Sex differences in the association between the muscle quality index and the incidence of depression: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Depression presents significant challenges to mental health care.Although phy-sical activity is highly beneficial to mental and physical health,relatively few stu-dies have conducted on the relationship between them.AIM To investigate the association between muscle quality index(MQI)and incidence of depression.METHODS The data used in this cross-sectional study were obtained from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey,which included informa-tion on MQI,depression,and confounding factors.Multivariable logistic regre-ssion models were employed,while taking into account the complex multi-stage sampling design.A restricted cubic spline model was utilized to investigate the non-linear relationship between the MQI and depression.Additionally,subgroup analyses were performed to identify influential factors.RESULTS The prevalence of depression in this population was 8.44%.With the adjusted model,the MQI was associated with depression in females(odds ratio=0.68,95%confidence interval:0.49-0.95)but not in males(odds ratio=1.08,95%confidence interval:0.77-1.52).Restricted cubic spline adjustment of all covariates showed a significant negative non-linear relationship between depression and the MQI in females.The observed trend indicated an 80%decrease in the risk of depression for each unit increase in MQI,until a value of 2.2.Subsequently,when the MQI exceeded 2.2,the prevalence of depression increased by 20%for every unit increase in the MQI.Subgroup analyses further confirmed that the MQI was negatively associated with de-pression.CONCLUSION The MQI was inversely correlated with depression in females but not males,suggesting that females with a higher MQI might decrease the risk of depression.

Development and Application of Water Quality Index (WQI) for the Evaluation of the Physico-Chemical Quality of Groundwater in Gold Mining Areas of Southeastern Senegal

Water is the most essential requirement for life. It provides a variety of purposes such as a source of water supply for drinking, domestic and industrial use, irrigated agriculture, livestock, and mining activities. Evaluating the status of water quality from traditional approaches does not guarantee the whole overview of the water quality situation. Therefore, developing a tool that can convert multiple parameters data into information that is understandable by both technical and non-technical personnel is vital. In this context, the purpose of this paper was to develop, calculate, and apply a water quality index for assessing the suitability (for drinking purposes) of groundwater in the gold mining areas in south-eastern Senegal. The development of this index based on WHO water quality guidelines followed the five standards steps i.e., parameters selection, sub-index formation, parameters weighting and sub-index aggregation and evaluation. Finally, the WQI summarized twelve key water quality parameters into 05 simple terms (excellent, good, medium, poor, and very poor) which is more relevant for reporting to managers and the public in a consistent manner. Thus, it was observed in the study area, that the water quality indexes in artisanal and industrial mining areas are either poor or very poor while in the reference stations (where there are no mining activities) WQI are either good or excellent. This situation was attributed to the effects of mining activities in such zones which contribute to the pollution of groundwater with heavy metals, nitrates, and suspended solids.

Quality index and hot tearing susceptibility of Al-7Si-0.35Mg-xCu alloys

The effects of Cu addition（0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 3%, mass fraction） on the quality index（Qi） and hot tearing susceptibility（HTS） of A356 alloy were investigated. According to the results, Cu addition up to 1.5% increases the Qi by almost 10%, which seems to be due to its solid solution strengthening and dispersion hardening effect of Cu-rich Al2Cu and AlMgCuSi compounds. However, further addition of Cu（up to 3%） decreases the Qi by almost 12%, which is likely due to the reduction of tensile strength and elongation caused by increased volume fraction of brittle Cu-rich intermetallics and microporosities in the microstructure. It is also found that Cu increases the HTS of A356 alloy measured by constrained rod casting method. According to the thermal analysis results, Cu widens the solidification range of the alloy, which in turn, decreases its fluidity and increases the time period during which the mushy-state alloy is exposed to the hot tearing susceptible zone. SEM examination of the hot tear surfaces in high-Cu alloys also demonstrates their rough nature and the occurrence of interdendritic/intergranular microcracks as convincing evidences for the initiation of hot tears in the late stages of solidification in which there is not enough time for crack healing.

