Moderating Effect Research Articles

Cast Extruded Films Based on Polyhydroxyalkanoate/Poly(lactic acid) Blend with Herbal Extracts Hybridized with Zinc Oxide

The aim of the presented work was to functionalize a blend based on polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA): poly(hydroxybutyrate (PHB) with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and a mixture of three selected herb extracts, namely, Hypericum L., Urtica L. and Chelidonium L., (E), zinc oxide (ZnO) and a combined system (EZnO), produced via extrusion. Before processing with bioresin, the natural modifiers were characterized using thermal analysis, FTIR and antimicrobial tests. The results revealed interactions between the extracts and the filler, leading to higher thermal stability in EZnO than when using E alone. Moreover, the mixture of extracts exhibited antimicrobial properties toward both Gram-negative (S. aureus) as well as Gram-positive bacteria (E. coli). Modified regranulates were transformed into films by cast extrusion. The influence of the additives on thermal (DSC, TGA and OIT), mechanical, barrier (WVTR and OTR), morphological (FTIR) and optical properties was investigated. The EZnO additive had the highest impact on the mechanical, barrier (OTR and WVTR) and optical properties of the bioresin. The microbial test results revealed that PHA-EZnO exhibited higher activity than PHA-ZnO and PHA-E and also reduced the number of S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans cells. The findings confirmed the synergistic effect between the additive components. Modified polyester films did not eliminate the phi6 bacteriophage particles completely, but they did decrease their number, confirming moderate antiviral effectiveness.

Is Just Moving Enough for Girls? The Moderation Role of Gross Motor Development Level in the Association Between Physical Activity and Cognition

Purpose: Our objective is to describe the moderating effect of the level of gross motor development on the relationship between physical activity (PA) level and visual perception/memory in girls. Methods: This is a quantitative cross-sectional study with a randomized sample of 85 girls (mean age 7.11 ± 0.74) from Chile. The following models were tested: interaction between PA (light: Model 1; moderate–vigorous: Model 2; vigorous: Model 3; and total PA: Model 4) and motor development level associated with visual perception/memory. Variables that showed interaction were tested according to the Johnson-Newman. Results: The Model 2 explains 13% of visual perception/memory and the Model 4 explains 15%, indicating that the motor development level is a moderator of this relationship. Conclusions: Collectively, our results present evidence that girls with a high level of gross motor skills have a stronger relationship between total PA (and also only moderate–vigorous activity) and visual perception/memory.

Using predatory species and entomopathogenic fungi as alternatives to chemical pesticides in green bean field

BackgroundGreen bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fam.: Leguminosae) is a widely consumed grain legume prized for its edible seeds and pods. It is susceptible to infestations with various pests as insects and mites throughout the growing season. In this study, the efficacy of the predatory species, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens), Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and the entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) Metarhizium anisopliae (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae), as well as conventional pesticides, Mospilan and Vertimec, were evaluated against the most important pests, mainly the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) and the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, infesting the green beans cultivated at two locations Giza and El-Menoufia Governorates in Egypt.ResultsThe findings demonstrate that treatments using C. carnea and M. anisopliae effectively reduced the whitefly population, while pesticide treatments were comparatively less effective. In the Giza plots, at the end of the experiments, the use of both M. anisopliae and C. carnea showed high reductions in whitefly population (85.57 and 84.87%), respectively, while in El-Menoufia, C. carnea (97.74%) was the most effective treatment followed by M. anisopliae (90.32%). Pesticide treatment in this case yielded a reduction rate of (22.76 and 59.67%) in Giza and El-Menoufia plots, respectively. However, for spider mite control, P. persimilis proved to be the most effective treatment in Giza and El-Menoufia plots, reducing the spider mite population to 98.44 and 96.14%, respectively. Metarhizium anisopliae treatment also displayed moderate effectiveness, with reduction rates of 75.62 and 75.37% in Giza and El-Menoufia plots, respectively. In comparison, pesticide treatment showed low effectiveness, with reduction rates of only 23.92 and 53.16% in the two locations, respectively.ConclusionApplications of the predator, C. carnea and the EPF, M. anisopliae were highly effective in reducing the population of whitefly, while the predator mite P. persimilis proved to be the most effective for controlling the spider mites. Overall, the study suggests that biocontrol agents, such as the predators and the EPF, can be considered as alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides for controlling pests infesting green beans.

