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Abstract The importance of human resource for the success and growth of every organisation, including banks in developing economies, cannot be underestimated. The banking sector in Ghana, a developing economy, has recently faced some significant performance-related difficulties, such as suspending the licences of new banks, raising the minimum capital required, and recording fraud cases. These developments in the banking sector seriously questioned the managerial competencies of bank managers providing leadership roles to these banks in Ghana. It was for this purpose that this study examined the influence of managerial competence on the performance of branch and operational managers in the Ghanaian banking sector. The study sought to achieve, among other things, to explore how managerial competencies such as customer value management, interpersonal, leadership and intrapersonal relate to managerial performance in the banking sector of Ghana. The study adopted the quantitative approach from the positivist philosophical perspective and, specifically, the cross-sectional survey method. A sample of 127 branch and operation managers from the sixteen administrative regions of Ghana was drawn for the study. Data were collected with an adopted questionnaire and analysed with partial least square structural equation modelling. The study found a significant relationship between customer value management, interpersonal, leadership, intrapersonal, technical competencies and managerial performance in the banking sector. The relative importance of each of the five managerial competencies found was customer value management competence, interpersonal competence, leadership competence, intrapersonal competence and technical competence. The study concluded that managerial competence relates to managerial performance in the banking sector in Ghana. The implications of the findings of this study are that human resource managers in the banking sector should pay attention to these managerial competencies in hiring and developing managers for their branch and operational managerial positions in developing economies.

Abstract The contemporary era’s extensive use of data, particularly in education, has provided new insights and benefits. This data is called ‘education big data’, and the process of learning through such data is called ‘learning analytics’. Education in big data and learning analytics are two important processes that produce impactful results and understanding. it is crucial to take advantage of these processes to enhance the current education system. We conduct a bibliometric analysis based on the PRISMA statement template. The publications used for the analysis are based on the years 2012–2021. We examine and analyze a total of 250 publications, mainly sourced from the Scopus database, for insights regarding education big data and learning analytics. All of the publications also undergo filtration according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Based on the bibliometric analysis conducted, we discover the distribution of education big data and learning analytics publications across the years 2012–2021, the most relevant journals and authors, the most significant countries, the primary research keywords, and the most important subject area involved. This study presents the trends and recommendations in education big data and learning analytics. We also offer suggestions for improvement and highlight the potential for enhancement of the education system through the full utilization of education big data and learning analytics.

Purpose: Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a simple and rapid nucleic acid method for DNA amplification at a constant temperature. The "gold standard" culture method for yeast detection, has low sensitivity with severe consequences, increasing morbidity and mortality rates. Here, we report the development of a LAMP method for the specific detection of C. glabrata. Methodology: The specific LAMP primers for C. glabrata detection were designed and evaluated. Results: The LAMP assay accurately detected C. glabrata with no cross-reactivity with other Candida species. Conclusion: The developed molecular method would be a promising tool in the management of invasive candidiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has led to a transformation in higher education worldwide. AI tools provide academic support to students anywhere and anytime to enhance their knowledge and skills. Those facing difficulties have been relying on traditional support and guidance. However, this support has experienced difficulties, including availability and accessibility. This study examines the potential of AI-powered tools to address these challenges, aiming to make academic support more accessible, efficient, and effective. This study focuses on understanding the determinants of AI tools' acceptance and use for academic support among students, influencing student satisfaction and academic performance in Pakistan and Malaysia. The research on AI tool acceptance and use in the higher education Institutions (HEI) context is still new and less explored in Pakistani and Malaysian higher education institutions. A theoretical model based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and other factors was employed to identify factors that affect AI tool adoption in higher education. The survey research design was employed, and the total sample size was 305 respondents, with 203 students from Quaid-e-Awam University of Science and Technology (QUEST), Pakistan, and 102 students from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). A "Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) Analysis" was employed to assess the research model and hypotheses using SmartPls 4.0. In Pakistan and Malaysia, students are more concerned about using AI tools to improve their academic performance. The findings indicated that performance and effort expectancy, information accuracy of AI tools, pedagogical fit to meet the student's expectations, and student interaction with tools were important factors in predicting the acceptance and use of AI tools among students of both countries in higher education, and the rising use of these AI tools has improved students' satisfaction levels and significantly impacted students learning outcomes in both countries. Additionally, student engagement and personal innovativeness have not significantly affected the use of AI tools among students in both countries. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of AI tool adoption in the unique contexts of Pakistan and Malaysia, contributing to the broader discourse on technology integration in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population growth and expanding urbanization have caused persistent shortages and contamination of groundwater resources in Mali, Africa. The increase in groundwater salinity makes it more difficult for residents to obtain drinking water, it is necessary to clarify the causes and control factors of groundwater mineralization in Gao region, northern Mali. Based on the analysis of the hydrochemical composition of groundwater in 24 boreholes, Piper and Schöeller diagrams, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) are used to carry out multivariate statistical analysis on the main ions. The results show that the groundwater samples are weakly alkaline, with pH values ranging from 5.83 to 8.40, and the average values of boreholes are 7.50, respectively. The average electrical conductivity (EC) value is 354.4 (µS/cm), and the extreme value is between 124.0 and 1 247 (µS/cm). Water is usually mineralized and presents nine types of water phase. The three principal components explain 84.42% of the total variance for 13 parameters. The factor F1 (58.85%), the factor F2 (16.88%) and the factor F3 (8.69%) present for the majority of the total data set. In addition, multivariate statistical analysis confirmed the genetic relationship among aquifers and identified three main clusters. Clustering related to groundwater mineralization (F1), clustering related to oxide reduction and iron enrichment (F2), and clustering of groundwater pollution caused by nitrate and magnesium (F3). We found that agriculture, weathering activities and dissolution of geological materials promote the mineralization of groundwater. Groundwater quality in the Gao region is becoming less and less potable because of increasing salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Versatile properties of electric double layer supercapacitors such as high output power, safety, high efficiency and durability have gained so much attention for use as energy storage systems. On the other hand their applications have been limited due to an attributed low energy density. It therefore necessary to improve their quantum capacitance in an effective way. In this research, we have investigated the effects of monovacancy and divacancy, nonmetal doping and adsorption of transition metals (Co, Cu, Ni and Zn) on the quantum capacitance of monolayer SiC using first principles calculations. The