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Abstract Background Zoonoses are infectious diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans. Studying the knowledge, perceptions and practices of communities related to zoonoses and the associated risk factors is crucial for effective control and prevention. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and practices of respondents on zoonoses and the associated risk factors in and around Chiro town, Ethiopia. Zoonotic diseases, such as rabies, anthrax, bovine tuberculosis, and brucellosis, pose a direct threat to health and livelihoods in the communities where they occur. These diseases emerge due to a combination of human-animal interactions, migration, and contact with wildlife and their respective parasites and vectors. Hence, recognizing residents’ perceptions, knowledge, and practices is crucial for effectively minimizing risks. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to July 2021 in and around Chiro town using a pretested close-ended questionnaire. A total of 350 respondents were selected using simple random sampling methods. The questionnaire included information on the sociodemographic status of the respondents and questions concerning the knowledge, perceptions, and practices of the participants regarding the selected zoonotic diseases. The associations of knowledge, perceptions, and practices related to zoonoses with zoonotic risk factors were analysed using chi-square tests. Results The study revealed that 82.9% of the respondents had knowledge of bovine tuberculosis, followed by knowledge of rabies (80%), knowledge of anthrax (45.1%), and knowledge of brucellosis (24.3%). Males had greater knowledge of bovine tuberculosis (84.8%), followed by rabies (79.8%) and anthrax (48.6%), while females had greater knowledge of brucellosis (23.6%). The most cited source of information was radio (68%). Most respondents mentioned the outbreaks of rabies (62.5%), bovine tuberculosis (53.2%), anthrax (35.6%), and brucellosis (15.7%). Respondents with higher educational levels and urban residents had more knowledge of zoonoses. More than 75% of respondents had a good perception of the transmission of zoonotic disease from animals, and the practice of consuming raw milk or raw/undercooked meat and sharing the same house with animals was high. Conclusion The majority of respondents reported that they had knowledge of bovine tuberculosis and rabies, but lower knowledge and perceptions were reported for anthrax and brucellosis. These findings illustrate the need for collaboration among animal, human and environmental health offices in one health approach to prevent and control zoonotic disease.

Digital Village Development has become an important agenda in efforts to modernize and improve the quality of life in rural areas. This transformation relies on the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to increase convenience and efficiency in various fields. The success of developing a Digital Village depends on the readiness of ICT infrastructure. The village office, which is the center for administration and services to the community, must have adequate ICT infrastructure as the main requirement for activating various digital initiatives. The research was conducted to determine the current state of readiness of Cimenyan village, Bandung Regency in implementing ICT in village government offices. The readiness level analysis is prepared based on the COBIT framework in 3 domains, namely: IT process domain PO1 (defining IT strategic plans), PO2 (determining information architecture), and PO4 (defining IT processes, IT organization, and their relationships) The results of the analysis will be mapped based on the maturity level of each domain in COBIT. The level of maturity obtained will help the Cimenyan Village government to make appropriate preparations for implementing ICT so that the goal of Cimenyan Village becoming a digital village in West Java can be achieved.

Introduction Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rising in low-income and middle-income countries, including Malawi. To inform policy-makers and planners on the preparedness of the Malawian healthcare system to respond to NCDs, we estimated NCD service readiness in publicly financed healthcare facilities in Malawi.Methods We analysed data from 564 facilities surveyed in the 2019 Harmonised Health Facility Assessment, including 512 primary healthcare (PHC) and 52 secondary and tertiary care (STC) facilities. To characterise service readiness, applying the law of minimum, we estimated the percentage of facilities with functional equipment and unexpired medicines required to provide NCD services. Further, we estimated permanently unavailable items to identify service readiness bottlenecks.Results Fewer than 40% of PHC facilities were ready to deliver services for each of the 14 NCDs analysed. Insulin and beclomethasone inhalers had the lowest stock levels at PHC facilities (6% and 8%, respectively). Only 17% of rural and community hospitals (RCHs) have liver and kidney diagnostics. STC facilities had varying service readiness, ranging from 27% for managing acute diabetes complications to 94% for chronic type 2 diabetes management. Only 38% of STC facilities were ready to manage chronic heart failure. Oral pain medicines were widely available at all levels of health facilities; however, only 22% of RCHs and 29% of STCs had injectable morphine or pethidine. Beclomethasone was never available at 74% of PHC and 29% of STC facilities.Conclusion Publicly financed facilities in Malawi are generally unprepared to provide NCD services, especially at the PHC level. Targeted investments in PHC can substantially improve service readiness for chronic NCD conditions in local communities and enable STC to respond to acute NCD complications and more complex NCD cases.

The objective of this study is to investigate the implementation of the electronic community complaint service, known as e-AduMas, in villages utilizing SMS Gateway and GSM network technologies. The research aims to evaluate both the technological readiness of village offices using COBIT 4.1 and the community's acceptance of the e-AduMas system. The study employs a comprehensive research methodology that includes the analysis of community needs, the design of the e-AduMas system, the development of an integrated SMS Gateway application with the village government platform, and field testing involving active participation from the village community. Data will be collected through surveys, interviews, and observations to assess the level of implementation success, user response, and technical feasibility. The anticipated outcomes of this research include practical guidance for other villages looking to construct similar systems to enhance citizen participation in local governance. This study is poised to make a significant contribution to the application of technology in village governance, specifically in the development and utilization of the e-AduMas service. The findings of this research are expected to provide valuable insights for strengthening citizen engagement in local governance through innovative technological solutions.

