Half Times Research Articles

Small talk in videoconferencing improves conversational experience and fosters relationships

ABSTRACT Small talk plays a big role in conversational perception. In the study here, pairs of conversational participants engaged in three iterations of an ecologically valid task-break dialogue where the break was either small talk via videoconferencing or waiting the same amount of time with cameras and mics turned off. Small talk increased conversational participants’ enjoyment of conversations, their willingness to engage in future conversations with their addressees, and their actual engagement in unprompted conversations with their addressees. Dyads who were instructed to engage in small talk conversation during breaks were approximately three and a half times more likely to have conversations in the sixty second unprompted conversation period at the end of the study compared to dyads whose cameras and mics were off during the earlier break periods. Reciprocity effects previously observed in audio-only and text-only communication were not observed in this study. The findings presented here demonstrate that not only can the positive influence of small talk be replicated and extended to videoconferencing interactions, but such talk can also lead to an increased desire for continued interactions with conversational partners.

Influência do número de ordenhas sobre a produção de leite de cabra

The main objective of this research was to evaluate the influence the number of milking sessions has on the production in dairy goats. Ten dairy goats with approximately 60 days of lactation were used. Milking was done daily, three times in the left half of the udder, at 7:00, 15:00 and 22:00, and two times on the right half, at 7:00 and 22:00. Collections were recorded once a week, for a total of 22, in order to calculate the average and variance analysis by the F test. At the end of the 22 samplings, the average production of the left half of the udder was equivalent to 696.33 grams/day, and 609.39 grams/day for the right half, which resulted in 86.97 g/d in favor of practicing three daily milking sessions, corresponding to an increase of 14% in production (P ≤ 5), significant for the F test. The results showed that a third milking increased production and points to a natural method to be applied in goat herds, including dairy herds of undefined breed in the Northeast of Brazil, the conditions in which this experiment was developed.

Right ventricular function outcomes of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty: a 3-dimensional echocardiography and 2-dimensional speckle tracking analysis

Abstract Background Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a significant cause of mitral stenosis (MS), particularly affecting young adults in developing regions. Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty (PBMV) is a recognized intervention for severe symptomatic mitral stenosis with favorable morphology. However, its impact on various cardiac parameters needs thorough evaluation by new imaging techniques to increase measurement accuracy and decrease inter-observer variability. Purpose This study aims to evaluate the impact of PBMV on cardiac function and structure among patients with severe rheumatic mitral stenosis, focusing on mitral valve function, Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and right ventricular (RV) parameters. Methods A prospective study was conducted involving 30 patients (80% female, mean age 33.1 years) diagnosed with severe rheumatic mitral stenosis. All participants underwent PBMV. Pre- and 30 days post-procedure assessments included conventional echocardiographic parameters, three-dimensional (3D) RV assessment and two-dimensional (2D) strain RV analysis. Statistical analyses were performed to determine significant changes post-PBMV. Results Echocardiographic evaluation showed a decrease in trans-mitral mean pressure gradient and Pressure Half Time (both P<0.001). Improvements were also noted in 2D and 3D mitral valve planimetry values (P<0.001). However, mitral regurgitation (MR) severity increased in some cases (P=0.022). Regarding right ventricular analysis, significant reductions were observed in RV basal, mid and longitudinal diameters (P<0.001 for all). RV Fractional Area Change (FAC%) increased significantly (P<0.001). TAPSE also showed a significant increase (P<0.001), reflecting improved RV functional performance. PASP and TR severity both showed marked reductions (P<0.001), whereas a subgroup analysis indicated that patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) had a less pronounced decrease in PASP compared to those with sinus rhythm. Strain analysis revealed substantial improvements in RV strain parameters, with significant increases in basal, mid, apical, and mean (RVFW) free wall strain (P<0.001) and RV global longitudinal strain (RV GLS) (P<0.001). 3D echocardiography demonstrated significant decreases in RV end-systolic volume (P=0.004) and marked increases in RV EF ejection fraction (P<0.001) and stroke volume (P<0.001), while end-diastolic volume showed no significant change (P=0.061). the study demonstrates that the decline in PASP can significantly predict improvements in both 2D and 3D RV function parameters following PBMV. Conclusion RV performance showed substantial improvement early post-PBMV, as evidenced by marked increases in 3D right ventricular ejection fraction (3DRVEF), right ventricular free wall (RVFW) strain, and RV global longitudinal strain. These enhancements were significantly predicted by the reduction in pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). RV conventional Echocardiographic Parame RV 3D echocardiography and 2D speckle tr

