Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to determine COVID-19 vaccination intentions and behavior among international and domestic college students in the United States.

Vaccination is the most effective strategy for preventing infectious diseases such as COVID-19. College students are important targets for COVID-19 vaccines given this population's lower intentions to be vaccinated; however, limited research has focused on international college students' vaccination status. This study explored how psychosocial factors from the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB; attitudes, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, and behavioral intentions) related to students' receipt of the full course of COVID-19 vaccines and their plans to receive a booster. Students were recruited via Amazon mTurk and the Office of the Registrar at a U.S. state university. We used binary logistic regression to examine associations between students' psychosocial factors and full COVID-19 vaccination status. Hierarchical multiple regression was employed to evaluate relationships between these factors and students' intentions to receive a booster. The majority of students in our sample (81% of international students and 55% of domestic students) received the complete vaccination series. Attitudes were significantly associated with all students' full vaccination status, while perceived behavioral control was significantly associated with domestic students' status. Students' intentions to receive COVID-19 vaccines were significantly correlated with their intentions to receive a booster, with international students scoring higher on booster intentions. Among the combined college student population, attitudes, intentions to receive COVID-19 vaccines, and subjective norms were significantly related to students' intentions to receive a booster. Findings support the TPB's potential utility in evidence-based interventions to enhance college students' COVID-19 vaccination rates. Implications for stakeholders and future research directions are discussed.

Teaching Social Determinants of Health in Nursing Programs: An Integrative Review of Strategies and Effectiveness.

BACKGROUND: Incorporating social determinants of health (SDoH) into clinical decision-making can clarify disease causes, enhance care planning, and improve health outcomes. Nurse educators should know which strategies are most effective for teaching SDoH in bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs. OBJECTIVE: This integrative review synthesizes the literature on familiarizing BSN students with SDoH and identifies effective teaching interventions for SDoH in these programs. METHODS: The researchers searched CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, and ERIC databases, and 21 articles met the inclusion criteria. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines were followed for reporting. RESULTS: The curriculum method, service learning, and international outreach experiences were frequently used teaching strategies. Qualitative evaluation was used to evaluate student outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse educators should be mindful of these strategies. Interdisciplinary teamwork can bolster students' understanding of disadvantaged populations while integrating SDoH in nursing curricula. Quantitative evaluations of learning outcomes are needed to determine teaching effectiveness.

Evaluation and comparison of flexural strength, surface roughness and porosity percentage of denture base resins incorporated with Thymoquinone and silver nano-antimicrobial agents-an in vitro study.

Aim: To evaluate and compare the flexural strength, surface roughness and porosity percentage of acrylic denture base material modified with two antimicrobial agents, Thymoquinone (TQ) and Silver nanoparticles (AgNP). Materials and methods: A total of 90 specimens were fabricated and divided into groups A, B and C with 30 specimens each. Of the 30 specimens, 10 specimens measuring 65mmx 10mmx 2.5 mm were used to study the flexural strength, 10 specimens measuring 10 mm × 20 mm × 3 mm to study surface roughness and 10 specimens measuring 10 mm × 20 mm × 3 mm to study porosity percentage. Group A specimens were made of unmodified denture base resin, group B and C were modified with 2.5% AgNP and 1% TQ respectively. The specimens were processed in the conventional manner. A universal testing machine was used to measure flexural strength and a profilometer was used to measure surface roughness. Porosity percentage was evaluated with help of a desiccator. The data obtained was subjected to statistical analyses using One-way ANOVA and the Tukey-post hoc test, with statistical significance at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Addition of 2.5% AgNP and 1% TQ to acrylic denture base resin significantly reduced flexural strength and increased the porosity percentage (p < 0.01) but within clinically acceptable limits. No significant difference was found in the surface roughness between the various groups tested. Conclusions: Heat cured acrylic denture base resins modified with 2.5% AgNPs,1% TQ exhibited clinically acceptable flexural strength and surface properties and could be incorporated into the denture base material as an antimicrobial agent.

