Sharing travel related experiences on social media – integrating social capital and face orientation

Tourists can share their travel experiences or related information freely through social media platforms. The purpose of this research is to explore the factors associated with sharing travel related experiences on social media by travellers in the context of social capital theory and person-context interaction theory. Data were collected among consumers in Malaysia using a structured survey; 423 responses were generated. The findings show that the social capital dimensions (social ties, trust, reciprocity and shared vision) positively impact sharing intention on social media while identification doesn’t impact the sharing intention. The results also partially support the hypothesis that protective face orientation negatively influences social capital dimensions and sharing intention while acquisitive face orientation positively influences them. The authors shed light on the construction of social capital dimensions and face orientation and the relative importance of the sharing intention on social media

Prediction of outcomes in acute exacerbation of COPD with DECAF score and BAP 65 score in a rural population

Background: Prognostic research in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requiring hospitalization has been limited and there appears to be little common ground between predictors of mortality in stable disease and during AECOPD. Furthermore, none of the prognostic tools developed in stable disease have been tested on hospitalised patients, and most require clinical measurements not routinely available at hospital admission. This study intends to test dyspnoea, eosinopenia, consolidation, acidemia, and atrial fibrillation (DECAF) and biological assessment profile (BAP) 65 Scores on Indian patients in a tertiary care set up and validate the same to be used as a routine and effective score in predicting the outcome in AECOPD.  Methods: Hospital based prospective observational study was carried out in 100 patients with AECOPD who was present to general medicine. DECAF and BAP-65 Scores were calculated. Data was analyzed using SPSS 22 version software.Results: In our study both DECAF score and BAP‑65 score performed equally well for prediction of need for Mechanical Ventilation. The AUROC for need for Mechanical Ventilation was 0.77 (95% CI=0.67–0.84) for DECAF score and 0.77 (95% CI=0.67–0.85) for BAP‑65 score. The AUROC for prediction of mortality for DECAF score was 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.74–0.89) and for BAP‑65 score was 0.79 (95% CI=0.69–0.86).Conclusions: DECAF and BAP-65 are good and also equal in predicting mortality as well as need for mechanical ventilation. Both scores can be easily applicable in AECOPD patients, so that death during hospitalization for AECOPD and need for mechanical ventilation can be minimized.

Sinteza i farmakološko ispitivanje novih 4-(3-etilfenil)-1-supstituiranih 4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]kinazolin-5-ona kao nove klase H1-antihistaminika

A series of novel 4-(3-ethylphenyl)-1-substituted-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinazolin-5-ones (4a-j) were synthesized by the cyclization of 3-(3-ethylphenyl)-2-hydrazino-3H-quinazolin-4-one (3) with various one-carbon donors. The starting material, compound 3, was synthesized from 3-ethyl aniline by a new innovative route with improved yield. When tested for their in vivo H1-antihistaminic activity on conscious guinea pigs, all test compounds protected the animals from histamine induced bronchospasm significantly. Compound 4-(3-ethylphenyl)-1-methyl-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinazolin-5-one (4b) emerged as the most active compound of the series and it is more potent (74.6 % protection) compared to the reference standard chlorpheniramine maleate (71 % protection). Compound 4b shows negligible sedation (10 %) compared to chlorpheniramine maleate (30 %). Therefore compound 4b can serve as the leading compound for further development of a new class of H1-antihistamines.Ciklizacijom 3-(3-etilfenil)-2-hidrazino-3H-kinazolin-4-ona (3) s različitim donorima jednog C atoma sintetizirana je serija novih 4-(3-etilfenil)-1-supstituiranih 4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]kinazolin-5-ona (4a-j). Početni spoj 3 pripravljen je iz 3-etil anilina na novi, inovativni način, s poboljšanim iskorištenjem. U testovima in vivo na zamorcima, svi testirani spojevi pokazali su značajno zaštitno djelovanje protiv bronhospazma induciranog histaminom. Spoj 4-(3-etilfenil)-1-metil-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]kinazolin-5-on (4b) najaktivniji je među testiranim spojevima (zaštita 74.6 %) i jači od referentnog standarda klorfeniramin maleata (zaštita 71 %). Spoj 4b pokazuje zanemarivu sedaciju (10 %) u usporedbi s klorfeniramin maleatom (30 %). Stoga spoj 4b može biti vodeći spoj za daljnji razvoj nove klase H1-antihistaminika

A review on development and application of plant-based bioflocculants and grafted bioflocculants

Flocculation is extensively employed for clarification through sedimentation. Application of eco-friendly plant-based bioflocculants in wastewater treatment has attracted significant attention lately with high removal capability in terms of solids, turbidity, color, and dye. However, moderate flocculating property and short shelf life restrict their development. To enhance the flocculating ability, natural polysaccharides derived from plants are chemically modified by inclusion of synthetic, nonbiodegradable monomers (e.g., acrylamide) onto their backbone to produce grafted bioflocculants. This review is aimed to provide an overview of the development and flocculating efficiencies of plant-based bioflocculants and grafted bioflocculants for the first time. Furthermore, the processing methods, flocculation mechanism, and the current challenges are discussed. All the reported studies about plant-derived bioflocculants are conducted under lab-scale conditions in wastewater treatment. Hence, the possibility to apply natural bioflocculants in food and beverage, mineral, paper and pulp, and oleo-chemical and biodiesel industries is discussed and evaluated

