Study Reports Research Articles

The Role of the Simulation in Supporting Newly Graduated Nurses in Their First 5 Months of Working Transition: Findings From a Mixed-Method Study.

To understand the role of simulation in ensuring the development of the competencies expected by newly graduated register nurses (NGRNs) from the work initiation up to 5 months of transition. Mixed-method study design. A longitudinal phase employing the Nurse Competence Scale (NCS, from 0 to 100, excellent) to assess the perceived competencies among NGRNs (N = 151) at three time points (first day of work up to fifth month); followed by a qualitative phase involving four focus groups of preceptors (N = 16) to explore the potential role of simulation in the NGRNs' working transition. Integration was performed at findings level, using the building procedures and joint displaying the results. During the different time periods, variations emerged in the NCS scores from 64.41 out of 100 in the first day of work to 61.82 after 15 days, reaching 69.25 and 73.21 at 3 and 5 months. Nine potentialities have been identified as having simulation supporting NGRNs during their transition to independent practice. Simulation may contribute to develop competencies in some competence domains (diagnostic function, managing situation, therapeutic intervention, quality assurance and working role) while not in others (helping role and teaching-coaching). Early interventions, through integration of simulation sessions into strategies offered at the unit's level may be useful to ensure an effective working transition. Problem the study addresses: Challenges in transition from education to working settings are increasing given the difficulties of the units in providing time and support to NGRNs. Competencies of NGRNs' are fluctuant in the five first months of work, and sub-optimal in certain domains. Simulation may support the full development of most competencies. Impact on research: Healthcare organisations can support NGRNs to ensure smoother transitions by integrating simulations in their strategy. This study was conducted following the Good Reporting of a Mixed-Methods Study. Only healthcare professionals were involved.

INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO CONTROLLING IN AGRIBUSINESS: THE ROLE OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION PRACTICES

Quality Management Systems (QMS) are increasingly the method of agribusiness addressing consumer demand for quality and transparency. These systems also play a crucial role in ensuring sustainable production, particularly in the face of climate change and regulatory pressures. The need to improve efficiencies in controlling production is becoming increasingly important. The aim is to highlight the benefits of QMS implementation within agribusiness, particularly in enhancing operational and sustainable efficiency. The application and concept of QMS will be explained, along with the potential benefits related to its adoption. The challenges of QMS execution will be analyzed, and the potential impact of QMS on product quality and environmental sustainability will be assessed. The study's report points to significant gains for the adoption of ISO standards after 2018: quality management, ISO 9001:2015 (1,265,216 certificates at 1,666,172 sites); environmental management, ISO 14001:2015 (529,853 certifications at 744,428 sites); and occupational health and safety, SO 45001:2018 (45,459 certifications at 51,535 sites). The article demonstrates that the adoption of QMS in agribusiness improves product quality and helps conserve natural resources. It also mirrors a favourable tendency in unifying quality management with sustainable operations. Consequently, the results of the research substantiated the practitioner’s claims on the capacity of QMS to guide agribusiness towards a more sustainable future. A culture of ‘quality’ and ‘continuous improvement’ becomes a powerful factor in arming companies to cope with the vagaries of modern-day production.

A scoping review of remote and unsupervised digital cognitive assessments in preclinical Alzheimer's disease.

Subtle cognitive changes in preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) are difficult to detect using traditional pen-and-paper neuropsychological assessments. Remote and unsupervised digital assessments can improve scalability, measurement reliability, and ecological validity, enabling the detection and monitoring of subtle cognitive change. Here, we evaluate such tools deployed in preclinical AD samples, defined as cognitively unimpaired individuals with abnormal levels of amyloid-β (Aβ), or Aβ and tau. In this scoping review, we screened 1,680 unique reports for studies using remote and unsupervised cognitive assessment tools in preclinical AD samples; 23 tools were found. We describe each tool's usability, validity, and reported metrics of reliability. Construct and criterion validity according to associations with established neuropsychological assessments and measures of Aβ and tau are reported. With this review, we aim to present a necessary update to a rapidly evolving field, following a previous review by Öhman and colleagues (2021; Alzheimers Dement. Diagn. Assess. Dis. Monit) and addressing the open questions of feasibility and reliability of remote testing in the target population. We discuss future directions for using remote and unsupervised digital cognitive assessments in preclinical AD and how such tools may be used for longitudinal monitoring of cognitive function, scalable case finding, and individualized prognostics in both clinical trials and healthcare contexts.

