Applying the Quadrant Method for Pumping-Trace Metal Correlations in Variable Time, Low-Data Systems.

Due to increasing global demand for fresh water, it is increasingly necessary to understand how aquifer pumping affects groundwater chemistry. However, comprehensive predictive relationships between pumping and groundwater quality have yet to be developed, as the available data, which are often collected over inconsistent time intervals, are poorly suited for long-term historical correlation studies. For example, we needed an adequate statistical method to better understand relationships between pumping rate and water quality in the City of Norman (OK, USA).

Effect of cigarette smoke exposure and cessation on regional diffusion properties in rat intervertebral discs.

Background: Cigarette smoking is a recognized risk factor for orthopedic disorders, particularly intervertebral disc (IVD) degenerative disease. However, the IVD pathophysiology, especially the spatial-temporal remodeling progression in the context of cigarette smoking, remains unclear. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap through a quantitative assessment of IVD structural composition and diffusion properties using a Sprague-Dawley rat model.

A bench-top evaluation of the Ily® robotics assisted tele console system in ureteroscopy by medical students, residents and urologists: does prior videogaming experience help shape the learning curve?

Purpose: Previous studies have demonstrated an association between video-gaming experience (VGE) and improved robotics skills. We aimed to evaluate the initial learning curve for the Ily® robotics system (Sterlab, Sophia Antipolis, France) when applied to flexible ureteroscopy (FU) among both medical students and urology surgeons.

Methods: There were two groups, surgeons and students.

6G in medical robotics: development of network allocation strategies for a telerobotic examination system.

Purpose: Healthcare systems around the world are increasingly facing severe challenges due to problems such as staff shortage, changing demographics and the reliance on an often strongly human-dependent environment. One approach aiming to address these issues is the development of new telemedicine applications. The currently researched network standard 6G promises to deliver many new features which could be beneficial to leverage the full potential of emerging telemedical solutions and overcome the limitations of current network standards.

Direct in-scope suction: an in vitro evaluation of a single use flexible ureteroscope with integrated suction capability.

Purpose: To evaluate the stone clearance rate and limitations of a novel integrated suction capability within a single-use flexible ureteroscope according to stone particle size.

Methods: Varying sized stone particles were created using a stone phantom (Begostone Plus, Bego ©, Lincoln, RI, USA). Particle size ranged as follows: 63-125 µm, 125-250 µm, 250-500 µm, 500 µm- 1 mm and 1-2 mm.

Navigating challenges and shaping futures through mental health nursing in the United Kingdom.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Mental health nurses in the UK play a critical role in providing care, advocating for patients and navigating the complexities associated with mental health challenges. Acknowledging and supporting the efforts of mental health nurses is essential for advancing mental health care, promoting inclusivity and fostering community resilience amidst ongoing challenges within existing health care organisations. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Highlights the integral role of mental health nurses in the UK's health system as both care providers and advocates, underpinning the importance of addressing the growing demand for mental health services Introduces innovative digital tools like the 'Hub of Hope' and the potential of social prescribing as effective strategies for improving access to mental health care and support.

What books should we like? A study of gender differences and stereotypes in the reading behaviors of Chinese middle school students.

Introduction: This study investigated gender differences in the reading behaviors of Chinese middle school students, and whether gender stereotypes relating to choices of reading matter are supported.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was adopted. Three thousand nine hundred and fifteen middle school (Grade 7) students completed a questionnaire designed to assess reading behaviors.

Diet and physical activity interventions to improve cardiovascular disease risk factors in liver transplant recipients: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Cardiovascular disease, associated risk factors and obesity are prevalent after liver transplant and modifiable through lifestyle changes. Understanding what lifestyle interventions and their respective components are effective is essential for translation to clinical practice. We aimed to investigate the effects of diet and physical activity interventions on weight, body mass index and other cardiovascular disease risk factors in liver transplant recipients, and systematically describe the interventions.

Synthesis and Photopatterning of Synthetic Thiol-Norbornene Hydrogels.

