Mid Position Research Articles

465. INNOVATION TO STANDARDIZATION OF THORACOLAPAROSCOPIC ESOPHAGECTOMY: CULMINATION OF THREE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE

Abstract Minimally invasive esophagectomy has seen a great deal of evolution over the last three decades. As one of the earliest adopters of minimally invasive approach for esophagectomy, we present our experience and the lessons we have learnt in over 1300 cases. We adopted the prone position and later modified to mid prone position for the thoracic phase of esophagectomy. This position has several advantages of better exposure due to gravity aided retraction of the lungs, clear operating field as blood trickles away as well as feasibility of rapid conversion to open thoracotomy in emergencies. A major transformation in our surgery was the technical modifications and the extent of mediastinal lymphadenectomy. With refinements in technique and greater understanding of the lymphatic spread, we evolved from standard to extended and even total mediastinal lymphadenectomy improving the oncological outcomes without increasing the operative morbidity. The mean total lymph node yield is over 35. Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was noted in 7% of cases. The technique of anastomosis was also extensively modified from hand sewn to circular stapler to semi mechanical and finally fully mechanical side to side anastomosis using triangulation technique. The triangulation technique has led to significant reduction in leak rates to less than 5% and stricture formation (<1%). Finally, our innovative railroading technique for specimen extraction through the neck is oncologically safe that avoids large incisions in the chest or abdomen. The 30 day mortality rate is less than 1%

The middle-class base of European integration? New class divides and attitudes towards market integration in ten EU countries

ABSTRACT Highly educated ‘new’ middle classes have been identified as a fundamental constituency that, by supporting technological innovation and liberalisation, bolsters the stability of advanced capitalism. By contrast, less educated production workers are usually described as opponents of such policies. This article investigates the extent to which these class divides translate into different positions on support for EU integration, a key process in the liberalisation of European political economy. In addition to class-based positions, we take into consideration how the subjective perceptions of situations such as unemployment, income loss and job insecurity affect support for EU integration. By relying on an original 2019 survey conducted in ten member states, the analysis confirms that high-skilled middle classes overwhelmingly support European market integration, while ‘old’ middle classes appear more concerned about the welfare losses that integration could imply. Low-skilled service workers emerge as a critical cross-pressured group, taking a mid position between ‘old’ and ‘new’ middle classes.

Визначення коефіцієнтов гідродинамічної моделі кавітуючих насосів рідин-них ракетних двигунів за їх теоретичними передатними матрицями

The characterization of cavitating pumps of liquid-propellant rocket engines (LPRE) is an important problem because of the need to provide the pogo stability of liquid-propellant launch vehicles and the stability of liquid-propellant propulsion systems for cavitation oscillations. The development of a reliable mathematical model of LPRE cavitating pumps allows this problem to be resolved. The goal of this work is to determine the cavitation number and operating parameter dependences of the coefficients of a lumped-parameter hydrodynamic model of LPRE cavitating pumps from their theoretical transfer matrices obtained by a distributed-parameter model. The following coefficients are found as a function of operating parameters: the cavitation elasticity, the cavitation resistance, the cavity-caused disturbance transfer delay time, and the cavitation resistance distribution coefficient. The last two coefficients are new in the hydrodynamic model of cavitating pumps, and they were introduced when verifying the model using experimental and theoretical pump transfer matrices. Analyzing the cavitation resistance distribution coefficient as a function of operating parameters shows that it markedly decreases with increasing cavitation number. This testifies to that the location of the lumped cavity compliance is shifted from the mid position towards the pump inlet. Therefore, the assumption that the lumped cavity compliance is located in the middle of the attached cavity regardless of the cavitation number is not justified. The fact that the distribution coefficient as a function of cavitation number intersects the abscissa axis near a cavitation number of 0.25 may indicate the boundary of existence of attached cavities and thus the applicability boundary of the theoretical model. The disturbance transfer delay time as a function of cavitation number sharply increases at cavitation numbers of about 0.05. At cavitation numbers of about 0.25, it is close to a constant.

