Daytime Periods Research Articles

Temporal patterns of energy intake and physical activity and cross-sectional associations with body weight status in children and adolescents: results from the Portuguese National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2015-2016.

Temporal energy intake (EI) and physical activity (PA) patterns may be associated with obesity. We aimed to derive and characterise temporal EI and PA patterns and assess their cross-sectional association with weight status in participants aged 6-14 years from the Portuguese National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2015-2016. We extracted times and EI of all eating occasions from two 1-day food diaries/24-hour recalls, while types and times of PA from 4-day PA diaries. We derived EI patterns (n=714) and PA patterns (n=595), using, respectively, a hierarchical and K-means cluster analysis, considering the average proportion of total daily EI (%TEI) and PA intensity (%TPA), within each 2-hour interval across the 24-hour day. We assessed the association between patterns and Overweight or obesity (Body Mass Index z-score ≥+1 Standard Deviation) using adjusted logistic regressions [Odds ratio (95% Confidence Interval)]. Three EI patterns were identified and labelled based on the 2-h interval of %TEI peaks: 1-"Early afternoon & Early evening"; 2-"Early afternoon & Late evening", and 3-"Late morning, Early and Mid-afternoon & Late evening". EI Pattern 3 vs. 1 was negatively associated with overweight or obesity [0.49 (0.26,0.92)]. PA pattern 1-"Late Morning, Mid-afternoon & Early evening" vs. Pattern 2-"Late afternoon", was not associated with weight status [0.95 (0.65,1.38)]. A daily EI pattern characterised by more and even %TEI peaks at earlier daytime periods, instead of less, may be negatively associated with overweight or obesity amongst Portuguese 6-to-14-year-olds, whereas the identified PA patterns might have no relationship.

Comparison of the Incidences of Anesthesia-Related Adverse Events in Patients Undergoing Surgery in the Daytime, Care Transition, and After-Hours Period

Background: The timing of surgery might affect anesthesia-related adverse events due to limited personnels, inadequate supervision, and/or lack of equipment, especially after-hours period. Objective: To compare the incidence of adverse anesthesia events in patients undergoing surgery in different periods of the day. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed in adult patients who undergone surgery under anesthesia at Siriraj Hospital in 2020. Patients were randomly selected and categorized into three groups according to the time of anesthesia, Group 1, daytime anesthesia group (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Group 2, anesthesia with care transition between the daytime and after-hours period, and Group 3, after-hours anesthesia group (4 p.m. to 8 a.m.). The patients’ demographic data, surgical-related, anesthesia data, and anesthesia-related adverse events were reviewed from the hospital electronic medical records. Analysis was performed to compare the incidence and determine the risk factors associated with adverse anesthesia events. Results: One thousand two hundred patients were included in the present study with 600, 400, and 200 patients in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The overall incidence of adverse anesthesia events was 5.3% with 6.7%, 3.5%, and 5.0% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p=0.090). The most common adverse anesthesia event was difficult intubation at 1.5%. The factor found to be significantly associated with anesthesia-related adverse events was the non-operating room anesthesia (OR 5.97, 95% CI 2.94 to 12.13, p<0.001). Conclusion: The present study was unable to demonstrate a significant difference in the incidences of anesthesia-related adverse events among the various anesthesia periods.

Is the diel cycle of routine metabolic rate in mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) affected by near-infrared lighting used for visualizing behavior of fishes at night?

The metabolic rate of a freely moving fish (routine metabolic rate) is tightly coupled with volitional movement (spontaneous activity), both of which commonly show strong daily cycles linked to the species-specific diel activity pattern. Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus), an important estuarine fish in the north western Atlantic Ocean, are historically reported as diurnal (i.e., more active during daylight). Our recent laboratory studies on a Bay of Fundy population, however, showed a free-running (i.e., similarly active daytime and night-time) or even nocturnal (i.e., more active at night-time) diel activity pattern. In the laboratory, near-infrared (NIR) illumination is commonly used with a NIR-sensitive camera to visualize fish activity across the light-dark periods of the day. Because NIR light is close to the visible light spectrum and certain fishes show sensitivity to NIR, the use of NIR with mummichog possibly could disturb the animals and obscure the identification of their true diel activity pattern. We aimed to determine if NIR illumination (940 nm wavelength) influences the diel activity pattern of mummichog. We used measurements of routine metabolic rate (oxygen consumption rate, MO2) as a proxy for activity, as evaluating the effect of NIR requires treatments where NIR lights are off, which precludes visualization and direct assessment of fish activity at night-time. We measured routine MO2 of mummichogs over 6 days, exposed to either NIR off-on-off (2 days for each off or on period) or the opposite sequence of NIR on-off-on (to control for time-dependent effects). NIR lights did not influence the diel cycle of routine MO2, and activity by proxy, in mummichog. Thus, NIR illumination is a suitable method to visualize mummichog during light-dark diel cycles. Routine MO2, and presumably activity, was similar or higher during night-time periods compared to daytime periods, confirming a free-running or nocturnal activity pattern for at least certain populations of mummichog.

