Search

Nina Asrini Noor JEC Eye Hospitals and Clinics, Jakarta, IndonesiaCorrespondence: Nina Asrini Noor, JEC Eye Hospital Kedoya, Jalan Terusan Arjuna Utara No. 1, Kedoya, Jakarta, 11520, Indonesia, Tel +62 813 9520 9670, Email nina.asrini.noor@gmail.comPurpose: To report clinical improvement after combined treatment of bandage contact lens and autologous serum eye drop in a patient with superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK) complicated with dry eye disease (DED) and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).Patients and Methods: Case report.Results: A 60-year-old woman was referred for unilateral chronic recurrent redness of the left eye not responding to topical steroids and cyclosporine 0.1% eye drop. She was diagnosed with SLK, which was complicated by the presence of DED and MGD. The patient was then commenced with autologous serum eye drop and fitted with silicone hydrogel contact lens in her left eye, and treated with intense pulsed light therapy for MGD in both eyes. Remission was seen Information Classification: General serum eye drop and bandage contact lens wear.Conclusion: Long-term application of autologous serum eye drop combined with bandage contact lens can be used as an alternative treatment approach in SLK.Keywords: autologous serum, bandage contact lens, cornea, dry eye, superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis

Nina Asrini Noor,1 Tri Rahayu,1,2 Tjahjono D Gondhowiardjo1,2 1JEC Eye Hospitals and Clinics, Jakarta, Indonesia; 2Ophthalmology Department, Cipto Mangunkusumo Kirana Hospital, Jakarta, IndonesiaCorrespondence: Nina Asrini NoorJEC Eye Hospital Kedoya, Jalan Terusan Arjuna Utara Nomor 1, Jakarta Barat, DKI, Jakarta 11520, IndonesiaTel +62 813 9520 9670Email nina.noor@jec.co.idPurpose: To describe the prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) and its subtypes in elderly population with cataracts prior to surgery in Jakarta, Indonesia.Patients and Methods: Forty-nine eyes of 49 patients (16 males, 33 females; mean age: 66.6 years) planned for phacoemulsification surgery were consecutively recruited from two tertiary eye hospitals in this hospital-based cross-sectional study. Symptoms were assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, and the patient was defined as symptomatic if their OSDI score was ≥ 13. Objective examinations included the noninvasive tear film break up time (NIBUT) and Schirmer tests. The results were deemed abnormal if they were < 10 seconds and < 10 mm for NIBUT and Schirmer, respectively.Results: Participants were classified into four groups: DED (positive symptoms and short NIBUT), preclinical dry eye (positive symptoms without short NIBUT), predisposition to dry eye (short NIBUT without symptoms), and normal group. Median OSDI score was 12.5 (0– 45.0), NIBUT was 10.4 (5.1– 28.9) seconds, and Schirmer score was 8.0 (2.0– 28.0) mm. The prevalence of DED, preclinical dry eye, and predisposition to dry eye were 22.5%, 22.5%, and 26.5%, respectively, while the other 28.5% subjects were normal. The DED group had significantly lower Schirmer test results (4.0 [2– 17] mm) compared to all other groups. Older age (> 70 years) was associated with poorer NIBUT and Schirmer test results and a significant difference between age groups was observed, especially in males.Conclusion: Dry eye is a common problem among the elderly population with cataracts in Indonesia. Almost half of the subjects presented with dry eye symptoms and either categorized as DED or preclinical dry eye, while more than one quarter were predisposed to dry eye. Care must be taken prior to cataract surgery to rule out existing dry eye with additional attention on those presenting without any symptoms as dry eye may develop after surgery.Keywords: dry eye, elderly population, tear film, cataract, cross-sectional study

Nina Asrini Noor,1 Syukri Mustafa,1,2 Widya Artini1,2 1Ophthalmology Department, 2Glaucoma Division, Ophthalmology Department, Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of glaucoma drainage device (GDD) implantation with and without intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection in treating neovascular glaucoma (NVG) at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital Jakarta, Indonesia.Patients and methods: This retrospective study involved 39 eyes with NVG which underwent GDD implantation between 2012 and 2014. Thirty eyes underwent GDD implantation alone (control group) while 9 eyes underwent GDD implantation and IVB injection (IVB group). Visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), number of antiglaucoma medications, and success rate were compared between groups.Results: There were no significant differences in preoperative characteristics. On the last visit, VA was 2.6 (0.2–4.0) logMAR in the control group and 2.3 (0.4–4.0) logMAR in the IVB group (P=0.97). In the control group, final VA was significantly worse compared to initial VA (P

Abstract Background In Malaysia, despite a decline in cases, malaria remains a major public health concern, especially among the vulnerable indigenous people (i.e. Orang Asli) in remote areas. Effective preventive and control measures require an evidence-based understanding of their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding malaria. This study aimed to evaluate the KAP regarding malaria in an indigenous settlement in Peninsular Malaysia. Methods A household-based cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2024 in six Semai sub-ethnic indigenous villages in Pos Lenjang, Kuala Lipis, Pahang. A structured questionnaire was administered to randomly selected individuals (≥ 12 years old) to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics and KAP. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and predictors of KAP were determined using logistic regression. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 267 individuals from 160 households were interviewed. Nearly half had good knowledge (49.4%) and positive attitudes (54.3%) towards malaria, with high practice scores for prevention and control (83.1%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed higher odds of good knowledge in those aged 40–59 years (adjusted odd ratio [aOR] = 6.90, p = 0.034), with primary (aOR = 2.67, p = 0.015) or secondary education (aOR = 2.75, p = 0.019), and with previous malaria history (aOR = 5.14, p

. Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.)De.Wit is cultivated in Iraq as an ornamental plant .In this paper anatomical characters of different parts of Leucaena leucocephala were studied in details ,the study included the characteristics of the epidermal cells ,as the anticlinal walls and the distribution of stomatal complexes of the leaflet ,stem, calyx and corolla .The ornamentation of cuticle as well as the internal structure of the stem ,pulvinus ,petiole ,leaflet and fruit were described , different types of crystals distribution in different parts of the plant also present .It was found that most characters have a good taxonomic value as a diagnostic characters for this species.

• Gingivitis and periodontitis are two inflammatory illnesses that are also considered infectious diseases in the context of periodontal disease diagnosis, periodontitis is a widespread oral illness that affects people all over the world .The current study used the wet mount technique with physiological saline and Giemsa stain to ascertain the incidence of Entamoeba gingivalis among 30 subjects (15 men and 15 females). (73%), E. gingivalis was prevalent overall (21 - 30) year olds had the highest frequency of E. gingivalis (54.55%). Infection was highly significant in female (59%) than male (41%). The conclusion that periodontal disease has a higher prevalence of E. gingivalis. The presence of E. gingivalis in the oral cavity is interpreted as an indication of inadequate dental hygiene, even though it is not often linked to pathogenesis. It is important to emphasise that patients' oral hygiene practices are not up to scratch. They employ mostly ineffective oral cavity hygiene products.

