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Abstract Background Previous studies from the US and UK suggest that neighbourhood ethnic composition is associated with health, positive or negative, depending on the health outcome and ethnic group. We examined the association between neighbourhood ethnic composition and self-reported health in these groups in Amsterdam, and we aimed to explore whether there is spatial variation in this association. Methods We used micro-scale data to describe the ethnic composition in buffers around the home location of 2701 Turks and 2661 Moroccans. Multilevel regression analysis was used to assess the association between three measures of ethnic composition (% co-ethnics, % other ethnic group, Herfindahl index) and three measures of self-reported health: self-rated health, Physical and Mental Component Score (PCS, MCS). We adjusted for socioeconomic position at individual and area level. We used geographically weighted regression and spatially stratified regression analyses to explore whether associations differed within Amsterdam. Results Ethnic heterogeneity and own ethnic density were not related to self-rated health for both ethnic groups. Higher density of Turks was associated with better self-rated health among Moroccans at all buffer sizes, with the most significant relations for small buffers. Higher heterogeneity was associated with lower scores on PCS and MCS among Turks (suggesting worse health). We found spatial variation in the association of the density of the other ethnic group with self-rated health of Moroccans and Turks. We found a positive association for both groups, spatially concentrated in the sub-district Geuzenveld. Conclusions Our study showed that the association of ethnic composition with self-reported health among Turks and Moroccans in Amsterdam differed between the groups and reveals mainly at small spatial scales. Among both groups, an association of higher density of the other group with better self-rated health was found in a particular part of Amsterdam, which might be explained by the presence of a relatively strong sense of community between the two groups in that area. The study suggests that it is important to pay attention to other-group density, to use area measurements at small spatial scales and to examine the spatial variation in these associations. This may help to identify neighbourhood characteristics contributing to these type of area effects on urban minority health.

BackgroundTo integrate immigrants into their societies, European countries have adopted different types of policies, which may influence health through both material and psychosocial determinants. Recent studies have suggested poorer health outcomes for immigrants living in countries with poorly rated integration policies.ObjectiveTo analyse mortality differences of immigrants from the same country of origin living in countries with distinct integration policy contexts.MethodsFrom the mortality dataset collected in the Migrant Ethnic Health Observatory (MEHO) project, we chose the Netherlands (linked data from 1996-2006), France (unlinked; 2005-2007) and Denmark (linked; 1992-2001) as representatives of the inclusive, assimilationist and exclusionist policy models, respectively, based on the Migrant Integration Policy Index. We calculated for each country sex- and age-standardized mortality rates for Turkish-, Moroccan- and local-born populations aged 20-69 years. Poisson regression was used to estimate the mortality rate ratios (MRRs) for cross-country and within-country comparisons. The analyses were further stratified by age group and cause of death.ResultsCompared with their peers in the Netherlands, Turkish-born immigrants had higher all-cause mortality in Denmark (MRR men 1.92; 95% CI 1.74-2.13 and women 2.11; 1.80-2.47) but lower in France (men 0.64; 0.59-0.69 and women 0.58; 0.51-0.67). A similar pattern emerged for Moroccan-born immigrants. The relative differences between immigrants and the local-born population were also largest in Denmark and lowest in France (e.g., Turkish-born men MRR 1.52; 95% CI 1.38-1.67 and 0.62; 0.58-0.66, respectively). These patterns were consistent across all age groups, and more marked for cardiovascular diseases.ConclusionsAlthough confounders and data comparability issues (e.g., French cross-sectional data) may affect the findings, this study suggests that different macro-level policy contexts may influence immigrants' mortality. Comparable mortality registration systems across Europe along with detailed socio-demographic information on immigrants may help to better assess this association.

Abstract Plants are subjected to various biotic and abiotic stresses that significantly impact their growth and productivity. To achieve balanced crop growth and yield, including for leafy vegetables, the continuous application of micronutrient is crucial. This study investigates the effects of different concentrations of copper sulphate (0, 75, 125, and 175 ppm) on the morphological and biochemical features of Spinacia oleracea and Avena sativa. Morphological parameters such as plant height, leaf area, root length, and fresh and dry weights were optimized at a concentration of 75 ppm copper sulfate. At this concentration, chlorophyll a & b levels increased significantly in Spinacia oleracea (462.9 and 249.8 𝜇𝑔/𝑔), and Avena sativa (404.7 and 437.63𝜇𝑔/𝑔). However, carotenoid content and sugar levels in Spinacia oleracea were negatively affected, while sugar content in Avena sativa increased at 125 ppm (941.6 µg/ml). Protein content increased in Spinacia oleracea (75 ppm, 180.3 µg/ml) but decreased in Avena sativa. Phenol content peaked in both plants at 75 ppm (362.2 and 244.5 µg/ml). Higher concentrations (175 ppm) of copper sulfate reduced plant productivity and health. Plants exposed to control and optimal concentrations (75 and 125 ppm) of copper sulpate exhibited the best health and growth compared to those subjected to higher concentrations. Maximum plant height, leaf area, root length, fresh and dry weights were observed at lower concentrations (75 and 125 ppm) of copper sulfate, while higher concentrations caused toxicity. Optimal copper sulfate levels enhanced chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, protein, and phenol contents but inhibited sugar and carotenoid contents in both Spinacia oleracea and Avena sativa. Overall, increased copper sulfate treatment adversely affected the growth parameters and biochemical profiles of these plants.

Abstract Green synthesis is an easy, safe, and environmentally beneficial nanoparticle creation method. It is a great challenge to simultaneously improve the capping and stabilizing agent carrier separation efficiency of photocatalysts. Herein, Zn-doped Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles with high exposure of 360 nm using a UV/visible spectrophotometer were prepared via a one-step hydrothermal decomposition method. A detailed analysis reveals that the electronic structures were modulated by Zn doping; thus, the responsive wavelength was extended to 600 nm, which effectively improved the visible light absorption of TiO2. We have optimized the different parameters like concentration, time, and temperature. The peak for TiO2 is located at 600 cm-1 in FTIR. A scanning electron microscope revealed that TiO2 has a definite shape and morphology. The synthesized Zn-doped TiO2NPs were applied against various pathogens to study their anti-bacterial potentials. The anti-bacterial activity of Zn-doped TiO2 has shown robust against two gram-ve bacteria (Salmonella and Escherichia coli) and two gram + ve bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus). Synthesized Zn-doped TiO2 has demonstrated strong antifungal efficacy against a variety of fungi. Moreover, doping TiO2 nanoparticles with metal oxide greatly improves their characteristics; as a result, doped metal oxide nanoparticles perform better than doped and un-doped metal oxide nanoparticles. Compared to pure TiO2, Zn-doped TiO2 nanoparticles exhibit considerable applications including antimicrobial treatment and water purification.

