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Vitamin B12 Deficiency, a Rare Cause of Isolated Thrombocytopenia in Adults

Khan MAN, Ghani U, Surani S, Aftab A

Cureus, 2023 Aug;15(8):e44162.
PMID: 37753039 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.44162

Isolated thrombocytopenia in adults is a common clinical problem, often caused by various hematological disorders. However, vitamin B12 deficiency as a rare cause of isolated thrombocytopenia has been rarely reported in the medical literature. This case report aims to highlight the diagnostic challenges associated with atypical presentations of thrombocytopenia and emphasizes the importance of considering nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin B12 deficiency, in the diagnostic workup. We report the case of a 38-year-old male who presented with generalized weakness, fatigue, and a history of bruises without trauma. Physical examination and laboratory investigations revealed thrombocytopenia (42 K/µL) with normal red blood cell morphology and no apparent abnormalities in other hematological parameters. Serum vitamin B12 levels were significantly diminished (128 pg/ml). The patient was treated with subcutaneous mecobalamin 1000 mcg supplementation, resulting in improvements in serum vitamin B12 levels (772 pg/ml) and platelet count (154 × 109/L) values. This case highlights the importance of considering vitamin B12 deficiency as a potential cause of isolated thrombocytopenia in adults. The lack of hypersegmented neutrophils and characteristic signs of macrocytic anemia in the context of vitamin B12 deficiency emphasizes the necessity for a thorough investigation to rule out other possible causes. Hematological problems associated with thrombocytopenia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency can be treated early to resolve them and avoid complications.
Correction to: Aconitum lycoctonum L. (Ranunculaceae) mediated biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles as potential antioxidant, anti-infammatory, antimicrobial and antidiabetic agents

Khan ZUR, Assad N, Naeem-Ul-Hassan M, Sher M, Alatawi FS, Alatawi MS, et al.

BMC Chem, 2023 Oct 25;17(1):143.
PMID: 37880757 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-023-01058-2
An unexpected presentation of very severe hypertriglyceridemia in a boy with Coffin-Lowry syndrome: a case report

Tan SL, Ahmad Narihan MGB, Koa AJ

BMC Pediatr, 2023 Oct 28;23(1):541.
PMID: 37898736 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-04376-5

BACKGROUND: Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS) is a rare X-linked condition with intellectual disability, growth retardation, characteristic facies and skeletal anomalies. To date, hypertriglyceridemia has not been reported in literature to be associated with CLS.
CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we report a case of very severe hypertriglyceridemia 32 mmol/L (2834 mg/dL) detected incidentally at three months old in an otherwise well boy born late preterm with intrauterine growth restriction, when he presented with lipaemic plasma. He was later diagnosed with CLS. No pathogenic mutations were found for hypertriglyceridemia, and no secondary causes could explain his very severe hypertriglyceridemia.
CONCLUSIONS: The very severe hypertriglyceridemia in this case may appear to be a serious presentation of an unrecognised clinical feature of CLS, further expanding its phenotype.
Fulltext Effect of dietary restriction on health span in Caenorhabditis elegans: A systematic review

Loo J, Shah Bana MAF, Tan JK, Goon JA

Exp Gerontol, 2023 Oct 15;182:112294.
PMID: 37730186 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112294

