Search

Ahmed Mohammed IbrahimAbdirahman Mahamed FarahMohamed Omar OsmanAbdiwahab Hashi Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Jigjiga University, Jigjiga, Ethiopia Correspondence: Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim; Mohamed Omar OsmanDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Jigjiga University, P.O.Box: 1020, Jigjiga, EthiopiaTel +251 912423271; +251 921424748Fax +251 25 775 5976Email Ahmey114baba@gmail.com; Wehliye@jju.edu.et Background: Hypothermia contributes to morbidity and mortality of newborns. While there have been improvements in neonatal mortality both globally and nationally, there are still important regional differences. Adopting prevention and intervention practices to reduce hypothermia at birth may help achieve the global and national goal of reducing neonatal mortality.Purpose: To assess the contribution of admission hypothermia to mortality among hospitalized newborn infants.Methods: Retrospective cohort study was conducted in Sheik Hassan Yabare Jigjiga University Referral Hospital. Neonates were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were selected by using simple-random sampling technique from record of neonates. Descriptive survival analysis such as Log rank test, life table and Kaplan–Meier survival curve and bivariate and multivariate inferential Cox regression were used to estimate hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals.Results: Among 588 neonates, 146 (24.8%) died and 442 (75.2%) were censored. A total of 2509 days were followed for hypothermic neonates and 2337 days for normothermic neonates. The death rate was 37 per 1000 days and 22 per 1000 days for hypothermic and normothermic neonates, respectively. Survival function between the two groups differed significantly. Hypothermic neonates had a 59% (AHR: 1.59, CI: 1.1, 2.3) hazard of death than normothermic neonates. Not having initiated breastfeeding (AHR: 1.9, CI: 1.13, 3.1), vaginal mode of delivery (AHR: 0.68, CI: 0.5, 0.98), suspected sepsis (AHR: 1.5, CI: 1.06, 2.1), and respiratory distress (AHR: 2, CI: 1.44, 2.88) were significant predictors of neonatal death.Conclusion: The death rate for hospitalized, hypothermic neonates was greater than those who were normothermic. Hospitalized newborns should be monitored closely and hypothermia minimized. Management and guidelines to minimize hypothermia management practices should be rigorously evaluated in medical resource-limited settings. Keywords: effect, admission hypothermia, neonatal mortality, survival, NICU, SHYRH, Jigjiga, Ethiopia

Systemic low-grade inflammation is a feature of chronic disease. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a common biomarker of inflammation and used as an indicator of disease risk; however, the role of inflammation in disease is not completely understood. Methylation is an epigenetic modification in the DNA which plays a pivotal role in gene expression. In this study we evaluated differential DNA methylation patterns associated with blood CRP level to elucidate biological pathways and genetic regulatory mechanisms to improve the understanding of chronic inflammation. The racially and ethnically diverse participants in this study were included as 50% White, 41% Black or African American, 7% Hispanic or Latino/a, and 2% Native Hawaiian, Asian American, American Indian, or Alaska Native (total n = 13,433) individuals. We replicated 113 CpG sites from 87 unique loci, of which five were novel (CADM3, NALCN, NLRC5, ZNF792, and cg03282312), across a discovery set of 1,150 CpG sites associated with CRP level (p

During the 2022 Nekton Maldives Mission, we deployed a variety of platforms (snorkelling, remotely-operated vehicles and manned submersibles) to conduct video surveys of the biodiversity and composition of shallow (< 30 m), mesophotic (30-150 m) and deep-sea (> 150 m) benthos found in the Maldives’ central and southern atolls. In total, ~ 80 hrs of stereo-video footage were collected during the benthic transect surveys, which were subsequently processed using annotation software in order to evaluate benthic biodiversity and community composition. Here, we present a photographic guide for the visual, in situ identification of reef benthos encountered, including corals, sponges and other invertebrates that inhabit Maldives’ nearshore habitats. We hope that this identification guide will aid future imagery-based surveys or observations of organisms during fieldwork.A total of 283 morphotypes were identified, including those belonging to Octocorallia (61), Scleractinia (57), Porifera (38), Asteroidea (22), Antipatharia (15), Decapoda (13), Hydrozoa (12), Holothuroidea (10), Actiniaria (9), Echinoidea (8), Annelida (6), Chlorophyta (5), Gastropoda (4), Bivalvia (4), Ascidiacea (3), Crinoidea (3), Bryozoa (2), Cyanobacteria (2), Zoantharia (2), Cephalopoda (1), Ceriantharia (1), Corallimorpharia (1), Ctenophora (1), Ophiuroidea (1), Rhodophyta (1) and to an unknown category (1). Out of these, we identified 40 to species level, 120 to genus, 47 to family, 14 to order and suborder, 58 to class and subclass, two to phylum and one was of unknown phylum. This represents the first attempt to catalogue the mesophotic and deep-sea benthic megafaunal diversity in the Maldives using underwater imagery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare nicotine dependency and lung functions among cigarette and non-cigarette (e-cigarette & hookah) form of tobacco smokers. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2023 and January 2024, at Aziz Fatimah Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad, Pakistan. The study included 100 male tobacco users aged 18 to 60 years, comprising 25 conventional cigarette smokers, 48 e-cigarette users, 25 hookah users, and 2 dual product users. Subjects with known lung diseases (asthma, COPD, tuberculosis), chest deformities affecting lung function, and smokers using nicotine patches or gum for smoking cessation were excluded. Nicotine dependence was assessed using the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) and its adapted versions (eFTND) for hookah and e-cigarettes. Lung function parameters, were measured using a digital spirometer. RESULTS: Mean±SD FTND and eFTND scores for cigarette, e-cigarette, hookah, and dual users were 5.44±1.91, 6.25±2.20, 4.84±1.106 and 5.50± 0.707 respectively (p=0.027). FEV1 of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, hookah, and dual product users were 4.44± 2.69, 4.04±1.56, 3.28±2.21 and 4.72±0.763 respectively (p-value=0.84). FVC for the same groups were 5.86±3.33, 4.35±1.79, 3.7±2.58, and 5.05±0.53 (p=0.012) respectively. FEV1/FVC as followed: cigarettes, 79.44±14.88; e-cigarettes, 94.20±6.5; hookah, 87.39±13.8; dual products, 93.29±5.16 (p-value=0.000). PEF of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, hookah, and dual product users were 7.35±3.71, 8.18 ±2.52, 5.4±3.4, 8.45±0.19 respectively (p-value=0.001). CONCLUSION: This study reveals significant differences in nicotine dependency and lung function among tobacco-users. E-cigarette users have the highest nicotine dependence but less short-term lung impairment than hookah users. Targeted public health interventions, stricter advertising regulations, and multi-center studies on larger populations are recommended

