Time Of Day Research Articles

Can Supplementation with the Cow Start Complete Bolus Result in Elevated Blood Calcium Status in a Group of At-Risk Dairy Cows During the First Four Days of Lactation

The prophylactic supplementation of freshly calved multiparous cows with oral calcium supplements (bolus, drink, drench, paste) has increased in popularity in recent years. Oral calcium supplements are generally only effective for 12 hours, yet the high-risk period for hypocalcaemia in freshly calved multiparous cows is 48 hours post-partum. Therefore, a second application 12 hours post-partum is suggested by manufacturers, yet due to labour shortages on dairy farms, it is very common for the second application to not be carried out. The objectives of this study were to ascertain if a the administration of a single dose of the sustained release bolus (Cow Start Complete, Anchor Life Science, Co. Cork, Ireland) given to the cow at calving, could offer the combined benefits of elevated calcium status over the first 48 hours post-partum from a labour efficient single dose given at calving and also to evaluate if this enhanced calcium status could have a positive effect on daily rumination time and milk production yields in the first three months of lactation. The two groups consisted of an un-supplemented control (CON) group and a Cow Start Complete (CSC) group in which cows were given a single bolus dose at the point of calving. The CON group experienced a clinical milk fever (Blood Ca <1.5mmol/L) incidence rate of 13.3% compared to 0% for the CSC group. Cows given the CSC treatment had significantly (P<0.0001) higher total blood calcium levels (2.14 mmol/L) from the point of calving (0h) to 4 days post-partum (96h) compared to CON (1.98mmol/L), with significant increases at 12h (P<0.01), 24h (P<0.001) and 36h (P<0.01) post-partum. Rumination time for CSC cows (471mins/day) was significantly (P<0.05) higher during the first 14 days post-partum when compared to CON (434mins/day) group. Milk production was also significantly (P<0.01) higher for CSC cows (+1.8kg/day) than in CON cows during the first 90 days of lactation. These findings demonstrate that the convenience of giving a single dose of CSC at calving, can be combined with desired outcomes in a range of key benefits in freshly calved multiparous cows.

Association between nighttime/weekend visits and patient outcomes in children with blunt liver and spleen injuries.

The "out-of-hours effect," which indicates hospital admittance during weekends or nighttime, has poorer outcomes for patients than for those admitted on weekdays and is widely documented in various medical conditions. However, this effect remains understudied in pediatric trauma cases, including blunt liver and spleen injuries (BLSIs). This was a secondary analysis of a nationwide multicenter retrospective study, focusing on pediatric patients with trauma (≤ 16years old) with BLSI admitted from 2008 to 2019. This study evaluated the association between out-of-hour admissions and outcomes. The primary outcome was the intervention rate and secondary outcomes were 30-day mortality and time from hospital arrival to the first intervention. This study identified 1414 pediatric patients with BLSI. In total, 681 events occurred during the daytime and 733 during the nighttime, with 927 weekday and 487 weekend events. Out-of-hour admissions did not significantly associate with a higher rate of intervention. This association remained after adjusting for five potential confounders and patient clustering within the hospital. In addition, Out-of-hour admissions did not significantly associated with 30-day mortality, or time from hospital arrival to the first intervention. The current study showed no significant difference in treatment strategy and outcomes between weekday and out-of-hour among children with BLSI.

TRNA-derived RNAs in human milk extracellular vesicles and associations with breastfeeding variables and maternal diet.

