QT DISPERSION: A RISK INDICATOR FOR SEVERE VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIA IN PATIENTS WITH ISCHEMIC AND IDIOPATHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY

Increased QT dispersion in the surface ECG (QTd = QTmax minus QTmin) is considered as an indicator of electrical inhomogeneitv and a useful predictor for severe ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death in patients with different heart diseases. Patients with ischemic and idiopathic cardiomyopathy have a very high incidence of severe ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. We compared QT, QTc. JT and JTc dispersion in ischemic (ICMP) and idopathic (CCMP) cardiomyopathy patients with and without severe ventricular arrhythmia and normal controls.

Beyond Defense: Proactive Approaches to Disaster Recovery and Threat Intelligence in Modern Enterprises

As cyber threats keep changing and business environments adapt, a comprehensive approach to disaster recovery involves more than just defensive measures. This research delves deep into the strategies required to respond to threats and anticipate and mitigate them proactively. Beginning with understanding the critical need for a layered defense and the intricacies of the attacker’s journey, the research offers insights into specialized defense techniques, emphasizing the importance of timely and strategic responses during incidents. Risk management is brought to the forefront, underscoring businesses’ need to adopt mature risk assessment practices and understand the potential risk impact areas. Additionally, the value of threat intelligence is explored, shedding light on the importance of active engagement within sharing communities and the vigilant observation of adversary motivations. “Beyond Defense: Proactive Approaches to Disaster Recovery and Threat Intelligence in Modern Enterprises” is a comprehensive guide for organizations aiming to fortify their cybersecurity posture, marrying best practices in proactive and reactive measures in the ever-challenging digital realm.

Potentially harmful metals,and health risk evaluation in groundwater of Mardan,Pakistan:Application of geostatistical approach and geographic information system

This study investigates the values of pH,total dissolved solids(TDS),elevation,oxidative reduction potential(ORP),temperature,and depth,while the concentrations of Br,and potentially harmful metals(PHMs)such as Cr,Ni,Cd,Mn,Cu,Pb,Co,Zn,and Fe in the groundwater samples.Moreover,geographic information system(GIS),XLSTAT,and IBM SPSS Statistics 20 software were used for spatial distribution modeling,principal component analysis(PCA),cluster analysis(CA),and Quantile-Quantile(Q-Q)plotting to determine groundwater pollution sources,similarity index,and normal distribution reference line for the selected parameters.The mean values of pH,TDS,elevation,ORP,temperature,depth,and Br were 7.2,322 mg/L,364 m,188 mV,29.6℃,70 m,0.20 mg/L,and PHMs like Cr,Ni,Cd,Mn,Cu,Pb,Co,Zn,and Fe were 0.38,0.26,0.08,0.27,0.36,0.22,0.04,0.43 and 0.86 mg/L,respectively.PHMs including Cr(89%),Cd(43%),Mn(23%),Pb(79%),Co(20%),and Fe(91%)exceeded the guideline values set by the world health organization(WHO).The significant R^(2)values of PCA for selected parameters were also determined(0.62,0.67,0.78,0.73,0.60,0.87,-0.50,0.69,0.70,0.74,-0.50,0.70,0.67,0.79,0.59,and-0.55,respectively).PCA revealed three geochemical processes such as geogenic,anthropogenic,and reducing conditions.The mineral phases of Cd(OH)_(2),Fe(OH)_(3),FeOOH,Mn_(3)O_(4),Fe_(2)O_(3),MnOOH,Pb(OH)_(2),Mn(OH)_(2),MnO_(2),and Zn(OH)_(2)(-3.7,3.75,9.7,-5.8,8.9,-3.6,2.2,-4.6,-7.7,-0.9,and 0.003,respectively)showed super-saturation and under-saturation conditions.Health risk assessment(HRA)values for PHMs were also calculated and the values of hazard quotient(HQ),and hazard indices(HI)for the entire study area were increased in the following order:Cd>Ni>Cu>Pb>Mn>Zn>Cr.Relatively higher HQ and HI values of Ni,Cd,Pb,and Cu were greater than one showing unsuitability of groundwater for domestic,agriculture,and drinking purposes.The long-term ingestion of groundwater could also cause severe health concerns such as kidney,brain dysfunction,liver,stomach problems,and even cancer.

Analysis on Landscape Ecological Risk of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateaus:A Case Study on Niyang River Basin

Taking Niyang River Basin as an example, applying with the indices of landscape pattern, the indices of ecological risk of ecosystems are calculated in this paper, which takes the value of ecological loss of main ecosystem as the evaluation standard and takes into account the impacts of probability or the velocity of main hazards and event of the ecosystem. And the grades of ecological risk are assessed. According to the results of assessment, the ecological risk grades of the basin are divided into five classes. From the first grade risk to the fifth grade risk, the values of regional risk indices gradually reduce. The first grade risk areas mainly distribute in Niyang river and its branches downstream and the surrounding areas of main towns. And the basin area of non-valley region and the headstream regions of the branches are the fifth grades risk areas. This evaluation results provide the basis to the regional sustainable development.

