Reduction In Flow Research Articles

Fournier’s gangrene in voluminous inguinoscrotal herniation: Case report and review of literature

Introduction: Fournier’s gangrene (FG) is a polymicrobial life-threatening infection that affects perineal region and may extend to genitalia and abdominal wall. Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare condition and its association with large inguinoscrotal hernia even rarer. With high mortality rate, some predisposing factors are diabetes and immunodeficiency. Case presentation: We report a case of a 48-year-old man with Fournier’s gangrene associated with voluminous inguinoscrotal herniation which evolved to hernia sac exposure after debridement. Discussion: FG pathophysiology initiates with a localized infection by a combination of gram positive, gram negative and anaerobic bacteria, and its advancing leads to local inflammatory response, thrombosis, blood flow reduction and ischemia. Diagnosis depends on clinical presentation and image evaluation. Conclusion: FG management has been standard in the literature, however its association with inguinoscrotal hernias have not been considered in guidelines. Early diagnosis and proper clinical and surgical treatment are fundamental to avoid life-threatening complications and morbidities.

Trimetazidine protects against acute indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal, hepatic, and renal injury in rats

Background: Peptic ulcers are increasingly reported as a challenging disease in clinical settings. Several medications are employed in the management of peptic ulcers. Thus far, there is no medication devoid of any adverse effects that may achieve a 100% curative rate or provide a total remedy for the ailment. Aim: We aimed to examine the healing effects of trimetazidine against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in albino rats. Methodology: A total of 25 rats were used, divided into five groups (each group contained five rats): a negative control group that was only treated with distilled water, a positive control group that was only treated with a single dose of indomethacin (30 mg/kg) orally, a group that received indomethacin (30 mg/kg) and low doses of trimetazidine (17.5 mg/kg) orally, a group that received indomethacin (30 mg/kg) and medium doses of trimetazidine (35 mg/kg) orally, and a group that received indomethacin (30 mg/kg) and high doses of trimetazidine (52.5 mg/kg) orally. The induction of gastric ulcers occurred on the first day of the experiment through the administered indomethacin and, subsequently, the rats were treated orally with either trimetazidine or distilled water, three times daily, for 7 days. Serum urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and albumin levels were measured. Stomachs were excised from the rats’ bodies and opened along the greater curvature; they were then rinsed with saline, extended on a white corkboard, and examined macroscopically. The stomach tissues were also processed in order to generate microscopic slides for microscopical examination. Results: Indomethacin administration caused multiple ulcerations in the gastric mucosa, significant elevations in serum urea, creatinine, AST, and ALT levels, and a significant reduction of the serum albumin levels. The treatment with trimetazidine significantly healed the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers. Conclusion: The present study indicates that the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) indomethacin can induce substantial gastric ulcers, which may be linked to a direct toxic effect on the histological architecture of the gastric linings in addition to the reduction of blood flow to gastric mucosa; this effect can be treated by administration of trimetazidine. Ultimately, this study suggests that administering the optimal dosage of trimetazidine can be advantageous in treating stomach ulcers caused by NSAIDs. Moreover, the study suggests that the indomethacin-induced liver and renal dysfunction can also be alleviated by the use of trimetazidine.

Profiling hippocampal expression of long non-coding RNA GM12371 in a rat model of vascular dementia

BackgroundDementia, characterized by synaptic dysfunction and memory loss, presents a significant challenge in medical research. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), known for their crucial roles in regulating gene expression, represent a gap in knowledge regarding their specific involvement in synaptic structure, transmission, and plasticity. This study aims to investigate the dynamic changes in hippocampal lncRNA GM12371 expression in response to acute and chronic hypoperfusion in the rat brain using the 2VO model.MethodsThe 2VO model was induced by permanently occluding the common carotid arteries. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to evaluate hippocampal lncRNA GM12371 expression at both acute (day 4) and chronic (day 28) stages post-2VO surgery. Comparative analysis was conducted with a sham-operated group.ResultsA notable reduction in GM12371 expression was observed in the rat hippocampus on day 4 following 2VO surgery compared to the sham group (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in GM12371 expression between the sham and 2VO-28 groups.ConclusionThese findings suggest that the downregulation of GM12371 is a response to acute hippocampal blood flow reduction but tends to normalize during the chronic phase of cerebral hypoperfusion. This dynamic regulation of GM12371 expression may be significant in the adaptive response to vascular dementia. Further clinical studies are warranted to investigate potential peripheral alterations in GM12371 expression in individuals with dementia.

