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Less than 1 % of melanomas metastasize to the genitourinary system. Pseudomelanosis is a rare benign condition due to deposition of melanin-like pigment. We present a 44-year-old male with metastatic melanoma to the left ureter accompanied by pseudomelanosis vesica. He had melanoma resected 20 years prior, and was later found to have diffuse metastatic disease. CT abdomen/pelvis found filling defect of the left mid-ureter. Cystourethroscopy showed brown lesions which on biopsy were pseudomelanosis vesica. Subsequently, the ureteral mass was biopsied with results consistent with metastatic melanoma. This case provides insight regarding management of two rare pathologic presentations in the same patient.

Atmospheric inversion plays an important role in meteorological research and air quality research.This study used ERA5 hourly temperature profile data from 2011 to 2020 to evaluate the low-level atmospheric inversion features of six regions， including Northwest China， North China， Northeast China， Southwest China， East China， and South China.In terms of daily variation， the temperature inversion frequency and intensity mostly peak at 07:00 （Beijing time， the same as after）， the frequency and intensity of the inversion can reach 70% and 2 ℃， respectively， and the thickness of the inversion peaks mostly between 11:00 and 18:00.From the perspective of monthly variation， the temperature inversion characteristics of the sites all reach the maximum value in January to February and December， and the minimum value in June to August.The temperature inversion frequency of some sites in January can reach 90%， the temperature inversion intensity can reach more than 3 ℃， and the overall temperature inversion thickness is mostly concentrated between 200 and 400 m.When looking at annual variation， the majority of stations' temperature inversion characteristics show little change， and the annual variations in temperature inversion frequency， intensity， and thickness are about 10%， 0.4 ℃， and 60 m， respectively.While the temperature inversion features of the stations in East and South China do not clearly indicate an upward or downward trend， the stations in northeast China exhibit a general downward tendency.Ground radiative cooling， weather， and climate are the key factors that affect how temperature inversion features vary over time.Due to the effect of warm air brought by the circulation over the ocean， the coastal regions in northeast China， East China， and South China are more vulnerable to the creation of temperature inversions from the standpoint of geographical distribution.In comparison to Northwest China （23.4%）， Southwest China （13.4%）， and North China （21.84%）， the regional average temperature inversion frequency was greater in each of those three regions （44.5%， 48.7%， and 48.65%， respectively）.The temperature inversion intensity and thickness are the highest in northwest China， East China and coastal areas of South China.The temperature inversion intensity and temperature inversion thickness are above 1.5 ℃ and 300 m as a whole.The humid and cloudy environment in Southwest China is not conducive to the formation of temperature inversion layer， and the temperature inversion intensity and temperature inversion thickness are the smallest.For the subsequent analysis of the vertical buildup and diffusion of air pollutants in various locations of China， this work can serve as a scientific reference.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), comorbidity rates with disruptive behavior disorders and main negative outcomes in primary school students in Nampula, Mozambique. Methods: We selected a random sample of 748 students for ADHD screening from a population of around 43,000 primary school students. The Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale version IV was applied to both parents and teachers. All students who screened positive (n=76) and a propensity score-matched random subset of students who screened negative (n=76) were assessed by a child psychiatrist. Results: The prevalence of ADHD was estimated at 13.4% (95%CI 11.5-19.2), and 30.6% of those with ADHD presented comorbid disruptive behavior disorders. Students with ADHD (n=36) had significantly higher rates of both substance use (alcohol, marijuana) (p < 0.001), and school failures than controls (n=96; p < 0.001). Comorbidity between ADHD and disruptive behavior disorders increased the chance of substance use (p < 0.001). Secondary analyses with more restrictive ADHD diagnostic criteria revealed a lower prevalence rate (6.7%; 95%CI 5.2-12.9) with similar patterns of associated factors and negative outcomes. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that ADHD is a prevalent mental disorder in Mozambique, and it is associated with similar comorbid profiles, predisposing factors, and negative outcomes, as in other cultures.

Objectives: Primary objectives were to analyze the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in (1) boys and girls, and (2) severe asthma versus moderate and mild cases. The authors hypothesized that girls and severe asthma would have a higher prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea. Methods: Cross-sectional evaluation of asthmatic children attending a tertiary Pediatric Pulmonology clinic. The authors performed a history, physical examination, pulmonary function test, and home sleep apnea test. Results: The authors studied 80 consecutive patients, 7–18 years old, mean age of 11.6 years (standard deviation 2.7), 51.3% female, and 18.5% obese. Pulmonary function tests were obtained from 80 volunteers, 45% with obstruction pattern. Home sleep apnea tests were available from 76 volunteers, with a mean obstructive respiratory index of 1.8 events/h. Obstructive sleep apnea was found in 49 volunteers (61.2%). The authors did not find associations between obstructive sleep apnea and sex or asthma severity. Conclusions: Obstructive sleep apnea was frequent among these asthmatic children. Sex and asthma severity were not risk factors. Considering the interrelationship of both diseases, it is worth keeping in mind the possibility of obstructive sleep apnea among children and teenagers with asthma.

Carabidae, or carabids, commonly known as “ground beetles”, are found in numerous natural and cultivated habitats and are recognized for their beneficial role in controlling phytophagous pests in various temperate agroecosystems. However, the crop type and agricultural practices used in management areas significantly affect the structure of the carabid communities. The aim of this study was to investigate the abundance and diversity of ground beetles in hazelnut agroecosystems characterized by different agricultural methods in Calabria, Southern Italy. The carabids were collected from 2017 to 2018 in three hazelnut groves referred to in this study as AZ1, AZ2 and AZ3. Carabids were sampled using pitfall traps inspected every two weeks over a period of 24 months. A total of 4665 specimens belonging to 48 taxa were collected within the sampled sites. Many taxa were found to be widely distributed across the three selected hazelnut groves. Among these, Calathus spp., Harpalus dimidiatus (P. Rossi, 1790), Nebria spp., Platyderus neapolitanus jannonei (Binaghi in Magistretti, 1955), Poecilus cupreus (Linnaeus, 1758), Pterostichus melas italicus (Dejean, 1828), and Syntomus obscuroguttatus (Duftschmid, 1812) were the most abundant ones associated with all sampled areas. Concerning trophic preference, among the collected taxa, the most abundant ones were zoophagous and zoospermophagous. Additionally, taxa uncommon in agroecosystems but with ecological relevance, such as Carabus lefebvrei lefebvrei Dejean, 1826, Carabus preslii neumeyeri Schaum, 1856, and Carabus rossii Dejean, 1826, were also collected.

Spectroscopic characterization of molecules is typically reinforced in the organic chemistry teaching laboratory via the analysis of reaction products by NMR and IR, and initial coverage of these topics can include experiments involving the identification of unknown compounds. To combine the unknown identification component with common laboratory techniques and relevant biologically active compounds, an experiment was developed allowing students to identify the active pharmaceutical ingredient present in various unknown tablets. The protocol involves pulverization of the unknown tablets, solid-liquid extraction, vacuum filtration, liquid-liquid extraction, and solubility tests prior to analysis via IR and NMR spectroscopy. Ultimately, this laboratory experiment provides a platform for students to reengage with many techniques covered in introductory organic chemistry laboratory experiments while gaining exposure and familiarity with spectroscopic methods.

The sandwich corrugated square tubes (SCSTs), which includes outer square tube (OST), inner square tube (IST) and middle corrugated square tube (CST), have been has been proved to have excellent energy absorption performances. In order to further increase its performance and obtain the optimal structural parameters, multi-objective optimization of SCSTs is carried out. The surrogate modals for the SCSTs were constructed, and the main effects and the interaction effects were analyzed in detail. Finally, multi-objective particle swarm (MOPSO) optimization was used for multi-objective optimization of the SCSTs. The optimization results show that Pareto frontier of the SCSTs can reach a larger range than the SCSTs with A = 0 mm. Due to the coupling effect, energy absorption (EA) and initial peak force (Fmax) of the optimal design solution of the SCSTs are increased by 13.76% and decreased by 8.76% respectively compared to the sum of IST, OST and CST crushing alone. Two key indicators, including Fmax and EA, have been improved at the same time.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from fugitive sources are crucial for environmental and health risk assessments. However, monitoring these emissions at ground level, according to traditional technical specifications, has made it challenging to identify polluted air masses and collect purposeful samples. In this study, we focused on utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle system to obtain air samples around a petrochemical industrial park. We conducted a quantitative analysis of 108 VOC species and compared the results between aerial and ground-level samples. The findings indicated a higher presence of reactive compounds in the aerial samples. The sample pairs exhibited relatively homogeneous compositions of hydrocarbons with fewer than eight carbon atoms, suggesting a well-mixed condition for light compounds. Conversely, the aerial samples exclusively exhibited high mixing ratios of C8–C15 compounds, including branched paraffins and aldehydes. Based on the quantified VOCs, we evaluated the ozone formation potential (OFP) and secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAP). The results highlighted aldehydes, alkenes, and aromatics, particularly propanal, 2-butene, m/p-xylene, and benzaldehyde, as priority control compounds. Additionally, the semiquantitative concentrations of these non-quantitative C8–C15 species ranged from 1 to 15 ppbv, with a total content exceeding 150 ppbv, it indicated the significant contribution to ambient secondary pollution. These results provide valuable insights into the identification of potential emission sources and the assessment of environmental repercussions attributed to these intermediate-volatile organic compounds from fugitive emissions around petrochemical plant.

Carbon sinks provided by land ecosystems play a crucial role in achieving carbon neutrality. However, the future potential of carbon sequestration remains highly uncertain. The impact of pollutant emission reduction (PER) introduced by the proposed synergistic approach to air pollution control and carbon neutrality on carbon sinks in China has not yet been fully evaluated. In this study, we analyzed the effects of regional carbon-neutral PER policies, global climate change, and their coupled effects on China’s terrestrial gross primary productivity (GPP) by conducting numerical experiments using the weather research and forecasting model coupled with chemistry (WRF-Chem) and the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer photosynthesis algorithm (MODIS-PSN). We found that carbon-neutral PER policies could promote GPP growth in most regions of China in 2060, particularly during April and October, resulting in a total increase of at least 21.84 TgC compared to that in 2016, which offset the adverse effects of global climate change up to fourfold. The aerosol radiative effects drive GPP growth under carbon-neutral PER policies, primarily through an increase in daily minimum temperature during winter and an increase in shortwave radiation during other seasons. Our research highlights that reducing pollutant emissions enhances future potential for carbon sequestration, revealing positive feedback towards achieving the target of carbon neutrality.

Although a conventional ducted system is the HVAC system used by most of the household in the United States, the ductless mini split system is gaining popularity in the market. The ductless mini split heat pump system consists of an outdoor unit that provides hot or cold refrigerant into a house to one or more wall- or ceiling-mounted indoor fan units. Ductless mini splits can have several advantages over conventional systems including improved thermal comfort, performance, and energy saving. There have been several studies and research in the field of ductless mini splits to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of the system and determine its market potential. Future research and progress in the field require an in-depth understanding of the current state and challenges of the research done about the system. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify the research and studies performed using ductless heat pumps and to quantify them based on their research focus within the topic. So, by performing a comprehensive literature review of the current state of research in the field of ductless mini splits, we have presented an overview of the methodology used and the results obtained by several researchers. In this paper, a reference guide is created to classify the papers based on the topic. The literature is classified into four main topics: performance, thermal comfort, energy savings, and market potential, and then summarized based on the topic. Moreover, the reference guide is also used to distinguish simulations from field evaluations.

Kelp beds provide significant ecosystem services and socioeconomic benefits globally, and prominently in coastal zones of the California Current. Their distributions and abundance, however, vary greatly over space and time. Here, we describe long-term patterns of Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) sea surface canopy area off the coast of San Diego County from 1983 through 2019 along with recent patterns of water column nitrate (NO3-) exposure inferred from in situ temperature data in 2014 and 2015 at sites spanning 30 km of the coastline near San Diego California, USA. Site-specific patterns of kelp persistence and resilience were associated with ocean and climate dynamics, with total sea surface kelp canopy area varying approximately 33-fold over the almost 4 decades (min 0.34 km2 in 1984; max 11.25 km2 in 2008, median 4.79 km2). Site-normalized canopy areas showed that recent kelp persistence since 2014 was greater at Point Loma and La Jolla, the largest kelp beds off California, than at the much smaller kelp bed off Cardiff. NO3- exposure was estimated from an 11-month time series of in situ water column temperature collected in 2014 and 2015 at 4 kelp beds, using a relationship between temperature and NO3- concentration previously established for the region. The vertical position of the 14.5°C isotherm, an indicator of the main thermocline and nutricline, varied across the entire water column at semidiurnal to seasonal frequencies. We use a novel means of quantifying estimated water column NO3- exposure integrated through time (mol-days m-2) adapted from degree days approaches commonly used to characterize thermal exposures. Water column integrated NO3- exposure binned by quarters of the time series showed strong seasonal differences with highest exposure in Mar - May 2015, lowest exposure in Sep - Dec 2014, with consistently highest exposure off Point Loma. The water column integrated NO3- signal was filtered to provide estimates of the contribution to total nitrate exposure from high frequency variability (ƒ >= 1 cycle 30 hr-1) associated predominantly with internal waves, and low frequency variability driven predominantly by seasonal upwelling. While seasonal upwelling accounted for > 90% of NO3- exposure across the full year, during warm periods when seasonal upwelling was reduced or absent and NO3- exposure was low overall, the proportion due to internal waves increased markedly to 84 to 100% of the site-specific total exposure. The high frequency variability associated with internal waves may supply critical nutrient availability during anomalously warm periods. Overall, these analyses support a hypothesis that differences in NO3- exposure among sites due to seasonal upwelling and higher frequency internal wave forcing contribute to spatial patterns in Giant Kelp persistence in southern California. The study period includes anomalously warm surface conditions and the marine heatwave associated with the “Pacific Warm Blob” superimposed on the seasonal thermal signal and corresponding to the onset of a multi-year decline in kelp canopy area and marked differences in kelp persistence among sites. Our analysis suggests that, particularly during periods of warm surface conditions, variation in NO3- exposure associated with processes occurring at higher frequencies, including internal waves can be a significant source of NO3- exposure to kelp beds in this region. The patterns described here also offer a view of the potential roles of seasonal and higher frequency nutrient dynamics for Giant Kelp persistence in southern California under continuing ocean surface warming and increasing frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves.

BACKGROUND: According to the literature, the brachial plexus presents a high rate of anatomical variations in the human neural system. The musculocutaneous nerve, a vital component of the brachial plexus, exhibits significant anatomical variations that hold clinical relevance across multiple medical disciplines. This case report, with a comprehensive review, explores the different variations in the course, branching patterns, and clinical implications of the musculocutaneous nerve. Understanding these variations is essential for surgeons, radiologists, and clinicians to enhance surgical precision, improve diagnostic accuracy, and reduce the risk of iatrogenic complications. CASE REPORT: During an anatomical dissection we observed a very rare anatomical variation of the musculocutaneous nerve. Based on this discovery, we performed research in the literature with the aim of finding if this variation has been previously described. Firstly, we identified various classifications of anatomical variations of communicating branches between the musculocutaneous and median nerves, and then we observed that these variations corresponded to various rates of frequency. Our finding is a rare undescribed anatomical variant within the variants classified as Type II according to Le Minor, which is observed in 6.8-10.7% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The peculiar position of anatomical variations and anastomosis has clinical and functional relevance. Healthcare professionals must be aware of these variations to minimize surgical complications, accurately diagnose neurovascular pathologies, and optimize patient management. Further research into the genetic and embryological underpinnings of these variations may provide additional insights into this intriguing aspect of human anatomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the preservation and restoration of a historical building needs to be faced in accordance with a novel sensibility regarding the environment in order to preserve the building for future generations. In this context, the scientific community is focusing on novel and sustainable materials and techniques that allow for durability and mechanical performance as well as compatibility with the existing heritage. Alkali-activated materials represent a great challenge to the production of new materials, starting from the existing ones, with the goal of reducing consumption, emission of greenhouse gases and environmental impact. This study deals with the valorisation of waste materials coming from demolition and construction activities in the manufacture of geocomposites suitable for the restoration and conservation of historical heritage. In particular, waste from tuff sawing and brick grinding were used as raw materials, and then the geopolymeric samples produced were characterized based on a physical-chemical and mechanical point of view in order to investigate their performance and evaluate their suitability as materials for a historical building’s recovery. The results showed that brick waste-based geocomposites were more compact than the tuff-based ones, as shown by the higher-density values and the lower values of open porosity and water absorption and as further confirmed by the trend of the mechanical performance. Moreover, experimental data showed that the physical and mechanical properties of both bricks and tuff waste-based geocomposites, even with different waste content, are compatible with existing building materials as well as traditional repairing products.

Abstract Backgroud Globally, women have been shown to have high rates of common mental disorders (CMDs). In low and middle-income countries (LMICs), women face significant challenges related to maternity. However, no study has compared mental health problems among pregnant/post-partum women, childless women of childbearing age, and women with children in a low-income country. We sought to compare the frequency of CMD and suicide risk in a sample of women presenting or accompanying patients in primary care in two Mozambican semi-urban settings. Methods We administered the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview to 853 women, of whom 220 (25.8%) were pregnant/post-partum, 177 (20.8%) were non-pregnant and childless, and 456 (53.5%) were non-pregnant and with children more than 1-year-old. Logistic regression models compared the likelihood of a psychiatric disorder across groups, adjusting for sociodemographic and chronic-illness covariates. Results We found a high frequency of CMD and suicide risk among all women in this low-income context sample. In adjusted models, no differences in rates of depression, anxiety, or panic disorder were observed among groups. However, suicide risk was higher in women without children than pregnant/post-partum women. Conclusion The frequency of CMD among women of childbearing age in our study was higher than documented rates in high-income countries and other LMIC. Additionally, we found that motherhood was not protective and that pregnancy and the postpartum period were not stages of increased risk for most disorders. This highlights the need to expand mental health services not only for perinatal women but all women of childbearing age in this and possibly similar settings.

Landscape configuration and forest structure assume an increasing importance as determinants of animal communities. This paper focused on nocturnal Lepidoptera inhabiting alder patches in the Sila National Park, Italy. According to their shapes, patches were divided into linear and compact ones to disentangle the roles of forest structure and landscape configuration in determining the composition of nocturnal Lepidopteran communities at different observation scales. We used the Mann–Whitney test for medians and Shannon diversity, equitability, Fisher’s alpha, and nestedness to test differences among moth communities. We found that compact patches inhabited richer and more abundant communities. The abundance-based Correspondence Analysis showed moth communities clustered according to woodlot shape, except a compact woodlot with a linear-like moth community because it was entirely surrounded by grasslands. Percentage of forested area and abundance and composition of communities were positively correlated at 50 and 200 m buffers, while correlations were absent at smaller and larger buffers. Our results demonstrated that a width of 50 m may not be sufficient to give proper functionality to the wooded area, at least for moths. As a consequence, planning of forest restorations should consider the importance of increasing the structural habitat continuity at larger scales.

As air quality has improved rapidly in recent years, the public has become more interested in whether a famous snow peak, Yaomei Feng on the Tibetan Plateau, can be seen from Chengdu, a megacity located on the western plain of the Sichuan Basin, east of the plateau. Therefore, a threshold-method-based forecasting system for snow peak sighting was developed in this study. Variables from numerical models, including cloud–water mixing ratio, cloud cover over snow peak, water mixing ratio, PM2.5 concentration, and ground solar radiation, were used in the snow peak sighting forecast system. Terrain occlusion rate of each model grid was calculated. Monte Carlo simulations were applied for threshold determination. A WRF-CMAQ hindcast was conducted for 2020, owing to insufficient observation data, hindcast results on the snow peak sighting were compared with posts collected from social media. Estimations showed that the snow peak sighting forecast system performed well in reflecting the monthly trend of snow peak sightings, and the hindcast results matched the daily observations, especially from May to August. Accuracy of the snow peak sighting forecast model was 78.9%, recall value was 57.1%, and precision was 24.4%.

Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle (CD-CQ Economic Circle) is one of China's four major economic circles and five major urban agglomerations located in Southwest China's Sichuan Basin. The CD-CQ Economic Circle, with its strong economic development and dense population, suffers from severe PM2.5 pollution, which is known to cause chronic and acute respiratory ailments. This study examined the lung disease-related hub genes, functions, and pathways that are affected by PM2.5 in summer and winter in the two central megacities of Chengdu and Chongqing. PM2.5 frequently activates lung disease-associated hub genes, most notably the transcription factor TP53. TP53 interacts with the majority of lung disease-related genes and regulates important and commonly occurring biological functions and pathways, including gland development, aging, reactive oxygen species metabolic process, the response to oxygen levels, and fluid shear stress, among others. Thus, PM2.5 has been shown to target TP53 for regulating lung disease genes/functions/pathways, thereby influencing the occurrence and progression of lung illnesses. Notably, PM2.5 may be associated with small cell carcinoma of the lung due to the high number of lung disease genes, hub genes, critical functions, and pathways enriched in this kind of cancer. These findings shed fresh light on the molecular pathophysiology of PM2.5 pollution on the respiratory system in the CD-CQ Economic Circle and aid in the development of novel techniques for mitigating PM2.5 pollution-associated respiratory illness.

Coal-derived fly ash is a major aerosol composition in the atmosphere and presents a major challenge in understanding the atmospheric environment. In this study, the heterogeneous uptake of hydrogen peroxide and sulfur dioxide on coal fly ash was investigated using a Knudsen cell reactor coupled with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The uptake coefficients were measured as a function of the initial mixing ratio of H2O2 and SO2 from 10 to 60 ppbv, and the temperature dependence of the uptake coefficients was also carried out over a range from 253 to 313 K. The mixing ratio of H2O2 and SO2 showed little effect on the uptake coefficients for these heterogeneous processes. As a function of temperature, the initial uptake coefficients of H2O2 and SO2 on coal fly ash were (0.48–1.65) × 10−4 and (1.50–8.54) × 10−5, respectively, which decreased with an increase in temperature. The steady-state uptake coefficients of H2O2 on coal fly ash were in the range of 2.46 × 10−5 to 4.84 × 10−5, which increased with an increase in temperature. Furthermore, we examined the synergistic effects between SO2 and H2O2 in their reaction on coal fly ash and found the existence of gaseous H2O2 appeared to enhance the ability of SO2 uptake on coal fly ash. Therefore, this finding suggests that the oxidation of SO2 on the surface of coal fly ash by gaseous H2O2 would promote SO2 consumption and transformation.

Exposure to high sound levels may lead to a variety of hearing abnormalities, including Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Pre-professional university music majors may experience frequent exposure to elevated sound levels, and this may have implications on their future career prospects (Jansen, Helleman, Dreschler & de Laat, 2009). Studies suggest that college students (aged 18-25) who participate in instrumental music activities are particularly vulnerable to hearing damage and NIHL (Phillips, Henrich, & Mace, 2010). The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for sound levels were last revised in October 1974, and remain as the maximum allowable noise levels in the workplace as enforced by law in the United States (U.S. Department of Labor, 2009). The standards are based on a permissible sound exposure of 90 dB for a duration of up to eight hours. Currently, the OSHA decibel exchange rate is set at 5 dB, with exchange rate defined as the amount of decibels at which the permissible sound level is reduced by 50%. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), on the other hand, recommends no more than 85 dB for up to eight hours with a 3 dB exchange rate (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). The purpose of this study was to collect and analyze the sound load exposure of a population of university music students participating in instrumental music ensemble rehearsals. The subject venue is described as Fine Arts Center (FAC) 2007, located within the Cowan Fine Arts Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Tyler. This room serves as a rehearsal venue for a student jazz ensemble, a student jazz combo, and the university Wind Ensemble, all of which were recorded for this study. The Wind Ensemble and jazz combo met three times per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:30 to 1:45 and 3:00 to 4:15, respectively, while the jazz ensemble met twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00 to 3:15. All measurements were taken using an ExTech 407764 Datalogging Sound Level Meter. Data was collected every week and saved to an external memory storage device. The datalogger was then cleared and reset to collect subsequent data sets. The results of the study were based on data retrieved from the datalogger over a period of eight weeks, spanning September 19 to November 24, 2012. During this time, a total of 33 recordings were collected, each with an average duration of 1.28 hours (1 hour and 17 minutes). The lowest decibel values recorded fell below the minimum value of the range set for the meter (30dB), whereas the loudest recorded noise levels reached 130 dB, which was the highest value of the range set for the meter. Out of a total of 33 recording sets, none exceeded the mandatory OSHA values for safety regulations, and only one exceeded the recommended NIOSH values. This information suggests that the room in which the recordings took place is safe for the amount of sound being produced according to the legal OSHA workplace values; however, due to the proximity of some recording sets to the maximum allowable dosage level, it would be common in most manufacturing industries to implement a hearing conservation program. [Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Texas Music Educators Association (San Antonio, TX, Feb 2014).]

