17362 research outputs found
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Navigating the shadows: The impact of mindfulness, cognitive fusion, and coping strategies on psychological distress among mental health workers in Timor Leste
No full textA cross-sectional study design was employed, involving a convenience sample of 37 mental health workers from PRADET and the national referral hospital in Dili. Mindfulness was assessed using the Toronto Mindfulness Questionnaire (TMQ), psychological flexibility using the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II), cognitive fusion was measured using the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ), and coping strategies were evaluated using the DBT-Ways of Coping Checklist (DBT-WCCL). Depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). All scales were using English validated versions. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Significant positive correlations were found between Depression and Anxiety (Spearman’s rho = 0.649, p < 0.001), and between Depression and Stress (Spearman’s rho = 0.753, p < 0.001). Depression was also significantly correlated with Cognitive Fusion (Spearman’s rho = 0.445, p = 0.006) and Blaming Others (Spearman’s rho = 0.422, p = 0.009), and negatively correlated with Coping Strategies (Skills Use) (Spearman’s rho =– 0.341, p = 0.039). Anxiety and Stress were highly correlated (Spearman’s rho = 0.855, p < 0.001), and both were significantly associated with Cognitive Fusion, General Dysfunctional Coping, and Blaming Others. Mindfulness (De-Centering) showed a strong positive correlation with Mindfulness (Curiosity) (Spearman’s rho = 0.770, p < 0.001), and was also weakly associated with General Dysfunctional Coping (Spearman’s rho = 0.343, p = 0.038). Overall, the results suggest that higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress are linked to greater cognitive fusion and dysfunctional coping, while effective coping skills are negatively associated with depression. The findings highlight the critical roles of cognitive fusion and coping strategies in predicting psychological distress among mental health workers in Timor Leste. Cognitive fusion and dysfunctional coping strategies were associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Adaptive coping strategies, such as skills use, were linked to lower levels of depression. Given the high risk of vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress disorder in this population, targeted interventions promoting mindfulness and adaptive coping skills are essential. Addressing these factors can enhance resilience and well-being among mental health professionals, ultimately improving the quality of care provided to their clients
First-principle Investigations on Electronic and Optical Properties of LiZnAs under Pressure up to 20 GPa
No full textDensity functional theory (DFT) studies were performed on the lattice parameters, electronic band structure, and optical constants under pressure up to 20 GPa in order to obtain insight into the electronic and optical properties of LiZnAs. The calculated results show LiZnAs is a semiconductor with a direct gap of 0.86 eV, which is smaller than the experimental value 1.1 eV. It also indicates that the structural parameters such as lattice parameters and cell volume show inverse relation to the pressure and shows smooth decreasing behavior from 0 to 20 GPa. Meanwhile, the pressure dependence of the electronic band structure, density of states and partial density of states of LiZnAs up to 20 GPa were presented. And we found that the band gap increased with the pressure. Moreover, the evolution of the dielectric function, absorption coefficient α(ω), reflectivity R(ω), the refractive index n(ω), and the extinction coefficient k(ω) of LiZnAs under pressure were presented. According to our work, we found that the optical properties of LiZnAs undergo a blue shift with increasing pressure. These results suggest technological applications of such materials in extreme environments
Comparative study of ultrasound‑assisted ZnCl2, LiBr, and choline chloride/lactic acid pretreatments for cellulose extraction from sea mango (Cerbera odollam) fibre waste, followed by ball milling: Yield and physicochemical analysis
No full textThe scientific community is increasingly focused on developing bio-based materials to substitute non-renewable and petroleum-derived resources that pose environmental risks. This study explores the use of non-edible sea mango (Cerbera odollam) fibre waste as a source for cellulose and lignin extraction. Three types of ultrasound-assisted solvent systems were investigated, including zinc chloride, lithium bromide, and a deep eutectic solvent composed of choline chloride and lactic acid, followed by either dry or wet post-ball milling. Extracted lignin using an alkaline process was used to determine optimal solvent concentration and temperature for effective lignin dissolution. The most efficient conditions for lignin dissolution were found to be 40 wt% zinc chloride at 65 °C, 50 wt% lithium bromide at 80 °C, and a 1:10 molar ratio of choline chloride to lactic acid at 80 °C. Under optimized conditions developed by response surface methodology, the maximum cellulose yield obtained was 87.23%, with lignin and hemicellulose contents reduced to 4.10% and 3.95%, respectively, using the choline chloride/lactic acid solvent. The integration of wet post-ball milling further enhanced the cellulose content to 93.80%, representing a 3.04% improvement over dry milling. Successful cellulose extraction was confirmed through characterization, including functional groups, crystallinity index, morphological structure, and thermal stability analyses. Key findings included the detection of hydroxy, alkyl, and ether functional groups, an increase in crystallinity from 57.54 to 77.77%, and smoother fiber morphology comparable to commercial cellulose. These results highlight the potential of sea mango fibre waste as a viable and sustainable source of cellulose using environmentally friendly pretreatment
Type classification and contiguous protection: Analysis of traditional village cultural landscape in Tongjiang county, China
