Total Length Research Articles

Study of nanoindentation behavior of NiCrCoAl medium entropy alloys under indentation process using molecular dynamics

Abstract The mechanical properties and deformation behavior of CoCrNiAl medium entropy alloy (MEA) subjected to indentation by an indenter tooltip on the substrate are explored using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The study investigates the effects of alloy compositions, temperature variations, and ultra vibration (UV) on parameters, such as total force, shear strain, shear stress, hardness, reduced modulus, substrate temperature, phase transformation, dislocation length, and elastic recovery. The findings indicate that higher alloy compositions result in increased total force, hardness, and reduced modulus, with Ni-rich compositions demonstrating superior mechanical strength. Conversely, increasing alloy compositions lead to reduced von Mises stress (VMS), phase transformation, dislocation distribution, and dislocation length due to the larger atomic size of Ni compared to other primary elements. At elevated substrate temperatures, atoms exhibit larger vibration amplitudes and interatomic separations, leading to weaker atomic bonding and decreased contact force, rendering the substrate softer at higher temperatures. Additionally, higher initial substrate temperatures enhance atom kinetic energy and thermal vibrations, leading to reduced material hardness and increased VMS levels. Increasing vibration frequency enlarges the indentation area on the substrate’s surface, concentrating shear strain and VMS with vibration frequency. Higher vibration amplitude and frequency amplify force, shear strain, VMS, substrate temperature, and dislocation distribution. Conversely, lower vibration amplitude and frequency result in a smaller average elastic recovery ratio. Moreover, increased amplitude and frequency values yield an amorphous-dominated indentation region and increased proportions of hexagonal close-packed and body-centered cubic structures. Furthermore, this study also takes into account the evaluation of a material’s ability to recover elastically during the indentation process, which is a fundamental material property.

Effect of meta-structure on mechanical properties of polyvinylidene fluoride composite-based 3D printed intramedullary pins

Some studies have outlined the use of 3D-printed polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite-based solid intramedullary (IM) pins with tunable mechanical (tensile, compressive, flexural, and torsional) properties for orthopedic applications. But hitherto little has been reported on the effect of meta-structure induced in 3D-printed IM pins for canines from the mechanical properties’ viewpoint. This study highlights the design, fabrication, and testing to mimic actual loading conditions in the canine femur bone on novel IM pin with meta-structure employed in different length zones (30%, 40%, and 50% of total gauge length) prepared by fused filament fabrication (FFF) of PVDF composite. The IM pin (of length 150 mm) has square threads (pitch 2 mm) at the distal end (ɸ7 mm, up to 60 mm in length), and V threads (pitch 1.5 mm) at the proximal end (ɸ6 mm, up to 30 mm in length). The IM pin was fabricated at the best setting (of the FFF process) suggested by the multifactor optimization (at nozzle temperature (Nt) 235°C, printing speed (Ps) 60 mm/s, and raster angle (RA) 45°). The result suggests that for the solid IM pins prepared at the optimized settings the observed elongation, peak load (PL), and break load (BL) during tensile and compressive loading were 4.83 mm, 968.40 N, 958.20 N, and 14.19 mm, 412.80 N, 371.52 N respectively. Whereas for 50% meta-structure the observed elongation, PL, and BL during tensile and compressive loading were 14.49 mm, 405.49 N, 90.20 N, and 13.23 mm, 243.20 N, 218.88 N respectively. For both tensile and compression loading (in this case study), better elongation was noticed for the FFF-based IM pin with 50% meta-structure and hence recommended for implantation in the canine femur bone. The results are also supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) based surface characteristics of the fracture sites.

Application of biofloc technology in the larval rearing of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The aim of this study was to investigate the different strategies of biofloc addition to zebrafish (Danio rerio) larviculture, and evaluate their growth and biochemical parameters. Three treatments were used: addition of 200 mL biofloc once at the start of the assay (O1), addition of 100 mL biofloc every seven days (1W), and addition of 100 mL biofloc every four days (2W). The 1W and 2W treatments also received 200 mL biofloc at the start of the assay. Regarding water quality, the only difference was the total suspended solid concentration, because the 2W treatment had a higher concentration in the final assay (127.6 ± 24.3 mg L-1). The final weight, survival rate, and juvenile percentile did not show statistical differences among the treatments. However, the O1 treatment exhibited a higher total length (11.93 ± 0.45 mm) than those in the 2W treatment. The juveniles in the 2W treatment exhibited lower nonprotein thiols and higher TBARS concentrations than those in the other treatments. Thus, the biofloc system can be a viable alternative to zebrafish larviculture without the use of conventional live food, and the addition of biofloc once (O1) at the beginning of larval rearing achieves good growth and survival results.

