Acceptable Level Research Articles

Evaluation of Hydrazide-hydrazone and 4-thiazolidinone Derivatives of Etodolac as Potential Anticancer Agents in Leukemia Cells

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are commonly used for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, have also been found to prevent cancer. (±)(R,S) Etodolac is an NSAID that belongs to the class of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. Various derivatives of etodolac are synthesized to boost its anti-proliferative action and lessen its potential negative effects. In our earlier studies, some novel derivatives of etodolac exhibited stronger cytotoxic effects on prostate cell lines and had similar effects on leukemia cells in pre-screening experiments. Objective: Using the K562 leukemia cell line as a model, we sought to investigate the anti-cancer properties of a hydrazide-hydrozone derivative (SGK-205) and a 4-thiazolidinone derivative of etodolac (SGK-216). Materials and Methods: In the current investigation, SGK-205 and SGK-216 compounds were administered to K562 cells for 24 and 48 hours at concentrations of 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 μM. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT test, and apoptosis by Annexin V-PI staining and mitochondrial membrane potential assays, together with mRNA expressions of apoptotic proteins. The levels of the proteins, HER2 and COX2, were also examined to evaluate COX2 inhibitory capacity. Results: In K562 cells, there was a definite dose-dependent response to SGK-205 and SGK-216 compounds. Results from MTT viability tests, together with mitochondrial membrane potential measurements and Annexin V-PI staining, revealed that SGK-216 and SGK-205 significantly outperformed etodolac in terms of their apoptotic and anti-proliferative activities. The concentration range of 10-20 M for both chemicals was sufficient to start biological responses. Apoptosis was also investigated through the expressions of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. Additionally, gene expression research demonstrated SGK-205 to be a beneficial substitute to etodolac in lowering COX-2 and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) expression. Conclusion: Our data indicated both derivatives to have higher anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects compared to etodolac. An overall assessment highlighting apoptotic induction potential, acceptable toxicity levels, a consistent dose-response relationship, and COX2 inhibitory actions, in particular, indicated SGK-205 as a viable novel therapeutic.

Assessing the health risks of dermal exposure to heavy metals dust among nail salon technicians.

Nail salon technicians are susceptible to potential exposure to a diverse array of hazardous chemicals in the form of dust or vapors. One of the main routes of exposure is dermal contact. The aim of present study was to health risk assessment of dermal exposure to dust containing heavy metals in nail salon technicians. Dust sampling was done on the work surface of 20 available nail salon technicians. The concentration of five metals including cadmium, lead, chromium, nickel, and manganese were determined using ICP-MS. Afterwards, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guideline was used to estimate the potential health risks, including carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, associated with the analyzed metals. Results indicated the mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr and Mn were 0.7953±0.4373, 0.0952±0.0264, 0.7666±0.8629, 0.4900±0.5994 and 1.134±0.4736, respectively. The hazard quotient (HQ) of all metals was within the permissible value, while hazard index (HI) was greater than 1. The probability of cancer risk (CR) resulting from dermal exposure to Ni, Cd and Cr exceeded the acceptable risk levels (10-6-10-4), but CR calculated for Pb was less than allowable value. Implementation of engineering controls such as downdraft vented nail tables and portable source capture systems is necessary. Besides, the use of personal protective equipment such as disposable nitrile gloves, N95 respirator masks, and ensuring proper training on safe work practices is recommended.

Cross-cultural adaptation and construct validity of the Chinese Version of Visual Vertigo Analogue Scale by using structural equation modeling.

