Long-term effects of petroleum mulch on concentration, health, and ecological risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sand dune soils of Khuzestan province, Iran.

Environmental consequences of petroleum mulch application are crucial in regions prone to wind erosion and desertification. This study aimed to assess the long-term effects of petroleum mulching on soil polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations and the associated human and ecological risk indices. These indices include incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR), hazard index (HI), toxic equivalent concentration (TEQ), toxic unit (TU), and risk quotient (RQ) in soil samples from Khuzestan province, Iran.

Gender-stratified national mental health norms of BSI-53, BSI-18, SCL-10, ADHD-9, and ADHD-6 for Denmark.

Background: Reliable gender-sensitive normative data is needed to facilitate mental health research and clinical utility of commonly used symptoms scales. This study establishes Danish gender-stratified norms for the 53-item and 18-item Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-53, BSI-18), proposed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptomatology scales from the BSI-53, and the 10-item Symptom Checklist (SCL-10). This study also examines gender-differences in symptom reporting of the ADHD and SCL-10 scales, and assesses potential bias in recent SCL-10 norms.

Potential Evolutionary Convergence in Trophic Adaptations of Two Booidean Snake Lineages as Evidenced by Skull Morphology.

Booidean snakes are a diverse and widespread lineage with an intriguing evolutionary and biogeographic history. By means of cranial morphology and osteology, this study investigates the evolutionary convergence in the Neotropical genera Boa and Corallus on the one hand and the Malagasy clade comprising Acrantophis and Sanzinia on the other. We hypothesize that the mostly arboreal Corallus and Sanzinia present larger jaws and longer teeth to keep hold of the prey and resist gravity and torsional forces acting on their skull while hanging from branches, while terrestrial genera such as Acrantophis show thinner jaws with shorter teeth because they can rely on the full length of their coils to immobilize and constrict the prey together with a substrate that supports the whole of their body.

Ecological and anthropogenic effects on the genomic diversity of lemurs in Madagascar.

Ecological variation and anthropogenic landscape modification have had key roles in the diversification and extinction of mammals in Madagascar. Lemurs represent a radiation with more than 100 species, constituting roughly one-fifth of the primate order. Almost all species of lemurs are threatened with extinction, but little is known about their genetic diversity and demographic history.

Source-tracing of industrial and municipal wastewater effluent in river water via fluorescence fingerprinting.

Fluorescence fingerprinting is a technique to uniquely characterize water samples based on their distinct composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) measured via 3D fluorescence spectroscopy. It is an effective tool for monitoring the chemical composition of various water systems. This study examines a river affected by several municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents and aims to source-tracing them via fluorescence fingerprints based on parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) components.

Maternal positions in childbirth - A cohort study of labouring women's movements and body positions the last 24 hours before birth.

Introduction: Maternal position plays an essential role in achieving labour progress as it supports the physiological mechanisms of labour. Evidence supports that adopting upright positions may facilitate physiological childbirth.

Aim: To describe the use of various positionsamong nulliparous pregnant women in the last 24 h before birth and describe physical positions in relation to maternal and neonatal outcomes at time of birth.

A Prebiotic Route to Lactate from Acetaldehyde, Cyanide and Carbon Dioxide.

The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) has fluctuated throughout Earth's history. However, the role of CO2 in prebiotic chemistry has predominantly been limitedly postulated as a C1 precursor, which can be reduced to carbon monoxide or methane mimicking the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway. Herein we present neglected roles of CO2 as an active promoter in accessing biologically important C3-builidng blocks such as lactate, via redox-economic reaction cycles from cyanide (C1) and acetaldehyde (C2).

Implementing digital respiratory technologies for people with respiratory conditions: A protocol for a scoping review.

The value of 'data-enabled', digital healthcare is evolving rapidly, as demonstrated in the COVID-19 pandemic, and its successful implementation remains complex and challenging. Harmonisation (within/between healthcare systems) of infrastructure and implementation strategies has the potential to promote safe, equitable and accessible digital healthcare, but guidance for implementation is lacking. Using respiratory technologies as an example, our scoping review process will capture and review the published research between 12th December 2013 to 12th December 2023.

