Annual Event Research Articles

Investigation of long-term stability of a transmission Raman calibration model using orthogonal projection methods

Transmission Raman Spectroscopy (TRS) was implemented as an ‘Extended’ Content Uniformity (ECU) method for un-coated tablets for a commercial pharmaceutical product. By sampling un-coated tablets throughout the duration of the tablet compression stage, it can be demonstrated that the material from the preceding blend step was of uniform composition, and therefore the blend and compression unit-operations were in a state of control. TRS was selected as a rapid, non-destructive measurement that can be automated through the use of a sample tray that can hold many tablets. In this work, the performance of a multivariate calibration model (PLS) deployed to two Transmission Raman Spectrometers co-located within the same QC laboratory was studied using data obtained over a 3-year period. The aim of the investigation was to assess the impact of various annual instrument maintenance events, and to evaluate several chemometric methods for reducing or eliminating the spectral effects that led to deterioration of a models performance. Linear orthogonal projection approaches such as Transfer by Orthogonal Projection (TOP), Dynamic Orthogonal Projection (DOP) and Unsupervised Dynamic Orthogonal Projection (uDOP) were applied, along with a more recent, non-linear method called Transfer Component Analysis-Orthogonal Projection (TCA-OP). This works shows that each method has merits, depending on the nature of the spectral/model correction required. In most cases, the model performance could be fully restored, or significantly improved. This work also highlights how these various methods can be useful tools to better understand the root-cause for a deterioration in model performance.

Workshop report: 28th Nordic workshop on bibliometrics and research policy, October 11–13, 2023, Gothenburg, Sweden

The Nordic workshop on bibliometrics and research policy has been an annual event for almost three decades, rotating between the Nordic countries. It is a forum for the bibliometrics community to discuss contemporary research practices and policies. The 28th edition of the workshop took place in Gothenburg, Sweden. Featuring 27 oral and 15 poster presentations authored by 104 individuals, this event attracted 119 attendees from 19 countries. The event helped the participants to enhance their knowledge and engage with their peers. This workshop report offers insights into the pre-workshop sessions and provides an overview of the oral presentations across eight thematic sessions, keynote speeches, panel discussions, and poster sessions. Additionally, it includes references with links to presentations, posters, the book of abstracts, recording of keynote speeches and panel discussion.

A systematic review of climate change science relevant to Australian design flood estimation

Abstract. In response to flood risk, design flood estimation is a cornerstone of planning, infrastructure design, setting of insurance premiums, and emergency response planning. Under stationary assumptions, flood guidance and the methods used in design flood estimation are firmly established in practice and mature in their theoretical foundations, but under climate change, guidance is still in its infancy. Human-caused climate change is influencing factors that contribute to flood risk such as rainfall extremes and soil moisture, and there is a need for updated flood guidance. However, a barrier to updating flood guidance is the translation of the science into practical application. For example, most science pertaining to historical changes to flood risk focuses on examining trends in annual maximum flood events or the application of non-stationary flood frequency analysis. Although this science is valuable, in practice, design flood estimation focuses on exceedance probabilities much rarer than annual maximum events, such as the 1 % annual exceedance probability event or even rarer, using rainfall-based procedures, at locations where there are few to no observations of streamflow. Here, we perform a systematic review to summarize the state-of-the-art understanding of the impact of climate change on design flood estimation in the Australian context, while also drawing on international literature. In addition, a meta-analysis, whereby results from multiple studies are combined, is conducted for extreme rainfall to provide quantitative estimates of possible future changes. This information is described in the context of contemporary design flood estimation practice to facilitate the inclusion of climate science into design flood estimation practice.

Simulation of the Hydraulic Model HEC-RAS Coupled with GIS and Remote Sensing to Study the Effect of River Cross-section Width in Detecting Flood-prone Areas

