Browse publications by year: 2023

  1. Ooi JSY, Lim CR, Hua CX, Ng JF, New SY
    Langmuir, 2023 Oct 31;39(43):15200-15207.
    PMID: 37851548 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01748
    This study investigates the effect of DNA hairpins on the stabilization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) against salt-induced aggregation (SIA) in label-free colorimetric biosensors. AuNPs were incubated with DNA hairpins of varying stem lengths and toehold sequences, followed by the addition of NaCl, before being subjected to ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) measurement. Results showed that hairpins with longer stems generally provide better stabilization of AuNPs (18-bp >14-bp >10-bp). No improvement was observed for 14- and 18-bp hairpins with a toehold beyond 8A, which may be attributed to saturated adsorption of hairpins on the gold surface. For 14-bp hairpins with an 8-mer homopolymeric toehold, we observed a stabilization trend of A > C > G > T, similar to the reported trend of ssDNA. For variants containing ≥50% adenine as terminal bases, introducing cytosine or guanine as preceding bases could also result in strong stabilization. As the proportion of adenine decreases, variants with guanine or thymine provide less protection against SIA, especially for guanine-rich hairpins (≥6G) that could form G-quadruplexes. Such findings could serve as guidelines for researchers to design suitable DNA hairpins for label-free AuNP-based biosensors.
    MeSH terms: Adenine; Colorimetry/methods; DNA/genetics; Gold*; Guanine; Metal Nanoparticles*
  2. Watimin NH, Zanuddin H, Rahamad MS, Yadegaridehkordi E
    PLoS One, 2023;18(10):e0287367.
    PMID: 37851696 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287367
    Social media has been tremendously used worldwide for a variety of purposes. Therefore, engagement activities such as comments have attracted many scholars due its ability to reveal many critical findings, such as the role of users' sentiment. However, there is a lacuna on how to detect crisis based on users' sentiment through comments, and for such, we explore framing theory in the study herein to determine users' sentiment in predicting crisis. Generic content framing theory consists of conflict, economic, human interest, morality, and responsibility attributes frame as independent variables whilst sentiment as dependent variables. Comments from selected Facebook posting case studies were extracted and analysed using sentiment analysis via Application Programme Interface (API) webtool. The comments were then further analysed using content analysis via Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) scale and statistically evaluated using SEM-PLS. Model shows that 44.8% of emotion and reactions towards sensitive issue posting are influenced by independent variables. Only economic consequences and responsibility attributes frame had correlation towards emotion and reaction at p<0.05. News reporting on direction towards economic and responsibility attributes sparks negative sentiment, which proves that it can best be described as pre-crisis detection to assist the Royal Malaysian Police and other relevant stakeholders to prevent criminal activities in their respective social media.
    MeSH terms: Attitude; Emotions; Humans; Software; Social Media*
  3. Chang CY
    Rev Soc Bras Med Trop, 2023;56:e04212023.
    PMID: 37851830 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0421-2023
    MeSH terms: Candida albicans; Humans; Kidney Diseases*; Urinary Tract Infections*; Staghorn Calculi*
  4. Ho JPY, Cho JH, Nam HS, Park SY, Lee YS
    Knee, 2023 Dec;45:65-74.
    PMID: 37852039 DOI: 10.1016/j.knee.2023.10.002
    BACKGROUND: (1) To evaluate if referencing system affects selection of implant size, position, and gap balance in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with the use of contemporary implant designs and (2) to describe the authors' intraoperative sizing strategy using anterior referencing (AR) and posterior referencing (PR) systems.

    METHODS: This was a retrospective review of 270 consecutive patients (397 knees) who underwent primary TKA with an AR or PR system. Selection of implant size, mediolateral and anteroposterior alignment of the femoral component, as well as gaps were compared between groups.

    RESULTS: In the AR group, more patients had femoral components which were upsized or downsized compared to those in the PR group (29.5% vs 12.0% respectively) and in patients who underwent bilateral TKA, 49.4% of those in the AR group had femur component size asymmetry. The AR group had better medio-lateral (ML) fit over the distal cutting surface area, smaller change in anterior offset but higher incidence of anterior notching when compared to the PR group. Posterior condylar offset (PCO) was restored in both groups and gap differences in flexion-extension and ML were comparable. There was also no difference in clinical scores and ROM between groups at 2-years follow-up.

