Articles

The Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ) is one of the major parameters which determines the structural integrity in welded API 5L X52 pipelines, especially in a sour gas service containing Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) [1]. This thorough review paper performed the analysis of different international standards including Det Norske Veritas Germanischer Lloyd DNVGL-ST-F101, American Petroleum Institute API 1104, National Association of Corrosion Engineers NACE MR0175 and American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME B31.8. The researcher analysed the governing and regulation of Heat Affected Zone microstructure and associated properties including strength, hardness and toughness through the specifications like heat values, time between passes and Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT), welding specifications and qualification of welding procedures, welders and consumables [2]. By collecting and analysing the data from recent studies (2018-2025), the researchers found out that the standards focusing on prescribing strict recipes for welding and qualification procedures like DNVGL-ST-F101, including explicit heat input limits (typically 1.0-2.0 kJ/mm), obligatory post-weld heat treatment (PWHT), and rigorous consumable qualifications, perform well in Heat Affected Zone in sour gas service. The maximum hardness retirement i.e. 22 HRC (248 HV) obligated for sour media creates a critical limitation that forces optimization of welding procedures. The standards which focus on final quality or the end results rather than prescribing any specific method for producing the weld (Performance-based standards) like API 1104 remains less stringent which results in greater variation in properties around the weld i.e. the HAZ area impacting the service reliability in a worse manner during the sour media [3]. Contemporary world adopting new digital welding techniques for monitoring during weld production, prediction of the microstructural properties of HAZ based on machine learning and other advanced methods like hybrid welding processes which combines different precision welding techniques provide promising results for production of high quality and reliable welds which offer enhanced safety and reliability during sour service [4].

<b>Background</b><b>:</b><b> </b>Resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) provides insights into large-scale brain network organization associated with cognitive control, emotion regulation, and attentional processes. The ventral attention network (VAN) is a key salience-driven network that supports attentional re-orienting to behaviorally relevant stimuli. However, little is known about how VAN resting state functional connectivity varies by demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and behavioral factors during early adolescence. <b>Objective</b><b>:</b><b> </b>To examine associations between VAN rsfMRI connectivity and multiple demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and behavioral characteristics. <b>Methods</b><b>:</b><b> </b>Data came from the baseline and early follow-up waves of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. The analytic sample included youth with high-quality baseline rsfMRI data and complete socioeconomic and psychosocial measures. The primary outcome was mean resting-state functional connectivity within the VAN across subcortical and cortical regions of interest (ROIs). Bivariate correlations were computed between VAN connectivity and demographic (age, sex, puberty, race/ethnicity), socioeconomic (income, parental education, marital status, neighborhood income), psychosocial (trauma, discrimination, financial difficulty), trait (impulsivity), and behavioral variables (body mass index, depression, suicide, prodromal symptoms, and substance use). Unadjusted bivariate correlations and adjusted logistic regressions were used for data analysis. <b>Results</b><b>:</b><b> </b>VAN connectivity showed small but significant correlations with multiple contextual factors. Higher household income, parental education, and neighborhood affluence were associated with greater connectivity, whereas Black race and Hispanic ethnicity were related to lower connectivity. Youth reporting higher discrimination and financial difficulty exhibited weaker VAN connectivity. Greater VAN connectivity was negatively associated with impulsive reward-driven trait (drive), prodromal symptoms, BMI, and marijuana and alcohol use. Associations between VAN connectivity and suicide, depression, marijuana use, and alcohol use remained significant in age and sex adjusted models. <b>C</b><b>onclusions</b><b>:</b><b> </b>VAN connectivity reflects subtle neural correlates of socioeconomic and psychosocial context in early adolescence. Our results underscore the importance of integrating structural and contextual factors in interpreting brain-behavior associations across diverse populations. These findings are suggestive of stable socioeconomic and psychosocial correlates of network efficiency.

