Weight Measurements Research Articles

Effectiveness of solution-focused brief counseling to increase achievement motivation of bullying victims

The phenomenon of bullying has been a problem in almost every school, and many factors have been attributed to someone becoming a victim of bullying. The intimidation that occurs to victims of bullying has a negative impact on many facet of their live, one of which is a decrease in academic achievement due to lack of motivation. Achievement motivation is required by every student to accomplish academic tasks and achieve set goals, especially victims of bullying who have low achievement motivation. This study aims to test the effectiveness of the Solution-Focused Brief Counseling approach to increase the achievement motivation of students who are victims of bullying at SMP Negeri 35 Surabaya. This study uses a quantitative approach adopting pre-test post-test control group research design. The research participants comprised 6 students of class VIII of SMP Negeri 35 Surabaya who were selected using simple random sampling technique which were then divided into 2 groups, namely the experimental group and the control group. Data collection was carried out using a scale instrument for bullying victims and achievement motivation which had been tested for validity and reliability. This study consisted of 3 treatment meeting sessions and 2 test sessions, namely pre-test and post-test. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test. The results showed a significant increase in achievement motivation of bullying victims in the experimental group compared to the control group (0.046 < 0.05). So it can be concluded that individual counseling with the Solution-Focused Brief Counseling approach has proven effective in increasing the achievement motivation of bullying victims. Solution-focused brief counseling can be an option for school counselors to increase the achievement motivation of students who are victims of bullying.

Anthropometric Trajectories in Children Prior to Development of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Poor nutrition and growth in childhood have short-term and long-term consequences, so understanding the timing of the onset of an impaired nutritional status is crucial for diagnosing and treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at its earliest stage. To assess anthropometric trajectories before a pediatric diagnosis of IBD and growth recovery after diagnosis. This population-based cohort study included children born in Denmark from January 1, 1997, through December 31, 2015, with weight and length or height measurements at birth and at least 1 length or height and weight measurement at school age based on the Danish Medical Birth Register and the Danish National Child Health Register. Within this population, all individuals diagnosed with IBD at ages 5 to 17 years, according to the Danish National Patient Register, were identified. Data were analyzed from October 13, 2023, to April 17, 2024. A pediatric diagnosis of IBD compared with the corresponding population without the disease. The outcome measures were z scores for length or height, weight, and body mass index (BMI [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared]) before and after pediatric IBD diagnosis compared with reference and sibling populations. The final study population included 916 133 individuals (51.2% male) with a median of 3 pairs of length or height and weight measurements collected (IQR, 2-6 pairs). Of those, 1522 (median age, 14.3 years [IQR, 11.8-16.3 years]; 763 female [50.1%]) were diagnosed with IBD (851 [55.9%] with Crohn disease [CD] and 671 [44.1%] with ulcerative colitis [UC]). Compared with children without IBD, individuals with a later diagnosis of CD had declining anthropometric measures 3 years (weight: mean, -0.12 g [95% CI, -0.20 to -0.03 g]; BMI: mean, -0.13 [95% CI, -0.21 to -0.04]) and 1 year (length or height: mean, -0.20 cm [95% CI, -0.29 to -0.10 cm]) prior to diagnosis, whereas this was observed 1 year prior to a diagnosis of UC for weight (mean, -0.12 g [95% CI, -0.22 to -0.02 g]) and BMI (mean, -0.13 [95% CI, -0.23 to -0.03]). Deviating anthropometric patterns persisted after diagnosis, with the slowest recovery observed in children with CD. The findings of this large-scale population-based cohort study of anthropometrics in children suggest impaired nutritional status as assessed by weight up to 3 years and by length or height 1 year before a diagnosis of CD and by weight up to 1 year before a diagnosis of UC. These findings emphasize that the onset of pediatric IBD may occur years prior to diagnosis, that growth recovery may first occur after diagnosis and treatment, and that frequent nutritional screenings may help ensure a healthy transition to adulthood.

Conjunctival Bulbar Redness Extraction Pipeline for High-Resolution Ocular Surface Photography.

