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Patterns of feeding and growth of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. in the marine environment are critical to understanding how observed declines in recruitment may reflect warming or other oceanic drivers. The isotopic composition of scales can provide insight into differences in marine feeding location and possibly temperature regime. The authors used archived scale samples to measure δ13C and δ15N deposited in the scales of one sea‐winter (1SW) salmon during their last season of growth at sea before they returned to five Irish rivers. δ13C values were related statistically to observed salmon body condition (Fulton's K), and fish with higher δ13C values tended to show significantly better condition. In contrast, δ15N values were negatively related to body condition. There was no important effect on condition of length at smolt migration, and the effect of duration of marine residence varied among rivers. It is likely that δ13C values partly reflected ambient ocean temperature and recent marine feeding environment before return migration, such that the observed relationship between higher δ13C values and increased body condition may express an advantage for adult fish feeding in warmer, potentially closer, waters. If greater body condition influences fitness, then a changing temperature regime in the Northeast Atlantic may drive shifts in salmon survival and reproduction. This study provides evidence that there is spatial and trophic variation at sea between salmon from rivers of origin that are located relatively close to each other, with potential consequences for body condition and, consequently, fitness and life history; this suggests that salmon populations from geographically proximate rivers within regions may exhibit differential responses to ocean‐scale climatic changes across the Northeast Atlantic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Roman mill complex of Barbegal in France is the largest preindustrial structure in Europe. Carbonate incrustations that formed from water flowing through basins, over flumes and waterwheels of the mill complex are partly preserved. The largest carbonate fragments are derived from three wooden flumes that once served the wheels of three mills in a train of eight. The deposits formed from the same water as it moved down from mill to mill. The shape, microstratigraphy and stable isotope patterns of the deposits of each flume reveal a unique history of use for each mill during the last 8 years of operation until their final abandonment. The sidewall carbonate deposits of the flumes vary in shape due to differences in the slope of the flumes during operation, associated with different‐size millwheels in different basins. At least one of the flumes must have been mobile and was uplifted to fit a millwheel of a different size. During 8 years, two millwheels were exchanged and one flume was taken out of action. Carbonate deposits from two flumes were subsequently reused for some unknown industrial purpose in a water basin, and one was later embedded as spolia in a building during late antiquity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Pit pairs and their filter-like partition, i.e. pit membranes, play important roles as water pathways, barriers and regulators in the water-conducting system of angiosperms. In Fraxinus species, the intervessel and vessel–parenchyma pit membranes in sapwood are normally encrusted during winter. Although these encrustations inevitably influence the performance of pits, their properties and functions remain unclear. This study aimed to reveal the morphological and chemical characteristics of encrustations in F. mandshurica in order to deepen understanding of the seasonal encrustation of pit membranes. Methods Seasonal and positional variations in the presence and morphology of encrustations were examined by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Cryo-FE-SEM for freeze-fixed greenwood samples was conducted to clarify whether encrustations were present in living trees. Chemical components were examined by histochemical staining using light and electron microscopy, immunofluorescence labelling and ultraviolet microspectroscopy. Key Results Encrustations began to deposit in autumn before leaf senescence and disappeared in spring before bud flushing. They infiltrated within the pit membranes, which suggested that they severely limit the permeation of pits. The encrustations differed in morphology among positions: they entirely filled the pit chambers in latewood, while they covered the pit membranes in earlywood. The encrustations were similarly observed in the samples that were freeze-fixed immediately after collection, indicating that they are present in living trees. The encrustations contained polysaccharides, including xyloglucan and homogalacturonan, and phenolic compounds, possibly including flavonoids and coumarins. These chemical components were also detected in droplets found in the latewood vessels with the encrustations, suggesting that the materials constituting encrustations were supplied through the vessel lumens. Conclusions Encrustations undoubtedly cover the pit membranes in living F. mandshurica trees in winter and their morphology and chemical composition indicate that they are impermeable, have positional differences in function and are characterized by elaborate deposition/removal processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study identifies the relationships between the δ13C and δ18O signatures of extant charophyte carbonates (δ13CCARB and δ18OCARB) and the δ13C of dissolved inorganic carbon and δ18O of water (δ13CDIC and δ18OWATER), respectively, and the structure of charophyte beds and the physico‐chemical properties of the ambient water. Inter‐ and intra‐specific differences and lake‐related variability are assessed.Four morphologically different charophyte species (Nitellopsis obtusa, Chara tomentosa, Chara rudis, Chara contraria) were studied in four charophyte‐dominated lakes (Chara‐lakes) in Central Europe. A wide distribution of the species in calcium‐rich freshwater lakes, where they form extensive underwater beds and contribute to the deposition of calcareous sediments, makes the study representative of Chara‐lakes. Charophytes and water above them were sampled monthly (June–September 2008) at permanent study sites. Additionally, three comparative macrophyte‐free pelagic sites were sampled in each lake.For all the charophytes studied, there was a greater variation in the δ13C and δ18O values of the encrustations than of the ambient and pelagic waters. Except for N. obtusa and C. tomentosa, the species differed significantly in the δ13CCARB values. The encrustations were enriched in 13C compared to water DIC. Chara tomentosa encrustations were significantly depleted in 18O compared to N. obtusa and C. contraria. In contrast to Chara species, N. obtusa encrustation was 18O‐enriched compared to surrounding water. The largest isotope differences between carbonate encrustations and surrounding water were found for C. rudis.Considering the δ13CCARB versus δ13CDIC values, only slender species (i.e. N. obtusa and C. contraria) precipitated encrustations close to isotopic equilibrium with water DIC. Based on theoretical δ18OCALCULATED and measured δ18OCARB values, only C. tomentosa precipitated encrustation in equilibrium with the δ18OWATER.Using redundancy analysis, the δ13CCARB values positively correlated with the δ13CDIC and δ18OWATER values and the percent volume of water inhabited by plants. The depth of sites, water mineralisation, alkalinity and fertility were inversely correlated with the δ13CCARB. The redundancy analysis revealed a clear division of samples into species and lakes; lakes were especially distinct.We postulate that the stable C and O isotope compositions of charophyte encrustations are lake‐ rather than species‐specific and that the isotopic signatures of charophyte carbonates are representative of the entire lake epilimnion, not just the vegetated littoral zone. Furthermore, the isotopic signal of bulk sediment can provide environmental information that is as useful as species‐specific isotope values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy sources play a vital role in the energy mix with geothermal energy providing an opportunity to harness the natural heat coming from the Earth for sustainable power production. As innovative drilling technologies come to market, it is easier to extract heat from various localities across the globe, leading to significant development in the geothermal sector. The