Background Levels Research Articles

LA-ICP-MS Analyses of Sulfides from Gold-Bearing Zones at the Perron Deposit, Abitibi Belt, Canada: Implications for Gold Remobilization through Metamorphism from Volcanogenic Mineralizations to Orogenic Quartz–Carbonate Veins

The Perron deposit, located in the northern part of the Archean Abitibi belt, bears some of the highest gold-grade mineralization for orogenic-vein-type deposits worldwide (High-Grade Zone: HGZ). More than 13 gold-bearing zones with different sulfide assemblages, hydrothermal alterations, and gold grades have been recently outlined, and they range from volcanogenic to orogenic in origin. In addition, seven zones are hosted in a restricted volume of ~1 km3, which is called the Eastern Gold Zone. Pyrite, sphalerite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite—each from a different gold-bearing zone—were analyzed with LA-ICP-MS to decipher their genetic links, mineralizing processes, and temperature of formation. The temperatures calculated with the sphalerite GGIMFis thermometer range from 348 to 398 °C. All gold-bearing zones recorded volcanogenic hydrothermal inputs at different intensities, manifested by pyrrhotite. Pyrite was late-metamorphic and related to the orogenic gold system induced by the contact metamorphism of amphibolite facies. The pyrrhotite grains had very homogeneous trace element signatures in all zones, which is a characteristic of metamorphic recrystallization, exhibiting a loss of mobile elements (Au, Te, Bi, Tl, Sn, W, In) but high concentrations of Ni, Co, and As. Conversely, the pyrite was systematically enriched with all elements depleted from pyrrhotite, bearing five specific signatures of element enrichments: W, Tl, Sn, In-Cd-Zn, and Bi-Te-Au. For gold-rich zones (e.g., the HGZ), gold was linked to the Bi-Te-Au signature of pyrite, with Bi enrichment occurring at up to 72,000 times the background level in Archean shale pyrite. It was concluded that gold was transported, at least in part, as Bi-Te melts in the previously documented non-aqueous orogenic fluids, hence accounting for the very-high-grade gold content of the HGZ. Genetically, the metamorphism of primary gold-bearing volcanogenic mineralizations was the main source of gold during the overprinting of amphibolite (600 °C) in a metamorphically induced orogenic mineralizing event. A strong volcanogenic pre-enrichment is considered the main factor accounting for the gold endowment of the Eastern Gold Zone.

Elevated airborne radioactivity downwind of a colorado oil refinery

ABSTRACT Airborne radioactivity from fossil fuel production systems is poorly characterized, but a recent study showed elevated ambient levels with proximity to oil and gas production wells. Here, we report year-long, high temporal resolution monitoring results of airborne alpha radioactivity from both radon gas and radon progeny attached to particulates immediately northeast of an oil refinery in Commerce City, Colorado, USA, in an environmental justice community of concern. Gas and particle-associated radioactivity contributed nearly evenly to the total alpha radioactivity. Total radioactivity levels of 30–40 Bq m−3 were 2–3 times higher than background levels (~10–15 Bq m−3) when winds were light and southwesterly, suggesting the refinery as the geographic origin. Furthermore, elevated airborne radioactivity tracked most closely with the light hydrocarbon and natural gas tracer ethane. Thus, the data imply natural gas as the radon emission carrier, possibly from flaring. However, this could not explain all our particle-associated radioactivity observations. Our findings are unique and suggest a need for further investigations of radon emissions from oil and gas infrastructure such as natural gas processing plants, compressor stations, petrochemical plants, and oil refineries that process oil and natural gas from unconventional production. Implications Statement: Regulatory agencies currently do not mandate or conduct monitoring of radioactivity releases and public exposure from petroleum industry air emissions. This study reports elevated radioactivity from radon gas and nonvolatile radon decay products attached to particulate matter, at about 2-3 times above background levels in proximity to Colorado’s largest oil refinery. Observations were within an environmental justice community of concern that experiences well above-average exposure to many other harmful atmospheric pollutants, suggesting potential adverse health effects from this cumulative exposure. Our findings offer actionable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and affected communities alike.