To extract conjunctival bulbar redness from standardized high-resolution ocular surface photographs of a novel imaging system by implementing an image analysis pipeline. Data from two trials (healthy; outgoing ophthalmic clinic) were collected, processed, and used to train a machine learning model for ocular surface segmentation. Various regions of interest were defined to globally and locally extract a redness biomarker based on color intensity. The image-based redness scores were correlated to clinical gradings (Efron) for validation. The model to determine the regions of interest was verified for a segmentation performance, yielding mean intersections over union of 0.9639 (iris) and 0.9731 (ocular surface). All trial data were analyzed and a digital grading scale for the novel imaging system was established. Photographs and redness scores from visits weeks apart showed good feasibility and reproducibility. For scores within the same session, a mean coefficient of variation of 4.09% was observed. A moderate positive Spearman correlation (0.599) was found with clinical grading. The proposed conjunctival bulbar redness extraction pipeline demonstrates that by using standardized imaging, a segmentation model and image-based redness scores' external eye photography can be classified and evaluated. Therefore, it shows the potential to provide eye care professionals with an objective tool to grade ocular redness and facilitate clinical decision-making in a high-throughput manner. To empower clinicians and researchers with a high-throughput workflow by standardized imaging combined with an analysis tool based on artificial intelligence to objectively determine an image-based redness score.

Development of a perceived eHealth literacy scale for individuals with serious mental illness: A cross-sectional study.

The development of an electronic health literacy scale for the population with serious mental illness (SMI) is needed due to individuals' characteristics. Develop a graphic-based perceived electronic health literacy scale for SMI (GP-eHLS-SMI). A cross-section study. This study was conducted from May 2023 to February 2024. The GP-eHLS-SMI was constructed based on qualitative interviews. Experts reviewed the items, and a pilot questionnaire was developed. A total of 436 community-dwelling participants with SMI from 20 medical facilities were recruited for psychometric analysis. Ten questionnaires were invalid, and 426 questionnaires were used for analysis. We used the first 220 questionnaires to perform the item and exploratory factor analyses. The last 206 questionnaires were used for confirmatory factor analysis. All valid questionnaires were used to examine test-retest reliability and criterion validity. Research tools included a demographic data questionnaire, the GP-eHLS-SMI, and the Chinese eHealth Literacy Scale (C-eHEALS). The C-eHEALS was used as the gold standard to explore the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) and cut-off point of the GP-eHLS-SMI. The Cronbach's alpha for the 16-item GP-eHLS-SMI was 0.882. The GP-eHLS-SMI score was significantly correlated with the C-eHEALS score (r=0.733, p<.001). The AUC was 0.863 (95% CI: 0.828, 0.897), and the cut-off point was 41. The test-retest reliability was r=0.929 (p<.001), and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.961. The GP-eHLS-SMI is a valuable tool.

When to pair: Effects of different pairing ages on dairy calf health, behavior and performance.

Pair housing presents an alternative to individual or larger group housing systems, though the effects of different pairing ages on calf welfare are not well understood. In this study, we examined the impact of pairing age on the performance, health, and behavior of dairy calves. A total of 140 Holstein female calves (n = 70 pairs) were used, paired at 3 ages: Early (6-7 d; 48 calves), Intermediate (29-30 d; 48 calves), and Late pairing (49-50 d; 44 calves). Calves were housed individually before pairing and weaned at 78 ± 2 d of age. Weight measurements were recorded at birth, 30, 50, 60 d, and at weaning. Calves' behavior was assessed 5 times per week through scan sampling after milk feedings from d 6-7 until weaning, and a food neophobia test was conducted at 50-51 d. Health assessments were performed 3 times per week by a veterinarian using Wisconsin clinical scores to diagnose diarrhea and BRD, with pulmonary ultrasonography at 55 d. The results suggest no association between pairing age and the prevalence of diarrhea or bovine respiratory disease (BRD), although our statistical power was limited. The number of calves with lung consolidation scores above 2 was also unaffected by pairing age. Early paired calves exhibited more exploration and play behaviors, and less idleness, stereotypies, and non-nutritive oral behaviors than Late paired calves. No differences were observed in cross-suckling likelihood across pairing ages. Early paired calves also showed a shorter latency to touch a novel feed in the food neophobia test, higher calf starter intake during the first 15 d, and greater ADG up to 50 d. Although overall ADG did not differ among pairing ages, Early paired calves were more homogeneous in weaning weight compared with Late paired calves. In conclusion, early pairing supports calves' initial development, promoting early feeding behavior and growth, enhancing behaviors associated with positive affective states, and without adverse effects on health or undesirable behaviors.

Syringa oblata Lindl extract alleviated corticosterone-induced depression via the cAMP/PKA-CREB-BDNF pathway.