Cola nitida, also known as Kola nut, is a tropical plant native to West Africa and has a rich history of traditional medicinal use. In this narrative review, we aim to provide an overview of the protective effects of Cola nitida in various health and disease states. Cola nitida has been traditionally used for its medicinal properties, and its bioactive compounds include caffeine, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, and phenolics. These compounds contribute to its potential therapeutic effects. Here, we examine the potential benefits of Cola nitida in several areas of health, discussing its role in cognitive function, cardiovascular health, immune system function, gastrointestinal health, and metabolic and endocrine health. Relevant original articles available from PubMed, African Journals Online (AJOL), SCOPUS, and Google Scholar were retrieved using the keywords “cola” AND “nitida” without date restriction until July 17, 2023. Evidence suggests that Cola nitida may have positive effects on health, with indications of adverse effects only from its chronic usage. However, more research is needed to establish its efficacy and safety. Cola nitida holds promise as a natural remedy for various health conditions. Understanding the benefits and limitations of Cola nitida will contribute to its effective utilization in health and disease management.

The tropical dry forests (TDF) have an enormously rich flora and fauna that offer various ecological services to the surrounding human societies. Biodiversity assessment is mandatory for implementing any sustainable forest management policy, which is why it is one of the important criteria and indicators currently used. Threats to TDF biodiversity are the primary challenges arising from environmental concerns caused by anthropogenic activity leading to global warming issues. The study aimed to investigate the vegetation assessment and several environmental and anthropogenic variables influencing forest biodiversity from 5 threatened forest sites of District Sialkot (Ghalotian, Kishan Garh, Daburgi Chanda Singh, Pir Kot, and Ghulab Garh), Pakistan. We collected 170 distinct plant species, including 135 dicots, 27 monocots, seven pteridophytes, and one bryophyte, categorized into 138 genera and 62 families, divided into 114 herbs, 32 trees, and 24 shrubs. The phytosociological analysis described the quantitative characteristics, including % frequency, % density, % cover, and importance Value Index (IVI) of all forest areas. Gulab Garh forest has the richest biodiversity forest area, and herbs are the dominant species that have been documented. Environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation, organic matter, soil pH, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, Cl−, and electric conductivity (EC) strongly affect forest vegetation investigated by principal coordinate analysis. Shannon and Simpson’s diversity indexes reveal that all sites contain loamy and sandy soil and display a significant relationship between alpha diversity and richness. Increasing trends in temperature and decreasing trends in rainfall suggested that climate significantly affects the Sialkot region’s plant biodiversity. SWOT analysis highlighted that population growth leads to increasing anthropogenic activities such as constructing housing societies and roads, inadequate farming, and excessive grazing, impacting the forest vegetation and altering TDF ecosystem properties/services and functioning. Our findings reinforce the vegetational assessment and importance of local forest biodiversity and significant environmental drivers that influence the plant species diversity in TDF areas. Future conservation strategies are suggested to reduce unlawful resource consumption, restore plant biodiversity in designated protected areas, and conserve rare species locally.

This study delves into the application of Logistic Regression through a Voting Classifier to predict liver disease prevalence within the Indian demographic, specifically analyzing data from the NorthEast of Andhra Pradesh. Employing a dataset encompassing 584 patient records, the research utilizes a 5-fold cross-validation approach to evaluate the model's performance across accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-Score metrics. The findings reveal accuracy rates ranging from 69.23% to 74.14%, with variable precision and recall, indicating a promising yet improvable predictive capability of the model. The study significantly contributes to the existing body of knowledge by demonstrating the potential of Logistic Regression in medical diagnostics, especially in the context of liver disease, and highlighting the critical role of machine learning models in enhancing diagnostic processes. Through a detailed discussion, the research aligns with previous studies on the efficacy of machine learning in healthcare, advocating for the integration of more comprehensive data and suggesting further exploration into the model's applicability across diverse populations. The study's implications extend to healthcare professionals and policymakers, underscoring the necessity for advanced diagnostic tools in the early detection of liver diseases.

Abstract Objectives This study investigated whether exosomes from LPS pretreated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (LPS pre-MSCs) could prolong skin graft survival. Methods The exosomes were isolated from the supernatant of MSCs pretreated with LPS. LPS pre-Exo and rapamycin were injected via the tail vein into C57BL/6 mice allografted with BALB/c skin; graft survival was observed and evaluated. The accumulation and polarization of macrophages were examined by immunohistochemistry. The differentiation of macrophages in the spleen was analyzed by flow cytometry. For in vitro, an inflammatory model was established. Specifically, bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were isolated and cultured with LPS (100 ng/ml) for 3 h, and were further treated with LPS pre-Exo for 24 h or 48 h. The molecular signaling pathway responsible for modulating inflammation was examined by Western blotting. The expressions of downstream inflammatory cytokines were determined by Elisa, and the polarization of macrophages was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results LPS pre-Exo could better ablate inflammation compared to untreated MSC-derived exosomes (BM-Exo). These loaded factors inhibited the expressions of inflammatory factors via a negative feedback mechanism. In vivo, LPS pre-Exo significantly attenuated inflammatory infiltration, thus improving the survival of allogeneic skin graft. Flow cytometric analysis of BMDMs showed that LPS pre-Exo were involved in the regulation of macrophage polarization and immune homeostasis during inflammation. Further investigation revealed that the NF-κB/NLRP3/procaspase-1/IL-1β signaling pathway played a key role in LPS pre-Exo-mediated regulation of macrophage polarization. Inhibiting NF-κB in BMDMs could abolish the LPS-induced activation of inflammatory pathways and the polarization of M1 macrophages while increasing the proportion of M2 cells. Conclusion LPS pre-Exo are able to switch the polarization of macrophages and enhance the resolution of inflammation. This type of exosomes provides an improved immunotherapeutic potential in prolonging graft survival.

Ensuring water potability is paramount for public health and safety. This research aimed to assess the efficacy of the Decision Tree classification algorithm in predicting water potability using the Water Quality and Potability dataset. Employing a 5-fold cross-validation technique, the model showcased a moderate performance with an average accuracy of approximately 54.33%. While the Decision Tree provides a baseline and interpretable mechanism for classification, the results emphasize the need for further exploration using more intricate models or ensemble methods. This study contributes to the broader effort of leveraging machine learning techniques for water quality assessment and provides insights into the potential and limitations of such models in predicting water safety

Abstract Background Vascular malformations are common but complicated types of disease in infants, with unclear causes and lack of effective prevention. The symptoms usually do not disappear and tend to progress without medical intervention. It is extremely necessary to choose correct treatment options for different types of vascular malformations. A large number of studies have confirmed that sclerotherapy has a tendency to become the first-line treatment in near future, but it is also associated with mild or severe complications. Furthermore, to our knowledge, the serious adverse event of progressive limb necrosis has not been systematically analyzed and reported in the literature. Case presentation Three cases (two females and one male) were presented who were all diagnosed as vascular malformations and were treated by several sessions of interventional sclerotherapy. Their previous medical records showed the use of several sclerosants in different sessions including Polidocanol and Bleomycin. The sign of limb necrosis did not occur during the first sclerotherapy, but after the second and third sessions. Furthermore, the short-term symptomatic treatment could improve the necrosis syndrome, but could not change the outcome of amputation. Conclusion Sclerotherapy undoubtedly tends to be the first-line treatment in near future, but the adverse reactions still remain major challenges. Awareness of progressive limb necrosis after sclerotherapy and timely management by experts in centers of experience of this complication can avoid amputation.

