Case History Research Articles

The spectrum of infections identified in pregnant women with different types of fetal growth restriction

BACKGROUND: Bacterial, viral and protozoal infections can cause miscarriage, antenatal death, congenital organ abnormalities or other limited consequences depending on the pathogen. The role of infection processes identified during pregnancy on placental pathology and fetal growth restriction. AIM: The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of infections identified in pregnant women with different types of fetal growth restriction, as well as to assess a potential impact of identified infections on the outcomes of fetal growth restriction in newborns in the same groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of outcomes for 394 pregnant women with an established diagnosis of fetal growth restriction, who had given birth from 2018 to 2022 in the Perinatal Center of the Arkhangelsk Regional Clinical Hospital. Maternal and neonatal case histories were obtained using a continuous sampling method. Considering the transition to new criteria for establishing the diagnosis of fetal growth restriction in Russia, we formed four study groups, of which only 139 cases met the Delphi criteria of clinical guidelines by Russian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2021. In the selected groups, we analyzed the results of microscopic and microbiological tests of various localizations in mothers during antepartum examination, as well as postpartum examination of the placenta and culture tests in newborns in their relation to adverse outcomes. RESULTS: A high prevalence (25–70.4%) of positive bacteriological findings was revealed in all of the study groups. The frequency was highest in the group of pregnant women with fetal growth restriction before 32 weeks (90–92%). Combined infections (two or more localizations) were noted in 59.2% of pregnant women in groups with early fetal growth restriction compared to 23.3% in late fetal growth restriction groups. In all cases, we observed a direct relationship between the severity of fetal growth restriction and the prevalence of infections. The range of infections identified during routine examination of pregnant women is quite limited; Candida spp. (from 40.8% in the control group to 75% in the comparison group), Escherichia coli (from 22.9 to 33.3%, respectively), and Chlamydia trachomatis (from 4.5 to 23.5%, respectively) being identified most commonly. In a morphological study of the placenta, infectious and inflammatory lesions were the most significant and ranged from 100 to 81.4% of cases in groups with early and late fetal growth restriction, respectively, with signs of hematogenous transmission prevailed. When analyzing infectious lesions in fetuses, we have found the presence of three and more localizations of the infectious process in 90 to 45% of cases with a fatal outcome for early and late fetal growth restriction, respectively. In the control groups, similar rates were 40 and 15.8%. When assessing the distribution of various types of infectious process in newborns, Candida spp., Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis also took the lead in all cases. However, the percentage of the same etiology of maternal and neonatal infections turned out to be very low (from 0 to 31% for individual pathogens), which makes it difficult to apply preventive treatment during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Authors identified indirect but numerous signs of significant involvement of infectious processes in the development of fetal growth restriction, especially its early type, as well as the influence of infections on the outcomes for such newborns. In most cases, infectious processes during pregnancy are subclinical. Current screening of pregnant women is insufficient to identify high-risk groups. Examination of pregnant women for infections carried out by culture tests provide low-component and, most likely, incomplete information.

The underlying factors of occurrence of Mucormycosis in post-COVID-19 patients – A meta-analysis of case histories

Mucormycosis is a life-threatening fungal infection caused by fungi of the order Mucorales. It usually affects people with weakened immune systems, such as those with uncontrolled diabetes, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, iatrogenic immunosuppression, and hematological malignancies, as well as individuals who have had organ transplants. The type of mucormycosis a person suffers from is often determined by their underlying conditions. The most common types are rhino-cerebral mucormycosis, pulmonary mucormycosis, cutaneous mucormycosis, cerebral mucormycosis, gastrointestinal mucormycosis, and disseminated mucormycosis. The incidence of mucormycosis has been increasing over the years, with an overall mortality rate of 54%. Recent cases have shown a correlation between COVID-19 and mucormycosis. Using anti-inflammatory drugs to combat the cytokine storm associated with COVID-19 can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to opportunistic fungal infections like mucormycosis. Underlying health conditions further exacerbate the condition. This study reviewing 198 cases of mucormycosis and conducting a meta-analysis found that post-COVID-19 patients most commonly developed rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis, followed by pulmonary and gastrointestinal mucormycosis. The study also identified diabetes as the most common underlying factor contributing to the development of mucormycosis in post-COVID-19 patients, followed by hypertension and obesity. The study also examined the influence of age, affected organs, and the use of certain drugs on the development of mucormycosis. Age was found to be a significant factor in the infection. This meta-analysis is one of the first to compare post-COVID mucormycosis cases with those from the pre-COVID era. The hope is that this study and analysis will help identify the determinants of mucormycosis in post-COVID patients and aid the scientific community in finding a solution to this problem.

