Search Results (130)

Invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) is often a lifesaving intervention in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) to optimize gas exchange and prevent secondary brain injury, thereby avoiding the deleterious effects of both hypoxia and hyperoxia, as well as hypocapnia and hypercapnia. However, MV in these patients represents a unique clinical challenge, as it must take into account multiple parameters, including cerebral autoregulation and autoregulatory reserves, brain compliance, cerebral dynamics such as intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), and cerebral blood flow (CBF), as well as systemic hemodynamics and respiratory system mechanics. Moreover, the detrimental effects of MV on extracranial organs and systems are well established, with the lungs being the most vulnerable, particularly when non-protective ventilation strategies involving high tidal volumes (TV) and inspiratory pressures are applied. Currently, the optimal ventilation approach in patients with TBI, with or without LI, remains incompletely defined. While protective ventilation practices are recommended for a large number of critically ill patients, their application in individuals with acute brain injury (ABI) may adversely affect cerebral and systemic hemodynamics, as well as brain physiology, potentially leading to secondary damage and poor clinical outcomes. Because the consequences of TBI, such as secondary brain damage and lung complications, begin shortly after the primary event, the role of prehospital MV in these patients is crucial. However, existing data from the out-of-hospital setting are scarce. Thus, in the present review, we aim to summarize the available evidence on MV in patients with TBI, with an emphasis on the prehospital setting. Full article

Forests’ dynamics have become increasingly complex under climate change and human activities. Mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA), with extensive forest cover and a mosaic of protected and non-protected areas, is an ideal region for examining forest responses to climate and anthropogenic activities. To ensure robust long-term monitoring, we retrieved EVI2 from daily AVHRR and MODIS surface reflectance data and performed pixel-wise assimilation of the two datasets, substantially reducing systematic bias and constructing a consistent 1982–2024 annual EVI2 dataset. Using this harmonized dataset, along with land use, climate, and protected area data, we analyzed over four decades of forest greenness trends, variability, and drivers in protected and non-protected zones. Results show that forests in MSEA maintained high coverage (mean EVI2 = 0.6253) and exhibited a clear greening trend (+0.014 per decade). Temperature was the dominant driver, contributing over 50% of the variation, followed by human activities (>30%), while precipitation played a smaller and mixed role. Forests in protected areas were 1.3 times more stable than those outside (CV = 4.1% vs. 5.2%), highlighting the buffering role of protection. These findings provide a reliable long-term benchmark for forest monitoring and inform targeted conservation and sustainable management strategies in MSEA. The constructed assimilated long-term EVI2 dataset is available to support future research on vegetation dynamics, climate impacts, and ecosystem sustainability. Full article

Background/Objectives: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of attenuated Sabin strains for the production of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV), offering improved biosafety while retaining immunogenicity. To better characterize the antigenic composition of Sabin strain-based IPV (sIPV), including both the protective D-antigen and the non-protective H-antigen forms, we developed a method for purifying D- and H-antigens forms. Methods: D- and H-antigens of poliovirus Sabin strains types 1, 2, and 3 were purified using gradient ultracentrifugation and used to generate antigen-specific polyclonal antibodies. Results: The generated polyclonal antibodies demonstrated high specificity with neutralizing titers of antibodies against Sabin type 1 poliovirus—1:2048, against Sabin type 2 poliovirus—more than 1:2048, against Sabin type 3 poloivirus—1:2048. Conclusions: This antigen-specific antibody approach provides a valuable tool for routine quality control in sIPV manufacturing, enabling accurate quantification of immunogenic components and detection of potentially immunogenic degradation products during vaccine storage and distribution. Antibodies to the D-antigen allow assessment of immunogenic, neutralizing epitopes, while antibodies to the H-antigen provide a tool for detecting non-neutralizing components. This antigen-specific antibody approach offers a valuable tool for studying the antigenic structure of sIPV and for improving the accuracy of ELISA-based antigen quantification. Full article

Bisphenol A (BPA) has been listed as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) due to its endocrine-disrupting properties according to REACH in 2017. European competent authorities have prepared a REACH restriction proposal to reduce BPA levels in the environment. The proposed limit for the concentration of free BPA and other bisphenols in articles is 10 mg kg⁻¹. If exceeded, migration testing can demonstrate that no more than 0.04 mg L⁻¹ is released from the product or material over its lifetime. German authorities are drafting a new restriction proposal after the original was temporarily withdrawn. The residual and migration limits mentioned above were key requirements from the previous restriction proposal. Numerous national and international standards exist for assessing how environmental factors affect the physical and chemical properties of products and materials—such as notch impact strength and tensile strength—but these standards do not cover the release of pollutants. A standardised procedure that covers all aspects of artificial weathering and monitors the subsequent release of pollutants is necessary, especially in the context of the regulation of these substances. An accelerated weathering procedure was established for non-protected samples. This material was not intended for outdoor applications. The testing procedure applied a typical weathering scenario that represents Central European climate conditions. The procedure was validated and applied to samples under distinct quality assurance aspects. Released BPA is quantified via an organic isotope dilution LC-MS/MS method. In parallel, identical samples were weathered outdoors on a weathering rack. Haze and yellowness index are measured to compare outdoor and weathering chamber results. Full article

