Month: April 2024

Abstract

This paper is the sequel to (Colin et al. in Publ. Math. Inst. Hautes Études Sci., 2024), and is devoted to proving some of the technical parts of the HF=ECH isomorphism.

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) aquaculture offers a promising solution for sustainable electricity generation for farm and grid utilization (SEG/FGU). This fusion of solar technology and aquaculture methods is crucial for sustainable food production and eco-friendly power and grid integration. However, there is a significant gap in research, with a lack of comprehensive studies that highlight current advancements, publication patterns, research focal points, key contributors, and future avenues for advancing FGU research. A bibliometric analysis of the SEG/FGU research based on Scopus data revealed a steady rise in publications due to environmental issues, research collaborations, and funding availability. China emerged as the top nation with the most articles published (18 articles and 240 citations) on SEG/FGU growth and development, with Alexander Golberg, Tel Aviv University (Israel), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) as prolific authors, institutions, and funders, respectively. China’s supremacy has been attributed to the availability of funding from significant programs like NSFC. Three prominent research focal points emerged: the integration of solar energy, agriculture, and desalination; the progression of PV technology within the renewable energy sector; and the intersection of aquaculture and ecological stewardship. The current research focus is on enhancing efficiency, developing effective energy storage solutions, and expanding the scope of applications for agricultural practices. However, significant research voids persist in sustainable aquaculture applications, designing and integrating hybrid PV systems, and achieving scalability in PV technology.

Abstract

This contribution presents chemical data on clays (SEM–EDS and trace elements) along with bulk organic carbon (δ¹³C_org) isotopes from the Mahadeo–Cherrapunji (MCR) section sediments to evaluate Deccan volcanism-induced paleoenvironmental perturbations across Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary (K/PgB). The assemblages of clay minerals (illite, chlorite, kaolinite, and smectite) in this section under study demonstrated that the climate during the late Maastrichtian–early Danian period was humid to arid/semi-arid. The rare earth element (REE) patterns normalized to chondrite reveal flat, heavy REE (HREE) patterns with negative europium (Eu) anomalies and enriched light REE (LREE) patterns. The MCR section suggests that the basin experienced intermittent oxic to anoxic depositional conditions, as indicated by the low to moderate values of Total Organic Carbon (TOC), V, and U, along with low Ni/Co and U/Th ratio values. The average δ¹³C_org value of MCR section clays is − 24.85‰. However, the pre-K/PgB gray calcareous shale layer (MC-12A) in biozone CF1 shows a δ¹³C_org value of − 28.91‰, which is significantly (~ 4‰) lower than the immediately lying below and above layers. The meager δ¹³C_org value (~ 4‰) during the K/PgB transition is attributed to the highly anoxic oceanic environment. Elevated levels of CO₂ were attained through the release of warm greenhouse gasses resulting from Deccan volcanic activity. The findings of this investigation are supported by the shallow marine Therriaghat (Um-Sohryngkew River) section in Meghalaya, as well as other recognized K/PgB successions worldwide.

Abstract

Background

The maternal mortality ratio in Ethiopia is still high, with an estimate of 412 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2016. Signal functions for emergency obstetric and neonatal care must be accessible and usable in order to successfully prevent maternal deaths. It is an important strategy to reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality in countries with limited resources. Hence, an assessment of the availability of fully functioning EmONC services and their coverage per 500,000 people in Ethiopia is crucial.

Methods

This study is a retrospective analysis of data from the Ethiopian Service Provision Assessment Survey (ESPA), a national-level survey data source. Data collection for the survey took place from August 11, 2021, to February 4, 2022. For this investigation, 905 healthcare facilities in total were evaluated for the availability of emergency obstetric and new-born care (EmONC) services at all hospitals, selected health centers, and private clinics were evaluated. Descriptive data analysis was done by the using statistical package for social science version 26 (SPSS) to run frequency and cross-tabs. Global Positioning System (GPS) (arc map 10.8) Software was used for spatial distribution in order to locate the physical accessibility of EmONC providing health facilities on flat map surfaces. It was projected based on Ethiopia’s geographic coordinate system at Adindan UTM zone 37⁰N.

