Comparison Of Quality Research Articles

Characterization of biodiversity and meat quality in Guizhou yellow cattle: Correlations among intrinsic factors

This study aimed to characterize meat quality diversity among Guizhou yellow cattle and investigate the correlations among intrinsic factors that affect beef quality. Various cuts including chuck roll, fore shank, topside, rib fingers, flank, brisket, and tenderloin were taken from the carcass of Sinan cattle, Guanling cattle, and the Simmental-Guanling crossbred cattle for meat quality comparisons. The results showed that meats of all three breeds displayed high water-holding capacity and desirable meat colors, but they were tough in texture. Variations among the breeds were identified, with Guanling cattle having darker meat than the crossbred cattle. The crossbreed had lower shear force indicating potential heterosis benefits, and possessed higher fat content. Guizhou yellow cattle were leaner and more abundant in protein and umami amino acids, potentially contributing to favorable flavor. The hierarchical cluster analysis and nutritional indices assessment implicated that the composition of fatty acids demonstrated a breed-specific effect in Guanling cattle, offering greater benefits in cardiovascular disease prevention. The increased quantity of vitamin A present in the majority of cuts from crossbred and Sinan cattle enhanced their nutritional value. By multivariate data analysis, we found that as the variations in physicochemical properties increased, the nutrient compositions in beef became more complex. Overall, this study demonstrated that meats from all three breeds were nutrient-balanced high-quality protein sources, although certain indexes may vary across cuts and breeds. These variations should be considered when developing breeding strategies in the future.

Application of CO2-Laser Micro-Perforation Technology to Freeze-Drying Whole Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.): Effect on Primary Drying Time and Fruit Quality.

Freeze-drying (FD) processing preserves foods by combining the most effective traditional technologies. FD conserves the structure, shape, freshness, nutritional/bioactive value, color, and aroma at levels similar to or better than those of refrigerated and frozen foods while delivering the shelf-stable convenience of canned/hot-air-dehydrated foods. The mass transfer rate is the essential factor that can slow down the FD process, resulting in an excessive primary drying time and high energy consumption. The objective of this study was to reduce the FD processing time using CO2 laser technology to improve product competitiveness in the preservation of whole strawberries. The research process consisted of the selection and characterization of fresh strawberries, followed by preparation, pre-treatment, freeze-drying, a primary drying time assessment, and a quality comparison. Experiments were carried out using strawberries without micro-perforation and with five and eight micro-perforations. Quality parameters were determined for fresh, frozen/thawed, and freeze-dried/rehydrated strawberries. It was found that the primary drying time can be significantly reduced by 20% (95% CI) from 26.7 h for non-perforated fruits to 22.3 h when five micro-perforations are made on each strawberry. The quality parameters used to evaluate the strawberries did not show significant differences when comparing frozen/thawed fruits with freeze-dried/rehydrated fruits. The experiments conducted in this study showed that freeze-drying may efficiently compete with freezing technology when processing whole strawberries.

In vitro assessment and comparison of quality of alcohol-based hand rubs, pre- and peri-COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Kenya.

In the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the World Health Organization recommended the use of alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) to curb transmission, leading to increased production and use. This has posed a danger of production and use of poor-quality ABHRs. This study assessed and compared the quality of ABHRs in the Kenyan market that were produced before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Quality testing was carried out against European EN 1500:2013 and Kenyan EAS 789:2013 Standards and 20 samples analyzed for alcohol content by GC-FID. The study found that 27.8% of the peri-COVID-19 pandemic sanitizers had less than 90% bactericidal reduction activity as compared to 12.5% manufactured pre-COVID-19 pandemic. Only 25% peri-COVID-19 pandemic ABHRs met the EAS 789:2013 acceptable limit of over 60% alcohol content. Product adulteration with methanol was found in 20 % of the samples with only 5% complying with FDA approval limit of <0.063% v/v methanol. Study found no correlation between the total alcohol content and the efficacy of ABHRs. The study found that more substandard products were produced during the pandemic. This raises a concern about possible emergence of alcohol resistant strains of microorganisms. The study therefore recommends an adequate quality monitoring system to curb against substandard products.

