Relative Ability Research Articles

The role of various fractions of humic substances from surface water in binding Al(III), Fe(III), AND Cu(II) into complexes

The aim of this research work was to evaluate the role of various fractions of humic substances (HS) in binding Al(III), Fe(III) and Cu(II) ions into complexes using gel chromatography. With an increase in HS concentration in Ukraine’s surface water bodies, the share of HS’ fraction with a molecular weight of 20–5 kDa increases from 37% to 59%. In the water bodies under study the HS’ fractions with molecular weight 20–5 kDa and < 1 kDa play a principal role in the studied metals’ migration. HS with molecular weight 20–5 kDa have been found to bind the smallest amount of Al(III), Fe(III) and Cu(II) in complexes, if the metals concentration bound by 1 mg fraction of HS with a certain molecular weight is calculated. Experimental results showed that, the investigated metal ions have the ability to bind into complexes mainly by HS with a molecular weight of >20 and <1 kDa. In the water bodies under study 1 mg of humic acids has a greater binding ability in relation to Al(III), Fe(III) and Cu(II) ions than 1 mg of fulvic acids. Fulvic acids and humic acids with a molecular weight of 20–5 kDa also have the lowest binding ability.

A New Method Using Pseudovelocity-Based Fatigue Analysis to Determine the Effectiveness of Acoustic Fields Used for Acoustic Testing

Abstract This paper summarizes results from the use of advanced adaptive multiple-input, multiple-output (i.e., MIMO) control for direct field acoustic testing to excite an aluminum-honeycombed 1.22 m × 2.44 m (4 ft × 8 ft) test panel with MSI-DFAT's near-diffuse acoustic field and four nondiffuse acoustic fields using three panel orientations, and two speaker configurations. The five fields have the same overall sound pressure level (OASPL) and 1/3-octave sound-pressure-level (SPL) spectrum. Test and analysis results demonstrate a dependence of the test panel's response characteristics to each acoustic-field excitation, showing that the near-diffuse field excites experimental-modal-analysis-identified test panel modes effectively, whereas nondiffuse fields excite these modes ineffectively. Differences are attributed to the relative diffuseness of fields. Partial fatigue damage values from 20 accelerometer locations are determined from pseudovelocity (PV) outputs from single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) models at each modal frequency excited by their response time histories, for each acoustic field, to quantify the relative ability of acoustic fields to detect workmanship flaws of typical test articles. Fatigue-damage values are obtained from PV response time histories of SDOF models at identified modal frequencies, which are rainflow-cycle counted with the partial-damage coefficients calculated using the Palmgren-Miner rule. A new form of vibro-acoustic gain based on PV power spectral densities (PSDs) is also introduced and correlated with these experimental results, since the PV response PSDs of a test article undergoing random vibration are proportional to modal stress at their frequencies. This paper shows that the modal stress caused by acoustic-field types is an important consideration for acoustic testing of satellites and other spacecraft, since using a nondiffuse field may result in an acoustic test that doesn't detect workmanship flaws in a test article, even though the acoustic environment is achieving the same specified OASPL and average acoustic 1/3-octave SPL spectrum.

Improving the diversification of herbal pastries and digital marketing applications to increase product sales

Members of KWT Sewagati Pasekan Lor encountered difficulties as a result of their lack of knowledge and expertise about the diversification of various processed herbal pastries, food labeling and packaging technology, and digital-based product marketing. This volunteering project aims to improve members' knowledge and abilities in relation to the variety of processed herbal pastries, label and packaging technology, and digital-based marketing. The community service method used is counseling which includes theories regarding the diversification of processed herbal pastries, brands, and types of packaging, as well as digital-based marketing practices. The counseling continued with making herbal pastries such as turmeric cakes, cinnamon egg rolls, and ginger nastar. The training on labeling and packaging as well as digital-based marketing practices. The outcomes of this community service project demonstrate that the Partner's knowledge about the variety of processed herbal pastries increased from 50% to 90%, the partner's skills in processing various herbal pastries rose from 55% to 80%, the capacity for comprehending and creating labels and food packaging also improved from 45% to 80% and knowledge and skills in digital marketing increased from 40% to 75%.

