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Purpose: The purpose of the study is to generate knowledge about mothers’ experience of the physiotherapist’s role in relation to women and children at the child-health clinic. Design, material, and method: The article is based on five semi-structured interviews with mothers with children between 0-8 months associated with the same child-health clinic. The material was analyzed with systematic text condensation. Findings: The mothers experience lack of information regarding what the physiotherapist can offer for both their children and themselves. Even though the mothers are not familiar with the physiotherapist’s area of responsibility, they have clear expectations of the physiotherapist’s role when it comes to both mother and child. The mothers express the importance of a good relationship with the physiotherapist at the health station, so that their wishes for advice and guidance are fulfilled. Furthermore, it emerges that the mothers are uncertain about who to contact regarding questions about their own body and ailments after childbirth. Conclusion: The mothers want the physiotherapist to take on more roles at the child-health clinic. They have clear expectations of a physiotherapist, despite the lack of information and uncertainty associated with this role. This highlights the need to provide sufficient information about the physiotherapist’s competence, as well as to define the physiotherapist’s role in the interdisciplinary composition at the child-health clinic to meet the mothers’ expectations.

Abstract Background Physical activity (PA) is imperative for healthy ageing and is a modifiable lifestyle factor. Accurate, clinically meaningful estimates of daily PA among older adults can inform targeted interventions to maintain function and independence. This study describes daily PA in older adults across levels of care as a first step contributing to the limited evidence on potential associations between PA and the use of care services. Methods This study used data from the Trondheim 70 + cohort in the population-based Norwegian HUNT Study. In total, 1042 participants aged 70 years or older with valid activity data were included. PA was assessed using two accelerometers over 7 consecutive days and was classified into PA (walking, standing, running, and cycling) and sedentary behavior (sitting and lying). Data on received care services were retrieved from municipal registers and participants were classified into four levels of care: 1) independently living (81.9%), 2) independently living with low-level home care services (6.5%), 3) recipients of home care services (6.0%), and 4) nursing home residents (5.7%). Time spent in the activity types and duration of bouts are presented across levels of care. Results Participants mean age was 77.5 years (range: 70.1–105.4, 55% female) and PA was lower with higher age. Across levels of care, significant group differences were found in the total time spent in PA, particularly in walking and standing. Daily PA, duration of active bouts, and number of daily walking bouts were lower for participants receiving higher levels of care. Standing was the dominant type of PA and walking appeared predominantly in short bouts at all care levels. Conclusions This is the first population-based study using device-measured PA to describe daily PA across levels of care. The results showed that low-intensity activities constitute the primary component of everyday PA, advocating for placing greater emphasis on the significant role these activities play in maintaining daily PA at older age. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that activity types and bout durations are related to the ability to live independently among older adults. Overall, these findings can contribute to better target interventions to maintain function and independence in older adults.

Abstract Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most frequent inherited diseases in the world. Over the last decades, in high-income countries, an important decrease in mortality have been observed due to the improvement of care. However, children with SCD can become critically ill and require admission in Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU). The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of children with SCD admitted to PICU for acute crisis and to identify factors associated with adverse outcome (AO). Methods We conducted a retrospective study in a Tertiary Hospital in France including all consecutive children with SCD admitted to PICU between January 1st, 2009 and December 31, 2019. We collected baseline patient’s characteristics, clinical and biological data as well as treatments and life sustaining therapies used in the PICU. Patients were defined as experiencing AO in case of death during stay and/or need for invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) and/or for non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for more than 3 days and/or need for vasopressors and/or need for renal replacement therapy. Results We included 579 admissions in 395 patients, mainly of SS genotype (90%) with a median age of 9.2 years [5.5–13.4] and a median baseline hemoglobin of 8.0 g/dl (7.5–8.8). The two main reasons for admission were acute chest syndrome (ACS) (n = 331, 57%) and vaso-occlusive crisis refractory to first line therapy (n = 99, 17%). Half of patients required NIV and 47 (8%) required MV. The overall length of stay was 3 days [1–4] and seven (1%) patients died during PICU stay.There was a total of 113 (20%) admissions with AO and on multivariable analysis, baseline hemoglobin

