Search

The Malaysian government reinforced smoking restrictions at public venues to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. This study examined whether smokers' reports about smoking restrictions and psychosocial beliefs were associated with quit intentions among Malaysian smokers. Data from 1047 cigarette smokers (103 females and 944 males) aged 18 and older from the 2020 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Malaysia Wave 1 Survey were analyzed with bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models. Most Malaysian smokers (85.2%) reported having quit intentions. Smoking was completely restricted in 34.8% of the nighttime venues, 85.3% of air-conditioned (AC) food and beverage (F&B) venues (restaurants, food courts, coffee shops), 87.3% of non-AC F&B, and 69.4% of indoor workplaces. Smokers who visited nighttime entertainment venues where smoking was fully restricted were less likely to have quit intentions. There was no significant association found with quit intentions for smokers who visited AC and non-AC F&B venues and indoor workplaces where smoking was fully restricted. All five psychosocial beliefs assessed, age, and education were positively associated with quit intentions. Malaysian smokers are interested in quitting and psychosocial beliefs were positively associated with quit intentions. There is a need for the Malaysian government to implement and reinforce comprehensive smoking restrictions in all public venues and indoor workplaces to protect nonsmokers from SHS exposure and to encourage smokers to think about quitting, which may influence their quit intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores ICT profiles of teacher educators to understand personal, pedagogical and organisational factors affecting technology use in teacher education. After delineating latent profiles based on survey data, 12 teacher educators were interviewed on technology integration in educational settings for a deeper insight. Based on the Synthesis of Qualitative Research model developed to outline strategies for preparing preservice teachers to integrate technology, findings revealed key issues including teacher educators' classroom stance as role models for effective technology use, importance of technological-pedagogical content knowledge in designing technology-enriched learning environments, peer collaboration and avoidance of using technology regardless of pedagogical concerns. Issues related to assessment, professional development, attitudes and ICT competency were raised. Findings are discussed considering potential consequences for current practices and areas of future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The TiO2/AC nanosorbent was prepared via the impregnation method. The prepared material was characterised by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform Infra-Red (FT-IR), Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-rays (EDX) to examine crystalline size and structure, purity, morphology, surface area and thermal stability. The prepared TiO2/AC nanosorbent exhibits enhanced surface area and high porosity. The adsorption capacity of the TiO2/AC nanosorbent was evaluated at both laboratory and industrial scales. The effect of contact time, adsorbent dose and heavy metals' initial concentration on the adsorption rate of Pb (II) and Cd (II) were also examined to optimise the adsorption performance of nanosorbent. Under the optimised condition, the percent removal efficiency for Pb (II) and Cd (II) was 91.48 and 93.13, respectively. Different isotherms and kinetic models have been applied to study the adsorption mechanism which suggested that adsorption is exothermic and physical in nature. The maximum adsorption capacity for Pb (II) and Cd (II) obtained by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm was found to be 101.01 and 24.45 mg/g, respectively. Among different kinetic models, Elovich and Weber-Morris intraparticle diffusion fitted well which suggested that the adsorption involves intraparticle diffusion. In addition, the fixed bed column prototype was designed to treat steel industry samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of the essential oil of Lindera subumbelliflora (Lauraceae) was investigated for the first time. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and fully characterised by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antifungal activity of L. subumbelliflora essential oil was tested against Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans using the broth microdilution assay, whereas the microbial biofilms were determined using a semi-quantitative static biofilm. A total of 28 components (99.6%) were successfully identified, which were characterised by β-eudesmol (14.6%), cis-α-bergamotene (11.0%), α-copaene (8.5%), dodecen-1-ol (8.5%), and (E)-nerolidol (8.3%). The essential oil exhibited activity against Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans with MIC values of 250 and 500 µg/mL, respectively. The essential oil increased the biofilm of Candida albicans by 38.25%, however, decreased the biofilm of Streptococcus mutans by 47.89% when treated with 500 µg/mL. Thus, the essential oil has a promising application in dentistry via inhibition of the growth of Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans. However, the antibiofilm activity of the essential oil is only applicable for cariogenic Streptococcus mutans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reported work is focused on the solubility of Rhodamine B (cationic dye), as an important methodology to investigate the extent of incorporation or penetration of dye inside the micelles spectroscopically, so the solubilised dye can be filtered via Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration process to keep our environment safe from toxic effects of industrial effluent. Solutions were prepared by using micellar media of anionic surfactants i.e. Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), Sodium Oleate (SO) as well as mixed micellar media of said anionics with non-ionic surfactant i.e. Triton X-100 (TX-100). The extent of solubilisation has been, quantitatively, calculated using data of differential spectroscopy, in terms of partition coefficient Kx and Gibbs energy of partition, ∆Gp. It has been observed that mixed micellar media has better solubilisation capacity than micellar solution of individual surfactants. A better micellar solubilisation and ultimately the high Gibbs energy of partition, ∆Gp with SO/TX-100 system i.e. −40.89 as compared to SDS/TX-100 system (−37.03) has been observed due to the presence of long carbon chain in SO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piper baccatum is a woody climber and grows throughout the tropics mostly in Southeast Asia such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. The studies on essential oil composition and anticholinesterase activities were performed, along with molecular docking of all components. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS, while anticholinesterase activity was assessed using Ellman method. A total of 14 components were identified, representing 98.1% of the total composition of the essential oil. The major identified components were β-caryophyllene (30.7%), camphene (22.1%), eucalyptol (14.9%), γ-muurolene (6.9%), and α-pinene (5.3%). A moderate inhibitory effect was observed for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) with IC50 values of 80.5 and 96.4 μg/mL, respectively. Molecular docking studies of P. baccatum components with AChE and BChE revealed binding energy ranges of -5.6 to -8.5 Kcal/mol and -5.2 to -7.8 Kcal/mol, respectively, predominantly involving hydrophobic interactions with active site residues. Notably, β-caryophyllene and γ-muurolene exhibited superior binding energy profiles with both AChE and BChE compared to other components. The docking results underscore the potential of P. baccatum essential oil components as cholinesterase inhibitors, with implications for applications in food, aromatherapy, and pharmaceutical industries. The identified components, particularly β-caryophyllene and γ-muurolene, showcase promising attributes for further exploration in developing therapeutic interventions targeting cholinesterase-related conditions. This essential oil in general could be potentially used as a cholinesterase inhibitor with possible applications in food, aromatherapy, and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonlinear electrostatic waves on the ion time scale have been studied in a quantum magnetoplasma in the presence of relativistically degenerate electrons. In this regard, Zakharov Kuznetsov (ZK) equation has been derived using the reductive perturbation technique. The single and two soliton solutions of the ZK equation have been obtained by employing Hirota formalism. The nonrelativistic and ultrarelativistic limits of the relativistically degenerate electrons have been studied and discussed in detail for important plasma parameters both for the single and two soliton solutions of the ZK equation. We have applied our study for the plasma parameters that are found in the white dwarfs. It has been noticed that the interaction of the ZK solitons depends on the propagation vectors in the predominant direction of propagation. Importantly, it has been found that the spatial and temporal scales over which the interaction of solitons occur are different for the nonrelativistic and ultrarelativistic cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Knema Lour. is distributed mainly in Southeast Asian and widely used in folk medicine for treating diseases such as jaundice, chronic fever, and inflammation. The chemical composition, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, and molecular docking studies of essential oil from Knema hookeriana Warb. were investigated in this study. The essential oil was achieved through hydrodistillation and was characterised using gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity was evaluated using Ellman method while molecular docking studies were carried out using Autodock v.4.3.2. The results revealed that the essential oil examined consisted mainly of β-caryophyllene (26.2%), germacrene D (12.5%), δ-cadinene (9.2%), germacrene B (8.8%) and bicyclogermacrene (5.5%). The essential oil showed acetylcholinesterase activity with IC50 value of 70.5 µg/mL. The enzyme-ligand molecular docking study showed that β-caryophyllene and δ-cadinene exhibited good binding affinities towards AChE with docking scores −8.1 kcal/mol and −8.3 kcal/mol, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to find the risk factors of wasting in flood-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data was collected. Children living in large family are 2.59 times more likely to be wasted (AOR = 2.59, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10, 6.10; p value =.029) and children living in medium size family are 2.23 times more likely to be wasted (AOR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.03, 4.80; p value =.04) as compared to children in small family size. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to address the identified risk factors and mitigate the impact of flooding on child nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different compositions of manganese (x = 1 & 3 wt. %) and nitrogen (y = 1 wt. %) co-doped TiO2 (MnxNyT) photocatalysts are prepared by the conventional sol-gel method. The crystallinity, optical properties, phase purity and surface morphology of prepared nano-photocatalysts were characterised in detail. The structural analyses show that the simultaneous doping with manganese and nitrogen controls the growth of TiO2 crystal structure having an average crystallite size in the range of 14.6 to 24.5 nm. The optical analysis also demonstrated that due to the synergistic effect of Mn and N, co-doped TiO2 represents the red-shift in the absorption band edge from 3.33 eV to 2.39 eV, which improved the response of TiO2 structure towards the visible region and enhanced electron-hole separation. Among all, Mn3N1T represented the better photocatalytic efficiency against anionic dyes (Blue KBR and Red GD) and phenol under optimised conditions (such as initial substrate's concentration = 20 ppm, photocatalyst dose = 0.5 g and solution pH of 3 and 7, respectively) due to its low bandgap, low crystallite size and high absorptivity towards the visible region. The kinetics study also showed that the degradation of dyes and phenol over Mn3N1T followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boesenbergia albosanguinea is a member of the genus Boesenbergia, which traditionally serves a range of purposes, including food, medicinal applications, ornamental use, and ritualistic practices. It is found growing in wet, shady forest areas on sandstone or quartz-derived soils. This study aims to characterize the essential oils from the rhizomes of B. albosanguinea, assessing their activity against acetylcholinesterase using in vitro methods, along with molecular docking analysis. The essential oil was obtained through hydrodistillation and the volatile components were analysed using gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. A total of 34 chemical components, which constitute 96.7% of the oil content, were successfully identified. The most abundant components were elemicin (44.0%), α-gurjunene (9.3%), β-caryophyllene (4.5%), and safrole (4.1%). Anticholinesterase activity was assessed using Ellman method. A moderate inhibitory effect was observed for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes with IC50 values of 90.5 ± 0.2 and 110.8 ± 0.2 μg/mL, respectively. The molecular docking studies of elemicin against the cholinesterase target revealed a robust docking score (-7.0 kcal/mol), but it also showed important interactions with some key amino acid residues, providing crucial insights into its potential as a cholinesterase inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skid Row is an impoverished neighborhood in Los Angeles, also known as the homeless capital of America. Those experiencing homelessness have compounding needs that are largely unmet by existing safety-net systems. The goal of this study is to evaluate the needs of homeless individuals in the Skid Row community, to better tailor services for the homeless population residing in the area. For the study, the International Collegiate Health Initiative (ICHI), a 501(c)-3 nonprofit, conducted a community needs assessment and a comprehensive review of the literature regarding community-based solutions to addressing unmet needs of this population. A cross-sectional survey approach was utilized to conduct a community needs assessment of adults residing in Skid Row. The subsequent descriptive analysis of the data collected reveal unmet needs of individual's health, social, and employment situations among unhoused individuals in Skid Row. Potential exists for the needs of the unhoused population to be met through various community efforts and public health interventions. The identified service priorities for mental health