F1000Research最新文献

Background: Bankruptcy prediction is crucial for financial stability, and sector-specific Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI-ML) models have proven superior in performance. However, a significant gap exists, as most models are designed for advanced economies, leaving their efficacy in emerging markets like India unexplored. This study addresses this gap by focusing on the applicability of these advanced models to predict bankruptcy within India's dynamic trade services sector.

Methods: The research utilized a substantial sample of 5,527 Indian companies. To counter the challenge of having far fewer bankrupt firms than solvent ones, the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) was employed. The study then leveraged a comprehensive suite of eight popular AI-ML models, including Random Forests, Gradient Boosting, Neural Networks, and Support Vector Machines, with performance rigorously evaluated using repeated k-fold cross-validation to ensure robustness and guard against overfitting. To add practical context, business rules based on key financial metrics-liquidity, profitability, and asset size-were integrated.

Results: The findings robustly demonstrate that AI-ML models can accurately predict bankruptcy in Indian trade services firms. A critical discovery was the variation in early warning signals between an analysis of the entire dataset (aggregate) and segmented groups of companies. This indicates that a one-size-fits-all approach obscures important, segment-specific risk factors. The segmented analysis successfully uncovered hidden risks that were not apparent at the aggregate level.

Conclusions: The study concludes that AI-ML models are highly effective for bankruptcy prediction in India's trade services sector. For stakeholders like investors and creditors, the key takeaway is the superior value of a segmented analytical approach. This strategy maintains high predictive accuracy while revealing nuanced, specific risks. Ultimately, it provides a powerful, tailored tool for safeguarding financial interests in an emerging market context.

Background: Despite diabetes mellitus and periodontal diseases are mutually exclusive, little is known about particular types of bacteria that may have exacerbated the development of diabetics' periodontal inflammation. The purpose of this study was to descriptively characterize and explore the differences in the salivary microbiomes of individuals with type 2 diabetes (20-40 years old) who had gingivitis or periodontitis to those who did not. Additionally, we evaluated the descriptive relationship between the relative abundance of periodontopathogens and nitrate-reducing bacteria in their salivary microbiome.

Methods: Saliva was collected from all participants. Genomic DNA was isolated and pooled in equimolar quantities from all individuals within each group to create three pooled libraries: type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients without periodontal disease (G1), T2DM patients with gingivitis (G2), and T2DM patients with periodontitis (G3). Sequencing was performed using Oxford Nanopore MinION Technology. The relative abundance and bacterial diversity were measured using bioinformatic methods, and all analyses of sequencing data were strictly descriptive and exploratory. Salivary nitrite/nitrate concentrations were measured on individual, un-pooled samples.

Results: The salivary microbiota among people with type 2 diabetes and periodontal disease (G2; G3) was observed to have greater bacterial diversity and abundance than that of patients without periodontal disease (G1), according to descriptive alpha-diversity analysis. The G3 group exhibited the largest relative abundance of Porphyromonas gingivalis, a key periodontopathogen. Descriptive analysis also suggested that periodontopathic bacteria and nitrate-reducing bacteria have different community structures across the groups. Furthermore, comparison of individual salivary samples showed that nitrite/nitrate concentration was significantly lower in the G3 group compared to the G1 group (p< 0.05). Results reveal that the inverse interaction between increased P. gingivalis and decreased nitrate-reducing bacteria serves as a descriptive hallmark for periodontal disease progression in the T2DM population.

Conclusion: Results of this exploratory study suggest that the relationship between periodontopathic and denitrifying bacteria in the salivary microbiome varies among those with type 2 diabetes mellitus who also have gingivitis or periodontitis. These distinct microbial features observed may be microbiological characteristics associated with the progression of periodontal disease in this population, warranting further validation as potential indicators for early management.

Background: Smoking remains a major public health problem, particularly among Tunisian health students, with a prevalence of 26%. Assessing motivation to quit smoking requires tools that have been validated in the local language. This study aimed to translate and validate the psychometric properties of the Motivation to Quit Smoking Questionnaire (Q-MAT) into Arabic.

Method: A cross-sectional methodological study was conducted among 203 smoking health science students in March 2022. The cross-cultural validation process followed Vallerand's seven steps, including translation/back-translation, expert panel review, pre-testing, and psychometric analyses. Reliability was assessed by internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and temporal stability (test-retest). Content validity was measured by the CVI index, and construct validity by exploratory factor analysis.

Results: The sample included 197 students (mean age: 18.95±1.07 years, sex ratio: 0.89). The Arabic Q-MAT demonstrated excellent reliability with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.840, a test-retest correlation of 0.831, and an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.886. Content validity was satisfactory (CVI = 0.89). Principal component analysis revealed that two factors explained 89.148% of the total variance.

Conclusions: This initial validation of the Q-MAT in literary Arabic provides a reliable and valid tool for assessing motivation to quit smoking among Arabic-speaking populations, facilitating the development of targeted public health interventions.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common complaint experienced by pregnant women, especially in the third trimester, which can interfere with daily activities, sleep quality, and readiness for labor. Nonpharmacological approaches such as music therapy and hypnobirthing are developing as alternatives that are considered safe, inexpensive, and minimal in side effects, but the effectiveness of the combination of the two methods has not been widely studied in the context of pregnancy in Indonesia.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the effectiveness of hypnobirthing, music therapy, and their combination in alleviating LBP among third-trimester pregnant women. A total of 200 participants were divided into four groups: hypnobirthing (n=50), music therapy (n=50), a combination group (n=50), and a control group receiving standard antenatal care (n=50). The study was conducted at four Community Health Centers (Puskesmas) in Palembang City, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia. Pain levels were assessed before and after the intervention using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The statistical analyses used included the Paired Sample t-test, One-Way ANOVA, and Post hoc comparisons using Tukey HSD test for mean pain scores between the groups.

Results: The study showed a statistically significant reduction in LBP intensity in all the intervention groups compared to that in the control group (p < 0.001), with the combined intervention group demonstrating the greatest improvement. These findings suggest that both hypnobirthing and music therapy are effective in managing pregnancy-related LBP, and their combination may offer enhanced benefits for managing pregnancy-related LBP.

Conclusions: Music therapy and hypnobirthing have been proven effective in reducing lower back pain intensity in pregnant women in their third trimester, with the combination of both therapies providing the most significant effect. This study supports the inclusion of non-pharmacological approaches in routine antenatal care to improve maternal comfort and well-being.

Background: Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), Alcian Blue/Periodic Acid-Schiff (AB/PAS), and Giemsa stains are routinely used in the histopathological evaluation of gastric biopsies. However, comparative data on their diagnostic performance and cost-effectiveness in detecting Helicobacter pylori are limited. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using H&E and AB/PAS as alternatives to Giemsa.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 816 gastric biopsy cases collected between 2019 and 2021. Three slides (H&E, Giemsa, and AB/PAS) were previously prepared from each paraffin-embedded tissue sample and blindly evaluated by three independent examiners. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and overall diagnostic accuracy were calculated using 2×2 contingency tables.

Results: >H&E yielded a sensitivity of 51.6%, specificity of 74.4%, and diagnostic accuracy of 66.4% when compared to Giemsa as the reference standard. In comparison, AB/PAS exhibited a sensitivity of 45.9%, specificity of 73.2%, and an accuracy of 63.7%. When evaluating operational factors, H&E emerged as the most cost-effective and fastest method, while AB/PAS was associated with higher costs and longer processing times. Overall, Giemsa consistently demonstrated superior diagnostic performance across the assessed metrics, positioning it as the more reliable choice for H. pylori detection within this comparative framework.

Conclusions: H&E shows potential for initial screening but its limited sensitivity prevents definitive diagnosis. AB/PAS proved less effective and economical. Giemsa maintained superior diagnostic performance. This study provides a comparative methodological assessment, suggesting H&E and Giemsa combinations could enhance detection efficiency and accuracy. Further prospective validation is needed before clinical implementation.

Background: This article explored the chemical constituents of water and ethanol extracts from the whole body of A. m. jemenitica honeybee drones and workers, investigating their effects on glucose tolerance test (GTT) curves through feeding experiments conducted on Oryctolagus cuniculus male rabbits.

Methods: Chemical analysis of the extracts was performed using infrared (IR) spectroscopy alongside the spectral database of organic compounds.

Results: The water extract revealed a richer diversity of natural products (38 compounds) compared to the ethanol extract (12 compounds). Notably, the water extract comprised various bioactive molecules, including sugars and their derivatives, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, quinones, amino acid derivatives, dipeptides, and organometallic compounds. In contrast, the ethanol extract primarily contained sugar derivatives, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, and pesticides. The water extract decreased the blood glucose level and transformed the GTT curve from a convex to a concave shape.

Conclusion: The blood glucose-lowering effect of the water extract may be attributed to the anti-diabetic properties of its dipeptides, phenolic compounds and alkaloid contents.

Background: Areke is a popular traditional distilled beverage in semi-urban and rural areas in Ethiopia. Traditional areke distillation uses an open-fire system that consumes a lot of firewood and produces a large amount of indoor air pollution.

Methods: The areke distiller apparatus (heat exchanger, condenser, energy-efficient stoves, storage tanks, and local areke extraction apparatus) was manufactured by technicians (welders). Different types of grains (wheat, millet, lupine, barley, and maize) were purchased from a neighborhood market. The traditional method of areke fermentation was prepared by an experienced woman brewer using a combination of ingredients and appropriate steps and procedures. The efficacy of a traditional stove, modified stove, and a combination of modified stove and double-pipe were evaluated . The amount of ethanol was estimated by measuring its refractive index and specific gravity. The sensory evaluation of areke samples was conducted by 10 consumer sensory panelists.