Sleep apnea is a common problem with health implications ranging from excessive daytime sleepiness to serious cardiovascular disorders. The method for detecting and measuring sleep apnea is through breathing monitoring (polysomnography), which is time consuming and relatively expensive. Cardiovascular which is closely related to heart performance activities allows the use of electrocardiogram (heart rate variability) features to detect sleep apnea. This study aims to compare the results of sleep apnea detection using several machine learning algorithms. A total of 2,445 data were divided into 1,834 data as learning sets and 611 data as test sets. Evaluation of 10-fold cross-validation using all HRV features shows that neural network algorithm has the best performance compared to decision tree algorithm, k-nearest neighbor, and support vector machine with an accuracy rate (82.44% in the learning set, 79.21% in the test set consecutively), precision (85.54% and 82.70%), f-measure (87.70% and 85.67%), and AUC (0.867 and 0.832). Based on the results of performance testing using only selected HRV features (CVRR, HF, SD1/SD2 Ratio, and S-Region), the K-Nearest Neighbors, Support Vector Machine, and Neural Network algorithms experienced a decrease in performance. The use of all HRV features is recommended compared to only using selected HRV features, so it can help detect the presence/absence of sleep apnea much better.

Flooding is Pakistan's most common natural hazard, and it is exacerbated by increased rainfall and urbanization. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan flood-prone zones were determined by superimposing six flood parameters in an ArcGIS environment: elevation, slope, rainfall accumulation, land cover, soil geometry, and gap/buffer from water channel. Cellular automata based on artificial neural network (CA-ANN) along QGIS plugin module of Land Use Change Simulations (MOLUSCE) was used for predicting year 2050 land use, with a kappa value of 0.83. The results indicated that of the 75775 km2 land area covered by this research region, 3.37% (2553.62 km2) falls in extremely high risk, 18.44% (13972.91 km2) falls in high risk, 11.26% (8532.27 km2) falls in moderate risk, 0.51% (386.45 km2) falls in low risk, and just 66.42% (50329.76 km2) falls in very low risk areas. In KPK, like in any other place, a multi-criteria flood risk-vulnerability assessment is consequently necessary for preparation and post-hazard planning. Without a doubt, the outcomes reported here are crucial for flood risk assessments and hazard management decision-making. Key words: natural disasters; floods; remote sensing; geographic information system, multi-criteria evaluation; weighted overlay.

Expansive soils are problematic for direct engineering applications in their natural state because of the shrink-swell phenomenon. Numerous stabilizers and methods have been used to stabilize expansive soils as an effort to make them more practical for construction purposes. Searching for suitable soil stabilizers to overcome difficulties caused by the expansive soils is the key issue, not only in terms of achieving the required soil geotechnical characteristics but also in terms of environmental and economic concerns. The purpose of this article was to assess the current trends, challenges, and opportunities of various admixtures utilized for expansive soil improvement, as well as their economic and environmental consequences. A critical review of various admixtures commonly used as soil stabilizers, including marble waste powder, fly ash, eggshell powders, stone waste, and lime powder is conducted. Furthermore, a the review was also focused to analyze the offered stabilizers in terms of soil geotechnical properties and sustainability in the field application.

With the global advancement of maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS), the critical task of verifying their key technologies, particularly in challenging conditions, becomes paramount. This study introduces a synthetic maritime traffic generation system (S-MTGS) designed for the efficient and safe verification of these technologies. The S-MTGS encompasses a maritime traffic generator integrating a generator based on absolute position (GAP) and a generator based on relative position (GRP). This innovative system leverages historical maritime data to create various scenarios or generate virtual ships based on their interactions with and proximity to other ships. The virtual ships adeptly navigate and perform collision avoidance maneuvers with nearby vessels enabled by the integrated collision avoidance algorithm. The S-MTGS’s ability to generate a wide range of maritime traffic information mirroring actual maritime conditions is pivotal for thoroughly verifying the performance of MASS technology under both standard and extreme situations. The development of the S-MTGS represents a significant advancement in maritime safety and technology. It can evaluate collision avoidance and navigation systems in MASS, featuring a virtual environment for realistic scenario testing and an intelligent navigation system focused on route tracking and collision avoidance.

Abstract Background Internal thoracic arteries (ITAs) are considered to be the standard conduits used for coronary revascularization. Recently minimally invasive procedures are performed to harvest ITAs. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to observe the effect and safety of less invasive LIMA harvesting approaches in the learning curve compared to conventional harvesting. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of 138 patients divided into three different groups based on the LIMA harvesting techniques: conventional sternotomy LIMA harvesting, CSLH (n: 64), minimally invasive direct LIMA harvesting, MIDLH (n: 42), and robotic-assisted LIMA harvesting, RALH (n: 32). The same 138 patients were also divided into sternotomy (n: 64), and non-sternotomy (n: 74) groups keeping both MIDLH and RALH in the non-sternotomy category. Parameters associated with LIMA’s quality and some other perioperative parameters such as harvesting time, LIMA damage, perioperative myocardial infarction, ventilation time, 24 h drainage, ICU stay, hospital mortality, computed tomographic angiography (CTA) LIMA patency on discharge, and after one year were recorded. Results The mean LIMA harvesting time was 36.9 ± 14.3, 74.4 ± 24.2, and 164.7 ± 51.9 min for CSLH, MIDLH, and RALH groups respectively (p

Stress in children can affect the way they think, act, and feel. The habit of using gadgets has several advantages and disadvantages, but there has been no in-depth study of the effect of using gadgets on stress levels in children. This study aims to determine the representation of the physiological condition of using gadgets on stress levels in children. A total of 18 electrocardiogram data were extracted with poincaré plot features. This research has found that there is no difference in the level of stress in children between before and after using gadgets in terms of autonomic nervous activity (Sig. > 0.05). However, there is an increase in sympathetic activity that occurs in children even though they have finished using gadgets. Such conditions certainly need to get more attention, especially related to the duration of gadget use and accessible content.

