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Diseases of the gastrointestinal system may be congenital or acquired. Intestinal obstruction is common in children and neonates, and it has various causes. Obstructions due to congenital adhesion bands are rare. Few cases were reported in the literature. In this paper, we will discuss the case of an 8-day-old girl who was presented to the emergency department with signs of intestinal obstruction.

Background. Lean production is mainly focused on increasing value in processes and improving the quality of services provided. These principles are implemented in medical organizations within the framework of the national project “Healthcare” and the federal project “Development of the Primary Healthcare System”. Introduction of lean technologies at all levels of the organization can serve as a highly effective method of positive changes. In 2023, Kuban State Medical University, together with the Ministry of Health of Krasnodar Krai and the Regional Center for Primary Healthcare, held a strategic session aimed at identifying problematic processes in medical organizations of the region and jointly searching for ways to solve them. The session involved 73 primary healthcare organizations. Its results formed the basis for a study of the project activity of medical organizations. Objective. To analyze the current state of project activities of medical organizations in Krasnodar Krai to achieve a “new model” through the introduction of lean technologies.Methods. A one-stage observational study was carried out in two steps. The first step involved participant observation. Its results determined a set of tools to be compiled. The second step of the study included a questionnaire survey and analysis of information. The data obtained from the questionnaire survey and observation were coded, the distribution and frequency were identified using frequency analysis and calculation of mean values. The qualitative analysis of open-ended questions was additionally applied.Results. The analysis showed that the prevailing number of projects are aimed at forming and developing the availability of medical care for the population (50.6 %), including projects focused on inclusiveness and provision of medical care to low-mobility patients at home. It was also revealed that 42 projects in four areas are planned for implementation in 47 organizations using lean technology tools in 2024. The study showed that 91.49 % of projects failed to calculate financial efficiency and evaluate project results in monetary terms. Meanwhile, 8.51 % of those who carried out the efficiency calculations lacked an analysis methodology and revealed the superficiality of the calculations. Of all the participants, 53.19 % reported the need for help in organizing and implementing project activities, and 36.17 % of the participants had enough resources to cope on their own. The three most problematic processes requiring joint work with colleagues included “Reducing the wait times for healthcare in regional medical organizations,” “Registration of discounted prescriptions” and “Preventive medical examination and dispensary.”Conclusion. The experience of a strategic session at Kuban State Medical University proved to be effective in improving the quality of implementation of lean technologies in medical organizations of Krasnodar Krai. The study was instrumental in assessing the current state of the project activities of medical organizations to achieve a “new model” through the introduction of lean technologies, as well as in identifying the most common areas of project activities and the main problems. The performed analysis revealed a positive trend in improving the quality of work of medical organizations in Krasnodar Krai and disseminating the lean technologies in primary healthcare.

Magnesium (Mg) alloys are widely used for temporary bone implants due to their favorable biodegradability, cytocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and close mechanical properties to bone. However, rapid degradation and inadequate strength limit their applicability. To overcome this, the direct current magnetron sputtering technique is employed for surface coating in Mg-based alloys using various zirconium (Zr) content. This approach presents a promising strategy for simultaneously improving corrosion resistance, maintaining biocompatibility, and enhancing strength without compromising osseointegration. By leveraging Mg's inherent biodegradability, it has the potential to minimize the need for secondary surgeries, thereby reducing costs and resources.This paper is a systematic study aimed at understanding the corrosion mechanisms of Mg–Zr coatings, denoted Mg-xZr (x = 0–5 at.%). Zr-doped coatings exhibited columnar growth leading to denser and refined structures with increasing Zr content. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of the Mg (00.2) basal plane, shifting towards higher angles (1.15°) with 5 at.% Zr doping due to lattice parameter changes (i.e., decrease and increase of “c” and “a” lattice parameters, respectively). Mg–Zr coatings exhibited “liquidphilic” behavior, while Young's modulus retained a steady value around 80 GPa across all samples. However, the hardness has significantly improved across all samples’ coating, reaching the highest value of (2.2 ± 0.3) GPa for 5 at.% Zr. Electrochemical testing in simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37 °C revealed a significant enhancement in corrosion resistance for Mg–Zr coatings containing 1.0–3.4 at.% Zr. Compared with the 5 at.% Zr coating which exhibited a corrosion rate of 32 mm/year, these coatings displayed lower corrosion rates, ranging from 1 to 12 mm/year. This synergistic enhancement in mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, achieved with 2.0–3.4 at.% Zr, suggests potential ability for reducing stress shielding and controlled degradation performance, and consequently, promising functional biodegradable materials for temporary bone implants.