Correlations between quality indexes of chest compression

BACKGROUND:Cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) is a kind of emergency treatment for cardiopulmonary arrest,and chest compression is the most important and necessary part of CPR.The American Heart Association published the new Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care in 2010 and demanded for better performance of chest compression practice,especially in compression depth and rate.The current study was to explore the relationship of quality indexes of chest compression and to identify the key points in chest compression training and practice.METHODS:Totally 219 healthcare workers accepted chest compression training by using Laerdal ACLS advanced life support resuscitation model.The quality indexes of chest compression,including compression hands placement,compression rate,compression depth,and chest wall recoil as well as self-reported fatigue time were monitored by the Laerdal Computer Skills and Reporting System.RESULTS:The quality of chest compression was related to the gender of the compressor.The indexes in males,including self-reported fatigue time,the accuracy of compression depth and the compression rate,the accuracy of compression rate,were higher than those in females.However,the accuracy of chest recoil was higher in females than in males.The quality indexes of chest compression were correlated with each other.The self-reported fatigue time was related to all the indexes except the compression rate.CONCLUSION:It is necessary to offer CPR training courses regularly.In clinical practice,it might be better to change the practitioner before fatigue,especially for females or weak practitioners.In training projects,more attention should be paid to the control of compression rate,in order to delay the fatigue,guarantee enough compression depth and improve the quality of chest compression.

Comprehensive Characterization Model of Integrated Cotton Fiber Quality Index

An integrated cotton fiber quality index （ICFQI） model with cotton fiber qualities which can directly express cotton fiber integrated quality and spinning yarn quality was studied. The fiber length, strength, Micronalre （fiber fineness and fiber maturity）, uniformity of fiber length, and short fiber content are the pivotal indexes expressing ICFQI. All of the results above are the basic knowledge to build up the models of ICFQI. According to spinning consistency index （SCI）, spinning strength and spinning yarn integrated quality, ICFQI was the best choice. As the methods of ICFQI had quite a lot of advantages like explicit mechanism, few independent variables. The integrated fiber quality index had a significant positive correlation with yarn strength and spinning consistency, significant negative correlation with yarn evenness and yarn thin places. In additional, the model of the relationship between ICFQI and SCI was established as： SCI=0. 235 6·ICFQI ＋56.153. It was concluded that ICFQI value was the shared reference index for the testing of fiber inspection agency and the selection and distribution of raw cotton bales by textile mills.

Integrating Lithostratigraphic Units and GIS-Analysis Techniques to Modified Surface Water Quality Index

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of using Bicarbonate and Calcium parameters as alternatives to the lithostratigraphic units covered the catchment area, on water quality index (WQI) values that have been implemented with GIS technique at Wadi Al-Arab Dam. The analyzed results (by WQI method) have been used to depict water quality for the two approaches. Based on physico-chemical parameters, the calculated values for WQI over the 3-year for study period were 169, 168, and 157, respectively. While the WQI values were 184, 183 and 172, respectively, as a result of incorporated Bicarbonate and Calcium parameters in WQI calculations that significantly contributed to increasing the WQI. The elevated values may be attributed to the influence of carbonate stone dissolution and mechanical erosion under weathering conditions that are prevalent during winter season in the catchment area. As a consequence of lithostratigraphic unites product and GIS technique integration and normalization processes, most of water quality ranks are good and only autumn season has poor water quality in the 2012 and 2013, while in 2014 it has good water quality in the same season. The WQI values increase in general trend from winter to autumn seasons during the study period that may be referred to outflow by daily consumption, evaporation rising, and seepage water. The analysis shows that the modified water quality values of the Wadi Al-Arab Dam Reservoir (WADR) vary after using Bicarbonate and Calcium parameters by constant value. Generally, the results signify that the WADR is not polluted based on the physical and chemical characteristics of water.