Disruption of nontuberculous mycobacteria biofilms induces a highly vulnerable to antibiotic killing phenotype

ObjectivesStructural or mucus hypersecretory pulmonary diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF), wherein viscous mucus accumulates and clearance functions are impaired, predispose people to lung infection by inhaled bacteria that form biofilm aggregates. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), primarily Mycobacterium abscessus and Mycobacterium avium, are the growing cause of these lung infections and are extremely challenging to treat due to antibiotic recalcitrance. Better therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. We developed a humanized monoclonal antibody (HuTipMab) directed against a biofilm structural linchpin, the bacterial DNABII proteins, that rapidly disrupts biofilms and generates highly vulnerable newly released bacteria (NRel). MethodsHuTipMab's ability to recognize HupB, NTM's DNABII homologue was determined by ELISA. Relative ability of HuTipMab to disrupt biofilms formed by lab-passaged and clinical isolates of NTM was assessed by CLSM. Relative sensitivity of NTM NRel to antibiotic killing compared to when grown planktonically was evaluated by plate count. ResultsHuTipMab recognized HupB and significantly disrupted NTM biofilms in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Importantly, NTM NRel of lab-passaged and clinical isolates were now highly sensitive to killing by amikacin and azithromycin. ConclusionsIf successful, this combinatorial treatment strategy would empower existing antibiotics to more effectively kill NTM newly released from a biofilm by HuTipMab and thereby both improve clinical outcomes and perhaps decrease length of antibiotic treatment for people that are NTM culture-positive.

Similar but different: Characterization of dddD gene-mediated DMSP metabolism among coral-associated Endozoicomonas.

Endozoicomonas are often predominant bacteria and prominently important in coral health. Their role in dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) degradation has been a subject of discussion for over a decade. A previous study found that Endozoicomonas degraded DMSP through the dddD pathway. This process releases dimethyl sulfide, which is vital for corals coping with thermal stress. However, little is known about the related gene regulation and metabolic abilities of DMSP metabolism in Endozoicomonadaceae. In this study, we isolated a novel Endozoicomonas DMSP degrader and observed a distinct DMSP metabolic trend in two phylogenetically close dddD-harboring Endozoicomonas species, confirmed genetically by comparative transcriptomic profiling and visualization of the change of DMSP stable isotopes in bacterial cells using nanoscale secondary ion spectrometry. Furthermore, we found that DMSP cleavage enzymes are ubiquitous in coral Endozoicomonas with a preference for having DddD lyase. We speculate that harboring DMSP degrading genes enables Endozoicomonas to successfully colonize various coral species across the globe.

Mindreading beliefs in same- and cross-neurotype interactions.

Autistic people are often characterised as having problems with mindreading, which refers to understanding other people's thoughts, beliefs and feelings. However, it has recently been suggested that mindreading difficulties may be a two-way issue between autistic and non-autistic people. This would imply that autistic people may not have difficulty reading the minds of other autistic people, whereas non-autistic people may struggle to read autistic people effectively. In this study, we created a survey in which we asked a relatively large sample of autistic and non-autistic people to rate their own and others' mindreading abilities in relation to autistic and non-autistic others, respectively. Both groups believed that they were better at reading others in their own group than the other group. The autistic respondents reported levels of mindreading skill at least commensurate with the non-autistic respondents when the mind to be read was specified as autistic. Thus, both groups of participants' responses were consistent with the notion that mindreading abilities are relational. Although self-reports are subjective, such beliefs could have important consequences for well-being and intergroup relations.

The Effects of Table Tennis, Basketball, and Athletics on the Prevention and Control of Myopia in Elementary School Students