Aims: This study aimed to identify the difficulties of instruction written expression in secondary English under distance learning and ways of developing it.Methodology: The researchers used the analytical descriptive curriculum to analyse the study's data, answer its questions, test its hypotheses and thus arrive at findings and recommendations. The researchers adopted the questionnaire as a study tool distributed to 200 English secondary school teachers in Fallujah schools. SPSS.Results: After analysis of the questionnaire, it was found that the difficulties of distance learning for the teacher were significantly low as opposed to the student. This could be due to the transition from one school to another, the lack of focus during the school period and the lack of linking of previous experiences with current knowledge experience The difficulties in teaching the subject came from the lack of supportive methods of study and the lack of a contemporary curriculum commensurate with distance education; The difficulties of evaluation were significant because of the large number of students per grade. The study also concluded several recommendations.

A growing body of research on reframing effects has shown a robust negativity bias among U.S. participants: In many circumstances, people's attitudes change less when framing switches from negative to positive than when it switches from positive to negative. Here, we test the generalizability of this effect beyond a narrow U.S. context, exploring whether similar results would emerge with Arab university students holding a variety of nationalities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Participants considered a cognitive training regimen scenario that was first presented in negative or positive terms, then reframed in the opposing way. They reported their attitudes toward the cognitive regimen after the initial frame, and again after reframing, then completed a trend reversal task. Suggesting that effects extend beyond narrow U.S. samples, Arab university students in the UAE showed similar single-shot and sequential framing effects as multiple samples of U.S. American participants, in spite of the fact that they showed different patterns of cognitive thought related to trend reversal. By advancing emerging priorities in social-cognitive research and following best practices in replications and cross-cultural research, this work helps better calibrate the size and generalizability of negativity bias in sequential framing while increasing representation in social-cognitive research.

This study aimed to provide an updated and comprehensive review of the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for the employability of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Ten studies (423 participants) were identified in the literature. Compared to control groups, the proportion of those who could work was significantly higher among those who had participated in employment support programs and higher, but not significantly, among those who had received communication skills training. The communication skills training group had an improved communication score on employment. This systematic review showed that psychosocial interventions could increase the number of individuals with ASD who are employable and improve their communication skills for employment.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in women. The majority of deaths from breast cancer do not result from the primary tumor itself but from metastasis to other organs in the body. Here, we report the development of a novel polymeric material that selectively traps breast cancer cells. The cancer cell-capturing polymer was synthesized by grafting L-phenylalanine onto a biocompatible poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA-Phe). L-phenylalanine exhibits high affinity to L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), which is overexpressed on various cancer cells. We evaluated cancer cell-selective adhesion ability of PVA-Phe using MCF-7, a human hormone receptor-positive breast cancer model cell expressing LAT1. Our results suggest that LAT1 on cancer cells recognizes the L-phenylalanine and that MCF-7 selectively adheres to the synthesized PVA-Phe. For patients at risk of cancer recurrence, we expect that PVA-Phe synthesized in this study could serve to capture the remaining cancer cells when implanted in the body. Together with an appropriate scaffold that functions to attract cancer cells, PVA-Phe may have the potential to completely prevent cancer recurrence.

The importance of fungi in ecological systems and pathogenicity hinges on their ability to search for nutrients, substrates, and hosts. Despite this, the question of whether fungal hyphae exhibit chemotropism toward them remains largely unresolved and requires close examination at the cellular level. Here, we designed a microfluidic device to assess hyphal chemotropism of Aspergillus nidulans in response to carbon and nitrogen sources, as well as pH. Within this device, hyphae could determine their growth direction in a two-layer flow with distinct compositions that were adjacent but non-mixing. Under conditions with and without a carbon source, hyphae changed growth direction to remain in the presence of a carbon source, but it was still difficult to distinguish between differences in growth and chemotropism. Although nitrogen sources such as ammonia and nitrate are important for growth, the hyphae indicated negative chemotropism to avoid them depending on the specific transporters. This fungus grows equally well at the colony level in the pH range of 4 to 9, but the hyphae exhibited chemotropism to acidic pH. The proton pump PmaA is vital for the chemotropism to acid pH, while the master regulatory for pH adaptation PacC is not involved, suggesting that chemotropism and adaptive growth via gene expression regulation are distinct regulatory mechanisms. Despite various plasma membrane transporters are distributed across membranes except at the hyphal tip, the control of growth direction occurs at the tip. Finally, we explored the mechanisms linking these two phenomena, tip growth and chemotropism.

