Parental hesitancy toward children vaccination: a multi-country psychometric and predictive study.

AIM: Understanding vaccine hesitancy, as a critical concern for public health, cannot occur without the use of validated measures applicable and relevant to the samples they are assessing. The current study aimed to validate the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS) and to investigate the predictors of children's vaccine hesitancy among parents from Australia, China, Iran, and Turkey. To ensure the high quality of the present observational study the STROBE checklist was utilized. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHOD: In total, 6,073 parent participants completed the web-based survey between 8 August 2021 and 1 October 2021. The content and construct validity of the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale was assessed. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega were used to assess the scale's internal consistency, composite reliability (C.R.) and maximal reliability (MaxR) were used to assess the construct reliability. Multiple linear regression was used to predict parental vaccine hesitancy from gender, social media activity, and perceived financial well-being. RESULTS: The results found that the VHS had a two-factor structure (i.e., lack of confidence and risk) and a total of 9 items. The measure showed metric invariance across four very different countries/cultures, showed evidence of good reliability, and showed evidence of validity. As expected, analyses indicated that parental vaccine hesitancy was higher in people who identify as female, more affluent, and more active on social media. CONCLUSIONS: The present research marks one of the first studies to evaluate vaccine hesitancy in multiple countries that demonstrated VHS validity and reliability. Findings from this study have implications for future research examining vaccine hesitancy and vaccine-preventable diseases and community health nurses.

Increasing browse and social complexity can improve zoo elephant welfare.

While recent work has assessed how environmental and managerial changes influence elephant welfare across multiple zoos, few studies have addressed the effects of management changes within a single institution. In this paper, we examine how management changes related to social structure and diet affect the behavior of a group of zoo elephants over a 23-month period while also considering underlying factors, such as time of day, hormonal cycle, and individual differences. We recorded individual behaviors using 2-min scan samples during 60-min sessions. We analyzed behavioral changes across several study variables using generalized linear mixed models. We found that increasing browse can improve opportunities for foraging throughout the day but may not be sufficient to reduce repetitive behaviors. We observed that increasing group size and integration of bulls with cows can lead to increased social interaction in African elephants. Our results highlight the importance of using multiple management alterations to address elephant welfare, and considering environmental factors, when making management decisions.

Gastric artery embolization: studying the effects of catheter type and injection method on microsphere distributions within a benchtop arterial model.

AIMS: The objective of the study is to investigate the effect of catheter type and injection method on microsphere distributions, specifically vessel targeting accuracy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study utilized three catheter types (a standard end-hole micro-catheter, a Surefire anti-reflux catheter, and an Endobar occlusion balloon catheter) and both manual and computer-controlled injection schemes. A closed-loop, dynamically pressurized surrogate arterial system was assembled to replicate arterial flow for bariatric embolization procedures. Four vessel branches immediately distal to the injection site were targeted for embolization. Embolic microspheres were injected into the model using these  three catheter types and both manual and computer-controlled injections. RESULTS: Across all injection methods, the catheter effect on the proportion of microspheres to target vessels (vs. non-target vessels) was significant (p = 0.005). The catheter effect on the number of non-target vessels embolized was nearly significant (p = 0.059). Across all catheter types, the injection method effect was not statistically significant for either of two outcome measures (percent microspheres to target vessels: p = 0.265, number of non-target vessels embolized: p = 0.148). CONCLUSION: Catheter type had a significant effect on targeting accuracy across all injection methods. The Endobar catheter exhibited a higher targeting accuracy in pairwise comparisons with the other two injection catheters across all injection schemes and when considering the Endobar catheter with the manifold injection method vs. each of the catheters with the manual injection method; the differences were significant in three of four analyses. The injection method effect was not statistically significant across all catheter types and when considering the Endobar catheter/Endobar manifold combination vs. Endobar catheter injections with manual and pressure-replicated methods.

Cultures of Gossypium barbadense cotton ovules offer insights into the microtubule-mediated control of fiber cell expansion.

