Guidelines For Use Research Articles

Development of learning objectives to support undergraduate virology curriculum guidelines.

It has become increasingly important for microbiology educators to help students learn critical concepts of the discipline. This is particularly true in virology, where current challenges include increasing rates of vaccine hesitancy, misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic, and controversy surrounding research on pathogens with pandemic potential. Having students learn virology can attract more people to the field and increase the number of people who can engage in meaningful discourse about issues relating to the discipline. However, the limited number of virologists who teach undergraduates, combined with the fact that many institutions lack stand-alone virology courses, results in virology often being taught as a limited number of lectures within an undergraduate microbiology course (if it is covered at all), which may or may not be taught by an individual trained as a virologist. To provide a framework to teach virology to undergraduate students, a team of virology educators, with support from the American Society for Virology (ASV), developed curriculum guidelines for use in a stand-alone undergraduate virology course or a virology section within another course (D. B. Kushner et al., J Virol 96:e01305-22, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.01305-22). These guidelines are available at the ASV website (https://asv.org/curriculum-guidelines/). To assist educators in implementing these guidelines, we created examples of measurable learning objectives. This perspective provides details about the virology curriculum guidelines and learning objectives and accompanies the perspective by Boury et al. in this issue of the Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education (25:e00126-24, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.00126-24) about the recent revision of the microbiology curriculum guidelines overseen by the American Society for Microbiology.

Understanding Sunda Wiwitan of Cigugur Kuningan: Between Tradition, Culture, and Adaptation of Communication Technology

Sunda Wiwitan in Cigugur Kuningan maintains respect for the traditions and customs that have become an integral part of their culture. Along with the rapid changes in communication technology, this research aims to understand the development of communication technology in the Sunda Wiwitan community and how they preserve their culture in the modern era. The research method used is a descriptive qualitative approach, which includes interviews and content analysis to collect data from key informants. The results showed that although the Sunda Wiwitan community quickly adopted modern communication technologies such as the internet and social media, they also needed time to develop appropriate usage guidelines. The research revealed that despite accepting new technologies, this community remains committed to maintaining their cultural values and traditions, including the use of traditional clothing to filter out foreign cultural influences. The implications of this research suggest that technology can be integrated into indigenous communities without erasing their cultural identity. In addition, the results highlight the importance of developing policies that support cultural preservation in the midst of technological advances, as well as the need for education for community members to optimize the use of technology while still respecting and preserving their traditions.

Development and expert inspections of the user interface for a primary care decision support system

BackgroundGeneral practitioners play a unique key role in diagnosing patients with unclear diseases. Decision support systems in primary care can assist with diagnosis provided that they are efficient and user-friendly. ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to develop a high-fidelity prototype of the user interface of a clinical decision support system for primary care, particularly for diagnosis support in unclear diseases, using expert inspections at an early stage of development to ensure a high level of usability. MethodsThe user interface prototype was iteratively developed based on previous research, design principles, and usability guidelines. During the development phase, three usability inspections were carried out by all experts at four-week intervals as heuristic walkthrough. Each inspection consisted of two parts: 1) Task-based inspection 2) Free exploration and evaluation based on usability heuristics. Five domain experts assessed the current status of development.The tasks in the inspections were based on the task model derived in the requirements analysis: perform data entry, review and discuss results, schedule further diagnostics, refer to specialists and close case. ResultsAs a result of this iterative development, a high-fidelity, clickable user interface prototype was created that is able to fulfil all six tasks of our task model. The usability inspections identified a total of 196 usability issues (for all 3 inspections; Part 1: 90 issues, Part 2: 106 issues), ranging in severity from minor to severe. These served the continuous adjustment and improvement of the prototype. All main tasks were completed successfully despite these problems. ConclusionUsability inspections through heuristic walkthroughs can support and optimise the development of a user-centred decision support system in order to ensure its suitability for performing relevant tasks.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Dentists in Maharashtra Regarding Sharing Patients’ Data on Social Media: A Questionnaire-Based Study