economic viability of this resource can be significantly impacted when energy output declines due to scale deposition. Scale formation is a major challenge in the exploitation of geothermal wells, particularly in liquid-dominated geothermal fields. One of the most robust forms of scale build-up common to higher temperature geothermal wellbores and surface equipment for power production is silica scaling. Silica is one of the Earth's most abundant elements that can precipitate from brine due to various factors. The accumulation of scale deposits significantly impacts the lifespan and efficiency of surface equipment and geothermal wells by restricting fluid flow, thus reducing efficiency and performance. To guarantee the peak performance and longevity of geothermal systems, it is essential to implement a strategic maintenance plan for scaling reduction in geothermal systems. Throughout this review, relevant case studies highlight scaling reduction methods for silica scale in subsurface wellbores and surface facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directed energy deposition (DED), as an additive manufacturing technology, has shown unique advantages in multi-material additive manufacturing and remanufacturing. In this study, two types in-situ alloyed CrCoNi medium entropy alloys that have thin-walled structures with different thicknesses (T1 and T2) were manufactured by the DED process, and the mechanisms of differences in relative density, microstructure, and mechanical properties at different heights were systematically analyzed. In terms of microstructure, the T1 and T2 samples along the building direction exhibit significant differences in crystallographic orientation, grain size, and dislocation density, which are related to the local temperature gradient differences caused by the scanning path and heat accumulation. In terms of mechanical properties at different heights of the two types of thin-walled structures, the yield strength is higher but the elongation is lower at the bottom position of sample, while the yield strength is lower but the elongation is higher at the middle and top positions. The differences of mechanical properties at different heights of the T1 and T2 samples are related to the microstructure and relative density. This finding provides new insights for the design and performance analysis of complex thin-walled structures formed by additive manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hard substrate communities can impact coral reef growth by adding or removing calcium carbonate when they act as encrusters or bioeroders, respectively. Although such sclerobiont communities are known across the Phanerozoic, the Triassic saw a substantial increase in reef macrobioerosion. This study provides the first quantitative assessment of sclerobionts in a Late Triassic (Norian) reef coral community (from the Nayband Formation in central Iran) and establishes some post-Paleozoic trends in reef bioerosion. Sclerobionts were common on the dominant coral Pamiroseris rectilamellosa and covered between 0 and 26.4% of total coral surface area among the 145 colonies investigated. Encrustation was significantly more prevalent (1.78% of total area) than bioerosion (0.36% of total area). The underside of corals was 3.5 times more affected by sclerobionts than the upper surfaces. This suggests that the sclerobionts preferentially colonized dead parts of the corals. The main encrusting taxa were polychaete worms (76.2%), followed by bivalves (11.9%). The main bioeroders were Polychaeta (51.4%), Porifera (22.2%), and Bivalvia (20.7%). The lack of a correlation between encrustation and bioerosion intensity suggests that the number of sclerobionts is not simply a function of exposure time before final burial. Our review of the published literature suggests a declining trend in the relative importance of bivalves, polychaetes and cirripeds in reefs, whereas sponges increased in importance from the Triassic until today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of heat carrier (water) components affecting the inner surface of steel equipment in heat supply systems is complex and associated with various factors. Chemically complex water with dissolved gases and microorganisms can form corrosion and scale deposits composed of carbonates, silicates, sulfates, and alkali metal sulfides. The disruption of carbon dioxide equilibrium in water leads to the formation of dense or loose deposits on the inner metal surfaces, which impede heat carrier circulation, thereby slowing its supply to the consumer. To resolve the arising problems with the heat carrier, the authors explore and establish the components of water from different wells in the studied region using chemical analysis and mass spectroscopy, reporting on their qualitative and quantitative characteristics with units of measurement. A detailed description of the corrosion and scale deposits formed by the heat carrier is prepared using a JSM-6490LV scanning electron microscope with INSAEnergu energy-efficiency microanalysis systems and HKL basic structural analysis with an ×300,000 useful magnification combined with a highly effective liquid chromatograph Varian ProStar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a massive investment in subsidized housing, informal settlement remains a significant aspect of urban development in Chilean cities. This paper first surveys the urban morphology of contemporary settlements in four Chilean cities to maps the extent and location of neighbourhoods that have developed informally or semi-formally. The broad pattern is that the more informal of settlements have been practically eliminated from the capital of Santiago, yet mixed informality flourishes and is expanding on the peripheries of regional cities. Four cases are then mapped and analysed to show the morphogenesis—the ways buildings and street networks are incrementally designed and produced. A range of morphogenic patterns are identified including highly irregular morphologies on escarpment conditions, semi-regular street grids, and informal encrustations within formal housing projects. It is argued that informal production will remain significant and that a better understanding of informal settlement morphology is crucial to the design and planning for the future of Chilean cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop and validate a method for detecting ureteral stent encrustations in medical CT images based on Mask-RCNN and 3D morphological analysis. Method: All 222 cases of ureteral stent data were obtained from the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Firstly, a neural network was used to detect the region of the ureteral stent, and the results of the coarse detection were completed and connected domain filtered based on the continuity of the ureteral stent in 3D space to obtain a 3D segmentation result. Secondly, the segmentation results were analyzed and detected based on the 3D morphology, and the centerline was obtained through thinning the 3D image, fitting and deriving the ureteral stent, and obtaining radial sections. Finally, the abnormal areas of the radial section were detected through polar coordinate transformation to detect the encrustation area of the ureteral stent. Results: For the detection of ureteral stent encrustations in the ureter, the algorithm's confusion matrix achieved an accuracy of 79.6% in the validation of residual stones/ureteral stent encrustations at 186 locations. Ultimately, the algorithm was validated in 222 cases, achieving a ureteral stent segmentation accuracy of 94.4% and a positive and negative judgment accuracy of 87.3%. The average detection time per case was 12 s. Conclusion: The proposed medical CT image ureteral stent wall stone detection method based on Mask-RCNN and 3D morphological analysis can effectively assist clinical doctors in diagnosing ureteral stent encrustations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new occurrence of the Mn-Ba ore mineral, romanechite, has been discovered in a small paleo-doline of the Apulian karst on Mesozoic carbonate rock successions, characterized by reddish incrustations and nodules made essentially by Fe-bearing calcite. The conditions under which Mn-Ba ore minerals form represent an intriguing area of research, as these minerals can act as scavengers for heavy elements, impacting soils, surface sediments, and even associated aquatic systems. The genesis of romanechite is linked to the progressive interaction of silicate aqueous solutions enriched in Al, Si, and Fe with the limestone substrate. The findings provide new insights into the