bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN SOCIAL ACTORS' RESPONSES TO THE #ENDSARS PROTEST
Authors: Okoro Adedayo Deborah
Published: February 2024

Studies on the #EndSARS protest have examined the movement from a non-linguistic standpoint, providing perspectives on the human right violations leading up to the stifling and abrupt end of the protesters’ activities, the potential consequences of the government’s response in relation to foreign ties with global communities, and the economic implications of the protest on the nation. There exists a gap of knowledge in linguistic-related studies on the protest, especially on the techniques protesters employ in establishing meaning and building solidarity with the audience in the communication processes. The study, therefore, examined the engagement strategies in the responses of social actors to events following the #EndSARS protest, and James Martin and Peter White's Appraisal framework constituted the theoretical framework. For data, two newspaper reports on the Lagos State inquiry panel on the protest and the Nigerian government's response to Cable News Network (CNN) were purposively drawn from two Nigerian newspapers, and the analyses were carried out using a descriptive approach. The results showed that of the three selected social actors, only two efficiently engaged readers, providing lucid evidence to corroborate stance in the meaning-negotiation process. Negative connotations were evoked to disclaim, condemn, and disendorse other social actors in the entrenchment of propositional values, and authorial presence was extensively engaged to reveal authors’ evaluative stance.
From drainage to resource: a practice approach to reuse greywater for household irrigation purposes
Authors: Ho Ngo Anh Dao , Leo Choe Peng , Ta Anh Tuan , Nguyen Thanh Quang
Published: February 2024

The United Nations indicates that available freshwater resources will decrease significantly due to pollution growth and urbanization; two-thirds of the world's population may face water shortages by 2030. Extended use of greywater is an alternative option for reducing potable water consumption in urban areas. Recently, the reuse of treated greywater for home gardens, peri-urban agriculture, and landscaping has become a widespread concern in many developing countries. This paper presents a study on a low-cost system that can perform greywater treatment for household use. This treatment system employed physical filtration by ceramic filters, quartz gravel, hollow fiber membrane, and UV disinfection. Three greywater samples collected from the kitchen, washing basins, and bathroom were investigated. The operation process determines the system's effectiveness by considering turbidity, coliform, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) concentration of the inlet and outlet water. As a result, high removal efficiency (i.e., >60%) could be obtained for each investigated parameter. Results also showed that grey water generated from washing basins has the highest potential for reuse since the water quality after treatment satisfies the water reuse standards for household irrigation. The findings encourage further exploration and implementation of greywater reuse practices.
Binding of Nucleotide Inhibitors to the NS5 RdRp of the ZIKA Virus
in the Replication Initiation State
Authors: Pant Suyash , Jena Nihar R.
Published: February 2024

INTRODUCTION:

The bindings of several ribonucleoside triphosphate (NTP)
inhibitors to the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of the Zika virus (ZIKV)
are studied herein to identify potential drug-like candidates that can inhibit the replication
of the viral genome by RdRp.

METHOD:

In this study, a guanosine triphosphate (GTP) bound RdRp structure is generated
to model the replication initiation state of RdRp. Subsequently, the bindings of 30
NTP inhibitors to the GTP binding site of RdRp are studied in detail by using the molecular
docking method. Based on the docking scores, four NTP inhibitors, such as 2'-Cmethyl-
adenosine-5′-triphosphate (mATP), 7-deaza-2'-C-methyladenosine-TP (daza--
mATP), 1-N6-Ethenoadenosine-5′-triphosphate (eATP), and Remdesivir-5′-triphosphate
(RTP) are shortlisted for further analysis by employing molecular dynamics simulations
and binding free-energy methods.

RESULTS:

These inhibitors are found to bind to RdRp quite strongly, as evident from
their relative binding free energies that lie between -31.54±4.54 to -89.46±4.58 kcal/-
mol. As the binding of RTP to the GTP site of RdRp generates the most stable complex,
which is about 45 kcal/mol more stable than the binding of GTP to RdRp, it is most likely
that RTP may inhibit the replication of the Zika viral genome efficiently.

CONCLUSION::

However, experimental studies are required to measure the potency of
RTP and other drugs before their clinical use.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluations of Granulatamide B and its
Structural Analogues
Authors: Matulja Dario , Grbčić Petra , Matijević Gabrijela , Babić Sanja , Bojanić Krunoslav , Laclef Sylvain , Vrček Valerije , Čož-Rakovac Rozelindra , Pavelić Sandra Kraljević , Marković Dean
Published: February 2024

Background:

While granulatamides A and B have been previously isolated,
their biological activities have been only partially examined. The aim of this study was
to synthesize granulatamide B (4b), a tryptamine-derivative naturally occurring in Eunicella
coral species, using the well-known procedure of Sun and Fürstner and its 12 structural
analogues by modifying the side chain, which differs in length, degree of saturation
as well as number and conjugation of double bonds.

Method:

The prepared library of compounds underwent comprehensive assessment for
their biological activities, encompassing antioxidative, antiproliferative, and antibacterial
properties, in addition to in vivo toxicity evaluation using a Zebrafish model. Compound
4i, which consists of a retinoic acid moiety, exhibited the strongest scavenging activity
against ABTS radicals (IC50 = 36 ± 2 μM). In addition, 4b and some of the analogues
(4a, 4c and 4i), mostly containing an unsaturated chain and conjugated double
bonds, showed moderate but non-selective activity with certain IC50 values in the range
of 20-40 μM.