A man in his 60s with multiple vascular comorbidities presented with sudden, painless vision loss in one eye. Although he had a high risk for atherosclerotic events, initial evaluation for stroke was negative for acute ischemia, but found to have markedly elevated inflammatory markers. Accordingly, giant cell arteritis was investigated and Ophthalmologic findings and fulfillment of the 2022 American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology classification criteria supported the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis, despite a negative temporal artery biopsy. Management included high-dose glucocorticoids and delayed tocilizumab initiation due to the need for multiple vascular surgeries. Vision loss was irreversible, but systemic symptoms resolved and vascular interventions were successful. This case highlights the diagnostic and management complexities of biopsy-negative giant cell arteritis in patients with severe atherosclerotic vascular disease, emphasizing the importance of clinical judgment and established classification criteria when imaging and biopsy results are inconclusive.

<b>Background: </b>Maternal nutrition plays a crucial role in fetal brain development, with vitamin B12 being essential for neuronal myelination and cognitive function. The paper by Hrezova et al. entitled “Vitamin B12 Intake During Pregnancy Linked to Child Speech Development and Intelligence Quotient”, examines the association between maternal B12 intake and early childhood neurodevelopment. <b>Methods: </b>Using data from 5,151 mother-child pairs in the ELSPAC-CZ cohort, maternal B12 intake was assessed through dietary questionnaires, and child cognitive outcomes were evaluated at 18 months, 3 years, and 8 years. Multivariate adjustments were applied to control for potential confounders. <b>Results: </b>The research reports that higher maternal B12 intake was positively associated with improved language comprehension at 18 months (B=0.20,95% CI 0.06,0.34) and increased verbal IQ at 8 years (B=1.08,95% CI 0.09,2.08). However, no significant relationship was observed between maternal B12 intake and speech intelligibility at age 3 (OR=1.03,95% CI 0.99,1.07). Findings suggest B12’s role in early cognitive development but highlight gaps in its long-term effects. <b>Conclusions: </b>Ensuring adequate maternal B12 intake is vital for optimizing early neurodevelopment. Public health initiatives should promote B12 supplementation, especially for pregnant women at risk of deficiency. Further research with objective biomarkers is needed to clarify long-term effects.

(1) <b>Background</b>: Psychological flexibility, the ability to adapt to changing demands while staying true to personal values, is linked to better health behaviors. However, its relationship with cardiovascular health behaviors, particularly in Filipino populations, remains underexplored. (2) <b>Aim</b>: This study aimed to examine the relationship between psychological flexibility and cardiovascular health behaviors among outpatients in Rizal, Philippines, focusing on BMI, smoking, physical activity, and dietary habits. (3) <b>Methods</b>: A cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational design was used with 100 outpatient participants from selected hospitals. Psychological flexibility was measured using the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), and cardiovascular health behaviors were assessed using a modified version of the American Heart Association’s Life Simple 7 tool. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation were applied. (4) <b>Results</b>: The findings showed that respondents had neutral levels of psychological flexibility. While most exhibited intermediate BMI and physical activity, dietary habits varied. A significant positive correlation was found between psychological flexibility and whole grain consumption. However, no significant associations were found with BMI, smoking, or physical activity. (5) <b>Conclusions</b>: Psychological flexibility appears to influence specific health behaviors, such as dietary choices, but does not strongly correlate with other cardiovascular health behaviors. Further research is needed to explore its broader role in cardiovascular disease prevention.