Background and Aim: The visual acuity of children and adolescents is declining, which seriously affects the physical health of children and adolescents with the continuous integration and development of sports and health fields, many studies have shown that sports are closely related to the eye health of children and adolescents. Therefore, this study conducts table tennis, basketball, and athletics research on the prevention and control of myopia in elementary school students, and compares the effects. Materials and Methods: This study conducted a 24-week exercise experiment intervention on children with low vision, selected 80 experimental samples that meet the requirements of the experimental research, and divided the 80 students into 4 groups on average using random grouping, set up 1 control group and 3 experimental groups. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was performed on the data of the three experimental groups and control groups. Results: The facility of accommodation and relative accommodation ability of the three experimental groups were significantly improved, while those of the control group were significantly decreased, indicating that the experimental intervention of table tennis, basketball, and athletics can improve the facility of accommodation and relative accommodation functions of the eyes. From the results of the change of the equivalent spherical mirror degree, it can be shown that the table tennis group has the best control effect, followed by basketball, and the third is athletics. Conclusions: (1) Professionally designed table tennis, basketball, and athletics have a preventive effect on myopia diopter, and can control and slow down the progression of myopia to a certain extent. (2) Designing exercise programs related to the principles of eye movement is more effective in preventing and controlling elementary school students’ myopia than traditional physical education courses. And (3) The intervention methods of table tennis, basketball, and athletics in this study to prevent myopia can be promoted and used in physical education classes in elementary and secondary schools.

Text structure as an indicator of the writing development of descriptive text quality

Composing a well-written text is a prolonged and challenging process. The present study explored the incipient stages in descriptive texts written (pen and paper) or dictated by 283 Hebrew-speaking Israeli children in second to fifth grades. This study aims to better understand the interplay between age, literacy-related abilities, and descriptive text quality by exploring developmental aspects across grade levels regarding text structural quality, length of text and literacy related abilities, and by analyzing the relation between text structural quality and literacy related abilities (cognitive, transcriptional, linguistic, and reading), beyond length of text and grade level. Regarding the developmental aspects, the results indicate that text structure quality becomes more sophisticated and complete with age, attaining high-quality descriptive text structure from third grade on in the production of autonomous texts with genre-driven elaborate features. Length of text and literacy related abilities also increase with age. Regarding the relation between text structural quality and literacy related abilities, we found in 2nd grade, for P&P text, a significant total effect of syntactic lexical ability on text structure rank, partially mediated by length of text, and a weaker but still significant direct effect of syntactic lexical ability on TS rank, when controlling for length of text. We also found in 5th grade, for DICT text, a significant total effect of reading high ability on TS rank, not mediated by length of text.

Sociology of Fourah Bay College Library as Critical Cultural-Social Space in Freetown, Sierra Leone

The thought and modes of sociological study of Fourah Bay College library emanate predominantly from the sociology of communications and organisation, according to which a library is a social mechanism. The functional social function of this is to probe and form selections from the stream of engraved communications to systematise and stock the preferred publications and to form the streamed stock of publication accessible to a social public and to determine the social and cultural domination of the touch between the library and the students’ social community. The accomplishment of students in the future is lodged upon the social pillar established during years utilised at Fourah Bay College. Fourah Bay College library plays a critical functional social function in carving the future of students by nurturing them for intellectual engagement beyond the college. The college library as a fundamental presence of the college curriculum has considerable potential to carve students through contingent privileges for autonomous learning. The research will seek to find out the strategies that Fourah Bay College library exploits to advance students’ relational abilities in the onset of Information and Communication Technology. It will also examine the functional social function of Fourah Bay College library in broadening relational abilities progress amongst students to bolster authoritative social behaviour or intellectual self-determination. The research will explore the extent to which Fourah Bay College library can utilise technology to enhance interpersonal communication, thus enhancing social inclusion. The researcher will utilise a phenomenological prototype to point out the challenges and conveniences or opportunities facing Fourah Bay College library in traditional metropolitan Freetown to provide competent library services to students so that they can be appropriately processed for the electric technology motivated life predicated on such abilities like information social scholarship.

Multipolar or multiplex? Interaction capacity, global cooperation and world order

Abstract This article uses a new concept—multiplexity, rather than multipolarity or liberal hegemony—to describe and analyse the changing world order. Instead of conventional measures like economic or military power, it uses ‘interaction capacity’ among states, or the relative ability of nations to exercise leadership and organize cooperation as the key world order measure. Using a new dataset composed of post-Second World War treaties to measure interaction capacity, it finds the world order changing from United States leadership, toward a more de-centered, pluralistically led (multiplex) world—a decline in the relative importance of great powers, an increase in the interaction capacity of middle and small powers, and the significance of clusters of cooperation among nations that are not necessarily geographically close to each other. We conclude that, while leadership in global cooperation is increasingly pluralized along actors and issue areas, it is not collapsing or becoming overly transactional. These findings should guide debates on the future of world order and reform of international institutions. While policy makers must prepare for a transition from the unipolar moment and the rise of non-western nations, they should not succumb to undue pessimism about the collapse of global cooperation, which is underpinned by long-term dynamics of interaction capacity among nations.

