bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New quality productivity: an empirical study of service design as a new driving force for rural revitalization
Authors: LI Shasha , WANG Xiaodong
Published: May 2024

Globalization and technological advancements have increasingly become key drivers of economic and social progress. Service design, emphasizing user experience and interdisciplinary collaboration, significantly enhances service quality and user satisfaction. Recently, the comprehensive implementation of the rural revitalization strategy has made the effective application of service design in rural development a noteworthy research topic. This study uses Huangjinjing Village, Hunan Province as a case study to examine the sustainable impact of service design on rural revitalization, beginning with the inherent values and backgrounds of traditional villages. The objective is to devise innovative mechanisms for rural development, leveraging design to create sustainable and livable villages, thus advancing rural revitalization towards a new phase of scientific progress.
Internet Diffusion Rate among ASEAN Countries
Authors:   Information Technology Department, Palompon Institute of Technology, Palompon, Leyte, Philippines, Quiban Josie
Published: May 2024

This paper examines the rate of Internet diffusion among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries during the period 2001-2018. The Bass diffusion model was used to estimate the total number of potential adopters, the coefficient of innovation, and the coefficient of imitation. This paper uses the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2001-2018 dataset to study the rate of Internet diffusion. The results show that Internet diffusion among ASEAN countries was characterized by different S-shaped curves of the diffusion process. The estimated diffusion curves provide evidence that high-income countries in the ASEAN have higher diffusion rate as compared to the lower-income countries. Further, the study found that the country that has the highest rate in the point of inflection is also the country that has the lowest rate of Internet diffusion. The results also indicate that among the 10 members of the ASEAN countries, four of which have reached their peak of adoption before 2018, and two of which have reached the saturation point of the diffusion process, and one of which is continuously dominating since the launch of Internet up to the present while the rests are closely following the path made by high-income countries.
A Study on Various Learning Approaches towards u-Learning Development
Authors:   Multimedia Engineering Department, Hannam University, Daejeon, South Korea, Bharti Preeti , Islam Md. Rakibul ,   Multimedia Engineering Department, Hannam University, Daejeon, South Korea, Caytiles Ronnie ,   Multimedia Engineering Department, Hannam University, Daejeon, South Korea
Published: May 2024

Nowadays, learning has shifted from the traditional classroom-centered towards being learner-centered and oriented. Learning has evolved from the classic electronic learning (e-Learning) to mobile learning (m-Learning) and now towards ubiquitous learning (u-Learning). This paper deals with the study on the various approaches to learning to outline the significance of u-Learning in the present and in the near future generation. Various significant learning approaches such as computer-based learning, e-Learning, blended learning, distance learning, online and web-based learning, m-Learning, and u-Learning will be discussed to outline the u-Learning model based on the theory of connectivism.
Automation of Information Technology System Infrastructure: An Improved Management Information System Productivity in the Higher Education Institutions
Authors:   College of Accountancy, Management and Technology, Centro Escolar University, Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines, Mindaña Gemma Lhyn
Published: May 2024

Information Technology (IT) automation is key to IT modernization. Higher education such as colleges and universities nowadays are facing a lot of challenges, specifically, in their operational processes. Aiming to advance in order to cope up and overcome these challenges with paper forms, E-mails, and spreadsheets or anything that is not automated may cause significant slowdowns and delays.

In line with this, IT automation can help reduce human errors, make things run smoothly in the higher education institutions, and with the help of their Management Information System (MIS) workforce it can be achieved. With IT automation MIS workforce must become even more productive, innovative, and involved in more complex activities in order to help cope with the increasing global competition and meet consumer demands.

The main objective of the study was to determine if automation of IT system infrastructure can improve MIS productivity in the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The current productivity and performance of the MIS workforce were evaluated based on the current level of automation that has been implemented in the academe. An assessment was made to determine if there is an increase in productivity with the automation implemented in the IT system infrastructure.

In order to find a solution to the problem stated, the data gathered was processed statistically using the following descriptive and inferential statistics: percentage, frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation, and lastly, Pearson correlation with Cramer’s V analysis. The gathered data were processed using SPSS at the CEU Center for Data Processing.

Findings showed the analysis of the relationship of IT system infrastructure management and MIS productivity in meeting the demands of the service level requirements and minimizing pressure on operational processes and routine administrative tasks. It can be concluded that the automation of IT system infrastructure can improve and increase the productivity of the MIS workforce of the HEIs.