Abstract Since its first launching, the ability of satellite Altimetry in providing reliable and accurate ocean geophysical information of the sea surface height (SSH), significant wave height (SWH), and wind speed has been proven by numerous researchers, as it was designed for observing the ocean dynamics through nadir range measurement between satellite and the sea surface. However, to achieve high level accuracy, environmental and geophysical effects on the range measurement must be accurately determined and corrected, particularly the effects from the atmospheric water vapor which can divert altimeter range up to 3–45 cm. Thus, satellite Altimetry is originally equipped with the on-board microwave radiometer to measure the water vapour content for correcting the range measurement. To our knowledge, no one has attempted to apply the on-board radiometer for atmospheric studies. In this present work, we attempt to optimize the on-board radiometer data for studying the atmosphere variability due to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomena. We convert the on-board water vapor data into the precipitable water vapour (PWV), and we then investigate whether the derived PWV can capture the variability of ocean–atmosphere phenomena due to ENSO as accurate as the conventional Altimetry-derived sea level anomaly (SLA). Based on our analysis using the empirical orthogonal function (EOF), the results show convincing argument that Altimetry-derived PWV are reliable in examining the atmospheric fluctuation as the correlation of its primary principal component time series (PC1) with Oceanic Nino Index (ONI) is higher (0.87) than SLA (0.80). These results may reinforce the confidence in the ability of satellite Altimetry for ocean–atmospheric studies. Graphical Abstract

The term “i-FinTech” refers to businesses or entrepreneurs that integrate modern, Shariah-compliant technologies with financial services. Nevertheless, MSMEs are typically having lack internal knowledge or poor management, incompetent entrepreneurs, and limited financial resources. The purpose of this research is to analyse if financial literacy elements affect i-FinTech adoption and, in turn, promote sustainable entrepreneurship among Bumiputera SMEs in Selangor, Malaysia. A convenience sample strategy was used to disseminate 1,394 surveys to the Bumiputera entrepreneurs, utilizing a quantitative approach. PLS-SEM and mediation analysis are used to analyse the data. The findings indicate that financial literacy and digital financial literacy have a favorable and significant impact on the adoption of i-Fintech. On the other hand, the adoption of i-Fintech is adversely affected by financial management behavior. Furthermore, this study shows that the relationship between financial literacy and digital financial literacy towards sustainable entrepreneurship is mediated in a complimentary way by the adoption of i-FinTech. This result indicates that Bumiputera business owners that are financially and digitally literate are more likely to use i-FinTech and ultimately make a substantial contribution to sustainable entrepreneurship. The results should improve knowledge of the dynamics between the potential of i-FinTech and sustainable entrepreneurship for researchers, regulators, entrepreneurs, and i-FinTech service providers. It is advised that MSMEs keep using i-FinTech to support their operations in order to minimise the effects of a downturn in the market and maintain seamless operations.

Parijoto (Medinilla speciosa), a typical plant from Indonesia, contains flavonoid compounds as antioxidants. It is able to depigment skin by inhibiting tyrosinase activity during melanogenesis, or melanin formation. Melanogenesis occurs through UV light exposure; it stimulates ROS production and triggers the formation of free radicals and melanogenesis. If not prevented, it will have negative impacts on health. Currently, there is no further research regarding the existence of flavonoid compound derivatives found in parijoto fruit. The aim of this research is to initially identify potential flavonoid derivative compounds as tyrosinase inhibitors using in silico methods. The results can be used as an initial reference for making products based on natural ingredients with minimal side effects. This research uses a bioinformatics approach with the molecular docking method of ligands towards proteins. The stages in this research include: downloading and preparing receptors and ligands; docking with Autodock Vina; visualization of results with Biovia Discovery Studio; data analysis; and discussion. The analysis is carried out by looking at the affinity energy values and complex conformation between the receptor-ligand. The results show flavonoid derivative compounds have the potential to act as tyrosinase inhibitors, as proven by compounds interactions with the active site of tyrosinase to produce the amino acid residues phenylalanine, proline, asparagine, arginine, and histamine. Produce respective affinity energy values, namely -8.9; -7.7; -7.6; -7.5; -7.5; and 7.4 kcal/mol for chalcone, catechin, flavonol, flavanol, flavone, and flavonone compounds. Meanwhile, the comparison compound used is kojic acid, with an affinity energy of -5.5 kcal/mol.

Employee turnover is an upsetting crisis that happens to the organization because it would affect the associated costs and decrease organization performance. There are two types of turnover which are voluntary and involuntary turnovers. Turnover is typically the result of the level of satisfaction and stress experienced by the employees in the workplace. This study is to examine the impact of job satisfaction and job stress on turnover intention amongst academic staff in a public university. This study was performed by employing quantitative research with a total response of 285 academic staffs. SPSS software was used to analyze the data with Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis to ensure the relationship between and the impact of independent variables on the dependent variable could be determined. The results show a negative relationship of job satisfaction towards turnover intention while job stress shows a weak positive relationship towards turnover intention. Furthermore, it was proven that the R-squared value is 0.084 which clarifies job stress and job satisfaction only represent a small percentage of 8.4% of the turnover intention. Job stress significantly influenced turnover intention at the p < 0.05 whereas job satisfaction significantly influenced turnover intention at p < 0.01. It shows that the academic staff have a low intention to quit their job even if the level of job stress is present. The future study should possibly look into the factors and reasons that influence the academic staffs’ decision to stay even though the work they are doing sometimes giving them a hard time.

Background: Mothers who have children with autism encounter significant difficulties in caring for their autistic youngsters, leading to higher stress levels and a reduced overall quality of life. External or internal factors can cause and respond to stress, affecting an individual’s physical, psychological, and emotional health. Thus, it is crucial to examine the quality of life of mothers with autistic children. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between stress, self-efficacy, and quality of life (QoL) in mothers of children with autism. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed from October to November 2019 to mothers with autistic children using cluster sampling techniques to capture their demographics and perceptions of stress, self-efficacy, and QoL. The data analysis was performed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM). Results: Of the 290 questionnaires distributed, 238 (response rate of 82%) sets were returned, but only 181 questionnaires were usable for further analysis. The findings demonstrated a notable impact of stress and self-efficacy on quality of life and an adverse effect of stress on self-efficacy. Self-efficacy serves as an intermediary in the relationship between stress and quality of life. Conclusion: In general, mothers of autistic children typically face moderate stress levels, but they have low levels of self-efficacy and quality of life. Mothers of children with autism need assistance and support from healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and psychiatrists, so that they can bear the challenges of raising children with special needs and enjoy a higher standard of living with less emotional and physical strain.

This research focuses on the efforts of a Javanese dance sanggar (studio or training house for Javanese Dance), Sobokartti, that was established in the early twentieth century in maintaining the existence of Javanese traditional performing arts. Amidst the storming cultural menu offered by technology facilitation, traditional performing art faces difficult challenges. The concern that the traditional performing art will be shifted by cultures that are considered more modern is inevitable and indeed proven in line with the course of globalization. The existence of traditional performing art was worrisome when Covid-19 pandemic emerged that restricted people’s movement throughout the world. This research used qualitative method by emphasizing observation during online and offline performances. Observation was also performed by visiting social media accounts that were related to Sobokartti. This research attempted to answer two questions. First, how does Sobokartti maintain its existence during the Covid-19 pandemic; and Second, how does Sobokartti adapt to the advancement of technology in the globalization era. The results of this research show that Sobokartti successfully maintained its existence, among others, due to its adaptive management system to changes through times and the awareness of performing innovations in training and promotional activities. Finally, social media have become one of the media used by Sobokartti in preserving Javanese traditional performing arts, especially Javanese dance. The use of social media for promotion media has succeeded in maintaining Sobokartti as an institution for preserving the traditional Javanese arts.