65 Learning Ability in Relation to Everyday Activities in Patients with Korsakoff’s Syndrome, Other Alcohol-Related Cognitive Impairments, or Uncomplicated Alcohol Use Disorder

Objective:Assessment of learning potential in patients with cognitive disorders in individuals with alcohol-related cognitive disorders (including Korsakoff’s syndrome; KS) is highly relevant, as this may help to tailor interventions, guide treatment planning and help to optimize care. However, studies on assessing learning potential or learning ability using neuropsychological assessment in relation to changes in everyday activities during the course of treatment are scarce. In this study we examined whether verbal and visuospatial learning curves could be used as an index of learning ability in relation to everyday activities before and after a treatment program.Participants and Methods:We examined the episodic learning ability of patients with KS (N=137), other alcohol-related cognitive impairments (ARCI; N=164), and uncomplicated alcohol use disorder (AUD; N=49). For this, we calculated the learning curves for the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) and the Location Learning Test - Revised (LLT-R) and examined their association with ratings of everyday activities by the patient and his/her professional caregiver using the Patient Competency Rating Scale (PCRS) before and after a 10-12 week treatment program following admission to the Korsakoff Centre.Results:For both verbal and visuospatial memory, the AUD group had a steeper learning curve than the ARCI patients, who in turn had a steeper learning curve than the KS group (p<.01). While the VLGT total score was related to the PCRS in all patient groups (Pearson r>.38, p<.01), this was only the case for the KS group for the LLT-R total score (r>-.29, p<.01). However, the learning curve estimates of both tests were neither related to the PCRS absolute scores (for patients and caregivers, before and after treatment) nor to the APCRS scores during the course of the treatment program.Conclusions:Episodic learning ability, as measured with the learning curves of the CVLT and LLT-R, were unrelated to the patients everyday activity level as measures by the patients themselves or their professional caregiver. The results will be discussed in relation to other tools for assessing the learning potential of cognitively impaired patients, such as dynamic testing.

92 Biber Figure Learning Test Outperforms Other Cognitive Measures in Predicting Subjective Cognitive Decline

Objective:Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), the perception of deteriorating cognition in the absence of apparent impairment on objective testing, has gained momentum in recent literature as a risk marker for AD. Traditional neuropsychological assessments, while typically inclusive of a word list learning task, often do not include a comparable figure learning task. Growing evidence suggests that nonverbal assessments may be particularly sensitive to the earliest cognitive changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The Biber Figure Learning Test (BFLT), a visuospatial analogue to verbal list learning tasks, has been shown to associate with brain-based biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD; hippocampal volume, amyloid load). This study investigates the utility of the BFLT in capturing SCD above and beyond other cognitive measures sensitive to AD progression.Participants and Methods:50 community-dwelling, cognitively normal individuals (78% White, 16% Black, 6% Other; 92% Non-Hispanic; 64% Female; Education M=17.1, SD=2.1; Age M=72.7, SD=6.2) participated in a study of SCD. All participants performed >-1.5 SD on clinical neuropsychological testing including a word list learning task. SCD was assessed using a 20-item scale querying individuals’ perception of difficulty across a range of memory and non-memory abilities in relation to others of the same age. Participants completed the BFLT, Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales of Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L), Short-Term Memory Binding (STMB), and Face-Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME), previously established as being sensitive to pre-clinical AD, were examined as predictors of SCD. A multiple regression adjusted for demographics (age, gender, education) was used to investigate the extent to which BFLT Trial 1 (T1) predicted SCD above and beyond these other cognitive measures sensitive to AD progression. Trial 1 of the BFLT was used based on a separate abstract examining which BFLT score was most highly associated with SCD (Kann et al., pending acceptance).Results:Adjusting for demographics, the present model accounts for 42% of the variance in SCD, while Biber T1 alone accounts for 20% and is the only significant individual predictor of SCD (β=-0.55, p=0.004). In contrast, other variables in the model independently accounted for less than 1% to 4% each (age β=-0.23, p=0.15; gender β=-0.15, p=0.34; education β=0.06, p=0.66; LASSI-L β=-0.11, p=0.55; STMB β=-0.03, p=0.85; FNAME β=-0.10, p=0.64).Conclusions:The present study demonstrates the usefulness of the first learning trial of the BFLT as an independent predictor of SCD above and beyond other verbal and nonverbal measures sensitive to AD pathology. It also highlights the value of including even one trial of figure learning (< 5 minutes) in both clinical and research assessments seeking to capture cognitive changes which may be the earliest indicators of a neurodegenerative process. Ongoing longitudinal research is examining the predictive utility of the BFLT for future cognitive decline and transition to Mild Cognitive Impairment. Further research should explore the association between Biber T1, specifically, and neuropathological biomarkers of AD to further establish its utility as a portent of AD.

