Search Results (176)

Background: Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) serve as crucial biomarkers for diagnosing systemic autoimmune diseases; however, their interpretation can be complex and may not always correlate with clinical symptoms. Methods: A comprehensive narrative review was conducted to evaluate the peer-reviewed literature published between 1961 and 2025. Databases, including PubMed and Scopus, were searched using combinations of controlled vocabulary and free-text terms relating to antinuclear antibodies and their clinical significance. The objective was to gather and synthesize information regarding the diagnostic utility and interpretation of ANA testing in routine medical practice. Discussion: The indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIF) on HEp-2 cells is established as the gold standard for detecting ANAs, facilitating the classification of various fluorescent patterns. While a positive ANA test can suggest autoimmune disorders, the presence and titre must be interpreted alongside clinical findings, as low titres often lack diagnostic significance. Findings indicate that titres higher than 1:160 may provide greater specificity in differentiating true positives from false positives in healthy individuals. The study also emphasizes the relevance of fluorescence patterns, with specific patterns linked to particular diseases, although many do not have strong clinical correlations. Moreover, certain autoantibodies demonstrate high specificity for diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Ultimately, while ANA testing is invaluable for diagnosing connective tissue diseases, healthcare providers must consider its limitations to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment. Conclusions: ANA testing is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of connective tissue diseases, but its interpretation must be approached with caution. Clinical context remains crucial when evaluating ANA results to avoid misdiagnosis and overtreatment. This review is about the diagnostic aspects and clinical consequences of ANA testing, as well as highlighting both the diagnostic benefits and the potential limitations of this procedure in everyday clinical practice. The review fills a gap in the literature by integrating the diagnostic and clinical aspects of ANA testing, with a focus on real-world interpretation challenges. Full article

As BIM projects grow in volume and complexity, automated Information Compliance Checking (ICC) is becoming essential to meet demanding regulatory and contractual requirements. This study presents novel controlled vocabularies and processes for the management of information requirements, along with a structured evaluation of the Information Delivery Specification (IDS) and its associated tools. The controlled vocabularies are important as they provide support to standardization, information retrieval, data-driven workflows, and AI integration. Information requirements are classified by input type and project interaction context (phase, origin, project role, and communication), as well as by applicability (data management function, model granularity, BIM usage, and checkability). The ontology comprises seven categories: identity, geometry, design/performance, fabrication/construction, operation/maintenance, cost, and regulatory category, each linked to verification principles such as uniqueness and consistency. This enables systematic implementation of validation checks aligned with company and project needs. We introduce three ICC workflows in relation to the BIM authoring tools (inside, outside, and hybrid) and suggest key criteria for the functional and non-functional evaluation of IDS tools. Empirical results from a real project using five IDS tools reveal implementation issues with the classification facet, regular expressions, and issue reporting. The proposed ontology and framework lay the foundation for a scalable, transparent ICC within openBIM. The results also provide ICC process guidance for practitioners, a SWOT analysis that can inform enhancements to the existing IDS schema, identify possible inputs for certification of IDS tools, and generate innovative ideas for research and development. Full article

Background: Microsurgery is a highly complex and technically demanding field within reconstructive surgery, with outcomes heavily dependent on meticulous planning, precision, and postoperative monitoring. Over the last five years, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool across all phases of microsurgical care, offering new capabilities in imaging analysis, intraoperative decision support, and outcome prediction. Methods: A comprehensive narrative review was conducted to evaluate the peer-reviewed literature published between 2020 and May 2025. Multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science, were searched using combinations of controlled vocabulary and free-text terms relating to AI and microsurgery. Studies were included if they described AI applications during the preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative phases of microsurgical care in human subjects. Discussion: Using predictive models, AI demonstrated significant utility in preoperative planning through automated perforator mapping, flap design, and individualised risk stratification. AI-enhanced augmented reality and perfusion analysis tools improved precision intraoperatively, while innovative robotic platforms and intraoperative advisors showed early promise. Postoperatively, mobile-based deep learning applications enabled continuous flap monitoring with sensitivities exceeding 90%, and AI models accurately predicted surgical site infections, transfusion needs, and long-term outcomes. Despite these advances, most studies relied on retrospective single-centre data, and large-scale, prospective validation remains limited. Conclusions: AI is poised to enhance microsurgical precision, safety, and efficiency. However, its integration is challenged by data heterogeneity, generalisability concerns, and the need for human oversight in nuanced clinical scenarios. Standardised data collection and multicentre collaboration are vital for robust, equitable AI deployment. With careful validation and implementation, AI holds the potential to redefine microsurgical workflows and improve patient outcomes across diverse clinical settings. Full article

