Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
Is executive attention affected by environmental lighting conditions?
Bright daylight has various positive influences, such as the long-term synchronization of circadian rhythms and an associated alertness that creates optimal conditions for attentional performance. However, the short-term effects of light on attention have not yet been sufficiently researched. Studies of these short-term effects on selective attention also showed partly contradictory effects. To investigate these short-term effects, 95 participants completed the Attention Network Test, under conditions of bright daylight or warm-white light. The focus of the present study was on executive attention, because this construct comes closest to the ANT short form of selective attention used. A significant enhancement of executive attention was observed under bright daylight conditions. This specifically means a short term effect of bright daylight on executive attention and thus selective attention in young adults.
Chlorogenic acid inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation through Nrf2 activation in diabetic nephropathy
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the single largest cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Inflammation reaction mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome and Nrf2-related oxidative stress have been considered to play a very important role in the progress of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Effective drugs for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy still need to be explored. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a kind of polyphenol with a Nrf2 activation property widely existed in nature. The aims of this study were to evaluate the renoprotective effect of CGA and to elucidate the anti-inflammation mechanisms involved. In the present study, we established a diabetic rat model to investigate the renoprotective effect of CGA in vivo. The results show that the level of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and urinary protein excretion in diabetic rats were significantly decreased after CGA intervention. CGA administration can active the Nrf2 pathway and inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Notably, Nrf2 siRNA transfection nullified the inhibitory effects of CGA on NLRP3 inflammasome activation in vitro. To summarize, our present study provided evidence that chlorogenic acid can slow the progression of diabetic nephropathy progression, and the effect is associated with suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation via through modulation of the Nrf2 pathway, suggesting its therapeutic implications for diabetic nephropathy.
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy and its associated factors among children living with HIV in Eastern and Southern Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Children living with HIV in low-income settings, such as in Eastern and Southern Africa, are at a high risk for poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy. However, various primary studies presented inconsistent and inconclusive estimates of adherence and its associated factors among children living with HIV in Eastern and Southern Africa. Therefore, we were aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of adherence and its associated factors, and to guide interventions efforts to support adherence, this comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Methods We have comprehensively searched PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Scopus, and Hinari databases for all primary studies. Unpublished studies were also searched manually and accessed from university repositories. Additional searches were conducted by examining the references in the included articles to further identify relevant studies. Data were extracted and analyzed using Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and STATA version 17 software, respectively. A random-effects DerSimonian-Laird model was used to compute the pooled prevalence of adherence to antiretroviral therapy among children living in Eastern and Southern Africa. We have used Cochran’s Q test (χ2) and Higgins I2 statistics to identify heterogeneity. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis were conducted to investigate the potential sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed by the funnel plot and Egger’s test. An association was expressed through the pooled adjusted odds ratio and statistical significance was considered at a p-value < 0.05. Results This meta-analysis combined the effect estimates of 29 primary studies with 7414 study participants. The pooled prevalence of adherence to antiretroviral therapy among children living in Eastern and Southern Africa was 76.2% (95% CI: 71.4, 81.1) [I2 = 97.06%, P < 0.001 and Q test (χ2) = 953.83, p-value < 0.001]. Being a biological caregiver [AOR = 1.93 (95% CI: 1.34, 2.73)], receiving first-line antiretroviral treatment [AOR = 2.7 (95% CI: 1.39, 5.25)], and having social support [AOR = 1.88 (95% CI: 1.33, 2.66)] were significantly associated with adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Conclusion The pooled prevalence of adherence to antiretroviral therapy among children living with HIV is low. Biological caregiver, first-line antiretroviral treatment, and social support were factors associated with adherence to ART among children living with HIV. Therefore, healthcare providers, adherence counselors, supporters, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations, should emphasize a multi-component intervention approach to address the multifaceted challenges associated with adherence to ART, thereby improving counseling efforts to enhance adherence. Moreover, clinicians should prioritize the selection and utilization of regimens for individuals in this age group on robust first-line options.
