Initial Growth Research Articles

Determinants of Share Prices of Agriculture Listed Firms

The stock market plays an important role in economic development by promoting capital formation and enhancing economic growth. The stock market is among the main sources of financing in the critical sector of the economy. Trading of securities on the Zimbabwe stock exchange facilitates savers and users of capital by fund pooling, risk sharing and transferring wealth. One of the important sectors of the Zimbabwean economy devoid of adequate financing is the agricultural sector. This sector has been experiencing several challenges over the period 2002 -2022 mostly from lack of sustainable finance especially from private investment. It is assumed that lack of funding is due to volatility of stock prices. The objective of the study is to analyze different factors affecting share price of agriculture sector listed firm on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange using the panel regression model. Based on the random effect the study established that share prices are determined by earnings per share, price earnings ratio and return on equity positively impacts stock prices in Zimbabwe. The government should control inflation to ensure price stability to aid in easy financial planning. Further the governments should promote agricultural growth initiatives and strategies which would stimulate demand for agricultural oriented stocks.

Evolutionary assembly of the plant terrestrialization toolkit from protein domains.

Land plants (embryophytes) came about in a momentous evolutionary singularity: plant terrestrialization. This event marks not only the conquest of land by plants but also the massive radiation of embryophytes into a diverse array of novel forms and functions. The unique suite of traits present in the earliest land plants is thought to have been ushered in by a burst in genomic novelty. Here, we asked the question of how these bursts were possible. For this, we explored: (i) the initial emergence and (ii) the reshuffling of domains to give rise to hallmark environmental response genes of land plants. We pinpoint that a quarter of the embryophytic genes for stress physiology are specific to the lineage, yet a significant portion of this novelty arises not de novo but from reshuffling and recombining of pre-existing domains. Our data suggest that novel combinations of old genomic substrate shaped the plant terrestrialization toolkit, including hallmark processes in signalling, biotic interactions and specialized metabolism.

Hospital-free days in the first year after lung transplantation and subsequent survival

RationaleComplications occurring during the first post-operative year after lung transplantation increase the risk of long-term mortality. These events often lead to prolonged and repeated hospitalizations. ObjectivesWe sought to assess the relationship between days outside the hospital or hospital-free days (HFD) during the first post-transplant year among 1-yr survivors and subsequent retransplant-free survival. MethodsIn a single-center study, we derived total inpatient days (initial transplant episode, readmission, and emergency room/observation) from the electronic medical record of lung transplant recipients who survived one year. The cohort was divided into HFD quartiles and Kaplan-Meir curves of subsequent transplant-free survival were compared with log-rank analysis. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to test the association of HFD with outcome and adjusted for selected variables. ResultsAmong 238 patients, 42 deaths and 2 retransplants occurred after a median of 3.6 yr post-transplant. The median HFD was 341 (IQR:324, 348). Estimated transplant-free survival at 3 and 5 yrs post-transplant in the lowest quartile of HFD (79% and 56%, respectively) was considerably worse compared with the first quartile (98% and 94%; P < 0.01). Fewer hospital-free days were associated with subsequent death or retransplant [HR: 0.90 (95% CI: 0.85, 0.94; P < 0.001) for each 10-day increase] and remained significant after adjusting for several potentially confounding variables. ConclusionsHFD during the first year after lung transplantation is a predictor of subsequent long-term outcome and may be a useful surrogate marker for clinical trials during the early post-operative period.

Optimization Model for Relief Distribution After Flood Disaster

Logistics planning is critical and a key component in meeting initial emergency needs in the aftermath of a disaster. The rapid and efficient distribution of logistical aid becomes critically important. In such situations, the construction of temporary depots in strategic locations and the determination of optimal distribution routes play an important role in ensuring that logistics aid can be distributed to the affected areas evenly. In this study, the Multi Depot Vehicle Routing Problem (MDVRP) is used which aims to minimize the total cost of distributing logistics aid which includes shipping costs, vehicle usage costs, temporary depot construction costs, and vehicle travel costs from distribution centers to temporary depots, while still meeting constraints such as logistics aid demand, vehicle capacity, area visits, maximum mileage, and depot construction. This model uses two types of vehicles where vehicle is tasked with carrying logistics aid from the distribution center to the temporary depot and vehicle is tasked with delivering logistics aid directly to the point of demand.

