Exogenously applied putrescine and chitosan-putrescine nanocomposite alleviate the negative effects of chilling stress on iceberg lettuce seedlings.

Climate change-induced stressors such as extreme temperatures negatively affect plant growth and development. Therefore, methods are needed to improve plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the foliar application of putrescine (Put) and a chitosan-putrescine nanocomposite (Ch-Put) can modulate the antioxidant response and membrane properties of lettuce under chilling stress.

Transfer learning with class activation maps in compositions driving plaque classification in carotid ultrasound.

Introduction: Carotid B-mode ultrasound (U/S) imaging provides more than the degree of stenosis in stroke risk assessment. Plaque morphology and texture have been extensively investigated in U/S images, revealing plaque components, such as juxtaluminal black areas close to lumen (JBAs), whose size is linearly related to the risk of stroke. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have joined the battle for the identification of high-risk plaques, although the ways they perceive asymptomatic (ASY) and symptomatic (SY) plaque features need further investigation.

Exploring augmentative and alternative communication in intensive care units: nurses' experiences, knowledge, and training preferences in Cyprus.

Purpose: Nurses provide quality and safe care to critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) who might also experience severe speech-language production and/or comprehension impairments. However, interpreting patients' communication efforts is not always possible for several reasons, such as lack of time or training. The current study aimed to investigate ICU nurses' Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) knowledge and determine their preference for receiving training on AAC forms of communication.

Phonological intervention in Greek-speaking preschoolers with speech sound disorders: Implementing phonological similarity and density.

Purpose: The study examined speech gains in three bilectal Cypriot-Greek speaking children with speech sound disorders. The study is based on theoretical frameworks that are on par with word-level characteristics and is motivated by the sparsity of cross-language studies in speech sound disorder intervention.

Method: A multiple-baseline, single-participant design was implemented across three participants with speech sound disorders aged 3;2-4;0 years across baseline (pre-test), intervention, post-test, and follow-up phases.

Collecting behavioural data across countries during pandemics: Development of the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Tool.

Tools that can be used to collect behavioural data during pandemics are needed to inform policy and practice. The objective of this project was to develop the Your COVID-19 Risk tool in response to the global spread of COVID-19, aiming to promote health behaviour change. We developed an online resource based on key behavioural evidence-based risk factors related to contracting and spreading COVID-19.

Comprehensive transcriptional analysis of ethylene and softening regulation in plums with distinct climacteric ripening behaviors.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying variations across climacteric categories in tree crops remains challenging, particularly due to the limitations of applying conventional genetic approaches. In this study, we examined genetically related Japanese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) cultivars with distinct ethylene production and responses during ripening: 'Santa Rosa' (climacteric fruit), 'Casselman' (suppressed-climacteric fruit), and 'Sweet Miriam' (non-climacteric fruit).

Machine Learning-Based Predictive Maintenance at Smart Ports Using IoT Sensor Data.

Maritime transportation plays a critical role in global containerized cargo logistics, with seaports serving as key nodes in this system. Ports are responsible for container loading and unloading, along with inspection, storage, and timely delivery to the destination, all of which heavily depend on the performance of the container handling equipment (CHE). Inefficient maintenance strategies and unplanned maintenance of the port equipment can lead to operational disruptions, including unexpected delays and long waiting times in the supply chain.

Physicians' and nurses' attitudes regarding interprofessional collaboration in Cyprus.

A positive attitude between nurses and physicians toward interprofessional collaboration (IPC) enhances patient outcomes, job satisfaction, and the overall quality of healthcare services. This study aimed to examine the attitudes of physicians and nurses toward IPC in a public hospital and a private hospital in Cyprus. Data were collected using the Jefferson Scale of Attitudes Toward Nurse-Physician Collaboration questionnaire from a convenience sample of 573 healthcare professionals, including 79 physicians (13.

Assessing the General Health System of Cyprus: a questionnaire analysis based on public perception.

A medical health system (MHS) can be viewed as a diverse network of organizations, experts, and resources devoted to promoting, maintaining, and restoring health and well-being in people and societies. There are numerous MHS throughout the world, and their success depends on a number of aspects that should be met. One such MHS is the newly established General Health System (GHS) of Cyprus, a blend of national HS and Social Health Insurance, supported by beneficiaries, employers, and the state.

Investigating the iconicity of the AAC graphic symbols of Mulbery, ParticiPics and Talking Mats.

Despite the fact that iconicity has been widely investigated, there is a lack of research focusing on collections of symbols that have relatively recently been developed. Since iconicity is related to symbols, referents, individuals, and instructional effects, which often interplay with each other, it is important to investigate some of these effects in isolation. For this study, the iconicity of Mulberry, ParticiPics and Talking Mats collections of symbols was investigated.

Guidance on minimum information requirements (MIR) from designing to reporting human biomonitoring (HBM).

Human biomonitoring (HBM) provides an integrated chemical exposures assessment considering all routes and sources of exposure. The accurate interpretation and comparability of biomarkers of exposure and effect depend on harmonized, quality-assured sampling, processing, and analysis. Currently, the lack of broadly accepted guidance on minimum information required for collecting and reporting HBM data, hinders comparability between studies.

Cypriot Healthcare Professionals' Knowledge and Skills When Interacting With Patients With Aphasia in Clinical Settings.

Background: Aphasia, a communication disorder mainly resulting from stroke, poses challenges to the meaningful interactions between healthcare professionals and people with aphasia (PWA). Little is known about the knowledge and skills of Cypriot healthcare professionals when interacting with PWA in clinical settings. This study explores the knowledge and skills of Cypriot healthcare professionals in communicating with PWA.

Investigating Cardiac Patients' Reported Outcomes and Experiences Within the Greek Health System:Results from the VIP Cardio Survey.

