The effect of internet-administered support (carer eSupport) on preparedness for caregiving in informal caregivers of patients with head and neck cancer compared with support as usual: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Informal caregivers (ICs) of patients with cancer provide essential and mainly uncompensated care. A self-perceived preparedness to care for the patient is associated with a lower caregiver burden, described as the extent to which caregiving is perceived as having adverse effects on IC functioning and well-being. ICs' well-being is associated with patient-perceived quality of care, suggesting that interventions to optimize ICs' health are essential in order to improve patient care. Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common malignant disease in the world. The disease and its treatment have a significant negative impact on the patient's health and quality of life. Symptoms usually interfere with swallowing, food and fluid intake, breathing, speaking, and communication. ICs frequently manage patients' symptoms and side effects, especially problems related to nutrition and oral pain, without being properly prepared. Carer eSupport is an Internet-administered intervention, based on focus group discussions with ICs, developed in collaboration with ICs and healthcare professionals, tested for feasibility, and deemed feasible. This study protocol outlines the methods of investigating the effects of Carer eSupport plus support as usual (SAU) on self-reported preparedness for caregiving, caregiver burden, and well-being in the ICs of patients with HNC, compared with ICs receiving SAU only. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: In this randomized controlled trial, 110 ICs of patients with HNC, undergoing radiotherapy combined with surgery and/or medical oncological treatment, will be randomized (1:1) to Carer eSupport plus SAU or SAU only. Data will be collected at baseline (before randomization), post-intervention (after 18 weeks), and 3 months after post-intervention. The primary outcome is self-reported preparedness for caregiving. Secondary outcomes are self-reported caregiver burden, anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life. The effect of Carer eSupport plus SAU on preparedness for caregiving and secondary outcomes, compared with SAU only, will be evaluated by intention to treat analyses using linear regression models, mixed-model regression, or analysis of covariance. DISCUSSION: If proven effective, Carer eSupport has the potential to significantly improve ICs' preparedness for caregiving and their wellbeing, thereby improving patient-perceived quality of care and patient wellbeing. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT06307418, registered 12.03.2024 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/search? term=NCT06307418).

Gut microbiota and their derivatives in the progression of colorectal cancer: Mechanisms of action, genome and epigenome contributions.

Gut microbiota interacts with host epithelial cells and regulates many physiological functions such as genetics, epigenetics, metabolism of nutrients, and immune functions. Dietary factors may also be involved in the etiology of colorectal cancer (CRC), especially when an unhealthy diet is consumed with excess calorie intake and bad practices like smoking or consuming a great deal of alcohol. Bacteria including Fusobacterium nucleatum, Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF), and Escherichia coli (E. coli) actively participate in the carcinogenesis of CRC. Gastrointestinal tract with chronic inflammation and immunocompromised patients are at high risk for CRC progression. Further, the gut microbiota is also involved in Geno-toxicity by producing toxins like colibactin and cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) which cause damage to double-stranded DNA. Specific microRNAs can act as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes depending on the cellular environment in which they are expressed. The current review mainly highlights the role of gut microbiota in CRC, the mechanisms of several factors in carcinogenesis, and the role of particular microbes in colorectal neoplasia.

Blood cell image segmentation and classification: a systematic review.

