bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Royal Jelly, A Super Food, Protects Against Celecoxib-Induced Renal Toxicity in Adult Male Albino Rats
Authors: Khalifa Hesham A. M. I. , Eleiwa Naglaa Z. H. , Nazim Heba A.
Published: March 2024

Background:

Celecoxib is a COX-2 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It is widely used for the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective:

This study aimed to explore the effect of long-term administration of celecoxib on kidney of male albino rats, and to study the potential effect of treatment discontinuation on such tissues. The study also examined the alleged ameliorative effect of royal jelly (RJ).

Methods:

Fifty, male albino rats were divided into 5 equal groups; 10 each. Group 1: rats received no drug (control group). Group 2: rats received celecoxib (50 mg/kg/day, orally for 30 successive days). Group 3: rats received celecoxib (50 mg/kg/day, orally) and royal jelly (300 mg/kg/day, orally) for 30 successive days. Group 4: rats received celecoxib for 30 successive days, then rats were left untreated for another 30 days. Group 5: rats received celecoxib and RJ for 30 successive days, then rats were left untreated for another 30 days.

Results:

Long-term celecoxib administration caused significant elevation in kidney function tests, with ameliorative effects of RJ against celecoxib-induced renal toxicity.

Conclusion:

Long-term celecoxib administration caused renal toxicity in male albino rats, with ameliorative effects of RJ.
Finnish nurses’ anxiety levels in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and 18 months later: A cross-sectional survey
Authors: Mattila Elina , Kaunonen Marja , Helminen Mika , Neva Marko H , Parkkila Anna-Kaisa , Peltokoski Jaana
Published: March 2024

It is extremely important to have an overall view of nurses’ well-being and anxiety levels during the COVID-19 pandemic to support the well-being and working conditions of workers in optimal ways in future crises. The aim of the study was to describe changes in the anxiety levels of nurses from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to a time point 18 months later, and to describe how the working conditions, interactions between workers, psychological distress, and managers’ actions were associated with the anxiety of nursing staff. The repeated cross-sectional survey was distributed to nurses at two Finnish hospitals. The mean anxiety scores of nurses increased over the examined 18-month period, but still indicated mild anxiety at both time points. Working conditions, interactions between workers, and psychological distress were associated with anxiety. At both measurement points, the nurses who did not receive support from their manager had higher levels of anxiety compared to those who received support. Hospital organizations can take advantage of the results when preparing for new pandemics and producing concrete plans to support nurses’ mental health and coping at work.
Research utilization competence of postgraduate nursing students: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Heikkilä Asta , Salminen Leena , Hupli Maija , Katajisto Jouko , Leino-Kilpi Helena
Published: March 2024

Previous studies of research utilization competence of master's level nursing students have mostly focused on evaluations after a single evidence-based practice course. In this study, research utilization is defined as the process of acquisition, critical reading, and implementation of research knowledge. The aim of the study was to analyze the research utilization competence of postgraduate nursing students at the beginning and end of master's degree studies in Finland. Data were collected online from two groups of students ( n = 33 and n = 60) with the structured Competence in Research Utilization-2 instrument and analyzed statistically. The study was reported using the STROBE guidelines. The students’ attitudes towards research utilization were positive. Students’ knowledge of research utilization was excellent and their skills were good at the end of their studies; they were higher than at the beginningof their studies. The study suggests that theoretically oriented nursing science education, including studies on conducting research, strengthens the research utilization competence needed for evidence-based practice.
Positive and Negative Emotion-Regulation Ability Profiles: Links With Strategies, Goals, and Internalizing Symptoms
Authors: Park Juhyun , Naragon-Gainey Kristin
Published: March 2024

Emotion regulation (ER) encompasses multiple, interdependent aspects (e.g., abilities, strategies, goals) whose collective contribution to mental-health outcomes is not well understood. To provide a more holistic picture of ER and better identify individuals who may be more susceptible to maladaptive ER and internalizing psychopathology, we examined latent profiles of positive and negative ER abilities and their associations with other aspects of ER (e.g., strategies, goals, success) and internalizing symptoms among adults cross-sectionally (Study 1) and daily (Study 2). In both studies, profiles characterized by pronounced deficits in positive ER abilities and below-average negative ER abilities were associated with maladaptive ER strategies and internalizing symptoms. Individuals with these profiles were also more likely to want to down-regulate positive emotions and use strategies reflecting disengagement from positive emotions in daily life. These findings provide insight into characteristics of vulnerable individuals, which can help refine current theory of ER and intervention efforts.
Gastroduodenal Involvement in AL Amyloidosis: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Ramachandran Rajarajeshwari , Grantham Tyler , Isaac-Coss Giovannie , Etienne Denzil , Reddy Madhavi
Published: March 2024