Abstract Duckweed (Lemna minor L.) is an aquatic macrophyte and grows profoundly on the surface of polluted water reservoirs of Pakistan. The plant can be used as a potential alternative for the fish and poultry industry to meet the promptly growing demand for feed. Our study investigates the effect of varying concentrations (ppm) of nutrients like N, P, and their combination, NP on biomass production, carbohydrate, lipid, protein, and mineral (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn & Zn) contents of L. minor. The varying concentrations of N and P substantially affected the above-stated parameters. The highest biomass yield was recorded in the 30 ppm NP tank as 172 g/m2 day in comparison with the control tank. Higher protein, lipid, and carbohydrate contents were recorded for 30 ppm NP, 20 ppm NP, and 10 ppm NP respectively. Minerals like Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn & Zn increased in 20 ppm P and all N concentrations. The combined application of NP was more effective in boosting the protein, carbohydrate, and lipid content whereas less effective in increasing the mineral contents. A rise in the concentration of N and P showed a positive correlation with the nutritional composition of L. minor.

BackgroundSchwannomas are benign tumors originating from Schwann cells, frequently occurring in the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Intraosseous schwannomas, a rare subset, account for approximately 0.2% of schwannomas. Intraosseous schwannomas commonly impinge the mandible, followed by the sacrum and the spine. By far, only three cases of radius intraosseous schwannomas have been reported in PubMed. The tumor was treated differently in all three cases, resulting in different outcomes.Case presentationA 29-year-old male construction engineer who complained of a painless mass on the radial aspect of the right forearm was diagnosed with an intraosseous schwannoma of the radius based on radiography, three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction, magnetic resonance imaging, pathological examination, and immunohistochemistry. A different surgical approach was employed to reconstruct the radial graft defect using bone microrepair techniques, resulting in more reliable bone healing and early functional recovery. Meanwhile, no clinical and radiographic findings suggestive of recurrence were observed at the 12-month follow-up.ConclusionVascularized bone flap transplantation combined with three-dimensional imaging reconstruction planning might yield better results for repairing small segmental bone defects of the radius caused by intraosseous schwannomas.

Plasmodium ovale consists of two subspecies – P. ovale wallikeri and P. ovale curtisi. Increased reports of imported malaria ovale in non-endemic regions and mixed infection of P. ovale with other Plasmodium species suggest that P. ovale might be under-detected during routine surveillance. Areas endemic with P. ovale have mostly been reported in African and Western Pacific countries. A recent case report in Indonesia indicated that regions with P. ovale endemicity are not only distributed in Lesser Sunda and Papua, but also in North Sumatra.

Influence of co-dopings of divalent ions such as Mg2+, Zn2+, Cd2+ and Sr2+ ions in Mn4+-doped CaAl12O19 red phosphor on its photoluminescence characteristics has been investigated. Samples of Mn4+-doped CaAl12O19 and co-doped with Mg2+, Zn2+, Cd2+ and Sr2+ ions were synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. Significant enhancement of photoluminescence intensity was observed, when Mg2+ and Zn2+ were co-doped in Mn4+-doped CaAl12O19, while only slight enhancement was seen with Cd2+ and Sr2+ co-dopings. To investigate these differences in photoluminescence enhancement, change in local environment of Mn4+ ions due to co-dopings of divalent ions was examined by electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements and first principles calculations within a density functional theory. From these experimental and theoretical analysis, it has been confirmed that the local environment of Mn4+ changes significantly with Mg2+ and Zn2+ co-dopings, while Cd2+ and Sr2+ alter minimally the local environment of Mn4+ due to different substitution site.

Long-time ischemia worsening transplant outcomes in vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) is often neglected. Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is an inevitable event that follows reperfusion after a period of cold static storage. The pathophysiological mechanism activates local inflammation, which is a barrier to allograft long-term immune tolerance. The previous publications have not clearly described the relationship between the tissue damage and ischemia time, nor the rejection grade. In this review, we found that the rejection episodes and rejection grade are usually related to the ischemia time, both in clinical and experimental aspects. Moreover, we summarized the potential therapeutic measures to mitigate the ischemia-reperfusion injury. Compare to static preservation, machine perfusion is a promising method that can keep VCA tissue viability and extend preservation time, which is especially beneficial for the expansion of the donor pool and better MHC-matching.

The use of robotics in executing agricultural tasks has significantly improved productivity over the years as a result of automation in performing such activities as spray, harvesting, planting etc. In order to optimize both crop yield and quality while minimizing costs, there will be need for the application of navigation strategies. These will provide optimal as well as autonomous navigation capability which is built entirely upon field coverage plan thereby making robot navigation approach a paramount scheme. In this paper, the autonomy of an agricultural mobile robot is enhanced in a structured environment (greenhouse farm) to locate an optimum route such that the robot performs a selective and variable spray of pesticides to the plants. To realize this, a robust vehicle routing problem (VRP) scheme is designed to navigate the robot autonomously while making intelligent decisions to fulfil the pesticide demands at each node (infected plants). The improved non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (INSGA-III) is adopted to solve this fully integer problem based on three (3) test cases carried out with 8, 32 and 56 infected plants respectively for validation. The results obtained show a trade-off solution as the Optimal INSGA-III is significantly lower than NSGA-III in terms of solution quality. On the other hand, a significant reduction in run times of between 66% and 76% and 76–93% was obtained for all test case scenarios for population sizes of 100 and 1500 respectively.

Printed flexible electronics have been extensively studied for their potential use in various applications. In this paper, a simple, low-cost, high-conductivity (0.2Ω/sq) flexible electronic circuit fabrication method is demonstrated. The commercial PET film is used as a flexible substrate, and then nanoparticle silver ink was inkjet printed on its surface, and then the flexible Ag circuit was obtained after sintering with 150 °C hot air. Although the conductance is somewhat reduced, the electronic circuits made in this way remain functional even under different folding angles or after repeated folding. The proposed development technique allows cheap, efficient, and large-scale production of flexible electronic circuits with excellent mechanical and electrical properties.

TENG (triboelectric nanogenerator) has shown unique application prospect as a powerful way of harvesting renewable energy in micro-scale self-powered systems. The contact-separation (CS) arched TENG is so convenient that made a great progress in the past years. Laser ablated micro-nano structure on the surface of TENG triboelectric layers possesses a critical impact on its performance. However, arbitrary laser parameters do not provide a direct enhancement of the TENG output, but rather a different degree of degradation. The UV-nanosecond laser (Ultraviolet nanosecond laser) engraving parameters were optimised during the enhancement of the arched TENG using UV-nanosecond laser etching. Evaluation and analysis of the engraved friction layer coupling, electrode substrate arrangement and optimization curves was carried out, which provides an important reference for UV nanosecond laser etching TENG contribute to large-scale application of renewable energy.

