Periapical radiography is widely used in dental practice, but its diagnostic yield is often compromised by motion artefacts, sensor limitations, and storage compression. This study evaluates whether a deep-learning-based super-resolution (SR) framework can enhance degraded periapical films to improve automated diagnostic accuracy without additional radiation exposure. A clinical evaluation pipeline was established using 6283 periapical films. First, 5998 images were used to train an artificial intelligence-driven restoration model. Then, 285 meticulously annotated clinical images validated the SR preprocessing impact. We compared automated diagnostic performance on original low-resolution images vs SR-enhanced reconstructions, focusing on multistructure semantic segmentation and pathology/restoration detection. SR-enhanced images consistently outperformed baseline inputs. For segmentation, SR increased mean intersection over union (IoU) from 55.17% to 60.24% (P < .0001) and boundary precision (boundary IoU) improved from 23.64% to 48.22% (P < .0001), with significant improvements observed across tooth structure, restorative, and pathological category groups, demonstrating superior margin delineation. In detection tasks, SR increased recall by 4.24% (P = .0121), while mean Average Precision (mAP@50) showed a modest nonsignificant increase from 67.18% to 69.30% (P = .1114), indicating that SR primarily reduces missed detections rather than uniformly elevating detection precision. Deep-learning-driven SR effectively recovers critical diagnostic details from suboptimal periapical films. By significantly enhancing boundary sharpness and reducing missed detections, SR serves as an effective preprocessing step that improves geometric precision and reliability of automated dental analyses. This software-based enhancement standardizes image quality and elevates diagnostic accuracy cost-effectively, particularly in resource-constrained settings. It maximizes the diagnostic utility of routine 2D periapical radiographs, supporting precise clinical decision-making without the radiation burden of 3D imaging.
Students with hearing impairments face elevated risks of executive function (EF) deficits due to limited auditory-linguistic scaffolding. Augmented reality (AR) offers visually grounded cognitive rehabilitation affordances aligned with these learners' visual-spatial strengths. This study designed and evaluated an AR-based assistive technology to enhance EF in hearing-impaired elementary students and explored usability from learners' perspectives. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was employed. In Phase 1 (QUAN), 50 hearing-impaired students (Grades 1-6) were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 25) or control (n = 25) groups across eight AR intervention sessions. In Phase 2 (QUAL), 12 participants were purposively selected via maximum variation sampling for group semi-structured interviews facilitated by Thai Sign Language teachers. Quantitative and qualitative strands were integrated via a joint display. Between-group analysis revealed a significant improvement in verbal working memory (p = .005, r = 0.43; surviving Bonferroni correction, α = 0.008); inhibition response time showed a marginal effect (p = .029) that did not reach the corrected threshold. Codebook thematic analysis (κ = 0.80) produced five themes. Joint display integration yielded four meta-inference types: confirmation (QUAN and QUAL mutually reinforce findings), expansion (QUAL extends interpretation of marginal QUAN effects), discordance-explanation (null cognitive-flexibility effect attributed to limited task variety), and confirmation of null (QUAL corroborates practice/maturation as alternative explanation for within-group TMT gains). AR-based assistive technology grounded in visual-spatial learning principles shows promise for cognitive rehabilitation in hearing-impaired students. Mixed methods integration revealed intervention mechanisms that neither strand could yield independently. AR-based assistive technology that leverages visual-spatial modalities can serve as a viable cognitive rehabilitation tool for children with hearing impairments, particularly for targeting executive functions such as inhibition and working memory that are often underserved by conventional auditory-linguistic approaches.Designing assistive technology in alignment with the ICF framework—addressing activity limitations and participation restrictions rather than impairment alone—can support more holistic rehabilitation outcomes by reducing environmental barriers to cognitive engagement for hearing-impaired learners.Incorporating usability evaluation guided by ISO 9241-11 (effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction) into assistive technology development ensures that rehabilitation tools are not only clinically effective but also accessible and acceptable to the target population, which is essential for sustained engagement and real-world adoption.Rehabilitation practitioners working with hearing-impaired children should consider integrating AR-based interventions with visual scaffolding, sign-language support, and immediate feedback mechanisms as complementary tools within cognitive rehabilitation programs, as these features were associated with improved self-regulation, motivation, and confidence among learners.Systematic instructional design models such as ASSURE can provide a structured, replicable framework for developing assistive technologies tailored to specific rehabilitation needs, enabling interdisciplinary teams—including rehabilitation professionals, educators, and technology developers—to collaboratively design evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation tools for diverse populations with sensory impairments.
