Good Value Research Articles

Corneal subepithelial nerve fibers in type 2 diabetes: potential biomarker of diabetic neuropathy

AIM: To observe the changes in corneal subepithelial nerve fibers (CNFs) and Langerhans cells (LCs) in patients with type 2 diabetes using corneal laser confocal microscopy (CLCM). METHODS: A total of 60 patients (64 eyes), including 40 patients with type 2 diabetes (DM group) and 20 subjects without diabetes (control group) were included with CLCM. Neuron J plugin of Image J software were used for quantitative analysis of CNF length (CNFL), CNF density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch fiber density (CNBD), main branch length density, branch length density, corneal nerve fiber tortuosity (NT) score, and LCs density. An independent samples t-test to analyze the variability between the two groups was performed, and Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationships between CNF and multiple biochemical indicators in the DM group. The predictive power of CNF for type 2 diabetes was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the CNFL, CNFD, and main branch length density between two groups. The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between CNFD and the duration of diabetes as well as triglyceride levels and total cholesterol, and a significant positive correlation between CNFD and serum albumin. In addition, the NT score showed a positive correlation and urea nitrogen, similar to the positive correlation observed between LC density and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. CNFD showed the highest area under the curve (AUC of ROC) value, followed by main branch length density and CNFL. The AUC of the ROC curve under the logistic regression model also demonstrated good predictive values. The cut-off values of CNFD, CNFL, and main branch length density for diabetes showed 31.25, 18.85, and 12.56, respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients with type 2 diabetes, there is a notable reduction in both CNFL and CNFD. These measurements can be influenced by various blood biochemical factors. However, the compromised nerve fibers can serve as valuable indicators for predicting the onset of type 2 diabetes and also as biomarkers for detecting diabetic neuropathy and its related complications.

Penerapan Manajemen Pendidikan dalam Memperkuat Karakter Siswa di Sekolah

This study aims to analyse the implementation of education management in strengthening students' character at school. Student character is an important aspect in the formation of a person with integrity, responsibility and good moral values. A qualitative method with a case study approach was used in this research. Data were collected using interviews, documentation, and observation. The results of this study show the integration of character education in learning, extracurricular activities, as well as habituation and acculturation activities. In the classroom, character values such as gotong royong, integrity and independence are instilled through active approaches and independent tasks. Extracurricular activities, such as sports, arts, and religion, strengthen religious, independent, and nationalist characters. In addition, habituation through routine (prayer, ceremony, gotong royong), spontaneous (5 S), and exemplary (discipline) activities are also applied to shape students' characters. Overall, SMPN 1 Mojowarno has succeeded in forming students who are intelligent and have good character.

Boosting miniaturization in clinical analysis: determination of bisphenols in human serum and urine by miniaturized stir bar sorptive dispersive microextraction.

In this work, a miniaturized and sustainable method for the determination of endocrine-disrupting bisphenols in human serum and urine employing the miniaturized stir bar sorptive dispersive microextraction (mSBSDME) approach has been developed. As bisphenols are conjugated in the human body to their glucorinated and sulfated forms, an enzymolysis employing a commercial mixture of β-glucuronidase and arylsulfatase was carried out prior to the microextraction procedure to determine their total content. A magnetic covalent organic framework (COF) was employed as thesorbent to carry out the extraction of the analytes from the biological matrixes, showing good extraction performance dueto its hydrophobic, π-π, and dipole-dipole interactions with the analytes. As instrumental detection, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed to achieve good sensitivity and selectivity. The method was validated for both matrixes, showing good linearity at least up to 100 ng mL-1, limits of detection in the low ng mL-1 range, good precision values (relative standard deviations below 15%), and good accuracy (relative recoveries between 80 and 127%). In order to show the applicability of the developed method, five samples from female volunteers were analyzed with the final aim of offering a practical tool for monitoring the female population's exposure to these highly endocrine-disrupting compounds. This new procedure enhances the implementation of miniaturized sample preparation approaches in biological samples for clinical analysis, giving special relevance to the sustainability of the method.

