Earlier Investigations Research Articles

An evaluation of job satisfaction levels among ASHA workers at the Raipur PHC, Nagpur

Background ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) are an essential connection between the community and health care providers, these guidelines were established by The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. An ASHA worker’s level of job satisfaction is influenced by societal, cultural, and economic factors. An ASHA worker who does not receive a sufficient salary will find it difficult to support their family. The ASHA employee is not at all satisfied with this issue. In earlier research investigations, ASHAs voiced unhappiness with the incentives and expectations of greater or regular income. Objectives To assess the job satisfaction of the ASHA workers in the selected area of Nagpur, Maharashtra and find the association between levels of job satisfaction with selected variables. Methods The sample for the study will be conducted by using Multistage Random sampling techniques. Data will be collected by using semi- questionnaires. All responses from the questionnaires will be collated in a Microsoft Excel file, encoded, and processed using chi squared test and SPSS version 26.

Insights about the deleterious impact of a carbamate pesticide on some metabolic immune and antioxidant functions and a focus on the protective ability of a Saharan shrub and its anti-edematous property

Abstract In the Algerian desert, individuals often enjoy a soothing cup of herbal tea made from Ephedra alata Decne before bedtime; this aids in their relaxation. Our previous and earlier investigations demonstrated the richness of the shrub in terms of polyphenols and flavonoids and their effective medicinal properties. In the light of that fact, our interest has been aroused to check for other types of metabolites and for the protective ability of the shrub crude extract (SCE) regarding chemically induced edema and subacute toxicity (following a formalin-induced paw edema model and using a carbamate pesticide “pirimicarb” as a toxic agent, in Wistar male rats, respectively). Evidently, the SCE was used as a preventive agent. Swelling of formalin-injected foot was measured, and the anti-edematous ability was expressed as a percent of paw edema. At the end of induced subacute toxicity procedure, many investigations were carried, namely, checking for biochemical several parameters (hepatic, renal), hematological parameters, oxidative stress status (OSS), and histological examining of liver, spleen, and kidney tissues. The results revealed a remarkable anti-edematous effect. Furthermore, the association of the SCE effect has clearly minimized the OSS, the tissue aberrations, and the disturbance of the other metabolic parameters, along with a reduced immunodepression that was provoked under the effect of pirimicarb. In conclusion, pirimicarb has an important deleterious impact on metabolic and immune functions, and the studied shrub has exhibited an amazing protective potential against chemically induced inflammation and toxicity.

Resorbable Patient-Specific Implants of Molybdenum for Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery-Proof of Concept in an In Vivo Pilot Study.

Titanium continues to be the gold standard in the field of osteosynthesis materials. This also applies to pediatric craniofacial surgery. Various resorbable materials have already been developed in order to avoid costly and risky second operations to remove metal in children. However, none of these resorbable materials have been able to completely replace the previous gold standard, titanium, in a satisfactory manner. This has led to the need for a new resorbable osteosynthesis material that fulfills the requirements for biocompatibility, stability, and uniform resorption. In our previous in vitro and in vivo work, we were able to show that molybdenum fulfills these requirements. To further confirm these results, we conducted a proof of concept in four domestic pigs, each of which was implanted with a resorbable molybdenum implant. The animals were then examined daily for local inflammatory parameters. After 54 days, the animals were euthanized with subsequent computer tomography imaging. We also removed the implants together with the surrounding tissue and parts of the spleen, liver, and kidney for histopathological evaluation. The molybdenum implants were also analyzed metallographically and using scanning electron microscopy. A blood sample was taken pre- and post-operatively. None of the animals showed clinical signs of inflammation over the entire test period. Histopathologically, good tissue compatibility was found. Early signs of degradation were observed after 54 days, which were not sufficient for major resorption. Resorption is expected with longer in situ residence times based on results of similar earlier investigations.

The association between monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio and hyperuricemia: Results from 2009 to 2018.

