Browse Articles

Recycling and remanufacturing or technology upgrading? emission reduction decisions of supply chain under carbon cap-and-trade mechanism

Cap-and-trade mechanism can efficiently reduce carbon emissions, which makes it widely used around the world. This paper builds a Stackelberg game model for a manufacturer-led secondary supply chain and analyzes the best pricing, carbon reduction strategies, and the impacts of each variable on equilibrium results when using two emission reduction methods, recycling & remanufacturing, and technology upgrading under the cap-and-trade mechanism. The relationship between the variables was verified through case studies, and the economic benefits and emission reduction effects of the two emission reduction methods were compared. It is found that manufacturers’ profit in the recycling and remanufacturing mode is higher compared to that of the technology upgrading mode when consumer price sensitivity coefficient is low, but its emission reduction effect is less effective; raising the price of carbon trading can effectively increase the carbon reduction per unit low-carbon products and reduce total carbon emissions under the two modes. The government should boost the price of carbon to promote enterprises to reduce emissions, and it can also guide manufacturers to choose the technology upgrading emission reduction mode through other ways to minimize the total carbon emissions.

Publisher Correction: Long-term survival and undetectable circulating tumor DNA following comprehensive involved site radiotherapy for oligometastases

How adolescent motherhood is perceived and influenced by sociocultural factors: A sociological qualitative study of Sindh province, Pakistan

Background In Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), 21 million adolescent girls aged between 15 and 19 years become pregnant each year. Adolescent girls in South Asia have the shortest interval to begin maternity, i.e., within 1–2 years of marriage. There is limited evidence on the associated factors of adolescent pregnancy and motherhood in rural areas where socioeconomic indicators about women are weak. This study examined the sociocultural factors intertwined together and gave rise to adolescent motherhood. Methods This exploratory qualitative study was conducted in rural and less privileged areas in Pakistan’s Sindh province. Data was collected from August 05 to September 17, 2023, and 37 young women, who experienced early marriage, adolescent pregnancy and motherhood, were interviewed. The data was translated and transcribed verbatim. Braun & Clark’s six-step data analysis Model was used to create codes, develop themes and generate a report. Results The findings of the study show that child and close kin group marriage, poor socioeconomic conditions and social norms encouraged adolescent motherhood among young women. One’s association with the extended family also increased the likelihood of early maternity because different family members exerted social pressure to become a mother. This made the girls anxious to begin motherhood soon after marriage. However, these young mothers were unaware of adolescent’s motherhood’s social, psychological and physical consequences. They embraced it happily because it was considered a way of strengthening their position in the family. Conclusion This study confirms the negative consequences of adolescent motherhood in terms of school dropout and poor health outcomes. Based on these findings, we suggest addressing poverty and female dropout rates to prevent child marriage and adolescent pregnancy. Health providers must be trained to provide awareness and psychological support to girls experiencing adolescent motherhood. The government must initiate sexual and reproductive health education and engage community heads and religious leaders to educate communities about the social and health consequences of child marriage, adolescent pregnancy and motherhood.

The Bangla Big Five Inventory-2: a comprehensive psychometric validation

Effect of the mixed ownership reform on the stock market: Evidence from China

This study examines the effect of the mixed ownership reform from the perspective of a capital market. Based on a comprehensive dataset of Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) during the period of 2006–2020, this study determines that the mixed ownership reform can decrease corporate stock price synchronicity amongst SOEs, enhancing their capital allocation efficiency. The mediation analysis reveals that the mixed ownership reform restrains the stock price synchronicity of firms by enhancing executive incentive, strengthening checks and balances amongst shareholders and reducing administration constraints in SOEs. Additional tests demonstrate that this effect is more pronounced amongst firms whose chief executive officers wield greater authority, firms whose cash flow and control rights are separated and firms with higher marketisation level. Our study adds to the literature on the governance role of the mixed ownership reform by providing evidence at the capital market level.

Ecosystem benefits of urban woody plants for sustainable green space planning: a case study from Wroclaw

PrEP knowledge and perceptions among women living in North Carolina public housing communities