Dietary restriction (DR) interventions have demonstrated their efficacy in extending lifespan; however, the association between lifespan extension and health span remains unclear. This article aims to analyze the relationship between DR-induced lifespan and health span in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a widely used animal model in lifespan studies. By examining various parameters such as lipofuscin accumulation (an aging marker) and locomotor and feeding capacities (indicators of muscle degradation rate), we have compiled papers that investigate and report on these DR-induced effects.The majority of the papers reviewed consistently demonstrate that DR improves both lifespan and health span in C. elegans. Worms subjected to DR exhibit slower lipofuscin accumulation compared to those fed ad libitum, indicating a reduction in age-related cellular damage. Additionally, DR-treated worms display a higher locomotion capacity, suggesting a slower rate of muscle degradation. However, it is worth noting that there are some discrepancies among the papers regarding feeding capacity. These contradictions can be attributed to the different methods employed to initiate DR. While many approaches slow muscle degeneration and enhance pumping rates through adaptation to limited food sources, other methods, such as using eat-2 mutant worms or interventions that mimic the effects of eat-2, reduce feeding capacity and consequently restrict food intake. In conclusion, the findings suggest a strong correlation between DR-induced longevity and the extension of health span in C. elegans, as evidenced by improvements in various health span parameters. DR interventions not only extend lifespan but also mitigate age-related markers and preserve locomotor capacity. Although conflicting results are observed regarding feeding capacity, the overall evidence supports the notion that DR promotes healthier aging in this animal model.
Fulltext Diagnostic Accuracy of Lactate Dehydrogenase/Adenosine Deaminase Ratio in Differentiating Tuberculous and Parapneumonic Effusions: A Systematic Review

Nyanti LE, Rahim MAA, Huan NC

Tuberc Respir Dis (Seoul), 2024 Jan;87(1):91-99.
PMID: 37726943 DOI: 10.4046/trd.2023.0107

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) and parapneumonic effusion (PPE) are often difficult to differentiate owing to the overlapping clinical features. Observational studies demonstrate that the ratio of lactate dehydrogenase to adenosine deaminase (LDH/ADA) is lower in TPE compared to PPE, but integrated analysis is warranted.
METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the LDH/ADA ratio in differentiating TPE and PPE. We explored the PubMed and Scopus databases for studies evaluating the LDH/ADA ratio in differentiating TPE and PPE.
RESULTS: From a yield of 110 studies, five were included for systematic review. The cutoff value for the LDH/ADA ratio in TPE ranged from <14.2 to <25. The studies demonstrated high heterogeneity, precluding meta-analysis. Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies Tool 2 assessment revealed a high risk of bias in terms of patient selection and index test.
CONCLUSION: LDH/ADA ratio is a potentially useful parameter to differentiate between TPE and PPE. Based on the limited data, we recommend an LDH/ADA ratio cutoff value of <15 in differentiating TPE and PPE. However, more rigorous studies are needed to further validate this recommendation.
Capital structure determinants across sectors: Comparison of observed evidences from the use of time series and panel data estimators

Rehan R, Abdul Hadi AR, Hussain HI, Adnan Hye QM

Heliyon, 2023 Sep;9(9):e19618.
PMID: 37810001 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19618

This comparative study is an attempt to explore the determinants of capital structure for Malaysian firms listed in various sectors level. Within the framework of traditional and moderate dynamic capital structure theories, the key determinants such as fixed assets, current assets, return on equity, size, earning per share and total assets are tested in relation to the debt-equity ratio. The large-scale study entails data collected from 551 listed firms of Bursa Malaysia main market over 12 years period i.e. 2005-2016. Notably, this study combines Time Series econometrics with Panel Data analysis to enhance methodological robustness. Moreover, the comparative analysis approach is designated to recognize the most persistent capital structure determinants. In the first place, the Multiple Regression analysis (MRA) is selected as a baseline estimation method. Subsequently, the Auto Regression Distributed Lag model (ARDL), the Panel Data Static models, and Dynamic model via the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) are employed to identify the capital structure determinants for the firms listed at Bursa Malaysia. The outcomes are surprising and indicate that the entire market is primarily controlled by the studied determinant total assets, which is significant in both construction and property sectors through MRA, ARDL, and GMM analysis. Technically, the significant role of tangibility and the existence of speed of adjustment across sectors imply that the Dynamic Capital Structure is the most prominent among all, followed by the Dynamic Trade-off theory.
Fulltext Functional and radiological outcome of non-operative treated clavicle fractures and its association with acromioclavicular joint arthrosis

Ajit Singh V, Ho SC, Abdul Rashid ML, Santharalinggam RD

J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong), 2023;31(3):10225536231208242.
PMID: 37824849 DOI: 10.1177/10225536231208242