Recommendations for the diagnosis of occult inguinal hernias using a modified Delphi technique.

Occult inguinal hernias are inguinal hernias that are not felt on physical exam but can often be seen on imaging. Their diagnosis can be challenging, leading to unnecessary surgeon referrals, undue patient stress, and even unneeded surgery. The aim of this project was to develop recommendations for the diagnosis of occult inguinal hernias using a modified Delphi technique. Iterative rounds of surveys were administered to an expert panel of surgeons and radiologists. Panelists were asked to rate potential hernia-related topics by levels of importance. Items with 80% agreement were included for further discussion. Panelists were asked to provide their opinion on each included subject. A virtual meeting was conducted to discuss areas without agreement and determine final recommendations. Three surgeons and five radiologists participated. There was strong agreement that dynamic ultrasound is a good first/confirmatory imaging choice. There was agreement that the radiology reports for studies assessing inguinal hernias should include hernia contents (80%) and hernia size (100%). Information that should be provided to the radiologist when ordering an imaging study include indication for study, patient symptoms, prior hernia surgery. Items that should be included in a radiology report include whether the presence of an inguinal hernia was assessed, hernia contents, size of defect, +/- hernia type. This collaboration between surgeons and radiologists creates a diagnostic imaging pathway and standardizing imaging reporting which will be used to improve the diagnosis of occult inguinal hernias. Future studies testing these recommendations in a prospective study are warranted.

Risk of malignancy in thyroid nodules with increased 11C-Choline uptake detected incidentally on PET/CT: A diagnostic accuracy study.

The purpose was to evaluate the pathological nature of focal thyroid uptake seen in 11C-Choline PET/CT performed for prostate cancer. The study was IRB-approved. All 11C-Choline PET/CT exam reports for studies performed between January 01, 2018, and July 30, 2021, in male patients with prostate cancer in our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Exams with "focal thyroid uptake" on their final report were selected. Patients with surgery or ablation in the thyroid prior to the PET/CT, proven parathyroid adenomas or absent thyroid ultrasound were excluded. Repeated PET/CT exams of same patient were excluded. PET images were analyzed visually and semi-quantitatively by measuring the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the focal thyroid uptake. Available thyroid ultrasound images, cytology and pathology reports were reviewed. Statistical analyses were performed. Out of 10,047 sequential 11C-Choline PET/CT studies, 318 reports included "focal thyroid uptake." About 128 of these studies were repeat exams and were excluded. Additional 87 patients were excluded, because the uptake was determined to be adjacent, rather than confined to the thyroid gland. Out of the remaining 103 patients, 74 patients had focal thyroid uptake and concurrent thyroid sonographic evaluation. Out of the 74 focal uptakes evaluated with ultrasound, 21 were presumed benign thyroid nodules based on the ultrasound and 53 had further evaluation with biopsy. Sixty three nodules were benign (21 presumed benign on ultrasound and 42 cytology or surgical pathology-proven), 9 nodules were malignant and 2 remained indeterminate. There was no significant difference between the SUVs of the benign and malignant groups (P > .3). In this retrospective study of patients with prostate cancer who underwent 11C-Choline PET/CT, we identified a group of patients who underwent thyroid ultrasound for incidental finding of focal 11C-Choline thyroid uptake. Incidence of malignancy in this group was 12%. Therefore, further investigation with ultrasound and possibly ultrasound-guided biopsy may be warranted when a choline avid thyroid nodule is found incidentally on choline PET.

