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Fulltext Mechanism and kinetic model of microalgal enzymatic hydrolysis for prospective bioethanol conversion

Padil, Putra MD, Hidayat M, Kasiamdari RS, Mutamima A, Iwamoto K, et al.

RSC Adv, 2023 Jul 12;13(31):21403-21413.
PMID: 37465575 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra01556d

Tetraselmis chuii is a potential microalgae that is in consideration for producing bioethanol owing to its large content of carbohydrates. The glucose production from T. chuii through an enzymatic process with cellulase and xylanase (pretreatment process) and α-amylase and glucoamylase (saccharification process) was studied. The mechanism of the enzymatic process was developed and the kinetic models were then evaluated. For the pretreatment process, enzymes with 30% concentration reacted at 30 °C for 40 min resulted in 35.9% glucose yield. For the saccharification process, the highest glucose yield of 90.03% was obtained using simultaneous α-amylase (0.0006%) and glucoamylase (0.01%) enzymes at 55 °C and for 40 min. The kinetic models fitted well with the experimental data. The model also revealed that the saccharification process performed better than the pretreatment process with a higher kinetic constant and lower activation energy. The proposed kinetic model plays an important role in implementing processes at a larger scale.
Corrigendum: Development of biodegradable thin films for efficient, specific, and controlled delivery of capecitabine (2021Biomed. Mater.16 055019)

Gul I, Yunus U, Ajmal M, Bhatti MH, Chaudhry GE

Biomed Mater, 2023 Jul 21;18(5).
PMID: 37476965 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605X/ace6e6
MGACA-Net: a novel deep learning based multi-scale guided attention and context aggregation for localization of knee anterior cruciate ligament tears region in MRI images

Awan MJ, Mohd Rahim MS, Salim N, Nobanee H, Asif AA, Attiq MO

PeerJ Comput Sci, 2023;9:e1483.
PMID: 37547408 DOI: 10.7717/peerj-cs.1483

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are a common knee injury that can have serious consequences and require medical intervention. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred method for ACL tear diagnosis. However, manual segmentation of the ACL in MRI images is prone to human error and can be time-consuming. This study presents a new approach that uses deep learning technique for localizing the ACL tear region in MRI images. The proposed multi-scale guided attention-based context aggregation (MGACA) method applies attention mechanisms at different scales within the DeepLabv3+ architecture to aggregate context information and achieve enhanced localization results. The model was trained and evaluated on a dataset of 917 knee MRI images, resulting in 15265 slices, obtaining state-of-the-art results with accuracy scores of 98.63%, intersection over union (IOU) scores of 95.39%, Dice coefficient scores (DCS) of 97.64%, recall scores of 97.5%, precision scores of 98.21%, and F1 Scores of 97.86% on validation set data. Moreover, our method performed well in terms of loss values, with binary cross entropy combined with Dice loss (BCE_Dice_loss) and Dice_loss values of 0.0564 and 0.0236, respectively, on the validation set. The findings suggest that MGACA provides an accurate and efficient solution for automating the localization of ACL in knee MRI images, surpassing other state-of-the-art models in terms of accuracy and loss values. However, in order to improve robustness of the approach and assess its performance on larger data sets, further research is needed.
Fulltext Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Delirium-like Behaviour in a Rat Model of Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion Is Associated with Increased Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase Expression and Endotoxin Tolerance

Ang HP, Makpol S, Nasaruddin ML, Ahmad NS, Tan JK, Wan Zaidi WA, et al.

Int J Mol Sci, 2023 Jul 31;24(15).
PMID: 37569622 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512248

