Box-Counting Fractal Analysis: A Primer for the Clinician.

This chapter lays out the elementary principles of fractal geometry underpinning much of the rest of this book. It assumes a minimal mathematical background, defines the key principles and terms in context, and outlines the basics of a fractal analysis method known as box counting and how it is used to perform fractal, lacunarity, and multifractal analyses. As a standalone reference, this chapter grounds the reader to be able to understand, evaluate, and apply essential methods to appreciate and heal the exquisitely detailed fractal geometry of the brain.

Morphology and Fractal-Based Classifications of Neurons and Microglia in Two and Three Dimensions.

Microglia and neurons live physically intertwined, intimately related structurally and functionally in a dynamic relationship in which microglia change continuously over a much shorter timescale than do neurons. Although microglia may unwind and depart from the neurons they attend under certain circumstances, in general, together both contribute to the fractal topology of the brain that defines its computational capabilities. Both neuronal and microglial morphologies are well-described using fractal analysis complementary to more traditional measures. For neurons, the fractal dimension has proved valuable for classifying dendritic branching and other neuronal features relevant to pathology and development. For microglia, fractal geometry has substantially contributed to classifying functional categories, where, in general, the more pathological the biological status, the lower the fractal dimension for individual cells, with some exceptions, including hyper-ramification. This chapter provides a review of the intimate relationships between neurons and microglia, by introducing 2D and 3D fractal analysis methodology and its applications in neuron-microglia function in health and disease.

ImageJ in Computational Fractal-Based Neuroscience: Pattern Extraction and Translational Research.

To explore questions asked in neuroscience, neuroscientists rely heavily on the tools available. One such toolset is ImageJ, open-source, free, biological digital image analysis software. Open-source software has matured alongside of fractal analysis in neuroscience, and today ImageJ is not a niche but a foundation relied on by a substantial number of neuroscientists for work in diverse fields including fractal analysis. This is largely owing to two features of open-source software leveraged in ImageJ and vital to vigorous neuroscience: customizability and collaboration. With those notions in mind, this chapter's aim is threefold: (1) it introduces ImageJ, (2) it outlines ways this software tool has influenced fractal analysis in neuroscience and shaped the questions researchers devote time to, and (3) it reviews a few examples of ways investigators have developed and used ImageJ for pattern extraction in fractal analysis. Throughout this chapter, the focus is on fostering a collaborative and creative mindset for translating knowledge of the fractal geometry of the brain into clinical reality.

State of the art of the literature on definitions of self-criticism: a meta-review.

Background: Several authors have developed important theoretical models on an important transdiagnostic factor in psychopathology: self-criticism (SC). Currently, there are substantial variations in the theoretical definition of SC. The lack of awareness of similarities and differences between models may in turn impact the comparison between empirical results, limiting their clinical implications. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify current trends in the field of SC and to explore whether these were approached and shaped by different conceptualizations of SC. Methods: Core components of the most influential models of SC were identified. A meta-review was conducted searching for systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses in the following databases: PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed (all years up to 28 April 2023). Results: Contributions were heterogeneous with respect to the definition of SC and the theoretical framework. Almost all systematic reviews poorly addressed the multidimensionality of SC. In addition, discrepancies between the definitions of SC provided and their operationalizations emerged. Conclusions: The lack of dialogue between the different theoretical perspectives emerged from key contributions in the field of SC. Potential research questions to answer to stimulate this dialogue are proposed.

Further understanding the interaction between dark energy and dark matter: current status and future directions.

The interaction between dark matter and dark energy (DE) can be incorporated into field theory models of DE that have proved successful in alleviating the coincidence problem. We review recent advances in this field, including new models and constraints from different astronomical data sets. We show that interactions are allowed by observations and can reduce the current tensions among different measurements of cosmological parameters. We extend our discussion to include constraints from non-linear effects and results from cosmological simulations. Finally, we discuss forthcoming multi-messenger data from current and future observational facilities that will help to improve our understanding of the interactions within the dark sector.

Differences in resilience profiles between military veterans and the general population: An exploratory latent profile analysis using the HUNT-4 survey.