South Africa continues to experience a high HIV prevalence, necessitating innovative prevention strategies aligned with the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. Long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), such as cabotegravir (CAB-LA), offers a promising alternative to daily oral regimens. However, the perspectives of primary healthcare workers (PHCWs)—key implementers of this intervention—remain underexplored. This scoping review aims to systematically map existing literature on PHCWs’ knowledge, awareness, perceptions, barriers, facilitators, and implementation experiences related to injectable PrEP within the South African healthcare context. The review will follow the Arksey and O’Malley framework, enhanced by Levac et al., and will be reported following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A comprehensive search will be conducted across PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Web of Science, and Google Scholar, without language or date restrictions. The search strategy will employ both controlled vocabulary (e.g., MeSH and CINAHL Subject Headings) and free-text terms. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria will be managed using EndNote X20 and appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) 2018 version. Data will be synthesized thematically and presented narratively and in tabular form. By consolidating PHCWs’ perspectives, this review will identify implementation challenges, training needs, and systemic barriers, informing the development of context-specific strategies for PrEP rollout. The findings are expected to support the design of effective, culturally relevant educational interventions and guide policymakers in strengthening HIV prevention efforts in high-burden settings. Full article

Background: This study investigated whether a health literacy intervention program could improve the health literacy and quality of life among hospital volunteers. The study also explored the impact of health literacy on hospital volunteers’ health and psychological well-being. Methods: Overall, 35 hospital volunteers were recruited and divided into an experimental group (n = 22) and a control group (n = 13). The experimental group participated in an 8-week health literacy intervention program, which covered topics such as medication information, physiological and symptom-related vocabulary, and disease representation. The control group did not receive any intervention. A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess participants’ health literacy and quality of life before and after the intervention, and the comparison between two groups was statistically analyzed. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvements in multiple aspects of health literacy, particularly in medication information, physiology vocabulary, symptom vocabulary, and signs vocabulary (p < 0.05). In terms of quality of life, the experimental group demonstrated significant enhancements in psychological well-being and overall quality of life (p < 0.05). In contrast, the control group exhibited a downward trend in most health literacy dimensions with a significant decline in organ vocabulary (p < 0.05) and no significant changes in quality of life. Conclusions: The health literacy intervention program effectively improved hospital volunteers’ health literacy and quality of life with particularly notable effects on psychological well-being and the understanding of health-related professional terminology. By enhancing hospital volunteers’ health literacy and quality of life, healthcare organizations can foster more effective, sustainable, and satisfactory service quality. Full article

Early mathematical and vocabulary skills serve as critical foundations for academic success, yet the mechanisms underlying their development remain complex. This study examines the role of parents’ education, children’s attentional control, and learning approaches as predictors of kindergarteners’ mathematics and vocabulary performance. Using a sample of 149 children aged 60–72 months in Shanghai, China, we conducted a path analysis to explore direct and indirect relationships among these factors. Findings indicate that parental education indirectly predicts math ability through children’s learning approaches and attentional control, emphasizing the role of both cognitive and behavioral pathways. Conversely, vocabulary development is directly influenced by parental education and learning approaches, suggesting distinct developmental trajectories for math and language acquisition. These results highlight the interconnected nature of cognitive, behavioral, and environmental influences on early academic performance. Implications for early childhood education emphasize the need for targeted interventions that not only engage parents in fostering language-rich and cognitively stimulating environments but also support children’s motivation, persistence, and attentional capacities. Full article

This study explores the effectiveness of Technology-Assisted Vocabulary Learning (TAVL) using student-created video learning materials within a tertiary-level English as a Foreign Language (EFL) flipped classroom. By leveraging the flipped classroom model, which allocates classroom time for interactive activities and shifts instructional content delivery outside of class, the research investigates how student-produced videos can enhance vocabulary acquisition and retention. Conducted with 47 university students from a Translation and Translation Studies course, the study aims to fill a gap in empirical evidence regarding this innovative approach. Quantitative analysis revealed that students who created and utilized videos (Group 1) showed the highest improvement in vocabulary scores, followed by those who only used the videos (Group 2), with the control group relying on traditional teacher-led methods showing the least improvement. Qualitative feedback highlighted that video creators experienced deeper engagement and better vocabulary retention, while users appreciated the videos’ visual and auditory elements but faced challenges with vocabulary overload. The findings suggest that incorporating student-created videos into the curriculum fosters a dynamic and collaborative learning environment, offering practical implications for enhancing vocabulary instruction through technology-enhanced pedagogical practices. Future research should focus on optimizing video production processes and integrating these methods with traditional teaching for comprehensive vocabulary learning. Full article

