Core Problem Research Articles

Sexual Health among Thai Women with Gynecological Problems at a University Hospital

Background: Sexual health is one part of quality of life for women. Those who have gynecological problems may find their sexual health problem, and consequently their quality of life, negatively affected. Thus, the objectives of this study were to: (1) study the sexual health of women with gynecological problems; and (2) compare the sexual health of women with different gynecological problems. Methods: This is a descriptive-comparative study design. Sexual health conceptualization by the World Health Organization was used as a conceptual framework. Data were collected from Thai women with gynecological problems, age 20–59 years, who were actively engaging in sexual intercourse, and who underwent examination at the gynecological outpatient department of a university hospital. Two questionnaires were used: (1) a personal and health status information collection document; and (2) a sexual health questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test in the cases of data that did not meet the assumptions. Results: Two hundred and two women were approached, and 140 consented to participate (69.3% response rate). The results revealed that the age of the participants ranged from 21 to 54 years, with a mean of 36.9 years (standard deviation (SD) = 8.1). The mean score of sexual health problems was 37.3 (SD = 12.1); the score ranged between 0 and 114, with reports of mild (1–38) and moderate/high levels of sexual health problems (>38). In addition, there was a difference in significance between women who had dyspareunia and those who did not (p < 0.000), and between women with paleness/fatigue and those who did not display symptoms (p = 0.004). However, there was no significant difference in sexual health problems between women who suffered abnormal uterine bleeding, dysmenorrhea, or chronic pelvic pain and those who did not. Conclusions: The results of this study can be used as a guideline for providing nursing care to women with gynecological problems, covering all dimensions of sexual health, including reducing other abnormalities and various pains in order to promote sexual health among these women.

Cross-informant ratings on emotional and behavioral problems in Nepali adolescents: A comparison of adolescents' self-reports with parents' and teachers' reports.

Studies on cross-informant agreement on adolescents' emotional and behavioral problems (EBPs) are sparse in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to assess parent-adolescent and teacher-adolescent agreement on EBPs and associated factors in Nepal. This cross-sectional survey included 1904 school-going adolescents aged 11-18, enrolled in government and private schools located in sixteen districts of Nepal. The Nepali versions of the Youth Self Report, Child Behavior Checklist, and Teacher's Report Form were administered to assess EBPs reported by adolescents, their parents, and teachers, respectively. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done to assess mean differences in problem scores. Pearson's correlation was used to assess cross-informant agreement. Linear regression analysis was used to explore factors associated with cross-informant discrepancies in EBPs. Adolescents reported significantly more problems than their parents and teachers. Mean Total Problem scores for the 90 common items in the adolescents' self-reports, parent reports, and teacher reports were 34.5 (standard deviation [SD]: 21.4), 24.1 (SD = 19.2), and 20.2 (SD = 17.5) respectively. Parent-adolescent agreement on Total Problems was moderate, whereas teacher-adolescent agreement was low. The parent-adolescent agreement was moderate to low for the two broadband scales and all syndrome scales, whereas the teacher-adolescent agreement was low for all scales. Female gender and ethnic minority status impacted both parent-adolescent and teacher-adolescent discrepancies. Family stress/conflicts impacted parent-adolescent discrepancies, while academic performance impacted teacher-adolescent discrepancies. Nepali adolescents reported more EBPs than their parents and teachers. The agreement between adolescents' self-reports and reports by their parents and teachers was moderate to low. Gender, caste/ethnicity, family stress/conflicts, and academic performance were associated with cross-informant discrepancies. It is crucial to collect information from different sources, consider context-specific needs, and discern factors influencing cross-informant discrepancies to accurately assess adolescents' EBPs and develop personalized approaches to treatment planning.