Abstract P014: Sparing blood and immune rich organs significantly reduces immune suppression during lung SBRT: Randomized, Phase 2 trial

Abstract Background: Radiation Therapy (RT) is known to modulate the immune system and contribute to the generation of anti-tumor T cells . However, this anti-tumor-activity is countered by radiation-induced immunosuppression (RIIS), which destroys highly radiosensitive existing and newly formed lymphocytes (80% T cells). Optimizing RT treatment planning by considering circulating blood and lymphatics as a critical organ at risk may mitigate RIIS and lead to the creation and preservation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, potentially converting the tumor from immunologically cold to a hot environment thereby increasing the efficacy of immunotherapy. Methods: We conducted a phase 2 randomized trial from 2020 to 2023, enrolling 51 stage I lung cancer patients treated with SBRT alone, to evaluate whether reducing the dose to circulate blood, lymphatics, and bone marrow could lower RIIS. Patients with baseline absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) below 0.5x10⁹ cells/L were excluded. Participants were randomized into two groups: an experimental arm with RIIS-optimized treatment (lowering the dose to blood and lymphatic-rich organs) and a standard SBRT arm. All treatment plans followed national protocol guidelines. Peripheral blood samples were collected at baseline, end of treatment, 4 weeks and 6 months post-treatment. Contrasts within repeated measures models were used to determine the statistical significance. Results: Post SBRT ALC changes from baseline immediately, 4 weeks and 24 weeks post SBRT are: optimized arm: -16%, -22%, -16%, standard arm: -31%, -34% and -26%, leading to an overall-all-time-point improvement in ALC reduction in the optimized arm compared to the standard arm of 13.4 (5.3)%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8 to 24.0; p = 0.01. Central tumors had the largest improvements, with ALC changes from baseline in the optimized arm of only -8%, -18%, -14% , and -39%, -43%, -47% in the standard arm, leading to an overall-all-time-point improvement in ALC reduction in the optimized arm compared to the standard arm of 29.5 (9.6)%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 10.1 to 48.9; p = 0.004. In the standard arm, 15.4% of patients experienced post-SBRT grade- 3 lymphopenia, while none in the optimized arm were lymphopenic. Two and a half times as many patients in the optimized arm observed a post SBRT ALC increase compared to the standard arm. In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, a trend towards increased Event Free Survival (two-year: 75.0% (SE = 10.8%) versus 59.8% (SE = 11.2%), p=0·095) and Overall Survival (two-year: 93.4% (SE=6.1%) versus 69.4% (SE=10.5%), p=0·135) was observed with optimized planning compared to status quo in treatment naïve patients. Conclusion: Reducing RT dose to blood and immune rich organs provided a significant reduction in RIIS compared to standard of care. Observed increase in OS and EFS needs further confirmation from a phase 3 trial. This has implications in enhancing immune system mediated anti-tumor activity. (Funded by National Cancer Institute and others. ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04273893). Citation Format: Krishni Wijesooriya, James Larner, Paul Read, Cam Nguyen, Mark Conaway, Timothy Showalter.Sparing blood and immune rich organs significantly reduces immune suppression during lung SBRT: Randomized, Phase 2 trial.[abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Translating Targeted Therapies in Combination with Radiotherapy; 2025 Jan 26-29; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2025;31(2_Suppl):Abstract nr P014

Evaluation value of contrast enhanced ultrasound quantitative parameters in ischemic-type biliary lesions after liver transplantation-a prospectively study.