A97Applying the Mental Capacity Act through multi-disciplinary simulation - A successful pilot

An assessment of mental capacity involves determining if a person can make a decision, or whether this needs to be done in their best interests [1]. The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, provides a legal framework that protects people who might not be able to make decisions for themselves and guides professionals during their practice. Research has shown inconsistencies on how the Mental Capacity Act is applied in health and social care settings [2], therefore ensuring that professionals have are provided with the right support to confidently apply the act should be a priority. Simulation has been effectively used in healthcare education [3] and could also be implemented to support this area of practice. The Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s Simulation Team and Adult Safeguarding Team, jointly worked in developing a simulation-based session which focused on mental capacity assessments in different situations. The aim of these sessions was to increase participants’ confidence to assess mental capacity and to manage challenging conversations during assessment. Scenarios were designed for hospital and community settings, the topics covered included consent to treatment, self-discharge, compliance with treatment, substance misuse, mental health problems, dementia and learning disability. The target audience was senior healthcare professionals that are regularly involved in making decisions related to mental capacity. Scenarios were designed to be flexible and adaptable according to the attendants’ needs, for example the learning disability scenarios involved the use of easy read information that was specifically provided or created. Actors were used for the role of patients or relatives, and members of the adult safeguarding team were part of the faculty to support or lead the debrief process. Between January 2023 and February 2023, the faculty delivered 3 sessions, with a total of 20 participants from different professional groups including doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. Anonymous feedback was collected at the end of each session, with 84.62% ( Studies have shown that healthcare professionals’ confidence in applying the mental capacity act can vary [2]. Solely focusing on traditional forms of education might not be enough to prepare our workforce, in this case simulation-based training has provided a valuable tool to enhance participant’s abilities in relation to the mental capacity act and its application in healthcare practice. Authors confirm that all relevant ethical standards for research conduct and dissemination have been met. The submitting author confirms that relevant ethical approval was granted, if applicable.

Prognostic value of the intraoperative D-dimer level in arterial blood in open reconstructive operations on the aortoiliac segment

The objective was to assess the prognostic value of D-dimer level in peripheral venous blood and arterial blood to the risk of developing complications in the short-term period after open reconstructive surgery on the aortoiliac segment.Methods and materials. The study included 89 patients who were determined the D-dimer level in peripheral venous blood, as well as arterial blood intraoperatively.Results. Statistically significant differences in the D-dimer level were established depending on the presence or absence of early postoperative complications.Conclusions. The intraoperative D-dimer level in arterial blood has a predictive ability in relation to the development of early postoperative complications.

