Current Crisis Research Articles

Comparing withdrawal- and anxiety-like behaviors following oral and subcutaneous oxycodone administration in C57BL/6 mice.

Excessive prescribing and misuse of prescription opioids, such as oxycodone, significantly contributed to the current opioid crisis. Although oxycodone is typically consumed orally by humans, parenteral routes of administration have primarily been used in preclinical models of oxycodone dependence. To address this issue, more recent studies have used oral self-administration procedures to study oxycodone seeking and withdrawal in rodents. Behavioral differences, however, following oral oxycodone intake versus parenteral oxycodone administration remain unclear. Thus, the goal of the current studies was to compare anxiety- and withdrawal-like behaviors using established opioid dependence models of either home cage oral intake of oxycodone (0.5 mg/ml) or repeated subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of oxycodone (10 mg/kg) in male and female mice. Here, mice received 10 days of oral or s.c. oxycodone administration, and following 72 h of forced abstinence, anxiety- and withdrawal-like behaviors were measured using elevated zero maze, open field, and naloxone-induced precipitated withdrawal procedures. Global withdrawal scores were increased to a similar degree following oral and s.c. oxycodone use, while both routes of oxycodone administration had minimal effects on anxiety-like behaviors. When examining individual withdrawal-like behaviors, mice receiving s.c. oxycodone exhibited more paw tremors and jumps during naloxone-induced precipitated withdrawal compared with oral oxycodone mice. These results indicate that both models of oxycodone administration are sufficient to elevate global withdrawal scores, but, when compared with oral consumption, s.c. oxycodone injections yielded more pronounced effects on some withdrawal-like behaviors.

MnO2-modified PEEK membrane for efficient oil-water separation and solar-assisted seawater desalination

Economic and efficient routes to achieve clean freshwater from oil-water mixtures and seawater have gained special attention to reduce the current water crisis, but still a challenge unsolved. Herein, poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) membrane, modified with MnO2 layer, has been prepared by facile hydrothermal method to address this issue aforementioned. Given the existence of PEEK and underwater superoleophobicity/underoil superhydrophilicity of MnO2, the composite membrane exhibits strong mechanic properties (tensile stress: 110.2 MPa) and high separation efficiencies (99.9 %) for different oil–water mixtures under gravity. Additionally, our membrane could also effectively separate immiscible oil mixtures according to the dipole–dipole interaction. Furthermore, firm chemical stability against dichloromethane, N, N-Dimethylformamide, 1 M NaOH, 1 M HCl, and 1 M NaCl has been achieved. Most importantly, our membrane displays durable evaporation efficiency (2.63 kg m-2h−1), high energy efficiency (85.9 %), and super salt tolerance under 1 sun irradiation, for solar-assisted seawater desalination.

The genomes of the aquarium sponges Tethya wilhelma and Tethya minuta (Porifera: Demospongiae).

Sponges (Phylum Porifera) are aquatic sessile metazoans found worldwide in marine and freshwater environments. They are significant in the animal tree of life as one of the earliest-branching metazoan lineages and as filter feeders play crucial ecological roles, particularly in coral reefs, but are susceptible to the effects of climate change. In the face of the current biodiversity crisis, genomic data is crucial for species conservation efforts and predicting their evolutionary potential in response to environmental changes. However, there is a limited availability of culturable sponge species with annotated high-quality genomes to further comprehensive insights into animal evolution, function, and their response to the ongoing global change. Despite the publication of a few high-quality annotated sponge genomes, there remains a gap in resources for culturable sponge species. To address this gap, we provide high quality draft genomes of the two congeneric aquarium species Tethya wilhelma and Tethya minuta, small ball-shaped demosponges that are easily maintained long-term in ex situ culture. As such, they offer promising opportunities as laboratory models to contribute to advancing our understanding of sponge biology and provide valuable resources for studying animal evolution, function, and responses to environmental challenges.

ANALISIS RETORIKA ARISTOTELES PADA KAJIAN ILMIAH MEDIA SOSIAL DALAM MEMPERSUASI PUBLIK

In order to build public awareness of the current crisis, many persuasive messages are disseminated through social media. Public communication is considered to be utilizing the power of YouTube as a popular social media platform in effectively communicating crisis through persuasive messages. In previous research the three aspects of ethos, pathos, and logos have been found as evidence of rhetoric in conveying persuasive messages made by YouTubers. The implications of study about rhetoric continue to develop today. This study aims to review other Aristotle’s rhetoric concepts that has not been analyzed in previous studies. The research used qualitative exploratory methods including in-depth interviews and observations. The sample size of participants in this study follows the concept of saturation. The study uncovered that there are two other concepts regarding rhetorical theory by Aristotle in this study — the type of rhetoric used and the five rhetorical canons when the speaker conveys a message. The researcher suggests further research to explore the concept of rhetorical inartistic evidence that is outside the rhetoric element brought by the speaker, so that the study can be discussed more comprehensively.