Background: Blood diseases such as leukemia, anemia, lymphoma, and thalassemia are hematological disorders that relate to abnormalities in the morphology and concentration of blood elements, specifically white blood cells (WBC) and red blood cells (RBC). Accurate and efficient diagnosis of these conditions significantly depends on the expertise of hematologists and pathologists. To assist the pathologist in the diagnostic process, there has been growing interest in utilizing computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) techniques, particularly those using medical image processing and machine learning algorithms. Previous surveys in this domain have been narrowly focused, often only addressing specific areas like segmentation or classification but lacking a holistic view like segmentation, classification, feature extraction, dataset utilization, evaluation matrices, etc. Methodology: This survey aims to provide a comprehensive and systematic review of existing literature and research work in the field of blood image analysis using deep learning techniques. It particularly focuses on medical image processing techniques and deep learning algorithms that excel in the morphological characterization of WBCs and RBCs. The review is structured to cover four main areas: segmentation techniques, classification methodologies, descriptive feature selection, evaluation parameters, and dataset selection for the analysis of WBCs and RBCs. Results: Our analysis reveals several interesting trends and preferences among researchers. Regarding dataset selection, approximately 50% of research related to WBC segmentation and 60% for RBC segmentation opted for manually obtaining images rather than using a predefined dataset. When it comes to classification, 45% of the previous work on WBCs chose the ALL-IDB dataset, while a significant 73% of researchers focused on RBC classification decided to manually obtain images from medical institutions instead of utilizing predefined datasets. In terms of feature selection for classification, morphological features were the most popular, being chosen in 55% and 80% of studies related to WBC and RBC classification, respectively. Conclusion: The diagnostic accuracy for blood-related diseases like leukemia, anemia, lymphoma, and thalassemia can be significantly enhanced through the effective use of CAD techniques, which have evolved considerably in recent years. This survey provides a broad and in-depth review of the techniques being employed, from image segmentation to classification, feature selection, utilization of evaluation matrices, and dataset selection. The inconsistency in dataset selection suggests a need for standardized, high-quality datasets to strengthen the diagnostic capabilities of these techniques further. Additionally, the popularity of morphological features indicates that future research could further explore and innovate in this direction.

Improved Electrochemical Performance of Aqueous Hybrid Supercapacitors Using CrCo2O4 Mesoporous Nanowires: An Innovative Strategy toward Sustainable Energy Devices.

High-rate aqueous hybrid supercapacitors (AHSCs) have attracted relevant scientific significance owing to their expected energy density, supercapacitor-level power density, and battery-level energy density. In this work, a bimetallic nanostructured material with chromium-incorporated cobalt oxide (CCO, i.e., CoCr2O4) was prepared via a hydrothermal method to form a stable cubic obelisk structure. Compared with CCO materials prepared using traditional methods, CCO displayed a nanowire structure (50 nm diameter), suggesting an enhanced specific surface area and a large number of active sites for chemical reactions. The electrode possessed a high specific capacitance (2951 F g-1) at a current density of 1 A g-1, minimum Rct (0.135 Ω), and the highest capacitance retention (98.7%), making it an ideal electrode material for AHSCs. Ex situ analysis based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed a favorable stability of CCO after 10,000 cycles without any phase changes being detected. GGA and GGA + U methods employed in density functional theory (DFT) also highlighted the enhanced metallic properties of CCO originating from the synergistic effect of semiconducting Cr2O3 and Co3O4 materials.

Green synthesis of ZnO nanocubes from Ceropegia omissa H. Huber extract for photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol An under visible light to mitigate water pollution.

Plastic pollution has become a major environmental problem because it does not break down and poses risks to ecosystems and human health. This study focuses on the environmentally friendly synthesis of ZnO nanocubes using an extract from Ceropegia omissa H. Huber plant leaves. The primary goal is to investigate the viability of these nanocubes as visible-light photocatalysts for the degradation of bisphenol A (BPA). The synthesized ZnO nanocubes have a highly crystalline structure and a bandgap of 3.1 eV, making them suitable for effective visible-light photocatalysis. FTIR analysis, which demonstrates that the pertinent functional groups are present, demonstrates the chemical bonding and reducing processes that take place in the plant extract. The XPS method also studies zinc metals, oxygen valencies, and binding energies. Under visible light irradiation, ZnO nanocubes degrade BPA by 86% in 30 min. This plant-extract-based green synthesis method provides a long-term replacement for traditional procedures, and visible light photocatalysis has advantages over ultraviolet light. The study's results show that ZnO nanocubes may be good for the environment and can work well as visible light photocatalysts to break down organic pollutants. This adds to what is known about using nanoparticles to clean up the environment. As a result, this study highlights the potential of using environmentally friendly ZnO nanocubes as a long-lasting and efficient method of reducing organic pollutant contamination in aquatic environments.

