Historical Events Research Articles

Sudden cardiac death after early-onset myocardial infarction. A multicentre longitudinal cohort study with 20 years' follow-up.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a serious consequence of a myocardial infarction (MI), but identifying patients at risk of developing SCD remains a major clinical challenge especially in the case of juvenile MI. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of SCD after early-onset MI using long-term follow-up data relating to a large nationwide patient cohort. The Italian Genetic Study on Early-onset MI enrolled 2,000 patients experiencing a first MI before the age of 45 years, who were followed up for a median of 19.9 years. Fine-Gray proportional hazard models were used to assess the associations between their clinical, demographic and index event data and the occurrence of SCD. SCD occurred in 195 patients, who were more frequently males, hypertensive and/or diabetic; had a history of previous thromboembolic events with a greater atherosclerotic burden; and had a lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after the index event. Multivariable analysis showed that the independent predictors of SCD were diabetes, hypertension, previous thromboembolic events, higher Syntax score, and a lower LVEF. There was no clear evidence of the clustering of SCD events during follow-up. SCD was the first post-MI clinical event in 101 patients; the remaining 94 experienced SCD after a non-fatal MI or hospitalisation for coronary revascularisation. SCD frequently occurs during the 20 years after early-onset MI. The nature of the identified predictors and the absence of clustering suggests that the pathophysiological basis of SCD may be related to progressive coronary atherosclerosis.

Homogeneous earthworm communities in Southern Ontario

Earthworms are key organisms of soil ecosystems, however, the determinants of the structure and distribution of earthworm communities and their relationships with agricultural practices are not well-studied in Canada. We sampled earthworm communities from four different habitat types along a disturbance gradient: agricultural crop land, forest around crop fields (buffers), recently restored natural grassland, and forests from conservation areas. As most species living in Canada are considered exotic and because of the recent colonization of Canadian soils by mostly European species after the extinction of the native species due to the glaciation of North America during the Pleistocene, we hypothesized that the impact of agricultural practices will be similar to what is observed in Europe: for example, crop habitat showing lowest abundance, richness, and proportion of epigeic and anecic species, due to lesser soil organic matter content and higher soil disturbance. We also hypothesized that important soil variables would be associated with these habitat differences. For each habitat we sampled earthworms using a combination of two methods (quantitative + qualitative) at three replicate sites, for two years between May and July together with important environmental variables. We found lower density and diversity of earthworms in crop habitat and proportionally more epigeic species than expected. Contrary to our predictions, forest-buffer earthworm communities were more similar to crop than to forest habitats, and soil environmental variables could not explain the variations in the spatial distribution of earthworm communities. In fact, our results revealed a more homogeneous distribution of the species diversity across the habitat gradient at local scales in Southern Ontario. This was mainly associated with spatial factors, probably due to historical extinction-colonization events of earthworms in Canada and the high invasive potential of the species currently present.

The year of jubilees

The years 2023–2024 bring up some significant anniversaries for a range of historical events in the development of modern intellectual property law. Many of them have implications for how patents are obtained and recorded in the public domain. The original documents are cited for further reading.

Hospital-based skilled nursing facility survival: Organizational and market-level predictors.

Rising health care costs and consequent increases in Medicare reimbursements have led to many payment reforms over the years. Implementation of the prospective payment system (PPS) for hospitals in 1983 incentivized hospitals to either purchase skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) or utilize their excess capacity to establish one within the hospital. With PPS reimbursement being applied to SNFs in 1998, prior monetary incentives for hospitals to own an SNF disappeared. However, despite the reduction in numbers, many hospitals continued to operate their hospital-based skilled nursing facilities (HBSNFs). This study examines the organizational and market-level factors associated with the survival of HBSNFs using the population ecology of organizations framework. Using American Hospital Association survey data, event histories of all U.S. acute care hospitals with an open HBSNF in 1998 were plotted to examine if a hospital closed its HBSNF during a 22-year period (1998-2020). The primary independent variables included hospital size, ownership, total margin, market competition, and Medicare Advantage penetration. The independent and control variables were lagged by 1 year. Cox regressions were conducted to estimate the hazard ratios capturing the risk of HBSNF closure. The results showed that HBSNFs located in large, not-for-profit hospitals and those operating in less competitive markets had greater odds of surviving. The HBSNF administrators of small, for-profit hospitals and those operating in highly competitive markets could utilize the findings of this study to judiciously allocate slack resources to their HBSNFs to keep those open given the current emphasis on continuity of care by regulatory bodies.

