Tag: pubmed

Heliyon. 2023 Sep 4;9(9):e19753. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19753. eCollection 2023 Sep.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hamstring muscle tightness contributes to disability in people with chronic low back pain (CLBP). HM stretching improves flexibility in healthy individuals, but the immediate effect of stretching is unknown in people with CLBP. Moreover, the stretching effect could be influenced by psychosocial factors.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the immediate effect of passive HM stretching on flexibility in people with CLBP and the relationships between psychosocial factors and change in hamstring flexibility.

DESIGN: Non-randomized, pilot trial.

METHOD: One minute of passive stretching was performed in 90 people with CLBP. Change in Active Knee Extension and Straight Leg Raise angles (digital inclinometer), and Fingertips-to-Floor distance (measuring tape) were measured before and immediately after stretching. Correlations between change in flexibility and baseline Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores were analyzed.

RESULTS: Hamstring flexibility improved significantly after stretching; Active Knee Extension mean difference was 4° (95% CI, 2.4 to 5.1; p < 0.001, right ES = 0.24, left ES = 0.23); Straight Leg Raise mean difference was 7° (95% CI, 5.5 to 8.6, p < 0.001, right ES = 0.44, left ES = 0.42), Fingertips-to-Floor mean difference was 2 cm (95% CI, 1.7 to 3.0, p < 0.001, ES = 0.20). No correlation was found between improvement in any of the hamstring flexibility measurements and FABQ or HADS scores (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Passive hamstring stretching induced an immediate, statistically significantly improvement in hamstring flexibility, but only the change in Straight Leg Raise amplitude was clinically important. Psychosocial factors were not related to improvements in flexibility after hamstring stretching.

PMID:37810115 | PMC:PMC10559058 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19753

Heliyon. 2023 Sep 6;9(9):e19899. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19899. eCollection 2023 Sep.

ABSTRACT

Crop quality and productivity are the fundamental strategies of agricultural practice and technology; consequently, one of the priorities in agriculture is to be aware of new and innovative field experiments and production practices. The effectiveness of innovative practices and resources is influenced by a multitude of factors. This study aimed to propose a new quantum-based approach in agriculture using homoeopathic methodology which incorporates theories and concepts of quantum physics and employs a wave-based methodology for the functional measurement phase. A novel utilization of thermal imaging technology is suggested, wherein each pixel of the image indicates the wave parameters, frequency, or amplitude of wave, is proposed to analyse the functional information of the plant. The relationship between the new quantum-agriculture-based method and the functional characteristics of flour as measured by bio-photonic emissions was estimated, and the findings of this preliminary study on wheat flour are presented. Our preliminary results (i) confirm the superior performance of quantum agriculture (QA) based proposed soil and plant treatments, and (ii) suggest that quantitative analysis based on precise measurements of biophoton emission will provide a novel reliable tool for monitoring the quality of wheat in the future. Further investigations are required to replicate the results of this study under different environmental conditions. Additionally, incorporating comparative chemical analyses that would enhance our knowledge of the proposed agronomic practice.

PMID:37810108 | PMC:PMC10559271 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19899

Heliyon. 2023 Aug 23;9(9):e19307. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19307. eCollection 2023 Sep.

ABSTRACT

Spline curves are very prominent in the mathematics due to their simple construction, accuracy of assessment and ability to approximate complicated structures into interactive curved designs. A spline is a smooth piece-wise polynomial function. The primary goal of this study is to use extended cubic B-spline (ExCuBS) functions with a new second order derivative approximation to obtain the numerical solution of the weakly singular kernel (SK) non-linear fractional partial integro-differential equation (FPIDE). The spatial and temporal fractional derivatives are discretized by ExCuBS and the Caputo finite difference scheme, respectively. The present study found that it is stable and convergent. The validity of the current approach is examined on a few test problems, and the obtained outcomes are compared with those that have previously been reported in the literature.

PMID:37810099 | PMC:PMC10558353 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19307

Heliyon. 2023 Aug 28;9(9):e19435. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19435. eCollection 2023 Sep.

