Armed conflict and human behavior: a case study of the environmental management process in North Lebanon

This paper examines the variation in the effects of individuals’ vulnerability and trust on human behavior within five geographical areas (Akkar, Menieh, Tripoli, Koura, Batroun) along the northern coastline of Lebanon in the context of recurring armed conflict. Lebanon has been subject to regular episodes of armed conflict since 1975, with severe impacts on the social, economic, and political levels as well as on the environment. We argue that the episodes of armed conflict have increased individuals’ vulnerability and negatively affected citizens’ trust among themselves and between them and the stakeholders in the public sector at the national level involved in the environmental management process. The findings are based on 499 questionnaire surveys among citizens in the study area, 24 structured interviews with heads or representatives of heads of the villages and cities in the study area, and secondary literature including previous studies and official documents. The findings show spatial variation of citizens’ vulnerability to environmental damage caused by armed conflict. Citizens of Akkar, Menieh, and Tripoli show higher levels of vulnerability compared with citizens of Batroun and Koura. In addition, distrust between citizens themselves and between them and public sector stakeholders was one of the results of recurring armed conflict. Lack of trust between citizens and stakeholders of public sector is particularly relevant in environmental management in Lebanon

Design of a Planar Inverted F-L Antenna (PIFLA) for Lower-band UWB Applications

YesThis paper examines the case for an ultrawideband planar inverted-F-L-antenna design intended for use in the lower sub-band. The antenna construction is based on the conventional inverted F, and inverted L as its feed element, and parasitic element, respectively. The optimized antenna size is 30×15×4mm3. The prototype antenna has a good return loss of -10 dB, and a 66.6% impedance bandwidth (2.8 GHz ¿ 5.6 GHz), the gain varies between 3.1 dBi and 4.5 dBi

A magnetic resonance imaging surface coil transceiver employing a metasurface for 1.5T applications

A capacitive impedance metasurface combined with a transceiver coil to improve the radio frequency magnetic field for 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging applications is presented. The novel transceiver provides localized enhancement in magnetic flux density when compared to a transceiver coil alone by incorporating an electrically small metasurface using an interdigital capacitance approach. Full field simulations employing the metasurface show a significant improvement in magnetic flux density inside a homogeneous dielectric phantom, which is also shown to perform well for a range of depths into the phantom. The concept was experimentally demonstrated through vector network analyzer measurements and images have been taken using a 1.5T MRI scanner. The results show there is a 216% improvement in transmission efficiency, a 133% improvement in receiver signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR), and a 415% improvement in transceiver SNR for a particular transmission power when compared against a surface coil positioned at the same distance from the phantom, where these improvements are the maximum observed during experiments

Gamma rays from molecular clouds

It is believed that the observed diffuse gamma ray emission from the galactic plane is the result of interactions between cosmic rays and the interstellar gas. Such emission can be amplified if cosmic rays penetrate into dense molecular clouds. The propagation of cosmic rays inside a molecular cloud has been studied assuming an arbitrary energy and space dependent diffusion coefficient. If the diffusion coefficient inside the cloud is significantly smaller compared to the average one derived for the galactic disk, the observed gamma ray spectrum appears harder than the cosmic ray spectrum, mainly due to the slower penetration of the low energy particles towards the core of the cloud. This may produce a great variety of gamma ray spectra.Comment: Proceeding of "The multi messenger approach to high energy gamma ray sources", Barcelona, June 200

The course of self-perceived cognitive functioning among patients with lymphoma and the co-occurrence with fatigue and psychological distress

