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Transformative Synergies: Designing Sustainable Business, Taxation, and Tourism Ecosystems in the Digital Economy Era
No full textThe digital economy creates challenges and opportunities across various sectors, including taxation, tourism, and regulation. From a sustainability perspective, integrating sustainable business practices, digital taxation, and tourism innovation is crucial for building an ecosystem that is not only dynamic but also environmentally friendly. This article explores how the digital economy can be leveraged to create sustainable business ecosystems through advancements in digital taxation and tourism innovation. This study employs an interdisciplinary approach to examine the impact of digital transformation on business practices, taxation systems, and the green economy, particularly within the context of tourism. This paper also highlights key challenges, such as the technology gap and issues with tax compliance, while offering insights into policy solutions that can foster cross-sector collaboration. The report shows that these synergies are essential for achieving long-term sustainable outcomes. The study emphasizes the critical role of cooperation among governments, private companies, and communities in creating adaptive, resilient ecosystems suited to the digital economy era
The Impact of Work-life Balance on Job Satisfaction Through Gender as a Moderating Variable: A Literature Review
No full textMillennial employees in Indonesia’s banking sector play a significant role in the industry’s development, with a strong emphasis on achieving work-life balance. However, this balance is often affected by high work pressure and performance demands. While employees seek flexibility and meaningful work, many experience dissatisfaction with existing welfare policies, which are deemed ineffective. Gender also influences these dynamics: female employees tend to value policies that support personal responsibilities, while male employees engaged in family life report higher levels of job satisfaction. Grounded in Social Exchange Theory, this study highlights the reciprocal relationship between organizations and employees, as in when companies support work-life balance, employees feel valued, resulting in increased job satisfaction. This literature review addresses a gap in existing research by proposing a conceptual framework that positions gender as a moderating factor in the relationship between work-life balance and job satisfaction. This article is relevant for banks and future researchers, as few studies to date have applied this theoretical lens to similar models
Statin-induced Myonecrosis—A Rare Adverse Effect of a Common Drug: A Case Report
No full textBackground: Clinically significant statin-induced myonecrosis is a rare clinical disorder that affects the skeletal muscles of patients taking statin medication. Its clinical presentation ranges from mild muscle pain to muscle weakness associated with significant elevation (>10×) of serum creatinine kinase (CK). Early screening, identification, and treatment of statin-induced myopathy are vital as it may lead to drug discontinuation and poor medication adherence.
Case Report: We report a 40-year-old male diabetic patient who visited our neurology referral clinic with a two-week history of muscle pain associated with proximal extremities’ weakness, which later progressed to involve the distal extremity muscles of his upper and lower limbs. A week before his presentation to our hospital, he became wheelchair-bound. Six months before his admission, he was started on a daily dose of 40 mg oral simvastatin for prevention, given his cardiovascular risk factors. No history of fever, headaches, abnormal body movement; no personal or family history of similar illness; no history of trauma, alcohol use, smoking, or use of herbal medication was elicited. His CK levels were elevated 19 times, and electromyography examination showed a myopathic pattern in proximal muscles. Following the discontinuation of simvastatin, the patient’s muscle weakness significantly improved. In addition, his serum CK levels also lowered significantly on his follow-up evaluation.
Conclusion: This case describes a diabetic patient with statin-induced myonecrosis, managed conservatively through statin withdrawal. It also highlights the benign prognosis in younger patients, showing that the condition generally has a favorable outcome with timely diagnosis and management
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Low Birth Weight in Central Sudan: A Cross-sectional Study
No full textBackground: This study aims to assess the prevalence and associated factors of low birth weight (LBW) in central Sudan during the ongoing instability.
Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional survey was conducted at Wad Madani, Central Sudan, from September to November 2023. Paired mothers and single live newborns were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire was used to collect medical and obstetric data. Multivariate binary regression was performed.
Results: Of the 384 neonates included, 148 (38.5%) were identified as LBW neonates. After adjusting for confounders, maternal age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91–0.98, P = 0.011) and gestational age (AOR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.53–0.72, P < 0.001) were inversely associated with LBW. Lower maternal antenatal care (ANC) level (≤4 visits) was borderline associated with LBW (AOR = 1.69, 95% CI: 0.99–2.87, P = 0.051). Parity, maternal education level, maternal residence, maternal employment, history of miscarriage, maternal hemoglobin level, and the sex of the newborn were not associated with LBW.