Altered effective connectivity on rapid automatized naming deficits in Chinese children with developmental dyslexia: An rs-fMRI study with Ganger causality analysis

Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN) is the core defect of developmental dyslexia (DD), requiring collaboration among brain areas to complete. However, it's still unclear which effective connectivity (EC) among brain areas are crucial for RAN deficits in Chinses children with DD. The current study aims to explore the EC among brain areas related to RAN deficits in Chinese children with DD. We recruited 36 Chinese children with DD and 64 typically developing (TD) children aged 8–12 to complete resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scan. Granger causality analysis (GCA) was employed to analysis the EC among brain areas related to RAN, and to calculate the relationship between EC and RAN scores. Compared to TD group, the DD group exhibited significantly decreased EC from left precentral gyrus (PG) to right precuneus, left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyrus (ACG), left calcarine and right angular, from left middle frontal gyrus (MFG) to left calcarine. Additionally, the DD group showed increased EC from right cuneus to left inferior frontal gyrus triangular part (IFGtri). The EC from left PG to left ACG was positively correlated with letters-RAN score. The results showed Chinese children with DD had both defect and compensatory mechanisms for their RAN deficits. The decreased EC output from left PG may be the core problem of the RAN deficits, which may influence the integration of visual-spatial information, attention, memory retrieval, and speech motor in speech production. The current study has important clinic implications for establishing intervention measures targeted brain.

Adaptive, Externalizing, and Internalizing Behavior of Children with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: A Comparison of Three Parent-Report Questionnaires

ABSTRACT This study compared the Behavior Assessment System for Children-Third Edition (BASC-3) to the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Third Edition (VABS-3) in children with and without histories of prenatal alcohol exposure. Data were collected from Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Phase 4 sites. Caregivers rated their child’s behavior using three questionnaires: BASC-3, CBCL, and VABS-3. BASC-3 Adaptive Skills, Externalizing Problems, and Internalizing Problems scores were correlated with comparable scores from the CBCL (Externalizing and Internalizing Problems) and VABS-3 (Adaptive Skills) both within and across groups. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for the BASC-3. BASC-3 sensitivity rates were 78.1%, 80.5%, and 47.0% and specificity rates were 79.4%, 80.4%, and 81.5% for Adaptive Skills, Externalizing Problems, and Internalizing Problems, respectively. Positive predictive values were 87.1%, 88.0%, and 81.9% and negative predictive values were 67.0%, 69.8%, and 46.3% for Adaptive Skills, Externalizing Problems, and Internalizing Problems, respectively. Results replicated previous reports of behavioral and adaptive difficulties in children with prenatal alcohol exposure. These findings provide support for using the BASC-3 in this population.

Age-specific reference scores for the PISQ-12 on female sexual functioning in the Netherlands: a retrospective population-based survey.

Female sexual dysfunction is common in the general population, with age emerging as a significant determinant of sexual activity and functioning. To establish age-specific reference scores for the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) in the general Dutch female population. A retrospective, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted in the Netherlands. The study population comprised 2518 Dutch-speaking women aged ≥18years, representing a cross section of the general Dutch population. The PISQ-12 was used to assess sexual functioning in heterosexual women. The Groningen Defecation and Fecal Continence questionnaire was utilized to demonstrate demographic factors. We established age-specific reference scores for the PISQ-12 in the general Dutch population. Of the 2518 women, 1592 (63.2%) were sexually active and 926 (36.8%) were not. Further analysis focused on the sexually active group: we found a decrease in mean total PISQ scores, ranging from 38.34 among 18- to 34-year-olds to 36.98 among ≥65-year-olds. Older women scored lower in the behavior domain, specifically pertaining to sexual desire (P < .001) and sexual excitement (P <.001). They also had lower scores in the partner-related domain regarding partner problems of erection (P < .001) and orgasm perception (P < .001). With increasing age, negative emotional reaction scores were higher (P <.001). In the physical domain, we observed significantly different scores for pain during sexual intercourse (P < .001) and restrictions in sexual activity due to fear of urinary leakage (P < .001), with the lowest scores in the youngest group. These age-specific references scores of the PISQ-12 provide an overview of sexual functioning of a general population, which enables caregivers to assess and interpret patients' individual scores more accurately. We included only sexually active women in our subanalyses, potentially introducing selection bias for older women with better physical conditions. The study's strength lies in its extensive sample size, representing a cross section of the general Dutch population. Furthermore, the self-administered questionnaire approach helped minimize embarrassment and obtain realistic responses. Our study demonstrated age-specific PISQ-12 reference scores and highlighted associations between aging and diminishing scores of sexual desire, sexual excitement, erection problems, and orgasm perception, while women aged 18 to 34years reported the lowest scores for pain during intercourse and limited sexual activity due to fear of urinary leakage.

