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The impact of land use change on ecosystem services in the Huaihai economic zone for evaluation and Spatiotemporal characterization
Cyberattack event and arguments extraction based on feature interaction and few-shot learning
The efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy for girls with central precocious puberty or early normal puberty: a retrospective cohort study
Methanolic extract and nanosilver of Feijoa sellowiana reduce Salmonella typhimurium infection in female BALB/c mice
Abstract Increasing resistance to antibiotics has led to research into new treatment options. Recent studies suggest the use of plant extracts as an alternative strategy. Feijoa is widely known for its efficacy against a broad spectrum of bacterial pathogens. In this study, the antibacterial activity of methanolic extract and nanosilver of Feijoa fruit (FF-AgNPs) was investigated in BALB/c mice infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (SesT). The antimicrobial effect of Feijoa fruit and FF-AgNPs was evaluated by employing minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against SesT. The efficacy of the treatment in vivo was evaluated in mice by quantifying the viable population of SesT ATCC 14028 purchased from the Iranian Biological Resource Center. Both MIC and MBC results showed a strong bactericidal effect of the Feijoa fruit and its nanosilver against SesT. According to the colony count and weight measurement results of the mice, methanolic extract of Feijoa fruit and FF-AgNPs had acceptable antimicrobial efficacy. Also, none of the mice receiving these agents died, while a high mortality rate was observed in the infected group. Due to the continuous increase in microbial resistance and the importance of pathogenic bacteria in the healthcare system, there is a growing need for the use of complementary agents that possess antimicrobial properties. The findings of the current study suggest that methanolic extract of Feijoa fruit and FF-AgNPs can be considered as a beneficial antibiotic supplements due to their favorable antimicrobial effects.
COVID-19 prevention behaviors are congruent within social networks of disenfranchised Hispanic and criminal legal involved community members
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Domestic violence and outcome of pregnancy among pregnant females at Alzahraa University Hospital
Abstract Violence against women is a distressing issue, particularly when the victim is pregnant. However, the pregnancy outcomes of many pregnant women who were subjected to violence are complicated. The present research aimed to evaluate the prevalence of domestic violence against pregnant women and its consequences on the outcome of pregnancy. A prospective cohort study with an initial cross-sectional component was conducted among 500 pregnant women randomly selected from the Obstetrics and Gynecology outpatient clinics et al.-Zahraa University Hospital during antenatal visits. The study employed a structured questionnaire to collect socio-demographic data and information on the types and frequency of violence. These participants were evaluated till delivery to assess the consequences of violence on pregnancy outcomes. The mean age of the women was 30.4 ± 7.2 years, with an average duration of marriage of 6.1 ± 4.3 years . Violence was detected among 58.8% of the studied pregnant women, and psychological violence was the most frequent type (44.2%). Those who experienced violence were more likely to have a longer duration of marriage (mean = 6.14 ± 4.3 years vs. 5.12 ± 4.4; p = 0.001), lower educational levels ( p = 0.04 for wives; p = 0.03 for husbands), be housewives ( p = 0.004), and their husbands were more often unemployed ( p = 0.04). and live in households with insufficient income ( p = 0.02). A statistically significant increase in maternal complications was observed among women who experienced violence, including higher rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, threatened abortion, vaginal bleeding, delayed prenatal care, preterm rupture of membranes, and cesarean delivery compared to those who did not experience violence (p < 0.05). Additionally, fetuses of women who experienced violence had significantly higher rates of preterm birth, fetal distress during labor, and low birth weight (p < 0.05) compared to those of non-exposed women. More than half of pregnant women experience domestic violence, predominantly psychological, negatively affecting maternal and fetal outcomes. These findings highlight the need for routine screening during antenatal visits and targeted interventions addressing socioeconomic vulnerabilities.
Effects of HD-tDCS targeting prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and motor cortex on dual-task gait in older adults
Development of antimicrobial paper from unbleached bamboo ASAM pulps reinforced with nanofibrillated cellulose and chitosan
Abstract Despite being biodegradable, paper packages have restricted use in food packaging because of their strong tendency to absorb moisture and their high permeability to liquids and gasses from the environment. Consequently, investigating the application of biodegradable biopolymers, such as nanofibrillated cellulose and chitosan, to enhance characteristics is a pertinent technique. This study developed paper from unbleached bamboo alkaline sulfite anthraquinone and methanol (ASAM) pulps by incorporating nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and the antimicrobial agent chitosan (CS) into the papermaking process, offering a sustainable solution for advanced food packaging systems. The objective of this research is to investigated the potential impact of varying concentrations of NFC (5% and 10%) and CS (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) on the physical, mechanical, thermal, barrier, and antimicrobial properties of unbleached bamboo ASAM pulp, considering 4.000 and 6.000 beating revolutions to enhance the mechanical, thermal, barrier, and antimicrobial properties. The reinforcement of NFC and CS has significant enhancements to the paper’s properties. The results showed that incorporating 5% NFC and 1.5% chitosan at 6.000 beating revolutions has the optimum values of a tensile index and a burst index, where it reaches 85.16 Nm/g and 7.69 kPa m2/g, respectively. Besides that, it exhibited sufficient thermal stability to be used for food packaging applications, with the onset temperature of thermal degradation about 258.28 °C. The smoothness and porosity showed increases of 11.93% and 96.35%, respectively. This reflects a decrease in air permeability. Additionally, the paper sheets demonstrated antimicrobial activity against various food-borne microorganisms a notable rise of 43.96% and 49.75% against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, respectively. It concluded that the ASAM-reinforced paper with these great properties exhibited a promising prospect in food packaging applications.