Two-week continuous glucose monitoring-derived metrics and degree of hepatic steatosis: a cross-sectional study among Chinese middle-aged and elderly participants

BackgroundContinuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices provide detailed information on daily glucose control and glycemic variability. Yet limited population-based studies have explored the association between CGM metrics and fatty liver. We aimed to investigate the associations of CGM metrics with the degree of hepatic steatosis.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 1180 participants from the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study. CGM metrics, covering mean glucose level, glycemic variability, and in-range measures, were separately processed for all-day, nighttime, and daytime periods. Hepatic steatosis degree (healthy: n = 698; mild steatosis: n = 242; moderate/severe steatosis: n = 240) was determined by magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression models were conducted to estimate the associations between CGM metrics and steatosis degree. Machine learning models were employed to evaluate the predictive performance of CGM metrics for steatosis degree.ResultsMean blood glucose, coefficient of variation (CV) of glucose, mean amplitude of glucose excursions (MAGE), and mean of daily differences (MODD) were positively associated with steatosis degree, with corresponding odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of 1.35 (1.17, 1.56), 1.21 (1.06, 1.39), 1.37 (1.19, 1.57), and 1.35 (1.17, 1.56) during all-day period. Notably, lower daytime time in range (TIR) and higher nighttime TIR were associated with higher steatosis degree, with ORs (95% CIs) of 0.83 (0.73, 0.95) and 1.16 (1.00, 1.33), respectively. For moderate/severe steatosis (vs. healthy) prediction, the average area under the receiver operating characteristic curves were higher for the nighttime (0.69) and daytime (0.66) metrics than that of all-day metrics (0.63, P < 0.001 for all comparisons). The model combining both nighttime and daytime metrics achieved the highest predictive capacity (0.73), with nighttime MODD emerging as the most important predictor.ConclusionsHigher CGM-derived mean glucose and glycemic variability were linked with higher steatosis degree. CGM-derived metrics during nighttime and daytime provided distinct and complementary insights into hepatic steatosis.

Evaluation of Scikit-Learn Machine Learning Algorithms for Improving CMA-WSP v2.0 Solar Radiation Prediction

This article aims to evaluate the performance of solar radiation forecasts produced by CMA-WSP v2.0 (version 2 of the China Meteorological Administration Wind and Solar Energy Prediction System) and to explore the application of machine learning algorithms from the scikit-learn Python library to improve the solar radiation prediction made by the CMA-WSP v2.0. It is found that the performance of the solar radiation forecasting from the CMA-WSP v2.0 is closely related to the weather conditions, with notable diurnal fluctuations. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) produced by the CMA-WSP v2.0 is approximately 74% between 11:00 and 13:00. However, the MAPE ranges from 193% to 242% at 07:00–08:00 and 17:00–18:00, which is greater than that observed at other daytime periods. The MAPE is relatively low (high) for both sunny and cloudy (overcast and rainy) conditions, with a high probability of an absolute percentage error below 25% (above 100%). The forecasts tend to underestimate (overestimate) the observed solar radiation in sunny and cloudy (overcast and rainy) conditions. By applying machine learning models (such as linear regression, decision trees, K-nearest neighbors, random forests regression, adaptive boosting, and gradient boosting regression) to revise the solar radiation forecasts, the MAPE produced by the CMA-WSP v2.0 is significantly reduced. The reduction in the MAPE is closely connected to the weather conditions. The models of K-nearest neighbors, random forests regression, and decision trees can reduce the MAPE in all weather conditions. The K-nearest neighbor model exhibits the most optimal performance among these models, particularly in rainy conditions. The random forest regression model demonstrates the second-best performance compared to that of the K-nearest neighbor model. The gradient boosting regression model has been observed to reduce the MAPE of the CMA-WSP v2.0 in all weather conditions except rainy. In contrast, the adaptive boosting (linear regression) model exhibited a diminished capacity to improve the CMA-WSP v2.0 solar radiation prediction, with a slight reduction in MAPE observed only in sunny (sunny and cloudy) conditions. In addition, the input feature selection has a considerable influence on the performance of the machine learning model. The incorporation of the time series data associated with the diurnal variation of solar radiation as an input feature can further improve the model’s performance.