Abstract Background Dyslipidemia, which is characterized by an unfavorable lipid profile, is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Understanding the relationships between epigenetic aging and lipid levels may help guide early prevention and treatment efforts for dyslipidemia. Methods We used weighted linear regression to cross-sectionally investigate the associations between five measures of epigenetic age acceleration estimated from whole blood DNA methylation (HorvathAge Acceleration, HannumAge Acceleration, PhenoAge Acceleration, GrimAge Acceleration, and DunedinPACE) and four blood lipid measures (total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglycerides (TG)) in 3,813 participants (mean age = 70 years) from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). As a sensitivity analysis, we examined the same associations in participants who fasted prior to the blood draw (n = 2,531) and in participants who did not take lipid-lowering medication (n = 1,869). Using interaction models, we also examined whether demographic factors including age, sex, and educational attainment modified the relationships between epigenetic age acceleration and blood lipids. Results After adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, sex, fasting status, and lipid-lowering medication use, greater epigenetic age acceleration was associated with lower TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C, and higher TG (p

Background and Objective: Trichomonas vaginalis is a causative agent of trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted disease. In the cytology course context, students are taught to identify the cytomorphological characteristics of this organism. However, the limited learning period hinders their ability to recognize this infection effectively. This study intended to evaluate the efficacy of gamification by utilizing a web-based online game to enhance students’ capacity to recognize Trichomonas vaginalis infection in cytology. Materials and Methods: The study involved 50 Medical Laboratory Technology students who were randomly assigned to three groups. Group 1 (G1) participants received an interactive web-based online game called CytoUniverse, which comprised three components: a story-based game, a cytomorphology game, and a quiz focusing on Trichomonas vaginalis infection in cytology. Group 2 (G2) participants received the same information from a video lecture. Group 3 (G3) received both the web-based online game and the video lecture. The participants were assessed before the intervention (T1) and after the intervention (T2) to measure the effectiveness of the respective learning methods. IBM SPSS version 28 and GraphPad Prism version 9.0 were used to collect, tabulate, and analyze the data. By using descriptive analysis, the normality of the data was checked. Knowledge score and age were described as mean and standard deviation (SD) for numerical data. On the contrary, the categorical data, such as gender and group categories, were reported as frequencies and percentages. Fisher’s exact test, paired t-test, and one-way ANOVA test were used in this study to determine the significance between groups. Results: The study’s results indicated a statistically significant improvement (P < 0.05) in knowledge scores at T2 compared to T1 for both G1 and G2 when compared to G3. However, there were no significant differences in knowledge scores between all groups for T1 or T2. Conclusions: In conclusion, gamification through a web-based online game may improve understanding of Trichomonas vaginalis infection. It looks to be a promising strategy for boosting students’ knowledge and awareness to recognize Trichomonas vaginalis infection in cytology.

In recent years, numerous studies have discovered the potential of natural compounds extracted from medicinal plants as a promising alternative treatment for ischemic stroke (IS). Oroxylum indicum is among the plants that has been widely proven to contain a beneficial flavonoid compound known as baicalein. However, the therapeutic potential of this compound for IS disease has yet to be demonstrated. In this study, a baicalein-enriched fraction (BEF) was harvested from the leaves of O. indicum and tested on neural stem cells (NSCs) to determine its effects on the cell viability and gene expression prior to an in vivo animal study. NSCs were chosen because they are the primitive brain cells that play important roles in neurogenesis after IS injury. It was found that NSCs treated with BEF at concentration of 3.125 µg/mL for 48 hours showed a significant higher cell proliferation rate. Moreover, these cells expressed high NSC markers (Nestin and SOX2) and genes responsible for antioxidant (SOD2) and angiogenesis (ANGPT1) mechanisms, indicating that the BEF treatment could enhance the progenitor brain cells viability and the expression of cytokines that are beneficial to reduce oxidative stress and reinstate blood flow in an ischemic brain. Subsequently, the in vivo therapeutic effects of BEF for IS disease was tested by administering 50 mg/kg b.wt of BEF to male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats via oral gavage before and after induction of IS. Assessments of neurological impairments were performed using a modified neurological severity score (mNSS) and the quantification of the total infarct volume was evaluated as the endpoint of this study. Results showed that an oral administration of BEF improved the behavioral scoring for motor functions (forelimb flexion and forelimb twisting), contralateral sensory functions (paw-whiskers test), motor coordination, balance functions (beam balance test) and reflex functions (pinna, corneal, startle and tail reflex) within 24–72 h; alternatively, the non-treated rats showed continuously lower scores for all the tests throughout the study, indicating that the BEF-treated rats exhibited a faster recovery rate as compared to the non-treated rats. Such improvements were observed up to two weeks. In addition, histological assessment also revealed a reduction of infarct volume in the BEF-treated rats as compared to the control rats. In summary, the present study demonstrated the potential of BEF extracted from the O. indicum as a supplement to improve preclinical IS models.

The Nekton Maldives Taxonomic Workshop took place at the Maniyafushi Research Station in the Maldives between 12 and 23 February 2023. This workshop had two primary objectives. Firstly, it aimed to identify species from biological samples and underwater imagery collected during the Nekton Maldives Mission in 2022. Secondly, it sought to facilitate training and knowledge exchange sessions between early career researchers from the Maldives and international taxonomists. These sessions were designed to share knowledge and introduce fundamental taxonomy concepts and enhance practical identification skills for common reef benthic groups and major zooplankton taxonomic groups. A total of 24 people from 10 different countries were directly or indirectly involved with the workshop comprising nine taxonomic experts, eleven trainees and four organisers. Collectively, we identified 278 biological specimens including potentially undescribed species of hydroids, black corals, sponges and octocorals, 318 morphotypes for underwater footage and zooplankton composition congruent with previous reports from the Indian Ocean Region. Next steps will involve depositing the specimens into a more a permanent facility to facilitate the process of specimen description and knowledge transfer.

Introduction: Apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (aTRH) is characterized by the use of four or more antihypertensive (AHT) classes to achieve blood pressure (BP) control. In the current study, we conducted single-variant and gene-based analyses of aTRH among individuals from 12 Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine cohorts with whole-genome sequencing data.Methods: Cases were defined as individuals treated for hypertension (HTN) taking three different AHT classes, with average systolic BP ≥ 140 or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg, or four or more medications regardless of BP (n = 1,705). A normotensive control group was defined as individuals with BP < 140/90 mmHg (n = 22,079), not on AHT medication. A second control group comprised individuals who were treatment responsive on one AHT medication with BP < 140/ 90 mmHg (n = 5,424). Logistic regression with kinship adjustment using the Scalable and Accurate Implementation of Generalized mixed models (SAIGE) was performed, adjusting for age, sex, and genetic ancestry. We assessed variants using SKAT-O in rare-variant analyses. Single-variant and gene-based tests were conducted in a pooled multi-ethnicity stratum, as well as self-reported ethnic/racial strata (European and African American).Results: One variant in the known HTN locus, KCNK3, was a top finding in the multi-ethnic analysis (p = 8.23E-07) for the normotensive control group [rs12476527, odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 0.80 (0.74–0.88)]. This variant was replicated in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s DNA repository data. Aggregate gene-based signals included the genes AGTPBP, MYL4, PDCD4, BBS9, ERG, and IER3.Discussion: Additional work validating these loci in larger, more diverse populations, is warranted to determine whether these regions influence the pathobiology of aTRH.

