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Abstract Background At present, chronic respiratory diseases are a major burden in terms of morbidity and mortality and are of increasing public health concern in China. Meanwhile, the prevalence of diabetes has increased by more than 10 times over the last 40 years. While a few studies have investigated the association between chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes mellitus, the association is not clear. This study aimed to explore this association and provide evidence. Methods In this single-center study, we enrolled participants aged ≥ 20 years undergoing at least two regular health check-ups from 2009 to 2019 at MJ Healthcare Center in Beijing. Each health check-up included physical examination, biochemical tests, a pulmonary function test, a questionnaire. A total of 11,107 adults were included, and cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were performed. Results We found that both prediabetic and diabetic adults had lower lung function than the normal population at baseline, indicating that lung function decline may start from prediabetic status. Quantitatively, with 1-mmol/L increase in fasting plasma glucose level, the forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FVC% and FEV1% lowered by 25 ml, 13 ml, 0.71-1.03%, and 0.46-0.72%, respectively. However, no significant difference was found in the rates for the lung function decline among different baseline diabetes statuses. Conclusion People with higher blood glucose level had more severe lung function decline, with decline starting from prediabetic status, but no significant difference was noted in the rate of lung function decline based on different baseline diabetic statuses.

The “Young Ottomans” as an intellectual movement in the Ottoman Empire dealt with the issue of decline. Namık Kemal, the most prominent figure in this society wrote a number of works in which he reflected on this problem. Namık Kemal focused on this issue and tried to find an approach to understanding the Ottoman problems through various works, including plays. In two critical examples, namely “Vatan Yahut Silistre” and “Gülnihal”, Namık Kemal tried to find a way out for the crisis-stricken Ottoman Empire. This article deals with Namık Kemal’s attitude toward decline. In Vatan, Namık Kemal has considered the role of the foreign dimension of Ottoman decline. It seems that Vatan is an example of the romantic nationalism with which Namık Kemal tried to restore the lost pride of the Ottomans. In contrast, in Gülnihal he has paid attention to despotism. In other words, Kemal was aware of both the internal and external problems that had put the Ottoman Empire in a precarious position. In both plays, Namık Kemal has resorted to romantic stories to express his point of views. The findings of this study suggests that, the most central issue for Namık Kemal has been protection of idea of Ottoman Empire.

Rasheed Amjid is an awakened brain fiction writer. Reading his stories, one realizes that he is familiar with every vein of society like a pulse expert. He has told in his stories that Allah has sent man as a noble creature and has imposed responsibilities on him according to his status. But the rapid scientific progress has deprived man of his basic qualities. The spirit of self-sacrifice and service to human beings is disappearing. In this age of mechanization, all the schools are also producing a generation that is a conqueror of speech but has no character. All institutions have become a story of decline. The sighs, sobs and cries of the poor are being heard from all sides. This social decline has licked this seemingly beautiful society like a termite from within. Rashid Amjid wants to rectify this situation. The lamentations of dead humanity written by Rasheed Amjid are covered in this article.

Background: Grapevine is a woody, perennial plant of high economic importance worldwide. Like other plants, it lives in close association with large numbers of microorganisms. Bacteria, fungi and viruses are structured in communities, and each individual can be beneficial, neutral or harmful to the plant. In this sense, microorganisms can interact with each other and regulate plant functions (including immunity) and even provide new ones. Thus, the grapevine associated with its microbial communities constitutes a supra-organism, also called a holobiont, whose functioning is linked to established plant-microorganism interactions. Aim of review: The overall health of the plant may be conditioned by the diversity and structure of microbial communities. Consequently, an optimal microbial composition will consist of a microbial balance allowing the plant to be healthy. Conversely, an imbalance of microbial populations could lead to (or be generated by) a decline of the plant. The microbiome is an active component of the host also responsive to biotic and abiotic changes; in that respect, a better understanding of the most important drivers of the composition of plant microbiomes is needed. Key scientific concepts of review: This article presents the current state of the art about the grapevine microbiota and its composition according to the plant compartments and the influencing factors. We also focus on situations of imbalance, in particular during plant disease or decline. Finally, we discuss the possible interest of microbial engineering in an agrosystem such as viticulture.