Syringa oblata Lindl (ZDX) is a plant in the Oleaceae family that is the primary ingredient in the classic Tibetan medicine AKARU sinensis. The plant's stem is used as a medicine, and Tibetan doctors often use it as a sedative, a use with a history of nearly 100 years. Tibetan medicine mainly uses lilac to treat headache, forgetfulness, insomnia, irritability and other symptoms. Depression is a chronic mental disorder characterized by low mood, cognitive impairments, and physical discomfort, and it has become a significant public health issue. Given the limitations of existing treatments, interest in alternative therapies, including herbal medicines, is increasing. To elucidate the mechanism of ZDX extract in the treatment of depression. A depression-like mouse model was established via the subcutaneous injection of corticosterone (CORT) into the groin, and a model of PC12cell injury was established via CORT treatment. The antidepressant effect of the ZDX extract was subsequently evaluated via weight measurements, the sucrose preference test (SPT), the forced swimming test (FST), the open field test(OFT), the tail suspension test (TST), HE staining, Nissl staining and ELISA. Moreover, immunofluorescence staining, qRT‒PCR and Western blotting were used to determine whether ZDX extract can regulate the cAMP/PKA-CREB-BDNF pathway to prevent depression and neuronal apoptosis. ZDX extract significantly improved depression-like behaviours; inhibited decreases in the protein levels of cAMP, PKA, CREB and BDNF; and increased proliferative activity in the hippocampus and cortex. In addition, in vitro, ZDX extract attenuated CORT-induced injury and apoptosis in hippocampal neurons and inhibited CORT-induced decreases in the mRNA expression levels of cAMP, PKA, CREB and BDNF. These findings suggest that ZDX extract has potential as a novel antidepressant therapeutic agent, offering a complementary approach to current treatments by targeting multiple pathways involved in the pathogenesis of depression. Further research is warranted to explore the clinical applications of ZDX extract in the treatment of depression.

Analysis of heart rate as a predictor of changes in heart rate variability in children.

To evaluate the predictive validity and cut-off point of heart rate and blood pressure on heart rate variability (HRV) changes in children with and without obesity. This study included 125 children, of whom 41 were normal weight and 84 were obese. Anthropometry, blood pressure, heart rate, and HRV were measured using an electronic scale and stadiometer, a sphygmomanometer, and HRV monitor. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was obtained by statistical analysis of the data. Heart rate proved to be a good predictor for changes in the square root of the mean of the square of the differences between consecutive NN intervals (RMSSD) parameter in students of both sexes for the normal-weight group (ROC 0.89; 95%CI 0.77-1.00) and obesity (ROC 0.90; 95%CI 0.83-0.97). In addition, the heart rate cut-off point for alterations in the RMSSD parameter for normal-weight boys was 93 bpm (sensitivity 100.00% and specificity 87.50%) and for boys with obesity, the established cut-off point was 91 bpm (sensitivity 94.74% and specificity 63.64%). Heart rate also proved to be a good predictor considering low-frequency/high-frequency ratio (LF/HF) and standard deviation of long-term continuous NN intervals /standard deviation of the instantaneous variability of continuous NN intervals in the Poincaré graph ratio (SD2/SD1). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were good predictors in more specific stratifications and, therefore, can be used in some cases. The predictive validity of heart rate was shown to be at a good level, with high sensitivity and acceptable specificity for the cut-off points according to the different analyses stratified by gender and nutritional status. In this sense, health professionals will be able to use heart rate to estimate cardiovascular risk in children of different sexes and nutritional status.

End-To-End FRET Enabling Direct Measurement of Oligomer Chain Conformations and Molecular Weight in Reaction Solutions.

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is an established tool for measuring distances between two molecules (donor and acceptor) on the nanometer scale. In the field of polymer science, the use of FRET to measure polymer end-to-end distances (Ree) often requires complex synthetic steps to label the chain ends with the FRET pair. This work reports an anthracene-functionalized chain-transfer agent for reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization, enabling the synthesized chains to be directly end-labeled with a donor and acceptor without the need for any post-polymerization functionalization. Noteworthily, this FRET method allows for chain conformation measurements of low molecular weight oligomers in situ, without any work-up steps. Using FRET to directly measure the average Ree of the oligomer chains during polymerization, the chain growth of methyl methacrylate, styrene, and methyl acrylate is investigated as a function of reaction time, including determining their degree of polymerization (DP). It is found that DP results from FRET are consistent with other established measurement methods, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Altogether, this work presents a broadly applicable and straightforward method to in situ characterize Ree of low molecular weight oligomers and their DP during reaction.

