17362 research outputs found
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A rare case of desmoid fibromatosis in a pediatric patient: Surgical management and outcomes
No full textDesmoid fibromatosis (DF) is a rare, locally aggressive tumor arising from the abdominal fascia or musculoaponeurosis, commonly affecting individuals between 15 and 60 years of age. We present a case of a 13-year-old boy with a 9-month history of progressive swelling in the left posterior thigh. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a soft tissue tumor encasing the sciatic nerve. A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of DF, showing spindle cells arranged in fascicles. The patient underwent wide local excision of the tumor with preservation of the sciatic nerve. Postoperative recovery was smooth, and 1-year follow-up MRI showed no recurrence. Surgical excision remains the primary treatment, especially in symptomatic patients, although recurrence is common even with negative margins. This case underscores the importance of regular follow-up for DF and a multidisciplinary approach to optimize management and surveillance
Integrated vertical aquaponics monitoring system using hibiscus sense with favoriot platform
No full textAquaponics combines aquaculture and hydroponics, where fish and aquatic animals are grown in conjunction with soil-less plant cultivation in a circulated environment. Vertical aquaponics typically utilizes the nutrient film technique (NFT) method, employing pipes to continuously stream water to each channel, providing nutrients, water and oxygen to the plants. This project aims to develop a real-time monitoring system for the vertical aquaponics setup, using Hibiscus Sense along with Arduino Mega to measure pH, total dissolved solids (TDS) and water temperature to establish the optimal conditions for Bak Choy growth. All data is uploaded to the Favoriot IoT platform, which includes a dashboard to visualize the information. Results demonstrate a positive correlation between TDS and plant growth, indicating that plants efficiently utilize water nutrients for their development. The linear line values (R) for TDS and growth rate are close to 1.0, with respective values of 0.9234 and 0.9384, underscoring a strong relationship between TDS and plant growth. The ideal conditions for optimal Bak Choy growth are a high TDS value, ranging from 220 to 270 ppm and a pH value of 7.5. Additionally, maintaining a cool water temperature between 26°C and 29°C prevents plant shrinkage due to hot weather. The findings clearly indicate that TDS has a pronounced influence on the growth of Bak Choy, while temperature and pH values exhibit a relatively minor impact
Crystallographic and geochemical responses of giant clams on turbid reefs
No full textMarine calcifying organisms on coral reefs face significant threats from various anthropogenic stressors. To better understand how these organisms will respond to a rapidly changing ocean, it is crucial to investigate their biomineralization across different reef environments. Despite their resilience and potential as conservation hotspots, turbid reefs—projected to expand throughout the 21st century—remain understudied, including a limited knowledge of biomineralization processes within these environments. Herein, for the first time, we assess the crystallographic and geochemical signatures of aragonite giant clam shells Tridacna squamosa from high and low turbid reefs in the Coral Triangle. Shell composition is strongly influenced by turbidity and biominerals formed in a high turbid reef show a more organized crystal orientation and significantly lower element-to-calcium ratios (magnesium/calcium, strontium/calcium). We hypothesize that these variations are driven by physiological changes related to the trophic flexibility of T. squamosa, utilizing both autotrophic and heterotrophic mechanisms. Observed differences may have implications for biomechanical and defense responses of shells, important in their ability to survive future change
Behavioral response of Bornean ungulates, including bearded pigs and sambar deer, to anthropogenic disturbance in Sabah, Malaysia
Full text linkUnderstanding wildlife behavioral responses to anthropogenic disturbance is crucial for assessing its effects and managing protected areas. We used camera traps to investigate the behavioral responses of two of the most frequently hunted Bornean ungulate species, bearded pigs (Sus barbatus) and sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), to anthropogenic disturbance in three protected areas in Sabah, Malaysia, that have varying levels of human activity. We found that human activities generally influence the activity patterns of both ungulates, albeit with variations among the sites. Temporal activity levels of both species would be affected by anthropogenic disturbance; temporal activity levels of bearded pigs were generally low where poaching of this species is reported and both species reduced their activity during daytime, the period of highest probability of encountering humans. Bearded pigs approached plantations during times of low human activity, presumably to forage, indicating that they adjust their spatiotemporal activity patterns to minimize human contact. Conversely sambar deer approached plantations when humans were active