care, medical care, and employment services, are verified by prior literature which identifies high frequency of mental health issues, substance use, and underemployment in the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAt present, ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers are the predominant choice among pour point depressants (PPDS) for enhancing the flowability of waxy crude oil. Still, they have shortcomings. Thus, this work aims to investigate the irradiation modification of a commercial EVA copolymer using C5 aliphatic petroleum resin (C5 PR) and its potential for utilization as a flow improver for crude oil. Results conclusively demonstrate the successful grafting of (C5 PR) onto EVA copolymer through gamma radiation, confirmed via grafting parameter characterization, FTIR, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. This modification significantly improved pour point results (ΔPPD = 24, 21, and 24 °C) for (EVA)0kGy, (EVA)50kGy, and (1EVA:1C5 PR)50kGy when treated with 3000 ppm of additives. Notably, the grafted EVA copolymers with C5 PR (1EVA:1C5 PR)50kGy outperformed non-modified EVA at a lower dosage of 1000 ppm. Also, irradiating EVA copolymer without insertion C5 PR resulted in EVA copolymer crosslinking, leading to a decrease in efficiency that could attributed to its accumulation. Furthermore, the crude oil’s rheological properties were substantially enhanced, evidenced by viscosity reductions of 60.8%, 51.3%, and 64.1% at 25 °C, and 55.2%, 18.7%, and 59.4% at 12 °C with the addition of 1000 ppm. Increasing the dosage to 3000 ppm led to even more remarkable viscosity decreases: 76.2%, 67.7%, and 78.2% at 25 °C, and 83.2%, 74.9%, and 84.7% at 12 °C for (EVA)0kGy, (EVA)50kGy, and (1EVA:1C5 PR)50kGy, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood possesses unique structural and functional properties that make it a promising material for the development of windows. In this study, the potential use of wood biocomposites as a window materials was explored by delignification of local Indonesian woods, such as mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), sungkai (Peronema canescens), mindi (Melia azedarach), and maple (Acer laurinum), using NaOH and H2O2 followed by epoxy resin impregnation. Macroscopic observations, optical transmittance (τ), tensile and bending strength tests were performed to evaluate their optical and mechanical properties. An infrared exposure simulation was also conducted to assess the material passive cooling capabilities in a room model. The results revealed that mahogany and maple had the highest τ values (86.03% and 81.43%, respectively). Transparent mahogany wood exhibited haze due to optical scattering but showed strong mechanical properties with an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 78.83 MPa and a strain (ϵ) of 2.67%. Transparent maple wood had UTS of 84.67 MPa and ϵ of 2.32%. The use of transparent mahogany and maple in room model reduced the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor environments by up to 11.5°C and 10.5°C, respectively, which suggests that transparent wood can be used as a window material for sustainable passive cooling applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to examine the essential oils compositions of Litsea glauca Siebold and Litsea fulva Fern.-Vill. growing in Malaysia. The essential oils were achieved by hydrodistillation and fully characterized by gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The study identified 17 and 19 components from the leaf oils from L. glauca (80.7%) and L. fulva (81.5%), respectively. The major components of L. glauca oil were β-selinene (30.8%), β-calacorene (11.3%), tridecanal (7.6%), isophytol (4.8%) and β-eudesmol (4.5%); whereas in L. fulva oil gave β-caryophyllene (27.8%), caryophyllene oxide (12.8%), α-cadinol (6.3%), (E)-nerolidol (5.7%), β-selinene (5.5%) and tridecanal (5.0%). Anticholinesterase activity was evaluated using Ellman method. The essential oils showed moderate inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase assays. Our findings demonstrate that the essential oil could be very useful for the characterization, pharmaceutical, and therapeutic applications of the essential oil from the genus Litsea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carcass weight, as a measure of meat yield, and body measurements are directly correlated traits in livestock. However, longitudinally collected phenotype records of local breeds are not comprehensive. The research was performed on Qinchuan bull population to understand their growth and development, and data from Qinchuan bull that was weighed and measured at birth, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of age was analyzed. Furthermore, Logistic, Brody, Gompertz, and Bertallanffy were used to fit the growth curves for weight and body size traits. The results showed that the four curve models have good fitting degrees for the weight and body size (R2 > 0.99), and the Bertallanffy model exhibited a good fit to the measured data of body weight, and the model estimated the inflection point of body weight as (5.43 months of age, 122.01 kg). Particularly, the limited mature body weight can reach 557.8 kg by the Brody model. Body weight was significantly positively correlated with body height, hip height, body length, chest circumference, abdominal girth, and calf girth (p < 0.0001), and the correlation between body weight and body length was the highest (r = 0.975). The regression equation predicting body weight was Y = −275.691 + 3.28 X3 + 1.311 X4 − 0.397 X5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates how students experience and describe group work in an online course in international business (IB) after being introduced to Barnes' exploratory talk ground rules (ETGRs) which promote norms for dialog that encourage participants to share ideas and information and to think together. This study examines the dialog in groups of fourteen IB undergraduates attending a four-week online course in International Management. Initially, the students received briefings about the ETGRs and wrote self-reports throughout the course, on which we conducted a thematic analysis. Our findings show that students who engage with and apply the ETGRs describe more shared responsibility for collaborative learning in the group work, a greater interest in exploring the perspectives of group members, and overall, more positive learning experiences. This implies that making the ETGRs transparent is considered beneficial for social interactions in group work. However, the teacher plays a key role in creating a class environment conducive for collaborative learning, and preconditions for productive group work, including a good assignment structure and proper technology preparation, must be met. The findings and their implications are discussed herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry is an important source of human protein so research was done to identify methods of improving the feed quality and overcoming the challenge of using this feed type. Poultry feed is commonly contaminated with certain organisms like fungi which produce a group of secondary metabolites called mycotoxins, which affect the quality of the feed. These mycotoxins are highly toxic even in a small concentration like ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol, and T-2 toxin causing a wide range of disorders such as hepatic and kidney injury, etc. This review aims to provide an insight into this problem and the use of yeast and its derived products