Sample changers for direct geometry neutron chopper spectrometers
Abstract The advent of higher flux neutron sources has made the use of sample changers appropriate across the instrument suites at neutron scattering facilities. We examine the efficiency, design, and operation of two sample changers used at the thermal chopper spectrometers at the Spallation Neutron Source. We also present case studies of sample holders designed to accommodate multiple single crystal or powder samples for the Cold Neutron Chopper Spectrometer at the Spallation Neutron Source. [This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy. The United States Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the United States Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, world-wide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for United States Government purposes. The Department of Energy will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan).]
The evolutionary mechanism of information negentropy spurred by emergencies
Multimodal feature distinguishing and deep learning approach to detect lung disease from MRI images
Study on large deformation mechanism and surrounding rock control of entry in “three soft coal seam” of deep mine
Human vaginal Lactobacillus Jensenii -derived (-)-Terpinen-4-ol restores antibiotic sensitivity by inhibiting efflux pumps in drug resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae
Weight adjusted waist index is a superior obesity index for predicting arterial stiffness in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Abstract Obesity is a key risk factor for arterial stiffness (AS) and a strong predictor of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the risk of AS is further exacerbated due to metabolic dysregulation and chronic inflammation, especially when both conditions coexist. Traditional obesity indices such as Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (WC) have limitations in assessing fat distribution and metabolic risk. New indices like Weight-adjusted Waist Index (WWI), A Body Shape Index (ABSI), and Body Roundness Index (BRI) have been proposed as supplementary or alternative measures. However, the association between WWI and AS in patients with T2DM has not been sufficiently studied. This study aims to evaluate the association between WWI and AS in T2DM patients and compare the diagnostic performance of WWI with traditional obesity indices (BMI, WC) and other new indices (ABSI, BRI) in predicting AS. 1406 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were included in this cross-sectional study. Obesity indices were calculated using anthropometric parameters. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (BaPWV) was measured to determine AS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the correlation between the five obesity indices and AS. Smoothed curve fitting was used to test the linear correlations. The diagnostic accuracy of each obesity index was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Additional subgroup analyses and tests for interaction were conducted. The average BaPWV was 1611.98 (318.81) cm/s. Multivariate logistic analysis indicated a strong correlation between WWI and AS, with each standard deviation increase in WWI resulting in a 48.59 cm/s rise in BaPWV (95% CI 31.66–65.52) and a 44% higher risk of AS (OR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.21–1.70). ROC analysis indicated that WWI identified AS more accurately than the other obesity indices, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.659. The AUC for WC, BMI, ABSI, and BRI were 0.538, 0.519, 0.626, and 0.599, respectively. Further examination of subgroups showed that the correlation between WWI and AS remained consistent and positive. The results of this study show that there is a significant positive correlation between WWI and BaPWV in patients with T2DM. Additionally, compared to other obesity indices, WWI is associated with a higher risk of AS. It may be a potentially simple and effective tool for assessing AS in clinical practice.
Personal characteristics and emotions accompanying nurses and midwives in caring for a newborn with a lethal defect
Abstract The aim of this study was to assess how professional experience, workplace setting, and personality traits influence the type and intensity of emotions experienced by nurses and midwives while caring for newborns with lethal congenital anomalies. A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2023 in five level II and III referral hospitals located in the Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. A total of 307 nurses and midwives meeting the inclusion criteria participated in the study. Data were collected using an original questionnaire comprising sociodemographic variables, self-assessed personality traits, and a scale measuring the type and intensity of emotions. Statistical analysis was conducted using Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation coefficients (α = 0.05). The results indicated that longer professional experience was associated with increased empathy, patience, and sadness, and with decreased anger and emotional detachment. Higher levels of self-reported discomfort and frequent exposure to neonatal death were significantly correlated with intensified experiences of despair, fear, and helplessness. The findings highlight the complexity of emotional responses among perinatal healthcare professionals and underline the need for systemic emotional support and mental health strategies aimed at preventing burnout in emotionally demanding clinical settings.
Isolation of major bacterial species associated with equine skin wounds and in-vitro antibacterial activities of selected medicinal plants
Artificial magnetic conductor backed dual-mode sectoral cylindrical DRA for off-body biomedical telemetry
Radio-frequency sensor for non-destructive evaluation of composite materials
Quantifying tracking quality during occlusion with an integrated gaze metric anchored to task performance
Abstract Visual tracking of moving objects, even when they are temporarily hidden from view, is a fundamental skill for humans. This study examines gaze behavior in an object tracking task with intermittent occlusions, highlighting the role of task goals. Participants tracked an object moving along a linear path with random occlusions, performing a visual discrimination task upon the object’s brief reappearance. We analyzed gaze behavior and developed a model to quantify the relationship between gaze dynamics and task performance. The model yields a performance metric that takes into account the full gaze signal, i.e. both smooth pursuit and saccades. We introduce a position- and velocity-integrated tracking quality metric based on these gaze dynamics, providing an objective continuous measure of tracking performance that works also throughout occlusions.