Som en del av et pilotprosjekt deltok studenter fra bachelor i bevegelsesvitenskap og bachelor i fysioterapi ved NTNU som aktive forskningsmedarbeidere i et pågående kvalitetsutviklingsprosjekt i Trondheim kommune. Formålet med denne studien er å undersøke hvor relevant studentene opplevde at deltakelsen i pilotprosjektet var for deres utdanning, fagspesifikke læringsutbytter, tverrfaglig samarbeid og faglig forståelse. Resultatene fra en spørreundersøkelse gjennomført i etterkant av prosjektet viste at flertallet av studentene anså det som relevant å delta i et forskningsprosjekt som en del av undervisningen i sitt respektive studieprogram. De var fornøyde med det tverrfaglige samarbeidet og oppga at det hadde gitt dem bedre forståelse for forskjellene mellom fagområdene de representerte. Studentene fra bevegelsesvitenskap rapporterte at de oppnådde sine læringsutbytter, i større grad enn studentene fra fysioterapi. Til tross for generelt positive tilbakemeldinger var det det noen studenter som ikke opplevde samme nytteverdi av prosjektdeltakelsen og ga tilbakemeldinger om at de ikke fant det relevant å delta i denne type tverrfaglige prosjekt som del av sin utdanning. Våre funn understreker videre viktigheten av transparent og tydelig kommunikasjon knyttet til prosjektets formål og læringsutbytter og den implisitte kunnskapen i forskningsarbeid og teamarbeid når studenter involveres i forskningsprosjekt som en del av undervisningen.

Abstract Background Technological advancements in functional neuroimaging and motion capture have led to the development of novel methods that facilitate the diagnosis and rehabilitation of motor deficits. These advancements allow for the synchronous acquisition and analysis of complex signal streams of neurophysiological data (e.g., EEG, fNIRS) and behavioral data (e.g., motion capture). The fusion of those data streams has the potential to provide new insights into cortical mechanisms during movement, guide the development of rehabilitation practices, and become a tool for assessment and therapy in neurorehabilitation. Research objective This paper aims to review the existing literature on the combined use of motion capture and functional neuroimaging in motor rehabilitation. The objective is to understand the diversity and maturity of technological solutions employed and explore the clinical advantages of this multimodal approach. Methods This paper reviews literature related to the combined use of functional neuroimaging and motion capture for motor rehabilitation following the PRISMA guidelines. Besides study and participant characteristics, technological aspects of the used systems, signal processing methods, and the nature of multimodal feature synchronization and fusion were extracted. Results Out of 908 publications, 19 were included in the final review. Basic or translation studies were mainly represented and based predominantly on healthy participants or stroke patients. EEG and mechanical motion capture technologies were most used for biomechanical data acquisition, and their subsequent processing is based mainly on traditional methods. The system synchronization techniques at large were underreported. The fusion of multimodal features mainly supported the identification of movement-related cortical activity, and statistical methods were occasionally employed to examine cortico-kinematic relationships. Conclusion The fusion of motion capture and functional neuroimaging might offer advantages for motor rehabilitation in the future. Besides facilitating the assessment of cognitive processes in real-world settings, it could also improve rehabilitative devices’ usability in clinical environments. Further, by better understanding cortico-peripheral coupling, new neuro-rehabilitation methods can be developed, such as personalized proprioceptive training. However, further research is needed to advance our knowledge of cortical-peripheral coupling, evaluate the validity and reliability of multimodal parameters, and enhance user-friendly technologies for clinical adaptation.

Bone remodelling is a highly regulated process that maintains mineral homeostasis and preserves bone integrity. During this process, intricate communication among all bone cells is required. Indeed, adapt to changing functional situations in the bone, the resorption activity of osteoclasts is tightly balanced with the bone formation activity of osteoblasts. Recent studies have reported that RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs) are involved in bone cell activity regulation. RBPs are critical effectors of gene expression and essential regulators of cell fate decision, due to their ability to bind and regulate the activity of cellular RNAs. Thus, a better understanding of these regulation mechanisms at molecular and cellular levels could generate new knowledge on the pathophysiologic conditions of bone. In this Review, we provide an overview of the basic properties and functions of selected RBPs, focusing on their physiological and pathological roles in the bone.