BackgroundCOVID-19 mitigation protocols, enacted to control the pandemic, have also been shown to have a negative impact on mental health, including the mental health of adolescents. The threat of being infected by SARS-CoV-2 and substantial changes in lifestyle, including limited social interaction due to stay-at-home orders, led to loneliness as well as depressive symptoms. However, offline psychological assistance is restricted, as psychologists are bounded by mitigation protocols. Further, not all adolescents’ guardians are open to their children attending or have the means to pay for psychological service; thus, adolescents remain untreated. Having a mobile health (mHealth) app for mental health that uses monitoring, provides social networks, and delivers psychoeducation may provide a solution, especially in countries that have limited health facilities and mental health workers. ObjectiveThis study aimed to design an mHealth app to help prevent and monitor depression in adolescents. The design of this mHealth app was carried out as a high-fidelity prototype. MethodsWe used a design science research (DSR) methodology with 3 iterations and 8 golden rule guidelines. The first iteration used interviews, and the second and third iterations used mixed method approaches. The DSR stages include the following: (1) identify the problem; (2) define the solution; (3) define the solution objective; (4) develop, demonstrate, and evaluate the solution; and (5) communicate the solution. This study involved students and medical experts. ResultsThe first iteration resulted in a wireframe and prototype for the next iteration. The second iteration resulted in a System Usability Scale score of 67.27, indicating a good fit. In the third iteration, the system usefulness, information quality, interface quality, and overall values were 2.416, 2.341, 2.597, and 2.261, respectively, indicating a good design. Key features of this mHealth app include a mood tracker, community, activity target, and meditation, and supporting features that complement the design include education articles and early detection features. ConclusionsOur findings provide guidance for health facilities and to design and implement future mHealth apps to help treat adolescent depression.

With diagnostic and therapeutic advances, over 80% of children diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors. As the number of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) continues to increase, dental practitioners become more likely to have CCS among their patients. CCS may develop late complications from damage caused by their cancer treatment to endocrine, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and other organ systems. These complications may surface decades after the completion of treatment. Adverse outcomes of childhood cancer treatment frequently involve oral and craniofacial structures including the dentition. Tooth development, salivary gland function, craniofacial growth, and temporomandibular joint function may be disturbed, increasing oral health risks in these individuals. Moreover, CCS are at risk of developing subsequent malignancies, which may manifest in or near the oral cavity. It is important that dental practitioners are aware of the childhood cancer history of their patients and have knowledge of potential late complications. Therefore, this narrative review aims to inform dental practitioners of late oral complications of cancer treatment modalities commonly used in pediatric oncology. Furthermore, selected common non-oral late sequelae of cancer therapy that could have an impact on oral health and on delivering dental care will be discussed.

Food insecurity and child malnutrition remain persistent problems in sub-Saharan Africa. Rice is a staple food for more than half of the world’s population. However, white rice is poor in micronutrients and records higher glycemic values compared to parboiled rice. An improved parboiling system called “Grain quality enhancer, Energy-efficient and durable Material” (GEM in short) allows the processing of quality rice with better physical and nutritional properties compared to traditional systems. This paper assessed the drivers and impact of the adoption of the GEM system on women’s livelihoods. A total of 822 rice women parboilers were randomly sampled and interviewed in Benin, in regions where the GEM system was introduced. We employed the endogenous switching regression model (ESR) to assess the impact of the GEM system. We found evidence that adoption of the GEM system increased women parboilers’ rice output rate (dehulling return), income and food security and reduced poverty. The impact of the GEM system is estimated at 14.38 kg of milled rice per 100 kg of paddy (21.46%), equivalent to US$ 7.25 of additional income (17.77%). A significantly lower poverty rate of 26% was found among households due to the adoption of the GEM system. These results are supported by women’s perceptions that the output rate, better nutritional value and reduction of broken rice during dehulling are major advantages of the improved parboiling system. Policy actions such as training of local fabricators and credit options are required for out-scaling and sustainability of the improved parboiling system.

