Psychometric Testing of the Protocol for Responding to and Assessing Patient Assets, Risks, and Experiences (PRAPARE) in Patients With Heart Failure and Coronary Heart Disease.

The social determinants of health (SDOH) have been recognized as an important contributor to an individual's health status. A valid and reliable instrument is needed for researchers and clinicians to measure SDOH. However, there is considerable variability in the screening methodologies, as well as a lack of standardization in definitions and methods for capturing and reporting SDOH data for both electronic health record software vendors and national experts on SDOH.

Point-of-care breath sample analysis by semiconductor-based E-Nose technology discriminates non-infected subjects from SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia patients: a multi-analyst experiment.

Metal oxide sensor-based electronic nose (E-Nose) technology provides an easy to use method for breath analysis by detection of volatile organic compound (VOC)-induced changes of electrical conductivity. Resulting signal patterns are then analyzed by machine learning (ML) algorithms. This study aimed to establish breath analysis by E-Nose technology as a diagnostic tool for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia within a multi-analyst experiment.

Tolerance of biofilms to disinfectants commonly used in endoscope reprocessing?

Reprocessing failure of endoscopes may result in outbreaks of serious infections in vulnerable patients caused by Gram-negative bacteria. (PSOL) was detected in 6 automated endoscope washer-disinfectors (AEWDs) in two reprocessing units during routine check and probing for quality control. Ten endoscopes were probed yielding the growth of PSOL.

Association of depressive symptoms and engagement in physical activity with event-free survival in patients with heart failure.

Background: Heart failure (HF) subtype, depressive symptoms, and physical inactivity independently contribute to survival outcomes, but the effect of the interaction of these variables on survival outcomes remains unknown.

Objectives: We aimed to determine whether depressive symptoms and engagement in physical activity differentially interact to predict the combined endpoint of all-cause death or rehospitalization among patients with HF and reduced (HFrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Methods: This study was a secondary analysis.

On the critical competition between singlet exciton decay and free charge generation in non-fullerene based organic solar cells with low energetic offsets.

Reducing voltage losses while maintaining high photocurrents is the holy grail of current research on non-fullerene acceptor (NFA) based organic solar cell. Recent focus lies in understanding the various fundamental mechanisms in organic blends with minimal energy offsets - particularly the relationship between ionization energy offset (ΔIE) and free charge generation. Here, we quantitatively probe this relationship in multiple NFA-based blends by mixing Y-series NFAs with PM6 of different molecular weights, covering a broad power conversion efficiency (PCE) range: from 15% down to 1%.

Brief Report: Baseline HRV Time Domain Parameters Predict Trauma and Depression Symptom Change in Veterans with PTSD Undergoing Biofeedback.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is an index of cardiac autonomic function and an objective biomarker for stress and health. Improving HRV through biofeedback has proven effective in reducing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in veteran populations. Brief protocols involving fewer sessions can better maximize limited clinic resources; however, there is a dearth of knowledge on the number of clinical sessions needed to significantly reduce trauma and depression symptoms.

Determining the Key Education Priorities Related to Heart Failure Care in Nursing Homes: A Modified Delphi Approach.

There is currently a limited understanding of what nurses in nursing homes view as the key education priorities to support their ability to provide the appropriate care for residents with heart failure (HF). A modified Delphi technique was utilized to gain a consensus on the key education priorities for nurses working in nursing homes in Northern Ireland. An initial list of items ( = 58), across 19 domains, was generated using the findings of a scoping review and stakeholder interviews, and a review of available clinical guidelines.

A biomarker of brain arousal mediates the intergenerational link between maternal and child post-traumatic stress disorder.

This study examined whether there is a biological basis in the child's resting brain activity for the intergenerational link between maternal interpersonal violence-related posttraumatic stress disorder (IPV-PTSD) and child subclinical symptoms. We used high-density EEG recordings to investigate the resting brain activity in a sample of 57 children, 34 from mothers with IPV-PTSD, and 23 from mothers without PTSD. These children were part of a prospective, longitudinal study focusing on the offspring of mothers with and without IPV-PTSD, reporting how the severity of a mother's IPV-PTSD can impact her child's emotional regulation and risk for developing mental illness.

Regional invasion history and land use shape the prevalence of non-native species in local assemblages.

The ecological impact of non-native species arises from their establishment in local assemblages. However, the rates of non-native spread in new regions and their determinants have not been comprehensively studied. Here, we combined global databases documenting the occurrence of non-native species and residence of non-native birds, mammals, and vascular plants at regional and local scales to describe how the likelihood of non-native occurrence and their proportion in local assemblages relate with their residence time and levels of human usage in different ecosystems.

Nurse-Sensitive Indicators as Predictors of Trauma Patient Discharge Disposition.

