Lower Minimum Research Articles

A hierarchical modeling approach to predict the distribution and density of Sierra Nevada Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes necator).

Carnivores play critical roles in ecosystems, yet many species are declining worldwide. The Sierra Nevada Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes necator; SNRF) is a rare and endangered subspecies of red fox limited to upper montane forests, subalpine, and alpine environments of California and Oregon, United States. Having experienced significant distribution contractions and population declines in the last century, the subspecies is listed as at-risk by relevant federal and state agencies. Updated information on its contemporary distribution and density is needed to guide and evaluate conservation and management actions. We combined 12 years (2009-2020) of detection and nondetection data collected throughout California and Oregon to model the potential distribution and density of SNRFs throughout their historical and contemporary ranges. We used an integrated species distribution and density modeling approach, which predicted SNRF density in sampled locations based on observed relationships between environmental covariates and detection frequencies, and then projected those predictions to unsampled locations based on the estimated correlations with environmental covariates. This approach provided predictions that serve as density estimates in sampled regions and projections in unsampled areas. Our model predicted a density of 1.06 (95% credible interval = 0.8-1.36) foxes per 100 km2 distributed throughout 22,926 km2 in three distinct regions of California and Oregon-Sierra Nevada, Lassen Peak, and Oregon Cascades. SNRFs were most likely to be found in areas with low minimum temperatures and high snow water equivalent. Our results provide a contemporary baseline to inform the development and evaluation of conservation and management actions, and guide future survey efforts.

Crayfish assemblages correlate with dam‐induced effects on abiotic factors and predatory fish assemblages in Alabama streams

AbstractStream faunal assemblage structure is tied closely to hydrology and associated physiochemical properties. By altering natural flows, dams and their impoundments impact faunal assemblages over long distances. Although numerous studies have assessed the effect of dams on stream fauna, information is lacking for crayfishes. In this study, we characterized the effects of relatively large storage dams on crayfish assemblage structures. Over 2 years, we sampled three impounded and two unimpounded streams across two drainages in Alabama, United States, to identify biotic and abiotic factors correlated with crayfish assemblage metrics. Compared to impounded streams, unimpounded streams had greater habitat complexity (e.g., aquatic vegetation and woody debris), fewer predator fishes, lower minimum temperatures, and more variable discharges. These characteristics correlated with a higher density and diversity of crayfishes and smaller adults in impounded compared to unimpounded streams. Crayfish species assemblages differed between drainages, as did the biotic and abiotic factors affecting crayfish assemblages in each drainage, suggesting that these factors were species‐specific in their effects. Additionally, analysis of land uses suggested that factors other than dams may have also contributed to the observed differences in assemblage structures between impounded and unimpounded streams. For instance, in the more urbanized drainage, crayfish assemblages were more similar between up and downstream sections in all streams, regardless of impoundment. Our results indicate that large dams alter stream crayfish assemblage structure, with potentially cascading effects in trophic and organic matter dynamics both up and downstream.

Thermoluminescence properties of TiO2/Cu/TiO2 multilayer thin films fabricated by (RF/DC) sputtering for radiation dosimetry

The most popular TLDs are composed of phosphors, ceramics, and crystals. Despite having a high light output per unit of absorbed dose, they suffer from rapid signal fading, light scattering, saturation at higher doses, and difficulties annealing for re-use. Here, we report the characteristics of a novel TiO2/Cu/TiO2 multilayer thin film dosimeter fabricated using radio-frequency (RF) and direct current (DC) sputtering methods with a faster deposition rate, high purity, and uniformity. The multilayer sequence was set to TiO2 (150 nm)/Cu (x)/TiO2 (50 nm), at varying Cu thicknesses (x = 5, 10, 25, 40, and 50 nm). The structure, morphology, elemental composition, and optical properties of the films were characterized by the XRD, FESEM, EDX, and UV–Vis, respectively. Next, the best TiO2 multilayer films with 5 nm Cu were tested for morphological, structural, and optical properties at 600 and 1200 mGy of x-ray radiation. The dosimetric properties of samples irradiated with X-ray doses ranging from 100 to 1500 mGy were then investigated. The best annealing time, reproducibility, fading, low minimum detectable dose as well as the effect of different heating rates on the TL glow curve have all been studied. Our results indicate that the films are amorphous, porous with spherically shaped nanoparticles, have a uniform distribution of elements, and are transparent in the visible region. The optimum TL intensity was found at TiO2 (445 nm)/14.2 nm Cu/TiO2 (130 nm) sequence. The dose-response has a good linear correlation to x-ray radiation with a sensitivity that is 0.444 times less than that of TLD-100 sensitivity within the dose range 100–1500 mGy. Upon irradiation, the band gap decreases, crystallinity increases, pores increase, films become rougher, and the absorption band edge extends to higher wavelengths. The single and multilayer TiO2 films have high-intensity peaks at 270 and 274 ∘C, respectively, which is typical of TL glow curve peaks used in TLD applications. There were no significant changes in the TL reading after six times of reuse, and the fading was observed at 49.57% after 15 days of irradiation. The findings indicate that TiO2/Cu/TiO2 multilayer films are appropriate for thermoluminescence dosimetric applications.

