Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Applewood Polyphenols at Lab and Pilot Scales.

This study focused on the extraction of polyphenols from applewood using ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE). First, the influence of solvent composition and mass-volume (m:v) ratio on the extraction yield was studied at a lab scale (200 mL). Overall, a ratio of 1:33 (m:v) resulted in a higher yield of polyphenols.

International Consensus Based Review and Recommendations for Minimum Reporting Standards in Research on Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (Version 2020).

Given its non-invasive nature, there is increasing interest in the use of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) across basic, translational and clinical research. Contemporaneously, tVNS can be achieved by stimulating either the auricular branch or the cervical bundle of the vagus nerve, referred to as transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation(VNS) and transcutaneous cervical VNS, respectively. In order to advance the field in a systematic manner, studies using these technologies need to adequately report sufficient methodological detail to enable comparison of results between studies, replication of studies, as well as enhancing study participant safety.

Assessment of patient decision-making capacity in the context of voluntary euthanasia for psychic suffering caused by psychiatric disorders: a qualitative study of approaches among Belgian physicians.

Objective: In Belgium, people with an incurable psychiatric disorder can file a request for euthanasia claiming unbearable psychic suffering. For the request to be accepted, it has to meet stringent legal criteria. One of the requirements is that the patient possesses decision-making capacity.

Competence-Based Curriculum Development in Nursing Education: A Story From the Western Balkans.

This article describes the process of competence-based curriculum development in nursing education at Western Balkan (WB) universities. Nursing education in the WB has been noncompliant with the standard educational approaches of the European Union's directive on regulated professions. The overall aim of the TEMPUS project "Competency-Based Curriculum Reform in Nursing and Caring in Western Balkan Universities" was to bring curricular reform for bachelor's nursing education in the WB region in line with competence-based education and professional standards to demonstrate compliance with all member countries of the European Union.

How breathing can help you make better decisions: Two studies on the effects of breathing patterns on heart rate variability and decision-making in business cases.

Deep slow breathing can increase vagal nerve activity, indexed by heart rate variability (HRV). HRV is also associated with better decision-making. This research examined the effects of two breathing patterns on HRV (Study 1) and on stress and decision-making performance (Study 2).

Too sick or not too sick? The importance of stress and satisfaction with supervisor support on the prevalence of sickness presenteeism.

In a sample of 3274 full-time Belgian workers, this article found that 62% of workers went to work while being sick (sickness presenteeism) at least once over the past 12 months. Of all workers who did not show sickness presenteeism themselves, another 6 out of 10 saw or heard about sickness presenteeism in their own organization. Women were more likely to report sickness presenteeism than men and junior workers were more prone to sickness presenteeism than senior workers.

The Vagus Nerve Can Predict and Possibly Modulate Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases: Introducing a Neuroimmunological Paradigm to Public Health.

Global burden of diseases (GBD) includes non-communicable conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These share important behavioral risk factors (e.g.

Therapeutic potential of the vagus nerve in cancer.

Accumulating evidence points to a beneficial effect ofvagus nerve activity in tumor development. The vagus nerve is proposed to slow tumorigenesis because of its anti-inflammatory properties mediated through ACh and the α7nAChR. Since α7nAChRs are widely expressed by many types of immune cells we hypothesized that the vagus nerve affects the tumor microenvironment and anticancer immunity.

The Role of the Vagus Nerve in Cancer Prognosis: A Systematic and a Comprehensive Review.

This article reviews the role of the vagus nerve in tumor modulation and cancer prognosis. We present a systematic review of 12 epidemiological studies examining the relationship between heart rate variability, the main vagus nerve index, and prognosis in cancer patients (survival and tumor markers). These studies show that initially high vagal nerve activity predicts better cancer prognosis, and, in some studies, independent of confounders such as cancer stage and treatments.

The Relationship between a New Biomarker of Vagal Neuroimmunomodulation and Survival in Two Fatal Cancers.

Background: The vagus nerve may slow tumor progression because it inhibits inflammation. This study examined the relationship between a new vagal neuroimmunomodulation (NIM) index and survival in fatal cancers.

Method: We retroactively derived markers of vagal nerve activity indexed by heart rate variability (HRV), specifically the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), from patients' electrocardiograms near diagnosis.

Proactive behavior in midwifery: A qualitative overview from midwifery student's perspective.

In the process of continuing developments and contemporary working conditions, this study provides an in depth exploration of proactive behavior in midwifery. Exploring 55 midwifery students' perceptions on facilitators and/or barriers of proactive behavior in midwifery practice, this study uncloses additional insights of proactive behavior in midwifery and aims to confirm and/or supplement previous results. Four key themes were identified: 1) Nature-nurture, supported by good communication and lifelong learning.