A Mendelian randomisation, propensity score matching study to investigate causal association between serum homocysteine and intracranial aneurysm

Background and purposeRecent observational studies have reported that serum total homocysteine (tHcy) is associated with intracranial aneurysms (IAs). However, the causal effect of tHcy on IAs is unknown. We leveraged...

Mechanics of gradient nanostructured metals

The emergence of heterogeneous nanostructured materials (HNMs) offers exciting opportunities to achieve outstanding mechanical properties. Among these materials, gradient nanotwinned (GNT) Cu is a prominent class of HNMs, demonstrating superior strengths by gaining extra strengths compared to non-gradient counterparts. Its layered gradient structure provides a simplified quasi-one-dimensional model system for understanding the extra strengthening effects of structural gradients and resulting plastic strain gradients. This paper presents a comprehensive report for recent experimental and modeling studies on the mechanics of GNT Cu, covering advances in controlled material processing, back stress measurement, deformation field characterization, dislocation microstructure analysis, and strain gradient plasticity modeling. These studies unveil the spatiotemporal evolution of both plastic strain gradients and extra back stresses originating from structural gradients. Direct connections are established between the sample-level extra strength of GNT Cu and the synergistic strengthening effects induced by local nanotwin structures and their gradients. We emphasize the critical role of the size of the representative volume element in assessing the effects of plastic strain gradient and extra back stress. Moreover, lower-order strain gradient plasticity models are validated through experimental characterizations of GNT Cu, paving the way for future investigation into the mechanics of gradient nanostructured metals. Finally, we provide an outlook on research needs for understanding the mechanics of gradient nanostructured metals and, more broadly, HNMs, towards achieving exceptional mechanical properties.

Undesirable Microbial Growth from The Biodegradation Process of Nypa Palm Fronds Suplemented with Cellulolytic Bacteria Culture Isolated from Nypa Palm Worms (Namalycastis rhodochorde)

Biodegradation of nipa palm fronds using cellulolytic bacteria on an in-vitro scale was conducted to produce feed for cultivating palm worms (Namalycastis rhodochorde). The spontaneous degradation process is thought to trigger the growth of other microbes from raw materials from unsterilized nypa palm fronds. This research aims to determine the presence of different microbes that participate in the degradation process of palm fronds supplemented with cellulolytic bacterial isolates. The biodegradation process was conducted using dry palm fronds that were not sterilized, without pressurized heat, for 30 days in a sterile container. Cellulolytic bacterial isolates were added to facilitate the process. The research results revealed three characteristics of bacterial colonies with two cell shapes: bacilli and spirals bacterial isolates. The study also identified the presence of protozoa that exhibited morphological similarities to the Ciliophora group. This research provides valuable reports for further studies on the biodegradation process of palm fronds, specifically about ensuring feed safety for cultivating nypa palm worms.

Synthesis and Controlled Cargo Release of Novel Photoresponsive Polysiloxane‐Based Single‐Chain Nanoparticles

AbstractHerein, a novel, highly branched and photoresponsive polysiloxane is synthesized and studied. The polymer is photoconstructed into a single‐chain nanoparticle loaded with Nile Red and Metformin. Through the photoreversible [2+2] mechanism of the polymer's pendant coumarin moieties, the nanoparticles are de‐crosslinked, and their cargo molecules released. A study of the kinetics of release is undertaken in different solvents, providing insight into the relationship between the cargo's molecular structure and that of the polymer chain. On the whole, this report's study introduces new controlled release and cationic ring‐opening polymerization concepts while providing the first example of a single‐chain polymer nanoparticle based on a photoresponsive polysiloxane.

