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Human amylin (hIAPP) is found in the form of amyloid deposits within the pancreatic cells of nearly all patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, rat amylin (rIAPP) and pramlintide - hIAPP analogs - are both non-toxic and non-amyloidogenic. Their primary sequences exhibit only slight variations in a few amino acid residues, primarily concentrated in the central region, spanning residues 20 to 29. This inspired us to study this fragment and investigate the impact on the aggregation properties of substituting residues within the central region of amylin and its analogs. Six fragments derived from amylin have undergone comprehensive testing against various metal ions by implementing a range of analytical techniques, including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Thioflavin T (ThT) assays, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and cytotoxicity assays. These methodologies serve to provide a thorough understanding of how the substitutions and interactions with metal ions impact the aggregation behavior of amylin and its analogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWomen’s contributions to development through their activities in the informal sector have been extensively examined in a plethora of literature. There is, however, a lacuna with respect to a focus on women’s specific informal sector economic activities and their impact on local communities. Dwelling on a variety of sources of information, this study fills that gap through a historical exploration of women’s production and sale of Fante kenkey and its impact on the people of Yamoransa from the pre-colonial period up to 2016. The study establishes that the production and sale of Fante kenkey underwent significant transformations and the women (Akutiabↄfo) who engaged in it contributed immensely to social and economic development in Yamoransa, the Central Region and Ghana as a whole. The major challenge of the (Akutiabↄfo), which was lack of a safe market place for sellers of Yamoransa Fante Kenkey, however remained unresolved.

Human amylin (hIAPP) is found in the form of amyloid deposits within the pancreatic cells of nearly all patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, rat amylin (rIAPP) and pramlintide - hIAPP analogs - are both non-toxic and non-amyloidogenic. Their primary sequences exhibit only slight variations in a few amino acid residues, primarily concentrated in the central region, spanning residues 20 to 29. This inspired us to study this fragment and investigate the impact on the aggregation properties of substituting residues within the central region of amylin and its analogs. Six fragments derived from amylin have undergone comprehensive testing against various metal ions by implementing a range of analytical techniques, including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Thioflavin T (ThT) assays, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and cytotoxicity assays. These methodologies serve to provide a thorough understanding of how the substitutions and interactions with metal ions impact the aggregation behavior of amylin and its analogs.

Abstract Indian farmers are vulnerable to changing climate with unpredictable rainfall distribution, rising temperature, and complex socioeconomic conditions. The present study aims to assess livelihood vulnerability of farmers in two regions of the most populous State of Uttar Pradesh namely Bundelkhand and Central region. By using multistage random sampling technique, a total of 480 samples from 16 villages, 8 development blocks, 4 districts, and 2 regions were selected to elicit grass-root information on farmers’ perception of climate change, their sensitivity and adaptive capacity to changing climate, and determinants of livelihood vulnerability. Further, this study has adopted methodology mentioned in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s fourth Assessment Report for the development of climate vulnerability index. The results show that farmers in Jhansi district were highly vulnerable to changing climate, while farmers in Barabanki district were relatively less vulnerable. The elevated degree of vulnerability to livelihood in Jhansi district attributed to its comparatively higher exposure and sensitivity to climatic change. The Binary Logistic Regression results show that illiterate farmers are relatively more vulnerable than literate farmers. On the contrary, higher income, assured irrigation, the use of certified seeds, and crop insurance are negatively associated with the LVI. In other words, farmers who have income from non-farm sources, use certified and recommended seed varieties, and avail themselves of crop insurance are relatively less vulnerable to climate change than those who do not have the aforesaid facilities. Hence, the present study suggests that farmers, must adapt to climate change to reduce its negative impact and reap the benefits of adaptation which can be achieved through capacity building, skill development (i.e., use of ultra-modern techniques), and capacity to strengthen the farmers’ ability to adapt. Further, there is also a need to sensitize government officials on the dangers of climate change and to provide appropriate technical support to farmers for their adaptation.