This paper recommends that other researchers along the field can look into the conduct of similar studies that would highlight the automation of IT system infrastructure in improving the MIS productivity in the HEIs involving the whole Region 3 and throughout the country but with a bigger sample size. Moreover, HEIs can discuss and review the development program needed for the MIS workforce such as more seminars and training to keep them abreast with the latest technology and trends to increase performance and output in their daily tasks.
Integrated Student Affairs and Services Information System
Authors:   College of Computer Studies, University of Antique, Sibalom, Antique, Philippines, Secugal Kenrick Agustin , Sermeno Jason ,   College of Computer Studies, University of Antique, Sibalom, Antique, Philippines, Mistio Nelly ,   College of Computer Studies, University of Antique, Sibalom, Antique, Philippines
Published: May 2024

Information Technology (IT) is now the backbone of today’s modern world. It mostly converts conventional processes into electronic function wherein it gives more advantage, efficiency, and saves time. Normally, one of the Information Technology product is an Information System (IS). It supports a business function that uses advanced technology comprised of hardware, software, people, network, and data. As one of the information technologist practitioners, the proponents aimed to deliver an Information System to aid the target client. The conduct of the study was approved last August 2017 which marks the start of preliminary investigation and data gathering. The program was developed using web programming and the web server. Some of the modules were designed using bootstrap while others are purely conventional web programming. The system was tested and evaluated by 71 respondents with all acceptable results. The developed Information System was successfully implemented utilizing the Short Message Service (SMS) and Quick Response (QR)-code module which makes it unique to the Related Prior Arts. It was also recommended by some Information Technology Experts to make the system online, generally, allow bootstrap to every module to make it look better and merge modules that were related to a single function.
A Web-Based Training and Evaluation System for Government Institutions with Application of Data Analytics
Authors:   Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Manila, Philippines, Calicdan Rogine , Fabregas Aleta ,   Center for Computing and Information Sciences, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines
Published: May 2024

The study aimed to evaluate the Web-based Training and Evaluation System for use in training workforces. The system was intended to evaluate the ratings given by participants to the training speakers and the training as a whole through survey questionnaires indicating the participant’s level of satisfaction with the conducted training. The system was initiated in government institutions and will subsequently be used in educational institutions such as schools and training institutions. The purpose of the study was therefore to describe the effectiveness of the Web-Based Training and Evaluation Systems in identifying, analyzing, and measuring the level of satisfaction of each training and seminar conducted. A K-means algorithm was used to build the system, wherein the data gathered will be clustered and stored in a repository, and the data will be displayed on the system dashboard to give insight into the overall training process and help determine the effectiveness of the training program and the speakers. Precisely, the research study was focused on the level of satisfaction in the aspects of: Functionality, Reliability and Usability which are three of the subsections of the Software Quality Standards defined in ISO/IEC 9126, an international standard for the evaluation of software quality. The data were collected using descriptive and developmental methods. Purposive sampling was used, and fifteen (15) training personnel were the participants of the research. The results showed that in terms of the Functionality aspect, the participants’ rating had a weighted mean of 4.43, which was considered highly satisfied, while based on Reliability, the participants were highly satisfied with the system with a weighted mean of 4.27. Meanwhile, in terms of the system’s Usability, the participants were highly satisfied, as their ratings’ weighted mean is 4.53. It was deduced from the collected data using the three indicators’ overall weighted mean of 4.41; thus, the system got a highly satisfactory rating and can be classified as effective for use in the evaluation of the training programs.
DocTrack: A Dynamic Document Tracking System for the University of Northern Philippines
Authors:   College of Communication and Information Technology, University of Northern Philippines, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, Castro Flynn , Quilon Eileen Rose ,   College of Business Administration and Accountancy, University of Northern Philippines, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, Arruejo Arpee ,   College of Business Administration and Accountancy, University of Northern Philippines, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines
Published: May 2024

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) purposely aims to standardize and transform processes into paperless transactions. Hence, all organizations must create a mechanism to standardize processes for internationalization. The newly developed DocTrack: A Dynamic Document Tracking System for the University of Northern Philippines served as the central repository of documents from the time it was created until its approval. The study used descriptive-developmental research, focusing on the prevailing condition and assessing changes over an extended period. At the same time, it used the Modified Waterfall Model because it is the most applicable software development methodology since the developer had thorough planning on implementing the system. The developed system consists of six major functionalities, which are: uploading a document for approval; tracking a document; displaying a received document; displaying documents that are pending release; displaying declined documents; and archiving documents. The researchers considered security controls and measures to safeguard the documents stored from unauthorized users. Adopting this web-based document tracking system for the University of Northern Philippines facilitates easier tracking and consolidation of documents. However, the University should also purchase the necessary equipment and set it up to support the developed system. It provides the University with a mechanism for paperless transactions.
Me-Connect: An SMS Alert System for Online Pest Control Services
Authors:   College of Engineering and Information Technology, Cavite State University – Main Campus, Philippines, Peji Joy
Published: May 2024

