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Attractiveness and retention factors for employed physiotherapists in France: A multicentre survey
Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the attractiveness of employed physiotherapy, considering the shortage of physiotherapists in the salaried sector, previously unsuccessful measures. Methods A survey was conducted using an online self-administered questionnaire. The primary outcome measure involved assessing respondents’ agreement with each statement in key domains. Regarding the secondary outcome measures, the relationships between respondents’ age and their responses, as well as the relationship between their profession and their responses, were examined. Results The study included 448 participants in France, encompassing both primary and secondary care settings. The sample consisted of practicing physiotherapists (83.1%) and healthcare managers (16.9%). Respondents expressed significant concerns regarding the attractiveness of employed physiotherapy. For the primary outcome, the study identified potential solutions, including improving financial recognition, promoting continuous professional development, and enhancing inclusion in healthcare projects. For the secondary outcomes, statistically significant relationships were found between respondents’ age and their answers for variables 16 (additional qualifications; p = 0.048), 24 (work-life balance; p = 0.010), and 25 (professional quality of life; p = 0.0005). Conclusion The findings underscore the need to enhance financial recognition, support continuous professional development, and increase inclusion in healthcare projects to effectively improve the attractiveness of employed physiotherapy. These results have significant implications for policymakers and healthcare institutions grappling with recruitment challenges. Further research and collaborative efforts are crucial to implementing the recommended measures and assessing their impact on the employed physiotherapy profession.
Combining surface drifters and high resolution global simulations enables the mapping of internal tide surface energy
Abstract By dissipating energy and generating mixing, internal tides (ITs) are important for the climatological evolution of the ocean. Our understanding of this class of ocean variability is however hindered by the rarity of observations capable of capturing ITs with global coverage. The data provided by the Global Drifter Program (GDP) offer high temporal resolution and quasi-global coverage, thus bringing promising perspectives. However, due to their inherent drifting nature, these instruments provide a distorted view of the IT signal. By theoretically rationalizing this distortion and leveraging a massive synthetic drifter numerical simulation, we propose a global metric converting semi-diurnal IT energy levels from GDP data to levels comparable to Eulerian datasets (two numerical simulations, and a satellite altimetry IT atlas). We find that the simulation with a dedicated focus on IT representation is the one where the converted Lagrangian levels perform best. This supports renewed efforts in the concurrent numerical modeling of ITs/ocean circulation. The substantial deficit of energy in the IT atlas highlights the inability for altimetric estimates to measure incoherent and fine-scale ITs and strongly supports the need to isolate ITs signature in the data collected by the new wide-swath altimetry mission SWOT.
Scientometric Analysis of Research on Oral and Gut Microbiota and Periodontitis: Collaborative Networks, Emerging Patterns, Thematic Evolution
Monocytic TLR4 expression and activation in schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background The role of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in schizophrenia remains unclear, with studies reporting conflicting results on its expression and activation in persons with schizophrenia (PwSCZ). This systematic review/meta-analysis compared basal monocytic TLR4 expression, as well as its activation pattern between PwSCZ and healthy controls (HCs). Methods This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021273858) and adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search was conducted through MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science, and Scopus from inception to December 12, 2023. Quantitative syntheses were conducted for (a) basal monocytic TLR4 density, (b) basal percentage of TLR4+ monocytes, and (c) basal TLR4 gene expression. Effect sizes were computed using Hedges’ g for mean differences. Random-effect models with restricted maximum-likelihood estimation were used, and subgrouping was conducted based on antipsychotic status. The studies’ risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tool. Results Eleven studies (473 PwSCZ, 416 HCs) were included. Pooled analysis revealed a nonsignificant trend toward increased basal monocytic TLR4 density in PwSCZ (Hedges’ g = 0.317 [95% CI: –0.060, 0.694], τ2 = 0.127, I2 = 68.91%). The difference became significant after sensitivity analysis and excluding one study (Hedges’ g = 0.469 [0.195,0.742], p = 0.001). No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of TLR4+ monocytes percentage (Hedges’ g = 0.235 [–0.245, 0.715], τ2 = 0.31, I2 = 87.30%) or TLR4 gene expression (Hedges’ g = 0.179 [–0.502, 0.861], τ2 = 0.29, I2 = 79.04%). According to qualitative synthesis, TLR4 stimulation resulted in reduced monocytic activation in PwSCZ compared to HCs. Conclusions This study suggested a trend toward an increased basal monocytic TLR4 density in PwSCZ, with no difference in the basal percentage of TLR4+ monocytes or TLR4 gene expression. However, the limited available data underscores the need for future studies.
