Note on the single-shock solutions of the Korteweg-de Vries-Burgers equation

The well-known shock solutions of the Korteweg-de Vries-Burgers equation are revisited, together with their limitations in the context of plasma (astro)physical applications. Although available in the literature for a long time, it seems to have been forgotten in recent papers that such shocks are monotonic and unique, for a given plasma configuration, and cannot show oscillatory or bell-shaped features. This uniqueness is contrasted to solitary wave solutions of the two parent equations (Korteweg-de Vries and Burgers), which form a family of curves parameterized by the excess velocity over the linear phase speed.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden

Assessing Heavy Metals Pollution of the Mangrove Sediments along Tidal Flat of the Mehran River Delta, Persian Gulf

The relationship between the concentration of heavy metals and physicochemical factors was studied in the fine-grained sediments of the tidal section of the Mehran delta where mangrove trees have grown. Surface sediments of the tidal zone of the Mehran delta were sampled. The grain size distribution, calcium carbonate, organic matter contents, pH/Eh, and heavy metals concentration were determined in the mud fraction of the sediments. The presence of high calcium carbonate in sediments is an effective factor in the abundance of Mn, Cd, and Pb. Clay and organic matter as adsorptive have contributed to the high concentration of Zn, Cu, while Fe oxy-hydroxides have affected the concentration of Co, Cr, and Ni. According to the index of Enrichment Factor (EF), the average enrichment of the elements in the studied sediments from high to low order is Cr, Ni, Cd, Zn, Mn, Pb, Co, and Cu. According to the Pollution Load Index (PLI), none of the delta sediments including sediments from inside and outside of the mangrove forestare classified as polluted to the heavy metals. According to the Igeo Index, most samples, and only Cd, Cr, and Ni show slight pollution in some samples. Accordingly, there is no current threat of contamination of potentially toxic elements of natural and anthropogenic origins to the mangrove environment and Mehran delta