Several studies linking periodontitis and ocular diseases have been conducted over recent years, but the full extent of this relationship has not yet been established. Careful analysis of available data is required to explore the nature of the association and to develop an understanding of the possible biological mechanisms connecting periodontitis with ocular diseases. Accordingly, this review aimed to investigate reported relationships and explore biological mechanistic links between periodontitis and ocular diseases. A comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, yielded 231 papers of which 26 met the eligibility criteria used for evidence synthesis. Periodontitis represents a source of elevated inflammatory cytokines and systemically translocated oral pathobionts in the circulation, which may negatively affect distant organs and systemic disease states, potentially including ocular diseases. Periodontitis is likely to be associated with a significantly higher prevalence of multiple ocular diseases. Current evidence is insufficient to establish a causal link between periodontitis and ocular diseases, but it provides a foundation for high-quality, large-scale, multi-center prospective cohort studies and clinical trials to further explore the underlying biological mechanisms.
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is a vegetable crop of global importance because of its remarkable nutritional and medicinal qualities. Despite its importance, molecular-level research on its genetic diversity is limited in Iraqi Kurdistan. Therefore, assessing genetic diversity is crucial for the strategic development and selection of superior genotypes of okra. The aim of this study was to examine the genetic variation between 58 okra genotypes originating from local farmers and imported varieties using conserved DNA-derived polymorphism (CDDP), intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR), and start codon target (SCoT). A total of 301 scorable polymorphic bands were generated from three types of markers. The mean PIC values for ISSR, SCoT, and CDDP were 0.36, 0.28, and 0.33, respectively. Notably, the markers: UBC-846 (0.40), SCOT19 (0.47), and WRKYF1 (0.42) highlighted highly informative markers. The highest average values of the Shannon index (0.47) and expected heterozygosity (0.32) were recorded by the CDDP markers, followed by the SCoT markers. Cluster analysis and structure analysis divided the 58 genotypes into two primary clusters for ISSR and CDDP and three primary clusters for SCoT markers. Analysis of molecular variance revealed high percentages of total genetic variation within the population for all markers. The genetic identity analysis of the Nei population revealed a high degree of similarity between the populations. These results show that the ISSR, SCoT, and CDDP markers are effective in the assessment of the genetic diversity of okra. The identified genetically diverse parental groups may assist breeders in developing new abiotic and biotic stress-tolerant okra varieties.
This paper examines the nexus between transportation infrastructure, economic growth, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States, with particular emphasis on the moderating role of green energy consumption (GEC). The United States is an economically advanced country with a well-developed transport infrastructure and sustained economic growth; however, this development has been accompanied by increasing environmental pressures, notably rising CO2 emissions from the transport sector. Drawing on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework, the study investigates whether renewable energy sources-specifically wind, solar, and hydropower-can decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. A Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) was employed to analyze both short-run dynamics and long-run cointegrating relationships among transport infrastructure, economic activity, CO2 emissions, and green energy consumption. The results indicate that relative to fossil-based energy, green energy significantly mitigates the emission-enhancing effects of transport infrastructure expansion and economic growth. These findings underscore the pivotal role of renewable energy in achieving sustainable development. From a policy perspective, the results highlight the importance of integrating green energy into national transport and infrastructure planning. Overall, the study demonstrates that in transport-intensive economies, the expansion of renewable energy does not constrain economic growth but is essential for ensuring its long-term environmental sustainability.
Public bus systems are vital to achieving sustainable urban mobility in developing countries; yet, the quality of bus stops, a critical interface between users and transit services, remains widely overlooked. This study evaluates bus stop quality in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, from bus users' perspectives by integrating importance-performance analysis (IPA) and the customer satisfaction index (CSI) with level of conformity analysis (CR) using extensive, real-world survey data. The objective was to identify priority areas to help improve the quality of public bus stop provision in the city and ensure the most efficient allocation of resources by focusing on the quality attributes that matter most to bus users. The results highlight six critical service quality attributes that require immediate improvement due to their high importance to users and low service quality performance: (i) safety barriers to prevent traffic accidents while waiting at bus stops; (ii) accessibility of bus stops for elderly and disabled users; (iii) availability of signage and timetables/maps; (iv) overall bus stop quality; (v) narrow bus stop platforms; and (vi) waiting time at bus stops. Addressing these gaps is essential to enhance user satisfaction and ensure that users have a safer, more inclusive, and reliable PT experience. This study offers evidence-based recommendations to enhance bus stop design and service quality, thus contributing to improved user satisfaction and increased ridership. More broadly, the results can be applied to other rapidly urbanizing developing cities seeking to provide equitable, safe, and user-centered bus transit systems.
The current work establishes a breakthrough for the electrical double-layer capacitor (EDLC) device, utilizing biodegradable polymer and non-toxic salt. In this project, polymer electrolytes (PEs) comprising polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN), glycerol (Gly), and various amounts of TiO2 nanofillers were prepared by solution casting. The electrolyte inserted with 3 wt% TiO2 showed the maximum DC conductivity, reaching 1.86 × 10-3 S/cm. Dielectric analysis revealed a high dielectric constant (8.5 × 106), indicating efficient charge storage. The AC conductivity pattern demonstrated a low-frequency spike and a flat region, emphasizing the direct current (DC) component. Additional tests on the highset conducting electrolyte verified that ion transport was the primary mechanism (tion = 0.976) and that the electrolyte maintained good electrochemical stability around 2.5 V. This electrolyte was subsequently employed in the construction of an EDLC device. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) results revealed a non-Faradaic charge storage process characterized by an almost leaf-like profile. Galvanostatic charge-discharge curves close enough to the ideal shape with minimal voltage drop, reinforcing the device's excellent performance. The constructed EDLC exhibited strong performance, delivering 138 F/g in capacitance, with an output power of 4000 W/kg and an energy storage capacity of 17.3 Wh/kg. The Ragone plot showed high power and energy densities comparable to lead-acid and Ni-Cd batteries, highlighting its potential for rapid charge-discharge performance. Finally, the limitations of EDLC devices have been discussed.
