High Concentration Levels Research Articles

The storm runoff management strategy based on agricultural ditch nutrient loss characteristics in Erhai Lake, China

Initial flush management is an effective measure to control non-point source pollution (NPSP) in storm runoff. However, determining the parameter of the initial flush in different areas may pose challenges in storm runoff management strategies. To address this issue, Erhai Lake in China, Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, was selected as an example for the study. Erhai Lake is a typical mesotrophic lake with the profound influence of NPSP. The NPSP control strategy in this area will provide a valuable reference for other lakes. In 2021, 289 storm events and 190 ditchwater samples were detected around Erhai Lake. The average flow in the ditches ranged from 0.004 to 0.147 m3/s, the instant total nitrogen (TN) concentration ranged from 0.28 to 91.43 mg/L, and the instant total phosphorus (TP) concentration ranged from 0.26 to 7.35 mg/L in the storm events. It was found that the concentration of pollutants was lower than expected in the initial flush period. Instead, the event mean concentrations of TN and TP were 9.3 and 2.1 times higher than in the wet seasons, showing high nutrient concentration levels throughout the entire rainfall period. To manage storm runoff effectively, a flow-processes-division method was proposed to analyze the inflow condition and pollutant removal rate in different runoff periods. The peak flow interception strategy was recommended as the optimal stormwater management plan, as it showed the highest inflow conditions and 50% pollutant removal rate.Considering the need to reduce the constant flush of stormwater runoff, it is essential to establish a healthy water cycle system to alleviate NPSP and raise the Erhai water level. The storm runoff management method can serve as a practical tool for lake areas that do not exhibit initial flush characteristics.

РЫНОК ОБЯЗАТЕЛЬНОГО СТРАХОВАНИЯ ГРАЖДАНСКОЙ ОТВЕТСТВЕННОСТИ ВЛАДЕЛЬЦЕВ ОПАСНЫХ ОБЪЕКТОВ: РИСКИ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ

The article is dedicated to analyzing the risks of monopolization in the compulsory insurance market for civil liability of hazardous object owners. The paper examines the current situation in the insurance market, analyzing the causes of oligopoly formation and decreasing competition, including high requirements for insurers, low insurance premiums, and the low attractiveness of this type of insurance for agents and brokers. Special attention is given to the financial and administrative barriers for new market participants, as well as the structure of insurance premiums, which are distributed among insurance pools. Based on data on insurance premiums and market concentration indicators, the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index was calculated, demonstrating a high level of concentration in the OSOPO market. Trends toward mergers and acquisitions of insurance companies were identified, further contributing to the monopolization of the market. The proposed measures aim to reduce the level of monopolization, increase the accessibility of OSOPO for insurers, and improve conditions for the development of this segment of the insurance market.

Selective and precise solid phase extraction based on a magnetic cellulose gold nanocomposite followed by ICP-OES analysis for monitoring of total sulfur content in liquid fuels.

This study describes the synthesis and characterization of a magnetic cellulose gold nanocomposite (MCNC@Au) for magnetic solid phase (m-SPE) extraction of total sulfur content in liquid fuel samples followed by analysis using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The nanocomposite was prepared using an in situ co-precipitation method and characterization results from FTIR, P-XRD, TEM and SEM-EDX techniques confirmed the formation of the targeted nanocomposite. To achieve good extraction efficiency, the 2-level half-fractional factorial design and central composite design were used to investigate the most influential parameters of the proposed m-SPE method. The multivariate optimization results showed that efficient extraction was obtained when 27.5 mg sorbent mass, 35 minutes sorption time, 200 μL eluent volume and 8 min elution time were used. The optimal parameters resulted in excellent accuracy (98.8%), precision (1.7%), LOD (0.039 mg L-1), LOQ (0.129 mg L-1), MDL (0.014 μg g-1) and MQL (0.047 μg g-1). The optimized and validated m-SPE method was applied in real fuel oil samples, revealing a total sulfur content range of 13.20 ± 0.05-15.70 ± 0.02 μg g-1 for crude oil, 7.32 ± 0.01-9.12 ± 0.03 for μg g-1, 8.41 ± 0.02-9.15 ± 0.06 μg g-1 for gasoline and 9.10 ± 0.02 and 9.70 ± 0.04 μg g-1 for kerosene samples, sugesting high concentration levels of sulfur in crude oils. However, the obtained sulfur content levels are within the accepted standards in fuel oils, except for those of crude oil and kerosene samples. Therefore, the proposed m-SPE method followed by ICP-OES analysis has proven to be an alternative procedure for rapid and selective quantification of total sulfur in fuel samples.