Introduction In children, respiratory distress due to upper airway obstruction (UAO) is a common complication of extubation. The quantitative cuff-leak test (qtCLT) is a simple, rapid and non-invasive test that has not been extensively studied in children. The objective of the ongoing study whose protocol is reported here is to investigate how well the qtCLT predicts UAO-related postextubation respiratory distress in paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients.Methods and analysis Air Leak Test in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit is a multicentre, prospective, observational study that will recruit 900 patients who are aged 2 days post-term to 17 years and ventilated through a cuffed endotracheal tube for at least 24 hours in any of 19 French PICUs. Within an hour of planned extubation, the qtCLT will be performed as a sequence of six measurements of the tidal volume with the cuff inflated then deflated. The primary outcome is the occurrence within 48 hours after extubation of severe UAO defined as combining a requirement for intravenous corticosteroid therapy and/or ventilator support by high-flow nasal cannula and/or by non-invasive ventilation or repeat invasive mechanical ventilation with a Westley score ≥4 with at least one point for stridor at each initiation. The results of the study are expected to identify risk factors for UAO-related postextubation respiratory distress and extubation failure, thereby identifying patient subgroups most likely to require preventive interventions. It will also determine whether qtCLT appears to be a reliable method to predict an increased risk for postextubation adverse events as severe UAO.Ethics and dissemination The study was approved by the Robert Debré University Hospital institutional review board (IRB) on September 2021 (approval #2021578). The report of Robert Debré University Hospital IRB is valid for all sites, given the nature of the study with respect to the French law. The results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration number NCT05328206.

In this study, we propose an effective strategy to improve the electrochemical performance of a P2-Na0.67Mn0.75Ni0.25O2 (P2-MNO) cathode material for Na-ion batteries based on MgO surface coating. The MgO coating, with a thickness of ∼20–50 nm, is obtained by means of a facile wet-chemistry approach followed by heat treatment carried out at comparatively low temperatures (400–500 °C) in order to avoid possible Mg doping in the bulk of the P2-MNO. Detailed electrochemical investigations demonstrate improved electrochemical performance of the MgO-coated material (M-P2-MNO) in comparison to pristine bare one at both room and elevated (40 °C) temperatures. Operando differential electrochemical mass spectroscopy (DEMS) demonstrate that the MgO coating is effective in suppressing unwanted gas evolution due to side reactions thus stabilizing the cathode/electrolyte interface.

Oral colon delivery systems based on a dual targeting strategy, harnessing time- and microbiota-dependent release mechanisms, were designed in the form of a drug-containing core, a swellable/biodegradable polysaccharide inner layer and a gastroresistant outer film. High-methoxyl pectin was employed as the functional coating polymer and was applied by spray-coating or powder-layering. Stratification of pectin powder required the use of low-viscosity hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in water solution as the binder. These coatings exhibited rough surfaces and higher thicknesses than the spray-coated ones. Using a finer powder fraction improved the process outcome, coating quality and inherent barrier properties in aqueous fluids. Pulsatile release profiles and reproducible lag phases of the pursued duration were obtained from systems manufactured by both techniques. This performance was confirmed by double-coated systems, provided with a Kollicoat® MAE outer film that yielded resistance in the acidic stage of the test. Moreover, HM pectin-based coatings manufactured by powder-layering, tested in the presence of bacteria from a Crohn’s disease patient, showed earlier release, supporting the role of microbial degradation as a triggering mechanism at the target site. The overall results highlighted viable coating options and in vitro release characteristics, sparking new interest in naturally occurring pectin as a coating agent for oral colon delivery.

Four-dimensional printing (4DP) is emerging as an innovative research topic. It involves the use of smart materials for three-dimensional printing (3DP) of items that change their shape after production, in a programmed way over time, when exposed to appropriate external non-mechanical stimuli (moisture, electric or magnetic fields, UV, temperature, pH or ion composition). In the performance of 4D printed devices, time is involved as the 4th dimension. 4D smart structures have been known for many years in the scientific literature, well before the advent of 3D printing, and the concepts of shape evolution as well as self-assembly have been applied to drug delivery at the nano-, micro- and macro-scale levels. The neologism “4DP” was coined by Tibbits, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in 2013, who also showed the earliest examples of 4D printed objects. Since then, smart materials have often been combined with additive manufacturing, which makes production of complex shapes easy to achieve: going beyond 3DP, 4D printed items are no static objects. Two main categories of raw materials have been employed for 4DP: shape memory polymers (SMPs) and shape morphing hydrogels (SMHs). In principle, all types of 3D printers could be used for 4DP. In this article, examples of systems for use in the biomedical field, such as stents and scaffolds, and in drug delivery are reviewed, with special emphasis on indwelling devices for retention in the urinary bladder and in the stomach.