Experimental study on the synergy of sweeping jets on the afterbody flows of a slanted-base cylinder

The synergistic effects of sweeping jets (SWJs) hold significant potential in controlling afterbody vortex flows of a cargo fuselage. A combination of SWJ pairs, located at various streamwise positions, are employed to investigate the efficiency of their synergy in influencing the afterbody flows of a slanted-base cylinder with a 30° angle at a Reynolds number of 200,000. The total mass flow rate is kept similar resulting in a variation of the momentum coefficient of SWJs from Cμ=4.3×10−3 to 1.0×10−1. Energy efficiency and mass flow interactions were examined through direct force measurement, stereo Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), and surface pressure measurement. The results show that the jet impingement on the surface is stronger when there is synergy among SWJs positioned more upstream (e.g. the combination of Top and Mid pairs), particularly at low momentum coefficients (Cμ < 0.02); conversely, when considering the synergy of SWJs located more downstream (e.g. the combination of Mid and Bot pairs), a greater reduction in surface pressure is observed at higher momentum coefficients (Cμ > 0.05); a potential net energy saving is achieved in the case of the combination of Top, Mid and Bot pairs (T+M+B). The controlled vorticity distribution observed in the collaborative configurations was mostly sandwiched by curves of individual SWJ cases, which is due to the fact that downstream SWJs (located at Mid and Bot positions in case T+M+B for instance) manage to weaken the enhanced vortex induced by the SWJ at upstream (located at Top position), highlighting a compromise in the synergy effectiveness of the jets with reverse roles at different positions. However, by taking the similar advantages of SWJ at certain positions on the vortex control, at Cμ=1.7×10−2, the vorticity reduced by the case combining Mid and Bot pairs is even 7 % and 13.5 % greater than cases Mid and Bot, respectively, which could serve as a hint on the potential benefit of SWJs’ synergy in the future.

Plastic and anthropogenic microfiber pollution on exposed sandy beaches in Nova Scotia, Canada

Aim: To investigate the baseline abundance of microplastics on two sandy beaches along an exposed coastline in an understudied region of the Northwest Atlantic. Methods: Sandy sediments were sampled from two beaches along the eastern shore of Nova Scotia, Canada from High, Mid, and Low intertidal positions. Density floatation using a sodium iodide (NaI) solution was used to separate particles from 100 g of sediments in each sample. Particles were characterized by size, shape, and colour, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was conducted for polymer identification. Results: At both beaches, the majority of particles found were small (&lt; 1.4 mm), transparent microfibers. Microplastics were polymers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon, or alkyds (paints). The mean concentrations at both beaches were similar, at 5.08 ± 3.20 and 5.58 ± 4.52 microplastics per 100 g of sediment. Non-plastic (i.e., natural and semi-synthetic cellulosic) microfibers were up to 19 times more abundant than microplastics, with mean concentrations of 75.9 ± 60.1 and 97.7 ± 87.9 per 100 g sediment. Mean particle counts did not differ significantly across tidal ranges due to their high variability over small spatial scales (10 s of m). Conclusion: Using new investigative tools yielded estimates of microplastic pollution 1-2 orders of magnitude lower than earlier research conducted at these sites, and was generally lower than values reported from other beaches globally. Sources of microfibers were potentially from high recreational use at these sites. Future monitoring could target these sites for time series analysis of microplastic change on exposed sandy beaches.

Effect of violent mixing on sonochemical oxidation activity under various geometric conditions in 28-kHz sonoreactor

The effects of violent mixing and reactor geometric conditions were investigated using the overhead stirrer and high-speed homogenizer in 28-kHz sonoreactors. The sonochemical oxidation activity was quantified using the KI dosimetry method, and the sonochemical active zone was visually observed using the luminol method. Higher mixing rates resulted in a significant enhancement of the sonochemical oxidation activity, primarily due to a significant change in the sonochemical active zone. When using the overhead stirrer (0–2,000 rpm), the highest activity for 2λ and 3λ occurred at 500 rpm, whereas the highest activity for 4λ was obtained at 250 rpm. For the high-speed homogenizer (0–12,000 rpm), the highest activity was consistently obtained at 3,500 rpm across all liquid height conditions. The impact of mixing position (Top, Mid, and Bot positions) on sonochemical activity was analyzed. The results revealed that the lowest activity was obtained for the bottom position, likely attributed to significant ultrasound attenuation. The reactor size effect was investigated using the high-speed homogenizer in five cylindrical sonoreactors with different diameters (12–27 cm). It was found that very low activity could be observed due to unexpected geometric conditions, and the application of mixing (3,500 rpm in this study) could result in high sonochemical activity regardless of geometric conditions.

