Physical Effects Research Articles

Disentangling mechanisms by which microplastic films affect plant-soil systems: physical effects of particles can override toxic effects of additives

BackgroundMicroplastics, polymer-based particles < 5 mm, affect plant–soil systems positively or negatively, suggesting there are different modes of action. Microplastics, as particles, have physical effects but the leaching of additives likely contributes chemical mechanisms, both of which may be dependent on microplastic size. To disentangle such mechanisms, we established a controlled experiment involving polypropylene and polyethylene films of small, medium and large size, and we evaluated the individual and combined effect of plastic particles and additives (leachates from plastic particles) on soil properties and plant performance of the phytometer Daucus carota and on bare soils.ResultsWe find that additives better explained variation in soil properties (e.g., 44.6% vs 1.3%). Soil respiration and aggregation were negatively affected for additives, likely due to the presence of toxic substances. Overall, such effects increased as plastic size decreased. By contrast, plastic particles better explained plant biomass responses. The positive effect of particles on aeration which may promote root penetration and nutrient uptake, and microplastics itself as a source of carbon potentially promoting soil microbial activity, help explain the positive effect of particles on plant biomass. Plants mitigated the negative effects of additives on bare soils while enhancing the positive effects of particles. This improvement was likely linked to an increase in root activity and rhizodeposition, as plastic particles improved soil aeration. The combined effect of additives and particles, which mimics the microplastic found in the soil, mitigated their individual negative effects on plant–soil systems. As the negative effect of additives could have been masked by the positive effects of particles, simply reporting net positive effects would capture only part of the response.ConclusionsAdditives and plastic particles differently affect soil properties and plant biomass. Additives primarily negatively affect soil properties due to toxic substances, while plastic particles enhance plant biomass likely by improving soil aeration. When examining microplastics effects on terrestrial systems (i.e., the combined effect of additives and particles), the negative effect of additives may be masked by the positive effects of plastic particles. Reporting only net positive effects risks overlooking these underlying negative effects. Plants can mitigate the negative impacts of additives and amplify the positive effects of plastic particles. Our study emphasizes the importance of investigating both the individual and combined effects of additives and particles to fully understand and address the impacts of microplastics on terrestrial ecosystems.

Anelastic relaxation considering physical aging effects in a high-entropy metallic glass

Anelastic relaxation considering physical aging effects in a high-entropy metallic glass

Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Staphylococcus aureus by sequential light-emitting diodes (LEDs) treatment at 365 nm and 420 nm

Frequent outbreaks caused by foodborne pathogens pose long-term risks to consumer health. To proactively reduce the load of pathogenic bacteria during food processing, a novel light-based antibacterial approach was developed by sequential application of 365 nm and 420 nm light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Results demonstrated that after treatment with 365 nm (480 J/cm2) followed by 420 nm (307.2 J/cm2), the reduction of Listeria monocytogenes reached 4.05 ± 0.31 log CFU/mL, significantly higher (an additional 1.8 log CFU/mL, P < 0.05) than cumulative reductions achieved by each 365 nm (2.25 ± 0.92 log CFU/mL) and 420 nm (0.02 ± 0.15 log CFU/mL) treatments. Further analysis revealed that the enhancement in bacterial reduction achieved through the sequential treatment with 365 nm and 420 nm was primarily driven by the exposure time to 365 nm. The inactivation mechanisms were investigated, considering possible photothermal, physical, and oxidative effects. Findings showed that the antibacterial effect of sequential treatment was mainly ascribed to intracellular oxidation generated by reactive oxidative species (ROS), namely hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion. The antibacterial mechanism of two LEDs may result from the sensitization of bacterial cells to excessive ROS, as evidenced by fluorescent intensity measurements and chemical scavenger assays. This research provides new insight for improving the efficacy of UVA and blue light treatment to control food contamination by Listeria.