BACKGROUND: Clavicle fractures are traditionally treated non-operatively. This study determines the functional outcome of midshaft clavicle fractures treated non-operatively, the factors influencing it, and the incidence of acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) arthrosis.
METHODS: Patients with midshaft clavicular fractures treated non-operatively between 16 and 50 years old with no prior AC joint problems were assessed. Demographics, hand dominance, type of occupation, and smoking status were documented. Functional scoring using DASH score, CM score, and radiological evaluation was done with special tests to diagnose AC joint arthrosis. Two or more positive special tests were considered significant for this study.
RESULTS: 101 patients were recruited, 83 male and 18 female patients. The average age of 34.7 ± 13.93 years. The average follow-up was 32.7 months (range: 24-75; SD ± 9.9 months). 48.5% were blue-collar workers, and 60.4% involved the dominant upper limb. 44.6% were cigarette smokers. There was 20 mm and more shortening in 21.8% of subjects. 40.6% had a significant special test, and 36.6% had radiological changes of AC joint osteoarthritis. Positive two or more special tests were significantly associated with radiological evidence of arthrosis (p = .00). The mean DASH score was 28.28 ± 17.4, and the mean CM score was 27.58 ± 14.34. Most have satisfactory to excellent scores. Hand dominance, smoking, and blue-collar work were significantly associated with poorer CM scores, and hand dominance was significant for Dash scores.
CONCLUSION: There is an equal distribution poor, satisfactory and excellent functional outcomes in patients with midshaft clavicle fractures treated non-operatively. The poor outcomes may be attributed to ACJ arthrosis. Hand dominance, smoking and blue-collar work affected the functional outcome. Shortening of the clavicle had no bearing on the clinical and radiological findings of osteoarthritis and functional scores. The presence of two or more positive special tests is an accurate predictor of AC joint arthritis.
Fulltext Co-creation on Redefining Consumer Well-Being Needs Among Youth Through Self-Potential Development Model

Zulkefli AU, Abdullah MRTL, Endut MNA

Front Psychol, 2022;13:814757.
PMID: 35360555 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.814757

A co-creation values consumers' input as its primary crust in informing businesses on current consumer needs. More importantly, it would be the next shape in future demands of consumers in business sustainability. This paper addressed this context, narrowing its scope in investigating the voices of stakeholders on what would be the essential aspects of the present and future youth qualities in achieving sustainable well-being in the present trend. The findings would be essentially helpful for the youth and the business world to understand the aspects of good youth development, which would shape the next fabric of consumerism. Self-potential development of the youth is vital in achieving excellent life quality and the youth's well-being in Malaysia. However, the increase in challenges faced by today's youth is inconsistent with a decline of the group's well-being. There are various studies and interventions implemented to overcome the youth situation. However, there is still in need for a model that can guide the holistic development of youth self-potential. The purpose of this study is to build a sustainable and comprehensive model of the self-potential development of the youth, which can be integrated with all of the self-potential indicators of the youth via a co-creation process. This study used the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) on the proposed elements in the development model and systematically analyzed them using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) to create the development model. The method capitalized 10 stakeholders from various youth development backgrounds in developing the model. The model consists of 25 sub-indicators (SIs, elements) that are divided into five indicators. The model findings show that one of the most driving indicators is an entrepreneurial mindset among youth, followed by the other indicators of youth self-potential development. The model also shows that the civic-mindedness indicator is the output of youth self-potential that will surface at an end of the development. The model will guide the authorized body on the priority elements that can systematically and strategically improve youth self-potential to meet future challenges with youth aspirations.
Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ): Reviewing its mechanisms and signaling pathways on the regulation of endothelial barrier function

Ng CT, Fong LY, Abdullah MNH

Cytokine, 2023 Jun;166:156208.
PMID: 37088004 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156208