Background: Social media has become an integral part of dental practice, offering opportunities for professional interaction and patient engagement. However, it raises significant ethical concerns, particularly regarding patient confidentiality. Objective: To gauge the knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental professionals in Maharashtra regarding the sharing of patient data on Social media, and to assess the ethical considerations associated with this practice. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental professionals in Maharashtra from October to December 2023. Participants were recruited from six dental institutions and various private clinics. A self-structured questionnaire was validated and distributed via Google Forms. Data were analyzed using MedCalc Statistical Software, with demographic characteristics and response frequencies summarized in tables and graphs. Results: Of the 312 participants, 265 completed the survey (response rate: 84.94%). WhatsApp (88.3%) was the most preferred platform, followed by Facebook (54.34%) and Instagram (54.34%). The majority rarely shared patient data on SM. Marketing (63.4%), showcasing treatment results (46.79%), and educating colleagues (46.79%) were primary motivations. While 56.98% agreed that sharing patient data infringes privacy, only 46.04% consistently obtained patient consent. A significant portion (92%) supported establishing guidelines for social media usage. Conclusion: Dental professionals in Maharashtra frequently use SM for professional purposes, with WhatsApp being the most popular platform. Despite recognizing privacy concerns, there is a lack of consistent patient consent practices. The findings highlight the need for clear guidelines to balance the benefits of social media with ethical obligations to patient confidentiality and professional conduct.

Academic hospitalist perspectives on the benefits and challenges of secure messaging: A mixed methods analysis.

Hospitals and patients rely on effective clinician communication. Asynchronous electronic secure messaging (SM) systems are a common way for hospitalists to communicate, but few studies have evaluated how hospitalists are navigating the adoption of SM and the benefits and challenges they are encountering. The objective of this study is to assess academic hospitalist perspectives on SM to guide future research and quality improvement initiatives. This was a mixed methods study utilizing an embedded REDCap survey and six virtual semistructured focus groups. It took place during a Hospital Medicine ReEngineering Network Zoom meeting on October 13, 2023. Rapid qualitative methods were used to define major themes. There were 28 hospitalists and one patient representative across 24 separate academic institutions. There was a 71% survey completion rate (N = 20). SM was felt to be an effective and efficient communication modality but was associated with a large amount of multitasking and interruptions. Perspectives around SM clustered around three main themes: SM has been widely but variably adopted; there is a lack of institutional guidance about how to best engage with SM; and SM is changing the landscape of hospitalist work by increasing ease but decreasing depth of communication, increasing cognitive load, and changing interpersonal relationships. Recommendations for SM improvements included the need for institutions to work with frontline workers to develop and implement clear usage guidelines. SM is likely contributing to both positive and negative effects for clinicians and patients. Understanding hospitalist perspectives on SM will help guide future research and quality improvement initiatives.

The Undergraduate Engineering Mental Health Help‐Seeking Instrument (UE‐MH‐HSI): Development and validity evidence

AbstractBackgroundUndergraduate engineering students experiencing distress are less likely than peers to ask for professional help. A population‐specific instrument to facilitate the identification of factors that influence mental healthcare utilization could guide development and testing of interventions to increase help seeking.PurposeWe used mixed methods guided by the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM) to develop and evaluate the Undergraduate Engineering Mental Health Help‐Seeking Instrument (UE‐MH‐HSI).MethodFirst, we adapted existing measures of mental health help‐seeking intention and mechanisms (i.e., attitudes, perceived norm: injunctive, perceived norm: descriptive, personal agency: autonomy, personal agency: capacity). Second, we coded qualitative interviews (N = 33) to create population‐specific mental health help‐seeking belief measures (i.e., outcome beliefs, experiential beliefs, beliefs about others' expectations, beliefs about others' behavior, beliefs about barriers and facilitators). Third, we tested the psychometric properties using data from 596 undergraduate engineering students at a historically White, research‐focused institution in southern United States.ResultsPsychometric analyses indicated that (1) help‐seeking mechanism and intention measures demonstrated unidimensionality, internal consistency, construct replicability, and sufficient variability; (2) mechanism measures demonstrated criterion evidence of validity; and (3) most items within the belief measures demonstrated sufficient variability and convergent evidence of validity.ConclusionsThe UE‐MH‐HSI is an evidence‐based tool for investigating mental health help‐seeking factors and their relationship to help‐seeking behavior, well‐being, academic success, and engineering identity formation. Guidelines for use are provided.