Endometritis is a prevalent uterine inflammatory disease that significantly compromises fertility; however, the host-microbial mechanisms governing disease susceptibility remain poorly defined. Although the gut microbiota is increasingly recognized as a central regulator of systemic and extraintestinal immunity, its role in uterine inflammation has received little attention. Here, we investigated whether gut microbiota dysbiosis modulates susceptibility to endometritis and sought to identify the microbial mediators underlying this relationship. Antibiotic-induced dysbiosis markedly exacerbated uterine inflammation and tissue injury in mice, whereas fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) re-established microbial homeostasis and substantially ameliorated uterine pathology. 16S rRNA sequencing identified Bifidobacterium pseudolongum as a commensal species depleted during dysbiosis and restored following FMT. Monocolonization with B. pseudolongum conferred protection against dysbiosis-associated uterine inflammation, evidenced by diminished IL-1β, TNF-αand IL-10 production, reduced HMGB1 and HABP2 levels, restored epithelial tight junction protein expression-including ZO-1, Claudin-3, and Occludin, and attenuated neutrophil and macrophage infiltration. Beyond the dysbiosis model, B. pseudolongum demonstrated both prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in murine models of Escherichia coli- and LPS-induced endometritis, suppressing inflammatory responses, limiting tissue damage, preserving epithelial barrier integrity, and reducing immune cell infiltration. In vitro assays showed that culture supernatants of B. pseudolongum inhibited E. coli growth under cell-free conditions, indicating a potential antimicrobial activity in vitro. Taken together, these findings support a gut-uterus immunological axis in which B. pseudolongum attenuates infection-driven uterine inflammation through the coordinated modulation of immune responses, epithelial barrier maintenance, and antimicrobial defense. Our study positions B. pseudolongum as a compelling microbiota-based candidate for the prevention and treatment of endometritis.
Emotion regulation and glycaemic responses are closely interconnected, with difficulties in one domain often exacerbating the other. This relationship is particularly evident in adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), where glucose dysregulation is associated with heightened stress.Here, we investigated whether Affective Touch, a form of gentle tactile stimulation known to reduce stress and physiological arousal, modulates emotional and physiological responses in adolescents with and without T1DM. Affective Touch (slow touch) and non-Affective Touch (faster touch) were administered in two sessions while participants watched negative videos. Heart rate was continuously monitored, and glucose levels were tracked at four time points in the T1DM group only. Participants rated video valence and arousal and touch pleasantness.Across both groups, Affective Touch was perceived as more pleasant than non-Affective Touch and was associated with reduced heart rate, indicating a comparable calming effect in adolescents with and without T1DM. Blood glucose levels in the T1DM group showed a time-dependent decrease.Overall, the preserved hedonic and autonomic effects of Affective Touch across groups suggest that this form of touch may represent a feasible, non-invasive supportive strategy in contexts where stress regulation is relevant, including this clinical population.
Multi-omics data integration holds great promise for precision medicine, yet its clinical adoption is hindered by high acquisition costs and the complexity of heterogeneous data representations. To address these challenges, we propose an uncertainty-aware multi-view dynamic decision framework for efficient and trustworthy disease classification. Unlike conventional static fusion strategies, our approach leverages evidential deep learning grounded in Dempster-Shafer theory to explicitly disentangle predictive confidence from epistemic uncertainty, enabling cost-sensitive and progressive inference. Specifically, omics modalities are introduced adaptively, such that additional data are only acquired when the current evidence is insufficient to support a reliable decision. At the core of the UMCA-Net, a Transformer-based multi-stream architecture with global joint cross-attention captures rich cross-modal interactions and produces Dirichlet-based evidential representations. This design allows principled uncertainty quantification and supports dynamic decision-making. We evaluate the proposed method on four benchmark multi-omics datasets (ROSMAP, LGG, BRCA, and KIPAN). Experimental results demonstrate that our model achieves state-of-the-art performance while significantly reducing data acquisition requirements. Notably, in certain cohorts, over 90% of samples can be confidently classified using only low-cost initial modalities without compromising accuracy. Overall, this work provides a scalable and practical solution for balancing diagnostic accuracy and economic cost, facilitating the deployment of multi-omics models in real-world clinical settings. Our code is available to the public at github.com/chenzhao2023/UMCA-Net.