Gastrointestinal amyloidosis is a rare condition commonly found in the setting of systemic AL amyloidosis. Amyloid can deposit throughout the gastrointestinal tract and the resulting symptoms vary depending on the site of deposition. Gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations can range from weight loss or abdominal pain, to more serious complications like gastrointestinal bleeding, malabsorption, dysmotility, and obstruction. This case describes a patient with known history of IgG lambda AL amyloidosis, presenting with epigastric pain and unintentional weight loss found to have gastroduodenal amyloidosis. The definitive diagnosis of GI amyloidosis requires endoscopic biopsy with Congo red staining and visualization under polarized light microscopy. There are currently no specific guidelines for the management of GI amyloidosis. Generally, the goal is to treat the underlying cause of the amyloidosis along with symptom management. Our patient is being treated with cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (CyBorD) and started on hemodialysis due to progression of renal disease.
Perceived Stress and Level of Uncertainty Among Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Nabi Foodani Mahdi , Abbasi Dolatabadi Zahra , Rahbariyan Amir , Rasti Arezoo , Jafaryparvar Zakiyeh , Zakerimoghadam Masoumeh
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Disease uncertainty refers to the inability to assign meaning to events related to the illness. Uncertainty of the disease can affect various aspects of human life such as psychological aspects.

Objectives

This study aims to examine the relationship between disease uncertainty and perceived stress in COVID-19 patients.

Methods

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 212 hospitalized COVID-19 patients who were initially admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) and later transferred to general wards within the same hospitals. Three instruments were utilized to collect data for this study. The Demographic Information Questionnaire, Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale (MUIS) for disease uncertainty, and Perceived Stress Questionnaire. For data analysis, both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.

Results

The Pearson correlation coefficient matrix results showed a positive and significant relationship between uncertainty about the illness ( P < .001, r = 0.829), ambiguity ( P < .001, r = 0.795), complexity ( P < .001, r = 0.835), inconsistency or instability ( P < .001, r = 0.787), and unpredictability ( P < .001, r = 0.776) with perceived stress in COVID-19 patients transferred from the intensive care units.

Conclusion

Based on the findings of the current study, both uncertainty and perceived stress are elevated among COVID-19 patients, and a significant and direct relationship exists between these two variables. Healthcare providers, particularly nurses, should address the uncertainties surrounding emerging diseases, both at the hospital and community levels.
Uncertainty analysis of intra-module environmental stress parameter design in light use efficiency-based gross primary productivity estimation models
Authors: Zhao Cenliang , Zhu Wenquan
Published: March 2024

Terrestrial gross primary productivity is a key part in the carbon cycle, and the light use efficiency model is a widely employed tool for its estimation. However, since the specific designs of environmental stress parameters in light use efficiency models have obvious disparities, even for a single module (e.g., the temperature stress module), the uncertainties related to intra-module environmental stress parameters in light use efficiency models remain unclear. Thus, we gathered mainstream temperature and water stress parameters in light use efficiency models from existing publications, and employed a compatible framework to assess them from three perspectives: (1) identifying similarities and differences of environmental stress parameters; (2) evaluating the error propagation effect of input data under different environmental stress parameter combinations; and (3) assessing the generalization ability of environmental stress parameters. The results showed that the temperature stress parameters exhibited general homogeneity (shared 67.87% variance), while water stress parameters displayed noticeable internal variations (shared variance below 1.0%). Meanwhile, we revealed that the current flexible parameter combination method in light use efficiency model construction should be more cautious, since the flexible environmental stress parameter combinations would influence the error propagation effect from input data to final gross primary productivity estimations. In addition, our analysis found that the variance of environmental stress parameters was closely coupled to model estimation accuracy, and there was a positive relationship between the unique variance of temperature stress parameters and the ability of temperature stress parameters to describe gross primary productivity variation. Overall, the current environmental stress parameters demonstrated acceptable performance across most situations, except for biomes with high temperatures. This study provided a foundation towards the development of future parameter design, which may also inspire the application of empirical environmental factors in other gross primary productivity models.
A cascading learning method with SegFormer for radiographic measurement of periodontal bone loss
Authors: Yu Hanwen , Ye Xin , Hong Wanjing , Shi Rui , Ding Yi , Liu Chengcheng
Published: March 2024

Objective

Marginal alveolar bone loss is one of the key features of periodontitis and can be observed via panoramic radiographs. This study aimed to establish a cascading learning method with deep learning (DL) for precise radiographic bone loss (RBL) measurements at specific tooth positions.

Materials and methods

Through the design of two tasks for tooth position recognition and tooth semantic segmentation using the SegFormer model, specific tooth’s crown, intrabony portion, and suprabony portion of the roots were obtained. The RBL was subsequently measured by length through these three areas using the principal component analysis (PCA) principal axis.

Results

The average intersection over union (IoU) for the tooth position recognition task was 0.8906, with an F1-score of 0.9338. The average IoU for the tooth semantic segmentation task was 0.8465, with an F1-score of 0.9138. When the two tasks were combined, the average IoU was 0.7889, with an F1-score of 0.8674. The correlation coefficient between the RBL prediction results based on the PCA principal axis and the clinicians’ measurements exceeded 0.85. Compared to those of the other two methods, the average precision of the predicted RBL was 0.7722, the average sensitivity was 0.7416, and the average F1-score was 0.7444.

Conclusions

The method for predicting RBL using DL and PCA produced promising results, offering rapid and reliable auxiliary information for future periodontal disease diagnosis.