Benign-by-design plant extract-mediated preparation of copper oxide nanoparticles for environmentally related applications.

A facile, cost-competitive, scalable and novel synthetic approach is used to prepare copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) using Betel leaf (Piper betle) extracts as reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents. CuO-NPs were characterized using various analytical techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), as well as photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The activity of CuO-NPs was investigated towards Congo red dye degradation, supercapacitor energy storage and antibacterial activity. A maximum of 89% photodegradation of Congo red dye (CR) was obtained. The nanoparticle modified electrode also exhibited a specific capacitance (Csp) of 179 Fg-1. Furthermore, the antibacterial potential of CuO NPs was evaluated against Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, both strains displaying high antibacterial performance.

Evaluation on microalgae for the production of bio-chemicals and electricity.

Recent advancement in biophotovoltaic systems using microalgae, coupled with biorefinery approach, would improve economy-feasibility in production. The major concern is its commercial strength in terms of scalability, strain selection and extraction procedure cost. It must compete with conventional feedstocks such as fossil fuels. This project proposes to enhance the economic feasibility of microalgae-based biorefinery by evaluating their performance for bio-electricity, bio-diesel and carotenoids production in a single cycle. The first part of the study was to construct and select a Bio-bottle Voltaic (BBV) device that would allow microalgae to grow and produce bioproducts, as well as generate the maximum current output reading derived from the microalgae's photosynthesis process. The second phase consisted of a 25-day investigation into the biorefinery performance of six different microalgal species in producing bio-electricity, bio-diesel and carotenoid in a prototype BBV device. The prototype BBV device with aluminium foil and pencil lead as its anode and cathode produced the highest carotenoid and biodiesel component production from the two microalgae tested, according to the results of the first phase of the experiment. In the second portion of the study, Scenedesmus dimorphus and Chlorella vulgaris were identified as the two microalgae most capable of maintaining their growth throughout the experiment. The maximum current reading observed for C. vulgaris was 653 mV. High Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis showed four major carotenoid compounds found which were Neoxanthin, Cantaxanthin, Astaxanthin and 9-cis antheraxanthin, and the highest carotenoid producer was C. vulgaris which recorded at 1.73 µg/mL. C. vulgaris recorded as the most alkanes producer with 22 compounds detected and Heptacosane and Heneicosane as the two major biodiesel compounds found in the extracts. Evaluation of C. vulgaris data showed that it has enormous potential for microalgal biorefinery candidates. Further ongoing research and development efforts for C. vulgaris will improve the economic viability of microalgae-based industries and reduce reliance on depleted fossil fuels.

Designing a Mobile e-Coaching App for Immigrant Informal Caregivers: Qualitative Study Using the Persuasive System Design Model.

