Effects of school nurse-led health education to reduce malnutrition among primary school children in Bangladesh: Cluster nonrandomized controlled trial.

Background: Malnutrition is a major health concern among children especially in low and middle-income countries. However, there are limited studies on school health in Bangladesh. This study aimed to reduce malnutrition among primary school children in Bangladesh by increasing awareness and knowledge through school nurse-led health education. Methods and Materials: A prospective, open-label, parallel-group (1:1), cluster nonrandomized controlled trial on primary school children conducted in rural Bangladesh. The study lasted 13 months between September 2021 and September 2022. Four schools were selected and assigned to the intervention and control groups (CGs). Next, school nurses provided evidence-based health education to the children in the intervention group (IG) for 9 months to improve awareness and knowledge of malnutrition. Data were collected at baseline, midline, and endline. Results: Overall, 604 children were enrolled at the baseline; among them, 455 (CG, n = 220; IG, n = 235) completed the study. Changes in the malnutrition rate-the primary outcome-were not significant (P = 0.225). However, after adjusting the endline data with baseline and sociodemographic data, the children's body mass index improved significantly in the IG than in the CG (P < 0.05). Changes in eating behavior, and awareness and knowledge of malnutrition-the secondary outcomes-significantly differed between the groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The school nurse-led health education program significantly improved primary school children's awareness and knowledge of malnutrition. This study revealed the effectiveness of school nurses in reducing malnutrition among children, which may decrease future morbidity and mortality rates in children.

Continuously tunable photonic true-time-delay device for millimeter-wave beamforming.

We present a novel CMOS compatible plasma dispersion modulation scheme for slow wave photonic true-time-delay structure harnessing the frozen mode to enable applications in millimeter-wave (mmWave) beamforming. Leveraging the Soref-Bennett model for the electro-refractive effect in silicon plasma dispersion, continuous tunability of approximately 6.8 ps/V with a peak delay of approximately 11.4 ps is achieved for a low threshold voltage of 0.9 V. This plasma dispersion will enable fast and sophisticated modulation and beamforming in 5G mmWave and 6G terahertz communications.

DNA Methyl Transferase 3A (DNMT3A) Mutation Presenting as Isolated Pure Red Cell Aplasia.

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a rare disorder mainly affecting the erythroid precursor cells. It presents with severe isolated reticulocytopenia with relatively normal counts in the myeloid and megakaryocytic lineages. It has been attributed to numerous congenital and acquired causes. DNA Methyl Transferase 3 Alpha (DNMT3A) mutation has been typically associated with myeloid and lymphoid malignancies. There is a scarcity of data regarding the association of DNMT3A mutation with PRCA. We report a case of a 73-year-old man who initially presented with anemia and reticulocytopenia. After a thorough evaluation and eventual bone marrow biopsy, he was diagnosed with PRCA. Further genetic testing identified a DNMT3A mutation. We are reporting this rare case to highlight the fact that DNMT3A mutation can also present as isolated PRCA in and of itself without the co-occurrence of leukemia, lymphoma, or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Nursing education in Bangladesh: a social business model.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: The aim of this project was to develop a quality nurse education programme in Bangladesh. A sustainable social business financial model was used. The project is a collaboration between Glasgow Caledonian University and the Grameen Health Care Trust. It contributes to the UN development agenda, eradication of poverty, sustainability and the development of global partnerships. BACKGROUND: There is an acute shortage of nurses in Bangladesh but many young women who wish to become nurses are unable to do so. Women are discriminated against, have few leadership opportunities and poverty affects large proportions of rural society. DEVELOPMENT: The collaboration between the University and the Trust provides the necessary input to ensure a quality nursing programme. A business plan was developed, competency-based teaching introduced, infrastructure and financial management processes were set-up and an evaluation framework was put in place. EVALUATION: The systems evaluation framework monitors the financial status of the College and the effects of the programme on students. The social business model, providing access to educational loans, has enabled 118 students to graduate into employment. The College is currently on target to be financially sustainable by 2016. DISCUSSION: This project outlines a business model that tackles poverty, gender equality and contributes to the human resource deficit. Young women are equipped as change agents and leaders. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: The social business model provides a mechanism for releasing funds for education to those who are impoverished. It provides a viable option for increasing the number of well-educated nurse leaders in developing countries.

An old dog and new tricks: Genetic analysis of a Tudor dog recovered from the Mary Rose wreck.

The Tudor warship the Mary Rose sank in the Solent waters between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight on the 19th of July 1545, whilst engaging a French invasion fleet. The ship was rediscovered in 1971 and between 1979 and 1982 the entire contents of the ship were excavated resulting in the recovery of over 25,000 objects, including the skeleton of a small to medium sized dog referred to as the Mary Rose Dog (MRD). Here we report the extraction and analysis of both mitochondrial and genomic DNA from a tooth of this animal. Our results show that the MRD was a young male of a terrier type most closely related to modern Jack Russell Terriers with a light to dark brown coat colour. Interestingly, given the antiquity of the sample, the dog was heterozygotic for the SLC2A9 gene variant that leads to hyperuricosuria when found in modern homozygotic animals. These findings help shed light on a notable historical artefact from an important period in the development of modern dog breeds.