Ancient Korean History and Regionalist Historical Interpretation - The Emergence of Regional Studies, Local History, and Regionalist Historical-Cultural Initiatives -

Ancient Korean History and Regionalist Historical Interpretation - The Emergence of Regional Studies, Local History, and Regionalist Historical-Cultural Initiatives -

ACCEPTANCE OF SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE INFLUENCES FOR USING SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY AMONGST TEACHERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Acceptance of simulation technology and the influences for using simulation technology amongst teachers in higher education. The research study was conducted to study the effect of technology support for simulation education based on teachers involvement with and usage of simulation. Previous literature reviews discuss challenges teachers face with using simulation technology such as teachers lack of training, intentions, attitudes, and behavior such as resentment about using simulation technology. The research study conducted can help one identify factors and learning challenges that teachers face when it comes to learning technology. Simulation technology is a new way of learning and is used more frequently for learning purposes. Therefore, to study in depth factors concerning teachers challenges and influences for using simulation technology research interviews were conducted. Results indicate teachers are influenced and motivated to use simulation technology if they are trained properly and have adequate support. When not supported or trained, one may be resistant to use simulation technology. Teachers admit they will use simulation technology as long as they know how to use the technology properly. Teachers evaluated display common interest in using the simulation technology and are adamant about using technology if it adds value and enhanced learning to their courses. Teachers admit that simulation technology seminars and conferences will be utilized for further growth and learning initiatives. Limitations of research are time constraints. Further recommendations for studying the research study are to use a form of triangulation to generalize results for transferability and transparency. Future research needs to be conducted to strengthen the results for precision, reliability, and validity of information. Further research should also be conducted to help close the existing gap in literature about simulation education in the higher education sector.

Coupling and Coordination Development, Spatiotemporal Evolution, and Driving Factors of China’s Digital Countryside and Inclusive Green Growth in Rural Areas

Inclusive green growth is an effective strategy for achieving sustainable development in rural areas. In the digital economy era, it is crucial to examine whether rural digital development and inclusive green growth can be harmoniously integrated. This study investigates the spatial and temporal evolution of the coupled coordination between digital village construction and rural inclusive green growth in China. Utilizing panel data from 30 provinces from 2011 to 2022, we assess development levels using the entropy weighting method and analyze interdependencies with a coupling coordination model. The results indicate an upward trend in coupling coordination, with significant regional disparities, and it is slowly taking on the characteristics of spatial clustering. Economically advanced regions exhibit higher coordination levels, attributed to stronger economic foundations and better fiscal resources, enabling effective investments in digital infrastructure and green growth initiatives. Additionally, factors such as urbanization rate, innovation levels, reduction in natural disasters, increased financial support for agriculture, and improved large-scale operations positively contribute to this coordination. These findings offer insights for targeted regional development strategies, enhancing the synergy between digital transformation and sustainable rural development.

Transcriptomic analysis uncovers a biphasic response to precocious Eimeria acervulina infection in chicken duodenal tissue

Live anticoccidial vaccines, either formulated with unattenuated or attenuated Eimeria parasites, are powerful stimulators of chicken intestinal immunity. Little is known about the dynamics of gene expression and the corresponding biological processes of chicken responses against infection with precocious line (PL) of Eimeria parasites. In the present study, we performed a time-series transcriptomic analysis of chicken duodenum across 15 time points from 6 to 156 hours post-infection (p.i.) with PL of E. acervulina. A high-quality profile showing two distinct changes in chicken duodenum mRNA expression was generated during the infection of Eimeria. Early response revealed that activation of the chicken immune response was detectable from 6 h.p.i., prominent genes triggered during the initiation of asexual and sexual parasite growth encompass immune regulatory effects, such as interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), and interleukin-10 (IL10). The late response was identified significantly associating with maintaining cellular structure and activating lipid metabolic pathways. These analyses provide a detailed depiction of the biological response landscape in chickens infected by the PL of E. acervulina, contributing significant insights for the investigation of the host-parasite interactions and the management of parasitic diseases.