Analysis of concentrations of nitrate salts of PM2.5 in downwind marine atmospheres related to gas-particle partitioning and different sources in China

In order to explore the concentration characteristics and sources of major inorganic ions in marine atmospheric PM2.5, this study explores the concentration features of major inorganic ions in PM2.5 under the marine atmospheric observations of the offshore ~2000 km coastline of China in the downwind direction of the land-based sources. The observation results showed that the concentration of NO3- ranged from 0.03-10 μg m-3 with a variation of three orders of magnitude, and the main contributing species in PM2.5 was NO3- in the high concentration level observation period. The E-AIM results showed that NH3, HNO3 did not reach thermodynamic equilibrium with NH4+, NO3-, and ammonium nitrate was in volatile state, both during the day and at night. The results of the source analysis using PMF showed that there were three factors with identifiable contributions to NO3-, with Factor 1 considered to be a source of ship emissions, Factor 2 reflecting aerosols under low and medium pollution scenarios, and Factor 3 being aerosols under heavy pollution scenarios. Factor 3 was the main contributing source of NO3- concentration with a contribution of 84%, followed by Factor 2 (contribution of 15%) and the lowest contribution by Factor 1 (0.7%).

Impact of water stress on morpho-physiological and biochemical traits in rice genotypes

Laboratory and field screening were performed in nine rice genotypes i.e., TM 12061, TM 12077, TM 12012, TM 14035, TM 16017, Senthuram, Vandhana, TKM 12 and Anna (R) 4 to assess their drought tolerant potential. For laboratory screening, the effect of different levels of Poly Ethylene Glycol (PEG) concentration viz., -0.2, -0.4, -0.6 and -1.0 MPa on germination, shoot length and root length were studied. There was a considerable decrease in the germination potential among all the genotypes with increase in PEG concentration. The TM 12077 showed higher level of tolerance to PEG induced drought stress showing 30.8 % germination with 3.2 cm and 8.85 cm shoot and root length, respectively at higher level of concentration (1.0 MPa). In the field screening under managed stress condition, TM 12077 and TM 12012 showed higher accumulation of proline (4.15 mg/g). Chlorophyll stability index was more than 80 % in the genotypes TM 12012, TM 12077 and TM 12061. The genotype TM 14035, the varieties Anna (R) 4 and Vandhana matured early in 115 days. Number of tillers per plant, number of panicles/sqm and yield/hectare were maximum in TM 12077. While considering both laboratory and field screening, the genotypes TM 12077, TM 12012 and TM 12061 were found promising for water stress environment and can be utilized as donors in the drought tolerance breeding programs. High heritability coupled with moderate to high GA as per cent of mean recorded for plant height, tillers per plant, chlorophyll stability Index and total chlorophyll content indicates the presence of additive gene effects and their improvement through direct selection. Bangladesh J. Bot. 52(4): 1041-1046, 2023 (December)

Alpha-amylase Inhibition of Carpobrotus edulis (L.) Bolus Exposed to Low and High-Temperature Conditions