Are the 2009 Institute of Medicine gestational weight gain recommendations applicable in a contemporary South-East Asian pregnancy cohort? Results of a prospective analysis
Gestational Weight Gain (GWG) modulates pregnancy outcomes and long-term offspring metabolic health. The 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) GWG recommendations have largely been validated in Caucasian and mono-ethnic East Asian cohorts. Asians are at higher metabolic risk at a lower body mass index (BMI), and this has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to identify lower BMI cut-offs for risk evaluation amongst Asians. This prospective observational cohort study aimed to determine if 2009 IOM GWG thresholds are applicable in a contemporary multi-ethnic South-East Asian cohort. We recruited 875 mothers from an urban Malaysian tertiary clinic during screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) from 2014–2021. Data collected included measures of insulin-sensitivity, total GWG (maternal weight at delivery–self-reported pre-gravid weight), and neonatal anthropometrics (birthweight and skinfold-thickness measured with Harpenden calipers). BMI was stratified by Caucasian (overweight ≥25kg/m2, obese ≥30kg/m2) as well as Asian (overweight ≥23kg/m2, obese ≥27.5kg/ m2) cut-offs, and patients categorized by 2009 IOM GWG reference ranges. The cohort comprised 67% Malay-, 23% Chinese- and 10% Indian-descent mothers with a high prevalence of overweight/obesity (Asian cut-offs 56.9% vs Caucasian 44%). When Asian BMI cut-offs were deployed, excessive GWG incidence increased (34.1% → 40.6%) whilst inadequate GWG declined (30% → 24.8%) (p<0.05). Upon multivariate-analysis (adjusting for age, parity, race, GDM, insulin-sensitivity, baby-gender) excessive GWG categorized with Caucasian BMI cut-offs was significantly associated with increased risk of macrosomia (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 8.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–70.01), Neonatal-Fat-Mass (NFM) >90th centile (aOR 2.14, 95% CI 1.02–4.45) and Sum-of-Skinfold Thickness (SSFT) >90th centile (aOR 3.88, 95% CI 1.77–8.51). Excessive GWG by Asian cut-offs was also associated with increased risk of SSFT >90th centile (aOR 5.75, 95% CI 2.35–14.10). Inadequate GWG by both Caucasian and Asian BMI cut-offs was associated with Small-for-Gestational-Age (SGA) status (aOR 4.30, 95% CI 2.48–7.45 and aOR 3.66, 95% CI 2.13–6.30 respectively). In conclusion, the 2009 IOM GWG recommendations, using either Caucasian or regional Asian BMI cut-offs, are applicable in a contemporary Malay majority South-East Asian cohort in terms of predicting abnormal neonatal adiposity. Importantly, the association with neonatal adiposity is independent of increased maternal insulin resistance characteristic of Asians.
Revising the definition of “demand satisfied for modern methods of family planning:” A cross-sectional study to explore incorporating person-centered constructs of demand, choice, and satisfaction
Several challenges to validity have been identified with standard approaches used to measure “demand satisfied for modern methods of family planning.” This study explored construct validity of the widely used indicator for “demand satisfied” by comparing the standard definition to alternative definitions of the indicator highlighting dimensions of women’s own perceived demand, choice, and satisfaction. This cross-sectional study of women aged 15–49 years was conducted in Argentina (n = 1492), Ghana (n = 1600), and India (n = 1702) using a two-staged random sampling design. Women were directly asked about their: 1) demand, whether they wanted to use a contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy; 2) choice, whether they had autonomy in decision-making during their last family planning visit; and 3) satisfaction, whether they were satisfied with their method. The values of the standard and alternative indicators were compared. Convergent validity was assessed using logistic regression to explore the association between indicator definition and use of a preferred contraceptive method. In Argentina and India, the percentage of women with demand satisfied after incorporating constructs of demand, choice, and satisfaction was substantially lower than that obtained using the standard definition—a reduction of ~70% in Argentina and ~40% in India. Women who were categorized as having their “demand satisfied” for family planning according to the person-centered dimensions of the alternative indicator were significantly more likely to be using their preferred method of contraception in all three countries (OR: 7.7, 95% CI: 5.31–11.07 in Argentina, OR: 4.83, 95% CI: 2.27–10.27 in Ghana, and OR: 2.07 95% CI: 1.11–3.86 in India) compared to those whose demand was satisfied by only the standard indicator definition. Revising the definition of demand satisfied to reflect the principles of person-centered care offers an opportunity to improve construct validity by ensuring that global measurement efforts align with women’s reproductive rights.