Women in low-income communities are disproportionately affected by HIV yet have been largely left out of efforts to raise awareness about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). To inform future awareness campaigns, we assessed women’s current knowledge of and attitudes toward PrEP. We surveyed 184 women living in public housing communities in North Carolina regarding PrEP knowledge, attitudes, and perceived norms, as well as reported HIV-associated factors and perceived HIV acquisition chances. 38 women participated in eight focus group discussions (FGDs) addressing personal and community PrEP perceptions. Survey participants were 46 years old on average, and 86% identified as Black/African American. Only 35% had heard of PrEP, yet, after being told what it was, 61% said they probably or definitely would take PrEP in the next 6 months. Most women believed that if they decided to take PrEP, their partner (72%) or their family (66%) would approve. When asked about the importance of factors influencing their interest in PrEP, women most frequently rated possible side effects as important or very important (76%), followed by cost considerations (67% for cost of PrEP, 74% for cost of clinic visits and labs). In the FGDs, women had limited PrEP knowledge, but several had heard of PrEP from television commercials, which gave them the impression that PrEP was only for men. Women were concerned about potential side effects, interactions with other medications, safety during pregnancy, and the burden of daily dosing. Most FGD participants expressed generally positive attitudes toward PrEP, but some thought other women would be uninterested due to low perceived chances of HIV acquisition. Overall, these results suggest that while few women had previously heard of PrEP, most were interested in PrEP after receiving information about it and perceived positive community attitudes toward PrEP. Our findings indicate the importance of community-based PrEP communication that speaks to cisgender women, provides information on side effects, and offers destigmatized messaging regarding reasons for HIV prevention for women to consider.

A global comparison of social media bot and human characteristics

Trends and factors associated with intimate partner sexual violence among married women in Zambia: A multilevel analysis

Background Sexual violence against women is a major social and public health problem with wide-ranging consequences on the victims. In Zambia, 15% of women have experienced sexual violence from intimate partners. While there exist some studies on sexual violence in Zambia, there is a dearth of research specifically addressing underlying determinants of intimate partner sexual violence against women who are either married or living with partners. Our study sought out to examine factors associated with sexual violence among this demographic and how these factors vary across communities and over time. Method We used data from the 2007, 2013/14 and 2018 waves of the Zambia Demographic and Health Surveys (ZDHS) consisting of a total of 21,020 women of reproductive age group of 15-49 years old. Trends in intimate partner sexual violence by selected factors across the three ZDHS cycles were analyzed using bivariate statistics and multilevel logistic regression models. Multilevel models were also fitted on the pooled data, including all the survey years, to examine individual and contextual level factors associated with intimate partner sexual violence. Results The results show that the prevalence of sexual violence remain high in Zambia, with a slight decrease over time, from 16.3% in 2007 through to 14.7% in 2018. Trends analysis show that the prevalence rate among women who have attained higher education, are in the highest wealth quintile, reside in urban areas, have decision-making authority have decreased significantly between 2007 and 2018. Contrarily, among women who tolerate violence and those who live with alcohol consuming partners, sexual violence prevalence rates have increased over time. In the consolidated multilevel model, the study finds several factors to be associated with intimate partner sexual violence, including having primary education (AOR =  1.18; 95% CI 1.02-1.36), having an alcohol consuming partner (AOR =  1.76; 95% CI 1.61-1.93), having no decision-making authority (AOR =  1.19; 95% CI 1.09-1.31), witnessing parental violence (AOR =  1.47; 95% CI 1.34-1.60), having a controlling partner (AOR =  3.41; CI 2.96-3.92) and being in a polygynous relationship (AOR =  1.31; 95% CI 1.16-1.49). While women who occupy the highest wealth quintile (AOR =  0.72; 95% CI 0.57-0.90) and those who live in rural areas (AOR =  0.83; 95% CI 0.72-0.96) have lower odds of experiencing intimate partner sexual violence. Conclusion This study underscores the persistent prevalence of sexual violence against women in Zambia, particularly within the context of intimate relationships. While there has been a slight decrease in prevalence over time, there are significant disparities across demographic and socio-economic factors. Findings indicate that educational attainment, partner’s controlling behavior, decision making authority, exposure to parental violence, partner’s alcohol consumption, and relationship type significantly influence the likelihood of experiencing intimate partner sexual violence in Zambia. These findings imply that there is need for targeted policy interventions and strategies to address underlying determinants of intimate partner sexual violence and promoting gender equality and empowerment among women in Zambia.

Comparative analysis of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in patients with therapy-related and de novo acute promyelocytic leukemia A retrospective study

Estimation of the demand for palliative care in a hospital in southern Peru

Objective To estimate the need for palliative care in deceased patients at the Daniel Alcides Carrión Hospital (Tacna, Peru) during 2023. Methodology An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with data from adult patients who died in a Peruvian hospital in 2023. Data were collected through the review of death certificates and medical records using the EsSalud Intelligent Health Service. Two methods were used to estimate the need for palliative care: the Rosenwax method (medium estimation) and the Murtagh method (medium-high estimation). Results Out of 255 deaths, 239 were analyzed. The median age was 76 years. 58.2% had two or more comorbidities, and only 3.8% had received palliative care previously. According to the Murtagh method, 82.9% of the patients required palliative care, while the Rosenwax method estimated a need of 74.1%. The most common diagnoses requiring palliative care were: neoplasms (33.5%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (15.1%), and renal disease (11.3%). An association was found between having two or more comorbidities and a greater need for palliative care. Conclusion It was found that between 7 and 8 out of every 10 patients needed palliative care, an estimate higher than in other regions. Additionally, having two or more comorbidities was associated with the need for these services. These findings highlight the urgent need for palliative care services in Peru, suggesting that their proper implementation is crucial for improving end-of-life care.

