The Impact of Body Mass Index and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia on Bone Health of Middle-Aged and Older Men.

Objective: Osteoporosis significantly affects older adults by reducing bone mass and increasing fracture risk, thereby impacting morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD), body mass index (BMI), and trabecular bone score (TBS) among middle-aged and older men with or without benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using health examination data from male participants aged 50-98 years collected at a regional hospital in southern Taiwan.

Radar-Terahertz-Infrared Compatible Stealth Coaxial Silver Nanowire@Carbon Nano-Cable Aerogel.

Achieving multi-spectrum compatible stealth in radar-terahertz-infrared bands with robust performance has great prospects for both military and civilian applications. However, the progress of materials encounters substantial challenges due to the significant variability in frequency coupling properties across different electromagnetic wave bands. Here, this work presents the design of a multi-scale structure and fabricates a lightweight aerogel (silver nanowire@carbon, AgNW@C) consisting of a regular coaxial nano-cable, with silver nanowire as the core and amorphous-graphitized hybrid carbon as the outer-layer.

High Molecular Weight Uniform Polymers Encoding Octal Sequences by Passerini Iterative Exponential Growth.

Sequence-defined polymers composed of a large pool of chemically distinct monomers (SDPs) have been pursued to achieve the structural and functional precisions exhibited by biopolymers in nonbiological environments. In contrast to the incremental growth of SDPs by sequential addition of individual monomers, the iterative exponential growth (IEG) method allows the synthesis of high molecular-weight SDPs, but their sequences have been composed mostly of binary monomers. Consequently, achieving high molecular-weight SDPs built with a large pool of monomers remains a challenge.

Molecular and niche modeling approaches to identify potential amplifying hosts for an emerging tick-borne pathogen, Rickettsia rickettsii subsp. californica, the causative agent of Pacific Coast tick fever.

Pacific Coast tick fever is a recently described zoonotic disease in California caused by a spotted fever group rickettsia, Rickettsia rickettsii subsp. californica (formerly Rickettsia 364D) and transmitted by the Pacific Coast tick, Dermacentor occidentalis. Like many emerging vector-borne diseases, knowledge regarding the transmission cycle, contribution from potential amplifying hosts, and geographic distribution of R.

Enhancing Nurse Practitioners' Emergency Care Competency and Self-Efficacy Through Experiential Learning: A Single-Group Repeated Measures Study.

Background/objective: Nurse practitioners serve a vital role as first responders in emergencies. This study investigated the effectiveness of experiential learning in enhancing emergency care competency and self-efficacy among nurse practitioners.

Methods: A single-group repeated measures design was implemented from June to August 2023 at a regional teaching hospital in southern Taiwan, involving 95 nurse practitioners and NP trainees.

Mucosal Inflammatory Memory in Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Recent advancements in medical management, endoscopic sinus surgery, and biologics have significantly improved outcomes for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, long-term recurrence is frequently observed following endoscopic sinus surgery, with symptoms worsening after biologics are discontinued. Consequently, refractory or recurrent CRS remains a significant challenge, causing a substantial healthcare burden.

Poor adherence to ultrasound surveillance is associated with infrainguinal bypass graft failure - An ongoing challenge in Australia.

Backgrounds: Infra-inguinal bypass (IIB) surgery is a time-proven and reliable management avenue for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The importance of ultrasound surveillance in maintaining IIB graft patency is well-recognised, yet adherence rates are underreported. This study evaluates the impact of surveillance compliance on graft outcomes in an Australian setting.

Retracted articles in scientific literature: A bibliometric analysis from 2003 to 2022 using the Web of Science.

Retractions serve a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and accuracy of scientific literature. There has been growing interest in understanding the patterns behind retractions. This bibliometric study analyzed retracted articles published between 2003 and 2022, indexed by the Science Citation Index Expanded of the Web of Science Core Collection database.

Association Between Quantitative Sialoscintigraphy and Antibody Profiles in Patients With Sjögren or Sicca Syndrome.

Purpose: This study analyzed the association between anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibody levels with quantitative and visual sialoscintigraphy patterns in patients suspected of having Sjögren or sicca syndrome.

Patients And Methods: Medical records of patients who underwent sialoscintigraphy between April 2020 and May 2022 were reviewed. Associations between antibody levels and sialoscintigraphy parameters were evaluated using linear regression.

Effects of Repeated Exposure to Ambient Cold on the Development of Inflammatory Pain in a Rat Model of Knee Arthritis.

This study investigated the effects of ambient cold exposure on inflammatory pain development, synovial cytokine levels, and spinal cord glial cell activation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (6 weeks old) were divided into Cold and RT groups. The Cold group was exposed to cold (4 ± 1 °C) for 6 h/day for 5 consecutive days, while the RT group remained at room temperature (22 ± 1 °C).

Empowering junior doctors: A study on the feasibility and efficacy of ultrasound AAA screening in rural Australia.

Purposes: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening via ultrasound in Caucasian males aged 65 and older has proven cost-effective in metropolitan areas. Evidence suggests that with adequate training, individuals without prior sonography experience can achieve accurate aortic measurements. This study evaluates the capability of junior doctors, after brief training, to conduct reliable AAA ultrasound screenings in a rural hospital setting, addressing the gap in speciality surgical services.

Oxygen-Plasma-Treated Al/TaO/Al Resistive Memory for Enhanced Synaptic Characteristics.

