From Tweets to Streets: Observational Study on the Association Between Twitter Sentiment and Anti-Asian Hate Crimes in New York City from 2019 to 2022.

BACKGROUND: Anti-Asian hate crimes escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, limited research has explored the association between social media sentiment and hate crimes toward Asian communities. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the relationship between Twitter (rebranded as X) sentiment data and the occurrence of anti-Asian hate crimes in New York City from 2019 to 2022, a period encompassing both before and during COVID-19 pandemic conditions. METHODS: We used a hate crime dataset from the New York City Police Department. This dataset included detailed information on the occurrence of anti-Asian hate crimes at the police precinct level from 2019 to 2022. We used Twitter's application programming interface for Academic Research to collect a random 1% sample of publicly available Twitter data in New York State, including New York City, that included 1 or more of the selected Asian-related keywords and applied support vector machine to classify sentiment. We measured sentiment toward the Asian community using the rates of negative and positive sentiment expressed in tweets at the monthly level (N=48). We used negative binomial models to explore the associations between sentiment levels and the number of anti-Asian hate crimes in the same month. We further adjusted our models for confounders such as the unemployment rate and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. As sensitivity analyses, we used distributed lag models to capture 1- to 2-month lag times. RESULTS: A point increase of 1% in negative sentiment rate toward the Asian community in the same month was associated with a 24% increase (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.24; 95% CI 1.07-1.44; P=.005) in the number of anti-Asian hate crimes. The association was slightly attenuated after adjusting for unemployment and COVID-19 emergence (ie, after March 2020; P=.008). The positive sentiment toward Asian tweets with a 0-month lag was associated with a 12% decrease (IRR 0.88; 95% CI 0.79-0.97; P=.002) in expected anti-Asian hate crimes in the same month, but the relationship was no longer significant after adjusting for the unemployment rate and the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic (P=.11). CONCLUSIONS: A higher negative sentiment level was associated with more hate crimes specifically targeting the Asian community in the same month. The findings highlight the importance of monitoring public sentiment to predict and potentially mitigate hate crimes against Asian individuals.

Comparative Trial Evaluating a High- Versus Low-Integration Hyaluronic Acid Filler for Contouring the Jawline.

BACKGROUND: Contour deficits of the jawline are an area of concern for many aesthetic patients. While the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) for jawline enhancement has been described previously, comparative investigations of HA fillers manufactured with different technologies are limited. Therefore, the aim of the current investigation was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Restylane Lyft (HA-L) and Restylane Defyne (HA-D) for contouring of the jawline. METHODS: This prospective clinical trial enrolled forty (40) participants. Twenty (20) participants with thin skin were treated with HA-D, and twenty (20) participants with thick skin were treated with HA-L. Visits occurred at Screening/Baseline (treatment), Week 2 (touch-up), and Months 1, 3, and 6. At each visit, a blinded evaluator rated 3-dimensional participant imagery according to the Jawline Volume Loss Scale and participants completed the Jawline Subject Satisfaction Scale. Frequency of treatment-emergent adverse events was collected via participant diaries, and product integration characteristics were evaluated via ultrasound. RESULTS: Chi-square tests of independence revealed statistically significant improvements in severities of jawline volume loss, which were maximal at Month 1 (100%) and maintained until Month 6 (82.05%). At Month 1, 92.10% of participants reported being satisfied with overall treatment effects. Adverse events were expected per the product monographs and did not vary per group. On ultrasound, HA-L displayed targeted product integration and HA-D displayed diffuse product integration. CONCLUSIONS: Results support the use of HA-L and HA-D for the contouring of the jawline with each product capable of providing distinct advantages depending on patient attributes (e.g., skin thickness, underlying bone structure, desired outcomes). LEVEL III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