Clinical relevance

Precise RBL measurements are important for periodontal diagnosis. The proposed RBL-SF can measure RBL at specific tooth positions and assign the bone loss stage. The ability of the RBL-SF to measure RBL at specific tooth positions can guide clinicians to a certain extent in the accurate diagnosis of periodontitis.
Interprofessional collaboration skills and motivation one year after an interprofessional educational intervention for undergraduate medical and nursing students
Authors: Teuwen Carolyn Joyce , Kusurkar Rashmi A. , Schreurs Hermien , Daelmans Hester E. M. , Peerdeman Saskia M.
Published: March 2024

Background

The increasingly complex patient care in the twenty-first century is delivered by interprofessional health care teams. Interprofessional collaboration can be taught during interprofessional education. However, whether a long-term change in collaborative competencies can be achieved by interprofessional education has not been studied sufficiently. Our research questions were: How does motivation for interprofessional collaboration and interprofessional collaborative skills change up to one year after an interprofessional educational intervention? How are they related to each other?

Methods

During a one-year period, undergraduate medical and nursing students attended four interprofessional (intervention) or uniprofessional (control group) education sessions. Self-determination Theory was used as the theoretical framework. Autonomous and controlled motivation scores for interprofessional collaboration were calculated using the Academic Self-Regulation Questionnaire, before (T1), directly after (T2) and one year post-intervention (T3). At T3, the students also filled out the Interprofessional Collaborative Competencies Attainment Survey (ICCAS), which measured the perceived attainment of collaborative competencies by a retrospective pre-test/post-test design. We used linear mixed effects models to analyse the motivation scores and linear regression for the relation between motivation and competence.

Results

In the interprofessional group, autonomous motivation scores of the participants were significantly lower at T2 vs. T1. Controlled motivation scores were significantly higher at T3 vs. T1. Controlled motivation scores for T2 were significantly higher in the uniprofessional group than in the interprofessional group. Perceived competence was related to higher autonomous motivation scores. At T3 the interprofessional collaborative competencies seemed to have grown more among students in the interprofessional group.

Conclusions

The perceived growth in interprofessional collaboration competence lasted at least up to one year after the intervention, and was measurable with the ICCAS. The growth was significantly more in the IPE students than in the UPE students. The few differences found in motivation scores for interprofessional collaboration were probably caused by an imbalance of nursing versus medical students over the different time points. This finding indicates that classroom based IPE can contribute to interprofessional collaboration skills of nursing and medical students at least up to one year after an intervention.
Nanoscale myelinogenesis image in developing brain via super-resolution nanoscopy by near-infrared emissive curcumin-BODIPY derivatives
Authors: Chen Junyang , Yu Yifan , Wang Siyou , Shen Yu , Tian Yupeng , Rizzello Loris , Luo Kui , Tian Xiaohe , Wang Tinghua , Xiong Liulin
Published: March 2024

Understanding the intricate nanoscale architecture of neuronal myelin during central nervous system development is of utmost importance. However, current visualization methods heavily rely on electron microscopy or indirect fluorescent method, lacking direct and real-time imaging capabilities. Here, we introduce a breakthrough near-infrared emissive curcumin-BODIPY derivative (MyL-1) that enables direct visualization of myelin structure in brain tissues. The remarkable compatibility of MyL-1 with stimulated emission depletion nanoscopy allows for unprecedented super-resolution imaging of myelin ultrastructure. Through this innovative approach, we comprehensively characterize the nanoscale myelinogenesis in three dimensions over the course of brain development, spanning from infancy to adulthood in mouse models. Moreover, we investigate the correlation between myelin substances and Myelin Basic Protein (MBP), shedding light on the essential role of MBP in facilitating myelinogenesis during vertebral development. This novel material, MyL-1, opens up new avenues for studying and understanding the intricate process of myelinogenesis in a direct and non-invasive manner, paving the way for further advancements in the field of nanoscale neuroimaging.

Graphical Abstract
Development of a time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay kit for detecting canine coronavirus and parvovirus through double labeling
Authors: Li Laiqing , Chen Cuicui , Liang Huankun , Dong Wenqi , Leontiev V. N. , Voytov Igor Vitalievich
Published: March 2024

Objective

Canine enteric coronavirus (CCV) and canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) are the main pathogens responsible for acute gastroenteritis in dogs, and both single and mixed infections are common. This study aimed to establish a double-labeling time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA) to test and distinguish CCV and CPV-2 diseases.

Methods

A sandwich double-labeling TRFIA method was established and optimized using europium(III) (Eu3+)/samarium(III) (Sm3+) chelates. CCV/CPV-2 antigens were first captured by the immobilized antibodies. Then, combined with Eu3+/Sm3+-labeled paired antibodies, the Eu3+/Sm3+ fluorescence values were detected after dissociation to calculate the CCV/CPV-2 ratios. The performance, clinical performance and methodology used for laboratory (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and stability) testing were evaluated.