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a critical role in mediating an array of immune responses including promotes antiviral activity, facilitates macrophage activation, controls Th1/Th2 balance, and regulates cellular apoptosis and proliferation. A few articles have previously reviewed the effects of IFN-γ in the regulation of barrier permeability, but none of these articles focuses on barrier function of endothelial cells. This review aims to discuss the regulatory mechanisms of IFN-γ on endothelial barrier function and its underlying signaling pathways. Articles were retrieved from electronic databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar using keywords "Interferon-gamma", "endothelial cells", "barrier function", and "signaling pathway". The articles published between 2000 and 2022 that are related to the aforementioned topics were selected. A few journals published beyond this period were also included due to limited information available. The results showed that IFN-γ modulates endothelial barrier function, mainly involves small GTPases, STAT1-dependent pathway, p38 MAPK and nitric oxide. In conclusion, more in depth cellular and molecular studies are needed to elucidate the pathways of IFN-γ in the regulation of endothelial barrier function.
Interdisciplinary challenges in the circular supply chains: A systematic literature review

Rasi RZ, Ismail H, Shahbaz MS, Kaliani Sundram VP

Heliyon, 2023 Apr;9(4):e15225.
PMID: 37089391 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15225

As the circular supply chain (CSC) gains traction in literature and practice, some academic groups are developing new fields that proceed from the CSC as a precisely technical concept. In order to examine the trends of CSC over time, to define how previous researchers have conceptualized the CSC ideology, and to identify the barriers to CSC adoption in businesses operations. This systematic review of the literature (n = 55) examines and discusses the disparate body of knowledge on supply chains (SCs). The paper claims that there are still differences across the circular economy (CE) definitions because of alleged antecedents and scopes, which has led to several research streams. However, CSC's goal remained the same: to encourage sustainable strategies that rejected the traditional linear paradigm that had harmed the environment. In order to be included in future practices and approaches, eight significant, interdisciplinary issues were discovered using SLR, along with the corresponding sub-challenges. These difficulties were discussed in this paper. Aiming to address the current concerns about balancing the environmental and economic perspectives, this study will provide guidelines to future researchers to identify the challenges from a real-world point of view by taking into account the social, environmental, and economic perspectives altogether.
Fulltext Overview of Electrospinning for Tissue Engineering Applications

Zulkifli MZA, Nordin D, Shaari N, Kamarudin SK

Polymers (Basel), 2023 May 23;15(11).
PMID: 37299217 DOI: 10.3390/polym15112418

Tissue engineering (TE) is an emerging field of study that incorporates the principles of biology, medicine, and engineering for designing biological substitutes to maintain, restore, or improve tissue functions with the goal of avoiding organ transplantation. Amongst the various scaffolding techniques, electrospinning is one of the most widely used techniques to synthesise a nanofibrous scaffold. Electrospinning as a potential tissue engineering scaffolding technique has attracted a great deal of interest and has been widely discussed in many studies. The high surface-to-volume ratio of nanofibres, coupled with their ability to fabricate scaffolds that may mimic extracellular matrices, facilitates cell migration, proliferation, adhesion, and differentiation. These are all very desirable properties for TE applications. However, despite its widespread use and distinct advantages, electrospun scaffolds suffer from two major practical limitations: poor cell penetration and poor load-bearing applications. Furthermore, electrospun scaffolds have low mechanical strength. Several solutions have been offered by various research groups to overcome these limitations. This review provides an overview of the electrospinning techniques used to synthesise nanofibres for TE applications. In addition, we describe current research on nanofibre fabrication and characterisation, including the main limitations of electrospinning and some possible solutions to overcome these limitations.
MXenes and MXene-based materials for removal of pharmaceutical compounds from wastewater: Critical review

Tawalbeh M, Mohammed S, Al-Othman A, Yusuf M, Mofijur M, Kamyab H

Environ Res, 2023 Jul 01;228:115919.
PMID: 37072081 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115919