The Comparative Full-Length Genome Characterization of African Swine Fever Virus Detected in Thailand.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) has been responsible for the globally devastating epidemics in wild and domesticated pigs. Of the 24 identified ASFV genotypes, genotype II is the primary cause for the pandemic occurring in Europe and Asia since its emergence in Georgia in 2007. The current study aimed to characterize the full-length genomic pattern of the ASFV strain from Thailand, TH1_22/CR (Accession No. PP915735), which was then compared with genomic diversity across other Asian isolates using Georgia 2007/1 (Accession No. FR682468) as the reference. Viral DNA was isolated from the pig spleen sample following library preparation and paired-end sequencing using the MiSeq Illumina platform. The sequenced TH1_22/CR isolate spanned 189,395 nucleotides encoding 193 open reading frames (ORFs), exhibiting maximum nucleotide similarity (99.99%) with Georgian (Georgia 2007/1) and Chinese (Wuhan 2019-1 and China HLJ) isolates. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the TH1_22/CR isolate (Accession No. PP915735) was characterized as genotype II, serogroup 8, and IGR-II due to the presence of three tandem repeat sequences (TRSs). Genetic variations including SNPs and single and polynucleotide indels were identified in TH1_22/CR in agreement with other Asian isolates. For comprehensive analysis, the genome was divided into four regions (I-IV) based on gene location. Overall, the TH1_22/CR isolate demonstrated eight SNPs and indels in its genome. Two unique SNPs were reported in the coding regions of the TH1_22/CR isolate, out of which, a C-591-T substitution was seen in MGF 360-4L and a C-297-T was found in A238L, and four unique SNPs were reported in non-coding regions (NCRs). Furthermore, a 29 bp deletion was observed in the IGR between MGF 110-13La and MGF 110-13Lb, as well as 52 bp deletion in the ASFV G ACD 00350 gene. This comparative analysis establishes the foundational information for future studies on the diversity and phylogeography of this regionally significant genetic sub-group of ASFV.

Silk fibroin/chitosan/montmorillonite sponge dressing: Enhancing hemostasis, antimicrobial activity, and angiogenesis for advanced wound healing applications.

Open wounds present a significant challenge in healthcare, requiring careful management to prevent infection and promote wound healing. Advanced wound dressings are critical need to enhance their hemostatic capabilities, antimicrobial properties, and ability to support angiogenesis and sustained moisture for optimal healing. This study introduces a flexible hemostatic dressing designed for open wounds, integrating chitosan (CS) for hemostasis and biocompatibility, silk fibroin (SF) for mechanical strength, and montmorillonite (MMT) for enhanced drug transport. The CSSF@MMT dressings showed promising mechanical strength and swift hemostasis. The CIP-loaded CSSF@MMT demonstrated sustained release for up to one week, exhibiting antibacterial properties against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In vitro cell migration assay demonstrated that erythropoietin-loaded CSSF@MMT dressings promoted the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. Similarly, the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane study indicated the same dressings exhibited a significant increase in vascular regeneration. This research suggests that the CSSF@MMT sponge dressing, incorporated with CIP and erythropoietin, holds promise in effectively halting bleeding, creating a protective environment, diminishing inflammation, and fostering wound tissue regeneration. This potential makes it a significant advancement in open wound care, potentially lowering the need for limb amputation and decreasing wound care burden worldwide.

Development of a computer-based tool to obtain a family health history in Vietnam.

Background: Family health history (FHH) is central to human genomic profiling construction; however, there is no protocol for documenting FHH in a pedigree format in Vietnam.Aim: A "Gia Su Suc Khoe" (GSSK) tool was developed to create a user-friendly interface for collecting FHH and offering diseases' risk assessment.Results: A tool was described (https://giasusuckhoe.vn/) with good feedback from genetic counselors and family-medicine doctors. Among 20 surveys, 100% of respondents noted that the report accurately reflected their FHH and were satisfied with the tool's display. About 74% of familial conditions were covered. Overall, all constructive feedback has been adapted into the updated version.Conclusion: Gia Su Suc Khoe has the potential to significantly improve healthcare delivery and outcomes in Vietnam.

[Box: see text].

Examining the Role of Passive Design Indicators in Energy Burden Reduction: Insights from a Machine Learning and Deep Learning Approach.

