Efficacy of facilitative interpersonal and relational skills training for teletherapy: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Therapists report a lack of confidence and competence in teletherapy compared to in-person therapy. Training focusing on teletherapy skills is scarce. This study reports on (a) the development of a training workshop for facilitative interpersonal skills (FIS) in teletherapy (tele-FIRST) and (b) a randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of tele-FIRST.

Ultrasonography-guided aspiration and sclerotherapy for simple renal cysts in children: a comparative study with laparoscopic deroofing and optimization of therapeutic approaches.

Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes of ultrasonography-guided aspiration and sclerotherapy and laparoscopic deroofing for the treatment of simple renal cysts in children, providing evidence for clinical decision-making in the management of pediatric renal cysts.

Methods: A total of 49 patients with simple renal cysts were divided into two groups based on the treatment method: 29 patients (group 1) underwent laparoscopic deroofing, 20 patients (group 2) underwent ultrasonography-guided aspiration and sclerotherapy. The clinical efficacy differences between the two groups were compared.

The impact of transient air pollution exposure on worker performance in Chinese soccer players.

Using a unique dataset on the performance of soccer players in China (retrieved from 632 matches involving 24 teams during the 2014 to 2016 seasons), we investigate the effect of air pollution on different performance indicators that rely on different mixtures of the physical and cognitive inputs of players. To ensure a causal interpretation, we implement an instrumental variable (IV) approach using thermal inversion as the instrument for air pollution. We found that players' performance indicators, especially those more related to cognitive factors, are more strongly influenced by air pollution.

LZ-R-5 Ameliorates DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Enhancing Intestinal Barrier Function.

LZ-R-5 (R-5), a strain with high epithelial adhesion and bioactive exopolysaccharide production, was isolated from Tibetan kefir grains. This study investigated its potential to alleviate intestinal inflammation using a DSS-induced colitis model in BALB/c mice. We integrated microbial diversity and serological analyses to assess changes in gut flora and cytokines following the R-5 treatment.

Investigation of Buckling Behaviors in Carbon Nanorings Using the Chebyshev-Ritz Method.

Carbon nanorings (CNRs) serve as an ideal quantum system for novel electronic and magnetic properties. Although extensive theoretical studies utilizing molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have investigated the formation and structural characteristics of CNRs, systematically analyzing their properties across various toric sizes remains challenging due to the inherent complexity of this system. In this study, we introduce a novel finite element method, the Chebyshev-Ritz method, as an alternative approach to investigating the structural properties of CNRs.

ZnO quantum dots reduce acquisition of huanglongbing pathogen by Diaphorina citri.

Background: Diaphorina citri Kuwayama is the main vector of the Huanglongbing (HLB) pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). Therefore, reducing CLas acquisition by D. citri is crucial for controlling the spread of HLB.

Bilateral transcranial direct-current stimulation confers neuroprotection through suppression of PKM2 after mouse cerebral ischemia injury.

Background: In its tetrameric form, pyruvate kinase M2 isoform (PKM2) catalyzes the last step of glycolysis and plays a key role in the metabolic reprogramming via regulating the signaling of pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). But the role of PKM2 in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury remains unknown.

Methods: Mice model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and model of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) injury in cultured neurons were established.

FMI-CAECD: Fusing Multi-Input Convolutional Features with Enhanced Channel Attention for Cardiovascular Diseases Prediction.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have become a major public health problem affecting the national economy and social development, and have become one of the major causes of death. Therefore, the prevention, control and risk assessment of CVD have been increasingly emphasized. However, current CVD prediction models face limitations in capturing complex relationships within physiological data, potentially hindering accurate risk assessment.

Bee fear responses are mediated by dopamine and influence cognition.

Predatory threats, even when they do not involve direct consumption (non-consumptive effects, NCEs), can profoundly influence the physiology and behaviour of prey. For example, honeybees that encounter hornet predators show responses similar to fear. However, the physiological mechanisms that are connected with this fear-like response and their effects on bee cognition and olfaction remain largely unknown.

Releasing a sugar brake generates sweeter tomato without yield penalty.

In tomato, sugar content is highly correlated with consumer preferences, with most consumers preferring sweeter fruit. However, the sugar content of commercial varieties is generally low, as it is inversely correlated with fruit size, and growers prioritize yield over flavour quality. Here we identified two genes, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) calcium-dependent protein kinase 27 (SlCDPK27; also known as SlCPK27) and its paralogue SlCDPK26, that control fruit sugar content.

Amino Acid Compound 2 (AAC2) Treatment Counteracts Insulin-Induced Synaptic Gene Expression and Seizure-Related Mortality in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Diabetes is a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Amino acid compound 2 (AAC2) improves glycemic and cognitive functions in diabetic mouse models through mechanisms distinct from insulin. Our goal was to compare the effects of AAC2, insulin, and their nanofiber-forming combination on early asymptomatic AD pathogenesis in APP/PS1 mice.

