A computational study of the ternary mixtures of NaPF-EC and choline glycine ionic liquid.

This study investigates the structural and dynamic properties of ternary mixtures composed of NaPF, ethylene carbonate (EC), and the ionic liquid choline glycine (ChGly), with a focus on their potential as electrolytes for supercapacitors. The combination of NaPF-EC, known for its high ionic conductivity, with the biodegradable and environmentally friendly ChGly offers a promising approach to enhancing electrolyte performance. Through molecular simulations, we analyze how the inclusion of small concentrations of ChGly affects key properties such as density, cohesive energy, and ion mobility.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound as a valuable tool to detect minimal inflammation in RA patients in sustained remission.

Objective: The study aimed to explore the utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as a tool for detecting minimal inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in sustained remission (SR) and to correlate the findings with Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) status scores and various ultrasound (US) scores.

Patients And Methods: Thirty RA patients in SR (minimum 6 months), 12 with active disease, and 10 healthy controls were included. Clinical evaluations and US assessments were performed, including grayscale US (GSUS), power Doppler US (PDUS), and Global OMERACT-EULAR Synovitis Score (GLOESS).

Use of the Hyperbaric Chamber Versus Conventional Treatment for the Prevention of Amputation in Chronic Diabetic Foot and the Influence on Fitting and Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common chronic endocrine diseases, characterized by hyperglycemia, due to abnormal nitric oxide synthesis. The trend of an increase in the number of patients with DM continues. The medical and economic burden of DM is not only associated with hyperglycemia management but also with the management of DM-related complications.

Can we predict hypoadrenocorticism in dogs with resting hypocortisolemia? A predictive model based on clinical, haematological, and biochemical variables.

Background: A resting cortisol concentration (RC) higher than 2.0 μg/dL (55 nmol/L) is commonly used to rule out hypoadrenocorticism (HA). However, there is a significant overlap of RC between dogs with HA and those with other diseases.

Organizational citizenship behavior: adaptation and validation of the OCB scale CCOE-R.

Introduction: Organizational Citizenship Behavior has evolved as a pivotal concept in organizational behavior because of its importance on fostering the success of organizations. Despite its recognized benefits, OCB's dimensions are not consensual in literature. The goal of this paper was to adapt and validated to be used in a broader work context an OCB scale (CCOE-R) initially developed for the Portuguese specific professional context, schools and the education sector.

Can motor competence be influenced by the type of training interventions preschool children are exposed to? A randomized experimental study comparing sports games and psychomotricity activities.

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the effects of structured sports games (SG) and psychomotricity activities (PCM) on the locomotor, stability, and manipulative motor competencies of preschool children.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted over an 8-week period, involving two experimental groups (SG, = 30 and PCM, = 30) and one control group (CG, = 28), with participants attending two intervention sessions per week. A total of 88 5-year-old children participated in the experiment (boys = 48; girls = 40).

Transforming tennis with artificial intelligence: a bibliometric review.

The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping and bibliometric review of articles using artificial intelligence (AI) in tennis. The analysis covered various aspects of tennis, including performance, health, match results, physiological data, tennis expenditure, and prize amounts. Articles on AI in tennis published until 2024 were retrieved from the Web of Science database.

Effectiveness of interventions to prevent or treat prolonged grief symptoms among families of patients who die in Intensive Care Units: a systematic review protocol.

Objective: The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to prevent or treat prolonged grief symptoms among families of patients who die in intensive care units (ICU).

Introduction: Up to 52% of families of patients who die in ICU may be at risk of experiencing prolonged grief symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria: Studies of adult family members (≥18 years) of adult ICU patients (≥18 years) who underwent a treatment withdrawal or withholding decision, and who were exposed to tailored interventions to prevent or treat prolonged grief symptoms before, during, and/or after the patient's death will be considered for inclusion.

Effectiveness of aspiration and the occurrence of adverse effects using the intramuscular route in adults: a systematic review protocol.

Objective: The objective of this review will be to evaluate the effect of prior aspiration versus non-aspiration during intramuscular injection on the occurrence of adverse effects in adult patients.

Introduction: Aspiration is a procedure conducted prior to the administration of intramuscular medications that aims to ensure that the needle tip is inserted in the proper place. Although aspiration is a common procedure, questions have been raised about adverse effects.

Fathers' lived experiences of fatherhood during the child's first 1,000 days: a qualitative systematic review protocol.

Objective: The objective of this review will be to synthesize the best available evidence on fathers' lived experiences of fatherhood during the child's first 1,000 days of life.

Introduction: Involved and caring fatherhood is crucial for the healthy cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development of children. However, fatherhood is a challenging process for most men.

Immunotherapy in Penile Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Penile cancer (PeCa) ranks as the 30th most prevalent cancer globally, predominantly affecting populations in developing countries. Phimosis and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection are recognized as the primary risk factors. Early-stage diagnosis typically warrants limited excision or non-invasive therapies.

Effect of Hyaluronan Molecular Weight on the Stability and Biofunctionality of Microfibers Assembled by Interfacial Polyelectrolyte Complexation.

Nervous system disorders are characterized by a progressive loss of function and structure of neurons that ultimately leads to a decline in cognitive and motor functions. In this study, we used interfacial polyelectrolyte complexation (IPC) to produce fibers for neural tissue regeneration. IPC is a processing method that allows spinning of sensitive biopolymers.