Onion Services in the Wild: A Study of Deanonymization Attacks

Tor, the leading anonymization network, routes traffic over multiple relays to ensure client anonymity. Its Onion Services allow users to host services within the Tor network without revealing their location. While these techniques are crucial for users in authoritarian regimes and whistleblowers, they are also exploited by criminals. This paper diverges from the common focus on the technical vulnerabilities of the Tor protocol and instead explores the practical aspects of deanonymizing Onion Service users and operators. Despite Tor's robust security mechanisms, human errors in its usage and operation frequently lead to deanonymization. This study models law enforcement agencies as powerful attackers and evaluates documents from 136 court cases to determine investigative methods. We find that investigators employ different methods depending on the offense, with user mistakes being the dominant angle. Technical attacks, though comparatively rare, are highly effective and can potentially impact a large number of users simultaneously. Attacks on the well-researched Tor protocol are exceptionally rare, but their impact is even more significant. We argue that the human aspect of using Tor is the most critical deanonymization angle and that tailored guidelines for ethical users can help protect them from oppressive retaliation while still enabling the prosecution of criminal activity.

Our words matter: finding consensus on evolving and personal language around suicide, mental health concerns and alcohol and other drug use

The words we use to talk about suicide, mental health concerns and alcohol and other drug use matter. They play a crucial role in shaping public perceptions and can reinforce shame and stigma, impact help-seeking behaviours and impede long-term recovery. In some cases, the words we use may lead to increased suicidal behaviour in our communities. This paper outlines the development of new language guidelines with best-practice advice for communicating about mental health and wellbeing, mental health concerns, suicide, and alcohol and other drug use. The development of this new guidance and supporting resources included consultation with people with lived and living experience and from priority populations alongside sector experts and professional communicators in a series of focus groups and surveys in order to understand if there was consensus on what constitutes best practice. The project built on existing guidance about language use, such as the Mindframe program, to deliver updated and evidence-informed guidelines for use across sectors. Not only do the guidelines aim to reduce the harm caused by poor communication, but also aim to ‘do good’. Language that empowers and supports those impacted by mental health concerns or suicide moves us towards a more inclusive, understanding society.

An evaluation of how exercise position statement guidelines are being used in the real world in type 1 diabetes: Findings from the type 1 diabetes exercise initiative (T1DEXI)

AimsPosition statement guidelines should help people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) improve glucose outcomes during exercise. MethodsIn a 4-week observational study, continuous glucose, insulin, and nutrient data were collected from 561 adults with T1D. Glucose outcomes were calculated during exercise, post-exercise, and overnight, and were compared for sessions when participants used versus did not use exercise guidelines for open-loop (OL) and automated insulin delivery (AID) therapy. ResultsGuidelines requiring behaviour modification were rarely used while guidelines not requiring modification were often used. The guideline recommending reduced meal insulin before exercise was associated with lower time <3.9 mmol/L during exercise (−2.2 %, P=0.02) for OL but not significant for AID (−1.4 %, P=0.27). Compared to exercise with low glucose (<3.9 mmol/L) in prior 24-hours, sessions without recent low glucose had lower time <3.9 mmol/L during exercise (−1.2 %, P<0.001). The AID guideline for no carbohydrates before exercise when CGM is flat, or increasing, was not associated with improved glycaemia. ConclusionsFree-living datasets may be used to evaluate usage and benefit of position statement guidelines. Evidence suggests OL participants who reduced meal insulin prior to exercise and did not have low glucose in the prior 24 h had less time below range.