7770 Damage of Ovarian Vasculature by Chemotherapies induces Ovarian Dysfunction in Mice

Abstract Disclosure: W. So: None. R. Dong: None. Y. Luan: None. A. Abazarikia: None. S. Kim: None. Background: Chemotherapy demonstrates efficacy to destroying cancer cells; however, it can inadvertently impact normal healthy cells, leading to irreversible side effects, particularly affecting the ovaries in female patients. Female cancer survivors encounter endocrine dysfunction and infertility due to ovarian damage caused by gonadotoxic cancer therapies. The ovary, a vital organ responsible for producing oocytes and endocrine hormones, faces significant challenges following such treatment. A study with premenopausal breast cancer patients reported a significant reduction in ovarian blood flow and volume immediately following chemotherapy. The preservation of ovarian function depends on the ovarian vasculature in supporting the development and maintenance of ovarian follicles. Despite its importance, the relationship between ovarian vasculature and follicle following chemotherapy has not been studied. Results: To investigate the direct impacts of chemotherapy, ovaries from postnatal 5 CD-1 mice were subjected to testing with three chemotherapeutic agents: cisplatin (CDDP), cyclophosphamide (CPA), and doxorubicin (DOXO). The expression of CD31/PECAM-1 (platelet endothelial adhesion molecule) exhibited a significant decrase after 96 hours of culture with 4-HC, an active metabolite of CPA. This reduction implies that ovarian vasculature was also compromised when chemotherapy eliminated immature follicles. In order to evaluate the influence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in safeguarding both vasculature and ovarian follicles, ovaries were co-cultured with VEGF165 or VEGF165b in combination with chemotherapy. Interestingly, pre-treatment with VEGF165 before 4-HC led to an increased expression of CD31 in the cortex area, while VEGF165b further diminished CD31 expression compared to treatment with 4-HC alone. Additionally, adolescent CD-1 mice were intraperitoneally injected with CDDP, CPA, or DOXO, and ovaries were harvested one week after injection. Ovaries treated with chemotherapeutic agents exhibited a reduction in ovary weight and decreased CD31 expression compared to control mice. Conclusions: We propose that these chemotherapeutic agents not only induced the loss of ovarian follicles but also affected ovarian vasculature in mice. This suggests a potential decrease in folliculogenesis within the ovary, coupled with the depletion of ovarian reserve, as the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to growing ovarian follicles may be compromised. VEGF165 may play a beneficial role in maintaining ovarian function by safeguarding ovarian vasculature following chemotherapy. Understanding these intricate dynamics is essential for developing strategies to mitigate the negative impact of cancer therapies on reproductive health in female cancer survivors, particularly in preserving endocrine function and reproductive lifespan. Presentation: 6/2/2024

Assessing the spatial variability of cage movement and velocity attenuation of an off-bottom oyster farm and its influence on eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) growth performance