Introduction Heated tobacco products (HTPs) and e-cigarettes (ECs) have gained traction as alternatives for harm reduction, especially in Japan. In particular, the use of HTPs is rapidly gaining popularity among young adults in Japan, with a prevalence of 10.9% in 2020. Despite uncertainties regarding the health effects of HTPs and ECs, concerns regarding nicotine and carcinogens persist. Although physicians play a vital role in smoking cessation, they lack awareness and concerns regarding HTPs. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, knowledge, and concerns regarding HTPs and ECs among young Japanese physicians. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in 2021 with 529 young Japanese physicians aged 24–39 years. Parameters assessed included awareness, smoking status, knowledge of HTPs and ECs, and concerns related to HTPs. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess prevalence, knowledge, and concerns by smoking status using the chi-squared test and logistic regression. Results Most participants were aware of HTPs (89.0%) and ECs (71.3%). Young male physicians preferred HTPs, while females favored ECs. Primary sources of information included newspapers and stories (56.8%), and TV (37.4%). Nonsmokers (89.0%) demonstrated limited knowledge of these products. Concerns were highest and lowest among non-smokers and HTP users, respectively, with safety concerns being the most prevalent. Conclusions Young physicians exhibited lower smoking rates than the general population, but HTP use was prominent among young male physicians. Concerns varied based on smoking status, indicating the need to address these issues among healthcare professionals. Despite high awareness, knowledge gaps, particularly among non-smokers, highlight the importance of public health and educational campaigns to disseminate knowledge among physicians, regardless of medical specialty.

Abstract Recent studies have indicated the involvement of neutrophil-mediated inflammatory responses in the process leading to intracranial aneurysm (IA) rupture. Receptors mediating neutrophil recruitment could thus be therapeutic targets of unruptured IAs. In this study, complement C5a receptor 1 (C5AR1) was picked up as a candidate that may cause neutrophil-dependent inflammation in IA lesions from comprehensive gene expression profile data acquired from rat and human samples. The induction of C5AR1 in IA lesions was confirmed by immunohistochemistry; the up-regulations of C5AR1/C5ar1 stemmed from infiltrated neutrophils, which physiologically express C5AR1/C5ar1, and adventitial fibroblasts that induce C5AR1/C5ar1 in human/rat IA lesions. In in vitro experiments using NIH/3T3, a mouse fibroblast-like cell line, induction of C5ar1 was demonstrated by starvation or pharmacological inhibition of mTOR signaling by Torin1. Immunohistochemistry and an experiment in a cell-free system using recombinant C5 protein and recombinant Plasmin indicated that the ligand of C5AR1, C5a, could be produced through the enzymatic digestion by Plasmin in IA lesions. In conclusion, we have identified a potential contribution of the C5a–C5AR1 axis to neutrophil infiltration as well as inflammatory responses in inflammatory cells and fibroblasts of IA lesions. This cascade may become a therapeutic target to prevent the rupture of IAs.

Relevance. Human Noroviruses (HuNoV) are highly contagious pathogens responsible of acute human norovirus infection. HuNoV is the cause of every fifth case of acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis, annually causing about 699 million cases of the disease and more than 200 thousand deaths worldwide. Controlled expression of the HBGA antigens by the FUT2 gene causes resistance to human norovirus. Polymorphisms of the FUT family genes contribute to partial or complete immunity to certain genogroups/ genotypes of norovirus.Aims. To characterize the effect of FUT2 gene polymorphisms on susceptibility to HuNoV.Results. Nonsensemutations of G428A in two homologous alleles contribute to the formation of a secretory-negative phenotype (se), which is a factor determining immunity to noroviruses. Some missense-mutations in the nucleotide positions se385,571 form partial resistance against certain genotypes. People with a secretory-negative phenotype are immune to infection by the GII.4 genotype and its genovariants.Conclusions. The expression of HLA antigens by the functionally inactive FUT2 gene plays a key role in the resistance of the human population to HuNoV. Susceptibility to HuNoV largely depends on the prevalence of HBGA phenotypic diversity among ethnic populations around the world. Targeted screening aimed at identifying polymorphisms of the FUT family will allow identifying risk groups more susceptible to HuNoV.