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway (TRP-KP) are upregulated in ageing and could be implicated in the pathogenesis of delirium. This study evaluated the role of IDO/KP in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced delirium in an animal model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH), a proposed model for delirium. CCH was induced by a permanent bilateral common carotid artery ligation (BCCAL) in Sprague Dawley rats to trigger chronic neuroinflammation-induced neurodegeneration. Eight weeks after permanent BCCAL, the rats were treated with a single systemic LPS. The rats were divided into three groups: (1) post-BCCAL rats treated with intraperitoneal (i.p.) saline, (2) post-BCCAL rats treated with i.p. LPS 100 μg/kg, and (3) sham-operated rats treated with i.p. LPS 100 μg/kg. Each group consisted of 10 male rats. To elucidate the LPS-induced delirium-like behaviour, natural and learned behaviour changes were assessed by a buried food test (BFT), open field test (OFT), and Y-maze test at 0, 24-, 48-, and 72 h after LPS treatment. Serum was collected after each session of behavioural assessment. The rats were euthanised after the last serum collection, and the hippocampi and cerebral cortex were collected. The TRP-KP neuroactive metabolites were measured in both serum and brain tissues using ELISA. Our data show that LPS treatment in CCH rats was associated with acute, transient, and fluctuated deficits in natural and learned behaviour, consistent with features of delirium. These behaviour deficits were mild compared to the sham-operated rats, which exhibited robust behaviour impairments. Additionally, heightened hippocampal IDO expression in the LPS-treated CCH rats was associated with reduced serum KP activity together with a decrease in the hippocampal quinolinic acid (QA) expression compared to the sham-operated rats, suggested for the presence of endotoxin tolerance through the immunomodulatory activity of IDO in the brain. These data provide new insight into the underlying mechanisms of delirium, and future studies should further explore the role of IDO modulation and its therapeutic potential in delirium.
Fulltext Hyperandrogenism and Its Possible Effects on Endometrial Receptivity: A Review

Yusuf ANM, Amri MF, Ugusman A, Hamid AA, Wahab NA, Mokhtar MH

Int J Mol Sci, 2023 Jul 27;24(15).
PMID: 37569402 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512026

Endometrial receptivity is a state of the endometrium defined by its readiness for embryo implantation. When the receptivity of the endometrium is impaired due to hyperandrogenism or androgen excess, this condition can lead to pregnancy loss or infertility. Hyperandrogenism encompasses a wide range of clinical manifestations, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), idiopathic hirsutism, hirsutism and hyperandrogaenemia, non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, acanthosis nigricans (HAIR-AN), ovarian or adrenal androgen-secreting neoplasms, Cushing's syndrome, and hyperprolactinaemia. Recurrent miscarriages have been shown to be closely related to elevated testosterone levels, which alter the endometrial milieu so that it is less favourable for embryo implantation. There are mechanisms for endometrial receptivity that are affected by excess androgen. The HOXA gene, aVβ3 integrin, CDK signalling pathway, MECA-79, and MAGEA-11 were the genes and proteins affect endometrial receptivity in the presence of a hyperandrogenic state. In this review, we would like to explore the other manifestations of androgen excess focusing on causes other than PCOS and learn possible mechanisms of endometrial receptivity behind androgen excess leading to pregnancy loss or infertility.
Micro(nano)plastics in commercial foods: A review of their characterization and potential hazards to human health

Thodhal Yoganandham S, Hamid N, Junaid M, Duan JJ, Pei DS

Environ Res, 2023 Nov 01;236(Pt 2):116858.
PMID: 37562740 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116858

Micro (nano)plastics (MNPs) are pollutants of worldwide concern for their ubiquitous environmental presence and associated impacts. The higher consumption of MNPs contaminated commercial food can cause potential adverse human health effects. This review highlights the evidence of MNPs in commercial food items and summarizes different sampling, extraction, and digestion techniques for the isolation of MNPs, such as oxidizing digestion, enzymatic digestion, alkaline digestion and acidic digestion. Various methods for the characterization and quantification of microplastics (MPs) are also compared, including μ-Raman spectroscopy, μ-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis and Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Finally, we share our concerns about the risks of MNPs to human health through the consumption of commercial seafood. The knowledge of the potential human health impacts at a subcellular or molecular level of consuming mariculture products contaminated with MNPs is still limited. Moreover, MNPs are somewhat limited, hard to measure, and still contentious. Due to the nutritional significance of fish consumption, the risk of exposure to MNPs and the associated health effects are of the utmost importance.
Fulltext Unsuccessful treatment outcome and associated risk factors. A prospective study of DR-TB patients from a high burden country, Pakistan

Massud A, Khan AH, Syed Sulaiman SA, Ahmad N, Shafqat M, Ming LC

PLoS One, 2023;18(8):e0287966.
PMID: 37561810 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287966