Protecting Emergency Responders with Evidence-Based Interventions (PEREI): protocol for a randomized controlled trial for early career emergency responders, significant others, and supervisors

ABSTRACT Background: Emergency service personnel perform roles associated with high levels of trauma exposure and stress, and not surprisingly experience greater risk for poor mental health including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and substance use relative to the general population. Although programs exist to minimise the risk of developing mental health problems, their efficacy to date has been limited or untested. We will test the efficacy of the three programs which form PEREI: Protecting Emergency Responders with Evidence-Based Interventions. PEREI consists of modified versions of internet-delivered cognitive training in resilience (iCT-R) for early career first responders, PEREI-S for supervisors, and Be Well for Significant Others (BW-SO). Method: Up to 450 members in their first 5 years of service across multiple agencies will be recruited, with their adult supports (significant others, friends) invited to participate. Up to 180 supervisors in the agencies will be recruited. Participants will be randomized to their respective program or to receive the standard practice for mental health offered by the service (or usual mental health support for significant others). Assessments will be conducted pre- and post-program, and at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Primary outcome is PTSD and depression severity and probable-diagnosis. Secondary measures will index hypothesized mediators and moderators of outcome and determine whether the programs are cost-effective. Conclusions: The results will provide evidence as to efficacious methods for reducing risk of mental health problems in high-risk occupations, a better understanding of how such interventions may work, and whether they are good value for money. Trial registration: www.anzctr.org.au (ACTRN12622001267741)

CSIG-35. RAB3B DICTATES MTORC1/S6 SIGNALING IN CHORDOMA AND PREDICTS RESPONSE TO MTORC1-TARGETED THERAPY

Abstract Chordoma is a rare mesenchymal malignancy, exhibiting a high tendency to postoperative recurrence and poor prognosis. To date, its tumorigenic regulatory mechanisms remain elusive leading to a lack of effective therapeutic targets and drug sensitivity indicators. Here, via transcriptome and proteome analyses, we unveiled RAB3B as the prominent oncogenic regulator in chordoma. Multidimensional tissue samples further indicated its overexpression and enhancer-associated high transcriptional activity in chordoma. Notably, RAB3B ablation attenuated the chordoma cell growth, stemness, migration and tumorigenicity in vivo and in vitro. Through determining the RAB3B-mediated program in chordoma, we identified that RAB3B was highly associated with PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling and directly bound to S6. Mechanistically, RAB3B increased the S6K-mediated phosphorylation of S6 by physically interacting with dephosphorylase DUSP12, to block its dephosphorylating of p-S6 specifically at S235/236. Pharmacological targeting mTORC1 pathway via dactolisib and rapamycin dramatically impeded the RAB3B-induced chordoma cell oncogenesis, while RAB3B knockout desensitized mTORC1 inhibition. Clinically, RAB3B/p-S6 suggested a good prognostic value and response to mTORC1 inhibitors for chordoma patients. Altogether, this work uncovers RAB3B as a novel activator of mTORC1 pathway, and suggests the oncogenic and predictive roles of RAB3B/p-S6 in chordoma, indicating therapeutic potentials of mTORC1-targeted therapy in advanced chordoma patients with aberrant RAB3B/p-S6 hyperactivation.

Commodity Analysis of Carbohydrate Food Availability in the Banyumas Regency Area

The study aims to determine the potential of carbohydrate food sources regarding the availability of carbohydrate food sources in Banyumas Regency. The research method is carried out through descriptive research. The data used in this study are primary data sourced from the services or agencies related to the problem being studied, namely the Banyumas Regency BPS, and the Banyumas Regency Agriculture Service. With SPSE analysis. The results of the study concluded that in Banyumas Regency there is availability of carbohydrate food sources, namely rice, corn, and cassava. The suitability of land and climate conditions is the main consideration for farmers to grow rice, corn, and cassava. Dry or marginal land in Banyumas Regency can be planted with one or even all three of these plants. In carbohydrate commodities in the last 5 years, namely in 2019-2023, almost every sub-district has a good food security value. Where these conditions make rice, corn and cassava the main commodities to meet food availability

The allure of rarity: investigating the impact of consumers’ perceived scarcity in AI-designed clothing on purchase intentions

