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Background: Diabetes mellitus is a rapidly increasing global health concern, having a substantial impact on morbidity and mortality. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is the primary measure of diabetes control, reflecting glycemic levels over the past 3 months. However, hemoglobin (Hb) abnormalities, such as those seen in iron deficiency anemia (IDA), can theoretically affect HbA1c levels. IDA, affecting over 30% of the global population, results from inadequate iron intake, hemorrhage, or poor iron absorption, leading to reduced Hb production. This study aims to evaluate the impact of IDA on HbA1c levels in non-diabetic patients, providing insights into accurate HbA1c interpretation in anemic patients. Aims and Objectives: The study aimed to determine the impact of IDA on HbA1c levels in non-diabetic individuals. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over 6 months at Trichy SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Center. There were a total of 100 IDA patients and 100 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Hb levels below 10 g/dL with a microcytic image suggestive of iron deficiency, postprandial blood sugar (PPBS) levels below 140 mg/dL following an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels below 100 mg/dL were the inclusion criteria. Exclusion criteria included Hb levels above 10 g/dL, altered FBS or PPBS values post-OGTT, diagnosed Type 2 diabetes mellitus, individuals younger than 18 years, and those with conditions such as hemoglobinopathies, hemolytic anemia, hypothyroidism, pregnancy, or abnormal renal function tests. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Data collection included demographics, medical history, and laboratory investigations. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, with t-tests, mean, and standard deviation (SD) for association analysis, and Chi-square tests for sex comparisons. Correlations were assessed through t-test. The significance level was kept at 0.05. Results: The study confirmed that both groups met the inclusion criteria for non-diabetic status. The control group exhibited normal Hb levels, whereas the study group had Hb levels indicative of IDA. General and systemic examination findings were normal in both groups. Significant differences were observed across all measured parameters, with Hb levels, serum ferritin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular Hb, mean corpuscular Hb concentration, and red cell distribution width significantly lower in the study group. HbA1c levels were significantly elevated in the study group compared to the control group (5.87 ± 1.25 vs. 4.97 ± 1.59, P < 0.001), supporting the hypothesis that IDA is associated with elevated HbA1c levels in non-diabetic patients. Conclusion: The study's findings align with previous research indicating that IDA leads to elevated HbA1c levels. The prolonged erythrocyte survival and altered Hb glycation processes in IDA are likely contributors to this elevation. These results emphasize the need to consider anemia status when interpreting HbA1c values to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate management of diabetes. Clinicians should ensure comprehensive evaluations, including iron status assessments when encountering unexpectedly high HbA1c levels in non-diabetic individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the improvement of a learning management system (LMS) prediction model utilizing deep learning methods to improve educational outcomes in numerous learning environments. Transitioning from traditional to digital learning has posed challenges, inclusive of decreased flexibility and student engagement. Our research delves into those transitions' impacts on student success, focusing on customized learning studies, effective resource provisioning, and predictive analysis the usage of advanced computational methods. We employed deep learning techniques to analyze data from different learning modalities, together with cloud-based platforms and blended learning contexts, to expect pupil performance and resource desires appropriately. The evaluation involved neural networks and machine learning algorithms like Random forest, implemented to datasets from instructional settings to identify at-risk students and optimize learning management structures for better instructional consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technologies are developing at a fast rate in which every new technology has an ample range of applications. Digitalization has taken rapid strides over the last few years which plays an important role in Industry 4.0. The digital revolution is fundamentally changing the way people live and work, and the public is optimistic about the opportunities Industry 4.0 can offer for sustainability. All organizations or industries have not been equipped with the latest technologies to adopt digitalization. This is mainly due to the lack of knowledge and expertise and unclear benefits of the technology. The study identifies the potential barriers in the adoption of digital technologies through two processes namely Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (TISM) and Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification (MICMAC) analysis. Using these models, the study interprets the barriers and analyses the relationship between the barriers. The barriers need to be treated on a priority basis and must be eliminated to successfully adopt digital technologies. From the developed TISM model and MICMAC analysis, the most influential barrier for the adoption of digital technologies in Industry 4.0 are negative perception towards technology because, this barrier will not depend on other barriers and hence managers must give a topmost priority to avoid the disruption in the system for the adoption of digital technologies. The study talks about other key barriers which influence the implementation of Industry 4.0, some of them being unclear benefits