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis (TB), a curable and preventable infectious disease, becomes difficult to treat if resistance against most effective and tolerable first line anti-TB drugs is developed. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes and predictors of poor outcomes among drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) patients treated at a programmatic management unit of drug resistant tuberculosis (PMDT) unit, Punjab, Pakistan.
METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted at a a PMDT unit in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 271 eligible culture positive DR-TB patients enrolled for treatment at the study site between January 2016 and May 2017 were followed till their treatment outcomes were recorded. World Health Organization's (WHO) defined criteria was used for categorizing treatment outcomes. The outcomes of cured and treatment completed were collectively placed as successful outcomes, while death, lost to follow-up (LTFU) and treatment failure were grouped as unsuccessful outcomes. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was employed for getting predictors of unsuccessful treatment outcomes. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: Of the 271 DR-TB patients analysed, nearly half (51.3%) were males. The patient's (Mean ± SD) age was 36.75 ± 15.69 years. A total of 69% patients achieved successful outcomes with 185 (68.2%) patients being cured and 2 (0.7%) completed therapy. Of the remaining 84 patients with unsuccessful outcomes, 48 (17.7%) died, 2 (0.7%) were declared treatment failure, 34 (12.5%) were loss to follow up. After adjusting for confounders, patients' age > 50 years (OR 2.149 (1.005-4.592) with p-value 0.048 and baseline lung cavitation (OR 7.798 (3.82-15.919) with p-value <0.001 were significantly associated with unsuccessful treatment outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: The treatment success rate (69%) in the current study participants was below the target set by WHO (>75%). Paying special attention and timely intervention in patients with high risk of unsuccessful treatment outcomes may help in improving treatment outcomes at the study site.
Giant paratesticular dedifferentiated liposarcoma with intraabdominal extension: a case report

Azizi MH, Rizuana IH, Wong YP, Sidek K, Fam XI

Front Oncol, 2023;13:1216776.
PMID: 37564941 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1216776

Giant paratesticular liposarcoma is a rare presentation of paratesticular tumor. We present a case of the largest paratesticular liposarcoma described to date with a weight of 4,100 g and measuring 460 × 210 × 130 mm. It was initially mistaken as an inguinoscrotal hernia until a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed a huge left paratesticular tumor extending from the scrotum to the mid-abdomen. The challenge was to achieve a tumor-free margin orchidectomy due to the poor fat plane of the tumor to the external iliac artery, psoas muscle, descending colon, and anterior abdominal wall. The surgery was started with laparoscopic dissection for the intraabdominal part of tumor from the vital structure, then followed by inguinal radical orchidectomy and inguinal mesh repair. Postoperative histopathological report revealed a paratesticular dedifferentiated liposarcoma with rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation with clear margin. The patient had good recovery post operation.
Fulltext Production and differential activity of recombinant human wild-type G6PD and G6PDViangchan

Vengidasan L, Yunus MA, Yusoff NM, Yahaya BH, Ismail IS

Asian Biomed (Res Rev News), 2020 Aug;14(4):159-167.
PMID: 37551388 DOI: 10.1515/abm-2020-0023

BACKGROUND: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is essential to produce reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, which is required to protect cells against oxidative stress. G6PD deficiency is a genetic variation that may lead to hemolysis with potential consequences, such as kidney failure, and patients often experience low quality of life.
OBJECTIVES: To establish a simple, efficient, and optimized method to produce a G6PDViangchan variant and characterize the phenotypes of recombinant human wild-type G6PD and G6PDViangchan.
METHODS: G6PD was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from a human cDNA plasmid, and the gene for G6PDViangchan was amplified by initiating a mutation at location 871 (G>A) through site-directed mutagenesis. Protein expression and western blotting were conducted after successful cloning. The enzymatic activity of both proteins was assessed spectrophotometrically after purification.
RESULTS: Both amplicons were successfully cloned into a pET26b(+) expression vector and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells for overexpression as C-terminally histidine-tagged recombinant proteins. Western blotting confirmed that both proteins were successfully produced at similar levels. The enzymes were purified by immobilized metal (Co) affinity chromatography. Postpurification assay of enzyme activity revealed about 2-fold differences in the levels of specific activity between the wild-type G6PD (155.88 U/mg) and G6PDViangchan (81.85 U/mg), which is consistent with earlier reports. Analysis in silico showed that the coding change in G6PDViangchan has a substantial effect on protein folding structure.
CONCLUSIONS: We successfully cloned, expressed, and purified both wild-type G6PD and G6PDViangchan proteins. Such a protocol may be useful for creating a model system to study G6PD deficiency disease.
Fulltext Microplastics in Malaysia's Aquatic Environment: Current Overview and Future Perspectives