Previous research has suggested that the monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR), an emerging inflammatory biomarker, holds promise in predicting the prevalence of various cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, earlier investigations were constrained by the relatively modest sample sizes. This study endeavored to expand the sample size and conduct a more comprehensive exploration of the potential relationship between MHR and hyperuricemia. This cross-sectional study incorporated data from participants of the 2009 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with complete and qualifying information. MHR was determined by calculating the ratio between monocyte count and high-density lipoprotein levels. Various statistical methodologies such as weighted multivariate logistic regression, subgroup analysis, smoothed curve fitting, and threshold analysis, have been used to explore the correlation between hyperuricemia and MHR. The study included a cohort of 17,694 participants, of whom 3512 were diagnosed with hyperuricemia. MHR levels were notably higher in the hyperuricemia group than in the normal group, aligning with an elevated body mass index (BMI). A comprehensive multivariate logistic analysis, accounting for all relevant adjustments, revealed a notable positive correlation between MHR and hyperuricemia (P < .001, OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.54-2.54). Subgroup analysis indicated that the MHR exhibited an enhanced predictive capacity for identifying hyperuricemia risk, particularly in females (P < .05). Curvilinear and threshold analyses revealed a nonlinear association between MHR and hyperuricemia prevalence, with a notable inflection point at 0.826. In the US population, a clear positive correlation was observed between the MHR and prevalence of hyperuricemia. Importantly, the MHR is a more robust predictor of hyperuricemia risk in females. Further investigations are required to confirm these findings.

Navigating the complex terrain of motivated behavior: a bibliometric and neuroscientific perspective.

Over several decades, motivated behavior has emerged as a crucial study area within neuroscience. Understanding the neural substrates and mechanisms driving behaviors related to reward, addiction, and other motivation forms is pivotal for novel therapeutic interventions. This review provides a bibliometric analysis of the literature, highlighting the main trends, influential authors, and the potential future direction of the field. Utilizing a dataset comprised by 3,150 publications from the Web of Science and Scopus databases ("motivated behavior as query), we delve into key metrics like publication trends, keyword prevalence, author collaborations, citation impacts, and employed an unsupervised natural language processing technique - Latent Dirichlet Allocation - for topic modeling. From early investigations focusing on basic neural mechanism and behaviors in animal models to more recent studies exploring the complex interplay of neurobiological, psychological, and social factors in humans, the field had undergone a remarkable transformation. The last century has seen a proliferation of research dedicated to uncovering the intricacies of motivation, significantly enriching our understanding of its myriad implications for human behavior and mental health. This bibliometric analysis aims to offer comprehensive insights into this dynamic research area, highlighting the field's key contributions and potential future directions, thereby serving as a valuable resource for researchers, and hopefully give a more thorough understanding of the research area.

The association between prenatal oxidative stress levels measured by isoprostanes and offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes at 36 months