Carpobrotus edulis is an edible medicinal plant from South Africa and is used for the treatment of different ailments and disorders, including diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is a persistent metabolic condition distinguished by high levels of glucose concentrations in the bloodstream. Due to climate change-related conditions, plants may be subjected to extreme temperature events such as cold fronts and heat waves. Hence the aim of the study was to expose Carpobrotus edulis leaves to temperature conditions and then assesses their antidiabetic activity against alpha-amylase in different solvents. The objective was to keep plants in growth chambers set at either 15/10oC and 45/35oC (day and night), respectively, and harvested at 48-hour intervals (48, 96, and 144). These were compared to plant samples in control conditions (25/15oC). Under control (25/15°C) conditions, the aqueous extract displayed effective inhibition of alpha-amylase (IC50 = 195mg/ml). In contrast to the control extracts, the hexane solvent consistently exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against alpha-amylase under both low (15/10°C) and high (45/35°C) temperature conditions. This trend was observed across all three harvest durations. After 48 hours of high-temperature conditions, the IC50 value was 131mg/ml. While after 96 and 144 hours of low-temperature conditions, the IC50 values were 214mg/ml and 131mg/ml, respectively. The results suggest that Carpobrotus edulis, exposed to low and high temperature conditions, has potential antidiabetic properties against alpha-amylase. This is an interesting aspect of how environmental conditions can impact medicinal properties. The outcome may have significant implications for the use of the plant by indigenous people, who depend on it for the treatment of various ailments, including diabetes. It will also have implications for the antidiabetic research of the plant as well as climate change research.

Enhancement of Phosphorus Sorption onto Peanut shell by Means of Aluminum and Iron Oxide Coatings

Phosphorus serves as a crucial nutrient for the organisms. Still, the discharge of high levels of phosphate concentrations into limited aquatic environments leads to the phenomenon known as eutrophication, which subsequently leads to the degradation of the overall water quality. In this study the capacity of the peanut shell, Al-coated and Fe-coated is determined in relating by adding 10, 20, and 30, 40 mg P L-1 as (KH2PO4) to 1.0 g of each sample and shaking for 2, 6, 12, and 24 h and at pH ranged between 4.6, 5.2, 6.3 and 7.8. At the end of each period, the suspension was filtered and analyzed which presents the concentration of equilibrium P. The maximum P adsorption of 28.9±0.07 and 50.6±0.49% was recorded for 24 h of incubation and at pH (4.6) with an Al-coated peanut shell respectively. The findings of this study demonstrated that the adsorption of phosphorus (P) increased as the duration of incubation increased. At the same time, it decreased with a decrease in the pH of the solution. Furthermore, the outcomes indicated that the Freundlich model provided the best fit for the data, based on higher R2 values ranging from 0.9867 to 0.9938, in comparison to the range of 0.9659 to 0.9904 observed for the Longmuir model. These results suggested that peanut shells coated with Al can be used to remove high amounts of P in the solution. Also, the removal resulted from the physical adsorption of P rather than a chemical reaction.

Research of the Competition Level for Manufacturers and Distributors of the Pharmaceutical Market in Ukraine

The article analyzes the development of the pharmaceutical market of Ukraine, proves the prospects of this industry in terms of the impact on the national economy and indicators of dynamics in the period from 2018 to 2021. During this period, the influence of global processes on the dynamics of the production indicators and sale of goods in the pharmaceutical market, the impact of the COVID pandemic is assessed and its consequences, as well as the beginning of a full-scale war of the RF against Ukraine.
 A retrospective study about the development of the main players of the pharmaceutical market in Ukraine at all levels of the medical products-representatives movement: from production to distribution of products by distributors, taking into account the national and foreign affiliation of a specific counterparty. The level of market monopolization was evaluated according to the Lind and Herfindahl-Hirschman indices, which are the most common methods among scientists for identifying the level of market concentration. It is illustrated that newly created and small enterprises of the pharmaceutical market, which constitute a competitive environment in the industry, deserve special attention. According to the results of the analysis, enterprises with an extremely high level of market concentration for manufacturers and distributors were also identified: “Farmak” and “Darnytsia” and “Optima-Pharm LTD” and “BaDM”, respectively.
 Among the manufacturers, a comparative analysis of structures in dynamics using the coefficient of structural shifts was additionally applied - to generalize the intensity of changes for 2021 and 2022. In the structure of distributors, particular attention is also paid to the enterprise «Venta LTD», which closes the top three enterprises in the farm industry, but has a risk of nationalization due to the share of Russian capital in the total assets of the enterprise, which gives time to other suppliers to occupy places on the trade niches, forming an oligopoly on market. As a result, specific decisions regarding state regularization as a way to solve the problem of pharmaceutical market monopolization by some of its representatives, related to the main principles of ensuring a competitive environment: transparency, control, support and protection of enterprises, are given to the conducted analysis. The specified information constitutes a promising direction of research – cooperative relations between manufacturers and distributors for the establishment of a logistics chain in today’s conditions.

