Index Values Research Articles

Prediction and assessment of meteorological drought in southwest China using long short-term memory model

Abstract Drought prediction is crucial for mitigating risks and designing measures to alleviate its impact. Machine learning models have been widely applied in the field of drought prediction in recent years. This study concentrated on predicting meteorological droughts in southwest China, a region prone to frequent and severe droughts, particularly in areas with sparse meteorological station coverage. The long short-term memory (LSTM) predictive model, which is a deep learning model, was constructed by calculating standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) values based on 144 weather station observations from 1980 to 2020. The 5-fold cross-validation method was used for the hyperparameter optimization of the model. The LSTM model underwent comprehensive assessment and validation through multiple methods. This included the use of several accuracy assessment indicators and a comparison of results. The comparison covered different drought characteristics among the LSTM predictive model, the benchmark random forest (RF) predictive model, the historical drought situations, and the calculated SPEI values based on observations from 144 weather stations. The results showed that the training results of the LSTM predictive model basically agreed with the SPEI values calculated from weather station observations. The model-predicted variation trend of SPEI values for 2020 was similar to the variation in SPEI values calculated based on weather station observations. On the test set, the coefficient of determination (R 2), the root mean square error, the explained variance score, the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency, and the Kling–Gupta efficiency were 0.757, 0.210, 0.802, 0.761, and 0.212, respectively. The total consistency rate of the drought grade was 59.26%. The spatial correlation distribution of SPEI values between LSTM model prediction and calculation from meteorological stations in 2020 was more than 0.5 for most regions. The correlation coefficients exceeded 0.6 in western Tibet and Chengdu Plains. Compared to the RF model, the LSTM model excelled in all five performance evaluation metrics and demonstrated a higher overall consistency rate for drought categories. The Kruskal–Wallis test for both the LSTM and RF models all indicated no significant difference in the distributions between the predicted and observed data. Scatter plots revealed that the prediction accuracy for both models in 2020 was suboptimal, with the SPEI showing a comparatively narrow range of values. Nonetheless, the LSTM model significantly outperformed the RF model in terms of prediction accuracy. In summary, the LSTM model demonstrated good overall performance, accuracy, and applicability. It has the potential to enhance dynamic drought prediction in regions with complex terrain, diverse climatic factors, and sparse weather station networks.

Dry mass grassland estimation using UAV ultra-wide RGB images

Abstract. Dry mass is an important parameter to optimise grassland management. Traditionally, dry mass values are estimated manually by cutting, drying, and weighing vegetation samples. In large areas of cultivation, this becomes a time-consuming and costly activity. In recent years, many researchers have studied different sensors embedded in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to collect spatial data and estimate biomass using machine learning algorithms for forest and agricultural applications. However, there needs to be more research dealing with estimating production indices for pasture, especially in Brazil, as stated. This study evaluates the feasibility of using the GoPro wide-angle RGB camera on UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) to estimate the dry mass of pastures. Different data analysis methods were compared, including the combination of vegetation indices (VIs) values and three-dimensional metrics (3D) extracted from the Canopy Height Model (CHM): all metrics (ALL), three VIs plus four 3D metrics (VI3 + CHM4) and only 3D metrics. Random Forest (RF) machine learning algorithm was used to estimate dry mass. The best results were obtained when merging all the variables from the two flight campaigns, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.80 for the model and a Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC) of 0.85 for validation, with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE%) of 20.5%. In summary, using RGB sensors embedded in UAVs is a promising technique for estimating farm grazing parameters.

Evaluating Feature Impact Prior to Phylogenetic Analysis Using Machine Learning Techniques

The purpose of this paper is to describe a feature selection algorithm and its application to enhance the accuracy of the reconstruction of phylogenetic trees by improving the efficiency of tree construction. Applying machine learning models for Arabic and Aramaic scripts, such as deep neural networks (DNNs), support vector machines (SVMs), and random forests (RFs), each model was used to compare the phylogenies. The methodology was applied to a dataset containing Arabic and Aramaic scripts, demonstrating its relevance in a range of phylogenetic analyses. The results emphasize that feature selection by DNNs, their essential role, outperforms other models in terms of area under the curve (AUC) and equal error rate (EER) across various datasets and fold sizes. Furthermore, both SVM and RF models are valuable for understanding the strengths and limitations of these approaches in the context of phylogenetic analysis This method not only simplifies the tree structures but also enhances their Consistency Index values. Therefore, they offer a robust framework for evolutionary studies. The findings highlight the application of machine learning in phylogenetics, suggesting a path toward accurate and efficient evolutionary analyses and enabling a deeper understanding of evolutionary relationships.