Progress Of Low-Temperature Carbonization of Cellulose as Anode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries

With the increasingly serious environmental issues brought by the use of conventional fossil energy sources, and under the idea of "carbon peak and carbon neutral" put forward by China, it has been a global consensus to drive the transition of the energy consumption framework from conventional fossil energy sources to low-carbon, clean reproducible energy sources, and associated energy preservation technologies. So far, secondary battery systems as stable and efficient clean energy storage have been the focus of attention, and the most important energy storage devices are lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), which are also potential battery systems under recent research. Nevertheless, the scarcity and grossly uneven allocation of lithium resources as well as the security problems of lithium batteries have limited the further growth of LIBs. Due to these problems, the scientific community has been back to sodium-ion battery studies. By comparing with lithium-ion batteries, sodium resources for sodium-ion batteries are cheaper, richer, and safer, so the social demand for sodium-ion batteries continues to increase, but the larger the ionic radius of sodium ions, the poorer the reversible capacity, the shorter the life span and other problems still exist, and the development of high-performance anode materials is an effective method to solve the core problems of sodium-ion batteries, cellulose-based hard carbon materials have a green preparation process, favorable ion Cellulose-based hard carbon material is a potential anode material for sodium-ion batteries with the green preparation process, beneficial ion transport channel and special porous framework.

Maternal concentrations of environmental phenols during early pregnancy and behavioral problems in children aged 4 years from the Shanghai Birth Cohort

BackgroundPrenatal exposure to environmental phenols such as bisphenol (BPs), paraben (PBs), benzophenone (BzPs), and triclosan (TCS) is ubiquitous and occurs in mixtures. Although some of them have been suspected to impact child behavioral development, evidence is still insufficient, and their mixed effects remain unclear. ObjectivesTo explore the association of prenatal exposure to multiple phenols with child behavioral problems. MethodIn a sample of 600 mother–child pairs from the Shanghai Birth Cohort, we quantified 18 phenols (6 PBs, 7 BPs, 4 BzPs, and TCS) in urine samples collected during early pregnancy. Parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires were utilized to evaluate child behavioral difficulties across four subscales, namely conduct, hyperactivity/inattention, emotion, and peer relationship problems, at 4 years of age. Multivariable linear regression was conducted to estimate the relationships between single phenolic compounds and behavioral problems. Additionally, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was employed to examine the overall effects of the phenol mixture. Sex-stratified analyses were also performed. ResultsOur population was extensively exposed to 10 phenols (direction rates >50 %), with low median concentrations (1.00 × 10−3–6.89 ng/mL). Among them, single chemical analyses revealed that 2,4-dihydroxy benzophenone (BP1), TCS, and methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (MeP) were associated with increased behavior problems, including hyperactivity/inattention (BP1: β = 0.16; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.04, 0.30), emotional problems (BP1: β = 0.11; 95 % CI: 0.02, 0.20; TCS: β = 0.08; 95 % CI: 0.02, 0.14), and peer problems (MeP: β = 0.10; 95 % CI: 0.02, 0.18); however, we did not identify any significant association with conduct problems. Further phenol mixture analyses in the WQS model yielded similar results. Stratification for child sex showed stronger positive associations in boys. ConclusionOur findings indicated that maternal phenol levels during early pregnancy, specifically BP1, TCS, and MeP, are associated with high behavioral problem scores in 4-year-old children.

International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy Clinical Translation Committee recommendations on mesenchymal stromal cells in graft-versus-host disease: easy manufacturing is faced with standardizing and commercialization challenges

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been used in multiple clinical trials for steroid-refractory moderate-severe (grade II–IV) acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) across the world over the last two decades. Despite very promising results in a variety of trials, it failed to get widespread approval by regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. What lessons can we learn from this for future studies on MSCs and other cell therapy products? Broad heterogeneity among published trials using MSCs in aGVHD was likely the core problem. We propose a standardized approach in regards to donor-related factors, MSCs-related characteristics, as well as clinical trial design, to limit heterogeneity in trials for aGVHD and to fulfill the requirements of regulatory agencies. This approach may be expanded beyond MSCs to other Cell and Gene therapy products and trials in other diseases.

