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This study evaluates the utility of OpenCap (v0.3), a smartphone-based motion capture system, for performing gait analysis in patients with neurological disorders. We compared kinematic and kinetic gait parameters between 10 healthy controls and 10 patients with neurological conditions, including stroke, Parkinson's disease, and cerebral palsy. OpenCap captured 3D movement dynamics using two smartphones, with data processed through musculoskeletal modeling. The key findings indicate that the patient group exhibited significantly slower gait speeds (0.67 m/s vs. 1.10 m/s, p = 0.002), shorter stride lengths (0.81 m vs. 1.29 m, p = 0.001), and greater step length asymmetry (107.43% vs. 91.23%, p = 0.023) compared to the controls. Joint kinematic analysis revealed increased variability in pelvic tilt, hip flexion, knee extension, and ankle dorsiflexion throughout the gait cycle in patients, indicating impaired motor control and compensatory strategies. These results indicate that OpenCap can effectively identify significant gait differences, which may serve as valuable biomarkers for neurological disorders, thereby enhancing its utility in clinical settings where traditional motion capture systems are impractical. OpenCap has the potential to improve access to biomechanical assessments, thereby enabling better monitoring of gait abnormalities and informing therapeutic interventions for individuals with neurological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh-cut romaine lettuce's high perishability challenges ready-to-eat (RTE) salad production. Selecting cultivars less prone to browning and decay is crucial for extending shelf life. Traditional quality evaluation methods using instrumentation and trained panelists are time-consuming and logistically complex. This study investigated the effectiveness of untrained volunteers in assessing fresh-cut romaine lettuce quality. Given that the average consumer in the USA is familiar with the flavor characteristics of romaine lettuce, this study proposed to investigate the value of having untrained volunteers discern the quality of fresh-cut romaine lettuce. Therefore, six romaine lettuce accessions (Green Forest, King Henry, Parris Island Cos, PI 491224, SM13-R2, and Sun Valley) were assessed for sensory quality attributes (browning, green color, decay, and overall quality) and compared with instrumentation analyses (gas composition including O2 and CO2, electrolyte leakage, and color). The results showed significant quality differences (p < 0.05) among the accessions, with some seasonal variability. Very importantly, the consumers' (n = 159) assessments revealed similar results to those produced by either instrumentation or a trained panel. The consumers provided sensory scores that allowed for the grouping of accessions based on their postharvest quality, which efficiently matched their pedigree relationship. In conclusion, ad hoc consumer panels can be an effective way to characterize the quality of romaine lettuce for RTE salads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual violence and sexual harassment (SVSH) are prevalent among college and university students; however, the experiences of ethnic minority students, especially Asians, are understudied. This study aimed to reduce this gap by exploring Asian students' perceptions of SVSH on three public university campuses in Southern California. We examined their perceptions about the campus environment related to SVSH, attitudes, and behaviors toward help seeking, and utilization of on-campus resources. A total of 23 in-depth interviews were conducted with Asian students enrolled at the three University of California campuses. Thematic coding was conducted to generate main themes and subthemes. Five main themes emerged: (a) SVSH is considered a "taboo" topic in Asian culture and family systems, and Asian student survivors are often reluctant to disclose incidents or seek support services. (b) Students did not feel their campus environments were tailored to understand or meet the sociocultural realities and needs of Asian student survivors. (c) Campus SVSH services and reporting processes were seen as non-transparent. (d) Peers were the major source of support and SVSH information, as opposed to official campus-based resources and training. (e) Survivors often conduct an internal cost–benefit analysis evaluating their decision about whether to report. This study highlights the lack of conversation surrounding SVSH in Asian families, and how the cultural stigma of sex and sexual violence prevented Asian students from receiving knowledge and resources about these topics in their families. Instead of relying on formal campus resources (e.g., Title IX and confidential advocacy services, mental health services), many students turn to their peers for support. Thus, facilitating peer support groups, training university students to support each other through SVSH incidents, and tailoring campus services to the diverse cultural backgrounds of students are key considerations to foster a safe campus environment and prevent SVSH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popularity of ready-to-eat (RTE) salads has prompted novel technology to prolong the shelf life of their ingredients. Fresh-cut romaine lettuce is widely used in RTE salads; however, its tendency to quickly discolor continues to be a challenge for the industry. Selecting the ideal lettuce accessions for use in RTE salads is essential to ensure maximum shelf life, and it is critical to have a practical way to assess and compare the quality of multiple lettuce