Occupant-driven end use load models for demand response and flexibility service participation of residential grid-interactive buildings

As demand response becomes increasingly used as a tool to support improved grid flexibility, it is important to consider that there are many potential types of energy end uses that may be used to support such flexibility. Residential appliances, often accounting for 30 % or more of residential energy use, are a currently untapped source of demand flexibility, particularly when aggregated together across homes. To date there has been very limited analysis of residential appliances for use as grid-interactive loads. As such, this research uses disaggregated energy end use data for 564 households, to model the electricity demand flexibility potential of the use of residential dishwashers, clothes washers, clothes dryers, ovens, and ranges (oven + stovetop) on both weekdays and weekends. This includes both at the building level, as well as aggregated to the grid level, specifically the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) region. This study was divided into two parts. Part 1 focuses on determining appliance-level loads, and Part 2, which involves aggregation to the grid. Findings suggest that among the studied appliances, clothes dryers provide the greatest demand reduction potential for most times of the day, followed by dishwashers and clothes washers. The maximum potential reduction for clothes dryers is found to be approximately at 11:00 a.m. and this potential sustains throughout most of the daytime period. When considering the willingness of households to participate, based on a survey of households in the Midwest region, clothes dryers still have the most potential for demand reduction. The availability of appliances for load modulation on weekdays and weekends indicates similar load reduction potential for all appliances. Overall, the results of this study suggest that there is an opportunity for shifting appliance usage to optimize grid efficiency and enhance demand response strategies.

A pilot study to detect the effects of a green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) nutraceutical on working farm dogs with musculoskeletal abnormalities using accelerometry

ABSTRACT Aims To obtain preliminary data on changes in gait from the use of a green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) extract product in working farm dogs with musculoskeletal abnormalities using accelerometry. Methods: New Zealand working farm dogs (n = 32) with signs of musculoskeletal abnormalities were enrolled in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled cross-over study. Each dog was allocated to one of six groups to receive three trial substances (180 mg full fat green-lipped mussel extract (GLME180); 220 mg full fat green-lipped mussel extract (GLME220); placebo) in one of the six possible different orders. Each trial substance was administered orally once a day for an 8-week period, with a 4-week washout in between each. Dogs wore a collar-mounted triaxial accelerometer for the study duration. Diet and activity were not controlled. Accelerations were recorded continuously and analysed (n = 27) in 10-second activity epochs partitioned into daytime and night-time periods. Analysis of activity during the daytime period was limited to epochs when dogs were gaiting faster than a walk. The median and IQR of activity were determined for the daytime and night-time. Additionally, the 75th and 90th percentiles of daytime activity for each 24-hour period were determined. Mixed effects linear regression models were constructed to determine if each trial substance altered the response variables. Results During the daytime, the 90th percentile was higher when dogs were given GLME220 compared with the placebo (β coefficient 2.6; 95% CI = 0.25–4.94; p = 0.03). Dogs that started the trial with the GLME products had a higher 90th percentile activity compared with dogs that began with the placebo (β coefficient 26.26; 95% CI = 0.45–52.06; p = 0.046). The 75th percentile for activity was not affected by the GLME product. The daytime IQR was larger when dogs were given the GLME180 product compared with the placebo (β coefficient 1.25; 95% CI = 0.12–2.37; p = 0.03). Night-time median activity and the IQR was greater in dogs that started the trial with the GLME products than in dogs that began with the placebo. The night-time IQR for activity was greater for GLME180 than for the placebo. Conclusions Administration of a low dose of the GLME-containing product increased peak activity in working farm dogs with signs of musculoskeletal abnormalities and may improve their performance. Clinical relevance Even mildly affected working farm dogs might benefit from support of their musculoskeletal abnormalities, and this particular GLME-based product shows promise as an adjunct to other management strategies.

Dialysate Sodium Levels, Ambulatory Aortic Blood Pressure and Arterial Stiffness in Hemodialysis Patients.

Increased aortic blood-pressure(BP) and arterial stiffness are associated with higher cardiovascular risk in hemodialysis. Previous works showed that lower dialysate sodium is associated with lower brachial-BP; data on aortic-BP and arterial stiffness are limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different dialysate sodium concentrations on 72-h aortic-BP and arterial stiffness parameters in hemodialysis patients. This analysis is part of a prospective, non-randomized interventional study. Twenty-five hemodialysis patients underwent a set of three periods of different dialysate sodium concentrations; six sessions with dialysate sodium of 137meq/L, followed consecutively by six sessions with 139meq/L and, finally, six sessions with 141meq/L. At the start of the sixth hemodialysis session on each sodium concentration, 72-h ABPM (Mobil-O-Graph) was performed to evaluate aortic-BP and arterial stiffness indices during the overall 72-h, different 24-h, day-time and night-time periods. Mean 72-h aortic SBP/DBP were higher with increasing dialysate sodium concentrations (137meq/L: 114.2±15.3/77.0±11.8mmHg vs 139meq/L: 115.4±17.3/77.9±14.0mmHg vs 141meq/L: 120.5±18.4/80.5±14.7mmHg, p=0.002/p=0.057, respectively). Wave-reflections parameters (AIx, AIx(75), AP) were not significantly different between the three dialysate sodium concentrations. Ambulatory PWV was significantly higher with increasing dialysate sodium concentrations (137meq/L: 8.5±1.7m/s vs 139meq/L: 8.6±1.6m/s vs 141meq/L: 8.8±1.6m/s, p<0.001). In generalized linear-mixed-models including 72-h brachial SBP as random covariate, the adjusted marginal-means of 72-h PWV were not significantly different between-groups. This study showed that lower dialysate sodium concentrations are associated with significant decreases in ambulatory aortic BP and PWV. This study showed that higher dialysate sodium concentrations are associated with significant increases in ambulatory aortic BP and PWV. These findings further support the need for modification of dialysate sodium concentration in hemodialysis.

Short-Term Variability of Both Brachial and Aortic Blood Pressure is Increased in Patients with Immune-mediated Chronic Inflammation.

Blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) has emerged as an indicator of subclinical organ damage and an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality in high-risk populations. We aimed to assess short-term variability of both brachial and aortic BP in psoriasis, a common immune-mediated inflammatory disorder characterized by increased CVD risk. Psoriasis patients and non-psoriasis individuals had their BP assessed throughout a 24h period (Mobil-O-Graph device). Brachial and aortic BPV during the 24h and the respective daytime and nighttime periods was calculated from relevant ambulatory BP profiles. In-house software was applied to automatically calculate average real variability (ARV) of brachial and aortic systolic (bSBP, aSBP) and diastolic BP (bDPB, aDBP), and the weighted standard deviation (wSD) of 24h bSBP/aSBP. 24h pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) were used as widely applied markers of arterial stiffness. Psoriasis patients (n = 74) presented increased ARV of 24h and daytime bSBP/aSBP, and increased ARV of 24h and daytime bDBP/aDBP, compared to controls (n = 40). PWV and AIx correlated with ARV of 24h bSBP/aSBP, daytime bSBP/aSBP, while PWV further correlated with ARV of nighttime aSBP. The observed associations with PWV, yet not AIx, with indices of BPV remained significant after adjusting for CVD risk factors. This is the first study reporting increased 24h variability of both brachial and aortic BP in psoriasis. The association of short-term BPV with arterial stiffness implies a potential role of BPV in terms of CVD risk stratification in patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammation.

Changes in Compound Hot Extremes over the Mid–High Latitudes of Asia and the Underlying Mechanisms

Abstract This study investigates the spatiotemporal variations of the summer frequency of daytime–nighttime compound extreme high-temperature events (FCEHEs) in the mid–high latitudes of Asia (MHA) from 1979 to 2014. Results show that FCEHE has shown an upward trend with fluctuations, especially in Mongolia–Baikal. The descending anomaly caused by the anomalous high pressure over Mongolia–Baikal results in reduced cloud cover, which increases solar radiation reaching the ground, favoring the higher FCEHE. This process is consistent during the daytime and nighttime periods, with relatively limited nighttime solar radiation, potentially compensated by the increased downward longwave radiation to sustain the extreme high temperatures. This benefit process is closely connected with two main factors: the increased sea ice in the Barents Sea during spring and the anomalously warm sea surface temperature (SST) in the Northwest Pacific during summer. The increased sea ice can affect the Eurasia (EU) teleconnection, while the warm SST affects the Pacific-Japan/East Asia–Pacific pattern (PJ/EAP). Subsequently, these factors further modulate the circulation anomalies and then FCEHE. Significance Statement This study provides valuable insights into the spatiotemporal variations and the possible underlying mechanisms for change in the frequency of daytime–nighttime compound extreme high-temperature events (FCEHEs) in the mid–high latitudes of Asia. The spring sea ice anomalies over the Barents Sea and summer sea surface temperature anomalies in the Northwest Pacific affect the local anticyclonic circulation in Mongolia–Baikal through Eurasia (EU) and Pacific-Japan/East Asia–Pacific (PJ/EAP) patterns, respectively. The resulting descending anomaly and reduced cloud cover contribute to interannual variations of FCEHE, which is highly similar during the daytime and nighttime periods. During the nighttime, when the solar radiation is relatively limited, the increased downward longwave radiation may compensate to sustain extreme high temperatures.

