AIM To analyse cumulative loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of chromosomal regions and tumor suppressor genes in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) from 20 southern African blacks. METHODS p53, RB1, BRCA1, BRCA2, WT1 and E c...AIM To analyse cumulative loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of chromosomal regions and tumor suppressor genes in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) from 20 southern African blacks. METHODS p53, RB1, BRCA1, BRCA2, WT1 and E cadherin genes were analysed for LOH, and p53 gene was also analysed for the codon 249 mutation, in tumor and adjacent non tumorous liver tissues using molecular techniques and 10 polymorphic microsatellite markers. RESULTS p53 codon 249 mutation was found in 25% of the subjects, as was expected, because many patients were from Mozambique, a country with high aflatoxin B 1 exposure. LOH was found at the RB1, BRCA2 and WT1 loci in 20%(4/*!20) of the HCCs, supporting a possible role of these genes in HCC. No LOH was evident in any of the remaining genes. Reports of mutations of p53 and RB1 genes in combination, described in other populations, were not confirmed in this study. Change in microsatellite repeat number was noted at 9/*!10 microsatellite loci in different HCCs, and changes at two or more loci were detected in 15%(3/*!20) of subjects. CONCLUSION We propose that microsatellite/genomic instability may play a role in the pathogenesis of a subset of HCCs in black Africans.展开更多
Background: To determine mortality causes and the associated factors. Patients and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2014 to May 2015 (1 year) in the department of cardiology at University and...Background: To determine mortality causes and the associated factors. Patients and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2014 to May 2015 (1 year) in the department of cardiology at University and teaching Hospital of Brazzaville. Patients admitted for cardiovascular diseases were included. Patients admitted for cardiovascular disease in other departments of the hospital, or without cardiovascular diseases were not included. Results: In total, 1035 patients, 605 women (5804%) were included. Mean age was 57.1 ± 7 years (range: 18 - 85 years). The patients were: elderly (n = 498, 48.1%), educated (n = 809, 78.1%), low-income (n = 253, 24.2%). The medical history of patients was: hypertension (n = 440, 42.5%), diabetes (n = 316, 30.5%), reduced physical activity (n = 154, 14.9%), excessive alcohol intake (n = 56, 5.4%). Heart failure was reported in 386 cases (37.3%). The mortality rate was 8% (n = 83);the mean age of deceased was 61.9 ± 7.3 years (p s in death were dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 37, 44.6%, OR 5, 95%CI 3.1 - 8, p -3.3, p = 0.002), atrial fibrillation (n = 24, 29%, OR 3.6, 95%CI 2.2 - 6, p - 9.8, p = 0.005). The associated death comorbidities were: acute respiratory infection (n = 44, 53%, OR 10.1, 95%CI 6.2 - 16, p - 10 p - 6.8, p Conclusion: Hypertension, heart failure and cardiomyopathies are the leading causes of mortality in the department of cardiology. Prevention and patient education in a low-income environment are essential elements to reduce this morbidity.展开更多
Background: Fibroadenoma is the commonest benign tumour of the breast affecting the majority of young females below the age of thirty in our environment. It is a source of concern and psychological problems in females...Background: Fibroadenoma is the commonest benign tumour of the breast affecting the majority of young females below the age of thirty in our environment. It is a source of concern and psychological problems in females requiring medical attention in our hospitals. Aim: This study describes the clinicopathologic characteristics of fibroadenoma in Eastern Nigerian Igbo females. Methodology: The archives of the Department of Pathology Federal Medical Centre, Owerri was used for the data collection and analyzed using simple statistics. Results: 504 fibroadenomas were analyzed. The average size was 1.99 cm with a range of 0.5 cm to 18 cm. The average age of the patients was 22.6 ± 6.7 years with a range of 9 to 60 years. The peak age of incidence was in the 11 - 20 (44.64%) age group followed closely by the 21 - 30 (43.45%) age group. The ratio of involvement of the left to the right breast was 1:1.2. Fibroadenoma was 18% multiple and 10.7% bilateral. 5.3% (27), 0.6% (3), and 0.2% (1) of the cases were giant, complex fibroadenoma and malignant breast disease in fibroadenoma respectively. Conclusion: This study has provided insights into the clinicopathologic characteristics of fibroadenoma among Nigerian Igbos and calls for more research in this area in other parts Nigeria and elsewhere.展开更多
The accession of an African-American Obama to the U.S. Presidency in 2008 is an epoch-making event. The thesis focuses on the current situation of the blacks in U.S. to highlight the prophetic nature of Faulkner, the ...The accession of an African-American Obama to the U.S. Presidency in 2008 is an epoch-making event. The thesis focuses on the current situation of the blacks in U.S. to highlight the prophetic nature of Faulkner, the Nobel Prize winning American novelist＇s exploration of the blacks throughout his career, namely, the miserable living states of the blacks, racial segregation against the blacks in the sphere of education and religion, racial discrimination against the blacks with regard to civil rights, racial persecution against the blacks in legal cases, and the dependency upon the black leadership to salvage the multi-ethnic nation and so on. The paper comes up with the conclusion that Faulkner is accurate in his prophecy that the savior of the nation, the blacks shall suffer and lead.展开更多
"Nigger Jeff"is a short story,It was written by Theodore Dreiser,a famous American novel-ist in the twentieth century. It was no accident that such a work snould appear during the era of racial discrimanatio..."Nigger Jeff"is a short story,It was written by Theodore Dreiser,a famous American novel-ist in the twentieth century. It was no accident that such a work snould appear during the era of racial discrimanation.The setting of the story is the South. The balcks were slaves before the Civil War there. They re-mained the second class citizens after. Southern whites often used lynching without trial to pur-nish imdividuals and intimeidate the balcks in general. In this story,Jeff,a typical of all the展开更多
Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was shown to be present in 75% of Black Africans with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in whom the tumor was hitherto not thought to be caused by chronic HBV infection. The assoc...Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was shown to be present in 75% of Black Africans with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in whom the tumor was hitherto not thought to be caused by chronic HBV infection. The association between chronic HBV infection and the development of the tumor is thus even closer than was originally thought. HBV viral load was found to be significantly higher in patients with HCC than in Black African controls. As in other populations, HBV e antigen-positive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had significantly higher viral loads than patients negative for this antigen. The significance of this finding is discussed. The risk for HCC development with genotype A of HBV, the predominant genotype in African isolates, has not been investigated. Genotype A was shown to be 4.5 times more likely than other genotypes to cause HCC in Black Africans, and tumours occurred at a significantly younger age. Increasing numbers of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HBV co-infection are being reported to develop HCC. A preliminary case/control comparison supports the belief that HIV co-infection enhances the hepatocarcinogenic potential of HBV. A study from The Gambia provides the first evidence that dietary exposure to afltoxin B1 may cause cirrhosis and thatthis may play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of aflatoxin-induced HCC. An animal model has provided experimental support for the clinical evidence that dietary iron overload in the African is directly hepatocarcinogenic, in addition to causing the tumor indirectly through the development of cirrhosis.展开更多
The authors conducted a retrospective study over a period of 6 months in a hypertensive population in order to determine the correlation between serum uric acid on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and estimated serum ...The authors conducted a retrospective study over a period of 6 months in a hypertensive population in order to determine the correlation between serum uric acid on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and estimated serum potassium with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and obesity. This study enrolled 122 patients including 63 women (51.6%). The mean age was 55.9 ± 10.6 years (range 30 to 74 years). Obesity weight was found in 38 cases (31.1%) of which 20?were men (33.9%) and 18 women (28.6%). Abdominal obesity was found in 104 cases (85.2%). The average serum uric acid in patients with obesity weight was 63.3 ± 18.9 mg/L vs 62.4 ± 14.2 mg/L for no-obese patients (p?= 0.63). The average serum potassium in obese patients was 4.06 ± 0.42 mEq/L vs 4.02 ± 0.46 mEq/L for no-obese (p?= 0.65). The average GFR was 73.4 ± 21.4 ml/L in obese patients vs 66.6 ± 22.6 ml/min in no-obese (p?= 0.03). The LVH was found in 81 cases (66.4%). The LVH was found in 65 (62.5%) obese patients vs?16 (88%) non-obese patients (OR = 4.8, 95% 1.04?-?22?p?= 0.02). Only abdominal?obesity has been correlated with left ventricular hypertrophy after multivariate analysis. Emphasis must be focused on public health actions for effective and appropriate measures against obesity and hypertension, whose prevalence is increasing in our region.展开更多
This study provides an in-depth discussion of the effects of racial discrimination in the United States on blacks when it comes to job searching and job advancement.Compared to Whites,blacks are inlcined to be more sa...This study provides an in-depth discussion of the effects of racial discrimination in the United States on blacks when it comes to job searching and job advancement.Compared to Whites,blacks are inlcined to be more satisfied with their employment,but they have more difficulty finding jobs,and most of them are inclined to be in lower level jobs and slow to advance.Racial discrimination affects society in many ways.White racists can have a large impact on blacks so it is crucial to understand this impact.Previously,racial discrimination in the U.S.would have a large impact on the daily lives(work,participation in activities,range of socialization,living,living environment)of blacks-who generally clustered in a certain neighborhood with a crowded environment.Now,although this phenomenon has improved since the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862,it’s still prevalent and there have been few changes.For this reason this essay investigates the extent to which racial discrimination affects black jobs in the United States and calls for more attention to racial discrimination and equal treatment of each race.展开更多
Black soil is essential for maintaining regional food security and promoting global agricultural production.Understanding the weathering process of parent material and the accumulation of organic carbon is crucial to ...Black soil is essential for maintaining regional food security and promoting global agricultural production.Understanding the weathering process of parent material and the accumulation of organic carbon is crucial to comprehending the developmental history and future trends of black soil,especially against the background of large-scale global cultivation and climate change.Although the importance of black soil formation and evolution cannot be ignored,the relevant research is still very scarce.In this study,a typical eight-meter-deep soil core was collected from the Keshan area of the Songnen Plain,Northeast China,where surface black soil developed on paleo-sediments.Using^(14)C dating,the formation age of the black soil was determined.Based on the characteristics of the geochemical composition,grain size and the magnetic susceptibility of the sediments,it was demonstrated that the black soil and its parent material originated from reworked loess.Furthermore,the mass transfer coefficient(τ)of some elements was determined,in order to explore the soil weathering process.By calculating the transported amount of alkaline and alkaline-earth elements,the weathering rate of parent material to black soil was found to be weak,at 0.16 kEq·ha^(-1)·year^(-1).Combining the results of dating and carbon density in the different layers of black soil,the accumulation rate of organic carbon was determined as follows:rapidly increasing in the initial period of 13.2-2.2 ka,reaching its maximum average value of 34.0 g·cm^(-2)·a^(-1)at 2.2-0.8 ka,then showing a decreasing trend with an average value of-77.5 g·cm^(-2)·a^(-1).Compared with regional climate change,Keshan black soil has developed under a colder and wetter climate during the Holocene.Predictably,ongoing global warming may lead to the degradation of black soils in the Songnen Plain,as well as in other regions.Our results will enrich geological knowledge of black soil formation and future evolutionary trends.展开更多