Artificial intelligence in healthcare and medicine: the history of key events, its significance for doctors, the level of development in different countries

The article is devoted to analysis of the stages of development and current directions of research and practical application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of healthcare and medicine based on scientific publications in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, eLibrary and CyberLeninka. The dynamics of scientific publications on AI in healthcare and medicine is shown, and an analysis of the growth of investments in software development based on AI in recent years is provided. AI can achieve comparable accuracy in the diagnosis of diseases in comparison with human decisions. However, future research should focus on comparing the clinical results of diagnosis and treatment performed by doctors who make decisions based on AI with the results of clinical work by doctors who do not use AI. The importance of training specialists able to combine knowledge in the field of medicine with the skills of using AI is emphasized.

Statewide Community College Promise Programs: An Event History Analysis

ABSTRACT Between the 2014 adoption of the Tennessee Promise Act and 2019, 16 states enacted their own statewide promise program policies making community college tuition free for numerous students. In this study, we sought to determine which state-level factors predicted the adoption of a statewide promise program policy. Using data from 2013 to 2019, we conducted an event history analysis to identify state-level political, economic, social, and higher education system conditions that predicted promise program policy adoption. Partisan control of state government, total state population, percentage of state population identified as white, and percentage of state appropriations allocated to community colleges were associated with statewide promise program policy adoption. Our findings suggest that there is no single factor or grand narrative that results in promise program policy adoption. Instead, the results highlight the complexities within the policymaking process.

Addressing neurosurgical challenges in war conflict countries.

The Russo-Ukrainian war caused significant humanitarian and healthcare issues in the Russo-Ukrainian region, which were further aggravated by the escalation of the conflict on February 2022. Because of this ongoing confrontation between the two nations, which has its roots in geopolitical conflicts and historical events, there have been nearly 4million refugees in only the first month, and 906 healthcare institutions have sustained significant damage. Consequently, the demand for medical services has increased, adding onto the burden of the pre-existing problems within the region's healthcare system, such as inequities, budget shortages, and corruption. With nearly 500,000 military deaths and an estimated 27,1499 civilian casualties, the war's immediate health effects are devastating. Due to inadequate disease surveillance and difficulties with immunization, the risk of infectious illnesses, particularly HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, increased. Although there were originally few mental health problems, the long-term effects are yet unknown. Some of the indirect effects are the severe refugee situation, the burden on public infrastructure, and problems with the security of food and water. Unprecedented obstacles confronted neurosurgery in the Russo-Ukrainian region, including increased patient loads from war-related cases, resource limitations, and facility devastation. Many countries stepped up to aid in managing neurosurgeries however, the some of the problems still persisted, such as insufficient sterility and power outages. Strengthened security standards, financial incentives, telemedicine services, and cooperation with international medical organizations are the main points of recovery recommendations. Rebuilding the region's healthcare system and guaranteeing ongoing foreign support after the conflict require a comprehensive strategy that addresses both short- and long-term issues.

Characteristics of T cell premature senescence in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Uremia-associated immunodeficiency, mainly characterized by T cell dysfunction, exists in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) and promotes systemic inflammation. However, T cell senescence, one of the causes of T cell dysfunction, has not been clearly revealed yet. In this cross-sectional research, we aimed to study the manifestation of T cell premature senescence in MHD patients and further investigate the associated clinical factors. 76 MHD patients including 33 patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and 28 patients with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) event history were enrolled in this study. Complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) of T cell receptor (TCR) was analyzed by immune repertoire sequencing (IR-Seq). CD28- T cell subsets and expression of senescence marker p16 and p21 genes were detected by multicolor flow cytometry and RT-qPCR, respectively. MHD patients had significantly decreased TCR diversity (P < 0.001), increased CDR3 clone proliferation (P = 0.001) and a left-skewed CDR3 length distribution. The proportion of CD4 + CD28- T cells increased in MHD patients (P = 0.014) and showed a negative correlation with TCR diversity (P = 0.001). p16 but not p21 expression in T cells was up-regulated in MHD patients (P = 0.039). Patients with CVD exhibited increased expression of p16 and p21 genes (P = 0.010 and 0.004, respectively), and patients with AVF events showed further TCR diversity and evenness reduction (P = 0.002 and 0.017, respectively) compared to patients without the comorbidities. Moreover, age, average convection volume, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and transferrin saturation were associated with TCR diversity or CD4 + CD28- T cell proportion (P < 0.05). MHD patients undergo T cell premature senescence characterized by significant TCR diversity reduction and repertoire skew, as well as accumulation of the CD4 + CD28- subset and up-regulation of p16 gene. Patients with CVD or AVF events show higher level of immunosenescence. Furthermore, T cell senescence in MHD patients is associated with blood cholesterol and uremic toxin retention, suggesting potential intervention strategies in the future.

