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Objectives Studies have demonstrated high rates of mortality in people with proximal femoral fracture and SARS-CoV-2, but there is limited published data on the factors that influence mortality for clinicians to make informed treatment decisions. This study aims to report the 30-day mortality associated with perioperative infection of patients undergoing surgery for proximal femoral fractures and to examine the factors that influence mortality in a multivariate analysis.Setting Prospective, international, multicentre, observational cohort study.Participants Patients undergoing any operation for a proximal femoral fracture from 1 February to 30 April 2020 and with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection (either 7 days prior or 30-day postoperative).Primary outcome 30-day mortality. Multivariate modelling was performed to identify factors associated with 30-day mortality.Results This study reports included 1063 patients from 174 hospitals in 19 countries. Overall 30-day mortality was 29.4% (313/1063). In an adjusted model, 30-day mortality was associated with male gender (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.68 to 3.13, p80 years (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.31, p=0.013), preoperative diagnosis of dementia (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.16, p=0.005), kidney disease (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.55, p=0.005) and congestive heart failure (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.48, p=0.025). Mortality at 30 days was lower in patients with a preoperative diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.6 (0.42 to 0.85), p=0.004). There was no difference in mortality in patients with an increase to delay in surgery (p=0.220) or type of anaesthetic given (p=0.787).Conclusions Patients undergoing surgery for a proximal femoral fracture with a perioperative infection of SARS-CoV-2 have a high rate of mortality. This study would support the need for providing these patients with individualised medical and anaesthetic care, including medical optimisation before theatre. Careful preoperative counselling is needed for those with a proximal femoral fracture and SARS-CoV-2, especially those in the highest risk groups.Trial registration number NCT04323644

Abstract This study presents the first comprehensive geomagnetic investigation of subsurface mineral potentials in north-central Nigeria, marking a significant advancement in sustainable mining exploration for this resource-rich region. Through an integrated approach using Source Parameter Imaging (SPI), Analytic Signal (AS), Phase Symmetry (PS), Euler Deconvolution (ED), and 3D inversion modeling, we delineate mineralized zones at depths of 150–800 m. The analysis reveals NE-SW, NW-SE, and E-W fault and fracture networks that channel mineral-rich fluids, offering new insights into regional tectonics and mineralization processes. The integration of ED with 3D inversion modeling provides reliable estimates of the location, depth, and geometry of magnetic sources, enhancing the targeting of potential ore bodies and reducing exploration risks. Our findings on structural controls and depth targeting support low-impact mining and efficient resource development in the region.

ObjectivesLimited data exists on attitudes and practices of young men in tertiary institutions towards contraception. This study assesses attitudes and practices regarding contraception among male students in a tertiary educational institution in northwestern Nigeria, identifying factors influencing these attitudes.MethodsThis cross-sectional study conducted from July to August 2021 at Kaduna Polytechnic, Nigeria, involved 160 male students chosen via multistage sampling. Structured questionnaires gathered information on socio-demographic characteristics, awareness, attitudes, and contraceptive practices. Analysis utilized SPSS version 23.0, employing descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses to determine significant factors influencing contraception attitudes.ResultsFindings revealed a mean respondent age of 25.4 ± 3.5 years, with most being single (71.3%) and 51.2% sexually active. While awareness of contraceptives was high (85.6%), almost half (46.7%) exhibited negative attitudes towards contraception. Common concerns included reliability, impact on sexual pleasure, and traditional gender norms. Only 35.8% had ever used contraception, primarily using withdrawal and male condoms. Significant factors influencing positive attitudes included being aged 18–24 years compared to 26–35 years (AOR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.22–5.82).ConclusionCulturally sensitive interventions are vital for improving negative attitudes and low contraceptive use among male Nigerian youth.

Background: Cucumis sativus (cucumber) is regarded as a healthy fruit because of the beneficial effects of its phytochemical constituents. However, there is a deficit of information about its effect on male reproductive physiology. Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of C. sativus (AECS) on male reproductive hormones, oxidative stress biomarkers, and lipid profile. Materials and Methods: Ten male rats were randomly assigned into two (control and treated) groups (n = 5). In the treated group, a single dose of AECS (500 mg/kg) was administered daily for 6 weeks and thereafter sacrificed under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia. Blood was collected and analyzed for sex hormones, antioxidants, and lipid profile markers. The testicular homogenate was also analyzed for antioxidants. Results: The AECS increased (P < 0.05) serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels (4.43 ± 0.34 and 7.50 ± 1.31, respectively) when compared with the control. Also, testicular catalase and serum level of high-density lipoprotein were increased (27.45 ± 0.19 and 30.08 ± 5.22, respectively) (P < 0.05), whereas serum low-density lipoprotein decreased (72.79 ± 9.56) (P < 0.05) in the extract treated rats. However, serum antioxidant levels were not affected. Conclusions: AECS is beneficial to male reproductive physiology evidenced by improved lipid profile and hormonal indices. Also, the integrity of the testicular redox profile was well maintained.

Monsoonal rivers play an important role in the land-to-sea transport of soil-derived organic carbon (OC). However, spatial and temporal variation in the concentration, composition, and fate of this OC in these rivers remains poorly understood. We investigate soil-to-sea transport of soil OC by the Godavari River in India using glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT) lipids in soils, river suspended particulate matter (SPM), and riverbed sediments, as well as in a marine sediment core from the Bay of Bengal. The abundance and composition of GDGTs in SPM and sediments in the Godavari River differs between the dry and wet season. In the dry season, SPM and riverbed sediments from the whole basin contain more 6-methyl branched GDGTs (brGDGTs) than the soils. In the upper basin, where mobilisation and transport of soils is limited due to deficient rainfall and damming, contributions of 6-methyl brGDGTs in SPM and riverbed sediments are relatively high year-round, suggesting that they have an aquatic source. Aquatic brGDGT production coincides with elevated values of the isoprenoid GDGT-0 / crenarchaeol ratio in SPM and riverbed sediments from the upper basin, indicating low-oxygen conditions. In the wet season, brGDGT distributions in SPM from the lower basin closely resemble those in soils, mostly from the north and east tributaries, corresponding to precipitation patterns. The brGDGT composition in SPM and sediments from the delta suggests that soil OC is only effectively transported to the Bay of Bengal in the wet season, when the river plume extends beyond the river mouth. The sediment geochemistry indicates that also the mineral particles exported by the Godavari River primarily originate from the lower basin, similar to the brGDGTs, suggesting that they are transported together. However, river depth profiles in the downstream Godavari reveal no hydrodynamic sorting effect on brGDGTs in either season, indicating that brGDGTs are not closely associated with mineral particles. The similarity of brGDGT distributions in bulk and fine-grained sediments (≤ 63 µm) further confirms the absence of selective transport mechanisms. Nevertheless, the composition of brGDGTs in a Holocene, marine sediment core near the river mouth appears substantially different from that in the modern Godavari basin, suggesting that terrestrial-derived brGDGTs are rapidly lost upon discharge into the Bay of Bengal and/or overprinted by marine in situ production. The large change in brGDGT distributions at the river–sea transition implies that this zone is key in the transfer of soil OC, as well as that of the environmental signal carried by brGDGTs from the river basin.