To explore the evaluation value of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) quantitative parameters in ischemic-type biliary lesions after liver transplantation to assist its early-diagnosis. Patients who underwent liver transplantation and intravenous CEUS at Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from June 25, 2020 to December 28, 2022 and were diagnosed with Ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBLs) by Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) or Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography (PTC) were prospectively enrolled. SonoLiver software was used to quantitatively analyze the contrast images, transplanted livers with normal biliary tracts as the control group. SPSS 25.0 software was used to analyze the data. There was a total of 35 patients enrolled in the study, and 15 ITBLs and 30 normal biliary tract of transplanted livers, respectively. The dynamic vascular patterns (DVP) curve of the ITBLs group was negative wave, while the DVP curve of the normal biliary tract group was positive wave. Compared with the patients with normal biliary tract, the Maximum intensity (IMAX), Rise slope 50% (Rs50), Area under curve (AUC), Area under curve in Wash-in phase (WinAUC), Wash in Rate (WinR), Rise slope 10-90% (Rs1090), and Wash out Rate (WouR) of the ITBLs group were lower, while the Fall slope (Fs50) was higher. There was no significant difference in Rise time (RT), Time to Peak (TTP), Fall half time (FHT), Mean transit time (mTT), Fall time (FT), WioAUC ((WioAUC = WinAUC + WouAUC)), and Area under curve in Wash-out phase (WouAUC) between the two groups (P > 0.05). The ROC curve results showed that Fs50 > -2.64 was the cutoff value for predicting ITBLs, with an area under the curve of 0.816 (95%CI: 0.683-0.949), and a sensitivity and specificity of 0.846 and 0.607; Rs50 < 7.08, AUC < 39761.7050, WinR < 101.7 and WouR < 474.52 were the cutoff values ​​for predicting ITBLs, with areas under the curve of 0.853 (95%CI: 0.728-0.979), 0.911 (95%CI: 0.783-1.000), 0.756 (95%CI: 0.615-0.896) and 0.700 (95%CI: 0.536-0.864). The quantitative parameters of CEUS imaging, such as IMAX, Rs50, AUC, WinAUC, WinR, Rs1090, WouR, and Fs50, are helpful in predicting ITBLs and improving the reproducibility of diagnosis. The threshold of these quantitative parameters will aid in the early diagnosis of ischemic-type biliary lesions after liver transplantation.

An estimate of the Arctic climate sensitivity based on the Arrhenius’s rule

Estimating the magnitude of the Arctic equilibrium climate sensitivity is key for understanding the climate dynamics of this polar region. Using a linear regression model, we find that the Arctic equilibrium climate sensitivity is 3.61°C. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that an estimate of the Arctic equilibrium climate sensitivity is provided. The obtained results confirm that this region is more sensitive to climate change than the rest of the world. The Arctic sensitivity is almost one and a half times that of the global sensitivity. In this paper, we have used the estimated Arctic equilibrium climate sensitivity to obtain projections of the Arctic temperature under different forcing scenarios.

Evaluation of Aneurysm Cases Undergoing Surgery at a Tertiary Center in Iran: A 22-year Retrospective Study.

An arterial aneurysm is characterized by a localized expansion of a blood vessel relative to its original dimensions. Specifically, an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is identified as an aortic diameter measuring at least one and a half times the standard diameter at the renal artery level, approximately equivalent to 2.0 cm. In this study, we aim to evaluate the prevalence of AAA, along with the clinical features, trend, and incidence of ruptured AAA among patients undergoing surgery in our center. The database of patients operated in Namazi Hospital from 2000 to 2021 was retrieved and patients undergoing vascular surgeries due to aneurysm were reviewed. All data were analyzed with SPSS version 26.0. A total of 599 cases of aneurysm were operated, among which 334 were contributed to the aorta and included in our study. The average age of the participants was 69.6 (SD: 12.1, range 16-93) years and 161 (85.2%) were male. The majority of cases were in the 60 to 80 years age group (n = 205; 62.5%). There was a significant association between the age groups and the AAA rupture (p = 0.003), with the highest occurrence among the above 80 years age group (n = 37, 49.3%). Regarding the location of the aneurysm, 274 were located in the infrarenal and abdominal region, 21 in the thoracoabdominal region, and 12 in the thoracic region. Among the cases in our study, 112 were cases of ruptured aneurysms. Furthermore, the age of patients with ruptured aneurysm were significantly higher compared to non-ruptured patients (71.8 vs. 68.5; p = 0.019). We observed an increase in the incidence of AAA surgeries in our center throughout the years, with the population growing towards younger population, while the incidence of rupture increasing towards older age groups.