Introduction Rapid expansion of mechanical thrombectomy and swift manufacturing development has translated into significant evolution of large bore catheter technology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association among diverse structural components of large bore aspiration catheters on procedural performance. Methods Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained mechanical thrombectomy consortium (SVIN Registry) treated with stand‐alone contact aspiration for the first pass in the MCA M1 or intracranial ICA occlusions from 2012‐2021. Catheters were stratified based on construction materials, tip technology, catheter sizing, and catheter lining. Factors associated with first pass effect (FPE ‐ first‐pass eTICI2c‐3 reperfusion) as well as speed of clot engagement were analyzed. Results We identified 983 patients with proximal occlusion and aspiration as the first pass technique. FPE was observed in 34% and associated with age (OR:1.016;95%CI:1.006‐1.027), cardioembolic stroke etiology (OR:1.685;95%CI:1.77 ‐2.41), MCA M1(OR:2.737;95%CI:1.091 ‐1.867), non‐general anesthesia (OR:0.546;95%CI:0.389 ‐0.767), as well as with 0.070” (OR:2.038;95%CI:1.099 ‐3.779) and 0.088” (OR:3.899;95%CI:1.582 ‐9.606) distal catheter inner diameter in the adjusted analysis. Median time from arterial access to clot contact was 17 minutes with faster times observed in younger patients (OR:0.986;95%CI:0.975 ‐0.996) as well as with the use of aspiration catheters with shorter length of distal outer hydrophilic coating (18‐30cm) on multivariable regression (OR:0.303; 95%CI:0.113‐0.816). Conclusion Larger aspiration catheter distal inner diameter was associated with higher rates of FPE. Aspiration catheters with reduced distal tip hydrophilic coating were associated with faster arterial access to clot contact time.

Abstract Background The Cytosponge is a cell-collection device, which, coupled with a test for trefoil factor 3 (TFF3), can be used to diagnose Barrett’s oesophagus, a precursor condition to oesophageal adenocarcinoma. BEST3, a large pragmatic, randomised, controlled trial, investigated whether offering the Cytosponge-TFF3 test would increase detection of Barrett’s. Overall, participants reported mostly positive experiences. This study reports the factors associated with the least positive experience. Methods Patient experience was assessed using the Inventory to Assess Patient Satisfaction (IAPS), a 22-item questionnaire, completed 7–14 days after the Cytosponge test. Study cohort All BEST3 participants who answered ≥ 15 items of the IAPS (N = 1458). Statistical analysis A mean IAPS score between 1 and 5 (5 indicates most negative experience) was calculated for each individual. ‘Least positive’ experience was defined according to the 90th percentile. 167 (11.4%) individuals with a mean IAPS score of ≥ 2.32 were included in the ‘least positive’ category and compared with the rest of the cohort. Eleven patient characteristics and one procedure-specific factor were assessed as potential predictors of the least positive experience. Multivariable logistic regression analysis using backwards selection was conducted to identify factors independently associated with the least positive experience and with failed swallow at first attempt, one of the strongest predictors of least positive experience. Results The majority of responders had a positive experience, with an overall median IAPS score of 1.7 (IQR 1.5–2.1). High (OR = 3.01, 95% CI 2.03–4.46, p