BACKGROUND: Informal caregivers are vital in caring for their family and friends at home who may have illnesses or disabilities. In particular, the demands for caregiving can be even more challenging for those with limited resources, support systems, and language barriers, such as immigrant informal caregivers. They face complex challenges in providing care for their relatives. These challenges can be related to sociocultural diversity, language barriers, and health care system navigation. Acknowledging the global context of the increasing number of immigrants is essential in designing inclusive mobile health apps. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the needs of immigrant informal caregivers in Sweden and discuss the application of the Persuasive System Design Model (PSDM) to develop an e-coaching prototype. By addressing the unique challenges faced by immigrant informal caregivers, this study will contribute to the development of more effective and inclusive mobile health apps. METHODS: The participants were considered immigrants and included in the study if they and their parents were born outside of Sweden. Through various channels, such as the National Association of Relatives, rehabilitation departments at municipalities, and immigrant groups, we recruited 13 immigrant informal caregivers. These immigrant informal caregivers were primarily women aged 18 to 40 years. Most participants belonged to the Middle Eastern region whereas some were from North Africa. However, all of them spoke Arabic. We used semistructured interviews to gather data from the participants in Arabic, which were translated into English. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and discussed in relation to the extended PSDM. The needs of the caregivers were compared with the description of persuasive design principles, and a design principle was chosen based on the match. The PSDM was extended if the need description did not match any principles. Several brainstorming and prototyping sessions were conducted to design the mobile e-coaching app. RESULTS: Immigrant informal caregivers have various needs in their caregiving role. They reported a need for training on the illness and future caregiving needs, assistance with understanding the Swedish language and culture, and help with accessing internet-based information and services. They also required recognition and appreciation for their efforts, additional informal support, and easy access to health care services, which can be important for their mental health. The PSDM was adapted to the informal caregiving context by adding "facilitating conditions" and "verbal encouragement" as additional persuasive design principles. This study also presents the subsequent mobile e-coaching app for immigrant informal caregivers in Sweden. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed important immigrant informal caregivers' needs based on which design suggestions for a mobile e-coaching app were presented. We also proposed an adapted PSDM, for the informal caregiving context. The adapted PSDM can be further used to design digital interventions for caregiving.

Exogenous Application of 24-Epibrassinolide Confers Saline Stress and Improves Photosynthetic Capacity, Antioxidant Defense, Mineral Uptake, and Yield in Maize.

Salinity is one of the major environmental stresses threatening crop production, the natural ecosystem, global food security, and the socioeconomic health of humans. Thus, the development of eco-friendly strategies to mitigate saline stress and/or enhance crop tolerance is an important issue worldwide. Therefore, this study was conducted during the summer of 2022 to investigate the potential of 24-Epibrassinolide (EBL) for mitigating saline stress and improving photosynthetic capacity, antioxidant defense systems, mineral uptake, and yield in maize (Zea mays L.) grown under a controlled hydroponic system. Three saline stress levels-S1 (control/no added NaCl), S2 (60 mM NaCl), and S3 (120 mM NaCl)-were continuously applied with nutrient solution, whereas exogenous EBL (i.e., control, 0.1 µM and 0.2 µM) was applied as exogenous application three times (i.e., 40, 55, 70 days after sowing). The experiment was designed as a split-plot in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in which saline stress was the main factor and EBL treatment was the sub-factor. Results showed that saline stress significantly affected plant growth, physiological performance, biochemistry, antioxidant activity, and yield attributes. However, the exogenous application of EBL at 0.2 µM significantly mitigated the salt stress and thus improved plant performance even under 120 mM NaCl saline stress. For instance, as compared to untreated plants (control), 0.2 µM EBL application improved plant height (+18%), biomass (+19%), SPAD (+32%), Fv/Fm (+28%), rate of photosynthesis (+11%), carboxylation efficiency (+6%), superoxide dismutase (SOD +14%), catalase (CAT +18%), ascorbate peroxidase (APX +20%), K+ (+24%), 100-grain weight (+11%), and grain yield (+47%) of maize grown under salt stress. Additionally, it resulted in a 23% reduction in Na+ accumulation in leaves and a 25% reduction in for Na+/K+ ratio under saline stress as compared to control. Furthermore, the Pearson's correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted the significance of exogenous EBL as saline stress mitigator in maize. Overall, our results indicated the protective effects of EBL application to the alleviation of saline stress in crop plants. However, further exploration of its mechanism of action and crop-specific response is suggested prior to commercial use in agriculture.

Sugarcane-bagasse-ash in enhanced mesophilic Co-digestion for biogas and nutrient recovery: A concept of developing rural circular bioeconomy.