On-farm evaluation of multiparametric models to predict subacute ruminal acidosis in dairy cows

This research aimed: (i) to evaluate on-farm (FARM data) multiparametric models developed under controlled experiment (INRAE data) and based on non-invasive indicators to detect subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in dairy cows. We also aimed to recover high discrimination capacity, if needed, by (ii) building new models with combined INRAE and FARM data; and (iii) enriching the models increasing from 2 to 5 indicators per model. For model enrichment, we focused on indicators determinable on-farm by quick and inexpensive routine analysis. Fifteen commercial dairy farms were selected to cover a wide range of SARA risk. In each farm, four Holstein early-lactating healthy primiparous cows were selected based on their last on-farm recording of milk yield and somatic cell count analysis. Cows were equipped with a reticulo-rumen pH sensor. The pH kinetics were analysed over a subsequent 7-day period. Relative pH indicators were used to classify cows with or without SARA. Milk, blood, faeces, and urine were collected for analysis of the indicators included in the models developed by Villot et al. (2020) on INRAE data that were externally evaluated using FARM data. Then, new models based on the same indicators were developed combining INRAE and FARM data to test whether a possible loss in performance was due to a limited validity domain of model by Villot et al (2020). Finally, the models developed combining INRAE and FARM data were adapted to the on-farm application and enriched by increasing indicators from 2 to 5 per model using linear discriminant analysis and leave-one-out cross-validation. The sensitivities (true-positive rate) in external evaluation on FARM data were substantially lower than those from cross-validation by Villot et al. (2020) (range: 0.1–0.75 vs 0.79–0.96, respectively), and the specificities (true-negative rate) showed a larger range with lower minimum values (range: 0.18–1.0 vs 0.62–0.97, respectively). The sensitivities of new models developed combining INRAE and FARM data ranged from 0.63 to 0.77. Models involving blood cholesterol, β-hydroxybutyrate, haptoglobin, milk and blood urea, and models involving milk fat/protein ratio, dietary starch proportion, and milk fatty acids had the highest performances, whereas models including sieved faecal residues and urine pH had the lowest. Enriching models to three indicators per model improved sensitivity and specificity, but the inclusion of more indicators was less or not effective. Larger field trials are required to validate our results and to increase variability and validity domain of models.

Thermal and chemical effects of low-temperature chemistry on flame initiation and propagation