Introduction: People with HIV (PWH) of African ancestry have faster decline of kidney function and faster progression to end-stage renal disease than PWH of European ancestry. DNA methylation have been associated with kidney function in the general population, however, their relationships are unclear for PWH of African ancestry. Methods: We performed epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) among PWH of African ancestry in 2 subsets of the Veterans Aging Cohort Study cohort (N = 885), followed by a meta-analysis to combine the results. Replication was conducted among independent African American samples without HIV. Results: DNA methylation sites cg17944885 near Zinc Finger Family Member 788 (ZNF788) and Zinc Finger Protein 20 (ZNF20), and cg06930757 in SHANK1 were significantly associated with eGFR among PWH of African ancestry (false discovery rate < 0.05). DNA methylation site cg17944885 was also associated with eGFR among different populations including African Americans without HIV. Conclusions: Our study attempted to address an important gap in the literature and to understand the role of DNA methylation in renal diseases in PWH of African ancestry. Replication of cg17944885 among different populations suggests there may be a common pathway for renal diseases progression among PWH and people without HIV, and across different ancestral groups. Our results suggest that genes ZNF788/ZNF20 and SHANK1 could be involved in a pathway linking DNA methylation to renal diseases among PWH and are worth further investigation.

Background: Periodontitis and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) both exhibit an exaggerated inflammatory response as common traits. Given that periodontal diseases have been linked to respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, it is quite possible that periodontitis and COVID-19 are related. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to ascertain whether the severity of COVID-19 and periodontal disease are related. Methods: A retrospective study was done using the 3 years of patients' medical and dental records in the University Hospital. A telephone interview was employed to estimate the severity of symptoms got through COVID-19 infection. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. The Chi-square test, with statistical significance set at 0.05, was used to determine the relationship between the severity of periodontal disease and the severity of COVID-19. Results: It was seen that there was a strong relationship between the severities of COVID-19 disease and periodontal disease. The mildest gingivitis cases (63%), Stage 1 periodontitis (62.9%), were associated with the COVID-19-negative group, whereas the most severe gingivitis cases (85.7%), Stage 4 periodontitis group (66.66%), were associated with COVID-19-positive group. In comparison to those without periodontitis, patients with periodontitis had a 1.54 times higher risk of COVID-19 complications (P = 0.048). Patients who had comorbidities were 2.49 times to have COVID-19 complications (P = 0.02). Conclusion: The observations presented above lead to the conclusion that COVID-19 and periodontal disease severities are related. Understanding the potential association between periodontitis and COVID-19 through systemic inflammation could be a means of achieving a high-quality medical care. To validate the findings, additional research with larger samples is required.

The adoption of high-intensity ultrasonication in the isolation process of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) as an economical, timesaving, and environmental-friendly process has been explored. Three types of raw organic fibers, i.e., banana pseudostem, oil palm trunk, and kenaf bast were analyzed for the production of CNF using the process mentioned earlier. Before the raw organic fibers were subjected to a high-intensity ultrasonication process, it underwent an alkaline treatment to eliminate the non-cellulosic compounds. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrographs confirmed the presence of nanofibrils in all three different types of CNF. The frequency, amplitude, and duration of ultrasonication used in this study were sufficient to produce CNF. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results indicated that the chemical treatment employed in this paper was effective in removing the compounds, especially lignin and hemicellulose. The increase in crystallinity, which is one of the advantages of CNF, was observed from the X-ray diffraction (XRD) results. Hence, it can be deduced that high-intensity ultrasonication could simplify the complex process of CNF isolation compared to the conventional method, widening the utilization and source of CNF in the industry.

This article examines whether teaching English in Bangladeshi secondary schools is a blessing or a curse. The paper seeks to ask soul-searching questions; reiterates the voices and findings of previous scholars and evokes the need to look at the rot within our system in order to engender genuine and practical transformations. It adopts the desk research methodology and mostly draws data from the review of 50 secondary-based sources. The paper argues that the students learning English in Bangladeshi secondary schools are deprived of many essentials that should make them proficient users of the English language, yet they are expected to be effective users of the language in different real life situations; which is challenging. Furthermore, the paper proposes that if there other acknowledged World Englishes, Bangladesh can have a variety of English that accepts and reflects Bengali pronunciations, grammar and meaning. The paper concludes with the question- if other Asian countries, whose native speakers do not use the English language fluently; still develop in geometric progression, can we still tie the teaching of English in our secondary schools and the ability of students (and the rest of the population) communicating fluently in English to Bangladesh’s development?

Cochlear implants (CIs) allow individuals with profound hearing loss to understand speech and perceive sounds. However, not all patients obtain the full benefits that CIs can provide and the cause of this disparity is not fully understood. One possible factor for the variability in outcomes after cochlear implantation, is the development of fibrotic scar tissue around the implanted electrode. It has been hypothesised that limiting the extent of fibrosis after implantation may improve overall CI function, and longevity of the device. Currently, histology is often used to quantify the extent of intracochlear tissue growth after implantation however this method is labour intensive, time-consuming, often involves significant user bias, and causes physical distortion of the fibrosis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate x-ray micro computed tomography (μCT) as a method to measure the amount and distribution of fibrosis in a guinea pig model of cochlear implantation. Adult guinea pigs were implanted with an inactive electrode, and cochleae harvested eight weeks later (n = 7) and analysed using μCT, to quantify the extent of tissue reaction, followed by histological analysis to confirm that the tissue was indeed fibrotic. Cochleae harvested from an additional six animals following implantation were analysed by μCT, before and after contrast staining with osmium tetroxide (OsO4), to enhance the visualisation of soft tissues within the cochlea, including the tissue reaction. Independent analysis by two observers showed that the quantification method was robust and provided additional information on the distribution of the response within the cochlea. Histological analysis revealed that μCT visualised dense collagenous material and new bone formation but did not capture loose, areolar fibrotic tissue. Treatment with OsO4 significantly enhanced the visible tissue reaction detected using μCT. Overall, μCT is an alternative and reliable method that can be used to quantify the extent of the CI-induced intracochlear tissue response and will be a useful tool for the in vivo assessment of novel anti-fibrotic treatments.