Oxidative stress during pregnancy has been a mechanistic pathway implicated in autism development, yet few studies have examined this association directly. Here, we examined the association of prenatal levels of 8-iso-PGF2α, a widely used measure of oxidative stress, and several neurodevelopmental outcomes related to autism in children. Participants included 169 mother-child pairs from the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI), which enrolled mothers who had an autistic child from a previous pregnancy and followed them through a subsequent pregnancy and until that child reached age 3 years. Maternal urine samples were collected during the second trimester of pregnancy and were later measured for levels of isoprostanes. Child neurodevelopmental assessments included the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL), the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS), and were conducted around 36 months of age. Primary analyses examined associations between interquartile range (IQR) increases in 8-iso-PGF2α levels, and total composite scores from each assessment using quantile regression. In adjusted analyses, we did not observe statistically significant associations, though estimates suggested modestly lower cognitive scores (β for MSEL = −3.68, 95% CI: -10.09, 2.70), and minor increases in autism-related trait scores (β for SRS T score = 1.68, 95% CI: -0.24, 3.60) with increasing 8-iso-PGF2α. These suggestive associations between decreased cognitive scores and increased autism-related traits with increasing prenatal oxidative stress point to the need for continued investigation in larger samples of the role of oxidative stress as a mechanistic pathway in autism and related neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Teaching English to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) typically show a unique pattern in their language learning. This fact has been documented in a number of earlier investigations. However, it was discovered that Indonesian teachers and educational institutions were insufficiently prepared to fulfill the needs of their students, both in terms of teaching strategies and the material development. This study then aimed at examining appropriate strategies of teaching English to ASD students as well as finding out the challenges faced by teacher in teaching English in the classroom. The research design of this study was case study research with qualitative approach. The participant of this study was English teacher at SLBN 01 Lombok Timur chosen using purposive sampling. The researchers used documentation, in-depth interviews, and observation to acquire data. The results revealed that the teacher faced some challenges in teaching ASD students, such as lack of focus and concentration during teaching and learning process and speech delay. To address these issues, the teacher and school principle used some strategies to teach children with autism, namely developing oral language comprehension and developing lesson plan with visual media to help the student learn English as a foreign language

Review article: Abdominal pain and diabetes mellitus in the emergency department.

This manuscript seeks to describe diagnostic considerations in individuals with diabetes mellitus presenting to the ED with abdominal pain. It highlights the importance of early investigation with computerised tomography to differentiate aetiologies that compel early surgical intervention from those which may be treated conservatively.

Early Investigations on Electrolyte Mixing Issues in Large Flow Battery Tanks

Most investigations on flow batteries (FBs) make the assumption of perfectly mixed electrolytes inside the tanks without estimating their likelihood, while specific analyses are missing in the literature. This paper presents a pioneering investigation of the electrolyte flow dynamics inside FB tanks. This study considers the Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) measured at the stack of a 9 kW/27 kWh Vanadium FB with 500 L tanks. Order-of-magnitude estimates of the measured dynamics suggest that differences in densities and viscosities of the active species drive gradients of concentrations with different patterns in the positive and negative tanks and in charge and discharge, affected by current and flow rate, which result in significant deviation from homogeneity, affecting the State of Charge (SoC) of the electrolytes flowed into the stack and thus the FB performance. In particular, stratifications of the inlet electrolytes may appear which are responsible for delays in reaching the outlets, with initial plateau and following step (s) in the SoC at the stack. These events can have a major impact in the performance of industrial FBs with large tanks and suggest that specific tank designs may improve the overall dynamics, calling for further analysis.

Distinct domain organization and diversity of 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetases.

The 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetases (OAS) are important components of the innate immune system that recognize viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Upon dsRNA binding, OAS generate 2'-5'-linked oligoadenylates (2-5A) that activate ribonuclease L (RNase L), halting viral replication. The OAS/RNase L pathway is thus an important antiviral pathway and viruses have devised strategies to circumvent OAS activation. OAS enzymes are divided into four classes according to size: small (OAS1), medium (OAS2), and large (OAS3) that consist of one, two, and three OAS domains, respectively, and the OAS-like protein (OASL) that consists of one OAS domain and tandem domains similar to ubiquitin. Early investigation of the OAS enzymes hinted at the recognition of dsRNA by OAS, but due to size differences amongst OAS family members combined with the lack of structural information on full-length OAS2 and OAS3, the regulation of OAS catalytic activity by dsRNA was not well understood. However, the recent biophysical studies of OAS have highlighted overall structure and domain organization. In this review, we present a detailed examination of the OAS literature and summarized the investigation on 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetases.