The global shellfish aquaculture industry has expanded over the last seven decades. Similarly, the size of individual shellfish farming operations has grown in some states. Circulation processes in natural water bodies are dynamic and vary across multiple temporal and spatial scales. How gear installation affects the circulation of currents and waves, and subsequent phytoplankton delivery to crops within farms, is largely unknown. Documenting and understanding variability in wave and current energy within an individual farm could help optimize production. Our study sought to understand the variability in oyster growth attributable to hydrodynamic and atmospheric forcing across an active commercial shellfish aquaculture lease in the Patuxent River, Maryland. We observed a 17 % reduction in water flow downstream of the farm (rho = −0.673, p = 0.002, Spearman rank test), suggesting the bottom cages attenuated downstream current velocity during flood tides. Differences in flow speed and the movement of cages and oysters throughout the farm correlated with variances in oyster shell morphology and oyster survival while in bottom cages. Our results demonstrate the occurrence of variability in production within an individual farm location. Further, our findings suggest that insight into the spatial growth patterns across a lease can be practical for forecasting growth and quality of cultured oysters and may enable growers to strategically place oysters within their farm to improve yield and product consistency.

Southern Bug River: water security and climate changes perspectives for post-war city of Mykolaiv, Ukraine

This article focuses on water security in Mykolaiv, a city of 0.5 million inhabitants in southern Ukraine, in the situation of scarcity of usable water resources caused by climate change and military operations. This problem arose after the Dnipro-Mykolaiv water pipeline was destroyed in April 2022 as a result of military operations and the supply of drinking water to the city was cut off. To ensure that the city’s population has constant access to sufficient water of acceptable quality, a search for alternative water sources and a climate risk assessment were carried out for the new municipal water supply system from the Southern Bug River. The possible change in flow and its intra-annual distribution under the influence of climate change was modeled using the WaterGAP2 hydrological model and climate projections under the SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-P8.5 scenarios. It was found that under the SSP1-2.6 scenario, the reduction in river flow will be insignificant (up to a maximum of 14% in the far future) and there will be no restrictions on the city’s water supply from this section of the river in the near (2021-2050) and far (2051-2080) period. The maximum water withdrawal for municipal water supply and the minimum environmental flow will reach their maximum value only in August (56% of the projected flow), which is not critical. Under the SSP5-8.5 scenario, in the long-term perspective of 2051-2080, the largest decrease in runoff will occur from May to October, and the water withdrawal will increase to 40-79% of the projected flow. The use of the research results not only in water management, but also in municipal administration, and their dissemination in territorial communities will contribute to the successful adaptation of socio-economic and environmental processes in the region and can bring successful benefits not only to the economy, but also to communities.

Remote sensing applications to identify devastated lagoons of the Indus Delta Pakistan

A reduction in river flows is a major cause of the shrinking of river deltas. The Ramsar protected Indus Delta is one such example. Due to a consistent reduction in the flows of the Indus River, 15 out of 17 allied creeks facing back flows from the sea, while the remaining two are flowing during flooding years only. The connected wetlands and lagoons of these creeks have turned brackish, resulting in the devastation of associated habitats and ecosystems. This situation also increased seawater intrusion and coastal erosion. This study spatially detect the devastated lagoons, employing the Arc-Hydro tools in ArcGIS, conduct community meetings and draft evidence-based recommendations to revive the abandoned wetlands. The study identified 130 waterbodies using maximum likelihood and supervised classification methods on Landsat imagery. Through ground trothing 20 abandoned waterbodies have been visited and verified with community engagement. The revival of wetlands will improve biodiversity and coastal habitat, along with the re-plantation of mangrove, which provides a shield against tsunamis and cyclones and is also home to hundreds of species of shrimp. The sustainable wetlands may also provide immediate drinking and agricultural needs for the local population, as well as repel seawater from intruding inland.

Fast Competitive Swimmers Demonstrate a Diminished Diving Reflex.