Objectives: To clarify the work done by using AI for identifying the genomic sequences, development of drugs and vaccines for COVID-19 and to recognize the advantages and challenges of using such technology. Methods: A non-systematic review was done. All articles published on Pub-Med, Medline, Google, and Google Scholar on AI or digital health regarding genomic sequencing, drug development, and vaccines of COVID-19 were scrutinized and summarized. Results: The sequence of SARS- CoV-2 was identified with the help of AI. It can help also in the prompt identification of variants of concern (VOC) as delta strains and Omicron. Furthermore, there are many drugs applied with the help of AI. These drugs included Atazanavir, Remdesivir, Efavirenz, Ritonavir, and Dolutegravir, PARP1 inhibitors (Olaparib and CVL218 which is Mefuparib hydrochloride), Abacavir, Roflumilast, Almitrine, and Mesylate. Many vaccines were developed utilizing the new technology of bioinformatics, databases, immune-informatics, machine learning, and reverse vaccinology to the whole SARS-CoV-2 proteomes or the structural proteins. Examples of these vaccines are the messenger RNA and viral vector vaccines. AI provides cost-saving and agility. However, the challenges of its usage are the difficulty of collecting data, the internal and external validation, ethical consideration, therapeutic effect, and the time needed for clinical trials after drug approval. Moreover, there is a common problem in the deep learning (DL) model which is the shortage of interpretability. Conclusion: The growth of AI techniques in health care opened a broad gate for discovering the genomic sequences of the COVID-19 virus and the VOC. AI helps also in the development of vaccines and drugs (including drug repurposing) to obtain potential preventive and therapeutic agents for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.

The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) plays a pivotal role in blood pressure regulation. In some cases, this steering mechanism is affected by various deleterious factors (mainly via the overactivation of the RAS) causing cardiovascular damage, including coronary heart disease (CHD) that can ultimately lead to chronic heart failure (CHF). This not only causes cardiovascular disability and absenteeism from work but also imposes significant healthcare costs globally. The incidence of cardiovascular diseases has escalated exponentially over the years with the major outcome in the form of CHD, stroke, and CHF. The involvement of the RAS in various diseases has been extensively researched with significant limelight on CHD. The RAS may trigger a cascade of events that lead to atherosclerotic mayhem, which causes CHD and related aggravation by damaging the endothelial lining of blood vessels via various inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways. Although there are various diagnostic tests and treatments available in the market, there is a constant need for the development of procedures and therapeutic strategies that increase patient compliance and reduce the associated side effects. This review highlights the advances in the diagnostic and treatment domains for CHD, which would help in subjugating the side effects caused by conventional therapy.

Dalam membangun sebuah laboratorium keamanan informasi, perlu diperhatikan aspek perangkat, aplikasi, dan lingkungannya (environment). Laboratorium keamanan informasi ini bertujuan untuk menguji tingkat keamanan dari sebuah aplikasi yang akan atau sudah dibangun. Tetapi yang menjadi masalah utama adalah sulitnya pemilihan jenis perangkat keras yang sesuai dengan kebutuhan. Ada beberapa parameter yang harus diperhatikan dalam menentukan komponen perangkat keras yang tepat, yaitu Random Access Memeory (RAM), Processor, dan Network Interface Card (NIC). Dalam penelitian ini, hanya berfokus pada pengujian pengaruh Multi Core dalam sebuah Processor. Seperti yang diketahui, Processor merupakan perangkat utama yang sangat penting dalam komputer. Jika diibaratkan, Processor merupakan otak dari komputer yang akan digunakan untuk menguji tingkat keamanan dari sebuah aplikasi yang akan atau sudah dibangun. Selain itu, pemilihan jenis Processor juga sangat berpengaruh dalam pemrosesan tugas yang akan dilakukan oleh komputer uji dalam rancangan pembangunan laboratorium kemanan informasi ini, sehingga pemilihan Processor sangatlah penting. Hasil akhir dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mendapatkan rekomendasi Processor yang sesuai dengan kebutuhan komputer uji pada Blueprint laboratorium kemanan informasi

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a highly aggressive B-cell neoplasm that is well known to be associated with HIV. The presentation usually reflects the underline immunodeficiency state (like opportunistic infections and chronic diarrhea, and enlarged lymph nodes). The most common causes for 3rd cranial nerve palsy are intracranial aneurysm, ischemia, trauma, and migraine. But for our case, it turned out to be associated with underline HIV and BL, which is an unusual cause. Here, we present a 43-year-old gentleman with no past medical history presented to the emergency department with 4 days history of drooping of left eyelid and headache and binocular diplopia with no other neurological features. CT abdomen showed lymph node enlargement. Lymph node biopsy showed the characteristic of Burkitt’s cell lymphoma. He was started on chemotherapy, but unfortunately, he died. We’re enlightening this case of an isolated oculomotor nerve palsy to diagnose lethal pathology like disseminated BL.