Effect of Acetylsalicylic Acid Application on Gait Score and Femur Osteometry in Broiler Chickens

The current research examined the effects of adding 0.03%, 0.06%, 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.6% acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) to drinking water between 24-45 days on gait score and femur osteometry. The gait score average of the birds slaughtered on the 49th day was above 3, and no difference was found between the groups. It was determined that ASA treatment did not affect the osteometric and index values of the femur bones taken and examined after slaughter. In conclusion, it was concluded that ASA was not effective in preventing skeletal deformations caused by rapid growth in broilers.

Relação entre estresse oxidativo e COVID-19: uma breve revisão sistemática

OBJECTIVE: Analyse the possible relationship between Oxidative Stress (OS) and the pathogenesis of COVID-19. METHODS: This brief systematic literature review was conducted based on the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). The search resulted in the selection of 10 papers that met the research theme and were published between January 2020 and March 2021. RESULTS: The results revealed that in the course of the disease, there is a decrease in thiol levels and an increase in disulfide and EO, with a probable depletion of antioxidant elements. They found that the accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), added to the damage to albumin, were related to a worse prognosis and that neutrophils may be responsible for the increased level of oxidative stress associated with the worsening of the clinical condition. In addition, cells transfected with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein showed around three times the concentration of ROS compared to non-transfected control cells. As for serum O2- levels, they were significantly elevated in critically ill patients, constituting a probable predictor of disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, from the findings of this study, it is possible to infer that both patients with severe and moderate forms of COVID-19 have high EO index values. However, further studies need to be carried out to confirm these preliminary results.

Bilateral dimorphism of the auricles in adolescent males in the Lugansk People's Republic

Aim. To identify somatotypological features of linear parameters and bilateral dimorphism of the auricles in adolescent males.Materials and methods. In total, 140 adolescent males (19.05 ± 0.71 years) in the Lugansk People's Republic were examined. Following somatotyping and cephalotyping, the left and right auricles were photographed. Digital photographs were uploaded to the ImageJ software, which was used to determine 20 sizes of the auricle. An ANOVA analysis of the obtained results was carried out. The index of bilateral dimorphism of each auriculometry parameter was determined. Results. All studied parameters of the left auricle, except for its width, exceeded those of the auricle of the contralateral side. Conclusion. The highest values of the bilateral dimorphism index were observed when studying the height of the tragus and antitragus in males, regardless of their cephalotype.

Evaluating the robustness of DTI-ALPS in clinical context: a meta-analytic parallel on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases

In recent years, the glymphatic system has received increasing attention due to its possible implications in biological mechanisms associated with neurodegeneration. In the field of human brain mapping, this led to the development of diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index. While this index has been repeatedly used to investigate possible differences between neurodegenerative disorders and healthy controls, a comprehensive evaluation of its stability across multiple measurements and different disorders is still missing. In this study, we perform a Bayesian meta-analysis aiming to assess the consistency of the DTI-ALPS results previously reported for 12 studies on Parkinson’s disease and 11 studies on Alzheimer’s disease. We also evaluated if the measured value of the DTI-ALPS index can quantitatively inform the diagnostic process, allowing disambiguation between these two disorders. Our results, expressed in terms of Bayes’ Factor values, confirmed that the DTI-ALPS index is consistent in measuring the different functioning of the glymphatic system between healthy subjects and patients for both Parkinson’s disease (Log10(BF10) = 30) and Alzheimer’s disease (Log10(BF10) = 10). Moreover, we showed that the DTI-ALPS can be used to compare these two disorders directly, therefore providing a first proof of concept supporting the reliability of taking into consideration this neuroimaging measurement in the diagnostic process. Our study underscores the potential of the DTI-ALPS index in advancing our understanding of neurodegenerative pathologies and enhancing clinical diagnostics.

