Health risk assessment and prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among the aged brick molders, in India.

The Brickfield Industry is the major and oldest informal industry in India, where millions of brickfield workers make their livelihood. Aged brickfield workers are also involved in different activities in the brickfield, especially in brick mold activities owing to poor socioeconomic conditions. A cross-sectional study was designed to determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among the aged brick molders and compare them with aged control subjects. A Nordic Questionnaire was applied to assess the discomfort felt among both groups of workers and the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) method was used to evaluate posture during their job. The RULA posture analysis showed that the posture adopted by aged brick molders required changes immediately. The result of the ART tool also stated that the brick molding activities' exposure level was high and required further investigation urgently. The study concluded that due to working in a forward bending posture for a prolonged period, aged brickmolders suffered from severe low back and knee pain along with upper-limb disorders due to repetitive activities.

CLSI-based verification and de novo establishment of reference intervals for common biochemical assays in Croatian newborns.

Introduction: This study aimed to examine whether the Canadian Laboratory Initiative on Pediatric Reference Intervals (CALIPER) reference intervals for 19 commonly used biochemical assays (potassium, sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, inorganic phosphorous, glucose, urea, creatinine, direct and total bilirubin, C-reactive protein (CRP), total protein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD)) could be applied to the newborn population of one Croatian clinical hospital. Materials and methods: Reference interval verification was performed according to the CLSI EP28-A3c guidelines. Samples of healthy newborns were selected using the direct a posteriori sampling method and analyzed on the Beckman Coulter AU680 biochemical analyzer. If verification wasn't satisfactory, further procedure included de novo determination of own reference intervals by analyzing 120 samples of healthy newborns. Results: After the first set of measurements, 14/19 tested reference intervals were adopted for use: calcium, inorganic phosphorous, glucose, urea, creatinine, total bilirubin, CRP, total protein, albumin, AST, ALT, GGT, ALP and LD. A second set of samples was tested for 5 analytes: potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium and direct bilirubin. The verification results of the additional samples for sodium and chloride were satisfactory, while the results for potassium, magnesium and direct bilirubin remained unsatisfactory and new reference intervals were determined. Conclusions: The CALIPER reference intervals can be implemented into routine laboratory and clinical practice for the tested newborn population for most of the analyzed assays, while own reference intervals for potassium, magnesium and direct bilirubin have been determined.

Assessing the Alignment of Large Language Models With Human Values for Mental Health Integration: Cross-Sectional Study Using Schwartz's Theory of Basic Values.

BACKGROUND: Large language models (LLMs) hold potential for mental health applications. However, their opaque alignment processes may embed biases that shape problematic perspectives. Evaluating the values embedded within LLMs that guide their decision-making have ethical importance. Schwartz's theory of basic values (STBV) provides a framework for quantifying cultural value orientations and has shown utility for examining values in mental health contexts, including cultural, diagnostic, and therapist-client dynamics. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to (1) evaluate whether the STBV can measure value-like constructs within leading LLMs and (2) determine whether LLMs exhibit distinct value-like patterns from humans and each other. METHODS: In total, 4 LLMs (Bard, Claude 2, Generative Pretrained Transformer [GPT]-3.5, GPT-4) were anthropomorphized and instructed to complete the Portrait Values Questionnaire-Revised (PVQ-RR) to assess value-like constructs. Their responses over 10 trials were analyzed for reliability and validity. To benchmark the LLMs' value profiles, their results were compared to published data from a diverse sample of 53,472 individuals across 49 nations who had completed the PVQ-RR. This allowed us to assess whether the LLMs diverged from established human value patterns across cultural groups. Value profiles were also compared between models via statistical tests. RESULTS: The PVQ-RR showed good reliability and validity for quantifying value-like infrastructure within the LLMs. However, substantial divergence emerged between the LLMs' value profiles and population data. The models lacked consensus and exhibited distinct motivational biases, reflecting opaque alignment processes. For example, all models prioritized universalism and self-direction, while de-emphasizing achievement, power, and security relative to humans. Successful discriminant analysis differentiated the 4 LLMs' distinct value profiles. Further examination found the biased value profiles strongly predicted the LLMs' responses when presented with mental health dilemmas requiring choosing between opposing values. This provided further validation for the models embedding distinct motivational value-like constructs that shape their decision-making. CONCLUSIONS: This study leveraged the STBV to map the motivational value-like infrastructure underpinning leading LLMs. Although the study demonstrated the STBV can effectively characterize value-like infrastructure within LLMs, substantial divergence from human values raises ethical concerns about aligning these models with mental health applications. The biases toward certain cultural value sets pose risks if integrated without proper safeguards. For example, prioritizing universalism could promote unconditional acceptance even when clinically unwise. Furthermore, the differences between the LLMs underscore the need to standardize alignment processes to capture true cultural diversity. Thus, any responsible integration of LLMs into mental health care must account for their embedded biases and motivation mismatches to ensure equitable delivery across diverse populations. Achieving this will require transparency and refinement of alignment techniques to instill comprehensive human values.