Water Quality Index and Absorption of Zinc from Electroplating Industry Effluent Using Fungi

The present study deals with the Water Quality Index （WQI） and absorption of zinc from electroplating industry effluent using ftmgi. The physico-chemical parameters such as EC （Electrical Conductivity）, TDS （Total Dissolved Solids）, total hardness, magnesium, calcium, chloride, sodium, potassium, nickel, chromium and zinc content was above the permissible limits of BIS （Bureau of Indian Standards）. The WQI was 13, which showed that the pollution level of the electroplating industry effluent was severe in the rating scale and the effluent was not suitable for disposal without treatment. Three fungal species such as Aspergillus niger, Peinicillium chrysogenum and Rhizopus nigricans were used for absorption studies. Different concentrations （25, 50, 75 and 100%） of electroplating industry effluent along with 1 gm of fungal mycelium with （1%） and without carbon source was incubated in a shaker for a period of 7 days in order to observe zinc absorption capacity. The absorption capacity of zinc was found to be higher in Aspergillus niger followed by Rhizopus nigricans and Penicillium chrysogenum. Among the three fungal species Aspergillus niger had high （50%） potential of zinc absorption with carbon source and low concentration （25%） of electroplating industry effluent.

Soil quality index as a tool for Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris) monoculture conversion planning on afforested,reclaimed mine land

In Central Europe, a large portion of post-mining sites were afforested with Scots pine, which is characterized by good adaptability and a tolerance for poor habitat at the beginning of forest ecosystem development. Conversion of monoculture on mine sites into more biodi- verse mixed hardwood forests, especially on more fertile deposits, can be an emerging need in this part of Europe in next decades. The ability to classify the forests at these post-mining sites will facilitate proper species selection as well as the management and formation of the developed ecosystem＇s stability. This work describes the guidelines that can be followed to assess reclaimed mine soil （RMS） quality, using the mine soil quality index （MSQI） and a classification of developed forest sites as a basis of tree-stand species selection and conversion of pine monocul- tures. The research was conducted on four post-mining facilities （lignite, hard coal, sulphur, and sand pit mining areas） on different RMS sub- strates dominant in Central Europe. Soil quality assessment takes into account the following features of the soil： texture soil nutrients （Ca, Mg, K, Na, P）; acidity （pH KC1）; and Corg-to-Nt ratio in the initial organic horizon. An analysis was conducted of classification systems using the MSQI validation correlation （at p =0.05） with vegetation features af- fected by succession： aboveground biomass of forest floor and ecological indicators of vascular plants （calculated on the basis of EUenberg＇s （2009） system）. Eventually, in the analysed data set, the MSQI ranged from 0.270 for soils on quaternary sands to 0.720 for a mix of quaternary loamy sands with neogene clays. Potential forest habitat types and the role of the pine in the next generation of tree stands on different RMS parent rock substrate were proposed.

Improved Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores on first postoperative night achieved by propofol anesthesia in patients undergoing ambulatory gynecologic surgery

BACKGROUND Sleep disturbance on the first postoperative night commonly develops for patients after day surgeries. The choice of either total intravenous anesthesia by propofol or total inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane has become an issue for preventing sleep disturbance.AIM To compare sleep quality on the first postoperative night for female patients after total intravenous anesthesia by propofol and total inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane.METHODS We enrolled 61 American Society of Anesthesia(ASA) class Ⅰ-Ⅱ outpatients who underwent minor gynecologic surgeries by either propofol or sevoflurane anesthesia. Sleep quality of the very night was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI) on the next day, and PSQI scores were compared by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and paired t-test pre-operatively and postoperatively.RESULTS For the propofol group, the mean postoperative global PSQI score(3.3 ± 1.3) was lower than the mean preoperative global PSQI score(4.9 ± 2.3)(P < 0.001);for the sevoflurane group, the mean postoperative global PSQI score(6.5 ± 2.8) was higher than the mean preoperative global PSQI score(5.5 ± 3.2)(P = 0.02). Eighty percent of patients receiving propofol anesthesia subjectively reported improved sleep quality, but only 17% of patients receiving sevoflurane anesthesia reported improved sleep quality.CONCLUSION Sleep quality assessed by the PSQI is better improved in ASA class Ⅰ-Ⅱ female patients receiving propofol anesthesia other than sevoflurane anesthesia for undergoing minor gynecologic surgeries.

