Search

ABSTRACT In this study, the relationship between gestures and vocabulary size in 177 Swedish‐learning 14‐month‐old children was examined. Gesture use, receptive, and expressive vocabulary were reported by caregivers with the Swedish version of the MacArthur Bates Communicative Developmental Inventory, words and gestures, SECDI‐1. Gesture types examined were referential gestures classified as either deictic gestures, conventional gestures, and object actions. A fine‐grained analysis of gestures and lexicon was performed. Results show that percentage of gestures used by children significantly predicts percentage of words in their receptive vocabulary. However, looking at gesture type, only use of object actions significantly predicts percentage of words in the receptive vocabulary whereas use of conventional gestures does not. Deictic gestures showed a ceiling effect and were therefore not further used for analysis. The relationship between gesture use and vocabulary size was not impacted by semantic category (food or clothes). Vocabulary in both semantic categories was statistically predicted by object actions in only one semantic category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous carbon with a high surface area and controllable pore size is needed for energy storage. It is still a significant challenge to produce porous carbon in an economical way. Nitrogen-doped porous carbon (N-PC) was prepared through carbonization of a mixture of waste PET-derived metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and ammonium. The obtained N-PC exhibits a large surface area and controlled pore size. When utilized as an electrode material for supercapacitors, the N-PC exhibits a specific capacitance of 224 F g−1, significantly surpassing that of commercial activated carbon (AC), which has a capacitance of 111 F g−1. In the subsequent capacitive deionization (CDI) tests, the N-PC demonstrated a maximum salt adsorption capacity of 19.9 mg g−1 at 1.2 V in a NaCl electrolyte (0.5 g L−1), and the salt adsorption capacity increased to 24.7 mg g−1 at 1.4 V. The N-PC electrode also exhibited superior regeneration. The present work not only presents a potential approach to develop cost-effective electrodes for seawater purification but also paves the way for recycling of waste plastics into high value-added products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water desalination technology has emerged as a critical area of research, particularly with the advent of more cost-effective alternatives to conventional methods, such as reverse osmosis and thermal evaporation. Given the vital importance of water for life and the scarcity of potable water for agriculture and livestock—especially in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—the capacitive deionization (CDI) method for removing salt from water has been highlighted as the most economical choice compared to other techniques. CDI applies a voltage difference across two porous electrodes to extract salt ions from saline water. This study will investigate water desalination using CDI, utilizing a compact DC power source under 5 volts and a standard current of 2 amperes. We will convert waste materials like sunflower seeds, peanut shells, and rice husks into activated carbon through carbonization and chemical activation to improve its pore structure. Critical parameters for desalination, including voltage, flow rate, and total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration, have been established. The initial TDS levels are set at 2000, 1500, 1000, and 500 ppm, with flow rates of 38.2, 16.8, and 9.5 mL/min across the different voltage settings of 2.5, 2, and 1.5 volts, applicable to both direct and inverse desalination methods. The efficiency at TDS concentrations of 2000, 1500, and 1000 ppm remains between 18% and 20% for up to 8 min. Our results indicate that the desalination process operates effectively at a TDS level of 750 ppm, achieving a maximum efficiency of 45% at a flow rate of 9.5 mL/min. At voltages of 2.5 V, 2 V, and 1.5 V, efficiencies at 3 min are attained with a constant flow rate of 9.5 mL/min and a TDS of 500 ppm, with the maximum desalination efficiency reaching 56%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A manganese dioxide (MnO2)/bamboo carbon (BC) composite was prepared using hydrothermal and impregnation methods and used for the capacitive desalination (CDI) and disinfection of water. The results showed that these composites had fast Na+ ion exchange and charge transfer properties. During the CDI process, these composites' electrodes exhibited good cycle stability and electrosorption capacity (4.09 mg/g) and an excellent bactericidal effect. These carbon-based composite electrodes' bactericidal rate for Escherichia coli could reach 99.99% within 180 min; therefore, they had good performance and are a good choice for high-performance deionization applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is a disorder in the pediatric population resulting from antidiuretic hormone deficiency. The excessive production of dilute urine characterizes it and manifests with polyuria, nocturia, and polydipsia. The diagnostics of CDI is often challenging, especially concerning the underlying condition of the disease. This article highlights the diverse clinical presentation of children with CDI and diagnostic difficulties among patients with polyuria and polydipsia. The article also reviews the etiology, symptoms, diagnostic workup, and management of CDI. We present 4 pediatric patients (aged 3-13.5 years) diagnosed with CDI of different etiology: 1 due to septo-optic dysplasia/optic nerve hypoplasia and 3 due to acquired processes such as Langerhans cell histiocytosis and germ cell tumor in 2 patients. Central diabetes insipidus was the first manifestation of a tumor or granuloma in all presented patients with acquired pathology. The patients sometimes need long-term follow-up to establish the proper final diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focuses on the diverse relationships between middle-school students and their school library. Students between the ages of 10 and 15 were observed in an urban French middle school during an ethnographic experience. The results show the importance of the school library as a refuge for marginalized, younger, and/or feel bad students as well as those who like to read. The library also contributes to student well-being by acting as a bulwark against the cold and agitation of the playground. The recommendations call on school administrators to recognize the importance of the school library to adolescents and to provide ongoing access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridioides difficile is the main causative agent of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in hospitals in the developed world. Both infected patients and asymptomatic colonized individuals represent important transmission sources of C. difficile. C. difficile infection (CDI) shows a large range of symptoms, from mild diarrhea to severe manifestations such as pseudomembranous colitis. Epidemiological changes in CDIs have been observed in the last two decades, with the emergence of highly virulent types and more numerous and severe CDI cases in the community. C. difficile interacts with the gut microbiota throughout its entire life cycle, and the C. difficile's role as colonizer or invader largely depends on alterations in the gut microbiota, which C. difficile itself can promote and maintain. The restoration of the gut microbiota to a healthy state is considered potentially effective for the prevention and treatment of CDI. Besides a fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), many other approaches to re-establishing intestinal eubiosis are currently under investigation. This review aims to explore current data on C. difficile and gut microbiota changes in colonized individuals and infected patients with a consideration of the recent emergence of highly virulent C. difficile types, with an overview of the microbial interventions used to restore the human gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Child Depression Inventory (CDI) is often used to assess change in depression over time, but no studies estimate the reliability of CDI change scores nor its five subscores. Our study investigated the reliability of change scores for both the total score on the CDI as well as its five subscores. We examined CDI responses from 186 maltreated children and estimated change score reliability for relative (e.g., comparison) and absolute (e.g., diagnosis) purposes. We also conducted subscore utility analysis, which determines if subscores have adequate reliability and provide information beyond the total score. We found that the total change score had acceptable reliability of.70 for our sample for both relative and absolute interpretations. In addition, the total score was a better predictor of true subscore values than the observed subscores—suggesting subscores did not add value over the total score, and that the reliability of changes in subscores was too low to be useful for any purpose. In summary, we found that the total CDI change scores were useful for assessing change in studies that examine relative or absolute change, and we advise caution when interpreting CDI subscores based on our analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vascular disease among preterm infants involving incomplete or abnormal retinal vascularization and is a leading cause of preventable blindness globally. Measurements of ocular blood flow originating from a variety of imaging modalities, including colour Doppler imaging (CDI), fluorescein angiography (FA) and ocular coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), have been associated with changes in ROP patients. Herein, we discuss and summarize the relevant current literature on vascular imaging and ROP reviewed through December 2022. Differences in vascular imaging parameters between ROP patients and healthy controls are reviewed and summarized. The available data identify significantly increased peak systolic velocity (PSV) in the central retinal artery and ophthalmic artery as measured by CDI, increased vascular tortuosity as measured by FA, smaller foveal avascular zone (FAZ) as measured by FA and OCTA, and increased foveal vessel density (VD) and reduced parafoveal VD as measured by OCTA in ROP patients compared with controls. None of the above findings appear to reliably correlate with visual acuity. The studies currently available, however, are inconclusive and lack robust longitudinal data. Vascular imaging demonstrates the potential to aid in the diagnosis, management and monitoring of ROP, alongside retinal examination via indirect ophthalmoscopy and fundus photography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionThe study examined the relationship between screen time and types of screen activities engaged in by children, mothers, and fathers on weekends, and its association with mother-reported vocabulary and grammatical skills of children aged 2;5 to 4;0.MethodsMothers reported the language skills of 421 children (M age = 38.18 months; SD = 5.73) by the Estonian CDI-III, and the screen use of children, mothers, and fathers by the Screen Time Inventory. We applied Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to analyze the screen time of children, mothers, and fathers, aiming to identify common family screen use profiles.ResultsThe results showed that higher total screen time of children was linked to poorer vocabulary and grammatical skills. None of the screen-based activities that children, mothers, and fathers engaged in, including co-viewing of screens and socializing time, were found to positively relate to language skills. Playing video games was negatively associated with children's language skills, regardless of whether it was the child, mother, or father gaming. LCA identified 3 distinct family screen use profiles (low, moderate, and high users) which differed by parental education, screen-based activities, and children's language skills.DiscussionThe findings underscore the significance of family-based interventions when addressing screen time within the context of child language development.

