Natural Values Research Articles

Long-Term Changes in the Thermal and Ice Regime of the Biebrza River (Northeastern Poland) in the Era of Global Warming

In the context of ongoing environmental changes, particularly against the backdrop of global warming, significant attention is being given to areas of exceptional natural value that, in many aspects, retain a pristine character. One such area is the Biebrza River in northeastern Poland, which, together with the wetlands in its basin, forms one of the most valuable ecosystems of its kind in Europe. This study analyses the changes in the thermal and ice regime for two hydrological stations, Sztabin and Burzyn, in the period from 1959 to 2023. It was found that the average annual water temperature in this period for the Biebrza River increased by 0.28 °C/decade, and in the case of ice phenomena, statistically significant changes for both stations showed a decline, with an acceleration of the ice cover disappearance by an average of 3 days/decade. These recorded changes should be considered unfavourable, as they will affect the transformation of both the biotic and abiotic characteristics of the river itself, as well as the natural elements associated with it.

Sustainable Strategy toward Community Life Satisfaction in Heritage Tourism

This research aims to form a model strategy for community life satisfaction by developing sustainable tourism in cultural heritage sites. This research used mixed method: qualitative method by in-depth interviews with four respondents from local communities, MSMEs, Kawasan Cagar Budaya Nasional (KCBN) Muaro Jambi, government involved in heritage site tourism activities and analyzed using QDA Miner. The quantitative method was by distributing questionnaires using purposive sampling to 200 respondents, and data were processed using SmartPLS to build a holistic model of community life satisfaction in heritage sites. The results of this research are: firstly, social culture and urban landscapes contribute to community satisfaction; secondly, social culture and urban landscape have a significant positive influence on sustainable tourism; thirdly, through sustainable tourism, community life satisfaction will be formed. This research has relevant implications for providing a deeper understanding of the impact of sustainable tourism in improving community life satisfaction in heritage sites by integrating natural values and urban landscape and empowering the local community.

Characterization and source apportionment of heavy metal pollution in soil around red mud disposal sites using absolute principal component scores-multiple linear regression and positive matrix factorization models.

In recent years, industrial waste and agrochemicals have reduced soil fertility and productivity, significantly impacting food security and ecosystems. In China, areas near red mud deposits from the aluminum industry show severe heavy metal contamination. This study examines agricultural soil near a red mud site in Shanxi Province, analyzing Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, As, Cu, and Zn levels and distribution. Geostatistical methods and GIS are utilized to assess heavy metal pollution using the single factor index, the Nemerow integrated index, and the Hakanson potential ecological risk index. Absolute Principal Component Scores-Multiple Linear Regression (APCS-MLR) and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) models are used for quantitative analysis of pollution sources. Research indicates that the average concentrations of eight heavy metals exceed the natural background values of Shanxi, placing them at a severe pollution level with moderate ecological risk. Specifically, indices for As, Pb, and Cr are 3.79, 3.38, and 3.26, indicating severe pollution; Cd, Cu, and Hg at 2.36, 2.62, and 3.00 suggest moderate pollution; Ni at 1.87 shows mild pollution, while Zn at 0.97 is not polluted. Hg presents the highest ecological risk with a coefficient of 120.00, followed by Cd (70.69) and As (37.92). Spatial analysis shows significant correlations among Pb, Zn, Cu, and Ni, while Cr, Cd, Hg, and As show greater variability and weaker correlations. Both models identify five main sources: industrial activities, agricultural fertilizers, red mud leachate, energy combustion, and natural geological backgrounds, with respective contribution rates in the APCS-MLR model at 27.7%, 24.6%, 18.1%, 15.2%, and 14.4%, and in the PMF model at 29.2%, 21.5%, 16.9%, 16.7%, and 15.7%. This study offers a scientific basis for controlling soil pollution in the region, filling a literature gap.

Beauty Builds Cooperation by Increasing Moral Concern for the Environment

We aimed to investigate the role of moral value in influencing cooperative behavior in environmental conservation. Our research involved two studies examining whether attributing moral value to non-sentient resources (the environment) impacts participants’ resource preservation actions. Results revealed that associating an environmental consequence with resource consumption led to increased cooperative behavior, driven by a desire to protect trees and nature’s intrinsic value. Further, participants demonstrated higher conservation efforts when the environmental consequence was paired with a beautiful image of a tree. These findings suggest that the beauty of nature may be a significant driver of cooperation. The results of these studies shed light on the non-monetary value that people place on resources. Beauty and the inherent value of nature may be critical for our understanding of environmental conservation, emphasizing the potential of moral and aesthetic appreciation as key drivers of pro-environmental actions.