Optimization of sensory properties of ultrasound-treated strawberry vinegar.

Vinegar is renowned for its benefits to human health due to the presence of antioxidants and bioactive components. Firstly, this study optimized the production conditions of ultrasound-treated strawberry vinegar (UT-SV), known for its high consumer appeal. The sensory properties of UT-SV were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) to create the most appreciated strawberry vinegar. Secondly, various quality parameters of conventional strawberry vinegar (C-SV), UT-SV, and thermally pasteurized strawberry vinegar (P-SV) samples were compared. RSM was employed to craft the best strawberry vinegar based on consumers ratings of UT-SV. Sensory characteristics, bioactive values, phenolic contents, and organic acid contents of C-SV, UT-SV, and P-SV samples were assessed. Through optimization, the ultrasound parameters of the independent variables were determined as 5.3 min and 65.5 % amplitude. The RSM modeling levels exhibited high agreement with pungent sensation at 98.06 %, aromatic intensity at 98.98 %, gustatory impression at 99.17 %, and general appreciation at 99.26 %, respectively. Bioactive components in UT-SV samples increased after ultrasound treatment compared to C-SV and P-SV samples. Additionally, the amount of malic acid, lactic acid, and oxalic acid increased after ultrasound treatment compared to C-SV samples. Ultimately, UT-SV with high organoleptic properties was achieved. The ultrasound treatment positively impacted the bioactive values, phenolic and organic acid content, leading to the development of a new and healthy product.

Algae as an alternative source of protein in poultry diets for sustainable production and disease resistance: present status and future considerations.

Integrating algae into poultry diets offers a promising avenue for enhancing nutrition, boosting sustainability efforts, and potentially stimulating disease resistance. This comprehensive review delves into the essence, diversity, chemical composition, and nutritional merits of algae, spotlighting their emergence as innovative nutrient sources and health supplements for poultry. The growing interest in algae within poultry nutrition stems from their diverse nutritional profile, boasting a rich array of proteins, lipids, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, thus positioning them as valuable feed constituents. A key highlight of incorporating both macroalgae and microalgae lies in their elevated protein content, with microalgae varieties like Spirulina and Chlorella exhibiting protein levels of up to 50-70%, outperforming traditional sources like soybean meal. This premium protein source not only furnishes vital amino acids crucial for muscular development and overall health in poultry but also serves as an exceptional reservoir of omega-3 fatty acids, notably eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), presenting multiple health benefits for both poultry and consumers alike. Moreover, algae boast antioxidant properties attributed to bioactive compounds like phycocyanin and astaxanthin, mitigating oxidative stress and boosting the bird's immune response, thereby fostering robust health and disease resilience. Incorporating macroalgae and microalgae into poultry diets yields positive impacts on performance metrics. Research evidence underscores the enhancement of growth rates, feed conversion ratios, carcass quality, and meat attributes in broilers, while in layers, supplementation promotes increased egg production, superior egg quality, and increased concentrations of beneficial nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, algae hold promise for mitigating the environmental footprint of poultry production, though significant outcomes from trials remain sporadic, necessitating further research to elucidate optimal dosages and blends for different algae species in poultry diets. Standardizing the composition of algae utilized in research is imperative, paving the way for potential applications in poultry nutrition as growth stimulants and substitutes for antibiotics. Nonetheless, a deeper understanding of dosage, combination, and mechanism of action through rigorous scientific investigation is key to unlocking algae's full potential within poultry nutrition.