Abstract Flooding is one of the extreme hydrological phenomena. It is a recurring natural disaster that causes loss of life and property in many parts of the world, particularly during the monsoon season. It is important to address such issues for local government and policymakers to manage the flood properly. One such flood management activity is to develop a flood-prone area that depicts the spatial and temporal extent of flood accurately. The integration of the Hydrologic Engineering Centre - River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) model and geospatial tools have emerged as a crucial approach for identifying and mapping flood-prone areas. The successful application of the HEC-RAS model generally depends on the topographical data, which represents the channel and floodplain geometry. In floodplain geometry, discrete cross-sections play a vital role to develop the floodplain map, particularly in the flat topographical region. To extract these data it needs a high-quality digital elevation model (DEM), such as light detection and ranging (LiDAR). However, due to a lack of high-resolution topographical data, flood hazard mapping in developing countries is rare. In common practice, the centerline of the river is considered the flow path for the channel. The orientation of the cross-sections is perpendicular to this line and extends to reach the limits of the floodplain. But, it is difficult to define the limits and it may depend on the magnitude of the flood. Hence, in this study, the HEC RAS model coupled with ArcGIS has been applied to the Ganga River, which traverses through the Bihar state of India to study the effect of cross-sectional width to define the floodplain. The Bihar state is facing substantial hardships from annual flooding events with approximately 16.5% of India’s flood-prone area. The extreme flood values for 5, 10, and 25 years of return period have been determined and the influence of the three different cross-sectional widths to mapping the floodplain has been investigated. This novel perspective adds dimension to the understanding of flood dynamics and its implications for flood risk assessment. In this analysis, it has been observed that, with an increase in the width of the cross-section, the floodplain area also getting increased. In this topographical region, keeping a fixed flow path will underestimate the flood-prone area. The width of the flow path depends on the topography of the region and the river flow. The outcomes of this analysis provide valuable insights into the flood-inundated areas for the specified return periods, enabling the identification and prioritization of flood-prone zones.

Selena Quintanilla Memorial Sites

Selena Quintanilla, the Queen of Tejano Music, was gunned down by her fan club president on March 31, 1995. She was only twenty-three years old. She persists in public memory, resuscitated and resurrected in myriad ways. A short list includes the iconic film Selena (1997), the Netflix program Selena: The Series (2020), a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. In addition, fans keep the singer’s memory alive through impersonation acts, T-shirts, podcasts, Instagram accounts, annual concert events, and visits to commemorative locations associated with the star. This essay examines three memorial sites in Corpus Christi, Texas: the motel where Selena was murdered, the singer’s grave in Seaside Memorial Park, and the Selena Memorial on the Corpus Christi bayfront. Bridging conversations in memory studies, scholarship on public memorials, considerations of celebrity status, and performance theory, I suggest that these places have performative potential that enables diverse groups to engage in creating specific temporary “communitas.” I analyze the possibility of altered temporal perception at the motel, enactments of what I refer to as Latina mother-daughter pedagogies of postmemory at Selena’s grave, and the expression of queer Latinx love at the singer’s commemorative statue.

Preface

Proceeding of the 3rd International Conference of Lignocellulose (ICONLIG) in conjunction with the 15th International Symposium of Indonesian Wood Research Society (IWoRS) Dear Colleagues,It is an honor for us to present the IOP proceedings of the 3rd ICONLIG in conjunction with the 15th International Symposium of IWoRS to the authors and participants of this annual event held by the Research Center for Biomass and Bioproducts, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia. We then hope that you will find it fruitful and inspiring.In the current global crisis, we need urgent and impactful action to generate a transformative change benefiting this planet, generally, and our society, particularly. Further, scientists and engineers are challenged to provide relevant solutions in the chaotic environment, thus solving adverse problems, including pollution and waste, through beneficial innovations. They must find crucial points related to the issues the society is facing. In other words, they need to focus on the entire picture to identify a single problem from all angles - the mindset of the so-called sustainable system thinking. As an urgent action in response to this serious issue, an international platform, as a shared thinking space, is necessary for scientists, engineers, or even students to exchange knowledge and beneficial experiences of recent updates in the scopes of isolation, characterization, and application of plant biomass.The proceedings collection consists of the papers submitted to the 3rd ICONLIG in conjunction with the 15th International Symposium of IWoRS which was successfully held in Bogor, Indonesia, from September 20-21, 2023. The papers have gone through several tight peer-reviewed processes after the conference, and we were very serious in selecting the manuscripts suitable for this IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (EES) proceedings. In addition to this program, several international keynote and invited speakers came from different countries, such as the United States of America, Sweden, Finland, Japan, China, and Malaysia, to present their remarkable works related to the fundamental sciences and potential applications of plant biomass for a sustainable future.The conference aims 1) to explore recent updates on the characterizations, technologies, and a broad spectrum of applications of plant biomass, 2) to provide the scientific communities with new insights into the new generation of materials made of renewable polymers for a sustainable future, 3) to convey excellent opportunities for the interaction and networking of all the participants, and eventually 4) to deepen technical skills and knowledge, strengthen global networking, and stronger connections for potential future research projects.The editors hope that this publication will give a broad overview of the potential impact of plant biomass for a sustainable future to the readers, and it will become a valuable reference for biomass-related research in the future.The editors would like to express their appreciation and gratitude to all the ICONLIG-IWoRS 2023 authors for their scientific contributions to this publication.Next, we would like to convey our heartfelt gratitude to all the reviewers for their given time and constructive comments or suggestions on the manuscripts.We would also like to express our gratitude to the Editorial members in general and the proceedings section, particularly for their hard work.Eventually, we are looking forward to the next ICONLIG meetings.