Endoluminal biliary radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been proposed as a palliative treatment for patients with malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) in order to improve stent patency and survival. However, the existing data on patients with inoperable extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA) are conflicting. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing RFA plus stenting versus stenting alone in patients with inoperable eCCA. We searched for trials published in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases up to November 2023. Data extraction was conducted from published studies, and a quality assessment was carried out in accordance with the guidelines recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CI were estimated from the trials. The primary endpoints of interest were overall survival and stent patency. Out of 275 results, 5 randomized trials and 370 patients were included. While overall survival was not different between the groups (HR 0.62; 95% CI 0.36–1.07; p = 0.09; I2 = 80%;), the subgroup analysis of studies employing plastic stents showed a trend toward better survival in the RFA-treated group (HR 0.42; 95% CI 0.22–0.80; p = 0.009; I2 = 72%). Stent patency was improved in patients receiving RFA (HR 0.64; 95% CI 0.45–0.90; p = 0.01; I2 = 23%). Adverse events were not different between the groups (OR 1.21; 95% CI 0.69–2.12; p = 0.50; I2 = 0%). Despite the promising results, high heterogeneity and potential biases in the included studies suggest the need for further high-quality randomized trials to explore the potential cumulative effects of RFA on CCA treatment outcomes.

This study explored the teacher knowledge manifestation of Integrated Science (IS) teachers who have specialised in Chemistry, Biology or Physics during their pre-service teacher education. 60 experienced Integrated Science teachers responded to an 'Integrated Science Teacher Knowledge' questionnaire which embraced different dimensions of teacher knowledge. The results of the study indicate that the IS teachers have a common set of knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are, in their professional opinion, needed and in some instances, would enable them to teach IS. The research participants had considerable knowledge as well as clear views about what it meant for them to be IS teachers. It however should be noted that there was a marked variance in the perception of the three cohorts of teachers towards teaching through Practical Work, importance of pre-service teacher education specialisation towards teaching IS and knowledge of students' culture. This study provides contextual inputs to effective IS teacher education re-alignment informed by the IS teacher practitioners, those with the craft knowledge of the contextual environment of the IS classrooms.

Asif H Khan1 *, Cori Gray2 *, Laurent Eckert,1 Caroline Amand,1 Jaman Maroni,3 Zhixiao Wang,3 Bethan Jones,4 Thomas Berni,4 Christopher Ll Morgan,4 Paul J Rowe5 1Sanofi, Chilly-Mazarin, France; 2Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, USA; 3Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Tarrytown, NY, USA; 4Pharmatelligence, Cardiff, UK; 5Sanofi, Bridgewater, NJ, USA*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Asif H Khan, Sanofi, 1 Avenue Pierre Brossolette, Chilly-Mazarin, France, 91385, Tel +33160495076, Email Asif.Khan@sanofi.com

Restorative Justice is a policy that puts a focus on recovery rather than retaliation. The Restorative Justice implementation, considered more effective in terms of Justice and effectiveness, makes the Restorative Justice policy renewal of the criminal law system in Indonesia. The writing of this article uses a descriptive-analytical research method that prioritizes a normative juridical approach, with the formulation of the problem regarding the role of Restorative Justice as an effort to reform criminal law and the implementation of Restorative Justice as an alternative step in law enforcement for narcotics crimes. The result of this article is that the policy regarding Restorative Justice in its application is an update in law, especially criminal law. Conventional Justice Policies which are considered ineffective in their application are now being updated through the Restorative Justice policy; in addition to the context of the application, which is not only applied within the scope of general criminal law, in Narcotics crimes, a criminal settlement mechanism is also applied using Restorative Justice policies as stated in the Circular Letter of the Supreme Court Number 4 of 2010 concerning Placement of Abuse, Victims of Abuse and Narcotics Addicts into Medical and Social Rehabilitation Institutions (SEMA.4/2010). Rehabilitation of a Narcotics defendant can be carried out if it meets the requirements described in the regulation.

IntroductionExergames are increasingly used in rehabilitation settings for older adults to train physical and cognitive abilities. To meet the potential that exergames hold, they need to be adapted to the individual abilities of the player and their training objectives. Therefore, it is important to know whether and how game characteristics affect their playing. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of two different kinds of exergame (step game and balance game) played at two difficulty levels on brain activity and physical activity.MethodsTwenty-eight older independently living adults played two different exergames at two difficulty levels each. In addition, the same movements as during gaming (leaning sideways with feet in place and stepping sideways) were performed as reference movements. Brain activity was recorded using a 64-channel EEG system to assess brain activity, while physical activity was recorded using an accelerometer at the lower back and a heart rate sensor. Source-space analysis was applied to analyze the power spectral density in theta (4 Hz–7 Hz) and alpha-2 (10 Hz–12 Hz) frequency bands. Vector magnitude was applied to the acceleration data.ResultsFriedman ANOVA revealed significantly higher theta power for the exergaming conditions compared to the reference movement for both games. Alpha-2 power showed a more diverse pattern which might be attributed to task-specific conditions. Acceleration decreased significantly from the reference movement to the easy condition to the hard condition for both games.DiscussionThe results indicate that exergaming increases frontal theta activity irrespective of type of game or difficulty level, while physical activity decreases with increasing difficulty level. Heart rate was found to be an inappropriate measure in this population older adults. These findings contribute to understanding of how game characteristics affect physical and cognitive activity and consequently need to be taken into account when choosing appropriate games and game settings for exergame interventions.

