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Pelvic floor exercise: Awareness, knowledge, beliefs and practices among pregnant women in a Ghanaian setting
Background Pregnancy and childbirth increase the risk of pelvic floor muscle damage, leading to conditions such as urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse. This makes it imperative to adopt strategies such as pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFMEs) to ensure positive antenatal and postnatal experiences for women. Hence, the study aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, practices, and beliefs of PFMEs among pregnant women in a Ghanaian setting. Objective We assessed the awareness, knowledge, practices and beliefs of PFMEs among pregnant women in a Ghanaian setting. Design A cross-sectional descriptive research was conducted, recruiting 134 pregnant women through convenient sampling in selected antenatal clinics in Kumasi metropolis, Ashanti Region. Methods The study adopted the questionnaire regarding pelvic floor muscle training among pregnant women used by Teerayut Temtanakitpaisan, Suvit Bunyavejchevin, Pranom Buppasiri and Chompilas Chongsomcha. Data on the socio-demographic characteristics of the women, their awareness, knowledge, beliefs and practices about PFMEs were recorded. Results More than half (64.9%) of the respondents were not aware of PFMEs. Subsequent analysis for this work was therefore done for participants who reported being aware (35.1%). Also, the principal sources of information from which the subjects acquired the knowledge of PFME were health-care providers (42.6%) and media outside the hospital (36.2%). With reference to beliefs 80.3% believed that PFME could reduce vaginal trauma and 83.0% believe PFME aids vaginal birth. In terms of PFME practice, 36.2% of the aware women performed PFME regularly. Conclusion To ensure pregnant women are well-informed about PFMEs, physiotherapists should work with antenatal care providers to develop comprehensive courses that include detailed information on PFME’s.
Arithmetic optimization algorithm based PID control for reduced order motorized wheelchairs with real time MIL SIL PIL validation
Reconfigurable skin electronics enabled by intrinsically stretchable photoelectric memory transistors
A survey of student loan burden among United States Chiropractors: Insights on debt, relief, and educational value
Background Although student loans have made health professional education accessible for a greater proportion of the US population, rising student indebtedness has incited considerable discourse. This study aimed to characterize US chiropractors’ self-reported student loan debt, student loan relief opportunities, and perceived value of chiropractic training. Methods A 38-item cross-sectional, anonymous, electronic survey was developed. Chiropractors who graduated from a US-based, Council on Chiropractic Education-accredited Doctor of Chiropractic program (DCP) were recruited. The survey was conducted between February 2025 to March 2025. Survey domains included (1) demographics, (2) financial characteristics, (3) loan relief, and (4) educational and career value. Descriptive statistics and visualizations were used for analysis. Results A total of 1,455 responses were collected. The mean (SD) and median (Q1-Q3) student loan debt at graduation was $176,297 ($89,460) and $185,000 ($120,000–$240,000). At survey completion, 85% retained student loan debt, averaging $232,062 ($102,691) with a median of $240,000 ($177,500–$290,000). Mean (SD) gross income in 2023 was $99,068 ($100,349); median (Q1-Q3) was $76,000 ($50,000-$115,000). Approximately 87% of respondents reported being ineligible or unsure about eligibility for loan relief programs. Over half (53.3%) disagreed or strongly disagreed that their DCP provided a positive return on investment (ROI), and approximately 70% rated the financial ROI of DCP training as low or very low. Perceptions of non-financial ROI were more favorable. Overall, 65% would not choose a chiropractic career again; among them, 67.3% would pursue a career in another healthcare field. Conclusions US chiropractors are burdened with considerable student loan debt that outpaces gross income. The findings of this study are commensurate with prior studies investigating chiropractic educational debt, yet likely are not unique to the profession and represent larger challenges faced by many modern US health professions. Innovation is likely needed to support the sustainability of the chiropractic profession given tension between educational debt and income.
Smart emergency multi-attribute decision-making for typhoon response based on a hybrid intuitionistic fuzzy approach
Author Correction: Wafer-scale high-κ HfO2 dielectric films with sub-5-Å equivalent oxide thickness for 2D MoS2 transistors
Hospitalizations associated with endemic and non-endemic mosquito-borne arboviruses in Canada, 2002–2023
Mosquito-borne arboviruses pose a growing public health concern in Canada, particularly in the context of climate change and increased global travel. This study aimed to quantify the burden of endemic and non-endemic mosquito-transmitted arboviral diseases in Canada by examining hospitalization trends from 2002 to 2023. Using administrative hospital data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) and national West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance data, we analyzed patient demographics, temporal and spatial patterns, and disease classification. Hospitalizations were classified as endemic (e.g., WNV) or non-endemic (e.g., dengue, chikungunya, Zika, yellow fever) based on historical presence and vector establishment in Canada. A total of 2,470 unique hospitalizations were identified, with 56.4% attributed to endemic diseases and 39.7% to non-endemic diseases. WNV accounted for over 99% of endemic-related hospitalizations, with peaks in 2003, 2007, and 2012 aligning with national surveillance data. Hospitalizations were highest among males aged 75–79 years, particularly in the southern regions of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. Non-endemic disease hospitalizations, primarily due to dengue and chikungunya, increased after 2010 and were more evenly distributed throughout the year, reflecting travel patterns. Younger adults (20–49 years) were most affected. The study highlights limitations in diagnostic coding and surveillance coverage, particularly the exclusion of Quebec data and underreporting of emerging arboviruses. These findings underscore the utility of hospital administrative data in complementing traditional surveillance systems and identifying populations at risk for severe outcomes. As climate change and travel continue to influence arboviral disease dynamics, integrated data sources are essential for guiding public health planning and response.