Results

A double-label TRFIA for CCV and CPV-2 detection was optimized and established. The sensitivity of this TRFIA kit was 0.51 ng/mL for CCV and 0.80 ng/mL for CPV-2, with high specificity for CCV and CPV-2. All the accuracy data were less than 10%, and the recovery ranged from 101.21 to 110.28%. The kits can be temporarily stored for 20 days at 4 °C and can be stored for 12 months at temperatures less than − 20 °C. Based on a methodology comparison of 137 clinically suspected patients, there was no statistically significant difference between the TRFIA kit and the PCR method. Additionally, for CCV detection, the clinical sensitivity was 95.74%, and the clinical specificity was 93.33%. For CPV-2 detection, the clinical sensitivity was 92.86%, and the clinical specificity was 96.97%.

Conclusion

In this study, a double-label TRFIA kit was prepared for CCV and CPV-2 detection with high laboratory sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, stability, clinical sensitivity and specificity. This kit provides a new option for screening/distinguishing between CCV and CPV-2 and may help improve strategies to prevent and control animal infectious diseases in the future.
Plastid genome of Chenopodium petiolare from Trujillo, Peru
Authors: Aliaga Flavio , Zapata-Cruz Mario , Valverde-Zavaleta Silvia Ana
Published: March 2024

Objectives

The Peruvian Andean region is an important center for plant domestication. However, to date, there have been few genetic studies on native grain, which limits our understanding of their genetic diversity and the development of new genetic studies for their breeding. Herein, we revealed the plastid genome of Chenopodium petiolare to expand our knowledge of its molecular markers, evolutionary studies, and conservation genetics.

Data description

Total genomic DNA was extracted from fresh leaves (voucher: USM < PER > :MHN333570). The DNA was sequenced using Illumina Novaseq 6000 (Macrogen Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea) and reads 152,064 bp in length, with a large single-copy region of 83,520 bp and small single-copy region of 18,108 bp were obtained. These reads were separated by a pair of inverted repeat regions (IR) of 25,218 bp, and the overall guanine and cytosine (GC) was 37.24%. The plastid genome contains 130 genes (111 genes were unique and 19 genes were found duplicated in each IR region), including 86 protein-coding genes, 36 transfer RNA-coding genes, eight ribosomal RNA-coding genes, and 25 genes with introns (21 genes with one intron and four genes with two introns). The phylogenetic tree reconstructed based on single-copy orthologous genes and maximum likelihood analysis indicated that Chenopodium petiolare is most closely related to Chenopodium quinoa.
Bioinformatics analysis of photoexcited natural flavonoid glycosides as the inhibitors for oropharyngeal HPV oncoproteins
Authors: Pourhajibagher Maryam , Bahador Abbas
Published: March 2024

The presence of oropharyngeal human papillomavirus (HPV)-18 E6 and E7 oncoproteins is highly significant in the progression of oropharyngeal cancer. Natural flavonoid compounds have potential as photosensitizers for light-activated antimicrobial therapy against HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer. This study evaluated five natural flavonoid glycosides including Fisetin, Kaempferol, Morin, Myricetin, and Quercetin as photosensitizers against HPV-18 E6 and E7 oncoproteins using computational methods. After obtaining the amino acid sequences of HPV-18 E6 and E7, various tools were used to predict and verify their properties. The PubChem database was then examined to identify potential natural flavonoid glycosides, followed by predictions of their drug-likeness and ADMET properties. Subsequently, molecular docking was conducted to enhance the screening accuracy and to gain insights into the interactions between the natural compounds and the active sites of HPV-18 E6 and E7 oncoproteins. The protein structures of E6 and E7 were predicted and validated to be reliable. The results of molecular docking demonstrated that Kaempferol exhibited the highest binding affinity to both E6 and E7. All compounds satisfied Lipinski's rules of drug-likeness, except Myricetin. They showed high absorption, distribution volume and similar ADMET profiles with no toxicity. In summary, natural flavonoid glycosides, especially Kaempferol, show potential as photosensitizers for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy against HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer through inhibition of E6 and E7 oncoproteins. These findings provide insights into the development of novel therapeutic strategies based on antimicrobial photodynamic therapy.
Disclosure following a medical error: lessons learned from a national initiative of workshops with patients, healthcare teams, and executives
Authors: Finkelstein Adi , Brezis Mayer , Taub Amiad , Arad Dana
Published: March 2024

Background

Despite the increase in disclosures of medical errors, transparency remains a challenge. Recognized barriers include shame, fear of litigation, disciplinary actions, and loss of patient trust. In 2018, the Israeli Ministry of Health initiated a series of workshops about disclosure of medical errors. The workshops involved medical center executives, healthcare providers, patients, and family members of patients who had previously been harmed by a medical error. This study presents the lessons learned about perceived challenges in disclosure of errors in 15 such workshops.

Methods

Data collection included participant observations in 15 workshops, full audio recordings of all of the workshops, and documentation of detailed field notes. Analysis was performed under thematic analysis guidelines.

