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Abstract Background The observational Frailty in European Emergency Departments (FEED) study found 40% of older people attending for care to be living with frailty. Older people with frailty have poorer outcomes from emergency care. Current best practice calls for early identification of frailty and holistic multidisciplinary assessment. This survey of FEED sites explores variations in frailty-attuned service definitions and provision. Methods This cross-sectional survey included study sites across Europe identified through snowball recruitment. Site co-ordinators (healthcare professionals in emergency and geriatric care) were surveyed online using Microsoft Forms. Items covered department and hospital capacity, frailty and delirium identification methods, staffing, and frailty-focused healthcare services in the ED. Descriptive statistics were reported. Results A total of 68 sites from 17 countries participated. Emergency departments had median 30 (IQR 21–53) trolley spaces. Most defined "older people" by age 65+ (64%) or 75+ (25%). Frailty screening was used at 69% of sites and mandated at 38%. Night-time staffing was lower compared to day-time for nursing (10 [IQR 8–14] vs. 14 [IQR 10–18]) and physicians (5 [IQR 3–8] vs. 10 [IQR 7–15]). Most sites had provision for ED frailty specialist services by day, but these services were rarely available at night. Sites mostly had accessible facilities; however, hot meals were rarely available at night (18%). Conclusion This survey demonstrated variability in case definitions, screening practices, and frailty-attuned service provision. There is no unanimous definition for older age, and while the Clinical Frailty Scale was commonly used, this was rarely mandated or captured in electronic records. Frailty services were often unavailable overnight. Appreciation of the variation in frailty service models could inform operational configuration and workforce development.

This study investigated the impact of brand equity and the decoy effect on the purchase of insulated water flasks. This was done in order to address a gap in understanding the decoy effect’s effectiveness across sustainable alternatives like insulated water flasks and their influence on consumer purchasing behavior. The research involved 405 participants who completed an internet survey, distributed among different social media platforms. Findings analyzed using higher-order partial least square structural equation modeling with SMART PLS v3.0, revealed that both the marketing mix and the decoy effect significantly influenced actual purchase behavior. Promotion has the most substantial impact within the marketing mix factors while price has the least effect, suggesting that consumers are willing to invest in reusable insulated water flasks due to long-term savings and benefits. Additionally, attitude significantly influences purchasing intentions, highlighting consumers’ role in decision-making. The study underscored the importance of individual attitudes and perceived behavioral control in driving purchasing decisions.

Innovative technology initiated the popularity of online investment platforms (OIPs) among households. However, acceptability and human factors affecting behavioral use has been underexplored despite its popularity. This study’s main objective was to assess consumers’ behavioral intention to invest among investors from the Philippines through purposive sampling. The integration of Social Exchange Theory (SET) and Value-Belief-Norm Theory (VBN) was considered for the holistic assessment in this study. This study was assessed and evaluated holistically through a higher-order partial least square structural equation analysis to determine significant factors affecting investment intention. Analysis using SMART-PLS v4.0, it was seen that social norm was the most significant latent variable, followed by values (ie traditional, egoistic, openness to change, and altruistic), trust, personal norm, perceived safety, beliefs on utility function, and economic benefit. The study highlights the importance of the perception of influential people regarding investment and how crucial it is for consumers to have their values aligned and satisfied with the platform. The study is the first to utilize SET and VBN outside their usual context – sustainability and environmental-related behavioral studies. Thus, the newly contextualized framework could be developed and extended with further implications presented for utilization both in the theoretical and practical aspects.

For years, chord-enabled keyboards’ usage has stayed behind its famous counterpart, the standard QWERTY design. Recent trends in this type of keyboard prompted its usage among social media platforms focusing on productivity and efficiency. However, few studies have evaluated its acceptance and consumer usage behavior – especially in the current generation. To fill this gap, this study aimed to examine the factors that affect the acceptance and adoption of chord-enabled keyboards through Random Forest Classifier and Neural Network ensemble. Nine thousand nine hundred (9,900) data points were considered through the convenience sampling method utilizing online platforms. The results displayed that all the examined latent variables were deemed significant: Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Hedonic Motivation, Facilitating Conditions, Price Value, Habit, Intention to Use, Usage Behavior, and Perceived Usability. Among all these, usage behavior was identified as the most influential variable affecting the acceptance of chord-enabled keyboards. Users are more likely to utilize chord-enabled keyboards due to their perception of increasing productivity in accomplishing their tasks quickly, efficiently, and comfortably in the face of multiple typing tasks. Moreover, the variables of Effort Expectancy and Facilitating Conditions were also considered significant but less influential among all latent variables – due to difficulty on adoption. The results shed light on the factors influencing chord-enabled keyboard acceptance. With this, keyboard manufacturers can utilize the results to improve the acceptance and adoption of chord-enabled keyboards to improve individuals' typing efficiency and productivity, which can be extended for promotion in different countries.