Passive design characteristics (PDC) play a pivotal role in reducing the energy burden on households without imposing additional financial constraints on project stakeholders. However, the scarcity of PDC data has posed a challenge in previous studies when assessing their energy-saving impact. To tackle this issue, this research introduces an innovative approach that combines deep learning-powered computer vision with machine learning techniques to examine the relationship between PDC and energy burden in residential buildings. In this study, we employ a convolutional neural network computer vision model to identify and measure key indicators, including window-to-wall ratio (WWR), external shading, and operable window types, using Google Street View images within the Chicago metropolitan area as our case study. Subsequently, we utilize the derived passive design features in conjunction with demographic characteristics to train and compare various machine learning methods. These methods encompass Decision Tree Regression, Random Forest Regression, and Support Vector Regression, culminating in the development of a comprehensive model for energy burden prediction. Our framework achieves a 74.2% accuracy in forecasting the average energy burden. These results yield invaluable insights for policymakers and urban planners, paving the way toward the realization of smart and sustainable cities.

Eliminating sexual harassment in pharmacy: Role of the chief pharmacy officer.

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

Dynamical decoding of the competition between charge density waves in a kagome superconductor.

The kagome superconductor CsV3Sb5 hosts a variety of charge density wave (CDW) phases, which play a fundamental role in the formation of other exotic electronic instabilities. However, identifying the precise structure of these CDW phases and their intricate relationships remain the subject of intense debate, due to the lack of static probes that can distinguish the CDW phases with identical spatial periodicity. Here, we unveil the out-of-equilibrium competition between two coexisting 2 × 2 × 2 CDWs in CsV3Sb5 harnessing time-resolved X-ray diffraction. By analyzing the light-induced changes in the intensity of CDW superlattice peaks, we demonstrate the presence of both phases, each displaying a significantly different amount of melting upon excitation. The anomalous light-induced sharpening of peak width further shows that the phase that is more resistant to photo-excitation exhibits an increase in domain size at the expense of the other, thereby showcasing a hallmark of phase competition. Our results not only shed light on the interplay between the multiple CDW phases in CsV3Sb5, but also establish a non-equilibrium framework for comprehending complex phase relationships that are challenging to disentangle using static techniques.

Comprehensive Characterization of the Genetic Landscape of African Swine Fever Virus: Insights into Infection Dynamics, Immunomodulation, Virulence and Genes with Unknown Function.

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a lethal contagious hemorrhagic viral disease affecting the swine population. The causative agent is African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV). There is no treatment or commercial vaccine available at present. This virus poses a significant threat to the global swine industry and economy, with 100% mortality rate in acute cases. ASFV transmission occurs through both direct and indirect contact, with control measures limited to early detection, isolation, and culling of infected pigs. ASFV exhibits a complex genomic structure and encodes for more than 50 structural and 100 non-structural proteins and has 150 to 167 open reading frames (ORFs). While many of the proteins are non-essential for viral replication, they play crucial roles in mediating with the host to ensure longevity and transmission of virus in the host. The dynamic nature of ASFV research necessitates constant updates, with ongoing exploration of various genes and their functions, vaccine development, and other ASF-related domains. This comprehensive review aims to elucidate the structural and functional roles of both newly discovered and previously recorded genes involved in distinct stages of ASFV infection and immunomodulation. Additionally, the review discusses the virulence genes and genes with unknown functions, and proposes future interventions.

A nonconjugated radical polymer enables bimodal memory and in-sensor computing operation.

This study reports intrinsic multimodal memristivity of a nonconjugated radical polymer with ambient stability. Organic memristive devices represent powerful candidates for biorealistic data storage and processing. However, there exists a substantial knowledge gap in realizing the synthetic biorealistic systems capable of effectively emulating the cooperative and multimodal activation processes in biological systems. In addition, conventional organic memristive materials are centered on conjugated small and macromolecules, making them synthetically challenging or difficult to process. In this work, we first describe the intrinsic resistive switching of the radical polymer that resulted in an exceptional state retention of >105 s and on/off ratio of >106. Next, we demonstrate its bimodal cooperative switching, in response to the proton accumulation as a biological input. Last, we expand our system toward an advanced in-sensor computing system. Our research demonstrates a nonconjugated radical polymer with intrinsic memristivity, which is directly applicable to future electronics including data storage, neuromorphics, and in-sensor computing.

Regional Differences in American Indian/Alaska Native Chronic Respiratory Disease Disparity: Evidence from National Survey Results.