Background: The human microbiome plays a crucial role in health and disease. Dysbiosis, an imbalance of microorganisms, has been implicated in cancer development and treatment response, including in primary brain tumors and brain metastases, through interactions mediated by the gut–brain axis. This scoping review synthesizes current evidence on the relationship between the human microbiome and brain tumors. Methods: A systematic search of five electronic databases was conducted by an expert librarian, using controlled vocabulary and keywords. A targeted grey literature search in Google Scholar and clinical trial registries was also undertaken. Eligible studies included primary research involving human patients, or in vivo, or in vitro models of glioma or brain metastasis, with a focus on the microbiome’s role in tumor development, treatment response, and outcomes. Results: Out of 584 citations screened, 40 studies met inclusion criteria, comprising 24 articles and 16 conference abstracts. These included 12 human studies, 16 using mouse models, 7 combining both, and 5 employing large datasets or next-generation sequencing of tumor samples. Thirty-one studies focused on primary brain tumors, six on brain metastases, and three on both. Of the 20 studies examining dysbiosis in tumor development, 95% (n = 19) found an association with tumor growth. Additionally, 71.4% (n = 5/7) of studies reported that microbiome alterations influenced treatment efficacy. Conclusions: Although the role of the gut–brain axis in brain tumors is still emerging and is characterized by heterogeneity across studies, existing evidence consistently supports a relationship between the gut microbiome and both brain tumor development and treatment outcomes. Full article

This study aims to investigate the development of empathy as a thinking skill among preservice teachers at the University of Kazakhstan. Empathy is one of the domains of critical thinking, and this article aims to reveal the domains of empathy of future teachers. The research used some questions developed by empathic abilities diagnostics The questions were tailored to the pedagogy students and their experiences, and only those related to expressing empathy skills, i.e., assessing the ability to empathize with and understand the thoughts and feelings of another person, were selected. In this article, the authors stress the importance of empathy skills and their expression for developing creative thinking skills in future teachers. The results of a study involving 114 prospective schoolteachers (80 women and 34 men) from one university in Kazakhstan are presented. The study explored preservice teachers’ perceptions of the development of empathy skills, which included areas such as the conditions and dispositions for empathy, the ability to empathize with others, and the identification of empathy expression. To summarize the empirical data, it can be said that preservice teachers are able to recognize the body language of individuals and understand others without words, react emotionally to disasters in the immediate environment, and are sometimes out of control in their vocabulary in the immediate environment (they may unintentionally offend others). Full article

The paper explores the significance of digitalization and spatial modeling for the preservation and management of cultural heritage, addressing challenges posed by architectural complexity and extensive data volumes and developing a tailored data model to organize and integrate geometric, material, and historical information. The case study of Pitti Palace in Florence, Italy, is proposed, considering that its architectural complexity and cultural significance require innovative approaches to documentation and management. The “Pitti Data Model” is proposed as a tailored information system to organize and manage the data. It classifies spaces by adopting a hierarchical approach that supports detailed spatial analysis and reflects the historical and functional diversity of the site. The model links geometric data with thematic data such as material types, state of conservation, and historical names of spaces, providing a multi-dimensional understanding of the building. Based on Getty’s Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT), a controlled vocabulary was employed to ensure semantic consistency and interoperability. This semantic enrichment facilitates the integration of geometric data with broader heritage information systems. The paper presents, therefore, the integration in existing standards like INSPIRE, CityGML, and IndoorGML, thus providing a data model supporting efficient querying and visualization in a GeoDB that integrates spatial and non-spatial data, supporting collaborative and sustainable heritage management by enabling advanced analyses such as visitor flow optimization and conservation planning. This aligns with the concept of Heritage Digital Twins (HDT), which are interactive, evolving representations of cultural assets. HDTs support collaborative and sustainable heritage management by enabling stakeholders to access, analyze, and update information in real time. Full article