Purpose - The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of altruistic and egoistic as behavioral variables on socially responsible investment decision. This paper also investigates the aspects that investors consider the most in making decisions. Method - A total of 108 sample respondents were selected using a purposive sampling technique. The criteria used are capital market study group students who have at least one ethical stock in their portfolio. Conjoint and regression analysis were involved to conduct the research. Result - The results showed that the investment attributes that investors prioritize are industry focus followed by return and risk. Furthermore, the most preferred industry focus is ‘sustainable asset’ followed by ‘no focus’ and ‘arms and defense’. Investment preferences in sustainable assets are based on the altruistic value of investors. Altruism has been shown to have a significant positive effect on investors' decisions to invest their funds in stock which belong to socially responsible investment. On the other hand, the egoistic value has a significant negative effect on the decision to invest in socially responsible investment. Implication - By looking at the research result, companies as stock issuers may consider to create or make their stock sustainable. This research would be beneficial for investment analysts or consultants in providing advice for their clients. Originality - This research uses altruistic and egoistic variables as psychological variables in investment decisions. In addition to using behavioral finance, it also involves value-belief-norm theory to explain the phenomena and discuss altruistic value in Islam perspective.

Oroxylum indicum is a medicinal herb that garnered enormous attention in drug discovery for human diseases such as neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, arthritis and hepatitis diseases. Pharmacokinetic study confirmed that the pharmacological actions of this herb are associated with its prominent flavonoid bioactive components. Here, the data set of liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS), neurological functions, relative organ weight (ROW), hematological, biochemical and histopathological parameters of flavonoid-enriched fraction (FEF)-treated Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were presented. The data set was generated from three study groups namely: Sighting Study, Acute Toxicity Study and Subacute Neurotoxicity Study with study duration of 14 days (for Sighting Study and Acute Toxicity Study) and 28 days (for Subacute Neurotoxicity Study) by strictly following the procedures set in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines 420 and 424 in vivo. Rats in sighting study were treated with dosage of 5, 50, 300 and 2000 mg/kg FEF (n = 1/dosage/gender), respectively, and were observed for mortality, toxicity signs and behavioural changes. The highest dosage at which none of the animal showed sign of mortality in the sighting study was selected as the test dosage for subsequent acute toxicity study (n = 5/dosage/gender). Meanwhile, for subacute neurotoxicity study, SD rats (n = 5/dosage/gender) were treated with repeated dosage of 50 mg/kg for 28 days. Neurological behaviours of treated rats were observed daily, while their body weight were measured weekly. Whole blood was collected at the end of the study via cardiac puncture into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes for hematological evaluation that included the measurements of red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volumes (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), platelet, white blood cells (WBC) count and WBC differentials. Meanwhile, blood serum were collected into slow sand filter (SST) tubes for biochemical evaluation that included measurements of total protein (TP), albumin, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Vital organs such as brain, liver, kidneys, heart, lungs and reproductive organs also were collected, sliced and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) at the end of the study for histopathological assessments.

We introduce a sequence of third and fourth-order iterative schemes for finding the roots of nonlinear equations by using the decomposition technique and Simpson's one-third rule. We also discuss the convergence analysis of our suggested iterative schemes. With the help of different numerical examples, we demonstrate the validity, efficiency and implementation of our proposed schemes.

This research identifies the driving factors of SMEs' digital innovation and their effects on improving SMEs' financial performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, intending to discover the mediating role of digital innovation in improving SMEs' financial performance through innovation orientation, IT readiness, and digital capability. The type of research is quantitative with a sample of 188 SMEs actors in Surakarta and its surroundings who have adopted e-commerce and fintech, with SEM-PLS modeling analysis. The results show that digital innovation has an important role as a mediator for the variables of digital orientation, IT readiness, and digital capability that affect the improvement of SMEs' financial performance during the COVID 19 pandemic. SMEs that carry out digital innovation through e-commerce and fintech have increased financial performance compared to previously, this was seen from the percentage increase in sales and profits compared to the previous one. This research gives contribution to the new knowledge about the digital innovation of SMEs, the new conceptual framework that connects digital innovation with business performance from the perspective of financial performance. The significant positive effect of digital innovation on improving financial performance shows that it is important for small enterprise to improve their digitization skills and knowledge in business development to fulfill customer needs and improve performance for future business sustainability

Biochar is a carbon-rich product obtained from the thermochemical conversion of biomass. Utilizing biochar is essential for enhancing economic viability and maintaining the ecology effectively. This work reviews the techniques for producing biochar from various lignocellulosic biomass sources. Pyrolysis technology for converting lignocellulosic biomass into biochar has emerged as a frontier research domain for pollutants removal. The effects of biomass feedstock parameters, production techniques, reaction conditions (temperature, heating rate, etc.), activation, and functional group modification are compared on biochar's physical and chemical properties. This review also focused on environmental applications in several domains, such as agriculture and wastewater treatment. Considering the extensive availability of feedstock, excellent physical/chemical surface properties, and inexpensive cost, biochar has a remarkable potential for removing water pollutants efficiently. Studying the evolution properties of biochar by in-situ or post-modification is of great significance for improving the utilization value of lignocellulosic biomass. Biochar is a valuable resource, yet its application necessitates additional research into its properties and structure, as well as the development of techniques to modify those factors.

To eradicate terrorism sternly and speedily, the Parliament of Pakistan amended the constitution and empowered the military courts to try the suspect civilian terrorists. The criticism has been copious, and multiple petitions were filed before the apex court around the country. They contended that the Parliament amended the salient features of the constitution beyond its amending powers and is liable to be struck down. Further, expanding the jurisdiction of the military courts over the alleged civilian terrorists is a contravention of their fundamental rights and the principle of judicial independence. The Supreme Court has ruled that it had no jurisdiction to examine the constitutional amendment and strike it down. Further, the Parliament was competent to expand the jurisdiction of military courts over civilians terrorists to secure the country’s safety and integrity. Hence, it is not a violation of the fundamental rights of the civilian suspect terrorists, and it is consistent with the prescribed criminal justice system. This study examines the judicial verdict rendered by the apex court of Pakistan in favour of the twenty-first constitutional amendment with the support of the eminent experts’ views taken by way of conducting face-to-face interviews.

Target organ damage (TOD) manifests as vascular injuries in the body organ systems associated with long-standing hypertension. DNA methylation in peripheral blood leukocytes can capture inflammatory processes and gene expression changes underlying TOD. We investigated the association between epigenome-wide DNA methylation and five measures of TOD (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), relative wall thickness (RWT), and white matter hyperintensity (WMH)) in 961 African Americans from hypertensive sibships. A multivariate (multi-trait) model of eGFR, UACR, LVMI, and RWT identified seven CpGs associated with at least one of the traits (cg21134922, cg04816311 near C7orf50, cg09155024, cg10254690 near OAT, cg07660512, cg12661888 near IFT43, and cg02264946 near CATSPERD) at FDR q

This article introduces a process to design, simulate, and measure a novel multi-band patch antenna with different operation modes, i.e., band centers and bandwidths. Switching between operation modes is possible using a pair of PIN diodes to connect different parts of the antenna with the main antenna patch. Such a reconfigurable design allows for individual control of each frequency range. The main operation mode of the resulting antenna has an impedance bandwidth with two bands, one from 2.4 GHz to 2.73 GHz and another from 3.4 GHz to 5.73 GHz, with a maximum gain of 4.85 dBi and stable radiation patterns. The resulting antenna is suitable for applications using both ultra-wideband technologies and wireless local-area network (WLAN) technologies.