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons in the US experience a disparity in chronic respiratory diseases compared to white persons. Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, we previously showed that the AI/AN race/ethnicity variable was not associated with asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a BRFSS-defined subset of 11 states historically recognized as having a relatively high proportion of AI/AN residents. Here, we investigate the contributions of the AI/AN variable and other sociodemographic determinants to disease disparity in the remaining 39 US states and territories. Using BRFSS surveys from 2011 to 2019, we demonstrate that irrespective of race, the yearly adjusted prevalence for asthma and/or COPD was higher in the 39-state region than in the 11-state region. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the AI/AN race/ethnicity variable was positively associated with disease in the 39-state region after adjusting for sociodemographic covariates, unlike in the 11-state region. This shows that the distribution of disease prevalence and disparity for asthma and/or COPD is non-uniform in the US. Although AI/AN populations experience this disease disparity throughout the US, the AI/AN variable was only observed to contribute to this disparity in the 39-state region. It may be important to consider the geographical distribution of respiratory health determinants and factors uniquely impactful for AI/AN disease disparity when formulating disparity elimination policies.

Effectiveness of a Smartphone-Based Stress Management Program for Depression in Hospital Nurses During COVID-19 in Vietnam and Thailand: 2-Arm Parallel-Group Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care professionals experienced high levels of depression. However, extant research has not highlighted effective internet-based psychological interventions to improve the mental health in this population during the pandemic. It remains unclear whether self-guided, internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) programs are effective in improving the mental health of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone-based iCBT stress management program for reducing the depression experienced by nurses in Vietnam and Thailand. METHODS: From March to April 2022, a 2-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was implemented. One arm offered a 7-week self-guided iCBT program, and the other offered treatment as usual as a control arm. Full-time nurses were recruited from 6 hospitals: 2 hospitals in Vietnam and 4 hospitals in Thailand. The primary outcome of this program was the severity of depression measured by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 items. Follow-up surveys were conducted to measure the change in depression severity at 3 months (July-August 2022) and at 6 months (October-November 2022) after baseline. Mixed modeling for repeated measures was used to test the effects of the intervention compared with the control for the follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 1203 nurses were included in this study: 602 in the intervention group and 601 in the control group. The follow-up rate at 3 and 6 months ranged from 85.7% (515/601) to 87.5% (527/602). The completion rate for the program was 68.1% (410/602). The group difference in depression was significant at the 3-month follow-up (coefficient=-0.92, 95% CI -1.66 to -0.18; P=.02) and nonsignificant at the 6-month follow-up (coefficient=-0.33, 95% CI -1.11 to 0.45; P=.41). The estimated effect sizes were -0.15 and -0.06 at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the smartphone-based iCBT program was effective in reducing depression at the 3-month follow-up among hospital nurses in Vietnam and Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the effect size was small, and therefore, these results may not be clinically meaningful. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000044145; https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000050128. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.20944/preprints202303.0450.v1.

Proton therapy toxicity outcomes for localized prostate cancer: Long-term results at a comprehensive cancer center.

Background: Proton therapy (PT) has unique biologic properties with excellent clinical outcomes for the management of localized prostate cancer. Here, we aim to characterize the toxicity of PT for patients with localized prostate cancer and propose mitigation strategies using a large institutional database. Methods: We reviewed medical records of 2772 patients with localized prostate cancer treated with definitive PT between May 2006 through January 2020. Disease risk was stratified according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines as low [LR, n = 640]; favorable-intermediate [F-IR, n = 849]; unfavorable-intermediate [U-IR, n = 851]; high [HR, n = 315]; or very high [VHR, n = 117]. Descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier estimates assessed toxicity and freedom from biochemical relapse (FFBR). Results: Median follow-up was 7.0 years. The median dose was 78 Gy(RBE)(range: 72-79.2 Gy) in 2.0 Gy(RBE) fractions; 63 % of patients received 78 Gy(RBE) in 39 fractions, and 29 % received 76 Gy(RBE) in 38 fractions. Overall rates of late grade ≥3 GU and GI toxicity were 0.87 % and 1.01 %, respectively. Two patients developed grade 4 late GU toxicity and seven patients with grade 4 late GI toxicity. All patients experiencing severe late grade 4 toxicities were treated to 78 Gy(RBE) in 39 fractions with 80 Gy(RBE) dose to the anterior rectal wall and/or bladder neck. The 10-year FFBR rates for patients with LR to U-IR disease were compared between those treated with 76 and 78 Gy(RBE); the rates were 94.5 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 92.4-96.0 %) and 93.2 % (95 % CI 91.3-95.7 %), respectively (log-rank p = 0.22). Conclusions: Proton therapy is associated with low rates of late grade ≥3 GU and GI toxicity. While rare, late grade 4 toxicities occurred in nine (0.3 %) patients. De-escalation to a total dose of 76 Gy(RBE) yields excellent clinical outcomes for patients with LR to U-IR disease with the potential for significant reductions in grade ≥3 late toxicity.

