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Towards More Sustainable Oceans: A Review of the Pressing Challenges Posed By Marine Plastic Litter
No full textMarine littering is a global challenge and a significant threat to a sustainable planet, requiring comprehensive and effective mechanisms to address it in a comprehensive manner. This study reports on a bibliometric analysis that has identified the extent to which the topic has been explored in the international literature, by focusing on geographical scope, the emphasis on (micro)plastic litter and on policy measures. Additionally, as a complement to the assessment of the recent literature on marine plastic litter, this study reviews some case studies, identifying some trends on how to cope with this problem. The findings underscore the imperative for heightened research efforts in the context of marine littering. The literature reveals that unsustainable practices, the absence of robust policies and inadequate enforcement substantially contribute to the prevalence of marine plastic litter. Consequently, urgent action is essential, demanding the implementation of effective policies and frameworks. Encouraging nations to transition towards marine sustainability, particularly in terms of prevention and environmental awareness, is of paramount importance. To pave the way for a cleaner ocean for future generations, this study not only highlights the root causes but also offers suggested solutions. These solutions serve as valuable insights for researchers, innovators and policymakers worldwide, charting a course towards a more sustainable and litter-free marine environment
Alpha Synuclein and Inflammaging
Full text linkThe α-synuclein protein is an established molecule in Lewy body pathology, especially Parkinson\u27s disease (PD). While the pathological role of α-synuclein (α-syn) in PD has been well described, novel evidence may suggest that α-syn interacts with inflammasomes in response to aging. As age is an inevitable physiological state and is also considered the greatest risk factor for PD, this calls for investigation into how α-syn, aging, and PD could be linked. There is a growing amount of data regarding α-syn normal function in the body that includes involvement in cellular transport such as protein complexes assembly, vesicular trafficking, neurotransmitter release, as well as immune cell maturation. Regarding abnormal α-syn, a number of autosomal dominant mutations have been identified as causes of familial PD, however, symptomatology may not become apparent until later in life due to compensatory mechanisms in the dopaminergic response. This potentially links age-related physiological changes not only as a risk factor for PD, but for the concept of “inflammaging ”. This is defined as chronic inflammation that accompanies aging observed in many neurodegenerative pathologies, that include α-syn\u27s ability to form oligomers and toxic fibrils seen in PD. This oligomeric α-syn stimulates pro-inflammatory signals, which may worsen PD symptoms and propagate chronic inflammation. Thus, this review will explore a potential link between α-syn\u27s role in the immune system, inflammaging, and PD
Should Positive Airway Pressure be Continued Uninterrupted After Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery? A Review of Current Literature
No full textObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) poses unique challenges to the perioperative management of endoscopic skull base surgery (ESBS). Currently, no consensus or guidelines exist on the reintroduction of positive airway pressure (PAP) in these patients. To better clarify the safety of PAP reintroduction after ESBS, the databases Pubmed and Embase were searched in May 2024 for studies on PAP reintroduction after ESBS. Two articles, comprising 15 patients, met the inclusion criteria. All patients resumed PAP the first night after surgery. All patients underwent ESBS for transsphenoidal pituitary resection. Only one patient experienced cerebrospinal fluid leak, and no other complications were reported. While these results suggest that early reintroduction of PAP for ESBS patients with OSA may be safer than theoretically expected, the current literature on the topic remains scarce and more research is needed
Examination of Protective Factors that Promote Prosocial Skill Development Among Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence
No full textThis retrospective cohort study examined prosocial skills development in child welfare-involved children, how intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure explained heterogeneity in children\u27s trajectories of prosocial skill development, and the degree to which protective factors across children\u27s ecologies promoted prosocial skill development. Data were from 1,678 children from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being I, collected between 1999 and 2007. Cohort-sequential growth mixture models were estimated to identify patterns of prosocial skill development between the ages of 3 to 10 years. Four diverse pathways were identified, including two groups that started high (high subtle-decreasing; high decreasing-to-increasing) and two groups that started low (low stable; low increasing-to-decreasing). Children with prior history of child welfare involvement, preschool-age IPV exposure, school-age IPV exposure, or family income below the federal poverty level had higher odds of being in the high decreasing-to-increasing group compared with the high subtle-decreasing group. Children with a mother with greater than high school education or higher maternal responsiveness had higher odds of being in the low increasing-to-decreasing group compared with the low stable group. The importance of maternal responsiveness in fostering prosocial skill development underlines the need for further assessment and intervention. Recommendations for clinical assessment and parenting programs are provided
Surface-Electromyography Characteristics of Clonic Seizures with No Scalp-Eeg Correlate: A Comparative Analysis with Tremors
No full textIntroduction: Clonic seizures are characterized by twitching movements at a frequency of 0.2–5 Hz. The clonic “twitch” is produced by a brief synchronized contraction of agonist and antagonist muscles, followed by a synchronized silent period. In this study, we aimed to compare the surface-electromyography (sEMG) characteristics of scalp-EEG negative clonic seizures with those of nonepileptic movements like tremors that can resemble clonic seizures. Methods: We retrospectively identified patients who were diagnosed with scalp-EEG negative clonic seizures or tremors. We only included patients (n = 6) who were monitored simultaneously with video-EEG and sEMG electrodes. sEMG was placed on agonist and antagonist muscles of the affected extremity using a standardized placement system developed at our institution. We analyzed the following characteristics of sEMG bursts: the relationship between agonist and antagonist muscles and the temporal evolution of burst duration, burst amplitude, and burst frequency. Results: The following sEMG characteristics were observed: (i) sEMG bursts and corresponding silent periods were synchronous between agonist and antagonist muscles in clonic seizures. In tremors, an alternating pattern was seen. (ii) sEMG burst amplitude increased during the first 10 s of clonic seizures. There was no significant change in tremors. (iii) sEMG burst duration increased from the beginning to end of clonic seizures. There was no significant change in tremors. (iv) sEMG burst frequency decreased from the beginning to end of clonic seizures due to increased burst and silent period duration. There was no consistent change in burst frequency in tremors. (v) sEMG burst duration of ≥250 ms was indicative of a clonic seizure with a \u3e90% positive predictive value. Conclusions: Our study describes characteristic sEMG features of clonic seizures without scalp-EEG correlates, which can be used as an objective biomarker in distinguishing these from nonepileptic movements such as tremors