Early ontogeny of the freshwater fish Rhytiodus microlepis (Characiformes, Anostomidae) from the Amazon basin.

The early development of the freshwater fish Rhytiodus microlepis is characterized by the description of external morphological, meristic, and morphometric changes, as well as the growth patterns, thereby establishing a reference for the identification of its larvae and juveniles. Specimens were collected from the Amazon river channel and floodplain. Ninety-seven individuals were analysed with standard length varying between 4.31 and 79.23 mm. Rhytiodus microlepis larvae are altricial, with an elongated and fusiform body, anal opening reaching the middle region of the body, and simple nostrils becoming double and tubular during development. The pigments vary from one to two chromatophores in the dorsal region of the head in pre-flexion and flexion, but later the pigmentation pattern intensifies, transverse bands appear along the body, and a conspicuous spot appears in the basal region of the caudal fin. The total number of myomeres ranges from 49 to 50. During the transition from larval (post-flexion) to the juvenile periods, the most significant anatomical changes occur, such as the presence of all fins and increased body pigmentation. Integrated myomere count and pigmentation pattern are effective for the correct identification of the initial life stages of R. microlepis from the Amazon basin. Our results expand the knowledge about the early life history of Neotropical freshwater fish species.

Results of the laparoscopic lateral suspension and laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy techniques done for uterine prolapse

Background/Aim: Sacrocolpopexy is considered the gold-standard surgical treatment for patients with symptomatic uterine prolapse. This technique can be performed using a laparoscopic approach. Laparoscopic lateral suspension has emerged as a new alternative pelvic organ prolapse surgery method. This study aims to compare the postoperative anatomical improvement and sexual function outcomes in patients who underwent laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (Group 1) versus laparoscopic lateral suspension (Group 2) for pelvic organ prolapse at our institution. Methods: Group 1 consisted of 14 patients, while Group 2 comprised seven patients. Relevant data were collected using the Turkish-validated Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12), A Simple Questionnaire to Screen for Sexual Dysfunction, and the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System (POP-Q) questionnaires. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2 in terms of the preoperative stage of uterine prolapse (2.6 (0.8) vs. 2.7 (0.7) [P=0.534]). The postoperative period was significantly longer in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (1,014.7 (348.8) days vs. 598.4 (276.5) days [P=0.013]). In the POP-Q evaluation, point C was measured as -6.6 (1.1) cm in Group 1 and -5.2 (1.5) cm in Group 2, indicating a statistically more proximal location (P=0.037). The total vaginal length was greater in Group 1 than in Group 2, but this difference was not statistically significant (8.7 (1.2) cm vs. 8.1 (1.3) cm, [P=0.343]). There was no statistical difference between the groups in terms of uterine prolapse stages and sexual function during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Laparoscopic lateral suspension is an alternative method for patients with uterine prolapse, offering comparable anatomical and sexual outcomes to laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy.

I spy: Factors influencing the observation of oxytetracycline in calcified structures of fishes viewed using standard light and fluorescence microscopy.

The antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) is a fluorochrome marker, and fluorescence microscopy is used to view OTC marks in fishes' calcified structures. However, OTC marks have been observed in calcified structures using standard light microscopy for multiple species. Therefore, we conducted an experiment to investigate potential factors (i.e., season, total length of fish, growth rate, and sex) influencing the observation of OTC in calcified structures (otoliths and fin rays or spines) from channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, gray redhorse Moxostoma congestum, Guadalupe bass Mircopterus treculii, and redbreast sunfish Lepomis auritus viewed using standard light and fluorescence microscopy. OTC stains were not observed in any otoliths under standard light; however, OTC marks were commonly observed in I. punctatus spines using standard light microscopy (56.2%). Ninety-nine percent of otoliths and 88.9% of spines and fin rays had a visible fluorescent OTC mark when viewed using fluorescence microscopy. There was a negative relationship between the observed OTC mark and total length of fish for each season, but fish injected in the summer had the most structures with an observed OTC mark under either light condition. Understanding how OTC marking is affected by biological processes and environmental conditions will assist in future studies that rely on chemical marking of calcified structures by increasing efficacy of OTC marking and interpretation of marks.