Carbon dioxide fluxes over irrigated and rainfed alfalfa in the Southern Great Plains, USA

The annual dynamics of carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes for irrigated and rainfed alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in the Southern Great Plains of the United States of America (USA) under different watering regimes are not yet fully understood. The main objective of this study was to examine the dynamics of eddy covariance (EC) measured CO2 fluxes in relation to various biophysical factors and hay harvests for irrigated and rainfed alfalfa in central Oklahoma, USA. The study also aimed to investigate the relationship between CO2 fluxes and satellite-derived enhanced vegetation index (EVI) at different spatiotemporal scales and to assess the temporal variability in CO2 fluxes and EVI to variable growing conditions and hay harvests. The cumulative hay yields were 7.15 t ha−1 (two harvests in 2019) in the rainfed field and ∼9 t ha−1 (4–5 harvests in 2020 and 2021) in the irrigated field. Having sufficient rainfall during April and May was crucial to achieve economically feasible yields of alfalfa during the first harvest in May. The availability of water strongly regulated the potential for regrowth and carbon uptake of alfalfa following harvesting. The alfalfa fields were near carbon neutral or a small carbon source from January to mid-March and carbon sink after the initiation of vegetative growth in mid-March. The alfalfa fields were strong carbon sinks (cumulative annual net ecosystem CO2 exchange, NEE, up to −578 g C m−2 in irrigated field) on an annual scale. When accounting for the loss of carbon due to the removal of hay from the fields, the carbon balance of the alfalfa fields varied from small carbon sinks to small carbon sources, depending on the amount of hay harvested annually and the growing conditions. In general, the temporal patterns of CO2 fluxes and EVI were similar in relation to growing conditions and hay harvests. However, some discrepancies and time lags were observed due to the coarse spatiotemporal resolution of the EVI products. Thus, it is essential to integrate two or more satellite products with different temporal and spatial resolutions to accurately monitor the frequent and varying sizes of hay harvests and vegetation regrowth after harvesting, and to simulate continuous time-series CO2 fluxes.

Intercultural Transformation Practices Exoticization of The Indigenous: Art, Music, and Childhood

Objective: To explore how the situated artistic practices of Nasa We’sx women and children from southern Tolima contribute to the emergence of participatory artistic initiatives within the framework of the "Cero a Siempre" policy. Theoretical Framework: This is based on decolonial epistemologies and the theory of ethical-political art as axes of social transformation. Additionally, it incorporates theories from thinkers like Jacques Rancière and Gayatri Spivak, highlighting art as a tool of resistance. Method: A contextual and reflective analysis was conducted to examine the constitution of Nasa We’sx arts, their relationship with politics and symbolism, as well as their connection to the production of situated knowledge. Results: Intersections, tensions, and intercultural transformations emerging from the indigenous communities in southern Tolima were identified. These communities have developed processes of emancipation and intervention based on their identities, mediated by the construction of situated artworks. Implications of the Research: This study highlights the importance of recognizing and valuing forms of artistic expression from non-hegemonic perspectives. It also underscores the relevance of artistic practices as tools of protest and emancipation, as well as their contribution to the production of situated knowledge. Originality/Value: The article provides a critical and reflective perspective on the situated artistic practices of Nasa We’sx women and children, emphasizing their originality in the context of the "Cero a Siempre" policy and early childhood programs in the municipality of Planadas.