To investigate the development of macular neovascularization (MNV) and its conversion to the exudative form in fellow eyes of patients with unilateral exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) over two years, identify prognostic factors, and assess retinal and choroidal vascular changes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). This prospective cohort study initially enrolled 62 patients with exudative AMD in one eye and non-exudative AMD in the fellow eye. Thirty patients completed the two-year follow-up and were categorized into three groups: eyes with nonexudative MNV (neMNV) that developed exudative conversion (Group 1), eyes with stable neMNV without exudative conversion (Group 2), and eyes without detectable MNV (Group 3). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), OCTA parameters, MNV area/flow area and choroidal vascularity index were evaluated at baseline, one-year, and two-years. Group 1 showed significant declines in mean BCVA and choriocapillaris flow area (p = 0.042 and p = 0.022). Group 2 exhibited a reduction in outer retinal flow area with increased superficial capillary plexus vascular density in parafoveal and temporal regions (p = 0.011, p = 0.008, p = 0.021). Group 3 demonstrated an increase in pigment epithelial detachment (PED) width (p < 0.001). When between and within groups changes over 2 years were analyzed, Group 1 demonstrated greater increases in PED width and central macular thickness, along with reduced choriocapillaris flow area compared with the other groups. Group 2 showed a more pronounced reduction in outer retinal flow area and a significant increase in temporal superficial capillary plexus density relative to the remaining groups. In patients with unilateral eMNV, OCTA may provide prognostic biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of neMNV in fellow eyes with non-exudative AMD.
This review provides an overview of recent advances in cannabidiol (CBD) delivery systems aimed at improving its chemical stability. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between formulation type, storage conditions, and the resulting chemical stability of CBD, with the aim of supporting the development of novel cannabinoid-based pharmaceuticals. CBD has attracted increasing interest due to its diverse pharmacological activities and lack of psychoactive effects. Despite its therapeutic potential, the development of new CBD-based drug delivery systems remains a significant challenge. CBD is chemically unstable and can degrade when exposed to heat, light, oxygen, certain solvents or extreme pH conditions, potentially reducing its efficacy and forming psychoactive degradation products. Solid CBD formulations offer advantages due to their greater stability compared with liquid forms. However, CBD's poor water solubility and intrinsic instability present major formulation challenges. Amorphous solid dispersions, cyclodextrins, microparticles, and nanostructured systems have been explored to overcome these limitations. Liquid delivery systems, including emulsions and nanoemulsions, can also enhance stability by incorporating CBD into the oil phase, with oil selection and antioxidants playing key roles in minimizing degradation. Among these approaches, nanostructured lipid carriers have shown particular promise in preserving CBD stability. The appropriate selection of CBD delivery systems is essential to ensure its chemical stability and to support the development of effective cannabinoid-based pharmaceuticals. Understanding the interplay between formulation design and storage conditions is crucial for optimizing CBD stability, extending shelf life, and ensuring the safety and efficacy of future CBD-containing therapeutic products.