Sleep as an Important Target or Modifier in Alcohol Use Disorder Clinical Treatment: Example From a Recent Gabapentin Randomized Clinical Trial.

Alcohol consumption affects sleep both in healthy populations and in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, sleep has typically not been considered within AUD pharmacotherapy trials. We used data from a completed gabapentin clinical treatment trial to explore the medication's effect on patient-rated insomnia measured by a standard insomnia rating (Insomnia Severity Index [ISI]) and whether this influenced gabapentin's effects on alcohol consumption. This study included 90 individuals with current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition AUD criteria reporting current or past alcohol withdrawal. Participants were assigned to placebo or gabapentin (up to 1200 mg/day) for a 16-week randomized controlled trial with percent heavy drinking days (PHDD) and percent abstinent days (PDA) as outcomes. Utilizing mixed-effects models, this study assessed medication effects on ISI over the trial. We then examined the interaction of baseline ISI and medication on drinking. Finally, given our previous finding of alcohol withdrawal influencing gabapentin efficacy, we added change in ISI as a potential "moderator" of the interaction of medication effects and alcohol withdrawal on drinking. Sleep (ISI) improved more in those treated with gabapentin (60.6% reduction) compared with placebo (37.8% reduction; P = 0.013). Higher baseline ISI predicted drinking in gabapentin-treated individuals (lower PHDD [P = 0.026] and higher (PDA [P = 0.047]). ISI was an independent predictor of PHDD decrease and PDA increase (P < 0.001; P = 0.002), but this did not significantly moderate gabapentin's effectiveness. Although gabapentin positively impacts both alcohol use and sleep, its effect on drinking is not fully dependent on sleep improvement, implying a direct biological mechanism on alcohol use.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is associated with more alcohol problems and less substance-free reinforcement: A behavioral economics daily diary study of college student drinkers.

Behavioral economic theory suggests that alcohol risk is related to elevated alcohol reinforcing efficacy (demand) combined with diminished availability of reinforcing substance-free activities, but little research has examined these reward-related processes at the daily level in association with comorbid conditions that might influence behavioral patterns and reward. Young people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) report high levels of risky drinking, and this risk may be due in part to elevated demand for alcohol and diminished engagement in enjoyable and valued substance-free activities. College student drinkers (N = 101; 48.5% female; 68.3% White; 18-22 years old) with (n = 51) and without (n = 50) ADHD completed 14 consecutive daily diaries (diary entry n = 1,414). We conducted a series of multilevel path models to examine (a) the associations among ADHD and average daily alcohol demand, substance-free enjoyment, and response contingent positive reinforcement (RCPR) for goal-directed behaviors; (b) the associations among concurrent daily alcohol demand, substance-free reinforcement, and RCPR for goal-directed behaviors and daily alcohol use and alcohol-related negative consequences; and (c) the moderating effect of ADHD on these within-day associations. ADHD was significantly associated with more daily alcohol-related negative consequences and less daily substance-free enjoyment and RCPR. Regardless of ADHD status, there were significant associations among behavioral economic risk factors and alcohol use and negative consequences, though effects differed within and between persons. There were no moderating effects of ADHD on within-person associations. Results expose areas of impairment specific to drinkers with ADHD and advance theory on ADHD and hazardous drinking. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Emotion regulation training for adolescents with major depression: Results from a randomized controlled trial.

Difficulties in emotion regulation (ER) are thought to contribute to the development and maintenance of major depression (MD) in adolescents. In healthy adults, a task-based training of ER has previously proven effective to reduce stress, but no such studies are available for MD. It is also unclear whether findings can be generalized onto adolescent populations. The final sample consisted of n = 70 adolescents with MD, who were randomized to a task-based ER training (n = 36) or a control training (n = 34). Across four sessions, the ER group was trained to downregulate negative affect to negative images via reappraisal, while the control group was instructed to attend the images. Rumination, stress-, and affect-related measures were assessed as primary outcomes, behavioral and neurophysiological responses (late positive potential, LPP), as secondary outcomes. The trial was preregistered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03957850). While there was no significant differential effect of the ER training on primary outcomes, we found small to moderate effects on rumination in the ER group, but not the control group. During reappraisal (compared to attend), the ER group showed an unexpected increase of the LPP during the first, but not during later training sessions. Although replication in large, multicenter trials is needed, our findings on effect sizes suggest that ER training might be promising to decrease rumination in adolescent MD. The LPP increase at the first session may represent cognitive effort, which was successfully reduced over the sessions. Future studies should research whether training effects transfer to daily life and are durable over a longer time period. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Prepandemic to early COVID-19: Changes in couple functioning and links with harsh parenting.