Scientific knowledge on the chemical compositions of fine particulate matter(PM_(2.5)) is essential for properly assessing its health and climate effects,and for decisionmakers to develop efficient mitigation strategi...Scientific knowledge on the chemical compositions of fine particulate matter(PM_(2.5)) is essential for properly assessing its health and climate effects,and for decisionmakers to develop efficient mitigation strategies.A high-resolution PM_(2.5) chemical composition dataset(CAQRA-aerosol)is developed in this study,which provides hourly maps of organic carbon,black carbon,ammonium,nitrate,and sulfate in China from 2013 to 2020 with a horizontal resolution of 15 km.This paper describes the method,access,and validation results of this dataset.It shows that CAQRA-aerosol has good consistency with observations and achieves higher or comparable accuracy with previous PM_(2.5) composition datasets.Based on CAQRA-aerosol,spatiotemporal changes of different PM_(2.5) compositions were investigated from a national viewpoint,which emphasizes different changes of nitrate from other compositions.The estimated annual rate of population-weighted concentrations of nitrate is 0.23μg m^(−3)yr^(−1) from 2015 to 2020,compared with−0.19 to−1.1μg m^(−3)yr^(−1) for other compositions.The whole dataset is freely available from the China Air Pollution Data Center(https://doi.org/10.12423/capdb_PKU.2023.DA).展开更多
Metal phosphides have been studied as prospective anode materials for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)due to their higher specific capacity compared to other anode materials.However,rapid capacity decay and limited cycle li...Metal phosphides have been studied as prospective anode materials for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)due to their higher specific capacity compared to other anode materials.However,rapid capacity decay and limited cycle life caused by volume expansion and low electrical conductivity of phosphides in SIBs remain still unsolved.To address these issues,GeP_(3) was first prepared by high-energy ball milling,and then Ketjen black(KB)was introduced to synthesize composite GeP_(3)/KB anode materials under controlled milling speed and time by a secondary ball milling process.During the ball milling process,GeP_(3) and KB form strong chemical bonds,resulting in a closely bonded composite.Consequently,the GeP_(3)/KB anodes was demonstrated excellent sodium storage performance,achieving a high reversible capacity of 933.41 mAh·g^(–1) at a current density of 0.05 A·g^(–1) for a special formula of GeP_(3)/KB-600-40 sample prepared at ball milling speed of 600 r/min for 40 h.Even at a high current density of 2 A·g^(–1) over 200 cycles,the capacity remains 314.52 mAh·g^(–1) with a retention rate of 66.6%.In conclusion,this work successfully prepares GeP_(3)/KB anode-carbon composite for electrodes by high-energy ball milling,which can restrict electrode volume expansion,enhance capacity,and improve cycle stability of SIBs.展开更多
The advancement of planar micro-supercapacitors(PMSCs)for micro-electromechanical systems(MEMS)has been significantly hindered by the challenge of achieving high energy and power densities.This study addresses this is...The advancement of planar micro-supercapacitors(PMSCs)for micro-electromechanical systems(MEMS)has been significantly hindered by the challenge of achieving high energy and power densities.This study addresses this issue by leveraging screen-printing technology to fabricate high-performance PMSCs using innovative composite ink.The ink,a synergistic blend of few-layer graphene(Gt),carbon black(CB),and NiCo_(2)O_(4),was meticulously mixed to form a conductive and robust coating that enhanced the capacitive performance of the PMSCs.The optimized ink formulation and printing process result in a micro-supercapacitor with an exceptional areal capacitance of 18.95 mF/cm^(2)and an areal energy density of 2.63μW·h/cm^(2)at a current density of 0.05 mA/cm^(2),along with an areal power density of 0.025 mW/cm^(2).The devices demonstrated impressive durability with a capacitance retention rate of 94.7%after a stringent 20000-cycle test,demonstrating their potential for long-term applications.Moreover,the PMSCs displayed excellent mechanical flexibility,with a capacitance decrease of only 3.43%after 5000 bending cycles,highlighting their suitability for flexible electronic devices.The ease of integrating these PMSCs into series and parallel configurations for customized power further underscores their practicality for integrated power supply solutions in various technologies.展开更多
The Chandipura vesiculovirus(CHPV),a single-stranded,negative sense RNA arbovirus with five structural proteins-the G,N,M,P,and L proteins-is the source of Chandipura virus infection.Children between the ages of 9 mon...The Chandipura vesiculovirus(CHPV),a single-stranded,negative sense RNA arbovirus with five structural proteins-the G,N,M,P,and L proteins-is the source of Chandipura virus infection.Children between the ages of 9 months and 14 years old are the most common recipients of CHPV infection,which is primarily spread by sand flies(Sergentomyia,Phlebotomus species).The potential advantages of black seeds(N.sativa)in the treatment of patients with CHPV infection are the main topic of our current review.The majority of patients infected with CHPV experience neurological complications such as encephalitis and other neurological complications.Since there is currently no approved antiviral treatment,supportive care and symptomatic therapy are the primary methods used to manage CHPV-infected patients.Herbal candidates possessing antioxidant,immunomodulatory,antiviral,and anti-inflammatory qualities may aid in the treatment of CHPV infection.The antiviral,anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,and immunomodulatory qualities of black seeds(N.sativa)have been shown in a number of preclinical and clinical investigations;these attributes could be helpful in the treatment of CHPV infection.Black seeds(N.sativa)may help treat CHPV-infected patients in the early stages of their illness when used in conjunction with symptomatic therapy and supportive care.In patients infected with CHPV,additional randomized controlled clinical trials would assess the efficacy and safety of black seeds(N.sativa).展开更多