To evaluate the inhibitory role of 0.01% atropine combined with 2% carteolol hydrochloride on myopia progression in children aged 3-8 years in western China. A total of 78 myopic children (spherical equivalent refraction from -2.00D to -8.00D) were initially assigned based on parental willingness to a control group (artificial tears (Hialid®) once nightly) or a treatment group. The treatment group was then randomly divided into an atropine group (0.01% atropine + artificial tears) and a combination group (0.01% atropine +2% carteolol hydrochloride). Spherical equivalent (SE), axial length (AL), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured at baseline and 3, 6 months. Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests, adjusted by multivariate regression and standardized mean differences (SMD), were applied. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) addressed minor baseline variations. Repeated-measures analysis of variance evaluated ocular parameters across the three groups to assess the effect of IOP-lowering drugs on delaying myopia progression. Both treatment groups showed significantly reduced SE and AL progression at 3 and 6 months (all p < 0.001). At 6 months, the combination group exhibited significantly smaller AL increase (0.09 ± 0.10 mm) and SE progression (-0.09 ± 0.12 D) than the atropine group (AL: 0.47 ± 0.18 mm; SE: -0.51 ± 0.18 D) and control group (AL: 0.99 ± 0.16 mm; SE: -1.03 ± 0.15 D; all p < 0.001). IOP decreased in the combination group (-1.75 ± 4.24 mmHg) but increased in the other groups. Adverse reaction rates were comparable between groups (p > 0.05). 0.01% atropine combined with 2% carteolol hydrochloride safely and effectively inhibits myopia progression in children with early-onset myopia.
Despite its proven effectiveness, epilepsy surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) remains underutilized and frequently delayed. Previous studies of epilepsy duration before surgery-using variable delay thresholds (2-20 years)-were small, single-center cohorts focused mainly on temporal/frontal lobe epilepsy, showed better seizure freedom with earlier surgery, but did not distinguish total epilepsy duration from DRE duration. As contemporary epilepsy surgery now includes broader indications and emphasizes faster evaluation, the timing and impact of evaluation across this wider population remain unclear. We examined factors associated with evaluation timing from DRE diagnosis and its effect on surgical outcomes in a large multicenter cohort. Using a prospective database across 29 US centers, we analyzed associations between patient and epilepsy factors and DRE-to-evaluation interval-defined as the interval from DRE diagnosis to phase 1 video-EEG admission, categorized as shorter (<1 year) or longer (≥1 year)-and compared seizure freedom between groups using multivariable logistic regression adjusted for etiology, seizure type, neuroimaging, and surgical factors. Among 1,310 children, 720 (55%) had shorter and 590 (45%) longer DRE-to-evaluation intervals. Shorter interval was associated with lesional epilepsy (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.30-2.08), focal seizures (2.80, 2.13-3.70), and normal neurologic exams (1.86, 1.49-2.33). Structural congenital and acquired etiologies were linked to shorter interval, while genetic etiologies (1.73, 1.30-2.32) were linked to longer interval. Among 624 surgical patients (357 shorter, 267 longer), seizure freedom occurred in 53% vs 27% (3.04, 2.17-4.29; p < 0.01). After adjustment, longer interval remained independently associated with lower seizure freedom (0.59, 0.35-1.00; p = 0.0497). DRE-to-evaluation interval, not total epilepsy duration, predicted outcomes. In this first large multicenter study across diverse epilepsy types applying a 1-year benchmark, nearly half of pediatric patients experienced delays, particularly those with MRI-negative, generalized, or genetic epilepsies. Delays from DRE diagnosis were independently associated with reduced seizure freedom, supporting presurgical evaluation within 1 year as an evidence-based quality benchmark.
Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are microbial biopolymers composed primarily of complex carbohydrates and are valued for their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and diverse biological activities. In this study, lactic acid bacteria were isolated from sugarcane waste, and a potent EPS-producing strain was identified as Weissella paramesenteroides through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The sequence was deposited in GenBank under accession number PV786832. EPS production was optimized using a One-Factor-At-a-Time (OFAT) approach. Maximum EPS yield was obtained at pH 7, 30 °C, and 48 h incubation, with sucrose and yeast extract serving as the most effective carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Chemical analysis revealed a total carbohydrate content of 90% and a residual protein content of 3.7%. Structural characterization confirmed the presence of characteristic polysaccharide functional groups in the EPS. The EPS exhibited antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens and demonstrated antioxidant properties, with a DPPH IC50 value of 188.6 µg/mL, ferric reducing antioxidant activity of 51.47 µg Trolox equivalents, and total antioxidant capacity of 160.02 ± 2.91 µg AAE/mL extract. Furthermore, the EPS showed dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity with an IC50 value of 403.9 µg/mL. These findings highlight the bioactive potential of EPS from W. paramesenteroides and support its further exploration for biotechnological applications.