Competitive swimmers complete 50-m front crawl swimming without breathing or with a limited number of breaths. Breath holding during exercise can trigger diving reflex including bradycardia and diminished active muscle blood flow, whereas oxygen supply to vital organ such as brain is maintained. We hypothesized that swimmers achieving faster time in 50-m front crawl with limited number of breaths demonstrate a blunted diving reflex of cardiac and active muscle blood flow responses with elevated cerebral perfusion to counteract peripheral and central fatigues. Twenty-eight competitive swimmers (12 females) underwent a 50-m front crawl swimming time trial with minimum respiratory interruptions, following which they were categorized into two groups: Fast (n = 13) and Slow (n = 15). Additionally, they performed knee extension exercises with maximal voluntary breath- holding, wherein leg blood flow (Doppler ultrasound), cardiac output (Modelflow), heart rate (electrocardiogram), and middle cerebral artery mean blood velocity (transcranial Doppler ultrasound) were evaluated. The pattern of leg blood flow response differed between the two groups (p = 0.031) with the Fast group experiencing a delayed onset of reductions in leg blood flow (p = 0.035). The onset of bradycardia was also delayed in the Fast group (p = 0.014), with this group demonstrating a higher value of the lowest heart rate (between-trial difference in average: 15.9 [3.73, 28.2] beats/min) and cardiac output (between-trial difference in median: 2.84 L/min) (both, p ≤ 0.013). Middle cerebral artery mean blood velocity was similar between the groups (all p ≥ 0.112). We show that swimmers with superior performance in 50-m front crawl swim with limited breaths display a diminished diving reflex.

LABORATORY PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA DEPENDING ON THE PRESENCE OF CONCOMITANT CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

This study investigates the laboratory parameters in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) in relation to the presence of concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). CCI is characterized by a progressive reduction in cerebral blood flow, while COPD can exacerbate hypoxia, potentially worsening brain ischemia. The research evaluates blood biomarkers, including inflammatory markers and oxygenation indices, to determine the impact of COPD on CCI patients. Results suggest that patients with both CCI and COPD present with more severe inflammatory responses and lower oxygenation levels, which may influence the progression of cerebral ischemia and overall prognosis.

Influence of guide groove structure on in-flow drag reduction in spiral axial gas-liquid mixing pumps

Abstract With the onset of the fossil energy crisis, demand for oil has skyrocketed, and the spiral axial flow gas-liquid mixing pump has emerged as the primary piece of equipment for deep-sea oil extraction. However, at high gas content, the problems of separation of mixed media from hydraulic components, gas-liquid separation and gas phase aggregation are faced. The difficulties of gas-phase aggregation and bubble trajectory in the impeller channel have received much attention, while the problem of increased medium flow resistance induced by flow separation has received less attention. The spiral axial gas-liquid mixing pump is numerically calculated using the Eulerian multiphase flow model and the SST k- turbulence model in this work. The pump is designed with the design flow rate Q = 100 m3/h, rotational speed n = 4500 rmin, and head H = 30m by arranging guide slots with different relative depths and different number of slots to reduce the dissipative vortices, thus reducing the flow resistance in the 1/5 region behind the suction surface. The findings reveal that when the relative depth of the slots is 1/7 and the number of guide slots arranged is 5, the highest drag reduction rate in this location is 69.6% under the design flow condition. When the relative depth of the guide channel is1/7 and the number of guide channels is 3, the performance of the mixing pump is improved most, with an efficiency increment of 1.9% and a head increment of 4.2%, which can provide technical support for the flow resistance reduction of gas-liquid mixing pumps.

Specifically Decreased Thalamic Blood Flow Following COVID-19 Infection.

Although long COVID refers to numerous COVID-19-related symptoms after infection, including depression, fatigue, anosmia, sleep disturbances, and brain fog, the etiology of long COVID remains largely unknown. A 41-year-old woman presented with a 3-week history of complete insomnia without drowsiness throughout the day after contracting COVID-19. SPECT using N-isopropyl-p-[123I] iodoamphetamine showed a significant regional cerebral blood flow reduction in the bilateral thalamus. We diagnosed her as having insomnia accompanied by thalamic hypoperfusion related to COVID-19 infection. To our knowledge, this is the first case of reduced regional cerebral blood flow specifically confined to the thalamus.

Fuzzy Logic-based Current Control Logic for Proportional Flow Control Valve System of Medical Ventilators

The critical control parameters in ventilators that provide life support to patients are the flow of air and oxygen. Ventilators typically use Proportional Flow Control Valves (PFCV) and flow sensors to achieve precise flow accuracy. Maintaining accurate flow from the PFCV is essential to minimize the thrust exerted on the patient's lungs. Fuzzy logic is particularly well-suited for this task, as it effectively captures the subjective human judgments often required in clinical settings. This study aimed to develop a fuzzy logic algorithm to control pressure support ventilation. The research describes the fuzzy logic algorithm and presents experimental studies that evaluated the flow accuracy of a commercially used PFCV in ventilators. Additionally, the reduction in output flow due to thermal effects was investigated. A correlation between the solenoid coil current (measured as voltage across the coil) and the actual output flow through the PFCV was experimentally established using a current sensing circuit. Based on the characteristic curves obtained from the test setup, a Fuzzy Logic system was developed to minimize the error in the PFCV's flow. The implementation of PFCV using this Fuzzy Logic-based current control approach demonstrated a significant reduction in error, from 10% to 3%, in airflow delivery across its operating range, with additional sample results discussed. This reduction in flow error is crucial for assessing the suitability of PFCVs in infant ventilators. The described methodology can be experimentally applied to any PFCV variant before its use in medical ventilator applications to enhance delivered flow accuracy.

Renal Medulla in Hypertension.

Studies have found that blood flow to the renal medulla is an important determinant of pressure-natriuresis and the long-term regulation of arterial pressure. First, a brief review of methods developed enabling the study of the medullary circulation is presented. Second, studies performed in rats are presented showing medullary blood flow plays a vital role in the pressure-natriuresis relationship and thereby in hypertension. Third, it is shown that chronic reduction of medullary blood flow results in hypertension and that enhancement of medullary blood flow reduces hypertension hereditary models of both salt-sensitive rats and salt-resistant forms of hypertension. The key role that medullary nitric oxide production plays in protecting this region from ischemic injury associated with circulating vasoconstrictor agents and reactive oxygen species is presented. The studies cited are largely the work of my students, research fellows, and colleagues with whom I have performed these studies dating from the late 1980s to more recent years.

THE STATE AND PROSPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN UKRAINE IN THE CONDITIONS OF GLOBAL CHALLENGES

The article examines the state and prospects of international tourism development in Ukraine amid global crises, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war. A comprehensive analysis of key factors affecting the tourism industry is conducted, including international travel restrictions, geopolitical instability, economic difficulties, and changes in consumer behavior. It demonstrates how global crises, such as COVID-19 and the Russian-Ukrainian war, have led to a significant reduction in international tourist flows, decreased foreign exchange earnings from tourism activities, and created additional risks for tourism infrastructure. In such conditions, the recovery of the industry and its integration into the country's economic development require a comprehensive approach that includes not only investments but also the digitalization of tourism services. The research highlights key changes in tourist flows, the level of economic activity in the sector, and the impact of internal and external challenges on tourism infrastructure. It was found that after a significant decline in 2022 due to the war, a gradual recovery began in 2023 thanks to the development of domestic tourism and the opening of new safe routes. Digitalization has become a key factor in the development of the modern tourism industry, affecting all stages of the tourist experience. The implementation of digital technologies, such as online booking, mobile applications, virtual and augmented reality, allows companies to enhance their service and improve competitiveness. The article emphasizes the importance of strengthening tourism infrastructure and supporting entrepreneurship in times of instability. Directions for further research are proposed, including the development of domestic tourism, the assessment of the resilience of tourism entities to crises, and the analysis of the long-term effects of the war on international tourist flows. The study underscores the significance of the tourism industry for Ukraine's economic recovery and its potential for integration into the global tourism market.