Abstract Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) are interesting materials for Na electrochemical insertion, owing to their ease of synthesis, rigid open framework and large interstitial space. In this work, iron hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles, FeIII[FeIII(CN)6], also known as Berlin green (BG), where both Fe centers are in the Fe(III) configuration, have been synthesized by an easy microwave assisted co‐precipitation method, with an average particle size of around 44 nm. The BG nanoparticles exhibited a 120 mAh g−1 specific capacity with a capacity retention of 84.8 % over 100 cycles at 20 mA g−1 current and up to 80 mAh g−1 at 10 C rate. The initial charge and discharge processes were fully investigated by ex‐situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The XAS results reveal that there is some irreversibility in the initial electrochemical processes and the Fe−C and Fe−N bond lengths change during the first charge/discharge cycle. This effect was attributed to BG electrode activation processes, and partly explained the observed capacity fading.

In a precision medicine perspective, among the biomarkers potentially useful for early diagnosis of cancers, as well as to define their prognosis and eventually to identify novel and more effective therapeutic targets, there are the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). The term lncRNA identifies a class of non-coding RNA molecules involved in the regulation of gene expression that intervene at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic level. Metastasis is a natural evolution of some malignant tumours, frequently encountered in patients with advanced cancers. Onset and development of metastasis represents a detrimental event that worsen the patient’s prognosis by profoundly influencing the quality of life and is responsible for the ominous progression of the disease. Due to the peculiar environment and the biomechanical properties, bone is a preferential site for the secondary growth of breast, prostate and lung cancers. Unfortunately, only palliative and pain therapies are currently available for patients with bone metastases, while no effective and definitive treatments are available. The understanding of pathophysiological basis of bone metastasis formation and progression, as well as the improvement in the clinical management of the patient, are central but challenging topics in basic research and clinical practice. The identification of new molecular species that may have a role as early hallmarks of the metastatic process could open the door to the definition of new, and more effective, therapeutic and diagnostic approaches. Non-coding RNAs species and, particularly, lncRNAs are promising compounds in this setting, and their study may bring to the identification of relevant processes. In this review, we highlight the role of lncRNAs as emerging molecules in mediating the formation and development of bone metastases, as possible biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and as therapeutic targets to counteract cancer spread.

Light-absorbing aerosols (LAA) impact the atmosphere by heating it. Their effect in the Arctic was investigated during two summer Arctic oceanographic campaigns (2018 and 2019) around the Svalbard Archipelago in order to unravel the differences between the Arctic background and the local anthropic settlements. Therefore, the LAA heating rate (HR) was experimentally determined. Both the chemical composition and high-resolution measurements highlighted substantial differences between the Arctic Ocean background (average eBC concentration of 11.7 ± 0.1 ng/m3) and the human settlements, among which the most impacting appeared to be Tromsø and Isfjorden (mean eBC of 99.4 ± 3.1 ng/m3). Consequently, the HR in Isfjorden (8.2 × 10−3 ± 0.3 × 10−3 K/day) was one order of magnitude higher than in the pristine background conditions (0.8 × 10−3 ± 0.9 × 10−5 K/day). Therefore, we conclude that the direct climate impact of local LAA sources on the Arctic atmosphere is not negligible and may rise in the future due to ice retreat and enhanced marine traffic.

