Sting (Belonolaimus longicaudatus) and stubby-root nematodes (Nanidorus minor) are major plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) of spring potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) in Florida. Fumigation is the primary PPN management tactic for growers in the area, but more options are needed. Cover cropping is one of the few potential PPN management options that fit this cropping system. The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of summer and fall cover crops combinations against sting and stubby-root nematode in potato production. Two field trials were conducted in 2022-2023 and 2024-2025. Experiments had a split-plot arrangement. Summer cover crops 1) sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea 'Crescent Sun'), and 2) sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum x drummondii 'SX19/Defiance') were main plot treatments. Sub-plot treatments were fall cover crops 1) caliente mustard (Brassica juncea 'Rojo') and 2) arugula (Eruca sativa 'Nemat'), 3) weedy fallow and 4) weedy fallow followed by 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) fumigation. Sunn hemp generally suppressed sting nematode populations relative to sorghum-sudangrass although its effect on stubby-root nematode was inconsistent. Arugula or caliente mustard were not effective for managing sting and stubby-root nematode populations. Weedy fallow followed by 1,3-D provided the most sting nematode suppression of any fall treatments. Sunn hemp improved potato marketable yield in one of the trials, while arugula and caliente mustard reduced marketable yield of potato in both years compared to 1,3-D. In summary, sunn hemp is an additional tool to 1,3-D fumigation for managing sting nematode in potatoes, but arugula and caliente mustard are detrimental. No options were consistently effective against stubby-root nematode.
Slips are a common cause of community-based falls, however existing literature has not examined slips during sloped surface walking, which is biomechanically distinct from level walking in ways that likely increase the risk of a slip. We examined the influence of various sloped walking characteristics on slip mechanics, compensatory stepping reactions, and fall rates. Twenty-one young adults experienced 27 unconstrained slip perturbations while walking on a treadmill inclined to 0°, 5°, or 10° in an uphill, downhill, or cross-slope direction while full-body motion capture and harness load cell data were recorded. Fall rates increased with slope angle, decreased with later slip onset, and were not dependent on slope direction. Slips shortened, slowed, and changed from anteriorly to posteriorly directed at later onset phases, eliciting longer, more anteriorly placed compensatory steps as a result. Steeper slope angles caused longer, faster slips that required shorter compensatory steps. Slope directions influenced slip directions and compensatory steps: uphill slopes were associated with more posterior slips and longer anterior steps, while downhill slopes caused the opposite. On cross-slopes, up-slope foot slips were shorter, slower, contralateral, and led to more anteriorly placed compensatory steps compared to down-slope foot slips, but fall rates did not differ. Our results are surprising given the slope direction-specific kinetics of sloped walking, suggesting that other factors play outsized roles in determining slip-and-fall risk. Perturbation-based balance training should incorporate sloped walking contexts in comprehensive protocols to assess if balance recovery skills can be enhanced beyond what is attainable from level training alone.
ObjectiveFalls are a serious complication of Parkinson's disease, leading to functional decline, psychological distress, and substantial economic burden. Although multiple interventions have been proposed, structured quantitative guidance on prioritising fall-prevention strategies for clinical implementation in Parkinson's disease remains limited.DesignA multi-method study integrating a structured narrative review, expert consensus via a two-round Delphi process with 15 multidisciplinary Parkinson's disease experts, and multi-criteria decision-making using the Best-Worst Method to identify and quantitatively prioritise fall-prevention strategies for people with Parkinson's disease.SettingExpert-based consensus and decision-analysis study.ParticipantsFifteen multidisciplinary experts with clinical and research expertise in Parkinson's disease and neurorehabilitation.InterventionFall-prevention interventions identified through a structured narrative review and refined through a two-round Delphi process, followed by prioritisation using the Best-Worst Method.Main measuresRelative priority weights of intervention categories and sub-criteria derived using the Best-Worst Method based on expert judgements.ResultsThe Delphi process yielded three main criteria (exercise, dance-based interventions, and neuroscience-based interventions) and 14 sub-criteria. Best-Worst Method weighting showed that exercise had the highest priority (weight=0.49), followed by dance-based interventions (weight=0.32) and neuroscience-based interventions (weight=0.19). Within exercise, balance training and resistance strength training received the greatest weights, whereas Tai Chi and transcranial direct current stimulation received the highest expert-derived priority weights within the dance-based and neuroscience-based categories, respectively.ConclusionThis integrative framework provides an evidence-informed hierarchy of expert-derived priorities for fall-prevention interventions and may support clinical decision-making and programme design, while highlighting the need for further effectiveness and implementation research.
