Investigation of corrosion inhibition mechanisms of rare-earth mercaptoacetate inhibitors on AA2024-T3

 Corrosion inhibition mechanisms on the aerospace alloy, AA2024-T3, was investigated for the inhibitor combination of rare earth metals and mercaptoacetate. The inhibitor demonstrated synergistic protection for AA2024-T3 from localised corrosion. It is intended to be a more environmentally friendly alternative to toxic chromate-based inhibitors

From Pixels to Taxes: A Comparative Study of Digital Economy Tax Policies in the Philippines to Selected ASEAN Member States

This research focuses into the proposed Digital Economy Taxation Act, scrutinizing its provisions aimed at bolstering income tax and value-added tax (VAT) compliance. The bill mandates network intermediaries and ecommerce platforms, including those without a physical presence in the country, to act as withholding agents, a move that has sparked debate over its implementation challenges, such as the requirement for non-resident entities to establish a representative office within the Philippines. Utilizing qualitative method through documentary analysis, this study compares the Philippine approach to digital taxation with initiatives undertaken by other ASEAN countries, analyzing literature, articles, reports, blogs, and media releases to gain insights to the regional tax landscape. The paper seeks to uncover the nuances of each country's digital tax policies, focusing on the variance in tax rates and the thresholds set for business registration. The analysis extends to the potential economic impacts of the Digital Economy Taxation Act on the Philippines, considering both the opportunities and complexities posed by its enforcement. The paper underscores the imperative nature of digital taxation in an era increasingly reliant on digital transactions while highlighting the challenges associated with tax collection from non-resident digital service providers. The research provides a comprehensive understanding of the ASEAN digital taxation framework and offer insights into establishing unambiguous rules that ensure effective tax collection without hindering the growth of the burgeoning digital economy.&nbsp

Dual function of rare earth carboxylate compounds on the barrier properties and active corrosion inhibition of epoxy coatings on mild steel

In this work, two rare earth carboxylate compounds, lanthanum 4-hydroxycinnamate (La(4-OHcin)3) and yttrium 3-(4-methylbenzoyl)propanoate (Y(mbp)3), were incorporated into bisphenol-based epoxy resin to investigate their effectiveness in coating barrier properties and active corrosion inhibition. EIS results showed that the incorporation of rare earth carboxylate inhibitors significantly improved corrosion resistance compared to the inhibitor free coating, with the global impedance modulus remaining at a level higher than 1 GΩ cm2 after 219 days immersion. Following EIS experiments, cross-sectional views of the coatings exhibited a pore-plugging behavior by rare earth containing precipitates, which reinforced the coating barrier properties and delayed the electrolyte diffusion process. These effects were also reflected from the electrochemical parameters extracted from breakpoint frequency analysis and equivalent circuit modelling. Filiform corrosion experiments for artificially scratched coatings suggest that the addition of rare earth carboxylates effectively suppressed the initiation and growth of filaments as well as the development of the coating delamination front. The active corrosion inhibition is possibly related to the formation of a surface protective film consisting of bimetallic complexes and rare earth metal rich precipitates. The electrochemical measurements and surface analyses evidence the dual function of rare earth carboxylate species for enhancing coating barrier properties against electrolyte penetration and providing active corrosion inhibition for the underlying AS1020 mild steel

Poverty, Dietary Intake, Intestinal Parasites, and Nutritional Status among School-Age Children in the Rural Philippines

Intestinal helminths are endemic throughout the Philippines; however, there is limited evidence with respect to their prevalence, intensity, and impact on children’s nutritional status. A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 693 children from five rural villages in Northern Samar, the Philippines. Data on dietary intake, nutritional status, and intestinal parasites were collected. Infection with Schistosoma japonicum, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm was evident in 20.1, 54.4, 71.4, and 25.3% of the children. The majority (84.7%) was infected with one or more helminth species, with about one-quarter of the sample (24.7%) infected with three or more. About half (49.2%, n = 341) of the children were stunted and 27.8% (n = 193) were wasted. A lower prevalence of normal height-for-age (48.3%) appeared in those with polyparasitism, while the prevalence of stunted children increased with infection (46.7% monoparasitism and 51.7% polyparasitism). There was a decreasing trend between infection intensity and the mean values of HAZ and BAZ identified for T. trichiura or hookworm infections. Stunted children were more likely to be male (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.05–2.39; p = 0.028), older in age (10–14 years) (AOR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.29–2.88; p = 0.001), and living in poorer households with palm leaves/nipa roof (AOR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.14–3.01; p = 0.013). Intestinal parasitic treatment needs to be combined with nutrient supplements and health education in order to interrupt the parasite life cycle and achieve sustainable control.We thank the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council for providing financial support for this research in the Philippines

Loss of gastrokine-2 drives premalignant gastric inflammation and tumor progression

