Microplastics (MPs), including polymers such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS), are widespread environmental contaminants detected in air, water, soil, and food. These particles originate from the breakdown of larger plastics and from direct industrial and consumer sources, including packaging, textiles, and personal care products. MPs enter the human body primarily through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, with food, water, and air serving as major exposure pathways. Once internalized, MPs have been found in various human tissues and biological fluids, indicating their capacity for bioaccumulation. Toxicological studies in experimental models and occupational settings link MP exposure to oxidative stress, inflammation, cellular dysfunction, and potential organ toxicity, including effects on the gastrointestinal, respiratory, immune, reproductive, and nervous systems. PVC microplastics, in particular, are associated with liver toxicity and increased cancer risk in occupationally exposed populations. MPs can also act as vectors for environmental pollutants and plastic-associated chemicals, further amplifying health risks. This review summarizes the classification, major sources, exposure routes, and toxicological activity of MPs. A comprehensive understanding of MP properties is essential for developing effective strategies to mitigate their persistent harmful effects on public health and the environment. Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Background: Parotid gland tumors account for 80% of all salivary gland neoplasms, 20% of these are malignant, but in daily clinical practice most parotid masses are operated on before obtaining the final histological diagnosis. This clinical setting further complicates the critical point of parotid surgery, which is the management of the facial nerve. Materials and methods: 45 patients underwent parotidectomy for benign and malignant neoplasms. A complete history is collected from the patients with the duration and the site of the tumor, the facial nerve examined and its associations, a medical consultation done for opinion and management. Clinical examination with facial nerve was mandatory to avoid any mistakes that may occur. The most si
... Show MoreGender mainstreaming is a goal for building a society characterized by justice and equality. Gender mainstreaming requires a clear understanding of the concept. Therefore, the research focuses on the concept of gender and how it was addressed in the literature through which the concepts related to gender were extracted which is represented by the role and social status through which the relationship of gender can be measured. In order to find out the basis for the different status and roles of both sexes in societies, the interpreted theories of gender were addressed, through which the most important factors affecting gender relations, such as biological, social and economic factors, as well as political systems, were discussed. Due to t
... Show MoreThe study aims at fathoming Robert Browning’ and Robert Lowell’s intentions of choosing the dramatic monologue as a means of exploring human psyche. Significantly, the themes of insanity and murder are not ideal from an esthetic perspective, but for Browning and Lowell it provides the key to probe into human character and fundamental motives. This study examines Browning’ and Lowell’s dramatic monologues that address crime and the psyche of abnormal men. Browning’ and Lowell’s poetry in this regard unravels complicated human motivations and delineates morbid psychologies. Their monologues probe deep down into the mind-sets of their characters and dissect their souls to the readers. The main character of each of Browning
... Show MoreThe integration of gender in urban studies is considered a goal and objective to build a society characterized by justice and equality. It further allows all its residents to enjoy the opportunities to live in a safe urban life. Based on the that, the limitations of the research and its field of interest related to the relationship between gender and urban studies have become clear. The insufficient knowledge in this regard considers gender as a concept that does not exist in itself, but rather overlaps and intersects with several concepts and studies, including urban studies. Thus, it has become necessary to adopt a descriptive methodology that helps reach a theoretical framework to explain the beginnings of such an interaction and inte
... Show MoreLanguage is essential for politics, for producing, disseminating, engaging with, and reacting to political discourse. The pragmatics of political speeches is crucial to the development of effective political communication tactics. Thus, speech is situated at the intersection of rhetoric, linguistics, and politics. In communication, intent is a pragmatic factor that plays a crucial role at the time of the communication process. Speech is of paramount importance to the social and political domains. Through the use of concepts and the relationship between language and politics, the study analyzes the function of language in communication and interpretation of intentions. The study of the relationships between language and the situations in whi
... Show MoreNAA Mustafa, University of Sulaimani, Ms. c Thesis, 2010 - Cited by 4
Gallium arsenide diamondoids structural and vibrational properties are investigated using density functional theory at the PBE/6-31(d) level and basis including polarization functions. Variation of energy gap as these diamondoids increase in size is seen to follow confinement theory for diamondoids having nearly equiaxed dimensions. Density of energy states transforms from nearly single levels to band structure as we reach larger diamondoids. Bonds of surface hydrogen with As atoms are relatively localized and shorter than that bonded to Ga atoms. Ga-As bonds have a distribution range of values due to surface reconstruction and effect of bonding to hydrogen atoms. Experimental bulk Ga-As bond length (2.45 Å) is within this distribu
... Show MoreBasically, media studies focused on the important role of the blogs in boosting the democratic process in the Arab States. Blogs also worked on creating an alternative media for the public that maintained freedom of expression. However, media studies ignored the status of the blogs in the social and cultural fields.
The current study tries to tackle the socio-cultural dimensions of the blogs by means of showing how the blogs construct the self. The researcher is going to conduct interviews with the bloggers. He will also carry out a semiotic analysis that may reveal the strategies used by the bloggers. Besides, he tries to identify the realistic and traditional frames in which the social relationships are buil
Astronomers have known since the invention of the telescope that atmospheric turbulence affects celestial images. So, in order to compensate for the atmospheric aberrations of the observed wavefront, an Adaptive Optics (AO) system has been introduced. The AO can be arranged into two systems: closedloop and open-loop systems. The aim of this paper is to model and compare the performance of both AO loop systems by using one of the most recent Adaptive Optics simulation tools, the Objected-Oriented Matlab Adaptive Optics (OOMAO). Then assess the performance of closed and open loop systems by their capabilities to compensate for wavefront aberrations and improve image quality, also their effect by the observed optical bands (near-infrared band
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