calculated results show that, incorporating boron in defected 2D-SiC significantly improves the CQ of monolayer silicene. The corresponding CQ values for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th boron substitutions are 59.4, 82.3, 110.2 and 79.4 µF/cm2 respectively, which were found to be good for anode materials for supercapacitors. Moreover, transitions metals adsorbed monolayer SiC were also found to significantly improve the CQ value with high output of 139.3 µF/cm2. Finally, embedding of these TMs (Co, Cu, Ni and Zn) in 2D SiC will provide better alternative to the use of toxic TMs embedded systems such Ti, Mo, Ba and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiation shielding properties of different samples of borate-tellurite glass were investigated using WO3 modifiers. Geometric optimization and modification of pristine borate-tellurite with WO3 were carried out based on density functional theory calculations using plane wave basis sets and pseudo-potentials. It was observed that the changes in the physical properties of the white box testing glass (WBTG) systems were determined by WO3 content. Analysis of the linear attenuation coefficient of the sampled glasses, which yielded a value of 7.43 cm for WBTG1 at 20 keV, indicated that WBTG1 was able to stop gamma radiation from Cs-137 and Th-237 sources. Both the µ and µm values were zero above 0.15 MeV, indicating that the WBTG composite was only able to attenuate low-energy photons such as gamma rays. It was found that the characteristic behavior of the WBTG was generally determined primarily by oxygen content, which is in good agreement with theoretical and experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile learning has ushered in a transformative era in education, compelling educational institutions to reimagine their pedagogical approaches. This shift is particularly evident in teacher training programs, where mobile learning is increasingly integrated into traditional education. The success of these integrated systems hinges on educators' willingness to adapt to these evolving paradigms. Nevertheless, a notable gap exists in the research landscape concerning the challenges of adopting mobile learning in teacher training and its consequential impact on teachers' professional capabilities. This study aims to bridge this gap by identifying the factors influencing teachers' satisfaction and performance within mobile learning training courses and establishing the intricate relationships between these variables. This study was conducted in a quantitative research framework and collected data from 563 schoolteachers through an online survey. These respondents were actively engaged in mobile-based training courses at the Provincial Institute for Teacher Education (PITE) Sindh during their mandatory training programs in the academic year 2022-23. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the proposed hypotheses rigorously. The study's findings unveil a robust and significant nexus between several critical factors and educators' experiences when utilizing mobile learning for training. Specifically, content quality, information quality, system quality, prior experiences, and mobile self-efficacy contributed strongly to task-technology fit, ultimately enhancing teachers' engagement, and yielding improved outcomes. Moreover, the study elucidates a clear correlation between factors encompassing understanding, Instructors' prompt feedback, teachers' expectations, and instructor quality within the context of training course design. These factors collectively positively influence teachers' satisfaction and performance, enhancing content knowledge, pedagogical skills, and professional dispositions. This holistic approach to mobile learning positively influences teachers' satisfaction and, ultimately, enhances teachers' overall performance. This study provides valuable insights to guide educators, institutions, and policymakers in effectively embracing and implementing mobile learning to benefit teachers and, ultimately, the broader field of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxin are persistent endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and have been associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the associations of PCBs and dioxin with MetS and its risk factors, including obesity, hypertriglyceridaemia (HTG), hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM). We searched three electronic databases for epidemiological studies concerning PCBs and dioxin with MetS published up to the end of 2023. Meta-analysis was performed for MetS itself and each of the MetS risks based on a random-effects meta-analysis model, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained. Publication bias was assessed based on Egger's test. Eleven studies were included from three databases up to 2023. There were 40,528 participants aged 18–89, where 18–100% of them were males, included in our meta-analysis. The meta-analysis results showed a strong association between PCB exposure and DM (OR = 3.593, 95% CI 2.566, 5.031), while most of the risk factors for MetS, including obesity (OR = 1.875, 95% CI 0.883, 3.979), HTN (OR = 1.335, 95% CI 0.902, 1.976) and HTG (OR = 1.611, 95% CI 0.981, 2.643), were weakly associated with PCB. Furthermore, both PCBs (OR = 1.162, 95% CI 0.994, 1.357) and dioxin (OR = 2.742, 95% CI 1.936, 3.883) were found to be weakly and strongly associated with MetS, respectively. Meta-regression analysis showed that DM in the Asian population is associated with PCB exposure, while HTG in the Northern American population is associated with PCB exposure. Our meta-analysis has demonstrated a strong relationship between DM and PCBs, while the relationship between PCBs with MetS and other risk factors is less pronounced. Additionally, MetS is weakly associated with dioxin exposure. To improve primary care outcomes, healthcare providers should consider incorporating the assessment of patients' risk of exposure to PCBs and dioxins into their evaluation procedures for more targeted medical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have been carried out in the West Africa Sahel; however, there is limited data on agroforestry studies in two distinct ecosystems. Moreover, livelihoods are facing growing uncertainties due to climate change and extensive anthropogenic activities. The majority of the population relies heavily on ecosystem services. The aim of this study was to determine the services provided by agroforestry parklands in two distinct villages. Initially, a survey involved 131 individual farmers (68 in Dan Saga and 63 in Sekoukou village) to highlight the benefits derived from agroforestry parklands for rural communities. Subsequently, a forest inventory employed a systematic random sampling approach along transects, including 40 plots in Dan Saga and 32 plots in Sekoukou (each. Finally, the study utilized the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The study documented 25 different woody species in Dan Saga and 24 in Sekoukou village. There was a greater prevalence of species from the Fabaceae and Balanitaceae family, followed by Anacardiaceae and Combretaceae. Dendrometric surveys revealed a relatively low tree density (23 stems/ha in Dan Saga and 14 stems/ha in Sekoukou), a bell-shaped diameter distribution indicating a significant dominance of intermediate diameter trees ([20 cm; 30 cm[), and a limited representation of trees with extreme diameters ([0; 10 cm[ and [70 cm; → [). The analysis of variances revealed a significant distinction (P-value < 0.05) in all dendrometric parameters and carbon content, excluding tree density and diameter. The Shannon–Wiener index (reflecting intra-ecosystem diversity) and the Pielou equitability index were relatively low but comparable to the mean Sørensen index. The NDVI of both areas fluctuated between 0 and 1 from 2001 to 2013, illustrating evolving vegetation (biomass) dynamics. This evolution was characterized by minimal vegetation cover in 2001, which subsequently increased by 2013 in both villages. The importance of land restoration in Niger has become a crucial and beneficial activity for the population in recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolonged exposure to abiotic stresses causes oxidative stress, which affects plant development and survival. In this research, the overexpression of ZmARF1 improved tolerance to low Pi, drought and salinity stresses. The transgenic plants manifested tolerance to low Pi by their superior root phenotypic traits: root length, root tips, root surface area, and root volume, compared to wide-type (WT) plants. Moreover, the transgenic plants exhibited higher root and leaf Pi content and upregulated the high affinity Pi transporters PHT1;2 and phosphorus starvation inducing (PSI) genes PHO2 and PHR1 under low Pi conditions. Transgenic Arabidopsis displayed tolerance to drought and salt stress by maintaining higher chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence, lower water loss rates, and ion leakage, which contributed to the survival of overexpression lines compared to