Application of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System to Elaborate UQI （Urban Quality Index）： A Case of Casablanca, Morocco

The urban environmental quality remains currently difficult to be assessed because of overlapping of several natural and anthropogenic factors having socio-economic and environmental outstanding impacts. The fast developing and uncontrolled urbanization is behind the development of some negative side effects on the urban environment. Many studies demonstrate the ability of remote sensing and GIS （geographic information system） to monitor urban environment quality. Casablanca, Morocco＇s economical capital is facing a fast growing demographic development amplified by a massive rural depopulation and all this in an anarchic way. This growth of increased urban activity comes often with the proliferation of informal settlement and shantytown to the detriment of farming areas and green spaces. This study is made possible by using a SPOT-5 image of Casablanca city, taken March 16, 2004 merged with 2.5 m spatial resolution and census data. Indicators were defined and listed in social, economic and environmental categories. An index of environmental quality in Casablanca city for the 17 urban municipalities was calculated after the standardization and weighting of indicators used. The results may be useful to city managers and planners who are concerned with urban environment quality issues and sustainable development.

Hydro-geochemical evaluation of groundwater with studies on water quality index and suitability for drinking in Sagardari,Jashore

Sagardari union is facing groundwater crisis because of contaminations from agriculture and urban sewage,which bring a considerable change in water quality.In view of this,hydro-chemical analyses were undertaken on 35 groundwater samples and the following hydro-geochemical parameters,pH,total dissolved solids(TDS),total hardness(TH),electrical conductivity(EC),cations and anions,were analyzed.From the analytical results,it is found that pH value was lower than WHO drinking water standard and the middledownstream portions of the investigation region show higher EC.The piper plot indicates that the groundwater in Sagardari falls in the categories of NaClHCO3 hydro-chemical facies.Higher TH in groundwater was detected,but still in an acceptable range.In addition,salinity and arsenic ratio are higher and moderately higher,respectively.The spatial distribution of Groundwater Quality Index(GWQI)was determined by geo-statistical modelling of Sagardari union.The study provides information and supports the administration which to make better groundwater utilization and quality control in the Sagardari union.

Quality index of bedded and joint-bearing rock mass and its applications

Based on the theory of Fuzzy Mathematics and Expert System, this paper presents the quantitative expression method of bedded and joint bearing rock mass quality "Stratum Quality Index"(SQI for short), and also introduces the successful application of the method in estimating stratum movement parameters.

Evaluation of Groundwater Quality in the Deep Maastrichtian Aquifer of Senegal Using Multivariate Statistics and Water Quality Index-Based GIS

A regional groundwater quality evaluation was conducted in the deep Maastrichtian aquifer of Senegal through multivariate statistical analysis and a GIS-based water quality index using physicochemical data from 232 boreholes distributed over the whole country. The aim was to 1) identify the water types and likely factors influencing the hydrochemistry, and 2) determine the suitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation. Results showed that sodium, chloride, and fluoride are highly correlated with electrical conductivity (EC) reflecting the significant contribution of these elements to groundwater mineralization. The principal component analysis evidenced: 1) salinization processes (loaded by Na+, K+, EC, Cl-, F- and HCO3-) controlled by water/rock interaction, seawater intrusion and cation exchange reactions;2) dolomite dissolution loaded by the couple Ca2+ and Mg2+ and 3) localized mixing with upper aquifers and gypsum dissolution respectively loaded by NO3- and SO42-. The hierarchical clustering analysis distinguished four clusters: 1) freshwater (EC = 594 μs/cm) with mixed-HCO3 water type and ionic contents below WHO standard;2) brackish (Na-mixed) water type with moderate mineralization content (1310 μs/cm), 3) brackish (Na-Cl) water type depicted by high EC values (3292 μs/cm) and ionic contents above WHO and 4) saline water with Na-Cl water type and very high mineralization contents (5953 μs/cm). The mapping of the groundwater quality index indicated suitable zones for drinking accounting for 54% of the entire area. The occurrence of a central brackish band and its vicinity, which were characterized by high mineralization, yielded unsuitable groundwater for drinking and agricultural uses. The approach used in this study was valuable for assessing groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation, and it can be used for regional studies in other locations, particularly in shallow and vulnerable aquifers.