YAP dysregulation triggers hypertrophy by CCN2 secretion and TGFβ uptake in human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.

Hypertrophy Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most prevalent hereditary cardiovascular disease - affecting >1:500 individuals. Advanced forms of HCM clinically present with hypercontractility, hypertrophy and fibrosis. Several single-point mutations in b-myosin heavy chain (MYH7) have been associated with HCM and increased contractility at the organ level. Different MYH7 mutations have resulted in increased, decreased, or unchanged force production at the molecular level. Yet, how these molecular kinetics link to cell and tissue pathogenesis remains unclear. The Hippo Pathway, specifically its effector molecule YAP, has been demonstrated to be reactivated in pathological hypertrophic growth. We hypothesized that changes in force production (intrinsically or extrinsically) directly alter the homeostatic mechano-signaling of the Hippo pathway through changes in stresses on the nucleus. Using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), we asked whether homeostatic mechanical signaling through the canonical growth regulator, YAP, is altered 1) by changes in the biomechanics of HCM mutant cardiomyocytes and 2) by alterations in the mechanical environment. We use genetically edited hiPSC-CM with point mutations in MYH7 associated with HCM, and their matched controls, combined with micropatterned traction force microscopy substrates to confirm the hypercontractile phenotype in MYH7 mutants. We next modulate contractility in healthy and disease hiPSC-CMs by treatment with positive and negative inotropic drugs and demonstrate a correlative relationship between contractility and YAP activity. We further demonstrate the activation of YAP in both HCM mutants and healthy hiPSC-CMs treated with contractility modulators is through enhanced nuclear deformation. We conclude that the overactivation of YAP, possibly initiated and driven by hypercontractility, correlates with excessive CCN2 secretion (connective tissue growth factor), enhancing cardiac fibroblast/myofibroblast transition and production of known hypertrophic signaling molecule TGFβ. Our study suggests YAP being an indirect player in the initiation of hypertrophic growth and fibrosis in HCM. Our results provide new insights into HCM progression and bring forth a testbed for therapeutic options in treating HCM.

Integrating Patient-Reported Outcomes Into the Care of People With Advanced Cancer-A Practical Guide.

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are being increasingly integrated into routine clinical practice to enhance individual patient care. This has been driven by recognition of the benefits of PROs in enhancing symptom management, patient satisfaction, quality of life, and overall survival, and reductions in acute health care utilization. These benefits are reflected in the emergence of value-based health care initiatives incorporating PRO symptom monitoring such as the Enhancing Oncology Model in the United States. However, implementing PROs can be challenging and it can be difficult to know where to begin to select appropriate PROs, and effectively display and appropriately interpret PRO data. This manuscript summarizes an educational session at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting, which provided practical guidance to clinicians seeking to incorporate PROs into the care of people with advanced cancer. We focus on why it is important to collect PROs in routine care from a patient's perspective, how to select PROs for symptom monitoring (including using static patient-reported outcome measures and newer item libraries), and highlight key pearls and pitfalls in the display and interpretation of PROs. We highlight the breadth of existing resources available to guide clinicians in PRO implementation.

Country Brand as an Important Phenomenon of Modern Society

Abstract The county brand in terms of valuing consumer well-being is essential to the brand-building process and is especially significant in today's globally interconnected environment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the national initiatives and country product-origin on consumer-centered country brands. The research strategy was based on a quantitative and qualitative approach. The findings highlight the emergence of place branding, national initiatives, and country product origins in national areas. The study of country brands in the context of communication studies extends to tourism and cultural studies. The study's limitations included the fact that it was limited to countries on the inside. A broader study to represent the circumstances of other emerging countries was proposed. The contributions, both practical and theoretical, address the many-faceted complexity of the evaluated concepts, such as consumer-centered country brand, national identity, country brand, country image, and national reputation. There are several countries, including Eastern Europe, where the country's brand is still in the initial development stages. The practice of Romania might present the required knowledge of other country brands, and this study enables highlighting this aspect.