Large hydrocarbon fuels exhibit pronounced low-temperature chemistry (LTC) and negative temperature coefficient (NTC) behaviors. During low-temperature combustion, a small amount of heat is released while massive chemical components are generated, which are of great significance in flame ignition and propagation. However, the roles of thermal and chemical effects of the LTC in combustion evolutions have not been thoroughly investigated before. In this work, the LTC-affected flame initiation and propagation were studied, allowing for the thermal and chemical effects as well as their interactions. Dimethyl ether (DME) as a typical LTC fuel was employed for the study and an ignition energy deposition method was adopted to trigger the transient flame initiation and propagation. Besides, the steady laminar flame speed was also investigated to elucidate the LTC-affected combustion mechanisms. The results show that the LTC facilitates the appearance of cool flames in addition to traditional hot flames. Compared to hot flames, cool flames allow lower minimum ignition energy (MIE), especially under fuel-lean and fuel-rich conditions. Cool flames can coexist with hot flames and promote flame initiation and propagation under fuel-lean conditions. To isolate the specific role of the thermal and chemical effects of the LTC, an artificially modified chemical scheme is adopted for comparative study. The results show that the thermal effects of the LTC promote flame initiation while the chemical effects present an opposite impact. Despite this, the LTC shows a promotion impact on flame initiation in comprehensive due to the leading order significance of the thermal effects. Similar observations can also be found for steady laminar flame speed and adiabatic flame temperature. Sensitivity analysis suggests that low-temperature reactions such as CH2OCH2O2H + O2 = O2CH2OCH2O2H and CH2OCH2O2H = OH + 2CH2O play an important role in hot flame propagation. The current work provides useful insights into the LTC-affected combustion at elevated temperature conditions.

A lysosomal localized fluorescence probe for the detection of formaldehyde and its cell imaging

Formaldehyde (FA) is one of reactive carbonyl species (RCS), which is involved in various physiological and pathological processes of organisms. Herein, a novel fluorescent probe (FAP1) containing lysosomal localization group for the detection of FA was designed and synthesized. The probe exhibited good fluorescence recognition performances for FA, such as large Stokes shift (130 nm), specific selectivity, good anti-interference ability, and low minimum detection limit (16 nM). It is worth mentioning that the probe has good biocompatibility and could be applied to the imaging detection of FA in lysosome.

Chitosan-based fluorescein amphiphile macromolecular sensor for Hg2+ detection

Contamination of environmental water sources by heavy metals is considered a high threat to humans and plants. Detection and removal of heavy metals from wastewater are considered suitable solutions for health protection. Mercury is one of the most toxic threats among the various heavy metals in water. Herein, chitosan biopolymer was grafted by chemically modified fluorescein to obtain a fluorescent biopolymer sensor for the detection of Hg2+ metal ions in different water sources. The prepared biopolymer sensor was characterized using FTIR, 1H NMR, and XRD spectroscopy. The prepared biopolymer sensor showed high selectivity towards Hg2+ ions in the presence of several ions. The limit of detection was promising at 5.52 nM which is 5.4 times lower than the reported sensors. The recovery of Hg2+ from the medium was highly effective and followed the Freundlich adsorption isotherm according to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The prepared biosensor showed high efficiency and selectivity during sensing Hg2+ ions in tap water and river water. The quenching mechanism of the fluorescence process was discussed. The prepared biopolymer sensor showed negative antibacterial and antifungal efficacies, while its metal complexes by copper, cobalt, and zinc showed high efficacies with considerably low minimum inhibiting concentration. Sulfate-reducing bacteria assay of the different biopolymer sensor-metal complexes showed high efficiency towards defeating the SRB growth in an anaerobic environment.

Characterization of temporal electrical activity patterns for detection of critical isthmus regions of recurrent atypical atrial flutter

Identifying the critical isthmus region (CIR) of atrial re-entry tachycardias (AT) is challenging. The Lumipoint® (LP) software, developed for the Rhythmia® mapping system, aims to facilitate the successful ablation of ATs by identifying the CIR. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of LP regarding the percentage of arrhythmia-relevant CIR in patients with atypical atrial flutter (AAF). In this retrospective study, we analyzed 57 AAF forms. Electrical activity (EA) was mapped over tachycardia cycle length resulting in a two-dimensional EA pattern. The hypothesis was that EA minima suggest potential CIRs with slow-conduction-zone. A total of n = 33 patients were included, with the majority of patients being already preablated (69.7%). LP algorithm identified a mean of 2.4 EA minima and 4.4 suggested CIRs per AAF form. Overall, we observed a low probability of identifying only the relevant CIR (POR) at 12.3% but a high probability that at least one CIR is detected (PALO) at 98.2%. Detailed analysis revealed EA minima depth (≤20%) and width (>50 ms) as the best predictors of relevant CIRs. Wide minima occurred rarely (17.5%), while low minima were more frequently present (75.4%). Minima depth of EA ≤ 20% showed the best PALO/POR overall (95% and 60%, respectively). Analysis in recurrent AAF ablations (five patients) revealed that CIR in de novo AAF was already detected by LP during the index procedure. The LP algorithm provides an excellent PALO (98.2%), but poor POR (12.3%) to detect the CIR in AAF. POR improved by preselection of the lowest and widest EA minima. In addition, there might be the role of initial bystander CIRs becoming relevant for future AAFs.