as a method to overcome these mycotoxins. In the literature, yeast is applied to poultry feed as it promotes the growth of broilers when added to the diet and enhances immunity by increasing the antibody titre and macrophages. It increases the size of immunity organs like the thymus gland and the spleen, improves gut immunity, and decreases the proportion of certain microorganisms like E. coli and Salmonella. Lachancea Thermotoleran is an example of a yeast strain that produces volatile organic compounds like 2-phenyl ethanol, which decreases the production of OTA by certain percentages according to the applied conditions. Therefore, the inclusion of yeast was applied as a promising feed additive to overcome mycotoxins in poultry diets because of its many benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the chemical compositions of the leaf essential oils of Magnolia villosa (Miq.) H. Keng. and M. maingayi King. growing in Malaysia. The leaf essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and fully characterized by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Analysis of M. villosa and M. maingayi leaf essential oils resulted in 96.4% and 98.7% of the total essential oil, respectively. The main components of M. villosa leaf essential oil were β-caryophyllene (32.8%) and α-humulene (8.8%), while in M. maingayi leaf essential oil gave β-elemene (27.4%), β-caryophyllene (16.4%), and (E)-nerolidol (14.4%). Anticholinesterase inhibitory activity was also evaluated using acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory assays. M. villosa leaf essential oil revealed a moderate inhibitory effect on AChE (percentage inhibition, I%: 62.5%) and BChE (I%: 74.8%) at a concentration of 1,000 μg/mL. In conclusion, the leaf essential oils of M. villosa and M. maingayi were characterized and showed promising anticholinesterase inhibitory activity, suggesting their potential as natural sources of therapeutic agents for managing cholinergic dysfunction-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils produced from aromatic plants denote significant biological activities and are gaining prominence in scientific research. In this study, the chemical composition, anti-tyrosinase activity, and molecular docking studies of Knema malayana Warb. essential oil was investigated. A hydrodistillation method was used to produce the essential oil, characterised by gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Additionally, anti-tyrosinase activity was evaluated against mushroom tyrosinase, while molecular docking studies were performed with the major components. A total of 38 components (98.9%) were successfully identified in the essential oil, which was characterised by high proportions of δ-cadinene (20.2%), α-cadinol (13.7%), α-amorphene (10.3%), γ-cadinene (6.3%), α-gurjunene (5.3%), γ-gurjunene (5.3%), and α-muurolene (5.0%). The essential oil demonstrated moderate activity towards tyrosinase activity with an IC50 value of 85.3 μg/mL. Consequently, the best docking energy was observed with α-amorphene (-6.9 Kcal/mol), which successfully formed interactions with His263, Phe264, and Val283. These interactions were essential amino acid residues of the tyrosinase receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to estimate relative growth rates (RGR) and above- and below-ground biomass stocks of 10 tree species commonly planted in arid irrigated urban areas in Pakistan. Saplings were grown in the Botanic Garden of Government College University, Lahore. The growth was monitored for a year and a half and then trees were destructively harvested to assess biomass stocks. The mean relative growth rate ranged from 0.03 ± 0.021 cm cm−1 day−1 to 0.28 ± 0.016 cm cm−1 day−1. The mean above-ground oven dried biomass ranged from 0.51 ± 0.071 kg to 28.34 ± 3.746 kg, while the mean below-ground biomass ranged from 0.12 ± 0.053 kg to 7.35 ± 0.605 kg. Further, we found that the RGR was significantly and positively correlated with above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass, and root-shoot ratios. Across all 80 individuals of the studied species, diameter at tree base was significantly and positively related to whole tree biomass (R2 = 0.80). In this study we have developed the species-specific equations to estimate biomass in young urban species. Such data will be helpful for plantation decision makers, who may need to select the species according to relative growth rates and biomass allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classical viscous theory is limited to illustrating the characteristics of several materials like pseudoplastic and dilatant fluids. Sutterby fluid has the features of shear thinning and shear thickening fluids because of its Power law index. Therefore, this study considered an incompressible, time-independent and electrically conducting Sutterby fluid flow across a rotating and stretchable disk. The disk experiences the effect of porous space. The energy equation has variable conductivity, heat source and thermal relaxation time features while mass equation exploits the influence of chemical reaction. The aspects of Buongiorno nanofluid theory are also examined in the Sutterby flow model. The phenomenon of Stefan blowing is analysed through mass transfer rate at the surface of disk. The flow expressions are first transferred into a new system of single independent variable and then treated numerically via Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg (RKF) method combined through shooting process. The behaviour of distinguished physical quantities is discussed graphically on momentum, mass species and thermal fields. The numeric data of drag force, Sherwood number and Nusselt number is calculated against several physical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial literacy as a major catalyst in the area of inclusive growth has obtained utmost prevalence, based on which this study intended to analyze the role of financial literacy in ensuring financial inclusion which further enhances socio-economic empowerment in rural areas of Karnataka, India. In order to conduct the study 398 responses (i.e. 93% response rate) were collected through comprehensive questionnaire which was then analyzed using SPSS 26 and SPSS AMOS 23 software, as SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) was used to evaluate the proposed conceptual model, as well as two-way ANOVA to analyze the demographic effect on the components. The study outcome confirmed that financial inclusion is highly affected by the financial literacy of a rural community in a direct way; but when they can take effective financial decision and are responsible in financial behavior, they tend to show more financial inclusion which has contributed to their socio-economic empowerment. Realizing the dominant role of financial literacy one of the key policy implications of this article is that the Indian government may begin spending considerable amounts of money to promote financial literacy, which can significantly expand financial inclusion. Furthermore, measures might be taken to discover the gaps in digital financial transaction (online and mobile banking) where the Government of India should be aggressive in building the infrastructure for financial inclusion, which would aid in the socio-economic growth of the rural people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue Fever (DF) is a common vector-borne disease with catastrophic health implications. DF prediction modelling is a challenging task, although technologies