    CONCLUSION: In this study, conventional implications related to referencing system were not observed. In practice, AR systems can restore PCO while PR systems do not result in increased anterior notching or anterior overstuffing. Differences observed in this study are most likely related to implant design specifics and surgical technique.

  5. Iswarya S, Theivasanthi T, Gopinath SCB
    J Mech Behav Biomed Mater, 2023 Dec;148:106189.
    PMID: 37852086 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.106189
    Sodium alginate/hydroxyapatite/Nano cellulose (SA/HA/NC) nanocomposite films that possess good biocompatibility for bone tissue engineering are prepared by a simple solution casting. HA is one of the most frequently used bioceramic materials to achieve a high biocompatibility. The bionanocomposite films are analysed by XRD, SEM, EDAX and FTIR studies. XRD confirms the existence of fillers in the polymer. FTIR spectrum shows the different functional modes in the bionanocomposite films. The morphology of fillers and bionanocomposite films are obtained through SEM. The inclusion of NC with different concentrations into the biopolymer film improves the tensile strength. As a result, the loading of 5 wt % of NC and 10 wt% of HA in the SA polymer shows high tensile strength when compared to the pure SA, SA filled with 10 wt% of HA and SA loaded with 10 wt% of HA and inclusion of NC (0.5 and 2.5 wt%). The tensile strength (TS) of bionanocomposite film with 10 wt % of HA is increased by 17%. TS of bionanocomposite film with 0.5 and 2.5 wt% of NC is increased by 177 and 277%, whereas TS of bionanocomposite film loaded 5 wt% of NC is increased by 331%. The swelling, biodegradation and biomineralization tests suggest that this bionanocomposite films are hopeful biomaterials for bone tissue engineering.
    MeSH terms: Alginates; Bone and Bones; Polymers; Durapatite*; Tissue Engineering*
  6. Doğanyiğit Z, Okan A, Akyüz E, Yılmaz S, Ateş Ş, Taheri S, et al.
    Eur J Pharmacol, 2023 Oct 16;960:176072.
    PMID: 37852571 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176072
    Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease with recurrent seizures. Increasing evidence suggests that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. We aimed to investigate the effects of Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) and 4-phenyl-butyric acid (4-PBA), which are known to suppress ER stress, on developed seizures in terms of markers of ER stress, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. The pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) kindling model was induced in Wistar albino rats (n = 48) by administering 35 mg/kg PTZ intraperitoneally (I.P.) every other day for 1 month. TUDCA and 4-PBA were administered via I.P. at a dose of 500 mg/kg dose. ER stress, apoptosis, and oxidative stress were determined in the hippocampus tissues of animals in all groups. Immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, ELISA, and Western Blot analyzes were performed to determine the efficacy of treatments. Expressions of ATF4, ATF6, p-JNK1/2, Cleaved-Kaspase3, and Caspase12 significantly increased in PTZ-kindled seizures compared to the control group. Increased NOX2 and MDA activity in the seizures were measured. In addition, stereology analyzes showed an increased neuronal loss in the PTZ-kindled group. qRT-PCR examination showed relative mRNA levels of CHOP. Accordingly, TUDCA and 4-PBA treatment suppressed the expressions of ATF4, ATF6, Cleaved-Caspase3, Kaspase12, NOX2, MDA, and CHOP in TUDCA + PTZ and 4-PBA + PTZ groups. ER stress-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by reducing neuronal loss and degeneration were also preserved in these groups. Our data show molecularly that TUDCA and 4-PBA treatment can suppress the ER stress process in epileptic seizures.
  7. Hooi YT, Balasubramaniam VRMT
    Pathology, 2023 Dec;55(7):907-916.
    PMID: 37852802 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2023.08.007
    Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is one of hundreds of non-polio enteroviruses that typically cause cold-like respiratory illness. The first EV-D68 outbreak in the United States in 2014 aroused widespread concern among the public and health authorities. The infection was found to be associated with increased surveillance of acute flaccid myelitis, a neurological condition that causes limb paralysis in conjunction with spinal cord inflammation. In vitro studies utilising two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) culture systems have been employed to elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of EV-D68. Various animal models have also been developed to investigate viral tropism and distribution, pathogenesis, and immune responses during EV-D68 infection. EV-D68 infections have primarily been investigated in respiratory, intestinal and neural cell lines/tissues, as well as in small-size immunocompetent rodent models that were limited to a young age. Some studies have implemented strategies to overcome the barriers by using immunodeficient mice or virus adaptation. Although the existing models may not fully recapitulate both respiratory and neurological disease observed in human EV-D68 infection, they have been valuable for studying pathogenesis and evaluating potential vaccine or therapeutic candidates. In this review, we summarise the methodologies and findings from each experimental model and discuss their applications and limitations.
  8. Stoppe C, Patel JJ, Zarbock A, Lee ZY, Rice TW, Mafrici B, et al.
    Crit Care, 2023 Oct 18;27(1):399.
    PMID: 37853490 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-023-04663-8
    BACKGROUND: Based on low-quality evidence, current nutrition guidelines recommend the delivery of high-dose protein in critically ill patients. The EFFORT Protein trial showed that higher protein dose is not associated with improved outcomes, whereas the effects in critically ill patients who developed acute kidney injury (AKI) need further evaluation. The overall aim is to evaluate the effects of high-dose protein in critically ill patients who developed different stages of AKI.