Result:

In contrast, the analogue 4l, a derivative of alpha-linolenic acid, was the least
toxic towards normal cell lines. Moreover, 4b was also highly active against Gram-positive
Bacillus subtilis with an MIC of 125 μM. Nevertheless, both 4b and 4i, known for
the best-observed effects, caused remarkable developmental abnormalities in the zebrafish
model Danio rerio.

Conclusion:

Since modification of the side chain did not significantly alter the change
in biological activities compared to the parent compound, granulatamide B (4b), the substitution
of the indole ring needs to be considered. Our group is currently carrying out
new syntheses focusing on the functionalization of the indole core.
RNA-based Therapeutics: Past, Present and Future Prospects, Challenges in Cancer Treatment
Authors: Goel Anjana , Rastogi Amisha , Jain Mansi , Niveriya Kinjal
Published: February 2024

:

It is becoming more and harder in today's climate to disregard the impact of cancer on
social health. Even though a significant amount of money is spent annually on cancer research, it
still ranks as the second leading cause of death worldwide. Additionally, only about half of the
patients suffering from complex forms of cancer survive a year after receiving traditional cancer
therapies. A method for silencing genes is called RNA interference (RNAi). Such a method is
very effective in focusing on genes linked to cancer. Most gene products implicated in cancer
have recently been used as RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic targets. According to the findings
from this research, RNAi application is necessary for today's cancer treatment to target
functioning carcinogenic molecules and tumor resistance to chemotherapy and radiation. Proapoptotic
and antiproliferative activity has been reported from previous research studies on cell
culture systems, animal models, and clinical trials through the knockdown of gene products from
RNAi technology. Numerous novel RNAi-based medications are now in the clinical trial stages
thanks to the discovery of the RNAi mechanism and advancements in the area. In the future,
genomic-based personalized medicines can be developed through this RNAi therapy. Hopefully,
cancer sufferers will find this sort of therapy to be one of the most effective ones. Various kinds
of RNA-based treatments, such as aptamers, small interfering RNAs, microRNAs, antisense
oligonucleotides, and messenger RNA, are covered in broad terms in this study. We also present
an overview of the RNA-based therapies that have received regulatory approval in the past or are
now undergoing clinical studies.
H3K27ac-activated LncRNA NUTM2A-AS1 Facilitated the Progression of Colorectal Cancer Cells via MicroRNA-126-5p/FAM3C Axis
Authors: Lin Haiguan , Hu Shidong , Li Yuxuan , Li Songyan , Teng Da , Yang Yan , Liu Boyan , Du Xiaohui
Published: February 2024

Objective:

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are of great importance in the process of
colorectal cancer (CRC) tumorigenesis and progression. However, the functions and underlying
molecular mechanisms of the majority of lncRNAs in CRC still lack clarity.

Methods:

A Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed to detect
lncRNA NUTM2A-AS1 expression in CRC cell lines. Cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay and flow
cytometry were used to examine the biological functions of lncRNA NUTM2A-AS1 in the proliferation
and apoptosis of CRC cells. RT-qPCR and western blot were implemented for the detection
of cell proliferation-, apoptosis-related proteins, and FAM3C. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-
luciferase reporter assays were utilized to identify the mutual regulatory mechanism of ceRNAs.

Results:

lncRNA NUTM2A-AS1 notably elevated in CRC cell lines and the silencing of NUTM2A-
AS1 declined proliferation and facilitated apoptosis. Mechanistically, NUTM2A-AS1 was
transcriptionally activated by histone H3 on lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) enriched at its promoter
region, and NUTM2A-AS1 acted as a sponge for miR-126-5p, leading to the upregulation
of FAM3C expression in CRC cell lines.

Conclusion:

Our research proposed NUTM2A-AS1 as an oncogenic lncRNA that facilitates
CRC malignancy by upregulating FAM3C expression, which might provide new insight and a
promising therapeutic target for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC.
Pharmacochemical Study of Multitarget Amino Acids’ Hybrids: Design,
Synthesis, In vitro, and In silico Studies
Authors: Fotopoulos Ioannis , Pontiki Eleni , Hadjipavlou-Litina Dimitra
Published: February 2024

Introduction:

Neuro-inflammation is a complex phenomenon resulting in several disorders.
ALOX-5, COX-2, pro-inflammatory enzymes, and amino acid neurotransmitters are tightly
correlated to neuro-inflammatory pathologies. Developing drugs that interfere with these targets
will offer treatment for various diseases.

Objective:

Herein, we extend our previous research by synthesizing a series of multitarget hybrids
of cinnamic acids with amino acids recognized as neurotransmitters.

Methods::

The synthesis was based on an in silico study of a library of cinnamic amide hybrids with
glycine, γ- aminobutyric, and L - glutamic acids. Drug-likeness and ADMET properties were subjected
to in silico analysis. Cinnamic acids were derived from the corresponding aldehydes by
Knoevenagel condensation. The synthesis of the amides followed a two-step reaction with 1-
hydroxybenzotriazole monohydrate and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride
in dry dichloromethane and the corresponding amino acid ester hydrochloride salt in the
presence of N,N,-diisopropyl-Nethylamine.