Evaluating rural health outcomes: A methodological approach using population-level data.

The sustainability of rural surgical and obstetrical facilities depends on their efficacy and quality of care, which are difficult to measure in a rural context. In an evaluation of rural practice, it is often the case that the only comparators are larger referral facilities, for which facility-level comparisons are difficult due to differences in population demographics, acuity of patients, and services offered. This publication outlines these limitations and highlights a best-practice approach to making facility-level comparisons using population-level data, risk stratification, tests of noninferiority, and Firth logistic regression analysis. This includes an investigation of minimum sample-size requirements through Monte Carlo power analysis in the context of low-acuity rural surgical care. Monte Carlo power analysis was used to estimate the minimum sample size required to achieve a power of 0.8 for both logistic regression and Firth logistic regression models that compare the proportion of surgical adverse events against facility type, among other confounders. We provide guidelines for the implementation of a recommended methodology that uses risk stratification, Firth penalized logistic regression, and tests of noninferiority. We illustrate limitations in facility-level comparison of surgical quality among patients undergoing one of four index procedures including hernia repair, colonoscopy, appendectomy, and cesarean delivery. We identified minimum sample sizes for comparison of each index procedure that fluctuate depending on the level of risk stratification used. The availability of administrative data can provide an adequate sample size to allow for facility-level comparisons in surgical quality, at the rural level and elsewhere. When they are made appropriately, these comparisons can be used to evaluate the efficacy of general practitioners and nurse practitioners in performing low-acuity procedures.

Accelerated Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Liver at 1.5 T With Deep Learning-Based Image Reconstruction: Impact on Image Quality and Lesion Detection.

To perform image quality comparison between deep learning-based multiband diffusion-weighted sequence (DL-mb-DWI), accelerated multiband diffusion-weighted sequence (accelerated mb-DWI), and conventional multiband diffusion-weighted sequence (conventional mb-DWI) in patients undergoing clinical liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Fifty consecutive patients who underwent clinical MRI of the liver at a 1.5-T scanner, between September 1, 2021, and January 31, 2022, were included in this study. Three radiologists independently reviewed images using a 5-point Likert scale for artifacts and image quality factors, in addition to assessing the presence of liver lesions and lesion conspicuity. DL-mb-DWI acquisition time was 65.0 ± 2.4 seconds, significantly (P < 0.001) shorter than conventional mb-DWI (147.5 ± 19.2 seconds) and accelerated mb-DWI (94.3 ± 1.8 seconds). DL-mb-DWI received significantly higher scores than conventional mb-DWI for conspicuity of the left lobe (P < 0.001), sharpness of intrahepatic vessel margin (P < 0.001), sharpness of the pancreatic contour (P < 0.001), in-plane motion artifact (P = 0.002), and overall image quality (P = 0.005) by reader 2. DL-mb-DWI received significantly higher scores for conspicuity of the left lobe (P = 0.006), sharpness of the pancreatic contour (P = 0.020), and in-plane motion artifact (P = 0.042) by reader 3. DL-mb-DWI received significantly higher scores for strength of fat suppression (P = 0.004) and sharpness of the pancreatic contour (P = 0.038) by reader 1. The remaining quality parameters did not reach statistical significance for reader 1. Novel diffusion-weighted MRI sequence with deep learning-based image reconstruction demonstrated significantly decreased acquisition times compared with conventional and accelerated mb-DWI sequences, while maintaining or improving image quality for routine abdominal MRI. DL-mb-DWI offers a potential alternative to conventional mb-DWI in routine clinical liver MRI.

