scholarly journals Desertification Sensitivity Analysis Using MEDALUS Model and GIS: A Case Study of the Oases of Middle Draa Valley, Morocco

Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 2230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atman Ait Lamqadem ◽  
Biswajeet Pradhan ◽  
Hafid Saber ◽  
Abdelmejid Rahimi
Keyword(s):  
Quality Index ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Quality Indices ◽  
Sensitive Areas ◽  
Management Quality ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Mediterranean Regions ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Index Maps

Oases can play a significant role in the sustainable economic development of arid and Saharan regions. The aim of this study was to map the desertification-sensitive areas in the Middle Draa Valley (MDV), which is in the southeast of Morocco. A total of 13 indices that affect desertification processes were identified and analyzed using a geographic information system. The Mediterranean desertification and land use approach; which has been widely used in the Mediterranean regions due to its simplicity; flexibility and rapid implementation strategy; was applied. All the indices were grouped into four main quality indices; i.e., soil quality; climate quality; vegetation quality and management quality indices. Each quality index was constructed by the combination of several sub-indicators. In turn; the geometric mean of the four quality index maps was used to construct a map of desertification-sensitive areas; which were classified into four classes (i.e., low; moderate; high and very high sensitivity). Results indicated that only 16.63% of the sites in the study were classified as least sensitive to desertification; and 50.34% were classified as highly and very highly sensitive areas. Findings also showed that climate and human pressure factors are the most important indicators affecting desertification sensitivity in the MDV. The framework used in this research provides suitable results and can be easily implemented in similar oasis arid areas.

High-sensitivity detection of gold labels by high-angle dark-field STEM imaging

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 892-893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max T. Otten
Keyword(s):  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Dark Field ◽  
Bright Field ◽  
Backscattered Electron Imaging ◽  
Backscattered Electrons ◽  
Average Atomic Number ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Backscattered Electron ◽  
Electron Imaging ◽  
High Sensitivity Detection

Labelling of antibodies with small gold probes is a highly sensitive technique for detecting specific molecules in biological tissue. Larger gold probes are usually well visible in TEM or STEM Bright-Field images of unstained specimens. In stained specimens, however, the contrast of the stain is frequently the same as that of the gold labels, making it virtually impossible to identify the labels, especially when smaller gold labels are used to increase the sensitivity of the immunolabelling technique. TEM or STEM Dark-Field images fare no better (Figs. 1a and 2a), again because of the absence of a clear contrast difference between gold labels and stain.Potentially much more useful is backscattered-electron imaging, since this will show differences in average atomic number which are sufficiently large between the metallic gold and the stains normally used. However, for the thin specimens and at high accelerating voltages of the STEM, the yield of backscattered electrons is very small, resulting in a very weak signal. Consequently, the backscattered-electron signal is often too noisy for detecting small labels, even for large spot sizes.

Homocysteine Levels Show Significant Differences among Mediterranean Dietary Quality Index Variables Compared to Folate and Vitamin B12 Status in Women

2015 ◽  
Vol 85 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 202-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivona Višekruna ◽  
Ivana Rumbak ◽  
Ivana Rumora Samarin ◽  
Irena Keser ◽  
Jasmina Ranilović
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Poor Diet ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract. Results of epidemiologic studies and clinical trials have shown that subjects following the Mediterranean diet had lower inflammatory markers such as homocysteine (Hcy). Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess female diet quality with the Mediterranean diet quality index (MDQI) and to determine the correlation between MDQI, homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 levels in the blood. The study participants were 237 apparently healthy women (96 of reproductive age and 141 postmenopausal) between 25 and 93 years. For each participant, 24-hour dietary recalls for 3 days were collected, MDQI was calculated, and plasma Hcy, serum and erythrocyte folate and vitamin B12 levels were analysed. Total MDQI ranged from 8 to 10 points, which represented a medium-poor diet for the subjects. The strength of correlation using biomarkers, regardless of group type, age, gender and other measured parameters, was ranked from best (0.11) to worst (0.52) for olive oil, fish, fruits and vegetables, grains, and meat, in this order. Hcy levels showed the best response among all markers across all groups and food types. Our study shows significant differences between variables of the MDQI and Hcy levels compared to levels of folate and vitamin B12 in participants with medium-poor diet quality, as evaluated according to MDQI scores.

scholarly journals Role of MRI evaluation in acute secondary inability to walk in children

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. H. Sedeek ◽  
K. Aboualfotouh ◽  
S. M. Hassanein ◽  
N. M. Osman ◽  
M. H. Shalaby
Keyword(s):  
Transverse Myelitis ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Limb Weakness ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Common Causes ◽  
Bilateral Lower Limb ◽  
Severity Of The Disease