Background: Achieving patient compliance is a key goal in oral health, necessitating early education on good dental hygiene practices. This study assesses dental hygiene awareness among college students in various disciplines. Methods: A questionnaire focusing on knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to dental hygiene was distributed to 400 students from medical, nursing, engineering, and other undergraduate programs, divided into groups of 100 each. The survey also considered economic backgrounds and oral hygiene behaviors. Responses were collected online, with data analyzed using the Chi-square test and Pearson’s coefficient to determine statistical significance (P < 0.05). Results: All collected responses were valid, revealing that most students, primarily from middle- or lower-income groups, have a satisfactory level of knowledge regarding oral hygiene. Over 90% recognize its importance for overall health. While practices were generally good, areas for improvement were identified, alongside an overall positive attitude. However, infrequent dental visits were noted as a concern. Conclusion: Focusing on improving oral hygiene attitudes and practices among the younger generation could have long-term benefits, especially in developing countries aiming for better oral health outcomes.

It is estimated that there are about 500,000 Turkish people living in the UK, of whom about 300,000 are of Cypriot origin. A Freedom of Information request was sent to the four NHS Trusts in London which served areas with significant Turkish communities. The request sought information on the total number of patients admitted between 2016 and 2020 with inflammatory bowel disease. Between 2016 and 2020, 1936 patients with inflammatory bowel disease were admitted to North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust. Some of these patients will have been readmitted in different years, leading to an inflation of the overall number. The average number of cases admitted each year was approximately 387. The proportion of White British patients with ulcerative colitis was 0.4; for Turkish Cypriots, it was 0.43 and for Turkish patients, 0.45. A z test comparison of these proportions showed that there was no difference between the Turkish communities (z = 0.52 ns) and no overall difference between White British and all Turkish patients (z = −1.5, ns). Between 2016 and 2020, the Homerton Healthcare Foundation Trust admitted 215 English patients with inflammatory bowel disease, of whom 113 had ulcerative colitis. Of the 26 Turkish patients, 4 had ulcerative colitis. The proportion of Turkish patients with Crohn’s disease was significantly greater than that amongst English patients (z = 3.58, p < 0.0003). In the context of the relatively large number of Turkish people with inflammatory bowel disease in both trusts, the absence of published work on the impact of these chronic diseases is of concern. The results from this investigation should prompt specific qualitative research into the Turkish experience in the UK following a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease with the intention of developing better patient-centred care.

Abstract Aerial image data are becoming more widely available, and analysis techniques based on supervised learning are advancing their use in a wide variety of remote sensing contexts. However, supervised learning requires training datasets which are not always available or easy to construct with aerial imagery. In this respect, unsupervised machine learning techniques present important advantages. This work presents a novel pipeline to demonstrate how available aerial imagery can be used to better the provision of services related to the built environment, using the case study of road traffic collisions (RTCs) across three cities in the UK. In this paper, we show how aerial imagery can be leveraged to extract latent features of the built environment from the purely visual representation of top-down images. With these latent image features in hand to represent the urban structure, this work then demonstrates how hazardous road segments can be clustered to provide a data-augmented aid for road safety experts to enhance their nuanced understanding of how and where different types of RTCs occur.

During the pandemic, artificial intelligence was employed and utilized by students around the globe. Students' conduct changed in a variety of ways when schooling returned to regular instruction. This study aimed to analyze the student's behavioral intention and actual academic use of communicational AI (CAI) as an educational tool. This study identified the variables by utilizing an integrated framework based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) and self-determination theory. Through the use of an online survey and Structural Equation Modeling, data from 533 respondents were analyzed. The results showed that perceived relatedness has the most significant effect on the behavioral intention of students in using CAI as an educational tool, followed by perceived autonomy. It showed that students use CAI based on the objective and the possibility of increasing their productivity, rather than any other purpose in the education setting. Among the UTAUT2 domains, only facilitating conditions, habit, and performance expectancy provided a significant direct effect on behavioral intention and an indirect effect on actual academic use. Further implications were presented. Moreover, the methodology and framework of this study could be extended and applied to educational technology-related studies. Lastly, the outcome of this study may be considered in analyzing the behavioral intention of the students as the teaching-learning environment is still continuously expanding and developing.