This paper presents a case study on the implementation of the construction and demolition waste management practices in the Malaysian construction sector. The scope was limited to the housing and high-rise buildings. Characterization of reuse and recycling potential was done using descriptive statistics. It is estimated that the waste generated by the housing sector is approximately 16% of the gross materials used, which is about 8.8 million tons/year, and 32% of such waste (approximately 2.8 million tons/year) has the potential for reuse and recycling. However, the high-rise building construction generates construction waste in a large quantity of more than 10 million tons/years (about 70% of the building construction waste), which shows a high potential for reusability and recycling. The reasons behind the low recycling potential for the construction and demolition (C&D) waste generates by the housing sector are found that its quality is low and contains some types of contaminants.

Student satisfaction on the use of e-learning is an important role for the continuity of an educational institution, especially in the current era of the covid 19 pandemic, the process of teaching and learning activities that are usually carried out in offline classes is abolished and replaced by utilizing the e-learning system. Because of the importance of the role of e-learning as a medium for student learning, knowledge is needed to determine the level of student satisfaction of e-learning as an evaluation material for managers to improve the quality of e-learning so that it can provide optimal services to students. Therefore, a classification technique with data mining is needed using the c.45 algorithm method on the WEKA (Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis) software. The results show that 73% of students are satisfied with the e-learning of the State Islamic University of Semarang and 23% of students are not satisfied with an accuracy of 84.76%.

Textile industries release a large amount of dye effluent into the wastewater that can cause health issues and endanger aquatic animals. In this study, sludge derived biochar (SB) adsorbent was produced from sewage sludge to remove methylene blue (MB) dye from wastewater. The surface area and porosity of SB are analysed by using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Surface Area and Pore analyser (SAP). The factors that affect the adsorption of MB in aqueous solution with SB adsorbent in batch mode are adsorbent dosage (0.5g, 1g), initial MB concentration (50 – 250 mg/L), and contact time (0 – 120 minutes). The Langmuir isotherm model fits the adsorption equilibrium results, and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model best describes the sorption kinetics of MB. The maximum adsorption capacity of MB decreases from 15.37 mg/g to 8.61 mg/g as the adsorbent dosage increases from 0.5 g to 1.0 g and contact time increases from 45 minutes to 60 minutes. Hence, sludge derived biochar is an effective adsorbent for the removal of MB dye from wastewater.

Phytoextraction involved the use of plants in rapid, efficient, less expensive, and environment friendly removal of toxic metals from contaminated soil. For this study, a pot experiment was conducted and plant species: Abelmoschus esculentus, Avena sativa, Guizotia abyssinica, and Glycine max were subjected to six copper concentrations i.e., 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 mg Cu kg−1 for the investigation of Cu phytotoxicity, tolerance, and accumulation for 12 weeks under green house. Soil without spike were taken as control. After 12 weeks of experiment, Cu toxicity on growth and chlorophyll contents were determined. Among four plant species, only A. sativa, C. tetragonoloba and S. indicum seeds were germinated at 300 mg Cu kg−1. The growth parameters were significantly (p

Diabetes mellitus is a predominant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. One of its serious health problems is cardiovascular complications. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a group of heterogeneous toxic oxidant compounds that are formed after a non-enzymatic reaction between monosaccharides and free amino groups of proteins, compound lipids, and nucleic acids. AGE interacts with various types of cells through a receptor for AGE (RAGE). The interaction between AGE and RAGE is responsible for a cascade of inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of calcium homeostasis in cardiac cells of diabetic patients. There is striking evidence that the AGE/RAGE axis with its consequences on inflammation and oxidative stress plays a major role in the development of cardiovascular complications. Therefore, considering AGE as a therapeutic target with foreseeable results would be a wise direction for future research. Interestingly, several studies on nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and natural products have begun to reveal promising therapeutic results, and this could lead to better health outcomes for many diabetic patients worldwide. This article discusses the current literature addressing the connection between protein glycation and diabetes cardiovascular complications and suggests future avenues of research.

Abstract Background Hypertension is a major modifiable risk factor for arteriosclerosis that can lead to target organ damage (TOD) of heart, kidneys, and peripheral arteries. A recent epigenome-wide association study for blood pressure (BP) identified 13 CpG sites, but it is not known whether DNA methylation at these sites is also associated with TOD. Methods In 1218 African Americans from the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) study, a cohort of hypertensive sibships, we evaluated the associations between methylation at these 13 CpG sites measured in peripheral blood leukocytes and five TOD traits assessed approximately 5 years later. Results Ten significant associations were found after adjustment for age, sex, blood cell counts, time difference between CpG and TOD measurement, and 10 genetic principal components (FDR q

Abstract Background Orthodontically-induced root resorption is an iatrogenic effect and it cannot be examined regularly due to the harmful effects of sequential doses of radiation with more frequent radiography. This study aims to compare protein abundance (PA) of pre-treatment and during orthodontic treatment for root resorption and to determine potential early markers for root resorption. Methods Ten subjects (n = 10) who had upper and lower fixed appliances (MBT, 3 M Unitek, 0.022″ × 0.028″) were recruited for this study. Human gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was obtained using periopaper strips at pre-treatment (T0), 1 month (T1), 3 months (T3), and 6 months (T6) of orthodontic treatment. Periapical radiographs of the upper permanent central incisors were taken at T0 and T6 to measure the amount of root resorption. Identification of changes in PA was performed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Student’s t-test was then performed to determine the significance of the differences in protein abundance before and after orthodontic treatment. Results Our findings showed that all ten subjects had mild root resorption, with an average resorption length of 0.56 ± 0.30 mm. A total of 186 proteins were found to be commonly present at T0, T1, T3, and T6. There were significant changes in the abundance of 16 proteins (student’s t-test, p ≤ 0.05). The increased PA of S100A9, immunoglobulin J chain, heat shock protein 1A, immunoglobulin heavy variable 4–34 and vitronectin at T1 suggested a response to stress that involved inflammation during the early phase of orthodontic treatment. On the other hand, the increased PA of thymidine phosphorylase at T3 suggested growth promotion and, angiogenic and chemotactic activities. Conclusions The identified proteins can be potential early markers for root resorption based on the increase in their respective PA and predicted roles during the early phase of orthodontic treatment. Non-invasive detection of root resorption using protein markers as early as possible is extremely important as it can aid orthodontists in successful orthodontic treatment.