such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and spatial statistics have improved our understanding of dengue dynamics. In this paper, we create a robust data analysis model to (i) provide a better understanding of confirmed dengue fever cases despite missing data, (ii) obtain better insights into risk factors associated with confirmed cases, and (iii) by means of machine learning, create clusters of patients with comparable characteristics. The last was accomplished with a self-organizing feature map (SOFM) and the densitybased spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN). The approaches used to classify confirmed cases were: Decision Tree, k-nearest neighbours, Random Forest, AdaBoost, Support Vector Classification (SVC), CatBoost, and Naive Bayes. The CatBoost classifier achieved the best accuracy for the analysis of confirmed cases. Spatial analysis was conducted using the ordinary least square (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models to identify high-risk areas. SOM can group patients with similar features into clusters, then DBSCAN detects and retrieves six clusters from this data. The clustering of confirmed cases increases CatBoost’s modelling prediction accuracy and reveals complex factors that influence prediction accuracy. Because confirmed cases in each cluster have different features, CatBoost is applied to each cluster individually to improve the prediction accuracy. Variable values in each cluster are analysed to clarify the confirmed cases of a specific subset of DF incidents. Overall, OLS outperforms GWR when identifying hotspot areas. The proposed novel, data-driven and machine-learningbased strategy facilitates the understanding and identification of patterns associated with confirmed DF cases. The study’s findings can be utilized to cluster historical patient data into groups or subgroups sharing similar variables. Using identifiable patient clusters rather than raw history data improves the model accuracy provided by CatBoost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monkeypox (MPX) was a rare endemic disease in western and central Africa. In 1970, the first detected case of human MPX was reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and it was detected outside Africa in 2003. Currently, there are about 31,799 confirmed MPX cases which led the WHO to declare the disease a public health emergency of international concern which is considered the seventh deceleration by the WHO between 2009 and 2022. Herein, we aim to review the history behind the outbreak of the disease, its mode of transmission, and the target of WHO deceleration, while providing recommendations for disease prevention. The disease is prevalent mostly in the United States with a total case number of 10,676 which is considered a high-risk country. Meanwhile, other countries are at moderate risk. The disease can be transmitted directly through contact with different body fluids, infectious lesions, or sexual activity. We conclude that there should be high public awareness to stop the transmission of the disease. In addition, there is a great need to follow the instructions provided by public health institutions since vaccines, till now, are available only for high-risk populations secondary to their shortage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ecoscience (Ecoscience) is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

Bio-inspired optimisation algorithms have recently attracted much attention in the control community. Most of these algorithms mimic particular behaviours of some animal species in such a way that allows solving optimisation problems. The present paper aims at applying three metaheuristic methods for optimising fuzzy logic controllers used for quadrotor attitude stabilisation. The investigated methods are particle swarm optimisation (PSO), BAT algorithm and cuckoo search (CS). These methods are applied to find the best output distribution of singleton membership functions of the fuzzy controllers. The quadrotor control requires measured responses, therefore, three objective functions are considered: integral squared error, integral time-weighted absolute error and integral time-squared error. These metrics allow performance comparison of the controllers in terms of tracking errors and speed of convergence. The simulation results indicate that BAT algorithm demonstrated higher performance than both PSO and CS. Furthermore, BAT algorithm is capable of offering 50% less computation time than CS and 10% less time than PSO. In terms of fitness, BAT algorithm achieved an average of 5% better fitness than PSO and 15% better than CS. According to these results, the BAT-based fuzzy controller exhibits superior performance compared with other algorithms to stabilise the quadrotor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creatinine, a final product of metabolism released in the blood and removed by kidneys. The improper functioning of kidneys causes its higher accumulation in blood. In this study, a facile strategy was designed for artificial kidneys by using magnetic chitosan membrane. The membrane was synthesized by phase conversion process. The synthesized membrane was characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental diffraction spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Different factors were optimized for creatinine removal by membrane such as concentrations of creatinine, pH, time, interfering species. The linear response was obtained in the concentration range from 10 to 70 µM of creatinine. The results showed the limit of detection 7.33 µM and the limit of quantification 22.82 µM at optimized conditions. The magnetic chitosan membrane facilitates the development of the ecofriendly and cost effective method for the removal of biological toxins from real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript describes the preparation and characterization of silica-nickel oxide (SiO2-NiO) xerogel nanocomposite and its catalytic application in the hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol. Hydrochloric acid and ammonium hydroxide were used as the acid and base catalyst, respectively during the synthesis of SiO2-NiO. The Fourier Transformation Infra-Red spectroscopic results supported the formation of the silica xerogel skeleton structure with corresponding characteristic peaks of siloxane linkage. The surface of SiO2-NiO xerogel nanocomposite was observed to be porous along with some irregular cracks. The X-Ray diffraction analysis showed that the SiO2-NiO xerogel nanocomposite was amorphous in nature. The synthesized xerogel nanocomposite was employed as a catalyst for the hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol with sodium borohydride in water. The rate of hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol was observed to be increased with the increased amount of catalyst as well as the temperature. The maximum reduction rate of p-nitrophenol was found as high as 0.26 min-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing number of planning researchers and practitioners argue for a shift from mobility-centered transportation planning to an accessibility-focused one. Accessibility is a compelling concept that has proven more difficult to operationalize than mobility, which helps to explain why so many accessibility metrics have been developed for urban research and planning practice. To assess the state of these metrics, we reviewed 54 of them in light of their theoretical basis, data requirements, units of analysis, travel modes and trip purposes accounted for, and potential