Abstract Background Inflammatory bowel disease is an uncommon disease in developing nations whereby patient’s knowledge on the disease may be limited. The CCKNOW questionnaire, a widely known questionnaire to assess patient’s knowledge on the disease, may be too complex to comprehend for patients in developing countries. The aim of this study is to develop a new tool known as AIBDKQ questionnaire to evaluate the local inflammatory bowel disease patient’s knowledge. Methods This was a prospective study carried out in four phases. In phase 1, three gastroenterologists with expertise in IBD generated a total of 21 questions related to the general knowledge of the disease in the English language. Phase 2 involved content and face validity whereby the questions were further validated by other gastroenterologists. In phase 3, the validated questions were translated into three languages namely Malay, Mandarin and Tamil which are commonly used in Malaysia. In phase 4 (statistical validity), administration of the questionnaires to patients and hospital staff were conducted to assess the construct validity, discriminative ability, predictive validity and reliability of the questionnaires. Results A total of 21 questions were generated initially. Further evaluation indicated that 20 items had adequate kappa and content validity index for relevance (CVI: 0.714 to 1, Kapp: 0.645 to 1) and clarity (CVI: 0.714 to 1, Kapp: 0.645 to 1). The questionnaires in four languages were administered to 213 patients to assess the construct validity. Six items were removed (three for low communality, one for small loading factors, two for cross loading), resulting in 16 final questions. Assessment with 34 hospital staff involving nurses, doctors and clerks showed significant differences in knowledge between the groups (F = 14.007, p

Abstract Emotional stress is a leading risk factor in the development of neuropsychiatric disorders possibly via immune activation. P2X7 receptors promote neuroinflammation, and research suggests a relationship between chromosome region 12q2431, in which the P2X7R gene is located, and development of mood disorders, however, few studies concentrate on its association with anxiety. Our aim was to investigate the effects of P2RX7 variation in interaction with early childhood traumas and recent stressors on anxiety. 1752 participants completed questionnaires assessing childhood adversities and recent negative life events, provided data on anxiety using the Brief Symptom Inventory, and were genotyped for 681 SNPs in the P2RX7 gene, 335 of which passed quality control and were entered into linear regression models followed by a linkage disequilibrium-based clumping procedure to identify clumps of SNPs with a significant main or interaction effect. We identified a significant clump with top SNP rs67881993 and containing a set of 29SNPs that are in high LD, which significantly interacted with early childhood traumas but not with recent stress conveying a protective effect against increased anxiety in those exposed to early adversities. Our study demonstrated that P2RX7 variants interact with distal and more etiological stressors in influencing the severity of anxiety symptoms, supporting previous scarce results and demonstrating its role in moderating the effects of stress.

Acupuncture and moxibustion are complementary therapies used by a significant number of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. There is limited research evidence of their effectiveness in the management of ulcerative colitis and, albeit less limited, in the case of Crohn’s disease. However, due to a lack of knowledge, their use as additional supportive therapy by gastroenterologists and specialist nurses is uncommon. Current evidence would indicate that they have a place as additional supportive treatments for patients with inflammatory bowel disease and their efficacy should be assessed through appropriately powered trials. In days of shared care and responsibilities between patients and clinicians, there is a need to share such information with patients so that they can make informed decisions.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to social restrictions that often prevented us from hugging the ones we love. This absence helped some realize just how important these interactions are to our sense of care and connection. Many turned to digitally mediated social interactions to address these absences, but often unsatisfactorily. Some theorists might blame this on the disembodied character of our digital spaces, e.g., that interpersonal touch is excluded from our lives online. However, others continued to find care and connection in their digitally mediated interactions despite not being able to touch. Inspired by such contrasting cases, we ask if ‘digital hugs’ can work? We use the Mixed Reality Interaction Matrix to examine hugging as a social practice. This leads us to several claims about the nature of our embodied social interactions and their digital mediation: (1) all social interaction is mediated; (2) all virtual experiences are embodied; (3) technology has become richer and more supportive of embodiment; and (4) expertise plays a role. These claims help make the case that quality social connections online are substantially dependent upon the dynamic skilful resourcing of multiple mediating components, what we term digital tact. By introducing and developing this concept, we hope to contribute to a better understanding of our digital embodied sociality and the possibilities for caring connections online.

A 26-year-old female patient presented for extraction of her mandibular impacted third molars, teeth #17 and #32. The patient was consented with the understanding of potential complications of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and lingual nerve (LN) injury. A panoramic radiograph was the initial imaging used to determine the risk associated with the extraction of tooth #17 and tooth #32. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was also utilized and interpreted before the extraction surgery. During the removal of #32, there was a fracture of the thin lingual plate and a portion of the #32 root was displaced lingually out of the alveolus. This case presentation illustrates the use of a piezoelectric device (Mectron S·P.A., Carasco, Genoa, Italy) (PD) to create osteotomies of the lingual socket's cortical plate and allow for the retrieval of the root through the lingual plate perforation, avoiding further displacement into the sublingual space. This is a unique modification to a procedure published by Huang et al., in 2007 [1]. The procedure along with an account of the post-operative course is discussed in detail.