Cardiac stasis imaging, stroke, and silent brain infarcts in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Cardioembolic stroke is one of the most devastating complications of nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM). However, in clinical trials of primary prevention, the benefits of anticoagulation are hampered by the risk of bleeding. Indices of cardiac blood stasis may account for the risk of stroke and be useful to individualize primary prevention treatments. We performed a cross-sectional study in patients with NIDCM and no history of atrial fibrillation (AF) from two sources: 1) a prospective enrollment of unselected patients with left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction <45% and 2) a retrospective identification of patients with a history of previous cardioembolic neurological event. The primary end point integrated a history of ischemic stroke or the presence intraventricular thrombus, or a silent brain infarction (SBI) by imaging. From echocardiography, we calculated blood flow inside the LV, its residence time (TR) maps, and its derived stasis indices. Of the 89 recruited patients, 18 showed a positive end point, 9 had a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and 9 were diagnosed with SBIs in the brain imaging. Averaged TR, [Formula: see text] performed well to identify the primary end point [AUC (95% CI) = 0.75 (0.61-0.89), P = 0.001]. When accounting only for identifying a history of stroke or TIA, AUC for [Formula: see text] was 0.92 (0.85-1.00) with odds ratio = 7.2 (2.3-22.3) per cycle, P < 0.001. These results suggest that in patients with NIDCM in sinus rhythm, stasis imaging derived from echocardiography may account for the burden of stroke.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) are at higher risk of stroke than their age-matched population. However, the risk of bleeding neutralizes the benefit of preventive oral anticoagulation. In this work, we show that in patients in sinus rhythm, the burden of stroke is related to intraventricular stasis metrics derived from echocardiography. Therefore, stasis metrics may be useful to personalize primary prevention anticoagulation in these patients.

Frequency of clinico-hematological features and JAK 2 status of young adults presenting with polycythemia in RMI hospital, Peshawar.

Objective: To determine the frequency of clinico-hematological features and JAK 2 status of young adults presenting with Polycythemia Vera at the department of hematology. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Hematology, RMI Hospital, Peshawar. Period: 25th November 2023 to 25th May 2024. Methods: A total of 190 patients aging between 18-45 years and presented as suffering from Polycythemia Vera as per diagnosis of consultant hematopathologists, were included in this study. Samples with clear evidence of hemolysis, coagulation, or clots were excluded. Patient’s demographics, details of physical appearance, clinical findings and history of adverse events were recorded. Hematological and pathological investigations were done and analysis of JAK2 V617F mutation was conducted using polymerase chain reaction from the diagnostic lab of the institute. The primary outcome of the study was to determine the frequency of clinico-hematological features and JAK 2 status. Results: The Mean±SD of age in our study was 36.81±6.11 years with an age range of 21-45 years. Out of total patients, 49 (25.79%) patients were asymptomatic. The major symptoms affecting the daily life activities were headache 65 (34.21), abdominal discomfort 41 (21.58%), blurred vision 27 (14.21%) and fatigue 27 (14.21%). These patients had plethoric face 61 (32.11%), splenomegaly 64 (33.68%) and budd-chiari syndrome 8 (4.21%). The results of hematopathological findings showed abnormal hemoglobin (17±3.92 gm/dL), hematocrit (52.94±4.8 g %), platelet (579.63±227.68 103/μL) and leukocyte (10.32±2.6, 103/μL) levels while 177 (93.16 %) patients had mutated JAK2 levels. Conclusion: Plethoric face and splenomegaly are the commonly found clinical findings in patients with Polycythemia Vera while these patients also have abnormal levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet and leukocyte. JAK 2 status serves conclusive role in the diagnosis of Polycythemia Vera.

