Emission characteristics and probabilistic health risk of volatile organic compounds from leather sofa.

Furniture is identified as a vital volatile organic compound (VOC) emission source in the indoor environment. Leather has become the most common raw and auxiliary fabric material for upholstered furniture, particularly with extensive consumption in sofas, due to its abundant resources and efficient functions. Despite being widely traded across the world, little research has been conducted on the VOCs released by leather materials and their health risk assessment in the indoor environment. Accordingly, this study investigated the VOC emissions of leather with different grades and the health risk of the inhalation exposure. Based on the ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose (EN) and GC-FID/Qtof, the substantial emissions of aliphatic aldehyde ketones (Aks), particularly hexanal, appear to be the cause of off-flavor in medium and low grade (MG and LG) sofa leathers. The health risk assessment indicated that leather materials barely pose non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects to residents. Given the abundance of VOC sources and the accumulation of health risks in the indoor environment, more stringent specifications concerning qualitative and quantitative content should be extended to provide VOC treatment basic for the manufacturing industry and obtain better indoor air quality.

Empoderamento estrutural: potencializando as competências dos enfermeiros de um hospital de alta complexidade / Structural empowerment: enhancing the skills of nurses in a high-complexity hospital / Empoderamiento estructural: potenciar las competencias de los enfermeros en un hospital de alta complejidad

Objetivo: analisar o empoderamento estrutural de enfermeiros em um hospital de alta complexidade. Métodos: estudo quantitativo, analítico e transversal, realizado com 93 enfermeiros, utilizando um questionário sociodemográfico e ocupacional e o Questionário de Condições de Eficácia no Trabalho II. Os dados foram coletados entre fevereiro e março de 2023. A análise dos dados deu-se por meio de estatística descritiva, teste de Kolgomorov-Smirnov, teste do qui-quadrado e regressão de Poisson. Resultados: os enfermeiros apresentaram nível moderado de empoderamento estrutural, com média de 20,67 (p<0,000). O componente mais pontuado foi a oportunidade (4,22 dp±0,80). Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas nos níveis de empoderamento estrutural relacionadas às unidades de trabalho (p-Valor 0,381), vínculo empregatício (p-Valor 0,352) e grau de instrução (p-Valor 0,839). O modelo de regressão de Poisson indica que tanto pode haver altos ou baixos níveis de empoderamento a depender do setor. Conclusão: os enfermeiros demonstraram possuir níveis moderados de empoderamento estrutural.

Objective: to analyze the structural empowerment of nurses in a high-complexity hospital. Methods: a quantitative, analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out with 93 nurses, using a sociodemographic and occupational questionnaire and the Questionnaire of Conditions of Effectiveness at Work II. The data was collected between February and March 2023. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Kolgomorov-Smirnov test, the chi-square test, and Poisson regression. Results: the nurses had a moderate structural empowerment level, with a mean of 20.67 (p<0.000). The highest scoring component was opportunity (4.22 sd±0.80). No significant differences were found in the structural empowerment levels related to work units (p-Value 0.381), employment relationship (p-Value 0.352) and education level (p-Value 0.839). The Poisson regression model indicates that there can be either high or low empowerment levels depending on the sector. Conclusion: nurses showed moderate structural empowerment levels.

Objetivo: analizar el empoderamiento estructural del enfermero en un hospital de alta complejidad. Métodos: estudio cuantitativo, analítico y transversal, realizado con 93 enfermeros, utilizando un cuestionario sociodemográfico y ocupacional y el Cuestionario de Condiciones de Efectividad en el Trabajo II. Los datos se recolectaron entre febrero y marzo de 2023. El análisis de los datos se realizó mediante estadística descriptiva, prueba de Kolgomorov-Smirnov, prueba de chi-cuadrado y regresión de Poisson. Resultados: los enfermeros presentaron un nivel moderado de empoderamiento estructural, la media fue de 20,67 (p<0,000). El componente con mayor puntaje fue oportunidad (4,22 DE±0,80). No se encontraron diferencias significativas en los niveles de empoderamiento estructural relacionados con las unidades de trabajo (valor p 0,381), la relación laboral (valor p 0,352) y el nivel de formación (valor p 0,839). El modelo de regresión de Poisson indica que pueden existir niveles altos o bajos de empoderamiento dependiendo del sector. Conclusión: los enfermeros demostraron niveles moderados de empoderamiento estructural.