This review explores the application of the conservative management model for pain to sports-related concussions (SRCs), framing concussions as a distinct form of pain syndrome with a pathophysiological foundation in central sensitization. Drawing parallels with proven pain management models, we underscore the significance of a proactive approach to concussion management. Recognizing concussions as a pain syndrome allows for the tailoring of interventions in alignment with conservative principles. This review first covers the epidemiology and controversies surrounding prolonged concussion recovery and persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS). Next, the pathophysiology of concussions is presented within the central sensitization framework, emphasizing the need for early intervention to mitigate the neuroplastic changes that lead to heightened pain sensitivity. Five components of the central sensitization process specific to concussion injuries are highlighted as targets for conservative interventions in the acute period: peripheral sensitization, cerebral metabolic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, glymphatic system dysfunction, and pain catastrophizing. These proactive interventions are emphasized as pivotal in accelerating concussion recovery and reducing the risk of prolonged symptoms and PPCS, in line with the philosophy of conservative management.

Fluctuations in brain and behavioral state are supported by broadly projecting neuromodulatory systems. In this study, we use mesoscale two-photon calcium imaging to examine spontaneous activity of cholinergic and noradrenergic axons in awake mice in order to determine the interaction between arousal/movement state transitions and neuromodulatory activity across the dorsal cortex at distances separated by up to 4 mm. We confirm that GCaMP6s activity within axonal projections of both basal forebrain cholinergic and locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons track arousal, indexed as pupil diameter, and changes in behavioral engagement, as reflected by bouts of whisker movement and/or locomotion. The broad coordination in activity between even distant axonal segments indicates that both of these systems can communicate, in part, through a global signal, especially in relation to changes in behavioral state. In addition to this broadly coordinated activity, we also find evidence that a subpopulation of both cholinergic and noradrenergic axons may exhibit heterogeneity in activity that appears to be independent of our measures of behavioral state. By monitoring the activity of cholinergic interneurons in the cortex, we found that a subpopulation of these cells also exhibit state-dependent (arousal/movement) activity. These results demonstrate that cholinergic and noradrenergic systems provide a prominent and broadly synchronized signal related to behavioral state, and therefore may contribute to state-dependent cortical activity and excitability.

OBJECTIVES From 2006, the Ministry of Education in China has approved universities to provide undergraduate medical training in English, targeting fee-paying international students. Students on these courses can face challenges in their clinical training, particularly in the domains of communication and professionalism. This study examines the proportion of doctors qualified from such medical schools who are currently listed on the UK medical register. METHODS The UK General Medical Council register of medical practitioners was searched to identify doctors qualified from 33 Chinese medical schools who provide education in the English language. RESULTS As of February 2022, 502 doctors whose primary medical qualification is from a university offering English language education in China were registered on the UK medical register. Four hundred twenty-five (84.7%) of these doctors were aged 39 and under, approximately double the proportion of doctors in this age bracket overall. Three hundred forty nine (69.5%) were staff grade and associate specialist doctors, 109 (21.7%) were doctors in training, 36 (7.2%) were on the General Practitioner (GP) register, and 20 (4.0%) were on the specialist register. Among doctors in training, the most common specialty areas were in general practice and psychiatry that are both facing recruitment shortages in the UK at present. CONCLUSION A small but significant number of graduates whose medical training was in the English language in China are practicing medicine in the UK. These doctors are in younger age groups than the overall medical workforce, and are less likely to be in training, and specialist or GP posts. Among those in training, a high proportion are in GP and psychiatry training and could contribute to alleviating UK medical workforce shortages. Policymakers and educators should be mindful of the growing numbers of doctors qualified from these schools, and the additional support they may require considering the unique training environments they have encountered.

Plain English Summary Maternal and child health has become a priority area of focus among health policy makers and planners. Several interventions are being tried in an effort to increase deliveries in health facilities in order to realise better health outcomes. This study focused on how incentives for mothers, health workers and boda–boda riders can improve the community-based referral process and deliveries in the rural community of Busoga region in Uganda. Two groups of boda–boda riders, mothers and health workers were followed up. One group was given incentives while the other was not. The incentives included training and training allowances, refreshments during training, payment of transport fares by mothers to boda–boda riders, free telephone calls and provision of bonus airtime to all registered CUG participants and rewards to best performers. The results of this study showed that incentives help to boost deliveries from health facilities hence improving maternal outcomes. In intervention group, 70.5% of mothers who deliveries from health facilities were transported by boda–boda riders whereas this was only 51.2% in the control group. The response time of boda–boda risers to calls for transport by expecting mothers improved tremendously in the intervention group when compared to the control group. All the targeted parties—boda–boda riders, mothers, midwives and Village Health Teams were more active and motivated to work towards improving maternal health of the mothers.