World Voice Day 2024

Abstract: World Voice Day is celebrated annually on April 16th. It provides opportunities to highlight the importance of voice and advances in voice health and training. Members of NATS should be involved in this important annual event.

The Annual Rhythms in Sleep, Sedentary Behavior, and Physical Activity of Australian Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity have fundamental impacts on health and well-being. Little is known about how these behaviors vary across the year. To investigate how movement-related behaviors change across days of the week and seasons, and describe movement patterns across a full year and around specific temporal events. This cohort study included 368 adults (mean age = 40.2 years [SD = 5.9]) who wore Fitbit activity trackers for 12 months to collect minute-by-minute data on sleep, sedentary behavior, light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Data were analyzed descriptively, as well as through multilevel mixed-effects linear regression to explore associations with specific temporal cycles (day-of-the-week, season) and events. Movement patterns varied significantly by day-of-the-week and season, as well as during annual events like Christmas-New Year and daylight saving time (DST) transitions. For example, sleep was longer on weekends (+32 min/day), during autumn and winter relative to summer (+4 and +11 min/day), and over Christmas-New Year (+24 min/day). Sedentary behavior was longer on weekdays, during winter, after Christmas-New Year, and after DST ended (+45, +7, +12, and +8 min/day, respectively). LPA was shorter in autumn, winter, and during and after Christmas-New Year (-6, -15, -17, and -31 min/day, respectively). Finally, there was less MVPA on weekdays and during winter (-5 min/day and -2 min/day, respectively). Across the year, there were notable variations in movement behaviors. Identifying high-risk periods for unfavorable behavior changes may inform time-targeted interventions and health messaging.

An Experimental Investigation of the Precipitation Utilization of Plants in Arid Regions.

What represents a water source for the ecological restoration of a plant in an arid region is still up to debate. To address this issue, we conducted an in situ experiment in the Ulan Buh Desert of China, to study desert plants absorbing atmospheric water vapor. We selected Tamarisk, a common drought-salt-tolerant species in the desert, for ecological restoration as our research subject, used a newly designed lysimeter to monitor precipitation infiltration, and a sap flow system to track reverse sap flow that occurred in the shoot, branch, and stem during the precipitation event, and observed the precipitation redistribution process of the Tamarisk plot. The results showed that Tamarisk indeed directly absorbs precipitation water: when precipitation occurs, the main stem, lateral branch, and shoot all show the signs of reversed sap flow, and the reversed sap flow accounted for 21.5% of the annual sap flow in the shoot and branch, and 13.6% in the stem. The precipitation event in the desert was dominated by light precipitation events, which accounted for 81% of the annual precipitation events. It was found that light precipitation can be directly absorbed by the Tamarisk leaves, especially during nighttime or cloudy days. Even when the precipitation is absent, it was found that desert plants can still absorb water from the unsaturated atmospheric vapor; even the absorbed atmospheric water vapor was transported from the leaves to the stem, forming a reversed sap flow, as a reversed sap flow was observed when the atmospheric relative humidity reached 75%. This study indicated that the effect of light precipitation on desert plants was significant and should not be overlooked in terms of managing the ecological and hydrological systems in arid regions.

Influence of Communication Infrastructure on Visitation of Selected UNESCO Locations

Marketing and communication strategies of UNESCO World Heritage sites have the potential to address the dual need for presentation in conjunction with site conservation. The presented article aims to determine the multi-year trends of the influence of individual marketing communication tools on the attendance of selected UNESCO objects, to map the level and quality of the application of communication infrastructure in the cultural heritage environment and to derive propositions for individual solutions aimed at improving the level of communication infrastructure and increasing the attendance of selected UNESCO objects. We use quantitative methods that we initiated in selected UNESCO objects for analysis and subsequent evaluation of the current state. The main contribution of this study is suggestions for improving the level of communication infrastructure. Among the areas where it is necessary to apply changes, we have identified the presence of the entire region, raising awareness through an annual event, blog marketing, influence marketing and social media.

