Body Area Research Articles

Effect of Climate Change on Wetland Areas in West Iraq Using Satellite Data and GIS Techniques

Iraq is considered to amongst those countries in the Middle Eastern region that are most exposed to the effects of climate change, which will have notable effects on wet areas and lakes. Natural or industrial water resources must be paid particular attention due to their importance in preserving environmental and biological systems, in addition to their economic and social importance. As a result of the effects of climatic change, water resources in Iraq have seen a multitude of changes. The aim of this study is to determine changes in the wetland area around AL-Razzaza Lake, Karbala province, Iraq, during the years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2023. Landsat 5 satellite data from 2000, 2005, and 2010, and Landsat 8 and 9 data for 2015 and 2023, respectively, were used in this analysis, which was conducted using NDWI as a free, open-source program (ArcMap 10.8) to detect these changes; NDWI is a natural water anisotropy index used to detect the surface area of bodies of water in satellite images. The results revealed a clear decrease throughout the study period, as the wetland area of the lake in 2000 was 1189.7 km2, which represents a decrease of 34.3% compared to the total area of the lake (1810 km2); it decreased by 52.7% in 2005 (855.5 km2) and continued to decrease for 2010, 2015, and 2023, by 79.2%, 80%, and 85%, (376.5 km2, 362.9 km2, and 270.4 km2, respectively). The wetland area of Al-Razzaza Lake decreased between 2000 and 2023 by 919.3 km2, that is, an average of 40 km2per year. It was found that the lake wetland area sharply declined over the study period due to a lack of water surface resources via the Euphrates River, as well as climatic changes and poor water resource management. It is anticipated that the lake will lose more than half its current wetland area by 2040 if the current decline continues. These results are considered important in terms of preparing a strategic plan to preserve water bodies and wet areas in Iraq, including Al-Razzaza Lake. Remote sensing and GIS technologies have played a major and essential role in detecting such changes. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-09-013 Full Text: PDF

Study on the characteristics and scenario simulation of land use change in the Chaohu Lake Basin, China

Effectively evaluating the historical and future land use/cover change (LUCC) is significant for effective land use planning and management, ecological conservation, and restoration. Taking the Chaohu Lake Basin (CLB) as the study area, GIS technology and geographic detector were used to quantitatively analyze the change characteristics and driving factors of LUCC under the three periods in 2000, 2010, and 2020 of the CLB. This study aimed to comprehend the alterations that have transpired over the last two decades. In addition, the PLUS model was utilized to forecast LUCC trends under three scenarios: natural development, urban development, and ecological protection by 2030 in the CLB. The results suggest a significant decrease of the cultivated land area, while a considerable increase for the construction land area from 2000 to 2020 in the CLB. The expansion of the construction land area was mainly driven by the conversion of cultivated land area. Additionally, the slope was identified as the primary factor influencing LUCC, with q-values of 0.275, 0.266, and 0.258 in 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively. The interaction between slope and soil type, distance to the trunk road and the secondary trunk road, and GDP was strong. The explanatory capacity of socioeconomic factors demonstrated a steady increase. The simulation results indicate that a decrease in cultivated land area and an increase in construction land area still occurred by 2030 in the CLB, particularly in the urban development scenario. Nonetheless, a notable deceleration of change was appeared in the ecological protection scenario. The alterations in forest and grassland areas were not significant. However, the water bodies area continued to enlarge, although the expansion was not substantial. The study results can provide policy references for the scientific management and long-term strategic planning of land resources in the CLB.