Informatics Nurse Practice needs to be clearly delineated and presented to the Nursing Community and relevant stakeholders in the Allied Health Profession. With the advent of the COVID-19, the Digital Economy has moved innovations in healthcare with great speed, breadth, and depth. The emergence of data scientists practicing in healthcare, together with data analysts and data scientists, blur the line between the practice demarcations between professions. It is imperative to clearly define the scope of Informatics Nurse and Informatics Nurse Specialist Practice through existing definitions of Nursing informatics Practice by International and National Organizations advocating for its advancement. This paper aims to present a clear flowchart that any practitioner can use to clearly define whether their practice in a healthcare setting with nurses involved can be considered as Informatics Nurse or Informatics Nurse Specialist practice.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) and Fusarium root rot (FRR) are important diseases of small-grain cereals caused by Fusarium species. While host response to FHB has been subject to extensive study, very little is known about response to FRR and the transcriptome responses of FHB and FRR have not been thoroughly compared. Brachypodium distachyon (Bd) is an effective model for investigating host responses to both FHB and FRR. In this study the transcriptome response of Bd to F. graminearum (Fg) infection of heads and roots was investigated. An RNA-seq analysis was performed on both Bd FHB and FRR during the early infection. Additionally, an RNA-seq analysis was performed on in vitro samples of Fg for comparison with Fg gene expression in planta. Differential gene expression and gene-list enrichment analyses were used to compare FHB and FRR transcriptome responses in both Bd and Fg. Differential expression of selected genes was confirmed using RT-qPCR. Most genes associated with receptor signalling, cell-wall modification, oxidative stress metabolism, and cytokinin and auxin biosynthesis and signalling genes were generally upregulated in FHB or were downregulated in FRR. In contrast, Bd genes involved in jasmonic acid and ethylene biosynthesis and signalling, and antimicrobial production were similarly differentially expressed in both tissues in response to infection. A transcriptome analysis of predicted Fg effectors with the same infected material revealed elevated expression of core tissue-independent genes including cell-wall degradation enzymes and the gene cluster for DON production but also several tissue-dependent genes including those for aurofusarin production and cutin degradation. This evidence suggests that Fg modulates its transcriptome to different tissues of the same host.

Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a worldwide public health problem caused predominantly by the opportunistic polymorphic fungus Candida albicans, whose pathogenicity is associated with its morphological adaptability. To potentiate the treatment of C. albicans-induced VVC by an alternative method as photodynamic therapy (PDT), hypericin (Hy), a potent photosensitizer compound was incorporated into a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) and dispersed in hydrogel (HG). Methods: After preparation of the sonication process, an NLC loaded with Hy was dispersed in HG based on Poloxamer 407 and chitosan obtaining Hy.NLC-HG. This hydrogel system was physically and chemically characterized and its in vitro and in vivo photodynamic and antifungal effects were evaluated. Results: Through scanning electron microscopy, it was possible to observe a hydrogel system with a porous polymeric matrix and irregular microcavities. The Hy.NLC-HG system showed mucoadhesive properties (0.45 ± 0.08 N) and a satisfactory injectability (15.74 ± 4.75 N.mm), which indicates that it can be easily applied in the vaginal canal, in addition to a controlled and sustained Hy release profile from the NLC-HG of 28.55 ± 0.15% after 720 min. The in vitro antibiofilm assay significantly reduced the viability of C. albicans (p < 0.001) by 1.2 log10 for Hy.NLC-HG/PDT and 1.9 log10 for PS/PDT, Hy.NLC/PDT, and free RB/PDT, compared to the PBS/PDT negative control. The in vivo antifungal evaluation showed that animals treated with the vaginal cream (non-PDT) and the PDT-mediated Hy.NLC-HG system showed a significant difference of p < 0.001 in the number of C. albicans colonies (log) in the vaginal canal, compared to the inoculation control group. Conclusions: Thus, we demonstrate the pharmaceutical, antifungal, and photodynamic potential of hydrogel systems for Hy vaginal administration.

Review of Hemmann, Kathryn. Manga cultures and the female gaze. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing AG, 2020, paperback, $59.99, (184 p), ISBN 978-3030180973.

The study identified factors affecting employee job satisfaction in the University of Karachi. The research collected data using survey questionnaire consisting of twenty-nine questions. The study found that a generous rewards and compensation packages lead to job satisfaction and are affected by promotion and job security. Good working relationship with co-workers also contributes to employee job satisfaction. Also, it is found that good working environment also contributes to employee motivation, and is influenced by better facilities, and training and development. Finally, good supervision provides motivation that enhances the quality of output and employee performance. The findings are important, because it is well-established in the literature that job satisfaction and employee motivation play a major role in increasing productivity of employees and profitability of the organization.