The adaptation of 3T3 cells to simulated microgravity by retrieving the major cell cycle-related protein expression during long-term in vitro proliferation.

The present study aimed to assess the effects of simulated microgravity (SMG) on 3T3 cell proliferation and the expression of cell cycle regulators. 3T3 cells were induced to SMG by Gravite® for 8 days, while the control group was treated with 1G condition. The result showed that the SMG condition causes a decrease in proliferative activity in 3T3 cells. In the SMG group, the expression of cell cycle-related proteins was lower than the control on day 3. However, these proteins were upregulated in 3T3 cells of the SMG group on day 5, suggesting that these cells were rescued from the arrest and retrieved a higher proliferation. A down-regulation of cell cycle-related proteins was observed in 3T3 cells of both SMG and control groups on day 7. In conclusion, SMG results in the attenuation of cell proliferation during the initial exposure to SMG, but the cells will adapt to this condition and retrieve normal proliferation by increasing the expression of cell cycle regulators.

Deep Learning - Methods to Amplify Epidemiological Data Collection and Analyses.

Deep learning is a subfield of artificial intelligence and machine learning based mostly on neural networks and often combined with attention algorithms that has been used to detect and identify objects in text, audio, images, and video. Serghiou and Rough (Am J Epidemiol. 0000;000(00):0000-0000) present a primer for epidemiologists on deep learning models. These models provide substantial opportunities for epidemiologists to expand and amplify their research in both data collection and analyses by increasing the geographic reach of studies, including more research subjects, and working with large or high dimensional data. The tools for implementing deep learning methods are not quite yet as straightforward or ubiquitous for epidemiologists as traditional regression methods found in standard statistical software, but there are exciting opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration with deep learning experts, just as epidemiologists have with statisticians, healthcare providers, urban planners, and other professionals. Despite the novelty of these methods, epidemiological principles of assessing bias, study design, interpretation and others still apply when implementing deep learning methods or assessing the findings of studies that have used them.

Intracorporeal evaluation of hyaluronic acid fillers with varied rheological properties and correlations with aesthetic outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the differences in soft tissue filler rheology and how these properties can impact clinical results is a fundamental concepts for any injector. This study aimed to assess the tissue integration characteristics of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers manufactured with different technologies (Non-Animal Stabilized HA [HA-N] or Optimal Balance Technology [HA-O]) using ultra-high-frequency ultrasound. METHODS: Twelve female participants with mild-to-moderate midface volume loss and temporal hollowing were enrolled and treated with HA-N and/or HA-O. Participants were seen at five visits (screening/baseline [treatment], and Weeks 1 [optional touch-up], 4, 6, and 8 [follow-up visits]). Ultrasound was used to evaluate the degree of product integration. RESULTS: On ultrasound, HA-N presented with distinct borders, minimal tissue integration, and a capacity to displace tissues. Conversely, HA-O tended to spread horizontally within the same tissue plane and integrated within tissues. The volumizing capacity of the HA-O fillers was dependent on particle size. CONCLUSION: HA-N is suited for deep injections in areas such as the upper lateral cheek and under the muscle of the temporal region when a lifting effect is desired; HA-O is best suited for subcutaneous injections, in areas of dynamic movement or for patients with thin skin; and can be injected subcutaneously or supraperiosteally when a volumizing effect is desired.

Survival trends among patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer before and after the approval of immunotherapy in the United States: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database-based study.

