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This case study delves into an uncommon occurrence of internal root resorption (IRR), an inflammatory variant with perforation of root, in the left central incisor, which seems to have a prevalence ranging from 0.01% to 1%. The patient presented with pain in the upper left front tooth, leading to a diagnosis of pulpal necrosis with symptomatic apical periodontitis. The initial phase involved identifying the three-dimensional overview of resorption and perforation using cone-beam computed tomography and nonsurgical root canal treatment utilizing orthograde mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) placement and thermoplasticized obturation technique, aided by sonic-irrigation, and intracanal medicament under magnification. In the later phase, based on the clinical and radiographical evaluation and addressing the complexities of the perforative resorptive lesion, surgical approach needed to be performed. A 6-month follow-up revealed the arrest of IRR and a satisfactory overall outcome. This case report discusses the etiology, prevalence, clinical decision-making, and therapeutic management of IRR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Acute myocarditis is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition in infants and children. While immunosuppressive agents have shown limited effectiveness, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) holds promise as a treatment option. Objective: To study the efficacy and safety of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in treating acute viral myocarditis in children. Evidence acquisition: We searched five databases including PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science; and four trial registries for published studies on the topic. Grey literature was searched through ProQuest and Open Grey databases. The studies eligible for this review were randomized controlled trials in children (< 18 years) with acute viral myocarditis (Population), comparing IVIg (Intervention), versus no IVIg i.e., any other treatment or placebo (Comparator), for efficacy and safety (Outcomes). Results: The literature search identified a total of 9,524 records. Two reviewers independently screened these records. A total of 73 citations were deemed potentially eligible, all of which were non-RCTs or review articles on full text examination. There were no RCTs identified to address the review question. Conclusion: There are no RCTs in children comparing the efficacy and safety of IVIg treatment in acute viral myocarditis. Prospective randomized trials are urgently required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every individual has a distinct personality, and this uniqueness shapes how they express and interpret love. Understanding these differences, both within oneself and in significant relationships, one can recognize the root causes of conflicts, and foster deeper connections, and more profound relationships. Hence, this study aims to explore the love language of male senior citizens. Using a research design that utilizes interactive phenomenological analysis, the purpose of this study is to understand how senior citizens express and receive love through love languages. This study included fifteen male senior residents of Bulacan District IV (Obando, Marilao, and City of Meycauayan). The participants also accomplished a semi-structured interview guide that included the experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of male seniors. The study's findings revealed that male seniors experience difficulty expressing and receiving their love languages. The participants stated that they were frustrated, distressed, sad, and regretful because they were having difficulties in expressing and receiving their preferred love language from their partner. The difference in love language is one of the reasons why there is difficulty in expressing and accepting that preferred love language with their partner. Despite negative emotions, they show respect, handle disagreements with patience, and understand the importance of clear communication and conflict handling for successful relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This scoping review aimed to review the various challenges facing dental education. Dental education faces multiple institutional, student and faculty-based challenges. Institutional challenges include updating infrastructure resources, recruiting qualified faculty, and implementing administrative policies that enhance dental education. Student-based challenges include implementing teaching/learning strategies that will enable students to acquire adequate knowledge, skill, and logical reasoning to identify and execute evidence-based treatment. Faculty-based challenges include regular updating of the dental curriculum, including recent advances in teaching methodology, and adding elective courses that can enhance the readiness of future dentists to address the evolving oral health needs of the public. Methodology: The scoping review was conducted using the PRISMA-ScR, focusing on the current challenges in dental education. Articles were identified via searches of Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science and Embase for the period 2019 to 2024. Only English language papers detailing challenges in dental education were included. At the culmination of the search protocol, twelve articles were selected for inclusion in this scoping review. Results: Analysis of these twelve papers identified several themes, which apply to the dental education systems of many, but not all, nations: (1) the correlation between the basic science and clinical phases of the curriculium remains poor; (2) dental students receive inadequate patient care experience to truly develop the competency needed for unsupervised dental practice after graduation; (3) dental students often graduate with inadequate foundational knowledge and clinical experience to provide care for geriatric, specialized pediatric and medically compromised patients, and recieve limited clinical experience in public health settings; (4) dental schools struggle to provide students with training in the technology advancements that are increasingly prevalent in dental practice; (5) difficulties in hiring, training and retaining dentists in faculty positions diminishes the quality of the education experience for students; and (6) an increased number of graduates in some countries struggle to find employment. Conclusion: A variety of studies and advocacy papers over the past 25 years have identified or described similar challenges facing dental education in many nations of the world. The fact that these challenges persist signals the urgent need for curricular and infrastructure reform to better prepare dental students for the realities of dental practice in the 21st century and to provide an environment that will provide an attractive workplace for dentists who desire to participate in the education of the next generation of dentists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder causing chronic inflammation primarily due to collagen regulation and transport imbalances. Collagen VII A1(COL7A1), a major component of anchoring fibrils, regulates inflammation via interacting