Indian farmers are vulnerable to changing climate with unpredictable rainfall distribution, rising temperature, and complex socioeconomic conditions. The present study aims to assess livelihood vulnerability of farmers in two regions of the most populous State of Uttar Pradesh namely Bundelkhand and Central region. By using multistage random sampling technique, a total of 480 samples from 16 villages, 8 development blocks, 4 districts, and 2 regions were selected to elicit grass-root information on farmers' perception of climate change, their sensitivity and adaptive capacity to changing climate, and determinants of livelihood vulnerability. Further, this study has adopted methodology mentioned in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's fourth Assessment Report for the development of climate vulnerability index. The results show that farmers in Jhansi district were highly vulnerable to changing climate, while farmers in Barabanki district were relatively less vulnerable. The elevated degree of vulnerability to livelihood in Jhansi district attributed to its comparatively higher exposure and sensitivity to climatic change. The Binary Logistic Regression results show that illiterate farmers are relatively more vulnerable than literate farmers. On the contrary, higher income, assured irrigation, the use of certified seeds, and crop insurance are negatively associated with the LVI. In other words, farmers who have income from non-farm sources, use certified and recommended seed varieties, and avail themselves of crop insurance are relatively less vulnerable to climate change than those who do not have the aforesaid facilities. Hence, the present study suggests that farmers, must adapt to climate change to reduce its negative impact and reap the benefits of adaptation which can be achieved through capacity building, skill development (i.e., use of ultra-modern techniques), and capacity to strengthen the farmers' ability to adapt. Further, there is also a need to sensitize government officials on the dangers of climate change and to provide appropriate technical support to farmers for their adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The source of clastic sediments generally, can be traced to their source through provenance studies using the whole rock geochemistry of clastic sediments. However, the provenance of the Au-bearing stream sediments within the central parts of Tanzania is yet to be deciphered. Hence, in this study, to enhance exploration targeting, the source of the Au-bearing stream sediments was characterized using whole-rock geochemistry. The performance of linear regression (LR), decision tree (DT), and polynomial regression (PR) models as prediction models for the Au mineralization in the area, were also compared as additional Au exploration techniques worth exploring in the area. The weathering condition proxies, CIA, ICV, CIW, and PIA as well as discriminant diagrams suggest weakly to intensely weathered sediments. The values of SiO2/Al2O3 and K2O/Al2O3 are indicative of felsic source rocks rather than compositional maturity due to sediments reworking. From Th/Cr, Cr/Th, Th/U, La/Sc, and Th/Sc proxies, the Au-bearing stream sediments are sourced from felsic igneous rocks. These indications are corroborated by the correlation matrix assessment. However, Au is not sourced from the same source rocks as the host sediments due probably, to a prior depositional mixing of the sediments before subsequent transportation to their current depositional environment. With R2 (0.62), MAE (0.6035), MSE (0.6546), and RMSE (0.8091) for LR, R2 (1.0), MAE (0.7500), MSE (1.6273), and RMSE (1.2752) for DT, and R2 (1.0), MAE (2.6608), MSE (12.7840), and RMSE (3.5755), for PR. The LR model performs better in predicting the Au occurrence in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista El Directivo al Día is the property of Centro de Informacion y Gestion Tecnologica (CIGET) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Decommissioning of offshore petroleum installations is innately risky and adversely affects the livelihoods of fishing communities' dependent on access to the marine resources. However, it remains unclear how Ghana's legislative framework addresses the protection of local livelihoods during the decommissioning of its first offshore installation, the Saltpond Oil and Gas Field. We designed a case study to explore the legislative responses and impact of decommissioning on the livelihoods of fishers in five affected fishing communities in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region of Ghana. The primary data used in this study was through the survey of 191 fishers and interview of representatives of state institutions relevant to this study. We found that Ghana's legislative framework for decommissioning did not adequately address negative impacts on local fishing communities whose livelihoods were greatly disrupted due to these activities. We recommend that detailed guidelines are incorporated in the legislative framework before further decommissioning is undertaken and that the government provide alternative livelihood options to the impacted communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article evaluates the coupling coordination relationship between primary healthcare service capacity and economic development level in the central region from 2012 to 2021 through the entropy value method，comprehensive evaluation function，and coupling coordination degree to understand the coupling coordination between primary healthcare service capacity，economic