Background: About 3.5 million trauma patients are hospitalized every year, but 35%-40% require further care after discharge. Nurses' ability to affect discharge disposition by minimizing the occurrence of nurse-sensitive indicators (catheter-associated urinary tract infection [CAUTI], central line-associated bloodstream infection [CLABSI], and hospital-acquired pressure injury [HAPI]) is unknown.

Process analytical technology in Downstream-Processing of Drug Substances- A review.

Process Analytical Technology (PAT) has revolutionized pharmaceutical manufacturing by providing real-time monitoring and control capabilities throughout the production process. This review paper comprehensively examines the application of PAT methodologies specifically in the production of solid active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Beginning with an overview of PAT principles and objectives, the paper explores the integration of advanced analytical techniques such as spectroscopy, imaging modalities and others into solid API substance production processes.

Protocol for a feasibility randomized controlled trial of gentle yoga in older patients discharged from phase II cardiac rehabilitation.

Background: Physical activity (PA) is essential following an acute cardiac event. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is commonly prescribed, and PA after CR is recommended. Because of age-related changes in functional ability and multi-comorbidity, many older cardiac patients struggle to continue performing PA at home after CR.

Occurrence of Dysrhythmias During Ventilatory Weaning and Its Association With Length of Mechanical Ventilation and In-hospital Complications.

Background: The occurrence of cardiac dysrhythmias during ventilatory weaning and its impact on the length of ventilation and occurrence of complications have not been systematically investigated.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between cardiac dysrhythmias during weaning and the duration of ventilation and complications during ventilator weaning.

Method: Data on the length of ventilation and complications were collected from the medical records of 30 mechanically ventilated patients.

Adapting the serious illness conversation guide for unhoused older adults: a rapid qualitative study.

Background: Older adults experiencing homelessness (OAEH) age quickly and die earlier than their housed counterparts. Illness-related decisions are best guided by patients' values, but healthcare and homelessness service providers need support in facilitating these discussions. The Serious Illness Conversation Guide (SICG) is a communication tool to guide discussions but has not yet been adapted for OAEH.

The relationship of health activation with risk of future cardiovascular disease among rural family caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses.

Background: Family caregivers are at higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) than non-caregivers. This risk is worse for those who live in rural compared to urban areas. Health activation, an indicator of engagement in self-care, is predictive of health outcomes and CVD risk in several populations.

A game-based multimedia application to improve the ability of clinical nurses to perform geriatric care: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Given the realities of global aging, maintaining Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) abilities among clinical nurses is very important. Newer methods of continuing education are needed to engage nurses in CGA education. Using multimedia and game-based applications in CGA education (CGA APP) may be an effective method for continuing education.

Differential effects of acute and chronic hydrocortisone treatment on pyroptosis.

Pyroptosis is a programmed and inflammation-inducing cell death that occurs predominantly in macrophages. It is characterized by the inflammasome-mediated activation of caspase-1, leading to cell lysis. During pyroptosis, pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β are released extracellularly to further recruit and activate other immune cells.

Environmental Surveillance of Flood Control Infrastructure Impacted by Unsheltered Individuals Leads to the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Novel Mutations in the Spike Gene.

In the United States, the growing number of people experiencing homelessness has become a socioeconomic crisis with public health ramifications, recently exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that the environmental surveillance of flood control infrastructure may be an effective approach to understand the prevalence of infectious disease. From December 2021 through July 2022, we tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA from two flood control channels known to be impacted by unsheltered individuals residing in upstream tunnels.

Heart failure in nursing homes: A scoping review of educational interventions for optimising care provision.

Background: Heart failure has an estimated global prevalence of 64.3 million cases, with an average age of a person living with heart failure at 75.2 years.

Early Detection of Novel SARS-CoV-2 Variants from Urban and Rural Wastewater through Genome Sequencing and Machine Learning.

Genome sequencing from wastewater has emerged as an accurate and cost-effective tool for identifying SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, existing methods for analyzing wastewater sequencing data are not designed to detect novel variants that have not been characterized in humans. Here, we present an unsupervised learning approach that clusters co-varying and time-evolving mutation patterns leading to the identification of SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Perceived Control, Functional Status, Depressive Symptoms, and Anxiety: Mediating and Moderating Influences on Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Heart Failure.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is poor in patients with heart failure. Psychological (ie, depressive symptoms [DS], anxiety, and perceived control) and physical (ie, functional status) factors are associated with HRQoL. The dynamic relationships among these variables and their impact on HRQoL remain unclear, limiting the ability to design effective interventions.

Relationship of high-fidelity simulation experience, clinical reasoning, and clinical competence of new nurses: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: This study aimed to determine which high-fidelity simulation (HFS) experiences were associated with clinical reasoning and clinical competence among new nurses.

Background: HFS has been actively used in nursing education. It is necessary to verify the effects of HFS transfer to the clinical environment.