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1.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl ; : e202406140, 2024 Jul 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38981859

ABSTRACT

Blue perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) are crucial avenues for achieving full-color displays and lighting based on perovskite materials. However, the relatively low external quantum efficiency (EQE) has hindered their progression towards commercial applications. Quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) perovskites stand out as promising candidates for blue PeLEDs, with optimized control over low-dimensional phases contributing to enhanced radiative properties of excitons. Herein, the impact of organic molecular dopants on the crystallization of various n-phase structures in quasi-2D perovskite films. The results reveal that the highly reactive bis(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)phosphine oxide (BTF-PPO) molecule could effectively restrain the formation of organic spacer cation-ordered layered perovskite phases through chemical reactions, simultaneously passivate those uncoordinated Pb2+ defects. Consequently, the prepared PeLEDs exhibited a maximum EQE of 16.6% (@ 490 nm). The finding provides a new route to design dopant molecules for phase modulation in quasi-2D PeLEDs.

2.
Sensors (Basel) ; 24(12)2024 Jun 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38931511

ABSTRACT

Cloudy conditions at a local scale pose a significant challenge for forecasting renewable energy generation through photovoltaic panels. Consequently, having real-time knowledge of sky conditions becomes highly valuable. This information could inform decision-making processes in system operations, such as determining whether conditions are favorable for activating a standalone system requiring a minimum level of radiation or whether sky conditions might lead to higher energy consumption than generation during adverse cloudy conditions. This research leveraged convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and transfer learning (TL) classification techniques, testing various architectures from the EfficientNet family and two ResNet models for classifying sky images. Cross-validation methods were applied across different experiments, where the most favorable outcome was achieved with the EfficientNetV2-B1 and EfficientNetV2-B2 models boasting a mean Accuracy of 98.09%. This study underscores the efficacy of the architectures employed for sky image classification, while also highlighting the models yielding the best results.

3.
Ecol Evol ; 14(6): e11428, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38855316

ABSTRACT

Organisms inhabiting mountainous regions can experience large vertical environmental changes, and show different ecological characteristics between altitudes, thus facilitating allopatric fragmentation even in geographically close populations. This study compared the life-history patterns of a species of limnephilid caddisfly, Asynarchus sachalinensis, in several genetically differentiated populations between alpine and sub-alpine zones in a temperate mountainous region. We showed that in the sub-alpine populations, larval development started earlier with increasing water temperature in spring, and adult emergence was also earlier. The occurrence of adults was extremely low in mid-summer, probably due to summer diapause, followed by a larger number of ovary-developed females in autumn. On the other hand, in the alpine zone, increasing water temperature was delayed compared to the sub-alpine zone, and larval development occurred from early to mid-summer. Adult emergence and ovary-developed individuals were concentrated in mid-summer. Hence, summer diapause was not observed. These results indicated life-history differences between genetically differentiated populations at different altitudes. As the timing of adult occurrence and ovarian developmental patterns differ between populations at different altitudes, it is possible that reproductive isolation is facilitated or maintained between populations.

4.
Methods Mol Biol ; 2825: 263-280, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38913315

ABSTRACT

Karyotype coding, which encompasses the complete chromosome sets and their topological genomic relationships within a given species, encodes system-level information that organizes and preserves genes' function, and determines the macroevolution of cancer. This new recognition emphasizes the crucial role of karyotype characterization in cancer research. To advance this cancer cytogenetic/cytogenomic concept and its platforms, this study outlines protocols for monitoring the karyotype landscape during treatment-induced rapid drug resistance in cancer. It emphasizes four key perspectives: combinational analyses of phenotype and karyotype, a focus on the entire evolutionary process through longitudinal analysis, a comparison of whole landscape dynamics by including various types of NCCAs (including genome chaos), and the use of the same process to prioritize different genomic scales. This protocol holds promise for studying numerous evolutionary aspects of cancers, and it further enhances the power of karyotype analysis in cancer research.


