bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ozone Improves Oxygenation and Offers Organ Protection after Autologous Blood Transfusion in a Simulated Carbon Dioxide Pneumoperitoneal Environment in a Rabbit Hemorrhagic Shock Model
Authors: Gan Yu , Tian Xue , Yao Han , Huo Fei , Feng Yi
Published: September 2023

Objectives: Autologous blood transfusion techniques are well applied in surgery, but the red blood cells (RBCs) collected during laparoscopic surgery may forfeit their ability to oxygenate. O3 is a potent oxidation gas. This study investigates whether O3 could improve the oxygen-carrying capacity of RBCs, reduce inflammatory reactions, and offer organ protection. Methods: We established a hemorrhagic shock model in rabbits, and simulated CO2 pneumoperitoneum and O3 were applied before autologous blood transfusion. Perioperative mean arterial pressure and arterial blood gas were recorded, blood gas and RBC morphology of collected blood were analyzed, plasma IL-6, ALT, AST, CRE, and lung histopathology POD0 and POD3 were tested, as well as postoperative survival quality. Results: Autologous blood that underwent simulated CO2 pneumoperitoneum had a lower pH and SaO2 and a higher PaCO2 than the control group. After O3 treatment, PaO2 and SaO2 increased significantly, with unchanged pH values and PaCO2. RBCs in autologous blood were drastically deformed after CO2 conditioning and then reversed to normal by O3 treatment. Rabbits that received CO2-conditioned autologous blood had a compromised survival quality after surgery, higher plasma IL-6 levels, higher lung injury scores on POD0, higher ALT and AST levels on POD3, and O3 treatment alleviated these adverse outcomes. Conclusion: O3 can restore RBC function, significantly improve blood oxygenation under simulated CO2 pneumoperitoneum, offer organ protection, and improve the postoperative survival quality in the rabbit hemorrhage shock model.
Hippocampal, Whole Midbrain, Red Nucleus, and Ventral Tegmental Area Volumes Are Increased by Selective Breeding for High Voluntary Wheel-Running Behavior
Authors: Schmill Margaret P. , Thompson Zoe , Lee Daisy , Haddadin Laurence , Mitra Shaarang , Ezzat Raymond , Shelton Samantha , Levin Phillip , Behnam Sogol , Huffman Kelly J. , Garland Theodore
Published: September 2023

Uncovering relationships between neuroanatomy, behavior, and evolution are important for understanding the factors that control brain function. Voluntary exercise is one key behavior that both affects, and may be affected by, neuroanatomical variation. Moreover, recent studies suggest an important role for physical activity in brain evolution. We used a unique and ongoing artificial selection model in which mice are bred for high voluntary wheel-running behavior, yielding four replicate lines of high runner (HR) mice that run ∼3-fold more revolutions per day than four replicate nonselected control (C) lines. Previous studies reported that, with body mass as a covariate, HR mice had heavier whole brains, non-cerebellar brains, and larger midbrains than C mice. We sampled mice from generation 66 and used high-resolution microscopy to test the hypothesis that HR mice have greater volumes and/or cell densities in nine key regions from either the midbrain or limbic system. In addition, half of the mice were given 10 weeks of wheel access from weaning, and we predicted that chronic exercise would increase the volumes of the examined brain regions via phenotypic plasticity. We replicated findings that both selective breeding and wheel access increased total brain mass, with no significant interaction between the two factors. In HR compared to C mice, adjusting for body mass, both the red nucleus (RN) of the midbrain and the hippocampus (HPC) were significantly larger, and the whole midbrain tended to be larger, with no effect of wheel access nor any interactions. Linetype and wheel access had an interactive effect on the volume of the periaqueductal gray (PAG), such that wheel access increased PAG volume in C mice but decreased volume in HR mice. Neither linetype nor wheel access affected volumes of the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum (VP), or basolateral amygdala. We found no main effect of either linetype or wheel access on neuronal densities (numbers of cells per unit area) for any of the regions examined. Taken together, our results suggest that the increased exercise phenotype of HR mice is related to increased RN and hippocampal volumes, but that chronic exercise alone does not produce such phenotypes.
Low-carbon no-idle permutation flow shop schedulling problem: giant trevally optimizer vs African vultures optimization algorithm
Authors: Marsetiya Utama Dana , Febrita Cantika
Published: September 2023

Greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase due to increased energy consumption. One of the largest emission-contributing sectors is the manufacturing industry. Therefore, the manufacturing industry is required to minimize carbon emissions. One of the efforts to solve the emission problem is to minimize machine downtime throughout the production procedure, which stands for no-idle permutation flowshop scheduling (NIPFSP). This article uses two metaheuristic algorithms, giant trevally optimizer (GTO) and African vultures optimization algorithm (AVOA), to solve the carbon emission problem. Both algorithms are tested on 3 cases with 30 runs for every population and iteration. To compare the outcomes of each algorithm, an independent sample t-test was employed. The results show that the GTO algorithm has better results than the AVOA algorithm on small and large case data. The findings indicate that both the GTO and AVOA algorithms yield comparable results when applied to medium-sized research datasets, suggesting their effectiveness in such scenarios.
Fractal analysis to determine JRC on sandstones and its correlation to SRF, Ende-Lianunu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia
Authors: Vera Tien Veny , Kusumayudha Sari Bahagiarti , Saptono Singgih , Kurniawan Kurniawan
Published: September 2023