MAPECON Cavite Highlands provides environmentally friendly pest control solutions, necessitating the development of an integrated system to serve as a notification alert to customers and service technicians. MAPECON employees and management face challenges as the company's customer base expands, resulting in dissatisfaction with customer service. This newly developed system alters the way MAPECON handles services provided, reducing human error and improving its current servicing system. This servicing system has the following features: (1) a system that reduces the service staff's workload in monitoring the customer's quarterly maintenance; (2) an online scheduling system that allows the administrator to view the Technicians' daily service at a given point in time; (3) a system that sends alert messages to Technicians regarding the assigned services; (4) an online system that uses SMS technology to shorten the process of scheduling services for Service Technicians; and (5) a system that uses SMS technology to alert Technicians for required service in the future. The descriptive method of research was used in this study, which was created with PHP as its platform and MySQL for its database, while the Fourth Generation Technique software model was used due to its flexibility. Me-Connect, also known as MAPECON's E-Connect, sends real-time transactions to the appropriate personnel, which is critical for providing good service. Using ISO/IEC 9126 software product quality standards, the system received an average rating of 4.53 from respondents, indicating that it served its functions properly and met all of the required requirements.
Lox(h)am revisited
Authors: Insley John
Published: May 2024

Starting from the lost Lancashire place-name Lox(h)am < OE *Loxhūsum or Anglo-Scandinavian *Loxhúsum, a compound of a British river-name Lox and the dative plural of OE hūs, ON hús n. ‘house’ with the meaning ‘at the houses associated with a stream called Lox’, the present article goes on to discuss place-names in Lancashire containing the dative plural -um. Although such names can be formally Old English or Old Scandinavian, their currency in Lancashire must have been reinforced by Scandinavian usage. Lox(h)am was probably located in Penwortham parish in Leyland Hundred and further evidence for Scandinavian settlement in this region is provided by the presence of Scandinavian personal names, such as Gamall, Hrafnkell, Ormr, Steinólfr, Sveinn and Úlfkell, in medieval records, these names being examined in the concluding part of the article.
Revisiting the Purpose of Business
Authors: Bamber Joseph , Borchers Andy
Published: May 2024

While it is easy to see the ways that business has gone global today, it is less easy to see how scriptural ideas for holistic business are currently put in practice. We have outlined themes related to business found in Scripture and used them to create a holistic scorecard for businesses. We also compare recent views on the purpose of business and some businesses that follow these models using the scorecard. We include the classic 1970 essay by Milton Friedman (“The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase Its Profits”) and continue through John Elkington (Cannibals with Forks), Mackey & Sisodia (Conscious Capitalism), and Roche and Jakub (Completing Capitalism).
Rooting for Rivals: How Collaboration and Generosity Increase the Impact of Leaders, Charities, and Churches By P. Greer, C. Horst, and J. Heisey
Authors: Langford Chris
Published: May 2024

“Seek first the kingdom of God.” Jesus’ words, recorded in Matthew 6:33 challenge Christians, including leaders of faith-based organizations, to radically reorient their worldviews and priorities. In their book Rooting for Rivals, Peter Greer, Chris Horst, and Jill Heisey suggest Americans’ focus on ownership, competition, and winning distract Christians from having a kingdom-focused mindset in the marketplace. Instead of envisioning peer organizations as collaborators, leaders often default to viewing them as competitors. Potential allies become sworn enemies to be vanquished. Viewing peer organizations as “the enemy” has resulted in the hoarding of resources and division. The authors do not mince words when discussing the unfortunate consequences this has produced for faith-based organizations, particularly those in the nonprofit sector.
Revelations in the Desert: Using Desert Experiences to Survive Economic Disruption
Authors: Barnhart Cora M. , Turner Leslie
Published: May 2024

In this article, the authors argue that the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land and firms’ confrontations with structural economic changes are both “desert experiences,” sharing four characteristics: stress, disorientation, unknown prognosis, and waiting. Applying each characteristic to the Israelites and to disrupted businesses indicates that structural changes may facilitate financial growth, much like the desert can strengthen faith. The authors study strategies employed in economic crises in light of lessons learned by the Israelites in desert experiences, providing guidance for business leaders facing future economic disruption.
Review of Wisdom-Based Business: Applying Biblical Principles and Evidence-Based Research for a Purposeful and Profitable Business
Authors: Borchers Andrew
Published: May 2024

Review of Wisdom-Based Business: Applying Biblical Principles and Evidence-Based Research for a Purposeful and Profitable Business
Contemporary Applications for Leading Accountably Following a Study of Nehemiah as a Servant Leader
Authors: Doyle Lori , Swisher Jill
Published: May 2024

The authors posit that an empirical leadership scale can be applied to a biblical and historical figure to discover implications for contemporary leaders. The validated Servant Leadership Survey (SLS) was administered for Nehemiah with dimensional observations derived directly from the ESV Bible. Nehemiah’s behaviors show how accountability to God and society was, and still is, a primary aspect and lived reality of servant leadership. Four key leadership behaviors are identified and discussed. This research-driven approach highlights contemporary applications for accountable servant leadership.
The Christ-Centered Company: 37 Biblical Business Habits to Build a Thriving Company That Honors God and Blesses the World
Authors: Langford Chris
Published: May 2024

