High Sugar Research Articles

Prevalence of normal weight obesity and its cardiometabolic implications among government doctors in Gujarat, India: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundObesity is rising globally. Normal weight obesity (NWO) and normal weight central obesity (NWCO) despite normal BMI pose added metabolic risks. Limited data on these phenotypes among Indian doctors merits investigation. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of overall obesity, NWO, NWCO, and their associations with cardiometabolic risks among doctors in Gujarat, India.MethodsIt’s a Cross-sectional study among 490 doctors aged 20–60 years at a tertiary hospital. Anthropometry, blood pressure, fasting glucose, and lipids were assessed. NWO was defined as a BMI of 18.5–24.9 kg/m2 with a high body fat percentage. NWCO as normal BMI and increased waist circumference. Body composition was assessed using an Omron body composition analyzer.ResultsThe prevalence of overall obesity was 101 (20%), NWO 239 (48.7%), and NWCO 210 (42.8%). Mean BMI, blood pressure, glucose, and LDL increased from normal weight to NWO/NWCO groups (p < 0.05). NWO and NWCO had significantly higher odds of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and high fasting blood sugar compared to non-obese after adjusting for confounders.ConclusionThe high burden of overall obesity, NWO, and NWCO among doctors highlights the need for lifestyle interventions to mitigate long-term cardiometabolic disease risk.

Characterization of Amnion-Derived Membrane for Clinical Wound Applications.

Human amniotic membrane (hAM), the innermost placental layer, has unique properties that allow for a multitude of clinical applications. It is a common misconception that birth-derived tissue products, such as dual-layered dehydrated amnion-amnion graft (dHAAM), are similar regardless of the manufacturing steps. A commercial dHAAM product, Axolotl Biologix DualGraft™, was assessed for biological and mechanical characteristics. Testing of dHAAM included antimicrobial, cellular biocompatibility, proteomics analysis, suture strength, and tensile, shear, and compressive modulus testing. Results demonstrated that the membrane can be a scaffold for fibroblast growth (cellular biocompatibility), containing an average total of 7678 unique proteins, 82,296 peptides, and 96,808 peptide ion variants that may be antimicrobial. Suture strength results showed an average pull force of 0.2 N per dHAAM sample (equating to a pull strength of 8.5 MPa). Tensile modulus data revealed variation, with wet samples showing 5× lower stiffness than dry samples. The compressive modulus and shear modulus displayed differences between donors (lots). This study emphasizes the need for standardized processing protocols to ensure consistency across dHAAM products and future research to explore comparative analysis with other amniotic membrane products. These findings provide baseline data supporting the potential of amniotic membranes in clinical applications.

Analysis on the Writing Errors of Grade 6 Students: Basis for Instructional Material Development

The ability of students to express themselves through writing is not just a reflection of their linguistic prowess but also a determinant of their academic and future career success. The purpose of this study is to conduct an analysis on the writing errors of Grade 6 students of Paciencia Elementary School, Loreto, Agusan Del Sur. The findings would be used as the basis for instructional material development and to recommend emphasizing teaching integration of the identified errors. The dominant errors were related to punctuation, capitalization, and incorrect verb forms, indicating a significant need for focused instruction in these areas to improve pupils' writing proficiency. In response to these findings, the study suggests developing targeted instructional materials that include structured lessons and practice exercises focusing on the most common errors. These resources should be integrated into the curriculum. Recommendations from the study emphasize the roles of various stakeholders in improving writing skills among pupils. Teachers should implement targeted instructional materials and attend professional development workshops. The school administration should support the integration of these materials and fund workshops while regularly assessing pupils' grammar skills. Pupils should engage actively in grammar lessons and seek feedback, and parents should encourage and support their children in practicing grammar skills at home. Policymakers and curriculum developers should incorporate the study's findings into national curriculum standards and allocate resources to support these initiatives. Future research should explore additional factors affecting grammar skills and the long-term impact of targeted instruction on overall academic performance.