Vacuum-based and body-mounted robotic-patient interface with an integrated metasurface for MRI-guided interventions

Abstract The increased clinical relevance of image-guided procedures, particularly of interventional magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI), highlights the need for advanced devices and robotics to optimize those procedures. To enable a realistic integration of robotics into the clinical workflow, robotic-patient interfaces (RPI) are required to ensure both functionality and usability. However, current concepts have issues with patient accessibility and safety, user handling, or performing interventions on versatile body regions. This work presents a novel silicone-based RPI to flexibly mount the ’Micropositioning Robotics for Image-Guided Surgery’ (μRIGS) system on differently shaped body regions through vacuum, regulated with an electronic miniature pump. Maximum holding forces of 60N at −0.1 bar and 66N at −0.2 bar relative vacuum pressure were reached depending on the applied human body area and tensile force angles. MRI with the integrated metasurface indicated up to 200% signal enhancement, enabling improved tissue contrast within the first 20mm in depth. The multifunctional design supported the incorporation of the sterile iMRI workflow concept. This RPI enables a realistic integration of future technologies such as miniature robots, tracking markers, and instrument holders into complex interventional workflows. Further long-term studies are needed to evaluate the effects of vacuum application lasting for 1-2 hours on different skin types.

Tetanus Cases in Mogadishu-Somalia: A Tragic Disease Despite the Existence of a Century-Old Safe and Efficient Tetanus Vaccine.

Despite the efforts and support of the World Health Organization and other international organizations to reduce the incidence of the disease, tetanus is still an acute condition with serious consequences, including death. The purpose of this study was to assess the tetanus patients we have been monitoring over the past two years in Somalia, a country with a protracted civil conflict, extreme poverty, and restricted access to hospital, social security, and public health facilities. This study includes tetanus patients who were admitted to the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia, Turkey between January 1, 2022, and November 1, 2023. Hospitalization, diagnosis, treatment, complications, death, and test results were all looked at in addition to the patients' sociodemographic details. The average age of the 196 patients was 10 years, with males making up 67.9% of the total (min-max: 7 days-71 years). Acute injury was the cause of 53.1% of tetanus cases, with the legs being the most frequently injured body area (28.8%). A mean duration of stay of 11 days was observed for 82.1% of the patients who were monitored in the hospital (min-max: 1-38 days). The total fatality rate was 14.3%, and 85.7% of patients had never had a tetanus vaccination. The group with severe tetanus had higher rates of intensive care admission (p<0.001), generalized/neonatal tetanus (p<0.001), high non-vaccination rate (p:0.011), antibiotic usage (p<0.001), and a positive blood culture (p<0.001). Almost all of the complications (p<0.001) and all of the deaths (p<0.001) were in the severe group. In sub-Saharan Africa, immunization rates are regrettably still insufficient despite the tetanus vaccine's low cost and great effectiveness. Public education and encouragement on anti-vaccination must continue alongside the enhancement of vaccination programs. Otherwise, low- and middle-income countries will still be plagued by this illness, which has been overlooked in high-income nations.

Improving kitchen thermal comfort in summer based on optimization of airflow distribution

To quantitatively analyze the comfort of kitchen environment, this paper presents a thermal comfort analysis method for kitchen with air-conditioned range hood. It corrects the deficiency in the original comfort formula involving humidity, thereby reasonably quantifying the impact of the cooling airflow from air-conditioning, including humidity, on kitchen thermal comfort. By adjusting the structural parameters of the air conditioning system, the airflow distribution in the kitchen space during summer has been optimized, thereby further enhancing its thermal comfort. This method employs Fluent analyses and its User-Defined Functions (UDF) to analyze the indoor flow field, temperature, humidity, and the distribution of PMV-PPD within the kitchen equipped with air-conditioned range hood. Additionally, experimental data are applied to validate the accuracy and effectiveness of the simulation model. The results indicate that under high temperature climate conditions in summer, air-conditioned range hood significantly enhances the thermal comfort of kitchen environment during cooking. Moreover, optimal thermal comfort for both the kitchen space and local respiratory area of the human body is achieved when the air supply angle is set at 45°, the air conditioning outlet flow rate is 5.5 m3/min and the air supply temperature is set at 21 °C. Compared to the initial operating conditions, Human thermal sensitivity weighted PMV decreased by 98.17 %, and the weighted PPD decreased by 82.07 %. This study provides valuable insights for the design and operation of air-conditioned range hoods, contributing to improved thermal comfort and energy efficiency in residential kitchens.