The study area is located in Ende-Lianunu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, with mountainous and hilly morphology, and is part of the Kiro Formation which is composed of tuffaceous sandstones. Discontinuities in the sandstone are in the form of bedding planes and joints, which affect the mechanical properties of the rock mass, reduce its strength, and affect slope stability. The discontinuity condition that affects mechanical behavior is surface roughness. This research aims to define the fractal dimension value of surface roughness using a box-counting method, joint roughness coefficient (JRC), and simulate the strength reduction factor (SRF) value on slopes that have a certain JRC. The fractal dimension of fine-grained samples = 1.0010 and coarse-grained = 1.0056. The average JRC value is 6.25 (Range 4-6). Simulation at JRC 0-20, gives different SRF values. On slopes with JRC = 0, the critical SRF = 1.35. If JRC = 20, the critical SRF = 1.47. It can be inferred, that the fractal dimension of the roughness of the sliding plane correlates with JRC and SRF. As the fractal dimension value increases, so do the JRC and SRF values, resulting in more stable slope conditions.
Experimental study of RDF-5 performance based on natural waste on fast pyrolysis process on the quality of the liquid smoke
Authors: Saputro Herman , Fitriana Laila , Purwanto Aris , Muslim Riyadi , Mahmuddin Muchlis
Published: September 2023

Energy problems are one of the cases faced by almost all countries in the world. No longer found oil reserves in significant quantities causing problems in the energy sector. The world's energy needs continue to increase and become a global problem in the use of energy in various sectors resulting in an energy crisis. The use of waste-to-energy (WtE) technology is appropriate, considering that energy needs continue to increase along with the increasing amount of waste that is not managed and hurts the ecosystem. Refuse-derived fuel (RDF) is a waste management technique that converts waste into bio-solid fuel. RDF is produced from the mechanical separation of combustible and non-combustible fractions from waste. Utilizing RDF biomass from durian peel and sugar palm is one of the efforts to maximize the pyrolysis process in organic waste, increasing the combustion potential. Processing durian skin and sugar palm waste into RDF will maximize the potential of the combustion results, which can later facilitate testing. This study also aims to utilize sugar palm waste and durian peel to have a use value as an alternative fuel. This research was an experimental study, fast pyrolysis was employed by using 300 grams both in durian and sugar palm, and the temperature was varied from 400, 500, and 600 °C. The results showed that the test of liquid smoke RDF-5 sugar palm at a temperature of 400 °C at 112 mL and RDF-5 durian at 600 °C at 137 mL.
Antioxidant activity and inhibition of α-glucosidase from extract and fraction of leaves and stems of Vernonia amygdalina
Authors: Rafael Siahaan , Artika I Made , Nurcholis Waras
Published: September 2023

Previous studies have shown that bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina Del.) has the ability as an antioxidant and an α-glucosidase inhibitor. Still, the difference in antioxidant activity and α-glucosidase inhibition based on the leaves and stems parts have not yet been determined. The effect of flavonoid-enriched extract on antioxidant activity and inhibition of α-glucosidase has not yet been determined. This research aimed to assess the impact of flavonoid-enriched extract from the leaves and stems part of the bitter leaf. The leaves and stems part of the bitter leaf were extracted using Soxhlet apparatus with 80% methanol and then underwent successive fractionation with petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethyl acetate. The crude extract and the fraction were concentrated and followed by the determination of total flavonoid, total phenolic, antioxidant activity, α-glucosidase inhibition activity, and calculated the IC50 of α-glucosidase inhibition. This research showed that chloroform-ethyl acetate leaf fraction was the best fraction with the higher total flavonoid (24.091±0.972 mg QE/g DW), total phenolic (84.299±4.589 mg GAE/g DW), diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) antioxidant activity (33.881 μM TE/g DW), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) antioxidant activity (312.022±1.745 μM TE/g DW) and α-glucosidase inhibition activity with an IC50 value 1.23 mg/mL.
Food Is Medicine: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association
Authors: Volpp Kevin G. , Berkowitz Seth A. , Sharma Shreela V. , Anderson Cheryl A.M. , Brewer LaPrincess C. , Elkind Mitchell S.V. , Gardner Christopher D. , Gervis Julie E. , Harrington Robert A. , Herrero Mario , Lichtenstein Alice H. , McClellan Mark , Muse Jen , Roberto Christina A. , Zachariah Justin P.V. ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association
Published: September 2023

