Urgent Restoration Research Articles

An analytical study of the tabia mortar from Lin Yimu’s tomb, Zhejiang, China

The Lin Yimu’s tomb in Zhejiang Province, China, is a significant Qing Dynasty tabia structure that, despite relatively good preservation, has suffered damage from weathering, necessitating urgent restoration. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive scientific analysis of archaeological samples from the tabia of Lin Yimu’s tomb, employing a range of analytical techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), chemical methods, and measurements of hardness and strength. Analytical results revealed that the main phases of the sample are calcite, quartz, illite/mica, feldspar, with a minor presence of Tung oil. The proportion of calcium carbonate is approximately 27%, and the ratio of earth to sand is 1:2, suggesting a raw material formula mass ratio of lime-earth-sand of 3:4:8. The surface hardness of the sample is measured at 293 ± 15 HL, with a compressive strength of 5.5 ± 0.2 MPa. The sand used in the raw material has a medium particle size of 250 μm, while earth particles are predominantly around 17 μm. The sample exhibits a porosity of 27.5%, with pore sizes concentrated at 95 nm. These findings contribute significantly to our understanding of Qing dynasty tomb construction technologies and provide a solid scientific basis for the restoration of such historical sites.

Unique Aspects of Scaffolding Design for the Urgent Seismic Retrofitting of Zagreb Cathedral

The 2020 Zagreb earthquake caused extensive damage to historically significant buildings, including the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary, a key monument of Croatian cultural heritage. The earthquake rendered the cathedral unsafe due to significant damage to its towers and numerous cracks in its vaults and walls. Urgent measures were necessary to ensure safety and facilitate planned reconstruction and strengthening efforts. A specialised scaffolding design was developed to support inaccessible and unstable areas, involving over 1000 tonnes of steel. This paper details the structural concepts and specific scaffolding design implemented for the urgent restoration and seismic retrofitting of Zagreb Cathedral, ensuring it meets high earthquake resistance requirements.

To the issue of the rights and obligations of land users in the field of land restoration

The article is devoted to the problem of legal protection of the rights and obligations of land users in the field of land restoration. The article emphasizes that a significant part of lands, regardless of their purpose, requires urgent restoration measures, however, scientific works highlight only certain aspects of legal protection and restoration of lands, as well as a comprehensive analysis of issues related to ensuring the realization of the rights and fulfillment of the obligations of owners and users of land plots for their protection and restoration actually do not exist.
 The article emphasizes that the content of legal relations consists of subjective rights and legal obligations. The viewpoints of scientists regarding the specified concepts were studied. Attention is drawn to the fact that legal relations in the field of land restoration belong to the active type of legal relations, because the provision of land restoration requires active actions on the part of the obliged entities.
 The main legal relationship for land restoration is a legal obligation that manifests itself in the active behavior of the obligated person in order to ensure the subjective rights of other subjects.
 The general rights and responsibilities of land plot users under current land legislation have been analyzed. Legal conflicts and gaps in the specified area have been studied. It was emphasized that land plots should be restored by both their owners and users in the process of their exploitation. It is proposed to make appropriate changes to the land legislation regarding the expansion and systematization of the rights and obligations of land plot users.
 The author examines the grounds for compulsory termination of rights to land plots. The author emphasizes the peculiarities of the grounds for compulsory termination of the right to use a land plot, which is the failure to eliminate the committed violations of the law by the land user.
 Some attention is paid to the problem of land restoration in the conditions of hostilities. The issue of compensation for damages caused as a result of emergency situations and armed aggression was investigated. Legislative norms aimed at determining damage and compensation for damage to owners and users of land plots have been analyzed.