The consumption of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) aspirin is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of developing TMPRSS2-ERG (fusion)-positive prostate cancer (PCa) compared to fusion-negative PCa in population-based case–control studies; however, no extensive preclinical studies have been conducted to investigate and confirm these protective benefits. Thus, the focus of this study was to determine the potential usefulness of aspirin and another NSAID, naproxen, in PCa prevention, employing preclinical models of both TMPRSS2-ERG (fusion)-driven (with conditional deletion of Pten) and non-TMPRSS2-ERG-driven (Hi-Myc+/− mice) PCa. Male mice (n = 25 mice/group) were fed aspirin- (700 and 1400 ppm) and naproxen- (200 and 400 ppm) supplemented diets from (a) 6 weeks until 32 weeks of Hi-Myc+/− mice age; and (b) 1 week until 20 weeks post-Cre induction in the fusion model. In all NSAID-fed groups, compared to no-drug controls, there was a significant decrease in higher-grade adenocarcinoma incidence in the TMPRSS2-ERG (fusion)-driven PCa model. Notably, there were no moderately differentiated (MD) adenocarcinomas in the dorsolateral prostate of naproxen groups, and its incidence also decreased by ~79–91% in the aspirin cohorts. In contrast, NSAIDs showed little protective effect against prostate tumorigenesis in Hi-Myc+/− mice, suggesting that NSAIDs exert a specific protective effect against TMPRSS2-ERG (fusion)-driven PCa.

Objectives: Ancillary staff members perform operational support functions and play an active role in enhancing the patient care experience. Infection prevention practices among ancillary staff play a critical role in preventing transmission of microorganisms, which ensures the safety of patients. Low hand hygiene compliance was found among porters in a cross-institutional hand hygiene audit in 2021. A quality improvement team was formed to improve hand hygiene compliance, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A focus-group discussion and survey were conducted to understand hand hygiene knowledge and challenges among porters. Using the findings, the team initiated Glo–germ education tools, pocket alcohol hand-rub agents, pocket moisturizer, poster display, and a toolbox messaging system via conversion of group roll call to satellite-area roll call. Respective satellite teams were sent hand hygiene reminders, and prompt corrective action was taken following noncompliance events. Analytic comparisons of pre- and postsurvey data were performed using the χ2 test, and P < .05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: In total, 572 ancillary staff participated in the survey. Knowledge of hand hygiene practices improved significantly following the interventions, as shown in the comparison of pre- and postintervention results: knowledge of the hand hygiene steps (P < .001), knowledge of the duration of hand rub (P < .001), and knowledge of duration of handwashing (P < .001). Also, 295 staff members (97.68%) stated that implementation measures increased their awareness of the importance of hand hygiene. Moreover, the hand hygiene compliance rate improved from 77.8% to 100%. There were no significant differences related to sex (P = .089), age group (P = .355), years of working (P = .359), education level (P = .268), or difficulty in reading English (P = .906). Conclusions: Evaluating staff hand hygiene knowledge and understanding the challenges faced among porters helped toward the development of appropriate interventions and assurance of success in project.

Perception of taste is an emergent phenomenon arising from complex molecular interactions between chemical compounds and specific taste receptors. Among all the taste perceptions, the dichotomy of sweet and bitter tastes has been the subject of several machine learning studies for classification purposes. While previous studies have provided accurate sweeteners/bitterants classifiers, there is ample scope to enhance these models by enriching the understanding of the molecular basis of bitter-sweet tastes. Towards these goals, our study focuses on the development and testing of several machine learning strategies coupled with the novel SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) for a rational sweetness/bitterness classification. This allows the identification of the chemical descriptors of interest by allowing a more informed approach toward the rational design and screening of sweeteners/bitterants. To support future research in this field, we make all datasets and machine learning models publicly available and present an easy-to-use code for bitter-sweet taste prediction.

Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease with a heterogeneous presentation, symptomatology, disease progression, and response to therapy. The current risk stratification assessment, aimed at identifying patients with a higher risk of disease progression, encompasses an in-depth analysis of demographic data, clinical and laboratory findings, antibody profiles, and the evaluation of liver fibrosis using both invasive and noninvasive techniques. Treatment response scores after one year of therapy remain to date a major factor influencing the prognosis of PBC patients. While the initial therapeutic approach with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is universally applied, new second-line treatment options have recently emerged, with many others under investigation. Consequently, the prevailing one-size-fits-all approach is poised to be supplanted by tailored strategies, ensuring high-risk patients receive the most appropriate treatment regimen from diagnosis. This will require the development of a risk prediction model to assess, at the time of diagnosis, the course, outcome, and response to first and additional treatments of PBC patients. This manuscript provides a comprehensive overview of the current and emerging tools used for risk stratification in PBC and speculates on how these developments might shape the disease landscape in the near future.