Ensemble machine learning algorithm for cost-effective and timely detection of diabetes in Maiduguri, Borno State

Diabetes is a serious medical condition that severely hinders the body's ability to produce or properly regulate insulin, leading to detrimental carbohydrate metabolism and dangerously high blood sugar levels. This ultimately causes inadequate carbohydrate metabolism and heightened blood glucose levels. Alarmingly, from 2000 to 2019, diabetes-related mortality rates rose by 3%. In the year 2019 alone, diabetes was tragically responsible for nearly 2 million deaths. This groundbreaking research introduces the improved weighted average ensemble learning (WAEL) model as an innovative solution for detecting diabetes. The enhanced WAEL model effectively addresses the overfitting challenge by integrating multiple models that have gained unique insights from the data. The proposed WAEL model ingeniously combines five feature spaces through the grey wolf optimisation (GWO) algorithm to uncover the optimal weight combination. GWO plays a vital role in weight optimization, enabling the reduction of weights in models that are particularly sensitive to noise. The results demonstrated that the improved WAEL achieved an astounding level of accuracy, soaring to 98.90%. The LGBM algorithm followed closely, achieving an impressive accuracy of 85.00%. The RF method recorded an accuracy of 81.00%. When it comes to accurately identifying diabetes, the improved WAEL ensemble model significantly outperformed the other five individual models, as evidenced by metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. Therefore, the proposed model stands as a compelling alternative tool for healthcare professionals in the early detection of diabetes.

Application of MICMAC and Regnier’s Abacus Techniques to Assess the Association between High Sugar Diet and the Prevalence of Dental Caries in Young Adults

This study aimed to identify and assess the association between a high-sugar diet and the prevalence of dental caries in young adults. In addition, these variables were prioritized based on their relevance and dependence using the complementary methodologies MICMAC and Regnier’s abacus. A literature review was conducted to identify the related variables. A group of 10 dentistry and nutrition experts assesses the importance of these variables using a structured questionnaire. As a result, both methodologies agreed on the importance of dental hygiene and the frequency of sugar consumption in the prevalence of dental caries. Access to dental health services was also identified as a significant factor. These findings are relevant because they have implications for the formulation of public health policies and the design of strategies that can reduce the impact of dental caries to improve the dental health of the population.

Pharmacists' interventions on prescribing errors in Malaysia.

Prescribing errors (PEs) cause significant avoidable harm globally. In Malaysia, despite the prevalence of PEs in government healthcare facilities, there is limited research on how pharmacist staffing levels influence intervention frequency and effectiveness. This study aims to address this gap by analysing intervention trends and assessing their association with staffing levels, highlighting the correlation between increased pharmacist presence and the frequency of interventions. This retrospective cross-sectional study analysed data from the Ministry of Health's Pharmacy Management Form and the Pharmacy Board Registry from 2017 to 2019. Multivariate regression and two-way ANOVA assessed the association between the number of pharmacists, total prescriptions, and interventions on PEs in Health Clinic Outpatient Pharmacy, Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy, and Hospital Inpatient Pharmacy settings. Annually, pharmacists intervened in approximately 1.8% of total prescriptions, with the most common errors being wrong dose, wrong medication, and wrong dosing frequency. These interventions were consistent across all settings, highlighting the uniformity in pharmacists' approach to managing PEs. The regression analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the number of pharmacists, total prescriptions, and interventions on PEs, with an adjusted R-squared value of 0.899. Both the number of pharmacists and total prescriptions received were positively significant (p < 0.05), indicating that increased pharmacist presence strongly correlates with intervention frequency. No statistically significant differences were observed in intervention rates across different settings and severity levels, suggesting that pharmacists consistently provide effective interventions irrespective of the clinical context. In conclusion, this study confirms that increasing the number of pharmacists and total prescriptions received are critical predictors of interventions on PEs in Malaysia. It underscores the vital role of pharmacists in enhancing patient safety and healthcare quality, demonstrating their effectiveness in diverse settings and their adaptability to various patient needs and challenges.

Food Insecurity Screening and Referral Practices of Pediatric Clinicians in Metropolitan Washington, DC.

In 2022, 17.3% of US households with children experienced food insecurity (FI). The objective of this study was to examine pediatric clinicians' FI screening and management immediately following the release of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2015 FI Policy Statement. Data were collected in 2016 from 85 primary care pediatric clinicians via an online survey of clinicians in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Descriptive statistics were calculated using univariate/bivariate analyses. Fisher's exact test and Chi-square tests were used to explore the association between FI screening, health insurance, and clinician demographics. Sixty-six percent of clinicians indicated that they infrequently screened for FI. Only 13% of clinicians used a standardized FI screening tool. Forty-five percent of clinicians screened for FI only when they perceived an acute concern. About 70% of them screened for FI when a patient presented with poor weight gain or was underweight. Immediately after the release of the AAP Policy Statement, it was found that few pediatric clinicians appropriately and frequently screened for FI in our regional sample. Our data emphasize the common misconceptions held by clinicians around FI and the necessity to incorporate training that underscores the invisibility of FI along with effective techniques to screen and intervene.