accessions that are being considered for use in fresh-cut applications. Thus, in this work we aimed to determine whether a computer vision system (CVS) composed of image acquisition, processing, and analysis could be effective to detect visual quality differences among 16 accessions of fresh-cut romaine lettuce during postharvest storage. The CVS involved a post-capturing color correction, effective image segmentation, and calculation of a browning index, which was tested as a predictor of quality and shelf life of fresh-cut romaine lettuce. The results demonstrated that machine vision software can be implemented to replace or supplement the scoring of a trained panel and instrumental quality measurements. Overall visual quality, a key sensory parameter that determines food preferences and consumer behavior, was highly correlated with the browning index, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of −0.85. Other important sensory decision parameters were also strongly or moderately correlated with the browning index, with Pearson correlation coefficients of −0.84 for freshness, 0.79 for off odor, and 0.57 for browning. The ranking of the accessions according to quality acceptability from the sensory evaluation produced a similar pattern to those obtained with the CVS. This study revealed that multiple lettuce accessions can be effectively benchmarked for their performance as fresh-cut sources via a CVS-based method. Future opportunities and challenges in using machine vision image processing to predict consumer preferences for RTE salad greens is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the impact South Korean housewives exerted on Cold War‐era domesticity. It first traces the trans‐war trajectory of modern domesticity from Meiji Japan and its colonies through its Cold War manifestation, when America exerted hegemonic influence. Thereafter, this article examines the tactics that housewives employed to gain power within the domestic sphere and beyond: earning money, microfinance, labour and side‐line work, and an assertive response to the purse string debate in South Korea. The article also argues that even though prescriptive gender norms continued to inform the everyday lives of these housewives, their increasing bargaining power gave them economic authority to renegotiate and reimagine domesticity during the Cold War. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy caused by malignant proliferation of plasma cells in bone marrow. Over the last decade, the survival outcome of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) has been substantially improved with the emergence of novel therapeutic agents. However, MM remains an incurable neoplastic plasma cell disorder. In addition, almost all MM patients inevitably relapse due to drug resistance. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified NK cells represent a promising immunotherapeutic modality for cancer treatment. In this study, NK92 cells were engineered to express the third generation of BCMA CAR. In vitro, BCMA CAR-engineered NK92 cells displayed higher cytotoxicity and produced more cytokines such as IFN-γ and granzyme B than NK92 cells when they were co-cultured with MM cell lines. Furthermore, BCMA CAR-engineered NK92 cells released significantly higher amounts of cytokines and showed higher cytotoxicity when they were exposed to primary cells isolated from MM patients. The cytotoxicity of BCMA CAR NK92 cells was enhanced after MM cells were treated with bortezomib. Additionally, BCMA CAR NK92 cells exhibited potent antitumor activities in subcutaneous tumor models of MM. These results demonstrate that regional administration of BCMA CAR NK92 cells is a potentially promising strategy for treating MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital narrative inquiry, musical narrative inquiry, fluidity of narrative inquiry, ethics of narrative inquiry, counterstory, humanistic research. [Extracted from the article]

Neuropathic pain (NP) following spinal cord injury (SCI) is refractory to pain control strategies, and the underlying neuronal mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the brain regions engaged in maintaining a spontaneous resting state and the link between those regions and the severity of NP in patients with incomplete SCI. Seventy-three subjects (41 patients and 32 age- and sex-matched healthy controls) participated in this retrospective study. Regarding the neurological level of injury, patients with incomplete SCI experienced at-level or below-level NP. The severity of NP was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS), and patients were divided into mild and moderate–severe NP groups based on VAS scores. Graph theory and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) analyses were performed to compare resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysis results among the three groups. Graph theory analysis was performed through a region of interest (ROI)-to-ROI analysis and then fALFF analysis was performed in the brain regions demonstrating significant differences among the three groups analyzed using the graph theory. We evaluated whether the brain regions showing significant differences using graph theory and fALFF correlated with the VAS scores. Patients with moderate–severe NP showed reduced node degree and fALFF in the left middle frontal gyrus compared with those with mild NP and healthy controls. Furthermore, patients with severe NP demonstrated increased average path lengths and reduced fALFF values in the posterior cingulate gyrus. This study found that changes in intrinsic oscillations of fMRI signals in the middle