development，and its change trend， thereby further promoting the coordinated development between the two systems. The results show that from 2012 to 2021，the capacity of primary healthcare services and the level of economic development in the central region tended to develop in a coordinated manner，and the mean value of the coupling coordination degree of the two systems grew from 0.397 to 0.709. The coupling coordination level changes from mildly dysfunctional to intermediate coordinated. The one with the highest coupling coordination level is Henan Province，reaching the level of high - quality coordination，followed by Hunan Province and Hubei Province for good - coordinated development. The one with the lowest coupling coordination level is Shanxi Province，which is at the stage of intermediate dissonance. Although the overall coupling coordination level in the central region is relatively stable，the coordinated development of each region is still unstable，with a state in which the capacity of primary healthcare services lags the level of economic development. Therefore，it is necessary to improve the coupling coordination between the capacity of primary healthcare services and economic development，and reduce the differences in the coupling coordination level between each region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the synchronized progression of regional logistics and environmental support systems in China’s central region. Utilizing a comprehensive evaluation index system, the study employs a combination of entropy methods, TOPSIS analysis, and coupling coordination modeling to assess the development levels of regional logistics and environmental support systems across six central provinces from 2011 to 2020. The analysis focuses on comprehensive scores, coupling coordination degrees, and spatiotemporal evolution characteristics. The results indicate a synergistic relationship between the two systems in the six central provinces, with both comprehensive scores and coupling coordination D values demonstrating consistent growth over time. The study reveals a coordinated and orderly developmental pattern in the coupling and coordination relationship between the six provinces and the two systems within the central region. The overall degree of coupling and coordination in the central region exhibits a well-coordinated status, with provinces ranked as follows: Henan > Anhui and Hubei > Hunan > Shanxi and Jiangxi. This ranking demonstrates a spatial characteristic of high coordination in the middle and lower coordination at both extremities. The research identifies the underdeveloped state of regional logistics as the primary limiting factor. From the notable findings, this study’s conclusions offer valuable insights for policy formulation regarding the coordinated development of regional logistics and environmental support systems in China’s central region.

The central region is an important strategic area that encompasses the east and the west and connects the south and the north. Promoting high-quality urban development in the central region plays a positive role in comprehensively upgrading the central rising strategy and realizing coordinated regional development. Based on the measurement index system result of the level of high-quality urban development in the central region, this study describes the regional gap and its dynamic evolution through the Dagum Gini coefficient and the kernel density function. In addition, it analyzes the causes of the gap in high-quality development of cities in the central region from the perspective of problem area identification. The result shows that the overall high-quality development of cities in the central region is increasing, with high-level cities clustering around the core cities. The relative regional disparities continue to narrow, but the absolute differences tend to expand. The super-variable density tends to be the main source of the overall difference, and the high-quality development of cities in each region is positively spatial correlated with each other. At present, the lagging economic development and outcomes sharing are the main obstacles to the high-quality development of cities in the central region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Malaysian Parliament established the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on the Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG) in response to growing public awareness of Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDG, 2030). One of the purposes of this research is to examine the SDG implications of beneficiary solution projects as part of a bipartisan endeavour to improve the implementation of SDG targets in Malaysian parliamentary seats. In the Central Region, which encompasses the parliamentary seats of a few districts in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Pahang, a team is entrusted with compiling a report to combine the impact evaluation of SDG efforts. From October to December 2022, the regional research examined the effects of psychology and these projects' knowledge, skills, networks, and systems on the beneficiaries of the solution projects via document analysis, focus group discussions, and site visits. The effectiveness of solution providers in managing and carrying out projects, the effect on the beneficiaries, the alignment and mapping of the impact evaluations of the solution providers with the SDG goals and APPGM-SDG modules, and the identification of challenges and suggested fixes are also covered in the paper. The research also presents