A One-Year Retrospective Study for the Evaluation of Correlation between Vitamin D and Cholesterol Levels: A Preliminary Report

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in bone metabolism and seems to have some anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties. Cholesterol is the precursor of very important biochemical pathways including bile salts and other steroidogenic molecules like adrenal gland hormones, reproductive hormones, and vitamin D. In the present study, cholesterol and vitamin D test results from 13,150 patients admitted to our laboratory were analyzed over a one-year period retrospectively from the Laboratory Information System. In our study, we aimed to investigate the association between low cholesterol levels and vitamin D levels. Analyzed data revealed that low cholesterol levels (<200 mg/dl) were detected in 6,355 patients. In these patients, mean cholesterol level was 164.3 mg/dl while median vitamin D value was 20.4 ng/ml. There was a significant correlation (r=0.064, p<0.001) between low cholesterol levels and low vitamin D levels in the study group. The study group was divided into three subgroups according to age (<18, 18-35 and >35) and a significant correlation was detected between low cholesterol levels and low vitamin D (r=0.06, p<0.001) in patients >35 years of age. In this retrospective study, we determined a weak but significant correlation between vitamin D and cholesterol levels in particular >35 years of age. We think that this study data can be considered as a preliminary report for comprehensive studies that will determine the relationship between vitamin D and cholesterol levels in the general population.

A study to untangle the puzzle of urinary incontinence and frailty co-occurrence among older adults: The roles of depression and activity engagement.

To explore the co-occurrence of urinary incontinence and frailty by testing the roles of depression and activity engagement guided by the mechanisms of common cause and interaction pathways. A secondary analysis of a 1-year three-wave panel data collected from older nursing home residents in China. Changes in depression and activity engagement were regressed on urinary incontinence and frailty incidence underpinned by the common cause mechanism of chronic conditions co-occurrence, and these changes were also taken as mediators linking from frailty to urinary incontinence incidence supported by the interaction pathways' mechanism. A total of 348 older adults were included in this study, and 55.7% were women. The co-occurrence of urinary incontinence and frailty was found in 16.7% of the participants at baseline. Older adults with sole frailty at baseline had almost twice the rate of incident urinary incontinence (32.7%) compared with those without (16.7%) over a 1-year period. The subsample analyses showed that changes in depression and activity engagement failed to significantly predict the incidence of urinary incontinence and frailty. The mediating roles of these changes linking frailty to urinary incontinence incidence were also not statistically significant. The co-occurrence of urinary incontinence and frailty is prevalent in older nursing home residents. Older adults with frailty at baseline are more likely to develop urinary incontinence a year later. The common cause and interaction pathways mechanisms for the co-occurrence of urinary incontinence and frailty were not verified with changes in depression and activity engagement. The phenomenon of urinary incontinence and frailty co-occurrence should be given extreme emphasis. Although statistically significant findings on the roles of depression and activity engagement were not inferred, this study provides multiple possibilities for future studies to test and depict a clear picture of this co-occurrence. What problem did the study address? This study was designed to test the roles of depression and activity engagement in predicting the incidence of urinary incontinence and frailty, and the mediating roles in linking frailty to urinary incontinence incidence. What were the main findings? Despite the methodological pitfalls in literature have been addressed, neither depression nor activity engagement would significantly predict the incidence of urinary incontinence and frailty in older adults. Their mediating roles in linking frailty to urinary incontinence incidence were also not significant. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? Our findings add important pieces of evidence to promote researchers' understanding and provide an important basis for untangling the puzzle of urinary incontinence and frailty co-occurrence. The report of this study followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement guidelines. No patient or public contribution.