Tailoring of magnetite nanocomposite of carboxymethyl chitosan impregnated with iron (III) oxide for enhanced degradation of reactive blue 19 dye and inactivation of harmful microbes in wastewater

The study investigates the fabrication of an innovative nanocomposite composed of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCs) combined with different amounts of iron (III) oxide (Fe₂O₃) to boost dye degradation and antibacterial effectiveness. A top-down ball milling technique formed the nanocomposites and was extensively investigated for their structural, morphological, and functional features. The mean particle size of the 0.3Fe₂O₃/CMCs and 0.6Fe₂O₃/CMCs nanocomposites was 83.74 nm and 124.5 nm, respectively, with small polydispersity index (PdI) values suggesting satisfactory homogeneity. The adsorption effectiveness of Reactive Blue 19 (RB 19) dye was evaluated under different circumstances, with the 0.6Fe₂O₃/CMCs nanocomposite exhibiting the maximum adsorption capacity of 140 mg/g at an ideal pH of 5. Kinetic analyses indicated that the adsorption process adhered to a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The nanocomposites had significant bactericidal performance, with the 0.6Fe₂O₃/CMCs nanocomposite exhibiting the most extensive inhibition zones, particularly against E. coli (28.4 mm) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.2 mm). Furthermore, the reusability of the 0.6Fe₂O₃/CMCs nanocomposite was validated by five adsorption-desorption cycles, retaining over 90 % efficiency. The results underscore the efficacy of Fe₂O₃/CMCs nanocomposites as viable materials for wastewater treatment and antibacterial purposes, offering a promising approach for environmental remediation.

Development, Analysis, and Determination of Pharmacokinetic Properties of a Solid SMEDDS of Voriconazole for Enhanced Antifungal Therapy

Background: Voriconazole is an antifungal drug, which is classified under Bio-Classification System-II and has low water solubility (0.71 mg/mL) and high permeability. Hardly any endeavors have been made to increase the bioavailability of voriconazole. Objective: To develop and evaluate a solid SMEDDS (self-microemulsifying drug delivery system) for antifungal activity. Methods: Based on solubility studies of Labrafil-M 1994 CS (oil), Cremophor-RH 40 (a surfactant) and Transcutol-HP (a co-surfactant) were selected as components of the SMEDDS and a pseudo-ternary phase diagram was prepared. Thereafter, the oil, surfactant, and co-surfactant were mixed with altered weight ratios (1:1/1:2/2:1) and evaluated through various in vitro, in vivo analyses. Results: The particle size of the optimized formulation was observed to be 19.04 nm and the polydispersity index (PDI) value was found to be 0.162 with steady-state zeta potential. The optimized liquid SMEDDS was converted into a solid SMEDDS. Various adsorbents, such as Aerosil-200, Avicel-PH101, Neusilin-US2, and Neusilin UFL2 were screened to better detect the oil-absorbing capacity and flow properties of the powder. Neusilin UFL2 was selected as an adsorbent due to its better oil-absorbing capacity. DSC, X-ray diffraction, and dissolution studies were carried out to characterize the formulation. Further, the Pharmacokinetic profile was also studied in Wistar rats and the Cmax, tmax, and AUC0®t were calculated. The Cmax and AUC0®t plasma concentration is considerably better for the SMEDDS than for the pure drug and marketed formulation. Conclusions: This investigation clearly reveals the potential of developing a solid SMEDDS for candidiasis and invasive aspergillosis treatment, with better efficacy as compared to the commercially available marketed formulation.

PERSEPSI MASYARAKAT TERHADAP KEBERADAAN PETERNAKAN BABI DI DESA TOMBI KECAMATAN AMPIBABO KABUPATEN PARIGI MOUTONG

Raising pigs is one of the businesses managed by a portion of the population in Indonesia. This is because it can provide great benefits if managed properly, including the manure which can be used as fertilizer and a promising source of feed ingredients. This study aims to determine Community Perceptions of the Existence of Pig Farms in Tombi Village, Ampibabo District, Parigi Moutong Regency. This research took place in Hamlet I and Hamlet II, Tombi Village, Ampibabo District, Parigi Moutong Regency. It was carried out from September to November 2022. The type of research used was descriptive qualitative. The method used is survey method (observation and interview). The population in this study were all the people in hamlet I and hamlet II of Tombi Village, totaling 229 people. Determination of the number of samples using descriptive statistics based on the Slovin formula as many as 70 people and the method of taking respondents using accidental sampling. Data analysis used in this study is descriptive statistics using a Likert scale. The results of this study revealed that the public's perception of the existence of a pig farm in Tombi Village, Ampibabo District, Parigi Moutong Regency, as a whole was disturbed. snoring, continuous noise and loud noises with a weight of 43.3%, waste treatment with indicators piled up in the disposal pond and lack of cleanliness with a weight of 77.25% and socio-culture with indicators of community approval and adaptation to smells and sounds with an index value of 60.63% The data shows that respondents feel disturbed by the existence of pig farms close to residential areas, even though it is known that setting up pig farms must be far from residential areas, so as not to disturb the comfort of the people who live in Hamlets I and II of Tombi Village.