Kebutuhan informasi bagi pengelola kegiatan Desa sangat penting, khususnya bagi Kepala Desa dan para staf di kantor Desa, maupun para pengelola unit kerja di lingkungan Desa Panyocokan Ciwidey. Informasi dibutuhkan agar ekeftifitas layanan kepada publik dapat meningkat. Evaluasi dan pengambilan keputusan di lingkungan Desa Panycokan selama ini dirasakan lambat karena dukungan informasi yang kurang baik terkait dengan jumlah konten yang diharapakan dan kecepatan serta kualitas informasi yang kurang baik. Kebutuhan informasi saat ini dilakukan manual dari catatan-catatan buku besar kegiatan yang diolah per periode bulanan dan belum menggunakan sarana bantu teknologi pengeolahan data yang baik. Selain itu sulit untuk mengakses informasi Desa, bila stackholder berada jauh di luar kantor. Penelitian dimaksudkan untuk mengukur tingkat e-readiness Perangkat Desa terhadap penggunaan Teknologi Informasi Penelitian dilakukan menggunakan 5 faktor, yaitu: enterprise readiness, human resources readiness, information readiness, ICT readiness, dan external environment readiness. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan mengambil studi kasus di Desa Panyocokan, Kecamatan Ciwidey Kabupaten Bandung Jawa Barat. Hasil penelitian diharapkan dapat menunjukkan tingkat e-readiness sesuai faktor-faktor yang digunakan. Hasilnya akan digunakan untuk meningkatkan literasi teknologi informasi aparat desa yang dilakukan dengan memperhatikan faktor-faktor yang menjadi prioritas sesuai kondisi dan karakteristik di lingkungan Desa Panyocokan.

The aim of this study was to examine and describe genetic structure on autochthonous maize germplasm (flint types) from different localities in Kosovo using Hbr markers. The genetic characterization of 6-8 individual seedlings per each of 20 landraces was conducted by Hbr display calculated per selective base, the most efficient genetic diversity estimator to distinguish between landraces was primer combination Hbr-Int5-F/MseI+T. The strongest genetic relatedness (r = 55.57) had landrace ACC4 having orange colored seeds, showing the highest genetic uniformity when compared to other accessions. Clustering analysis using the Bayesian approach generated two genetic clusters for observed landraces. As a measure of population structure influenced by genetic drift and migration, Fst values for each genetic cluster were obtained. Higher Fst (0.4027) was calculated within the first genetic group comparing to the second one (0.2001), reflecting a higher levels of out-crossing and conservation between landraces from the first genetic cluster. A similar distribution of genetic linkages was observed from dendrogram, constructed using Dice coefficient and neighbour-joining (NJ) algorithm with minor deviations for landraces ACC6 and ACC28. Genotypes of ACCmk landrace reveal the highest genetic distinction compared to other genotypes, reflecting the highest number of bands (241) and the highest number of private bands (10) as the number of bands unique to a single population, respectively.

IHMCIF (github.com/ihmwg/IHMCIF) is a data information framework that supports archiving and disseminating macromolecular structures determined by integrative or hybrid modeling (IHM), and making them Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR). IHMCIF is an extension of the Protein Data Bank Exchange/macromolecular Crystallographic Information Framework (PDBx/mmCIF) that serves as the framework for the Protein Data Bank (PDB) to archive experimentally determined atomic structures of biological macromolecules and their complexes with one another and small molecule ligands (e.g., enzyme cofactors and drugs). IHMCIF serves as the foundational data standard for the PDB-Dev prototype system, developed for archiving and disseminating integrative structures. It utilizes a flexible data representation to describe integrative structures that span multiple spatiotemporal scales and structural states with definitions for restraints from a variety of experimental methods contributing to integrative structural biology. The IHMCIF extension was created with the benefit of considerable community input and recommendations gathered by the Worldwide Protein Data Bank (wwPDB) Task Force for Integrative or Hybrid Methods (wwpdb.org/task/hybrid). Herein, we describe the development of IHMCIF to support evolving methodologies and ongoing advancements in integrative structural biology. Ultimately, IHMCIF will facilitate the unification of PDB-Dev data and tools with the PDB archive so that integrative structures can be archived and disseminated through PDB.

Purpose: Plant-derived phytochemicals have shown epigenetic modulatory effect in different types of cancer by reversing the pattern of DNA methylation and chromatin modulation, thereby restoring the function of silenced tumor-suppressor genes. In the present study, attempts have been made to explore chrysin-mediated epigenetic alterations in HeLa cells.Methods: Colony formation and migration assays followed by methylation-specific PCR for examining the methylation status of CpG promoters of various tumor-suppressor genes (TSGs) and the expression of these TSGs at the transcript and protein levels were performed. Furthermore, global DNA methylation; biochemical activities of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), histone methyl transferases (HMTs), histone deacetylases (HDACs), and histone acetyl transferases (HATs) along with the expression analysis of chromatin-modifying enzymes; and H3 and H4 histone modification marks analyses were performed after chrysin treatment.Results: The experimental analyses revealed that chrysin treatment encourages cytostatic behavior as well as inhibits the migration capacity of HeLa cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Chrysin reduces the methylation of various tumor-suppressor genes, leading to their reactivation at mRNA and protein levels. The expression levels of various chromatin-modifying enzymes viz DNMTs, HMTs, HDACs, and HATS were found to be decreased, and H3 and H4 histone modification marks were modulated too. Also, reduced global DNA methylation was observed following the treatment of chrysin.Conclusion: This study concludes that chrysin can be used as a potential epigenetic modifier for cancer treatment and warrants for further experimental validation.

Abnormal accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum and their aggregation causes inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress. This promotes accumulation of toxic proteins in the body tissues especially brain leading to manifestation of neurodegenerative diseases. The studies suggest that deregulation of proteostasis, particularly aberrant unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling, may be a common morbific process in the development of neurodegeneration. Curcumin, the mixture of low molecular weight polyphenolic compounds from turmeric, Curcuma longa has shown promising response to prevents many diseases including current global severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and neurodegenerative disorders. The UPR which correlates positively with neurodegenerative disorders were found affected by curcumin. In this review, we examine the evidence from many model systems illustrating how curcumin interacts with UPR and slows down the development of various neurodegenerative disorders (ND), e.g., Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The recent global increase in ND patients indicates that researchers and practitioners will need to develop a new pharmacological drug or treatment to manage and cure these neurodegenerative diseases.

Stem cells are a versatile source for cell therapy. Their use is particularly significant for the treatment of neurological disorders for which no definitive conventional medical treatment is available. Neurological disorders are of diverse etiology and pathogenesis. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is caused by abnormal protein deposits, leading to progressive dementia. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is due to the specific degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons causing motor and sensory impairment. Huntington’s disease (HD) includes a transmittable gene mutation, and any treatment should involve gene modulation of the transplanted cells. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder affecting multiple neurons sporadically but induces progressive neuronal dysfunction. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) impacts upper and lower motor neurons, leading to progressive muscle degeneration. This shows the need to try to tailor different types of cells to repair the specific defect characteristic of each disease. In recent years, several types of stem cells were used in different animal models, including transgenic animals of various neurologic disorders. Based on some of the successful animal studies, some clinical trials were designed and approved. Some studies were successful, others were terminated and, still, a few are ongoing. In this manuscript, we aim to review the current information on both the experimental and clinical trials of stem cell therapy in neurological disorders of various disease mechanisms. The different types of cells used, their mode of transplantation and the molecular and physiologic effects are discussed. Recommendations for future use and hopes are highlighted.

Abstract Pheochromocytoma can present with right hypochondrial pain, elevated liver enzymes, and a misleading appearance on ultrasound scan mimicking hepatic mass due to the proximity of adrenal masses to the liver.

This paper examines the relationship between the presence of the foreign chief executive officer (CEO) as a director of a firm and firm performance in Saudi Arabia. Performance is measured in terms of a business’ profitability proxy, return on assets (ROA), and the market performance measure, Tobin’s Q. Herein, we use a sample of non-financial companies that have been listed in Saudi Arabia between 2005 and 2016. The results reveal that firms managed by a local CEO outperform firms helmed by their foreign counterparts. They also support the notion that the success of managing directors in emerging markets requires cultural and intercultural skills.

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is the sole mediator of nucleocytoplasmic transport. Despite great advances in understanding its conserved core architecture, the peripheral regions can exhibit considerable variation within and between species. One such structure is the cage-like nuclear basket. Despite its crucial roles in mRNA surveillance and chromatin organization, an architectural understanding has remained elusive. Using in-cell cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram analysis, we explored the NPC's structural variations and the nuclear basket across fungi (yeast; S. cerevisiae), mammals (mouse; M. musculus), and protozoa (T. gondii). Using integrative structural modeling, we computed a model of the basket in yeast and mammals that revealed how a hub of nucleoporins (Nups) in the nuclear ring binds to basket-forming Mlp/Tpr proteins: the coiled-coil domains of Mlp/Tpr form the struts of the basket, while their unstructured termini constitute the basket distal densities, which potentially serve as a docking site for mRNA preprocessing before nucleocytoplasmic transport.

The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of selenium (Se) on the biomass production and the contents of photosynthetically active pigments. The pot experiment included two maize genotypes: hybrid 408BC originating from Croatia and a local maize population from Kosovo. The doses of Se applied were 0, 1.30, 6.57, 13, and 26 mg kg−1. The lowest Se dose (1.30 mg Se kg−1) had a positive effect on shoot and root biomass production as well as on the contents of chlorophyll b (Chl-b), total chlorophyll, and carotenoids (just for the hybrid). Chlorophyll a (Chl-a) was reduced with increasing Se doses, whereas chlorophyll b (Chl-b) and total chlorophyll further increased with medium Se doses. The highest Se dose strongly reduced biomass and the contents of photosynthetically active pigments. Chl-a and carotenoids positively correlated with shoot (for both genotypes) and root (for the hybrid) biomass, whereas no correlation was observed between Chl-b and biomass. Low amounts of Se application are favorable for biomass production and chlorophyll and carotenoids contents, whereas high amounts of Se application negatively affect both.