<b>Background: </b>Mechanical low back pain (MLBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with well-established risk factors such as obesity, occupational ergonomics, and core muscle strength. However, the role of pes planus (flat foot) as a contributing factor remains underrecognized. This study aims to investigate the association between flat foot and MLBP using Clarke’s angle as an objective measure of foot posture.<b> Methods: </b>A case-control study was conducted in South Timor Tengah Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, from December 2024 to February 2025. Fifty patients diagnosed with MLBP and 50 healthy controls were enrolled. Foot type assessment was performed using Clarke’s angle, with a cutoff of ≤30° indicating flat foot. Pain severity in the LBP group was recorded using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square and independent t-tests, with significance set at p < 0.05.<b> Results: </b>Flat foot was significantly more prevalent in the LBP group (58%) than in the control group (18%) (p = 0.000; OR: 6.29, 95% CI: 2.52-15.69), indicating that individuals with flat feet are over six times more likely to experience MLBP. No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding BMI, age, or gender.<b> Conclusion: </b>These findings suggest that flat foot is an independent risk factor for MLBP, likely due to altered spinal biomechanics and compensatory postural changes. Clinicians should consider foot posture assessments in MLBP patients and explore targeted interventions, such as orthotic support, to mitigate symptoms.

<b>Background</b><b>:</b> Socioeconomic status (SES) is a well-established determinant of health, often associated with lower risk of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD). However, the extent to which SES influences CMD may vary by gender due to differences in social roles, health behaviors, and biological susceptibilities. This study examined the relationship between SES, measured by the poverty-to-income ratio (PIR), and CMD indicators—including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD)—among men and women using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). <b>Methods</b><b>:</b> This cross-sectional study utilized NHANES data (1999-2018), adjusting for race/ethnicity and age. SES was operationalized using PIR, with CMD outcomes (obesity, diabetes, and CVD) as dependent variables. Generalized linear models (GLM) were employed to evaluate the main effects of SES on CMD, with gender included as a moderator. <b>Results</b><b>:</b> Higher SES was associated with lower overall CMD risk. However, the protective effects of SES were more pronounced in women than in men for all outcomes. These findings suggest that gender-specific pathways may mediate the relationship between SES and CMD. Women may derive greater health benefits from higher SES due to factors such as reduced stress exposure, healthier behaviors, and increased healthcare utilization. Conversely, the weaker association observed in men may reflect differences in social hierarchy sensitivity, responses to unemployment, or other contextual factors. <b>Conclusion</b><b>:</b> The findings highlight the importance of gender-specific considerations when addressing SES-related disparities in CMD outcomes. Policies and interventions aimed at reducing CMD burden should account for these gender differences to promote equitable improvements in cardiometabolic health. Further research is needed to unravel the mechanisms driving these differences and to inform targeted strategies.

<b>Objective: </b>This study explores the relationship between neighborhood stress and Body Mass Index (BMI) in adolescents, while also examining whether this association differs between Black and White adolescents. <b>Methods:</b> Data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study were analyzed using linear regression models to examine the association between neighborhood stress (defined as a composite score based on three items measuring perceived safety and neighborhood fear) and BMI in adolescents, controlling for demographic and socioeconomic variables. We tested models both with and without interaction terms to assess whether race moderated the association. Stratified analyses were conducted to further explore potential differences between Black and White adolescents. <b>Results:</b> A positive association was observed between neighborhood stress and BMI across the overall sample. However, this association was weaker for Black adolescents compared to White adolescents, even after adjusting for potential confounders. <b>Conclusions:</b> The contribution of neighborhood stress to higher BMI in adolescents may vary by race. Our findings suggest that while neighborhood stress is associated with increased BMI, Black adolescents appear to be less affected by these stressors than their White peers. This weaker association could be due to the normalization of stress in environments where it is pervasive (what is common becomes normal) or the presence of other significant risk factors affecting BMI in Black youth, such as poverty, limited food access, food culture, and food deserts. Future research should explore processes of habituation, inoculation, or even sensitization to stress among Black populations, who are often exposed to a wide range of stressors throughout the life course.