BACKGROUND: In 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration approved nivolumab as the first immunotherapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, population-based survival benefit studies after the introduction of immunotherapy in lung cancer are lacking. This study examined overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival in patients with NSCLC in the pre immunotherapy and immunotherapy eras. METHODS: This study used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, which spanned 17 registries from 2000 to 2020. Two cohorts were delineated: preimmunotherapy (2010-2014) and immunotherapy (2015-2020), which coincided with nivolumab's approval. RESULTS: This study included 191,802 patients, 90,807 in the preimmunotherapy era and 100,995 in the immunotherapy era. OS was significantly higher in the immunotherapy era, as shown by Kaplan-Meier curves (1-year OS, 40.1% vs. 33.5%; 3-year OS, 17.8% vs. 11.7%; 5-year OS, 10.7% vs. 6.8%; median OS, 8 vs. 7 months; p < .001 by log-rank test). Similarly, cancer-specific survival improved in the immunotherapy era (1-year survival, 44.0% vs. 36.8%; 3-year survival, 21.7% vs. 14.4%; 5-year survival, 14.3% vs. 9.0%; median OS, 10 vs. 8 months; p < .001 by log-rank test). Survival rates were significantly better in the immunotherapy era, as confirmed by multivariate analysis with a Cox proportional hazards model after adjusting for age, sex, race, income, and geographical area (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.830; 95% CI, 0.821-0.840; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the survival rate of patients with metastatic NSCLC has improved since the introduction of immunotherapy.

Exploring medical first responders' perceptions of mass casualty incident scenario training: a qualitative study on learning conditions and recommendations for improvement.

OBJECTIVE: Despite participating in scenario training, many medical first responders (MFRs) perceive themselves as inadequately prepared to respond to mass casualty incidents (MCIs). The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive examination of traditional MCI scenario training methods, focusing on their inherent strengths and limitations. An investigation into the perceptions of MFRs who had participated in MCI scenario training was carried out to identify potential areas for improvement and provide recommendations for refining MCI training protocols. DESIGN: Qualitative inductive approach using semistructured interviews that took place between October 2021 and February 2022. Data were analysed with qualitative content analysis. SETTING: MCI scenario training involving four organisations (three emergency medical services and one search-and-rescue organisation) tasked with responding to MCIs, collectively representing four European Union countries. PARTICIPANTS: 27 MFRs (17 emergency medical services personnel and 10 search-and-rescue volunteers) were recruited to participate in the study. RESULTS: Two categories and seven associated subcategories (shown in parentheses) were identified as influencing the learning outcomes for MFRs: Training in a context mirroring real-world incidents (conducting incident scene risk assessment, realistic representation in casualties, incorporating scenario variety into the curriculum, interagency collaboration, role alignment when training incident site management) and use of a pedagogical framework (allowing for mistakes, the importance of post-training evaluation). CONCLUSIONS: This study reaffirms the value of traditional MCI scenario training and identifies areas for enhancement, advocating for realistic scenarios, interagency collaboration, improved incident site management skills and thorough post-training evaluation. It suggests a shift in MCI training conceptualisation and delivery. The potential of virtual reality technologies as a valuable addition to training methods is explored, with a note on the need for further research to ascertain the long-term effectiveness of these technologies. However, the selection of a training method should consider programme goals, target population and resources.

Expression of the Discoidin Domain Receptor Family Depended on Glucose and Their High Expression in Arterial Tissues in the Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes.

The active form of discoidin domain receptors (DDRs) is expressed in cell surface and regulated post-translationally by glucose. The DDR2 and DDR1 transfected in HEK293 cells were expressed mainly in their active forms with sizes of 130 and 120 kDa, respectively. DDRs were observed predominantly as 100 kDa proteins in glucose-depleted culture conditions. However, transfection of endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) in HEK293 cells resulted in the expression of only one form regardless of glucose concentration. Vascular smooth muscle cells, HT1080s, and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells expressed DDRs in their active forms in high glucose concentrations, which did not occur with EGFR. In diabetic rats, DDRs were expressed at high levels in arterial tissue but EGFR was not highly expressed. Taken together, these results suggest that DDRs expression depends on glucose concentration it may cooperate in the development of atherosclerosis and kidney fibroblasts, promoting nephropathy in diabetic rats.