Genetic relationships between male and female reproductive traits in Retinta beef cattle

Scrotal circumference (SC) is an indirect measure used to predict the reproductive fitness of beef cattle raised in an extensive regime with limited seasonal breeding. It stands out for having a moderate to high heritability and favorable correlations, with seminal and reproductive quality traits in both the bull and its daughters. In the present study, we analyzed 2,634 SC records of young bulls evaluated in testing stations for future bulls of the Retinta cattle Breed. The data was collected from 828 young bulls which produced 3,616 daughters. Monthly measurements of live weight, average daily gain, feed consumption, and SC were also performed in the bulls during testing. In addition, reproductive controls were performed in the daughters to estimate age at first calving (AFC) and reproductive efficiency (RE). We also estimated genetic parameters for the traits using a classical REML repeatability animal model. Average SC was 34.04 ± 2.43 cm. at 12 months, showing a heritability of 0.282 ± 0.052. Phenotypic (-0.05, 0.11, 0.42) and genetic (0.12, 0.15, -0.09) correlations were obtained between AFC and Reproductive Efficiency (RE) at 3, 6, and last calving and SC. These results suggest a strong environmental influence on the reproductive variables of daughters, probably motivated by the breeding model and the farmer's decision on the date of reproduction of the heifers. However, it can be seen that the AFC, RE3 and RE6 are more favorable for individuals with SC >37 cm, and more unfavorable for SC ≤32 in relation to SC >32 and ≤37. Finally, 85 of the bulls underwent sperm analysis using computer-assisted sperm analysis (C.A.S.A.) technology, using frozen semen samples belonging to the Retinta Breeding Program. Residual phenotypes for SC showed positive correlations with progressivity (0.11 in STR and LIN) and longevity (0.2 in L40 and 0.1 in L50). The highest r2 was obtained using a canonical correlation, suggesting that a higher SC may improve sperm quality in bulls. It can therefore be confirmed that the use of this selection criterion (SC) in the breeding program of this breed will determine a response to positive selection, both for the fertility of the bull and its daughters.

NLRP3 Inhibitor Alleviates Glycemic Variability-Induced Cognitive Impairment in Aged Rats with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Glycemic variability (GV) markedly exacerbates cognitive impairment in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), in part through chronic inflammation. This study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of the NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor MCC950 in mitigating GV-induced cognitive impairment in an aged rat model of T2DM. Aged Sprague-Dawley rats with induced T2DM were subjected to GV conditions, and the effects of MCC950 were evaluated through measurement of body weight, blood glucose, lipid profiles, insulin level, inflammatory markers, and cognitive function. Transcriptomic analysis was performed on the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Treatment with MCC950 significantly alleviated weight loss and hyperglycemia in the GV group compared with the control group. MCC950 also reduced the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and pro-inflammatory markers (interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18)). Most notably, MCC950 improved spatial learning and memory retention in the GV group. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated a reduction in inflammasome activation and an increase in the expression level of the neuronal marker NeuN in the hippocampus. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that MCC950 altered neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathways in the hippocampus and influenced receptor binding and cell adhesion processes in the prefrontal cortex. These findings validated the efficacy of NLRP3 inhibitor in mitigating GV-induced cognitive impairment in elderly rats with T2DM and provided the basis for subsequent clinical studies exploring the broader potential of NLRP3-targeted interventions in addressing diabetes-associated cognitive impairment.

Novel application of an imageless robotic system in simultaneous unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

This technical note explores the novel use of an imageless robotic surgical system for simultaneous unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Knee osteoarthritis (OA) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) insufficiency are common conditions that traditionally require separate management. The integration of robotic assistance offers enhanced precision in surgical procedures, addressing both medial compartment OA and ACL insufficiency in a single operation. We present a case involving a 47-year-old patient with medial compartment osteoarthritis and complete ACL rupture. The patient underwent a simultaneous robotic-assisted UKA and ACLR using the CORI Surgical System (Smith&Nephew, London, UK). This approach enables accurate tibial tunnel placement and precise soft tissue balancing. The robotic system facilitates real-time gap assessment and balancing, reducing the risk of over- or under-constraint during ACL graft tensioning. The procedure was performed with a standard medial parapatellar approach. Key steps included hamstring autograft harvesting, femoral and tibial tunnel creation, and robotic-assisted implant positioning. Post-operative rehabilitation allowed full weight-bearing by the third week. This case represents the first reported instance of using an imageless robotic system for simultaneous UKA and ACLR, highlighting its potential to standardize and improve results in complex knee surgeries. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Family Function and Self-Management of Patients With Early Chronic Kidney Disease: The Mediating Roles of Self-Perceived Burden and Ego Depletion.