Discourse on Blasphemy In Ibn Abdulwahhāb's Kitabut-Tawhid, Vis-À-Vis Non-Muslims’ Attack on Islam In Yorubaland

Blasphemy has become a common practice among non-Muslims in Nigeria, most especially among the people in the northern part of the country. Muslims in the north are commonly reacting to this act. Their actions include the killing of the perpetrators. The thrust of this work is to discuss the relevance of the discourse on the blasphemy of Shaykh Muhammad Ibn AbdilWahhab in his book of Tawhīd. The methods employed are analytical and historical. The analytical method helped in analyzing the issue as rampant in the country, most especially in the north and how is tremendously uncommon in Yorubaland. The historical method also assisted in tracing the histories of blasphemous cases in Nigeria. The major findings in the work include the concept of blasphemy in Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Hinduism, among others. So also, the cases of blasphemy in Nigeria: Yorubaland in focus, however, includes the current issue i.e. the case of Abdul-Azeez Adegbola and TaloLohun (who is God). More so, the work encapsulates the punishment of blasphemy in Islam. However, the statements of scholars of Islam are mentioned. The work was concluded and certain recommendations were mentioned, to curb the menace of blasphemy in Nigeria and also a way of advising the Muslims in doing away with jungle justice but rather referring the cases to the appropriate authorities

Acute kidney injury of mild to moderate severity in patients with COVID-19

THE AIM: to study the incidence of mild to moderate acute kidney injury in patients with COVID-19.PATIENTS AND METHODS. The data of the case histories of 200 patients hospitalized in the infectious diseases department of the Naro-Fominsk Regional Hospital of the Moscow region for COVID-19 were analyzed, mainly with mild to moderate severity of lung damage according to computed tomography, which do not require respiratory support and renal replacement therapy.RESULTS. Despite the fact that the analyzed group of patients did not have the most severe course of COVID-19, the first stage of acute kidney injury was detected in 22.5% of patients, which was manifested by a temporary decrease in hourly diuresis, increased creatinine, urea, proteinuria and erythrocyturia.CONCLUSION. The development of acute kidney injury was most often associated with older age, coronary heart disease, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity.

Examining the experiences of vulnerably housed patients visiting Kingston, Ontario’s emergency departments: a qualitative analysis

IntroductionVulnerably housed individuals access emergency departments (EDs) more frequently than the general population. Despite Canada’s universal public health care system, vulnerably housed persons face structural barriers to care and experience discrimination from healthcare providers. This study examines how vulnerably housed persons perceive their experience of care in the ED and Urgent Care Center (UCC) in Kingston, Ontario and aims to develop strategies for improving care for this group.MethodsAs part of a larger mixed-methods study, narratives were collected from participants attending the ED/UCC as well as community-based partner organizations, asking them to describe an experience of a recent ED visit (< 24 months). Participants could identify as members of up to three equity-deserving groups (EDGs) (for example homeless, part of an ethnic minority, having a disability, experiencing mental health issues). Coding and thematic analysis were completed for the experiences of participants who identified as being vulnerably housed (n = 171). Results were presented back to individuals with lived experience and service providers working with clients with unstable housing.ResultsParticipants reported judgement related to a past or presumed history of mental health or substance use and based on physical appearance. They also often felt unheard and that they were treated as less than human by healthcare providers. Lack of effective communication about the ED process, wait times, diagnosis, and treatment led to negative care experiences. Participants reported positive experiences when their autonomy in care-decision making was respected. Furthermore, having a patient-centered approach to care and addressing specific patient needs, identities and priorities led to positive care experiences.ConclusionsThe ED care experiences of vulnerably housed persons may be improved through healthcare provider training related to trauma-informed and patient-centered care and communication strategies in the ED. Another potential strategy to improve care is to have advocates accompany vulnerably housed persons to the ED. Finally, improving access to primary care may lead to reduced ED visits and better longitudinal care for vulnerably housed persons.