Improvements in the design of nest cavities to attract cephalopods and crustaceans in a green artificial reef unit according to tridimensional hydrodynamic criteria – Application to the Ares-Betanzos estuary

Installing artificial reefs (ARs) on the seabed creates a hard substrate that alters water flow and causes different species to settle. For this reason, by applying hydrodynamics to ARs, a useful tool is created for analysing these reefs so that there is adequate nutrient circulation and a propitious habitat for benthic and pelagic fauna. Using hydrodynamic criteria to characterise the velocity field, the present work aims to propose a methodology for positioning nest cavities within an AR unit in which different species will settle. Biological considerations, such as nutrient supply as well as the most suitable size and shape for the nest cavities, are taken into account. A state-of-the-art 3D shallow water model is validated and applied to the Ares-Betanzos estuary (NW Spain), where the installation of an AR group has recently been proposed. This coastal body, with a complex 3D hydrodynamic structure, was achieved under representative average conditions in absence of winds, which in turn greatly differs both in space and time throughout a spring-neap tidal cycle. A 3D CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) tool is applied to model food delivery on the AR. Moreover, the optimal geometry and position of nest cavities are established through a created indicator, ARnest cavity position, in order to provide sufficient nutrient circulation. It was found that the most appropriate shape for the nest cavities is cylindrical and a diameter of 200–300 mm is the most appropriate size. In terms of the ideal positions for the nest cavities, these depend on the orientation of the AR with respect to the current velocity. One of the orientations analysed leads to sufficient nutrient supply to the whole AR, while the other orientation analysed leads to sufficient nutrient supply to the high and mid positions at the front face, mid and low positions at the back face and all positions along the lateral faces.

Voice and Agency: Evaluating the “Empowering Women for Leadership in Administration Roles” Training Program Held at Yarmouk University

Objectives: The objective of this qualitative research is to evaluate the effectiveness of a training program directed towards the female administrative staff at Yarmouk University (YU), called "Empowering Women for Leadership Roles". The program ran from 2018 to 2020 at YU and was funded by Global Affairs Canada. Sixty female participants successfully completed ten training modules within the program to enhance their personal and professional capacity. Methods: The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 participants, and the interview questions were based on Kirkpatrick’s training evaluation model. Results: The main results revealed that the training program facilitated the women’s learning, enriched their skills, and helped them cultivate resilience, enabling them to draw upon their personal strengths to overcome adversity and marginalization. Conclusions: Based on the results, it is concluded that women should receive training in the early stages of their careers, enabling them to deploy their acquired skills to promote career advancement. Additionally, women holding mid and senior positions must receive continuous support through training and development programs to enhance their leadership skills.

Identification of Pacemaker Lead Position Using Fluoroscopy to Avoid Significant Tricuspid Regurgitation.

Permanent pacemaker implantation improves survival but can cause tricuspid valve dysfunction in the form of tricuspid regurgitation (TR). The dominant mechanism of pacemaker-mediated TR is lead impingement. This study evaluated the association between the location of the pacemaker leads crossing the tricuspid valve and the incidence of worsening TR and lead impingement using fluoroscopy. Lead positions were evaluated using perpendicular right anterior oblique (RAO) and parallel left anterior oblique (LAO) fluoroscopic angulation views of the tricuspid annulus. A two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) was performed to evaluate the maximum TR jet area-to-right atrium ratio and define regurgitation severity. A three-dimensional TTE was performed to evaluate lead impingement. A worsening of TR was observed in 23 of 82 subjects. Most leads had an inferior position in the RAO view and a septal position in the LAO view. The mid position in the RAO view and septal position in the LAO view were risk factors for lead impingement. Mid and septal positions were associated with higher risks of significant TR and lead impingement. Lead impingement was associated with a high risk of significant TR. Pacemaker-mediated TR remains a significant problem after lead implantation.