the WT. Transcriptome profiling identified a peroxidase gene, POX, whose transcript was upregulated by these abiotic stresses. Furthermore, we confirmed that ZmARF1 bound to the auxin response element (AuxRE) in the promoter of POX and enhanced its transcription to mediate tolerance to oxidative stress imposed by low Pi, drought and salt stress in the transgenic seedlings. These results demonstrate that ZmARF1 has significant potential for improving the tolerance of crops to multiple abiotic stresses. Key message: ZmARF1 is a pleiotropic gene which confers tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses in ZmARF1-OE transgenic Arabidopsis as revealed by stress-response phenotypes of the transgenic lines relative to WT. ZmARF1 confers stress tolerance through a mechanism involving its association with an antioxidant enzyme, AtPOX, whose expression was simultaneously up regulated by low Pi, drought and salt stresses, whiles its promoter activity was significantly activated by ZmARF1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane separation and photocatalytic degradation are essential technologies for wastewater purification, but they encounter challenges like membrane fouling and low photocatalytic efficiency. The integration of photocatalysis and membrane technology, along with the creation of a heterojunction photocatalyst, proves to be a promising solution by enhancing the efficiency of charge carrier transport. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and tungsten disulfide (WS2) are key components, each offering unique benefits such as TiO2 stability and WS2 strong adsorption of visible light. TiO2/WS2 is synthesized through a one-step hydrothermal method at distinct hydrothermal times. A TiO2/WS2 photocatalytic membrane is constructed using the co-extrusion technique, with varying ratios of TiO2/WS2. The membrane undergoes characterization for both morphology and properties, as well as photocatalytic testing. TiO2/WS2 synthesized over a 20 h hydrothermal period is selected for deposition into the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane matrix. The resulting 0.5 wt% TiO2/WS2 photocatalytic membrane exhibits improved wettability, high porosity, and favorable water flux, demonstrating outstanding photocatalytic activity with an 85.3% degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) under visible light. The membrane also shows an 80.4% rejection of 1 mg/L BPA in dark conditions. In terms of energy storage, the 0.5 wt% TiO2/WS2 photocatalytic membrane exhibits a BPA photocatalytic performance resulting in 51.0% photodegradation, while the rejection rate reaches 27.4% for BPA removal after 120 min. In conclusion, the TiO2/WS2 photocatalytic membrane serves as a versatile solution, enhancing both photocatalytic degradation and rejection capabilities, with potential for energy storage in removing BPA from aquatic environments, regardless of light presence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A histidine acid phosphatase (HAP) (PhySc) with 99.50% protein sequence similarity with PHO5 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was expressed functionally with the molecular mass of ∼110 kDa through co-expression along with the set of molecular chaperones dnaK, dnaJ, GroESL. The purified HAP illustrated the optimum activity of 28.75 ± 0.39 U/mg at pH 5.5 and 40 ˚C. The Km and Kcat values towards calcium phytate were 0.608 ± 0.09 mM and 650.89 ± 3.6 s− 1. The half-lives (T1/2) at 55 and 60 ˚C were 2.75 min and 55 s, respectively. The circular dichroism (CD) demonstrated that PhySc includes 30.5, 28.1, 21.3, and 20.1% of random coils, α-Helix, β-Turns, and β-Sheet, respectively. The Tm recorded by CD for PhySc was 56.5 ± 0.34˚C. The molecular docking illustrated that His59 and Asp322 act as catalytic residues in the PhySc. MD simulation showed that PhySc at 40 ˚C has higher structural stability over those of the temperatures 60 and 80 ˚C that support the thermodynamic in vitro investigations. Secondary structure content results obtained from MD simulation indicated that PhySc consists of 34.03, 33.09, 17.5, 12.31, and 3.05% of coil, helix, turn, sheet, and helix310, respectively, which is almost consistent with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) have drawn a lot of attention due to their distinct physical and chemical properties. CBNs, such as fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, carbon quantum dots, graphene, and other derivatives have been thoroughly investigated in environmental remediation, analytical chemistry and sensing, antimicrobial activities, microbial fuel cells, and renewable energy and energy storage. In this study, recent researches on the synthesis, properties, and application of CBNs were detailed, including the toxicity and health implications of CBNs. Conclusively, the various uses of CBNs have shown an exciting result for many applications. However, there are still concerns about some restrictions, including the lack of knowledge on the possible toxicity and health effects of CBNs, difficulties with scalability and cost-effectiveness, and biocompatibility in medical applications; thus, further research is needed to involve the multidisciplinary integration approaches, including Engineering, Medicine, Chemistry, Biology, and Material Science, to open the full potential of CBNs and to further encourage scientists to produce innovative CBNs for usage in a variety of sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using density functional theory, this work investigated the photocatalytic potentials of gallium nitride nanotubes (GaNNTs) under separate doping of Si and B impurities. The study was performed by analyzing various parameters such as structural properties, band gap, effects of bond length variation, photogeneration properties, as well as analyzing overpotential values. Structural analysis results showed overall good stability when 3.12% of Si and B dopants were used separately on pristine GaNNT. The most stable bond length for doping GaNNT with either B or N atoms was 1.47 Å, which is in good agreement with previously reported experimental data. It was also found that Si-doped GaNNT absorbs light more than B-doped GaNNT. In addition, all doped systems absorb more light in parallel compared to the perpendicular direction of the axis of the nanotubes. Based on the obtained data, it was found that both Si-doped and B-doped GaNNT are suitable as photocatalysts for CO2 reduction and hydrogen evolution. The practical implications of our findings is the ability of the studied materials to help reduce atmospheric contamination caused by excessive emission of greenhouse gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A smart material based on ferrofluid deep eutectic solvents graphene oxide magnetite (MGO-DES FF) was successfully synthesized by adding choline chloride-thymol DES as carrier solvent onto MGO composite for the determination of ofloxacin in egg and milk samples. The synthesized materials were characterized using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and vibration sample magnetometer (VSM) to evaluate their functional groups, morphological and magnetic properties, respectively. The MGO-DES FF material was used as ferrofluid sorbent for liquid phase microextraction (LPME) of ofloxacin prior to UV–Vis spectrophotometry analysis. Several parameters were optimized including the type of DES, ferrofluid composition, ferrofluid volume, desorption solvent type and volume, pH, and extraction time to study their effects on the recovery percentage of ofloxacin. Under optimum conditions, good linearity was achieved between the range of 1 – 10 mg L−1 for ofloxacin and a correlation coefficient of 0.9963. The LOD and LOQ values recorded were 0.75 and 1.55 µg L−1, respectively. The RSD% for intra-day and inter-day were 2.64 and 7.40, respectively. The recovery percentage for milk and egg samples was ranging from 80.8 to 92.0%. Based on the results obtained, the developed MGO-DES FF LPME method demonstrated excellent sensitivity and efficiency for the extraction of ofloxacin in food samples. It showed great potential as an alternative method for the extraction of pharmaceutically active contaminants in the challenging matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the analysis of the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of 2879 attractions POI in Chengdu, this paper studies the spatial distribution types, spatial concentration, and equilibrium of attractions by using standard deviation ellipse, geographic concentration index, and kernel density estimation. Buffer analysis, near analysis, correlation analysis, and grey relation analysis are used to study the influencing factors of tourism in Chengdu. The results show that: (1) The overall attractions POI in Chengdu is in an east–west direction, and except for other types of attractions POI, the remaining types are also in an east–west direction. (2) The spatial agglomeration areas of different types of attractions POI in Chengdu were quite different. Among them, parks and city squares were mainly concentrated in the central