For at least two decades, European amphibians have been affected by the ‘salamander plague’, an emerging infectious disease caused by the invasive chytrid skin fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) that originated from Asia. Resulting dramatic declines are well known from the European Fire Salamander, while the impact of Bsal on other European amphibians in the wild is less clear. We here focus on the Northern Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) in Germany. This species is susceptible to Bsal and strictly protected under Annex II of the EC Habitats Directive. While T. cristatus is declining in the Bsal-hotspot Germany, it remains to be answered if the salamander plague is one of the leading drivers. By asking five key questions we review the available information with the goal of providing a baseline for further research. In two investigated newt communities, Bsal-prevalence was found to be considerably high, with 75–89% of newts being infected, reaching the highest peaks in spring. Later in the year, some T. cristatus were apparently able to clear their Bsal infection, even when individual infection load was previously high. Although we observed mortality of infected specimens and declines in populations with Bsal, declines are also seen outside known Bsal regions. Thus, it appears that the Bsal epidemic is not exclusively responsible for the species’ current status. With this, Bsal poses a yet poorly-understood threat to Northern Crested Newt survival, making further research on pathogen/host interactions and long-term survival indispensable to fulfil our legal responsibility of conserving this emblematic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viroids are important citrus pathogens, and cachexia disease is caused by pathogenic variants, CVd-IIb and CVd-IIc, of hop stunt viroid (HSVd). In September 2020, 96 samples of kumquat (Citrus japonica) and limequat (C. japonica x C. aurantifolia) trees showing suspected symptoms were collected in Mazandaran Province, Iran. Biological indexing was performed under greenhouse conditions using scion obtained from 19 selected samples on 'Etrog' citron Arizona 861-S-1 (Citrus medica) and Parson's Special Mandarin (C. reticulata), both grafted on rough lemon (C. jambhiri), as a common indicator plant for citrus viroids and specific indicator of cachexia, respectively. Twelve months after inoculation, Parson's gum accumulation at the bud union was seen in only two isolates, while symptoms of viroid infection, including petiole bending, epinasty, twisting, and yellowing of the leaf tip were observed in all 'Etrog' citron plants inoculated with tissues from the trees with cachexia symptoms. Total RNA extraction followed by one-step RT-PCR and DNA sequencing showed that a pathogenic variant (CVd-IIb) was present in all of the sequenced isolates from symptomatic kumquat and limequat trees. Asymptomatic limequat trees were free of HSVd infection, while non-pathogenic variants, CVd-IIa, were found in asymptomatic and symptomatic kumquat trees. The phylogenetic analysis showed that isolates K0S2 and K2C34 were located in the CVd-IIa group, while isolates K1H5, K2S4, K2C28, K3S1, and L3Sa13 grouped in the CVd-IIb group. In addition to HSVd, citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), citrus bent leaf viroid (CBLVd), citrus dwarfing viroid (CDVd) and citrus bark cracking viroid (CBCVd) infections were confirmed in several kumquat trees. The relationship between cachexia symptoms, HSVd variants, and mixed infection is discussed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of HSVd infection of limequats in the world and of kumquats in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When and why did Sterling Area countries stop holding sterling as the majority of their foreign exchange reserves? This paper takes a comparative approach to examine the relative importance of various determinants of adherence to sterling in its declining years as an international currency. Using an original cross‐national panel dataset covering the period 1965–79, we conduct survival analysis which systematically evaluates a comprehensive set of economic and political factors, at the country level as well as in international relations, about when and why countries chose to diversify their reserves away from sterling. Our results highlight the significance of international transactional factors in influencing adherence to sterling, while the effects of British geopolitical retrenchment, Commonwealth cultural ties, and distributional issues were more ambiguous and sensitive to local conditions. We also find that domestic political and historical factors, such as democracy and imperial legacy, played a role in sterling's international unravelling. Finally, we use our results to examine the experience of individual sterling countries and their decisions to diversify. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Frailty syndrome is a transitional state in a dynamic process, dependent on various physical, psychological, and social factors, which interact and disturb the physiological balance. Tilburg Frailty Indicator(TFI) is a valid multidimensional assessment tool of frailty. Most developed countries recognize frailty as a syndrome. In India, the number of elderly population is increasing, with few studies on frailty. Purpose: Hence, this study aimed to find the prevalence of frailty among the elderly population of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Methods: An observational study of 200 geriatric people aged more than 60 years was conducted in the community using convenience sampling. They were asked to fill out the TFI along with demographic data. Results: Among 200 geriatric people screened, 26.5% (36.7% of women and 18.6% of men) were found to be frail, mean score of TFI = 3.3 ± 2.15. Association of frailty scores was tested with gender using Chi-square test, χ² (1) = 0.80 (P < 0.05) was found. Conclusion: The prevalence of frailty was 26.5% among the elderly population of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This short article examines the ways in which Pathaan, with its glorious invocation of the star-text in the title, explores the shifting relationship between masculinity, the imperial-militaristic Hollywood action genre and the idea of nation. This article argues that the filmic narrative, its paratexts and Pathaan/Shah Rukh Khan (SRK), working within the conventions of a Hollywood-inflected masala action genre, reconfigure an ageing, kintsugi action-hero masculinity. While the agentic, aestheticized, muscular, male body anchors the film, its emphasis on brokenness – emotional, psychological and physical – drives the film's deliberate reshaping of current Hindutva narratives of the nation to a secular neo-liberal mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greece was never internationally renowned for its defence industry; in fact, its state-owned industries were usually a source of headaches rather than income for Athens. The Debt Crisis (2008-18) compounded the chronic ills of the Greek defence ecosystem which appeared to decline irreversibly. And yet, in recent years they rebounded and reached new heights. How can this surprising turnaround be explained? And what does it indicate for the future of the Greek defence industry? This paper aspires to examine how the Greek defence ecosystem (state- and private-owned) evolved from a stage of stagnation and decline into a phase of stabilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An important subgroup of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) with behavioral indications refuse daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) when recommended by a provider. Emerging HIV prophylaxis products (eg, injectable, event-driven) offer more options to MSM who refuse daily PrEP. In this article, we assess reasons for refusal and likelihood to use various products among MSM who refused PrEP. Methods: MSM who reported anal sex without condoms or PrEP and refused daily oral PrEP in the past 6 months were recruited through clinics, community venues, and online in Atlanta, Chicago, and Raleigh-Durham. Men were asked their main reason for recently refusing daily PrEP and likelihood of using various PrEP options in the future. Bivariate and multivariable regression models were used to estimate associations. Results: MSM (n = 93; 70% Black, 48% age 18–29 years) reported their main reason for refusing daily PrEP were potential side effects (35%), a daily pill regimen (22%), and not having enough information (18%). Reported likelihood of using PrEP products was 58% for penile gel, 54% for event-driven oral, 52% for injectable, and 50% for daily PrEP. MSM who reported daily regimen as the main reason for refusing PrEP had greater odds of likelihood to use an injectable [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32 to 20.52]. Younger men (18–29 vs 30+ years) had greater odds of likelihood to use condoms (AOR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.15 to 10.04) and daily PrEP (AOR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.06 to 7.16); there were no product preference differences by race. Conclusion: Most men who refused daily PrEP indicated likelihood of using some form of PrEP in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several efforts have been put in place to reduce the global burden of malaria especially in children and in sub-Saharan Africa. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of malaria control activities on the trend of childhood malarial diseases at a tertiary hospital in South-south Nigeria. Methodology: A retrospective review of the case records of all malaria diagnoses including in-patient, outpatient, and emergency room, seen in the Department of paediatrics at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital from January 2006 to December 2018 was conducted. Results: There were 41, 863 malaria cases diagnosed over the 12 years with a decline in yearly diagnosis and admissions, from the year 2006 through 2018. Total malaria admissions were 578, (44.5/year), giving a severe malaria incidence of 1.26%, and there were 164 malaria death cases, with a yearly average of 12. The causes of death in the children with malarial parasitaemia were severe anaemia in 75 (45.7%), hypoglycaemia in 14 (8.5%), cerebral malaria in 17 (10.4%), and prostration with other co-morbidities, 22 (13.4%). Thirty-six children (22%) were convulsing and died soon after admission, with a compounding diagnosis of aspiration and respiratory failure. Conclusion: There is a gradual reduction in childhood malaria disease, admission, and death, though this is slower than anticipated based on efforts and strategies put in place by the Nigerian government and various organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Western homicide drop is a known fact, but the reasons behind the drop have so far mainly focused on macro explanations. In this study, we argue that to understand the homicide drop, it is necessary to first explore whether the drop is general or specific. We do this by examining the subtypes of homicide together with perpetrator and victim demographic characteristics. This study seeks to describe the nature and scope of homicidal violence in the period 1992–2016 in the Netherlands, disaggregating by subtype of homicide, and perpetrator and victim gender constellation and age. In doing so, we make use of the Dutch Homicide Monitor. Findings show that the Dutch homicide drop is significantly related to homicides resulting from disputes and robberies and intimate partner homicides. The gender constellation and age distribution in all homicide types are further explored. This study highlights the importance of disaggregating data by subtype in unravelling the homicide drop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2010, the Nordic countries have experienced substantial fertility decline. This was unexpected, as these countries have well-established systems of family support policies and they did not experience a fertility shock in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 economic recession like many other European countries. Previous studies paid little attention to the spatial dimension of this unexpected fertility change, despite evidence of large spatial variation in fertility. This paper aims to close this gap through a spatial perspective and deepen our understanding of how Nordic fertility change varies by economic and social contexts. We apply advanced spatial panel models on data for 1,099 municipalities covering Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Next to analyzing total fertility rates, we also compare the relevance of economic and social contexts for spatial fertility variation at younger or older ages. We note distinct differences by levels of urbanization and differing trends between the age groups. We also find that measures of unemployment and union stability are associated with lower levels of fertility across space and time, while support for conservative parties is related to higher fertility. Age-specific analyses highlighted that economic conditions are more relevant for fertility variation under age thirty than over age thirty. Overall, our analysis provides support for the view that both economic and social factors are highly relevant for understanding spatial variation in the Nordic fertility decline. Given the strong spatial component in Nordic fertility change, policy initiatives would also benefit from a spatial dimension to effectively address fertility change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Social prescribing (SP) is part of universal personalised care and available to everyone in the UK National Health Service. However, emerging evidence suggests access disparities in social prescribing. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using primary care records to access and analyse data on social prescribing. Our secondary aim was to compare characteristics of patients who are offered referral, referred to or decline referral for social prescribing to explore possible inequalities in access to social prescribing. Methods Patient records (n=3086) were extracted from 11 GP practices across Northwest England for accepted, offered and declined social prescribing referrals. Patient demographics collected included sex, age, ethnicity, mental and physical health diagnoses. Patient characteristics in social prescribing referrals were compared to the overall practice population (practice information from Public Health England). Referral and decline rates were compared by group (e.g. male/female decline rates). Results GP referral data showed inconsistent recording of wider determinants of health. Patient age, sex and mental and physical health conditions were consistently recorded. Other variables (marital status, interpreter need, education, disability, sexual orientation, non-English language, nationality) were recorded only sporadically and could not be used for analysis. Practices varied in referral patterns.. Our preliminary findings identified under-referring of younger age groups and Asians, and higher declined referrals among individuals with physical health diagnoses. Conclusions Recording discrepancies meant that many patient factors could not be used to identify trends in social prescribing referrals and declines and assess equity. Primary care data recording must be consistent to understand SP referral trends and inequalities relating to the wider determinants of health. Preliminary results suggest some patient groups may be underrepresented in SP referrals, however this requires further investigation.