Using latent profile analyses, the current work investigated levels of adverse childhood experiences, symptoms of anxiety and depression and 3 dimensions of relational promotive factors) to identify resilience profiles in a large general population sample (N = 161,622, mean age = 53.02; SD = 17.80; 56.1% females). We then used the same method to identify the resilience profiles of military veterans (N = 386, mean age = 43.47; SD = 10.08; 9.8% females), all of whom had served in Afghanistan. A four-profile-solution was the best fitting for the general population (High resilient 30%, Moderate resilient 13%, Low resilient 53%, Work/social-based resilience 4%), while a three-profile-solution had the best fit in the veteran cohort (Family-based resilience 28%, Work/social-based resilience 62%, Hardy loners 10%). To ground the identified profiles in occupational function, we also checked how they predicted reports of sleep difficulties, job demand and job control. Despite both samples inhabiting a geographic region known for high socioeconomic similarity among residents, we found marked differences in profile-solutions between the military veterans and the general population. Our findings suggests that resilience profiles are highly influenced by cohort characteristics and the specific resources needed to manage a given stressor load. Accordingly, the generalisability of specific protective factors may be low across distinct cohorts, and reliable findings need to be obtained in specific populations as defined by stressor context, sample characteristics, and relevant outcomes.

Competitive adsorption of acetaminophen and caffeine onto activated Tingui biochar: characterization, modeling, and mechanisms.

Tingui biochar (TB) activated with potassium hydroxide (TB-KOH) was synthesized in the present study. The adsorption capacity of TB-KOH was evaluated for the removal of acetaminophen and caffeine in monocomponent and bicomponent solutions. As a result, the study of the TB-KOH characterization as well as the adsorption kinetics, isotherm, thermodynamics, and a suggestion of the global adsorption mechanism are presented. TB-KOH was characterized through physical-chemical analysis to understand its surface morphology and how it contributes to the adsorption of these drugs. Furthermore, modelling using advanced statistical physical models was performed to describe how acetaminophen and caffeine molecules are adsorbed in the active sites of TB-KOH. Through the characterizations, it was observed that the activation with KOH contributed to the development of porosity and functional groups (-OH, C-O, and C = O) on the surface of TB. The monocomponent adsorption equilibrium was reached in 90 min with a maximum adsorption capacity of 424.7 and 350.8 mg g-1 for acetaminophen and caffeine, respectively. For the bicomponent solution adsorption, the maximum adsorption capacity was 199.4 and 297.5 mg g-1 for acetaminophen and caffeine, respectively. The isotherm data was best fitted to the Sips model, and the thermodynamic study indicated that acetaminophen removal was endothermic, while caffeine removal was exothermic. The mechanism of adsorption of acetaminophen and caffeine by TB-KOH was described by the involvement of hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions between the surface of TB-KOH and the molecules of the contaminants.

Enhancing patient-centred care in dentistry: a narrative review.

INTRODUCTION: Patient-centred care (PCC) is widely used within the medical setting, but there is a need for more research on PCC implementation in dentistry. SOURCES OF DATA: A narrative review was conducted with literature identified from the Ovid Interface, including several databases such as Embase and Medline. AREAS OF AGREEMENT: PCC is associated with better health outcomes for patients, and greater work satisfaction among healthcare professionals. AREAS OF CONTROVERSY: Efforts to implement PCC in dentistry are lacking due to several issues including non-consensus about PCC definition and lack of explicit guidelines on how to implement PCC in dentistry. GROWING POINTS AND AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH: A theory-derived model of PCC explicitly designed for the dental setting was identified. This serves as a starting point to enhance PCC in dentistry, though further research is needed to empirically test the implementation of this model.

Developments in small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) for characterizing the structure of surfactant-macromolecule interactions and their complex.

