Index Values Research Articles

Karakterisasi dan Identifikasi Rhizobakteri Asal Mangrove Tanjung Pilawang sebagai Biokontrol dan Agen Hayati Pertumbuhan Tanaman

Rhizobacteria are a type of microbe that has an important role in providing nutrients to plants. Rhizobacteria live in symbiosis with plant roots, where their activity has a significant influence on plant growth and development. Various microbes that have the potential to stimulate plant growth are thought to reside in mangrove root areas. The aim of this research is to determine the type of rhizobacteria of the Tanjung Pilawang mangrove, Gura Village, Tobelo District, North Halmahera Regency which is capable of inhibiting the growth of the fungus Collectotricum capsici and dissolving phosphate to be used as a biocontrol and biological agent for plant growth. The research methods used include the isolation stage, selection and characterization stages, and identification stages. The results of the research showed that 11 isolates of rhizobacteria were isolated from Tanjung Pilawang mangrove soil, of these 11 isolates there were two isolates that had the potential to inhibit the growth of the pathogenic fungus Colletotricum capsici and were able to dissolve phosphate, where each isolate was able to provide a Dissolution Index (IP) value. the highest is 2.85 mm and 1.91 mm. After identification, the two isolates were identified as Bacillus subtilis (RTM 10) and Pseudomonas sp (RTM 06), so that these two bacteria have potential as biocontrol and biological agents for plant growth.

The use of pulse transit time in diagnostics of sleep-disordered breathing in children

<b><br>Introduction:</b> Sleep is the physiological state of the body where proper morphology and duration are indispensable for human functions throughout both, physical and mental spheres. Disordered breathing during sleep impairs its morphology and results in major disorders in any age group. Adverse effects of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in children and poor availability of centers offering children’s polysomnography call for a reliable and easily accessible screening method.</br> <b><br>Aim:</b> The aim of the study were to evaluate the usefulness of pulse transit time in the diagnostics of disordered sleep breathing in children and to attempt to employ the parameter in screening tests. Pulse transit time is a physiological parameter determining the time needed for the pulse wave to travel between two measurement points.</br> <b><br>Material and methods:</b> Enrolled in the retrospective study were 153 patients (100 boys and 53 girls) suspected of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome who underwent polysomnography at I. Mościcki ENT Hospital in Chorzów.</br> <b><br>Results:</b> Statistically significant relations between apnea/hypopnea index and pulse transit time were observed in both, individual age groups and all of the patients. Pulse transit time results proved a negative correlation with apnea/hypopnea index values commonly accepted as a parameter concluding the polysomnography procedures.</br> <b><br>Conclusions:</b> The results of the study indicate that pulse transit time measurements may find application in screening tests of sleep-disordered breathing in children.</br>

Establishing minimal clinically important differences and cut-off values for the lower limb motricity index and trunk control test in older patients with acute stroke: a prospective cohort study

ABSTRACT Objective To establish the Minimal Clinically Important Differences (MCIDs) for lower limb strength measured by the Motricity Index (LLMI) and trunk function assessed by the Trunk Control Test (TCT) in the acute phase of stroke in older patients. Further, the study sought to determine the cutoff values predicting functional prognosis at discharge for both the LLMI and TCT. Methods This prospective cohort study was conducted for older patients (≥65 years) admitted for acute stroke, receiving guideline-based stroke care that includes early rehabilitation. The LLMI and TCT were measured within 7 days of admission and at discharge. The MCID was derived from receiving operating characteristic curves, based on a ≥ 1 point shift in the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) from admission to discharge. A good functional prognosis at discharge was defined as an mRS score of ≤ 3. Results A total of 201 older patients with acute stroke were included. The TCT achieved an MCID of 13 (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.704, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.633–0.775), whereas the LLMI lacked the precision to produce a significant MCID. The optimal cutoff points for predicting a good outcome were found to be an LLMI score of 65 (AUC = 0.770, 95% CI: 0.705–0.835) and a TCT score of 25 (AUC = 0.827, 95% CI: 0.768–0.887) upon admission. Conclusions This study identified a valid MCID for the TCT, failed to do so for the LLMI, and established cutoff values for both the LLMI and TCT that can predict good outcomes in older patients with acute stroke.

Effectiveness of Pilates-based exercises on the diastasis recti abdominis in climacteric women: a randomized controlled trial

Introduction: Recent studies have related the climacteric period with changes in connective tissue elasticity that may be related to diastasis recti abdominis. Mat Pilates is a method of exercise without impact that currently has more practitioners, due to its satisfactory results. However, there are no studies that evaluate the effectiveness of mat Pilates for women with diastasis recti abdominis. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the mat Pilates program in climacteric women with diastasis recti abdominis. Methods: This randomized single-blinded clinical trial evaluated climacteric women with diastasis recti abdominis. The participants were randomized into the experimental group, which participated in 3 weekly sessions of mat Pilates for 12 weeks for a total of 36 sessions, and the control group (without exercises). The inter-rectus distance was measured with a digital caliper. The G*Power Version 3.1.9.2. software was used for the sample calculation, and the SPSS 20.0 program was used for statistical analysis. Results: The study comprised 21 women, including 10 in the control group and 11 in the experimental group, with mean ages of 54.3 ± 7.1 and 55.3 ± 6.0 years and body mass index values of 28.8 ± 5.5 kg/m2 and 29.9 ± 4.48 kg/m2, respectively. In the experimental group, reductions were observed in all the measures related to diastasis recti abdominis (p<0.05) in the supraumbilical, umbilical, and infra-umbilical regions. Conclusion: The mat Pilates method is effective for reducing diastasis recti abdominis in the climacteric period.

Polarization-independent tunable multi-band terahertz absorber based on graphene structure to design the ultra-high sensitive biosensors

In this paper, we investigated the heterogeneous structure of a multi-band perfect absorber based on graphene in the terahertz range, benefiting from polarization independence. The proposed structure comprises three layers: copper, silicon dioxide, and an inhomogeneous graphene structure with an analyte. By altering the sub-layers dimensions and the graphene slices' geometric shape, we can modify the number of bands, quality, and absorption levels. Additionally, adjusting the chemical potential of graphene enables the customization of absorption frequencies as needed. The application of this structure in biological sensors extends to the detection of proteins, viruses, and cancer cells, as well as filtering telecommunication waves and imaging. Through geometrically shaping the graphene cuts at frequencies of 4.89 THz, 9.14 THz, and 10.76 THz, absorption values of 99.54%, 99.64%, and 98.3% have been achieved, respectively. Introducing the analyte to the biosensor structure causes a shift in absorption frequency values due to varying refractive index values in different materials. This property has been utilized for biosensor design. Within the refractive index range of biological analytes (e.g., 1.3), the first band achieved a sensitivity value of 2700 GHz/RIU and FoM = 13.08, while the second band achieved a sensitivity value of 2200 GHz/RIU and FoM = 14.02. An important characteristic of this structure is its insensitivity to polarization. Simulations were conducted using Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Microwave Studio Suite 2023.

Population-level norm values by EQ-5D-3L in Hungary - a comparison of survey results from 2022 with those from 2000.

Although population norms of the EQ-5D-3L instrument had been available in Hungary since 2000, their evaluation was based on a United Kingdom (UK) value set. Our objective was to estimate the population norms for EQ-5D-3L by using the new Hungarian value set available since 2020, to extend the scope to adolescents, and to compare with norms from 2000. A cross sectional EQ-5D-3L survey representative of the Hungarian population was conducted in 2022. The EQ-5D-3L dimensional responses were analyzed by age and sex and compared with the survey from 2000, by estimating population frequencies with their 95% confidence intervals; index values were evaluated by both value sets. Altogether, 11,910 respondents, aged 12 or more (578 between 12 and 17), completed the EQ-5D-3L. There was a notable improvement in reporting problems for both sexes (age 35-64) regarding the pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression compared to 2000. Below the age 44, both sexes had an EQ-5D-3L index plateau of 0.98, while above the age 55, men tended to have numerically higher index values compared to women, with the difference increasing with older age. Improvement in dimensional responses were also translated to numerically higher index values for both sexes between ages 18 and 74 compared to 2000. Multivariate regression analysis showed that higher educational attainment, lower age, larger household size, and active occupational status were associated with higher index values. Over the past 22 years, there was a large improvement in HRQoL of the middle-aged to elderly men and women in Hungary.