Assessment of the Water Quality Index in the Semani River in Albania

Nowadays the human activity has increased the pressure on surface water quality. The purpose of this study is to assess the environmental quality of the Seman River water (in Southern part of Albania) through a 5-year monitoring program of 14 parameters (pH, DO, EC, TSS, Cl-, NO-3, Total-N, Total-P, BOD5, Cu2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Cd2+ and Temp. °C), that determine the environmental status of this waterbody, as well as the application of WQI (CCME) through a multivariable approach. Based on the cluster dendogram results, it can be concluded that during wet seasons such as winter-spring, there are more sediments which influence other physic-chemical parameters, while during dry seasons (summer-autumn) there are more decomposition reactions of elements released by sediments and influenced by temperature. PCA analysis determines whether the groups of factors correlate strongly or not, depending on the internal structures of the groups and variables “heavy” or latent and vary from season to season with differentiated contributions to the water quality. All three factors influence WQI to the extent of 56% in the summer and spring season and 64% and 40% in the autumn and winter season, respectively.

Water Quality Index of Pravara River for Drinking Purpose at Sangamner in Ahmednagar District, MS, India

River water is still a major source of drinking water for major part of population. Sangamner city is using the River water for drinking, domestic and industrial purpose. At the same time the waste generated is discharged into the River without or with partial treatment. So in present investigation the River water quality was analyzed for the parameters like pH, Electrical Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Hardness, Calcium, Magnesium, Alkalinity, Chloride, Dissolved Oxygen, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Biological Oxygen Demand. Sodium, Potassium, Sulphate, Phosphate and Nitrate. The water quality index for drinking purpose was calculated using same data. The grading system was used to assess the water quality index. The result indicates that the poor water quality at four sites ranging from 250 to 745. Only site 1 shows good water quality which is 36.08 which lies in grade B.

Groundwater Quality Index Mapping for Gulbarga City, Karnataka State, India

The present work is aimed at assessing the water quality index （WQI） for the groundwater for Gulbarga city. The water quality index （WQI） is a mathematical instrument used to transform large quantities of water quality data into a single number which represents the water quality level. In fact, developing WQI in an area is a fundamental process in the planning of land use and water resources management. One can then compare different samples for quality on the basis of the index value of each sample. The present work relates to the development of water quality index for the study area based on the experimental results of physicochemical analysis of water samples. For calculating the WQI, the following 11 parameters have been considered, pH, TH, Ca, Mg, NO3, SO4, TDS, F, CI, K and Na. The WQI for these samples ranges from 10.40 to 155. Using developed indices, groundwater isopleth map has been prepared for study area. In the case study, the WQI map reveals that groundwater quality in two areas is extremely near to mineral water quality. Created index map provides a comprehensive picture that is easily interpretable for regional decision makers for better planning and management. The results of analysis have been used to suggest models for predicting water quality. The analysis reveals that the groundwater of the area needs some degree of treatment before consumption, and it also needs to be protected from the perils of contamination.

Time Series Analysis and Forecasting of the Air Quality Index of Atmospheric Air Pollutants in Zahleh, Lebanon

During the last decades, air pollution has become a serious environmental hazard. Its impact on public health and safety, as well as on the ecosystem, has been dramatic. Forecasting the levels of air pollution to maintain the climatic conditions and environmental protection becomes crucial for government authorities to develop strategies for the prevention of pollution. This study aims to evaluate the atmospheric air pollution of the city of Zahleh located in the geographic zone of Bekaa. The study aims to determine a relationship between variations in ambient particulate concentrations during a short time. The data was collected from June 2017 to June 2018. In order to predict the Air Quality Index (AQI), Na&#239;ve, Exponential Smoothing, TBATS (a forecasting method to model time series data), and Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) models were implemented. The performance of these models for predicting air quality is measured using the Mean Absolute Error (MAE), the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and the Relative Error (RE). SARIMA model is the most accurate in prediction of AQI (RMSE = 38.04, MAE = 22.52 and RE = 0.16). The results reveal that SARIMA can be applied to cities like Zahleh to assess the level of air pollution and to prevent harmful impacts on health. Furthermore, the authorities responsible for controlling the air quality may use this model to measure the level of air pollution in the nearest future and establish a mechanism to identify the high peaks of air pollution.