The Potential of Positive Affirmations to Addressing Body Image Concerns among Individuals with Diabetes Mellitus

Body image disturbances are a common psychological challenge among patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM), influenced by the physical and emotional toll of the disease. Body dissatisfaction can negatively impact self-esteem, adherence to diabetes management, and overall quality of life. Positive affirmations, rooted in self-affirmation theory, have improved body image in various populations. However, there is limited research on the application of positive affirmations as an intervention for body image in DM patients. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a structured, positive affirmation intervention in improving body image among patients with Diabetes Mellitus using a quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design. The study involved 40 adult DM patients participating in a 4-week positive affirmation program. Body image outcomes were measured pre-and post-intervention using the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire – Appearance Scale (MBSRQ-AS). The primary outcomes were changes in appearance evaluation, appearance orientation, body area satisfaction, and self-classified weight. Paired sample t-tests were used to analyze pre- and post-intervention differences, with effect sizes calculated using Cohen's d. Significant improvements were observed in appearance evaluation (p &lt; 0.001, d = 0.91), body area satisfaction (p &lt; 0.001, d = 0.80), and self-classified weight (p &lt; 0.01, d = 0.76). Appearance orientation decreased significantly (p &lt; 0.01, d = 0.66), indicating a reduced focus on external appearance. The intervention showed firm effect sizes across all body image dimensions. Positive affirmations effectively improved body image among DM patients, with significant improvements across multiple dimensions. This intervention offers a practical, low-cost strategy for addressing body image disturbances, potentially enhancing the psychological and physical wellbeing of DM patients. Future studies should explore long-term effects and compare the intervention with other psychosocial approaches in diverse populations.

Impacts of land use changes on the spatiotemporal evolution of groundwater quality in the Yinchuan area, China, based on long-term monitoring data

Agricultural activities and rapid urbanization have significantly impacted groundwater quality, especially in semi-arid and arid regions. This study comprehensively evaluated the quality of phreatic and confined groundwater in the Yinchuan area, China, using long-term monitoring data from 1991 to 2018. Geospatial analysis model was employed to explore the spatiotemporal evolution of groundwater hydrochemistry. The effects of land use changes on groundwater quality were assessed using correlation analysis and a multiple linear regression model (MLR). The findings indicate significant temporal variations in groundwater quality, with phreatic water consistently exhibiting high salinity and hardness. The groundwater quality indices for phreatic water were frequently more polluted than confined water. From 1991 to 2018, the hydrochemical composition of phreatic water evolved from HCO3-Mg and HCO3•SO4-Mg to more complex forms such as HCO3•SO4•Cl-Mg and HCO3•Cl-Mg. In contrast, confined water predominantly maintained its HCO3-Mg type and HCO3•Cl-Na (Na•Mg) type water. Urban land had rapidly expanded in the past three decades, increasing by 318.75% compared to 1991. The water body and urban area diminished the quality of phreatic water. High salt water in increase of TDS, Cl–, SO42–, Mn, TH, NO3–, F–, and Fe into phreatic water. NO3–, NH4+, and F− in phreatic water could be impacted by human and industrial activity in urban areas. This study provides valuable insights for local decision-makers to effectively manage groundwater resources and solve issues of groundwater scarcity and water quality problems in arid and semi-arid locations.

Photodynamic therapy in management of cutaneous leishmaniasis: A systematic review.

This systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the management of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). The electronic search for identification of relevant studies, adhered to the PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes and Study type) framework, was conducted through PubMed, Google scholar, Dimensions, X-mol, and Semantic Scholar till December 2023. All types of studies reporting PDT in the management of CL with no language restriction were included. Methodological quality appraised of the selected studies was performed using Jadad index. Of the 317 identified studies, 21 reported PDT for the treatment of CL lesions, consisting of two randomized controlled trials (RCTs), four single-center open study, one case series and 14 case reports. Collectively, these studies presented a total of 304 patients with ages ranging from 1 to 82years, undergoing varying number of PDT sessions (3-28) and follow-up durations spanning 4weeks to 24months. The CL lesions predominantly manifested on the exposed body areas, such as face, limbs, neck, ear and nose, and characterized with the use of clinical variables, such as plaques, papules, erythema and ulceration. PDT protocols differed in the photosensitizer type, incubation time, light source characteristics (e.g., wavelength, output power, and energy density), duration of light illumination, number of PDT sessions and their respective frequencies. Treatment response was assessed through the clinical presentation (i.e., at the baseline and after PDT completion) or by the absence of Leishmania parasites. Adverse effects comprised of pain, burning and tingling sensation experienced during PDT, followed by erythema, pigmentation changes and edema post-treatment. This systematic review revealed that PDT is an efficacious and safe modality for the treatment of CL, with mild and transient side effects.