Research has revealed a rise in family relationship problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among couples with young children. However, longitudinal studies spanning the prepandemic and pandemic periods are rare. In this study, we examined changes in couple functioning during these periods. Moreover, we investigated the mediation and moderation effects of couple functioning on the association between COVID-19 stressors and harsh parenting. A total of 545 mothers (mean age 38 years, range 23-48 years) completed questionnaires on couple functioning during the prepandemic (2016-2020) and early pandemic (May-June 2020) periods. During the early pandemic, they also reported exposure to COVID-19 stressors and engaging in harsh parenting (e.g., conflicts and maltreatment). We found no overall deterioration in couple functioning during the early pandemic. Furthermore, COVID-19 stressors did not explain variance in couple functioning changes or correlate with harsh parenting. However, as hypothesized, couple functioning moderated the effect of COVID-19 stressors on harsh parenting. Only for couples with low prepandemic functioning was exposure to COVID-19 stressors associated with harsh parenting. In conclusion, our findings provided no evidence of COVID-19's detrimental effects on couples during the early pandemic. Instead, well-functioning couple relationships appear to mitigate the impact of pandemic stressors on parenting. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Emotion dysregulation and family functioning moderate family caregiving burden during the pandemic.

Since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, additional risk factors affecting family caregivers' mental health have arisen. Therefore, personal stress coping strategies and family dynamics became important factors in reducing the impact of the pandemic on family caregivers' mental health. The present research aimed to estimate the association between COVID-19 stressors and family caregiving burden. Moreover, moderating effects of emotion dysregulation and family functioning on this association were investigated. This study analyzed data collected in April 2021 from 154 family caregivers (Mage=38.79, SDage=9.36, range=22-64) recruited through Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk). The impact of COVID-19 stressors on family caregiving burden was tested, and moderating impacts of emotion dysregulation and family functioning were also investigated. Both COVID-19 stress exposure and stress appraisal were positively associated with family caregiving burden. Emotion dysregulation and problematic family functioning were also positively associated with family caregiving burden. A significant moderating effect of emotion dysregulation was found, such that family caregivers with higher emotion dysregulation were likely to feel more caregiving burden when they experienced more COVID-19 stressors. The current research highlighted the role of emotion regulation in reducing the negative impact of COVID-19 stressors on family caregiving burden. The research also emphasizes the need for intervention programs to improve emotion regulation strategies to decrease family caregiving burden during the pandemic.

Development of Augmented Reality-Assisted Teaching Materials in Science Subjects: Solar System Topic

The minimal use of learning resources and the underutilization of technology in learning materials used in science education have an impact on students' learning outcomes. This study aims to develop and test the feasibility, practicality, and effectiveness of augmented reality-assisted teaching materials in the science subject, specifically on the topic of the solar system. This research falls under the category of Research and Development (R&amp;D) following the Brog and Gall model. The population in this study consisted of 46 students, with a small-scale trial group comprising 12 sixth-grade students and a large-scale trial group comprising 34 fifth-grade students from SD Negeri 3 Bebengan. Data collection techniques included test techniques such as pretest-posttest and non-test techniques such as observation, interviews, questionnaires, and document analysis. The validation results of augmented reality-assisted teaching materials by media, content, and language experts indicated that the materials met the validity criteria. Based on the pretest-posttest results, it was found that augmented reality-assisted teaching materials were effective in improving students' learning outcomes, as evidenced by the increase in the average pretest-posttest score by 39.53, from an average pretest score of 40.68 to 80.21 in the posttest, with an N-gain score of 0.7 indicating moderate effectiveness. The response from teachers and students through distributed questionnaires was very positive. From these results, it can be concluded that augmented reality-assisted teaching materials are effective in improving science learning outcomes and are suitable and practical for use in science education in elementary school grade five