MAIN CONCLUSION: A novel method for culturing ovules of Gossypium barbadense allowed in vitro comparisons with Gossypium hirsutum and revealed variable roles of microtubules in controlling cotton fiber cell expansion. Cotton fibers undergo extensive elongation and secondary wall thickening as they develop into our most important renewable textile material. These single cells elongate at the apex as well as elongating and expanding in diameter behind the apex. These multiple growth modes represent an interesting difference compared to classical tip-growing cells that needs to be explored further. In vitro ovule culture enables experimental analysis of the controls of cotton fiber development in commonly grown Gossypium hirsutum cotton, but, previously, there was no equivalent system for G. barbadense, which produces higher quality cotton fiber. Here, we describe: (a) how to culture the ovules of G. barbadense successfully, and (b) the results of an in vitro experiment comparing the role of microtubules in controlling cell expansion in different zones near the apex of three types of cotton fiber tips. Adding the common herbicide fluridone, 1-Methyl-3-phenyl-5-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4(1H)-pyridinone, to the medium supported G. barbadense ovule culture, with positive impacts on the number of useful ovules and fiber length. The effect is potentially mediated through inhibited synthesis of abscisic acid, which antagonized the positive effects of fluridone. Fiber development was perturbed by adding colchicine, a microtubule antagonist, to ovules of G. barbadense and G. hirsutum cultured 2 days after flowering. The results supported the zonal control of cell expansion in one type of G. hirsutum fiber tip and highlighted differences in the role of microtubules in modulating cell expansion between three types of cotton fiber tips.

Strain-Specific Differences in Survival of Campylobacter spp. in Naturally Contaminated Turkey Feces and Water.

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are leading causes of human foodborne illness, with poultry as a major vehicle. Turkeys are frequently colonized with Campylobacter, but little is known about Campylobacter survival in turkey feces, even though fecal droppings are major vehicles for Campylobacter within-flock transmission as well as for environmental dissemination. Our objective was to examine survival of Campylobacter, including different strains, in freshly excreted feces from naturally colonized commercial turkey flocks and in suspensions of turkey feces in water from the turkey house. Fecal and water suspensions were stored at 4°C, and Campylobacter populations were enumerated on selective media at 48-h intervals. C. jejuni and C. coli isolates were characterized for resistance to a panel of antibiotics, and a subset was subtyped using multilocus sequence typing. Campylobacter was recovered from feces and water for up to 16 days. Analysis of 548 isolates (218 C. jejuni and 330 C. coli) revealed that C. jejuni survived longer than C. coli in feces (P = 0.0005), while the reverse was observed in water (P < 0.0001). Strain-specific differences in survival were noted. Multidrug-resistant C. jejuni isolates of sequence type 1839 (ST-1839) and the related ST-2935 were among the longest-surviving isolates in feces, being recovered for up to 10 to 16 days, while multidrug-resistant C. coli isolates of ST-1101 were recovered from feces for only up to 4 days. Data on Campylobacter survival upon excretion from the birds can contribute to further understanding of the transmission dynamics of this pathogen in the poultry production ecosystem.IMPORTANCECampylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are leading foodborne pathogens, with poultry as a major reservoir. Due to their growth requirements, these Campylobacter spp. may be unable to replicate once excreted by their avian hosts, but their survival in feces and the environment is critical for transmission in the farm ecosystem. Reducing the prevalence of Campylobacter-positive flocks can have major impacts in controlling both contamination of poultry products and environmental dissemination of the pathogens. However, understanding the capacity of these pathogens to survive in transmission-relevant vehicles such as feces and farmhouse water remains poorly understood, and little information is available on species- and strain-associated differences in survival. Here, we employed model conditions to investigate the survival of C. jejuni and C. coli from naturally colonized turkey flocks, and with diverse genotypes and antimicrobial resistance profiles, in turkey feces and in farmhouse water.