genetic processes responsible for the formation of reddish Mn incrustations, supporting their polygenetic origin because of the chemical alteration of limestone and allochthonous siliciclastic muds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of 23 vesbine-bearing samples from Vesuvius volcano (Italy), preserved in the collection of the Royal Mineralogical Museum of Naples, University Federico II (RMMN), have been investigated to identify the mineral assemblages and their mode of formation. In the late 19th century, fumarole-related yellow patinas coating some historical lavas from Vesuvius were believed by Scacchi to contain a new element, vesbium, similar to vanadium in a mineral he called vesbine. Subsequent studies rejected vesbium and showed that vesbine was a poorly defined mixture of copper vanadates and halides. The vesbine samples studied here consist of yellowish to yellow-green-blue encrustations on Vesuvius lavas and have been analyzed by combined optical microscopy, SEM-EDS, XRPD, FTIR, and TEM-HRTEM-EDS. Results reveal complex mineral associations, including vanadates, halides, carbonates, oxides, silicates, tungstates/molybdates, and sulfates. The vanadates correspond to mottramite, volborthite, and vanadinite; subordinate amounts of descloizite were detected by XRPD and FTIR investigations. Several additional non-essential elements have been detected in the vanadates, including Mn, Zn, and As. The occurrence of wulfenite- and stolzite-rich phases indicates the presence of Mo and W, along with Pb, in the mineralizing fluids. Mn-rich phases, commonly in mixtures with silicates and vanadates, were also observed. These minerals are formed by a combination of different processes, including rock-fluid interactions, gas-water interactions, and alteration/oxidation of primary fumarolic minerals. Temperatures for the depositions of the vanadates-bearing assemblages are interpreted to be in the range of 100 to 400 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslide scale measurement and hazard risk assessment are crucial, especially since landslide deposits often have an expansion effect, and can lead to more serious secondary hazard events. In this study, we obtained substantial high-resolution terrain and orthophoto data through multiple UAV photography and field surveys. Based on GIS spatial analysis and landslide geometric models, sliding and deposit data for 42 loess landslides in the Heifangtai tableland were calculated. The results show that sliding volume and sliding area have the highest correlation with the power-law distribution ($V_e = 1.204A^{1.1360}$ V e = 1.204 A 1.1360 ). The ratio of $H_{max}/L_{max}$ H max / L max increases with the increase of sliding volume and deposit volume of the landslides, with an average value of 0.306. The ratio of H/L has a higher correlation with deposit volume, and the fitting expression is $H_{max}/L_{max} = 0.187V_D^{-0.123}$ H max / L max = 0.187 V D − 0.123 . The VEC of 42 loess landslides ranged from 1.05 to 2.53, while the AVEC was about 1.503. The correlation analysis show that the VEC is positively correlated with AEC, Hmov, Hmov/Lmax and Lmov/Lmax but negatively correlated with Dave. The essence of the volume expansion effect is that landslide fluidity increases, resulting in looser deposit distribution, larger pore scale in the deposit and lower overall compaction. Loess collapse in the Heifangtai tableland lack protection from the liquefaction of the sliding mass basement, resulting in large VEC values. The semi-ellipsoid model is a valuable approach for landslide volume assessment in the Chinese Loess Plateau, yielding an average error rate of restoring the sliding volume of landslides of 13.55%. This study provides a useful reference for accurate evaluations at the landslide scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of scale in hot springs and geothermal brines can be detected quickly and easily using optical fiber-based scale sensors. This paper describes the development of a portable sensor for the in situ detection of scale in geothermal water. This sensor was used to detect the formation of calcium carbonate and silica scale and to assess the effectiveness of their inhibitors. The performance of the sensor was evaluated using calcium carbonate scale. In laboratory experiments using both the newly developed sensor and a conventional nonportable sensor, the strength of the transmitted signal was found to decrease significantly as the amount of scale increased. It was considered that this sensor can accurately evaluate only scale formation without being affected by turbidity. The scale that was deposited on each material (optical fiber core, glass plate, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and SUS304) was observed using a shape analysis laser microscope. Based on these observations, we concluded that this sensor could be used to predict the amount of scale deposited in real time. In situ evaluation of the sensor was conducted at a blowout carbonated hot spring on Rishiri Island, which is located off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan. The results obtained from experiments using hot spring water showed a similar sensor response within a comparable time range as those obtained from the laboratory experiments. The results of this study thus demonstrate that this novel portable scale sensor is suitable for use in geothermal power plants and investigating effectiveness of inhibiters under different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: About 50% of individuals with long-term indwelling catheters are affected by catheter encrustations and bladder stone formation. Therefore, prophylaxis of catheter encrustations is important. Currently, however, neither an established prophylaxis nor a standardized in-vitro model to test different measures exist. We have therefore developed and qualitatively evaluated an in-vitro model of catheter encrustation. Methods: Size 14 French suprapubic catheters were incubated under sterile conditions at 37 degrees Celsius in five different media: (1) sterile artificial urine (n = 16), (2) artificial urine with E. coli (n = 8), (3) with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 8), (4) with Proteus mirabilis (n = 8), and (5) with a mix of these three strains (n = 8). Catheter balloons were inflated either a glycerine or a bactericidal solution. After 6 weeks, the catheters were removed from the solution, dried, and weighed, and a photometric determination of the retrieved encrustations was performed. Results: Most frequently and pronounced encrustations were detected in the Pseudomonas group. The median weight of these encrustations (50% struvite and brushite) was 84.4 mg (47.7 mg / 127.3 mg). Even on catheters stored in sterile urine, encrustations (69.2% struvite) were found. Bacterial growth was not affected by the medium used for catheter blockage. Conclusion: Although in-vitro models appear to be limited because they lack "the human factor", they are valuable for systematically assessing physico-chemical factors affecting encrustations. Therefore, our model, being reliable and cost-effective, may foster further research despite its limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The encrusted bivalve steinkerns in the Upper Ordovician of Estonia suggest that the rapid sea-floor cementation facilitated the early lithification of the sediment within the bivalve shell and the shell valves, likely aragonitic in composition, were dissolved due to calcite sea conditions similarly to many other regions in the Ordovician. The abandoned bivalve shells contained cryptic invertebrates. The coelobite fauna was dominated by encrusting brachiopods, followed by bryozoans and cornulitids. The bryozoans and cornulitids do not prefer specific regions of the shell interior, indicating that the waters within the shell were sufficiently nutrient-rich throughout. Encrusting brachiopods are always confined to valve margins, suggesting that the waters were nutrient-rich enough for the brachiopods only at the edge of the outer environment. Thus, it is possible that bryozoans and cornulitids were better adapted for a cryptic life than the encrusting brachiopods in the Late Ordovician of Estonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbialites provide geological evidence into Earth's early ecosystems, recording long‐standing interactions between co‐evolving life and the environment. Yet, after more than 100 years of research, the complex interplay between environmental and biological forces involved in microbialite growth is still debated. Laguna de Los Cisnes, located in