Abstract This article studies the synergistic sociocultural value system to handle COVID-19 patients in self-isolation in Indonesia, to find an effective formula in COVID-19 spread control. The problems studied here is the response carried out and the constraints faced by the Indonesian government related to the self-isolation policy. Why and how does the Indonesians’ sociocultural value system contribute to COVID-19 patient response? Through the survey conducted via Google Forms, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and literature study, it is found that the Indonesian government issued the self-isolation regulation for COVID-19 patients to mitigate the rapid and massive COVID-19 transmission. However, many constraints are found in the policy implementation, including; people’s insufficient knowledge and understanding of COVID-19, leading to negative implications for the COVID-19 survivors or patients’ perception, causing social stigmatisation for COVID-19 survivors or patients; COVID-19 task force’s limited access to medicine, medical instrument and hospital facilities. Meanwhile, the Indonesians’ strong socio-cultural values like tolerance, mutual aid, and communal work, including among the educated people in urban society, may be potentially integrated into the health service to respond to COVID-19 patients with their self-isolation. Therefore, their integration and empowerment can be a solution to mitigating COVID-19 transmission in Indonesia.

Background: Whether through spontaneous conception or through the use of assisted reproductive technologies, thyroid dysfunction is prevalent in women of childbearing age and may negatively impact fertility and pregnancy. As follicular fluid (FF) more accurately depicts the milieu surrounding the developing oocyte, it most likely offers a better assessment of exposures that might have an impact on reproductive outcomes. Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the correlation of FF thyroid hormone (TH) (T4 and T3) levels with the intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes. Materials and Methods: The study was designed as an analytic cross-sectional study. Fifty subfertile couples from the in-vitro fertilization center attenders were involved in the study in whom ICSI was done for them and then compared between outcomes in relation to FF-T4 and FF-T3. Results: FF-T4 correlates positively with metaphase II (MII) and 2-PN with a P-value=0.04 and 0.03, respectively, in a statistically significant way, whereas FF-T3 correlates positively with oocyte number: MII in a statistically significant way (P-value=0.01) for both and with 2-PN in a statistically significant way (P-value=0.0). Additionally, there was a significant positive association between FF-T4 and anti-mullerian hormone and follicle stimulating hormone with a P-value of 0.05 and between FF-T3 and E2 with a P-value of 0.02. Conclusion: Folliculogenesis and oogenesis may be significantly influenced by THs. The FF also contains T3 and T4, which could have an immediate impact on the oocyte.

Bitcoin has a reputation of being used for unlawful activities, such as money laundering, dark web transactions, and payments for ransomware in the context of smart cities. Blockchain technology prevents illegal transactions, but cannot detect these transactions. Anomaly detection is a fundamental technique for recognizing potential fraud. The heuristic and signature-based approaches were the foundation of earlier detection techniques, but tragically, these methods were insufficient to explore the entire complexity of anomaly detection. Machine Learning (ML) is a promising approach to anomaly detection, as it can be trained on large datasets of known malware samples to identify patterns and features of the transactions. Researchers are focusing on determining an efficient fraud and security threat detection model that overcomes the drawbacks of the existing methods. Therefore, ensemble learning can be applied to anomaly detection in Bitcoin by combining multiple ML classifiers. In the proposed model, the ADASYN-TL (Adaptive Synthetic + Tomek Link) balancing technique is used for data balancing. Random search, grid search and Bayesian optimization are used for hyperparameter tuning. The hyperparameters have a great impact on the performance of the model. For classification, we used the stacking model by combining Decision Tree, Naive Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbors, and Random Forest. We used SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) to interpret the predictions of the stacking model. The model also explores the performance of different classifiers using accuracy, F1-score, Area Under Curve-Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUC-ROC), precision, recall, False Positive Rate (FPR) and execution time, and ultimately selects the ideal model. The proposed model contributes to the development of effective fraud detection models that address the limitations of the existing algorithms. Our stacking model, which combines the prediction of multiple classifiers, achieved the highest F1-score of 97%, precision of 96%, recall of 98%, accuracy of 97%, AUC-ROC of 99% and FPR of 3%.

Deterioration and defects in building components are key aspects to consider when assessing buildings’ conditions, as they may influence the building’s functionality. The typical defects include cracking, moisture, dampness, and architectural defects. This paper aims to evaluate the defects in a building using a non-destructive testing (NDT), which is the Infrared Thermography (IRT) method. A visual inspection method is then conducted to verify the results of the IRT method. The combination of IRT and visual inspection methods can identify the type of defect and level of severity more accurately. In both methods, ratings or scores are given to the collected defect data to determine the consistency between them. Two (2) buildings were selected as case studies; AA1 and BB2 are multistorey buildings. From those, 51 and 67 spots were taken from the IRT method and further verification process, respectively. Among the defects that were found were moisture, dampness, cracking, staining, chipping, and flaking paint. From all the findings, IRT was found to be comparable with the visual inspection results for serious defects such as cracking and flaking paint. However, IRT was believed to underestimate the architectural defects of staining and chipping. Even so, serious defects such as dampness were also underestimated in IRT due to the fact that the temperature difference between different ratings will not differ much. In conclusion, the IRT method has the potential to be used as a tool for building condition rating. However, it should be assisted with a visual inspection, and more research needs to be conducted for its practicality.

With the rise in electricity demand, various additional sources of generation, known as Distributed Generation (DG), have been introduced to boost the performance of power systems. A hybrid multi-objective Evolutionary Programming-Firefly Algorithm (MOEPFA) technique is presented in this study for solving multi-objective power system problems which are minimizing total active and reactive power losses and improving voltage profile while considering the cost of energy losses. This MOEPFA is developed by embedding Firefly Algorithm (FA) features into the conventional EP method. The analysis in this study considered DG with 4 different scenarios. Scenario 1 is the base case or without DG, scenario 2 is for DG with injected active power, scenario 3 is for DG injected with reactive power only and scenario 4 is for DG injected with both active and reactive power. The IEEE 69-bus test system is applied to validate the suggested technique.