No full textTraditional village cultural landscape is a witness to the historical and cultural heritage of the villages and an important part of the protection of rural cultural heritage. This study explores the type classification of 37 traditional villages in Tongjiang County from the perspective of cultural landscape. The data of the traditional village clusters in Tongjiang County were collected by using the observation method and the secondary data method, and the data were analyzed by using the content analysis method to construct a research system for the classification of traditional village types. The research results show that: According to the prominent characteristics of the cultural landscapes of traditional villages in Tongjiang County, they can be classified into five categories: agricultural landscape, traditional architecture, revolutionary relics, humanistic history, and folk customs and religious culture. Based on the characteristic cultural landscape resources of different types of traditional village es, a concentrated and contiguous sustainable development model that conforms to the characteristics of the villages is proposed. This study, by classifying traditional villages into types, provides practical inspirations for the classified protection of traditional village groups in counties, and offers countermeasure references for the concentrated and contiguous protection of traditional village cultural landscape and the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy
Isolation and identification of cadmium-reducing bacteria from contaminated coastal sediment in the Northern Coast of Indramayu, Indonesia
No full textBackground and Objective: Cadmium (Cd) is one of the heavy metal pollutants and its accumulation impacts the sustainability of marine organisms. Current research aimed to isolate and identify the cadmium-reducing bacteria from contaminated coastal sediment in Karangsong Port, Indramayu, Indonesia. The isolates were investigated for their potential to reduce cadmium and showed the cadmium reduction drastically up to 50% at 6 hrs treated under different cadmium concentrations of 0, 5, 1 and 1.5 ppm, respectively. Materials and Methods: Morphological characteristics were observed in most of the isolates. Out of 8 isolates, two selected strains such as Karangsong Cd 3 and Cd 7 were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing as Pseudoalteromonas issachenkonii strain KMM 3549 (Acc. No. NR 025139.1) and Pseudoalteromonas tetraodonis GFC strain IAM 14160 (Acc. No. NR 041787.1), respectively. Results: The cadmium resistance profile showed that the selected isolates were resistant to various concentrations of cadmium (Cd). The isolates reduced the concentration of cadmium drastically up to 50% at 6 hrs. The results demonstrated the two bacteria are possible to remove the cadmium from seawater containing cadmium. The gram staining showed bacterial colony morphology were diplobacilli and coccobacillus. Conclusion: These results suggested that the Karangsong Cd 3 and Cd 7 could facilitate the new references of future microbial applications for bioremediation efforts
Global research trends in food security: Insights from a bibliometric analysis
No full textIn light of escalating global challenges, including climate change, population growth, and economic disparities, food security has emerged as a critical area of research. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of food security literature sourced from the Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases, encompassing 506 valid publications. The findings reveal a notable upward trend in scholarly interest over the past decade, with a particular focus on themes such as climate change, sustainability, agricultural innovations, and the socioeconomic dimensions of food systems. Significant contributions highlight the effectiveness of interdisciplinary approaches and regional research, especially in Southeast Asia, where Malaysian institutions have demonstrated notable leadership. Some important insights are the use of advanced modelling methods like hydrodynamic and socio-ecological frameworks, the integration of behavioural reasoning and generational cohort theories, and the wide use of farming methods that are resilient to climate change. The study also identifies highly cited works that address sustainable practices and policy implications, reflecting the multifaceted nature of the field. However, gaps remain in areas such as the impacts of microplastics, urban food deserts, and the role of blockchain technology in food systems. This research underscores the necessity for international collaboration and the adoption of multidisciplinary perspectives to advance sustainable solutions for food security. This bibliometric mapping serves as a strategic guide for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to address critical knowledge gaps and foster innovation in achieving global food security objectives
Government policy responses and stock liquidity: covid-19 pandemic
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused huge disruptions in global economies, and a government is needed to implement different degrees of stringency measures to prevent the virus’s spread. This study examines the impact of government policy responses on stock liquidity in Malaysia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample period covered from January 2, 2020 to June 30, 2022, comprising 890 publicly traded stocks, disaggregated into 539 large and 351 small capital stocks. The pooled ordinary least squares results show that the government policy announcement has significantly improved liquidity in Malaysia’s financial market. Hence, our findings demonstrate that restrictions and policies taken by the government are important for policymakers and financial institutions to mitigate liquidity challenges amidst heightened uncertainty and market volatility during the coronavirus outbreak
Community-based intervention to improve measles vaccination completion in marginalised community settlements in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah: A cluster randomised control trial