Chronic mucosal inflammation is associated with a greater risk of gastric cancer (GC) and, therefore, requires tight control by suppressive counter mechanisms. Gastrokine-2 (GKN2) belongs to a family of secreted proteins expressed within normal gastric mucosal cells. GKN2 expression is frequently lost during GC progression, suggesting an inhibitory role; however, a causal link remains unsubstantiated. Here, we developed Gkn2 knockout and transgenic overexpressing mice to investigate the functional impact of GKN2 loss in GC pathogenesis. In mouse models of GC, decreased GKN2 expression correlated with gastric pathology that paralleled human GC progression. At baseline, Gkn2 knockout mice exhibited defective gastric epithelial differentiation but not malignant progression. Conversely, Gkn2 knockout in the IL-11/STAT3-dependent gp130[superscript F/F] GC model caused tumorigenesis of the proximal stomach. Additionally, gastric immunopathology was accelerated in Helicobacter pylori–infected Gkn2 knockout mice and was associated with augmented T helper cell type 1 (Th1) but not Th17 immunity. Heightened Th1 responses in Gkn2 knockout mice were linked to deregulated mucosal innate immunity and impaired myeloid-derived suppressor cell activation. Finally, transgenic overexpression of human gastrokines (GKNs) attenuated gastric tumor growth in gp130[superscript F/F] mice. Together, these results reveal an antiinflammatory role for GKN2, provide in vivo evidence that links GKN2 loss to GC pathogenesis, and suggest GKN restoration as a strategy to restrain GC progression

Planktic foraminiferal sedimentation and the marine calcite budget

The vertical flux and sedimentation rate of planktic foraminiferal tests are quantified and a global planktic foraminiferal CaCO3 budget is presented. Test and calcite flux rates are calculated according to the distribution of species obtained from multinet and sediment trap samples. Modern planktic foraminiferal population dynamics are discussed as a prerequisite for the quantification of the calcite budget, highlighting the importance of ecological, autecological (e.g., reproduction), and biogeochemical conditions that determine the presence or absence of species. To complete the open-marine, particulate CaCO3 inventory, the contribution of coccolithophores, pteropods, and calcareous dinophytes is discussed. Based on the studied regions, the global planktic foraminiferal calcite flux rate at 100 m depth amounts to 1.3-3.2 Gt yr-1, equivalent to 23-56% of the total open marine CaCO3 flux. The preservation of tests varies on a regional and temporal scale, and is affected by local hydrography and dissolution. During most of the year (off-peak periods), many tests dissolve above 700-m water depth while settling through the water column, with on average only 1-3% of the initially exported CaCO3 reaching the deep-seafloor. Pulsed flux events, mass dumps of fast settling particles, yield a major contribution of tests to the formation of deep-sea sediments. On average, ∼25% of the initially produced planktic foraminiferal test CaCO3 settles on the seafloor. The total planktic foraminiferal contribution of CaCO3 to global surface sediments amounts to 0.36-0.88 Gt yr-1, ∼32-80% of the total deep-marine calcite budget

God and politics in Filipino America : a mixed-methods case study

Ph.D. University of Hawaii at Manoa 2011.Includes bibliographical references.Religion as an influence has been identified as diminishing, if its role has been considered at all. The secularization thesis claimed that religion's influence would continue to decline as societies became more developed and industrialized. That claim has yet to be proven. This study examines the importance of religion in a particular community to see if that secularization thesis reflects reality on a localized level. Specifically, this study investigates the role religiosity plays in electoral and non-electoral political engagement within the Filipino American community in Vallejo, California, through two religious institutions, one being Protestant Methodist Christian, and the other, Roman Catholic Christian. The motivation to select these groups as objects for study emerged because of the theoretical, empirical, and methodological gaps in the research relating to Filipino Americans and their religious and political experiences. My mixed-methods design includes three ways of knowing: 1) knowing through survey research, 2) knowing through interview research, and 3) knowing through my own personal experience. The results of this study reveal that the secularization thesis does not appear to apply to the two religious institutions within the Filipino American community in Vallejo. More specifically, this mixed-methods case study essentially argues that Filipino Americans' religiosity plays an important role in their political engagement. Additionally, the data reveals that there are both similarities and differences that the two church communities share with regards to their religious and political experiences. All of these findings indicate that religion remains an important part of Filipino Americans' lives in Vallejo, California, in one of the most developed and industrialized nations in the entire world thereby contradicting the secularization thesis

Vad är den kliniska farmaceutens roll inom vården?