with its transporter protein Transport and Golgi organization 2 homologs (TANGO1). The study revealed a significant increase in COL7A1 levels in both the plasma and PBMCs of RA patients. Additionally, a positive correlation between COL7A1 and ACCPA (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody) levels was observed among RA patients. TANGO1 mRNA expression was also found to be elevated in PBMCs. The knockdown of COL7A1 in RA synoviocytes using siRNA affected the expression of TANGO1 and inflammatory genes. Western blot analysis showed that COL7A1 si-RNA in TNF-α-induced SW982 cells reduced the expression of COL7A1, TANGO1, and NF-kBp65. The mRNA expression of inflammatory genes TNF-α, NF-kB p65, and IL-6 simultaneously decreased after the knockdown of COL7A1, as measured by qRT-PCR. An in silico analysis found 20 common interacting proteins of COL7A1 and TANGO1, with pathway enrichment analysis linking them to antigen presentation, class I and II MHC, and adaptive immunity pathways in RA. Among the common proteins, The DisGeNET database depicted that COL1A1, MIA3, SERPINH1, and GORASP1 are directly linked to RA. The molecular docking analysis of COL7A1 and TANGO1 revealed strong interaction with a −1013.4 energy-weighted score. Common RA-used drugs such as Adalimumab, Golimumab, and Infliximab were found to inhibit the interaction between COL7A1 and TANGO1, which can further impede the transport of COL7A1 from ER exit sites, indicating COL7A1 and TANGO1 as potential therapeutic targets to diminish RA progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extended application of intracanal medicaments such as calcium hydroxide (CH) and triple antibiotic paste (TAP) is documented to reduce dentin's resistance to fracture. Aim: This study intended to evaluate the resistance to fracture of root dentin treated with different medicaments – CH, TAP, CH with chlorhexidine (CHX) and lycopene (LP), and chitosan acetate (CA) – over 7, 14, and 42 days. Materials and Methods: Seventy-five single-rooted human mandibular premolars were biomechanically prepared and categorized into five groups based on the medicament used, with further subdivision based on application duration. Fracture resistance was tested after each time interval. Statistical Analysis: Within-group comparisons were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), while inter-group comparisons used a one-way ANOVA test at a 5% significance level. Results: At 7 days, no statistically notable differences were found among the groups. However, by day 14 and day 42, the groups treated with CH and TAP exhibited significantly reduced fracture resistance compared to the other groups. Conclusion: Combining LP with CH and CHX, or using CA, did not reduce radicular dentin fracture resistance, unlike TAP and CH. These findings suggest LP and CA as viable alternatives, potentially minimizing the adverse effects of traditional treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

College students participating in regular physical activity may be better equipped to respond to disasters due to increased physical fitness and mental resilience. This study assessed the level of physical activity engagement and disaster preparedness among college students, examined the relationship between physical activity engagement and disaster preparedness, and informed interventions to promote healthier lifestyles and effective disaster response on campuses. The descriptive-correlational survey method was employed to investigate demographic profiles, levels of physical activity engagement, and disaster preparedness among college students. Furthermore, the findings showed a significant relationship between physical activity engagement and disaster preparedness among college students. Thus, the researchers recommended future researchers as a reference point, expanding upon its findings through additional studies or exploring different aspects of physical activity engagement and disaster preparedness among college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to increased desertification in Africa due to climate change, understanding the behavior of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters less than or equal to 2.5 and 10 μ m ( P M 2.5 and P M 10 ) in the Caribbean is crucial. Fine particles originating from the African dust belt significantly impact the health of the Caribbean population. This study employs a multifractal framework to analyze P M 2.5 and P M 10 time series data in Puerto Rico from 2000 to 2010, marking the first such investigation in the Caribbean islands. Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MF-DFA) reveals similar multifractal behavior in P M 10 and P M 2.5 fluctuations, suggesting a shared influence on these pollutants. Hurst exponents of 0.594 for P M 10 and 0.642 for P M 2.5 indicate long-term persistence in particulate matter behavior. African dust notably influences P M 10 , displaying slightly greater intermittency. Shuffled and surrogate signal analyses confirm multifractality in PMs time series, representing long-range correlations in small and large fluctuations and broadness in probability density function. The primary contributor to multifractality in P M 2.5 is identified as the broadness of the probability density function. Multifractal Detrended Cross-Correlation Analysis (MF-DXA) reveals anti-persistence in cross-correlated multifractal behavior of PMs. These insights enhance the understanding of P M 2.5 and P M 10 dynamics, aiding predictions of natural occurrences like sand mist and improving health risk management in the Caribbean basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern agriculture, nano-priming represents an innovative approach, harnessing the power of nanotechnology to enhance crop yields and nutrition. However, to effectively harness the potential of nanoparticles (NPs) for agriculture applications, understanding their mode of action and optimal application rates for positive effects on microgreen growth and physiology is critical. In this interdisciplinary study, we investigated the priming of sunflower seeds with a range of concentrations (25, 50, and 100 mg/L) of ferric oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles (FeNPs) and compared them with control samples. Our findings revealed a significant increase in plant biomass, leaf size, and photosynthetic activity in treated samples. The activities of photosystems I and II increased with higher FeNPs concentration. The treated samples exhibited elevated levels of total phenolics, anthocyanin, and antioxidant enzyme activity, along with increased macronutrients and micronutrients. These findings highlight the potential of FeNPs as a promising tool for enhancing plant growth and physiology in sunflower microgreens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the development of a sustainable city, it is essential to create pedestrian pathways and bridges that are both friendly and comfortable. A city requires pedestrian bridges that offer a safe way for pedestrians to crossroads. However, in practice, many pedestrian bridges are rarely used. This study aims to analyze the stair elevation of pedestrian bridges by examining the physiological workload involved in climbing the stairs and how this