    METHODS: In this post hoc analysis of the EFFORT Protein trial, we investigated the effect of high versus usual protein dose (≥ 2.2 vs. ≤ 1.2 g/kg body weight/day) on time-to-discharge alive from the hospital (TTDA) and 60-day mortality and in different subgroups in critically ill patients with AKI as defined by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria within 7 days of ICU admission. The associations of protein dose with incidence and duration of kidney replacement therapy (KRT) were also investigated.

    RESULTS: Of the 1329 randomized patients, 312 developed AKI and were included in this analysis (163 in the high and 149 in the usual protein dose group). High protein was associated with a slower time-to-discharge alive from the hospital (TTDA) (hazard ratio 0.5, 95% CI 0.4-0.8) and higher 60-day mortality (relative risk 1.4 (95% CI 1.1-1.8). Effect modification was not statistically significant for any subgroup, and no subgroups suggested a beneficial effect of higher protein, although the harmful effect of higher protein target appeared to disappear in patients who received kidney replacement therapy (KRT). Protein dose was not significantly associated with the incidence of AKI and KRT or duration of KRT.

    CONCLUSIONS: In critically ill patients with AKI, high protein may be associated with worse outcomes in all AKI stages. Recommendation of higher protein dosing in AKI patients should be carefully re-evaluated to avoid potential harmful effects especially in patients who were not treated with KRT.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03160547) on May 17th 2017.

    MeSH terms: Hospitalization; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Length of Stay; Renal Replacement Therapy
  9. Jiang C, Zhu Y, Luo Y, Tan CS, Mastrotheodoros S, Costa P, et al.
    BMC Psychol, 2023 Oct 18;11(1):345.
    PMID: 37853499 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01293-1
    BACKGROUND: The 10-item Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) is a widely used tool for individuals to self-report their self-esteem; however, the factorial structures of translated versions of the RSES vary across different languages. This study aimed to validate the Chinese version of the RSES in the Chinese mainland using a longitudinal design.

    METHODS: A group of healthcare university students completed the RSES across three waves: baseline, 1-week follow-up, and 15-week follow-up. A total of 481 valid responses were collected through the three-wave data collection process. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on the baseline data to explore the potential factorial structure, while confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on the follow-up data to determine the best-fit model. Additionally, the cross-sectional and longitudinal measurement invariances were tested to assess the measurement properties of the RSES for different groups, such as gender and age, as well as across different time points. Convergent validity was assessed against the Self-Rated Health Questionnaire (SRHQ) using Spearman's correlation. Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients, while test-retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient.

    RESULTS: The results of EFA revealed that Items 5, 8, and 9 had inadequate or cross-factor loadings, leading to their removal from further analysis. Analysis of the remaining seven items using EFA suggested a two-factor solution. A comparison of several potential models for the 10-item and 7-item RSES using CFA showed a preference for the 7-item form (RSES-7) with two factors. Furthermore, the RSES-7 exhibited strict invariance across different groups and time points, indicating its stability and consistency. The RSES-7 also demonstrated adequate convergent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability, which further supported its robustness as a measure of self-esteem.

    CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the RSES-7 is a psychometrically sound and brief self-report scale for measuring self-esteem in the Chinese context. More studies are warranted to further verify its usability.