An Overview on the History and Architecture of Kharpocho Fort Baltistan

This study is an attempt to explore the historcal and architectural significance of Kharpocho fort, situated in the Baltistan region. The Kharpocho Fort, built on a mountain in the Centre of the city of Bultistan. This study further encapsulates that the fort helps in understanding the state's efforts to guard the city from outside threats and to monitor the routes leading in and out of the huge city. The fort stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of the area. Through an in-depth analysis of its historical context, architectural features and cultural symbolism, this study aims to shed light on the fort’s importance and its role in preserving the cultural identity of the Baltistan region. This study dig deep regarding understanding of kharpocho fort’s contribution to the region’s cultural landscape. This research aims to give a simple, yet thorough understanding of Kharpocho Fort, celebrating it not just as a structure but as a resilient symbol embedded in the hearts of the people of Baltistan. This paper also examines and explores the questions as: What is the history of Kharpocho fort? What is the current status of Kharpocho Fort in terms of its physical condition, structural stability, and preservation needs? What are the key architectural features and design elements of Kharpocho Fort, and how do they reflect the historical and cultural context of the Baltistan region? What are the main factors contributing to the deterioration of Kharpocho Fort, and what are the most urgent restoration and conservation requirements?

The Role of Vegetation Monitoring in the Conservation of Coastal Habitats N2000: A Case Study of a Wetland Area in Southeast Sicily (Italy)

The coastal wetlands are among the most vulnerable and threatened environments of the Mediterranean area. Targeted actions for their conservation require in-depth knowledge of current and past natural vegetation. In this paper, we surveyed the vegetation composition and the spatio-temporal changes of a coastal wetland area in southeastern Sicily (“Saline di Priolo” SAC). Based on 128 phytosociological surveys and several plant collections, a total of 304 taxa, 28 plant communities, and 16 habitats have been identified. Furthermore, three new plant associations were described, including two in wetland and one in rocky coast environments. For the classification of plant communities and habitats, a hierarchical clustering was performed by using Euclidean coefficient and beta-flexible algorithm. The life form spectrum of the current flora highlights the dominance of therophytes and hemicryptophytes. The Mediterranean species are largely prevailing with 123 taxa. The cartographic analysis performed with ArcGis 10.3 shows a radical reduction in the wetland habitats in the last 70 years, and a strong alteration of the ecological succession of the psammophilous-hygrophilous vegetation. Moreover, landscape configuration of the coastal vegetation and habitat types was well highlighted by a set of specific landscape metrics. In particular, our outcomes identify three habitats (2110, 2210, and 5220* EU code) with bad conservation status, among which we identified one of priority conservation (Zyziphus arborescent matorral) that requires urgent restoration measures.

Damage assessment and restoration proposal following the 2023 Türkiye earthquakes: UNESCO World Heritage Site Diyarbakır City Walls, Türkiye

Diyarbakır City Walls, one of the longest defensive structures in the world, following the Great Wall of China, the walls of Antakya, and the walls of Istanbul, is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2015. With a history of approximately 5000 years, the Diyarbakır City Walls have been affected by consecutive earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş in 2023, resulting in damages to various sections. Urgent restoration and repair interventions are needed for these sections of the Diyarbakır City Walls due to earthquake-induced damages. Although there are limited studies presenting stone analysis of the Diyarbakır City Walls in the literature, no studies focusing on mortar analysis have been found. The objectives of this study are as follows: (I) to identify the mechanisms and factors of earthquake damages in the Diyarbakır City Walls, (II) to conduct necessary analyses for the selection of mortar materials for post-earthquake repairs, and (III) to provide restoration and strengthening recommendations to ensure the sustainability of the original structure. Observational, petrographic, chemical, and SEM analysis techniques were used, and the findings were interpreted comparatively. The results demonstrate that the most severe damages after the earthquake in the Diyarbakır City Walls were caused by the inadequate adhesion of missing mortar joints and different types of materials used between double-walled structures. Additionally, the presence of clay minerals identified in the mineralogy of the mortar through experimental analysis was defined as an internal issue causing the loss of mortar due to osmotic pressure created by water absorption. Another factor causing the loss of mortar is the presence of chloride-type salts, which were found to be present in a significant amount in all samples and were attributed to the use of Portland cement in previous faulty repairs. It was also determined that recent faulty repointing works contributed to the loss of mortar. Finally, this article presents original restoration and strengthening recommendations to repair the earthquake-induced damages and prevent their reoccurrence in the future.