Conclusion: LBW is a significant health issue in this region of Sudan, especially among younger mothers and those with fewer ANC visits. Increased efforts are necessary to reduce LBW deliveries, potentially by enhancing ANC services in conflict areas
Diagnostic potential of cell-free fetal nucleic acids in predicting pregnancy complications: A systematic review and meta-analysis on trisomy, pre-eclampsia, and gestational diabetes
No full textBackground: Recent studies reveal an association between increased cell-free fetal (cff) nucleic acid in maternal blood and pregnancy challenges like loss, pre-eclampsia, growth restriction, and preterm labor. Objective: This article assesses the role of cff nucleic acids as potential diagnostic markers for the prediction and monitoring progression of severe pregnancy-related complications.
Materials and Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, various databases were searched. Original articles reporting on the role of cff nucleic acids in predicting the complications of pregnancy were included. I square test and funnel plot were used to analyze heterogeneity and publication bias, respectively. The quality of studies was assessed using the critical appraisal checklists for studies created by the Joanna Briggs Institute.
Results: 70 publications were selected for the final qualitative analysis. Articles were published between 2010 and 2023, and most studies were conducted in the USA and China. The majority of studies were conducted on the quantity of cff-DNA (n = 40), and the remaining on microRNA (n = 18), messenger RNA (n = 11), and cell-free RNA (n = 1). The pooled sensitivity of cff nucleic acids for detecting trisomy was found to be 90.9 (95% CI: 80.9–100%). MicroRNA levels were significantly increased in participants with gestational diabetes mellitus, with a standardized mean difference of 1.22 (95% CI: -0.90–3.34).
Conclusion: Fetal nucleic acids can serve as accurate noninvasive diagnostic tools for predicting serious complications during pregnancy
Comparison of double blastocyst transfer versus sequential transfer on pregnancy outcomes in individuals with frozen embryo transfer and a history of recurrent implantation failure: An RCT
No full textBackground: Recurrent implantation failure poses a significant challenge in assisted reproductive technology despite the transfer of high-quality embryos over multiple cycles.
Objective: This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes between double blastocyst transfer and sequential single cleavage-stage and blastocyst transfer in individuals undergoing frozen embryo transfer and those with a history of repeated implantation failure.
Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted at the Yazd Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd, Iran from February to November 2024 and included 125 women (< 45 yr) with a history of more than 2 implantation failures. Participants were randomized into 2 groups: one receiving double blastocyst transfer and the other receiving sequential single cleavage-stage and blastocyst transfer. The primary and secondary outcomes included clinical pregnancy, chemical pregnancy, early abortion, multiple pregnancy, and implantation rates.
Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. Chemical pregnancy rates were comparable (51.6% for double blastocyst transfer vs. 49.2% for sequential transfer, p = 0.790), as were clinical pregnancy rates (46.9% vs. 44.3%, p = 0.769). Early abortion rates showed no significant difference (27.3% vs. 20%, p = 0.498). Multiple pregnancy rates were similar (23.3% vs. 25.9%, p = 0.820), and implantation rates did not differ significantly (28.9% vs. 27.86%, p = 0.889).
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that sequential single cleavage-stage and blastocyst transfer does not significantly improve assisted reproductive technology outcomes compared with double blastocyst transfer in individuals with recurrent implantation failure. Both methods had similar efficacy rates in terms of chemical pregnancy rates, clinical pregnancy rates, early abortion rates, multiple pregnancy rates, and implantation rates
Selected Psychological Features of Personality and the Level of Internality in Patients of a Multidisciplinary Hospital
No full textThe levels of extraversion-introversion, neuroticism, psychoticism, and locus of control are of particular interest when researching samples of people with various health disorders. The study aims to describe the psychological profile according to Eysenck’s personality type and internality characteristics in patients of a multidisciplinary hospital’s trauma, neurological, and cardiological departments. The combined survey/case-control study with 58 in-patient participants and 58 controls was performed from July to December 2023 in a multidisciplinary clinic in Aktobe. The Rotter Locus of Control Questionnaire and the Hans and Sibylle Eysenck Personality Type Questionnaire were used to collect data. The levels of extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism were significantly higher in neurological patients (17.0 (15.0;18.0), 18.0 (14.0;21.0), and 11.0 (9.0;13.0), respectively). Cardiac patients showed the highest indicators of social desirability, 17.0 (16.0; 18.0), and the internality of achievements, 7.0 (5.5; 8.0). There were no significant differences between the groups in general internality and internality toward failure and health. Weak positive correlations with age were found on the scales of lying and internality in the field of achievements, failures, and family relationships, as well as a negative correlation between age and internality concerning health and illness (0.27; 0.28; 0.24; 0.38; -0.22, respectively). Analyzing the psychological profile of cardiac patients in our study confirmed the researchers’ version of type D behavior (a combination of negative emotionality, restraint, lack of self-confidence, and uncertainty) in this group. Compared with the controls, in-patient participants recorded relatively low levels of internality in business relations and, vice versa, high internality in family relations, particularly in men. Thus, stress caused by illness, especially long-term chronic pathology, affects the patient’s psychological profile and initiates a reassessment of values
