Assessment of climate change vulnerability of farm households in Pyapon District, a delta region in Myanmar

Sea level rise causes saltwater intrusion and flooding of agricultural land and ultimately threatens the livelihoods of farm households in the delta region of Myanmar. Empirical research on the effects of climate change on the delta's agriculture and an assessment of the vulnerability are becoming necessary. This study explores the vulnerability of farm households to sea level rise using two methods: the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI), which is comprised of 37 indicators, and the Socioeconomic Vulnerability Index (SeVI), which contains 35 indicators. Interviews with 178 farmers were conducted in Bogale, Pyapon and Dedaye Townships in Pyapon District. In addition, 7 focus group discussions were performed, with at least 2 discussions in each Township. Both methods identify Bogale to be the most vulnerable Township, followed by Dedaye and Pyapon Townships. Following the LVI approach, Bogale Township has the highest sensitivity to climate effects and the highest exposure to natural hazards, but also a higher adaptive capacity than the other townships. In contrast using the SeVI approach, Bogale was found to have the highest sensitivity and exposure to natural hazards but the lowest adaptive capacity score. The study found that the climate change adaptation measures taken by the farmers are important to limit vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and thus promotion of the adaptive capacity of farmers is important for the delta region of Myanmar

Hydrogen peroxide is a neuronal alarmin that triggers specific RNAs, local translation of Annexin A2, and cytoskeletal remodeling in Schwann cells

Schwann cells are key players in neuro-regeneration: They sense "alarm" signals released by degenerating nerve terminals and differentiate toward a proregenerative phenotype, with phagocytosis of nerve debris and nerve guidance. At the murine neuromuscular junction, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a key signal of Schwann cells' activation in response to a variety of nerve injuries. Here we report that Schwann cells exposed to low doses of H2O2 rewire the expression of several RNAs at both transcriptional and translational levels. Among the genes positively regulated at both levels, we identified an enriched cluster involved in cytoskeleton remodeling and cell migration, with the Annexin (Anxa) proteins being the most represented family. We show that both Annexin A2 (Anxa2) transcript and protein accumulate at the tips of long pseudopods that Schwann cells extend upon H2O2 exposure. Interestingly, Schwann cells reply to this signal and to nerve injury by locally translating Anxa2 in pseudopods, and undergo an extensive cytoskeleton remodeling. Our results show that, similarly to neurons, Schwann cells take advantage of local protein synthesis to change shape and move toward damaged axonal terminals to facilitate axonal regeneration

The Turin Shroud face: the evidence of maxillo-facial trauma

The Turin Shroud (TS) is a linen cloth commonly associated with Jesus Christ, his crucifixion and burial. Several medical specialists have debated the injuries of the TS Man, nevertheless there are no detailed and quantitative data about the anatomy of the TS face. The purpose of this study was to analyse the cephalometric measurements of the face image of the TS. The TS face image was acquired by a picture and processed using a cephalometric software, Oris Ceph® (Up to date 2012). The image of the soft tissues was processed in order to obtain skeletal points and a cephalometric analysis of the soft and skeletal tissues was performed. Image processing of the TS face shows that the Man represented in it has undergone a maxillo-facial trauma, especially a left displacement of the mandible, probably due to temporo-mandibular joint lesions. This condition has not been described before, despite several studies on the subject

A variational model for plastic reorientation in fibrous material: numerical experiments on phase segregation

We propose a continuum model of fibrous material that may undergo an internal reorganization, which turns out in a plastic change of the orientation of the fibers when the remodeling torque achieves a threshold. We have recently found that the reorientation may induce a complex scenario in the response of such materials. In a traction test, we show that the most general transversely isotropic material may evolve in three different ways; in particular, the fibers asymptotically tend (regularly or with jumps): (A) to a given angle; (B) to align perpendicularly to the load direction; (C) to align with the load direction if their initial orientation is less than a given value otherwise perpendicularly. We focus on the latter material response (C) which has all the ingredients to manifest a phase transition phenomenon. Finally, we provide a numerical investigation to demonstrate phase segregation

Integrated management of ash from industrial and domestic combustion : a new sustainable approach for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy conversion

This work supports, for the first time, the integrated management of waste materials arising from industrial processes (fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration and coal fly ash), agriculture (rice husk ash), and domestic activities (ash from wood biomass burning in domestic stoves). The main novelty of the paper is the reuse of wood pellet ash, an underestimated environmental problem, by the application of a new technology (COSMOS-RICE) that already involves the reuse of fly ashes from industrial and agricultural origins. The reaction mechanism involves carbonation: this occurs at room temperature and promotes permanent carbon dioxide sequestration. The obtained samples were characterized using XRD and TGA (coupled with mass spectroscopy). This allowed quantification of the mass loss attributed to different calcium carbonate phases. In particular, samples stabilized using wood pellet ash show a weight loss, attributed to the decomposition of carbonates greater than 20%. In view of these results, it is possible to conclude that there are several environmental benefits from wood pellet ash reuse in this way. In particular, using this technology, it is shown that for wood pellet biomass the carbon dioxide conversion can be considered negative