ABSTRACT

Selective T-cell depletion prior to cell or organ transplantation is considered a preconditioning regimen to induce tolerance and immunosuppression. An immunotoxin consisting of a recombinant anti-CD3 antibody conjugated with diphtheria toxin was used to eliminate T-cells. It showed significant T-cell depletion activity in the peripheral blood and lymph nodes in animal models used in previous studies. To date, a comprehensive evaluation of T-cell depletion and CD3 proliferation for all lymphoid tissues has not been conducted. Here, two rhesus macaques were administered A-dmDT390-SCFBdb (CD3-IT) intravenously at 25 μg/kg twice daily for four days. Samples were collected one day prior to and four days post administration. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate treatment efficiency accurately. Our preliminary results suggest that CD3-IT treatment may induce higher depletion of CD3 and CD4 T-cells in the lymph nodes and spleen, but is ineffective in the colon and thymus. The data showed a better elimination tendency of CD4 T-cells in the B-cell zone relative to the germinal center in the lymph nodes. Further, CD3-IT treatment may lead to a reduction in germinal center T follicular helper CD4 cells in the lymph nodes compared to healthy controls. The number of proliferating CD3 T-cell indicated that repopulation in different lymphoid tissues may occur four days post treatment. Our results provide insights into the differential efficacy of CD3-IT treatment and T-cell proliferation post treatment in different lymphoid tissues. Overall, CD3-IT treatment shows potential efficacy in depleting T-cells in the periphery, lymph nodes, and spleen, making it a viable preconditioning regimen for cell or organ transplantation. Our pilot study provides critical descriptive statistics and can contribute to the design of larger future studies.

PMID:37810095 | PMC:PMC10558572 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19435

Heliyon. 2023 Sep 9;9(9):e19717. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19717. eCollection 2023 Sep.

ABSTRACT

In this paper, firstly, the ” Haar wavelet method ” is used to give approximate solutions for coupled systems of linear fractional Fredholm integro-differential equations. Moreover, we consider the fractional derivative to be described in the Caputo sense. The general idea of this technique is simply based on reducing this kinds of coupled systems into systems of algebraic equations which are easily to deal with and solve. Also, Laplace transform operator is included to develop a sophisticated approach which we called ” Laplace Haar wavelet method ” as an adjustment to ” Haar wavelet method ” to reduce the error and computational time. We provide illustrative examples to confirm validity, efficiency, accuracy, and applicability of the proposed methods.

PMID:37810092 | PMC:PMC10558993 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19717

Heliyon. 2023 Sep 13;9(9):e20121. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20121. eCollection 2023 Sep.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Health-seeking behavior is an action taken by an individual who perceives to have a health problem. Many childhood morbidities and mortalities are associated with a low level of a mother’s healthcare-seeking behavior. However, there are limited studies about modern health-seeking behavior among mothers of ill under-five children in the study area.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of modern health-seeking behavior of mothers/caregivers and associated factors for childhood illness in Hawassa city, Sidama, Ethiopia 2021.

METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 15 to December 15, 2021, in Hawassa City. Eight kebeles were selected by using simple random sampling methods. A total of 366 mothers with children less than five years were included in this study and an interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data entry, cleaning, and analysis were done by using Statistical Package for Social sciences version 24 and logistic regression was used to determine the presence of association, and significance was declared at p-value <0.05.

RESULT: The study found that 70.2% of mothers/caregivers seek modern health care for their child’s illnesses. Number of Antenatal care follow up ([AOR(Adjusted Odds Ratio) = 2.106; 95% CI(Confidence Interval) (1.097-4.042)), urban residence ([AOR = 2.688; 95% CI (1.403-5.149)), perceived severity of illness ([AOR2.832; 95% CI1.101-7.290)), four or above birth order (5.501; 95% CI (1.761-17.184)) and symptoms guiding severity of illness ([AOR = 4.664; 95% CI (1.918-11.342)) were associated with modern health-seeking behavior.

CONCLUSION: The overall modern health-seeking behaviors of mothers of under-five children are higher than in previous studies. However, a still significant proportion of mothers do not seek modern health care for their ill children. mothers/caregivers’ residence, birth order, number of Antenatal care follow-ups, perceived severity of childhood illness, and perceived guiding symptoms of severity are the significant predictors of mothers’ healthcare-seeking behavior.