Exploiting nearest neighbor data and fuzzy membership function to address missing values in classification.

The accuracy of most classification methods is significantly affected by missing values. Therefore, this study aimed to propose a data imputation method to handle missing values through the application of nearest neighbor data and fuzzy membership function as well as to compare the results with standard methods. A total of five datasets related to classification problems obtained from the UCI Machine Learning Repository were used. The results showed that the proposed method had higher accuracy than standard imputation methods. Moreover, triangular method performed better than Gaussian fuzzy membership function. This showed that the combination of nearest neighbor data and fuzzy membership function was more effective in handling missing values and improving classification accuracy.

Incorporating diverse values of nature in decision-making-theory and practice.

Values play a significant role in decision-making, especially regarding nature. Decisions impact people and nature in complex ways and understanding which values are prioritised, and which are left out is an important task for improving the equity and effectiveness of decision-making. Based on work done for the IPBES Values Assessment, this paper develops a framework to support analyses of how decision-making influences nature as well as whose values get prioritised. The framework is used to analyse key areas of environmental policy: a) the present model for nature protection in market economies, b) the role of valuation in bringing nature values into decisions, and c) values embedded in environmental policy instruments, exemplified by protected areas for nature conservation and payments for ecosystem services. The analyses show that environmental policies have been established as mere additions to decision-making structures that foster economic expansion, which undermines a wide range of nature's values. Moreover, environmental policies themselves are also focused on a limited set of nature's diverse values. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bringing nature into decision-making'.

Influences of Social-Psychological Constructs in Predicting Taiwanese Pro-Environmental Behaviors.

A value-belief-norm (VBN) model for understanding the pro-environmental behaviors (PEB) of Taiwanese was developed. This formulated VBN model included personal values, openness to change, awareness of consequences, personal norms, social norms, and PEB. Ecological world view and ascription of responsibility were excluded to develop a tighter model. A total of 1079 completed questionnaires were collected and structural equation modelling was utilized, where standard estimates and coefficients of determination validated the formulated VBN model's effectiveness. Each construct served its role as the mediator between its distal variable and outcome variable, with a substantial level of predictive accuracy, and 74.3% of the variance in PEB was accounted for. Further findings found that mature individuals had a stronger tendency towards awareness of consequences due to personal values; the young had a stronger tendency towards personal norms due to awareness of consequences; men had a stronger tendency towards personal norms due to awareness of consequences; and women had a weaker tendency due to a greater emphasis on altruism. Future interventions, such as sharing of personal pro-environmental lifestyles verbally or through social media, periodically decluttering personal items and maintaining a minimalist lifestyle, where these personal norms are in line with collective social norms, could help to strengthen PEB.

Unveiling Human Values: Analyzing Emotions behind Arguments.

Detecting the underlying human values within arguments is essential across various domains, ranging from social sciences to recent computational approaches. Identifying these values remains a significant challenge due to their vast numbers and implicit usage in discourse. This study explores the potential of emotion analysis as a key feature in improving the detection of human values and information extraction from this field. It aims to gain insights into human behavior by applying intensive analyses of different levels of human values. Additionally, we conduct experiments that integrate extracted emotion features to improve human value detection tasks. This approach holds the potential to provide fresh insights into the complex interactions between emotions and values within discussions, offering a deeper understanding of human behavior and decision making. Uncovering these emotions is crucial for comprehending the characteristics that underlie various values through data-driven analyses. Our experiment results show improvement in the performance of human value detection tasks in many categories.