Unhealthy diets are a major impediment to achieving a healthier population in the United States. Although there is a relatively clear sense of what constitutes a healthy diet, most of the US population does not eat healthy food at rates consistent with the recommended clinical guidelines. An abundance of barriers, including food and nutrition insecurity, how food is marketed and advertised, access to and affordability of healthy foods, and behavioral challenges such as a focus on immediate versus delayed gratification, stand in the way of healthier dietary patterns for many Americans. Food Is Medicine may be defined as the provision of healthy food resources to prevent, manage, or treat specific clinical conditions in coordination with the health care sector. Although the field has promise, relatively few studies have been conducted with designs that provide strong evidence of associations between Food Is Medicine interventions and health outcomes or health costs. Much work needs to be done to create a stronger body of evidence that convincingly demonstrates the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different types of Food Is Medicine interventions. An estimated 90% of the $4.3 trillion annual cost of health care in the United States is spent on medical care for chronic disease. For many of these diseases, diet is a major risk factor, so even modest improvements in diet could have a significant impact. This presidential advisory offers an overview of the state of the field of Food Is Medicine and a road map for a new research initiative that strategically approaches the outstanding questions in the field while prioritizing a human-centered design approach to achieve high rates of patient engagement and sustained behavior change. This will ideally happen in the context of broader efforts to use a health equity–centered approach to enhance the ways in which our food system and related policies support improvements in health.
Genetic Contribution to End-Stage Cardiomyopathy Requiring Heart Transplantation
Authors: Kim Yuri , Gunnarsdóttir Oddný Brattberg , Viveiros Anissa , Reichart Daniel , Quiat Daniel , Willcox Jon A.L. , Zhang Hao , Chen Huachen , Curran Justin J. , Kim Daniel H. , Urschel Simon , McDonough Barbara , Gorham Joshua , DePalma Steven R. , Seidman Jonathan G. , Seidman Christine E. , Oudit Gavin Y.
Published: September 2023

Background:

Many cardiovascular disorders propel the development of advanced heart failure that necessitates cardiac transplantation. When treatable causes are excluded, studies to define causes are often abandoned, resulting in a diagnosis of end-stage idiopathic cardiomyopathy. We studied whether DNA sequence analyses could identify unrecognized causes of end-stage nonischemic cardiomyopathy requiring heart transplantation and whether the prevalence of genetic causes differed from ambulatory cardiomyopathy cases.

Methods:

We performed whole exome and genome sequencing of 122 explanted hearts from 101 adult and 21 pediatric patients with idiopathic cardiomyopathy from a single center. Data were analyzed for pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in nuclear and mitochondrial genomes and assessed for nonhuman microbial sequences. The frequency of damaging genetic variants was compared among cardiomyopathy cohorts with different clinical severity.

Results:

Fifty-four samples (44.3%) had pathogenic/likely pathogenic cardiomyopathy gene variants. The frequency of pathogenic variants was similar in pediatric (42.9%) and adult (43.6%) samples, but the distribution of mutated genes differed (
P
=8.30×10
-4
). The prevalence of causal genetic variants was significantly higher in end-stage than in previously reported ambulatory adult dilated cardiomyopathy cases (
P
<0.001). Among remaining samples with unexplained causes, no damaging mitochondrial variants were identified, but 28 samples contained parvovirus genome sequences, including 2 samples with 6- to 9-fold higher levels than the overall mean levels in other samples.

Conclusions:

Pathogenic variants and viral myocarditis were identified in 45.9% of patients with unexplained end-stage cardiomyopathy. Damaging gene variants are significantly more frequent among transplant compared with patients with ambulatory cardiomyopathy. Genetic analyses can help define cause of end-stage cardiomyopathy to guide management and risk stratification of patients and family members.
Reduced Brain Cortex Angiogenesis in the Offspring of the Preeclampsia-Like Syndrome
Authors: Troncoso Felipe , Sandoval Hermes , Ibañez Belén , López-Espíndola Daniela , Bustos Francisca , Tapia Juan Carlos , Sandaña Pedro , Escudero-Guevara Esthefanny , Nualart Francisco , Ramírez Eder , Powers Robert , Vatish Manu , Mistry Hiten D. , Kurlak Lesia O. , Acurio Jesenia , Escudero Carlos
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND:

Children from pregnancies affected by preeclampsia have an increased risk of cognitive and behavioral alterations via unknown pathophysiology. We tested the hypothesis that preeclampsia generated reduced brain cortex angiogenesis in the offspring.

METHODS:

The preeclampsia-like syndrome (PELS) mouse model was generated by administering the nitric oxide inhibitor NG-nitroarginine methyl ester hydrochloride. Confirmatory experiments were done using 2 additional PELS models. While in vitro analysis used mice and human brain endothelial cells exposed to serum of postnatal day 5 pups or umbilical plasma from preeclamptic pregnancies, respectively.

RESULTS:

We report significant reduction in the area occupied by blood vessels in the motor and somatosensory brain cortex of offspring (postnatal day 5) from PELS compared with uncomplicated control offspring. These data were confirmed using 2 additional PELS models. Furthermore, circulating levels of critical proangiogenic factors, VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), and PlGF (placental growth factor) were lower in postnatal day 5 PELS. Also we found lower VEGF receptor 2 (KDR [kinase insert domain-containing receptor]) levels in mice and human endothelial cells exposed to the serum of postnatal day 5 PELS or fetal plasma of preeclamptic pregnancies, respectively. These changes were associated with lower in vitro angiogenic capacity, diminished cell migration, larger F-actin filaments, lower number of filopodia, and lower protein levels of F-actin polymerization regulators in brain endothelial cells exposed to serum or fetal plasma of offspring from preeclampsia.

