time. Further research is warranted, to further reduce peri-procedural AKI. Figure 1. Change in the rates of AKI Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Impact of the period of the day on mortality and major cardiovascular complications after vascular surgeries

Abstract Introduction Patients submitted to arterial vascular surgeries are at a high risk of postoperative cardiac and non-cardiac complications, therefore developing strategies to lower perioperative complications is essential to optimize outcomes for this subgroup. Recent studies have suggested that the period of the day in which surgeries are performed may influence postoperative major cardiovascular complications but there is still no evidence of this association in vascular surgeries. Purpose Our goal is to evaluate whether the period of the day in which surgeries are performed may influence mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing non-cardiac vascular procedures. Methods Patients who underwent non-cardiac vascular surgeries between 2012 and 2018 were prospectively included at our cohort. For this analysis, subjects were categorized into two groups: those who underwent surgery in the morning (7am - 12am) and those who underwent surgery in the afternoon/night (12:01pm - 6:59am). The primary endpoints were to compare the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE - acute myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, arrhythmias, and cardiovascular death) and total mortality between morning and afternoon/night surgeries within 30 days and one year. The secondary endpoint was the incidence of perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) in both groups. PMI was defined as an absolute elevation of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) concentrations ≥14ng/L. Multivariable analysis using Cox proportional regression (with Hazard Ratio – HR and Confidence Interval – 95% CI) was performed to adjust for confounding variables, including emergency and urgent surgeries. Results Of 1267 patients included, 1002 (79.1%) underwent vascular surgery in the morning and 265 (20.9%) in the afternoon/night. After adjusting for confounding variables, the incidence of MACE at 30 days was higher among those who underwent surgery in the afternoon/night period (37.4% vs 20.4% – HR 1.43, 95% CI: 1.10–1.85; p=0.008). Mortality rates were also elevated in the afternoon/night group (21.5% vs 9.9%, HR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.10–2.29; p=0.013). After one-year of follow-up the worst outcomes persisted in patients operated in the afternoon/night: higher incidence of MACE (37.7% vs 21.2%, HR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.06–1.78; p=0.017) and mortality (35.8% vs 17.6%, HR 1.72, 95% CI 1.31–2.27; p&amp;lt;0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of PMI between groups (p=0.8). Conclusions In this group of patients, being operated in the afternoon/night period was independently associated with increased mortality rates and incidence of MACE. Mortality and MACE at one year Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): FAPESP - Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo