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Environmental modulators of vascular physiology and inflammation
No full textEnvironmental factors play a crucial role in modulating vascular inflammation, contributing significantly to the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. This review synthesizes current evidence on how various environmental exposures influence vascular function and inflammation, with a focus on pollutants such as particulate matter and chemical toxins like bisphenols and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These environmental stressors can trigger oxidative stress, chronic inflammation and vascular dysfunction, potentially accelerating the progression of atherosclerosis. We also explore the protective effects of natural compounds and exposure to green spaces in dampening inflammation and reducing cardiovascular risk. By examining the complex interplay between traditional risk factors and environmental exposures, this work highlights the need for comprehensive public health strategies that address both individual lifestyle factors and broader environmental determinants of cardiovascular health. We underscore the importance of further research to elucidate the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms by which environmental factors influence vascular function, with the aim of developing targeted interventions to mitigate their harmful effects and promote cardiovascular well-being
Navigating Obesity Through Nutrigenetic Dietary Interventions: Evidence from Young Saudi Women
No full textBackground
Nutrigenetic dietary interventions offer personalised strategies for weight management, yet evidence from Middle Eastern populations—particularly young Saudi women—remains limited. This study examined the effect of a three-month nutrigenetic intervention on body weight and adiponectin levels.
Methods
Thirty-one Saudi women aged 18–24 years with overweight or obesity completed a personalised nutrigenetic intervention informed by variants in six genes (FTO, MC4R, CLOCK, PPARG, LPL, TCF7L2). Anthropometric and biochemical markers were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Weight and adiponectin changes were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests; genotype-group differences were assessed using Kruskal–Wallis tests.
Results
Weight significantly decreased (median change: −1.3 kg; p = 0.008). Adiponectin concentrations increased significantly (median change: +1.74 μg/mL; p 0.05).
Conclusions
This nutrigenetic dietary intervention produced clinically meaningful improvements in weight and metabolic biomarkers independent of genotype. Findings support the feasibility of integrating personalised nutrition into obesity-management strategies for young Saudi women
Circular Economy Implementation for Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste in the Nigerian Construction Industry: A Delphi survey
No full textThis study is aimed at investigating the implementation of circular economy (CE) strategies in a developing economy context with the view of understanding the construction and demolition (C&D) waste management dynamics.
Sequel to a systematic review of literature, data was collected via a Delphi survey from 22 and 17 Nigerian construction experts in the first and second rounds, respectively. Consensus was established after the stability of responses in the second round. Data were analysed using mean score ranking, rank agreement factor, and inter-rater analysis.
19 distinct CE strategies for managing C&D were identified. Subsequent assessment revealed mild implementation of these strategies across different construction stages, with the least implementation at the end-of-life phase, despite producing the most waste.
The study revealed very mild implementation of CE strategies within the Nigerian Construction Industry (NCI) and highlighted the diverse views among the experts regarding the effectiveness of the strategies for managing C&D waste. Results from the study will offer an insightful guide for stakeholders and policymakers to understand the suitability of CE strategies at different stages of C&D waste for efficient policy development and decision-making.