Casing deformation mechanisms of horizontal wells in seismically active zones: a comprehensive analysis
Abstract The Sichuan basin’s shale gas fields demonstrate elevated seismic activity, which poses a significant challenge in the development of shale gas. Besides, casing deformation emerges as a prominent concern, leading to substantial disruptions in shale gas production operations. In order to address the issue of casing deformation in seismically active areas, an analysis was conducted on the seismicity and casing deformation. Subsequently, a three-dimensional finite element model was developed to represent the casing-cement sheath-fault-formation assembly. A study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of casing shear deformation caused by fault slip, as well as the corresponding mechanical response of the casing. An investigation was conducted to analyze the influence of drilling and fracturing parameters on casing shear deformation. Additionally, strategies to effectively manage casing shear deformation were proposed. Furthermore, a novel approach to designing casing strength was introduced. The analysis of the data reveals that the Weiyuan, Changning, and Zhaotong shale gas fields exhibit high levels of tectonic stress, notable disparities in horizontal stress, and well-developed fault systems. The aforementioned factors are responsible for an increased occurrence of casing shear deformation and a greater probability of triggering earthquakes. The occurrence of fault slip results in the escalation of casing deformation and stress within a 1-meter vicinity of the fault. The casing Mises stress surpasses the yield strength with relative ease. The inclusion of casing deformation quantity in casing strength design can significantly reduce downhole incidents resulting from casing shear deformation during hydraulic fracturing operations.
Bone Remodeling Optimization in Orthodontics: Harnessing Periodontal Ligament Cell-derived Exosomes and Anti-inflammatory Compounds
Prevalence and determinants of depression and/or anxiety among adults using Kenya Demographic and Health Survey of 2022: Multilevel logistic regression analysis
Introduction Depression and/or anxiety can be persistent or recurrent significantly affecting a person’s capacity to manage daily life, job, and school. The burden of depression and anxiety is rising from time to time, with serious consequences for overall health. Depression and anxiety are crippling conditions that can impact individuals of the whole community. Despite the high prevalence of depression and/or anxiety few studies were conducted that show the diagnosis levels of depression and/or anxiety in the community, particularly in Kenya. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence of depression and/or anxiety and their determinant factors among adults in Kenya using data sourced from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey. Method The Kenya demographic and health survey of 2022 data were used for this secondary data analysis in 2024. The survey included age groups ranging from 15 to 49, with a total sample size of 16,901 participants. Multilevel analysis was used to determine the prevalence of depression and/or anxiety with determinant factors at the 95% CI. Results The overall prevalence of depression and/or anxiety was 3.84% with a 95% CI of (3.56, 4.14). Of this, 2.85% have only depression, 1.97% have only anxiety disorders, and 0.98% have comorbid depression and anxiety. In multivariable multilevel logistic regression analysis sexually violated, having a chronic medical illness, being divorced and widowed, having a job, and being HIV positive were associated with depression and/or anxiety with a p-value of less than 0.05. Conclusions According to the findings of this study the prevalence of depression and/or anxiety was 3.84%. This finding poses a significant challenge for the community to perform their daily tasks. As a result, the healthcare systems of Kenya have to mitigate the burden of depression and/or anxiety. All the clients must be treated since they received a diagnosis as reported by the physician.
