Preliminary Survey Research Articles

Does cannabis use substitute for opioids? A preliminary exploratory survey in opioid maintenance patients.

Various studies showed that people with substance use disorder use cannabis to reduce withdrawal or dose of their main drug. Using a questionnaire about their cannabis use, 118 participants in an opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) in Germany were examined regarding this strategy. 60% reported to use cannabis. Of those, 72% were using cannabis in the suggested way. Cannabis was used to substitute for, e.g., heroin (44.8%) and benzodiazepines (16.4%). We also asked for an estimation of how good cannabis was able to substitute for several substances (in German school grades (1 till 6)); heroin average grade: 2.6 ± 1.49. Besides that we asked about the idea of cannabis as "self-medication", e.g., to reduce pain (47%) and about negative consequences from cannabis use. Our results suggest to consider the use of cannabis by patients in OMT rather as a harm reduction strategy to reduce the intake of more dangerous drugs.

How to define failure of intradetrusor injections of botulinum toxin A for neurogenic detrusor overactivity.

Neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) has a major impact on patients' quality of life and can lead to upper urinary tract complications. Intradetrusor botulinum toxin type A injections are administered as second-line treatment to these patients following the failure of anticholinergic agents. The aim of the DETOX 2 study is to propose a consensus definition of the failure of intradetrusor botulinum toxin injections for NDO in patients presenting spinal cord injury, spina bifida, or multiple sclerosis (MS) with self-catheterization. This study followed the method adopted by the French National Authority for Health for recommendations by consensus. Based on a review of the literature and a preliminary survey, a steering committee compiled a questionnaire and selected a rating group comprising 16 experts from the Neuro-Urology Committee of the French Urology Association (cnuAFU) and Genulf. The experts were asked to complete the online questionnaire. At the end of the first round, all participants came together to discuss any disagreements and a second-round online questionnaire was completed to reach a consensus. Thirteen of the 16 experts approached completed both rounds of questionnaires. A strong consensus was reached for two proposals (median score = 9/10) which were therefore included in the definition from the first round: at least one repeat injection of the same botulinum toxin at the same dose must be given to rule out failure on technical grounds and a duration of efficacy <3 months must be considered a failure. At the end of round 2, a relative consensus was reached regarding the clinical criterion defining failure (median score = 7/10) and the urodynamic criterion of failure (median score = 8/10). An additional proposal was selected during this second round on the need for a voiding diary (median score = 8/10). The first consensus definition of failure of an intradetrusor injection of TB-A for NDO has been achieved with this study: persistence of detrusor overactivity with maximum detrusor pressures >40 cm H2 O and/or a compliance issue and/or persistence of urinary incontinence and/or urgency and/or a number of daily self-catheterizations >8/day and/or efficacy <3 months. This study will help to standardize research on the failure of the intradetrusor botulinum toxin for NDO in clinical practice and clinical research.

The Understanding of Household Livelihood Diversity on Production Forest Areas: A Preliminary Survey on Social Studies

Forest resources play an essential role in supporting the livelihoods of forest farming households. Households in this area depend heavily on forest-related activities as a source of income and livelihood. However, forest farming households are often faced with various challenges and uncertainties due to climate change, market fluctuations, limited access to land ownership, lack of infrastructure and technological support, and developments in socio-economic conditions that change the values and structure of people's lives. This study is a preliminary survey as an initial process of collecting information and data before carrying out the primary research. This preliminary survey aims to gain an initial understanding of the diversity of forest farmer household livelihoods. Data was collected through a rapid study of 30 households in Gandu Village. Then, data was identified according to information needs and planning the next steps. The results of this study show that forest farming households in Gandu Village diversify their livelihoods in both the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. The diversity value in the non-agricultural sector shows an average figure of 2.1, which means that each household does not only depend on one source of income. However, they will diversify the number of livelihoods in the amount of 2.1 to meet their household's living needs. The findings of this preliminary survey can become initial data and contribute to further research.

Testing a decoy donation incentive to improve online survey participation: Evidence from a field experiment.