Polymer-bonded Nd–Fe–B and Sm–Fe–N magnets have excellent magnetic properties, but their corrosion resistance is inferior. Polymer-bonded magnets, the binary alloys Nd–Fe and Sm–Fe, and the metals Fe, Nd, and Sm were investigated in electrolytes with a pH range of 1.8 to 12.8. Potentiodynamic polarisation measurements showed that these materials corrode in acidic (H₂SO₄) and near-neutral (Na₂SO₄ and NaCl) electrolytes. Iron passivates at pH > 9, but Nd and Sm passivate only in strongly alkaline electrolytes (pH > 12). The alloys and magnets combine the characteristics of the individual metals. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy characterised the surface layers before and after electrochemical measurements. The speciation and the depth distribution of elements in the surface layers were analysed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In the H₂SO₄, a non-protective layer was formed. In NaCl, the corrosion products were more abundant, consisting of a mixture of oxides, hydroxides, and chlorides, while in NaOH, an oxide/hydroxide layer was formed. The corrosion product layers formed in the H₂SO₄ and NaCl electrolytes were significantly thicker for the Sm–Fe–N magnet than for the Nd–Fe–B magnet. Understanding the differences and similarities in the electrochemical behaviour of magnets in various electrolytes is essential to overcoming corrosion-related problems. Full article

Carbon dioxide capture, utilization, and storage for enhanced oil recovery (CCUS-EOR) represents an effective strategy for reducing CO₂ emissions while improving oil recovery efficiency. However, harsh environmental conditions during the process can induce a supercritical state in captured CO₂, which may undermine the structural integrity of tubular components through corrosion. This study systematically investigated the corrosion behaviors of two tubing steels (P110 and Super 13Cr) in 20 MPa supercritical CO₂ containing trace H₂S/O₂ impurities at 60–120 °C using weight loss tests and surface analysis. The results demonstrate that in water-unsaturated supercritical CO₂ with ≤500 ppmv H₂S, both steels exhibited low general corrosion rates (P110: 0.03 mm/y; S13Cr: 0.01 mm/y), with incomplete surface films partially covering grinding traces. However, S13Cr suffered pitting corrosion at >500 ppmv H₂S. Oxygen introduction triggered severe general/localized corrosion characterized by cracked, non-protective surface films. Reducing O₂ to 500 ppm yielded thin, continuous protective films, eliminating pitting. Temperature critically influenced S13Cr corrosion: decreasing from 120 °C to 60 °C increased the corrosion rates from 0.0031 mm/y to 0.08 mm/y due to enhanced water precipitation and impurity gas dissolution. These findings establish impurity thresholds to ensure acceptable corrosion performance. Full article

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a significant occupational health concern for healthcare workers (HCWs), including trainees exposed to biological risks. Although vaccination is the most effective preventive measure, the persistence of immunity over time and the need for booster doses remain subjects of debate. Objective: The present study aims to assess the prevalence of protective anti-HB antibody titers among healthcare trainees at the “SS Annunziata” Hospital in Chieti, comparing those vaccinated in infancy with those vaccinated during adolescence. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 2028 healthcare trainees from 2021 to 2024. Participants were divided into two groups based on vaccination timing: infancy (PED group) and adolescence (ADO group). Serological tests were performed to measure anti-HB titers, with a protective threshold set at ≥10 IU/L. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate differences in immunity persistence between the two groups. The results showed that the overall prevalence of protective anti-HB titers was 50.7%, with significant differences between the PED and ADO groups. Protective immunity was observed in 79.2% of individuals vaccinated during adolescence, compared to 44.6% of those vaccinated in infancy (p < 0.001). No significant differences in antibody persistence were found between males and females. Notably, 92.4% of participants with non-protective titers received a booster dose within two months of testing. Conclusions: The study confirms a significant decline in anti-HB titers over time among individuals vaccinated in infancy, suggesting a potential need for booster doses later in adulthood. The high adherence to vaccination recommendations among healthcare trainees is a promising finding, reinforcing the importance of continuous education and immunization programmes in healthcare settings. Further research, including longitudinal studies and additional HBV biomarkers, is necessary to optimize vaccination strategies and long-term immunity monitoring in HCWs. Full article