Nano-priming of Vigna radiata seeds with opuntia stricta-derived γFe2O3 nanoparticles

The experimental investigation aimed to enhance sustainable and biocompatible nano-agriculture by examining the possible effects of biosynthesized nanoparticles (γFe2O3 NPs) on seed growth and growth parameters of Vigna radiata. The outcomes of various characterization procedures such as FTIR, XRD, UV, and Fe-SEM were used to determine the successful generation of γFe2O3 NPs (nanoparticles), which were capped with multiple phytoconstituents contained in the Opuntia stricta extract. γFe2O3 NPs were synthesised, as evidenced by the peak's presence, having a mean crystallite size of 13.9 nm, and were successfully detected using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Crucial Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) testing also yielded unambiguous proof of the element iron's presence. Raman spectroscopy was used to confirm the synthesis of pure maghemite nanoparticles. Wide areas around 350, 500, 670, and 1330 cm-1 values verify the creation of pure maghemite. TGA analysis was performed to check the stability of nanoparticles in which the residual weight was found to be 87.62%. TEM images confirm the spherical shape, and the mean size of the nanoparticles was found to be 12.28 nm. Through a number of tests, the analysis showed that the nanoparticles have a strong antioxidant capacity. This experiment aimed to determine how biogenic γFe2O3 Nanoparticles affected Vigna radiata seed germination. Measurements of shoot and root lengths, seed vigour index, germination rates, mean daily germination, and peak value (PV) were all included of the assessment. There was a total of four distinct γFe2O3 NPs concentrations examined (25, 50, 75, and 100 μg/mL). The penetration of the γFe2O3 NPs affects the germination and growth of the Vigna radiata seeds. When compared to untreated seeds, the germination index values for Vigna radiata seeds that underwent effective treatment with γFe2O3 NPs significantly improved.

Clinical experience of the carboxytherapy method in the treatment of patients with temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction syndrome (К07.60)

Objective. Improving the effectiveness of treatment of patients with TMJ PDS myogenic origin. Material and methods. According to the purpose of the study, a group of 10 patients (8 women and 2 men aged 14 to 60 years) was formed with the coincidence of a triad of signs: pain during movements of the lower jaw, a feeling of heaviness and tension in the chewing and facial muscles, restriction of mouth opening. A set of diagnostic measures has been implemented in the following scope: clinical and radiological examination methods, TMJ MRI, ultrasound and surface EMG of the chewing muscles, digital axiography. In the treatment of patients in the study group, the method of invasive carboxytherapy was used, based on dosed injections of CO2 in the projection of trigger points of the masticatory muscles. The research examines the therapeutic value of using of CO2 in the protocol of functional rehabilitation of patients with TMJ diseases of myogenic origin. Results. The analysis of the effectiveness of treatment of patients in the study group was carried out to assess the dynamics of key parameters: the severity of the pain syndrome according to VAS, the magnitude of the IMPACT index values and the magnitude of mouth opening. The severity of pain in patients in the study group, according to average values, decreased by 86% from the initial values, an increase in the amplitude of mouth opening by 28.5%, a decrease in the IMPACT index values by 42.5% from the initial values of hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles, an increase in blood flow speed of superficial temporal artery at 52.5%. Conclusion. The results of the clinical application of the carboxytherapy method in the treatment of patients with TMJ PDS allow us to recommend this method for implementation in the rehabilitation protocols of patients with TMJ PDS of myogenic origin, trismus and hypertonus of the masticatory muscles. Carboxytherapy as a method of etiopathogenetic rehabilitation contributes to the early relief of pain syndrome, normalization of the bioelectric activity of the chewing muscles and restoration the physiological kinematics of the lower jaw’s movements.