Mapping and monitoring peatland conditions from global to field scale

Peatlands cover only 3–4% of the Earth’s surface, but they store nearly 30% of global soil carbon stock. This significant carbon store is under threat as peatlands continue to be degraded at alarming rates around the world. It has prompted countries worldwide to establish regulations to conserve and reduce emissions from this carbon rich ecosystem. For example, the EU has implemented new rules that mandate sustainable management of peatlands, critical to reaching the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. However, a lack of information on the extent and condition of peatlands has hindered the development of national policies and restoration efforts. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge on mapping and monitoring peatlands from field sites to the globe and identifies areas where further research is needed. It presents an overview of the different methodologies used to map peatlands in nine countries, which vary in definition of peat soil and peatland, mapping coverage, and mapping detail. Whereas mapping peatlands across the world with only one approach is hardly possible, the paper highlights the need for more consistent approaches within regions having comparable peatland types and climates to inform their protection and urgent restoration. The review further summarises various approaches used for monitoring peatland conditions and functions. These include monitoring at the plot scale for degree of humification and stoichiometric ratio, and proximal sensing such as gamma radiometrics and electromagnetic induction at the field to landscape scale for mapping peat thickness and identifying hotspots for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Remote sensing techniques with passive and active sensors at regional to national scale can help in monitoring subsidence rate, water table, peat moisture, landslides, and GHG emissions. Although the use of water table depth as a proxy for interannual GHG emissions from peatlands has been well established, there is no single remote sensing method or data product yet that has been verified beyond local or regional scales. Broader land-use change and fire monitoring at a global scale may further assist national GHG inventory reporting. Monitoring of peatland conditions to evaluate the success of individual restoration schemes still requires field work to assess local proxies combined with remote sensing and modeling. Long-term monitoring is necessary to draw valid conclusions on revegetation outcomes and associated GHG emissions in rewetted peatlands, as their dynamics are not fully understood at the site level. Monitoring vegetation development and hydrology of restored peatlands is needed as a proxy to assess the return of water and changes in nutrient cycling and biodiversity.

An Investigation into the Performance and Mechanisms of Soymilk-Sized Handmade Xuan Paper at Different Concentrations of Soymilk.

Invaluable paper relics that embody a rich traditional culture have suffered damage, requiring urgent restoration. In this context, the utilization of soymilk as a sizing agent holds great significance and reverence. This study investigates the use of soymilk as a sizing agent for Xuan paper and evaluates its effects on various properties and the long-term behavior of the paper. The findings reveal that the application of soymilk as a sizing agent for Xuan paper imparts distinct properties, including hydrophobicity, improved mechanical properties, and unique chromaticity. These characteristics-arising from the papillae on the surface of the Xuan paper, the protein folding of the soy protein, and hydrogen-bonding interactions between the soy protein and paper fibers-play a crucial role in shaping the paper's unique attributes. From a physicochemical perspective, the aging process leads to multiple changes in paper properties. These changes include acidification, which refers to a decrease in pH, as well as a decline in mechanical strength, an increase in chromaticity, and a decrease in the degree of polymerization (DP) of the paper. The Ekenstam equation is employed to predict the lifespan of the paper, showing longer lifespans for Sheng Xuan paper and a negative correlation between soymilk concentration and lifespan in soymilk-sized paper. Our work provides valuable insights for the preservation and maintenance of paper, highlighting the potential benefits and challenges of using soymilk for surface sizing.

The impact of habitat loss and population fragmentation on genomic erosion

Habitat loss and population fragmentation pose severe threats to biodiversity and the survival of many species. Population isolation and the decline in effective population size lead to increased genetic drift and inbreeding. In turn, this reduces neutral diversity, and it also affects the genetic load of deleterious mutations. Here, we analyse the effect of such genomic erosion by designing a spatially explicit, individual based model in SLiM, simulating the effects of the recorded habitat loss in Mauritius over the past ~ 250 years. We show that the loss of neutral diversity (genome-wide heterozygosity) was barely noticeable during the first 100 years of habitat loss. Changes to the genetic load took even more time to register, and they only became apparent circa 200 years after the start of habitat decline. Although a considerable number of deleterious mutations were lost by drift, others increased in frequency. The masked load was thus converted into a realised load, which compromised individual fitness and population viability after much of the native habitat had been lost. Importantly, genomic erosion continued after the metapopulation had stabilised at low numbers. Our study shows that historic habitat loss can pose a sustained threat to populations also in future generations, even without further habitat loss. The UN’s Decade on Ecosystem Restoration needs to lead to transformative change to save species from future extinction, and this requires the urgent restoration of natural habitats.