Multi-omics revealed that ELAVL3 regulates MYCN in neuroblastoma via immunogenic cell death: Risk stratification and experimental research.

Neuroblastoma (NB), a common and highly lethal malignant disease in pediatrics, still lacks an effective therapeutic approach that addresses all conditions. Immunogenic Cell Death (ICD) plays a crucial role in tumor cell death and triggers a potent anti-tumor immune response. In this study, we report an ICD-related index (ICDR-Index) in NB through various machine learning methodologies, utilizing bulk transcriptome data from 1244 NB samples and 16 scRNA-seq datasets.

Isoniazid prophylaxis based on tuberculosis risk factors in living kidney transplantation recipients: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major and severe opportunistic infection among solid organ transplant recipients. Chemoprophylaxis is advised for those with latent tuberculosis infection. However, the effectiveness of an isoniazid (INH) prophylactic approach based on TB risk factors remains uncertain.

Endoscopic transnasal and transoral resection of the odontoid process and C1 combined with occipitocervical fusion for osteoradionecrosis of the upper cervical spine: a case report and literature review.

Background: Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the upper cervical spine is a rare but severe complication of head and neck cancer radiotherapy. To raise awareness of this condition, we describe a patient with a history of nasopharyngeal carcinoma who developed ORN of the upper cervical spine and review the published literature reporting surgical management.

Case Presentation: A 59-year-old female patient with persistent neck pain for one month and limited range of neck motion who had undergone radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma with a total dose of 69.

Transcytosable and Ultrasound-Activated Liposome Enables Deep Penetration of Biofilm for Surgical Site Infection Management.

Biofilm-associated surgical site infection (BSSI) is a common and grievous postoperative complication lacking effective remedies, mainly due to the poor drug accumulation and penetration in the biofilms featured by dense extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). Here, it is found that the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM1) is highly overexpressed in the vascular cells of BSSI. It is proposed that the combination of VCAM1-mediated transcytosis and ultrasonic cavitation can consecutively overcome the biological barriers of vascular endothelial cells and EPS for biofilm eradication.

Perfluorobutanoic acid weakens the heterogeneous aggregation of microplastics and microalgae: Perspective from physicochemical properties, extracellular polymeric substances secretion and DLVO theory.

Microplastics (MPs) and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances extensively coexist in aquatic environments and potentially endanger organisms. Microalgae may decrease the effective concentration of pollutants via hetero-aggregation with MPs and adsorption of emerging contaminants. However, the potential influence of coexistent pollutants on hetero-aggregation of MPs and microalgae remains unknown.

Delayed Blastocyst Formation Reduces the Quality and Hatching Ability of Porcine Parthenogenetic Blastocysts by Increasing DNA Damage, Decreasing Cell Proliferation, and Altering Transcription Factor Expression Patterns.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of blastocyst formation timing on the quality of porcine embryos derived from parthenogenetic activation. Newly formed blastocysts at days 6, 7, and 8 of culture [termed formation 6, 7, and 8 blastocysts (F6, F7, and F8 blastocysts)] were obtained, and a series of parameters related to the quality of blastocysts, including apoptosis incidents, DNA replication, pluripotent factors, and blastocyst hatching capacity, were assessed. Delayed blastocyst formation (F7 and/or F8 blastocysts) led to increased levels of ROS, DNA damage, and apoptosis while decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA replication, Oct4 levels, and numbers of Sox2-positive cells.

An adhesive, highly stretchable and low-hysteresis alginate-based conductive hydrogel strain sensing system for motion capture.

A strain sensor stands as an indispensable tool for capturing intricate motions in various applications, ranging from human motion monitoring to electronic skin and soft robotics. However, existing strain sensors still face difficulties in simultaneously achieving superior sensing performance sufficing for practical applications like high stretchability and low hysteresis, as well as seamless device fabrication like desirable interfacial adhesion and system-level integration. Herein, we develop a highly stretchable and low-hysteresis strain sensor with adhesive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/polyacrylamide (PAAm)-sodium alginate (SA) composite hydrogel, allowing the successful construction of a wireless motion capture sensing system that can provide precise data collection within a large deformation range.

Urban green vitalization and its impact on green exposure equity: A case study of Shanghai city, China.

Urban green space (UGS) provides multiple ecosystem services to enhance the residents' well-being in the cities. As a characterization of differences in the degree of interaction between residents and UGS, Green exposure equity, has been recognized as an environmental justice issue. In this study, we propose the concept of urban green space' vitalization (UGV) as a primary criterion for assessing whether the UGS' functions or services are realized.