Is there a relationship between nursing students' perceptions of dishonesty and attitudes towards medical errors?

BackgroundUnderstanding nursing students' perceptions of dishonesty and their attitudes towards medical errors is crucial for nurse educators. ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the relationship between nursing students' perceptions of dishonesty and their attitudes towards medical errors. DesignThis study is descriptive and correlational research. The sample size consisted of 230 nursing students in a Department of Nursing at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Faculty of Health Sciences in Turkey during the 2022–2023 academic year. The data was collected between May 15–31, 2023. ResultsA statistically significant correlation was observed between the total score of the Nursing Student Perceptions of Dishonesty Scale, and the Medical Errors Attitude Scale (p < 0.05). There was a positive and weak correlation between the MEAS scale score and the cheating (r = 0.284, p < 0.05), sabotage (r = 0.275, p < 0.05), perjury (r = 0.308, p < 0.05), non-compliance (r = 0.309, p < 0.05), and stealing (r = 0.359, p < 0.05) sub dimension score, and a positive and very weak correlation between the MEAS score and the sub dimension of not my problem score (r = 0.182, p < 0.05). The perceptions of dishonesty explain 15 % of the attitude towards medical errors (F = 4.563, p < 0.001). ConclusionsIn this study, a significant relationship was observed between nursing students' perceptions of dishonesty and their attitudes towards medical errors. Specifically, as the perception of dishonesty increased, there was a positive change in attitudes towards medical errors. These results offer nurse educators valuable insights into the impact of academic dishonesty on the development of medical error attitudes among student nurses throughout their nursing education and beyond.

Tackling loneliness together: A three-tier social identity framework for social prescribing

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the threats to health posed by loneliness. One of the main strategies that has been recommended to address this is social prescribing (SP). This typically involves general practitioners (GPs) and other health practitioners directing clients who are experiencing loneliness and related conditions to take part in social activities—typically in recreational and community contexts. However, evidence for the effectiveness of SP is mixed—leading some to suggest that enthusiasm for it might be misplaced. In this review, we argue that a core problem with most existing approaches to SP is that they lack a strong theoretical base. This has been a barrier to (a) understanding when SP will work and why, (b) designing optimally effective SP programmes, and (c) developing practitioner skills and appropriate infrastructure to support them. As a corrective to this state of affairs, this review outlines a three-tier social identity framework for SP and five associated hypotheses. These hypotheses predict that SP will be more effective when (a) clients join groups and (b) these groups are ones with which they identify, and when SP is supported by (c) social-identity-enhancing social infrastructure, (d) a social-identity-based therapeutic alliance, and (e) identity leadership that builds and shapes this alliance as well as clients’ identification with prescribed groups. This framework is supported by a range of evidence and provides an agenda for much-needed future research and practice.

Analysis of the Efficacy of Atomoxetine Hydrochloride Combined with Psycho-Behavioral Modification Therapy in the Treatment of ADHD in Children

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of atomoxetine hydrochloride (ATX) combined with psychological-behavioral modification therapy for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Methods: A total of 60 cases of ADHD children admitted to our hospital between November 2021 and November 2022 were selected and randomly grouped into Group I and Group II. There were 30 cases in Group I who were treated with ATX combined with psychological-behavioral modification therapy. There were 30 cases in Group II who were treated with ATX monotherapy, and the therapeutic effects were compared. Results: Before treatment, there was no difference in the behavioral problem scores and cognitive function indexes of the two groups (P＞0.05). After treatment, the behavioral problem scores of Group I were lower than those of Group II, and the cognitive function indicators of Group I were lower than those of Group II (P &lt; 0.05). The adverse reaction rate of Group I was lower than that of Group II, and the total effective rate was higher than that of Group II (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: ATX combined with psychological-behavioral modification therapy improved the behavioral problems of ADHD children, enhanced their cognitive function, and reduced the adverse reactions to drug treatment.

Effects of tislelizumab on health-related quality of life in patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer.