Objective Vertebral aspergillosis is quite rare conditions, often misdiagnosed, that requires long-term antibiotic therapy, and sometimes, surgical treatments. The present investigations were aimed to investigate the epidemiology, clinical-radiological aspects, treatment protocols, and outcomes of Aspergillus-mediated vertebral osteomyelitis. Methods A systematic review of the pertinent English literature according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines was performed. The research was conducted on Cochrane library, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Scopus using as search-terms “Aspergillus,” “vertebral osteomyelitis,” “spondylodiscitis,” “spine infection.” A case of vertebral aspergillosis conservatively managed was also reported. Results Eighty-nine articles were included in our systematic review. Including the reported case, our analysis covered 112 cases of vertebral aspergillosis. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated in 68 cases (61.2%), Aspergillus flavus in 14 (12.6%), Aspergillus terreus in 4 (3.6%), Aspergillus nidulans in 2 (1.8%). Seventy-three patients (65.7%) completely recovered at the last follow-up evaluation; in 7 patients (6.3%) radiological signs of chronic infection were reported, whereas 32 patients (28.8%) died during the follow-up. Conclusion This systematic review summarized the state of the art on vertebral aspergillosis, retrieving data on clinical features, diagnostic criteria and current limitations, treatment alternatives, and their outcomes.

Conventional air conditioning systems in houses respond to thermal loads by means of controlling dry-bulb temperature through the thermostat. As part of the process to control temperature, dehumidification is also provided. However, as houses are becoming more efficient, supplemental dehumidification is often necessary for homes located in hot and humid climates to control relative humidity intentionally. This study compared the dehumidification performance of a residential air conditioning system working in three operations modes to emulate three different systems: a system with a variable speed mode, a single-speed system with an enhanced dehumidification mode, and a single-speed system operating in a traditional or normal cooling mode. With operation mode changes achieved through software, this study constituted a novelty in the topic of humidity control by using a single machine, with the same exact physical set-up to directly compare the dehumidification performance of three types of systems.Two types of days were of interest in the study, hot and humid days (summer season) and mild and humid days (Fall shoulder season). After assessment of the dehumidification performance, the variable speed mode was able to maintain relative humidity between 50% to 52% on summer days. In the single-speed with enhanced dehumidification, a slightly less effective humidity control was achieved on summer days with the mode keeping the relative humidity between 53% to 55%. In the normal cooling mode, which resembles a conventional system, the humidity levels were controlled between 55% to 60%. In the shoulder season, the variable speed and enhanced dehumidification modes maintained the relative humidity between 55% to 58% and 53% to 56% respectively. In the shoulder season, the normal cooling mode kept the indoor relative humidity near or above 60%. In terms of dehumidification efficiency expressed as a function of the amount of water condensate per unit of energy, the variable speed was determined to be more efficient than the other modes.

A partir de la interpretación del pensamiento de Norman Daniels sobre la asistencia sanitaria como exigencia para el funcionamiento normal de la especie humana, se analiza la cuestión del racionamiento sanitario aplicándolo al contexto de la pandemia de la COVID-19 en Mozambique, un sistema sanitario que se debate con la extrema escasez de recursos sanitarios. La lucha contra el Sars-cov-2 ha provocado desatención a las enfermedades que constituyen un problema de salud pública. Ello nos obliga a reflexionar sobre la justicia distributiva en el contexto de la asistencia sanitaria.

Abstract Background Depression is one of the leading causes of disability in Mozambique; however, few patients with depression are identified in primary care. To our knowledge, there are no validated tools for depression screening in Mozambique. The aim of this study was to validate the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for use in primary care settings in Mozambique. Methods The PHQ-9 was adapted using a structured multi-phase process led by a team of bilingual experts followed by a review by lay individuals and pilot-testing including cognitive interviews. The final Mozambican PHQ-9 (PHQ-9-MZ) was applied among 502 individuals randomly selected from antenatal, postpartum, and general outpatient consultations in three Ministry of Health primary healthcare clinics in Sofala Province, Mozambique. The PHQ-9-MZ was evaluated against the MINI 5.0-MZ as a gold standard diagnostic tool. Results The majority of participants were female (74%), with a mean age of 28. Using the MINI 5.0-MZ, 43 (9%) of the sample tested positive for major depressive disorder. Items of the PHQ-9-MZ showed good discrimination and factor loadings. One latent factor of depression explained 54% of the variance in scores. Questions 3 (sleep) and 5 (appetite) had the lowest item discrimination and factor loadings. The PHQ-9-MZ showed good internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.84, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.89). The PHQ-2-MZ had an AUROC of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.85). Using a cut-point of ≥9, the PHQ-9-MZ had a sensitivity of 46.5% and a specificity of 93.5%. Using a cut-point of ≥2, the PHQ-2-MZ had a sensitivity of 74.4% and a specificity of 71.7%. Increasing the cut-point to ≥3, the PHQ-2-MZ has a sensitivity of 32.6% and a specificity of 94.6%. Conclusions The PHQ-9-MZ and PHQ-2-MZ emerge as two valid alternatives for screening for depression in primary health care settings in Mozambique. Depending on program needs and weighing the value of minimizing false positives and false negatives, the PHQ-9-MZ can be employed with cut-points ranging from ≥8 to ≥11, and the PHQ-2-MZ with cut-points ranging from ≥2 to ≥3.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a 5 mg sublingual dose of zolpidem, compared to a 10 mg oral dose, at bedtime and “as needed” following middle-of-the-night awakenings. Methods: Participants were randomized into an oral group (oral zolpidem 10 mg and sublingual placebo at bedtime and “as-needed”) and a sublingual group (oral placebo and sublingual zolpidem 5 mg at bedtime and “as-needed”). Participants underwent medical evaluation, polysomnography, the psychomotor vigilance test, and completed questionnaires. Results: Of 85 patients, 67 met the criteria for insomnia (48±10 years; 79% women) and were randomized. Of these, 46 completed 92±5 days of treatment. Mild-to-moderate adverse events were reported by 25% of the participants, including headache, sleepiness, and dizziness. Both treatments decreased middle-of-the-night awakenings by an average of -3.1±2.3 days/week and increased total sleep time by 1.5 hours. Changes in sleep quality and insomnia severity scores were also favorable and comparable between groups: variation depended on continuation of treatment. Regarding PSG findings, sleep latency decreased more in the sublingual group than the oral group (-14±42 vs. 10±29 min; p = 0.03). The psychomotor vigilance test showed minor residual effects 30 minutes after awakening, which reversed after 2 hours. Conclusions: The safety and efficacy of both zolpidem formulations are comparable. The sublingual 5 mg dose induced sleep more rapidly. Clinical trial registration: NCT01896336