CONCLUSIONS:

Offspring from preeclampsia exhibited diminished brain cortex angiogenesis, associated with lower circulating VEGF/PlGF/KDR protein levels, impaired brain endothelial migration, and dysfunctional assembly of F-actin filaments. These alterations may predispose to structural and functional alterations in long-term brain development.
Russia—a Re-emerging Donor in North Korea
Authors: Zakharova Liudmila , Burghart Sabine
Published: September 2023

Foreign aid has become an integral instrument of Russia’s policy towards North Korea since the 2000s. Based on quantitative and qualitative data this study systematically maps and discusses Russia’s aid disbursements to the DPRK in 2000–2020. It is shown that debt relief constituted the largest share and the significance of humanitarian assistance had increased. Unlike in the Soviet period when ideological motives prevailed in rendering foreign aid, the beginning of the 21st century saw a re-emerging of Russia’s international assistance mainly driven by pragmatic political and economic considerations without excessive obligations on both bilateral and multilateral levels. Although recipient need was considered in aid allocation, volumes were too small to solve North Korea’s food insecurity and malnutrition. This study contributes to a broader strategic picture of Russia’s policy towards North Korea.
Dispute Settlement in the Law of the Sea: Survey for 2022
Authors: Churchill Robin
Published: September 2023

This is the latest in a series of annual surveys in this Journal reviewing dispute settlement in the law of the sea, both under Part XV of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and outside the framework of the Convention. The most significant developments during 2022 were the award of an Annex VII arbitral tribunal relating to the preliminary objections of Russia in the Dispute concerning the Detention of Ukrainian Naval Vessels and Servicemen case and the judgment of the International Court of Justice on the merits in the Alleged Violations of Sovereign Rights and Maritime Spaces in the Caribbean Sea case.
The Perils of Colonial and Marxist Narratives in an Unconquered Lands: Ethnic-Based Killings and Evictions of the Amhara in Ethiopia
Authors: Wachiso Gichamo Bekalu
Published: September 2023

The present study explains the occurrence of violent killings and forced displacement of ethnically targeted groups, the Amhara in this case, through the direct influence of colonial narratives employed by fascist Italian colonizers and the indirect influence of radical Marxist political forces embracing Eurocentric education in their grasp of the Ethiopian local and indigenous situation. The study poses two major questions: What is the historical root behind the genesis of the hegemonic anti-Amhara discourse in Ethiopian politics? What are the consequences of this discourse? The study found out that Italy’s invented discourse of Amhara domination, unsubjected to critical mediation by Ethiopia’s political forces, has introduced a re-politicization of ethnicity to the politico-intellectual makeup of the country, which resulted, inter alia, in ongoing societal (in)securities of the Amhara population. In what seems to overcome these insecurity situations and fill the political representation void, the Amhara “defensive ethnonationalism” has emerged since 2015.
U.S. Military Should Not Be in My Backyard: Conjoint Experiments in Japan
Authors: Horiuchi Yusaku , Tago Atsushi
Published: September 2023

The war in Ukraine has manifested the critical importance of the American alliance network and the swift and effective deployment of necessary military assets. But do citizens of the U.S. allies support the deployment of such advanced, thus controversial, military assets in their countries? To examine this question, we administered two conjoint experiments in Japan, a critical U.S. ally in Asia. The results show the Japanese citizens’ strong Not-In-My-Backyard (NIMBY) sentiment: They value the U.S.-Japan alliance per se but do not want those advanced arms (specifically, Osprey and F-35 fighter jets) to be deployed in their vicinity, particularly when the U.S. military operates them. Our study contributes to the literature on alliance politics and civil-military relations by emphasizing the importance of paying close attention to local public opposition as a potential source of instability in global military alliances.
Biological dosimetry dose-response curves for residents living near nuclear power plants in South Korea
Authors: Jeong Soo Kyung , Oh Su Jung , Kang Yeong-Rok , Kim HyoJin , Kye Yong Uk , Lee Seong Hun , Lee Chang Geun , Park Moon-Taek , Baek Jeong-Hwa , Kim Joong Sun , Jeong Min Ho , Jo Wol Soon
Published: September 2023

The purpose of this study was to establish the dose–response curves for biological dosimetry of the Dong Nam Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences to monitor radiation exposure of local residents in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant. The blood samples of five healthy volunteers were irradiated with gamma ray, and each sample was divided equally for analysis of chromosomal aberrations by Giemsa staining and three-color fluorescence in situ hybridization painting of the triplet (chromosomes #1, #2, and #4). The results of chromosomal aberrations followed the Poisson distribution in all individual and averaged data which include inter-individual variation in radiation susceptibility. Cytogenetics Dose Estimate Software version 5.2 was used to fit the dose–response curve and to determine the coefficients of linear–quadratic equations. The goodness of fit of the curves and statistical significance of fitted α and β-coefficients were confirmed in both Giemsa-based dicentric analysis and FISH-based translocation analysis. The coefficients calculated from the five-donor average data were almost identical in both of the analyses. We also present the results that the dose-response curve for dicentric chromosomes plus fragments could be more effective for dose estimation following low-dose radiation accidents.
Animosity, Social Return, and Intent to Travel: Social Return’s Dissipating Influence Over Animosity
Authors: Boley B. Bynum , Woosnam Kyle Maurice , Jordan Evan
Published: September 2023

