74 research outputs found

    A Framework to Evaluate the SDG Contribution of Fluvial Nature-Based Solutions

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    Nature-based solutions (NBSs) are measures reflecting the ‘cooperation with nature’ approach: mitigating fluvial flood risk while being cost-effective, resource-efficient, and providing numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits. Since 2015, the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda has provided UN member states with goals, targets, and indicators to facilitate an integrated approach focusing on economic, environmental, and social improvements simultaneously. The aim of this study is to evaluate the contribution of fluvial NBSs to the UN 2030 Agenda, using all its components: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), targets, and indicators. We propose a four-step framework with inputs from the UN 2030 Agenda, scientific literature, and case studies. The framework provides a set of fluvial flooding indicators that are linked to SDG indicators of the UN 2030 Agenda. Finally, the fluvial flooding indicators are tested by applying them to a case study, the Eddleston Water Project, aiming to examine its contribution to the UN 2030 Agenda. This reveals that the Eddleston Water Project contributes to 9 SDGs and 33 SDG targets from environmental, economic, societal, policy, and technical perspectives. Our framework aims to enhance the systematic considerations of the SDG indicators, adjust their notion to the system of interest, and thereby enhance the link between the sustainability performance of NBSs and the UN 2030 AgendaRivers, Ports, Waterways and Dredging Engineerin

    An Interesting Charmonium State Formation and Decay : ppˉ1D21P1γp \bar p \to ^1D_2 \to ^1P_1 \gamma

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    Massless perturbative QCD forbids, at leading order, the exclusive annihilation of proton-antiproton into some charmonium states, which, however, have been observed in the ppˉp\bar p channel, indicating the significance of higher order and non perturbative effects in the few GeV energy region. The most well known cases are those of the 1S0^1S_0 (ηc\eta_c) and the 1P1^1P_1. The case of the 1D2^1D_2 is considered here and a way of detecting such a state through its typical angular distribution in the radiative decay 1D2^1D_2 \to 1P1γ^1P_1 \gamma is suggested. Estimates of the branching ratio BR(1D2ppˉ)BR(^1D_2 \to p\bar p), as given by a quark-diquark model of the nucleon, mass corrections and an instanton induced process are presented.Comment: 9 pages (no figures), Plain TeX, CBPF-NF-014/94, INFNCA-TH-94-

    Characteristics of patients presenting to the vascular emergency department of a tertiary care hospital: a 2-year study

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The structure of health care in Greece is receiving increased attention to improve its cost-effectiveness. We sought to examine the epidemiological characteristics of patients presenting to the vascular emergency department of a Greek tertiary care hospital during a 2-year period. We studied all patients presenting to the emergency department of vascular surgery at Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece between 1<sup>st </sup>January 2009 and 31st December 2010.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall, 2452 (49.4%) out of 4961 patients suffered from pathologies that should have been treated in primary health care. Only 2509 (50.6%) needed vascular surgical intervention.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The emergency department of vascular surgery in a Greek tertiary care hospital has to treat a remarkably high percentage of patients suitable for the primary health care level. These results suggest that an improvement in the structure of health care is needed in Greece.</p

    On the Nucleon Distribution Amplitude: The Heterotic Solution

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    We present a new nucleon distribution amplitude which amalgamates features of the Chernyak-Ogloblin-Zhitnitsky model with those of the Gari-Stefanis model. This "heterotic" solution provides the possibility to have asymptotically a small ratio \hbox{GMn/GMp0.1\vert G_{M}^{n}\vert/G_{M}^{p}\le 0.1}, while fulfilling most of the sum-rule requirements up to the third order. Using this nucleon distribution amplitude we calculate the electromagnetic and weak nucleon form factors, the transition form factor γpΔ+\gamma p \Delta^{+} and the decay widths of the charmonium levels 3S1^3S_{1}, 3P1^3P_{1}, and 3P2^3P_{2} into ppˉp\bar p. The agreement with the available data is remarkable in all cases.Comment: 15 pages, RUB-TPII-21/92 Preprin

    Clientelistic networks and local corruption: Evidence from Western Crete DIMITRIOS CHRISTOPOULOS

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    In this article, the attitudes and interaction of local political and business elites in western Crete are examined by means of an attitudinal survey, triangulated with data from in-depth interviews, conducted between July and October 1991. The data examined indicate that the endemic prevalence of clientelistic networks creates the background for corruption, although evidence of corrupt practice is not strong. In this analysis it is presumed that the attitudes and perceptions of key actors are affected by a definition of corruption that is relevant to their particular civil society alone. Data analyzed here suggest that local élite attitudes towards corruption are not perceived to affect the standards of conduct at the local level. It can also be deduced that if corruption is linked to the problems of administrative efficiency and economic development of the region, these can be related to vertical clientelistic networks with the national centre