urban areas, namely Jinjiang, Qingyang, Jinniu, Wuhou, and Chenghua, forming a prominent gathering area. (3) There were differences in the influence degree of each factor on the spatial distribution of attractions POI. Topography and drainage, transportation, tourist source market, and other factors significantly correlated with the distribution of attractions, which were the main factors affecting the spatial distribution of attractions. Industrial development and economic population were also important factors affecting the distribution of attractions. Tourism is an important thrust for urban development. The study of the spatial distribution of tourism and its influencing factors has clear guiding significance for later tourism development, which can help optimize the integration of tourism resources, promote the cooperation of regional tourism development and provide a basis for decision-making for tourism development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fruits of Hunteria umbellata (HU) have been utilized in folk medicine as potent against Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infections, particularly skin and nasal related conditions. However, there is scarcity of literature concerning toxicological evaluation of graded doses of HU fruit, especially at molecular level, specifically targeting the accessory gene regulator (AGR) system to prevent abuse of doses in the treatment of bacterial infections. This research evaluated molecular toxicological property of SA exposed to varied concentrations of aqueous HU fruit extract ranging from 500 to 3.90625 µg/µL using broth microdilution method and quantification of AGR I and II genes' expression employing two-step reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). We first identified quality and quantity of chemical compounds in aqueous fruit of HU using phytochemistry and hybrid gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer (GC–MS) technique. Additionally, preliminary bactericidal potential of HU was assessed before molecular toxicology. Results: Results revealed six phytochemicals and twenty analytical grade compounds from a standard library were identified from chromatograms of HU fruit extract. Some main compounds detected are n-Hexadecanoic acid (25.24%), 2-Pentadecanone, 6,10,14-trimethyl (16.08%), Cuparene (16.63%), Tetradecanoic acid (6.21%) and 9-Octadecenoic acid, (E)- (5.70%). Bactericidal activity shows significant (p < 0.05) toxicity in the tested (8) concentrations of HU fruits in a dose-response relationship compared to the controls (positive and negative). The quantified expression of AGR I and II genes in SA was most significantly increased (p < 0.05) at both 250 and 500 µg/µL of HU fruit extract while least significant increase (p < 0.05) was recorded at 125 µg/µL compared to control. Conclusions: Notably, the study highlighted a potential risk of augmented bacterial infection especially with higher doses of HU extracts during boils' treatment and other epidermal infections instigated by Staph. Expression of both AGR genes at higher doses (250 and 500 µg/µL) is indicative of further expression of several other genes responsible for virulence factors in a variety of human bacterial infections. Thus, consumption of HU fruit to treat boils and blisters should be with great caution especially at high doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the first few days of life, jaundice has continued to be a major health concern. It typically manifests as a yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and sclera as a result of bilirubin deposition from excessively high concentrations in the body. It affects 80% of preterm and 60% of term new-borns within the first seven days of life, which is of great concern. According to the World Health Organization, the widespread acceptance of traditional medicines can be attributed to their accessibility and affordability. In West African arid savannah, there is a tree called Vitellaria paradoxa (Sapotaceae) that grows naturally. This well-known herb has numerous applications in medicine. Various plant components, including the leaves, roots, seeds, and fruit, have all been used in traditional medicine to cure a variety of illnesses. The purpose of this study is to objectively ascertain the efficacy of V. paradoxa root extracts on jaundice. Rats given phenylhydrazine (PHZ) to induce hyperbilirubinemia were orally administered ethylacetate, n-butanol, n-hexane, and aqueous fractions. Result: Results indicated the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenol. n-hexane and ethylacetate fractions showed activity against jaundice in rats. This observation was due to the fact that they significantly improved all biomarkers that were examined, namely body weight change, liver function parameters (total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, and total protein), haematological parameters (white blood cells, haemoglobin, red blood cells, haematocrit, and platelets), and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde). Conclusion: n-Hexane and ethylacetate fractions of the extract showed significant activity against PHZ-induced jaundice in rats. However, n-hexane fraction was the most active fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In May 2022, an outbreak of mpox, a viral disease that was then popularly known as monkeypox, was first confirmed in the United Kingdom with a cluster of cases. Within a short period of time, the disease spread to the United States, where the index case was recorded on May 17, 2022, in Massachusetts. This outbreak's clinical and epidemiological characteristics are distinct from those of the earlier ones. It has been widely reported that sexual transmission is the primary means of spreading the current outbreak, with the community of men who have sex with men (MSM) being disproportionately and significantly impacted. To this end, we devised a two-group-compartmental model incorporating four distinct sexual transmission routes with focus on the United States. The Bayesian statistical framework with uniform priors was used to fit and capture the spread of the disease in both the men and women communities. Since the data were not disaggregated into men and women populations, some data analyses techniques were used to achieve the disaggregation. Sensitivity and scenario analyses revealed the respective contribution of each sexual transmission route to the basic reproduction number. The results reveal that the major contributing factor to the spread of the disease is the MSM transmission route, and condom usage with a high level of compliance can completely eradicate the spread of mpox in the United States. Since condom usage has shown a promising control measure for the spread of mpox in the MSM community, it is highly recommended that men should be more compliant with the use of condom or abstain completely from having sex with fellow men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin disulfide (SnS2) nanoparticles were synthesized via hydrothermal process and were deposited as ultrathin layer (27.5 nm) onto SLG via vacuum thermal evaporation. The SnS2 nanoparticles were characterized for their structural, purity, chemical, morphological, optical and electrical properties. The XRD patterns and the Raman spectra confirmed the successful synthesis of SnS2 nanoparticles. The stoichiometry and leaf like structure obtained from EDS and FESEM analysis of the SnS2 nanoparticles further proved its formation. The ultrathin layer deposited and annealed at 300 °C for 1 h showed XRD patterns of hexagonal structured SnS2 with crystallinity of 57.7 nm, bandgap energy of 2.7 eV and resistivity of 0.65 Ω cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the flood disaster and risk that can potentially occur in the event of a dam break in the Gurara watershed, Nigeria. The aim is to evaluate the effects of land use and land cover (LULC) and hydroclimatic variability on the aforementioned dam. This is done through integration of Hydrological Simulation Fortran Program (HSPF), hydro-dynamic models and field observations. The simulation result presents the extent of the flood downstream, which inundates 274.6 Km2 (27,460 ha) of the watershed, that includes a peri-urban Jere town with a total population of 9912 and 6000 ha of irrigation area that has the potential to produce 100,000 metric tons of food in four circles per year. Further analysis of the result shows that the flood hazard map of the flooded area produced a varied index for each scenario, but it shows that the hazards increase with an increase in the literal inflow into the dam from the upstream runoffs. The hazard maps identify risks in vulnerable areas. The downstream area experiences diverse exposure based on the proximity of LULC class to the prone zones. This research presents details about the possible disaster associated with dam collapse in nearby communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce an inertial accelerated outer quadratic approximation method for solving the split feasibility problem in Hilbert spaces. The algorithm uses projections