Availability and consumption of hyper-palatable foods in an all-you-can-eat cafeteria among college freshmen.

INTRODUCTION: College campuses provide an expansive food environment, which may contribute to elevated risk of excess energy intake and weight gain among college students. All-you-can-eat style cafeterias often expose students to hyper-palatable foods (HPF), which may promote overeating. This study aimed to examine the availability of HPF in an all-you-can-eat college cafeteria, and to examine HPF intake during meals among undergraduates. METHOD: Publicly available cafeteria menu data from a Midwestern university were analyzed and included 25 meals. To determine the availability of HPF within the cafeteria meals, the standardized definition of HPF by Fazzino et al. (2019) was used, which specifies combinations of palatability-inducing nutrients at quantitative thresholds that may induce hyper-palatability. Participants (N = 225) who ate in the cafeteria in the past 24 h were presented with a list of all menu items for their corresponding cafeteria meal, and self-reported all items consumed. RESULTS: On average, 40 % (SD = 1.4) of total food items available per meal were HPF, with 68 % (SD = 3.6) of items with elevated fat and sodium. Regarding intake of HPF among students, approximately 64 % (SD = 31.4) of foods consumed were HPF, and 51 % (SD = 32.3) of items consumed had elevated fat and sodium. CONCLUSION: Findings indicated that college students may be regularly exposed to HPF in all-you-can-eat college cafeteria environments, and that students may consume cafeteria meals that are primarily comprised of HPF.

Neighbourhood Environments and Lifestyle Behaviours in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes.

Early prevention strategies are needed to mitigate the high risk of cardiovascular disease in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Residential neighbourhood features can promote healthy lifestyle behaviours and reduce cardiovascular risk, but less is known about their role in lifestyle behaviours in adolescents with T1D, and no studies use comparisons to healthy controls. We examined associations between residential neighbourhood features and lifestyle behaviours in adolescents with T1D and healthy controls. Data from CARDEA, a cross-sectional study of 100 adolescents with T1D (14-18 years) from a paediatric diabetes clinic in Montreal, Canada, and 97 healthy controls, were analysed. Outcomes included physical activity and sedentary behaviour (accelerometry), screen time and sleep duration (questionnaires), and dietary habits (24h recalls). Cluster analysis of selected neighbourhood indicators computed for participants' postal codes resulted in two neighbourhood types: central urban and peri-urban. Central urban neighbourhoods were characterised by very high population density, high active living index, numerous points of interest, higher social deprivation, higher residential mobility, and lower median household income compared to peri-urban neighbourhoods. Associations of neighbourhood type with lifestyle behaviours were estimated with multiple linear regressions and interactions by T1D status were tested. Living in central urban neighbourhoods was associated with greater daily minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (B = 8.61, 95% CI [1.79, 15.44]) compared to living in peri-urban neighbourhoods. No associations were observed for other lifestyle behaviours, and no statistically significant interactions were found between neighbourhood type and T1D status. Features that characterize central urban built environments appear to promote physical activity in adolescents, regardless of T1D status.

Navigating the evolving landscape of atopic dermatitis: Challenges and future opportunities: The 4th Davos declaration.

The 4th Davos Declaration was developed during the Global Allergy Forum in Davos which aimed to elevate the care of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) by uniting experts and stakeholders. The forum addressed the high prevalence of AD, with a strategic focus on advancing research, treatment, and management to meet the evolving challenges in the field. This multidisciplinary forum brought together top leaders from research, clinical practice, policy, and patient advocacy to discuss the critical aspects of AD, including neuroimmunology, environmental factors, comorbidities, and breakthroughs in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The discussions were geared towards fostering a collaborative approach to integrate these advancements into practical, patient-centric care. The forum underlined the mounting burden of AD, attributing it to significant environmental and lifestyle changes. It acknowledged the progress in understanding AD and in developing targeted therapies but recognized a gap in translating these innovations into clinical practice. Emphasis was placed on the need for enhanced awareness, education, and stakeholder engagement to address this gap effectively and to consider environmental and lifestyle factors in a comprehensive disease management strategy. The 4th Davos Declaration marks a significant milestone in the journey to improve care for people with AD. By promoting a holistic approach that combines research, education, and clinical application, the Forum sets a roadmap for stakeholders to collaborate to improve patient outcomes in AD, reflecting a commitment to adapt and respond to the dynamic challenges of AD in a changing world.