frontal gyrus and posterior cingulate gyrus were significant considering the severity of NP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined the effects of two extracts from Acer palmatum Thumb. leaves (hot water extract KIOM-2015EW and 25% ethanol extract KIOM-2015EE) in a benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-induced dry eye mouse model. Dry eye was induced by 0.2% BAC for 2 weeks, followed by treatment three times (eye drop) or once (oral administration) daily with KIOM-2015E for 2 weeks. Treatment with both KIOM-2015EE and KIOM-2015EW resulted in a marked increase in tear volume production for the 4 days of treatment. The Lissamine Green staining score, TUNEL-positive cells, and inflammatory index were significantly decreased after 2 weeks. Topical KIOM-2015EE administration exhibited a greater improvement in decreasing the ocular surface staining scores, inflammation, dead cells, and increasing tear production in a dose-dependent manner compared with the other groups. Furthermore, KIOM-2015E significantly reduced the phosphorylation of NF-κB, which was activated in the BAC-treated cornea. Topical administration was much more effective than oral administration for KIOM-2015E and KIOM-2015EE was more effective than KIOM-2015EW. Application of KIOM-2015E resulted in clinical improvement, inhibited the inflammatory response, and alleviated signs of dry eye. These results indicate that KIOM-2015E has potential as a therapeutic agent for the clinical treatment of dry eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campus-based sexual violence and sexual harassment (SVSH) are prevalent issues that impact students detrimentally. Guided by community-based participatory research, this qualitative study assessed undergraduate students' perceptions of available campus SVSH resources, gaps in services, and recommendations for solutions for SVSH at three universities in California via interviews and focus groups. Approximately half of participants were unaware of available SVSH services, while others had varying knowledge of service availability and experiences with services. Students want better-funded, trauma-informed, and survivor-centered services and providers who share their identities and lived experiences. We provide multi-level student-centered solutions to improve current campus-based SVSH prevention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Congenital syphilis (CS) has reemerged as a global maternal and child health crisis. Kern County, California and East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana are among the highest CS morbidity regions in the United States. We previously reported on social-ecological and structural barriers to prenatal care and maternal syphilis testing and treatment in these two regions. The aim of this study was to examine perinatal patient's health preferences and perceptions of patient-provider relationships in the prenatal care clinic setting.Methods: Between May 2018 and January 2019 we conducted 20 in-depth qualitative interviews with prenatal providers and 8 focus group discussions with pregnant and postpartum individuals in Kern County and East Baton Rouge Parish. We applied an adapted health services framework to analyze participants' understanding of health disparities and vulnerable populations; perinatal patient's health and prenatal care preferences; and participants' perspectives of clinical encounters in the context of prenatal care and maternal syphilis testing and treatment.Results: Site-specific determinants of syphilis infection emerged but participants from both locations felt CS prevention efforts should be prioritized among youth, racial/ethnic minority populations, people experiencing socioeconomic limitations and people with other commonly occurring health conditions. Although perinatal patients expressed clear health preferences, they reported inconsistent receipt of respectful, patient-centered care. Inconsistencies were connected with limited ethnic and cultural competence among providers, and implicit, negative attitudes toward patients using substances, experiencing homelessness, or engaging in sex work. Providers clearly aimed to offer high quality prenatal care. However, some clinic and health systems level factors were thought to reduce positive and communicative patient-provider relationships, contributing to gaps in use of prenatal care and syphilis testing and treatment.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that interventions tailored to address setting-specific determinants (including clinic and health system factors) of disparities in CS risk could improve pregnant people's access to prenatal care and ensure they and their sex partners receive timely syphilis screening and treatment. We recommend all prenatal care providers receive training on how to identify and mitigate implicit biases and provide competent and compassionate patient-centered care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has found associations between intercollegiate athletics and risk for sexual violence, and that sexual violence is more pervasive at colleges and universities with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletic programs, relative to NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and no athletic programs. Simultaneously, sports involvement is linked with prosocial values and there are documented developmental benefits of sports participation. College athletic programs hold promise for fostering sexual violence prevention but there is limited knowledge about how student-athletes conceptualize sexual violence and how athletes, coaches, and