Slight Correlation Research Articles

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND STRESS AMONG DENTAL STUDENTS STUDYING IN MODULAR AND TRADITIONAL CURRICULUM

Objectives: To compare the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among dental students studying in the modular and traditional curriculum.Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among third-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery students studying in four dental colleges in Peshawar. Two colleges had traditional dental curricula, while two had modular/integrated education systems. The duration of the study was from November 2022 to February 2023. Data was collected using the DASS 21 questionnaire.Results: Among the 200 students, 100 were from modular, and 100 were from traditional systems. In modular systems, 19% had mild, and 16% had moderate depression, while 12% had severe anxiety. In the traditional system, 7% had moderate depression, while 22% had moderate anxiety. Stress was mild in 10% of traditional and modular dental education systems students. A positive correlation between the modular system was found with depression; P=0.02 and anxiety; P=0.01; a slight negative correlation between depression (P=0.02) and anxiety (P=0.01) was seen with the traditional system, while no association was found with stress. Conclusion: Students studying in the modular system have high depression and anxiety as compared to the traditional curriculum.

EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING & LOCUS OF CONTROL IN YOUNG ADULTS IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Psychological wellbeing (PWB) is a person’s ideal disposition of mental and emotional functioning, marked by positive emotions, satisfaction, serenity, resilience & purpose. These aspects are often influenced by locus of control (LOC), which enhances self-awareness & awareness of intrinsic capabilities. As LOC is a trait, knowing its links with PWB will illustrate the contribution of more permanent aspects of the personality in PWB. Most studies have not examined these important variables together. This research aims to bridge this knowledge gap and uncover predictive relationship between these factors and hypothesized that LOC would be correlated with to PWB. To conduct a cross-sectional survey a sample of 400 young adult participants from University of Karachi was drawn. Correlation that links LOC & various facets of psychological wellbeing is insignificant, except for correlation of internal LOC & personal growth, where there is slight negative correlation, as higher scores of the measure of LOC meant higher degrees of internal locus of control & vice versa. This result shows that the more external locus of control the more personal growth. This study sheds light on interesting perspective about the impact of perceived internal LOC on specific aspects of psychological well-being. These findings open new avenues for further research in this field.

THE POTENTIAL CORRELATION BETWEEN HYPERURICEMIA AND HYPERTHYROIDISM IS BEING EXAMINED

Hyperuricemia is characterized by high levels of uric acid in the bloodstream, while hyperthyroidism refers to excessive thyroid gland activity. Both conditions can significantly affect a patient's quality of life. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze a sample size of 100 patients at MTI LRH, Peshawar, to address the research gap in this area. The study employed a prospective design, which involved collecting patient data over time. The study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Medical Teaching Institution Lady Reading Hospital (MTI LRH), Peshawar, from January to July 2021. One hundred patients were chosen randomly from those who presented at MTI LRH during the study period. The inclusion criteria were individuals 18 or older who had documented thyroid function test results and had blood uric acid levels on record. The study participants included 50 males and 50 females, with a median age of 41. Most participants (55%) were between the ages of 31 and 50, with 25% in the 31-40 age group and 30% in the 41-50 age group. The remaining 45% were younger than 30 or older than 50. The data showed a slight negative correlation (r = -0.15) between TSH and uric acid levels, indicating that as TSH levels decreased, uric acid levels increased. However, this correlation was not statistically significant (p=0.20). The study found no significant correlation between thyroid function and uric acid levels in the sample population. Although there have been inconsistencies in previous literature on this topic, our results were consistent with past investigations.

Phytoextraction potential of herbaceous plant species and the influence of environmental factors – A meta-analytical approach