Inverse radius weighting and its python package “IRWPy”: A new topography-informed interpolation to enhance geological interpretations

The extent and volume of geochemical sampling are inherently constrained by numerous factors, including budgetary limitations, analytical costs, and access restrictions. These constraints result in sampling networks that vary in density and regularity, dividing regions into sampled and unsampled areas. The creation of continuous geochemical maps is essential for geochemical prospectivity, which aims to identify geochemical anomalies, distinguish between background levels and anomalies, and define mineralization patterns. Therefore, it is necessary to interpolate data from sampled areas to estimate values in unsampled regions. Although several interpolation models exist, including Inverse Distance Weighting and various kriging methods, Inverse Distance Weighting is often used in two-dimensional ground modeling because, unlike kriging methods, Inverse Distance Weighting has no smoothing effect on edges. Inverse Distance Weighting’s reliance solely on horizontal Euclidean distances between samples overlooks critical factors such as topography and the ensuing effects on dilution, transportation, and element mobility, rendering it less effective over varied elevations. This study introduces Inverse Radius Weighting, a new interpolation technique that incorporates both Euclidean and elevation fluctuations, therefore Pythagorean distance, to help with better geological interpretations. We assessed the efficacy of Inverse Radius Weighting compared to Inverse Distance Weighting across three elements with varying mobility (Arsenic − highly mobile, Copper − moderately mobile, and Barium − nearly immobile), using different numbers of neighbors and by comparing three different evaluation measures, namely R2, Mean Absolute Error and Mean Absolute Percentage Error. By evaluating the spatial uncertainty of the generated maps and selecting the configurations with the least uncertainty as the final maps, our analysis reveals an improvement in correlation between interpolated and actual values with Inverse Haversine Radius Weighting. With this advancement, Inverse Haversine Radius Weighting overcomes the limitations of traditional Inverse Distance Weighting by accounting for elevation and its associated effects, thereby paving the way for more accurate and geochemically meaningful interpolation in geochemical prospectivity mapping.

Oil uptake via marine snow: Effects on blue mussels (Mytilus sp.)

Accidental oil spills into the ocean can lead to downward transport and settling of oil onto the seafloor as part of marine snow, as seen during the Deepwater Horizon incident in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. The arctic and subarctic regions may favor conditions leading to this benthic oil deposition, prompting questions about the potential impacts on benthic communities. This study investigated the effects of oil-contaminated marine snow uptake on the blue mussel (Mytilus sp.). We exposed mussels for four days to 1) oil-contaminated marine snow (MOS treatment), or to 2) chemically-enhanced water-accommodated fraction (CEWAF) of oil plus unaggregated food particles (CEWAF treatment). Both oil treatments received the same nominal concentration of oil and food. Two controls were included: 1) Clean seawater plus unaggregated food (agg-free control) and 2) clean seawater plus marine snow (marine snow control). After the exposure, mussels were allowed to recover for ten days under clean, running seawater. Samples were taken right before and after the exposure period, and after the recovery phase for the following endpoints: distribution (partitioning) of oil compounds between seawater and MOS, and between seawater and mussel tissue; DNA damage (assessed via the comet assay); clearance rate; and condition index [tissue dry weight (g) divided by shell length (mm)]. Some discernable patterns were found in the partitioning of oil compounds between seawater and MOS. However, these patterns did not translate to any significant differences in the partitioning of oil compounds into mussel tissue between the two oil treatments. DNA damage did not exceed background levels (10% tail DNA or less; to be expected in healthy, viable cells) at any sampling time point, but significantly higher DNA damage was observed in CEWAF-T compared to MOS-T mussels after the recovery phase. After the exposure, a significant difference emerged in the clearance rate between the CEWAF treatment and the agg-free control, but not between the MOS treatment and the marine snow control. All mussels except those from the CEWAF treatment exhibited an increased condition index after the exposure time. Together, these results suggest that aggregates could moderate the effects of oil exposure on blue mussels, possibly by providing better, more concentrated nutrition than unaggregated food particles.