Lipid Metabolism Features in Young Smokers: Lipid Metabolism
No full textTThis study aimed to identify lipid metabolism features in young smokers, specifically in students from the West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University. A comprehensive clinical and instrumental examination of 154 male students was conducted. Depending on the smoking status, the subjects were divided into two groups (group one – non-smokers, n=95, group two – smokers, n=59). Lipid profile was studied and atherogenicity coefficient was calculated to assess the state of vascular endothelium. Blood pressure above reference values was recorded in 1.1% of subjects in the first group and 3.4% in the second group. Obesity was found in 10.5% of students in group one and 11.9% in group two. The level of total cholesterol in group one was increased to 3.2% and 1.7% in group two. Increased level of triglycerides was detected in both groups at 9.5% and 6.8%, respectively. It was found that lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL) levels were higher than normal in group one, and high-density lipoprotein levels were lower in both groups. The atherogenic coefficient increased by 11.6% in the first group and 13.6% in the second. The study results indicate the presence of risk factors for the development of cardiovascular pathology in students, particularly through alterations in lipid balance
Histological Characteristics of Allografted Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder Segments En-bloc in an Experiment on Pigs
No full textThis study presents a histological analysis of a transplanted donor kidney, including its ureter, a part of the contralateral ureter, and a segment of the bladder, enbloc transplanted into recipients with simulated microcystis in a porcine model. The experiment was carried out on six pigs, three donors and three recipients, under general intubation anesthesia. From each donor, the left kidney with the ureter and a triangular bladder segment with the right ureter were removed as a single block and perfused with an organ preservation solution. In recipients, the right kidney with ureter, apex of the bladder, and left ureter were removed. Orthotopic organ transplantation was performed. Donors were euthanized post-surgery, while recipients were observed for 7 days. Subsequently, the recipients underwent relaparotomy, visual assessment, and histological examination. Histological analysis of transplanted organs reveals the presence of blood supply to the graft tissues, especially the part of the donor bladder. This indicates a high probability of good organ engraftment. This study focuses on evaluating graft vascularization, with long-term engraftment being addressed in future research
An Evaluation of Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Biocompatibility (Hemocompatibility) Nature of Green Synthesized ZnONPs: An In-vitro Approach
No full textIntroduction: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) derived from plant extracts are garnering attention in medical applications due to their unique properties and eco-friendly synthesis, which enhance antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. This research investigated the antibacterial and biocompatibility properties of previously characterized ZnONPs against bacterial pathogens, with biocompatibility evaluated through a hemocompatibility study using human blood samples.
Methods: The bactericidal efficacy of phyto-synthesized ZnONPs was evaluated using the standard agar well-diffusion method against bacterial pathogens including E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, and S. flexneri. Moreover, their antioxidant capacity was evaluated using various nonenzymatic in-vitro assays, including ABTS, DPPH, TRP, and TAC assays.
Results: The antibacterial efficacy of presynthesized and characterized ZnONPs showed dosage-dependent bactericidal activity against bacterial pathogens including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. At a concentration of 800 μg mL−1, the ZnONPs exhibited significant free radicals scavenging and reducing capabilities as demonstrated by DPPH, TAC, TRP, and ABTS assays. Moreover, the ZnONPs demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, as evidenced by hemocompatibility assay.
Discussion: Phytochemicals derived from plants, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins, stabilize nanoparticles, thereby enhancing their antibacterial effectiveness against Grampositive and Gram-negative bacteria. Green synthesized ZnONPs demonstrate reduced toxicity to human cells, notable antimicrobial effectiveness, strong antioxidant characteristics, and low cytotoxicity, making them beneficial for anti-aging therapies, wound healing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.
Conclusion: Green-synthesized ZnONPs demonstrate significant dose-dependent antibacterial efficacy against pathogenic bacteria such as P. aeruginosa, S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, E. coli, and K. pneumonia. The antioxidant test results demonstrated a significant dosedependent capacity of DPPH, TAC, TRP, and ABTS to eliminate free radicals. The antibacterial and antioxidant properties of ZnONPs exhibited notable biological compatibility