Search Results (597)

Background: Family caregivers are a vital yet often under-recognized part of the healthcare system. They provide essential emotional, physical, and logistical support to individuals with illness, disability, or frailty, and their contributions improve continuity of care and reduce system strain. However, many healthcare and social service providers are not equipped to meaningfully engage caregivers as partners. In Alberta, stakeholders validated the Caregiver-Centered Care Competency Framework and identified the need for a three-tiered education model—Foundational, Advanced, and Champion—to help providers recognize, include, and support family caregivers across care settings. This paper focuses on the development and early evaluation of the Advanced Caregiver-Centered Care Education modules, designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of providers with more experience working with family caregivers. The modules emphasize how partnering with caregivers benefits not only the person receiving care but also improves provider effectiveness and supports better system outcomes. Methods: The modules were co-designed with a 154-member interdisciplinary team and grounded in the competency framework. Evaluation used the first three levels of the Kirkpatrick–Barr health workforce education model. We analyzed pre- and post-surveys from the first 50 learners in each module using paired t-tests and examined qualitative feedback and SMART goals through inductive content analysis. Results: Learners reported a high level of satisfaction with the education delivery and the knowledge and skill acquisition. Statistically significant improvements were observed in 53 of 54 pre-post items. SMART goals reflected intended practice changes across all six competency domains, indicating learners saw value in engaging caregivers as partners. Conclusions: The Advanced Caregiver-Centered Care education improved providers’ confidence, knowledge, and skills to work in partnership with family caregivers. Future research will explore whether these improvements translate into real-world practice changes and better caregiver experiences in care planning, communication, and navigation. Full article

The placement of hydraulic elements in existing pool-type fishways to make them more suitable for Cyprinid fish is an issue of increasing interest in fishway research. Hydrodynamic characteristics and fish behavior at the representative pool of the fishway with bottom orifices and notches were assessed at the Dagdelen hydropower plant in the Ceyhan River Basin, Türkiye. Three-dimensional velocity measurements were taken in the pool of the fishway using an Acoustic Doppler velocimeter. The measurements were taken with and without a brush block at two different vertical distances from the bottom, which were below and above the level of bristles tips. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was conducted for the studied fishway. The numerical model utilized Large Eddy Simulation (LES) combined with the Darcy–Forchheimer law, wherein brush blocks were represented as homogenous porous media. Our results revealed that the relative submergence of bristles in the brush block plays a very important role in velocity and Reynolds shear stress (RSS) distributions. After the placement of the submerged brush block, flow velocity and the lateral RSS component were reduced, and a resting area was created behind the brush block below the bristles’ tips. Fish movements in the pool were recorded by underwater cameras under real-time operation conditions. The heatmap analysis, which is a 2-dimensional fish spatial presence visualization technique for a specific time period, showed that Capoeta damascina avoided the areas with high turbulent fluctuations during the tests, and 61.5% of the fish presence intensity was found to be in the low Reynolds shear regions in the pool. This provides a clear case for the real-world ecological benefits of retrofitting existing pool-weir fishways with such flexible hydraulic elements. Full article

Continued efforts have been made to enhance the antibacterial properties of root canal sealers by adding antimicrobial agents to them. This study aims to investigate the antibacterial effect of 0.15% silver nanoparticles (NAg) and 5% dimethylaminohexadecyl methacrylate (DMAHDM) when added to EndoSequence Bioceramic (BC) sealer against Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) biofilm and their impact on its physical properties (flowability and film thickness). Four root canal sealers were tested for flow and film thickness properties, as well as against antibiofilm of E. faecalis-impregnated dentin discs, as follows: group 1: EndoSequence BC sealer only; group 2: EndoSequence BC sealer + 0.15% NAg; group 3: EndoSequence BC sealer + 5% DMAHDM; and group 4: EndoSequence BC sealer + 0.15% NAg + 5% DMAHDM. The findings show that all groups had flow and film thickness values that were in accordance with the ISO requirements. Combining 0.15% NAg and 5% DMAHDM in EndoSequence significantly reduced colony-forming unit (CFU) counts by approximately 5 logs. The combination of NAg and DMAHDM offers a promising strategy for developing endodontic sealers with improved antimicrobial properties and acceptable physical performance. Full article