onto closed balls approximations of the original split feasibility problem involved sets. Since the projection onto the closed ball has a closed form, the proposed method is thus convenient to implement. Moreover, it uses a self-adaptive step-size which does not need any prior information of the operator norm. Under some suitable assumptions, we establish and prove a strong convergence theorem for the proposed algorithm. Finally, we provide several numerical experiments to demonstrate the performances of our proposed method. We also give the applications of our result to elastic nets. Our method generalizes and improves many results in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of crop plants is critically affected by biotic and abiotic stress. These stressors threaten food availability by reducing overall crop yield and productivity. Changes in chromatin state by epigenetic modification are part of plant adaptive and survival responses and are considered pivotal for improving agronomic traits. Epigenetics is an exciting field that involves heritable gene expression changes that do not require changes in DNA sequence. Epigenetic modification is well known as a crucial player in plant phenotypic diversity and defense against pathogens. Hence, there is a growing interest in unlocking the epigenome for crop improvement. Herein, we highlight the epigenetic modifications implicated in plant biotic stress response and their contributions to important agronomic traits. We also discussed adopting epigenetics to expand phenotypic diversity and produce desired characteristics in crop plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of hybrid renewable energy and thermal energy storage systems (HRETESSs) in greenhouses holds great promise in terms of greenhouse gas emission reduction, enhanced efficiency, and reliability of agricultural operations. In this study, numerical and experimental studies were conducted on a greenhouse integrated with HRETESSs in South Korea. The system consisted of solar thermal (ST) collectors, photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collectors, thermal energy storage, and heat pump systems. The performance analysis of the HRETESSs in various locations across South Korea was conducted using a validated TRNSYS model, which was calibrated through experimental measurements. RETscreen software was utilized to perform the techno-economic evaluation of the HRETESSs. Across all the cities studied, the HRETESSs achieved an average contribution of 43% and 20% toward meeting the thermal and electrical loads, respectively, resulting in an annual gross reduction of 4326–5157 tons of CO2. Moreover, the heat injection into the borehole thermal energy storage (BTES) from the ST and PVT collectors increases the contribution of the BTES to the greenhouse load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transactivating DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is intimately associated with tumorigenesis and progression by regulating mRNA splicing, transport, stability, and non-coding RNA molecules. The exact role of TDP-43 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has not yet been fully elucidated, despite extensive research on its function in various cancer types. An imperative aspect of comprehending the underlying biological characteristics associated with TDP-43 involves investigating the genes that are co-expressed with this protein. This study assesses the prognostic significance of these co-expressed genes in LUAD and subsequently explores potential therapeutic strategies based on these findings. Methods: Transcriptomic and clinical data pertaining to LUAD were retrieved from open-access databases to establish an association between mRNA expression profiles and the presence of TDP-43. A risk-prognosis model was developed to compare patient survival rates across various groups, and its accuracy was also assessed. Additionally, differences in tumor stemness, mutational profiles, tumor microenvironment (TME) characteristics, immune checkpoints, and immune cell infiltration were analyzed in the different groups. Moreover, the study entailed predicting the potential response to immunotherapy as well as the sensitivity to commonly employed chemotherapeutic agents and targeted drugs for each distinct group. Results: The TDP-43 Co-expressed Gene Risk Score (TCGRS) model was constructed utilizing four genes: Kinesin Family Member 20A (KIF20A), WD Repeat Domain 4 (WDR4), Proline Rich 11 (PRR11), and Glia Maturation Factor Gamma (GMFG). The value of this model in predicting LUAD patient survival is effectively illustrated by both the Kaplan–Meier (K–M) survival curve and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC). The Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) revealed that the high TCGRS group was primarily enriched in biological pathways and functions linked to DNA replication and cell cycle; the low TCGRS group showed primary enrichment in immune-related pathways and functions. The high and low TCGRS groups showed differences in tumor stemness, mutational burden, TME, immune infiltration level, and immune checkpoints. The predictions analysis of immunotherapy indicates that the Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) score (p < 0.001) and non-response rate (74% vs. 51%, p < 0.001) in the high TCGRS group are higher than those in the low TCGRS group. The Immune Phenotype Score (IPS) in the high TCGRS group is lower than in the low TCGRS group (p < 0.001). The drug sensitivity analysis revealed that the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for cisplatin, docetaxel, doxorubicin, etoposide, gemcitabine, paclitaxel, vincristine, erlotinib, and gefitinib (all p < 0.01) in the high TCGRS group are lower than those in the low TCGRS group. Conclusions: The TCGRS derived from the model exhibits a reliable biomarker for evaluating both prognosis and treatment effectiveness among patients with LUAD. This study is anticipated to offer valuable insights into developing effective treatment strategies for this patient population. It is believed that this study is anticipated to contribute significantly to clinical diagnostics, the development of therapeutic drugs, and the enhancement of patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The categorization of public buildings is such that it covers all buildings that are accessible to the public; however, many public buildings that are either fully or partially privately owned usually undergo some form of cosmetic customization in an attempt to communicate the aspirations of the owners or occupants of the building or the space within the building to the users. This paper aims to examine the location and aspects of the buildings that are affected by cosmetic customization as they relate to the occupants and owners of the buildings. The study adopted mixed methods of qualitative and quantitative research approach, it used both a questionnaire and observation checklist to obtain data from the selected buildings and the respondents. Eleven public categories of public buildings were selected and 30 copies of the questionnaire were administered to each category. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics from SPSS software and the results are presented in tables and charts. It was observed that a high percentage of the customization was undertaken within the building and the ceiling aspect of the interior was the most modified part of the building. The study concluded that cosmetic customization was undertaken in all of the public buildings examined, and this action helped project the image the owners wanted to put forward as their form of brand identity using the building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flexibility and the low production costs offered by plastics have made them crucial to society. Unfortunately, due to their resistance to biological degradation, plastics remain in the environment for an extended period of time, posing a growing risk to life on earth. Synthetic treatments of plastic waste damage the environment and may cause damage to human health. Bacterial and fungal isolates have been reported to degrade plastic polymers in a logistic safe approach with the help of their microbial cell enzymes. Recently, the bacterial strain Ideonella sakaiensis (201-F6) was discovered to break down and assimilate polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic via metabolic processes at 30 °C to 37 °C. PETase and MHETase enzymes help the bacterium to accomplish such tremendous action at lower temperatures than previously discovered enzymes. In addition to functioning at low temperatures, the noble bacterium's enzymes have amazing qualities over pH and PET plastic degradation, including a shorter period of degradation. It has been proven that using the enzyme PETase, this bacterium hydrolyzes the ester linkages of PET plastic, resulting in production of terephthalic acid (TPA), nontoxic compound and mono-2-hydroxyethyl (MHET), along with further depolymerization of MHET to release ethylene glycogen (EG) and terephthalic acid (TPA) by the second