Subject(s)
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm , Karyotype , Karyotyping , Neoplasms , Humans , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics , Neoplasms/genetics , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Karyotyping/methods , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Evolution, Molecular , Phenotype
5.
Mol Phylogenet Evol ; 197: 108082, 2024 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38705251

ABSTRACT

In addition to topography and climate, biogeographic dispersal has been considered to influence plant diversity in the Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains (HHM), yet, the mode and tempo of sky island dispersal and its influence on species richness has been little explored. Through phylogenetic analysis of Gaultheria ser. Trichophyllae, a sky island alpine clade within the HHM, we test the hypothesis that dispersal has affected current local species richness. We inferred the dynamics of biogeographic dispersal with correlation tests on direction, distance, occurrence time, and regional species richness. We found that G. ser. Trichophyllae originated at the end of the Miocene and mostly dispersed toward higher longitudes (eastward). In particular, shorter intra-regional eastward dispersals and longer inter-regional westward dispersals were most frequently observed. We detected a prevalence of eastward intra-region dispersals in both glacial periods and interglacials. These dispersals may have been facilitated by the reorganization of paleo-drainages and monsoon intensification through time. We suggest that the timing of dispersal corresponding to glacial periods and the prevalence of intra-region dispersal, rather than dispersal frequency, most influenced the pattern of species richness of G. ser. Trichophyllae. This study facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of biodiversity in the sky islands within the HHM.


Subject(s)
Biodiversity , Phylogeny , China , Phylogeography , Islands , Plant Dispersal
6.
Zookeys ; 1198: 193-277, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38708381

ABSTRACT

Species of the genus Lathrobium Gravenhorst (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae) from North America north of Mexico are reviewed and 41 species are recognized. Morphology and mitochondrial COI sequence data were used to guide species designations in three flightless lineages endemic to the southern Appalachian Mountains, a biologically diverse region known for cryptic diversity. Using a combination of phylogeny, algorithm-based species delimitation analyses, and genitalic morphology, five new cryptic species are described and possible biogeographic scenarios for their speciation hypothesized: L.balsamense Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., L.camplyacra Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., L.islae Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., L.lividum Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., L.smokiense Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov. Five additional species are described: L.absconditum Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., L.hardeni Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., L.lapidum Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., L.solum Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov., and L.thompsonorum Haberski & Caterino, sp. nov. Two species are transferred from Lathrobium to Pseudolathra Casey: Pseudolathraparcum (LeConte, 1880), comb. nov. and Pseudolathratexana (Casey, 1905), comb. nov. Twenty-six names are reduced to synonymy. Lectotypes are designated for 47 species. Larvae are described where known, and characters of possible diagnostic value are summarized. Species diagnoses, distributions, illustrations of male and female genitalia, and a key to Lathrobium species known from the Nearctic region (including several introduced species) are provided.

7.
Cureus ; 16(4): e58937, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38800252

ABSTRACT

Adult intussusception is an infrequent occurrence typically resulting from an identifiable lead point of a benign or malignant etiology. Here, we present a case of a 19-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with complaints of abdominal pain, intractable nausea, and fluctuations between bloody diarrhea and constipation. These symptoms had begun two months prior and had increased in severity, resulting in significant appetite changes. An abdominal and pelvic computed tomography scan without contrast was obtained, which showed evidence of intussusception of the ileocecum into the transverse colon with resultant small bowel obstruction. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy, which resulted in a partial ileocolectomy due to the presence of a 6.8 cm cecal mass with palpable mesenteric lymphadenopathy. The pathologic specimen was identified as Burkitt lymphoma based on a combination of histologic, immunohistochemical, and fluorescence in situ hybridization findings. Currently, the patient is undergoing three cycles of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, high-dose methotrexate, ifosfamide, etoposide, and high-dose cytarabine (R-CODOX-M/IVAC) per Magrath protocol for low-risk Burkitt lymphoma.

8.
G3 (Bethesda) ; 14(6)2024 Jun 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38630623

ABSTRACT

The jewel scarab Chrysina gloriosa is one of the most charismatic beetles in the United States and is found from the mountains of West Texas to the Southeastern Arizona sky islands. This species is highly sought by professional and amateur collectors worldwide due to its gleaming metallic coloration. However, the impact of the large-scale collection of this beetle on its populations is unknown, and there is a limited amount of genetic information available to make informed decisions about its conservation. As a first step, we present the genome of C. gloriosa, which we reconstructed using a single female specimen sampled from our ongoing effort to document population connectivity and the demographic history of this beetle. Using a combination of long-read sequencing and Omni-C data, we reconstructed the C. gloriosa genome at a near-chromosome level. Our genome assembly consisted of 454 scaffolds spanning 642 MB, with the 10 largest scaffolds capturing 98% of the genome. The scaffold N50 was 72 MB, and the BUSCO score was 95.5%. This genome assembly will be an essential tool to accelerate understanding C. gloriosa biology and help make informed decisions for the conservation of Chrysina and other species with similar distributions in this region. This genome assembly will further serve as a community resource for comparative genomic analysis.


Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Genome, Insect , Animals , Coleoptera/genetics , Genomics/methods , Molecular Sequence Annotation , Female
9.
Cureus ; 16(3): e55664, 2024 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38586667

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION:  A personal watercraft is widely used for recreation on coastlines, rivers, and lakes. This study aimed to identify the spectrum of neurosurgical injuries related to personal watercraft accidents in Puerto Rico. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed utilizing the University of Puerto Rico neurosurgery database to identify patients who had been consulted to the neurosurgery service from 2005 to 2023 due to a personal watercraft-related neurosurgical injury. For each identified patient, basic demographics, injuries received, Glasgow coma scale score at arrival, American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale grade, surgery performed, and outcome upon discharge using the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score were collected. Descriptive statistics were used to report frequency and mean values. RESULTS: Our service evaluated 11 patients with a personal watercraft-related neurosurgical injury diagnosis during the study period. The mean age of the patients was 35 (± 9). Around 82% of the patients were males. Ejection from the personal watercraft was the mechanism of the trauma in 73% of the patients. Three patients were impacted by a personal watercraft. There were seven spinal injuries and four brain injuries. Among the spinal injured patients, two had neurological deficits. None of the patients with brain trauma required urgent surgery; however, three arrived intubated. Two of them showed signs of diffuse axonal injuries on the head CT scan, while the other had multiple brain contusions. Upon discharge, 70% of the patients had a mRS grade of 0-3. CONCLUSIONS: Personal watercraft accidents causing significant neurological injuries to the brain and spine are infrequent. Injuries were more prevalent among male patients in their thirties. Most patients showed good outcomes when discharged from the hospital. Moderate to severe disability occurred more frequently among spinal injured patients due to residual deficits requiring assistance for ambulation and activities of daily living.

10.
Front Psychol ; 15: 1327119, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38505368

ABSTRACT

Background: Human capital plays a crucial role in the success of an organization and further contributes to the broader goals of growth and development of society. In this regard, it is essential to ensure the well-being of employees at the workplace. Given the positive impact of yoga on psycho-physiological aspects of health, this study aims to examine the impact of a breath-based yogic intervention, Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY), on stress, anxiety, thriving, general health, emotional well-being, social well-being, and psychological well-being among employees of a leading manufacturing firm in India. Methods: Undertaking a randomized-control experiment design (n = 64), we examined the impact of SKY on stress, anxiety, thriving, general health, and emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Two certified instructors conducted the SKY intervention in a retreat format over 3 days. Results: The analysis demonstrated positive outcomes across various aspects of participants' well-being, i.e., it significantly reduced their stress and anxiety and increased the levels of thriving, general health, and emotional, social, and psychological well-being. These findings are valuable for understanding the potential benefits of the SKY intervention. Discussion: The findings provide support for considering SKY as a potential well-being intervention for employers at the workplace and society at large. Further exploration, implementation, and research in diverse contexts will be crucial to fully understand the long-term impact and scalability of the SKY intervention in promoting holistic well-being.

11.
ACS Nano ; 18(8): 6513-6522, 2024 Feb 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38345358

ABSTRACT

The performance of blue perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) lags behind the green and red counterparts owing to high trap density and undesirable red shift of the electroluminescence spectrum under operation conditions. Organic molecular additives were employed as passivators in previous reports. However, most commonly have limited functions, making it challenging to effectively address both efficiency and stability issues simultaneously. Herein, we reported an innovatively dynamic in situ hydrolysis strategy to modulate quasi-2D sky-blue perovskites by the multifunctional passivator phenyl dichlorophosphate that not only passivated the defects but also underwent in situ hydrolysis reaction to stabilize the emission. Moreover, hydrolysis products were beneficial for low-dimensional phase manipulation. Eventually, we obtained high-performance sky-blue PeLEDs with a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 16.32% and an exceptional luminance of 5740 cd m-2. More importantly, the emission peak of devices located at 485 nm remained stable under different biases. Our work signified the significant advancement toward realizing future applications of PeLEDs.