the quantitative analysis performed by the evaluators using standardised questionnaires that gauge six (6) essential factors: Deep, Wide, Clear, High, SDG, and Gender. The main finding is that eradicating poverty is the aim of every solution projects. Most participants are unacquainted with the SDG, and COVID-19 has stifled most of the discourse. The research recommends combining online and offline approaches and adding employment possibilities to enhance communication between parties and give more significant opportunities for society after project execution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Contemporary Economy / Wspolczesna Gospodarka is the property of University of Gdansk, Seaborne Trade & Maritime Transport Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: This study investigated malaria transmission under various contrasting settings in the Central Region, a malaria endemic region in Ghana. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in five randomly selected districts in the Central Region of Ghana. Three of the districts were forested, while the rest was coastal. Study participants were selected to coincide with either the regular rainy or dry season. From each study site, hospital attendees were randomly selected with prior consent. Consciously, study participants were selected in both rainy (September and October, 2020) and dry (November and December, 2020) seasons. Clinical data for each patient was checked for clinical malaria suspicion and microscopic confirmation of malaria. Using SPSS Version 24 (Chicago, IL, USA), bivariate analysis was done to determine the association of independent variables (ecological and seasonal variations) with malaria status. When the overall analysis did not yield significant association, further statistical analysis was performed after stratification of variables (into age and gender) to determine whether any or both of them would significantly associate with the dependent variable. Results: Of the 3993 study participants, 62.5% were suspected of malaria whereas 38.2% were confirmed to have clinical falciparum malaria. Data analysis revealed that in both rainy and dry seasons, malaria cases were significantly higher in forested districts ) than coastal districts (x2 = 217.9 vs x2 = 50.9; p

Abstract Governance systems are supposed to develop and manage natural resources for sustainable development. All groups of people with different interests can constructively contribute to sustainable sand mining for national development. This paper examines how governance processes affect sustainable sand mining in two local government areas in the Central Region of Ghana. Data were collected from household heads, core staff of the Assemblies, tipper truck drivers’ association, traditional authorities and farmer groups by the use of interview schedules, interview and focus group discussion guides. SPSS was used to analyze the quantitative data while content analysis was used for qualitative data. The study revealed that there were no coordinated institutional arrangements among the various stakeholders, limited enforcement and compliance of laws derail sustainable sand mining and livelihoods in the affected areas. It recommends that Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, the police and the Assemblies should partner to ensure reclamation and compensation packages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science Technology & Industry is the property of Chinese Society of Technology Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Telos is the property of Revista Telos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background The return of chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum in sub-Saharan Africa countries offers the opportunity for the reintroduction of chloroquine (CQ) either in combination with other drugs or as a single therapy for the management of malaria. This study assesses the influence of individual study sites on the selection of CQ sensitive P. falciparum markers in the Central region of Ghana. Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from an archived filter paper blood blot from Cape Coast, Elmina, Assin Fosu, and Twifo Praso using the Chelex DNA extraction method. The age metadata of the patients from whom the blood spots were taken was collected. The prevalence of CQ-sensitive markers of pfcrt K76 and pfmdr1 N86 was performed using nested PCR and RFLP. The data were analysed using Chi-square and Odd ratio. Results The overall prevalence of CQ-sensitive P. falciparum markers, pfcrt K76 and pfmdr1 N86 in the Central Region of Ghana were 142 out of 184 (77.17%) and 180 out of 184 (97.83%), respectively. The distribution of pfcrt K76 was assessed among the age groups per the individual study sites. 12 out of 33 (36.36%), 8 out of 33 (24.24%) and 6 out of 33 (18.18%) of pfcrt K76 CQ-sensitive marker were isolated from age 0 to 5 years, 16 to 30 years and 31 to 45 years old respectively at Cape Coast. Assin Fosu and Twifo Praso had the highest pfcrt K76 prevalence in 0–5 years, followed by 16–30 years and 6–15 years of age. The results showed that there was a significant prevalence of pfcrt K76 in all study sites; Cape Coast (χ2 = 26.48, p