Visual vertigo (VV) is a disease characterized by various visual signal-induced discomforts, including dizziness, unsteady balance, activity avoiding, and so forth. Distinguishing it from other kinds of dizziness is important because it needs the combination of visual training and vestibular rehabilitation together. However, there is no appropriate tool to diagnose VV in China, thus we would like to introduce an effective tool to China. The aim of this study was to establish the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of visual vertigo analogue scale (VVAS-CH) and to achieve its cross-cultural adaptation in order to promote its further usage in China. A total of 1681 patients complaining of vertigo or dizziness were enrolled and they were asked to complete the VVAS-CH. The cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and construct validity of the VVAS-CH were determined. Split-half reliability was 0.939, showing a good reliability. Factor analysis identified only one common factor for the nine items that explained 64.83% of the total variance. Most fit indices reached acceptable levels, proving the good fit of the VVAS-CH model. The VVAS-CH validated in this study can be used as an effective tool for diagnosing and evaluating VV in patients whose native language is Chinese.

The development of a cylindrical phantom for nanoDotTM calibration with multiple beam angles

Background: The nanoDotTM dosimeter, an optically stimulated luminescent dosimeter (OSLD), is compact and precise, ideal for various applications like radiation dosimetry. The nanoDotTM requires calibration before use with the detector alignment perpendicular to the central beam axis. It exhibits angular dependence that may impact the calibration factor, requiring the fabrication of a specific cylindrical phantom for the calibration procedure. Objective: This study aimed to develop a cylindrical phantom for nanoDotTM calibration to facilitate dose measurements in composite fields with various beam angles and to evaluate the nanoDotTM calibration factors for different plans. Materials and methods: The cylindrical phantom was constructed using cast nylon material to accommodate the nanoDotTM or a cylindrical ionization chamber (IC). The novel phantom underwent validation for physical characteristics, including dimensions, density, and uniformity. Validation for the calibration factor, using cylindrical phantom (CF cylin) under standard conditions with a 10x10 cm² field size at 10 cm depth was conducted with 6 MV X-rays, comparing it with calibration factor using slab solid water phantoms (CFsolid). The CFcylin for different numbers of beams were determined and validated against a reference IC in various planning conditions. Furthermore, angular correction factors were determined for their application in the single-beam calibration factor. Results: The cylindrical phantom had dimensions of 20 cm in diameter and 30 cm in length, a density of 1.145 g/cm³ and good uniformity. As a result of single beam, the CF cylin, agreed well with CFsolid, showing a difference of -0.069%. The CFcylin increased with the number of beams, ranging between 1.179 and 1.242. Additionally, the angular correction factor increased as the number of beams increased, peaking at 1.058 with 9 beams. When comparing the results to the IC, it was observed that with an increase in the number of beams to 4 beams, the single-beam calibration factor exhibited a variation of more than 2%. However, when applying the CF cylin specific to the number of beams or correcting for the angular correction factor, the dose differences between nanoDotTM and IC measurements were within 2%. Conclusion: The developed cylindrical phantom is suitable for nanoDotTM calibration under single beam angle and in composite fields with various beam angles. The new calibration factors for specific numbers of beams allow for accurate dose measurements using nanoDotTM, thus reducing the dose difference from the IC to acceptable levels. Further studies should investigate its application in clinical situations.

Competitive Pricing for Resource Trading in Sliced Mobile Networks: A Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning Approach

The emergence of network slicing as a flagship technology in 5G networks has not only enhanced network expansion and flexibility in resource management for service continuity, but also provided an avenue for establishing a viable market for resource sharing. To optimize the network's resource usage, stakeholders are encouraged to take pragmatic steps toward dynamic resource sharing. This paper designs a techno-economic model for the strategic interactions among multiple competing mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and their users in a trading marketplace. We formulate the dynamic pricing problem as a two-stage Stackelberg game, where the MVNOs are leaders, and the users are followers. In the first stage, the MVNOs compete to set their differentiated unit prices using a negotiation mechanism while considering system-level network load. Then, the users decide their purchasing volumes to match the prices of the MVNOs. We transform the game-based optimization problem into a stochastic Markov decision process (MDP) problem and propose a multi-agent deep Q-network (MADQN) method that obtains an optimal solution for the formulated game. Simulation results and analysis reveal that the proposed algorithm achieves convergence under the competitive pricing scheme (CPS) and independent pricing scheme (IPS) while enhancing MVNOs and users' utilities at acceptable levels.

The acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness of group cognitive behavioral therapy for Chinese children with posttraumatic stress disorder: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

The psychological need for traumatized children is huge in China. However, evidence-based treatments designed for Chinese children are scarce. This study aimed to test the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral program (Power up Children's Psychological Immunity; PCPI) in Chinese children. A total of 87 children with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in grades 3 to 5 were randomly allocated (1:1) to the PCPI group or the treatment as usual (TAU) group. The feasibility was assessed by participant adherence, satisfaction, and acceptability. The severity of PTSD, depression and anxiety were assessed at pre- and posttreatment and the 3-month follow-up. A high level of satisfaction (81.82%) and retention rate of each session (more than 93.33%) were found. Qualitative feedback reported a high level of acceptance. At posttreatment, the PCPI group had lower mean scores than the TAU group for PTSD (adjusted mean difference [AMD], -6.18; 95% CI, -12.21 to -.14; p = .048), and anxiety (AMD, -2.05; 95% CI, -3.81 to -.28; p = .026). However, little change was found from posttreatment to 3-month follow-up. The findings indicated that the school-based group PCPI intervention was feasible and acceptable. Further evaluation is needed to examine its effectiveness in a larger sample size. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Measurement Invariance of Achievement Motives Model: PISA 2018 Turkey Sample

This study aims to find out whether the achievement motives model, constructed by attitudes towards competition, motivation to master tasks, and fear of failure scales, has measurement invariance in the PISA 2018 student questionnaire concerning gender and school type in Turkey sample, containing 6442 students. According to the results, the model's fit levels with the data were within acceptable levels across gender groups and school-type groups. Then, the measurement invariance across gender and school type was tested by multigroup confirmatory factor analysis including a sequence of tests of four nested hierarchical models which are configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariance. The fit indices of models and the differences of indice values between models were examined to decide whether measurement invariance is established. It is found that the full measurement invariance is met according to gender and school type since the values of the indices for each invariance step are acceptable values. It means that it will be appropriate and meaningful to compare the students based on the scores obtained from the measurement tool within the framework of the achievement motives model.

Assessment of tube well water quality in selected residential areas in Khulna

Clean water is vital for sustainable development, fostering socio-economic growth, ecological stability, and human survival. The study aimed to evaluate the quality of tube well water in specific residential areas of Khulna for drinking purposes, comparing it with the standards of World Health Organization (WHO) and Bangladesh (BD). Twenty tube well water samples were collected from residential areas at depths of 700-1500 ft. The samples were tasted with about 20 parameters, including physical: color, taste, odor, total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS); chemical: acidity/alkalinity (pH), arsenic (As), electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), bicarbonate (HCO3–), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), sodium (Na+), chloride (Cl–), iron (Fe), phosphate (PO43–), sulfate (SO42–), potassium (K+); and bacteriological parameters: total coliforms and E. coli bacteria. Most of the samples were found to have higher TDS (avg. 1380 mg/L), TSS (avg. 620 mg/L), Fe (avg. 20.2 mg/L), K+ (avg. 194.1 mg/L), and Na+ (avg. 439 mg/L) concentrations compared to the WHO and BD Standards. 90 to 95% of samples exhibited acceptable levels of EC, pH, DO, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl–, and SO43–. The salinity levels in most of the samples were excessive to be used for drinking, and the levels were especially very high in samples S-01(Na+ 820 and Cl- 3195 mg/L) and S-04 (Na+ 660 and Cl- 2946 mg/L). The arsenic levels were found to be higher than acceptable limit in S-01 (0.086 mg/L) and S-04 (0.091 mg/L) as well. E. coli and other bacteria in a few samples (S-01, 04, 13, 16, 17, 19) were detected.