Purpose To investigate the proportion of patients with lymphoma with persistent clinically relevant cognitive impairment, and its relation to treatment, fatigue, and psychological distress.Methods Patients with diffuse-large-B-cell-lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular-lymphoma (FL), and chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia (CLL)/small-lymphocytic-lymphoma (SLL), diagnosed between 2004-2010 or 2015-2019, were followed up to 8 years post-diagnosis. Sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and the Population-based HAematological Registry for Observational Studies. The EORTC QLQ-C30 was used to assess cognitive functioning and fatigue, and the HADS to assess psychological distress. Individual growth curve models were performed. Results were compared with an age- and sex-matched normative population.Results A total of 924 patients were included (70% response rate). Persistent cognitive impairment was twice as high in patients (30%) compared to the normative population (15%). Additionally, 74% of patients reported co-occurring symptoms of persistent fatigue and/or psychological distress. Patients with FL (- 23 points, p < 0.001) and CLL/SLL (- 10 points, p < 0.05) reported clinically relevant deterioration of cognitive functioning, as did the normative population (FLnorm - 5 points, DLBCLnorm - 4 points, both p < 0.05). Younger age, higher fatigue, and/or psychological distress at inclusion were associated with worse cognitive functioning (all p's < 0.01). Treatment appeared less relevant.Conclusion Almost one-third of patients with lymphoma report persistent cognitive impairment, remaining present up to 8 years post-diagnosis. Early onset and co-occurrence of symptoms highlight the need for clinicians to discuss symptoms with patients early.Implications for Cancer Survivors Early recognition of cognitive impairment could increase timely referral to suitable supportive care (i.e., lifestyle interventions) and reduce (long-term) symptom burden.Immunobiology of allogeneic stem cell transplantation and immunotherapy of hematological disease

Health care utilization up to 11 years after diagnosis among patients with a hematologic malignancy and its association with socioeconomic position

PurposeTo investigate health care utilization among patients with hematologic malignancies and its association with socioeconomic position (SEP) and compare health care utilization with a cancer-free population.MethodsPatients with aggressive lymphoma, indolent lymphoma, or multiple myeloma (MM), diagnosed between 1999–2010 and 2015–2019, participated in longitudinal patient-reported outcome research, up to 11 years post-diagnosis. Questionnaires assessed health care utilization at the general practitioner (GP), medical specialist, and additional health care. SEP was based on education and income, categorized as low, medium, or high. Sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Mixed models and logistic regression analyses were performed.ResultsThe study included 2319 patients (71% response rate), who completed on average five measurements. Patients with MM reported the highest health care utilization, both at the GP and medical specialist. Low SEP was associated with higher utilization at the GP (medium education β =  − 0.72, p = 0.01; high education β =  − 1.15, p p = 0.01) and psychosocial (OR = 1.5, p β = 2.56, p ConclusionHematologic malignancy–related and SEP-related disparities in health care utilization were observed. To ensure equal access to health consumption, attention is needed for patients with a low SEP to provide better guidance in their cancer (survivorship) care.Implications for Cancer SurvivorsImproving health literacy and involving informal caregivers and nurse-led patient navigation may help reduce disparities in access to (additional) health care.Immunobiology of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, transfusion medicine and immunotherapy of hematological disease

Comparison of neutral anolyte solution and malachite green efficiency on fungal contamination control of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs in incubation stage