Effects of acellular equine amniotic allografts on the healing of experimentally induced full-thickness distal limb wounds in horses.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the growth factors contained in equine amniotic membrane allograft (eAM; StemWrap scaffold and StemWrap+ injection) and to evaluate the effect of eAM on equine distal limb wound healing. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective experimental controlled study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Eight adult horses. METHODS: Transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) concentrations in StemWrap+ were assessed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Two full-thickness 6.25-cm2 skin wounds were created on each metacarpus. On one forelimb, one wound was treated with eAM, and the other was left untreated (eAM control). On the contralateral limb, one wound was treated with a silicone dressing, and the other served as negative control. Three-dimensional images were obtained to determine wound circumference and surface area analyses at each bandage change until healed. Excessive granulation tissue was debrided once weekly for 4 weeks. Biopsy samples were taken to evaluate quality of wound healing via histologic and immunohistochemistry assays. RESULTS: StemWrap+ contained moderate concentrations of TGF-ß1 (494.10 pg/mL), VEGF (212.52 pg/mL), and PGE2 (1811.61 pg/mL). Treatment of wounds with eAM did not affect time to healing or histologic quality of the healing compared with other groups but was associated with increased granulation tissue production early in the study, particularly on day 7. CONCLUSION: Application of eAM resulted in increased granulation tissue production while maintaining appropriate healing of experimental wounds. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Use of eAM is likely most beneficial for substantial wounds in which expedient production of large amounts of granulation tissue is desirable.

Proximity to Other Commercial Turkey Farms Affects Colonization Onset, Genotypes, and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Campylobacter spp. in Turkeys: Suggestive Evidence from a Paired-Farm Model.

Campylobacter is a leading foodborne pathogen, and poultry products are major vehicles for human disease. However, determinants impacting Campylobacter colonization in poultry remain poorly understood, especially with turkeys. Here, we used a paired-farm design to concurrently investigate Campylobacter colonization and strain types in two turkey breeds (Hybrid and Nicholas) at two farms in eastern North Carolina. One farm (the Teaching Animal Unit [TAU]) was a university teaching unit at least 40 km from commercial turkey farms, while the other (SIB) was a commercial farm in an area with a high density of turkey farms. Day-old birds were obtained from the same breeder flock and hatchery and placed at TAU and SIB on the same day. Birds were marked to identify turkey breed and then commingled on each farm. TAU birds became colonized 1 week later than SIB and had lower initial Campylobacter levels in the cecum. Interestingly, Campylobacter genotypes and antimicrobial resistance profiles differed markedly between the farms. Most TAU isolates were resistant only to tetracycline, whereas multidrug-resistant isolates predominated at SIB. Multilocus sequence typing revealed that no Campylobacter genotypes were shared between TAU and SIB. A bovine-associated genotype (sequence type 1068 [ST1068]) predominated in Campylobacter coli from TAU, while SIB isolates had genotypes commonly encountered in commercial turkey production in the region. One multidrug-resistant Campylobacter jejuni strain (ST1839) showed significant association with one of the two turkey breeds. The findings highlight the need to further characterize the impact of farm-specific factors and host genetics on antimicrobial resistance and genotypes of C. jejuni and C. coli that colonize turkeys.IMPORTANCE Colonization of poultry with Campylobacter at the farm level is complex, poorly understood, and critically linked to contamination of poultry products, which is known to constitute a leading risk factor for human campylobacteriosis. Here, we investigated the use of a paired-farm design under standard production conditions and in the absence of experimental inoculations to assess potential impacts of farm and host genetics on prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and genotypes of Campylobacter in commercial turkeys of two different breeds. Data suggest impacts of farm proximity to other commercial turkey farms on the onset of colonization, genotypes, and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Campylobacter colonizing the birds. Furthermore, the significant association of a specific multidrug-resistant Campylobacter jejuni strain with turkeys of one breed suggests colonization partnerships at the Campylobacter strain-turkey breed level. The study design avoids potential pitfalls associated with experimental inoculations, providing novel insights into the dynamics of turkey colonization with Campylobacter in actual farm ecosystems.