The influence of water conservancy project on microplastics distribution in river ecosystem: A case study of Lhasa River Basin in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Water conservancy projects affect the migration, suspension, and deposition of microplastic (MP). However, its impact on MP pollution of river ecosystem remains elusive. Herein, we investigated the MP characteristics and the influence of water conservancy projects on MPs in the Lhasa River Basin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. The results demonstrated that the MPs concentration in surface water decreased from upstream to downstream, as more MPs in surface water were settling down and stored in reservoir sediments in the midstream. It is postulated that reservoir sedimentation of MPs occurs at a greater rate due to the barrier effect of reservoirs, steady hydrodynamics, and weak salinity-induced buoyancy. To evaluate the ecological risk of the Lhasa River Basin, the pollution load index, the polymer hazard index, and the potential ecological risk index were analyzed. The upstream exhibits elevated polymer hazard index values (>100), and the potential ecological risk index values in the Lhasa River Basin showed ecological risk similar to those of pollution load index values. This research represents the initial exploration of MP distribution within the entire Lhasa River basin, providing a foundational framework for investigating the impact of water conservancy projects on MP migration.

Individuation of a cut-off value of triglyceride-glucose index for incident diabetes mellitus in patients with essential hypertension.

The prevalence of obesity and diabetes, risk factors for atherosclerotic vascular diseases, is increasing worldwide; therefore, it is desirable to early identify them to reduce cardiovascular events. Thus, we investigated whether the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index), a new marker of insulin resistance, is associated with incident diabetes in patients with newly diagnosed arterial hypertension. We selected 585 patients with newly diagnosed arterial hypertension referred to our tertiary Clinic of Catanzaro University Hospital for the evaluation of their cardiometabolic risk profile. None of the patients had diabetes mellitus at enrollment and took any drug known to affect glucose metabolism. Patients underwent medical history collection, clinical examination and laboratory tests. The TyG index was calculated as the ln [fasting TG (mg/dl) × FPG (mg/dl)/2], as previously suggested. During the follow-up [mean 8.5years (range 3.1-10.7)], there were 78 new cases of incident diabetes (1.57% patient-year). Patients who developed diabetes mellitus were older and had a higher body mass index (BMI), baseline blood pressure, fasting glucose, insulin, homeostatis model sssessment (HOMA) index, triglyceride, creatinine and hs-CRP mean values, while estimated glomerular filtration rate values were lower. At the Cox regression analysis, covariates significantly associated with incident diabetes were: BMI (HR = 2.842, 95%CI = 2.299-3.514), TyG index (HR = 2.392, 95%CI = 1.745-3.192), age (HR = 1.944, 95%CI = 1.527-2.474), hs-CRP (HR = 1.409, 95%CI = 1.153-1.722), and HOMA (HR = 1.325, 95%CI = 1,079-1.756). The best estimated cut-off value of TyG index in predicting diabetes was 4.71. In addition, we documented a significant relationship between TyG index and HOMA (r = 0.575; p < 0.0001). Present data demonstrate that TyG index, a simple and cost-effective marker of insulin resistance, is useful in predicting incident diabetes in patients with arterial hypertension.

Development of a questionnaire for identifying autoaggressive and heteroaggressive tendencies in adolescents

Introduction. Among the leading causes of deaths in young people aged 15-29, interpersonal violence is the third most common cause, and suicide – the fourth one. Autoaggression and heteroaggression are considered as interrelated phenomena conditioned to a great extent by biological and personality factors. For more effective diagnostics, it is important to pay attention not only to the psychological characteristics of the adolescent but also to the social aspects of his/her life. The aim of the study was to develop a questionnaire for identifying autoaggressive and heteroaggressive tendencies in adolescents. Materials and methods. A total of 606 respondents took part in the study – 58.8% girls and 41.2% boys. The respondents’ ages ranged from 13 to 19. Autoaggressive tendencies were investigated using the Suicidal Behaviour Questionnaire. Aggressive behaviour was assessed using the Bass-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Due factors were identified using the principal components method. The reliability was confirmed by Cronbach’s α coefficient; the validity was verified by Pearson correlation coefficient. Results. A proprietary questionnaire was developed to identify autoaggressive and heteroaggressive tendencies in adolescents. Target indicator responses were set for each measured parameter (levels of heteroaggression and autoaggression) amidst all possible answers to the questionnaire. The overall arithmetic score was a basis for calculating the autoaggression and heteroaggression indexes. The mean value of the autoaggression index was 7.7841. The distribution of answers showed that 19.5% of the respondents had an autoaggression index value of 12 and higher, which determined the choice of this value as the limit of the norm. The proven correlation between predisposition to aggression and increased risk of suicidal behaviour allows using the index of 20% to assess the prevalence of heteroaggressive tendencies in the population. The mean value of the heteroaggression index was 9.0767. The heteroaggression index value was 13 and higher in 19.7% of the respondents, which determined the choice of this value as the limit of the norm. Besides, it is necessary to take into account that, when completing the questionnaire, the respondent tends to give socially approved answers. Therefore, a person who scored 0 is included in the risk group. Conclusions. The sociological method makes it possible to identify the most disadvantaged groups that need preventive and corrective work. The developed questionnaire allows a school psychologist or a class teacher to assess the prevalence of certain tendencies in the class and to individualise help at the next stage.

The Predictive Value of the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index for Cardiovascular Events in Chronic Total Occlusion Patients Who Prior Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

There is limited research on the long-term prognosis of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) patients who have previously undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Additionally, the prognostic value of a novel systemic immune inflammation index (SII) in this specific patient population remains unclear. To adjust for differences in baseline features and minimize bias, 335 pairs of patients with or without prior CABG undergone PCI were obtained after probability score matching (PSM) in a single-center cohort. The clinical characteristics were collected, and the primary outcomes were major cardiovascular events (MACE), which included all-cause death, nonfatal MI and unplanned revascularization, were recorded during the follow-up period after discharge. The group with prior CABG were divided according to the median level of SII: Lower SII group (SII ≤ 570.10, N = 167) and higher SII group (SII ≥ 570.10, N = 168). The SII values were significantly higher in the prior CABG group than in the without prior CABG group [570.10 (444.60, 814.12) vs 519.65 (446.86, 565.84), P < 0.001, respectively]. The survival Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with prior CABG was significantly associated with a higher risk of MACE than patients without prior CABG (P = 0.016) in the long-term follow-up. As SII levels increased, the cumulative risk of MACE became significantly higher in the patients with prior CABG (P = 0.023) stratified by the median value of SII. The Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis indicated that the level of SII (hazard ratio = 2.035, 95% CI, 1.103-3.753, P = 0.023) emerged as independent predictors of MACE. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis illustrated that the HR for MACE increased with increasing SII. SII is a reliable predictor of long-term cardiovascular events after PCI in CTO patients with prior CABG, suggesting that SII may be helpful in identifying high-risk patients who need more aggressive treatment and follow-up strategies.

Pollution assessment, ecological risk and source identification of heavy metals in paddy soils and rice grains from Salem, South India

The present study investigated concentrations of metals (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Cd) in paddy soils and rice tissues of nine different widely used indica rice varieties in Salem district, India. The order of DTPA soil available metal contents (mg kg-1) were Fe (33.50) > Mn (8.86) > Cu (2.58) > Pb (1.99) > Zn (1.67) > Ni (1.48) > Cd (0.13). Pollution load index (PLI) levels for Cd (1.28) were ‘moderately polluted’, contamination factor (CF) and enrichment factor (EF) values for all metals showed ‘medium contamination’ and ‘less enrichment’ except for Cu and Pb. Ecological risk factor (ERF) and potential ecological risk index (PRI) values of Cd (31.94 and 287.50) showed ‘moderate risk’ and ‘strong ecological risk’. Bio-accumulation factor (BAF) levels of Cd (48.12) and Pb (27.89) are classified as ‘high concentrators’. Translocation factor (TF) values of Pb (2.9), Cd (2.5) and Ni (1.7) were greater than one for roots to plants. Children had higher target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) values for Cd, Pb and Ni than adults. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed with all parameters that they fell within the two primary factors 1 and 2, with an eigenvalue of 4.69 (33.52% variation) and 3.73 (26.66% variation), respectively. However, cluster analysis (CA) revealed three distinct groups between the metals studied. Although the soil metal contents were within the permissible levels, the grain Cd (6.07 mg kg-1), Pb (56.20 mg kg-1), and Fe (116.11 mg kg-1) contents in all the rice varieties exceeded the prescribed limits of 0.4, 0.2, and 15 mg kg-1, respectively. Our findings will provide important data for metal enrichment in soils to implement more effective measures to reduce the contamination of metals in paddy fields.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT BASED ON SOIL LOSS, DEFORESTATION IN PERMANENT PRESERVATION AREAS, AND WATER QUALITY APPLIED IN THE ITACAIÚNAS WATERSHED, EASTERN AMAZON.