12.
Korean J Ophthalmol ; 38(2): 98-104, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38351488

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and rapidity of direct microscopic detection of fungal elements from corneal ulcers between 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) and 1% Chicago Sky Blue 6B (CSB) in 10% KOH (CSB-KOH). METHODS: Thirty patients with clinically suspected fungal keratitis were recruited. Participants with impending corneal perforation were excluded. Two slides were smeared with corneal ulcer scrapings from the ulcer's edge and base for comparison of fungal staining solutions. One slide was infused with KOH, and the other slide was filled with CSB-KOH. Additional scraping was collected for inoculation on Sabouraud dextrose agar for fungal culture. The sensitivity, specificity and rapidity of both stainings were analyzed. RESULTS: The sensitivity of fungal culture, KOH, and CSB-KOH were 43.75% (95% confidence interval [CI], 19.75%-70.12%), 62.50% (95% CI, 35.43%-84.80%), and 87.50% (95% CI, 61.65%-98.45%), respectively. The specificity were 100% (95% CI, 69.15%-100%) of both stainings and fungal culture which analyzed from 16 fungal keratitis cases by laboratory and clinical diagnosis. Mean CSB-KOH examination time was quicker than KOH with the mean time difference of 5.6 minutes (95% CI, 3.22-7.98 minutes) and p-value < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: CSB-KOH was more effective and faster than KOH in detecting fungal elements from corneal ulcers. Therefore, CSB-KOH may be beneficial in diagnosing fungal keratitis and preventing blindness. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first use of CSB stain in fungal keratitis detection.


Subject(s)
Corneal Ulcer , Eye Infections, Fungal , Hydroxides , Potassium Compounds , Trypan Blue , Humans , Corneal Ulcer/diagnosis , Corneal Ulcer/drug therapy , Corneal Ulcer/microbiology , Coloring Agents , Ulcer , Cornea , Eye Infections, Fungal/diagnosis , Eye Infections, Fungal/microbiology
13.
Mol Phylogenet Evol ; 190: 107955, 2024 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37898294

ABSTRACT

The numerous naturally-fragmented sky islands (SIs) in the Hengduan Mountains Region (HMR) of southwestern China constitute discontinuous landscapes where montane habitats are isolated by dry-hot valleys which have fostered exceptional species diversification and endemicity. However, studies documenting the crucial role of SI on the speciation dynamics of native freshwater organisms are scarce. Here we used a novel set of comprehensive genetic markers (24 nuclear DNA sequences and complete mitogenomes), morphological characters, and biogeographical information to reveal the evolutionary history and speciation mechanisms of a group of small-bodied montane potamids in the genus Tenuipotamon. Our results provide a robustly supported phylogeny, and suggest that the vicariance events of these montane crabs correlate well with the emergence of SIs due to the uplift of the HMR during the Late Oligocene. Furthermore, ancestrally, mountain ridges provided corridors for the dispersal of these montane crabs that led to the colonization of moist montane-specific habitats, aided by past climatic conditions that were the crucial determinants of their evolutionary history. The present results illustrated that the mechanisms isolating SIs are reinforced by the harsh-dry isolating climatic features of dry-hot valleys separating SIs and continue to affect local diversification. This offers insights into the causes of the high biodiversity and endemism shown by the freshwater crabs of the HMR-SIs in southwestern China.


Subject(s)
Brachyura , Animals , Phylogeny , Brachyura/genetics , China , Biodiversity , Fresh Water
14.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int ; 31(1): 966-981, 2024 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38030838

ABSTRACT

Forecasting short-term solar radiation is crucial for many solar energy applications. Additionally, solar energy has a lower environmental impact than conventional sources like fossil fuels and can be used for investment purposes through the construction of large solar farm facilities. To test, evaluate, and compare various solar radiation models, short-term observations of meteorological, astronomical, computational, and geographical data were collected at two distinct locations from 2012 to 2015. In this study, seven machine learning models were employed: multi-layer perceptron (MLP), feedforward backpropagation algorithm (FFBP), autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), linear regression (LR), radial basis function neural network (RBFNN), random forest (RF), and Gaussian process regression (GPR) models. These models were used to forecast hourly global solar radiation (GSR) using the aforementioned data as model input. The performance of the selected models' forecast accuracy was thoroughly examined by assessing it for a typical day, for four seasons, and under three sky conditions. The RF model can forecast GSR with satisfactory accuracy, and MLP and GPR models provide better accuracy than LR, FFBP, RBF, and ARIMA models. For example, the R2 value range of RF are 0.9621 for Tetuan site and 0.9534 for Tangier site, respectively. Meanwhile, RF, MLP, and GPR models under-forecast few high radiation values on clear days, which may due to the differences in training and testing data ranges and distributions of the sky conditions. Finally, the obtained result of this study indicate that the proposed RF model is a reliable alternative for short-term global solar radiation forecasting due to its high forecast accuracy.