Effect of Guanylate Cyclase-22-like on Ovarian Development of Orius nagaii (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae).

This study identified and characterized the gene encoding recep tor-type guanylate cyclase-22-like (GCY-22; OnGCY) from the pirate bug Orius nagaii, an important biological control agent. The full-length cDNA of the GCY of O. nagaii was obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE); it had a total length of 4888 base pairs (bp), of which the open reading frame (ORF) was 3750 bp, encoding a polypeptide of 1249 amino acid residues. The physicochemical properties of OnGCY were predicted and analyzed by using relevant ExPASy software, revealing a molecular formula of C6502H10122N1698O1869S57, molecular weight of ~143,811.57 kDa, isoelectric point of 6.55, and fat index of 90.04. The resulting protein was also shown to have a signal peptide, two transmembrane regions, and a conserved tyrosine kinase (tyrkc). Silencing OnGCY by RNA interference significantly inhibited ovarian development and decreased fertility in female O. nagaii in the treated versus the control group. Additionally, OnGCY silencing significantly decreased the expression levels of other GCY and Vg genes. Thus, these results clarify the structure and biological function of OnGCY, which has an important role in insect fecundity. The results also provide a reference for agricultural pest control and future large-scale breeding of biological control agents.

Characterization and evaluation of the morphological attributes of Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) landraces

Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) is one of the Brassica leafy vegetables and oilseed crops, which can withstand adverse environmental conditions. This study was conducted to characterize and evaluate the leaf attributes of 313 Ethiopian mustard accessions grown in the greenhouse and field in 2018/19 in Beijing, China. Data on 18 different leaf morphological attributes were collected based on the IBPGR for Brassica and Raphanus descriptor format and Fiji Image J. The collected data were subjected to descriptive statistics using JMP version 14 software. Results indicate that the majority of the accessions had serrated leaf margin, intermediate juvenile development, rounded apex leaf shape, absence of leaf pubescence, number of lobes > 5 and had intermediate number of leaves per plant with frequencies of 101, 213, 223, 244, 183 and 289, respectively. The accessions had also white midrib color, light green leaf color, purple petiole color, purple stem color and purple apex leaf color pigments with frequencies of 168, 165, 104, 113 and 122, respectively. Significant differences were observed among the accessions for leaf size attributes (p < 0.001) indicating their potential as leafy vegetables. Furthermore, there were significant accession × environment effects for the laminal length, total leaf length, leaf area, leaf weight and petiole length. Notably, 71% of the accessions had an average of 81 days flowering time. The multivariate cluster and principal component analyses divided the 313 accessions into eight groups with distinctive information; consisting of 81, 37, 79, 38, 14, 11, 6 and 47 accessions. Thus, this study provides important information about Ethiopian mustard germplasms that is vital for further advancement and genetic improvement of the crop.

Reproductive cycle of the mangrove oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae (Guilding, 1828) in Delta do Parnaíba, Brazil

This study describes some aspects of the reproductive biology of the native oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae in the Delta do Parnaíba estuary, located between the states of Maranhão and Piauí, Brazil. The oysters were acquired from landings at Porto dos Tatus (Ilha Grande - PI) between June 2017 and May 2018. Approximately 50 individuals per month (n=611) with an average total shell length of 74.44 mm (±14.31 SD) were collected for analysis of gonadal development and condition index and correlated with temporal variations in local rainfall. The C. rhizophorae population in the Parnaíba Delta estuary showed a sex ratio of 2.18 females to 1 male and continuous reproduction. The condition index (CI) values in the dry period were higher, coinciding with a greater proportion of individuals in the gametogenesis and pre-spawning stages. In the rainy season, there was a reduction in the CI as a result of animals in the gamete release stage.