Peningkatan Ekonomi Lokal melalui Pemberdayaan Budaya Grebeg Suro Ponorogo

The purpose of this study is to determine the improvement of the local economy in Indonesia, especially in the ponorogo district and the empowerment of the grebeg suro culture with the community's economy. The research method applied in this research is a case study with a focus on improving the local economy through the empowerment of Grebeg Suro culture in Ponorogo. The research approach used involves two main dimensions, namely qualitative and quantitative approaches. The qualitative approach aims to deeply understand the impact of cultural empowerment on the local economy, using in-depth interview methods, participatory observation, and documentation studies related to government policies and cultural empowerment programs. Meanwhile, the quantitative approach is used to statistically measure variables related to the local economy, with data analysis using statistical techniques such as regression analysis and t-test. The results show that the government's efforts in overcoming poverty in the Ponorogo community through economic empowerment, especially in the development of the cultural sector such as the annual Grebeg Suro event, have a positive and relevant impact. Grebeg Suro, as a cultural activity with a series of events, successfully attracts visitors from various regions in Indonesia.

Pengembangan Pariwisata Berbasis Kearifan Lokal Melalui Gelaran Batu Flora Festival

Local wisdom, encompassing values, traditions, cultural heritage, and traditional skills in agriculture, crafts, or local arts, has become a highly sought-after tourist attraction with economic value. Various cultures and local wisdom in the city of Batu, packaged in festivals, have emerged as an alternative Destination Tourism Area (DTW) in this City of Flowers. Since its inception in 2007, the Batu Flora Festival (BFF) has become a regular annual event as part of the Batu City anniversary celebrations, attracting thousands of visitors. This fact underscores the importance of tourism based on local wisdom through flower and ornamental plant festivals as a viable alternative for tourism development, not only for the local market but also as a significant promotional tool to introduce Batu City internationally. The aim of this research is to provide recommendations for relevant stakeholders by identifying and determining whether the implementation of BFF is an effective strategy in developing and promoting Batu City with its unique local wisdom potential. The research method employed is qualitative analysis through literature review and information gathered from various media related to the Batu Flora Festival. The analysis method used is the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis. A STRUCTURED SWOT analysis is employed to assess the potential and issues in local wisdom-based tourism in Batu City through the Batu Flora Festival, encompassing internal and external potentials and issues.

PENDAMPINGAN DAN PENINGKATAN KUALITAS ANALISIS DATA DALAM PUBLIKASI ILMIAH BAGI CIVITAS AKADEMIK STIKES MAJAPAHIT MOJOKERTO

Efforts to assist and improve the quality of data analysis in scientific publications for the academic community of Stikes Majapahit Mojokerto are held as an effort to increase the achievement of scientific publications in reputable publications which are very important to improve the accreditation status of universities. The purpose of this activity is to improve participants' understanding of the preparation of reputable scientific articles, participants' ability to model in SEM using AMOS, and the ability of the academic community to write and discuss the results of modeling analysis in scientific articles. This activity was carried out from April-June 2023 at Stikes Majapahit Mojokerto. The results of the activity showed an increase in participants' understanding of the concepts of SEM and Multivariate, CFA and path analysis and scientific article management. This activity should be an annual event that can boost the achievement of scientific publications, especially in the health academic community.
 keywords: Mentoring, improvement, quality, analysis, publication.

Demographic recovery of corals at a wave-exposed reef following catastrophic disturbance

Rapid recovery of coral cover following acute disturbance has been documented on many reefs. Yet measuring coverage alone can mask shifts in community and demographic structure. Here, we quantify long-term changes in population size structure for three common genera (Acropora, Pocillopora, and Stylophora) at an eastern outer reef in Palau, Micronesia, following catastrophic loss of corals due to typhoon Bopha in 2012, based on size measurements from 3648 coral colonies. Mean colony size returned to pre-disturbance levels within 4 and 6 years for Stylophora and Pocillopora, respectively. By 2020, Pocillopora colony density far exceeded pre-disturbance levels, with rapid successful recruitment following typhoon Bopha. Despite recovery of Acropora colony density by 2020, populations remained dominated by smaller colonies. We demonstrate that full demographic recovery can occur more rapidly for pocilloporids (within 6 years) compared to Acropora which had not fully recovered by 8 years post-disturbance, possibly due to fewer annual recruitment events and larger maximum colony sizes. Our results highlight the value of demographic metrics as early indicators of recovery.

Protection enhancement strategies of potential outbreaks during Hajj.