Assessment of a novel nanoparticle hyperthermia therapy in a murine model of osteosarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of nanoparticle hyperthermia therapy on monocyte function and tumor-derived factors associated with macrophage polarization in a murine osteosarcoma model. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. ANIMALS: Female C3H mice. METHODS: Peripheral blood monocyte cell surface phenotype, monocyte chemotaxis, tumor messenger RNA expression, and survival were compared among osteosarcoma (OS)-bearing mice treated with nanoparticle hyperthermia therapy, OS-bearing mice with osteomyelitis, OS-bearing mice, vehicle control mice, and normal control mice. RESULTS: OS-bearing mice with osteomyelitis had a higher proportion of "nonclassical" monocytes (Ly6Clo ) compared with all other experimental groups. There were alterations in monocyte expression of multiple chemokine receptors among experimental groups including CXCR2, CCR2, and CXCR4. Monocytes from OS-bearing mice treated with hyperthermia therapy exhibited greater chemotaxis compared with monocytes from OS-bearing mice with osteomyelitis. CONCLUSION: OS likely induced alterations in monocyte phenotype and function. Nanoparticle hyperthermia therapy increased in vitro monocyte chemotaxis. CLINICAL IMPACT: Enhancing monocyte/macrophage function in dogs with OS may enhance antitumor immunity.

A transgenic male-only strain of the New World screwworm for an improved control program using the sterile insect technique.

BACKGROUND: The New World screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, is a devastating pest of livestock endemic to subtropical and tropical regions of the Western hemisphere. The larvae of this species feed on the tissue of living animals, including man, and can cause death if untreated. Over 60 years ago, the sterile insect technique (SIT) was developed with the aim of eradicating this pest, initially from Florida but subsequently from all of North and Central America. From the outset it was appreciated that SIT would be more efficient if only sterile males were released in the field, but this was not possible until now. RESULTS: Here, we report on the development and evaluation of the first sexing strains of C. hominivorax that produce only males when raised on diet without tetracycline. Transgenic lines have been developed that possess a tetracycline repressible female-lethal genetic system. Ten of these lines show high female lethality at the late larval/pupal stages and three of them present dominant female lethality. Most of the lines were comparable to the wild type parental strain in several fitness parameters that are relevant to mass rearing in a production facility. Further, three lines performed well in male mating success and male competition assays, suggesting they would be sexually competitive in the field. Consequently, one transgenic line has been selected by the New World Screwworm Program for evaluation under mass rearing conditions. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the promising characteristics of the selected sexing strains may contribute to reduce production costs for the existing eradication program and provide more efficient population suppression, which should make a genetic control program more economical in regions were C. hominivorax remains endemic.

A simple method for optimising transformation of non-parametric data: an illustration by reference to cortisol assays.

Neuroendocrine data are typically positively skewed and rarely conform to the expectations of a Gaussian distribution. This can be a problem when attempting to analyse results within the framework of the general linear model, which relies on assumptions that residuals in the data are normally distributed. One frequently used method for handling violations of this assumption is to transform variables to bring residuals into closer alignment with assumptions (as residuals are not directly manipulated). This is often attempted through ad hoc traditional transformations such as square root, log and inverse. However, Box and Cox (Box & Cox, ) observed that these are all special cases of power transformations and proposed a more flexible method of transformation for researchers to optimise alignment with assumptions. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate the benefits of the infinitely flexible Box-Cox transformation on neuroendocrine data using syntax in spss. When applied to positively skewed data typical of neuroendocrine data, the majority (~2/3) of cases were brought into strict alignment with Gaussian distribution (i.e. a non-significant Shapiro-Wilks test). Those unable to meet this challenge showed substantial improvement in distributional properties. The biggest challenge was distributions with a high ratio of kurtosis to skewness. We discuss how these cases might be handled, and we highlight some of the broader issues associated with transformation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the neck disability index, comparing patients with whiplash associated disorders to a control group with non-specific neck pain.