The almond, a commercially important tree nut crop worldwide, is native to the Mediterranean region. Stone fruit trees are affected by at least 14 ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ species globally, among which ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ is one of the most widespread phytoplasma infecting Prunus dulcis, causing aster yellows disease. Recently, almond plantations of Nauni region were consistently affected by phytoplasma, as evidenced by visible symptoms, fluorescent microscopic studies and molecular characterization. During several surveys from May to September 2020–2022, almond aster yellows phytoplasma disease showing symptoms such as chlorosis, inward rolling, reddening, scorching and decline with an incidence as high as 40%. Leaf samples were collected from symptomatic almond trees and the presence of phytoplasma was confirmed through fluorescent microscopic studies by employing DAPI (4, 6-diamino-2-phenylindole) that showed distinctive light blue flourescent phytoplasma bodies in phloem sieve tube elements. The presence of phytoplasma in symptomatic almond trees was further confirmed using nested PCR with specific primer pairs followed by amplification of 16S rDNA and 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer (IS) fragments. Sequencing and BLAST analysis of expected amplicon of the 16S rDNA gene confirmed that the almond phytoplasma in Himachal Pradesh was identical to the aster yellows group phytoplasma. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA almond phytoplasma also grouped ‘Prunus dulcis’ aster yellows phytoplasma within 16SrI-B subgroup showed 94% nucleotide identity with ‘Prunus dulcis’ phytoplasma PAEs3 and ‘Prunus dulcis’ phytoplasma PAE28 from Iran. This research presents the first host report of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ infecting almonds in India, expanding the knowledge of the diversity and distribution of phytoplasma strains affecting almond trees globally.

In order to investigate the effect of age and pruning characteristics on grapevine hydraulic conduction, a study was carried out between 2017 and 2020. Two pruning regimes (respecting or not sap flow pathways) and two vine age levels (older and younger vine plants) were considered and compared on two different vineyard plots located in French north-east Jura region and in south-west Bordeaux one. The assessment of pruning characteristics in relation to sap flow pathway was based on a visual characterization of the external wood aspect of the trunk and arms and consisted of a set of criteria involving the number, size and position of pruning wounds. Sap flow measurements of entire vine plants were carried out using the Xyl’em® tool, as well as an assessment of the necrotized, living and conductive xylem area in the trunks and arms after Phloxine staining. The biomass of the vegetation was also assessed. Results showed that vines pruned without considering the sap flow pathways had a 40-to-50% less conductive sap flow than vines pruned taking into account the sap pathway. No difference was observed with vine age within each pruning regime. However, for the vineyard plot where the amount of conductive xylem area was assessed, older vines that were not pruned to respect the sap pathways showed a smaller area of living wood as well as conductive wood than the older ones pruned to respect the sap flows. The amount of living and conductive areas of these vines was equivalent to that of younger vines pruned to respect sap pathways. These older vines also showed less vegetative biomass. These results show that pruning without taking into account the sap pathways has a negative impact on the conduction of xylem sap pathways in grapevines, both in terms of hydraulic efficiency and quantity of living and conducting tissues. However, the possible consequences of these reductions on grapevine physiological functions still need to be further investigated.

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) may experience cognitive difficulties, including slowed processing speed. Thus, we investigated if processing speed changes over time. From 1992–2001, 103 participants with SCD aged 3–16 years (n ≤ 8.99 = 45; n ≥ 9.00 = 58) completed cognitive assessments. MRI was available for 54 participants. Between 1992–2002, 58 participants consented to one or two further assessments. A repeated measures regression using linear mixed-effects modelling determined longitudinal changes in processing speed index (PSI), examining the interaction between age (continuous variable) and timepoint (i.e., assessment 1 or 3) and controlling for MRI infarct status (i.e., no infarct, silent infarct, or stroke). Those aged ≤8.99 and ≥9.00 at first assessment experienced PSI decline. Declines were most prominent for the processing speed coding subtest, with a significant interaction between timepoint and age, t(31) = 2.64, p = 0.01. This decline may reflect a developmental delay, likely due to disease progression, with slower improvements in processing speed. Although there have been significant improvements in SCD treatments, mostly in high-income countries, processing speed still remains a target; thus, incorporating clinical monitoring of processing speed may help identify delay and allow for early intervention.