Video Modeling to Support Social Communication Goals of Autistic Adults: A Tutorial.

Decades of research have shown video modeling to be an effective tool for teaching and supporting a variety of skills in autistic children. More recently, video modeling has emerged as an effective support for autistic adults, with much of the literature focused on vocational success through support of language skills. The purpose of this tutorial is to provide speech-language pathologists, autistic adults, and other team members with evidence-based guidelines for use of video modeling to support success with social communication across settings. This evidence-based tutorial draws from the literature on video modeling for autistic adults in the area of social communication, presenting empirically supported guidelines for speech-language pathologists considering video modeling as a tool to support social communication within this population and their interaction partners. This tutorial presents an evidence-based, step-by-step guide to the planning, creation, and use of video models with and by autistic adults, along with important additional considerations based on relevant literature. Video modeling is a social communication support that is backed by the scientific literature as an efficacious tool for use by autistic adults. This tutorial will guide speech-language pathologists' use of this evidence-based tool as they work alongside autistic adults and others to help meet social communication goals across settings.

Exploring the product attributes of butterscotch sauce made from palm syrup by Kano model

This study revealed key insight into the consumption behavior and product attributes of sauces, specifically regarding butterscotch sauce made from palm syrup, using the Kano model. The sample consisted of 409 participants who responded to a questionnaire, and data were collected through frequency, percentage, mean, and customer satisfaction coefficient. Most participants purchase sauces on a regular basis, with a significant portion using sweet sauces for desserts and beverages, though awareness of butterscotch sauce is mixed. However, there is strong consumer interest in butterscotch sauce products, particularly when packaged in 180-ml plastic squeeze tubes, priced between 101 and 200 Thai baht, and featuring modern design elements. Consumers also value the use of local ingredients and express a high willingness to purchase such products, especially if they include usage guidelines. The study also identified various product attributes of butterscotch sauce made from palm syrup, categorized into indifferent, satisfying, attractive, and reverse attributes based on their impact on consumer satisfaction. Seven indifferent attributes were found, which neither enhance nor detract from consumer satisfaction. These include modern packaging and availability in supermarkets and souvenir shops. Three satisfying attributes were highlighted, such as the completeness of label details and appropriate pricing for quality, which positively influence consumer satisfaction. Attractive attributes, like the brown sugar aroma and the availability of recipes, were identified as key factors that uniquely engage consumers and drive demand. However, the study also revealed two reverse attributes—thick consistency and excessive sweetness—that cause dissatisfaction and require improvement. The satisfaction and dissatisfaction coefficients further emphasize the importance of providing recipes and methods of use while addressing concerns about price and label completeness to enhance overall consumer satisfaction. These findings provide valuable insights for developing palm syrup-based products that cater to consumer preferences.

Apple cider vinegar in folk and modern medicine: a historical review and current scientific evidence.

Introduction and Aim of the Study: Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been used for centuries in various cultural and medical contexts globally. This study seeks to explore ACV's traditional and contemporary applications, evaluating scientific evidence for its efficacy and safety. Material and Methods: This review synthesizes information from PubMed, Google Scholar, and other scientific sources. Key search terms included "apple cider vinegar," "apple cider vinegar medical use," "apple cider vinegar antimicrobial effect," "apple cider vinegar lipid profile," "apple cider vinegar glucose level," "apple cider vinegar preparation," and "apple cider vinegar historical use." Results: Research supports ACV's traditional role as a disinfectant, demonstrating effectiveness against a range of bacteria and fungi. Both animal and human studies suggest ACV may help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels while boosting HDL cholesterol. Evidence indicates ACV can enhance insulin sensitivity and reduce blood glucose levels, offering benefits for type 2 diabetes management. ACV shows antioxidant properties, potential for lowering blood pressure, and use in certain skin diseases, though further research is needed to confirm these effects. Conclusions: The historical use of ACV in traditional medicine finds partial support in modern scientific research. Its antimicrobial, lipid-modulating, and glucose-regulating properties are documented, suggesting potential benefits for cardiovascular health, weight management, and metabolic regulation. Nonetheless, the evidence for its cosmetic applications and impact on muscle cramps remains less definitive. Additional research involving larger, diverse populations is necessary to fully validate ACV's benefits and establish safe usage guidelines.

