Changes in air quality associated with mobility trends and meteorological conditions during COVID-19 lockdown in Northern England, UK

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered catastrophic impacts on human life, but at the same time demonstrated positive impacts on air quality. In this study, the impact of COVID-19 lockdown interventions on five major air pollutants during the pre-lockdown, lockdown, and post-lockdown periods is analysed in three urban areas in Northern England: Leeds, Sheffield, and Manchester. A Generalised Additive Model (GAM) was implemented to eliminate the effects of meteorological factors from air quality to understand the variations in air pollutant levels exclusively caused by reductions in emissions. Comparison of lockdown with pre-lockdown period exhibited noticeable reductions in concentrations of NO (56.68–74.16%), NO2 (18.06–47.15%), and NOx (35.81–56.52%) for measured data. However, PM10 and PM2.5 levels demonstrated positive gain during lockdown ranging from 21.96–62.00% and 36.24–80.31%, respectively. Comparison of lockdown period with the equivalent period in 2019 also showed reductions in air pollutant concentrations, ranging 43.31–69.75% for NO, 41.52–62.99% for NOx, 37.13–55.54% for NO2, 2.36–19.02% for PM10, and 29.93–40.26% for PM2.5. Back trajectory analysis was performed to show the air mass origin during the pre-lockdown and lockdown periods. Further, the analysis showed a positive association of mobility data with gaseous pollutants and a negative correlation with particulate matter

Demonstration of malaria situation analysis, stratification and planning in Minab District, southern Iran

Objective: To demonstrate malaria situation analysis, stratification and planning for an endemic area in southern Iran. Methods: Data on health system, population, meteorological parameters, malaria cases, anopheline vectors, and control activities during 2005-2007 was obtained from Minab Health Center, Minab Meteorological Station and published documents about malaria elements in the study area. A datasheet was created in excel 2003 for analysis. Results: There were 644 health staff working in Minab District including 99 health staff in malaria control program. The health facilities are distributed as follow: 1 hospital with 96 beds, 23 health centers including private centers (10 in Minab city and 13 in rural area of Minab District) and 119 health houses in rural areas of Minab District. A nopheles stephensi was the dominant species in Minab District, however, Anopheles dthali, Anopheles superpictus, Anopheles fluviatilis, Anopheles multicolor, Anopheles pulcherrimus and Anopheles turkhudi can also be found in the area. Anopheles stephensi was reported susceptible to malathion, propoxur, primphos-methyl, lambda-cyhalothrin permethrin and deltamethrin, and resistant to DDT and dieldrin in the area. During the study period a total of 10 665 positive cases were reported, mainly due to local transmission (99.6). Plasmodium vivax was the main causative agent followed by Plasmodium falciparum. There were reports about drug resistance of Plasmodium falciparum in the area. Conclusions: Using different parameters, Minab was classified into 3 strata. A plan was designed based on described goal, objectives and targets. The approaches of this plan were categorized into: health education, early detection and correct treatment, and vector control. Main constraints of these approaches are population movement between Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan; vector control challenges at district, inadequate skilled medical staff in malaria case management and weak inter-sectorial coordination for malaria control, especially in urban areas. © 2011 Hainan Medical College

Pair production of the heavy leptons in future high energy linear e^{+}e^{-} colliders

The littlest Higgs model with T-parity predicts the existence of the T-odd particles, which can only be produced in pair. We consider pair production of the T-odd leptons in future high energy linear $e^{+}e^{-}$ collider ($ILC$). Our numerical results show that, as long as the T-odd leptons are not too heavy, they can be copiously produced and their possible signals might be detected via the processes $e^{+}e^{-}\to \bar{L}_{i}L_{j}$ in future $ILC$ experiments.Comment: Discussions added, typos and references correcte