Demographic Differences in the Marital Satisfaction of Older Christian Couples in Kiambu County, Kenya

Demographic predictors of marital satisfaction have been the subject of ongoing research interest albeit with mixed results. The purpose of this study was to provide insights into the unique demographic patterns affecting marital satisfaction in later life, particularly within a resource-constrained and Christian-dominated context. This study employed a quantitative research design and was conducted in Kiambu-County, Kenya. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 297 participants. Data on marital satisfaction were collected using a 16-item Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI), with responses scored and aggregated to reflect overall satisfaction. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between demographic variables and marital satisfaction. Predictor variables included gender, home ownership, age at marriage (categorized), and continuous measures such as income level, years married, and education level. The regression model was statistically significant, χ2 (6) =14.36, p&lt;.05 explaining 10.5% of the variance in marital satisfaction (Nagelkerke R2). Of the predictors, only home ownership was significant (B=0.898, p&lt;.05, OR = 2.455, indicating that owning a home increased the odds of high marital satisfaction by nearly two and a half times compared to not owning a home. Other demographic factors, including gender, education, age at marriage, years married, and income, were not statistically significant (p&gt;.05). The model correctly classified 75.6% of cases, with 99.3% of high marital satisfaction cases correctly predicted. The results highlight the critical role of home ownership in marital satisfaction among older Christian couples in a developing country context, emphasizing the importance of housing stability over traditional demographic predictors. Thus, the study has contributed to the broader field of marital satisfaction research by focusing specifically on older Christian couples in a resource-constrained context.

Comparative analysis of pathogenetic predictors of weight gain in children and adolescents based on age and gender

Objective — to investigate the cause­effect relationship between exogenous and endogenous factors contributing to obesity and to identify age and gender differences through a comprehensive examination and questionnaire survey of Ukrainian school­aged children. Materials and methods. A cohort of 628 randomly selected students from secondary schools in Ternopil was studied and a written questionnaire was administered to students and their parents. A total of 616 completed valid questionnaires were collected and analyzed. The mean age of the respondents was (13.7 ± 0.08) years. There were 337 boys (54.8 %) and 279 girls (45.2 %). The anthropometric and questionnaire data were analyzed using the method of medical statistics with programs Statistica 12.0 (StatSoft Inc., 193, USA) and Microsoft Excel 2013. Results and discussion. Overweight children, irrespective of age and gender, more frequently have overweight close relatives with hypertension and diabetes mellitus compared to the general Ukrainian population. A list of additional predisposing factors for obesity in schoolchildren have been identified. Sleeping less than 6 hours per night increases the risk of obesity nearly fourfold (RR = 3.82, 95% CI = 1.741—6.328). Prolonged screen­time (more than 5 hours) on weekdays increases the risk of obesity by one and a half times (RR = 1.69, 95 % CI = 0.938—2.894) and at weekends by two times (RR = 1.99, 95 % CI = 1.201­3.257). Lack of physical activity (less than 2 hours per week) doubles the risk of obesity (RR = 2.06, 95 % CI = 1.229—3.235). On the other hand, a number of factors have a significant preventive effect and can be recommended for the weight gain prophylactics. In particular, limiting screen­time to less than 2 hours per day on weekdays reduces the risk of obesity by 75% (RR = 0.25, 95 % CI = 0.120—0.487) and by 47 % at weekends (RR = 0.53, 95 % CI = 0.304—0.894). Sufficient night rest (more than 8 hours) reduces the risk of obesity by 52% (RR = 0.48, 95 % CI = 0.291—0.791) and sufficient physical activity (at least 20 minutes 5 days a week) reduces by 68 % (RR = 0.32, 95 % CI = 0.143—0.667). Perinatal factors, such as birth weight and breastfeeding, are much less significant than further children’s lifestyle. The frequency of physical activity during the week was found to have a greater effect on body proportions in boys and in late school­age children. Prolong night sleep prevents weight gain in both girls and boys equally, especially in late adolescent. the duration of screen­time on weekdays and weekends is directly related to weight gain in schoolchildren, regardless of age or gender. Conclusions. Having close overweight relatives is the most significant factor increasing the risk of BMI in school­age children by 12.5 times. The body composition of Ukrainian schoolchildren is more strongly influenced by daily routines and behavior patterns, namely the intensity of daily physical activity, the duration of night sleep and the screen­time, than on birth weight or the duration of breastfeeding in the first year of life. It is advisable to take into account the presence of genetic predisposition, age and gender, and to assess the child’s daily routine and habits, in personification of recommendations.