Most working-aged individuals (85%) are employed in for-profit companies. Unfortunately, many Christian business people are tempted to embrace business practices that fail to glorify God. In The Christ Centered Company, Darren Shearer seeks to help Christian business people develop mature companies centered on Christ and His Word. According to Shearer, Christ-centered companies are “value-making, profit-producing, and law-abiding” organizations that spread God’s glory through the practice of 37 Christ-centered business habits (p. 3). The author devotes a chapter to examining each habit. They are categorized according to seven major topics: corporate purpose and culture, marketing and customer care, accounting and accountability, people management, business law and conflict, risk management, and philanthropy.
Primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma in a periorbital lesion: two case reports and literature review
Authors: Kim Jun Woo , Kim Sung Eun
Published: May 2024

Primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma (PCMC) is a rare malignancy of the sweat glands that most commonly affects the periorbital area. It is characterized by slow growth over a prolonged period, and its morphology can be easily confused with a benign tumor, such as an epidermal cyst. Consequently, many patients experience recurrence after undergoing multiple resections. However, there are few reports concerning the surgical management of PCMC. We present two cases of PCMC originating in the periorbital area. The first case involved a 76-year-old man with a mass measuring 3.0× 1.5 cm that had been increasing in size. The second case was a 61-year-old man with two masses, each measuring 1.0× 1.0 cm, that were also growing. Both patients underwent wide excision with a 5-mm safety margin, which was determined based on the widest view of the cross-section of the mass on the magnetic resonance imaging. Subsequently, based on the intraoperative frozen biopsy results, both patients underwent additional excision with a 5-mm safety margin in only one direction. This report shows that, when determining the surgical margin of PCMC in periorbital area, employing imaging modalities and intraoperative frozen biopsies can be helpful for narrowing the surgical margin.
The art world is not perfect. On "Man is Not Perfect", 1976 by Miklós Erdély
Authors: Peternak Miklos
Published: May 2024

Miklós Erdély (1928-1986), an exceptional artist in the international and Hungarian scene, created the work that serves as the basis of this analysis in 1976. Man is Not Perfect – the title refers to Karl Jaspers – consists of four panels. In its current state, the work bears little resemblance to what spectators saw in 1976 in the event Exposition - photo/art, for which the work was made. The changes in the visibility, what we can see in the reproductions from different periods, were “pre-programmed”, if we may say so, into the materiality of the work by the author, as Erdély was always especially conscious of the use of materials. Does this transformation in time change the meaning of the artwork, and if so, why and how? The relations between the diverse elements or “medium” of the montage, like original photographs, reproductions, blueprints, citations, ready-made parts, photograms and phantom images, may explain the “story” in a pictorial way.
Goal-directed vocal planning in a songbird
Authors: Zai Anja T. , Stepien Anna E. , Giret Nicolas , Hahnloser Richard H.R.
Published: May 2024

Songbirds’ vocal mastery is impressive, but to what extent is it a result of practice? Can they, based on experienced mismatch with a known target, plan the necessary changes to recover the target in a practice-free manner without intermittently singing? In adult zebra finches, we drive the pitch of a song syllable away from its stable (baseline) variant acquired from a tutor, then we withdraw reinforcement and subsequently deprive them of singing experience by muting or deafening. In this deprived state, birds do not recover their baseline song. However, they revert their songs towards the target by about one standard deviation of their recent practice, provided the sensory feedback during the latter signaled a pitch mismatch with the target. Thus, targeted vocal plasticity does not require immediate sensory experience, showing that zebra finches are capable of goal-directed vocal planning.
Microphase Separation Produces Interfacial Environment within Diblock Biomolecular Condensates
Authors: Latham Andrew P. , Zhu Longchen , Sharon Dina A. , Ye Songtao , Willard Adam P. , Zhang Xin , Zhang Bin
Published: May 2024

The phase separation of intrinsically disordered proteins is emerging as an important mechanism for cellular organization. However, efforts to connect protein sequences to the physical properties of condensates, i.e., the molecular grammar, are hampered by a lack of effective approaches for probing high-resolution structural details. Using a combination of multiscale simulations and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy experiments, we systematically explored a series of systems consisting of diblock elastin-like polypeptides (ELP). The simulations succeeded in reproducing the variation of condensate stability upon amino acid substitution and revealed different microenvironments within a single condensate, which we verified with environmentally sensitive fluorophores. The interspersion of hydrophilic and hydrophobic residues and a lack of secondary structure formation result in an interfacial environment, which explains both the strong correlation between ELP condensate stability and interfacial hydrophobicity scales, as well as the prevalence of protein-water hydrogen bonds. Our study uncovers new mechanisms for condensate stability and organization that may be broadly applicable.
Cardiac neurons expressing a glucagon-like receptor mediate cardiac arrhythmia induced by high-fat diet in Drosophila
Authors: Zhao Yunpo , Duan Jianli , van de Leemput Joyce , Han Zhe
Published: May 2024

