Area Of Study Research Articles

Circadian immunity from bench to bedside: a practical guide.

The immune system is built to counteract unpredictable threats, yet it relies on predictable cycles of activity to function properly. Daily rhythms in immune function are an expanding area of study, and many originate from a genetically based timekeeping mechanism known as the circadian clock. The challenge is how to harness these biological rhythms to improve medical interventions. Here, we review recent literature documenting how circadian clocks organize fundamental innate and adaptive immune activities, the immunologic consequences of circadian rhythm and sleep disruption, and persisting knowledge gaps in the field. We then consider the evidence linking circadian rhythms to vaccination, an important clinical realization of immune function. Finally, we discuss practical steps to translate circadian immunity to the patient's bedside.

African Indigenous Research to Decolonisation of African Universities’ Curricula

The phrase African indigenous research (AIR) depicts a novel research thrust that seeks a global entrance into the mainstream research assortment as a competitive area of study. A discourse on decolonisation attempts to reverse the gains of colonialism. Existing studies show that most (South) African universities’ curricula can be traced to the colonial era. A rereading of available scholarly conversations depicts some reluctance on the part of education authorities towards decolonising the (South) African universities’ curricula. It is in the context of the above that the present study engages conversations on decolonisation in order to establish a common ground that affords AIR a notable articulation on decolonisation of (South) African Universities’ curricula. The present research is anchored on a critical race theory (CRT) in which narrative inquiry as a methodological approach is utilised. Although the phrase African universities’ curricula is employed, the study will focus on the (South) African universities’ curricula as representative examples. The (South) African scenario is preferred as a case study due to the author’s familiarisation with (South) African universities as well as African decolonisation discourses. The study attempts to answer the following three questions (1) what motivated research conversations on decolonisation? (2) why is the study on decolonisation of the curricula in (South) African universities necessary? and (3) what is the global impact of decolonisation processes in (South) Africa?

Type IV pili of Enterobacteriaceae species.

Type IV pili (T4Ps) are surface filaments widely distributed among bacteria and archaea. T4Ps are involved in many cellular functions and contribute to virulence in some species of bacteria. Due to the diversity of T4Ps, different properties have been observed for homologous proteins that make up T4Ps in various organisms. In this review, we highlight the essential components of T4Ps, their functions, and similarities to related systems. We emphasize the unique T4Ps of enteric pathogens within the Enterobacteriaceae family, which includes pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli and Salmonella. These include the bundle-forming pilus (BFP) of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), longus (Lng) and colonization factor III (CFA/III) of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), T4P of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, Colonization Factor Citrobacter (CFC) of Citrobacter rodentium, T4P of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, a ubiquitous T4P that was characterized in enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), and the R64 plasmid thin pilus. Finally, we highlight areas for further study.

A comprehensive review on Exploration and Production scenario of Natural Gas Hydrate

Gas hydrates have emerged as a highly focused area of study over the past two decades due to their distinctive advantages and potential applications. Among gas hydrates, methane hydrates stand out for their enormous energy potential, serving as both an energy resource and finding utility in various applications such as gas storage, separation and enrichment. This study discusses the extraction of gas hydrates, which involves employing different methods such as depressurization, thermal stimulation and inhibitor injection to dissociate the compounds. Ensuring the safety and efficiency of gas production requires a comprehensive understanding of the geotechnical properties of hydrate reservoirs. It is essential to maintain flow assurance, sediment formation integrity and wellbore stability for secure and efficient extraction of gas from hydrates in sedimentary deposits. The key factors that influence these aspects, encompass strength and deformation characteristics, fluid migration behaviour and thermal conduction properties.