Results

We identified four main themes: “Providers agree on the value of disclosure of a medical error to the patient”; “Emotional challenges of disclosure of medical error to patients”; “The medico-legal discourse challenges transparency”; and “Providers and patients call for a change in the culture regarding disclosure of medical errors”. Participant observations indicated that the presence of a patient who had experienced a tragedy in another hospital, and who was willing to share it created an intimate atmosphere that enabled an open conversation between parties.

Conclusion

The study shows the moral, human, and educational values of open discourse in a protective setting after the occurrence of a medical error. We believe that workshops like these may help foster a culture of institutional disclosure following medical errors. We recommend that the Ministry of Health extend such workshops to all healthcare facilities, establish guidelines and mandate training for skills in disclosure for all providers.
Factors affecting growth and internationalization of micro-enterprises in a sparsely populated region: case South Savo, Finland
Authors: Partala Timo , Jantunen Sami , Kuukkanen Tommi , Merikoski Helena
Published: March 2024

Micro-enterprises have recently received increased research attention due to their contribution to economic growth and employment, and an increasing amount of research has focused on studying their performance. The current objective was to study factors affecting the growth and internationalization of micro-enterprises, as well as the most important barriers for growth in the sparsely populated region of South Savo in Finland. Owners or managers of 108 micro-enterprises responded to a questionnaire probing variables representing aspects of growth, internationalization, innovation, networking, digital maturity, and business environment, among others. Statistical analyses including multiple regressions were used to analyze the data collected on quantitative rating scales. The results suggested that intention to grow and level of networking with other companies and public actors were directly related to actualized growth. Intention to grow was, in turn, affected by innovativeness, growth capability, intention for internationalization, and business environment. In addition, the level of innovativeness and intention for internationalization were related to actual level of internationalization. The most important barriers for growth selected by the participants were lack of time for development activities, threshold to hire new employees, and sufficiency of funding. The results were utilized in guiding regional development activities in the South Savo region.
Social support and mental well-being among people with and without chronic illness during the Covid-19 pandemic: evidence from the longitudinal UCL covid survey
Authors: Aksoy Ozan , Wu Alison Fang-Wei , Aksoy Sevgi , Rivas Carol
Published: March 2024

Purpose

An immediate research priority recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic is well-being among some of our most vulnerable—people with chronic illness. We studied how mental health changed among people with and without chronic illness throughout the pandemic and the mediating role of social support.

Methods

We used the 3-waves of COVID-19 survey within the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS, age 19, N = 5522) and MCS Parent (MCSP, age > > 19, N = 7479) samples, with additional pre-pandemic measures of some outcomes and exposure. Using Structural Equation Panel Models with Full Information Maximum Likelihood estimation to address missing data, we studied differences between respondents with a chronic illness and without, regarding depressive symptoms and mental well-being, with social provision, social support, and loneliness as potential mediators.

Results

Mental well-being (SWEMWBS) and psychological distress (Kessler-6) worsened significantly during the pandemic relative to baseline for people with and without chronic illness, while the latter group had substantially better well-being at all waves and the baseline regarding both outcomes. When the lockdown was lifted during wave-2, mental well-being temporarily rebounded, and distress waned among people without chronic illness but continued to worsen among people with chronic illness. Social support partially mediated the link between chronic illness and mental well-being.

Conclusions

The large mental well-being gap between people with and without chronic illness persisted during the pandemic. However, social support and provision can partially narrow this gap, hence should be employed in future pandemic management.
Meaningfulness experienced in performing domestic labor in Chinese families: a qualitative study from caregivers’ perspectives
Authors: Zhang Bo , Coene Gily
Published: March 2024

The intricately connected interactions among personal choices, traditional cultural ideologies, and modern societal backgrounds have provoked dynamic interpretations and practices in performing domestic labor. The value of domestic labor in terms of macro considerations, such as reproductive value, economic value, and caring value, has been established in scholarly discussions. In China, the emphasis is on the meaningfulness of domestic care for the whole society. However, it remains unclear how family members in contemporary Chinese society understand the meaningfulness of performing domestic labor. This study aims to investigate what kinds of meaning that individuals derive from their day-to-day domestic labor and how the different types of meaningfulness affect their future behaviors in sharing domestic responsibilities. Meaningfulness is a complex notion, but Baumeister’s theory of meaning provides a theoretical framework to understand why humans need meaningfulness in life, the forms that meaningfulness takes, where meaningfulness resides, and how perceptions of meaningfulness are shaped. In total, 48 respondents participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews concerning their attitudes toward the value of domestic labor. Findings based on in-depth interview data show that the meaningfulness of domestic labor consists of participants realizing their need for belonging, self-efficacy, and a sense of living a good life. These results also suggest that the values of domestic labor illustrated in previous studies, in which domestic labor was conceptualized as reproductive labor, economic activity, and care labor, have little effect on individuals’ lives. Nevertheless, the meaningfulness that individuals experience in daily life continues to motivate their devotion to domestic labor. Finally, the discursive mechanism shaping the meaningfulness of domestic labor is also discussed.
Biosecurity measures for the prevention of African swine fever on German pig farms: comparison of farmers’ own appraisals and external veterinary experts’ evaluations
Authors: Klein Leonie , Gerdes Ursula , Blome Sandra , Campe Amely , grosse Beilage Elisabeth
Published: March 2024