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), a short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) adopted as a replacement for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), is ubiquitously detected in environmental matrices and human biological samples. Despite growing regulatory concern, the molecular mechanisms by which PFBS affects prostate tissue at environmentally relevant concentrations remain poorly characterized. In the present study, we exposed human prostate epithelial (RWPE-1) and stromal (WPMY-1) cells to PFBS (0-100 nM, 24 h) and integrated in vitro mechanistic analyses with genome-wide RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment, KEGG pathway analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network clustering. At concentrations maintaining cell viability above 80%, PFBS induced opposing responses in the two cell types. In RWPE-1 epithelial cells, PFBS activated the PI3K-AKT-GSK3β axis with concurrent nuclear β-catenin accumulation, upregulation of Wnt target genes, S-phase entry, and induction of an IGF-1/IGF-2 autocrine loop. In WPMY-1 stromal cells, PFBS suppressed the PI3K-AKT axis, induced G0/G1 arrest, caused approximately 400% ROS elevation, depolarized mitochondrial membranes, decreased GPX4, and upregulated ACSL4 and intracellular Fe2 + accumulation, collectively suggesting heightened ferroptosis susceptibility, along with reduced expression of stromal paracrine factors (FGF7, FGF10 and HGF). RNA-seq and bioinformatics analyses revealed markedly divergent transcriptional landscapes between two cell types. GO enrichment identified phospholipid metabolic process and Wnt signaling as the dominant RWPE-1 programs, and extrinsic apoptotic signaling and mitochondrion organization regulation in WPMY-1. These findings suggest that, under these in vitro conditions, PFBS can simultaneously activate Wnt signaling in epithelial cells and promote ferroptosis susceptibility in stromal cells, a divergent response pattern not captured by conventional single-endpoint toxicity assays. As these observations were obtained in isolated monocultures, they should be interpreted as cell-autonomous vulnerabilities that require validation in co-culture, organoid, and in vivo systems before any inference regarding human systemic risk can be drawn.
Endometriosis (EMs) is a common gynecological disorder affecting reproductive‑aged women, characterized by ectopic endometrial growth and chronic pelvic pain that severely impairs quality of life. Although its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood, accumulating evidence indicates that the tumor suppressor p53 and aberrant epigenetic modifications play critical roles in EMs initiation and progression. p53 expression is significantly reduced in ectopic lesions, leading to apoptosis resistance and hyperproliferation of endometrial cells. Importantly, p53 dysfunction contributes to EMs through at least four epigenetic mechanisms: (1) p53 transcriptionally represses DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), and its loss indirectly promotes locus‑specific hypermethylation and silencing of tumor suppressors; (2) p53, via its interaction with histone modifiers, influences their recruitment to target genes, and p53 impairment synergizes with histone deacetylase dysregulation to create a pro‑proliferative, anti‑apoptotic microenvironment; (3) p53 functionally interacts with the chromatin remodeler ARID1A, and their co‑dysruption impairs chromatin accessibility and immune homeostasis; (4) p53 coordinates non‑coding RNA networks (e.g. lncRNA MALAT1, miR‑34a) that regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. This review systematically summarizes the p53‑mediated epigenetic regulatory network in EMs and highlights potential therapeutic opportunities targeting p53-epigenetic crosstalk. Future studies should investigate synergistic mechanisms among different epigenetic layers and validate these findings in multi‑center clinical cohorts.