ABSTRACT In light of the emerging use of AI in design, we investigate consumer responses to clothing marketed as AI-designed. We examine how the perceived scarcity of AI-designed clothing influences purchase intentions, with perceived monetary value acting as a mediator, and consider the moderating effects of fashion involvement. Data was collected via an online survey (n = 311) and analysed using SPSS 28.0. Participants were presented to an image of a jacket described as being created by AI technology and then answered a series of questions about the AI-designed jacket and about themselves. Results indicated that the scarcity of AI-designed clothing by itself may not significantly boost purchase intentions. However, fashion brands can capitalise on the perception of scarcity if the product is seen as offering good value for money. This effect is especially pronounced among consumers who have low involvement in fashion.

Optimized Liquid Medium Formulation for Sanghuangporus vaninii and Biological Activity of the Exopolysaccharides

Aims: Sanghuangporus vaninii (S. vaninii) is a rare medicinal mushroom that is rich in polysaccharides, triterpenes, flavonoids, and other bioactive compounds. It has good potential development value. Methods and Results: We performed single factor experiments and Box-Behnken response surface methodology to optimize the liquid fermentation medium formulation for S. vaninii with mycelial biomass as the indicator. The in vitro antioxidant and anti-cancer capacity of the exopolysaccharides of S. vaninii were estimated. The optimal liquid fermentation media composition for the MS-4, MS-6, and MS-8 strains of Sanghuangporus vaninii consisted of 25.86 ± 0.068 g/L maltose, 7.3 ± 0.043 g/L yeast extract, and 0.71 ± 0.005 g/L dandelion powder. The average mycelial biomass of S. vaninii under optimal conditions was 12.61 g/L. The mycelial biomass of the Sanghuangporus vaninii strains in the optimized formulation was 109–191% higher than that obtained with the basic potato dextrose broth (PDB). The exopolysaccharides of Sanghuangporus vaninii exhibited an ABTS radical scavenging activity with an EC50 of 0.021 ± 0.017 mg/mL and a DPPH radical scavenging activity with an EC50 of 0.076 ± 0.043 mg/mL. In anti-cancer assays, these exopolysaccharides demonstrated an IC50 value of 1.98 ± 0.36 mg/mL against PC-3 human prostate cancer cells, indicating significant bioactivity, highlighting their potential as functional food ingredients. Conclusions: In this study, the formula of liquid fermentation of S. vaninii strains was optimized, which lays a theoretical foundation for increasing the yield of S. vaninii and its application in industry. Moreover, our data showed the clinical potential of the S. vaninii exopolysaccharides as antioxidants and anti-cancer drugs.

Accurate prediction of the lymph node status in ampullary duodenal carcinoma: potential guidance for clinical management

PurposeThis study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with ampullary duodenal carcinoma (a-DC) and develop a clinical model to dynamically and accurately predict the risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in a-DC patients.MethodsData from 4077 patients (2004–2020) were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to form a training cohort, while 173 cases (2010–2020) from Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital in China were used as an external validation cohort. A reliable LASSO-logistic method was employed to identify independent risk factors for a-DC LNM, and a nomogram was developed based on these factors to assess the risk of a-DC LNM. The nomogram was evaluated using the Akaike information criterion, misclassification error, area under the curve, and likelihood ratio test. Finally, the nomogram’s accuracy and generalizability were externally validated..ResultsAfter screening using LASSO and logistic regression four variables were identified as independent risk factors for a-DC LNM: sex (P < 0.001), tumor size (P < 0.001), grade (P < 0.001), and tumor extension (P < 0.001). The area under the curve of the nomogram was 74.8% in the training group and 88.9% in the external validation group. The calibration curves demonstrated that the LNM predictions made by the nomogram were in satisfactory agreement with the actual observed LNM. Additionally, the decision curve analysis curves indicated effective clinical utility of the nomogram.ConclusionsA nomogram based on the LASSO-logistic analysis was constructed to predict a-DC LNM, demonstrating good performance and clinical application value.