Variations in serum concentrations of sunitinib and its metabolites in patients receiving long-term sunitinib treatment

PurposeThe blood concentrations of some tyrosine kinase inhibitors are known to decrease with long-term administration. We evaluated the variability in the serum concentrations of sunitinib and its metabolites in patients receiving long-term sunitinib treatment.MethodsThis study prospectively recruited patients who received sunitinib for metastatic renal cell carcinoma at the Showa University Hospital between March 2020 and January 2022. Bivariate correlations between the serum concentration/dose (C/D) ratios of sunitinib and its metabolites (i.e., N-desethyl sunitinib and sunitinib N-oxide) and treatment duration were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.ResultsSeven patients were enrolled, and 79 blood samples were collected. Among six patients who received sunitinib for > 1 year, three showed a decreasing trend in the C/D ratio of sunitinib (Pt1: r = -0.608, p = 0.047; Pt2: r = -0.555, p = 0.077; Pt6: r = -0.590, p = 0.073). In these patients, the median annual decrease in the C/D ratio of sunitinib was 55.8% (26.5–63.2%). Additionally, two of the three patients also showed a decrease in the C/D ratio of N-desethyl sunitinib. The ratio of N-desethyl sunitinib/sunitinib concentration at baseline and the end of follow-up was similar between the C/D-decreased and C/D-non-decreased groups.ConclusionThis study showed that the C/D ratio of sunitinib decreased by half over time in half of the patients who received long-term sunitinib treatment despite continuing the same dose. Therefore, serum concentrations of sunitinib and its metabolites should be monitored periodically in patients receiving long-term treatment to prevent decrease in serum sunitinib concentrations.

Towards Efficient Memory Architectures: Low-Power Noise-Immune RRAM

The performance of Static Nanomaterials Random-Access Memories (SRAMs) is often degraded in the sub-threshold region as it is susceptible to increased access energy and leakage power. However, the low-power operation of SRAM is very much essential for efficient device functioning. Accordingly, designing robust SRAM cells that maintain stability and minimize power consumption is a key challenge. In this regard, with this ongoing work, the authors present novel designs of SRAMs using memristor technology by mitigating the shortcomings discussed above. This paper proposes a novel SRAM architecture of four transistors and five memristors, by integrating memristor technology to achieve drastic improvement in performance at subthreshold regions. Further, it performs an analysis of the metrics of static noise margin and power consumption to comprehensively evaluate the proposed SRAM designs. Simulation using Cadence Virtuoso for 65 nm technology demonstrates that power consumption for a 4T5M cell is about two and a half times lower than for 4T4M and 1.2 times lower than for 4T3M, hence proving that it will be promising for extremely low-power applications.

Outcomes from an educational fintech course on multi-asset investment

ABSTRACT This study reports findings from a higher education investment course designed to enhance skills-based learning through experiential, immersive, live, and technologically empowering elements. Results suggest the following performance for the course. First, pure popularity and peer-to-peer word-of-mouth has seen course numbers grow almost 2.5× over 3 years. Learner numbers are two and a half times the second most popular final-year course in the Business School. Second, the course levels-up by amplifying engagement, participation, and inclusion. Compared to ten other, identical cohort all-elective courses, the left shoulder of the grade distribution is lighter, with fewer students obtaining grades 40 to 60. The right shoulder of the grade distribution is heavier, with more students obtaining grades 60 to 75. Third, the development of skills and competencies rather than concepts and abstract constructs appears to have dampened the highest grades achieved among the handful of learners that happen to have strengths coinciding with a few traditional academic components. The average course grade is similar to other courses in the sample. Finally, employability is enhanced, as evidenced by feedback from experience at assessment centres, first and second round interview stages, and offers of employment.