Cardiac arrhythmia leads to increased risks for stroke, heart failure, and cardiac arrest. Arrhythmic pathology is rooted in the cardiac conduction system, but the mechanism is complex and not fully understood. For example, how metabolic diseases, like obesity and diabetes, increase the risk for cardiac arrhythmia. Glucagon regulates glucose production, mobilizes lipids from the fat body, and affects cardiac rate and rhythm, attributes of a likely key player.
Drosophila
is an established model to study metabolic diseases and cardiac arrhythmias. Since glucagon signaling is highly conserved, we used high-fat diet (HFD)-fed flies to study its effect on heart function. HFD led to increased heartbeat and an irregular rhythm. The HFD-fed flies showed increased levels of adipokinetic hormone (Akh), the functional equivalent to human glucagon. Both genetic reduction of Akh and eliminating the Akh producing cells (APC) rescued HFD-induced arrhythmia, whereas heart rhythm was normal in Akh receptor mutants (

AkhR
null

). Furthermore, we discovered a pair of cardiac neurons that express high levels of Akh receptor. These are located near the posterior heart, make synaptic connections at the heart muscle, and regulate heart rhythm. Altogether, this Akh signaling pathway provides new understanding of the regulatory mechanisms between metabolic disease and cardiac arrhythmia.
The satiety hormone cholecystokinin gates reproduction in fish by controlling gonadotropin secretion
Authors: Cohen Lian Hollander , Cohen Omer , Shulman Miriam , Aiznkot Tomer , Fontanaud Pierre , Revah Omer , Mollard Patrice , Golan Matan , Sivan Berta Levavi
Published: May 2024

Life histories of oviparous species dictate high metabolic investment in the process of gonadal development leading to ovulation. In vertebrates, these two distinct processes are controlled by the gonadotropins follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), respectively. While it was suggested that a common secretagogue, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), oversees both functions, the generation of loss-of-function fish challenged this view. Here we reveal that the satiety hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) is the primary regulator of this axis in zebrafish. We found that FSH cells express a CCK receptor, and our findings demonstrate that mutating this receptor results in a severe hindrance to ovarian development. Additionally, it causes a complete shutdown of both gonadotropins secretion. Using
in-vivo
and
ex-vivo
calcium imaging of gonadotrophs, we show that GnRH predominantly activates LH cells, whereas FSH cells respond to CCK stimulation, designating CCK as the bona fide FSH secretagogue. These findings indicate that the control of gametogenesis in fish was placed under different neural circuits, that are gated by CCK.
Anti-diuretic hormone ITP signals via a guanylate cyclase receptor to modulate systemic homeostasis in Drosophila
Authors: Gera Jayati , Agard Marishia , Nave Hannah , Sajadi Farwa , Thorat Leena , Kondo Shu , Nässel Dick R. , Paluzzi Jean-Paul V. , Zandawala Meet
Published: May 2024

Insects have evolved a variety of neurohormones that enable them to maintain their nutrient and osmotic homeostasis. While the identities and functions of various insect metabolic and diuretic hormones have been well-established, the characterization of an anti-diuretic signaling system that is conserved across most insects is still lacking. To address this, here we characterized the ion transport peptide (ITP) signaling system in
Drosophila
. The
Drosophila ITP
gene encodes five transcript variants which generate three different peptide isoforms: ITP amidated (ITPa) and two ITP-like (ITPL1 and ITPL2) isoforms. Using a combination of anatomical mapping and single-cell transcriptome analyses, we comprehensively characterized the expression of all three ITP isoforms in the nervous system and peripheral tissues. Our analyses reveal widespread expression of ITP isoforms. Moreover, we show that ITPa is released during dehydration and recombinant
Drosophila
ITPa inhibits diuretic peptide-induced renal tubule secretion
ex vivo
, thus confirming its role as an anti-diuretic hormone. Using a phylogenetic-driven approach and the
ex vivo
secretion assay, we identified and functionally characterized Gyc76C, a membrane guanylate cyclase, as an elusive
Drosophila
ITPa receptor. Thus, knockdown of Gyc76C in renal tubules abolishes the inhibitory effect of ITPa on diuretic hormone secretion. Extensive anatomical mapping of Gyc76C reveals that it is highly expressed in larval and adult tissues associated with osmoregulation (renal tubules and rectum) and metabolic homeostasis (fat body). Consistent with this expression, knockdown of Gyc76C in renal tubules impacts tolerance to osmotic and ionic stresses, whereas knockdown specifically in the fat body impacts feeding, nutrient homeostasis and associated behaviors. We also complement receptor knockdown experiments with ITPa overexpression in ITP neurons. Interestingly, ITPa-Gyc76C pathways deciphered here are reminiscent of the atrial natriuretic peptide signaling in mammals. Lastly, we utilized connectomics and single-cell transcriptomics to identify synaptic and paracrine pathways upstream and downstream of ITP-expressing neurons. Taken together, our systematic characterization of the ITP signaling establishes a tractable system to decipher how a small set of neurons integrates diverse inputs to orchestrate systemic homeostasis in
Drosophila
.
DIETS: a simple and sensitive assay to measure and control the intake of complex solid foods, like high-fat diets, in Drosophila
Authors: Thakare Manikrao R. , Choudhary Prerana , Pydah Bhavna , Sunke Suhas , Yadav R Sai Prathap , Agrawal Pavan , Das Gaurav
Published: May 2024

