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This study aims to identify the most suitable Enterprise Architecture (EA) framework for driving digital transformation within Malaysia's agricultural sector. The objective is to evaluate and compare four leading EA frameworks—the Zachman Framework (ZFEA), the Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF), the Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework (FEAF), and The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF)—using eight key criteria: adaptability, scalability, ease of implementation, support for modern technologies, cost-effectiveness, compliance, traceability, and risk management. A systematic comparative analysis assessed these frameworks' effectiveness in addressing the agricultural sector's specific needs. The findings indicate that TOGAF is the most appropriate framework due to its high adaptability, scalability, and robust support for modern technologies, making it ideal for the sector's requirements. In contrast, ZFEA, though versatile, faces significant challenges in practical implementation and scalability. DoDAF’s defense-centric focus limits its applicability in agriculture, and while FEAF is adaptable, it lacks strong support for modern technological integration. This study provides novel insights and practical recommendations for policymakers and practitioners to select the most effective EA framework, thereby supporting Malaysia's agricultural sector's digital transformation and modernization. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2024-05-04-015 Full Text: PDF

Lodging is more than just plants falling over; it incurs significant economic losses for farmers leading to a decrease in both yield and quality of the final produce. Human management practices, such as dense sowing, excessive nitrogen fertilizer applications, inappropriate sowing dates, and upland rice cultivation, exacerbate the risk of lodging in rice. While breeders have developed high-yielding rice varieties utilizing the sd1 gene, relying solely on this gene is insufficient to enhance lodging resistance. Identifying the traits that contribute to lodging resistance is crucial. Key factors include biochemical, anatomical, and morphological traits, such as the levels of lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, silicon, and potassium, along with the number and area of vascular bundles and the thickness, diameter, and length of the culm. Moreover, markers associated with lodging-related genes, like SCM2, SCM3, SCM4, and prl4, can be utilized effectively in marker-assisted backcrossing to develop rice varieties with desirable culm traits. This literature review aims to aid rice breeders in addressing the issue of lodging by examining traits that influence lodging resistance, developing phenotyping strategies for these traits, identifying suitable instrumentation, exploring methods for screening lodging-resistant plants, understanding the mathematical relationships involved, and considering molecular breeding aspects for pyramiding genes related to lodging.

Abstract The illegal ivory trade remains a prime threat to elephant populations. Identification of ivory is crucial for combating illicit ivory trading. Studies have demonstrated that FTIR spectroscopy is one of the most suitable techniques for identifying ivory and its products. However, this technique could not have been fully utilized due to the lack of a reference IR spectral library/database. In light of this, the present study aimed to develop the FTIR spectral library for Asian elephant ivory. We collected eight Asian elephant ivory (n = 8) samples from our institute repository and recorded the FTIR spectrum. Further, based on the biochemical composition of ivory, we identified various characteristics, functional groups, and their respective wavenumbers. Furthermore, we used the FTIR spectrum of Asian elephant ivory as a reference to identify the fifteen carvings (n = 15) suspected to be of Asian elephant ivory. The results revealed that samples 1 -13 are visibly identical to the FTIR spectrum of Asian elephant ivory; in contrast, samples 14 and 15 do not match the FTIR spectrum of Asian elephant ivory. Hence, it is confirmed that out of fifteen samples, thirteen are likely to be of Asian elephant ivory origin. To confirm this finding, we employed the PLS-DA analysis. The result showed an R Square value of 0.9 for calibration and 0.75 for validation, and the model exhibited 100% accuracy in classifying the original and fake ivory samples. The results confirmed that FTIR combined with chemometrics analysis was useful for identifying ivory and fake materials. To validate the FTIR results, we extracted the DNA from suspected samples 1–15 and amplified elephant-specific D-loop and Sry (sex-determining region on the Y chromosome) genes. Subsequently, the PCR amplicons were examined on a 2.5% agarose gel and observed for samples 1–13, one band at 137 bp (for D-loop) and another at 97 bp (for Sry). These results indicated that samples 1–13 are of elephant origin, whereas samples 14 and 15 are not of elephant origin. To confirm this finding, the PCR amplicons (D-loop) from nine samples (1–9) were sequenced, and % similarity was analyzed. The results showed 96.6 to 100% similarity to the Mammuthus primigenius, Elephas maximus indicus, and Loxodonta africana. The primers (D-loop and Sry) used in this study are elephant-specific and do not distinguish the elephant species. Overall, DNA-based results supported the results from FTIR analysis and confirmed that the suspected samples 1–13 are of elephant origin and 14 and 15 are not of elephant origin. The current study has demonstrated the identification of ivory substitutes through FTIR spectral library for Asian elephant ivory, which is rapid, cost-effective, and has excellent potential for forensic analysis. Graphical abstract