WITHDRAWN: Comparing the Effectiveness of In-Person and Telehealth Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Psychological Distress and Resilience in People Recovered from COVID-19: A Randomized Control Study

Background: In addition to the physical effects caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the disease is also associated with various psychological problems that have required research and clinical attention. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of in-person and telehealth cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in people who have recovered from COVID-19. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial with a pre-post design, a control group, and a three-month follow-up. The statistical population consisted of patients who had recovered from COVID-19 in Tehran between 2022 and 2023. From this population, 45 patients were selected using a convenience sampling method and randomly divided into three groups: An in-person CBT group, a telehealth CBT group (15 patients in each), and a control group (15 patients). The in-person CBT group received 11 sessions, while the telehealth CBT group received 12 sessions. Research instruments included the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Resilience Scale (RS). The data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The results showed that although both treatments led to improvements in psychological distress (P &lt; 0.01) and resilience (P &lt; 0.01), the effectiveness of in-person CBT was greater and statistically significant. The effect sizes for depression, anxiety, stress, and resilience were 0.37, 0.38, 0.44, and 0.64, respectively. Conclusions: The results indicate that both in-person and virtual CBT lead to improvements in psychological distress and resilience in patients with a history of COVID-19, compared to the control group. However, the improvement rate was higher for in-person CBT compared to the virtual group. In-person CBT led to significant improvements in both psychological distress and resilience.

Filozoficzny zapis dramatu wojny w dziennikach Karola Ludwika Konińskiego

The article presents Karol Ludwik Koniński (1891–1943) as a chronicler of war events, describing the physical and moral effects of the war in his immediate surroundings, as well as referring to the war taking place in a broader sense. The aim is to show how the attitude of this thinker and publicist was shaped under the influence of these events. It is also about relating his reactions to current events and deep personal experiences related to them to the religious reflections and views he formulates on the pages of his diaries, pointing out that the tragic wartime everyday life was reflected in Koniński’s philosophical views on God, evil, and suffering. The analysis refers to parts of Koniński’s diaries entitled War and Notes.

Mathematical and Buongiorno nanofluid modelling to predict the thermal and solutal performance of magneto-bioconvective Casson nanofluid flowing in a rotatory disk

Abstract This study aims to improve how heat and mass move in systems that use viscoelastic nanofluids under magnetic fields. These systems are commonly used in industries like biotechnology, energy, and medical devices. The significance of this work lies in exploring the steady flow of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Casson nanofluids, incorporating the Buongiorno nanofluid model and swimming microorganisms. This research seeks to deepen the understanding of complex fluid behaviors by examining the effects of thermal radiation and chemical diffusion under thermal and solutal convective boundary conditions. The governing equations, which are inherently nonlinear due to the presence of multiple physical effects, are converted from two-dimensional partial differential equations (PDEs) to ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using a similarity transformation. A semi-analytical solution is derived using the collocation pseudo-spectral method within the MAPLE computational software. The study investigates how factors like Casson and magnetic parameters, Eckert number, Brownian motion, and thermophoresis affect the flow rate, temperature distribution, species concentration, and microorganism motility. These results are validated by comparing them with established benchmarks. The key findings reveal a pronounced oscillatory behavior in the temperature profile at higher Eckert number values, while increased Brownian motion and thermophoresis lead to greater nanoparticle dispersion near the disk surface. Higher Lewis and Peclet numbers lead to increased microorganism concentration, demonstrating stronger convective and advective effects. These insights are vital for optimizing drag force, thermal gradients, and mass transfer in engineering applications that involve rotating disks and magnetic fields.

Effect of swearing on physical performance: a mini-review.

Swearing, or using taboo language with the potential to offend, has been shown to improve physical performance during short and intense tasks requiring strength and power development. While consistent ergogenic effects of swearing have been observed across studies, the mechanisms by which swearing impacts physical performance are not fully clear. Swearing has been shown to modulate physiological (i.e., heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance), psychological (i.e., state disinhibition), and nociceptive (i.e., pain threshold, pain tolerance, pain perception) responses, thus making it plausible that these mechanisms allow swearing to positively impact physical performance. A variety of dosages of swearing (i.e., word used, intensity, frequency, quantity) have been reported to improve physical performance. Although habituation to the positive physical performance effects of swearing has not been explored formally through empirical research, habituation to swearing has been observed in other contexts. From a practical application standpoint, swearing represents a low-risk, effective, and inexpensive intervention that has the potential to acutely improve physical performance although the taboo nature of swearing may limit its utility in real-world situations. The purpose of the following review is to provide an overview of available evidence on swearing and physical performance and discuss likely underlying mechanisms. Exploration of different swearing approaches and habituation will also be highlighted and suggestions for future research will be discussed, to more comprehensively understand if swearing can be strategically used for performance enhancement.

