En la actualidad los cuerpos de agua dulce se encuentran bajo constante presión debido a una creciente demanda del recurso, destinada principalmente para las diferentes actividades antropogénicas que ...se desarrollan en zonas cercanas a ellos, generando impactos que provocan alteración (contaminación) en las condiciones fisicoquímicas y en la estructura de las comunidades biológicas, de allí la importancia de monitorear los cuerpos de agua para poder determinar su condición. El principal objetivo de este trabajo fue realizar una evaluación rápida de la calidad ecológica utilizando macroinvertebrados acuáticos como bioindicadores, para ello se muestreó en la época lluviosa del año 2017 un total de 22 puntos localizados en diferentes cuerpos de agua que abastecen a comunidades en las microcuencas Santa Isabel, Calero y Calderas dentro de la cuenca del río Sampile en el departamento de Choluteca. Se aplicó el índice biótico Biological Monitoring Working Party - Costa Rica (BMWP-CR) para conocer la calidad del agua, los resultados indicaron que ninguna de las fuentes evaluadas presentó una calidad del agua buena, pudiéndose asociar a actividades antropogénicas que se desarrollan en el área de estudio, así como a la influencia de la época lluviosa en la que se desarrolló el muestreo.
Palabras claves: actividades antropogénicas, calidad ecológica, evaluación rápida, índice biótico, macroinvertebrados acuáticos.
Assessing the effectiveness of activated carbon is essential for the optimal operation of water treatment systems. Traditional evaluation methods, although precise, are typically labor-intensive and ...require complex equipment This study introduces a novel application of the B.EL.D™ device, utilizing redox potential measurements to gauge the activation level of carbon filters—an approach not previously employed. We hypothesized that redox potential is a reliable indicator of activated carbon's performance, a hypothesis that was rigorously validated through extensive testing against the standard iodine number test (ASTM D4607). Our analysis included both control and operational samples from ongoing water treatment processes over two years, confirming a definitive correlation between redox potential and carbon's adsorptive capacity. The findings demonstrate the potential of our method as a rapid, accurate, and cost-effective alternative to current testing practices. Currently under patent consideration, this study marks a significant advancement towards improving the assessment of activated carbon filters, providing an efficient pathway for water treatment facilities and establishing the foundation for a predictive maintenance model.
To determine the awareness on eye donation and willingness to pledge eyes for donation among the population aged ≥40 years in the northeastern state of Tripura, India.
A population-based ...cross-sectional study was carried out among 2,500 participants. The investigators conducted a detailed interview on awareness of eye donation and willingness to pledge eyes for donation. 'Awareness' was defined as having heard about eye donation. Those who reported awareness of eye donation were asked a question on willingness to pledge their eyes.
A total of 2,440/2,500 (97.6%) participants responded to the questionnaire. Among these, 1,216 (49.8%) participants were men, and 859 (35.2%) had no education. The mean age of the participants was 54.7 years (standard deviation:12.1 years). Overall, 61.4% (95% CI:59.5-63.4; n = 1,499) reported awareness of eye donation; of those only 3.8% (95% CI:2.9-4.9; n = 57) were willing to pledge their eyes for donation. On multivariable analyses, the odds of awareness were higher among those who had school education (OR:2.12; 95% CI: 1.73-2.56) or higher education (OR:11.79; 95% CI:7.35-18.93). Deformity associated with eye donation (n = 327;76.9%) followed by religious reasons (n = 63; 14.8%) and a belief that those who donate eye are 'born blind in the next birth' (n = 23; 5.4%) were the main reasons for lack of willingness to pledge their eyes for donation.
Although the awareness regarding eye donation was satisfactory, there was lack of willingness to pledge eyes for donation. There is a need for focussed information, education, and communication campaigns to encourage eye donation in Tripura.
To report the prevalence and causes of visual impairment (VI) among those aged ≥40 years in West Godavari and Krishna districts in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Trained teams visited the households in the ...selected clusters and conducted eye examinations. Presenting visual acuity (PVA) was assessed for distance and near. Torchlight examination was conducted to assess the anterior segment. Non-mydriatic retinal images were also obtained. VI was defined as PVA worse than 6/18 in the better eye. It included Moderate VI (PVA worse than 6/18 to 6/60), Severe VI (PVA worse than 6/60 to 3/60) and Blindness (PVA worse than 3/60). Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the risk factors for VI.
