Nevin Manimala

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 2;18(6):e0285699. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285699. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this article is to explore the impact of housing investment on household entrepreneurship. Using survey data from China and employing a Probit model, we examine three aspects of housing status and innovatively subdivide household entrepreneurship into agricultural entrepreneurship and business entrepreneurship. The results show that households with higher housing investment are less likely to become agricultural entrepreneurs, but more likely to start a new business. Households with full-owned housing enjoy a higher likelihood to become business entrepreneurs. However, other ownerships have no relation with the choice of entrepreneurship. More housing loans discourage entrepreneurial activities. One exception is that bank loan raises the chance of being agricultural entrepreneurs. Households who build their own houses have a higher agricultural entrepreneurship. Buying market price houses encourages households to be business entrepreneurs. Low-price house and inherited house prevent households from being business entrepreneurs.

PMID:37267400 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0285699

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 2;18(6):e0286182. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286182. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

Considering the pharmacological treatment options for endometriosis-associated pain are confined to hormonal therapy and analgesics, we studied the analgesic effect of 20 mg melatonin as an adjuvant therapy in women with endometriosis-associated pain. This randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at the Research Center for Womens’ Health at Södersjukhuset, a university hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. Forty women from 18 to 50 years of age with endometriosis and severe dysmenorrhea with or without chronic pelvic pain were given 20 mg Melatonin or placebo orally daily for two consecutive menstrual cycles or months. The level of pain was recorded daily on the 11-point numeric rating scale, a difference of 1.3 units was considered clinically significant. Clincaltrials.gov nr NCT03782740. Sixteen participants completed the study in the placebo group and 18 in the melatonin group. The difference in endometriosis-associated pain between the groups showed to be non-significant statistically as well as clinically, 2.9 (SD 1.9) in the melatonin group and 3.3 (SD 2.0) in the placebo group, p = 0.45. This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial could not show that 20 mg of melatonin given orally at bedtime had better analgesic effect on endometriosis-associated pain compared with placebo. No adverse effects were observed.

PMID:37267394 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0286182

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 2;18(6):e0286299. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286299. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

Morphological characterization of Animal Genetic Resources is the first step to documenting diversity and designing breed specific breeding programs. The current study characterized the morpho-biometric variation of indigenous chicken ecotypes prevailing in northwestern Ethiopia. A multi-stage purposive, stratified, and random sampling method was employed to select the study areas and chickens. A total of 1200 adult chickens were sampled and characterized for 12 qualitative and 11 quantitative traits. Univariate and multivariate data analysis methods were employed to analyze the data using SAS and R statistical software. Red plumage colour (33.2%), white and red earlobe colour (73.8%) and yellow shank colour (57.0%) were the most predominant colour trait categories. Sex, agro-ecology, location, and the interaction of sex and location had a highly significant (p<0.001) effect on all body measurements. Shank traits were found to have the highest discriminating power in both sexes. The overall classification rates for the female and male sample populations were 57.47% and 69.97%, respectively. The squared Mahalanobis distances between sites were significant (p<0.001) for both sexes. The longest distance was obtained between North Achefer and Banja (19.25) and between North Achefer and Dembecha (16.80) in female and male chickens, respectively. In female chickens, canonical variates 1 (CAN 1) and 2 (CAN 2) explained 82% of total variation and distinctly separated the sample populations of North Achefer and Jawi from others. In male chickens, 90% of the total variance is explained by CAN1, CAN2, and CAN3, which distinctly separate the sample populations of the North Achefer, Sinan, and Jawi, among others. Using cluster analysis, the indigenous chickens found in the study area could be classified into four ecotypes: ecotype 1 (Banja, Dembecha, and Aneded), ecotype 2 (North Achefer), ecotype 3 (Sinan), and ecotype 4 (Jawi).

