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Abstract The aim of this paper is to explore whether and how urban road transport (URT) development affects haze pollution. One of the innovations of this paper is that URT development is measured by road accessibility with novel digital elevation model datasets, which have been used by few scholars. The endogenous problem caused by revere causality issue in the relationship between URT development and haze pollution is also considered. Based on the panel data of prefecture-level cities of Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region in China from 2011 to 2018, this paper uses long-lagged values of URT development as the instrumental variable, employing the two-stage least squares (2SLS) method. The study shows that URT development leads to an increase of haze pollution. Moreover, mechanism tests based on moderating and mediating models support the finding that decreasing haze pollution resulted from better connection effects, while rising agglomeration effects tend to bring about increasing haze pollution, and the latter effect is larger in magnitude than the former. Current URT development may have long-term negative consequences for livability of YRD cities, and urban decision makers should reconsider the effectiveness of the current road transport investment and construction.

Cross-sectional studies have linked vitamin D deficiency and alteration of calcium levels to an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. This study investigated a possible correlation between blood vitamin D and calcium levels with insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, and healthy individuals. This cross-sectional study involved 300 participants. Participants were divided into three groups (n=100), type 2diabetic, prediabetic, and healthy. In order to measure insulin resistance and ß -cell function, the HOMA IR and HOMA B were assessed, respectively. Also, the other parameters such as serum 25(OH)D, blood insulin (FPI), glucose (FBS), HbA1c, and calcium were assessed in this study. In simple regression analysis, a high vitamin D level is linked to lower levels of FBS, HbA1c, Insulin, and HOMA IR, and higher levels of HOMA B. Calcium has a positive connection with FBS and HbA1c and a negative connection with insulin level and HOMAB. Hypovitaminosis D may substantially influence diabetes patients' glycemic dysregulation. "An increased incidence of type 2 diabetes has been related to a disruption in calcium homeostasis. All in all an increament in calcium levels may have a role in developing type 2 diabetes". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate resilient development has become the new paradigm for sustainable development influencing theory and practice across all sectors globally—gaining particular momentum in the water sector, since water security is intimately connected to climate change. Climate resilience is increasingly recognised as being inherently political, yet efforts often do not sufficiently engage with context-specific socio-ecological, cultural and political processes, including structural inequalities underlying historically produced vulnerabilities. Depoliticised approaches have been shown to pose barriers to concerted and meaningful change. In this article, world-leading water specialists from academic and practitioner communities reflect on, and share examples of, the importance of keeping people and politics at the centre of work on climate resilient water security. We propose a roadmap to meaningfully engage with the complex politics of climate resilient water security. It is critical to re-politicise climate resilience to enable efforts towards sustainable development goal 6—clean water and sanitation for all.

Like the rest of the world, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic showed an unprecedented impact on healthcare system and economy of Uzbekistan. Due to lack of resources, stalled organizational agility and highly bureaucratic decision making, the healthcare system of Uzbekistan did not perform optimally. From the top to the bottom decision-making and path dependent strategies were adopted that were ineffective due to volatile and uncertain nature of pandemic. The whole system collapsed because of lack of beds, medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers. The Uzbek government needs strategic plans to keep a fine balance between the economic recovery and spending on deteriorating healthcare system. Unlike many Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries Uzbekistan didn’t deny the existence of COVID-19 in the country. However lack of transparency in data dissemination creates doubts of the intent and accuracy of the information. Uzbekistan would have to apply medium and long-term initiatives and foreign assistance to strengthen the macroeconomic structure and to fight with the inflation and unemployment.

The emergence of digital technology has transformed the way we consume and interact with media, with one of the most significant innovations being the development of e-ink displays. These displays replicate the appearance of ink on paper, providing a low-power, high-contrast alternative to traditional backlit LCD screens. As a result of their advantages such as easy readability, low power consumption, and customization options, e-ink displays have gained widespread adoption in a range of devices such as e-readers, smartwatches, public signage, and transportation timetables. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of e-ink displays by examining their history, technology, current applications, advantages, and limitations. Additionally, the paper discusses the environmental and cost benefits of e-ink displays in contrast to traditional print media. The role e-ink displays can play in reducing paper waste and carbon emissions is emphasized. By exploring the unique features and benefits of e-ink displays, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of this important technology and its impact on the digital landscape.

Undescended testis is a very common presentation in male paediatric population but testis at ectopic sites is a very rare pathology. One of the ectopic sites is perineum and it accounts for only 1% of all cases of undescended testis. We report a case of an 11yr old boy who presented with an empty left hemiscrotum and detailed examination revealed a soft tissue mass on the corresponding side in the perineum. Surgical exploration was carried out during which it was revealed that mass was actually testis at ectopic site with adequate length of the spermatic cord. Testis was mobilized and fixed in the ipsilateral hemiscrotum.

During last decade, proteomics has emerged as a powerful tool for high throughput screening, identification and quantification of proteins from biological samples. In current study, we have employed proteomics technique to explore proteins from eye lenses of Uromastyx hardwickii, an Indian spiny-tailed lizard. Water soluble and insoluble proteins from Uromastyx hardwickii lens were separated and characterized by 2-DE (two dimensional electrophoresis). After ingel digestion, well resolved spots were identified by nano- liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-MS/MS). We have identified αA-, ßA2-, ßA4-, ßB2- and ßB3-crystallins as ubiquitous crystallins and δ-, τ-crystallins as taxon-specific lens crystallins in water soluble fraction. αA- and βB3-crystallins were found to be most abundant water soluble proteins in Uromastyx hardwickii lens. Among non-crystallins (cellular proteins), β-actin was identified. From water insoluble fraction, vimentin, gelsolin, gamma enolase like protein, filensin like protein and ATP synthase subunit B were identified. Our results illustrate advantage of proteomics technology for identification of lens proteins. Furthermore, the study provides distribution patterns of ubiquitous and taxon specific crystallins from Uromastyx hardwickii that is likely to be useful in understanding evolutionary lineage of this organism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]