Extrakte aus Sisymbrium officinalis und Plantago lanceolata reduzieren die durch Lipoteichonsäure aus Streptococcus pyogenes induzierte Entzündung in menschlichen Mandelepithelzellen

Pharyngitis ist eine Entzündung des Rachens mit viraler, bakterieller oder nicht-infektiöser Ätiologie. Die Blattextrakte von Wegrauke [Sisymbrium officinalis (L.) Scop] und Spitzwegerich [Plantago lanceolata L.] werden in der traditionellen Medizin zur Behandlung von Halsschmerzen und Entzündungen der oberen Atemwege eingesetzt.In dieser Studie wurden die entzündungshemmenden Wirkungen beider Trockenextrakte in einem in vitro-Modell für Streptokokken-Pharyngitis untersucht. Humane primäre Tonsillenepithelzellen wurden mit Lipoteichonsäure (LTA) aus Streptococcus pyogenes (10 mg/ml) in Gegenwart oder Abwesenheit von Wegrauke Trockenextrakt (12,5, 25 und 50 mg/ml) stimuliert. In ähnlichen Experimenten wurden Mandelzellen vor der LTA-Stimulation mit Spitzwegerich Trockenextrakt (25, 50 und 100 mg/ml) behandelt. Die Kulturüberstände wurden nach 24 Stunden entnommen und mit einem Enzymimmunoassay (EIA)-Kit auf PGE2-Spiegel untersucht. Die Sekretion von proinflammatorischen Zytokinen (TNFα und IL-6) wurde mittels ELISA gemessen. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass die Vorbehandlung von Mandelepithelzellen mit Wegraukeextrakt zu einer signifikanten (p &lt; 0,05) und konzentrationsabhängigen Reduktion der LTA-induzierten Produktion von PGE2, TNFα und IL-6 führte. Die höchste Konzentration des Extrakts reduzierte die Produktion von Entzündungsmediatoren um ~60%. Die Ergebnisse zeigten auch, dass Spitzwegerichextrakt signifikant (p &lt; 0,05) die LTA-induzierte erhöhte Produktion von PGE2, TNFα und IL-6 reduzierte, wobei 100 mg/ml des Extrakts die erhöhte Produktion von Entzündungsmediatoren um ~70% reduzierten. Experimente zur Zellviabilität zeigten keine signifikante Verringerung der Lebensfähigkeit von Mandelepithelzellen bei den Konzentrationen der untersuchten Extrakte. Diese Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin,dass Sisymbrium officinalis und Plantago lanceolata bei Streptokokken-Pharyngitis entzündungshemmend wirken und für diese Anwendungen weiter untersucht werden sollten.<br/

Gender roles in sustainable mobility:Exploring E-scooter adoption intentions in a developing country through an integrated TPB-UTAUT framework

While the knowledge on demographic determinants such as age and income on micro-mobility adoption trends has been growing in the last few years, there are still literature gap in regard to the role of gender. Therefore, this study aims to examine a set of determinants potentially influencing the behavioral intention to adopt electric scooter (e-scooter) sharing systems among current non-users emphasizing on gender differences. For this purpose, we conducted an e-survey, with 449 complete responses from Babol’s residents in Iran. Once the data was gathered, an integrated theoretical framework was developed by synthesizing constructs from the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The data were analyzed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Results show that perceived behavioral control, subjective norms (pertaining to peers and media influences), perceived value, and environmental concerns have a positive influence on the self-reported intention to engaging in e-scooter usage. Conversely, perceived risk had a significant and negative influence on intention, that was consistent across genders. Notably, the sharing tendency did not emerge as a significant predictor of the intention to use e-scooters. These insights inform strategies to promote this eco-friendly transportation mode, enhancing social inclusion by tailoring interventions to diverse gender-specific needs, a pivotal contribution of this work. Moreover, it provides critical insights into determinants of e-scooter sharing adoption, advancing social inclusion by informing gender-tailored strategies to promote this sustainable mode, a key contribution that supports effective, inclusive interventions for diverse user segments