Abstract Background Many adolescents experience depression that often goes undetected and untreated. Identifying children and adolescents at a high risk of depression in a timely manner is an urgent concern. While the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) is widely utilized in China, it lacks a localized revision or simplified version. With its 27 items requiring professional administration, the original CDI proves to be a time-consuming method for predicting children and adolescents with high depression risk. Hence, this study aimed to develop a shortened version of the CDI to predict high depression risk, thereby enhancing the efficiency of prediction and intervention. Methods Initially, backward elimination is conducted to identify various version of the short-form scales (e.g., three-item and five-item versions). Subsequently, the performance of five machine learning (ML) algorithms on these versions is evaluated using the area under the ROC curve (AUC) to determine the best algorithm. The chosen algorithm is then utilized to model the short-form scales, facilitating the identification of the optimal short-form scale based on predefined evaluation metrics. Following this, evaluation metrics are computed for all potential decision thresholds of the optimal short-form scale, and the threshold value is determined. Finally, the reliability and validity of the optimal short-form scale are assessed using a new sample. Results The study identified a five-item short-form CDI with a decision threshold of 4 as the most appropriate scale considering all assessment indicators. The scale had 81.48% fewer items than the original version, indicating good predictive performance (AUC = 0.81, Accuracy = 0.83, Recall = 0.76, Precision = 0.71). Based on the test of 315 middle school students, the results showed that the five-item CDI had good measurement indexes (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.72, criterion-related validity = 0.77). Conclusions This five-item short-form CDI is the first shortened and revised version of the CDI in China based on large local data samples.

C. difficile infection (CDI) has an important impact on both human and animal health. The rapid detection and monitoring of C. difficile PCR-ribotypes (RTs) cause of CDI is critical to control and prevent this infection. This study reports the first application of the Molecular Beacon (MB)-based real-time PCR method in genotyping important C. difficile RTs of the main evolutionary clades. The cdtR gene was used as target and the cdtR sequences were analyzed after extraction from deposited genomes or were obtained after sequencing from strains of different origin. cdtR alleles were identified after sequence comparisons and MB-based real-time PCR assays were developed to discriminate them. In total, 550 cdtR sequences were compared, 38 SNPs were found, and five different cdtR alleles were identified. In total, one or two alleles were associated to the RTs grouped in the same evolutionary clade. A MB-based real-time assay was designed for each allele and for optimized testing of the C. difficile strains. The results obtained demonstrated that the MB-based real-time PCR assays developed in this study represent a powerful, original, and versatile tool to identify C. difficile types/clades and to monitor changes in the population structure of this important pathogen.

The human intestine hosts a complex ecosystem of various microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiome, which significantly impacts human health. Disruptions in the gut microbiome are linked to various disorders, including gastrointestinal diseases, such as Clostridioides difficile infection and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as metabolic, neurological, oncologic conditions. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) have emerged as prospective therapeutic procedures to restore microbial and metabolic balance in the gut. This review assesses the latest advancements, challenges, and therapeutic efficacy of FMT and LBPs, highlighting the need for standardization, safety, and long-term evaluation to optimize their clinical application.