Trends in the food industry are nowadays directed towards the reduction of the level of trans fatty acids in food intended for human consumption. The present study was designed and aimed at valorizing Dacryodes edulis (L.) powder as a substitute for margarine in the production of functional rice biscuits. The effect of substituting margarine and refined wheat flour with D. edulis powder locally called safou and rice flour, respectively, at different proportions was assessed for the sensory and physicochemical properties of the formulated biscuits. For this, statistical models were developed, validated, and optimized using the response surface methodology with the Doehlert design as a tool. The results showed that an increase in the substitution rate of margarine with of D. edulis powder enhanced the aroma while the substitution of refined wheat flour with rice flour led to an improvement of the overall quality of the biscuits. The optimal composition of dough for the production of biscuits with satisfying sensory properties was 20.24% of wheat flour, 24.51% of rice flour, 19.09% of margarine, and 2.47% of D. edulis powder. The optimized biscuit which scored the highest overall acceptability contained proteins (10.33 g/100 g DM), fat (27.66 g/100 g DM), crude fibers (2.5 g/100 g DM), ash (3.55 g/100 g DM), and carbohydrates (54.01 g/100 g DM). It has an energy density of 506.3±0.1 kcal/g and could therefore be suitable for the management of malnutrition. Mineral analysis revealed that the biscuit contained sodium (0.200 mg/100 g), potassium (0.192 mg/100 g), phosphorus (0.123 mg/100 g), iron (33.60 ppm), and zinc (26.81 ppm) at levels satisfying the recommended daily intakes. The results of this study demonstrated the suitability of safou as substitute of margarine in the rice biscuit formulation and suggests the potential of the formulated biscuits in the management of malnutrition and noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases.

Dementia—a syndrome affecting human cognition—is a major public health concern given to its rising prevalence worldwide. Though multiple research studies have analyzed disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Frontotemporal dementia using a systems biology approach, a similar approach to dementia syndrome as a whole is required. In this study, we try to find the high-impact core regulating processes and factors involved in dementia’s protein–protein interaction network. We also explore various aspects related to its stability and signal propagation. Using gene interaction databases such as STRING and GeneMANIA, a principal dementia network (PDN) consisting of 881 genes and 59,085 interactions was achieved. It was assortative in nature with hierarchical, scale-free topology enriched in various gene ontology (GO) categories and KEGG pathways, such as negative and positive regulation of apoptotic processes, macroautophagy, aging, response to drug, protein binding, etc. Using a clustering algorithm (Louvain method of modularity maximization) iteratively, we found a number of communities at different levels of hierarchy in PDN consisting of 95 “motif-localized hubs”, out of which, 7 were present at deepest level and hence were key regulators (KRs) of PDN (HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1, EGFR, FYN, JUN, CELF2 and CTNNA3). In order to explore aspects of network’s resilience, a knockout (of motif-localized hubs) experiment was carried out. It changed the network’s topology from a hierarchal scale-free topology to scale-free, where independent clusters exhibited greater control. Additionally, network experiments on interaction of druggable genome and motif-localized hubs were carried out where UBC, EGFR, APP, CTNNB1, NTRK1, FN1, HSP90AA1, MDM2, VCP, CTNNA1 and GRB2 were identified as hubs in the resultant network (RN). We finally concluded that stability and resilience of PDN highly relies on motif-localized hubs (especially those present at deeper levels), making them important therapeutic intervention candidates. HSP90AA1, involved in heat shock response (and its master regulator, i.e., HSF1), and EGFR are most important genes in pathology of dementia apart from KRs, given their presence as KRs as well as hubs in RN.

SLC22A10 is an orphan transporter with unknown substrates and function. The goal of this study is to elucidate its substrate specificity and functional characteristics. In contrast to orthologs from great apes, human SLC22A10, tagged with green fluorescent protein, is not expressed on the plasma membrane. Cells expressing great ape SLC22A10 orthologs exhibit significant accumulation of estradiol-17β-glucuronide, unlike those expressing human SLC22A10. Sequence alignments reveal a proline at position 220 in humans, which is a leucine in great apes. Replacing proline with leucine in SLC22A10-P220L restores plasma membrane localization and uptake function. Neanderthal and Denisovan genomes show proline at position 220, akin to modern humans, indicating functional loss during hominin evolution. Human SLC22A10 is a unitary pseudogene due to a fixed missense mutation, P220, while in great apes, its orthologs transport sex steroid conjugates. Characterizing SLC22A10 across species sheds light on its biological role, influencing organism development and steroid homeostasis.

Multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) is a broadly expressed ATP-binding cassette transporter that is unique among the MRP subfamily for transporting prostanoids, a group of signaling molecules derived from unsaturated fatty acids. To better understand the basis of the substrate selectivity of MRP4, we used cryogenic-electron microscopy to determine six structures of nanodisc-reconstituted MRP4 at various stages throughout its transport cycle. Substrate-bound structures of MRP4 in complex with PGE1, PGE2 and the sulfonated-sterol DHEA-S reveal a common binding site that accommodates a diverse set of organic anions and suggest an allosteric mechanism for substrate-induced enhancement of MRP4 ATPase activity. Our structure of a catalytically compromised MRP4 mutant bound to ATP-Mg2+ is outward-occluded, a conformation previously unobserved in the MRP subfamily and consistent with an alternating-access transport mechanism. Our study provides insights into the endogenous function of this versatile efflux transporter and establishes a basis for MRP4-targeted drug design.