Work ability trends 2000-2020 and projections until 2040 in Finland

Abstract Background Population in Europe and throughout the world is ageing rapidly. Projections of the work ability of the working-age population are of importance for policy makers to prepare for future challenges. The aim of this study is to examine age-group and birth-cohort trends in perceived work ability in Finland in 2000-2020 and make projections of work ability up to 2040 based on the observed birth-cohort development. Methods We used a series of population representative cross-sectional surveys conducted in Finland 2000-2020, i.e. the Health 2000 Survey, the Regional Health and Wellbeing Study 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, FinHealth 2017 and FinSote 2018 and 2020. Self-reported estimates of current work ability in relation to the person's lifetime best on a scale from zero to ten were used, scores 8-10 indicating good work ability. For projecting work ability multiple imputation was used (R package mice). Results Trends (2000-2020) by 5-year birth-cohorts born between 1961 and 1995 showed that work ability has declined over time among older birth-cohorts while in the two younger cohorts a stable development before 2017 and a steep decline between 2017 and 2020 was observed. Trends by 5-year age-groups showed a declining trend of good work ability among 20-44-year-olds, a stable trend among 45-54-year-olds and an improving trend among over 55-year-olds. Among the under 55-year-olds the prevalence of good work ability ended up around 75% and at 68% among the 55-59-year-olds, 58% among the 60-69-year-olds and 49% among the 70-74-year-olds in 2020. Birth-cohort projections suggest a declining work ability among 30-74-year-olds in the future. By 2040, the prevalence of good work ability is projected to decline 10-15%−points among 45-74-year-olds. Conclusions The decreasing work ability seen in younger age groups and the declining projections until 2040 are highly concerning. Efforts to counteract the projected decline in work ability are needed. Key messages • The observed decline in perceived work ability in younger age groups and the projected decline in the prevalence of good work ability among the middle aged and older are concerning. • Efforts to counteract the projected decline in work ability are urgently needed.

PSYCHIATRY IN THE BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL RESEARCH PARADIGM AS OPTION FOR ENDURING AND SUSTAINABLE CHANGE IN A TIME OF CHRONIC CRISIS.

The prevalence of mental disorders and global burden of disease increases and need an integrated psychiatric treatment at the best point of service. Severe mental disorders have medical consequences and solid psychiatric interventions are necessary. Research is required to be conducted along the bio-psycho-social paradigm. Based on the dynamics of memory and mentalization theory this paper presents clinical and therapeutic considerations for change. Mentalization is influenced by patterns of parental rearing styles, attachment, and traumatic incidents. In psychoanalytic theory, unconscious memory contents are enacted in the patient-therapist relationship. This editorial gives a review and intends to bridge the gap between psychiatry, the neurosciences, psychoanalysis and other sciences concerned with the study and processing of memory and its associated psychological, cognitive, and affective functions. The role of memory and related abilities and factors affecting psychological functioning are outlined. Research findings on memory dynamics and vulnerability as well as insights that are relevant to bridge the gap to related sciences are highlighted. For treatment, a dynamic view of long-term memory with a plasticity of states of memories when they are reactivated is supported. For intervention technique, affect-related therapist-centered interpretations and a sound working through of such enacted states in the interpersonal environment of the treatment is essential.

Analysis of unsaturated fatty acids by supercritical fluid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry coupled with online Paternò-Büchi reaction

Carbon double bond (CC) positions in unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) can be identified based on Paternò-Büchi (PB) reaction coupled with mass spectrometry (MS). However, achieving a high conversion rate and confusing mass spectrum are still challenging. In this study, an online PB reaction coupled with supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry (SFC-MS), using a homemade flow microreactor, was established to analyze CC bonds in UFAs, and benzaldehyde (BA) was proposed as the optimized reagent. Benefiting from this setup, both prototype and product ions of FAs can be rapidly captured at the same retention time, significantly enhancing the accuracy of lipid identification, especially when dealing with complex compounds. Furthermore, a high CC bond conversion rate was achieved, ranging from 53 to 67 %. Additionally, this strategy demonstrated excellent relative quantification abilities, which were based on the ratios of either the sum of diagnostic ions or the individual diagnostic ions. This novel approach was proposed and applied for the specific recognition of free FA in human plasma, which successfully provides quantitative information about UFA isomers. This strategy is believed to hold promise for the analysis of unsaturated lipid isomers in complex biological samples.