Historic Flood Events and Current Flood Hazard in Ulaanbaatar City, Central Mongolia

Climate change will increase the frequency of extreme weather events, alter rainfall patterns, and exacerbate flood disasters in Ulaanbaatar City. Here we combine aerial and satellite imagery with cadastral data, to scrutinize the historical trajectory of rainfall patterns and flood disasters in Ulaanbaatar over the past six decades. The study focusses on the causative factors behind historical floods, current flood conditions, the geographical distribution of floods, land ownership in floodprone areas, and the spatial allocation of fences and buildings based on social conditions. Over the last 60 years, Ulaanbaatar received a total of 16,780 mm of precipitation, with a staggering 80.5% of this total occurring during the summer season. Over this period, the city has endured about ten significant flood disasters. The most severe and destructive events occurred in 1966, 1982, 1994, 2003, 2009, and 2023 as river basins and mountain flash floods. These flood events claimed at least 220 lives, affected around 46,000 households, and caused economic losses of ca. 3.3 million U.S. dollars. Our study identifies several flood hazard areas along the Tolgoit, Selbe, Uliastai, and Tuul River valleys, which define a flood buffer zone extending 200 m from their banks, encompassing 59 khoroos of 7 districts in Ulaanbaatar. There are 27,970 fences and 12,887 buildings in the 200 m buffer zone, which is 66.5% of all fence unit area, and 46.3% of the total building, situated within the identified flood risk areas. In response to these findings, we emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive long-term strategy for sustainable flood management based on disaster resilence.

Parsimonious streamflow forecasting system based on a dynamical systems approach

Operational hydrologic forecasting often relies on the use of physically-based computer models at the catchment scale. However, our understanding of streamflow generation is still evolving and incomplete, and oftentimes linearization assumptions must be made to make physically-based hydrologic and hydraulic models tractable. In addition to uncertainty in the physical runoff-generation mechanisms, many physically-based approaches do not formally assimilate observed streamflow data. Streamflow is their output, deterministically simulated from observed inputs (such as precipitation, temperature, etc.). Divergences between observed and simulated streamflow may be due to input uncertainty, calibration issues, or problems with the inherent physical process representation. Thus, data-driven approaches that are responsive to observed streamflow by including assimilation as an essential feature are promising in operational hydrology. In this study, we use a novel forcings-weighted k-Nearest Neighbor (kNN) nonlinear timeseries forecasting method developed in the context of the modeling of nonlinear dynamical systems. The rainfall-runoff transform is assumed to be a low-dimensional system of (unknown) nonlinear differential equations; the deterministic state space is reconstructed based on the streamflow timeseries; and a forecast is generated based on how “similar” the current hydrograph is to historical events encoded within the reconstructed state space, weighted by the similarity of forcings. We tested the model in a long-term test period with no real data assimilation, and in forecast mode with daily data assimilation. When used for forecasting, we also illustrate two different uncertainty quantification approaches: forecast postprocessing and internal-to-the-model ensemble generation. The method is conceptually and computationally simple, but offers promising results. We tested the model in three different scenarios. First, investigating a long-term test period with no real data assimilation in a rainfall-dominated research catchment at the Coweeta Hydrologic Lab in North Carolina, USA. The simulation exhibited an NSE of 0.73. Next, we included a conceptual snowmelt model to drive the long term simulation and studied boreal-temperate transition zone catchments in northern Minnesota, USA. The study area included a small (<0.1 mi2) reference research catchment at the Marcell Experimental Forest, and a large river basin (>19 k mi2) with incomplete forcings information. The kNN method yielded NSEs from 0.28 to 0.50. And finally, we conducted a pseudo-operational forecasting test for a large river basin in northern Minnesota, USA with a focus on performance forecasting a flood-of-record on the Rainy River. The test involved reforecasting, data assimilation, and implementation of ensemble and postprocessing bias correction uncertainty-quantification schemes. The technique demonstrated good performance capturing a flood-of-record on a large catchment (−5.7 to −3.3 % crest error with 1-day of lead time). For the entire test period in forecast mode, the 1-day lead time NSE was 0.99, going down to 0.79 for the 7-day lead time, showing its general utility as an operational forecasting tool.