Reducing ethnic inequities: Patterns of asthma medication use and hospital discharges in Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) widespread transition to budesonide/formoterol maintenance and/or reliever regimens in clinical practice is temporally associated with reduced rates of asthma hospitalization. It is unknown whether this association is observed in Māori, the indigenous population of NZ, who experience a disproportionate burden from asthma. We investigated patterns in asthma medication use and hospital admissions in Māori in NZ. Review of NZ national dispensing data for asthma inhaler medications and asthma hospital discharge data from January 2013 to December 2023 in the 12+ age group, with calculation of the relative change in dispensed medication and asthma hospitalization rates for Māori and non-Māori. The most recent six-month period, July to December 2023, is compared with the corresponding six-month period 4 years earlier, July to December 2019. Budesonide/formoterol dispensing increased for both Māori and non-Māori for 2019-2023, with a relative 111% and 115% increase, respectively. Between the two periods, asthma hospital discharges reduced from 142.5 to 97.3 per 100,000, absolute difference 45.2 per 100,000, a 32% reduction for Māori; and 49.4-37.9 per 100,000, absolute difference 11.5 per 100,000; a 23% reduction for non-Māori. The temporal association between a marked increase in dispensing of budesonide/formoterol maintenance and/or reliever regimens and reduced asthma hospitalization was observed for Māori and non-Māori, with a greater reduction in asthma hospitalization for Māori. Despite this reduction in health inequities, asthma hospitalization rates are two and a half times greater for Māori compared to non-Māori.

Enhanced Production of IL-10 in PCR-Positive Dogs Infected with E. canis and A. phagocytophilum Facilitate Specific Immune Responses.

Infection of dogs with the tick-borne rickettsiae Ehrlichia and Anaplasma provokes an immune response mediating the pathology and bacterial resistance. IL-10 is the main anti-inflammatory cytokine and plays a multifaceted role in host protection. The study aimed to investigate circulating IL-10 in 32 dogs naturally infected with A. phagocytophilum and E. canis, identified by PCR positivity, and 33 PCR-negative animals which tested positive for antibodies against these pathogens, as well as 22 healthy animals. The highest quantity of IL-10, measured by ELISA, was observed among dogs positive simultaneously for anti-E. canis and anti-A. phagocytophilum IgG antibodies, followed by dogs positive for anti-E. canis only. The concentration of IL-10 in PCR-positive dogs was almost three and a half times higher than that measured in the control group (77.09 ± 23.61 pg./mL vs. 21.55 ± 4.61 pg./mL; p = 0.0015) and five times higher than the concentration of interleukin in PCR-negative animals (77.09 ± 23.61 pg./mL vs. 14.86 ± 3.01 pg./mL; p = 0.000016). The highest level of IL-10 was observed in PCR-positive dogs with mixed infection (120.54 ± 44.18), followed by the level in PCR-positive dogs for E. canis only (78.81 ± 16.92). The lowest level of IL-10 was observed in PCR-positive dogs for A. phagocytophilum only (56.32 ± 12.68). We may suggest that infection with E. canis and A. phagocytophilum stimulates the IL-10 production in dogs, which may facilitate specific antibody responses.

The Consumption of Beeswax Alcohol (BWA, Raydel®) Improved Zebrafish Motion and Swimming Endurance by Protecting the Brain and Liver from Oxidative Stress Induced by 24 Weeks of Supplementation with High-Cholesterol and D-Galactose Diets: A Comparative Analysis Between BWA and Coenzyme Q10.