This work provides a descriptive analysis of the so-called Black American community whose practical consciousness is a result of adopting,and reacting to,both white values and discriminatory terms to constitute their ...This work provides a descriptive analysis of the so-called Black American community whose practical consciousness is a result of adopting,and reacting to,both white values and discriminatory terms to constitute their practical activities and so-called cultural identity.Outside of the practices associated with these values and discriminatory terms,there is no sui generis Black American identity and community with its own form of system and social integration that is different from,or diametrically opposes,the Protestant Ethic and the spirit of capitalism of their white counterparts,which would emerge out of that relationship.展开更多
An earlier version of this paper has been presented online at the annual Conference of Canadian Sociological Association,during the Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences in Toronto in June 2025.It explores how ra...An earlier version of this paper has been presented online at the annual Conference of Canadian Sociological Association,during the Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences in Toronto in June 2025.It explores how rap music in Quebec,particularly through the work of the rap artist Webster and his collective Limoilou Starz(LS),serves as a tool for meaning-making,political expression,and resistance against racial profiling and police brutality experienced by Black youth in Quebec City.The study focuses on the song“SPVQ”(Service de police de la Ville de Québec)as a case study to analyze the encoding and reception of anti-racist messages within rap culture.Webster draws from a global tradition of socio-political rap-like that of African-American rappers KRS-One,LL Cool J,and Tupac-while anchoring his critique in the local realities of Limoilou,a marginalized,racially diverse district of Quebec City.Through a narrative,figurative,semantic,and ideological analysis of the song,the paper reveals how Webster articulates themes of police brutality,structural discrimination,economic marginalization,and resistance.The rapper’s message is both a form of testimony and a civic intervention.His broader activism is analyzed through ethnographic techniques-including participant observation and interviews during workshops,media appearances,and online campaigns.It translates these messages into tangible social practices.To explain the persistence of these injustices,the paper situates the issue within Quebec’s interculturalism framework,which ostensibly promotes dialogue and integration but often masks or even reinforces structural racism.This model maintains a symbolic majority/minority duality and conditions inclusion on conformity to a dominant White Francophone identity,thus rendering racialized youth as perpetual outsiders.展开更多
We assume exponential corrections to the entropy of 5D charged Ad S black hole solutions,which are derived within the framework of Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity and nonlinear electrodynamics.Additionally,we consider t...We assume exponential corrections to the entropy of 5D charged Ad S black hole solutions,which are derived within the framework of Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity and nonlinear electrodynamics.Additionally,we consider two distinct versions of 5D charged Ad S black holes by setting the parameters q→0 and k→0(where q represents the charge,and k is the non-linear parameter).We investigate these black holes in the extended phase space,where the cosmological constant is interpreted as pressure,demonstrating the first law of black hole thermodynamics.The focus extends to understanding the thermal stability or instability,as well as identifying first and second-order phase transitions.This exploration is carried out through the analysis of various thermodynamic quantities,including heat capacity at constant pressure,Gibbs free energy(GFE),Helmholtz free energy(HFE),and the trace of the Hessian matrix.In order to visualize phase transitions,identify critical points,analyze stability and provide comprehensive analysis,we have made the contour plot of the mentioned thermodynamic quantities and observed that our results are very consistent.These investigations are conducted within the context of exponentially corrected entropies,providing valuable insights into the intricate thermodynamic behavior of these 5D charged Ad S black holes under different parameter limits.展开更多
Humans and other vertebrates are safeguarded from invading pathogenic microbes by the immune system.Black seed,scientifically known as Nigella sativa,has garnered attention for its potential immunomodulatory effects i...Humans and other vertebrates are safeguarded from invading pathogenic microbes by the immune system.Black seed,scientifically known as Nigella sativa,has garnered attention for its potential immunomodulatory effects in both clinical and preclinical studies.This comprehensive review aims to consolidate and analyze the existing body of evidence surrounding the immunological impact of black seeds.In this review,we analyze the immunomodulatory potentials of black seeds(N.sativa).For the purpose of finding pertinent publications,the literatures was searched in web-based databases,including Web of Science,Medline/PMC/PubMed,Embase,EBSCO,Google Scholar,Science Direct,and reference lists.Several clinical,in vivo,and in vitro studies have demonstrated that supplementation with black seeds(N.sativa)has potential immunomodulatory activity.Black seeds(N.sativa)may influence immune responses through a variety of mechanisms.By synthesizing and critically assessing the current state of knowledge on the immunomodulatory effects of black seeds,this review aims to provide valuable insights into the potential therapeutic uses and future research directions for harnessing the immunological benefits of this natural remedy.展开更多