One of the important problems in Rainbow trout production industry is egg fungal infection especially saprolegniasis which is the most important mortality factor in Rainbow trout hatcheries. Controlling saprolegniasis in hatcheries was done using green malachite in the past years, which is a very effective fungicide. Nowadays, due to the prohibition of using green malachite, effort is done to replace it with other materials as an effective fungicide. Some of the most important materials which have been examined are formalin, sodium chloride and hydrogen peroxide etc. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of neutral anolyte on the mortality percent of rainbow trout eggs and produced larvae in point of view of growth indices and survival until yolk sac absorption and larvae active feeding in incubation phase comparing with green malachite to be able to introduce a suitable alternative. This study was carried out in a complete randomly plan with 7 treatments and 3 replications (21 troughs in general), in 20*35*70 cm (length*width*depth) Californian troughs containing an incubator. Treatments included anolyte solutions constant bathing with 0.5 and 0.25 ppm concentrations and periodic anolyte treatments with 2 ppm concentrations (every 2 days), positive control infected with fungus without any disinfectant and negative control without any infection or disinfectant. 300 grams of newly propagated green eggs of rainbow trout which were provided from one of the fish hatcheries in Haraz Road and acclimated with the trough’s water temperature, were distributed in one layer at the bottom of the trough basket. All treatments, except negative control, were infected with saprolegnia, taken from infected eggs of rainbow trout which were previously provided from one of the fish hatcheries of 2000 Road in Tonekabon. The treatments took one month to complete. The studied variables included hatching percent, percent of eyed eggs, abnormality percent and percent of unfertilized eggs, from which percent of eyed eggs was calculated and recorded in the middle and the rest of the variables at the end of the test. In this study Paired-sample T-student test, Levene’s test, one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni’s test was used. For examining egg abnormality, hatching, fungus infection and eyed eggs, first the percent of the variables were specified and then for comparing the rate of abnormality in one of the anolyte treatments (which had the least abnormality) and green malachite, Mann-Whitney test was carried out. This comparison was done to analyze the rate of hatching, fungus infections, eyed eggs, resulting from the materials used in different treatments, using one-way ANOVA Bonferroni’s tests. Results showed that in lower anolyte concentrations (0.5 and 0.25 ppm), the number of fungal colonies of hatchery water and the percent of egg fungus infection were significantly higher than higher concentrations of anolyte (100 ppm and 30 ppm) and green malachite. In other words with concentration increase, the fungicidal effect has also increased. In evaluating the percent of eyed eggs, statistical results showed that eyed eggs percent in 0.25 ppm treatment and green malachite treatment were significantly higher than the other three anolyte treatments. This result can explain egg hatching in 0.25 ppm concentrations and not seeing hatching in the (other) remaining three doses. Between the treatments of 0.25 ppm and green malachite, the group of 0.25 ppm anolyte can be a better disinfectant for rainbow trout eggs compared to green malachite, for fish farmers, due to the high percent of eyed eggs and the low total count of fungus. The results of this study showed that the amount of abnormality in 0.25 ppm treatment has been higher compared to the green malachite group. Because this study was the first research on using anolyte as a fungicide in rainbow trout hatcheries, therefore for more specific study of the concentrations, the timing of usage and the factors affecting these two, more vast and general research is needed

Impact of comorbidity on health-related quality of life in newly diagnosed patients with lymphoma or multiple myeloma: results from the PROFILES-registry

With the increasing prevalence of comorbidity in an ageing population, it is crucial to better understand the impact of comorbidity on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after lymphoma or multiple myeloma (MM) diagnosis. We included 261 newly diagnosed patients (67% response rate) diagnosed with lymphoma or MM between October 2020 and March 2023 in a longitudinal survey. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaires were used to measure generic and disease-specific HRQoL. Evidence-based guidelines for interpretation of the EORTC questionnaires were used to identify clinical importance. Patients were classified as having ‘no comorbidity’, ‘mild comorbidity’ (e.g. arthrosis or rheumatism), or ‘moderate-severe comorbidity’ (e.g. heart or lung disease), using the adapted self-administered comorbidity questionnaire. At diagnosis, the mean age was 64 years, 63% were male and 38% reported no comorbidity, 33% mild comorbidity, and 29% moderate-severe comorbidity. Patients with mild or moderate-severe comorbidity reported clinically relevant worse HRQoL at diagnosis than patients without comorbidity. One year post-diagnosis most outcomes showed clinically relevant improvement, irrespective of comorbidity. However, outcomes of physical functioning (β=-7.9, p p p p p Immunobiology of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, transfusion medicine and immunotherapy of hematological disease

Epidemiological study on some environmental and management parameters affecting on WSD occurrence in Fenneropenaeus indicus and Penaeus vannamei