The surfactant-macromolecule interactions (SMI) are one of the most critical topics for scientific research and industrial application. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a powerful tool for comprehensively studying the structural and conformational features of macromolecules at a size ranging from Angstroms to hundreds of nanometers with a time-resolve in milliseconds scale. The SAXS integrative techniques have emerged for comprehensively analyzing the SMI and the structure of their complex in solution. Here, the various types of emerging interactions of surfactant with macromolecules, such as protein, lipid, nuclear acid, polysaccharide and virus, etc. have been systematically reviewed. Additionally, the principle of SAXS and theoretical models of SAXS for describing the structure of SMI as well as their complex has been summarized. Moreover, the recent developments in the applications of SAXS for charactering the structure of SMI have been also highlighted. Prospectively, the capacity to complement artificial intelligence (AI) in the structure prediction of biological macromolecules and the high-throughput bioinformatics sequencing data make SAXS integrative structural techniques expected to be the primary methodology for illuminating the self-assembling dynamics and nanoscale structure of SMI. As advances in the field continue, we look forward to proliferating uses of SAXS based upon its abilities to robustly produce mechanistic insights for biology and medicine.

Developing a single-session strategy for the implementation of take-home naloxone by community pharmacists using COM-B and design-thinking.

Background: Despite the overwhelming evidence of its effectiveness, there is poor implementation of take-home naloxone by pharmacists. Barriers have been explored and mapped to the capability, opportunity, motivation-behaviour (COM-B) model of behaviour change, yet no theoretically informed implementation strategies that target known barriers have been developed. Single-session implementation strategies have been proposed as a simple, scalable way to target multiple barriers. Methods: Qualitative participatory methods, incorporating design-thinking principles, were used to develop the key messages of a single-session implementation strategy. The key messages were drafted against COM-B mapped implementation barriers identified in the literature. A participatory workshop involving a pre-mortem exercise and incorporating design-thinking principles were used to refine the messages and generate methods for dissemination. Messages were mapped to interview questions to naturally illicit stories and delivered via storytelling from a pharmacist, a general practitioner, and a person with lived experience of using naloxone. Results: A 3 minute 40 second video and a two-page printable infographic were developed and hosted on a website, with links to additional downloadable resources as a single-session implementation strategy. Email was the preferred method for receiving simple professional development communications, with social media also widely accessed. Discussion: Implementation science, behavioural change theory, and participatory design methods are a complementary combination to develop implementation strategies. Some pharmacists questioned the participatory design approach to developing an implementation strategy, as it was outside of their comfort zone. However, the participatory process involving end-users resulted in unique ideas that are unlikely to have been generated using more traditional consultative approaches. The delivery as a single-session implementation strategy allows for widespread dissemination and delivery at scale.

Towards a Systemic Concept of the Brain Ishemia Stroke: Monte Carlo Driven in Silico Model.

BACKGROUND: The work proposes a new mathematical model of dynamic processes of a typical spatially heterogeneous biological system, and sets and solves a mathematical problem of modeling the dynamics of the system of neurovascular units of the brain in conditions of ischemic stroke. There is a description of only a small number of mathematical models of stroke in the literature. This model is being studied and a numerical and software implementation of the corresponding mathematical problem is proposed. METHODS: This work is the first attempt ever aiming to employ a Monte Carlo computational approach for In Silico simulation of the most critical parameters in molecular and cellular pathogenesis of the brain ischemic stroke. In this work, a new mathematical model of the development of ischemic stroke is proposed in the form of a discrete model based on neurovascular units (NVU) as elements. RESULTS: As a result of testing the program with the assignment of empirically selected coefficients, data were obtained on the evolution of the states of the lattice of the cellular automaton of the model for the spread of stroke in a region of the brain tissue. A resulting new theoretical model of the particular pathologically altered biosystem might be taken as a promising tool for further studies in neurology; general pathology and cell biology. CONCLUSION: For the first time, a mathematical model has been constructed that allows us to represent the spatial dynamics of the development of the affected area in ischemic stroke of the brain, taking into account neurovascular units as single morphofunctional structures.

New Function of Metal-Organic Framework: Structurally Ordered Metal Promoter.

The remarkable roles of metal promoters have been known for nearly a century, but it is still a challenge to find a suitable structure model to reveal the action mechanism behind metal promoters. Herein, a new function of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is developed as an ideal model to construct structurally ordered metal promoters by a targeted post-modification strategy. MOFs as model not only favor clearing the real action mechanism behind metal promoters, but also can anchor one or multiple kinds of metal promoters especially noble metal promoters. Typically, the as-prepared Pd/bpy-UiO-Cu catalysts show high selectivity (>99%) toward 4-nitrophenylethane in 4-nitrostyrene hydrogenation, mainly due to the enhanced interaction between Pd nanoparticles and MOF carriers induced by Cu promoters, thus inhibiting the hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenylethane. This strategy with flexibility and universality will open up a new route to synthesize efficient catalysts with structurally ordered metal promoters.