Falls on the same level (FSLs) are a major cause of occupational injuries in the social welfare industry, especially in aging societies. Here, we conducted a questionnaire survey to investigate how social welfare workers perceive the risk of occupational accidents, with a focus on FSLs, and to examine the effects of age on risk perception. Respondents (n=294) rated their estimated likelihood of experiencing five major types of occupational accidents across six levels of injury severity. The results indicated that the FSL risk was not consistently underestimated relative to other accident types. However, when the subjective risk was compared with the objective accident frequency, the non-fatal FSL risk was systematically underestimated, whereas the fatal FSL risk was overestimated. Perceived risk of leaving work for more than 3 months due to non-fatal occupational accidents also decreased with age across accident types, with younger workers reporting the highest estimates and older workers the lowest. These findings suggest that underestimation of FSL risk is specific to certain injury severities and that age-related differences in risk perception are robust. Understanding how workers perceive fall risk may contribute to the development of age-sensitive interventions to improve fall prevention in the social welfare sector.
Neurotoxic envenomation often presents with non-specific neurological symptoms and minimal local signs, which can delay appropriate diagnosis and treatment. This is the first reported case of a neurotoxic snakebite presenting with an atypical symptom of unilateral neck pain. A 12-year-old girl was referred to our emergency centre with neck weakness progressing to quadriplegia, attributed to a fall while playing. A diagnosis of acute flaccid paralysis secondary to cervical trauma was made and treated at the first hospital; however, she developed respiratory distress and was transferred to our centre. Clinical examination and computed tomography ruled out cervical cord injury. A diagnosis of neurotoxic envenomation was considered, given our centre's high snakebite burden and the symptom of descending flaccid paralysis. Despite initiating antivenom and supportive treatment, the patient died. As the death was sudden and unexplained, medicolegal autopsy was done. Meticulous examination revealed a suspicious mark over the right foot. Chemical analysis on a skin sample from the site tested positive for snake venom, confirming envenomation. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge posed by atypical presentations of neurotoxic snakebite, especially in the absence of a clear history. In endemic areas, flaccid paralysis should prompt clinical suspicion of snakebite. Early recognition and timely administration of antivenom are crucial to prevent fatal outcomes. This case also underscores the need for strengthening diagnostic tools and forensic confirmation to avoid missed or delayed diagnoses, which carry serious medicolegal and public health implications.
Animal management and environmental conditions influence milk composition and processing properties. Seasonal calving systems are used in milk production to optimize costs and align milk supply with forage availability; however, the effects of concentrating calvings in fall and winter, compared with extended calving, on milk composition and heat coagulation time (HCT) have not been clearly defined. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether calving strategy affects milk composition and HCT in a pasture-based dairy system. Thirty New Zealand Holstein cows were assigned to 3 calving systems-extended (EXT: March-October, spanning fall-winter with calvings distributed across both seasons), winter seasonal (WIN: June-August, concentrated in winter), and fall seasonal (FC: March-May, concentrated in fall)-with 10 cows per system, and monitored over one production year. Composite milk samples were collected in 4 seasonal windows (spring, summer, fall, and winter) and analyzed for composition (protein, casein, TS, SNF, urea, citric acid, lactose, and titratable acidity) and heat stability, assessed both as HCT at native pH and as HCT-pH profiles after adjustment to target pH values from 6.5 to 7.0. No single compositional variable consistently explained the observed HCT patterns across calving systems and seasons. In pooled linear regression models, HCT was positively associated with grazed pasture in the diet and days in milk, and negatively associated with DMI. These findings highlight the complexity of milk heat stability under pasture-based conditions and indicate that more detailed studies are needed to identify robust predictors of HCT.
To analyze epidemiologic trends, injury prevalence, and mechanisms of injury associated with rock climbing. The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, a public emergency department database, was queried for rock climbing-related injuries from 2014 to 2023. Data extracted included demographics, anatomic region injured, diagnosis, mechanism of injury, and disposition. Patients were stratified into 4 age groups: pediatric (≲18 years), young adult (19-39 years), middle-aged adult (40-64 years), and geriatric (≳65 years). Mechanisms of injury were categorized and analyzed by fall height where applicable. A total of 1346 cases of rock climbing-related injuries were identified after exclusion criteria. Fractures (30.2%) and sprains/strains (20.2%) were the most common diagnoses. The majority of injuries resulted from falls (61.2%), with fracture incidence increasing with fall height. Pediatric and young adult climbers sustained more upper extremity injuries, while geriatric climbers had a higher proportion of lower extremity injuries. In this study, we found that younger climbers experienced more upper extremity injuries, while older adults more commonly sustained lower extremity injuries. In addition, male rock climbers experienced higher proportions of shoulder injuries compared with female rock climbers. These findings illustrate the potential need for age- and sex-specific injury prevention strategies to guide safe participation in this growing sport. Level IV, retrospective epidemiological case series.