The psycho-social impact of cancer treatment on the caregivers of the patients

Objectives The incidence of cancer cases shows an increasing trend over the past two decades owing to several factors, such as increased life expectancy, aging population, behavioral, environmental, and occupational risk factors, and more. Consequently, a greater number of people are expected to take the role of principal caregivers in the near future. Cancer treatment can have a multifaceted impact on the quality of life and psychological well-being of not only the patients but also their families. Caregivers are expected and required to provide complex care and support for which they are neither prepared nor trained. The reports of feeling overwhelmed and stressed are high when the demands placed on them exceed their resources, resulting in a negative effect on the overall well-being of the caregivers, including the patients themselves. The impact covers a wide spectrum of emotional, physical, financial, social, cognitive, spiritual, and work-related effects. Material and Methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted (for over three months from May to July 2023) among the caregivers accompanying cancer patients attending a tertiary care hospital in a South Indian metropolitan city. All the adult caregivers of patients diagnosed with cancer at least two to six months before the time of the study were considered as the study population. A systematic random sample was applied to recruit a convenient sample of 150 caregivers, maintaining the enrollment of only one caregiver per patient. Sociodemographic details of the patients and their caregivers were collected. The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) based on a Likert scale was implemented to collect relevant data related to both the cancer patient and the family caregiver. Results Of the total 150 cancer patients, the most common type of cancer among the patients was head and neck (63, 42%), followed by cancers of the female reproductive system (44, 29.3%) and breast (24, 16%). Nearly 47% of caregivers were children of cancer patients, while 35.3% were spouses. Significantly higher burden scores on the “emotional strain” and “financial/physical strain” domains were observed among female caregivers. Higher burden scores on the “self-criticism” domain were independently associated with a shorter caregiver-patient contact time. Significantly higher burden scores on the “self-criticism” and “time/dependence” domains were observed among employed caregivers. Higher levels of burden on the “financial/physical strain” domain were reported by unemployed caregivers. Significantly higher burden scores on the “uncertainty” domain were observed among older caregivers and caregivers who were parents or spouses of the patients. Conclusion Caregiving impacts the physical, emotional, financial, and social aspects of the caregiver’s life. They adopt active coping strategies to overcome the impacts of caregiving. A majority of the caregivers experienced mild to moderate burden, while most scored low on quality of life. Attention to concerns and the psychological well-being of caregivers may improve the overall scenario.

Acute Psychological and Physical Effects of Transient Exercise with Rest on Japanese University Students with High Sensory Processing Sensitivity

Acute Psychological and Physical Effects of Transient Exercise with Rest on Japanese University Students with High Sensory Processing Sensitivity

Reliability and Construct Validity of the Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire Domains in Patients with Persistent Low Back Pain.

The Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire (WORQ) assesses patient functioning, including psychological, physical, and cognitive limitations. This study evaluates the WORQ domains in individuals with persistent low back pain (LBP), focusing on reliability and construct validity. Individuals aged 18-65 with LBP completed WORQ and the workability index single item. A subgroup undertook sit-to-stand and 6-min walking tests and re-evaluated WORQ after 14days. Reliability was assessed through internal consistency (McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha), test-retest reliability, and smallest detectable change. Construct validity was analyzed via Spearman's rank correlation and known group validity, with physical functioning also examined against sit-to-stand and 6-min walk test results for sensitivity/specificity. Floor and ceiling effects were assessed through classical and scale width methods. Of 425 participants, 149 completed physical tests, and 102 re-assessed WORQ. McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha indicated high internal consistency (0.92-0.96) with strong test-retest reliability (intraclass-correlation coefficients: 0.74-0.82). The smallest detectable change ranged from 4.62 to 7.82. Predictions from 7 out of 8 hypotheses were confirmed. Notable differences in domain scores were observed based on disability level and sick leave status, with varied diagnostic performance in physical functioning items. Potential floor effects were noted using the scale width method. The WORQ demonstrated good reliability and satisfactory validity in assessing work-related functioning in individuals with persistent LBP. These findings support its use as a comprehensive tool for evaluating psychological, physical, and cognitive limitations. However, varied diagnostic performance in physical functioning items and potential floor effects suggest cautious interpretation in diverse clinical settings.