A new long-read mitochondrial-genome protocol (PacBio HiFi) for haemosporidian parasites: a tool for population and biodiversity studies

BackgroundStudies on haemosporidian diversity, including origin of human malaria parasites, malaria's zoonotic dynamic, and regional biodiversity patterns, have used target gene approaches. However, current methods have a trade-off between scalability and data quality. Here, a long-read Next-Generation Sequencing protocol using PacBio HiFi is presented. The data processing is supported by a pipeline that uses machine-learning for analysing the reads.MethodsA set of primers was designed to target approximately 6 kb, almost the entire length of the haemosporidian mitochondrial genome. Amplicons from different samples were multiplexed in an SMRTbell® library preparation. A pipeline (HmtG-PacBio Pipeline) to process the reads is also provided; it integrates multiple sequence alignments, a machine-learning algorithm that uses modified variational autoencoders, and a clustering method to identify the mitochondrial haplotypes/species in a sample. Although 192 specimens could be studied simultaneously, a pilot experiment with 15 specimens is presented, including in silico experiments where multiple data combinations were tested.ResultsThe primers amplified various haemosporidian parasite genomes and yielded high-quality mt genome sequences. This new protocol allowed the detection and characterization of mixed infections and co-infections in the samples. The machine-learning approach converged into reproducible haplotypes with a low error rate, averaging 0.2% per read (minimum of 0.03% and maximum of 0.46%). The minimum recommended coverage per haplotype is 30X based on the detected error rates. The pipeline facilitates inspecting the data, including a local blast against a file of provided mitochondrial sequences that the researcher can customize.ConclusionsThis is not a diagnostic approach but a high-throughput method to study haemosporidian sequence assemblages and perform genotyping by targeting the mitochondrial genome. Accordingly, the methodology allowed for examining specimens with multiple infections and co-infections of different haemosporidian parasites. The pipeline enables data quality assessment and comparison of the haplotypes obtained to those from previous studies. Although a single locus approach, whole mitochondrial data provide high-quality information to characterize species pools of haemosporidian parasites.

EFFECTIVENESS OF EXERCISE VIA TELEHEALTH FOR CHRONIC DISEASE: UPDATED SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF EXERCISE INTERVENTIONS DELIVERED VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING

INTRODUCTION &amp; AIMS Videoconferencing exercise interventions (VC) involve the synchronous and remote delivery of exercise via a video-linked appointment. A 2022 review investigated the effectiveness and feasibility of VC for people with chronic disease. Considering the emergence of recent trials, this review aimed to investigate these findings with high-quality contemporary evidence. METHODS Databases were searched from 1st August 2021 (last date searched in previous review) to April 30th 2023 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) VC in chronic disease. Meta-analyses were conducted for between-group comparisons of exercise capacity and quality of life for RCTs to determine effectiveness. Standardised Mean Difference (SMD) for pre-post quality of life data was used to combine assessment methods. Feasibility was assessed via session attendance rates, adherence to exercise prescription, safety, technical issues and participant satisfaction. Risk of bias was analysed using the Downs &amp; Black (D&amp;B) quality checklist and the certainty of evidence with GRADE. RESULTS Sixteen trials were included in the updated review. RCT-only meta-analyses identified effects favouring VC for exercise capacity (6MWT; Mean Difference (MD)=31.0m (95% CI: 8.3 to 53.6m), p=0.007) and quality of life (SMD=0.365 (95% CI: 0.096 to 0.633), p=0.008) in studies with non-exercising comparators. An effect favouring VC was observed for quality of life in exercising comparator studies (SMD=0.335 (95% CI: 0.078 to 0.592), p=0.011) but not for exercise capacity (MD=4.6m (95% CI: -7.4 to 16.7m), p=0.451). The RCT-only analysis identified good risk of bias (D&amp;B: 20.7±2.7/28), with GRADE certainty ratings of ‘Moderate’ for quality of life and exercise capacity outcomes. Of the new RCTs, session attendance was 74%, no serious adverse events related to VC were identified, 33% of sessions experienced technical issues and positive satisfaction outcomes were identified. CONCLUSION In patients with chronic disease, videoconferencing exercise interventions are feasible and effective for improving exercise capacity and quality of life.

Quality Assessment and Comparison of 3D-Printed and Milled Zirconia Anterior Crowns and Veneers: In Vitro Pilot Study

AbstractThe esthetic rehabilitation of a patient is a demanding yet rewarding procedure, improving the form, function, and well-being of a patient. Three-dimensional (3D) printed, or additive manufactured, zirconia has recently entered the dental space, but without a thorough assessment or comparison. This pilot study utilized digital impressions of two demonstration casts: Cast 1 prepared both central incisors for full ceramic crown coverage, while cast 2 had a lateral incisor (#22) prepared for a ceramic veneer. Both casts underwent digital scanning (Straumann CARES 3, Straumann, Basel, Switzerland) to create virtual STL models. Cast 1 had two full zirconia anterior crowns digitally designed, and Cast 2 had a zirconia veneer digitally designed, using Exocad GmbH software by a certified dental technician at Schulich Dentistry. The STL files were used for fabricating six milled zirconia crowns for central incisor (#21) and six 3D-printed zirconia crowns for the other central incisor (#11). Similarly, for Cast 2, milled and 3D-printed zirconia veneers were made for the prepared lateral incisor (#22). Statistical analysis employed Minitab 16.1.0 software to construct a 2 × 2 table for cross-tabulation and chi-squared analysis. This statistical approach assessed the relationship between restoration design and processing method. Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel test evaluated categorical variables considering different classification variables. Milled restorations showed minor variations, while 3D-printed units displayed consistency. Statistical tests found no significant associations. This in vitro study suggests 3D-printed zirconia for crowns and veneers meets precementation standards akin to conventionally milled restorations. Further research can assess its potential benefits for dentistry's efficiency, cost, and sustainability.

Multifactor and multidimensional data quality analysis of judge scoring in diving competition.

In sports competitions, judge scoring data serve as an objective measure of an athlete's performance level. However, research has indicated the unreliability of objective measurements. Controversy often arises regarding the quality of judge scoring data, undermining fairness and justice in sports competitions. This paper proposes a method utilizing the Kendall covariance coefficient and the Kendall correlation coefficient for the thorough evaluation of judging data quality in diving events. The analysis is structured around four key elements: overall competition, individual divers, specific rounds, and distinct diving techniques. Each element is analyzed across three dimensions: the collective data quality from the judging panel, interjudge data quality comparisons, and the alignment of individual judges' scores with the final tallied scores. Two case studies serve to illustrate the application of this method. The Kendall covariance coefficient is employed to assess the data quality from the judges as a unified entity, whereas the Kendall correlation coefficient is utilized to evaluate the data quality from individual judges. Results show that the data quality of the judge group's scoring is high, while the data quality of the judge group's scoring for the 6th diver, the 5th round, Dive No. 5152B, Judge 5 and 6 in the Competition 1, and the 1st diver, the 3rd round, Dive No. 6245D, Judge 4 in the Competition 2 is inconsistent with the others. This approach uncovers disparities in data quality attributed to the judges' panel across each diver, each round, and the various diving maneuvers. However, the Kendall correlation coefficient may not be suitable for evaluating data quality when both the data differences and the sample size are small.

Comparison of Seedling Quality of Cucumber Seedlings and Growth and Production after Transplanting according to Differences in Seedling Production Systems

Comparison of Seedling Quality of Cucumber Seedlings and Growth and Production after Transplanting according to Differences in Seedling Production Systems

The impact of LHC jet and ZpT\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$p_T$$\\end{document} data at up to approximate N3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${}^3$$\\end{document}LO order in the MSHT global PDF fit

We present an analysis of two key sets of data constraining the high x gluon at up to approximate N3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${}^3$$\\end{document}LO in QCD within the MSHT global PDF fitting framework. We begin with LHC 7 and 8 TeV inclusive jet and dijet production at both NNLO and aN3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${}^3$$\\end{document}LO. This makes use of the formalism established in the previous global MSHT20aN3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${}^3$$\\end{document}LO PDF fit, but now considers the role of dijet production for the first time at this order. We present a detailed comparison of the fit quality and PDF impact for both cases, and consider the role that electroweak corrections, and the scale choice for inclusive jet production has. Some mild tension between these data sets in the impact on the high x gluon is seen at NNLO, but this is largely eliminated at aN3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${}^3$$\\end{document}LO. While a good fit quality to the dijet data is achieved at both orders, the fit quality to the inclusive jet data is relatively poor. We examine the impact of including full colour corrections in a global PDF fit for the first time, finding this to be relatively mild. We also revisit the fit to the ATLAS 8 TeV ZpT\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$p_T$$\\end{document} data, considering the role that the pT\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$p_T$$\\end{document} cuts, data selection and different aspects of the aN3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${}^3$$\\end{document}LO treatment have on the fit quality and PDF impact. We observe that in all cases the aN3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${}^3$$\\end{document}LO fit quality is consistently improved relative to the NNLO, indicating a clear preference for higher order theory for these data.

Comparison of Fracture Resistance and Quality of Lateral Condensation Obturation in Traditional and Conservative Access Cavity Preparation: An In Vitro Study

Comparison of Fracture Resistance and Quality of Lateral Condensation Obturation in Traditional and Conservative Access Cavity Preparation: An In Vitro Study

In vitro assessment and comparison of quality of alcohol-based hand rubs, pre- and peri-COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Kenya

Background In the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the World Health Organization recommended the use of alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) to curb transmission, leading to increased production and use. This has posed a danger of production and use of poor-quality ABHRs. Methods This study assessed and compared the quality of ABHRs in the Kenyan market that were produced before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Quality testing was carried out against European EN 1500:2013 and Kenyan EAS 789:2013 Standards. Results The study found that 27.8% of the peri-pandemic sanitizers had less than 90% bactericidal reduction activity as compared to 12.5% manufactured pre-pandemic. Only 25% peri-pandemic ABHRs met the EAS 789:2013 acceptable limit of over 60% alcohol content. Product adulteration with methanol was found in 20 % of the samples with only 5% complying with FDA approval limit of &lt;0.063% v/v methanol. Study found no correlation between the total alcohol content and the efficacy of ABHRs. Conclusions The study found that more substandard products were produced during the pandemic. This raises a concern about possible emergence of alcohol resistant strains of microorganisms. The study therefore recommends an adequate quality monitoring system to curb against substandard products.

Preliminary Study about Desalinated Water and Alkalinity

One of the promising techniques to meet the needs of growing population for drinking water is the desalination of seawater and brackish water. Desalination is carried out mainly by multi-stage flash (MSF) or reverse osmosis (RO). The water obtained by desalination (RO, MSF and others processes) can be used as drinking water, after the reconstruction of its salts content (blending). However, reverse osmosis can produce, under certain pressure, flow and feed water quality, water similar in their physic-chemical properties as conductivity, Total Dissolved Salts (TDS) to bottled natural water, widely marketed. In any case, it would be interesting to be able to distinguish reverse osmosis water from sprig water. In this context, the determination of the alkalinity (TA) and the pH and subsequently the verification of the correlation between these two parameters are proposed in this work. Also, a comparison of the physic-chemical quality of drinking water supplied by MSF and RO is made. The parameters, pH, conductivity, TA, TDS and hardness (TH) were discussed. These two types of water are practically identical by physic-chemical quality since the blending is done in the same way by injecting CO2/Calcium carbonate. However, reverse osmosis water contains more sodium chloride because of the low retention rate of membranes against this ion.

Comparison of Physicochemical Characteristics and Microbial Quality between Commercially Available Organic and Conventional Japanese Soy Sauces

The article aims to compare the properties and quality of two types of organic Japanese soy sauce from the market, declared by manufacturers as koikuchi, and tamari, both conventional and organic, along with an attempt to determine the differentiating factors using modern statistical methods. The amino acid profile showed the highest proportions were glutamic acid and aspartic acid. Tamari sauces could be distinguished from koikuchi by an elevated content of glutamic acid and alanine, while conventional and organic products differed the most in the shares of arginine, aspartic acid, and serine. The total polyphenol content was higher in conventional soy sauces and better antioxidant properties were found in koikuchi. Organic tamari sauces were characterized by higher antioxidant capacities and total flavonoid content. The volatile profile showed a significant difference between organic and conventional sauces. The research did not confirm that the quality of sauces declared as organic was significantly enhanced, and the overall quality of all tested sauces was high, both in terms of microbiological safety and physicochemical parameters.

Evaluating the Quality of Life of Beneficiaries After Providing Financial Aid by a Multi-specialty Tertiary Care Hospital.

Background Financial aid programs offered by multi-specialty tertiary care hospitals play a crucial role in ensuring equitable access to healthcare. This study investigates the effect of financial aid on the quality of life (QoL) of beneficiaries, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted relationship between healthcare support and overall well-being. Aim The study's objectives included assessing changes in pre- and post-aid QoL, identifying influencing factors, understanding beneficiary experiences, and evaluating the effectiveness of financial aid programs. Methods The study adopted quantitative assessments through QoL questionnaires developed based on the WHO BREF questionnaire and insights obtained through interviews. A representative sample of beneficiaries was selected, informed consent was obtained, and an institutional ethical certificate was also obtained. Results The findings overwhelmingly support the alternative hypothesis. The alternative hypothesis was that after receiving financial support, recipients' quality of life would increase. Quantitative analysis revealed a statistically significant enhancement in the QoL of beneficiaries across physical, mental, and social well-being domains. The quality of life scores of patients before and after receiving the support was statistically tested using a paired t-test, and the quality of life score has improved significantly with a p-value of 4.156 × 10-28 (p value<0.001). The comparison of quality of life scores of the control group with the patient's group before getting the support was tested using an independent sample t-test and found to be non-significant (p=0.496), while a similar comparison between the control group and the patient's group after receiving the support was found to be statistically highly significant with a p-value of 8.721 × 10-28 (p-value<0.001). Conclusions This research demonstrates the substantial impact of financial aid on the QoL of beneficiaries in a multi-specialty tertiary care hospital setting. It underlines the importance of addressing economic barriers and providing patient-centered, holistic support. These insights have broader implications for healthcare policy and practice, promoting a more comprehensive approach to patient well-being.

DNA Quantity and Quality Comparisons between Cryopreserved and FFPE Tumors from Matched Pan-Cancer Samples.

Personalized cancer care requires molecular characterization of neoplasms. While the research community accepts frozen tissues as the gold standard analyte for molecular assays, the source of tissue for testing in clinical cancer care comes almost universally from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPE). As newer technologies emerge for DNA characterization that requires higher molecular weight DNA, it was necessary to compare the quality of DNA in terms of DNA length between FFPE and cryopreserved samples. We hypothesized that cryopreserved samples would yield higher quantity and superior quality DNA compared to FFPE samples. We analyzed DNA metrics by performing a head-to-head comparison between FFPE and cryopreserved samples from 38 human tumors representing various cancer types. DNA quantity and purity were measured by UV spectrophotometry, and DNA from cryopreserved tissue demonstrated a 4.2-fold increase in DNA yield per mg of tissue (p-value < 0.001). DNA quality was measured on a fragment microelectrophoresis analyzer, and again, DNA from cryopreserved tissue demonstrated a 223% increase in the DNA quality number and a 9-fold increase in DNA fragments > 40,000 bp (p-value < 0.0001). DNA from the cryopreserved tissues was superior to the DNA from FFPE samples in terms of DNA yield and quality.

Comparison of quality, dietary fiber and glycemic index of whole wheat breads using various modern and old wheats and investigate the effect of xylanase

Six bread wheat varieties (modern wheats) widely grown in Turkey and nine different bread wheat varieties registered prior to 1970 (old wheats) were used in the present study. This study aimed to determine and compare the quality characteristics, dietary fiber contents and in vitro glycemic index of whole wheat breads produced using modern and old bread wheat varieties. The effect of xylanase on the quality, staling and dietary fiber content of whole wheat breads was also investigated. Mean sedimentation and modified sedimentation values, Farinograph development time, stability, quality number of whole wheat flours produced by modern wheats were higher than those of the old varieties. Whole wheat breads of modern varieties had higher mean volume and lower firmness values as compared to old varieties. Whole wheat breads of old wheat varieties had higher mean soluble dietary fiber content as compared to that of modern wheat varieties. Xylanase addition generally had an increasing effect on bread volume and soluble dietary fiber contents and a softening effect on firmness values. There were no significant differences between the mean (in vitro) glycemic index values of whole wheat breads produced from modern and old varieties. The results in the present study indicated that modern bread wheat varieties had better whole wheat bread making quality as compared with old bread wheat varieties. In addition, xylanase usage in whole wheat bread formula had an improving effect on whole wheat bread quality.