Age and growth estimates for the nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) over 17 years in Bimini, The Bahamas

Age and growth estimates are essential for life history modeling in elasmobranchs and are used to inform accurate conservation and management decisions. The nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) is abundant in coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean, yet many aspects of their life history remain relatively understudied, aside from their reproductive behavior. We used mark-recapture data of 91 individual G. cirratum from Bimini, The Bahamas, from 2003 to 2020, to calculate von Bertalanffy (vB) growth parameters, empirical growth rate, and age derived from the resulting length-at-age estimates. The Fabens method for estimating growth from mark-recapture methods was applied through a Bayesian framework using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. This provided growth parameters with an asymptotic total length (L∞) of 303.28 cm and a growth coefficient (k) of 0.04 yr-1. The average growth rate for G. cirratum was approximately 8.68 ± 6.00 cm yr-1. This study also suggests that the previous maximum age for G. cirratum is likely underestimated, with the oldest individual predicted to be 43 years old. Our study is the first to present vB growth parameters and a growth curve for G. cirratum. It indicates that this species is slow-growing and long-lived, which improves our understanding of their life history.

Opsarius siangi, a new Chedrinae fish species from the Brahmaputra drainage, India

Opsarius siangi sp. nov., a previously undocumented species, has been identified from Siang River, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, India. This newly described species is distinguished by a suite of unique morphological characteristics, notably including a complete lateral line, consisting of 65–77 scales, 32–39 pre-dorsal scales, 12–15 scales positioned between dorsal fin origin and lateral line, presence of two pairs of barbels, body depth ranging from 18.80% to 27.42% of standard length and a distinct pattern of 8–15 vertical bars adorning the body. A comprehensive genetic analysis was conducted by scrutinizing 78 Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequences extracted from Chedrinae fishes, with particular focus on Opsarius and Barilius genera. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that O. siangi sp. nov. occupies a distinctive clade, displaying close affinity with O. shacra. Intraspecific K2P genetic divergence, assessed at 0.02, falls well within established species delineation thresholds, while interspecific divergence in comparison to O. shacra was recorded at 0.112. Complementary species delimitation methodologies, including BIN and bPTP, further underscore taxonomic uniqueness of O. siangi sp. nov., within Chedrinae family. This description enriches our understanding of biodiversity within Siang River ecosystem and underscores the merit of employing multi-pronged approaches in taxonomic investigations.

Effect of Elevated Temperature on the Bionomics of &lt;i&gt;Aenasius arizonensis&lt;/i&gt; Girault

An experiment was conducted to know the effect of thermal stress on the biological attributes of the parasitoid Aenasius arizonensis Girault of the cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley. The results revealed that temperature showed a significant effect on the biological fitness traits of the A. arizonensis; when exposed to 32°C, parasitisation, fecundity, female sex ratio and adult longevity. At 32°C these viz., parasitisation (77%), sex ratio (63.46) and days taken from oviposition to mummy formation (6.4) were found to be the highest. Other fitness traits like fecundity (142.8) and developmental duration (11.2 - males, 12.6 - females) were found to be the highest at 27°C. These parameters gradually decreased with increasing temperature, indicating a negative relationship. Morphometrics of adults revealed that mean length and breadth of mummies, total length and breadth of adult male and females, total width of head, total length of antenna and total hind tibial length were maximum at 27°C as compared to those observed with high temperature treatments. Thus high temperature was observed to have an adverse effect on the growth and development of the parasitoid.