Introduction: Spasticity is a pervasive and debilitating condition. Anti-spastic medications like Baclofen and Diazepam are most commonly used for spasticity management. Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of Baclofen with that of Diazepam in the management of spasticity following acquired spinal cord injuries. Methods: In this randomised open-label study involving 60 patients, 30 patients received 5 mg of oral Baclofen thrice daily and 30 patients received 5 mg of oral Diazepam thrice daily for the management of spasticity. The extent of spasticity was measured by Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The efficacy of these drugs was measured with the mean improvement in the above parameters on days 7, 14, 28, 56 and 90 from the start of pharmacotherapy. Results: Baseline muscle spasticity scores were comparable. At the endpoint, mean improvement in tone of right and left hip flexors (1.43 vs. 0.87), hip adductors (1.30 vs. 0.87), knee flexors (0.80 vs. 0.37), ankle plantar flexors (0.80 vs. 0.37) and ankle dorsiflexors (1.23 vs. 0.93) were significantly higher in Baclofen group (p

Abstract Electrochemical alkaline water electrolysis offers significant economic advantages; however, these benefits are hindered by the high kinetic energy barrier of the water dissociation step and the sluggish kinetics of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media. Herein, the ensemble effect of binary types of Rh single atoms (Rh‐Nx and Rh‐Ox) on TiO2‐embedded carbon nanofiber (Rh‐TiO2/CNF) is reported, which serves as potent active sites for high‐performance HER in anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE). Density functional theory (DFT) analyses support the experimental observations, highlighting the critical role of binary types of Rh single atoms facilitated by the TiO2 sites. The Rh‐TiO2/CNF demonstrates an impressive areal current density of 1 A cm−2, maintaining extended durability for up to 225 h in a single‐cell setup. Furthermore, a 2‐cell AEMWE stack utilizing Rh‐TiO2/CNF is tested under industrial‐scale conditions. This research makes a significant contribution to the commercialization of next‐generation high‐performance and durable AEMWE stacks for clean hydrogen production.

The efficiency of machine learning (ML) algorithms plays a critical role in their deployment across various applications, particularly those with resource constraints or real-time requirements. This article presents a comprehensive framework for evaluating ML algorithm efficiency by incorporating metrics, such as training time, prediction time, memory usage, and computational resource utilization. The proposed methodology involves a multistep process: collecting raw metrics, normalizing them, applying the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine weights, and computing a composite efficiency score. We applied this framework to two distinct datasets: medical image data and agricultural crop prediction data. The results demonstrate that our approach effectively differentiates algorithm performance based on the specific demands of each application. For medical image analysis, the framework highlights strengths in robustness and adaptability, whereas for agricultural crop prediction, it emphasizes scalability and resource management. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing ML algorithms, and offers a versatile tool for practitioners to assess and enhance algorithmic efficiency across diverse domains.

Abstract Background Amyloidosis is a heterogeneous group of disorders caused by the extracellular deposition of insoluble misfolded proteins, leading to end-organ damage. Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a subtype in which a protein known as transthyretin accumulates within the heart tissue, progressively resulting in restrictive cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Due to the progressive nature of ATTR-CM, clinical management requires efficacious regimens to manage the debilitating condition and Tafamidis shows promising results in this regard. Main body ATTR-CM poses a significant challenge due to its nature and limited therapeutic options. Tafamidis is a novel therapy designed to stabilize the transthyretin tetramers, inhibiting the formation of amyloid fibrils. It has emerged as a promising treatment and the only FDA-approved drug for ATTR-CM. Tafamidis' role in slowing disease progression and improving outcomes in patients with ATTR-CM has been demonstrated in the major randomized control trial ATTR-ACT with promising open-label extension studies, some still ongoing. Additionally, real-world evidence supports its use in clinical practice, showing its role in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with this condition. Clinical evidence shows its efficacy in improving symptoms and cardiac function in patients. Case studies also reveal significant benefits to patients like reducing myocardial damage, reversal of atrial fibrillation, and resolution of heart failure symptoms. Real-world outcomes and clinical trials show a consistent reduction in amyloid deposition, cardiovascular-related hospitalizations, and all-cause mortality with Tafamidis therapy. Conclusion Tafamidis is an essential component of the treatment of ATTR-CM and this narrative review synthesizes the current evidence regarding safety, efficacy, and utilization in real practice. While it shows promising effects, its effectiveness may also vary and high cost precludes real-world large-scale studies. Overall, Tafamidis emerges as a valuable therapeutic option for managing ATTR-CM.