Abstract Background Acute bilateral lower limb weakness is a common problem in children which necessitates a rapid method for diagnosis. MRI is a non-invasive imaging technique that produces high-quality images of the internal structure of the brain and spinal cord. Results MRI was very helpful in reaching rapid and prompt diagnosis in children with acute inability to walk. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS), and acute transverse myelitis (ATM) were the most common causes in our study. MRI proved to be of high sensitivity in detecting the lesions and reaching the diagnosis in ADEM and GBS; however, there was no significant relation between the lesions’ size, enhancement pattern, and severity of the disease or prognosis, yet in ATM the site of the lesion and number of cord segment affection were significantly related to the severity of the disease and prognosis. Conclusion MRI is a quick tool to reach the diagnosis of children with acute secondary inability to walk, and to eliminate other differential diagnosis which is essential for proper treatment and rapid full recovery. It is highly sensitive in detecting the lesions, their site and size.

scholarly journals Highly sensitive detection of nitrobenzene by a series of fluorescent 2D zinc(ii) metal–organic frameworks with a flexible triangular ligand

RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (39) ◽  
pp. 23975-23984
Author(s):  
Xue Yang ◽  
Yixia Ren ◽  
Hongmei Chai ◽  
Xiufang Hou ◽  
Zhixiang Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Solution ◽  
Metal Organic Frameworks ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Fluorescent Sensors ◽  
Sensitive Detection ◽  
Donor Ligands ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Metal Organic ◽  
Highly Sensitive Detection

Four fluorescent 2D Zn-MOFs based on a flexible triangular ligand and linear N-donor ligands are hydrothermally prepared and used to detect nitrobenzene in aqueous solution with high sensitivity, demonstrating their potential as fluorescent sensors.

Rapid, highly sensitive and quantitative detection of interleukin 6 based on SERS magnetic immunoassay

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 1823-1831
Author(s):  
Xiaomei Wang ◽  
Li Ma ◽  
Shijiao Sun ◽  
Tingwei Liu ◽  
Hao Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interleukin 6 ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Quantitative Detection ◽  
Detection Time ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Sandwich Method

We have developed a SERS magnetic immunoassay method based on the principle of sandwich method for rapid and quantitative detection of IL-6. The developed SERS method has the advantages of high sensitivity and detection time is only 15 min.

scholarly journals Highly Sensitive Fluorescent Detection of Acetylcholine Based on the Enhanced Peroxidase-Like Activity of Histidine Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1207
Author(s):  
Hong Jae Cheon ◽  
Quynh Huong Nguyen ◽  
Moon Il Kim
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Nanoparticles ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Choline Oxidase ◽  
Fluorescent Detection ◽  
One Pot ◽  
Site Structure ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Peroxidase Mimics

Inspired by the active site structure of natural horseradish peroxidase having iron as a pivotal element with coordinated histidine residues, we have developed histidine coated magnetic nanoparticles (His@MNPs) with relatively uniform and small sizes (less than 10 nm) through one-pot heat treatment. In comparison to pristine MNPs and other amino acid coated MNPs, His@MNPs exhibited a considerably enhanced peroxidase-imitating activity, approaching 10-fold higher in catalytic reactions. With the high activity, His@MNPs then were exploited to detect the important neurotransmitter acetylcholine. By coupling choline oxidase and acetylcholine esterase with His@MNPs as peroxidase mimics, target choline and acetylcholine were successfully detected via fluorescent mode with high specificity and sensitivity with the limits of detection down to 200 and 100 nM, respectively. The diagnostic capability of the method is demonstrated by analyzing acetylcholine in human blood serum. This study thus demonstrates the potential of utilizing His@MNPs as peroxidase-mimicking nanozymes for detecting important biological and clinical targets with high sensitivity and reliability.

scholarly journals Spatial expression pattern of serine proteases in the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni determined by fluorescence RNA in situ hybridization

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenka Ulrychová ◽  
Pavel Ostašov ◽  
Marta Chanová ◽  
Michael Mareš ◽  
Martin Horn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Situ Hybridization ◽  
Schistosoma Mansoni ◽  
Rna Sequencing ◽  
Serine Proteases ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Host Parasite Interactions ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Host Parasite