Chagas disease and leishmaniasis are neglected diseases caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania sp., respectively, leading to morbidity and mortality worldwide and affecting more than 6 million people per year. Despite the availability of treatments, their low efficacy and several adverse effects encourage the design and development of new drugs. The hybridization of natural products with heterocyclic scaffolds has been a molecular editing strategy for obtaining new drugs with antiparasitic activity. In this project, a new series of semisynthetic 4-carboxylate-1,2,3-triazine 1-oxide derivatives was designed, synthesized, and evaluated in vitro and in vivo against two strains of T. cruzi and L. mexicana. Compound TS-14 with the geranyl ester group at the 4-position and the ethyl group at the 5-position on the 1,2,3-triazine 1-oxide ring had better trypanocidal activity against Ninoa (IC50= 1.75 µM) and A1 (IC50=1.16 µM) strains than the reference drugs benznidazole (IC50 = 30.3 µM and 39.8 µM, respectively) and nifurtimox (IC50= 7.09 µM and 19.3 µM, respectively). Additionally, TS-14 reduced parasitemia by 40.4% against T. cruzi trypomastigotes in an in vivo model. Compound TS-16, featuring a geranyl ester group at the 4-position and an n-pentyl group at the 5-position on the 1,2,3-triazine 1-oxide ring, exhibited better leishmanicidal activity against FCQEPS (IC50 = 12.97 µM) and M379 (IC50 = 2.11 µM) strains than the reference drug glucantime (IC50 = 125.23 µM and 133.96 µM, respectively). Additionally, TS-21 and TS-30 cause the highest parasitemia reduction (60% and 64.1%, respectively) against L. mexicana in an in vivo assay. Finally, compounds TS-14 and TS-32 showed an inhibitory effect uncompetitive on trypanothione reductase of T. cruzi (TcTryR) and the compound TS-32 on trypanothione synthetase of T. cruzi (TcTryS). This study represents an innovative case of the use of fragments of natural products hybridized with 1,2,3-triazine 1-oxide scaffold as a new option for the development of drugs against parasites such as T. cruzi and L. mexicana.
The implementation of a Staff Safety Intervention Bundle reduced patient-initiated violence at a large academic health system. This bundle integrated Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression screening into electronic health record workflows, leveraged adaptive learning technology for scalable staff education, and implemented visual risk indicators (door magnets) for team awareness. Sustainability strategies and lessons learned provide a replicable framework for nurse executives to address workplace violence through interdisciplinary partnerships within an organizational safety infrastructure.
Infected burn wounds remain difficult to treat because biofilm formation and increasing antibiotic resistance can limit the effectiveness of conventional antimicrobial therapy. Probiotic treatment offers a potential alternative, but many probiotic dressings require fabrication, encapsulation, or drying procedures that substantially reduce cell viability. This study developed an on-demand, post-fabrication method for loading probiotics onto electrospun mats and assessed its therapeutic performance in a rat model of infected burn wounds, with mupirocin used as the reference treatment. Electrospinning produced poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) mats, which were characterized for fiber morphology, water vapor transmission rate, mechanical properties, and chemical integrity. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was loaded onto the prefabricated mats by either soaking or spraying, without prior encapsulation or immobilization. Viable cell loading, release, and short-term survival after loading were then quantified. Spraying cells suspended in MRS broth, followed by drying at room temperature, produced the highest viable counts on both mat types. Agar diffusion and co-culture assays confirmed that the loaded mats retained antimicrobial activity and released active bacterial metabolites. PLA was selected for the in vivo study because it provided suitable mechanical properties, slower cell detachment, and a lower material cost. Compared with blank controls, the L. plantarum-loaded PLA mats accelerated wound closure and improved collagen organization and re-epithelialization, with outcomes comparable to those achieved with mupirocin. By separating mat fabrication from probiotic loading, this scalable method may simplify manufacturing and storage while supporting point-of-care preparation of probiotic wound dressings.
This article examines loneliness in lesbian aging in order to challenge individualistic and miserabilist understandings of both loneliness and later life. Drawing on a lesbian feminist materialist perspective, it conceptualizes loneliness as a relational and political condition embedded in the intersecting social relations of gender, sexuality, age, and class. The analysis is based on a two-year ethnographic study conducted in Barcelona, combining participant observation within an association of older lesbians and 30 in-depth interviews with lesbians aged between 55 and 80. The findings show that loneliness cannot be reduced to an individual feeling or to the absence of social ties. Rather, it reveals the material and symbolic costs associated with lesbian life courses and with occupying a position outside the heterosexual organization of intimacy, family, and care, including experiences of invisibilization, economic precarity, and the unequal organization of care. At the same time, loneliness emerged as an ambivalent experience that could also be associated with autonomy, self-preservation, and forms of learning acquired through lesbian life courses. The study further highlights the central role of caregiving and the ways lesbian loneliness is shaped by asymmetries of recognition and reciprocity. Finally, it shows that feminist and lesbian spaces do not simply alleviate loneliness but provide collective infrastructures through which it can be negotiated and experienced with others. By approaching loneliness as an analytical lens rather than as an individual deficit, the article contributes to feminist, queer and critical gerontological debates and argues for a politicized understanding of aging and loneliness beyond cisheterosexual and heteronormative frameworks.