PMID:37810091 | PMC:PMC10559870 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20121

Small. 2023 Oct 8:e2304670. doi: 10.1002/smll.202304670. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The Stokes-Einstein-Sutherland (SES) equation is at the foundation of statistical physics, relating a particle’s diffusion coefficient and size with the fluid viscosity, temperature, and the boundary condition for the particle-solvent interface. It is assumed that it relies on the separation of scales between the particle and the solvent, hence it is expected to break down for diffusive transport on the molecular scale. This assumption is however challenged by a number of experimental studies showing a remarkably small, if any, violation, while simulations systematically report the opposite. To understand these discrepancies, analytical ultracentrifugation experiments are combined with molecular simulations, both performed at unprecedented accuracies, to study the transport of buckminsterfullerene C₆₀ in toluene at infinite dilution. This system is demonstrated to clearly violate the conditions of slow momentum relaxation. Yet, through a linear response to a constant force, the SES equation can be recovered in the long time limit with no more than 4% uncertainty both in experiments and in simulations. This nonetheless requires partial slip on the particle interface, extracted consistently from all the data. These results, thus, resolve a long-standing discussion on the validity and limits of the SES equation at the molecular scale.

PMID:37806757 | DOI:10.1002/smll.202304670

J Sep Sci. 2023 Oct 8:e2300196. doi: 10.1002/jssc.202300196. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

After medicinal market research, it was found that the harvest time of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus (LLF) was chaotic in practice. In order to determine the optimal harvest period of LLF to ensure its pharmacological activity, metabolomics analysis of LLF at different harvest times based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole-(linear ion trap)-tandem mass spectrometry was established. In this study, 166 differential metabolites (DMs) in 448 metabolites at different harvest times were screened out based on variable importance in projection value, and among them, 94 DMs with regular trends of change in relative content (59 increased and 35 decreased with the growth period) were chosen to further research. The result of the multivariate statistical analysis showed that November was the optimal harvest period of LLF. Additionally, 10-hydroxyligustroside, oleoside 11-methyl ester, and salidroside were screened out to be used as the evaluation indicators of immature LLF, while specnuezhenide, nuezhenoside G13, and neonuezhenide were the evaluation indicators of mature LLF. This study provides fundamental insight for metabolite identification and proposes the best harvest period of LLF to avoid confusion in the medicinal market.

PMID:37806751 | DOI:10.1002/jssc.202300196

Enferm Clin (Engl Ed). 2023 Sep-Oct;33(5):316-326. doi: 10.1016/j.enfcle.2023.07.002.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of an educational intervention on midwives’ knowledge, detection and management of intimate partner violence (IPV).

METHODS: A quasi-experimental study involving 158 midwives from two districts in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The sample was divided into experimental and control groups (79 midwives per group). Data were collected using a questionnaire and an observation checklist. A customized educational training program on IPV detection and management was conducted in the experimental group. Measurement was performed before the intervention, immediately after and 6 weeks later. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square and binary logistic regression) with a level of significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: Prior knowledge regarding IPV detection and management among midwives in both groups was poor, with only 16.5 % of the experimental group and 17.7 % of the control group having good knowledge in the pre-intervention phase. The experimental group had a significant improvement in knowledge of IPV screening and management, with 82.1 % having good knowledge immediately after the intervention and 92.0 % at 6 weeks after the intervention (p = 0.001). Observed practice of IPV detection and management improved significantly from 21.9 % satisfactory practice before the intervention to 63.5 % after the intervention (p = 0.001) in the experimental group, with no appreciable improvement in practice detected in the control group (21.9% versus 36.5%; p = 0.682).

CONCLUSION: The use of a customized educational training program improved midwives’ knowledge and practice in the detection and management of intimate partner violence.

PMID:37806710 | DOI:10.1016/j.enfcle.2023.07.002

J Nutr Educ Behav. 2023 Oct;55(10):755-760. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2023.08.001.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the presence of body image and diet culture rhetoric in videos under the hashtag #HealthyLifestyle on TikTok.

METHODS: The top 250 videos under #HealthyLifestyle were categorized using a codebook of wellness topics. We conducted descriptive statistics and interrater reliability analysis.

RESULTS: #HealthyLifestyle videos had high rates of all coded categories, including negative and positive messages about body image and diet culture. Nearly all content with positive connotations was counteracted by coexisting negative messaging.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Our findings suggest that content under #HealthyLifestyle contains messaging conflicting with the definition of a healthy lifestyle. Considering the young audience consuming this content, improved nutrition education and health literacy in schools is essential.

PMID:37806709 | DOI:10.1016/j.jneb.2023.08.001