This study introduces a new randomized field experiment exploring the impact of offering a decoy charity donation incentive together with a monetary reward to increase response rates in an online survey about coronavirus fears. The study used a two-stage approach, starting with a preliminary survey to investigate participant attitudes toward different types of donations. Subsequently, an experiment was conducted wherein a less desirable £2 donation (the decoy) was introduced as an alternative to a £2 Amazon voucher (the target) within the choice set. The study sample consisted of 431 university students. They were split into three groups: a control group with a standard £2 Amazon voucher incentive (216 participants), a decoy group with the target shown first (108 participants), and a decoy group with the decoy shown first (107 participants). We found significantly higher survey completion rates in the decoy than in the control condition (82.3% vs. 74.5%). Notably, an order effect was observed-presenting the target before the decoy led to a higher completion rate (89.8%) compared to presenting the decoy first (74.8%). Importantly, the inclusion of the decoy incentive did not introduce any response bias. This study offers a proof of principle that incorporating a decoy charity donation incentive into the choice set can have a positive impact on survey participation without adversely affecting response behaviour. It demonstrates the potential of such incentives to encourage participants to complete online surveys, even when a small monetary reward is offered.

Tourist Motivation and Revisitation in Jeju During COVID-19: Insights and Post-Pandemic Implications

Purpose: This study aims to identify controllable factors influencing domestic tourists’ revisits, taking into account concerns and desires related to travel to inform domestic tourism marketing strategies.&#x0D; Design/methodology/approach: The study gathered data through a preliminary survey of 930 participants who had visited Jeju Island in February 2022. It utilized analytical methods like factor analysis and structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess the factors influencing revisits by domestic tourists.&#x0D; Findings: Emotional and cognitive factors significantly influence behavioral intentions, with the perceived risk of the pandemic having a paradoxical effect, positively impacting attitudes and revisit intentions despite stimulating negative emotions and anxiety among tourists, consistent with the observed surge in domestic tourist numbers on Jeju Island.&#x0D; Research limitations/implications: Limitations of this study include distinguishing between motivations for domestic and international tourism in crisis situations and highlighting the importance of conducting in-depth socio-demographic analyses for better understanding. This study identifies travel motivations within specific cultural groups and informs destination management and tourism resource development strategies.&#x0D; Originality/value: This study’s innovative blend of the S-O-R model and Theory of Reasoned Action provides key insights into tourist behavior. The findings on Jeju Island’s resilience as a domestic tourist destination during the COVID-19 pandemic have crucial implications, emphasizing the need for ongoing efforts to enhance tourists’ experiences and adapt to changing external factors in the tourism industry.

Exploring Maasai Attitudes to, and Willingness to Engage in, Beekeeping

ABSTRACT The importance of bees and conservation practices can be embedded in individuals from early childhood. The Tanzanian Maasai, known for their pastoral life, have recently seen the introduction of beekeeping activities in their region. The key question in this study was “How are the Maasai faring with the introduction of beekeeping in their society?” The research involved (1) some exploratory interviews with adult Maasai, (2) a preliminary survey of 196 Maasai children from a school that recently engaged in beekeeping activities, and (3) the main study, a survey of 119 Maasai adults from the same region who were aware of beekeeping activities. All adult interviewees indicated positive feelings toward bees and beekeeping despite how “modern” or “traditional” they felt. And Maasai school children showed their enthusiasm for and empathy with bees. Specifically, while only 27% of children felt emotionally connected to bees, 84% believed beekeeping activities were beneficial, and 70% wanted to learn more about bees in school. The study of Maasai adults showed that, compared to livestock and dogs, they were significantly less emotionally connected to bees. Although 92% were aware of beekeeping, only 4% had been involved in creating any bee-related products. Further, individual relatedness to nature was associated with their willingness to engage in and learn about beekeeping activities for themselves and their children. However, the association was weaker in the case of adult Maasai, who had a more negative attitude toward bees.

A Preliminary Survey of Medium- and Large-Sized Mammals and Their Conservation Status in the Asimba Forest Priority Area, Semiarid Highlands of Northern Ethiopia

Mammal species provide vital environmental and economic functions although they globally face numerous threats. Knowledge of the composition and diversity of mammal species provide information for appropriate management interventions. We conducted this study from July 2019 to February 2020 to assess the species composition, diversity, and conservation of medium- and large-sized mammals in the Asimba Forest Priority Area, northern Ethiopia. Data were collected through direct and indirect evidence from three habitat types, namely, natural forest, bushland, and plantation forest. We analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and the Species Diversity Index. We also used χ2 to compare differences in the number of observations and species richness of the mammal species in different habitats between the dry and wet seasons. A total of 263 observations were compiled, and 15 medium- and large-sized mammalian species were recorded in the Asimba Forest Priority Area. The Species Diversity Index and Evenness of the area were H′ = 2.436 and J = 0.899, respectively. Hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas) was the most commonly observed species, with 20.7 and 19.2 relative frequencies in the dry and wet seasons, respectively, whereas striped polecat (Ictonyx striatus) was the rarest species, with 3.0 and 0.0 relative frequencies during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. The number of observations (χ2 = 2.298, df = 2, and p=0.316) and species richness (χ2 = 0.115, df = 2, and p=0.943) did not differ significantly in the three habitats. Anthropogenic factors, mainly habitat destruction and overgrazing, were widely observed in the Asimba forest as conservation threats to the mammal species. The current study helps to increase knowledge about the mammal species of the area and is essential for their future conservation strategies.