This study evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the RATIONALE-309 (NCT03924986) intent-to-treat (ITT) population and in a subgroup of patients with liver metastases. Patients were randomized 1:1 to tislelizumab + chemotherapy or placebo + chemotherapy. As the secondary endpoint, HRQoL was evaluated using seven selected scores from the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ Head and Neck Cancer module (QLQ-H&N35). Of 263 randomized patients in the ITT population (tislelizumab + chemotherapy n = 131, placebo + chemotherapy n = 132), 43% had liver metastases (tislelizumab + chemotherapy n = 56; placebo + chemotherapy n = 57). No differences in change in selected scores on the QLQ-C30 from baseline to cycle 4 or cycle 8 were observed for the ITT or liver metastases subgroup. No differences in selected QLQ-H&N35 scores were observed between the arms from baseline to cycle 4. In the ITT population and the liver metastases subgroup, a greater reduction from baseline to cycle 8 was observed in the tislelizumab + chemotherapy arm than the placebo + chemotherapy arm in QLQ-H&N35 pain score. At cycle 8 in the liver metastases subgroup, the tislelizumab + chemotherapy arm experienced greater improvement in the QLQ-H&N35 senses problems score than the placebo + chemotherapy arm. Differences in time to deterioration between arms were not observed. The current findings, along with improved survival and favorable safety, suggests that tislelizumab + chemotherapy represents a potential first-line treatment for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer.

Socio-economic inequities in mental health problems and wellbeing among women working in the apparel and floriculture sectors: testing the mediating role of psychological capital, social support and tangible assets

BackgroundIt is still unknown whether the mechanisms proposed by the Reserve Capacity Model (RCM) explaining socio-economic health and wellbeing inequities in high income countries can be applied to low-income countries. This study investigates whether different reserve capacities (intra-, inter-personal, and tangible) can explain the association between relative socio-economic position (SEP) and wellbeing outcome measures among Ethiopian women working in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).MethodUsing a cross-sectional design, we collected quantitative survey data among 2,515 women working in the apparel and floriculture sectors in Ethiopia, measuring GHQ-12 mental health problems, multi-dimensional wellbeing, relative SEP, psychological capital (PsyCap), social support (emotional and financial social support network), and tangible assets (e.g., owning mobile phone, having access to toilet facilities). We used cluster-adjusted structural equation modelling to test whether PsyCap, social support, and/or tangible assets mediate the association between relative SEP (IV) and GHQ-12 mental health problems and multi-dimensional wellbeing (DVs).ResultsPsyCap and the size of the financial support network significantly mediate the socio-economic gradient in both wellbeing outcomes. The size of the emotional social support network shows no association with multi-dimensional wellbeing and shows an unexpected negative association with GHQ-12 mental health problems scores, including a significant mediation effect. Tangible assets show no association with the wellbeing outcome measures and do not mediate socio-economic mental health problems and wellbeing inequities.ConclusionsThe RCM can be applied in low-income countries, although in unexpected ways. Similar to findings from high-income countries, PsyCap and size of the financial social support network show significant mediation effects in explaining mental health problems and wellbeing inequities in Ethiopia. These reserves could therefore serve as a buffer for socio-economic inequities in mental health and wellbeing and can therefore assist in decreasing these inequities for women working in FDI sectors in Ethiopia.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Behavioral and Emotional Factors in Pediatric Patients with Headache

Purpose: Headaches are common in childhood and adolescence and are often exacerbated by various triggers. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly altered daily life worldwide. In this study, we investigated potential behavioral and emotional changes among pediatric patients with headaches, treated either before or after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We examined 162 patients who visited our pediatric headache clinic between March 2018 and August 2021. The study included patients with primary headaches who completed a questionnaire assessing behavioral and psychiatric characteristics. We reviewed their clinical features, imaging studies, and scores on the Korean Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL), State Anxiety Inventory for Children (SAIC), Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, and Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI). Statistical analysis was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test, among other methods. Results: The 162 patients (mean age, 11.7±3.3 years) were classified based on whether they visited before (n=81) or after (n=81) the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The average CDI and SAIC scores were significantly higher in those who presented after pandemic onset. In this group, the odds ratio for an abnormal CDI score was 4.971. A weak positive correlation was found between the CDI score and the K-CBCL total problem score, with a correlation coefficient of 0.297. Conclusion: Pediatric patients visiting the headache clinic after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic exhibited significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to pre-pandemic visitors. Recognizing the considerable impact of the pandemic may help inform the management of pediatric headaches.