administrators perceive available prevention and response programs. We conducted seven Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 21 In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) with student-athletes, athletic directors, and coaches from public university Division I (n = 2) and Division II (n = 1) campuses. We assessed perceptions of sexual violence, knowledge and opinions of available prevention and response programs, and sought input on how to bridge gaps in campus sexual violence policies. Student-athletes associated sexual violence with alcohol in their relationships with peers and asymmetrical power dynamics in relationships with coaches and faculty. Athletes felt strong connections with teammates and sports programs but isolated from the larger campus. This created barriers to students' use of services and the likelihood of reporting sexual violence. Athletes felt the mandatory sexual violence prevention training, including additional NCAA components, were ineffective and offered to protect the university and its athletic programs from legal complications or cultural ridicule. Athletic staff were aware of policies and programs for reporting and referring sexual violence cases but their knowledge on how these served students was limited. Student-athletes were uncomfortable disclosing information regarding relationships and sexual violence to coaches and preferred peer–led prevention approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are relatively new tobacco products that are attracting public attention due to their unique features, especially their many flavor options and their potential as an alternative to cigarettes. However, uncertainties remain regarding the determinants and consequences of e-cigarette use because current research on e-cigarettes is made more difficult due to the lack of psychometrically sound instruments that measure e-cigarette related constructs. This systematic review therefore seeks to identify the instruments in the field that are designed to assess various aspects of e-cigarette use or its related constructs and analyze the evidence presented regarding the psychometric properties of the identified instruments.Methods: This systematic review utilized six search engines: PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and EMBASE, to identify articles published in the peer-reviewed journals from inception to February 2022 that contained development or validation processes for these instruments.Results: Eighteen articles describing the development or validation of 22 unique instruments were identified. Beliefs, perceptions, motives, e-cigarette use, and dependence, were the most commonly assessed e-cigarette related constructs. The included studies reported either construct or criterion validity, with 14 studies reporting both. Most studies did not report the content validity; for reliability, most reported internal consistencies using Cronbach's alpha, with 15 instruments reporting Cronbach's alpha > 0.70 for the scale or its subscales.Conclusions: Twenty-two instruments with a reported development or validation process to measure e-cigarette related constructs are currently available for practitioners and researchers. This review provides a guide for practitioners and researchers seeking to identify the most appropriate existing instruments on e-cigarette use based on the constructs examined, target population, psychometric properties, and instrument length. The gaps identified in the existing e-cigarette related instruments indicate that future studies should seek to extend the validity of the instruments for diverse populations, including adolescents. Instruments that explore additional aspects of e-cigarette use and e-cigarette related constructs to help build a strong theoretical background and expand our current understanding of e-cigarette use and its related constructs, should also be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines illusions of an intact home front during and after Korea's participation in the Vietnam War, with reference to the film Yeongja's Heydays (1975) and a women's magazine feature article on a Vietnam War veteran's wife. These illusions facilitate the framing of both middle- and low-class women within a popular cultural archetype passed down from the film Madame Freedom (1956). The "Vietnam Boom" yielded materialistic gains on the home front under the Park Chung Hee regime. Contrasting this abrupt affluence, media representations continually reproduced the "dangerous woman" image to legitimize gender and class hierarchies. Two themes emerged: sexual objectification of lower-class women and containment of middle-class women's economic authority and empowerment. I argue that subordinating women in cultural texts obliterates the Vietnam War trauma and renders women a convenient scapegoat for Korea's volatile socioeconomic problems. Both narratives further imply another stereotype, namely that of deception and betrayal among women. Transforming naïve, chaste Yeongja first into a rebellious, self-destructive, disabled prostitute then into an ideal housewife offers Changsu, the other protagonist in the film, a vicarious proxy for healing his war wounds. This is a key difference between the film and the original novel on which it was based. Meanwhile, the adultery and economic loss of the Vietnam War veteran's wife are portrayed as the promiscuity and economic inability of a materialistic housewife, underscoring men's moral integrity and hard work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of an eye-tracking linkage attention training system on cognitive function compared to a conventional