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is characterized by the absence of p-waves on ECG and irregular rhythm. It often presents with palpitations either palpitations may occur acutely over a short period or intermittently over several years. Other cardinal symptoms of atrial fibrillation include fatigue, dyspnea, and lightheadedness; it is important however to note that most affected individuals are asymptomatic. Concurrently, sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), insomnia, narcolepsy, and circadian rhythm disorders which are a group of conditions associated with the body’s internal clock that affect the timing of sleep and alertness, are raising concerns due to their potential associations to arrhythmias. This review explores the bidirectional relationship between AF and sleep disorders, highlighting their implications for risk stratification and management strategies. Main body The narrative approach of this review synthesizes evidence from numerous studies obtained through meticulous literature searches. Specific sleep disorders with a bidirectional relationship with AF are the focus, with scrutiny on the prevalence of this connection. The examination delves into the pathophysiology of sleep-related autonomic dysregulation and inflammation, emphasizing potential management modalities. Various meta-analysis cohorts have highlighted a strong connection between sleep disorders and atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients with sleep disorders, especially OSA, have a higher likelihood of developing AF, and conversely, those with AF are more prone to sleep disorders. This impact is not limited to development, as sleep disorders also contribute to the progression of AF, with AF, in turn, negatively impacting sleep duration and quality. Sleep disorders may play an important role in atrial remodeling as well as electrophysiological abnormalities, rendering the atrial tissue more susceptible to arrhythmogenesis. The narrative review suggests that treating sleep disorders could not only improve sleep quality but also reduce risk factors associated with atrial fibrillation. The effective management of sleep disorders emerges as a potential challenge in preventing and treating atrial fibrillation. Conclusion In conclusion, this narrative study highlights the bidirectional relationship between sleep disorders and atrial fibrillation. There is a positive correlation, affecting the development, progression, and management of atrial fibrillation. The detrimental impact of sleep disorders on atrial remodeling and electrophysiological abnormalities underscores the significance of their diagnosis and treatment. Education about the importance of sleep and the benefits of sleep disorder treatment becomes imperative for patients with AF and sleep disorders.

Introduction: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection remains a significant public health concern globally, necessitating accurate and timely diagnostic methods. Immunochromatographic Tests (ICTs) and Electrochemiluminescence Assays (ECLIAs) are widely used assays for HBV detection due to their rapidity and cost-effectiveness. However, their diagnostic performance should be evaluated to ascertain their reliability. Aim: To detect the presence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) in the selected samples using ICT and ECLIA and to compare it with HBV Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) using a molecular assay. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done with serum samples collected from patients visiting the hospital over a period of six months with prior ethical clearance. Serum samples were obtained from 57 patients suspected of HBV infection. The results of ICT, ECLIA, and HBV DNA viral load (by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)) were cross-tabulated and assessed for differences in diagnostic sensitivity. The positivity and correlation of the ICT and ECLIA with PCR were estimated. All statistical analyses were performed using the R programming language. Results: Out of 57 samples, 53 (92.98%) tested positive in the ICT card test, and 54 (94.74%) were positive in the ECLIA method. McNemar’s test showed that the sensitivity of ICT and ECLIA differed significantly compared to HBV DNA PCR. There was a significant positive correlation between ECLIA and HBV-DNA PCR (Spearman correlation, r-value=0.28, p-value=0.035). Conclusion: The findings suggest that in settings where accurate diagnosis is critical, particularly for screening and monitoring treatment efficacy, molecular assays remain the preferred choice despite their higher cost and complexity. However, in resource-limited settings, ECLIAs can still play a valuable role in HBV screening programs.