Heavy metals account for a notable share of soil and water body contaminations. For restoring contaminated soils, phytoremediation is considered an eco-friendly and sustainable practice. However, the implementation in the field requires a well-thought-out plant selection and comprehensive knowledge of the influence of various environmental factors. Therefore, a quantitative evaluation of 330 studies was done using a meta-analytical approach. The systematic assessment included the calculation of bioconcentration factors for roots and shoots (BCFROOT, BCFSHOOT) and translocation factors (TF) of 48 herbaceous species, as well as the identification of the most important soil and plant factors that regulate the heavy metal uptake into plant tissues. The results showed substantial variations in roots' and shoots' heavy metal uptake capacity among the diverse plant species. The uptake also varied depending on the type of heavy metal. Most species revealed a higher accumulation of heavy metals in roots than shoots, indicating a limited heavy metal transport from below-ground into above-ground plant parts. Among the different heavy metals, Cd showed the highest median BCFSHOOT and BCFROOT, followed by Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, and Pb, which can partly be explained by the solubility and plant availability of the elements. The strongest significant and positive correlations of heavy metal contents in plant tissues were found with the total and available soil content. Clay and silt content showed a weak negative, and sand content a slight positive correlation. Further, root, shoot and total biomass revealed weak negative correlations to the plants' heavy metal contents. Overall, this study forms a basis for the minimum accumulation capacities of various species and thus makes an essential contribution to the planning and practical application of phytoremediation projects.

Основные показатели заболеваемости населения, в том числе прогностические, в оценке репродуктивного потенциала региона.

The article presents the results of a study conducted to study the main indicators of population morbidity from the perspective of assessing the reproductive potential of the region. Statistical, analytical, and graphological methods were used in the work. A key factor in the reproductive potential of a region is the level of health of its population, including morbidity rates. When developing measures to stimulate the birth rate, which is especially necessary for territories with the lowest rates of population reproduction, such as the Central Federal District and, in particular, the Kostroma Region, a detailed study of the regional characteristics of the health status of the population is necessary. It was determined that, according to predictive models, the incidence rate in the Kostroma region will increase from 701.1 per 1000 population in 2020 to 768.8 per 1000 population in 2025. To identify the relationship between indicators of the birth rate and morbidity in the Kostroma region for period 2010–2020 A cross-correlation analysis was carried out to reveal not only the degree and direction of the relationship between the analyzed indicators, but also the time lag. For the Kostroma region, according to the time series under consideration, no statistically significant relationship was found between the level of fertility and morbidity. There is a slight correlation (–0.3) between the analyzed indicators for the Kostroma region with a time lag of 6 periods, but it is not statistically significant and does not allow us to draw clear conclusions.

Does transport stress have any effect on carcass quality of Nellore cattle (Bos taurus indicus) in Brazil? - A case study.

With the increasing concomitant demands for Brazilian beef and in particular high-quality beef, there is a need for observational studies of the effects of pre- and post-slaughter practices on beef carcass traits. We hypothesized in our case study that pre-slaughter transport of bovines over significant distances would induce stress in animals, and that this would reduce carcass quality because of higher pH resulting from long-distance transportation. To test this hypothesis, 30,230 Nellore carcasses from a private slaughterhouse were evaluated 24 h postmortem. Analysis showed correlations between animal maturity, ultimate pH, distance, and carcass weight. More precisely, there was a slight positive correlation between ultimate pH and weight (but not with transportation distance) and a slight positive correlation between maturity and weight. A linear regression model (R2 = 0.016) failed to show distance having a significant effect on ultimate pH (P = 0.63), while carcass weight significantly affected ultimate pH (P < 0.001) with a low coefficient of 0.0003. Maturity negatively affected ultimate pH also (P < 0.001) but with also a small effect (-0.0008). Results (from 95% confidence intervals of variance of the random effects and of the random errors) showed that the variability within farms was higher than between farms. The linear mixed model showed that maturity had a significant effect on carcass weight value (P < 0.001) with a large coefficient of 2.90. The R2 of the linear mixed model was 46.03%. In conclusion, while weight and maturity both affect ultimate pH, long distances did not significantly impact ultimate pH and therefore the beef quality from Nellore cattle. This could be because of low stress during transport, as well as the physical characteristics of the Nellore breed that favor greater resistance to tropical climatic conditions.