Abstract Background The trading of individual animal genotype information often involves only the exchange of the called genotypes and not necessarily the additional information required to effectively call structural variants. The main aim here was to determine if it is possible to impute copy number variants (CNVs) using the flanking single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) haplotype structure in cattle. While this objective was achieved using high-density genotype panels (i.e., 713,162 SNPs), a secondary objective investigated the concordance of CNVs called with this high-density genotype panel compared to CNVs called from a medium-density panel (i.e., 45,677 SNPs in the present study). This is the first study to compare CNVs called from high-density and medium-density SNP genotypes from the same animals. High (and medium-density) genotypes were available on 991 Holstein-Friesian, 1015 Charolais, and 1394 Limousin bulls. The concordance between CNVs called from the medium-density and high-density genotypes were calculated separately for each animal. A subset of CNVs which were called from the high-density genotypes was selected for imputation. Imputation was carried out separately for each breed using a set of high-density SNPs flanking the midpoint of each CNV. A CNV was deemed to be imputed correctly when the called copy number matched the imputed copy number. Results For 97.0% of CNVs called from the high-density genotypes, the corresponding genomic position on the medium-density of the animal did not contain a called CNV. The average accuracy of imputation for CNV deletions was 0.281, with a standard deviation of 0.286. The average accuracy of imputation of the CNV normal state, i.e. the absence of a CNV, was 0.982 with a standard deviation of 0.022. Two CNV duplications were imputed in the Charolais, a single CNV duplication in the Limousins, and a single CNV duplication in the Holstein-Friesians; in all cases the CNV duplications were incorrectly imputed. Conclusion The vast majority of CNVs called from the high-density genotypes were not detected using the medium-density genotypes. Furthermore, CNVs cannot be accurately predicted from flanking SNP haplotypes, at least based on the imputation algorithms routinely used in cattle, and using the SNPs currently available on the high-density genotype panel.

ABSTRACT: The fashion industry has been continuously growing over the years, yet it is an industry that was greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the study was to determine the factors affecting buying behavior of Filipinos towards clothing apparel during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were 457 respondents who voluntarily participated and answered an online questionnaire. Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that marketing mix was found to have significant effects on attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control, which subsequently led to purchase intention. In addition, the COVID-19 latent variable was found to have significant effects on self-perceived severity and self-efficacy, which subsequently led to attitude and purchase intention. Interestingly, marketing mix was found to have the highest effect on actual purchase, which indicated that innovation dynamics are the keys for the buying behavior. The SEM construct can be applied to determine the clothing apparel buying behaviors of consumers in other countries, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, advertisements, promotions, sales, and health safety should be considered as innovation dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study extends the application of behavioral portfolio optimization by estimating the return of behavioral stocks (B-stocks). With the cause-and-effect relationships of the respective irrational behaviors on the stock price movements and the unique information provided by B-stocks in terms of knowing with a calculated probability when (time duration) a specific effect (e.g., positive cumulative abnormal return) after a certain trigger point (cause of the irrational behavior) is spotted, regression analysis is applied on the information in the duration to have more accurate return estimates. To fit in the framework of behavioral portfolio optimization, the scenarios used for the optimization are generated utilizing regression analysis, based on which the safety-first scenario-based mixed-integer program is applied to obtain the optimal portfolios. This study also proposes two new types of B-stocks with corresponding operational definitions for herding and ostrich-effect, along with the previously identified over-reaction, under-reaction, and disposition-effect B-stocks. Back-test results show that the portfolios are profitable and can significantly outperform a benchmark and the market.

The Finite-Fault Rupture Detector (FinDer) algorithm computes rapid line-source rupture models from high-frequency seismic acceleration amplitudes (PGA). In this paper, we propose two extensions to FinDer, called FinDerS and FinDerS+, which have the advantage of taking into account a geological property of the source fault, its structural maturity, as well as its relation to the earthquake slip distribution. These two new algorithms calculate real-time earthquake slip profiles by backprojecting seismic and/or geodetic displacement amplitudes onto the FinDer line-source. This backprojection is based on a general empirical equation established in previous work that relates dynamic peak ground displacement (PGD) at the stations to on-fault coseismic slip. While FinDerS projects PGD onto the current FinDer line-source, FinDerS+ allows the rupture to grow beyond the current model extent to predict future rupture evolution. For an informed interpolation and smoothing of the estimated slip values, FinDerS and FinDerS+ both employ a generic empirical function that has been shown to relate the along-strike gradient of structural maturity of the ruptured fault, the earthquake slip distribution, and the rupture length. Therefore, while FinDer derives magnitudes from a relatively uncertain and general empirical rupture length-magnitude relations, FinDerS and FinDerS+ provide alternate and better informed magnitude estimates using the mean slip of the profiles derived from the integration of fault source maturity. The two new algorithms can incorporate both seismic strong-motion and geodetic displacement data. In order to recover PGD from strong-motion instruments, we double-integrate and high-pass filter (> 0.075 Hz) the seismic acceleration records. Together, the three algorithms exploit the full spectrum of ground-motions, including high frequencies to derive a source fault model (FinDer) and low frequencies to determine the static offsets along this model (FinDerS and FinDerS+). We test the three algorithms for the 2019 MW 7.1 Ridgecrest (California), 2016 MW 7.0 Kumamoto (Japan), and 2008 MW 7.9 Wenchuan (China) earthquakes. Conclusively, low-frequency PGD data and integration of the fault maturity gradient do not speed-up calculations for these events, but provide additional information on slip distribution and final rupture length, as well as alternative estimates of magnitudes that can be useful to check for consistency across the algorithm suite. The FinDer algorithms systematically outperform previously established real-time PGD-based magnitude estimates in terms of speed and accuracy. The resulting slip distributions can be useful for improved ground-motion prediction given the observed relationship between seismic radiation and fault maturity.