Molecular Engineering of Porous Fe-N-C Catalyst with Sulfur Incorporation for Boosting CO2 Reduction and Zn-CO2 Battery.

Transition metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) catalysts have emerged as promising candidates for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) due to their uniform active sites and high atomic utilization rate. However, poor efficiency at low overpotentials and unclear reaction mechanisms limit the application of M-N-C catalysts. In this study, Fe-N-C catalysts are developed by incorporating S atoms onto ordered hierarchical porous carbon substrates with a molecular iron thiophenoporphyrin. The well-prepared FeSNC catalyst exhibits superior CO2RR activity and stability, attributes to an optimized electronic environment, and enhances the adsorption of reaction intermediates. It displays the highest CO selectivity of 94.0% at -0.58 V (versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)) and achieves the highest partial current density of 13.64 mA cm-2 at -0.88 V. Furthermore, when employed as the cathode in a Zn-CO2 battery, FeSNC achieves a high-power density of 1.19 mW cm-2 and stable charge-discharge cycles. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the incorporation of S atoms into the hierarchical porous carbon substrate led to the iron center becoming more electron-rich, consequently improving the adsorption of the crucial reaction intermediate *COOH. This study underscores the significance of hierarchical porous structures and heteroatom doping for advancing electrocatalytic CO2RR and energy storage technologies.

Neurobiological and psychological factors to depression.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common condition with complex psychological and biological background. While its aetiology is still unclear, chronic stress stands amongst major risk factors to MDD pathogenesis. When researching on MDD, it is necessary to be familiar with the neurobiological effects of several prominent contributors to the chronic stress factor experienced across hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, neurotransmission, immune system reflexivity, and genetic alterations. Bi-directional flow of MDD pathogenesis suggests that psychological factors produce biological effects. Here, a summary of how the MDD expresses its mechanisms of action across an overactive HPA axis, the negative impacts of reduced neurotransmitter functions, the inflammatory responses and their gene x environment interactions. This paper builds on these conceptual factors and their input towards the MDD symptomatology with a purpose of synthesising the current findings and create an integrated view of the MDD pathogenesis. Finally, relevant treatment implications will be summarised, along with recommendations to a multimodal clinical practice.

The primary health care environment and the performance of advanced antenatal care trained nurse-midwives in South Africa.

Transfer of learning in the workplace depends on various factors, one of which is the work environment. The aim of this study was to describe the interplay between the primary healthcare work environment, the performance of advanced antenatal care trained nurse-midwives, and birth outcomes. A cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted in two purposely selected districts in South Africa. Document analyses were also completed. Statistical Analysis Software version 9.4 was used for descriptive statistical data analysis. The participating clinics, in the TM and LJ districts, both achieved ideal clinic status. The scores for the management of low- and high-risk pregnancies ranged between 86-89% and 87%, respectively. Babies born had Apgar scores of between 7-9 and 8-10 in 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth, respectively. Nurse-midwives scored low on interpreting assessment findings. Contrary to the Transfer of Learning Theory, nurse-midwives performed better in poorer work environments. The study suggests that the performance of advanced antenatal care trained nurse-midwives may not solely depend on a well-equipped work environment. Further studies should highlight the broader determinants of advanced antenatal care nurse-midwives services output.