Hydrogels are a class of soft biomaterials and the material of choice for a myriad of biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and highly tunable mechanical and biochemical properties. Specifically, light-mediated thiol-norbornene click reactions between norbornene-modified macromers and di-thiolated crosslinkers can be used to form base hydrogels amenable to spatial biochemical modifications via subsequent light reactions between pendant norbornenes in the hydrogel network and thiolated peptides. Macromers derived from natural sources (e.

Editorial letter to: Incidence of Ureteric Strictures Following Ureteroscopic Laser Lithotripsy: Holmium: YAG Versus Thulium Fiber Laser.

Dear Editor, The original paper by Ahmad Para S et al1 analyzed the incidence of ureteral strictures following holmium: yttrium aluminum garnet (Ho:YAG) and thulium fiber laser (TFL) endocorporeal laser lithotripsy (ELL) for ureteral stones. The authors should be commended for their work because this is the first prospective randomized controlled trial comparing the ureteric stricture rates between these 2 laser technologies for ELL. This study concluded that the TFL had a higher incidence of ureteral strictures than the Ho: YAG laser.

Can adverse childhood experiences predict chronic health conditions? Development of trauma-informed, explainable machine learning models.

Introduction: Decades of research have established the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adult onset of chronic diseases, influenced by health behaviors and social determinants of health (SDoH). Machine Learning (ML) is a powerful tool for computing these complex associations and accurately predicting chronic health conditions.

Methods: Using the 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, we developed several ML models-random forest, logistic regression, support vector machine, Naïve Bayes, and K-Nearest Neighbor-over data from a sample of 52,268 respondents.

Office Workers' Views About the Uses, Concerns, and Acceptance of Hand Hygiene Data Collected From Smart Sanitizers: Exploratory Qualitative Interview Study.

Background: COVID-19 and the prospect of future pandemics have emphasized the need to reduce disease transmission in workplaces. Despite the well-established link between good hand hygiene (HH) and employee health, HH in nonclinical workplaces has received little attention. Smart sanitizers have been deployed in clinical settings to motivate and enforce HH.

Challenges of accessing hygiene facilities when on the move: an exploratory interview study with UK mobile workers.

Background: Access to hygiene facilities is essential for health and well-being, and in many countries, employers are legally obliged to ensure that hygiene facilities are readily available. This interview study considers how being on the move impacts the ability of mobile workers (such as community care workers, police, delivery drivers, gardeners, cleaners, utility workers) to access hygiene facilities, and the challenges they face.

Methods: Using a qualitative exploratory research design, we investigate through semi-structured interviews with 22 United Kingdom (UK) mobile workers (1) what influences their access to hygiene facilities, (2) their hygiene needs, and (3) where mobile workers are accessing hygiene facilities.

Hand Hygiene Messaging Design in the Workplace: Views From the Workforce-Introduction.

Aims: The study aimed to (1) discover workers' attitudes toward the use of novel video screens to improve hand sanitization in the workplace and (2) discover what workers' preferences are for hand hygiene (HH) messaging style and tone and reasons for their preferences.

Background: Practicing good HH in non-medical office settings is vital to curb the spread of a range of common and infectious diseases. Despite this, workers are rarely consulting in the construction of HH messages.

Implicit Association Test Alone Is Not Sufficient to Increase Underrepresented Minority Representation in Physician Assistant Programs.

Purpose: Physician assistant (PA) program matriculants are consistently less diverse than the US population. This study evaluates whether administration of an Implicit Association Test (IAT) to PA program admission committees is associated with changes in the likelihood of (1) receiving an admission interview, (2) receiving an offer of admission, and (3) matriculation of individuals underrepresented in medicine (URiM).

Methods: Admission committees from 4 PA programs participated in an IAT before the 2019/2020 admissions cycle.

Nutritional Intake after Liver Transplant: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cardiovascular disease and its concurrent risk factors are prevalent after liver transplant (LT). Most of these risk factors are modifiable by diet. We aimed to synthesise the literature reporting the nutritional intake of liver transplant recipients (LTR) and the potential determinants of intake.