Subject(s)
Solar Energy , Neural Networks, Computer , Algorithms , Machine Learning , Sunlight , Forecasting
15.
Parasitology ; 150(14): 1266-1276, 2023 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38072659

ABSTRACT

Avian haemosporidians are protozoan parasites transmitted by insect vectors that infect birds worldwide, negatively impacting avian fitness and survival. However, the majority of haemosporidian diversity remains undescribed. Quantifying this diversity is critical to determining parasite­host relationships and host-switching potentials of parasite lineages as climate change induces both host and vector range shifts. In this study, we conducted a community survey of avian haemosporidians found in breeding birds on the Davis Mountains sky islands in west Texas, USA. We determined parasite abundance and host associations and compared our results to data from nearby regions. A total of 265 birds were screened and infections were detected in 108 birds (40.8%). Most positive infections were identified as Haemoproteus (36.2%), followed by Plasmodium (6.8%) and Leucocytozoon (0.8%). A total of 71 haemosporidian lineages were detected of which 39 were previously undescribed. We found that regional similarity influenced shared lineages, as a higher number of lineages were shared with avian communities in the sky islands of New Mexico compared to south Texas, the Texas Gulf Coast and central Mexico. We found that migratory status of avian host did not influence parasite prevalence, but that host phylogeny is likely an important driver.


Subject(s)
Bird Diseases , Haemosporida , Parasites , Plasmodium , Protozoan Infections, Animal , Animals , Texas/epidemiology , Haemosporida/genetics , Birds/parasitology , Phylogeny , Prevalence , Bird Diseases/epidemiology , Bird Diseases/parasitology , Protozoan Infections, Animal/epidemiology
16.
Int J Mol Sci ; 24(23)2023 Nov 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38069305

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most widespread form of senile dementia worldwide and represents a leading socioeconomic problem in healthcare. Although it is widely debated, the aggregation of the amyloid ß peptide (Aß) is linked to the onset and progression of this neurodegenerative disease. Molecules capable of interfering with specific steps in the fibrillation process remain of pharmacological interest. To identify such compounds, we have set up a small molecule screening process combining multiple experimental methods (UV and florescence spectrometry, ITC, and ATR-FTIR) to identify and characterise potential modulators of Aß1-42 fibrillation through the description of the biochemical interactions (molecule-membrane Aß peptide). Three known modulators, namely bexarotene, Chicago sky blue and indomethacin, have been evaluated through this process, and their modulation mechanism in the presence of a biomembrane has been described. Such a well-adapted physico-chemical approach to drug discovery proves to be an undeniable asset for the rapid characterisation of compounds of therapeutic interest for Alzheimer's disease. This strategy could be adapted and transposed to search for modulators of other amyloids such as tau protein.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Neurodegenerative Diseases , Humans , Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy , Alzheimer Disease/metabolism , Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism , Biomimetics , Amyloid
17.
Heliyon ; 9(10): e20609, 2023 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37916095

ABSTRACT

Auroras are bright occurrences when high-energy particles from the magnetosphere and solar wind enter Earth's atmosphere through the magnetic field and collide with atoms in the upper atmosphere. The morphological and temporal characteristics of auroras are essential for studying large-scale magnetospheric processes. While auroras are visible to the naked eye from the ground, scientists use deep learning algorithms to analyze all-sky images to understand this phenomenon better. However, the current algorithms face challenges due to inefficient utilization of global features and neglect the excellent fusion of local and global feature representations extracted from aurora images. Hence, this paper introduces a Hash-Transformer model based on Vision Transformer for aurora retrieval from all-sky images. Experimental results based on real-world data demonstrate that the proposed method effectively improves aurora image retrieval performance. It provides a new avenue to study aurora phenomena and facilitates the development of related fields.