Reconsidering the Existence of a Trend in the Asian Tropopause Aerosol Layer (ATAL) From 1979 to 2017

AbstractAn enhanced aerosol layer, known as the Asian Tropopause Aerosol Layer (ATAL), has been observed within the seasonal Asian monsoon anticyclone (AMA) since the late 1990s. Given the apparently abrupt appearance of this layer based on observations, it has been speculated that it originates from increasing human made emissions in Asia. However, the ATAL confinement is a result of a dynamical feature and does not purely consist of human made components. We herein investigate the possible existence of an ATAL earlier than the late 1990s. We exploit earliest possible, high quality space‐based aerosol observations from Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment, or SAGE (1979–1981), SAGE III/ISS (2017, ongoing) and revisit SAGE II (1984–2005) data analysis. We find that seasonal averaged solar occultation aerosol measurements (past and present) can neither be used to exclude the existence of the ATAL, nor to infer a significant trend. However, first CAM5‐MAM7 simulations indicate the presence of an ATAL signal for the tested years 1979 and 1980, with a human made component. We hypothesize that the human made component of the ATAL likely occurred since at least the 1970s, while the natural ATAL component (e.g., from dust) has always existed. Extended simulation based ATAL evolution studies are therefore the most reliable source for early ATAL investigations.

Hopf bifurcation of a non-parallel Navier-Stokes flow

A plane non-parallel flow in a square fluid domain exhibits an odd number of vortices. A spectral structure is found to have a non-real solution of the spectral problem linearized around the flow. With the use of this structure, Hopf bifurcation or secondary time periodic flows branching of a basic square eddy flow are found. In contrast to a square eddy flow involving an even number of vortices in earlier analytical and experimental investigations, instability of the flow leads to steady-state bifurcations.

Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGID): Information Technology Adoption Based on Power Transmission

One of the most investigated topics in information systems (IS) has been the adoption of new technologies. While several models have been developed in the past ten years to address the acceptance or rejection of information systems, there is still a dearth of studies that provide a thorough analysis and classification of the literature in this field. Many functional gastrointestinal illnesses have been linked to potential treatments with electrical stimulation (FGID). An implanted electrical stimulation system with a transcutaneous power supply is presented in this research. The issue of providing an implanted electrical stimulator with prolonged power is resolved by this technology. Following implantation, the external controller can reprogram the stimulation parameters, which are subsequently communicated to the implanted stimulator. This would make it possible to do parametric research to find out how well different stimulation parameters work to encourage gastric contractions. Feedback on changes in the gastrointestinal tract can be received in real time via an internal stimulator pressure detector. The investigation provides academics and practitioners with insights and future directions on technology adoption by looking into related research works to gather data on IT adoption patterns. This paper outlines potential future research directions for scholars interested in pursuing studies on technology adoption. It also provides a summary of the major discoveries from earlier investigations, including statistical conclusions about variables that were added in IT adoption research.

Morphological Changes Induced by TKS4 Deficiency Can Be Reversed by EZH2 Inhibition in Colorectal Carcinoma Cells.

The scaffold protein tyrosine kinase substrate 4 (TKS4) undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway via Src kinase. The TKS4 deficiency in humans is responsible for the manifestation of a genetic disorder known as Frank-Ter Haar syndrome (FTHS). Based on our earlier investigation, the absence of TKS4 triggers migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like phenomena while concurrently suppressing cell proliferation in HCT116 colorectal carcinoma cells. This indicates that TKS4 may play a unique role in the progression of cancer. In this study, we demonstrated that the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and the histone methyltransferase of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) are involved in the migration, invasion, and EMT-like changes in TKS4-deficient cells (KO). EZH2 is responsible for the maintenance of the trimethylated lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3). We performed transcriptome sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation, protein and RNA quantitative studies, cell mobility, invasion, and proliferation studies combined with/without the EZH2 activity inhibitor 3-deazanoplanocine (DZNep). We detected an elevation of global H3K27me3 levels in the TKS4 KO cells, which could be reduced with treatment with DZNep, an EZH2 inhibitor. Inhibition of EZH2 activity reversed the phenotypic effects of the knockout of TKS4, reducing the migration speed and wound healing capacity of the cells as well as decreasing the invasion capacity, while the decrease in cell proliferation became stronger. In addition, inhibition of EZH2 activity also reversed most epithelial and mesenchymal markers. We investigated the wider impact of TKS4 deletion on the gene expression profile of colorectal cancer cells using transcriptome sequencing of wild-type and TKS4 knockout cells, particularly before and after treatment with DZNep. Additionally, we observed changes in the expression of several protein-coding genes and long non-coding RNAs that showed a recovery in expression levels following EZH2 inhibition. Our results indicate that the removal of TKS4 causes a notable disruption in the gene expression pattern, leading to the disruption of several signal transduction pathways. Inhibiting the activity of EZH2 can restore most of these transcriptomics and phenotypic effects in colorectal carcinoma cells.