Characteristics of hydrogen separation and methane steam reforming in a Pd-based membrane reactor of shell and tube design

This work investigates numerically the characteristics of the two process, hydrogen separation and steam methane reforming (SMR), in a palladium-based (Inconel-supported Pd–Ag film) membrane reactor (MR) of porous reformer (30% Ni/Al2O3) shell and multi-tube design. Still parameters like reactor design and temperature, feed gas concentration and pressure, and flow configuration need more investigation to figure out their impact on hydrogen production rate at lower energy cost and minimum possible volume. This work targets optimization of reactor performance for higher hydrogen yield and coming up with a scalable optimized reactor design for industrial applications. First, an optimization study is performed under non-reforming (separation-only) conditions to optimize the MR design and operating parameters for higher hydrogen production. Then, the study is extended to consider hydrogen separation under SMR conditions to come up with a MR design for hydrogen production at the industrial scale. Hydrogen permeation is limited to small zone near the membrane surface with no effect of feed pressure, inlet gas temperature, and feed hydrogen concentration on widening such zone that necessitates reducing the pitch distance between membrane tubes below 22 mm. The results showed reduced hydrogen permeation rate under SMR conditions compared to the separation-only cases.

Production and quality of sugarcane forage RB92579 as a function of phosphate fertilization applied in the fourth regrowth

Phosphorus applied when planting sugarcane ensures, in most cases, an adequate supply of the element for the cane plant and for the first regrowth, however, this supply may be inadequate for subsequent regrowths. The objective of this research was to evaluate the nutritional status, production, and forage quality of the sugarcane variety RB92579, as a function of the phosphorus fertilization applied in the fourth regrowth of the sugarcane, in soil with a sandy texture, with a P content of 15 mg dm-3, in the layer from 0 to 20 cm. The study consisted of five doses of phosphorus (30, 45, 60, and 90 kg of P ha-1.) and another control treatment, with the phosphate fertilizer applied at the bottom of the furrows opened between the rows of the fourth regrowth cane. For the quality of the broth, average values of 19.85% were obtained for soluble solids; 14.04% for apparent sucrose in the culms; 88.43% for broth purity; 13.70% for stalk fiber and 140.9 kg of recoverable sugars per ton of industrialized stalks. The average productivity of industrialized stalks and total recoverable sugars was 71.2 t per hectare and 10.1 t per hectare. Probably the lack of response to phosphorus fertilization was due to the large volume of rain in the maximum growth phase of the crop, May to August, 396 mm, which far exceeded the annual average, resulting in greater P diffusion and lower minimum concentration, lower than that existing in the soil of the study area.

Human influence on growing-period frosts like in early April 2021 in central France

Abstract. In early April 2021 several days of harsh frost affected central Europe. This led to very severe damage in grapevine and fruit trees in France, in regions where young leaves had already unfolded due to unusually warm temperatures in the preceding month (March 2021). We analysed with observations and 172 climate model simulations how human-induced climate change affected this event over central France, where many vineyards are located. We found that, without human-caused climate change, such temperatures in April or later in spring would have been even lower by 1.2 ∘C (0.75 to 1.7 ∘C). However, climate change also caused an earlier occurrence of bud burst that we characterized in this study by a growing degree day index value. This shift leaves young leaves exposed to more winter-like conditions with lower minimum temperatures and longer nights, an effect that overcompensates the warming effect. Extreme cold temperatures occurring after the start of the growing season such as those of April 2021 are now 2 ∘C colder (0.5 to 3.3 ∘C) than in preindustrial conditions, according to observations. This observed intensification of growing-period frosts is attributable, at least in part, to human-caused climate change with each of the five climate model ensembles used here simulating a cooling of growing-period annual temperature minima of 0.41 ∘C (0.22 to 0.60 ∘C) since preindustrial conditions. The 2021 growing-period frost event has become 50 % more likely (10 %–110 %). Models accurately simulate the observed warming in extreme lowest spring temperatures but underestimate the observed trends in growing-period frost intensities, a fact that yet remains to be explained. Model ensembles all simulate a further intensification of yearly minimum temperatures occurring in the growing period for future decades and a significant probability increase for such events of about 30 % (20 %–40 %) in a climate with global warming of 2 ∘C.

In vitro antibacterial effect of Argentine propolis extracts on Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces viscosus

Aim: In the present study, the antibacterial activity of the Ethanol Extract of Propolis (EEP), collected from various regions (Mendoza, Santiago del Estero, and Corrientes) in Argentina, against Streptococcus mutans ATCC® 35668™ and Actinomyces viscosus ATCC® 15987™ (MicroBioLogics Inc., USA) was investigated. Methods: Identification of geographic and botanical origin was based on a reconnaissance survey. Phytochemical screening of propolis was carried out on ethanolic extracts using standard methods to identify the constituents (aluminum chloride colorimetric method, Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method, thin layer chromatography). The agar diffusion method (discs and wells) and serial dilution method (plates and tubes) were used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of EEP. Results: EEP exerted various degrees of antibacterial activity against S. mutans and A. viscosus, depending on the geographic area of collection. Phytochemical screening showed that the bioactive compounds correspond to phenolic compounds and flavones. EEP from Tunuyán (Mendoza), where the most abundant vegetation belongs to Populus sp., showed the highest content of phenolic compounds (220.92±2.01 mg/g) and flavonoids (30.39±0.25 mg/g). This sample showed the most profound antibacterial activity among the EEP tested. By the agar-well diffusion method, we found a high susceptibility with an inhibitory halo of 11.25 ± 4.68 mm and 10.90 ± 4.21 mm against S. mutans and A. viscosus, respectively. It also presented low Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration values against S. mutans (MIC 0.05 mg/mL - MBC 0.46 mg/mL) followed by A. viscosus (MIC 0.11 mg/mL - MBC 0.93 mg/mL). Conclusions: The combined results from all methods indicated that S. mutans is more susceptible to the effect of the Tunuyán EEP than A. viscosus.Uniterms: Propolis. Streptococcus mutans. Actinomyces viscosus. Microbial sensitivity tests.

Risk Factors and Prediction of Postoperative Delirium in Aortic Arch Replacement: A Retrospective Cohort Study

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to explore the risk factors and prediction of postoperative delirium (POD) in aortic arch replacement. Methods: The preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative clinical data of patients undergoing aortic arch replacement in our hospital from January 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019, were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether POD occurred, cases were divided into delirium group and control group. The clinical data of the patients were firstly screened by univariate analysis, and then the meaningful variables were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the meaningful factors in predicting the occurrence of POD after aortic arch replacement. Results: A total of 162 patients were included in the study. The prevalence of POD was 46.9% (n = 76). The results of univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the intraoperative minimum mean arterial pressure (MAP) (odds ratio [OR] = 0.635, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.5510.731, P < 0.001), postoperative C-reactive protein (OR = 1.010, 95% CI = 1.0031.018, P = 0.005), and postoperative infection (OR = 3.148, 95% CI = 1.1188.867, P = 0.030) were the independent risk factors for POD in aortic arch replacement. Among them, the intraoperative minimum MAP has the best prediction effect. When its cutoff value reaches ≤ 49 mmHg, the specificity for predicting POD is 84.88% and the sensitivity is 81.58%. Conclusions: A lower intraoperative minimum MAP is an independent risk factor and has the predictive value for POD in aortic arch replacement.

The design of a servo motor control system for an industrial sewing machine based on PLC s7-1200

A servo motor is used as a motor for industrial sewing machines because it produces less noise, consumes less power, and is lightweight. The only disadvantage of the servo motor is its low minimum speed of up to 5000 rpm, which is why the sewing machine cannot be used at high speeds. When working on complex parts or with thick fabrics, slowing down the machine allows for greater accuracy and avoids needle breakage. When the operator works with thinner fabrics and produces more products, the speed of the machine is usually increased. In this paper, a servo motor control system based on PLC S7-1200 is proposed. The system is designed to control the actuators of the machine, such as electromagnets and gas pedals, in addition to the main shaft motor. The comparison shows that the results obtained with the author's control system are identical to those obtained with the control system of the sewing machine JUKI DDL 8700-7.