On the Consistency of Stochastic Noise Properties and Velocity Estimations from Different Analysis Strategies and Centers with Environmental Loading and CME Corrections

The analysis of the Global NFavigation Satellite System (GNSS) time series provides valuable information for geodesy and geodynamics researcFh. Precise data analysis strategies are crucial for accurately obtaining the linear velocity of GNSS stations, enabling high-precision applications of GNSS time series. This study investigates the impact of different stochastic noise models on velocity estimations derived from GNSS time series, specifically under conditions of environmental loading correction and common mode error (CME) removal. By comparing data from various data centers, we find that post-correction, different analysis strategies exhibit high consistency in their noise characteristics and velocity estimation results. Across various analysis strategies, the optimal noise models were predominantly Power Law with White Noise (PLWN) and Fractional Noise with White Noise (FNWN), with the optimal noise models including COMB/JPL, COMB/SOPAC, and COMB/NGL for approximately 50% of the datasets. Most of the stations (approximately 80%) showed velocity differences below 0.3 mm/year and velocity estimation uncertainties below 0.1 mm/year. Nonetheless, variations in amplitudes and periodic signals persisted due to differences in the processing of raw GNSS observations. For instance, the NGL and JPL datasets, which were processed using GipsyX 2.1 software, showed higher amplitudes of the 5.5-day periodic signal. These findings provide a solid empirical foundation for advancing data analysis methods and enhancing the reliability of GNSS time series results in future research.

Abstract B038: Developing and refining a digital skin cancer intervention among Hispanics

Abstract Background: Over the last 20 years, the incidence of melanoma in Hispanic populations has increased by 20%. The mortality rate of Hispanics is higher compared to non-Hispanic whites. In general, compared to NHW, Hispanics diagnosed with melanoma are younger, have thicker tumors, and have worse survival rates. Skin cancer can be prevented with regular sun protection, and early detection can improve skin cancer outcomes. This study aimed to refine and develop a culturally relevant mobile-based skin cancer prevention intervention for Hispanics through group and individual interviews. Methods: Three focus groups of Hispanics at risk for skin cancer and eight individual interviews with key stakeholders, including healthcare providers and community leaders, were conducted via Zoom. Participants were shown culturally relevant messages developed from previous community interviews and provided further feedback to improve and enhance both the messages and intervention design. The interviews lasted for 60-90 minutes and participants received up to $70 electronic gift cards as an incentive. Results: The focus group (two in English and one in Spanish) participants (n=18), aged 18 to 60 years (M=30). Of these participants, 61.1% were female (n=11), and half reported having an educational level lower than a bachelor's degree. Additionally, more than half of the group indicated a household income below $50,000. Among the eight individual interviews with healthcare providers and community leaders, the participants aged from 18 to 56 and reported being family workers, student group leaders, church leaders, and nurses. Emerging themes from the interviews included: 1) messages and images developed from previous community interviews were relatable and informative; 2) the majority favored visuals with text, and preferred a combination of human and cartoon images; 3) information related to general sun protection and skin examination, such as melanoma and SPF needed to be included, as well as information regarding health literacy such as how to effectively find health information and communicate with a health care provider; 4) some common misconceptions, such as the effectiveness of sunscreen on dark skin and reapplication times, were identified. Additionally, participants expressed hesitancy about undergoing skin examination by oneself and/or a doctor, highlighting the importance of providing more detailed guidance to address misperceptions and enhance adherence. Gender differences in adhering to skin protection measures were evident, with women demonstrating greater commitment despite men's higher melanoma rates and sun exposure, emphasizing the need for targeting of men. Conclusions: Participants expressed satisfaction with the intervention's relevance and informativeness for skin cancer education and promoting preventive behaviors. Insights and new ideas regarding intervention design gained from both the interviews will refine the final intervention, enhancing its cultural relevance and effectiveness in preventing skin cancer among the Hispanic community. Behavioral and Social Science: Community-based Interventions Citation Format: Niu Zhaomeng, Karen Dhami, Yonaira Rivera, Emily Peters, Jemima Baskar, Carolina Lozada, Carolyn Heckman. Developing and refining a digital skin cancer intervention among Hispanics [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B038.