    MeSH terms: Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Language*; Longitudinal Studies; Psychometrics/methods; Surveys and Questionnaires; Reproducibility of Results
  10. Mo Y, Ding Y, Cao Y, Hopkins J, Ashley EA, Waithira N, et al.
    Wellcome Open Res, 2023;8:179.
    PMID: 37854055 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.19210.2
    Background: Antimicrobial resistance surveillance is essential for empiric antibiotic prescribing, infection prevention and control policies and to drive novel antibiotic discovery. However, most existing surveillance systems are isolate-based without supporting patient-based clinical data, and not widely implemented especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: A Clinically-Oriented Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (ACORN) II is a large-scale multicentre protocol which builds on the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System to estimate syndromic and pathogen outcomes along with associated health economic costs. ACORN-healthcare associated infection (ACORN-HAI) is an extension study which focuses on healthcare-associated bloodstream infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia. Our main aim is to implement an efficient clinically-oriented antimicrobial resistance surveillance system, which can be incorporated as part of routine workflow in hospitals in LMICs. These surveillance systems include hospitalised patients of any age with clinically compatible acute community-acquired or healthcare-associated bacterial infection syndromes, and who were prescribed parenteral antibiotics. Diagnostic stewardship activities will be implemented to optimise microbiology culture specimen collection practices. Basic patient characteristics, clinician diagnosis, empiric treatment, infection severity and risk factors for HAI are recorded on enrolment and during 28-day follow-up. An R Shiny application can be used offline and online for merging clinical and microbiology data, and generating collated reports to inform local antibiotic stewardship and infection control policies. Discussion: ACORN II is a comprehensive antimicrobial resistance surveillance activity which advocates pragmatic implementation and prioritises improving local diagnostic and antibiotic prescribing practices through patient-centred data collection. These data can be rapidly communicated to local physicians and infection prevention and control teams. Relative ease of data collection promotes sustainability and maximises participation and scalability. With ACORN-HAI as an example, ACORN II has the capacity to accommodate extensions to investigate further specific questions of interest.
  11. Ali IM, Chan LF, Daud TIM, Othman AR, Ng YP, Pheh KS, et al.
    PMID: 37854427 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2023.32
    Given the high prevalence rate of suicidal ideation amongst medical students, medical lecturers and specialists as gatekeepers should be well-trained in suicide prevention. There is a need for validated measures to assess gatekeeper training gains for suicide prevention. The psychometric properties of the Advanced C.A.R.E. Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Questionnaire (AdCARE-Q) were evaluated for a sample of medical lecturers and specialists in Malaysia. A total of 120 participants completed 24 items in the AdCARE-Q. Analysis of variance of perceived knowledge scores was performed. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted. Reliability was calculated. The AdCARE-Q was reduced to 15 items that fit into two factors, "self-efficacy" and "declarative knowledge." Overall internal consistency was good with Cronbach's alpha = 0.84. The intraclass correlation coefficient between groups from the psychiatry department and non-psychiatry departments was good at 0.80. The oldest age group and participants from the Psychiatry department scored significantly higher than other groups in perceived knowledge of suicide prevention. This study found that the AdCARE-Q has adequate psychometric properties to assess suicide prevention gatekeeper training gains amongst medical lecturers and specialists. Confirmatory factor analysis is recommended for future studies.
  12. Ng YJ, Loc LJ, Bun KS, Mushtaq S
    J Surg Case Rep, 2023 Oct;2023(10):rjad572.
    PMID: 37854518 DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjad572
    About 5% of all intussusception are found in adults, up to 90% of these have an anatomical lesion with ~50% of them are malignant. Malignant melanoma commonly metastasizes to the small bowel; however, melanoma causing intussusception is rare. We describe a 57-year-old lady with a history of surgically treated malignant melanoma in her nasal cavity who came with an ambiguous intestinal obstruction. Computed tomography reported ileal-ileal intussusception, which was surgically removed via emergency open laparotomy and bowel resection. Intraoperatively the intussusception was 110 cm from the ileo-cecal valve with multiple palpable lymph nodes. Histopathology confirmed the origin as malignant melanoma with lymphovascular invasion. Our literature review found the mean prevalence of intussusception secondary to melanoma was 6.924% (SD ± 5.155). Minimally invasive techniques are reported non-inferior to open laparotomy. We argue that the open technique can provide informed decisions for adequate resection of affected bowel and lymphatic drainage.
