Urbanization has negative consequences for the integrity of ecosystems and services they provide, by reducing their extent and quality in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Few studies have explored how urban infrastructure expansion affects the spatial connectivity of coastal ecosystems by provoking their fragmentation and loss. Here we explore changes in the spatial connectivity of coastal ecosystems due to urbanization, analyzing ecosystem extent and concatenation with urban infrastructures (shared perimeter) in four bays of the Coquimbo region of northern Chile (from 29°S to 32°S) as model systems. Increase in natural-to-urban concatenation patterns were observed in most urbanized bays; sandy beaches and wetlands were the habitats most connected with urban infrastructures like roads and coastal artificial defenses. Availability of ecosystem services is compromised by progressive loss of natural connectivity and poor governance structure, which seems to confer high vulnerability to urbanized bays with future urban expansion. Complementary actions are proposed to reduce the vulnerability of coastal urban systems, considering 1) investment in nature-based infrastructures for coastal defenses, 2) restoration-rehabilitation of natural (remnant) urban ecosystems and eco-engineering of current artificial infrastructures, focusing on reestablishment of biodiversity patterns and habitat connectivity, and 3) limitation of coastal town and village expansion. Management strategies can improve coastal adaptation to natural hazards, stabilizing changes in the natural-urban concatenation mosaic present in coastal urban systems like bays.A novel process is developed for the recovery of germanium from the leach liquor of Zener diodes using solvent extraction. Extraction is carried out using a phosphonium ionic liquid, Cyphos IL 104, as an extractant. Preliminary investigations carried out on Ge(IV) extraction using Cyphos IL 104 include influence of various parameters like temperature, equilibration time, and concentration of extractant, chloride ion, and acid on the distribution of Ge(IV). NMR spectrum of Ge(IV)-extractant complex was analyzed to support the proposed extracting species of germanium. Quantitative extraction of germanium is achieved from 7 mol/L HCl onwards using 0.1 mol/L Cyphos IL 104. Optimum conditions for quantitative extraction of Ge from leach liquor of Zener diodes were developed. McCabe-Thiele plots were constructed for the extraction and stripping of Ge(IV) from leach liquor to determine the number of stages required at a particular aqueous/organic phase ratio. Separation of germanium from copper, mercury and iron has been achieved by selective stripping of these metal ions. Germanium is recovered as germanium oxide from the strip solution using NaOH as a precipitating agent. The synthesized germanium oxide is characterized by XRD, FE-SEM and EDX techniques. Although the Gait Exercise Assist Robot (GEAR) has been reported to effectively improve gait of hemiplegic patients, no study has investigated its use in chronic stroke patients. It is possible to facilitate gait reorganization by gait training with less compensation using the GEAR even in chronic stroke patients. What are the effects of GEAR training on the abnormal gait patterns of chronic stroke subjects? Subjects were randomly assigned to either the GEAR group (n = 8) or the treadmill group (n = 11). Each group underwent 20 sessions (40 min/day, 5 days/week). The changes in the 10 types of abnormal gait patterns were evaluated using a three-dimensional motion analysis system and the Global Rating of Change (GRC) scale before and after the intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-up assessment. In the GEAR group, hip hiking at a 1-month follow-up assessment was markedly lesser than that before the intervention, and the excessive hip external rotation at 3-month follow-up assessment was notably lesser than that after the intervention, but the change in excessive hip external rotation was in the normal range. In the treadmill group, knee extensor thrust at a 1-month follow-up assessment was strikingly lesser than that before the intervention, but the difference was in the normal range. In the GEAR group, the GRC scale scores were considerably higher after the intervention, at a 1-month, and 3-month follow-up assessment than those before the intervention. But, in the treadmill group, only the GRC scale score at a 1-month follow-up assessment was visibly higher than that before the intervention. Gait training using the GEAR may be more effective than treadmill-training in improving the swing phase in chronic stroke subjects.Gait training using the GEAR may be more effective than treadmill-training in improving the swing phase in chronic stroke subjects. The coordination of the glenohumeral joint and the shoulder girdle has been known as scapulohumeral rhythm. The effects of anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) are still subject to research. Former studies showed a higher amount of scapula lateral rotation to compensate for reduced glenohumeral elevation. Selleckchem AZD2281 The purpose of the present study was to confirm this mechanism and examine additional effects on the sternoclavicular and acromioclavicular joints' kinematics. 3D motion analysis was used to examine 23 shoulders of 16 patients with a mean age of 71.2 (SD 5.2) years with a mean follow up of 5.4 (SD 2.1) years after aTSA and to compare kinematics and coordination to 22 shoulders of 11 healthy age-matched individuals with a mean age of 69.6 (SD 5.3) years while performing elevation movement in frontal and sagittal plane. The ratio of glenohumeral to shoulder girdle contribution was reduced compared to healthy individuals Shoulder girdle contribution to elevation was 36.5% (SD 8.1) in the aTSA group vs. 28.5% (SD 8.2) in the control group in the sagittal plane and 38.1% (SD 9.1) vs. 30.2% (SD 7.1) in the frontal plane. Kinematics of the sternoclavicular and acromioclavicular joints showed significantly different patterns. Patients after aTSA showed altered shoulder girdle kinematics and higher contribution of the shoulder girdle towards elevation. Whether this is a result of the surgery, of limited glenohumeral range of motion or due to the preoperative status remains unclear. Further investigation with a prospective study design is necessary.Patients after aTSA showed altered shoulder girdle kinematics and higher contribution of the shoulder girdle towards elevation. Whether this is a result of the surgery, of limited glenohumeral range of motion or due to the preoperative status remains unclear. Further investigation with a prospective study design is necessary.