Conductive agro-industrial wastes as accelerants in the anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic waste is a good technique for developing a rural circular economy, such as producing bioenergy and biofertilizer. This study disclosed the a role of sugar cane bagasse ash (SCBA) in enhancing the bioenergy (biogas) yield and digestate fertility via anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) of buffalo dung (BD) and vegetable residue (VR) under mesophilic conditions (37 á´¼C). Firstly, an optimal BD/VR ratio (1:3) was determined based on biogas yield by introducing five different BD/VR ratios (1:0, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, and 0:1) into AcoD systems. Secondly, the biogas yield was increased further by adding SCBA at five different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 wt%). Experimental results disclosed that the 1.5 wt% of SCBA gave the highest cumulative biogas yield (153.67 mL/g VS), COD removal rate (31.18%), and fertility (5.08%). Moreover, a framework is suggested to understand the role of SCBA in the enhanced DIET mechanism. This work documents an environmentally friendly and economical technique for developing a rural circular bioeconomy via the AD of organic agro-waste.

Designing and Evaluating IT Applications for Informal Caregivers: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: A growing number of informal caregivers in many countries are important for effective functioning of health care in our society. Hence, they must receive the required support and services to continue providing care. IT applications can be used to support informal caregivers in their caregiving activities. However, evidence-informed guidelines for developing such IT applications and their evaluation are scarce. Hence, this scoping review can aid researchers and designers by providing design recommendations for IT apps for caregivers and potentially improve the design of IT applications for caregivers to meet their needs better. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the proposal for a scoping review of current practices and recommendations in designing and evaluating IT applications for informal caregivers. The scoping review will also discuss the opportunities and challenges in designing these IT applications. METHODS: We will use a 5-step scoping review methodology to map relevant literature published as follows: (1) identify the research question, (2) identify relevant studies, (3) select relevant studies for review, (4) chart the data from selected literature, and (5) summarize and report results. A structured search will be conducted in PubMed, Scopus, IEEE digital library, Web of Science, and ACM Digital Library databases. In addition, hand searches of reference lists and keyword searches in Google Scholar will also be conducted. Inclusion criteria will be researched (journal and conference) articles focused on IT applications designed for use by informal caregivers and study type to be qualitative studies. Two reviewers will independently identify articles for review and extract data. Conflicts will be discussed, and a third reviewer will be consulted if a consensus cannot be reached. These data will be analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: The results from this scoping review will be presented in a narrative form, and additional data on study characteristics will be presented in diagrams or tabular format. Uppsala University first initiated this scoping review protocol in December 2021 as part of the European Union-funded project ENTWINE. This work was also supported by the Swedish Research Council and the Swedish Cancer Society. The results will be presented in August 2023 and will be disseminated through a report to the European Union and a peer-reviewed journal publication. In addition, the team plans to share its findings on various public platforms, including social media, blog posts, and relevant conferences and workshops. CONCLUSIONS: This is, to our knowledge, the first study to map the literature on the design and evaluation of IT applications for informal caregivers. The scoping review's results will detail the requirements, design suggestions, and user preferences, as well as the usability criteria and features of IT applications for informal caregivers. A mapping of studies could inform the design and implementation of future IT applications for informal caregivers. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/47650.

Understanding the challenges and need for support of informal caregivers to individuals with head and neck cancer - A basis for developing internet-based support.

PURPOSE: Being an informal caregiver of an individual with head and neck cancer can be demanding. Still, informal caregivers can provide valuable support to patients throughout the disease trajectory. The aim of this study was to explore informal caregivers' views on their challenges and needs in attaining high preparedness for caregiving. METHODS: Fifteen informal caregivers of individuals with head- and neck cancer participated in a focus group discussion or an individual interview. Thematic analysis utilizing an inductive approach was performed. RESULTS: The results describe the challenges that informal caregivers to individuals with head and neck cancer perceive and their needs for support in preparedness for caregiving. Three main themes were found: Challenges of being an informal caregiver, Transformation in life and Informal caregiver' needs of support and sharing care. CONCLUSION: This study contributes to the understanding of the challenges for informal caregivers to individuals with head and neck cancer in increasing preparedness for caregiving. To improve preparedness for caregiving, informal caregivers need education, information and support regarding physical, psychological and social issues for individuals with head and neck cancer.