applications to planning practice. We also reviewed the substantial literature on accessibility measurement and interviewed planning practitioners who are applying accessibility metrics in practice. We find that accessibility theory and measurement has advanced more rapidly than applications in practice. However, a new generation of tools is emerging that may accelerate the move to accessibility planning. Although many of the measures focus on a single travel mode, the number of multimodal metrics is growing. Most of the measures are designed for regional-scale planning and scenario evaluation; only a few to date are intended for project evaluation. The 54 accessibility metrics and tools we reviewed vary widely and none stands out as obviously superior for planning practice. Although most calculate the accessibility of places, and many do so reasonably well, we see the most promise in measures of the accessibility of travelers, which can then be aggregated for place-based analyses while still shedding light on how access can vary substantially across different types of travelers. The principal challenge to broadly deploying accessibility analyses in practice in the years ahead is in developing measures that meaningfully measure the many salient dimensions of access, have manageable data requirements, and are understandable to planners, public officials, and community members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we synthesized poly(methacrylic acid) [p(MAAc] hydrogels by an effective and simple free radical polymerization process and then silver, cobalt, and their bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by using p(MAAc) as a template. Upon loading of Ag (I) and Co (II) ions by p(MAAc) hydrogels from their corresponding aqueous salt solutions, these metal ions loaded hydrogels were then treated with sodium borohydride, a reducing agent to obtain corresponding metal nanoparticles (NPs) within the hydrogel network. Hydrogels and metal nanoparticle containing composite hydrogels were analyzed in detail by Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infra-red spectroscopy, UV-Vis Spectrophotometry and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis techniques. Synthesized p(MAAc)-M hydrogel composites were utilized as catalysts for degradation of some harmful organic residual dyes like Eosin Y (EY), methyl orange (MO) along with reduction studies of some nitro aromatic compounds including 2-nitrophenol (2-NP), 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), 4-nitroaniline (4-NA) to their respective amino phenolic compounds from contaminated water. Above all, we also report simultaneous degradation studies of a dye EY and a nitro compound, 4-NP catalyzed by p(MAAc)-Ag composite hydrogel. The parameters such as nature of metal, catalyst amounts, temperature, water samples from different resources, and reusability of prepared hydrogel-metal nanoparticle nanocomposite catalysts were also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil-water emulsion separation is a complicated task and recently oil-water spills made it crucial to find a solution to resolve this unfavorable environmental concern. Membrane separation is economical, environmentally safe, and operationally feasible separation process among different methods adopted so far. Keeping this in view neat polysulfone and manganese oxide silica composite membrane were synthesized. The prepared Mn3O4, mesoporous silica, Mn3O4@SiO2, neat and fabricated PSF membranes were thoroughly characterized by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric, and differential scanning calorimetry, tunneling electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The solvent content, porosity, surface behavior, thermal, and mechanical properties of the membranes were also studied. The increase in the concentration of nanofiller increases the solvent interaction, porosity, thermal stability, and mechanical strength. Amongst all 5 wt.% composite membrane have greater oil/water separation capacity due to greater amount of nanofiller and high porosity. Facile tuning of properties during fabrication process makes these composite membranes a potential candidate to address the oil/water pollution problem of important environmental concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a very short time, secondary school education across the globe transitioned to online learning and teaching, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This study aims at identifying teacher profiles in secondary education to better understand perceptions of both individual and institutional readiness to transition to online teaching. To do this, the current study grouped teachers on the basis of their TPACK self-efficacy beliefs, online presence and perceived institutional support for online teaching. To date, data have been collected from teachers (N = 222) from 20 countries. The data were submitted to latent profile analysis to identify readiness profiles. The added value of the current study lies in the combined view of individual and institutional readiness and the uniqueness of the dataset. It provides a large-scale international perspective and a wide range of possible experiences. Findings inform how education institutions can personalise and support transitions to online teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide templated cobalt (GO–Co) and graphene oxide templated silver (GO–Ag) nanocomposites were synthesized and used as catalysts in the reduction of 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP), 2-Nitrophenol (2-NP) and 2-Nitroaniline (2-NA). Almost evenly distributed nanoparticles of Ag and Co were obtained on GO sheets and the diameters of most of the particles were in the range of 5–15 nm. The maximum apparent reduction rate (kapp) for 4-NP was found to be 0.58 min−1 and 0.67min−1 with corresponding activation energies of 28.79 and 16.54 kJ mol−1 in the presence of GO–Ag and GO–Co catalysts, respectively. The kapp for GO–Co cataly-zed reduction of 2-NP and 2-NA were found as 0.10 and 0.06 min−1, respectively. Catalytic activity of GO–Ag was decreased by 25% in the fifth cycle while that of GO–Co was decreased to 47% in the fourth cycle for the reduction of 4-NP. Overall, GO–Ag showed superior catalytic behaviour as compared to GO–Co. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of alcohol or non-alcohol substance use dual diagnosis among inpatients with severe mental illness in a psychiatric institution in Malaysia. In addition, this study aimed to determine adverse outcomes between dual diagnosis versus single diagnosis. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the inpatient ward using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) to establish the diagnosis of severe mental illness and to screen for alcohol or non-alcohol substance use disorder comorbidity. Outcomes and severity of different domains among severe mental illness patients were assessed using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Results: Out of 152 patients who participated in this study, 51.3% (n = 78) had comorbid alcohol use disorder, and 29.6% (n = 45) had non-alcohol substance use disorder. Males with Kadazan ethnicity with severe mental illness and alcohol use disorder had a higher risk of having comorbid non-alcohol substance use disorder. Similarly, male Kadazan patients with severe mental illness and non-alcohol substance use disorder had a higher risk of having a comorbid alcohol use disorder. Dual diagnosis patients with alcohol and non-alcohol substance use disorder had higher rates of hospitalizations (p <.001 and p =.001). Family and social relationships were affected among the alcohol use disorder group as shown by the higher composite score for family status (FCOMP; p <.001). This group also showed more severe psychiatric status, as the composite score for psychiatric status (PCOMP) was high (p =.004). Suicidality was higher among patients with alcohol use disorder and severe mental illness (p <.