Limnological of Bukan Dam Reservoir

In order to limnological study of Bukan Dam reservoir, sampling was performed monthly from determined sampling sites from April 2013 to March 2014. Sampling was conducted in reservoir lake by a PVC pipe with 2.25 m length and 5 cm diameter by columnar method. Besides, in more dipper (>5 m) sites, sampling conducted from bottom to surface with 1-m intervals (layer sampling) by a 2-liter Ruttner type sampler. In rivers due to water flow sampling was conducted by a scaled measure. Phytoplankton sampling was performed by 1-liter bottles. Zooplankton was sampled by filtering of 30 L through 55- micron plankton net. These samples were then transferred into bottles and sampling date and the name of station were attached on the bottles. Then, the samples were fixed immediately and transported to laboratory. It should be mentioned some physical parameters were determined in situ. Also, a 2-liter and another 1-liter water were collected to determine chlorophyll a and chemical factors respectively. Samples were preserved in dark and cold place for a week. The upper layers (without phytoplankton) were removed and the lower layer (with phytoplankton) was sampled into 5-ml chambers. The enumeration and identification was performed by a Nikon TS100 inverted microscope with ×400 (Phytoplankton) and ×200 (Zooplankton) magnification according to Utermohl (1958) method. About 50 fields were enumerated for each sample. The comparison of physicochemical and biological factors with standard criterion indicated that the presence of a fertile plain, agricultural growth, drought and higher water demand in recent years, as well as, higher population density, the Saghez city which is the main source of pollution in Bukan dam reservoir has caused that Bukan dam is in the transit state from mesotrophy to eutrophy. The results of the present study suggested that higher trophy in Bukan dam reservoir together with algal high density has negatively affected the Fish life and has reduced the stock in the lake. However, complementary studies should be performed prior to releasing. In this way the problems of other ecosystems should be prevented

Stock assessment of freshwater crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) in Aras reservoir

360 funnel traps were prepared as 30 in one row. They were bitted and located in different depths in sampling sites. Two rows each composed of 30 traps were located by stone, linking rope and boat with 50 m distance in sampling stations. The results showed that the average of total length of caught crayfish was 106.26±12.89 mm and their mean weight was 38.79 ± 15.54 gr. The largest crayfish had 171 mm length and 216 g weight. Also mean of total CPUE was 9.72±4.49 individuals in the study period. The evaluation by Schnabel approach indicated that fluctuation range of freshwater crayfish biomass with more than 120mm length was 131-313 with an average of 212.59 ±30.23 kilograms per ha. In this study freshwater crayfish biomass with more than 120mm length was 247 × 10^3 kilograms. The Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) was estimated 83 × 10^3 kilograms. In this study ّFecundity and biometry of crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) was investigated during 2012-2013. The results showed that the average of total length of caught crayfish was 106.26±12.89 mm and their mean weight was 38.79 ± 15.54 gr. The largest crayfish had 171 mm length and 216 g weight. Mean number of ovarian and pleopodal eggs were estimated at 286 ± 82 and 246.31 ± 80.41 eggs (with 95% confidence limits), respectively. In this research, male to female ratio was obtained 1.21:1. The time of male moulting at 16°C was started from April and was ended in the late May, when the water temperature reached to 18° C. The second moulting of males and the first moulting of females was performed simultaneously in 18°C water temperature at September. Reproduction of freshwater crayfish was started from November and continued to May of the next year. Harvesting period was from May to late November

Observation of hard scattering in photoproduction events with a large rapidity gap at HERA

Events with a large rapidity gap and total transverse energy greater than 5 GeV have been observed in quasi-real photoproduction at HERA with the ZEUS detector. The distribution of these events as a function of the $\gamma p$ centre of mass energy is consistent with diffractive scattering. For total transverse energies above 12 GeV, the hadronic final states show predominantly a two-jet structure with each jet having a transverse energy greater than 4 GeV. For the two-jet events, little energy flow is found outside the jets. This observation is consistent with the hard scattering of a quasi-real photon with a colourless object in the proton.Comment: 19 pages, latex, 4 figures appended as uuencoded fil