enzyme MHETase. Enzymatic plastic degradation has been proposed as an environmentally friendly and long-term solution to plastic waste in the environment. As a result, this review focuses on the enzymes involved in hydrolyzing PET plastic polymers, as well as some of the other microorganisms involved in plastic degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we have investigated the capability of CO2 capture by single-walled, carbon-deficient silicon carbide nanotubes (Si12C12-X; X = 1; 2). All calculations of the properties of the investigated systems were performed using density functional theory with plane wave basis sets and pseudopotentials. Electronic interactions were determined using the generalized gradient approximation method in terms of the Perdew-Burke-and Ernzerhof exchange–correlation functional. The analysis of the photoabsorption properties of the investigated systems was based on structural, electronic and optical properties. Analysis of the structural properties revealed that as number of C vacancy increases, bond length decreases, which agrees well with previous literature. Regarding the CO2 overpotential value, both Si12C11:Vc1 and Si12C10:Vc2 showed band edges of -1.5 eV and -1.45 eV, respectively, which are more negative than the standard overpotential value (-1.4 eV) for CO2 reduction. Analysis of the optical absorption spectra revealed good photon absorption by Si12C11:Vc1 (4.16% defect) and Si12C10:Vc2 (8.33% defect) in the visible region accompanied by negligible electron–hole recombination, while pristine SWSiCNT showed absorption in the UV region accompanied by strong electron–hole recombination. This study found that Si12C11:Vc1 and Si12C10:Vc2 are well-suited for CO2 capture and storage, while underlining the CO2 capture capability of pristine SWSiCNT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between soil radon and meteorological parameters in a region can provide insight into natural processes occurring between the lithosphere and the atmosphere. Understanding this relationship can help models establish more realistic results, rather than depending on theoretical consequences. Radon variation can be complicated to model due to the various physical variables which can affect it, posing a limitation in atmospheric studies. To predict Rn variation from meteorological parameters, a hybrid mod el called multiANN, which is a combination of multi-regression and artificial neural network (ANN) models, is established. The model was trained with 70% of the data and tested on the remaining 30%, and its robustness was tested using the Monte-Carlo method. The regions with low performance are identified and possibly related to seismic events. This model can be a good candidate for predicting Rn concentrations from meteorological parameters and establishing the lower boundary conditions in seismo-ionospheric coupling models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the influence of copper(II) ions as a cofactor on the electrochemical performance of a biocomposite consisting of a mini protein mimicking uricase (mp20) and zeolitic immidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) for the detection of uric acid. A central composite design (CCD) was utilized to optimize the independent investigation, including pH, deposition potential, and deposition time, while the current response resulting from the electrocatalytic oxidation of uric acid was used as the response. The statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a good correlation between the experimental and predicted data, with a residual standard error percentage (RSE%) of less than 2% for predicting optimal conditions. The synergistic effect of the nanoporous ZIF-8 host, Cu(II)-activated mp20, and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) layer resulted in a highly sensitive biosensor with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.21 μM and a reproducibility of the response (RSD = 0.63%). The Cu(II)-activated mp20@ZIF-8/rGO/SPCE was highly selective in the presence of common interferents, and the fabricated layer exhibited remarkable stability with signal changes below 4.15% after 60 days. The biosensor's reliable performance was confirmed through real sample analyses of human serum and urine, with comparable recovery values to conventional HPLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saxitoxin is a potent neurotoxin commonly found in shellfish, produced by dinoflagellate and cyanobacterial blooms in seawater or fresh water. This review dissects the conventional liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) and the emerging microscale sample preparation method, followed by their achievements in the preconcentration of saxitoxin-group toxins from different matrices. Despite the tedious and multi-step procedures, LLE and SPE remain the most applied techniques in detecting saxitoxin due to their high sensitivity and selectivity. Nevertheless, microscale sample preparation offers potential as a green technique, especially in the development of advanced adsorbents for better sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic use of land that results from urbanization has an impact on the urban ecosystem. Yola North Local Government Area (Yola North LGA) of Adamawa state, Nigeria, has experienced tremendous changes in its land use and land cover (LULC) over the past two decades due to the influx of people from rural areas seeking for the benefits of its economic activities. The goal of this research is to develop an efficient and accurate framework for continuous monitoring of land use and land cover (LULC) change and quantify the transformation in land use and land cover pattern over a specific period (between 2002 and 2022). Land sat images of 2002, 2012, and 2022 were obtained, and the Support Vector Machine classification method was utilized to stratify the images. Land Change Modeler (LCM) tool in Idrissi Selva software was then used to analyze the LULC change. SVM produced a good classification result for all three years, with 2022 having the highest overall accuracy of 95.5%, followed by 2002 with 90% and 2012 with 87.7% which indicates the validity of the algorithm for future predictions. The results showed that severe land changes have occurred over the course of two decades in built-up (37.32%), vegetation (forest, scrubland, and grassland) (−3.27%), bare surface (−33.47%), and water bodies (−0.59%). Such changes in LULC could lead to agricultural land lost and reduced food supply. This research develops a robust framework for continuous land use monitoring, utilizing machine learning and geo-spatial data for urban planning, natural resource management, and environmental conservation. In conclusion, this study underscores the efficacy of support vector machine algorithm in analyzing complex land use and land cover changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the hydrogen energy storage potentials of (8, 8) single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and (8, 8) single-walled boron nitride nanotubes (SWBNNTs) using density functional theory. Calculations of the electronic properties of the studied systems were performed using the Perdew, Burke and Ernzerhof (PBE) exchange correlation function of the generalized gradient approximation. The optical adsorption response of the pure and hydrogen-adsorbed systems was determined within G0W0 approximations with both RPA and BSE. From the obtained results, it was found that both (8, 8) SWBNNT and SWCNT were stable when the hydrogen molecule was 8.72 m away from the adsorption surface. SWBNNT was found to show stronger adsorption from 5 to 15 eV, which is in the UV range. On the other hand, SWCNT adsorbs hydrogen in the 0–5 eV which falls in the UV–Vis range, with higher adsorption recorded from 0 to 2.4 eV, which corresponds to the visible range. Although both systems adsorb hydrogen, (8, 8) SWCNT is reported to be better than (8, 8) SWBNNT due to its ability to adsorb in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Therefore, SWCNT is regarded as a better candidate for hydrogen energy storage under ambient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to assess, monitor, and analyzed water quality parameters recorded from reservoirs in of Saudi Arabia for Electrical Conductivity (EC) forecasting. Water quality parameters play a key role in the lives of humans, plants, and animals depending on those reservoirs for survival. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of a novel autoencoder stacked LSTM transfer learning (TL + aeSLSTM) model for EC forecasting. Although various factors such as pH, EC, CaCO3, Turbidity, Salinity, Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca2+), Fluoride (F−), Chloride (Cl−), Bromide (Br−), Nitrate (NO3−), and Sulfate ( SO 4 2 - ) affects EC forecasting, in this paper we utilized Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Na as our source dataset for EC forecasting. In order to select the most appropriate or suitable transfer learning model network for EC forecasting, a trail-by-error approach was employed where parameters e.g., hidden layers, number of neurons, batch-size, epochs, optimizers, and activation functions were varied and applied to each model. To assess the performance of the proposed model to the baseline model, we employed the most common evaluation metrics ie. MSE, MAE, and MAPE. Superior performance by the novel TL + aeSLSTM over the state-of-the-art models illustrates the capability of the model to utilize both the advantage of the autoencoder, stacked LSTM, and transfer learning capability for EC forecasting. The results show that the least value of train MAE, train MSE, train RMSE, test MAE, test MSE, test RMSE when Na is used as the source dataset for EC forecasting by the TL + aeSLSTM are 248.044, 519.292, 22.788, 206.114, 212.004, and 14.560, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions into the environment is a key pre-requisite for ensuring a healthy and sustainable planet that we all yearn for. The most prominent of all technologies devised by experts worldwide to tackle this menace and bring great cuts is the Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) technology. Unfortunately, in the present Africa, this novel technology is not being utilized maximally. Carbon dioxide storage capacity estimation in the past has also been restricted solely to petrophysical and lithological information and not performance-based numerical simulation to assess or quantify the storage efficiency. Thus, the use of advanced geomodeling technique has been employed in this research to investigate the injectivity and simulation capacities for effective carbon dioxide sequestration in the 'X-Field', Central Swamp II depobelt of the Niger Delta. The ECLIPSE compositional reservoir simulator (E300) software was used for this research using a 50 year simulation period for the target reservoir (Reservoir J). The cumulative storage capacity for Reservoir J yielded an estimate of 7.01 Bsm3 at a bottom hole pressure (BHP) of 1455 psi using the existing wells as injection wells. The results of relative permeability correlation show that there is no significantly large difference between the behavior of the drainage curves. At high water saturation end, the relative permeability of gas becomes high in the reservoir under high capillary pressure at the start of gas invasion. The curves in drainage tend to show capillary end effect at the lower water saturation end. Generally, the reservoir shows higher relative permeability of gas than water at higher capillary pressure although the relative permeabilities of both phase show similar behavior under the same capillary pressure, which suggests that the reservoir rocks tend to more gas wet than water wet under higher capillary pressure, making it suitable for geological storage of CO2. However, beyond the target BHP, it is possible that the reservoir could approach fracture pressure if injection continues. Also, at relaxation time, the pressure is predicted to remain constant resulting in a slight decrease in the motion of the CO2 fluid. Besides providing a better understanding of reservoir behavior in the Niger Delta during CCS, this research demonstrates that for an effective CCS project in the Niger Delta region to take place, a performance-based storage capacity estimation and an efficient injection strategy with a well-planned well placement is paramount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of human resource for the success and growth of every organisation, including banks in developing economies, cannot be underestimated. The banking sector in Ghana, a developing economy, has recently faced some significant performance-related difficulties, such as suspending the licences of new banks, raising the minimum capital required, and recording fraud cases. These developments in the banking sector seriously questioned the managerial competencies of bank managers providing leadership roles to these banks in Ghana. It was for this purpose that this study examined the influence of managerial competence on the performance of branch and operational managers in the Ghanaian banking sector. The study sought to achieve, among other things, to explore how managerial competencies such as customer value management, interpersonal, leadership and intrapersonal relate to managerial performance in the banking sector of Ghana. The study adopted the quantitative approach from the positivist philosophical perspective and, specifically, the cross-sectional survey method. A sample of 127 branch and operation managers from the sixteen administrative regions of Ghana was drawn for the study. Data were collected with an adopted questionnaire and analysed with partial least square structural equation modelling. The study found a significant relationship between customer value management, interpersonal, leadership, intrapersonal, technical competencies and managerial performance in the banking sector. The relative importance of each of the five managerial competencies found was customer value management competence, interpersonal competence, leadership competence, intrapersonal competence and technical competence. The study concluded that managerial competence relates to managerial performance in the banking sector in Ghana. The implications of the findings of this study are that human resource managers in the banking sector should pay attention to these managerial competencies in hiring and developing managers for their branch and operational managerial positions in developing economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirteen satellite precipitation products (SPPs), re-gridded to 1 km resolution, were evaluated in terms of the structural similarity index (SSI) over the Pra catchment in Ghana. Three SPP scenarios were considered: Scenario one (S1) was the original SPPs; Scenario two (S2) was bias-corrected SPPs; and Scenario three (S3) was the better of S1 and S2 for each wet day. For each scenario, the best SPP was selected to constitute the 14th SPP referred to as the BEST SPP. Each SPP was evaluated in terms of SSI against the rain gauge rainfield for each wet day. For S1, the top three SPPs were TMPA, GSMAP and CMORPH; for S2, CMORPH, PERCCS and MSWEP were the top three; and for S3, CMORPH, PERCCS and TMPA came out on top in order of decreasing performance. Bias correction led to improvement in the overall SSI measure (SSIM) for 73% of wet days. The BEST SPP increased the SSIM of the best individual SPP by over 50% for S1, and over 30% for both S2 and S3. Comparing the BEST SPP of the three scenarios, S2 increased the SSIM statistic by 20% over that for S1, and SSIM was further improved by 4% for S3. It is highly recommended to use BEST SPP (S3) to generate the required 1 km × 1 km rainfields for the Pra, or other catchments around the world with a sparse rain gauge network, through conditional merging with rain gauge data as demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 results from SARS-CoV-2, which mutates frequently, challenging current treatments. Therefore, it is critical to develop new therapeutic drugs against this disease. This study explores the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro and RetroMAD1, a well-characterized coronavirus protein and potential drug target, using in-silico methods. The analysis through the HDOCK server showed stable complex formation with a binding energy of -12.3, the lowest among reference drugs. The RetroMAD1-3CLpro complex underwent a 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) in an explicit solvation system, generating various trajectories, including RMSD, RMSF, hydrogen bonding, radius of gyration, and ligand binding energy. MDS results confirmed intact interactions within the RetroMAD1-3CLpro complex during simulations. In vitro experiments validated RetroMAD1's ability to inhibit 3CLpro enzyme activity and prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection in human bronchial cells. RetroMAD1 exhibited antiviral efficacy comparable to Remdesivir without cytotoxicity at effective concentrations. These results suggest RetroMAD1 as a potential drug candidate against SARS-CoV-2, warranting further in vivo and clinical studies to assess its efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterologous functional expression of the recombinant lipases is typically a bottleneck due to the expression in the insoluble fraction as inclusion bodies (IBs) which are in inactive form. Due to the importance of lipases in various industrial applications, many investigations have been conducted to discover suitable approaches to obtain functional lipase or increase the expressed yield in the soluble fraction. The utilization of the appropriate prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems, along with the suitable vectors, promoters, and tags, has been recognized as a practical approach. One of the most powerful strategies to produce bioactive lipases is using the molecular chaperones co-expressed along with the target protein's genes into the expression host to produce the lipase in soluble fraction as a bioactive form. The refolding of expressed lipase from IBs (inactive) is another practical strategy which is