Adults experiencing mental illness

Chapter focuses on common mental health problems that adults may experience across the lifespan, whilst looking at recovery-focused interventions that can be used in practice by mental health nurses

Mobile Network Traffic Prediction Using Temporal Fusion Transformer

The continuous development of mobile communication technologies has led to a rapid increase in cellular network traffic. Therefore, traffic prediction models have become very important for the design of mobile communication networks, as they are essential for increasing the quality of service (QoS) and ensuring a high level of quality of experience (QoE). Accurate and timely prediction of network traffic volume enables efficient planning of radio resource allocation, improves network energy efficiency, and reduces network congestion and operational costs. However, the task of mobile network traffic prediction is inherently challenging due to the dynamic, multivariate nature of traffic patterns that are influenced by diverse factors such as location, user behavior, and temporal variations. In this article, we propose a novel prediction model based on deep learning techniques. Specifically, we develop a customized temporal fusion transformer (TFT) for accurate time series prediction that effectively captures the complex dependencies in mobile network traffic and ensures resilience to unexpected variations, which is critical for efficient network management and QoE enhancement. The prediction model is evaluated and tested against state-of-the-art prediction models using real-world cellular network data as the training dataset. The experimental results validate the excellence of this customized transformer architecture in capturing the complex temporal dynamics of cellular network traffic by exploiting attention-based mechanisms.</p

Association between dietary self-care adherence and depression among adults living with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ghana:a cross-sectional study

Introduction: Dietary recommendation plays a quintessential role in diabetes self-management. Persons living with diabetes (PLWD) are expected to consume diets rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts, while limiting alcohol consumption, refined grains, red and processed meats, and low sugar-sweetened beverages. However, the following questions remain: (a) What is the association between dietary adherence and depression among persons living with diabetes in Ghana? (b) Do adherence to a general diet and specific diet recommendations have the same association with depression? To address these questions, we examined the association between dietary self-care adherence and depression among PLWD in Ghana. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The study involved 398 PLWD. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were performed to assess the association between dietary adherence and depression. The results of the multivariable logistic regression were presented in adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistical significance was set at &lt; 0.05. Results: Overall, we estimated a depression prevalence of 38.7% among the participants. PLWD who had a high dietary self-care adherence were significantly less likely to experience depression (COR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.11–0.66). This association remained statistically significant after adjusting for covariates (AOR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.10–0.78). While a high general diet score was associated with lower odds of depression, it was statistically not significant. However, PLWD with a higher specific diet score were significantly less likely to experience depressive symptoms (AOR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.73–0.88). Conclusion: The significant inverse association between adherence to specific diets and depression points to an area that clinicians and public health authorities must prioritise. Our findings suggest that encouraging PLWD to adhere to specific diet recommendations (e.g., fruit and vegetable consumption, practicing carbohydrate spacing, and consuming low-fat diets) could help reduce the risk of depression. Hence, clinicians must emphasise the mental health benefits of adhering to dietary recommendations during their dietary counselling sessions with PLWD.</p

A Review of Resource Allocation for Maximizing Performance of IoT Systems

Resource allocation is critical for maximizing the performance of Internet of Things (IoT) systems, in which devices with limited resources work together to complete diverse tasks. This paper provides a detailed overview of existing resource management solutions in IoT contexts, with a particular emphasis on AI techniques, heuristic/metaheuristic approaches, 5G/6G, digital twins, and blockchain. We evaluate the potential advantages and limitations of several resource allocation techniques and frameworks suggested in the literature. Our findings illustrate the potential of advanced AI and decentralized approaches to solving critical difficulties in IoT systems, including security and privacy preservation, communication overhead reduction, energy consumption, real-time performance improvement, and scalability enhancement. Furthermore, the ramifications of these discoveries were examined, as well as potential possibilities for future research in this vital field of study.</p

Exploring Pharmacist Prescribing Practices in General Practices for Atrial Fibrillation in England:A Qualitative Study using the Theoretical Domains Framework