In Vitro Human Dermal Absorption Studies on Pesticides in Complex Mixtures: Investigation of Guidance Criteria and Possible Impact Parameters.

Pesticides must not pose unacceptable risks to human health, so risk assessments are conducted before products are authorised. Dermal exposure is often the main route of intake, so estimating realistic and trustworthy dermal absorption values is crucial for risk assessment. Although there are agreed test guidelines for in vitro dermal absorption studies, not every product is tested due to cost reasons. The present dataset consists of 945 individual in vitro experiments on the dermal absorption of human skin with 179 active substances of pesticides in 353 different mixtures, including concentrates and dilutions. The dataset was evaluated to identify the possible impacts of experimental conditions and physico-chemical properties on dermal absorption. The dataset was also analysed to assess the appropriateness of the pro rata correction for untested dilutions, and the set concentration cut-off to decide on the dilution status for choosing a default value on dermal absorption. The study found that the implementation of specific guidelines improved the harmonisation of study conduct, with support for approaches such as pro rata correction and default values. Further analysis of the specific co-formulants may identify influencing factors that may be more important than the experimental variables.

Ethical use of artificial intelligence to prevent sudden cardiac death: an interview study of patient perspectives.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine has prompted the development of numerous ethical guidelines, while the involvement of patients in the creation of these documents lags behind. As part of the European PROFID project we explore patient perspectives on the ethical implications of AI in care for patients at increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). AIM: Explore perspectives of patients on the ethical use of AI, particularly in clinical decision-making regarding the implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). METHODS: Semi-structured, future scenario-based interviews were conducted among patients who had either an ICD and/or a heart condition with increased risk of SCD in Germany (n = 9) and the Netherlands (n = 15). We used the principles of the European Commission's Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI to structure the interviews. RESULTS: Six themes arose from the interviews: the ability of AI to rectify human doctors' limitations; the objectivity of data; whether AI can serve as second opinion; AI explainability and patient trust; the importance of the 'human touch'; and the personalization of care. Overall, our results reveal a strong desire among patients for more personalized and patient-centered care in the context of ICD implantation. Participants in our study express significant concerns about the further loss of the 'human touch' in healthcare when AI is introduced in clinical settings. They believe that this aspect of care is currently inadequately recognized in clinical practice. Participants attribute to doctors the responsibility of evaluating AI recommendations for clinical relevance and aligning them with patients' individual contexts and values, in consultation with the patient. CONCLUSION: The 'human touch' patients exclusively ascribe to human medical practitioners extends beyond sympathy and kindness, and has clinical relevance in medical decision-making. Because this cannot be replaced by AI, we suggest that normative research into the 'right to a human doctor' is needed. Furthermore, policies on patient-centered AI integration in clinical practice should encompass the ethics of everyday practice rather than only principle-based ethics. We suggest that an empirical ethics approach grounded in ethnographic research is exceptionally well-suited to pave the way forward.

Profiles of psychological flexibility and caregiving experience in dementia family caregivers: A latent profile analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the profiles of psychological flexibility among dementia family caregivers and examine their associations with psychological well-being and caregiving factors. METHODS: Participants were 521 dementia family caregivers in Japan. Latent profile analysis was conducted to explore the profiles of psychological flexibility. The analyses examined differences in depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, and work-family conflict/enrichment between the profiles, and whether sociodemographic variables and caregiving stressors predict the profile. RESULTS: Four distinct profiles were identified: high psychological flexibility (14.2%), moderate psychological flexibility with high commitment (24.7%), moderate psychological flexibility with low commitment (48.0%), and low psychological flexibility (13.1%). The low psychological flexibility profile exhibited the highest scores of depression, anxiety and work-family conflict, followed by the moderate psychological flexibility with low/high commitment profiles, and the high psychological flexibility profile. The high psychological flexibility and moderate psychological flexibility with high commitment profiles exhibited higher life satisfaction than the moderate psychological flexibility with low commitment profile. Caregiving stressors, marital status, and caregiver status predicted the profile. CONCLUSION: Enhancing defusion and acceptance, rather than increasing commitment to personal values, may be beneficial in supporting distressed caregivers. Having more caregiving stressors, being single/divorced/bereaved, and being a primary caregiver may be useful indicators of decreased psychological flexibility among dementia family caregivers.