Chilean Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia, provides a unique opportunity to study these interactions. This lake, which became ice‐free around 10 000 years ago, features carbonate microbialites developed by algal–microbial communities. Macroscopically, the organo‐sedimentary deposits exhibit a consistent primary crater‐like architecture, showcasing macrostructural variations such as dish‐shaped, hemispherical, columnar and lenticular morphologies. This study explores the environmental and biological factors shaping microbialite macrostructure by analysing the distribution of dominant morphotypes across the basin. Concurrently, it examines the internal mesostructure and microstructure of microbialites in association with prevailing algal–microbial communities. The incremental development of these communities contributes to the distinct crater‐like morphology observed in microbialites from Laguna de Los Cisnes. The mineral encrustation of the green alga Percursaria percursa emerges as a primary driver of lithification, evidenced by the preservation of microfossils within the microstructure of the microbialites. Simultaneously, physical environmental factors, including waves, Langmuir cells and accommodation space influence the location of the algal–microbial carbonate factory, determining the spatial distribution and temporal succession of different crater architecture variants. Laguna de Los Cisnes, hosting well‐preserved subfossil outcrops and living microbialites, serves as a remarkable living laboratory for understanding microbialite morphogenesis. This study contributes to a novel model that captures the fundamental role of algal–microbial communities in determining the primary macrostructural architecture of microbialites before environmental factors come into play, merely reshaping this architecture into different morphotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is aimed to establish a predictive model of double-J stent encrustation after upper urinary tract calculi surgery. We collected the clinical data of 561 patients with indwelling double-J tubes admitted to a hospital in Shandong Province from January 2019 to December 2020 as the modeling group and 241 cases of indwelling double-J tubes from January 2021 to January 2022 as the verification group. Univariate and binary logistic regression analyses were used to explore risk factors, the risk prediction equation was established, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis model was used for prediction. In this study, 104 of the 561 patients developed double-J stent encrustation, with an incidence rate of 18.5%. We finally screened out BMI (body mass index) > 23.9 (OR = 1.648), preoperative urine routine white blood cell quantification (OR = 1.149), double-J tube insertion time (OR = 1.566), postoperative water consumption did not reach 2000 ml/d (OR = 8.514), a total of four factors build a risk prediction model. From the ROC curve analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.844, and the maximum Oden index was 0.579. At this time, the sensitivity was 0.735 and the specificity was 0.844. The research established in this study has a high predictive value for the occurrence of double-J stent encrustation in the double-J tube after upper urinary tract stone surgery, which provides a basis for the prevention and treatment of double-J stent encrustation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using a superconducting transition edge sensor (TES) to measure the thermal energy of individual decay events with high energy resolution, decay energy spectrometry provides a unique fingerprint to identify each radionuclide in a sample. The proposed measurement requires optimizing the thermal parameters of the detector for use with 5 MeV scale energy deposited by alpha decay of the sample radionuclides. The thermal performance of deep-etched silicon TES chips is examined with the use of an onboard resistive heater. With known heater power and bath temperature, the thermal conductance, heat capacity, and frame temperature are calculated and compared to theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sixteenth-century Florence a variety of sculptural or architectural ornament was developed in the shape of animal masks, often featuring several animals or parts of different animals in one object, and the presence of eyes half hidden behind the surface mask. Michelangelo's New Sacristy is a main locus for the development of these ornaments, but they soon spread over the city. Although sixteenth-century viewers called them "grotesques", they differ from the two-dimensional variety inspired by the Domus Aurea because they consistently use strange, hybrid animal features that are not part of the repertoire of mythological hybrid beasts such as griffins, commonly used in grotesques inspired by the Roman tradition. They also stand out because they share these animal features with parade and tournament armour of the same period. Their formal characteristics, as well as their similarity to the ornament of contemporary parade armour, little studied until now, raises many questions about their origins, meaning, circumstances of creation and use, and possible impact. These ornaments also share many formal and compositional features with the masks made in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries by the peoples of the Northwest Coast of North America. They share a duplication or triplication of animal shapes, the presence of eyes behind the mask, incrustation and other graphical patterns, and a particular patterning, or spreading, of animal features across the object they cover. The central question this article seeks to address is therefore: is it possible to develop an approach to these masks, both Italian and North American, that can suggest a common ground, in form, function, impact, or sets of beliefs that drove their creation and use? The analysis of Northwestern Coast mask design by Franz Boas, Claude Lévi-Strauss and Philippe Descola will serve, first, as an instrument to better understand the composition of sixteenth-century animalshaped masks, because they make the viewer aware of aspects of their design that remain under the radar in traditional stylistic or iconographical interpretation. Second, the similarities between these two groups of artefacts will point to shared sets of beliefs in nature as a source of endless transformation, and in the fundamental kinship of humans and animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ureteral stents play a vital role in urologic surgeries, aiding in urinary flow maintenance, obstruction alleviation and facilitating healing. However, when stents are forgotten, they can lead to encrustation, resulting in significant patient morbidity and posing challenges for urologists Stent-related complications have been shown to increase with the duration of time the stent is left in place. This report details the clinical presentation, diagnostic process, and treatment of a 68-year-old male patient had a neglected stent placed 18 years ago after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. He presented with severe stent encrustation, a solitary giant bladder stone, and renal stones. The patient underwent a cystolithotomy to remove the bladder stone followed by an ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy with pneumatic lithotripsy in a separate procedure. Preventive strategies such as implementing a stent registry, enhancing patient education, and encouraging follow-up appointments are crucial to avoid such complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Double-J (D-J) ureteric stents are widely applied in urological operations as they play a vital role in maintaining postoperative functionality of the patient's urinary system and thereby accelerating recovery. D-J stent encrustation may occur due to prolonged retention and lead to secondary complications. We report the case of a forgotten D-J stent that gradually formed into a bladder stone. Case Report: A 54-year-old man was referred to the Urology Department due to intermittent hematuria, left flank pain, and lower urinary tract symptoms that persisted for 2 weeks. His history was significant for undergoing left ureterolithotripsy followed by the implantation of an ipsilateral D-J stents 2 years ago in a local hospital. The patient did not follow-up regularly or actively seek medical attention for his urinary tract symptoms. Computed tomographic urography revealed a hyperdense tubular object protruding from the left distal ureter to the bladder. The patient underwent cystolithotripsy, left ureteric