The large difference in the fractionation of stable carbon isotopes between C3 and C4 plants is widely used in vegetation reconstructions, where the predominance of C3 plants suggests wetter and that of C4 plants drier conditions. The stable carbon isotopic composition of organic carbon (OC) preserved in soils or sediments may be a valuable (paleo-)environmental indicator, based on the assumption that plant-derived material retains the stable carbon isotopic value of its photosynthetic pathway during transfer from plant to sediment. In this study, we investigated the bulk carbon isotopic values of C3 and C4 plants (δ13C) and of organic carbon (δ13Corg) in soils, river suspended particulate matter (SPM) and riverbed sediments to gain insight into the control of precipitation on C3 and C4 plant δ13C values and to assess changes in δ13Corg values along the plant–soil–river continuum. This information allows us to elucidate the implications of different δ13C end-members on C3 / C4 vegetation reconstructions. Our analysis was performed in the Godavari River basin, located in the core monsoon zone in peninsular India, a region that integrates the hydroclimatic and vegetation changes caused by variation in monsoonal strength. The basin has distinct wet and dry seasons and is characterised by natural gradients in soil type (from clay-rich to sandy), precipitation (∼ 500 to 1500 mm yr−1) and vegetation type (from mixed C3 / C4 to primarily C3) from the upper to the lower basin. The δ13C values of Godavari C3 plants were strongly controlled by mean annual precipitation (MAP), showing an isotopic enrichment of ∼ 2.2 ‰ from ∼ 1500 to 500 mm yr−1. Tracing δ13Corg values from plant to soils and rivers revealed that soils and riverbed sediments reflected the transition from mixed C3 and C4 vegetation in the dry upper basin to more C3 vegetation in the humid lower basin. Soil degradation and stabilisation processes and hydrodynamic sorting within the river altered the plant-derived δ13C signal. Phytoplankton dominated the δ13Corg signal carried by SPM in the dry season and year-round in the upper basin. Application of a linear mixing model showed that the %C4 plants in the different subbasins was ∼ 7 %–15 % higher using plant end-members based on measurement of the Godavari vegetation and tailored to local moisture availability than using those derived from data compilations of global vegetation. Including a correction for the 13C enrichment in Godavari C3 plants due to drought resulted in maximally 6 % lower estimated C4 plant cover. Our results from the Godavari basin underline the importance of making informed choices about the plant δ13C end-members for vegetation reconstructions, considering characteristics of the regional vegetation and environmental factors such as MAP in monsoonal regions.

Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease which causes inflammation and damage to the joint. The goals of treatment are to stop inflammation, relieve symptoms, improve physical function and overall well-being. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Terminalia macroptera stem bark (TMB) ethanol extract and formulate it into an herbal emulgel (TME) for the potential management of RA. Methods: Phytochemical analysis and anti-inflammatory activity of TMB were first evaluated using standard analytical methods and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis model in rats respectively. Post-formulation, physical characterization of the carbopol 940 based herbal emulgels (TME) and the reduction in the induced rat paw sizes by the herbal emulgels were evaluated using diclofenac emulgel as the positive control. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, and alkaloids. Inflammatory activity of the extract gave the highest percentage inhibition with TMB (50 mg/kg). The formulated herbal emulgels had good spreadability, extrudability, pH ranging from 4.5±0.2 to 6.9±0.4 and viscosity ranging from 0.36 ± 0.20 to 8.37 ± 0.65 Pas at 6 rpm and 0.26 ± 0.01 to 10.67±0.96 Pas at 12 rpm. TME emulgel significantly (p

Background: Anti-failure therapy is vital to the reduction of morbidity and mortality associated with heart failure (HF). Medication nonadherence (MNA) has been identified as a major limiting factor for the attainment of therapeutic goals. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of MNA in HF patients attending Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 202 previously diagnosed HF patients attending an outpatient clinic in LUTH. Data were obtained from patient's medical records and the use of an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Medication Adherence Report Scale 5-items was used to determine MNA. Results: Of the 202 HF subjects, 68% (n = 128) were aged 31–60 years, 65% (n = 132) were females, 58%, (n = 116) were taking ≤4 pills/day, 54.5% were taking pills twice daily, and 72.3% (n = 146) had comorbid conditions. The overall prevalence of MNA was 69.3% with ACE inhibitors having the highest MNA of 73.2% and angiotensin receptor blocker/neprilysin inhibitor having the least MNA of 0%. MNA was independent of age, gender, educational status, pill burden, duration of HF, history of HF admission, functional status, and specific comorbidities (P < 0.05). However, the presence of three comorbidities was associated with lower MNA (P < 0.05). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of MNA in Nigerian HF patients. Measures aimed at improving adherence are imperative to improve outcomes in these patients.

Background: There are problems associated with antiretroviral therapy despite its achievement. Poor medication adherence and inability to tolerate large pill burden are major problems facing patients with chronic illnesses. These drug therapy problems are under-studied among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Nigeria. We evaluated adherence and pill burden among this set of patients in a tertiary hospital in Lagos. Methods: Data for eligible HIV-infected adults were documented from case notes and through interviews using a well-structured questionnaire. Important details extracted were sociodemographics, pills information, and CD4 counts. The main outcome measures were drug adherence, as assessed by the four-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and pill burden, as measured by daily pill >5. Results: Of the 296 patients, 219 (74%) were females. Median age (interquartile range) was 40 (35.0–47.7) years. Majority (262; 88.5%) were married, had at least a secondary education (142:48.0%), and CD4 count >500 cells/ml (215; 72.6%). Pill burden >5 pills/day was observed in 12.2% of the patients, while adherence was documented for 83.4% of the patients. Majority (259; 87.5%) were receiving fixed-dose combination of antiretroviral drugs. Forgetfulness (16.5%) and being too busy to take pills (10.5%) were the most common reasons for nonadherence. Pill burden in those who were not receiving fixed-dose combination was significantly associated with medication nonadherence. However, only pill burden was found to be an independent prognosticator of non-adherance. (Odd ratio = 0.67, confidence interval = 0.03–1.66, P < 0.00). Conclusion: Medication nonadherence and pill burden were observed in more than one-tenth of patients. These were the two major antiretroviral therapy-related problems reported in this study.