Introduction: Pharmacist roles in primary care are evolving, with increasing involvement in long-term condition management. An example is their crucial role in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF), particularly in prescribing and monitoring oral anticoagulation therapy. However, their experiences and challenges in this area remain underexplored, particularly within the context of general practice.Aim: This study aimed to explore the experiences, perceptions, and challenges of independent prescribing pharmacists when managing and prescribing for AF within general practice, using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to guide enquiry and analysis. Method: We conducted a qualitative study underpinned by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), which informed both the interview guide and the analytic coding framework. Independent prescribing pharmacists working in general practice in England were purposively recruited via professional networks; eligible participants were patient-facing and had experience prescribing for atrial fibrillation. One-to-one, semi-structured interviews were conducted via Microsoft Teams® in August 2024, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and returned to participants for checking. Recruitment proceeded until thematic saturation. Two researchers independently applied the framework method, resolved discrepancies by consensus, and mapped final themes to relevant TDF domains.Results: Twenty pharmacists took part in the study (9 men, 11 women; age 25–52 years), providing perspectives from a range of experience levels. Four overarching themes emerged: (1) confidence and experience in prescribing, (2) perceived role and responsibilities, (3) barriers to effective prescribing, and (4) strategies for effective prescribing. Pharmacists with extensive AF experience demonstrated higher confidence, whereas less experienced pharmacists relied on guidelines and colleagues. Perceived roles ranged from central to supportive within multidisciplinary teams, with some uncertainty about role boundaries. Key barriers included incomplete access to patient records, limited training, and workload pressures. Strategies to support prescribing included continuous professional development, decision support tools, and peer consultation.Conclusion: The study emphasises the challenges pharmacists encounter in managing AF, highlighting the need for clearer role definitions, improved access to patient data and ongoing peer support. Addressing the identified barriers through targeted interventions could enhance the effectiveness of pharmacist-led AF management in general practice. Future research should evaluate interventions designed to support pharmacists in this evolving role.<br/

The quest for efficiency in higher education in England:lessons learned for developed economies

Over recent decades, universities in England have transitioned from providing higher education (HE) for the elite to HE for the masses. Funding mechanisms have changed, cost-sharing has shifted from public to private sources, and efficiency and productivity have been emphasized. Three excellence frameworks relating to research, teaching, and knowledge exchange have been introduced to assess performance. In this paper, we explore the systems of performance measurement and funding implemented in English HE and critically appraise these against the recommendations from the relevant literature. We conclude that these frameworks, by separately assessing performance in the three missions, inadequately account for synergies between activities, thereby ignoring the civic nature of universities and possibilities for economies of scale and scope. We conclude by highlighting some emerging areas for future research. While the focus of the paper is English HE, the themes and findings are relevant to all HE sectors around the world.</p

Modeling and analysis of internal excitation and vibration characteristics of gears with early-stage crack and 3D tooth surface error

Affected by the tooth surface errors, the vibration characteristics of early crack failures are usually various under different tooth surface precision level. Therefore, to reveal the influence of three-dimensional (3D) tooth surface error (TSE) on the internal excitation and vibration characteristics of gears with early-stage crack (ESC), a coupling internal excitation model of gears with ESC and 3D errors is proposed based on a double-layer iterative method. In this model, the influence of meshing phase between tooth pair and along tooth width direction (TWD) on the time-varying mesh stiffness (TVMS) are simultaneously considered, which overcomes the limitations of traditional models that are only suitable for characterizing the coupled excitation of the two-dimensional tooth profile errors and TVMS. Based on verifying the proposed model, the effects of TSE type, parameters, and load on the TVMS, loaded static transmission error (LSTE), load distributions, and torsional deformation of the cracked gear teeth are investigated, and the vibration characteristics of ESC failures under the effects of 3D TSE are also explored. The research results show that the distribution parameters of 3D TSE have a significant effect on the internal excitation and vibration characteristics of gears with ESC, and thus measuring and evaluating the distribution parameters of TSE can help improve the accuracy of gear fault identification and diagnosis methods.</p