Approach to theoretical perspectives of "sexual harassment": review and bibliometric analysis from social sciences.

The main goal of this paper is to give an overlook of the current state of sexual harassment. In order to do so, we started making a synthesis of the main theoretical approaches to explain sexual harassment, trying to group the studies into different currents that have historically analyzed this type of violence, to see whether the bibliometric analysis shows a similar presence of the different approaches. To carry out the bibliographic analysis we extracted the documents from the Scopus databases (using the keyword "sexual harassment" up to the year 2021 in the field of social sciences), where after these texts were examined with the tool VOSviewer. A description was made of the evolution of the number of articles on sexual harassment and within the areas of research and, also, the coincidences of keywords and co-authorships, highlighting the nationality and the main authors in number of citations. The results show a growth in interest in researching sexual harassment, specifically after the allegations against producer Harvey Weinstein and the #metoo movement. In the keyword analysis, there is a trend towards studies focused on the work environment and with a gender perspective. Finally, in the cluster analysis of the authorship of the texts, the results suggest the different theoretical approaches most used in the analysis of sexual harassment: socio-cultural, organizational, and multi-dimensional.

Los modelos en enfermería, consideraciones prácticas respecto al contexto / Nursing models, practical considerations regarding the context

Un modelo científico es una representación abstracta, conceptual, gráfica, física y/o matemática, de sistemas, objetos, fenómenos y procesos físicos o sociales, que buscan analizar, describir, explicar, simular esos sistemas y fenómenos o procesos presentados ante una situación real. Los modelos se desarrollan a través de un proceso iterativo que permite determinar un resultado final a partir de unos datos de entrada, en el cual la evidencia empírica permite revisar y modificar los presupuestos básicos de los mismos. En nuestro caso, la profesión de enfermería, en España, los modelos actuales vienen dados e intentamos cuadrar nuestra realidad en ellos. Considerando nuestros propios objetivos, es necesario que nuestros modelos se ajusten a la situación de realidad que conceptualizan, pues es distinta. Todo modelo debe construirse a partir de conceptos y relaciones específicas en una adaptación a la realidad que cada profesional, enfermera vive. En nuestro caso, hablamos del contexto de cada enfermera, la situación cultural en la que se llevan a cabo los procesos de comunicación e interrelación, apoyándonos en bases epistemológicas y ontológicas, y siendo conocedores de los elementos conceptuales que dan sentido a la profesión. (AU)

A scientific model is an abstract, conceptual, graphic, physical and/or mathematical representation of systems, objects, phenomena and physical or social processes, which seek to analyse, describe, explain, simulate those systems and phenomena or processes presented in a real situation. The models are developed through an iterative process that allows determining a result from some input data, in which the empirical evidence allows reviewing and modifying their basic assumptions. In our case, the nursing profession in Spain, the current models are given, and we try to fit our reality into them. In relation with our own objectives, it is necessary that our models adjust to the reality that they conceptualize, since it is different. Every model must be built from specific concepts and relationships in an adaptation to the reality that each professional, nurse lives. In our case, we speak of the context of each nurse, the cultural situation in which communication and interrelation processes are carried out, relying on epistemological and ontological bases, and being aware of the conceptual elements that give meaning to the profession. (AU)

Thermoreversible Tissue Adhesion with Hydrogel Through a Topological Entanglement Approach.