To describe tDRs in human milk EVs and their associations with maternal body mass index, age, dietary indices, breastfeeding frequency, season and time of milk collection in a Latina population. We sequenced small RNAs from EVs from 109 mature human milk samples collected at 1 month after delivery in the Southern California Mother's Milk Study. We grouped tDRs using hierarchical clustering and clusters were compared across tDR characteristics. We analyzed associations of tDRs with intrinsic maternal variables (body mass index, age), maternal nutrition (caloric intake, Healthy Eating Index, Dietary Inflammatory Index), and variables related to feeding and milk collection (breastfeeding frequency, season and time of milk collection) using negative binomial models. We identified 338 tDRs expressed in 90% or more of milk EV samples, of which 113 were identified in all samples. tDR-1:26-Gly-CCC-1-M4 accounted for most reads (79%). Pathway analysis revealed a wide array of biological processes and disease mechanisms across the four tDR clusters. tDRs were associated with season of collection, time of collection, breastfeeding frequency, and the dietary inflammatory index. tDRs are abundant in milk EVs and may be sensitive to maternal diet, seasonality, time of day, and breastfeeding frequency.

The association between vigour and flexibility with injury and alertness during shift work

ABSTRACT Models of shift work and health suggest that individual differences in circadian rhythm characteristics may moderate the relationship between night shift work and injury, but this argument has not been directly tested. In this study, we tested the efficacy of two circadian rhythm characteristics—vigour and flexibility—as moderators of the path between shift work and injury. In addition, we aimed to replicate the association between vigour, flexibility, and alertness by time of day, and the measurement properties of the Circadian Type Inventory. We recruited 401 healthcare workers from Australia and Great Britain. After controlling for confounding variables, the results showed that vigour moderated the association between shift work and injury. Participants with values of vigour at the mean (β = 0.5120, p < 0.0013, 95% CI = [0.2018, 0.8223) and one standard deviation below the mean (β = 0.9048, p < 0.0001, 95% CI = [0.4648, 1.3447] reported significantly more injuries. No moderation was found for flexibility. Significant differences in alertness by time of day were observed in participants with higher levels of vigour compared to lower levels of vigour. No differences in alertness were observed for the flexibility scale. These results indicate that vigour may be a robust indicator of shift work tolerance. We replicated the posited two-factor structure of the Circadian Type Inventory, found the scales to have good reliability, and established for the first time, criterion-related validity for the vigour scale.

Exercise in seasonal affective disorder - A brief review

Introduction: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression is a mental disorder that occurs mainly in the winter months with symptoms that differ from the well-known depression. Several forms of treatment have been explored, with exercise being promising. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to review all available studies related to exercise and physical activity in SAD, both therapeutically and on a more general clinical and research level. Material and Methods: The literature search was conducted in Pubmed, Scopus, APA Psychinfo and SPORTDiscus databases. The following keywords were used: seasonal depression, seasonal affective disorder, exercise, therapeutic exercise, physiotherapy, physical therapy and physical activity. The final studies were selected using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Of the 169 studies initially identified, the researchers concluded on 3 studies. The symptoms of SAD can be reduced with a personalized program that includes aerobic exercise, combining perhaps the appropriate time of day, but also the presence or absence of natural or artificial light. Also, it has not been proven whether or not exercise is a predictor of SAD. Conclusion: Aerobic exercise is possibly the key for the reduction and elimination of symptoms of SAD in the winter months. However, further study in this field seems extremely necessary to find safe and reliable forms of exercise that improve the symptoms of these patients.

Predicting adaptation and evolution of plasticity from temporal environmental change

Abstract Environmental change can drive evolutionary adaptation and determine geographic patterns of biodiversity. Yet at a time of rapid environmental change, our ability to predict its evolutionary impacts is incomplete. Temporal environmental change, in particular, involves a combination of major components such as abrupt shift, trend, cyclic change, and noise. Theoretical predictions exist for adaptation to isolated components, but knowledge gaps remain regarding their joint impacts. We extend classic evolutionary theory to develop a model for the evolution of environmental tolerance by the evolution of an underlying developmentally plastic trait, in response to major components of temporal change. We retrieve and synthesise earlier predictions of responses to isolated components, and generate new predictions for components changing simultaneously. Notably, we show how different forms of environmental predictability emerging from the interplay of cyclic change, stochastic change (noise) and lag between development and selection shape predictions. We then illustrate the utility of our model for generating testable predictions for the evolution of adaptation and plasticity when parameterised with real time series data. Specifically, we parameterise our model with daily time series of sea‐surface temperature from a global marine hotspot in southern Australia, and use model simulations to predict the evolution of thermal tolerance, and geographic differences in tolerance, in this region. By synthesising theory on evolutionary adaptation to temporal environmental change, and providing new insights into the joint effects of its different components, our framework, embedded in a Shiny app, offer a path to better predictions of biological responses to climate change.