Incorporating a One Health Approach Into the Study of Environmental Crimes and Harms: Towards a ‘One Health Green Criminology’

Abstract Amid increasingly intense and frequent Emerging Infectious Disease events, such as COVID-19, it is evident that the current global ecological crisis poses a threat to the health and well-being of humans, non-human animals and ecosystems. This paper aims to expand existing green criminological scholarship by arguing for the incorporation of a ‘One Health’ perspective. This would (1) enable the integration of scientific knowledge to better address threats, harms and crimes to health and well-being; and (2) contribute to the advance of Eco-justice. The study identifies four areas where a One Health perspective within green criminology may reveal overlooked harms and threats to health and well-being. Conversely, integrating green criminology would benefit the One Health scientific community and specific programs.

The Crisis of Macrolide Resistance in Pneumococci in Latin America.

Macrolide antibiotics are recommended for the treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Prior to 2000, ∼10% of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from IPD cases in Latin American countries were resistant to macrolides. The mechanism of resistance to macrolides was associated mainly with the efflux pump known as the macrolide efflux genetic assembly, since most pneumococcal strains carried the mef(A/E) gene, whereas <6% strains carried both the methylase gene ermB and mef(A/E). In the first decade of this century, a significant increase in the prevalence of macrolide resistance was observed in pneumococcal strains in both Mexico and Peru. Approximately 30% of S. pneumoniae strains in these countries were already resistant to erythromycin, while the prevalence in Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil remained below 10%. During the last decade, we have been experiencing a worrisome increase in pneumococcal strains carrying resistance to macrolides, with a prevalence of up to 80% for resistance to erythromycin. The mechanism for disseminating macrolide resistance has evolved. Currently, more than 55% of invasive S. pneumoniae macrolide-resistant strains carry both the ermB and the mef(A/E)/mel genes. Lessons learned from the current macrolide resistance crisis in Latin America can inform interventions in other regions.

Development of Energy Poverty and Its Solutions through the Use of Renewables: The EU Case with a Focus on Slovakia

The problem of energy poverty (EP), when energy becomes unaffordable for some population groups, is not only a problem for developing countries, but this phenomenon is appearing more and more often in European countries. In Europe, it is estimated that 50 to 125 million people are living in energy poverty. We hear more and more about energy poverty in connection with the current energy crisis and rising energy prices, but also because of insufficient renewable use. Due to increasing energy prices, we are increasingly hearing about the deepening energy poverty in Slovakia. This study aims to evaluate the development of energy poverty in Slovakia compared to other EU countries. The situation is studied from the view of the number of heating and cooling days, the percentage of the population that cannot maintain adequate heat at home, the percentage of the population that lacks heat, and the percentage of residents without enough heat. During the research, we used distribution analysis, trend analysis, analysis of variance, and one-way analysis. The main results show that the heating degree days (HDD) index recorded a decrease, the cooling degree days (CDD) index recorded an increase, and energy poverty is most obvious in a low-income group of inhabitants, having shortage of heat, when renewable energy sources (RES) use contributes to the mitigation of energy poverty. Solving the unfavorable situation of energy poverty is possible by increasing the share of renewables used in the gross final energy consumption for heating and cooling, primarily in residential buildings. The results provide information for policymakers regarding the triple bottom line approach (people, planet, and profit).

Climate change and its impact on women's living

Climate change is one of the biggest global health threats to the world’s population. Global warming can occur largely due to increased levels of greenhouse gases caused by human activities and conditions such as the burning of fossil fuels (carbon dioxide), livestock (methane from manure), industrial emissions, vehicle/factory exhaust and chlorofluorocarbon aerosols that trap extra heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. The resulting extreme weather conditions lead to uncontrollable fires, air pollution, ecological changes and floods. The realization of ecological changes has major impacts on population displacement, family fragmentation, violence, water availability and quality, food security, public health and economic infrastructures. The consequences of ecological changes affect public safety and their ability to maintain health. Climate change also has direct impacts on human health and well-being. Particularly vulnerable populations are affected, including women, pregnant women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly, who make up the majority of disadvantaged populations globally. In addition, when disasters occur, communities of different ethnic groups, low-income and disadvantaged individuals are more affected by climate change challenges. The climate crisis negatively alters the balance of risk for women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as for newborn and child health. Obstetric nurses and midwives have a unique opportunity to raise awareness, educate and advocate for mitigation strategies to reverse climate change affecting patients and their families. The objective of this review is to examine the circumstances under which climate change may emerge as a significant public health, social justice, human rights, economic, and women’s health challenge. The FIGO reports that the current climate crisis poses an imminent health risk to pregnant women, developing fetuses, and reproductive health, and calls for community-wide solutions, government policies, and global action.