Digital twins technology is a key pillar to realizing the vision of Industrial Metaverse and enabling Industry 5.0 where industries become more sustainable, resilient, and smart, while being human-centric. In this paper we aim at developing a high fidelity digital twin model consistent with its physical system for better informed decisions in terms of failure avoidance or performance enhancements. To enable this, we harness the capabilities of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to collect measurement data from Industrial Internet of Things devices that monitor various independent physical entities in a given industrial plant. Each device sends its readings to the UAV that in turn performs computations to determine the status of the physical entities. The UAV relays the resulting status details to the digital twin running at the edge of the network in a timely manner. For a high fidelity digital twin, the processed status has to be kept as close as possible to the actual status of the physical entities through ensuring high accuracy and synchronization. To do so, we introduce the age of digital twin metric based on the age of information concept to represent the degree of synchronization between the digital and physical twins then formulate the problem as a mixed integer non-convex program. Due to its complexity, we decompose the problem into two subproblems, convexify their constraints and optimize the UAV trajectory, device scheduling, wireless and computing resource allocation, and data collection. We run extensive simulations for various system parameters and demonstrate the resulting accuracy of the digital twin model while ensuring high synchronization. Simulation results corroborate the superiority of our proposed solution as compared to different baseline approaches.

Abstract This study reports the effects of a computationally informed and avocado-seed mediated Phyto engineered CuS nanoparticles as fertilizing agent on the ionome and amino acid metabolome of Pinto bean seeds using both bench top and ion beam analytical techniques. Physico-chemical analysis of the Phyto engineered nanoparticles with scanning-electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of CuS nanoparticles. Molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interaction of some active phytocompounds in avocado seeds that act as reducing agents with the nano-digenite further showed that 4-hydroxybenzoic acid had a higher affinity for interacting with the nanoparticle’s surface than other active compounds. Seeds treated with the digenite nanoparticles exhibited a unique ionome distribution pattern as determined with external beam proton-induced X-ray emission, with hotspots of Cu and S appearing in the hilum and micropyle area that indicated a possible uptake mechanism via the seed coat. The nano-digenite also triggered a plant stress response by slightly altering seed amino acid metabolism. Ultimately, the nano-digenite may have important implications as a seed protective or nutritive agent as advised by its unique distribution pattern and effect on amino acid metabolism. Graphical abstract

Abstract Background Psychopathy has been described as “the first personality disorder to be recognized in psychiatry”. It has three core features: affective, interpersonal, and behavioral. The Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy (LSRP) scale is used to screen for and measure psychopathy. Our study aims to validate the LSRP as a tool to measure psychopathy in the non-institutionalized Lebanese population. Methods We surveyed Lebanese individuals residing in Lebanon and aged 18 through 65. It was a convenience sample collected via an online survey. 534 Lebanese participants completed the survey and were included in our analyses. Nearly 80% were female, 90% were college educated, and 60% were employed. We used exploratory graph analysis and confirmatory factor analyses to measure internal validity of the LSRP. We also used the HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised (HEXACO-PI-R), the Subtypes of Antisocial Behavior Questionnaire (STAB), and the Short version of the Urgency, Premeditation (lack of), Perseverance (lack of), Sensation Seeking, Positive Urgency, Impulsive Behavior Scale (S-UPPS-P) to measure external validity of LSRP. Results The exploratory graph analysis showed that the LSRP had a three-factor structure (Egocentric, Callous and Antisocial) in the Lebanese population. This three-factor structure (RMSEA = 0.05, CFI = 0.83, SRMR = 0.06) yielded a better fit than the two-factor, and three-factor Brinkley models. The LSRP was negatively correlated with the Honesty-Humility dimension of the HEXACO-PI-R and positively correlated with the STAB and S-UPPS-P subscales. Conclusions The LSRP scale is a valid measure of psychopathy in the Lebanese non-institutionalized population, adding to the currently limited literature addressing psychopathy in the Arab World.

