Neuromuscular Magnetic Field Measurement Based on Superconducting Bio-Sensors.

These years, disease-causing and disabling diseases have caused great concern. Neurological musculoskeletal disorders are diverse and affect people of a wide range of ages. And the lack of comprehensive diagnostic methods places a huge burden on healthcare systems and social economies. In this paper, the current status of clinical research on neuromuscular diseases is introduced, and the advantages of magnetic field measurement compared with clinical diagnostic methods are illustrated. A comprehensive description of the related technology of superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), magnetic field detection noise suppression scheme, the development trend of the sensor detection system, and the application and model establishment of the neuromuscular magnetic field is also given in this paper. The current research and development trends worldwide are compared simultaneously, and finally the conclusions and outlook are put forward. Based on the description of the existing literature and the ideas of other researchers, the next development trends and my own research ideas are presented in this paper, that is, starting from the establishment of a neuromuscular model, combining medical and industrial work, designing a sensor system that meets clinical needs, and laying the foundation for the clinical application of a bio-magnetic system. This review promotes a combination between medicine and industry, and guides researchers on considering the challenges of sensor development in terms of clinical needs. In addition, in this paper, the development trends are described, including the establishment of the model, the clinical demand for sensors, and the challenges of system development so as to give certain guidance to researchers.

Rapid re-establishment of top-down control at a no-take artificial reef.

Establishment of artificial reefs and no-take areas are management measures available for restoring deteriorated marine ecosystems, compensating for habitat loss and strengthening harvested populations. Following the establishment of no-take artificial reefs in western Sweden to compensate for hard bottoms lost to a shipping lane, we detected rapid positive effects on crustaceans and demersal fish compared to fished reference areas. The relative abundance and size structure of European lobster (Homarus gammarus) increased strongly in the no-take area indicating more than doubled and tripled egg production in 5 and 10 years, respectively. For benthic fish and crustacean communities, the abundances of gadoids and wrasses increased and the abundances of small decapod crustaceans decreased in the no-take area, likely indicating cascading effects of increased predation. The study demonstrates that relatively small no-take areas, enhanced by artificial reefs, can rapidly invigorate populations of lobster and fish that in turn may re-initiate local top-down control.

Aplicación del Método Hectárea de Hábitat en compensación ambiental: El caso del Embalse Río Piedras, Costa Rica

Introducción: La compensación ambiental es la alternativa final para enfrentar los impactos de proyectos de desarrollo que no pueden ser evitados, reducidos o mitigados. La compensación de hábitats pretende sustituir recursos ecológicamente equivalentes. El Método Hectárea de Hábitat se diseñó inicialmente para evaluar la equivalencia ecológica de vegetación nativa y emplea puntajes de indicadores relativos a un hábitat de referencia. La suma de estos puntajes mide la condición estructural del ambiente de manera relativa a la referencia, cuantificando el número de hectáreas necesarias para compensar la pérdida de un hábitat similar. Aunque el método no está exento de limitaciones, los valores se pueden estimar a partir de datos de campo recogidos sin ambigüedad, de forma reproducible, con menos sesgos que métodos más cualitativos. En este artículo, usamos una modificación del Método Hectárea de Hábitat para determinar el área equivalente necesaria para compensar la pérdida de hábitat en un área silvestre protegida en Costa Rica. Metodología: Trabajamos en la Reserva Biológica Lomas de Barbudal, Pacífico norte de Costa Rica, un área silvestre protegida donde se inundarán cerca de 113 hectáreas para el Embalse de Río Piedras. En una propiedad previamente identificada como un sitio potencial de compensación, evaluamos indicadores de paisaje, suelo, estructura de la vegetación y servicios ecosistémicos; asignamos los puntajes en relación con el sitio a inundar. Resultados: El puntaje de la condición ambiental en el sitio de compensación fue de 44,7% (±15,9%) del sitio inundado. En consecuencia, considerando la incertidumbre de nuestras mediciones, compensar la pérdida de cada hectárea requeriría entre 2.23 y 3.49 hectáreas de un ambiente similar. Conclusión: Se necesitan entre 2.23 y 3.49 hectáreas de reemplazo, para compensar la pérdida de hábitat en el Embalse de Río Piedras.