Predicting the course of uveitis against the background of juvenile idiophatic arthritis when using topical therapy regimens. The results of mathematical modeling

BACKGROUND: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common rheumatic disease in children, and uveitis is its most destructive extra-articular manifestation. Despite the existence of Federal clinical guidelines for the management of these patients, their treatment is largely based on the experience of doctors and varies greatly even within the same country. AIM: The aim of the study is to find factors for predicting the course of uveitis and optimizing therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The case histories of 150 children aged 1.5 to 17 years with active uveitis in the structure of juvenile arthritis were analyzed using multifactorial modeling (construction of classification trees). RESULTS: The fact of a significant influence of the time elapsed from the onset of rheumatic disease and uveitis until the start of therapy by genetically engineered medications (tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors) in treatment programs has been established. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the inclusion of this factor into the group of controlling ones makes it possible to achieve inactive uveitis status after 1, 3, and 6 months in a higher percentage of cases. However, the obtained data still require additional clinical confirmation.

Factors affecting the course and prognosis of implant-associated infection caused by &lt;i&gt;Klebsiella&lt;/i&gt; spp.

Background. The outcome of complex treatment of implant-associated infection (IAI) depends on various factors, but one of the most important is the etiology of the inflammatory process. Treatment of orthopedic infection caused by Gram-negative microorganisms in general and representatives of the family Enterobacteriaceae in particular causes many difficulties, one of which is the rapid growth of antibiotic resistance. Aim of the study — to evaluate the factors affecting the course and prognosis of implant-associated infection caused by Klebsiella spp. Methods. We performed a retrospective analysis of case histories of 85 patients who underwent treatment of IAI caused by Klebsiella spp. in the clinical departments of the center from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021. According to the results of the telephone survey, the patients were divided into 2 main groups depending on the outcome of the 2-year follow-up period determined in accordance with the Delphi criteria. Results. It was found that the prognosis was significantly worsened by the number of sanitizing surgical interventions in the anamnesis (p = 0.022), the need for sanitizing intervention in the early postoperative period (p0.001) and the presence of Klebsiella spp. growth in postoperative culture tests (p = 0.002), hypoalbuminemia on 7-14 days after the surgery (p = 0.008). The administration of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for the outpatient treament stage significantly improved the outcome (p = 0.038), which is most likely due to a high proportion of polymicrobial associations — 69.5%. Conclusions. There is a statistically significant direct relationship between the probability of an unfavorable treatment outcome of patients with IAI caused by Klebsiella spp. and the number of sanitizing surgical interventions in the anamnesis, low serum albumin (g/l) on 7-14 days after the operation, revision intervention in the early postoperative period, positive growth of Klebsiella spp. in postoperative culture tests. The probability of a favorable outcome was increased by the prescription of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for oral administration at the outpatient stage.

Identifying and Addressing Functional Communication Challenges in Patients With Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia.