Analysis of Chlorophyll-A Distribution And Sea Surface Temperature for Estimation of Skipjack Fishing Grounds (Katsuwonus Pelamis) Based on Different Seasons in South Buton Waters

The success of fishing activities is certainly greatly influenced by the conditions of the Fishing Ground (FG). Therefore, information about potential fishing areas is needed by fishermen in fishing activities. Chlorophyll-a is the primary productivity in water. The development of aquatic chlorophyll is influenced by Sea Surface Temperature (SST). The purpose of this study was to analyze the distribution of chlorophyll-a and sea surface temperature (SST) for estimating fish fishing areas based on different seasons in South Buton Waters. This type of research is exploratory research. This study used remote sensing method. The direct interview method with respondents aims to validate data (fishermen) from remote sensing processing. The study used Aqua Modis satellite imagery data to derive parameter values of chlorophyll-a and sea surface temperature. The results of the analysis of the distribution of chlorophyll-a in South Buton waters are the highest with chlorophyll-a concentrations ranging from 0.3-3.0 mg / m³ spread in the waters of Sampolawa and Batauga Districts with surface temperatures ranging from 26 °C and 33 °C. Eastern and Transitional Season II have high levels of chlorophyll-a concentration. This season will be a potential skipjack fishing area in South Buton Waters.

The evolution of carbides during long-term creep/aging of nickel based superalloy K444

In K444 alloy, the evolution of carbides during stress aging (creep) and stress-free aging at 900 °C for 5000 h, and interrupted at 3000 h were investigated, combining microstructure characterization and quantitative statistics method. After stress-free aging for 5000 h, the volume fraction of intragranular MC and M6C carbides decrease from 0.48 % to 0.66 %–0.26 % and 0.48 %, respectively, while that of M23C6 carbides increase to 0.28 %. The two degradation behaviors can be concluded as MC + γ → M6C + M23C6 + γ′ and M6C + γ → M23C6 + γ′ respectively. The former controlled by the diffusion of Ti occurred earlier, while the latter determined by the diffusion of W and Mo mainly happened later. The applied stress did not change degradation reactions while accelerate the degradation rate slightly. During stress-free aging, the morphology of grain boundaries (GBs) changed from discrete distribution to semi-continuous and then to continuous chain, and the content of MC and M6C carbides decreases while that of M23C6 carbides increases. The applied stress markedly promotes above behaviors. Especially, the completed continuous chain formed before 3000 h. Moreover, the applied stress induced the formation of cavitation on the GBs, which is attributed to the following reasons. First, it can accelerate the degradation of GBs and decline the GBs strength. What's more, dislocations pile up on the GBs and cause a high level of stress concentration. Finally, the new generated phase interfaces have a greater deviation with its adjacent carbides, weakening the binding force of GBs.