Stereotactic ultrahypofractionated MR-guided radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer – Acute toxicity and patient-reported outcomes in the prospective, multicenter SMILE phase II trial

BackgroundDue to superior image quality and daily adaptive planning, MR-guided stereotactic body radiation therapy (MRgSBRT) has the potential to further widen the therapeutic window in radiotherapy of localized prostate cancer. This study reports on acute toxicity rates and patient-reported outcomes after MR-guided adaptive ultrahypofractionated radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer within the prospective, multicenter phase II SMILE trial. Materials and methodsA total of 69 patients with localized prostate cancer underwent MRgSBRT with daily online plan adaptation. Inclusion criteria comprised a tumor stage ≤ T3a, serum PSA value ≤ 20 ng/ml, ISUP Grade group ≤ 4. A dose of 37.5 Gy was prescribed to the PTV in five fractions on alternating days with an optional simultaneous boost of 40 Gy to the dominant intraprostatic lesion defined by multiparametric MRI. Acute genitourinary (GU-) and gastrointestinal (GI-) toxicity, as defined by CTCAE v. 5.0 and RTOG as well as patient-reported outcomes according to EORTC QLQ-C30 and -PR25 scores were analyzed at completion of radiotherapy, 6 and 12 weeks after radiotherapy and compared to baseline symptoms. ResultsThere were no toxicity-related treatment discontinuations. At the 12-week follow-up visit, no grade 3 + toxicities were reported according to CTCAE. Up until the 12-week visit, in total 16 patients (23 %) experienced a grade 2 GU or GI toxicity. Toxicity rates peaked at the end of radiation therapy and subsided within the 12-week follow-up period. At the 12-week follow-up visit, no residual grade 2 GU toxicities were reported and 1 patient (1 %) had residual grade 2 enteritic symptoms. With exception to a significant improvement in the emotional functioning score following MRgSBRT, no clinically meaningful changes in the global health status nor in relevant subscores were reported. ConclusionDaily online-adaptive MRgSBRT for localized prostate cancer resulted in an excellent overall toxicity profile without any major negative impact on quality of life.

Kinesophobia and its related factors in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention: A cross-sectional study.

To explore the postoperative kinesophobia of patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and its related factors. Percutaneous coronary intervention is an effective method to treat coronary heart disease (CHD), and cardiac rehabilitation is an important auxiliary method after PCI. However, the compliance of patients with cardiac rehabilitation after PCI is not good, among which kinesophobia is an important influencing factor. A descriptive cross-sectional design was implemented, and the high-quality reporting of the study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology Statement. In total, 351 inpatients who underwent PCI in three tertiary grade-A hospitals in China were selected by convenient sampling method. We use one-way ANOVA and multiple linear regression analysis to determine the relevant related factors. The kinesophobia of patients after PCI was negatively correlated with chronic illness resource utilization and sense of personal mastery, and positively correlated with illness perception. Education level, clinical classification of CHD, exercise habits, chronic illness resource utilization, illness perception and sense of personal mastery entered the regression equation, which could explain 78.1% of the total variation. The level of kinesiophobia of patients after PCI is high. Education level, clinical classification of CHD, exercise habits, chronic illness resource utilization, illness perception and sense of personal mastery are the related factors of kinesiophobia of patients after PCI. By reducing the level of exercise fear of patients after PCI, patients are more likely to accept and adhere to the cardiac rehabilitation plan, thus improving their prognosis and improving their quality of life. The patient underwent PCI in the research hospital. Researchers screen them according to the inclusion criteria and invite them to participate in this study. If they meet the requirements, participants will answer the research questionnaire face to face after signing the informed consent form.

Safety of Planned Dental Extractions Immediately after Radiation Therapy: First Report of a Prospective Observational Study

Safety of Planned Dental Extractions Immediately after Radiation Therapy: First Report of a Prospective Observational Study

ILK inhibition reduces osteophyte formation through suppression of osteogenesis in BMSCs via Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway.