The rapid increase in the global population and its ever-rising standards of living are imposing a huge burden on global resources. Apart from the rising energy needs, the demand for freshwater is correspondingly increasing. A population of around 3.8 billion people will face water scarcity by 2030, as per the reports of the World Water Council. This may be due to global climate change and the deficiency in the treatment of wastewater. Conventional wastewater treatment technologies fail to completely remove several emerging contaminants, especially those containing pharmaceutical compounds. Hence, leading to an increase in the concentration of harmful chemicals in the human food chain and the proliferation of several diseases. MXenes are transition metal carbide/nitride ceramics that primarily structure the leading 2D material group. MXenes act as novel nanomaterials for wastewater treatment due to their high surface area, excellent adsorption properties, and unique physicochemical properties, such as high electrical conductivity and hydrophilicity. MXenes are highly hydrophilic and covered with active functional groups (i.e., hydroxyl, oxygen, fluorine, etc.), which makes them efficient adsorbents for a wide range of species and promising candidates for environmental remediation and water treatment. This work concludes that the scaling up process of MXene-based materials for water treatment is currently of high cost. The up-to-date applications are still limited because MXenes are currently produced mainly in the laboratory with limited yield. It is recommended to direct research efforts towards lower synthesis cost procedures coupled with the use of more environmentally friendly materials to avoid secondary contamination.
21st anniversary of job embeddedness: A retrospection and future research agenda

Xue X, Rafiq M, Meng F, Peerzadah SA

Work, 2023;76(3):991-1005.
PMID: 37355920 DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220240

BACKGROUND: Since the previous decade, researchers and academics have paid close attention to studying job embeddedness (JE), but the bibliometric examination of JE has not yet been explored.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide general information on the trends of the studies on JE as well as an overall perspective on the development of this topic by utilising a bibliometric analytic approach.
METHOD: A bibliometric evaluation was conducted in the JE field since the first publication was documented in the Scopus database. The information retrieved examines 1572 JE papers from a variety of perspectives, including citation and publishing metrics.
RESULTS: The research results pinpoint the most productive countries, universities, journals, authors, and JE articles. The study also classified the most important themes and offered some recommendations for further research.
CONCLUSION: The study provided a snapshot of JE patterns and trajectories from 1993 to 2020, which can help academics and practitioners figure out the pattern and direction of future research. To the best of our knowledge, no other study examines the bibliographic data on JE and thus this work is one of the first contributions to the literature.
Fulltext Consequences of local culinary memorable experience: Evidence from TikTok influencers

Shoukat MH, Selem KM, Elgammal I, Ramkissoon H, Amponsah M

Acta Psychol (Amst), 2023 Aug;238:103962.
PMID: 37356362 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.103962

Underpinned by integrating self-determination and source credibility theories (SCT), this paper investigates the focal roles of memorable local food experiences (MLX) and travel influencer endorsement (TIE) on revisit intention. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 513 TikTok influencers (individuals who frequently post videos on TikTok and have a large number of followers). A purposive sampling technique is used to collect data from TikTok influencers who create videos about food tourism in Pakistan. SmartPLS 4.4 was used with PLS-SEM. The empirical results suggest a positive and significant linkage of culinary memorable experience factors with MLX. The focal effects of MLX and TIE on revisit intention are significantly positive. Our findings further revealed that MLX partially mediated the linkage of culinary memorable experience factors with revisit intention, while TIE strengthened the positive relationship between MLX and revisit intention. The study's findings influence travel agents, local food providers, and marketing specialists who develop marketing strategies for local food tourism and online trip purchasing.
Fulltext Trajectory of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy post-vaccination and public's intention to take booster vaccines: A cross-sectional analysis

Salman M, Mallhi TH, Khan YH, Mustafa ZU, Khan MT, Khan FU, et al.

Hum Vaccin Immunother, 2023 Aug 01;19(2):2225990.
PMID: 37350298 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2225990