Concurrent Validity and Reliability of Video-Based Approach to Assess Physical Function in Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis.

The aim of this study was to determine the concurrent validity and reliability of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International recommended performance-based tests delivered by video-based in adults with knee osteoarthritis. Thirty-two participants (aged 40 to 70 years; 15 men) undertook assessments of 4 performance-based tests via both video-based (real-time and recorded) and face-to-face approaches, on the same day. Outcome measures were performance-based test and the number of technical issues encountered. The performance-based tests included the 40-Meter Fast-Paced Walk Test (velocity, m/s), the 30-Second Chair Stand Test (number of repetitions), the Stair Climb Test (time, seconds), and the Timed "Up & Go" Test (TUG; time, seconds). The Bland-Altman limit of agreement measures, standard error of measurement (SEM), coefficient of variation (CV), minimal detectable changes (MDCs), and bias (mean difference) were employed to analyse the concurrent validity between video-based and face-to-face approaches of the performance-based tests. Reliability was measured using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), CV, and SEM. A high degree of concurrent validity for the TUG (bias = -0.22), the 30-Second Chair Stand Test (bias = -0.22), the Stair Climb Test (bias = -0.31), and the 40-Meter Fast-Paced Walk Test (bias = -0.06) was found. SEM and CV values were within the acceptable level for concurrent validity. There was a high degree of reliability demonstrated for all tests analysed. ICC measures ranged from 0.95 to 1.00 for intrarater reliability, and from 0.95 to 0.99 for interrater reliability. Video-based assessment of physical performance tests is a valid and reliable tool for measuring physical function among adults with knee osteoarthritis via Microsoft Teams (Microsoft Corp, Redmond, WA, USA). Video-based assessment is a promising public health tool to measure physical function in adults with knee osteoarthritis.

Clinical efficacy of curcumin-based functional food mixtures for pain removal

Functional foods have beneficial roles in health and well-being, beyond their basic nutrition. Nowadays, a lot of functional foods are emerging throughout the world. A curcumin-based functional food mixture (Karkuma) was formulated with a certain proportion of natural herbs and spices mixtures with the aim of alleviating pain. This was a three-month clinical trial conducted among a total of sixty patients with chronic pain (30 patients in the intervention and 30 patients in the control group). In the first phase, Karkuma was formulated by appropriately processing and blending mixtures of curcumin, gingerol, mulberry and multi-floral honey as the main ingredients. This formulation was standardized and sensory evaluated by a nine-point hedonic scale. The overall acceptable score was 8.1 (like very much) out of 9. The product safety and acute toxicity tests were tested in a renowned laboratory in Bangladesh and shown safe for consumption. In the second phase, these functional food mixtures claim to reduce the severity of pain and are thus evaluated by adjuvant therapy. No significant differences were found in both groups at baseline observation. After three months of intervention with Karkuma, significantly (p<0.05) relieves pain in the intervention group. However, no significant (p>0.05) decrease in pain was observed after three months of the control trial with blank Karkuma. Moreover, the hematological and liver function tests in both groups were at acceptable levels. Hence, this study acclaims the efficacy of functional food mixtures (Karkuma) against chronic pain.

Abstract 7659: AI-driven hypothesis-free analysis for biomarker discovery: Introducing the Biomarkers Navigator Framework