Sulaiman RNR, Bakar AA, Ngadi N, Kahar INS, Nordin AH, Ikram M, et al.

Glob Chall, 2023 Aug;7(8):2300047.
PMID: 37635702 DOI: 10.1002/gch2.202300047

Microplastic pollution has adversely affected the aquatic ecosystem, living creatures, and human health. Several studies in Malaysia have provided baseline information on the existence of microplastics in surface water, ingestion by marine life and sediment. Also, humans are exposed to microplastic due to consumption of contaminated abiotic and biotic products, such as processed seafood. Nonetheless, knowledge is still scarce among Malaysian on the potential remediation and pollution management of microplastics, which poses a significant challenge to preserve a good environmental status. Green technologies also other alternative to mitigate the contamination of microplastics for sustainable future. Hence, this review aims to provide an overview of microplastic's occurrence, fate, and implications in Malaysia's aquatic environment. Detection of microplastics from the water surface, ingestion by aquatics, and sediment samples are highlighted. Available different treatment processes toward microplastic remediation are also discussed. Additionally, the potential challenges, current perspective for plastic management in Malaysia, as well as green strategies for reducing microplastic contamination are also put forward. The goal of this work is to improve the understanding of the seriousness of microplastic contamination in aquatic environments, thus encouraging key concerns that need to be investigated further.
Fulltext ARNI Versus Perindopril for Remodeling in HFrEF. A Cohort Study

Bin Atan NMAS, Bin Hadi MF, Teoh VWY, Danaee M, Loch A

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther, 2023;28:10742484231195019.
PMID: 37635324 DOI: 10.1177/10742484231195019

Introduction: Ventricular remodeling is a mal-adaptive process. Both angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and sacubitril/valsartan have been shown to reverse remodeling in mostly uncontrolled observational studies. There is a lack of head-to-head studies. Methods: This cohort study compares the remodeling effects of angiotensin receptor blockers combined with a neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) and perindopril in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients between January 2017 and December 2020. Inclusion criteria: (i) age > 18 years, (ii) recent diagnosis of de-novo HFrEF (EF
The applications of MicroCT in studying age-related tooth morphological change and dental age estimation: A scoping review

Zainuddin MZ, Mohamad NS, Su Keng T, Mohd Yusof MYP

J Forensic Sci, 2023 Nov;68(6):2048-2056.
PMID: 37529884 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15352

Conventional dental age estimation relies on destructive methods such as sectioning and staining, which are unpreferable when the tooth is required for evidential or archeological preservation. MicroCT is a non-destructive, high-resolution imaging technique that allows for accurate morphometrical measurement. Although microCT technology has been applied in a variety of dental studies, studies focusing on dental age-related change and dental age estimation based on microCT imaging remain lacking. Based on the question: "How has microCT technology been applied in studying human age-related tooth morphological change and dental age estimation studies?", the authors conducted a scoping review in accordance with the Arksey and O'Malley (2005) and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A literature search using five major scientific databases identified 452 articles, with 11 full-text articles being eligible to be included in the scoping review. Furthermore, 6 out of the 11 studies performed dental age estimation modeling. An overview of the parameters used in the selected articles revealed a variety of tooth characteristics, such as pulp cavity to whole tooth volume ratio, secondary dentin, as well as the diameter of root canal orifice. The findings of this scoping review highlight the extent microCT is used in studying dental age-related changes, as well as the effectiveness of microCT in dental age estimation studies. This review serves as a guide for future forensic odontology age estimation studies.
Integrating of electrocoagulation process with submerged membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment under low voltage gradients

Bani-Melhem K, Elektorowicz M, Tawalbeh M, Al Bsoul A, El Gendy A, Kamyab H, et al.