Explainable machine learning to compare the overall survival status between patients receiving mastectomy and breast conserving surgeries
Fracture Resistance and Failure Modes of Cuspal-coverage Restorations Using Fiber-reinforced and Non-fiber-reinforced Materials: An In Vitro Study
Hollow-core PCF for terahertz sensing: A new approach for ethanol and benzene detection
Terahertz (THz) spectroscopy is becoming a powerful technique for non-destructive, label-free chemical sensing with applications ranging from medicinal research to security screening. Enhancing THz spectroscopy’s sensitivity and selectivity is crucial to maximizing its potential. In this work, we offer a novel optical fiber design, square shape core PCF that is tailored to exploit improved optical features at exterior in the THz region. This analysis suggests that a square shape and three layers with square air apertures for the cladding and core would be ideal. The mathematical analysis is carried out at THz wave dissemination utilizing FEM and boundaries circumstance of the Perfectly Matched Layer. Using the simulation method, the constructed square PCF sensor achieves very high relative sensitivity (94.45%, 94.80%) at 2 THz for two compounds: ethanol (n = 1.354), and benzene (n = 1.36). On the other hand, the low confinement loss (CL) values for the same two compounds at 2 THz are 1.17 × 10−05 dB/m, and 1.32 × 1 0−05 dB/m, in that order. We also looked at the potential applications of this special fiber in a variety of fields, including environmental monitoring, chemical sensing, and biomedical diagnostics. The square PCF with square core has hitherto unexplored opportunities for the development of extremely selective and sensitive THz spectroscopic devices with important social consequences in domain of THz perception of chemicals.
Exploration of geo-spatial data and machine learning algorithms for robust wildfire occurrence prediction
Comparative Evaluation of Cytotoxicity, Anti-inflammatory, and Drug Release Profiles of Allicin-incorporated GO-AgNP Hydrogel: An In Vitro Study
METTL14 regulates proliferation and differentiation of duck myoblasts through targeting MiR-133b
The development of duck pectoral muscle has a significant impact on meat quality, and miRNA and m6A modification play key roles in this process. In the early stage, by using MeRIP-seq and miRNA-seq to analyze the pectoral muscle tissue of duck embryos at day 13 (E13), day 19 (E19), and day 27 (E27) of incubation, we found that METTL14, as a core component of the m6A methylation transferase complex, showed significant differences in expression at different developmental stages and may have an important impact on pectoral muscle development. In this study, qRT-PCR detection revealed that the expression of proliferation and differentiation marker genes CDK2, CyclinD1, MYOG and MYHC varied at different stages, with the highest m6A level at E13 and the lowest expression of METTL14 at the same stage. After constructing overexpression and interference vectors for METTL14, we found that METTL14 interference promoted the proliferation of duck embryo myoblasts and inhibited differentiation, while overexpression inhibited proliferation and accelerated differentiation. In particular, the overexpression of METTL14 increased the expression of miR-133b, whose precursor sequence contains m6A modification sites, suggesting that METTL14 may participate in the regulation of muscle development by affecting the expression of miR-133b. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of duck pectoral muscle development and offers potential molecular targets for the genetic improvement of duck pectoral muscle.