P173 The positive utility of PSAID-12 score in remote monitoring and the impact of gender and treatment on patient reported outcomes in psoriatic arthritis

Abstract Background/Aims Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that significantly impacts the quality of life (QOL) of patients. The PSAID-12 score reflects the impact of the PsA from the perspective of the patients. This study assessed patient reported outcomes using the PSAID-12 and evaluated the impact of gender, treatment and disease duration. Methods This study was a cross-sectional, observational study of patients with PsA meeting CASPAR critieria. Patients were recruited consecutively from clinic and completed the PSAID-12 questionnaires 14 days prior to their clinic visit digitally or by paper. Demographic and clinical data, including age, gender, disease duration, medication were collected. Disease activity was measured using the the tender/swollen joint count, patient/physician assessment and CRP. Results The total number of patients in the study was n = 225. The female:male ratio was 1.0:0.8. The mean disease duration was 27 years (range 2 months to 44 years). The mean age was 52 years (range 18 to 86 years). The number of patients on DMARDs was 89.3 % (201/225) and combined DMARDs and biologics was 26.67 % (60/ 225). The mean PSAID-12 score was 4.09 (SD 2.47). There was a positive correlation between the pre-clinic PSAID-12 score and the in-person calculated tender joint count (r = 0.58), swollen joint count (r = 0.51) and the Likert pain score (r = 0.84). All domains of the PsAID-12 score were higher in female than male (4.53 vs 3.47 respectively), Table 1. Fatigue, discomfort, and pain were the most reported score for females (mean 5.52, 5.22, 5.02 respectively) whereas for males the commonest scores were discomfort, pain and fatigue (mean 4.10, 3.88, 3.88 respectively). The fourth commonest score for both genders was the impact on work and or leisure activities (4.67 for females and 3.83 for males). In terms of disease duration, discomfort is the most common reported score for patients with a disease duration of less than 5 years (mean 5.09) whereas fatigue was the most common complaint in patients with the group of 5-10 years and &amp;gt;10 years (4.56 and 5.11 respectively). There was a lower mean score of skin problems in the biologics compared to the non-biologic group (2.78 vs 3.90). There was a trend towards lower coping, embarrassment, and social participation scores in the biologics group. Conclusion The PSAID-12 score correlated well with PsA disease activity. The impact on QOL from PsA was higher in females than males. Fatigue, pain and discomfort were the commonest symptoms and higher scores were reported in early disease, with discomfort being the highest in this group. Fatigue was more commonly reported in patients with longer disease duration. The benefits of the biologics on QOL and skin problems were seen in these patients despite their longer disease duration. Disclosure A. Chan: None. N. Soe: None.

High space–time bandwidth product imaging in low coherence quantitative phase microscopy

Current low coherence quantitative phase microscopy (LC-QPM) systems suffer from either reduced field of view (FoV) or reduced temporal resolution due to the short temporal coherence (TC) length of the light source. Here, we propose a hybrid, experimental and numerical approach to address this core problem associated with LC-QPM. We demonstrate high spatial resolution and high phase sensitivity in LC-QPM at high temporal resolution. High space–time bandwidth product is achieved by employing incoherent light source for sample illumination in QPM to increase the spatial resolution and single-shot Hilbert spiral transform (HST) based phase recovery algorithm to enhance the temporal resolution without sacrificing spatial resolution during the reconstruction steps. The high spatial phase sensitivity comes by default due to the use of incoherent light source in QPM which has low temporal coherence length and does not generate speckle noise and coherent noise. The spatial resolution achieved by the HST is slightly inferior to the temporal phase-shifting (TPS) method when tested on a specimen but surpasses that of the single-shot Fourier transform (FT) based phase recovery method. Contrary to HST method, FT method requires high density fringes for lossless phase recovery, which is difficult to achieve in LC-QPM over entire FoV. Consequently, integration of HST algorithm with LC-QPM system makes an attractive route. Here, we demonstrate scalable FoV and resolution in single-shot LC-QPM and experimentally corroborate it on a test object and on both live and fixed biological specimen such as MEF, U2OS and human red blood cells (RBCs). LC-QPM system with HST reconstruction offer high-speed single-shot QPM imaging at high phase sensitivity and high spatial resolution enabling us to study sub-cellular dynamic inside U2OS for extended duration (3 h) and observe high-speed (50 fps) dynamics of human RBCs. The experimental results validate the effectiveness of the present approach and will open new avenues in the domain of biomedical imaging in the future.