Four-port dual-band textile MIMO antenna for biomedical health monitoring systems: on-body mutual coupling reduction characterization

The paper outlines a methodology to diminish mutual coupling in 4-port dual-band MIMO textile antenna for biomedical applications. This antenna leverages MIMO technology and Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) for operation in two distinct frequency bands at (3.5 & 2.45 GHz). The antenna is made up of four octagonal patch antennas, each having a bar and a split-ring (SR) slot with 47.2 × 31 mm2 dimensions for each patch. A hybrid mutual coupling (MC) approach was investigated with closely spaced patches (up to 0.05λ). Various bending setups have been selected along with flat case to examine the antennas’ resilience which demonstrate such agreement between measured and simulated findings. Furthermore, the MC is only −20 dB, the envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) is 0.001, and maximum peak measured gain of 5.2 dBi is achieved with lowest peak specific absorption rate (SAR) value. Even when bent at a 60° angle along with y-axis and x-axis, the antenna retains a decent gain of 1.861 dBi in the low frequency region and 5.479 dBi at high frequency band. Surprisingly, the antenna outperforms the attenuation produced by the lossy effects of the human body, indicating a favorable alignment between the modelled and observed findings.

Improved Adaptive Backoff Algorithm for Optimal Channel Utilization in Large-Scale IEEE 802.15.4-Based Wireless Body Area Networks

Improved Adaptive Backoff Algorithm for Optimal Channel Utilization in Large-Scale IEEE 802.15.4-Based Wireless Body Area Networks

Radiation of pain: Psychophysical evidence for a population coding mechanism in humans.

The spread of pain across body locations remains poorly understood but may provide important insights into the encoding of sensory features of noxious stimuli by populations of neurons. In this psychophysical experiment, we hypothesized that more intense noxious stimuli would lead to spread of pain, but more intense light stimuli would not produce perceptual radiation. Fifty healthy volunteers (27 females, 23 males, ages 14-44) participated in this study wherein noxious stimuli (43, 45, 47 and 49°C) were applied to glabrous (hand) and hairy skin (forearm) skin with 5s and 10s durations. Also, visual stimuli displayed on the target bodily area were utilized as a control. Participants provided pain (and light) spatial extent ratings as well as pain (and light) intensity ratings. In the extent rating procedure, participants adjusted the extent of the square displayed on the screen with the extent of pain (or light) which they experienced. Pain extent ratings showed statistically significant radiation of pain indicated by 12.42× greater spatial spread of pain (pain extent) than the area of the stimulation with 49°C (p<0.001), in contrast to visual ratings which closely approximated the size of the stimulus (1.22×). Pain radiation was more pronounced in hairy than glabrous skin (p<0.05) and was more pronounced with longer stimulus duration (p<0.001). Pain intensity explained only 14% of the pain radiation variability. The relative independence of the pain radiation from pain intensity indicates that distinct components of population coding mechanisms may be involved in the spatial representation of pain versus intensity coding.

Tips for success, managing the paediatric patient in radiology.

Paediatric radiology is a fascinating and diverse field of medicine with many opportunities to gain expertise in a range of imaging modalities and body areas. Working with children makes imaging both rewarding and challenging, due to the wide range of patient ages encountered and the inherent variation in developmental needs. This requires a patient-focussed approach to manage their anxiety and ensure cooperation of the patient and their carers. Several approaches to dealing with children have been developed including recognising individual needs, empathising with the child and carers, and involving the use of play and a range of age-relevant preparation materials. All of these make the radiology imaging environment and encounter a more effective and collaborative process. The purpose of this manuscript is to present a practical guide to overcoming these challenges, by making the child the focus of their radiological examination.