The fruit fly
Drosophila melanogaste
r offers a powerful model to study how diet affects the body and brain. However, existing methods for measuring their food intake often rely on dyes or tags mixed with food, which can be inaccurate due to how the flies absorb and eliminate them. Capillary-based assays like CAFE directly measure consumption, but only work with liquids and shorten fly lifespan. Additionally, capillary assays are incompatible with delivering viscous foods like high-fat diets. Even solidified high-fat diets tend to be sticky death traps for flies. Another longstanding challenge for fly researchers is that dietary restriction in flies involves diluting food, leading to compensatory feeding. To address these shortcomings, we have developed DIETS, a sensitive feeding assay that can be implemented even in low-resource settings. DIETS eliminates the need for labels and directly weighs the solid food consumed by small groups of flies over extended periods of hours to weeks. It allows us to deliver precise amounts of food to flies and implement accurate dietary restrictions. Importantly, DIETS is compatible with studying energy-dense high-fat diets. Using DIETS, we observed that, unlike a high-sugar diet, an isocaloric high-fat diet did not improve the flies’ ability to withstand starvation, even though they consumed more calories and had higher fat deposition.
El efecto de la maternidad en el salario femenino en Chile. Un análisis a partir de Propensity Score Matching
Authors:   , Seissus Ercilla Emilia
Published: May 2024

En Chile se encuentra bien documentada la brecha en el salario que hay entre hombres y mujeres, sin embargo, existe una segunda desigualdad que no ha sido analizada aún por la literatura nacional. Esta es la posibilidad de que exista una brecha en el salario asociada a la maternidad, la cual ha sido encontrada por la literatura a nivel mundial. Por ello, la presente investigación se pone como objetivo determinar el efecto de la maternidad sobre los salarios obtenidos por las mujeres trabajadoras en Chile. Para ello se diferencia el efecto en sus distintos márgenes de medición a partir de tratamientos distintos, esto es el margen extensivo (tener hijos frente a no tener) y el margen intensivo (tener dos hijos frente a tener uno). Se utiliza una metodología de inferencia causal a partir de Propensity Score Full Matching para definir los efectos de tratamientos, buscando eliminar los posibles sesgos de selección presentes en la medición. Esto se logra a partir de la formación del grupo de tratamiento y de control que se hace cargo de la Existencia de Heterogeneidad Individual; y, desde la creación del Propensity Score para el emparejamiento, el cual considera variables de la Teoría del Capital Humano y las Características del Trabajo. Se encuentran resultados heterogéneos. Para el margen extensivo, efectivamente existe una disminución del salario hora promedio para las madres de un hijo en relación a las mujeres embarazadas. Sin embargo, para el margen intensivo, las madres de dos hijos obtienen una bonificación por este hijo extra al compararlas con las madres de uno. Por otro lado, se confirma la existencia de heterogeneidad individual en la medición del efecto de la maternidad en el salario. Así como, la necesidad de utilizar una metodología que se haga cargo que este efecto a la hora de calcular el efecto.
A permuta como alternativa para viabilizar ações sociais durante a pandemia do COVID-19: um estudo de caso no setor editorial
Authors: Veloso Letícia Helena Medeiros , Zotes Luís Perez , Borges Mayara Haddad
Published: May 2024