Dialysate and plasma meropenem concentrations in continuous intraperitoneal regimen during peritoneal-dialysis-related peritonitis
Background A single dose of intraperitoneal (IP) meropenem is recommended for peritoneal-dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis stemming from extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing organisms. However, data on IP meropenem is limited. Methods This prospective, descriptive study was conducted to examine plasma and dialysate meropenem levels during continuous IP meropenem administration in five patients with PD-related peritonitis. All patients received an IP meropenem loading dose of 500 mg, followed by IP meropenem at 125 mg/L, with four exchanges daily. The plasma and dialysate meropenem concentrations were measured at specified intervals for a 24-hour period utilizing a high-performance, liquid chromatography method. Results Five patients with PD related peritonitis were studied. The mean-maximum dialysate and plasma meropenem levels were 158.1 mg/L (standard deviation [SD] ± 62.9) and 29.4 mg/L (SD ± 15.9), respectively. The mean dialysate meropenem level was at its minimum of 32.6 mg/L (SD ± 19.1) at 24 hours. Throughout the period, the dialysate meropenem levels exceeded the minimal inhibitory concentration of the pathogenic resistance organism (> 8 mg/L). Four patients responded to the treatment, whereas one developed treatment failure from fungal peritonitis. Conclusion An IP meropenem loading of 500 mg, followed by 125 mg/L every 6 hours, provided an adequate dialysate meropenem concentration and is an effective treatment for PD related peritonitis. Trial registration Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR20191121002) with date of first registration at 21/11/2019 (retrospectively registered).
The synergistic effects of microcredit access and agricultural technology adoption on maize farmer’s income in Kenya
Addressing global food security demands urgent improvement in agricultural productivity, particularly in developing economies where market imperfections are perverse and resource constraints prevail. While microcredit is widely acknowledged as a tool for economic empowerment, its role in facilitating agricultural technology adoption and improving agricultural incomes remains underexplored. This study examines the synergistic effects of microcredit access and agricultural technology adoption on the incomes of maize farmers in Kenya. Using household-level data, we employ an endogenous switching regression framework to control possible endogeneity in access to microcredit. Our findings shows that microcredit access positively influences the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies. Key determinants, including marital status, use of fertilizer application, access to extension services, and cooperative membership, are identified as significant determinants of microcredit access. Notably, the Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATT) indicates a 40.52% increase in income among farmers who access microcredit, mainly driven by the timely adoption of high-quality seeds, improved agricultural technologies, and enhanced inputs. These results highlight microcredit’s role in promoting allocative efficiency and enhancing Total Factor Productivity (TFP) within agricultural systems. Robustness checks, including propensity score matching and sensitivity analyses, corroborate these findings. The study recommends the implementation of targeted financial policies and educational initiatives meant to promote credit access, encourage savings, and enhancing financial literacy, particularly for credit-constrained households. Integrating these measures could strengthen rural financial markets and drive sustainable agricultural development across the regions.
Construction of management tools for early warning of prevacuum steam sterilization failure
Objective The aim of this study is to develop a set of management tools for early warning of steam sterilization failure, including a failure risk checklist and a calculation model for assessing early sterilization failure risk, and to verify the early warning effectiveness of the management tools through check experiment. Methods This study included two stages. The first stage involved the construction of a failure risk checklist and the development of a computational formula for early sterilization failure risk by expert consultation. In the second stage, the early warning effectiveness of the sterilization failure management tools was verified through a comparative verification method based on the consultation results of two experts. Results The evaluation system comprised a total of 10 early warning indicators divided into 3 categories: "Staff", "Steam sterilizer" and "Medical devices". The Cronbach’s α coefficient for internal consistency reliability was 0.837, the total content validity index (S-CVI) was 0.884, and the item-content validity (I-CVI) ranged from 0.762 to 1. In management practices, the sterilization qualification rate of the experimental group was 100%, compared to 99.78% in the control group. There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of accidental downtime (hours) and the normal operation rate of the equipment caused by equipment failure. Conclusion This study constructed an early warning model for the vacuum steam sterilization process failures. This model facilitates more accurate identification of sterilization failure risks, which helps medical institutions in enhancing sterilization quality control and early interventions.