The L-type Ca2+ channel CaV1.2 controls gene expression, cardiac contraction, and neuronal activity. Calmodulin (CaM) governs CaV1.2 open probability (Po) and Ca2+-dependent inactivation (CDI) but the mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we present electrophysiological data that identify a half Ca2+-saturated CaM species (Ca2/CaM) with Ca2+ bound solely at the third and fourth EF-hands (EF3 and EF4) under resting Ca2+ concentrations (50-100 nM) that constitutively preassociates with CaV1.2 to promote Po and CDI. We also present an NMR structure of a complex between the CaV1.2 IQ motif (residues 1644-1665) and Ca2/CaM12', a calmodulin mutant in which Ca2+ binding to EF1 and EF2 is completely disabled. We found that the CaM12' N-lobe does not interact with the IQ motif. The CaM12' C-lobe bound two Ca2+ ions and formed close contacts with IQ residues I1654 and Y1657. I1654A and Y1657D mutations impaired CaM binding, CDI, and Po, as did disabling Ca2+ binding to EF3 and EF4 in the CaM34 mutant when compared to WT CaM. Accordingly, a previously unappreciated Ca2/CaM species promotes CaV1.2 Po and CDI, identifying Ca2/CaM as an important mediator of Ca signaling.

Many studies have shown that capacitance deionization (CDI) has great potential in salt‐water treatment, one of the issues of great concern in many countries, especially Vietnam. The electrode material in CDI is one of the essential factors contributing to the desalination efficiency of this technology, so it is of research interest. In this study, TiO2 and TiO2/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized from the sol‐gel process and utilized as an electrode for desalination. The composite materials were intensively characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and thermal analysis. The electrochemical properties were investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and galvanostatic charge/discharge. The fabricated TiO2/CNTs nanocomposite electrode consisting of 1% CNTs (electrode T1) exhibited remarkable capacitance, conductivity, and durability; thus, it was employed as an electrode for desalination. With this electrode T1, the maximum salt adsorption capacity of 17.5 mg g−1, together with the highest charge efficiency of 90%, was achieved. Therefore, TiO2/CNTs can be considered a suitable electrode candidate for CDI technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early assessment of language and communication abilities is critical to meet the needs and challenges of inclusive societies. We developed a novel e-health approach whereby well-known assessment tools are available through online applications that allow a quick (computer, tablet, smartphone) on-screen assessment, making health monitoring and intervention in this field highly flexible and possible in a rich variety of contexts and users, including practitioners, educators, researchers, and caregivers. The app versions of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory Short forms (CDI) and the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile (CSBS-DPTM) Infant-Toddler Checklist offer automatic scoring and percentile profiles for the individual infant and toddler. The easy, quick, decentralized access to health monitoring in the sensitive areas of cognitive and language development fosters the early identification of risk for language and communication impairments, early intervention and diagnosis, with individual, social and economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridioides difficile is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections. The main objective was to assess the current landscape of CDI infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. An anonymous survey of IPC practices for CDI was conducted between July 25 and October 31, 2022. Precautions for symptomatic patients were applicable for 75.9% and were discontinued 48 h minimum after the resolution of diarrhea for 40.7% of respondents. Daily cleaning of CDI patients' rooms was reported by 23 (42.6%). There was unexpected heterogeneity in IPC practices regarding the hospital management of CDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) continue to be a persistent healthcare concern despite newer antibiotic treatments, enhanced infection control practices, and preventive strategies focused on restoring the protective intestinal microbial barrier. Recent strides in gene sequencing research have identified many genes regulating diverse virulence factors for CDIs. These genes may be over- or under-expressed when triggered by various environmental and nutritional factors. The aims of this paper are to review the important genes involved in C. difficile pathogenesis and to identify modifiable environmental, nutritional, and other factors that may trigger the expression of these genes and thus offer new strategies to prevent CDIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fecal microbiota, live-jslm (RBL; REBYOTA®), is the first Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, single-dose, rectally administered, microbiota-based live biotherapeutic product for preventing Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) recurrence. Alternative routes of administration are of clinical interest. Objectives: Evaluate the safety and efficacy of RBL administration via colonoscopy. Design: Retrospective analysis of electronic medical records of participants administered RBL via colonoscopy under FDA enforcement discretion. Methods: The number of participants with treatment and/or procedure-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was evaluated. Treatment success and sustained clinical response, defined as the absence of CDI recurrence within 8 weeks and 6 months, respectively, were evaluated. Results: TEAEs were experienced by 75% (6/8) of participants; most were mild to moderate in severity, and none due to RBL or its administration. Most participants had treatment success (80%; 8/10); 75% (6/8) had sustained clinical response. Conclusion: Real-world safety and efficacy of RBL administered via colonoscopy were consistent with clinical trials of rectally administered RBL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a serious healthcare-associated disease, causing symptoms such as diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. The major virulence factors responsible for the disease symptoms are two secreted cytotoxic proteins, TcdA and TcdB. A parenteral vaccine based on formaldehyde-inactivated TcdA and TcdB supplemented with alum adjuvant, has previously been investigated in humans but resulted in an insufficient immune response. In search for an improved response, we investigated a novel toxin inactivation method and a novel, potent adjuvant. Inactivation of toxins by metal-catalyzed oxidation (MCO) was previously shown to preserve neutralizing epitopes and to annihilate reversion to toxicity. The immunogenicity and safety of TcdA and TcdB inactivated by MCO and combined with a novel carbohydrate fatty acid monosulphate ester-based (CMS) adjuvant were investigated in rabbits. Two or three intramuscular immunizations generated high serum IgG and neutralizing antibody titers against both toxins. The CMS adjuvant increased antibody responses to both toxins while an alum adjuvant control was effective only against TcdA. Systemic safety was evaluated by monitoring body weight, body temperature, and analysis of red and white blood cell counts shortly after immunization. Local safety was assessed by histopathologic examination of the injection site at the end of the study. Body weight gain was constant in all groups. Body temperature increased up to 1 ˚C one day after the first immunization but less after the second or third immunization. White blood cell counts, and percentage of neutrophils increased one day after immunization with CMS-adjuvanted vaccines, but not with alum. Histopathology of the injection sites 42 days after the last injection did not reveal any abnormal tissue reactions. From this study, we conclude that TcdA and TcdB inactivated by MCO and combined with CMS adjuvant demonstrated promising immunogenicity and safety in rabbits and could be a candidate for a vaccine against CDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infection caused by Clostridioides difficile represents one of the bacterial infections with the greatest increase in incidence among nosocomial infections in recent years. C. difficile is a Gram-positive bacterium able to produce toxins and spores. In some cases, infection results in severe diarrhoea and fulminant colitis, which cause prolonged hospitalisation and can be fatal, with repercussions also in terms of health economics. C. difficile is the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in the healthcare setting. The problem of bacterial forms that are increasingly resistant to common antibiotic treatments is also reflected in C. difficile infection (CDI). One of the causes of CDI is intestinal dysmicrobialism induced by prolonged antibiotic therapy. Moreover, in recent years, the emergence of increasingly virulent strains resistant to antibiotic treatment has made the picture even more complex. Evidence on preventive treatments to avoid recurrence is unclear. Current guidelines indicate the following antibiotics for the treatment of CDI: metronidazole, vancomycin, and fidaxomycin. This short narrative review provides an overview of CDI, antibiotic resistance, and emerging treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the assessment of drought severity, employing a comparative analysis between the normalized multi-band drought index (NMDI; calculated using Sentinel-2 imagery) and the combined drought indicator (CDI). The research aims to pinpoint the most accurate and reliable remote sensing techniques, which reflect ground-based measurements, thereby enhancing the precision of drought monitoring systems. By investigating the specific area of Małopolska, the study not only contributes to the global knowledge base on drought assessment methodologies but also addresses the regional needs for improved drought management practices. Through an exhaustive analysis correlating satellite-derived indices with in situ meteorological data, this research elucidates the potential of integrating NMDI and CDI for a comprehensive understanding of drought dynamics in Małopolska. In particular, the indices depict different dynamics of drought levels, as well as the location of regions more prone to its occurrence. The findings are poised to advance drought monitoring capabilities, offering significant insights for agricultural sustainability and water resource management in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C. difficile infection (CDI) has an important impact on both human and animal health. The rapid detection and monitoring of C. difficile PCR-ribotypes (RTs) cause of CDI is critical to control and prevent this infection. This study reports the first application of the Molecular Beacon (MB)-based real-time PCR method in genotyping important C. difficile RTs of the main evolutionary clades. The cdtR gene was used as target and the cdtR sequences were analyzed after extraction from deposited genomes or were obtained after sequencing from strains of different origin. cdtR alleles were identified after sequence comparisons and MB-based real-time PCR assays were developed to discriminate them. In total, 550 cdtR sequences were compared, 38 SNPs were found, and five different cdtR alleles were identified. In total, one or two alleles were associated to the RTs grouped in the same evolutionary clade. A MB-based real-time assay was designed for each allele and for optimized testing of the C. difficile strains. The results obtained demonstrated that the MB-based real-time PCR assays developed in this study represent a powerful, original, and versatile tool to identify C. difficile types/clades and to monitor changes in the population structure of this important pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXenes, a novel large family of 2D transition metal carbides, carbonitrides and nitrides are currently a “hot topic” in science due to their several fascinating physical and chemical properties. It follows from a rich diversity of their elemental compositions and chemical functionalities. MXenes can form composites with many substances, including polymers or metal oxides, which allows to effective “tune” MXene characteristics to a fit-to-the-purpose applications. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is currently widely studied as advanced desalination technique due to the advantages of cost-effectiveness, eco-friendly, and high salt removal capacity. One of key fields for CDI development relates to the ion's intercalation materials as concept taken from the sodium ion batteries, which is used in CDI because of their excellent desalination capacity. These materials provide effective sodium ions removal from the brine based on intercalation mechanism as well as redox reactions. In this review, we timely review an up-to-date accomplishment in the advancement of distinct MXene-based composite materials used as CDI electrodes, along with discussion of fundamental electrochemical energy storage mechanisms. The most relevant outcomes are highlighted together with the phenomena observed when applied in desalination applications. Finally, potential solutions as well as challenges in this field are summarized.