Comparisons of stripe rust response, grain yield and quality between fungicide sprayed and non-sprayed treatments for newly developed wheat lines carrying different genes for adult-plant resistance to stripe rust

Wheat genes Yr39, Yr48, Yr52, Yr59, and Yr62 conferring different levels of adult-plant resistance (APR) to stripe rust have been introgressed into Chinese wheat cultivars. To determine the effects of five newly developed wheat lines carrying these APR genes on reduction of stripe rust severity, grain yield, and quality, field experiments including non-sprayed and fungicide sprayed plots were conducted in the 2021 and 2022 growth seasons. Compared to the 100% relative area under the disease progress curve (rAUDPC) of a susceptible check cultivar, the resistant lines had relatively low rAUDPC values, ranging from 0.38% in SWUST-445 (Yr62) to 42.04% in SWUST-006 (Yr39 + Yr26) on average of the two years in the non-sprayed plots. The two-time fungicide applications almost completely controlled stripe rust on the susceptible check and the resistant lines in both years. Stripe rust significantly reduced yield by 29.96% in 2021 and by 84.40% in 2022, whereas the yield differences of the resistant lines were not significant in both years, except SWUST-006 and SWUST-445 in 2022. Stripe rust significantly reduced the thousand kernel weight (TKW) of the susceptible check by 30.36% on the average of both years but did not cause significant TKW reduction in the resistant lines. Except few cases, the various measurements for grain quality did not show significant differences for the susceptible check and resistant lines. The results showed that the resistant lines are useful for further development of wheat cultivars with adequate and durable resistance to stripe rust.

The feasibility of integrating a home telehealth model for older persons living with hemodialysis

BackgroundIn Thailand, there is a rapidly increasing population of older persons living with hemodialysis (OPLWH) for whom quality of life and clinical outcomes are their main focus. This study aims to assess the feasibility of an integrated home telehealth model on quality of life and laboratory parameters of OPLWH.MethodsIn this study, the second phase of a mixed methods exploratory sequential design was conducted using a repeated measures experimental design. Participants met the inclusion criteria, which included being an OPLWH at a single hemodialysis center of one hospital in Chiang Mai province, Thailand, during the experimental period between 1 April and 30 September 2018, and willing to participate in the study. The 54 participants were purposively selected and randomly assigned to receive either an intervention (n = 24) consisting of health education and health monitoring using a telehealth device (an iPad) and a web application, or usual care (n = 30). The instruments included a demographic data form, which was analyzed using the chi-square test. The health-related quality of life questionnaire (the 9-item Thai Health Status Assessment questionnaire) and blood chemistry (BUN, Cr, Hb, Hct, Alb, K, Kt/V, and nPCR) were compared and measured at baseline, and at 3 and 6 months after enrolment using independent t-test and one-way repeated measures ANOVA.ResultsThe comparison of quality of life between the two groups at the two points of repeated measurement (after 3 months) showed a statistically significant difference in mental health scores at P < 0.05. Six months after the intervention, mean scores for health outcomes and patients’ quality of life improved; however, this change did not reach statistical significance.ConclusionsAn integrated home telehealth model implemented by a hemodialysis nurse is a feasible holistic care approach for OPLWH. However, the absence of statistical significance may partly be associated with the clinical characteristics of frailty and risk factors such as increased age, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, longer dialysis time, and inadequacy of Kt/V. Large-scale multi-centre trials are warranted to fully examine the acceptability of the model. The duration and long-term effects of the telehealth model are also recommended for further investigation.Patient or public contributionThe development of a home telehealth model was a collaborative process between patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals from the hemodialysis unit, and the research team.