A WORKLOAD DEPENDENT RESOURCE CONSTRAINED SCHEDULING PROBLEM FOR NAVY HELICOPTER PILOTS

In this paper, we consider a problem inspired by a real-life problem, which aims to schedule high multiplicity jobs on a single machine by taking into account the organization-specific constraints in a different schedule structure. The schedule is daily with daytime and nighttime periods. The operator is considered as an additional resource that varies in terms of consumption and scheduling depending on the period. There are specific rest periods before and after night-period jobs, and night-period jobs affect both the daily working time and number of the jobs in the daytime- period. In addition, the operator's daily workload is divided into two categories: normal and heavy. If the workload is heavy on consecutive days, specific rest periods must be scheduled. The integer programming model of the problem is presented. The feasible solutions obtained in a short time with greedy constructive heuristic algorithms are used in the exact solution approach as both upper bound and warm-start point. Finally, the effectiveness of the solution approaches is compared and evaluated through numerical experiments carried out for a variety of problem instances of different sizes.

Exploration of COVID-19 associated bradycardia using heart rate variability analysis in a case-control study of ARDS patients

BackgroundBradycardia and dysautonomia observed during SARS-Cov2 infection suggests involvement of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Limited data exists on ANS dysregulation and its association with outcomes in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) related to COVID-19 (C-ARDS) or other etiologies (NC-ARDS). ObjectivesWe aimed to explore sympathovagal balance, assessed by heart rate variability (HRV), and its clinical prognostic value in C-ARDS compared with NC-ARDS. MethodsA single-center, prospective case-control study was conducted. Consecutive patients meeting ARDS criteria between 2020 and 2022 were included. HRV was assessed using 1-hour electrographic tracing during a stable, daytime period. ResultsTwenty-four patients with C-ARDS and 19 with NC-ARDS were included. Age, sex and ARDS severity were similar between groups. The median heart rate was markedly lower in the C-ARDS group than in the NC-ARDS group (60 [53–72] versus 101 [91–112] bpm, p<.001). Most of HRV parameters were significantly increased in patients with C-ARDS. HRV correlated with heart rate only in patients with C-ARDS. A positive correlation was found between the low-to high-frequency ratio (LF/HF) and length of intensive care unit stay (r = 0.576, p<.001). ConclusionThis study confirmed that C-ARDS was associated with marked bradycardia and severe ANS impairment, suggesting a sympathovagal imbalance with vagal overtone. Poor outcomes appeared to be more related to sympathetic rather than parasympathetic hyperactivation.

Reducing Waiting Times and Admission Periods through Pre-Admission Testing: A Quality Improvement Study on In-Hospital Renal Biopsy.

Background: Admission for renal biopsy is considered the gold standard for diagnosing kidney disease. However, prolonged waiting times for admission can lead to delayed diagnosis. Despite this issue, there are currently no studies demonstrating how to improve the efficiency of renal biopsy procedures. Methods: We initiated a quality improvement project to implement pre-admission testing (PAT) for renal biopsy from 2016 to 2024 (until 15 April). Our evaluation focused on waiting times for admission, length of admission periods, hospitalization expenses, percentage of cases with no renal biopsy performed, incidence of severe bleeding due to renal biopsy, and percentage of cases with adequate tissue samples obtained. Additionally, we highlighted the time periods during the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2. Results: The highest annual case number was observed in time period 1 (168.3/year). Following the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, there was a notable decrease in case numbers during time period 2 (119.8), which then increased to 143.0 in time period 3 (post-SARS-CoV-2 era). The mean waiting time was 13.72 ± 40.30 days for time period 1 and 10.00 ± 47.80 days for time period 2, without statistical significance. Following the implementation of PAT, patients now only need to wait approximately 0.76 days for admission, representing a significant reduction in waiting time. Subsequently, following the implementation of PAT, the waiting time decreased significantly to 2.09 ± 2.65 days. Additionally, hospitalization expenses per patient significantly decreased from approximately USD 69.62 ± 97.09 to USD 41.66 ± 52.82. The percentage of missed biopsy is significantly low (p < 0.001). Severe bleeding events (indicated as embolization and blood transfusion) were consistent across the three time periods (p = 0.617). Conclusions: The implementation of PAT can improve the pre-admission process for renal biopsy, resulting in decreased waiting times, fewer missed appointments, shorter admission durations, and reduced hospitalization expenses. We propose implementing PAT for outpatient individuals awaiting in-hospital renal biopsy procedures to mitigate delayed diagnosis, reduce pre-admission waiting periods, and streamline admission processes, thereby enhancing overall patient care efficiency.