The black coral genus Bathypathes Brook,1889 represents a relatively diverse and ecologically important assemblage comprising the deep-sea hard substrate communities.Recent phylogenetic investigations have revealed th...The black coral genus Bathypathes Brook,1889 represents a relatively diverse and ecologically important assemblage comprising the deep-sea hard substrate communities.Recent phylogenetic investigations have revealed the polyphyletic nature of Bathypathes,urging further morphological analysis to understand its systematics.By combing morphological and molecular data,we describe Bathypathes multifurcata sp.nov.and report B.pseudoalternata Molodtsova,Opresko&Wagner,2022based on the specimens collected from the tropical western Pacific.The phylogenetic topology reconstructed using nuclear ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and three mitochondrial fragments suggests the separation of Bathypathes into four groups.Our analysis of morphological characters,particularly the colony branch and pinnule patterns also roughly classify Bathypathes into four morphological groups A–D.Group A is characterized by the unbranched colony and the subopposite arrangement of pinnules.In contrast to Group A,Groups B–D have the alternately arranged pinnules.Among these,Group C exhibits a distinctly long unpinnulated stem compared to Groups B and D.Group B has unbranched colony,relatively short unpinnulated stem,and spines on pinnules have blunt apex.Within Group D,large colonies(higher than 40 cm)have one or a few branches,small colonies(less than 40 cm)are unbranched,and spines on pinnules have acute apex.Further data particularly those species without sequences are necessary to verify the classification of these groups.展开更多
文摘AIM To analyse cumulative loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of chromosomal regions and tumor suppressor genes in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) from 20 southern African blacks. METHODS p53, RB1, BRCA1, BRCA2, WT1 and E cadherin genes were analysed for LOH, and p53 gene was also analysed for the codon 249 mutation, in tumor and adjacent non tumorous liver tissues using molecular techniques and 10 polymorphic microsatellite markers. RESULTS p53 codon 249 mutation was found in 25% of the subjects, as was expected, because many patients were from Mozambique, a country with high aflatoxin B 1 exposure. LOH was found at the RB1, BRCA2 and WT1 loci in 20%(4/*!20) of the HCCs, supporting a possible role of these genes in HCC. No LOH was evident in any of the remaining genes. Reports of mutations of p53 and RB1 genes in combination, described in other populations, were not confirmed in this study. Change in microsatellite repeat number was noted at 9/*!10 microsatellite loci in different HCCs, and changes at two or more loci were detected in 15%(3/*!20) of subjects. CONCLUSION We propose that microsatellite/genomic instability may play a role in the pathogenesis of a subset of HCCs in black Africans.
文摘Background: To determine mortality causes and the associated factors. Patients and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2014 to May 2015 (1 year) in the department of cardiology at University and teaching Hospital of Brazzaville. Patients admitted for cardiovascular diseases were included. Patients admitted for cardiovascular disease in other departments of the hospital, or without cardiovascular diseases were not included. Results: In total, 1035 patients, 605 women (5804%) were included. Mean age was 57.1 ± 7 years (range: 18 - 85 years). The patients were: elderly (n = 498, 48.1%), educated (n = 809, 78.1%), low-income (n = 253, 24.2%). The medical history of patients was: hypertension (n = 440, 42.5%), diabetes (n = 316, 30.5%), reduced physical activity (n = 154, 14.9%), excessive alcohol intake (n = 56, 5.4%). Heart failure was reported in 386 cases (37.3%). The mortality rate was 8% (n = 83);the mean age of deceased was 61.9 ± 7.3 years (p s in death were dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 37, 44.6%, OR 5, 95%CI 3.1 - 8, p -3.3, p = 0.002), atrial fibrillation (n = 24, 29%, OR 3.6, 95%CI 2.2 - 6, p - 9.8, p = 0.005). The associated death comorbidities were: acute respiratory infection (n = 44, 53%, OR 10.1, 95%CI 6.2 - 16, p - 10 p - 6.8, p Conclusion: Hypertension, heart failure and cardiomyopathies are the leading causes of mortality in the department of cardiology. Prevention and patient education in a low-income environment are essential elements to reduce this morbidity.
文摘Background: Fibroadenoma is the commonest benign tumour of the breast affecting the majority of young females below the age of thirty in our environment. It is a source of concern and psychological problems in females requiring medical attention in our hospitals. Aim: This study describes the clinicopathologic characteristics of fibroadenoma in Eastern Nigerian Igbo females. Methodology: The archives of the Department of Pathology Federal Medical Centre, Owerri was used for the data collection and analyzed using simple statistics. Results: 504 fibroadenomas were analyzed. The average size was 1.99 cm with a range of 0.5 cm to 18 cm. The average age of the patients was 22.6 ± 6.7 years with a range of 9 to 60 years. The peak age of incidence was in the 11 - 20 (44.64%) age group followed closely by the 21 - 30 (43.45%) age group. The ratio of involvement of the left to the right breast was 1:1.2. Fibroadenoma was 18% multiple and 10.7% bilateral. 5.3% (27), 0.6% (3), and 0.2% (1) of the cases were giant, complex fibroadenoma and malignant breast disease in fibroadenoma respectively. Conclusion: This study has provided insights into the clinicopathologic characteristics of fibroadenoma among Nigerian Igbos and calls for more research in this area in other parts Nigeria and elsewhere.
文摘The accession of an African-American Obama to the U.S. Presidency in 2008 is an epoch-making event. The thesis focuses on the current situation of the blacks in U.S. to highlight the prophetic nature of Faulkner, the Nobel Prize winning American novelist＇s exploration of the blacks throughout his career, namely, the miserable living states of the blacks, racial segregation against the blacks in the sphere of education and religion, racial discrimination against the blacks with regard to civil rights, racial persecution against the blacks in legal cases, and the dependency upon the black leadership to salvage the multi-ethnic nation and so on. The paper comes up with the conclusion that Faulkner is accurate in his prophecy that the savior of the nation, the blacks shall suffer and lead.
