The Economic and Environmental Impact of Shinkansen and High-Speed Rail Infrastructure: A Comparative Analysis of Economic Growth and Carbon Emissions Reduction

The development of Japan\u27s high-speed rail system, the Shinkansen, has played a pivotal role in the country\u27s post-war economic resurgence. Introduced in 1964 with the Tokaidō Shinkansen, this transformative infrastructure investment significantly reduced travel times, bolstered economic activity around station hubs, and facilitated regional development by enabling urban decentralization. This paper explores the long-term economic benefits of high-speed rail, including its impact on land value, business expansion, and carbon emissions. The case study of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, Japan\u27s latest maglev project, underscores both the economic promise and the political resistance to expansion, particularly in regions such as Shizuoka. Using econometric models and longitudinal data, the correlation between high-speed rail investments and economic growth, regional equity, and environmental sustainability has been analyzed. Findings suggest that while Shinkansen projects entail high initial costs, they yield significant long-term benefits, including CO2 reduction and enhanced regional connectivity. Comparisons with international high-speed rail systems further highlight the necessity of integrating passenger and freight transport to maximize efficiency and sustainability. Additionally, behavioral trends indicate that transportation habits established over time influence the adoption of new rail technologies, as observed in urban versus rural commuting patterns. Ultimately, this study argues that continued investment in high-speed rail infrastructure, particularly maglev technology, is essential for Japan’s economic and environmental future. The broader implications for global urban planning suggest that high-speed rail can serve as a cornerstone of sustainable and equitable economic growth when integrated with comprehensive urban development strategies

The Vlasov limit and its fluctuations for a system of particles which interact by means of a wave field

In two recent publications [Commun. PDE, vol.22, p.307--335 (1997), Commun. Math. Phys., vol.203, p.1--19 (1999)], A. Komech, M. Kunze and H. Spohn studied the joint dynamics of a classical point particle and a wave type generalization of the Newtonian gravity potential, coupled in a regularized way. In the present paper the many-body dynamics of this model is studied. The Vlasov continuum limit is obtained in form equivalent to a weak law of large numbers. We also establish a central limit theorem for the fluctuations around this limit.Comment: 68 pages. Smaller corrections: two inequalities in sections 3 and two inequalities in section 4, and definition of a Banach space in appendix A1. Presentation of LLN and CLT in section 4.3 improved. Notation improve

Risk factors for transmission of Ebola or Marburg virus disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The Ebola virus disease outbreak that started in Western Africa in 2013 was unprecedented because it spread within densely populated urban environments and affected many thousands of people. As a result, previous advice and guidelines need to be critically reviewed, especially with regard to transmission risks in different contexts. Methods Scientific and grey literature were searched for articles about any African filovirus. Articles were screened for information about transmission (prevalence or odds ratios especially). Data were extracted from eligible articles and summarised narratively with partial meta-analysis. Study quality was also evaluated. Results 31 reports were selected from 6552 found in the initial search. Eight papers gave numerical odds for contracting filovirus illness, 23 further articles provided supporting anecdotal observations about how transmission probably occurred for individuals. Many forms of contact (conversation, sharing a meal, sharing a bed, direct or indirect touching) were unlikely to result in disease transmission during incubation or early illness. Amongst household contacts who reported directly touching a case, the attack rate was 32% (95% CI 26-38%). Risk of disease transmission between household members without direct contact was low (1%; 95% CI 0-5%). Caring for a case in the community, especially until death, and participation in traditional funeral rites were strongly associated with acquiring disease, probably due to a high degree of direct physical contact with case or cadaver. Conclusions Transmission of filovirus is unlikely except through close contact, especially during the most severe stages of acute illness. More data are needed about the context, intimacy and timing of contact required to raise the odds of disease transmission. Risk factors specific to urban settings may need to be determined

Different histories but similar genetic diversity and structure for black walnut in Indiana and Missouri

—Missouri and Indiana have markedly different histories of glaciation and recolonization by forest trees. These states also differ in land use patterns and degree of anthropogenic landscape change such as forest fragmentation. To determine the overall effects of these and other demographic differences on the levels of genetic diversity and structure in black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) more than 550 total black walnut trees from nine populations in Indiana and 10 in Missouri were sampled and analyzed using 12 nuclear microsatellite loci. Although genetic diversity parameters such as allelic richness and expected heterozygosity were high overall, they varied little among populations and their mean values for the two states were not significantly different. Pairwise genetic distance values between all population pairs ranged from 0.012-0.159, but no significant pattern of isolation by distance was detected. The estimate of the degree of genetic differentiation between states (FPT = 0.0009) was very small and not significant, indicating that differences between states explained an inconsequential portion of the total variance. The observed low levels of local and regional genetic structure indicate that high levels of pollen flow have buffered black walnut from the genetic consequences of founder effects and genetic drift in both geologic and recent time scales