UNLABELLED: Purpose The neck disability index (NDI) as a 10-item patient reported outcome (PRO) measure is the most commonly used whiplash associated disorders (WAD) assessment tool. However, statistical rigor and factor structure are not definitive. To date, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) has not examined whether the factor structure generalizes across different groups (e.g., WAD versus non-WAD). This study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the NDI in these population groups. METHODS: This study used CFA to analyze NDI baseline-data for WAD (n = 804; 69 % females) and non-WAD (n = 963; 67 % females), each for the full sample and separate genders. Invariance analyses examined the NDI structure across the four groups. RESULTS: Across both populations and gender subgroups the one-factor solutions consistently showed better model fit over two-factor solutions. The NDI was best characterized as one-dimensional and invariant across multiple sub-groups. CONCLUSION: The NDI remains a valid PRO in WAD populations that provides acceptable measurement of neck status that is appropriate for basic functional assessment across genders. However, it is recommended that both clinicians and researchers initiate the transition toward more rigorous and less ambiguous PRO measurement tools for WAD patients and research. This future graduated movement toward other PROs should consider both regional PROs and computerized decision support systems, initially measured concurrently with the NDI to establish ways to convert existing scored data prior to their singular use.

Mixture models for gene expression experiments with two species.

Cross-species research in drug development is novel and challenging. A bivariate mixture model utilizing information across two species was proposed to solve the fundamental problem of identifying differentially expressed genes in microarray experiments in order to potentially improve the understanding of translation between preclinical and clinical studies for drug development. The proposed approach models the joint distribution of treatment effects estimated from independent linear models. The mixture model posits up to nine components, four of which include groups in which genes are differentially expressed in both species. A comprehensive simulation to evaluate the model performance and one application on a real world data set, a mouse and human type II diabetes experiment, suggest that the proposed model, though highly structured, can handle various configurations of differential gene expression and is practically useful on identifying differentially expressed genes, especially when the magnitude of differential expression due to different treatment intervention is weak. In the mouse and human application, the proposed mixture model was able to eliminate unimportant genes and identify a list of genes that were differentially expressed in both species and could be potential gene targets for drug development.

Selective internal radiation therapy: quantifying distal penetration and distribution of resin and glass microspheres in a surrogate arterial model.

PURPOSE: To experimentally investigate the effects of microsphere density and diameter on distal penetration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A surrogate hepatic arterial system was developed to replicate the hemodynamics (pressures, flow rates, pulsatile flow characteristics) and anatomic geometry (vessel diameters) proximal and distal to the microsphere injection point. A planar tumor model, placed distal to the injection point, allowed visualization of deposited microspheres. Bland resin and glass microspheres, with physical characteristics approximating the characteristics of commercially available products, were injected into the surrogate system. Microsphere type, injection rate, systemic flow rate, and tumor model inclination were varied among tests (glass, n = 7; resin, n = 6) with replicates for 2 conditions. After injection, 254 micrographs were obtained at previously defined locations throughout the tumor model to document microsphere distributions. Average microsphere distributions and mass measurements of microspheres collected at the tumor outlet were analyzed to quantify distal penetration for each case. RESULTS: Across all test conditions, average penetration depths of resin microspheres were higher compared with glass microspheres (45.1 cm ± 11.8 vs 22.3 cm ± 9.9). The analysis of variance indicated that the observed difference between microsphere type (glass vs resin) was significant (P = .005, df = 1,2). The observed distance means did not differ significantly across flow rate or inclination angle. CONCLUSIONS: Penetration depths of resin microspheres were significantly higher than penetration depths of glass microspheres in the surrogate hepatic arterial system.

Assessing Variability of Complex Descriptive Statistics in Monte Carlo Studies using Resampling Methods.