Status of the Rapa Whelk Agglomerations Along the Romanian Black Sea Coast

The Black Sea Rapa whelk (Rapana venosa, Valenciennes 1846) is, on one hand, a non-indigenous species harming Black Sea benthic ecosystem and on the other hand, since its ever-epanding stock found market in the Far East, one of the most profitable in the basin. For this purpose, the Working Group on the Black Sea (WGBS) under General Fisheries Commission for Mediterranean and Black Sea (GFCM) agreed on the fact that, despite the invasive nature of the species, its stock in the Black Sea should be eploited within biologically safe limits. In order to cover the area of study in high percentage, a number of 51 stations were proposed for Romanian coast, that were distributed evenly. The duration of one haul was 30 minutes and the hauls were performed at a constant depth and rectilinear in a big percentage, but to avoid tangles and gear destruction, some deviations have been made. Age composition in 2020 was formed by 3 to 12 years generations, the percentages were recorded for 6- and 7-years classes. Regarding 2021 data, the age composition was composed by 3 to 11 years, with the numbers recorded for 5- and 6-years classes. Highest abundance and biomass values for rapa whelk in 2020 have been recorded in the north part of the Romanian coast in the sectors Zaton, Sahalin, Sf. Gheorghe and Mila 9. For 2021, data no significant changes were observed.

The Effect of Political Repression on Collective Violence

The impact of political repression on instances of collective violence in regions likeAfrica, Russia, and Myanmar is a complex and significant area of study that examines how repressive measures taken by governments can contribute to the emergence and escalation of collective violence within these regions1 . This phenomenon underscores the intricate interplay between political, social, andeconomic factors that can give rise to violent responses from marginalized or dissenting groups. In Africa, political repression can manifest through authoritarian regimes, lack of political freedoms, and human rights abuses2 . These conditions often lead to frustration and discontent among the population, potentially resulting in collectiveviolence such as protests, riots, or even insurgencies. Repression may stifle legitimate avenues for dissent, compelling aggrieved groups to resort to violent means to make their grievances heard.

Cadmium concentration in cocoa beans produced in agroforestry systems of small producers in Panama

Aim of study: To calculate Cd concentration in cocoa plants and evaluate its relationship with available Cd and other soil properties. Area of study: Almirante, Bocas del Toro province, Panama, in 2020-2021. Material and methods: The study was carried out in 21 plots of eight cocoa-producing farms. The total area of each sampled plot was 300 m2. Soil samples were taken at a depth of 30 cm, and samples of the leaves and fruits of cocoa trees were also taken. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were carried out for soil variables and Cd in plants. The relationship between bioavailable Cd and soil physicochemical variables and between soil variables and Cd in plants was evaluated. Multiple linear regression was performed using the backward selection method. Main results: The pH was acidic (5.1) and the organic matter content of the soil was greater than 3%, suitable for immobilizing Cd from the soil. Total and bioavailable Cd averaged 0.10 mg kg-1 and 0.02 mg kg-1 respectively. The Cd levels in cocoa leaves exceeded the recommended levels of 0.5 mg kg-1. The Cd concentration in the cocoa bean was low (0.25 mg kg-1). Research highlights: The levels of bioavailable Cd found do not exceed the United States Environment Agency toxic limits in soil. The level of Cd found in the cocoa bean is below the limit of 0.8 mg kg-1 which is taken as a reference for chocolate, with total dry matter content ≥ 50% of the CODEX Alimentarius.

Exploring the relationship between falls, fall-related psychological concerns, and personality traits in adults: A scoping review protocol.

Personality traits, such as neuroticism and extraversion, are emerging as important predictors of falls. Despite their significance, existing fall prevention programs often overlook these traits, creating a notable research gap. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive scoping review to explore the existing literature on the relationships among personality traits, falls, and fall-related psychological concerns (FrPCs). This scoping review will adhere to the framework established by Arksey and O'Malley, incorporating extensions recommended by the Joanna Briggs Instituteand using the PRISMA-ScR checklist. A thorough search strategy will be employed, aligning with the population, concept, and context (PCC) selection criteria. Electronic databases, including MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus, will be searched from their inception to the present. Additionally, a manual search of the reference lists of identified and relevant full-text articles will be conducted. Two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts, perform full-text reviews, and extract data from pertinent articles. Personality traits are increasingly recognized as influential predictors of falls and related psychological concerns. This review aims to make a substantial contribution to the existing literature by being the first to comprehensively explore and provide a descriptive synthesis of the relationship between personality traits and falls, as well as FrPCs in adults. It is hoped that the outcomes of this review will enhance our comprehension of the role of personality traits in falls, potentially informing future research and strategies for this critical area of study. This scoping review protocol was registered with Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/KR74X).