workload varies with the age of pedestrians. The research measured the energy expended by pedestrians in relation to their available capacity. The study was conducted on the stairs of a pedestrian bridge with a 27-degree slope. It was found that adult pedestrians aged between 25 and 45 years expend moderate to high levels of energy when climbing these stairs. The presence of stairs in public facilities encourages individuals to increase their physical activity for health purposes, making it important that the design of the stairs' slope considers both safety and comfort for routine use. The linear equation for cardiovascular load (%CVL) while climbing stairs is expressed as y = 0.999 x + 8.733, where x represents age. This equation indicates that pedestrians over the age of 41 will expend more than 50% of their capacity. The 27-degree slope of the pedestrian bridge may be inconvenient for some users. Therefore, lowering the slope of the stairs should be considered in the design to enhance safety, comfort, and encourage increased use of the stairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a methodology of post‐polymerization functionalization to enable subsequent bulk depolymerization to monomer by utilizing mechanochemical macro‐radical generation. By harnessing ultrasonic chain‐scission in the presence of N‐hydroxyphthalimide methacrylate (PhthMA), we successfully chain‐end functionalize polymers to promote subsequent depolymerization in bulk, achieving up to 82 % depolymerization of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(α‐methylstyrene) (PAMS) within 30 min. This method of depolymerization yields a high‐purity monomer that can be repolymerized. Moreover, as compared to the most common methods of depolymerization, this work is most efficient with ultra‐high molecular weight (UHMW) polymers, establishing a method with the potential to address highly persistent, non‐degradable all‐carbon backbone plastic materials. Lastly, we demonstrate the expansion of this depolymerization method to commercial cell cast PMMA, achieving high degrees of depolymerization from post‐consumer waste. This work is the first demonstration of applying PhthMA‐promoted depolymerization strategies in homopolymer PMMA and PAMS prepared by conventional polymerization methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a methodology of post‐polymerization functionalization to enable subsequent bulk depolymerization to monomer by utilizing mechanochemical macro‐radical generation. By harnessing ultrasonic chain‐scission in the presence of N‐hydroxyphthalimide methacrylate (PhthMA), we successfully chain‐end functionalize polymers to promote subsequent depolymerization in bulk, achieving up to 82 % depolymerization of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(α‐methylstyrene) (PAMS) within 30 min. This method of depolymerization yields a high‐purity monomer that can be repolymerized. Moreover, as compared to the most common methods of depolymerization, this work is most efficient with ultra‐high molecular weight (UHMW) polymers, establishing a method with the potential to address highly persistent, non‐degradable all‐carbon backbone plastic materials. Lastly, we demonstrate the expansion of this depolymerization method to commercial cell cast PMMA, achieving high degrees of depolymerization from post‐consumer waste. This work is the first demonstration of applying PhthMA‐promoted depolymerization strategies in homopolymer PMMA and PAMS prepared by conventional polymerization methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study's aim is to explore how self-efficacy, perceived social support and academic performance are related to one another when it comes to working students. The study used purposive sampling which included 61 female and 41 male working students in National University Fairview with ages 18-30 years old. The study utilized correlational research design. It was found that 68.60% were part-time employees with an average grade of 3.02. Test of normality was used to assess the normality of the distribution, using Kolmogorov-Smirnov. The results of the study show that self-efficacy has a significant relationship with academic performance and with perceived social support of the selected NU Fairview working students. However, there is no significant relationship between academic performance and perceived social support. By being ready for such situations, they can really be prepared to face them when they arise. When a working student is aware of his or her limitations in terms of academic performance, they may manage and handle situations appropriately. The levels and correlations between working students' academic achievement, perceived social support, and self-efficacy have been determined by the researchers using a correlational design. The presence of a linear relationship between quantitative variables was ascertained using Pearson's correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on analyzing the physico-chemical characteristics of soils in Phansidewa Village, Darjeeling, India, with a specific emphasis on seasonal variations, statistical distributions, and correlations of soil parameters. It discusses the critical role of pH, organic carbon, macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients such as iron, manganese, copper, and zinc in determining soil health and nutrient availability.

Aims: The study aimed to assess the antimicrobial effectiveness of green tea and neem extract compared to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) against various root canal microorganisms. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with pulpal necrosis were selected, providing 60 samples before and after irrigation. Groups were assigned as follows: Group A: 3% NaOCl (control), Group B: green tea, and Group C: neem extract. Samples were collected before and after irrigation in two phases. Samples were collected maintaining a strict sterile condition and stored in buffer solution at −80°C for bacterial-load measurement through real-time Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Statistical analysis included within-group comparisons using Wilcoxon's test and the paired t-test and inter-group comparisons using the Kruskal–Wallis test with post hoc Dunn's test and one-way analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey's honestly significant difference test (P ≤ 0.05). Results: While no irrigant achieved complete bacterial eradication, all solutions exhibited significant antimicrobial activity postirrigation. NaOCl yielded the most effective results, with green tea nearly comparable, and neem extract demonstrating the lowest efficacy. Conclusions: Herbal irrigants, particularly green tea, can serve as effective alternatives to chemical solutions. However, neem extract proved less effective than both green tea and NaOCl, indicating its inferiority in root canal disinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary cardiac tumors are rare, and myxomas make up most of these tumors accounting for 30-50% of all primary heart tumours [1]. These commonly affect individuals between 3rd to 6th decades and have a female preponderance [2]. Despite a preference for the left atrium, any of the cardiac chambers can be involved. Myxomas have varied clinical presentations with the unusual feature being its potential to embolise and cause organ infarction [3]. The aim of this study is to analyse the clinical profile and histopathology findings of cardiac myxomas. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study done in the Department of Pathology, A. J. Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Mangalore for a duration of 8 years from January 2016 to December 2023. All the cases cardiac myxomas received in the histopathology laboratory were included in the study. Clinical history, radiology findings and histopathology of all the cases were reviewed and analysed. Results: A total number of 14 cardiac myxomas were encountered in the study. Females were more commonly affected (69.23%). The mean age of patients was 47.7 years. Most commonly patients presented with symptoms of cerebral infarction. Left atrium was the most common site followed by right atrium and interatrial septum. Myxomatous matrix and hemorrhage were the morphological features found in most cases. Conclusion: Cardiac myxomas though benign can cause life threatening embolic events. Hence, high index of suspicion and timely diagnosis is of utmost importance because it offers a scope for definitive treatment, i.e. surgical excision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant microRNAs (miRNA) are regularly consumed orally along with diet, gaining attention for their RNA-based drug potential because of their ability to regulate mammalian gene expression specifically at the post-transcriptional level. Medicinally valued plants are well known for their anti-inflammatory property; however, the contribution of their miRNA in managing inflammation has been less studied. We investigated miRNA from four medicinally valued regularly consumed spices, and validated one of the most potential miRNA 'Clo-miR-14' for its thermal stability, and absorption in the plasma samples of RA patient's by RT-PCR. In vitro and in vivo studies were performed to investigate the effect of Clo-miR-14 in ameliorating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) like symptoms. Our results suggest that 'Clo-miR-14,' an exogenous miRNA present in Curcuma longa, absorbed through regular diet, has robust thermal stability at 100°C in humans. It significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL-1β, IL-6) and RA-like symptoms, suggesting that plant-based miRNA could be a promising candidate as an RNA-based drug for RA pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated levels of Inter-alpha-trypsin-inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) have grabbed attention in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis, though its precise mechanisms remain unexplored. To elucidate these mechanisms, a comprehensive strategy employing network pharmacology and molecular docking was utilized. RA targets were sourced from the DisGeNET Database while interacting targets of ITIH4 were retrieved from the STRING and Literature databases. Venny 2.1 was used to identify overlapping genes, followed by Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) through Cytoscape 3.10.2 software, and molecular docking was performed in the ClusPro server. The study identified 18 interacting proteins of ITIH4 associated with RA, demonstrating their major involvement in the chemokine signaling pathway by enrichment analysis. Molecular docking of ITIH4 with the 18 proteins revealed that C-X-C chemokine-receptor type 4 (CXCR4), a major protein associated with chemokine signaling, has the highest binding affinity with ITIH4 with energy −1705.7 kcal/mol forming 3 Hydrogen bonds in the active site pocket of ITIH4 with His441, Arg288, Asp443 amino acids. The effect of ITIH4 on CXCR4 was analyzed via knockdown studies in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS), demonstrating the significant downregulation of CXCR4 protein expression validated by Western blot in RA-FLS. In conclusion, it was speculated that CXCR4 might serve as a potential receptor for ITIH4 to activate the chemokine signaling, exacerbating RA pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work reports synthesis, characterization and theoretical insights on novel hydroxymethyl‐bishomocubanone derivatives. Twelve new bishomocubanes (BHCs) were synthesized and fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and single crystal X‐ray analysis. The densities of the title compounds were in the range of 1.30–1.59 g/cm3. Density‐functional theory (DFT) based calculations at B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory were performed on ten selected BHC based cage compounds. Propulsive and ballistic properties of newly synthesized hydroxymethyl‐bishomocubanone derivatives in solid and liquid propulsion systems were calculated, and the results suggested that these compounds are superior to conventional fuel RP1 and binder HTPB. The detonation parameters revealed that these compounds are not explosive in nature and safe to use as solid propellants. Furthermore, kinetic and thermal stabilities of the title compounds were determined by HOMO‐LUMO energy gap, ESP maps, impact sensitivity (h50) and bond dissociation energies (BDEs) followed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Three compounds, a dinitroazide (Isp,vac=310.98 s), a dinitrate (Isp,vac=309.51 s), and a dinitronitrate (Isp,vac=309.20s) were found to be excellent candidates for volume limited applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tannia is one of the six most important root and tuber crops grown world-wide. Tannia possess good keeping quality compared to other vegetables. The tubers are considered more nutritious than colocasia and potato. But the crop is still underexploited compared to other tuber crops. Hence the study was undertaken to identify the effect of tillage and nutrition on quality characters of tannia. Methods: A field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala during 2014-15 to study the effect of organic nutrition on quality characters of tannia. The design used was split plot design with four replications. The treatments consisted of tillage and planting methods as main plot treatments (L1-conventional tillage followed by pit system, L2-conventional tillage followed by mound system, L3-deep tillage followed by pit system and L4-deep tillage followed by mound system). The sub plot treatments were combinations of soil conditioners (S1-control, S2-coir pith, S3-rice husk) and two nutrition systems (N1-integrated nutrient management (INM) and N2-organic nutrition). Result: Results of the experiment revealed that the quality characters of tannia was improved by deep tillage to a depth of 30 cm followed by pit system of planting, application of coir pith as soil conditioner @ 500 g plant-1 and organic nutrition (FYM @37.5 t ha-1 + wood ash @ 2 t ha-1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrations of metal(loid)s, Ag, Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Se, Sr, V and Zn, were determined in rice on sale in Las Vegas. The rice samples were grown in five different countries, the USA, Thailand, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The elemental concentrations in rice grain were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) following