<b>Objective: </b>Previous research has underscored the link between allostatic load—a comprehensive indicator of the cumulative physiological burden of chronic stress—and depression. However, there remains a significant gap in understanding how this relationship may differ across race and sex intersectional groups. This study aimed to investigate variations in the association between elevated allostatic load (AL>4) and depression among different race-sex intersectional groups within the general population. <b>Methods: </b>This cross-sectional secondary analysis utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2005-2018. The analysis included variables such as race, sex, age, socioeconomic status, depression (measured via the Patient Health Questionnaire - PHQ), and allostatic load. Linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the interactions between race and sex with allostatic load, focusing on the likelihood of high depression as the outcome. <b>Results: </b>Across the pooled sample, an allostatic load greater than 4 was significantly associated with increased depression. Notably, an interaction effect was observed between race and AL>4 on depression among women, indicating that non-Hispanic Black women with a high allostatic load exhibited more pronounced depressive symptoms (Beta: 1.09, CI: 0.02-2.61). Conversely, among men, allostatic load greater than 4 neither correlated with nor interacted with race to influence depression levels. <b>Conclusion: </b>The study highlights the critical need to consider allostatic load as a key target for interventions that aim to reduce depression among Black women. These findings underscore the necessity for customized intervention strategies that address the nuanced race-sex disparities in the impact of allostatic load on mental health across populations.

The purpose of this study was to use an activity-based method to enhance the teaching and learning of Redox reactions among senior high school learners at Christ the King at Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, Ghana. Quantitatively, the study employed an action research design. The population of the study comprised all final-year elective chemistry students of Christ the King Senior High School (CKC) in the Ashanti region of Ghana. A purposive sampling technique was used to select thirty-five (35). The instruments used in the study were tested. Percentages of students who responded correctly to the pre-test items were compared to percentages of students who responded correctly to the post-test items. The pre-test and post-test mean scores were compared to see if there was any difference in their mean scores. The use of an activity-based teaching method in teaching chemistry appears to be used effectively in imparting the content knowledge of chemistry to students to become successful in their learning. Regarding the benefits of the activity-based method. The use of activity-based teaching methods in redox reaction motivates students to be self-learners and improves performance. It is also evident from the findings of this study that the use of the activity-based method of teaching could enhance student performance in a redox reaction. It is recommended that activity-based methods of teaching should be encouraged to be used by chemistry teachers in the Senior High Schools of Ghana in teaching redox reaction concepts to enhance students’ performance in redox reactions. It is also recommended that the Ghana education service should collaborate with the chemistry teachers’ Association of Ghana to organize professional development programs, seminars, and workshops for chemistry teachers on activity-based to improve their knowledge of teaching skills.

The purpose of the study was to assess teachers’ use of field trips in evaluating Social Studies lessons in Winneba Senior High School in Effutu Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana. Qualitatively, a case study research design was employed for the study. The population of this study comprised all the four (4) Social Studies teachers and Social Studies Association president in Winneba Senior High School. Convenient and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the municipality, Winneba Senior High School and Social Studies teachers and Social Studies Association president for the study. The main instrument for data collection was semi-structured interview guide. The data was analysed through the use of the interpretative method on the themes identified during the data collection. The study indicated that the use of field trips in the teaching and learning of Social Studies has the potential to influence the understanding levels of students and teachers. Therefore, field trips have the potential to help students and teachers to gain new knowledge that may not have been obtained through theoretical learning in the classroom. The study also revealed that organisation of field a trip has some challenges, such as, time as the main factor, financial problems, inadequate support from School Management, Parents and some teachers, nature of the curriculum, the behaviour of students outdoor were related to the research questions and interpreted on the number of issues raised by respondents. It is recommended that procedures for seeking permission be outlined by the Ghana Education Service to facilitate easy permission processes and to reduce the stress associated with seeking permission for organizing field trips for teachers and students in Senior High Schools. It is also recommended that students should be educated more and more by their Social Studies teachers on the importance of embarking on field trips to eliminate the lukewarm attitudes of some of the students. It is recommended that the Regional and District directors of education should ensure constant and effective supervision of teachers to encourage the use of field trips as a teaching strategy for the evaluate Social Studies lessons.

A phytosociological review is carried out of the pine forest formations on the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola (Caribbean), due to the diversity of soils and environments. We collected 10 plant associations belonging to the class <i>Byrsonimo-Pinetea caribaea</i> growing on siliceous, calcareous and sandy substrates and 21 associations on special, serpentine and ophite substrates and on ultramafic rocks belonging to the class <i>Caseario</i><i> crassinervis</i><i>-Pinetea cubensis, </i>exclusive to Cuba; while the association of pine forests on serpentines in Hispaniola is included in the class <i>Phyllantho orbicularis-Neobracetea valenzuelanae </i>with a Caribbean distribution. The comparative phytosociological and statistical study reveals phytosociological anomalies in the inclusion of various syntaxa, and in the description of other syntaxa according to the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICPN). We therefore propose a change in status for several of the subassociations described: subass. <i>ilicetosum repandae</i>: syn. var. con <i>Ilex repanda</i>; subass. <i>schmidtottietosum shaferi</i>: syn. var. with <i>Schmidtottia shaferi</i>; subass. <i>acrosynanthetosum trachyphylli</i>: syn. var. with <i>Acrosynanthus trachyphyllus</i>; subass. <i>psychotrietosum grandis</i>: var. con <i>Psychotria grandis</i>; subass. <i>notodonetosum roigii</i>: syn. var. with <i>Notodon roigii</i>. We also propose a <i>nomen novum</i>: <i>jaquinietosum oxhyphyllae</i> Reyes &#x26; Acosta 2012 ex Cano et al<i>. hoc loco</i>.

Novel corona virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which started in China's Hubei province in 2019, has caused a significant loss of human lives globally. This study describes the epidemiologic and clinical profiles of COVID-19 related deaths among patients admitted to treatment centers in Sidama region, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study of 186 in hospital COVID-19 related deaths that occurred from July 2020 to December 2021 in Sidama region were analyzed. Data was extracted from regional emergency operation center death report. Data was entered using Epidata v3.1 and analysis was done using SPSS v.20. Categorical data was summarized using frequency and percentage while continuous data was summarized using median and interquartile range. Association between variables was assessed using chi-square test. More than two-third of the deceased patients were male (135; 72.6%) and median age at death was 60. The majority of deaths (151; 81.1%) occurred in 2021, while April 2021 had the highest death records. Cough and shortness of breath were the main presenting symptoms occurring in 89.2% and 85.5% of deceased patients respectively. Most of the COVID-19 related deaths (64.5%) had associated comorbidities. Diabetes (50%) and Hypertension (39.2%) were the most prevalent comorbidities. Significant proportion of patients (74.73%) presented on severe end of disease spectrum (critical/ severe). Of the deceased patients, around two-third required Intensive care unit (ICU) admission and 111 of them were put on mechanical ventilator. Moreover, the median ICU stay was 4 days. Around half of the death (48.4%) occurred in the first 5 days. The median survival time from symptom onset was 11.5 days with most (43.5%) of the deaths occurring within the first 14 days of symptom onset. Age category was significantly associated with the number of days from onset to death (p=0.006). The case fatality rate was 1.87% which is lower than national and global reports. Unlike previous studies, the prevalence of asthma among deceased patients was low and there were no patients with documented COPD.

The purpose of the study was to examine factors associated with low female participation in colleges of education sports. The population of the study was made up of female colleges of education athletes from Central, Western and Western North Regions of Ghana. Purposive and simple random techniques were used to the colleges of education and the respondents for the study. All the all the six colleges of education were purposively sampled and sampling technique was used to select the one hundred and eighty (180) participants who participate in the College of Education Sports Association (CoESA) games and in the Central, Western and Western North Regions of Ghana were used for the study. The main instrument for the study was a self-structured questionnaire (r= 0.92) containing items based on a five-point Likert scale was used for data collection. The data was analyzed using frequencies, percentages and Chi-square test to determine the relationship among the factors. The study revealed that there is the need for college authorities and female coaches in the colleges of education to take care of female athletes and make adequate provision for more modern sports facilities and equipment to sustain their interest in sports participation. The study recommended that, that the coaches should be mindful of their approach to prospective sportswomen. It is also recommended that, various colleges of education should make a concerted effort to organize programmes and seminars regularly to educate females in the colleges on the career benefits of sports participation and iron out their misconceptions.

The aim of the research was to examine the influence of parenting styles on academic performance of students in Aowin Municipality in the Western North Region of Ghana. Descriptive survey design was employed to collect quantitative data from the respondents. The study targeted all final year public junior high school students in the Aowin Municipality. A multi-stage sampling technique which involved the use of probability sampling techniques was employed to select 252 respondents with 142 boys and 110 girls. The main data collection instrument was questionnaire with 46 items. Document analysis was also performed on the pupils’ end of term examination results. Means, standard deviation, multiple regression, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation and Chi-square were employed to analyse the data. The results revealed that authoritative parenting style dominates in parents of the JHS students in the municipality. The study concluded that, Authoritative parenting style predominates in JHS students in the Aowin municipality. There was a correlation between the parenting style of parents and the academic performance of JHS students. It was seen that, student coming from the authoritative parenting style had high performance than those coming from the authoritarian, permissive and neglectful parenting style. Students from neglectful parenting homes demonstrated low performance in school. It is recommended that policies should be developed by Ministry of Education to encourage parents to adopt appropriate parenting styles like the authoritative parenting style which has been revealed by this study as related to good academic performance. Management of various schools should collaborate with Parent-Teacher Association to organize seminars and workshops to educate parents on the influences of the various parenting styles on their children academic performance. This will enlighten parents on employing effective parenting style like authoritative parenting style that has been revealed by this study to correlates with high academic performance.

The International Association for the Study of Pain has classified pain into nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain, and nociplastic pain based on the cause of the pain. At present, nociplastic pain is pain that is not nociceptive pain and has the following characteristics: no clear evidence of actual or threatened tissue damage causing the activation of peripheral nociceptors or evidence for disease or lesion of the somatosensory system causing the pain. If there is tissue damage, disease or lesion, it is neuropathic pain; if there is none, it is nociplastic pain. In other words, the difference in diagnosis is whether or not tissue damage, disease, or lesion can be found at the current medical level (testing equipment). The treatment of nociplastic pain is almost the same as the treatment of neuropathic pain. Fibromyalgia is included in nociplastic pain. To my knowledge, of the nociplastic pain and neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia is the disease with the highest number of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments with evidence of efficacy. Effective treatments for fibromyalgia are often given to neuropathic pain. This expands treatment options. I presume that tissue damage, disease or lesion will be found in fibromyalgia through advances in the medical science by the time humans emigrate to Mars. The distinction between nociplastic pain and neuropathic pain complicates the diagnosis of chronic pain. However, the distinction does not improve the treatment outcomes. Medical science is the discipline to find a treatment method that can produce better outcomes. In the event of a medical controversy, the medical theory with better treatment outcomes should be adopted. It is desirable to combine nociplastic pain and neuropathic pain into one pain. This will simplify diagnosis and increase treatment options (improve treatment outcomes) in nociplastic pain and neuropathic pain.

MUP (medically unexplained pain) is a pain whose cause cannot be determined by diagnostic imaging, blood test, physical examination and past medical history, etc. Many departments have independently created the concept, definition, and diagnostic criterion in MUP. This leads to an abnormal situation in which each department has different disease concepts and diagnostic criteria. It is out-of-the-ordinary that physicians from the different departments make different diagnoses in the same patient. MUP has caused confusion in clinical practice. The medical community should make the unified disease concept, definition, and diagnostic criterion of MUP. For this purpose, the various scientific organizations involved in MUP need to discuss. In this case, the first priority should not be the majority vote, but the treatment outcomes. The solution to a medical controversy is to choose a medical theory or treatment method that produces better long-term results.