Le transfert des apprentissages en milieu de travail dépend de divers facteurs, dont l'environnement de travail. Le but de cette étude était de décrire l'interaction entre l'environnement de travail des soins de santé primaires, la performance des infirmières sages-femmes formées en soins prénatals avancés et les résultats de l'accouchement. Une étude transversale et quantitative a été menée dans deux districts délibérément sélectionnés en Afrique du Sud. Des analyses de documents ont également été réalisées. Le logiciel d'analyse statistique version 9.4 a été utilisé pour l'analyse de données statistiques descriptives. Les cliniques participantes, dans les districts de TM et LJ, ont toutes deux atteint le statut de clinique idéale. Les scores pour la gestion des grossesses à faible et à haut risque variaient respectivement entre 86 et 89 % et 87 %. Les bébés nés avaient des scores d'Apgar compris entre 7-9 et 8-10 respectivement 1 minute et 5 minutes après la naissance. Les infirmières sages-femmes ont obtenu de faibles résultats dans l'interprétation des résultats de l'évaluation. Contrairement à la théorie du transfert de l'apprentissage, les infirmières sages-femmes ont de meilleurs résultats dans des environnements de travail plus pauvres. L'étude suggère que la performance des infirmières sages-femmes formées en soins prénatals avancés ne dépend peut-être pas uniquement d'un environnement de travail bien équipé. D'autres études devraient mettre en évidence les déterminants plus larges de la production des services avancés d'infirmières et de sages-femmes en soins prénatals.

A multicenter cross-sectional study in China revealing the intrinsic relationship between medical students' grade and their perceptions of the learning environment.

BACKGROUND: Medical school learning environment (MSLE) has a holistic impact on students' psychosomatic health, academic achievements, and personal development. Students in different grades perceive MSLE in different ways. Thus, it is essential to investigate the specific role of student's grade in the perception of MSLE. METHODS: Using the Johns Hopkins Learning Environment Scale (JHLES) as a quantification instrument for the perception level of MSLE, 10,901 medical students in 12 universities in China were categorized into low or high JHLES group according to their questionnaires. We investigated the relationship between student's grade and JHLES category by univariate analysis employing Pearson Chi-square test and Welch's ANOVA. Then multivariable logistic regression analysis confirmed the predictive efficacy of student's grade. A nomogram concerning the prediction of low JHLES score probability in medical students was also constructed. RESULTS: A significant difference between two JHLES categories among students in different grades was observed (p < 0.001), with the proportion of the high JHLES group dominating in grade 1, 5, and the graduate subgroups (p < 0.001). The mean JHLES score declined especially in the third and fourth graders compared to freshmen (p < 0.001), while the mean score among the fifth graders had a remarkable rebound from the third graders (p < 0.001). Most imperatively, identified by multivariable logistic regression analysis, students in grade 3 (OR = 1.470, 95% CI = 1.265-1.709, p < 0.001) and 4 (OR = 1.578, 95% CI = 1.326-1.878, p < 0.001) perceived more negatively than freshmen. The constructed nomogram provided a promising prediction model for student's low JHLES score probability, with accuracy, accordance, and discrimination (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.627). CONCLUSION: The student's grade was a significant influencing factor in medical students' perception of MSLE. The perceptions among the third and fourth graders got worse, probably due to the worrying changes in various aspects of MSLE during that period. The relevant and appropriate interventions to improve medical students' perceptions are urgently needed.