Epilepsy and driving: A preliminary survey of people with epilepsy at an epilepsy clinic in China

BackgroundDriving is an important part of the daily life for most adults, and restrictions on driving can significantly affect the quality of life for people with epilepsy. This study aimed to investigate the current driving status of patients at an epilepsy clinic in China. MethodStudy participants were administered a survey by a questionnaire including the demographic and clinical characteristics of seizure, driving-related questions and attitudes to driving. ResultsA total of 101 patients responded the survey. Among 33(32.7%) who hold the driving license, 20 (60.6%) still drive, 3 had seizures while driving, and the rate of traffic accidents was 0. There was no significant difference in seizure frequency and type of medication between patients with and without the driving license, but compliance with medication was significantly better for those who held the driving license. ConclusionsOne-third of people with epilepsy hold the driving license and good drug compliance is a favorable factor for driving. Standardizing different levels of restriction on driving for people with epilepsy is urgently needed.

A Preliminary Survey of the Avifaunal Diversity in Pampaimadu Premise of the University of Vavuniya, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka

Vavuniya is a lowland dry zone district of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, which is still unexplored with a natural forest cover of 1,238 km2. Even though there are many kinds of literature concerning the water birds of the Vavuniya, the diversity of tropical avifaunal species is still a gap which was the light of this study. The study area is situated 10 km from the center of Vavuniya along the A30 highway, with the dry-mixed evergreen forest as vegetation. The district is located within the dry zone which experiences a mean temperature of 28° C and annual rainfall of 1,400 mm. It also consists of 02 adjoined tanks along the boundary. The study points were used for the avifaunal survey during mid of March to end of July 2022. Habitat diversity within the study area was discussed using a prepared checklist and the community indices like the Shannon-Weiner index (H‘), Simpson‘s diversity index (D), Simpson‘s evenness (E), and Species richness (R) across various habitats ecosystem: Woodland-Paddy land (H1); Woodland-Water catchment area (H2); Forest (H3); Grassland with inundated land ecosystem (H4); and Manage Garden with Occasional trees (H5) of the study area. The checklist resulted in a total observation of 93 avifaunal species including 87 resident and 06 migrant species belonging to 47 families (including 09 endemics, and 05 nationally threatened species). Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) belongs to Family Columbidae with the highest frequency (68%, n=123) and is evenly distributed across different habitats but the family Ardeidae is found extensively dominating in H5 (39%). H1 is with the highest H‘ (3.5) and D (0.96); while H3 has the highest R (2.52) and E (0.62). The seasonally inundated habitats H2 and H4 bring water birds to the study area. It also increases the availability of avifaunal insectivores. Many anthropogenic disturbances, such as habitat alterations, intentional wildfire, and road mortality are the key threats encountered by the avifaunal species in the study area. In addition to that, the activity of stray dogs within the premises was observed to be a potential threat during the breeding season. Appropriate conservation strategies including landscape management, conservation of available forest land, and proper awareness of neighboring local communities are necessary to maintain the current ecological status. &#x0D; Keywords: Avifauna, Checklist, Habitat variation, Species diversity, Vavuniya 

Benzodiazepine Interference with Fertility and Embryo Development: A Preliminary Survey in the Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus.

Psychotropic drugs and benzodiazepines are nowadays among the primary substances of abuse. This results in a large and constant release into aquatic environments where they have potentially harmful effects on non-target organisms and, eventually, human health. In the last decades, evidence has been collected on the possible interference of benzodiazepines with reproductive processes, but data are few and incomplete. In this study, the possible negative influence of delorazepam on fertilization and embryo development has been tested in Paracentrotus lividus, a key model organism in studies of reproduction and embryonic development. Sperm, eggs, or fertilized eggs have been exposed to delorazepam at three concentrations: 1 μg/L (environmentally realistic), 5 μg/L, and 10 μg/L. Results indicate that delorazepam reduces the fertilizing capacity of male and female gametes and interferes with fertilization and embryo development. Exposure causes anatomical anomalies in plutei, accelerates/delays development, and alters the presence and distribution of glycoconjugates such as N-Acetyl-glucosamine, α-linked fucose, and α-linked mannose in both morulae and plutei. These results should attract attention to the reproductive fitness of aquatic species exposed to benzodiazepines and pave the way for further investigation of the effects they may exert on human fertility. The presence of benzodiazepines in the aquatic environment raises concerns about the reproductive well-being of aquatic species. Additionally, it prompts worries regarding potential impacts on human fertility due to the excessive use of anxiolytics.