Successful incorporation of scientific knowledge into environmental policy and decisions is a significant challenge. Although studies on how to bridge the knowledge-action gap have proliferated over the last decade, few have investigated the roles, responsibilities, and opportunities for funding bodies to meet this challenge. In this study we present a set of criteria gleaned from interviews with experts across Canada that can be used by funding bodies to evaluate the potential for proposed research to produce actionable knowledge for environmental policy and practice. We also provide recommendations for how funding bodies can design funding calls and foster the skills required to bridge the knowledge-action gap. We interviewed 84 individuals with extensive experience as knowledge users at the science-policy interface who work for environmentally-focused federal and provincial/territorial government bodies and non-governmental organizations. Respondents were asked to describe elements of research proposals that indicate that the resulting research is likely to be useful in a policy context, and what advice they would give to funding bodies to increase the potential impact of sponsored research. Twenty-five individuals also completed a closed-ended survey that followed up on these questions. Research proposals that demonstrated (1) a team with diverse expertise and experience in co-production, (2) a flexible research plan that aligns timelines and spatial scale with policy needs, (3) a clear and demonstrable link to a policy issue, and (4) a detailed and diverse knowledge exchange plan for reaching relevant stakeholders were seen as more promising for producing actionable knowledge. Suggested changes to funding models to enhance utility of funded research included (1) using diverse expertise to adjudicate awards, (2) supporting co-production and interdisciplinary research through longer grant durations and integrated reward structures, and (3) following-up on and rewarding knowledge exchange by conducting impact evaluation. The set of recommendations presented here can guide both funding agencies and research teams who wish to change how applied environmental science is conducted and improve its connection to policy and practice.

Background: Malaria still remains a serious global public health challenge and the growing resistance of Plasmodium species to the existing antimalarial drugs is aggravating the burden. Considering the growing knowledge of the contribution of dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, and hepatic and kidney damages, in addition to the well-known anaemia and hypoglycemia in pathogenesis of malaria complication, a good antimalarial candidate should not only kill malaria parasite but also normalize the associated haematological and biochemical modifications. Buchholzia coriacea (Capparaceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used in treating malaria whose antimalarial activity has been investigated. Aim: to evaluate the ameliorative effects of flavonoid-rich extract of B. coriacea seeds (FEBCS) on modifications in haematological and biochemical status induced by malaria in mice. Materials and methods: FEBCS was prepared and its effects on malaria parasitemia, haematological (packed cell volume, total erythrocyte and leucocyte counts and haemoglobin concentration) and biochemical (liver, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant and lipid profile) status of P. berghei Anka-65-infected mice were evaluated using established protocols. In addition, the phytochemicals in FEBCS as well as its acute toxicity status were investigated. A total of sixty inbred Swiss albino mice (7 weeks, body weight of 26 ± 5 g) were used for this study (30 were used for acute toxicity study while the rest for antimalarial study) and were maintained on commercial rodent diet and water ad libitum in our animal laboratory. Results: Upon treatment with combisunate (140 mg/kg/ b.w.) and FEBCS (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg/d body) for four consecutive days (4-day suppressive assay), there were significant reductions in parasitemia levels compared with baseline. When the parasitemia levels of mice post-treatment and pre-treatment were compared, it was observed that FEBCS exhibited a dose-dependent chemosuppression which were however, lower compared to that by combisunate. Compared to the malaria control, it was observed that FEBCS improved the status indicators of haematology and biochemistry to near normal levels. There was no significant morphological and behavioural sign of toxicity, indicating that FEBCS was tolerable up to 5000 mg/kg b.w. Conclusion: These findings suggest that FEBCS possesses antimalarial activity, and normalized haematological and biochemical alterations triggered by malaria. This finding necessitates the isolation and characterization of the active principles in FEBCS which could serve as lead compounds for the development of novel antimalarial agents.