Effective self-management in the early stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is key to delaying disease progression. However, no studies have confirmed that the combined support of internal individual factors and external family environmental factors may play an important role in the self-management of patients with early CKD. This current study aims to explore the effect of family function on the self-management of patients with early CKD and examine the mediating roles of self-perceived burden and ego depletion. Three hundred and sixty patients with stage 1-3 CKD participated in the cross-sectional survey and completed structured questionnaires, including the family APGAR index, self-perceived burden scale, self-regulatory fatigue scale and chronic kidney disease self-management instrument. Mplus 8.3 was used to establish a structural equation model. Family function had a positive predictive effect on self-management (β = 0.231, P < 0.001). Self-perceived burden and ego depletion were not only single mediating variables between family function and self-management but also played a chain-mediating role. The total indirect effect was 0.304 (95% CI: 0.234 to 0.388, P < 0.001), accounting for 56.82% of the total effect (β = 0.535, 95% CI: 0.420 to 0.651, P < 0.001). This study highlights the importance of self-management for patients and their families and provides new important theoretical guidance for multiple interventions of improving family function, reducing self-perceived burden and ego depletion to improve self-management, which is of great value in delaying the progression of renal disease.

Repeatable process for extracting health data from HL7 CDA documents.

This study aims to address the gap in the literature on converting real-world Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) data into the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) Common Data Model (CDM), focusing on the initial steps preceding the mapping phase. We highlight the importance of a repeatable Extract-Transform-Load (ETL) pipeline for health data extraction from HL7 CDA documents in Estonia for research purposes. We developed a repeatable ETL pipeline to facilitate the extraction, cleaning, and restructuring of health data from CDA documents to OMOP CDM, ensuring a high-quality and structured data format. This pipeline was designed to adapt to continuously updated data exchange format changes and handle various CDA document subsets for different scientific studies. We demonstrated via selected use cases that our pipeline successfully transformed a significant portion of diagnosis codes, body weight and eGFR measurements, and PAP test results from CDA documents into OMOP CDM, showing the ease of extracting structured data. However, challenges such as harmonising diverse coding systems and extracting lab results from free-text sections were encountered. The iterative development of the pipeline facilitated swift error detection and correction, enhancing the process's efficiency. After a decade of focused work, our research has led to the development of an ETL pipeline that effectively transforms HL7 CDA documents into OMOP CDM in Estonia, addressing key data extraction and transformation challenges. The pipeline's repeatability and adaptability to various data subsets make it a valuable resource for researchers dealing with health data. While tested on Estonian data, the principles outlined are broadly applicable, potentially aiding in handling health data standards that vary by country. Despite newer health data standards emerging, the relevance of CDA for retrospective health studies ensures the continuing importance of this work.

Reactive oxygen species: Orchestrating the delicate dance of platelet life and death.

Platelets, which are vital for blood clotting and immunity, need to maintain a delicately balanced relationship between generation and destruction. Recent studies have highlighted that reactive oxygen species (ROS), which act as second messengers in crucial signaling pathways, are crucial players in this dance. This review explores the intricate connection between ROS and platelets, highlighting their dual nature. Moderate ROS levels act as potent activators, promoting megakaryocyte (MK) differentiation, platelet production, and function. They enhance platelet binding to collagen, increase coagulation, and directly trigger cascades for thrombus formation. However, this intricate role harbors a double-edged sword. Excessive ROS unleash its destructive potential, triggering apoptosis and reducing the lifespan of platelets. High levels can damage stem cells and disrupt vital redox-dependent signaling, whereas uncontrolled activation promotes inappropriate clotting, leading to thrombosis. Maintaining a precise balance of ROS within the hematopoietic microenvironment is paramount for optimal platelet homeostasis. While significant progress has been made, unanswered questions remain concerning specific ROS signaling pathways and their impact on platelet disorders. Addressing these questions holds the key to unlocking the full potential of ROS-based therapies for treating platelet-related diseases such as thrombocytopenia and thrombosis. This review aims to contribute to this ongoing dialog and inspire further exploration of this exciting field, paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies that harness the benefits of ROS while mitigating their dangers.

