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Racial differences in male fertility parameters in 2,996 men examined for infertility in a single center
No full textObjectives: Several studies have demonstrated racial variations in various diagnostic clinical parameters in different fields of medicine including andrology. Yet, clinical andrological diagnostic is following the lower reference values recommended by the World Health Organization irrespective of the racial descent of men. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate racial differences in hormonal and semen parameters including sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) and seminal oxidative stress in a large group of patients from Sub-Saharan, Caucasian, Central/South Asian, Middle Eastern, North African, and Southeast Asian descent. Methods: In a total of 2,996 infertile men, testis volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, total and progressive motility, normal morphology, sperm vitality, SDF, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), and standard hormones were determined and compared. Results: Significant racial differences for various parameters including the incidence of normal ranges values in the racial groups were found. The highest mean sperm concentration had men of Central/South Asian descent (median: 38.0 × 106/mL) while Southeast Asian men had the lowest (median: 22.0 × 106/mL; p < 0.0001). The highest total sperm motility (median: 55.0%) was observed in Caucasian, Central/South Asian, and Southeast Asian men, while Sub-Saharan African men had the lowest (median: 45.0%; p < 0.0001). For SDF, Caucasian men had the lowest sperm DNA fragmentation (median: 16.0%) and ORP values (median: 1.3 mV/106 sperm/mL) as compared to Central/South Asian men (median: 28.0%; p = 0.0263) and Southeast Asian men (median: 2.4 mV/106 sperm/mL; p = 0.0045), respectively. Conclusions: Our results show not only significant racial differences for many of the parameters investigated but also for the incidence of normal values. Therefore, it might be prudent to revisit the concept of globally standardized reference values for all men. Yet, as a limitation, the small number (53) of Caucasian men needs to be mentioned. Larger studies that include functional sperm parameters need to be conducted
Gendered impacts of climate change on integrated crop-dairy goat farming in Kenya
No full textAgriculture is the economic engine of Kenyan economy since it contributes to about 24% of the real GDP. However, its contribution has significantly reduced due to climate change that has impacted negatively crop production, pasture, and animals. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken among 201 households in Endo ward, Elgeyo Marakwet County to understand the effects of climate change and feed diversity. Climate change has profoundly affected individuals along the integrated value chain, with unreliable rainfall being the most significant issue, reported by 99.5% of respondents. Contrastingly, floods during the rainy season were experienced by 15.9%, while pests and diseases were reported by only 1.5% of respondents. The findings highlight a significant gender disparity in the impact of climate change along the integrated value chain resulting in shifts and challenges that impact women, men, and youth in distinct ways. Women, particularly those over 35 years, face severe consequences such as food shortages and malnutrition (56.2%), and loss of lives due to environmental disasters (39.8%). Young females bear increased domestic responsibilities, including fetching water (86.6%), which intensifies during periods of climate stress. Men over 35 years reported substantial economic losses and the impact on agricultural productivity due to pests and diseases. Although younger males are affected, their experiences are less severe compared to older males and females. In the context of dairy goat farming, there is a gender-based specialization of tasks. Men over 35 years predominantly handle activities such as shed construction (60%), marketing (54.2%), pest and disease control (57.2%), enterprise decision-making (58.7%), breeding (58.7%), and slaughtering (64.7%). Younger males, those under 35 years, are primarily responsible for transportation (62.2%). On the other hand, women under 35 are actively involved in feeding the goats (62.7%), cleaning the sheds (57.7%), and providing water (56.7%), with a notable focus on this younger age group of women. The study underscores the need for gender-sensitive adaptation strategies to address the differentiated impacts of climate change. By understanding the specific challenges faced by various demographic groups, policymakers and development practitioners can design more effective interventions to build resilience, and ensure equitable outcomes along the integrated farming syste
Dispensing of medicines for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through the government health insurance in Syria: a retrospective analysis
No full textAsthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common noncommunicable diseases, exacerbated in conflict settings by the heightened environmental exposure to triggers, weakened health systems, and poor access to medicines and healthcare. However, accurate data on medicines dispensing in this context are generally scarce. We examined the patterns and rates of medicines dispensing for asthma and COPD among the beneficiaries of the Syrian governmental health insurance scheme between June 2018 and March 2021. We retrospectively analyzed the outpatient dispensing records for 125,371 adults. Medicines for asthma and COPD were identified using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system. Dispensing rates were calculated as the number of packages per 1,000 beneficiaries per month, stratified by age, sex, and route of administration. Out of our sample, 15.02% received at least one package of a medicine for asthma or COPD. Oral formulations were the most frequently dispensed (92.67% of patients), particularly oral salbutamol and xanthines. Inhaled medicines, including inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and ICS long-acting β2-agonists (ICS-LABA) combinations, were markedly under-dispensed (17.08% of patients). Dispensing rates were higher in females and older adults. Seasonal variation showed peaks in autumn and winter, with a notable decline in April 2020, coinciding with the early COVID-19 period. The study highlights substantial gaps in dispensing of medicines for asthma and COPD, with particularly low rates for inhalers, likely reflecting barriers driven by the conflict, economic instability, and sanctions. Robust coordinated action is needed to improve their availability in Syria
