CLAYmb: The Development and Assessment of an Interactive Learning Application for Pottery Making

This study aimed to design and develop an interactive learning application called CLAYmb, utilizing the phases of the SDLC, and evaluated its technical and quality aspects using ISO 25010 software standards. The study utilized a developmental research design, with IT experts and end-users as respondents, and the results demonstrated that the SDLC model was suitable for developing the system, and the respondents highly accepted it. The study's recommendations include conducting further research to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of CLAYmb, involving a more diverse set of respondents, and improving the system's usability through user testing and feedback analysis. Valuable insights into the development and evaluation of interactive learning applications using SDLC and ISO 25010 software standards are presented in this study. It emphasizes the significance of involving users in the design and development process and underscores the need for continuous evaluation and enhancement of such systems. These findings can serve as a basis for improving the technical quality and quality of using interactive learning applications in the future

Macaques vaccinated with live-attenuated SIV control replication of heterologous virus

An effective AIDS vaccine will need to protect against globally diverse isolates of HIV. To address this issue in macaques, we administered a live-attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) vaccine and challenged with a highly pathogenic heterologous isolate. Vaccinees reduced viral replication by ∼2 logs between weeks 2–32 (P ≤ 0.049) postchallenge. Remarkably, vaccinees expressing MHC-I (MHC class I) alleles previously associated with viral control completely suppressed acute phase replication of the challenge virus, implicating CD8+ T cells in this control. Furthermore, transient depletion of peripheral CD8+ lymphocytes in four vaccinees during the chronic phase resulted in an increase in virus replication. In two of these animals, the recrudescent virus population contained only the vaccine strain and not the challenge virus. Alarmingly, however, we found evidence of recombinant viruses emerging in some of the vaccinated animals. This finding argues strongly against an attenuated virus vaccine as a solution to the AIDS epidemic. On a more positive note, our results suggest that MHC-I–restricted CD8+ T cells contribute to the protection induced by the live-attenuated SIV vaccine and demonstrate that vaccine-induced CD8+ T cell responses can control replication of heterologous challenge viruses

Energy expenditure on recreational visits to different natural environments.

Physical inactivity poses a significant challenge to physical and mental health. Environmental approaches to tackle physical inactivity have identified natural environments as potentially important public health resources. Despite this, little is known about characteristics of the activity involved when individuals visit different types of natural environment. Using Natural England's Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment Survey, we examined 71,603 English respondents' recreational visits to natural environments in the past week. Specifically, we examined the intensity of the activities they undertook on the visits (METs), the duration of their visit, and the associated total energy expenditure (MET minutes). Visits to countryside and urban greenspace environments were associated with more intense activities than visits to coastal environments. However, visits to coastal environments were associated with the most energy expenditure overall due to their relatively long duration. Results differed by the urbanity or rurality of the respondent's residence and also how far respondents travelled to their destination. Knowledge of what types of natural environment afford the highest volumes and intensities of physical activity could inform landscape architecture and exercise prescriptions. Isolating activity-supporting characteristics of natural environments that can be translated into urban design is important in providing physical activity opportunities for those less able to access expansive environments

The utility of clinical decision tools for diagnosing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk of low bone mineral density than normal age matched populations. There is limited evidence to support cost effectiveness of population screening in rheumatoid arthritis and case finding strategies have been proposed as a means to increase cost effectiveness of diagnostic screening for osteoporosis. This study aimed to assess the performance attributes of generic and rheumatoid arthritis specific clinical decision tools for diagnosing osteoporosis in a postmenopausal population with rheumatoid arthritis who attend ambulatory specialist rheumatology clinics. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 127 ambulatory post-menopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis was performed. Patients currently receiving or who had previously received bone active therapy were excluded. Eligible women underwent clinical assessment and dual-energy-xray absorptiometry (DXA) bone mineral density assessment. Clinical decision tools, including those specific for rheumatoid arthritis, were compared to seven generic post-menopausal tools to predict osteoporosis (defined as T score < -2.5). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values and area under the curve were assessed. The diagnostic attributes of the clinical decision tools were compared by examination of the area under the receiver-operator-curve. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty seven women participated. The median age was 62 (IQR 56-71) years. Median disease duration was 108 (60-168) months. Seventy two (57%) women had no record of a previous DXA examination. Eighty (63%) women had T scores at femoral neck or lumbar spine less than -1. The area under the ROC curve for clinical decision tool prediction of T score <-2.5 varied between 0.63 and 0.76. The rheumatoid arthritis specific decision tools did not perform better than generic tools, however, the National Osteoporosis Foundation score could potentially reduce the number of unnecessary DXA tests by approximately 45% in this population. CONCLUSION: There was limited utility of clinical decision tools for predicting osteoporosis in this patient population. Fracture prediction tools that include risk factors independent of BMD are needed

Dapagliflozin in heart failure with preserved and mildly reduced ejection fraction: rationale and design of the DELIVER trial

Background: Sodium glucose co-transporter type 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, originally developed as glucose lowering agents, have been shown to reduce heart failure hospitalizations in patients with type 2 diabetes without established heart failure, and in patients with heart failure with and without diabetes. Their role in patients with heart failure with preserved and mildly reduced ejection fraction remains unknown. Design and Methods: Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the LIVEs of Patients With PReserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure (DELIVER) is an international, multi-center, parallel group, event-driven, randomized, double-blind trial in patients with chronic heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than 40%, comparing the effect of dapagliflozin 10 mg, compared with placebo, once daily, in addition to standard of care. Patients with or without diabetes, with signs and symptoms of heart failure, a left ventricular ejection fraction &gt; 40%, elevation in natriuretic peptides and evidence of structural heart disease are eligible. The primary endpoint is time to first cardiovascular death or worsening heart failure event (heart failure hospitalization or urgent heart failure visit), and will be assessed in dual primary analyses – the full population and in those with LVEF &lt; 60%. The study is event drive and will target 1117 primary events. A total of 6263 patients have been randomized. Conclusions: DELIVER will determine the efficacy and safety of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin, added to conventional therapy, in patients with heart failure and preserved and mildly reduced ejection fraction. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03619213