Fast gas sensing scheme with multi-component gas measurement capacity based on non-dispersive frequency comb spectroscopy (ND-FCS).

A fast gas sensing scheme based on a non-dispersive frequency comb spectroscopy (ND-FCS) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Its capacity for multi-component gas measurement is experimentally investigated as well, by using the time-division-multiplexing (TDM) method to realize specific wavelength selection of the fiber laser optical frequency comb (OFC). A dual-channel optical fiber sensing scheme is established with a sensing path consisting of a multi-pass gas cell (MPGC), and a reference path with a calibrated signal to track the repetition frequency drift of the OFC for a real-time lock-in compensation and system stabilization. The long-term stability evaluation and the simultaneous dynamic monitoring are carried out, with the target gases of ammonia (NH3), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The fast CO2 detection in human breath is also conducted. The experimental results show that at an integration time of 10 ms, the detection limits of the three species are evaluated to be 0.0048%, 0.1869% and 0.0467%, respectively. A low minimum detectable absorbance (MDA) down to 2.8 × 10-4 can be achieved and a dynamic response with millisecond time can be realized. Our proposed ND-FCS exhibits excellent gas sensing performance with merits of high sensitivity, fast response and long-term stability. It also shows great potential for multi-component gas monitoring in atmospheric monitoring applications.

Design of a High-Rate Wastewater Treatment Process for Energy and Water Recovery at Biorefineries

Industrial wastewaters rich in organic carbon have potential for value generation, but conventional, low-rate, anaerobic–aerobic wastewater treatment (WWT) processes often incur significant capital expenses and energy consumption. In this study, we leveraged experimental data for biorefinery-derived wastewaters to characterize the implications of transitioning from a conventional, low-rate process to a high-rate, multistage anaerobic process. We designed and simulated these WWT processes across seven first- and second-generation (1G/2G) biorefineries and evaluated the implications for biorefinery sustainability through techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA). Compared to the conventional design, the new process can substantially reduce capital costs and electricity usage. These improvements were particularly evident for 2G biorefineries, translating to 5%–13% lower minimum product selling prices (MPSPs) and 7%–135% lower 100-year global warming potentials (GWPs; the 135% reduction is due to the transition of one biorefinery from net emission [0.87 kg of CO2e·gal–1] to net sequestration [−0.31 kg of CO2e·gal–1]). Biorefineries could further reduce the MPSP through the renewable identification number (RIN) credits by upgrading and selling the biogas as renewable natural gas, but at the expense of increasing GWP. When normalized, the COD management cost ranged from $–56 to $465 per tonne of COD, indicating that wastewater could be a net source of revenue for some biorefineries.

Terminal flourishes but not trills differ between urban and rural Chaffinch song

Animals can evade interference from anthropogenic noise using strategies such as shifting frequencies upwards or increasing the duration of their signals. In this study, we compared the time and frequency‐related characteristics of songs and rain calls of Common Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs inhabiting rural forests and an urban park in Turkey. Most of the song phrases and rain calls did not differ in any of the characteristics measured between urban and rural Chaffinches but, contrary to our predictions, terminal flourish phrases of the songs had lower minimum frequencies and broader bandwidth in urban territories. These results suggest either that noise has limited effect on the Chaffinch vocalizations or that Chaffinch vocalizations in urban habitats are less well adapted for efficient transmission.