Nurse managers (NMs) play a pivotal role in shaping unit-level safety climates. The relationship between their professional experience and safety perception remains underexplored. This study assesses how NMs perceive patient safety culture and isolates the demographic and organizational predictors of these perceptions. While frontline nurses' views are well-documented, NMs' perspectives, particularly regarding how tenure influences safety awareness, are often limited. Understanding this dynamic is essential for identifying organizational gaps in hospital administration. The authors employed a descriptive, cross-sectional design, including 125 NMs from a tertiary hospital complex in Istanbul, Türkiye, between September and October 2024. Data were collected using the Patient Safety Culture Scale. Multiple regression analysis was applied to determine the explanatory power of key variables, including tenure, training, and reporting habits. Participants reported a moderate-to-high mean safety culture score (3.02 ± 0.52). While general perceptions were positive, the domain of "Adverse Event and Error Reporting" received the lowest ratings. The regression model (R2=0.37, P<0.001) indicated a significant divergence. While safety training positively influenced scores, longer tenure in the same unit was associated with lower safety perceptions. These findings suggest a "tenure paradox," where prolonged exposure to the same clinical environment may lead to reduced sensitivity or the "normalization of deviance" among NMs. Healthcare organizations should prioritize leadership rotation and targeted refreshment programs rather than assuming experienced managers inherently maintain high safety vigilance.
This study investigated links between incivility and intention to leave (ITL) employment among new graduate nurses (NGNs) during residency. As an undesirable characteristic of workplace environments, incivility may predispose inexperienced nurses to leave employment. Surveys of NGN residents conducted 6 months after hire from 2022 through 2024 were analyzed. Incivility from physicians and unit leaders significantly increased ITL scores but did not predict termination within 2 years. Long-term retention was related to having positive role models and satisfaction with work schedules. Fostering supportive leadership and cultivating strong role models could improve retention and reduce early career distress among NGNs.
The numerous executive orders directed at transgender youth in the weeks following the 2025 U.S. presidential inauguration were likely a signal to these youth-and their parents-that the federal government no longer supported them. Using a longitudinal design spanning 3 years prior to the inauguration (2022-2024) and 2 months surrounding the inauguration, we tested whether the mental health and well-being of U.S.-based transgender youth and their parents declined relative to that of cisgender youth and their parents in a sample that, on the whole, did not support the new administration (N = 160 youth, aged 12-17 years; N = 167 parents). Across preregistered analyses, we observed significant declines in the mental health and well-being of parents of transgender youth compared to parents of cisgender youth; we observed fewer differences over time between transgender versus cisgender youth themselves. Our findings identify an immediate potential cost of the current political environment for supportive parents of transgender youth.
Alpinia galanga (Linn.) Willd, commonly known as greater galangal, is a perennial rhizomatous plant of the Zingiberaceae family valued in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine for its therapeutic properties. Rising demand in the nutraceutical sector requires reliable authentication methods. This study integrates DNA barcoding, HPTLC, and HPLC to authenticate A. galanga rhizomes and extracts. DNA was successfully extracted from all samples, and the rbcL and trnL-trnF regions amplified effectively, proving highly reliable for species-level identification. Complementary chemical analyses supported molecular findings. HPTLC fingerprinting showed consistent banding patterns across botanical reference material, rhizome, and extract samples, with a prominent RF 0.90 band serving as a major marker compound. HPLC profiling confirmed the presence of galangin in all samples, with retention time matching the reference standard. Together, molecular and chemical profiling provide a robust approach to authenticate A. galanga and ensure quality standards while reducing risks of adulteration in plant-based products.