Precision of four calcified structures for age estimation of Black Carp

AbstractObjectiveBlack Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus is an emerging invasive species in North America with an expanding population in the Mississippi River basin. Current aging methods use a suite of structures for age estimation, and a single structure is needed to minimize processing time, to maximize consistency of age and growth measurements, and to allow for back‐calculation of individual fish length at age.MethodsIn total, 236 Black Carp were collected throughout the year from 2017 to 2019 through incidental captures by commercial fishers and biologists. In a subsample, 119 Black Carp from 429 to 1268 mm total length were compared for the precision of annuli counts by two experienced readers for the two anterior pectoral fin rays, the anterior dorsal fin ray, sectioned vertebrae, and lapilli otoliths based on percent exact agreement (PA), percent agreement within 1 year (PA ± 1), coefficient of variation (CV), and bubble plots. Consensus annuli counts were compared by PA and CV between structures. We applied annuli counts, as opposed to age, as fish were collected during all seasons and structures were examined independently by readers without knowledge of capture date.ResultVertebrae and dorsal rays had the highest PA between readers. Dorsal ray had the lowest CV and higher PA ± 1. Pectoral rays and lapilli otoliths had the lowest PA. Between‐structure consensus annuli counts indicated that pectoral rays and the dorsal ray annuli counts were the most similar (PA &gt;70% and CV &lt;12) and lapilli otoliths were the most dissimilar (PA &gt;35% and CV &gt;24). Reader‐reported confidence was highest for vertebrae, then in decreasing order, dorsal ray, pectoral rays, and lapilli otoliths. Lumens were present in all fin rays with only minor effects observed on annuli counts, aside from the anterior‐most pectoral fin ray, in which lumens obscured the presence of one or more potential annuli in 61% of structures.ConclusionThe dorsal ray had the highest agreement between readers, with agreement with ±1 year at 98%; the structure can be efficiently extracted and processed, and the structure's morphology and growth pattern are conducive to aging older fish. Vertebrae had high agreement between readers, but a systematic pattern of double bands in vertebrae increased the between‐reader variation in older fish as the interannual growth pattern compressed the viewable area; this was identified by readers based on aging criteria and highlights the need for training novice readers. Validation of annual growth in the tested suite of structures is still needed.

Inbreeding depression and runs of homozygosity islands in Asturiana de los Valles cattle breed after 30 years of selection.

Inbreeding depression results in a decrease in the average phenotypic values of affected traits. It has been traditionally estimated from pedigree-based inbreeding coefficients. However, with the development of single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays, novel methods were developed for calculating the inbreeding coefficient, and consequently, inbreeding depression. The aim of the study was to analyse inbreeding depression in 6 growth and 2 reproductive traits in the Asturiana de los Valles cattle breed using both genealogical and molecular information. The pedigree group comprised 225,848 records and an average equivalent number of complete generations of 2.3. The molecular data comprised genotypes of 2693 animals using the Affymetrix medium-density chip. Using the pedigree information, three different inbreeding coefficients were estimated for the genotyped animals: the full pedigree coefficient (FPED ), and the recent and ancient inbreeding coefficients based on the information of the last three generations (FPED<3G ) and until the last three generations (FPED>3G ), respectively. Using the molecular data, seven inbreeding coefficients were calculated. Four of them were estimated based on runs of homozygosity (ROH), considering (1) the total length (FROH ), (2) segments shorter than 4 megabases (FROH<4 ), (3) between 4 and 17 megabases (FROH4-17 ), and (4) longer than 17 Mb (FROH>17 ). Additionally, the three inbreeding coefficients implemented in the Plink software (FHAT1-3 ) were estimated. Inbreeding depression was estimated using linear mixed-effects model with inbreeding coefficients used as covariates. All analysed traits (birth weight, preweaning average daily gain, weaning weight adjusted at 180 days, carcass weight, calving ease, age at first calving, calving interval) showed a statistically significant non-zero effect of inbreeding depression estimated from the pedigree group, except for the Postweaning Average Daily Gain trait. When inbreeding coefficients were based on the genomic group, statistically significant inbreeding depression was observed for two traits, Preweaning Average Daily Gain and Weaning Weight based on FROH , FROH>17 , and FHAT3 inbreeding coefficients. Nevertheless, similar to inbreeding depression estimated based on pedigree information, estimates of inbreeding depression based on genomic information had no relevant economic impact. Despite this, from a long-term perspective, genotyped data could be included to maximize genetic progress in genetic programs following an optimal genetic contribution strategy and to consider individual inbreeding load instead global inbreeding. ROH islands were identified on chromosomes 2, 3, 8, 10, and 16. Such regions contain several candidate genes for growth development, intramuscular fat, body weight and lipid metabolism that are related to production traits selected in Asturiana de los Valles breed.