The high water demand of rice cultivation is mainly due to flood irrigation, which requires large volumes not only to meet evapotranspiration needs, but also due to losses from percolation, lateral seepage, and surface runoff. In addition to lowering water use efficiency, surface runoff may transport nutrients. This study aimed to calibrate and validate a daily water balance model to estimate surface runoff losses across three rice-growing seasons. During the first two seasons, different model components were calibrated by comparing simulated and observed water depths. In the final season, the calibrated model was validated using direct runoff measurements obtained from weirs and flowmeters. Results showed strong agreement between model estimates and direct measurements of water depth and surface runoff. Linear regression models showed good fit, with coefficients of determination (R²) above 0.80 for water depth and 0.79 for runoff. A validated daily water balance model, combined with periodic monitoring of water depth, proved to be a reliable tool for estimating surface runoff during the rice-growing season. Total runoff—from irrigation, rainfall, and final drainage—represented between 7.5% and 18% of the total water input. This approach offers a practical tool for improving irrigation water management and understanding runoff-driven nutrient transport. Full article

The paper describes the simulation of energy absorption in polymer micro-composites that include dielectric inserts (commercial Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ particles, with three particle sizes of 1, 5 and 25 µm, respectively). The investigated frequency spectrum, mainly from 0.001 to 100 GHz, is designed for various uses as substrates in electronic technologies. The electromagnetic simulation software chosen was CST Studio Suite, which evaluates the power loss at different frequencies, playing a crucial role in creating the ideal structure of these substrates. The effective limits of the electromagnetic simulation are specified. It is shown that a considerable increase in absorption occurs, by a factor of 12 to 120, depending on the dielectric material used for the inserts and the mass ratio applied in the insertion technique. Dielectrics with high permittivity provide higher absorption, but also create a nonuniform field distribution within the material, resulting in a high peak-to-average absorption ratio. In scenarios where this behavior is intolerable, the technology must be carefully tuned to improve the consistency of the insertions in the substrate material. The final outcomes of the simulations indicated that for creating new substrates for flexible electronics, polyethylene composites with TiO₂ insertions are suggested, particularly at lower concentrations of up to 7% and with a larger radius, such as 25 μm, which could offer significant economic advantages considering that the current concept advises the use of costly particles ranging from nanoscale particles to those 1 μm in size and a composition exceeding 10%. Full article

During heavy rainfalls, overflowing sewage water flows from the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) chambers and pollutes the Trnávka River in Trnava, Slovakia. This paper aims to propose water retention measures for the Trnávka River as a remediation technique for CSO-affected watercourses, which can contribute to the ‘flushing’ of the riverbed. During heavy rainfalls, the Trnávka River is polluted by solid, non-soluble materials, which produce unpleasant odors and are the subject of numerous complaints by citizens, particularly during low water levels. Three inflatable rubber weirs were designed, and their design was verified using a 1D numerical model of the Trnávka River. The simulations of the proposed measures performed in the HEC-RAS 5.0 software excluded the adverse effect of the backwater on the functioning of the CSO chambers in the city of Trnava during normal flow rates and confirmed that, even after installation of the weirs, the transition of the flood wave will pass in the riverbed, not causing the flooding of the adjacent area. The chemical–physical study of the Trnávka River confirmed our assumption that higher flow rates, which can be secured by the regulation of the proposed weirs, can contribute to the purity of the watercourse in the city of Trnava. Full article

Objectives: Evidence suggests that COVID-19 infection contributes to elevated risks of psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, however, this association remains underexplored. This study aimed to examine the incidence of depression and anxiety in individuals with COVID-19 compared to those without any infection. Method: Using the Utah All Payers Claims Database (2019 to 2021), we examined adult patients with continuous insurance enrollment. Individuals with pre-existing depression or anxiety were excluded. COVID-19 infection in 2020 was identified using diagnostic and procedural codes. The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) method was applied to select covariates, followed by entropy balancing to adjust for baseline differences. Weighted logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between COVID-19 infection and incident mental health diagnoses in 2021. Results: Among 356,985 adults included in the final analytic sample for depression analysis, 37.6 percent had a documented COVID-19 infection in 2020. Individuals with prior infection had significantly higher odds of receiving a depression diagnosis in 2021 compared to those without infection (OR = 1.48, p < 0.01). A similar pattern was observed for anxiety: among 371,491 adults, 38.1 percent had a COVID-19 infection, and infected individuals had 46 percent greater odds of receiving an anxiety diagnosis (OR = 1.46, p < 0.01), after adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics. Conclusions: This study highlights the elevated risk of depression and anxiety among patients who had been infected with COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of addressing the mental health needs of individuals affected by the virus. Full article