Results

Of 905 health facilities, only 442 (49%) could provide fully functioning BEmONC, and 250 (27.6%) health facilities have been providing fully functioning CEmONC. The overall coverage of BEmONC ratios in Ethiopia is 1.5–3.77 per 500,000 population and CEmONC (0.83–2.1) per 500,000 populations. Regions such as Amhara, SNNPR and Addis Ababa had found to have high BEmONC ratio. The geographical distribution of the EmONC showed that the central areas of the country, such as southwest Shewa and east Shewa, the Oromia region, the northern areas of the South Nation, nationalities, and peoples regions (SNNPR), including the Gurage zone and the Wolaita-Soddo zone, and the middle areas in the Amhara region (west Gojjam or around Bahir Dar town), and the southern areas, Debra Tabor and Debre Birhane zones, all had greater access to facilities offering complete EmONC services.

Conclusion

Comprehensive emergency obstetrics and neonatal care (CEmONC) in Ethiopia met WHO recommendations, despite basic emergency obstetric and neonatal care (BEmONC) falling below those standards in Ethiopia. There are extremely large disparities in the accessibility of both basic and comprehensive emergency obstetrics and neonatal care in Ethiopia. Thus, Strategic planning is needed to improve infrastructures and inputs for EmONC services, particularly in remote areas of the country. Additionally, private facilities ought to place a priority on the provision of these services.

Abstract

Faced with decaying networks, poor revenue collections, and substantial sunk costs and operating losses, over the last two decades, many developing countries have embarked on electricity sector reforms. This analysis examines factors driving the lack of household access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, including poor basic infrastructure, inadequate incentives in public service policies, geophysical barriers, and constraints in institutional environment. Based on cross-region panel datasets from Demographic and Health Surveys of 31 African countries between 2003 and 2018, a general-to-specific model selection procedure is applied to parametric regressions, with special attention to border discontinuities between power trading agreements and related border region effects. The chosen specifications are replicated in beta-function generalised linear models and kernel regressions, which specifically account for upper and lower bounds in the dependent variable. The econometric results turn out to be fairly robust to different estimation methods and data panels and suggest that sector restructuring and regional power integration initiatives have contributed to reducing the percentage shares of households without electricity access. However, remoteness from agglomeration economies of major urban centres and lack of substantive improvements in the grid and off-grid networks between neighbouring power trading pools have left many regions lagging behind, particularly in Central Africa. Programmes of poverty alleviation, including electricity services, should be more carefully targeted by strengthening local infrastructure development, access to modern energy, and cross-border integration within and between African regional power pools.

Abstract

Background

A major contributing factor to glioblastoma (GBM) development and progression is its ability to evade the immune system by creating an immune-suppressive environment, where GBM-associated myeloid cells, including resident microglia and peripheral monocyte-derived macrophages, play critical pro-tumoral roles. However, it is unclear whether recruited myeloid cells are phenotypically and functionally identical in GBM patients and whether this heterogeneity is recapitulated in patient-derived orthotopic xenografts (PDOXs). A thorough understanding of the GBM ecosystem and its recapitulation in preclinical models is currently missing, leading to inaccurate results and failures of clinical trials.

Methods

Here, we report systematic characterization of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in GBM PDOXs and patient tumors at the single-cell and spatial levels. We applied single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, multicolor flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and functional studies to examine the heterogeneous TME instructed by GBM cells. GBM PDOXs representing different tumor phenotypes were compared to glioma mouse GL261 syngeneic model and patient tumors.

Results

We show that GBM tumor cells reciprocally interact with host cells to create a GBM patient-specific TME in PDOXs. We detected the most prominent transcriptomic adaptations in myeloid cells, with brain-resident microglia representing the main population in the cellular tumor, while peripheral-derived myeloid cells infiltrated the brain at sites of blood–brain barrier disruption. More specifically, we show that GBM-educated microglia undergo transition to diverse phenotypic states across distinct GBM landscapes and tumor niches. GBM-educated microglia subsets display phagocytic and dendritic cell-like gene expression programs. Additionally, we found novel microglial states expressing cell cycle programs, astrocytic or endothelial markers. Lastly, we show that temozolomide treatment leads to transcriptomic plasticity and altered crosstalk between GBM tumor cells and adjacent TME components.

Conclusions

Our data provide novel insights into the phenotypic adaptation of the heterogeneous TME instructed by GBM tumors. We show the key role of microglial phenotypic states in supporting GBM tumor growth and response to treatment. Our data place PDOXs as relevant models to assess the functionality of the TME and changes in the GBM ecosystem upon treatment.