No full textBackground The COVID- 19 pandemic significantly impacted health services, particularly immunisation services, reducing the coverage of measles immunisation from the targeted 95%. This has resulted in post-pandemic measles outbreaks globally, and those at risk in Sabah are the marginalised population, who encounter barriers when it comes to getting measles immunisation. In this study, a community-based intervention was implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based intervention in improving the measles-containing vaccine (MCV) completion rate and assessing the community’s acceptance of and satisfaction with the proposed intervention programme. Method The study applied a cluster randomised control trial (RCT). The intervention involved trained community volunteers who were trained on the reminder and recall strategy to help ensure the completion of the MCV among children in the community, where three doses of measles vaccine were provided when they were 6, 9, and 12 months of age. The intervention was administered in five settlements over a period of six months. As a comparison, another five settlements were provided with regular vaccination health services. The rates of MCV completion between the intervention group versus control group that received regular vaccination health services were then compared. The community’s acceptance of and satisfaction with the intervention were assessed using a validated Acceptability of Intervention Measure-Intervention Appropriateness Measure-Feasibility of Intervention Measure (AIM-IAM-FIM) and Client Satisfaction Questionnaire 8 (CSQ- 8). Result The findings of the study showed that the rate of completion of the three doses of measles vaccine was slightly higher among those who received the intervention (80.4%) with a lower percentage having received one dose (2.6%) and no dose at all compared to those who only received routine healthcare services. Furthermore, the odds of having completed the MCV increased by three times for those who received the intervention (AOR: 2.848, 95% CI: 0.176, 45.996), although it was not significant. There was also a six-fold increase in the satisfaction score among those who received the community-based intervention compared to those who received the routine vaccination services (p = < 0.001, 95% CI = 2.634, 8.919). Finally, the majority (97%) of those in the community accepted the implemented intervention. Conclusion A community-based intervention has the potential to enhance the completion of MCV, but it has to be refined further to be successful. The findings of this study can provide information to policy makers and implementers of vaccination programmes regarding the importance of engaging marginalised communities and ensuring their acceptance of and satisfaction with the intervention to achieve the desired target. Trial Registration This study was retrospectively registered at the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) Registry (ISRCTN12774704) on 17 th November 2023
Metal-bearing nanomaterials for oral antibacteria: mechanisms and applications
No full textThe prevalent oral diseases, such as dental caries, chronic gingivitis, and periodontitis, which are primarily caused by pathogenic bacteria, pose significant public health risks and impose substantial economic burdens. However, conventional treatment strategies for oral pathogens rely on mechanical debridement and antibiotic treatment, which remain unsatisfactory and contribute to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance pathogens. The escalating crisis of antibiotic resistance and the intricate microbial communities in oral niches urgently demand innovative antimicrobial strategies that can overcome these issues. Metal-bearing nanomaterials (MBNs), as an integration of metallic components with other substances such as polymers or inorganic materials, have demonstrated improved antimicrobial effectiveness while mitigating the toxicity associated with pure metals in oral environments. This review provides an innovative overview of designing and utilizing MBNs for oral antimicrobial applications, bridging the gap between nanomaterial design and clinical dentistry needs while guiding the development of next-generation antimicrobials in the post-antibiotic era. Firstly, we categorize and elucidate the main antibacterial mechanisms of metallic components in MBNs. Furthermore, a comprehensive summary is provided on the up-to-date advancements in using MBNs for oral antibacterial purposes, highlighting the pivotal role of metals in enhancing antibacterial properties. Finally, we discuss the existing challenges and potential future developments to establish a theoretical foundation for ongoing progress and clinical approval
CO2 fed microalgae cultivation in photobioreactor: Review on challenges and possible solutions
No full textCarbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration and upgrading algal development rates are basic procedures for moderating climate alter. One of the major challenges in photobioreactors (PBRs) is the successful expulsion of broken-down oxygen (DO), which can hinder algal development and diminish CO2 sequestration proficiency. This ponder highlights the pressing request for maintainable vitality arrangements within the confront of asset exhaustion and heightening CO2 outflows. Microalgae, with their capability for fast development and effective photosynthesis, speak to a promising renewable vitality source and a compelling implication for mechanical CO2 retention. Whereas much inquire has centred on the natural characteristics of microalgae, this consider addresses the often-overlooked control instruments fundamental for moving forward PBR plan and execution. To handle the issue of DO expulsion and optimize microalgae development, a complex control framework coordination sensors and energetic input components is proposed. By checking parameters such as pH, DO, temperature, and CO2 levels, the framework points to improving algal development and CO2 take-up, clearing the way for more viable and feasible PBR frameworks