Maternal arsenic exposure modifies associations between arsenic, folate and arsenic metabolism gene variants, and spina bifida risk: A case‒control study in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect (NTD); NTDs are developmental malformations of the spinal cord that result from failure of neural tube closure during embryogenesis and are likely caused by interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Arsenic induces NTDs in animal models, and studies demonstrate that mice with genetic defects related to folate metabolism are more susceptible to arsenic's effects. We sought to determine whether 25 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in folate and arsenic metabolism modified the associations between maternal arsenic exposure and risk of spina bifida (a common NTD) among a hospital-based case-control study population in Bangladesh. METHODS: We used data from 262 mothers and 220 infants who participated in a case‒control study at the National Institutes of Neurosciences & Hospital and Dhaka Shishu Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Neurosurgeons assessed infants using physical examinations, review of imaging, and we collected histories using questionnaires. We assessed arsenic from mothers' toenails using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and we genotyped participants using the Illumina Global Screening Array v1.0. We chose candidate genes and SNPs through a review of the literature. We assessed SNP-environment interactions using interaction terms and stratified models, and we assessed gene-environment interactions using interaction sequence/SNP-set kernel association tests (iSKAT). RESULTS: The median toenail arsenic concentration was 0.42 µg/g (interquartile range [IQR]: 0.27-0.86) among mothers of cases and 0.47 µg/g (IQR: 0.30-0.97) among mothers of controls. We found an two SNPs in the infants' AS3MT gene (rs11191454 and rs7085104) and one SNP in mothers' DNMT1 gene (rs2228611) were associated with increased odds of spina bifida in the setting of high arsenic exposure (rs11191454, OR 3.01, 95% CI: 1.28-7.09; rs7085104, OR 2.33, 95% CI: 1.20-4.and rs2228611, OR 2.11, 95% CI: 1.11-4.01), along with significant SNP-arsenic interactions. iSKAT analyses revealed significant interactions between mothers' toenail concentrations and infants' AS3MT and MTR genes (p = 0.02), and mothers' CBS gene (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the hypothesis that arsenic increases spina bifida risk via interactions with folate and arsenic metabolic pathways and suggests that individuals in the population who have certain genetic polymorphisms in genes involved with arsenic and folate metabolism may be more susceptible than others to the arsenic teratogenicity.

[Translated article] Pharmaceuticals in the environment: A hospital pharmacy perspective.

Drugs do not disappear once they have been excreted. In fact, 992 active principles have already been measured in the different environmental matrices. A recent study led by scientists from the University of York has studied the presence of drugs in the rivers of more than 100 different countries, showing that environmental contamination by pharmaceuticals is a global issue and that, concentrations found are frequently harmful to the environment. In this work, we have tried to briefly expose the problem of environmental contamination with medicines, but above all, we have tried to address the possible solutions, with a perspective from the field of hospital pharmacy. This is a very complex matter (a wicked problem), since it involves multiple stakeholders with different visions and interests regarding medicines. In order to find solutions, we will probably need to act at all steps of the drug's life cycle. Until now, health professionals have been part of the problem. It is time for us to be part of the solution.

Facile Preparation and Study of Self-healing Water-absorbing Expanding Elastomers.

The absorbent expansion elastomer plays a crucial role in engineering sealing and holds a promising future in this field as infrastructure continues to develop. Traditional materials have their limitations, especially when used in large construction projects where the integrity and reliability of the material are of utmost importance. In this work, a self-healing water-absorbing expansion elastomer was developed for continuous production at a large scale to monitor the sealing conditions of massive infrastructure projects. At room temperature, the material exhibited a repairing efficiency of 57.77% within 2 h, which increased to 84.02% after 12 h. This extended reaction time allowed for effective repairs when defects were detected. The material's strength reached approximately 3 MPa, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. The volume expansion rate of the material reached 200-400% for effective sealing, and the fictionalization of the packing made it have a good external force sensing effect and prevent heat build-up effect. The conductive detection performance of the absorbent expansion elastomer was improved by utilizing triple self-healing strategies, including dipole-dipole interaction, ion cross-linked network, and externally-aided restoration materials.

Citizens' perspectives on healthy weight approaches in low SEP neighborhoods: a qualitative study from a systems perspective.

