Predictors of anxiety and depressive symptoms among Greek nurses

Introduction: The increasing needs of an aging population and the shortage of nursing personnel have a negative impact on the workload of nurses increasing the risk of developing anxiety and depressive symptoms. This research aims to evaluate the strength of occupational and demographic characteristics in predicting anxiety and depression among nurses. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 164 Greek nurses from three hospitals employed full-time participated. Anxiety and depression were measured using the validated Greek versions of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory – State and Trait Y forms and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, respectively. The statistical analysis of the data was performed using the statistical program SPSS version 19.0. The statistical significance level was set up at 0.05. Results: Younger nurses, unmarried, those without children, those with less work experience, and working in the general medical units were more vulnerable. The average number of patients per nurse during the day shift may not predict anxiety or depression scores. Strong positive correlation between state and trait anxiety (r [162] = 0.77, p < 0.001), state anxiety and depression (r [162] = 0.62, p < 0.001), and trait anxiety and depression (r [162] = 0.63, p < 0.001) was revealed. Conclusion: Anxiety and depression are prevalent among nurses. Demographic and working characteristics are strong predictors of anxiety and depression among nurses. Nursing managers should emphasize emotional interventions (cognitive behavioral therapy, training on emotional intelligence, strengthening coping skills, and development of high resilience) in supporting nurses at higher risk

A química, os metais e perspectivas de agência

How can we interpret the agency of metals, following, for example, the laboratories of chemists? Substances such as molecules, from a recurring point of view in these laboratories, have "behaviors." These behaviors are seen as agencies without apprehension of consciousness or "animation." So, in these scientific research contexts, inanimate substances can have agency because they have behaviors that can even be anthropomorphized. Looking at the relationship between the living and the non-living from the point of view of chemists confuses our ways of seeing processes. From this perspective, metal does not oppose the living but, like the living, has behaviors. Furthermore, from the molecular scale and the reflexive perspective of chemists, the question of an opposition between living and non-living entities may not make as much sense. From this perspective, the behavior of certain metals is an essential part of the production of life, marking the relationship between metal and living beings as very relative to the levels and scale of the analysis. In other words, given a particular scale, there is no difference, and what happens in a living organism is an integral part of certain mental behaviors. Based on ex post facto anthropological research (Machado, 2019), we present some examples from laboratory experience and learning chemistry to discuss the questions above.Como podemos interpretar a agência de metais, a seguir, por exemplo, os laboratórios dos químicos? Substancias como moléculas, de um ponto de vista recorrente nesses laboratórios, têm “comportamentos”. Esses comportamentos são vistos como agências, embora sem qualquer apreensão de consciência ou “animação”. Assim, nesses contextos de pesquisa científica, substâncias inanimadas podem ter agência por terem comportamentos que podem até ser antropomorfizados. Encarar a relação entre vivos e não vivos do ponto dos químicos embaralha nossos modos de ver os processos. Nessa perspectiva, o metal não está em contraposição ao vivente, mas, como ele, tem comportamentos. E adentrando a escala molecular e a perspectiva reflexiva dos químicos, a questão de uma oposição entre entes vivos e não vivos pode não fazer tanto sentido. Nessa perspectiva, o comportamento de certos metais é parte essencial da produção da vida, marcando a relação entre metal e viventes como muito relativa aos níveis e escala da análise. Ou seja, dada uma certa escala, não há diferença qualquer e o que acontece num organismo vivo é parte integral de certos comportamentos do metal. A partir de uma pesquisa antropológica ex post facto (Machado 2019) apresentamos alguns exemplos retirados da experiência nos laboratórios e no aprendizado de química para discutir as questões acima

β-amino alcohols and their respective 2-phenyl-N-alkyl aziridines as potential DNA minor groove binders

It is known that aziridines and nitrogen mustards exert their biological activities, especially in chemotherapy, via DNA alkylation. The studied scaffold, 2-phenyl-1-aziridine, provides a distinct conformation compared to commonly used aziridines, and therefore, leads to a change in high-strained ring reactivity towards biological nucleophiles, such as DNA. The above series of compounds was tested in three breast cell lines: MCF-10, a healthy cell; MCF-7, a hormone responsive cancer cell; and MDA-MB-231, a triple negative breast cancer cell. Both aziridines and their precursors, β-amino alcohols, showed activity towards these cells, and some of the compounds showed higher selectivity index than cisplatin, the drug used as control. When the type of cell death was investigated, the synthesized compounds demonstrated higher apoptosis and lower necrosis rates than cisplatin, and when the mechanism of action was studied, the compounds were shown to interact with DNA via its minor groove instead of alkylation or intercalation

Extending Design Thinking with Digital Technologies

The use of emerging technologies (ET), such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), 3D printing and Virtual Robotics (VR) are amongst the EU targeted actions for supporting the digital transformation of education (Digital Education Action Plan, 2021-2027). Yet, despite these technologies being accessible to education stakeholders, there is a lack of concrete pedagogy and teachers' professional development for their meaningful infusion into the current educational context. Extending Design Thinking with Emerging Digital Technologies (Exten (D.T.)2 ) is a [name of funder removed] project aiming to use: AI, AR, VR and 3D printing technologies, to enhance the pedagogical value, sustainable digitization and potential for wide deployment of Design Thinking (DT). DT (Brown, 2008) is a promising pedagogical innovation, based on interdisciplinary co-creation, that can lead to sustainable and feasible product solutions, which has yet to be tested widely in education. Through Design-Based Research (DBR) and a co-production approach with teachers, Exten (D.T.)2 will use emerging technologies and design thinking to design, pilot and scale up a sustainable learning implementation that can foster students' 21st century skills

EuReCa ONE—27 Nations, ONE Europe, ONE Registry A prospective one month analysis of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes in 27 countries in Europe

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of the EuReCa ONE study was to determine the incidence, process, and outcome for out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) throughout Europe.MethodsThis was an international, prospective, multi-centre one-month study. Patients who suffered an OHCA during October 2014 who were attended and/or treated by an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) were eligible for inclusion in the study. Data were extracted from national, regional or local registries.ResultsData on 10,682 confirmed OHCAs from 248 regions in 27 countries, covering an estimated population of 174 million. In 7146 (66%) cases, CPR was started by a bystander or by the EMS. The incidence of CPR attempts ranged from 19.0 to 104.0 per 100,000 population per year. 1735 had ROSC on arrival at hospital (25.2%), Overall, 662/6414 (10.3%) in all cases with CPR attempted survived for at least 30 days or to hospital discharge.ConclusionThe results of EuReCa ONE highlight that OHCA is still a major public health problem accounting for a substantial number of deaths in Europe.EuReCa ONE very clearly demonstrates marked differences in the processes for data collection and reported outcomes following OHCA all over Europe. Using these data and analyses, different countries, regions, systems, and concepts can benchmark themselves and may learn from each other to further improve survival following one of our major health care events

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Development of polynuclear systems based on trinuclear cluster and polyimines ruthenium compounds: building blocks in supramoleular chemistry

O trabalho apresentado nesta Tese tem como objetivo a elaboração de estruturas polinucleares baseadas em clusters trinucleares de rutênio. Os oligômeros estudados são opções interessantes para o desenvolvimento futuro de dispositivos supramoleculares, em função de suas propriedades fotofísicas e eletroquímicas. Um trímero e uma série de dímeros mistos foram obtidos pela combinação do cluster [Ru3O(CH3COO)6(py)2(CH3OH)]+ com complexos [Ru(bpy)2(P)(L)]+ (P = ligante de ponte N-heterocíclico; L = P, Cl ou CN). A caracterização por RMN, voltametria cíclica e espectroeletroquímica dos dímeros onde L = Cl foi utilizada como base na interpretação dos resultados obtidos para os demais complexos; os dados refletem uma interação fraca entre os fragmentos, que depende das características eletrônicas da ponte P. Nos dímeros onde L = CN, ocorre a supressão da emissão do cromóforo [Ru(bpy)2] pelo cluster através de um mecanismo de transferência de elétrons fotoinduzida. Para o cluster na forma reduzida, sugere-se também a ocorrência de transferência de energia. Na segunda parte da Tese, são apresentados sistemas policlusters contendo seis e dez unidades ligadas em ponte. As novas supermoléculas apresentam uma série de processos redox multieletrônicos e, neste caso, a comunicação eletrônica entre os centros metálicos é mais pronunciada, sendo dependente do estado de oxidação dos clusters.The aim of the work reported is to develop polynuclear structures based on trinuclear ruthenium clusters. All the oligomers are seen as interesting options to the future development of supramolecular devices, due to their photophysical and electrochemical properties. A series of mixed dimers and one trimer were obtained by the combination of the [Ru3O(CH3COO)6(py)2(CH3OH)]+ cluster with [Ru(bpy)2(P)(L)]+ complexes (P = N-heterocyclic bridging ligand; L = P, Cl or CN). The NMR, cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemical characterization of the dimers where L = Cl were used as a base to interpret the results collected for the other complexes; the data reflect a weak interaction between the units, depending on the electronic characteristics of the bridging ligand P. In the dimers where L = CN, occurs the quenching of the [Ru(bpy)2] emission by the cluster through a photoinduced electron transfer mechanism. For the cluster in its reduced form, it is suggested that an energy transfer process also occurs. On the second part of the Thesis, polycluster systems containing six and ten bridged cluster units are reported. The novel supermolecules present a series of multielectronic redox processes and, in this case, electronic communication among the metallic centers is more pronounced, depending on the clusters oxidation state