Care dynamics of "Free & Open Air" Music Festivals in Rural Communities using the example of the Pol'and Rock Festival: an epidemiological, retrospective study 2017-2022

Knowledge of the epidemiology of illnesses at music festivals is limited. Music festivals challenge the medical staff and local communities providing healthcare services to the guests. Objective The aim of this study was to identify and compare reasons for medical treatment of visitors at festivals, PPTT (patients per ten thousand), TTRH (transport to hospital rates) and the time of day when treatment was carried out at one of the largest free-of-charge outdoor music festivals in Europe from 2017 to 2022. The goal was to identify the characteristics of such events. The retrospective study used data from the medical documentation provided by the organizer of the "Pol'and Rock" festival in Poland. The correlations between PPTT, TTHR, visitor count, patient count, and time of day were examined. Important features in the organization of medical support were described. There had been 1.48 million visitors at the festival since 2017 to 2022, and 6,719 needed medical care. There were two peaks in patient count, one from 12-2 pm and another from 8-10 pm (p<0.0001). The median PPTH was 45, and the median TTRH was 0.0638. There is no significant correlation between PPTT, TTRH, and the number of visitors during the study period at the events. The time of day has a significant impact on patient count. Long transportation distances from the festival grounds to the nearest hospital make it important to provide on-site high-quality care. Further investigations on the epidemiology of music festivals are necessary.

The Relation Between Ambulatory Blood Pressure, Age and Gender

Introduction: Ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring offers an extensive evaluation of blood pressure (BP) fluctuations over a 24-hour period, facilitating a more profound comprehension of the impact of demographic variables such as age and gender. This study seeks to examine the correlation among age, gender, and arterial blood pressure (ABP), specifically emphasizing systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) variability. Comprehending these relationships is essential for formulating individualized methods for hypertension therapy.Methodology: The methodology employed was cross-sectional observational research conducted at NAWAT ALMUSTAKBAL .AZAWEA LIBYA from 2022 to 2024. Continuous 24-hour blood pressure and heart rate data were obtained by ambulatory cardiovascular monitoring (ABPM) technology at Nawat Almostaqbal Clinic. Participants engaged in a standardized preparatory phase, which included a 5-minute acclimatization period, succeeded by three baseline measures of blood pressure and heart rate. Participants were then equipped with ABPM devices to continually monitor blood pressure during their routine daily activities and sleep.Results: The findings indicate that age significantly influences systolic blood pressure, with elevated readings observed in older individuals. Nevertheless, age appeared to exert minimal influence on diastolic blood pressure. Conversely, gender significantly influenced diastolic blood pressure, with males demonstrating elevated levels of lean BP during wakefulness, but no notable variations in systolic blood pressure were observed between the genders. The research indicated that wake/sleep status significantly affected SBP due to circadian rhythms, but did not notably alter DBP variability or HR variability. Age, gender, and circadian state did not significantly influence heart rate variability or the fluctuation of diastolic blood pressure.Conclusion: The findings from the research indicate that although age significantly influences SBP, gender exerts a far greater impact on DBP levels. The diurnal cycle significantly affects the variation of SBP, indicating that physicians should take the time of day into account while managing a patient with hypertension. The conclusion is evident regarding the necessity for physicians to employ distinctive treatment options for patients.