Background: The therapeutic strategies in killing the cancerous tissue while keeping the normal healthy tissue uninterrupted can be further improved by introducing nanoparticles as radiosensitizer in radiotherapy. Nevertheless, healthy cells might still be affected by radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE) response due the presence of nanoparticles. Thus, the potential negative effects in non-irradiated adjacent cells must be investigated. Aim: The current study aims to explore the cellular effects of bismuth oxide nanoparticles (Bi2O3 NPs) on human breast cancer (MCF-7) and human foetal osteoblast (hFOB 1.19) cells due to the RIBE after irradiation with 6 MV clinical photon beam. Materials and methods: The irradiated-cell conditioned medium (ICCM) treated with and without Bi2O3 NPs from the irradiated cells were collected and then transferred into the non-targeted cells. The ability of the bystander cells to proliferate and their ROS generation were analyzed. DNA status of the cells and the possibility of apoptosis were evaluated using FTIR spectroscopy and MUSE Cell Analyzer, respectively. Results: The current study revealed that MCF-7 and hFOB 1.19 bystander cells may continue to proliferate and survive following short and long-term incubation with ICCM treatment with Bi2O3 NPs. The survival rate of the treated bystander cells increased approximately 3%–8% compared to the untreated group. Although the bystander cells exhibited an increase in ROS and apoptosis, the addition of Bi2O3 NPs had no significant detrimental influence on the cells. Variation in the DNA vibrational amplitude detected by FTIR in bystander cells was less than 5% compared to the control group. Conclusion: This study discovered that the application of Bi2O3 NPs as a radiosensitizer did not give a negative impact on the bystander cells. This outcome may give an advantage to the application of Bi2O3 NPs as radiosensitizer in radiotherapy to enhance cancer cells death without introducing further detrimental effects to the non-targeted cells.

Reutealis trisperma belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae is currently used for biodiesel production, and rapid development in plant-based biofuel production has led to its increasing demand. However, massive utilization of bio-industrial plants has led to conservation issues. Moreover, genetic information on R trisperma is still limited, which is crucial for developmental, physiological, and molecular studies. Studying gene expression is essential to explain plant physiological processes. Nonetheless, this technique requires sensitive and precise measurement of messenger RNA (mRNA). In addition, the presence of internal control genes is important to avoid bias. Therefore, collecting and preserving genetic data for R trisperma is indispensable. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the application of plastid loci, rbcL , and matK , to the DNA barcode of R trisperma for use in conservation programs. In addition, we isolated and cloned the RtActin ( RtACT ) gene fragment for use in gene expression studies. Sequence information was analyzed in silico by comparison with other Euphorbiaceae plants. For actin fragment isolation, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was used. Molecular cloning of RtActin was performed using the pTA2 plasmid before sequencing. We successfully isolated and cloned 592 and 840 bp of RtrbcL and RtmatK fragment genes, respectively. The RtrbcL barcoding marker, rather than the RtmatK plastidial marker, provided discriminative molecular phylogenetic data for R Trisperma . We also isolated 986 bp of RtACT gene fragments. Our phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that R trisperma is closely related to the Vernicia fordii Actin gene (97% identity). Our results suggest that RtrbcL could be further developed and used as a barcoding marker for R trisperma . Moreover, the RtACT gene could be further investigated for use in gene expression studies of plant.

Abstract Introduction Within Africa, contraceptive use is low although about 214 million women who are not using contraception want to avoid pregnancy. In Uganda, modern contraceptive uptake is at 35% resulting in unwanted or unplanned pregnancies which may increase morbidity and mortality among children and mothers. Contraceptive uptake at 6 weeks postpartum is encouraged but it is not very effective since there is low attendance during this visit. Additionally, some women may have become sexually active by the visit at 6 weeks postpartum leading to early conception. Objectives This study sought to determine contraceptive uptake in the immediate postpartum period and the associated factors among women delivering at Kawempe Hospital. Methods This study employed a cross-sectional study design where 397 women aged 18–49 years were recruited using systematic random sampling. The women who were discharged within 72 h after delivery were considered. Data collection was done using an interviewer-administered data collection tool. Data was double entered into EpiData version 4.2 and analyzed using STATA version 13 at univariate using descriptive statistics then at bivariate and multivariate levels using logistic regression with contraceptive uptake as the outcome. Results We enrolled 397 participants. Their mean age range was 18–45 years and a median of 25 years (IQR 22, 30). The majority of the participants, 333 (83.88%), were married and 177 (44.58%) were housewives or unemployed. Contraceptive uptake in the immediate postpartum period among these participants was 15.4% (61/397). The factors independently associated with immediate postpartum contraceptive uptake were grand multiparity (aOR = 2.57; 95% CI 1.11–5.95; p = 0.028), cesarean delivery (aOR = 2.63; 95% CI 1.24–5.57; p = 0.011), and prior contraceptive counseling during Antenatal (aOR = 9.05; 95% CI 2.65–30.93; p =

Abstract Background Cellulose polymers with multidentate chelating functionalities that have high efficiency for toxic metal ions present in water were designed, synthesized, and analyzed. The synthesis was carried out by reacting microcrystalline cellulose extracted from the solid waste of the olive industry with tert-Butyl acetoacetate (Cell-AA), produced cellulose with β-ketoester functionality was then reacted with aniline and the amino acid glycine to produce Cell-β-AN and Cell-β-GL, respectively. Results The adsorption efficiency of the three polymers toward Pb(II) and various toxic metal ions present in sewage was evaluated as a function of adsorbent dose, time, temperature, pH value, and initial ion concentration to determine optimum adsorption conditions. The three polymers showed excellent efficiency toward about 20 metal ions present in a sewage sample collected from the sewer. The adsorption process follows the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model with a second-order of adsorption rate, the calculated qe values (2.675, 15.252, 20.856 mg/g) were close to the experimental qe values (2.133, 13.91, 18.786 mg/g) for the three polymers Cell-AA, Cell-β-AG and Cell-β-AN, respectively. Molecular Dynamic (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were performed on the three polymers complexed with Pb(II). Conclusion The waste material of the olive industry was used as a precursor for making the target cellulose polymers with β-Amino Ester Pendant Group. The polymer was characterized by SEM, proton NMR, TGA, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The efficacy of adsorption was quantitative for metal ions present in a real sample of wastewater and the efficiency didn’t drop even after 7 cycles of use. The results indicate the existence of strong complexation. The thermodynamic study results showed a spontaneous bonding between of Pb(II) and the polymers pendant groups expressed by the negative value of the Gibbs free energy.

Autophagy has been of novel interest since it was first demonstrated to have effect in Burkitt’s lymphoma. Since that time, the autophagy agents chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have become the only FDA (Food and Drug Administration)-approved autophagy inhibitors. While not approved for cancer therapy, there are ongoing clinical trials to evaluate their safety and efficacy. Pevonedistat has emerged as a novel inhibitor through the neddylation pathway and is an autophagy activator. This paper summarizes and presents current clinical trials for hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), chloroquine (CQ), and Pevonedistat for the clinician.

Interest in combining metallic nanoparticles, such as iron (SPIONs), gold (AuNPs) and bismuth oxide (BiONPs), with radiotherapy has increased due to the promising therapeutic advantages. While the underlying physical mechanisms of NP-enhanced radiotherapy have been extensively explored, only a few research works were motivated to quantify its contribution in an experimental dosimetry setting. This work aims to explore the feasibility of radiochromic films to measure the physical dose enhancement (DE) caused by the release of secondary electrons and photons during NP–radiotherapy interactions. A 10 mM each of SPIONs, AuNPs or BiONPs was loaded into zipper bags packed with GAFCHROMIC™ EBT3 films. The samples were exposed to a single radiation dose of 4.0 Gy with clinically relevant beams. Scanning was conducted using a flatbed scanner in red-component analysis for optimum sensitivity. Experimental dose enhancement factors (DEFExperimental) were then calculated using the ratio of absorbed doses (with/without NPs) converted from the films’ calibration curves. DEFExperimental for all NPs showed no significant physical DE beyond the uncertainty limits (p > 0.05). These results suggest that SPIONs, AuNPs and BiONPs might potentially enhance the dose in these clinical beams. However, changes in NPs concentration, as well as dosimeter sensitivity, are important to produce observable impact.