Analysis of Workaholism and Burnout Among Employees of Administrative Units and Two Selected Banks in Slovenia

Purpose: Workaholism and burnout can have detrimental effects on both employees and organisations in both the private and public sectors, and therefore calls for further research. The objective of this survey was to statistically analyse significant differences in the variables of workaholism and burnout (including emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal efficiency) between administrative units and two selected banks, among participants employed in managerial and non-managerial positions, and across genders. Additionally, the survey aimed to analyse the correlations between workaholism, emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal efficiency. The research involved 621 employees from 58 administrative units and 404 employees from two selected (private) banks in Slovenia.Design/Methodology/Approach: Various methodological approaches were used, including statistical tests such as multivariate and factor analysis, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests, the Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficient.Findings: Survey results revealed no statistically significant differences in the variables of workaholism and burnout between administrative units and the two selected banks, among participants employed in managerial and non-managerial positions, and across genders. However, the research uncovered a strong positive correlation between workaholism and emotional exhaustion, a weak positive correlation between workaholism and depersonalisation, and a slight negative correlation between workaholism and personal efficiency.Originality/Value: The research contributes to the growing awareness of workaholism and burnout, offering organisations valuable insights to address these issues and enhance employee well-being. Furthermore, it adds to the existing literature on workaholism and burnout within the context of Slovenia.

Myosteatosis as a Prognostic Marker for Postoperative Mortality in Adult Patients Undergoing Surgery in General—A Systematic Review

Background: Assessing frailty is important in treating surgical patients to predict peri- and postoperative events like complications or mortality. The current standard is not optimal; therefore, new prognostic markers are being evaluated to enrich the current frailty assessment. One of these new markers is fat degeneration of the psoas muscle (myosteatosis). This can be assessed by measuring the psoas muscle density (PMD) with computed tomography (CT). The aim of this review is to investigate PMD, and, thus, myosteatosis, as a prognostic marker for postoperative mortality in adult patients undergoing general surgery. Methods: An electronic search was performed in PubMed to identify relevant studies associating PMD with postoperative mortality. The looked-upon period for mortality to occur did not matter for this review. The looked-upon outcome measure for this review was the hazard ratio. Results: From 659 potential articles from PubMed, 12 were included, for a total of 4834 participants. Articles were excluded when not focused on PMD, if the type of intervention was not specified, and when imaging other than with CT on the level of the third vertebra was performed. The included articles were assessed for bias with the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). PMD was, after multivariable analyses, identified as an independent significant prognostic marker for several surgical cardiovascular interventions when we looked at the 5-year mortality rate and for fenestrated branched endovascular aortic repair (F-BEVAR) a slight significant protective correlation between postoperative mortality and PMD (when divided by psoas muscle area (PMI)) when we looked at the 30-day and 3-year mortality. Also, PMD was identified as an independent significant prognostic marker for a variety of surgical gastrointestinal interventions when we looked at 30-day/90-day/1-year/3-year/5-year mortality. PMD was not identified as a significant prognostic marker in urologic surgery. Conclusion: Myosteatosis has the potential to be a valuable contribution to the current frailty assessment for patients undergoing cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, or urologic surgery. However, more research must be conducted to further strengthen the prognostic value of myosteatosis, with special attention to, e.g., gender- or age-specific interpretations of the results.

Primary care utilisation, adherence to guideline-based pharmacotherapy and continuity of care in primary care patients with chronic diseases and multimorbidity – a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background To understand how to improve care for patients with chronic diseases and multimorbidity we wanted to describe the prevalence of different chronic diseases and the pattern of multimorbidity and to analyse the associations between occurrence of diseases and primary care utilization, adherence to guideline-based pharmacotherapy, and continuity of care. Methods Retrospective cross-sectional study of routine care data of the general population in region Jönköping in Sweden (345 916 inhabitants using primary care services) covering 4.3 years. Participants Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria of having ≥ 1 of 10 common chronic diseases and ≥ 3 visits to primary care between 2011 and 2015. Primary outcome measures In order to determine diseases and multimorbidity, primary care utilisation, adherence to guideline-based pharmacotherapy, frequencies and percentages, interval and ratio scaled variables were described using means, standard deviations, and various percentiles in the population. Two continuity indices were used (MMCI, COC) to describe continuity. Results Of the general population, 25 829 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria (7.5% of the population). Number of diseases increased with increasing age, and multimorbidity was much more common than single diseases (mean 2.0 per patient). There was a slight positive correlation (0.29) between number of diseases and visits, but visits did not increase proportionally to the number of diseases. Patients with physical diseases combined with anxiety and/or depression made more visits than others. The number of diseases per patient was negatively associated with the adherence to pharmacotherapy guidelines. There was no association between continuity and healthcare utilisation or adherence to pharmacotherapy guidelines. Conclusions Multimorbid patients are common in primary care and for many chronic diseases it is more common to have other simultaneous diseases than having only one disease. This can make adherence to pharmacotherapy guidelines a questionable measure for aged multimorbid patients. Existing continuity indices also revealed limitations. Holistic and patient-centred measures should be used for quality assessment of care for multimorbid patients in primary care.