A hybrid approach with metaheuristic optimization and random forest in improving heart disease prediction

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVD)  a major cause of morbidity and mortality among the world’s non-communicable disease incidences. Though these practices are in use for diagnostics of different CVDs in clinical settings, need improvement because they are solving the purpose of only 57% of the patients in emergency. Due to this cost of diagnosis for heart disease is increasing which is the reason for analyzing heart disease and predicting it as early as possible. The main motive of this paper is to find an intelligent method for predicting disease effectively by means of machine learning (ML) and metaheuristic algorithms. Optimization techniques have the merit of handling non-linear complex problems. In this paper, an efficient ML model along with metaheuristic optimization techniques is evaluated for heart disease dataset to enhance the accuracy in predicting the disease. This will help to reduce the death rate due to the severity of heart disease. The SelectKBest feature selection is applied to the Cleveland Heart dataset and overall rank is obtained. Accuracy is measured. The optimization techniques namely Genetic Algorithm Optimized Random Forest (GAORF), Particle Swarm Optimized Random Forest (PSORF), and Ant Colony Optimized Random Forest (ACORF) are applied to the Cleveland dataset. Classification algorithms are performed before and after optimization. The output of the experiment explains that the GAORF performed better for the dataset considered. Also, a comparison is made along with the SelectKBest filter methods. The proposed model achieved better accuracy which is the maximum among other optimization and classification techniques.

Correction: An initiative to develop capability-adjusted life years in Sweden (CALY-SWE): Selecting capabilities with a Delphi panel and developing the questionnaire

Ferulic acid lipid nano capsules versus its native form in alleviating diabetic nephropathy induced in rats through TGF-β1/Hippo pathway crosstalk modulation

Abstract Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most common leading causes of end-stage renal disease with multifactorial pathophysiological mechanisms. TGF-β1 and Hippo pathway have been reported to have significant role in different kidney diseases. In addition, ferulic acid (FA) has been proposed to have pharmacological actions in different disorders such as Alzheimer, diabetes mellitus, kidney, and cardiovascular diseases but with limited oral use due to poor absorbance and bioavailability. So, recent trends aim to include FA in nano-formulations to improve its absorbance and bioavailability and to make best use of its pharmacological actions when administered orally. Thirty Sprague Dawley male rats were divided into five groups (n = 6). After 28 days, rats were sacrificed, serum and kidney tissue were isolated, histopathological examination, serum creatinine level and oxidative status biomarkers in kidney tissue were estimated, besides ELISA measurements of TGF-β1, PTEN, COX2, and GLUT3 and the relative gene expressions of MST1 and TEAD4 by qRT-PCR. Treated groups show improvement of the investigated parameters in variable degrees. Noteworthy, FA nano-formulation shows superior action over double of the native form.

Tissue of origin characterization of cell free DNA in seminal plasma: Implications for new liquid biopsies

Liquid biopsies are becoming increasingly used for the detection and monitoring of disease states. While cell free DNA (cfDNA) in blood and urine have been well studied, much less is known about the composition of cfDNA in seminal fluid. We sought to characterize cfDNA in seminal fluid through tissue of origin studies using methylation analysis in men aged 21–60 yrs. We confirmed the observations of others that seminal fluid contains an abundance of cfDNA that is both nucleosomal and > 1 kb. However, here we demonstrate for the first time that the high molecular weight (HMW) DNA harbors a lower sperm signal and higher somatic cell signal compared to the nucleosomal fraction. Prostate, granulocytes and kidney showed a mean predicted increased contribution of 6.2%, 4.9% and 2.9%, respectively in the HMW fraction. While sperm was the predominant signal in most men without vasectomies, granulocyte cfDNA made up most of the signal in two of the non-vasectomy subjects. Unexpectedly, the proportion of prostate signal reached as high as 26.5% in the HMW fraction in non-vasectomy subjects. We also observed subject-specific cfDNA size distribution patterns that were reproducible over time, irrespective of abstinence times. These results suggest that seminal fluid is a rich source of cfDNA from various somatic cell types, and enriching for the HMW fraction would yield even higher sensitivity for somatic cfDNA detection. Considering these novel findings, it appears that seminal fluid may be able to serve as liquid biopsy for the detection and monitoring of prostate cancer, benign prostate hyperplasia, prostatitis and infertility.