Part of the Job: Patron-Perpetrated Sexual Harassment in UK Public Libraries

ABSTRACT Patron-perpetrated sexual harassment (PPSH) toward librarians is an under-researched area of sexual harassment studies and library studies. This study is the first on PPSH toward librarians in the United Kingdom and focuses on public librarians. 143 UK public librarians were surveyed about their experiences of PPSH over the past five years. Respondents had experienced 14 of the 16 sexual harassment behaviors in the survey, and 81.8% of respondents experienced at least one form of PPSH. Respondents’ age, gender, and ethnicity were also considered in relation to their experiences of PPSH. This study provides recommendations for the profession and future researchers.

Identification of Suicide Risk in a Pediatric Psychiatric Emergency Setting: Comparing the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions and the Kiddie-Computerized Adaptive Test-Suicide Scale

ABSTRACT While the emergency department (ED) is an important setting for identifying youth with psychiatric symptoms and connecting them to services, the demands of the ED make efficient and accurate measurement essential in the implementation of mental health screening. The Kiddie-Computerized Adaptive Test (K-CAT), a new electronically administered measure that offers quick and comprehensive assessment across several mental health domains, may be particularly useful in this setting. Given current recommendations for youth suicide risk screening in EDs, this study compared the K-CAT-Suicide Scale (K-CAT-SS) and the Ask Suicide-screening Questions (ASQ), a widely used measure in EDs, in a sample of participants presenting to a pediatric, psychiatric emergency setting. The measures agreed on the presence of suicide risk in over 85% of cases (κ = 0.59), and the characteristics of youth who screened at risk on both were similar. Cases of disagreement were more often male and more often had educational accommodations. They had lower symptom levels of and were less often diagnosed with internalizing disorders and were less often identified as high risk by ED psychiatrists and psychologists. Examination of item endorsement patterns in cases of disagreement revealed important areas of future study, including the role of caregiver report in suicide risk screening, item comprehension concerns, and the validity of assessing youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities. While additional research would be beneficial into its psychometrics when deployed in real-world settings, the K-CAT-SS should be considered a viable alternative for suicide risk screening in EDs.

Public Transport Infrastructure with Electromobility Elements at the Smart City Level to Support Sustainability

When implementing smart city elements, there are challenges in cities that need to be overcome. An analysis of global public transport infrastructure has indicated an upward trend in the integration of electric mobility solutions since 2022. The following research question characterises the problem on which the research was focused. RQ: What role do the smart city strategy and its overall planning play in promoting city sustainability via elements of electromobility in public transport? Cities are increasingly committed to promoting more sustainable urban mobility. This article discusses three areas of study: electromobility in public transport, the smart city concept, and sustainability. The novelty of this article has three parts, namely the intersection of the described areas; comparison and summarisation of best practice; and in-depth analysis of the selected city. The methodological approach includes the analysis of case studies, analysis of the selected city, sociological interviews, synthesis, and modelling. One of the main findings reveals that electromobility impacts the city’s sustainability. It was also revealed that not all cities have already prepared their strategies focusing on this issue, which is unfavourable because careful planning supports the achieving sustainability in public transport. The findings were included in the design of solutions in the field of public transport infrastructure with elements of electromobility at the smart city level. Additionally, requirements for cities and recommendations for policy makers in selected areas were identified.