Effects of two training workshops upon university students’ learning of critical thinking
We evaluated the effect of two workshops on learning about critical thinking amongst first- year university students. 66 Chilean pedagogy students participated, all female, with ages ranging between 18 and 37 years. Two experimental groups were organized, one with direct teaching (n = 22) and another one with semi-directed teaching (n = 19), plus a control group (n = 25). Pre- and post-tests were applied with an abbreviated Pencrisal critical thinking questionnaire. The results showed statistically significant differences in both experimental groups between the pre- and post-test, with a greater difference in experimental group 1, while the control showed no significant differences. The covariables evaluated were age and academic performance upon entering university, observing that even after controlling for the aforementioned variables, there are differences between the experimental groups and the control. We discuss the possible positive effect of direct teaching in critical thinking as a more effective strategy.
Effect of case management on viral load in adult clients enrolled due to non-suppression in Capricorn District, South Africa: A case control study
Background Case management is a structured, client centered approach that incorporates various strategies such as employing lay counsellors to provide psychosocial and adherence support to strengthen antiretroviral (ART) adherence, improve retention in care and viral load (VL) suppression. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of case management on VL in clients enrolled due to non-suppression (> = 50 copies/ml) in Capricorn District, Limpopo Province. Methods We conducted a case control study using two datasets (1) cases were selected from case management data collected from June 2021 to November 2022 at 35 facilities and captured on the REDCap system. (2) controls were identified from TIER.Net data from facilities where case management is not available and with at least two VLs on record since June 2021. Our study was restricted to clients with an unsuppressed (> = 50 copies) VL at enrollment, over the age of 18 years and excluded clients with a missing VL at enrollment. Using similar age, gender, and VL characteristics, an equal number of clients not receiving case management was randomly sampled from the TIER.Net data. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine the factors associated with viral suppression. Results Our final study sample consisted of 3 256 clients, half of which received case management (N = 1 628), 1084 (33%) with a first VL in study of 50–399 copies/ml, 404 (12%) 400–999 copies/ml and 1768 (54%) >1000 copies/ml. Post case management intervention results showed that 49% had a VL below 50 copies/ml amongst those receiving case management and 44% among those who did not receive case management. In the adjusted model we found that case management (Odds ratio [OR] 1.25; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.08–1.44) versus no case management, 35–54 years old (1.43; 1.07–1.91) and 55+ year old (1.88; 1.35–2.61) versus 18–24-year-old increased odds of VL suppression whilst being male (0.72; 0.61–0.84) versus being female has decreased odd of VL suppression. Conclusion Close to half of the clients had a VL below 50 copies/ml after case management. Factors that increased the odds of VL suppression were case management and older age, whilst being male was associated with reduced odds of VL suppression. Differentiated services for virally unsuppressed clients would be helpful for men. Case management was associated with viral suppression in those with a starting VL > 1000 copies/ml and not for those starting with low level viremia (50–999 copies/ml).
Determining the perceptions and practices of oncologists regarding venous thromboembolism risk assessment in ambulatory cancer patients: A qualitative study
Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) can increase morbidity and mortality for cancer patients. Therefore, guidelines recommend predicting VTE risk and thromboprophylaxis for high-risk patients. Many studies critique oncologists’ adherence to thromboprophylaxis guidelines for cancer patients. Meanwhile, most of these studies did not discuss in detail the reasons and facilitators for oncologists’ adherence to thromboprophylaxis guidelines. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore in depth the perceptions and practices of oncologists working in oncology centers in Baghdad, Iraq, regarding VTE and its risk assessment among ambulatory cancer patients. A qualitative study with face-to-face individual-based interviews was conducted with oncologists working in four major oncology centers in Baghdad, Iraq using a semi-structured interview guide. The guide was developed based on previous relevant literature and validated by a panel of experts. The interviews were conducted from November 2023 to January 2024. Thematic analysis approach was used for data analysis. Thirty-one oncologists were interviewed in this study. Twenty-two of the interviewed oncologists reported that they detect VTE among their cancer patients. 64% of participating oncologists reported that they did not conduct VTE risk assessments for their cancer patients. Only four oncologists reported assessing VTE risk using the Khorana score. 58% of oncologists reported that they prescribe thromboprophylaxis for high-risk patients; meanwhile, only 11% of them reported prescribing anticoagulants in a dose similar to that reported by thromboprophylaxis guidelines. 77% of participating oncologists reported that pharmacists have a significant role in preventing cancer-related thrombosis by helping physicians prescribe a safe and effective prophylactic anticoagulant and in calculating VTE risk scores. In conclusion, CAT is commonly diagnosed among Iraqi cancer patients. VTE risk assessment for ambulatory cancer patients is rarely conducted by oncologists working at Oncology centers in Baghdad, Iraq. The prophylactic anticoagulants were rarely prescribed in appropriate dose and/or duration for patients at high risk of VTE. Pharmacists can help oncologists follow thromboprophylaxis guidelines by calculating VTE risk score and recommending a safe and effective dose of appropriate prophylactic anticoagulant.Educating and training oncologists about VTE risk assessment is recommended to enhance their practice in thromboprophlaxis.