Climate change impacts on the hydrological behaviour of watershed in northeastern Tunisia (Oued El Abid watershed)

Climate change significantly impacts watershed hydrology, altering water supplies, natural disasters, and eco-hydrologic processes. These effects vary geographically, with some regions facing severe droughts while others experience increased precipitation and flooding. Climate change influences atmospheric evaporation demand, precipitation patterns, vegetation composition, streamflow characteristics, and groundwater dynamics. The temperature increases and rainfall changes in some watersheds can lead to increased potential evapotranspiration and decreased streamflow and soil water. Flood frequency analyses indicate an overall increasing trend in the latter half of the 21st century. The Oued El Abid catchment area, as like all catchments in northern Tunisia, is likely to be subject to major climatic and hydrological variations as a result of climate change. Advanced hydrological modelling using the HBV-Light model was set up to simulate current conditions and future scenarios based on Afric-Cordex climate models. The model demonstrates robust performance, achieving Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) values of 0.71 in calibration (1972-1992), and 0.66 in validation from 1993-2001. This climate change has a direct effect on the hydrological projections, which reveal significant changes, with annual flow reductions ranging from 35% to 43%, with more severe impacts under the RCP8.5 scenario for 2069-2099. Spring and summer seasons are particularly vulnerable, showing flow decreases of up to 68% and over 40%, respectively, extreme monthly variability is projected, reaching 88% reduction in July under RCP8.5. This research provides important results for water resource managers, highlighting the necessity of long-term planning and sustainable water management practices in the face of climate change.

Comparative analysis reveals assortative mate preferences in darters independent of sympatry and sex.

A preference for mating with conspecifics over heterospecifics is fundamental to the maintenance of species diversity in sexually reproducing organisms. This type of positive assortative preference results in sexual isolation, and a reduction in gene flow between species due to differences in mate choice. The proximate and ultimate causes of sexual isolation therefore constitute active areas of research in evolutionary biology. Sexual isolation is often stronger between closely related sympatric species as compared to allopatric species because of processes such as reinforcement. In addition, traditional theories of sexual selection suggest that because reproduction is more costly to females, they should be the choosier sex and play a more central role in sexual isolation. We conducted a comparative analysis of assortative mate preferences in males and females of sympatric and allopatric species pairs of darters (fish genus Etheostoma). We performed a meta-analysis of 17 studies, encompassing 21 species, in which assortative preference was measured when fish were (in most cases) allowed only visual information. As expected, we found stronger preferences for conspecifics over heterospecifics across studies and species. However, we did not find an effect of sympatry or sex on the strength of preference for conspecifics, but rather remarkable variation across species. We offer several testable hypotheses to explain the variation we observed in the strength of assortative preference.

Arterial spin labeling detects trapped labeled spins in flow-diverted aneurysms and it reflects intra-aneurysmal flow stasis.

This study evaluated arterial spin labeling (ASL) imaging findings in flow-diverted aneurysms (FD-ANs). Twenty-one patients with internal carotid artery aneurysms treated with flow-diverter stent (FDS) were included. Time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA) and ASL were performed before and after follow-up digital subtraction angiography (DSA) on the day, 6 months, and/or 1 year after treatment. Two radiologists rated the clarity of the depiction of FD-ANs for MRA on a 3-point scale and the ASL signal intensity of the aneurysm as negative or positive. A neurosurgeon assessed DSA findings using the O'Kelly-Marotta (OKM) grading scale, categorizing them into filling and stasis grades. The 23 examinations were classified according to the OKM grading scale, and the proportion of ASL-positive cases and the proportion of cases with MRA scores of 1-2 (detectable) were calculated for each grade. The relationship between the OKM grading scale and ASL positivity or MRA detectable was examined using Fisher's exact test. Of seven examinations where the statis grade was 1 or 2, no examinations showed ASL positivity. However, among the 16 examinations in which the stasis grade was 3, 9 examinations showed ASL positivity. A significant association was observed between stasis grade and ASL positivity (p = 0.035). In contrast, no significant relationship was observed between the OKM grading scale and the MRA 3-point scale. High-signal ASL in FD-ANs could reflect stasis within the aneurysm; therefore, noninvasive ASL can indicate reduction in intra-aneurysmal blood flow after treatment and reperfusion during posttreatment observation.