Background

Since its first introduction into the German wild boar population in 2020, African swine fever (ASF) has been spreading slowly from the eastern border westwards and has been introduced into eight domestic pig farms thus far. The European Food Safety Authority has named deficits in farm biosecurity and increased human activity as major risk factors for the introduction of the ASF virus into pig farms. Studies have shown that pig farms in Germany generally have a high level of biosecurity. However, veterinary practitioners and policy-makers have expressed concerns that not all pig farmers are appropriately prepared to deal with the threat of ASF. This study aimed to evaluate the level of biosecurity on pig farms in Lower Saxony and explore the reasons for deficits in the implementation of biosecurity measures. For this purpose, pig farmers were interviewed in open structured face-to-face interviews about their perception of ASF and biosecurity, and the implemented measures on their farms were assessed with a checklist. In the data analysis, the farmers’ answers and the results of the biosecurity check were compared to gain further insights into the factors influencing the implementation of biosecurity measures on the farms.

Results

The biosecurity check showed that on most farms, a high level of biosecurity had been implemented. Nevertheless, deficits were found concerning the fences and the delimitation of clean and dirty areas on farm grounds and in the anteroom. Overall, the farmers were well informed about ASF and had a realistic perception of their own biosecurity. They considered the farm layout, financial means and practicality of hygiene measures to be the main barriers to implementing biosecurity measures against ASF. However, the results also suggested that farmers’ attitudes and legal regulations were major influencing factors.

Conclusion

The results indicated a high level of biosecurity against ASF on most pig farms and a realistic perception of their own biosecurity by the farmers. Current knowledge transfer and information should focus on building upon the farmers’ own motivation and expertise and supporting them to put existing knowledge into practice.
An analysis of the correlation between income and the consumption of energy in Bangladesh
Authors: Shabur Md. Abdus , Ali Md. Farhad
Published: March 2024

This research takes a methodical look at how rising incomes and climate change affect energy use in six different divisions of Bangladesh. To investigate the indirect mechanism of income influence on the consumption of energy, this study employs indicators of industrial structure upgrading and urbanization in a novel way using the fixed effects model which has not been used so far in this kind of study. The results show that income affects energy use in two ways: directly and indirectly. The influence of income on the consumption of energy is inverted U-shaped and may be readily observed. Furthermore, by encouraging urbanization and upgrading of industrial structure, income can indirectly lower energy use. While energy consumption is negatively impacted by climate change, it is less severe than the effect on earnings. Furthermore, there are substantial geographical and temporal variations in the effect of wealth on energy use. Energy use decreases significantly as income rises over time. Income has a detrimental effect on the consumption of energy in the developed southern area. Energy usage is positively affected by income in the undeveloped northern area. In light of Bangladesh’s unique the consumption of energy profile, we must reject the “one size fits all” approach and instead concentrate on reducing wasteful spending in areas like income growth, industrial structure and urbanization, and while simultaneously increasing efficiency and precision in our aiming. This study aims to provide policymakers with fresh insights to inform decisions on energy production and consumption policies considering urbanization and industrial growth.
Needle artifact reduction during interventional CT procedures using a silver filter
Authors: Reynoso-Mejia Carlos A. , Troville Jonathan , Wagner Martin G. , Hoppel Bernice , Lee Fred T. , Szczykutowicz Timothy P.
Published: March 2024

Background

MAR algorithms have not been productized in interventional imaging because they are too time-consuming. Application of a beam hardening filter can mitigate metal artifacts and doesn’t increase computational burden. We evaluate the ability to reduce metal artifacts of a 0.5 mm silver (Ag) additional filter in a Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) scanner during CT-guided biopsy procedures.

Methods

A biopsy needle was positioned inside the lung field of an anthropomorphic phantom (Lungman, Kyoto Kagaku, Kyoto, Japan). CT acquisitions were performed with beam energies of 100 kV, 120 kV, 135 kV, and 120 kV with the Ag filter and reconstructed using a filtered back projection algorithm. For each measurement, the CTDIvol was kept constant at 1 mGy. Quantitative profiles placed in three regions of the artifact (needle, needle tip, and trajectory artifacts) were used to obtain metrics (FWHM, FWTM, width at − 100 HU, and absolute error in HU) to evaluate the blooming artifact, artifact width, change in CT number, and artifact range. An image quality analysis was carried out through image noise measurement. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to find significant differences between the conventional CT beam energies and the Ag filtered 120 kV beam.

Results

The 120 kV-Ag is shown to have the shortest range of artifacts compared to the other beam energies. For needle tip and trajectory artifacts, a significant reduction of − 53.6% (p < 0.001) and − 48.7% (p < 0.001) in the drop of the CT number was found, respectively, in comparison with the reference beam of 120 kV as well as a significant decrease of up to − 34.7% in the artifact width (width at − 100 HU, p < 0.001). Also, a significant reduction in the blooming artifact of − 14.2% (FWHM, p < 0.001) and − 53.3% (FWTM, p < 0.001) was found in the needle artifact. No significant changes (p > 0.05) in image noise between the conventional energies and the 120 kV-Ag were found.