Men and women in the domestic territory are predominantly presented as the main sources of family in most of the contemporary American novels. Yet their significance is portrayed with multitudes of familial responsibilities in nurturing their children. Anne Tyler's Saint Maybe appraises the familiar theme of ordinary people and their encounter with sufferings to culminate in transfiguration of domestic territory. This paper displays the outlook of ordinary people in Saint Maybe to prevent them from falling astray. More crucially, the framework of the paper lays its emphasis on how Ian Bedloe sheds his narcissistic traits to capture the attention of his brother's children in the domestic sphere after the death of their parents. Therefore, this paper purports to bring out the effect of narcissistic traits in which Tyler has ingrained a real and a fervent tone about religion to protect Ian Bedloe as a surrogate father.

The purpose of this narrative review was to comprehensively elaborate the various components of artificial intelligence (AI), their applications in spine surgery, practical concerns, and future directions. Over the years, spine surgery has been continuously transformed in various aspects, including diagnostic strategies, surgical approaches, procedures, and instrumentation, to provide better-quality patient care. Surgeons have also augmented their surgical expertise with rapidly growing technological advancements. AI is an advancing field that has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of spine surgery. We performed a comprehensive narrative review of the various aspects of AI and machine learning in spine surgery. To elaborate on the current role of AI in spine surgery, a review of the literature was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar databases for articles published in English in the last 20 years. The initial search using the keywords “artificial intelligence” AND “spine,” “machine learning” AND “spine,” and “deep learning” AND “spine” extracted a total of 78, 60, and 37 articles and 11,500, 4,610, and 2,270 articles on PubMed and Google Scholar. After the initial screening and exclusion of unrelated articles, duplicates, and non-English articles, 405 articles were identified. After the second stage of screening, 93 articles were included in the review. Studies have shown that AI can be used to analyze patient data and provide personalized treatment recommendations in spine care. It also provides valuable insights for planning surgeries and assisting with precise surgical maneuvers and decision-making during the procedures. As more data become available and with further advancements, AI is likely to improve patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND: About 5% to 13% of maternal mortality is directly related to unsafe abortion care. Despite the cultural stigmatization of abortions, Ghana has progressive abortion laws, healthcare guidelines, and clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: Our study's primary aim was to characterize abortion outcomes in Ghana. Our secondary aims included investigating factors that led to abortion complications and the treatment of these complications. STUDY DESIGN: We used data from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey. We examined questions that focused on the reasons for abortion, methods used for abortion, healthcare setting for abortion, and health issues after abortion. We performed descriptive and inferential statistics, including cross tabulation with chi-square analysis and logistic regression models. RESULTS: Between 2012 and 2017, 1,425 women reported and completed the abortion-related questions. For those who obtained an abortion for health reasons, 69% had a surgical-based as opposed to herbal or medication-based abortion (P

The current paper examines the Darcian Forchheimer for the magneto-Maxwell fluid comprising of bio-nanofluid in the suction/injection effect due to rotating disk. Thermal radiative, heat source/sink, and chemical reaction are taken into account. Convective and zero heat mass flux have been introduced in the thermal and concentration conditions. The nonlinear partial differential equations that govern the system are converted into ordinary differential equations using a similarity substitution. These changed equations are subsequently solved numerically using the Bvp4c method. A thorough analysis is conducted, comparing the current findings with previously published publications, resulting in a remarkable level of achievement. The implications of gyrotactic microorganisms are incorporated into the model that is used to describe the bioconvection. Given the conditions of convective heat with zero heat and mass flux, it is presumed that the surface of the rotating is prepared for the possibility of nanofluid wall suction or injection. The main finding of the current work is radial and axial velocity is depreciated with enlarging values of Deborah number while rise with stretching variable. This study is anticipated to be beneficial in gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in heat transfer in a variety of physical sectors.