Improving the environmental quality of Kesiman Village, Mojokerto Regency through household waste sorting

The most significant source of waste in Indonesia is households. This community service aims to improve the environmental quality of Kesiman Village by educating residents to sort waste from their households. This activity begins with observations and interviews with residents. Preliminary survey results show that the waste problem has been around for a long time, and accumulation occurs in the Final Disposal Site (TPA). Based on interviews with villagers, they are willing to participate in the waste management assistance program. Furthermore, waste sorting facilities are provided for each resident's house by empowering village communities with expertise. Counseling or education is carried out at the home of a resident, as well as providing a real example of waste segregation. Sorting is done based on the categories of organic and non-organic waste. Two weeks after the counseling, the service team evaluated by direct surveying several residents' houses to see if the sorting had gone well and smoothly. The evaluation results show that residents understand and carry out waste segregation consistently. However, there are several obstacles; for example, some houses feel the trash can needs to be bigger, and sometimes they place organic and non-organic waste upside down. After the household waste sorting program runs smoothly, the community service team will plan and realize the Village waste management program so that the volume of waste is reduced and the environment is cleaner.

Lavender harbours more viruses than previously thought: First report of Raspberry ringspot virus and Phlox virus M in Lavandula x intermedia.

Plants of the genus Lavandula are thought to be rarely infected by viruses. To date, only alfalfa mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, tobacco mosaic virus, and tomato spotted wilt virus have been reported in this host. In this study, we identified for the first time raspberry ringspot virus (RpRSV) and phlox virus M (PhlVM) in lavender, using herbaceous indexing, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and high-throughput sequencing. Nearly complete genome sequences for both viruses were determined. Phylogenetic and serological characterisations suggest that the obtained RpRSV isolate is a raspberry strain. A preliminary survey of 166 samples indicates RpRSV was spread only in the lavender cultivar 'Grosso' while PhlVM was detected in multiple lavender cultivars. Although RpRSV raspberry strain may have spread throughout Auckland and nearby areas in New Zealand, it is very likely restricted to the genus Lavandula or even to the cultivar 'Grosso', due to the absence or limited occurrence of the nematode vector. Interestingly, all infected lavender plants, regardless of their infection status (by RpRSV or PhlVM or both) were asymptomatic. RpRSV is an important virus that infects horticultural crops including grapevine, cherry, berry fruits and rose. It remains on the list of regulated pests in New Zealand. RpRSV testing is mandatory for imported Fragaria, Prunus, Ribes, Rosa, Rubus, and Vitis nursery stock or seeds for sowing while this is not required for Lavandula importation. Our study revealed that lavender could play a role not only as a reservoir but also as an uncontrolled import pathway of viruses that pose threat to New Zealand's primary industries.

Abstract TP108: Clinical Utility of the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score: A Survey Comparing Comprehensive Stroke Centers

Introduction: The Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) is often used in considering whether patients are appropriate for thrombolysis and/or thrombectomy after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We hypothesized that while clinical guidelines recommend ASPECTS evaluations in AIS, ASPECTS use is low in practice. We also explored differences in ASPECTS use between high and low volume comprehensive stroke centers (CSC). Methods: We surveyed United States CSC from 2021-2022 regarding ASPECTS utilization in evaluating eligibility for thrombolysis and/or thrombectomy in patients with suspected or confirmed large vessel occlusion. We asked whether ASPECTS was routinely used, if it was the preferred primary modality for final decision making, and whether an ASPECTS &lt; 6 excluded a patient from thrombectomy consideration. Survey responses were divided between large (Annual volumes of ischemic strokes &gt;600) and small CSC ( &lt; 600). Chi square analysis was performed on this data. Results: Thirty-nine CSC completed the survey. Of these, 21 were large CSC and 18 were small CSC. Of all CSC, 31% did not use ASPECTS at all. Seventy-four percent preferred automated mismatch software over ASPECTS as the primary modality in final decision making. Thirty six percent of CSC noted that an ASPECTS &lt; 6 would exclude a patient from consideration for thrombectomy. There was no relationship between CSC size and ASPECTS use [X 2 (1, N = 39) = 0.71, p &lt; .05]. There was also no relationship between CSC size and whether ASPECTS was the preferred primary final decision making modality [X 2 (1, N = 39) = 0.23, p &lt; .05]. Additionally, there was no relationship between CSC size and whether ASPECTS &lt; 6 excluded patients from thrombectomy consideration [X 2 (1, N = 39) = 0.73, p &lt; .05]. Conclusion: In practice, the clinical utility of ASPECTS for AIS evaluation is low. Case volume experience also has no apparent impact on ASPECTS utilization. Our preliminary survey reveals low use of ASPECTS, and a preference for mismatch software in choosing AIS candidates for intervention. This discrepancy suggests significant differences between clinical guidelines and actual practice.

Assessing the Quality of Organic Fertilizer Products Made from Cow Dung in Wonogiri Regency, Indonesia

Kebonagung Sub-district, Sidoharjo District, Wonogiri Regency is the Wonoagung Wonogiri Organic Farming Association (PPOWW) location. Mitra is an organization engaged in organic rice and cattle cultivation. The conversion of bovine dung into organic fertilizer, particularly liquid fertilizer containing biological agents, is one of the waste elimination strategies employed to prevent environmental contamination. The nutrient content of organic fertilizer material sources varies. Organic fertilizer of high quality conforms to the Standard for Organic Fertilizers established by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia. Only some producers are aware of the standard quality requirements for organic fertilizer. It is necessary to analyze the nutrient content of organic fertilizer products to determine whether the quality of organic fertilizer is excellent. A preliminary survey of partner conditions, preparation of materials (organic fertilizer), and analysis of fertilizer content are among the activities performed. The C/N ratio of organic fertilizer is 8.41, and its pH is 7.6. The analysis results indicate that the Wonoagung Wonogiri Organic Agriculture Association's organic fertilizer products meet the liquid organic fertilizer quality standards. This condition demonstrates that the raw materials used in organic fertilizer production are of high quality and that the appropriate procedures have been followed. Adding biological agents to the production of organic fertilizer can enhance the quality of the finished product.

초등학생의 진로장벽 검사도구 개발 및 타당화

Objectives This study was to systematically develop a Career Barrier Inventory(CBI) for upper elementary school students and verify its validity.&#x0D; Methods The concept of the career barriers were defined and sub-factors of the career barriers were derived based on the monistic view limited to contextual barriers(Lent et al., 1994/2000) and related previous studies. Preliminary items were developed through previous studies. And a preliminary scale of 27 items was developed through the expert’s content validity verification and the subjects’ understanding of the prior items. A preliminary survey was conducted targeting upper grades of elementary school students nationwide, and 136 of the collected data were used for exploratory factor analysis. The main survey sampled a different group from the preliminary survey across the country, and 236 (94.4%) of the collected data were used in CFA, through which the optimal CBI for elementary school students was developed and a systematic validation procedure was performed.&#x0D; Results The Major results were as follows; First, through EFA using preliminary survey data, four latent factor were validly extracted and reliability was secured. Second, as a result of CFA using the main survey data, three items with a standardized regression weights(β) of .50 or less were removed and the goodness of fit index for the final CBI measurement model (24 items) were reviewed, and all were good. Third, as a result of calculating the AVE and C.R., of each sub-factor, all of the evaluation criteria were satisfied and the construct validity was verified. Fourth, as a result of conducting a correlation analysis based on social support, self-esteem and self-efficacy measure-ment tools to verify criterion validity, the correlations among sub-factors of each variable were all significant. And the overall the reliability (Cronbach’s α) of the final CBI, was found to be .912, and the reliability of each sub-factor was also confirmed to be good.&#x0D; Conclusions Based on the monistic career barriers advocated in Social Cognitive Career Theory, the concept and sub-factors of career barriers for upper grades of elementary school students were identified and a CBI for upper grades of elementary school students whose reliability and validity were verified through systematic procedure was developed.

A Review on Design and Analysis of Foot Over Bridge

Abstract: foot over, which is defined as the bridge that is constructed for pedestrian crossing purposes. The detail and preliminary survey were performed before any design began. The majority of mass movement analysis is performed for live load purposes. The load are considered for design is live load, dead load, wind load , seismic load for design. The design of the foot over bridge was done with mostly software from Staad Pro. The methodology accepted mostly for design is modeling, defining and assigning material and sectional properties, putting boundary conditions in place, applying loading, analysis and design, interpretation results, and conclusions. The conclusion that the Staad Pro software is mostly claimed to be easy to use and simpler than other. The wind load has a reduced effect on the bridge by giving a large opening. The cable material is mostly suitable for the foot-over bridge. A detailed analysis is required to know the exact live load calculation. The steel truss bridge is mostly used for foot-over bridges.

