Search Results (7)

Twelve species of atyid shrimps are reported from three Micronesian islands (Babeldaob, Pohnpei, and Guam) and studied using a combined morphological and molecular approach. Among them, three are new records for the area (Caridina appendiculata, Caridina lobocensis, and Caridina rubella), while three new species are here described: Atyoida chacei sp. nov., Caridina ponapensis sp. nov., and Caridina rintelenorum sp. nov. Descriptions for these new species, diagnoses for poorly known species, and taxonomic notes are provided herein and their biogeography is discussed. Full article

This bibliometric review explores the role of social media in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by examining the current literature and identifying research gaps. A comprehensive analysis of 293 Scopus-indexed journal articles published between 2007 and 2022 was conducted using VOSviewer software. The study’s objective is to understand the impact of social media on SMEs’ growth and development, with a focus on customer engagement, return on investment (ROI) metrics, and marketing strategies. The analysis uncovers three primary research clusters: (i) social media customer engagement, (ii) social media ROI metrics, and (iii) social media marketing strategies. These findings offer valuable insights for researchers and practitioners aiming to comprehend the existing knowledge landscape and inform future studies regarding the practical implementation of social media in SMEs. Full article

Background and objectives: EG-Mirotin (active ingredient EGT022) targets nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), the early stage of retinopathy. EG-Mirotin reverses capillary damage before NPDR progresses to an irreversible stage. EG-Mirotin safety and efficacy were investigated in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus and moderate to severe NPDR. Methods: In this open-label, single-arm, single-center, exploratory phase II study, 10 patients (20 eyes) received EG-Mirotin once a day (3 mg/1.5 mL sterile saline) for 5 days and were evaluated for ischemic index changes and safety. End of study was approximately 8 ± 1 weeks (57 ± 7 days) after the first drug administration. Results: EG-Mirotin injections were well tolerated, with no dose-limiting adverse events, serious adverse events, or deaths. Four treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) unrelated to the investigational drug were observed in 2 out of 10 participants (20%) who had received the investigational drug. The overall average percent change in ischemic index at each evaluation point compared with baseline was statistically significant (Greenhouse–Geisser F = 9.456, p = 0.004 for the main effect of time), and a larger change was observed when the baseline ischemic index value was high (Greenhouse–Geisser F = 10.946, p = 0.002 for time × group interaction). Conclusions: The EG-Mirotin regimen established in this study was shown to be feasible and safe and was associated with a trend toward potential improvement in diabetes-induced ischemia and retinal capillary leakage. Full article

Pingelap Island in Pohnpei state is geographically isolated as the nearest island is 70 km away, and such geographical isolation is a challenge for public health due to the limited access to health services. This study aims to reveal the health situation on the island and investigate the influence of geographical isolation on health and diet. For that purpose, the result was compared with those who are living in a community on the main island of Pohnpei state (Mand) with the same ethnic background. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data on demographics, diet, and behavior. Anthropometry and blood pressure measurements were also taken. A total of 98 (Pingelap = 50; Mand = 48) subjects participated in the study. The result showed that females, in particular, had a high prevalence of obesity (80.0% in Pingelap; 75.9% in Mand). However, no significant regional difference was found in both BMI and blood pressure, regardless of gender. Regarding diet, although the geographical location impacted food availability, the consumption of major imported foods did not show a significant regional difference. In conclusion, the geographical isolation did not significantly influence health and diet, but the majority of the study population displayed a high-risk burden of non-communicable diseases. Full article

The lithospheric mantle is of paramount importance in controlling the chemical composition of ocean island basalts (OIBs), influencing partial melting and magma evolution processes. To improve the understanding of these processes, the pressure–temperature conditions of mantle melting were investigated, and liquid lines of descent were modelled for OIBs on Pohnpei Island. The studied basaltic samples are alkalic, and can be classified as SiO₂-undersaturated or SiO₂-saturated series rocks, with the former having higher TiO₂ and FeO^T contents but with no distinct trace-element composition, suggesting melting of a compositionally homogenous mantle source at varying depths. Both series underwent sequential crystallization of olivine, clinopyroxene, Fe–Ti oxides, and minor plagioclase and alkali feldspar. Early magnetite crystallization resulted from initially high FeO^T contents and oxygen fugacity, and late feldspar crystallization was due to initially low Al₂O₃ contents and alkali enrichment of the evolved magma. The Pohnpei lavas formed at estimated mantle-melting temperatures of 1486–1626 °C (average 1557 ± 43 °C, 1σ), and pressures of 2.9–5.1 GPa (average 3.8 ± 0.7 GPa), with the SiO₂-undersaturated series forming at higher melting temperatures and pressures. Trace-element compositions further suggest that garnet rather than spinel was a residual phase in the mantle source during the melting process. Compared with the Hawaiian and Louisville seamount chains, Pohnpei Island underwent much lower degrees of mantle melting at greater depth, possibly due to a thicker lithosphere. Full article

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) has emerged as a systematic approach to optimize antimicrobial use and reduce antimicrobial resistance. To support the implementation of AMS programs, the World Health Organization developed a draft toolkit for health care facility AMS programs in low- and middle-income countries. A feasibility study was conducted in Bhutan, the Federated States of Micronesia, Malawi, and Nepal to obtain local input on toolkit content and implementation of AMS programs. This descriptive qualitative study included semi-structured interviews with national- and facility-level stakeholders. Respondents identified AMS as a priority and perceived the draft toolkit as a much-needed document to further AMS program implementation. Facilitators for implementing AMS included strong national and facility leadership and clinical staff engagement. Barriers included lack of human and financial resources, inadequate regulations for prescription antibiotic sales, and insufficient AMS training. Action items for AMS implementation included improved laboratory surveillance, establishment of a stepwise approach for implementation, and mechanisms for reporting and feedback. Recommendations to improve the AMS toolkit’s content included additional guidance on defining the responsibilities of the committees and how to prioritize AMS programming based on local context. The AMS toolkit was perceived to be an important asset as countries and health care facilities move forward to implement AMS programs. Full article

An airborne LiDAR survey of the Nan Madol World Heritage Site and adjacent Temwen Island revealed a complex, irrigated cultivation system, the first found in the Central and Eastern Caroline Islands. This informs the goals of the sustainable conservation project, funded by the U.S. Department of State Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, that inspired the survey, and expands understanding of Nan Madol and its place in the network of Pacific island interaction and trade. Fieldwork verified the presence, across Temwen, of low, wet, cultivable areas, many of which are connected by water channels or separated by earthen berms. The berms themselves may also have been cultivated. In complexity, labor investment, and organization, the system is comparable to Nan Madol itself, the largest archaeological site in Micronesia, with structures on about 100 artificial islets built of stone and coral on a reef flat. Constructed over a millennium, Nan Madol was the seat of the Saudeleur Dynasty, which persisted from about 1200 to 1600 CE. The cultivation system appears to have been able to provide ample food for consumption, feasting, and redistribution or trade. If the landscape alteration described here proves to date to the time of the Saudeleur Dynasty, it will offer many avenues of research into the economic basis of Nan Madol’s regional dominance. Full article