A Multilevel Approach for Direct Core Calculation Schemes

A method of dynamic homogenization was recently proposed as an alternative technique for three-dimensional (3D) core calculations using a direct approach. This technique allows for producing homogenization parameters for a subdomain within the core at its actual state, and offers the advantage of avoiding off-line calculations, cross-section interpolations, and expensive 3D transport calculations. The methodology has shown a remarkable reduction in computational cost compared to 3D transport. However, the application of direct calculation schemes in multiphysics and multicycle problems still demands an extensive use of computational resources. Within the framework of traditional two-step calculations, several multilevel schemes have been developed to accelerate lattice calculations for the generation of the multiparameter cross-section libraries. With a similar objective, this work investigates how the multilevel approach can be applied within the framework of direct calculation schemes and discusses how depletion calculations may be performed. The objective is to enhance their performance and reduce memory requirements in favor of a high-fidelity model of the matter behavior in the reactor. We have then identified suitable flux solvers for each level and explored various homogenization options. We tested the methodology in a 3D pressurized water reactor core problem inspired by the TVA Watts Bar Unit 1 Multi-Physics Multi-Cycle OECD/NEA Benchmark, and performed a comparative analysis to assess the accuracy and computational efficiency of these new calculation schemes against direct single-level calculations and a two-step calculation based on pin-by-pin homogenization, as well as Monte Carlo simulations. Our analysis proves that the computational resources required to solve the full-core problem using a multilevel scheme are significantly reduced, and the best computational features are provided by multilevel dynamic homogenization. Furthermore, we observed that the multilevel approach not only allows for speedup, but can also be advantageously applied in order to improve the accuracy of the final solution of a calculation scheme when the core solver relies on an approximate transport operator.

Quinones-enhanced humification in food waste composting: A novel strategy for hazard mitigation and nitrogen retention

The harmless and high-value conversion of organic waste are the core problems to be solved by composting technology. This study introduced an innovative method of promoting targeted humification and nitrogen retention in composting by adding p-benzoquinone (PBQ), the composting without any additives was set as control group (CK). The results indicated that the addition of exogenous quinones led to a 30.1% increase in humic acid (HA) content during the heating and thermophilic phases of composting. Spectroscopic analyses confirmed that exogenous quinones form the core skeleton structure of amino-quinones in HA through composting biochemical reactions. This accelerated the transformation of quinones into recalcitrant HA in the early stages of composting, and reduced CO2 and NH3 by 8% and 78%, respectively. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that the decrease in carbon and nitrogen losses primarily correlated with quinones enhancing HA formation and greater nitrogen incorporation into HA (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the compost treated with quinones demonstrated a decrease in phytotoxicity and earthworm mortality, alongside a significant increase in the relative abundance of actinobacteria, which are associated with the humification process. This research establishes and proposes that co-composting with quinones-containing waste is an effective approach for the sustainable recycling of hazardous solid waste.