stent removal, and left ureteroscopy to clear away the bladder stone and its D-J stent core. Conclusions: Formation of bladder stones secondary to prolonged indwelling D-J stent and its encrustation is not uncommon in developing countries where the level of public education is low. Prompt D-J stent removal can prevent complications associated with its retention and avoid unnecessary secondary procedures. Endoscopic urologic procedures are safe and feasible management options, and doctor-to-patient communication is vital for a better prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation during ionized physical vapor deposition (IPVD) of tantalum barriers on various porous organosilicate glass low‐k SiCOH films is studied using advanced diagnostics and quantum chemical calculations. VUV photons break the Si–C bonds, releasing hydrocarbon radicals from the pore surfaces. These radicals, trapped in pores that are partially sealed by tantalum deposition, can either react with tantalum to form carbide‐like compounds, TaCx, or be redeposited in the pores as CHx polymers. This is evidenced by a decrease in CH3 groups that correlates with an increase in TaCx. The formation of TaCx poses a significant challenge in the back end of line (BEOL) technology when reducing the barrier thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depositional processes recorded by shelf deposits may vary widely along‐strike, depending largely on the mode of delivery and deposition of sediments to the basin. In fine‐grained systems in particular, depositional processes are difficult to reconstruct with standard facies analysis of sediment cores due to the ostensibly featureless and homogenous appearance of muds. In this study, sedimentological, palaeontological, geochemical, and oceanographic data were combined in a detailed characterization of depositional conditions via sedimentary structures, type of organic matter, trace‐metal geochemistry, and benthic fauna assemblages (foraminifera and ostracods) along the 600 km long shelf delta clinothems of the West Adriatic shelf (Italy). Processes inferred from sedimentary facies and micro‐structures were then considered in the context of the modern Adriatic oceanographic regime. Specific attention was given to the Little Ice Age stratigraphic unit (1500–1850 ce), which contains a continuum of genetically related fine‐grained strata. The Little Ice Age deposit offers the opportunity to examine a source‐to‐sink system with the high resolution typical of modern analogues, at a time interval when Apennine rivers were not yet hydraulically engineered with man‐made sediment traps along their trunks. Individual beds within the Little Ice Age muddy prodelta form hectometre to kilometre‐wide bedsets that reflect the interplay between energetic meteo‐ocean conditions (storm‐dominated beds), flood supply (river‐dominated beds or hyperpycnites) and along‐shelf bottom‐current dispersion (drift‐dominated beds). The multidisciplinary approach applied at different scales of observations helped in understanding sediment provenance and the relative timing of sediment transport before final burial that strongly promoted organic matter oxygen exposure and the loss of carbon by microbial degradation. Overall, the distinctive depositional processes that acted in concert along the prodelta slope produced a subtle lateral heterogeneity of preserved sedimentary structures, faunal associations, and organic matter composition in a laterally‐continuous lithostratigraphic unit deposited at centennial scale. These findings have implications on the forcing conditions that ultimately control the location and nature of fine‐grained beds in both modern and ancient, mud‐dominated depositional systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Al-Nahrain Journal for Engineering Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The intensive variables, geochemical, mineralogical, and petrogenetic constraints of the Iberian peraluminous rare metal granites (RMGs), many of them unknown, are presented. The mineral chemistry of ore and gangue minerals, whole rock analyses, geothermobarometry, melt water and phosphorus contents, mass balance, and Rayleigh modeling were performed to achieve these objectives. These procedures allow us to distinguish two main contrasting granitic types: Nb-Ta-rich and Nb-Ta-poor granites. The former have lower crystallization temperatures, higher water contents, and lower emplacement pressures than Nb-Ta-poor granites. Nb-Ta-rich granites also have higher fluoride contents, strong fractionation into geochemical twins, higher Na contents, and different evolutionary trends. At the deposit scale, the fractional crystallization of micas properly explains the variation in the Ta/Nb ratio in both Nb-Ta-poor and Nb-Ta-rich RMGs, although in higher-grade granites, the variation is not as clear due to the action of fluids. Fluid phase separation processes especially occurred in the Nb-Ta rich granites, thus transporting halogens and metals that increased the grades in the top and sometimes in the core of granites. Gas-driven filter pressing processes facilitated the migration of fluid and melt near solidus melt in Nb-Ta-rich granites. The geochemical signature of the Iberian rare metal granites mainly follows the trends of two-mica granites and P-rich cordierite granites, but also of granodiorites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many aquatic primary producers can use bicarbonates as a carbon source for photosynthesis. Charophytes of the two genera: Chara and Nitellopsis are quite efficient in this process. Some species of these macroalgae produce carbonate encrustations, mainly calcium carbonate, constituting up to 86% of the summer maximum dry weight of the standing crop. In this study, we analyzed the fate of inorganic carbon accumulated this way in Chara spp. and Nitellopsis obtusa from six Polish lakes located in two regions (warmer W Poland and cooler NE Poland). Our study distinguished two groups of charophyte species that differed in the way of CaCO3 release from their summer standing crops. On average, the corticate Chara rudis and C. tomentosa belonging to the first group were less efficient in depositing CaCO3 from summer to autumn than the less corticate C. contraria and ecorticate N. obtusa of the second group. The latter two species were more efficient in inorganic carbon burial in sediments. On the contrary, dissolution of encrustation was more typical of the first species group and was facilitated by decreasing the pH and saturation index of calcite in lake water. The final output of CaCO3 loss mainly resulted from combined species‐specific features, lake water properties and overwintering patterns. Our study revealed that inorganic carbon cycling through charophytes involves burial and dissolution and is more complex than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrophilic lubricant coatings with antifouling properties are commercially applied to urological devices, such as ureteral stents (USs), to inhibit biofilm formation and reduce the likelihood of infectious encrustation. However, their long‐term effectiveness is limited due to the lack of active and precise antibacterial activity. Herein, this work reports a hydrophilic lubricant (defined as SA‐PU/PVP) coating with smart urease‐responsive antibiotic release functionality, achieved by incorporating the antibiotic sulfanilamide‐conjugated polyurethane (SA‐PU) polymers into a commercial lubricant coating agent containing hydrophilic polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). During the initial implantation period, the hydrophilic PVP chains rapidly absorb urine on the coating interface, forming a lubricating layer with the desired antifouling activities that reduce the attachment of host proteins, bacteria, and urate crystals by over 90%. As time progresses and the bacteria proliferates and produces urease, the urease enzymatically degrades the urea linkages in the SA‐PU/PVP coating, actively releasing SA antibiotics on demand to prevent biofilm formation and encrustation. Benefiting from this synergistic antifouling and smart antibacterial activities, the SA‐PU/PVP‐coated US exhibits superior performance in preventing infectious encrustation in a porcine model over a 7‐week period, surpassing the effectiveness of a commercial hydrophilic lubricant US. This coating strategy offers a practical solution for inhibiting urological device‐associated complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence was increasing worldwide. Medication-associated urinary calculi are very commonly caused by medications used