Graphical Abstract

Abstract

The current study aimed to determine alternative configurations of supply chain resilience strategies for managing supply chain performance (SCP) during a severe disruption. To do this, a multi-method and multi-study approach was adopted. Phase 1 of the study employed a qualitative approach to explore supply chain risk factors and their mitigation strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Phase 2, the quality function deployment technique was used alongside quantitative case studies to determine the most critical risk factors and most crucial resilience strategies. The final phase, Phase 3, used fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to determine the alternative portfolio of strategies for SCP to create flexibility when employing resilience strategies. The results revealed that implementing resilience strategies alone is ineffective in improving SCP, while resilience strategies combined with the nullification of risk factors enhance SCP. The study also revealed two alternative configurations of resilience strategies to tackle the relevant risk factors. These findings can be used to guide managers toward identifying the most suitable configuration of resilience strategies to manage severe and unprecedented supply chain risk. The alternative configurations of resilience strategies can also provide flexibility to managers in deciding the best course of action for their firms.

Abstract

This study introduces a comprehensive econometric framework based on gravity equations and designed to forecast migrant flows between countries. The model’s theoretical underpinnings are validated through empirical data, and we show that the model has better out-of-sample predictive ability than alternative global models. We explore the quantitative effects of various socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic factors on migration and illustrate its use to obtain scenario-driven projections of bilateral migration, assessing the potential contributions of migration to population and GDP dynamics in Germany and Portugal for the period 2021–2025. Our projection results highlight the critical role of immigration in sustaining population levels and economic growth, particularly in the context of ageing populations and decreasing fertility rates across Europe.

Abstract

Background

Identifying healthcare services and also strengthening the healthcare systems to effectively deliver them in the aftermath of large-scale disasters like the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes, especially for vulnerable groups cannot be emphasized enough. This study aimed at identifying the interventions undertaken or proposed for addressing the health needs or challenges of vulnerable groups immediately after the occurrence of the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes, as well as for prioritizing their healthcare service delivery in the post-Turkey-Syria earthquake.

Methods

In this scoping review compiled with the five steps of the Arksey and O’Malley framework, five databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, OVID, and Google Scholar, were searched for studies published between March and April 2023 in line with the eligibility criteria. Interventions for enhancing post-earthquake healthcare services (PEHS) were grouped into seven (7) categories, adopted from previous guidelines and studies. Each one was assigned a default score of a value equal to one (1), which, in the end, was summed up.

Results

Of the 115 total records initially screened, 29 articles were eligible for review. Different interventions they reported either undertaken or proposed to address the healthcare needs and challenges, especially faced by the most vulnerable groups in the aftermath of the Turkey-Syria earthquakes, were categorized into 7 PEHS. They were ranked with their scores as follows: humanitarian health relief (25); medical care (17); mental health and psychosocial support (10); health promotion, education, and awareness (9); disease surveillance and prevention (7); disability rehabilitation (7); and sexual and reproductive health (5).

Conclusion

Since there are no proper guidelines or recommendations about the specific or most significant PEHS to prioritize for vulnerable groups after the occurrence of large-scale earthquakes, this scoping review provides some insights that can help inform healthcare service delivery and prioritization for vulnerable groups in the post-2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes and other similar disasters.

Abstract

This concise review delves into the dynamic intersection of globalization and information and communication technology (ICT) in education, where economic, technological, and cultural forces converge with the widespread adoption of digital tools. Globalization standardizes education worldwide, emphasizing preparation for the global economy and fostering an interconnectedness of educational systems. Simultaneously, ICT revolutionizes education, enhancing student engagement, motivation, and performance while necessitating adaptability from educators. Identified gaps in the literature underscore the need for emphasis on educators' perspectives, in-depth exploration of pedagogical changes, attention to training and professional development, comparative studies, examination of equity and inclusion, exploration of counseling, and guidance for educators. Proposed recommendations advocate for active engagement in continuous professional development (CPD), seamless ICT integration, addressing the digital divide, nurturing twenty-first century skills, prioritizing student-centered learning, fostering mental health, and embracing learning analytics. Future research directions advocate for investigating the impact of emerging technologies, addressing digital equity, assessing the effectiveness of online and blended learning, exploring teacher training, evaluating student outcomes through learning analytics, and investigating global perspectives and parental involvement. These endeavors aim to provide evidence-based insights, shaping the future of education in an increasingly digital world, with a specific emphasis on the transformative potential of learning analytics.