Histological characterization of bone marrow in ectopic bone, induced by devitalized Saos-2 human osteosarcoma cells.

UNLABELLED: Devitalized Saos-2, cultured human osteosarcoma cells, or guanidinium-hydrochloride (GuHCl) extracts of these cells, induce ectopic bone and marrow formation when implanted subcutaneously in Nu/Nu mice. The aim of the present study was to characterize the bone marrow induced by Saos-2 cell extracts, specifically to determine which of the four major hematopoietic cell lineages: erythropoietic, granulopoietic, lymphopoietic and megakaryocytic, are induced by Saos-2 cell derivatives. METHODS: Immunohistochemical localization of specific antigens was used to determine the presence of each major cell type (glycophorin A for erythropoietic, neutrophil elastase for granulopoietic, factor-VIII related antigen for megakaryocytes, and CD79a for B lymphocytes). RESULTS: Standard H & E stains confirmed the presence of normally organized apparently complete bone marrow within all newly induced bone at 3 weeks post-implantation of devitalized Saos-2 cells. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of erythropoietic cells, granulopoietic cells, megakaryocytes and B lymphocytes in the ectopic marrow. CONCLUSION: Saos-2 cells (freeze-dried) or their extracts, implanted subcutaneously into Nu/Nu mice, can induce normal marrow that is host-derived, and contains all major hematopoietic cell lineages. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Saos-2 induced marrow could potentially restore deficient marrow and promote bone repair.

Asthenopia and blink rate under visual and cognitive loads.

PURPOSE: Asthenopia has been associated with reading under visually stressful conditions. However, it is not known whether increased cognitive load contributes to asthenopic symptoms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contribution of increased cognitive load (with or without visual stress inducing conditions) to asthenopic symptoms associated with prolonged near work. METHODS: Thirty-three visually normal subjects, aged 18 to 30 years, participated in the study. Subjects read texts or watched videos under different visual stress and cognitive loads. Visual stress conditions were good visual quality, low contrast, and induced refractive error. The cognitive load levels were watching video, reading fairy tales, and reading technical articles. As an additional task, subjects also listened to technical articles. At the end of each condition, subjects rated the magnitude of any asthenopic symptoms, visual discomfort, and cognitive discomfort they experienced during the task. Electromyography potentials recorded from the lower orbicularis oculi muscle were used to obtain blink rate. RESULTS: Subjects reported greater internal symptoms for the refractive error condition coupled with higher cognitive load compared to good visual and low contrast conditions (p < 0.01). For the low contrast condition coupled with higher cognitive load, greater external symptoms were reported compared to good visual and refractive error conditions (p < 0.05). However, asthenopic symptoms were not reported for cognitively demanding tasks when the visual condition was good. Blink rates were not significantly different between the good visual and low contrast conditions within each cognitive load level. For the cognitively difficult reading conditions, blink rate was significantly decreased for the low contrast and good visual conditions compared to the refractive error condition. CONCLUSIONS: An interaction between cognitive and visual demands was observed. Greater cognitive loads accentuate the same differentiated symptoms normally caused by visual stressors.

Interactions of visual and cognitive stress.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this research is to assess the ocular and muscular response to long-duration reading under different visual and cognitive difficulty levels. METHODS: Thirty-five subjects, with 20/20 vision and without history of ocular pathology or cognitive deficits, participated in the study. Subjects read under different visual and cognitive difficulty levels for 6 (30-minute) conditions. Upper and lower orbicularis oculi, frontalis, and trapezius muscle activities were recorded using surface electromyography (EMG). Aperture size, pupil diameter, and pulse rate of the subjects were recorded with a video camera, pulse meter, and ISCAN eye tracker (ISCAN Inc.), respectively. RESULTS: The results show that the texts read with a refractive error caused increased orbicularis oculi EMG power and reduced aperture size (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the conditions for pulse rate, pupil diameter, or EMG activity of the frontalis and trapezius muscles with either visual or cognitive stress presented in this experiment. CONCLUSION: Visual stress experienced due to reading under an induced refractive error is potentially mediated by a local mechanism, different from the mechanism underlying reading under low contrast or high cognitive demand.

Low-loss polynomial White cell optical true-time delay engine for wideband radio frequency array beam steering.

An optical true-time delay (OTTD) engine based on a polynomial White cell (quadratic) is designed and simulated with commercially available components with a time delay increment of at least 25 ps for wideband beam steering in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz. The simulated quantification of aberration losses show for the first time that aberration losses in the null cell are about 5.0 dB. However, for the longer delay arms, there is an additional loss of about 3.2 dB/delay each time a beam travels an arm with a lens train used as a delay element compared with the same delay generated without a lens train. We present a design and simulation of a low-loss delay arms quartic cell without a lens train by using a separate field lens for each delay arm for efficient wideband beam steering.

