Species Diversity of Non-Volant Small Mammals Between Lowland and Highland of Gunung Serapi, Kubah National Park, Sarawak

The study of non-volant small mammals was conducted at Kubah National Park (KNP), Sarawak for eight days between November 2018 until February 2019. The objective of this study was to determine the species diversity of non-volant small mammals at the highland (>750 – 805 m a.s.l.) and lowland (<200 m a.s.l.) at KNP. The elevation of Gunung Serapi is 911 m a.s.l. but the highest accessible area is at 805 m a.s.l. The distance between two sampling sites is approximately 4.5 km. Humidity and temperature measurement were also recorded at both sites. A total of 50 cage traps were set up at the highland and 50 cage traps at the lowland. The baits that were used in this study were oil palm and banana. A total of 26 individuals from 11 species, eight genera and four families were captured. However, there is no significant difference in species diversity between low and high elevations because the elevation of KNP was not high enough to distinguish species that are highland or lowland specialist.

Environmental Cognition and Mental Health: Physical Activity and Place Attachment as Pathways

Few studies have explored the underlying pathways between environment cognition (i.e., perception of environment) and mental health in older adults. We tested the mediation effects of physical activity and place attachment in the relationship between environmental cognition and mental health, based on a survey study of 1,553 older adults in Hong Kong using structural equation model. The results showed that significant relationship between negative environmental cognition (i.e., residing in higher accessible area but perceive lower) on access to convenient stores, leisure facilities, clinics, community centers, religious places and lower mental health can be explained by lower daily average physical activity time. Place attachment can significantly mediate the positive effect of positive environmental cognition (i.e., residing in lower accessible area but perceive higher) towards all types of services on mental health. Findings from this study have policy implication for urban planning and age-friendly community design

Single-Track Bike Trails in the Moravian Karst as Part of Forest Recreation

Recently, cycling has become a popular recreation activity, and mountain biking provides an experience that is sought by an increasing number of people. Bike trails constructed for mountain bikers in access areas lead mostly through the forest and provide not only an extraordinary riding experience but the opportunity to admire the surrounding nature. The reason for constructing such trails from a landowner’s point of view is to help keep bikers’ movements within a defined access area and to ensure adjacent areas are left free for other forest functions. It also helps distribute groups of visitors with other interests to other parts of the forest. This is what we call “controlled recreation”. In this example, it means that if cyclists come to the locality to use the bike trails, they should ride only along the designated trails; however, they may leave these trails and ride on the surrounding land. This article studied the movements of bikers in an accessible area of the Moravian Karst and the regulation of their movements by controlled recreation. Attendance in the area was measured using automatic counters. These were placed at the entry points to the accessible area and just behind the routes where the trails branch off. The results showed that bikers mostly stayed on the formal routes and that the trails were effective, i.e., there was no uncontrolled movement of bikers into the surrounding forest stands. We also noted the time of day that cyclists were active. These results can be used to better plan work in the forest, for example, harvesting and logging. To further the suitable development of accessible areas of the forest, we also compared the usual size of trail areas in two other European countries and the increasing width of bike trails due to the transverse slope of the terrain.

Precise estimation of residue relative solvent accessible area from Cα atom distance matrix using a deep learning method

Motivation The solvent accessible surface is an essential structural property measure related to the protein structure and protein function. Relative solvent accessible area (RSA) is a standard measure to describe the degree of residue exposure in the protein surface or inside of protein. However, this computation will fail when the residues information is missing. Results In this article, we proposed a novel method for estimation RSA using the Cα atom distance matrix with the deep learning method (EAGERER). The new method, EAGERER, achieves Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.921–0.928 on two independent test datasets. We empirically demonstrate that EAGERER can yield better Pearson correlation coefficients than existing RSA estimators, such as coordination number, half sphere exposure and SphereCon. To the best of our knowledge, EAGERER represents the first method to estimate the solvent accessible area using limited information with a deep learning model. It could be useful to the protein structure and protein function prediction. Availabilityand implementation The method is free available at https://github.com/cliffgao/EAGERER. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Analyzing Indicators Affecting Commercial Property Value in Metro Station Accessible Area Using Walking Time Consumption: Case of Xi’an, China