Multimodal strategies of cancer treatment such as chemoradiotherapy aim to eradicate complex malignant diseases with enhanced therapeutic outcome. This study aimed to investigate the effects of bismuth oxide nanoparticles (BiONPs) and cisplatin (Cis) (BC) under gamma irradiation from Ir-192 of clinical High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy. The cells irradiations were performed using 0.38 MeV Iridium-192 HDR Brachytherapy source with doses of 0–4 Gy in a single fraction. Apoptosis analyses were conducted using flow cytometry and subcellular biochemical changes were evaluated using Raman spectroscopy. The percentage of apoptosis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells with BC indicated an increment with early apoptosis were more predominant compared to late apoptotic cells. The cells population profile also shown cells shrinkage and cellular membrane damages for BC treated cells after brachytherapy. Subcellular biochemical changes were detected which involved the glycolysis process, the disarrangement of the amino acid structure and DNA/RNA disintegration that might be associated with cells death mechanism. This study demonstrated that the BiONPs-Cis (BC) can potentially enhanced radiation effects of brachytherapy due to the potent synergetic effects that will progressively enhance the therapeutic impact of cancer treatment.

Cotton is the largest industrial sector in Pakistan. However, due to bad traditional practices and use of high amount pesticides, the whole industry lost about 10-15% of cotton. For reasons of socioeconomic and environmental harm, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) launched "Better Cotton" in Pakistan. Better cotton production is a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cotton due to its efficient resource utilization and lower environmental externalities. CABI encourages farmers to implement better cotton production principles and criteria, use better cotton standard system and good agricultural practices (GAP), and provide participatory training for small, medium and large-sized farmers and farm workers in their "learning groups" and medium-sized farmers' fields. The aim of this short communication article is to put together a concise review of Better Cotton production. In this short communication we briefly present the history, importance, aim, distribution and principles of Better Cotton Initiative.

Foeniculum vulgare Mill., commonly called fennel is one of the most popular perennial herbaceous plants used as herbal medicine and spices worldwide. It belongs to the family Umbelliferae or Apiaceae and is characterized by a distinct floral arrangement with an umbrella-like shape. In addition to other well-known Umbelliferae plants, such as carrot, celery, and angelica, fennel has been utilized ethnobotanically to cure various ailments, including gastrointestinal issues, hormonal disorders, reproductive, and respiratory diseases. This review aims to update the information on conventional usage, cultivation, phytopharmacological properties, and other applications of F. vulgare Mill. in animal husbandry. Ethnobotanical studies have shown its medicinal uses worldwide; some tribes have reported its medicinal uses and how they use different parts of the plant. Alkaloids, essential oils, phenols, fatty acids, and amino acids are examples of natural phytochemicals that have been characterized and biologically tested for their medicinal potential. Fennel has been used to treat ten categories of diseases over the last two decades. Pharmacological studies revealed that the Umbelliferae plant has antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, gastro-protective, estrogenic-like, cardiovascular, lipid, anti-mutagenic, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer activity, hepatoprotective, and memory-protective properties. Fennel extract is used as a potential phytogenic agent to enhance the productivity and quality of animal husbandry. Finally, the present study may provide up-to-date information on the medicinal application of F. vulgare from ethnobotanical and phytopharmacological perspectives and could be further explored to provide a broader benefit to humankind.

BackgroundSkeletal muscle is the main site for insulin-dependent glucose disposal. The hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp (HIEC) is the gold standard for the assessment of insulin sensitivity (IS). We have previously shown that insulin sensitivity, measured by HIEC, varied widely among a group of 60 young healthy men with normoglycemia. The aim of this study was to correlate the proteomic profile of skeletal muscles to insulin sensitivity.MethodsMuscle biopsies from 16 subjects having the highest (M ≥ 13; n = 8, HIS) and lowest (M ¾ 6, n = 8, LIS) IS were obtained at baseline and during insulin infusion after stabilization of the blood glucose level and glucose infusion rate at the end of the HIEC. The samples were processed using a quantitative proteomic analysis approach.ResultsAt baseline, 924 proteins were identified in the HIS and LIS groups. Among the 924 proteins detected in both groups, three were suppressed and three were increased significantly in the LIS subjects compared with the HIS subjects. Following insulin infusion, 835 proteins were detected in both groups. Among the 835 proteins, two showed differential responsiveness to insulin; ATP5F1 protein was decreased, and MYLK2 was higher in the LIS group compared with that in the HIS group. Our data suggest that alteration in mitochondrial proteins and an increased number of proteins involved in fast-twitch fiber correlate to insulin sensitivity in healthy young Arab men.ConclusionsThese results suggest a change in a small number of differentially expressed proteins. A possible reason for this small change could be our study cohorts representing a homogeneous and healthy population. Additionally, we show differences in protein levels from skeletal muscle in low and high insulin sensitivity groups. Therefore, these differences may represent early events for the development of insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and type 2 diabetes.

In this work, sugarcane bagasse waste (SBW) was used as a lignocellulosic precursor to develop a high-surface-area activated carbon (AC) by thermal treatment of the SBW impregnated with KOH. This SBW activated carbon (SBWAC) was characterized by crystallinity, porosity, surface morphology and functional groups availability. The SBWAC exhibited Type I isotherm which corresponds to microporosity with high specific surface area of 709.3 m2/g and 6.6 nm of mean pore diameter. Further application of SBWAC as an adsorbent for methylene blue (MB) dye removal demonstrated that the adsorption process closely followed the pseudo-second order kinetic and Freundlich isotherm models. Conversely, a thermodynamic study revealed the endothermic nature and spontaneity of MB dye adsorption on SBWAC with high acquired adsorption capacity (136.5 mg/g). The MB dye adsorption onto SBWAC possibly involved electrostatic interaction, H-bonding and π–π interaction. This work demonstrates SBW as a potential lignocellulosic precursor to produce high-surface-area AC that can potentially remove more cationic dyes from the aqueous environment. HIGHLIGHTS Microporous activated carbon was prepared from sugarcane bagasse via KOH activation.; The activated carbon was used for adsorption of methylene blue dye.; The adsorption capacity for methylene blue dye was 136.5 mg/g.; The adsorption thermodynamic indicates spontaneous and endothermic process.;

Purpose: Oil Palm Boiler Clinker (OPBC) is a promising waste material that can be deployed toward sustainable development. Researchers have been looking into the potential of industrial waste and by-products to provide an alternative to natural stone aggregates in concrete production. This study aims to determine an OPBC concrete mix eligible for lightweight reinforced precast concrete products according to BS EN 13369:2013. Design/methodology/approach: The concrete mix design is determined via the trial mix method, where percentages of OPBC are varied as partial replacements in the control mix. Raw OPBC is collected from a local palm oil mill in Johor, Malaysia and is processed to be implemented in the concrete mix. Three 100mm cube samples of nine OPBC mixes and one control mix are tested and weighed on day 1, day 7, and day 28 to determine their cube compressive strength and density to BS EN 12390-3:2009. The mix that fulfils the requirements is the mix with 90% coarse clinker and 90% fine clinker, cured by the method of air curing, which achieved a cube compressive strength of 38.66N/mm2 and density of 1920kg/m3. Findings: In conclusion, the results show that OPBC concrete is a green alternative to standard concrete that does not differ significantly in terms of strength while offering a density reduction of as much as 16%. Originality/value: This paper is original Paper type: Research paper