Effect of Phosphorus and Magnesium Fertilizers on Mineral Nutrition and Yield of Winter Wheat depending on Liming of Sod-Podzolic Soil

In long-term field experience on strongly acidic, poorly cultivated sod-podzolic soil, high efficiency of phosphorus fertilizers combined with magnesium and liming in the cultivation of winter wheat of the Moskovskaya 56 variety was revealed. Under these conditions, the content of nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium in plants in the flowering phase increased. Improving the mineral nutrition of plants in this case provided the highest yield (75.3 c/ha), exceeding the background level of nitrogen-potassium fertilizers by 2.7 times, the payback of mineral fertilizers (NPK) increased by 2.5 times, reaching 16.7 kg/kg. The use of phosphorus fertilizers on highly acidic soil increased yields by 65% at 27.5 c/ha against the background of nitrogen-potassium fertilizers. On calcified soil with a slightly acidic reaction of the medium, the yield from the use of phosphorus fertilizers increased by 19% compared to the background of 58.1 kg/ha. Yield increases when using magnesium fertilizers against the background of full fertilizer (NPK) decreased as soil acidity decreased and were significant: on medium acidic soil – 4.9 and slightly acidic – 6.1 c/ha. At the maximum yield of winter wheat, due to the use of phosphorus and magnesium fertilizers and a decrease in the acidity of sod-podzolic soil, the removal of nutrients by the winter wheat harvest increased: nitrogen – by 3.5, phosphorus – 3.7, potassium and magnesium – 3 times.

Democratizing biomedical simulation through automated model discovery and a universal material subroutine

AbstractPersonalized computational simulations have emerged as a vital tool to understand the biomechanical factors of a disease, predict disease progression, and design personalized intervention. Material modeling is critical for realistic biomedical simulations, and poor model selection can have life-threatening consequences for the patient. However, selecting the best model requires a profound domain knowledge and is limited to a few highly specialized experts in the field. Here we explore the feasibility of eliminating user involvement and automate the process of material modeling in finite element analyses. We leverage recent developments in constitutive neural networks, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to discover the best constitutive model from thousands of possible combinations of a few functional building blocks. We integrate all discoverable models into the finite element workflow by creating a universal material subroutine that contains more than 60,000 models, made up of 16 individual terms. We prototype this workflow using biaxial extension tests from healthy human arteries as input and stress and stretch profiles across the human aortic arch as output. Our results suggest that constitutive neural networks can robustly discover various flavors of arterial models from data, feed these models directly into a finite element simulation, and predict stress and strain profiles that compare favorably to the classical Holzapfel model. Replacing dozens of individual material subroutines by a single universal material subroutine—populated directly via automated model discovery—will make finite element simulations more user-friendly, more robust, and less vulnerable to human error. Democratizing finite element simulation by automating model selection could induce a paradigm shift in physics-based modeling, broaden access to simulation technologies, and empower individuals with varying levels of expertise and diverse backgrounds to actively participate in scientific discovery and push the boundaries of biomedical simulation.

Soil solarisation delivers near zero levels of Fusarium pseudograminearum in cereal crown rot reference sites

The development of commercial varieties that are resistant or tolerant to crown rot caused by Fusarium species is an important goal for cereal breeding programs internationally. Ideally, this research requires experimental sites that are initially free from Fusarium in order to establish treatment plots that compare growth in the presence and absence of these soil- and stubble-borne pathogens. Specifically, the assessment of tolerance requires control plots free of disease to determine the reduction in crop yield in plots where the disease is present. The ability of soil solarisation to reduce the background Fusarium pseudograminearum level occurring at experimental sites in comparison to current stubble management techniques was investigated across three field trials at Wellcamp in Queensland. Stubble from a susceptible durum (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) cultivar inoculated with F. pseudograminearum was incorporated by cultivation into the trial sites to establish a significant background level of inoculum prior to the application of all subsequent treatment plots. In these trials, solarisation over a period of twelve weeks reduced the presence of F. pseudograminearum to low detection levels when compared to the traditional crown rot management techniques of cultivation or growth of the non-host cover crops mungbean (Vigna radiata) and soybean (Glycine max). No negative effects of solarisation were observed on a subsequent crop of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), with significantly higher yields observed in the solarised treatments. Solarisation has the potential to deliver near zero level crown rot reference sites for experimental purposes in one short application between cropping seasons.

A transcriptomic biomarker predictive of cell proliferation for use in adverse outcome pathway-informed testing and assessment.