Osteophyte development is a common characteristic of inflammatory skeletal diseases. Elevated osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) participates in pathological osteogenesis. Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) positively regulates the osteoblastic differentiation of osteoprogenitors, but whether the ILK blockage prevents osteophytes and its potential mechanism is still unknown. Furthermore, the low-dose tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) promotes osteogenic differentiation, but a lack of study reports on the relationship between this cytokine and ILK. OSU-T315 is a small ILK inhibitor, which was used to determine the effect of ILK inhibition on osteogenesis and osteophyte formation. The osteogenesis of BMSCs was evaluated using Alizarin red S staining, alkaline phosphatase, collagen type I alpha 2 chain, and bone gamma-carboxyglutamate protein. The expression and phosphorylation of protein were assessed through western blot. Immunofluorescence was employed to display the distribution of β-catenin. microCT, hematoxylin-eosin, and safranin O/fast green staining were utilized to observe the osteophyte formation in collagen antibody-induced arthritis mice. We found that ILK blockage significantly declined calcium deposition and osteoblastic markers in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, it lowered osteogenesis in the TNF-α-induced inflammatory microenvironment by diminishing the effect of ILK and inactivating the Akt/ GSK-3β/ β-catenin pathway. Nuclear β-catenin was descended by OSU-T315 as well. Finally, the ILK suppression restrained osteophyte formation but not inflammation in vivo. ILK inhibition lowered osteogenesis in TNF-α-related inflammatory conditions by deactivating the Akt/ GSK-3β/ β-catenin pathway. This may be a potential strategy to alleviate osteophyte development in addition to anti-inflammatory treatment.

Perception of undergraduate students of Nigeria’s premier university on the use of emergency remote teaching during Covid-19

This study reports preliminary findings on undergraduate students’ perception of the Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, during Covid-19. Proportional to size sampling was used in obtaining the sample size of 366, while respondents were selected using convenience sampling. Data collection was through a structured questionnaire containing both open and closed ended questions and data was collected on the factors - attitude, affect, motivation; perceived behavioural control (accessibility, self-efficacy, ease of use,); and cognitive engagement. Findings showed that students’ positive attitude towards face-to-face learning was significantly higher than towards ERT and correlation analysis showed a relationship between preference for face-to-face learning and struggling with ERT. Also, the average difference in students’ motivation for learning before and after commencement of ERT was not statistically significant. Students reported more frequent use of educational technologies after ERT commenced than before and the difference was statistically significant. Increase was reported in all the self-efficacy and cognitive engagement constructs. Positive changes reported were mainly acquisition of additional hobbies as well as business, social and technology skills. Challenges to online learning included poor power supply, cost of data subscription, network disruptions and distractions from family and friends.

Surgical outcomes and predictive value for major complications of robot-assisted radical cystectomy of real-world data in a single institution in Japan.

The objective of the study was to describe the surgical outcome of robot-assisted radical cystectomy and predictive factors for major complications in real-world clinical practice at a single institution in Japan. We retrospectively analyzed 208 consecutive patients undergoing robot-assisted radical cystectomy at our institution between 2019 and 2023. Patient and disease characteristics, intraoperative details, and perioperative outcomes were reviewed. Postoperative complications were defined as minor complications (Clavien-Dindo grades 1-2) or major complications (grades 3-5). Predictors of complications were examined using multivariable logistic analysis. Overall, 147 men and 61 women, median age 70 years (interquartile range, 62-77), were included in this study. Median operative time and estimated blood loss were 8.4 h and 185 mL, respectively; 11 patients (5%) received intraoperative blood transfusions. For urinary diversions, ileal conduit, neobladder, and cutaneous ureterostomy were performed in 153 (74%), 49 (24%), and 6 (3%) patients, respectively. Urinary diversions were primarily performed with extracorporeal urinary diversion. In total, 140 complications occurred in 111 patients (53%) within 30 days. Of these patients, 31 major complications occurred in 28 patients, and one perioperative death (0.5%) with a postoperative cardiovascular event. Multivariable analysis showed only prolonged operative time (odds ratio: 4.34, 95% confidence interval: 1.82-10.35, p < 0.01) was the independent risk factor for major complications. This study reports surgical outcomes at our single institution. Prolonged operative time was a significant prognostic factor for major complications. As far as we know, this study reports the largest number of robot-assisted radical cystectomy cases at a single center in Japan.

"Window of Opportunity" in Ocular Graft-Versus-Host Disease Treatment: Results of a Longitudinal Study and Case Reports.