The neuronal L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channel (CaV1.2) interacts with Ca2+ binding protein 1 (CaBP1), that promotes Ca2+-induced channel activity. The binding of CaBP1 to the IQ-motif in CaV1.2 (residues 1644-1665) blocks the binding of calmodulin and prevents Ca2+-dependent inactivation of CaV1.2. This Ca2+-induced binding of CaBP1 to CaV1.2 is important for modulating neuronal synaptic plasticity, which may serve a role in learning and memory. Here we report NMR assignments of the C-terminal domain of CaBP1 (residues 99-167, called CaBP1C) that contains two Ca2+ bound at the third and fourth EF-hands (EF3 and EF4) and is bound to the CaV1.2 IQ-motif from CaV1.2 (BMRB accession no. 51518).

Water desalination technology has emerged as a critical area of research, particularly with the advent of more cost-effective alternatives to conventional methods, such as reverse osmosis and thermal evaporation. Given the vital importance of water for life and the scarcity of potable water for agriculture and livestock—especially in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—the capacitive deionization (CDI) method for removing salt from water has been highlighted as the most economical choice compared to other techniques. CDI applies a voltage difference across two porous electrodes to extract salt ions from saline water. This study will investigate water desalination using CDI, utilizing a compact DC power source under 5 volts and a standard current of 2 amperes. We will convert waste materials like sunflower seeds, peanut shells, and rice husks into activated carbon through carbonization and chemical activation to improve its pore structure. Critical parameters for desalination, including voltage, flow rate, and total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration, have been established. The initial TDS levels are set at 2000, 1500, 1000, and 500 ppm, with flow rates of 38.2, 16.8, and 9.5 mL/min across the different voltage settings of 2.5, 2, and 1.5 volts, applicable to both direct and inverse desalination methods. The efficiency at TDS concentrations of 2000, 1500, and 1000 ppm remains between 18% and 20% for up to 8 min. Our results indicate that the desalination process operates effectively at a TDS level of 750 ppm, achieving a maximum efficiency of 45% at a flow rate of 9.5 mL/min. At voltages of 2.5 V, 2 V, and 1.5 V, efficiencies at 3 min are attained with a constant flow rate of 9.5 mL/min and a TDS of 500 ppm, with the maximum desalination efficiency reaching 56%.