Chemosphere, 2023 Oct;339:139693.
PMID: 37536541 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139693

Treating and reusing wastewater has become an essential aspect of water management worldwide. However, the increase in emerging pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are presented in wastewater from various sources like industry, roads, and household waste, makes their removal difficult due to their low concentration, stability, and ability to combine with other organic substances. Therefore, treating a low load of wastewater is an attractive option. The study aimed to address membrane fouling in the submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) used for wastewater treatment. An aluminum electrocoagulation (EC) device was combined with SMBR as a pre-treatment to reduce fouling. The EC-SMBR process was compared with a conventional SMBR without EC, fed with real grey water. To prevent impeding biological growth, low voltage gradients were utilized in the EC deviceThe comparison was conducted over 60 days with constant transmembrane pressure and infinite solid retention time (SRT). In phase I, when the EC device was operated at a low voltage gradient (0.64 V/cm), no significant improvement in the pollutants removal was observed in terms of color, turbidity, and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Nevertheless, during phase II, a voltage gradient of 1.26 V/cm achieved up to 100%, 99.7%, 92%, 94.1%, and 96.5% removals in the EC-SMBR process in comparison with 95.1%, 95.4%, 85%, 91.7% and 74.2% removals in the SMBR process for turbidity, color, COD, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), total phosphorus (TP), respectively. SMBR showed better anionic surfactant (AS) removal than EC-SMBR. A voltage gradient of 0.64 V/cm in the EC unit significantly reduced fouling by 23.7%, while 1.26 V/cm showed inconsistent results. Accumulation of Al ions negatively affected membrane performance. Low voltage gradients in EC can control SMBR fouling if Al concentration is controlled. Future research should investigate EC-SMBR with constant membrane flux for large-scale applications, considering energy consumption and operating costs.
An experimental workflow to assess the applicability of microemulsions for conformance improvement in oil-bearing reservoir

Pal N, Alzahid Y, AlSofi AM, Ali M, Yekeen N, Hoteit H

Heliyon, 2023 Jul;9(7):e17667.
PMID: 37539136 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17667

A comprehensive workflow approach is necessary to link multiple experimental tasks and identify microemulsion (ME) formulations with 'optimal' stability, displacement behavior and technical feasibility in the petroleum industry. In this paper, a systematic approach is described with the aid of a case study which involves the formulation of an anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate-based microemulsion. The design of such ME systems requires a proper methodology, substantial laboratory work, and functional assessment from research/industrial viewpoints. The surfactant has been screened in terms of its micellization potential, followed by phase behavior analysis and Winsor classification of prepared microemulsions. The desired composition(s) are characterized via several tools to determine droplet size, morphology, oil/water solubilization potentials and salinity scan results. The suitability of the microemulsion system for conformance improvement technology (CIT) is proposed to be assessed via physicochemical evaluation studies encompassing two attributes: rheology and stability. For a favorable 'conforming' drive, the microemulsion must exhibit phase stability, sufficient injectivity, and moderate-to-high viscosity under shear. Technical assessment by the industry and research team must also include factors related to cost, availability of chemicals, environmental degradation, and reservoir considerations. The article demonstrates a comprehensive all-inclusive workflow methodology to design and formulate surfactant-stabilized microemulsions via case study analysis for application in CIT. This represents a sound approach to identifying efficient, cost-effective injection fluid systems and provides a framework to identify useful parameters for ME formulation design and employ the proposed (effective) strategy for conformance control.
Fulltext A bibliometric analysis of emerging adulthood in the context of higher education institutions: A psychological perspectives

Wider W, Fauzi MA, Gan SW, Yap CC, Akmal Bin Ahmad Khadri MW, Maidin SS

Heliyon, 2023 Jun;9(6):e16988.
PMID: 37484333 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16988