  13. Ling KE, Roslan SM, Taib H, Berahim Z
    Cureus, 2023 Sep;15(9):e45394.
    PMID: 37854737 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45394
    Background In the periodontal regenerative procedure, the membrane used should possess good mechanical stability with suitable resorption time to allow restoration of the lost periodontium. Amniotic membrane (AM) has regenerative potential as a scaffold or barrier membrane due to its various beneficial properties. However, its degradation rate is not clearly reported. Methodology This study aimed to evaluate the resorption capacity of AM and its surface architecture after being subjected to hydrolytic degradation analysis in phosphate buffer solution (PBS). AM was cut into sizes of 10 × 10 mm2 for three replicates. The membranes were weighed before and at different time intervals (days 7, 14, 21, and 28) after immersion in PBS. The degradation rate was determined by the percentage of mean weight loss from the initial weight at different time intervals. The AM surface profile was observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after 28 days of immersion. Results The result shows a 92% loss of weight over 28 days with the highest attained in the first seven days (67%), followed by 7%, 17%, and 1% after days 14, 21, and 28, respectively. SEM of the AM surface before the degradation test showed a polygonal shape forming a well-arranged mosaic pattern covered with microvilli. At day 28, the remaining AM appears as porous surface architecture, irregularly arranged fibers, and no microvilli seen. Conclusions This study demonstrated that over four weeks of degradation analysis, AM was not entirely degraded but had lost some of the microstructure. The biodegradability of AM should be further evaluated to elucidate its stability within adequate time parallel with the tissue healing process in periodontal tissue regeneration.
  14. Nafisah W, Nugraha AP, Nugroho A, Sakinah AI, Nusantara DS, Philia J, et al.
    F1000Res, 2023;12:371.
    PMID: 37854873 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.130329.1
    Background: Utilizing the bioactive compounds found in pigmented rice might significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer. This study aims to systematically review existing literature on the benefit of Asian pigmented rice bioactive compounds and their implication in breast cancer. Methods: Searches of the literature were conducted in two databases (Scopus and PubMed) for a systematic review. The keywords resulted in a total of 407 articles, consisting of 103 PubMed and 304 Scopus articles. 32 manuscripts were excluded because the article was over 10 years old. After excluding book chapters and non-English languages, we had 278 potential articles to be reviewed. After checking and screening the title and abstract and eliminating duplicate articles, then 66 articles were obtained. After the selection and elimination of the full-text manuscripts, finally 10 of them which met the inclusion criteria. Result: The included studies in this review were entirely based in Asia. The year of publication ranged from 2013 to 2020. Half of included studies used black rice extract, two used red jasmine rice extracts, and three used Korean rice extracts (black, red, dark purple and brown rice). All studies were conducted in vitro and three studies were compared with in vivo tests on female mice. The pigmented rice is mainly black, red, and dark purple rice, and contains a variety of peonidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, γ-oryzanol, γ-tocotrienol, proanthocyanidin, cinnamic acid, and anthocyanins that may act as pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative, and anti-metastasis of the breast cancer cells. Conclusion: Pigmented rice is a beneficial food which possessed bioactive compounds that may have significant potential concerning a breast cancer.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Anthocyanins/pharmacology; Anthocyanins/therapeutic use; Asia; Female; Neoplasms*; Oryza*; Mice
  15. Pandarathodiyil AK, Vijayan SP, Sivapathasundharam B
    J Oral Maxillofac Pathol, 2023;27(2):254-256.
    PMID: 37854909 DOI: 10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_65_23
    A 'Letter to the Editor' is an abbreviated form of communication where 'readers' can express their carefully considered scientific opinion about a recently published article in a journal. It is considered as 'post-publication peer review'. There are certain things that a letter writer and the 'editor' need to keep in mind while writing a 'Letter' for a journal. The 'editor' needs to curate the contents of the 'Letter' and make sure that there are no misinformation shared. The formatting, type, scope and the scientific quality of the 'Letter' depend on the journal that publishes them, and hence, different publications may require their 'letter writers' to present the information that they want in a certain way. The following article reflects an overview of the role of editors and writers, guidelines, scope, and format of the 'Letter to the Editor'.