Optimization of polysaccharide extraction from pumpkin seeds using ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic method

This study aimed to optimize the extraction process of polysaccharides from seed pumpkins. Following initial single-factor experiments, the extraction process using ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic method was optimized through orthogonal experiments. Further optimization of extraction conditions was conducted using response surface methodology with Box-Behnken design, ultimately identifying the optimal extraction parameters. Additionally, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, monosaccharide component analysis, polysaccharide molecular weight measurement, and NMR analysis were performed. Results indicated that ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic extraction significantly enhanced the yield of polysaccharide, reaching up to 43.65%. The findings confirm that the combined use of enzymatic hydrolysis and ultrasonication is an effective strategy for polysaccharide extraction.

Re-evaluating evidence for giant genomes in amoebae.

Here we reassess available evidence for the long-held misconception of amoebae possessing exceptionally large genomes. Traditionally, estimates relied on inaccurate methods like DNA weight measurements, leading to inflated sizes. These methods failed to account for contaminating DNA from prey, endosymbionts, and intrinsic genomic features like ribosomal operon amplification. Modern sequencing techniques unveil a different picture. Fully sequenced amoebozoa genomes range from 14.4 to 52.37 mega basepairs, well within the typical single-celled eukaryote expectation. While the whole genome of the historically relevant Amoeba proteus has not yet been fully sequenced, we provide here a statistical analysis using protein-coding genes from transcriptomic data, suggesting that the genome size is consistent with this range, far smaller than previously claimed. The misconception likely originated in the early 21st century and perpetuated through popular science materials. We conclude that there is no longer reason to reaffirm that amoeba genomes are giant.

Utilization of fishery wastewater as a fertilizer and its impact on the growth performance of Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)

Aquaculture produces fishery wastewater (FWW), has polluted the environment and negatively impact the aquatic life. Utilizing FWW as a nutrient will promote sustainable agriculture and offer alternatives to conventional fertilizers. Some of the techniques used in water treatment, mainly the elimination of contaminants includes the use of screening, equalization tanks, aeration tanks, and sludge settling tanks before the treated water is released back to the environment or to be reused as a fertilizer. To evaluate the effects of the different FWW concentrations on the growth of spinach, the present study was carried out for 3.5 months using a complete randomized design with six groups of pot treatments that gave rise to 18 experimental units. Parameters such as height of plant, length of the root, number of leaves, fresh weight and the dry weight measurements were recorded. According to the experiments the pots which were treated with 20 ml FWW showed the best growth performance measures where shoot length was increased by 30% and root length by 60% compared to the control implying the prospect of the wastewater as a source of nutrients for agriculture. This research has implications toward the development of sustainable practices for both aquaculture and agriculture, in terms of reduction of global warming and climate change.

Gender differences in efficiency of the telemedicine care of heart failure patients. The results from the TeleEduCare-HF study

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to implement a model of healthcare for patients with heart failure (HF) and to assess the differences between men and women in the study population.Material and methodsThrough care and an extensive educational panel (dietary recommendations, physical activity, titration of diuretics, psychological support), emphasis was placed on prevention. All patients had a baseline cardiology consultation with recommendations regarding treatment, self-care, diet, and exercise. Based on regular measurements of weight and blood pressure HF patients were telemonitored by nurses, primary care physicians and referred to cardiologists when necessary. The questionnaire was conducted in all patients at baseline after enrollment to the study and after 3 months of telemonitoring and extensive educational process.ResultsThe study finally included 140 men with an average age of 66 years (SD: 56–71) and 163 women with an average age of 64 years (58–72). The ischemic origin of HF was present in 78% of men and 73% of women (p = 0.40), and 31% of men and 16% of women declared myocardial infarction in the past (p = 0.002). Men more often survived sudden cardiac arrest (7.8% vs. 1.2%; p = 0.004) and had implantable cardiac devices compared to women (16% vs. 3%; p = 0.001). Male patients reported significantly more often alcohol consumption, smoking, and less frequently any physical activity. Women significantly more often than men suffered from cancer, depression, and thromboembolic events and less frequently from obstructive sleep apnea. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 43% (SD: 30–58) for men, and 57% (45–63) for women (p = 0.0001), and women suffered mainly from heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. There were no differences between genders regarding the number of hospitalizations in last 12 months. The men, despite lower LVEF, felt short of breath/tired when climbing the stairs up than women (3 [2–4] vs. 2 floors [1–3]; p = 0.001), had higher distance in meters when walking on flat ground (400 [200–400] vs. 300 m [100–400]; p = 0.0001), and less frequently had to get up to go to the toilet at night (p = 0.03). Men also suffered significantly less often from shortness of breath at rest, swelling of the lower limbs and shortness of breath that wakes them up at night. Only 35% of men and 19% of women had HF self-care training, and only 35% of men and 46% of women knew how to increase the dose of diuretic on their own if shortness of breath or swelling increases. Based on the EuroQol-5 dimensions 5-levels questionnaire, significantly more women than men reported moderate and serious problems with moving around, serious problems with performing ordinary activities independently as well as moderate and serious pain problem and a significant level of anxiety. Men more often than women reported serious problems with self-care.ConclusionsWomen suffer more often from HF symptoms and have worse quality of life assessed in EQ-5D-5L than men despite their higher LVEF.