The role of weirs in flow regulation in water resources infrastructure and flood control is well known. In the meantime, the study of full-width plate weirs (FWPW), due to their wide application and lacking findings, is of great importance. In this study, experimental models were conducted at Babol Noshirvani University of Technology to investigate flow passing through FWPWs with five different heights (p = 0.07, 0.09, 0.11, and 0.15 m) under eight discharge conditions (Q = 1.4 to 6.3 L/s). The experiments were carried out in a flume measuring 4 m in length, 0.6 m in width, and 0.2 m in height. The discharges were measured with a calibrated flowmeter, and the water depths upstream of the weir (h) and the tailwater depths (h₁) were measured with a point gauge with an accuracy of 0.1 mm. For each test, the discharge coefficient (C_d), relative residual energy (E₁/E₀), and relative energy dissipation ((E₀ − E₁)/E₀) were computed. The proposed equation for calculating discharge achieved good accuracy with RMSE = 0.0002, MAE=0.0002, and R² = 0.997. Results show a reducing trend of C_d by increasing h/P, which is compatible with previous results. It was observed that at a constant discharge, relative residual energy reduces by an average of 47% by increasing weir height, and at a constant P, increasing flow discharge increases it a little. A novel accurate equation for relative energy dissipation in FWPW was proposed based on h/P that provided specific constant coefficients for each p value. Full article

This study presents an innovative wedge-shaped inlet weir-type microfluidic chip designed to address common issues of clogging and inefficiency in microfiltration processes. Driven solely by centrifugal force, the chip integrates a crossflow separation mechanism and enables selective droplet sorting based on size, without the need for external pumps. Fabricated from PMMA, the device features a central elliptical chamber, a wedge-shaped inlet, and spiral microchannels. These structures leverage shear stress and Dean vortices under centrifugal fields to achieve high-throughput separation of droplets with different diameters. Using water-in-oil emulsions as a model system, we systematically investigated the effects of geometric parameters and rotational speed on separation performance. A theoretical model was developed to derive the critical droplet size based on force balance, accounting for centrifugal force, viscous drag, pressure differentials, and surface tension. Experimental results demonstrate that the chip can effectively separate droplets ranging from 0 to 400 μm in diameter at 200 rpm, achieving a sorting efficiency of up to 72% and a separation threshold (cutoff accuracy) of 98.2%. Fluorescence analysis confirmed the absence of cross-contamination during single-chip operation. This work offers a structure-guided, efficient, and contamination-free droplet sorting strategy with broad potential applications in biomedical diagnostics and drug screening. Full article

The article investigates the development of local scour downstream of a damming structure, emphasizing the dynamic equilibrium of river morphology influenced by both natural processes and human interventions like the construction of weirs. It distinguishes between clear-water and live-bed conditions, discussing how sediment transport interacts with hydraulic forces to shape the riverbed. The introduction of a damming structure disrupts sediment flow and initiates local scour formation, which varies depending on stream conditions. In the experimental section, a physical model of a damming weir was tested under controlled conditions. The laboratory model was inspired by an existing damming weir on the Radomka River in Poland. Granulometric analysis and eleven flow series were conducted to assess scour evolution over time. The results showed the fastest erosion in the first hours, followed by stabilization in scour depth but continued elongation of the scour hole. The analysis identified four phases of scour development: initiation, intensive growth, stabilization, and equilibrium. Despite depth stabilization, scour length continued to increase, indicating that full equilibrium had not been reached. The study highlights the complexity of predicting scour behavior and recommends incorporating both depth and length evolution into design analyses to improve the resilience of such damming structures. The innovative aspect of the present study lies in the inclusion of coarse sediment transport, previously accumulated in the upstream reach due to the weir’s impoundment effect, into the scour development process. This specific effect has not been addressed in the studies cited by other authors. This research provides crucial insights for the sustainable design of hydraulic structures and effective sediment management strategies, contributing to the long-term stability and safety of riverine infrastructure. Full article

Background/Objectives: Wool is an important product in sheep production, but the genetic mechanisms underpinning variation in wool growth are not fully understood. Identifying the genes and genomic variants that play a role in increasing fleece weight may allow for increased selection accuracy and improved economic return to producers. Methods: A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted to investigate genetic associations with lifetime fleece weight, average fleece weight and average post-lambing ewe weight for Rambouillet, Polypay, Suffolk and Columbia ewes (N = 1125). Weir–Cockerham F_ST and runs of homozygosity (ROH) analyses were conducted to improve detection of putative wool-related signatures. Results: Twenty-four SNPs were identified through GWAS for lifetime fleece weight, average fleece weight and average post-lambing ewe weight. Chromosomes 2 and 6 contained ROH islands in Rambouillet, and chromosomes 2, 3 and 10 contained ROH islands in Suffolk. The F_ST analysis identified 18 SNPs in proximity to 37 genes of interest. Conclusions: Many of the SNPs and signatures of selection reported in this study are near or within current candidate genes for wool production and wool quality, including ADAR, KCNN3, NTN1, SETBP1, TP53 and TNFSF12. The significant SNPs implicated by GWAS may be used to predict ewes’ potential for lifetime wool production and are suggested as candidates for further study to continue to elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying wool production traits in United States sheep breeds. Full article

The increasing water demand, fueled by rapid development activities, has significantly strained freshwater reservoirs. A comprehensive study was conducted in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir to determine the discharge rates of key water springs and assess their capacity to meet the crop water requirements within their respective command areas. The research focused on seven vital springs—Martand, Achabal, Malakhnag, Sherbagh, Verinag, Lukhbawan, and Kokernag—which are critical for domestic and agricultural purposes. The study was carried out from May to October 2018, employed the weir formula to measure spring discharge, and utilized evapotranspiration (ETo) calculations, integrating evaporation and rainfall data to estimate crop water requirements. The results revealed significant variability in spring discharge rates, with Verinag spring being the most productive at 4.55 m³/s, followed by Sherbagh at 1.97 m³/s, while Lukhbawan exhibited the lowest discharge rate at 0.17 m³/s. Springs such as Verinag, Martand, and Achabal demonstrated sufficient capacity to meet the water demands of crops in their command areas, highlighting their potential for sustainable agricultural support. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating surface–subsurface water dynamics in water resource management to ensure efficient utilization of these springs for both domestic and irrigation needs. The study provides valuable insights into optimizing spring water use to address increasing water demands in the region, contributing to sustainable development and resource conservation. Full article

The escalating demands of industrial applications, particularly those involving severe wear, temperature, and corrosive environments, present significant challenges for the long-term strength of critical components, often fabricated from high-value materials such as super duplex stainless steel alloys. Super duplex can withstand the corrosive environment (in particular, crevice corrosion and pitting damage) and maintain mechanical integrity sufficient for high-pressure pumping applications such as seawater injection and crude oil. Conventional repair methodologies frequently result in component rejection due to process-induced distortions or detrimental phase transformations, contributing to substantial material waste and hindering the adoption of circular economy principles. This research addresses this issue by developing and validating a novel repair process utilizing laser metal deposition (LMD) additive manufacturing. The research focuses on establishing optimized process parameters to ensure the salvaging and restoration of damaged super duplex components while preserving their requisite mechanical integrity and corrosion resistance, in accordance with industry standards. Comprehensive characterization, including microstructural analysis, chemical composition verification, hardness profiling, and mechanical fatigue testing, confirms the efficacy of the LMD repair process. This work demonstrates the potential for extending the service life of critical components, thereby promoting resource efficiency and contributing to a more sustainable and resilient industrial paradigm. Full article

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an irreversible disease characterized by vascular and systemic inflammation, ultimately leading to right ventricular failure. There is a great need for adjunctive therapies to extend survival for PAH patients. The gut microbiome influences the host immune system and is a potential novel target for PAH treatment. We review the emerging preclinical and clinical evidence which strongly suggests that there is gut dysbiosis in PAH and that alterations in the gut microbiome may either initiate or facilitate the progression of PAH by modifying systemic immune responses. We also outline approaches to modify the intestinal microbiome and delineate some practical challenges that may impact efforts to translate preclinical microbiome findings to PAH patients. Finally, we briefly describe studies that demonstrate contributions of infections to PAH pathogenesis. We hope that this review will propel further investigations into the mechanisms by which gut dysbiosis impacts PAH and/or right ventricular function, approaches to modify the gut microbiome, and the impact of infections on PAH development or progression. Full article

Background/Objectives: Evidence on associations between nutrients and dementia risk is limited and inconsistent. We aimed to systematically examine associations between 101 dietary nutrients and dementia incidence with a nutrient-wide association study (EWAS). Methods: We analyzed data from 6280 participants aged 50 years and older from the Health and Retirement Study. Levels of nutrient intake were measured with the food frequency questionnaire. Dementia status was assessed with the Lang–Weir Classification of Cognitive Function. In the EWAS analysis, the Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate associations between each nutrient and dementia incidence, adjusting for multiple comparisons with a false discovery rate (FDR) of 0.05. Nutrients passing the EWAS selection were simultaneously included in the elastic net (ENET) regression model to construct a composite nutrient score (CNS), which was calculated as a weighted sum of the nutrients in the ENET regression model. Results: Over a mean (SD) follow-up of 6.76 (2.14) years, 495 individuals with incident dementia were identified. The results suggested that six nutrients were associated with increased dementia risks and five with decreased dementia risks. Compared with participants at the first tertile of CNS, individuals at the second (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11 to 1.84) and third tertiles (HR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.42 to 2.27) had increased risks of dementia. Furthermore, CNS-dementia associations were stronger in females than in males. Conclusions: We found that 11 dietary nutrients and their combinations were associated with dementia risks in middle-aged and older adults. Interventional studies with nutrients were warranted to confirm our findings. Full article