Conclusions

A 0.5 mm Ag additional MDCT filter demonstrated consistent metal artifact reduction generated by the biopsy needle. This reduction may lead to a better depiction of the target and surrounding structures while maintaining image quality.
Accurate and efficient floor localization with scalable spiking graph neural networks
Authors: Gu Fuqiang , Guo Fangming , Yu Fangwen , Long Xianlei , Chen Chao , Liu Kai , Hu Xuke , Shang Jianga , Guo Songtao
Published: March 2024

Floor localization is crucial for various applications such as emergency response and rescue, indoor positioning, and recommender systems. The existing floor localization systems have many drawbacks, like low accuracy, poor scalability, and high computational costs. In this paper, we first frame the problem of floor localization as one of learning node embeddings to predict the floor label of a subgraph. Then, we introduce FloorLocator, a deep learning-based method for floor localization that integrates efficient spiking neural networks with powerful graph neural networks. This approach offers high accuracy, easy scalability to new buildings, and computational efficiency. Experimental results on using several public datasets demonstrate that FloorLocator outperforms state-of-the-art methods. Notably, in building B0, FloorLocator achieved recognition accuracy of 95.9%, exceeding state-of-the-art methods by at least 10%. In building B1, it reached an accuracy of 82.1%, surpassing the latest methods by at least 4%. These results indicate FloorLocator’s superiority in multi-floor building environment localization.
Prevalence and pattern of psychiatric morbidity in patients with first-episode acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Akbar Nighat , Farooq Kubra , Jan Neelofar , Zahoor Marya , Rather Yasir Hassan , Bhat Ubaid Rasool
Published: March 2024

Background

The existing body of literature extensively highlights the impact of psychological determinants on the initiation of coronary heart disease. Globally, the incidence of psychiatric disorders is increasing, and India is no stranger to this trend. However, the connection between psychiatric co-morbidities and the onset of acute coronary syndrome has been relatively understudied in this region of the world.

Results

Individuals experiencing acute coronary syndrome exhibited notably higher psychiatric morbidity compared to the control group, with an odds ratio of 4.14. Mood disorders, in particular, were the most prevalent among ACS patients, demonstrating an odds ratio of 5.023, followed by anxiety disorders with an odds ratio of 2.48.

Conclusion

The findings revealed a substantial association underscoring the intricate interplay between mental and cardiovascular health emphasizing the importance of holistic healthcare approaches that consider both physical and psychological well-being, in the context of cardiovascular diseases. Further research in this area can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the links between mental health and cardiovascular outcomes, potentially informing targeted interventions and improving overall patient care.
Effectiveness and safety of SOF/VEL containing rescue therapy in treating chronic HCV-GT4 patients previously failed NS5A inhibitors-based DAAs
Authors: Omar Heba , Maksoud Mohammed Hamdy Abdel , Goma Ahmed A. , Hassan Essam A. , Atta Nancy Abdalla , Khalil Mahmoud , Hegazy Mohamed Soliman , Zaky Samy , Esmat Gamal
Published: March 2024

Background and aims

NS5A inhibitors are an important option for treating chronic HCV-GT4 patients. Retreatments after NS5A-based DAAs failure are limited. We aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of SOF/VEL-containing regimens for HCV retreatment after NS5A-regimen failure.

Methods

Prospective cohort study assessing the efficacy and safety of retreatment with SOF/VEL in addition to either voxilaprevir or ribavirin in patients who had failed previous NS5A-based DAA treatment. The primary outcome was SVR12. Safety and tolerability data were collected.

Results

One hundred fifty patients were included. The mean age was 53 years, 64% were male, and 50% of included patients had liver cirrhosis, with a mean FIB-4 score of 3.12 (± 2.30) and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score of 7.27 (± 0.48), and failed previous SOF/DCV + RBV, they were assigned to 24 weeks of SOF/VEL + RBV. The remaining 50% of participants had no liver cirrhosis and failed previous SOF/DCV, they were assigned to 12 weeks of treatment with SOF/VEL/VOX. Overall, SVR12 was achieved by 96% (n = 144/150) of included patients; 97.33% for SOF/VEL/VOX and 94.67% for SOF/VEL/RBV. Thirty-one patients experienced mild AEs; the most commonly reported mild AE in the SOF/VEL + RBV group was hyperbilirubinemia (n = 9) whereas in the SOF/VEL/VOX group were headache (n = 4) and vertigo (n = 4). Only one patient in SOF/VEL + RBV reported moderate treatment-related AE in the form of anemia and no reported severe AE.