Design suggestions for a persuasive e-coaching application: A study on informal caregivers' needs.

Objective: Informal caregivers such as relatives or close friends of patients are essential for caregiving at home. However, caregiving is a complex experience that may affect the caregivers' well-being. Therefore, there is a need to provide support for caregivers, which we address in this article by proposing design suggestions for an e-coaching application. This study identifies the unmet needs of caregivers in Sweden and provides design suggestions for an e-coaching application using the persuasive system design (PSD) model. The PSD model offers a systematic approach to designing IT interventions. Methods: A qualitative research design was used, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 informal caregivers from different municipalities in Sweden. A thematic analysis was performed to analyze the data. The PSD model was used to map the needs emerging from this analysis to propose design suggestions for an e-coaching application for caregivers. Results: Six needs were identified, and based on them, we proposed design suggestions for an e-coaching application using the PSD model. These unmet needs are monitoring and guidance, assistance to avail formal care services, access to practical information without being overwhelmed, feeling of community, access to informal support, and grief acceptance. The last two needs could not be mapped using the existing PSD model, resulting in an extended PSD model. Conclusion: This study revealed the important needs of informal caregivers based on which design suggestions for an e-coaching application were presented. We also proposed an adapted PSD model. This adapted PSD model can be further used for designing digital interventions in caregiving.

Doubtful Clinical Value of Subtyping Anti-U1-RNP Antibodies Regarding the RNP-70 kDa Antigen in Sera of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

The detection of antinuclear antibodies is central to the diagnosis and prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Anti-U1-RNP and anti-RNP70 antibodies were assayed in the sera of patients with SLE (n = 114), pSS (n = 54) and MCTD (n = 12). In the SLE group, 34/114 (30%) were anti-U1-RNP positive, and 21/114 (18%) were both anti-RNP70 positive and anti-U1-RNP positive. In the MCTD group, 10/12 (83%) were anti-U1-RNP positive, and 9/12 (75%) were anti-RNP70 positive. Only one individual with pSS was antibody positive (for both anti-U1-RNP and anti-RNP70). All anti-RNP70-positive samples were also anti-U1-RNP positive. Anti-U1-RNP-positive subjects with SLE were younger (p < 0.0001); showed lower concentrations of complement protein 3 (p = 0.03); had lower eosinophil (p = 0.0005), lymphocyte (p = 0.006) and monocyte (p = 0.03) counts; and had accrued less organ damage (p = 0.006) than the anti-U1-RNP-negative SLE patients. However, we observed no significant clinical or laboratory parameter differences between the anti-U1-RNP-positive individuals with/without anti-RNP70 in the SLE group. In conclusion, anti-RNP70 antibodies are not exclusive to MCTD but are rarely detected in pSS and healthy individuals. In SLE, anti-U1-RNP antibodies are associated with a clinical phenotype that resembles MCTD, with hematologic involvement and less damage accrual. Based on our results, the clinical value of subtyping anti-RNP70 in anti-U1-RNP-positive sera appears to be of limited value.

Hydrothermal synthesis of V2O5/TiO2 decorated graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposite for biomolecule oxidation inhibition and dye degradation applications.

Oxides of vanadium, titanium and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) are well known for their catalytic activities. In order to achieve synergic catalytic effects, a novel nanocomposite (NC) i.e. V2O5/TiO2/g-C3N4 has been synthesized by a very simple, ecofriendly and nonhazardous hydrothermal method. The fabricated NC was characterized employing UV-Visible, FTIR, SEM, and XRD techniques. UV-Visible and FTIR analysis indicated the formation of the nanocomposite and XRD analysis confirmed the association of V2O5 and TiO2 with g-C3N4 in nanocomposite. SEM study indicated the hetero-structure of NC having size ranging from 50 to 80 nm and it was found having hexagonal crystallite structure. The synthesized nanocomposite exhibited excellent scavenging of free radicals DPPH● (91%) and ABTS●+ (64%) that are responsible for the oxidation of biomolecules. Therefore, NC can be claimed having biomolecule oxidation protective potential. In addition, photocatalytic ability for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) was also achieved up to 94% and 89% respectively. The synthesized novel nanocomposite exhibited excellent potential to remove free radicals and dyes from aqueous medium which can be further used for the environmental remediation.