If there is waste, there is a system: Understanding Victoria's circular economy transition from a systems thinking perspective

Governments around the world have started adopting circular economy policies with the aim of transitioning production and consumption systems to be more circular. This transition requires a holistic approach to overcome a multitude of interdependent challenges. To understand how the State of Victoria, Australia is transitioning to a circular economy, this paper uses a systems thinking approach to analyse the current ecosystem. Using data from multiple sources, Causal Loop Diagrams to depict sub-systems were developed and validated through focus group workshops. We found that there is a heavy reliance on the resource recovery and recycling sector, both at industry level and policy interventions. Common misconceptions that circular economy is an advanced recycling strategy was found to be a major barrier for the transition. Policies to overcome these misconceptions and developing accepted circularity indicators focusing on the design stage and upfront considerations of downstream end of life impacts would enable a holistic transition.

Abstract A134: Overcoming barriers to prostate cancer screening: A tethered educational video and mobile screening program

Abstract Background: Prostate cancer (PC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. One in 8 White and 1 in 6 Black men will be diagnosed with PC in their lifetime. The current prostate cancer screening (PCS) guidelines recommend shared decision making to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of PCS. In Philadelphia, among men over 40 years of age, only 39% and 18% have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of PCS with a provider, respectively. Among men over 50 years of age, only 47% have had a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test. This research evaluated an educational video designed to increase awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of PCS and provided access to mobile PSA screening among the diverse men in Philadelphia. Methods: Between April-May 2024, we enrolled men aged 40+ at community events within and around the city of Philadelphia and excluded men who previously participated in the study. Screening events were advertised through social media, printed flyers, emails, and text messages disseminated by labor union administrators to union members. Participants completed a questionnaire which examined PC and PCS knowledge, decisional conflict, and likelihood to screen before and after viewing a 12-minute educational video on an iPad or personal device. The video consisted of a conversation between a local pastor, who is a Black PC survivor, and a urologist. The video included the pastor’s personal experience with PC and allowed him and the urologist to have the opportunity to address common PC misconceptions and myths. After the video, participants provided video feedback. A $10 gift card and giveaways were offered before presenting the option for on-site PSA draws by a licensed phlebotomist. Results: A total of 133 men (38% Black; 56% White, 10% Hispanic; mean age of 53 years old (s.d.=10.4)) completed the pre and post questionnaires. A total of 61% of participants had never had a PSA test. Twenty-two percent did not know blood testing was an option, and 28% did not know they needed a PSA test. Thirty-two percent of participants would have been somewhat or very unlikely to get screened without this program. Having the screening option come to their community or place of work was the determining factor for 81% of screened participants. After watching the video, PC knowledge improved in 6 of 10 items (overall knowledge score pre vs. post p&amp;lt;.01). Post video, decisional conflict was reduced in 9 of the 10 questionnaire items (each item had a p≤.001). A total of 95% of participants stated ‘yes’, they would undergo PCS after watching the video versus 69% being either somewhat or very likely to get screened before watching the video (p&amp;lt;0.001). All 95% were screened on-site. The video information was deemed useful to 99% and credible by 97% of respondents. Conclusion: This educational video increased PCS awareness, intention to screen for PC, and completion of PCS. When coupled with an educational video, mobile PSA screening initiatives are an effective and efficient way to increase access to PSA screening for diverse men. Citation Format: Mallorie C. Jones, William Buckley, Alexandra Cordoba, Suji Kim, David Barreto, Debanjan Pain, Vivian Nguyen, Blane Newberry, Daniel Lee, Carmen E. Guerra. Overcoming barriers to prostate cancer screening: A tethered educational video and mobile screening program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A134.

