Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
Perceived COVID-19 risk and fear among visiting workers: a cross-sectional study on the mediating role of stress and moderating role of education
Abstract The implementation of social distancing policies due to COVID-19 has placed home visit workers under mental stress, as they are often perceived as potential sources of infection. This is particularly evident among door-to-door rental equipment examiners and gas inspectors, who face significant discrimination while performing their duties amidst the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between risk perception and stress, and COVID-19 fear, and to investigate the mediating role of perceived stress and the moderating role of education in this relationship. Data was collected through labor unions from 1,643 home visiting workers, including those examining rental home appliance equipment and those inspecting gas. An online survey assessed COVID-19 risk perception, fear, perceived stress, and demographic characteristics. The data was analyzed using SPSS and PROCESS Macro. The results indicated that risk perception and perceived stress are positively correlated with COVID-19 fear. Furthermore, perceived stress significantly mediates the effects of risk perception on COVID-19 fear, and education significantly moderates the impact of risk perception on COVID-19 fear. These findings suggest that to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 risk perception on fear, it is crucial to develop appropriate educational programs aimed at stress reduction for home visit workers. Policymakers are encouraged to develop online or mobile infectious disease education programs focusing on COVID-19 risk at work and to establish policies that incorporate legal education.
Antiviral therapy and interleukin-6 blockade associated with lower thrombotic risk in hospitalized COVID-19: a target trial emulation
Economic development and emotional well-being: longitudinal evidence from 33 European countries
Abstract The relationship between economic development and emotional well-being is less well understood than the corresponding relationship with life satisfaction, partly because prior cross-national studies have often relied on brief dichotomous affect measures. Using four waves of the European Social Survey (2006, 2012, 2014, and 2023), we aggregated responses from 177,948 respondents in 33 countries to 97 country-round observations and linked these observations to real GDP per capita. We found strong positive associations between GDP and both emotional well-being and life satisfaction across countries. Longitudinal mixed models showed positive associations between GDP and both well-being components over time. Supplementary checks using separate affect components, quadratic GDP specifications, demographic-composition controls, contextual adjustment for social trust and income inequality, attenuation models with perceived income adequacy and unemployment, and growth-versus-decline tests broadly supported this pattern. Overall, the findings challenge previous conclusions that economic development is only weakly related to affect. When emotional well-being is measured with graded content-valid affect items, it shows a clear positive relationship with both GDP levels and changes in GDP.
Impact of standardized interdisciplinary nursing protocols on clinical outcomes in neurosurgical patients undergoing craniomaxillofacial reconstruction: a multicenter retrospective study
Assessment of the therapeutic efficacy of Holothuria polii extract during the muscular phase of Trichinella spiralis infection in albino mice
Abstract Marine invertebrates are an important source of bioactive natural products with potential therapeutic applications, owing to their chemically diverse defense mechanisms. Trichinellosis is a widespread food-borne zoonosis caused by Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) . Albendazole (ABZ) is the main treatment, but its efficacy against encysted and newborn larvae is limited. This limitation, together with emerging resistance, has prompted the search for safer alternative antiparasitic agents, particularly natural compounds. Holothuria polii ( H. polii ) is a bioactive-rich sea cucumber with promising therapeutic applications. The current study was designed to assess the anti- T. spiralis effectiveness of H. polii extract (HPE), for the first time, against the muscular phase of experimental trichinellosis, either alone or in combination with ABZ, and to explore its prospective application as an adjunct to ABZ therapy to enhance treatment outcomes and tissue recovery. To fulfill this aim, mice were distributed at random into five experimental groups, as follows: a control group and four T. spiralis -infected groups: untreated, ABZ-treated, HPE-treated, and combined therapy-treated. The treatment with HPE, alone or combined with ABZ, reduced larval burden and improved host muscular tissue health by reducing oxidative stress, enhancing antioxidant defenses, and restoring serum liver and muscular enzyme activities to their normal values. Histopathological examination of the treated groups revealed preservation of the skeletal and diaphragmatic muscular architecture, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, and degeneration of larval capsules, particularly with combined therapy. These findings were accompanied by downregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immune expressions in both skeletal and diaphragmatic muscles compared with the untreated and ABZ-treated groups, indicating reduced inflammation and angiogenesis. The present study concluded that HPE exhibits diverse and efficacious activity against trichinellosis and may be regarded as a promising adjuvant treatment alongside ABZ for T. spiralis infection. However, further studies are required to validate its potential efficacy in clinical applications.
