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This chapter examines the relationship between the United Nations (UN) and African troop contributing countries (TCCs). As a continent which has both hosted and contributed to numerous UN peacekeeping missions, Africa has shaped and is shaped by peacekeeping practices. This chapter considers African states' historical presence in UN peacekeeping operations since the 1960s and distinguishes between
Change in microcultures follows when the what-, who-, or how-aspect changes.Change can start in one of the three aspects but eventually they may all change.Members are likely to engage in restoration of order when a disruption is noticed.Through a process of complex contagion, however, they can change. These processesare slow and they are characterised by repeated interaction between parties that
In this study, we present the solvothermal synthesis of LuPO4:Pr3+ (1%) nanocrystals in a dimethyl sulfoxide-water solvent system. The as-prepared nanocrystals exhibit a relatively high degree of crystallinity, along with significant short-range disorder, particularly in the anionic sublattice, as revealed by XRD and Raman spectroscopy data. Low temperature luminescence spectroscopy under VUV exci
In March 2020, the higher education sector was massively disrupted by [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19. While most universities run online programmes successfully informed by a wealth of research into online learning and teaching, many universities focus their energy and resources on educating and interacting with students on-campus. The technological changes of the past two decades have enable
Educational development initiatives in the form of short-lived, isolated pedagogical courses may at best change the thinking and practice of a few pioneers, and then perhaps only temporarily. It is only possible to successfully address the need that such initiatives are intended to meet if the impact is lasting and effects a cultural change locally at the university. In this study, we look beyond
Background/Objectives: In neurocritical care, usually, the only continuous measurement of brain pathophysiology is intracranial pressure (ICP). The objective of this study was to find the relationship between cerebral blood flow (CBF) and parameters usually measured in neurocritical care, mainly central venous pressure and ICP. Methods: If the venous outflow of the CBF is considered, the CBF is co
INTRODUCTION: Biomarkers play a crucial role in understanding Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis and treatment effects. However, comparing biomarker measures without standardization and appreciating their magnitude relative to the disease can be challenging. METHODS: To address this issue, we propose the CentiMarker approach, similar to Centiloid, which provides a standardized scale between nor
ObjectivesFrequent blood sampling in vulnerable patient groups, such as prematurely born infants, can lead to significant blood loss and increased transfusion needs. Current pre-analytical technology requires comparably large blood volumes and leads to discarding of cells. This study investigates a device prototype enabling in-line sampling where cell-reduced plasma for clinical chemistry analyses
Particle exchange heat engines are a novel class of cyclic heat engines that are all-electrical, contain no moving parts and can therefore be scaled down to nanometer size. At the center of their operation is the manipulation of a particle flow between a hot and a cold reservoir through energy filtering mechanisms, where their efficiency depends primarily on the sharpness of the energy filter. In
Background: Understanding the relationship between serum ferritin levels and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes is crucial for improving risk stratification and guiding therapeutic interventions aimed at preventing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). This study aimed to identify distinct clusters of individuals with type 2 diabetes who have varying risks of MACE using a data-driven
Thermoacoustic effects arise when a temperature gradient is present in a sound field. This work investigates the interplay of orthogonal sound and thermal fields in a water-filled microchannel. We measured the three-dimensional streaming in the water-filled cavity for only sound applied, for only thermal gradient, and for the two fields combined. The resulting thermoacoustic streaming was 30 times
Background: Management of traumatic spinal cord injury is complex and depends on a multidisciplinary approach involving pre-hospital services, spinal surgery, intensive care unit treatment and specialized rehabilitation. International clinical practice guidelines for the handling of these patients offer specific recommendations regarding transportation, radiological investigations, timing of surge
Background & aims: Colorectal cancer (CRC), particularly rectal cancer, often requires neoadjuvant radiotherapy (RT) as part of its treatment plan. Although effective, RT can cause significant gastrointestinal side effects. Because the onset of RT-induced tissue injury can be anticipated, there is an opportunity to apply preventive measures before the damage occurs. This study aimed to assess
The delay between the origin of animals in the Neoproterozoic and their Cambrian diversification remains perplexing. Animal diversification mirrors an expansion in marine shelf area under a greenhouse climate, though the extent to which these environmental conditions directly influenced physiology and early organismal ecology remains unclear. Here, we use a biogeochemical model to quantify oxygen
We address the structure of homogeneous mixtures of equal volumes of water and oil rendered miscible by the addition of amphiphilic molecules. Specifically, we study the pathway from regular ternary solutions to structured microemulsions with increasing amphiphilic chain length, i.e., increasing i and j for alkyl polyglycol ether surfactants (CiEj) from C3E0 (i.e., propanol) to C5E2, using contras
Business model innovation (BMI) plays a key role in driving sustainability transitions, yet its interplay with the broader socio-technical system is often overlooked. This study investigates BMI in the emerging niche of insect-based food and feed in Sweden, employing a combined Business Model Design Space (BMDS) and dynamic capabilities perspective. Drawing on interviews with ten insect firms, we
This study inventories, classifies, and evaluates the hydrological heritage of North Macedonia, categorizing key features into four main groups: (1) river basins, including rivers and waterfalls; (2) springs, classified as karst and thermal; (3) natural lakes, subdivided into tectonic, glacial, landslide, denudation, and karst types; and (4) marshes. Recent measurements have shown a significant de
The development of treatment resistance remains universal for patients with metastatic prostate cancer, driven by androgen receptor alterations and lineage state transitions. Identifying the evolution of lineage transitions in treatment resistance has been limited by the challenges of collecting serial tissue biopsies on treatment, which can be overcome using blood-based liquid biopsies. Using a n
Aedes albopictus, a key vector for Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, and Yellow Fever, is expanding its range beyond its tropical and subtropical origins, driven by suitable climate, population mobility, trade, and urbanization. Since its introduction to Europe, Ae. albopictus has rapidly spread and triggered recurrent outbreaks. Past model attempts have handled vector suitability and vector introduction