In recent years, there has been a rise in studies aimed at better understanding the needs and traits of emerging adults and the role that higher education institutions play in their development and success. Despite the relevance of higher education institutions to the emerging adulthood development, there has been scant work done to synthesise the literature on this topic. A bibliometric method was utilised to retrieve 2484 journal articles from Web of Science (WoS). Utilizing co-citation analysis and co-word analysis, we determined the most influential publications, mapped the knowledge structure, and predicted future trends. The results of the co-citation analysis indicate five clusters, while the co-word analysis indicates four. The results could be used as a roadmap for the future of research on emerging adults by a variety of interested parties, including policymakers, university administrators, funders, and academics.
Fulltext Square wave voltammetry based electrochemical determination of affinity of cholesterol triethylene glycol modified DNA-aptamers for protoporphyrin IX

Aliyu AW, Mohd Nazri MN, Mohd Zaidi NF, Mohd Fadzli Mustaffa K

Heliyon, 2023 Aug;9(8):e18861.
PMID: 37609428 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18861

Recent advancement in molecular medicine has seen applications of advanced biotechnology tools such as aptamer technology in therapeutics and diagnostics. Aptamer technology has witnessed various approaches including "Click-Chemistry" towards modifying aptamer structure to improve its potentials, but limited studies have reported the influence of such alteration on aptamer's specificity and affinity for their targets. Here, we utilized square wave voltammetry (SWV) electrochemical sensing based on heme to show the effects of cholesterol-triethylene-glycol (COL-TEG) modification of protoporphyrin-IX DNA-aptamers (OKA_24 and OKA_26) on their affinity for heme. Binding was evaluated by immobilizing 5 μM of heme onto cysteamine-glutaraldehyde-coated gold-electrode to construct electrochemical biosensor. Sensing of native/modified-aptamer was achieved by incubating their varying concentrations (9.76 nM - 10 μM) with heme-coated gold-electrode in HKSCM buffer pH 5, for 15 min. Chloroquine (2.5 μM) and non-binding HPIX-aptamer (2.5 μM) served as controls. Ferrocene was the redox solution used for SWV analysis. Protoporphyrin-IX DNA-aptamers specificity for heme was not tarnish by lipid conjugation. Selective binding of 2.5 μM of COL-TEG-OKA_24 and COL-TEG-OKA_26 to heme induced peak-current reduction by 30.68% and 24% respectively. Incubation of OKA_24 and OKA_26 aptamers produced resistance to current flow through the heme-coated gold-electrode by 23.21% and 14.4 8% respectively. Affinity SWV reveals that cholesterol conjugation decreases the affinity of COL-TEG-OKA_24 (KD = 4 7.13 ± 3.767 nM) and COL-TEG-OKA_24 (KD = 84.6 ± 8.7 nM) by 3- fold. There is a need to check the impact of such alteration on inhibition of heme to hemozoin polymerization, a process mediated by Plasmodium falciparum.
Fulltext Modelling the mass adoption potential of food waste composting among rural Chinese farmers

Al Mamun A, Yang Q, Naznen F, Aziz NA, Masud MM

Heliyon, 2023 Aug;9(8):e18998.
PMID: 37609413 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18998

As a safe alternative to hazardous agrochemicals, food waste compost could prevent human health hazards and environmental degradation. Food waste composting has not garnered much popularity among farmers given their sole dependence on synthetic fertilizers for high yields and commercial returns. Hence, this study aimed to identify the factors influencing farmers' adoption of food waste composting for regular use. Empirical data were collected from 399 farmers residing in different second-tier cities in China through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The partial least squares-structural equation modelling was used to statistically examine the models and construct correlations. Based on the study outcomes, the perceived usefulness of food waste compost, awareness of the consequences, social influence, anticipated guilt, and attitude towards food waste composting substantially impacted food waste composting intention. Intriguingly, the perceived value of sustainability and ascription of responsibility did not have a significant impact on food waste composting intention, whereas food waste composting intention substantially influenced food waste composting behavior. The results of the multi-group analysis revealed differences in the relationship between awareness of consequences and food waste composting intention across genders and educational levels. This intriguing finding provides new avenues for future research and offers novel insights into the practical applications and promotion of food waste composting. These results will improve the relevant aspects among farmers for eco-friendly farming practices, innovate food waste management strategies, and mitigate environmental deterioration resulting from hazardous agrochemicals. This study expands the current body of literature by providing government regulators and other social enterprises with effective laws, policies, and strategy development guidelines for adopting natural composting on a large scale and enhancing the nutritional value of food to prevent unforeseen health risks caused by toxic chemicals.
Assessing Mental Health Outcomes in Quarantine Centres: A Cross-Sectional Study during COVID-19 in Malaysia

Mohamad N, Ismail R, Ibrahim MF, Abdul Shukor IH, Mohamad MZ, Mahmud MF, et al.