Good statistical practice dictates that summaries in Monte Carlo studies should always be accompanied by standard errors. Those standard errors are easy to provide for summaries that are sample means over the replications of the Monte Carlo output: for example, bias estimates, power estimates for tests, and mean squared error estimates. But often more complex summaries are of interest: medians (often displayed in boxplots), sample variances, ratios of sample variances, and non-normality measures like skewness and kurtosis. In principle standard errors for most of these latter summaries may be derived from the Delta Method, but that extra step is often a barrier for standard errors to be provided. Here we highlight the simplicity of using the jackknife and bootstrap to compute these standard errors, even when the summaries are somewhat complicated.

Genetic characterization of plasmid-associated triphenylmethane reductase in Listeria monocytogenes.

The enzyme triphenylmethane reductase (TMR) reduces toxic triphenylmethane dyes into colorless, nontoxic derivatives, and TMR-producing microorganisms have been proposed as bioremediation tools. Analysis of the genome of Listeria monocytogenes H7858 (1998-1999 hot dog outbreak) revealed that the plasmid (pLM80) of this strain harboring a gene cassette (bcrABC) conferring resistance to benzalkonium chloride (BC) and other quaternary ammonium disinfectants also harbored a gene (tmr) highly homologous to TMR-encoding genes from diverse Gram-negative bacteria. The pLM80-associated tmr was located two genes downstream of bcrABC as part of a putative IS1216 composite transposon. To confirm the role of tmr in triphenylmethane dye detoxification, we introduced various tmr-harboring fragments of pLM80 in a pLM80-cured derivative of strain H7550, from the same outbreak as H7858, and assessed the resistance of the constructs to the triphenylmethane dyes crystal violet (CV) and malachite green. Transcriptional and subcloning data suggest that the regulation of TMR is complex. Constructs harboring fragments spanning bcrABC and tmr were CV resistant, and in such constructs tmr transcription was induced by sublethal levels of either BC or CV. However, constructs harboring only tmr and its upstream intergenic region could also confer resistance to CV, albeit at lower levels. Screening a panel of BC-resistant L. monocytogenes strains revealed that all those harboring bcrABC and adjacent pLM80 sequences, including tmr, were resistant to CV and decolorized this dye. The findings suggest a potential role of TMR as a previously unknown adaptive attribute for environmental persistence of L. monocytogenes.

Gene selection and cancer type classification of diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma using a bivariate mixture model for two-species data.

: A bivariate mixture model utilizing information across two species was proposed to solve the fundamental problem of identifying differentially expressed genes in microarray experiments. The model utility was illustrated using a dog and human lymphoma data set prepared by a group of scientists in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. A small number of genes were identified as being differentially expressed in both species and the human genes in this cluster serve as a good predictor for classifying diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients into two subgroups, the germinal center B-cell-like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and the activated B-cell-like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The number of human genes that were observed to be significantly differentially expressed (21) from the two-species analysis was very small compared to the number of human genes (190) identified with only one-species analysis (human data). The genes may be clinically relevant/important, as this small set achieved low misclassification rates of DLBCL subtypes. Additionally, the two subgroups defined by this cluster of human genes had significantly different survival functions, indicating that the stratification based on gene-expression profiling using the proposed mixture model provided improved insight into the clinical differences between the two cancer subtypes.

Increases in loneliness among Older Americans Act participants during COVID-19.

Loneliness is increasingly understood as a public health crisis, and older adults are experiencing particularly severe impacts. Social distancing efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic may have increased loneliness among older adults. Guided by the Social Ecological Model, this study uses two cross-sectional waves of the National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants (NSOAAP) from 2019 and 2021 to expand understanding and identify possible points of intervention to increase social support for vulnerable older adults. Results reveal that while home-delivered meal participants have higher levels of loneliness than congregate meal participants, levels of loneliness did not increase during the COVID-19 pandemic and their loneliness levels did not differ significantly by age, geographic location, or living arrangement. Congregate meal participants' loneliness increased during the first year of the pandemic, particularly for participants aged 65-74, those living in suburban or rural areas, and those living alone. These findings suggest opportunities for policymakers and aging services providers who seek to increase social engagement among older adults who participate in Older Americans Act (OAA) nutrition programs. The evidence suggests a need for increased social engagement initiatives through OAA programs that prioritize social support for groups who are disproportionately burdened by loneliness.