Abstract B083: Community-based knowledge-to-action translation to improve early detection of prostate cancer among Black individuals

Abstract Introduction: Black individuals have 70-80% higher incidence and 120% higher mortality from prostate cancer when compared to all other groups in the US. This is the largest racial disparity in cancer-related mortality in the US and has persisted over the last five decades despite improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. Our previous work demonstrated that intensified screening practices could reduce prostate cancer mortality among Black individuals. Challenges impede the translation of these findings into real-world interventions and practices. The objective of this study was to design a patient-centered and culturally tailored knowledge toolkit to improve the knowledge and awareness of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in Black individuals to facilitate informed shared-decision making between Black patients and primary care providers. Methods: Using a community-partnered participatory research approach, we convened a working group of Black prostate cancer survivors and community advocates, and clinicians, researchers, and health communications specialists. During monthly meetings, the working group followed Graham’s Knowledge-to-Action framework to synthesize information from: 1) peer-reviewed literature on the use of shared decision-making aids; 2) interviews conducted by our research team with Black individuals regarding barriers and facilitators to access PSA testing; and 3) community input on PSA testing and prostate cancer early detection. We then facilitated four iterative design sessions with the working group to develop recommendations for toolkit content, framing, and format. Results: With the working group, we designed a comprehensive set of resources to increase knowledge and awareness of PSA testing for early detection of prostate cancer among Black individuals. The design framework includes detailed recommendations on the content, framing, and format for resources contained in the toolkit. Recommendations encompass: 1) interactive web-based documents that cover comprehensive information about prostate cancer risk and screening; 2) printable shared decision-making documents that present evidence-based information about the use of PSA testing to guide conversations between Black individuals and their primary care providers; and 3) educational videos focused on prostate cancer fundamentals and dispelling common misconceptions about prostate cancer risk and screening, with content delivered by Black prostate cancer survivors and interviews with Black providers and prostate cancer researchers. Conclusion: This study addressed the need for a community-developed approach to increasing knowledge and awareness about prostate cancer screening and early detection in an accessible, culturally tailored, and accurate manner. We used a collaborative process that centered the experiences of Black prostate cancer survivors and advocates in the design of a toolkit that can facilitate decision-making discussions between Black individuals and their care providers for use of PSA testing for prostate cancer screening. Citation Format: Jenney R. Lee, Sung Min Kim, Yohali Burrola- Mendez, Dante' Morehead, Marty Chakoian, Michael Ware, Kojo Ward, Floyd Gossett, Vida Henderson, Patricia Egwuatu, Burcu Darst, John Masembe, Erika M. Wolff, Yaw A Nyame. Community-based knowledge-to-action translation to improve early detection of prostate cancer among Black individuals [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B083.

P > 0.05 is Good: The NORD-h Protocol for Several Hypothesis Analysis Based on Known Risks, Costs, and Benefits.

Statistical testing in medicine is a controversial and commonly misunderstood topic. Despite decades of efforts by renowned associations and international experts, fallacies such as nullism, the magnitude fallacy, and dichotomania are still widespread within clinical and epidemiological research. This can lead to serious health errors (e.g., misidentification of adverse reactions). In this regard, our work sheds light on another common interpretive and cognitive error: the fallacy of high significance, understood as the mistaken tendency to prioritize findings that lead to low p-values. Indeed, there are target hypotheses (e.g., a hazard ratio of 0.10) for which a high p-value is an optimal and desirable outcome. Accordingly, we propose a novel method that goes beyond mere null hypothesis testing by assessing the statistical surprise of the experimental result compared to the prediction of several target assumptions. Additionally, we formalize the concept of interval hypotheses based on prior information about costs, risks, and benefits for the stakeholders (NORD-h protocol). The incompatibility graph (or surprisal graph) is adopted in this context. Finally, we discuss the epistemic necessity for a descriptive, (quasi) unconditional approach in statistics, which is essential to draw valid conclusions about the consistency of data with all relevant possibilities, including study limitations. Given these considerations, this new protocol has the potential to significantly impact the production of reliable evidence in public health.

Total sugar content of pre-packaged beverages available in Saudi Arabia

Beverages are a major source of sugar; therefore, efforts to reduce sugar consumption focus on limiting sugary drinks. This is a descriptive observational analysis study of pre-packaged beverages. The analysis covered 12 beverage categories and 28 types of commonly available sugars in beverages. The beverages' median total sugar was determined and assessed based on the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended upper limit of sugar intake and the multiple traffic light labeling (MTL) criteria. Different analyses were performed including frequencies and median to determine the categories with high sugar content and non-parametric tests to compare the median of the total sugar among categories. The median total sugar content of the 1400 analyzed beverages was 11 g 100 mL-1; fruit juices and soft drinks had the highest median of total sugar (12 – 11 g 100 mL-1). The top sugar terms found are White sugar, Sucrose, High-fructose corn syrup, and Glucose syrup. The median total sugar in our study amounts to 20 % of the WHO upper limit recommendation, and 46.22 % of the beverages received a ‘red’ label for sugar content per 100 mL based on the MTL criteria. Sugar content in the pre-packaged beverages is high compared to the recommended daily limit of sugar.