during the daytime, suggesting acclimation to non-lethal human contact to maximize energy intake. We observed a reduction in active times for both species at sites of high anthropogenic disturbance. Despite these challenges, both species demonstrated behavioral adaptability to anthropogenic disturbance by utilizing artificial environments such as roads and oil palm plantations probably as foraging places, thereby potentially compensating for reduced active times especially for feedings. Our study underscores the negative impact of human activities on the activity patterns of these two ungulate species. Meanwhile, they showed behavioral plasticity to anthropogenic disturbance by utilizing food resources in artificial environments efficiently. Our findings highlight the need for additional research into the behavioral responses of ungulates in Southeast Asia
Optimizing calcium levels for oil palm seedlings in solution culture
No full textOil palm seedlings grown in solution culture exhibited the best growth and physiological responses when treated with 1000 ppm calcium (Ca) from calcium chloride (CaCl₂). This concentration is significantly enhanced total biomass accumulation and improved vegetative parameters including seedling height, girth, root length, and number of leaves, compared to lower and higher Ca treatments. At 12 weeks, seedlings at 1000 ppm Ca showed significantly greater root length (27.08 cm), seedling height (41.85 cm), and girth (15.89 mm), alongside increased chlorophyll content (SPAD value of 55.48), indicating improved photosynthetic efficiency. Excess Ca (more than ≥ 2500 ppm) inhibited nutrient uptake, particularly nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg), due to antagonistic interactions, whereas 1000 ppm Ca maintained optimal macro-nutrient balance in both shoot and root sections. Ca concentration beyond this level led to reduced nutrient availability and poor growth performance, with 7000 ppm Ca showing the least favorable outcomes. The uptake of Ca was positively correlated with increased Mg concentration at optimal levels but decreased under excessive Ca conditions. The study demonstrated that 1000 ppm Ca not only optimizes growth parameters and biomass accumulation but also supports effective nutrient partitioning, making it the ideal concentration for oil palm seedling cultivation in hydroponic systems. These results provide critical insight for improving nutrient management strategies in oil palm nurseries to enhance early growth performance
Context matters: Divergent roles of exercise-induced and tumor-derived lactate in cancer
No full textInstead of being waste product of metabolism, lactate, has become a key metabolic and signaling molecule in both exercise physiology and tumor biology. Carcinogenic cells produce huge amounts of lactate through the Warburg effect, which is a hallmark of aggressive tumors, increasing acidity in the environment that can stimulates angiogenesis, immune evasion, and metastasis. Conversely, while exercise acutely elevates blood lactate concentration but it consider helpful for cancer patients. This paradox raises the following question: is exercise-induced lactate a friend or foe in cancer? This study reviews current evidence on the mechanistic, metabolic, immunological, and clinical impacts of exerciseinduced lactate in cancer patients, highlighting the context-dependent effects that render lactate either beneficial or detrimental. Tumor-derived lactate seems to be pro-tumorigenic, driving immune suppression and disease progression, whereas short bursts of lactate from exercise can enhance anti-tumor immunity and metabolic reprogramming under the right conditions. Therefore, lactate’s impact on cancer is “all about the context”
A GIS-based multi-tier framework for assessing the ecological potential of urban vacant land
No full textUrban vacant land possesses significant yet untapped ecological potential (capacity to support biodiversity, ecological processes, and ecosystem functions) for enhancing urban sustainability and resilience. However, the absence of structured and adaptable frameworks for ecological assessment limits its effective integration into urban planning. This study introduces a novel multi-tier ecological assessment framework, combining expert-driven criteria established through the Fuzzy Delphi Method with GIS-based spatial analysis. The framework ensures flexibility and scalability, enabling planners to perform rapid preliminary assessments and progressively detailed evaluations depending on available resources and specific planning objectives. A case study in Sentul-Manjalara, Kuala Lumpur, demonstrates the framework’s practical application, resulting in an ecological potential map categorising vacant parcels into high, medium, and low revitalisation priorities. This approach effectively connects theoretical ecological insights and actionable urban planning, providing policymakers and planners with an evidence-based decision-making tool for strategically prioritising vacant land revitalisation efforts. The outcome enhances urban biodiversity, ecological connectivity, and long-term urban resilienc
Adaptive neuro-fuzzy optimization of reservoir operations under climate variability in the Chao Phraya River Basin