O atual cenário econômico e social causado pela pandemia do Coronavírus exigiu que as empresas reconhecessem seu papel perante aos stakeholders. Vários setores da sociedade se uniram na tentativa de contribuir de alguma forma para minimizar os efeitos da crise causada pela doença na economia, na saúde, na educação e na vida de milhões de brasileiros. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar a solução utilizada por um grupo editorial para que, através da permuta multilateral, pudesse doar livros que seriam descartados e, em contrapartida, conseguir mídia para campanha publicitária de novos títulos. A abordagem metodológica utilizada foi qualitativa e a estratégica foi um estudo de caso tendo como unidades de análise três empresas que participaram do projeto de doação de livros para uma reconhecida instituição de ajuda humanitária. O estudo contribui para o avanço do o conhecimento científico relacionando a permuta com a economia circular e busca incentivar empresas de diversos setores a explorar a permuta como uma estratégia para o problema de estoque improdutivo e consequentemente, contribuir com práticas sustentáveis no pilar social e ambiental.
Clinicopathological and Immunohistochemical Analysis of Lung Cancer Biopsies at a Tertiary Care Centre in Central Gujarat, India
Authors: Kareliya Yogita Vrajlal , Rana Neema Ankur , Hiryur Srilakshmi Premnath , Patel Helly Dilipbhai , Patel Roshni Ashokbha , Shindegalwekar Samiksha Raosaheb
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Lung biopsy is a reliable and highly accurate tool for diagnosing and subtyping lung lesions. Two-thirds of lung cancer patients present with advanced disease, and small biopsies remain the main diagnostic tool. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of lung biopsies plays an important role in accurately diagnosing lung malignancies. Aim: The aim of present study was to analyse the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features of lung cancer. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Medical College, Baroda, over a period of two years and three months, from March 2019 to May 2021. A total of 53 cases of malignant lung cancer biopsies were included in this study. Clinical parameters, such as patient age, complaints, smoking history, clinical presentation, radiological findings, histopathology reports, and IHC findings, were retrieved. All cases underwent histopathological examination, and tumour typing was done according to the WHO classification 2021 of lung tumours. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) markers like CK5/6, CK7, TTF1, P63, synaptophysin, chromogranin, and pankeratin were used for further subtyping. Data analysis was done by Microsoft Excel 2019 spreadsheet. Results: A total of 53 cases of malignant lung cancer were included in this study. Of these, 38 (71.69%) cases were male, and 15 (28.30%) cases were female. 43 (81.13%) cases were over 50 years old, with a mean age of 61 years. After IHC, adenocarcinoma was seen in 27 cases (50.9%), followed by Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) in 19 cases (35.8%), five cases of small cell carcinoma, one case of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, and one case of Non Small Cell Carcinoma-Not Otherwise Specified (NSCC-NOS). In adenocarcinoma, positivity for CK7, TTF1, and p63 was 100%, 74.07%, and 16.6%, respectively. In squamous cell carcinoma, positivity for CK5/6 and p63 was 100% and 78.94%, respectively. Conclusion: In the present study, the majority of cases were males. Adenocarcinoma was the most common subtype of Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). A panel of IHC markers is helpful in differentiating NSCLC into adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma on small true-cut lung biopsies. CK5/6 and p63 aid in detecting squamous cell carcinoma, while CK7 and TTF-1 help in detecting adenocarcinoma. The recommended immunohistochemical profile for NSCLC includes TTF1, CK5/6, CK7, and p63.
Evaluation of Serum β2-Microglobulin Levels in Histologically Diagnosed Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Agrawal Arushi , Agarwal Pooja , Kaushik Nupur , Mohan Yatendra , Prakash Shikha , Singh Akhil Pratap , Agarwal Ankur
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Oral cancer presents challenging and unresolved problems for the human population, accounting for as much as 30-40% of all carcinomas in India. The current research focuses on the use of the tumour marker β2-microglobulin as a surrogate marker in patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) for early detection of cancer. Aim: To evaluate the level of serum β2-microglobulin in histologically diagnosed OSCC patients and compare it with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Pathology at SN Medical College, Agra, over a period of one year and six months. The study included 50 histologically diagnosed OSCC cases and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Blood samples were taken from the healthy controls and OSCC patients, and the level of serum β2-microglobulin was measured using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11. Z test and ANOVA test were used to compare various parameters. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: In the 50 cases of OSCC, the mean±SD of serum β2-microglobulin was 2.99±0.85 μg/mL, while in the healthy controls, it was 1.30±0.10 μg/mL, with a p-value <0.001, which was statistically significant. The mean±SD of serum β2-microglobulin in cases of Well Differentiated Squamous Cell Carcinoma (WDSCC) was 2.40±1.59 μg/mL, whereas it was 3.09±1.52 μg/mL in Moderately Differentiated Squamous Cell Carcinoma (MDSCC) and 3.46±0.03 μg/mL in Poorly Differentiated Squamous Cell Carcinoma (PDSCC), with a p-value of <0.05, which was statistically significant. Increased levels of serum β2-microglobulin were observed among all cases of OSCC. Loss of differentiation in Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) was associated with an increase in levels of serum β2- microglobulin. Conclusion: Due to its minimally invasive nature and quick availability of results, serum β2-microglobulin can be used for diagnosis of OSCC. Therefore, it is recommended to monitor levels of serum β2-microglobulin in patients with OSCC.
Blood Component Usage and Discard in the Blood Centre of a Tertiary Care Hospital in a Remote Part of North-east India: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Narzary Topon , Handique Amitabh , Islam Sadiqul , Das Deepak
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Blood and its various components are valuable resources for sustaining life. They are routinely used and form an integral part of patient care. The judicious use of blood and its components is necessary in low socio-economic countries. Aim: To estimate the usage of blood and blood components and its discard in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based retrospective cross- sectional study was conducted in the Blood Centre, Diphu Medical College and Hospital, Karbi Anglong, Assam, India. Data was retrieved from Blood Centre registers over a period of 12 month, from July 2021 to June 2022. Both replacement and voluntary donors were selected based on donor selection criteria. All collected blood units were stored and subsequently subjected to Transfusion Transmitted Infections (TTI) testing. The data was tabulated using Microsoft Excel sheet. Results: During the study period, a total of 4,525 units of whole blood were collected, and 7,539 blood units, including both whole blood and blood components, were prepared. The highest number of issues during the period comprised of whole blood at 2,468 units. Among blood components, 1,854 units of Packed Red Blood Cells (PRBCs) were most commonly utilised, followed by 1,824 units of Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP). A total of 334 units (4.43%) of blood/ blood components were discarded due to various reasons, with the highest discard rate observed for Platelet Concentrates (PC) at 71 (6.28%) units. The major reason for discard was seropositivity, accounting for 212 (63.5%) units. Conclusion: Adequate blood inventory, along with proper training and sensitisation of hospital staff, should be conducted at timely intervals regarding proper donor selection, collection, and storage of blood/ blood products. Clinicians should also be engaged to optimise the usage of blood/ blood products. These steps can help minimise wastage in resource limited countries.
Cow Based Inputs for Sustainable Agriculture: A Review
Authors: Jyothsna Koyi , Aakash . , H. M. Jayadeva, , Nagangoudar Mahantesh B.
Published: May 2024