Vaccine hesitancy (VH) is not a new phenomenon in Pakistan and is regarded as one of the primary causes of unsatisfactory vaccination campaigns. This study determined post-vaccination COVID-19 VH, factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake, and public's intent to receive booster vaccinations. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult population of Lahore, Pakistan. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling between March and May 2022. SPSS version 22 was used for the data analysis. A total of 650 participants were included in the study (age = 28.1 ± 9.7 years; male-to-female ratio nearly 1: 1). The majority of participants received Sinopharm followed by Sinovac vaccine. The top three reasons of vaccine uptake were "only vaccinated individuals are allowed at the workplace, and educational institutes" (Relative importance index (RII) = 0.749), "only vaccinated people are allowed to go to markets, malls and other public places" (RII = 0.746), and "protect myself from the infection" (RII = 0.742). The mean COVID-19 VH score was 24.5 ± 6.2 (95% CI 23.9-24.9), with not being pro-vaccines and poor economic status were the significant predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among immunized individuals (p
Fulltext Applications of AI in oil and gas projects towards sustainable development: a systematic literature review

Waqar A, Othman I, Shafiq N, Mansoor MS

Artif Intell Rev, 2023 Mar 23.
PMID: 37362898 DOI: 10.1007/s10462-023-10467-7

Oil and gas construction projects are critical for meeting global demand for fossil fuels, but they also present unique risks and challenges that require innovative construction approaches. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising technology for tackling these challenges, and this study examines its applications for sustainable development in the oil and gas industry. Using a systematic literature review (SLR), this research evaluates research trends from 2011 to 2022. It provides a detailed analysis of how AI suits oil and gas construction. A total of 115 research articles were reviewed to identify original contributions, and the findings indicate a positive trend in AI research related to oil and gas construction projects, especially after 2016. The originality of this study lies in its comprehensive analysis of the latest research on AI applications in the oil and gas industry and its contribution to developing recommendations for improving the sustainability of oil and gas projects. This research's originality is in providing insight into the most promising AI applications and methodologies that can help drive sustainable development in the oil and gas industry.
Fulltext Online attendance system based on facial recognition with face mask detection

Kamil MHM, Zaini N, Mazalan L, Ahamad AH

Multimed Tools Appl, 2023 Mar 07.
PMID: 37362736 DOI: 10.1007/s11042-023-14842-y

This paper presents an online system for recording attendance based on facial recognition incorporating facial mask detection. The main objective of this project is to develop an effective attendance system based on face recognition and face mask detection, and to provide this service online through a browser interface. This would allow any user to use this system without the need to install special software. They simply need to open the interface of this system in a browser through any terminal. Recording attendance information online allows data to be easily recorded in a centralized online database. Since faces are used as biometric signatures in this project, all users registered in the system will have their profiles loaded with their face-images samples. Initially, before face recognition can be done, the model training phase based on SVM will be carried out, mainly to develop a trained model that can perform face recognition. A set of synthetic data will also be used to train the same model so that it can perform identification for users wearing face masks. The server application is coded in Python and uses the Open-Source Computer Vision (OpenCV) library for image processing. For web interfaces and the database, PHP and MySQL are used. With the integration of Python and PHP scripting programs, the developed system will be able to perform processing on online servers, while being accessible to users through a browser from any terminal. According to the results and analysis, an accuracy of about 81.8% can be achieved based on a pre-trained model for face recognition and 80% for face mask detection.
Fulltext Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Leptospirosis Hotspot Areas and Its Association With Hydroclimatic Factors in Selangor, Malaysia: Protocol for an Ecological Cross-sectional Study