Environmental increase in the spilled diesel creates serious damages to our natural ecosystems. Biodegradation provide the best removal alternative for such diesel contamination. This study was carried out to monitor the bacteria survival response during diesel oil biodegradation. Bacteria isolation was carried out using plating technique and screened at varying diesel concentrations (0 to 10%, v/v) before being identified using the 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Bacteria consortia were formulated using the screened isolates through mathematical permutation approach. Prepared bacteria resting cells of the selected consortium was grown at 2%, v/v diesel oil which was co-contaminated with varying concentrations of Mg++, Mn++, Zn+, Co++ and Fe++ (0 to 4 g/L) in mineral salts medium. Total of 47 different bacteria strains were isolated and the finally screened isolates were identified as Alcaligenes sp., Ochrobactrum sp., Alcaligenes aquatilis and Alcaligenes faecalis UMYU001 (MN519483.1). These bacteria were found to be compatible with one another despite being obtained from different environments. Of the prepared consortia, combination 11 (CST11) was found to produce the highest population of 1.6 x 104 cfu/mL after 48 hours at 2% v/v diesel oil. This CST11 survived optimally at 35°C, 7.0, and 2% v/v of the temperature, pH and diesel oil respectively. Also, the resistance thresholds of the metals for CST11 include Mg++ (3.5 g/L) while Mn++, Zn++, Co++ and Fe++ were only resisted at 1 g/L. This recommends the consortium as good enough in surviving at the sole expense of diesel oil even in the presence of heavy metals co-contaminants.

Abstract Background Acquired Hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare bleeding diathesis in patients with no previous personal or family bleeding history. The diagnosis of this disease often delays due to unfamiliarity of physicians with it, which leads to its high mortality rate. Case presentation Two cases (one 12 years old female and another 18 years old male) were admitted for right upper abdominal mass and right upper abdominal pain respectively at different times. Pre-operative diagnosis of both cases was congenital choledochal cyst. They suffered continuous gastrointestinal bleeding (hematemesis and melena) with reduced hemoglobin to 54 g/L and 60 g/L after Roux-en-Y anastomosis respectively. To investigate the exact bleeding site, Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) of case 1 showed contrast overflow at small branch of proper hepatic artery but had unremarkable result for case 2, whereas gastroscopy of both cases showed unremarkable results. Multiple surgeries were also performed for hemostatic purpose but each time no active bleeding site was found. Finally, hematologists consultation was mandated in both cases and they were diagnosed as acquired haemophilia A. However, unfortunately case 1 patient could not survive because of sever hemorrhage and infection while Case 2 of 18 years old male survived after proper haemophilia treatment catalog. Conclusion Awareness about surgery associated acquired haemophilia A (SAHA) can facilitate quick diagnosis and lifesaving management because the mortality rate in SAHA is high due to lake of knowledge or late recognition of the disease. Bleeding always occurs at surgical sites and it can occur immediately within few hours after surgery in some cases. Hemorrhage may be severe or even life threatening and it presents a special challenge for diagnosis and treatment in a patient who has just undergone a surgical procedure. The treatment strategies for AHA include resumption of hemostasis with either recombinant porcine factor VIII (rpFVIII) or bypassing agents and immunosuppressive therapy to suppress the production of the factor VIII inhibitor.

Gold is one of the precious metals with high economic value, so the exploration process becomes an important stage to find new resources so that gold production remains optimal. The research was aimed at investigating the geological condition and characteristics of hydrothermal alteration and mineralization developed in the research site. The research site was included in the area CoW of PT. Gorontalo Sejahtera Mining exactly lied in Hulawa Village, Gorontalo, Indonesia. This research integrated the fieldwork with laboratory tests and analysis, including petrography, Analytical Spectral Devices, and mineragraphy. Based on data that had been conducted and data analysis results, it can be concluded that the research site consisted of lithology in the form of Oligocene granodiorite and Pliocene rhyodacite and diatreme breccia that rolled as host rock’s mineralization. Normal right-slip fault directing E-W is interpreted as a pre-mineralization structure, while normal left-slip fault directing NNE-SSW is interpreted as syn-mineralization structure or controlling structure during alteration and mineralization process. Alteration developed in research area consisted of the phyllic zone (sericite + quartz ± pyrite ± montmorillonite ± chlorite ± carbonate), argillic zone (illite + kaolinite ± smectite ± montmorilonite), and chloritic zone (chlorite + carbonate + pyrite ± quartz ± illite ± sericite ± montmorillonite). Hydrothermal deposits controlled by geological structure and volcanic mechanism. Mineralization in the research site was found in stockwork quartz veins and hydrothermal breccia, and some were found in dissemination with ores such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, galena, sphalerite, bornite, covelite, gold, and electrum. Based on its alteration and mineralization characteristics, the epithermal deposits in the research site was the type of low sulphidation deposite in-depth level in the model of open-vein and breccia.

This research paper depicts the experimental investigation of the impact of stone dust as an admixture on the geotechnical characteristics of expansive soils that shrink and swell during the wet and dry seasons. As a result, expansive soil causes the differential settlement of structures. Thus the stabilization of expansive soil is important to overcome potential pavement failure. For this purpose research studies were carried out on the reuse of stone industry wastage for the improvement of expansive soil. Also, this research is beneficial to utilize the stone dust waste for strengthening the soil and making the environment pollution-free. Stone dust was used to stabilize the geotechnical characteristics of the weak soil such as shear strength, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), index properties, maximum dry density (MDD), optimum moisture content (OMC), and California bearing ratio (CBR). The percentages of stone dust employed in the studies were 0%, 7%, 14%, 21%, and 28% by dry weight of soil, which substantially reduced the soil's swelling properties. The results show significant improvements in the desirable geotechnical characteristics of the expansive soil. The optimal quantity of stone dust was concluded based on the findings for treating the subgrade of weaker expansive soil.

Pinus is one of the most economical and ecological important conifers, model specie for studying sequence divergence and molecular phylogeney of gymnosperms. The less availability of information for genome resources enable researchers to conduct evolutionary studies of Pinus species. To improve understanding, we firstly reported, previously released chloroplast genome of 72 Pinus species, the sequence variations, phylogenetic relationships and genome divergence among Pinus species. The results displayed 7 divergent hotspot regions (trnD-GUC, trnY-GUA, trnH-GUG, ycf1, trnL-CAA, trnK-UUU and trnV-GAC) in studied Pinus species, which holds potential to utilized as molecular genetic markers for future phylogenetic studies in Pinnus species. In addition, 3 types of repeats (tandem, palindromic and dispersed) were also studied in Pinus species under investigation. The outcome showed P. nelsonii had the highest, 76 numbers of repeats, while P. sabiniana had the lowest, 13 13 numbers of repeats. It was also observed, constructed phylogenetic tree displayed division into two significant diverged clades: single needle (soft pine) and double-needle (hard pine). Theoutcome of present investigation, based on the whole chloroplast genomes provided novel insights into the molecular based phylogeny of the genus Pinus which holds potential for its utilization in future studies focusing genetic diversity in Pinnus species.