Construction and validation of a prognostic signature based on microvascular invasion and immune-related genes in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Microvascular invasion (MVI) is an independent risk factor of poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and can be used to guide the diagnosis and treatment of HCC. The immune system serves as an integral role in the incidence and progression of HCC. However, the molecular biology correlation between MVI and tumor immunity and the value of combining the two parameters to predict patient prognosis and HCC response to treatment remain to be evaluated. Results: In this study, we used univariate Cox regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox analysis to establish the MVI and immune-related gene index (MIRGPI) including eight genes. We demonstrated that the MIRGPI was an independent risk factor in predicting the prognosis of HCC. Subsequently, our research established a nomogram model combining pathologic characteristics and verified its good clinical application value. In addition, our study found that the TP53 gene had a higher mutation frequency and a lower degree of immune infiltration in the high-risk group. The low-risk group had higher sensitivity to immunotherapy, sorafenib, and TACE treatment, and the high-risk group had higher sensitivity to common chemotherapeutic agents. Finally, SEMA3C was found to facilitate the proliferation, migration and invasive ability of HCC by in vitro and in vivo experiments, and its mechanism may be associated with the activation of the NF-Κb/EMT signaling pathway. Conclusions: In summary, the MIRGPI signature we developed is a reliable marker for the prediction of prognosis and treatment response, and is important for the prognostic assessment and individualized treatment of HCC.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Thermal Stress Assessment in Poultry Using Infrared Thermography in Specific Body Areas

Thermal stress is a health and welfare concern in the poultry industry. Poultry have specific thermoregulation strategies for heat stress (i.e., vasodilatation) or cold stress (i.e., vasoconstriction). Infrared thermal (IRT) analysis is a non-invasive temperature assessment technology with significant benefits compared to conventional temperature measurements, which are invasive and time-consuming. However, a wide range of IRT methodologies and equipment are used for temperature assessment in poultry. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of IRT applications in poultry undergoing thermal stress. The bibliographic search yielded 17 records for qualitative synthesis and 10 for quantitative analysis. The results showed IRT is more commonly studied during heat stress than cold stress, and more research is being conducted on laying hens than other poultry species. Also, four body areas (parts of the head, body, face, and leg) were identified as common areas of interest for body surface temperature measurement. There is a clear thermoregulation response to thermal stress in poultry, with marked differences between featherless and feather-covered areas. IRT in poultry undergoing thermal stress has a good diagnostic value and represents an important welfare assessment tool for future research, particularly when combined with other welfare assessment methods.

Multi-level digital-twin models of pulmonary mechanics: correlation analysis of 3D CT lung volume and 2D Chest motion

Creating multi-level digital-twin models for mechanical ventilation requires a detailed estimation of regional lung volume. An accurate generic map between 2D chest surface motion and 3D regional lung volume could provide improved regionalisation and clinically acceptable estimates localising lung damage. This work investigates the relationship between CT lung volumes and the forced vital capacity (FVC) a surrogate of tidal volume proven linked to 2D chest motion. In particular, a convolutional neural network (CNN) with U-Net architecture is employed to build a lung segmentation model using a benchmark CT scan dataset. An automated thresholding method is proposed for image morphology analysis to improve model performance. Finally, the trained model is applied to an independent CT dataset with FVC measurements for correlation analysis of CT lung volume projection to lung recruitment capacity. Model training results show a clear improvement of lung segmentation performance with the proposed automated thresholding method compared to a typically suggested fixed value selection, achieving accuracy greater than 95% for both training and independent validation sets. The correlation analysis for 160 patients shows a good correlation ofRsquared value of 0.73 between the proposed 2D volume projection and the FVC value, which indicates a larger and denser projection of lung volume relative to a greater FVC value and lung recruitable capacity. The overall results thus validate the potential of using non-contact, non-invasive 2D measures to enable regionalising lung mechanics models to equivalent 3D models with a generic map based on the good correlation. The clinical impact of improved lung mechanics digital twins due to regionalising the lung mechanics and volume to specific lung regions could be very high in managing mechanical ventilation and diagnosing or locating lung injury or dysfunction based on regular monitoring instead of intermittent and invasive lung imaging modalities.

Application value of strain elastography and shear wave elastography in patients with type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a prospective observational study.

To evaluate the value of conventional ultrasound (US), strain elastography (SE), and shear wave elastography (SWE) in detecting diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) of the tibial nerve (TN), and to establish a predictive model for the diagnosis of DPN. 32 healthy participants, 34 diabetic patients without DPN, and 36 diabetic patients with DPN were recruited for this study. The TN at the ankle and popliteal fossa were selected for examination. US was used to measure the cross-sectional area (CSA) and perimeter of the TN. Additionally, SE was employed to measure the strain ratio (SR) between the TN and the surrounding adipose tissue, and SWE was used to measure the Shear Wave Velocity (SWV) of the TN. The CSA, perimeter, SR and SWV of the TN at the ankle were significantly higher in the DPN group compared to both the Non-DPN group and control group (P < 0.05). Similarly, the TN at the popliteal fossa showed these differences. At the ankle, the CSA, perimeter, SR, and SWV of the TN in patients without DPN were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). At the popliteal fossa, the SR and SWV of the TN in patients without DPN were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). However, the CSA and perimeter of the TN in patients without DPN did not show a statistically significant difference compared to the control group. The area under the curve (AUC) for the diagnosis of DPN using SWE is significantly greater than that of SE and US. US, SE, and SWE could be used to diagnose DPN, and they also have good diagnostic value for sub-clinical DPN. Among these methods, SWE has demonstrated superior diagnostic efficacy. Compared to examining the TN in the popliteal fossa, the ankle level offers a better site for examination. For diabetic peripheral neuropathy, US, SE, and SWE are all promising diagnostic methods with high clinical utility.

The value of D-dimer in the prognosis of dilated cardiomyopathy: a retrospective cohort study.

D-dimer is a biomarker of coagulation and fibrinolytic system activation in response to the hypercoagulable state of the body. The research aimed to analyze the value of D-dimer in the prognosis of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Patients admitted to our center for the first time with DCM were enrolled consecutively. The clinical characteristics variables were obtained from the electronic medical record system, and the prognostic information was obtained using telephone return visits and a review of repeated hospitalization records. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression was used to explore the association of D-dimer with all-cause mortality. Smooth curve fitting, threshold saturation effect analysis, and subgroup analysis were performed. Ultimately, 534 patients were included. After a follow-up of the enrolled patients, 485 patients obtained prognostic information, of which 159 died from all causes, and the main cause of death was heart failure (89/159), the sudden death accounted for about 17%. The independent positive association between D-dimer and all-cause mortality remained unchanged in both unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression models. In the fully adjusted model, each standard deviation increase in D-dimer was associated with a 14% increase in all-cause mortality (HR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.02 ~ 1.27; P < 0.05). Curve fitting and threshold effect analysis showed an inflection point in the relationship between D-dimer and all-cause mortality (non-linear test: P = 0.03). When D-dimer was equal to 362ng/ml, HR = 1; and as the value increased, the risk of all-cause mortality increased by 34.7% for every 2-fold increase in D-dimer gradually (HR = 1.347; 95% CI: 1.069 ~ 1.697; P = 0.012). In subgroup analysis, D-dimer and BMI had a significant interaction on all-cause mortality, with a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality in subjects with BMI ≥ 25kg/m2 (HR = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.34 ~ 2.97; P < 0.01). The ROC curve showed that D-dimer was a good predictor of all-cause mortality, and the areas under the curve at 1-, 3-, and 5-year were 0.71, 0.64, and 0.59, respectively. In addition, D-dimer improved the predictive performance of the MAGGIC heart failure score in patients with DCM. D-dimer is not only independently associated with all-cause mortality in DCM patients, but also has good predictive value, suggesting that D-dimer may be an early and useful marker for improving the management of DCM patients.