V.G. Shukhov Radio Tower – history, current state and prospects

The Moscow Radio Tower was erected in 1922 and is an object of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation, a monument of architecture and engineering. The tower consists of six sections, each about 25 m high. The frame of the sections is a hyperboloid structure, the principle of which was developed by V.G. Shukhov at the end of the XIX century and is still used worldwide in the design and construction of tower structures. The technical inspections carried out confirmed the emergency condition of the Moscow Radio Tower. The results of laboratory studies have shown the heterogeneity of the strength and chemical characteristics of steel, its non-weldability and cold breakage. Analysis of the development of defects over time revealed that the condition of the tower is deteriorating. The performed emergency measures exclude a sudden collapse, but do not eliminate the emergency condition of metal structures. Taking into account the need for urgent restoration work with the elimination of the emergency condition of the tower, the development of project documentation began in 2023. The design assignment provides for the maximum possible preservation of the original elements. When carrying out the project, it should be taken into account that it is impossible to remove individual elements without completely unloading the entire structure. All elements of the tower that have mechanical or corrosion damage that reduces the cross-section even in certain sections are not repairable and must be replaced with new ones. When reusing existing elements, it will be technically difficult to carry out the reverse assembly with the necessary accuracy.

Selection and improvement of the method and tool for restoring the anatomical integrity of the retina after its detachment

Introduction. Retinal detachment (RD) is a common pathological condition that without timely surgical treatment leads to vision loss. The patients with significant RD undergo one of three retreatment procedures: Pneumatic Retinopexy, Scleral Buckling, and/or Pars Plana Vitrectomy. Techniques and tools for these procedures have been developed, but the methods themselves still have a significant number of complications. A possible alternative to their further improvement may be a fundamentally new method of treatment, coagulation of the retina with high-frequency electric current (HFEC), for which significant improvement of the tool is still possible. The purpose of the study was to determine a safer method of RD treating and to improve medical tools for restoring anatomical integrity and repositioning a detached retina under two conditions: firstly, obtaining a reliable chorioretinal adhesion, and secondly, minimizing the number of incidental effects of surgical intervention. Materials and methods. The bibliosemantic method, the system analysis method, an experiment on laboratory animals (rabbits) with RD simulation and its coagulation by HFEC, tissue biopsy of operated animals after their euthanasia on the 7th day after surgery, and the production of histological micro-preparations were used. Results. To fulfill the conditions for improving the method, a chorioretinal high-frequency electrocoagulation operation with suprachoroidal access, a modified EK-300M1 generator (Kyiv, Ukraine) with an electrode with a gold hemispherical tip of 25 gauge and electrical generation parameters of 66 kHz, 10‒16 V, 0.1 A was proposed, which causes chorioretinal adhesion in the place where the electrode is used. The method of calculating the parameters of heat transfer from the electrocoagulation tool to the tissues and fluids of the eye was selected: it was proposed to use the Fourier-Kirchhoff and Newton-Richmann equations. Destructive phenomena in the retina from the thermal effect of tissue coagulation in the form of the destruction of rods, cones, the development of cysts, the loss of bipolar, amacrine, horizontal and ganglion cells were noted. Atrophic changes in the retina were minimal at a voltage of 10‒12 V. Conclusions. The problem of improving the methods of restoring the anatomical position of the retinal layers has been relevant for many decades, but it does not lead to a significant reduction in the number of complications. The proposed method and tool for its application causes the creation of a reliable chorioretinal adhesion in a short period of time after surgical intervention with minimal thermal tissue damage. The use of the method of chorioretinal high-frequency electrocoagulation with suprachoroidal access is recommended in conditions of urgent restoration of vision, but not recommended for the prevention of retinal detachment in retinopathies. Keywords: retinal detachment, chorioretinal adhesion, high-frequency electrocoagulation, suprachoroidal access.