Abstract Background The blood flukes of genus Schistosoma are the causative agent of schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease that infects more than 200 million people worldwide. Proteases of schistosomes are involved in critical steps of host–parasite interactions and are promising therapeutic targets. We recently identified and characterized a group of S1 family Schistosoma mansoni serine proteases, including SmSP1 to SmSP5. Expression levels of some SmSPs in S. mansoni are low, and by standard genome sequencing technologies they are marginally detectable at the method threshold levels. Here, we report their spatial gene expression patterns in adult S. mansoni by the high-sensitivity localization assay. Methodology Highly sensitive fluorescence in situ RNA hybridization (FISH) was modified and used for the localization of mRNAs encoding individual SmSP proteases (including low-expressed SmSPs) in tissues of adult worms. High sensitivity was obtained due to specifically prepared tissue and probes in combination with the employment of a signal amplification approach. The assay method was validated by detecting the expression patterns of a set of relevant reference genes including SmCB1, SmPOP, SmTSP-2, and Sm29 with localization formerly determined by other techniques. Results FISH analysis revealed interesting expression patterns of SmSPs distributed in multiple tissues of S. mansoni adults. The expression patterns of individual SmSPs were distinct but in part overlapping and were consistent with existing transcriptome sequencing data. The exception were genes with significantly low expression, which were also localized in tissues where they had not previously been detected by RNA sequencing methods. In general, SmSPs were found in various tissues including reproductive organs, parenchymal cells, esophagus, and the tegumental surface. Conclusions The FISH-based assay provided spatial information about the expression of five SmSPs in adult S. mansoni females and males. This highly sensitive method allowed visualization of low-abundantly expressed genes that are below the detection limits of standard in situ hybridization or by RNA sequencing. Thus, this technical approach turned out to be suitable for sensitive localization studies and may also be applicable for other trematodes. The results suggest that SmSPs may play roles in diverse processes of the parasite. Certain SmSPs expressed at the surface may be involved in host–parasite interactions. Graphic abstract

scholarly journals Sensitivity Analysis of Bistatic Scattering for Soil Moisture Retrieval

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 188
Author(s):  
Tingting Li ◽  
Irena Hajnsek ◽  
Kun-Shan Chen
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Sensitivity Index ◽  
Scattering Coefficients ◽  
Observation Systems ◽  
Bistatic Scattering ◽  
Scattering Response

Soil moisture is one of the vital environmental variables in the land–atmosphere cycle. A study of the sensitivity analysis of bistatic scattering coefficients from bare soil at the Ku-band is presented, with the aim of deepening our understanding of the bistatic scattering features and exploring its potential in soil moisture retrieval. First, a well-established advanced integral method was adopted for simulating the bistatic scattering response of bare soil. Secondly, a sensitivity index and a normalized weight quality index were proposed to evaluate the effect of soil moisture on the bistatic scattering coefficient in terms of polarization and angular diversity, and the combinations thereof. The results of single-polarized VV data show that the regions with the maximum sensitivity and high quality index, simultaneously, to soil moisture are in the forward off-specular direction. However, due to the effect of surface roughness and surface autocorrelation function (ACF), the single-polarized data have some limitations for soil moisture inversion. By contrast, the results of two different polarization combinations, as well as a dual-angular simulation of one transmitter and two receivers, show significant estimation benefits. It can be seen that they all provide better ACF suppression capabilities, larger high-sensitivity area, and higher quality indices compared to single-polarized estimation. In addition, dual polarization or dual angular combined measurement provides the possibility of retrieving soil moisture in backward regions. These results are expected to contribute to the design of future bistatic observation systems.

scholarly journals A flexible and highly sensitive pressure sensor based on three-dimensional electrospun carbon nanofibers

RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (23) ◽  
pp. 13898-13905
Author(s):  
Chuan Cai ◽  
He Gong ◽  
Weiping Li ◽  
Feng Gao ◽  
Qiushi Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanofibers ◽  
Pressure Sensor ◽  
Carbon Nanofiber ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Sensitive Pressure

A three-dimensional electrospun carbon nanofiber network was used to measure press strains with high sensitivity.

scholarly journals Dual functionality metamaterial enables ultra-compact, highly sensitive uncooled infrared sensor

Nanophotonics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1337-1346
Author(s):  
Jin Tao ◽  
Zhongzhu Liang ◽  
Guang Zeng ◽  
Dejia Meng ◽  
David R. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Metamaterial Absorber ◽  
Bulk Acoustic Wave ◽  
Infrared Sensors ◽  
Bulk Acoustic Wave Resonator ◽  
Wave Resonator ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Film Bulk ◽  
Perfect Metamaterial Absorber ◽  
High Absorption

Abstract Cointegration and coupling a perfect metamaterial absorber (PMA) together with a film bulk acoustic wave resonator (FBAR) in a monolithic fashion is introduced for the purpose of producing ultracompact uncooled infrared sensors of high sensitivity. An optimized ultrathin multilayer stack was implemented to realize the proposed device. It is experimentally demonstrated that the resonance frequency of the FBAR can be used efficiently as a sensor output as it downshifts linearly with the intensity of the incident infrared irradiation. The resulting sensor also achieves a high absorption of 88% for an infrared spectrum centered at a wavelength of 8.2 μm. The structure is compact and can be easily integrated on a CMOS-compatible chip since both the FBAR and PMA utilize and share the same stack of metal and dielectric layers.

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