Background: The tobacco industry has actively advocated for electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) as harm-reduction alternatives to traditional cigarettes. Around 40% of smoking physicians have adopted HTPs. This study aimed to uncover the motivations behind Japanese physicians’ e-cigarette and HTP use while analyzing the associations between product use, physician demographics, lifestyles, and smoking preferences. Methods: A mail-based survey was conducted in 2020, targeting 6000 male and 1500 female physicians. From the 5492 survey participants, 346 physicians aged 28 to 98 who were current smokers were selected. The survey assessed their usage of e-cigarettes and HTPs and explored the reasons for initial adoption. A multivariate logistic regression analysis examined the relationships between product use, physician characteristics, and behaviors. Results: Approximately 33.8% of smoking physicians had experimented with e-cigarettes and HTPs. E-cigarette and HTP use correlated with youthfulness, nicotine addiction, and a history of medical treatment. The primary drivers for adopting e-cigarettes and HTPs were reduced odor (74.4%), perceived harm reduction (48.7%), and decreased exposure to secondhand smoke (29.1%). Conclusions: Physicians, when transitioning from conventional cigarettes to HTPs or e-cigarettes, are primarily motivated by a desire to reduce the odor of conventional cigarettes rather than health-related concerns.

Few studies have examined the relationship between teleworking practices and presenteeism. This study determined the association between teleworking practices and presenteeism among teleworkers in Japan. A cross-sectional online survey was administered to 2687 teleworkers from five companies in Japan, collecting data on demographic variables, teleworking practices, frequency and duration of teleworking, presenteeism, and various lifestyle- and health-related factors. A logistic regression analysis was performed. Teleworkers with full-time employment and less teleworking experience exhibited higher presenteeism rates. Key practices negatively associated with presenteeism included creating a dedicated workspace, chatting with colleagues, and setting daily work goals. Gender differences were significant: for men, additional practices, such as determining their work hours, were beneficial; while for women, chatting with colleagues was particularly important. A sensitivity analysis indicated that specific teleworking practices can mitigate presenteeism. Certain teleworking practices, such as creating a workspace, chatting with colleagues, and setting work goals, were associated with lower presenteeism among teleworkers. These findings highlight the need for organizations to support telework ergonomics, promote social interaction, and encourage goal setting to enhance teleworker productivity and health. Training for employees and supervisors to raise awareness of their own and their subordinates’ health while teleworking is advised.

Tirzepatide (TZP) is a new anti-obesity drug, and little is currently known about its effect on body composition (BC) in people with overweight or obesity. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review on the impact of TZP on BC compartments in this population during weight loss programs. Literature searches, study selection, method development, and quality appraisal were performed. The data were synthesized using a narrative approach, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Of the 1379 papers retrieved, 6 randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed, revealing the following findings. Firstly, TZP was shown to result in a significant reduction in total fat mass (FM), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and waist circumference (WC) between baseline and short as well as intermediate follow-ups. Compared to other anti-obesity medications (e.g., dulaglutide and semaglutide) taken over the same duration, TZP showed a superior decrease in body fat compartments (i.e., total FM, VAT and WC). Finally, the effect of TZP on fat-free mass (FFM) is still uncertain because the findings remain inconclusive. In conclusion, TZP appears to be an effective strategy for achieving significant improvements in body fat and its distribution, but additional investigations are still needed to determine the impact of TZP on lean mass in this population.

Teachers play a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), teachers' understanding of this condition has not been evaluated so far. Our study included teachers (n = 394) from 25 randomly selected primary schools in Dubai with the purpose of evaluating levels of knowledge about ADHD. Participants were asked to complete the "Knowledge of Attention Deficit Disorder Scale" (KADDS). On average, teachers showed knowledge on about half of the items in the questionnaire (48.2%), with the highest level of knowledge reported on the subscale related to symptoms/diagnosis (65.7%). We identified specific characteristics of ADHD where teachers' understanding could be improved through training programs. This is important since awareness about the characteristics of ADHD supports the early detection of the disorder and also helps the learning environment for children with the condition.