We describe the communication challenges of four patients with a neurodegenerative disorder consistent with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), characterized by early behavioral and personality changes. By describing their clinical profiles, we identify common barriers to functional communication in this population and provide recommendations for how speech-language pathologists (SLPs) might contribute to minimizing them. Four patients with bvFTD were selected from a cohort of patients with progressive communication impairments. Three of them returned for at least one follow-up visit. Case histories are presented along with the results of comprehensive speech and language, neuropsychological, and neurological testing. At the time of initial evaluation, patients were between the ages of 54 and 66 years and had been experiencing symptoms for 1.5-6 years. Consistent with their bvFTD diagnoses, all patients had prominent behavioral and personality changes that impacted communication. Patients 1 and 2 also had mild aphasia at enrollment, primarily characterized by anomia and loss of word meaning. Patients 3 and 4 both had apraxia of speech and moderate-to-severe aphasia at enrollment with prominent anomia and agrammatism. All four patients had impaired executive functioning and relative sparing of visuospatial skills; episodic memory was also impaired for Patients 2 and 4. Even though functional communication was progressively limited for all patients, none of them received regular support from an SLP. This case series adds to a scant, but growing, literature demonstrating that patients with bvFTD have communication impairments. SLPs are uniquely positioned to identify barriers to functional communication and to provide tailored strategy training to the patients and their care partners over the course of their disease. Systematic evaluation of the efficacy of treatment in this population would be valuable. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25933762.

Racial Rage, Racial Guilt: The Uses of Anger in Asian America

ABSTRACT Asian Americans are conventionally described as “middle-man minorities,” outside of dominant racial paradigms of White and Black, adjunct to White privilege and exempt from the brunt of systemic violence directed against Black people. Historical accounts of the in-betweenness of Asian Americans trace their origins to how Asian coolie labor has served to triangulate White capital and African slavery over the course of European modernity. If this is the material history of in-betweenness, what is the psychic corollary of the middle-man thesis? Through an analysis of the Netflix dark comedy series Beef, as well as case histories of Asian American patients and students, we argue that the psychic effects of occupying a racially intermediate position implicate an unexplored terrain of racial rage and racial guilt that Asian Americans are insistently socialized to hold on behalf of others.

Analysis of labour accidents caused by slope failure during slope cutting and application of a rapid checklist for risk management in Japan

Slope failure during or immediately after slope-cutting can cause fatal accidents. This study analyses the characteristics of labour accidents caused by slope failure during slope-cutting in Japan and presents a countermeasure to prevent accidents caused by slope failure, such as the implementation of a slope guideline by MHLW. A case history conducted during slope-cutting and nailing was presented as an example of the application of the slope guideline to ensure safety. Furthermore, monitoring methods were implemented to gain a quantitative understanding of slope deformation. Geological conditions other than those assumed prior to excavation and small collapses attributed to groundwater are indications of landslide risk. The guideline's quick checklist reflects the slope condition or deformation, allowing the client, designer and contractor to discuss and agree on a quick solution to a problem. The case study confirmed the effectiveness of the slope guideline as a tool for sharing information during construction.

A retrospective study on hearing outcomes of infants of COVID-19 mothers pre-vaccination era

Background: A COVID-19 infection can result in a variety of symptoms. Findings must be carefully reviewed because there is still a dispute over the potential involvement of the audiovestibular system. Moreover, there is debate over the intrauterine transfer of COVID-19 infection from mother to fetus in pregnant people. There are not many investigations on the audiovestibular symptomatology of infants exposed to COVID-19 during pregnancy. Aims and Objectives: This study looks at any potential links between the COVID-19 gestational infection and the start of hearing impairment in babies. The verification of hearing’s engagement in COVID-19 allows for the planning of the time and methods for children’s audiological evaluations. Materials and Methods: Newborns had audiological examination and screening for hearing loss. The automatic transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) test is used to evaluate newborns for hearing impairments before they are released from the hospital. By employing the COVID-19 case history, otoscopy, acoustic immittance test, transient evoked OAEs test, and mother, pregnancy, and perinatal case histories, an audiological examination is conducted on children under 3 months of age, with 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months of age follow-up. Results: The research comprised 100 children. Of these infants, 90% were part of the neonatal hearing screening initiative. Due to isolation protocols, the remaining 10 neonates did not undergo hearing screening; instead, a direct audiological examination was performed on them. Out of the 90 newborns that were tested, only 11 had a bilateral REFER test result, but the audiological examination revealed a normal hearing threshold. Conclusion: There is no data in this study that a mother’s COVID-19 infection results in hearing loss in newborn.