usually carried out through chemical and physical methods. Based on recent investigations, the current review simultaneously highlights strategies to express the bioactive lipases and recover the bioactive lipases from the IBs in insoluble form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concrete industry consumes a significant number of natural resources and emits hazardous gases into the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide for cement production, which influences global warming and climate change. Therefore, many attempts have been made to develop green and eco-friendly concrete from various waste materials. Seashells are one of these waste products that accumulate on beaches and landfills, which causes environmental problems. This review assesses the usage of multiple types of seashell waste materials in concrete as a partial cement replacement. The performance of seashell powder in concrete was also evaluated in terms of fresh concrete properties, mechanical properties, durability, and other factors. According to this study, using seashells as a cement replacement improves concrete setting time, diminishes workability, and increases density due to curing age. The mechanical properties of concrete, such as compressive strength and modulus of elasticity, generally decrease as the shell content increases. However, adding admixtures and applying chemical treatment can improve concrete's mechanical properties and durability. Nevertheless, adding up to 25% of cockle shells in concrete can reduce water permeability. Thus, it is demonstrated that using seashells in concrete as a cement replacement might have the potential to produce sustainable green building materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contemporary era's extensive use of data, particularly in education, has provided new insights and benefits. This data is called 'education big data', and the process of learning through such data is called 'learning analytics'. Education in big data and learning analytics are two important processes that produce impactful results and understanding. it is crucial to take advantage of these processes to enhance the current education system. We conduct a bibliometric analysis based on the PRISMA statement template. The publications used for the analysis are based on the years 2012–2021. We examine and analyze a total of 250 publications, mainly sourced from the Scopus database, for insights regarding education big data and learning analytics. All of the publications also undergo filtration according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Based on the bibliometric analysis conducted, we discover the distribution of education big data and learning analytics publications across the years 2012–2021, the most relevant journals and authors, the most significant countries, the primary research keywords, and the most important subject area involved. This study presents the trends and recommendations in education big data and learning analytics. We also offer suggestions for improvement and highlight the potential for enhancement of the education system through the full utilization of education big data and learning analytics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent decades, heritage conservation has developed in concept and scope. This paper uses a systematic literature review approach to collect charters and documents on heritage conservation issued by UNESCO and ICOMOS, divided into two periods, before 2000 and from 2000 to the present, for analysis from a qualitative perspective. The study results show that the scope of architectural heritage is expanding, and the definition of conservation is changing from individual to holistic conservation and from holistic to sustainable conservation. The focus of conservation has evolved from tangible to intangible attributes. The changing scale of conservation, from object to landscape, incorporates a more comprehensive range of heritage values, and the status of conservation has changed from static to living conservation. This study systematically structures the development of the concept of architectural heritage conservation, providing insight in the international field of architectural heritage conservation and encouraging reflection on the conservation of architectural heritage in historic cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing concern on the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment. The existing practice of chicken by-product waste is to dispose in a landfill. Chicken by-product waste may contain antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Thus, the disposal of chicken by-product waste into the landfill leads to the release of antibiotic-resistant bacteria into the environment. In the present study, the supercritical CO2 (scCO2) technology was utilized to sterilize the chicken by-product waste to ensure safe handling for the subsequent processing towards sustainable utilization of the waste by-product. In addition, the presence of bacteria in the chicken by-product waste and their antibiotic susceptibility were identified. The influence of the scCO2 sterilization on the inactivation of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria in chicken by-product waste was determined with varying pressure (8–40 MPa), temperature (30–80 °C), and treatment time (15–90 min). The experimental conditions of the scCO2 sterilization were optimized based on the maximum log reduction (logCFU/g) of bacteria in sterilized chicken by-product waste. The optimum experimental conditions for the complete inactivation of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria in sterilized chicken by-product waste were scCO2 pressure 18 MPa, temperature 60 °C, and treatment time 45 min. The sterilized chicken by-product waste contains about 50% fat. The findings of the present study would be useful to determine the sustainable utilization of chicken by-product waste with minimizing human health hazards and environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research article develops two adaptive, efficient, structured non-linear least-squares algorithms, NLS. The approach taken to formulate these algorithms is motivated by the classical Barzilai and Borwein (BB) (IMA J Numer Anal 8(1):141–148, 1988) parameters. The structured vector approximation, which is an action of a vector on a matrix, is derived from higher order Taylor series approximations of the Hessian of the objective function, such that a quasi-Newton condition is satisfied. This structured approximation is incorporated into the BB parameters' weighted adaptive combination. We show that the algorithm is globally convergent under some standard assumptions. Moreover, the algorithms' robustness and effectiveness were tested numerically by solving some benchmark test problems. Finally, we apply one of the algorithms to solve a robotic motion control model with three degrees of freedom, 3DOF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic inflammatory response to surgical interventions has been characterized by an orchestrated interplay of endogenous mediatory cytokines and haematologic alterations. The study was carried out to determine the changes in plasma levels of pro-inflammatory interleukin-6 (IL-6) and anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (IL-10) in relation to haematological alterations in response to colo-peritoneo-cystoplasty in dogs. Haematological and plasma concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 were profiled in four apparently healthy dogs, following the colo-peritoneo-cystoplastic procedure. Mean packed cell volume (PCV) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from the pre-surgical 45.84 ± 3.67 to a lowest value (33.50 ± 2.53%) on day 7 post-surgery. Mean total leukocyte count (TLC) significantly (P < 0.05) increased from the pre-surgical value (9.85 ± 1.02 × 109/L) to a peak level (14.20 ± 2.77 × 109/L) on day 7 post-surgery. Mean neutrophil count significantly (P < 0.05) increased from the pre-surgical value of 6.63 ± 0.79 to a peak day 7 post-surgical value (10.00 ± 2.39 × 109/L. Mean lymphocyte count rose from 3.59 ± 0.31 to day 4 post-surgical value of 4.42 ± 0.82 × 109/L. Changes in mean eosinophil and monocyte counts were not significant (P > 0.05). Mean plasma IL-6 concentration significantly (P < 0.05) increased from 7639.45 ± 146.81 (pre-surgical) to 7916.62 ± 32.97 pg/mL on day 4 post-surgery. The pre-surgical mean IL-10 concentration was 93.95 ± 17.18 pg/mL. It remained relatively unchanged post-surgery until on day 9 when it suddenly surged to 449.70 ± 125.79 pg/mL. The mean concentration of the IL-10 slightly decreased and fluctuates until day 35 when another peak rise (457.20 ± 95.78 pg/mL) was observed. It was observed that changes in plasma concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 positively correlated with the leukocytic changes, which suggest presence of a regulatory interplay of IL-6, IL-10 and leukocytic changes in wound healing inflammatory response to the colo-peritoneo-cystoplasty in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]