Building a Comprehensive Well-off Society in Yunnan＇s Minority Areas A Study of the Prediction on the Differences in Life Quality Indexes

Based on the gray theory and GM （1, 1） model, the life quality indexes in next few years are predicted using the statistical data of the life quality indexes of Yunnan＇ s 8 minority areas in recent years and also compared with the standard value （2020） of building the national well-off society, and the differences between them are measured and calculated. Thus, effective reference information is provided for the decision-making of government.

Heavy Metal Characteristics and Comprehensive Quality Index Evaluation of Soil-Crop System in 11 Cities of Yunnan Province, China

Yunnan province in China is a high background area of soil heavy metals, and agricultural planting and industrial and mining activities are relatively frequent, which aggravate soil heavy metal pollution. However, at present, there are few reports on the overall or large-scale soil-crop pollution and risk assessment of heavy metals in Yunnan Province. This study through 11 cities in Yunnan province of China farmland soil-crop systems of heavy metal lead, cadmium content, enrichment coefficient is analyzed, and using the method of potential ecological harm index, index of compressive quality to evaluate heavy metal pollution soil-crop system risk. Results showed that the average content of soil heavy metal Cd and Pb were 1.31 mg/kg, 64.17 mg/kg, which are higher than the background value of Yunnan province. The average contents of Pb and Cd in the edible parts of crops were 0.20 mg/kg, 0.08 mg/kg. The average content of heavy metals in crops in Diqing (Pb) and Nujiang (Cd) was 0.72 mg/kg and 0.148 mg/kg. The enrichment coefficients of heavy metals in edible parts of crops were the largest in Diqing (Pb) and Zhaotong (Cd). The average value of ecological risk index of Pb element in soil is 2.79, which indicates that the study area is in a slight ecological hazard, the average value of the ecological risk index of Cd in soil is 126.43. The average value of the comprehensive quality impact index (IICQ) is 4.27, which indicates that the study area is moderately polluted. In this study, the contents of heavy metals Cd and Pb in soils and crops in different administrative regions were determined, and the heavy metals Pb and Cd in soil-crop system of Yunnan province, China were evaluated, it is expected to have important scientific and theoretical significance for the safe use of cultivated land to export safe agricultural products and promote the sustainable development of agriculture in Yunnan Plateau.

Assessment of Water Quality in High-Pressure Peruvian Anthropic Sectors of Lake Titicaca Using a Calibrated Index

The world’s lakes are in the process of degradation, with loss of water quality as a result of anthropic influences. This research aimed to evaluate water quality in high-pressure Peruvian anthropic sectors of Lake Titicaca using a calibrated index. The study considered ten important bays with influence from urban sectors. In each bay, surface waters were monitored for six years, considering physical, chemical and microbiological parameters. Water quality was assessed using the NSF Water Quality Index (NSF-WQI) and the one calibrated for Lake Titicaca (WQIT). Comparing the efficiency of these two indices, the WQIT showed a variation from moderately polluted bays to bad quality bays, such as Desaguadero and Yunguyo. These two bays were classified as hypereutrophic, therefore, the uses attributable to this condition are only irrigation and energy production. Applying the NSF-WQI, the results were not able to identify this significative difference, as all bays were classified as moderate quality waters. This result indicates that the WQIT calibration was adequate, as it allows inferring and estimating the water quality of Lake Titicaca with greater precision. According to Peru’s water quality standard for category 4, established for the conservation of the country’s lakes, the parameters that exceeded the standard values were PO4-P (0.035 mg∙L−1) and BOD5 (5 mg∙L−1) in all bays, and TC (1000 MPN mL−1) in Yunguyo bay. These high values indicate eutrophication processes, one of the main problems in the study area. The WQIT calibrated for Lake Titicaca can be used as an efficient tool to assess water quality in high Andean lentic waterbodies in South America.