Ligand selectivity and competitive adsorption of heavy metals using beta cyclodextrin-based metal organic framework and crosslinked polymers
Detection of underground objects from GPR data using a lightweight YOLO-based approach
Microscopic pore structure evolution and mechanical performance mechanism of CICA-modified high-performance concrete: optimization for crack resistance and freeze-thaw durability
Low-carbon methane pyrolysis for flexible energy-water-power-carbon management under variable demands
MT-MRI for detection of renal interstitial fibrosis in renovascular disease
Abstract We evaluated kidney fibrosis in renovascular disease (RVD) using quantitative (q) and semi-quantitative magnetization-transfer (MT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ten RVD patients and 22 healthy volunteers (HVs) were prospectively enrolled. Of HVs, 10 (HV-1) underwent imaging studies whereas plasma samples were collected from 12 others (HV-2). The qMT-derived bound-pool fraction ( f ) was compared to MRI-based MT imaging (MTI)-derived MT ratio (MTR), blood oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) R2*, and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). MTR was assessed at offset frequencies of 600 Hz and 1000 Hz, and RVD qMT and MTI on both 1.5T and 3.0T MRI. Additionally, we measured plasma and urinary levels of fibrogenic cytokines and micro-RNAs, and stenotic kidney (STK) perfusion and volume with multidetector computed-tomography (MDCT). At 3.0T-MRI, STK cortex and medulla qMT- f were higher in RVD vs. HV-1 ( p = 0.01, p = 0.05, respectively), as was MTR-600 Hz, whereas BOLD-R2* and the DWI ADC were not different. MTR and f measured at 1.5T were comparable to those obtained at 3.0T. STK blood flow was decreased vs. the contralateral kidney (CLK) ( p = 0.033) but plasma and urinary fibrogenic indices were unchanged in RVD vs. HV-2. Both f and MTI at 3.0T-MRI may be useful for noninvasive assessment of STK fibrosis, independent of magnetic-field strength. MTI is potentially more sensitive than fibrogenic cytokine levels for detecting mild RVD-related fibrosis changes.
Spatial heterogeneity of national sports specialized model school in China: an analysis of agglomeration and its causes
determinants of flood impacts and adaptive capacity among market vendors in Walukuba-Masese, Jinja city, Uganda
Abstract Market vendors play a critical role in food distribution, employment creation, and the functioning of the urban economy in Uganda, yet they operate within highly flood-prone environments. Despite their socio-economic importance, there remains limited empirical understanding of the factors shaping flood impacts and the adaptive capacity of informal market vendors in such urban vulnerable contexts. This study therefore seeks to address this knowledge gap by examining the determinants of flood impacts and adaptation capacity among market vendors in Walukuba–Masese, Jinja City. A cross-sectional survey of 263 vendors was conducted using structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression models. Logistic regression results showed that vendors with 5–9 years of business experience had significantly lower flood impacts (β = -1.89, p < 0.05) compared to vendors with fewer years of operation. Vendors who were not members of business associations were about 5.7 times more likely to experience flood impacts compared to those who were members. Adaptive capacity analysis revealed several significant determinants. Access to savings ( β = 4.876, p < 0.001), access to credit ( β = 2.616, p = 0.002), availability of storage containers ( β = 2.939, p = 0.002), receipt of early warning information ( β = 3.857, p < 0.001), disaster preparedness training ( β = 4.097, p < 0.001), vendor association membership ( β = 1.680, p = 0.002), and support from family or community during floods ( β = 4.014, p < 0.001) significantly enhanced vendors’ adaptive capacity. Additionally, the type of goods sold ( β = 0.214, p = 0.020) and financial loss experienced during the last flood (β = 0.090 , p = 0.023) were also associated with adaptive responses. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions such as improved drainage infrastructure, expanded access to financial services, disaster preparedness training, and strengthened early warning systems to enhance the resilience of informal urban enterprises and support inclusive flood risk management in Uganda’s rapidly growing secondary cities.