Female age at maturity and fecundity in Atlantic Striped Bass

AbstractObjectiveFemale age at maturity and fecundity for the Atlantic stock of Striped Bass Morone saxatilis were estimated using histological methods and image analysis.MethodsOvaries were obtained from surveys encompassing the spring spawning season (March–July; n = 343), primarily from the Chesapeake Bay, and in the fall months (September–December; n = 85), primarily from the Atlantic coast. Histological examination of oocytes revealed some Striped Bass in intermediate stages of maturation during the spawning season. These individuals were identified as undergoing pubertal development, defined as the transition from the juvenile stage to first sexual maturity. Pubertal development was characterized by ovaries containing a population of enlarged, lipid‐filled oocytes but noticeably lacking vitellogenin‐derived yolk globules during the spawning season, and those ovaries were classified as immature. Toward the end of the spawning season, increasing proportions of Striped Bass with unspawned ovaries and oocytes undergoing total atresia were observed.ResultThe female age and length at 50% maturity in Atlantic Striped Bass based on spring samples were 5.5 years and 609 mm total length, respectively. Fecundity was determined gravimetrically via image analysis of ovarian tissue samples from spawning capable individuals (n = 67). Potential annual fecundity was found to exhibit hyperallometric scaling with respect to body size. Specifically, the scaling exponent for the length–fecundity relationship was 3.24, which was greater than the scaling exponent of 3.05 for the length–body mass relationship. This indicates that large females possess a disproportionately greater reproductive capacity with respect to body mass than the equivalent biomass of smaller females.ConclusionCompared with previous studies spanning over a half‐century, age at 50% maturity and fecundity were found to be relatively invariant, although variation found between contemporary studies may represent methodological and interpretive differences. Reproductive‐related life history traits of female Atlantic Striped Bass are apparently robust to long‐term decadal changes in fishing intensity, stock size, habitat alterations, and environmental conditions.

Complete mitochondrial genome of larged-eye pygmy goby Trimma macrophthalmus (Teleostei, Gobiidae) and its phylogenetic implications

Trimma macrophthalmus is a colorful pygmy goby that is widely associated with coral and distributed in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Here, the complete mitochondrial genome of T. macrophthalmus was first sequenced and annotated. The entire mitogenome is a typical circular molecule (16,943 bp in total length) containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 1 control region (CR). The overall base composition is 29.6% for A, 15.6% for G, 27.9% for C and 26.9% for T. Phylogenetic tree was reconstructed using concatenated 13 protein coding genes sequences of the 38 related taxa. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that T. macrophthalmus was most closely related to T. okinawae. These findings will contribute for further genetic studies such as evolution, DNA barcoding and molecular phylogeny of genus Trimma and related gobiid fishes.

Challenges in adapting a stroke unit in a middle-income country: warning about costs and underfunding to achieve the Brazilian Ministry of Health's benchmark.

Since the implementation of the stroke care line in Brazil, the relationship (adequacy) of costs spent during hospitalization with the Brazilian Ministry of Health indicators for a stroke unit have not yet been analyzed. This study aimed to assess the adequacy of a comprehensive stroke center for key performance indicators and analyze the costs involved in hospitalization. We verified the association between stroke severity at admission and care costs during hospitalization. A retrospective medical chart review of 451 patients was performed using semiautomatic electronic data from a single comprehensive stroke center in Brazil between July 2018 and January 2020. Clinical and resource utilization data were collected, and the mean acute treatment cost per person was calculated. The Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn's post-test was used to compare the total costs between stroke types and reperfusion therapies. A robust linear regression test was used to verify the association between stroke severity at hospital admission and the total hospitalization costs. Good adequacy rates were observed for several indicators. Data from 451 patients were analyzed. The stroke unit had good adaptation to key performance indicators, but some critical points needed revision and improvement to adapt to the requirements of the Ministry of Health. The average total cost of the patient's stay was the USD 2,637.3, with the daily hospitalization, procedure, operating room, and materials/medication costs equating to USD 2,011.1, USD 220.7, USD 234.1, and USD 98.8, respectively. There was a positive association between the total cost and length of hospital stay (p < 0.001). The stroke unit complied with most of the main performance indicators proposed by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Underfunding of the costs involved in the hospitalization of patients was verified, and high costs were associated with the length of stay, stroke severity, and mechanical thrombectomy.