Age estimation using postmortem computed tomography-based Hounsfield unit values of the palate and mandibular condyle and the Eichner classification.

Age estimation is important in forensic investigations of unidentified human remains. This study assessed the correlation between age and Hounsfield unit (HU) values of the palate and mandibular condyle based on postmortem computed tomography (CT) and analyzed the influence of occlusal support in developing an age estimation method for Japanese individuals, including older adults. The sample consisted of a training dataset (357 cadavers) and a validation dataset (300 cadavers) that underwent postmortem CT. Three measurements were selected: the respective HU values of the palate and mandibular condyle and the Eichner classification. The correlation coefficients between age and HU values were also evaluated. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was performed to evaluate the significance of four parameters (sex, respective HU values of the palate and mandibular condyle, and the Eichner classification) for age estimation and to determine the best age estimation formula. In the validation tests, inaccuracy and bias were calculated for the groups aged ≥65 or <65 years. Significant correlations between age and HU values of the palate and mandibular condyle were observed, regardless of sex. In multiple stepwise regression analysis, all variables except sex were significantly correlated with age. The age estimation formula from the regression analysis was useful, and the validation test exhibited high accuracy, especially in older adults. The HU values of the palate and mandibular condyle and the Eichner classification are useful for age estimation in Japanese individuals.

Reference values for plasma and urine trace elements in a Swiss population-based cohort.

OBJECTIVES: Trace elements (TEs) are ubiquitous. TE concentrations vary among individuals and countries, depending on factors such as living area, workplaces and diet. Deficit or excessive TEs concentrations have consequences on the proper functioning of human organism so their biomonitoring is important. The aim of this project was to provide reference values for TEs concentrations in the Swiss population. METHODS: The 1,078 participants to the SKiPOGH cohort included in this study were aged 18-90 years. Their 24-h urine and/or plasma samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine 24 TEs concentrations: Ag, Al, As, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, I, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Pd, Pt, Sb, Se, Sn, Tl, V and Zn. Statistical tests were performed to evaluate the influence of covariates (sex, age, BMI, smoking) on these results. Reference intervals for the Swiss adult population were also defined. RESULTS: TEs concentrations were obtained for respectively 994 and 903 persons in plasma and urine matrices. It was possible to define percentiles of interest (P50 and P95) for almost all the TEs. Differences in TEs distribution between men and women were noticed in both matrices; age was also a cofactor. CONCLUSIONS: This first Swiss biomonitoring of a large TEs-panel offers reference values in plasma and in urine for the Swiss population. The results obtained in this study were generally in line with clinical recommendations and comparable to levels reported in other population-based surveys.

Web-accessible critical limits and critical values for urgent clinician notification.