Telehealth equity and access communication skills pilot simulation for practicing clinicians
Objectives This pilot study evaluated a telehealth training simulation program for practicing clinicians, specifically focused on addressing patient issues of equity and access to healthcare via improving telehealth communication. Methods Participants participated in a one-hour simulation experience with two cases. Performance was assessed pre- and post-intervention using a checklist measuring communication domains related to equity and access in telehealth. Participant satisfaction was secondarily measured via survey. Results Results showed measurable gains in clinicians’ abilities to effectively incorporate equity and access communication skills. Participants found the session useful and recommended the training experience. Conclusions The findings of this pilot study highlight the potential of simulation-based telehealth training for practicing clinicians, emphasizing clinicians’ attention to patients’ equitable access to healthcare. Future studies should aim to explore the durability of learning and investigate the generalizability of this training approach to other telehealth competencies and settings.
Identity, language and communication concerns of subcultures: The case of Antalya Cretans
In today’s world, there is almost no homogeneous culture without interaction, and multiculturalism has become the most important phenomenon for all societies. Therefore, this cultural diversity, consisting of differences in culture, language, identity, religion, etc. has also brought along many problems. In the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s in “Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage”, it is stated that identifying, documenting and surveying intangible cultural heritage of communities contributes to social harmony and tolerance. This research has been conducted on the identity, language, and communication of the Cretan in Türkiye. The purpose of the study is to contribute to social peace and tolerance by examining the identity, language, and communication perceptions and concerns of the Crete-origin community living in Türkiye as a subculture group, within the context of multiculturalism and intercultural communication. In this direction, preliminary interviews, observations and semi-structured in-depth interviews were made in the fieldwork carried out between May-July 2024 in the of the Cretan immigrants who have migrated and settled in Antalya at the first settlements one of the world cities with intense multiculturalism. In the study, an answer has been sought to the question “What are the identity and linguistic anxiety, harmony and conflict situations in the communication and interaction of Cretans living in Turkey as a subculture with the dominant culture?”. The findings were subjected to thematic and descriptive analysis and interpreted. It is predicted that the findings and results of this research can be used to contribute to studies aimed at preventing identity, linguistic and cultural incompatibility and possible conflicts caused by increasing migration movements.
Energy consumption forecasting for oil and coal in China based on hybrid deep learning
The consumption forecasting of oil and coal can help governments optimize and adjust energy strategies to ensure energy security in China. However, such forecasting is extremely challenging because it is influenced by many complex and uncertain factors. To fill this gap, we propose a hybrid deep learning approach for consumption forecasting of oil and coal in China. It consists of three parts, i.e., feature engineering, model building, and model integration. First, feature engineering is to distinguish the different correlations between targeted indicators and various features. Second, model building is to build five typical deep learning models with different characteristics to forecast targeted indicators. Third, model integration is to ensemble the built five models with a tailored, self-adaptive weighting strategy. As such, our approach enjoys all the merits of the five deep learning models (they have different learning structures and temporal constraints to diversify them for ensembling), making it able to comprehensively capture all the characteristics of different indicators to achieve accurate forecasting. To evaluate the proposed approach, we collected the real 880 pieces of data with 39 factors regarding the energy consumption of China ranging from 1999 to 2021. By conducting extensive experiments on the collected datasets, we have identified the optimal features for four targeted indicators (i.e., import of oil, production of oil, import of coal, and production of coal), respectively. Besides, we have demonstrated that our approach is significantly more accurate than the state-of-the-art forecasting competitors.
