Study on the Brill transition of polyamide 6 with different crystal forms using low- and high-frequency Raman spectroscopy.

Polyamide 6 (PA6) in its α and γ-forms was studied from 30 to 220 °C using Raman spectroscopy in the low- and high-wavenumber regions. Quantum chemical calculations were employed to assist with band assignments. In the low-wavenumber region, a peak at approximately 100 cm, attributable to a mixed mode of methylene lateral motion and amide group stretching, was observed.

Repeatome landscapes and cytogenetics of hortensias provide a framework to trace Hydrangea evolution and domestication.

Background And Aims: Ornamental hortensias are bred from a reservoir of over 200 species in the genus Hydrangea s.l. (Hydrangeaceae), and are valued in gardens, households and landscapes across the globe.

Raman and ATR-FTIR unmask crystallinity changes and carboxylate group and vinyl group accumulation in natural weathering polypropylene microplastics.

Naturally weathered polypropylene (NWPP) samples are useful for investigating the effects of various degradation factors that cannot be obtained in artificial laboratory experiments. In this study, NWPP samples were extracted from beach sediments (Ashiya, Hyogo, Japan). Raman and attenuated total reflection (ATR)-Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies were used to analyze variations in the composition, crystallinity, orientation, and degradation of NWPP microplastics.

Adolescent mental health in sub-Saharan Africa: crisis? What crisis? Solution? What solution?

Addressing adolescent mental health care across sub-Saharan Africa faces numerous challenges, including underfunded public health systems, a shortage of mental health professionals, barriers to access, and pervasive stigma. Untreated adolescents often experience worsening symptoms, academic and social difficulties, physical health risks, and engage in risky behaviours. Early detection and appropriate treatment of common mental health conditions can support adolescents in developing robust social and emotional foundations and enhancing their mental well-being.

Associations between skeletal muscle mass and elevated blood pressure are independent of body fat: a cross-sectional study in young adult women of African ancestry.

Although research on the relationship between lean body mass and blood pressure (BP) has been inconsistent, most studies reported that measures of lean body mass are associated with a higher risk of hypertension. We explored relationships between body composition (fat and skeletal muscle mass) and BP in 1162 young adult African women. DXA-derived measures of whole body, central and arm fat mass were associated with higher systolic and diastolic BP, while leg fat percentage was associated with lower systolic and diastolic BP.

Iron deficiency and fatigue in inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review.

Background: It is unclear what impact iron deficiency has on fatigue in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This systematic review examined the evidence of whether iron deficiency, with or without anaemia, was associated with fatigue in IBD. Fatigue is a common symptom in patients with IBD that can be difficult to manage and treat.

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of 3-Hydroxy-β-Ionone from Decreased Transendothelial Migration of Monocytes Through an Inflamed Human Endothelial Cell Monolayer by Inhibiting the IκB-α/NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Moringa leaves provide numerous health benefits due to their anti-inflammatory properties. This study presents the first evidence that endothelial cell inflammation can potentially be ameliorated by moringa leaf extract. Here, we established an experimental human blood vessel cell model of inflammation using EA.

Reference Interval for Glycated Albumin, 1,5-AG/GA, and GA/HbA1c Ratios and Cut-Off Values for Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Glycated albumin (GA) serves as a biomarker for short-term glycemic control (2-3 weeks), playing a role in diabetes management. Our goal was to establish reference intervals (RIs) for serum GA, and the ratios of 1,5-anhydroglucitol to GA (AGI) and GA to HbA1c in a Euro-Brazilian pediatric population (10 y, n = 299), adults (43.5 y; n = 290), and pregnant women (26 y, n = 406; 26.

Sex hormone-binding globulin, testosterone and type 2 diabetes risk in middle-aged African women: exploring the impact of HIV and menopause.

Objectives: Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and testosterone are differentially associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk. We investigated whether these associations differ by HIV and menopausal status in Black South African women living with (WLWH) and without HIV (WLWOH).

Design: Cross-sectional observational.

Improved environmental DNA detection sensitivity of Opisthorchis viverrini using a multi-marker assay.

Opisthorchiasis, caused by the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini, is endemic to Southeast Asian countries and constitutes a major health problem as it increases the risk of cholangiocarcinoma. However, owing to the complicated life cycle of O. viverrini, there is no rapid method for monitoring the risk of infection in the environment.

Can a human sing with an unseen artificial partner? Coordination dynamics when singing with an unseen human or artificial partner.

This study investigated whether a singer's coordination patterns differ when singing with an unseen human partner versus an unseen artificial partner (VOCALOID 6 voice synthesis software). We used cross-correlation analysis to compare the correlation of the amplitude envelope time series between the partner's and the participant's singing voices. We also conducted a Granger causality test to determine whether the past amplitude envelope of the partner helps predict the future amplitude envelope of the participants, or if the reverse is true.

"You go an extra mile": a qualitative study of community health worker perspectives in a health promotion intervention in urban South Africa.

Background: As part of the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative in South Africa, the Bukhali health promotion intervention is being implemented by community health workers (CHW's) with young women in urban Soweto. The perspectives of these CHW's have not been fully explored.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted to describe CHW's perspectives and experiences of delivering the Bukhali intervention.

Metabolic analysis reveals the contribution of mechanosensitive channel MscM to extracellular release of glutamate in glycogen-deficient Synechococcus elongatus.