Levkoi, Waschnik, härra Krokus ja teised. Baltisaksa laste mängu- ja kasvamismaailmad

This article focuses on imaginative childhood games and fictional playmates in Baltic German children’s games, as seen in the context of, and in relation to, Baltic German domestic and educational culture. Through reminiscing about these games, a view of the Baltic German domestic environment in all its diversity is opened up. It gives an insight into the mental environment – relationships within the immediate and extended family and domestic circle (which also included servants) and the relationships and interactions beyond, but also shares information about the physical environment – the everyday culture and way of life. And in the midst of it all, of course, the narrators are looking back on their own formative experiences and years. The examples of more or less imaginative games are drawn from the memoirs of nine Baltic German authors, of which one text is available in Estonian translation, while the others are unknown to the Estonian reader as complete texts, and therefore perhaps all the more interesting. The authors have been selected from the corpus of Baltic German memoir texts collected from reading, based on the focus of this article, i.e., texts that also deal with the author’s childhood and where fictional playmates and worlds are also discussed. The selection is certainly not exhaustive, but it provides a preliminary insight into the subject. Baltic German memoir literature, especially concerning the generations whose childhoods passed during a period of stability and peace – whether at the end of the 19th century before Russification, or the pre-World War I era – often exhibits a particular contrast. Childhood and youth were left behind at a time when the world was still in order, when the life as it used to be had not collapsed. Later Baltic Germans very often wrote memoirs with their descendants in mind, in order to create a generational link, to introduce the lost world and way of life, but also to generalise the impact of historical events from the individual level to the national group as a whole. Post-World War II memory work directed at descendants became particularly significant, as everything had once again and irreversibly gone. The examples of imaginative childhood games and fictional playmates in the Baltic German memoirs discussed in this article carry a positive tone, occasionally accompanied by a light-hearted and wise reflection. Children were encouraged to engage in independent play, while not being neglected, especially the younger children, for whom the presence of an ‘interested adult’ in the background was noticeable. Storytelling and literature played a key role in the development of imagination and creativity. The plots of literary works were transferred to games and further developed, and dramatization techniques were employed using readily available resources. In addition to classical and romantic literature, the physical environment – buildings, interiors, the surrounding nature – also exerted important influence. Fictional companions existed both in the case of an only child and in the case of children growing up among siblings. In the latter case, there were often shared fantasy characters and worlds – whether they were just air or on paper. Adults also became part of the imaginary worlds and retained their role as interested observers – as long as the imaginary world did not overflow too much – leaving room for individual originality, which has been considered a distinctive feature of Baltic German society. The authors recall their childhood with fond memories, where home and family formed a stable, secure and vital growing environment, and the necessary resilience and resourcefulness for coping with life’s challenges. As such, these examples also fit into the framework of what Helene Hoerschelmann calls “old-school Baltic German upbringing”. Undoubtedly, the self-aware adaptability acquired during their childhood and youth served them well – the successive pivotal historical events, wars and revolutions became an inevitable part of their lives. Thus, a study of the history of the Baltic Germans’ childhood and upbringing could be of interest not only as part of an unknown or forgotten and lost world, but also as a multifaceted source of reflection and comparison, especially from today’s perspective.

A consequential one-night stand: Episodic historical hybridization leads to mitochondrial takeover in sympatric desert ant-eating spiders

Disentangling the genomic intricacies underlying speciation and the causes of discordance between sources of evidence can offer remarkable insights into evolutionary dynamics. The ant-eating spider Zodarion nitidum, found across the Middle East and Egypt, displays yellowish and blackish morphs that co-occur sympatrically. These morphs additionally differ in behavioral and physiological features and show complete pre-mating reproductive isolation. In contrast, they possess similar sexual features and lack distinct differences in their mitochondrial DNA. We analyzed both Z. nitidum morphs and outgroups using genome-wide and additional mitochondrial DNA data. The genomic evidence indicated that Yellow and Black are reciprocally independent lineages without signs of recent admixture. Interestingly, the sister group of Yellow is not Black but Z. luctuosum, a morphologically distinct species. Genomic gene flow analyses pinpointed an asymmetric nuclear introgression event, with Yellow contributing nearly 5 % of its genome to Black roughly 320,000 years ago, intriguingly aligning with the independently estimated origin of the mitochondrial DNA of Black. We conclude that the blackish and yellowish morphs of Z. nitidum are long-diverged distinct species, and that the ancient and modest genomic introgression event registered resulted in a complete mitochondrial takeover of Black by Yellow. This investigation underscores the profound long-term effects that even modest hybridization events can have on the genome of organisms. It also exemplifies the utility of phylogenetic networks for estimating historical events and how integrating independent lines of evidence can increase the reliability of such estimations.