While many have noted how country-level animosity negatively influences destination choice, little is known about factors that may dissipate animosity’s pervasive influence over destination choice. This paper uses Cognitive Dissonance Theory as the theoretical backing to investigate how social return, a consonant cognition focused on the anticipated positive responses from posting travel photos on social media, mediates the negative influence of animosity, a dissonant cognition, has on intent to travel. One thousand six hundred fifty-three respondents from the United States’ top five international markets (Canada, China, Japan, Mexico, and the U.K.) were surveyed with results showing social return partially mediating the relationship between animosity and intent to travel. These findings suggest target markets with high levels of animosity should not be entirely abandoned because there are psychological mechanisms to help dissipate or alleviate the negative effects of animosity.
Property Rights and Firm Scope
Authors: Li Zhimin , Tong Tony W. , Xu Mingtao
Published: September 2023

The voluminous strategy research on the determinants of corporate scope is often premised on a well-established property rights regime, which contrasts with the weak property rights protection that still characterizes most countries today. We address this gap by applying property rights theory to theorize and empirically examine how the strengthening of the property rights regime affects corporate scope. Our analysis exploits the enactment of a property law that enhanced the formal protection of private properties in China as a quasi-experiment. We show that with a strengthened property rights regime, the horizontal relatedness among private firms’ businesses increases, but their vertical relatedness decreases, compared with state-owned firms. Further, these effects are less prominent for politically connected firms that are afforded informal protection of property rights. Our findings shed new light on the property rights regime as a critical determinant of firms’ horizontal and vertical scope.
Psychometric Properties of the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory Among Patients Pursuing Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Bartholomay Emily M. , Lilly Christa , Cox Stephanie , Tabone Lawrence , Szoka Nova , Abunnaja Salim , Aylward Laura
Published: September 2023

The Brief COPE Inventory is a widely used scale that measures how a person copes with a specific situation. Despite its widespread use, the factor structure of this scale is somewhat unclear and has not been tested among patients pursuing bariatric surgery. We tested competing factor analytic models of the Brief COPE Inventory among patients pursuing bariatric surgery to identify the best fitting factor model for use in pre-surgical psychological evaluations. We also examined reliability and validity of the subscales from the best fitting model of coping. Participants included 1984 patients pursuing bariatric surgery ( Mage = 42.58 years, SD = 10.89, 81.39% female). The best fitting model of the Brief COPE Inventory among patients pursuing bariatric surgery was a three-factor model including interpersonal, intrapersonal, and maladaptive coping strategies. These results were replicated in a subset of the original sample and demonstrated appropriate convergent and discriminant validity with several key outcomes. The Brief COPE Inventory can be conceptualized as a multidimensional scale assessing interpersonal coping, intrapersonal coping, and maladaptive coping among patients pursuing bariatric surgery. Future work should examine how these subscales are related to surgical outcomes among people receiving treatment for excess weight.
Towards a pragmatist economic geography
Authors: Barnes Trevor J
Published: September 2023

Following Jamie Peck’s remit for this initial set of Exchanges section contributions to present forward-positive approaches to economic geography, I offer American philosophical pragmatism, and more specifically, the neo-pragmatism of the American philosopher, Richard Rorty (1931–2007). Rather than providing a complete architectonic philosophy, pragmatism presents a set of ideas about ideas. Within the context of economic geography, I explore within this short paper three neo-pragmatist ideas: a reconceptualization of knowledge and truth; experimentation and creativity; and pluralism and conversation.
Personal Health Planning in Adult-Child Former Caregivers of Parents Living With Dementia
Authors: Mroz Emily L. , Ali Talha , Piechota Amanda , Matta-Singh Tara D. , Abboud Anissa , Sharma Shubam , Monin Joan K. , Fried Terri R.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

To examine how former caregivers for parents living with dementia engage in personal health planning.

Design

An inductive, qualitative study.

Setting

Virtual, audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews.

Participants

Thirty-two midlife former primary caregivers for parents who died following advanced dementia 3 months to 3 years prior.

Method

Participants responded to a series of open-ended interview prompts. Interview recordings were transcribed and evaluated by a trained, diverse team to generate Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) domains and categories.

Results

Caregivers developed health planning outlooks (ie, mindsets regarding willingness and ability to engage in personal health planning) that guided health planning activities (ie, engaging in a healthy lifestyle, initiating cognitive/genetic testing, maintaining independence and aging in place, ensuring financial and legal security). An agentic outlook involved feeling capable of engaging in health planning activities and arose when caregivers witnessed the impact and feasibility of their parents’ health planning . Anxiety-inducing and present-focused outlooks arose when caregivers faced barriers (eg, low self-efficacy, lack of social support, perception that parent’s health planning did not enhance quality of life) and concluded that personal health planning would not be valuable or feasible.