It’s getting personal: exploring our inner world in the regenerative paradigm shift

Regenerative tourism argues that addressing the current ecological crisis requires inner transformation, referring to changes in people’s mindsets, values, beliefs, and worldviews. Combined, they influence the systems we create and, as such, represent deep levers for systems change. Yet, an in-depth analysis of the inner dimension in the context of regeneration is missing. It is unclear which qualities foster inner development towards regenerative change. Using the concept of leverage points and through a scoping review and thematic analysis of 309 articles on regenerative approaches, regenerative tourism, and the inner dimension of sustainability, this study proposes the Inner Regenerative Development Framework, a whole-person approach constituting aspects of our inner world that enhance our ability to work regeneratively; conceptualised here as Inner Regenerative Development. The framework brings together cognitive, affective, grounded, and holistic aspects of ourselves, encompassing 12 inner leverage points and 85 inner qualities serving as the basis for interventions, a few of which are proposed as starting points for inner-outer transformation. Collectively, these elements highlight the inner domains, capacities, and practices that can be cultivated to support regenerative tourism from the inside out.

Blinded like a state: Water scarcity and the quantification dilemma in Morocco

Over the last two decades, the Moroccan state has had to deal with some deeply uncomfortable knowledge regarding mounting water scarcity. This presents governing actors with a difficult dilemma. On the one hand, this knowledge is politically disturbing as it could undermine prevailing hydro-agricultural policies, which are based on the promise of unlimited irrigation expansion. It could also corrode the dominant social alliance built around these policies. On the other hand, accurately quantifying water resources has long been essential for establishing the technocratic legitimacy of the state.This paper investigates how the state manages uncomfortable numbers that it has either produced or endorsed: an issue rarely addressed by social studies of quantification, but increasingly consequential in the current ecological crisis. Drawing from a literature on the production of ignorance, we highlight contradictory processes of knowledge production and ignorance. We show that Moroccan state hydrologists have dealt with uncomfortable figures by keeping them fragmented in space and time. They have continued to produce innumerable measurements of water scarcity. However, they have done so in an increasingly scattered manner, both spatially and temporally, while studiously avoiding integrating these fragments into updated national estimates.This uneasy compromise between “seeing” and “not seeing” like a State has so far helped reproduce the “modernizing” social alliance forged around large hydraulic projects. However, its durability is doubtful. Our case study thus raises a number of hypotheses about what the ecological crisis could do to state quantification in many places and in the near future.

Biston betularia carbonaria Repopulating Maps with Climate Monsters

The monster appears in geographical texts throughout the ages as a ‘guardian of the border’ that defines the limits of the possible, inducing action or averting behavior and restricting movement for political or economic purposes. Through a philosophy that uses unorthodox means, I intend to present a climate monster by which, based on a possible imagery about the current climate crisis, an invitation for a change in our habits is produced. I propose that repopulating maps with situated imaginary monsters can deploy specific education of attention that invites focusing on concrete aspects of our surroundings. To do this I will present the mixed media art project Biston betularia carbonaria, an eco-distopia created in collaboration with the photographer Valeria Scrilatti.

NGOization and Politicization of Aid

Abstract This paper focuses on the political economy of aid to determine its impact on Lebanon’s politics of sectarianism. I approach NGOization as a political process that normalizes a situation where citizens are accustomed to functioning without the state, and as an economic process creating a parallel economy. Both trends have expanded with the current crisis. I posit that politics of sectarianism feeds on NGOization: they allow sectarian elites to outsource aid, manage discontent and depoliticize ngo s and cso s, while silencing potential challenges to their order. Thus, organizations aiming to transform the political system lack visibility and leverage, while their space of operation has been shrinking. I also explore the role of international aid on the continuity and durability of the Lebanese state and its neo-patrimonial and clientelist governance mode. NGOization is further reinforced by the fact that national ngo s have been co-opted by foreign donors, which has the effect of depoliticizing their discourse and action.