Medical laboratories are perhaps the largest measurement industry in the world. The metrology terminology is relevant for effective and efficient communication, particularly where metrology activities are carried out by operators with different metrology skills. The World Association of Societies of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (WASPaLM) and SIPMeL have had some opportunities to propose changes to the documents in preparation for the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and the ISO/TC 212 in order to harmonize the terminology with the Metrology Vocabulary (VIM) of the Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology (JCGM). Many proposals have been accepted. Here, we summarize some particularly critical points for metrological terms. The main terms discussed are the following: measuring, measuring range, examination, pre-examination, post-examination, manufacturer, measuring instrument, quantitative, qualitative, semi-quantitative, processing, measurement error, maximum permissible error of measurement, total error of measurement, monitoring, variability, performance, reliability, influence, interference, selectivity, sensitivity, detection limit, reliability, comparability, compatibility, control material. Despite all the efforts to coordinate terminologies, it is inevitable that overlapping and inconsistent terminologies will continue to be used because documents and policies are produced in different contexts. In some ISO/TC 212 and CLSI documents, the phenomenon of magnetic attraction toward common words (such as “analysis” and derivatives), without any consideration of the true metrological meaning, is noted. The ISO/TC 212 and CLSI working groups show, alongside moments of openness, phenomena of true self-referential conservatism. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study examined the development of speech, expressive vocabulary, and receptive vocabulary in boys with Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), with a focus on the contribution of the Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein (FMRP), while controlling for the effects of nonverbal IQ, maternal education, and Autism status on the development of these skills. Methods: Participants included 45 boys with full mutation FXS, ranging in age from 2.9 to 14.0 years, who were subdivided into those with FXS only (FXS-Only) and those with FXS and Autism (FXS-Autism). Speech, expressive vocabulary, and receptive vocabulary skills were assessed over three years for each participant. Results: There was a significant relationship between each of the outcome measures and the child’s nonverbal mental level, and between for both outcome measures of vocabulary and Autism status, but these relationships were moderated by the level of FMRP. Specifically, higher levels of FMRP seemed to increase the relationship between developmental level of speech, receptive, and expressive vocabulary for boys with FXS with and without Autism; however, at lower levels of FMRP, these relationships seemed to weaken significantly for both groups. Conclusions: These findings implicate increased complexity in the relationship between various contributors to the rates of growth of speech, expressive vocabulary, and receptive vocabulary in boys with FXS, with FMRP being a key variable potentially moderating the relationship between nonverbal abilities, Autism status, and speech and vocabulary development. Full article

Chronic stress is an important predictor of mental and physical health, but little is known about its association with cognitive abilities and education during the lifespan. We hypothesized that chronic stress would be negatively correlated with cognitive abilities, particularly crystallized intelligence, and that this association would be stronger among individuals with lower educational attainment due to limited stress-coping resources. We used cross-sectional data from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS SC6), comprising 10,416 adults aged 29 to 71 years (50.80% female; 49.20% male). Fluid and crystallized intelligence were assessed with a reasoning test and a vocabulary test, respectively; chronic stress was assessed with a questionnaire on social stress and anxiety. The tests and the questionnaire were conceptualized for a heterogeneous and large-scale sample. Our results show small negative associations between chronic stress and both fluid and crystallized cognitive abilities, which persist after controlling for demographic variables. However, there were no significant differences between educational groups. Although the study does not address longitudinal patterns, it highlights the complex interaction between stress and cognition, and it underscores the need for further research to explore how educational resources may mitigate the impact of chronic stress on cognitive health. Full article

This mixed-methods study investigates the impact of digital devices use at home on early English literacy development among 121 Chinese-Canadian first graders, as well as their parents’ perspectives on the families’ purposes and practices of digital devices use for English literacy, highlighting bilingual children’s experiences with multiple digital devices. To understand the relationships between the children’s digital practices and early English literacy development, we collected quantitative data on children’s English literacy skills—including reading comprehension, decoding, and receptive vocabulary—alongside frequency data on digital devices use including those on computer use and television viewing. Parents of 66 children participated in interviews, providing context-specific insights into devices use purposes and language learning practices. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and independent samples t-tests to examine group differences. Hierarchical linear regression explored associations between digital devices use and early English literacy outcomes, while thematic analysis identified patterns from parental interviews. Results indicate a positive association between controlled television exposure and receptive vocabulary. However, no significant relationship was observed between television or computer use and decoding or reading comprehension. Findings emphasize the multifaceted but limited role of digital devices, with parents struggling to balance educational benefits and long-term concerns. Full article

Conducting penetration testing (pentesting) in cybersecurity is a crucial turning point for identifying vulnerabilities within the framework of Information Technology (IT), where real malicious offensive behavior is simulated to identify potential weaknesses and strengthen preventive controls. Given the complexity of the tests, time constraints, and the specialized level of expertise required for pentesting, analysis and exploitation tools are commonly used. Although useful, these tools often introduce uncertainty in findings, resulting in high rates of false positives. To enhance the effectiveness of these tests, Machine Learning (ML) has been integrated, showing significant potential for identifying anomalies across various security areas through detailed detection of underlying malicious patterns. However, pentesting environments are unpredictable and intricate, requiring analysts to make extensive efforts to understand, explore, and exploit them. This study considers these challenges, proposing a recommendation system based on a context-rich, vocabulary-aware transformer capable of processing questions related to the target environment and offering responses based on necessary pentest batteries evaluated by a Reinforcement Learning (RL) estimator. This RL component assesses optimal attack strategies based on previously learned data and dynamically explores additional attack vectors. The system achieved an F1 score and an Exact Match rate over $97.0$%, demonstrating its accuracy and effectiveness in selecting relevant pentesting strategies. Full article