The manufacturing industry is the foundation of a nation, a tool for rejuvenating a nation， and a foundation for a strong nation. It is an important focus of a modern economic system, a focus of international industrial competition and a major release of deep-seated structural contradictions in the economy. Promoting the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry is the main starting point for promoting the high-quality development of the economy. To evaluate the changes of the industrial competitiveness in the six central provinces from 2011 to 2017, the article takes the central region as the research object, and constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system that includes the current stage of industrial competitiveness, high-quality industrial competitive potential, and industrial competitive environment, and an industrial industry evaluation index system that includes the current stage of industrial competitiveness. Through the analysis of the results, the problems existing in the industrial development of Central China were found, and the following policy suggestions were put forward: to clarify the industrial direction of the high-quality stage, expand the scale and improve quality; grasp the opportunities of industrial develop - ment in the new era to improve the economic benefits of enterprises; focus on the development of technology-intensive industries and promote the transformation of industrial structure; insist on innovation to lead and accelerate industrial agglomeration, and accumulate industrial development potential; improve the supporting environment for industrial informatization and fully support the integration of industrialization and industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated malaria transmission under various contrasting settings in the Central Region, a malaria endemic region in Ghana. This cross-sectional study was carried out in five randomly selected districts in the Central Region of Ghana. Three of the districts were forested, while the rest was coastal. Study participants were selected to coincide with either the regular rainy or dry season. From each study site, hospital attendees were randomly selected with prior consent. Consciously, study participants were selected in both rainy (September and October, 2020) and dry (November and December, 2020) seasons. Clinical data for each patient was checked for clinical malaria suspicion and microscopic confirmation of malaria. Using SPSS Version 24 (Chicago, IL, USA), bivariate analysis was done to determine the association of independent variables (ecological and seasonal variations) with malaria status. When the overall analysis did not yield significant association, further statistical analysis was performed after stratification of variables (into age and gender) to determine whether any or both of them would significantly associate with the dependent variable. Of the 3993 study participants, 62.5% were suspected of malaria whereas 38.2% were confirmed to have clinical falciparum malaria. Data analysis revealed that in both rainy and dry seasons, malaria cases were significantly higher in forested districts) than coastal districts (x 2 = 217.9 vs x 2 = 50.9; p < 0.001). Taken together, the risk of malaria was significantly higher in the dry season (COR = 1.471, p < 0.001) and lower in coastal zones (COR = 0.826, p = 0.007). There was significant reduced risk of participants aged over 39 years of malaria (COR=0.657, p < 0.001). Whereas, in general patients between 10 and 19 years were insignificantly less likely to have malaria (COR = 0.911, p = 0.518) compared to participants aged less than< 10 years, the reverse was observed in coastal districts where patients less than 10 years of age in coastal districts were less likely to have malaria (COR=2.440, p = 0.003). In general, gender did not associate with malaria, but when stratified by study district, the risk of female gender to malaria was significantly higher in Agona Swedru (COR = 5.605, p < 0.001), Assin central (COR = 2.172, p < 0.001), Awutu Senya (COR = 2.410, p < 0.001) and Cape Coast (COR = 3.939, p < 0.001) compared to Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese. This study demonstrated that the predictors of malaria differ from one endemic area to another. Therefore, malaria control interventions such as distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets, residual spraying with insecticide and mass distribution of antimalaria prophylaxis must be intensified in forested districts in all seasons with particular attention on females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the pattern and quality of construction land expansion in urban agglomerations is important for new urbanization and high-quality development of land spaces. Taking urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River as the research object, this study analyzes the spatio-temporal pattern and quality level of construction land expansion at various scales using remote sensing images, the expansion intensity index, the coordination degree model, and the Tapio elastic decoupling model. The results show that from 2000 to 2020, (1) the construction land scale of urban agglomeration in the study area had expanded, with significant stage characteristics and spatial differentiation patterns. (2) The overall relationship between the construction land and the population in urban agglomerations was found to be uncoordinated, but the coordination degree had been improved. The optimization of human–land coordination was faster at the metropolitan scale than at the overall level and the sub-urban agglomerations. (3) The decoupling relationship between the overall construction land and the economy in urban agglomerations was weak and had improved. The coupling/decoupling relationship was found to be better at the metropolitan scale than at the overall level and sub-urban agglomerations.