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of severe mental illness dual diagnosis was high in this study with poorer outcomes, higher rates of admissions, and risk of suicidality. This highlights the importance of provisions for a more holistic treatment approach among patients with dual diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess how race is associated with adverse maternal outcomes in the setting of preeclampsia.Study design: This retrospective cohort study utilized the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample (NIS) from the Agency for Health care Research and Quality for the years 2012-2014. Women aged 15-54 with a diagnosis of preeclampsia were included. Race and ethnicity were categorized as non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander, Native American, other, and unknown. The overall risk for severe morbidity based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria was analyzed along with the risk for specific outcomes such as stroke, acute heart failure or pulmonary edema, eclampsia, and acute renal failure. The risk for severe morbidity was stratified by comorbid risk and compared by race. Log-linear regression models were created to assess risk for severe morbidity with risk ratios and associated 95% confidence intervals as measures of effect.Results: A total of 101,741 women with preeclampsia from 2012 to 2014 were included in this analysis. The risk for severe morbidity was significantly higher among non-Hispanic black women (9.8%) than non-Hispanic white, Hispanic, and all other women, respectively (6.1, 7.7, and 7.5%, respectively, p < .01). For non-Hispanic black compared to non-Hispanic white, Hispanic, and all other women, risk was higher for stroke (17.1 versus 6.5, 12.7, and 9.3 per 10,000 deliveries, respectively, p < .01) and pulmonary edema or heart failure (56.2 versus 32.7, 30.2, and 38.4 per 10,000 deliveries, respectively, p < .01). Non-Hispanic black women were also more likely than non-Hispanic white women to experience renal failure (136.4 versus 60.4 per 10,000 deliveries, p < .01). Adjusting for comorbidity, black women remained at higher risk for severe morbidity (p < .01). The risk for death was higher for black compared to non-black women (121.8 per 100,000 deliveries, 95% CI 69.7-212.9 versus 24.1 per 100,000 deliveries, 95% CI 14.6-39.8, respectively, p < .01)Conclusion: Black women were at higher risk for severe morbidity and mortality associated with preeclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with amine group using 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) is achieved after carboxylation of pure MWCNTs (p-MWCNTs). p-MWCNTs, a-MWCNTs (acid functional MWCNTs) and f-MWCNTs (amine functional MWCNTs) were used to fabricate their nanocomposite with PMMA. A comparative study of the humidity characteristics of p-MWCNTs/PMMA, a-MWCNTs/PMMA and f-MWCNTs/PMMA-based capacitive humidity sensors was carried. f-MWCNTs/PMMA-based capacitive humidity sensor shows low hysteresis loss (5%), good response recovery behavior and highest sensitivity (S ~ 9736%) among all the studied composites. The maximum capacitance drift under different relative humidity was 1%RH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an up-to-date review on civil engineering application of polymeric composites filled with cement and fillers. Various combinations of polymer, glass fiber, and carbonaceous fillers have been considered as polymer/cement/carbon black, polymer/cement/carbon black/glass fiber, polymer/cement/carbon nanotube, polymer/cement/carbon nanotube/glass fiber, polymer/cement/graphite, and polymer/cement/graphite/glass fiber. These composites have gained significance due to high durability, dimensional stability, strength, non-flammability, and thermal characteristics. The cementitious composites have been applied in civil/infrastructural applications such as columns, beams/slabs for buildings, foundations, and bridges. Moreover, polymer/cement composites are used as basic construction material for neutron shielding, coal power plants, oil plants, water barrels, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southeast Anatolia has been an ideal place for pastoralism since the Neolithic period. However, there is a lack of information on human–animal relationships from both archaeological settlements and contemporary societies in the region. Through ethnographic fieldwork and exploratory case studies in the mountainous Ömerli district, we explored the dependency and complex relationships between pastoral groups and various animal species in Southeast Anatolia. The case studies revealed affectionate and emotional bonds between shepherds and some individuals of domestic herds, similar to pet–human relationships in urban societies. Shepherds gave human names to certain animals; sometimes these were the names of their close friends or the names of their own children. Grief and prolonged grief was also common among Ömerli shepherds following the loss, death, or sale of these emotionally bonded animals. It was further observed that a single species (domestic or wild) often had complex and multi-purpose relationships with shepherd groups. While tortoises and hares, for instance, were used as sources of meat, the bone, blood, intestine, skin, and shell of these species were often used in traditional medicine. Although pastoral groups are completely dependent on domestic herds for their basic subsistence, Ömerli shepherds were observed to be regular hunters. It appears that the economic benefits were not the only promoters for pastoral subsistence in the study area; compassion and emotional affection for particular animals also reinforced enthusiasm for the practice. Therefore, it can be argued that the data obtained from pastoral villages in the mountainous Ömerli district help us understand interactions and relationships between humans and nonhuman animals in pastoral societies of Southeast Anatolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofiltration (NF) membranes were introduced during the '80s with characteristics in between those of reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration membranes. This article aims at critically reviewing advances in NF research including relevance of fabrication techniques, modifications, and current problems. We also have a comprehensive look at fouling mitigation as well as its prevention by treating NF membranes with functionalized carbon nanotubes. It was found that some parameters such as porosity, crystallinity of polymer and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity can affect the performance of membranes. NF membranes can be widely utilized in broad spectrum of applications particularly in desalination and wastewater treatment. Abbreviations: VA: Vertically align; MMM: Mixed matrix membrane; PAN: Polyacrylonitril; PAA: Poly(amic acid); HA: Humic Acid; BPA: Bisphenol A; MPD: m-phenylene diamine; PES: Polyether sulfone; LBL: Layer by layer; PEO: Poly(ethylene-oxide); PVA: Poly(vinyl alcohol); TR: Thermally rearranged; TR-PBO: Thermally rearranged polybenzoxazole; CVD: Chemical vapor