Anthropogenic climate change threatens water storage and supply in the periglacial critical zone. Rock glaciers are widely distributed alpine aquifers with slower response to temperature increases, ...that provide the summer water flow of many alpine streams. Knowing the extent and makeup of rock glaciers is necessary to evaluate their potential for water supply. We used non-invasive methods, integrating geological, geomorphological, meteorological, and geophysical information to characterize the internal structure and hydrology of the Upper Camp Bird rock glacier (UCBRG) located on level 3 of Camp Bird Mine in Ouray, Colorado, and assessed the applicability of two electromagnetic induction systems in this highly heterogeneous landform with a history of anthropogenic activity. The time-domain (G-TEM™) system achieved deep subsurface penetration (~100 m) and realistic modeling of the internal structure of the UCBRG: a shell of volcanic rock fragments (<3 m thick; 1–100 Ohm-m), a meltwater component (102–103 Ohm-m), located between 50 and 100 m near the toe (subpermafrost flow), and 1–30 m in the soundings farthest from the toe (suprapermafrost flow within the active layer), and a frozen component (permafrost 50–80 m thick; 103–106 Ohm-m). The frequency-domain system, however, was highly susceptible to local environmental conditions, including anthropogenic objects (i.e., mine carts, lamp posts, tunnel tracks, etc.) and was unable to resolve UCBRG's internal makeup. The non-invasive methodology and general conceptual framework presented here can be used to characterize other alpine aquifers, contributing to the quantification of global water resources, and highlighting the importance of preserving rock glaciers as storage for critical water supply in the future.
•We use non-invasive methods including electromagnetic induction (EM) to determine the internal structure of a rock glacier•We assess the applicability of two controlled-source EM systems (TDEM and FDEM) on a highly heterogeneous landform•The TDEM system is adequate to map the distribution of the electrical resistivity at depth (up to 100 m)•The principles are not satisfied to compute the apparent conductivity from FDEM data
Epilepsy is a debilitating condition, primarily refractory individuals, leading to the search for new efficient therapies. Electrical stimulation is an important method used for years to treat ...several neurological disorders. Currently, electrical stimulation is used to reduce epileptic crisis in patients and shows promising results. Even though the use of electricity to treat neurological disorders has grown worldwide, there are still many caveats that must be clarified, such as action mechanisms and more efficient stimulation treatment parameters. Thus, this review aimed to explore the comprehension of the main stimulation methods in animal models of epilepsy using rodents to develop new experimental protocols and therapeutic approaches.
Display omitted
•Electrical stimulation peripheral and central reduces epileptical discharges in rats.•Behavioral responses depend on frequency and current of stimulation.•Electrical stimulation reduces the cell apoptosis induced by epilepsy model.
Along the coast of the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, there are numerous remains linked to the manufacture of purple dyes. This study focuses on the site of Torregarcía (Almería, Spain), located ...in the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, a protected coastal area of particular ecological interest. Torregarcía was initially excavated during 1980s and was identified as a Roman salting factory where the complementary activity of dyeing was also practised. Despite its importance, it has gone unnoticed in the historiography of the last three decades and has never been the subject of dedicated scientific publication. The investigations presented in this book have been carried out using non-invasive prospecting techniques, such as ground-penetrating radar (GPR), and have revealed the importance of the exploitation of purple dye as the main site activity. More complex installations associated with the excavated structures and a large shell pit are also described. Alongside these, other buildings and shells have also been documented along the coastline of this site. All of this forms what we call the "purple landscape" in the southeast of the peninsular coast, which allows the Natural Park to show archaeological heritage beyond any excavations carried out to date.
The human eye is a complex biomechanical structure with a range of biomechanical processes involved in various physiological as well as pathological conditions. Fluid flow inside different domains of ...the eye is one of the most significant biomechanical processes that tend to perform a wide variety of functions and when combined with other biophysical processes play a crucial role in ocular drug delivery. However, it is quite difficult to comprehend the effect of these processes on drug transport and associated treatment experimentally because of ethical constraints and economic feasibility. Computational modeling on the other hand is an excellent means to understand the associated complexity between these aforementioned processes and drug delivery. A wide range of computational models specific to different types of fluids present in different domains of the eye as well as varying drug delivery modes has been established to understand the fluid flow behavior and drug transport phenomenon in an
insilico
manner. These computational models have been used as a non-invasive tool to aid ophthalmologists in identifying the challenges associated with a particular drug delivery mode while treating particular eye diseases and to advance the understanding of the biomechanical behavior of the eye. In this regard, the author attempts to summarize the existing computational and mathematical approaches proposed in the last two decades for understanding the fluid mechanics and drug transport associated with different domains of the eye, together with their application to modify the existing treatment processes.
The development of methods for measuring blood pressure (BP) in newborns and small children has a rich history. Methods for BP measuring in adults had to be adapted to this age group. For measuring ...BP in direct invasive way, a suitable approach had to be found to access the arterial circulation through the umbilical and later radialis artery. Currently, results obtained from direct invasive BP measurement are considered the "gold standard". The development of non-invasive methods for BP measuring in newborns and children began with the use of von Basch's sphygmomanometer (1880). In 1899, Gustav Gärtner constructed the device, which was the basis for the flush method. After the discovery of the palpation and auscultation methods, these methods were also used for BP measurement in newborns and children, however, the BP values obtained in these ways were typically underestimated using excessively wide cuffs. From the auscultation method, methods utilizing ultrasound and infrasound to detect arterial wall movement and blood flow were later developed. The oscillometric method for BP measurement was introduced by E. J. Marey so early as in 1876. In 1912, P. Balard used the oscillometric technique to measure blood pressure in a large group of newborns. Through different types of oscillometers using various methods for detecting vascular oscillations (such as xylol method, impedance and volume plethysmography, etc.), the development has continued to assessment of vascular oscillations by modern sensor technology and software. For continuous non-invasive blood pressure measurement, the volume-clamp method, first described by Jan Peňáz in 1968, was developed. After modification for use in newborns, application of the cuff to the wrist instead of the finger, it is primarily used in clinical physiological studies to evaluate beat-to-beat BP and heart rate pressure variability, such as in the determination of the baroreflex sensitivity.