computerized cognitive training system in stroke patients with cognitive impairment. Methods: This retrospective study was enrolled 40 stroke patients who received cognitive rehabilitation. The intervention consisted of 30 sessions and 30 min per session. Before and after the intervention, we assessed cognitive functions by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K) and activities of daily living by Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) and administered a computerized neuropsychological test (CNT). Results: In both groups, there were significant improvements in MMSE-K and K-MBI (p < 0.05). In the visual and auditory attention test of the CNT, the eye-tracking linkage attention training group was significantly improved after intervention (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the conventional computerized cognitive training group. In addition, there were significant improvements in all memory tests of the CNT in the eye-tracking linkage attention training group. However, in the conventional computerized cognitive training group, there were significant improvements in some memory tests of the CNT. Conclusions: The training of poststroke cognitive impairment patients using an eye-tracking linkage attention training system may improve visuospatial attention and may be helpful for the improvement of short-term memory and independent performances in daily life activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Congenital syphilis is preventable through timely access to prenatal care, syphilis screening and treatment of pregnant women diagnosed as infected. In 2018, California had the second highest number of congenital syphilis cases in the United States (U.S.), a nearly twofold increase in cases since 2014. This study assessed gaps in preventing congenital syphilis in the high morbidity region of Kern County, California.Methods: Between May 2018 and January 2019, we conducted five focus group discussions with pregnant/postpartum women and ten semi-structured interviews with prenatal care providers in Kern County. Focus group and interview data were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to identify emergent themes pertaining to facilitators and barriers at each step (prenatal care, syphilis screening and treatment) in the congenital syphilis prevention cascade.Results: Gaps in congenital syphilis prevention discussed in focus group discussions with pregnant/postpartum women were related to limited prenatal care access, social-, economic-, and cultural-barriers, and substance use and co-occurring intimate partner/domestic violence. The gaps identified from interviews with prenatal care providers included social economic vulnerabilities of pregnant women and stigma and shame around the vulnerabilities, distrust in medical system, prenatal substance use, limited prenatal substance use disorder treatment facilities, and inadequate provider training on context-specific congenital syphilis management strategies. Gaps in partner notification, screening and treatment for syphilis were brought up by pregnant/postpartum women and prenatal care providers.Conclusions: Congenital syphilis continues to increase in Kern County and throughout the U.S. In high syphilis morbidity areas, comprehensive and tailored public health approaches addressing setting-specific gaps in prenatal screening and treatment are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunctions and may affect the cerebral functions. However, the mechanisms of plastic changes in the brain according to SCI severity remain poorly understood. Therefore, in the current study, we compared the brain activity of the entire neural network according to severity of SCI using fractional amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations (fALFF) analysis in resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fMRI). A total of 59 participants were included, consisting of 19 patients with complete SCI, 20 patients with incomplete SCI, and 20 healthy individuals. Their motor and sensory functions were evaluated. The rs‐fMRI data of low‐frequency fluctuations were analyzed based on fALFF. Differences in fALFF values among complete‐SCI patients, incomplete‐SCI patients, and healthy controls were assessed using ANOVA. Then post hoc analysis and two‐sample t‐tests were conducted to assess the differences between the three groups. Pearson correlation analyses were used to determine correlations between clinical measures and the z‐score of the fALFF in the SCI groups. Patients with SCI (complete and incomplete) showed lower fALFF values in the superior medial frontal gyrus than the healthy controls, and were associated with poor motor and sensory function (p <.05). Higher fALFF values were observed in the putamen and thalamus, and were negatively associated with motor and sensory function (p <.05). In conclusion, alterations in the neural activity of the motor‐ and sensory‐related networks of the brain were observed in complete‐SCI and incomplete‐SCI patients. Moreover, plastic changes in these brain regions were associated with motor and sensory function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidimensional causes of insufficient sleep among adolescents are not fully explored, particularly, the association between substance use and sleep duration. The 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) of high school students (N = 14,638; 51% female, 14–18 years old) was used to examine the association between substance use, namely cigarette, electronic vapor, alcohol, and marijuana use in the past 30 days, and insufficient sleep (<8 hr) using logistic regression