Differences in spatial niche of terrestrial mammals when facing extreme snowfall: the case in east Asian forests

BackgroundRecent climate changes have produced extreme climate events. This study focused on extreme snowfall and intended to discuss the vulnerability of temperate mammals against it through interspecies comparisons of spatial niches in northern Japan. We constructed niche models for seven non-hibernating species through wide-scaled snow tracking on skis, whose total survey length was 1144 km.ResultsWe detected a low correlation (rs < 0.4) between most pairs of species niches, indicating that most species possessed different overwintering tactics. A morphological advantage in locomotion cost on snow did not always expand niche breadth. In contrast, a spatial niche could respond to (1) drastic landscape change by a diminishing understory due to snow, possibly leading to changes in predator-prey interactions, and (2) the mass of cold air, affecting thermoregulatory cost and food accessibility. When extraordinary snowfall occurred, the nonarboreal species with larger body sizes could niche shift, whereas the smaller-sized or semi-arboreal mammals did not. In addition, compared to omnivores, herbivores were prone to severe restriction of niche breadth due to a reduction in food accessibility under extreme climates.ConclusionsDietary habits and body size could determine the redundancy of niche width, which may govern robustness/vulnerability to extreme snowfall events.

Widest scales in turbulent channels

The widest spanwise scales in turbulent channel flows are studied through the use of three periodic channel-flow simulations at friction Reynolds number Reτ=550. The length and height of the channels are the same in all cases (Lx/h=8π and Ly/h=2, respectively), while the width is progressively doubled: Lz/h={4π,8π,16π}. The effects of increasing the domain width cannot be determined with statistical significance in our simulations, since the difference in the statistics between the simulations is of the same order as the errors of convergence. A channel flow similar to the smaller one [Del Álamo et al., “Scaling of the energy spectra of turbulent channels,” J. Fluid Mech. 500, 135–144 (2004)], which was averaged over a very long time, was used as a reference. The one-dimensional spanwise spectrum of the streamwise velocity is computed with the aim of assessing the domain-size effect on the widest scales. Our results indicate that 90% of the total streamwise energetic fluctuations is recovered without a significant influence of the size of the domain. The remaining 10% of the energy reflects that the widest scales in the outer layer are the ones most significantly affected by the spanwise length of the domain. The power-spectral density for kz = 0 remains constant even if the size of the domain in the spanwise direction is increased up to four times the standard spanwise length, indicating that wide, spanwise coherent structures are not an artifact of domain truncation.

Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision With Delayed Coloanal Anastomosis (TaTME-DCAA) Versus Laparoscopic Total Mesorectal Excision (LTME) and Robotic Total Mesorectal Excision (RTME) for Low Rectal Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of Short-term Outcomes, Bowel Function, and Cost.

Total mesorectal excision (TME) with delayed coloanal anastomosis (DCAA) is surgical option for low rectal cancer, replacing conventional immediate coloanal anastomosis (ICAA) with bowel diversion. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of transanal TME (TaTME) with DCAA versus laparoscopic TME (LTME) with ICAA versus robotic TME (RTME) with ICAA. This was a retrospective propensity score-matched analysis of patients who underwent elective TaTME-DCAA between November 2021 and June 2022. Patients were propensity-score matched in a ratio of 1:3 to patients who underwent LTME-ICAA and RTME-ICAA from January 2019 to December 2020. Outcome measures were histopathologic results, postoperative morbidity, function, and inpatient costs. Twelve patients in the TaTME-DCAA group were compared with 36 patients in the LTME-ICAA and RTME-ICAA groups each after propensity score matching. Histopathologic results and postoperative morbidity rates were statistically similar. Overall stoma-related complication rates in the ICAA groups were 11%. Median total length of hospital stays for TME plus stoma reversal surgery was similar across all techniques (10 vs. 10 vs. 9 days; P=0.532). Despite a significantly shorter duration of follow-up, bowel function after TaTME-DCAA was comparable to that of LTME-ICAA and RTME-ICAA. Overall median inpatient costs of TaTME-DCAA were comparable to LTME-ICAA and significantly cheaper than RTME-ICAA ($31,087 vs. $29,927 vs. $36,750; P=0.002). TaTME with DCAA is a feasible and safe technique compared with other minimally invasive methods of TME, while avoiding bowel diversion and stoma-related complications, as well as comparing favorably in terms of overall hospitalization costs.