and lack of awareness. These barriers act as the primary variables which disturb the system and hinder the approach while additional barriers pose as secondary variables in the system. This research aims to help Industry 4.0 stakeholders – public and private sector leaders, industrialists– to get a lot more clarity on the opportunities that the digital revolution can offer for sustainability and to ensure that Industry 4.0 delivers sustainable functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention to intercropping for sustainable agriculture is increasing, and scientific studies on intercropping have also grown in recent years. Agroforestry Systems, which combine annual crops with trees, are used widely in semiarid regions to reduce wind erosion and improve the efficiency of resources such as water and nutrients. Field experiments were conducted at Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited Farm, Mondipatty, Tamil Nadu, to study the compatibility of intercropping systems in the Dalbergia sissoo-based Horti-silvicultural system for two years during 2016 and 2017. The experiments were conducted in a split-plot design with four replications. The main plot treatments were M1: Cassava M2:Chillies and the subplot treatments were five nutrient management packages viz., S1: Untreated control, S2: 100 % Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (Cassava: 90: 90: 240 and Chillies: 60: 80: 80),S3: 125 % Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (Cassava: 112.5: 112.5: 300 and Chillies: 75: 100: 100), S4:150 % (Cassava: 135: 135: 360 and Chillies: 90: 120: 120) Recommended Dose of Fertilizers, S5: Soil Test Crop Response studies - Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply System -based recommendation (as per soil test value). The results indicated that the Horti-Silvicultural system of growing Cassava and Chillies along with D. sissoo performed well. It was observed that statistically significant (p = 0.05) higher yields of 17.8 tha-1 and 1.6 tha-1 were recorded in Cassava and Chillies, respectively, in treatment S5, where the fertilizer was applied based on the Soil Test Crop Response studies - Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply System. In addition, the soil fertility status was also sustained in this plot. The fertilizers applied to the intercrops have contributed to the nutrient requirement of the tree crop and thereby reduced the cost of cultivation in the agroforestry system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field investigations were conducted to assess the effect of conservation agricultural practices on soil biological properties and yield of cotton during the kharif season of 2018 and 2019. The experiments were laid out in a split plot design with four main factors viz., conventional tillage with irrigation schedule of 0.8 IW/CPE ratio (M1), conventional tillage with irrigation schedule of 0.6 IW/CPE ratio (M2), minimum tillage with irrigation schedule of 0.8 IW/CPE ratio (M3) and minimum tillage with irrigation schedule of 0.6 IW/CPE ratio (M4). Sub plot had six treatments of weed and nutrient management viz., crop residue mulch with 100% RDF (S1), crop residue mulch with 75% RDF (S2), pre-emergence application of pendimethalin fb one hand weeding with 100% RDF (S3), pre-emergence application of pendimethalin fb one hand weeding with 75% RDF (S4), mechanical weeding twice with 100% RDF (S5) and mechanical weeding twice with 75% RDF (S6). Total microbial populations viz., bacteria, fungal, and actinobacteria were higher in cotton rhizosphere soil with the minimum tillage of irrigation at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio (M3) in the main plot treatments. Cotton rhizosphere soil with crop residue mulch with 100% RDF (S1) recorded a higher microbial population and it was statistically similar with pre-emergence application of pendimethalin fb one hand weeding with 100% RDF (S3) in the sub plot treatments. Among the treatment combination, minimum tillage with irrigation at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio (M3) and crop residue mulch with 100% RDF (S1) recorded a higher microbial population. Similarly, a higher seed yield of cotton was also recorded with minimum tillage and irrigating the crop at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio and pre-emergence application of pendimethalin fb one hand weeding along with application of 100% RDF (M3S3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Sustainable end-of-life (Sus-EoL) practices can be achieved through manufacturing of sustainable products, and recovery and recycling after the use phase. To achieve Sus-EoL, the manufacturing organizations should handle their products after their EoL. The recovery of used products is achieved through the design of the collection location. However, the first step is to understand and identify the barriers (e.g. lack of awareness among people, lack of technology, etc.) which prevent the implementation of Sus-EoL practices. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach This paper is about the 18 barriers responsible for the poor success of Sus-EoL practices of used plastic parts. By applying the DEMATEL method and by incorporating experts’ knowledge, a prominence and causal relationship diagram was developed through which the influential strength among barriers was studied.Findings The α value is computed as 0.068, and the values lower than α were eliminated to obtain the digraph. Poor curbside pick is identified as the most dominant barrier in implementation of Sus-EoL practices in plastic parts with an influential score of 3.96.Research limitations/implications The research is conducted in the Indian scenario which could be extended to global context by selecting the suitable barriers.Practical implications The results from the study can be used by the managers of organizations to enhance the possibility of Sus-EoL practices by incorporating suitable strategies which is the significant contribution of this