Performance of a Yanmar DB 1000 mechanised paddy thresher was comparatively assessed against manual threshing by impact method using a locally-made wooden box for Amankwatia and AGRA rice varieties under farmer’s field conditions at Nobewam in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The mechanised thresher was evaluated at various threshing drum speeds (550 rpm, 600 rpm and 650 rpm) and feeding rates (200 kgh–1, 400 kgh–1 and 600 kgh–1). Results showed that threshing was satisfactory at grain moisture content between 16.9% w.b. and 18.0% w.b. for both rice varieties. Threshing efficiency increased from 94.6% to 95.8% with no significant difference observed whereas cleaning efficiency decreased significantly from 84.2% to 81.6% with increasing feed rate irrespective of rice variety. Again, threshing efficiency increased with increasing drum rotational speed, irrespective of feed rate and rice variety. Percentage broken grain and grain loss both increased with increasing peripheral drum speed and paddy feed rate irrespective of rice variety. Average fuel consumption, physical energy requirement and threshing capacity increased significantly with increasing drum speed and feed rate. Crop moisture content and shattering ability influenced the threshing efficiency, threshing capacity, grain loss, broken grain, fuel and physical energy requirement at threshing. AGRA rice variety generally performed better than Amankwatia under both mechanical and manually threshing methods. Mechanised threshing was significantly better at reducing grain loss and physical energy demand whilst yielding over 200% higher threshing capacity than manual threshing by impact using the wooden box. Mechanised threshing was financially rewarding, yielding over 500% higher profit margin than the manual threshing option. Further research on optimum crop moisture content for improved threshing of different rice varieties is suggested.

Three perennial legumes (alfalfa, red clover and birdsfoot trefoil) and four cool-season perennial grasses (orchardgrass, tall fescue, Italian ryegrass and red fescue) were grown in legume–grass combinations and in pure stands of individual species, at three locations in the West Balkan region (Novi Sad, Banja Luka and Pristina) in the period from 2012 to 2015. The study evaluated dry matter yield, legume–grass–weed proportion and forage quality. High annual forage yield of legume–grass mixtures can be obtained with proper selection of species and an appropriate legume–grass ratio. However, high and stable yield, particularly in the case of grasses, depends on the amount and schedule of precipitation as well as the cutting time. The mixtures and legume pure stands achieved better forage production both per cutting and on the annual basis and had better forage quality than grass pure stands.

Tulipa scardica and T. kosovarica are rare, endemic and endangered plants in Kosovo. This research was carried out to study the dormancy breaking treatment in Tulipa scardica and T. kosovarica seeds by pre-chilling and various concentration of potassium nitrate (KNO3), gibberellic acid (GA3), kinetin, thiourea and sulfuric acid (H2SO4). The experiment was conducted with untreated seeds (without stratification) and with stratified seeds (8 weeks) and treated with different concentration of some chemicals and plant growth regulators. Results showed that the final germination percentage (FGP) of seeds without stratification at both Tulipa plant species was zero, while germination was enhanced by pre-chilling (stratification) especially after treatment of these seeds by above mentioned treatments. Both Tulipa species showed an increase in mean germination time (MGT), an indication of slower germination, as different chemicals or plant growth regulators increased. Depending on treatments, germination was ranging from 80 % to 90 %, the maximum germination was detected in seeds treated with KNO3, GA3, and their combination, while the minimum germination in seeds without treatments and treated with thiourea. The conservation of these plants in botanic gardens by cultivation or propagation for commercial use as ornamental plants could give an effective contribution to the conservation of these plants. Abbreviations: KNO3 – potassium nitrate; GA3 - gibberellic acid; H2SO4 – sulfuric acid; FGP – final germination percentage; MGT – mean germination time

Curriculum development is imperative for the overall success of the educational system more so in sustainable development efforts. In the Philippines, the institutionalization of the Madrasah Education Program in public schools provides an opportunity to ensure access to quality and relevant education among Muslim-Filipino learners. The Refined Elementary Madrasah Curriculum serves as the foundation for creating instructional decisions to actualize educational outcomes. However, since the program's inception in 2004, there are various concerns, especially in terms of the elements of the curriculum. There is a dearth of professional literature on the curriculum development practices of Madrasah Education in the Philippines, especially in the planning phase. Thus, the study sought to discuss and explore the naturalistic model as an alternative to planning the Refined Elementary Madrasah Curriculum. This study employed a literature review and used a theoretical synthesis. The analysis revealed that there is a need to democratize curriculum planning initiatives. Furthermore, the implications of the naturalistic model in terms of the platform as anchored to 'Education in Islamic Perspective' as the point of inception in the planning process is unprecedented. The concept of democratization has highlighted the narratives of relevant stakeholders as part of the deliberation to form a holistic consensus. In curriculum design, decision points must be achieved to include deliberate plans for implementation and evaluation. In conclusion, the challenge to ensuring sustainable development in Madrasah Education Program is how to formulate genuine consensus from various stakeholders and create decision points that are relevant to the Philippine context. [Note: The publication year (2022) shown on the PDF is incorrect. The correct publication year for this article is 2023.]