Mental Health Services in a Camp Setting: Choices, Challenges, Change

The prevalence of mental health issues among youth, with nearly half meeting diagnostic criteria for a mental health disorder and suicide being a leading cause of death, underscores the urgency for effective intervention (National Institute of Mental Health, 2023). Summer camps, hosting millions of children annually, are urged by the American Camp Association to establish mental health support, ranging from trained counselors to licensed therapists (ACA, 2009; 2022). At the 2023 National Scout Jamboree, mental health services were offered for the first time. During the Jamboree, 82 participants received individual or group mental health services in the Mental Health Clinic. The current article presents a comprehensive overview of the mental health services provided at the 2023 National Scout Jamboree to provide insights into the nature of these mental health services and propose practical recommendations that can guide the incorporation of mental health support in future camp settings. Additionally, the current study contributes to the broader understanding of mental health in camp environments and provides a practical 3-tier model for use within a camp setting. Results emphasize the need for effective time-limited interventions and support to youth in camp settings. To expand on the findings of this paper, the authors plan to conduct an additional study to provide a model of care to be implemented in future camp settings. They also plan to explore how education and training can be used across groups (i.e., peers, adult leaders, and community volunteers) to improve access to mental health resources for those attending camp

PENINGKATAN KECERDASAN SISWA SD NEGERI SAMANG MELALUI KEGIATAN CERDAS CERMAT DI PULAU-PULAU KECIL PERBATASAN KABUPATEN KEPULAUAN ARU

Bagi pelajar di Sekolah Dasar, kecerdasan seharusnya tidak cukup diperoleh melalui pelajaran dan kegiatan di sekolah. Kecerdasan bisa diasah melalui aneka kegiatan luar sekolah, termasuk kegiatan bersama teman dari sekolah lainnya di satu desa yang sama. Kegiatan yang dilakukan juga bisa beragam. Salah satunya adalah dengan cerdas cermat pengetahuan umum desa mereka sendiri. Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat yang diinisiatif oleh dosen pada program studi Pendidikan guru sekolah dasar kabupaten kepulauan aru, ini memprogramkan kegiatan cerdas cemas antara pelajar Sekolah Dasar di SD Negeri Samang Kabupaten Kepulauan Aru. Adapun materi cerdas cermat yang dilombakan adalah pengetahuan umum mengenai situasi dan kondisi desa, pengetahuan IPA dan Matematika, Tujuannya adalah memperdalam pengetahuan dan wawasan pelajar Sekolah Dasar akan pengetahuan dan budaya lokal serta kecintaan kepada desa dan lingkungan sendiri. Kegiatan ini meliputi beberapa tahap yakni: 1 persiapan (konsolidasi aneka stakeholder yang terlibat, pembentukan panitia, penyusunan soal, kunci jawaban dan teknis pelaksanaan lomba, dan sosialisasi pelaksanaan kegiatan); 2) pelaksanaan: perlombaan cerdas cermat; 3) evaluasi. Melalui kegiatan ini, kecerdasan dalam aspek pengetahuan lokal siswa dapat diasah. Di samping itu, terbina kerukunan, kearaban dan persaudaraan antara Siswa. Bagi kampus, luaran lainnya adalah dihasilkannya artikel Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat

Restoration of radiation therapy-induced salivary gland dysfunction in mice by post therapy IGF-1 administration