This study aimed to assist governments and organizers of mass gathering events in reviewing existing preventive measures for disease outbreaks to inform the adoption of enhanced strategies for risk reduction and impacts on public health. A cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive study. This study was conducted in a mass gathering of Hajj, an annual religious event in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. A convenience sample of 70 personnel working in government ministries of Saudi Arabia (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Hajj, and Ministry of Interior) and the Saudi Red Crescent Authority involved in health management in Hajj, including policy formulation and implementation. Perception and knowledge of health risks and outbreaks associated with Hajj. The majority of the respondents (60 percent) expressed concern about the potential for infection transmission during Hajj. The respondents also reported having or knowing a colleague, a friend, or a family member with a history of infection during or after Hajj. However, the respondents' knowledge of the possible modes of infection of various diseases was limited. Hajj is associated with various risks of outbreaks, and thus, better protection-enhancing measures are required. Training personnel involved in health management, including planners, coordinators, and healthcare providers, can help reduce the risks and prevent potential outbreaks.

Egyptian Fan Culture and the Afterlife of ʿAbd al-Halim Hafiz

AbstractWhen the Egyptian singer ʿAbd al-Halim Hafiz passed away in 1977, a group of fans began meeting at his tomb to celebrate his memory and music. Since then, their gathering has become an annual multi-day event attracting thousands of the singer's devotees from across Egypt and the Arab world. This article explores the unique fan culture around ʿAbd al-Halim, tracing its emergence after his death and expansion into various ritual activities organized by fans. As I show, central to the affective power of Halim fandom is the sense that the singer is close and tangible. I examine how fan practices foster this feeling, but also argue that it is rooted in the music ʿAbd al-Halim made during his lifetime. Investigating Halim fandom, this article offers a new ground-level perspective of how ordinary people in the region interact with music, popular culture, and each other.

The impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on the clinical profile, myocardial fibrosis, and prognosis in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundThe impact of the coexistence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) on clinical profiles, myocardial fibrosis, and outcomes remain incompletely understood.MethodA total of 1152 patients diagnosed with non-ischemic DCM were prospectively enrolled from June 2012 to October 2021 and categorized into T2DM and non-T2DM groups. Clinical characteristics, cardiac function, and myocardial fibrosis evaluated by CMR were compared between the two groups. The primary endpoint included both all-cause mortality and heart transplantation. Cause of mortality was classified into heart failure death, sudden cardiac death, and non-cardiac death. Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier analysis were performed to identify the association between T2DM and clinical outcomes. Propensity score matching (PSM) cohort including 438 patients was analyzed to reduce the bias from confounding covariates.ResultsAmong the 1152 included DCM patients, 155 (13%) patients had T2DM. Patients with T2DM were older (55 ± 12 vs. 47 ± 14 years, P < 0.001), had higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class (P = 0.003), higher prevalence of hypertension (37% vs. 21%, P < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (31% vs. 16%, P < 0.001), lower left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) (23 ± 9% vs. 27 ± 12%, P < 0.001), higher late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) presence (55% vs. 45%, P = 0.02), and significantly elevated native T1 (1323 ± 81ms vs. 1305 ± 73ms, P = 0.01) and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) (32.7 ± 6.3% vs. 31.3 ± 5.9%, P = 0.01) values. After a median follow-up of 38 months (interquartile range: 20–57 months), 239 patients reached primary endpoint. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with T2DM had worse clinical outcomes compared with those without T2DM in the overall cohort (annual events rate: 10.2% vs. 5.7%, P < 0.001). T2DM was independently associated with an increased risk of primary endpoint in the overall (Hazard ratio [HR]: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.13–2.33, P = 0.01) and PSM (HR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.05–2.24, P = 0.02) cohorts. Furthermore, T2DM was associated with a higher risk of heart failure death (P = 0.006) and non-cardiac death (P = 0.02), but not sudden cardiac death (P = 0.16).ConclusionsPatients with T2DM represented a more severe clinical profile and experienced more adverse outcomes compared to those without T2DM in a large DCM cohort.Trial registrationTrial registration number: ChiCTR1800017058; URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Preface: 6th International Conference on e-Education, e-Business and Information Management (EEIM 2023)