文摘"Nigger Jeff"is a short story,It was written by Theodore Dreiser,a famous American novel-ist in the twentieth century. It was no accident that such a work snould appear during the era of racial discrimanation.The setting of the story is the South. The balcks were slaves before the Civil War there. They re-mained the second class citizens after. Southern whites often used lynching without trial to pur-nish imdividuals and intimeidate the balcks in general. In this story,Jeff,a typical of all the
文摘Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was shown to be present in 75% of Black Africans with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in whom the tumor was hitherto not thought to be caused by chronic HBV infection. The association between chronic HBV infection and the development of the tumor is thus even closer than was originally thought. HBV viral load was found to be significantly higher in patients with HCC than in Black African controls. As in other populations, HBV e antigen-positive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had significantly higher viral loads than patients negative for this antigen. The significance of this finding is discussed. The risk for HCC development with genotype A of HBV, the predominant genotype in African isolates, has not been investigated. Genotype A was shown to be 4.5 times more likely than other genotypes to cause HCC in Black Africans, and tumours occurred at a significantly younger age. Increasing numbers of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HBV co-infection are being reported to develop HCC. A preliminary case/control comparison supports the belief that HIV co-infection enhances the hepatocarcinogenic potential of HBV. A study from The Gambia provides the first evidence that dietary exposure to afltoxin B1 may cause cirrhosis and thatthis may play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of aflatoxin-induced HCC. An animal model has provided experimental support for the clinical evidence that dietary iron overload in the African is directly hepatocarcinogenic, in addition to causing the tumor indirectly through the development of cirrhosis.
文摘The authors conducted a retrospective study over a period of 6 months in a hypertensive population in order to determine the correlation between serum uric acid on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and estimated serum potassium with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and obesity. This study enrolled 122 patients including 63 women (51.6%). The mean age was 55.9 ± 10.6 years (range 30 to 74 years). Obesity weight was found in 38 cases (31.1%) of which 20?were men (33.9%) and 18 women (28.6%). Abdominal obesity was found in 104 cases (85.2%). The average serum uric acid in patients with obesity weight was 63.3 ± 18.9 mg/L vs 62.4 ± 14.2 mg/L for no-obese patients (p?= 0.63). The average serum potassium in obese patients was 4.06 ± 0.42 mEq/L vs 4.02 ± 0.46 mEq/L for no-obese (p?= 0.65). The average GFR was 73.4 ± 21.4 ml/L in obese patients vs 66.6 ± 22.6 ml/min in no-obese (p?= 0.03). The LVH was found in 81 cases (66.4%). The LVH was found in 65 (62.5%) obese patients vs?16 (88%) non-obese patients (OR = 4.8, 95% 1.04?-?22?p?= 0.02). Only abdominal?obesity has been correlated with left ventricular hypertrophy after multivariate analysis. Emphasis must be focused on public health actions for effective and appropriate measures against obesity and hypertension, whose prevalence is increasing in our region.
文摘This study provides an in-depth discussion of the effects of racial discrimination in the United States on blacks when it comes to job searching and job advancement.Compared to Whites,blacks are inlcined to be more satisfied with their employment,but they have more difficulty finding jobs,and most of them are inclined to be in lower level jobs and slow to advance.Racial discrimination affects society in many ways.White racists can have a large impact on blacks so it is crucial to understand this impact.Previously,racial discrimination in the U.S.would have a large impact on the daily lives(work,participation in activities,range of socialization,living,living environment)of blacks-who generally clustered in a certain neighborhood with a crowded environment.Now,although this phenomenon has improved since the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862,it’s still prevalent and there have been few changes.For this reason this essay investigates the extent to which racial discrimination affects black jobs in the United States and calls for more attention to racial discrimination and equal treatment of each race.
基金financially supported by the Science and Technology Innovation Foundation of the Command Center of Integrated Natural Resources Survey Center(KC20230002)the China Geological Survey Project(DD20230471,DD20220855 and DD20243282)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41872100)the National Key R&D Plan(2022YFC2903402)。
文摘Black soil is essential for maintaining regional food security and promoting global agricultural production.Understanding the weathering process of parent material and the accumulation of organic carbon is crucial to comprehending the developmental history and future trends of black soil,especially against the background of large-scale global cultivation and climate change.Although the importance of black soil formation and evolution cannot be ignored,the relevant research is still very scarce.In this study,a typical eight-meter-deep soil core was collected from the Keshan area of the Songnen Plain,Northeast China,where surface black soil developed on paleo-sediments.Using^(14)C dating,the formation age of the black soil was determined.Based on the characteristics of the geochemical composition,grain size and the magnetic susceptibility of the sediments,it was demonstrated that the black soil and its parent material originated from reworked loess.Furthermore,the mass transfer coefficient(τ)of some elements was determined,in order to explore the soil weathering process.By calculating the transported amount of alkaline and alkaline-earth elements,the weathering rate of parent material to black soil was found to be weak,at 0.16 kEq·ha^(-1)·year^(-1).Combining the results of dating and carbon density in the different layers of black soil,the accumulation rate of organic carbon was determined as follows:rapidly increasing in the initial period of 13.2-2.2 ka,reaching its maximum average value of 34.0 g·cm^(-2)·a^(-1)at 2.2-0.8 ka,then showing a decreasing trend with an average value of-77.5 g·cm^(-2)·a^(-1).Compared with regional climate change,Keshan black soil has developed under a colder and wetter climate during the Holocene.Predictably,ongoing global warming may lead to the degradation of black soils in the Songnen Plain,as well as in other regions.Our results will enrich geological knowledge of black soil formation and future evolutionary trends.