Abstract The pivotal role of biomarkers in personalizing patient treatment and guiding drug development is well-recognized, with the ultimate goal of enhancing therapeutic efficacy and patient quality of life by minimizing adverse events. Their development, however, is challenged by strict regulations and high costs, leading to sparse and varied data collected over extended periods and through diverse technologies. These variations complicate the harmonization and analysis of the data. Traditional methods struggle to navigate these complexities, further obscuring biomarker identification. For instance, PDL-1, approved as a biomarker by the FDA, has its effectiveness debated in several studies. To address these issues, we introduce Biomarkers Navigator, a flexible and automated analysis framework engineered explicitly for the robust identification of biomarkers. This framework is designed to aggregate, standardize, and store expansive biomarker information, ensuring efficient and traceable knowledge retrieval. By pre-calculating each potential biomarker, Biomarkers Navigator enables immediate and comprehensive meta-analyses, facilitating rapid decision-making tailored to the level of risk acceptance. Large Language Models (LLMs) further enhance the framework's capability to uncover signatures of response and resistance. LLM integration has accelerated the discovery of new potential biomarkers for hematological malignancies by combining prior knowledge and previously obscured associations. Our approach demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale hypothesis-free analysis and substantiates the utility of AI in unveiling hidden biological connections within clinical data. Our findings underscore the potential of AI-augmented frameworks in revolutionizing biomarker discovery and advancing personalized medicine. Citation Format: Ioannis Kagiampakis, Mishka Gidwani, Iaroslav Korkodinov, Georgiy Ponomarev, Etai Jacob. AI-driven hypothesis-free analysis for biomarker discovery: Introducing the Biomarkers Navigator Framework [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 7659.

Abstract 1813: Discovery, biomarker validation, and pre-clinical profiling of a novel PKMYT1 inhibitor

Abstract Protein kinase membrane-associated tyrosine/threonine 1 (PKMYT1) is a negative regulator of CDK1 activity and has been identified as a putative synthetic lethal target in cancers which upregulate cyclin E (CCNE1). We used high-throughput virtual screening to identify inhibitors of PKMYT1 with high lipophilic ligand efficiency (LLE), which were rapidly optimized to potent leads with exceptional selectivity over a key off target, WEE1. Machine learning-driven optimization rapidly reduced mouse hepatocyte clearance to acceptable levels, delivering a compound with best-in-class potency, selectivity, and pharmacokinetic profiles in relevant animal models. Tool compounds from this series were used to validate a differentiated biomarker for sensitivity to PKMYT1 inhibition in cellular models, which could significantly expand the potential patient population. In vivo proof-of-concept studies are ongoing in a variety of cell line- and patient-derived xenograft models which represent the novel biomarker previously identified, to further validate our therapeutic strategy. Citation Format: Alfie Brennan, Jan Lanz, Daniel S. Miller, Oliver Vipond, Noah Harrison, James Aaronson, Anna Hercot. Discovery, biomarker validation, and pre-clinical profiling of a novel PKMYT1 inhibitor [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1813.

Male partners involvement in their wives’ antenatal care and its associated factors in southern Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundInvolvement of male partners in antenatal care (ANC) is an effective approach to improve maternal and child health outcomes. It also enhances maternal healthcare utilization as males prevails decision-making regarding healthcare utilization in most developing countries including Ethiopia. Despite the acknowledged importance of male partners involvement, there is no research data in the study area. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the status of male partners’ involvement in antenatal care and associated factors in Chencha town, which is found in southern region of Ethiopia. MethodsThe study adopted a community-based cross-sectional design from April 1–30, 2022, among 560 male partners in Chencha Town. To collect data, we use a structured, pretested and interviewer-administered questionnaire. The study participants were selected using a simple random sampling method. Analysis of data was performed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 25. Descriptive statistics including mean, frequency, and percentage were used to summarize pertinent characteristics of study participants. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out to detect the association between the independent and outcome variables. The statistical significance was set at P < 0.05 in the final model. ResultThe study found that 57% (95% CI: 53%–61%) of male partners were involved in antenatal care. Age 20 to 29 (AOR = 2.60, 95%CI:1.26, 5.37), more than secondary educational level (AOR = 2.04, 95%CI:1.08, 3.88), being government workers (AOR = 2.03, 95%CI:1.12, 3.67), exposure to information on male involvement during antenatal care (AOR = 4.37, 95%CI: 2.77, 6.91), and males’ knowledge about pregnancy danger sign (AOR = 2.55, 95%CI: 1.62, 4.02) were factors positively associated with male partner involvement in antenatal care. ConclusionThe prevalence of male partner involvement in antenatal care was relatively high, but it still needs to be improved to reach acceptable level. The involvement thrives among those aged 20–29 years, who have been exposed to information on male involvement in antenatal care, have higher education levels, government employees, and are aware of pregnancy danger signs. These factors can be used to target interventions that aim to increase male involvement in antenatal care, which helps to improve the health of both mothers and children.