study.Originality/value In the past, few authors discussed about the barriers of Sus-EoL practices; however, the analysis of complex interrelationship does not exist. Thus, the global and group interrelationship has been studied which is expected to pave way for future research in the direction of elimination of barriers and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double-doped skutterudite Co4Sb12 compounds are reported as a good n-type thermoelectric system which operate in the mid-temperature range. Instead of filling the skutterudite phase to minimize the thermal conductivity, it is proposed to induce disorder in the pnicogen rings by the substitution of Zn/Cd/Sn and Se. Structural analyses of the prepared compounds were carried out by Rietveld refinement process. The compounds show overall reduction in thermal conductivity, particularly the lattice part. Since vibration modes of heat-carrying phonons predominantly fall within the frequency range of the pnicogen rings, double substitutions on those pnicogen rings are particularly helpful in distracting the thermal transport. As larger mass difference and strain fluctuations can more efficiently scatter the heat-carrying phonons through short mean free path, it drastically restrains the thermal transport of the compounds, and this effect has been successfully demonstrated using the Debye–Callaway–Klemens model. Smooth electrical transport behavior is observed in all the samples and the power factor values are quite comparable to reported values. Phonon scattering mechanism and local distortion in the structure of the compounds is also evaluated by Raman analysis. Collectively, a high peak ZT of ∼0.7 and ∼0.65 at 673 K is obtained for Co4Sb11.86Se0.1Zn0.04 and Co4Sb11.86Se0.1Sn0.04 compounds which shows more than 50% enhancement relative to the pristine Co4Sb12 system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forced convection heat transfer of air in a rectangular convergent channel with 90° ribs on bottom wall was investigated experimentally and numerically. The copper test section was inlet 100 mmx80 mmx5 mm and outlet 100 mmx74 mmx5 mm convergent rectangular channel with ribs were 3,6 and 9 mm square with 60 mm pitch distance for each 4 numbers of ribs were attached in the bottom surface of the test channel. The tests investigated the effect of air mass flow rate on the convection heat transfer enhancement with the above sized ribs. Comparisons between the experimental and numerical results showed that the RNG k-ε turbulence model. The numerical model was created as per the same dimension of experimental test section channel size and three different sized ribs are mounted at the bottom surface of the test section. The experimental investigation and numerical analysis was conducted for the Reynolds number 20,000. From the experimental and numerical results indicate that the heat transfer coefficients for 6mm sized ribbed channel were largest among the three sized ribs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  The objective of this paper is to study the nonnegativity of the Moore-Penrose inverse of an operator between real Hilbert spaces. A sufficient condition ensuring this is given in terms of certain spectral property of all positive splittings of the given operator. A partial converse is proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic properties of a novel, once-daily, controlled-release formulation of hydromorphone (OROS hydromorphone) in the presence of alcohol.Research design and methods: In a single-centre, open-label, four-treatment, four-period, four-sequence, crossover study, two groups of 24 healthy subjects (fasted or fed) were randomised to receive four single doses of OROS hydromorphone 16 mg with solutions of either 0%, 4%, 20% or 40% alcohol, and with a naltrexone block.Main outcome measures: Plasma samples taken predose and at regular intervals up to 48 h after dosing were assayed for hydromorphone concentrations; a mixed-effect analysis of variance was done on log-transformed data. Bioequivalence was concluded if 90% confidence intervals of treatment mean ratios were between 80% and 125%.Results: Plasma hydromorphone concentrations were slightly higher after dosing with all alcohol treatments in both the fasted and fed subject groups. Median Tmax values were between 12 and 16 h and ranges were similar for all treatments. Cmax values increased after alcohol compared with no alcohol, with the increase slightly lower in the fed state. The greatest mean increase in Cmax observed was 1.3-fold in the fasted state and 1.1-fold in the fed state. Confidence intervals were within 80–125% for AUC but were slightly higher for Cmax.Conclusions: The pharmacokinetics of once-daily OROS hydromorphone were only minimally affected by alcohol, with no dose dumping of hydromorphone. The results indicate that the controlled-release properties of this formulation are maintained in the presence of alcohol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The arid and semi-arid regions account for approximately 30% of the world total area and are inhabited by approximately 20% of the total world population. Issues of present and future climate variability and change on agriculture and forestry in the arid and semi-arid tropics of the world were examined and discussion under each of these issues had been presented separately for Asia, Africa and Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The International Workshop on Reducing Vulnerability of Agriculture and Forestry to Climate Variability and Climate Change held in Ljubljana, Solvenia, from 7 to 9 October 2002 addressed a range of important issues relating to climate variability, climate change, agriculture, and forestry including the state of agriculture and forestry and agrometeological information, and potential adaptation strategies for agriculture and forestry to changing climate conditions and other pressures. There is evidence that global warming over the last millennium has already resulted in increased