Investigation of factors in improving Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer in Ruellia tuberosa L. and evaluation of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in established hairy roots

Ruellia tuberosa (family Acanthaceae) is widely known in traditional medicine in Asian countries for the treatment of diabetes and other diseases. Its roots were demonstrated to possess a hypoglycemic ability in diabetic animal models. In this study, an original induced procedure was investigated to establish hairy root (HR) from R. tuberosa. With the aim of increasing the transformation rate, some induced factors (acetosyringone (AS) dosage, type of explant, age, infection time, bacterial density, co-cultivation duration) were individually examined. As a result, an improved procedure was implemented: ten-day-old in vitro cotyledon explants were injured and then immersed in the bacterial suspension (OD600 nm = 0.4) added 200 µM AS during 10 min. The infected explants were co-cultivated for 4 days in the Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium before transferring to the medium containing cefotaxime for bacterial elimination. After thirty days of culture, the improved procedure revealed a synergistic effect by enhancing the rooting rate and number of secondary roots per explant up to 4.4- and 8.0-fold, respectively, in comparison with the original procedure. The R. tuberosa HR was then cultured in liquid MS medium and achieved the highest biomass production at the late exponential growth phase (3rd week). Its ethanol extract was also higher 2.0-fold in α-glucosidase inhibitory activity than that of the natural root. In conclusion, the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of HR inducing by the improved procedure may offer an effective and reliable substitute for the utilization of this herbal plant

Information Transparency and Citizens’ Continuous Use Intention of e-Government Services

After more than two decades of development, e-Government services have become not only familiar to but also a significant part of citizens’ life. However, as the needs of citizens in using e-Government services changes, an improved understanding of citizen’s continuous use intention is warranted. This study therefore aims to explore the factors that influence citizens’ continuous use intention of e-Government services. Although, previous studies have identified several factors from a range of theories that explain the nature of continuous use intention of various technologies, they lack attention to factors that are specifically relevant to the e-Government context. In particular, the extant e-Government services literature highlights information transparency as an important factor for any governments but there is a lack of understanding about its impacts on citizen’s perceptions of e-Government services (i.e. trust, empowerment, and satisfaction). Thus, this study focuses on examining the role of information transparency in citizen’s continuous use intention of e-Government services by integrating DeLone and McLean’s IS Success Model with the concept of information transparency, and theories of continuous trust and empowerment

Two-layered Dual-band Perfect Metamaterial Absorber at K band Frequency

This paper presents a study of a novel absorber structure based on two-dielectric-layers, two perfect absorption frequency bands at K band (f1 = 26.5 GHz and f2 = 28.6 GHz) go under observance. The study of the dependence of absorption and frequency on relative distance between the layers of material and the material structure parameters are discussed.&nbsp

Validity Testing of the Conspiratorial Thinking and Anti-Expert Sentiment Scales during the COVID-19 Pandemic Across 24 Languages from a Large-Scale Global Dataset.

In this study, we tested the validity across two scales addressing conspiratorial thinking that may influence behaviours related to public health and the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the COVIDiSTRESSII Global Survey data from 12 261 participants, we validated the 4-item Conspiratorial Thinking Scale and 3-item Anti-Expert Sentiment Scale across 24 languages and dialects that were used by at least 100 participants per language. We employed confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance test and measurement alignment for internal consistency testing. To test convergent validity of the two scales, we assessed correlations with trust in seven agents related to government, science and public health. Although scalar invariance was not achieved when measurement invariance test was conducted initially, we found that both scales can be employed in further international studies with measurement alignment. Moreover, both conspiratorial thinking and anti-expert sentiments were significantly and negatively correlated with trust in all agents. Findings from this study provide supporting evidence for the validity of both scales across 24 languages for future large-scale international research

Validity Testing of the Conspiratorial Thinking and Anti-Expert Sentiment Scales during the COVID-19 Pandemic Across 24 Languages from a Large-Scale Global Dataset