Effect of Parenting on Stunting Incidence in Infant Aged 0-59 Months Old

Introduction: Parenting is a factor most significantly affect and contribute to the incidence of stunting in infants aged 0-59 months. Parenting has recently attracted many attentions since parents are the one who have the most interaction with their own children. Hence, current research was carried out to know the correlation between parenting and the incidence of stunting in infants aged 0-59 months. Methods: This research was carried out through quantitative method with cross sectional approach. In this case, the samples involved are 169 infants. The data obtained were further analyzed through logistic regression with the assistance of SPSS Version 26. Results: There is a relationship between parenting and the incidence of stunting in infants aged 0-59 months old with the logistic regression P-value of &lt;0.05.59,8% respondent of them received poor parenting and his education is only senior high school and This finding found that the higher the knowledge of parents, the more it will influence the provision of food to their children with good nutritional value. Conclusion: Parenting on the incidence of stunting in infants aged 0-59 months old is very important. In this case, knowledge and nutritional intake are necessary to support the growth and development of infants aged 0-59 months.

An Intraoperative Ultrasound Evaluation of Axillary Lymph Nodes: Cassandra Predictive Models in Patients with Breast Cancer—A Multicentric Study

Background and Objectives: Axillary lymph node (ALN) staging is crucial for the management of invasive breast cancer (BC). Although various radiological investigations are available, ultrasound (US) is the preferred tool for evaluating ALNs. Despite its immediacy, widespread use, and good predictive value, US is limited by intra- and inter-operator variability. This study aims to evaluate US and Elastosonography Shear Wave (SW-ES) parameters for ALN staging to develop a predictive model, named the Cassandra score (CS), to improve the interpretation of findings and standardize staging. Materials and Methods: Sixty-three women diagnosed with BC and treated at two Italian hospitals were enrolled in the study. A total of 529 lymph nodes were surgically removed, underwent intraoperative US examination, and were individually sent for a final histological analysis. The study aimed to establish a direct correlation between eight US-SWES features (margins, vascularity, roundness index (RI), loss of hilum fat, cortical thickness, shear-wave elastography hardness (SWEH), peripheral infiltration (PI), and hypoechoic appearance) and the histological outcome (benign vs. malignant). Results: Several statistical models were compared. PI was strongly correlated with malignant ALNs. An ROC analysis for Model A revealed an impressive AUC of 0.978 (S.E. = 0.007, p &lt; 0.001), while in Model B, the cut-offs of SWEH and RI were modified to minimize the risk of false negatives (AUC of 0.973, S.E. = 0.009, p &lt; 0.001). Model C used the same cut-offs as Model B, but excluded SWEH from the formula, to make the Cassandra model usable even if the US machine does not have SW-ES capability (AUC of 0.940, S.E. = 0.015, p &lt; 0.001). A two-tiered model was finally set up, leveraging the strong predictive capabilities of SWEH and RI. In the first tier, only SWES and RI were evaluated: a positive result was predicted if both hardness and roundness were present (SWES &gt; 137 kPa and RI &lt; 1.55), and conversely, a negative result was predicted if both were absent (SWES &lt; 137 kPa and RI &gt; 1.55). In the second tier, if there was a mix of the results (SWES &gt; 137 kPa and RI &gt; 1.55 or SWES &lt; 137 kPa and RI &lt; 1.55), the algorithm in Model B was applied. The model demonstrated an overall prediction accuracy of 90.2% in the training set, 87.5% in the validation set, and 88.9% across the entire dataset. The NPV was notably high at 99.2% in the validation set. This model was named the Cassandra score (CS) and is proposed for the clinical management of BC patients. Conclusion: CS is a simple, non-invasive, fast, and reliable method that showed a PPV of 99.1% in the malignancy prediction of ALNs, potentially being also well suited for young sonographers.

Investigation of Dynamic-Cyclic, Dynamic-Impact, and Timber-Construction-Relevant Characteristics of Wood–Textile Composites

Wood–Textile Composites (WTCs) are a new type of composite material based on willow wood strips and polypropylene that combines the properties of classic natural-fiber-reinforced polymers with an innovative textile wood design. While the basic quasi-static properties have already been investigated and described, there is a lack of knowledge about the behavior of the material under dynamic-cyclic and dynamic-impact loading as well as in relation to basic wood construction parameters. The present study is intended to contribute to the later use of the developed material, e.g., in architecture. For this purpose, fatigue tests, dart drop tests (impact and penetration), impact bending tests, and embedment tests were carried out. It was shown that embedding wood fabrics in a thermoplastic matrix leads to a significant increase in resistance to impact loads compared to the neat basic materials. It was also shown that the ratio of the failure stress in the fatigue test to the tensile strength of the WTC corresponds to that of other fiber-reinforced thermoplastics at around 70%. The embedment tests showed that WTC has good values compared to neat wood.