Clinical and immunological responses to COVID-19 vaccination in rheumatoid arthritis patients on disease modifying antirheumatic drugs: a cross-sectional study.

This study was conducted to investigate the immunological and clinical response to COVID-19 vaccination in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). A cross-sectional study was conducted among RA patients who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine within 6 months to one year. Demographic information, comorbidities, vaccination details, and past COVID-19 infection details were collected. Hemoglobin (Hb), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were estimated. Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28) was calculated for RA patients. Anti-spike antibody (ASA) concentrations were measured, and compared with a healthy control population. Correlations of ASA with age, sex, disease parameters, medication use, and comorbidities were assessed. A total of 103 RA patients and 185 controls were included in the study. RA patients had higher mean age, lower mean Hb, higher ESR, and elevated IL-6 levels. Both groups showed positive results for anti-spike antibodies, with a higher percentage in controls. Among RA patients majority had low DAS-28 score. The number of DMARDs used showed a negative correlation with antibody levels. There was a slight positive correlation between ASA concentration and DAS-28 score. Comorbidities did not significantly influence antibody concentration. No significant differences were found in antibody levels based on the type of COVID-19 vaccine or previous COVID-19 infection or booster dose vaccination among RA patients. The study revealed that RA patients showed a reduced antibody response following COVID-19 vaccination compared to the control group and potentially influenced by immunosuppressive treatments and disease-related factors.

Influence of fire regime on the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of frog communities in a fire-prone Brazilian ecosystem

Fire is a natural disturbance that has shaped Earth's biodiversity for millions of years. In a fire-prone ecosystems, fire acts as an important environmental filter, selecting species presenting tolerant traits to fire events and post-fire environmental conditions. It is expected that intense fire activity selects for closely-related species, thus promoting a phylogenetic and functional clustering of communities. In view of the severe changes in natural fire regimes observed in different regions of the planet, an increasing body of research has been dedicated to exploring their impact on frogs, a particularly susceptible group in the context of wildfires. However, it is notable that most of the research focuses on the traditional dimension of diversity, the taxonomic diversity, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of how fire disturbances affect the phylogenetic diversity of these communities. Here, we tested the effects of three fire regime parameters (i.e., total burned area, time since the last fire and fire count at the landscape scale) on the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of frog communities in 26 sites within a fire-prone Brazilian protected area. We used Hill numbers to characterize the taxonomic (Species richness, Shannon and Simpson's diversity) and phylogenetic diversity (Phylogenetic richness, Mean phylogenetic diversity of common lineages and Mean phylogenetic diversity of dominant lineages). We found that the fire regime did not explain patterns of the taxonomic diversity. Nonetheless, there was a positive correlation between phylogenetic richness and the frequency of fire occurrences, while a slight negative correlation was observed with the percentage of burned area. In addition, moderate fire activity seems to be an important driver of phylogenetic diversity. Therefore, management practices toward a mosaic of areas with different fire histories are fundamental in this protected area. We finally emphasize that all diversity facets of anurans should be assessed and considered in management decisions to guaranteeing anuran conservation in this region.

Cytokine Profiles of Chronic Urticaria Patients and The Effect of Omalizumab Treatment.