Conclusion

Retreatment of non-cirrhotic patients with 12 weeks SOF/VEL/VOX and treatment of cirrhotic patients with 24 weeks with SOF/VEL + RBV after the failure of first-line NS5A-based therapy was an effective and well-tolerated treatment option.
Assessment of glypican-3 immune expression in ameloblastoma, ameloblastic fibroma, ameloblastic carcinoma (pilot study)
Authors: Al-Malahy Nayl Ahmed Al-ezzi , Zayed Shaymaa Omar , Saleh Heba Ahmed
Published: March 2024

Background

Odontogenic tumors a variety of benign and malignant lesions developed exclusively in the jaws. They are known to have variable clinical behaviors and different histological features. The development of odontogenic tumors is attributed to alterations in some genetic and biological molecules. The aim of this study is to assess Glypican-3 immune expression in different groups of odontogenic neoplasms as in Ameloblastoma, Ameloblastic Fibroma, and Ameloblastic Carcinoma, and compare it to dental follicle tissue as control group. Also correlate the marker expression with the known biological behavior of these tumors. This study included 40 cases were selected from oral and maxillofacial pathology department (ten cases in each group). Some sections are prepared to be stained with H&E stain and other sections with Glypican-3 immune stain. Histological examination and Histomorphometric analysis were done finally under light microscope. The area percents of Glypican-3 immune expression in all tumor sections were measured.

Results

Level of expression of Glypican-3 revealed significant difference between the study groups (P-value < or = 0.05). The level of immune expression was highest in ameloblastic carcinoma group (M = 58.7) followed by ameloblastoma group (M = 33.9), then ameloblastic fibroma (M = 5.6) and lowest in the control group of dental follicle (M = 1.3).

Conclusions

Glypican-3 immune expression demonstrated statistically significant difference among the study groups, indicating that it may have contributing role in tumor pathogenesis and its biological behavior.
Enhancement of flexural modulus and strength of epoxy nanocomposites with the inclusion of functionalized GNPs using Tween 80
Authors: Halim Wan Zateel Aqmaer Wan Ab , Junid Ramli , Sazali Norazliane , Siregar Januar Parlaungan , Razak Jeefferie Abd , Fitriyana Deni Fajar , Cionita Tezara , Jaafar Jamiluddin
Published: March 2024

In this work, epoxy nanocomposite was prepared with the inclusion of unfunctionalized as-received GNPs (ARGNPs) and functionalized GNPs using surfactant Tween 80 (T80GNPs) in the epoxy resin using a mechanical stirrer. ARGNPs were used as it is, while T80GNPs were prepared through the adsorption of surfactant onto GNPs’ surface using a sonication procedure in an ultrasonic bath. Characterization of nanoparticles using SEM shows that ARGNPs indicated a softer image representing a thinner layer of graphene stacks compared to T80GNP which has a tangible solid-looking image resulting from the sedimentation during the process of filtration. Elementally, both ARGNPs and T80GNPs were found to contain carbon, oxygen, and sulfur, as indicated by the EDX spectrum, with the C/O ratio for T80GNPs being 34.7% higher than that for ARGNPs, suggesting the adsorption of Tween 80 molecules on the GNPs after functionalization. FTIR spectroscopy confirms the attachment of Tween 80 molecules on GNPs surface with T80GNPs spectrum indicated higher peak intensity than ARGNPs. Flexural testing demonstrated that the addition of 0.9 wt.% ARGNPs and 0.9 wt.% T80GNPs to the epoxy increased the modulus of the nanocomposites to 72.1% and 82.6%, respectively, relative to neat epoxy. With the same amount of particle content, both nanocomposites showed increased strength, with ARGNPs and T80GNPs exhibiting strengths of 70.5% and 87.8%, respectively, relative to neat epoxy.
Fascial plane blocks for cardiothoracic surgery: a narrative review
Authors: Capuano Paolo , Sepolvere Giuseppe , Toscano Antonio , Scimia Paolo , Silvetti Simona , Tedesco Mario , Gentili Luca , Martucci Gennaro , Burgio Gaetano
Published: March 2024

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the limitations and risks associated with the overreliance on opioids in various surgical procedures, including cardiothoracic surgery.

This shift on pain management toward reducing reliance on opioids, together with need to improve patient outcomes, alleviate suffering, gain early mobilization after surgery, reduce hospital stay, and improve patient satisfaction and functional recovery, has led to the development and widespread implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols.

In this context, fascial plane blocks are emerging as part of a multimodal analgesic in cardiac surgery and as alternatives to conventional neuraxial blocks for thoracic surgery, and there is a growing body of evidence suggesting their effectiveness and safety in providing pain relief for these procedures.

In this review, we discuss the most common fascial plane block techniques used in the field of cardiothoracic surgery, offering a comprehensive overview of regional anesthesia techniques and presenting the latest evidence on the use of chest wall plane blocks specifically in this surgical setting.
Extending section 12 approval under the Mental Health Act to professions other than medicine
Authors: Taylor John L. , Burrell Carole
Published: March 2024

Applications for detention under civil sections of the England and Wales Mental Health Act 1983 require at least one recommendation from a registered medical practitioner who is approved under section 12 of the Act. The Mental Health Act 2007 introduced multi-professional approved clinicians who may act as a patient's responsible clinician with responsibilities that include renewal of detention for treatment. Approved clinicians who are medical practitioners are automatically approved for section 12 purposes, whereas other approved clinicians are not. It is argued in this paper that this inconsistency is illogical, has implications for patient care and needs to be remedied.