Prevention of stroke and cognitive decline in pediatric population in resource-limited settings

There is an increasing global burden of pediatric stroke especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This is worsened by the specific risk factors in these areas, including Sickle Cell Disease and endemic infections like Tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency disease. Stroke occurs 221–300 times more frequently in patients with SCD when compared to healthy children. Although established stroke units and acute stroke care can improve outcomes, these are often not available in resource-poor settings. Primary and secondary prevention of strokes become a very important strategy to reduce the mortality and debilitating physical and cognitive long-term effects of stroke. There are myriads of challenges with implementing already established global policies and guidelines for stroke care in LMICs. These include paucity of data on this subject, poor knowledge and awareness about the symptoms of childhood stroke, adverse cultural beliefs regarding strokes, lack of screening and diagnostic equipment, inadequately trained manpower as well as nonexistent evidence-based management guidelines in these regions. To address these challenges, simple, cost-effective, stroke care models that determine the process of care and how available services should be delivered have been proposed to suit the peculiarities of LMICs in the areas of stroke risk assessment, prevention, and management.

Experiences of treating problematic over the counter and prescription only medication use in substance misuse services

Abstract Introduction There are growing concerns about the misuse of over the counter (OTC) and prescription only medication (POM), due to the associated negative socioeconomic and health implications1. To improve care delivery, stigma needs to be addressed and more needs to be known about the perspectives of staff who are working in substance misuse services (SMS)2. Aims To use confidential semi-structured interviews, to explore the experiences of community English SMS staff who have supported adults that have misused OTC/POM. Methods This research was conducted across five community adult English SMS operated by a national treatment provider. Individuals were eligible for participating in semi-structured interviews if they had current experience of working in a community SMS role which involved supporting adults who had misused OTC/POM, were at least 18 years of age and provided informed consent. Potential participants self-identified as being eligible and interested in being included, after receiving the participant information sheet. The interviews explored their experience of working in SMS and supporting people who have misused OTC/POM, and potential changes to current SMS provision. Thematic analysis of the audio-recording transcripts was undertaken using NVivo®. This research was funded by a Research Award from Pharmacy Research UK and the College of Mental Health Pharmacy [PRUK_CMHP-2019-2-RG]. This research was approved by Humankind/EDP and Aston University’s Life and Health Sciences Ethics Committees (ID#1655). Results Organising interviews was challenging due to pandemic-related work pressures, between October 2020 and January 2021. Thematic analyses of twenty SMS staff transcripts was undertaken and data saturation was thought to have been achieved. Three overarching themes were identified: characteristics of OTC/POM misuse; different groups of people; and negative experiences (with six sub-themes: lack of awareness of risk of harm; unmanaged health conditions; withdrawal symptoms; side-effects; problematic behaviours; and treatment pathways). Oral dependent use of opioids (especially codeine products), benzodiazepines and gabapentinoids predominated. Polypharmacy and the use of other substances sometimes occurred. OTC/POM misuse was associated with a wide range of adverse socioeconomic, physical, and psychological effects. Unmanaged withdrawal symptoms caused concern, contributed to perpetuating misuse, and sudden cessation in supplies created risks. Discussion and Conclusion This study had a unique focus on the experiences of third sector English SMS staff. OTC/POM misuse (and withdrawal symptoms) should be routinely enquired about during healthcare reviews, and tailored harm reduction, pharmacological and psychosocial interventions offered. Increased awareness, vigilance for associated safeguarding issues, and more training is required. SMS should sensitively consider how to incorporate the views of staff with lived experience to further optimise service delivery co-production. As staff were all employed by the same SMS provider, future research, conducted in SMS operated by other providers, and covering a wider geography, may enable more information to be shared, more participants to be recruited, and the results more generalisable. Repeat interviews and member-checking may improve assurance in the findings. The possible need for different SMS for those who only misuse OTC/POM without exacerbating stigma requires further exploration. Future research should identify if demographic characteristics and treatment needs differ by OTC/POM type.