Results:

The structure of the synthesized compounds was confirmed spectrophotometrically. The
new compounds, such as lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase-2, lipid peroxidation inhibitors, and antiinflammatories,
were tested in vitro. The compounds exhibited LOX inhibition with IC50 values in
the low μM region).

Conclusion:

Compounds 18a, 23b, and 11c are strong lipid peroxidation inhibitors (99%, 78%, and
92%). Compound 28c inhibits SLOX-1 with IC50 =8.5 μM whereas 11a and 22a highly inhibit
COX-2 (IC50 6 and 5 μM Hybrids 14c and 17c inhibit both enzymes. Compound 29c showed the
highest anti-inflammatory activity (75%). The in silico ADMET properties of 14c and 11a support
their drug-likeness.
Evaluation of Appropriate Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Non-critically Ill Patients in Tertiary Medical Center: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Althagafi Abdulhamid , Magbool Nesereen , Altayib Hatoon , Bukhari Tala , Melibari Nawal , Bahamdain Foud , Eljaaly Khalid
Published: February 2024

Background:

There are concerns about indiscriminate prescriptions and the inappropriate
use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) without any clear indications, especially among noncritically
hospitalized patients.

Objective:

This study aimed to characterize PPI prescriptions among non-critically hospitalized
patients in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the King Abdulaziz University
Hospital between June and August 2021. The data of adult patients who received PPIs on hospital
admission in the medical and surgical wards were collected and analyzed for appropriateness
based on the current international guidelines and recommendations.

Results:

A total of 174 patient records were included in this study. The proportion of patients
with appropriate and inappropriate PPI prescriptions was 67.24% (n=117) and 32.76% (n=57),
respectively. Female patients (risk=50.00%, 95% CI: 36.89–63.11, p<0.001) were more likely to
receive an inappropriate PPI prescription than their male counterparts (risk=33.33%, 95% CI:
24.56–43.43, p<0.001). Intravenous omeprazole 40 mg once daily was the most frequently prescribed
PPI (n=62). The hospital length of stay differed significantly between the groups of patients
who received appropriate and inappropriate PPIs (24.56 ± 47.14 vs. 13.50 ± 13.84; t=2.34,
95% CI: 1.72–20.4; p=0.02). However, there was no significant difference in the total therapy
duration in both the groups (3.76 ± 2.50 vs. 4.75 ± 3.32, t=-1.62, 95%CI: -1.79–0.17; p=0.11).

Conclusion:

The findings show a high trend of inappropriate PPI prescriptions. Hence, educational
programs are recommended to encourage healthcare professionals to stick to the approved
guidelines when prescribing PPIs.
A Review on Psychotria calceata E.M.A. Petit and its Botanical Characteristics and Traditional Uses
Authors: Ngolsou Francis , Nounaferi Awa Silué Gnieneferetien , Ouoba Kampadilemba , Diboue Patrick Hervé Betote , Nga Nnanga , Semde Rasmané
Published: February 2024

The genus Psychotria, comprising approximately 1,834 species globally, represents
the largest genus within the Rubiaceae family. A substantial number of these species are indigenous
to West and Central Africa, notably Cameroon, where comprehensive scientific investigations
are, however, notably lacking. Yet, the therapeutic and dietary applications of these species
are likely to find a potential justification of their pharmacological attributes, as attested by some
studies. It goes without saying that a comprehensive review on the utilization of Psychotria calceata
E.M.A. Petit in traditional medicine vis-à-vis its pharmacological properties remains an
unexplored territory, and is needed to be investigated. The primary objective of this investigation
was to compile data pertaining to the botanical characteristics, phytochemical composition, toxicity
and traditional uses of Psychotria calceata. This endeavor aimed to establish a rigorous
scientific database and identify areas warranting further research. Relevant information on Psychotria
calceata, spanning from 1964 to August 2022, was systematically collected from various
scientific databases, encompassing Scopus, Research Gate, SCIENCEDOMAIN, Google Scholar,
PubMed, Research4Life (Hinari), Web of Science, Science Direct, Current Content Connect,
Springer Link, Global Plants, Cochrane Library, and Scirus. Validation of scientific nomenclature
was conducted using The World Flora Online. Eight families of secondary metabolites were
identified in the aqueous extract of Psychotria calceata leaves. These families included alkaloids,
phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, coumarins, anthocyanins, and saponins.
In addition, in vivo toxicological studies of these same extracts indicated a lethal dose 50
(LD50) of over 5.000 mg/kg body weight, allowing the classification of Psychotria calceata as
non-toxic. Histological examination of sections of the main purifying organs, the kidneys, liver,
and spleen, corroborated this result, revealing the absence of structural abnormalities within these
organs. Psychotria calceata has emerged as a repository of diverse chemical compounds endowed
with a range of pharmacological activities. It also holds a prominent position in traditional
medicine and dietary practices. However, the nexus between these chemical constituents and the
pharmacodynamics of Psychotria calceata remains unestablished due to the paucity of experimental
investigations. Consequently, further studies on Psychotria calceata are imperative, with the
aspiration of unlocking scientific discoveries and advancing our understanding in this domain
Automatic Spontaneous Speech Analysis for the Detection of Cognitive Functional Decline in Older Adults: Multilanguage Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ambrosini Emilia , Giangregorio Chiara , Lomurno Eugenio , Moccia Sara , Milis Marios , Loizou Christos , Azzolino Domenico , Cesari Matteo , Cid Gala Manuel , Galán de Isla Carmen , Gomez-Raja Jonathan , Borghese Nunzio Alberto , Matteucci Matteo , Ferrante Simona
Published: February 2024