Background: The return of chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum in sub-Saharan Africa countries offers the opportunity for the reintroduction of chloroquine (CQ) either in combination with other drugs or as a single therapy for the management of malaria. This study assesses the influence of individual study sites on the selection of CQ sensitive P. falciparum markers in the Central region of Ghana. Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from an archived filter paper blood blot from Cape Coast, Elmina, Assin Fosu, and Twifo Praso using the Chelex DNA extraction method. The age metadata of the patients from whom the blood spots were taken was collected. The prevalence of CQ-sensitive markers of pfcrt K76 and pfmdr1 N86 was performed using nested PCR and RFLP. The data were analysed using Chi-square and Odd ratio. Results: The overall prevalence of CQ-sensitive P. falciparum markers, pfcrt K76 and pfmdr1 N86 in the Central Region of Ghana were 142 out of 184 (77.17%) and 180 out of 184 (97.83%), respectively. The distribution of pfcrt K76 was assessed among the age groups per the individual study sites. 12 out of 33 (36.36%), 8 out of 33 (24.24%) and 6 out of 33 (18.18%) of pfcrt K76 CQ-sensitive marker were isolated from age 0 to 5 years, 16 to 30 years and 31 to 45 years old respectively at Cape Coast. Assin Fosu and Twifo Praso had the highest pfcrt K76 prevalence in 0–5 years, followed by 16–30 years and 6–15 years of age. The results showed that there was a significant prevalence of pfcrt K76 in all study sites; Cape Coast (χ2 = 26.48, p < 0.0001), Assin Fosu (χ2 = 37.67, p < 0.0001), Twifo Praso (χ2 = 32.25, p < 0.0001) and Elmina (χ2 = 17.88, p < 0.0001). Again, the likelihood to detect pfcrt K76 (OR (95% CI) was 7.105 (3.118–17.14), p < 0.0001 and pfmdr1 (2.028 (1.065–3.790), p < 0.001) among P. falciparum isolates from Cape Coast to be seven times and two times, respectively. Conclusion: The study showed a significant selection and expansion of chloroquine-sensitive P. falciparum markers in all the selected study areas in the Central region. This finding has a significant implication for the future treatment, management, and control of P. falciparum malaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyze electroencephalograms (EEGs) which are recordings of brain electrical activity. We develop new clustering methods for identifying synchronized brain regions, where the EEGs show similar oscillations or waveforms according to their spectral densities. We treat the estimated spectral densities from many epochs or trials as functional data and develop clustering algorithms based on functional data ranking. The two proposed clustering algorithms use different dissimilarity measures: distance of the functional medians and the area of the central region. The performance of the proposed algorithms is examined by simulation studies. We show that, when contaminations are present, the proposed methods for clustering spectral densities are more robust than the mean-based methods. The developed methods are applied to two stages of resting state EEG data from a male college student, corresponding to early exploration of functional connectivity in the human brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to evaluate and correlate acidic soil components to understand the phenomena of this type of soil. The soil samples were collected from 64 locations in 3 provinces of central Thailand and were tested for soil pH, element content, soil organic matter (SOM), and soil organic carbon (SOC). The results show that soil acidity in central Thailand has an average pH of 4.71 ± 0.87. The soil acidity level ranges from very strongly acidic in Phatum Thani and Nakhon Nayok provinces to strongly acidic in Chachoengsao province. Soil bulk density is about 0.34 g/cm³, and the correlation of soil pH to lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), nitrogen (N), carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio), and zinc (Zn) is as follows: principle component 1 (PC1) is carbon-to-nitrogen ratio > pH > zinc (C/N ratio > pH > Zn), and principle component 2 (PC2) is soil organic carbon > bulk density > soil organic matter (SOC > BD > SOM). Soil pH, SOM, and SOC are in similar groups. The soil abundance at the study site was compared with the ideal soil for plants, and heavy metal contamination in the acidic soil of the central region