Sausage meat product enriched by jida

The development strategy aimed at creating the independence of the use of our raw materials by domestic meat producers is currently achieving the following goals: building modern production facilities and introducing new primary and processing technologies; expanding the assortment of meat products. The scientific research works carried out during the development of technology for the production of meat products by replacing a certain amount of beef or chicken with vegetable raw materials are important. Production of meat products based on these raw materials allows effective use of local raw materials, production of functional products and expansion of the range of meat products. The purpose of the study is to consider the features of the production technology of sausage meat product enriched with jida. The article presents the processing of the meat product production technology by enriching its composition with raw materials of vegetable origin - jida powder and the analysis of the mineral content of the finished product. The research work was carried out at the "Food Engineering" department of the M. Auezov South Kazakhstan University and at the "Construction and Biochemical Materials" regional test laboratory of engineering profile. Raster electron microscope (REM) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) methods were used to determine the amount of mineral substances in meat products - sausage. The specialty of this work is the technology of product production using vegetable raw materials to enrich the content of meat products - sausages with minerals. Vegetable raw material - jida powder, by using it in the production of functional meat products, enriches the mineral content of meat products, and also by replacing a small part of meat raw materials, contributes to increasing the yield of the product. Jida powder is a vegetable raw material that is soluble in cold water and rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, flavonoids and organic acids and does not cause losses in the production of food product. Jida powder production technology consists of: cleaning berries from dust and impuri[1]ties (passing them through a sorting fan); crushing (optimal duration of berry crushing in the IV-1 crusher τ= 52-65 sec, rotation speed of the working body 12000 rpm); drying (dry in the sun for fruits with a high sugar content).

Two-plus-two fringe projection profilometry based on phase-shifted coding

In fringe projection profilometry based on temporal phase unwrapping, determining a fringe order map commonly requires a large number of fringes. To reduce the fringe number, this paper proposes a concise absolute phase retrieval algorithm just by projecting four fringes. The first two orthogonal fringes with relatively large frequency can collect reliable height information. The second two fringes are designed the same as the first two, but the only difference is that each 2π-phase of them is shifted by a unique amount, which can robustly label a large number of fringe orders. For decoding the fringes, we develop an average intensity one-time extraction algorithm, which allows for the rapid acquisition of the two pairs of alternating current components. From this, the wrapped phase containing height information and the stair-coded phase providing fringe orders can be directly extracted by arctangent operation in a point-to-point manner. Furthermore, we also develop a universal fringe order correction algorithm that can simultaneously correct the common errors and the misalignment between the wrapped phase and fringe orders. Experiment results demonstrate that this method achieves comparable accuracy and adaptability to the phase-coding method, while utilizing two fewer fringes.

Placental growth factor alleviates hyperglycemia-induced trophoblast pyroptosis by regulating mitophagy.