Achieving thermoreversible adhesion between hydrogel and living tissues in a facile way is challenging. Existing strategies bring difficulty to the chemical design and synthesis of hydrogels. Herein, an approach to achieve tough thermoreversible tissue adhesion with hydrogel is proposed, which uses a polymer solution with heat-induced sol-gel transition as the interfacial polymer matrix, with no chemical design required for the hydrogel network. When the interfacial polymer matrix is introduced to the interface of the hydrogel and living tissues, it can gelate in situ within the substrate networks under a temperature stimulus, and topologically entangle with the preexisting networks of the substrates, which generates a strong adhesion. By triggering with another temperature stimulus, the newly formed network dissociates to realize an easy detachment. Thermoreversible adhesion is demonstrated between polyacrylamide hydrogel and various porcine tissues as examples, and the mechanism of this adhesion strategy is studied by varying various influence factors. A theoretical model that can fit and predict the effects of different parameters on the adhesion energies is also established. This adhesion strategy based on topological entanglement among a thermoreversible polymer system and the substrates may broaden the achieving methods of thermoreversible tissue adhesion.

Clarifying the muddy concept of home healthcare coordination: A comprehensive theoretical framework.

Effective healthcare coordination is vital when such care is provided as a collaborative effort by many individuals and their task activities are interdependent. Coordination is necessary to ensure that care not only meets the needs of patients, but also avoids negative consequences for them due to omitted, inefficient, unnecessary, or even incorrect treatments. It also helps conserve resources. This has contributed to a rapid increase in articles on this subject. Still, while care coordination topics are gaining the attention of researchers, there are a number of issues experienced, including the delineation of limitations, inconsistent definitions, and problems with measurement. Therefore, the aim of this article is to refine the concept of homecare coordination and provide a comprehensive theoretical framework, illustrated with examples from practice. Focusing on this goal, we have reviewed the extant literature on the subject to develop a theoretical homecare coordination framework. The first intermediary goal was to integrate relevant concepts across multiple theories and frameworks into a unified synthesis. We do so in two parts: (1) analysis of extant coordination frameworks and theories; and (2) the presentation of our newly developed theoretical framework for homecare coordination. The new framework differentiates clearly between coordination as a process-i.e., what people do to coordinate and coordination as an outcome-i.e., the state of coordination. Applying this distinction to both, measurement and interpretation of results helps avoid misleading conclusions. As a research outcome, our framework builds upon the extant coordination literature, considers the complex relationships among the various coordination-related factors and, while focusing on homecare, is applicable to various healthcare settings in general. A nuanced differentiation and explanation of the elements involved enable a more consistent operationalization of the coordination concept. Additionally, as they explicitly address the healthcare system's micro, meso, and macro levels, they can be applied across diverse healthcare settings to investigate homecare coordination.

Status and trends in research on clinical prediction models for severity risk stratification in confirmed Covid-19 patients / Estado y tendencias en la investigación sobre modelos de predicción clínica para la estratificación del riesgo de severidad en pacientes confirmados de Covid-19 / Situação e tendências em pesquisas sobre modelos de previsão para a estratificação do risco de gravidade em pacientes confirmado de Covid-19

Introduction: Previous knowledge in the scientific literature on clinical prediction models in patients with Covid-19 may be useful for the development of new research. Objective: We describe the sources, authors, documents and key issues that are part of the research front. Identify which models, outcome variables, predictors and algorithms have been relevant. We Identify to what extent the available models could meet the quality attributes and what characteristics they must have to be applicablein the Cuban context. Methods: A review and scientometric analysis was carried out on the research in development and validation of clinical predictive models for Covid-19. The scientometric indicators were used and a thematic map was made for the analysisof the conceptual structure of the subject.Results: The subject was of great interest with papers published in the highest level journals. It is possible to distinguish a context of low and high risk application according to the primary and secondary health levels. The systematic reviewpublished by Wynants et al. was the publication with the greatest impact and an important source for the identification of models, main components, as well as possible causes of bias.Conclusions: The literature recognizes that most of the published models are not recommended for general use in clinical practice, so it is an open research front. However, the data obtained could be useful for the development and validation ofCuban models.