Erosion consequences on beach functions along the Maresme coast (NW Mediterranean, Spain)

A methodology to analyse the influence of erosion on beach functions at a regional scale is presented. The method considers erosion hazards at different timescales and assesses consequences by evaluating impacts on recreation and protection functions. To provide useful information to decision makers for managing these functions, hazard and consequences are integrated at the municipal level within a risk matrix. This methodology is applied at the Maresme, a 45-km sandy coast situated northward of Barcelona, which supports a strong urban and infrastructure development as well as an intensive beach recreational use. Obtained results indicate differentiated erosion implications along the region, depending on the management target considered. Thus, southern municipalities are more prone to erosion affecting the protection function of the beach and leisure use by the local population, whereas erosion will have a greater effect on foreign tourism in the northern municipalities. These results highlight the necessity to employ an articulated erosion risk assessment focusing on specific targets depending on the site in question. This methodology can help coastal managers to adopt tailored measures to manage erosion impacts towards specific goals, in a more efficient and sustainable manner

The Usefulness of 2-[18F]FDG PET or PET/CT in Extranodal Natural Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background/Objectives: Extranodal NK-/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL) is a rare and highly aggressive lymphoma with a bad prognosis. The aim of our analysis is to evaluate existing research on the potential usefulness of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography or positron/computed tomography (2-[18F]FDG PET or PET/CT) in the management of patients with ENKTCL. Methods: A complete search of the literature was conducted across Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Embase databases, focusing on articles published up to March 2025. Results: A total of 21 studies that investigated the role of 2-[18F]FDG PET or PET/CT in ENKTCL were included in our analysis. The main findings from the literature analysis were (1) 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT seems to be helpful in staging settings, showing a better diagnostic performance than conventional imaging and a positive impact on clinical stage; (2) 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT had excellent negative predictive value for detecting bone marrow involvement, especially in early-stage disease; and (3) qualitative and semiquantitative PET parameters might predict prognosis. Conclusions: Despite several limitations affecting this analysis, especially related to the heterogeneity of the studies included, 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT seems to be a useful tool for the evaluation of ENKTCL

The Turin Shroud face: the evidence of maxillo-facial trauma

The Turin Shroud (TS) is a linen cloth commonly associated with Jesus Christ, his crucifixion and burial. Several medical specialists have debated the injuries of the TS Man, nevertheless there are no detailed and quantitative data about the anatomy of the TS face. The purpose of this study was to analyse the cephalometric measurements of the face image of the TS. The TS face image was acquired by a picture and processed using a cephalometric software, Oris Ceph® (Up to date 2012). The image of the soft tissues was processed in order to obtain skeletal points and a cephalometric analysis of the soft and skeletal tissues was performed. Image processing of the TS face shows that the Man represented in it has undergone a maxillo-facial trauma, especially a left displacement of the mandible, probably due to temporo-mandibular joint lesions. This condition has not been described before, despite several studies on the subject

waste silica sources as heavy metal stabilizers for municipal solid waste incineration fly ash

Abstract The present work discusses a new method, based on the use of silica fume, for heavy metal stabilization. The inertization procedure is reported and compared with other technologies, involving the employ of amorphous silica as stabilizing agent for municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash treatment (i.e. colloidal silica and rice husk ash). The obtained final materials are characterized in terms of chemical composition and phase analysis. The reported method, realized at room temperature, employs all waste or by-product materials. As a consequence it appears to be economically and environmentally sustainable

Determinação colorimétrica do silício em vegetais

O presente trabalho relata os estudos do método colorimétrico de determinação do silício, baseado na reação do citado elemento com o anion molibdato e posterior redução do sílico-molibdato formado com solução de ácido ascórbico contendo ferro divalente. Os estudos efetuados permitiram estabelecer uma técnica rápida para determinação do silício em material vegetal, mediante ataque das cinzas provenientes do material vegetal, com ácidos clorídrico, fluorídrico e excesso de ácido bórico, e posterior aplicação do método colorimétrico. Foram realizadas determinações de silício em materiais vegetais de diferentes origens, obtendo-se satisfatória precisão e os resultados concordaram razoavelmente com aqueles fornecidos pelo método gravimétrico tradicional.The present work reports a study about the determination of silicon in plant materials, using the method based in the formation of heteropoly blue complex (molybdenum blue method) A preliminary study about the influence of several factors that may affect the method was performed. It was studied the absorption of the molybdenum blue, the influence of oxalic acid, effect of time and pH on the formation of molybdsilicic acid and its reduction, the influence of the use of hydrofluoric acid for solubilization of silicates and the reducing solutions. Based in this preliminary studies, it was proposed a technique for the determination of silicon in plant materials employing the colorimetric method. In the recommended procedures the plant materials ash is treated with a mineral acid (HC1), hydrofluoric acid and excess of boric acid. The reduction of molybdisilicic acid is made using an acid ascorbic solution containing divalent iron. In all procedure it is not necessary the use of platinum or nickel ware. In order to compare the colorimetric (based in the proposed technique) and gravimetric methods, five replications of differents plant materials were analysed by both methods. The data obtained allowed to conclude that the technique proposed is good and the accuracy is satisfactory