Application of Selenium Nanoparticles in Localized Drug Targeting for Cancer Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have gained a place in the biomedical field; they serve as chemotherapeutic agents for targeted drug delivery due to their capacity to exert distinct mechanisms of action on cancer and normal cells. The principle behind these mechanisms is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which accelerates apoptosis via the dysfunction of various pathways. SeNPs, when used in higher concentrations, induce toxicity; however, conjugation and surface functionalization are some techniques available to ameliorate their toxic nature as well as enhance their anticancer activity. OBJECTIVES: The primary goal of this analysis is to provide a thorough and systematic investigation into the use of various SeNPs in localized drug targeting for cancer therapy. This has been achieved by citing examples of numerous SeNPs and their use as a drug targeting agent for cancer therapy. METHODS: All relevant data and information about the various SeNPs for drug targeting in cancer therapy were gathered from various databases, including Science Direct, PubMed, Taylor and Francis imprints, American Chemical Society, Springer, Royal Society of Chemistry, and Google Scholar. RESULTS: SeNPs are explored due to their better biopharmaceutical properties and cytostatic behavior. Se, as an essential component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and other seleno-chemical substances, might boost chemotherapeutic efficacy and protect tissues from cellular damage caused by ROS. SeNPs have the potential to set the stage for developing new strategies to treat malignancy. CONCLUSION: This review extensively analyzed the anticancer efficacy and functionalization strategies of SeNPs in drug delivery to cancer cells. In addition, this review highlights the mechanism of action of drug-loaded SeNPs to suppress the proliferation of cancer cells in different cell lines.

Comprehensive review on ethnobotanical uses, phytochemistry, biological potential and toxicology of Parthenium hysterophorus L.: A journey from noxious weed to a therapeutic medicinal plant.

ETHNO-PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Parthenium hysterophorus L. is a noxious weed and a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. It is regarded as the seventh most deadly weed in the world: harmful to both humans and livestock. It is widely known as Congress Grass or Feverfew. Despite its pitfalls, P. hysterophorus bestows medicinal effects. Although prolific in nature and difficult to control, many novel applications of this controversial herb have been discovered as an approach to manage the weed. AIM: The current review aims to compile all the ethnobotanical, phytochemistry, biological activities and utilities, clinical studies and toxicity data available on P. hysterophorus and its major chemical constituent parthenin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extensive literature surveyed Google search, Google scholar, Wiley online library, Elsevier, Springer, Science direct, American Chemical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry and Research Gate. RESULT: According to the study, P. hysterophorus is utilized as a traditional medicine throughout Central America and the Caribbean. It can be used to treat skin infections, dermatitis, amoebic dysentery, and as an analgesic in the treatment of muscular rheumatism. The extracts obtained from P. hysterophorus have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, larvicidal, anti-microbial, insecticidal, hypoglycaemic and anti-cancer activity. CONCLUSION: The earlier investigations confirmed that P. hysterophorus has numerous traditional and biological applications. However, the scientific data are limited in clinical and toxicological studies. Therefore, further research is required on clinical and toxicological aspects to understand the complete potential and effects of P. hysterophorus.

Elucidating the morpho-physiological adaptations and molecular responses under long-term waterlogging stress in maize through gene expression analysis.

Waterlogging stress in maize is one of the emerging abiotic stresses in the current climate change scenario. To gain insights in transcriptional reprogramming during late hours of waterlogging stress under field conditions, we aimed to elucidate the transcriptional and anatomical changes in two contrasting maize inbreds viz. I110 (susceptible) and I172 (tolerant). Waterlogging stress reduced dry matter translocations from leaves and stems to ears, resulting in a lack of sink capacity and inadequate grain filling in I110, thus decreased the grain yield drastically. The development of aerenchyma cells within 48 h in I172 enabled hypoxia tolerance. The upregulation of alanine aminotransferase, ubiquitin activating enzyme E1, putative mitogen activated protein kinase and pyruvate kinase in I172 suggested that genes involved in protein degradation, signal transduction and carbon metabolism provided adaptive mechanisms during waterlogging. Overexpression of alcohol dehydrogenase, sucrose synthase, aspartate aminotransferase, NADP dependent malic enzyme and many miRNA targets in I110 indicated that more oxygen and energy consumption might have shortened plant survival during long-term waterlogging exposure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of transcript profiling at late stage (24-96 h) of waterlogging stress under field conditions and provides new visions to understand the molecular basis of waterlogging tolerance in maize.