Unveiling microbial dynamics in lung adenocarcinoma and adjacent nontumor tissues: insights from nicotine exposure and diverse clinical stages via nanopore sequencing technology.

Lung is the largest mucosal area of the human body and directly connected to the external environment, facing microbial exposure and environmental stimuli. Therefore, studying the internal microorganisms of the lung is crucial for a deeper understanding of the relationship between microorganisms and the occurrence and progression of lung cancer. Tumor and adjacent nontumor tissues were collected from 38 lung adenocarcinoma patients and used nanopore sequencing technology to sequence the 16s full-length sequence of bacteria, and combining bioinformatics methods to identify and quantitatively analyze microorganisms in tissues, as well as to enrich the metabolic pathways of microorganisms. the microbial composition in lung adenocarcinoma tissues is highly similar to that in adjacent tissues, but the alpha diversity is significantly lower than that in adjacent tissues. The difference analysis results show that the bacterial communities of Streptococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and Neisseriales were significantly enriched in cancer tissues. The results of metabolic pathway analysis indicate that pathways related to cellular communication, transcription, and protein synthesis were significantly enriched in cancer tissue. In addition, clinical staging analysis of nicotine exposure and lung cancer found that Haemophilus, paralinfluenzae, Streptococcus gordonii were significantly enriched in the nicotine exposure group, while the microbiota of Cardiobactereae and Cardiobacterales were significantly enriched in stage II tumors. The microbiota significantly enriched in IA-II stages were Neisseriaeae, Enterobacteriales, and Cardiobacterales, respectively. Nanopore sequencing technology was performed on the full length 16s sequence, which preliminarily depicted the microbial changes and enrichment of microbial metabolic pathways in tumor and adjacent nontumor tissues. The relationship between nicotine exposure, tumor progression, and microorganisms was explored, providing a theoretical basis for the treatment of lung cancer through microbial targets.

Ventral posteromedial nucleus of the thalamus gates the spread of trigeminal neuropathic pain

BackgroundWidespread neuropathic pain usually affects a wide range of body areas and inflicts huge suffering on patients. However, little is known about how it happens and effective therapeutic interventions are lacking.MethodsWidespread neuropathic pain was induced by partial infraorbital nerve transection (p-IONX) and evaluated by measuring nociceptive thresholds. In vivo/vitro electrophysiology were used to evaluate neuronal activity. Virus tracing strategies, combined with optogenetics and chemogenetics, were used to clarify the role of remodeling circuit in widespread neuropathic pain.ResultsWe found that in mice receiving p-IONX, along with pain sensitization spreading from the orofacial area to distal body parts, glutamatergic neurons in the ventral posteromedial nucleus of the thalamus (VPMGlu) were hyperactive and more responsive to stimulations applied to the hind paw or tail. Tracing experiments revealed that a remodeling was induced by p-IONX in the afferent circuitry of VPMGlu, notably evidenced by more projections from glutamatergic neurons in the dorsal column nuclei (DCNGlu). Moreover, VPMGlu receiving afferents from the DCN extended projections further to glutamatergic neurons in the posterior insular cortex (pIC). Selective inhibition of the terminals of DCNGlu in the VPM, the soma of VPMGlu or the terminals of VPMGlu in the pIC all alleviated trigeminal and widespread neuropathic pain.ConclusionThese results demonstrate that hyperactive VPMGlu recruit new afferents from the DCN and relay the extra-cephalic input to the pIC after p-IONX, thus hold a key position in trigeminal neuropathic pain and its spreading. This study provides novel insights into the circuit mechanism and preclinical evidence for potential therapeutic targets of widespread neuropathic pain.

Mapping in healthy subjects different body areas for dermal thickness and skin hardness by high frequency ultrasound and durometry.

Body mapping of normal values of skin thickness and hardness may be a useful aid in daily practice. By employing non-invasive techniques, our pilot study provides these values in healthy individuals using high frequency ultrasound (HFUS) and durometry in areas used to evaluate the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS). One-hundred-fifty-two healthy volunteers from Ghent and Genova University Hospitals (mean ages 31.2, 35.5, and 64.9 years), were evaluated to exclude rheumatologic diseases. HFUS and durometry were used to assess the dermal status in mRSS areas. Exploratory analyses were performed to assess the impact of demographic and anthropometric characteristics on intra-subject skin measurements. Statistical analysis was performed with Datatab®. The upper and lower arms exhibited significantly higher durometry values and lower dermal thickness compared to the trunk regions, underscoring distinct variations across these areas (all p<0.05). The hardest skin was found on the finger, while the thickest dermal measurements were at the abdomen and thighs. Dermal thickness was higher in men in multiple areas in the three cohorts, albeit with relatively modest effect sizes (r coefficients ranging between 0.02 and 0.6). Despite the presence of significant inter-group differences in dermal thickness, HFUS mapping showed similar topographical distributions in both centres. Our study offers a comprehensive skin mapping status in healthy individuals. Key findings indicate lower dermal thickness in the upper arms, legs, and feet, and higher skin hardness in peripheral areas like fingers, compared to truncal regions.This skin mapping pilot study might provide the normal distribution values in outpatient clinics for physicians to be used when comparing the same areas in pathological conditions like systemic sclerosis-related fibrotic skin.

Hand eczema in Italian patients referred for patch testing: A retrospective SIDAPA study (2016-2023).

Hand eczema (HE) is a common skin disease with a negative impact on patients' quality of life in occupational and non-occupational settings. Up-to-date, data on HE in Italian patients referred for patch testing are lacking. To characterise the profile in terms of demographics, aetiology and patch test results of Italian patients affected by HE referred for patch testing. A retrospective descriptive study on consecutive patients affected by HE who underwent patch testing from 2016 to 2023 in eight dermatology clinics was performed. HE patients were divided into two groups according to the exclusive (HE-only group) and not-exclusive (HE+ group) hand involvement, and compared to patients with eczema localised in body areas other than hands (NHE group). One thousand five hundred and ninety-seven patients were affected by HE (35.3% males; mean age 42.7 years), 60.2% belonging to the HE-only group and 39.8% to the HE+ group. Occupational dermatitis was diagnosed in 33.2% of HE-only patients, 25.0% of HE+ patients and 5.2% of NHE patients (p < 0.001). HE-only patients presented: Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD), Irritant Contact Dermatitis (ICD), atopic HE in 48.1%, 47.5% and 7.1%, respectively; hyperkeratotic palmar, acute recurrent vesicular and nummular clinical subtypes in 52.2%, 43.9% and 11.9%, respectively; relevant positive patch test reactions in 48.1% (nickel sulphate 18.9%, methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone 10.6%, methylisothiazolinone 8.6%, p-phenylenediamine 6.0% and potassium dichromate 4.7%). HE patients, and particularly those with exclusive hand involvement, show a particular profile in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics, etiologies and relevant positive patch test reactions.

An Enhancement for Wireless Body Area Network Using Adaptive Algorithms

Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) are one of the most critical technologies for maintaining constant monitoring of patient’s health and diagnosing diseases. They consist of small, wearable wireless sensors transmitting signals. Within this vision, WBANs are not without unique difficulties, for instance, high energy consumption, heat from the sensor, and impaired data accuracy. This paper introduces adaptive algorithms combining Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and dynamic threshold mechanisms to enhance the performance and energy efficiency of Wireless Body Area Networks. The study utilizes the MIB-BIH Arrhythmias dataset to improve the detection of arrhythmias. The results show a 10.53% improvement in battery life and a 5.62-fold enhancement in temperature management when sleep mode technology is applied. As a result, the model reached the average accuracy of ECG classification of 98% and a high level of selectivity and sensitivity to a normal type of heartbeat and quite satisfactory results in the classification of arrhythmia type of heartbeat.