Bakgrund: Den kliniska farmacin i Sverige har utvecklats markant det senaste årtiondet, var de kliniska farmaceuternas antal mer än fördubblats. Samtidigt som den kliniska farmacin utvecklas mer och mer så finns det i nuläget begränsade utbildningsmöjligheter. Mål: Denna rapport har som syfte att undersöka den kliniska farmaceutens roll inom vården, dennes arbetssätt och synen på yrkesrollen. Metod: En enkätundersökning utfördes riktad till alla verksamma kliniska farmaceuter i Sverige som arbetar patientnära. Resultat: Svarsfrekvens för undersökningen uppgick till 58%. Undersökningen kartlade den kliniska farmaceutens arbetssätt och gav en översiktlig bild av vad farmaceuten ansåg om sin yrkesroll samt visade hur farmaceuterna ansågs kunna föra den kliniska farmacin framåt i landet. Diskussion: Ett grundligt förarbete med pilottester och kvalitativa studier utfördes inte i samband med utformandet av enkäten, vilket resulterat i brister i studiens validitet. Slutsats: Det fanns skillnader gällande de olika regionernas arbetssätt med anledning av att yrkesrollen var svårdefinierad, samt att arbetssätten för farmaceuterna var olikartade. Majoriteten av deltagarna hade en positiv inställning till sina upplevelser inom det multidisciplinära teamet, däremot var de även av åsikten att klinisk farmaci inom Sverige bör vidareutvecklas.Background: Clinical pharmacy have developed tremendously over the past decade, and the number of clinical pharmacists has more than doubled. Although clinical pharmacy is developing more and more, educational opportunities are currently a limited. Aim: This report aims to investigate the role of the clinical pharmacist in healthcare, its working procedures and the view of the profession. Method: A survey was conducted including all active clinical pharmacists in Sweden working in direct contact with the patients. Result: The response rate for the survey was 58%. The study surveyed the clinical pharmacist’s working procedures, gave some general knowledge of the pharmacist’s considerations for the profession and viewed the opinions of the pharmacist in the regard of expanding and developing clinical pharmacy in the country. Discussion: A thoroughly done preliminary work with pilot tests and qualitative studies was not carried out in connection with the development of the survey, which has resulted in deficiencies in the validity. Conclusion: There were differences regarding the working methods of the different regions because of the difficulty of defining the content of the profession, and the diversity of the working procedures between the regions. A majority of the participants had a positive attitude to their experiences within the multidisciplinary team, however, they were also of the opinion that clinical pharmacy in Sweden should be furthered developed

Vad är den kliniska farmaceutens roll inom vården?

Bakgrund: Den kliniska farmacin i Sverige har utvecklats markant det senaste årtiondet, var de kliniska farmaceuternas antal mer än fördubblats. Samtidigt som den kliniska farmacin utvecklas mer och mer så finns det i nuläget begränsade utbildningsmöjligheter. Mål: Denna rapport har som syfte att undersöka den kliniska farmaceutens roll inom vården, dennes arbetssätt och synen på yrkesrollen. Metod: En enkätundersökning utfördes riktad till alla verksamma kliniska farmaceuter i Sverige som arbetar patientnära. Resultat: Svarsfrekvens för undersökningen uppgick till 58%. Undersökningen kartlade den kliniska farmaceutens arbetssätt och gav en översiktlig bild av vad farmaceuten ansåg om sin yrkesroll samt visade hur farmaceuterna ansågs kunna föra den kliniska farmacin framåt i landet. Diskussion: Ett grundligt förarbete med pilottester och kvalitativa studier utfördes inte i samband med utformandet av enkäten, vilket resulterat i brister i studiens validitet. Slutsats: Det fanns skillnader gällande de olika regionernas arbetssätt med anledning av att yrkesrollen var svårdefinierad, samt att arbetssätten för farmaceuterna var olikartade. Majoriteten av deltagarna hade en positiv inställning till sina upplevelser inom det multidisciplinära teamet, däremot var de även av åsikten att klinisk farmaci inom Sverige bör vidareutvecklas.Background: Clinical pharmacy have developed tremendously over the past decade, and the number of clinical pharmacists has more than doubled. Although clinical pharmacy is developing more and more, educational opportunities are currently a limited. Aim: This report aims to investigate the role of the clinical pharmacist in healthcare, its working procedures and the view of the profession. Method: A survey was conducted including all active clinical pharmacists in Sweden working in direct contact with the patients. Result: The response rate for the survey was 58%. The study surveyed the clinical pharmacist’s working procedures, gave some general knowledge of the pharmacist’s considerations for the profession and viewed the opinions of the pharmacist in the regard of expanding and developing clinical pharmacy in the country. Discussion: A thoroughly done preliminary work with pilot tests and qualitative studies was not carried out in connection with the development of the survey, which has resulted in deficiencies in the validity. Conclusion: There were differences regarding the working methods of the different regions because of the difficulty of defining the content of the profession, and the diversity of the working procedures between the regions. A majority of the participants had a positive attitude to their experiences within the multidisciplinary team, however, they were also of the opinion that clinical pharmacy in Sweden should be furthered developed