Impact of para-social interaction on impulsive buying through live-streaming shopping website

Nowadays, the capability of live-streaming commerce has contributed to billions of income worldwide. Within a few hours of live-streaming, it has transformed the nascent of commercial value interaction into impulsive buying behaviour. Despites, the existing knowledge on this is unknown. This research seeks to understand the influence of para social interaction (PSI) in live-streaming shopping affects consumers impulsive buying in live-streaming platforms using the Stimulus Organism Response (SOR). A self-administrative questionnaire survey was conducted, and 335 valid responses are useable. The survey was validated by using Smart PLS technique to conduct direct and mediating effects. The result revealed that the relationships between social commerce, social presence, narrative involvement, parasocial interaction, and impulsive buying behaviour are significant. The parasocial interaction acts as mediation effect between the social factors, and impulsive buying on the live-streaming website. Based on the data analysed, the new proposed framework seems to be shaped very well. Despite the fact that, further extension and integration constructs, this study serves as a new contribution particularly in the live-streaming platforms area of studies.

A new Chrysomelid-Pinaceae relationship: Calomicrus foveolatus (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) feeding on the Andalusian fir, Abies pinsapo (Pinaceae) in the Sierra de las Nieves National Park (Málaga, Spain)

Aim of study: A defoliating insect, Calomicrus foveolatus, feeding on the Andalusian endemic fir Abies pinsapo (Pinaceae) is herein reported for the first time. Until now, this chrysomelid beetle was known to feed exclusively on Quercus spp. (Fagaceae). Area of study: The study was carried out in the forests of A. pinsapo, restricted to protected mountainous areas of western Málaga and eastern Cádiz in southern Spain. Material and methods: Since 2001 we carried out monitoring for potentially damaging insects at five sites of the pinsapo forests at least once a year. The monitoring visits were increased to 2-3 times a year at the sites that contained the phytophagous species. Main results: Calomicrus foveolatus was observed feeding on pinsapo needles in sites of Sierra de las Nieves National Park, in Málaga province. Besides, damaged pinsapos were also observed in Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park in Cádiz Province. Feeding activity consisted of partial and superficial damage from gnawing on the upper side of the needles; eventually producing death of the needles and finally death of the entire shoot. The recognition characteristics of the beetle and its injury on the needles and branches are described. Research highlights: It is described, for the first time, the attack of a phytophagous leaf beetle, C. foveolatus, to the endemic conifer A. pinsapo, in the National Park “Sierra de las Nieves” in the province of Málaga, Spain. Further monitoring of this beetle is necessary for the sustainable management of this protected fir endemic to the Baetic regions.

PARP Inhibitors in Prostate Cancer – Understanding the Current Landscape

Poly (ADP [adenosine diphosphate]-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) are a current standard of care treatment option for patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), defined as prostate cancers that continue to progress despite treatment with the usual first-line androgen-deprivation therapies. PARPi’s function by targeting faulty homologous recombination repair pathways that result in cytotoxic double strand DNA break (DSB) accumulation in prostate cancer cells. While the efficacy of PARPi’s as a monotherapy option in mCRCP has been demonstrated clinically, the added utility of PARPi’s in combination with other anti-cancer agents is still being explored. This article will review the scientific rationale behind PARP-inhibitors, discuss the germline and somatic mutation testing critical to identifying predictive biomarkers for PARPi efficacy, and present the currently approved PARPi combination therapies and their indications. This review will also examine the incidence and management of PARPi toxicity, summarize ongoing trials, and propose areas of future study.

Recovery of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Function With Neoadjuvant Treatment: Neural Characterization.

Neoadjuvant targeted therapy has emerged as a promising treatment strategy for locally aggressive thyroid cancer. Its impact on tumor and adjacent tissues remains a nascent area of study. Here we report on a series of six subjects with locally advanced thyroid cancer and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis who experienced recovery of RLN function with neoadjuvant treatment and describe the morphologic and electrophysiologic characteristics of these recovered nerves. This is a multicenter retrospective review. Descriptive analysis was conducted to examine the following parameters for recovered nerves: (1) nerve morphology, characterized as Type A (involving epineurium only) versus Type B (extending beyond epineurium); (2) proximal stimulability (normal vs. abnormal vs. absent); and (3) surgical management (resection vs. preservation). Six subjects with unilateral VFP were identified. Median time to return of VF mobility was 3 months (range 2-13.5). All nerves (100%) were noted to have Type A morphology at surgery. Proximal stimulability was normal in four subjects (66.7%), abnormal in one (16.7%), and absent in one (16.7%). Nerves that had improvement of function through neoadjuvant therapy were able to be surgically preserved in five subjects (83.3%). This represents the first characterization of RLNs that have recovered function with neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced thyroid cancer. Although much remains unknown, our findings indicate carcinomatous neural invasion is a reversible process and recovered nerves may demonstrate normal morphology and electrophysiologic activity. 4 Laryngoscope, 134:3415-3419, 2024.

