Breumrichards0326

One of the major problems the world is currently facing is climate change. This is due to the use of fossil fuel combustion, which increases the presence of CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in several countries of the world, which Nigeria is not exempted from. Against this background, this study examines the impacts of globalization, real income, urbanization, and energy consumption on environmental degradation; and proffer way forward to achieving environmental sustainability targets in Nigeria, using quarterly frequency time series data over a period 1971-2018. To achieve our study objectives, this study makes use of quantile-quantile (Q-Q) approach, developed by Sim and Zhou J Bank Financ 551-8, (2015). SU11274 in vivo This approach groups together nonparametric estimation and quantile regression. Empirical results show that, in all quantiles, globalization, real income, urbanization, and energy consumption impact positively on environmental degradation. Thus, we are of the opinion that for the nation to achieve any meaningful environmental sustainability targets, (i) it must shift from economic activities that are dependent and driven by non-renewable energy sources; (ii) enact environmental laws and regulations that prevent indigenous and multinationals firms from using non-renewable energy sources in production activities; (iii) discourage rural-urban migration by enacting policies that would improve life in the rural areas, such as diverting investment of indigenous and multinational companies to be situated in the rural areas; and lastly, (iv) learn from jurisdictional experiences that have successfully replaces non-renewable energy sources with renewable ones for an overall economic growth and environmental sustainability targets for both the immediate and future generations.The refined assessment of the spatiotemporal characteristics of droughts is of great significance for drought evaluation. Based on monthly precipitation and temperature grid data (1961-2019) in the middle reaches of the Yellow River basin (MYRB), the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) was calculated at monthly, seasonal, and annual scales. The run theory was used to extract the drought features at the monthly scale, and the spatiotemporal characteristics of different drought levels were analyzed using Mann-Kendall mutation tests and spatial interpolation. The Moran' I was used to analyze the spatial heterogeneity of droughts. The results showed that the drought trend in the MYRB increased from 1961 to 2019, with the SPEI exhibiting an overall decreasing rate of - 0.1145/decade. Decreasing rates were observed in spring (- 0.1356/decade), summer (- 0.0362/decade), and autumn (- 0.0745/decade), whereas an increasing rate was observed in winter (0.0781/decade). Only extreme droughts were long term, with an intensity as low as - 22.29. The highest frequencies were observed for mild-moderate droughts, which mainly showed high-value clusters in the western and central regions. The frequencies of severe-extreme droughts mainly presented low-value clusters in the northern and southwestern areas. The frequencies of mild and severe droughts exhibited significant spatial cluster characteristics, while the drought intensity showed non-significant spatial clusters and a random distribution. The high and low values of drought intensity were mainly clustered in the middle-upper reaches. The research results provide reference for disaster prevention and mitigation, agricultural planning, and water resource allocation in the MYRB.Periphyton contains extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), yet little is known about how periphyton EPS affect the speciation and mobility of mercury (Hg(II)) in aquatic systems. This study extracted and characterized EPS from periphyton in Florida Everglades, and explored its role in Hg(II) binding and speciation using multiple approaches. Results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that colloidal and capsular EPS were primarily comprised of proteins, polysaccharides, phospholipids, and nucleic acids. Ultrafiltration experiments demonstrated that 77 ± 7.7% and 65 ± 5.5% of Hg(II) in EPS solution could be transformed into colloidal and capsular EPS-bound forms. Three-dimensional excitation emission fluorescence spectra (3D-EEMs) showed that the binding constants (Kb) between colloidal/capsular EPS and Hg(II) were 3.47×103 and 2.62×103 L·mol-1. Together with 3D-EEMs and FTIR, it was found that the protein-like and polysaccharide-like substances in EPS contributed to Hg(II) binding. For colloidal EPS, COO- was the most preferred Hg(II) binding group, while C-N, C-O-C, and C-OH were the most preferred ones in capsular EPS. Using the stannous-reducible Hg approach, it was found that EPS significantly decreased the reactive Hg(II). Overall, this study demonstrated that EPS from periphyton are important organic ligands for Hg(II) complexation, which may further affect the migration and reactivity of Hg(II) in aquatic environment. These observations could improve our understanding of Hg(II) methylation and accumulation within periphyton in aquatic systems.With the rapid development of mariculture, environmental pollution is becoming more and more serious. It is particularly important to study the green output bias of technological progress for the long-term sustainable development of mariculture. Based on the input-output data of the mariculture in 10 Chinese coastal areas from 2008 to 2018, the DEA-Malmquist index decomposition method is used to calculate the output-biased technological progress index and combines with the change of marginal substitution rate of output factors in different periods to identify the bias of technological progress between output factors and analyze the green output bias of mariculture technological progress. The results show that green technological progress is a crucial factor affecting green total factor productivity's growth in China's mariculture. During the study period, the number of regions where technological progress tends to reduce pollutant emissions shows a fluctuating upward trend, and the degree of technological progress toward green output is high. There are obvious differences among regions. The green output bias of technological progress in the South China Sea area is the highest, followed by the East China Sea area, and the Bohai Sea area is poor. Specifically, the green output bias of technological progress in Fujian, Guangdong, and Hainan is higher, while the green output bias of technological progress in Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, and Guangxi is lower. According to the research results, corresponding policy suggestions are provided to realize the green and sustainable development of China's mariculture.Widespread contamination of the superficial, drinking, and groundwater by perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) was discovered in the Veneto Region (northeast of Italy) in 2013. Mothers from the contaminated area were concerned about the effects of PFAS on their own and their children's health. We determined the factors that influenced the perceived risk of PFAS and the presence of self-reported diseases by conducting a study with 384 mothers of children aged 1-13 years living in the contaminated area (Red Zone, Veneto, Italy). Information on demography, the sources of exposure, and the health condition of the mothers was collected through an online survey. The serum PFAS concentration was recorded for some of the participants. We determined the factors influencing the perceived risk, risk of health outcomes, and serum PFAS levels through regression analyses. The PFAS perceived risk of the mothers increased with an increase in the trust in scientific institutions and social media, and when many friends were present, trust in politics and full-time employment had a protective effect. The PFAS perceived risk increased the occurrences of self-reported and autoimmune diseases. Longer residence (> 20 years) in the most exposed area (Red Zone A) increased the frequency of some health outcomes. Serum PFAS concentrations decreased with breastfeeding, but increased with tap water consumption, residence in Red Zone A, and residence time. The PFAS perceived risk of the mothers was associated with many factors that influenced reporting of health issues. The association between PFAS exposure and health outcomes needs further investigation.