Epidemics in the Vilayet Of Kosovo (1877–1912)

With the increase in activities and interaction between societies, the rate of spread of epidemics has also increased. Given that the physical structure and location of the Vilayet of Kosovo during the Ottoman period was in the middle of the Balkan Peninsula, connecting the land routes with the Central Europe, it had become a destination where epidemics spread easily. The main purpose of this paper is to analyse and evaluate epidemiological diseases in the Vilayet of Kosovo such as cholera, smallpox, dysentery, rubella. The main objective of this work is to cover the years 1877–1912. This paper, which deals with the epidemic in the Vilayet of Kosovo, investigates the historical background of the conduct of the central and local authorities as far as health policies and public health were concerned in the face of deadly infectious diseases. At this point, administrative and sanitary measures taken by the relevant institutions in the Vilayet of Kosovo had been identified, such as the employment of health personnel, the distribution of vaccines, border blockage, the restriction of the movement of people and putting them in quarantine. In addition, attention has been paid to the assessment and analysis of health services and hospital infrastructure in the Zekirja Shabani, Marigonë Rizani Vilayet of Kosovo. This study, which contributes to the knowledge of the history of epidemiology and public health in the Vilayet of Kosovo, is mainly supported by documents from the Ottoman Archives of the Presidency in Istanbul. In addition, studies, theses and research papers on epidemiology and public health in the Ottoman Empire were used.

Understanding Mucocele of Tongue in Children: A Case Report

Introduction: Mucocele is cystic lesion that occur in oral cavity. Commonly it happens due to trauma or obstruction of minor salivary gland ducts. Certain mucoceles may heal spontaneously, while others might surgical intervention due to frequent recurrence. Mucoceles on the tongue are rare and typically occur on the underside, where the glands of Blandin and Nuhn are located. Appropriate diagnose and treatment must be chosen correctly. Case History: A 12-years old-girl presented of enlarged gum and recurrent swelling firstly noticed a month ago. Excision was done under local anesthesia using electrocautery. A clinical diagnose of mucocele was confirmed by histopathological examination. Discussion: Mucoceles on the tongue are uncommon and primarily occur on the ventral surface where the glands of Blandin and Nuhn are situated. Complete excision was done once the diagnosis was confirmed using electrocautery which have indicated that this method is faster, simpler, and causes minimal postoperative discomfort compared to conventional excision. To minimize recurrence, strategies such as removing surrounding glandular acini, excising or dissecting the lesion down to the muscle layer, and avoiding damage to adjacent glands and ducts are recommended. Conclusion: Mucoceles on the tongue are uncommon and primarily occur on the ventral. Since mucocele are asymptomatic, complete surgical excision of mucocele of tongue must followed by eliminate risk factors to prevent recurrency.

Dental behavior management for a 7-years-old patient with hearing impairment: A case report

Introduction: Hearing is one of the most important components in communication since hearing and speaking are the key for people in socializing. Patients with hearing impairment still need to visit dentist. Difficulties in communication will lead to difficulties in dental treatment. Case History: Explaining about dental behaviour management in 7-years-old girl with hearing impairment. Class 2 filling on tooth #55 which begin with a whole mouth prevention of dental caries was done smoothly with a better cooperation level. Discussion: A non-verbal communication using lip reading, show-feel-do, modelling, and picture exchange communication system (PECS) was selected as behaviour management to describe treatment procedures. During dental treatment using handpiece, hearing aid was removed to avoid disturbing sound. The child's cooperative level was recorded before and after treatment. Conclusion: Lip reading, show-feel-do, modelling and PECS methods are proven to establish good communication in dental practice for patient with hearing impairment.