Morphological and molecular identification of Fusarium wilt resistance in tomato cultivars mediated by defense gene response
Europe’s land take and the loss of nature and cropland to artificial surfaces
Abstract The expansion of artificial surfaces, also known as land take, is a major contributor to habitat loss and biodiversity decline. Using high-resolution satellite data, we find that between 2018 and 2023 Europe lost 912 ± 74 km 2 yr −1 of natural and semi-natural land cover and 588 ± 27 km 2 yr −1 of cropland due to land take - nearly twice as large as previous estimates. Countries exhibiting the greatest land take per capita are Norway and Estonia, while Switzerland and Spain are most land efficient. The majority of land take (80%) occurs within modified ecosystems such as urban greenspace and semi-natural agricultural areas. Grasslands are disproportionately affected, with land take rates nearly five times that of other (semi-)natural ecosystems. The main land-use drivers of land take are residential (41%) and transport/logistics development (22%), and are therefore priority industries for targeting mitigation policies. Our methods provide a template for design-based monitoring of land take and call for an economic valuation of the ecosystem services lost due to land take.
The impact of government macroeconomic policies and elections on income smoothing in state-controlled commercial banks: Evidence from the MENA region
In most of the economies of different countries in the world, banks play a very important role in economic stability. We know that if the banks are not managed correctly, this issue will have heavy economic, political and social consequences for the society of that country. If we can find the important factors in the correct and accurate management of banks in the economy of a country, it will help the sustainable economic growth of that economy. In this research, we seek to find out how political shareholders affect the management of banks. To achieve this goal, the financial information of commercial banks of ten countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during the years 2015–2020 and also the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) model have been used. After calculating the percentage of government shares in the investigated banks, we analyze income smoothing using loan loss provisions (LLPs). One of the factors that has been considered in this regard is the elections in these countries and income smoothing in election years has been compared with other years. The obtained results show that income smoothing is more in banks that have more government shareholders. Another noteworthy point is that the election factor has a significant impact on the management of banks.
Retraction Note: Impacts of soret and dufour possessions on micropolar fluid past a stretching sheet in a porous medium
Multiomics-guided discovery of protective microbiome signatures in lupus-prone mice treated with Faecalibacterium prausnitzii
Trend-based quality assurance of binary urinary antigen tests
Objective Binary diagnostic assays, such as urinary antigen (uAg) tests, provide rapid results but lack quantitative output for conventional quality control. This study evaluated whether long-term monitoring of test positivity patterns can serve as a practical tool for quality assurance (QA) of pneumococcal and Legionella uAg assays. Methods All pneumococcal and Legionella uAg tests performed in Uppsala County, Sweden (01/01/2007–31/12/2024), were retrospectively analyzed. Positivity trends were assessed over time, including seasonal variation and demographic subgroups. Outlier detection was performed using interquartile range (IQR) thresholds to identify potential analytical drift. Bayesian predictive values were additionally estimated as a theoretical comparison to illustrate the influence of prevalence on predictive performance. Results A total of 17,356 pneumococcal and 15,280 Legionella uAg tests were included. Pneumococcal positivity displayed significant seasonal variation, lowest in August (OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.35–0.68), whereas Legionella positivity varied mainly by year, with peaks in 2007, 2012, and 2021–2022. Pneumococcal positivity was highest in children and female patients, while Legionella showed no demographic trends. QA intervals derived from IQR thresholds captured expected long-term stability (7.4% for pneumococcus; 0.7% for Legionella), with outliers corresponding to known epidemiological events. Bayesian estimates highlighted the large discrepancy between incidence-based and test-based predictive values but were secondary to the trend-based framework. Conclusions Rapid uAg tests pose challenges for QA. Positivity trends provide a feasible strategy for long-term, population-based monitoring of binary diagnostic tests and can complement conventional controls and detect analytical drift.