Amid growing global efforts toward carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), this study investigates the influence of chromium (Cr) content in candidate construction alloys on their corrosion modes and kinetics in supercritical CO₂ (s-CO₂)-saturated saline water at 8 MPa and 50 °C. The results indicate that alloys with a Cr concentration of over approximately 9 wt.%, including P91, 316L, and Alloy 800, exhibit a satisfactory corrosion performance in this environment. During exposure to s-CO₂-saturated saline water, a non-protective FeCO₃ layer forms on all tested alloys. For alloys containing more than 2 wt.% Cr, an inner Cr-enriched layer concurrently grows and acts as a barrier to resist environmental attack. The integrity of the inner and outer corrosion layers becomes more compact and uniform on alloys with at least 9 wt.% Cr. Pitting is unlikely to occur on candidate alloys used for s-CO₂ storage or enhanced oil recovery. Full article

Non-Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) detection is crucial on construction sites. Although deep learning models are adept at identifying such information from on-site cameras, their success relies on large, diverse, and high-quality datasets. Image augmentation offers an alternative for artificially broadening dataset diversity. However, its impact on non-PPE detection in construction environments has not been adequately examined. This study introduces a methodology applying eight distinct augmentation techniques—brightness, contrast, perspective, rotation, scale, shearing, translation, and a combined strategy incorporating all methods. Model performance was assessed by comparing accuracy across different classes and architectures, both with and without augmentation. While most of these augmentations improved accuracy, their effectiveness was found to be task-dependent. Moreover, the most beneficial augmentation varied by non-PPE class and architecture, suggesting that augmentation strategies should be tailored to the unique features of each class and model. Although the primary focus here is on non-PPE, the evaluated techniques could also extend to related tasks on construction sites, such as detecting heavy equipment or identifying hazardous worker behavior. Full article

The Pelagos Sanctuary hosts eight resident cetacean species. Genetically different from Atlantic populations, their conservation is essential to preserve the whole biodiversity of the Ligurian Sea. The NATURA 2000 network is currently identified as one of the most efficient conservation tools due to its legally binding nature; however, its effectiveness for cetacean preservation is still unclear. The study used data systematically collected within the Pelagos Sanctuary from 2008 to 2021 by the FLT Med Net and the LIFE Conceptu Maris projects to investigate cetaceans distribution, Richness and diversity related to the existing protected areas. Of the 423 hexagons considered, only 21.28% of the study area was covered by French NATURA 2000 sites and 9.22% by Italian sites. French NATURA 2000 sites had the highest coverage of weighted Encounter Rate (ER_w) and biodiversity values. Only three species showed statistically significant differences between the French and Italian protected and non-protected hexagons, and biodiversity showed no significant difference. Only T. truncatus had higher median over Italian protected hexagons. The Pelagos Sanctuary still lacks offshore NATURA 2000 sites, especially in Italian waters. For this reason, areas to amplify the Network aimed at increasing cetacean and biodiversity conservation were highlighted in the results of this study. Full article

The intensity of wildfires has increased dramatically in recent decades; thus, better understanding the impact of land-management efforts in biodiversity conservation on post-wildfire recovery could highlight the value of these interventions. Field assessments are often costly; therefore, monitoring the effectiveness of applied conservation practices using remote sensing tools is critical. The main goal of this study is to develop and apply a remote sensing framework to assess the impact of conservation practices on post-fire recovery. We focused on a study area in northern California and southern Oregon, a region with diverse conservation practices and increased wildfire activity in the past decade. The proposed framework uses the MODIS dataset to identify fire burn events and Landsat to analyze the time series of an area-aggregated vegetation index, the Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR). Using the remote sensing framework, we confirmed our hypothesis that in areas lacking conservation protection practices, post-fire recovery is slower and more lingering. The median 5-year dNBR recovery for unprotected burn events was around 27%, compared to 37% across all other burn areas. Along with our primary goal of recovery analysis, we also examined fire severity across different conservation practices to identify moderate-to-severe fire events and to capture differences in fire characteristics for the areas under different conversation practices. This analysis revealed that unprotected areas experienced more severe fire events. We also investigated the impact of conservation practices across three dominant forest types in our study area: Dry-Mesic Conifer, Mesic Conifer, and Evergreen Forests. The disparity in post-wildfire recovery between protected and non-protected areas was most pronounced in burn areas dominated by Evergreen Forests. Using the proposed aggregated remote sensing framework, this study highlights the importance of conservation practices in wildfire recovery. This approach could provide a cost-efficient tool for assessing the effectiveness of land-management practices on wildfire recovery across the globe. Full article