Nanocubic transition metal sulfides (FeMn)S2@NC synthesised by MOFs facily for supercapacitors

Transition metal sulfides have attracted considerable attention as supercapacitor materials due to their favorable electrochemical properties and low cost. However, challenges such as slow electrochemical kinetics and significant volume changes still persist. In this study, (FeMn)S2@NC nanocubes were synthesized by utilizing MOFs as precursors, employing a solution method to encapsulate Ppy around the periphery, followed by a one-step annealing process. The electrode prepared from (FeMn)S2@NC exhibits a high specific capacitance of 1154 F/g at 1 A/g and retains a specific capacitance of 777 F/g even at a high current density of 5 A/g. After 8000 charge-discharge cycles at 10 A/g, it still maintains a high capacity retention of 94% and close to 100% Coulombic efficiency. The (FeMn)S2@NC//AC capacitor exhibite excellent electrochemical performance with good rate capability and practical value 39.73F/g at 1A/g, 38.26F/g at 2A/g, 26.67F/g at 5A/g, 20.53F/g at 7A/g and 14F/g at 10A/g. Electrochemical testing at 5A/g show 93.3% high capacity retention after 180,000 cycles.

Validation of the Chinese Maudsley three-item visual analogue scale to measure depressive symptoms in a youth population.

Existing self-rated depression measurement tools possess a range of psychometric drawbacks, spanning a range of validity and reliability constructs. The gold standard self-rated depression scales contain several variable items that are often non-specific, require respondents to have a certain level of language understanding and limited scoring options resulting in low sensitivity. The Maudsley three-item visual analogue scale (M3VAS) was developed to address these challenges. This study aimed to translate the M3VAS into Chinese and test its reliability and validity. First, both M3VAS scales (assessing current severity and change in severity) were translated according to a standardised protocol to finalise the Chinese version. Reliability and validity were then examined among 550 young people with moderate to severe depression (patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score ≥15) in a cross-sectional opportunistic questionnaire survey. The content validity of each item (six items, across both scales) ranged from 0.83 to 1.00. Exploratory factor analysis denoted a total of two common factors, with a variance contribution rate of 64.34%. The total score correlated positively with the PHQ-9 total score (r = 0.241, P < 0.01). The Chinese version of the M3VAS had good reliability and validity values, and the confirmatory factor model fit well. The psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the M3VAS suggest that this scale can feasibly evaluate depression among young people in China.

Prospectively predicting violent and aggressive incidents in prison practice with the Risk Screener Violence (RS-V): Results from a multisite prison study.

Preventing in-prison violence and maintaining a safe environment is an important goal within prison settings. Screening for violence risk may provide a valuable addition to reach this goal. Within the Dutch prison system, the Risk Screener Violence (RS-V) has become an important new element in overall risk management. Prior research shows that RS-V scores are a sound predictor of institutional violence and aggression of incarcerated persons. Whereas previous studies predominantly analyzed retrospective file-based data, the present study includes RS-Vs rated by prison employees in real-life prison practice shortly after implementation. The RS-Vs of 956 detained individuals from 25 Dutch prisons were analyzed. Disciplinary reports were consulted to measure violent and aggressive incidents during 4 months after the screening. In addition, detention duration (length of stay in prison before the screening) was included as an additional variable. Results of the present prison practice study show good predictive values of the RS-V ratings for violent and aggressive incidents during prison stay. The predictive validity was similar for prisoner-to-prisoner assault as well as prisoner-to-staff assault. In addition, the predictive validity of the RS-V scores did not differ between individuals with a longer detention duration versus individuals with a shorter detention duration. This multisite prison practice study is an important step in the further validation of the RS-V and shows that the RS-V is a valuable tool in determining who is more likely to show institutional violence. Nonetheless, it remains important to continually monitor the implementation and correct application of the RS-V in prison practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).