Harnessing authentic leadership to transform an academic health system: Tampa General Hospital case study

The US healthcare industry is changing faster than ever before, and its evolution should be expected to continue — and at an even more accelerated rate. Research shows that to adapt and thrive in this ever-changing landscape and best meet the needs of patients, healthcare leaders must be prepared to navigate present-day challenges, including unprecedented levels of burnout and turnover, talent shortages and cost pressures while simultaneously anticipating future needs such as digital transformation, new care models and strategic growth initiatives. To act on this framework, healthcare leaders must also lead their organisations with authenticity, transparency, kindness and vulnerability to unite and activate their teams around a common vision and realistic expectations for how it will be achieved. This paper, in case study format, defines the enterprise leadership and AKTiVe leadership models; details how this authentic leadership framework was deployed at Tampa General Hospital to accelerate growth and innovation; and provides an overview of outcomes, influence and lessons learned through implementation.

The moderating role of work environment in the relationship between proactive personality and personal growth initiative among nurses: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundsPersonal growth initiative (PGI) is regarded as a meaningful concept with potential value at both the individual and organizational levels, but little is known about the factors that contribute to nurses’ PGI. This study aimed to explore how proactive personality and hospital work environment affect PGI of clinical nurses.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted between September and October 2022 among 4414 nurses from 10 tertiary general hospitals in 10 cities in Sichuan, China, using a two-stage sampling method. Self-reported anonymous online questionnaires, such as sociodemographic information survey, personal growth initiative scale II, the 10-item proactive personality scale, and practice environment scale-nursing work index were used to collect data. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were performed to examine research hypotheses.ResultsAmong the control variables in this study, nurses’ self-perceptions of general health status and professional title positively predicted PGI (β = 0.462, 95%CI = 0.272–0.653; β = 1.078, 95%CI = 0.508–1.648). After adding control variables, both proactive personality (β = 1.143, 95%CI = 1.096–1.190) and work environment (β = 3.391, 95%CI = 2.904–3.879) positively predicted PGI. The work environment positively moderated the association between proactive personality and PGI (β = 0.108, 95%CI = 0.025–0.191). These predictors jointly explained 50.3% of the variance in PGI.ConclusionsNurses with a greater tendency to have a typical proactive personality have higher levels of personal growth initiative, and this positive effect will be better highlighted in a healthier work environment. Nursing managers should prioritize the employment of people with proactive personality traits, focus on the development and stimulation of proactive personality traits in nurses, and establish a supportive work environment to maximize the personal growth initiative of nurses.

Assessing the Impact of Urban Expansion on Forest Cover using LULC Maps, NDVI, and NDBI: A Case Study of Kathmandu District

Rapid urbanization poses significant challenges to the delicate balance between urban development and environmental conservation. This study investigates the impact of urban expansion on forest cover in the Kathmandu District, employing a comprehensive approach that integrates Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) maps, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Normalized Difference Built-Up Index (NDBI). The aim of the study area is to provide insights into the dynamic interplay between urban growth and its consequences on the region's ecological landscape. LULC maps derived from remote sensing data offer a spatially explicit representation of land-use changes over time, enabling the identification of areas where urbanization has encroached upon forest area. The NDVI, a vegetation health indicator, serves as a quantitative measure of changes in the density and health of vegetation cover, aiding in the assessment of ecological impacts. Complementing this, the NDBI highlights intensity of built-up areas, allowing for a nuanced understanding of the urbanization process. This study employs NDBI and NDVI to dynamically assess urban growth and land use cover change, enhancing analytical accuracy. Findings reveal a substantial 89.9 km² increase in built- up areas between 2013 and 2016, coupled with a minor 18.4 km² increase between 2016 and 2021, reflecting continuous urban expansion driven by population growth and development initiatives. Concurrently, forest area marginally increased by 2.3 km² in 2016, suggesting reforestation and conservation efforts, yet a subsequent 23.5 km² decline by 2021, due to deforestation, urban encroachment, and natural disasters such as wildfires. Notably, vacant land decreased by 92.3 km² in 2016, absorbed by built- up areas and forest expansion, underscoring the urgent need for spatial planning to accommodate the growing population and its evolving needs.