Computational Pulsatile Flow and Efficiency Analysis of Biocompatible Microfluidic Artificial Lungs for Different Fiber Configurations.

Average-sized microfluidic artificial lungs consisting of rows and columns of fiber bundles with different column to row aspect ratios (AR) are numerically analyzed for flow characteristics, maximum gas transfer performance, minimum pressure drop, and proper wall shear stress (WSS) values in terms of biocompatibility. The flow is fully laminar and assumed to be incompressible and Newtonian. The transport analysis is performed using a combined convection-diffusion model, and the numerical simulations are carried out with the finite element method. The inlet volumetric flow is modeled as a sinusoidal wave function to simulate the cardiac cycle and its effect on the device performance. The model is first validated with experimental studies in steady-state condition and compared with existing correlations for transient conditions. Then, the validated model is used for a parametric study in both steady and pulsatile flow conditions. The results show that increasing the aspect ratio in fiber configuration leads to converging gas transfer, higher pressure drop, and higher WSS. While determining the optimum configuration, the acceptable shear stress levels play a decisive role to ensure biocompatibility. Also, it is observed that the steady analysis underestimates the gas transfer for higher aspect ratios.

Levels of adherence to treatment, illness perception and acceptance of illness in patients with coronary artery disease - descriptive and correlational study

BackgroundUnderstanding the disease and its acceptance significantly influence adherence to prescribed medications, a critical aspect in managing coronary artery disease (CAD). This study is designed to explore the multifaceted factors influencing medication adherence specifically in CAD patients. Of particular interest is investigating the interconnectedness between medication adherence, the perception of illness, and the level of acceptance of the illness itself among these individuals.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 280 confirmed CAD patients who were selected through a convenience sampling method adhering to predefined inclusion criteria. The study was conducted between March and September 2023. Three primary parameters—medication adherence, illness perception, and acceptance of illness—were evaluated using standardized tools: The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8, Illness Perception Questionnaire-Brief, and Acceptance of Illness Scale. Statistical analyses using SPSS (version 25) were used to analyze the data.ResultsPatients had moderate illness perception (51.82 ± 7.58) and low acceptance to illness (16.98 ± 4.75), and 61.8 of them adhered to their medication regimen. A positive relationship between acceptance of illness and medication adherence (r = 0.435, p-value < 0.01) was found. Level of education, type of drug and marital status had significantly impact on medication adherence, and gender, level of education, intention to stop drug and marital status were associated with acceptance of illness (p < 0.05).ConclusionThese results underscore the pivotal role of medication adherence in CAD management. Future interventions should target improving illness perception and acceptance of illness among CAD patients to enhance their overall adherence to prescribed medications and ultimately improve disease management.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Diabetic Patients About Symptoms of Hypoglycaemia in Atbara Teaching Hospital, December 2022 – October 2023