Porous carbon with a high surface area and controllable pore size is needed for energy storage. It is still a significant challenge to produce porous carbon in an economical way. Nitrogen-doped porous carbon (N-PC) was prepared through carbonization of a mixture of waste PET-derived metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and ammonium. The obtained N-PC exhibits a large surface area and controlled pore size. When utilized as an electrode material for supercapacitors, the N-PC exhibits a specific capacitance of 224 F g−1, significantly surpassing that of commercial activated carbon (AC), which has a capacitance of 111 F g−1. In the subsequent capacitive deionization (CDI) tests, the N-PC demonstrated a maximum salt adsorption capacity of 19.9 mg g−1 at 1.2 V in a NaCl electrolyte (0.5 g L−1), and the salt adsorption capacity increased to 24.7 mg g−1 at 1.4 V. The N-PC electrode also exhibited superior regeneration. The present work not only presents a potential approach to develop cost-effective electrodes for seawater purification but also paves the way for recycling of waste plastics into high value-added products.

A manganese dioxide (MnO2)/bamboo carbon (BC) composite was prepared using hydrothermal and impregnation methods and used for the capacitive desalination (CDI) and disinfection of water. The results showed that these composites had fast Na+ ion exchange and charge transfer properties. During the CDI process, these composites’ electrodes exhibited good cycle stability and electrosorption capacity (4.09 mg/g) and an excellent bactericidal effect. These carbon-based composite electrodes’ bactericidal rate for Escherichia coli could reach 99.99% within 180 min; therefore, they had good performance and are a good choice for high-performance deionization applications.