Abstract Background Radiotherapy for head and neck cancer results in severe and chronic salivary gland dysfunction in most individuals. This results in significant side effects including xerostomia, dysphagia, and malnutrition which are linked to significant reductions in patients' quality of life. Currently there are few xerostomia treatment approaches that provide long-term results without significant side effects. To address this problem we investigated the potential for post-therapeutic IGF-1 to reverse radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction. Methods FVB mice were treated with targeted head and neck radiation and significant reductions in salivary function were confirmed 3 days after treatment. On days 4-8 after radiation, one group of mice was injected intravenously with IGF-1 while a second group served as a vehicle control. Stimulated salivary flow rates were evaluated on days 30, 60, and 90 and histological analysis was performed on days 9, 30, 60, and 90. Results Irradiated animals receiving vehicle injections have 40-50% reductions in stimulated salivary flow rates throughout the entire time course. Mice receiving injections of IGF-1 have improved stimulated salivary flow rates 30 days after treatment. By days 60-90, IGF-1 injected mice have restored salivary flow rates to unirradiated control mice levels. Parotid tissue sections were stained for amylase as an indicator of functioning acinar cells and significant reductions in total amylase area are detected in irradiated animals compared to unirradiated groups on all days. Post-therapeutic injections of IGF-1 results in increased amylase-positive acinar cell area and improved amylase secretion. Irradiated mice receiving IGF-1 show similar proliferation indices as untreated mice suggesting a return to tissue homeostasis. Conclusions Post-therapeutic IGF-1 treatment restores salivary gland function potentially through normalization of cell proliferation and improved expression of amylase. These findings could aid in the rational design of therapy protocols or drugs for the treatment of radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction in patients who have completed their anti-cancer therapies. </jats:sec

Antimicrobials: a global alliance for optimizing their rational use in intra-abdominal infections (AGORA)

Intra-abdominal infections (IAI) are an important cause of morbidity and are frequently associated with poor prognosis, particularly in high-risk patients. The cornerstones in the management of complicated IAIs are timely effective source control with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Empiric antimicrobial therapy is important in the management of intra-abdominal infections and must be broad enough to cover all likely organisms because inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy is associated with poor patient outcomes and the development of bacterial resistance. The overuse of antimicrobials is widely accepted as a major driver of some emerging infections (such as C. difficile), the selection of resistant pathogens in individual patients, and for the continued development of antimicrobial resistance globally. The growing emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms and the limited development of new agents available to counteract them have caused an impending crisis with alarming implications, especially with regards to Gram-negative bacteria. An international task force from 79 different countries has joined this project by sharing a document on the rational use of antimicrobials for patients with IAIs. The project has been termed AGORA (Antimicrobials: A Global Alliance for Optimizing their Rational Use in Intra-Abdominal Infections). The authors hope that AGORA, involving many of the world's leading experts, can actively raise awareness in health workers and can improve prescribing behavior in treating IAIs

Prognostic Value of NT-ProBNP and Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Assessing Hypertension Severity in Newly Diagnosed Adults at NAUTH, Nnewi, Nigeria

Hypertension is a major public health concern globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Biomarkers such as N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to cardiovascular function and disease progression. This study investigates the relationship between NT-proBNP and Omega-3 fatty acid levels and hypertension severity in newly diagnosed adults at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 90 participants: 45 hypertensive individuals and 45 normotensive controls. Anthropometric, blood pressure, NT-proBNP, and Omega-3 fatty acid levels were determined using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Hypertensive individuals had significantly higher SBP (140.32±19.80 mmHg) and DBP (82.05±11.06 mmHg) compared to controls (SBP: 111.15±5.06 mmHg, DBP: 69.70±5.39 mmHg; p=0.000). NT-proBNP levels were significantly hygher in hypertensive individuals (7.21±4.25 ng/L) than in controls (4.67±1.85 ng/L; p=0.012), while Omega-3 fatty acid levels were markedly reduced in hypertensives (269.41±128.40 ng/L) compared to controls (931.05±607.61 ng/L; p=0.000). A significant negative correlation was observed between NT-proBNP and Omega-3 fatty acids (r = -0.493, p = 0.017). In the present study, Hypertensive individuals exhibited significantly higher NT-proBNP and lower Omega-3 fatty acid levels compared to controls, indicating increased cardiac stress and reduced anti-inflammatory capacity. This may subsequently increase the risk of cardiovascular events and disease progression. The study supports the potential of NT-proBNP and Omega-3 fatty acids as predictive biomarkers for hypertension severity. Elevated NT-proBNP reflects cardiac stress, suggesting early myocardial strain even in the absence of clinical symptoms, which may predispose to left ventricular hypertrophy and eventual heart failure. Routine NT-proBNP screening in hypertensive patients may facilitate early cardiovascular risk identification. Concurrently, diminished Omega-3 levels underscore the need for nutritional strategies that enhance vascular health. Integration of these biomarkers into routine clinical practice could improve prognostication and guide personalized therapeutic interventions. Keywords: NT-proBNP, omega 3 fatty acid, adults, hypertension, severity DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/119-06 Publication date: July 30th 202