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Frontiers in Psychology 2024Despite the necessity for adults with lower literacy skills to undergo and succeed in high-stakes computer-administered assessments (e.g., GED, HiSET), there remains a...
INTRODUCTION
Despite the necessity for adults with lower literacy skills to undergo and succeed in high-stakes computer-administered assessments (e.g., GED, HiSET), there remains a gap in understanding their engagement with digital literacy assessments.
METHODS
This study analyzed process data, specifically time allocation data, from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), to investigate adult respondents' patterns of engagement across all proficiency levels on nine digital literacy items. We used cluster analysis to identify distinct groups with similar time allocation patterns among adults scoring lower on the digital literacy assessment. Finally, we employed logistic regression to examine whether the groups varied by demographic factors, in particular individual (e.g., race/ethnicity, age) and contextual factors (e.g., skills-use at home).
RESULTS
Adults with lower literacy skills spent significantly less time on many of the items than adults with higher literacy skills. Among adults with lower literacy skills, two groups of time allocation patterns emerged: one group (Cluster 1) exhibited significantly longer engagement times, whereas the other group (Cluster 2) demonstrated comparatively shorter durations. Finally, we found that adults who had a higher probability of Cluster 1 membership (spending more time) exhibited relatively higher literacy scores, higher self-reported engagement in writing skills at home, were older, unemployed, and self-identified as Black.
DISCUSSION
These findings emphasize differences in digital literacy engagement among adults with varying proficiency levels. Additionally, this study provides insights for the development of targeted interventions aimed at improving digital literacy assessment outcomes for adults with lower literacy skills.
PubMed: 38911960
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1338014 -
ACS Omega Jun 2024Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide with high incidence rates for new cases. Conventional cisplatin (CDDP) therapy has limitations due to...
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide with high incidence rates for new cases. Conventional cisplatin (CDDP) therapy has limitations due to severe side effects from nonspecific targeting. To address this challenge, nanomedicine offers targeted therapies. In this study, cisplatin-loaded calcium citrate nanoparticles conjugated with epidermal growth factor (CaCit@CDDP-EGF NPs) were synthesized. The resulting nanodrug had a size below 350 nm with a cation charge. Based on density functional theory (DFT), the CaCit@CDDP NP model containing two citrates substituted on two chlorides exhibited a favorable binding energy of -5.42 eV, and the calculated spectrum at 261 nm closely matched the experimental data. CaCit@CDDP-EGF NPs showed higher inhibition rates against EGFR-expressed and mutant carcinoma cells compared to those of cisplatin while displaying lower cytotoxicity to lung fibroblast cells. Integrating experiments with studies, these nanoparticles hold promise as a novel nanomedicine for targeted therapy in clinical applications.
PubMed: 38911765
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c08969 -
Frontiers in Bioengineering and... 2024Women and racial minorities are underrepresented in the synthetic biology community. Developing a scholarly identity by engaging in a scientific community through...
Women and racial minorities are underrepresented in the synthetic biology community. Developing a scholarly identity by engaging in a scientific community through writing and communication is an important component for STEM retention, particularly for underrepresented individuals. Several excellent pedagogical tools have been developed to teach scientific literacy and to measure competency in reading and interpreting scientific literature. However, fewer tools exist to measure learning gains with respect to writing, or that teach the more abstract processes of peer review and scientific publishing, which are essential for developing scholarly identity and publication currency. Here we describe our approach to teaching scientific writing and publishing to undergraduate students within a synthetic biology course. Using gold standard practices in project-based learning, we created a writing project in which students became experts in a specific application area of synthetic biology with relevance to an important global problem or challenge. To measure learning gains associated with our learning outcomes, we adapted and expanded the Student Attitudes, Abilities, and Beliefs (SAAB) concept inventory to include additional questions about the process of scientific writing, authorship, and peer review. Our results suggest the project-based approach was effective in achieving the learning objectives with respect to writing and peer reviewed publication, and resulted in high student satisfaction and student self-reported learning gains. We propose that these educational practices could contribute directly to the development of scientific identity of undergraduate students as synthetic biologists, and will be useful in creating a more diverse synthetic biology research enterprise.
PubMed: 38911549
DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1409763 -
Open Access Journal of Contraception 2024Depression is a global health concern with significant consequences, especially for women. Hormonal changes and gender disparities contribute to its prevalence. Hormonal...