did not exceed the standard limit. The study found a correlation between SOM and SOM (r = 0.715; p < 0.01), indicating soil quality and microbial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversity of insect communities can be used as bioindicators for change in the environment especially in farms under different management systems. In line with that, we conducted a research on insect species associated with cocoa under organic and conventional management systems in the Eastern and Central regions of Ghana. Insect collection was done using Hand height visual count, Canopy, and "Knock down", pitfall, coloured bowl and fruit-baited traps. A total of 13,742 individual insects belonging to 138 species from 63 families and 12 orders were recorded in the study. Insect abundance and diversity were generally higher in organic farms compared to conventional farms with Oecophylla longinoda as the most dominant species in both management systems and especially more dominant in organic cocoa farms. Our study revealed that most of the insect species recorded were known cocoa pests although there was high abundance of beneficial insects too. Some of the pest species were Planococoides njalensis, Salhbergella singularis, Helopeltis spp and Pseudococus spp, while some of the beneficial insects recorded were Pheidole spp, Tegenaria spp, Camponotus spp, Crematogaster spp. We can conclude that cocoa farms are potential habitats for insect biodiversity conservation. We recommend that management and/or agronomic practices used in cocoa farms should be geared towards protecting beneficial organisms for instance pollinators and natural enemies by effectively suppressing insect pest populations while enhancing good seed production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the lack of data and studies concerning the prevalence of constipation in Saudi Arabia, this study aimed at determining the level of prevalence among central region population in Saudi Arabia, specifically in Riyadh and Qassim provinces. Aims: To determine the prevalence of constipation, to estimate the overall prevalence of constipation among the society, and to identify risk factors of constipation. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 543 individuals were covered, both males and females in the targeted areas. A standardized questionnaire was used to cover eight different aspects concerning constipation. SPSS package was used to analyze the data collected from the sample. Results: The results of the scoring system showed that the prevalence of constipation among the sampled individuals is only 4.4%, whereas those whose result indicates no suffering from constipation represented 95.6%. Constipation is more prevalent among females (79.2%) rather than males (20.8%). Moreover, constipation is more sever among those who are between 20- and 35-year old, while it reaches 0% among old people (over 51 years). Riyadh residents are more likely to suffer from constipation rather than Qassim residents. In Riyadh, 83.3% suffered from constipation, whereas the percentage in Qassim was 16.7%. The results show also that constipation is more prevalent among those who eat fiber-rich food once in a week, who are getting stressed all the time, nonsmokers, and who get dehydrated and do not carry a bottle of water. There is a significant relationship between suffering from constipation and only two variables, which are regularity of being stressed and regularity of getting dehydrated. The test value for these two variables were (0.0) in the two cases. Conclusion: The prevalence of constipation is relatively very low among population of central region in Saudi Arabia.

El objetivo del artículo es analizar la estructura productiva de la región centro de México, su desempeño económico y los cambios principales en el periodo 2003-2011. A partir de una matriz regional de insumo-producto, estimada para 2003, se identifican los clusters sectoriales mediante el método de componentes principales; de los seis encontrados destacan los de servicios avanzados y al consumidor, concentrados sobre todo en Ciudad de México. Aunque la metodología empleada sólo se basa en la fortaleza de las transacciones intersectoriales de compraventa, este análisis permite revelar las formas de organización económica y empresarial que tienen lugar en la región, para afrontar las presiones competitivas sobre su desarrollo y crecimiento económico.