This research contributes to the CE literature by synthesising the existing body of knowledge on CE strategies to manage C&D waste sustainably across the construction value chain of developing economies. It also establishes a foundation for prioritising effective CE strategies in the NCI and disseminating knowledge about ineffective related to waste management
Bidirectionally regulated catalytic performance of Hemin/oCNT based aptasensor via salt-induced charge screening for smartphone-assisted colorimetric detection of ATP
No full textThe existing aptamer-regulated nanozymes for colorimetric detection primarily rely on unidirectional activity modulation. The role of salt ions in regulating nanozyme activity and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood, limiting their broader application. Herein, we report a novel bidirectional regulation strategy using a hemin-functionalized oxidized carbon nanotubes (Hemin/oCNT) nanozyme. Contrary to convertional approaches that seek to mitigate salt interference, we here leverage the salt-induced charge screening effect that high salt suppresses the peroxidase-like activity of Hemin/oCNT, yet paradoxically promotes aptamer binding to Hemin/oCNT. The formed aptamer/Hemin/oCNT complex exhibits restored and enhanced activity in high salt, attributed to improved dispersion, facilitated substrate (3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine, TMB) adsorption and accelerated electron transfer. This bidirectional mechanism was harnessed to develop a one-step ‘mix-and-detect’ aptasensor for adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The assay achieves a wide linear range of 0.625–50 μM with a low detection limit of 300 nM (UV–vis). Furthermore, a smartphone-assisted dual mode (RGB/CMY, Red-Green-Blue/Cyan-Magenta-Yellow) platform was established, where the R channel achieved a superior detection limit of 190 nM, and the CMY mode possessed excellent precision analysis (RSD ≤ 2 %) owing to its signal stability. This sensor showed high selectivity for ATP and successful application in spiked diluted serum. This work represents a paradigm for designing high-performance biosensors by exploiting, rather than avoiding salt effects
AFRICAN FABBERS ATLAS - Manual of Synthetic Vernacular Architecture
No full textHow to respond to climatic changes reconciling nature with tekné? What is the social role of technology? How architects would reconsider their practices supporting community-oriented projects? The theoretical assumption for this investigation is based on the observation of cause-effect relations, between different urban and architectural configurations and their performances: social, environmental, structural etc. in both pre-colonial and informal cultures around Africa.
The diachronic approach intends to generate, after many years of post-colonial studies, an operative agenda of possible strategies, which is in accordance with different conditions starting from the anthropological and the climatic ones. Such an agenda responds to a global cultural need for an ecological shift in the contemporary design and manufacturing processes, which should bridge high and low-tech cultures. Therefore, the book is conceived also as a sort of manual that is articulated around emergent principles inspired by traditional and informal African practices and architectures: self-similarity and diversified typologies, material optimisation and circular economy, self-sufficiency and responsive dwellings.
Each principle is confronted also with the work of pioneers such as Hassan Fathy, Fabrizio Carola etc. with the aim of sharing and evolving such tremendous heritage by introducing the case studies realized in the frame of the [AF] African Fabbers project over the last decade. The [AF] project has been developed in the last decade as a research platform and an itinerant school for training programmes and community-oriented initiatives that bridges digital and traditional manufacturing for sustainable living. This approach responds to the lack of schools of architecture in the region, despite the economic growth of these countries and their need for social housing and basic infrastructures. For this reason, the book aims at declining such on-site experience and its theoretical background into a decolonised approach to architectural education. This drives to the conclusion that we should probably start to take into serious consideration African solutions for global problems.
With Contributions of
Chirstian Benimana, MASS (Architect/Rwanda) – Cheick Diallo (Designer/Mali) – Ron Eglash (Professor of Information at University of Michigan /USA) – Ugo La Pietra (Designer/Italy) – Hanif Kara, AKT II (Professor in practice of technology at the Graduate School of Design Harvard/USA) – Vincent Kitio (UN–Habitat/Kenya) – Giancarlo Mazzanti, El Equipo Mazzanti (Architect/Colombia) – Ronald Rael, Rael San Fratello (Professor of Architecture at the University of California Berkeley/USA) – AbdouMaliq Simone (Senior Professional Fellow at the Urban Institute at University of Sheffield/UK) – Françoise N’Thépé (Architect/France–Cameroon)
Sexual harassment in academia: victim-survivors speaking out, the politics of naming, and (lack of) institutional accountability
No full textFollowing movements like #MeToo, #RUReferenceList, and
#NiUnaMenos, university students and staff shared their experiences of harassment and abuse within academia on social media. However, despite calls to “break the silence,” victim-survivors frequently face institutional retaliation and backlash from people responsible for harm. Naming nevertheless remains an important part of the accountability and healing processes for some victim-survivors. Additionally, in the absence of larger accountability and
victim-survivor-centred reporting processes, some academics and activists have also called for university-handled lists naming people with upheld findings within universities similar to sex offender registries. In this commentary piece based on discussions between Joel Quirk and Judith Levine in a March 2024 webinar, we analyse the politics of naming those responsible for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including questions such as who should name, when should naming occur, and what kind of justice do we seek. This piece highlights the complexities of publicly naming those who have engaged in SGBV in universities, particularly through a transformative justice lens, and indicates a lack of institutional avenues for justice and accountability