The network has various issues as a consequence of increased network traffic as a result of employing packet switching instead of circuit switching, which has a constant data rate, a large number of connected devices, and advancement of application services (download, upload, streaming, you tube, etc.). Efficiency resource management entails not only defining the present network design and technology, but also preparing for 5G. There is a link between the mobile business and the internet; how can LTE reach everything, and how many bytes/months of internet because there are so many applications, such as "immersive multimedia experience," that require high data rates and low latency. Many technologies, such as multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), software-defined networking (SDN), edge computing, network functions virtualization (NFV), millimeter-wave, and others, have been proposed to address some of 5G's issues. This research, based on the magazine "The international journal of intelligent engineering and systems," focuses on resource allocation difficulties in 5G core networks and radio access networks. It is this that has prompted us to look at the most efficient way to manage the resources of fifth-generation mobile networks.

The study aims to address the concept of wealth from the perspective of the Sharīʿah and its relationship to contemporary digital assets such as cryptocurrency (Bitcoin). The qualitative research approach is adopted for this research. The data is collected from several resources such as books, journal articles, reports, conferences papers, and websites. The data is analyzed through an explanatory research approach by providing scholars’ opinions and their arguments on the subject matter. The findings of this study show that Sharīʿah provides certain conditions to consider something as asset or currency from the Sharīʿah perspective. In regard to cryptocurrency (Bitcoin), the Sharīʿah rules vary based on the types of cryptocurrencies and whether cryptocurrency meets the conditions to be considered as currency or assets. Moreover, either cryptocurrency is an asset or currency, it should not contravene any Sharīʿah laws, such as ribā (interest) and gharar (uncertainty). Since Sharīʿah does not limit the currency to dirhams and dīnārs , Bitcoin can be considered as an alternative to the current currencies in a digital form. This would enable financial markets to move faster and secure transaction methods in the future. The policymakers might find this study beneficial to issue new guidelines and policy documents. The findings of the study might be interesting for cryptocurrency enthusiasts and investors to have a deeper understanding of cryptocurrency from the Sharīʿah viewpoint.

Background: In the last three eras, the incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has increased, due to increased radiological studies. The expected 5-year survival rate has become better, associated with the identification of small size renal masses. However, this survival improvement may be secondary to improved surgical techniques and medical therapies for these malignancies. Objectives: The objective was to report the trends of clinical presentation, peri-operative, oncological outcomes, and surgical management trends for RCCs over the period. Methods: After Institutional Review Board approval, a retrospective study for adult patients was conducted, who presented with renal mass and were managed between 2008 and 2019. Variables, including demographics, perioperative and pathological outcomes analyzed using descriptive statistics for continuous variables reported as mean ± standard deviation and categorical variables values compared by Chi-square test. Survival Analysis calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The level of significance is set at P-value < 0.05. Results: A total of 588 patients underwent surgical treatment for kidney cancer from January 2008 to January 2019. 237 (40.30%) were females and 351 (59.69%) males. The clinical presentation was higher as an incidental diagnosis of 58.67%. 71.25% of patients were from outside Riyadh city. Pathology was mostly clear cell RCC 61.22% and grade 2 (57.48%). Tumor size, surgery time, and length of hospital stay showed a significant difference between the three periods (both P > 0.05). Robotic surgery performed more than open (P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the survival time, when compared to patients by the regions and when compared by the primary tumors (Log-Rank P = 0.4821). Patients from the Riyadh region (median = 54.0) had a significantly higher recurrence time (Log-Rank P < 0.0001). Conclusion: There was a rising trend in the incidence of RCC associated with comorbidities and incidental diagnosis. In our study period we found increase in the trend of minimal invasive approach. The size of the tumor, blood loss and operative time decreases over the period of time. The Robotic assisted nephrectomy approach has become increased over the period of time duration in present study.

Sex cord-stromal tumors are the second most common testicular tumors after germ cell tumors. They account for about 2%–5% of adult testicular tumors. Most of these tumors are benign. The most common sex cord-stromal tumor is Leydig cell tumor. In contrast, testicular fibroma is a very rare type of sex cord-stromal tumors. Histologically, testicular fibromas resemble their ovarian counterparts; however, they are much less common than ovarian fibromas. To the best of our knowledge,

The current work investigates the morphology, crystallinity and photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of bismuth sulfide/silver sulfide/zinc oxide nanorods (Bi2S3/Ag2S/ZnO NRAs) photoelectrodes as prepared at different annealing temperature. ZnO NRAs was initially grown hydrothermally, deposited in sequence with Ag2S and Bi2S3 via successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method before undergoing the annealing treatment. The optimised photoelectrode (Bi2S3/Ag2S/ZnO NRAs-400 °C) possesses an optical bandgap of 1.60 eV extending the absorption edge of ZnO to visible light spectrum. The current-voltage characterization of Bi2S3/Ag2S/ZnO NRAs photoelectrodes revealed that the photocurrent density and photoconversion efficiency were strongly dependent on the annealing temperature. The PEC study shows that the photoelectrode annealed at 400 °C achieved impressive photocurrent density of 12.95 mA/cm2 at +0.5 V (vs Ag/AgCl/saturated KCl) under 100 mW/cm2 illumination with superior photoconversion efficiency of 12.63%. This improvement is due to the cascade-designed band structure alignment of Bi2S3/Ag2S/ZnO/ITO and to the brilliant role of Ag2S as an intermediate layer that reduced random chance of electron-hole (e−-h+) pairs recombination and improved the electrons collection efficiency. This work is highly anticipated to give contribution on further utilisation of Bi2S3/Ag2S/ZnO NRAs as a promising semiconductor material in PEC related applications.

Fatwa has the most important role to play in the development of society from time to time, and without exception Indonesia as a nation with the largest Muslim majority which requires the role of fatwa surely in order to dealt with or adapt to new issues. For instance, the recent fatwa issued by the Ulama Consultative Assembly (MPU) of Aceh on the prohibition of PUBG caused by an incident of terrorist attacks to the Muslim community in New Zealand. Therefore, the aims of this study is to analyse the fatwa issued by Ulama Consultative Assembly (MPU) of Aceg regarding the status haram of the PUBG based on the findins of Islamic principles, maslahah dan mafsadah. Particularly, the objectives of this research are as follows: 1). To explain the factors behind the Ulama Consultative Assembly (MPU) of Aceh in issuing a forbidden fatwa for the PUBG. 2). To describe the arguments or judgments that became the foundation of Ulama Consultative Assembly (MPU) of Aceh regarding their fatwa. 3). To analyse the haram fatwa against PUBG issued by Ulama Consultative Assembly (MPU) of Aceh through the concept of masalah and mafsadah.