The prolonged consumption of D-galactose (Gal) has been associated with severe damage in the liver and brain via exacerbation of oxidative stress, non-enzymatic glycation, and the aging process. The current study was initiated for a comparative assessment of beeswax alcohol (BWA, final 0.5% and 1.0% w/w) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, final 0.5% and 1.0% w/w) against high-cholesterol (HC, final 4%, w/w) and -galactose (Gal, final 30%, w/w)-induced adverse events in zebrafish during 24 weeks of consumption. The survivability of zebrafish decreased to 82.1% due to HC+Gal exposure, but this was substantially improved (91.0%) with the consumption of 0.5% and 1.0% BWA. In contrast, no protective effect of CoQ10 consumption (1.0%) was observed on the survivability of zebrafish. Nevertheless, both BWA and CoQ10 displayed a significant (p < 0.001) preventive effect against HC+Gal-induced body weight enhancement. The HC+Gal-induced cognitive changes, marked by staggered and confused swimming behavior, and retarded swimming speed and motion patterns (restricted to the bottom of the tank), were efficiently restored by BWA. A significantly higher residence time in the upper half of the tank, 3.1-and 4.5-fold reduced latency time along with 3.5-fold and 4.1-fold higher swimming distance, was logged in the 0.5% and 1.0% BWA groups, respectively, than the zebrafish that consumed HC+Gal. In addition, BWA effectively enhanced plasma ferric ion reduction (FRA) and paraoxonase (PON) activity and alleviated the total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and blood glucose levels disrupted by the consumption of HC+Gal. Also, the HC+Gal-alleviated plasma high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) was 2.6-fold (p < 0.001) enhanced in the group that consumed 1.0% BWA, which was significantly 1.5-fold (p < 0.001) better than the effect of 1.0% CoQ10. Similarly, BWA displayed a superior impact over CoQ10 to mitigate HC+Gal-induced plasma AST and ALT levels, hepatic IL-6 production, generation of oxidized species, cellular senescence, and fatty liver changes. Moreover, BWA protects the brain against HC+Gal-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and myelin sheath degeneration. Conclusively, compared to CoQ10, BWA efficiently can the HC+Gal-impaired brain and liver functionality to subside and improves the dyslipidemia and cognitive behavior of zebrafish.

Ineffective overweight self-management: A study of diagnostic accuracy and etiological relationships.

To evaluate the accuracy of clinical indicators and etiological factors associated with the nursing diagnosis of ineffective overweight self-management among university students. A diagnostic accuracy study with a cross-sectional design was conducted with 108 university students. A latent class analysis model with random effects was used to establish sensitivity and specificity measures of clinical indicators, estimate the prevalence of the diagnosis, and calculate posterior probabilities for the diagnosis. Odds ratios for etiological factors were calculated using univariate logistic regression. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the responsible institution. The nursing diagnosis of ineffective overweight self-management had an estimated prevalence of 38.1% in the sample. Sensitive clinical indicators included excessive calorie consumption (0.9514) and dissatisfaction with body image (0.8834). Specific indicators included negative self-perception of health (0.9999), inadequate eating behavior (0.9990), and impaired emotional health (0.8273). A personal history of overweight (OR=2.78; p-value=0.018) increased the likelihood of developing ineffective overweight self-management by approximately two and a half times. Ineffective overweight self-management is prevalent among university students and is characterized by two sensitive clinical indicators, three specific indicators, and a population at risk that increases the likelihood of this diagnosis. Accurate clinical indicators and the identification of etiological factors for the diagnosis of ineffective overweight self-management support nurses' clinical reasoning in practice. Moreover, verifying accurate components for diagnosing ineffective overweight self-management contributes to the development of interventions aimed at promoting the health of university students.

Microdroplet pull-out testing: Significance of fiber fracture results

Fiber reinforced composites are used in structural materials that required light weight and stiffness. The properties of the fibers or matrix are important, but the interfacial properties have a significant impact on the properties of fiber reinforced composite. In this study, the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) was measured using acrylic resin and epoxy resin as base materials. The chemical composition of acrylic and epoxy matrix materials was analyzed to predict the effects on IFSS. Additionally, IFSS was measured through a microdroplet pull-out test. The reliability of the experimental results was enhanced by applying a statistical analysis to IFSS results. In the case of epoxy, GF/epoxy exhibited higher IFSS to twice and half times than CF/epoxy specimens. It means that the surface treatment of the fibers has a significant impact on the interface. In the case of acrylic, IFSS could be measured for GF. But in the case of CF, IFSS was too low to get accurate results of IFSS. Through this research, methods to improve the accuracy of composite interfacial strength measurement experiments were examined, and the study suggested the need for standardized criteria to evaluate composite interfacial adhesion.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TEMPORAL PROSODIC PARAMETERS IN THE SPEECH OF FOREIGN STUDENTS LEARNING THE BULGARIAN LANGUAGE

The work examines the prosodic realization of the Bulgarian word stress in the speech of Chinese Mandarin speakers, with the aim of outlining the parameters that make the comprehensibility of their speech difficult. Instrumental phonetics methods are used and recordings of read speech are analyzed with the speech signal processing program Praat. The research is focused on the duration of the vowels as one of the acoustic ques of the word stress. To minimize the "inconsistency" of the binary division of stressed and unstressed units in connected speech (discussed in the literature), taking into account the fact that the acoustic keys of stress are subject to intonational shaping by tonal accents and boundary tones, we separately compare the duration of stressed vowels, the unstressed non-final and the unstressed final. The results show that the characteristic ratio of stressed and unstressed non-final vowels for Bulgarian language, in which the former outweigh the latter by about one and a half times, is not reached among Chinese speakers. Therefore, it is difficult to determine which vowel/syllable is stressed in their speech. The unstressed final vowels are longer than the stressed ones in both groups, which is an expected result due to the final lengthening before pause.

Blood rheology and systemic oxidative status in patients with acromegaly

Background Cardiovascular system is known to be affected in acromegaly. However, it was not reported to date if hemorheology was also altered and there is limited data regarding systemic oxidative status in patients with acromegaly. Objective To investigate alterations in hemorheology and systemic oxidative stress in patients with acromegaly. Methods The study comprised 19 active (AA) and 15 controlled (CA) acromegaly patients (n = 34, mean age 48.85 ± 1.69 years) and 29 controls (mean age 52.83 ± 1.37 years). Erythrocyte aggregation index (AI), aggregation half time (t½), amplitude (Amp) and erythrocyte elongation index (EI) were determined by an ektacytometer. Commercial kits were used for measuring serum total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. Results There were statistically significant differences regarding EI at shear stresses of 16.87 ve 30.00 Pa (p = 0.034, p = 0.0001, respectively) and AI (p = 0.050, p = 0.035, respectively) values among the control, AA and CA groups. Decrement of t½ was in line with increment of AI and indicated increased erythrocyte aggregation. Serum TOS, TAS and OSI values were similar between the control, AA and CA groups (p &gt; 0.05). Conclusions This pilot study demonstrated reduced erythrocyte deformability and increased erythrocyte aggregation in patients with AA and CA.

Consumption and expenditure of antidepressants and anxiolitycs in 14 European countries

Abstract Background Since the burden of depressive and anxiety disorders, assessing the use and spending of drugs commonly prescribed for treating such conditions is a valuable barometer of mental health assistance and healthcare services. The current research aims to evaluate the consumption of antidepressants and anxiolytics and the relative expenditure among 14 European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden). Methods A retrospective longitudinal study was assessed based on pooled time series analysis of secondary data over ten years (2012-2021). Defined Daily Doses (DDD) per 1,000 inhabitants and health expenditure per capita (current US$, computed on purchasing power parity) were considered. Linear and quadratic trends were calculated for defining relationships between the variables of interest. Results Prevailing patterns of consumption and spending show an increase in antidepressants and a decrease in anxiolytics. Noteworthy is the growth slope of antidepressant consumption in three selected countries, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden, by over two and a half times from 2012 to 2021. In addition, for a few countries, there is a pattern contrary to most countries for anxiolytics (Latvia, Spain) and discordant between consumption and expenditure for antidepressants (Austria, Hungary). Conclusions The widespread growth of antidepressant use deserves attention. As a public health issue, the prescription and use of antidepressants should be addressed by targeted policies for integrating multifaceted strategies. Key messages • Monitoring consumption and expenditure of antidepressant and anxiolytic drugs represents a valid tool for assessing the efficacy and availability of mental healthcare services among the population. • The growth in the consumption of antidepressants represents a relevant public health issue and deserves attention for the evaluation of an integrated approach of assistance.