Applying a time-varying GEV distribution to correct bias in rainfall quantiles derived from regional climate models

Abstract Climate warming is causing an increase in extreme hydrometeorological events in most parts of the world. This phenomenon is expected to continue and will affect the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events. Although bias correction in regional climate model simulations has also been used to assess changes in precipitation extremes at daily and longer time steps, trends in the series predicted have seldom been considered. We present a novel bias correction technique that allows for the correcting of biases in the upper tails of the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distribution, while preserving the trend in projected precipitation extremes. The concept of non-stationary bias correction is demonstrated in a case study in which we used four EURO-CORDEX RCM models to estimate future rainfall quantiles. Historical observations have been used to correct biases in historical runs of the RCMs. The mean relative change in rainfall quantiles between the 1991–2021 historical period and the time horizon of 2080 was found to be 13.5% (st. dev.: 2.9%) for the return period of 2 years, which tends to decline with increasing return periods. Upon the return periods of 50 and 100 years, the mean relative change was predicted to be 5.5% (st. dev.: 1.1%) and 4.8% (st. dev.: 1%), respectively.

Database of surface water diversion sites and daily withdrawals for the Upper Colorado River Basin, 1980–2022

The Colorado River drains about 8% of the conterminous United States, provides water for 40 million people, and is one of the most overallocated rivers in the world. As the upper Colorado River Basin (UCOL) contributes an estimated 92% of the total basin natural streamflow, knowledge of the location and amount of surface water withdrawals in the UCOL is important for managing the Colorado River system. Since the UCOL encompasses portions of five states, water use data are dispersed among numerous federal and state agency databases, and there is no centralized dataset that documents surface water use within the entire UCOL at a fine spatial and temporal resolution. This article presents an inventory of 1,358 major structures that divert surface water from and within the UCOL with corresponding daily time series withdrawal records from 1980 through 2022. Data compilation efforts, processing methods, and contents of this diversion database are documented, and summary information is provided.

Effect of Social Media on Students&amp;apos; Academic Performance in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria: Social Media and Its Impact

Social media is a web-based service that gives individual the opportunity to create either a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, furthermore it’s add a list of others with which they share a connection, view their list of connections and those made within the system. Therefore, this study is aim at examining the impact of use of social networking on students’ academic performance in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. There is an increase of in used of social networking and some of the teachers in the department are raising the concern that when lectures is going some students are involved in social networking or sleeping. The teachers can’t verify their claim, because some student will argue that they are using the softcopy of the materials in the phones. The second hypothesis of the teachers concerning those sleeping during the lectures must have been spend time during the night socializing and so does not have enough rest. The necessity to carry out a research in that area to check mates the heavy users of social media, the time of day spend socializing and the purpose of the of social media of each students. In other to measure social media platforms a questionnaire was developed based on past literatures. The independent variables includes: time appropriateness, time duration, Nature of Usage and type of social networking, while the dependent variable is student CGPA. The sample of 130 students from Department of computer science was selected using convenient sampling method. The data collected was analyzed using description means python programming. Thus considering the abnormal use of Social networking platforms by students, it is expedient that Ahmadu Bello University educate their students to positively use these platforms for educational purposes which will eventually result in a positive impact on their academic performance.

Impact of eyesight, BMI, and the use of screen-based devices on mental well-being.

To observe any association between mental health and potential contributors, i.e., BMI, eyesight, and number of screen-based devices in young adults. The study proceeded after obtaining the necessary ethical approval (Ref. # 689/ERC/CMH/LMC) from the institutional ERC at CMH LMC & IOD. It was a cross-sectional study, conducted with undergraduate students aged 16-25 years from June to September 2022 at Department of Physiology at CMH Lahore Medical College and Institute of Dentistry. Those who had any history of using CNS stimulants or depressants were excluded from the study. The data was collected via a pre-designed, validated questionnaire. Sample t-test, single tail one-way ANOVA, and post-hoc Tukey's test were used for statistical analysis, ensuring a 95% confidence interval. A non-significant percentage increase in mental well-being (MWB) score of 7.09% was found in males (p=0.142). No significant difference was observed in MBW scores and BMI (p=0.129), however, underweights showed the minimum scores (38.8±7.1). In all eyesight groups, no significant difference was noticed in MBW scores (p=0.316), though those who collectively present with hyperopia and myopia expressed minimum scores (35.4±9.8). The use of different screen-based devices showed a significant association with mental health (p=0.041), while the lowest MBW scores were found in those who were using only smartphones (38.9±8.0). There was no discernible difference in MWB for daily screen time. Students who used only smartphones had significantly lower MWB scores than those who used smartphones and laptops. The study found low MWB scores among underweight individuals and those who were with both eye-sight issues i.e. myopia as well as hyperopia.