Advancements in daily precipitation forecasting: A deep dive into daily precipitation forecasting hybrid methods in the Tropical Climate of Thailand

Climate change and increasing water demands underscore the importance of water resource management. Precise precipitation forecasting is critical to effective management. This study introduced a Daily Precipitation Forecasting Hybrid (DPFH) technique for central Thailand, which uses three different input-based models to improve prediction accuracy.•The proposed methods precisely combine the biorthogonal wavelet transformation (BWT) function through BWT-RBFNN (Radial Basis Function Neural Networks) and (BWT-LSTM-RNN)Long Short-Term Memory Recurrent Neural Networks. Comparative analyses reveal that hybrid models perform better than conventional deep LSTM-RNN and Multilayer Perceptron Artificial Neural Networks (MLP-ANN). Although MLP-ANN showed moderate effectiveness, LSTM-RNN displayed notable enhancements, particularly evidenced by an impressive R2 (0.96) in Model M-2.•The combination of BWT-LSTM-RNN yielded substantial enhancements, constantly surpassing standalone models. Specifically, DPFH-3 exhibited superior performance across multiple observation stations.•The findings emphasize the efficiency of the BWT-LSTM-RNN models in capturing varied precipitation patterns, highlighting their potential to significantly improve the accuracy of precipitation forecasts, particularly in the context of water resource management in central Thailand.

Different biomarker ratios in peripheral blood have limited value in diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection after total joint arthroplasty: a single-center, retrospective study

BackgroundPeriprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a severe complication that can occur after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The timely and accurate diagnosis of PJI is the key to treatment. This study investigated the diagnostic value of platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), platelet count to mean platelet volume ratio (PVR), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR) in PJI after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA).MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of the patients who underwent revision hip or knee arthroplasty at our Institute between June 2015 and June 2020. Of the 187 patients reviewed, 168 were included in the study. According to the diagnostic criteria of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS), 58 patients were in the PJI group, and 110 patients were in the aseptic loosening (AL) group. We recorded and compared the preoperative peripheral blood white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet count (PLT), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), PLR, PVR, NLR, and MLR in both groups. The diagnostic performance of the WBC, PLT, PLR, PVR, NLR, and MLR individually and in combination with the ESR and CRP for PJI diagnosis was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated.ResultsCompared to those in the AL group, the mean WBC, PLT, ESR, CRP, PLR, PVR, NLR, and MLR in the peripheral blood of the PJI group were significantly greater (P < 0.05). The analysis of the ROC curve revealed that the ESR, CRP, PLR, PVR, NLR, and MLR in peripheral blood had moderate effectiveness in diagnosing PJI, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.760 (95% CI: 0.688–0.823), 0.758 (95% CI: 0.687–0.821), 0.714 (95% CI: 0.639–0.781), 0.709 (95% CI: 0.634–0.777), 0.723 (95% CI: 0.649–0.789), and 0.728 (95% CI: 0.654–0.793), respectively. Conversely, the WBC and PLT counts demonstrated poor diagnostic value for PJI, with AUC values of 0.578 (95% CI: 0.499–0.653) and 0.694 (95% CI: 0.619–0.763), respectively. The results of the prediction model calculations revealed that the combined AUC of the WBC, PLT, ESR, CRP, PLR, PVR, NLR, and MLR was the highest at 0.853 (95% CI, 0.790–0.909), indicating good value in the diagnosis of PJI, with a sensitivity of 82.8% and a specificity of 72.7%. Moreover, the novel composite of parameters improved the accuracy and reliability in diagnosing PJI compared to the traditional biomarkers ESR and CRP (P = 0.015).ConclusionOur study suggested that the diagnostic value of the peripheral blood biomarkers PLR, PVR, NLR, and MLR for diagnosing PJI is limited and not superior to that of the ESR or CRP. However, when the WBC, PLT, ESR, CRP, PLR, PVR, NLR, and MLR are combined, the diagnostic performance of PJI in TJA patients can be improved.