Background: Ultrasound scanning presently forms an integral part of antenatal care around the globe. It is a common investigative tool in most public and private health facilities in developing countries. Routine obstetric ultrasound has been one of the most important advances in antenatal care worldwide. It is also useful in the early detection and monitoring of the conditions that give rise to fetal and maternal compromise and has become an indispensable adjunct to the management efforts of practitioners in this regard. Therefore, utilization of this innovation by pregnant mothers is paramount toward good outcome. Objective: The objective is to determine the factors affecting utilization of ultrasound by pregnant mothers attending antenatal care in Zaria Local Government, Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive was used to carry out the study among 200 pregnant mothers selected through multistage sampling technique. This study was conducted over a period of 6 months from November 6, 2017, to May 6, 2018, after approval was given by the ethical committee of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. A structured interviewer-administered, validated questionnaire was administered to each participant to ascertain the factors affecting utilization of obstetric ultrasound by pregnant women in Zaria Local Government, Kaduna State. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 22. Results: The data obtained from the questionnaire were scored for proper evaluation. Furthermore, all collected data were carefully tallied, various frequencies, ranges, and mean (standard deviation) were determined. Most (29.5%) of the respondents aged 20–24 years, majority (95.5%) were homemakers that are not gainfully employed. Majority of the respondents were Hausa (94.5) and Muslims (96.5%). The findings of this study have shown that educational status, husband occupation, and knowledge affect the utilization of ultrasound by respondents. Conclusion: The common factors that affect the utilization of obstetric scan in Zaria were knowledge, education background, and husband occupation. Attitude, age, and the occupation of the respondents do not affect the utilization of obstetrics scan in Zaria.

This study investigated the influence of maternal level of education and socioeconomic status on maternal knowledge of nutrition, physical activity, and children’s body weight of Nigerian school pupils. A total of four hundred and twelve (412) primary school pupils participated in this study. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the maternal level of education, material’s knowledge of nutrition, and physical activities. Body height and body weight were measured with a wall-mounted stadiometer in meters and a bathroom weighing scale in kg, respectively. The children’s body weight was determined using the formula weight (kg)/height (m2). The children were then categorized into different classes of body mass index based on the recommendation of Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (2015), which is age and sex-specific for children and teens from two years old through 20 years. The differences in maternal educational qualification and children’s bodyweights were analyzed using the independent sample t-test. However, the influence of maternal SES on maternal knowledge of nutrition, physical activities, and children’s body weights were analyzed using ANOVA. Statistical significance was accepted for a p-value of

A study was designed to investigate silage additives’ effect on preference and nutritive value of five weeks re-growth guinea grass by West African dwarf (WAD) goats. The silages of five weeks re-growth guinea grass were made without additive (T1), with cassava peels additive (T2), and with fermented epiphytic juice of lactic acid bacteria in Panicum maximum (FEJPM) additive (T3). The effects of silage additives on preference, voluntary feed intake, growth, digestibility, and nitrogen utilization were assessed using 18 growing WAD goats (BW: 5.88±0.26 kg) in a completely randomized design. Dry matter was significantly (p0.05) in T1 and T3 silages (10.63 and 10.72 g/100g DM) that were significantly lower (p

Cardiometabolic diseases are complicated by renal damage. Gestational hyperandrogenism causes gestational metabolic dysfunction that is associated with fetal and maternal tissue derangements as well as post-partum maternal androgen excess. Acetate (Ace) conferred hepatoprotection in pregnant rats exposed to excess testosterone (Tes). The effect of excess androgenic exposure on maternal kidney during and after pregnancy is not clear. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of late gestational and post-gestational testosterone exposure on renal functions and plausible renoprotective role of gestational Ace treatment in dams. Thirty pregnant Wistar rats were grouped (n = 10/group) and treated (sc) with olive oil, testosterone propionate (0.5 mg/kg) with or without acetate (200 mg/kg sodium acetate; p.o) between gestational days 14 and 19. Data were obtained from half of the animals on gestational day 20. Data were also obtained from the other half (dams) after treatment of animals which received Tes with or without prior gestational acetate treatment with post-gestational Tes (sc; 0.5 mg/kg) for the last 6 days of an 8-week postpartum period. Biochemical and statistical analyses were performed with appropriate methods and SPSS statistical software respectively. Late gestational excess Tes led to low placental weight (p = 0.0001, F = 205.7), poor fetal outcomes, creatinine (p = 0.0001, F = 385.4), urea (p = 0.0001, F = 300.9) and renal uric acid (UA) (p = 0.0001, F = 123.2), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (p = 0.004, F = 26.9), malondialdehyde (p = 0.0001, F = 45.96), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p = 0.0002, F = 150.7). Postpartum Tes exposure also caused elevated plasma testosterone (p = 0001, F = 22.15), creatinine (p = 0.0002, F = 15.2), urea (p = 0.01, F = 13.8) and renal UA (p = 0.0001, 226.8), adenosine deaminase (p = 0001, F = 544.7), GGT (p = 0.0002, F = 401.4) and LDH (p = 0.01, F = 23.7). However, gestational acetate treatment ameliorated the renal effects of gestational and post-gestational Tes exposure. Taken together, gestational acetate would pre-programme dams against renal dysfunction caused by Tes exposure.

Study region: The Godavari River is the largest non-Himalayan, monsoon-fed river in India, providing water resources for ∼75 million people. Study focus: Stable isotopes of Godavari River water in a pre-monsoon (dry) and monsoon (wet) season are used to evaluate seasonal and spatial dynamics and gain insights into hydrological processes, provenance and pathways of river water from source to sea. New hydrological insights: Godavari River water isotopes shift from an evaporation- to precipitation-controlled signature between the pre-monsoon and monsoon season (p ≤ 0.001). Godavari waters plot below Global and Local Meteoric Water Lines (p ≤ 0.01), highlighting the importance of evaporation. In the monsoon season, low δ18O and δD values in the downstream catchment reflect an amount/convective effect caused by Southwest monsoonal rainfall. Continuously enriched signatures in the Upper Godavari suggest year-round evaporation due to a rainfall deficit and abundant dams creating stagnant waters. The Godavari ultimately discharges an integrated, monsoon signal into the Bay of Bengal. River depth profiles reveal that Godavari waters are well-mixed in both seasons. In the pre-monsoon season, Godavari water isotopes suggest basin-wide evaporation and seawater intrusion in the delta. A data compilation (n = 399) of δ18O and δD values in Indian Rivers reveals a strong seasonality for the Godavari River. The spatio-temporal patterns in Godavari River water isotopes confirm their suitability as sensitive recorders of monsoon precipitation variability and hydrological processes within monsoon-fed rivers.

Background: There is a dearth of qualitative studies exploring in-depth barriers that adolescents face in accessing and utilising reproductive health services (RHS) in Nigerian primary healthcare centres. Aim: This study explored the barriers hindering adolescents’ access to and utilisation of RHS in primary healthcare centres. Setting: This study was conducted in three primary healthcare centres in Kaduna North Local government area, Nigeria. Methods: This study used an exploratory descriptive qualitative design. Fourteen adolescents and three RHS providers were selected and interviewed. The data collection methods included individual in-depth interviews with adolescents and key informant interviews with service providers. Interviews were conducted between January 2017 and April 2017. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: This study identified three thematic barriers to adolescent’s utilisation of RHS. These included individual, social and health system barriers. Individual factors included the following: inadequate knowledge about RHS and poor attitudes of adolescents towards RHS; social factors such as parental influence, community and religious norms, financial constraints and stigma; and health system factors such as poor attitudes of service providers and inconvenient health facility opening hours hindered adolescents from utilising RHS. Most prominent was the strong influence of the social factors that affected adolescents to the extent that they felt constrained to freely utilise RHS out of a sense of commitment to religious values. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for the development of programmes that would foster collective responsibility for supportive environments within communities and health facilities for positive adolescent RHS experiences.