Objective Several research gaps affect the improvement of care for healthy ageing. Their identification is crucial to developing a specific research prioritisation agenda supporting progress at the micro (clinical), meso (service delivery) and macro (system) levels. To achieve this, a scoping review was carried out to describe the most significant gaps impeding the improvement of care for healthy ageing.Design A scoping review of the literature was conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. The selected articles were analysed to identify topics or areas essential for improving care for healthy ageing but requiring further support from research.Eligibility criteria Every type of scientific article, except for randomised controlled trials, was considered of potential interest without restrictions on publication date, type of publication and methodology.Information sources A systematic search (last search: 6 December 2023) was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE and Scopus.Results Overall, 1558 articles were retrieved from the literature. Of these, 310 were finally retained for this work. A total of 1195 research gaps were identified (average: 3.85 per article) and clustered into the 13 primary areas: ageing, care approach, caregivers, health economics, health, interventions, policies, research, settings, training, technology, specific populations and understanding the older person. In particular, research for improving the person-centred approach (n=38), better considering cultural diversities (n=27), implementing integrated care (n=25) and ensuring access to care (n=25) were the most prevalent priorities reported in the literature.Conclusions A wide range of factors spanning multiple disciplines, from clinical to policy levels, require special consideration, exploration and resolution. The findings of this scoping review represent an essential step in identifying gaps for developing a research prioritisation agenda to improve care for healthy ageing.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), known for its adaptability and high yield potential, is vital in global edible oil production. Estimating genetic diversity is a key pre-breeding activity in crop breeding. The current study comprised of 48 genotypes which were assessed for their biometrical traits at department of Oilseeds, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, during the rainy season of 2022. The lines were subsequently characterised using 103 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for molecular diversity analysis. The results indicated that the net nucleotide distances indicated varying genetic divergence, with subpopulations II and V showing the highest (0.056) and I and IV the lowest (0.014). Subpopulation IV exhibited the highest heterozygosity (0.352), while subpopulation III had the lowest heterozygosity and a low Fst (0.173). Principal components analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis were employed for assessing the morphological diversity, facilitating genotype grouping and parent selection for breeding programs. The first four components cumulatively accounted for 86.72% of the total variation. Cluster Analysis grouped 48 sunflower genotypes into three clusters based on genetic diversity. COSF 13B stands out for its high head diameter, oil content, seed yield, and oil yield based on mean performance of morphological data. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) mirrored the groupings from the Neighbor Joining method, with the first three components explaining 27.24% of the total variation. Molecular data analysis identified five distinct clusters among the germplasm. By integrating morphological and molecular marker data with genetic distance analysis, substantial diversity was revealed with the genotypes RHA 273 and GMU 325 consistently demonstrated high oil yield per plant. The genotypes GMU 477, GMU 450, COSF 13B, RHA 102, CMS 1103B, and RHA GPR 58 have been identified as suitable parents for enhancing oil content in sunflower breeding programs. These findings also aid in selecting SSR markers for genotype characterization and in choosing diverse parents for breeding programs.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) aim to mimic human intelligence and enhance decision making processes across various fields. A key performance determinant in a ML model is the ratio between the training and testing dataset. This research investigates the impact of varying train-test split ratios on machine learning model performance and generalization capabilities using the BraTS 2013 dataset. Logistic regression, random forest, k nearest neighbors, and support vector machines were trained with split ratios ranging from 60:40 to 95:05. Findings reveal significant variations in accuracies across these ratios, emphasizing the critical need to strike a balance to avoid overfitting or underfitting. The study underscores the importance of selecting an optimal train-test split ratio that considers tradeoffs such as model performance metrics, statistical measures, and resource constraints. Ultimately, these insights contribute to a deeper understanding of how ratio selection impacts the effectiveness and reliability of machine learning applications across diverse fields.

The target specificity of drug-loaded nanoparticles can be increased by coating them with ligands that can bind to the target receptors overexpressed on the surface of cancer cells. The purpose of the current study was to examine the potential therapeutic importance of cetuximab-conjugated chitosan-pectin composite nanoparticles as novel nanocarriers for targeted delivery of andrographolide for colon cancer therapy against 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) in mice. The animals were divided into six groups: control, DMH, andro-treated group, unconjugated nanoparticle-treated group (Ch-Pec-Andro-NPs), conjugated nanoparticle-treated group (Cet-Ch-Pec-Andro-NPs), and 5-Flurouracil-treated group (5-FU). The results from the study showed that the abnormal levels of most of the haematological, liver, and kidney tissue function markers, lipid profile, aberrant crypt foci (ACF), and colorectal markers induced by DMH were observed to be ameliorated in the treatment groups in increasing order of activity, i.e., Andro, Ch-Pec-Andro-NPs, and Cet-Ch-Pec-Andro-NPs. Despite the fact that the same amount of andrographolide was used in each treatment group, the improved therapeutic activity of Cet-Ch-Pec-Andro-NPs was attributed to the targeted delivery of andrographolide to the cancer site, which was facilitated by an anti-EGFR antibody decorated on its surface.