Combination of gold nanoclusters and silicon quantum dots for ratiometric fluorometry: One system, two mechanisms

A ratiometric fluorometry based on silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) and gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) is constructed for detecting activity of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in human serum. By using thiobutyrylcholine iodide (BTCh) as the substrate of BChE-catalyzed hydrolysis reaction, variation of fluorescence emission from AuNCs is employed as an indicator of BChE activity since one of the hydrolysis products, thiocholine (TCh), would influence the aggregation state of AuNCs and consequently led to the change of fluorescence quantum efficiency of AuNCs. It is interesting that there are two mechanisms working for the fluorescence emission of aggregated AuNCs: aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) and aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) with the presence of TCh at very low and higher concentration levels, respectively. Although both of these mechanisms can be utilized for sensing BChE, their opposite influence on the fluorescence emission of aggregated AuNCs should be worthy of attention, especially in the process of developing fluorescence methods for detecting trace targets by using AuNCs. In order to eliminate the fluctuation of fluorophotometer, SiQDs is chosen as the fluorophore to develop by ratiometric fluorescence methods in this work. Additionally, obvious aggregation of AuNCs induces significant decrease of inner filter effect (IFE) on the fluorescence emitted from SiQDs, while mild aggregation of AuNCs demonstrates little IFE. The linear ranges for detecting activity of BChE are 0.004 – 0.05 U/L and 0.5 – 20 U/L by ratiometric fluorometry based on the AIEE and ACQ, respectively. The very different responses originated from AIEE and ACQ of AuNCs would respectively make their own contributions to the determination of BChE activities at very low or high levels, which facilitate the developments of enhanced or quenched fluorescence methods. However, the detection of BChE activities at medium levels might suffer from the combination of AIEE and ACQ with ambiguous fractions. Therefore, it must be careful during the processes of developing and applying fluorescence methods based on the AIEE and ACQ of AuNCs, as well as the process of evaluating their analytical performance.

Синхронный перевод как крайний вид познавательного процесса

This scientific article is devoted to the study of simultaneous translation as an extreme type of cognitive process. Simultaneous interpreting is a special type of professional activity that requires a high level of cognitive abilities, including attention, memory, concentration, logical thinking and language skills. The paper examines the characteristics of the cognitive load during simultaneous interpreting, the use of various information processing strategies, as well as the influence of stress factors on the quality of the interpreter’s cognitive work.

Theoretical aspects of the psychological preparation of an athlete for a match in kyokushin karate

The article discusses the key theoretical approaches that should be taken into account in the psychological preparation of athletes for an effective Kyokushin karate match. The obtained results of the generalization of scientific and special literary data highlight the issues of stress and adaptation, psychological self-regulation, psychological readiness, psychological support and how it can be applied to improve the psychological state of athletes in preparation for Kyokushin karate matches. The obtained data allow us to outline the importance of psychological training for athletes practicing Kyokushin karate, as it helps maintain a high level of concentration, control emotions, develop mental stability and prepare athletes for stressful situations that arise during matches. It was determined that for a successful performance in competitions, despite the excellent physical properties of data, technical and tactical training, a martial artist needs willful qualities such as initiative, confidence, courage and courage The materials in this article are a useful resource for coaches, psychologists, and athletes seeking a better understanding of psychological preparation and its impact on success in modern Kyokushin karate.

Bioremediation of iron from polluted water using marine algae

AbstractEl-Mex Bay receives huge of toxicants and pollutants that resulted from various anthropogenic activities and different heavy metals. These pollutants adversely affect human's health and the aquatic ecosystem. In this study, iron is selected rather than other heavy metals for bioremediation as it constitutes a large part of the Bay. This work aims to the assessment of the efficiency of six marine algal species as bio-sorbents for iron, which constitutes a large part of El-Umum drain wastewater at El-Mex Bay locality. These species are Ulva linza, Ulva fasciata (Chlorophyceae), Padina pavonia, Saragassum hornschuchii (Phaeophyceae), and Pterocladia capillacea, Corallina officinalis (Rhodophyceae). Algal nanoparticles and finely powdered algae were evaluated for adsorbing iron in aqueous solutions as a function of contact time, biomass weight, different wastewater concentrations, and pH. Analyzing function groups of the biomass was also assessed. Compared to ordinary ground algal biomass, nanoparticles of dry algal biomass (ground by ball mill) is considered an efficient economic adsorbent for iron removal that occurs at high concentration levels, either dissolved or particulate. Comparing the maximum removal efficiency, it was recorded values of 95.6, 98.8, and 97.6% for Ulva linza, Sargassum hornschuchii, and Corallina officinalis, respectively, using 0.1 g nano-biomass at pH 9.4, these values were 79.60, 96.33, and 83.41%, for the same algal species using 0.5 g ground powder biomass at the same pH.