Background

The rise in life expectancy is associated with an increase in long-term and gradual cognitive decline. Treatment effectiveness is enhanced at the early stage of the disease. Therefore, there is a need to find low-cost and ecological solutions for mass screening of community-dwelling older adults.

Objective

This work aims to exploit automatic analysis of free speech to identify signs of cognitive function decline.

Methods

A sample of 266 participants older than 65 years were recruited in Italy and Spain and were divided into 3 groups according to their Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) scores. People were asked to tell a story and describe a picture, and voice recordings were used to extract high-level features on different time scales automatically. Based on these features, machine learning algorithms were trained to solve binary and multiclass classification problems by using both mono- and cross-lingual approaches. The algorithms were enriched using Shapley Additive Explanations for model explainability.

Results

In the Italian data set, healthy participants (MMSE score≥27) were automatically discriminated from participants with mildly impaired cognitive function (20≤MMSE score≤26) and from those with moderate to severe impairment of cognitive function (11≤MMSE score≤19) with accuracy of 80% and 86%, respectively. Slightly lower performance was achieved in the Spanish and multilanguage data sets.

Conclusions

This work proposes a transparent and unobtrusive assessment method, which might be included in a mobile app for large-scale monitoring of cognitive functionality in older adults. Voice is confirmed to be an important biomarker of cognitive decline due to its noninvasive and easily accessible nature.
Application of an Adapted Health Action Process Approach Model to Predict Engagement With a Digital Mental Health Website: Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)
Authors: Rouvere Julien , Blanchard Brittany E , Johnson Morgan , Griffith Fillipo Isabell , Mosser Brittany , Romanelli Meghan , Nguyen Theresa , Rushton Kevin , Marion John , Althoff Tim , Areán Patricia A , Pullmann Michael D
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND

Digital Mental Health (DMH) tools are an effective, readily accessible, and affordable form of mental health support. However, sustained engagement with DMH is suboptimal, with limited research on DMH engagement. The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) is an empirically supported theory of health behavior adoption and maintenance. Whether this model also explains DMH tool engagement remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined whether an adapted HAPA model predicted engagement with DMH via a self-guided website.

METHODS

Visitors to the Mental Health America (MHA) website were invited to complete a brief survey measuring HAPA constructs. This cross-sectional study tested the adapted HAPA model with data collected using voluntary response sampling from 16,078 sessions (15,619 unique IP addresses from United States residents) on the MHA website from October 2021 through February 2022. Model fit was examined via structural equation modeling in predicting two engagement outcomes: (1) choice to engage with DMH (ie, spending 3 or more seconds on an MHA page, excluding screening pages) and (2) level of engagement (ie, time spent on MHA pages and number of pages visited, both excluding screening pages).

RESULTS

Participants chose to engage with the MHA website in 94.3% (15,161/16,078) of the sessions. Perceived need (β=.66; P<.001), outcome expectancies (β=.49; P<.001), self-efficacy (β=.44; P<.001), and perceived risk (β=.17-.18; P<.001) significantly predicted intention, and intention (β=.77; P<.001) significantly predicted planning. Planning was not significantly associated with choice to engage (β=.03; P=.18). Within participants who chose to engage, the association between planning with level of engagement was statistically significant (β=.12; P<.001). Model fit indices for both engagement outcomes were poor, with the adapted HAPA model accounting for only 0.1% and 1.4% of the variance in choice to engage and level of engagement, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that the HAPA model did not predict engagement with DMH via a self-guided website. More research is needed to identify appropriate theoretical frameworks and practical strategies (eg, digital design) to optimize DMH tool engagement.
Development of the smartphone application for patients with dementia: a literature review
Authors: Utami Pinasti , Rahmawati Fita , Astuti  , Zullies Ikawati
Published: February 2024

Primary technological developments are advancing rapidly, and dementia patients and caregivers are becoming more open to online interactions for enhancing dementia care. However, most existing applications only focus on patients, and there is a need to expand their scope to include caregivers. Ideally, the application should be designed with the caregiver in mind, and considering the impact they experience while caring for dementia patients. Families are specifically targeting caregivers who are at the highest risk of experiencing caregiver burnout, such as those caring for patients. This literature review described the necessary functions and content for dementia caregivers, serving as a reference for designing, developing, and implementing smartphone solutions that meet user needs. This review utilized articles from three databases i.e. PubMed NCBI, ScienceDirect, and Tandfonline. The Boolean approach method was used to generate the exact keywords. The inclusion criteria for this study encompassed smartphone applications for dementia patients, focusing on function and content, published in English-language journals within five last years, with an emphasis on original research and free full access. In this review,  six articles were obtained. From these six articles, four findings related to functions and content were identified i.e. education, interactive health promotion, interaction stakeholder, and referencing information sources. These four aspects could serve as references for developing comprehensive smartphone applications for caregivers, and facilitating  integrated health care.
EFFECT OF TA’AWUN (MUTUAL COOPERATION) AND SEJAHTERA LEADERSHIP ON SUSTAINING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Authors: Mhd Sarif Suhaimi , Ismail Yusof
Published: February 2024