本研究旨在瞭解中部地區公立國小附設幼兒園增置教保員人力運用之現況，並探討各縣市間人力運用之差異情形。本研究採問卷調查法，以自編之「中部地區公立國小附設幼兒園增置教保員人力運用現況調查問卷」為研究工具，有效問卷為813 份，所得資料以描述統計、百分比同質性考驗等方法進行統計分析。研究結果發現，中部地區五縣市之增置教保員人力運用於保育工作最高、教學工作次之、行政工作最低。在保育工作上以「日常生活引導照顧」之協助比例為最高；在教學工作上以「協同教學」之協助比例最高；在行政工作上以「衛生保健業務」協助比例最高。不同縣市之增置教保員人力運用於教學工作、保育工作及行政工作均有顯著差異。教學工作以苗栗縣為最高，雲林縣為最低；保育工作以南投縣為最高，苗栗縣為最低；行政工作以彰化縣為最高，臺中市為最低。 本研究結果，供政府相關單位、教保服務人員及未來研究者參考。 The purpose of this study is to understand the situation of manpower utilization of educare givers in the affiliated preschools of public primary schools in the central region of Taiwan. The study also examines the differences of manpower utilization among different counties in the central region of Taiwan by adopting a survey method with the use of a researcher-developed questionnaire. After collecting a total of 813 valid questionnaires, the data are statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics and test of homogeneity of proportions. Findings from this study indicate that the manpower utilization of additional educare givers is the highest in childcare work, followed by teaching, and the lowest is in administrative work. The proportion of assistance that the educare givers provides is the highest on “guide and care for daily life” in child-care work, on “collaborative teaching” in teaching work, and on “health care business” in administrative work. Statistically significant differences exist among the manpower utilization of additional educare givers from different cities and counties in teaching, child-care, and administrative work. In teaching work, Miaoli County is the highest, and Yunlin County is the lowest. In child-care work, Nantou County is the highest, and Miaoli County is the lowest. In administrative work, Changhua County is the highest, and Taichung City is the lowest. The results of this study offer good references to government, educare givers, and future researchers.

Cryptosporidium species are intestinal protozoan parasites that infect and cause diarrhoea in animals and humans. The current study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors of Cryptosporidium infection among HIV-infected patients in the Central region of Ghana. In this cross-sectional study, four hundred eighteen documented HIV-infected participants from four health facilities that provide antiretroviral therapy (ART) services across the Central region of Ghana were selected by systematic random sampling. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CoproELISATM, Cryptosporidium Savyon® Diagnostics Ltd., Ashdod, Israel) was used to detect Cryptosporidium antigens in stool samples obtained from participants. Information regarding participants’ sociodemographic characteristics and clinical symptoms as well as potential environmental and behavioral risk factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests were used to determine associations between Cryptosporidium infections and explanatory variables, while risk factors were assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection among HIV-infected participants in this study was 6.2% (95% CI: 3.90–8.54). Cryptosporidium was not significantly associated with any of the sociodemographic variables, patient clinical symptoms, and environmental factors. However, the prevalence of the parasite was significantly higher 25% (95% CI: 1.17–48.83; p = 0.013) among participants who did not always wash their hands before meals and those who did not always wash vegetables before eating them, 23.5% (95% CI: 1.05–46.01; p = 0.016). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that participants who used public water closet facilities were approximately 9 times more likely to become infected with the parasite than those who practised open defecation (OR: 8.83; 95% CI: 1.22–64.13; p = 0.031). In conclusion, Cryptosporidium is prevalent among HIV-infected patients in the Central region of Ghana. An important risk factor identified was the use of the public water closet toilet facility. More attention should be given to ensuring cleanliness at shared water closet facilities in addition to adequate disinfection of hands after using such facilities.

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