Assessment of perfluoroalkyl substances concentration levels in wild bat guano samples

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are substances commonly used in the production of various everyday objects, including among others kitchen dishes, cosmetics, or clothes. They penetrate to the environment and living organisms causing disturbances in the functioning of many internal organs and systems. Due to environmental pollution, wildlife is also exposed to PFASs, but the knowledge about this issue is rather limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the exposure of wild greater mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis), living in Poland, to six selected PFASs: five perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (perfluorobutanoic acid—PFBuA, perfluoropentanoic acid—PFPeA, perfluorohexanoic acid—PFHxA, perfluoroheptanoic acid—PFHpA, perfluorooctanoic acid—PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) through the analysis of guano samples with liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS) method. To our knowledge this is the first study concerning the PFASs levels in bats, as well as using guano samples to evaluate the exposure of wild mammals to these substances. A total of 40 guano samples were collected from 4 bats summer (nursery) colonies located in various parts of Poland. The presence of PFASs mentioned were detected in all colonies studied, and concentration levels of these substances were sampling dependent. The highest concentration levels were observed in the case of PFPeA [1.34 and 3060 ng/g dry weight (dw)] and PFHxA (8.30–314 ng/g dw). This study confirms the exposure of wild bats to PFASs.

International market concentration of fresh blueberries in the period 2001—2020

There were no studies about the structure of the international fresh blueberry market in developing countries for contributing to the development of strategies and policies for the production, imports, and exports of fresh blueberries in the involved countries. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the structure of the international fresh blueberry market in the period 2001–2020. The research design was non-experimental, and longitudinal, with trends on per capita consumption, the market concentration index, and a multiple linear regression model. It was concluded that per capita consumption is led by Canada and the USA and that the concentration indices of the four main countries [CR(4)] of production, imports, and exports went from very high concentration levels to high concentration levels. The eight main countries [CR(8)] of production and exports were at a very high level and imports went from a very high level to a high level; in addition, the Herfindal–Hirschman-Index (HHI) of production was at a highly concentrated level: (a) highly concentrated level in imports in the period 2001–2018, (b) moderately concentrated from 2019 in imports, (c) highly concentrated in exports in the period 2001–2009, (d) moderately concentrated in exports in the period 2010–2018, and (e) not concentrated in exports as of 2019; in addition, the multiple linear regression model showed that per capita consumption, market share, price, and production contribute with 94.3% of the explanation of the variability of fresh blueberry exports. Finally, it was recommended to study the blueberry consumption habits and access restrictions to other international markets for increasing blueberry exports.

Relationship Banking, Collateral, and the Economic Crisis as Determinants of Credit Risk: An Empirical Investigation of SMEs

Abstract This study examines the impact of relationship banking and collateral on the probability of firm loan default in Kosovo. Using a sample of 2,320 loan-level data from an individual bank credit register, findings indicate that stronger firm-bank relationships reduce the probability of default, and tighter credit policies regarding higher collateral requirements and interest rates have the opposite effect. Re-specifying the model to control for the banking sector concentration Hirschman-Herfindahl Index (HHI) and the Net Interest Margin (NIM), the firm-bank relationship is no longer statistically significant. Results show that the crisis negatively impacts credit risk, while HHI positively affects the probability of loan default. This evidence suggests that banking relationship matters only in competitive markets. To test the potential interaction effect between relationship banking and collateral, Fairlie’s (1999) decomposition technique is deployed. Our results imply that high concentration levels in the banking sector render firm-bank relationships relatively less important. This is of utmost importance for SMEs, banks, and policymakers.