Landscape Character and Management Zones in Polder Landscapes: A Case Study of the Dongting Lake Area

Polder landscapes, as a representative of lowland agriculture landscapes, possess diverse natural and cultural values. However, polder landscapes are facing multiple challenges arising from economic and climate changes, including increasing flood threats and the fragmentation of landscape patterns. These issues have severely threatened the safety and regional characteristics of the polder landscape. Therefore, this study aims to preserve the regional characteristics of polder landscapes while promoting the sustainable development of lowland environments, and the objective is to provide a foundation and baseline for the management and planning of polder landscapes. In this study, the Dongting Lake Area (DLA) was selected as a representative case of polder landscapes. To identify the landscape character and delineate the landscape management zones, this study employed the Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) method in conjunction with a polder typology method at two scales. As a result, the polder landscape types were identified and visualized at two different scales. At the Lake Scale, a comprehensive identification method for polder unit types and polder landscape regions was established, achieving a stepwise transition from polder areas to polder clusters and ultimately to individual polder units. At the Local Scale, an integrative analysis of landscape character diversity (LCD) and land construction suitability (LCS) was employed to establish five landscape management zones for polder landscapes, thereby realizing a balance between the conservation of polder landscape diversity with the sustainable development of wetland environments. This study contributes a set of cross-scale ideas and methods for identifying landscape characters and delineating management zones in polder landscapes, which could be expanded to other lowland agricultural landscapes.

Exploring the Tourist Perceptions of Destination Components at the Sigiriya World Heritage Site: A Tripadvisor-Based Study

ABSTRACT This study explores tourists’ perceptions of the Sigiriya UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka. The study has used TripAdvisor reviews and analysed using content analysis employing the 5’A’s framework for destinations (Attractions, Accessibility, Amenities, Activities, Accommodation). The results indicate that tourists perceive the attraction based on scenery, historical significance, features, cost, and crowd levels. Their perception highlighted the availability of accommodation, facilities and amenities. The activities including rock climbing, garden visits, photography, and artefact observation along with the accessibility considerations, such as fitness requirements, were also highlighted in their perceptions. The study revealed a key finding that ‘authentic experience’ is a crucial component of heritage tourism. Accordingly, this study proposes expanding 5’A’s framework incorporating ‘authentic experiences’ to understand tourists’ perceptions and their recommendation behaviour. Practical implications include preserving the site’s natural and historical value, improving accessibility and amenities, and offering authentic experiences in heritage destinations to enhance tourists’ perceptions

What about the negatives? An integrated framework for revealing diverse values of nature and its conservation

Abstract Taking into account the perspectives of local stakeholders is essential for just and effective biodiversity conservation. Plural valuation, making visible the diverse values people hold in relation to nature, has emerged as a key approach towards better inclusion of stakeholders' perspectives. So far, plural valuation has mainly focused on positive values, leaving equally important negative values underexposed. To address this, a concrete proposal has been presented to also consider ‘disvalues’. However, accessible frameworks to help practitioners apply this concept are arguably still lacking. To address this gap, we here propose the ‘Integrated Nature Futures Framework’ (I‐NFF), where ‘integrated’ indicates joint consideration of positive and negative values. The I‐NFF draws on the popular Nature Futures Framework (NFF) to develop disvalue thinking in a more accessible form. The I‐NFF considers three perspectives (‘nature’, ‘society’ and ‘culture’), based on which something can be placed on a spectrum from positive (‘for nature’, ‘for society’ and ‘as culture’) to negative (‘against nature’, ‘against society’ and ‘in conflict with culture’), and can be represented as two mirrored triangles. Using empirical data, we illustrate various purposes for which the I‐NFF can be used: to inventory nature‐related topics ‘at play’ in a given context, to depict how people frame their overall relationship with nature or to depict how people frame specific issues. This demonstrates how the I‐NFF helps reveal value pluralism and trade‐offs, capture the reciprocity of human–nature relationships and identify where perspectives differ and share common ground. We close by discussing how the I‐NFF can enhance the inclusion of stakeholder voices in biodiversity conservation, which is indispensable for a more nature‐ and people‐positive future. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Impact of Site Conditions on Quercus robur and Quercus petraea Growth and Distribution Under Global Climate Change

Climate change has significant natural and economic implications, but its extent is particularly challenging to assess in forest management, a field which combines both of the previous aspects and requires the evaluation of the impact of climate change on tree species over a 100-year timeframe. Oaks are among the tree species of significant natural and economic value in Europe. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze all oak stands in Poland and verify the hypothesis regarding differences between Quercus robur and Quercus petraea stands in terms of soil type, annual total precipitation, average annual air temperature, and the length of the growing season. Additionally, this study aimed to analyze the impact of these differences on the growth rates of both oak species and test whether climate change may affect oak stands. A database containing 195,241 tree stands, including different oak species with varying shares in the stand (from 10% to 100%), was analyzed. A particular emphasis was placed on Q. robur and Q. petraea. The results show that, although both oak species have a wide common range of occurrence, there are clear differences in their habitat preferences. Based on the ordinal regression analysis of selected oak stands, it was concluded that an increase in air temperature of 1 °C could impair the growth of Q. robur and slightly improve the growth of Q. petraea. This may indicate the possibility of expanding the geographic range of sessile oaks towards the east and northeast under warming climatic conditions, provided that appropriate moisture conditions are maintained.

Interaction of base excision repair gene polymorphism and estrogen-DNA adducts in breast cancer risk among East Asian women.

In East Asia, the incidence of breast cancer has been increasing rapidly, particularly among premenopausal women. An elevated ratio of estrogen-DNA adducts was linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. The present study explored the influence of the interaction between base excision repair (BER) gene polymorphisms and estrogen-DNA adducts on breast cancer risk. We conducted a case-control study comprising healthy volunteers and individuals with benign breast disease (control arm, n = 176) and patients with invasive carcinoma or carcinoma in situ (case arm, n = 177). Genotyping for BER-related genes, including SMUG1, OGG1, ERCC5, and APEX1, was performed. A logistic regression model, incorporating interactions between gene polymorphisms, estrogen-DNA adduct ratio, and clinical variables, was used to identify the risk factors for breast cancer. Univariate analysis indicated marginal associations between breast cancer risk and APEX1 rs1130409 T > G (P = 0.057) and APEX1 rs1760944 T > G (P = 0.065). Multivariate regression analysis revealed significant associations with increased breast cancer risk for APEX1_rs1130409 (GT/GG versus TT) combined with a natural logarithmic value of the estrogen-DNA adduct ratio (estimated OR 1.164, P = 0.023) and premenopausal status with an estrogen-DNA adduct ratio > 2.93 (estimated OR 2.433, P = 0.001). APEX1_rs1130409 (GT/GG versus TT) polymorphisms, which are related to decreased BER activity, combined with an increased ratio of estrogen-DNA adducts, increase the risk of breast cancer in East Asian women.

The contribution of environmental interpretation in nature protection

The interpretation of natural values and the management of visitors in protected areas are related in multiple ways and are an important link in nature protection activities. This paper examines the basic elements of the interpretation and management of visitors in the selected protected areas of the Republic of Croatia. Protected areas are one of the main attributes of the tourist image of Croatia, with significant economic effects in the generated traffic of visitors. However, this can also contribute to the degradation of natural values or, on the other hand, can help protect nature. Due to such challenges, it is necessary to better understand the importance of visitor centres, tourist tours and the way in which codes of ethics are applied in protected areas. In this paper the representation of environmental interpretation techniques and tools in seven protected areas in Croatia were investigated, using information that was obtained mainly through survey research. The basic results indicate that Croatia has made progress in the previous period in the field of interpretation of natural and cultural values in its protected areas. Such progress is not only related to regions where tourism has a mass character and where visits are significant, but has also been made in remote continental parts of the country. Such an approach in the development of protected areas also indicates that these areas are not only massive tourist destinations, but also places for a more complex understanding of the concept of nature protection and sustainable development associated with the use of its potentials.

Antihypertensive Activity Profile of Bangkirai Leaves (Shorea laevis Ridl.) Ethanol Extract on Angiotensin II (4ZUD) and β-Adrenergic (6PS5) Receptors

Hypertensive is a cardiovascular system disorder characterized by systolic pressure ≥ 140mmHg and diastolic ≥ 90mmHg. The increase in blod pressure is due to the mechanism of angiotensin II and β-adrenergic receptors, so in developing medicine for hypertension, compounds are needed to inhibit the activation of angiotensin II to angiotensin II, as well as β-adrenergic. Kalimantan, Indonesia has a biodiversity that has the potential as medicine such as Bangkirai (Shorea laevis Ridl.). Based on previous research on secondary metabolites, various compounds have been identified that have potential as new drug candidates, for example as antihypertensive. This study aims to determine the pharmacological profile and mechanism of angiotensin I inhibition at the 4ZUD and β-adrenergic receptors inhibition at the 6PS5 receptor, from ethanol extract of bangkirai leaves by carrying out molecular docking which begins with several stages including preparation and optimization of the structure of the test compound and structure preparation of 3D receptors 4ZUD and 6PS5. To find out the correctness of the method, validation was carried out on the Olmesartan ligand compound for 4ZUD and the propranolol ligand for 6PS5. Based on research carried out on both receptors, results were obtained for the test compounds in the form of MolDockScore, the pharmacological profile of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity. MolDockScore results show that the compound Colchicine, N-desacetyl-N-[4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxycinnamoyl] has the lowest values, namely -146.503 at the 4ZUD receptor dan -129.718 at the 6PS5 receptor, which is close to the natural ligand value compared to other metabolite compounds. Apart from that, it also provides good results based on the pharmacological profile of the 4ZUD and 6PS5 receptors including HIA (95.73%), Caco2 (35.14nm/second), and PPB (87.67%). Negative test results are also shown in the mutagenic toxicity profile (Ames Test Method), non-mutagenic, and carcinogenic tests which include genotoxic and nongenotoxic.

Associations between neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin ratio level and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease-cause mortality in general population: evidence from nhanes 1999-2010

Abstract Introduction Chronic inflammation is a recognized independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), highlighting the need for reliable inflammatory indicators to predict CVD(1). As an inflammatory indicator which has been proved to have predictive value for the prognosis of CVDs, neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) has obtained increasing attention(2,3), but further research is needed to confirm the relationship with mortality in general population. Purpose To explore whether NPAR can serve as a predictive inflammatory indicator for CVD-cause and all-cause mortality in general population. Methods This prospective cohort study included 21317 individuals who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2010. The baseline NPAR level was calculated as Neutrophil percentage (%) * 100/Albumin (g/dl). Data for CVD and all-cause mortality were acquired by linking the cohort database with the National Death Index through December 31, 2019.Weighted Kaplan–Meier curves with log-rank tests were conducted to access cumulative survival differences across different NPAR results. Restricted cubic spline analyses were employed to examine the nonlinear association. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to compute hazard ratios and 95% CIs. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare predictive value of NPAR with systemic immune inflammation index (SII) and neutrophils percent. Results In this cohort study, during 270014 person-years of follow-up, 4074 all-cause deaths and 1116 CVD-cause deaths were documented. We found significant associations between elevated NPAR and both CVD-cause and all-cause mortality in Kaplan–Meier curves (both P for log-rank test<0.001). Restricted cubic splines revealed non-linear associations between NPAR level and both CVD-cause (P=0.018 for nonlinearity) and all-cause mortality (P<0.001 for nonlinearity) (Figure 1A and 1B). After adjusting for confounding factors, participants in the highest NPAR tertile had a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.33-1.61) and CVD-cause mortality (HR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.32-1.80) compared to those in the lowest tertile, while no association was detected for individuals in the middle tertile (Figure 2). The effect of NPAR was consistent across most subgroups, with no significant interaction with most covariates except for high cholesterol (CVD-cause mortality: P=0.014, all-cause mortality: P=0.022). Further ROC analysis confirmed that NPAR had higher predictive value than neutrophil percent and SII. Conclusions Elevated NPAR level was significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause and CVD-cause mortality in general population.Given its easy-to-calculate nature and high predictive value, NPAR index, with implications in public health, deserves greater attention in inflammatory assessment and cardiovascular prevention.Figure 1 Nonlinear associationFigure 2 Cox regression table

Gross Ecosystem Product as a Measure of Natural Capital Value: An Italian Experience

Gross Ecosystem Product as a Measure of Natural Capital Value: An Italian Experience

Sources Affecting Microplastic Contamination in Mountain Lakes in Tatra National Park

The global atmospheric transport of microplastics (MPs) plays a crucial role in the contamination of remote, especially higher-elevation, environments. Precipitation is considered the main source of MP pollution. Meanwhile, plastic waste generated from, for example, tourism activities can be a local source of MP pollution. In this study, we specify which of the mentioned sources of MP, global or local, have a higher impact on the pollution level in the high-elevation oligotrophic lakes of Tatra National Park in Poland. Due to its unique natural value, it is listed by UNESCO as an international biosphere reserve and meets the criteria for Natura 2000 areas. We comprehensively analyzed the morphometric and anthropogenic features of 11 lakes in terms of the contamination level, color, shape, and polymer type of the MPs found in the surface waters. MP fibers were found to be present in all studied lakes, with contamination ranging from 25 to 179 items/m3. Polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and natural or semi-natural cellulose fibers—black or red in color with a length of 0.2–1.0 mm—predominated, which corresponds with other studies conducted on remote mountain ecosystems. We did not find any correlation of the number of MPs with local anthropogenic pressure characteristics. In turn, the significant correlation with lake area, coastline length, lake volume, and catchment area indicated airborne sources, including global transport of MPs to the lakes with reduced water outflow.

Maximal point-polyserial correlation for non-normal random distributions.

We consider the problem of determining the maximum value of the point-polyserial correlation between a random variable with an assigned continuous distribution and an ordinal random variable with categories, which are assigned the first natural values , and arbitrary probabilities . For different parametric distributions, we derive a closed-form formula for the maximal point-polyserial correlation as a function of the and of the distribution's parameters; we devise an algorithm for obtaining its maximum value numerically for any given . These maximum values and the features of the corresponding -point discrete random variables are discussed with respect to the underlying continuous distribution. Furthermore, we prove that if we do not assign the values of the ordinal random variable a priori but instead include them in the optimization problem, this latter approach is equivalent to the optimal quantization problem. In some circumstances, it leads to a significant increase in the maximum value of the point-polyserial correlation. An application to real data exemplifies the main findings. A comparison between the discretization leading to the maximum point-polyserial correlation and those obtained from optimal quantization and moment matching is sketched.

Impact of organic contaminants in soils from Important Bird and Biodiversity areas.

Soils act as sinks for many organic contaminants, posing a threat to biodiversity and essential ecosystem services. In this study, we assessed the contamination status of soils in 140 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) in Spain. Fifty-two organic contaminants including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and plasticizers or plastic related such as phthalates, bisphenol A, nonylphenol, and organophosphate esters (OPEs) were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The mean soil concentration ranged from 1.41 to917ng/g and plasticizer and PAHs were detected at the highest concentrations, while OCPs were the most frequently detected. Hierarchical clustering on principal components (HCPC) and land use data associated PCBs with artificial land, phthalates with industrial sites and incineration plants and PAHs with burned areas, and in a lesser extent pesticides with agricultural activities. A tier I environmental risk assessment (ERA) was performed to identify the most impacted natural areas and the most concerning compounds. Out of the 140 IBAs, 95 presented at least one compound at high-risk concentrations (RQ > 1) for soil organisms. The OPPs chlorpyrifos and malathion, together with the PAH benzo[b]fluoranthene, were detected at high-risk concentrations. Overall, this study highlights the widespread presence of organic contaminants in areas of high natural value and the importance of implementing monitoring studies to identify potential contaminated sites that require conservation and remediation actions for the protection of biodiversity.

Changing human–nature relationships: Insights from Guinea‐Bissau woodlands

Abstract The ecological impacts of landscape changes resulting in significant simplification of natural systems have been extensively studied worldwide. Yet, few studies have examined how such biophysical changes affect the value local communities place on nature and their relationships with it. In this study, we delve into the case of Guinea‐Bissau, where woodland cover has been increasingly replaced by commercial cashew plantations. Using a sociocultural valuation approach, our empirical research provides a comprehensive assessment of the woodlands' contributions to local communities as well as the potential disruptions caused by the ongoing biophysical changes on the woodlands. We focused on 20 villages of four different ethnic groups—Manjack, Balanta, Mandinka and Fulani—and used a combination of focus group discussions and walks‐in‐the‐woods. The study's participants identified 19 nature's contributions to people from the woodlands, which revealed a combination of instrumental, relational and intrinsic values in ways that reflect their subsistence needs and social–cultural contexts. We also found that these values are being impacted, mostly negatively, by the ongoing biophysical changes in the ‘natural’ landscapes tied to regional and global dynamics. Moreover, our study reveals that local communities are aware of ongoing biophysical changes in their woodlands and perceive them as having negative ecological and psychological consequences for them. Synthesis and applications: Our study highlights the significance of using a sociocultural perspective to investigate how changes in the landscape affect local peoples' values of nature and their relationships with it. This information can help shape policies and management decisions towards creating better futures that are meaningful for both humans and non‐humans. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Precision and uncertainty in natural gas calorific value estimation: advanced combinatorial predictive models for complex pipeline systems

Abstract In recent years, natural gas pipelines have been characterized by multiple intake points, the mixing of different gas sources, and significant variations in gas quality. The existing volumetric measurement system is no longer suitable for the development and operation of natural gas pipelines in China. To ensure accurate and equitable implementation of natural gas measurement, there is a gradual shift towards energy measurement. However, due to numerous measurement interfaces, installing chromatographs at all measurement stations would lead to substantial investment costs. Therefore, predicting the calorific value of natural gas is a key technology for energy measurement. In view of the issues existing in the current methods of obtaining natural gas calorific value, different prediction models of natural gas calorific value are constructed. According to the influencing factors of natural gas calorific value, the uncertainty evaluation is carried out, and the accuracy of different calorific value prediction models is analyzed by case data. The maximum error of regression equation (RE), response surface analysis (RSA), BP neural network and genetic algorithm (GA) prediction model is 2.29%, 0.43%, 0.59% and 0.45% respectively. However, the combined calorific value (CCV)prediction model is 0.41%. The results indicate that the predicted value calculated by the CCV prediction model is closer to the actual value and has higher prediction performance, which provides a new method for the calorific value prediction and measurement management of natural gas.

An Assessment of High Natural Manganese Concentration in the Groundwater Upstream of a Non-Hazardous Solid Waste Plant in the Southern Latium Region

Manganese (Mn) is one of the most abundant metals naturally present in the environment, but currently, it also represents an important factor of environmental contamination due to intense human activity. To investigate the nature of the presence of concentrations above the limits (CSC) established by Legislative Decree 152/06 for manganese in the groundwater underlying a non-hazardous solid waste plant, a study was carried out on the geochemical characteristics of the aquifers present in the study area. The study aimed to determine the natural background value (NBV) of Mn in the groundwater underlying the study area, according to the “Guidelines for Determining the Background Values of Soils and Groundwater” of ISPRA. Indeed, NBV assessment and site-specific considerations can help identify any specific sources of contamination in an area. In the study area, the chemical–physical and geochemical parameters of the water of 11 piezometers were analyzed. Subsequently, statistical tests were applied to detect an NBV identified as 192.3 µg/L, therefore much higher than the CSC, due to possible ongoing local phenomena linked to the geogenic conditions of the soil, which could determine high manganese values. In fact, in the study area, some lithologies favor establishing anaerobic environments and releasing manganese in the groundwater as hydroxides. Consequently, this process can lead to high manganese concentrations, even exceeding legal limits.

Augmented and virtual reality imaging for collaborative planning of structural cardiovascular interventions: a proof-of-concept and validation study.

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have led to significant advancements in cardiac preoperative planning, shaping the world in profound ways. A noticeable gap exists in the availability of a comprehensive multi-user, multi-device mixed reality application that can be used in a multidisciplinary team meeting. A multi-user, multi-device mixed reality application was developed, supporting AR and VR implementations. Technical validation involved a standardized testing protocol and comparison of AR and VR measurements regarding absolute error and time. Preclinical validation engaged experts in interventional cardiology, evaluating the clinical applicability prior to clinical validation. Clinical validation included patient-specific measurements for five patients in VR compared with standard computed tomography (CT) for preoperative planning. Questionnaires were used at all stages for subjective evaluation. Technical validation, including 106 size measurements, demonstrated an absolute median error of 0.69mm (0.25 to 1.18mm) compared with ground truth. The time to complete the entire task was on average, with VR measurements being faster than AR ( versus , ). On clinical validation of five preoperative patients, there was no statistically significant difference between paired CT and VR measurements (0.58 [95% CI, to 2.74], ). Questionnaires showcased unanimous agreement on the user-friendly nature, effectiveness, and clinical value. The mixed reality application, validated through technical, preclinical, and clinical assessments, demonstrates precision and user-friendliness. Further research of our application is needed to validate the generalizability and impact on patient outcomes.