Nocturnal Surface Urban Heat Island over Greater Cairo: Spatial Morphology, Temporal Trends and Links to Land-Atmosphere Influences

This study assesses the spatial and temporal characteristics of nighttime surface urban heat island (SUHI) effects over Greater Cairo: the largest metropolitan area in Africa. This study employed nighttime land surface temperature (LST) data at 1 km resolution from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua sensor for the period 2003–2019. We presented a new spatial anomaly algorithm, which allowed to define SUHI using the most anomalous hotspot and cold spot of LST for each time step over Greater Cairo between 2003 and 2019. Results demonstrate that although there is a significant increase in the spatial extent of SUHI over the past two decades, a significant decrease in the mean and maximum intensities of SUHI was noted. Moreover, we examined the dependency between SUHI characteristics and related factors that influence energy and heat fluxes between atmosphere and land in urban environments (e.g., surface albedo, vegetation cover, climate variability, and land cover/use changes). Results demonstrate that the decrease in the intensity of SUHI was mainly guided by a stronger warming in daytime and nighttime LST in the neighborhood of urban localities. This warming was accompanied by a decrease in surface albedo and diurnal temperature range (DTR) over these areas. Results of this study can provide guidance to local urban planners and decision-makers to adopt more effective mitigation strategies to diminish the negative impacts of urban warming on natural and human environments.</jats:p

Advanced glycoxidation and lipoxidation end products (AGEs and ALEs): an overview of their mechanisms of formation

Advanced lipoxidation end products (ALEs) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have a pathogenetic role in the development and progression of different oxidative-based diseases including diabetes, atherosclerosis, and neurological disorders. AGEs and ALEs represent a quite complex class of compounds that are formed by different mechanisms, by heterogeneous precursors and that can be formed either exogenously or endogenously. There is a wide interest in AGEs and ALEs involving different aspects of research which are essentially focused on set-up and application of analytical strategies (1) to identify, characterize, and quantify AGEs and ALEs in different pathophysiological conditions ; (2) to elucidate the molecular basis of their biological effects ; and (3) to discover compounds able to inhibit AGEs/ALEs damaging effects not only as biological tools aimed at validating AGEs/ALEs as drug target, but also as promising drugs. All the above-mentioned research stages require a clear picture of the chemical formation of AGEs/ALEs but this is not simple, due to the complex and heterogeneous pathways, involving different precursors and mechanisms. In view of this intricate scenario, the aim of the present review is to group the main AGEs and ALEs and to describe, for each of them, the precursors and mechanisms of formation

Examine the impact of transparent compression bandage to reduce complications from immobility after cardiac catheterization

Introduction: Bleeding, hematoma and cyanosis in the arterial catheter site are considered the most important complications after coronary artery angiography. A method in which homeostasis can result faster and patient can walk sooner should be found. Therefore, this study aimed to compare two methods of sandbags and transparent film dressings to reduce complications after coronary artery angiography. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 80 eligible patients at Shafa Hospital in Kerman, Iran. After angiography, the patients were randomly divided into two groups (n=40), a transparent film dressing and traditional dressing with sand bags groups. Transparent Talc and ECG paper, a 10-cm ruler, in the range of zero to ten, and the blood-soaked film weight (weight before and after angiography), were respectively used to measure cyanosis, the pain intensity and the amount of bleeding. Results:. No bleeding was observed in patients using transparent film dressing. After coronary angiography, the intensity of back pain and groin pain in patients using traditional dressing with sand bags was higher than in those using the transparent film dressing. Cyanosis was the same in both groups. Conclusion: Transparent film dressing is advised because of its impact of on reduction of complications after angiography, and also flexibility, semi-permeability, convenience, simplicity of usage and visibility