Foreign Divestment in the Shadow of Political Regime Collision: An Event History Analysis

Foreign Divestment in the Shadow of Political Regime Collision: An Event History Analysis

TRILHANDO NOVOS CAMINHOS: PERSPECTIVAS INTERDISCIPLINARES NA HISTÓRIA GLOBAL

The study addresses the need for an interdisciplinary approach to a broader and deeper understanding of global history. Instead of restricting himself to a single discipline, such as history, anthropology or sociology, the author defends the integration of different areas of knowledge. This approach allows for a more comprehensive analysis of historical events, taking into account not only political and economic aspects, but also social, cultural and environmental aspects. By forging new interdisciplinary paths, researchers can explore complex connections and interactions between different cultures, societies and regions of the world. This includes the analysis of trade, migration, conflicts and cultural exchanges over time. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary perspective allows for a deeper understanding of people's individual and collective experiences throughout history. This includes the study of everyday practices, cultural identities, and symbolic representations that have shaped past and present societies. Through the integration of different disciplines, researchers can also address contemporary issues with a more informed understanding of the past. This includes analyzing pressing global problems such as climate change, social inequality and ethnic conflicts in light of lessons learned from history. In short, the adoption of interdisciplinary perspectives in global history is essential for a more complete and contextualized understanding of the world in which we live, allowing us to follow new paths of discovery and understanding.

EXPLORATORY STUDY ON THE USE OF STORY METHODS IN INCREASING STUDENT INVOLVEMENT IN HISTORY LEARNING AT SMAN 1 MEDAN

This research aims to investigate the use of the story method in increasing student involvement in history learning at SMA Negeri 1 Medan. The story method is an approach that utilizes narrative to bring historical content to students in an interesting and engaging way. This research uses a qualitative approach with an exploratory study design. Data was collected through classroom observations, interviews with history teachers, and questionnaires given to students. Data analysis was carried out using content analysis techniques. The research results show that using the story method can increase student involvement in history learning. Students responded positively to the use of narrative in understanding historical content and felt more involved and enthusiastic in the learning process. The implications of this research provide encouragement for history teachers to consider using the story method as an effective learning strategy for increasing student engagement in history lessons. The story method also encourages students to think critically and reflectively. They are invited to see multiple points of view and understand the complexity of historical events, which helps them develop analytical and critical skills. The use of stories creates a more inclusive and enjoyable classroom atmosphere. Students feel more involved and valued, which in turn increases their motivation to study history. However, this research also identified several challenges in implementing the story method, such as the need for additional time to design interesting and relevant story material as well as differences in student learning preferences. However, these challenges can be overcome through collaboration between teachers and support from the school. Overall, this research concludes that the story method is an effective and innovative learning strategy for increasing student involvement in history learning. The recommendation put forward is to continue developing and perfecting this method, as well as providing training and workshops for teachers so that they are more skilled in implementing the story method. In this way, it is hoped that history learning in high schools can become more interesting, interactive and meaningful for students and help them develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of history.

Educational Policy and Activities of East India Company (1600-1765)

Abstract: The 19th century witnessed a profound transformation in the political landscape of many regions, characterized by the rise of nationalism and the subsequent formation of nation-states. This research work delves into the historical context, key drivers, and consequences of this significant historical phenomenon. The research offers light on a crucial time in global history by investigating the causes of nationalism and its effects on the formation of nation-states. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, the research draws from historical, political, and sociocultural perspectives to analyze the rise of nationalism. It delves at how many peoples inside established empires and territories felt a feeling of commonality due to their shared cultural, linguistic, and historical identities. The work delves into the influence of Enlightenment ideas, Romanticism, and intellectual movements that fueled the concept of self-determination and the sovereignty of distinct nations. The study also scrutinizes the role of key historical events and figures that catalyzed the nationalist fervor. From the unification of Italy led by Giuseppe Garibaldi to the German unification orchestrated by Otto von Bismarck, the work examines the strategies employed to consolidate fragmented territories into cohesive nation-states. It also considers the implications of these transformations on regional stability, diplomacy, and balance of power. Furthermore, the research investigates the potential tensions arising from the juxtaposition of national identities and existing imperial structures. It delves into instances where nationalism clashed with multiethnic empires, often leading to complex negotiations of autonomy, self-governance, or secession.

