Acceptance of medical drone technology and its determinant factors among public and healthcare personnel in a Malaysian urban environment: knowledge, attitude, and perception.

Introduction: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are used for commercial, medical, public safety, and scientific research purposes in various countries.

Methods: This study aimed to explore the acceptance of medical delivery drones among medical practitioners as well as the public community in Malaysia using a knowledge, attitude, and perception (KAP) model and statistical analysis to decrease uncertainty. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of the results were performed in SPSS.

The apocarotenoid β-ionone regulates the transcriptome of Arabidopsis thaliana and increases its resistance against Botrytis cinerea.

Carotenoids are isoprenoid pigments indispensable for photosynthesis. Moreover, they are the precursor of apocarotenoids, which include the phytohormones abscisic acid (ABA) and strigolactones (SLs) as well as retrograde signaling molecules and growth regulators, such as β-cyclocitral and zaxinone. Here, we show that the application of the volatile apocarotenoid β-ionone (β-I) to Arabidopsis plants at micromolar concentrations caused a global reprogramming of gene expression, affecting thousands of transcripts involved in stress tolerance, growth, hormone metabolism, pathogen defense, and photosynthesis.

Towards Context-Aware Facial Emotion Reaction Database for Dyadic Interaction Settings.

Emotion recognition is a significant issue in many sectors that use human emotion reactions as communication for marketing, technological equipment, or human-robot interaction. The realistic facial behavior of social robots and artificial agents is still a challenge, limiting their emotional credibility in dyadic face-to-face situations with humans. One obstacle is the lack of appropriate training data on how humans typically interact in such settings.

Co-expression Networks in Predicting Transcriptional Gene Regulation.

Recent progress in transcriptomics and co-expression networks have enabled us to predict the inference of the biological functions of genes with the associated environmental stress. Microarrays and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) are the most commonly used high-throughput gene expression platforms for detecting differentially expressed genes between two (or more) phenotypes. Gene co-expression networks (GCNs) are a systems biology method for capturing transcriptional patterns and predicting gene interactions into functional and regulatory relationships.

Predictive Value of the GLIM Criteria in Chinese Community-Dwelling and Institutionalized Older Adults Aged 70 Years and Over.

Objectives: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) has recently published criteria for classifying malnutrition. This study investigated the associations between malnutrition and adverse outcomes, and identified which component(s) of the GLIM criteria is/are risk factor(s) of adverse outcomes in Chinese older adults.

Design: A prospective cohort study of Chinese older adults in a healthy ageing study.

Molecular Characterization and Disease Control of Stem Canker on Royal Poinciana () Caused by in the United Arab Emirates.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), royal poinciana () trees suffer from stem canker disease. Symptoms of stem canker can be characterized by branch and leaf dryness, bark lesions, discoloration of xylem tissues, longitudinal wood necrosis and extensive gumming. General dieback signs were also observed leading to complete defoliation of leaves and ultimately death of trees in advanced stages.

Metatranscriptomic Analysis of Multiple Environmental Stresses Identifies RAP2.4 Gene Associated with Arabidopsis Immunity to Botrytis cinerea.

In this study, we aimed to identify common genetic components during stress response responsible for crosstalk among stresses, and to determine the role of differentially expressed genes in Arabidopsis-Botrytis cinerea interaction. Of 1,554 B. cinerea up-regulated genes, 24%, 1.

Growth Promotion of by UAE1, an Endophytic 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid Deaminase-Producing Actinobacterial Isolate.

is a promising halophytic crop for saline soils in semi-arid regions. This study was designed to characterize isolates of endophytic actinobacteria from roots and evaluate the effects associated with plant growth promotion. Twenty-eight endophytic isolates obtained from surface-sterilized roots of were initially selected based on their production of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase in a chemically defined medium.

Understanding the needs of nurse preceptors in acute hospital care setting: A mixed-method study.

Nurse preceptors play an important role in supporting newly qualified nurses during transition periods. However, limited attention is given to the needs and experience of nurse preceptors with expected responsibilities. This study aimed to examine the perceived needs of nurse preceptors in three public acute hospitals by using a sequential mixed method approach conducted between March and August 2017.

Molecular Identification and Disease Management of Date Palm Sudden Decline Syndrome in the United Arab Emirates.

Date palm orchards suffer from serious diseases, including sudden decline syndrome (SDS). External symptoms were characterized by whitening on one side of the rachis, progressing from the base to the apex of the leaf until the whole leaf dies; while the internal disease symptoms included reddish roots and highly colored vascular bundles causing wilting and death of the tree. Although three spp.

Effect of phosphate nutrition on growth, physiology and phosphate transporter expression of cucumber seedlings.

Although abundantly present in soils, inorganic phosphate (Pi) acquisition by plants is highly dependent on the transmembrane phosphate transporter (PT) gene family. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) requires a large amount of phosphorus (P). The purpose of this study was to isolate the CsPT2-1 from cucumber roots, and to determine the influence of Pi nutrition on cucumber growth, metabolism and transcript levels of CsPT2-1 in tissues.

Feasibility of cord blood bank in high altitude Abha: preclinical impacts.

We explored the possibility of the cryo-storage of cord blood hematopoietic stem cells (CBHPSC) with respect to the quantity, quality and biologic efficacy of high altitude (HA) region Abha against sea level (SL) region. The results of the post-processed total nucleated cell count was 8.03 ± 0.

Detection and Management of Mango Dieback Disease in the United Arab Emirates.

Mango is affected by different decline disorders causing significant losses to mango growers. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the pathogen was isolated from all tissues sampled from diseased trees affected by . Symptoms at early stages of the disease included general wilting appearance of mango trees, and dieback of twigs.

UAE1, a Potential Effective Biocontrol Agent for Black Scorch Disease in Date Palm Plantations.

Many fungal diseases affect date palm causing considerable losses in date production worldwide. We found that the fungicide Cidely Top inhibited the mycelial growth of the soil-borne pathogenic fungus , the causal agent of black scorch disease of date palm, both and . Because the use of biocontrol agents (BCAs) can minimize the impact of pathogen control on economic and environmental concerns related to chemical control, we aimed at testing local actinomycete strains isolated from the rhizosphere soil of healthy date palm cultivated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) against .

Microarray analysis of Arabidopsis WRKY33 mutants in response to the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea.

The WRKY33 transcription factor was reported for resistance to the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea. Using microarray-based analysis, we compared Arabidopsis WRKY33 overexpressing lines and wrky33 mutant that showed altered susceptibility to B. cinerea with their corresponding wild-type plants.

Concealed Accessory Pathways with a Single Ventricular and Two Discrete Atrial Insertion Sites.

Background: Atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT) utilizing a concealed accessory pathway is common. It is well appreciated that some patients may have multiple accessory pathways with separate atrial and ventricular insertion sites.

Methods: We present three cases of AVRT utilizing concealed pathways with evidence that each utilizing a single ventricular insertion and two discrete atrial insertion sites.

Chemical Control of Black Scorch Disease on Date Palm Caused by the Fungal Pathogen Thielaviopsis punctulata in United Arab Emirates.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the most important plants grown for its edible fruit. Palm diseases are among the major factors affecting its growth and productivity.

Association of life events and depressive symptoms among early postmenopausal Chinese women in Hong Kong.

Objective: This study examined the occurrence of stressful life events (SLEs) and its association with the risk of developing depressive symptoms in midlife women.

Methods: A total of 518 Hong Kong Chinese postmenopausal women aged 50 to 64 years were recruited through random telephone dialing. Information on sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle variables was obtained through face-to-face interviews at baseline, and at 3-year (T1) and 5-year (T2) follow-up.

Combination of ciclopirox olamine and sphingosine-1-phosphate as granulation enhancer in diabetic wounds.

Granulation tissue formation requires a robust angiogenic response. As granulation tissue develops, collagen fibers are deposited and compacted. Forces generated in the wake of this process drive wound contraction to reduce the wound area.

Translating evidence-based protocol of wound drain management for total joint arthroplasty into practice: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Although various drains have long been used in total joint replacement, evidence suggests inconsistent practice exists in the use of drainage systems including intermittently applying suction or free of drainage suction, and variations in the optimal timing for wound drain removal. A comprehensive systematic review of available evidence up to 2013 was conducted in a previous study and a protocol was adapted for clinical application according to the summary of the retrieved information (Tsang, 2015).

Aims: To determine if the protocol could reduce blood loss and blood transfusion after operation and to develop a record form so as to enhance communication of drainage record amongst surgeons and nurses.

Foam stabilisation using surfactant exfoliated graphene.

Liquid-air foams have been stabilised using a suspension of graphene particles at very low particle loadings. The suspension was prepared through the liquid phase exfoliation of graphite in the presence of the non-ionic tri-block surfactant, Pluronic® F108. The graphene particles possess an extremely high aspect ratio, with lateral dimensions of between 0.

Relationship between menopause status, attitude toward menopause, and quality of life in Chinese midlife women in Hong Kong.

Objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the relationship between menopause status and attitude toward menopause, and also its relationship with quality of life (QoL) of Chinese midlife women in Hong Kong.

Methods: Hong Kong Chinese women aged 40 to 59 years were recruited through computer-generated random telephone dialing. Information was obtained through telephone interviews based on a structured questionnaire.

Young adults' experiences of their parents caring for a relative with dementia.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to explore the experiences and perceptions young adults had of family members who are caring for a relative with dementia.

Methods: An exploratory qualitative study with semi-structured interviews was carried out and data were collected from 24 young adults recruited through purposive sampling. The participants had to have a close relative who was caring for an elderly family member with dementia.