Frenotomy for Ankyloglossia: Conventional technique under general anesthesia in pediatric patients

Introduction: Ankyloglossia, commonly known as tongue-tie, is a prevalent birth defect characterized by a shortened and taut lingual frenulum, resulting in various complications. It occurs more frequently in males and can lead to breastfeeding difficulties, poor weight gain, and challenges in oral hygiene. The purpose of this article is to discuss frenotomy as a surgical intervention for ankyloglossia, involving the removal of the lingual frenulum under general anesthesia. Case History: a 9-year-old male patient with class III ankyloglossia, experiencing difficulty in pronouncing words and maintaining oral hygiene due to a short lingual frenulum. Despite initial behavioral challenges, comprehensive dental treatment, including frenectomy under general anesthesia, was successfully performed. Discussion: Ankyloglossia, or tongue-tie, results from cellular degeneration of the lingual frenulum, often associated with a genetic mutation in the MTHFR gene, affecting folate processing. Tongue development involves the migration of muscles from pharyngeal arches, leading to attachment issues at the lingual frenulum, causing ankyloglossia. Untreated consequences include feeding difficulties, dental decay, and speech articulation challenges. Conventional frenotomy, a simple and efficient technique, offers rapid, cost-effective symptom relief, promoting smooth recovery and improved outcomes compared to laser procedures. Conclusion: frenotomy for ankyloglossia under general anesthesia effectively improves tongue mobility and alleviates associated symptoms. General anesthesia ensures patient comfort and facilitates precise execution of the procedure. The conventional frenotomy technique enhances tongue movements, highlighting the efficacy of surgical intervention for this condition.

Importance of early consideration of scaling and sustainability for aging-related care models: Case study of Hospital at Home.

For aging-related research, there is a pressing need to attend to the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based interventions. Some aging-related interventions with established effectiveness may be poorly disseminated and implemented due to behavioral, organizational, payment, or other constraints. To provide insight into the beginning to end process of translation and implementation, we present a case history of the three-decade progression of Hospital at Home (HaH) now nearing national dissemination. We summarize research at various phases with particular attention to implementation considerations. Reviewing over three decades of HaH-related research dating from initial discovery to translation and implementation, we found that the content and importance of different constructs (e.g., inner practice vs. outer environmental setting) and the choice of implementation strategies differed depending on implementation context (testing of effectiveness, scaling, or sustainability). Early effectiveness studies mostly examined implementation issues related to the intervention, the practice setting, and the individuals involved. However, explicit and early consideration of scale and sustainment was not the primary focus. For example, HaH program intake is primarily through hospital emergency departments (ED). Initial efforts would have benefited from incorporating strategies (e.g., incorporating ED leadership into program leadership) to address night and weekend admissions. Many regulatory barriers did not surface during initial considerations. Considering implementation issues late may contribute to delay in bringing discoveries to population impact. The experience with HaH suggests that scale and sustainability bear earlier consideration because barriers and facilitators to implementation are likely to be different in content and importance at different phases of implementation.

Shear wave velocity-based evaluation of cyclic mobility type of liquefaction and validation by centrifuge model tests in LEAP

Existing study shows that small-strain shear modulus is a promising parameter for characterizing soil liquefaction resistance, while liquefaction resistance is liquefaction type dependent. In this study, firstly a revisit of laboratory tests on saturated sands was conducted to explore the relationship between liquefaction resistance CRR and small-strain shear modulus Gmax with emphasis on cyclic mobility type of liquefaction. The investigation indicates that in the stress-normalized space of cyclic resistance and small-strain shear modulus, the fitting curve of soil testing data does not always approach to the coordinate origin and there will be an intercept on the abscissa axis. Based on this finding, a more general form of the power function between liquefaction resistance and small-strain shear modulus is proposed. Then, undrained cyclic triaxial tests were conducted in conjunction with the data available from LEAP to establish the power function between CRR and Gmax for medium dense to dense Ottawa F-65 sand, which leads to an updated characterization model on the basis of Zhou-Chen model. Finally, centrifuge model tests of submerged gently sloping ground of Ottawa F-65 sand conducted at Zhejiang University (i.e., ZJU) for LEAP were used to compile liquefaction and non-liquefaction case histories with shear wave velocity measurement to investigate the validity of the updated model for evaluating the cyclic mobility type of liquefaction. The test results show that the updated model could classify the case history datasets produced by centrifuge model tests well. And the further consideration of initial shear stress acting on the slope could enhance the evaluation performance of this characterization model, which is worth of further research.