Development of emergency water quality standard for Cr^(6+) and Hg^(2+) in Liao River basin

The acute toxicity data of Cr＋ and Hg2＋ to the aquatic organisms in Liao River basin was collected and screened. Calculated results of criteria values using popular species sensitivity distribution （SSD） methods were evaluated through data analysis. The comprehensive methodology of emergency water quality standards （EWQSs） was established on the basis of the SSD method of Australia and New Zealand according to the evalu- ation results. The affected fractions of the aquatic organisms were set to be 5 %, 15 %, 30 % and 50 %, corre- sponding to the risk grades of Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and IV, and four-grade EWQSs, respectively. The EWQSs for Cr6＋ and Hg2. in the Liao River were derived and the corresponding risk indicators were also proposed. The results showed that the four-grade EWQSs for Cr6＋ were 2.85 μg/L, 21.0 μg/L, 161 μg/L and 797 μ/L, respec- tively, and the risk indicators were daphnia （grade Ⅱ ）, shrimp （grade Ⅲ）, and the bighead fish or tadpole （grade IV）. The four-grade EWQSs for Hg2＋ were 0.59 μg/L, 2.32 μg/L, 6.25 μg/L and 15.6 μg/L, respective- ly, and the risk indicators were crucian carp or daphnia （grade Ⅱ）, shrimp （grade Ⅲ）, and worm or crab （grade IV）. The results provided valuable information for the risk analysis of sudden ambient water environmen- tal pollution accident.

Probability Models of Fire Risk Based on Forest Fire Indices in Contrasting Climates over China

Fire weather indices have been widely applied to predict fire risk in many regions of the world. The objectives of this study were to establish fire risk probability models based on fire indices over different climatic regions in China. We linked the indices adopted in Canadian, US, and Australia with location, time, altitude, vegetation and fire characteristics during 1998-2007 in four regions using semi- parametric logistic （SPL） regression models. Different combinations of fire risk indices were selected as explanatory variables for specific regional probability model. SPL regression models of probability of fire ignition and large fire events were established to describe the non-linear relationship between fire risk indices and fire risk probabilities in the four regions. Graphs of observed versus estimated probabilities, fire risk maps, graphs of numbers of large fire events were produced from the probability models to assess the skill of these models. Fire ignition in all regions showed a significant link with altitude and NDVI. Indices of fuel moisture are important factors influencing fire occurrence in northern China. The fuel indices of organic material are significant indicators of fire risk in southern China. Besides the well skill of predicting fire risk, the probability models are a useful method to assess the utility of the fire risk indices in estimating fire events. The analysis presents some of the dynamics of climate-fire interactions and their value for management systems.

Transient stability risk assessment of power systems incorporating wind farms

Large-scale wind farm integration has brought several aspects of challenges to the transient stability of power systems.This paper focuses on the research of the transient stability of power systems incorporating with wind farms by utilizing risk assessment methods.The detailed model of double fed induction generator has been established.Wind penetration variation and multiple stochastic factors of power systems have been considered.The process of transient stability risk assessment based on the Monte Carlo method has been described and a comprehensive risk indicator has been proposed.An investigation has been conducted into an improved 10-generator 39-bus system with a wind farm incorporated to verify the validity and feasibility of the risk assessment method proposed.

Traumatic subcutaneous emphysema of the hand/forearm: A case report

Subcutaneous emphysema is commonly associated with infection caused by gas-producing organisms.In this case report,we describe a rare instance of traumatic subcutaneous emphysema of the hand and forearm caused by a puncture injury to the first web space of the hand.Our objective is to increase awareness of the potential for seemingly minor trauma to cause entrapment of significant air in subcutaneous tissues,thereby decreasing the likelihood that a clinically benign-appearing patient will be started down an unnecessarily aggressive treatment pathway.A 16-year-old,otherwise healthy white female,presented to the pediatric emergency room with an impressive amount of subcutaneous emphysema that developed over a 12-h period after sustaining an accidental laceration to the first web space of her right hand.She appeared nontoxic and had a clinically benign presentation.A comprehensive work-up was performed.She was splinted by the orthopedic surgery resident on call,and was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for overnight monitoring.She received tetanus vaccination and broad-spectrum antibiotics.The patient was discharged 2 days after admittance,with a splint applied to her right hand and forearm.She undertook home-based physical and occupational therapy.She had a pain-free range-of-motion in the right wrist,elbow and shoulder.The swelling in the right hand subsided completely.Although initially alarming,traumatic subcutaneous emphysema in an otherwise healthy patient from minor wounds(as featured in this case)does not necessarily mean one ought to proceed down an aggressive treatment algorithm.Careful evaluation of the patient's history,clinical examination findings,and determination of the Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis score can help guide physicians in the management of traumatic subcutaneous emphysema and potentially avoid unnecessary and costly interventions.