  16. Azemin WA, Ishak NF, Saedin MAA, Shamsir MS, Razali SA
    Fish Shellfish Immunol Rep, 2023 Dec 15;5:100120.
    PMID: 37854946 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsirep.2023.100120
    Drug repurposing is a methodology of identifying new therapeutic use for existing drugs. It is a highly efficient, time and cost-saving strategy that offers an alternative approach to the traditional drug discovery process. Past in-silico studies involving molecular docking have been successful in identifying potential repurposed drugs for the various treatment of diseases including aquaculture diseases. The emerging shrimp hemocyte iridescent virus (SHIV) or Decapod iridescent virus 1 (DIV1) is a viral pathogen that causes severe disease and high mortality (80 %) in farmed shrimps caused serious economic losses and presents a new threat to the shrimp farming industry. Therefore, effective antiviral drugs are critically needed to control DIV1 infections. The aim of this study is to investigate the interaction of potential existing antiviral drugs, Chloroquine, Rimantadine, and CAP-1 with DIV1 major capsid protein (MCP) with the intention of exploring the potential of drug repurposing. The interaction of the DIV1 MCP and three antivirals were characterised and analysed using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. The results showed that CAP-1 is a more promising candidate against DIV1 with the lowest binding energy of -8.46 kcal/mol and is more stable compared to others. We speculate that CAP-1 binding may induce the conformational changes in the DIV1 MCP structure by phosphorylating multiple residues (His123, Tyr162, and Thr395) and ultimately block the viral assembly and maturation of DIV1 MCP. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the structural characterisation of DIV1 MCP docked with repurposing drugs.
  17. Lu RS, Asada K, Krichbaum TP, Park J, Tazaki F, Pu HY, et al.
    Nature, 2023 Apr;616(7958):686-690.
    PMID: 37100940 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05843-w
    The nearby radio galaxy M87 is a prime target for studying black hole accretion and jet formation1,2. Event Horizon Telescope observations of M87 in 2017, at a wavelength of 1.3 mm, revealed a ring-like structure, which was interpreted as gravitationally lensed emission around a central black hole3. Here we report images of M87 obtained in 2018, at a wavelength of 3.5 mm, showing that the compact radio core is spatially resolved. High-resolution imaging shows a ring-like structure of [Formula: see text] Schwarzschild radii in diameter, approximately 50% larger than that seen at 1.3 mm. The outer edge at 3.5 mm is also larger than that at 1.3 mm. This larger and thicker ring indicates a substantial contribution from the accretion flow with absorption effects, in addition to the gravitationally lensed ring-like emission. The images show that the edge-brightened jet connects to the accretion flow of the black hole. Close to the black hole, the emission profile of the jet-launching region is wider than the expected profile of a black-hole-driven jet, suggesting the possible presence of a wind associated with the accretion flow.
  18. Gao F, Chui PL, Che CC, Mao XR
    Florence Nightingale J Nurs, 2023 Oct;31(3):152-159.
    PMID: 37847013 DOI: 10.5152/FNJN.2023.23023
    AIM: To investigate the level of burnout and resilience, and the associated factors when the coronavirus disease 2019 infection hit a peak in the community in Sichuan, China.

    METHOD: This was a descriptive cross-sectional design study. Data were collected from 25 to 31 December 2022, at six hospitals in Sichuan province. Using convenience sampling, a total of 717 participants were recruited, using the revised version of the Maslach Burnout InventoryGeneral Survey, and the Resilience Assessment Scale for healthcare workers.

    RESULTS: More than half of nurses reported a moderate level of emotional exhaustion (66.50%, n = 484), cynicism (68.20%, n = 489), and personal accomplishment (68.76%, n = 493); nearly one-third and one-fourth of nurses experienced a high level of emotional exhaustion (27.48%, n = 197) and cynicism (20.78%, n = 149), respectively. In resilience, the highest scoring dimension was interpersonal connectedness, followed by decisional coping, flexible self-adaptation, and rational thinking. Satisfaction with work income, patient-nurse conflict, frequency of overtime work, age, and marital status were significant factors influencing burnout among nurses (p < .05).

    CONCLUSION: The findings of the study enlighten nursing administrators on the level of burnout and resilience and associated factors among nurses during the peak of coronavirus disease 2019 infection in China. This would be of immense help in planning a welfare program to support the nurses.

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