Rate of desertification, climate change and coping strategies: Insights from smallholder farmers in Ghana's Upper East Region

Climate change and desertification are global issues that are affecting agricultural activities in Sub-Saharan Africa. These phenomena have made it challenging for smallholder farmers to cope with the emerging global food crises. This article examines the evidence of desertification and climate change and how smallholder farmers in the Upper East Region of Ghana are responding to these threats. Primary data was analysed through interviews and focus group discussions. We used Landsat satellite-based annual mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, climate, crop production data, and reports from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and other NGOs as secondary sources. We interviewed eighty respondents using case history and snowball sampling. The mean annual NDVI declined from 0.5 in 1998 to −0.10 in 2022. NDVI values suggest a decline in green vegetation health to a negative value, suggesting a non-vegetative surface. This means that the process of desertification has progressed to severe levels, resulting in little to no vegetation cover on the land surface. Similarly, rainfall data suggests a sharp decline in annual rainfall while farmers change the types of crops and the timing of planting. Farmers discussed the impact of climate change and desertification on their livelihoods. They have implemented approaches like using synthetic fertilisers, planting drought-resistant crops, practising dry-season farming, irrigating their crops, and building social support networks. Food insecurity and land degradation are major issues due to continuous cropping and population growth. Smallholder farmers suggest providing them with affordable, drought-resistant seedlings with shorter gestation periods to increase food production and avoid insecurity.

A Review of Subsidence Monitoring Techniques in Offshore Environments.

In view of the ever-increasing global energy demands and the imperative for sustainability in extraction methods, this article surveys subsidence monitoring systems applied to oil and gas fields located in offshore areas. Subsidence is an issue that can harm infrastructure, whether onshore or especially offshore, so it must be carefully monitored to ensure safety and prevent potential environmental damage. A comprehensive review of major monitoring technologies used offshore is still lacking; here, we address this gap by evaluating several techniques, including InSAR, GNSSs, hydrostatic leveling, and fiber optic cables, among others. Their accuracy, applicability, and limitations within offshore operations have also been assessed. Based on an extensive literature review of more than 60 published papers and technical reports, we have found that no single method works best for all settings; instead, a combination of different monitoring approaches is more likely to provide a reliable subsidence assessment. We also present selected case histories to document the results achieved using integrated monitoring studies. With the emerging offshore energy industry, combining GNSSs, InSAR, and other subsidence monitoring technologies offers a pathway to achieving precision in the assessment of offshore infrastructural stability, thus underpinning the sustainability and safety of offshore oil and gas operations. Reliable and comprehensive subsidence monitoring systems are essential for safety, to protect the environment, and ensure the sustainable exploitation of hydrocarbon resources.

Electrophysiological auditory measures to identify potential cortical markers of tinnitus

Tinnitus, or the perception of a sound in the absence of an external acoustic stimulus, is a common condition that cannot yet be objectively diagnosed. Current diagnostic tests of tinnitus consist of case history and behavioral measures that rely on subjective responses. This study examined electrophysiological measures, specifically the auditory late response (ALR), mismatch negativity (MMN), and P300 as potential neural biomarkers of tinnitus in both a tinnitus and non-tinnitus control group while utilizing the pitch-matched tinnitus frequencies as the test stimuli. Results of this study found differences in MMN amplitudes and area under the curve, and in P300 topographic maps between tinnitus and control subjects. The differences in MMN responses across groups suggest that dysfunctional processing of acoustic stimuli located near the tinnitus frequency in individuals with tinnitus manifests as soon as 200 ms after initial onset of the stimulus. In addition, results from a global field power analysis and differences in spatial distributions on topographical maps indicate that deficits persist through higher levels of cortical processing. A secondary goal of this study was to determine if electrophysiological measures correlated with reported tinnitus severity on questionnaires. This analysis indicated that P2 latency was a significant predictor of Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, and percent of the time participant’s tinnitus was considered bothersome, suggesting that this measure could potentially be used to assess the efficacy of treatment programs for tinnitus.