In studies investigating the property value enhancements along metro lines, study ranges in most cases are measured in Euclidean distance. However, city roads are not always straight, and Euclidean distance sometimes does not equal to actual distance the passenger travels from the public transport station to their home or a commercial spot. To solve this problem, this study analyzed the indicators affecting commercial property value in metro station accessible area in Xi’an, using walking time consumption in measuring the study range. Following a conceptual framework, considering empirical evidences in related studies, information in city structure, and metro distribution, the initial indicator set is built. Using hedonic price model (HPM), spatial autoregressive model (SAR), and error term (SEM), significant indicators affecting commercial property value are investigated. In this study, 14 significant indicators are determined and quantified. Threshold distance equals to 900 m is found to be appropriate in addressing the autocorrelation problem with the weighted decision matrix tool. Compared to HPM and SEM, SAR is found to perform the best in evaluating the significant indicators with the largest R2 (0.415) and the lowest Akaike Info Criterion (AIC) (−395.214). Besides, it is discovered that the value of the commercial property lies in the study range of 20 min walking time and is obviously influenced by the metro station. The results discovered in this study could provide some empirical evidences to commercial property planning in Xi’an.

Accessibility of the Metatarsal Head Comparing Distraction and Plantarflexion in a 2-Portal Technique for First Metatarsophalangeal (MTP 1) Joint Arthroscopy

Category: Arthroscopy; Midfoot/Forefoot Introduction/Purpose: Arthroscopic treatment of osteochondral lesion of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP1) joint is an established procedure. Non-invasive distraction is most commonly applied when a dorsal 2-portal technique is used. Alternatively, plantarflexion can be utilized. In order to compare the arthroscopic reachability of the first metatarsal head, a laboratory study in anatomical specimens was performed. Methods: Twenty matched pairs (n=40) of fresh-frozen lower leg specimens were obtained and randomly assigned into two groups, a distraction (DIS) and a plantarflexion (PF) group, respectively. A standard 2-portal approach (dorsolateral and dorsomedial portals) with a 1.9mm 30° scope was used. The arthroscopic accessibility of the first metatarsal head was evaluated using chondral picks. Markings at the metatarsal heads were made intraoperatively and measured after exarticulation. Results: In the DIS group the mean accessible area was 58.03%, while the accessible area in the PF group was 55.93%. Though there is a small difference between the two groups, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.51). Range of motion of the MTP 1 joint did not affect reachability. In one specimen (2.5%) the dorsomedial hallucal nerve was injured during arthroscopy. Conclusion: Access to the MTP1-joint for the treatment of osteochondral lesions is similar using distraction or plantarflexion during arthroscopy. The plantarflexion technique has the advantage of less surgical equipment needed. The dorsomedial hallucal nerve is at danger at the medial portal.

Mapping of Posterior Talar Dome Access through Standard Posteromedial and Posterolateral Approaches With or Without an External Fixator Distraction: A Match-paired Cadaveric Study