Pinus is one of the most economical and ecological important conifers, model specie for studying sequence divergence and molecular phylogeney of gymnosperms. The less availability of information for genome resources enable researchers to conduct evolutionary studies of Pinus species. To improve understanding, we firstly reported, previously released chloroplast genome of 72 Pinus species, the sequence variations, phylogenetic relationships and genome divergence among Pinus species. The results displayed 7 divergent hotspot regions (trnD-GUC, trnY-GUA, trnH-GUG, ycf1, trnL-CAA, trnK-UUU and trnV-GAC) in studied Pinus species, which holds potential to utilized as molecular genetic markers for future phylogenetic studies in Pinnus species. In addition, 3 types of repeats (tandem, palindromic and dispersed) were also studied in Pinus species under investigation. The outcome showed P. nelsonii had the highest, 76 numbers of repeats, while P. sabiniana had the lowest, 13 13 numbers of repeats. It was also observed, constructed phylogenetic tree displayed division into two significant diverged clades: single needle (soft pine) and double-needle (hard pine). Theoutcome of present investigation, based on the whole chloroplast genomes provided novel insights into the molecular based phylogeny of the genus Pinus which holds potential for its utilization in future studies focusing genetic diversity in Pinnus species.

Objective: To evaluate diagnostic accuracy and sample adequacy for analysis of intramedullary reaming in diagnosed patients of long bone metastatic disease. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Lady Reading Hospital, from Jan 2014 to Apr 2018. Methodology: Review of 53 consecutive cancer patients who underwent intramedullary nailing for long bone metastatic disease at Lady Reading Hospital from January 2014 to April 2018. Results: In 21 of the 53 patients (40%) a positive diagnosis of metastatic bone disease was confirmed and in 38 out of 53 (72%) sample was considered adequate tissue for histopathological analysis. Conclusion: Our study did not support the reliability of intramedullary reaming sample biopsy in metastatic long bone disease.

Abstract A 57‐year‐old man, with type 2 diabetes mellitus, was admitted with a hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, who developed in‐hospital venous thromboembolism with huge free‐floating right heart thrombus, and there is no available optimal treatment option for the huge free‐floating right heart thrombus, except anticoagulation with warfarin and low molecular weight heparin with successful outcome.

Volume change of expansive soils is a challenging issue, which affects various engineering structures all over the world. Consequently, we need environmentally-friendly and cost-effective soil stabilizers to address the challenges related to expansive soils. The utilization of natural fibers allows for the reduction in environmental impact since they are renewable and biodegradable raw materials. Moreover, the current article presents an experimental approach to study the effect of natural fibers on the mechanical behavior of expansive soils. Various experimental tests—such as Atterberg limits, standard compaction, direct shear, swelling potential, and swelling pressure—were conducted on control and treated soil samples using different percentages of fibers. The results of measurements of the physico-mechanical properties after reinforcement of the soil with 1%, 5%, and 10% of natural fibers indicate that the mechanical behavior of expansive soils is greatly influenced by the addition of natural fibers. To conclude, 86% reduction was observed in the swelling coefficient of treated soil. Future research can be done to check the durability of the current practice in detail.

The shortage of conventional feedstuff is one of the rising issues faced by the developing countries of the world. To bridge the gap between supply and demand of the major feedstuff it is desirable to practice the use of non-conventional feed resources. Duckweeds are the aquatic macrophytes growing in stagnant water bodies that offer a choice to be used as an alternate feed. Before the use of any alternate feed, it is vital to know the nutritional composition of the feed under diverse environmental conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of salinity, abiotic stress, on the proximate composition of duckweed (Lemna minor L.). The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 repeats. Data was collected on protein, lipid, carbohydrate, and mineral contents. In the laboratory trial plants were grown under the saline condition of different concentrations ranging from 2 g NaCl L−1 to 12 g NaCl L−1 for a growing period of 20 days. The biomasses obtained were tested for proximate composition. ANOVA of the result exhibited a significant effect of salinity on the proximate composition of the plant. Protein residues of the plant started declining above the concentration of 4 g NaCl L−1 until the lowest value was obtained at 12 g NaCl L−1. Lipid composition showed more sensitivity to the stress with a sharp decline above 2 g NaCl L−1 having a minimum value at 12 g NaCl L−1. Carbohydrate contents increased with increasing salinity up to 6 g NaCl L−1 above which a decrease was observed. The highest accumulation of the macronutrients i.e., Ca, Mg, took place in the lower range of concentration of the salt. The percentage compositions of micronutrients such as Fe, Mn, and Zn percentage were reduced at a higher range of salinity while the optimum level was recorded in plants treated with 2 g NaCl L−1, followed by control. The total accumulation of both macro and micronutrients was higher in the plant material treated with a lower level of salt concentration, concluding a significant effect of salinity on proximate composition. As for the Indus water salinity level, the plant has the capacity of tolerance and can be grown without affecting its proximate composition.

Abstract Background This study assessed the effects of propolis alone or combined with insulin on maternal status, pregnancy outcomes and placental oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods Forty female rats were randomly assigned into five groups (n = 8/group) i.e. non-DM (non-diabetes), DM (diabetes), DM + Propolis (diabetes on propolis orally); DM + Insulin (diabetes on insulin subcutaneously) and DM + Combined (diabetes on propolis and insulin) groups. Propolis and insulin were given at 300 mg/kg/day orally and 5.0 IU/kg/day subcutaneously, respectively, for 4 weeks. Results Fasting blood glucose, conception period, implantation losses, foetal blood glucose and placental oxidative stress markers such as malonaldehyde and protein carbonyl were significantly higher while maternal weight gain, foetal body weight and total antioxidant capacity were significantly lower in DM group compared with non-DM group. These changes were significantly improved in rats treated with propolis or insulin alone with greater significant effects in rats treated with both propolis and insulin. Conclusion This study may suggest the protective effects of propolis against DM-induced impaired pregnancy outcomes and placental oxidative stress with greater effects when combined with insulin.

Oxidative stress, chronic inflammation and apoptosis are associated with obesity. Herein, we investigated the potential protective effect of bee bread, a natural bee product, on testicular oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis, as well as lactate transport in the testis of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were either fed with normal chow (NC), HFD, HFD + bee bread (0.5 g/kg b.w./day) or HFD + orlistat (10 mg/kg b.w./day) for 12 weeks. Our results show significant decreases in the activities and mRNA expression of antioxidant genes (Nrf2, Sod, Cat and Gpx), with significant increase in pro-inflammatory (Nf-κb, Tnf-α, iNos, Il-1β) and pro-apoptotic (p53, Bax, Bax/Bcl2, Caspase-8, Caspase-9 and Caspase-3) genes in the testis of HFD group relative to the NC group. Furthermore, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was poorly expressed in the testis of the HFD group relative to the NC group. Similarly, the mRNA levels of glucose transporters (Glut1 and Glut3), monocarboxylate transporters (Mct2 and Mct4) and lactate dehydrogenase type C (Ldhc) decreased significantly, with decrease in lactate utilisation. Treatment with bee bread upregulated testicular antioxidant enzymes, downregulated inflammation and apoptosis, and increased PCNA immunoexpression, in addition to improving lactate transport. Taken together, our results suggest that bee bread is a promising natural product with the potential to improve male fertility.