hot block-assisted digestion. The accuracy of the laboratory procedure was verified by the analysis of rice flour standard reference material (NIST SRM 1568b). The mean metal(loid) contents in rice of various geographic origins were 3.18–5.91 mg kg−1 for Al, 0.05–0.12 mg kg−1 for As, 3.64–41 μg kg−1 for Cd, 5.11–12 μg kg−1 for Co, 0.12–0.14 mg kg−1 for Cr, 1.5–1.91 mg kg−1 for Cu, 3.04–4.98 mg kg−1 for Fe, 4.2–10.4 mg kg−1 for Mn, 0.21–0.41 mg kg−1 for Ni, 0.02–0.07 mg kg−1 for Se, 0.68–0.88 mg kg−1 for Sr, 3.64–5.26 μg kg−1 for V, and 16.6–19.9 mg kg−1 for Zn. respectively. The mean concentration of As in US rice was significantly higher than in Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi rice. On the other hand, it was found a significantly low mean level of Cd in US-grown rice. It was also found that the concentrations of metal(loid)s in black and brown rice on sale in Las Vegas were statistically similar, except for Mn and Se. The geographic origin traceability of rice grain involved the use of ICP-MS analysis coupled with chemometrics that allowed their differentiation based on the rice metal(loid) profile, thus confirming their origins. Data were processed by linear discriminant analysis, and US and Thai rice samples were cross-validated with higher accuracy (100%). This authentication quickly discriminates US rice from the other regions and adds verifiable food safety measures for consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India notified the National Anti-Doping Act (the Act) on 12 August 2022. Through this legislation, India appears to reiterate its commitment to compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code (the WADA Code). However, the reality of doping in Indian sports is far from ideal. India ranks second globally in terms of Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs). The question then is, what flaws existed in the pre-Act anti-doping policies? Further, how far has the developing country narrative of India impacted these policies? Finally, to what extent does the Act address the existing gaps in India's anti-doping policy? The article addresses these questions to evaluate the necessity of the Act. The article reviews the existing literature on India's anti-doping policy. The review includes government status reports, the National Anti-Doping Agency's (NADA's) decisions and WADA's ADRVs report. These documents establish that the pre-Act anti-doping policy of India had failed to stem the incidents of doping within Indian sports. The Act is a flawed piece of legislation. Consequently, India's anti-doping policy is unlikely to be impacted, though further quantitative research in the future is needed to evaluate the Act. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the repercussions of magnetopriming on the root system architecture of soybean plants subjected to arsenic toxicity using synchrotron radiation source based micro-computed tomography (SR-µCT). This will be used evey where as abbreviation for the technique for threedimensional imaging. Seeds of soybean were exposed to the static magnetic field (SMF) of strength (200 mT) for 1h prior to sowing. Magnetoprimed and nonprimed seeds were grown for 1 month in a soil-sand mixture containing four different levels of sodium arsenate (0, 5, 10, and 50 mg As kg-1 soil). The results showed that arsenic adversely affects the root growth in non-primed plants by reducing their root length, root biomass, root hair, size and number of root nodules, where the damaging effect of As was observed maximum at higher concentrations (10 and 50 mg As kg-1 soil). However, a significant improvement in root morphology was detected in magnetoprimed plants where SMF pretreatment enhanced the root length, root biomass, pore diameter of cortical cells, root hair formation, lateral roots branching, and size of root nodules and girth of primary roots. Qualitative analysis of x-ray micro-CT images showed that arsenic toxicity damaged the epidermal and cortical layers of the root as well as reduced the pore diameter of the cortical cells. However, the diameter of cortical cells pores in magnetoprimed plants was observed higher as compared to plants emerged from non-primed seeds at all level of As toxicity. Thus, the study suggested that magnetopriming has the potential to attenuate the toxic effect of As and could be employed as a pre-sowing treatment to reduce the phytotoxic effects of metal ions in plants by improving root architecture and root tolerance index. This study is the very first exploration of the potential benefits of magnetopriming in mitigating the toxicity of metals (As) in plant roots utilizing the micro-CT technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pneumonia continues to be a serious health risk for young children, particularly in developing areas. This study examined 100 mothers in a rural Philippine community to explore how socio-demographic factors, knowledge, attitudes, and health-seeking practices influence pneumonia prevention. Results showed that most mothers had moderate knowledge, generally positive attitudes, and only occasionally pursued healthcare for pneumonia prevention. There were notable correlations between higher knowledge and more frequent healthcare-seeking behavior, as well as between positive attitudes and proactive health actions. These findings highlight the need for targeted efforts to enhance mothers' knowledge and preventive practices to reduce pneumonia risks in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the quality of research reporting is crucial for addressing current challenges in palliative care, with academic journals playing a crucial role in promoting clear and comprehensive reporting through structured guidelines. These guidelines, such as Appraisal of Guidelines, Research, and evaluation, Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials, Case Reports (CARE) guidelines, transparent reporting of evaluations with nonrandomized designs (TREND), transparent reporting of a multivariable prediction model for individual prognosis or diagnosis (TRIPOD), meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology (MOOSE) Checklist, methods of researching end-of-life care Statement, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses, Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence 2.0, Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology, standard protocol items: recommendations for interventional trials (SPIRIT), template for intervention description and replication (TIDieR) Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research and Standards for Qualitative Research, are instrumental in ensuring transparency by furnishing essential details for comprehending, replicating and applying research findings in clinical decision-making and systematic reviews. The Enhancing the quality and transparency of health research (EQUATOR) network champions trustworthy health research literature globally by advocating for transparent and accurate reporting, thereby enhancing the reliability and utility of research outcomes research outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the abundance of microplastics (MPs) in various environmental matrices, such as sediment and water, and their