A generalized form of the distance-induced OWA operators – Demonstrating its use for evaluation indicator system in China

Using multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) technique to rank alternatives is a well-known area of study in which aggregation operators, such as ordered weighted averaging (OWA) and induced OWA (IOWA) operators, play an important role in merging information and producing an overall ranking. The distance measures from ideal argument values in aggregation operators have gained attention in recent literature. Distance measures are traditionally used as argument variables, which leads to the depiction that the attribute cannot be aggregated directly. In this paper, a generalized form of distance-induced OWA (DIOWA) operators is proposed with distance measures used as order-inducing variables. A distinctive benefit of DIOWA operators is that they permit us to consider ideal argument values while simultaneously also taking the attribute values as argument variables. Three variants of DIOWA operators are proposed and investigated, namely a) the Hamming distance-induced OWA (HDIOWA) operator, b) the normalized Hamming distance-induced OWA (NHDIOWA) operator, and c) the weighted Hamming distance-induced OWA (WHDIOWA) operator. We highlight their important properties and provide proofs to necessary theorems, and also suggest the determination methods for calculating their associated weights. We discuss further extensions of the proposed DIOWA operators with the help of generalized and quasi-arithmetic means. We discuss the use of our proposed family of operators for two different decision making situations, and demonstrate their validity by an illustrative numerical example. Finally, we apply the proposed operators to a real-life problem of ranking Chinese provinces for their science and technology (S&T) development levels. The proposed operators are shown to be a useful addition to the aggregation toolbox for decision analysts.

Effects of the encapsulation of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Spirulina platensis on carcass yield and meat quality of broilers under heat stress conditions

Aim of study: To evaluate the effects of adding Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA), Spirulina platensis (SP) and the encapsulation of LA on the relative weights of carcass parts and meat quality of broilers subjected to heat stress. Area of study: The work was performed at the University of Jiroft, Iran. Material and methods: Two hundred forty 1-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were used in a completely randomized design, with six treatments and four replicates (cages, 10 birds per cage). Dietary treatments included: (i) corn-soybean as control diet (CON), (ii) 0.02% LA, (iii) 1% SP, (iv) 0.02% LA + 1% SP, (v) 0.02% of encapsulated LA, and (vi) 0.02% encapsulated LA + 1% SP. Main results: The relative weight of the carcass increased in all experimental groups except in the 0.02% LA encapsulated group (p˂0.05). Birds fed diets containing LA+SP (0.02% LA+ 1%SP and 0.02% LA encapsulated+1% SP) had a significantly higher relative weight of the breast (p˂0.05). Dietary supplementation with SP, LA+SP, and encapsulated LA+SP significantly increased water holding capacity and decreased cook loss, respectively (p˂0.05), whereas dietary LA+SP and encapsulated LA+SP decreased drip loss (p<0.05), compared to the CON group. Moisture and pH were not significantly affected by the dietary treatments (p˃0.05). The malondialdehyde content of thigh and breast meat at 30 and 37 days after the slaughter was reduced (p˂0.05) in the SP, LA+SP, and LA encapsulated +SP groups. Research highlights: Based on results, including LA, SP and encapsulated LA in broilerʼs feeds were effective in improving carcass yield, quality and oxidative stability of broiler meat under heat stress condition.