Evaluating REDD+ progress and results-based incentives in Sri Lanka: A comparative analysis across Southeast and South Asian countries

This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation of REDD+ progress in South and Southeast Asian nations, investigating the intricate relationship between specific conditions and outcomes. Utilizing a two-step Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), it identifies the Outcome Enabling Configurations (OEC) that drive successful REDD+ results through transformational change (TC). The amalgamation of conditions observed in Sri Lanka demonstrates moderate effectiveness in REDD+ readiness and implementation. Key QCA insights underscore the significance of active participation in forest conservation, government policies shifting from conventional forest practices, and accessible funds for performance-based incentives, underpinned by formal commitments among stakeholders. Inferences drawn emphasize the need to synergize remote and proximate conditions within institutional and policy frameworks, propelling transformative change in REDD+ policies. Concurrently, interventions in existing forest, climate change, and REDD+ policies are pivotal to enhance core aspects and mitigate pressure on forest resources. Moreover, dynamic monitoring and adaptability are vital for advancing REDD+ goals, particularly in the evolving landscape of developing nations’ implementation.

Romanian Bee Product Analysis: Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial Activity, and Molecular Docking Insights.

Bee products are considered true wonders of nature, used since ancient times, and studied even today for their various biological activities. In this study, we hypothesise that Romanian bee products from different origins (micro apiary products, lyophilised forms, commercial) exhibit distinct chemical compositions, influencing their biological activities. An LC-MS analysis revealed varied polyphenolic content patterns, with cumaric acid, ferulic acid, rosmarinic acid, and quercitine identified in significant amounts across all samples. Primary anti-inflammatory evaluation phases, including the inhibition of haemolysis values and protein denaturation, unveiled a range of protective effects on red blood cells (RBC) and blood proteins, contingent upon the sample concentration. Antimicrobial activity assessments against 12 ATCC strains and 6 pathogenic isolates demonstrated varying efficacy, with propolis samples showing low efficacy, royal jelly forms displaying moderate effectiveness, and apilarnin forms exhibiting good inhibitory activity, mostly against Gram-positive bacteria. Notably, the lyophilised form emerged as the most promising sample, yielding the best results across the biological activities assessed. Furthermore, molecular docking was employed to elucidate the inhibitory potential of compounds identified from these bee products by targeting putative bacterial and fungal proteins. Results from the docking analysis showed rosmarinic and rutin exhibited strong binding energies and interactions with the putative antimicrobial proteins of bacteria (-9.7 kcal/mol to -7.6 kcal/mol) and fungi (-9.5 kcal/mol to -8.1 kcal/mol). The findings in this study support the use of bee products for antimicrobial purposes in a biologically active and eco-friendly proportion while providing valuable insights into their mechanism of action.

Implementation of Archery Class Management at the Pre-Extracurricular Program Stage To Increase Elementary School Students' Interest

One of the non-academic extracurricular activities that can be developed in elementary schools is archery, because it has many benefits at the stage of student growth and development. This research is quantitative with a one group pretest-posttest pre-experimental design. The research was carried out at SD Muhammadiyah Jogokaryan with subjects aged 10-12 years. The sample was taken using a simple random sampling method in classes IV - VI totaling 15 students. The interest data collection technique is by giving a questionnaire before and after the implementation of the archery extracurricular pre-program. The implementation of the extracurricular archery pre-program is carried out by students practicing archery at a distance of 4-8 meters by shooting 6 arrows in each session and carried out in 12 sessions. The results of the Wilcoxon test on the output ranks have a negative rank value between the pre-test and post-test at a value (n) of 2, a mean rank of 3.50 and a sum rank of 7.00, meaning there is no decrease from the pre-test value to the post-test value. The positive rank value between the pre-test and post-test is a value (n) of 13, meaning that 13 students experienced an increase in interest scores from the pre-test score to the post-test score. The mean rank increase in value is 8.69 and the sum of ranks is 113.00. Meanwhile, the tie value is 0, meaning that there are no pairs of data that remain the same between the pre-test and post-test. Apart from that, it is known that the significance value is 0.003 &lt;0.05, meaning that there is a significant increase in the results of student interest scores between the pretest and posttest. Furthermore, based on the results of the n-gain score test, the average value is 0.58, so it is considered moderate effectiveness. The conclusion is that the implementation of archery class management at the pre-extracurricular program stage has a significant effect on increasing students' interest in participating in archery extracurriculars. However, the effectiveness of implementing archery training at the pre-extracurricular program stage in increasing interest is included in the moderate effectiveness category which is allegedly due to limited socialization and facilities and infrastructure for archery sports. The factors that influence archery performance include practice management, teaching methods, class management, and student interest. Meanwhile, teacher professionalism in classroom management also contributes significantly to the effectiveness of learning and increasing student interest. External support such as the school environment and parents also have a significant influence on student participation in extracurricular activities. Keywords: Class management, Pre-extracurricular program, Interest in archery, students.

Implementation of Archery Class Management at the Pre-Extracurricular Program Stage To Improve Archery Skills of Elementary School Students

Currently, archery is a sport that is growing in popularity in society. However, most elementary schools (ES) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, do not yet organize archery extracurricular activities. This is due to the lack of human resources related to archery sports skills. Apart from that, it is also due to limited facilities and infrastructure. This research is quantitative with a one-group pretest-posttest pre-experimental design. The research was conducted at Muhammadiyah Jogokaryan ES with subjects aged 10-12 who participated in the pre-archery extracurricular program. The sample was taken using a simple random sampling method in classes IV-VI, totaling 15 students. The technique for collecting data on archery skills was carried out by giving archery tests at a distance of 5 meters in 12 sessions/rounds by shooting at 6 children. The results of the paired t-test sig value. 0.001 &lt; 0.05 means there is a difference between the pre-test and post-test. The pre-test score was 59.53, and the post-test was 78.13, meaning there was a descriptive improvement. The n-gain effectiveness test result is 0.43, which is in the medium category. Findings from observations by researchers in the field also found that effectiveness was medium-level due to limited equipment and facilities for archery extracurricular activities. The conclusions are: (1) The implementation of archery class management at the pre-extracurricular program stage has a significant effect in improving ES students' archery skills; (2) The implementation of archery class management at the pre-extracurricular program stage in well-managed archery teaching has been proven to be effective in improving archery skills but only falls into the moderate effectiveness category, due to limited equipment and facilities for archery extracurricular activities; (3) Management of archery sports classes at the pre-extracurricular program stage requires planning, organizing, implementation/instruction and evaluation/assessment steps; (4) Support for equipment and facilities is needed for archery extracurricular activities at ES. This is to provide maximum archery skill achievement for ES students aged 10-12 years and as an encouragement for cultivating archery athletes in the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Keywords: Class management, Pre extracurricular program, Archery achievement, Students

Green synthesis of ZnO/catechin nanocomposite: Comprehensive characterization, optical study, computational analysis, biological applications and molecular docking

Herein, a green and cost-efficient approach was employed to develop the ZnO/Catechin nanocomposite. Margosa leaf extract was utilized as a reducing and capping agent in the fabrication of ZnONPs. Catechin extracted from green tea was employed to modify the ZnONPs, and various conjugation strategies between ZnONPs and extracted catechin were explored. Comprehensive characterization techniques including SEM, elemental mapping, EDX, UV–vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, and XRD were employed to validate the successful formation of the ZnO/Catechin nanocomposite, revealing an average crystal size of 49.37 nm. In vitro antimicrobial assessment was conducted on green-synthesized ZnONPs (A), extracted catechin (B), and the nanocomposite (C) against both gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing highlighted the robust inhibitory effects of the nanocomposite (C) at notably lower concentrations (10–60 μg/mL), surpassing the efficacy of precursor compounds (A and B), which necessitated higher concentrations (20–600 μg/mL) for moderate effectiveness. Components (A-C) exhibited enhanced antibacterial efficacy, yielding inhibitory zones ranging from 9 ± 0.01 to 13 ± 0.22 mm against the tested pathogens, outperforming Azithromycin as a positive control. Exploration of Frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) unveiled smaller band gap energies (Eg) of 1.86, 0.49, and 2.14 eV for the prepared nanocomposites (C1-3) in contrast to precursor compounds (A = 4.04 eV, B = 4.03 eV).

Student's Gender Differences in Stress Management Through Communication

The aim of the article is to determine the specifics of optimizing the stress management of boys and girls during the student period through communicative training. The reliable data were obtained through valid and reliable test methods, and a formative experiment was planned and conducted. The results of the formative experiment indicate the moderate effectiveness of the developed communicative training programme for making stress management in student age more effective. Significant gender differences in stress management strategies and consequences of the impact of the training programme were identified. The girls are more focused on the strategy of actively overcoming the problem, planning a solution to the problem, and looking for social support. The boys are more focused on self-control, distancing, positive reassessment of the situation. Indicators of psychological well-being are higher among the boys compared to the girls. The training programme proved effective for the girls in building stress resistance, self-control, acceptance of responsibility, and psychological well-being. For boys, the most effective formative influence was based on self-control, search for social support, and the escape coping strategy. The study results can be used to optimize psychological assistance and the educational process at the student age.

Countermovement-Jump and Pull-Up Performance Before and After a Swimming Race in Preparatory and Competitive Phases of a Swimming Season.

Monitoring performance athletes' training responses can be efficiently completed at competitive events. This study aimed to explore the changes in swimming, countermovement-jump (CMJ), and pull-up (PU) performance following training across a competitive phase, as well as immediately before and after each race. Fourteen well-trained male sprint/middle-distance swimmers (height 179 [7]cm, mass 70 [8]kg, age 18 [2]y), from 3 regional training groups, completed CMJ and PU tests before and after the national competitions in October and May, when race performance was also assessed. Swimming race performance was significantly improved from before the national competitions in October to after the national competitions in May (1.8% [3.2%], P = .044, d = 0.60, moderate effect). Although there were no significant changes in PU velocity, CMJ performance significantly improved from before the national competitions in October to after the national competitions in May (mean difference 2.29cm, P = .004, d = 3.52) and showed before-to-after race decreases (mean difference -1.64cm, P = .04, d = 2.28). Swimming performance and CMJ performance improved as the season progressed, although these improvements were not directly correlated. PU performance did not appear to be sensitive to training or race-induced fatigue, in contrast to CMJ, in this group of male swimmers.

Co-occurring PTSD in intensive OCD treatment: Impact on treatment trajectory vs. response.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with more severe and chronic OCD. However, findings regarding treatment effectiveness of cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) with this comorbidity are mixed. Research aimed at understanding the precise barriers to OCD treatment effectiveness for individuals with co-occurring PTSD may help elucidate unique treatment needs. The current study used linear regression and latent growth curve analysis comparing treatment response and trajectory from patients with OCD (n=3083, 94.2%) and OCD+PTSD (n=191, 5.2%) who received CBT with ERP in two major intensive OCD treatment programs. Although patients with OCD+PTSD evidenced similar trajectories of overall severity change, patients at one site required nearly 11 additional treatment days to achieve comparable reduction in OCD severity. Further, at the dimensional level, those with OCD+PTSD had poorer treatment response for unacceptable thoughts and symmetry symptoms. The moderate effect for unacceptable thoughts, indicating the widest gap in treatment response, suggests these symptoms may be particularly relevant to PTSD. Findings are limited by a naturalistic treatment sample with variation in treatment provision. Findings emphasize caution in using a one-size-fits-all approach for patients with co-occurring OCD+PTSD within intensive OCD treatment programs, as broadly defined outcomes (e.g., reduction in overall severity) may not translate to reduction in the nuanced symptom dimensions likely to intersect with trauma. Unacceptable thoughts and symmetry symptoms, when co-occurring with PTSD, may require a trauma-focused treatment approach within intensive OCD treatment.

Understanding the Factors Promoting Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV/AIDS remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria. This review aimed to identify and understand key factors promoting MTCT and assess the effectiveness of current prevention interventions. A systematic literature search was conducted across multiple databases using relevant keywords and approximately 57 individual literatures was reviewed. Studies focusing on MTCT in Nigeria published after 2015 were included. Eligible studies were critically appraised for quality and relevance. Findings indicate significant knowledge gap (such as misconceptions about transmission routes, limited understanding of prevention methods, delay in seeking testing and care and inconsistent adherence to Antiretroviral therapy) among pregnant women regarding HIV transmission, persistent stigma and discrimination hindering access to PMTCT services, and challenges within the healthcare system such as geographical disparities and inadequate provider training. Cultural practices, including breastfeeding and postnatal rituals, further exacerbate MTCT risk. Male partner involvement emerges as a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of PMTCT. Existing interventions showed moderate effectiveness, highlighting the need for tailored approaches. Strengthening multi-level interventions addressing social, economic, and cultural determinants, alongside culturally sensitive approaches and increased male engagement, are crucial to address MTCT and improve maternal and child health outcomes in Nigeria. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating interventions tailored to specific contexts and populations.