Category: Trauma; Ankle; Other Introduction/Purpose: Posterior talar body fractures (AO/OTA 81.1.B/C) are rare injuries that present unique challenges in their access to the treating surgeon. Accessibility to this structure has been investigated extensively in the context of osteochondral lesion interventions, normally requiring perpendicular access to perform operative procedures. However, techniques in gaining this access regarding fracture repair, requiring only adequate visualization, has not been described in literature. Generally, a pre-operative decision is made between a posterior, soft-tissue based approach or a peri-articular osteotomy, which is associated with comparatively higher morbidity and complication rates. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accessible area of the talar dome via two standard posterior approaches (posteromedial; PM, and posterolateral; PL) with and without external fixator distraction. Methods: Eight male through-knee matched-paired cadaveric legs (mean age: 49.0 +- 14.6; mean BMI: 24.5+- 3.9 kg/m2) were included in this study. A standard PM or PL approach was performed using a randomized crossover design for surgical sequences. The accessible area without distraction was initially outlined by drilling a 1.6-mm Kirschner wire around the periphery of the visualized talus. Five millimeters of distraction, confirmed with fluoroscopy, was then applied to the specimens using an external fixator. The accessible area was again marked using the same method. The tali specimens were then explanted and imaged using a Micro-CT scanner to acquire 3 dimensional reconstructions. The accessible area was calculated as a percentage of the total talar dome surface area. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the reported areas among the two surgical approaches, where the Wilcoxon signed rank test was utilized to compare values among distracted and non-distracted conditions. Results: In reference, the average total surface area of the talus is 16.94 +- 2.47 cm2. No statistically significant differences were found among match-paired specimens (p=0.63). The PM approach allowed access to 17.1% (11.1 to 23.6%, SD 5.4) of the talar dome surface without distraction and 29.3% (20.0 to 38.6%, SD 8.6) of the talar dome surface with distraction. The PL approach provided access to 7.4% (4.7 to 11.8%, SD 3.1) and 17.0% (11.0 to 26.1%, SD 6.5) of the talar dome surface with and without distraction, respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed in talar dome accessibility among distracted and non- distracted conditions in both surgical approaches (p=0.008). Additionally, the PM approach provided significantly more access to the talar dome relative to the PL approach (p=0.043). Conclusion: This matched-paired cadaveric study provides roadmap that can assist in the pre-operative planning of talar dome access in the treatment of talar body and posterior tubercle fractures. We found no advantage to a PL approach over a PM approach to access these challenging fractures. Additionally, added distraction using an external fixator consistently increased visualization of the talar dome by a magnitude of at least 40% greater than the non-distracted conditions. These methods can be applied clinically to gain appropriate access to the talar dome, allowing fracture repair.

Contralateral interoptic approach to paraclinoid aneurysms: a patient-selection algorithm based on anatomical investigation and clinical validation

OBJECTIVEAneurysms that arise on the medial surface of the paraclinoid segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) are surgically challenging. The contralateral interoptic trajectory, which uses the space between the optic nerves, can partially expose the medial surface of the paraclinoid ICA. In this study, the authors quantitatively measure the area of the medial ICA accessible through the interoptic triangle and propose a potential patient-selection algorithm that is based on preoperative measurements on angiographic imaging.METHODSThe contralateral interoptic trajectory was studied on 10 sides of 5 cadaveric heads, through which the medial paraclinoid ICA was identified. The falciform ligament medial to the contralateral optic canal was incised, the contralateral optic nerve was gently elevated, and the medial surface of the paraclinoid ICA was inspected via different viewing angles to obtain maximal exposure. The accessible area on the carotid artery was outlined. The distance from the distal dural ring (DDR) to the proximal and distal borders of this accessible area was measured. The superior and inferior borders were measured using the clockface method relative to a vertical line on the coronal plane. To validate these parameters, preoperative measurements and intraoperative findings were reviewed in 8 clinical cases.RESULTSIn the sagittal plane, the mean (SD) distances from the DDR to the proximal and distal ends of the accessible area on the paraclinoid ICA were 2.5 (1.52) mm and 8.4 (2.32) mm, respectively. In the coronal plane, the mean (SD) angles of the superior and inferior ends of the accessible area relative to a vertical line were 21.7° (14.84°) and 130.9° (12.75°), respectively. Six (75%) of 8 clinical cases were consistent with the proposed patient-selection algorithm.CONCLUSIONSThe contralateral interoptic approach is a feasible route to access aneurysms that arise from the medial paraclinoid ICA. An aneurysm can be safely clipped via the contralateral interoptic trajectory if 1) both proximal and distal borders of the aneurysm neck are 2.5–8.4 mm distal to the DDR, and 2) at least one border of the aneurysm neck on the coronal clockface is 21.7°–130.9° medial to the vertical line.