A rectangular pulse Marx generator with an adjustable dead time (DT) drive circuit is presented. The proposed topology introduces a load-side discharge path to provide a controlled low-impedance route for removing the residual charge stored in the load-side parasitic capacitance during turn-off, thereby improving the falling-edge transition. Meanwhile, the series-connected discharge path structure prevents a single spurious turn-on event from directly forming a local low-impedance path, thereby reducing the probability of short-circuit path formation. To coordinate the discharge and charge switching actions, an RC-delay-based magnetic drive circuit is developed, enabling continuous DT adjustment from 0 to 200 ns. In addition, a resistor-capacitor-diode (RCD) voltage-balancing circuit is designed for the series-connected charging metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors. Experimental results show that the maximum voltage deviation from the ideal value is reduced from more than 66% to about 10%. An eight-stage prototype generates ∼5 kV from a 650 V input with a 20 kΩ load. Without the RCD voltage-balancing circuit, the measured rise and fall times are ∼48 and 72 ns, respectively. After introducing the RCD voltage-balancing circuit, the rise time increases to ∼60 ns due to the additional capacitance, while the fall time remains nearly unchanged. The output pulse width is continuously adjustable from 2 to 10 μs, and stable operation at 10 kHz is demonstrated. These results verify that the proposed generator is effective for reliable high-voltage rectangular pulse generation with adjustable DT and improved voltage balancing.
Extreme alpine summer sports are increasingly popular and expose participants to high-energy trauma in remote mountain environments. This pictorial essay reviews the emergency radiology of severe acute injuries associated with down-hill mountain biking, rock climbing, paragliding, BASE jumping, canyoning, and rafting, with emphasis on mechanism-based imaging interpretation. Injury patterns differ across disciplines but are largely determined by velocity, fall height, landing posture, impact surface, axial loading, torsional forces, and water-related hazards. Down-hill mountain biking commonly produces extremity, thoracic, craniofacial, abdominal, and spinal injuries after high-speed crashes or handlebar impact. Rock climbing and paragliding frequently involve falls from height and hard landings, leading to thoracolumbar fractures, pelvic trauma, calcaneal or ankle injuries, and, in severe cases, neurologic compromise or visceral injury. BASE jumping is associated with high-velocity landing trauma, particularly involving the lower limbs, pelvis, and spine. Canyoning and rafting combine blunt trauma with environmental risks such as submersion, aspiration, hypothermia, and drowning-related complications. In high-energy trauma or polytrauma, whole-body computed tomography is the cornerstone of emergency assessment, enabling rapid evaluation of head, spine, chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Radiography remains useful for isolated appendicular injuries, whereas magnetic resonance imaging is essential for spinal cord, ligamentous, marrow, and selected soft-tissue injuries. Awareness of sport-specific mechanisms helps radiologists optimize image selection, maintain an appropriate search pattern, recognize injuries that may coexist after axial loading, and communicate urgent findings promptly. A mechanism-oriented approach may improve diagnostic accuracy, guide multidisciplinary management, and reduce missed injuries in patients presenting after alpine summer extreme sports trauma.
Chalk-stick fractures are transverse spinal injuries seen in patients with ankylosing spondylitis due to chronic inflammation and spinal rigidity. These fractures may result from minor trauma and are associated with potentially fatal complications. While spinal fractures in ankylosing spondylitis are well recognized, thoracic chalk-stick fractures complicated by hemothorax from vascular injury remain exceedingly rare. We present a case of an elderly male with ankylosing spondylitis who sustained a thoracic chalk-stick fracture following a ground-level fall, complicated by hemothorax and hemorrhagic shock. This case highlights a rarely reported but life-threatening complication and emphasizes the importance of early imaging and high clinical suspicion in this high-risk population-even after minor trauma. A 90-year-old male with known history of ankylosing spondylitis presented to the emergency department after a ground-level fall associated with syncope. He had thoracic back pain, dyspnea, and hypotension. Computed tomography revealed a thoracic vertebra 11 chalk-stick fracture with interspinous vascular injury and a large, right-sided hemothorax. The patient underwent emergent chest tube placement, blood transfusion, and vasopressor support, which initially stabilized his condition. However, his hospital course was complicated by multiple comorbidities, and he ultimately died after prolonged critical care. This case illustrates the potential for catastrophic vascular complications from minor trauma in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Thoracic chalk-stick fractures may result in life-threatening hemothorax and hemorrhagic shock. Emergency physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion and obtain early radiographic imaging to facilitate timely diagnosis and intervention in this high-risk population.