SARS-CoV-2 infection can affect other organs aside from those of respiratory system, particularly the kidney, heart, blood, digestive tract, and nervous system. COVID-19 renal compromise consists of different syndromes since proteinuria, hematuria, and acute kidney injury (AKI), until chronic kidney disease. Since COVID-19-induced renal tubular damage has been described as a potential antecedent condition to AKI installation, it was decided to evaluate how COVID-19 affects tubular function.

Serum inflammatory parameters, urinalysis, and classical urinary indexes in COVID-19 admitted patients who had neither AKI nor chronic kidney disease (CKD)were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed by applying Student t test.

Renal tubular function was evaluated in 41 COVID-19 admitted patients who had neither AKI nor CKD. Patients' mean age was 56years, males (79%), and with normal creatininemia (0.8 ± 0.2mg/dL) and eGFR (105.7 ± 6.5mL/min) values. It was found mild hypocalcemia and a relative increased fractional excretion (FE) of sodium, FE of calcium, FE of phosphorus, calcium-creatinine index, urinary osmolarity, and relative alkaline urine pH values.

Tubular dysfunction was documented in COVID-19 patients.

Tubular dysfunction was documented in COVID-19 patients.

The study aimed to compare the concentric and eccentric muscle performance of the hip abductor and adductor muscles at a high angular velocity in football players with osteitis pubis and healthy players.

A total number of 32 male football players with osteitis pubis and 20 healthy footballers were tested using an isokinetic dynamometer at a speed of 180°/s. Hip abductor and adductor peak torque/body weight, time to peak torque, acceleration, and deceleration times produced during concentric and eccentric muscle contraction modes were measured using a Biodex dynamometer.

Football players with osteitis pubis demonstrated a significantly higher time to peak torque, acceleration, and deceleration times (p < 0.05); however, when compared to healthy athletes, there was no significant change in muscle strength.

The present study showed that football players with osteitis pubis had a reduction in neuromuscular reaction. Therefore, the reaction time of these muscles is critical, and the reduction could resus, for pre-screening, enhancing the rehabilitation programs, and guiding the decision of returning to sports after injury.

Psychological factors identified during presurgical screening have the potential to identify which patients may respond better to bariatric surgery, and which patients may need additional assistance. Previous research has validated a number of potential instruments for use in presurgical screening.

This study evaluated archival data for 224 patients for a 60-month period following bariatric surgery to examine how presurgical scores on the Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic predict body mass index (BMI) over time. Follow-up data was available on 96% of these patients at 12 months and 63% of these patients at 60 months. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to predict BMI based on demographic and psychopathology factors using linear and nonlinear coefficients while controlling for demographic factors and initial BMI.

Results overall showed that demographic factors and initial BMI were significantly better predictors of BMI outcomes following bariatric surgery. Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic scales did not significantly contribute to any models predicting outcomes.