Healthcare (Basel), 2023 Aug 18;11(16).
PMID: 37628536 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11162339

During the COVID-19 pandemic, persons under surveillance (PUS) were isolated in quarantine centres instead of at home. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the mental health issues experienced by these persons. This study aimed to assess mental health outcomes and associated factors among PUS and frontline workers at quarantine centres. This study conducted an analysis of secondary data from a cross-sectional survey carried out by the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS). The MHPSS employed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to evaluate mental health outcomes across 49 quarantine centres in Malaysia. The study included a total of 4577 respondents. The prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression was found to be 0.9%, 11.4%, and 10.2%, respectively. Frontline workers and being part of the younger age group were found to be associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Other factors associated with mental health issues were being female, staying at an institution-type centre, and a longer duration of the stay or work at the centre. In conclusion, assessing the mental health status and its associated factors among quarantine centre occupants is crucial for developing future strategies to safeguard their mental well-being.
Fulltext Maternal Vitamin D Supplementation for the Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections in Offspring: A Meta-Analysis

Sulaiman Z, Noor NM, Ismail SB, Mohd Lukman ASF, Irfan M, Hussain NHN

Korean J Fam Med, 2022 May;43(3):174-182.
PMID: 35610964 DOI: 10.4082/kjfm.21.0029

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D may enhance immune system function and provide a protective effect against infections. Feto-maternal circulation plays an important role in supplying the developing fetus with nutrients and antibodies for its development and health during pregnancy and for its early years of life after birth. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the effectiveness of maternal vitamin D supplementation in preventing respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children.
METHODS: We searched the Central and MEDLINE databases and went through all the reference lists in the related articles. We also searched for ongoing trials at http://www.who.int/ictrp/en/ and www.clinicaltrials.gov. Randomized controlled trials comparing vitamin D supplementation with a placebo or no treatment in pregnant women published in the English language up to March 2019 were included. Two reviewers extracted data independently using a predefined protocol and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, with differences agreed upon by consensus. The predefined primary outcome was the number of offspring who had RTIs. The secondary outcome was the presence of measurable serum immunoglobulin E levels.
RESULTS: Three trials involving 3,224 participants (mother-child pairs) met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The present analysis reported that maternal supplementation with vitamin D had no effect on RTIs among children (n=1,486 offspring; risk ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-1.11; random effects; I2 statistics, 0%).
CONCLUSION: Maternal vitamin D supplementation had no effect on RTIs in children. Therefore, consideration of other prevention methods in this regard is recommended.
Fulltext Antecedents of Employee Green Behavior in the Hospitality Industry

Khan NU, Cheng J, Yasir M, Saufi RA, Nawi NC, Bazkiaei HA

Front Psychol, 2022;13:836109.
PMID: 35846669 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.836109

Organizations are increasingly adopting green human resource management policies to encourage environmentally friendly behaviors. Research shows that adopting green policies and procedures is beneficial for the hospitality industry. However, limited empirical evidence exists on the association between environmental-specific ethical leadership, psychological green climate, and employees' green behavior. Therefore, this study intends to examine psychological green climate (PGC) as a mediator between the relationship of environmental-specific ethical leadership (ESEL) and employees' green behavior (EGB), specifically in the hotel industry of Pakistan. Data from 224 non-managerial position employees in the understudy sector was collected using a convenient sampling technique. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to examine the direct and indirect effects among the variables using the Smart PLS 3.3.3 version. This study showed that ESEL is positively related to PGC and EGB. Moreover, PGC is positively associated with EGB, and PGC mediated in the relationship between ESEL and EGB. Thus, current research highlights the significance of environmental-specific ethical leadership behavior, which assists in establishing a green psychological climate, thereby fostering employees' green behavior in the hotel industry of Pakistan.

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