Matrix vesicles are carriers of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and noncollagenous matrix proteins.

Matrix vesicles (MVs) are well positioned in the growth plate to serve as a carrier of morphogenetic information to nearby chondrocytes and osteoblasts. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) carried in MVs could promote differentiation of these skeletal cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in MVs could stimulate angiogenesis. Therefore, a study was undertaken to confirm the presence of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-1 through-7, VEGF, and the noncollagenous matrix proteins, bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OC), and osteonectin (ON) in isolated rat growth plate MVs. MVs were isolated from collagenase-digested rachitic rat tibial and femoral growth plates. The presence of BMP-1 through BMP-7, VEGF, BSP, ON, OPN, and OC was evaluated by Western blot, plus ELISA analyses for BMP-2 and-4 content. The alkaline phosphatase-raising ability of MV extracts on cultured rat growth plate chondrocytes was measured as a reflection of MV ability to promote chondroosseous differentiation. BMP-1 through-7, VEGF, BSP, ON, OPN, and OC were all detected by Western blot analyses. Chondrocytes treated with MV extracts showed a two-to threefold increase in alkaline phosphatase activity over control, indicating increased differentiation. Significant amounts of BMP-2 and BMP-4 were detected in MVs by ELISA. Combined, these data suggest that MVs could play an important morphogenetic role in growth plate and endochondral bone formation.

Expression and synthesis of bone morphogenetic proteins by osteoclasts: a possible path to anabolic bone remodeling.

Skeletal remodeling is a finely orchestrated process coupling bone formation to bone resorption. The dynamics of coupling is regulated by the microenvironment at the bone remodeling site, which in turn is influenced by the intercellular communication between cells like osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Understanding the dynamics of coupling is important in devising new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of skeletal diseases characterized by disturbances in the bone remodeling process. In this study, we report the localization of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in osteoclasts generated from primary cocultures of bone marrow cells from mouse femur and tibia with mouse calvarial osteoblasts, using immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. Positive staining was seen in osteoclasts for BMP-2, -4, -6, and -7. Real-time PCR was used to quantitatively confirm the expression of transcripts for BMP-2, BMP-4, and BMP-6 mRNA in murine osteoclasts. Finally, the presence of BMP-2, -4, -6, and-7 proteins was confirmed in osteoclast lysates by Western blotting. Overall, our data suggest a possible direct role for osteoclasts in promoting bone formation via expression and synthesis of BMPs, which then would play an important role in promoting the recruitment, proliferation, and differentiation of osteoblasts at bone resorption sites.

Objective measurements of lower-level visual stress.

PURPOSE: To determine the sensitivity of the electromyography (EMG) response of the orbicularis oculi muscle to selected lower-level visually stressful conditions to establish the extent to which it can be used as a measure of visual discomfort. METHODS: Thirty-one subjects (18 years or older) with 20/20 vision, without history of ocular pathology, oculomotor limitation, or cognitive deficits participated in the study. Subjects read on a computer display for 27 trials of 5 min duration under different low-level asthenopic conditions. The conditions were graded levels of font size, font type, contrast, refractive error, and glare. Orbicularis oculi activity was recorded using surface EMG. Blink-free epochs of EMG data were analyzed for power for all the conditions. Blink rate for all the trials was also measured. At the end of each trial, subjects rated the severity of visual discomfort experienced while reading. RESULTS: Conditions that benefit from squint (refractive error and glare) showed increased EMG power (p < 0.001) from the orbicularis and increased blink rate (p = 0.002), whereas those that do not benefit from squint (small font and low contrast) showed no significant EMG response and a significant decrease in blink rate (p = 0.003 and p = 0.01). All conditions resulted in significant visual discomfort; the p value for font type was 0.039 and p < 0.001 for the other conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the squint-beneficial conditions are operated by a local mechanism involving contraction of the orbicularis and increase in reflex blinking, whereas those that do not benefit from squint do not engage the orbicularis and decrease blink, possibly through central inhibition of spontaneous blinking. The EMG response is a sensitive objective measure for the squint-beneficial conditions. However, for the non-squint-beneficial conditions, blink rate may be a more sensitive objective measure, although EMG with longer trial durations should be tested.

Design and demonstration of a switching engine for a binary true-time-delay device that uses a white cell.

Optical true-time-delay devices based on the White cell can be divided into two general types: polynomial cells, in which the number of delays that can be obtained is related to the number of times m that a beam bounces in the cell raised to some power, and exponential cells, in which the number of delays is proportional to some number raised to the power of m. In exponential cells, the topic to be addressed, the spatial light modulator switches between a delay element and a null path on each bounce. We describe an improved design of this switching engine, which contains a liquid-crystal switch and a White cell. We examine astigmatism and corrections for it and present a specific design.