Vehicle Asset Tracking and Rash Driving Alert System

All around the world, a sizable percentage of traffic deaths take place every day. Two effective methods for reducing traffic fatalities include shorter response times from the time an accident occurs and the dispatch of initial emergency personnel.

Influence of various light regimes on some circadian rhythms of transplantable melanoma B16

BACKGROUND: Today it is known that disturbance of the lighting regime, expressed both by lengthening of the light period and its reduction, can not only affect the regulation of circadian rhythms of the organism, but also contributes to the initiation of neoplasm growth. AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate circadian rhythmicity of melatonin level, some micromorphometric indices of tumor cells and expression of genes Bmal1, Clock and Per2 in them in mice with transplanted melanoma B16. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 75 mice with subcutaneously transplanted melanoma B16, divided into 3 groups: control group, in which animals were kept under fixed light regime (light/darkness 10/14 hours with light on at 8:00 and off at 18:00), group under dark deprivation conditions, with animals kept under constant light 24 hours a day and group, in which animals were kept in constant darkness. The duration of the experiment was 2 weeks. RESULTS: It was shown that under conditions of fixed light there are reliable circadian rhythms for all studied parameters, except for the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, the circadian rhythms of which was not revealed in any group. Constant darkness leads to rearrangement of all identified rhythms, and constant light causes destruction of all circadian rhythms except the Clock expression rhythm. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that light disturbances, whether constant light or constant darkness, lead to significant changes in the structure of the studied circadian rhythms.

Resting state functional brain connectivity in child and adolescent psychiatry: where are we now?

Approaching the 30th anniversary of the discovery of resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) functional connectivity, we reflect on the impact of this neuroimaging breakthrough on the field of child and adolescent psychiatry. The study of intrinsic functional brain architecture that rsfMRI affords across a wide range of ages and abilities has yielded numerous key insights. For example, we now know that many neurodevelopmental conditions are associated with more widespread circuit alterations across multiple large-scale brain networks than previously suspected. The emergence of population neuroscience and effective data-sharing initiatives have made large rsfMRI datasets publicly available, providing sufficient power to begin to identify brain-based subtypes within heterogeneous clinical conditions. Nevertheless, several methodological and theoretical challenges must still be addressed to fulfill the promises of personalized child and adolescent psychiatry. In particular, incomplete understanding of the physiological mechanisms driving developmental changes in intrinsic functional connectivity remains an obstacle to further progress. Future directions include cross-species and multimodal neuroimaging investigations to illuminate such mechanisms. Data collection and harmonization efforts that span multiple countries and diverse cohorts are urgently needed. Finally, incorporating naturalistic fMRI paradigms such as movie watching should be a priority for future research efforts.

The Role of Quarter-Life Crisis Toward Personal Growth Initiative in Emerging Adulthood

Abstract. Many people experiencing quarter-life crisis at the age of 27th, which considered as emerging adulthood phase, which affect the individual’s personal growth initiative. This research was done to see the impact of the quarter- life crisis towards personal growth initiative. The method used for this research is quantitative correlational with the sample of 18-27 years old and domiciled in Surabaya. Data collection was done with an online questionnaire with total of 107 respondents. Most of them are female, with the percentage of 54.2%, and aged 18 years old, with the percentage of 29.9%. Linear hypothesis test showed significant result with p value &lt;0.001, and ꞵ -0.382. It means that quarter-life crisis has negative impacts toward personal growth initiative, meaning a higher quarter-life crisis would lead to lower personal growth initiative. Through this research, individuals are able to understand that quarter-life crisis can affect their personal growth initiative.