Background and aims
Non-invasive fibrosis assessment has been highly recommended in many liver diseases. However, comparative diagnostic accuracy of laboratory markers, ultrasound and magnetic ...resonance elastography (MRE) for fibrosis in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) patients has not been established.
Methods
Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched. Primary outcome was significant fibrosis (SF), advanced fibrosis (AF) and cirrhosis, defined as Metavir stage
F
≥ 2,
F
≥ 3 and
F
= 4 according to liver biopsy. Hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) model was used to evaluate diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive methods. Summary area under ROC (AUROC) and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system was used to assess quality of evidence.
Results
Overall, 16 studies with 861 patients were included, comparing aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4), aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio, transient elastography (TE), acoustic radiation force impulse, shear wave elastography and MRE versus liver biopsy. Among all non-invasive markers, TE had good performance for fibrosis staging. Summary AUROCs and DORs of TE were 0.90 (95% CI 0.87, 0.92) and 23.7, 0.91 (95% CI 0.89, 0.93) and 31.6, 0.89 (95% CI 0.86, 0.92) and 80.5 for staging SF, AF and cirrhosis, whereas APRI and FIB-4 showed poor performance for detecting AF (DOR, 4.6 and 4.7) and cirrhosis (DOR, 5.5 and 12.9).
Conclusions
TE performs well to stage liver fibrosis in patients with AIH, compared with other laboratory non-invasive indexes. Nevertheless, diagnostic accuracy of APRI and FIB-4 is poor.
During operational activities, military personnel face extremely demanding circumstances, which when combined lead to severe fatigue, influencing both their well-being and performance. Physical ...exertion is the main condition leading to fatigue, and its continuous tracking would help prevent its effects. This review aimed to investigate the up-to-date progress on non-invasive physiological monitoring to evaluate situations of physical exertion as a pre-condition to fatigue in military populations, and determine the potential associations between physiological responses and fatigue, which can later result in decision-making indicators to prevent health-related consequences. Adhering to the PRISMA Statement, four databases (Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science and PubMed) were used for a literature search based on combinations of keywords. The eligibility criteria focused on studies monitoring physiological variables through non-invasive objective measurements, with these measurements being developed in military field, combat, or training conditions. The review process led to the inclusion of 20 studies. The findings established the importance of multivariable assessments in a real-life context to accurately characterise the effects of military practices. A tendency for examining heart rate variables, thermal responses, and actigraphy measurements was also identified. The objectives and experimental protocols were diverse, but the effectiveness of non-invasive measurements in identifying the most fatigue-inducing periods was demonstrated. Nevertheless, no assessment system for standardised application was presented. Future work may include the development of assessment methods to translate physiological recordings into actionable information in real-time and mitigate the effects of fatigue on soldiers’ performance accurately.
Background
Chronic venous disease (CVD) is secondary to venous hypertension, leading to vascular inflammation and tissue changes. The impact of CVD on skin structure and barrier function is not well ...characterized.
Objective
We aimed to assess the characteristics of skin alterations in mild-to-moderate CVD by non-invasive techniques based on a prospective exploratory study.
Material & Methods
Female subjects (30–75 years) with CVD (Stage C2 to C4, CEAP classification) were eligible. Stage C0–C1 CVD subjects were used as controls. Women with leg surgery or a medical history that could impact the results were excluded. The skin changes on lesional (LS) and non-lesional (NLS) areas were assessed by biometric analysis including skin echography, viscoelasticity evaluation, confocal microscopy and trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements.
Results
Thirty-four subjects were enrolled. Based on computation of 26 biometric parameters using Principal Component Analysis, a significant difference between LS and NLS zones, regardless of the CEAP class, was evidenced. C2–C4 subjects presented with dermal thickening suggesting oedema associated with decreased cell density, while no difference in skin viscoelasticity was observed compared to the C0–C1 control group. Epidermal structural modifications were associated with increased TEWL correlating with CVD severity.
Conclusion
Skin alterations in CVD patients are detectable by non-invasive methods. These findings may help to better assess new therapeutic strategies.
The application of faecal DNA in genetic studies of wild populations minimises disturbances to their normal behaviours and body integrity. Here, I present an analysis of a metagenomic dataset ...generated from the faecal DNA of several specimens of the estuarine pipefish, Syngnathus watermeyeri, to simultaneously assemble the mitogenomes of the predator and its main prey species, the copepod Pseudodiaptomus hessei. The mitogenomes of the pipefish and the copepod were successfully reconstructed using a combination of short seed extension and denovo metagenomic assembly. Nucleotide blast searches of the circular contigs, mitogenome annotations, and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses confirm the completeness and correct taxonomic placements of the two mitogenomes. In addition, heteroplasmy detection and Pool-Seq variant calling quantified the level of genetic diversity in the sequences that formed these assemblies. These can be used as a first step to non-invasively survey genetic diversity in these populations.
Highlights • We found differences between steroids and sexes in their metabolism and excretion. •3 H-corticosterone was excreted faster than3 H-testosterone. • A diurnal variation in fecal ...corticosterone and testosterone metabolites was found. • EIAs were suited for noninvasive measurement of adrenocortical activity and androgens.
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