In modern drug delivery, seeking a drug delivery system (DDS) with a modifiable skeleton for proper targeting of loaded actives to specific sites in the body is of extreme importance for a successful therapy. Magnetically guided nanosystems, where particles such as iron oxides are guided to specific regions using an external magnetic field, can provide magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) while delivering a therapeutic payload at the same time, which represents a breakthrough in disease therapy and make MNPs excellent candidates for several biomedical applications. In this review, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) along with their distinguishable properties, including pharmacokinetics and toxicity, especially in cancer therapy will be discussed. The potential perspective of using other elements within the MNP system to reduce toxicity, improve pharmacokinetics, increase the magnetization ability, improve physical targeting precision and/or widen the scope of its biomedical application will be also discussed.

Abstract B12 is an essential vitamin for human body which reduces the chances of neurological diseases, birth defects, and chronic disorders. It is a vital micro-nutrient for maintaining the brain health. This review sorts out some causes of vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency and develops its link with neurological disorders. The portals include PubMed, Google Scholar, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Pak MediNet, and Science Direct were search for literature retrieval. Study of literature revealed that deficiency of this vitamin occurs primarily due to insufficient dietary intake which results in a group of neurological symptoms in adults as well as infants. These neurological disorders include apathy, anorexia, irritability, growth retardation, and developmental regression. It may also involve in delayed myelination or demyelination of neurons. It was concluded that B12 is vital micro-nutrient for healthy brain in children, younger, and elders. Various conditions are responsible for deficiency of B12. A timely and proper supplementation is necessary if it is dietary deficiency.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which encompasses deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a major public health concern due to its high incidences of morbidity and mortality. Patients who have experienced trauma with prolonged immobilization are at an increased risk of developing VTE. Plasma D-dimer levels have been known to be elevated in trauma patients, and they were closely correlated with the number of fractures. In other words, plasma D-dimer levels cannot be used as the only indicator of VTE in trauma cases. Given the limitations, further study is needed to explore other potential biomarkers for diagnosing VTE. To date, various established and novel VTE biomarkers have been studied in terms of their potential for predicting VTE, diagnostic performance, and improving clinical therapy for VTE. Therefore, this review aims to provide information regarding classic and essential haemostasis (including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), D-dimer, fibrinogen, thrombin generation, protein C, protein S, antithrombin, tissue factor pathway inhibitor, and platelet count) and inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and soluble P-selectin) as potential diagnostic biomarkers that can predict the risk of VTE development among trauma patients with prolonged immobilization. Thus, further advancement in risk stratification using these biomarkers would allow for a better diagnosis of patients with VTE, especially in areas with limited resources.

Background: Robotic-assisted pyeloplasty surgery has become the preferred approach of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) in pediatrics. However, to our knowledge, there is limited data on the learning curve for robotic-assisted pyeloplasty in children and no similar study from Saudi Arabia. Aims: The objective of the study was to evaluate the progression of the surgical team performing robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) and to assess the feasibility of the RALP in children, since it is having been recently started in the Kingdom. Settings and Design: Retrospective charts and surgical videos review at the tertiary care centre. Subjects and Methods: After approval from the internal review board (IRB), we reviewed the surgical video recording of the RALP procedure of 15 patients presented with UPJO from January 2016 to October 2017. Statistical analysis was done for the variables includes dissection time, pyelotomy, anastomosis on both sides, and total surgery time and calculated in minutes. Renal ultrasound reviewed to assess any change in grade. Results: Fifteen patients with UPJO underwent RALP. Of 15 cases, nine were primary and six cases as secondary UPJO. The median age was 8 (3–15) years. Out of 15 cases, 13 and 2 patients diagnosed as Society for Fetal Urology grades of 4 and 3, respectively. Total operative time was prolonged in secondary group as compared to primary pyeloplasty group (mean [standard deviation (SD)]: 166.3 [35.1], range: 125–223, P = 0.0028 versus mean (SD): 149.17 (30.4), range: (114–207), P = 0.0008). The success rate was 100% in primary and 84% in secondary cases. The median length of follow-up was 12.0 (7.0–18.0) and 10.0 (8.0–12.5) months in primary and secondary cases, respectively. The overall complication rate was 13% (2/15) (Clavien grade: 1–2). Conclusions: The evaluation of the learning curve of RALP for this group of patients concluded that total operative time for RALP, performed by the pediatric urology team, steadily decreased with collective surgical experience.

Abstract This study presents the case of an original and traditional knowledge system of palung, which is used in salt-making in the coastal communities of Bali. The study emphasizes the practicalities of the system and its epistemology using anthropological and sociological methods. It is known that the traditional knowledge system of palung salt production has been preserved through the generations as a form of local wisdom. This traditional knowledge system emphasizes the use of local natural resources in accordance with the coastal ecosystems of Bali, where the cultivation of extracted soil (tanah sari), sand, bamboo, and coconut trees is carried out manually. This study has evidenced that the palung process successfully produces salt of excellent taste and quality. Based on laboratory tests conducted on palung salt samples, the results show that it does not contain any heavy metals and that it has good nutritional content. Because of its use of available natural resources, this traditional knowledge system is sustainable and environmentally friendly.

This article re-examines the importance of geomorphological analysis in order to provide more comprehensive explanation of various historical events, especially in the coastal area of Southeast Sumatra, Indonesia. Many historical sources regarding this region need a deeper interpretation related to the geomorphological dynamics of this region as well as the Strait of Malacca. Comprehensive analysis of this element will prevent an anachronistic story of the past. Many historians of Indonesia and the Malacca Strait region have erroneously tended to narrate events that occurred in the early first millennium or more than 1500 years ago based on the contemporary maps. It is important for historians to be aware of the fact that geologically and geographically the coastal area of Southeast Sumatra and the Strait of Malacca region have undergone very rapid geomorphological changes. In fact, there were many kingdoms in Southeast Asia that emerged and developed before the dominance of Sriwijaya, located in the west cost of Sumatra and the coastal parts of Java. Keywords: Geomorphological Analysis; Strait of Malacca; Maritime History; Southeast Sumatra Coast; Anachronistic History. Artikel ini mengkaji kembali pentingnya analisis geomorfologi untuk memberikan penjelasan yang lebih komprehensif tentang berbagai peristiwa bersejarah, terutama di wilayah pesisir Sumatera Tenggara, Indonesia. Banyak sumber sejarah mengenai wilayah ini membutuhkan interpretasi yang lebih dalam terkait dengan dinamika geomorfologi wilayah ini serta Selat Malaka. Analisis komprehensif dari elemen ini akan mencegah cerita anakronistik masa lalu. Banyak sejarawan Indonesia dan wilayah Selat Malaka telah cenderung untuk menceritakan peristiwa yang terjadi pada awal milenium pertama atau lebih dari 1500 tahun yang lalu berdasarkan peta kontemporer. Pen-ting bagi para sejarawan untuk menyadari fakta bahwa secara geologis dan geografis wilayah pesisir Sumatera Tenggara dan Selat Malaka telah mengalami perubahan geomorfologi yang sangat cepat. Bahkan, ada banyak kerajaan di Asia Tenggara yang muncul dan berkembang sebelum dominasi Sriwijaya, yang terletak di bagian barat Sumatera dan bagian pesisir Jawa. Kata kunci: Analisis Geomorfologi; Selat Malaka; Sejarah Maritim; Pantai Sumatra Tenggara; Sejarah anakronistik.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an exceptionally complicated and heterogeneous disease that is caused by the abnormal proliferation of malignant monoclonal plasma cells initiated in the bone marrow. In disease progression, a multistep process including differentiation, proliferation, and invasion is involved. Despite great improvement in treatment outcomes in recent years due to the substantial discovery of novel therapeutic drugs, MM is still regarded as an incurable disease. Patients with MM are afflicted by confronting remission periods accompanied by relapse or progression outcomes, which inevitably progress to the refractory stage. In this regard, MM may need new medications or modifications in therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance. A variety of genetic abnormalities (e.g., point mutations, translocations, and deletions) and epigenetic changes (e.g., DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA) contribute to the pathogenesis and development of MM. Here, we review the significant roles of epigenetic mechanisms in the development and progression of MM. We also highlight epigenetic pathways as potential novel treatment avenues for MM, including their interplay, use of epigenetic inhibitors, and major involvement in immuno-oncology.