The modern-day Godavari River transports large amounts of sediment (170 Tg per year) and terrestrial organic carbon (OCterr; 1.5 Tg per year) from peninsular India to the Bay of Bengal. The flux and nature of OCterr is considered to have varied in response to past climate and human forcing. In order to delineate the provenance and nature of organic matter (OM) exported by the fluvial system and establish links to sedimentary records accumulating on its adjacent continental margin, the stable and radiogenic isotopic composition of bulk OC, abundance and distribution of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), sedimentological properties (e.g. grain size, mineral surface area, etc.) of fluvial (riverbed and riverbank) sediments and soils from the Godavari basin were analysed and these characteristics were compared to those of a sediment core retrieved from the continental slope depocenter. Results show that river sediments from the upper catchment exhibit higher total organic carbon (TOC) contents than those from the lower part of the basin. The general relationship between TOC and sedimentological parameters (i.e. mineral surface area and grain size) of the sediments suggests that sediment mineralogy, largely driven by provenance, plays an important role in the stabilization of OM during transport along the river axis, and in the preservation of OM exported by the Godavari to the Bay of Bengal. The stable carbon isotopic (δ13C) characteristics of river sediments and soils indicate that the upper mainstream and its tributaries drain catchments exhibiting more 13C enriched carbon than the lower stream, resulting from the regional vegetation gradient and/or net balance between the upper (C4-dominated plants) and lower (C3-dominated plants) catchments. The radiocarbon contents of organic carbon (Δ14COC) in deep soils and eroding riverbanks suggests these are likely sources of old or pre-aged carbon to the Godavari River that increasingly dominates the late Holocene portion of the offshore sedimentary record. While changes in water flow and sediment transport resulting from recent dam construction have drastically impacted the flux, loci, and composition of OC exported from the modern Godavari basin, complicating reconciliation of modern-day river basin geochemistry with that recorded in continental margin sediments, such investigations provide important insights into climatic and anthropogenic controls on OC cycling and burial.

Abstract Submarine landslides are major agents of sediment mass transfer from the shallow to deep sea. Due to their rapid emplacement and tsunamigenic potential, such landslides are significant geohazards for society and off- and on-shore infrastructure. The relationship between climate change and the occurrence of submarine landslides is widely debated. However, there is a lack of continuous long-term submarine landslide records with which to comprehensively understand the relationship between climate-driven forces and submarine landslide occurrence. Here, using oxygen isotope stratigraphy in combination with tephrochronology, we date a 1 Myr continuous record of six landslide deposits (at 13.0–14.2, 323–339, 372–384, 394–413, 508–521, and 857–867 ka) recorded in a slope basin of the Nankai Trough subduction zone, off-shore Japan, which represents the major outcome of this study. The ages of the six landslides coincide mostly with interglacial periods. Thus, we propose that climate forcing might act as a preconditioning factor for slope instability in this active tectonic region. Graphical abstract Location map, lithology, δ18O isotope stratigraphy (black dots) and tephrochronology (pink layers) of drill core C0018A (drilled within the Nankai Through during IODP Exp. 333). δ18O isotope data were correlated with the LR04 stack reference dataset (blue line) of Liesiecki and Raymo (2005). The mass transport deposits (MTD) are dated within odd numbered Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) taken from Bassinot et al. (1994).

Indigenous and non-commercial fruits can be an important source of antioxidant polyphenols; however, the identity and content of polyphenols from non-commercial fruits are often poorly described. The study aimed to extract, identify, and quantify polyphenols from the skin of the indigenous Africa fruit Ximenia caffra, using solvent extraction. Three solvents (hexane, acetone, and 70% v/v ethanol) over three extraction times (30, 60 and 120 min) were used in a 32 full factorial experimental design to determine effects on polyphenol recovery, and individual polyphenolics were characterised using liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Ethanol was the most effective extraction solvent, and extracts had high levels of total phenolics and flavonoids (65 mg gallic and 40 mg catechin equivalents per gram dry sample respectively), and high antioxidant activity (18.2 mg mL−1 ascorbic acid equivalents). LC-HRMS positively identified 16 compounds, of which 14 were flavonoids including flavonoid glycosides, and indicated that concentrations of some flavonoids decreased for extraction times beyond 60 min. It was concluded that the fruit of Ximenia caffra is rich in natural polyphenolic antioxidants; the present work identified and quantified a number of these, while also establishing suitable solvent extraction conditions for the recovery of these potentially high-value compounds.

Context: Low back pain (LBP) is a symptom of many lumbosacral spine abnormalities which are prevalent in all occupational groups in our environment. Its frequency and severity are significantly related to age and gender. Aims: To determine the relationship between age, gender and LBP in patients referred for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of lumbosacral spine. Settings and Design: A cross sectional study at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted within 4 years at the MRI suite of the Department of Radiology, on 200 patients who had LBP who had MRI scan. Statistical analysis used: Data from the questionnaires were sorted and entered into Microsoft Excel. Analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 22.0. Results: There is male preponderance, with a male to female ratio of 1.6:1. The ages ranged from 11 to 80 years, with a mean of 47.8 + 1.4, and the peak incidence (55 [27.5%]) is in the fourth and fifth decades of life. A statistically significant association (χ2 = 33.9; P < 0.001) was also found between the severity of LBP and ageing. Majority of the patients (172 [86%]) had intervertebral disc prolapse/herniation, out of which 104 (60.5%) were males and 68 (39.5%) were females. Conclusion: Patients with lumbar disc prolapse had early age incidence with male preponderance. The incidence of lower level disc involvement was more, and there was no significant decadal difference in presentation, when both protruded and extruded types of disc prolapse were compared to age and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste management poses a pressing global challenge, necessitating innovative solutions for resource optimization and sustainability. Traditional practices often prove insufficient in addressing the escalating volume of waste and its environmental impact. However, the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies offers promising avenues for tackling the complexities of waste management systems. This review provides a comprehensive examination of AI’s role in waste management, encompassing collection, sorting, recycling, and monitoring. It delineates the potential benefits and challenges associated with each application while emphasizing the imperative for improved data quality, privacy measures, cost-effectiveness, and ethical considerations. Furthermore, future prospects for AI integration with the Internet of Things (IoT), advancements in machine learning, and the importance of collaborative frameworks and policy initiatives were discussed. In conclusion, while AI holds significant promise for enhancing waste management practices, addressing challenges such as data quality, privacy concerns, and cost implications is paramount. Through concerted efforts and ongoing research endeavors, the transformative potential of AI can be fully harnessed to drive sustainable and efficient waste management practices.

