Drug-Loaded Hydrogel Microneedles for Sustainable Transdermal Delivery of Macromolecular Proteins.

Introduction: Poly(methyl vinyl ether co-maleic acid) (PMVE/MA) hydrogel microneedles (HMN) are investigated for transdermal delivery of macromolecular drugs owing to their biocompatibility and super-swelling properties. However, the drug delivery efficacy reduces with increasing molecular weight due to the entrapment within the HMN matrices. Furthermore, integrating external drug reservoirs extends the drug diffusion path and reduces the efficiency of drug permeation.

Facial features of cartoon characters and their perceived attributes.

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between skeletal antero-posterior profile of popular family cartoon characters and their perceived personal characteristics. The Internet Movie DataBase (IMDB) was used to identify popular animated family movies released since 2000. Cartoon characters were identified, and classified based on their gender (male/female), skeletal profile (Class I, II or III) and character assessment (protagonist/antagonist).

Breast imaging in focus: A bibliometric overview of visual quality, modality innovations, and diagnostic performance.

Introduction: Breast imaging plays a crucial role in the early detection and management of breast cancer, with visual quality, modality innovation and diagnostic performance being key factors in achieving accurate diagnoses and optimal patient outcomes. This paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the literature on the three above elements focusing on breast imaging, aiming to uncover publication trends, identify influential works and authors, and highlight future research directions.

Methods: We employed a methodical bibliometric approach, making use of Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases for gathering literatures.

Efficacy of natural enzymes mouthwash: a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: Natural enzymes mouthwash has been proposed as salivary substitutes to treat xerostomia. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the mouthwash to treat xerostomia.

Materials And Methods: A double-blind, parallel group randomised control clinical trial involving N = 49 adult participants with xerostomia was carried out.

The Efficacy of Apple Cider Vinegar at Different pH Values as an Antimicrobial Agent: An Study.

Aims And Background: This study evaluates the antimicrobial activities of commercially available 5% apple cider vinegar (ACV) against , , and Materials and methods: Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) were conducted using the broth microdilution method. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) of 5.25% was used as a positive control, and comparisons were also made with acetic acid (AA) as the main ingredient in ACV.

Efficient adsorption of organic pollutants phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) utilizing magnetite functionalized covalent organic frameworks (MCOFs): A promising future material for industrial applications.

The utilization of phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) as the major component in plastic and its derivative industry has raised concerns among the public due to the harmful effects caused by these organic pollutants. These pollutants are found to exhibit unique physicochemical properties that allow the pollutants to have prolonged existence in the environment, thus causing damage to the environment. Since phthalates and bisphenol A are used in a variety of industrial applications, the industry must recover these compounds from its water before releasing the pollutants into the environment.

The quality of life and body image disturbances of Turner syndrome patients in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Turner Syndrome (TS) is a rare sex chromosome abnormality occurring in 1 in 2500 female live births. To date, there is limited data on TS patients in Malaysia. This study aimed to investigate the quality of life (QoL) and body image disturbances among adult population with TS in comparison to age-matched controls in a tertiary hospital in Kuala Lumpur: Hospital Chancellor Tuanku Mukhriz, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HCTM, UKM).

The influence of learning styles on academic procrastination among students in mathematics.

Introduction: Procrastination is a complex psychological and behavioral construct that is strongly influenced by certain personality traits. In mathematics learning, students find it difficult to master the concepts because of less exposure to learning styles. Poor knowledge of mathematical concepts leads to academic procrastination in the subject of Mathematics among students.

Broad vs. narrow traits: a scoping review of measuring personality traits in teacher selection using the situational judgment test.

Situational Judgment Tests (SJTs) have gained popularity and are commonly used as a measurement technique in a variety of professions, particularly those that include hiring, promoting, and professional development. In various educational sectors around the world, SJTs are being utilized as a measure by which to choose individuals who possess the requisite non-academic attributes for the profession. The objective of this review is to identify and analyze the traits that are measured in teacher selection using SJTs, in terms of both broad and narrow traits.

Identifying 5 Mutation in Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma Patients With Baseline Characteristics Using Machine Learning Technology.

Background: Primary aldosteronism is characterized by inappropriate aldosterone production, and unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma (uPA) is a common type of PA. 5 mutation is a protective factor in uPA; however, there is no preoperative approach to detect 5 mutation in patients with uPA.

Objectives: This study aimed to provide a personalized surgical recommendation that enables more confidence in advising patients to pursue surgical treatment.

Primary aldosteronism: molecular medicine meets public health.

Primary aldosteronism is the most common single cause of hypertension and is potentially curable when only one adrenal gland is the culprit. The importance of primary aldosteronism to public health derives from its high prevalence but huge under-diagnosis (estimated to be <1% of all affected individuals), despite the consequences of poor blood pressure control by conventional therapy and enhanced cardiovascular risk. This state of affairs is attributable to the fact that the tools used for diagnosis or treatment are still those that originated in the 1970-1990s.

Examining the relationship between big data analytics capabilities and organizational ambidexterity in the Malaysian banking sector.

Drawing on previous literature on dynamic capability view (DCV), we examine the effects of data analytics capabilities (BDAC) on organizational ambidexterity and the paradoxical tensions between exploration and exploitation in the Malaysian banking sector. Although banks are often considered as mature commercial organizations, they are not free of issues concerning technological advancement and organizational changes for long-term competitiveness. Through statistical analysis by using data from 162 bank managers in Malaysia, it is confirmed that BDAC positively influences the two contradictory aspects of organizational ambidexterity (i.

International multicenter survey on screening and confirmatory testing in primary aldosteronism.

Objective: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is one of the most frequent causes of secondary hypertension. Although clinical practice guidelines recommend a diagnostic process, details of the steps remain incompletely standardized.

Design: In the present SCOT-PA survey, we have investigated the diversity of approaches utilized for each diagnostic step in different expert centers through a survey using Google questionnaires.

Examining young Chinese consumers' engagement in restaurant food waste mitigation from the perspective of cultural values and information publicity.

Food waste is a serious problem with regard to social equity and environmental challenges across the world. In recent decades, a dramatic growth of restaurant food waste has been seen in China. This study integrated the norm activation model (NAM), Chinese cultural values (i.

To travel, or not to travel? The impacts of travel constraints and perceived travel risk on travel intention among Malaysian tourists amid the COVID-19.

The tourism and hospitality industry has been deeply disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic since its inception in December 2019. Many tourists are too anxious to travel. Thus, understanding how travel constraints and perceived travel risk influence travel intention is crucial for many destinations in their post-crisis recovery.

Highly Effective Cow Bone Based Biocomposite for the Sequestration of Organic Pollutant Parameter from Palm Oil Mill Effluent in a Fixed Bed Column Adsorption System.

The reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) from palm oil mill effluent (POME) is very significant to ensure aquatic protection and the environment. Continuous adsorption of COD in a fixed bed column can be an effective treatment process for its reduction prior to discharge. Adsorption capacity of bone derived biocomposite synthesized from fresh cow bones, zeolite, and coconut shells for the reduction in the organic pollutant parameter was investigated in this study in a fixed bed column.

The global burden of coeliac disease: opportunities and challenges.

Coeliac disease is a systemic disorder characterized by immune-mediated enteropathy, which is caused by gluten ingestion in genetically susceptible individuals. The clinical presentation of coeliac disease is highly variable and ranges from malabsorption through solely extra-intestinal manifestations to asymptomatic. As a result, the majority of patients with coeliac disease remain undiagnosed, misdiagnosed or experience a substantial delay in diagnosis.

A Comprehensive Review on the Optical Micro-Electromechanical Sensors for the Biomedical Application.

This study presented an overview of current developments in optical micro-electromechanical systems in biomedical applications. Optical micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) is a particular class of MEMS technology. It combines micro-optics, mechanical elements, and electronics, called the micro-opto electromechanical system (MOEMS).

Somatic mutations of GNA11 and GNAQ in CTNNB1-mutant aldosterone-producing adenomas presenting in puberty, pregnancy or menopause.

Most aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) have gain-of-function somatic mutations of ion channels or transporters. However, their frequency in aldosterone-producing cell clusters of normal adrenal gland suggests a requirement for codriver mutations in APAs. Here we identified gain-of-function mutations in both CTNNB1 and GNA11 by whole-exome sequencing of 3/41 APAs.

Fuzzy rank-based fusion of CNN models using Gompertz function for screening COVID-19 CT-scans.

COVID-19 has crippled the world's healthcare systems, setting back the economy and taking the lives of several people. Although potential vaccines are being tested and supplied around the world, it will take a long time to reach every human being, more so with new variants of the virus emerging, enforcing a lockdown-like situation on parts of the world. Thus, there is a dire need for early and accurate detection of COVID-19 to prevent the spread of the disease, even more.