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, which can increase the risk of micro and macro vascular complications. Hypoglycemia strongly associated with increase mortality in diabetic patients. The American Diabetes Association defines the hypoglycaemia as “any abnormally low plasma glucose concentration that exposes the subject to potential harm”, and proposes a threshold of &amp;lt;70 mg/dl. Prevention of hypoglycaemia can occur if much efforts spent in patient education regarding risk factors, food &amp; physical activity, warning signs, and treatment of hypoglycaemia at an early stage. Objective: To identify Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Diabetic patients about symptoms of Hypoglycaemia at Atbara teaching hospital. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study done in Atbara teaching hospital, River Nile state, Sudan. From December 2022 – October 2023. The study population were all diabetic patients who presented to the hospital during the period of the study. Exclusion criteria was severely ill patient or those who refuse to participate in the study. With total coverage sample size was 200. The data was collected by interviewing the respondents through close ended questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed by using SPSS. Result: The male to female ratio equal one. With the predominant age between 20 to 35. Most of the participants HBA1c were between 7%-10%. The duration of diabetes was not exceeding 10 years in 44% of the participants. Majority were on oral hypoglycemic drugs with good adherence to it. Tremor is the most reported symptoms of hypoglycemia. With most of the participants deal with the symptoms by them self. Conclusion: Over all the participants show acceptable level of knowledge toward hypoglycemia. Expressed through that most of them deal with the symptoms immediately by them self. Attitude of the participant need to be more investigated in the future with further studies.

An assessment tool for the international healthy eating report card for preschool-aged children: a cross-cultural validation across Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States.

This study aimed to develop and validate a globally applicable assessment tool of the 43-item International Healthy Eating Report Card Scale (IHERCS) which was designed to assess preschool-aged children's eating behaviours and family home food environments (FHFEs) across different cultural settings. In particular, we examined the factor structure, internal consistency and measurement invariance of the IHERCS across four cultural samples, including Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the US. Convergent and discriminant validity were then conducted. In this cross-cultural study, a total of 2059 parent-child dyads from these four regions were recruited, and the parents were asked to complete the IHERCS. An exploratory structural equational modelling approach was employed to examine two higher-order factor models of children's eating behaviours and FHFEs in the IHERCS and its cross-cultural measurement invariance. The findings demonstrated robust factor structures of the scales of children's eating behaviours and FHFEs in the IHERCS (i.e., CFI and TLI > 0.90; RMSEA and SRMR < 0.08) and an acceptable level of internal consistency (i.e., Cronbach's α = 0.55-0.84). Full configural invariance and metric invariance were established across the four cultural contexts, but full scalar invariance was not achieved. Partial scalar invariance was found only in the scale of FHFEs. The convergent validity and discriminant validity were supported. Overall, the current findings provided preliminary support for the construct validity and measurement invariance of the IHERCS. It provides a reliable, valid and comprehensive assessment of eating behaviours and FHFEs among children in different cultural settings.

Reliability testing of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales 2018.

The Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) is a widely used clinical measure designed to rate and monitor the outcomes of service users accessing specialist mental healthcare. Since its development (in 1996), numerous research studies have confirmed the HoNOS captures the aspects of care that it purports to (validity), and that clinicians' ratings are consistent both over time, and between different raters (reliability). In 2018, the HoNOS was reviewed with updates made to some terminology and other revisions intended to remove ambiguity in the guidance for raters. However, although the new version (HoNOS 2018) was accompanied by a recommendation that its validity and reliability be re-tested this was not undertaken. To our knowledge, this is the first study to re-assess the updated tool's reliability by measuring the level of agreement between different raters. Our findings confirm that there is an acceptable level of consistency between student mental health nurses that have been trained to use the (new) HoNOS 2018. The HoNOS is nationally mandated for use by all specialist mental healthcare providers in the UK. Our findings provide some assurance that, with appropriate update training and monitoring of organisational-level data sets, the original HoNOS glossary can safely be replaced with the HoNOS 2018 to ensure more contemporary routine outcome measurement can occur. INTRODUCTION: The Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) is a well-established clinician rated outcome measure for use in mental health services. Following an international review, an updated version (HoNOS 2018) was published with a recommendation that its psychometric properties be re-tested prior to widespread implementation. To date, only one such study has been published. To test the inter-rater agreement levels for HoNOS 2018. Third-year student mental health nurses received training to complete the HoNOS 2018. Following this timetabled session, they were each invited to independently rate two, randomly selected, videos of (simulated) patient interviews. The resulting data were then analysed to calculate the tool's internal consistency and inter-rater agreement levels. The 55 participants provided 106 ratings from four vignettes. Cronbach's alphas and McDonalds omegas confirmed the revised tool's internal consistency was acceptable. Average measure intraclass correlation coefficients for the four patient vignettes indicated excellent reliability. This study provides initial assurance that the HoNOS 2018 is a reliable clinician rated outcome measure suitable for use in routine clinical practice by relatively inexperienced mental health practitioners with limited training.