In total, 2587/3000 (86.2%) participants were examined. Of this, 1406 (54.4%) were women and 1224 (47.3%) had no education. The age- and gender-adjusted prevalence of VI was 12.8% (95% CI: 11.5-14.1). Compared to the 40-49-year age group, the odds of having VI among those aged 50-59 years, 60-69 years and ≥70 years were 2.93 (95% CI: 1.91-4.52), 6.53 (95% CI: 4.31-9.91) and 17.45 (95% CI: 11.50-26.46), respectively. Those respondents who had no education had a higher odds (OR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.34-2.23) of VI compared to those who were educated. Cataract (62.4%) and uncorrected refractive errors (29.8%) were the leading causes of VI. Over 90% of the VI was due to avoidable causes.
VI is a major public health challenge in Andhra Pradesh. Over 90% of this burden is avoidable and can be eliminated by low-cost interventions such as spectacles and cataract surgery.
Salt marshes are valuable coastal ecosystems, but many have been degraded by roads, railways, and other infrastructure that restrict tidal flow and impound watershed runoff. Restoration of tidal flow ...to tide-restricted salt marshes generally aims to restore native vegetation and habitat functions. Biological communities may take one or more decades to recover following tidal restoration, but outcomes are seldom assessed on that timescale. We assessed the long-term outcomes of eight tidal restorations in Rhode Island, USA using observed changes in plant and nekton communities from pre-restoration to present, and newly-collected data from a rapid assessment method. The time-series vegetation and nekton data suggest that while restoration actions promoted biological recovery, ambient factors such as inundation stress and eutrophication have worked to offset it. Rapid assessment results indicate that the cover of Phragmites australis is higher and the cover of meadow high marsh is lower at restoration marshes compared with a broad reference sample, suggesting incomplete recovery on average, although outcomes varied across the restoration marshes. Habitat integrity increased with the degree of adaptive management following restoration, as well as the age of restoration, but salt marsh restoration practitioners may need to shift their methods and expectations to accommodate human influences on ambient environmental conditions, particularly prevalent, increasing inundation stress associated with sea-level rise. Our study highlights the value of standardized long-term biological monitoring in assessing salt marsh restoration outcomes, and demonstrates how rapid assessment data can add valuable context to restoration findings.
•Inundation stress counteracts vegetation recovery promoted by restoration.•Increased adaptive management and time improve restoration outcomes.•Tidal restoration alone is inadequate for Phragmites australis management.•Manipulation of inundation period may be needed for long-term restoration success.•Rapid assessment adds important context to biological assessment of restoration.
Rapidly assessing an undifferentiated patient and developing a gestalt for “sick vs. not sick” is a core component of emergency medicine (EM). Developing this skill requires clinical experience and ...pattern recognition, which can be difficult to attain during a typical EM clerkship.
We developed a novel approach to teaching medical students rapid assessment skills in the emergency department (ED) by implementing a teaching shift in triage.
Fourth-year medical students in our EM clerkship in fall 2019 were scheduled one shift in triage with a dedicated teaching attending. The students evaluated patients under direct supervision, discussed their immediate differential diagnosis, and proposed an initial workup. The attending gave real-time feedback using a standardized direct observation tool. Students completed an electronic pre and post survey (5-point Likert scale) to assess their comfort level in the following areas: performing a rapid triage assessment, determining "sick vs. not sick", performing a focused physical examination, developing a targeted differential diagnosis, and ordering an initial diagnostic workup.
Twenty-one students participated in the triage shifts. There was a significant improvement in self-assessed comfort with performing a rapid triage assessment, mean pre 2.76 and post 4.43 (p < 0.0001). There were also significant improvements in the four other survey areas (p < 0.004 or less).
