Publications by authors named "Ee L"

Background: With burnout rates highly prevalent in palliative care nurses, it is important to have a holistic understanding of the causes of burnout and strategies both to prevent burnout and to cope with burnout.

Aim: To understand the causes of burnout and strategies used to prevent and cope with burnout in palliative care nurses. This would allow the implementation of strategies on a personal level and organisational level to mitigate the effects of burnout.

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  • Researchers developed a new skin-interfaced iontronic mechanosensing (SIIM) system that mimics human skin's sensory functions using natural materials and porous composites to improve biocompatibility and comfort.
  • The SIIM architecture showcases outstanding pressure sensitivity, low detection limits, and stability, while also allowing for sweat permeability, making it suitable for long-term wear.
  • This innovative sensor can be integrated into wearable devices like smart gloves to accurately monitor human movements, highlighting its potential for various applications in the wearable tech industry.
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This study explores the bioactive secondary metabolite profiles of the peels of three major cultivars of bananas ( and ). These cultivars are primarily grown in Southeast Asia and are widely consumed due to their rich nutritional and fiber content. The research utilizes advanced analytical techniques, specifically HPLC-DAD-q-TOF-MS/MS, in conjunction with both univariate and multivariate statistical analyses, to analyze the ethanolic extracts of the banana peels.

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The molecular mechanisms that drive essential developmental patterning events in the mammalian embryo remain poorly understood. To generate a conceptual framework for gene regulatory processes during germ layer specification, we analyzed transcription factor (TF) expression kinetics around gastrulation and during differentiation. This approach identified as a candidate regulator of definitive endoderm (DE), the precursor of all gut- derived tissues.

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Mammalian embryogenesis commences with two pivotal and binary cell fate decisions that give rise to three essential lineages: the trophectoderm, the epiblast and the primitive endoderm. Although key signaling pathways and transcription factors that control these early embryonic decisions have been identified, the non-coding regulatory elements through which transcriptional regulators enact these fates remain understudied. Here, we characterize, at a genome-wide scale, enhancer activity and 3D connectivity in embryo-derived stem cell lines that represent each of the early developmental fates.

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Mammalian embryogenesis commences with two pivotal and binary cell fate decisions that give rise to three essential lineages, the trophectoderm (TE), the epiblast (EPI) and the primitive endoderm (PrE). Although key signaling pathways and transcription factors that control these early embryonic decisions have been identified, the non-coding regulatory elements via which transcriptional regulators enact these fates remain understudied. To address this gap, we have characterized, at a genome-wide scale, enhancer activity and 3D connectivity in embryo-derived stem cell lines that represent each of the early developmental fates.

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  • The study aimed to assess the incidence and severity of COVID-19 among patients receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN) for chronic intestinal failure over a year-long observation period from March 2020 to March 2021.
  • Out of 4680 patients from 68 centers across 23 countries, the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 infection was 9.6%, with 55.1% of patients providing COVID-related data, revealing varying rates of infection severity.
  • Results indicated a higher incidence and severity of infection among deceased patients, and significant proportions of the cohort were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination statuses; 42.8% of deaths in infected individuals were attributed to COVID-19.
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  • The study investigates colonoscopy outcomes in preschoolers (under 6 years) due to a lack of existing data, focusing on indications, diagnostic results, and intubation rates.
  • Out of 1,671 colonoscopies performed, 13% were on preschoolers, with rectal bleeding being the most common reason and juvenile polyps found in 31% of these cases.
  • The study found that the intubation rates for cecal and ileal were significantly lower in preschoolers compared to older children, highlighting the challenges in performing this procedure on younger patients.
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Rapid industrialization is accompanied by the deterioration of the natural environment. The deepening crisis associated with the ecological environment has garnered widespread attention toward strengthening environmental monitoring and protection. Environmental sensors are one of the key technologies for environmental monitoring, ultimately enabling environmental protection.

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Forward osmosis (FO) is an emerging permeation-driven membrane technology that manifests advantages of low energy consumption, low operating pressure, and uncomplicated engineering compared to conventional membrane processes. The key issues that need to be addressed in FO are membrane fouling, concentration polarization (CP) and reverse solute diffusion (RSD). They can lead to problems about loss of draw solutes and reduced membrane lifetime, which not only affect the water treatment effectiveness of FO membranes, but also increase the economic cost.

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Background: Hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 is a rare metabolic condition associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Nitisinone (2-[2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl]-1,3-cyclohexanedione, NTBC) treatment has reduced but not eliminated the risk. The delayed initiation of nitisinone treatment, and persistently abnormal α1-fetoprotein (AFP) levels are recognized to be risk factors for late-onset hepatocellular carcinoma.

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  • A study was conducted using the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism database to analyze factors affecting nutritional status and intravenous supplementation dependency in children with chronic intestinal failure (CIF).
  • The analysis included 558 children, revealing that short bowel syndrome (SBS) was the most common cause of CIF in younger age groups, while dysmotility or mucosal disease became more prevalent as they approached adulthood.
  • About one-third of the children were underweight or stunted and had high dependency on intravenous supplementation, suggesting that this dependency may serve as a marker for the severity of CIF in pediatric patients.
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The Raman intensity ratio I/I for: (a) graphite-rich pencil rods irradiated using x-ray doses up to 20 Gy; (b) a restricted view of the I/I response for the same group of media, limited to x-ray doses of no more than 6 Gy; (c1 and c2) an extended group of graphite-rich media irradiated using Co gamma-rays; (d) a restricted view of the I/I response for a restricted group of the media shown in (c), with Co gamma-ray doses limited to no more than 20 Gy; (e) 2B graphite-rich pencil rods irradiated using 6 MeV electrons, and: (f) irradiation of a subset of the media by thermal (0.025 eV) neutrons. The fluctuation of I/I with dose for carbon-rich human hair of nominal diameter 60 μm is indicated by the dashed line in (c) and (d).

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Background: The Malaysian Kidney Allocation System implemented in 2020 includes only kidney transplant candidates with estimated posttransplant survival (EPTS) score of ≤20%, in replacement of Malaysian Organs Sharing System, which was based solely on dialysis vintage. We aim to compare the clinical outcomes of deceased-donor kidney transplant recipients (DDKTRs) with EPTS ≤20% to those with EPTS >20%.

Methods: All DDKTRs between January 1, 2015, and December 29, 2020, were included and categorized into 2 groups: EPTS ≤20% and EPTS >20%.

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Background: HRQOL is a key outcome following pediatric LT. Parent-proxy reports may substitute for patients unable to report their own HRQOL. This study compared parent-proxy and self-reported HRQOL in children who have undergone LT.

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Present work builds upon prior investigations concerning the novel use of graphite-rich polymer pencil-lead for passive radiation dosimetry. Working with photon-mediated interactions at levels of dose familiar in radiotherapy, exploratory investigations have now been made using graphite produced commercially in the form of 50 μm thick sheets. Focusing on the relationship between absorbed radiation energy and induced material changes, investigations have been made of thermo- and photoluminescence dose dependence, also of alterations in Raman spectroscopic features.

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Emerging cellulose nanomaterials extracted from agricultural biomasses have recently received extensive attention due to diminishing fossil resources. To further reduce the carbon footprints and wastage of valuable resources, additive manufacturing techniques of new nanocellulosic materials have been developed. Studies on the preparation and characterization of 3D-printable functional nanocellulosic materials have facilitated a deeper understanding into their desirable attributes such as high surface area, biocompatibility, and ease of functionalization.

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Liver disease in the older child.

J Paediatr Child Health

November 2020

Liver disease in children tends to present either as: (i) an acute hepatitis with or without jaundice; (ii) incidental finding of abnormal liver function tests; or (iii) from a complication of portal hypertension with either haematemesis and/or incidental splenomegaly. Acute hepatitis may result from acute infection, prescribed or other drugs, ischaemia or vascular causes, autoimmune hepatitis, or idiopathic liver failure. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is now the most likely reason for abnormal liver function tests but medications, metabolic disease, cholangiopathy and non-liver causes should be considered.

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  • The study aimed to evaluate long-term graft and patient survival rates in children who underwent liver retransplantation in Australia and New Zealand from 1986 to 2017, as well as factors affecting these outcomes.!
  • A total of 142 liver retransplantations were performed, with a notable improvement in survival rates during the later period of 2001-2017 compared to 1986-2000, indicating advancements in medical practices.!
  • Overall graft and patient survival rates were high, especially in the more recent years, and it was found that children needing retransplantation should have equal access to donor grafts as those needing their first transplant.!
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Methylation of histone 3 at lysine 9 (H3K9) constitutes a roadblock for cellular reprogramming. Interference with methyltransferases or activation of demethylases by the cofactor ascorbic acid (AA) facilitates the derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), but possible interactions between specific methyltransferases and AA treatment remain insufficiently explored. We show that chemical inhibition of the methyltransferases EHMT1 and EHMT2 counteracts iPSC formation in an enhanced reprogramming system in the presence of AA, an effect that is dependent on EHMT1.

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Aim: Aerodigestive clinics (ADCs) are multidisciplinary programmes for the care of children with complex congenital or acquired conditions affecting breathing, swallowing and growth. Our objective was to describe the demographic, clinical, etiological and investigational profile of children attending the inaugural ADC at a tertiary paediatric centre in Queensland.

Methods: Children referred to the ADC at Queensland Children's Hospital from August 2018 to December 2019 were included.

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Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in children is common, with most functional in origin. Colonoscopy has sometimes been performed to exclude pathology but its role is unclear. Our aim therefore was to assess the diagnostic yield and role of colonoscopy in these children.

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The ability of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to differentiate into all adult cell types makes them attractive for research and regenerative medicine; however, it remains unknown when and how this capacity is established. We characterized the acquisition of developmental pluripotency in a suitable reprogramming system to show that iPSCs prior to passaging become capable of generating all tissues upon injection into preimplantation embryos. The developmental potential of nascent iPSCs is comparable to or even surpasses that of established pluripotent cells.

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