In this retrospective study we analyze and compare clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with and without cancer history who were infected with novel coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Medical records were reviewed and a comparative analysis of 53 cancer and 135 non-cancer patients with COVID-19 were summarized. Results: The median age for COVID-19 patients with and without cancer was 71.5 and 61.6 years, respectively. Patients aged 60 years and above were 86.8% and 60.7% in cancer and non-cancer groups, respectively. A high proportion of cases were seen in African Americans 73.6% (with cancer) and 75.6% (without cancer) followed by Hispanic patients. Male and female patients had a high percentage of prostate (39.3%) and breast (32%) cancer respectively. Prostate cancer (18.9%) and myeloma (11.3%) were common among solid and hematological cancers respectively. Hypertension and smoking were prevalent among cancer (83% and 41.5%) compared to non-cancer (67.4% and 9.6%) patients. The common symptoms in cancer patients were dyspnea (64.2%) followed by fever and cough (50.9%) compared to fever (68.1%) and cough (66.7%) in non-cancer patients. Cancer patients had higher levels of lactic acidosis, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase than non-cancer patients (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Rapid clinical deterioration was seen in cancer patients who were aged 60 years and above. Higher mortality was seen in this subgroup, especially when they had associated hypertension and elevated levels of CRP and LDH.

Isostatic pressure effects on the elastic and electronic properties of non-doped and Mn4+-doped K2SiF6 (KSF) have been investigated by first-principles calculations within density functional theory (DFT). Bulk modulus was obtained by the Murnaghan’s equation of states (EOS) using the relationship between volume and pressures at pressures between 0 and 40 GPa, and elastic constants were calculated by the stress–strain relationship giving small distortions at each pressure point. The other elastic parameters such as shear modulus, sound velocity and Debye temperature, which can be obtained from the elastic constants, were also estimated. The influence of external isostatic pressure on the electronic properties, such as crystal field strength 10Dq and emission energy of 2E → 4A2 transition (Eem), of KSF:Mn4+ was also studied. The results suggest that 10Dq and Eem linearly increase and decrease, respectively, with increasing pressure.

This study examined ginger consumption patterns and factors influencing ginger purchase decisions among consumers in tertiary institutions in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select respondents from whom data were collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and probit regression were the tools for data analyses. The average age of the respondents was 29 years. Most (88.36 %) of them indicated they were aware of ginger’s medicinal benefits and approximately 66.14 % of the respondents indicated purchase of ginger products. On the average, respondents spent about ₦302.22 (0.83USD) per month on ginger. Most (86.77 %) of the respondents prefer to consume ginger with food or as herbal tea/drink (41.27 %). Awareness about the health benefits of ginger (P < 0.1), electronic media as source of information (P < 0.1), consumers’ concern for their health (P < 0.05) and previous gratifying experience from ginger’s consumption (P < 0.01) are factors substantially influenced ginger purchase decision. Income and demographic characteristics of the consumers are unlikely to induce decision to buy significantly. Thus, promoting awareness of the health benefits of ginger and, more especially through electronic media are suggested as important pathway for stimulating people’s decision to buy ginger in the studied population.

A 46-years-old man from Indonesia, resides in Nagori Dolok Village, Silau Kahaean Subdistrict, Simalungun District, Sumatra Utara Province, had of spontaneous discharge of tapeworm segments (proglottids) from anus almost every day for ten years. There were 1-5 segments which can move actively discharge per day. Although he feels embarrassed about the condition, no significant symptoms were found, and physical examination was within normal limits. Clinical diagnosis of Taeniasis was made on October 20, 2017, and subsequently received oral Praziquantel 600 mg tablet single dose and 5 mg of oral Bisacodyl. Four hours later, the patient was defecated. The stool was collected in plastic and filtered with a filter device to collect any tapeworm segments. A full segment of tapeworm as long as 2.86 meters were found. Microscopic examination was done to identify the egg worms, proglottids, and scolex. Dye substance was injected into a mature gravid proglottid through the genital pore and pressed in two object-glasses to identify the reproductive organs. Microscopic examination (400x magnification) of this sample revealed that the number of uterine branches and testes in a proglottid were 16 pairs. The number of uterine branches in T. solium are 8-12 pairs and T. saginata are 18-32 pairs. The filtered stool was moved into a container and carefully observed. A soft yellowish-white material of 1.5 mm in diameter was found, which turned out to be the head of the tapeworm called Scolex. Microscopic examination of scolex revealed that the rostellum was absent. A segment called ‘snout’ was found at the apex. The functions were probably as a sense of smell and vacuum organ. The patient was lived in Simalungun, North Sumatera, some tribe in that area has a long tradition of culinary called ‘Hinasumba’, consist of raw pork liver and meat, and ‘Naiholat’ consist of poorly cooked pork. Even though pig was determined as an intermediate host, the type of tapeworm was not consistent with T.solium. The patient had the long history of infection but never had sign or symptoms of neurocystecercosis. Based on etno-geographical condition, the patient was infected by T.asiatica. Microscopic examination of the uterus and scolex indicate that the tapeworm had most similarity to T.asiatica. Amin et al.8 from Bangladesh in 2009 reported a case of T. asiatica in human with total strobila length was 1.5 meters. Macroscopic morphology (length:width) of gravid proglottid segment of T.saginata is 3:1, T. solium 1.5:1. The tapeworm that we discovered had 1-1.5:1 ratio (2.5 cm length and 2 cm width). Some features of the tapeworm (no rostellum, present of the snout, and fix number of theuterus in every proglottid) were not found in three existing type of Taenia species. Further microscopic and molecular study should be done to determined type or subtype of the tapeworm. A case of taeniasis asiatica who had completed treatment was reported. Macroscopic and microscopic was done to support the clinical diagnosis.

Background. Relapsed Ewing’s sarcoma (RES) is an aggressive malignancy with poor survival. Although high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) given after conventional chemotherapy (CC) has shown survival benefits, it is not generally used in the United States for RES. We performed a systemic review to evaluate the benefits of HDCT for RES. Methods. Literature search involved Medline, Embase, and Cochrane database. We included studies with RES patients treated with HDCT/ASCT. Results. Twenty-four studies with total of 345 reported RES patients that got HDCT were included in final analysis. Seventeen studies had patients with multiple malignancies including RES, while seven had only RES patients. At 2 and 3–5 years, event-free survival (EFS) in studies with only RES patients ranged 42–47% and 20–61% and overall survival (OS) ranged 50–66% and 33–77%, respectively. In studies with combined patients that reported outcomes of RES separately, the EFS at 1–3 and 4 years was 36–66% and 17–50%, respectively. The OS at 1-2 and 3-4 years was 40–60% and 50–70%. Conclusions. Most studies using HDCT/ASCT as consolidation regimen showed improved survival benefits compared to CC. Randomized controlled studies are needed to determine true clinical benefits of HDCT followed by ASCT in patients with RES.