Sedimentation enhancement and its retention through integration of vegetation with permeable groin-like structure in tidal river

Sediment management in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) delta system is considered as one of the challenging issues, even though several studies clarified that unlike many other deltas, it is receiving sufficient sediment to counterbalance the sea level rise. Therefore, it is important to materialize such potential using appropriate techniques through utilizing the natural power of the flow-sediment regime, especially in the tidal rivers. Towards the development of nature-based solution (NbS), the principles of bandal-like structure, a V shape permeable groin-like structure was designed for the bidirectional tidal environments and applied in a tidal reach of the river Pyra. It is found that the structure has a high potential to enhance sedimentation along the bank line, while having difficulty in retaining the trapped sediment within the complex flow-sediment regime of tidal environment. To overcome such a problem, different types of vegetation are integrated with this structure to test the potentiality of vegetation in accelerating the sedimentation and its retention in the study site. Through systematic monitoring of the growth of vegetation and their performance it was found that only the site-specific native vegetation (Hogla and Shoila) grew well, while other planted species did not survive. Moreover, continuous maintenance and proper nursing of plants were required against the hydrodynamic stresses and human and animal interventions till their maturity. Several parameters related to vegetation-flow-sediment data were collected by using ADCP, Eco sounder, total station, and soil sampling to clarify the changes in flow and soil parameters due to vegetation. The results reveal that the cohesiveness of the soil increases by about 72–110 % and flow velocity reduces by 35–40 % in the area with densely grown vegetation having flow depth < 5 m. While velocity reduction is relatively low (10–15 %) in the area with sparsely grown vegetation and having flow depth > 5 m. Such flow reduction resulted in enhanced sedimentation and deceased erosion, whereas the increased soil cohesiveness resulted in retention of already deposited soil and bank and bed stabilization.

Diabetes Mellitus and Respiratory Function in Smokers Eligible for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Diabetics' respiratory systems are characterized by fibroblast and vascular endothelial proliferation, increased density of pulmonary microspheres, and thickening of pulmonary vesicle walls due to increased collagen and elastin. These sorts of damage to the alveolar-capillary barrier, as well as reductions in pulmonary capacity and flow, hurt the body's functionality. Investigate the possible links between diabetes and respiratory parameters in smokers who are candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting. Assess early changes in lung volumes in smoking individuals before and after CABG using pulmonary function tests and determine how diabetes may influence these changes by comparing diabetic and non-diabetic patients. This was a prospective controlled study of 200 consecutive individuals who underwent elective coronary artery bypass surgery. Two hundred fifty-six patients were accepted to our study, but 56 were excluded (41 did not match our inclusion criteria, and 15 declined to participate), leaving us with 200 cases. There was a statistically significant difference between diabetes and non-diabetic subjects on lung function testing. Patients with diabetes who qualified for CABG showed poorer spirometry parameters than those without diabetes. This suggests that these individuals require respiratory examinations and treatment to improve their respiratory performance before and following cardiac surgery.

Unravelling the impact of climate change and anthropogenic activities on streamflow: the benefit of newly developed evapotranspiration data

ABSTRACT To separate the contributions of climate change and human activities to alterations in flow for the Ahar Chay watershed in Iran, change points of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and evapotranspiration (ET) were distinguished before and after significant alterations. The Budyko model and Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) were used to find the reduction in runoff. New Penman-Monteith-Leuning (PML) ET data was used to consider plant types. Results revealed an increase in NDVI coinciding with the change point in 1998, as well as ET in 1999. The significance of the Sattarkhan Dam became evident when distinguishing the impacts upstream versus downstream of the dam. Results also indicated that climate change contributed significantly to upstream flow reduction (83.5%), whereas downstream reductions were primarily linked to human-related impacts (59.7–82.5%). Assuming no dam interception, 2007 became the change point, signifying a 37.5% reduction in average flow from before to after this point due to the increased vegetation cover.