to treat HIV-positive patients. We present a case of an HIV-positive 39-year-old male with ureteral stent encrustation and kidney stone. Ureterolithotripsy using a disposable flexible ureteroscope is performed. The postoperative evolution was favorable. The disposable flexible ureteroscope is effective in the treatment of HIV combined with ureteral stent encrustation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is based on coralline red algal flora-dominated Lower Miocene carbonates of the Qom Formation from Central Iran Basin. Five assemblages, including corallinoid, lithophylloid, mastophoroid, melobesioid and sporolithoid corresponding to 11 genera of geniculate and non-geniculate, were identified. Also, growth forms and taphonomic characteristics of coralline-algal grains were assessed. The arborescent, layered to foliose lamellae, fruticose, lumpy, warty and encrusting growth forms of studied taxa are observed and five taphonomic traits belonging to both mechanical [abrasion, disarticulation, fragmentation] and biological [encrustation, bioerosion] processes were recognised. The relative abundance of assemblages, growth forms, and taphonomy of red algae visualised at thin-section scale were calculated. Our quantitative analysis highlights mechanical (abrasion > fragmentation) and biological (bioerosion> encrustation) processes. Moreover, layered to foliose and fruticose abundance peaks reveal higher than others. This kind of algal distribution in the examined region indicates that the Qom Formation was deposited on a marine carbonate shelf, which is a deepening depositional system in tropical and subtropical zone. This approach expresses more abundance of red algal assemblages on the deep part of inner and proximal to distal middle shelf settings along with a regime of moderately high towards low hydrodynamic energy and mesophotic – oligophotic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we present a 1:50,000 geological map of the basement rocks of Andorra that is the harmonization of the results of two decades of field work and data analyses in the frame of the 1:25,000 Geological Map of Andorra Project by CENMA--IEA (at present AR + I, Andorra Research + Innovation). The study area lies entirely in the Axial Zone of the Pyrenees, where only late Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic rocks and Quaternary deposits crop out. The map is produced at 1:25,000 scale and Quaternary deposits have been removed, in order to obtain a continuous basement map that can be used as the basis for stratigraphical and structural works. The main results of this work are the publication of new cartographic and structural data, as well as a better understanding of the stratigraphy in this sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main priorities in the modern thermal power engineering development is the problem of energy saving due to the economical use of fuel and energy reserves. Increasing energy consumption with a simultaneous increase in energy prices and widespread environmental degradation necessitates the development and implementation of energy efficient technologies to save fuel, materials and labour costs. The object of study is tubular heat exchangers of variable cross section, which are widely used in steam generators of nuclear power plants, gas turbines and transport plants. Scale deposit properties and the composition of the heat coolant were studied, and their influence on the energy efficiency of heat exchangers was analysed. To study the scale deposits and coolant influence on the energy efficiency of heat exchangers, their properties were examined using an atomic emission analysis with the help of a TESCAN electron microscope. The principles of implementing technologies aimed at intensifying heat transfer, reducing hydraulic and heat losses in heat exchangers were formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maintaining ureteral patency is imperative to preventing renal injury and systemic infection. Ureteral stents are small conduits connecting the kidney and the bladder. They have been widely used to treat ureteral obstructions and ureteral leaks. The most problematic and frequent stent‐associated complication is stent encrustation. This occurs when mineral crystals (e.g. calcium, oxalate, phosphorus, struvite) are deposited onto the surface and internal lumen of the stent. Encrustation can lead to the obstruction of a stent and increases risk of systemic infection. As a result, ureteral stents need to be replaced typically every 2–3 months. Purpose: In this study, we present a non‐invasive, high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)‐based technique to recanalize obstructed stents. By taking advantage of the mechanical force produced by a HIFU beam, including acoustic radiation force, acoustic streaming, and cavitation, HIFU can break up encrustations, clearing the stent of obstruction. Methods: The ureteral stents for this study were obtained from patients undergoing ureteral stent removal. Under the guidance of ultrasound imaging, the encrustation in the stents were located, and then targeted by HIFU at frequencies of 0.25 and 1 MHz. The duty cycle of HIFU was 10%, and the HIFU burst repetition rate was 1 Hz, while the HIFU amplitude was varied to find the threshold pressure that would displace encrustations. The treatment duration was limited at 2 min (or 120 shots from HIFU). The treatments were carried out in two different orientations (parallel and perpendicular) of the ureteral stent with respect to the HIFU beam. For each setting, five treatments were conducted for a maximum duration of 2 min. During the entire treatment, an ultrasound imaging system was used to monitor the movement of encrustations inside the stent. The peak negative HIFU pressures needed to move the encrustations inside the stent was recorded for quantitative analysis. Results: Our results demonstrated that at both 0.25 and 1 MHz ultrasound frequencies, obstructed stents could be recanalized. At 0.25 MHz, the needed average peak negative pressure was 0.52 MPa in parallel orientation and 0.42 MPa in perpendicular orientation. At 1 MHz, the needed average peak negative pressure was 1.10 MPa in parallel orientation and 1.15 MPa in perpendicular orientation Conclusions: This first in‐vitro study has demonstrated the feasibility of non‐invasive HIFU to recanalize ureteral stents. This technology has a potential to reduce the need for ureteral stent exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human remains recovered from a 19th-century historical-period burial site in Maryland were observed to contain a blue-colored mineral deposit. Vivianite has previously been reported from archaeological contexts, and two previous forensic reports have reported vivianite formation on modern bone. In this study, chemical analysis methods, including scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, compound light microscopy, and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy, were used to compare the recovered material to a purchased reference vivianite sample (Fe3(PO4)2•(H2O)8) for identification. The physical morphology, Fe:P ratio, and band stretching of the sample material and reference materials were compared and observed to share similar chemical features. As vivianite is known to form on bone and teeth in moist, anoxic, iron-rich environments, the presence of vivianite in dry, iron-free environments may indicate a body has been moved or is evidence of environmental change, adding to the history of the remains. Since the presence of vivianite provides information about the burial environment, it should be considered when processing samples with PCR-based DNA analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adequate evaluation, monitoring, and prediction of groundwater resources are essential because humans heavily rely on groundwater for drinking, domestic, and industrial needs. The current study aimed at evaluating the quality of groundwater for drinking and industrial purposes in Awka and Nnewi urban metropolises (southeastern Nigeria) using indexical and artificial neural network (ANN) methods. The temperature of the studied groundwaters was found to range from 23 to 28 °C. The pH values revealed that the waters are acidic, though the groundwaters in Awka are acidic more than those in Nnewi. The majority of the analyzed physicochemical parameters (conductivity, total dissolved solids, Cl, SO4, HCO3, and Ca) examined were found to be below acceptable standard limits. In the metropolises, integrated water quality index (IWQI) classified over 75% of the groundwaters as unfit