An Examination of the Potential Hair Damage Caused by Coconut Oil’s Dark Side

The moisturizing and nourishing qualities of coconut oil, a popular hair care product, have been praised. On the other hand, an increasing amount of data indicates that using coconut oil incorrectly or excessively can harm hair. This paper attempts to provide an overview of the available data about the possible harm that coconut oil may cause to hair, including pore blockage, protein accumulation, and moisture imbalance. A thorough review of the literature shows that the high protein content and thick, greasy texture of coconut oil can lead to clogged pores, inflammation, itching, and hair loss in addition to weighted-down hair, frizz, and breakage of the hair. Moreover, overusing coconut oil can throw off the natural moisture balance of the hair, causing frizz, brittleness, and dryness. This review emphasizes the need to use coconut oil with carefully to prevent potential harm to hair and offers safe usage guidelines.

Perspectives from teachers and managers on STEM classrooms and STEM teaching equipment

Abstract This study examines the perceptions of teachers and educational managers regarding the significance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) classrooms and the effectiveness of STEM educational tools in enhancing practical skills, fostering creativity, and promoting interdisciplinary understanding. A survey was administered to 300 teachers and managers from schools in Nghe An Province, Dak Lak Province, and Hanoi, where STEM education programs have been implemented. The study employed a convenience sampling method, utilizing two questionnaires to assess the perceived importance of STEM classrooms and the effectiveness of STEM teaching equipment. The findings indicate that a substantial majority of respondents (96.67%) believe that STEM classrooms play a crucial role in enhancing students' practical skills, while 96% assert that these classrooms promote creativity through hands-on projects. Additionally, 95.34% of participants emphasized the importance of STEM classrooms in advancing interdisciplinary scientific knowledge. However, the survey also identified limitations in the adequacy of STEM teaching equipment, with technical compatibility (71.67%), connections between general and practical equipment (71.34%), and clear labeling and information (71.00%) rated as particularly significant. This research supports the prevailing view that STEM classrooms are essential for developing practical skills, creativity, and interdisciplinary knowledge. Nonetheless, the study suggests that improvements are needed in the effectiveness of STEM teaching equipment, such as ensuring alignment with curriculum objectives, enhancing interdisciplinary integration, and providing clear labeling and usage guidelines. It is recommended that policymakers prioritize investments in standardized and comprehensive STEM equipment and design classrooms that support practical, creative, and interdisciplinary learning.

The association between mobile phone usage duration, neck muscle endurance, and neck pain among university students

The mobile phone is essential in daily life, especially during the pandemic. Prolonged use can cause postural issues, leading to common neck pain. This study aims to determine the correlation between mobile phone use duration, addiction, neck muscle endurance, and neck pain in university students. The study included 62 participants (30 female, 32 male) aged 18–35 years. Inclusion criteria required participants to have experienced neck pain at least twice in the past year and to have no other concomitant issues, as well as to volunteer for the study. Demographic information and daily mobile phone usage time were collected. Neck pain was assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale, smartphone addiction with the Smartphone Addiction Scale, and cervical muscle endurance was evaluated. Correlation analysis reveals a moderate relationship between neck pain severity (NPS) and cervical extensor muscle endurance (CEME), a strong relationship between NPS and cervical flexor muscle endurance (CFME), as well as a strong relationship among daily phone usage time (DPUT), CFME, and NPS, with a moderate relationship between DPUT and CEME. Participants were divided into two groups based on their DPUT, revealing that those who used their phone for four hours or more showed significantly higher levels of pain (p < 0.05) and reduced endurance in cervical flexor muscles. Our study found a strong correlation between neck pain, muscle endurance, and daily phone usage. Participants using their phones for more than four hours daily reported increased neck pain and decreased muscle endurance. We suggest integrating phone usage duration into neck pain assessments, promoting ergonomic practices, and offering detailed usage guidelines for users.