Cytokines are key mediators in immunological and inflammatory conditions, including chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). To investigate Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokine profiles in CSU and to evaluate the possible effect of omalizumab treatment. Patients who were followed up for CSU, as well as healthy volunteers, were included in the study. To assess urticaria activity, the 7-day-Urticaria Activity Score (UAS-7), the Urticaria Control Test (UCT), and the Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire (CU-QoL) were filled. Serum levels of IL-6, IL-17, IL-31, eotaxin, RANTES, TNF-α, and TSLP were analyzed by ELISA and compared in CSU and control groups. The patients were analyzed in two groups as the omalizumab group and the non-omalizumab group based on their treatment status. Total IgE, ESR, CRP, RANTES, and TNF-a were significantly different in the overall comparison of the three groups: CSU-receiving omalizumab, CSU-not receiving omalizumab, and control groups (P <0.01, 0.015, <0.01, <0.01 and <0.01 respectively). Total IgE, CRP, RANTES, and TNF-α values were similar in those who received and did not receive omalizumab, yet these biomarkers were significantly higher in both groups than in the control group (P < 0.05). Statistical significance in ESR was observed only between the CSU-receiving omalizumab group and the control group (P = 0.01). Within the CSU patients, there was a slight but significant correlation between UCT and TNF-α (P = 0.008, r = 0.32) and IL-17 (P = 0.06, r = 0.33) levels. The investigated cytokine profile in CSU patients may differ from healthy controls, particularly with the higher levels of RANTES and TNF-α, and omalizumab treatment does not seem to affect that profile in CSU patients.

Smartphone obsession linked behavioural changes among Indian adolescents.

The best technological gifts of the 21st century are mobile phones, which are especially well-liked to adolescents. Infinite resources with numerous uses and applications are available on modern mobile devices. Adolescents have behavioral changes as a result of its excessive use. Therefore, it is of interest to explore the connection between smartphone obsession and potential behavioral changes. A School based, co relational study was conducted among 100 adolescents at selected schools at Tamil Nadu. Samples were selected by simple random sampling technique. Data were collected to assess the mobile addiction by using Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SVSAC) and Pediatric symptom checklist - 17was used to evaluate the behavioral changes. Collected data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The Study shows that 52 adolescents had a high smartphone Obsession, in that 37 had negative behavioral changes due to overuse of the smart phone and also had slight positive correlation between smartphone obsession and behavioral changes. A significant relationship was seen between smart phone obsession with behavioral changes (p<0.001) among adolescents. The study concluded that smart phone obsession and behavioral changes having strong connection in adolescents was significantly associated with their behaviors.

Sequential riparian vegetation alteration in Japanese river landscapes

Bare gravel bed channels have been a common landscape feature of the middle reaches of rivers throughout Japan. They are disappearing these days because of vegetation colonization. Vegetation coverage of the riparian zones in the midstream reaches of rivers distributed throughout Japan was investigated using aerial photo images taken in 1946, 1975, and 2010. It was then compared with hydrological and water quality records, locations of dams and weirs, residential conditions of the surrounding areas, sediment yields, and forest coverage of the upstream mountainous areas. Riparian vegetation coverage has substantially increased in the last 70 years, from nearly 0 to 30-40%. Herbaceous vegetation coverage is higher than tree coverage. The total vegetation coverage did not correlate with water quality parameters. However, vegetation coverage had a significant negative correlation with the upstream basin's sediment yield and a slight negative correlation with the maximum flood peak flow rate. It was positively correlated with the terrestrial area fraction between levees. Riparian vegetation coverage was high within the 2 km downstream of dams or weirs, intercepting sediment flows. These results indicated that the gravelly sediment supplied from the upstream and deposited in the midstream at flood time has been the major contributor to keeping the vegetation coverage low rather than flushing by flood water. Reforestation since World War II has reduced the coarse sediment supply into the midstream river channels. This reforestation, together with gravel mining and intercepting sediment flow by dams and weirs, has caused the recent increase in vegetation coverage of the riparian zones. Human intervention can affect the vegetation conditions in riparian zones by decreasing sediment supply to river channels.

Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and prostate-specific antigen: a retrospective study in men without prostate pathology.

Recently, vitamin D status has been associated with prostate cancer risk. However, some studies argue that there is no association of vitamin D with prostate cancer risk and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentrations. No clear conclusions can be drawn from the studies found in the literature. Our aim was to assess the relationship between PSA and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. We selected 415 individuals without prostate pathologies and subgroups were generated according to age and 25(OH)D. Statistical analyses were performed using Shapiro-Wilk test, Student's t and ANOVA tests, and Pearson's correlation. Besides, the minimum sample size needed to obtain statistically significant results between groups according to 25(OH)D concentration was calculated and a Student's t-test for paired samples was performed to study individuals with two PSA measurements over time, where 25(OH)D concentration increased or decreased more than 25 %. We observed a slight correlation between age and PSA concentration (r=0.379, p<0.001). However, we found no significant differences when we compared PSA concentrations between groups according to 25(OH)D concentrations (p=0.891): 1.25±1.32 μg/L (group with 25(OH)D<50 nmol/L) and 1.17±0.90 (group with 25(OH)D≥50 nmol/L). Pearson's correlation coefficient was close to 0. The minimum samples size to obtain statistically significant results was 815,346 men, and we observed no differences in PSA concentrations in individuals with two measurements. Our findings show no association in men without prostate pathologies, based on 25(OH)D levels.