Food safety is of prime importance at present because the consumption of food products with chemical residues above the threshold levels is causing dreadful diseases in living beings and deteriorating soil health too. The current global scenario firmly emphasizes the need to adopt agricultural practices that are ecologically safe for sustainable food production. Hence, it is necessary to adopt organic farming which improves the health of Agro-ecosystems besides providing safe food and conserving the soil fertility and soil biota. There is a need to identify a suitable substitute in place of chemical fertilizers which are economically cheaper and ecofriendly. In this context, Cow-based inputs (dung, urine, ghee, milk) play an important role in organic farming as an alternative to chemical fertilizers which help in the growth of the crop and provide eco-safety food
A Comparative Analysis of Neural Network Architectures for Predicting Indian Rice Production
Authors: Deka Pal
Published: May 2024

Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the most important cereal crops in World and feeds more than a third of the world’s population. In Asian region, rice is a main source of nutrition and provides 30% to 70% of the daily calories for half of the world’s population. Here, in this study two different neural network models were used in prediction of rice production of India. It was observed that the accuracy score of Multi-layer perceptron neural network is better than Radial basis function in prediction of rice production. The loss/error value for Multi-layer perceptron (MLP) model is lower than Radial basis function (RBF) model. The relative error is found to be high for MLP.
Hospital Acquired Infection Revisited: Route of Transmission
Authors: Sunarti Lusia Sri
Published: May 2024

Aims: to revisited hospital route of infection transmission in patients under medical care with its related problems and re-focus on some important MDR nosocomial infection agents route of transmission to vulnerable patients.
Discussion: Accidental infections acquired in hospitals or hospital acquired infection (HAI) is a global major health condition, and become a major obstacle in the present day era of hospitalization. Increased risk of morbidity with mortality, lengthened hospitalization, massive prescription of antibiotics, and socio-economically become a definite financial burden. Disinfection and sterilization in hospitals is of increasing concern. Besides that, the abuse of antibiotics has led to the prompt wide spread of multidrug-resistant drugs (MDR) microorganisms which is characterized by the ability to quickly adapt to an environment that previously does not support its growth commonly and able to initiate serious life-threatening HAI. The need to understand route of transmission and its associated obstacles will help combating MDR microorganisms.
Conclusion: The Global emergence of MDR microorganisms with its difficult route of infections has created a major obstacle to combat the bacterial pathogens, and need serious attention from all stakeholders, throughout the world.
Integer Programming Optimization-based Simulation in Allocating Medical Doctors in Rural Public Health Facilities in Kenya
Authors: Bulinda Vincent Major
Published: May 2024

The linear Programming technique is an essential tool in the efficient distribution of physicians within rural public hospitals and is essential for maximizing the use of healthcare resources and enhancing patient access to high-quality treatment. A simulation approach based on integer programming optimization to handle the doctor allocation problem in rural public hospitals in Kenya as a methodology is considered. The objective function, constraints, and decision variables are applied in the allocation strategy that takes into account limitations of physician availability, facility capacity, and patient demand aimed at minimizing patient waiting time. The present study adds to the corpus of knowledge in healthcare operations research by offering significant insights into the optimization of doctor allocation in public hospitals and decision making.