Data on risk factors predicting rapid progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or short-term kidney function decline (i.e., within 1 year) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) are rare but urgently needed to plan treatment. This study describes the association and predictive value of urinary uromodulin (uUMOD) for rapid progression of CKD.We assessed uUMOD, demographic/treatment parameters, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and proteinuria in 230 CKD patients stage I-V. ESRD and 25% decline of eGFR was documented at the end of follow-up period and used as a composite endpoint. Association between logarithmic uUMOD and eGFR/proteinuria was calculated using linear regression analysis, adjusting for age, gender, and body mass index. We performed multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis to evaluate the association of uUMOD with the composite endpoint. Therefore, patients were categorized into quartiles. The predictive value of uUMOD for the above outcomes was assessed using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Follow-up was 57.3 ± 18.7 weeks, baseline age was 60 (18;92) years, and eGFR was 38 (6;156) mL/min/1.73 m. Forty-seven (20.4%) patients reached the composite endpoint. uUMOD concentrations were directly associated with eGFR and inversely associated with proteinuria (β = 0.554 and β = -0.429, P

Objective To explore a potential relationship of Timed Up and Go (TUG) test to cognitive functions among elders. Methods The participants were from Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study conducted in Jiangsu province, China. TUG test was completed, recording gaits stability, test time and the overall scale. Cognitive function was evaluated using Chinese version of revised Hasegawa's Dementia Scale (HDS-R). Results A total of 1 655 participants (aged 75-84 years old) completed the TUG test and cognitive evaluation were included in this study. Among them, 872(52.7%) in cognitive impairment group and 783(47.3%) in non-cognitive impairment group, the gait stability, time and scale of TUG test were inverse associated with HDS-R and its subcomponents, respectively(P＜0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that unsteady gait(OR=1.11, 95% CI:1.08-1.14, P＜0.001), longer time (OR=2.50, 95% CI:1.76-3.55, P＜0.001) and deteriorated scale (OR=1.62, 95% CI:1.39-1.89, P＜0.001) in TUG test were independently associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment. Conclusions Worse motor function performance on TUG test is significantly associated with cognitive impairment. The application of TUG test is potential method in early risk screening of cognitive impairment in community and has certain feasibility.

In this essay I intend to develop a tour through the cinemas that I frequented in Mexico City, mainly during my childhood and my youth (1974-2013), to understand the morphology of a city that changes constantly, in accordance with the idea posed in this dossier of the city as a palimpsest in which the effacement preserves the trace of that erased, in which the changes promote new practices and new uses, and in which the subjects reconcile between the absent and the new. I rest on the belief that the city is also its cinemas, but I am aware, however, that I am not telling the story of its splendor. Thus, I reflect on my experience in and of the city through its movie theaters: I reflect about its structure, the practices that they made possible, the traces they left, how they disappeared, what replaced them. With this route through the "immediate past" I intend to understand these tensions that, at the time, were unnoticeable because I experienced them as incremental innovations, but now manifest themselves as radical, embodied in new material conditions, and other senses, functions and habits.

Actions taken on the unregulated, or rather self-regulated, global financial market have the effect of weakening or exacerbating crises that affect the living standards of the population, leading to a deterioration in the security of individuals in society.

Introduction: Among vector borne diseases, malaria remained a major threat to public health from decades because of its course and complications. Being the endemic region, malaria poses a great threat because it causes multiorgan failure. Though continuous monitoring, effective implementation of control measures are in place still India contributes to majority of cases in sub Asian region. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of malaria, to determine the seasonality and to analyse the trend of the disease over the period. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at Chikamagalur a district in Karnataka, India, in the year 2022 over a period of six months. The study was done by collecting the data of patient details from the laboratory register. The results were analysed, positive results were calculated for disease burden by Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) and Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum). Results: Out of 27,474 samples, 94 were found positive for malaria parasite of which P. vivax cases were 90 (95%) and 4 (5%) was P. falciparum cases. Prevalence rate was 0.34%. There is 24% drop in malaria cases from 2019-2021 when compared to 2015-2018. Conclusion: The present study shows decline in the number of malaria cases from 2015 to 2021. The cases showed seasonal variation with maximum cases being reported in September. As India is in the decline phase of cases, with the collective efforts of clinicians, laboratory personnel and community health workers, elimination of malaria could be a possibility.