Microclimatic effects of introduced tree plantings in urban environment

Ecological role of urban green spaces is increasing in order to provide citizens with comfortable and safe living conditions in the new climatic realities through the use of ecosystem services of tree and shrub stands in the setting of reduced forest areas, native forest decline and acceleration of urbanization processes. However, in Europe and, in particular, in Ukraine, deterioration of the environmental condition and loss of ecological functions of urban green spaces are observed. One of the reasons for the loss of ecological potential of tree and shrub plantings is unbalanced approach to the development of green infrastructure in cities, when socio-cultural ecosystem services (decorative, aesthetic) are preferred over environmental and regulatory ones, including over climate-regulating services. The active use of introduced tree species has always been driven by the development of green infrastructure in modern cities; the share of these species in dendroflora of urban ecosystems is steadily increasing in Europe. Introduced tree species comprise the basis of urban green infrastructure; therefore, the issue of determining the potential microclimatic effects of these species becomes relevant. The influence of tree species (Acer pseudoplatanus, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Gleditsia triacanthos, Morus alba, Quercus rubra, Robinia pseudoacacia, Tilia platyphyllos) introduced in the Steppe zone of Ukraine on the formation of microclimatic parameters (light intensity, temperature and relative air humidity) in the space beneath the tree canopy within monodominant group plantings is analyzed in Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University and park areas of Dnipro city. Beneficial effect of group plantings consisting of introduced tree species on the processes of optimizing the microclimatic conditions of the urban environment is revealed. Beneath the canopy of introduced tree species (compared to the reference open sites), light intensity decreased from 86.9% to 97.9% at midday in late July. The air temperature decreased from 3°C to 6.5°C, and the relative humidity increased by 2.5–9.8%, depending on the species of the tree. By increasing the microclimatic efficiency, the studied tree introducents were determined to form the following series: Gleditsia triacanthos – Robinia pseudoacacia – Fraxinus pennsylvanica – Quercus rubra – Tilia platyphyllos – Acer pseudoplatanus – Morus alba. Along with a significant climate-regulating effect, monodominant group plantings consisting of dense- and semi-dense crowned introduced tree species become "cooling islands" and play a significant role in optimizing the microclimatic conditions of urban ecosystems during the daytime and summer periods. At the same time, introduced tree species with naturally developed dense and semi-dense crowns can be prioritized for creating and reconstructing green spaces with recreational purposes in the cities situated in Steppe zone. The results obtained regarding the microclimatic effects of introduced tree species expand the scientific and theoretical base for the development of methods for optimizing the functionality of green infrastructure in cities by the construction of green spaces using tree species that have significant climate-regulating properties.

Circadian occurence patterns of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery during 2.5 years of continuous rhythm monitoring