The relationship among positive body image, body esteem, and eating attitude in Iranian population.

Background and aim: The correlation between eating attitudes, positive body image, and body esteem is a pivotal area of research that has garnered substantial attention in recent years, given its implications for both mental and physical well-being. The objective of this study was to examine the interplay between positive body image, body esteem, and eating attitudes within an Iranian population. Materials and methods: This study employed a cross-sectional study design and was conducted in the year 2022. A convenience sample of 752 participants residing in Tehran, Iran, was included in the study. The data collection tools were comprised of a demographic registration form, the Adolescence/Adults Scale (PBIAS), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), and the Body Esteem Scale (BES) as measurement instruments. Results: Mean age of participants was 26.36 (SD = 8.49). Significant relationships were found among positive body image (B = - 0.095, ß = -0.150, p < 0.001), and body esteem (B = 0.175, ß = 0.149, p < 0.001) with eating attitudes. Conclusion: These findings suggest that individuals with positive body image and high body esteem may have healthier eating attitudes, while those with negative body image and low body esteem may be more likely to have unhealthy eating attitudes.

The persian version of the fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire among iranian post-surgery patients: a translation and psychometrics.

INTRODUCTION: Fear-avoidance beliefs (FAB) play a crucial role in the treatment outcomes of post-surgery patients. These beliefs can lead to activity avoidance, increased pain, and decreased quality of life. Therefore, accurately measuring these beliefs in Iranian patients is of significant importance. The Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire (FABQ) is a patient-reported questionnaire that evaluates individuals' FAB. Since the validity and reliability of the Persian version of FABQ (FABQ-P) have not been assessed based on the Iranian population and sociocultural contexts, the current study has been implemented to determine the reliability and validity of the FABQ-P among Iranian post-operative patients by translation and psychometric properties. METHODS: This methodological study conducted in 2023, a sample of 400 patients who had undergone surgery were selected using a convenience sampling method. The scale used in the study was translated and its psychometric properties were evaluated through network analysis and assessments of construct validity (including exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis), convergent validity, and discriminant validity. Additionally, the study assessed the internal consistency of the scale. RESULTS: The MLEFA results with Promax and Kaiser Normalization rotation yielded two factors explaining 57.91% of the variance, encompassing 13 items. Also, the model was approved by CFA. Convergent and discriminant validity have been confirmed through the following criteria: Average Variance Extracted (AVE) exceeding 0.5, Composite Reliability (CR) surpassing 0.7, and Heterotrait-Monotrait Ratio of Correlations (HTMT) equating to 0.597. As for reliability, Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability (CR), and MaxR for all constructs were greater than 0.7, demonstrating good internal consistency. CONCLUSION: As demonstrated by the results, the FABQ-P has a satisfactory level of reliability along with authentic validity according to the sociocultural contexts of Iranian post-operative patients.

Two-photon calcium imaging from head-fixed Drosophila during optomotor walking behavior.

Drosophila melanogaster is a model organism rich in genetic tools to manipulate and identify neural circuits involved in specific behaviors. Here we present a technique for two-photon calcium imaging in the central brain of head-fixed Drosophila walking on an air-supported ball. The ball's motion is tracked at high resolution and can be treated as a proxy for the fly's own movements. We used the genetically encoded calcium sensor, GCaMP3.0, to record from important elements of the motion-processing pathway, the horizontal-system lobula plate tangential cells (LPTCs) in the fly optic lobe. We presented motion stimuli to the tethered fly and found that calcium transients in horizontal-system neurons correlated with robust optomotor behavior during walking. Our technique allows both behavior and physiology in identified neurons to be monitored in a genetic model organism with an extensive repertoire of walking behaviors.