In most countries, low- and intermediate-level wastes (LILWs) are cemented in carbon steel drums for later disposal. The durability of waste packages is determined by the chemical environment generated by both cement-based engineered barrier systems and the aggressive species present in the waste. Decontamination sludges are challenging wastes that are currently not accepted for final disposal due to their acidic nature and high concentrations of organic species and complexants. Thus, it was proposed to use electrochemical measurements to study the corrosion of steel sheets, simulating drums embedded in new alkali-activated slag (AAS) formulations with surrogate decontamination liquids, and determine their viability for use as confining matrices in order to increase the service life of the drums. The carbon steel coupon embedded in the Portland cement reference (R-L) paste showed the best corrosion resistance, followed by that of steel embedded in sodium silicate-activated slag (BFS-S-L) paste. This behaviour may be related to an improvement in the protective nature of the surface film. However, in sodium carbonate-activated slag (BFS-C-L) paste, the effect of the sludge in the matrix seemed to be more intense, leading to a pH decrease in the paste porewater, an effect that could hinder the formation of a passive layer on the surface of the carbon steel. Under such conditions, the initiation of the corrosion process seems to be favoured, resulting in the formation of a non-protective scale consisting mainly of hematite. Full article

Human impact on natural ecosystems is unsustainable and has led to a significant loss of biodiversity, highlighting the importance of protected area networks such as the European Union’s Natura 2000 (N2000). This study assesses the effectiveness of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in mainland Spain, using a Normalised Relative Severity Index (SER) computed from land condition states of ecological maturity (2010–2020). A total of 596 SACs were analysed, comparing their SER index with that of unprotected areas. Biophysical characteristics such as elevation, tree cover density, and human impact were used for explanatory purposes. At the national level, SACs exhibit a significantly higher median SER index than unprotected areas, indicating a better overall land condition status within N2000. However, regional variations were observed, with some Autonomous Communities in the Atlantic showing better land conditions outside N2000, which is attributed to vigorous vegetation growth in marginal areas. Differences in the SER index between inside and outside N2000 are proportional to the isolation degree of SACs. The study demonstrates that N2000 positively contributes to land conservation in mainland Spain. Nevertheless, it emphasizes the need to consider regional specificities and manage non-protected areas for more effective long-term conservation, especially in the Mediterranean region. Full article

The Mediterranean Sea, a global biodiversity hotspot, faces significant threats that compromise its ecological health. While Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, their effectiveness is debated, and empirical data on their impact remain limited. This study evaluates the utility of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) from divers along the Spanish Mediterranean coast to assess perceived abundance of sentinel species in both MPAs and non-protected areas, in relation to empirical data, alongside divers’ attitudes toward ocean threats and conservation strategies. Divers perceived higher abundance and subjective health indicators of key species, such as Posidonia oceanica, octocorals, and top predators within MPAs, which aligns with empirical evidence supporting MPA effectiveness in conserving biodiversity and mitigating human disturbances. Notably, divers showed knowledge gaps, particularly underestimating climate change impacts while overemphasizing pollution threats. Diver education emerged as a critical factor in shaping conservation attitudes, with higher education levels correlating with increased environmental awareness and stronger support for conservation measures. This study underscores the potential of leveraging LEK in marine conservation strategies while acknowledging limitations related to self-reported data and regional specificity, advocating for expanded geographic scope and integration with empirical data in future research. Full article

The understanding of species distribution in Peru is limited, in part due to cartographic representations that traditionally use political rather than biogeographical boundaries. The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of Arecaceae species in the department of Amazonas by representing them in biogeographical regions. To this end, geographic information systems and global databases were used to map and analyze the species in four categories: Ecosystems Map, Ecoregions Map, Peru Climate Classification Map, and Protected Natural Areas Map. Subsequently, diversity metrics were estimated, revealing high diversity in Amazonas, with 22 genera and 90 species of Arecaceae representing 51.16% and 41.28% of the records in Peru, respectively. In addition, predominant genera and species were identified, and diversity was evaluated in biogeographic units. Of a total of 336,029 records, 45 genera were found, with Geonoma and Bactris being the most representative, and of the 218 species found in total, the records that stood out the most varied according to biogeographical regions. For each Biogeographic unit by category, different responses were obtained, for example, for Index Margalef, between 0.000 (low in Agricultural Area), 7.2489 (medium in Eastern Cordillera Real Montane Forests), and 13.2636 (high in Non-protected Areas). Similarly, for the Shannon–Wiener diversity index ($\overline{H}$), where values were obtained between 0.000 (low in Jalca (Andean High Grasslands), (medium in Reserved Zonez) and 3.7054 (high in Non-protected Areas). The results suggest high under-recording, evidencing gaps in knowledge and information, as analyses based on detailed studies of diversity in specific biogeographic categories in these other families, as well as future research to determine, for example, genomes and Hill numbers, will be carried out. The conclusions highlight the high correlation between the diversity metrics analyzed, confirm the theoretical validity, and allow us to recommend species richness and the Margalef Index as useful and relevant metrics due to their applicability and ease of interpretation. This study offers key information for decision makers in policies for the conservation of Arecaceae diversity and motivates us to project research of this type in other families in Peru. Full article