PMID:37267393 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0286299

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 2;18(6):e0285720. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285720. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

The manufacturing sector’s adherence to managing natural resources from the environment still needs to be improved. This study’s objective is to determine how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) influences the financial performance of manufacturing firms featured in the LQ45 Index, as measured by Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), and Net Profit Margin (NPM). All manufacturing companies that are included in the LQ45 Index’s population for this study were sampled using the purposive sampling method. This study uses secondary data from the CSRI based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 standard for 2018-2020 and the annual reports of companies in the manufacturing industry sector listed on the LQ45 Index. Moreover, applying a quantitative methodology, descriptive statistical methods, conventional assumption tests, and simple linear regression analysis were applied in this study’s data analysis. The results of the study proved that CSR has a significant effect on ROA but does not affect the ROE and NPM of LQ45 manufacturing companies. In accordance with the signaling theory, CSR disclosure sends a favourable message to outsiders, which stakeholders and shareholders will respond to through changes in business earnings. CSR implementation can establish a positive image for the company, but it can also improve the company’s image in both the commodity and capital markets. Investors will be more attracted to a company with a positive corporate image since a positive corporate image increases consumer loyalty. As consumer loyalty rises, the company’s sales will likewise rise, and its profitability will increase as a result. This paper opens a new research path in corporate social responsibility and financial performance for possible links among variables; a matter that has not been previously explored in Indonesia Manufacturing Public Companies.

PMID:37267373 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0285720

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 2;18(6):e0286599. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286599. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

To reduce the genome sequence representation, restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) protocols is being widely used either with single-digest or double-digest methods. In this study, we genotyped the sesame population (48 sample size) in a pilot scale to compare single and double-digest RAD-seq (sd and ddRAD-seq) methods. We analysed the resulting short-read data generated from both protocols and assessed their performance impacting the downstream analysis using various parameters. The distinct k-mer count and gene presence absence variation (PAV) showed a significant difference between the sesame samples studied. Additionally, the variant calling from both datasets (sdRAD-seq and ddRAD-seq) exhibits a significant difference between them. The combined variants from both datasets helped in identifying the most diverse samples and possible sub-groups in the sesame population. The most diverse samples identified from each analysis (k-mer, gene PAV, SNP count, Heterozygosity, NJ and PCA) can possibly be representative samples holding major diversity of the small sesame population used in this study. The best possible strategies with suggested inputs for modifications to utilize the RAD-seq strategy efficiently on a large dataset containing thousands of samples to be subjected to molecular analysis like diversity, population structure and core development studies were discussed.

PMID:37267340 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0286599

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 2;18(6):e0286624. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286624. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

Advances in observational and computational assets have led to revolutions in the range and quality of results in many science and engineering settings. However, those advances have led to needs for new research in treating model errors and assessing their impacts. We consider two settings. The first involves physically-based statistical models that are sufficiently manageable to allow incorporation of a stochastic “model error process”. In the second case we consider large-scale models in which incorporation of a model error process and updating its distribution is impractical. Our suggestion is to treat dimension-reduced model output as if it is observational data, with a data model that incorporates a bias component to represent the impacts of model error. We believe that our suggestions are valuable quantitative, yet relatively simple, ways to extract useful information from models while including adjustment for model error. These ideas are illustrated and assessed using an application inspired by a classical oceanographic problem.

PMID:37267337 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0286624

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 2;18(6):e0286250. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286250. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To report a long-term outcome of the novel combined surgical method of complete excision, corneal tattooing, and a sutureless limbal conjunctival autograft for limbal dermoid.

METHODS: All patients who were referred to our clinic for limbal dermoid, and underwent a combined surgery of complete excision, corneal tattooing, and a sutureless limbal conjunctival autograft were retrospectively reviewed. The surgery was performed by one surgeon, and all clinical information was obtained during a seven-year follow up period. In all patients, surgical outcomes of cosmesis, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), spherical equivalent (SE), and corneal/ocular astigmatism were obtained and compared preoperatively and postoperatively.