Microbacterium sp. PI-SA-G is a pigmented and extremotolerant bacterium isolated from Festuca orthophylla plant aerial tissue in the high-altitude Salar Aguilar (Atacama Desert). Its complete and single circular chromosome (3.72 Mb) encodes multiple stress-tolerance and plant growth-promoting traits. Also, average nucleotide identity (ANI) (84.5%) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) (37%) values fall below established species thresholds.
The temporal evolution of body composition surrounding type 2 diabetes diagnosis is unclear. To clarify this process, we characterised and compared the trajectories of BMI, boplledy roundness index (BRI) and handgrip strength (HGS) in the years preceding and following the diagnosis. We analysed data from participants aged ≥50 years from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, waves 7-14), the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA, waves 2-6), and the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE, waves 2-9). Incident diabetes cases were matched 1:4 with control participants based on age, sex and education level, with the timeline centred on the year of diagnosis. Linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) allowing for non-linear trends were employed to estimate the trajectories of BMI, BRI and HGS, and to assess the temporal evolution of differences between cases and controls. The analysis included 74,790 participants for BMI, 19,895 for BRI, and 69,560 for HGS. Over a follow-up period of up to 14 years surrounding diagnosis, BMI trajectories exhibited a distinct inverted U shape, peaking approximately 2-4 years prior to diagnosis. BRI showed an overall upward trend, but its growth in cases was accelerated during weight gain and attenuated during weight loss relative to controls. HGS declined universally; although the rates of decline were similar between groups in HRS and ELSA, cases in the SHARE cohort experienced a significantly accelerated decline compared with controls. When evaluated through multidimensional surrogate indicators, the trajectory of type 2 diabetes involves patterns that are indicative of a rise then a fall in total body mass, persistent visceral accumulation (albeit attenuated during weight loss), and probably accelerated muscle depletion. The dynamic evolution of these proxy metrics provides novel insights for capturing the full picture of body composition remodelling.
Endothelial cells play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) is regarded as a reliable biomarker of endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of baseline and dynamic EASIX trajectories in ARDS patients. The data of this study were sourced from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) 2.2 database. The study population was divided into three groups according to the tertiles of the EASIX index. The primary outcome was 28-day ICU mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, multivariate Cox regression, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to assess the correlation between the baseline EASIX and mortality. Furthermore, Latent Class Mixed Models (LCMM) were employed to identify dynamic EASIX trajectories within the first 72 h. The association between these identified trajectories and clinical prognosis was subsequently evaluated. Finally, the Boruta algorithm was applied to screen for key predictive features, and seven machine learning (ML) algorithms were developed to predict 28-day mortality. According to the established inclusion and exclusion criteria, 1044 ARDS patients were ultimately included in this study. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that patients in the high baseline EASIX group had higher 28-day mortality. Multivariate Cox regression revealed that higher EASIX was associated with increased 28-day mortality (HR = 1.07; 95% CI 1.01-1.14, P = 0.03) and remained significant at 60 and 180 days. The RCS curves indicated a linear relationship (P-non-linear > 0.05). In the dynamic analysis, LCMM identified three distinct trajectories: Trajectory 1 (Persistently Low), Trajectory 2 (Persistently Increasing), and Trajectory 3 (Rise-and-Fall). Notably, Trajectory 2 exhibited the poorest prognosis (HR = 7.56; 95% CI 3.45-16.57,P < 0.001). Feature selection via Boruta algorithm consistently identified EASIX as a key predictor. Among the seven ML models evaluated, the Random Forest algorithm demonstrated superior performance, achieving an AUC of 0.826. Both baseline EASIX and dynamic EASIX trajectories are independent predictors of mortality in ARDS patients, suggesting that EASIX has great potential as a reliable prognostic indicator for ARDS patients.