Geotechnical Assessment of Seismic Vulnerability in the Built Environment of Fako Division, South West Region of Cameroon

Introduction: Volcanic earthquakes may trigger severe hazards with considerable impact on the natural and built environment and the surrounding population. Aim: Evaluate the geotechnical characteristics of soils in Fako division to estimate their seismic vulnerability and recommend suitable stabilization techniques to enhance the safety and resilience of built environments. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted over a period of 12 months beginning from June 2022 to May 2023. Methodology: It employed a multi-criteria geotechnical approach, involving soil sampling, laboratory analysis, and seismic risk analysis. Soil samples collected from various locations within the study area, were subjected to laboratory tests to determine their plasticity (Atterberg limits) and load-bearing capacity (California Bearing Ratio - CBR). Historical data analysis and seismic hazard mapping were used to assess seismic vulnerability which helped to identify highly susceptible and unstable areas that may require engineered interventions. Results: The findings revealed significant variations in soil plasticity and load-bearing capacity, correlating with observed settlement and instability issues in the region. Historical seismic events, highlighted significant structural damage in areas with high plasticity and low CBR values, underscoring the necessity for robust soil stabilization measures (geotechnical interventions) to mitigate seismic risks and enhance the resilience and safety of structures, reducing the risk of settlement and instability within the Mount Cameroon area, particularly Fako Division.

Self-Managed Abortion Attempts Before vs After Changes in Federal Abortion Protections in the US

With decreasing access to facility-based abortion in the US, an increase in self-managed abortion (SMA) using various methods is anticipated. To date, no studies have examined changes in SMA in the shifting policy landscape. To estimate changes in SMA prevalence among the general US population from before to after the Supreme Court's June 2022 decision overturning federal abortion protections. Serial cross-sectional surveys were administered throughout the US from December 10, 2021, to January 11, 2022, and June 14 to July 7, 2023. Participants included online panel members assigned female sex at birth, ages 18 to 49 years (or ages 15-17 years if a household member), who were English- or Spanish-speaking. Year of the survey (2021-2022 vs 2023). Participants were asked whether they had "ever taken or done something on their own, without medical assistance, to try to end a pregnancy" and, if so, details of their experience. Changes in the weighted SMA prevalence between survey years were examined, factors associated with SMA experience were identified, and projected lifetime SMA prevalence was calculated using discrete-time event history models, accounting for abortion underreporting. Median age of the participants was 32.5 (IQR, 25-41) years in 2021-2022 (n = 7016) and 32.0 (IQR, 24-40) in 2023 (n = 7148). Across both years, approximately 14% were non-Hispanic Black, 21% were Hispanic, and 54% were non-Hispanic White. The weighted adjusted proportion that ever attempted SMA was 2.4% (95% CI, 1.9%-3.0%) in 2021-2022 and 3.4% (95% CI, 2.8%-4.0%) in 2023-an increase of 1.0% (95% CI, 0.2%-1.7%; P = .03). Projected lifetime SMA prevalence accounting for abortion underreporting was 10.7% (95% CI, 8.6%-12.8%). In adjusted analyses, SMA experience was higher among non-Hispanic Black (4.3%; 95% CI, 2.8%-5.8%) vs other racial and ethnic (2.7%; 95% CI, 2.2%-3.1%) groups (P = .04) and sexual and gender minority (5.0%; 95% CI, 3.4%-6.6%) vs heterosexual or cisgender (2.5%; 95% CI, 2.0%-2.9%) participants (P < .001). Approximately 4 in 10 (45.3% in 2021 and 39.0% in 2023) SMA attempts occurred before age 20 years. The methods used included herbs (29.8% [2021-2022] vs 25.9% [2023]), physical methods (28.6% [2021-2022] vs 29.7% [2023]), or alcohol or other substances (17.9% [2021-2022] vs 18.6% [2023]). Few participants (7.1% [2021-2022] vs 4.7% [2023]) sought emergency care for a complication. In this serial nationally representative survey study, increased SMA was observed following the loss of federal abortion protections. The findings revealed increased SMA use among marginalized groups, most often with ineffective methods. These findings suggest the need to expand access to alternative models of safe and effective abortion care and ensure those seeking health care post-SMA do not face legal risks.