RESULTS: During seven years, 24 patients (24 eyes) with limbal dermoid were finally enrolled. The mean age was 10.1±8.9 years old. The surgery resulted in an improved appearing ocular surface in all cases without any complications. There was no statistical difference in BCVA, corneal and ocular astigmatism between preoperatively and postoperatively (p = 0.231, 0.156 and 0.475, respectively). The mean SE was 0.12±3.19D preoperatively, and -0.21±3.02 D postoperatively with statistical significance (p = 0.037). Mean follow up period was 54.50 ± 15.62 months.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, our innovative surgical method which includes complete excision with corneal tattooing and limbal conjunctival autograft can be a simple and safe procedure that achieves long standing cosmesis with limbal dermoids.

PMID:37267334 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0286250

PLoS One. 2023 Jun 2;18(6):e0286018. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286018. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We examined whether information extracted during a visual statistical learning task could be generalised from specific exemplars to semantically similar ones. We then looked at whether performance in autistic people differed to non-autistic people during a visual statistical learning task and specifically examined whether differences in performance between groups occurred when sequential information was presented at a semantic level. We did this by assessing recall performance using a two-alternative forced choice paradigm after presenting participants with a sequence of naturalistic scene images.

METHODS: 125 adult participants (61 participants with an autism diagnosis and 64 non-autistic controls) were presented with a fast serial presentation sequence of images and given a cover task to avoid attention being explicitly drawn to patterns in the underlying sequences. This was followed by a two-alternative forced choice task to assess participants’ implicit recall. Participants were presented with 1 of 3 unique versions of the task, in which the presentation and assessment of statistical regularities was done at either a low feature-based level or a high semantic-based level.

RESULTS: Participants were able to generalise statistical information from specific exemplars to semantically similar ones. There was an overall significant reduction in visual statistical learning in the autistic group but we were unable to determine whether group differences occurred specifically in conditions where the learning of semantic information was required.

CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidence that participants are able to extract statistical information that is presented at the level of specific exemplars and generalise it to semantically similar contexts. We also showed a modest but statistically significant reduction in recall performance in the autistic participants relative to the non-autistic participants.

PMID:37267333 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0286018

G3 (Bethesda). 2023 Jun 2:jkad104. doi: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad104. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The large-scale and nonaseptic fermentation of sugarcane feedstocks into fuel ethanol in biorefineries represents a unique ecological niche, in which the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the predominant organism. Several factors, such as sugarcane variety, process design, and operating and weather conditions, make each of the ∼400 industrial units currently operating in Brazil a unique ecosystem. Here, we track yeast population dynamics in 2 different biorefineries through 2 production seasons (April to November of 2018 and 2019), using a novel statistical framework on a combination of metagenomic and clonal sequencing data. We find that variation from season to season in 1 biorefinery is small compared to the differences between the 2 units. In 1 biorefinery, all lineages present during the entire production period derive from 1 of the starter strains, while in the other, invading lineages took over the population and displaced the starter strain. However, despite the presence of invading lineages and the nonaseptic nature of the process, all yeast clones we isolated are phylogenetically related to other previously sequenced bioethanol yeast strains, indicating a common origin from this industrial niche. Despite the substantial changes observed in yeast populations through time in each biorefinery, key process indicators remained quite stable through both production seasons, suggesting that the process is robust to the details of these population dynamics.

PMID:37267305 | DOI:10.1093/g3journal/jkad104

Int Rev Psychiatry. 2023 May-Jun;35(3-4):242-250. doi: 10.1080/09540261.2023.2186218. Epub 2023 Mar 7.

ABSTRACT

Stigma and discrimination are a major ongoing problem in the field of mental health as these impact on patient outcomes, access to and acceptability of therapeutic interventions, their quality of life, general wellbeing, social inclusion and opportunities. Social stereotypes, culture and prejudices all contribute to continuing discrimination in mental health. Different settings where people function may also be sources of discrimination such as work and educational environments. The lack of knowledge and understanding of mental health/illness by individuals, their families, carers and policymakers as well as the social media reporting also impact on social attitudes to discrimination. It has been also described a relevant impact of stigma among specific social minorities reporting poor mental health such as elderly people, youths, sexual variants, persons with disability. Educational programs, raising awareness trainings and proper public policies may be developed in order to reduce stigma at social level with favourable outcomes for people with mental illness.

PMID:37267024 | DOI:10.1080/09540261.2023.2186218