Bilateral upper limb superficial thrombophlebitis is rare in trauma patients and typically indicates systemic thromboinflammatory activation rather than localized vascular injury. Trauma-associated immunothrombosis is increasingly recognized as distinct from classical disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). A 35-year-old male presented with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) following an unwitnessed fall. On hospital day six, he developed progressive discoloration of the left hand, rapidly involving the right upper limb. Doppler ultrasonography confirmed bilateral cephalic and basilic vein thrombosis without deep venous involvement. Platelet count declined from 40,000/μL on day seven to 10,000/μL on day eight, while prothrombin time and INR remained normal and fibrinogen levels were elevated. Admission chest radiograph was normal; however, repeat imaging on day eight demonstrated diffuse bilateral alveolar opacities. HRCT revealed extensive multilobar consolidation with surrounding ground-glass opacities, radiologically suggestive of severe diffuse alveolar injury with features compatible with alveolar hemorrhage. CTPA showed no large central pulmonary embolism. Repeat CT brain demonstrated stable extradural hematoma with resolution of subarachnoid hemorrhage and partial resolution of subdural hematoma. Anticoagulation was withheld due to intracranial hemorrhage and profound thrombocytopenia. The patient developed refractory hypoxemic respiratory failure and died on hospital day eight. This case highlights a rare and catastrophic systemic thromboinflammatory complication following TBI. Early recognition and multidisciplinary management are essential in similar rapidly progressive cases.
Unraveling bidirectional interactions among ecosystem services is a key foundation for effective implementation of the Grain for Green Program (GFGP). Yet, prevailing methodologies fall short by either ignoring reciprocal interactions or confounding them with external drivers, leading to biased inferences. Thus, this study quantified the spatiotemporal dynamics of water yield, grain production, carbon sequestration, and soil conservation of a fragile basin in the Loess Plateau under GFGP from 2000 to 2019. Simultaneous equation models were employed to simultaneously investigate the bidirectional interactions and drivers of the ecosystem services. The results show that: 1) From 2000 to 2019, the total amount of water yield decreased, while other ecosystem services increased. 2) In 2005, water yield had a positive effect on grain production, whereas grain production constrained water yield. Water yield and soil conservation mutually constrain via runoff-erosion feedback. NPP had a negative effect on water yield in later periods due to increased transpiration. 3) The cumulative cropland to forestland conversion ratio reduced soil conservation in 2005 but increased it by 2015, due to engineering lag. The cumulative cropland to grassland conversion ratio reduced grain production in every period. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring dynamic changes in bidirectional interactions and drivers of the ecosystem services to support the scientifically sound, long-term implementation of ecological restoration projects.
Switchable phototransistors equipped with high-sensitivity, dynamic encryption, low-power consumption, and CMOS processing compatibility are key components for optoelectronic encryption chips. Two-dimensional van der Waals (vdWs) heterostructures provide a solution toward this goal, despite continued efforts, excessive dependence on gate voltage modulation, multi-wavelength excitation and polarization modulation causes unsolved issues of high-power operation, channel interference and limited integration level, respectively. Here, we demonstrate a dual-mode vdWs phototransistor based on PtTe2/WS2 heterostructure. Through bias-modulated band alignment and carrier dynamics, the operation mechanism can be switched between photoconductive and photovoltaic modes. In photoconductive mode, the prolonged carrier lifetime donates a large photogain, yielding a high responsivity of 1.37 A W-1. In photovoltaic mode, a wide unilateral depletion region effectively suppresses the dark current, contributing outstanding specific detectivity of 9.42 × 1014 Jones, weak light detection capability (~pW level), and high-speed response (rise time ~26.3 μs, fall time ~22.6 μs). More importantly, high on/off ratio of ~105 and four distinct current states have been achieved via dual-mode operation in the phototransistor, enabling the realization of multiple optical logic gates (XNOR, NOR and XOR) and multi-state quaternary image encryption with superior average correlation coefficient of adjacent pixels of 0.03. This reconfigurable device provides a versatile platform for constructing multi-functional photoelectronic chips and advancing secure optical communication technologies.