A teaching shift in triage can increase medical students’ self-assessed rapid assessment skills for patients in the ED. Benefits to the teaching attending included the opportunity to perform direct observation, give real-time feedback, and identify real-time teaching moments.
•Literature review extracted 350 condition indicators from 12 key habitats.•Expert’s workshops iterations led to the integration of 42 condition indicators across 3 habitat types.•Metric flexibility ...enables robust but simple evidence-based monitoring.•Engagement with practitioners ensures enrichment and uptake of indicator framework.•Standardisation ensures reliable and comparable habitat condition assessments.
Marine and estuarine habitat degradation threatens ecosystem function and delivery of ecosystem services. An increasing number of management interventions aiming to improve ecological condition within impacted marine and estuarine habitats are being implemented. Monitoring the ecological outcomes of management interventions to evaluate their effectiveness supports adaptive management. However, the lack of a standardised set of indicators has impeded reliable assessment and knowledge sharing. The objective of this research project is to develop a cross-ecosystem standardised indicator framework to assess changes in benthic habitat conditions. The rapid Marine and Estuarine Condition Assessment Tool (MarECAT) was developed for Queensland, Australia; however, it can be applied elsewhere. A literature review was undertaken to identify indicators and metrics for habitat condition assessment that were reviewed by subject matter experts through a series of Technical Group meetings. Three indicator groups were identified based on the presence or absence of structural macrobiota attributes (i.e., macroflora, macrofauna, and substrate-dominated). The panel of experts endorsed a list of 42 condition indicators with associated metrics representing all ecosystem components, enabling a comprehensive assessment of habitat condition for a rapid assessment tool. A level of confidence nominated by practitioners was allocated to each condition indicator metric to inform the interpretation of assessments. Another outcome of the expert workshops was the endorsement of 10 threat indicators representing key pressures in marine and estuarine habitats, along with a specific assessment scale. The scoring method developed for the MarECAT will facilitate reliable assessment of management intervention outcomes and implementation of adaptive management to improve project success.
Abstract
In the past few decades, earthquakes have been a major cause of casualties and economic losses. The rapid assessment system for earthquake disasters plays an important role in earthquake ...prevention, disaster reduction, and emergency command by calculating the economic losses and casualties caused by earthquakes in a relatively short time after the occurrence of an earthquake. Although there are now many rapid assessment systems for earthquake disasters, most of them adopt C/S and B/S architectures, which have limited computational efficiency during large-scale earthquakes. Based on these factors, this study aims to build a cloud computing-based rapid assessment system for earthquake disasters. The main modules of the system include intensity impact field calculation, building damage assessment, economic loss assessment, casualties assessment, and model parameter calibration. The results show that the system significantly speeds up the calculation process and shortens the assessment time. It can provide timely disaster assessment information to relevant departments in a short period and provide technical support for emergency decision-making.
The health of many coral reefs around the globe is being threatened by a variety of local and global stressors, which makes it even more important to assess and monitor them. While the coral cover is ...one of the easiest and used quantifiers of reef health, the addition of coral colony sizes provides deeper insights into reef recruitment potential, fecundity, and possible environmental conditions for survivability. The use of the ARAICoBeH (A Rapid Assessment Instrument for Coastal Benthic Habitats) System can already provide similar coral cover and composition results as common methods in coral reef monitoring yet are faster and cheaper. The capacity of the ARAICoBeH System was expanded to coral measurements by adding paired lasers, and results were compared with tape measurement and photoquadrat methods. The time and cost to conduct this study were also compared for the three methods. The results illustrate that the ARAICoBeH System with paired laser attachment was able to provide digital reference points that can be used as a scale to accurately measure coral colonies. Colony sizes across different coral lifeforms derived from the system correlated well overall with the two commonly used methods. The colony size distributions from ARAICoBeH more closely resembled the distribution from the photoquadrat data than from the tape measure method. While the varying resolution of images from the ARAICoBeH System took longer to process, the overall time and cost to conduct this study were faster and cheaper, respectively. From these findings, the addition of paired lasers proved to enhance the capability of the ARAICoBeH System as a viable, low-cost, and rapid coral reef assessment method.
PDF