In this article, we described synthesis of 1,3‐thiazolidine ‐ amide hybrid derivatives by two different methods from (S)‐2‐amino‐3‐(4‐(benzyloxy)phenyl)‐1‐(thiazolidin‐3‐yl)propan‐1‐one (4). In first method, catalytic amidation was carried out under microwave irradiation using Ceric Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) as a green catalyst where as in second conventional method; CDI was used as a significant coupling reagent to optimize reaction condition and yield of product. All new compounds were well characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR and ESMS spectral techniques and evaluated in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity. The molecular docking study revealed that the designed compounds snuggly fit in the active site of 4WMZ protein. In addition, the QSTR study of new compounds were carried out with the help of Toxicity Estimation Software Tool (T.E.S.T). The results showed slight toxic nature of new compounds. In‐silico ADME studies significant values of pharmacokinetic parameters and demonstrated good drug like characteristics based on Lipinski's rule of five. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive bacteria that causes nosocomial infections, significantly impacting public health. In the present study, we aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and relationship between antibiotic exposure and Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in patients based on reports from two databases. Thus, we conducted a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with CDI from Sibiu County Clinical Emergency Hospital (SCCEH), Romania, followed by a descriptive analysis based on spontaneous reports submitted to the EudraVigilance (EV) database. From 1 January to 31 December 2022, we included 111 hospitalized patients with CDI from SCCEH. Moreover, 249 individual case safety reports (ICSRs) from EVs were analyzed. According to the data collected from SCCEH, CDI was most frequently reported in patients aged 65–85 years (66.7%) and in females (55%). In total, 71.2% of all patients showed positive medical progress. Most cases were reported in the internal medicine (n = 30, 27%), general surgery (n = 26, 23.4%), and infectious disease (n = 22, 19.8%) departments. Patients were most frequently exposed to ceftriaxone (CFT) and meropenem (MER). Also, in the EV database, most CDI-related ADRs were reported for CFT, PIP/TAZ (piperacillin/tazobactam), MER, and CPX (ciprofloxacin). Understanding the association between previous antibiotic exposure and the risk of CDI may help update antibiotic stewardship protocols and reduce the incidence of CDI by lowering exposure to high-risk antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a bacterial infection caused by Clostridium difficile (CD). The incidence and prevalence of CDI have increased, presenting a significant problem. Treatment of non-severe, initial CDI generally involves the administration of the antibiotic vancomycin as recommended by the guidelines. However, discrepancies still exist between the use of low and high dose of vancomycin in clinical practice, generating confusion for pharmacists due to the inconsistency of prescribed oral vancomycin patterns. The aim of this study was to investigate the prescribing patterns of oral vancomycin and its outcomes in adult patients diagnosed with non-severe, initial CDI. A retrospective chart review study was performed in 67 patients between January 1, 2015 and October 1, 2022. We analyzed the patterns of prescribed oral vancomycin including dose, frequency, and duration. Fisher's exact test was used to compare oral vancomycin doses and their clinical outcomes. Of the 67 patients, 44 participants met the inclusion criteria. Four prescribing patterns were discovered: 1) vancomycin 125 mg PO every 6 hours (81.8%), 2) vancomycin 250 mg PO every 6 hours (9.1%), 3) vancomycin 500 mg PO every 6 hours (2.3%), and 4) others (6.8%) (250 mg PO every 24 hours and 125 mg PO every 8 hours). The association between low and high dose of oral vancomycin and clinical outcomes was found to have no statistically significant difference (p=1.000). The results from this study could be used as fundamental information for protocol development in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Vaccine lot-to-lot consistency was excellent. • Three doses of C difficile vaccine induced robust toxin A and B antibody responses. • Local reactions and systemic events were similar among C difficile vaccine lots. • AE and serious AE rates were similar for C difficile vaccine and placebo. A toxoid-based Clostridioides difficile vaccine is currently in development. Here, we report lot-to-lot consistency, immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability of 3 C difficile vaccine doses in healthy older adults. This phase 3, placebo-controlled study randomized (1:1:1:1) healthy adults 65 to 85 years of age to 1 of 3 C difficile vaccine lots or placebo. Participants received C difficile vaccine (200 μg total toxoid) or placebo (Months 0, 1, 6). The primary immunogenicity objective was lot-to-lot consistency (2-sided 95 % CIs within 0.5 and 2 for comparisons of geometric mean concentration [GMC] ratios) for toxins A- and B-specific neutralizing antibody levels 1 month after Dose 3. Safety outcomes included local reactions and systemic events ≤7 days after vaccination, adverse events (AEs), and serious AEs (SAEs). Of 1317 enrolled participants, 1218 completed the study. C difficile vaccine immunogenicity was consistent across lots, with neutralizing antibody responses 1 month after Dose 3 for both toxin A (GMC [95 % CI]: lot 1, 878.8 [786.3, 982.2]; lot 2, 873.0 [779.2, 978.1]; lot 3, 872.9 [782.6, 973.5]) and toxin B (lot 1, 5823.9 [5041.0, 6728.4]; lot 2, 5462.8 [4733.4, 6304.7]; lot 3, 5426.0 [4724.4, 6231.8]). Two-sided 95 % CIs for GMC ratios were within 0.5 and 2 for toxins A and B, indicating lot-to-lot consistency was achieved. C difficile vaccine was well tolerated, with similar rates of local reactions and systemic events among vaccine lots. AE and SAE rates were similar across C difficile vaccine (36.5 % and 4.5 %, respectively) and placebo (35.3 % and 6 %). Three doses (Months 0,1,6) of toxoid-based C difficile vaccine induced robust neutralizing antibody responses and were well tolerated in healthy participants 65 to 85 years of age. Lot-to-lot consistency was excellent, indicating the manufacturing process for this C difficile vaccine formulation was well controlled. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03579459. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of healthcare-associated (HA) diarrhoea, contributing to patient morbidity and prolonged length-of-stay (LOS). We retrospectively assessed CDI over a decade in a national neurosurgical centre, with a multi-disciplinary approach to CDI surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship, by comparing CDI patients with other patient groups. Methods: Data on CDI in neurosurgical inpatients between January 2012 and December 2021 were collated. Disease-specific variables were compared to other inpatients with CDI. Rates per 10,000 bed days used were calculated. Patient-specific differences were compared with neurosurgical patients without CDI. CDI rates by patient group were explored using odds ratio (OR) and χ2 analyses. Negative binomial regression was used to investigate CDI rates over time. Results: Of 50 neurosurgical patients with CDI, all were HA; the average age was 53 years (standard deviation (SD) 16.3 years), 49 were first-episode CDI, and three had severe CDI. The majority (76.7%) had received recent antimicrobials. Compared with non-neurosurgical CDI patients, neurosurgical CDI rates differed significantly (1.9 versus 3.6 per 10,000 bed days used, p < 0.05), neurosurgical patients were younger (p ≤ 0.01), C. difficile testing was more likely to be requested by neurosurgeons (OR 2.4; p ≤ 0.01), and the proportion of severe CDI was higher (6% versus 2%, OR 3.0, p = 0.07, confidence interval (CI) 0.54 to 11.3). Within the neurosurgical cohort, CDI patients had an average LOS four times that of other patients (CI 15.2 to 35.1; p < 0.01) and were older (53.5 versus 47.8 years, CI 0.1 to 11 years; p < 0.05). Only one CDI outbreak was linked to neurosurgical patients. Conclusion: CDI in neurosurgery patients differed from the wider hospital, with greater awareness of CDI testing. Longer LOS impacted bed utilisation with limited capacity. Robust surveillance supports proactive antimicrobial stewardship programmes in this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airborne time-domain electromagnetic (ATEM) which is suitable for large-scale exploration in complex terrain areas is a high-efficiency, flexible geophysical investigation technique widely applied in various fields of work with broad application prospects. It is difficult to carry out ground geophysical exploration because of the great human disturbance in the study area. By applying ATEM in the air, together with ground geophysical investigation efforts, we were able to greatly improve the hydrogeological research degree of the area and provide useful geophysical data for the fundamental geological research there. The observation system used in our study was an AeroTEM-IV system. The survey data were converted into conductivity depth information, which was used together with existing geological data to examine the electrical structure of the area. By the hydrogeological logging interpretation result, we validated the reliability of the AEM data; comprehensive interpretation was also conducted using airborne magnetic (AM) data to improve the accuracy of the interpretation result. After converting the data across the area, we yielded a three-dimensional data body representing the electrical distribution in the area, with which we inferred the Quaternary formation thickness and aquifer distribution there. Our research and interpretation results confirm that ATEM can be used as a useful means for hydrogeological survey and fundamental geological investigation. It is an effective supplement to ground geophysical exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Testing inappropriate stool samples for Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile can lead to the identification of the patient colonized with C difficile and erroneous diagnosis of an active infection. We hypothesized that a multidisciplinary process to improve diagnostic stewardship could reduce our numbers of hospital-onset C difficile infection (HO-CDI). We created an algorithm describing appropriate stool specimens for polymerase chain reaction testing. The algorithm was converted into "ticket to test" checklist cards designed to accompany each specimen. Rejection of a specimen could occur via nursing staff or laboratory staff. A baseline period of comparison was established from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017. Following implementation of all improvement strategies, a retrospective analysis was done, and the total number of HO-CDI cases in a 6-month period dropped from 57 to 32 cases. During the initial 3 months, the percentage of appropriate samples sent to the lab ranged from 41% to 65%. After the interventions were in place, the percentages improved between 71% and 91%. A multidisciplinary approach led to improved diagnostic stewardship to identify true CDI cases. This, in turn, reduced the number of reported HO-CDIs, and resulted in potentially more than $1,080,000 in patient care savings. [Display omitted] • A manual process reduced hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection. • A "ticket to test" algorithm reduced unnecessary stool testing. • Reducing false-positive C difficile results can reduce hospital-onset infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the necessity of access to fresh water for sustainable growth and development, the use of various technologies for desalination of salt water is one of the solutions to increase access to fresh water. Various problems of conventional water desalination methods have led to the emergence of new methods such as capacitive deionization technology. CDI technology is an emerging electrochemical adsorption technology to remove water-soluble ions. In recent years, the development of this technology has attracted the attention of many researchers from the functional and economic point of view. Recent research results show that to overcome the challenges of CDI technology, focusing on two areas of effective porous electrodes and applied architectures can be more effective than other solutions. Therefore, this article provides a brief overview of CDI technology and investigates its emergence, progress, and challenges. Furthermore, various types of structures with capacitive electrodes have been introduced along with their unique features, drawbacks, and advantages. Also, this article describes in detail the quantitative and qualitative performance comparison of different geometries of CDI technology, such as flow-by CDI, flow-through CDI, MCDI, FCDI and i-CDI. The results show that, currently, CDI technology using nanostructured carbon electrodes is economical for the deionization of low and medium salinity waters (3 g/L). Despite numerous challenges, capacitive deionization technology has the potential to provide a sustainable source of fresh water in the future. This technology offers a clean and environmentally friendly solution, with low energy consumption and economical operation.