Induction of Systemic Resistance in Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. to Control Root Rot and Wilt Diseases Using Biotic and Abiotic Inducers.

The possibility of inducing systemic resistance in roselle against root rot and wilt diseases was investigated using biotic and abiotic inducers. The biotic inducers included three biocontrol agents (i.e., Bacillus subtilis, Gliocladium catenulatum, and Trichoderma asperellum) and two biofertilizers (i.e., microbein and mycorrhizeen), while the abiotic inducers included three chemical materials (i.e., ascorbic acid, potassium silicate, and salicylic acid). In addition, preliminary in vitro studies were conducted to evaluate the inhibitory activity of the tested inducers on the growth of pathogenic fungi. The results show that G. catenulatum was the most efficient biocontrol agent. It reduced the linear growth of Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum, and Macrophomina phaseolina by 76.1, 73.4, and 73.2%, respectively, followed by B. subtilis by 71.4, 69, and 68.3%, respectively. Similarly, potassium silicate was the most effective chemical inducer followed by salicylic acid, each at 2000 ppm. They reduced the linear growth of F. solani by 62.3 and 55.7%; M. phaseolina by 60.7 and 53.1%; and F. oxysporum by 60.3 and 53%, respectively. In the greenhouse, all inducers applied as a seed treatment and/or foliar spray strongly limited the development of root rot and wilt diseases. In this regard, G. catenulatum, at 1 × 109 CFU mL-1, achieved the highest values of disease control, followed by B. subtilis; while T. asperellum, at 1 × 105 CFU mL-1, recorded the lowest values. In addition, the plants treated with potassium silicate followed by salicylic acid, each at 4 g/L, recorded the highest disease control compared to ascorbic acid at 1 g/L, which had the lowest values. The mixture of mycorrhizeen + microbein (at 10 g/kg seeds) was the most effective compared to either of them alone. All treatments, applied alone or in combination in the field, significantly reduced the incidence of diseases. The most effective treatments were a mixture of G. catenulatum (Gc) + Bacillus subtilis (Bs) + Trichoderma asperellum (Ta); a mixture of ascorbic acid (AA) + potassium silicate (PS) + and salicylic (SA); G. catenulatum; potassium silicate; and a mixture of mycorrhizeen + microbein. Rhizolix T had the highest disease-reducing efficacy. In response to the treatments, significant improvements in growth and yield, changes in biochemicals, and increased activities of defense enzymes were achieved. This research points to the activity of some biotic and abiotic inducers that can play a vital role in managing the root rot and wilt of roselle through the induction of systemic plant resistance.

Positive Design Framework for Carer eSupport: Qualitative Study to Support Informal Caregivers of Patients With Head and Neck Cancer in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Informal caregivers of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), such as the patient's spouse, other close relatives, or friends, can play an important role in home-based treatment and health care. Research shows that informal caregivers are usually unprepared for this responsibility and need support with taking care of patients and other daily life activities. These circumstances place them in a vulnerable position, and their well-being may be compromised. This study is part of our ongoing project Carer eSupport, which aims to develop a web-based intervention to facilitate informal caregivers in the home environment. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the situation and context of informal caregivers of patients with HNC and their needs for designing and developing a web-based intervention (Carer eSupport). In addition, we proposed a novel framework for the development of a web-based intervention aimed at promoting the well-being of informal caregivers. METHODS: Focus groups were conducted with 15 informal caregivers and 13 health care professionals. Both informal caregivers and health care professionals were recruited from 3 university hospitals in Sweden. We adopted a thematic data analysis process to analyze the data. RESULTS: We investigated informal caregivers' needs, critical factors for adoption, and desired functionalities of Carer eSupport. A total of 4 major themes, including information, web-based forum, virtual meeting place, and chatbot, emerged and were discussed by informal caregivers and health care professionals for Carer eSupport. However, most study participants did not like the idea of a chatbot for asking questions and retrieving information and expressed their concerns such as a lack of trust in robotic technologies and missing human contact while communicating with chatbots. The results from the focus groups were discussed through the lens of positive design research approaches. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided an in-depth understanding of informal caregivers' contexts and their preferred functions for a web-based intervention (Carer eSupport). Using the theoretical foundation of designing for well-being and positive design in the informal caregiving context, we proposed a positive design framework to support informal caregivers' well-being. Our proposed framework might be helpful for human-computer interaction and user experience researchers to design meaningful eHealth interventions with a clear focus on users' well-being and positive emotions, especially for informal caregivers of patients with HNC. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057442.