Ab Kadir MA, Abdul Manaf R, Mokhtar SA, Ismail LI

JMIR Res Protoc, 2023 May 15;12:e43712.
PMID: 37184897 DOI: 10.2196/43712

BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is considered a neglected zoonotic disease in temperate regions but an endemic disease in countries with tropical climates such as South America, Southern Asia, and Southeast Asia. There has been an increase in leptospirosis incidence in Malaysia from 1.45 to 25.94 cases per 100,000 population between 2005 and 2014. With increasing incidence in Selangor, Malaysia, and frequent climate change dynamics, a study on the disease hotspot areas and their association with the hydroclimatic factors would further enhance disease surveillance and public health interventions.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the association between the spatio-temporal distribution of leptospirosis hotspot areas from 2011 to 2019 with the hydroclimatic factors in Selangor using the geographical information system and remote sensing techniques to develop a leptospirosis hotspot predictive model.
METHODS: This will be an ecological cross-sectional study with geographical information system and remote sensing mapping and analysis concerning leptospirosis using secondary data. Leptospirosis cases in Selangor from January 2011 to December 2019 shall be obtained from the Selangor State Health Department. Laboratory-confirmed cases with data on the possible source of infection would be identified and georeferenced according to their longitude and latitudes. Topographic data consisting of subdistrict boundaries and the distribution of rivers in Selangor will be obtained from the Department of Survey and Mapping. The ArcGIS Pro software will be used to evaluate the clustering of the cases and mapped using the Getis-Ord Gi* tool. The satellite images for rainfall and land surface temperature will be acquired from the Giovanni National Aeronautics and Space Administration EarthData website and processed to obtain the average monthly values in millimeters and degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the average monthly river hydrometric levels will be obtained from the Department of Drainage and Irrigation. Data are then inputted as thematic layers and in the ArcGIS software for further analysis. The artificial neural network analysis in artificial intelligence Phyton software will then be used to obtain the leptospirosis hotspot predictive model.
RESULTS: This research was funded as of November 2022. Data collection, processing, and analysis commenced in December 2022, and the results of the study are expected to be published by the end of 2024. The leptospirosis distribution and clusters may be significantly associated with the hydroclimatic factors of rainfall, land surface temperature, and the river hydrometric level.
CONCLUSIONS: This study will explore the associations of leptospirosis hotspot areas with the hydroclimatic factors in Selangor and subsequently the development of a leptospirosis predictive model. The constructed predictive model could potentially be used to design and enhance public health initiatives for disease prevention.
INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/43712.
Fulltext Andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC.) a herbal medicine from North Sumatera, Indonesia: Phytochemical and pharmacological review

Adrian, Syahputra RA, Juwita NA, Astyka R, Lubis MF

Heliyon, 2023 May;9(5):e16159.
PMID: 37251868 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16159

Andaliman (Z. acanthopodium DC) is a kind of flowering plant that belongs to the Rutaceae family. The habitats are found in southwestern China (Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Tibet, and Yunnan), Bangladesh, Bhutan, northern India, and northeastern India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal), Nepal, Laos, Burma, Vietnam, North Sumatra highlands, Peninsular Malaysia, and northern Thailand. Andaliman is indigenous to North Sumatra, more specifically the Toba Samosir District, North Tapanuli, and the Dairi region. The phytochemical investigation showed some terpenoids as well as other compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, and saponins, but they have not been entirely identified. In Indonesia, the plant is employed both in the culinary industry as an additive for flavoring food and in the traditional medical system for treating various diseases. It was reported to possess antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and wound healing properties, alongside other activities related to pregnancy that were tested in vitro and in vivo. The results of the investigation were based on previously published studies. This review serves as information and a summary, thereby making further exploration of Andaliman to be easier.
Fulltext Examining the avenues of sustainability in resources and digital blockchains backed currencies: evidence from energy metals and cryptocurrencies

Karim S, Naeem MA, Tiwari AK, Ashraf S

Ann Oper Res, 2023 May 03.
PMID: 37361090 DOI: 10.1007/s10479-023-05365-8

The sustainability issues have been surmounted in the last decades. The digital disruption caused by blockchains and other digitally backed currencies has raised several serious concerns for policymakers, governmental agencies, environmentalists, and supply chain managers. Alternatively, sustainable resources are environmentally sustainable and naturally available resources which are employable by several regulation authorities to reduce the carbon footprint and attain energy transition mechanisms to support sustainable supply chains in the ecosystem. Using the asymmetric time-varying parameters vector auto-regressions approach, the current study examines the asymmetric spillovers between blockchain-backed currencies and environmentally supported resources. We find clusters between blockchain-based currencies and resource-efficient metals, highlighting similar-class dominance of spillovers. We portrayed several implications of our study for policymakers, supply chain managers, the blockchain industry, sustainable resources mechanisms, and regulatory bodies to emphasize that natural resources play a significant role in attaining sustainable supply chains servicing the benefits to society at large and to other stakeholders.

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