English language and career development in higher education: the case of two Mozambican universities
No full textDeparting from Spolsky’s Theory of Field and Second Language Learning, Savickas’s theory of career construction, this thesis studies the disciplinary differences in the social and natural sciences regarding the possession of the English language competence and levels of engagement with academic communities for career development in two African universities, Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique, and the Catholic University of Mozambique. This research examines the relationship between the English language and the career development of discipline groups and the levels of engagement with international communities. The research states that levels of possession of the English language have a significant effect on the distinction of the disciplinary fields, both within and across universities, and on the levels of engagement with (international) academic bodies. The investigation reveals that the English language determines the level and forms of engagement with different English-language-speaking academic communities. However, the differences across discipline groups at the university level demonstrate the engagement of academic communities with the English language for career development. That is to say, the level of English language possession differs more between different discipline groups when the engagement is related to international academic interaction for career development. However, English language possession is not the main determiner between universities for scholars’ career development. The English language is what provides academic reputation and visibility to the university. The meaning of this is that academics from different discipline groups might have diverse English language experiences of engagement with different international academic organizations, but it does not deserve a particular advantage for career development in the Mozambican higher education system. I additionally determine that the growing importance that the notion of possession of the English language has for individuals and the university visibility is, perhaps, too hard if the university language policy does not account English language for career progression
Annealing influence on the magnetic and thermal stability of FeNi3 nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia applications
No full textMetallic magnetic nanoparticles having excellent magnetic properties are potential candidate for biomedical applications like magnetic hyperthermia and drug delivery, however their long-term stability remains a critical challenge, limiting their utility for such applications. Monodisperse spherical FeNi3 permalloy nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by surfactant free polyol method and their magnetic and thermal stability was tested for magnetic hyperthermia. The synthesized NPs possessed FCC phase and spherical morphology with average diameter of ∼155 nm. The structural ordering and morphology were improved upon annealing treatment at 300 ˚C resulting in enhanced magnetic properties where the saturation magnetization increased from 54 emu/g to 78 emu/g. The magnetic properties were retained over a long period in ambient conditions. Further, the thermogravimetric measurements in ambient conditions established the thermal stability of the nanoparticles up to 350 ˚C. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a protective amorphous coating all over the NP surface, which shield them from corrosion in ambient conditions. These highly stable NPs showed excellent magnetic hyperthermia response in water as well as ethylene glycol medium. The specific absorption rate of the NPs was improved upon annealing from 268 W/g to 299 W/g in water. The long-term magnetic and thermal stability of these NPs and their excellent SAR values makes them a suitable candidate for magnetic hyperthermia-based cancer therapy
An un/timely re-reading: the first South African by Fatima Dike
No full textIt has been suggested that re-staging iconic performances from the 1970s and 1980s over the last three decades has become a way of reflecting on the ‘now,’ and recouping previously desired futures that have failed to materialize. Local audience responses to the 2022 revival of Fugard’s The Blood Knot, 60 years after its first production noted how it still spoke powerfully to the present. But instead of seeing this familiarity as a stark indictment of the entrenched legacy of racialiszd identity politics, the play was described as potentially ‘hopeful.’ This apparently counter-intuitive response uncannily brought back to mind a character from another less well-known family drama from the late 1970s, provocatively titled, The First South African by Fatima Dike. Despite similarities in their broad thematic focus on apartheid identity politics within intimate settings, the two works use very different performance aesthetics. The primary aim here is thus to return to Dike’s The First South African in order to explore whether the earlier assessments of a sense of historical ‘stuckness’ evoked in her play can be challenged by paying attention to what can be described as the polyphonic modality employed in the text. Moreover, I shall explore how the representation of the bi-racial white–black protagonist’s psychic break speaks to the concept of ‘political death’ when looking at the play again from the vantage point of the present