Patterns of outpatient proton‒pump inhibitors use among older adults in a duplicative health system: comparing public and private prescribing.

Background: Proton-pump-inhibitors (PPIs) are overprescribed, posing challenges to patients and healthcare systems. In Portugal, the public National Health Service (NHS) provides universal coverage and reimburses medication regardless of prescription origin, i.e.

Textural Analysis of Sea Lamprey Muscle From Guadiana and Mondego Rivers (Portugal) Using the Warner-Bratzler Shear Method.

Assessment of sea lamprey texture from the Guadiana and Mondego River basins. Lamprey has served as food for centuries, and nowadays it is highly appreciated, mainly in southern European countries. Therefore, the quality requirements of the lamprey are closely scrutinized by consumers.

Capture, mutual inhibition and release mechanism for aPKC-Par6 and its multisite polarity substrate Lgl.

The mutually antagonistic relationship of atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) and partitioning-defective protein 6 (Par6) with the substrate lethal (2) giant larvae (Lgl) is essential for regulating polarity across many cell types. Although aPKC-Par6 phosphorylates Lgl at three serine sites to exclude it from the apical domain, aPKC-Par6 and Lgl paradoxically form a stable kinase-substrate complex, with conflicting roles proposed for Par6. We report the structure of human aPKCι-Par6α bound to full-length Llgl1, captured through an aPKCι docking site and a Par6 contact.

Rapid climate action is needed: comparing heat vs. COVID-19-related mortality.

The impacts of climate change on human health are often underestimated or perceived to be in a distant future. Here, we present the projected impacts of climate change in the context of COVID-19, a recent human health catastrophe. We compared projected heat mortality with COVID-19 deaths in 38 cities worldwide and found that in half of these cities, heat-related deaths could exceed annual COVID-19 deaths in less than ten years (at + 3.

Intralesional bleomycin sclerotherapy for head and neck low-flow vascular malformations - A retrospective single-center experience.

Low-flow vascular malformations (LFVMs) account for over 90% of all vascular malformations, with the highest prevalence in the head and neck region. Intralesional sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice for subcutaneous LFVMs, although there is no consensus on optimal agent selection or dosage. Mild sclerosing agents, such as bleomycin, are commonly used in sensitive anatomical areas, including the head and neck, due to their favorable safety profile, despite slightly lower efficacy.

Key elements for designing effective second victim support interventions: a focus group study in European clinical settings.

Background: The second victim (SV) experience limits the performance of health and care workers and places patients at risk. Peer support is recognised as the most effective, feasible and acceptable intervention to mitigate its impact.

Objective: To define a set of success factors when designing interventions to support SVs in health and care facilities based on expertise in different European countries.

The effect of conditioned medium from human amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells on thymus involution.

Aims: The development and selection of T cells occur within the thymus. This organ involutes throughout life, compromising the generation of T cells and, consequently, the efficacy of the immune system. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have beneficial effects on the immune system.

Nanostructured lipid carriers for enhanced batimastat delivery across the blood-brain barrier: an in vitro study for glioblastoma treatment.

Glioblastoma presents a significant treatment challenge due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) hindering drug delivery, and the overexpression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which promotes tumor invasiveness. This study introduces a novel nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) system designed for the delivery of batimastat, an MMP inhibitor, across the BBB and into the glioblastoma microenvironment. The NLCs were functionalized with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and a transferrin receptor-targeting construct to enhance BBB penetration and entrapment within the tumor microenvironment.

Retinal OCT-Derived Texture Features as Potential Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis and Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is usually diagnosed many years after diabetes onset. Indeed, an early diagnosis of DR remains a notable challenge, and, thus, developing novel approaches for earlier disease detection is of utmost importance. We aim to explore the potential of texture analysis of optical coherence tomography (OCT) retinal images in detecting retinal changes in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic animals at "silent" disease stages when early retinal molecular and cellular changes that cannot be clinically detectable are already occurring.

Recent Advances in Two-Dimensional Ferromagnetic Materials-Based van der Waals Heterostructures.

Two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnetic materials are subjects of intense research owing to their intriguing physicochemical properties, which hold great potential for fundamental research and spintronic applications. Specifically, 2D van der Waals (vdW) ferromagnetic materials retain both structural integrity and chemical stability even at the monolayer level. Moreover, due to their atomic thickness, these materials can be easily manipulated by stacking them with other 2D vdW ferroic and nonferroic materials, enabling precise control over their physical properties and expanding their functional applications.

Adherence to the 24-h Movement Behaviors Guidelines and Associations With Cognitive and Behavioral Self-Regulation Among Brazilian Preschoolers.

Background: Adherence to 24-h movement guidelines has been associated with early health benefits, including neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, the associations between these guidelines and Cognitive (CSR) and Behavioral (BSR) self-regulation in preschoolers are underexplored. This study investigated the associations between adherence to 24-h movement guidelines and CSR and BSR in Brazilian preschoolers.

Effects of an Extreme Weather Event on Primate Populations.

Objectives: With contemporary, human-induced climate change at a crisis point, extreme weather events (e.g., cyclones, heatwaves, floods) are becoming more frequent, intense, and difficult to predict.