Successful Myringoplasty - Do The Site &amp; Size Of TM Perforation Matter?

Objective: To determine the success rate of myringoplasty based on the site and size of tympanic membrane perforation. Study Design: Cross sectional, Descriptive Study Settings: ENT Department Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi Study Duration: 30 July 2019 to 29 December 2021. Material and Methods: After approval of Hospital Ethical Committee, a sample size of 100 patients was calculated by using WHO sample size calculator. Patients were selected through Non probability convenient sampling. Informed consent was obtained from all the patients. All the patients were operated upon through post auricular approach using underlay technique and temporalis fascia was used as a graft in all the cases. Success of myringoplasty was assessed one month after surgery. Myringoplasty was considered successful upon complete closure of the defect as assessed under surgical microscope. Data analysis was done for frequencies and percentages using SPSS version 24. Results: There were 52% males and 48% females. Mean age of patients was 35.5 years and they ranged between 17 to 48 years. Overall myringoplasty was successful in 71% patients. Regarding the size of perforation, it was successful in 100% pinhead size perforations, in 86.7% small sized, 89.5% medium sized, 42% large and 6.7% subtotal sized perforations. Regarding site of the perforations, myringoplasty was successful in 96% anterior, 100% posterior, 40% inferior, 40% middle and 8% subtotal/ large perforations. Conclusion: Myringoplasty is an effective surgery for sealing Tympanic Membrane perforations resulting in better quality of life. Success rate of myringoplasty has a definite association with size and site of perforation. The smaller the perforation, the higher would be the success rate. Similarly, anterior and posterior perforations heal better as compared to inferior and mid position perforations. Key words: Myringoplasty, Size and site of Tympanic membrane perforation, Tympanic membrane, Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media.

Damage Detection Method of Simply Supported Beams Based on Difference of Nearby Difference Curvature Index

In order to improve the effectiveness and convenience of damage identification of two-span continuous beams, a new damage identification index <I>D</I>_i based on the deflection data of beam under concentrated load, which takes local flexural stiffness and shear stiffness as damage identification parameter, was proposed. The damage detection method based on <I>D</I>_i includes four main steps: arranging vertical deflection measurement points at equal intervals on the beam body and applying a concentrated load <I>F</I> at the mid span position of one of the spans. After measuring the <i>y</i>_i value at each measurement point, the differential deflection curvature value 1/<i>ρ</i>_ican be calculated; After obtaining specific values of <I>D</I>_iaccording to the definition, a graph with <I>D</I>_i as the vertical coordinate and the positions of each measuring point on the longitudinal axis of the beam as the horizontal coordinate can be drawn; The mutation position on the graph can indicate the location of the damage: if the mutation starts from point <i>j</i>, it indicates that the damage occurs in the area between measurement points <i>j</i>+1 and <i>j</i>+2; By selecting any two values from <I>D</I>_i-1, <I>D</I>_i, and <I>D</I>_i+1 and solving the corresponding definition equation simultaneously, the degree of beam damage characterized by the relative change in local stiffness can be determined. The results of numerical example validation indicate that this method has good damage identification performance.

The vowel system of Qatari Arabic: Evidence for peripheral/non-peripheral distinction between long and short vowels

Arabic has a vowel system with three long and three short monophthongs. One of the parameters that accounts for qualitative differences between long and short vowels across languages is tenseness/laxness of vowels located on the peripheral/non-peripheral tracks in the vowel space. The present study investigates acoustical cues (F1, F2, and duration) of vowels using the data obtained from 21 speakers of Qatari Arabic. The vowels were produced in four phonetic contexts: labial, alveolar, uvular, and pharyngeal. The results revealed considerable qualitative differences between long and short vowels. The long vowels were articulated at the periphery of vowel space; the short vowels occupied more centralized positions. The co-articulatory effect of the preceding consonant was more prominent in short vowels. Short high vowels /i u/ were lowered toward the mid position; short low /a/ was fronted; long low /aː/ was retracted and raised. The findings suggest that short vowels in Qatari Arabic are lax and non-peripheral.