OBJECTIVES: To survey the World Wide Web for critical limits/critical values, assess changes in quantitative low/high thresholds since 1990-93, streamline urgent notification practices, and promote global accessibility. METHODS: We identified Web-posted lists of critical limits/values at university hospitals. We compared 2023 to 1990-93 archived notification thresholds. RESULTS: We found critical notification lists for 26 university hospitals. Laboratory disciplines ranged widely (1-10). The median number of tests was 62 (range 21-116); several posted policies. The breadth of listings increased. Statistically significant differences in 2023 vs. 1990 critical limits were observed for blood gas (pO2, pCO2), chemistry (glucose, calcium, magnesium), and hematology (hemoglobin, platelets, PTT, WBC) tests, and for newborn glucose, potassium, pO2, and hematocrit. Twenty hospitals listed ionized calcium critical limits, which have not changed. Fourteen listed troponin (6), troponin I (3), hs-TnI (3), or troponin T (2). Qualitative critical values expanded across disciplines, encompassing anatomic/surgical pathology. Bioterrorism agents were listed frequently, as were contagious pathogens, although only three hospitals listed COVID-19. Only one notification list detailed point-of-care tests. Two children's hospital lists were Web-accessible. CONCLUSIONS: Urgent notifications should focus on life-threatening conditions. We recommend that hospital staff evaluate changes over the past three decades for clinical impact. Notification lists expanded, especially qualitative tests, suggesting that automation might improve efficiency. Sharing notification lists and policies on the Web will improve accessibility. If not dependent on the limited scope of secondary sources, artificial intelligence could enhance knowledge of urgent notification and critical care practices in the 21st Century.

Normative measurements of orbital structures on magnetic resonance images; a cross-sectional study with mini review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Awareness of normative values of extra orbital structures would provide useful information to interpret the radiological images better and use them for diagnostic purposes. This study aimed to reveal the average values of major extraocular structures measured on magnetic resonance images. METHODS: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, magnetic resonance (MR) images of 256 orbits of 128 patients were re-interpreted regarding the measurements of major orbital structures. Extraocular muscles, superior ophthalmic vein, and optic nerve-sheath complex were measured on orbital MR images of these patients. The data distributions were presented by box-plot analyses for each parameter, and the measurement results were analyzed regarding gender and age groups. RESULTS: Lateral rectus muscle thickness (LR), inferior rectus muscle thickness (IR), globe position (GP), and interzygomatic line (IZL) values were higher in the male group than in the female group (p values were < 0.001, 0.003, 0.020, and < 0.001 respectively). LR, the thickness of the superior group muscles (SUP GR), IR, superior oblique muscle thickness (SOBL), and the thickness of optic nerve-sheath complex (ON) values indicated a significant relationship between age groups. There was a significant, positive, and low-level correlation between age and LR, SUP GR, and IR values (p values were < 0.001, 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study provides quantitative data on normative values of orbital structures with gender and age group comparisons. Clinicians or surgeons can easily use the measured values to gather diagnostic information from the orbital region.

Chinese herb ultrafine powder supplementation improves egg nutritional value and quality in laying hens.

This study evaluates the effects of dietary Chinese herb ultrafine powder (CHUP) supplementation in late-phase laying hens on the quality and nutritional values of eggs. A total of 576 Xinyang black-feather laying hens (300-day-old) were randomly allocated into eight groups for a 120-day feeding trial. Each group contained eight replicates with nine hens per replicate. The experimental groups included the control (basal diet) and different levels of CHUP groups (details in 'Materials and methods'). The results showed that the eggshell strength was increased (p < 0.05) in the L, LF, L-LF, L-T, and LF-T groups on day 60 of the trial. In addition, the plasma estradiol level in the L-LF, LF-T, and L-LF-T groups and unsaturated fatty acids concentrations in egg yolk of the CHUP groups (except LF-T group) were increased, whereas total cholesterol (T, L-LF, L-T, and L-LF-T groups) in egg yolk and the atherogenicity (T, L-T, and L-LF-T groups) and thrombogenicity (T, L-LF, L-T, and L-LF-T groups) indexes were decreased (p < 0.05) on day 60 of the trial compared with the control group. Moreover, bitter amino acids in egg albumen were decreased (p < 0.05) in the L-LF group on day 60 and the L-LF-T group on day 120 of the trial. Collectively, these findings indicate that dietary CHUP supplementation could improve eggshell quality and increase plasma reproductive hormone, fatty acid and amino acid composition, and nutritional values of eggs, especially L-LF and L-LF-T.