Hyperspectral remote sensing is a powerful, high-throughput phenotyping tool that quantifies physiologically and structurally relevant wavelengths across diverse genotypes and over varying temporal scales. In this study, we combined tower-based continuous hyperspectral sensing with genome-wide association studies to analyze 1423 wavebands (400-900 nm) and derivative vegetation indices across 505 genotypes and the genetic architecture of hyperspectral phenotypes over time in Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray grown under field conditions. Wavelengths related to chlorophyll and carotenoid absorption spectra exhibited the strongest genetic variation resulting in 98 significant SNP associations. Notably, we found substantial overlap in genetic association between the blue and red spectral regions, indicative of carotenoids and chlorophyll, respectively, and identified more than 10 candidate genes associated with chloroplast function, underpinning photosynthetic activity. Furthermore, fluctuations in associations for vegetative indices, such as the chlorophyll:carotenoid index (CCI), across the growing season reveal a temporally dynamic genetic architecture of physiological traits associated with fall senescence of this temperate tree species. Finally, we also observed correlations (spearman rho = 0.3, p < 1x10-8) between individual wavebands or vegetative indices and growth rate, assessed as the relative change of tree height over the growing season. The growth rate prediction was substantially improved by a regularization multivariate model (spearman rho>0.5, p < 1x10-16), reinforcing the value of hyperspectral measurements for predicting traits linked to tree productivity. These findings highlight the potential of high-throughput, rapid, hyperspectral genome wide association studies GWAS to uncover physiologically meaningful genetic variation and offer promising insights for future acceleration for plant breeding.
Terracettes, striking, step-like landforms that stripe steep, vegetated hillslopes, have puzzled scientists for more than a century. Competing hypotheses invoke either slow mass wasting (gravity-driven soil flow) or the relentless trampling of grazing animals, yet no mechanistic model has linked hoof-scale behaviour to landscape-scale form. Here, we bridge that gap with an active-walker model in which ungulates are represented as stochastic foragers moving on an erodible slope. Each agent weighs the energetic cost of climbing against the benefit of fresh forage; every hoof-fall compacts soil and lowers local biomass, subtly reshaping the energy landscape that guides subsequent steps. Over time, these stigmergic feedbacks concentrate traffic along cross-slope paths, which coalesce into periodic tread-and-riser bands morphologically analogous to natural terracettes. Our model illustrates how local foraging rules governing movement and substrate feedback can self-organize into large-scale topographic patterns, highlighting the wider role of decentralized biological processes in sculpting terrestrial landscapes.
This study investigates some granitoid intrusions in the North Eastern Desert of Egypt, specifically at Gabal Gharib area. Image processing of the remote sensing ASTER satellite data enabled updating the geological map of the study area, successfully identifying five distinct granitoid varieties (riebeckite arfvedsonite alkaline granite, alkali feldspar granite, monzogranite, tonalite-granodiorite, and gabbro-diorite association), and guiding the fieldwork and sampling. A total of 14 representative samples were analyzed using gamma ray spectrometry to determine the activity concentrations (Bq/kg) of 40K, 226Ra, 232Th, and 238U. The results show that alkali granite samples exhibit the highest concentrations levels of all four radionuclides, followed by monzogranite, granodiorite, tonalite, and diorite which showed the lowest levels. The elevated radioactivity is primarily attributed to K-bearing minerals (e.g., alkali feldspars and mica minerals) and accessory minerals (e.g., apatite, sphene, zircon, and allanite) whose flexible structure and crystal lattice readily incorporate uranium and thorium. Most of the measured rock samples exceed global average safety limits for all radionuclides, especially 40K, with only minor exceptions. We estimated five parameters: radium equivalent (Raeq), absorbed dose rate (D), external hazard index (Hex), internal hazard index (Hin), and radioactivity concentration index (Iγ) to further estimate the possibility of these granitoid rocks to be used as a building material. It is found that the granitoids of Gabal Gharib area generally fall outside the internationally recommended safety limits for construction and building materials. Notably, only the diorite variety is suitable for unrestricted use for indoor or outdoor construction and decorative purposes, whereas alkali granite and tonalite varieties failed to meet the safety requirements for such applications.
Lower socio-economic position is consistently associated with a higher likelihood of engaging in health-damaging behaviours, a phenomenon known as the social gradient in health-related behaviour (SGHB). This article examines and endorses an unconditionalist view, according to which the SGHB is unjust in all cases because it results from structural injustice. This position is contrasted with a conditionalist view, which holds that the SGHB is unjust if and only if it stems from an unequal distribution of the social conditions normatively required for autonomous health-related choices and that a residual gradient may be justified once these conditions are met. Several influential approaches to health justice fall within this conditionalist framework. Despite their substantive differences, these conditionalist approaches share a deeper normative commitment to evaluative individualism. This foundation supports three critiques of unconditionalism: that it entails health perfectionism, that it neglects individuals as agents, and that it relies on a controversial empirical theory that threatens consensus. The first two critiques are considered unpersuasive, while the third raises genuine theoretical and practical challenges.