Applicable and Generalizable Machine Learning for Intelligent Welding in Automotive Manufacturing
No full textThis review paper examines the application and challenges of machine learning (ML) in intelligent welding processes within the automotive industry, focusing on resistance spot welding (RSW) and laser welding. RSW is predominant in body-in-white assembly, while laser welding is critical for electric vehicle battery packs due to its precision and compatibility with dissimilar materials. The paper categorizes ML applications into three key areas: sensing, in-process decision-making, and post-process optimization. It reviews supervised learning models for defect detection and weld quality prediction, unsupervised learning for feature extraction and data clustering, and emerging generalizable ML approaches like transfer learning and federated learning that enhance adaptability across different manufacturing conditions. Additionally, the paper highlights the limitations of current ML models, particularly regarding generalizability when moving from lab environments to real-world production, and discusses the importance of adaptive learning techniques to address dynamically changing conditions. Case studies like virtual sensing, defect detection in RSW, and optimization in laser welding illustrate practical applications. The paper concludes by identifying future research directions to improve ML adaptability and robustness in high-variability manufacturing environments, aiming to bridge the gap between experimental ML models and real-world implementation in automotive welding
Voclosporin‐Induced Gingival Enlargement: A Case Report
No full textThe gingiva (gums) is often a site in the mouth where changes or reactions can occur in response to certain systemic medications. Some drugs, particularly those used to treat autoimmune conditions or following organ transplants, can cause the gums to grow excessively, a condition known as drug-induced gingival enlargement (also known as gingival overgrowth). In this report, we document the case of a 27-year-old woman with lupus nephritis who developed gingival enlargement after starting a medication called voclosporin. This drug is a newer treatment option for lupus nephritis, but until now had not been linked to gingival enlargement. The patient experienced significant gum swelling, bleeding, and pain, making it difficult for her to eat. After trying nonsurgical treatments with limited success, and given her objection to surgical therapy, the medication was gradually stopped in consultation with her physician. The enlargement of the gums significantly improved once the drug was discontinued. This report highlights for the first time, to the authors\u27 knowledge, the development of gingival enlargement in response to voclosporin therapy and the significant improvement of the condition upon cessation of drug usage
A Comparison of Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy in Transmission Scanning Electron Microscopy with Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy
No full textThe objective of this work was to explore the capabilities of a field emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM) equipped with a transmission scanning electron detector (TSEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to identify nanoscale chemical heterogeneities in a gas atomization reaction synthesis (GARS) steel sample. The results of this analysis were compared to the same study conducted with scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with EDS mapping. TSEM-EDS was performed using the standard spectral analysis approach, i.e., pixel-by-pixel identification of elements from the spectra, and a new principal component analysis approach to detect regions of similar spectra before identifying elemental contributions to each spectrum. It was determined that features over 200 nm were detectable with the TSEM-EDS standard spectra analysis technique but the PCA analysis approach was necessary for observing smaller features that contained trace elements. Monte Carlo simulations indicated that the spatial resolution expected from a 150 nm thick foil was consistent with those observed in experimental analysis. Simulations also confirm that thinner samples enable higher spatial resolution scans although smaller interaction volumes may require longer acquisition times
Neighborhood Social Processes and Adolescents\u27 Depressive Symptoms: The Intervening Role of Neighborhood Self-Efficacy
No full textVia observational data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods collected between 1994 and 2001, this study examined the degree to which neighborhood disorder, collective efficacy, and youth-centered institutional resources are directly associated with adolescents\u27 depressive symptoms across time, and the mediating role of adolescents\u27neighborhood self-efficacy. Latent variable structural equation models were estimated among an unweighted representative sample of 1448 adolescents (59% male, mean age 15.19), across 79 neighborhoods in Chicago, to examine the direct effects of neighborhood disorder, collective efficacy, and availability of youth-centered resources at baseline (measured at timepoint 1; reported by an independent sample of Chicago adults) on adolescents\u27 depressive symptoms (measured a timepoint 3), and the mediating effect of adolescents\u27 neighborhood-anchored self-efficacy (measured at timepoint 2). Indirect effects were assessed using bootstrap testing. Adolescents\u27 neighborhood self-efficacy partially mediated the effects of greater social and physical neighborhood disorder (indirect β = 0.03, 95% CI [0.008, 0.075]) and less availability of neighborhood youth-centered resources (indirect β = −0.01, 95% CI [−0.030, −0.001]) on depressive symptoms over time. Adolescents who perceived themselves to have greater neighborhood self-efficacy reported lower levels of depressive symptoms across time (β = −0.13, 95% CI [−0.24, −0.03]), as did those in neighborhoods with greater availability of youth-centered resources (β = −0.11, 95% CI [−0.19, −0.03]). Those living in neighborhoods with more disorder reported lower neighborhood self-efficacy (β = −0.24, 95% CI [−0.36, −0.11]). Neighborhood-anchored self-efficacy may be one mechanism by which adolescents internalize their neighborhood environments in ways that, over time, affect depressive symptoms. Interventions aimed at fostering community environments that nurture opportunities for youth to build efficaciousness may be promising for mitigating adolescent depression
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