A stratified treatment algorithm in psychiatry: a program on stratified pharmacogenomics in severe mental illness (Psych-STRATA): concept, objectives and methodologies of a multidisciplinary project funded by Horizon Europe.

Schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar (BD) and major depression disorder (MDD) are severe psychiatric disorders that are challenging to treat, often leading to treatment resistance (TR). It is crucial to develop effective methods to identify and treat patients at risk of TR at an early stage in a personalized manner, considering their biological basis, their clinical and psychosocial characteristics. Effective translation of theoretical knowledge into clinical practice is essential for achieving this goal.

Dairy Farmers and Veterinarians' Agreement on Communication in Udder Health Consulting.

Udder health consulting is an essential aspect of mastitis control and is based on herd-specific intervention often provided by the herd veterinarian, focusing on managing the bulk tank somatic cell count. Effective communication and alignment of expectations between dairy farmers and herd veterinarians are more critical than ever due to the substantial increase in herd sizes, which amplifies both potential gains and losses. To facilitate future cooperation between dairy farmers and herd veterinarians, it is important to understand the current level of agreement in communication, and therefore, we conducted a study to describe the agreement in the perception of their communication during udder health consulting.

Employee Management in Dairy Farms Associated with Bulk Tank Somatic Cell Count and New Mastitis Infection Risk.

For decades, bovine mastitis and milk quality have been a focus area for research, agricultural extension, and dairy processors worldwide, yet employee management as a factor in udder health management has received limited attention. This is mainly because the focus has previously been on more classical areas covered by the National Mastitis Council Mastitis Control Program (NMC 10-point plan) in English-speaking countries. Therefore, we wanted more background information on employee management on dairy farms, to identify the human factor of udder health management.

Automated Assessment of Pelvic Longitudinal Rotation Using Computer Vision in Canine Hip Dysplasia Screening.

Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) screening relies on accurate positioning in the ventrodorsal hip extended (VDHE) view, as even mild pelvic rotation can affect CHD scoring and impact breeding decisions. This study aimed to assess the association between pelvic rotation and asymmetry in obturator foramina areas (AOFAs) and to develop a computer vision model for automated AOFA measurement. In the first part, 203 radiographs were analyzed to examine the relationship between pelvic rotation, assessed through asymmetry in iliac wing and obturator foramina widths (AOFWs), and AOFAs.

Prevalence, Distribution and Risk Factors for Trematode Infections in Domesticated Ruminants in the Lake Victoria and Southern Highland Ecological Zones of Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Trematode infections cause long-term suffering and debilitation, posing a significant threat to global animal health and production and leading to considerable economic losses. Studies on the epidemiology and control of these infections in Tanzania are limited. The few available studies have been conducted in abattoir settings.

Tailored Multifaceted Strategy for Implementing Fundamental Evidence-Based Nursing Care: An Evaluation Study.

: Extensive research has emphasised the persistent challenges and failures in providing hospitalised patients with fundamental evidence-based nursing care, often resulting in grave consequences for patient safety. Recommendations from implementation research indicate that a tailored theory- and research-based implementation strategy targeting contextual determinants can optimise the implementation of evidence-based clinical practice for the benefit of patients. This study evaluated the feasibility of an implementation strategy designed to improve the quality of nursing care by targeting behavioural and environmental barriers in a hospital setting.

Proof of Concept Study: Comparison of Semi-Automated RNA Isolation Methods from Archived Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Tissues with Clinical Routine RNA Isolation Methods.

High-quality RNA is crucial in clinical diagnostics and precision medicine. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues pose a challenge due to nucleic acid fragmentation and crosslinking. In this pilot study, various commercially available techniques for extracting RNA from small FFPE samples were compared.

Cycling Isokinetic Peak Force Explains Maximal Aerobic Power and Physiological Thresholds but Not Cycling Economy in Trained Triathletes.

: Assessments of muscle strength help prescribe and monitor training loads in cyclists (e.g., triathletes).

Effects of Off-Season Heavy-Load Resistance Training on Lower Limb Mechanical Muscle Function and Physical Performance in Elite Female Team Handball Players.