Slope Design in Surface Mining with a Total Probability Methodology [Diseño de Taludes en Minería Superficial con una Metodología de Probabilidad Total

The main goal of this research is to propose a methodology for the design of optimal slopes in surface mining, by applying the probability of total failure in the process of determining the geometry of the berm-bench of rock slopes. The rock mass is characterized by being a discontinuous, anisotropic and random medium. Therefore, to design slopes, a deterministic value or Safety Factor that represents the reliability of the design is not sufficient, and the inherent uncertainty of the geotechnical properties must be considered. The stability of slopes at bench level is a function of the quality of the rock mass and is controlled by the strength of the intact rock, the structural rocks, or a combination of both. When the slope has a defined structural control, planar, wedge or toppling failure modes are formed; These, depending on the stability conditions and generates rockfall events. Therefore, it is necessary to apply an effective method to establish the optimal geometry of the bench. The purpose of the berm-bench is to retain and mitigate the risk of rockfall and contain spill from upper slopes due to inherent instabilities, to provide a safe environment for personnel and equipment working near the slopes. The proposed methodology considers the variability of the dip, dip direction, persistence, and friction of the discontinuities. The procedure begins with the collection and analysis of the geotechnical information of the rock mass, which defines geotechnical domains, design sectors and main families of discontinuities; then, statistical analysis and kinematic evaluation are carried out and the conceptual berm width is determined; finally, the kinetic and probability of total failure analysis is carried out, validating the design geometry. The research focused on a domain with 04 sectors of geotechnical design. The results show that the applicable design bench face angle is between 53° and 71°, which corresponds to a berm width of 9.3m to 8.6m and a geometric interramp angle between 36° and 48° respectively. Likewise, probabilities of total planar failure of up to 31% and total wedge of 41% were obtained according to the geotechnical peculiarities of each sector. It was proven that, in the sectors with a greater probability of failure, a lower bench face angle and a greater catch bench of the design berm are considered acceptable designs, due to a greater probability of crest loss. Finally, in the sectors with a lower probability of failure, a greater interramp angle is considered an acceptable design. In conclusion, through the applied methodology it has been demonstrated that the results of the berm-bench design process meet the acceptability criteria of the Probability of Failure. Therefore, the developed method, which considers the variability of the parameters of the rock mass discontinuities, allows designing safe and reliable slopes validated through an acceptable level of probability.

Factors Leading to the Acceptance of Management Information System in Public Schools: A Path Analysis

The study aimed to determine the factors leading to the acceptance of management information systems in public schools. There were 300 Public school Teachers who participated in the study. They were selected using random sampling. The structural factors were management support, social influence, personal IT innovativeness, and convenience. The dependent variable was the acceptance of the management information system indicated by perceived usefulness and ease of use. The research employed a quantitative, non-experimental design and descriptive-path Analysis approach. The face-to-face data collection process was utilized using a standardized instrument. The statistical tools used were mean, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, and path analysis. The findings of the study showed that the structural variables of Management Information System (MIS) such as management support, social influence, personal IT innovativeness, and convenience yielded very high-level results. Similarly, the acceptance of MIS in terms of perceived usefulness and ease of use yielded a very high level of acceptance. Furthermore, the perceived structural variables are significantly related to the use of MIS. Finally, the Path analysis revealed a significant relationship between various factors and the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of MIS.