Conclusion

Caregiving for a parent living with dementia (PLWD) shapes former caregivers’ personal health planning. Interventions should support former caregivers who have developed low self-efficacy or pessimistic views on healthy aging to support them in addressing health planning activities.
Using the fatigue crack initiation parameter for prediction of the crack location on a curved track by 3D-FE analysis
Authors: Nazari Amin , Hosseini-Tehrani Parisa
Published: September 2023

Dynamic modeling of wheel-rail interaction is significant in accurate fatigue analysis of railways. Both location and magnitude of the contact stresses in the contact area must be evaluated accurately and efficiently via computational tools. In curved railway tracks, the distribution of the force exerted on the wheel is complex as it is multiaxial rather than uniaxial; thus, a more comprehensive computational model is required. In this work, a numerical procedure is developed to investigate the fatigue crack initiation on the curved tracks. The Universal Mechanism software is used to specify the spectrum of axial wheel force as input to a three-dimensional explicit finite element model to obtain the resulting stresses at the wheel-rail contact region. A critical element with the maximum von Mises stress value is treated as the element where the fatigue crack is most probably to be initiated. In this element, the critical plane method is used to determine the orientation of the crack initiation. The effect of the radius and slip ratio on the exact site of fatigue crack initiation is established in this approach, and the contact point influence on the fatigue crack initiation parameter is investigated. The proposed model successfully predicts a practical wheel-rail dynamic response to cyclic loading, applying the geometry of the curved track.
Rejuvenation of Senescent Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Prevent Age-Related Changes in Synovial Joints
Authors: Sekelova Tatiana , Danisovic Lubos , Cehakova Michaela
Published: September 2023

Mesenchymal/medicinal stem/signaling cells (MSCs), well known for regenerative potential, have been involved in hundreds of clinical trials. Even if equipped with reparative properties, aging significantly decreases their biological activity, representing a major challenge for MSC-based therapies. Age-related joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis, are associated with the accumulation of senescent cells, including synovial MSCs. An impaired ability of MSCs to self-renew and differentiate is one of the main contributors to the human aging process. Moreover, senescent MSCs (sMSCs) are characterized by the senescence-messaging secretome (SMS), which is typically manifested by the release of molecules with an adverse effect. Many factors, from genetic and metabolic pathways to environmental stressors, participate in the regulation of the senescent phenotype of MSCs. To better understand cellular senescence in MSCs, this review discusses the characteristics of sMSCs, their role in cartilage and synovial joint aging, and current rejuvenation approaches to delay/reverse age-related pathological changes, providing evidence from in vivo experiments as well.
Quality Control and Multi-targeted Therapeutic Approach of Nyctanthes arbor-tristris for Management of Hepatic Disease and Associated Complications
Authors: Salar Sapna , Sharma Pankaj , Gaurav
Published: September 2023

Background

Medicinal plants standardization is more concerning for its regulatory aspects based on safety, quality, and efficacy. Nyctanthes arbor-tristris is an Indian-origin medicinal plant that is used for numerous acute and chronic diseases. Due to the lack of an ethnopharmacological perspective based on biomolecular mechanisms, this study is associated to explore quality-based standardization and biomolecular mechanism of Nyctanthes arbor-tristris phytochemicals as a therapeutic application regimen in liver disease and associated complications.

Materials and Methods

2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and iron chelating effect of prepared extract of Nyctanthes arbor-tristris was examined for antioxidant effect. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy (LC–MS) qualitative and quantitative analysis was conducted to unravel metabolites of Nyctanthes arbor-tristris. Network pharmacology as well as insilico docking analysis were performed to examine molecular interaction of ligands and targeted genes that regulate liver malfunction.

Results

The results revealed that Nyctanthes arbor-tristris significantly ( p < 0.05) scavenge DPPH free radicals and iron chelating effect and thus exhibited an antioxidant effect. HPTLC and LC–MS analysis showed several major and minor metabolites Nyctanthes arbor-tristris the content of naringenin, ferulic acid, and caffeic acid was found to be 1.662 ± 0.027, 4.411 ± 0.201, and 4.846 ± 0.154, respectively. Network pharmacology and insilico docking analysis revealed the multi-targeted therapeutic effect of metabolites identified in Nyctanthes arbor-tristris against liver disease and associated pathophysiology’s via regulation in the expression of several genes such as nitric oxide synthase (NOS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukins (ILs), toll-like receptors (TLRs) and serum aminotransferase.