This study explores the impact of ta’awun (mutual cooperation) and sejahtera (holistic) leadership. The scope is limited to 13 community engagement projects that were led by university students as part of their course assignments. There are two research objectives, namely (a) to investigate the effect of ta’awun and sejahtera leadership in aligning the community engagement projects with the course learning outcomes and 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and, (b) to offer a model of ta’awun and sejahtera leadership in sustaining community engagement projects. The study applies qualitative research with constructionism paradigm through case study method. The study analysed the data with content analysis. Triangulation has been used to assure validity and reliability of the data. The key findings revealed that the effect of ta’awun and sejahtera leadership on coordination, facilitation, and maintenance of the community engagement projects. The practical application of the study is the integration of community engagement projects into university courses and assignments. This study is significant because it showcased the delivery of mutual benefits by the University stakeholders to the community. The future research should include industry engagement projects as well to integrate the industry and the university for greater ta’awun and sejahtera leadership.
WORK COMMITMENT AND TRANSFER OF TRAINING: A MEDIATED AND MODERATED MODEL THROUGH SEM-PLS EVIDENCE FROM PAKISTAN
Authors: Kori Niaz Hossain , Ghani Azmi Ilhaamie Abdul
Published: February 2024

This study aims to assess the relationship between independent variable work commitment (WC) and dependent variable transfer of training (TOT) with mediated variable motivation to transfer and moderated variable Islamic personality characteristics. This mechanism is a multivariate quantitative study, therefore, applied mediated moderated model through the PLS-SEM approach. The study targets to assess the relationships among latent constructs to give new insights into the HRM practices in organizations. The data are collected from the Shariah-compliant banks in Pakistan. The statistical reliability and validity were established and based on hypotheses. The findings are formed to confirm the measurement model first and then the structural model to investigate relationships among constructs. The results of the study reveal that there exists a significant and positive relationship between constructs of work commitment and transfer of training. The mediating variable motivation to transfer (MOT) plays its role partially between the independent variable (WC) and dependent variable (TOT). Moreover, the moderating variable Islamic personality characteristics (IP) interestingly make a stronger relationship between work commitment and transfer of training by its moderating effect which is positive and statistically significant. Hence, this study provides a clear picture for the practical and professional assessment of employees regarding the transfer of training to improve the organizational practices in human resource management practices for all types of organizations in general and shariah-compliant banking organizations in particular, thus, the study has professional and practical importance in this connection. This research with sustainable consideration has an original and novel contribution of authors to the literature.
SIMULASI BANTUAN ZAKAT OLEH PENOLONG AMIL INSTITUSI PENGAJIAN TINGGI DI SELANGOR SIMULATION OF ZAKAT ASSISTANCE BY AMIL ASSISTANTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN SELANGOR
Authors: Md Ismail Mohammad Noorazlan , Ali Nor Aini
Published: February 2024

The appointment of higher education institutions (IPT) as amil assistants of the Selangor Zakat Board (LZS) has been implemented since 1998. This appointment allows IPTs to collect zakat from payers and distribute it to their university staff, especially students. Eligible students will receive zakat assistance to cover part of their study costs. Accordingly, this study tries to simulate zakat assistance by IPT to students in detail. In this study, documentation method was used to collect study data. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) were selected as the study sample. The simulation was developed using PTPTN loan rate data which is the main source of financing for student education in Malaysia. This study uses the tuition and accommodation fee structure from the official websites of UKM and UPM. As for zakat assistance, the study refers to the assistance scheme displayed through the IPT's official zakat website and from the findings of interviews with IPT zakat representatives. Then, the data were analyzed using descriptive analysis method. The results of the study show that the simulation of zakat assistance increases students’ finances in covering the cost of education and living expenses incurred by students but still does not reach the minimum amount of expenditure required by students' needs. From this simulation, zakat institutions and IPTs should review the rate of educational zakat assistance to students' needs in order to achieve the minimum expenditure required throughout the study.
INFLUENCE OF TA’AWUN (MUTUAL COOPERATION) IN SUSTAINING CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION AMONG ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT CENTRES OF UNIVERSITIES IN MALAYSIA
Authors: Mhd Sarif Suhaimi , Ismail Yusof
Published: February 2024