Pan-cancer genetic analysis of disulfidptosis-related gene set

BackgroundA recent study has identified a novel programmed cell death pathway, termed disulfidptosis, which is based on disulfide proteins. This discovery provides new insight into the mechanisms of cell death and may have implications for therapeutic strategies targeting cell death pathways. This study aimed to evaluate the pan-cancer genomics and clinical association of disulfidptosis and disulfidptosis-related cell death genes, including SLC7A11, INF2, CD2AP, PDLIM1, ACTN4, MYH9, MYH10, IQGAP1, FLNA, FLNB, TLN1, MYL6, ACTB, DSTN, and CAPZB. MethodsUsing multi-omics profiling data, this study provides a comprehensive and systematic characterization of disulfidptosis genes across more than 9000 samples of over 30 types of cancer. ResultsFLNA and FLNB were the two most frequently mutated disulfidptosis cell death genes in cancer. UCEC and SKCM were the two cancer types that have the highest mutation rates while the mutation of ACTN4 was associated with worse survival of CESC and ESCA. Breast cancer was potentially affected by disulfidptosis because its subtypes are different in disulfidptosis gene expression. Similarly, KIRC might also be associated with disulfidptosis. Additionally, the association of disulfidptosis-related cell death genes with survival was analyzed, with MESO and LGG as the top cancer types with survival associated with disulfidptosis cell death genes. The correlation between CNV and survival across multiple cancer types found that UCEC, KIRP, LGG, and KIRC were the top cancer types where the CNV level was associated with survival. There was a negative correlation between expression and methylation for most of the genes and there was only a slight correlation between methylation levels and survival of cancer in LGG. About half of the disulfidptosis-related cell death proteins were associated with the activation of EMT. Disulfidptosis genes were correlated to immune cell infiltration levels in cancers. Multiple compounds were identified as potential drugs that might be affected by disulfidptosis-related cell death for future study. ConclusionDisulfidptosis cell death genes are potentially involved in many cancer types and can be developed as candidates for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic biomarkers.

Validation and comparison of four DNA extraction methods for genetically modified organisms analysis: From DNA quality control to quantification of genetically modified content in real‐life samples matrices

AbstractBackgroundThe analysis of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food and feed is broadly based on the detection of target DNA sequences using PCR‐based methods. The first step of a typical workflow in a GMO testing laboratory is DNA extraction and purification. Several DNA extraction methods have been described for this purpose so far. Whatever the method adopted, the yield and the quality of the extracted DNA are essential factors for the success of GMO analysis.ResultsThe DNA extraction yield was variable between the different methods, while quality and efficiency appeared comparable. Each method allowed a different yield and a slight correlation between inhibition and the food/feed matrix extracted was observed. Particularly for challenging matrices, the method used for DNA extraction has a remarkable influence on both the quality and quantity of the recovered DNA. Small variations in value % GM content were observed in complex, heterogeneous matrices but not in CRMs and homogeneous matrices.ConclusionsIn this study, the purpose is not to establish the best method of extraction but to examine several parameters that play an important role in GMO detection and verify a possible effect on the quantified GMO percentage. In particular, it was found that the yield and quality of extracted DNA depends on the type of sample, notably the degree of processing, composition, particle size, and the protocol used, especially in relation to sample intake. The slightly different GM content observed in heterogeneous matrices could raise doubt in the case of samples close to the legal threshold.

The complex relationship between carbon literacy and pro-environmental actions among engineering students

Lifestyle choices and consumption play a large role in contributing to per capita greenhouse gas emissions. Certain activities, like fossil fuel ground transportation, long-haul flights, diets with animal products and residential heating and cooling contribute significantly to per capita emissions. There is uncertainty around whether literacy about these actions encourages individuals to act pro-environmentally to reduce personal carbon footprints or to prioritize the most effective actions. This study investigated the relationship between carbon literacy and pro-environmental actions performed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions among undergraduate engineering students at the University of Toronto. The pro-environmental actions by the participants produced an average carbon footprint of 4.8 tCO2 (within the subset of actions included in the survey) which was lower than the average for residents each of Toronto, Ontario, and Canada overall but still higher than the global target of ∼2.8 tCO2e. The carbon literacy by participants was best for high impact actions like ground transportation and dietary choices but less so for air travel and there was mixed awareness for the moderate and low impact actions. For high impact actions and many moderate and low impact actions, participants who thought the action was high impact (even if incorrect) had lower carbon footprints related to the associated activity than those who thought the action was moderate or low impact. The overall relationship between pro-environmental action and carbon literacy was weak. It showed that for high impact actions, there is a slight negative correlation between carbon literacy and personal carbon footprint whereas for moderate and low impact actions, there is a positive correlation.

Evaluating the Primary Macronutrients and their Correlations with pH, Electrical conductivity, Organic Carbon and Soil Nutrient index in the Arid and Semi-Arid Climatic Zones of Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India

In the year 2022, the study was carried at Agricultural Research Station, Anantapur aimed to assess macronutrient levels and their correlation with soil physico chemical properties in the arid and semi-arid regions of Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh. A total 42 samples were collected from farmers field under different land use. The soil analysis revealed a pH range of 6.53 to 8.94, with a mean pH of 7.89 and a majority of samples exhibiting alkaline properties. Soil electrical conductivity (EC) varied from 0.05 to 0.83 dS/m, with a mean EC of 0.22 dS/m, and most samples falling within the non-saline and very low salinity categories. Organic carbon content ranged from 0.07% to 1.15% with a mean of 0.38%, and a significant proportion of samples displayed low organic carbon levels. Available nitrogen content ranged from 50.4 to 264.6 kg/ha (mean: 139.44 kg/ha), mostly below the critical threshold. Phosphorus availability was medium (range: 16.1 to 44 kg/ha, mean: 29.97 kg/ha), while available potassium content varied widely (range: 15.68 to 311 kg/ha, mean: 129.65 kg/ha), with a substantial proportion of samples indicating low levels. The nutrient index categorized nitrogen and potassium as low in fertility and phosphorus as medium, reflecting values of 0.71, 1.37, and 1.09 (L, M, L) respectively. Correlations showed EC negatively related to pH (-0.056), while organic carbon positively correlated with EC (0.288*), and nitrogen displayed positive correlations with both organic carbon (0.283*) and pH (0.257). Phosphorus exhibited a positive correlation with organic carbon (0.224), and potassium displayed robust positive correlations with EC (0.592**) and moderate positive correlations with organic carbon (0.392**), nitrogen (0.311*), and a slight negative correlation with pH (-0.253). This result helps to understand nutrient status in the arid and semi-arid areas of Anantapur and recommended to incorporate compost, crop residues and green manure crops and use cover crops as live mulching helps to increase organic carbon, nitrogen and potassium and it also decrease nitrogen losses through volatilization.

A Method for Evaluation of Streetscapes: Relationship between Visual Entropy and Interesting Streetscape

The present research studies the complexity of urban facades, which is related to the visual diversity and correlation of the components of urban facades. It studies how the complexity of urban facades affects their desirability amongst citizens and what their preferences are when it comes to facade complexity. In addition, it addresses the complexity of urban facades in both quantitative and qualitative forms and investigates the relationship between quantitative and qualitative data and the desirability of using the correlation analysis method in urban facades.&#x0D; To obtain quantitative data, a survey was conducted on Nowshahr citizens, and the data was analyzed through MATLAB software. The data obtained is the image entropy, which indicates the number of image irregularities. The results indicated that the Nowshahr citizens prefer the second complexity level, then the first complexity level, followed by the third complexity level, and finally the fourth complexity level, respectively.&#x0D; There is a slight correlation in the results of the quantitative-qualitative data comparison. Therefore, using entropy as a measure of complexity cannot be confirmed in this study, and further research is needed.