Neurocognitive Profile and Associated Factors Among Children Affected by Sickle Cell Disease in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background/objectives: Understanding the neurocognitive profile of children with sickle cell disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo is essential, as this condition can significantly affect their development. Our study aims to assess these children's neurocognitive and developmental profiles and identify related factors.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 287 children, aged 0 to 68 months, using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning and the Gensini Gavito Scale.

Selective cultural adoption: The roles of warmth, competence, morality and perceived indispensability in majority-group acculturation.

Psychological research has begun considering the dynamics involved in majority-group acculturation, which is the extent to which cultural majority groups adopt the culture of immigrants and minority groups. However, previous research has predominantly concentrated on reactions to 'immigrants' or 'minority groups' as a homogenous entity, overlooking the nuanced perceptions and varied valuations attributed to different groups. Recognizing the heterogeneity among immigrant and minority groups, the present work investigated the influence of several perceived characteristics of immigrant and minority groups on majority-group members' adoption of their cultures.

"I felt so small": A qualitative study of migrant nursing assistants' experiences in Norway.

Background: In the wake of an increasingly ageing population, Norway has a growing need for healthcare workers, especially in nursing homes. This study explored the employment experiences of migrant nursing assistants working in elderly care in Norway.

Methods: A qualitative interview-based study was carried out between March and August 2020.

Digital nets conformational sampling (DNCS) - an enhanced sampling technique to explore the conformational space of intrinsically disordered peptides.

We propose digital nets conformational sampling (DNCS) - an enhanced sampling technique to explore the conformational ensembles of peptides, especially intrinsically disordered peptides (IDPs). The DNCS algorithm relies on generating history-dependent samples of dihedral variables using bitwise XOR operations and binary angle measurements (BAM). The algorithm was initially studied using met-enkephalin, a highly elusive neuropeptide.

MICA Legionella, an innovative and rapid method for enumeration of Legionella pneumophila in French sanitary water.

A new innovative method, MICA Legionella, allows for the automatic enumeration of Legionella pneumophila in domestic water samples in 2 days, with a detection limit of 2 CFU per test portion. Here we show that it gives equivalent results to those obtained by the French standard method NF T90-431 in 7 to 15 days.

Iron-Cobalt Nanoparticles Embedded in B,N-Doped Chitosan-Derived Porous Carbon Aerogel for Overall Water Splitting.

Given their intriguing properties, porous carbons have surfaced as promising electrocatalysts for various energy conversion reactions. This study presents a unique approach where iron-cobalt (FeCo) is confined in a boron, nitrogen-doped chitosan-derived porous carbon aerogel (BNPC-FeCo) to serve as an electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER). The BNPC-FeCo-900 electrocatalyst demonstrates excellent catalyst activity, with very low overpotentials of 186 and 320 mV at 10 mA cm, low Tafel slopes of 82 and 55 mV dec, and low charge transfer resistance of 2.

Psychological distress among Afghan refugees in Norway as a function of their integration.

Background: Often, refugees are susceptible to mental health problems due to adversities experienced before, during, and after the flight. Through a cross-sectional study, the present study examines the relationship between different aspects of integration and psychological distress among Afghans living in Norway.

Methods: The participants were recruited through e-mail invitations, refugee-related organizations, and social media platforms.

Breast arterial calcification is associated with incident atrial fibrillation among older but not younger post-menopausal women.

Aims: The goal of this study was to examine the association of breast arterial calcification (BAC) presence and quantity with incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in a large cohort of post-menopausal women.

Methods And Results: We conducted a longitudinal cohort study among women free of clinically overt cardiovascular disease and AF at baseline (between October 2012 and February 2015) when they attended mammography screening. Atrial fibrillation incidence was ascertained using diagnostic codes and natural language processing.

Caregivers' Perspective on the Psychological Burden of Living with Children Affected by Sickle Cell Disease in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

There is limited information on knowledge, perceptions, and management of sickle cell disease (SCD) in Africa in general and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in particular. This study explored knowledge, perceptions, and burden of 26 parents/caregivers of children with SCD in three selected hospitals in Kinshasa, DRC. We conducted a focus group with in-depth interviews with parents/caregivers of children affected with SCD.

High-sensitivity troponin I is associated with cardiovascular outcomes but not with breast arterial calcification among postmenopausal women.

Background: Prior studies support the utility of high sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI) for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk stratification among asymptomatic populations; however, only two prior studies examined women separately. The association between hsTnI and breast arterial calcification is unknown.

Methods: Cohort study of 2896 women aged 60-79 years recruited after attending mammography screening between 10/2012 and 2/2015.

Stressful life events, psychological symptoms, and social support of children and young asylum-seekers in Iceland.

Background: Children and young asylum-seekers are often exposed to stressful life events (SLEs) and risk developing psychological symptoms. However, risk and protective factors can positively and negatively influence this vulnerable group's mental health.

Aims: To examine the SLE experiences and psychological symptoms of children and youth who seek refuge in Iceland.

Increased Aurora B expression reduces substrate phosphorylation and induces chromosomal instability.