Utilization of Industrial Waste Casting Sands as Sustainable Building Material in Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Products

Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is a building material with low density compared to traditional and structurally lightweight concrete. In addition to being very light, it is frequently preferred in many different areas, especially in external walls, floor slabs, lintels, roof slabs and panel elements of buildings, since it offers good heat and sound insulation. When the AAC production process is evaluated in terms of energy requirement, it has high environmental sensitivity compared to traditional concrete and brick processes. Since environmental sensitivity has become more important today, it was desired to evaluate the waste casting sands (WCS) generated in metal casting companies within the scope of the study. In this study, the usability of WCS as an alternative instead of silica sand used in AAC production was investigated. For this purpose, WCS was provided by 3 different casting companies. The usability potential of WCSs at 30% was examined and the quality of AAC was compared with reference castings. The fineness potentials of WCSs were compared by grinding in a disc mill. First of all, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and grain size analyses were performed on WCSs. 150x150x150 mm3 sized AAC laboratory samples were produced. The produced AAC samples were kept in the oven at 60°C until they set and then cured in an autoclave for approximately 10 hours. After the curing process in the autoclave, analyses such as compressive strength analyses and dry unit weight measurements were performed on the samples, and in addition to these analyses, they were subjected to visual examinations. Mechanical analyses were performed by replacing the WCS, from which positive results were obtained, at 5 different substitution ratios of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30% by weight. From scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, it was determined that tobermorite structures were formed. From thermal analyses, it was observed that the thermal stability of the samples produced with WCS was better. When the results were evaluated in general, it was found that up to 30% WCS could be included in the AAC production system. In addition, an increase in compressive strength values occurred. The improvement in compressive strength also showed that WCS could be a good alternative source to silica sand.

The effect of supplementary feeding (PMT)-child recovery intervention in the coastal area of North Buton Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province

Background: Malnutrition in Coastal Areas is still a public health problem in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). Nutritional status plays an important role in supporting growth, physical and cognitive development according to the child's age. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of Supplementary Feeding Recovery (PMT-P) on children's nutritional status. Methods: Experimental research design with Pretest and Posttest One Group Design approach. Involving 75 mothers who have children aged 6-24 months in the work area of the North Buton Regency Health Office, the child sample was selected by purposive sampling with inclusion criteria such as children who have growth below the red line (BGM) or experience very thin nutrition, toddlers who consume PMT-P from the government program in the form of biscuits, given regularly for up to 90 days. Children aged 6-11 months are given 80 gr/day equivalent to 8 pieces of biscuits (2 packs) while children aged 12-24 months are given 120 gr/day equivalent to 12 pieces of biscuits (3 packs). The instruments used in this study were the Healthy Towards Card (KMS) and the measurement of the toddler's weight was carried out using a Msumed brand digital scale with an accuracy of 0.1 cm while the measurement of the body length and height of the toddler was carried out using an Msumed brand infantometer and a statuemeter with an accuracy of 0.1 cm. The data was analyzed using a paired t-test (significant p&lt;0.005). Results: The results showed that there was an effect of PMT-P administration before and after the intervention for 3 months on the nutritional status of children (p = value 0.000). Conclusion: There is an effect of giving PMT-P before and after the intervention for 3 months on the nutritional status of children. Therefore, the Government must continue to increase PMT-P as an alternative in management of malnutrition in children aged 6 to 24 months in North Buton Regency, southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia