Lamb waves are widely used for defect detection in structural health monitoring, and various methods are developed for Lamb wave data analysis. This paper presents an unsupervised Adversarial Transformer model for anomalous Lamb wave pattern detection by analyzing the spatiotemporal images generated by a hybrid PZT-scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (SLDV). The model includes the global attention and the local attention mechanisms, and both are trained adversarially.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In an effort to combat burnout, a study investigates Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training for nurses. The goal is to reduce stress and improve job satisfaction, ultimately enhancing patient care. These findings may inspire the development of mindfulness-based support systems for healthcare professionals to promote overall well-being in the workplace.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiabetes and other age-related diseases are associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Methylglyoxal (MGO), a by-product of glycolysis and a major precursor in the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), is increased in individuals with diabetes and other age-related diseases and is associated with microvascular dysfunction. We now investigated whether increased levels of circulating MGO can lead to cerebral microvascular dysfunction, blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, and cognitive impairment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFElectrochemical oxidation of Zn(II) 2,7,12,17-tetra-tert-butylporphyrin in the presence of a series of azole derivatives (1-methylimidazole, 1-vinyl-1H-imidazole, 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)pyridine, 1-methylbenzimidazole, 1-methyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole, and benzothiazole) affords the corresponding meso-substituted azolium-porphyrins in very mild conditions and good yields. It was found that these nucleophiles were strongly ligated to the zinc(II) azolium-porphyrin complexes. Thus a demetalation/remetalation procedure was performed to recover the non-azole-coordinated zinc(II) complexes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To compare the reliability, usability, and efficiency of video versus print instructions to teach parents a procedural measurement task. We hypothesized that videos would outperform print in all outcomes.
Study Design: This cross-sectional study included parents/caregivers of children aged 0-18 years with deep vein thrombosis attending the Thrombosis Clinic at The Hospital for Sick Children for post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) assessment.
In this clinical trial, 60 nurses from three geriatric centers were enlisted and randomly split into two groups: control (n = 30) and intervention (n = 30). Statistical analysis using SPSS version 21 employed Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Chi square, and t-test to assess results. The intervention group received eight training sessions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Managing rheumatic disease activity using pregnancy-compatible medications is essential for reducing adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. We characterized medication use and discontinuation before, during, and after pregnancy, among female patients with rheumatic diseases attending a targeted pregnancy and rheumatic diseases clinic.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional medical record review of female patients with rheumatic diseases at a Canadian clinic between January 2017 and July 2020.
Background: Adequate sleep and exercise are important components of the human lifestyle. Paying attention to these two factors is very important to improve the condition of children with type 1 diabetes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise on sleep habits in children with type 1 diabetes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The role of elevated coagulation factors VIII (FVIII), FIX, FXI for the prediction of recurrent thrombotic events in children after an index non-central venous catheter (non-CVC) related deep vein thrombosis (DVT) remains unclear.
Objective: This study investigates the predictive role of FVIII, FIX, and FXI for recurrent thrombosis in children with index non-CVC DVTs, and the mediation effect of FVIII on chronic inflammation and recurrent thrombosis.
Methods: Children aged 0-18 years diagnosed with an index non-CVC related DVT (1993-2020) were included in this single-center retrospective cohort study.
Knowledge regarding the long-term consequences of pulmonary embolism (PE) in children is limited. This cohort study describes the long-term outcomes of PE in children who were followed-up at a single-center institution using a local protocol that included clinical evaluation, chest imaging, echocardiography, pulmonary function tests, and cardiopulmonary exercise tests at follow-up, starting 3 to 6 months after acute PE. Children objectively diagnosed with PE at age 0 to 18 years, who had ≥6 months of follow-up were included.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimer's disease (AD) develops along a continuum that spans years prior to diagnosis. Decreased muscle function and mitochondrial respiration occur years earlier in those that develop AD; however, it is unknown what causes these peripheral phenotypes in a disease of the brain. Exercise promotes muscle, mitochondria, and cognitive health and is proposed to be a potential therapeutic for AD, but no study has investigated how skeletal muscle adapts to exercise training in an AD-like context.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFColloids Surf B Biointerfaces
January 2024
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remain one of the major challenges faced by the global healthcare system. The increasing rate of pathogenic resistance against antibiotics suggests that alternative treatments are needed to control recurrent infections. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the third most common type of HAI worldwide, and this is mainly due to indwelling devices being excellent substrates for bacterial adhesion and growth.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF5,15-Bis(pyrimidin-2-ylthio)porphyrins have been synthesized. Their electrochemical oxidation leads to the formation of mono- and bis-C-N-fused thiopyrimidinium intermediates depending on the applied charge and potential. These latter undergo nucleophilic attack with water during workup that drives the ring opening of the pyrimidinium moiety.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the utilization of powder as feed ingredient in the diet of for a period of 56 days. Common carp fry with an average weight of 20 ± 0.2 g were fed using the diet containing leaves with different concentrations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo assess the clinical utility of pre-pregnancy planning among female patients with rheumatic diseases attending a targeted pregnancy and rheumatic diseases clinic. We conducted a retrospective review using data collected via chart review of female patients with rheumatic diseases seen at the Pregnancy and Rheumatic Diseases Clinic at the Mary Pack Arthritis Centre in Vancouver, Canada, between January 2017 and July 2020. Patients were categorized according to an initial presentation at the clinic as (1) pregnant without pre-pregnancy planning; and (2) not pregnant with pre-pregnancy planning.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn evolving field, nanotechnology has made its mark in the fields of nanoscience, nanoparticles, nanomaterials, and nanomedicine. Specifically, metal nanoparticles have garnered attention for their diverse use and applicability to dressings for wound healing due to their antimicrobial properties. Given their convenient integration into wound dressings, there has been increasing focus dedicated to investigating the physical, mechanical, and biological characteristics of these nanoparticles as well as their incorporation into biocomposite materials, such as hydrogel scaffolds for use in lieu of antibiotics as well as to accelerate and ameliorate healing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBacterial infection and poor cell recruitment are among the main factors that prolong wound healing. To address this, a strategy is required that can prevent infection while promoting tissue repair. Here, we have created a silver nanoparticle-based hydrogel composite that is antibacterial and provides nutrients for cell growth, while filling cavities of various geometries in wounds that are difficult to reach with other dressings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBirth Defects Res
October 2023
Leflunomide is a commonly used disease modifying antirheumatic agent. However, its use is contraindicated in pregnancy. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guidelines recommend discontinuing Leflunomide at least 24 months before conception.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe gut microbiome of bees is vital for the health of their hosts. Given the ecosystem functions performed by bees, and the declines faced by many species, it is important to improve our understanding of the amount of natural variation in the gut microbiome, the level of sharing of bacteria among co-occurring species (including between native and non-native species), and how gut communities respond to infections. We conducted 16S rRNA metabarcoding to discern the level of microbiome similarity between honey bees (, = 49) and bumble bees ( spp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe regulation and characterization of nanomaterials in foods are of great interest due to the potential risks associated with their exposure and the increasing number of applications where they are used within the food industry. One factor limiting the scientifically rigorous regulation of nanoparticles in foods is the lack of standardized procedures for the extraction of nanoparticles (NPs) from complex matrices without alteration of their physico-chemical properties. To this end, we tested and optimized two sample preparation approaches (enzymatic- and alkaline-based hydrolyses) in order to extract 40 nm of Ag NP, following their equilibration with a fatty ground beef matrix.
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