Development and validation of a green dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction-LC-MS/MS method for sotalol quantification in human plasma using central composite design optimization and pharmacokinetic application
Appropriateness of β-thalassemia trait screening in patients with hypochromic microcytic anemia and predictors of potentially low-yield testing
Abstract Β-thalassemia trait (β-TT) is a common hemoglobin disorder that is frequently confused with iron deficiency anemia (IDA), leading potentially low-yield confirmatory hemoglobin fraction analysis and increased use of healthcare resources. To assess the appropriateness of β-TT screening in patients with microcytic hypochromic anemia and to detect laboratory and clinical predictors of potentially low yield testing. A total of 12,622 patients with microcytic hypochromic anemia who underwent hemoglobin fraction analysis by HPLC between February 2023 to July 2025 were included in this retrospective cross-sectional study. Data on complete blood counts, Pathologist remarks, and HPLC results were collected. Red cell indices (Mentzer Index) , HbA₂ levels, and recorded clinical context were used to operationally classify testing appropriateness. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression was used to identify predictors of test appropriateness. Among the 12,622 patients, 3932 (31.2%) had confirmed β-TT, 8312 (65.9%) had non-β-TT microcytic anemia, and 378 (3.0%) had borderline HbA₂ values. Testing was categorized as appropriate in 2544 cases (20.2%), potentially low-yield in 5678 cases (45.0%), and unclear in 4400 cases (34.9%) based on red cell indices, HbA 2 levels, and clinical context. While suspected β-TT significantly predicted appropriate testing, suspected IDA (OR 4.00, p < 0.001), female sex (OR 1.50, p < 0.001), and post-transfusion samples (OR 4.27, p < 0.001) were independently associated with potentially low-yield testing. The possible masking effect of iron deficiency on β-TT detection was reflected by the fact that 490 patients (3.9%) were recommended to undergo a repeat HPLC after iron supplementation to rule out iron deficiency-mediated suppression of HbA₂ as a potential masking factor for β-TT. A significant portion of β-TT screening my be potentially low-yield, which may affect clinical results and available resources. Test utilization may be optimized and diagnostic accuracy may be improved by evaluating iron status, repeating testing after iron correction when indicated and interpreting red cell indices in appropriate clinical setting.
Uncovering movement synergies during reaching and grasping of common objects for the upper limb
Centrifugal pump analysis and prediction in cavitation using RapidMiner tool and machine learning algorithms
Abstract Being a reliable and efficient pump, Centrifugal Pumps (CP) are widely used today in many mechanical and industrial applications. But cavitation is a serious problem that impacts pump performance, as it involves the vaporisation of the liquid at the suction end as a result of the pressure drop. The study is aimed at predicting and analysing cavitation in CP using a Cavitation Measuring Technique (CMT) based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Machine Learning (ML) approach. The CMT is based on the Net Positive Suction Head Available (NPSHa) and Net Positive Suction Head Required (NPSHr) ratio calculated from the results of the CFD simulation at various rotational speeds of 700 to 2900 RPM. The critical ratio is the main input feature for a machine learning approach to cavitation onset classification. CFD simulations were performed to simulate both functional and non-functional pump conditions and results were analyzed on RapidMiner platform with different machine learning algorithms. Experimental results show that the Fine Tree algorithm gave an accuracy of 96.1% and Naive Bayes 95.5% in predicting the cavitation status. In addition, the maximum vapour volume fraction of 0.9477 was observed at the water-moving part of the impeller during CFD analysis. The proposed framework illustrates the ability of CFD and ML approaches to accurately predict cavitation in centrifugal pumps and to assess centrifugal pump performance.