Quantitative and qualitative condylar changes Post-Stabilization splint in patients with temporomandibular disorder and chewing side preference

Modeling the behavior of a generalized Cholera epidemic model with asymptomatic measures for early detection

To understand how a disease spreads through a society, mathematical formulations are a crucial tool for comprehending the complete dynamics of cholera. Model formulations are essential for thoroughly understanding the propagation of cholera throughout a population. For an assessment of the stable state of a newly established SEIRB system, both qualitative and quantitative evaluations are conducted. The reproductive number is derived to observe the infection spread rate among patients. Additionally, sensitivity analyses are performed to assess the impact of each parameter and to determine the rate of change in each. The existence of positive solutions with linear growth has been verified using global derivatives, and the level of effect in each subsection is determined through the application of Lipschitz criteria. By employing Lyapunov’s first derivative of the function, the framework is analyzed for global stability to evaluate the overall effect of both symptomatic and asymptomatic measures following early detection interventions. The Mittag-Leff1er kernel is utilized to obtain a robust solution via a fractal-fractional operator, enabling continuous monitoring for improved control measures. Simulations are performed to assess the global impact of both symptomatic and asymptomatic consequences of cholera and to observe the actual behavior of the disease. It has been confirmed that individuals with strong immune systems will recover efficiently if the infection is diagnosed early through timely detection measures. This analysis provides insight into the current state of cholera control, comparing outcomes for those receiving treatment and those whose robust immune systems negate the need for medication. Such investigations will enhance our understanding of disease transmission and support the development of effective control strategies based on our validated findings.

Race and gender biases persist in public perceptions of scientists’ credibility

Use of healthcare administrative claims data in observational studies of antirheumatic drug effects on pregnancy outcomes: A scoping review

The safety of antirheumatic drugs in pregnancy and their impact on maternal and neonatal outcomes are understudied. Despite pregnant individuals being excluded from clinical trials, their continued use of medications raises the importance of addressing knowledge gaps regarding safety and impact on outcomes. A scoping review was conducted following JBI methodology and PRISMA reporting guidelines to describe how antirheumatic drugs and associated adverse pregnancy outcomes have been investigated in observational studies using claims data. Electronic databases (MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), and CINAHL (EBSCO)) and grey literature were searched for observational studies using claims data to evaluate antirheumatic drug effects on pregnancy outcomes in individuals with rheumatic diseases. Of 4,325 articles identified, 38 eligible articles were included. The effects of conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (n =  37, 97.4%) and tumor necrosis factor inhibitor biological agents (n =  23, 60.5%) were extensively reported. Preterm birth (n =  25, 65.8%), preeclampsia (n =  17, 44.7%), stillbirth (n =  17, 44.7%), caesarean delivery (n =  16, 42.1%), and congenital anomalies (n =  14, 36.8%) were the most reported adverse pregnancy outcomes. Of 14 studies reporting congenital anomalies, 12 (85.7%) specified ICD codes and 4 (28.6%) specified validated definitions for identification in claims data, the most of any reported adverse pregnancy outcome. We found considerable ambiguity and heterogeneity in adverse pregnancy outcome definitions in claims data. There is a need for greater transparency and consistency in outcome reporting in observational studies using claims data. Protocol registration details: OSF, https://osf.io/5e6tp

Multilevel analysis of determinants of cattle deaths in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, agriculture is a fundamental element of both the economy and the social fabric of the community. The sector employs 80-85 percent of the population and contributes 47% to the total GDP. Livestock contributes to people’s livelihoods through numerous channels: income, food, employment, transport, draft-over, manure, savings and insurance, social status, etc. Ethiopia is believed to have the largest livestock population in Africa. Despite this productive and reproductive performance is accompanied by poor health care, high disease incidence, poor management conditions, and unpredictable climactic conditions causing a significant cause of cattle death. The dependent variable is the count “number of occurrences of cattle death” that occurs randomly over time. A multilevel analysis was carried out with the anticipation that there would be variations in the number of cattle deaths per household throughout the region. Before analyzing the data with a multilevel method, check the variability using intra-class correlation (ICC), revealing that 14.6% of the variance in cattle deaths is attributable to the grouping level (Region) indicating the heterogeneity of cattle deaths between Regions. The multilevel ZINB regression model was identified as the best fit for analyzing cattle deaths per household. Factors such as types of agriculture, feeding areas, treatment methods, vaccination status, household land size, age of the household head, household size, and education level were found to significantly impact cattle mortality in the positive count portion of the random-intercept ZINB regression model. The Ministry of Agriculture should effectively raise awareness among agricultural producers regarding cattle vaccination and enhance the veterinary services available in the country. It is also advisable to promote a mixed farming approach rather than solely focusing on livestock farming to reduce cattle deaths. Farmers should consider reducing their household size and place greater emphasis on the welfare of their cattle.