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery, and current theories suggest that the autonomic nervous system plays a major role in the development of early postoperative AF (early-POAF).(1) However, its role in late recurrences is still unknown. Previous studies in non-surgical patients have revealed distinct preferential patterns of AF occurrence, such as adrenergic/daytime AF or nocturnal AF.(2, 3) Nevertheless, circadian onset patterns for POAF have never been studied before. Purpose To establish the circadian occurrence patterns of POAF after cardiac surgery during 2.5 years of continuous rhythm monitoring. Methods Patients with and without a history of AF undergoing cardiac surgery were included. Continuous rhythm monitoring was performed over a period of 2.5 years. POAF was defined as an AF episode lasting 2 minutes or longer, detected by the ILR algorithm, and all episodes were manually checked by the investigators. Circadian distribution of AF episode onset was presented in circadian plots for the early postoperative phase (first 90 days) and late postoperative phase (after the first 90 days). Additionally, comparisons for circadian occurrence patterns were made between early and late POAF, after dividing the daytime period into four equal time intervals (night = 12 a.m. to 5.59 a.m., morning = 6 a.m. to 11.59 a.m., afternoon = 12 p.m. to 5.59 p.m., evening = 6 p.m. to 11.59 p.m.), both in patients with and without a preoperative AF history. Results The study population consisted of 98 patients (71 without a preoperative AF history and 27 with a preoperative AF history), of which 53 developed POAF (29 without a preoperative AF history and 24 with a preoperative AF history), resulting in a total of 3607 confirmed AF episodes (Figure 1). Early-POAF occurred in 46 patients, while late-POAF occurred in 36 patients. In both patients with and without AF history, the majority of early-POAF episodes occurred between 12 a.m. and 12 p.m. (59.2% and 55.9%, respectively) (Figure 2). In patients without AF history, late-POAF occurred predominantly in the evening (26.7%), particularly episodes lasting between 10 and 360 minutes, and in the afternoon (32.3%), with a greater number of episodes lasting &amp;lt;10 minutes (Figure 2). Patients with AF history experienced most late-POAF episodes at night (26.4%) and during the morning (33.1%), with a peak of short episodes (&amp;lt;10 minutes) in the morning (Figure 2). The circadian distribution was significantly different between early- and late-POAF for both patients with and without AF history (p&amp;lt;0.001 and p&amp;lt;0.001, respectively). Conclusion In patients without a preoperative AF history, early-POAF showed a more heterogeneous circadian occurrence pattern compared to late-POAF, which occurred mostly in the evening and afternoon. In patients with a preoperative AF history, POAF initiated mostly during the night and in the morning.Figure 1Figure 2

A robust assessment of inland waterway collision risk based on AIS and visual data fusion

By integrating AIS data with visual data, this study aims to propose a data fusion-based methodology for the robust assessment of vessel collision risk in inland waterways. With the data from the Huangpu River, one case study is created and comparison results show that visual data could greatly overestimate the vessel collision risk while the vessel conflict count could be underestimated from AIS data. The proposed methodology could contribute to a 35.70% reduction in the false detection rate compared to the pure visual data but an increase of 16.84% in the conflict detection accuracy compared to the AIS data. Moreover, results show that the proposed methodology is able to perform much better than the pure AIS data technique during the daytime period while it outperforms the pure visual data technique during the nighttime period. This suggests that the proposed data-fusion methodology could provide a more reliable and accurate estimate for the vessel collision risk in inland waterways. Results also show that higher collision risk is associated with the high tide period and turning area in the Huangpu River. Therefore, special attention should be placed to enhance the navigation safety during this time period for the inland waterway turning area.

#1488 Dialysate sodium and short-term blood pressure variability in patients with intradialytic hypertension: a randomized crossover study

Abstract Background and Aims Increased blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) is associated with high cardiovascular risk in hemodialysis. Patients with intradialytic hypertension (IDH) also exhibited an increased cardiovascular risk than hemodialysis patients without this condition. The impact of non-pharmacological BP-lowering interventions on BPV in this population remains unknown. This analysis evaluated the effect of low (137 mEq/L) compared to standard (140 mEq/L) dialysate sodium concentration on short-term BPV in patients with IDH. Method In a randomized cross-over manner, 29 patients with IDH underwent 4 hemodialysis sessions with low (137 mEq/L) followed by 4 sessions with standard (140 mEq/L) dialysate sodium or vice versa according to randomization arm. 48-h ABPM was performed from the start of the 4th session on each dialysate sodium. BPV indices during the 48-h, 24-h, day-time and night-time periods were calculated with validated formulas. Results Mean 48-h BP was lower by 5.3/2.6 mmHg with low compared to standard dialysate sodium concentration, (p = 0.005/p = 0.007) respectively). All 48-h systolic BPV indices examined showed non-significant differences between low and standard dialysate sodium (SBP-SD: 16.99 ± 5.39 vs. 16.98 ± 4.33 mmHg; p = 0.982; SBP-wSD: 15.93 ± 5.02 vs. 16.12 ± 4.16 mmHg, p = 0.769; SBP-ARV: 11.99 ± 3.67 vs. 11.45 ± 3.35 mmHg, p = 0.392 and SBP-CV: 12.36 ± 3.65 vs. 11.92 ± 3.18%, p = 0.302, with low vs. standard dialysate sodium, respectively). Diastolic BPV indices were numerically, but not statistically, lower with low dialysate sodium. Overall, significant differences were observed in some further comparisons relevant to a trend for lower BPV during daytime 2 and higher BVP during nighttime 2 during treatment with low dialysate sodium. Conclusion Low dialysate sodium concentration does not affect BPV levels in patients with IDH. Future research should further explore alternative interventions to reduce BP and BPV in this high-risk population.