Introduction: Environmental compensation is the final alternative to face the impacts of development projects that cannot be avoided, reduced, or mitigated. The offset of affected habitats or environmental elements usually substitutes ecologically equivalent resources. The Habitat-Hectare Method was initially designed to assess the ecological equivalence of native vegetation, and employs indicator scores relative to a reference habitat. The sum of these scores measures the structural condition of the environment against the reference, quantifying the number of hectares needed to compensate for the loss of similar habitat. Although it is not exempt from limitations, the values can be estimated from field data collected without ambiguity, in a reproducible way, with less bias than more qualitative methods. In this paper, we use a modification of the Habitat-Hectare Method to determine the equivalent area needed to compensate for habitat loss in a protected wilderness in Costa Rica. Methods: We worked in the Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve, north Pacific of Costa Rica, a protected wilderness where nearly 113 hectares will be flooded for the Río Piedras Reservoir. In a property previously identified as a potential compensation site, we assessed indicators for landscape, soil, vegetation structure, and ecosystem services; the scores were assigned in relation to the environment found at the flood site. Results: The environmental condition score at the compensation site was 44.7% (±15.9%) of the impact site. Consequently, considering the uncertainty in our measurements, compensating for the loss of each hectare would require between 2.23 and 3.49 hectares of a similar environment. Conclusion: Between 2.23 and 3.49 hectares of are needed to compensate for the loss of habitat in the Río Piedras Reservoir.

Compensación en un sistema fluvial: el caso del Río Parismina, Costa Rica

Introducción: La construcción del Proyecto Hidroeléctrico (PH) Reventazón fue el sexto desarrollo en el cauce principal del río Reventazón en el Caribe de Costa Rica. Objetivo: Este proyecto identificó impactos residuales y acumulativos en el sistema fluvial principal, y aquí describimos cómo se compensaron esos impactos. Métodos: Con base en estudios de línea base, se cuantificó el hábitat perdido en el río Reventazón por el proyecto hidroeléctrico, particularmente en el área que actualmente ocupa su embalse y el tramo hasta la presa PH Angostura. Además, se evaluó la ganancia ambiental que resultaría de la protección de los ríos Parismina-Dos Novillos, que forman parte del mismo sistema de drenaje. La potencial compensación se cumplió declarando el Parismina-Dos Novillos como sistema fluvial libre de barreras, es decir, libre de futuras represas hidroeléctricas, y promoviendo una serie de programas de gestión que se implementaron en las riberas de esos ríos. Para demostrar la no pérdida de biodiversidad se utilizó una expresión que compara la mejora esperada en la calidad del hábitat acuático en el río Parismina-Dos Novillos con la pérdida de hábitat acuático en el río Reventazón. Resultados: Por decreto ejecutivo, el programa para la conservación y uso sustentable del sistema fluvial Parismina-Dos Novillos fue declarado de interés público como río sin barreras y denominado ''Programa de Compensación Fluvial Parismina y Dos Novillos''. Además, se estableció el Corredor Biológico Pez Bobo, que incluye el mencionado sistema fluvial y que protege su biodiversidad. Conclusiones: El Programa de Compensación Fluvial de Parismina brinda una alternativa para compensar los impactos residuales en los sistemas acuáticos. Podría servir como marco de referencia para lograr ganancias ambientales en estos sistemas fluviales.

Introduction: The construction of the Reventazón Hydroelectric Project (PH) was the sixth development in the main channel of the Reventazón river in the Caribbean of Costa Rica. Objective: This project identified residual and cumulative impacts on the main river system, and here we describe how those impacts were compensated. Methods: Based on baseline studies, the habitat lost in the Reventazón River due to the hydroelectric project was quantified, particularly in the area currently occupied by its reservoir and the section up to the PH Angostura dam. In addition, the environmental gain that would result from protecting the Parismina-Dos Novillos rivers, which are part of the same drainage system, was evaluated. The potential compensation was fulfilled by declaring the Parismina-Dos Novillos as a river system free of barriers, that is, free of future hydroelectric dams, and by promoting a series of management programs that were implemented on the banks of those rivers. To demonstrate the non-loss of biodiversity, an expression was used that compares the expected improvement in the quality of the aquatic habitat in the Parismina-Dos Novillos river with the loss of aquatic habitat in the Reventazón river. Results: By executive decree, the program for the conservation and sustainable use of the Parismina-Dos Novillos fluvial system was declared of public interest as a river without barriers and called the ''Parismina and Dos Novillos Fluvial Compensation Program.'' In addition, the Bobo-Fish Biological Corridor was established, including this river system and protecting its biodiversity. Conclusions: The Parismina Fluvial Compensation Program provides an alternative to compensate for residual impacts on aquatic systems. It could serve as a reference framework to achieve environmental gains in these riverine systems.

Towards Unpacking the Theory Behind, and a Pragmatic Approach to Biodiversity Offsets.