To understand how various environmental pressures may threaten the Amazon territory, specifically its hydrographic basins, it is crucial to guide key management actions such as soil conservation, environmental preservation, and forest restoration. This paper, based on a detailed study conducted in the Itacaiúnas River Watershed (IRW) located in the Carajás mining province—one of the most significant metallogenetic provinces globally and within the Arc of Deforestation in the Amazon—proposes a new index to assess environmental threats or vulnerabilities. The index evaluates soil loss, deforestation in permanent preservation areas, and water quality—key environmental issues in watershed management. Using geoprocessing and remote sensing techniques, we applied the index across the entire catchment area and at the beginning of the drainage network (a proxy for river springs). Our findings reveal that: i) 68% of unit catchments (32% of headwaters) exhibit “High” or “Very High” soil loss vulnerability; ii) 69% of unit catchments (32% of headwaters) have more than 20% of their permanent preservation areas deforested, representing the primary threat among the three criteria to the basin; iii) Only 4.7% of unit catchments (2% of headwaters) present any chemical risk related to water consumption. The combined criteria (simple arithmetic mean of normalized values) indicate that the east-central and southern parts of the watershed have higher index values, necessitating greater attention to soil conservation. In contrast, the center-western area of the basin, characterized by conservation units and indigenous land, showed low index values but remains at risk primarily due to soil loss if environmental preservation actions are not maintained.

Spatial heterogeneity of sediments on a topographically diverse descending plate at convergent margins: An example from the outer slope of the Mariana Trench

Unraveling deep ocean sediment composition and its controlling mechanisms is crucial to understanding the interplay between the Earth's surface and the deep Earth. Convergent margins are generally featured by various seafloor landforms, but how submarine topography affects sediment accumulation processes remains poorly understood. Here we focus on submarine surface sediments from the outer slope of the Mariana Trench (covering water depths of 1218–6310 m) and combine microscopic observation, clay mineralogy, and elemental geochemistry to characterize sediment composition and to reveal physical, chemical, and biological sedimentary processes at topographically diverse convergent margins. Smear slide observations indicate that foraminifera shells dominate in shallow areas, while pelagic clays and diatom oozes prevail in trench and slope areas. Clay minerals primarily consist of illite (26–98 %) with low crystallinity index values and diverse chemical index values, followed by chlorite (0–45 %) and kaolinite (0–29 %). Smectite (0–61 %, 46 of 70 samples have smectite contents <5 %) of the samples from the outer slope area is low but appears dominant close to the trench. Bulk element compositions are mainly affected by the relative calcareous, siliceous, and lithogenous components that dissolved or accumulated inconsistently as submarine topographic feature changes. Our results imply that submarine topography and sediment provenance lead to significant heterogeneity of sediment composition at topographically diverse convergent margins. The submarine topographic relief, together with associated bathymetry and deep-sea circulation primarily controls carbonate deposition on the Caroline Plateau, and influences the sinking particles (including diatom shells and arc volcanic-sourced materials) accumulation in the trench basin. Continent-derived aeolian dust introduces illite-rich detritus, while localized volcanism potentially contributes to smectite-rich sediment in certain topographic provinces. We propose that the deep sea sedimentation processes in the Mariana convergent system are more diverse and complex than those at the margins with relatively plain topographic characteristics (e.g., the Japan Trench). The significant heterogeneity on descending plates along convergent margins may lead to various subduction behaviors. These findings contribute to a better understanding of deep ocean sediment source-to-sink systems and have implications for Earth's material cycle and multi-sphere interaction studies.

P270 Real-world experience of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscle invasive bladder cancer at a university center: Role of nodal yield and prognostic value of pathological response and nutritional index

P270 Real-world experience of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscle invasive bladder cancer at a university center: Role of nodal yield and prognostic value of pathological response and nutritional index