Clostridioides difficile is the main causative agent of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in hospitals in the developed world. Both infected patients and asymptomatic colonized individuals represent important transmission sources of C. difficile. C. difficile infection (CDI) shows a large range of symptoms, from mild diarrhea to severe manifestations such as pseudomembranous colitis. Epidemiological changes in CDIs have been observed in the last two decades, with the emergence of highly virulent types and more numerous and severe CDI cases in the community. C. difficile interacts with the gut microbiota throughout its entire life cycle, and the C. difficile’s role as colonizer or invader largely depends on alterations in the gut microbiota, which C. difficile itself can promote and maintain. The restoration of the gut microbiota to a healthy state is considered potentially effective for the prevention and treatment of CDI. Besides a fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), many other approaches to re-establishing intestinal eubiosis are currently under investigation. This review aims to explore current data on C. difficile and gut microbiota changes in colonized individuals and infected patients with a consideration of the recent emergence of highly virulent C. difficile types, with an overview of the microbial interventions used to restore the human gut microbiota.

Abstract Introduction Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) commonly colonize the gut microbiota of patients with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). This increases the likelihood of systemic infections with these MDROs. To help guide MDRO screening and/or empiric antibiotic therapy, we derived and compared predictive indices for MDRO gut colonization in patients with CDI. Methods This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of adult patients with CDI from July 2017 to April 2018. Stool samples were screened for MDRO via growth and speciation on selective antibiotic media and confirmed using resistance gene polymerase chain reaction. A regression-based risk score for MDRO colonization was constructed. Predictive performance via area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (aROC) of this index was compared with two other simplified risk stratification approaches: (1) prior healthcare exposure and/or high-CDI risk antibiotics; (2) number of prior high-CDI risk antibiotics. Results 50 (20.8%) of 240 included patients had MDRO colonization; 35 (14.6%) VRE, 18 (7.5%) MRSA, 2 (0.8%) CRE. Prior fluoroquinolone (aOR 2.404, 95% CI 1.095–5.279) and prior vancomycin (1.996, 95% CI 1.014–3.932) were independently associated with MDRO colonization while prior clindamycin (aOR 3.257, 95% CI 0.842–12.597) and healthcare exposure (aOR 2.138, 95% CI 0.964–4.740) were retained as explanatory variables. The regression-based risk score significantly predicted MDRO colonization (aROC 0.679, 95% CI 0.595–0.763), but was not significantly more predictive than prior healthcare exposure + prior antibiotics (aROC 0.646, 95% CI 0.565–0.727) or number of prior antibiotic exposures (aROC 0.642, 95% CI 0.554–0.730); P > 0.05 for both comparisons. Conclusion A simplified approach using prior healthcare exposure and receipt of prior antibiotics known to increase CDI risk identified patients at risk for MDRO gut microbiome colonization as effectively as individual patient/antibiotic risk modeling.

Abstract Background Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is the major pathogen causing antibiotic-associated diarrhea. There are a variety of symptoms associated with C. difficile infection (CDI) in adults, including self-limiting diarrhea, pseudomembranous colitis, toxic megacolon, septic shock, and even death from the infection. However, the infant’s intestine appears to be completely resistant to the effects of C. difficile toxins A and B with rare development of clinical symptoms. Case presentation In this study, we reported a 1-month-old girl with CDI who was born with neonatal hypoglycemia and necrotizing enterocolitis. Her symptom of diarrhea occurred after extensive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics during hospitalization and was accompanied by elevated white blood cell, platelet, and C-reactive protein levels, and repeated routine stool examinations were abnormal. She was recovered by norvancomycin (an analogue of vancomycin) and probiotic treatment. The results of 16 S rRNA gene sequencing also demonstrated the recovery of intestinal microbiota with the enrichment of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus. Conclusions Based on the literature review and this case report, clinicians should also pay attention to diarrhea caused by C. difficile in infants and young children. More strong evidence is needed to explain the true prevalence of CDI in this population and to better understand the C. difficile-associated diarrhea in infants.

BackgroundThe prevalence of community-acquired Clostridioides difficile infection (CA-CDI) has been rising, due to changes in antibiotics prescribing practices, emergence of hypervirulent strains and improved diagnostics. This study explored CA-CDI epidemiology by examining strain diversity and virulence factors of CA-CDI isolates collected across several geographical regions in Israel.MethodsStool samples of 126 CA-CDI patients were subjected to PCR and an immunoassay to identify toxin genes and proteins, respectively. Toxin loci PaLoc and PaCdt were detected by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Biofilm production was assessed by crystal violet-based assay. Minimum inhibitory concentration was determined using the Etest technique or agar dilution. WGS and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) were used to classify strains and investigate genetic diversity.ResultsSequence types (ST) 2 (17, 13.5%), ST42 (13, 10.3%), ST104 (10, 8%) and ST11 (9, 7.1%) were the most common. All (117, 92.8%) but ST11 belonged to Clade 1. No associations were found between ST and gender, geographic area or antibiotic susceptibility. Although all strains harbored toxins genes, 34 (27%) produced toxin A only, and 54 (42.9%) strains produced toxin B only; 38 (30.2%) produced both toxins. Most isolates were biofilm-producers (118, 93.6%), primarily weak producers (83/118, 70.3%). ST was significantly associated with both biofilm and toxin production.ConclusionC. difficile isolates in Israel community exhibit high ST diversity, with no dominant strain. Other factors may influence the clinical outcomes of CDI such as toxin production, antibiotic resistance and biofilm production. Further studies are needed to better understand the dynamics and influence of these factors on CA-CDI.