The scientific committees warmly welcome all distinguished delegates and guests to attend the 2023 6th International Conference on e-Education, e-Business and Information Management (EEIM 2023), held in Geneva, Switzerland during November 11-12, 2023. It is an annual event that aims to provide an outstanding opportunity for academic communities to address new trends and challenges on topics relevant to today's fast-moving areas of e-education, e-learning, e-business, education technology, electronic commerce, industrial economy, and information management.&#x0D; On behalf of the scientific committee, we would like to thank all the people who have contributed to the conference this year. We would like to thank all referees for their review work. We would like to thank the keynote speakers and session chairs for spending their valuable time to support the conference. Finally, we are particularly grateful to all the organizers and sponsoring institutions for the generous support they have offered to this conference. We hope and believe that every participant will enjoy the academic atmosphere brought by the contributors of the conference. We look forward to a more successful conference next year.&#x0D; The Organizing Committee of EEIM 2023&#x0D; Geneva, Switzerland

Concentration levels of anthropogenic organic compounds in suspended particulates matter and indoor settled from Algiers, Algeria

Total suspended particles (TSP) and indoor settled dust (ISD) were collected at an annual religious event in November 2019. Fifteen outdoor TSP and forty-one ISD samples (at two hospitals, university laboratories, and research centers) were collected in two Algerian urban areas. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to look for solvent-extractable organic chemicals comprising alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalate esters, and other polar organic compounds (OPOC). The origin of pollution was investigated, and source apportionment was performed. Phthalates were predominant in soot (the most abundant, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, varying between 11.5 and 106.3 ng m−3), followed by alkanes (with hentriacontane ranging between 3.9 and 6.1 ng m−3 and accounting for 39.5%), OPOCs (the most abundant, caffeine, ranging 2.7–182 ng m−3), and PAHs (the predominant, phenanthrene, ranging 29.8–130.6 ng m−3). Mean concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) reached ∼5 and ∼21 ng m−3, respectively, on weekends and working days in TSP, exceeding the WHO recommendation range of 1 ng m−3. Meanwhile, BaP ranged from 0.01 to 1.02 ng m−2 in ISD. Nicotine, cotinine and caffeine, were detected in different amounts in TSP (2.1–3.5, 0.0 to 3.3, and 2.7–182 ng m−3, respectively). In ISD, nicotine and caffeine occurred in all samples, while cotinine was present in ∼82% of samples and ranged from 0.0 to 3798 ng m−2. Traces of N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide DEET (5.2 ng m−3 on average in soot and up to 168 ng m−2 in dust) and methyl dihydrojasmonate MDHJ (up to 124 ng m−2 in dust and ≈0.26 ng m−3 in soot) were found at all sites. This study provided new information about organic contaminants of environmental concern in Algiers, which would be useful in assessing the chemistry of interiors and exposure to toxicants. It also highlighted the impact of special events on environmental quality in terms of increased toxicant loads in ambient air. The findings thoroughly assess Algeria’s atmospheric particulate matter endocrine-disrupting chemicals when combined with earlier studies.

Long-term clinical outcomes of patients with drug-induced type 1 Brugada electrocardiographic pattern: A nationwide cohort registry study

BackgroundThere are limited real-world data on the extended prognosis of patients with drug-induced type 1 Brugada electrocardiogram (ECG). ObjectiveWe assessed the clinical outcomes and predictors of life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with drug-induced type 1 Brugada ECG. MethodsThis multicenter retrospective study, conducted at 21 Italian and Swiss hospitals from July 1997 to May 2021, included consecutive patients with drug-induced type 1 ECG. The primary outcome, a composite of appropriate ICD therapies and sudden cardiac death, was assessed along with the clinical predictors of these events. ResultsA total of 606 patients (mean age 49.7 ± 14.7 years; 423 [69.8%] men) were followed for a median of 60.3 months (interquartile range 23.0–122.4 months). Nineteen patients (3.1%) experienced life-threatening arrhythmias, with a median annual event rate of 0.5% over 5 years and 0.25% over 10 years. The SCN5A mutation was the only predictor of the primary outcome (hazard ratio 4.54; P = .002), whereas a trend was observed for unexplained syncope (hazard ratio 3.85; P = .05). In patients who were asymptomatic at presentation, the median annual rate of life-threatening arrhythmias is 0.24% over 5 years and increases to 1.2% if they have inducible ventricular fibrillation during programmed ventricular stimulation. ConclusionIn patients with drug-induced type 1 Brugada ECG, the annual risk of life-threatening arrhythmias is low, with the SCN5A mutation as the only independent predictor. Unexplained syncope correlated with worse clinical outcomes. Ventricular fibrillation inducibility at programmed ventricular stimulation significantly increases the median annual rate of life-threatening arrhythmias from 0.24% to 1.2% over 5 years.