BACKGROUND: The physical and the social environment are important predictors of healthy weight, especially in low socioeconomic position (SEP) neighborhoods. Many Dutch municipalities have implemented a healthy weight approach (HWA). Yet, there is room for improvement. This system science study examined what influences the utilization of HWA facilities and activities, and what aspects can help to achieve a desired systems change (also called leverage point themes (LPTs)) in the HWA system as perceived by citizens living in low SEP neighborhoods. METHOD: All research phases were performed with four citizens co-researchers. Forty-seven citizens living in low SEP neighborhoods were semi-structurally interviewed about the neighborhood HWA facilities and municipal HWA activities. A rapid coding qualitative analysis approach was applied per topic. The topics were citizens' healthy living description, personal circumstances, and satisfaction with foot and cycle paths, sports facilities, playgrounds, green spaces, museums and theaters, community centers, churches, healthcare, school, food supplies, contact with neighborhood, unfamiliar and/or unused activities, familiar and used activities, unavailable but desired (lacking) activities, and reaching citizens. RESULTS: The utilization of HWA facilities and activities was influenced by the overarching themes of social cohesion, familiarity, reaching citizens, maintenance, safety, physical accessibility, financial accessibility, social accessibility, fit with personal context, and fit with the neighborhood's specific needs. Different overarching themes stood out across different facilities and activities. LPTs indicated the overarching themes needed in combination with one another for a specific activity or facility to increase utilization. For example, the LPT regarding foot and cycle paths was "accessible, safe, and maintained foot and cycle paths". The LPTs regarding familiar and used activities were "customized activities; information provision (e.g., about possibilities to join without paying); social contact, meeting others, and everyone feels included". CONCLUSION: Conducting inclusive qualitative research from a systems perspective among citizens living in low SEP neighborhoods has contributed valuable insights into their needs. This enables practical implementation of HWAs by providing a deeper understanding of the LPTs within the HWA system. LPTs can help HWA stakeholders to further develop current HWAs toward systems approaches. Future research could study the leverage points that may contribute to LPT implementation.

The present situation of the nursing practice environment and its influence on nursing quality in a post-epidemic era: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Nursing Practice Environment is an important index to improve nursing quality and patient outcome. To explore the nursing practice environment in the COVID-19 ward during the period of COVID-19 and its impact on nursing quality to provide reference for setting up supporting nursing team in epidemic area in the future. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 251 nurses working in COVID-19 ward in Shanghai, Hainan and Hunan in December 2022 through stratified proportional sampling. Structured questionnaires, including general information questionnaire, professional practice environment scale and nursing quality questionnaire, were used to investigate the patients. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between nursing practice environment and nursing quality, and multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of nursing quality in the COVID-19 ward. RESULTS: The professional practice environment scale score was (3.34 ± 0.40), the nursing quality questionnaire score was (9.47 ± 0.81), both at a high level. Single factor analysis showed that nursing quality was related to educational background, physical condition, professional title, grade of the original hospital and composition of nursing staff in supported departments. Nursing quality were positively correlated with each nursing practice environment dimensions (in addition to teamwork). The results of regression analysis showed that the nursing practice environment in the COVID-19 ward had a positive impact on nursing quality. CONCLUSIONS: The nursing practice environment and nursing quality of nurses in the COVID-19ward is generally very high. The education, working hospital level and nursing practice environment of nurses are the important factors influencing nursing quality. The relationship between nursing practice environment (include leadership and autonomy in clinical practice, staff relationships with physicians, control over practice, communication about patients, handling disagreement and conflict, internal work motivation and cultural sensitivity) and nursing quality is positive. It is suggested that the hospital should pay special attention to and improve nursing practice environment in order to improve nursing quality when setting up temporary ward in the future epidemic period of infectious diseases, ensure patient safety. IMPACT ON CLINICAL PRACTICE: Research shows that an active nursing practice environment can improve the quality of care, and nursing managers create and maintain an active practice environment to improve the quality of care and ensure patient safety.

A scoping review of policies to encourage breastfeeding, healthy eating, and physical activity among rural people and places in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Rural U.S. residents experience a disproportionate burden of diet and physical activity (PA) related chronic disease compared to urban residents, due to resource and economic challenges. Diverse policy approaches for chronic disease prevention have been implemented to address barriers to breastfeeding, healthy eating, and PA. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to describe policy supports for breastfeeding, healthy eating, and/or PA occurring in rural U.S. areas. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted March-June 2020 to identify policy, systems, and environment change approaches occurring in the rural U.S. for breastfeeding, healthy eating, and PA. Search procedures were guided by the PRISMA-ScR, Arksey and O'Malley's work (2007), and a science librarian. Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, and Agricola were used to identify peer-reviewed research. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses A&I were used to identify dissertation research. Grey literature searches included Google, Google Scholar, government pages, and public health, federal nutrition assistance program, Cooperative Extension Services, and related webpages. Policy results are reported and inclusion criteria were: (1) breastfeeding, healthy eating, and/or PA focus; (2) about policy factors; (3) specific to U.S. rural populations/places; and (4) English language. Outcomes (study/source design, objective(s), methods/measurement, setting, population characteristics, behavioral focus, policy-specific results) were extracted into a standardized Excel document. RESULTS: Results include 122 total sources: original research, with some sources referencing multiple behaviors, (n = 74 sources: 8 breastfeeding, 41 healthy eating, 42 PA), grey literature (n = 45 sources: 16 breastfeeding, 15 healthy eating, 27 PA), and graduate research (n = 3 sources: 1 breastfeeding, 2 healthy eating, 1 PA). Breastfeeding policy initiatives included policies or programs at hospitals, increasing access to resources, and improving culture or norms at workplaces. Healthy eating policy initiatives included increasing access to healthy foods, reducing financial burden, implementing programs, food assistance programs, and healthy food prescriptions at healthcare facilities. PA policy initiatives focused on Complete Streets, joint or shared use efforts, Safe Routes to Schools, master plans for greenways, trails, and/or transportation, school health plans, and childcare/school standards. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this scoping review compile and offer commentary on existing policy solutions to improve breastfeeding, healthy eating, and/or PA in the rural U.S.

Unlocking the potential of black soldier fly frass as a sustainable organic fertilizer: A review of recent studies.

Using Hermetia illucens, or Black Soldier Fly (BSF) frass as an organic fertilizer is becoming increasingly popular in many countries. As a byproduct derived from BSF larvae that feed on organic waste, BSF frass has tremendous potential for preserving the environment and promoting the circular economy. Since it has diverse biochemical properties influenced by various production and environmental factors, further research is needed to evaluate its potential for extensive use in crop production and agriculture. Our review summarizes recent findings in BSF frass research by describing its composition and biochemical properties derived from various studies, including nutrient contents, biostimulant compounds, and microbial profiles. We also discuss BSF frass fertilizers' effectiveness on plant growth and contribution to environmental sustainability. Great compositions of BSF frass increase the quality of plants/crops by establishing healthy soil and improving the plants' immune systems. Special emphasis is given to potentially replacing conventional fertilizer to create a more sustainable cropping system via organic farming. Besides, we discuss the capability of BSF bioconversion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the socioeconomic aspect. The prospects of BSF frass in promoting a healthy environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the socioeconomic aspects of communities have also been highlighted. Overall, BSF frass offers an alternative approach that can be integrated with conventional fertilizers to optimize the cropping system. Further studies are needed to fully explore its potential in establishing sustainable system that can enhance socioeconomic benefits in the future.

A new strategy model for reducing industrial pollutants using structural equation modeling (SEM): a case study.

Economic developments over recent decades have led to environmental issues. Industries have been introduced among the main causes of environmental degradation. From this perspective, this research work identifies strategies for reducing industrial pollutants. In the first part, the factors concerned and their impacts on mitigating industrial pollutants are identified. Then, the initial model is developed. The case examined here is Mashhad Industrial Zone, Mashhad, Iran, wherein the questionnaire was distributed. Given the non-normal data in this study, the initial model fit is further measured by structural equation modeling (SEM), using SmartPLS. Upon the model fit confirmation, the research hypotheses, i.e., the factors affecting the reduction of industrial pollutants, are assessed. The results indicated that, among the variables examined, seven components can significantly prevent industrial pollutants. In view of this, green industry status quo with the effect size of 0.3 has the greatest possible impact on diminishing industrial pollutants. The next uppermost strategies for this purpose are government incentives, management commitment, green product marketing, competitive strategies, government oversight, and political issues, with the effect size values of 0.21, 0.20, 0.19, 0.15, 0.12, and 0.09, respectively. Financial issues and government regulations are not directly linked with lowering pollutants emanating from industries.

Undergraduates' workplace learning in health sciences education: psychometric properties of single-item measures.

BACKGROUND: Undergraduates' workplace learning is an important part of health sciences education. Educational psychology research considers many different aspects of self-regulated learning at the workplace, including cognition, motivation, emotions, and context. Multivariate longitudinal and diary studies in this field require fewer items than alternatives or even a single item per construct and can reveal the sub-processes of workplace learning and contribute to a better understanding of students' learning. Short instruments are necessary for application in workplace settings, especially stressful ones, to mitigate survey fatigue. The present study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of single items measuring various aspects of workplace learning. METHODS: Twenty-nine single items selected from the Workplace Learning Inventory in Health Sciences Education were analyzed for reliability, information reproduction, and relationships within the nomological network. The authors additionally analyzed four generally formulated single items' relationships with the full Workplace Learning Inventory scales and external criteria within the nomological network. Participants were 214 ninth- or tenth-semester veterinary medicine students in Austria and Germany who were learning at varied workplaces during the winter semester of 2021/2022. RESULTS: Of the 29 single items selected from existing scales, 27 showed sufficient reliability, but mixed results were obtained regarding validity. Although the items' relationships within the nomological network were similar to those of the full scales, information reproduction was insufficient for most items. The four general single items showed acceptable validity, but the reliability of these measures of states could not be assessed. CONCLUSIONS: This paper reported findings on the psychometric properties of single items for undergraduates' workplace learning in health science education. The findings are crucial for deciding whether to use scales versus single-item measures in future studies. By applying the findings, researchers can be more economical in their workplace learning data collection and can include more constructs.

Aspergillus Species from the Sabkha Marsh: Potential Antimicrobial and Anticancer Agents Revealed Through Molecular and Pharmacological Analysis.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the fungal growth and diversity in the Sabkha marsh. The anti-bacterial properties of the isolated fungi were assessed using an agar disk diffusion assay, and the crude extracts were tested for their anticancer activities. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed to identify the active compounds of the fungal secondary metabolites. In-silico studies were conducted to predict the toxicity, pharmacokinetic properties, and safety profiles of the identified compounds. Results: The analysis revealed that the isolated fungi belonged to the Aspergillus species, specifically Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. The crude extract of A. flavus exhibited significant anticancer activity against various cancer cell lines, while the antifungal activities against pathogenic bacteria varied between the two fungi. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified several compounds in the fungal isolates. In Aspergillus flavus, the compounds included Aflavinine, Dihydro-24-hydroxyaflavinine, Phomaligin A, Hydroxysydonic acid, Gregatin B, Pulvinulin A, Chrysogine, Aspergillic acid, Aflatoxin B1, and Aflatoxin G1. In Aspergillus niger, the compounds identified were atromentin, fonsecin B, firalenone, rubrofusarin, aurasperone E, aurasperone D, aurasperone C, nigerone, and αß-dehydrocurvularin. Conclusion: This study demonstrated promising fungal growth and diversity in the Sabkha marsh, with Aspergillus species being the most prevalent. The fungal crude extract showed anticancer activities against various cancer cell lines, while the antifungal activities against pathogenic bacteria varied between the two fungi. Future research should focus on investigating the antimicrobial activities of these fungi against multidrug-resistant bacteria and exploring the genetic changes in bacteria and cancer cells treated with these fungal extracts. Additionally, it is important to test the anticancer activity of the active compounds separately to determine which one is the active agent against cancer cells. This information can be used in drug development trials.

Corrosion behavior of Ti-Pt-coated stainless steel for bipolar plates in polymer electrolyte membranes under water electrolysis conditions.

In this study, the corrosion behavior and degradation mechanism of Ti-Pt-coated stainless steel bipolar plates were investigated through electrochemical tests and surface analysis in a polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) operating environment. The coated bipolar plate has a corrosion current density of only 1.68 × 10-8 A/cm2, which is an order of magnitude lower than that of the bare SS316L substrate (1.94 × 10-7 A/cm2), indicating that its corrosion resistance is superior to that of bare SS316L substrate. However, in the PEMWE operating environment, the protection efficiency of the coating and the corrosion resistance of the coated bipolar plate decreased. The degradation of the coated bipolar plate can be attributed to electrolyte penetration into the blistering areas of the coating layer with micro voids. Defects in the coating layer occur because of the pressure of oxygen gas generated within the coating layer under high-potential conditions, thereby exposing the substrate to the electrolyte and corrosion.