Exploring lived experiences with tooth loss among fully edentulous patients attending Makerere University Dental Hospital, Kampala, Uganda

BackgroundOne of the most prevalent oral health issues affecting mankind is tooth loss. Besides extractions due to periodontal disease and caries, accidents and lack of dental knowledge can also result in tooth loss. Nevertheless, no known published studies have examined how edentulous patients in Uganda have lived with tooth loss. The objective of the present study was to investigate experiences of tooth loss among Ugandan edentulous patients attending Makerere University Dental Hospital.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional qualitative study using purposive recruitment of respondents. A total of 15 respondents were chosen from a variety of socio-economic groups. Qualitative data were collected using oral interviews in form of note taking and an audio-recorder. The data collected comprised the causes of tooth loss, the physical and psychological effects of losing teeth, the difficulties in managing oral hygiene when one is toothless, coping mechanisms, and supportive interventions after losing natural teeth. The collected data were transcribed and analyzed thematically using a software, Atlas Ti. The generated qualitative data were summarized as text, while demographic characteristics were presented in a table.ResultsOral infections such as periodontal disease (which destroy tooth supporting tissues), tooth decay and trauma from accidents were reportedly the main causes of tooth loss. In case of tooth pain as a first symptom, most patients choose self-medication with over-the-counter drugs and home remedies. They only consult dental professionals when the condition deteriorates. Tooth loss was associated with problems of eating, facial aesthetics and low self-esteem.ConclusionThe present study found that tooth loss was caused by periodontal disease, tooth decay and trauma from accidents. Loss of teeth was escalated by poor health seeking behavior. Tooth loss resulted in pain, eating difficulties, speech difficulties, poor facial appearance and consequently low self-esteem.

Use of Follow-Up Psycho-Oncology Consultations in Urological Cancer after Transition from Inpatient to Outpatient Care.

In urological oncology, the physical and psychological effects of cancer and its treatment post-discharge highlight the importance of follow-up psycho-oncology consultations. This study examines their utilisation and identifies predictors in urological cancer patients after inpatient care. A prospective, single-centre clinical observational study was conducted. Inpatients with urological cancer and ≥5 points on the Distress Thermometer and/or request for psycho-oncological support were recruited, offered an initial psycho-oncology consultation, and can attend up to five online or on-site appointments within 3 months of discharge. The following variables were collected: socio-demographics, psycho-oncological baseline documentation (PO-BADO), psychosocial distress (Distress Thermometer with problem list), anxiety and depressive symptoms (GAD-2 and PHQ-2), and performance status (ECOG). A total of 501 patients were screened, 139 were included, and 108 were analysed. Twenty five patients used psycho-oncological follow-up care (n = 16 online). The final hierarchical model predicting the use of follow-up psycho-oncological support included the two predictors: age (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90-0.96) and anxiety (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.11-2.44). Nearly 1 in 4 urological cancer patients use follow-up psycho-oncology consultations, mostly online. Predictors for this usage are younger age and higher levels of anxiety. To improve care, (1) online services reduce barriers; (2) older patients require support with these services; and (3) screening specifically for depression is crucial to ensure that follow-up appointments are scheduled as a mandatory part of hospitalisation.

Vitreous tissue cryopreservation using a blood vessel model and cryomacroscopy for scale-up studies: Observations and mathematical modeling