Conclusion

The study concludes that Nyctanthes arbor-tristris play a multi-mechanistic and therapeutic action against liver-associated distortion and functional inability against oxidative and inflammatory stress, hepatocytes fibrosis, and apoptosis.
Adolescents’ Substance Use Initiation and Transitions Across Alcohol, Tobacco, and Illicit Drugs: A Survival Analysis Approach
Authors: Zhang Saijun , Marsiglia Flavio F. , Zhang Yunxi
Published: September 2023

This study investigated the patterns of substance use initiation and transition across tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs over time using retrospective longitudinal data. Based on national data of 18,861 adolescents aged 14 to 17 years who had engaged in substance use, the findings revealed that nearly 50% of these adolescents initiated substance use with alcohol, 18% with tobacco, and 33% with illicit drugs. By the end of the second year, the probability of these adolescents trying a new substance class was 40% to 50%, rising to 80% to 90% by the eighth year. Adolescents who initiated with tobacco or illicit drugs exhibited a higher risk of transition. The study indicates the significant role of all substance classes in initiating adolescent substance use and highlights the rapidity of transitioning to new substance classes, underscoring the importance of proactive prevention and intervention strategies.
Psychological Contracts at Different Levels: The Cross-Level and Comparative Multilevel Effects of Team Psychological Contract Fulfillment
Authors: Laulié Lyonel , Tekleab Amanuel G. , Rousseau Denise M.
Published: September 2023

Taking a multi-level perspective on the psychological contract (PC), this study investigates the overlooked but critical role of team psychological contract fulfillment in shaping team and individual-level affect and outcomes. It examines the dynamics associated with employer PC Fulfillment (PCF) to the team and compares them to the dynamics regarding employer PCF of the individual’s own psychological contract. Guided by psychological contracts and self-regulation theories, we surveyed 504 individuals in 69 retail organization teams at two time periods. At the team level, findings support an indirect effect of team PCF on both team engagement and average turnover intention through affective climate. Similarly, at the individual level, we find an indirect effect of individual PCF on both engagement and turnover intentions through individual affect. Tests of scalar and configural similarity across levels support functional isomorphism between individual and team PCF relationships with engagement, while turnover intention is more highly related to individual than to team PCF. Last, we observe cross-level effects of team PCF on the relationship between individual PCF and turnover intentions. We present implications for multi-level PC theory, research, and practice.
The Patient-Perceived Helpfulness of Measures Scale: Development and Validation of a Scale to Assess the Helpfulness of Using Measures in Psychological Treatment
Authors: Di Malta Gina , Cooper Mick , Bond Julian , Raymond-Barker Brett , Oza Marsha , Pauli Regina
Published: September 2023

In response to the increase in Routine Outcome Monitoring and Clinical Feedback, the Patient-Perceived Helpfulness of Measures Scale (ppHMS) was developed to assess the helpfulness—as perceived by patients—of using measures in psychological treatment. Study 1: The construct of patient-perceived helpfulness of measures was explored using thematic analysis with 15 patients. Six helpful and three unhelpful themes were identified and informed item development. Study 2: 28 items were formulated and rated by experts. Ten items were taken forward for psychometric shortening in a sample of 76 patients. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) led to an adequately fitting six-item model with excellent internal consistency, and convergence with the Delighted-Terrible single item of product satisfaction and a single item of measure helpfulness. Study 3: In a stratified online sample of 514 U.K. psychotherapy patients, a five-item model constituted the best fit. The final ppHMS had excellent internal consistency (McDonald’s ω = .90), convergent validity with psychotherapy satisfaction ( r = .5; p < .001), divergence from social desirability ( r = .1), and metric and scalar invariance across measures. Study 4: Analyses were replicated and confirmed in a stratified U.S. sample ( n = 602). The ppHMS is a reliable and valid scale that can be used to assess and compare patients’ perceptions of the helpfulness of different measures as part of their psychological treatment.
Erythorbic Acid and Sodium Erythorbate
Authors: Raj Preethi S. , Bergfeld Wilma F. , Belsito Donald V. , Cohen David E. , Klaassen Curtis D. , Liebler Daniel C. , Rettie Allan E , Ross David , Slaga Thomas J. , Snyder Paul W. , Tilton Susan , Fiume Monice , Heldreth Bart
Published: September 2023

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety reviewed newly available studies since their original assessment in 1999, along with updated information regarding product types and concentrations of use, and confirmed that Erythorbic Acid and Sodium Erythorbate are safe as cosmetic ingredients in the practices of use and concentration as described in this report.
Of nomads and khanates: heteronomy and interpolity order in 19th-century Central Asia
Authors: Buranelli Filippo Costa
Published: September 2023