A Mini-Review on Nano Technology in the Tumour Targeting Strategies: Drug Delivery to Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the application of cancer nanotechnology-based drug delivery to cancer cells has arisen as an important method to resolve multiple molecular, biophysical, and biochemical obstacles, which the body is preparing to resist against the productive implementation of chemotherapeutic medications. Drug delivery technologies focused on nanoparticles, which have resolved some of the drawbacks of conventional chemotherapy as, decreased drug viscosity, chemo-resistance, precise malignity, limited medicative measures with low oral bioactivity. Due to their adjustable size and surface properties, the half-life period of a drug can be increased in the bloodstream. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study is to collect and document the data available on the drug delivery system for anticancer drugs. The present study includes some of the drug carriers like liposomes, carbon dots, micelles, carbon nanotubes, magnetic nanoparticles, etc. Methods: To write this review, an exhaustive literature survey was carried out using relevant work published in various SCI, Scopus, and non-SCI indexed journals. The different search engines used to download the research/ review papers are Google search, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Scientific Information Database and Research Gate, etc. Results: Nanotechnology offers better pharmacokinetics, reduces the systematic toxicities related to the chemotherapies and a better route of drug administration. In the analysis, we critically highlight recent studies on carcinoma-fighting nanotechnology. CONCLUSION: In the present study, different kinds of nano-based drug delivery systems have been discussed along with their characteristic features, the encapsulation of anticancer agents into different types of nanometresized vehicles and their general mechanism.

Development of chitosan-catechol conjugates as mucoadhesive polymer: assessment of acute oral toxicity in mice.

Development of modified polymers is the focused area of research for developing stable, effective, sustainable and economical polymeric materials for developing different drug delivery systems. Modification of chitosan by catechol functionalization is useful for developing chitosan derivative with the improved mucoadhesive property. Present study was designed to perform single dose acute oral toxicity on chitosan-catechol conjugates in Swiss albino mice as per international guidelines. Oral administration of modified chitosan did not exhibit any significant change in body weight, behavioural pattern, haematology, food intake and clinical symptoms in the experimental animals. In the histopathological study, no pathological changes were observed in the vital organs of mice when administered perorally with 300 mg/kg and 2,000 mg/kg body-weight doses of chitosan-catechol polymeric conjugates. Overall, it was concluded from the acute oral toxicity study that the oral administration of chitosan-catechol conjugates in mice did not produce any toxicity. Hence, chitosan-catechol conjugates could be designated and recommended as safe polymeric material for developing different drug delivery systems.

Biodegradation of ciprofloxacin by white rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus.

Unrestricted and reckless use of antibiotics has resulted in their accumulation in environment. This, in turn, has led to the emergence of multiple drug-resistant microbes. The present study focuses on degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) by an edible white rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus. Effect of CIP was determined on radial growth and biomass of P. ostreatus. Titrimetric and spectrophotometric assays were carried out to assess the degrading potential of P. ostreatus towards CIP. It was found that CIP has a stimulatory effect on growth and enzyme activity of P. ostreatus. Maximum enzyme (glucanase, ligninases, laccase) production was observed at the highest concentration of CIP (500 ppm). Antibiotic degradation of about 68.8, 94.25 and 91.34% was estimated after 14 days of incubation at 500 ppm CIP using Titrimetric, Indigo carmine and Methyl orange assay, respectively. Degradation of CIP was further validated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and microbiological analysis. HPLC analysis revealed 95.07% degradation while microbiological test also exhibited a decreased antimicrobial activity of degraded products against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study wherein P. ostreatus was used for the degradation of ciprofloxacin.

Microwave grafted, composite and coprocessed materials: drug delivery applications.

Novel modified pharmaceutical materials with desired functionalities are required for the development of drug delivery systems. Excipients are no more inert ingredients but these are playing crucial roles in modifying physicochemical properties of drugs and for imparting desired functionalities in the delivery system. In this review article, modified materials such as grafted, composite and coprocessed have been discussed along with the updated reported literature on the same. Applications of grafted materials as drug release retardant, mucoadhesive polymer and tablet superdisintegrant have been elaborated. Use of composite materials in the development of transdermal films, hydrogels, microspheres, beads and nanoparticles have been discussed. Methods for the preparation of coprocessed materials along with commercial products of different coprocessed excipients have also been enlisted.

Storage and preservation of temperate mushroom cultures, agaricus bisporus and pleurotus Florida.

Two temperate mushroom cultures namely Agaricus bisporus (U-3) and Pleurotus florida (PAU-5) were evaluated for their physiological (linear growth and biomass production), biochemical (ß-1,4 endoglucanase production) and fruiting behaviour after preservation in 10% (v/v) glycerol and storage at room temperature (25-35°C), -20°C and -196°C for 6 months with the objective of establishing the recovery/changes in these fungi after storage. Studies indicated that the viability and recovery of A. bisporus and P. florida is affected by the storage conditions. Both the fungi could be best stored in liquid nitrogen for longer durations but for regular use, conventional sub-culturing was appropriate.