Low socioeconomic status (SES) and living in a disadvantaged neighborhood are associated with poor cardiovascular health. Multiple lines of evidence have linked DNA methylation to both cardiovascular risk factors and social disadvantage indicators. However, limited research has investigated the role of DNA methylation in mediating the associations of individual- and neighborhood-level disadvantage with multiple cardiovascular risk factors in large, multi-ethnic, population-based cohorts. We examined whether disadvantage at the individual level (childhood and adult SES) and neighborhood level (summary neighborhood SES as assessed by Census data and social environment as assessed by perceptions of aesthetic quality, safety, and social cohesion) were associated with 11 cardiovascular risk factors including measures of obesity, diabetes, lipids, and hypertension in 1,154 participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). For significant associations, we conducted epigenome-wide mediation analysis to identify methylation sites mediating the relationship between individual/neighborhood disadvantage and cardiovascular risk factors using the JT-Comp method that assesses sparse mediation effects under a composite null hypothesis. In models adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking, medication use, and genetic principal components of ancestry, epigenetic mediation was detected for the associations of adult SES with body mass index (BMI), insulin, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), as well as for the association between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and HDL-C at FDR q < 0.05. The 410 CpG mediators identified for the SES-BMI association were enriched for CpGs associated with gene expression (expression quantitative trait methylation loci, or eQTMs), and corresponding genes were enriched in antigen processing and presentation pathways. For cardiovascular risk factors other than BMI, most of the epigenetic mediators lost significance after controlling for BMI. However, 43 methylation sites showed evidence of mediating the neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and HDL-C association after BMI adjustment. The identified mediators were enriched for eQTMs, and corresponding genes were enriched in inflammatory and apoptotic pathways. Our findings support the hypothesis that DNA methylation acts as a mediator between individual- and neighborhood-level disadvantage and cardiovascular risk factors, and shed light on the potential underlying epigenetic pathways. Future studies are needed to fully elucidate the biological mechanisms that link social disadvantage to poor cardiovascular health.

There is a rise of interest in various aspects of biochar derived from waste biomass to address the most pressing ecosystem challenges. This study contributes to understanding biochar's usage in the remediation of hazardous pollutants. The synthesis of biochar using a variety of different techniques has been explored. Numerous analysts have considered biochar as a strategy for enhancing their ability to remediate pollutants. Process factors are primarily responsible for determining biochar yield. Biochar-derived biomass is an exceptionally rich wellspring of carbon produced from biomass utilizing thermal combustion. Activating biochar is another field where biochar is increasingly used to remove specific contaminants. Closed-loop methods to produce biochar expand options. Distributed biochar manufacturing processes are an efficient method to develop businesses, manage waste, and increase resource proficiency in environmental applications. Additionally, this research discusses knowledge gaps and future directions in toxic pollutant remediation through biochar.

In designing porous scaffolds, permeability is essential to consider as a function of cell migration and bone tissue regeneration. Good permeability has been achieved by mimicking the complexity of natural cancellous bone. In this study, a porous scaffold was developed according to the morphological indices of cancellous bone (porosity, specific surface area, thickness, and tortuosity). The computational fluid dynamics method analyzes the fluid flow through the scaffold. The permeability values of natural cancellous bone and three types of scaffolds (cubic, octahedron pillar, and Schoen’s gyroid) were compared. The results showed that the permeability of the Negative Schwarz Primitive (NSP) scaffold model was similar to that of natural cancellous bone, which was in the range of 2.0 × 10−11 m2 to 4.0 × 10−10 m2. In addition, it was observed that the tortuosity parameter significantly affected the scaffold’s permeability and shear stress values. The tortuosity value of the NSP scaffold was in the range of 1.5–2.8. Therefore, tortuosity can be manipulated by changing the curvature of the surface scaffold radius to obtain a superior bone tissue engineering construction supporting cell migration and tissue regeneration. This parameter should be considered when making new scaffolds, such as our NSP. Such efforts will produce a scaffold architecturally and functionally close to the natural cancellous bone, as demonstrated in this study.

Objectives: 1. To determine the impact of duration of exposure to industrial chemical fumes on Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) and blood pressure of the industrial workers. 2. To find out the association between changes in blood pressure and PEFR due to exposure to industrial chemical fumes in these subjects. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed at Aziz Fatimah Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad. The study participants were 151 males working in the chemical industries. The study was approved by institutional ethical committee and informed consent was taken from the participants. Free camp was arranged for three days in September 2020 in the industrial area of Faisalabad. Thorough history of exposure to chemicals was taken using structured proforma. PEFR values were recorded using Wrights handheld peak flow meter. Blood pressure was taken by auscultatory method using mercury sphygmomanometer. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly raised with increase in duration of exposure. PEFR levels were significantly declined with increase in duration of exposure to chemicals. Significant negative association was noted between diastolic blood pressure and PEFR (p value = 0.003). Negative correlation was observed between PEFR and systolic Blood pressure, however it was not statistically significant (p value = 0.92). Conclusions: PEFR decreased while Systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased significantly with increase in the duration of exposure to chemicals. There was a significant negative correlation between PEFR and diastolic blood pressure while there was no association between PEFR and systolic blood pressure.

The auditory phantom sensation of tinnitus is associated with neural hyperactivity. Modulating this hyperactivity using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown beneficial effects in human studies. Previously, we investigated rTMS in a tinnitus animal model and showed that rTMS over prefrontal cortex (PFC) attenuated tinnitus soon after treatment, likely via indirect effects on auditory pathways. Here, we explored the duration of these beneficial effects. Acoustic trauma was used to induce hearing loss and tinnitus in guinea pigs. Once tinnitus developed, high-frequency (20 Hz), high-intensity rTMS was applied over PFC for two weeks (weekdays only; 10 min/day). Behavioral signs of tinnitus were monitored for 6 weeks after treatment ended. Tinnitus developed in 77% of animals between 13 and 60 days post-trauma. rTMS treatment significantly reduced the signs of tinnitus at 1 week on a group level, but individual responses varied greatly at week 2 until week 6. Three (33%) of the animals showed the attenuation of tinnitus for the full 6 weeks, 45% for 1–4 weeks and 22% were non-responders. This study provides further support for the efficacy of high-frequency repetitive stimulation over the PFC as a therapeutic tool for tinnitus, but also highlights individual variation observed in human studies.

In this paper, we analyze the q-iterative schemes to determine the roots of nonlinear equations by applying the decomposition technique with Simpson’s 13-rule in the setting of q-calculus. We discuss the convergence analysis of our suggested iterative methods. To check the efficiency and performance, we also compare our main outcomes with some well known techniques existing in the literature.