Reintroduction of Buchanania barberi, a critically endangered tree endemic to the south Western Ghats of Kerala, India

Societal Impact StatementIndia is credited with 2603 tree species, and the Global Tree Assessment confirmed that 469 of these species are threatened with extinction. Urgent restoration and conservation efforts are required to prevent the loss of tree diversity. The present study is the first published attempt to reintroduce Buchanania barberi, a Critically Endangered tree endemic to the south Western Ghats (UNESCO World Heritage Site) of Kerala, India, which has only two surviving mature individuals. The techniques and approaches applied here may provide guidance for implementing translocation programmes for this rare species and also for other International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Listed species of the genus globally.

947 COVID19 and Its Impact on the North and East of Scotland Orthopaedic Trainees

Abstract Aim We conducted a trainee survey at the first peak of the pandemic to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the North of Scotland (NoS) and East of Scotland (EoS) orthopaedic trainees. Method An online survey was distributed to all NoS and EoS orthopaedic trainees. All data collection was anonymous. Results Across both Scottish deaneries, 28 trainees had responded: 39% from EoS and 61% from NoS. Trainees at all stages of training responded to the survey, with the most responses received from specialist trainees in third year of training (ST3) (25%). In response to the pandemic, 18% of trainees had been redeployed and they were from NoS. Since the reconfiguration of service, 18% of trainees had done >20 operations in a month and they were senior trainees. If COVID-19 outbreak is likely going to reduce operating opportunities for a long period, only 36% of trainees would be open to the idea of making standard surgical specialty training longer whereas 57% of trainees would be open to longer working hours to achieve certification in Trauma and Orthopaedic surgery within 96 months. Conclusion The outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted both deaneries orthopaedic training and urgent restoration of surgical training is essential for individual trainees. Changes in working practices necessitated by COVID-19 have known to impact theatre efficiency. Actions should be taken to improve the theatre efficiency while prioritizing training opportunities.

A Practical Approach to Deploying a Drone-Based Message Ferry in a Disaster Situation

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are commonly used in disaster recovery efforts to confirm the extent of the damage caused by a large-scale disaster and to ensure that adequate information about the affected area is gathered. UAV usage in a disaster situation is not limited to information gathering, but its functions further extend to network communication functions such as a communication relay, mobile base station, etc. Conversely, using UAVs as communication relays or base stations (e.g., as a temporary mobile base station) is subject to some limitations such as bad weather and limited energy, which affect the timely collection and delivery of information to and from a disaster area. Therefore, an approach to improve the information collection and delivery in a disaster area while ensuring urgent network restoration is necessary. In this paper, we introduce a practical approach to deploying a drone-based message ferry to improve the timely collection and delivery of information in a disaster situation. Specifically, a locally accessible cloud system (LACS), which we previously developed for urgent local network restoration in a disaster affected area, is attached to a drone to form a message ferry. In order to improve the information collection and delivery, the message ferry is deployed from the local headquarters (i.e., local government office or disaster response coordination center) to carry information to and from a standalone LACS installed at each disaster shelter. We measure the achievable data rate of inter-LACS data transfer (i.e., message ferry and a standalone LACS) through experiment. Thereafter, we estimate and confirm the effective transmission speed to transfer data from the local headquarters to the disaster shelters using average achievable data rate obtained from the experiment in order to extend the LACS services and functions. Our experimental results and analysis suggest that the proposed message ferry is more advantageous to transfer a large amount of data (e.g., 300 MB) at a high speed in the hundred meter to ten kilometer range.

Spatial Vegetation Patch Patterns and Their Relation to Environmental Factors in the Alpine Grasslands of the Qilian Mountains

Globally, grasslands are affected by climate change and unsustainable management practices which usually leads to transitions from stable, degraded and then to desertification. Spatial vegetation patch configurations are regarded as key indicators of such transitions. Understanding the relationships between this grass-land vegetation and its environment is key to vegetation restoration projects. Spatial vegetation patch patterns were chosen across different soil and topographic conditions. Patch numbers, perimeter, and cover of each patch were measured along transects of each patch type. Using field surveys and multivariate statistical analysis, we investigated the differences in vegetation biomass and distribution and soil properties of four typical alpine plant species patches along with a range of environmental and topographic conditions. It was found that topographic conditions and soil properties, particularly soil moisture explained most of the variation in spatial patch vegetation characteristics and thus control vegetation restoration in the alpine grassland. The Kobresia humilis, Blysmus sinocompressus and Iris lactea patches under the drylands recorded small patch sizes, large patch numbers, low connectivity, and large total perimeter per unit area. Generally, species within the high moisture sites recorded small patch numbers, a large fraction of vegetation cover and a small total perimeter per m2. Patches in limited soil moisture areas recorded patch configurations indicating they are unstable and undergoing degradation and therefore need urgent restoration attention to forestall their further degradation and its resultant effect of desertification. These results would provide quantitative easy-to-use indicators for vegetation degradation and help in vegetation restoration projects.

Alkaline Hydrogen Peroxide Solution is an Expectorant, Pyolytic, Mucolytic, Hemolytic, and Bleaching Drug for Treating Purulent Diseases, Hematomas and Bruising

It has been established that warm alkaline solutions of hydrogen peroxide with local interaction with thick pus, mucus, sputum and blood have local pyolytic, mucolytic and hemolytic effects. It was found that the dissolving effect is associated with the alkaline properties of the drug, which are provided by sodium bicarbonate. Sodium bicarbonate provides the process of alkaline saponification of proteins and protein-lipid complexes. It is shown that hydrogen peroxide intensively decomposes into water and oxygen gas under the action of the catalase enzyme. In turn, catalase is always present in blood, mucus, sputum, pus, fibrous and serous fluid. At the same time, the released oxygen forms gas bubbles that literally tear apart biological masses during cold boiling and turn them into fluffy white foam. At the same time, the appearance of oxygen in an alkaline environment ensures the process of discoloration of biological pigments, such as hemoglobin and its color metabolites. The indicated pharmacological effect of a warm alkaline solution of hydrogen peroxide at local interaction is proposed to be used for the treatment of purulent diseases, thrombosis, bruising and hematomas. The technologies of using the drug for urgent restoration of breathing in obstructive purulent bronchitis, for urgent discoloration of the skin and nail plate with bruising and hematoma, as well as for urgent and safe peeling of a bloody bandage from a wound are listed.

Аналіз сировинного потенціалу виробництва моторного палива в Україні та її регіонах

Motor fuel is an important component of both energy and national security of any country in the world, as it provides civilian transport and military equipment with the necessary energy resource. After the invasion of the armed forces of the russian federation on the territory of Ukraine and the destruction resulted from shelling of a number of oil and gas processing plants in the country, a difficult situation has developed that requires either an urgent restoration or creation of a new production of motor fuel on the country’s own raw material base. The aim of the study is to determine the current status of the raw-materials potential for the production of motor fuel in Ukraine and its regions. To achieve this goal the authors have: considered the combustible minerals of the country; analyzed the distribution of reserves and production of natural gas, oil, coal, and peat; examined the structure of distribution of their balance extractive reserves by regions of Ukraine, and the dynamics of production; computed the total energy potential of combustible minerals of Ukraine; identified sources of renewable resources that can be used for energy production; determined that the first-generation liquid biofuels include bioethanol and biodiesel; calculated the current technical potential of bioethanol production from corn and rapeseed by regions of Ukraine; identified the leading regions in terms of the potential for the production of liquid biofuels in Ukraine; formed the structure of energy potential by types of combustible minerals and biofuels in the country; determined the total energy potential of combustible minerals of Ukraine and formed the structure of the total energy potential of combustible minerals and biofuels in the regions of the country

IMPACT OF PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION ON PROTHROMBOGENIC POTENTIAL IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION AND DIABETES MELLITUS TYPE 2

The aim: Aim of study is to assess the influence of urgent reperfusion strategy on the levels of vWf, PAI-1 and sCD40L in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and concomitant diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Materials and methods: 255 patients with acute myocardial infarction took part in the study, they were divided into four groups depending on the presence of concomitant diabetes mellitus type 2 and performed treatment: I group – 83 diabetic patients who were underwent urgent reperfusion therapy; II group – 60 diabetic patients who received standard anticoagulant therapy; III group – 65 non-diabetic patients who were underwent urgent reperfusion therapy; IV group – 47 non-diabetic patients who received standard anticoagulant therapy. The levels of von Willebrand factor, PAI-1 and sCD40L were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical data were processed using the Mann–Whitney U-test, the Kruskal-Wallis H-test, quantitative variables were described by the following parameters: median (Me), 25th and 75th percentiles (Q1; Q3). Results: According to obtained data, we can conclude that patients with acute myocardial infarction and concomitant type 2 diabetes mellitus have higher levels of von Willebrand factor, PAI-1 and sCD40L compared to non-diabetic patients with AMI, which leads to the increasing of the platelets adhesion and aggregation and decreasing of fibrinolysis. Conclusions: Urgent restoration of blood supply in occluded artery contributed to a statistically significant reduction in levels of von Willebrand factor, PAI-1 and sCD40L levels in both diabetics and non-diabetic patients, reducing the risk of thromboembolic complications and thus improving the prognosis.

A decision-making tool for restoring lowland grasslands in Europe

Species-rich grasslands suffer from significant loss and degradation all over the world. In particular in lowland Europe, the vast majority of these habitats are in an unfavourable conservation status which requires urgent restoration measures. A significant amount of information on the results of previous restorations exists thanks to the implementation of numerous projects and the publication of action plans, technical notes and scientific articles. This information is however very scattered, which does not facilitate the work of practitioners. We therefore propose here a decision support tool using a step-wise framework informed by the successes and failures obtained in two large-scale restoration projects supplemented by scientific and grey literature. This decision tree addresses different restoration techniques depending on the local context, e.g. the intensity of habitat degradation, the richness of soil nutrients, and the presence in the vicinity of a habitat in a good conservation status. Depending on the type of grassland, our tool then suggests various recurrent management techniques to be applied after restoration. This synthetic work is presented step by step according to a dichotomous key which is intended to help practitioners make the right choices in their restoration process.

Characterisation of breeding habitat of Grizzled Giant Squirrel Ratufa macroura (Mammalia: Sciuridae) in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, India

The Grizzled Giant Squirrel (GGS) Ratufa macroura (Pennant, 1769) is a ‘Near Threatened’ and endemic giant squirrel distributed in southern India and Sri Lanka. In India, the species is distributed in more than 10 locations between Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka in the north and Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu in the south. A study was conducted in the riparian habitats of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala to understand the habitat characteristics, including the drey site use of GGS. The vegetation of the GGS habitat was studied using the quadrat method, and the dreys were counted using the transects. A total of 95 species of trees were identified from the riverine vegetation, and the GGS used 36 species of trees for drey construction. Most of the dreys were found on Mangifera indica, Terminalia arjuna, Ficus microcarpa, Diospyros ebenum, and Pongamia pinnata. However, the GGS may prefer trees such as Mitragyna parviflora, Diospyros ebenum, Ficus microcarpa, Albizia procera, Acacia nilotica, and Acacia leucophloea for drey construction. The study also highlights the usage of large trees with extensive crown by the GGS for various activities such as feeding, resting, moving, and nesting, thus signifying the necessity for protecting the remaining riverine habitat at Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary to ensure the long-term conservation of GGS. We recommend an urgent restoration by restocking with already existing, native tree species of the riverine habitat due to the extremely poor regeneration of trees in the riverine habitat that support the only population of the GGS in Kerala.