High-throughput transcriptomics (HTTr) is increasingly being used to identify molecular targets of chemicals that can be linked to adverse outcomes. Cell proliferation (CP) is an important key event in chemical carcinogenesis. Here, we describe the construction and characterization of a gene expression biomarker that is predictive of the CP status in human and rodent tissues. The biomarker was constructed from 30 genes known to be increased in expression in prostate cancers relative to surrounding tissues and in cycling human MCF-7 cells after estrogen receptor (ER) agonist exposure. Using a large compendium of gene expression profiles to test utility, the biomarker could identify increases in CP in (i) 308 out of 367 tumor vs. normal surrounding tissue comparisons from 6 human organs, (ii) MCF-7 cells after activation of ER, (iii) after partial hepatectomy in mice and rats, and (iv) the livers of mice and rats after exposure to nongenotoxic hepatocarcinogens. The biomarker identified suppression of CP (i) under conditions of p53 activation by DNA damaging agents in human cells, (ii) in human A549 lung cells exposed to therapeutic anticancer kinase inhibitors (dasatinib, nilotnib), and (iii) in the mouse liver when comparing high levels of CP at birth to the low background levels in the adult. The responses using the biomarker were similar to those observed using conventional markers of CP including PCNA, Ki67, and BrdU labeling. The CP biomarker will be a useful tool for interpretation of HTTr data streams to identify CP status after exposure to chemicals in human cells or in rodent tissues.

Riverine 129I dynamics during high-flow events on the Abukuma River in Fukushima

This study presents the riverine 129I concentrations and fluxes during high-flow events. The river water samples obtained by a previous study were subjected to 129I analyses. River water samples were collected at the midstream of the Abukuma River for five and seven times during high-flow events in July 2018 and October 2018, respectively. Suspended solids and filtered water samples were measured for 129I/127I ratios using an accelerator mass spectrometer system and for 127I concentrations using ICP-MS. Aggregated mean values of dissolved 129I concentration and 129I concentrations in suspended solids were 0.11 μBq/L (n = 12) and 0.60 mBq/kg (n = 12), respectively. Corresponding values of 129I/127I ratios were in 2.2 × 10−9 (n = 12) and 3.7 × 10−9 (n = 12), respectively. These concentrations and ratios were comparable to those at the background level before the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident. Positive correlations with dissolved 137Cs and Cl− concentrations suggested that the dissolved 129I concentration decreased due to dilution of the river water during the events. A positive correlation with total carbon content suggested that organic matter contents determine 129I concentrations in suspended solids. The total 129I fluxes during JUL18 and OCT18 were 9.9 × 103 and 2.2 × 104 Bq, respectively. Although dissolved 129I was predominant under low-flow conditions, the particulate 129I flux increased by one or two orders of magnitude during the peak water discharge phases. These results underline the importance of particulate 129I dynamics during high-flow events for quantitative evaluation of the 129I cycle.

Resistance and resilience: Tidal freshwater marsh response and recovery to acute and chronic saltwater intrusion

The ability to both resist and recover from disturbances like storm surge and saltwater intrusion plays a key role in shaping the structure and function of tidal marshes. In this study, porewater chemistry, vegetation, and soil elevation change were measured in field plots of a tidal freshwater marsh exposed to four years of experimental press (chronic) and pulse (acute) brackish water additions followed by five years of recovery to assess their resistance and resilience to saltwater intrusion. Press additions produced significant, widespread changes in marsh structure and function including increased porewater N and P, reduced macrophyte cover and species richness, and loss of soil surface elevation whereas pulse additions had little effect. Once dosing ceased, porewater chemistry, vegetation and soils in press plots recovered at differing rates, with porewater N and P declining to background levels after one year, plant cover and species richness increasing within two to four years, and soil surface elevation increasing to similar levels found in control plots after five years. The plant community in the press treatment converged with the other treatments after 3–4 years, though macrophyte species exhibited varying rates of recovery. Ground cover (Ludwigia repens) and soft stem species (Persicaria) that declined first, recovered faster than Zizaniopsis miliacea that was more resistant but less resilient to brackish water intrusion. While tidal freshwater marshes are resistant and resilient to pulses such as those that stem from hurricanes and storm surges, continued long-term intrusion events like sea level rise (SLR) will likely lead to conversion into brackish marsh. Understanding long-term responses and tradeoffs in resistance and recovery as shown in this experiment offers insight into the future trajectory of tidal freshwater marshes as well as broader ecosystem responses to disturbance and recovery crucial to management and restoration.