Hyperglycemia is closely related to trophoblast dysfunction during pregnancy and results in suppressed invasion, migration, and pro-inflammatory cell death of trophoblasts. Hyperglycemia is a dependent risk factor for gestational hypertension accompanied by decreased placental growth factor (PLGF), which is important for maternal and fetal development. However, there is currently a lack of evidence to support whether PLGF can alleviate trophoblast cell dysfunction caused by high blood sugar. Here, we aim to clarify the effect of hyperglycemia on trophoblast dysfunction and determine how PLGF affects this process. The changes in placental tissue histomorphology from gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients were compared with those of normal placentas. HTR8/SVneo cells were cultured in different amounts of glucose to examine cellular pyroptosis, migration, and invasion as well as PLGF levels. Furthermore, the levels of pyroptosis-related proteins (NLRP3, pro-caspase1, caspase1, IL-1β, and Gasdermin D [GSDMD]) as well as autophagy-related proteins (LC3-II, Beclin1, and p62) were examined by Western blotting. The GFP-mRFP-LC3-II system and transmission electron microscopy were used to detect mitophagy levels, and small interfering RNAs targeting BCL2 Interacting Protein 3 (siBNIP3) and PTEN-induced kinase 1 (siPINK1) were used to determine the role of mitophagy in pyroptotic death of HTR-8/SVneo cells. Our results show that hyperglycemia upregulates NLRP3, pro-caspase1, caspase1, IL-1β at the protein level in GDM patients. High glucose (HG, 25 mM) inhibits viability, invasion, and migration of trophoblast cells while suppressing superoxide dismutase levels and promoting malondialdehyde production, thus leading to a senescence associated beta-gal-positive cell burst. PLGF levels in nucleus and the cytosol are also inhibited by HG, whereas PLGF treatment inhibited pyroptosis-related protein levels of NLRP3, pro-caspase1, caspase1, IL-1β, and GSDMD, Gasdermin D N-terminal domain (GSDMD-N). HG-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and BNIP3 and PINK1/Parkin expression. Knocking down BINP3 and PINK1 abolished the protective role of PLGF by preventing mitophagy. PLGF inhibited hyperglycemia, while PLGF reversed hyperglycemic injury by promoting mitophagy via the BNIP3/PINK1/Parkin pathway. Altogether, these results suggest that PLGF may protect against trophoblast dysfunction in diabetes.

Evaluation of the Impact of Infusion Set Design on the Particulate Load Induced by Vancomycin-Piperacillin/Tazobactam Incompatibility.

Drug incompatibilities are among the most common medication errors in intensive care units. A precipitate can form and block the catheter or cause an adverse event in the patient. Intensive care units have implemented various strategies for limiting the occurrence of these incompatibilities, which have already been studied in vitro under standardized conditions. The objective of the present in vitro study was to continue these assessments by determining the impact of the infusion line geometry and the drugs' position in the infusion set-up on the prevention of vancomycin-piperacillin/tazobactam incompatibility. Infusion lines with a different common volume, a multilumen medical infusion device, a dilute vancomycin solution, and separate infusions of incompatible drugs were evaluated separately. The infusion line outlet was connected to a dynamic particle counter. Reducing the common volume, using multilumen medical devices, or spacing out the two incompatible drugs on the infusion line did not prevent the occurrence of a significant particulate load. Only dilution of the vancomycin solution was associated with a significantly lower particulate load and the absence of drug incompatibility. Our results show that under specific conditions, it is possible to reduce particulate contamination considerably.

Exploring Sources of Errors in L3 English Production of Natives of Moroccan Arabic

Language learners’ writing products can provide insights into how these learners acquire the target language through the analysis of the committed errors. Indeed, research has revealed that error analysis in writing essays is crucial for understanding and improving language acquisition by identifying common errors, and their sources, and informing teaching strategies to address these issues. The current paper aims to identify, describe and analyze errors committed by Moroccan secondary school students in writing. The study also attempts to determine some of the possible causes of the errors to offer an understanding of how linguistic interference influences the foreign language learning process. To this end, a sample of tasks written in English by a group of 20 secondary school students was collected. Then, an analysis procedure was conducted to analyze errors and explain their sources. Hence, this study adopts a mixed-method approach design to generate qualitative as well as quantitative data by identifying error categories and calculating the total number of error types and sources, respectively. The findings show that the errors are committed both at the word as well as the sentential level including lexical, grammatical, substance, and syntactic errors. Besides, the results indicate that learners commit errors in their English writings partly due to interference of Moroccan or Standard Arabic and French, but mostly due to other developmental sources within the scope of the target language. These findings offer valuable insights into how learners acquire a second or foreign language and what obstacles they encounter in the learning process and, thus, could suggest some implications to reduce the errors caused by negative language transfer and improve learners’ language proficiency.

Understanding teacher research: benefits and misconceptions

Teacher research (TR) has various forms such as action research, collaborative action research, exploratory action research, exploratory practice, evaluative research, and lesson study. Teacher research plays a crucial role in enhancing best classroom practices and empowering teachers to continue their professional development. This article defines TR, discusses its common types, its benefits for teacher educators, practitioners, teacher-researchers as well as student-teachers. It also addresses common misconceptions about TR and highlights its importance as an effective CPD activity.