Structure and dynamics of growing networks of Reddit threads

Millions of people use online social networks to reinforce their sense of belonging, for example by giving and asking for feedback as a form of social validation and self-recognition. It is common to observe disagreement among people beliefs and points of view when expressing this feedback. Modeling and analyzing such interactions is crucial to understand social phenomena that happen when people face different opinions while expressing and discussing their values. In this work, we study a Reddit community in which people participate to judge or be judged with respect to some behavior, as it represents a valuable source to study how users express judgments online. We model threads of this community as complex networks of user interactions growing in time, and we analyze the evolution of their structural properties. We show that the evolution of Reddit networks differ from other real social networks, despite falling in the same category. This happens because their global clustering coefficient is extremely small and the average shortest path length increases over time. Such properties reveal how users discuss in threads, i.e. with mostly one other user and often by a single message. We strengthen such result by analyzing the role that disagreement and reciprocity play in such conversations. We also show that Reddit thread’s evolution over time is governed by two subgraphs growing at different speeds. We discover that, in the studied community, the difference of such speed is higher than in other communities because of the user guidelines enforcing specific user interactions. Finally, we interpret the obtained results on user behavior drawing back to Social Judgment Theory.

Analisis Alih Kode dan Campur Kode serta elemen Visual pada Iklan Make-Up PT. Paragon di Instagram

This qualitative study analysed the use of code-switching and code-mixing in makeup advertisements from four brands of PT Paragon Technology and Innovation (Emina, MakeOver, InstaPerfect, and Wardah) on Instagram, employing Barthes' (1988). Semiotic method was used to explore denotative and connotative meanings in the ads. Denotation refers to the literal meaning of signs, while connotation reveals additional meanings influenced by culture and ideology. The findings indicate that code-switching and code-mixing are used to capture audience attention and create a modern brand image. For instance, MakeOver advertisements use English language to convey an international impression, whereas Emina employs code-mixing to make messages more dynamic and relevant to bilingual audiences. Practical implications of this research include assisting companies in developing effective marketing strategies and crafting engaging and grammatically appropriate ad content. Moreover, the study is expected to enhance consumer critical thinking towards advertisements and aid policymakers in establishing language usage guidelines in advertising. Overall, this research demonstrates that makeup advertisements not only promote products but also shape consumer identities and self-images, reflecting global trends and socio-cultural dynamics.

Exploring Digital Discourtesy: Impoliteness Strategies In K-Drama Fan Discourse on Social Media

This study analyzes impoliteness strategies used by netizens in responses to the variety show "Single Inferno 3" on the X app, specifically through the K-Drama Menfess account. Menfess, short for "Mention and Confess," is a term in K-Pop and K-Drama culture, describing messages sent via direct message to auto-bot accounts on platforms like Twitter, where users share opinions on specific topics. "Single Inferno 3" is a popular show among K-Drama fans, and the comments in the Menfess account's replies provide insights into how impoliteness emerges in reactions to South Korean entertainment. Using a descriptive qualitative method, this study examines the types of impoliteness in netizen comments related to the show, drawing on Culpeper's (2011) theory of language impoliteness. The data, collected from comments posted on January 3rd, 2024, reveals that sarcasm or mock politeness is the most prevalent strategy, appearing in 45.45% of cases. Positive impoliteness accounts for 27.27%, negative impoliteness for 18.18%, and bald on-record impoliteness for 9.09%, with no instances of withheld politeness. Sarcasm often involves indirect insults, while negative impoliteness includes belittling remarks. These impoliteness strategies typically arise in contexts where netizens scrutinize the show's participants, reacting to behavior that deviates from expected norms. The study's findings can help social media platforms develop tools to detect and reduce impolite interactions, such as automated moderation systems and user guidelines to promote respectful online discourse.