: Team handball involves a high number of rapid and forceful muscle actions. Progressive heavy-load resistance training is known to enhance mechanical muscle function; however, its transfer into functional performance in team handball athletes remains largely unknown. The current study aimed to analyze the effects of eight weeks undulating heavy-load resistance training on lower limb mechanical muscle function and sports-specific performance in elite female team handball players.

Opportunities and Challenges of Chatbots in Ophthalmology: A Narrative Review.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly influential in ophthalmology, particularly through advancements in machine learning, deep learning, robotics, neural networks, and natural language processing (NLP). Among these, NLP-based chatbots are the most readily accessible and are driven by AI-based large language models (LLMs). These chatbots have facilitated new research avenues and have gained traction in both clinical and surgical applications in ophthalmology.

Supporting Nursing Staff During Crises: Impact of Organisational Support Measures and Resources in Job Satisfaction in German Nursing Homes.

Background/objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic placed an immense burden on nursing home staff, significantly increasing their workload. How the impact of these challenges on job satisfaction is mitigated by personal and social resources, along with organisational support measures initiated by nursing homes, is investigated in this study.

Methods: In 2021, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among nursing home staff in Rhineland-Palatinate (n = 373).

Healthcare seeking for people diagnosed with severe mental illness: Sensations, symptoms and diagnostic work.

For people with mental and somatic illnesses, the interpretive process of attending to a multitude of bodily sensations and recognising them as potential symptoms represents daily and 'chronic homework'. Based on 16 months of ethnographic fieldwork in Denmark, this study explores diagnostic work and healthcare seeking among people with severe mental and somatic illnesses. As multiple studies have shown, the transformation process for a perceived sensation to become a symptom is a socially constructed interpretative process highly dependent on social legitimisation and shaped by prior cultural knowledge.

Level of Agreement Between Plaque Detection with Clinical Assessment and Assessment on Intraoral Scanner.

The aim was to evaluate the agreement between plaque detection with an intraoral scanner system (IOS) and a conventional clinical method and to evaluate the inter-rater reliability for scoring 3D models with and without a disclosing agent. : A total of 14 participants were recruited from the Department of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Participants eligible for inclusion were adults with good general health and a minimum of 20 teeth.

Bilateral Symmetry in the Aesthetic Area Achieved by Digital Smile Design on 3D Virtual Patient and Conventional Diagnostic Wax-Up-A Comparative Study.

: Digital diagnostic waxing is a contemporary alternative to the conventional wax-up method. This study aims to evaluate the impact of both techniques on the perceived frontal symmetry in aesthetic treatment planning. Dental symmetry significantly influences smile perception and, consequently, the acceptance of treatment outcomes, highlighting its clinical importance in restorative dentistry.

Techno-strain and techno-insecurity are associated with poor mental well-being in specific age and occupation groups.

Objectives: Innovative technology at work can lead to stress and has been linked with adverse work and health consequences. This study aims to examine the association of techno-insecurity and techno-strain with mental well-being in different age and occupational groups.

Methods: We utilized a nationally representative survey of the working population and restricted our analyses to 2,814 employees who reported being engaged with new technology.

Monitoring Chronic Non-Cancer Pain in Denmark Over Two Decades: Prevalence, Mental Health and Loneliness.

Background: Epidemiological surveys have monitored chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) and investigated associated factors in Denmark for more than 20 years. This study aimed to analyse CNCP prevalence in the Danish population from 2000 to 2023 and its associations with mental health status and loneliness.

Methods: Population-based surveys were conducted between 2000 and 2023.

Long-Term Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients With a Transient Ischemic Attack: A Danish Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: Sparse information regarding the long-term risk of acute myocardial infarction (MI) following a transient ischemic attack (TIA) emphasizes further research to guide preventive strategies and risk stratification in patients with a TIA.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide cohort study to investigate the 5-year risk of MI and all-cause mortality in patients with a first-time TIA. Patients with a first-time TIA were identified in the Danish Stroke Registry (2013-2020), matched on age, sex, and calendar year (1:4) with the general population and (1:1) with patients with first-time ischemic stroke.