Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the SED-BIO System in Reducing the Inflow of Selected Physical, Chemical and Biological Pollutants to a Lake

The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of the innovative SED-BIO system in limiting the inflow of pollutants to Jelonek Lake. The analyses were conducted in the Gniezno Lake District in Greater Poland (the western part of Poland). Physical and chemical analyses were conducted in the years 2016–2019. The results demonstrate that the system is highly effective in the reduction of such nutrients as nitrogen (NO3−—63%; NH4+—14.9%) and phosphorus (PO43−—19.3%). Although the presence of cyanobacteria was confirmed practically throughout the whole monitoring period of the system (2016), the specimens found in most samples were not toxigenic genotypes with a potential to produce microcystins. Microcystins (3 µg·L−1) were detected only once, immediately after the SED-BIO system had been installed in the river and pond, which demonstrates that this natural toxin was eliminated from the additional pool of contaminants that might be transported to Jelonek Lake.

Towards long term monitoring: Seizure detection with reduced electroencephalogram channels

Epilepsy is a prevalent condition characterised by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. The diagnosis of epilepsy is by surface electroencephalography (EEG), a time-consuming and uncomfortable process for patients. The diagnosis of seizures using EEG over a brief monitoring period has variable success, dependent on patient tolerance and seizure frequency. Further, the availability of hospital resources and hardware and software specifications inherently limit the capacity to perform long-term data collection whilst maintaining patient comfort. The application and maintenance of the standard number of electrodes restrict recording time to a maximum of approximately ten days. This limited monitoring period also results in limited data for machine learning models for seizure detection and classification. This work examines the literature on the impact of reduced electrodes on data accuracy and reliability in seizure detection. Here we present two electrode ranking models, demonstrating the decline in seizure detection performance associated with reducing electrodes. We assert the need for further research in electrode reduction to advance solutions toward portable, reliable devices that can simultaneously provide patient comfort, long-term monitoring and contribute to multi-modal patient care solutions.

Sound and Camera Recordings of a female Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) and its chick at the nest

ABSTRACT The nest of a Superb Lyrebird, in a spotted gum forest on the south-east coast of Australia, was monitored for approximately 10 weeks. The nest was discovered before the egg was laid, on June 16, 2020. The egg was laid on July 7, and the chick was taken by a Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) on August 29. A camera placed at the nest when discovered was active for the entire monitoring period. Thirteen sound recordings (in 6h periods) were made at the nest between July 16 and August 28 inclusive. The literature on vocalisations by the female lyrebird is scant, and in the light of our data, unrepresentative of her repertoire, especially during her role as parental carer. We present a series of photographs, sonograms and accessible sound recordings. These show specific behaviours of the female as she enters and leaves the nest, and the vocalisations specifically used when the female is approaching or leaving the nest, and when she is interacting with the egg, the chick and an intruder.

Water quality impacts of young green roofs in a tropical city: a case study from Singapore

This study examined the effects of two substrates (SOIL and COMMERCIAL) and grass on the green roof runoff quality in Singapore. Ten events were sampled over a 9-month period. Rainfall and green roof runoff from grass and bare experimental configurations were tested for total organic carbon (TOC), nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients (N, NH4+-N and PO43−-P), cations/anions and trace metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb). All configuration units neutralised acid rainfall and removed metals except Fe despite their proximity to an industrial area. Concentrations decrease over the monitoring period for most water quality variables. The COMMERCIAL (COM) configurations elevated Cl− (3.8–10.8 ppm), SO42− (1.5–32.4 ppm), NO3−-N (7.8–75.6 ppm) and NH4+-N (22.0–53.1 ppm) concentrations in the runoff. Concentrations of NO3−-N (4.5–67.7 ppm) and NH4+-N (14.7–53.0 ppm) remained high at the end of the monitoring period for the COMgrass configuration, even with dilution from monsoon rainfall, making it suitable as an irrigation water source and a fertiliser substitute. The SOIL substrate retained N-nutrients, TOC and trace metals with concentrations comparable or below rainfall inputs. This substrate is suitable for widespread green roof applications in Singapore and other tropical cities. We recommend substrate testing before their approval for use on green roofs and encourage the long-term monitoring of these systems.

Riparian monitoring of wadeable streams at Courthouse Wash, Arches National Park: Summary report, 2010–2019

The goal of Northern Colorado Plateau Network (NCPN) riparian monitoring is to determine long-term trends in hydrologic, geomorphic, and vegetative properties of wadeable streams in the context of changes in other ecological drivers, stressors, and processes. This information is intended to provide early warning of resource degradation and determine natural variability of wadeable streams. This report summarizes NCPN monitoring of Courthouse Wash in Arches National Park (NP) from 2010 to 2019. The focus of this report is to (1) present geomorphology and vegetation data from five reaches monitored in Courthouse Wash from 2010 to 2015, and (2) examine patterns in water availability at one monitoring reach from November 2010 to December 2019. Vegetation sampling and geomorphology surveys were suspended in 2016 due to budget cuts; this report presents baseline data for future comparisons. The NCPN has five monitoring reaches located between the inflow of Sevenmile Canyon, a major tributary, and the terminus of Courthouse Wash, at the Colorado River. Two reaches (2, 5) are located in Upper Courthouse Wash, and three (1, 4, 7) in Lower Courthouse Wash. Hydrologic monitoring wells are installed only at Reach 1. During our monitoring period, which included drought years in 2012 and 2018 and a wetter-than-average period from fall 2013 to 2014, groundwater levels showed steep declines corresponding to the start of the growing season each year. Hot, dry summers and falls in 2012, 2018, and 2019 showed the deepest troughs in groundwater levels. Active monsoon years helped elevate summer and fall groundwater levels in 2013 and 2014. Continued monitoring will help us better understand the relationship of climate and water availability at this reach. A geomorphic survey was completed once for reaches 2, 4, and 7, and twice for reaches 5 and 1. Powerful floods during our monitoring period resulted in aggradation of the channel in reaches 5 and 1, which were first surveyed in March 2013. Flooding in September 2013 resulted in an average of 0.24 meters of deposition found in the channel thalweg at Reach 1 in March 2014. Storm events in May 2014 caused additional aggradation. In March 2015, an average of 0.41 meters of deposition was recorded in the channel thalweg at Reach 5, with 0.32 meters of deposition between the vegetation transect headpins compared to the 2013 data. The riparian vegetation recorded at our monitoring reaches is consistent with an open-canopy Fremont cottonwood woodland with a diverse understory. Canopy closure ranged from 29% to 52%. Measurements were sensitive enough to detect a 10% reduction in canopy closure at Reach 5 during a pest infestation in June 2013. Canopy closure subsequently rebounded at the reach by 2015. Total obligate and facultative wetland cover ranged from 7% to 26%. Fremont cottonwood seedlings, saplings, and overstory trees were present at all reaches, indicating good potential for future regeneration of the canopy structure. These data can serve as a baseline for comparison with future monitoring efforts. One area of management concern is that exotic-plant frequency and cover were relatively high in all monitoring reaches. Exotic cover ranged from 2% to 30%. High exotic cover was related to years with high cover of annual brome grasses. High cover of exotic grasses is associated with increased wildfire risk in southwestern riparian systems, which are not well-adapted to fire. Managers should be prepared for this increased risk following wet winters that promote annual brome grass cover. Beaver activity was noted throughout bedrock-constrained reaches in Courthouse Wash. Beaver activity can reduce adjacent woody riparian vegetation cover, but it also contributes to maintaining a higher water table and persistent surface water. Climate change is likely to be an increasingly significant stressor in Courthouse Wash, as hotter, drier conditions decrease water levels and increase drought stress...

Results of the Water Quality Study Within the Luga­-Balt-­2 International Project

The authors noted the transboundary nature of anthropogenic impact on the environment, including that on water bodies, which needs to be studied in an international format. (Research purpose) To determine the water state of the Urpolanjoki River in the Mikkeli area in Finland and the Luga River in Russia in order to prepare proposals for improvement. (Materials and methods) Water quality was specified by 11 parameters by sampling and analyzing them in the laboratory. Additionally, 1South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences carried out online monitoring using the YSI 6920-V2 continuous water probe. The authors used standard methods of processing statistical, field data. (Results and discussion) The authors revealed good, stable during the entire monitoring period, water quality in the Urpolanjoki River. The authors showed that the water quality in the Luga River deteriorates downstream, in particular, due to the agricultural and livestock farms’ activities near the river basin. Thus, the Kjeldahl nitrogen and total phosphorus content at the upstream point is 10.8 milligrams and 119 micrograms per liter, respectively, and at the downstream point, it is only 1.6 milligrams and 28 micrograms, respectively. (Conclusions) It was determined that the analyzed indicators correspond to the category of good quality: the level of water oxygen saturation fluctuated within 88.76-117.83 per cent during the monitoring period; the color was 30 milligrams per liter on the platinum-cobalt scale, which means a low humus content in the water; the presence of solids in the water ranged from 1.1 to 2.4 milligrams per liter; the total phosphorus content in water is below 9.2 micrograms per liter, that is, within the normal limits. During the monitoring of the Luga River, a clear influence of nearby agricultural enterprises and settlements was detected.

Arrhythmia patterns in patients with COVID-19 infection during and post hospitalization detected via a patch-based mobile cardiac telemetry system

Background Coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is the cause of the current world-wide pandemic. Cardiovascular complications occur in 20–30% of patients with COVID-19 infection including myocardial injury and arrhythmias. Current understanding of specific arrhythmia type and frequency is limited. In response to COVID-19 pandemic and overwhelmed hospital critical care and telemetry recourses, patch-based cardiac monitoring system received emergency Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for inpatient monitoring. A patch-based cardiac telemetry system has been shown to be useful for patient management during the COVID-19 pandemic and provides detailed analysis of cardiac rhythms. Purpose To analyze arrhythmia type and frequency in patients with COVID-19 infection, identifying arrhythmia patterns over time during hospitalization and after discharge. Methods A prospective cohort study during the COVID-19 pandemic was performed. We included patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection who had a patch-based mobile telemetry device placed for cardiac monitoring. A quantitative analysis including type, frequency and duration of detected arrhythmias was performed at the end of the monitoring period. Results A total of 103 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 diagnosis underwent monitoring. Quantitative reports for 59 patients were available for analysis, among those 59% were males, median age 65 (IQR 56–76) yrs. Mean wear time was 6.8±5.0 days. Arrhythmias were detected in 72.9% of patients. Majority of arrhythmias were SVT (59.3% of patients) and AF (22.0%). Episodes of AF duration >30 min were detected in 12 patients. New onset AF was noted in 15.0% of patients and was significantly associated with age (OR 1.4 for 5 yrs difference; 95% CI 1.01–2.05). Brady arrhythmias (2nd degree, 3rd degree AV bock, pause≥3 seconds) were seen in 18.7% of patients. Arrhythmias were consistently detected throughout the monitoring period in 52.9%-89.5% of patients daily (Figure 1). In 9 patients who were discharged with continued patch monitoring, 3 patients (33.3%) had arrhythmic events during their outpatient monitoring period. Conclusion A majority of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection had arrhythmias detected by patch cardiac monitor. Arrhythmias were observed throughout hospitalization with a consistent daily frequency. Patients continued to exhibit cardiac arrhythmias after hospital discharge of a type similar to that seen during hospitalization. New onset AF often occurred and was associated with older age. Inpatient application of a patch cardiac telemetry with continued monitoring as outpatient is feasible and effective in detecting occult arrhythmias in patients with COVID-19 infection. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Daily frequency of arrhythmias detected

There Used to Be a River Ferry: Identifying and Analyzing Localities by Means of Old Topographic Maps

River ferries were historically important in crossing medium- and large-sized watercourses, with rivers often a barrier to trade routes and journeys. Using old medium-scale Austrian military topographic maps from 1763–1768, 1836–1852, and 1876–1880, Prussian maps from 1825 and 1877, and Czechoslovakian maps from 1953–1955, we systematically localized the ferries within what is now the Czech Republic over a monitoring period between the mid-18th century and the present. We also analyzed the map keys of relevant surveys to examine ways of depicting the ferries in the maps. In this context, a database of river ferries in the Czech Republic was prepared in GIS, containing all localities where river crossing ferries were shown on the topographic maps. A total of 514 historical ferry sites were identified on the military mapping survey maps, with an additional 28 recognized from auxiliary sources that did not appear in the military topographic maps. The sample information obtained from the maps was also verified by using independent sources.

24-h Glycaemic profiles in peritoneal dialysis patients and non-dialysis controls with advanced kidney disease

Background: For patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD), the deleterious effects of high concentrations of dialysate glucose on the peritoneal membrane are well-documented. Systemic effects of peritoneally absorbed glucose are more poorly defined. Using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), we aimed to describe 24-h glycaemic profiles of PD patients without diabetes and compare with non-dialysis controls with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD-5). Methods: In this cross-sectional, case-control study, 15 patients on PD (9 automated PD (APD) and 6 continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD)) and 16 CKD-5 controls underwent 72 h of CGM and metabolic profiling. CGM was used to derive average glucose concentrations and within-participant standard deviation (SD) of glucose. Data were analysed for the whole 72-h monitoring period and as daytime (09.00 to 21.00) and night-time (21.00 to 09.00). Results: Average glucose concentrations and within-participant SD of glucose for the whole monitoring period were not different between the three groups ( p ≥ 0.5). Daytime average glucose concentrations were also similar across the three groups ( p = 0.729). APD was associated with a significantly higher nocturnal glucose than CAPD (5.25 mmol/L ± 0.65 vs. 4.28 ± 0.5, p = 0.026). A significant drop in nocturnal glucose compared with daytime average seen in both CAPD patients and controls was absent in APD patients. Conclusions: Systematically different glycaemic patterns were observed in non-diabetic APD and CAPD patients, including an absence of physiological nocturnal glucose dipping in patients on APD. Comprehensive CGM data sets highlight subtleties not appreciated by traditional metabolic biomarkers; this has implications when choosing the most appropriate outcome measures in future research addressing the metabolic impact of PD.