The use of biodiversity offsets to compensate for residual impacts on biodiversity resulting from a development or land-use change, is becoming more prevalent. While much has been published on this topic, there has been little published on the theoretical foundation on which biodiversity offsets are based. This paper seeks to unpack the theoretical and practical tenets of biodiversity offsets in relation to the public trust doctrine, responsibilities of the developer and the State, and significant unmitigable impacts on biodiversity. It was reasoned that the responsibility of the developer and the life of a biodiversity offset are finite, and that the concept of 'in perpetuity' may not exist practically and in law. It was further discovered that a sound understanding of the public trust doctrine is critical for consistent offset-based decision-making, particularly in those circumstances where an impasse between the potential significant loss to biodiversity and an indispensable need for a development or land-use change arises.

A Double Transducer for High Precision Ultrasonic Time-Domain Reflectometry Measurements.

Membrane fouling, where unwanted particles accumulate on the membrane surface and reduce its permeability, causes problems in membrane filtration processes. With ultrasonic time-domain reflectometry (UTDR) it is possible to measure the extent of membrane fouling and hence take actions to minimize it. However, the usability of UTDR is very limited to constant filtration conditions if the sonic velocity, which has a great impact on UTDR measurement accuracy, is unknown. With a reference transducer the actual sonic velocity can be measured. This requires another transducer to be installed in the module, where there may be only limited space or the module dimensions may not be suitable for the reference transducer. A double transducer described in this study eliminates the need for a separate reference transducer because in the double transducer the reference measurement is included in the design of the transducer holder. Two sensors in the same holder require less space. Other advantage is that the double transducer can be placed near the measurement target and hence the local sonic velocity can be determined.

The potential for biodiversity offsetting to fund effective invasive species control.

Compensating for biodiversity losses in 1 location by conserving or restoring biodiversity elsewhere (i.e., biodiversity offsetting) is being used increasingly to compensate for biodiversity losses resulting from development. We considered whether a form of biodiversity offsetting, enhancement offsetting (i.e., enhancing the quality of degraded natural habitats through intensive ecological management), can realistically secure additional funding to control biological invaders at a scale and duration that results in enhanced biodiversity outcomes. We suggest that biodiversity offsetting has the potential to enhance biodiversity values through funding of invasive species control, but it needs to meet 7 key conditions: be technically possible to reduce invasive species to levels that enhance native biodiversity; be affordable; be sufficiently large to compensate for the impact; be adaptable to accommodate new strategic and tactical developments while not compromising biodiversity outcomes; acknowledge uncertainties associated with managing pests; be based on an explicit risk assessment that identifies the cost of not achieving target outcomes; and include financial mechanisms to provide for in-perpetuity funding. The challenge then for conservation practitioners, advocates, and policy makers is to develop frameworks that allow for durable and effective partnerships with developers to realize the full potential of enhancement offsets, which will require a shift away from traditional preservation-focused approaches to biodiversity management.

A methodological proposal for quantifying environmental compensation through the spatial analysis of vulnerability indicators

The aim of this work was to propose a methodology for quantifying the environmental compensation through the spatial analysis of vulnerability indicators. A case study was applied for the analysis of sand extraction enterprises, in the region of Descalvado and Analândia, inland of São Paulo State, Brazil. Environmental vulnerability scores were attributed for the indicators related to erosion, hydrological resources and biodiversity loss. This methodological proposal allowed analyzing the local alternatives of certain enterprise with the objective of reducing impacts and at the same time reducing the costs of environmental compensation. The application of the methodology significantly reduced the subjectivity degree usually associated to the most of the methodologies of impact evaluation.

O termo compensação ambiental refere-se à obrigação do empreendedor em apoiar a implantação e manutenção de Unidades de Conservação, aplicável a empreendimentos de significativo impacto ambiental, de acordo com a Lei 9.986/2000. Esta lei estabelece que o volume de recursos a ser aplicado pelo empreendedor deve ser de no mínimo 0,5 por cento dos custos totais previstos para a implantação do empreendimento, sendo que este percentual deve ser fixado pelo órgão ambiental competente, de acordo com o grau de impacto ambiental. Sendo assim, o presente artigo tem o objetivo de propor uma metodologia para quantificação da compensação ambiental através da análise espacial de indicadores de vulnerabilidade ambiental. A proposta foi aplicada através de um estudo de caso em empreendimentos de mineração de areia, na região de Descalvado/Analândia, interior do Estado de São Paulo. Índices de vulnerabilidade ambiental foram atribuídos a indicadores de impactos relacionados à erosão, recursos hídricos e perda de biodiversidade. Esta metodologia representa importante instrumento de planejamento ambiental e econômico, podendo ser adaptada a diversos tipos de empreendimentos e realidades locais, contribuindo para a redução do grau de subjetividade geralmente associado ao processo de avaliação de impacto ambiental.