Introducción: El conocimiento previo en literatura científica sobre modelos de predicción clínica en pacientes con Covid-19 puede ser de utilidad para el desarrollo de nuevas investigaciones.Objetivo: Describir las fuentes, autores, documentos y temas clave que forman parte del frente de investigación. Identificar qué modelos, variables de resultado, predictores y algoritmos han resultado relevantes. Identificar en qué medida los modelos disponibles podrían cumplir con los atributos de calidad y qué características deberían poseer para ser aplicables en el contexto cubano.Métodos: Se realizó una revisión y análisis cienciométrico sobre la investigación en desarrollo y validación de modelos de predicción clínica en Covid-19. Se utilizaron indicadores cienciométricos y se realizó un mapa temático para el análisis de la estructura conceptual del tema.Resultados: El tema resultó de gran interés con trabajos publicados en las revistas de más alto nivel. Es posible distinguir un contexto de aplicación de bajo y alto riesgo acorde con el nivel primario y secundario de salud. La revisión sistemática publicada por Wynants y colaboradores constituyó la publicación de mayor impacto y una fuente importante para la identificación de modelos, principales componentes, así como posibles causas de sesgos.Conclusiones: La literatura reconoce que la mayoría de los modelos publicados no se recomiendan para su uso generalizado en la práctica clínica por lo que es un frente de investigación abierto. Sin embargo, los datos obtenidos podrían ser de utilidad para el desarrollo y validación de modelos en Cuba.

Introdução: O conhecimento prévio na literatura científica sobre modelos de predição clínica em pacientes com Covid-19 pode ser útil para o desenvolvimento de novas pesquisas.Objetivo: Descrever as fontes, autores, documentos e questões-chave que fazem parte da frente de pesquisa. Identifique quais modelos, variáveis ​​de resultado, preditores e algoritmos foram relevantes. Identificar em que medida os modelos disponíveis poderiam atender aos atributos de qualidade e quais características deveriam ter para serem aplicáveis ​​no contexto cubano.Métodos: Foi realizada uma revisão e análise cientométrica sobre as pesquisas em desenvolvimento e validação de modelos de predição clínica em Covid-19. Foram utilizados indicadores cientométricos e elaborado um mapa temático para análise da estrutura conceitual do assunto.Resultados: O assunto foi de grande interesse com artigos publicados em periódicos de alto nível. É possível distinguir um contexto de aplicação de baixo e alto risco de acordo com o nível primário e secundário de saúde. A revisão sistemática publicada por Wynants et al., foi a publicação de maior impacto e uma fonte importante para a identificação de modelos, componentes principais, bem como possíveis causas de viés.Conclusões: A literatura reconhece que a maioria dos modelos publicados não são recomendados para uso geral na prática clínica, por isso é uma frente de pesquisa aberta. No entanto, os dados obtidos podem ser úteis para o desenvolvimento e validação de modelos em Cuba.

¿Es la estimación del tiempo de duplicación tumoral posible y útil en el cáncer de piel? / Tumor Doubling Time in Skin Cancer: Can It Be Estimated and Is it Useful?

El cáncer de piel al igual que otros tumores internos está compuesto por células transformadas de crecimiento incontrolado. El crecimiento tumoral ha sido objeto de estudio desde hace décadas. En este artículo se repasan las distintas formas de medición del crecimiento tumoral cutáneo y se establecen las bases para el desarrollo de una estimación del tiempo de duplicación tumoral que pueda ser útil en el manejo de los pacientes con cáncer de piel (AU)

Skin cancer, like other cancers, is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of transformed cells. Tumor growth has been studied for decades. We review different methods for measuring skin tumor growth and propose a new system for estimating tumor doubling time that could be useful in the management of skin cancer (AU)

[Translated article] Tumor Doubling Time in Skin Cancer: Can It Be Estimated and Is It Useful? / ¿Es la estimación del tiempo de duplicación tumoral posible y útil en el cáncer de piel?

Skin cancer, like other cancers, is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of transformed cells. Tumor growth has been studied for decades. We review different methods for measuring skin tumor growth and propose a new system for estimating tumor doubling time that could be useful in the management of skin cancer (AU)

El cáncer de piel al igual que otros tumores internos está compuesto por células transformadas de crecimiento incontrolado. El crecimiento tumoral ha sido objeto de estudio desde hace décadas. En este artículo se repasan las distintas formas de medición del crecimiento tumoral cutáneo y se establecen las bases para el desarrollo de una estimación del tiempo de duplicación tumoral que pueda ser útil en el manejo de los pacientes con cáncer de piel (AU)