No full textReservoir operations play a pivotal role in shaping the flow regime of the Chao Phraya River Basin (CPRB), where two major reservoirs exert substantial hydrological influence. Despite ongoing efforts to manage water resources effectively, current operational strategies often lack the adaptability required to address the compounded uncertainties of climate change and increasing water demands. This research addresses this critical gap by developing an optimization model for reservoir operation that explicitly incorporates climate variability. An Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) was employed using four fundamental inputs: reservoir inflow, storage, rainfall, and water demands. Daily resolution data from 2000 to 2012 were used, with 2005–2012 selected for training due to the inclusion of multiple extreme hydrological events, including the 2011 flood, which enriched the model’s learning capability. The period 2000–2004 was reserved for testing to independently assess model generalizability. Eight types of membership functions (MFs) were tested to determine the most suitable configuration, with the trapezoidal MF selected for its favorable performance. The optimized models achieved Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) values of 0.43 and 0.47, R2 values of 0.59 and 0.50, and RMSE values of 77.64 and 89.32 for Bhumibol and Sirikit Dams, respectively. The model enables the evaluation of both dam operations and climate change impacts on downstream discharges. Key findings highlight the importance of adaptive reservoir management by identifying optimal water release timings and corresponding daily release-storage ratios. The proposed approach contributes a novel, data-driven framework that enhances decision-making for integrated water resources management under changing climatic conditions
Examining the impact of leadership styles on teacher effectiveness: A structural equation modeling and multiple regression
No full textThis study examines the influence of transformational and transactional leadership on teacher effectiveness among young teachers in private universities in Shandong Province, China. Motivated by the demand for high-quality education, this study seeks to address a research gap in leadership’s role in the professional development of early-career teachers in Chinese private universities. Using a quantitative research method, data was collected from 416 teachers and analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM) and multiple regression analysis. The findings indicate that both leadership styles significantly impact teacher effectiveness, with transactional leadership (β=0.582) exhibiting a slightly stronger effect than transformational leadership (β=0.487). Among transformational leadership dimensions, Intellectual Stimulation (IS) had the most significant influence, whereas Contingent Reward (CR) was the strongest predictor within transactional leadership. However, Idealized Influence (II) and Individualized Consideration (IC) had no significant impact on assessment and learning environment within teacher effectiveness, respectively. This study contributes to the existing literature by offering empirical insights into the relationship between leadership and teacher effectiveness in the context of Chinese private universities. It also provides practical implications for educational management, advocating for a balanced integration of both leadership styles to optimize teacher performance. Future research should explore cultural factors that may impact these relationships
Strategi visual dalam pemerolehan kosa kata Sama-Bajau
No full textBahasa Sama-Bajau merupakan bahasa Ibunda bagi penuturnya yang tersebar di sepanjang Pantai barat dan timur Sabah. Tidak seperti bahasa KadazanDusun yang telah mula diajar di sekolah dan di Pusat Pengajian Tinggi dan secara tidak langsung bahasa itu terjaga sebaliknya, para penutur bahasa Sama-Bajau menyaksikan penurunan jumlah penutur apatah lagi semakin ramai penuturnya yang terdiri dalam kalangan generasi Alfa mulai tidak fasih, malah ada yang langsung tidak tahu bertutur bahasa Sama-Bajau. Kemerosotan penutur dan ketidakfasihan para penutur muda Sama-Bajau berpunca daripada sikap ibu bapa yang tidak mahu bertutur dalam bahasa berkenaan di rumah dan lebih mementingkan penggunaan bahasa dominan seperti bahasa Sabah, bahasa Kebangsaan dan bahasa Inggeris telah membantu mempercepatkan kehilangan bahasa itu. Rentetan isu berkenaan, maka satu penelitian awal telah dilakukan untuk meninjau keupayaan berbahasa dalam kalangan generasi Alfa khususnya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk meninjau keberkesanan penggunaan pemudah cara kad gambar dan permainan teka kata secara digital yang berasaskan leksis asas Sama-Bajau. Penelitian dini ini dilaksanakan dalam kalangan murid-murid berketurunan Sama-Bajau khususnya mereka yang telah berhijrah ke bandar namun mereka tidak boleh bertutur dalam bahasa Sama-Bajau. Seramai 10 orang murid dari kelas kafa di Universiti Malaysia Sabah terlibat dalam penelitian ini dan mereka merupakan generasi Alfa (11 tahun ke bawah). Didapati, pemerolehan leksis Sama-Bajau mudah dipelajari berasaskan kesemua pemudah cara berkenaan. Strategi sedemikian sangat disenangi oleh para murid kerana ia memberi dampak dan kesan positif terhadap proses pemberdayaan dan pelestarian penggunaan bahasa ini dalam kalangan penutur mudanya