BACKGROUND
Depression is a global health concern with significant consequences, especially for women. Hormonal changes and gender disparities contribute to its prevalence. Hormonal contraceptives are widely used among women of reproductive age, but some users report mood-related side effects.
PURPOSE
This study aims to investigate the relationship between hormonal contraceptive use and depression among women in Mogadishu, Somalia.
METHODS
An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at two hospitals in Mogadishu, targeting married women aged 15-49 using hormonal contraceptives. A sample size of 227 participants was determined, and data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess depression. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, including multivariate logistic regression.
RESULTS
The prevalence of depression among participants was 33.5%, with significant associations observed between depression and occupation, income level, type of hormonal contraceptive used, and duration of contraceptive use. Housewives, individuals with lower income, users of oral pills and implant methods, as well as those with shorter durations of contraceptive use, constituted the high-risk groups for depression.
CONCLUSION
Depression poses a concern among women using hormonal contraceptives in Mogadishu, Somalia. Healthcare providers should educate women about potential side effects and consider individualized contraceptive recommendations. Mental health support initiatives and awareness campaigns should be introduced. Future research is recommended to further understand and address depression in this context.
PubMed: 38911480
DOI: 10.2147/OAJC.S444545 -
Integrative Medicine (Encinitas, Calif.) May 2024Tumor microenvironment infiltration by cells of the T helper cell type 1 (T1) system, including T1 cells, M1 macrophages, natural killer cells, and CD8 T cells, is...
Tumor microenvironment infiltration by cells of the T helper cell type 1 (T1) system, including T1 cells, M1 macrophages, natural killer cells, and CD8 T cells, is associated with better cancer prognosis. In contrast, tumor microenvironment infiltration by cells of the T2 system, including T2 cells, M2 macrophages, and innate lymphoid cells type 2, as well as immune suppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells, is associated with poorer cancer prognosis. Beyond the tumor itself and a myriad of other modifying factors, such as genetic and epigenetic influences on tumorigenesis, the overall immune state of the patient, termed the macroenvironment, has also been shown to significantly influence cancer outcomes. Alterations in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (TCA cycle breaks) involving loss of function of succinate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and fumarate hydratase have been shown to be associated with an intracellular metabolic shift away from oxidative phosphorylation and into glycolysis in cells that are transforming into cancer cells. The same loss of function of succinate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase has also been identified as inducing a shift in macrophages toward glycolysis that is associated with M1 macrophage polarization. M1 macrophages make interleukin 12, which stimulates T1 cells and natural killer cells to produce interferon gamma (IFN-γ), which in turn stimulates M1 macrophage activity, forming an activation loop. IFN-γ also drives activation of CD8 T cells. Thus, M1 macrophage activation initiates and sustains activation of the T1 system of cells. In this fashion, TCA cycle breaks at succinate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase that promote cellular transformation into cancer cells are also associated with upregulation of the T1 system that provides anti-cancer immune surveillance. The T1 and T2 systems are known to inhibit each other's activation. It is this author's hypothesis that, in patients whose macroenvironment is sufficiently T2-dominant, the metabolic shift toward glycolysis induced by TCA cycle breaks that gives rise to mutagenic changes in tissue parenchymal cells is not counterbalanced by adequate activation of M1 macrophages, thus giving rise to cancer cell development. For instance, the atopic T2-high asthma phenotype, a T2 dominance-based comorbidity, is associated with a more than doubled incidence of colon, breast, lung, and prostate cancer, compared with non-asthmatics. Failure of TCA cycle breaks to induce M1 polarization of tissue-resident macrophages yields a tissue environment in which the tissue-resident macrophages fail to routinely perform M1-associated functions such as phagocytizing newly developing cancer cells. Failure of M1 phenotypic expression in both tissue-resident macrophages and monocyte-derived macrophages recruited to the tumor microenvironment yields both a loss of direct antitumor M1 macrophage actions and failure of T1 system activation in general, including failure of CD8 T cell activation, yielding a cancer-permissive tumor microenvironment and a poorer prognosis in patients with existing cancers. This paper proposes a conceptual framework that connects established elements in the existing research and points to the utility of a patient profiling process, aimed at personalization of treatment through identification and targeting of elements in each patient's tumor microenvironment and macroenvironment that contribute to unfavorable prognosis.