Soil bacterial and fungal diversity and composition respond differently to desertified system restoration
Desertification is a major ecological issue worldwide that results in the destruction of terrestrial ecosystems. Restoration of desertified ecosystems has been carried out in recent decades, but the role of soil microorganisms in this process is poorly understood. Thus, to deconstruct the effects of desertified system restoration on soil microbial communities, we examined the changes in soil characteristics as well as the variations in and drivers of soil microbial diversity and community composition of the Hulun Buir Sandy Land in Northeast China, where restoration activities have been performed for approximately 30 years. The results revealed that with desertified system restoration, plant species richness and aboveground biomass increased significantly. The soil properties, characterized by organic carbon, total nitrogen and available nitrogen content improved. Moreover, soil pH decreased significantly from 7.75 in mobile dunes to 7.17 in fixed dunes (P < 0.05). Compared to mobile dunes, the Chao1 and Shannon diversity indices of bacteria increased significantly in fixed dunes. In contrast, the fungal richness index (Chao1 index) decreased significantly during desertified system restoration. The fungal Shannon diversity index also showed a decreasing trend, although it was not significant (P > 0.05). Proteobacteria was the most prevalent bacterial phylum, with a relative abundance of over 40%. In fixed dunes, the relative abundances of Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Chloroflexi significantly increased, whereas the relative abundance of Firmicutes significantly decreased. For fungi, Ascomycota was the dominant phylum, with a relative abundance of 97.6% in fixed dunes compared with 82.4% in mobile dunes. Plant species richness and soil pH were the major determinants of the soil microbial communities. This research provides important insights into the changes in soil microbial communities and their relationships with environmental factors during desertified system restoration, which can help guide sustainable land management practices and the restoration of desertified areas.
NMR spectroscopy derived plasma biomarkers of inflammation in human populations: Influences of age, sex and adiposity
Understanding the distribution and variation in inflammatory markers is crucial for advancing our knowledge of inflammatory processes and evaluating their clinical utility in diagnosing and monitoring acute and chronic disease. 1H NMR spectroscopy of blood plasma and serum was applied to measure a composite panel of inflammatory markers based on acute phase glycoprotein signals (GlycA and GlycB) and sub-regions of the lipoprotein derived Supramolecular Phospholipid Composite signals (SPC1, SPC2 and SPC3) to establish normal ranges in two healthy, predominantly white cohorts from Australia (n = 398) and Spain (n = 80; ages 20–70 years). GlycA, GlycB, SPC1 and SPC3 were not significantly impacted by age or sex, but SPC2 (an HDL-related biomarker) was significantly higher in women across all age ranges by an average of 33.7%. A free-living Australian population cohort (n = 3945) was used to explore the relationship of BMI with the panel of inflammatory markers. The glycoprotein signals were directly associated with BMI with GlycB levels being significantly higher for women in all BMI classes. Conversely, SPC2 was found to be inversely associated with BMI and differed significantly between the sexes at each BMI category (normal weight p = 3.46x10-43, overweight p = 3.33x10-79, obese p = 2.15x10-64). SPC1 and SPC3 were markedly less affected by BMI changes. Given the significant association between SPC2 and sex, these data suggest that men and women should be modelled independently for NMR-determined inflammatory biomarkers, or that data should be corrected for sex.
Persistence of Phi6, a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate, in simulated indoor environments: Effects of humidity and material properties
The SARS-CoV-2 virus caused the COVID-19 pandemic and brought major challenges to public health. It is transmitted via aerosols, droplets, and fomites. Among these, viral transmission through fomites is not well understood although it remains a very important transmission route. This motivated us to study how fomites play a role in viral transmission within controlled indoor environments. To achieve this, we investigated viral aerosol persistence on fomites under different humidity levels to mimic the built environment. We developed a protocol to study the effect of humidity on viral infectivity using a full-scale environmental chamber. The results show that the infectivity of aerosolized Phi6 in air decreased by ≥ 1 log10 as the relative humidity (RH) increased from 25% to 75% but then increased by ≥ 1 log10 as the RH further increased to 85%, resulting in a characteristic V-shape curve which varied with exposure time. Consistently, we show that although material properties may impact viral persistence, changes in the local humidity more significantly influence viral persistence on fomites. These results provide new insights into indoor fomite-mediated viral transmission under different environmental conditions. These findings will help guide the design of more effective strategies for viral control in indoor environments.