Prognostic importance of modified geriatric nutritional risk index in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma

We probed the associations of preoperative modified geriatric nutritional risk index (mGNRI) values with prognosis in patients receiving surgery for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). This retrospective study analyzed the clinical data of 333 patients with OCSCC and undergoing surgery between 2008 and 2017. The preoperative mGNRI was calculated using the following formula: (14.89/C-reactive protein level) + 41.7 × (actual body weight/ideal body weight). We executed receiver operating characteristic curve analyses to derive the optimal mGNRI cutoff and employed Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazard model to probe the associations of the mGNRI with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The optimal mGNRI cutoff was derived to be 73.3. We noted the 5-year OS and DFS rates to be significantly higher in the high-mGNRI group than in the low-mGNRI group (both p < 0.001). A preoperative mGNRI below 73.3 was independently associated with unfavorable DFS and OS. A mGNRI-based nomogram was constructed to provide accurate OS predictions (concordance index, 0.781). Hence, preoperative mGNRI is a valuable and cost-effective prognostic biomarker in patients with OCSCC. Our nomogram facilitates the practical use of mGNRI and offers individualized predictions of OS.

The role of serum C-Fos and glial fibriller acidic protein levels in detecting the severity of obstructive sleep apnea.

Hypoxia and sleep fragmentations that develop during sleep cause central nervous system damage in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study investigates the relationship between OSA severity and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and c-Fos, which are considered indicators of neuronal damage. The study included 84 participants (70 patients with OSA and 14 healthy individuals). All participants were evaluated with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) before polysomnography (PSG), and serum GFAP and c-Fos values were measured after PSG. All participants were grouped according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) score (control: AHI < 5, Mild OSA: 5 ≤ AHI < 15; moderate OSA: 15 ≤ AHI < 30; severe OSA: AHI ≥ 30). The average age of the participants was 48.5 ± 11.4 years. According to AHI scoring, 14 healthy individuals (16.7%) were in the control group, and 70 patients (83.3%) were in OSA groups. The serum GFAP levels and c-Fos levels were increased in the OSA groups (7.1 ± 5.7 ng/mL and 7.9 ± 7.5 pg/mL respectively) compared to the control group (1.3 ± 0.4 ng/mL and 2.7 ± 1.4 pg/mL p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). There was a significant positive correlation between AHI and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) values, which indicate disease severity, and serum c-Fos (r: 0.381 and r:0.931, p < 0.01, respectively) and GFAP (r: 0.793 and r:0.745, p < 0.01, respectively) values. Serum GFAP and c-Fos values, which are considered indicators of neuronal damage, can be used as a serum marker to determine disease severity in OSA.

Associations between time in range and insulin secretory capacity in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes

Impaired insulin secretory capacity is associated with high glycemic variability in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, there are no existing reports on the association between insulin secretory capacity and time in range (TIR). This retrospective study involved 330 T2DM admitted for diabetes education who underwent intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) and had their fasting serum C-peptide immunoreactivity (S-CPR) measured within 5 days of admission. The baseline characteristics were as follows: age, 60.2 years; glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), 9.2%; S-CPR, 2.2 ng/mL; S-CPR index (S-CPR [ng/mL]/fasting plasma glucose [mg/dL] × 100), 1.6; and TIR, 60.3%. TIR correlated significantly with the S-CPR index, which was confirmed by multivariate analysis that included various factors such as HbA1c. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that 1.88 was the optimal S-CPR index level to predict TIR ≥ 70%. In addition to HbA1c and biguanide use, the S-CPR index was a significant factor associated with TIR > 70%. S-CPR index values of ≥ 1.88 also correlated significantly with TIR > 70%. In conclusion, insulin secretory capacity is associated with TIR in Japanese T2DM, suggesting that the S-CPR index might be a potentially useful biomarker insulin secretory capacity, in association with TIR.Trial registration UMIN0000254333.

Gastropods are faced with potential environmental hazards in Kuala Langsa, Aceh

The Kuala Langsa Peninsula is a geographical region that is often developed as a site of habitat. The surrounding nature of Kuala Langsa is an environment of biodiversity that contains gastropods. There are also several mangrove areas throughout Kuala Langsa with certain characteristics, under certain conditions and status, which are ecological or non-ecological conservation. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the level of pollution that occurs in the port of Kuala Langsa by looking at the value of the index of gastropodic diversity. The research uses the quantitative method with the Shannon-Wienner diversity index formula and sampling using the square tranche technique. The results show that diversity from common and detected low quality is based on the total number of species in a community found, as well as very similar types of organisms, resulting in low diversity coefficient values and water quality belonging to moderate pollution. The conclusion is that the total number of gastropods is 1,064 individuals from 9 families and 19 species on the three research locations. It can be concluded that the highest value of the diversity index obtained with the data is at station II, which is 2, whereas the lowest diversity Index value at station III is at 1.86 and is followed by station I at 1.91, as long as from the data the variability index value belongs to the type of moderate polluted waters.

Impulsive Response Analysis of Financial Markets in QUAD Economies: A VAR Modelling Approach

Financial market integration remains a key focus in academic finance, especially given how crucial it is to portfolio diversification. The purpose of this research is to investigate a crucial yet underexplored aspect like the cointegration of economies with formal or unofficial military ties, focusing on countries within the Quad strategic forum—India, Japan, Australia, and the United States. The daily closing values of benchmark stock market indices of Quad economies viz. Nikkie 225 for Japan, S&amp;P ASX 200 for Australia, NASDAQ composite for the United States, and S&amp;P Sensex for India were considered. Unit root tests, Johansen Cointegration tests, VAR (Vector Autoregressive) model, and the Granger Causality statistics are computed for data analysis. Additionally, the Impulse response function and variance decomposition are computed for better financial market predictions. The result reveals intriguing dynamics: while the Indian stock market initially responds positively to shocks in the Australian market, this effect diminishes over time. Also, movements in the Australian and United States stock markets significantly contribute to predicting fluctuations in the Indian market, contrasting with the limited predictive power of the Japanese stock market. These findings carry significant practical implications for international investors, offering valuable guidance for optimizing portfolio diversification strategies amidst geopolitical and economic complexities. This paper contributes to academic literature by offering empirical insights into the short-term dynamics and causal relationships of Quad countries’ stock markets, setting a foundation for future studies on long-term trends and market responses to external factors.

Solar energy potential mapping in Ukraine through integration of GIS, remote sensing, and fuzzy logic

ABSTRACT The Green Deal strategic plan for the development of renewable energy until 2030 is of particular importance in the context of the restoration of Ukraine’s post-war energy infrastructure. One of the key topics is the analysis of the possibilities of installing large solar power plants in Ukraine. In this article, a multi-criteria analysis of the suitability of the territory of Ukraine is carried out on the basis of climatic, topographic and land use criteria. To assess land suitability, criteria standardized using fuzzy logic with weights determined by experts through the method of pairwise comparisons were combined using a weighted sum model. Upon completing the study, a suitability map was generated, depicting zones with varying levels of suitability (ranging from 0 to 1) for solar power plant placement. It was found that more than 35.68% of the country has average values of the suitability index (0.65–0.7), and approximately 18.82% show high indicators (<0.7). Conditions are especially favorable in the south of Ukraine.

The predictive value of lesion-specific pericoronary fat attenuation index for major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to explore the prognostic significance of the lesion-specific pericoronary fat attenuation index (FAI) in forecasting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsThis study conducted a retrospective analysis of 304 patients diagnosed with T2DM who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in our hospital from December 2011 to October 2021. All participants were followed for a period exceeding three years. Detailed clinical data and CCTA imaging features were carefully recorded, encompassing lesion-specific pericoronary FAI, FAI of the three prime coronary arteries, features of high-risk plaques, and the coronary artery calcium score (CACS). The MACE included in the study comprised cardiac death, acute coronary syndrome (which encompasses unstable angina pectoris and myocardial infarction), late-phase coronary revascularization procedures, and hospital admissions prompted by heart failure.ResultsWithin the three-year follow-up, 76 patients with T2DM suffered from MACE. The lesion-specific pericoronary FAI in patients who experienced MACE was notably higher compared to those without MACE (–84.87 ± 11.36 Hounsfield Units (HU) vs. –88.65 ± 11.89 HU, p = 0.016). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that CACS ≥ 100 (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.071, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.157–7.683, p < 0.001) and lesion-specific pericoronary FAI higher than − 83.5 HU (HR = 2.400, 95% CI 1.399–4.120, p = 0.001) were independently associated with heightened risk of MACE in patients with T2DM over a three-year period. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with higher lesion-specific pericoronary FAI were more likely to develop MACE (p = 0.0023). Additionally, lesions characterized by higher lesion-specific pericoronary FAI values were found to have a greater proportion of high-risk plaques (p = 0.015). Subgroup analysis indicated that lesion-specific pericoronary FAI higher than − 83.5 HU (HR = 2.017, 95% CI 1.143–3.559, p = 0.015) was independently correlated with MACE in patients with T2DM who have moderate to severe coronary calcification. Moreover, the combination of CACS ≥ 100 and lesion-specific pericoronary FAI>-83.5 HU significantly enhanced the predictive value of MACE in patients with T2DM within 3 years.ConclusionsThe elevated lesion-specific pericoronary FAI emerged as an independent prognostic factor for MACE in patients with T2DM, inclusive of those with moderate to severe coronary artery calcification. Incorporating lesion-specific pericoronary FAI with the CACS provided incremental predictive power for MACE in patients with T2DM.