Changes in DNA methylation may be a potential mechanism that mediates the effects of smoking on physiological function and subsequent disease risk. Given the dynamic nature of the epigenome, longitudinal studies are indispensable for investigating smoking-induced methylation changes over time. Using blood samples collected approximately five years apart in 380 African Americans (mean age 60.7 years) from the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) study, we measured DNA methylation levels using Illumina HumanMethylation BeadChips. We evaluated the association between Phase 1 smoking status and rate of methylation change, using generalized estimating equation models. Among the 6958 CpG sites examined, smoking status was associated with methylation change for 22 CpGs (false discovery rate q

Contamination of lead indicates one of the major threats to soil system. Phytoremediation technique utilized plants which are able to tolerate and accumulate metals within in their tissues. It has recently been suggested that biofuel plants are more suitable for both utilization and remediation of metal contaminated soil. This study reported Pb phytoremediation potential of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. in comparison with Sesamum indicum L. in the framework of a pot-experiment. Plants were subjected to seven Pb concentrations (0, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 mg kg-1 soil) for 12 weeks. Our results demonstrated that both C. tetragonoloba and S. indicum were able to tolerate Pb concentrations up to 1000 mg kg-1 which confirms the plant ability to grow well in higher Pb levels. Significant metal accumulation was observed in root along with reduced biomass for both plants species. Furthermore, both plant species could possibly be used for phytostabilization, with success in marginally polluted soils where their growth would not be impaired and decontamination of Pb could be maintained at satisfying levels. However, bioconcentration factor (BCF), bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) and translocation factor (TF) values proposed that C. tetragonoloba was more efficient for phytoremediation than S. indicum at higher Pb levels.

Phytoextraction is a plant-based technique for removing heavy metals from polluted soil. The experiment reported in this paper was undertaken to study the Zn phytoextraction potential of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba in comparison with Sesamum indicum in the framework of a pot experiment. Plants were subjected to six Zn concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 mg kg−1 soil) for 90 days to investigate Zn tolerance and accumulation. Results demonstrated that, at higher Zn levels, root, shoot lengths, biomass and chlorophyll content were all significantly reduced (p < 0.05). A steady increase in Zn accumulation with increasing concentration in soil was observed for all treatments. Both plant species had relatively high Zn tolerance and accumulation capacity, with C. tetragonoloba being more tolerant and having higher Zn accumulation than S. indicum. At 400 mg Zn kg kg−1, accumulation of Zn in C. tetragonoloba was highest in the root (439.33 mg kg−1) followed by stem (436.00 mg kg−1), leaf (40.67 mg kg−1) and pod (11.33 mg kg−1). Considering the rapid growth, high biomass, tolerance, accumulation efficiency, bioconcentration factor (BCF), bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) and translocation factor (TF) (all greater than 1) established C. tetragonoloba as a potential candidate plant for Zn phytoextraction.

The present research dealt with the successful viability and practicality of Pleurotus eryngii packed bed column for Pb(II) ions biosorption. To achieve the aim of the project, the impact of different parameters including flow rate, initial concentration of Pb(II) ions and bed height were optimized. The column models, i.e.,Thomas and Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) were investigated to assess the column efficiency towards entrapping targeted ion. The adsorption capacity, rate constant and correlation coefficient related to each model for column sorption were also calculated. The adsorption capacity enhanced by increasing the bed height and decreasing initial Pb(II) metal ion concentration along with the flow rate. The maximum Thomas model adsorption (entrapping) capacity was obtained 3.30 mg g−1 for initial concentration of 20 mg L−1 at a constant flow rate of 1 ml min−1, bed height of 3 cm and pH 7. The experimental results implied and affirmed the suitability of the P. eryngii fungal biosorbent for Pb(II) ion biosorption with its nature being favourable, efficient and environment friendly.

Objective: The aim of the study is to compare the academic performance of boarders and day scholars of a medical college. Methodology: It is a retrospective comparative study conducted at a private medical college, in Faisalabad from January 2019 to September 2019. The study comprised of 214 students that included boarders and day scholars of first year and second year from medical college. Aggregate mean scores of student’s result were categorized into three level for comparison between day scholars and boarders; Level I ?50%, level II 50%-70%, level III ?70%. Results: Out of 214 students, 132 (62%) were day scholars and 82 (28%) were boarders. From total of 132 day scholar students, 38 (28.8%), 84 (63.6%) and 10 (7.6%) students overall aggregates were falling in 70% categories, respectively. From total of 82 boarder students, 45 (54.9%), 34 (41.5%) and 3 (3.7%) students overall aggregates were falling in 70% categories, respectively. Conclusion: Home environment has positive impact on academic performance.

Background: Pandemics of viral origin are spreading at alarming rate worldwide. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and Hepatitis C (HCV) are lethal threats to the human health. HCV remains a serious issue due to long-term consequences of the infection. HCV infection has a role in the development and progression of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke due to altered lipid metabolism. Association of hepatitis with stroke is still hypothesized due to conflicting results documented by various researchers. Aim of this study is to explore association of HBV and HCV with stroke as the prevalence of this issue in Faisalabad is 21% which is higher than other regions of Punjab Pakistan. Methods: This is a hospital-based retrospective study from July 2018 to September 2018 at a private hospital of Faisalabad. It comprised of 226 subjects. After taking ethical approval from the ethic research committee, data was retrieved from centrally database medical records. Data was transported to SPSS 21 for analysis. Frequency and percentages were obtained for categorical variables. Association between hepatitis and stroke was tested by Chi square and logistic regression to obtained odd ratio. P value?0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Mean age of the studied population was 51.2 ± 27.03. 38.5% and 4% of the studied population had hepatitis C and B respectively. HCV was significantly associated with stroke (P=.005*) Conclusion: HCV is more prevalent viral infection in local population and is the independent risk factor for stroke

Background: Blood transfusion saves millions of lives worldwide each year and reduces morbidity but at the same time is a source for potentially life threatening transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs). These TTIs are a threat to blood safety. Sensitive screening with advanced technologies reduces the risk of TTIs, but it still remains a major concern. Objective of this study was to determine the frequencies of various ABO blood groups and to screen the TTIs like Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Syphilis and Malaria among voluntary and replacement blood donors of Faisalabad. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted at Aziz Fatimah Hospital Faisalabad, from July 2018 to November 2018. After taking informed consent all replacement and voluntary blood donors were screened for HCV, HBV, HIV, syphilis and malaria. Results: During 5 months of study period, total 1942 patients, of age ranged 18-40 years, were screened for TTIs. All blood donors were male; no female came to donate blood during this duration. Highest percentage of study population were blood group B (36.9%), followed by blood group O (28.1), A (22.2%), and AB (9.2%) respectively. Frequencies and percentages of Rhesus blood groups exhibited the predominance of positive rhesus groups in the study population. Out of total donors, 78 (4%) were infected with HCV, 30 (1.5%) with HBV, 10 (0.5%) with HIV, 19 (1 %) with syphilis and 3(0.20%) were seropositive for Malaria. Therefore, 140 (7.2 %) blood donors out of total were seropositive for various TTIs. Conclusion: This study showed the seroprevalence of transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs) among the blood donors. Highest percentage of blood donors suffered from HCV, followed by HBV, syphilis, HIV and malaria.