Machine learning model to study the rugby head impact in a laboratory setting
The incidence of head impacts in rugby has been a growing concern for player safety. While rugby headgear shows potential to mitigate head impact intensity during laboratory simulations, evaluating its on-field effectiveness is challenging. Current rugby-specific laboratory testing methods may not represent on-field conditions. This study aimed to create a machine-learning model capable of matching head impacts recorded via wearable sensors to the nearest match in a pre-existing library of laboratory-simulated head impacts for further investigation. Separate random forest models were trained, and optimised, on a training dataset of laboratory head impact data to predict the impact location, impact surface angle, neck inclusion, and drop height of a given laboratory head impact. The models achieved hold-out test set accuracies of 0.996, 1.0, 0.998, and 0.96 for the impact location, neck inclusion, impact surface angle, and drop height respectively. When applied to a male and female youth rugby head impact dataset, most impacts were classified as being to the side or rear of the head, with very few at the front of the head. Nearly 80% were more similar to laboratory impacts that included the neck with an impact surface angled at 30 or 45° with just under 20% being aligned with impacts onto a flat impact surface, and most were classified as low drop height impacts (7.5-30cm). Further analysis of the time series kinematics and spatial brain strain resulting from impact is required to align the laboratory head impact testing with the on-field conditions.
University students’ health-related quality of life and its determinants. Results from a cross-sectional survey during the COVID-19 pandemic
Being a university student is a vulnerable period marked by transitions and uncertainties which can impair their physical and mental well-being as well as overall quality of life. The existing literature suggests that certain groups of students might be particularly affected by that. In addition, quality of life might have been further affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this article investigated university students’ quality of life and its determinants during the COVID-19 pandemic using an online survey among students of one German university. Quality of life was measured using SF-12’s physical (PCS) and mental dimension (MCS). We conducted stratified descriptive analyses followed by regression analyses. 875 respondents completed the questionnaire, of whom 63.0% were female and 95.7% had a German nationality and 16.0% reported having a migration background. Mean age was 23 years. Medical (17.7%) and law students (15.8%) were the biggest groups, but all other faculties of the university were also covered. Concerning respondents’ health-related quality of life, mean PCS was 51 (95%CI = (47–55)), while mean MCS was 36 (95%CI = (30–43). Students with non-German nationality (PCS: 49; MCS: 29) and students with migration background (PCS: 50; MCS: 31) showed particularly low quality of life in the mental dimension. In multivariable regression analyses, associations of the included determinants with PCS were rather weak. In contrast, there were strong associations between MCS and having a migration background with regression coefficient β = -26.1 (95%CI = (-38.5 – -13.7)) and studying Law with β = -17.7 (95%CI = (-28.2 – -7.2)). When comparing these findings with pre-pandemic studies, it seems that university students’ quality of life during the pandemic was as low as it had been before while–as in pre-pandemic studies–certain groups of students generally fared worse than others did. This suggests that universities should actively promote students’ health and should implement measures to specifically support particularly vulnerable students such as students with migration background or students of certain subjects.
Unveiling the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in Parkinson’s disease: A comprehensive review of systematic analyses
Background Many systematic reviews (SRs) have reported the repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for Parkinson’ s disease (PD), but the quality of the evidence is unclear. The aim of this study was to summarize the evidence provided by SRs on the effect of rTMS on PD. Methods A comprehensive search for SRs published from the establishment of the library to March 1, 2024, was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang databases. The A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2), the Risk of Bias for Systematic Reviews (ROBIS), and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool were used to evaluate the methodology quality, risk of bias and evidence quality of SRs, respectively. Results We identified 16 SRs. According to the results of the AMSTAR-2, 12.5% (2/16) of the SRs rated as high quality, 43.75% (7/16) rated as low quality, and 43.75% (7/16) rated as very low quality. Based on the ROBIS tool, 6 (37.5%) SRs had low risk of bias. The GRADE results suggested that 16.13% (10/62) of the evidence was of moderate quality, 33.87% (21/62) of the evidence was of low quality and 50% (31/62) of the evidence was of very low quality. Moderate-quality results show that rTMS can improve PD motor symptoms. Conclusions Here we show that rTMS can improve the motor symptoms of PD, but its effectiveness in treating non-motor symptoms of PD is inconsistent. Due to the methodological limitations and diversity in study designs, future studies should focus on addressing these issues by providing thorough methodological details, standardizing rTMS protocols, evaluating side effects, and comparing with other treatments.