Result: The highest ethanol concentration in areke (53.75 ± 0.01 (% v/v)) was obtained from millet E ( dagusa E) in double-pipe distillation (E). The maize E ( bekolo E) of overall acceptance had the greatest score (4.5 ± 0.01) compared to other areke sensory parameters. The alcoholic strength of lupine E ( gibeto E) was scored as excellent (5.0 ± 0.01) compared to other areke sensory parameters. All judges agreed that traditional and double-pipe areke consumption was acceptable. The combination of double-pipe distillation and modified stove resulted in a 50% ± 0.15 reduction in the average amount of firewood used. The traditional open fire stove consumed more firewood (5.1 kg ± 0.1) than the combination of double-pipe distillation and modified stove (2.5 kg ± 0.01).

Conclusion: These results indicate that the combination of double-pipe distillation with a modified stove had better performance than traditional areke distillation.

Background: One billion people worldwide have preventable vision impairment. Ocular morbidities are a significant problem in the public health sector, especially among medical students. The study objectives were to identify the prevailing ocular morbidities and evaluate the risk factors and their impact on students' lifestyles and academics.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among (Study sample 312) undergraduate medical students over 6 months. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed to identify the prevalence, associated risk factors, and consequences of ocular morbidities.

Results: 64.7% were suffering from ocular morbidities. Headache was a predominant symptom in students with (51.7%) and without (39.1%) ocular morbidities. The most common ocular morbidity was myopia (84.3%). 18.7% of students perceived that ocular morbidity had restricted them from participating in activities or applying for specific job posts. The evaluation of various risk factors inferred that ocular morbidity was associated with family history, early age onset of the condition, lighting, inappropriate posture while reading, screen time, and a vitamin A-rich diet.

Conclusion: The study concluded that the most prevalent ocular morbidity was refractive error, with myopia being the highest among medical students, and it has adversely impacted the students' lifestyle and academics, underscoring the need for early detection, preventive strategies, and health education interventions.

Background: Tuberculosis with co-morbid diabetes mellitus presents a substantial public health challenge, necessitating immediate and coordinated interventions. Such interventions should be sustainable and have a high acceptance rate in real-world settings. Applying the principles of implementation science is essential to enhance the existing system. This research study aims to assess the influence of innovation characteristics on the implementation of an Optimised TB-diabetes integrated care package.

Objectives: The main objectives of this study are to explore the perceptions and experiences of intervention developers; to understand the experiences of health professionals and patients regarding the Opt TBD integrated care package; assess the content validity of the innovation characteristics instrument; and evaluate the influence of intervention characteristics on the implementation process of the Opt TBD integrated care package.

Methods: The study will be conducted at thirteen selected TB healthcare facilities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab over a period of 18 months, in three phases. Evaluation will involve qualitative exploration of intervention development, followed by feasibility testing, and finally the definitive implementation of the intervention. The participants will include key stakeholders: intervention developers, TB health professionals, and patients.

Conclusion: This study will generate critical insights for the Opt TBD integrated care package, focusing on enhancing contextual relevance and improving adoption rates in practical, real-world settings. Specifically, this research study seeks to identify key implementation challenges, evaluate the fidelity of the intervention, and validate the causal relationships between the characteristics of the innovation and its implementation success.

Background: Higher education at the university level is essential for advanced learning, enhancing academic knowledge, and precipitating significant life changes. These include lifestyle adjustments, relocation from one's primary residence, and the acquisition of autonomy in decision-making. Numerous students opt to reside in dormitories/hostels, resulting in notable alterations in dietary habits. Food habits at campus differ substantially from their previous domestic diets, potentially influencing their overall growth and development during their academic tenure.

Method: The study employs the theory of planned behavior to conceptualize a model and understand university students' food choices, utilizing qualitative research and a phenomenological approach. Snowball sampling selected 26 undergraduate and postgraduate students from technical and health science programs at a private university in Udupi, who were residing on campus for two to four years. Online interviews were audio-recorded with participants' consent.

Results: Transcribed interviews were coded and categorized to identify themes, which were subsequently conceptualized to develop a model based on the theory of planned behavior. The model illustrated the duration of students' campus residence, provided insight into their perspectives on food events and consumption at the university dining facility (UDF), influenced by factors such as palatal preferences, cost considerations, temporal constraints (during academic activities), accessibility of nutritious options, academic-related stress, and insufficient nutritional knowledge. Two primary findings emerged: first, recommendation to display nutritional information in the dining facility; second, students exhibited a preference for consuming less healthy food options off-campus due to their lower monetary cost.

Conclusion: The investigation offers valuable insights into the role of UDF in providing nutritionally balanced meals to students, which may contribute to improved health outcomes and enhanced academic performance. This research elucidates the relationship between students' dietary choices and their subsequent impact on scholastic achievement.