Revealing academic networks’ impact: driving innovation in Chinese high-tech enterprises

ABSTRACT Innovation is a critical aspect in China’s development as a great modern socialist country and in realizing its second-century goals. As key decision-makers in enterprises, the academic network resources carried by senior executives are seldom noticed. This study is going to explore whether senior executives’ academic network relationships (i.e. senior executives are or were employed by universities or research institutions) will spur corporate innovation performance. Drawing on panel data from Chinese A-share high-tech listed companies from 2014 to 2021, the study examines this relationship through multiple linear regression analysis and investigates the mediating role of R&D manipulation in this connection. The results of the study show that the more academic network relationships embedded in senior executives, the better the high-tech firms’ innovation performance. Additionally, R&D manipulation serves as an intermediary factor between senior executives’ academic network relationships and corporate innovation performance. Furthermore, when these individuals hold key positions and have a higher level of academic background, the facilitating effect of senior executives’ academic network relationships is more pronounced. This study broadens the application scope of social network theory and provides valuable insights for high-tech companies aiming to augment their knowledge-based innovation performance and refine their managerial recruitment strategies.

The brightness of the sky of the Caucasian Mountain Observatory of MSU in the near infrared

The results of measurements of background brightness in the near-infrared range (bands J, H, K), carried out in 2016–2023 at the Caucasus Mountain Observatory of Moscow State University was analyzed. It is shown that the instrumental background associated with the thermal radiation of the telescope is noticeable only in the K band, and at operating temperatures its contribution mainly determines the level of the overall background in this band. The coefficients of a polynomial taking into account the contribution of instrumental and extra-atmospheric backgrounds are presented. It is shown that the brightness of the sky background does not depend on air temperature, but a weak dependence on the water vapor content is observed, close to that expected from model calculations: in the J and H bands, the background brightness decreases at a rate of ≈1%/1 mm, and in the K band it grows at a rate of ≈2.5%/1 mm. The maximum amplitude of background brightness variability on short time scales (~30 minutes) has been estimated: ≈10% in the J and K bands and ≈30% in the H band. The maximum contribution of Moon’s radiation scattered in the atmosphere to the overall background level has been determined. It is shown that this contribution can be ignored at an angular distance of the observation point from the Moon greater than ~10° even during a full moon. The average background surface brightness mag/arcsec²in the J, H and K bands was calculated: mJ = 15.7, mH = 13.9 and mK = 13.1.

Assessing background levels of trace elements in soils of Mato Grosso (Brazil) for environmental and food security

The State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, presents a great diversity of soils and landscapes, and many areas of agriculture and mining. However, the natural content of trace elements in the soil are still little known, which represents a great gap for studies and/or regulations concerning soil and food security. This study proposes to establishing quality reference values ​​(QRVs) for trace elements in Mato Grosso soils. Soil sampling was carried out to cover the geodiversity of soils in this region, considering geology, geomorphology, lithology, pedology and biomes, in addition to summarizing the data available in the literature to form the database for this study. The soil was analyzed for the contents of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Ba, Pb, As, Cd and Hg, according to the USEPA 3051A methodology. Trace element results based on soil geodiversity contributed to a general description of how levels of these elements may be related to the environmental factors studied. The levels of main elements related to the environmental factors were Mn and Zn to geology; Mn, Cr, Ba, Zn, As and Cd to geomorphology; Mn to lithology; Mn and Cr to pedology; and Mn, As, Cd and Hg to the biome. It was not possible to propose QRVs grouped by environmental factors for the State of Mato Grosso, especially due to the large territorial extension covered. Thus, the QRVs were proposed in the 90th percentile, in mg kg−1, as follows: Fe 23,128; Mn 351; Cu 16.50; Zn 29.24; Ni 8.86; Cr 52.73; Ba 84.45; Pb 13.42; As 7.60; Cd 0.87; and Hg 0.10. Mercury, Cd, and As levels require careful regional monitoring, as some environments, such as the Amazon biome, may present naturally high levels, and small alterations in the bioavailability of such elements might represent a risk to health or the environment.

Assessment of the Radioactivity, Metals Content and Mineralogy of Granodiorite from Calabria, Southern Italy: A Case Study.