Introduction: Safranal, which endows saffron its unique aroma, causes vasodilatation and has a hypotensive effect in animal studies, but the mechanisms of these effects are unknown. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of safranal vasodilation. Methods: Isolated rat endothelium-intact or -denuded aortic rings were precontracted with phenylephrine and then relaxed with safranal. To further assess the involvement of nitric oxide, prostaglandins, guanylate cyclase, and phospholipase A2 in safranal-induced vasodilation, aortic rings were preincubated with L-NAME, indomethacin, methylene blue, or quinacrine, respectively, then precontracted with phenylephrine, and safranal concentration–response curves were established. To explore the effects of safranal on Ca2+ influx, phenylephrine and CaCl2 concentration–response curves were established in the presence of safranal. Furthermore, the effect of safranal on aortic rings in the presence of ouabain, a Na+-K+ ATPase inhibitor, was studied to explore the contribution of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger to this vasodilation. Results: Safranal caused vasodilation in endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded aortic rings. The vasodilation was not eliminated by pretreatment with L-NAME, indomethacin, methylene blue, or quinacrine, indicating the lack of a role for NO/cGMP. Safranal significantly inhibited the maximum contractions induced by phenylephrine, or by CaCl2 in Ca2+-free depolarizing buffer. Safranal also relaxed contractions induced by ouabain, but pretreatment with safranal totally abolished the development of ouabain contractions. Discussion/Conclusion: Inhibition of Na+-K+ ATPase by ouabain leads to the accumulation of Na+ intracellularly, forcing the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger to work in reverse mode, thus causing a contraction. Inhibition of the development of this contraction by preincubation with safranal indicates that safranal inhibited the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. We conclude that safranal vasodilation is mediated by the inhibition of calcium influx from extracellular space through L-type Ca2+ channels and by the inhibition of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger.

Tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the newly recognized subtypes of RCC. It has a unique cystic morphology and indolent behavior. During the last decade, few studies have been published describing tubulocystic RCC with poorly differentiated foci. A subset of these cases are associated with loss of fumarate hydratase which is a characteristic feature of hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma-associated RCC. However, these two entities represent two distinct subtypes of RCC in the recent WHO Classification of kidney tumors. Herein, we are describing a rare case of tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma with poorly differentiated foci and loss of fumarate hydratase.

This article presents data of 623 children (1156 observations) between 4 and 17 years of age living in floricultural communities of Ecuador from 3 examination periods (2008, Apr 2016, and Jul–Oct 2016) as part of the study of Secondary Exposure to Pesticides among Children and Adolescents (ESPINA).We present geospatial data of residential distance to the nearest greenhouse crop and areas within various buffer sizes around homes of participants which is data used in the original research article: Suarez-Lopez JR, et al. “Residential proximity to greenhouse crops and pesticide exposure (via acetylcholinesterase activity) assessed from childhood through adolescence”. These geospatial variables are related but different constructs of the potential for off-target drift of pesticides from crops onto homes nearby (via acetylcholinesterase activity) Understanding the associations between these distance and crop area variables is important as a growing number of investigations are using these constructs of off-target pesticide drift to characterize their associations with both exposure biomarkers and outcome measures. Geographic positioning of greenhouses and homes were obtained using GPS receivers and satellite imagery. Distances between homes and the nearest greenhouse edge, and areas of greenhouse crops within various buffer zones (0–150 m, 151–300 m, 310–500 m, 501–750 m, and 751–1000 m) around homes were calculated using Geographic Information System software.Beyond the dataset, we present demographic and anthropometric characteristics, and indicators of pesticide exposure of participants across categories of areas of greenhouse crops around homes for buffer sizes of 0–150 m around homes. We also present the distribution of areas of flower crops within various buffer zone sizes around children's homes and the correlation coefficients between household proximity to the nearest treated greenhouse crops and areas of flower crops within various buffer zones within 1000 m of homes.

Peneltian ini bertujuan guna mengetahui dan memotivasi guru dalam berkreatifitas mengembankan rencana pelaksanaan pembelajaran. Penelitan ini menggunakan metode kualitatif. Dengan jangkauan penelitian guru Pendidikan Agama Islam. Data diperoleh melalui teknik angket dan wawancara tidak langsung yang penulis lakukan. Hal ini dilaksanaan agar mendapatkan data yang utuh. Gambaran Penelitan dapat diberikan secara real bahwa guru Pendidikan Agama Islam menggunakan Rencana Pelaksanaan pembelajaran yang dibuat melalui Silabus Pembelajaran. Penelitan ini menganggap penting adanya kreatifitas guru dalam mengembangkan Rencana Pelaksanaan pembelajaran.

Objectives: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an inflammatory disorder induced by immunoglobulin E-mediated response after allergen exposure. It is the most common allergic disorder with a high burden on patients and society. The purpose of this study is to report the prevalence and severity of AR and its complications among the population of Al-Ahssa in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This study analyzed observational, descriptive, cross-sectional data. Our sample includes males and females from all age groups from Al-Ahssa, Saudi Arabia, in October 2017. Our sample size was 807 with a confidence level of 95% and a confidence interval of 3.45. Results: The study suggested that 48% of the samples were diagnosed with AR, 28% had symptoms suggestive of AR, and 24% did not have any symptoms. Results suggest a great association between AR, eczema, and asthma. About 53% of patients who live near a farm were diagnosed with AR and 28% of them had symptoms. This indicates an association between living near a farm and AR. In addition, there was a clear relationship between owning a pet and AR. In 44% of cases, recurrence occurred in winter. Eighty-one percent of patients either with AR or who have symptoms of AR are triggered when exposed to a certain stimulus. Sixty-four percent reported that symptoms are provoked by dust. The most common symptoms reported were nasal itching followed by sneezing. Fifty-seven percent of patients who have AR or symptoms of AR have severe disease. Seventy-five percent of them complain of sleep disturbance. Twenty-seven percent of patients reported 0 effect on life, 14% scored 5, and 14% scored 10 on the daily activity scale. Conclusion: We concluded that 76% of the samples were either diagnosed with AR or have symptoms suggestive of AR. These symptoms are mainly triggered by dust and are associated with living near farms.