The Impact of the Current Political Crisis on Public Life in Pakistan: An Economic Case Study of Recent Events

From the day first 14 Aug 1947 to now Pakistan passed tough time throughout history, Lack of Economic resources and financial instability political turmoil leadership crisis bad governance and many other factors. All these elements put Pakistan on the brink of destruction. According to a cautious survey in 1987 normal people were earning $5.50 per day. The overall percentage was $0.20% earning. The economic progress of the country was $96.80%. This percentage fluctuates over time according to the economic and political conditions of Pakistan. In 2018 it changed to $77.60% and overall entire population earned $1.20%. However on the flip-side population according to the 2000 Census, Pakistan’s population was 160 Million. In 2017 it increased the figure to 220 Million. Thus, overall it can be analyzed economic sources were not enough to meet the country’s requirements. Since April 2022 until now Pakistan’s economic situation are going lower and declining day by day due to political instability, poor governance, sick administration and financial crisis.

Initial Findings of a Mixed-Methods Study to Reduce Nursing Documentation-Related Burden.

Amidst the current healthcare workforce crisis, nurses continue to experience burnout, with one contributor being the growing amount of required documentation and other electronic health record (EHR) tasks that must be completed. This study aims to identify ways in which nurses can be better supported through consideration for the burden that EHR systems may present due to increasing documentation requirements and areas of inefficient use. This study leverages nursing engagement to ensure the needs of nurses are identified and EHR efficiency is improved. Practical strategies and EHR system improvements will be proposed based on the recommendations and guidance of nursing staff.

Reconsidering the usefulness of long-term high-dose buprenorphine.

Buprenorphine has been successfully used for decades in the treatment of opioid use disorder, yet there are complexities to its use that warrant attention to maximize its utility. While the package insert of the combination product buprenorphine\naloxone continues to recommend a maximum dose of 16 mg daily for maintenance, the emergence of fentanyl and synthetic analogs in the current drug supply may be limiting the effectiveness of this standard dose. Many practitioners have embraced and appropriately implemented novel practices to mitigate the sequelae of our current crisis. It has become common clinical practice to stabilize patients with 24 - 32 mg of buprenorphine daily at treatment initiation. Many of these patients, however, are maintained on these high doses (>16 mg/d) indefinitely, even after prolonged stability. Although this may be a necessary strategy in the short term, there is little evidence to support its safety and efficacy, and these high doses may be exposing patients to more complications and side effects than standard doses. Commonly known side effects of buprenorphine that are likely dose-related include hyperhidrosis, sedation, decreased libido, constipation, and hypogonadism. There are also complications related to the active metabolite of buprenorphine (norbuprenorphine) which is a full agonist at the mu opioid receptor and does not have a ceiling on respiratory suppression. Such side effects can lead to medical morbidity as well as decreased medication adherence, and we, therefore, recommend that after a period of stabilization, practitioners consider a trial of decreasing the dose of buprenorphine toward standard dose recommendations. Some patients' path of recovery may never reach this stabilization phase (i.e., several months of adherence to medications, opioid abstinence, and other clinical indicators of stability). Side effects of buprenorphine may not have much salience when patients are struggling for survival and safety, but for those who are fortunate enough to advance in their recovery, the side effects become more problematic and can limit quality of life and adherence.

Post-Truth American Politics: False Stories and Current Crises by David Ricci

Post-Truth American Politics: False Stories and Current Crises by <i>David Ricci</i>

Towards an eco-practical theology: An eschatological horizon of true hope

The ecological crisis in the world necessitates the reconfiguration of the hegemony of modern science, theology, politics, economics and technology – the root cause of a pending ecological catastrophe. The aim is to redress a growing culture of apathy in the context of devastating weather conditions, social and political discord, and unrelenting violent wars. Public theology serves as a conceptual framework with transversal rationality as an interlocutor between the different theological (systematic, ethics, pastoral care and eco-theology), religious and philosophical perspectives. The theological ontology of care is presented followed by the role of communities of critical prophetic discourse. The notion of earth as a community leads to the prospect of a new eco-theology. Finally, the pending ecological catastrophe is reconceptualised in and through Christian eschatology. This is an inter- and intra-disciplinary discussion on the disastrous consequences of modernity and anthropocentric behaviour in terms of the current environmental crisis. Various scholars offer valuable insights into what the problem is, who responsible is for the environmental crisis, and how Christian communities should forge an accountability of care for the earth and vulnerable human beings. The eschatological reality of God’s preferred future remains a constant of hopeful and sustainable life in the Anthropocene age. It is recommended that we change the way we exist by transforming modernity as developed and sustained through theology, socio-political, economic and technological ‘advances’.Contribution: This article focussed on the ecological crisis because of anthropocentrism and distorted theological, political and socio-economic paradigms to serve human interests despite the consequences for the earth. We need to reconfigure interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary scientific approaches to embrace earth as a key scientific interlocutor. The ecological crisis should be conceptualised within the reality of Christian eschatology – Jesus Christ is ultimately, the eschaton.

