Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups.

The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective well-being, but studies of its measurement invariance across a large number of nations remain limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset-with data collected between 2020 and 2022 -to assess measurement invariance of the SWLS across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). All participants completed the SWLS under largely uniform conditions.

Promotion of Cardiovascular Health in Africa: The Alliance for Medical Research in Africa (AMedRA) Expert Panel.

This proposed scientific statement is focused on providing new insights regarding challenges and opportunities for cardiovascular health (CVH) promotion in Africa. The statement includes an overview of the current state of CVH in Africa, with a particular interest in the cardiometabolic risk factors and their evaluation through metrics. The statement also explains the main principles of primordial prevention, its relevance in reducing noncommunicable disease and the different strategies that have been effective worldwide.

Enhanced heart sound classification using Mel frequency cepstral coefficients and comparative analysis of single vs. ensemble classifier strategies.

This paper seeks to enhance the performance of Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs) for detecting abnormal heart sounds. Heart sounds are first pre-processed to remove noise and then segmented into S1, systole, S2, and diastole intervals, with thirteen MFCCs estimated from each segment, yielding 52 MFCCs per beat. Finally, MFCCs are used for heart sound classification.

Targeting H3N2 influenza: advancements in treatment and vaccine strategies.

Introduction: The emergence of the H3N2 influenza virus in 1968 marked a significant event as it crossed the species barrier. This shift led to a pandemic, resulting in the deaths of one million people globally and highlighting the virus's severe impact on older individuals due to antigenic drift.

Area Covered: This review comprehensively examines the virological characteristics, evolutionary trends, and global epidemiology of the Influenza A (H3N2) virus.

Adding sugar to children's beverages: a theory of planned behavior study of Lebanese mothers.

This study, guided by the theory of planned behavior (TPB), aimed to investigate whether attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control can predict parents' intentions to reduce or stop adding sugar to their child's beverages, such as tea or milk. The research also seeks to determine the predictive power of the TPB on the actual behavior of parents in reducing or halting sugar intake in their children's drinks. A questionnaire was developed to assess sweetening beverage behavior variables by mothers of children aged 3-7 years attending Lebanese public schools, with 184 responses retained with no missing values for analysis.

Shape analysis of the craniofacial skeleton in children prenatally exposed to anticonvulsant medications using geometric morphometrics.

Children exposed prenatally to antiepileptic drugs may have a typical facies characterized by midfacial retrusion, a short nose, and anteverted nares. Our aim was to determine whether the shape of the maxilla was altered in its sagittal displacement, or whether the defect in the underlying articulation with the cranial base was responsible for the appearance of midface retrusion. Our hypothesis was that the sphenoid bone as well as the maxilla and other bones in the cranial base were affected by the anticonvulsant medication.

The resurgence of monkeypox: Epidemiology, clinical features, and public health implications in the post-smallpox eradication era.

The recent global resurgence of Mpox (formerly monkeypox), primarily transmitted via close contact and respiratory droplets, highlights a significant shift in its epidemiology, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). This resurgence underscores the need for robust public health responses and improved surveillance. This comprehensive review of current literature focuses on recent outbreaks, virology, and available treatments.

Frequency of exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a chronic protozoan parasitic infection that affects nearly one-third of the global population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cases were observed in patients with COVID-19 and toxoplasmosis. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the frequency of Toxoplasma gondii exposure in patients with COVID-19.

Effect of Ceramic Veneering on the Microstructure of Pre-sintered Cobalt-Chromium, Compared to Pre-sintered Zirconia and Conventional Cast Alloys.

We aimed to evaluate ceramic-alloy interface and emphasize the alteration of alloy microstructure after ceramic layering. Thirty-two discs made from a ceramic-alloy combination of pre-sintered cobalt-chromium (CoCr), cast CoCr, cast nickel-chromium (NiCr), or pre-sintered zirconia were prepared with eight discs in each group. Four specimens were examined as manufactured and four were ceramic-layered.

Pain Self-Management in Individuals With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain During Lebanon's Overlapping Crises.

Objectives: With Lebanon facing multiple crises simultaneously, it is important to understand how Lebanese adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) are self-managing their pain amidst challenging circumstances. This study aimed to describe the pain self-management strategies Lebanese adults with CMP are using, as measured by the Arthritis Pain Self-Management Inventory (APSI), and to determine how helpful they perceive these strategies to be for pain relief. A secondary aim was to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the APSI in Lebanese adults with CMP.

Variation of chin morphology and mandibular incisor length in different facial divergence patterns: New insights from CBCT records.

Aim: Evaluate constitutional differences in chin morphology and volume, and mandibular tooth size, between different facial divergence patterns.

Materials And Methods: The sample consisted of 284 pretreatment cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of growing and non-growing patients who were stratified into 4 groups based on mandibular plane inclination to cranial base (SN) angle. Linear and angular measurements were made on the lateral CBCT images: mandibular lateral incisor crown (I-C) total (I-A) lengths, the distances between point D (centre of symphysis) and both incisor apex (D-A) and menton (D-Me) and between cemento-enamel junction and menton (CEJ-Me); chin width at the level of the central incisor apex (CWA) and point D (CWD); and the angles of the anterior and posterior symphyseal slopes.