How Much Stress Does a Surgeon Endure? The Effects of the Robotic Approach on the Autonomic Nervous System of a Surgeon in the Modern Era of Thoracic Surgery

(1) Objective: the purpose of this study was to evaluate and quantify the stress to which a surgeon is subjected during his/her surgical activity; we compared the individual clinical and psychological responses to stress of two surgeons during their surgical activities via robotic and open approaches. (2) Materials and methods: This was a prospective observational study in which we progressively collected data concerning the surgical performances of two different thoracic surgeons (October 2021-June 2022). We evaluated 20 lung resections performed via robot-assisted surgery and 20 lung resections performed via an open approach by each surgeon; in particular, we evaluated a panel of pre-, peri-, and postoperative data concerning the interventions, the patients, and other outcomes concerning the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and psychological responses to stress of the surgeons during their surgical activities. (3) Results: When analyzing data concerning the ANS activity of two surgeons, during robotic activity we found lower maximum, minimum, and mean heart rates; lower mean respiratory frequencies; lower body temperatures; and lower mean desaturations compared to the open approach activity for both surgeons. The psychological monitoring showed that the open approach created more physical fatigue and frustration but higher levels of satisfaction and performance evaluation. The robot-assisted surgeries showed higher levels of anxiety. (4) Conclusions: for different reasons, the robotic approach stimulated the ANS to a lesser degree, causing less stress for surgeons and ensuring greater comfort.

Investigation of Thermal Dynamics within Rainwater Harvesting Systems and Implications for Design

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems have long been used to supply water for a variety of end uses. RWH systems, when used correctly, have proven to be effective at reducing runoff volumes and improving runoff quality at the site and catchment scales. Stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces in urban areas is thermally enriched, causing detrimental impacts to receiving waters. Research has begun to identify stormwater control measures (SCMs) that can offset this thermal loading by reducing total runoff amounts or storing the water in cooler locales. To the authors’ knowledge, no evidence exists in the literature to support whether RWH systems are sources or sinks of thermal pollution or to inform the thermal dynamics within the tanks. Monitoring was undertaken to compare the thermal dynamics of paired above- and below-ground RWH systems from three locations across the eastern United States (Ohio, Virginia-North Carolina, and Florida) over a three-year period. Below-ground RWH systems had lower minimum, mean, and maximum temperatures than their above-ground counterparts. The difference in temperatures between above- and below-ground RWH systems was greatest in late spring and summer months. Water temperatures in the above-ground systems exceeded thermal sensitivity thresholds for regionally important cold-water fish for 0.7%–60.3% of the time. Below-ground tanks exceeded these limits less than 1% of the time; variance in below-ground RWH system water temperatures were 2–3 fold lower than for their above-ground counterparts. Both RWH system types formed a vertical thermal gradient with a temperature drop of 1.72°C–5.6°C from the top of the tank to the bottom. This thermal stratification suggests that RWH systems should be designed to overflow from the bottom of the tank in urbanizing watersheds that support cold-water fish species or are otherwise sensitive to spikes in receiving water temperature.

Contribution of natural food environments to nutritional intake and biomarker status: insights from the women of indigenous santhal communities of Jharkhand, India

BackgroundMany indigenous communities reside in biodiverse environments replete with natural food sources but show ​poor access and utilization.MethodsTo understand the links between indigenous food access, dietary intakes, and biomarkers, we conducted a cross-sectional study among women of the Santhal Community (n = 211) from 17 villages in the Godda district of Jharkhand, India. Survey methods included household surveys, dietary intake assessment (24 HDR) and micronutrient and inflammatory biomarkers' estimation.ResultsThe diversity in access to foods from different natural sources expressed as Food access diversity index was low. This led to poor consumption and thus a low Minimum Dietary Diversity. The mean nutrient intake was less than the estimated average requirement for all nutrients. Women with higher dietary diversity scores had higher nutrient intakes. Thiamine and calcium intakes were significantly higher in women consuming indigenous foods than non-consumers. One-fourth of the women had elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers. The prevalence of iron deficiency was approximately 70%. Vitamin A insufficiency (measured as retinol-binding protein) was observed in around 33.6% women, while 28.4% were deficient. Household access to natural food sources was associated with specific biomarkers. The access to kitchen garden (baari) was positively associated with retinol-binding protein levels and negatively with inflammatory biomarkers, while access to ponds was positively associated with ferritin levels.ConclusionThe findings highlight the role of access to diverse natural foods resources, including indigenous foods, for improving nutrition security in indigenous communities. Nutrition and health programs promoting indigenous food sources should include the assessment of biomarkers for effective monitoring and surveillance.