基金support from the National Key Scientific and Technological Infrastructure project “Earth System Science Numerical Simulator Facility” (Earth Lab)sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 42175132, 92044303, and 42205119)+2 种基金the National Key R&D Program (Grant Nos. 2020YFA0607802 and 2022YFC3703003)the CAS Information Technology Program (Grant No. CAS-WX2021SF-0107-02)the fellowship of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2022M723093)
文摘Scientific knowledge on the chemical compositions of fine particulate matter(PM_(2.5)) is essential for properly assessing its health and climate effects,and for decisionmakers to develop efficient mitigation strategies.A high-resolution PM_(2.5) chemical composition dataset(CAQRA-aerosol)is developed in this study,which provides hourly maps of organic carbon,black carbon,ammonium,nitrate,and sulfate in China from 2013 to 2020 with a horizontal resolution of 15 km.This paper describes the method,access,and validation results of this dataset.It shows that CAQRA-aerosol has good consistency with observations and achieves higher or comparable accuracy with previous PM_(2.5) composition datasets.Based on CAQRA-aerosol,spatiotemporal changes of different PM_(2.5) compositions were investigated from a national viewpoint,which emphasizes different changes of nitrate from other compositions.The estimated annual rate of population-weighted concentrations of nitrate is 0.23μg m^(−3)yr^(−1) from 2015 to 2020,compared with−0.19 to−1.1μg m^(−3)yr^(−1) for other compositions.The whole dataset is freely available from the China Air Pollution Data Center(https://doi.org/10.12423/capdb_PKU.2023.DA).
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China Young Scientist Fund(22105120)Shaanxi Province Qin Chuangyuan“Scientist+Engineer”Team Construction Project(2024QCY-KXJ-127)。
文摘Metal phosphides have been studied as prospective anode materials for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)due to their higher specific capacity compared to other anode materials.However,rapid capacity decay and limited cycle life caused by volume expansion and low electrical conductivity of phosphides in SIBs remain still unsolved.To address these issues,GeP_(3) was first prepared by high-energy ball milling,and then Ketjen black(KB)was introduced to synthesize composite GeP_(3)/KB anode materials under controlled milling speed and time by a secondary ball milling process.During the ball milling process,GeP_(3) and KB form strong chemical bonds,resulting in a closely bonded composite.Consequently,the GeP_(3)/KB anodes was demonstrated excellent sodium storage performance,achieving a high reversible capacity of 933.41 mAh·g^(–1) at a current density of 0.05 A·g^(–1) for a special formula of GeP_(3)/KB-600-40 sample prepared at ball milling speed of 600 r/min for 40 h.Even at a high current density of 2 A·g^(–1) over 200 cycles,the capacity remains 314.52 mAh·g^(–1) with a retention rate of 66.6%.In conclusion,this work successfully prepares GeP_(3)/KB anode-carbon composite for electrodes by high-energy ball milling,which can restrict electrode volume expansion,enhance capacity,and improve cycle stability of SIBs.
基金supported by the Shanxi Province Central Guidance Fund for Local Science and Technology Development Project(YDZJSX2024D030)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22075197,22278290)+2 种基金the Shanxi Province Key Research and Development Program Project(2021020660301013)the Shanxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(202103021224079)the Research and Development Project of Key Core and Common Technology of Shanxi Province(20201102018).
文摘The advancement of planar micro-supercapacitors(PMSCs)for micro-electromechanical systems(MEMS)has been significantly hindered by the challenge of achieving high energy and power densities.This study addresses this issue by leveraging screen-printing technology to fabricate high-performance PMSCs using innovative composite ink.The ink,a synergistic blend of few-layer graphene(Gt),carbon black(CB),and NiCo_(2)O_(4),was meticulously mixed to form a conductive and robust coating that enhanced the capacitive performance of the PMSCs.The optimized ink formulation and printing process result in a micro-supercapacitor with an exceptional areal capacitance of 18.95 mF/cm^(2)and an areal energy density of 2.63μW·h/cm^(2)at a current density of 0.05 mA/cm^(2),along with an areal power density of 0.025 mW/cm^(2).The devices demonstrated impressive durability with a capacitance retention rate of 94.7%after a stringent 20000-cycle test,demonstrating their potential for long-term applications.Moreover,the PMSCs displayed excellent mechanical flexibility,with a capacitance decrease of only 3.43%after 5000 bending cycles,highlighting their suitability for flexible electronic devices.The ease of integrating these PMSCs into series and parallel configurations for customized power further underscores their practicality for integrated power supply solutions in various technologies.
文摘The Chandipura vesiculovirus(CHPV),a single-stranded,negative sense RNA arbovirus with five structural proteins-the G,N,M,P,and L proteins-is the source of Chandipura virus infection.Children between the ages of 9 months and 14 years old are the most common recipients of CHPV infection,which is primarily spread by sand flies(Sergentomyia,Phlebotomus species).The potential advantages of black seeds(N.sativa)in the treatment of patients with CHPV infection are the main topic of our current review.The majority of patients infected with CHPV experience neurological complications such as encephalitis and other neurological complications.Since there is currently no approved antiviral treatment,supportive care and symptomatic therapy are the primary methods used to manage CHPV-infected patients.Herbal candidates possessing antioxidant,immunomodulatory,antiviral,and anti-inflammatory qualities may aid in the treatment of CHPV infection.The antiviral,anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,and immunomodulatory qualities of black seeds(N.sativa)have been shown in a number of preclinical and clinical investigations;these attributes could be helpful in the treatment of CHPV infection.Black seeds(N.sativa)may help treat CHPV-infected patients in the early stages of their illness when used in conjunction with symptomatic therapy and supportive care.In patients infected with CHPV,additional randomized controlled clinical trials would assess the efficacy and safety of black seeds(N.sativa).
