Monitoring Period Research Articles

Mercury in four common fishes sold in Algeria and associated humans risk.

This study aimed to analyse the concentrations of mercury in fish samples available in the Algerian market and evaluate the potential health risks associated with their consumption. A total of 135 fish samples, representing the species Sardina pilchardus, Merluccius merluccius, Sparus aurata and Auxis rochie, were collected and analysed. Mercury levels were determined using thermal decomposition amalgamation Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Health risks were evaluated by calculating hazard quotients. The overall mean concentration was 0.19 ± 0.11 mg/kg across all species. Individual species concentrations were recorded as 0.17 ± 0.08 mg/kg for Sardina pilchardus, 0.26 ± 0.19 mg/kg for Merluccius merluccius, 0.27 ± 0.18 mg/kg for Sparus aurata and 0.23 ± 0.13 mg/kg for Auxis rochei. Hazard quotients were below 1, indicating low health risk for fish consumers. Nevertheless, it is recommended to conduct periodic monitoring of heavy metal levels in fish, coupled with ongoing risk assessments, to ensure continued consumer protection.

Improving stormwater infiltration and retention in compacted urban soils at impervious/pervious surface disconnections with biochar

Urban development often results in compacted soils, impairing soil structure and reducing the infiltration and retention of stormwater runoff from impervious features. Biochar is a promising organic soil amendment to improve infiltration and retention of stormwater runoff. Soil at the disconnection between impervious and pervious surfaces represents a critical biochar application point for stormwater management from urban impervious features. This study tested the hypothesis that biochar would significantly improve water retention and transmission at four sites, where varying percentages (0%, 2%, and 4% w/w) of biochar were amended to soils between impervious pavement, and pervious grassed slopes. Field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) and easily drainable water storage capacity were monitored at these sites for five months (two sites) and 15 months (two sites). At the end of the monitoring periods, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of each site's soil were assessed to understand the impact of biochar on soil aggregation, which is critical for improved soil structure and water infiltration. Results indicated that the field Ksat, drainable water storage capacity, and plant available water content (AWC) were 7.1 ± 3.6 SE, 2.0 ± 0.3 SE, and 2.1 ± 0.3 SE times higher in soils amended with 4% biochar, respectively, compared to the undisturbed soil. Factor analysis elucidated that biochar amendment increased the organic matter content, aggregate mean weight diameter, organo-mineral content, and fungal hyphal length while decreasing the bulk density. Across the 12 biochar/soil combinations, the multiple linear regression models derived from factor analysis described the changes in Ksat and AWC reasonably well with R2 values of 0.51 and 0.71, respectively. Using soil and biochar properties measured before biochar addition, two recent models, developed from laboratory investigations, were found helpful as screening tools to predict biochar's effect on Ksat and AWC at the four field sites. Overall, the findings illustrate that biochar amendment to compacted urban soils can significantly improve soil structure and hydraulic function at impervious/pervious surface disconnections, and screening models help to predict biochar's effectiveness in this context.

Radiological and Pulmonary Results of Surgical Treatment of Severe Idiopathic Scoliosis Using Preoperative Halo Gravity Traction Compared with Less Invasive Temporary Internal Distraction in Staged Surgery in Adolescents

Background: Severe and rigid scoliosis represents a type of spinal deformity characterized by a Cobb angle exceeding 90° and a flexibility of less than 30%. Halo spinal traction remains the established standard for managing severe scoliosis, although alternative approaches such as temporary internal distraction rods and staged surgical correction exist. The primary objective of this investigation was to compare two cohorts of patients treated using these distinct methods to ascertain any divergences in terms of surgical and radiological outcomes, pulmonary function (PF), and quality of life (QoL). Methods: This study encompassed a total of 62 pediatric patients meeting the specified criteria, which included severe idiopathic scoliosis (major Cobb curve >90) and flexibility <30%. Group 1 (G1) underwent surgical intervention involving preoperative Halo gravity traction (HGT) succeeded by posterior spinal fusion (PSF). On the other hand, Group 2 (G2) underwent a two-stage procedure starting with a less invasive temporary internal distraction technique (LITID) prior to PSF. The radiological outcomes, PF, and QoL were documented and assessed over a monitoring period ranging from 2 to 5 years. Results: The average preoperative major curves (MCs) measured 124° and 122° in G1 and G2, respectively (p < 0.426). Initial flexibility, as observed in preoperative bending films, ranged from 18% in G1 to 21% in G2 (p < 0.001). Following the ultimate surgical intervention, the MCs were corrected to 45° and 37.4° in G1 and G2, respectively (p < 0.001). The percentage correction of the MCs was higher in G2 (63% vs. 70% in G1 and G2, respectively), with significant between-group disparities (p < 0.001). The mean preoperative thoracic kyphoses (TKs) were 96.5° in G1 and 92° in G2 (p = 0.782), which were rectified to 45.8° in G1 and 36.2° in G2 (p < 0.001), equating to correction rates of 55% and 60% in the respective groups. Initially, G2 exhibited lower values for the percentage of predicted lung volume (FVC) and predicted FEV1 compared with G1 (49% and 58% vs. 54.5% and 60.8%; N.S.). Nonetheless, both groups demonstrated enhancements in their FVC and FEV1 values over the follow-up period. Conclusions: The surgical management of severe and untreated spinal curvatures in the pediatric and adolescent population can be considered safe, with a tolerable incidence of minor complications. LITID emerges as a method offering improved QoL and pulmonary function, achieving notably substantial average corrections in deformity by 70% in the coronal plane and 60% in the sagittal plane, alongside a mean increase in trunk height of 10.8 cm. Furthermore, a typical reduction of 76% in rib humps and enhancements in respiratory function, as indicated by improvements in 1 s predicted forced expiratory volume (by 25–56%) and forced vital capacity (by 35–65%), were achieved, leading to a clinically and statistically significant enhancement in QoL when evaluated using SRS-22r, without resorting to more radical, high-risk procedures.

Growth dynamics of an Amazonian forest: Effects of reduced impact logging and recurring atypical climate events during a 20-year study

Although forest management with reduced impact logging (RIL) practices is regarded as a way to generate income from tropical forests without losing their overall conservation values, the behavior of forests following logging is a topic that has been little studied in the southwestern Brazilian Amazon (SWA), where the predominant forest type is open with low density of commercial timber species. This study examined the growth dynamics of a logged forest in the SWA through monitoring of permanent sample plots (PSP) over twenty years post logging. Following logging, the forest fully recovered its original tree density (439. ha−1) and aboveground biomass (AGB) stocks (188.4 Mg. ha−1) but did not recover extracted timber volume in the commercial size class (DBH > 50 cm, 28 m3. ha−1 before logging and 22.6 m3. ha−1 in 2022). Tree growth, recruitment and mortality rates presented a high fluctuation during the monitoring period, increasing immediately after logging (0.43 cm. yr.−1, 4.1 % and 4.7 % respectively), declining five years after, (0.25 cm. yr.−1, 0.7 % and 1.5 % respectively) and presenting a new peak sixteen years after logging (0.35 cm. yr.−1, 3.9 % and 7.4 % respectively) which persisted to the end of the study period. Consequently, forest turnover was very high, with stand half-life and doubling life of 29.6 and 27.2 years, respectively. The results show that in terms of forest dynamics and production, the behavior of logged forests was also affected by atypical climate events, such as recurring droughts across Amazonia. Consequently, in the forest type studied, and under the prescribed logging cycle of 25 years, RIL alone was not sufficient to guarantee the sustainability of long-term production of the main timber species harvested. Following the current growth trend (0.46 m3. ha−1. yr.−1 for trees above 10 cm DBH and 0.22 m3. ha−1. yr.−1 for trees above 50 cm DBH) the time to recover the total commercial volume and commercial volume for trees above 10 cm DBH and above 50 cm DBH would be 34 and 45 years respectively. Our findings suggest the need for adoption of silvicultural treatments to increase forest productivity in areas under RIL in SWA.

Seismic Monitoring of a Deep Geothermal Field in Munich (Germany) Using Borehole Distributed Acoustic Sensing

Geothermal energy exploitation in urban areas necessitates robust real-time seismic monitoring for risk mitigation. While surface-based seismic networks are valuable, they are sensitive to anthropogenic noise. This study investigates the capabilities of borehole Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) for local seismic monitoring of a geothermal field located in Munich, Germany. We leverage the operator’s cloud infrastructure for DAS data management and processing. We introduce a comprehensive workflow for the automated processing of DAS data, including seismic event detection, onset time picking, and event characterization. The latter includes the determination of the event hypocenter, origin time, seismic moment, and stress drop. Waveform-based parameters are obtained after the automatic conversion of the DAS strain-rate to acceleration. We present the results of a 6-month monitoring period that demonstrates the capabilities of the proposed monitoring set-up, from the management of DAS data volumes to the establishment of an event catalog. The comparison of the results with seismometer data shows that the phase and amplitude of DAS data can be reliably used for seismic processing. This emphasizes the potential of improving seismic monitoring capabilities with hybrid networks, combining surface and downhole seismometers with borehole DAS. The inherent high-density array configuration of borehole DAS proves particularly advantageous in urban and operational environments. This study stresses that realistic prior knowledge of the seismic velocity model remains essential to prevent a large number of DAS sensing points from biasing results and interpretation. This study suggests the potential for a gradual extension of the network as geothermal exploitation progresses and new wells are equipped, owing to the scalability of the described monitoring system.

Reintroduction of Clozapine following Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in a Young Patient with Resistant Schizophrenia

The incidence of neuroleptic malignant syndrome justifies the immediate discontinuation of the drug in question and the reinstitution of therapy with another drug. In the case of resistant schizophrenia treated with clozapine, there are insufficient therapeutic options. We report the case of a young patient followed up for resistant schizophrenia who developed neuroleptic malignant syndrome after 5 years of therapy with clozapine. Clozapine therapy was successfully reinitiated, and the dosage was increased to 300 mg/day over 62 days. In light of this clinical case and a review of the literature, we report the possibility of reintroducing clozapine following an incidence of malignant syndrome in patients with resistant schizophrenia with respect to certain rules; in particular, a slow increase in dose after a reasonable period of time and close monitoring.

Investigating the relationship between heat load and shade seeking behaviour in dairy buffaloes.

The study presented in this Research Communication aimed to investigate the relationship between physiological responses, body surface temperature and shade-seeking behaviour in Nili Ravi dairy buffaloes during summer months. We enrolled 60 buffaloes, and each animal was observed for three consecutive days starting before sunrise until they moved towards the shade structures. A repeated measures ANOVA was employed to assess the changes in physiological parameters and body surface temperature between the early morning and the occurrence of shade-seeking behaviour. The average temperature humidity index and heat load index during the behavioural monitoring period (0400 to 1200 h) were 81.3 ± 6.5 and 92.9 ± 17, respectively (mean ± sd). There was no significant difference in core body temperature between sunrise and the time of shade-seeking event. However, the buffaloes had a slightly higher respiration rate at the time of shade-seeking (19.2 vs. 22.4 breaths/min). In addition, body surface temperature, measured at the flank region, shoulder, base of the ear and forehead was significantly higher at the occurrence of shade-seeking behaviour compared to the early morning. On average, the buffaloes sought shade when the surface temperature was 2°C higher than the temperature recorded before sunrise. Overall, the current findings suggest that body surface temperature, rather than core body temperature was strongly associated with shade-seeking behaviour in dairy buffaloes. These findings could be useful in developing strategies to mitigate the effects of heat stress in dairy buffalo herds and thereby improve animal welfare.

IoT Based Smart Helmet for Industry Rutuja Kokate

The safety and well-being of industrial workers has become a primary concern for organizations worldwide. One of the critical aspects of industrial safety is the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including helmets. This project proposes the development of an IoT-based smart helmet designed to enhance the safety and efficiency of industrial workers. The smart helmet integrates multiple sensors, such as temperature, humidity, motion, and gas sensors, to monitor the worker's environment in real-time. These sensors gather data on potential hazards like extreme temperatures, toxic gases, or sudden impacts. The helmet also includes a communication system that enables seamless interaction with control centers or other team members. The mining industry, a vital contributor to global economic growth and infrastructure development, grapples with inherent safety challenges posed by hazardous environments and unpredictable events. In response to these concerns, this abstract introduces the "Smart Helmet for Air Quality and Hazardous Event Detection" – a groundbreaking technology tailored specifically for mining. This advanced helmet integrates sensors like the MQ3 gas sensor, temperature and humidity sensors, LED lights with automatic controls, and a GPS module. Real-time data from these sensors are transmitted to an IoT platform, enabling continuous monitoring and immediate alerts. Traditional safety measures, including personal protective equipment and periodic monitoring, fall short in addressing the dynamic conditions of mining environments. The Smart Helmet offers a comprehensive solution by providing continuous air quality and environmental monitoring, coupled with automatic lighting and location tracking. This innovation marks a paradigm shift in mining safety, addressing the urgent need for proactive measures to safeguard the well-being of miners in the face of persistent safety challenges. Key Words: Safety, Sensors, IoT, Smart Helmet, Air quality monitoring

Assessing the influence of offshore wind turbine noise on seasonal fish chorusing

Abstract Offshore wind farms have recently emerged as a renewable energy solution. However, the long-term impacts of wind turbine noise on fish chorusing phenology are largely unknown. We deployed a hydrophone 10 m from a foremost turbine in Taiwan situated at the Miaoli offshore wind farm (Taiwan Strait) for two years to investigate sound levels and assess the potential influence of turbine noise on seasonal fish chorusing patterns during 2017 and 2018. Wind turbine noise (measured in the 20–250 Hz frequency band) was significantly higher in autumn and winter (mean SPL: 138–143 dB re 1 μPa) and was highly correlated with wind speed (r = 0.76, P < 0.001). During both years, fish chorusing exhibited a consistent trend, that is, beginning in spring, peaking in summer, decreasing in autumn, and absent in winter. Our results show the noise from a single turbine during the two-year monitoring period did not influence the seasonal fish chorusing (r = −0.17, P ≈ 1). Since the offshore wind farm installations are growing in magnitude and capacity across the Taiwan Strait, this study for the first time provides baseline operational sound levels and an understanding of the fish seasonal vocalization behavior at the foremost turbine of the first wind farm in Taiwan. The results presented here provide useful insights for policymakers and constitute a reference starting point for advancing knowledge on the possible effects of wind turbines on fish chorusing in the studied area.

Feasibility and acceptability of sexually transmitted infection screening during antenatal care of women in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major public health concern worldwide. Untreated STIs may have serious sequelae, particularly in pregnant women. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of screening and treating common STIs in women during pregnancy in Bangladesh. Women were enrolled from four maternity clinics/hospitals serving the lower-middle class population in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The participants were interviewed, and vaginal swab samples were collected by clinical staff. Specimens were tested for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis and high-risk Human Papilloma Viruses (HPVs) using GeneXpert (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, California). Women were informed of their test results and were provided treatment for curable infections. A test of cure was performed. Out of 1157 pregnant women approached, 1000 (86.4%) participated. Ninety-one percent women learned of their test results on the same day of testing. Out of the 996 valid results, 7 (0.7%) tested positive for Chlamydia trachomatis and 1 (0.1%) for Trichomonas vaginalis. There were no gonorrhoea cases. Out of the 971 women with valid results for high-risk HPVs, 46 (4.7%) tested positive. Screening women for STIs during antenatal care was highly feasible and well-accepted in Bangladesh. While the prevalence of common curable STIs was very low, hrHPV infection prevalence was moderately high. Our findings support period monitoring of STIs and continued prevention efforts for cervical cancer in Bangladesh.

Probing the broad line region geometry and size of the gravitationally lensed quasar Q2237+0305 with microlensing time series

Lensed quasars are powerful cosmic laboratories; they are used to simultaneously probe various astrophysical phenomena. Microlensing by stars within distant galaxies acts as strong gravitational lenses of multiply imaged quasars, and provides a unique and direct measurement of the lensed quasar internal structure. Microlensing of the continuum emitting region as well as the broad-line region (BLR) is well characterized by four observable indices, $ cont BLR $, $WCI$ (wing-core), and $RBI$ (red-blue), measured directly from the spectra. During the 2004--2007 monitoring period, image A of the quadruply lensed system Q2237+0305 underwent a strong microlensing amplification, while image D remained unaffected. We used 35 epochs of archival spectrophotometric data of Q2237+0305 obtained with the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory to develop an independent microlensing method for estimating the geometry and size of the BLR. We measured the index time series for the C iv line and the continuum emission at AA . We built a library of the simulated microlensing index time series that reproduce the observed times series based on three representative BLR models: Keplerian disk (KD), polar wind (PW), and equatorial wind (EW). After sampling the model parameter space, we find that KD is the predominant model, while PW and EW are less likely. We infer that the system is viewed at an intermediate viewing angle $i $, and we estimate the most likely C iv BLR half-light radius $r_ $ light days. Our results are in good agreement with previous findings in the literature and extend the validity of the index-based approach to a temporal domain.

Evaluation of the First Three Years of Treatment of Children with Congenital Hypothyroidism Identified through the Alberta Newborn Screening Program

The effectiveness of newborn screening (NBS) for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) relies on timely screening, confirmation of diagnosis, and initiation and ongoing monitoring of treatment. The objective of this study was to ascertain the extent to which infants with CH have received timely and appropriate management within the first 3 years of life, following diagnosis through NBS in Alberta, Canada. Deidentified laboratory data were extracted between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2019 from Alberta Health administrative databases for infants born in this time frame. Time to lab collection was anchored from date of birth. Timeliness was assessed as the frequency of monitoring of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and appropriateness as the frequency of children maintaining biochemical euthyroidism. Among 160 term infants, 95% had confirmation of diagnosis by 16 days of age. The cohort had a median of 2 (range 0–5) TSH measurements performed in the time interval from 0 to 1 month, 4 (0–12) from 1 to 6 months, 2 (0–10) from 6 to 12 months, and 7 (0–21) from 12 to 36 months. Approximately half were still biochemically hypothyroid (TSH > 7 mU/L) at 1 month of age. After becoming euthyroid, at least some period of hypo- (60%) or hyperthyroidism (TSH < 0.2 mU/L) (39%) was experienced. More work needs to be performed to discern factors contributing to prolonged periods of hypothyroidism or infrequent lab monitoring.

Effects of Dietary Carbohydrate Concentration and Glycemic Index on Blood Glucose Variability and Free Fatty Acids in Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes.

Monitoring glycemic control status is the cornerstone of diabetes management. This study aimed to reveal whether moderate-carbohydrate (CHO) diets increase the risk of free fatty acid (FFA) levels, and it presents the short-term effects of four different diet models on blood sugar, glycemic variability (GV), and FFA levels. This crossover study included 17 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus to identify the effects of four diets with different CHO contents and glycemic index (GI) on GV and plasma FFA levels. Diet 1 (D1) contained 40% CHO with a low GI, diet 2 (D2) contained 40% CHO with a high GI, diet 3 (D3) contained 60% CHO with a low GI, and diet 4 (D4) contained 60% CHO with a high GI. Interventions were performed with sensor monitoring in four-day periods and completed in four weeks. No statistical difference was observed among the groups in terms of blood glucose area under the curve (p = 0.78), mean blood glucose levels (p = 0.28), GV (p = 0.59), and time in range (p = 0.567). FFA and total triglyceride levels were higher in the D1 group (p < 0.014 and p = 0.002, respectively). Different diets may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases by affecting GI, FFA, and blood glucose levels.

Investigation of retrieval method for aerosol and water vapor profiles based on MAX-DOAS technology

Simultaneously obtaining the vertical distribution and profile of aerosol and water vapor is crucial for in-depth understanding of the Earth's radiation balance, regional water cycle, and the causes of frequent haze weather in China. This study developed a system and inversion method based on multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) to simultaneously retrieve tropospheric aerosol and water vapor profiles. The absorption of dioxy (O4) was obtained by multi-elevation measurement using the developed ground-based MAX-DOAS system. By minimizing a cost function combining an atmospheric radiative transfer model, aerosol extinction profiles were first inverted, followed by water vapor profiles. Optimized parameter selection in the look-up table method reduced reliance on prior profile information, enhancing pollutant distribution retrieval accuracy. In the monitoring period in Huaibei region, aerosols were mainly below 1.5 km, while water vapor concentrations decreased with altitude. Comparisons of water vapor vertical column densities (VCDs) retrieved through the look-up table method with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts(ECMWF) ERA5 model and geometric approximation showed good agreement, with correlation coefficients of 0.93 and 0.98, respectively. To comprehend water vapor sources at various vertical layers, a 24-hour backward trajectory clustering analysis was conducted using the HYSPLIT model based on observed wind fields. Findings revealed that at 500 meters altitude, water vapor primarily emanated from the southeast, whereas at 1 km and 2 km altitudes, it predominantly originated from the southwest. The study advances simultaneous tropospheric aerosol and water vapor profile retrieval, providing reliable technical support for the investigation of regional pollution.

Outcome of serial cardiac evaluations during doxorubicin-based chemotherapy in small- to medium-sized dogs with multicentric lymphoma

Doxorubicin is an anthracycline antitumor antibiotic with dose-dependent and cumulative cardiotoxicity. However, the necessity for serial cardiac evaluation is unknown in dogs without risk factors for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). This study aimed to investigate serial changes in echocardiographic and electrocardiographic measures in small- and medium-sized dogs after four doxorubicin doses. We included 17 dogs, weighting < 20 kg, with multicentric lymphoma. All dogs received doxorubicin over 30 min every 4 weeks as part of a multi-drug chemotherapy protocol. The average doxorubicin dose was 3.8 times per dog. Clinical cardiotoxicity was not observed during the monitoring period. The incidence of developing arrhythmia was not significantly associated with the number of doxorubicin doses received (P = 0.600). The development of valvular regurgitations and mitral regurgitation in these dogs was not significantly associated with the number of doxorubicin doses (P = 0.363 and P = 0.779, respectively). The other echocardiographic results were not significantly different between each evaluation. In conclusion, our results showed no significant cardiotoxicity under echocardiogram and electrocardiogram in small- and medium-sized dogs without risk factors for DCM after four doses of doxorubicin in a 30-minute infusion method.

Estimation of 241Am and 239Pu activity embedded in the tissue using portable planar HPGe detector.

This paper describes a procedure for the estimation of 241Am and 239Pu activity present in the human tissue by measuring the depth of contaminant using a portable Planar High Purity Germanium detector (HPGe). The ratios of photopeak counts of X-rays or gammas obtained with the detector coupled to collimator are calculated for the estimation of depth of the contaminant and the optimum one is determined. Since Minimum Detectable Activities (MDA) for the detector coupled to a collimator are higher than that of bare detector, activity must be estimated using bare detector, after locating the contaminant. Two methods are described for the estimation of plutonium coexisting with 241Am: (i) Abundance and isotopic correction for 239Pu (ii) and 239Pu:241Am ratio. The procedure to estimate 239Pu when plutonium isotopes alone are present is also established. An optimum monitoring period to detect the minimum value of intake for both radionuclides corresponding to chelation therapy and excision is also derived.

Electrical Ground Fault Monitoring System Utilizing Arduino and Android Application

Abstract: The increasing residential fire incidence caused by electrical ground faults worldwide challenges present and future researchers to develop a system capable of mitigating its occurrence. The absence of periodic equipment maintenance and monitoring facilities leads to potential electrical hazards to humans and properties. However, technological advances have made online electrical ground fault monitoring equipment possible. Users can now remotely gain information regarding the operational condition of electrical equipment in their homes. This paper presents the developed Electrical Ground Fault Monitoring System using Arduino with Android Application (EGFMSAAA), which can detect and transmit electrical ground fault parameters and safety precautions. This study developed a ground fault detector and a mobile application for the monitoring system.

First record of the bluntnose sixgill shark Hexanchus griseus (Bonnaterre, 1788) in the Guatemalan Caribbean Sea

The Guatemalan Caribbean has a deepwater fishing area close to the shore around the Cayman Trench. This study reports the first record of the bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) from this fishing area. Fishery-independent surveys using longlines at ~430-465 m depth, ~11 km northeast of El Quetzalito fishing village, were conducted in 2022 and 2023. Two bluntnose sixgill sharks were captured during these surveys. The sharks were females with total lengths of 300 and 310 cm, with morphological characteristics consistent with this species. These are the first confirmed records of bluntnose sixgill sharks in the western Caribbean Sea. Expanding coastal fisheries to deeper waters presents an emerging threat to deep-sea chondrichthyans in the region. Therefore, periodic fisheries monitoring is needed to estimate their vulnerability to fishing pressure.

Effect of adding Schroth physiotherapeutic scoliosis specific exercises to standard care in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis on posture assessed using surface topography: A secondary analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT).

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional structural asymmetry of the spine and trunk affecting 2-4% of adolescents. Standard treatment is observation, bracing, and surgery for small, moderate, and large curves, respectively. Schroth exercises aim to correct posture and reduce curve progression. This study aimed to determine the effect of Schroth exercises added to the standard care compared to standard care alone on torso asymmetry in AIS. In a randomized controlled trial (NCT01610908), 124 participants with AIS (age: 10-18, Cobb: 10°-45°, Risser: ≤3) were randomly assigned to the control (Standard care only) or Schroth (Standard care + Schroth treatment) group. Schroth treatment consisted of 1-hour weekly supervised sessions and 30-45 minutes of daily home exercises for six months. The control group received Schroth exercises in the last six months of the 1-year monitoring period. Markerless 3D surface topography assessed torso asymmetry measured by maximum deviation (MaxDev) and root mean square (RMS). Intention to treat linear mixed effects model analysis was compared to the per protocol analysis. In the intention to treat analysis, the Schroth group (n = 63) had significantly larger decreased RMS (-1.2 mm, 95%CI [-1.5,-0.9]mm, p = 0.012) and MaxDev (-1.9mm, 95%CI [-2.4,-1.5]mm, p = 0.025) measurements compared to controls (n = 57) after six months of intervention. In the per protocol analysis (Schroth n = 39, control n = 36), the Schroth group also had a significantly larger decrease compared to the control in both the RMS (-1.0mm, 95%CI [-1.9, -0.2]mm, p = 0.013) and MaxDev measurements (-2.0mm, 95%CI [-3.3,-0.5]mm, p = 0.037). For the control group, both the intention to treat and per protocol analysis showed no difference in RMS and MaxDev in the last six months of Schroth intervention (p>0.5). Schroth Exercise treatment added to standard care (observation or bracing) reduced asymmetry measurements in AIS. As expected, a greater effect was observed for participants who followed the prescribed exercise treatment per protocol.

Assessment and Grading of Accredited Social Health Activist Workers Based on Simulation, Awareness, and Writing Skills in Urban and Rural Karnataka: A Comparative Study

Introduction: Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers and their activities are regarded as a critical component linking the community and health-care facilities. They are the cornerstone of the Indian public health-care system responsible for spreading awareness and recommending preventive measures in the community. This study aims to assess the awareness, writing skills, and practical-based performance of the ASHA workers in urban and rural Karnataka. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among ASHA workers in rural and urban Mysore district. A multistage sampling technique was adopted for selecting the participants. The ASHA workers were asked to fill out a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. An unpaired t-test was used for inferential statistics. P &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the workers in urban areas was 36.38 ± 5.877 years, while in rural, it was 41.53 ± 6.755 years. The overall average score for rural ASHA workers was more (70.49 ± 14.018) when compared to the urban ASHAs (65 ± 13.400). The average years of experience were 6.14 ± 1.44 years in urban and 10.5 ± 2.66 years in rural areas. The daily working hours ranged from 3 to 10 h in urban and 2 to 10 h among rural ASHA workers. Conclusion: The overall score of rural ASHA workers was higher when compared to urban ASHAs. Even though the grading and performance of the ASHA workers were good, their expertise in identifying and tackling life-threatening conditions remains inadequate. This can be improved with more vigilant and periodic training and monitoring along with periodic recruitment at regular intervals.