From the isocount, a transport diagram was plotted based on isocount counter and sediment transport parameters such as the general direction of movement by sediments on the seabed, transport velocity, transport thickness and bed load movement rate were determined for all the sites. The dispersion patterns obtained for the sediments by modeling were compared with the experimental results and they were found to be similar. Thus, the model results were validated and the proposed sites were found to be suitable for dumping the dredged material because the sediments did not return to the navigation channel.Alpha spectrometry is one of the greatest nuclear techniques for identification and quantification of α-emitters in the environment due to nuclear fuel cycle operations, nuclear materials and geochemical studies or forensic medicine investigations. This study was conducted to re-evaluate and optimize the factors affecting the performance of a multi-chamber alpha spectrometer (EG&G Ortec) used in our laboratory using an aged α-source of 232U in equilibrium with its decay products. The results shown that the energy calibration within energy window 4-9 MeV has been done using alpha particle emissions of 232U (t1/2.70.6 y) and its decay products with good linear fitting (R2 > 0.999). At a source to detector spacing of 10 mm, the efficiency of the detectors varied between 15 and 20%; while the better resolution (FWHM) was ~36 keV. These values are lower than those warranted when supplied before 20 years. The minimum detectable activity (MDA) of the detectors varies between 0.8 and 3.1 mBq for the chamber in use. The alpha spectrometer was also verified by certified reference samples to measure activity concentration of alpha emitters (e.g., 238U, 232Th, 226Ra and 241Am) with acceptable coefficient of variance ( less then 10%), ζ-score ( less then 3) and P-test ( less then 25%). As a result, the optimized alpha spectrometer is valid and can be utilized for monitoring and assessment of natural and artificial α-emitters in different environmental compartments.
  For patients with COVID-19, pneumothorax and hydrothorax are suggested to be negative prognostic indicators. However, the management of these two conditions has rarely been discussed. We aimed to describe the clinical outcomes of pleural drainage in critically ill patients with COVID-19.
 
  A total of 17 pleural drainages were performed in 11 critically ill patients with pneumothorax or hydrothorax. Either chest tubes or central venous catheters (CVCs) were used. The clinical outcomes, including respiratory and circulation indicators at 24 h and 1 h before the procedure and 24 h and 48 h after the procedure, were retrospectively recorded.
 
  (1) Following pleural drainage, there was a 19.1% improvement in the PaO
  /FiO
  ratio from 147.4 mmHg (-1h) to 175.5mmHg (24h), while the mean positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) decreased from 10.7 cmH
  O (-1h) to 8.9cmH
  O (24h) and 8.1cmH
  O (48 h). The A-a gradients decreased from 313.3mmHg (-1 h) to 261.3mmHg (24h). (2) The dosage of norepinephrine increased from 0.15μg/kg/min (-1h) to 0.40μg/kg/min (24h). (3) No haemorrhagic or infectious complications were observed. (4) A total of 41.6% of CVCs were partially or fully obstructed, while no chest tubes were obstructed.
 
  For critically ill patients with COVID-19, pleural drainage leads to a significant improvement in oxygenation and gas exchange, but the deterioration of circulation is not reversed. It is safe to perform pleural drainage even though anticoagulation therapy and glucocorticoids are widely used. Chest tubes rather than CVCs are recommended.
 For critically ill patients with COVID-19, pleural drainage leads to a significant improvement in oxygenation and gas exchange, but the deterioration of circulation is not reversed. It is safe to perform pleural drainage even though anticoagulation therapy and glucocorticoids are widely used. Chest tubes rather than CVCs are recommended.Oxidative stress drives the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common arrhythmia. In the cardiovascular system, cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) serves as the primary enzyme producing hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a mammalian gasotransmitter that reduces oxidative stress. Using a case control study design in patients with and without AF and a mouse model of CSE knockout (CSE-KO), we evaluated the role of H2S in the etiology of AF. Patients with AF (n = 51) had significantly reduced plasma acid labile sulfide levels compared to patients without AF (n = 65). In addition, patients with persistent AF (n = 25) showed lower plasma free sulfide levels compared to patients with paroxysmal AF (n = 26). Consistent with an important role for H2S in AF, CSE-KO mice had decreased atrial sulfide levels, increased atrial superoxide levels, and enhanced propensity for induced persistent AF compared to wild type (WT) mice. Rescuing H2S signaling in CSE-KO mice by Diallyl trisulfide (DATS) supplementation or reconstitution with endothelial cell specific CSE over-expression significantly reduced atrial superoxide, increased sulfide levels, and lowered AF inducibility. Lastly, low H2S levels in CSE KO mice was associated with atrial electrical remodeling including longer effective refractory periods, slower conduction velocity, increased myocyte calcium sparks, and increased myocyte action potential duration that were reversed by DATS supplementation or endothelial CSE overexpression. Our findings demonstrate an important role of CSE and H2S bioavailability in regulating electrical remodeling and susceptibility to AF.Major depression is one of the most common psychiatric illnesses.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Perifosine.html  Interestingly, a few studies have indicated the existence of depression subgroups, which respond differently to the available treatment options. Previously, sleep abnormalities have been suggested to indicate amenability to different treatment regimens. Thereby, especially REM-sleep parameters seem to play a prominent role, and REM-sleep dysregulation has been repeatedly discussed as a potential endophenotype of depression. With that said, estimating therapy outcome in order to choose the best line of treatment is of utmost importance to patients suffering from depression. The present study looks deeper into these clues by investigating the capability of polysomnographic sleep parameters to predict treatment response in depressed patients to either pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy. Moderately to severely depressed patients (n = 38) were randomly assigned to either psychotherapy (i.e. interpersonal psychotherapy) or pharmacotherapy (i.e., monotherapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRI, or selective serotonin noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors, SSNRI).