Improving Solar PV System Performance with DC-DC Converters with MPPT Technique in Real-Time Simulation

A Photo Voltaic (PV) system turns Solar Energy (SE) into electricity that needs efficient converter topology. One significant obstacle associated with solar systems is the fluctuation in energy production from solar PV modules due to meteorological factors like temperature and irradiance. The advancement of Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithms has enhanced the effectiveness of solar panels. Implementing an effective operational control approach may optimize the performance of PV panels, while utilizing proper semiconductor materials can maximize the efficiency of converters. This work introduces a MPPT method based on Perturb and Observe (P&amp;O) algorithm. The PV system performs with optimal efficiency when it is near the IV curve, where it produces the highest amount of electricity due to its non-linear voltage-current characteristics. The power output is determined by the degree of irradiance and the temperature of the cells, resulting in the maximum achievable power output. The conditions vary according on the season, time of day, and environmental factors. Rapid variations in light can occur due to factors like clouds. Thus, it is imperative to precisely monitor the maximum power point (MPP) in all settings to optimize power generation. This study proposes a method to optimize the power output of a PV system by integrating MPPT with a DC-DC energy converter. This approach ensures that the PV generator operates at its maximum power level, irrespective of external factors such as sunshine intensity and temperature. MPPT algorithms exhibit variations in their implementation and performance, with a range of MPPT control algorithms being accessible. The P&amp;O algorithms are widely used due to their ability to regulate the MPP of PV panels. The method is validated in real-time using Typhoon Hill Simulation.

Association between time of day and carbonaceous PM2.5 and oxidative potential in summer and winter in the Suncheon industrial area, Republic of Korea

Association between time of day and carbonaceous PM2.5 and oxidative potential in summer and winter in the Suncheon industrial area, Republic of Korea

Interaction between time-of-day and oxytocin efficacy in mice and humans with and without gestational diabetes.

Management of labor in women with diabetes is challenging due to the high risk of peri- and postpartum complications. To avoid cesarean section and assist with labor progression, Pitocin, a synthetic oxytocin, is frequently used to induce and augment labor. However, the efficacy of Pitocin is often compromised in diabetic pregnancies, leading to increased cesarian delivery. As diabetes deregulates the body's circadian timekeeping system and the time-of-day of the first Pitocin administration contributes to labor duration, our objective was to determine how the time of day and the circadian clock gene, Bmal1 , gates oxytocin efficacy. Our studies in mice show that, compared to the rest phase of the day (lights on), the uterotonic efficacy of oxytocin is significantly increased during the active phase (lights off). Using in vitro studies, a myometrium-specific Bmal1 conditional knockout mouse model, and a mouse model of food-induced gestational diabetes, we find that Bmal1 is crucial for maintaining oxytocin receptor expression and response in the myometrium in mice. These findings also translate to humans, where oxytocin-induced human myometrial cell contraction is time-of-day dependent, and retrospective clinical data suggest that administration of Pitocin in the morning should be considered for pregnant women with gestational diabetes.