    The normal vulva in medical textbooks

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    When a healthy woman expresses concerns about her vulva, the doctor&apos;s response should be informed by clinical knowledge. For many doctors, accumulation of such knowledge would have begun with undergraduate teaching and medical textbooks. The aim of this study is to examine the information on female genital morphology in medical textbooks. A total of 59 gynaecology and anatomy textbooks were searched for information on the dimensions of vulval constitutent parts. No textbook gave measurements for all vulval structures. Vaginal length was reported in 21/59 textbooks, clitoral size in 15/59 and labia minora in 1/59. Where measurements appear, they suggest narrower ranges than recent reports. Information of vulval morphology is scanty and inaccurate in medical textbooks. The general lack of professional resources means that doctors may consciously or non-consciously rely upon personal experiences and popular culture to form their opinions, as do their patients. © 2013 Informa UK, Ltd

    Rehabilitation of the edentulous mandible with implant-supported overdentures on telescopic abutments and immediate loading. A controlled prospective clinical study

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    The rehabilitation of the edentulous mandible with implant-supported overdentures is an established clinical procedure but immediate loading of implants supporting mandibular overdentures has not been equally documented. Aim: The aim of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the rehabilitation of the edentulous mandible with immediate loading and implant-supported overdentures. Materials and Methods: 10 patients were restored with immediate loading of the implants and 5 with delayed loading. The treatment planning included placement of four implants in the interforaminal area of the mandible. Prefabricated titanium abutments with 4 degrees of conical inclination were fixed on the implants and the telescoping conical caps were connected to the base of the mandibular denture. Bone loss was assessed by comparison of panoramic x-rays at baseline 3, 6, and 36 months by visual observation from clinicians. Results: A total of 60 implants were restored, 40 with immediate and 20 with delayed loading. The follow-up period ranged from 4 to 10 years with 72 months mean observation time. Prosthetic complications appeared with low frequency and no implant loss occurred during the follow-up period. No statistical significance was observed in the bone loss in the cervical area of the immediate and late loaded implants. Clinical Significance: The rehabilitation of the edentulous mandible with implant-supported overdentures and telescopic copings is a viable clinical solutions with multiple clinical advantages both for the clinician and the patient. Immediate loading can be applied in cases where increased initial stability can be achieved. More extended long-term clinical studies with increased number of patients and implants are needed, however, to verify the efficacy of the treatment method. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

    Cardiovascular toxicity of breast cancer treatment: an update

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    Novel chemotherapeutic agents have marked a new era in oncology during the past decade, prolonging significantly the overall survival of breast cancer patients. Nevertheless, contemporary antineoplastic treatments can frequently cause adverse cardiovascular side effects. Common manifestations of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity include cardiomyopathy, ischemia, conduction disturbances, hypertension and thromboembolic events, while the type of the treatment regimen administered crucially determines clinical outcome. The aim of this literature review is to analyze the incidence and the underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular toxicity caused by agents approved for breast cancer, as well as to describe ways of monitoring and treating the cardiotoxic effects in breast cancer patients. Moreover, our work intends to provide an easy-to-grasp synopsis of recent and clinically meaningful advances in the field. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

    Clinical perspectives of BET inhibition in ovarian cancer

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    Background: Bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) proteins are epigenetic readers that bind to acetylated lysines of histones and regulate gene transcription. BET protein family members mediate the expression of various oncogenic drivers in ovarian cancer, such as the MYC and Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) genes. BRD4, the most thoroughly studied member of the BET family, is amplified in a significant subset of high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSC) of the ovary. It has been reported that BET inhibitors can attenuate the proliferation and dissemination of ovarian cancer cells by inhibiting oncogenic pathways, such as the FOXM1 and JAK/STAT pathways. BET inhibition can re-sensitize resistant ovarian cancer cells to already approved anticancer agents, including cisplatin and PARP inhibitors. This synergism was also confirmed in vivo in animal models. These and other preclinical results provide a promising basis for the application of BET inhibitors in ovarian cancer treatment. Currently, Phase I/II clinical trials explore the safety and efficacy profiles of BET inhibitors in various solid tumors, including ovarian tumors. Here, we review current knowledge on the molecular effects and preclinical activities of BET inhibitors in ovarian tumors. Conclusions: BET proteins have emerged as new druggable targets for ovarian cancer. BET inhibitors may enhance antitumor activity when co-administered with conventional treatment regimens. Results from ongoing Phase I/II studies are anticipated to confirm this notion. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG
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