Successful long-term cryobanking of multicellular tissues and organs at deep subzero temperatures calls for the avoidance of ice cryoinjury by reliance upon ice-free cryopreservation techniques. However, the quality of the cryopreserved material is the direct result of its ability to survive a host of harmful mechanisms, chief among which is overcoming the trifecta effects of ice crystallization, toxicity, and mechanical stress. This study aims at exploring improved conditions to scale-up ice-free cryopreservation by combining DP6 as a base cryoprotective agent (CPA) solution with an array of synthetic ice modulators (SIMs). This study is conducted by integrating cryomacroscopy techniques, thermal modeling, solid mechanics analysis, and viability and contractility investigation to correlate physical effects, thermal outcomes, and cryobiology results. As an extension of previous work, this study aims at scale-up of established baseline blood vessel models, while comparing the relative toxicity and vitreous stability of 4 ml and 10 ml samples of DP6 containing either sucrose as a SIM, or the commercial synthetic ice blockers (X1000 and Z1000). Using that established protocol, the addition and removal of DP6+0.6M sucrose and DP6 + 1% X1000 + 1% Z1000 were both well tolerated in rabbit carotid and pig femoral artery models, when assessed for metabolic recovery and contractility. Using cryomacroscopy, it was demonstrated that DP6 + 0.6M sucrose provided a stable vitrification medium under marginal cooling and warming conditions that resulted in >50% survival rate. By contrast, DP6 + 1% X1000 + 1% Z1000 was subject to visible ice formation during cooling under the same thermal conditions, resulting in a significantly lower recovery of ∼20%. Thermal modeling is used in this study to verify the actual cooling and rewarming rates in the specimens, while thermomechanics analysis is used to explain why fractures were observed using cryomacroscopy when the specimens were contained in glass vials but not in plastic vials.

Influence of the Conditions of Alkaline Pretreatment of Vegetable Raw Material before Hydrolysis in a Rotor Pulsation Device on the Cellulose Conversion

Introduction. The growing global energy demand, limited fossil fuel resources, and increasing greenhouse gasemissions highlight the need for expanded use of renewable energy sources, particularly biomass.Problem Statement. A significant drawback in the production of bioethanol is its high cost, primarily due tothe presence of hemicellulose and lignin.Purpose. This study aims to determine the effect of treating an alkaline suspension of wheat straw in a rotary pulsation device on the degree of cellulose conversion during enzymatic hydrolysis, a critical step in the productionof fuel ethanol.Materials and Methods. The raw material is pre-crushed wheat straw. The experiments have been conductedwith the use of a rotary pulsation device in an experimental plant.Results. It has been found that the combined physical effects of the discrete pulse energy input method andreduced straw particle size significantly increase the lignin extraction, from 40.0% at an average particle size of2—1 mm to 62.0% at an average particle size of 0.4—0.1 mm. Additionally, the treatment of an alkaline suspension of wheat straw at 90 оC for one hour, at alkali concentrations ranging from 1 to 4% (wt./wt.), results in anincrease in the cellulose conversion during enzymatic hydrolysis from 38% to 65.8%. Additionally, a corresponding decrease in the lignin content, from 17.1% to 3.16% has been reported.Conclusions. Increasing alkali concentration during the alkaline pretreatment of wheat straw using the discrete-pulse energy input method in a rotary pulsation device enhances the rate of cellulose conversion duringsubsequent enzymatic hydrolysis.

Accurate attenuation characterization in optical coherence tomography using multi-reference phantoms and deep learning

The optical attenuation coefficient (AC), a crucial tissue parameter indicating the rate of light attenuation within a medium, enables quantitative analysis of tissue properties and facilitates tissue differentiation. Despite its growing clinical significance, accurate quantification of AC from optical coherence tomography (OCT) signals remains a pressing concern. This study comprehensively investigates the factors influencing the accuracy of quantitative AC extraction among existing OCT-based AC extraction algorithms. Subsequently, we propose an approach, the Multi-Reference Phantom Driven Network (MR-Net), which leverages multi-reference phantoms and deep learning to implicitly model factors affecting OCT signal propagation, thereby automatically regressing AC. Using a dataset from Intralipid and silicone-TiO2 phantoms with known AC values obtained from a collimated transmission system and imaged with a 1300 nm swept-source OCT system, we conducted a thorough comparison focusing on data length, out-of-focus distance, and reference phantoms’ attenuation among existing OCT-based AC extraction algorithms. By leveraging this extensive dataset, MR-Net can automatically model the complex physical effects in the transmission process of OCT signals, significantly enhancing the accuracy of AC predictions. MR-Net outperforms other algorithms in all metrics, achieving an average relative error of only 10.43% for calculating attenuation samples, significantly lower than the lowest value of 23.72% achieved by other algorithms. This method offers a quantitative framework for disease diagnosis, ultimately contributing to more accurate and effective tissue characterization in clinical settings.