Scholars of International Relations (IR) and Global Historical Sociology alike have recently become more and more interested in Eurasian order(s). Yet, most recent works on Eurasian historical international relations approach the subject from a long durée perspective, mostly focusing on “big polities” from a “high altitude.” Central Asia, or “Turkestan,” and its constitutive polities such as the khanates of Bukhara, Khiva, and Khoqand and the vast array of nomadic groups surrounding them are yet terra incognita in IR, specifically with respect to the pre-Tsarist period. By relying on both primary and secondary sources, this inductive research reveals how precolonial Central Asia was an interpolity order on its own, premised on heteronomy and based on the institutions of sovereignty between the khanates and suzerainty between khanates and nomads; territoriality; Sunni Islam; trade and slavery; diplomacy; and war and aq oyluk. This paper contributes to filling this gap, and to the broader literature on Eurasian historical orders, in three respects. First, it adds granularity, detail, and specificity to current IR knowledge on Eurasia by looking at smaller polities as opposed to empires, which as noted have been the main analytical focus so far. Second, the paper adopts an emic approach to uncover local practices, institutions, and norms of precolonial Central Asia, thus adding to the recent “Global IR” debate. Third, by focusing on a case where heteronomy was the rule, this paper adds a new case to the literature on the entrenchment and durability of heteronomy in historical IR and contributes to its theory-building.
The effectiveness of interactive cardiac rehabilitation web applications versus usual care on programme completion in patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Nesbitt Katie , Champion Stephanie , Pearson Vincent , Gebremichael Lemlem G , Dafny Hila , Ramos Joyce S , Suebkinorn Orathai , Pinero de Plaza Maria A , Gulyani Aarti , Du Huiyun , Clark Robyn A , Beleigoli Alline ,   On behalf of the NHMRC Country Heart Attack Prevention (CHAP) Partnership Project Team
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Although available evidence demonstrates positive clinical outcomes for patients attending and completing cardiac rehabilitation, the effectiveness of interactive cardiac rehabilitation web applications on programme completion has not been systematically examined.

Methods

This JBI systematic review of effects included studies measuring effectiveness of interactive cardiac rehabilitation web applications compared to telephone, and centre-based programmes. Outcome data were pooled under programme completion and clinical outcomes (body mass index, low-density lipoproteins, and blood pressure). Databases including MEDLINE (via Ovid), Cochrane Library, Scopus (via Elsevier) and CINAHL (via EBSCO) published in English were searched. Articles were screened and reviewed by two independent reviewers for inclusion, and the JBI critical appraisal tool and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation tool were applied to appraise and assess the certainty of the findings of the included studies. A meta-analysis of the primary and secondary outcomes used random effects models.

Results

In total, nine studies involving 1175 participants who participated in web-based cardiac rehabilitation to usual care were identified. The mean critical appraisal tool score was 76 (standard deviation: 9.7) with all (100%) studies scoring >69%, and the certainty of evidence low. Web-based programmes were 43% more likely to be completed than usual care (risk ratio: 1.43; 95% confidence interval: 0.96, 2.13) There was no difference between groups for clinical outcomes.

Discussion

Despite the relatively small number of studies, high heterogeneity and the limited outcome measures, the results appeared to favour web-based cardiac rehabilitation with regard to programme completion.
No decline in drug overdose deaths in Norway: An ecological approach to understanding at-risk groups and the impact of interventions
Authors: Amundsen Ellen J , Melsom Anne-Karine M , Eriksen Bjørn O , Løchen Maja-Lisa
Published: September 2023

Aim: This Norwegian case study examines groups at risk of drug overdose deaths, evidence-based harm reduction interventions, low-threshold services and treatment implemented, as well as trends in drug overdose deaths between 2010 and 2021. We aimed to explore the relevance of interventions for at-risk groups and discuss their potential impact on drug overdose trends. Method/data: Using an ecological approach, we analysed the following: (1) groups identified through latent profile analysis (LPA) among a sample of 413 high-risk drug users collected in 2010–2012, supplemented with other relevant studies up to 2021; (2) published information on harm-reduction interventions, low-threshold services and treatment in Norway; and (3) nationwide drug overdose mortality figures supplemented with published articles on the topic. Results: High-risk drug users in 2010–2012 commonly engaged in frequent illegal drug use, injecting and poly-drug use (including pharmaceutical opioids), which continued into following decade. The interventions implemented between 2010 and 2021 were relevant for at-risk groups identified in the surveys. However, there was no decrease in the trend of drug overdose deaths up to 2021. While relevant interventions may have mitigated a theoretical increase in mortality, new at-risk groups may have contributed to fatal outcomes associated with pharmaceutical opioids. Conclusion: The interventions were relevant to the risk groups identified among high-risk drug users and potentially effective in preventing an increase in drug overdose trends. However, tailored interventions are needed for individuals at risk of death from prescribed opioids. Comprehensive studies encompassing all at-risk populations, including both legal and non-medical users of prescription opioids, are needed.
What Makes Collegiate Sport Club Programs Successful? Exploration of How Success Is Measured and Perceived
Authors: Lower-Hoppe Leeann M. , Talcott Ali , Cioletti Alina , Springer Daniel , Czekanski W. Andrew , Buning Richard J.
Published: September 2023

Collegiate sport club programs are increasingly expected to demonstrate effectiveness and impact, as such the evaluation of program success is critical. Current evaluation methods are often subjective and lack standardization across programs. Unlike other recreational programs, sport clubs have unique organizational structures, with student officers responsible for various tasks related to club operations with unclear measurable outcomes. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating how collegiate recreation departments evaluate sport club program success and identifying critical success indicators. A Delphi design was used to gather expert opinions, and qualitative and quantitative data analysis was employed. The findings highlight various evaluation methods employed by administrators, including annual assessments, participant interviews, and point systems. Furthermore, indicators of success encompassed club activities, operations, and status, as well as participants’ experiences and development. These findings provide valuable insights for program administrators to tailor support and enhance the effectiveness of collegiate sport club programs.