DETERMINATION OF HINGE POSITIONS ON THE TIBIAL WEDGE IN BIPLANE OPEN-WEDGE HIGH TIBIAL OSTEOTOMY AS VARUS DEFORMITY ANGLE

It is still difficult to determine an appropriate hinge position to prevent fracture in the lateral cortex of tibia in the process of making an open wedge during biplane open wedge high tibial osteotomy. The objective of this study was to present a biomechanical basis for determining the hinge position as varus deformity.T Three-dimensional lower extremity models were constructed using Mimics. The tibial wedge started at 40 mm distal to the medial tibial plateau, and osteotomy for three hinge positions was performed toward the head of the fibula, 5 mm proximal from the head of the fibula, and 5 mm distal from the head of the fibula. The three tibial models were made with varus deformity of 5, 10, 15 degrees with heterogeneous material properties. These properties were set to heterogeneous material properties which converted from Hounsfield's unit to Young's modulus by applying empirical equation in existing studies. For a loading condition, displacement at the posterior cut plane was applied referring to Hernigou's table considering varus deformity angle. All computational analyses were performed to calculate von-mises stresses on the tibial wedges.The maximum stress increased to an average of 213±9% when the varus angle was 10 degrees compared to 5 degrees and increased to an average of 154±8.9% when the varus angle was 15 degrees compared to 10 degrees. In addition, the maximum stress of the distal position was 19 times higher than that of the mid position and 5 times higher than that of the proximal position on average.Conclusion:For varus deformity angles, the maximum stress of the tibial wedge tended to increase as the varus deformity angle increased. For hinge position of tibial wedge, maximum stress was the lowest in the mid position, while the highest in the distal position.*This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (NRF-2022R1A2C1009995)

The Best Arm Position for Therapeutic Ultrasound Application in Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy Patients

Objectives: To determine which is the best arm position for Therapeutic Ultrasound (TUS) application in Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy (LET) patients. Patients and Methods: A randomized clinical trial was carried out with 33 patients who had Let in a research center. They were randomly allocated to three groups. Group A (n=11) was treated with were treated with an exercise program and application of TUS with the wrist in full flexion. An exercise program and application of TUS with the wrist in mid position between flexion and extension was given to group B (n=11). Group C (n=11) received an exercise program and application of TUS with the wrist in full extension. All patients received three treatments per week for six weeks. The pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale and function using a visual analogue scale and pain-free grip strength at the end of the four-week course of treatment (week 4) and one month (week 8) after the end of treatment. Results: The application of TUS with the wrist in full extension produced the largest effect in the reduction of pain and in the improvement of function at the end of the treatment (P&lt;0.05) and at any of the follow-up time points (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: The application of TUS with the wrist in full extension was the most effective treatment. Future well-designed studies are needed to confirm the results of the present trial.

Impact of COVID-19 on Nepalese Stock Market

Post the outbreak of COVID different studies have been conducted to find the impact of it on various aspects such as physical and mental state of human lives, business, industries, economy, and so on. With the objective of assessing the effect of COVID-19 on Nepalese stock market (NEPSE), using NEPSE index and market turnover as independent variable and taking 1st 6 months’ every operating day data since active COVID cases were seen, this paper tests two hypotheses. First the median of active COVID cases is found, considering as the good mid position indicator, then the cases above the median point are divided as High COVID case situation and Low COVID situation. The non-parametric test Mann-Whitney U-test is applied that finds: 1st: the NEPSE index was increasing during the high COVID cases than that of low COVID situation and 2nd: NEPSE market turnover was also increasing during the high COVID cases than that of low COVID situation. This concludes with significant positive effect of COVID on Nepalese stock market. Digitization of NEPSE, leisure time with people, their sentiment to enter the stock market when stock prices are low and optimism that prices of stock would increase in the future, are some of the factors contributing to the increase in NEPSE performance during high COVID situation.

Current distribution of distributed all-polar cochlear implant stimulation mode measured in-situ.

Oticon Medical cochlear implants use a stimulation mode called Distributed All-Polar (DAP) that connects all non-stimulating available intracochlear electrodes and an extracochlear reference electrode. It results in a complex distribution of current that is yet undescribed. The present study aims at providing a first characterization of this current distribution. A Neuro Zti was modified to allow the measurement of current returning to each electrode during a DAP stimulation and was implanted in an ex-vivo human head. Maps of distributed current were then created for different stimulation conditions with different charge levels. Results show that, on average, about 20% of current returns to the extracochlear reference electrode, while the remaining 80% is distributed between intracochlear electrodes. The position of the stimulating electrode changed this ratio, and about 10% more current to the extracochlear return in case of the first 3 basal electrodes than for apical and mid position electrodes was observed. Increasing the charge level led to small but significant change in the ratio, and about 4% more current to the extracochlear return was measured when increasing the charge level from 11.7 to 70 nC. Further research is needed to show if DAP yields better speech understanding than other stimulation modes.

Minimally invasive endoscopic repair of rectovaginal fistula.

BACKGROUNDSurgical techniques for repair of rectovaginal fistula (RVF) have been continually developed, but the ideal procedure remains unclear. Endoscopic repair is a novel and minimally invasive technique for RVF repair with increasing reporting. AIMTo review the current applications and preliminary outcomes of this technique for RVF repair, aiming to give surgeons an alternative in clinical practice. METHODSAvailable articles were searched according to the search strategy. And the sample size, fistula etiology, fistula type, endoscopic repair approaches, operative time and hospital stay, follow-up period, complication and life quality assessment were selected for recording and further analysis.RESULTSA total of 11 articles were eventually identified, involving 71 patients with RVFs who had undergone endoscopic repair. The principal causes of RVFs were surgery (n = 51, 71.8%), followed by obstetrics (n = 7, 9.8%), inflammatory bowel disease (n = 5, 7.0%), congenital (n = 3, 4.2%), trauma (n = 2, 2.8%), radiation (n = 1, 1.4%), and in two patients, the cause was unclear. Most fistulas were in a mid or low position. Several endoscopic repair methods were included, namely transanal endoscopic microsurgery, endoscopic clipping, and endoscopic stenting. Most patients underwent > 1-year follow-up, and the success rate was 40%-93%, and all cases reported successful closure. Few complications were mentioned, while postoperative quality of life assessment was only mentioned in one study. CONCLUSIONIn conclusion, endoscopic repair of RVF is novel, minimally invasive and promising with acceptable preliminary effectiveness. Given its unique advantages, endoscopic repair can be an alternative technique for surgeons.

A Study on the Middle Manager Managerial Core Competencies and Training Requirements in Local Government

The “Chief” of local government is a middle manager within the organization. This role is responsible for the communications and implementation of various policies of the county and city governments externally. Internally, the role is responsible for team building and giving work directions. If it is possible to cultivate the person to become a “knowledge worker” through trainings, this can strengthen one’s job competency and effectively enhance the agency’s administration performance. Public service with better quality can be provided. This study adopts the “survey techniques.” The survey is based on the “managerial core competency items of the mid and high-level management positions in the agencies under the Executive Yuan.” There are 6 items of core competency aspects (problem analysis, project management, performance management, information management, communications and coordination, and team building) established and there are 16 items as basic competencies. Testing is applied to the middle manager, the director and deputy director and chief of staff of the service units of the K City government based on the survey highlights. It is hoped to discuss the managerial core competencies and their training requirements for the middle manager of the local government. The purpose is to enhance the competency at the job in order to strengthen the managerial core competency of the middle manager of the City government. Thank you to K City government for authorizing the use of the original data of the above survey. Based on the research results, it has been confirmed that the Junior rank civil service middle manager established by the Executive Yuan, its managerial core competency items are applicable to local government. Under training resource constraints for the agencies, the trainings for the middle managers of the local government shall be prioritized and strengthened based on the needs: They are competencies in “performance expression and communications” and “job motivation” and continue to maintain the 7 core competency items in “problem identification,” “program planning,” “communication expression,” “conflict management,” “job instruction,” “team management” and “knowledge management.”