Creativity and innovation in entrepreneurship contribute to economic growth and employment opportunities. In any economy, policies on social, political, technology, and economics should encourage long-term economic growth. Creative technology entrepreneurship may be used as a feasible alternative to contribute towards the economic growth. Creative technology entrepreneurship provides the 'sustainability' feature to face continuous uncertainty. In doing so, creative technology entrepreneurship education plays a significant role in providing university students not only with formal training but also hands-on competency to apply creative technology entrepreneurship. The primary objective of this study was to explore the influence of ta’awun (mutual cooperation) in entrepreneurship development centres of universities in sustaining creativity and innovation. The study interviewed policymakers and educators of technology entrepreneurship to investigate the phenomenon. The results of the study showed that ta’awun has been incorporated in the formal tertiary education programme among entrepreneurship development centres to meet the requirements of creativity and innovation. The findings suggest that follow-up studies use a larger size of informants and a greater scope of the study to obtain more robust, comprehensive, and generalizable results.
Development problems and potentials of rural settlements - case study of rural settlements on the territory of the city municipality Pantelej, Nis
Authors: Igic Milica , Dinic-Brankovic Milena , Vasilevska Ljiljana , Zivkovic Jelena
Published: February 2024

In the Republic of Serbia, rural areas occupy a large part of the territory,
where almost 50% of the total population lives. Rural areas play an
important role in regional and overall development, they represent areas of
great importance for food production and are characterized by landscapes
with exceptional natural features. Despite the large number of potentials
that characterize these areas, they are devastated, marginalized and
backward in economic, social and spatial terms. The paper analyzes rural
areas in the territory of the City municipality Pantelej in Nis with the aim
of determining their development problems and potentials, which are the
basis for defining future programs and projects for the revitalization of
these areas. In order to plan comprehensive development for rural areas, it
is necessary to determine the key development problems and potentials based
on the analysis of all the structures of rural areas so that all their
characteristics are considered. The conducted analysis concluded that the
analyzed rural areas are currently in poor condition and that revitalization
of all their structures is necessary in order to overcome the existing
problems, improve the potentials that distinguish them and promote future
development.
Design and development of dual band CPW fed antenna for WLAN and WiFi applications
Authors: Sharma Purnima , Bhattacharya Partha
Published: February 2024

A dual band coplanar waveguide (CPW) fed antenna is constructed, analyzed, and designed for WLAN and WiFi applications in this paper. The antenna has a compact size of 25 ? 25 ? 1.5 mm3. The antenna structure comprises of a slotted radiating patch over FR4 substrate surrounded by staircase shaped ground plane. As part of the analysis of the characteristics parameters such as the return loss, VSWR, and radiation pattern, HFSS 11.1 is utilized. There is a resonance at two frequencies of 3.3 GHz and 5.82 GHz, with an upper frequency bandwidth of 1.89 GHz. In addition to the antenna design, measurement results are presented. Mobile handheld devices can use the proposed antenna for WLAN and WiFi applications that operate in ISM bands.
Ac corrosion phenomenon and mitigation in buried pipeline due to very-high-voltage (VHV) overhead transmission line effect
Authors: Gherbia Abdelali , Djekidel Rabah , Sid-Ahmed Bessedik , Djillali Mahi
Published: February 2024

The presence of a very-high-voltage (VHV) electricity transmission line nearby a metallic pipeline can be a source of dangerous effects for this pipeline due to the electromagnetic field generated by this power line, it can induce a considerable voltage which may threaten the safety of operating personnel and the integrity of the pipeline. The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate the electromagnetic coupling effect in a buried metallic pipeline located in close proximity to a very-high-voltage (VHV) overhead transmission line using the Faraday's law and nodal network analysis under steady state conditions, as well as to estimate the possibility of AC induced corrosion of the metallic pipeline. The obtained results show that the induced voltage on the metallic pipeline exceeds the maximum threshold value recommended by the international regulations CENELEC and NACE, the AC corrosion current density surpasses the allowable value indicated by the specialized majority of corrosion studies. Therefore, a mitigation technique based on a pipeline grounding system is proposed to reduce the voltage induced on the pipeline to safe limits, in order to remedy the hazardous potential effects. The adopted mitigation technique has achieved better efficiency by reducing the induced voltage well below the safety limit.
Comparative analysis of root canal length determination using cone-beam computerized tomography and apex locator
Authors: Djeri Aleksandra , Radman-Kuzmanovic Irena , Arbutina Adriana , Josipovic Renata , Marin Sasa , Umicevic-Davidovic Mirjana
Published: February 2024

Introduction. Determining the length of the root canal is one of the key
factors that can affect the outcome of endodontic therapy. Incorrectly
determined working length results in underfilled or overfilled canal. The
aim of this work was to verify the effectiveness of cone-beam computerized
tomography (CBCT) and apex locators in determining working length of the
root canal. Material and method. Endodontic procedure was performed
according to established endodontic protocol on 98 teeth. Teeth were divided
into two groups: single-rooted and multi-rooted teeth. In both groups,
working length was measured with an apex locator (Woodpex III) and CBCT
(Planmeca Viso). In multi-rooted teeth, the canals were classified according
to their morphological position into the groups Lingvomesial (LM),
Buccomesial (BM), Bucodistal (BD), Palatal (P) and Distal (D) canals. Root
canal length was determined by a dentist using apex locator at the
University of Banja Luka while CBCT analysis was performed by a radiology
engineer at the 3DENT radiology center in Banja Luka. Results. CBCT
odontometry had small deviations from apex locator odontometry. The mean
value of the absolute difference between CBCT measurement and apex locator
measurement was the smallest in the group of linguomesial canals (0.284 mm),
and the largest in the group of distal canals of the lower molars (1.939
mm). Based on the results of the Mann-Whitney U test, it was concluded that
there was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in measured
length of the root canal between the two methods in all groups of roots of
multi-rooted teeth as well as in the group of single-rooted teeth.
Conclusion. CBCT odontometry is as reliable as apex locator odontometry.
Soft tissue management at delayed implant loading in the aesthetic zone: A case report
Authors: Prokic Aleksandra , Milicic-Lazic Minja , Djordjevic Igor
Published: February 2024