potential impacts. MPs can be considered as plastic particles that are less than 5 mm in dimension. The article presents an overview of the methods used for detecting and quantifying MPs in environmental samples, including spectroscopic techniques, microscopy, and chemical digestion. It also summarizes the current understanding of the distribution and abundance of MPs in various environmental compartments highlighting their importance in different environmental compartments. This article further discusses the potential impacts of MPs on different biota, such as marine organisms and terrestrial animals, and their ability to act as carriers for pollutants and other harmful substances. The review emphasizes the need for further research to better understand the impacts of MPs and to develop effective management strategies to mitigate their environmental effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the parental involvement and barriers of the parents of Grade 1 learners towards academic achievement of the learners in Guadalupe Elementary School for the school year 2022-2023, as basis for the crafting of intervention plan. The study utilized a descriptive -correlational method of research using the questionnaire as the main data-gathering tool and provide a valuable snapshot of parental involvement and barriers related to academic achievement. The findings revealed that parent's involvement as describe in the following indicators Type 1 Parenting, Type 2 Communicating, Type 3 Volunteering, Type 5 Decision- Making, Type 6 Collaborating Community has verbal interpretation Strongly Agree, while only Type 4 Learning at Home was interpreted as Slightly Agree. As to the levels of the different types of barriers on parental involvement, it was revealed that Time Constraints, Communication Barriers, Lack of Resources were interpreted as Strongly Agree while School Environment was interpreted as Slightly Agree. There was no significant relationship between the profile variables, barriers and the academic achievement among grade 1 learners since while there was a significant relationship between the academic achievement and the extent of parental involvement of the parents of Grade 1 learners since the p-values is 0.03 which is less that the level of significance. This concludes that the extent of parental involvement plays an important aspect on children's academic achievements specially in achieving learning in the classroom. Parents who always extend their support and provide a strong foundation that help improve the academic performance of the learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study explores the impact of infographics on the professional dissemination of medical research. Recognising the burgeoning volume of data in the medical domain, this research aims to bridge the gap by investigating the efficacy of infographics in rendering complex medical concepts understandable to diverse audiences, including policymakers, patients, and the public. Design. The study uses a cross‐sectional survey to assess medical professionals' familiarity with infographic design and data visualisation principles. Setting. The research targets medical professionals with published articles across various subfields, including Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology, Pharmacology, Healthcare Management, Medical Imaging, and Public Health. Method. Data collection involves an online survey distributed to potential participants through professional networks and research institutions. The survey encompasses Likert‐scale questions and demographic variables. Ethical considerations include obtaining approval from the institutional review board, ensuring participant consent, and maintaining data anonymity and confidentiality. Results. Demographic analysis reveals a diverse participant profile, with 58.7% male and 41.3% female respondents, spanning various age groups, professional experiences, and geographic locations. Assessing familiarity with infographic design and data visualisation principles demonstrates respondents' proficiency in certain areas while highlighting potential areas for improvement. Conclusion. The study underscores the multifaceted benefits of infographics in research dissemination, as medical professionals perceive. Infographics can effectively convey various kinds of medical research information across diverse platforms and channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochemical characterisatics of 70 traditional landraces of rice (Oryza sativa L.) of Kerala including various micronutrients, rice bran oil and oryzanol content were analyzed. Traditional varieties have demonstrated their potential as valuable reservoirs of nutrients, indicating their suitability for incorporation into future breeding programmes aimed to develop nutritionally enriched rice varieties. Among the genotypes studied Oorkayama and Thekkan were identified with highest rice bran oil content and γ oryzanol content respectively. Fe, Zn, Na, K, carotene and anthocyanin content showed a wide range of variation among the genotypes. The GCV estimates were high for rice bran oil content and oryzanol content indicating higher magnitude of variability due to genotypes for these characters. The investigation suggests preponderance of additive gene effects for all the biochemical constituents under study as indicated by the high heritability coupled with high genetic advance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey was conducted in the agricultural fields of mustard of Haridwar district, Uttarakhand, India, where a heavy population of Zeldia was recovered. The morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic characterization confirmed the nematode as Zeldia punctata. The phylogenetic analysis based on 18 and 28S rDNA placed the studied population of Z. punctata close to other populations of the same species. The principal component analysis (PCA) data revealed the high intraspecific and interspecific variations between the populations of Zeldia punctata from different geographical regions. The result indicated a variation between the Indian populations of Z. punctata. Additionally, the selected ecological factors indicated an impact of EC, temperature, and phosphorus on Z. punctata during the flowering and podding time of mustard crops in India. However, the PCA revealed no effect of ecological factors on the nematode diversity indices. In conclusion, Z. punctata, with its high individual numbers on mustard, may affect crop production due to activating the bacterial community of the soil and less space for plant-parasitic nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2019, the World Health Organization identified improving access to safe abortion as an important priority toward improving sexual and reproductive health and rights and achieving Sustainable Development Goals. One strategy for addressing this priority is strengthening access to medicines for medical abortion. All 11 countries in the South-East Asia Region have some indications for legal abortion and permit post-abortion care. Therefore, strengthening access to medical abortion medicines is a reasonable strategy for improving access to safe abortion for the Region. Methodology: We applied an adapted version