In this study, we tested the validity across two scales addressing conspiratorial thinking that may influence behaviors related to public health and the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the COVIDiSTRESSII Global Survey data from 12,261 participants, we validated the 4-item Conspiratorial Thinking Scale and 3-item Anti-Expert Sentiment Scale across 24 languages and dialects that were used by at least 100 participants per language. We employed confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance test, and measurement alignment for internal consistency testing. To test convergent validity of the two scales, we assessed correlations with trust in seven agents related to government, science, and public health. Although scalar invariance was not achieved when measurement invariance test was conducted initially, we found that both scales can be employed in further international studies with measurement alignment. Moreover, both conspiratorial thinking and anti-expert sentiments were significantly and negatively correlated with trust in all agents. Findings from this study provide supporting evidence for the validity of both scales across 24 languages for future large-scale international research

Validity testing of the conspiratorial thinking and anti-expert sentiment scales during the COVID-19 pandemic across 24 languages from a large-scale global dataset

In this study, we tested the validity across two scales addressing conspiratorial thinking that may influence behaviours related to public health and the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the COVIDiSTRESSII Global Survey data from 12 261 participants, we validated the 4-item Conspiratorial Thinking Scale and 3-item Anti-Expert Sentiment Scale across 24 languages and dialects that were used by at least 100 participants per language. We employed confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance test and measurement alignment for internal consistency testing. To test convergent validity of the two scales, we assessed correlations with trust in seven agents related to government, science and public health. Although scalar invariance was not achieved when measurement invariance test was conducted initially, we found that both scales can be employed in further international studies with measurement alignment. Moreover, both conspiratorial thinking and anti-expert sentiments were significantly and negatively correlated with trust in all agents. Findings from this study provide supporting evidence for the validity of both scales across 24 languages for future large-scale international research

The effect of 3D-stereogram mobile AR on engineering drawing course outcomes among first-year vocational high schoolers with different spatial abilities: a Bloom�s taxonomy perspective

ABSTRACT Engineering drawing is valuable in capturing geometric features, conveying engineering ideas, and creating a blueprint of the intended product. Engineering students usually perform orthographic projections, imagining a 3D situation and sketching its 2D representation. That requires imagination and mental visualization, determined by the learner�s spatial ability. This study proposes the infusion of an AR stereogram mobile application into an engineering drawing course to establish how it influences learning outcomes among students with different spatial abilities. The quantitative experimental study involved two mechanical engineering classes in northern Taiwan, N = 69 first-year vocational high schoolers. Statistical analysis revealed that the experimental group with high spatial ability recorded better results and excellent drawing skills. Bloom�s taxonomy categorization reported that spatial ability influenced �understanding� and �applying� levels, with the strongest effect on �understanding.� Although no significant interaction existed, learning outcomes were highly affected by spatial ability in �understanding� and �applying� levels and AR in the overall performance. The findings and discussions show AR holds great potential to enhance students� spatial ability for real-time visualization and enables better concept comprehension by improving their understanding of engineering topics. Future studies should consider these implications in creating effective and immersive learning environments for different courses in engineering education

The costs of traumatic brain injury due to motorcycle accidents in Hanoi, Vietnam

Background: Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in Vietnam. The purpose of this study is to estimate the costs, in the first year post-injury, of non-fatal traumatic brain injury (TBI) in motorcycle users not wearing helmets in Hanoi, Vietnam. The costs are calculated from the perspective of the injured patients and their families, and include quantification of direct, indirect and intangible costs, using years lost due to disability as a proxy. Methods: The study was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data on treatment and rehabilitation costs, employment and support were obtained from patients and their families using a structured questionnaire and The European Quality of Life instrument (EQ6D). Results: Thirty-five patients and their families were interviewed. On average, patients with severe, moderate and minor TBI incurred direct costs at USD 2,365, USD 1,390 and USD 849, with time lost for normal activities averaging 54 weeks, 26 weeks and 17 weeks and years lived with disability (YLD) of 0.46, 0.25 and 0.15 year, respectively. Conclusion: All three component costs of TBI were high; the direct cost accounted for the largest proportion, with costs rising with the severity of TBI. The results suggest that the burden of TBI can be catastrophic for families because of high direct costs, significant time off work for patients and caregivers, and impact on health-related quality of life. Further research is warranted to explore the actual social and economic benefits of mandatory helmet use