The association between nursing students’ perceptions of their clinical reasoning ability and their background of clinical experience: A cross-sectional correlation study

Background and objective: Nursing students tend to show poor clinical reasoning skills and incompetence in clinical performance. This study aimed to explore nursing students’ perceptions of their clinical reasoning ability in relation to their different background of academic program and clinical experience.Methods: A cross-sectional correlation study was conducted in a private tertiary professional training institute. Nursing students (n = 508) were surveyed with demographic details and a self-reported Nurse Clinical Reasoning Scale (NCRS) questionnaire about their perceptions of clinical reasoning in relation with their clinical experience.Results: Descriptive statistic, parametric analyses of variance, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to determine the relationships between variables. The mean NCRS score was lower for paid student nurse externs (49.22 ± 9.2) than for participants who were not paid student nurse externs. The mean NCRS scores differed significantly between the different clinical placements that nursing students last experienced (F = 5.41, p ≤ .001), as well as between students of various academic programs (F = 11.88, p ≤ .001), with students of the sub-baccalaureate level nursing program showing the highest score (53.04 ± 10.48), followed by those of the accelerated baccalaureate level nursing program (52.93 ± 7.67) and those of the baccalaureate level nursing program (48.82 ± 10.11). The mean NCRS score showed a weakly positive, but significant, correlation with the attendance of pre-clinical training, r(506) = .12, p = .009. The free-text surveys provided rich information concerning nursing students’ preferences for future pre-clinical training.Conclusions: Different academic backgrounds and clinical experiences influence nursing students’ clinical reasoning competence. Strategies are needed to motivate earlier clinical preparedness and caring attitudes which are essential attributes of a nursing student before their exposure to real patients.

Root Extract of Trichosanthes kirilowii Suppresses Metastatic Activity of EGFR TKI-Resistant Human Lung Cancer Cells by Inhibiting Src-Mediated EMT

The roots of Trichosanthes kirilowii (TK) have been used in traditional oriental medicine for the treatment of respiratory diseases. In this study, we investigated whether an ethanolic root extract of TK (ETK) can regulate the metastatic potency of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant human lung cancer cells. The relative migration and invasion abilities of erlotinib-resistant PC9 (PC9/ER) and gefitinib-resistant PC9 (PC9/GR) cells were higher than those of parental PC9 cells. Mesenchymal markers were overexpressed, whereas epithelial markers were downregulated in resistant cells, suggesting that resistant cells acquired the EMT phenotype. ETK reduced migration and invasion of resistant cells. The expression levels of N-cadherin and Twist were downregulated, whereas Claudin-1 was upregulated by ETK, demonstrating that ETK suppresses EMT. As a molecular mechanism, Src was dephosphorylated by ETK. The anti-metastatic effect of ETK was reduced by transfecting PC9/ER cells with a constitutively active form of c-Src. Dasatinib downregulated N-cadherin, Twist, and vimentin, suggesting that Src regulates EMT in resistant cells. Notably, CuB played a key role in mediating the anti-metastatic activity of ETK. Collectively, our results demonstrate that ETK can attenuate the metastatic ability of EGFR-TKI-resistant lung cancer cells by inhibiting Src-mediated EMT.

Phenotype predicts interspecific dominance hierarchies in a cloud‐forest hummingbird guild

AbstractCompetition over resources often leads to intra‐ and interspecific interactions, which can be detrimental to the individuals involved. Thus, natural selection should favor communication systems that reliably convey information regarding the relative competitive abilities of an individual, reducing the need for physically damaging confrontation. Body size, sex, age, relatedness, and ornamentation are important factors determining dominance across diverse taxa in intraspecific interactions. These traits, when perceptible, may serve as signals across species in guilds that have frequent interspecific interactions. Hummingbirds provide a tractable system to study such community dynamics due to their high frequency of interactions, variable ornamentation, diverse body sizes, fast metabolism, and large overlap in resource utilization. Even in this system, potential interactions between morphology and coloration are rarely accounted for together when analyzing dominance between species. We take a novel approach to understanding interspecific dominance by assessing behavior, morphology, and coloration across different types of behavioral interactions. Across 11 tropical montane hummingbird species, we find that dominance is predicted by wing size and some metrics of plumage coloration. However, the biological significance of these factors varies between the different dominance behaviors performed. These results inform our understanding of interspecific signaling and its role in the evolution of intraguild communication and resource competition.