Designing a Persuasive E-Coaching Application for Informal Caregivers.

Being an informal caregiver is not easy, and might cause physical and psychosocial burden, especially in the long run. However, the formal health care system has little support for informal caregivers who experience abandonment and lack information. Mobile health can potentially be an efficient and cost-effective way of supporting informal caregivers. However, research has shown that mHealth systems often have problems with usability, and people do not use the systems for more than a short period. Therefore, this paper explores the design of an mHealth app using Persuasive Design, an established design framework. This paper presents the design of the first version of the e-coaching application using the persuasive design framework and unmet needs of informal caregivers from the literature. This prototype version will be updated based on interview data from informal caregivers in Sweden.

Flowers Like α-MoO3/CNTs/PANI Nanocomposites as Anode Materials for High-Performance Lithium Storage.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been explored to meet the current energy demands; however, the development of satisfactory anode materials is a bottleneck for the enhancement of the electrochemical performance of LIBs. Molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) is a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity of 1117 mAhg-1 along with low toxicity and cost; however, it suffers from low conductivity and volume expansion, which limits its implementation as the anode. These problems can be overcome by adopting several strategies such as carbon nanomaterial incorporation and polyaniline (PANI) coating. Co-precipitation method was used to synthesize α-MoO3, and multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) were introduced into the active material. Moreover, these materials were uniformly coated with PANI using in situ chemical polymerization. The electrochemical performance was evaluated by galvanostatic charge/discharge, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). XRD analysis revealed the presence of orthorhombic crystal phase in all the synthesized samples. MWCNTs enhanced the conductivity of the active material, reduced volume changes and increased contact area. MoO3-(CNT)12% exhibited high discharge capacities of 1382 mAhg-1 and 961 mAhg-1 at current densities of 50 mAg-1 and 100 mAg-1, respectively. Moreover, PANI coating enhanced cyclic stability, prevented side reactions and increased electronic/ionic transport. The good capacities due to MWCNTS and the good cyclic stability due to PANI make these materials appropriate for application as the anode in LIBs.

Physiological, Psychosocial and Substance Abuse Effects of Pornography Addiction: A Narrative Review.

Internet pornography provides explicit content in various forms and can progress from habit to addiction. The consumption of online porn has risen due to the general use of current technology. The main reasons people consume it are sexual arousal and sexual enhancement. We planned this review study to identify the reasons for online pornography utilization, the mechanisms involved in its addiction, and its physiological, emotional, behavioral, social, and substance abuse effects. After a detailed literature search using PubMed Central and Google Scholar, four case studies and nine original articles from 2000 to 2022 were included. The main findings of the literature demonstrated that watching porn was most frequently done out of boredom, for sexual gratification, and to pick up new fashion and behavior ideas from these movies. In all facets of the users' lives, negative consequences were seen. Due to the explosion of new technologies, online pornography has risen to an alarming level, which has very injurious effects on societies and individuals. Therefore, it is high time to get rid of this addiction to protect our lives from its harmful effects.