PubMed: 38911450
DOI: No ID Found -
Cell Reports. Physical Science May 2024Recreating tissue environments with precise control over mechanical, biochemical, and cellular organization is essential for next-generation tissue models for drug...
Recreating tissue environments with precise control over mechanical, biochemical, and cellular organization is essential for next-generation tissue models for drug discovery, development studies, and the replication of disease environments. However, controlling these properties at cell-scale lengths remains challenging. Here, we report the development of printing approaches that leverage polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels containing photocaged oligonucleotides to spatially program material characteristics with non-destructive, non-ultraviolet light. We further integrate this system with a perfusion chamber to allow us to alter the composition of PEGDA hydrogels while retaining common light-activatable photocaged DNAs. We demonstrate that the hydrogels can capture DNA functionalized materials, including cells coated with complementary oligonucleotides with spatial control using biocompatible wavelengths. Overall, these materials open pathways to orthogonal capture of any DNA functionalized materials while not changing the sequences of the DNA.
PubMed: 38911357
DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.101922 -
Veterinary World May 2024Gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infection remains an important problem in livestock, particularly cattle. The infection may lead to serious health complications and...
BACKGROUND AND AIM
Gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infection remains an important problem in livestock, particularly cattle. The infection may lead to serious health complications and affect animal products. The objective of this study was to investigate GI nematode infection and its associated risk factors in dairy and beef cattle farmed in Pak Chong District of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, northeast Thailand.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fecal specimens were collected from 101 dairy cattle and 100 beef cattle. Formalin-ethyl acetate concentration techniques were used to process the samples and the samples were observed under a light microscope. Samples were subjected to molecular identification of specific genera using conventional polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing.
RESULTS
The overall prevalence of GI nematode infection was 33.3%. The strongyle nematode was the most significant GI nematode in this area with a prevalence of 28.4%. The prevalence of strongyle nematodes was 58.0% in beef cattle and only 7.9% in dairy cattle. spp. was another nematode found in both types of cattle with an overall prevalence of 5.0% with 9.0% in beef cattle and 1.0% in dairy cattle. The results of the epidemiological study indicate that the age of cattle, food, water sources, farming system, and housing floor are the most important risk factors. Among the strongyle nematodes, spp. was the most prevalent (82.0%), followed by spp. (62.3%) and spp. (8.2%), respectively.
CONCLUSION
Infection with GI nematodes still exists in this area, particularly in beef cattle. Our reported data may benefit local parasitic control policies in the future.
PubMed: 38911081
DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2024.1035-1043 -
SSM. Mental Health Jun 2024Depression is a major global health concern especially among mothers of young children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While various risk and protective...
Depression is a major global health concern especially among mothers of young children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While various risk and protective factors have been well-established, the role of fathers in potentially mitigating maternal depression remains understudied. This study aimed to investigate the association between father involvement and maternal depressive symptoms in rural Western Kenya. We used cross-sectional baseline data collected in February-March 2023 from a cluster-randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a community-based parenting program for improving early childhood development. Primary caregivers with children 0-18 months of age were enrolled into the trial across 51 villages in Nyamira and Vihiga counties. We analyzed data from 413 mothers who were in a relationship with a male partner (i.e., father of the young child). Maternal depressive symptoms were measured using the CESD-10. Father involvement was reported using a multidimensional measure of men's engagement in childcare activities, household chores, early learning activities, and affection towards their child. We used multilevel regression models to estimate the adjusted associations between father involvement (overall score and by specific domains) and maternal depressive symptoms. We also conducted exploratory subgroup analyses to assess whether this association differed by child age. Overall, greater father involvement was associated with fewer maternal depressive symptoms. Specifically, fathers' engagement in household chores and childcare activities had the strongest protective associations. Exploratory subgroup analyses revealed larger associations for mothers with younger children under 6 months. Our findings suggest that father involvement is a protective factor for maternal mental health. Engaging fathers in early childhood interventions and encouraging men's involvement in caregiving activities may potentially benefit maternal well-being.
PubMed: 38910840
DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2024.100318 -
Clinical Transplantation and Research Jun 2024This study conducted an empirical evaluation of an intervention derived from the theory of planned behavior (TPB) aimed at implementing a health campaign among medical...
BACKGROUND
This study conducted an empirical evaluation of an intervention derived from the theory of planned behavior (TPB) aimed at implementing a health campaign among medical students at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.
METHODS
In this interventional study, a valid and reliable TPB-based questionnaire was administered before launching a health campaign titled "Organ Donation=Life Donation" among 260 medical students. The campaign was structured around nine steps: situation analysis, goal identification, target audience identification, strategy development, tactics establishment, media selection, timetable creation, budget planning, and program evaluation. Two months after the campaign, participants completed a posttest and were offered an organ donation card. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS ver. 16, employing descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and tests such as the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and the paired-samples t-test.
RESULTS
All participants adopted more prodonation stances across all constructs measured, both immediately and 2 months after exposure to the health campaign, compared to their pretest scores. These results indicate that the health campaign had a significant impact on psychological variables such as attitudes (P<0.001), subjective norms (P<0.001), and perceived behavioral control (P<0.038), as well as on the actual acceptance of an organ donor card.
CONCLUSIONS
Effective health education and promotion interventions, including health campaigns, are essential to encourage the use of organ donation cards. Additionally, current experiences indicate that the TPB serves as a suitable theoretical framework for designing organ donation interventions.
PubMed: 38910458
DOI: 10.4285/ctr.24.0022 -
BMC Plant Biology Jun 2024Long-term continuous cropping has resulted in the frequent occurrence of fusarium wilt of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). AMF inoculation can alleviate the continuous...
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi by inducing watermelon roots secretion phthalates, altering soil enzyme activity and bacterial community composition to alleviate the watermelon wilt.
BACKGROUND
Long-term continuous cropping has resulted in the frequent occurrence of fusarium wilt of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). AMF inoculation can alleviate the continuous cropping barrier and reduce the incidence of fusarium wilt of watermelon. Our previous study found that the root exudates of mycorrhizal watermelon can enhance watermelon resistance to this disorder. It is necessary to further isolate and identify the specific compounds in root exudates of mycorrhizal watermelon and explore their control effects on fusarium wilt of continuous cropping watermelon.
RESULT
The results of this study showed that the root system of watermelon seedlings inoculated with AMF (Funneliformis mosseae or Glomus versiforme) secreted diisooctyl phthalate (A) and dibutyl phthalate (B). Compared with water treatment, treatment with 0.1 ml/L (A1, B1), 0.5 ml/L (A2, B2) and 1 ml/L (A3, B3) of A or B significantly increased soil enzyme activities, the numbers of bacteria and actinomycetes, and the bacteria/fungi ratio in the rhizosphere. Furthermore, the Disease indexes (DI) of A1 and B3 were 25% and 20%, respectively, while the prevention and control effects (PCE) were 68.8% and 75%, respectively. In addition, diisooctyl phthalate or dibutyl phthalate increased the proportions of Gemmatimonadetes, Chloroflexi, and Acidobacteria in the rhizosphere of continuous cropping watermelon, and decreased the proportions of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, with Novosphingobium, Kaistobacter, Bacillus, and Acinetobacter as the predominant bacteria. Compared with the water treatment, the abundance of Neosphingosaceae, Kateybacterium and Bacillus in the A1 group was increased by 7.33, 2.14 and 2.18 times, respectively, while that in the B2 group was increased by 60.05%, 80.24% and 1 time, respectively. In addition, exogenous diisooctyl phthalate and dibutyl phthalate were shown to promote growth parameters (vine length, stem diameter, fresh weight and dry weight) and antioxidant enzyme system activities (SOD, POD and CAT) of continuous cropping watermelon.
CONCLUSION
Lower watermelon fusarium wilt incidence in mycorrhizal watermelons was associated with phthalate secretion in watermelons after AMF inoculation. Exogenous diisooctyl phthalate and dibutyl phthalate could alleviate the continuous cropping disorder of watermelon, reduce the incidence of fusarium wilt, and promote the growth of watermelon by increasing the enzyme activities and the proportion of beneficial bacteria in rhizosphere soil. In addition, the low concentration of phthalate diisooctyl and high concentration of phthalic acid dibutyl works best. Therefore, a certain concentration of phthalates in the soil can help alleviate continuous cropping obstacles.
Topics: Citrullus; Mycorrhizae; Plant Diseases; Plant Roots; Soil Microbiology; Phthalic Acids; Fusarium; Bacteria; Soil; Rhizosphere
PubMed: 38910247
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05254-7