Background: Mycobacterium bovis BCG is a live, attenuated tuberculosis vaccine. While the vaccine protects infants from tuberculosis, complications including disseminated infections have been reported following vaccination. Genetically diverse BCG sub-strains now exist following continuous passaging of the original Pasteur strain for vaccine manufacture. This genetic diversity reportedly influences the severity of disseminated BCG infections and the efficacy of BCG immunization. Methods: M. bovis BCG was isolated from infants suspected of being infected with tuberculosis. The whole genome of the clinical isolates and BCG Moscow were sequenced using Illumina Miseq and the sequences were analysed using CLC Genomics Workbench 7.0, PhyResSE v1.0, and Parsnp. Results and conclusions: Genetic variations between the clinical strains and the reference BCG Copenhagen were identified. The clinical strains shared only one mutation in a secretion protein. Mutations were identified in various antibiotic resistance genes in the BCG isolates, which suggests their potential as multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the two isolates were distantly related, and the M1_S48 clinical isolate was closely related to M. bovis BCG Moscow. The phylogenomics results imply that two different BCG strains may be circulating in South Africa. However, it is difficult to associate the BCG vaccine strain administered and the BCG strain supplied with specific adverse events, as BCGiosis is under-reported. This study presents background genomic information for future surveillance and tracking of the distribution of BCGiosis-associated mycobacteria. It is also the first to report on the genomes of clinical BCG strains in Africa. Keywords: Mycobacterium bovis BCG, Tuberculosis, TB adenitis, BCG disease, Phylogenomics, South Africa

The research studies the relationship between eight firm-specific factors on the profitability of U.S. technology and financial firms. The study used multiple linear panel regression models, namely, ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed effects (FE) and random effects (RE) models. Empirical findings show that return on equity ratio is negatively related with return on assets (ROA), while return on sales ratio has positive relationship with profitability for both technology and financial firms. On one hand, current ratio has a positive relationship with the profitability of the financial firms, while there is negative relationship for technology firms. Lastly, size has positive relationship with the profitability for technology firms. This study provides renewed perspectives in creating suitable strategies to controlling factors that maximizes profitability for both US publicly-listed technology and financial companies.

The P2X purinoceptor 7 (P2RX7) mediates inflammatory microglial responses and is implicated in neuroimmune mechanisms of depression and neurodegenerative disorders. A number of studies suggest that psychosocial stress may precipitate depression through immune activation. Genetic association studies of P2RX7 variants with depression have been inconclusive. However, nearly all studies have focused on only one single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and have not considered interaction with psychosocial stress. We investigated the effect of several variations in P2RX7 gene using a clumping method in interaction with early adversities and recent stress on depression severity. 1752 subjects provided information on childhood adversities, recent life events, and current depression severity. Participants were genotyped for 681 SNPs in the P2RX7 gene, 335 of them passed quality control and were entered into linear regression models followed by a clumping procedure for main effect and interactions. No significant main effect was observed. Rs74892325 emerged as a top SNP for interaction with childhood adversities and rs61953400 for interaction with recent life events. Our study is the first to investigate several variants in the P2RX7 gene and in interaction with two types of stress, extending our understanding of neuroinflammation in depression, and supporting that the majority of genes influence depression by enhancing sensitivity to stressors.

By July 2021, the United States had over 34.4 million confirmed COVID-19 cases. Various cardiovascular manifestations of COVID-19 have been reported including ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and there is concern that SARS-CoV-2 may be associated with a higher thrombus burden. We performed a retrospective chart review of 535 adult patients with COVID-19 admitted at Yale-New Haven Health Greenwich Hospital from February 1, 2020, to May 13, 2020. All admitted patients had undergone testing for serum troponin I and various inflammatory markers, and we identified three patients who were diagnosed with acute STEMI. Data was collected via manual chart review and included patient demographics, comorbidities, laboratory tests, electrocardiogram (ECG) results, echocardiography results, diagnoses during hospitalization, inpatient therapies, and outcomes including length of hospital stay, revascularization results, and mortality. Three of our patients had obstructive coronary artery disease confirmed via angiography. One subject was noted to display vasospasm in addition to coronary atherosclerotic obstruction and refractory thrombus formation. Among our patients with COVID-19 and STEMI, presentations were variable in terms of timing of onset of ECG changes, age, gender, race, comorbidities, symptomology, and outcomes.

Nursing informatics, despite its rich evolution and dynamic nature remains an emerging field in the Philippines. With its inclusion as a critical content in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Curriculum, Policies, and Standards in 2008, various interpretations and adaptations were made evident thereby influencing Philippine Nursing. Critical discussions, whether or not Nursing Informatics affect the focus of nursing with the integration of information and communication technologies into nursing service delivery systems continue to exist. It is imperative that better understanding of the contributions of Nursing Informatics on Philippine Nursing from a historical perspective and declaring its implications for Philippine Nursing Practice initiated within a Caring viewpoint are addressed and illuminated. This paper aims to provide a description of the initiation of Nursing Informatics in the hope of establishing its ontological and epistemological position while providing a clearer understanding of its historical developments and influences on Philippine Nursing initiated within a caring perspective in a highly technological world.