global average annual temperature and changes in rainfall, with the 1990s being likely the warmest decade in the Northern Hemisphere at least. During the past century, changes in temperature patterns have, for example, had a direct impact on the number of frost days and the length of growing seasons with significant implications for agriculture and forestry. Land cover changes, changes in global ocean circulation and sea surface temperature patterns, and changes in the composition of the global atmosphere are leading to changes in rainfall. These changes may be more pronounced in the tropics. For example, crop varieties grown in the Sahel may not be able to withstand the projected warming trends and will certainly be at risk due to projected lower amounts of rainfall as well. Seasonal to interannual climate forecasts will definitely improve in the future with a better understanding of dynamic relationships. However, the main issue at present is how to make better use of the existing information and dispersion of knowledge to the farm level. Direct participation by the farming communities in pilot projects on agrometeorological services will be essential to determine the actual value of forecasts and to better identify the specific user needs. Old (visits, extension radio) and new (internet) communication techniques, when adapted to local applications, may assist in the dissemination of useful information to the farmers and decision makers. Some farming systems with an inherent resilience may adapt more readily to climate pressures, making long-term adjustments to varying and changing conditions. Other systems will need interventions for adaptation that should be more strongly supported by agrometeorological services for agricultural producers. This applies, among others, to systems where pests and diseases play an important role. Scientists have to guide policy makers in fostering an environment in which adaptation strategies can be effected. There is a clear need for integrating preparedness for climate variability and climate change. In developed countries, a trend of higher yields, but with greater annual fluctuations and changes in cropping patterns and crop calendars can be expected with changing climate scenarios. Shifts in projected cropping patterns can be disruptive to rural societies in general. However, developed countries have the technology to adapt more readily to the projected climate changes. In many developing countries, the present conditions of agriculture and forestry are already marginal, due to degradation of natural resources, the use of inappropriate technologies and other stresses. For these reasons, the ability to adapt will be more difficult in the tropics and subtropics and in countries in transition. Food security will remain a problem in many developing countries. Nevertheless, there are many examples of traditional knowledge, indigenous technologies and local innovations that can be used effectively as a foundation for improved farming systems. Before developing adaptation strategies, it is essential to learn from the actual difficulties faced by farmers to cope with risk management at the farm level. Agrometeorologists must play an important role in assisting farmers with the development of feasible strategies to adapt to climate variability and climate change. Agrometeorologists should also advise national policy makers on the urgent need to cope with the vulnerabilities of agriculture and forestry to climate variability and climate change. The workshop recommendations were largely limited to adaptation. Adaptation to the adverse effects of climate variability and climate change is of high priority for nearly all countries, but developing countries are particularly vulnerable. Effective measures to cope with vulnerability and adaptation need to be developed at all levels. Capacity building must be integrated into adaptation measures for sustainable agricultural development strategies. Consequently, nations must develop strategies that effectively focus on specific regional issues to promote sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge redundancy is a powerful concept in understanding supply chain performance including supply chain value creation and competitive advantage. This paper argues that knowledge redundancy is not about "redundancy" that might suggest a waste or duplication of knowledge. In contrast, knowledge redundancy between adjacent members of the supply chain is critical to superior supply chain performance. The paper examines the tacit and explicit nature of knowledge and knowledge redundancy in supply chains. It develops a conceptual model and a series of propositions that argue that managing knowledge redundancy in the context of supplier-related factors, firm-related factors, and interface-related factors can bring positive supply chain performance outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature of competition between different tiers (e.g. high-tier vs low-tier brands) has become an important research domain for academic researchers and marketing managers. Although research on inter-tier competition is growing at an increasing rate, there has not been a comprehensive attempt to summarize the research in this stream. The objective of this article is to synthesize the research on inter-tier competition, extract the key findings, discuss managerial implications, and offer future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decade, we have witnessed a steady stream of research focusing on the nature of competition between different brand tiers (e.g. high-priced brands vs low-priced brands, national brands vs store label brands). Several interesting research findings have been reported in the literature. This article highlights the methodological issues associated with the research on price-tier competition and delineates the connection between methodological issues and managerial implications of the substantive research findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]