Synergistic bactericidal activity of a novel dual β-lactam combination against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

MRSA is a major cause of hospital-acquired and community-acquired infections. Treatment options for MRSA are limited because of the rapid development of β-lactam resistance. Combining antibiotics offers an affordable, time-saving, viable and efficient approach for developing novel antimicrobial therapies. Both amoxicillin and cefdinir are oral β-lactams with indications for a wide range of bacterial infections and mild side effects. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of combining these two β-lactams against MRSA strains. Fourteen representative prevalent MRSA strains with diverse sequence types (STs) were tested with a combination of amoxicillin and cefdinir, using chequerboard and time-kill assays. The Galleria mellonella larvae infection model was used to evaluate the in vivo efficacy of this dual combination against the community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) strain USA300 and the hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) strain COL. The chequerboard assay revealed a synergistic activity of the dual amoxicillin/cefdinir combination against all tested MRSA strains, with fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) values below 0.5 and at least a 4-fold reduction in the MICs of both antibiotics. Time-kill assays demonstrated synergistic bactericidal activity of this dual combination against the MRSA strain USA300 and strain COL. Moreover, in vivo studies showed that the administration of amoxicillin/cefdinir combination to G. mellonella larvae infected with MRSA strains significantly improved the survival rate up to 82%, which was comparable to the efficacy of vancomycin. In vitro and in vivo studies indicate that the dual combination of amoxicillin/cefdinir demonstrates a synergistic bactericidal efficacy against MRSA strains of various STs. Further research is needed to explore its potential as a treatment option for MRSA infections.

To determine the value of iMAX, a new electrodiagnostic method, and its application in the evaluation of peripheral motor nerve excitability

Objective: To test the new method of iMAX (the minimum stimulus current that elicits the maximum compound muscle action potential amplitude) electrodiagnosis, verify the feasibility of this method in evaluating the excitability of peripheral motor axons, and preliminarily explore the clinical application value. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 50 healthy subjects were recruited from the outpatient department of Peking University Third Hospital from June 2022 to March 2023, including 25 males and 25 females, aged 25-68 (48±8) years. Eleven patients with Charcot-Marie-Pain-1A (CMT1A), 7 males and 4 females, aged 19-55 (41±13) years and 21 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), 10 males and 11 females, aged 28-79 (53±16) years were enrolled in this study. iMAX of bilateral median nerves, ulnar nerves and peroneal nerves were detected in all patients. Repeatable motor responses with minimum motor threshold and amplitude of at least 0.1 mV and the minimum stimulus current intensity, at which the maximum compound muscle action potential amplitude is elicited, were measured respectively [1 mA increment is called (iUP) and, 0.1 mA adjustment is called (iMAX)].Comparison of the parameters: the parameters of threshold, iUP and iMAX were compared among different age groups, genders and sides, body mass index(BMI) values and detection time , as well as between CMT1A patients, DPN patients and healthy subjects. Results: In healthy subjects, the threshold, iUP value and iMAX value were (1.8±0.7) mA, (4.4±1.2) mA, and (4.2±1.3) mA respectively; ulnar nerve (3.1±1.6) mA, (6.8±3.2) mA, (6.4±3.2) mA; peroneal nerve (3.7±2.0) mA, (7.8±2.8) mA, (7.4±2.9) mA. There were statistically significant differences in threshold, iUP value and iMAX value among different age groups (all P<0.001).With the increase of age, there was a trend of increasing threshold, iUP, and iMAX values in different nerves, and the differences are statistically significant (all P<0.001). There were no significant differences in gender, side and detection time threshold, iUP value and iMAX value (all P>0.05). The parameters of healthy subjects with high BMI value were higher than those of healthy subjects with low BMI value(all P<0.05). Compared with the healthy subjects, the parameters of 11 CMT1A patients were significantly increased (all P<0.05), and the parameters of 21 DPN patients were slightly increased (P<0.05). Conclusion: The new iMAX method reflects the excitability of motor axons and early axonal dysfunction, which is an important supplement to the traditional nerve conduction, and can be used to monitor motor axon excitability disorders.

Biodiversity Characteristics and Carbon Sequestration Potential of Successional Woody Plants Versus Tree Plantation under Different Reclamation Treatments on Hard-Coal Mine Heaps––A Case Study from Upper Silesia

In the discussion about sustainable forestry, a key role is played by the development of ecosystem services, including ecological, social, and economic ones, in which biodiversity and carbon (C) sequestration are among the most important. Afforestation of disturbed and post-mining sites is one of the ways to minimize the negative impact of civilization on the environment. Optimizing C sequestration strategies at post-mining sites plays a crucial role in promoting ecosystem recovery, supporting climate change mitigation, and enabling C offsetting. In this study, we compared the C storage in the soil and plant biomass of forest ecosystems developed on coal-mine heaps for different scenarios of reclamation and succession. We tested combinations of sites (i.e., non-reclaimed sites on bare carboniferous rock [BR] and sites reclaimed by applying topsoil [TS]) and successional woodland and tree plantation. The estimated potential for total C storage (in the soil + biomass) for TS sites ranged from 68.13 to 121.08 Mg ha−1, of which 52.20–102.89 Mg ha−1 was stored in the soil and 12.09–20.15 Mg ha−1 in the biomass. In the non-reclaimed sites on BR, the total C storage was much higher, amounting to 523.14 Mg ha−1 (507.66 Mg ha−1 being in the soil), which was due to the geogenic coal content in the BR. However, the C storage in the biomass (15.48 Mg ha−1) and litter (5.91 Mg ha−1) was similar to the amounts obtained from the reclaimed sites. The number of species did not differ statistically significantly between the analyzed variants. On average, 14 species were recorded in the plots. The average Shannon–Wiener index (H’) value was higher for sites with BR (1.99) than TS variants on reclaimed plots (1.71). The lowest H’ value was for those plots with Robinia pseudacacia in the stand. One of the main implications of the obtained results for sustainable forestry is the perspective of using succession in the recovery of a disturbed ecosystem. We noted that woodlands from succession on BR are highly biodiverse, have high C sequestration potential, and do not require time-consuming reclamation treatments.

Impact of Calorie Intake on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors for Young Adults Working from Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract: During the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home (WFH) led to increased passivity, potentially affecting body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and blood pressure (BP) values, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to determine the impact of calorie intake on these risk factors in young adults working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. This experimental study employed a one-group pre- and post-test design conducted over two months. Respondents' daily physical activities were recorded using Bouchard's questionnaire, and a food record method was used to document all foods consumed over three days. The study followed up with respondents for two months. The results indicated that respondents with good physical activity levels experienced a decrease in BMI: 53.3% of men and 37.5% of women. Adequate calorie intake also contributed to a decrease in BMI, with 53.3% of men and 57.1% of women showing reductions. However, the t-test showed p-values &gt;0.05 for the correlations between calorie intake and BMI, WC, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). In conclusion, there was no significant impact of calorie intake on risk factors for CVD, such as obesity and high blood pressure. Nonetheless, it was observed that appropriate calorie intake could potentially prevent the increase of these risk factors. Keywords: calorie intake; cardiovascular disease; COVID-19 pandemic

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of reaction products of Chemical Weapons Convention-related 2-(N,N-dialkylamino)ethylchlorides with 2-(N,N-dialkylamino)ethanols.

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) mandates rigorous screening of chemical weapons and their potential degradation/reaction products, which is essential to identify such products in suspected samples. The reaction between 2-(N,N-dialkylamino)ethylchlorides and 2-(N,N-dialkylamino)ethanols (precursors/degradation products of VX agents) produces a new class of reaction products that are not explored. The reaction products, bis(2-N,N-dialkylaminoethyl)ethers (1-10), were synthesized using established synthetic procedures, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) (electron ionization [EI] and chemical ionization [CI]) methods were developed for their identification. The GC/MS experiments were performed on an Agilent GC/MSD system using an HP-5MS capillary column. Methane gas was used as the CI reagent gas for GC/CIMS experiments. GC/retention index (RI) values of 1-10 were calculated using the retention times of the hydrocarbon mixture and the analytes. The GC/EI spectra of 1-10 exhibited [M-H]+ ions and distinctive fragments that provided valuable structural information. The selective fragmentation of the alkyl groups on nitrogen facilitated the discrimination of possible isomeric compounds. Interpretation of EI fragments in the high mass region is important for unambiguous identification of 1-10, because the major ions significantly match other CWC-related compounds containing the 2-(N,N-dialkylaminoethyl) group. GC/CI (methane) spectra included M+., [M + H]+, [M-H]+, reagent-specific adduct ions, and a few structure-indicative fragments. The spiking experiments in soil and water samples revealed that the target analytes were stable, easily extractable, and detectable using GC/MS. The reaction products, 1-10, could be successfully synthesized and characterized using GC/MS (EI and CI). The GC/MS and GC/RI data provide important insights into the unambiguous identification of the target molecules in challenging CWC verification and are helpful in participation in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons proficiency tests.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the hidden curriculum assessment scale in nursing education: A validity and reliability study

AimsThe study aimed to develop and psychometrically evaluate a measurement scale for identifying and assessing the hidden curriculum in undergraduate nursing education. BackgroundThe hidden curriculum is a general term for educational information that exists outside of the teaching program and mainly affects students' knowledge, emotions, behaviors, beliefs, values and professional ethics. However, a specific instrument to comprehensively define and assess the hidden curriculum in nursing education has not yet been developed in China. DesignA descriptive and explorative study design was used. MethodsWe developed the initial scale through a literature review, focus group discussion, Delphi expert consultation and pre-survey. From February to April 2023, the data were collected from a convenient sample of 512 nursing students enrolled in five medical universities in China to conduct exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis for validity testing. In addition, reliability analysis was conducted by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficients, split-half reliability and test-retest reliability. The nursing students' responses were evaluated using a five-point Likert scale. ResultsThe Hidden Curriculum Assessment Scale in Nursing Education (HCAS-NE) was formulated, consisting of 4 dimensions and 35 items. Exploratory factor analysis extracted four factors, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 66.863 % and confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the fit indices values of the scale structure model met the criteria for an ideal level. the Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.965, the Guttman split-half was 0.853 and the test-retest reliability was 0.967. ConclusionThis study demonstrated that the Hidden Curriculum Assessment Scale in Nursing Education (HCAS-NE) has ideal reliability and validity, which provides a valid and reliable tool for identifying and assessing the hidden curriculum in nursing education.

Optical and dielectric features of PVC/ZnCo2O4/MWCNTs/TBAI polymers for optoelectronic and energy storage applications

Zinc cobalt oxide is considered a highly desirable substance for use in a wide range of applications, particularly supercapacitors. In this study, polyvinyl chloride/zinc cobalt oxide/multi-walled carbon nanotubes/x wt % tetrabutylammonium iodide (PVC/ZnCo2O4/MWCNTs/x wt % TBAI) composite polymers were fabricated using casting and hydrothermal approaches. The resulting composites were then analyzed to determine their structure, optical properties, and dielectric characteristics. The structure of ZnCo2O4 and PVC/ZnCo2O4/MWCNTs/x wt.% TBAI were studied using the X-ray diffraction technique. The morphologies of doped polymer were investigated using SEM technique. The impact of ZnCo2O4/MWCNTs/x wt.% TBAI filler samples on the linear and nonlinear optical properties of PVC polymer has been analyzed through UV diffused reflectance measurements. The doped samples could serve as effective shields against ultraviolet radiation across different wavelengths (UVA, UVB, UVC) and a highly effective material for absorbing solar energy in solar cells. The lowest optical energy gap values are attained (3.77, 3.03) and (3.32, 2.55) eV for the direct and indirect optical band gaps in PVC/ZnCo2O4/MWCNTs/3 wt% TBAI polymer, respectively. The largest refractive index value at 600 nm was observed in the doped polymer with 6 wt% TBAI. The fluorescence emission spectra and dielectric properties of the PVC/ZnCo2O4/MWCNTs/x wt.% TBAI polymers are also studied. The highest electrical dielectric constant was achieved in the ZnCo2O4/MWCNTs/9 wt% TBAI polymer. It follows that the PVC/ZnCo2O4/MWCNTs/x wt % TBAI has the ability to open up new possibilities for use in optoelectronic devices.