Digital Age Challenge: University Students’ Excessive Use of TikTok

TikTok's users have grown tremendously, reaching people all over the world. The current research in the aspect of TikTok mainly analyses the different perspective of users’ usage and behavior, the research on excessive use of TikTok is relatively scarce. As the undergraduates use TikTok for learning and self-realisation, they also fall into cyber-addiction due to excessive use, which leads to symptoms such as impulse control disorders, physical health and mental health problems. In view of these arising problems, this study intends to explore further, focusing on the current level of excessive use, the influence of age and gender differences in undergraduates' excessive use of TikTok. This study employed survey research design by using a structured questionnaire. 606 undergraduates from two universities were selected by using stratified sampling technique. The findings on time management, life intrusion and social media anxiety showed that undergraduates have high excessive use of TikTok. Consequently, it was showed that there is no significant difference between male and female undergraduate students in terms of their excessive use of TikTok, and male students do not perform significantly differently from female students in terms of their excessive use of TikTok. Excessive use of TikTok was significantly different in terms of the excessive use of TikTok by undergraduates’ age. Different age groups differ in their daily time use and time management. Future research can expand the age range of the subjects to analyse the situation of excessive TikTok use and its impact on individual and group psychology among wider age groups of people. Besides, the formation of excessive use of TikTok can also be examined from multiple perspectives in both social and individual dimensions.

An Online Resource for Monitoring 24-Hour Activity in Children and Adolescents: Observational Analysis.

The Singapore integrated 24-hour activity guide for children and adolescents was introduced to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors, including physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep, and diet, to enhance metabolic health and prevent noncommunicable diseases. To support the dissemination and implementation of these recommendations, a user-friendly online resource was created to help children and adolescents adopt these behaviors in Singapore. This study aimed to assess the acceptability of the online resource in the adoption of healthier lifestyle behaviors, and the change in the users' behaviors with the use of this online resource. Participants aged 7-17 years were required to log their activity levels of the past 7 days at the beginning and at the end of a 3-month period using the browser-based online resource, including information on the duration and frequency of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA), length of sedentary behavior, duration and regularity of sleep, and food portions. User satisfaction, on the length, ease of use, and relevance of the online resource, was also recorded using a 10-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics and statistical analyses, including the Wilcoxon signed rank test and McNemar test, were carried out at baseline and at the end of 3 months. A total of 46 participants were included for analysis. For physical activity, the number of days of MVPA increased from a median of 3 (IQR 2-5) days to 4 (IQR 2-5) days (P=.01). For sedentary behavior, the median daily average screen time decreased from 106 (IQR 60-142.5) minutes to 90 (IQR 60-185) minutes. For sleep, 10% (5/46) more participants met the recommended duration, and the number of days with regular sleep increased from a median of 6 (IQR 5-7) days to 7 (IQR 5-7) days (P=.03). For diet, there was a decrease in the portion of carbohydrates consumed from a median of 42% (IQR 30-50) to 40% (IQR 30-48.5; P=.03), and the number of days of water and unsweetened beverage consumption remained stable at a median of 5 days but with a higher IQR of 4-7 days (P=.04). About 90% (39-41/46) of the participants reported that the online resource was relevant and easy to use, and the rating for user satisfaction remained favorable at a median of 8 with a higher IQR of 7-9 (P=.005). The findings support the development of a dedicated online resource to assist the implementation of healthy lifestyle behaviors based on the Singapore integrated 24-hour activity guide for children and adolescents. This resource received favorable ratings and its use showed the adoption of healthier behaviors, including increased physical activity and sleep, as well as decreased sedentary time and carbohydrate consumption, at the end of a 3-month period.

Factors associated with elective surgical case cancellation at a tertiary hospital in Malawi.

Same-day cancellation of surgery affects up to 44% of cases at a public tertiary hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. To characterize these cancellations, this study examines surgical volume, cancellation causes, and surgery completion rate after initial cancellation, which are not otherwise monitored for analysis in this setting. We conducted a serial cross-sectional study at the Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) during a 6month period. Variables included patient demographics, procedure information, and hospital capacity factors. Bivariate and multivariable regression models were constructed to assess factors associated with cancellation. Of the 3121 total surgeries, 2626 (84.1%) were elective procedures, of which 747 (28.4%) were canceled. Orthopedic surgery observed the highest cancellation rate (36.5%). Process-related factors, such as starting cases late, were the primary reason for cancellation (64.3%). Only 40% of patients with a canceled surgery underwent their procedure after index admission, with a median wait time of 3days. Emergency cases (aOR: 0.50 and CI: 0.39 and 0.64) and first cases of the day (aOR: 0.02 and CI: 0.01 and 0.04) were associated with lower odds of cancellation. Facility factors associated with lower odds of cancellation included number of open operating rooms (OR: 0.86 and CI: 0.77 and 0.96) and anesthetists assigned on duty (OR: 0.94 and CI: 0.88 and 0.99). Cancellation of elective surgery was primarily driven by process-related factors. We identify facility-related factors associated with lower odds of cancellation and thus provide targets for future interventions at KCH. Studies examining patient outcomes following elective case cancellation are warranted as most patients never return for surgery following cancellation.

Generalised drought index: a novel multi-scale daily approach for drought assessment

Abstract. Drought is a complex climatic phenomenon characterised by water scarcity and is recognised as the most widespread and insidious natural hazard, posing significant challenges to ecosystems and human society. In this study, we propose a new daily based index for characterising droughts, which involves standardising precipitation and/or precipitation minus potential evapotranspiration (PET) data. The new index proposed here, the generalised drought index (GDI), is computed for the entire period available from the Iberian Gridded Dataset (1971 to 2015). Comparative assessments are conducted against the daily Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI), the Standardised Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), and a simple Z-Score standardisation of climatic variables. Seven different accumulation periods are considered (7, 15, 30, 90, 180, 360, and 720 d) with three drought levels: moderate, severe, and extreme. The evaluation focuses mainly on the direct comparison amongst indices in terms of their ability to conform to the standard normal distribution, added value assessment using the distribution added value (DAV), and a simple bias difference for drought characteristics. Results reveal that the GDI, together with the SPI and SPEI, follows the standard normal distribution. In contrast, the Z-Score index depends on the original distribution of the data. The daily time step of all indices allows the characterisation of flash droughts, with the GDI demonstrating added value when compared to the SPI and SPEI for the shorter and longer accumulations, with a positive DAV up to 35 %. Compared to the Z-Score, the GDI shows expected greater gains, particularly at lower accumulation periods, with the DAV reaching 100 %. Furthermore, the spatial extent of drought for the 2004–2005 event is assessed. All three indices generally provide similar representations, except for the Z-Score, which exhibits limitations in capturing extreme drought events at lower accumulation periods. Overall, the findings suggest that the new index offers improved performance and comparatively adds value to similar indices with a daily time step.

Skin tissue dielectric constant: Time of day and skin depth dependence.

Skin water measurements are used to investigate skin physiology, clinically study dermatological issues, and for conditions like diabetes, oedema, and lymphedema with measurements done at various times of day (TOD). One method used is skin's tissue dielectric constant (TDC), often clinically measured to a single depth of 2.5 mm. This report characterizes intraday variations measured to multiple depths to guide expected TOD and depth dependence. Twelve medical students self-measured TDC on their forearm to depths of 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 5.0 mm every 2 h from 08:00 to 24:00 h on 2 consecutive days. All were trained in the procedure. TDC declined slightly from morning through evening, mostly at 0.5 mm for which TDC was reduced by 4%. TDC values were not related to participants' whole-body fat or water percentages. The TDC decrease was less at 1.5 mm where the reduction was 2.7%. At depths of 2.5 or 5.0 mm, there was no significant decrease in TOD. Skin TDC shows a minor decreasing trend with an effect greater for shallower depths. In part, the clinical relevance of the findings relates to the confidence level associated with skin water estimates, based on TDC measurements, when measured at different TOD and depths during normal clinic hours. Based on the present data the TOD change is at most 4% and insignificant for measurement depths of 2.5 mm.