for drinking. Except for the Revelle index (RI), which classified 70% of the water samples within the Awka metropolis as slightly affected by salinization and 90% as strongly affected by salinization in the Nnewi metropolis, all other corrosivity and encrustation potential indices (Larson–Skold index (LSI), chloride–sulfate mass ration (CSMR), Langelier index (LI), aggressive index (AI), Ryznar stability index (RSI), and Puckorius (PSI)) utilized classified all the groundwater as having a high corrosivity. This demonstrates that the groundwaters in both metropolises have higher corrosion potential than encrustation potential. Additionally, the eight ANN models produced in this study function admirably. The ANN models performed well in the order IWQI > LSI > RSI > CSMR > LI > AI > PSI > RI according to R2 values. High performance of the models was validated by the R2, residual error, relative error, and sum of square error values. The findings of this paper would offer valuable insights for sustainable and strategic management of the groundwater resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Spanish Journal of Palaeontology is the property of Socieadad Espanola de Paleontologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract—The paper is devoted to the biogeochemical aspects of the treatment of iron-bearing groundwater, which are associated with the formation of biofouling in the pore space around wells after aeration of the aquifer and on technological equipment. Structure and activity characteristics of microbial complexes as a result of pumping groundwater from production and observation wells under changing redox conditions are presented. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the microstructure and elemental composition of biofilm growths. It has been established that the accumulation of iron and manganese by microbial biomass occurs due to the encrustation of the surface of bacterial cells immersed in a polymer matrix represented by a constant base of three elements: Al, Si, and Ca. The survival of microbial complexes in biofouling is due to the high natural potential and ability to carry out biogeochemical processes in a wide range of oxygen concentrations (aerobic and anaerobic conditions). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facilities in power plants and thermal power plants must operate at high efficiency. Their efficiency largely depends on the quality of water as a cooling medium. Water is the most commonly used cooling medium in processes because it is generally available and has a large thermal capacity. The use of water results in a variety of consequences. The different compositions of water can cause scale deposits and contribute to the corrosion of system components. The exacerbation of the problem depends on the composition of the water and the operating conditions of the system. The lack of a low-cost and quick way to remove accumulated deposits that is also safe due to the chemicals used means that cleaning the system of deposits is not widely undertaken, especially in cases of small thermal power plants. Therefore, chemical cleaning is an extremely important part of plant operation. Due to the often-individual characteristics of each installation and the different sources of water as a refrigerant, it is important to know the different methods of descaling an installation. This article provides an overview of methods for descaling installations. Each of them has its own specific properties, allowing an individual approach to boiler scale removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tall moss turf subformation, the developed form of which is known as moss banks (MBs), play an important role in maritime Antarctic terrestrial communities. In this study, the thickness, area, species richness, correlation between these parameters, ratio of brown- and black- Polytrichum strictum, and species composition of 44 alive MBs on Galindez Island, the Argentine Islands, Graham Coast, during 2013–2022, were investigated. Furthermore, the key parameters of the largest Smith MB in Galindez were compared with measurements recorded in 1976. All the MBs tended to grow on the northern slopes. MB's thicknesses were variated from 7 to 75 cm exhibiting a moderate correlation between thickness and area. The MB bryophyte flora included 13 moss species and four liverwort species. No correlation was observed between species richness and the area of MB; however, species richness was positively correlated with MB's thickness. The MBs species richness was possibly dependent on their age and local micro-conditions. The abundance of some bryophytes was also correlated with MB's thickness. A comparison of the results of this study and those obtained in 1976 revealed an increase in the ratio of brown- and black- P. strictum class, no significant changes in the ratio of Chorisodontium aciphyllum, and a decrease in lichen incrustation. These results showed that the ratio of P. strictum's colour classes, C. aciphyllum, and liverworts' abundance can be used to evaluate the condition of the MB. The findings of this study can greatly contribute to the long-term monitoring of moss communities as indicators of global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Double J (DJ) stent placement is routinely used for various urological procedures. The potential complications of retained or forgotten stents include haematuria, infection, pain, ureteral injury, displacement, fragmentation, encrustation, stone formation, sepsis, renal failure, or even mortality. Various methods have been used alone or in combination for the retrieval of these encrusted stents. Their timely removal is crucial as the potential complications of retained or forgotten stents are very catastrophic and not cost-effective. Aim: To highlight the importance of timely removal/replacement of DJ stents. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Urology at Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India, and data were collected from March 2021 to March 2023. A total of 149 patients who underwent DJ stenting for various procedures in the department or were referred from outside with attempted difficult removal were included in the study. Relevant investigations were performed. Data were collected from the registers maintained in the operation theatre. Data are presented as mean, numbers, and proportions as appropriate. Various procedures were used alone or in combination for stent removal. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 41.50 years with a range from 16 to 70 years. A total of 149 patients were included, and 163 procedures were performed to remove the DJ stents. A total of 24 (14.81%) stents patients developed complications in the form of mild encrustation of the renal and urinary bladder end of the stent, up migration, down migration, broken stents, heavy encrustations at both renal and bladder ends, partial intraperitoneal placement and stone formation at renal and bladder ends. Out of 163 total procedures, 149 (91.41%) endoscopic retrievals were done, and 14 (8.59%) multiple procedures were done to remove stent fragments and stones. Postoperative complications were seen in 25 (16.78%) patients. Conclusion: Timely removal of DJ stents prevents catastrophic complications. The phrase by Desiderius Erasmus, "Prevention is better than cure," holds merit in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) Zn–Pb deposits generally form in both orogenic forelands and thrust belts, but the tectonic and structural controls on ore formation in the latter tectonic setting remain poorly understood. This study examines MVT deposits in the late Mesozoic–Cenozoic Tethyan and Cordilleran orogenic thrust belts that have ages determined mainly by paleomagnetic methods or that are well constrained by other geological relationships. Some deposits predated regional thrusting but most deposits formed during regional transpression or extension after early stages of thrusting during convergence. Extensional faults rather than compressional (reverse or thrust) faults control the distribution of ore zones at the deposit or district scale. Post-thrusting MVT mineralization within thrust belts occurs as a result of synorogenic stress transition from compression to transpression/extension. This stress change appears to favor the generation of local extensional faults due to reactivation of pre-existing structures, simple shearing-related tension or dilation, or other mechanisms such as gravitational spreading of weak crust, lower crustal flow, and removal of lithosphere. In comparison, ore-controlling extensional faults