Self protective health care in childhood cancer survivors from the perspective of survivors, parents, and professionals: a qualitative study

IntroductionChildhood cancer survivors experience many health problems that they must protect themselves from their destructive physical and psychological effects. Understanding experiences of children about self-protective care will help health care providers manage long-term care plans. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of exploring self-protection care in childhood cancer survivors.MethodsThis is a phenomenological study that was conducted in the clinics and cancer care centers of Urmia and Khoy in Iran. 27 participants were selected by purposive sampling until data saturation. The data was collected using a semi-structured and in-depth face to face interview. Content analysis approach used for data analysis and MAXQUDA 10 software used for data management.ResultsData analysis led to the emergence of “self-protection health care” as a main category, two categories “maintaining physical health” and “keeping a strong mindset” and 9 sub-categories including “abstain activities that may cause harm”, “refusing contact with others for possible infection”, “monitoring symptoms and side-effects of cancer coming back”, “avoiding unhealthy diet”, “knowing about cancer from similar others”, “keep away negative thoughts and emotions”, “drawing on spiritual resources”, “creating a bridge to life again” and “being healthy for the sake of one’s family”.ConclusionAccording to the results of this study, self-protection is one of the most important cares for childhood cancer survivors. Over time, the influence of the clinical team and parents on children’s health care diminishes. Therefore, they should promote their health and well-being behaviors and use a variety of protective approaches to self-care.

Ball Bearing Dynamic Stiffness Prediction Considering an Uncertain Position of Rolling Elements

Abstract This paper considers the challenge of calculating accurate ball bearing stiffness, which is attributed to the uncertainty in the rolling element positions; and it solves that issue based on the simultaneous consideration of these positions and the physical effects of the rotating components. The novelty of the paper consists of the suggested methodology to resolve the uncertainty of the rolling element circumferential position when calculating bearing stiffness. The problem is solved through various formulations of dry and lubricated contact and validated based on the consideration of the finite-element (FE) model. The algorithms presented in the paper allow for the calculation of the resulting stiffness based on the stiffness values evaluated through different ball bearing positions. The approach presented in the paper is validated based on the experimental data. For this purpose, the model of the rotor in ball bearings is built, along with further calculation of the rotor dynamics. The comparison of the critical speeds calculated for the rotor in bearings, which have stiffness evaluated by the proposed approach with the measurements for the real machine, indicates a high accuracy of the suggested method in comparison with the methods that consider the single position of the rolling element when estimating their stiffness. In the paper, further recommendations for the use of the presented method are given, which will be useful for engineers in the field of turbomachinery dynamics.

High-efficiency dual protection of photoelectrochemical cathodic protection coating with In2O3/C3N4/CNT nanocomposites for 304 stainless steel in marine environment

A photoelectrochemical cathodic protection coating with EP/In2O3/C3N4/CNT composite was designed and its anti-corrosion mechanism was further investigated. It was found that the introduction of In2O3/C3N4 not only densified the microporous structure but also enhanced the hydrophobicity, tensile strength and UV aging resistance of epoxy resin (EP) coatings, improving the physical shielding effects of the coating. In addition, the photogenerated electrons produced by In2O3/C3N4 nanocomposites could transfer to surface of 304 SS through the electronic transmission network of CNT under illumination. Owing to its dual protection, the corrosion current (Icorr) of 304 SS/EP/In2O3/C3N4/CNT reduced by 95.8 % and 67.8 % of that of 304SS and 304 SS/EP in dark, respectively. Under illumination, the OCP values of EP/In2O3/C3N4 and EP/In2O3/C3N4/CNT composite coatings were rapidly shifted negatively to −170 mV and −274 mV, respectively, which were both lower than the self-corrosion potential of 304 SS. Therefore, the introduction of optoelectronic nanoparticles into coatings is believed to be an effective strategy for providing dual protection for metals, which not only improved the physical shielding effects of the coating but also enhanced the photocathodic protection performance at the dark state.