Living landscapes in action: the importance of social and spatial justice realism in urban conservation
No full textThis policy brief is about the social-political ecology of urban nature conservation in low income and middle-income countries where natural resources play an important role as source of livelihoods, housing land, energy, and spiritual, cultural and relaxation purposes for poor communities. It uses three nature reserves and one conservation area in the Cape Town City, South Africa. This policy brief is based on the Living Landscapes in Action project, aimed at integrating biodiversity conservation into spatial and social justice using ethnographic methodological tools to transform conservation. The findings are that nature resources in officially declared conservation areas cannot be separated from communities as islands of nature preservation, given the uses of nature by communities that are difficult to stop or deny. Natural resource conservation policy, legislation and governance needs to take cognisance of the dire needs by marginalsed communities that are dependent on natural resources
Synthesis and characterization of calcium manganese oxide powders by co-precipitation technique
No full textThis work presents step by step procedure for synthesis of calcium manganese oxide (CaMnO3) prepared by co-precipitation method starting with stoichiometric amounts of calcium nitrate tetrahydrate and manganese nitrate tetrahydrate as precursors. The resulting powders of CaMnO3 are characterized for their crystallographic and spectroscopic properties. The X-ray diffraction patterns reveal formation of CaMnO3 consistent with the corresponding JCPDS. The Fourier transform infrared spectra represents the presence of Ca-O and Mn-O bond in the synthesized powders. The optical band gap of the samples is evaluated as 4.06–4.14 eV by studying the UV-Visible spectrum. The field emission scanning electron microscope images reveal irregular feature sizes with some nearly spherical particles in the synthesized samples. The currently prepared highly pure CaMnO3 attained can be consolidated into hot-pressed ceramics for measuring their electronic and thermoelectric properties to study their thermoelectric performanc
Fine structure in the α decay of 179Hg and 177Au
No full textThe α-decay fine structure of 179Hg and 177Au was studied by means of decay spectroscopy. Two experiments were performed at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä (JYFL), Finland, utilizing the recoil separator RITU and a digital data acquisition system. The heavy-ion induced fusion-evaporation reactions 3682Kr + 44100Ru and 3888Kr + 4292Mo were used to produce the 179Hg and 177Au nuclei, respectively. Studying the evaporation residues (ER, recoils)-α1-α2 correlations and α-γ coincidences, a new α decay with Eα = 6156(10) keV was observed from 179Hg. This decay populates the (9/2-) excited state at an excitation energy of 131.3(5) keV in 175Pt. The internal conversion coefficient for the 131.3(5) keV transition de-exciting this state was measured for the first time. Regarding the 177Au nucleus, a new α decay with Eα = 5998(9) keV was observed to populate the 156.1(6) keV excited state in 173Ir. Two de-excitation paths were observed from this excited state. Moreover, a new 215.7(13) keV transition was observed to depopulate the 424.4(13) keV excited state in 173Ir. Properties of the 179Hg and 177Au α decays were examined in a framework of reduced widths and hindrance factors. For clarity and simplicity, the spin and parity assignments (e.g. Jπ) are presented without brackets throughout the text
Fimsbactin siderophores from a South African marine sponge symbiont, marinomonas sp. PE14-40
No full textLow iron levels in marine habitats necessitate the production of structurally diverse siderophores by many marine bacterial species for iron acquisition. Siderophores exhibit bioactivities ranging from chelation for iron reduction in hemochromatosis sufferers to antimicrobial activity either in their own right or when coupled to known antibiotics for targeted delivery or for molecular imaging. Thus, marine environments are a sought-after resource for novel siderophores that could have pharmaceutical or industrial application. The fimsbactins A-F (1–6) are mixed catechol-hydroxamate siderophores that have only been reported to be produced by Acinetobacter species with the fimsbactin biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) widespread among species within this genus. Here, we identified a putative fimsbactin BGC from an uncharacterized marine isolate, Marinomonas sp. PE14-40. Not only was the gene synteny not conserved when comparing the pathway from Marinomonas sp. PE14-40 to the fimsbactin BGC from Acinetobacter sp., but five of the core biosynthetic genes found in the canonical fimsbactin BGC are located elsewhere on the genome and do not form part of the core cluster in Marinomonas sp. PE14-40, with four of these, fbsBCDL, colocalized. Through ESI-MS/MS analysis of extracts from Marinomonas sp. PE14-40, the known fimsbactin analogues 1 and 6 were identified, as well as two new fimsbactin analogues, 7 and 8, containing a previously unreported L-lysine-derived hydroxamate moiety, N1-acetyl-N1-hydroxycadaverine. Feeding experiments using stable isotope-label L-lysine provided further evidence of the N1-acetyl-N1-hydroxycadaverine moiety in 7 and 8. The study demonstrates functional conservation in seemingly disparate biosynthetic pathways and enzyme promiscuity's role in producing structurally diverse compounds