Tax Haven Use and Related‐Party Transactions: Evidence from Australia

AbstractRelated‐party transactions (RPTs) and transfer pricing techniques are typically used by multinational enterprises to reduce their tax obligations by shifting the income to zero or to low‐tax countries. These techniques have thrived and have emerged as a significant concern for tax authorities. This study investigates the effect of tax haven utilisation on related‐party sales pricing in a sample of Australian listed firms. We find that tax haven use is positively and significantly associated with related‐party sales pricing. Moreover, we identify a positive and significant interaction between tax havens and earnings management with related‐party sales pricing. Ownership concentration and its interaction effect with tax havens are significant predictors of the increased use of related‐party sales pricing. Overall, the empirical findings demonstrate that earnings management, a high level of ownership concentration and the use of tax havens are substantial factors that enable firms to obtain tax benefits via the use of RPTs.

#77 : A Micro 3D Printed Device for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Removes the Requirement for a Holding Pipette and Reduces Complexity of the Procedure

Background and Aims: One of the most skilled procedures performed by embryologists is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which takes significant experience to master. Conducting the procedure requires a high level of concentration with training a significant burden on clinical laboratory efficiency. Advancement of a micro 3D printed device to hold oocytes has removed the requirement for a holding pipette, reducing the complexity of the ICSI procedure. This study shows that the microICSIÔ device reduces the technical difficulty of ICSI, improving the speed and precision of the procedure. Method: ICSI was performed conventionally (C-ICSI) and within the microICSIÔ device on abattoir derived porcine denuded oocytes matured in vitro for 39-44 h in NCSU-23 medium containing eCG, hCG, porcine follicular fluid, EGF and insulin. Timing data was captured by video recording for pipette setup and injection time per oocyte for two embryologists and compared between each technique. Oocyte injection time was taken from when a sperm loaded injection pipette was in focus with the oocyte until the injection pipette was removed from the oocyte. Results: Results were compared between C-ICSI and microICSIÔ (Mean ± SD). Pipette setup time was reduced from 278 ± 21 seconds to 109 ± 3 seconds by removing the holding pipette. During the procedure, absence of a holding pipette resulted in embryologists adjusting their hands on average only 3 times during oocyte injection compared to 10 times for C-ICSI when moving between microinjector, pipette and microscope controllers. Oocyte traceability was also improved due to the microICSIÔ device’s numbered array. Embryologist’s injection time was reduced from 42 ± 12 seconds for C-ICSI to 14 ± 5 seconds for microICSIÔ per oocyte. Conclusion: The microICSIÔ device reduces pipette set-up time and the complexity of the ICSI procedure, reducing the time required for oocyte injection by half.

Water Quality Evaluation of Groundwater and Dam Reservoir Water: Application of the Water Quality Index to Study Sites in Greece

To detect the degradation of clean water, it is necessary to characterize its quality through water quality indices using seasonal water sampling and analysis. In the present study, the initialization of the monitoring by surface and dam water sampling was conducted in multiple areas of Greece, including the Eastern Thermaikos Gulf, Mouriki, and Marathonas basins, during both the dry and wet periods of 2022. The dam reservoirs were also monitored by capturing their orthomosaic mapping. The classification of the samples according to the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) showed that all dam water samples examined and Mouriki area samples have excellent water quality in terms of physical and chemical characteristics. However, some samples from the Eastern Thermaikos Gulf and Marathonas basins suffer from seawater intrusion, which is indicated by the high concentration levels of Na+ and Cl−, and anthropogenic activities shown by the elevated concentrations of NO3−. Moreover, the high concentration of As in samples from the Eastern Thermaikos Gulf is attributed to geothermal fluids. The importance of Cl−, NO3−, and As presence in water quality at the studied areas is also verified by the sensitivity analysis performed, pointing out the requirement of sustainable management.