The DepEd Order No. 41, s. 2017 catapulted the implementation of the Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) Program. However, since its inception, there is a dearth of professional literature on a coherent sociological understanding of Muslim education in the Philippines. This paper aims to provide an understanding of the implementation challenges of the ALIVE program employing sociological perspectives. The study utilized a qualitative research method anchored on Case Study Research Model. Five ALIVE implementers in Metro Manila were part of the research participants. A thematic analysis was initiated and triangulation of data was employed from relevant data sources. The analysis results showed several challenges faced by the select ALIVE schools: The intended curriculum lacks appreciation of the approaches and evaluation of student learning. The scarcity of learning spaces was evident. In teaching, most of the "Asatidz" or Madrasah teachers require enhancement of their pedagogical competence. The cultural variance among Muslims is still evident, especially in non-Muslim communities. The findings indicate that there is a need to create deliberate plans to achieve the intended learning outcomes of the ALIVE Program. Given the various gaps and challenges identified in this study, there is a necessity to evaluate the program at the grassroots. In conclusion, maximizing and strengthening the participation of the various stakeholders and different sectors in society is imperative in the development and sustainability of Muslim education programs in the Philippines.

The current study investigates the effects of instruction with the storytelling approach on sixth-graders' values, attitudes and motivation in relation to the study of the human nervous system. The instruction consisted of a series of lessons on the human nervous system in which nine stories were included. The study employed a one-group pre-test and post-test design. Twenty-four pupils, all of whom were girls, participated in the study. The Dilemma Cases Form (Inventory), an attitude scale towards science, and a motivation scale for science were administered before and after the intervention. Pre and post-tests were compared using the non-parametric Wilcoxson's Rank Sum Tests. The results indicated that sixth-graders who were exposed to story-telling as part of the instruction improved their scores on the values and attitudes toward science scales but not those for motivation. Based on the results, it is argued that the story-telling approach in the unit on the human nervous system could be a good source of enrichment for sixth graders in science education.

Actin mediates insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells through remodeling. Hampered by limited resolution, previous studies have offered an ambiguous depiction as depolymerization and repolymerization. We report the in situ structure of actin remodeling in INS-1E β-cells during glucose-stimulated insulin secretion at nanoscale resolution. After remodeling, the actin filament network at the cell periphery exhibits three marked differences: 12% of actin filaments reorient quasi-orthogonally to the ventral membrane; the filament network mainly remains as cell-stabilizing bundles but partially reconfigures into a less compact arrangement; actin filaments anchored to the ventral membrane reorganize from a netlike to a blooming architecture. Furthermore, the density of actin filaments and microtubules around insulin secretory granules decreases, while actin filaments and microtubules become more densely packed. The actin filament network after remodeling potentially precedes the transport and release of insulin secretory granules. These findings advance our understanding of actin remodeling and its role in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.

Karin Ried,1–3 Nikolaj Travica,1 Avni Sali1 1National Institute of Integrative Medicine, Melbourne, 2Faculty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, 3Department of General Practice, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia Background: Hypertension affects 30% of adults worldwide. Garlic supplements have shown promise in the treatment of uncontrolled hypertension, and the mechanism of action is biologically plausible. Our trial is the first to assess the effect of aged garlic extract on central blood pressure and arterial stiffness, regarded as important risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity. Subjects and methods: A total of 88 general practice patients and community members with uncontrolled hypertension completed a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial of 12 weeks investigating the effect of daily intake of aged garlic extract (1.2 g containing 1.2 mg S-allylcysteine) or placebo on blood pressure, and secondary outcome measures of central-hemodynamics and other cardiovascular markers, including cholesterol, homocysteine, platelet function, and inflammatory markers. Results: Mean blood pressure was significantly reduced by 5.0±2.1 mmHg (P=0.016) systolic, and in responders by 11.5±1.9 mmHg systolic and 6.3±1.1 mmHg diastolic compared to placebo (P

Action video-games (AVGs) could improve reading efficiency, enhancing not only visual attention but also phonological processing. Here we tested the AVG effects upon three consolidated language-based predictors of reading development in a sample of 79 pre-readers at-risk and 41 non-at-risk for developmental dyslexia. At-risk children were impaired in either phonemic awareness (i.e., phoneme discrimination task), phonological working memory (i.e., pseudoword repetition task) or rapid automatized naming (i.e., RAN of colours task). At-risk children were assigned to different groups by using an unequal allocation randomization: (1) AVG (n = 43), (2) Serious Non-Action Video Game (n = 11), (3) treatment-as-usual (i.e., speech therapy, n = 11), and (4) waiting list (n = 14). Pre- and post-training comparisons show that only phonemic awareness has a significantly higher improvement in the AVG group compared to the waiting list, the non-AVG, and the treatment-as-usual groups, as well as the combined active groups (n = 22). This cross-modal plastic change: (i) leads to a recovery in phonemic awareness when compared to the not-at-risk pre-readers; (ii) is present in more than 80% of AVG at-risk pre-readers, and; (iii) is maintained at a 6-months follow-up. The present findings indicate that this specific multisensory attentional training positively affects how phonemic awareness develops in pre-readers at risk for developmental dyslexia, paving the way for innovative prevention programs.