Computational Analysis of the Dissipative Casson Fluid Flow Originating from a Slippery Sheet in Porous Media

This research paper examines the characteristics of a two-dimensional steady flow involving an incompressible viscous Casson fluid past an elastic surface that is both permeable and convectively heated, with the added feature of slip velocity. In contrast to Darcy’s Law, the current model incorporates the use of Forchheimer’s Law, which accounts for the non-linear resistance that becomes significant at higher flow velocities. The accomplishments of this study hold significant relevance, both in terms of theoretical advancements in mathematical modeling of Casson fluid flow with heat mass transfer in engineering systems, as well as in the context of practical engineering cooling applications. The study takes into account the collective influences of magnetic field, suction mechanism, convective heating, heat generation, viscous dissipation, and chemical reactions. The research incorporates the consideration of fluid properties that vary with respect to temperature or concentration, and solves the governing equations by employing similarity transformations and the shooting approach. The heat transfer process is significantly affected by the presence of heat generation and viscous dissipation. Furthermore, the study illustrates and presents the impact of various physical factors on the dimensionless temperature, velocity, and concentration. From an engineering perspective, the local Nusselt number, the skin friction, and local Sherwood number are also depicted and provided in graphical and tabular formats. In the domains of energy engineering and thermal management in particular, these results have practical relevance in improving our understanding of heat transmission in similar settings. Finally, the thorough comparison analysis reveals a significant level of alignment with the outcomes of the earlier investigations, thus validating the reliability and effectiveness of our obtained results.

553 Creating an In-Person Workshop Series Addressing Core Team Science Principles for Early Career Investigators

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: A barrier to the proliferation of team science is that academicians are often trained in disciplinary silos where “independent” research contributions are lauded. To tackle some of the most pressing scientific challenges, dismantling silos and increasing team science training efforts that focus on early career investigators is a must. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: A team science training workshop for early career investigators from varied disciplinary backgrounds was informed by a 20-item needs assessment that addressed essential team science competencies and was completed by early career investigators participating in federally funded professional development programs on our campus. During the workshop, the benefits of cross-disciplinary teaming was discussed. Strategies including team formation, team effectiveness and/or dysfunction, diagnosing team strengths and weaknesses, and teaming in community settings were discussed. Instructional methods included short presentations, video clips, case studies, group discussions, pair and share activities, and panel discussions with expert role models encouraged active learning. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The impact and value of the workshop series to participant’s professional development and knowledge of team science concepts will be evaluated before and after the workshop. Multiple Likert-scale items focused on team science competencies (e.g., confidence in your ability to carry out responsibilities specific to your role on a team, recognize when the team is not functioning well; engage team science practices in on-going research), and open-ended questions (e.g., importance of engaging community partners in academic research teams, vision of what factors contribute to an effective team science collaboration) will be completed by program participants before and after completing the workshop. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Effective collaboration among scientists with expertise in different disciplines is needed to address and solve complex scientific problems. We believe our interactive approach to team competency training sessions would work in a variety of settings and improve team skills.

Risk-based lung cancer screening performance in a universal healthcare setting.