Emergence profile of implant-supported crowns is defined by the
characteristics of supracrestal connective tissue (SCT), located between the
implant platform and cervical soft tissue margin. This paper reflects the
soft tissue contour management of implant-supported screw-retained crowns
and the transfer of emergence profile using an indirectly customized
impression coping. A 27-year-old male was referred for endosseus implant
placement (Straumann BLT 0 4.1 mm ? 12 mm) in a region of a maxillary right
central and lateral incisor. Teeth were extracted due to a cystic formation
in the mentioned region. Following the delayed implant loading protocol,
implants were exposed, and provisional crowns were fabricated to support
marginal mucosa and papillae and to mimic the contralateral site. During the
three months of temporization, three-dimensional peri-implant soft tissue
changes were validated, and temporary crowns were re-contoured every two
weeks to obtain dynamic compression. When adequate soft tissue architecture
was achieved, the impression for definitive crowns was taken using
customized transfer technique to be able to register the emergence profile
of provisional crowns. This case report described a soft tissue management
technique, where remodeling the provisional restoration allowed soft tissue
to be reshaped. Individual transfer impression technique provides an
accurately captured emergence profile of the soft tissue contours around
implants in the aesthetic zone. This technique enables contouring of the
transmucosal part of the definitive restoration according to the results
obtained by individual dynamic compression, which leads to healthy soft
tissue contours as well as satisfactory aesthetic results.
Shortening of fast firing in the ceramic tile production by inorganic additives - an upscale to the industry
Authors: Sremac Sinisa , Backalic Zoran , Petrovic Vesna , Jovanovic Djordje , Vasic Milica
Published: February 2024

The paper discusses the usage of additives that are protected by the European
patent to enhance the features of ceramic tiles. Under laboratory
conditions, various types of additives in different concentrations (0.15,
0.30 and 0.50%) were added to the ceramic mass, and changes in shrinkage,
modulus of rupture and water absorption were observed. After selecting the
appropriate additive and its concentration, a series of industrial tests is
performed. The characteristics of regular ceramic mass and mass with the
selected additive were monitored without adjusting process parameters in the
industrial conditions. Furthermore, utilizing additives allowed for
shortening of the fire time without distorting the characteristics of the
final products. The application of additives in industrial settings has
demonstrated that floor tiles can be produced with improved characteristics
and increased production capacity by 6.8%. Thus, significant energy savings
and a lowered CO2 footprint can be provided.
Evidence for C-Peptide as a Validated Surrogate to Predict Clinical Benefits in Trials of Disease-Modifying Therapies for Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Latres Esther , Greenbaum Carla J. , Oyaski Maria L. , Dayan Colin M. , Colhoun Helen M. , Lachin John M. , Skyler Jay S. , Rickels Michael R. , Ahmed Simi T. , Dutta Sanjoy , Herold Kevan C. , Marinac Marjana
Published: February 2024

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease in which destruction of pancreatic β-cells causes life-threatening metabolic dysregulation. Numerous approaches are envisioned for new therapies, but limitations of current clinical outcome measures are significant disincentives to development efforts. C-peptide, a direct byproduct of proinsulin processing, is a quantitative biomarker of β-cell function that is not cleared by the liver and can be measured in the peripheral blood. Studies of quantitative measures of β-cell function have established a predictive relationship between stimulated C-peptide as a measure of β-cell function and clinical benefits. C-peptide levels at diagnosis are often high enough to afford glycemic control benefits associated with protection from end-organ complications of diabetes, and even lower levels offer protection from severe hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes, as observed in large prospective cohort studies and interventional trials of islet transplantation. These observations support consideration of C-peptide not just as a biomarker of β-cell function but also as a specific, sensitive, feasible, and clinically meaningful outcome defining β-cell preservation or restoration for clinical trials of disease-modifying therapies. Regulatory acceptance of C-peptide as a validated surrogate for demonstration of efficacy would greatly facilitate development of disease-modifying therapies for type 1 diabetes.