Pinus pumila is a rare and endangered conifer plant in the family Pinaceae. Here, we determined the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of P. pumila. The cpDNA was 117,398 bp in length, containing a pair of 475 bp inverted repeat regions (IR), which was divided into large single copy region (LSC) and small single copy region (SSC) with 64,606 and 51,842 bp in length, respectively. The GC content in cpDNA, LSC region, SSC region and IR region were 38.8%, 38.0%, 39.8% and 37.9%, respectively. The cpDNA contained 114 genes, including 74 protein-coding genes (CDS), 36 transfer RNA genes (tRNA) and 4 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNA). A phylogenetic analysis revealed that P. pumila is more closely related with congeneric P. fenzeliana var. dabeshanensis and P. sibirica.

Mountain uplift and climatic fluctuations are important driving forces that have affected the geographic distribution and population dynamics history of organisms. However, it is unclear how geological and climatic events might have affected the phylogeographic history and species divergence in high-alpine herbal plants. In this study, we analyzed the population demographic history and species differentiation of four endangered Notopterygium herbs on the high-altitude Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and adjacent areas. We combined phylogeographic analysis with species distribution modeling to detect the genetic variations in four Notopterygium species (N. incisum, N. franchetii, N. oviforme, and N. forrestii). In total, 559 individuals from 74 populations of the four species were analyzed based on three maternally inherited chloroplast fragments (matK, rbcL, and trnS-trnG) and one nuclear DNA region (internal transcribed spacer, ITS). Fifty-five chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and 48 ITS haplotypes were identified in the four species. All of the cpDNA and ITS haplotypes were species-specific, except N. franchetii and N. oviforme shared one cpDNA haplotype, H32. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that all four species formed a monophyletic clade with high bootstrap support, where N. franchetii and N. oviforme were sisters. In addition, each Notopterygium species generated an individual clade that corresponded to their respective species in the ITS tree. Population dynamics analyses and species distribution modeling showed that the two widely distributed herbs N. incisum and N. franchetii exhibited obvious demographic expansions during the Pleistocene ice ages. Molecular dating suggested that the divergence of the four Notopterygium species occurred approximately between 3.6 and 1.2 Mya, and it was significantly associated with recent extensive uplifts of the QTP. Our results support the hypothesis that mountain uplift and Quaternary climatic oscillations profoundly shaped the population genetic divergence and demographic dynamics of Notopterygium species. The findings of this and previous studies provide important insights into the effects of QTP uplifts and climatic changes on phylogeography and species differentiation in high altitude mountainous areas. Our results may also facilitate the conservation of endangered herbaceous medicinal plants in the genus Notopterygium.

ABSTRAK Dalam konteks pelayanan kesehatan, kepuasaan pasien adalah suatu keadaan dimana keinginan, harapan dan kebutuhan pasien dipenuhi.Suatu pelayanan dinilai memuaskan bila pelayanan tersebut dapat memenuhi kebutuhan dan harapan pasien.Terdapat lima dimensi kualitas pelayanan yang akan dinilai yaitu kehandalan, daya tanggap, jaminan, empati dan bukti fisik. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis hubungan antara kualitas pelayanan dengan kepuasan pasien di RSGMP.Jenis penelitian mixed method dengan pendekatan cross sectional study. Sampel penelitian untuk data kuantitatif adalah 100 pasien, dan 10 informan untuk data kualitatif. Sampel diambil dengan teknik accidental sampling.Hasil penelitian menunjukkan variabel kualitas pelayanan (kehandalan, daya tanggap, jaminan, empati dan bukti fisik) memiliki hubungan yang signifikan dengan variabel kepuasan pasien di RSGMP dengan p-value=0,001. Hasil kualitatif diketahui pasien mengeluhkan waktu tunggu dan waktu pelayanan yang lama, tidak jelasnya perawatan dan kurangnya keterampilan dari dokter yang bertugas.Sedangkan pimpinan rumah sakit menyatakan bahwa kepuasan adalah hal yang subjektif dan telah melakukan pelayanan dengan maksimal.Penelitian ini menyimpulkan adanya hubungan yang signifikan antara pelayanan kesehatan dengan kepuasan pasien.Oleh karena itu diperlukan upaya untuk meningkatkan kualitas pelayanan kesehatan seperti manajemen waktu pelayanan dan peningkatan skill petugas kesehatan. Kata Kunci : Kualitas Pelayanan, Kepuasan Pasien, RSGMP ABSTRACT In the context of health services, patient satisfaction is a condition where the patient's wishes, expectations and needs are met. A service is considered satisfactory if the service can meet the needs and expectations of the patient. There are five dimensions of service quality to be assessed, namely reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy and physical evidence. This study aims to analyze the relationship between service quality and patient satisfaction in the RSGMP. This type of research is mixed method with a cross sectional study approach. The sample was 100 patients for quantitative and 10 informants for qualitative data. Samples were taken by accidental sampling technique. The results showed variable service quality had a significant relationship with the variable patient satisfaction in RSGMP with p-value = 0.001. Qualitative results revealed that patients complain of long waiting times and service times, unclear care and lack of skills of health workers. While the head of the hospital stated that satisfaction is a subjective matter and has done the maximum service. This study concluded that there was a significant relationship between health services and patient satisfaction. Therefore efforts are needed to improve service quality such as service time managementand skills improvement of health workers. Keyword: Service Quality, Patient Satisfaction, RSGMP

Objective: To evaluate effect of iodized oil in crossbred cattle suffering from hyperthermia (heat intolerance syndrome) in Punjab, India. Methods: The present study was conducted in 85 clinical cases of summer hyperthermia in exotic and crossbred cows with rectal temperature of ≥40.56 °C. Haematological examinations of the affected cows (55) showed relatively low haemoglobin, normal differential and total leucocytic count. All the affected cows (85) were treated with three doses of iodized oil (750 mg elemental iodine per dose, 5mL) given at 24 h interval by subcutaneous route in brisket region. Results: Seventy seven (90.58%) cases showed remarkable clinical improvement with temperature coming to normal (38.33 to 38.88 °C) within 5 d of start of treatment. The appetite and milk production was restored by 10th day post treatment. Conclusions: The findings of this study substantiate that subcutaneous administration of three doses of iodized oil given at 24 h interval is effective in decreasing rectal temperature of hyperthermic cattle.