Efficacy of Hamstring Stretching, Ultrasound Therapy, and Pressure Pain Threshold for Masseter Muscle in TMJ Dysfunction Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Delivering systems-level change to improve post-diagnostic dementia support: Qualitative findings from the PriDem study
Background There are 900,000 people with dementia in England and Wales. Existing models of post-diagnostic support are unsustainable and unaffordable. The PriDem programme developed a new model of primary care-based dementia care, whereby a Clinical Dementia Lead (CDL) would facilitate systems-level change. Aim To assess barriers and facilitators to implementation of the PriDem intervention. Methods 7 general practices participated in a qualitative process evaluation, as part of the mixed-methods feasibility and implementation study. Practices were located within 4 Primary Care Networks in the North East and South East of England. 26 healthcare professionals, 14 people with dementia and 16 carers linked to participating general practices participated in semi-structured individual and small group interviews. Additional qualitative data were generated through nonparticipant observations and researcher fieldnotes from CDL intervention supervision sessions. Data were analysed using abductive codebook thematic analysis informed by Normalisation Process Theory (NPT). Results Six themes were generated: 1) The rocky ground of primary care; 2) The power of people; 3) Tension between adaptability and fidelity; 4) Challenging the status quo: reimagining care planning; 5) One size doesn’t fit all; 6) Positive effects on people and systems: towards sustainability. Through the lens of NPT we can understand the contextual challenges facing primary care, the mechanisms (e.g., work undertaken by individuals) to overcome those challenges, as well as the potential outcomes of such an approach, in terms of longer-term sustainability of changes made. Conclusions Despite the pressures facing primary care within England and Wales, meaningful change can be made to practice in the care of people with dementia. The presence of motivated and engaged staff are critical to implementation, as is ensuring understanding of complex interventions, so that fidelity can be maintained. People with dementia and carers benefitted from improved care systems. Commissioners should consider the benefits of a CDL-led approach.
Trends and Collaborative Networks in the Use of Electrospun Nanofibers in Dentistry: A Bibliometric Study
Urbanization strengthens vertical stratification of ant nutrient preferences in a temperate forest ecosystem
Resource and nutrient availability varies spatially and influences animal foraging patterns. Under the compensation hypothesis, animals should preferentially forage for the most limiting nutrient in the environment. Animal nutrient preferences have been well studied in the tropics, where terrestrial and arboreal fauna are clearly differentiated and limited by different nutrients. In temperate forests, vertical stratification of the fauna may be less pronounced and its role in foraging ecology is poorly understood. Here, we examine nutrient preference patterns over a vertical gradient in temperate forests and nearby urban centers in North Carolina, USA. Using a bait-choice experiment and novel bait design, we measured ant community nutrient preferences in the canopy and on the ground of 83 trees across 14 sites and assessed ant diversity and community composition. Ant diversity did not differ across the vertical strata or habitat types, but species turnover altered community composition to create four distinct assemblages. In temperate forests, ants did not prefer a particular nutrient in either stratum, likely due to extensive foraging across strata. In urban habitats, however, ant nutrient preferences matched patterns well known from tropical systems: arboreal animals preferred protein, while terrestrial animals preferred carbohydrates. Rather than stratum-specific nutrient limitations, however, we attribute the differences in urban preference patterns to changes in native species’ foraging intensity and the addition of uniquely urban species with specific nutrient preferences. These results underscore the necessity of testing ecological hypotheses across biomes and suggest that urbanization may produce established ecological patterns via novel mechanisms.
Comparative Analysis of Penetrability and Adaptability of Different Fluoride-releasing Pit and Fissure Sealants: An In Vitro Study
Evaluating automated evaluation systems for spoken English proficiency: An exploratory comparative study with human raters
Automated evaluation systems (AESs) for spoken language assessment are increasingly adopted in global educational settings, yet their validity in non-Western contexts remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by examining three widely used Chinese-developed AES tools in their assessment of spoken English proficiency among 30 Chinese undergraduates. The study employed an IELTS-adapted speaking test, assessed simultaneously by AESs and human raters, with scoring alignment analyzed through intra-class correlation coefficients, Pearson correlations, and linear regression. Results revealed that two systems demonstrated strong agreement with human ratings, while the third exhibited systematic score inflation, likely due to algorithmic discrepancies and limited consideration of nuanced language features. Our findings suggest the potential of AESs as valuable complements to traditional language assessment methods, while highlighting the necessity for calibration and validation procedures. This research has significant implications for integrating AESs in educational contexts, particularly in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) settings, where they can enhance efficiency and standardization.