Publicado em 2018, o Dicionário de parti-cularidades lexicais e morfossintácticas da expressão literária em português – Moçambique, da autoria do Professor Catedrático Michel Laban (Université Paris 3-Sorbonne-Nouvelle), especia-lista em literaturas africanas de língua portuguesa, tradutor de numerosos au-tores lusófonos, constitui o corolário do imenso trabalho desenvolvido pelo autor particular-mente sobre a literatura moçambicana, sabido que, globalmente, Michel Laban teve um papel importante na congregação de obras literárias dos diferentes países lusófonos e no estudo das particularidades linguísticas do português literário. Dentre os resultados desses estudos, destaca-se a publicação de importantes volumes intitulados Encontro com escritores de países africanos lusófonos (Angola, Cabo Verde, Moçambique, São Tomé e Príncipe).

Background: Long-term surface NO2 data are essential for retrospective policy evaluation and chronic human exposure assessment. In the absence of NO2 observations for Mainland China before 2013, training a model with 2013–2018 data to make predictions for 2005–2012 (back-extrapolation) could cause substantial estimation bias due to concept drift. Objective: This study aims to correct the estimation bias in order to reconstruct the spatiotemporal distribution of daily surface NO2 levels across China during 2005–2018. Methods: On the basis of ground- and satellite-based data, we proposed the robust back-extrapolation with a random forest (RBE-RF) to simulate the surface NO2 through intermediate modeling of the scaling factors. For comparison purposes, we also employed a random forest (Base-RF), as a representative of the commonly used approach, to directly model the surface NO2 levels. Results: The validation against Taiwan’s NO2 observations during 2005–2012 showed that RBE-RF adequately corrected the substantial underestimation by Base-RF. The RMSE decreased from 10.1 to 8.2 µg/m3, 7.1 to 4.3 µg/m3, and 6.1 to 2.9 µg/m3 in predicting daily, monthly, and annual levels, respectively. For North China with the most severe pollution, the population-weighted NO2 ([NO2]pw) during 2005–2012 was estimated as 40.2 and 50.9 µg/m3 by Base-RF and RBE-RF, respectively, i.e., 21.0% difference. While both models predicted that the national annual [NO2]pw increased during 2005–2011 and then decreased, the interannual trends were underestimated by >50.2% by Base-RF relative to RBE-RF. During 2005–2018, the nationwide population that lived in the areas with NO2 > 40 µg/m3 were estimated as 259 and 460 million by Base-RF and RBE-RF, respectively. Conclusion: With RBE-RF, we corrected the estimation bias in back-extrapolation and obtained a full-coverage dataset of daily surface NO2 across China during 2005–2018, which is valuable for environmental management and epidemiological research.

Nowadays, many cities in China are suffering from both fine particulate matter (PM2.5, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 µm) and ozone (O3) pollution. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is an important component of PM2.5 and is closely related to the oxidation processes. To investigate the characteristics and formation pathways of SOA during different types of haze pollution episodes, carbonaceous components of PM2.5 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were monitored continuously in Chengdu in April 2019, when Chengdu experienced not only PM2.5 pollution (SPP) but also a complex pollution of PM2.5 and O3 (CoP). In the CoP episode, the concentrations of SOA increased by 51.2% as compared to SPP, and the SOA concentrations were positively correlated with PM2.5 mass concentrations. These suggest that SOA drove the increase in PM2.5 levels during the haze event to some extent. The preliminary VOC source analysis based on the feature ratio showed that vehicle emission and fuel volatilization sources were the main sources of VOCs at this urban site. In addition, coal emissions and biomass burning were also important contributors. High-carbon alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons significantly contributed to the SOA formation. These results provide a preliminary understanding of SOA formation during different types of pollution episodes in Chengdu, which can help us to further understand air pollution in this typical region.

The existing knowledge illustrated the role of surrounding mountains in the transportation of dust into a basin, including the blocking of low-layer dust and the allowance of elevated dust intrusion. Taking the Sichuan Basin in southwestern China as an example, we found the impact of clouds on the transportation process of dust in the basin area. If there were low-level clouds on the basin edges, the dust particles could not penetrate the cloud layers, but settled down from upper air into the basin in the cloudless regions. They could be transported beneath clouds in the basin. Considering that the upslope airflow accompanied by dust transportation was conducive to the low-level clouds on the basin edge, this mechanism further reduced the dust intrusion besides the shelter of the surrounding mountains.