This prospective study was conducted in four public tertiary hospitals in Greece. Consecutive cardiac patients (AMI or TAVI) (n=912) were registered and followed up at the point of discharge six months and 12 months after discharge. In case of AMI patients [N=610, mean age=63 (SD=11.

Improving Self-Awareness in Chronic Moderate-Severe Acquired Brain Injury: The Social Cognitive Communication Intervention Combined With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation.

Purpose: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of an integrated rehabilitation intervention combining the social cognitive-communication (SocCom) training with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for individuals with chronic moderate-severe acquired brain injury (MS-ABI), focusing on enhancing self-awareness and executive functions in an outpatient setting.

Method: Twenty-five individuals with MS-ABI ( = 39.64, = 14.

Phenotyping as a tool to study the impact of seed priming and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on tomato response to water limitation.

This study explores the effects of natural seed priming compounds (i.e. chitosan alone and in combination with salicylic acid or melatonin) with the symbiosis of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the capability of two Italian tomato varieties (Principe Borghese and San Marzano nano) to withstand water deprivation through high-throughput plant phenotyping technology.

Delivery of Pediatric Student-Led Speech and Language Therapy Services at a University Rehabilitation Clinic in Cyprus: Children Accessing Services.

Early identification and intervention in speech and language therapy (SLT) are essential for children's academic, social, and emotional development. In Cyprus, barriers such as long waiting lists, financial constraints, and limited public awareness restrict access to SLT services. University-led clinics offer a promising alternative by providing affordable, accessible care while training future clinicians.

In Vitro Evaluation of the Effect of Stenting on Hematological, Hemorheological and Hemodynamic Parameters, in Various Stent Configurations and Flow Conditions.

Purpose: Percutaneous coronary intervention is used extensively for the restoration of blood flow in diseased arteries. The influence of stent implantation on the physiology and flow of blood is an important and still not fully understood issue. The current work evaluated possible stent-induced changes in hematological, hemorheological and hemodynamic parameters.

Communication-related quality of life in adults with acquired neurological disorders who use augmentative and alternative communication: a scoping review of existing tools.

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) has potential to significantly enhance the QoL for those with severe communication impairment as a consequence of acquired neurological disorders. Whilst there has been a progress in the research on AAC for individuals with acquired neurological disorders and effects on QoL, there are still unanswered questions that need further investigation, specifically in the area of communication-related quality of life (CRQoL). The purpose of this scoping review is to explore tools to evaluate CRQoL in adults with acquired neurological disorders who use AAC.

First report and evidence of multiple origins of diflubenzuron resistance alleles in Culex pipiens mosquito from Cyprus.

Background: Insecticide resistance is one of the primary problems affecting vector control worldwide. Assessing the occurrence of resistant alleles and understanding their origin across the geographic range of vector species is crucial for effective resistance management. In populations of the mosquito Culex pipiens, point mutations conferring resistance to the insecticide diflubenzuron (DFB) were recently found across the Mediterranean basin.

The Role of Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) in International Stroke Teams: A Systematic Review.

Background: Current published guidelines suggest that speech and language therapists (SLTs) should be part of stroke teams, but their involvement and roles according to country income are unknown.

Aims: This review aims to (1) investigate the level of involvement of SLTs in acute stroke management, rehabilitation, and long-term care, and (2) examine whether the roles and contributions of SLTs in stroke care vary according to a country's income level.

Methods: A systematic review methodology was conducted by an expert librarian and three independent researchers based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Measurement, Characterization, and Mapping of COVID-19 Misinformation in Spain: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by an unprecedented infodemic characterized by the widespread dissemination of misinformation. Globally, misinformation about COVID-19 has led to polarized beliefs and behaviors, including vaccine hesitancy, rejection of governmental authorities' recommendations, and distrust in health institutions. Thus, understanding the prevalence and drivers of misinformation is critical for designing effective and contextualized public health strategies.

Cultivating Self-Compassion to Improve Social Workers' Professional Quality of Life in Primary Healthcare.

Background/objectives: Although self-compassion practice has been increasingly popular in the literature in recent years, the area of social work knows very little about it. To be self-compassionate is to treat oneself with love and respect. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between social workers' professional quality of life (compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout) and self-compassion.

Comparing Two Connected Speech Tasks in Greek Speakers With the Logopenic Variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia and Alzheimer's Disease.

Purpose: Different tasks have been used to elicit connected speech samples and analyze speech and language production in dementia. In this study, we explored whether there was a differential performance for individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA) on two elicitation tasks, picture description and story retell. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between connected speech measures and formal neuropsychological tests.

Priming thermotolerance: unlocking heat resilience for climate-smart crops.

Rising temperatures and heat waves pose a substantial threat to crop productivity by disrupting essential physiological and reproductive processes. While plants have a genetically inherited capacity to acclimate to high temperatures, the thermotolerance capacity of many crops remains limited. This limitation leads to yield losses, which are further intensified by the increasing intensity of climate change.

Citizen science across borders: employing action design research to identify and address digital skills challenges in the EU through collaborative solutions.

The European University Alliance European University of Technology (EUt+) has endeavored to make a Citizen Lab, as part of the Horizon 2020 project "EXTRAS," aimed to explore the use of Action Design Research (ADR) methodology for fostering citizen science across boarders and during one of the pilot activities focused on digital skills development. Interactions provided an international forum for educational practitioners from France, Cyprus, and Bulgaria, alongside researchers from the European University of Technology, to collaboratively address the challenges of digital upskilling and reskilling in the European context. Through a series of three workshops, participants engaged in meaningful discussions on the inclusion of diverse identities and intersectionality in digital skill development programs.