Geospatial artificial intelligence for estimating daytime and nighttime nitrogen dioxide concentration variations in Taiwan: A spatial prediction model

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a major air pollutant primarily emitted from traffic and industrial activities, posing health risks. However, current air pollution models often underestimate exposure risks by neglecting the bimodal pattern of NO2 levels throughout the day. This study aimed to address this gap by developing ensemble mixed spatial models (EMSM) using geo-artificial intelligence (Geo-AI) to examine the spatial and temporal variations of NO2 concentrations at a high resolution of 50m. These EMSMs integrated spatial modelling methods, including kriging, land use regression, machine learning, and ensemble learning. The models utilized 26 years of observed NO2 measurements, meteorological parameters, geospatial layers, and social and season-dependent variables as representative of emission sources. Separate models were developed for daytime and nighttime periods, which achieved high reliability with adjusted R2 values of 0.92 and 0.93, respectively. The study revealed that mean NO2 concentrations were significantly higher at nighttime (9.60 ppb) compared to daytime (5.61 ppb). Additionally, winter exhibited the highest NO2 levels regardless of time period. The developed EMSMs were utilized to generate maps illustrating NO2 levels pre and during COVID restrictions in Taiwan. These findings could aid epidemiological research on exposure risks and support policy-making and environmental planning initiatives.

FEASIBILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF A RING-TYPE BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT DEVICE COMPARED WITH 24-HOUR AMBULATORY BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING DEVICE

Objective: This investigation aimed to assess the feasibility and accuracy of the CART-I Plus, a novel ring-type cuffless blood pressure (BP) measuring device and compare its performance with standard 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Design and method: The study recruited 40 patients, of which 33 were included in the final analysis. Participants were instructed to wear both the CART-I Plus and the ABPM devices on the same arm for a duration of approximately 24 hours. The BP readings obtained from the CART-I Plus, which utilizes photoplethysmography (PPG) signals for measurement, were compared against those from the ABPM. Results: In terms of systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) readings, the CART-I Plus recorded values of 131.4±14.1 / 81.1±12.0 mmHg, 132.7±13.9 / 81.9±11.9 mmHg, and 128.7±14.6 / 79.3±12.2 mmHg for the 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime periods, respectively. In comparison, the ABPM showed readings of 129.7±11.7 / 84.4±11.2 mmHg, 131.9±11.6 / 86.3±11.1 mmHg, and 124.5±13.6 / 80.0±12.2 mmHg for the same intervals. The mean variances in SBP/DBP between the CART-I Plus and ABPM were 1.74±6.69 / -3.24±6.51 mmHg, 0.75±7.44 / -4.41±7.42 mmHg, and 4.15±6.15 / -0.67±5.23 mmHg for the 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime measurements, respectively. Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between the devices, with correlation coefficients of r=0.725 for SBP and r=0.750 for DBP during the transition from daytime to nighttime (both p &lt;0.001). Conclusions: The CART-I Plus device, with its innovative ring-type design, demonstrates considerable accuracy in BP measurement, aligning closely with the established ABPM method. These findings indicate that the CART-I Plus could be an effective tool for continuous BP monitoring in clinical settings. Its ability to provide consistent and reliable measurements, along with the convenience of its cuffless design, highlights its potential as a valuable addition to current BP monitoring practices.

Experimental Study on Compressive Strength of the Cement Mortar Cubes with Partial Replacement of Fine Aggregate Using Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Plastic

Mortar is a material that consists of cement and sand with a range of applications in the construction industry. However, the plain mortar materials are usually brittle and often crack and fail more suddenly than reinforced mortar. This experimental study is about the compressive strength of cement mortar stabilised with the use of the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic powder. Generally the compressive strength of cement mortar of mix proportion (1:3) is 33 N/mm² to 53 N/mm² has been obtained after 28 days curing. The cement mortar ratio is 1: 3 respectively. The PVC powder is added along with the sand with percentages of 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10% respectively. And the water cement ratio is 0.5 with volume. The moulds of 70×70×70 mm size were used for the cube test, and the cubes were tested on the Compressive testing machine to determine the strength of cube for 3, 7, 28 days of time period respectively. The main aim of f this study to determine the compressive strength of cement mortar (1:3) of sand added with PVC powder, Key Words:- Waste Plastic, Polyvinyl Chloride, Compressive Strength, Mortar.