Experiments on polyculture of pike, Esox lucius, with carps

The Goal of project implementation was survey of biological roles of Northern pike, Esox lucius, in decreasing of Coarse fish and other un economics organisms in carps ponds and also increasing of final crops in hectare and determination of Suitable ration of pike in ponds. This project implemented by 5 treatment with 3 replicates for every ones in 2 years. The pike density was 200, 350, 500 and 650 fish individuals per hectare for 1, 2, 3 and 4 treatment, respectively, and fifth treatment was without pike. The treatments of 1 and 3 conducted in first year and other in second year of test period. At first, about 26 brooders Caught from Anzali Lagoon, and reproduced by artificial and semi - natural methods in Sefidroud Fisheries Research Station in 12–14 °c temperature. Produced larvae reared in earthen ponds and fries reached to weight of 10 -12 g after 45 days. Mean weight, length and survival rates of fish was 12.27 and 32.5 g, 11.44 and 15.83 cm, and 40 and 21% after 45 and 60 days, respectively. The carp density in ponds was 3500 fish individuals per hectare and stocking rates were 55 % silver carp, 20 % common carp, 10 % bighead carp and 15 % grass carp. In throughout of the experiment period, physico– chemical factors measured and plankton (phyto and zoo), benthos, un wanted fish and other organisms investigated. The biomass of unwanted fishes reduced to 76/81 and 60/6 % in first and second year of experiments respectively. The results showed that Esox lucius had effect in increasing of objective fish produce about 17.9 % and 3.9 % in first and second period of project implementation respectively. The average of fish produce in pond unit (2400 m^2)was 842 kg (3508 kg/ha ), 825 kg (3439 kg/ha) and 776 kg (3232 kg/ha) in first , second and control treatments first year of test period , and also in second year was 865 kg (3603 kg/ha), 877 kg (3652 kg/ha) and 848 kg (3531 kg/ha) in second , fourth and control treatments , respectively. A significant different found in final weight mean of common carp between treatments and Control ponds (P <0/05), as the weight of common carp in treatments ponds was 220 % in first year and 191 % in second year more than control pond. In end of the trial, the mean weight of Esox lucius was 265 ± 74, 276 ± 104, 159 ± 33 and 265 ± 89 g in 1, 2, 3 and 4 treatment, respectively. Survival rate of Northern pike in 1 to 4 treatment was 43.8, 55.2, 40 and 35.6 %, respectively

Search for new phenomena in events containing a same-flavour opposite-sign dilepton pair, jets, and large missing transverse momentum in √s=13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

Two searches for new phenomena in final states containing a same-flavour opposite-sign lepton (electron or muon) pair, jets, and large missing transverse momentum are presented. These searches make use of proton–proton collision data, collected during 2015 and 2016 at a centre-of-mass energy s=13 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the large hadron collider, which correspond to an integrated luminosity of 14.7fb-1. Both searches target the pair production of supersymmetric particles, squarks or gluinos, which decay to final states containing a same-flavour opposite-sign lepton pair via one of two mechanisms: a leptonically decaying Z boson in the final state, leading to a peak in the dilepton invariant-mass distribution around the Z boson mass; and decays of neutralinos (e.g. χ~20→ℓ+ℓ-χ~10), yielding a kinematic endpoint in the dilepton invariant-mass spectrum. The data are found to be consistent with the Standard Model expectation. Results are interpreted in simplified models of gluino-pair (squark-pair) production, and provide sensitivity to gluinos (squarks) with masses as large as 1.70 TeV (980 GeV)