A study on the response of waterbird diversity to habitat changes caused by ecological engineering construction

Wetland degradation is a major factor in the decline of biodiversity. Ecological engineering construction efforts, such as water diversion, have been the main method of wetland restoration. To reveal the effects of biodiversity conservation and ecological engineering construction in the semiarid regions of China, waterbird surveys were carried out 2 years before and 8 years after the construction of the ecological engineering project discussed in this study. The relationships among waterbirds and habitat landscape patterns, hydrology and vegetation conditions were analyzed. The impacts of ecological engineering on habitats and waterbird diversity were revealed. The results showed that (1) there were significant changes in land use, hydrological distributions and vegetation cover in the study area before and after the construction of the ecological project. The quality of waterbird habitats after the construction project was better than that before construction. However, there were fluctuating conditions. (2) The areas of water bodies and marshes were positively correlated with the number and diversity of waterbirds. However, increases in arable land, forestland, grassland and saline land can stress rare waterbirds. Changes in water levels, water body areas and vegetation cover in the conservation area all directly affect the availability of waterbird habitats, which can affect waterbird diversity. The wetland water level is the most important impact factor. (3) The annual water diversion volume in the study area is 5.00 × 107 m3. When the water level is maintained at approximately 1.5-2.5m, the number of waterbirds remains stable. This study can provide scientific guidance and a methodological basis for the construction of ecological projects with waterbirds as protected targets.

Correlation between BMI, amount of aspirated fat and post-operative complications in VASER liposuction: A single centre experience

BackgroundVASER liposuction is an innovative technique that allows surgeons to selectively remove fat and shape desired areas of the body, resulting in more precise and controlled outcomes compared to traditional liposuction techniques. VASER liposuction offers several advantages, including targeted action that reduces trauma to surrounding tissues, limiting pain, swelling, and recovery time. PurposeThis article compares complication rates among patients undergoing VASER liposuction in relation to their BMI and the amount of fat aspirated. MethodsThe authors reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent VASER liposuction at Scalera Clinic in Naples, dividing them into two groups: the first with BMI <24.9 kg/m2 and the second with BMI >25.0 kg/ m2. ResultsThe authors examined 117 patients operated on within a year (2022/2023), with 48 having a BMI <24.9 kg/ m2 and 69 showing a BMI >25.0 kg/ m2. It was observed that in patients with a BMI >25 kg/ m2, the most common complications were contusion, hematomas, and abnormal skin retraction, while no complications were observed in the normal-weight patients. ConclusionsTo minimize post-operative complications and maximize results, it is advisable to select patients based on BMI assessment, the anatomy of the treated body area, and the volume of fat to be removed. This approach aims to ensure that patients are suitable for the procedure and that the achieved results align with their aesthetic expectations.

Mobility and Temperature Sensitive Energy Efficient Routing (MTS-EER) protocol in a wireless body area network

Sensor technology advancements have provided the platform to implement wireless body area networks, thanks to the nanosized sensor units capable of sensing, aggregating, and forwarding physiological information. The collected information is routed to the desired destination unit for data analysis and decision-making in remote healthcare. However, improving energy utilization remains a brain-teasing problem for the research community, especially considering imbalanced energy consumption and postural movements. Mobility contributes to disconnectivity issues, high energy drainage, and retransmission delays. In addition, the sensor node’s thermal level also poses a challenge in maintaining safer and reliable data transmission. To overcome these issues, a novel Mobility and Temperature Sensitive Energy-Efficient Routing ¬(MTS-EER) algorithm has been proposed that includes a two-step process. In step 1, an Intelligent Path Estimation Function (IPEF) is designed considering the sensor’s mobility, temperature, and energy level. IPEF depends on crucial parameters i.e.: - residual energy, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), distance, total energy, and most importantly temperature of the sensor unit. The sensor node with the least IPEF is selected as the Cluster Head (CH). In step 2, an optimized and sustainable energy conservation model (OSECM) is implemented based on the Adaptive Transmission Power (ATP) and the Power Management Module (PMM). The ATP conserves the energy via intelligently varying the transmission power and PMM manages the sleep pattern of sensor nodes to yield a high network lifetime and efficient energy utilization. The algorithm includes a clustering approach with dual sink nodes to conserve energy and improve reliability. Finally, the results are compared with the recent state-of-the-art research work. The proposed algorithm provides better results considering residual energy, throughput, network lifetime, and end-to-end delay.