Liver diseases have gained increasing attention due to their substantial impact on health, independently as well as in association with cardio-metabolic disorders. Studies have suggested that glutathione and adenosine assist in providing protection against oxidative stress and inflammation while glucocorticoid (GC) therapy has been associated with chronic inflammatory disorders, even in pregnancy. The implications of Glucocorticoid exposure on maternal health and fetal growth is a concern, however, the possible role of glutathione and adenosine has not been thoroughly investigated. The study therefore hypothesize that exposure to glucocorticoids leads to depletion of hepatic glutathione and adenosine levels, contributing to oxidative stress and tissue injury. Additionally, we aim to investigate whether the effects of glucocorticoids on hepatic health are pregnancy dependent in female rats. Twelve Pregnant and twelve age-matched non-pregnant rats were used for this study; an exogenous administration of glucocorticoid (Dex: 0.2 mg/kg) or vehicle (po) was administered to six pregnant and six non-pregnant rats from gestational day 14 to 19 or for a period of 6 days respectively. Data obtained showed that GC exposure led to a decrease in hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase, GSH/GSSG ratio and adenosine content in both pregnant and non-pregnant rats. In addition, increased activities of adenosine deaminase and xanthine oxidase, along with increased production of uric acid and increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transferase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase were observed. In summary, the study indicates that GC-induced liver damage is underlined by depleted hepatic adenosine and glutathione levels as well as elevated markers of tissue inflammation and/or injury. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the effects of GC exposure on hepatic health are pregnancy independent.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa bears two-thirds of the global burden of HIV/AIDS. On-going prevention and control programmes generate much-needed data whose quality and value depend on the knowledge and capacity of the health personnel who generate and manage them. This study aims to explore the knowledge of roles and responsibilities of health personnel in HIV data management on matters related to their job description and functions as well as their job-specific training and work experience. Methodology: A qualitative, observational study involving 45 purposively selected participants was conducted among both facility-based health workers and staff of government agencies and implementing partners in the area of HIV/AIDS data management using focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs). Transcription and content analysis were done manually, excel spreadsheet was used for coding. Results: The knowledge of job titles descriptions and functions was found to be adequate among respondents in this study. Experience on the job and job-specific training were also sufficient. The presence of donor-driven activities is still evident. Frequent assignment of ad hoc duties to HIV/AIDS data management staff exists, especially in health facilities. Conclusion: The allocation (assignment) of trained and skilled personnel dedicated to the sole purpose of HIV data management alone is recommended at all levels (from data collection to dissemination), to improve data quality and reliability.

High concentration of heavy metals on tree leaves could disrupt mitosis in plant cells, leading to damage during cell division, and thereby reducing the number of stomata. Hence, this study evaluated the concentration of Pb, Zn and Cu in Leaves of Mangifera indica, Parkia biglobosa, Azadirachta indica, Delonix Regia, Schefflera arboricola, and Albezia. Lebbeck trees along Major Road Sides in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria using standard methods. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cu were significantly higher in A. Lebbeck, S. Actinophylla D. Regia than the rest of the plant species. The trend of metal concentration varied followed the order: Pb > Zn > Cu. Mean concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cu were significantly higher in heavy traffic areas than other sampling areas. The results of the study suggest that the tree leaves samples could potentially serve as bioindicators for Pb, Zn, and Cu in environmental pollution area.

Hepatic inflammation is culpable for the evolution of asymptomatic steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Hepatic inflammation results from abnormal macrophage activation. We found that FoxO1 links overnutrition to hepatic inflammation by regulating macrophage polarization and activation. FoxO1 was upregulated in hepatic macrophages, correlating with hepatic inflammation, steatosis, and fibrosis in mice and patients with NASH. Myeloid cell conditional FoxO1 knockout skewed macrophage polarization from proinflammatory M1 to the antiinflammatory M2 phenotype, accompanied by a reduction in macrophage infiltration in liver. These effects mitigated overnutrition-induced hepatic inflammation and insulin resistance, contributing to improved hepatic metabolism and increased energy expenditure in myeloid cell FoxO1–knockout mice on a high-fat diet. When fed a NASH-inducing diet, myeloid cell FoxO1–knockout mice were protected from developing NASH, culminating in a reduction in hepatic inflammation, steatosis, and fibrosis. Mechanistically, FoxO1 counteracts Stat6 to skew macrophage polarization from M2 toward the M1 signature to perpetuate hepatic inflammation in NASH. FoxO1 appears to be a pivotal mediator of macrophage activation in response to overnutrition and a therapeutic target for ameliorating hepatic inflammation to stem the disease progression from benign steatosis to NASH.

Even though the effect of oil price shocks on macroeconomics has been extensively investigated, the literature on how efficiency in household energy use affect crude oil price volatility is yet explored. This study unveils whether household energy efficiency lower crude oil price volatility asymmetrically in the United States using the historical and forecast dataset that spans from 1970:Q1-2040:Q1. Applying the multivariate case of Quantile-on-Quantile Regression, the empirical results show that household energy efficiency dampens crude oil price volatility with a stronger connection in quantiles before the median quantiles of crude oil price volatility. However, the effect of household energy efficiency decreases with an increase across quantiles of the crude oil price volatility. The results further show that energy-related CO2 emissions and retail electricity price intensify crude oil price volatility with varying effects across quantiles. These findings are similar to the sensitivity analysis and robustness checks. Overall, the policy implication of our findings is that government and policymakers need to demonstrate unequivocal commitments to improving not only energy-efficient practices at household level but also to mitigate energy-related environmental disasters., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2025 Usman et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background and Aim: Lubiprostone increases chloride and water secretion in the intestines, and several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of lubiprostone in treating functional constipation. Several new clinical trials have emerged since the previous meta-analysis conducted in 2020. We conducted this updated meta-analysis to assess clinical efficacy of lubiprostone in these patients., Methods: A systematic search was conducted on MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Scopus. Randomized controlled trials published between July 2019 and June 2024 were selected. Cochrane's RoB 2 tool was used to assess the risk of bias. A meta-analysis was performed and findings were presented using forest plots., Results: A total of 14 studies, comprising 4550 patients, were included in the review. Only 12 studies were pooled in the meta-analysis. Lubiprostone was associated with greater spontaneous bowel movements (SBM) per week (RR 1.454, 95% CI 1.193-1.771) and SBM within 24 h (RR 1.790, 95% CI 1.491-2.150) in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). However, it was not associated with abdominal pain in either arm (RR 1.415, 95% CI 0.873-2.294). In opioid-induced constipation (OIC), lubiprostone increased SBM within 24 h (RR 1.277, 95% CI 1.105-1.475) but did not significantly affect abdominal pain (RR 4.321, 95% CI 0.624-29.941). Lubiprostone improved all selected SBM-related and abdominal pain outcomes in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C)., Conclusion: Lubiprostone significantly improves all SBM-related outcomes. Owing to its good safety and efficacy profile, lubiprostone can be used in the combination regimens for management of CIC, IBS-C, and OIC., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2025 The Author(s). JGH Open published by Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Calciphylaxis is a rare and serious disorder almost exclusively seen in patients on dialysis or those with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) not on dialysis and is associated with very high mortality. We present the case of a 50-year-old male with a background of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) compliant with dialysis, parathyroid adenoma, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and high body mass index (BMI). Whilst receiving 31 doses of intravenous sodium thiosulphate (STS) over an 11-week period, the patient underwent surgical debridement of multiple painful ulcerative lesions in his lower abdomen and left thigh and then subsequently a subtotal parathyroidectomy at 70 days from admission. Afterwards, he recovered from the surgery but became septic secondary to infection of calciphylaxis ulcers, later developed hospital-acquired pneumonia, and died with palliative care input. Despite intravenous STS being the most commonly used drug in the treatment of calciphylaxis, it did not provide symptomatic relief or clinical improvement to the patient in this case. As there is no consensus on treatment duration for optimal response, this prompts future studies on the use of STS in addition to alternative treatment modalities of calciphylaxis., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) Research Team issued approval (exempt). Explicit written consent has been obtained from the patient for access to a summary of case records and medical photography of wounds for this case report. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Dawson et al.)