In this paper, an assessment of the natural radioactivity level, radon exhalation, metal contamination, and mineralogy of a granodiorite rock sample from Stilo, in the Calabria region, Southern Italy is presented as a case study. This rock was employed as a building material in the area under study. The specific activity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K natural radioisotopes was assessed through high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray spectrometry. Then, several indices such as the absorbed gamma dose rate (D), the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), the activity concentration index (ACI) and the alpha index (Iα), were quantified to determine any potential radiological health risk related to radiation exposure from the analyzed rock. Furthermore, E-PERM electret ion chambers and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) measurements were carried out to properly quantify the radon exhalation rate and any possible metal pollution, respectively. In particular, to further address metal pollution factors, the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) was calculated to properly address the toxicity levels of the ecosystem originating from the detected metals. Finally, with the aim of successfully discriminating the provenance of such naturally occurring radionuclides, a combined approach involving X-ray diffraction (XRD) and µ-Raman spectroscopy was employed for the identification of the main radioisotope-bearing minerals characterizing the investigated granodiorite. The results achieved in this case study can be taken as the basis for further inquiries into background levels of radioactivity and chemical contamination in natural stone employed as building materials.

Transport and fate of Fukushima-derived 137Cs and 134Cs in the seawater of theNorthwest Pacific in 2015.

To understand the influence of the Fukushima accident on the Northwest Pacific, the distributions and transportations of 134Cs and 137Cs in the seawater in the Northwest Pacific in May and September 2015 were studied. The data showed that the Fukushima-derived 134Cs and 137Cs at some stations can still be distinguished from background level ~ 4years later. On the whole, the activities of 137Cs and 134Cs in seawater were decreasing from May to Sep 2015. But the increased inventories and the surface activities of 137Cs imply that there has ever been an extra 137Cs from offshore water transported to this study area (from 31° N to 27° N, 145° E to 152.5° E) in May 2015. The average activities of 137Cs in subtropical gyre area in south of KE were the highest and the least were to the east of Luzon Strait in 2015. In vertical direction, 137Cs in subtropical gyre area were mainly distributed at 100 ~ 500m layer and 137Cs only at 500m layer in this area showed an increasing trend from May to Sep 2015 which reflects more 137Cs were still penetrating to deeper layer of 500m from upper water. But they were almost not found below 1000m layer. It was associated with the subsurface transport of radiocesiums by Northwest Pacific Mode Water (NPMW) and the diffusion of mesoscale eddy. Different distribution characteristics of 137Cs existed between north of KE and south of KE. The low-temperature-low-salinity water mass likely to be the first Oyashio Intrusion was the main factor that resulted in higher 137Cs appearing at the upper 100m layers in north of KE.

Shaping Safety: Unveiling the Dynamics of Incident Reporting and Safety Culture in Saudi Arabian Healthcare.

Patient safety is a critical concern in healthcare systems worldwide. Understanding the interplay between safety culture and incident reporting behaviors among healthcare professionals is essential for improving patient outcomes. To examine the perception of patient safety culture among healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia and its impact on their attitudes toward incident reporting, considering variables such as level of care, ownership, and professional background. A cross-sectional survey was distributed both online and onsite to 453 healthcare professionals, with 402 completing it. The survey assessed various dimensions of safety culture and incident reporting behaviors. Statistical analysis included correlation matrices, regression models, and comparative assessments across different types of hospital settings. The study revealed significant associations between perceived safety culture and incident reporting behaviors (p < 0.01). Specifically, management (B = 0.64, p < 0.01), working conditions (r = 0.51, p < 0.01), and job satisfaction (r = 0.52, p < 0.01) were identified as crucial for improvement. The study highlighted the importance of fostering a blame-free culture and establishing clear reporting guidelines to enhance reporting frequencies. Enhancing the perception of patient safety within healthcare settings positively influences the likelihood of incident reporting. Strategic interventions aimed at improving safety culture could significantly advance patient care quality.

The serum uric acid to serum creatinine ratio is an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes in community-dwelling elderly: A longitudinal analysis

Background and aimElevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels are an important marker of metabolic disorders. However, SUA levels largely depend on renal clearance function. This study aims to investigate the relationship between renal function-normalized SUA [SUA to serum creatinine (SCr) ratio] and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in a community-dwelling elderly population. Methods and resultsA retrospective cohort study was conducted on elderly, non-diabetic individuals from the Kunshan community in China, who participated in annual health check-ups between January 2018 and December 2023. The relationship between the baseline SUA/SCr ratio and the risk of type 2 diabetes was examined using Cox regression models, restricted cubic splines (RCS), and subgroup analyses. After a median follow-up of 3.88 years, 778 cases of type 2 diabetes were identified among 7671 elderly non-diabetic individuals. Adjusting for confounding variables, the baseline SUA/SCr ratio was significantly linked to type 2 diabetes risk (P < 0.001). Individuals in the highest SUA/SCr ratio quartile had a 1.323 times higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those in the lowest quartile (HR = 1.323, 95% CI 1.053–1.661, P = 0.016). RCS analysis further confirmed this positive association. Additionally, subgroup analyses suggested that this relationship was particularly pronounced in female individuals. ConclusionsIn Chinese elderly community residents, the baseline SUA/SCr ratio is linked to the risk of type 2 diabetes. Monitoring this ratio could aid in predicting and assessing the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Scatter radiation levels in X-ray rooms during chest radiography