In order to explore the characteristics of water-soluble inorganic ions (WSIIs) in the atmosphere of Wanzhou, a small mountainous city in Chongqing, four representative seasonal PM2.5 samples and gaseous precursors (SO2 and NO2) were collected from April 2016 to January 2017. The WSIIs (including Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, Na+, NH4 +, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) were analyzed by ion chromatography. During the sampling period, daily PM2.5 concentration varied from 3.47 to 156.30 μg·m−3, with an average value of 33.38 μg·m−3, which was lower than the second-level annual limit of NAAQS-China. WSIIs accounted for 55.6% of PM2.5, and 83.1% of them were secondary inorganic ions (SNA, including SO42−, NO3−, and NH4+). The seasonal variations of PM2.5 and WSIIs were similar, with the minimum in summer and the maximum in winter. PM2.5 samples were the most alkaline in summer, weakly alkaline in spring and winter, and close to neutral in fall. The annual average ratio of NO3−/SO42− was 0.54, indicating predominant stationary sources for SNA in Wanzhou. NO3−, SO42−, and NH4+ mainly existed in the form of (NH4)2SO4 and NH4NO3. The results of the principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the major sources of WSIIs in Wanzhou were the mixture of secondary inorganic aerosols, coal combustion, automobile exhaust (49.53%), dust (23.16%), and agriculture activities (9.68%). The results of the backward trajectory analysis showed that aerosol pollution in Wanzhou was mainly caused by local emissions. The enhanced formation of SNA through homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions contributed to the winter PM2.5 pollution event in Wanzhou.

To improve the capacity to probe volatile chemical substances in the atmosphere, we designed an unmanned aerial vehicle system for volatile organic compound (VOC) monitoring and sampling. This environmental monitoring unmanned aerial vehicle (EMUAV) platform was equipped with a photoionization detector for continuous VOC monitoring and searching in a pollution air mass. Furthermore, a multifunction airborne microVOC sampler was loaded for sampling. An airbag and absorption tube were applied to collect air samples for further analyzing in the laboratory by GC-FID/MS or TD-GC/MS. By comparing the aerial samples derived from the microVOC sampler with the samples collected at a similar height to a building roof for chemical compositions, the sampling conditions, such as the sampling port location and sampling method, were optimized to ensure the representativeness of the air samples. The results of the sample comparison experiment showed that both the airbag method and the adsorption method could recover 70–130% for most VOC species. Through the aerial measurements, the advantages of this EMUAV system were demonstrated. Therefore, the developed EMUAV system would have immeasurable potential in the field of environment monitoring.

Background: Thalamic volume measures have been linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents. However, it is unclear if alterations in thalamic volumes occur before or after symptom onset and if there is a relation to the presence of sub-clinical obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS). Here, we explore the relationship between OCS and the rate of thalamic volume change in a cohort of children and youth at high risk to develop a mental disorder. A secondary aim was to determine if there is a relationship between OCS and the individual's OCD polygenic risk score (OCD-PRS) and between the rate of thalamic volume change and the OCD-PRS.Methods: The sample included 378 children enrolled in the longitudinal Brazilian High-Risk Cohort for Mental Conditions. Participants were assessed for OCS and the symmetrized percent change (SPC) of thalamic volume across two time-points separated by 3 years, along with the OCD-PRS. Zero-altered negative binomial models were used to analyze the relationship between OCS and thalamic SPC. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the relationship between thalamic SPC and OCD-PRS.Results: A significant relationship between OCS and the right thalamus SPC (p = 0.042) was found. There was no significant relationship between changes in thalamic volume SPC and OCD-PRS.Conclusions: The findings suggest that changes in the right thalamic volume over the course of 3 years in children may be associated to OCS. Future studies are needed to confirm these results and further characterize the specific nature of OCS symptoms associated with thalamic volumes.

Background: The non-clinical presentation of obsessive–compulsive symptoms (OCS) in women may impact not only their daily lives and well-being but also increase the risk for emotional and behavioral problems in their children. This study aims to investigate the OCS dimension distribution in a large sample of mothers from a cohort of school age children and the association between these OCS dimensions with their own psychopathology, and with the presence of OCS and other psychopathology in their children.Method: Our final sample consisted of 2,511 mother-children dyads recruited from the elementary schools of two large cities. Throughout multiple regression analysis, we examined the correlations between demographic and clinical variables of mothers assessed by the Mini International Psychiatric Interview (MINI) and the Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale-Short Version (DY-BOCS-SV) with children's psychopathology status reported by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).Results: The overall prevalence of mothers who reported experiencing at least one OCS was 40% (N = 1,004). “Aggression/violence” was the most frequent symptom dimension (32.2%), followed by the “symmetry/ordering” (16.4%) and the “sexual/religious” dimensions (13.8%). There was a significant correlation between the presence of OCS and maternal psychopathology in general (p < 0.001, r = 0.397). Not only the presence but also the severity of the mother's OCS were strongly correlated to the total (p < 0.001), internalizing (p < 0.001), externalizing (p < 0.001), and OCS subscale scores (p < 0.001) on the CBCL.Conclusion: OCS dimensions are highly prevalent in women. Presence and severity of maternal OCS are related to children's psychopathology and behavioral problems.