In this study, we investigate the impact of O plasma treatment on the performance of Al/TaO/Al-based resistive random-access memory (RRAM) devices, focusing on applications in neuromorphic systems. Comparative analysis using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the differences in chemical composition between O-plasma-treated and untreated RRAM cells. Direct-current measurements showed that O-plasma-treated RRAM cells exhibited significant improvements over untreated RRAM cells, including higher on/off ratios, improved uniformity and distribution, longer retention times, and enhanced durability.

Microreserves are an important tool for amphibian conservation.

Initiatives to protect 30% of Earth by 2030 prompt evaluation of how to efficiently target shortcomings in the global protected area (PA) network. Focusing on amphibians, the most vulnerable vertebrate class, we illustrate the conservation value of microreserves, a term we employ here to refer to reserves of <10 km. We report that the network continues to under-represent threatened amphibians and that, despite this clear shortcoming in land-based conservation, the creation of PAs protecting amphibians slowed after 2010.

Pleural complications in patients with renal cell carcinoma undergoing percutaneous cryoablation: A retrospective analysis of its incidence and risk factors.

Rationale: Observations from our clinical practice indicate a notable occurrence of pleural complications post-percutaneous renal cryoablation (PRC).

Objective: To identify the incidence of pleural complications following PRC and potential risk factors associated with post-procedural pleural complications.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of patients undergoing PRC at two tertiary hospital systems between 2016 and 2022.

HFD feeding for seven months abolishes STING disruption-driven but not female sex-based protection against hepatic steatosis and inflammation in mice.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is positively correlated with the degrees of liver inflammation in human metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In addition, STING disruption alleviates MASLD in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 3 months (3-m-HFD). Here we investigated the role of the duration of dietary feeding in regulating MASLD in mice and explored the involvement of STING in sex differences in MASLD.

HfAlOx-based ferroelectric memristor for nociceptor and synapse functions.

Efficient data processing is heavily reliant on prioritizing specific stimuli and categorizing incoming information. Within human biological systems, dorsal root ganglions (particularly nociceptors situated in the skin) perform a pivotal role in detecting external stimuli. These neurons send warnings to our brain, priming it to anticipate potential harm and prevent injury.

Lignin containing cellulose nanofiber/AgSe nanocomposite films: a promising material for thermoelectric film generators.

This work deals with the fabrication of lignin containing cellulose nanofiber (LCNF)/AgSe films for thermoelectric applications. AgSe nanoparticles were synthesized within the LCNF network through methods, employing NaSeO and AgNO along with microwave energy treatment. LCNF/AgSe films fabricated with two LCNF : AgSe weight percent ratios (, 50 : 50 and 30 : 70) were used to construct a flexible thermoelectric module.

Evaluating ChatGPT's Performance in the EU*US eHealth Work Foundational Curriculum Using the HITCOMP Self-Assessment Quiz.

This study investigated the performance of OpenAI's Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) in responding to the EU*US eHealth Work Foundational Curriculum. This curriculum, a collaborative effort between European and U.S.

Comparing Artificial Intelligence-Based Versus Conventional Endotracheal Tube Monitoring Systems in Clinical Practice.

Endotracheal tube dislodgement is a common patient safety incident in clinical settings. Current clinical practices, primarily relying on bedside visual inspections and equipment checks, often fail to detect endotracheal tube displacement or dislodgement promptly. This study involved the development of a deep learning, artificial intelligence (AI)-based system for monitoring tube displacement.

Nursing Informatics Research: A Bibliometric Analysis from 1989 to 2023.

Nursing informatics has evolved rapidly since its inception. Despite its growth, there remains a gap in comprehensive bibliometric analyses of the field's development and themes. The study aimed to provide an overview of the evolution and current status of nursing informatics by conducting a bibliometric analysis of the literature from 1989 to 2023.

Enhancing simulation feasibility for multi-layer 2D MoS RRAM devices: reliability performance learnings from a passive network model.

While two-dimensional (2D) MoS has recently shown promise as a material for resistive random-access memory (RRAM) devices due to its demonstrated resistive switching (RS) characteristics, its practical application faces a significant challenge in industry regarding its limited yield and endurance. Our earlier work introduced an effective switching layer model to understand RS behavior in both mono- and multi-layered MoS. However, functioning as a phenomenological percolation modeling tool, it lacks the capability to accurately simulate the intricate current-voltage (-) characteristics of the device, thereby hindering its practical applicability in 2D RRAM research.

New anti-adipogenic triterpenoid saponins from the aerial parts of Glinus oppositifolius.

Glinus oppositifolius L., a member of the Molluginaceae family, has a long-standing history of utilization as both a vegetable and a medicinal agent across numerous countries. This plant possesses a diverse range of pharmacological activities and attracts scientific interest in studying its chemical profile.

Arctos: Community-driven innovations for managing natural and cultural history collections.

More than tools for managing physical and digital objects, museum collection management systems (CMS) serve as platforms for structuring, integrating, and making accessible the rich data embodied by natural history collections. Here we describe Arctos, a scalable community solution for managing and publishing global biological, geological, and cultural collections data for research and education. Specific goals are to: (1) Describe the core features and implementation of Arctos for a broad audience with respect to the biodiversity informatics principles that enable high quality research; (2) Highlight the unique aspects of Arctos; (3) Illustrate Arctos as a model for supporting and enhancing the Digital Extended Specimen concept; and (4) Emphasize the role of the Arctos community for improving data discovery and enabling cross-disciplinary, integrative studies within a sustainable governance model.