To perform a longitudinal study for determining the development of ocular graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and report cases that illustrate the "window of opportunity" concept in oGVHD treatment. Patients (n=61) were examined at prescheduled clinic visits before HSCT and three-month intervals after HSCT for 2 years. The presence or absence of oGVHD was determined using the international chronic oGVHD consensus group diagnostic criteria. Ocular surface washings (OSW) were obtained at each visit and analyzed for cytokine levels. In the longitudinal study, 26.2% (n=16; progressed group) developed either probable (11.5%, n=7) or definite oGVHD (14.8%, n=9). In the progressed group, clinically significant changes in signs (corneal staining and Schirmer I test) and symptoms at the post-HSCT visit as compared with the pre-HSCT visit occurred at 9 months. Significant differences in clinical signs and symptoms (whether average post-HSCT values or changes in values over pre-HSCT levels) between the progressed and nonprogressed groups occurred at a 9-month visit or later. In the progressed group, 55.6% of eyes that had negative matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) test at pre-HSCT turned MMP-9 positive at 3 to 6 months post-HSCT. In the progressed group, interleukin 8 levels in OSW were significantly increased at 6 months post-HSCT. In the case reports, the "window of opportunity" was detected by MMP-9 turning positive, early corneal staining, interleukin 8 increase in OSW, and peripheral corneal epithelial thinning, which resolved with treatment initiation. A "window of opportunity" exists before patients developing symptomatic tear-deficient dry eye after HSCT for initiating treatment that may preempt oGVHD development; however, larger-scale longitudinal studies are needed for definitive recommendations.

How Perceptions of Aging Influence Physical Activity and Exercise in Older Age: Exploring the Behavior of People Aged 70+ Years Engaged in Fall Prevention Activities.

For older people, physical inactivity increases fall risk as well as other preventable health conditions. Despite the well-documented benefits of physical activity, uptake and adherence continue to challenge efforts aimed at increasing physical activity and reducing falls. Nested within a randomized controlled trial, this study reports on the factors influencing the physical activity behavior of people, aged between 70 and 90years, engaged in StandingTall, a home-based balance exercise program proven to reduce falls in the community. The perception of aging, physical activity in older age, and the delivery of exercise were identified as major themes, with the perception of aging an overarching theme influencing both preferences for physical activity in older age and exercise delivery. Findings demonstrate the importance of considering the role of aging, the influence aging has on physical activity and exercise behavior, and how aging influences the delivery and design of exercise programs including falls prevention activities for older people.

Degradation of SDS by psychrotolerant Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Bacillus pumilus isolated from Southern Ocean water samples.

Bioremediation of surfactants in water bodies holds significant ecological importance as they are contaminants of emerging concern posing substantial threats to the aquatic environment. Microbes exhibiting special ability in terms of bioremediation of contaminants have always been reported to thrive in extraordinary environmental conditions that can be extreme in terms of temperature, lack of nutrients, and salinity. Therefore, in the present investigation, a total of 46 bacterial isolates were isolated from the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean and screened for degradation of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). Further, two Gram-positive psychrotolerant bacterial strains, ASOI-01 and ASOI-02 were identified with significant SDS degradation potential. These isolates were further studied for growth optimization under different environmental conditions. The strains were characterized as Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Bacillus pumilus based on morphological, biochemical, and molecular (16S RNA gene) characteristics. The study reports 88.9% and 93.4% degradation of SDS at a concentration of 100 mgL-1, at 20°C, and pH 7 by S. saprophyticus ASOI-01 and B. pumilus ASOI-02, respectively. The experiments were also conducted in wastewater samples where a slight reduction in degradation efficiency was observed with strains ASOI-01 and ASOI-02 exhibiting 76.83 and 64.93% degradation of SDS respectively. This study infers that these bacteria can be used for the bioremediation of anionic surfactants from water bodies and establishes the potential of extremophilic microbes for the utilization of sustainable wastewater management.