Pathogenic copy number variants and SCN1A mutations in patients with intellectual disability and childhood-onset epilepsy

Background Copy number variants (CNVs) have been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders such as intellectual disability (ID), autism, epilepsy and psychiatric disease. There are few studies of CNVs in patients with both ID and epilepsy. Methods We evaluated the range of rare CNVs found in 80 Welsh patients with ID or developmental delay (DD), and childhood-onset epilepsy. We performed molecular cytogenetic testing by single nucleotide polymorphism array or microarray-based comparative genome hybridisation. Results 8.8 % (7/80) of the patients had at least one rare CNVs that was considered to be pathogenic or likely pathogenic. The CNVs involved known disease genes (EHMT1, MBD5 and SCN1A) and imbalances in genomic regions associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (16p11.2, 16p13.11 and 2q13). Prompted by the observation of two deletions disrupting SCN1A we undertook further testing of this gene in selected patients. This led to the identification of four pathogenic SCN1A mutations in our cohort. Conclusions We identified five rare de novo deletions and confirmed the clinical utility of array analysis in patients with ID/DD and childhood-onset epilepsy. This report adds to our clinical understanding of these rare genomic disorders and highlights SCN1A mutations as a cause of ID and epilepsy, which can easily be overlooked in adults

Microduplications of 16p11.2 are associated with schizophrenia

Recurrent microdeletions and microduplications of a 600 kb genomic region of chromosome 16p11.2 have been implicated in childhood-onset developmental disorders1-3. Here we report the strong association of 16p11.2 microduplications with schizophrenia in two large cohorts. In the primary sample, the microduplication was detected in 12/1906 (0.63%) cases and 1/3971 (0.03%) controls (P=1.2×10-5, OR=25.8). In the replication sample, the microduplication was detected in 9/2645 (0.34%) cases and 1/2420 (0.04%) controls (P=0.022, OR=8.3). For the series combined, microduplication of 16p11.2 was associated with 14.5-fold increased risk of schizophrenia (95% C.I. [3.3, 62]). A meta-analysis of multiple psychiatric disorders showed a significant association of the microduplication with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism. The reciprocal microdeletion was associated only with autism and developmental disorders. Analysis of patient clinical data showed that head circumference was significantly larger in patients with the microdeletion compared with patients with the microduplication (P = 0.0007). Our results suggest that the microduplication of 16p11.2 confers substantial risk for schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders, whereas the reciprocal microdeletion is associated with contrasting clinical features

Global burden of chronic respiratory diseases and risk factors, 1990–2019: an update from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Updated data on chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are vital in their prevention, control, and treatment in the path to achieving the third UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a one-third reduction in premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 2030. We provided global, regional, and national estimates of the burden of CRDs and their attributable risks from 1990 to 2019. Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, we estimated mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), prevalence, and incidence of CRDs, i.e. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pneumoconiosis, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis, and other CRDs, from 1990 to 2019 by sex, age, region, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) in 204 countries and territories. Deaths and DALYs from CRDs attributable to each risk factor were estimated according to relative risks, risk exposure, and the theoretical minimum risk exposure level input. Findings: In 2019, CRDs were the third leading cause of death responsible for 4.0 million deaths (95% uncertainty interval 3.6–4.3) with a prevalence of 454.6 million cases (417.4–499.1) globally. While the total deaths and prevalence of CRDs have increased by 28.5% and 39.8%, the age-standardised rates have dropped by 41.7% and 16.9% from 1990 to 2019, respectively. COPD, with 212.3 million (200.4–225.1) prevalent cases, was the primary cause of deaths from CRDs, accounting for 3.3 million (2.9–3.6) deaths. With 262.4 million (224.1–309.5) prevalent cases, asthma had the highest prevalence among CRDs. The age-standardised rates of all burden measures of COPD, asthma, and pneumoconiosis have reduced globally from 1990 to 2019. Nevertheless, the age-standardised rates of incidence and prevalence of interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis have increased throughout this period. Low- and low-middle SDI countries had the highest age-standardised death and DALYs rates while the high SDI quintile had the highest prevalence rate of CRDs. The highest deaths and DALYs from CRDs were attributed to smoking globally, followed by air pollution and occupational risks. Non-optimal temperature and high body-mass index were additional risk factors for COPD and asthma, respectively. Interpretation: Albeit the age-standardised prevalence, death, and DALYs rates of CRDs have decreased, they still cause a substantial burden and deaths worldwide. The high death and DALYs rates in low and low-middle SDI countries highlights the urgent need for improved preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic measures. Global strategies for tobacco control, enhancing air quality, reducing occupational hazards, and fostering clean cooking fuels are crucial steps in reducing the burden of CRDs, especially in low- and lower-middle income countries