Weighted Blankets as a Sleep Intervention: A Scoping Review.

Sleep disorders are associated with a range of health conditions, with poor sleep often further exacerbating individuals' health, well-being, and ability to participate in daily occupations. Weighted blankets offer a potentially simple nonpharmacological sleep intervention option. To summarize available literature on instrumentation and outcomes associated with overnight use of weighted blankets for therapeutic purpose. A scoping review following the PRISMA review guidelines was conducted. Sources included MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Embase, and Google. Included studies reported on overnight use of weighted blankets. Critical appraisal of studies was conducted with standardized tools. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Positive outcomes were reported for adults, including improved sleep, reduction in medication use, and improved mood. Sleep outcomes were mixed for children and adolescents but included improved occupational performance. Methodological quality of included studies regarding effectiveness was variable. Ten studies included details of the intervention, whereas only one study reported on implementation. No specific guidelines for use were included. Weighted blankets are used as a sleep intervention for individuals across the life span experiencing a range of health conditions. Currently, there is more evidence of effectiveness with adults, although parents are favorable regarding weighted blanket use for children. Implementation and recommendation of weighted blankets are typically led by occupational therapists, with knowledge of the intervention facilitating use. This review provides information to inform occupational therapists' clinical decision-making and continued implementation of weighted blankets for individuals with sleep problems. Plain-Language Summary: This scoping review summarizes what is known about the use of weighted blankets as a sleep intervention for people of all ages. There is more evidence for overnight use of weighted blankets for adults, with improvements reported in sleep, mood, medication use, and pain. Although there is little evidence of improvement in sleep for children, some children show improvement in everyday functioning, and parents report positive outcomes from overnight use of weighted blankets. These findings suggest that occupational therapists should consider offering or recommending weighted blankets as a sleep intervention option for people of all ages, alongside consideration of individuals' preferences. Development of practice guidelines that incorporate current research findings is urgently needed to support occupational therapists' use of weighted blankets.

Nanomechanical resilience and thermal stability of RSJ2 phage

As the world moves toward a green economy and sustainable agriculture, bacterial viruses or bacteriophages (phages) become attractive biocontrol agents for controlling crop diseases. Effective utilization of phages in farms requires integrated knowledge of crops, pathogens, phages, and surroundings. Phages must encounter environmental fluctuations, including temperature, and must remain infectious for successful bacteria lysis. This work studied a soilborne RSJ2 phage discovered in Thailand, which can eliminate Ralstonia solanacearum, causing bacterial wilt disease in chili. We investigated how phage infectivity and nanomechanics responded to thermal changes. The plaque-based assay showed that the infectivity of the RSJ2 phage was stable within 24–40 °C, an average temperature fluctuation in tropical regions. The structural examination also showed that the phage remained intact. The nanomechanical property of the phage was inspected by the atomic force microscopy-based nanoindentation. The result revealed that the phage stiffness within 24–40 °C was statistically similar (0.05–0.06 N/m). Upon heating at 40 °C for 1, 5, and 10 h and resting at 25 °C, the stiffness of the phage particles increased to 0.09–0.11 N/m (54–83% increase). The stiffness results suggest structural adaptation of the protein subunits as a response to thermal alteration. The study exhibits that the phage structure is highly dynamic and can nanomechanically respond to varying temperatures. The phage stiffness may reveal insight into phage adaptation to environmental factors. Equipped with the knowledge of phage infectivity, structure, and nanomechanics, we can design practical guidelines for effective phage usage in farming and propelling green and safe agriculture.