Increased Aurora B protein expression, which is common in cancers, is expected to increase Aurora B kinase activity, yielding elevated phosphorylation of Aurora B substrates. In contrast, here we show that elevated expression of Aurora B reduces phosphorylation of six different Aurora B substrates across three species and causes defects consistent with Aurora B inhibition. Complexes of Aurora B and its binding partner INCENP autophosphorylate in trans to achieve full Aurora B activation.

Health-related quality of life among cervical cancer survivors at a tertiary hospital in Ghana.

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the second most common female cancer in Ghana. The disease and its treatment significantly affect survivors' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We determined the overall quality of life (QoL) and identified its predictors among cervical cancer survivors after treatment.

Outcomes of retrograde intrarenal surgery in renal calculi of varying size.

Introduction: Technological advancements have made it possible to attempt retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) in patients with large renal calculi. The objective of this study was to compare the intraoperative adverse events, postoperative complications and stone free rates (SFR) of RIRS in patients with renal calculi of varying sizes.

Methods: Patients who underwent RIRS for renal calculi between January 2016 and June 2020 were categorized into six size groups according to the longest dimension or cumulative measurement of the longest dimension of calculi as follows: Group 1 (1-9 mm), Group 2 (10-19 mm), Group 3 (20-29 mm), Group 4 (30-39 mm), Group 5 (40-49 mm) and Group 6 (≥50 mm).

Breast Arterial Calcification: a Novel Cardiovascular Risk Enhancer Among Postmenopausal Women.

Background: Breast arterial calcification (BAC), a common incidental finding in mammography, has been shown to be associated with angiographic coronary artery disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. We aimed to (1) examine the association of BAC presence and quantity with hard atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) and global CVD; (2) ascertain model calibration, discrimination and reclassification of ASCVD risk; (3) assess the joint effect of BAC presence and 10-year pooled cohorts equations risk on ASCVD.

Methods: A cohort study of 5059 women aged 60-79 years recruited after attending mammography screening between October 2012 and February 2015 was conducted in a large health plan in Northern California, United States.

Boron, nitrogen co-doped biomass-derived carbon aerogel embedded nickel-cobalt-iron nanoparticles as a promising electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction.

The electrocatalytic performance of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is highly reliant on the activity of its catalytic active site, which may be augmented by raising the number of active sites. In this study, nanoscaled nickel-cobalt-iron (NiCoFe) alloy was embedded on conductive boron(B), nitrogen(N) co-doped/biomass-derived carbon aerogel as an OER electrocatalyst. The synthesized electrocatalysts were calcined under different temperatures and with variable dopants.

Explanatory models of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among Afghan refugees in Norway.

Background: The current situation in Afghanistan makes it likely that we are facing a new wave of Afghan refugees, warranting more knowledge about how to deal with mental health problems among them. This study aims to gain more knowledge on Explanatory Models (EM) of depression and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) among Afghan refugees resettled in Norway.

Methods: We conducted six gender-separated, semi-structured focusgroup interviews based on vignettes with Afghan refugees (total N = 27).

External Validation of Clinical Prediction Models in Unilateral Primary Aldosteronism.

Background: Targeted treatment of primary aldosteronism (PA) is informed by adrenal vein sampling (AVS), which remains limited to specialized centers. Clinical prediction models have been developed to help select patients who would most likely benefit from AVS. Our aim was to assess the performance of these models for PA subtyping.

Do We Stand Together? The Role of Perceived Personal and Group Threats in Predicting the Majority's (Un)willingness to Confront Injustice on Behalf of a Minority.

By utilizing data from Estonia, Finland, and Norway, this study explores how the perceptions of personal and group realistic threats, namely perceived ethnic discrimination and economic insecurity among national majorities, predict their unwillingness to confront injustice on behalf of Russian-speaking minority groups. Previous research on collective action to promote minorities' rights and social standing has focused either on minorities' own actions or factors promoting the willingness of majority group members to engage in collective action on behalf of minorities. In contrast, factors explaining the reluctance of majority group members to engage in collective action on behalf of minority groups have remained less explored.

Silk fibroin-derived carbon aerogels embedded with copper nanoparticles for efficient electrocatalytic CO-to-CO conversion.

Metal-carbon matrix catalyst has attracted a great deal of interest in electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CORR) due to its excellent electrocatalytic performance. However, the design of highly active metal-carbon matrix catalyst towards CORR using natural biomass and cheap chemical precursors is still under challenge. Herein, a self-assembly strategy, along with CO gas as acidifying agent, to fabricate silk fibroin (SF) derived carbon aerogels (CA) combining trace copper nanoparticles (SF-Cu/CA) is developed.

Repeat Adrenal Vein Sampling in Aldosteronism: Reproducibility and Interpretation of Persistently Discordant Results.

Context: The reproducibility of adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is unknown.

Objective: This work aimed to determine reproducibility of biochemical results and diagnostic lateralization in patients undergoing repeat AVS.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of single-center, single-operator AVS procedures at a tertiary care center.