of an existing World Health Organization landscape assessment protocol for the availability of medical abortion medicines at the country-level in the South-East Asia Region. We collected publicly available data on the existence of national health laws, policies, and standard treatment guidelines; inclusion of medical abortion medicines in the national essential medicines list; and marketing authorization status for medical abortion medicines for each country and verified by Ministries of health. The findings were once more presented, discussed and recommendations were formulated during regional technical consultation workshop. Each country teams participated in the process, and subsequently, the suggestions were validated by representatives from Ministries of Health.. Results: Few countries in the Region currently have national policies and guidelines for comprehensive safe abortion. However, either mifepristone-misoprostol in combination or misoprostol alone (for other indications) is included in national essential medicines lists in all countries except Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Few countries earmark specific public funds for procuring and distributing medical abortion commodities. In countries where abortion is legal, the private sector and NGOs support access to medical abortion information and medicines. Several countries only allow registered medical practitioners or specialists to administer medical abortion. Conclusion: Following this rapid participatory assessment and technical consultation workshop, the World Health Organization South-East Asia Regional Technical Advisory and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights technical committee recommended priority actions for policy and advocacy, service delivery, and monitoring and evaluation, and indicated areas for support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Thalictrum fargesii is a medicinal plant belonging to the genus Thalictrum of the Ranunculaceae family and has been used in herbal medicine in the Himalayan regions of China and India. This species is taxonomically challenging because of its morphological similarities to other species within the genus. Thus, herbal drugs from this species are frequently adulterated, substituted, or mixed with other species, thereby endangering consumer safety. Methods: The present study aimed to sequence and assemble the entire chloroplast (cp) genome of T. fargesii using the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform to better understand the genomic architecture, gene composition, and phylogenetic relationships within the Thalictrum. Results and discussion: The cp genome was 155,929 bp long and contained large single-copy (85,395 bp) and small single-copy (17,576 bp) regions that were segregated by a pair of inverted repeat regions (26,479 bp) to form a quadripartite structure. The cp genome contains 133 genes, including 88 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Additionally, this genome contains 64 codons that encode 20 amino acids, the most preferred of which are alanine and leucine. We identified 68 SSRs, 27 long repeats, and 242 high-confidence C-to-U RNA-editing sites in the cp genome. Moreover, we discovered seven divergent hotspot regions in the cp genome of T. fargesii, among which ndhD-psaC and rpl16-rps3 may be useful for developing molecular markers for identifying ethnodrug species and their contaminants. A comparative study with eight other species in the genus revealed that pafI and rps19 had highly variable sites in the cp genome of T. fargesii. Additionally, two special features, (i) the shortest length of the ycf1 gene at the IRA-SSC boundary and (ii) the distance between the rps19 fragment and trnH at the IRA-LSC junction, distinguish the cp genome of T. fargesii from those of other species within the genus. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis revealed that T. fargesii was closely related to T. tenue and T. petaloidium. Conclusion: Considering all these lines of evidence, our findings offer crucial molecular and evolutionary information that could play a significant role in further species identification, evolution, and phylogenetic studies on T. fargesii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is intended to determine the lived experiences of students in a broken family and its effects on their academic endeavors. This study utilized the descriptive design. Calderon (2006), defined descriptive research as a purposive process of gathering, analyzing, classifying, and tabulating data about prevailing conditions, practices, processes, trends, and cause-effect relationships and then making an adequate and accurate interpretation of such data with or without or sometimes minimal aid of statistical methods. The following major findings are: broken family relationship does affect student's academic performance. The family situations corrupt their focus in studying and family problems bothered them while in school. Having a broken family also makes the students feel the deprived belongingness and different compared to other students who have complete and happy. The responsibilities thrown in to them give so much pressure which causes anxiety and depression. It can be concluded that broken family relationships greatly affect students' attitude towards academic endeavors, most of the respondents from a broken family faced a great challenge, they experienced depression, emotional problems, and insecurity with students who have complete and happy families. Being in a broken family affects their academic endeavors. They are prone to anxiety, depression, and emotional breakdown that affects their academic performance. They cannot focus and sometimes lose interest in studying to the point that their academic performance is affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This survey-based study aims to explore the research data dissemination and requesting practices of Arab researchers. It investigates the reasons, types, methods, barriers and motivations associated with data sharing and requesting in the Arab research community. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 205 Arab researchers representing various disciplines and career stages. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Findings: The study found that 91.2% of Arab researchers share data, while 56.6% access data from others. Reasons for sharing include promoting transparency and collaboration while requesting data is driven by the need to validate findings and explore new research questions. Processed/analysed data and survey/questionnaire data are the most commonly shared and requested types. Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature by examining data sharing and requesting practices in the Arab research community. It provides original insights into the motivations, barriers and data types shared and requested by Arab researchers. This can inform future research and initiatives to promote regional data sharing. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-06-2023-0283 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public attention on blockchain is currently centered on the erratic fluctuation of cryptocurrency, overshadowing other potential use-cases that can have significant impact on global security, including the tracking, accounting, and securing of sensitive assets such as nuclear material and facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), an Andean crop, is a facultative halophyte food crop recognized globally for its high nutritional value and plasticity to adapt to harsh conditions. We conducted a genome-wide association study on a diverse set of quinoa germplasm accessions. These accessions were evaluated for the following agronomic and biochemical traits: days to 50% flowering (DTF), plant height (PH), panicle length (PL), stem diameter (SD), seed yield (SY), grain diameter (GD), and thousand-grain weight (TGW). These accessions underwent genotyping-by-sequencing using the DNBSeq-G400R platform. Among all evaluated traits, TGW represented maximum broad-sense heritability. Our study revealed average SNP density of ≈ 3.11 SNPs/10 kb for the whole genome, with the lowest and highest on chromosomes Cq1B and Cq9A, respectively. Principal component analysis clustered the quinoa population in three main clusters, one clearly representing lowland Chilean accessions, whereas the other two groups corresponded to germplasm from the highlands of Peru and Bolivia. In our germplasm set, we estimated linkage disequilibrium decay to be ≈ 118.5 kb. Marker-trait analyses revealed major and consistent effect associations for DTF on chromosomes 3A, 4B, 5B, 6A, 7A, 7B and 8B, with phenotypic variance explained (PVE) as high as 19.15%. Nine associations across eight chromosomes were also found for saponin content with 20% PVE by qSPN5A.1. More QTLs were identified for PL and TGW on multiple chromosomal locations. We identified putative candidate genes in the genomic regions associated with DTF and saponin content. The consistent and major-effect genomic associations can be used in fast-tracking quinoa breeding for wider adaptation across marginal environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the course of studying Diels–Alder reactions of 4-vinylimidazoles with N-phenylmaleimide, it was discovered that they engage in cycloaddition at room temperature to give high yields of the initial cycloadduct as a single stereoisomer. In certain cases, the product precipitated out of the reaction mixture and could be isolated by simple filtration, thereby avoiding issues with aromatization observed during chromatographic purification. Given these results, intramolecular variants using doubly activated dienophiles were also investigated at room temperature. Amides underwent cycloaddition at room temperature in modest yields, but the initial adducts were not isolable with Nimid-benzyl-protected systems. Attempts to extend these results to the corresponding esters and hydroxamate were less successful with these substrates only undergoing cycloaddition at elevated temperatures in lower yields. Density functional theory calculations were performed to evaluate the putative transition states for both the inter- and intramolecular variants to rationalize experimental observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation and destruction with an unknown origin. Our study aims to elucidate the molecular mechanism behind HIF1α overexpression in RA. Dysregulated miRNA expressions are known to influence gene behavior, thereby enhancing cell proliferation, inflammation, and resistance to apoptosis, contributing to RA development. Our earlier finding indicated that exogenous miRNA similar to miR-4693-5p may modulate RA-related targets. However, the specific role of miR-4693-5p and its targets in RA remain unexplored. In this study, we found that miR-4693-5p was significantly reduced in PBMCs of RA patients, with evidence suggesting it targets the 3′ UTR of HIF1α, thereby potentially contributing to its overexpression in RA. In vitro overexpression of miR-4693-5p leads to the knockdown of HIF1α, resulting in inhibited expression of Survivin to disrupt apoptosis resistance, inflammation suppression, and a reduction in the total cellular ROS response in SW982 and RAFLS cells. The results were validated using the CIA Rat model. In conclusion, this study provides a crucial foundation for understanding the functional role of miR-4693-5p. These findings improve our understanding and provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying RA pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Amaranthus is the most popular and commercially cultivated leafy vegetable in the Southern part of India, especially Tamil Nadu and Kerala which is susceptible to a number of diseases. Among the different diseases affecting amaranth, foliar blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn, is considered as the most serious disease in Kerala. Methods: A field experiment was taken up at Onattukara Regional Agricultural Research Station (O.R.A.R.S), Kayamkulam, Alappuzha, Kerala during December 2019 to February 2020 to assess the influence of dust and liquid formulations of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) mix I on growth, yield and disease incidence (Rhizoctonia leaf blight) in amaranthus. Result: The results of the study reveal that maximum number of leaves, number of branches per plant and yield were produced by the plants that were subjected to seedling root dip with 5% talc formulation followed by drenching with 5% talc solution at 30 DAT and 45 DAT. Regardless of talc or liquid formulation of PGPR mix I (2%) seedling dip followed by drenching at 15, 30 and 45 DAT provided the least disease incidence and disease severity in amaranthus at Onattukara condition. Hence use of PGPR mix I is a prerequisite for effective growth, yield and management of leaf blight of amaranthus at Onattukara. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black Aspergillus species are the most common etiological agents of otomycosis, and pulmonary aspergillosis. However, limited data is available on their antifungal susceptibility profiles and associated resistance mechanisms. Here, we determined the azole susceptibility profiles of black Aspergillus species isolated from the Indian environment and explored the potential resistance mechanisms through cyp51A gene sequencing, protein homology modeling, and expression analysis of selected genes cyp51A, cyp51B, mdr1, and mfs based on their role in imparting resistance against antifungal drugs. In this study, we have isolated a total of 161 black aspergilli isolates from 174 agricultural soil samples. Isolates had variable resistance towards medical azoles; approximately 11.80%, 3.10%, and 1.24% of isolates were resistant to itraconazole (ITC), posaconazole (POS), and voriconazole (VRC), respectively. Further, cyp51A sequence analysis showed that non-synonymous mutations were present in 20 azole-resistant Aspergillus section Nigri and 10 susceptible isolates. However, Cyp51A homology modeling indicated insignificant protein structural variations because of these mutations. Most of the isolates showed the overexpression of mdr1, and mfs genes. Hence, the study concluded that azole-resistance in section Nigri cannot be attributed exclusively to the cyp51A gene mutation or its overexpression. However, overexpression of mdr1 and mfs genes may have a potential role in drug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]