Living with type 2 diabetes: A social cognitive perspective on adherence.

OBJECTIVE: This mixed methods study examines the relationship between outcome expectations, self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). It also explores the personal values motivating these behaviors through in-depth interviews. METHODS: Adults with T2DM (n = 108, M age = 57 years, 58% female, 48% Black) completed questionnaires and participated in in-depth interviews using a laddering technique. RESULTS: Ordinary least squares regression models were used to analyze the relationships between self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and four self-care behaviors (physical activity, dietary choices, blood glucose monitoring, and medication usage). The findings indicate that self-efficacy is significantly and positively associated with diet and physical activity. Both outcome expectations for blood glucose testing and self-efficacy are significantly and positively associated with self-reported monitoring. However, neither outcome expectation nor self-efficacy is associated with medication usage. The in-depth interviews revealed three common values related to self-care behaviors: maintaining health and longevity, agentic values of self-control, achievement, and self-esteem, and a sense of belonging. CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds light on the complexity of diabetes self-management, offering insights into individuals' values, behavioral strategies, and the influence of control perceptions on this relationship, revealing both differences and commonalities in stated values. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: By understanding how personal values drive diabetes self-care behaviors, practitioners can assist patients in establishing meaningful connections between their values and the challenges of living with diabetes.

Are organics more nutritious than conventional foods? A comprehensive systematic review.

The growing consumer interest fueled by the belief in the superiority of organic foods raises questions about their actual nutritional superiority over conventional ones. This assumption remains a controversial issue. The present study addresses scientific evidence to clarify this controversy and provide relevant insights for informed decision-making regarding dietary choices. We collected 147 scientific articles containing 656 comparative analyses based on 1779 samples of 68 vegetable, fruit, and other (cereals, pulses, etc.) foods, 22 nutritional properties, and nine residues. Results show that in 191 (29.1%) comparisons, there were significant differences between organic and conventional foods. In a similar quantity of cases (190; 29.0%), there were divergences in the results since some studies reported significant differences while others did not. Finally, most of the comparative analyses (275; 41.9%) showed no significant difference between organic and conventional foods. Therefore, the results herein show no generalizable superiority of organic over conventional foods. Claims for nutritious advantages would eventually be applied to specific comparisons, depending on the food type and nutritional parameter.

Pulmonary volumes and signs of chronic airflow limitation in quantitative computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) offers pulmonary volumetric quantification but is not commonly used in healthy individuals due to radiation concerns. Chronic airflow limitation (CAL) is one of the diagnostic criteria for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), where early diagnosis is important. Our aim was to present reference values for chest CT volumetric and radiodensity measurements and explore their potential in detecting early signs of CAL. METHODS: From the population-based Swedish CArdioPulmonarybioImage Study (SCAPIS), 294 participants aged 50-64, were categorized into non-CAL (n = 258) and CAL (n = 36) groups based on spirometry. From inspiratory and expiratory CT images we compared lung volumes, mean lung density (MLD), percentage of low attenuation volume (LAV%) and LAV cluster volume between groups, and against reference values from static pulmonary function test (PFT). RESULTS: The CAL group exhibited larger lung volumes, higher LAV%, increased LAV cluster volume and lower MLD compared to the non-CAL group. Lung volumes significantly deviated from PFT values. Expiratory measurements yielded more reliable results for identifying CAL compared to inspiratory. Using a cut-off value of 0.6 for expiratory LAV%, we achieved sensitivity, specificity and positive/negative predictive values of 72%, 85% and 40%/96%, respectively. CONCLUSION: We present volumetric reference values from inspiratory and expiratory chest CT images for a middle-aged healthy cohort. These results are not directly comparable to those from PFTs. Measures of MLD and LAV can be valuable in the evaluation of suspected CAL. Further validation and refinement are necessary to demonstrate its potential as a decision support tool for early detection of COPD.