Effects of adding acupuncture to group psychotherapy for anxiety

IntroductionAcupuncture has long been used in treating anxiety, and a literature exists on its effectiveness. However, acupuncture is rarely covered by government insurance (Medicaid or Medicare) or even by many commercial insurance carriers in the United States, making it inaccessible to those who cannot pay separately.ObjectivesWe asked if adding acupuncture to an anxiety group would improve outcome.Methods We provided acupuncture during group psychotherapy for anxiety as a non-billable service. This was feasible since patients were already being billed for group psychotherapy. A physician and a social work intern led the group. At the start of the group, the physician went around the circle of group members and inserted acupuncture needles, using points in the ears, head, hands, feet, and, in the summer, arms and lower legs). The size of the group ranged from 4 to 12 people. We used Battlefield auricular points, the four gates (Large Intestine 4 and Liver 3, bilaterally), and GV24, GV29, Ht7, and Sp6. Sometimes, other points were added for other symptoms (back pain, neck pain, etc.) People sometimes joined the group without anxiety as a core problem in getting access to acupuncture. A core group of patients formed who came weekly while others came and went. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale measured anxiety after treatments 4, 8, and 12. The group lasted 90 minutes and consisted of mindfulness training, guided imagery, and CBT for anxiety. All patients met the criteria for generalized anxiety disorder. The t-test procedure was used to compare the differences between the means for the two groups.Results Thirty-five patients received acupuncture, while another 55 patients attended the group and did not elect to receive acupuncture. All patients were covered by MaineCare health insurance, Maine’s version of Medicaid. All patients had multiple other medical problems, which was why they were referred to the group. Seventy percent of the patients were women, and 30% were men. The average age was 40.1 years. Anxiety ratings on the Hamilton Anxiety Scale decreased by the last time measured for those not receiving acupuncture by an average of 5.17 points (S.D. 2.9; n = 55). Anxiety ratings for those receiving acupuncture decreased by an average of 7.19 points (S.D. 2.5, n = 35). The difference of the means was -2.02 (S.E. 0.595; 95% CI = -2.203 to -0.837; t = -3.394; p = 0.001). Headaches, shoulder pains, and upper back pain also decreased. Patients reported high levels of benefit from the acupuncture and encouraged other patients to continue to come and try the acupuncture. Usually, the needles could be placed within the first third of the group.ConclusionsAcupuncture improved anxiety ratings for people in group psychotherapy for anxiety over group alone, though the possibility of a placebo effect cannot be eliminated. Patients chose acupuncture, which could also present a potential bias.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Mental health impact of the Russian-Ukraine war on Canadian residents with or without Ukrainian descent

IntroductionWar tends to produce fear. The devastating and traumatic occurrences of war can have both short- and long-term effects on the mental well-being of populations. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine indirectly affects all populations, especially individuals of Ukrainian descent.ObjectivesTo assess the mental health impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Canadian residents who subscribed to ‘Text4Hope Ukraine’ program and to ascertain if there are differences in mental health impacts between those with and without Ukrainian descent.MethodsCanadians were invited to self-subscribe to the text messaging program. An online survey was used to collect sociodemographic, war-related, and clinical information; stress, resilience, likely anxiety disorder and likely depressive disorder from subscribers. Outcome measures included baseline scores using validated scales. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 25. To examine the association of psychological problems with the sociodemographic and war-related factors, univariate analysis using the Chi-square/Fishers Exact test was performed with two-tailed significance (p ≤ .05). An independent sample t-test with two-tailed significance (p-value ≤ 0.05) was employed to assess the differences in the respective mean scores of the psychological problems across the two groups. The first group represents the participants who did not have citizenship or ancestors from Ukraine (NUk), while the second group represents the respondents are Ukrainian who either have previously held citizenship or have ancestors/family from Ukraine (Ukr). No imputation of missing data and reported data represents the complete responsesResultsStudy findings reflected prevalence of low resilience (59.7%), moderate to high stress (87.5%), likely Generalized Anxiety Disorder (45.8%) and likely Major Depressive Disorder (38.9%). Respondents who identified as female had a higher likelihood of presenting with low resilience (χ2(1) = 5.68, p = .02) and likely Generalized Anxiety Disorder (χ2 (1) = 4.85, p = .03) compared to male respondents. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean scores of the four psychological problems based on any of the variables that suggest Ukrainian descent or not (p&gt;.05).ConclusionsWar can have negative impacts on all populations irrespective of their location, or association of individuals with the impacted country. This study provides valuable insights into the mental health impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on a specific sample of Canadian residents who subscribed to the ‘Text4Hope Ukraine’ text messaging program. This information is relevant when planning mental health intervention for this population. Governments should target and provide adequate mental health and psychosocial support or interventions for global populations at risk during war.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared