Effects of Asian dust-derived particulate matter on ST-elevation myocardial infarction: retrospective, time series study

Background Dust storms affect human health by impairing visibility and promoting interactions with microscopic organisms, such as bacteria and fungi. Although ST-elevation MI (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation MI (NSTEMI) differ mechanistically, few studies have investigated the incidence of cardiovascular diseases according to infarction type; these studies have yielded inconsistent findings. This study aimed to examine whether PM size (< 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and < 10 μm (PM10)) modifies the effect of Asian dust on acute myocardial infarction (AMI), with separate analyses for STEMI and NSTEMI. Methods MI-related data from 9934 emergency visits were collected from the Korea AMI Registry from 2005 to 2017. Asian dust events were defined as days with visibility of ≤10 km. Generalized linear models were used to analyze data with natural cubic splines. To examine potential modifiers, analyses were stratified by age, smoking status, and body mass index (BMI). Results No significant associations were observed between Asian dust and AMI. By adjusting for different lag structures, a significant effect was exclusively observed in STEMI. For moving average lags, the largest value at lag 5 (relative risk [RR] 1.083; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.007–1.166) for single and lags 0–7 (RR 1.067; 95% CI: 1.002–1.136) was observed for PM2.5; for PM10, the largest significant effect was observed at lag 4 (RR 1.075; 95% CI: 1.010–1.144) for single and lags 0–7 (RR 1.067; 95% CI: 1.002–1.136). RRs were significantly higher in < 65-year-olds than in ≥65-year-olds. Additionally, RRs between the BMI < 25 and BMI ≥ 25 groups were not different; statistically significant effects were observed for concentration at lags 0–5 (RR: 1.073; 95% CI: 1.002–1.150) and lags 0–6 (RR: 1.071; 95% CI: 1.001–1.146) in the BMI < 25 group. A negative exposure-response association was observed between daily average visibility-adjusted PM and STEMI and daily average visibility-adjusted PM in < 65-year-olds. Conclusions Reducing PM2.5 and PM10 emissions, particularly during the days of Asian dust, may be crucial and reduce STEMI and AMI incidence among < 65-year-olds. These results indicate that the Asian dust alarm system needs revision to protect vulnerable populations.

CHARACTERISATION AND ASSESSMENT OF THE DECLINE OF THE OULED BECHIH FOREST (ALGERIA)

The establishment of the state of the massif by a diagnosis on different forest plots is part of a project of monitoring and silvicultural management. The purpose of this study is to assess the health status of the Ouled Bechih forest. The methodology used was the visual assessment of the tree crown of the dominant species (i.e. Quercus suber and Quercus canariensis) according to the protocols DEPEFEU, DEPERIS and ICP Forests. These protocols were selected for adoption based on field observations and their applicability in record time. The results obtained indicate that the health status of the trees within the studied plots is declining. The DEPEFEU value index shows an average of 1.75 for Quercus suber and 2.6 for Quercus canariensis while the DEPERIS has an average level of 2.36 Q. suber in and 3.37 in Q. canariensis. ICP Forests has also contributed to providing clearer information on the consequences of this health situation by deducting an average visibility rate of 1.20 and 2.63; social status of 1.17 and 3.11 and competition of 1.11 and 2.49 for Q. suber and Q. canariensis respectively. In general, the health status of the tree crown is average and almost adapted to the environmental conditions. In contrast, the carrying capacity of biodiversity is low and needs to be improved.

Analysis of ring operation from south Andaman Fish Landing Centres (FLC)

A study was carried out during 2014-2018 to find out the major fish catches through the Gear Ring net at the coast of Andaman Islands. The data were collected from four major Fish Landing Centres (FLC) viz Junglighat, Dugnabad, Guptapara and Wandoor which are located at South Andaman. Altogether 1097 FLC visits have been carried out during the study period at all four FLC with an average of 219 visits / year. Altogether 1379 operations of Ring net were observed from two FLC i.e. Junglighat (1322) and Dugnabad (57) amongst four FLC. The total fishes captured were 1609 tons from the two FLCs, i.e. 1594 tons from Junglighat FLC and 15 tons from Dugnabad FLC respectively. The contribution of gear the Ring net was 41.5 % amongst the other gears operated from all four FLCs. The major fish catch by ring net were Scombrids (52.3%), followed by Sardines (22.4%), Carangids (21.3%), Anchovies (2.7%) and others (1.2%). 39 ring net fishing ground identified during the period around the coast of Andaman Islands. The maximum fish catch occurred at around the coast of Havelock Island (15.5%) followed by Rutland (10.5%), Chidiatappu (8 %), Shoal Bay (7.6%), Baratang (7 %), Carbyns cove (6 %), Burmanallah (5.2%), Madhuban (5.2%), Out-drum Island (4.7%), Mayabunder (4 %), Colinpur (3.3%), Long Island (3.3%), Wandoor (2.1%) etc and minimum fish catch was observed at the coast of Pachim Sagar (0.02%) . PFZ forecast disseminated to the Ring netters and validated during the study period. Forty nine operations of gear the ring net were observed at PFZ with an average of 9.8 operations /year. The fishes captured from the PFZ were 91.1 tons with an average of 18.2± 5.6 tons / year. Similarly 49 operations of ring net were also observed at Non-PFZ with an average of 9.8 operations /year. The fishes captured from the Non PFZ were 23.77 tons with an average of 4.5±1.5 tons / year. The Length-weight measurements of the pelagic fishes viz Atule mate, Decapterus russelli, Sardinella albella, Sardinella sirm, Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus and Rastrelliger kanagurta caught from both the zones have been done. 12 Class Intervals with respect to length were observed from the catch of all the fishes i.e. 81-100 mm, 101-120, 141-160 mm,........301- 320 mm. In the Class Intervals, the length category 121-140 mm was the most representating class for Atule mate with 128 specimens (19.1%) at PFZ and 159 specimens (23.7%) at Non-PFZ respectively. It has been observed for other fishes i.e. for Decapterus russelli, Sardinella albella, Sardinella sirm, Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus and Rastrelliger kanagurta which collected from the PFZ were class 161-180 mm with 172 specimens (48.6%), 141-160 mm with 195 specimens (53.1%), 221- 240 mm with 177 specimens (48.2%), 121-140 mm with 189 specimens (47.7%) and 261-280 with 199 specimens (30.9%) respectively. The same species were collected at the Non-PFZ were 141-160 with 173 specimen (49.0%), 121-140 with 194 specimens (53.3%), 221-240 with 159 (45.4%), 101-120 with 173 (49.4%) and 201-220 with 144 specimens (23%) respectively. The water samples have been collected during day time from various sites of PFZ and Non-PFZ during the study period and analysed. The average visibility at PFZ and Non-PFZ were 15.49±0.28 m and 16.74 ± 0.25 respectively. The average dissolved oxygen (DO) at PFZ and Non-PFZ were 6.30±0.05 mg/lit and 5.94 ±0.06 mg/lit respectively. Due to density of phytoplankton and Eddies the dissolved oxygen increased at PFZ than Non-PFZ. Alkalinity was at PFZ 111.16±1.09 ml/lit and Non PFZ 113.68 ± 1.28 ml/lit respectively.

Assessment of the health status of the Sidi R'Ghies forest, Oum El Bouaghi, north-east Algerian

Rached-Kanouni M, Zerrouki A, Lahmar M, Beldjazia A, Kara K, Ababsa. 2020. Assessment of the health status of the Sidi R'Ghies forest, Oum El Bouaghi, north-east Algerian. Biodiversitas 21: 1980-1988. In recent decades, the forest of Sidi R'Ghies has been degraded by human activity. The establishment of the state of the massif by a diagnosis on different forest plots is part of a project of monitoring and silvicultural management. The purpose of this study is to assess the health status of the Sidi R'Ghies forest. The methodology used was the visual assessment of the tree crown of the dominant species (i.e. Aleppo pine and holm oak) according to the protocols DEPEFEU, DEPERIS, and ICP Forests. These protocols were selected for adoption based on field observations and their applicability in record time. The results obtained indicate that the health status of the trees within the studied plots is declining. The DEPEFEU value index shows an average of 2.20 for Aleppo pine and 1.95 for holm oak while the DEPERIS has an average level of 4.56 in Aleppo pine and 3.07 in holm oak. ICP Forests has also contributed to providing clearer information on the consequences of this health situation by deducting an average visibility rate of 1.24 and 1.63; social status of 2.17 and 2.11 and competition of 1.71 and 2.49 for Aleppo pine and holm oak respectively. In general, the health status of the tree crown is average and almost adapted to the environmental conditions. In contrast, the carrying capacity of biodiversity is low and needs to be improved.

Analysis of landings of Indian mackerel during the period 2014 to 2018 at Junglighat fish landing centre, South Andaman, India

Junglighat fishing harbour is a very large and dynamic fish landing Centre (FLC) in Andaman & Nicobar Islands where the maximum fishing gears operations occur. A study has been done to find out the status of Indian Mackerel catches by ring net at Junglighat FLC. Monthwise periodic visits have been done at this FLC for 5 (five) consecutive years from 2014 to 2018. 1322 operation of ring net were noted during the period (2014-18) and 1594 tons of fishes were captured i.e. ring net contributed 40.1 % of the catch amongst the other gears. There were indications that a single/similar stock of fish was being attracted to PFZ in comparison to Non –PFZ. This has been observed in the catches of Rastrelliger kanagurta caught (300 to 5270 kg) which was exceptionally higher at Potential Zones. The same was indicated during the experiments in two or three hauls. The fishes captured from the PFZ and Non PFZ were 56850 kg with an average of 1672.1±209.37 kg and 14700 kg with an average of 432.4±46.88 kg respectively. The Length-weight measurements of the fishes caught from both the zones have been done. Altogether 9 Class Intervals with respect to length were observed from the catch of R. kanagurta i.e. 141-160 mm, 161-180 mm ........301-320 mm. In the Class Intervals of 261-280 altogether199 specimens have been observed contributing 30.9% in the PFZ and the Class Intervals of 201-220, 144 specimens were observed contributing to 23% of the catch from the Non-PFZ. The length weight relationship (LWR) were illustrated for this species, the R2 value of R. Kanagurta corresponded to the PFZ and Non-PFZ were 0.926 and 0.893 respectively. The R2 value of the species at PFZ was higher which could be attributed to higher abundance food from the Potential Fishing Zone. The water samples were collected from various sites of PFZ and Non-PFZ during the study period and analysed. The average visibility at PFZ and Non-PFZ were 15.49±0.28 m and 16.74 ± 0.25 during respectively. The average dissolved oxygen (DO) at PFZ and Non-PFZ were 6.30±0.05 mg/lit respectively. Due to density of phytoplankton and Eddies the dissolved oxygen increased at PFZ than Non-PFZ. Alkalinity was at PFZ 111.16±1.09 ml/lit and Non PFZ 113.68 ± 1.28 ml/lit respectively.

Edition of Portuguese health journals and its relationship with their visibility: a quantitative analysis

SUMMARY BACKGROUND Scientific journals play a fundamental role in the field of health sciences, contributing not only to the dissemination of scientific results but also to the progress of medicine and the training of researchers. The visibility of scientific production in the health area is fundamental to the development of medicine. This study aimed to find the relationship between the editorial quality of a sample of Portuguese scientific health journals and their national and international visibility. METHODS This is an analytical, transversal and, essentially, quantitative study, based on the analysis of the compliance with Latindex editorial quality criteria in a sample of 46 scientific health journals and ascertaining their national and international visibility. RESULTS The research showed that the global average of compliance with the criteria by the sample of journals is 91%. The average visibility of the sample is 24%. The hypothesis that the editing criteria are related to the visibility of a sample of Portuguese health journals is confirmed. CONCLUSION Despite the high rate of compliance with editorial quality criteria, the international visibility of the journals analyzed is still scarce. This reveals the need for the development of complementary competences.

Comparison of Visibility Threshold on Different Chromatic Contrast Objects

The aim of this study was to compare the visibility threshold of eight plates with different chromatic contrast. The staircase psychophysics method based on the resolution of gaps in Landolt C was used to determine the average visibility threshold. Thirty young adults with best-corrected visual acuity of 6/6, normal colour perception and no history of ocular diseases were recruited. The results showed a combination of white on blue background plate gave a highest visibility level (mean=44.48±6.37m), while red on a blue background was the least visible combination (mean=33.30±4.68m). In conclusion, the chromatic contrast of an object can affect the visibility threshold. Keywords: chromatic contrast, visibility threshold

Factors affecting the recovery of soft-sediment mussel reefs in the Firth of Thames, New Zealand

Bivalve reefs are vital ecosystem engineers but have declined or disappeared in many regions. In the Firth of Thames (FOT), north-east New Zealand, overfishing, sedimentation or both led to the virtual extinction of extensive reefs of green-lipped mussels (Perna canaliculus). The mussel reefs have not recovered since commercial fishing ceased in 1968, possibly because the muddy sediments that replaced the reefs are an unsuitable habitat for adult mussels. To test this hypothesis, we transplanted mussels into cages on the seafloor for 500 days at three sites along a turbidity gradient (average visibility 0.8–4.7 m) within the mussel reefs’ former range for 500 days. Results showed that 68% of individuals survived the experiment and grew an average of 19 mm in length. Survivorship and growth did not differ between sites. However, at the completion of the experiment, mussels from the least turbid site were in better condition (condition index = 15) than those from the most turbid site (condition index = 10). Our results suggest that the current lack of recovery of mussel reefs in the FOT is attributable to low recruitment and survivorship of juvenile mussels. Restoration of mussel reefs and the ecosystem services that they provide may therefore be possible.