in forelands are generated by means of the flexure of the foreland plate during orogenic convergence. Exploration for MVT ores in orogenic thrust belts should focus on extensional zones and extensional faults at district and deposit scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to compare the effects of some chemical agents on the removal of calcareous encrustations, which are characterized by the presence of both calcium and silicon. The experimentation was conducted during the conservation treatments of Cerriglio's nymphaeum (Massa Lubrense, Naples, Italy). Tests were carried out in the laboratory on specimens and in situ to define the most efficient choice between several chelant agents, in the recovery of calcium and silicon, using ICP/OES and spectrocolorimetric and microscopic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron carbide (B4C) films used as neutron conversion layers were investigated in this paper to replace the traditional 3He detectors due to their shortage. A magnetron sputtering system was developed for depositing large-size B4C films with the 1500 × 400 mm2 uniform-area. B4C films at the micron scale were deposited on aluminum (Al), float glass (SiO2), and silicon (Si) substrates with an inserting adhesion layer. The key characteristics, including surface morphology, thickness nonuniformity, purity, and neutron efficiency of B4C films, were characterized using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, grazing incidence x-ray reflectivity, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and neutron radiation metrology. The experimental results indicate that the deposition thickness nonuniformity across a 1500 × 400 mm2 area was better than ±3%. The stoichiometric ratio of boron atoms and carbon atoms (B/C) is 5.18, with 6 at. % O and 0.79 at. % N concentrations. The measured neutron detection efficiency of a 3 µm 10B4C film for 25 meV neutrons was 3.3 ± 0.3(sys)%, which is close to the simulated results (3.4%). The results show that the B4C neutron conversion layer is a promising substitute for 3He for neutron detection in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egg batches of Spodoptera moths are protected by scales deposited by females around and/or over eggs as a physical defense. These scales may affect the parasitism of some parasitoids, rendering biocontrol of Spodoptera eggs ineffective. In this study, we investigated the daily oviposition pattern of moths and the dynamics of egg mass scales of three Spodoptera species and examined the fitnesses of three potential egg parasitoid species to different egg mass scale thicknesses. The observations revealed that the three Spodoptera species share similar scale dynamics. From initial oviposition, S. exigua egg batches maintained a relatively high level of scale thickness (> 134.7 μm) for 2 days and S. frugiperda and S. litura for 3 days (> 105.9 μm, > 161.2 μm, respectively). During this period, the scales effectively hindered parasitism by Trichogramma species (parasitized 0.4%–14.9% eggs). Thereafter, the thickness of the scales decreased daily. The scales of the three Spodoptera species were all relatively thin (< 20.0 μm) after oviposition for 8 days, and subsequently, Trichogramma parasitized eggs more actively (parasitized up to 33.4%–36.5% eggs). Relatively, Trichogramma dendrolimi on S. frugiperda eggs, and Trichogramma chilonis on S. exigua eggs had higher parasitism. Meanwhile, Telenomus remus maintained a very stable and better performance than Trichogramma on Spodoptera species eggs with different scale thicknesses (parasitized 100% egg masses and 46.2%–60.0% eggs), which demonstrated its excellent potential as a Spodoptera species biocontrol agent. The findings elucidate the effect of egg mass scale thickness on effective parasitism by these egg parasitoid species and provide baseline information for the mixed use of Te. remus and Trichogramma against Spodoptera species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments in urological implants have focused on preventive strategies to mitigate encrustation and biofilm formation. Parylene, a conformal, pinhole-free polymer coating, has gained attention due to its high biocompatibility and chemical resistance, excellent barrier properties, and low friction coefficient. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of parylene C in comparison to a parylene VT4 grade coating in preventing encrustation on a urinary bladder pressure MEMS sensor system. Additionally, silicon oxide (SiOx) applied as a finish coating was investigated for further improvements. An in vitro encrustation system mimicking natural urine flow was used to quantify the formation of urinary stones. These stones were subsequently analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). Encrustation results were then discussed in relation to coating surface chemical properties. Parylene C and VT4 grades demonstrated a very low encrustation mass, making them attractive options for encrustation prevention. The best performance was achieved after the addition of a hydrophilic SiOx finish coating on parylene VT4 grade. Parylene-based encapsulation proved to be an outstanding solution to prevent encrustation for urological implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixty years after the promulgation of Sacrosanctum Concilium, it seems to us that we can notice a change in perspective taking place: from attention to the "reform" of the liturgy to the liturgy as a "form" of renewal in the life of the Church: this is the aim of this study. In the first phase, the focus was entirely on the liturgy as an object to be reformed: an object to which meaning should be attributed, an object to be embellished, purified and dusted off, from which it was necessary to remove the incrustations to make it shine, but still remaining an object. Liturgical reform was understood as the liturgy to be reformed. Today, however, the focus seems to be more on the liturgy as a source of renewal in the life of the Church. If the liturgy has become a source, it would no longer be just an object, as before; it would now become a "vital place", understood as a power source and criterion for verifying the renewal of the Church's life. Initially, we will deal briefly with the pre-history of liturgical reform, and then, we will talk about the Liturgical Constitution and its grounds, its application and the disputes that have arisen from it. The Church is constituted by the fact that it takes shape from the celebration, from the gift received. In this way, Sacrosantum Concilium, more than a manual for reforming the rites, has proved to be a magna carta, capable of inspiring the renewal and the reform of the Church. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we aimed to report our single-center experience in encrusted ureteral stent management and to compare the utility of two different scoring systems in patient management. This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent various surgical procedures to remove encrusted ureteral stent. Encrusted stent grading was performed using KUB and FECal grading sytems. FECal grading system scored from Grade 1 to Grade 5 according to stone size, location, and degree of stent incrustation and the KUB score is the sum of the stone burden scores of three different parts of an encrusted stent within the kidney, ureter, and bladder determined using a scale from 1 to 5 according to the maximal diameter of encrustation. We compared these two classifications for the prediction of perioperative outcomes. Fifty patients were included in the study (52% female, mean age 48 years). The mean time from ureteral stent insertion until diagnosis of encrustation was 11.4 ± 13.6 months. High-grade incrustations (FECal Grade 3, 4, and 5) accounted for 62% of cases. The mean KUB score was 9.8 ± 2.7. The average number of procedures required to remove the stent was 1.71 ± 1.38. Multimodal surgery was required to remove 42% of the stents. Both, a total KUB score ≥ 9 and high-grade FECal classification were found to be significant predictors of longer operative time (> 100 min), need for multiple surgeries, and need for invasive surgery. While high-grade FECal classification showed a significant association with need for multimodal surgery (OR 6.92, p = 0.008), a total KUB score ≥ 9 showed no association (OR 2.91, p = 0.086). These two scores seem to be good indicators in predicting difficulties for surgical management of encrusted ureteral stent with a clear advantage of the FECal score in terms of prediction of multimodal surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]