Landscape and topography effects on phosphorus fractions in Mollisols of the Argentinean Pampas

Especially in semiarid regions and for calcareous soils there is a need for better understanding of the processes involved in P cycling in soils and the development of better P fertility management to mobilize the recalcitrant P pools for crop uptake. The objective of the present study was to understand the effect of landscape, slope, soil depth and land use on P-availability in Calcareous and Sandy Plain (CP and SP, respectively) landscapes of the central Argentinean Pampas. Soil profiles were described in pits dug at top, mid and footslope positions: soils were classified according to Soil Taxonomy, and samples were taken at fixed depth (0–20, 20–40, 40–60 cm) for each slope position in agricultural soil (AG) and soil under natural vegetation (NV) for physicochemical analyses and the Hedley P-fractionation. The main differences among the landscapes were in calcium carbonate, pH, CEC, exchangeable Ca, and Ca:FeAl ratio. The largest P-fraction was HCl-P in both landscapes and in general, organic P represented about 20% of total P. The most available P-forms were higher in SP. In CP, Anion exchange membrane-P (AEM-P) was defined by organic carbon and exchangeable Ca, while this was not the case for SP. In CP, AEM-P was positively correlated to NaOH-Pi and Po and NaHCO3-Pi and Po, whereas in SP, AEM-P was positively affected by HCl-P and NaHCO3-Pi. AEM-P and NaHCO3-Pi and Po increased towards the footslope position for both CP and SP mainly at 0–20 cm, while deeper strata showed less differences. Also, NV land use showed a higher proportion of available P fractions while AG presented greater differences between slope positions than NV. The knowledge about soil characteristics, the distribution of soil P-fractions and their interaction affecting the P availability facilitates more efficient fertility management, unique to each landscape and position.

0680 Nocturnal wakefulness and suicide risk in the Australian population

Abstract Introduction Temporal patterns for suicide over a 24-hour period have shown mixed results among prior studies. However, analyses of 24-hour temporal patterns for wakeful actions including suicidal behavior, should adjust for expected sleep requirements that inherently skew such activities to conventional wakeful times. This study analysed the time-of-day for suicide cases from the Australian population for the year 2017, adjusting for expected sleep patterns. Identification of time-of-day trends using this methodology may reveal risk factors for suicide and potentially modifiable contributors. Methods The Australian Coronal database was accessed and data for suicide deaths were extracted for the most recent completed year, 2017. Time of suicidal action is frequently unable to be pinpointed and for this analysis an estimation was performed from time last seen alive and time found subsequently using data extracted from police and coronial reports. Time of suicide was allocated to one of four 6-hourly time bins across 24 hours from the mid position of time last seen alive and time found subsequently. Cases were excluded if allocation to a time bin was not able to be confidently determined if time last seen and time found crossed both boundaries for a given time bin. Prevalence of suicide for each time bin was adjusted for the likelihood of being awake for each bin according to sleep-wake norms published in 2020 from a large Australian community survey of 1966 subjects. Observed prevalence of suicide were compared to expected values predicted from likelihood of being awake across each time bin calculated as a standardised incidence ratio (SIR). Results For year 2017 there were 2208 suicides for which 1407 were able to be allocated into one of four 6-hourly time bins. Reasons for exclusion were cases for which allocaton into a time bin was not able to be performed. When adjusted for the likelihood of being awake based from population norms, cases were significantly more likely to enact suicide between the hours of 2301-0500 than predicted (SIR 3.93, P&amp;lt; 0.001). Furthermore, there was a lower-than expected rate of suicide for the time bins, 1101-1700 (SIR 0.86, P=0.002). When subcategories of suicide cases were analsysed, suicide death in asssociation with alcohol consumption demonstrated the strongest for relatoinship to the 2301-0500 time bin (SIR 6.03, P&amp;lt; 0.001). Conclusion Higher than expected rates of suicide overnight associated proposes that nocturnal wakefulness may represent a modifiable risk factor for triggering suicide events. Nocturnal wakefulness may be linked to increased rates of loneliness and depair as well as greater tendency toward impusive actions and behaviors. Impusivity may be compounded by alcohol consumption Our findings offer a potential mechanism for which individuals with insomnia have increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Support (If Any) Untied grant provided by Rhinomed LTD