The Aceh peace process has been ongoing for nearly two decades. Some studies note that an essential aspect contributing to the Aceh peace context is the presence of local political parties in the post-peace era. This article aims to describe the declining existence of local political parties in the political life of Aceh society. This study employs a qualitative method, with primary data obtained from interviews and secondary data gathered from relevant literature reviews. The study reveals that local political parties in post-conflict Aceh have essentially gone through three of the four phases and are beginning to enter the fourth. The first phase is the formation of local political parties, the second is their rise, and the third is their victory in Aceh's political contestation. The fourth phase is decline or reduction, characterized by local parties being abandoned by their supporters. This research identifies several factors indicating the current existence of local political parties in the decline phase: 1) Loss of public trust; 2) Pessimism among political actors; 3) Weak party integrity and human resources; 4) Unprofessional organizational management; and 5) Internal conflicts within the party. These factors are not independent but are interconnected with one another.

Background: While mental disorder is an 'intrinsically social phenomenon', social psychiatry has been reportedly declining. Addressing public interests in social psychiatry was among the suggestions to address this decline. In recent years, public interest in social psychiatry can be explored using Google Trends, an increasingly important infodemiological tool. Objective: This study determined changes in global online public interest in social psychiatry from January 2004 to December 2021 using Google search volumes. Methods: Search query using this keyword, 'Social Psychiatry (Topic)', was made using the Explore feature of Google Trends. The Region and Time Filters were set to 'Worldwide' and January 2004 to December 2021, respectively. Afterward, the search volumes, country ranking, queries, and topics returned by the Google Trends system was described and compared. Results: There was a generally decreasing trend in search volumes for social psychiatry where it decreased almost 10 times between 2004 and 2021. Only 11 countries were listed in Google Trends' ranking with the top countries including Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Search-related topics and queries were about social psychiatry related concepts, related academic discipline, human resources, social interventions, and education activities Conclusions: The findings suggest that there is a decreasing public interest in social psychiatry. To improve this, social psychiatry can address public expectation through improving its connection with allied social sciences, increasing its educational activities, and expanding its social intervention services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal death is defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and the site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management. Maternal mortality (MM) and morbidity are a public health issue, with scarce knowledge on their levels and causes in low-income (LIC) countries. The data on MM and morbidity should rely on population-based studies which are non-existent. Therefore, maternal mortality ratio (MMR) estimates are based mostly on the mathematical models. MMR declined from 430 per 100,000 live births (LB) in 1990 to 211 in 2017. Absolute numbers of maternal deaths were 585,000 in 1990, 514,500 in 1995 and less than 300,000 nowadays. Regardless of reduction, MM remains neglected tragedy especially in LIC. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) declared reduction MMR by three quarters between 2000 and 2015, which failed. Target of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was to decrease MMR to 70 per 100,000 LB. Based on the data from the country report on SDGs in 10 countries with the highest absolute number of maternal deaths it can be concluded that the progress has not been made in reaching the targeted MMR. To reduce MMR, inequalities in access to and quality of reproductive, maternal, and newborn health care services should be addressed, together with strengthening health systems to respond to the needs and priorities of women and girls, ensuring accountability to improve quality of care and equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prescription of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) for patients with baseline creatinine clearances (CrCl) <60 mL/min is said to increase risk of further decline in CrCl. Study objectives were to assess incidence of improvement and predictors thereof; to assess incidence of decline and transition to lower stages of CrCl; and comparison of declines between patients with a baseline CrCl < 60mL/min (group-I) and ≥ 60 mL/min (group-II). The study was retrospective, included patients 16 yrs or older who received TDF-containing ART. Improvement and decline were defined as ≥ 25% increase or decrease in CrCl, respectively. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of improvement. Groups I and II had 2862 and 7526 patients, respectively. In group-I, improvement in CrCl was observed in 40.1% (n = 1146), and was associated with stage IV of CrCl (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]=13.4 [95% CI: 6.7 - 26.9, P < .001]); male gender (aHR = 1.8 [95% CI: 1.5 - 2.2, P < .001]); and a poor HIVstatus (aHR = 1.2 [95% CI: 1.0 - 1.4], P = .033). In group-I and group-II, respectively, decline occurred in 2.3% and 13.0%, (P < .001); transition to lower stages occurred in 1.0% and 25.2% (P < .001); and migration to stage IV CrCl occurred in 1.0% and 0.5% (P < .001). Improvement was more likely than decline in group-I patients. Although, group-I patients were more likely to experience new onset severe reduced CrCl than group-II patients, the proportions were extremely low. TDF should not be withheld from HIV-positive patients with a baseline CrCl < 60 mL/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increase in the level of pakcoy production is not uncommon in Bali, also on a larger scale, namely Indonesia. In 2018 and 2020 pakcoy production has increased. The decline in pakcoy production occurred due to various factors, including: soil fertility, natural factors such as rain, long dry spells which caused physical damage to the pakcoy plants, to clubroot disease which caused a decrease in the quality of vegetables. This study aims to determine the best packaged fertilizer that can reduce clubroot disease and increase the growth of pakcoy plants. The materials used in this study were six types of packaged fertilizers including: Pomi, PSBN, Di-Grow, Myco-Grow, Multitonic, and NPK. As well as pakcoy seeds and several research support tools, such as plastic mulch, polybags, agricultural equipment, measuring devices, and ovens. Data were analyzed statistically with variance to determine the effect of treatment on the observed variables. If it has a significant effect, it is proposed using Duncan's multiple range test at 5% level. Overall, it can be concluded that treatment 4 (Myco-Grow) has the most significant effect on plant height and leaf width, treatment 5 (Multitonic) is the best in terms of attack percentage, and treatment 2 (PSBN) is the best in terms of dry weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: A significant forest decline has been noticed these last years in Europe. Managers need tools to better anticipate these massive events. Objectives: We evaluated the efficiency of easily available data about environmental conditions and stand characteristics to determine different levels of vulnerability. Methods: We combined remote sensing images, photo-interpretation, and digital models describing environmental conditions within a modelling approach to achieve spatial vulnerability assessment of the stands. We focused on silver fir and Norway spruce stands in the Vosges mountains (8900 km2, northeastern France), where severe symptoms of decline are visible. Results: Silver fir were predicted highly vulnerable on 7% of their area versus 33% for Norway spruce. Using an independent dataset, we observed ten-times (silver fir) and two-times (Norway spruce) higher mortality rates in the units with a high level of vulnerability than in the others. About half of the model deviance was directly or indirectly explained by variables related to water stress (soils displaying low water availability, having suffered severe drying events these last years). Furthermore, the stands acclimatised to drought conditions were more resilient. Stand characteristics also influenced dieback spread, suggesting that an evolution of silvicultural practices toward mixed stands with broadleaved species and uneven-aged trees can contribute to better adapt to future climate conditions. Conclusion: Vulnerability maps based on easily available geographic information describing climate, soil, and topography can efficiently discriminate canopy mortality patterns over broad areas, and can be useful tools for managers to mitigate the effects of climate change on forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For 500 years, geopolitical Europe captured almost the entire planet, then after the Second World War it gradually retreated until it saw itself on the verge of extinction, dividing itself between the American West (the new Europe) and the Russian East (Eurasia). After 1990, slowly and with difficulty the core of Europe is being reformed, territorially and numerically reduced, but still a financial and cultural force swinging between the abyss and brilliance. A 9-point plan put into practice could make this continent the core of the world again, based on diversity, multiculturalism, peace and prosperity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]