For the first time white spot disease (WSD) was reported in shrimp farms of khoozestan province, in southwest of IRAN in 2002. Then in 2005 the neighbor province, boushehr, was contaminated. In 2008 WSD outbreak reported in sistan-bloochestan province in southeast of Iran. In 2015 all of southern shrimp farms of country except Hormozgan, the middle southern province, which has remained free of WSD, are being contaminated. White Spot disease suspended shrimp culture in thousands hectares of shrimp farms. Considering that white spot disease has not been observed in Hormozgan province yet, the question is; to what extent environmental and management factors participated in preventing WSD outbreak or cause WSD outbreak. In this study (20102012), the effects of environmental factors and management, stressors that decrease immune system function of shrimp are discussed. In addition, the role of pathogen as the main factor of outbreak is discussed. The goal of this study is to define environmental parameters and management practices associates with outbreak of white spot disease in affected provinces and discover reasons of being Hormozgan province free of this disease. In this study the role of the local environmental factors and management practice stressors in susceptibility to WSD was determine. Both the effects of environmental factors in water of ponds including total ammonia, nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, transparency, and temperature and management issues related to biosecurity are studied. There were overlaps on physical and chemical parameter values obtained in clear areas with contaminated areas .Results of the data analysis suggest that lack of association with WSD incidence was 7 times greater than WSD incidence despite of disease outbreak in sistan-bloochestan province, so other sources of white spot disease virus incidence was suspected in affected areas. Histopathological examinations and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests during project performance did not reveal white spot disease virus evidences in post larvae examined from khoozestan province stocked in farms but disease outbreak was happened in that farms , so we suspected to management practice include feed , pond preparation and carrier of disease. Recorded values of temperature and salinity in some months during inspection in Hormozgan province specified stressful condition that may lead to WSD outbreak, however the disease did not appear. Therefore the hypothesis that the water physical and chemical conditions are reasons to prevent disease outbreak in Hormozgan province is being rejected. The policy of Hormozgan’s fishery authorities, to replaced Fenneropenaeus indicus with specific pathogen free Litopenaeus vannamei, that is more resistant to some of diseases, before incidence of WSD in farms and to before being endemic in the Hormozgan province, made an advantage compare to affected southern provinces that introduced Litopenaeus vannamei after WSD prevalence to their farms. However it does not guarantee to maintain current trend of being Hormozgan province farms free of white spot disease. Therefore establishing the principals of biosecurity are strongly emphasized. Strategies taken by the proficient authorities in preparation of SPF shrimp broodstock can be the most important factor in preventing WSD. Regarding biosecurity principals purchased feed must be free of shrimp head powder. Construction the new shrimp farms should be as far as it could be away from contaminated areas

The Cholecystectomy As A Day Case (CAAD) score: a validated score of preoperative predictors of successful day-case cholecystectomy using the CholeS data set

Background: Day-case surgery is associated with significant patient and cost benefits. However, only 43% of cholecystectomy patients are discharged home the same day. One hypothesis is day-case cholecystectomy rates, defined as patients discharged the same day as their operation, may be improved by better assessment of patients using standard preoperative variables. Methods: Data were extracted from a prospectively collected data set of cholecystectomy patients from 166 UK and Irish hospitals (CholeS). Cholecystectomies performed as elective procedures were divided into main (75%) and validation (25%) data sets. Preoperative predictors were identified, and a risk score of failed day case was devised using multivariate logistic regression. Receiver operating curve analysis was used to validate the score in the validation data set. Results: Of the 7426 elective cholecystectomies performed, 49% of these were discharged home the same day. Same-day discharge following cholecystectomy was less likely with older patients (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.15–0.23), higher ASA scores (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.15–0.23), complicated cholelithiasis (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.48), male gender (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.58–0.74), previous acute gallstone-related admissions (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.48–0.60) and preoperative endoscopic intervention (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.34–0.47). The CAAD score was developed using these variables. When applied to the validation subgroup, a CAAD score of ≤5 was associated with 80.8% successful day-case cholecystectomy compared with 19.2% associated with a CAAD score &gt;5 (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: The CAAD score which utilises data readily available from clinic letters and electronic sources can predict same-day discharges following cholecystectomy