ABSTRACT Clostridioides difficile is the most common cause of nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and is responsible for a spectrum of diseases characterized by high levels of recurrence, morbidity, and mortality. Treatment is complex, since antibiotics constitute both the main treatment and the major risk factor for infection. Worryingly, resistance to multiple antibiotics is becoming increasingly widespread, leading to the classification of this pathogen as an urgent threat to global health. As a consummate opportunist, C. difficile is well equipped for promoting disease, owing to its arsenal of virulence factors: transmission of this anaerobe is highly efficient due to the formation of robust endospores, and an array of adhesins promote gut colonization. C. difficile produces multiple toxins acting upon gut epithelia, resulting in manifestations typical of diarrheal disease, and severe inflammation in a subset of patients. This review focuses on such virulence factors, as well as the importance of antimicrobial resistance and genome plasticity in enabling pathogenesis and persistence of this important pathogen.

An efficient ex‐situ method for the amidation of carboxylic acids mediated by CDI has been disclosed herewith. This metal‐free strategy is performed at ambient temperature and can be applied effectively for late‐stage modification of amino acids and APIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a common healthcare-associated infection and leading cause of gastroenteritis-related mortality worldwide. However, data on CDI-associated mortality are scarce. We aimed to examine the association between CDI and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. We additionally explored contributing causes of mortality, including recurrent CDI, hospital- or community-acquired CDI, chronic comorbidities, and age. This nationwide population-based cohort study (from 2006 to 2019) compared individuals with CDI with the entire Swedish background population using standardized mortality ratios. In addition, a matched-cohort design (1:10), utilizing multivariable Poisson-regression models, provided incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs. This study included 43 150 individuals with CDI and 355 172 controls. In total, 69.7% were ≥65 years, and 54.9% were female. CDI was associated with a 3- to 7-fold increased mortality rate (IRR = 3.5, 95% CI: 3.3–3.6; standardized mortality ratio = 6.8, 95% CI: 6.7–6.9) compared with the matched controls and Swedish background population, respectively. Mortality rates were highest for hospital-acquired CDI (IRR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.9–3.2) and during the first CDI episode (IRR = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.2–0.3 for recurrent versus first CDI). Individuals with CDI had more chronic comorbidities than controls, yet mortality remained higher among CDI cases even after adjustment and stratification for comorbidity; CDI was associated with increased mortality (IRR = 6.1, 95% CI: 5.5–6.8), particularly among those without any chronic comorbidities. CDI was associated with elevated all-cause and cause-specific mortality, despite possible confounding by ill health. Mortality rates were consistently increased across sexes, all age groups, and comorbidity groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Deprivation indices (DIs), constructed from area-level socio-economic indicators, allow to assess the acknowledged relationship between socio-economic status and health outcomes. Their role in adjusting for deprivation has not been evaluated within a mediation analysis of ovarian cancer survival. In this paper, we present a Bayesian SEM approach to causal mediation for direct and indirect effects of DIs in the context of a cohort of African American women with ovarian cancer. Background: Deprivation indices are often used to adjust for socio-economic disparities in health studies. Their role has been partially evaluated for certain population-level cancer outcomes, but examination of their role in ovarian cancer is limited. In this study, we evaluated a range of well-recognized deprivation indices in relation to cancer survival in a cohort of self-identified Black women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. This study aimed to determine if clinical or diagnostic characteristics lie on a mediating pathway between socioeconomic status (SES) and deprivation and ovarian cancer survival in a minority population that experiences worse survival from ovarian cancer. Methods: We used mediation analysis to look at the direct and indirect causal effects of deprivation indices with main mediators of the SEER stage at diagnosis and residual disease. The analysis employed Bayesian structural equation models with variable selection. We applied a joint Bayesian structural model for the mediator, including a Weibull mixed model for the vital outcome with deprivation as exposure. We selected modifiers via a Monte Carlo model selection procedure. Results: The results suggest that high SES-related indices, such as Yost, Kolak urbanicity (URB), mobility (MOB) and SES dimensions, and concentrated disadvantage index (CDI), all have a significant impact on improved survival. In contrast, area deprivation index (ADI)/Singh, and area level poverty (POV) did not have a major impact. In some cases, the indirect effects have very wide credible intervals, so the total effect is not well estimated despite the estimation of the direct effect. Conclusions: First, it is clear that commonly used indices such as Yost, or CDI both significantly impact the survival experience of Black women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer. In addition, the Kolak dimension indices (URB, MOB, mixed immigrant: MICA and SES) also demonstrate a significant association, depending on the mediator. Mediation effects differ according to the mediator chosen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a cross-cultural comparison of the size and composition of the expressive vocabulary of young children speaking two dialectal varieties of South American Spanish. Ninety-one Peruvian and 91 Argentinian toddlers (mean age: 22.5 months), matched on gender, age and maternal education, were assessed through the respective adaptations of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories. Results revealed a vocabulary growth compatible with a spurt in both groups. A marginally significant country-by-gender interaction indicated that while Argentinian children exhibited an accelerated lexical growth before age 2;0 regardless of gender, only Peruvian girls did so; Peruvian boys presented a more gradual and later increase. We also found between-group qualitative differences in vocabulary composition: Argentinian toddlers with vocabularies of up to 100 words exhibited a significantly higher proportion of Nouns, while Peruvian children, especially those with a lexical mass under 50 words, had a higher percentage of Social words. Both findings are discussed in terms of possible cross-cultural differences linked to input quality and early interactions, and avenues for further research are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]