Article Highlights
Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Incident Diabetes in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study
Authors: Sullivan Valerie K. , Kim Hyunju , Caulfield Laura E. , Steffen Lyn M. , Selvin Elizabeth , Rebholz Casey M.
Published: February 2024

OBJECTIVE

Plant-based dietary patterns emphasize plant foods and minimize animal-derived foods. We investigated the association between plant-based dietary patterns and diabetes in a community-based U.S. sample of Black and White adults.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We included middle-aged adults from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study without diabetes at baseline who completed a food-frequency questionnaire (n = 11,965). We scored plant-based diet adherence according to three indices: overall, healthy, and unhealthy plant-based diet indices. Higher overall plant-based diet index (PDI) scores represent greater intakes of all plant foods and lower intakes of animal-derived foods. Higher healthy plant-based diet index (hPDI) scores represent greater healthy plant food intake and lower intakes of animal-derived and unhealthy plant foods. Higher unhealthy plant-based diet index (uPDI) scores represent greater unhealthy plant food intake and lower intakes of animal-derived and healthy plant foods. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for incident diabetes (defined according to self-reported diagnosis, medication use, or elevated blood glucose) associated with each index.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 22 years, we identified 4,208 cases of diabetes among subjects. Higher PDI scores were associated with a lower risk of diabetes (quintile 5 vs. 1 HR 0.89 [95% CI 0.80, 0.98]; Ptrend = 0.01). hPDI scores were also inversely associated with diabetes risk (quintile 5 vs. 1 HR 0.85 [95% CI 0.77, 0.94]; Ptrend < 0.001). uPDI scores were not associated with diabetes risk.

CONCLUSIONS

A dietary pattern that minimizes animal-derived foods and emphasizes plant foods may reduce diabetes risk.
Da'wah for Social Justice: Creating Awareness of Social Issues Through a Religious Approach
Authors: Karimullah Suud Sarim , Said Nurhidayat Muhammad , Rahmah St. , Wasalmi Wasalmi , Syafi’i Achmad Ghozali
Published: February 2024

This study analyzes the critical role of da'wah in building social awareness, encouraging concrete actions, and empowerment in achieving social justice through a religious approach. The literature research method with a literature analysis review is used in this study as an approach that focuses on extracting, reviewing, and evaluating various literature sources that are relevant to the topic of study. The study's findings stated that da'wah is integral in advancing social awareness, encouraging concrete actions, and forming continuity in the struggle to achieve social justice through a religious approach. With a system based on spiritual values, da'wah can potentially change society's paradigm toward social issues. However, to achieve significant results, da'wah must be seen as an integral component in broader social efforts, focusing on partnerships, local understanding, and patience in overcoming challenges.
Occupational Health Hazard Experiences of Doctors and Nurses at a Tertiary Hospital in Bangladesh
Authors: Sikder Adiba Sharmin , Sharaque Azizur Rahman , Haque Naila , Sultana Marzan , Noor Irfan Nowrose , Alam Ummul Khair , Dastider Sathi
Published: February 2024

Objective: This study aimed to explore the workplace safety experiences of health workers (doctors and nurses) at a tertiary hospital in Bangladesh.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study among conveniently selected 305 registered physicians and nurses working in the designated tertiary hospital. After obtaining the written informed consent, data was collected using face-to-face interviews with a pre-tested, semistructured, interviewer-administered questionnaire from December 2021 to January 2022. Frequency and proportion described the variables.
Result: The mean age of the participants was 28.8 years. Female individuals constituted the majority, accounting for 69.2% of the total. Approximately 69.8% of individuals reported experiencing occupational health hazards. Psychological hazards were the most frequently reported (56.1%), followed by workplace-acquired health hazards (15.7%) and physical hazards (13.8%) among all participants. While 79.0% of the participants were aware of workplace health and safety, only 7.9% received safety training, and only 7.5% reported any occupational hazard to the hospital management.
Conclusion: Healthcare personnel adjust to several professional hazards in a complicated series of events, as the study shows. The complexity of the healthcare environment poses considerable psychological and health hazards. Although there is good preparedness and procedure awareness, the analysis shows some crucial resources and training still need to be improved. Therefore, some strategic actions are needed to improve healthcare professionals’ safety and well-being in the modern healthcare environment through crucial resources and training.
The Correlation of High School’s Report Values with Grade Point Semester in College’s First Year Using Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Astuti Amalia Yuli , Putri Nungky Dwi
Published: February 2024

Tahun pertama akademik di perguruan tinggi merupakan tahun krusial yang menjadi dasar pembelajaran mahasiswa. Ketercapaian prestasi akademik pada tahun pertama perkuliahan menjadi salah satu hal yang perlu diperiksa. Indeks prestasi akademik pada tahun pertama perkuliahan akan menentukan keberhasilan studi mahasiswa pada tahun-tahun berikutnya. Pada program studi X ditemukan beberapa kendala perkuliahan di antaranya adalah rata-rata masa studi mahasiswa yang belum memenuhi target. Terdapat dugaan bahwa nilai rapot pada saat pendidikan menengah atas mempunyai korelasi pada indeks prestasi pada tahun pertama perkuliahan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode PCA dan pengolahan data dengan RStudio versi 3.5. Data-data mahasiswa yang dilibatkan adalah dari angkatan 2015 sampai 2018. Berdasarkan hasil pengolahan data, didapatkan bahwa tidak terdapat korelasi nilai rapot mahasiswa di pendidikan menengah atas dengan indeks prestasi semester 1 dan 2. Namun, terdapat korelasi antara nilai rapot mata pelajaran Kimia dan Biologi sehingga pada penerimaan mahasiswa baru dapat diambil nilai rapot salah satu mata pelajaran saja.