The Global Burden of Cancer 2013

IMPORTANCE: Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. Current estimates of cancer burden in individual countries and regions are necessary to inform local cancer control strategies. OBJECTIVE: To estimate mortality, incidence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 28 cancers in 188 countries by sex from 1990 to 2013. EVIDENCE REVIEW: The general methodology of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2013 study was used. Cancer registries were the source for cancer incidence data as well as mortality incidence (MI) ratios. Sources for cause of death data include vital registration system data, verbal autopsy studies, and other sources. The MI ratios were used to transform incidence data to mortality estimates and cause of death estimates to incidence estimates. Cancer prevalence was estimated using MI ratios as surrogates for survival data; YLDs were calculated by multiplying prevalence estimates with disability weights, which were derived from population-based surveys; YLLs were computed by multiplying the number of estimated cancer deaths at each age with a reference life expectancy; and DALYs were calculated as the sum of YLDs and YLLs. FINDINGS: In 2013 there were 14.9 million incident cancer cases, 8.2 million deaths, and 196.3 million DALYs. Prostate cancer was the leading cause for cancer incidence (1.4 million) for men and breast cancer for women (1.8 million). Tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer was the leading cause for cancer death in men and women, with 1.6 million deaths. For men, TBL cancer was the leading cause of DALYs (24.9 million). For women, breast cancer was the leading cause of DALYs (13.1 million). Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) per 100 000 and age-standardized death rates (ASDRs) per 100 000 for both sexes in 2013 were higher in developing vs developed countries for stomach cancer (ASIR, 17 vs 14; ASDR, 15 vs 11), liver cancer (ASIR, 15 vs 7; ASDR, 16 vs 7), esophageal cancer (ASIR, 9 vs 4; ASDR, 9 vs 4), cervical cancer (ASIR, 8 vs 5; ASDR, 4 vs 2), lip and oral cavity cancer (ASIR, 7 vs 6; ASDR, 2 vs 2), and nasopharyngeal cancer (ASIR, 1.5 vs 0.4; ASDR, 1.2 vs 0.3). Between 1990 and 2013, ASIRs for all cancers combined (except nonmelanoma skin cancer and Kaposi sarcoma) increased by more than 10 in 113 countries and decreased by more than 10 in 12 of 188 countries. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Cancer poses a major threat to public health worldwide, and incidence rates have increased in most countries since 1990. The trend is a particular threat to developing nations with health systems that are ill-equipped to deal with complex and expensive cancer treatments. The annual update on the Global Burden of Cancer will provide all stakeholders with timely estimates to guide policy efforts in cancer prevention, screening, treatment, and palliation. Copyright 2015 American Medical Association. All rights reserved

Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17 : analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background Across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), one in ten deaths in children younger than 5 years is attributable to diarrhoea. The substantial between-country variation in both diarrhoea incidence and mortality is attributable to interventions that protect children, prevent infection, and treat disease. Identifying subnational regions with the highest burden and mapping associated risk factors can aid in reducing preventable childhood diarrhoea. Methods We used Bayesian model-based geostatistics and a geolocated dataset comprising 15 072 746 children younger than 5 years from 466 surveys in 94 LMICs, in combination with findings of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, to estimate posterior distributions of diarrhoea prevalence, incidence, and mortality from 2000 to 2017. From these data, we estimated the burden of diarrhoea at varying subnational levels (termed units) by spatially aggregating draws, and we investigated the drivers of subnational patterns by creating aggregated risk factor estimates. Findings The greatest declines in diarrhoeal mortality were seen in south and southeast Asia and South America, where 54·0% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 38·1–65·8), 17·4% (7·7–28·4), and 59·5% (34·2–86·9) of units, respectively, recorded decreases in deaths from diarrhoea greater than 10%. Although children in much of Africa remain at high risk of death due to diarrhoea, regions with the most deaths were outside Africa, with the highest mortality units located in Pakistan. Indonesia showed the greatest within-country geographical inequality; some regions had mortality rates nearly four times the average country rate. Reductions in mortality were correlated to improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) or reductions in child growth failure (CGF). Similarly, most high-risk areas had poor WASH, high CGF, or low oral rehydration therapy coverage. Interpretation By co-analysing geospatial trends in diarrhoeal burden and its key risk factors, we could assess candidate drivers of subnational death reduction. Further, by doing a counterfactual analysis of the remaining disease burden using key risk factors, we identified potential intervention strategies for vulnerable populations. In view of the demands for limited resources in LMICs, accurately quantifying the burden of diarrhoea and its drivers is important for precision public health