Black esophagus or acute esophageal necrosis is characterized by circumferential black discoloration of the distal esophageal mucosa. It is a rare condition with a multifactorial pathogenesis, and its most common clinical presentation is acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. It usually affects elderly patients with multiple comorbidities and is associated with a high mortality rate. This is a case report of a 90-year-old man with multiple comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation with complete atrioventricular block, and a history of ischemic stroke, who presented to the emergency department for a syncopal episode followed by coffee ground emesis. Thoraco-abdominal computer tomography showed thickening of the distal esophagus and ruled out major complications such as perforation. The following esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed black circumferential necrosis of the mid and distal esophagus. Multiple irregular ulcers with black necrotic areas were also present in the bulb and second duodenal portion. During the hospitalization, the patient was treated with PPI, NPO nutrition, and broad-spectrum antibiotics with benefits. Two months later, the patient returned to the emergency department due to a new episode of hematemesis with endoscopic evidence of esophageal stricture without necrosis and recurrence of duodenal ulcers. After a few days, the patient died due to worsening of the underlying comorbidities. A black esophagus is associated with duodenal ulcers, which may recur and are possibly due to a common ischemic origin. In this case report, we explore the potential link between black esophagus and duodenal ulcers, discussing the underlying mechanisms and relevant literature supporting this association.

Simulation systems have become essential tools for both researchers and virtual laboratory experiments. In the Agri-food-chain, SimAgri, a driving simulator for tractors and operating machines, has been developed for precision agriculture (PA) research and to train professional farm drivers. Using the virtual environment of the simulator, the influence and fine-tuning of PA operations logic may be evaluated by simulating existing systems, or designing new ones, in specially compared scenarios and setups. Current configurations include an agricultural tractor carrying or towing farm equipment such as sprayers, seeders and fertilizer, embedded sensors, human–machine interfaces that may be configured like a joystick, console and touchscreen, and four virtual environment monitors. The study describes the design choices that have made it possible to create a simulator aimed at precision agriculture, keeping auto guidance, geolocation, and operations with ISOBUS implements as pillars. This research aims to use a unique purpose-designed simulation platform, installed on a driver-in-the-loop simulator to provide data to objectify the benefits of PA criteria. Numerical and experimental data have been compared to ensure results reliability.

Detection and treatment of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) starting from childhood is fundamental to reduce morbidity and mortality. The activity of National realities such as the LIPIGEN (LIpid transPort disorders Italian GEnetic Network) Paediatric Group, founded in 2018, is a milestone in this context. The aim of this exploratory survey, conducted in October 2021 among Italian lipid clinics included in the LIPIGEN Paediatric Group, was to investigate the current clinical approach in the management and treatment of paediatric patients with suspected FH. A digital questionnaire composed of 20 questions investigating nutritional treatment and nutraceutical and pharmacological therapy for children and adolescents with FH was proposed to the principal investigators of 30 LIPIGEN centres. Twenty-four centres responded to the section referring to children aged < 10 years and 30 to that referring to adolescents. Overall, 66.7% of children and 73.3% of adolescents were given lipid-lowering nutritional treatment as the first intervention level for at least 3–4 months (29.2% and 23.3%) or 6–12 months (58.3% and 53.3%). Nutraceuticals were considered in 41.7% (regarding children) and 50.0% (regarding adolescents) of the centres as a supplementary approach to diet. Lipid-lowering drug therapy initiation was mainly recommended (91.7% and 80.0%). In 83.3% of children and 96.7% of adolescents, statins were the most frequently prescribed drug. We highlighted several differences in the treatment of paediatric patients with suspected FH among Italian centres; however, the overall approach is in line with the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) recommendations for FH children and adolescents. We consider this survey as a starting point to reinforce collaboration between LIPIGEN centres and to elaborate in the near future a consensus document on the management of paediatric patients with suspected FH so as to improve and uniform detection, management, and treatment of these patients in our country.