文摘This work provides a descriptive analysis of the so-called Black American community whose practical consciousness is a result of adopting,and reacting to,both white values and discriminatory terms to constitute their practical activities and so-called cultural identity.Outside of the practices associated with these values and discriminatory terms,there is no sui generis Black American identity and community with its own form of system and social integration that is different from,or diametrically opposes,the Protestant Ethic and the spirit of capitalism of their white counterparts,which would emerge out of that relationship.
文摘An earlier version of this paper has been presented online at the annual Conference of Canadian Sociological Association,during the Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences in Toronto in June 2025.It explores how rap music in Quebec,particularly through the work of the rap artist Webster and his collective Limoilou Starz(LS),serves as a tool for meaning-making,political expression,and resistance against racial profiling and police brutality experienced by Black youth in Quebec City.The study focuses on the song“SPVQ”(Service de police de la Ville de Québec)as a case study to analyze the encoding and reception of anti-racist messages within rap culture.Webster draws from a global tradition of socio-political rap-like that of African-American rappers KRS-One,LL Cool J,and Tupac-while anchoring his critique in the local realities of Limoilou,a marginalized,racially diverse district of Quebec City.Through a narrative,figurative,semantic,and ideological analysis of the song,the paper reveals how Webster articulates themes of police brutality,structural discrimination,economic marginalization,and resistance.The rapper’s message is both a form of testimony and a civic intervention.His broader activism is analyzed through ethnographic techniques-including participant observation and interviews during workshops,media appearances,and online campaigns.It translates these messages into tangible social practices.To explain the persistence of these injustices,the paper situates the issue within Quebec’s interculturalism framework,which ostensibly promotes dialogue and integration but often masks or even reinforces structural racism.This model maintains a symbolic majority/minority duality and conditions inclusion on conformity to a dominant White Francophone identity,thus rendering racialized youth as perpetual outsiders.
基金the Deanship of Research and Graduate Studies at King Khalid University for funding this work through Large Research Project under Grant No.RGP2/539/45。
文摘We assume exponential corrections to the entropy of 5D charged Ad S black hole solutions,which are derived within the framework of Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity and nonlinear electrodynamics.Additionally,we consider two distinct versions of 5D charged Ad S black holes by setting the parameters q→0 and k→0(where q represents the charge,and k is the non-linear parameter).We investigate these black holes in the extended phase space,where the cosmological constant is interpreted as pressure,demonstrating the first law of black hole thermodynamics.The focus extends to understanding the thermal stability or instability,as well as identifying first and second-order phase transitions.This exploration is carried out through the analysis of various thermodynamic quantities,including heat capacity at constant pressure,Gibbs free energy(GFE),Helmholtz free energy(HFE),and the trace of the Hessian matrix.In order to visualize phase transitions,identify critical points,analyze stability and provide comprehensive analysis,we have made the contour plot of the mentioned thermodynamic quantities and observed that our results are very consistent.These investigations are conducted within the context of exponentially corrected entropies,providing valuable insights into the intricate thermodynamic behavior of these 5D charged Ad S black holes under different parameter limits.
文摘Humans and other vertebrates are safeguarded from invading pathogenic microbes by the immune system.Black seed,scientifically known as Nigella sativa,has garnered attention for its potential immunomodulatory effects in both clinical and preclinical studies.This comprehensive review aims to consolidate and analyze the existing body of evidence surrounding the immunological impact of black seeds.In this review,we analyze the immunomodulatory potentials of black seeds(N.sativa).For the purpose of finding pertinent publications,the literatures was searched in web-based databases,including Web of Science,Medline/PMC/PubMed,Embase,EBSCO,Google Scholar,Science Direct,and reference lists.Several clinical,in vivo,and in vitro studies have demonstrated that supplementation with black seeds(N.sativa)has potential immunomodulatory activity.Black seeds(N.sativa)may influence immune responses through a variety of mechanisms.By synthesizing and critically assessing the current state of knowledge on the immunomodulatory effects of black seeds,this review aims to provide valuable insights into the potential therapeutic uses and future research directions for harnessing the immunological benefits of this natural remedy.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41930533,42176128)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDB42000000)+1 种基金the Senior User Project of R/V Kexue(No.KEXUE2020GZ02)the Science and Technology Program of Nanji Islands National Marine Nature Reserve Administration(No.JJZB-PYCG-2021112901)。
文摘The black coral genus Bathypathes Brook,1889 represents a relatively diverse and ecologically important assemblage comprising the deep-sea hard substrate communities.Recent phylogenetic investigations have revealed the polyphyletic nature of Bathypathes,urging further morphological analysis to understand its systematics.By combing morphological and molecular data,we describe Bathypathes multifurcata sp.nov.and report B.pseudoalternata Molodtsova,Opresko&Wagner,2022based on the specimens collected from the tropical western Pacific.The phylogenetic topology reconstructed using nuclear ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and three mitochondrial fragments suggests the separation of Bathypathes into four groups.Our analysis of morphological characters,particularly the colony branch and pinnule patterns also roughly classify Bathypathes into four morphological groups A–D.Group A is characterized by the unbranched colony and the subopposite arrangement of pinnules.In contrast to Group A,Groups B–D have the alternately arranged pinnules.Among these,Group C exhibits a distinctly long unpinnulated stem compared to Groups B and D.Group B has unbranched colony,relatively short unpinnulated stem,and spines on pinnules have blunt apex.Within Group D,large colonies(higher than 40 cm)have one or a few branches,small colonies(less than 40 cm)are unbranched,and spines on pinnules have acute apex.Further data particularly those species without sequences are necessary to verify the classification of these groups.