Background: The relative success of cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens for PDAC in clinical trials warrants a review of the literature to assess the cumulative results. This study aims to assess the efficacy of cisplatin-containing regimens for PDAC in terms of survival and response outcomes using a systematic review and proportional meta-analysis., Methods: In this study, an electronic search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Google Scholar to find relevant literature. The random effects model was used to assess pooled overall response rate, stable disease rate, progressive disease rate, 1-year overall survival rate, and their 95% CIs. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plot symmetry and the one-tailed Eggers' test. In all cases, p-value < 0.05 was indicative of significant results. The review is registered with PROSPERO: CRD42023459243., Results: A total of 34 studies consisting of 1599 patients were included in this review. All the included studies were of good quality. In total, 906 patients were male, and the median age of the patients was 58-69 years. Overall, 599 patients had cancer of the pancreatic head, 139 had cancer of the pancreatic body, and 102 patients had cancer of the pancreatic tail. The pooled risk ratios (RRs) revealed an overall response rate of 19.2% (95% CI, 14.6-24.2%), a stable disease rate of 42.3% (95% CI, 36.6-48.8), a 1-year overall survival rate of 40% (95% CI, 34.3-45.8), and progressive disease rate of 24.7% (95% CI, 18.8-31.2). Commonly reported adverse events were anemia, thrombocytopenia, abdominal adverse events, neutropenia, fatigue, leukopenia, alopecia, anorexia, mucositis, stomatitis, and hepatobiliary adverse events., Conclusion: Cisplatin-containing regimens have shown moderate efficacy with significant improvement in overall survival at 1 year, stable disease rate, and progressive disease rate; however, only a small percentage of patients achieved an overall response rate., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

According to an estimate, 30% to 40%, of global fruit are wasted, leading to post harvest losses and contributing to economic losses ranging from $10 to $100 billion worldwide. Among, all fruits the discarded portion of oranges is around 20%. A novel and value addition approach to utilize the orange peels is in nanoscience. In the present study, a synthesis approach was conducted to prepare the metallic nanoparticles (copper and silver); by utilizing food waste (Citrus plant peels) as bioactive reductants. In addition, the Citrus sinensis extracts showed the reducing activity against metallic salts copper chloride and silver nitrate to form Cu-NPs (copper nanoparticles) and Ag-NPs (Silver nanoparticles). The in vitro potential of both types of prepared nanoparticles was examined against plant pathogenic bacteria Erwinia carotovora (Pectobacterium carotovorum) and pathogens effect on human health Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Moreover, the in vivo antagonistic potential of both types of prepared nanoparticles was examined by their interaction with against plant (potato slices). Furthermore, additional antipathogenic (antiviral and antifungal) properties were also examined. The statistical analysis was done to explain the level of significance and antipathogenic effectiveness among synthesized Ag-NPs and Cu-NPs. The surface morphology, elemental description and size of particles were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy and zeta sizer (in addition polydispersity index and zeta potential). The justification for the preparation of particles was done by UV-Vis Spectroscopy (excitation peaks at 339 nm for copper and 415 nm for silver) and crystalline nature was observed by X-ray diffraction. Hence, the prepared particles are quite effective against soft rot pathogens in plants and can also be used effectively in some other multifunctional applications such as bioactive sport wear, surgical gowns, bioactive bandages and wrist or knee compression bandages, etc., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The agricultural value chain is underpinned by the interdependence of agricultural value added, household consumption and domestic investment. Understanding the complex interactions between these microeconomic outcomes and the uncertainties in the macroeconomic variables of exchange rates, energy prices and sectoral spending remains under-researched. Therefore, this study examines the impact of exchange rate, energy prices and sectoral spending on agricultural value added, household consumption and domestic investment in Nigeria from 1981 to 2020. Using Kernel regularized least squares (KRLS), the results show that the average pointwise marginal effects of exchange rate and agricultural spending are positive, while the average pointwise marginal effect of energy price is significantly negative for the agricultural value-added model. The results also show that the exchange rate, energy prices and agricultural expenditure all have a positive effect on household consumption. Regarding domestic investment, the effect of the exchange rate is positive and statistically insignificant, while the effects of energy prices and agricultural expenditure are negative and statistically significant. The study recommends the need to strengthen the social safety nets currently in place in Nigeria to support households that are vulnerable to exchange rate fluctuations. In addition, incentives should be given to households and farmers to help use renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power for agricultural activities. Also, investment in value chains and agribusiness initiatives should be encouraged rather than just in crop production., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

The Russia-Ukraine war and other similar conflicts across the globe have heightened risks to the United States of America's (USA's) energy security. However, little is known about the severity of the effect of energy security risks on the USA's quest to attain net-zero emissions targets by 2050. To this end, we examine the effect of energy security risks on the load capacity factor (LCF) in the USA. Employing a time series dataset spinning from 1970 to 2018, the results of the Dynamic Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) simulations model suggest that energy security-related risk hampers the long-term net-zero emissions targets with its effect decreasing over time until it varnishes in about 5 years time. The results also show that foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, renewable energy consumption, and green technology have long- and short-run positive effects on the LCF. Conversely, economic expansion and urbanization impede environmental quality by lowering the LCF both in the long run and short run. These findings are upheld by the outcomes of the multivariate quantile-on-quantile regression. Therefore, the study advocates for the consumption of renewable energy, investment in green technologies, and FDI inflows to mitigate energy security-related risks and attain the net-zero emissions targets by 2050 in the USA., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Africa has been known to experience series of problems among which are poverty, food insecurity, lack of access to energy, lack of infrastructure among others. These problems were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a severe impact on the socioeconomic status of households in Africa. This paper examines the relationship between socioeconomic shocks, social protection, and household food security during the pandemic in Nigeria, the Africa's largest economy. Using the World Bank's COVID-19 national longitudinal baseline phone survey (2020) for the analysis and applied the multinomial logit regression, the study finds that socioeconomic shocks resulting from the pandemic have led to an increased level of food insecurity. Social protection programmes have played a crucial role in mitigating the impact of these shocks on households. However, the study also highlights the need for more targeted and effective social protection policies to ensure that vulnerable households are adequately protected from the adverse effects of the pandemic. The findings of this study have important implications for policymakers and stakeholders in Africa's largest economy, as they seek to address the challenges posed by the pandemic and promote household food security for the actualisation the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of food and nutrition security (SDG2). The study, therefore, recommends that efforts be made to preserve food supply chains by mitigating the pandemic's effect on food systems, increasing food production, and looking forward beyond the pandemic by building resilient food systems with the use of social protection interventions., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Osabohien et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

The air pollution-induced health effects of energy consumption remain a grey area in the extant literature. As of yet, there are very limited studies on the subject matter for countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). To this end, we employ panel data from 1990 to 2019 for 37 OECD countries and panel estimation techniques that control for distributional asymmetry. We also utilize a composite variable of mortality and morbidity to capture the full spectrum of air pollution-induced health burdens. Our findings reveal that renewable energy ameliorates the health burden of air pollution in indoor spaces, evidence for the ameliorating effects of renewable energy in outdoor and occupational spaces was however weak. We also show that income has an ameliorating effect on air pollution-induced health burdens across all spaces and that the effect of non-renewable energy is asymmetric and disparate across all spaces. Furthermore, while technological innovation ameliorates the health burden of air pollution in indoor spaces, it exacerbates the health burden of air pollution in both occupational and outdoor spaces. These findings thus show that the positive health implications of renewable energy policy interventions have more traction in indoor spaces. Capacity needs to be built in the renewable energy sector to reduce the pollution-inducing health burdens emanating from ambient and occupational spaces., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacterium that chronically infects the gastric epithelium. Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) are a promising alternative, being more potent than standard proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). The meta-analysis followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing P-CAB and PPI-based therapy, confirmed H. pylori infection, and measured eradication rates after at least four weeks. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on therapy type and trial location. Quality assessment used the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, RoB 2.0, and statistical analysis was performed using ReviewManager (RevMan) 5.4 (2020; The Cochrane Collaboration, London, United Kingdom). A p-value of <0.05 is considered statistically significant. In the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, P-CABs demonstrated superior overall efficacy, consistently observed in the first-line treatment subgroup. However, no significant difference was found in the subgroup receiving salvage therapy. Another ITT subgroup analyzed the impact of geographical location, favoring P-CABs in the overall study population and the Japanese subgroup. However, no statistically significant differences were found in the subgroups of other countries. In the PPA, P-CABs showed superior efficacy overall, consistently seen in the first-line treatment subgroup. However, no significant difference was found in the subgroup receiving salvage eradication therapy. Another PPA subgroup analysis considered the geographical impact on eradication rates, revealing P-CABs as superior to PPIs in the overall study population and the Japanese subgroup, but not in other countries. No significant adverse event outcomes were observed. P-CAB-based triple therapy is more effective than PPI-based triple therapy as the primary treatment for H. pylori eradication, particularly in Japanese patients. Nevertheless, regarding salvage therapy, both treatments show comparable efficacy. Additionally, the tolerability of P-CAB-based and PPI-based triple therapy is similar, with a similar occurrence of adverse events., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Shah et al.)

Introduction: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) manifests in the glandular cells present in the lining of the esophagus and usually forms in the distal portion of the esophagus. The metastasis of EAC has been reported to occur in surrounding lymphovascular structures, the liver, brain, and bones., Case Presentation: We present the rare case of a 52-year-old Hispanic male with EAC metastasis to the pericardium and lungs. The patient presented with shortness of breath off and on for the last 6 weeks without any usually reported symptoms of EAC like chest pain, vomiting, or chronic cough. Respiratory examinations of this patient were significant for bilateral bronchial breathing and coarse crackles. The patient had been given numerous courses of oral antibiotics over the previous weeks with the provisional diagnosis of atypical pneumonia. Cardiac tamponade pathophysiology was also observed in this patient, for which a pericardial window was created to relieve the patient's symptoms. A final diagnosis of EAC with an unusual metastasis in the lungs and pericardium was made based on radiological and pathological findings. The patient chose palliative care instead of curative care because of the advanced stage of this cancer. The patient received cancer diagnosis counseling and was sent to hospice care for further management., Conclusion: The metastasis of EAC to the pericardium and lungs instead of usual sites constitutes an important prognostic factor in the overall survival of patients., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially goals one (end all forms of poverty), three (ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages), four (ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all) and five (achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls) might be a mirage without conscious efforts on the part of many developing countries to reduce population growth. Rapid population growth due to a high fertility rate and fertility desire may engender strife, poverty, unemployment, competition for scarce resources.The study explored the influence of sex composition of living children on childbearing intention among high fertility married women in stable union. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study and the study population were married women with high fertility in stable union. Results showed that sex composition of surviving children were significantly associated with respondents' fertility intentions. The following were the predictors of fertility intentions; sex composition of surviving children, type of family, contraceptive use, child parity, women empowerment status and others. Sex composition of surviving children was significantly associated with the fert ility intentions of the high fertility married women in stable union., Competing Interests: The Authors declared no conflict of interest, (African Journal of Reproductive Health © 2023.)

A country's reputation plays a crucial role in shaping public perceptions, attracting investment and promoting economic development. At the same time, good governance is essential for promoting environmental sustainability and addressing pressing environmental issues such as climate change, pollution and natural resource depletion. This study examines the impact of a country's reputation on environmental sustainability in Developing-8 countries using panel data obtained from the Worldwide Governance Indicators and World Development Indicators for the duration from 1996 to 2020. This panel study adopted the Method of Moment Quantile Regression with fixed effects and mean-based regressions. The results demonstrated that the impact of the country's reputation index on carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions is negative, yet significant. Also, all the country's reputation indicators negatively affect CO 2 emissions, but the case of political stability is only significant in the mid-quantiles, while government effectiveness is albeit insignificant across quantiles. Furthermore, economic growth is observed to stimulate CO 2 emissions, while renewable energy consumption decreases CO 2 emissions. These results have an inherent heterogeneity, culminating in an asymmetric pattern of the distribution of CO 2 emissions. The novelty of this study is, firstly, the construction of a country's composite reputation index for Developing-8 countries; and secondly, assessing the impact of this index in mitigating environmental externalities measured by CO 2 emissions. Based on these findings, it is recommended, among other things, the need for the D-8 countries to improve their reputation policy to be able to attain the desired environmental sustainability., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Given a new perspective on the environmental hypothesis, this paper systematically investigates the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC), pollution haven, and pollution halo hypotheses using carbon efficiency as the dependent variable. Applying the dynamic autoregressive distributed lag simulations based on the annual time series data over the period 1990-2019, the study found that real GDP per capita has negative effects on China's environmental quality both in the short and long run, whereas the square of real GDP per capita has positive impacts. This validates the EKC hypothesis for China. Furthermore, foreign direct investment has negative effects on environmental quality in China, implying that the case of China exemplifies the pollution haven hypothesis and not the pollution halo hypothesis. The empirical results also demonstrate that energy efficiency and trade openness improve China's environmental quality both in the short run and long run. These findings, therefore, provide insights into achieving the ambitious climate goals in China by 2050., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Several studies have identified deforestation as a major cause of environmental degradation, but little is known about the asymmetric effect of the environmental cost of forest rents. To fill this gap, our study uses the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model and asymmetric causality test to examine the environmental implication of forest rents in the Guinean Forest-Savanna Mosaic of Nigeria over the period 1990:Q1 to 2016:Q4. The empirical results show that forest rents increase CO 2 emissions when the shock to forest rents is positive and decreases CO 2 emissions when the shock to forest rents is negative. The results further show evidence of asymmetric effects of crop production, fossil fuel energy consumption, and economic growth on CO 2 emissions. Moreover, the effects of both positive and negative shocks in economic growth are elastic, suggesting that CO 2 emissions respond in a larger magnitude to a 1% positive or negative shock in economic growth. While the positive shock to crop production and economic growth stimulates CO 2 emissions, their negative shocks dampen CO 2 emissions. In addition, the positive (negative) shocks to fossil energy consumption exert upward (downward) pressure on CO 2 emissions. Furthermore, the asymmetric causality test divulges that a positive change in forest rents causes a negative change in CO 2 emissions and a negative change in forest rents causes a positive change in CO 2 emissions. Based on these findings, the study recommends the need for policymakers to formulate sound policies to protect the forests and transit toward clean energy consumption to minimize energy-related CO 2 emissions in the country., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Promoting green energy is generally considered a crucial way to mitigate energy-related CO 2 emissions. However, the level at which a country's expenditure on green energy technologies interacts with renewable energy consumption to save the planet has been ignored in the literature. Within the context of the Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology (STIRPAT) model, this study investigates the interaction effect of renewable energy and expenditure on green energy technologies in mitigating CO 2 emissions in G7 countries over the period 1990-2017. The empirical results based on the Method of Moments-Quantile Regression (MM-QR) with fixed effects suggest that renewable energy and expenditure on green energy technologies have a negative and heterogeneous effect on CO 2 emissions. The interaction term has a stronger negative and heterogeneous effect across quantiles distribution of CO 2 emissions. This suggests that the extent to which renewable energy exerts downward pressure on CO 2 emissions is dependent on countries' expenditures on green energy technologies. In addition, the effect of the interaction term is stronger in countries with lower levels of CO 2 emissions. Given these findings, the study suggests the need to promote investment in green energy technologies as a catalytic converter to mitigate CO 2 emissions., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

In this paper, we deviate from the existing literature by disentangling the independent variables into their positive and negative changes to capture asymmetric and dynamic multiplier effects of renewable energy and globalization on carbon neutrality targets within the framework of the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model. In doing this, the paper uses South African data for the period 1990 to 2018 and the results show that CO 2 emissions respond differently to the positive and negative shocks in renewable energy, globalization, and economic growth. The effect of a positive shock in economic growth is inelastic and positively related to CO 2 emissions while a negative shock in economic growth has an elastic and negative effect on CO 2 emissions. These results hold for both long-run and short-run periods. In the case of globalization, the positive shock increases CO 2 emissions while the negative shock decreases CO 2 emissions; although the long-run effect of a negative shock is elastic and insignificant while the short-run negative shock exerts an inelastic and significant effect on CO 2 emissions. Furthermore, both the upward and downward shocks in renewable energy consumption transmit a negative effect on CO 2 emissions in the long-run and short-run periods. Therefore, the paper suggests among others that to effectively decarbonize the South African economy, the use of subsidies, tax credits, tax holidays, and a host of others on green energy activities need to be enhanced as incentives for promoting cleaner energy production and consumption., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This study examines the exchange rate pass-through to the United States (US) restaurant and hotel prices by incorporating the effect of monetary policy uncertainty over the period 2001:M12 to 2019:M01. Using the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model, empirical evidence indicates asymmetric  pass-through of exchange rate and monetary policy uncertainty. Moreover, a stronger pass-through effect is observed during depreciation and a negative shock in monetary policy uncertainty, corroborating asymmetric pass-through predictions. Our results further show that a positive shock in energy prices leads to an increase in restaurant and hotel prices. Furthermore, asymmetric causality indicates that a positive shock in the exchange rate causes a positive shock to restaurant and hotel prices. We found feedback causal effects between positive and negative shocks in monetary policy uncertainty and positive and negative shocks in the exchange rate. Additionally, we detected a one-way asymmetric causality, flowing from a positive (negative) shock to a positive (negative) shock in energy prices. Therefore, these findings provide insights for policymakers to achieve low and stable prices in the US restaurant and hotel industry through sound monetary policy formulations., Competing Interests: Competing interestsAuthors declare that there is no known competing financial interests or personal relationship that could have influenced the study., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Crude oil is an essential source of energy. Without access to energy, output growth is impossible. As a result of this link, volatility in oil prices has the ability to induce fluctuations in the output of both developed and developing economies. Moreover, factors such as business cycles and policy changes often introduce nonlinearity into the transmission mechanism of oil price shocks. This study therefore examines not only the interconnectedness of oil price volatility and output growth, but also the nonlinear, asymmetric impact of oil price volatility on output growth in the countries making up the Group of Seven. To this end, monthly data on West Texas Intermediate oil price and industrial production indices of the Group of Seven countries over the period 1990:01 to 2019:08 is used for empirical analysis. The study employs the DCC and cDCC-GARCH techniques for symmetric empirical analysis. The asymmetric empirical analysis is also conducted via GJR-GARCH, FIEGARCH, HYGARCH and cDCC-GARCH techniques. The findings reveal disparities in the magnitudes of the positive and negative (asymmetric) effects of oil price shocks on output growth. The results also reveal that past news and lagged volatility have a significant impact on the current conditional volatility of the output growth of the Group of Seven countries. The study concludes that the impact of oil price volatility on output growth in the selected economies is asymmetric, the volatility is highly persistent and clustered, and the asymmetric GARCH models outperform the symmetric GARCH models., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2023, Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)