In bacteria, mechanosensitive channels mediate extracellular release of osmolytes, including glutamate, functioning as safety valves upon osmotic downshift. In cyanobacteria, the role of mechanosensitive channels has not been completely elucidated. Recently, the glycogen-deficient ΔglgC mutant of Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 was found to release glutamate extracellularly, giving rise to a hypothesis that the role of mechanosensitive channels in cyanobacteria is conserved.

Separate and combined blockades of α- and β-adrenergic receptors in forearm sweating induced by adrenergic agents and exercise in the heat in young adults.

The assessment of adrenergic modulation of sweating as assessed via pharmacologic administration of α- and β-adrenergic receptor blockers during exercise has yielded mixed findings. However, the underlying mechanisms for this disparity remain unresolved. We investigated the effects of separate and combined blockade of α- and β-adrenergic receptors on forearm sweating induced by a 30-min moderate-intensity exercise bout ( = 17, ) and the administration of adrenergic agonists epinephrine and norepinephrine ( = 16, ) in the heat.

Investigation on the Distribution of in Yuanshui Unique Fish Species National Aquatic Germplasm Resources Reserve Using Environmental DNA Technology.

Freshwater ecosystems face unprecedented challenges as the cumulative impact of human activities intensifies. While protected areas and species-specific conservation policies are widely implemented, their effectiveness remains difficult to gauge using traditional catch-based surveys. This research employed environmental DNA (eDNA) technology to assess the distribution of the endangered fish, , within the Yuanshui Unique Fish Species National Aquatic Germplasm Resources Reserve (YUFRR) in Hunan, China.

Omega-3 LC-PUFA consumption is now recommended for women of childbearing age and during pregnancy to protect against preterm and early preterm birth: implementing this recommendation in a sustainable manner.

Preterm birth (delivery prior to 37 weeks) appears to be rising globally, increasing the risk of a myriad of down-stream disorders which affect families, their offspring and society, including increased morbidity, mortality and economic costs. Strategies for prevention of preterm birth have therefore become a priority among healthcare providers. One proposed strategy is increased consumption of Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (from food or supplements) in women of childbearing age and during pregnancy.

The coping, appraisal, and resilience in aging (CARA) model: Longitudinal findings from the Normative Aging Study.

Resilience is central to understanding how individuals withstand the adverse effects of stress, but there is no generally agreed-upon definition of what constitutes resilience in later life. The present study tests the coping, appraisal, and resilience in aging model, which posits that resilient older adults, when faced with a problem, can draw upon their lifelong experience to minimize coping effort to conserve resources but still maintain a sense of coping efficacy (perceptions of how well they had handled the specific problem). We assessed coping effort and efficacy in 896 men in the Veterans' Affairs Normative Aging Study (Mage in 1993 = 64.

Preconception health in adolescence and adulthood across generations in the UK: Findings from three British birth cohort studies.

Optimising preconception health in women and men holds significant potential for improving pregnancy and offspring health outcomes. To create a picture of the state of preconception health in the UK, this study aimed to describe the prevalence of and changes in preconception health indicators reported in three British birth cohort studies: the 1970 British Birth Cohort Study (BCS70; born in 1970; N = 17,198), Next Steps (1989-1990; N = 15,770), and Millennium Cohort Study (MCS; 2000-2002; N = 19,517). The analysis focused on data obtained during participants' adolescence (16-17 years) and subsequent follow-ups at 25-26 years for BCS70 and Next Steps.

Emerging mechanisms of organ crosstalk: The role of oxylipins.

There is growing interest in the role of oxylipins in the pathophysiology of several diseases. This is accompanied by a limited but evolving evidence base describing augmented oxylipin concentrations in a range of complications including cardiovascular disease, obesity, liver disease and neurological disorders. Despite this, literature describing oxylipin profiles in blood and multiple organs is inconsistent and the mechanisms by which these profiles are altered, and the relationships between localised tissue and circulating oxylipins are poorly understood.

Dynamical theory of complex systems with two-way micro-macro causation.

In many complex systems encountered in the natural and social sciences, mechanisms governing system dynamics at a microscale depend upon the values of state variables characterizing the system at coarse-grained, macroscale (Goldenfeld and Woese, 2011, Noble et al., 2019, and Chater and Loewenstein, 2023). State variables, in turn, are averages over relevant probability distributions of the microscale variables.

Quantitative analysis of branched high-density polyethylene content using far-infrared spectroscopy.

This study describes a simple method for estimating the content of branched high-density polyethylene using spectroscopy including the terahertz region. Herein, we prepared samples by blending high-density polyethylene with a blend ratio of 0 %-100 % of branched and linear polyethylene. Then, the terahertz absorption spectra of these samples were recorded from 600 to 50 cm (18-1.

Kinematic stability in cardiac locomotor synchronization during regular walking.

In locomotion, previous studies have identified a phenomenon known as cardiac locomotor synchronization (CLS), characterized by the phenomenon where heartbeats consistently occur at a specific time within the locomotor cycle. While the physiological significance of CLS is well recognized, its kinematic benefits remain uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the kinematic benefits of CLS under regular walking.

How can robots facilitate physical, cognitive, and social engagement in skilled nursing facilities?

As people live longer, the population of older adults in need of support continues to expand relative to the available workforce of caregivers, necessitating new solutions to supplement caregiver availability for the physical, cognitive, and social needs of older adults. Robotics and automation present strong possible solutions. Past solutions have typically supported short-term rehabilitation and aging in place, yet many older adults live in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), a setting reached by relatively little research to date.