Reef fish identification through image records using artificial intelligence and convolutional neural network system

Coral reef environments show great diversity and abundance of species that represent important biological resources for obtaining food and medicines, in addition to acting as bioindicators of the quality of reef environments, serving as a parameter to diagnose environmental impacts and, simultaneously, to evaluate the availability and use of fishing stocks and biological resources in such environments. Monitoring such  ecosystems arises from the urgent need to better understand the natural geographic and environmental variability of these systems, as well as their main drivers of change, to inform and promote more effective management of such environments. With the growing need to monitor communities of reef organisms, particularly fish, the creation of a digital analysis method would make a great contribution to the studies of reef fish. To fill this knowledge gap, our work evaluates the possibility of using an artificial intelligence mechanism using convolutional neural networks (CNN) to identify and count reef fish in image records, to optimize digital analysis of videos and/or photos in reef environments for fish ecology studies. The accuracy of the CNN identification method was effective, although it still has challenges to improve, such as: the need for a preliminary survey of reef fish species existing in the target area to be monitored, with the capture of good resolution images in different positions space for each species; production of an image bank with a large number of diverse images for each species (minimum of 200 images per species) and; To detect fish in videos, fast computers with a dedicated GPU card are needed, especially if the videos are high or ultra-resolution and have a large number of fps.

Project Management Practices to Address the Challenges in International Construction Joint Ventures in the Sri Lankan Construction Industry

ABSTRACT International Construction Joint Ventures (ICJVs) offer benefits to both local and foreign partners. However, their failure rates tend to be high, leading to poor ICJV performance. Effective Project Management (PM) is considered a means to resolve challenges in a construction project. Therefore, this research aims to address the challenges in ICJV projects within the Sri Lankan construction industry through PM practices to establish successful ICJVs. The research adopted a mixed-method approach. A preliminary survey was conducted to validate the challenges in the Sri Lankan context. After that, challenges were ranked based on their significance level using the Relative Importance Index (RII) method through a questionnaire survey. Then, Semi-structured interviews were conducted to identify the PM practices that can address significant challenges through code-based content analysis. The study revealed 38 challenges applicable to ICJVs and identified 88 PM practices for resolving 10 significant challenges out of the 38 identified in ICJV projects in Sri Lanka (SL). Finally, a framework was developed for successful ICJVs by addressing challenges through PM practices. This study marks the first attempt to establish a framework for successful ICJVs by addressing challenges through PM practices in the Sri Lankan construction industry.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of greenbug-inducible NAC transcription factors in sorghum.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is an important cereal crop grown worldwide because of its multipurpose uses such as food, forage, and bioenergy feedstock and its wide range of adaption even in marginal environments. Greenbug can cause severe damage to sorghum plants and yield loss. Plant NAC transcription factors (TFs) have been reported to have diverse functions in plant development and plant defense but hasnot beenstudied in sorghum yet. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the sorghum NAC (SbNAC) gene family was conducted through genome-wide analysis. A total of 112 NAC genes has been identified in the sorghum genome. These SbNAC genes are phylogenetically clustered into 15 distinct subfamilies and unevenly distribute in clusters at the telomeric ends of each chromosome. Twelve pairs of SbNAC genes are possibly involved in the segmental duplication among nine chromosomes except chromosome 10. Structure analysis showed the diverse structures with a highly variable number of exons in the SbNAC genes. Furthermore, most of the SbNAC genes showed specific temporal and spatial expression patterns according to the results of RNA-seq analysis, suggesting their diverse functions during sorghum growth and development. We have also identified nine greenbug-inducible SbNAC genes by comparing the expression profiles between two sorghum genotypes (susceptible BTx623 and resistant PI607900) in response to greenbug infestation. Our systematic analysis of the NAC gene expression profiles provides both a preliminary survey into their roles in plant defense against insect pests and a useful reference for in-depth characterization of the SbNAC genes and the regulatory network that contributes genetic resistance to aphids.

Preliminary Survey of Chronic Pain Treatments by Epidural Block Via Home Visit

Preliminary Survey of Chronic Pain Treatments by Epidural Block Via Home Visit