In Southeast Asia, traditional medicine has a longestablished history and plays an important role in the health care system. Various traditional medicinal plants have been used to treat diseases since ancient times and much of this traditional knowledge remains preserved today. Oroxylum indicum (beko plant) is one of the medicinal herb plants that is widely distributed throughout Asia. It is a versatile plant and almost every part of the plant is reported to possess a wide range of pharmacological activities. Many of the important bioactivities of this medicinal plant is related to the most abundant bioactive constituent found in this plant—the baicalein. Nonetheless, there is still no systematic review to report and vindicate the biological activities and therapeutic potential of baicalein extracted from O. indicum to treat human diseases. In this review, we aimed to systematically present in vivo and in vitro studies searched from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Google Scholar database up to 31 March 2020 based on keywords “Oroxylum indicum” and “baicalein”. After an initial screening of titles and abstracts, followed by a full-text analysis and validation, 20 articles that fulfilled all the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in this systematic review. The searched data comprehensively reported the biological activities and therapeutic potential of baicalein originating from the O. indicum plant for anti-cancer, antibacterial, anti-hyperglycemia, neurogenesis, cardioprotective, anti-adipogenesis, anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects. Nonetheless, we noticed that there was a scarcity of evidence on the efficacy of this natural active compound in human clinical studies. In conclusion, this systematic review article provides new insight into O. indicum and its active constituent baicalein as a prospective complementary therapy from the perspective of modern and scientific aspect. We indicate the potential of this natural product to be developed into more conscientious and judicious evidencebased medicine in the future. However, we also recommend more clinical research to confirm the efficacy and safety of baicalein as therapeutic medicine for patients.

Transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) has been proposed as an alternative novel therapy to replace damaged neural circuitry after ischemic stroke onset. Nonetheless, albeit the potential of these cells for stroke therapy, many critical challenges are yet to be overcome to reach clinical applications. The major limitation of the NSC-based therapy is its inability to retain most of the donor stem cells after grafting into an ischemic brain area which is lacking of essential oxygen and nutrients for the survival of transplanted cells. Low cell survival rate limits the capacity of NSCs to repair the injured area and this poses a much more difficult challenge to the NSC-based therapy for ischemic stroke. In order to enhance the survival of transplanted cells, several stem cell culture preconditioning strategies have been employed. For ischemic diseases, hypoxic preconditioning is the most commonly applied strategy since the last few decades. Now, the preconditioning strategies have been developed and expanded enormously throughout years of efforts. This review systematically presented studies searched from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus and the Google Scholar database up to 31 March 2020 based on search words containing the following terms: “precondition” or “pretreatment” and “neural stem cell” and “ischemic stroke”. The searched data comprehensively reported seven major NSC preconditioning strategies including hypoxic condition, small drug molecules such as minocycline, doxycycline, interleukin-6, adjudin, sodium butyrate and nicorandil, as well as electrical stimulation using conductive polymer for ischemic stroke treatment. We discussed therapeutic benefits gained from these preconditioned NSC for in vitro and in vivo stroke studies and the detailed insights of the mechanisms underlying these preconditioning approaches. Nonetheless, we noticed that there was a scarcity of evidence on the efficacy of these preconditioned NSCs in human clinical studies, therefore, it is still too early to draw a definitive conclusion on the efficacy and safety of this active compound for patient usage. Thus, we suggest for more in-depth clinical investigations of this cell-based therapy to develop into more conscientious and judicious evidence-based therapy for clinical application in the future.

In the context of a data driven approach aimed to detect the real and responsible factors of the transmission of diseases and explaining its emergence or re-emergence, we suggest SOLAM (Spatial on Line Analytical Mining) system, an extension of Spatial On Line Analytical Processing (SOLAP) with Spatial Data Mining (SDM) techniques. Our approach consists of integrating EPISOLAP system, tailored for epidemiological surveillance, with spatial generalization method allowing the predictive evaluation of health risk in the presence of hazards and awareness of the vulnerability of the exposed population. The proposed architecture is a single integrated decision-making platform of knowledge discovery from spatial databases. Spatial generalization methods allow exploring the data at different semantic and spatial scales while reducing the unnecessary dimensions. The principle of the method is selecting and deleting attributes of low importance in data characterization, thus produces zones of homogeneous characteristics that will be merged.

The addition of organic fertilizer into soil increased earthworm growth and its activity and, not only for decomposer group but also for soil digger group (ecosystem engineer).Pontoscolex corethrurus is one of ecosystem engineer group create many channel in soil, so that increased soil porosity and infiltration in soil The objective of this research was to study on N leaching in various biopores condition which formed by earthworm`s activity. Various level of soil porosity and nitrate consentration at controlled condition was obtained from application of mixture of 3 types of litter (coffee, Gliricidia and durian), N-urea fertilizer and soil digger earthworm (Pontoscolex corethrurus) into soil.  The treatments tested were (1) KO : Control 1 (without worm, N-Organik and N-Anorganik); (2) KCC : Control 2 (added earthworm, without N-Organic and N-inorganic); (3) UREA : (added earthworm + N-inorganic, without N-Organik); (4) KGD : (added earthworm and N-Organic, without N-inorganic); (5) KGDU : (added earthworm + N-inorganic + N-Organic). Each treatment was repeated four times. The biopores formed by earthworm was measured from the length of soil channel at 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th weeks after treatments (WAP). Measurement on earthworm`s growth was conducted with measuring earthworm`s length, diameter, biomass and casting by the end of treatment (8 WAP). Analysis of nitrate in leachete was done at 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th WAP. Result of this research showed that application of N-anorganic only led to more active earthworm rather (83 %) than application of N-organic resulting longer vertical channel formed by earthworm. However, the increasing the length of vertical channel was not followed by increasing of water percolation. Porosity was related to nitrat leached concentration (R2 = 0.36). Total of leaching was not only influenced by porosity but also by another factor like NO3- -available (influence by N source input). Application of N-anorganic increased concentration of leached NO3- (42 %) than application of N-organic (181 mg L-1 concentration of leached NO3-). No significant (p>0.05) correlation between soil porosity and earthworm`s biomass was found.

Pneumothorax is a well-recognized complication of central venous line insertion (CVL). Rarely, pneumothorax can lead to electrocardiogram (ECG) findings mimicking ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. We present a 63-year-old man with iatrogenic right-sided pneumothorax who developed ST-segment elevation on a 12-lead ECG suggestive of myocardial infarction. The ECG findings completely resolved after needle decompression and chest tube placement. This case points up this rare electrocardiographic finding with discussion of possible mechanisms and differential diagnosis.