Research on the mechanism of multiple key strata controlling overburden movement and their classification in bedrock gully
Tuning selectivity in the direct hydrogenolysis of PET plastic over Co catalysts through interfacial hydrogen spillover
The response of small boreal catchments to extreme weather event: Hurricane Larry
The boreal environment is high in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and iron concentrations. This DOC is enriched in functional groups allowing it to bind strongly with iron and act as a significant source of iron to the coastal and marine environment. As climate change intensifies more extreme weather events will affect the northern hemisphere and boreal environment. These weather events can lead to massive fluxes of material but the impact it will have is currently unknown. Hurricane Larry made landfall on Newfoundland (NL) in 2021 providing an opportunity to investigate how the boreal environment will react to extreme weather events. We sampled three rivers before and after the hurricane to see how DOC and iron concentrations, and colour (a 350 ) were affected by the hurricane. Temperature and pH were found to decrease in a statistically significant manner following the storm with iron and a 350 having a significant increase, DOC despite increasing following the storm failed to meet the statistical significance threshold. The rivers chosen had a high abundance of natural landcover which buffered the catchment’s response from the hurricane. Pearson’s correlations were calculated between the landcover and the ∆ of the variables to access the resilience of the catchments to extreme weather events. Due to the small sample size Pearson’s corelations could not achieve statistical significance but the results still provide a novel look into the resilience of the northern boreal regions to extreme weather events. These preliminary results show that a high percentage of forest and peatlands buffered against increases in DOC and colour, with wetlands buffering an increase in iron concentrations. This study represents one of the first to observe boreal catchment responses to extreme weather events such as hurricanes and can serve as basis for more robust studies based in the boreal region.
Integrated in silico and in vitro evaluation of Camellia sinensis phytosomes in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer
Abstract Endocrine therapy has improved outcomes in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer (ERPBC), but resistance and relapse remain common. Camellia sinensis contains polyphenols with reported anticancer effects, but their key targets, systems-level mechanisms and optimised delivery for ERPBC are not well defined. Ethanolic leaf extract of Camellia sinensis was profiled by HR-LCMS/MS, and 11 abundant phytocompounds were taken forward for network pharmacology analysis against ERPBC targets. Hub genes and pathways were validated by molecular docking and 200 ns molecular dynamics simulations, focusing on Theacitrin C–CTNNB1 and Plathymenin–ESR1 complexes. A phospholipid phytosome of the extract was then formulated and characterised for particle size, zeta potential and morphology, followed by in vitro cytotoxicity on MCF-7 and L929 cells using the MTT assay. 36 overlapping targets and 8 hub genes were identified. Theacitrin C and Plathymenin showed strong, dynamically stable binding to CTNNB1 and ESR1. The phytosome exhibited a mean size of 519 nm, zeta potential of − 23.0 ± 1.1 mV and mainly spherical particles. It was highly biocompatible toward L929 cells (84.31% viability at 1000 µg/mL) and showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells (IC₅₀ 445.55 µg/mL). Camellia sinensis-derived phytochemicals, particularly Theacitrin C and Plathymenin, appear to modulate CTNNB1- and ESR1-centred networks in ERPBC, and their phytosomal delivery offers a stable, selectively cytotoxic formulation. These findings justify further preclinical evaluation of Camellia sinensis phytosomes as multi-target adjuncts for ERPBC.
Molecular cobalt catalysts for electrocatalytic acetylene semi-hydrogenation
Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale Plus: A confirmatory study on Chinese adolescents
Background Athletic identity plays a crucial role in athletes’ psychological well-being and performance. Although the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale Plus (AIMSP) effectively assesses this construct in Western contexts, its application in diverse cultural settings remains challenging. This study aimed to validate the Chinese version of AIMSP (AIMSP-C) among young basketball players in mainland China. Methods A cross-sectional validation study was conducted with 604 adolescent basketball players (301 males, 303 females; mean age = 15.53 years, SD = 1.42) from secondary schools across Shandong Province, China. Participants completed the 22-item AIMSP-C, which assesses five dimensions of athletic identity using an 11-point Likert scale. The scale underwent rigorous forward-backward translation following standard cross-cultural adaptation procedures. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to examine the structural validity, alongside comprehensive reliability and validity assessments. Results CFA supported a five-factor structure (Social Identity, Exclusivity, Self-Identity, Negative Affectivity, and Positive Affectivity) after minor modifications, demonstrating acceptable fit indices (CFI = 0.959, TLI = 0.952, SRMR = 0.083, RMSEA = 0.091 [90% CI: 0.086, 0.096]). The AIMSP-C exhibited strong internal consistency (composite reliability: 0.974–0.989), convergent validity (AVE > 0.50), discriminant validity, and test-retest reliability (ICC: 0.936–0.989). These psychometric properties surpassed those of the original AIMSP. Conclusion The AIMSP-C demonstrates robust psychometric properties for assessing athletic identity among Chinese youth athletes. This validated instrument provides researchers and practitioners with a reliable tool for understanding athletic identity in the Chinese sporting context, facilitating evidence-based approaches to athlete development and psychological support.