18.
PeerJ ; 11: e16378, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38025681

ABSTRACT

Background: Demodex blepharitis is a common chronic disease. The number of mites is associated with ocular discomfort. The accurate number derived from well-stained specimens is, hence, in favor of diagnosing, monitoring, and determining treatment responses. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and July 2022 at the dermatology and ophthalmology clinic, Walailak University, Thailand. Adult participants with clinical suspicion of Demodex blepharitis were recruited. We examined eyelashes under light microscopy to quantify the number of Demodex mites before and after adding CSB gel. The mite counts, evaluated by an untrained investigator and an experienced investigator, were recorded and compared. Results: A total of 30 participants were included for final analysis, among which 25 (83.3%) were female. The median age was 64.0 years (IQR, 61.0-68.0). The median Demodex counts evaluated by the experienced investigator before and after adding CSB gel were 1.0 (IQR, 0.0-1.0) and 2.5 (IQR, 2.0-3.0), respectively (p < 0.001). Moreover, the median Demodex counts evaluated by the untrained investigator before and after adding CSB gel were 1.0 (IQR, 0.0-1.0) and 2.0 (IQR, 1.0-3.0), respectively (p < 0.001). The correlation coefficient between Demodex counts after the addition of CSB counted by the experienced investigator and those counted by the untrained investigator was 0.92 (p < 0.001). CSB gel is a promising product to identify and quantify the number of Demodex mites. The findings supported the consideration of CSB gel as one of the diagnostic stains.


Subject(s)
Blepharitis , Mite Infestations , Mites , Adult , Animals , Humans , Female , Middle Aged , Male , Mite Infestations/diagnosis , Cross-Sectional Studies , Blepharitis/diagnosis
19.
J Environ Manage ; 345: 118878, 2023 Nov 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37659363

ABSTRACT

Light pollution is a global phenomenon where anthropogenic light sources continue to grow unabated, affecting both social and ecological systems. This is leaving parks and protected areas as some of the last vestiges of naturally dark environments for protecting views of the night sky. Yet, even parks and protected areas have outdoor lighting. Alternative lighting practices are needed to reduce or prevent light pollution from within parks. However, making parks darker may not be desirable for some visitors if they believe it will reduce navigability, safety, or restrict how they recreate (e.g., requiring the use of red-light flashlights after dark and before dawn). How visitors will respond to alternative lighting practices that park managers can implement is still unknown. We used an on-site intercept survey at nine state and national park units in Utah, U.S., to investigate nighttime visitors' support or opposition to management actions to protect night sky quality and their interest in learning about topics related to night skies. Further, this study also segmented visitors into two groups: those 'dependent' on the dark sky as a resource and those whose activities did not depend on a dark sky. Defining what a 'dark sky dependent' visitor is, which has yet to be done in the literature, is a fundamental step to furthering night sky research and management efforts. Across nine parks and protected areas, 62% of nighttime visitors participated in dark sky dependent activities. Findings indicate broad support for management actions designed to improve night sky quality, with between 74% and 89% of all visitors supporting seven different management actions. There was stronger support from dark sky dependent visitors for some elements of alternative lighting practices, but there was still strong support for those who do not participate in dark sky dependent outdoor recreation. Additionally, between 57% and 75% of visitors were interested in learning more about topics related to night skies. This research indicates most visitors would welcome actions to preserve the quality of the rapidly dwindling naturally dark experiences offered by parks and protected areas.


Subject(s)
Learning , Parks, Recreational , Dissent and Disputes , Ecosystem , Light
20.
J Therm Biol ; 117: 103700, 2023 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37690426

ABSTRACT

Outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) studies explore outdoor subjects' responses to their thermal environment, usually evaluated using the neutral temperature (NT). This study investigated the influences of microenvironmental factors around a waterbody on thermal perceptions, using questionnaires and meteorological measurements at the Central Lake of Southwest University of Science and Technology (SWUST) in Mianyang. Microenvironmental factors included sky view factor (SVF) and distance from the lake (DFL). It was found that people felt most comfortable in the shade of trees although some volunteers voted artificial canopy as their preferred thermal adaptation element. In addition, a linear regression yielded an NT of 28.44 °C in Mianyang during the summer of 2022. There were NT variations among different measurement sites (e.g., on the east shore, it was 28.18 °C on the waterside, 27.11 °C away from the lake, and 25.53 °C far from the lake; while it was 27.57 °C under the tree crown, 25.11 °C on the lawn, and 29.13 °C in the square). This variation may be due to human adaptation towards microenvironmental factors and their effects on microclimate. The variation in thermal responses owing to microenvironmental differences (different NTs at various types of sites) might be a novel finding in the field of OTC. This study provides important directions for microenvironment design in the future for OTC improvement.

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