This research focused on the determination of scatter radiation levels in x-ray rooms during chest radiography. 108 patients were examined. Four x-ray machines (A, B, C, and D) were used during the research from three centers. Three positions were considered in this study; position Q just beside the (Bucky stand), position R, which is 150 cm from the left of the Bucky stand towards the door and position T, 200 cm from the Bucky stand to the radiographer's protective screen respectively. Two machines (A and B) from center 1 and one machine from center 2 (C) and one machine from center 3 (D). The body mass index (BMI) of the participants ranged from 20 to 25 kgm−2 with mean value of 23.97 kgm−2. The background radiation level was read using Radalert 100 m before any exposure, and the mean background level was 0.298 mR/h. The mean of the scatter radiation doses obtained from positions Q with respect to the four machines A, B, C, and D, were 0.109, 0.201, 0.204, 0.200 mR/h (9.166, 16.903, 17.156, 16.819 mSv/yr) and their standard deviations were ±0.052, ±0.053, ±0.064, and ±0.081 respectively. The results were comparable with previous studies. The study recommends staff education and training in determination of radiation levels for enhanced work safety.

Elevated Heavy Metal(loid) Blood and Feather Concentrations in Wetland Birds from Different Trophic Levels Indicate Exposure to Environmental Pollutants

The research assessed the exposure to total mercury (THg), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) in Colombian wetland species of different trophic levels Platalea ajaja, Dendrocygna autumnalis and Nannopterum brasilianus. The results show high THg blood levels in P. ajaja (811.00 ± 349.60 µg L–1) and N. brasilianus (209.50 ± 27.92 µg L–1) with P. ajaja possibly exhibiting adverse effects. Blood Pb concentration was high in D. autumnalis (212.00 ± 208.10 µg L–1) and above the threshold for adverse effects, suggesting subclinical poisoning. Levels of blood As were below the assumed threshold for detrimental effect (20 μg L−1). The mean concentration of feather THg was below the assumed natural background levels (5 µg g−1) for all three species. Feather Pb levels exceeded the levels for assumed threshold effects in all sampled N. brasilianus (7.40 ± 0.51 µg g–1). Results for feather As concentration were below the threshold for adverse impacts in all species, although a positive correlation between As and THg concentrations was detected in P. ajaja feathers. The overall results could help understand how metal(loid)s biomagnify through trophic levels and how wetland species may serve as environmental indicators. By exploring the interactions of metal(loid)s within different matrices and body, this study offers insights into the dynamics of contaminant accumulation and distribution in the environment. This concept can be applied to wetlands worldwide, where bird species can serve as indicators of ecosystem health and the presence of contaminants such as heavy metals and metalloids.

Investigation of an irradiated CCD device: Building and testing a Charge Transfer Inefficiency correction pipeline using the Pyxel framework

Pyxel is a powerful end-to-end detector simulations framework with the aim of being reusable, reliable and help facilitate knowledge transfer between a wide range of related fields. To show how beneficial Pyxel can be, we present an investigation into the effect of Charge Transfer Inefficiency (CTI) on an irradiated CCD-273 device produced by Teledyne-e2v, the type of detector used for the Euclid VIS instrument. This requires production of two pipelines. Firstly, a calibration pipeline to search the parameter space and obtain best fitting trap parameters based upon the CTI within the detector. Secondly, a correction pipeline which aims to correct the CTI-induced data using these trap parameters to obtain a nominal efficiency of 99.5%. The following presents work conducted in building, testing and validating the correction pipeline using Pyxel and the CTI model ArCTIC. This involves data from the unirradiated portion of a CCD-273 device using the scene projection system at the labs at the European Space Agency (ESA). The images are computationally altered by varying parameters such as background levels and readout noise, and by synthetically producing CTI trails from known trap parameters. The resulting images are corrected and analysed to understand how noise affects the correction efficiency at varying image background levels.