Uncertainty analysis of dam-break flood risk consequences under the influence of non-structural measures

Climate change is causing an increase in the frequency of extreme disasters, increasing the likelihood of dam failures and floods. At the same time, the concentration of human activities in certain areas has increased the severity of the consequences of dam failures, requiring the establishment of more robust and reliable emergency management systems to protect lives and property. Non-structural measures serve as flexible and adaptable emergency mitigation measures that can be dynamically adjusted during rescue operations and enhance the resilience of urban systems. This article focuses on the consequences of life loss due to dam failure. Taking China's Yuyao City and SMH Reservoir as the research object, it analyzes the emergency response process after the disaster occurred, identifies the factors influencing the life loss, and selects non-structural measures such as disaster identification warnings, urban emergency management responses, evacuation routes, and destination selection as key areas of study. The research examines the impact of non-structural measures on the consequences of life loss and provides recommendations and suggestions. The results indicate that effective non-structural measures can significantly reduce the life loss in flood disasters.

Work Life Balance of Women Employees in Banks during Covid-19 Pandemic

“Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management. Balance means making choices and enjoying those choices”—Betsy Jacobson.
 The growth of a country up to a large extent depends on its economic development and the banking sector is an essential part of it. In the Year 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a global health emergency. Bank Employees take strenuous efforts to deliver to the multiple needs of their customers, and during Covid-19 Pandemic, in order to maintain balance between socialising, parenting, running errands and working, the coronavirus has significantly altered the way we live our lives, especially in women bank employees as they have to take strenuous efforts to deliver the multiple needs of/to their customers, in order to strive in the current scenario. Thus we choose the Women working in banking sector as our area of study, for objective of research paper on the work life balance.
 In this Research Paper we collect the Primary Data through online questionnaire and telephonic Interviews. The Study will be beneficial to take initiative to establish efficient and effective working environment with satisfaction of Employees in Banking Sector.

Membrane sweeping at term to promote spontaneous labor and reduce the likelihood of formal labor induction for prolonged pregnancy, in South Asia and the world: A meta-analysis.

Membrane sweeping promotes the spontaneous onset of labor, reducing the need for formal labor induction. In addition to the safety profile, membrane sweep is a cost-effective measure in a low-resource setting like South Asia. To the best of our knowledge, previous reviews and meta-analyses have not explored the timing and frequency of membrane sweeping or its association with the period of gestation (POG) and parity. Additionally, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the inclusion of older studies and the analyses conducted regardless of ethnicity in previous literature. We addressed these gray areas in the current study to fill the research gap. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Cochrane Reviews. Study selection was performed using the semi-automated tool Rayyan. The selection criteria for this study encompassed the inclusion of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English between January 2010 and May 2023, with accessible full-text articles. The focus was on low-risk pregnant women carrying a single fetus in a cephalic presentation at term (37-42weeks) gestation, confirmed by reliable methods. Essential data for relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) calculation must be present. The Cochrane risk-of-bias (RoB2) tool and funnel plots were used to assess bias. Review Manager (RevMan) 5.4 version was used for analysis. The Mantel-Haenszel statistics and random effects were used to calculate the overall effect of risk ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Study heterogeneity was calculated using the I2 statistic. Two subgroups were used in the analysis: South Asia and the rest of the world. A total of 13 RCTs with 2599 participants were analyzed. Overall, membrane sweep effectively reduced formal IOL with an effect size of 2.43 (95% CI: 1.51-3.91). It also promoted spontaneous labor with an effect size of 1.71 (95% CI: 1.15-2.55). In the South Asian subgroup, membrane sweeping significantly promoted the spontaneous onset of labor with an overall effect of 1.85 (95% CI: 1.37-2.51), and in the rest of the world subgroup, membrane sweeping significantly reduced formal labor induction with an overall effect of 1.93 (95% CI: 1.33-2.82). The pooled effects were significant in mulipara with a POG ≥40W in the South Asian subgroup. Membrane sweeping effectively reduces the need for formal labor induction and promotes spontaneous labor. This may be particularly relevant in South Asian populations where a disproportionate ethnic contribution to stillbirth rates is noted. Due to the limited number of RCTs addressing the factors and study methodology heterogeneity, we had limited data in some subgroup analyses. Therefore, we encourage more RCTs and meta-analyses on POG, parity, timing and frequency of membrane sweeping, and ethnic differences.