deposition; PMMA: Poly(methy methacrylate; PET: polyetherimid; Psf: polysulfone; FSCMs: Fixed site carrier membranes; SILMs: Supported ionic liquid membranes; TFC: Thin film composite; IP: Interfacial polymerization; PE: Polyethylene; PP: Polypropylene; PC: Polycarbonate; PET: Polyethylene naphthalate; AMPS: 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid; NPs: Nanoparticles; TFC: Thin film composite; MPD: m-phenylenediamine; TMC: Trimesoyl chloride; CPES: Carboxylic polyethersulfon; ECPN: Electrically conducting polymer nanocomposites; mPDA:1,3-phenylenediamine; SWCNTs: Single wall carbon nanotubes; MWCNT: Multi wall carbon nanotubes; PVC: Polyvinyl chloride; NOMs: Natural organic matter; AAO: Anodic aluminium oxide; PVDF: Polyvinylidene fluoride; MD: Membrane distillation; PHGH: Polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride; TMBPA: Tetramethyl Bisphenol A; APDEMS: Aminopropyldiethoxymethylsilane; PLGA: Poly(lactide-co-glycolide); PEVA: Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol); PCL: Poly(ε-caprolactone); PS: Polystyrene; PU: Polyurethane; PGA: Poly(glycolide); TE: Tissue engineering; SEM: Scanning electron microscopy; TEM: Transmission electron microscopy; EDX: Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy; BOD: Biological oxygen demand; COD: Chemical oxygen demand; TSS: Total suspended solids; SMBR: Submerged membrane bioreactor; NVP: N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone; NVF: N-vinylformamide; NVC: N-vinylcaprolactam; HEMA: 2-hydroxylethyl methacrylate; AA: Acrylic acid; AAm: Acrylamide; AAG: 2-Acrylamidoglycolic acid; AMPS: 2-acrylamido-methyl-propane sulfonic acid; SPMA: 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate; GAMA: d-gluconamidoethyl methacrylate; MPDSAH inner salt: [(methacryloylamino)propyl]-dimethyl (3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide inner salt; BSA: Bovine serum albumin; PDA: 2,4-phenylenediamine; EDA: Ethylene diamine; PDMSO: Poly(dimethylsiloxane); GPUs: Gas Permeation Units; ZIF: Zeolitic imidazolate framework; UF: ultrafiltration; MF: microfiltration; RO: Reverse osmosis; MD: Membrane distillation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize morbidity, acuity, and maternal risks associated with preeclampsia across hospitals with varying obstetric volumes.Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis used a large administrative data source, the Perspective database, to characterize the risk for preeclampsia from 2006 to 2015. Hospitals were classified as having either low (≤1000), moderate (1001-2000), or high (≥2000) delivery volume. The primary outcomes included preeclampsia, antihypertensive administration, comorbidity, and related severe maternal morbidity. Severe maternal morbidity was estimated using criteria from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Comorbidity was estimated using an obstetric comorbidity index. Univariable comparisons were made with Chi-squared test. Adjusted log linear regression models were fit to assess factors associated with severe morbidity with risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals as the measures of effect. Population weights were applied to create national estimates.Results: Of 36,985,729 deliveries included, 1,414,484 (3.8%) had a diagnosis of preeclampsia. Of these, 779,511 (2.1%) had mild, 171,109 (0.5%) superimposed, and 463,864 (1.3%) severe preeclampsia. The prevalence of mild, superimposed, and severe preeclampsia each increased over the study period with severe and superimposed preeclampsia as opposed to mild preeclampsia increasing the most proportionately (53.2 and 102.5 versus 10.8%, respectively). The use of antihypertensives used to treat severe range hypertension increased with use of intravenous labetalol increasing 31.5%, 43.2%, and 36.1% at low-, medium-, and high-volume hospitals. Comorbid risk also increased across hospital volume settings as did risk for severe maternal morbidity.Conclusions: Preeclampsia is increasing across obstetric care settings with preeclamptic patients demonstrating increasing comorbid risk, increased risk for severe morbidity, and more frequent need for treatment of acute hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the pervasive influence of the pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan and primarily the attitudes of the medical community toward such interactions. We used an inductive approach informed by grounded theory principles to analyze interviews and focus groups with consultants, residents, medical students, and a pharmaceutical industry representative in Karachi and Lahore (n = 27), and participant-observation data from two biomedical conferences. Data were then analyzed through a deontological and teleological ethical theoretical framework. Findings highlight the reasons leading to the continuation of norms including weak regulations, physicians' expectations of receiving favors, and limited exposure to bioethics education. Recommendations for practice, policy, and research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodiola rosea L. radix (RRL) is one of the most popular medical herb which has been widely used for the treatment of different diseases effectively, including cardiovascular diseases and nerve system diseases. However, due to the multiple compounds in RRL, the underlying molecular mechanisms of RRL are remained unclear. To decipher the action mechanisms of RRL from a systematic perspective, a systems pharmacology approach integrated absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) system, drug targeting, and network analysis was introduced. First, by the ADME screening system and the target fishing process, 56 potential active compounds and 62 targets were obtained, respectively. In addition, compound-target network demonstrated that most compounds interacted with multiple targets, indicating that RRL may enhance its therapeutic effects probably through hitting on multiple targets in a holistic level. Moreover, target-pathway network and gene ontology analysis showed that multiple targets of RRL were involved in several biological pathways, i.e. Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, calcium signaling pathway, adrenergic signaling in cardiomyocytes, and VEGF signaling pathway, which dissecting the therapeutic effects of RRL on various diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, depression, adaptation diseases, etc. In summary, this work successfully explains the potential active compounds and the multi-scale curative action mechanisms of RRL for treating various diseases; meanwhile, it implies that RRL could be applied as a novel therapeutic agent in arthritic diseases. Most importantly, this work provides an in silico strategy to understand the action mechanisms of herbal medicines from molecular/system levels, which will promote the new drug development of traditional Chinese medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an analysis of multiple projects-multiple resources-constrained scheduling problems is presented. A multi-objective management perspective has been used to arrive at schedules for the best utilization of scarce resources. The analysis is accomplished by means of two familiar techniques such as integer goal programming and simulation. Both the techniques are compared by studying some real-life construction projects. Multiple performance measures are used to establish the validity of each technique and also to set directions for project managers to select situation-based technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]