MacLeish/Oppenheimer, Trump, and the Conquest of America

Archibald MacLeish (Pulitzer prize-winning poet/playwright) published his highly acclaimed essay “The Conquest of America” in the August 1949 Atlantic Monthly. His essay focused on an American crisis of national purpose, and central to his account is the importance of a national image for America. In particular, he called for a redeclaration of American purpose by appealing to a Jeffersonian “Revolution of the Individual.” MacLeish’s friend Robert Oppenheimer responded to his essay with high praise but also criticism. In this article, we use the MacLeish/ Oppenheimer exchange as a springboard for a discussion of the crisis of American democracy today exemplified by the election of Donald Trump. We take a synthetic approach, relying not simply on MacLeish/Oppenheimer but more importantly on contemporary scholars. We attempt to construct an American image with a realistic meaning for today. The image includes three interweaving political components—Liberal Democracy, Liberal Nationalism, Liberal Internationalism—complemented by America’s historical role as Democracy’s Vital Center. After sketching this national image, we discuss each component, touching on several contemporary issues as well as the general nature of the image in light of Trump and the current crisis of American democracy.

Essential Factors on Effective Response at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic; Comment on "Experiences and Implications of the First Wave of the COVID-19 Emergency in Italy: A Social Science Perspective"

The COVID-19 pandemic in Italy is a stark reminder of the necessity of incorporating the social, economic, and political context in planning responses to public health emergencies. During the ongoing global COVID-19 crisis, it's not just crucial but a shared responsibility to supplement epidemiological approaches with insights from the social sciences. This ensures effective and equitable policies, and it's a responsibility that each of us in the field shares. This discussion is relevant and timely, relating directly to the current global crisis and its potential implications for future public health strategies. This comment underscores the key points of Masino and Enria's paper (2023), illuminating the importance of integrating social sciences into public health strategies, the pivotal role of inequalities in shaping pandemic experiences, and, most importantly, the profound and urgent implications for future epidemic preparedness and response. The urgency of these implications cannot be overstated, and we must act on them swiftly and decisively.

Cost-benefit analysis of a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion and support intervention in a developing country.

Studies on breastfeeding promotion and support interventions suggest some economic benefits. This study assessed the direct and indirect costs of a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion and support intervention during the first two years of the infant's life. This is a cost-benefit analysis of data generated from a randomized controlled trial that investigated whether provision of a multicomponent breastfeeding promotion and support intervention to Lebanese mothers in the first six months postpartum would improve breastfeeding rates compared to standard obstetric and pediatric care. Data of 339 participants on sociodemographics, mother and infant health, infant nutrition, direct and indirect costs of the intervention were used to assess the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of the intervention at one, six, 12, and 24 months as primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included overall costs of infant nutrition and infant-mother dyad health costs during the first two years. Multiple linear regression models explored the effect of the intervention on the overall infant nutrition cost and mother-infant health costs. Similar regression models investigated the association between cost variables and infant nutrition types (exclusive breastfeeding, mixed feeding, artificial milk). Intention to treat analyses were conducted using SPSS (version 24). Statistical significance was set at a p-value below 0.05. The prevalence of Exclusive/Predominant breastfeeding among participants declined from 51.6% in the first month to 6.6% at the end of second year. The multicomponent breastfeeding intervention incurred 485 USD more in costs than the control group during the first six months but was cost-efficient at one year (incremental net benefits of 374 USD; BCR = 2.44), and two years (incremental net benefits of 472 USD; BCR = 2.82). In adjusted analyses, the intervention was significantly associated with fewer infant illness visits in the first year (p = 0.045). Stratified analyses by the infant nutrition type revealed that infants who were on Exclusive/Predominant, or Any Breastfeeding had significantly more favorable health outcomes at different time points during the first two years (p<0.05) compared to infants receiving Artificial Milk only, with health benefits being highest in the Exclusive/Predominant breastfeeding group. Moreover, Exclusive/Predominant and Any Breastfeeding had significantly lower costs of infant illness visits, hospitalizations, and infant medications during the two years (p<0.05) but had additional cost for maternal non-routine doctor visits due to breastfeeding (all p values <0.05). Whereas the overall cost (direct and indirect) during the first six months was significantly lower for the Exclusive/Predominant breastfeeding infants (p = 0.001), they were similar in infants on Mixed Feeding or Artificial Milk. Breastfeeding is associated with significant economic and infant health benefits in the first two years. In the context of the current economic crisis in Lebanon, this study provides further evidence to policymakers on the need to invest in national breastfeeding promotion and support interventions.