Globally, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Previous trials demonstrated that low-dose computed tomography lung cancer screening of high-risk individuals can reduce lung cancer mortality by 20% or more. Lung cancer screening has been approved by major guidelines in the United States, and over 4,000 sites offer screening. Adoption of lung screening outside the United States has, until recently, been slow. Between June 2017 and May 2019, the Ontario Lung Cancer Screening Pilot successfully recruited 7,768 individuals at high risk identified by using the PLCOm2012noRace lung cancer risk prediction model. In total, 4,451 participants were successfully screened, retained and provided with high-quality follow-up, including appropriate treatment. In the Ontario Lung Cancer Screening Pilot, the lung cancer detection rate and the proportion of early-stage cancers were 2.4% and 79.2%, respectively; serious harms were infrequent; and sensitivity to detect lung cancers was 95.3% or more. With abnormal scans defined as ones leading to diagnostic investigation, specificity was 95.5% (positive predictive value, 35.1%), and adherence to annual recall and early surveillance scans and clinical investigations were high (>85%). The Ontario Lung Cancer Screening Pilot provides insights into how a risk-based organized lung screening program can be implemented in a large, diverse, populous geographic area within a universal healthcare system.

Function of Non-Performing Loans In The Capital Adequacy Ratio Model of the Banking Sector

Research is being done in order to address the discrepancies in the findings of earlier investigations as well as the phenomenon of non-performing loans (NPL), which cannot account for the effect it has on the CARR. As a result, the researchers used different time series and cross-sectional data in their subsequent studies. Using multiple regression analysis, this type of descriptive quantitative research examines panel data from 22 samples of banking sector firms over a seven-year period. This formula uses the research object, which are companies in the banking sector listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, and uses NPL as an intervening variable to maximize the CAR value. Two research models are combined in one model, and each model is subjected to the Chow Test, Hausman Test, Lagrange Multiplier Test, and model selection test stages. Findings in the first model indicate that LDR's negative connection with NPL can be used to explain its impact. These outcomes differ from the relevant theory. Similar to the first study model, where the results are not as relevant as the theory, the results in the second model are also just LDR and may directly explain its effect on CAR with a negative association. It is hoped that these findings would give banking sector managers the best possible direction

Numerical simulation of the flow of a tangent hyperbolic fluid over a stretching sheet within a porous medium, accounting for slip conditions

This study aims to explore the characteristics of tangent hyperbolic fluid flow along a stretching sheet. The sheet has suction or injection influences and is located inside a porous medium. The research inspects the flow and heat transfer (FHT) properties, taking into account the presence of a velocity slip condition. The flow of non-Newtonian magnetohydrodynamic fluid caused by a porous stretching sheet, taking into account thermal radiation and heat generation, has a wide range of engineering applications. These applications involve chemical reactors, energy distribution, storage of solar energy, and filtration processes. Mathematically, the flow problem is expressed as a collection of nonlinear partial differential equations. To numerically solve the resulting ODEs, the finite difference approach (FDM) is successfully used. Tables and graphs are used to display the various output values related to the hyperbolic tangent fluid. Among the different output values that appear are velocity and temperature. Significant observations from the study indicate that an increase in the power-law index, slip velocity parameter, porosity parameter, and magnetic number results in a decrease in the fluid's velocity and an increase in temperature. The completed comparison analysis shows a sizable degree of agreement with the earlier investigation.

Charged anisotropic composite stellar object with strange, polytropic and gaseous matter

In this study, we build a charged star model with three layers with distinct equations of state. The core, intermediate layer, and envelope layer obey linear, polytropic, and Chaplygin equations of state, respectively. The model satisfies the physical requirements for the matter variables, gravitational potentials, and stability conditions. We have generated within-acceptable range masses and radii for stars. We also recover the masses and radii for the stars PSRJ1903+0327, PSRJ1614-2230, SAXJ1808.4-3658, Vela X-1, and EXO1785-248 from earlier investigations which shows astrophysical significance of our model.