analyses. Findings suggest that the use of alcohol (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.42; 95% CI [1.22, 1.65]) and marijuana (AOR, 1.19; 95% CI [1.00, 1.41]) was significantly associated with having insufficient hours of sleep adjusting for age, sex, race, and computer use ≥3 hr per day. Moreover, interaction effects were examined for sex and age, which revealed that the association between marijuana use and having insufficient sleep was stronger for male and younger students. It highlights the potential value of sleep assessment among adolescent substance users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This chapter presents the lived experience of 10 doctoral students and recent graduates from a North American University, who like graduate students elsewhere, have faced upstream battles against excessive faculty entitlement. The six sections of this chapter, each by different authors, explore how entitlement in the University, is experienced from different perspectives. The first four sections explore the deleterious effects of excessive faculty/teacher entitlement which can lead to competitiveness, selfishness and aggression. Section five focuses on student entitlement as experienced by an immigrant graduate teaching assistant, and section six explores how both faculty and student entitlement may be experienced at different stages of the immigrant experience. It is hoped that this chapter will create a platform with which to highlight these topics for ourselves and other doctoral students attending other universities, so that relationships and opportunities may improve for everyone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although recent studies show vitamin D deficiency is associated with cognitive decline, urinary incontinence, and gait instability, there has been no study on the effect of vitamin D on idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) characterized by the classic symptom triad of cognitive decline, urinary incontinence, and gait instability. We investigated the clinical significance of vitamin D in patients with iNPH. Methods: Between 2017 and 2020, 44 patients who underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery were divided into low (< 15 ng/mL) and high (≥ 15 ng/mL) vitamin D groups according to the concentration of 25(OH)D, an effective indicator of vitamin D status. They were respectively evaluated according to clinical and radiological findings. Results: The low vitamin D group (n = 24) showed lower preoperative cognition compared to the high vitamin D group (n = 20) in terms of Korean-Mini Mental Status Examination (K-MMSE) and iNPH grading scale (iNPHGS) (K-MMSE: 20.5 ± 5.4 versus 24.0 ± 4.5, p = 0.041; iNPHGS cognitive score: 2 ± 0.9 versus 1 ± 0.6, p = 0.025). And the low vitamin D group showed pre- and postoperatively more severe urinary incontinence (preoperative iNPHGS urinary score: 1 ± 1.0 versus 0 ± 0.9, p = 0.012; postoperative iNPHGS urinary score:1 ± 1.0 versus 0 ± 0.9, p = 0.014). The score of narrow high-convexity sulci for the low vitamin D group was lower (low vitamin D group: 1 ± 0.7 versus high vitamin D group: 2 ± 0.4, p = 0.031). Conclusion: Lower concentration of vitamin D in iNPH may be related to lower preoperative cognition, pre- and postoperative urinary incontinence, and brain morphological change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A video production activity utilizing a flipped-classroom approach was used in a public health nursing course to educate undergraduate nursing students about infectious diseases. After reviewing an audio-recorded lecture at home, students were divided into small groups to create short video clips on selected infectious diseases. Four themes emerged from the subsequent participant survey: engagement, in-depth understanding but concerns for new knowledge acquisition, practical, and room for improvement. The flipped classroom approach with video production encouraged students to engage in their public health nursing class and provided them with an opportunity to practice important communication skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital syphilis is the result of placental transmission from mother to fetus of Treponema pallidum. Although congenital syphilis is preventable through timely treatment, the rate of new infections in the United States (US) has increased each year since 2013, and is increasing at a noticeably greater pace in California (CA). Most research into congenital syphilis has focused on individual psychosocial and behavioral factors that contribute to maternal vulnerability for syphilis. The aim of this study was to evaluate structural barriers to prenatal care access and utilization and congenital syphilis prevention in Kern County, CA. Transcripts from 8 in-depth interviews with prenatal care providers and 5 focus group discussions with 42 pregnant and postpartum persons were examined using thematic analysis. Structural barriers experienced by pregnant and postpartum persons to prenatal care access and utilization included (1) burdens of poverty; (2) stigma around substance use in pregnancy; (3) citizenship status; (4) lack of healthcare coverage; (5) low sexual health literacy; and (6) gender inequality Structural barriers experienced by prenatal care providers in congenital syphilis prevention included (1) limited guidance on clinical management of syphilis in pregnancy; (2) decay in public health infrastructure; and (3) inadequate support for managing patients' social comorbidities. The response to congenital syphilis prevention will require an examination of the complex context of social determinants of health in which persons diagnosed with syphilis live in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Uganda has one of the highest rates of alcohol use in sub-Saharan Africa but prevalence and correlates of drinking are undocumented in the Rakai region, one of the earliest epicenters of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in East Africa. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 18,700 persons (8,690 men, 10,010 women) aged 15–49 years, living in agrarian, trading and fishing communities and participating in the Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS) between March 2015 and September 2016. Logistic regression models assessed associations between past year alcohol use and sociodemographic characteristics, other drug use and HIV status, controlling for age, religion, education, occupation, marital status, and household socioeconomic status. Results: Past year alcohol prevalence was 45%. Odds of drinking were significantly higher in men (versus women) and fishing communities (versus agrarian areas). Odds of drinking increased with age, previous (versus current) marriage and past year drug use. By occupation, highest odds of drinking were among fishermen and (in women) bar/restaurant workers. Alcohol-related consequences were more commonly reported by male (vs. females) drinkers, among whom up to 35% reported alcohol dependence symptoms (e.g., unsteady gait). HIV status was strongly associated with alcohol use in unadjusted but not adjusted models. Conclusions: Alcohol use differed by gender, community type and occupation. Being male, living in a fishing community and working as a fisherman or restaurant/bar worker (among women) were associated with higher odds of drinking. Alcohol reduction programs should be implemented in Uganda's fishing communities and among people working in high risk occupations (e.g., fishermen and restaurant/bar workers). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary: What is known on the subject?: Adolescents who partake in one health risk behaviour (HRB) easily adopt other HRBs, simultaneously or subsequently.Multiple HRBs might threaten adolescents' future health in adulthood.Adolescents with psychological problems have higher rates of smoking, alcohol use, early sexual initiation and activity, and illicit substance use compared with others. What does this paper add to existing knowledge?: A considerable number of Korean adolescents with mental health problems were engaged in multiple HRBs. For those with mental health problems, more than half of the Korean adolescents with multiple HRBs tended to use alcohol and cigarettes concurrently.Korean adolescents who felt depressed and had suicidal ideation were more likely to engage in a greater number of HRBs.Substance abuse is the most prevalent problem that is combined with other HRBs among those with depression and suicidal ideation compared to those who exhibited other HRBs. What are the implications for practice?: When mental health nurses working in schools and community centres for mental health identify Korean adolescents with significant depression and suicide ideation levels, they should also assess adolescents' engagement in multiple HRBs.Population‐based campaigns and policy changes that emphasize both psychological health and risky behaviour reduction among adolescents should be provided simultaneously to students and school nurses. Introduction: There is limited understanding about whether poor mental health is associated with certain combinations of multiple health risk behaviours (HRBs) such as smoking, drinking, early sexual activity and substance abuse. Aim: To determine the prevalence of multiple HRBs and to identify associations between poor mental health and multiple HRBs as the number of HRBs increases. Methods: This cross‐sectional study was conducted using the 2016 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web‐based Survey (N = 65,528). Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted using the complex sample data. Results: Overall, 28.6% and 13.9% of Korean adolescents were involved in one or multiple HRBs, respectively. Adolescents who were depressed (OR = 1.43–4.47, 95% CI = 1.37–1.49 to 3.23–6.20) and/or who had suicidal ideation (OR = 1.33–3.19, 95% CI = 1.25–1.42 to 2.25–4.51) were more likely to engage in multiple HRBs. Discussion: A considerable numbers of Korean adolescents are engaged in multiple HRBs. When adolescents self‐reported depression and suicidal ideation, they were more likely to engage in a greater number of HRBs than single HRB. Implications for practice: Tailored interventions to decrease multiple HRBs should be designed and provided by considering adolescents' mental health status and needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study purpose was to investigate sex differences in multilevel factors associated with smoking experimentation and age of initiation among Korean adolescents. Based on the ecological model, this cross-sectional study used data from the 2016 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (N = 65,528). Among 33,803 males (51.6%) and 31,725 females (48.4%), a greater proportion of males (21.9%) than females (7.1%) engaged in smoking experimentation. Males started smoking earlier than females (males: 12.7 years, females: 12.9 years, respectively, p <.05). In both sex groups, common factors associated with smoking were age, depression, suicidal ideation, academic achievement, household economic status, and having friends smoking and a specific person to talk with about their personal concern (all p values <.05). There were significant sex differences in psychological, family, and school factors of smoking initiation and experimentation. It is necessary to develop smoking interventions considering both individual and environmental factors with sex-specific strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strawberries are an economically important crop partly because they are very popular with consumers. Strawberry growers and breeders would benefit from knowing which cultivars and fruit traits consumers would prefer. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine consumer preference for the fruit of once-fruiting and repeat-fruiting strawberry cultivars available to grow in the Mid-Atlantic to help growers select the most suitable strawberry cultivars based on their marketability, critical sensory quality attributes, and physicochemical measurements; and (2) identify interrelationships between sensory attributes and physicochemical measurements to determine which approaches might result in breeding strawberries consumers will find most appealing. Strawberries from 10 cultivars were harvested and evaluated by a trained sensory panel and instrumentally. 'Flavorfest' fruits were rated highest of all 10 cultivars, and 'Albion' fruits were rated highest of the repeat-fruiting cultivars. Overall quality was correlated with sweetness and strawberry flavor and aroma, but not sourness. Separation of cultivar means for sweetness was better using an instrument to measure, rather than the panel evaluation. Overall appearance was correlated with visual freshness and glossiness. Light orange-red strawberries (higher L* and b*) appeared fresher and more appealing to the panels than darker more purple-red strawberries. Evaluations of strawberry fruits for berry size, juiciness, and texture were less straightforward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, the number of women living with HIV (WLHIV) continues to increase. Despite the decrease in HIV diagnosis among women in California, less than half of WLHIV are retained in HIV care. Structural barriers put women at increased risk for delayed HIV diagnosis, delayed entry into HIV care, and poorer treatment outcomes. The objective of this qualitative analysis is to identify how structural barriers negatively impact women's sustained engagement in HIV care in Southern California. WLHIV accessing local HIV support services participated in a qualitative study by completing a semi-structured interview and brief survey between January and April 2015 (n = 30). Poverty, unemployment, housing instability, and needs for transportation emerged as the dominant structural barriers for women when discussing their challenges with sustained engagement in HIV care. System-level interventions that decrease these noted barriers may help improve HIV care continuum for women living in Southern California. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The relationship between white matter integrity and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genotype and its effects on motor recovery after stroke are poorly understood. We investigated the values of fractional anisotropy (FA) in the corticospinal tract (CST), the intrahemispheric connection from the primary motor cortex to the ventral premotor cortex (M1PMv), and the interhemispheric connection via the corpus callosum (CC) in patients with the BDNF genotype from the acute to the subacute phase after stroke. Methods. The Fugl-Meyer assessment, upper extremity (FMA-UE), and tract-related FA were assessed at 2 weeks (T1) and 3 months (T2) after stroke using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Fifty-eight patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke were classified according to the BDNF genotype into a Val (valine homozygotes) or Met (methionine heterozygotes and homozygotes) group. Results. The Val group exhibited a larger reduction of FA values in the ipsilesional M1PMv than the Met group from T1 to T2. The FMA-UE at T2 was negatively correlated with FA of the contralesional M1PMv at T2 in the Val group but was positively correlated with FA of the ipsilesional CST and CC at T2 in the Met group. Conclusions. The integrity of the intra- and interhemispheric connections might be related to different processes of motor recovery dependent on the BDNF genotype. Thus, the BDNF genotype may need to be considered as a factor influencing neuroplasticity and functional recovery in patients with stroke. This trial is registered with http://www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03647787. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We aimed to determine the optimal placement of electrodes for neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for post-stroke dysphagia therapy.Methods: 31 patients with post-stroke dysphagia were randomised to three groups according to NMES electrode placement. In Group A (n = 10), two pairs of electrodes were attached horizontally on the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles. In Group B (n = 11), one pair of electrodes was attached horizontally on the suprahyoid muscles while the other was attached vertically on the infrahyoid muscles. In Group C (n = 10), the electrodes were attached vertically, with one pair above the hyoid bone and the other above the cricoid cartilage. All patients received rehabilitation treatment via NMES combined with effortful swallowing training five times weekly for four weeks. The effect of NMES electrode placement was assessed in terms of the Functional Dysphagia Scale (FDS) and Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS) scores.Results: Group A showed significantly greater improvement than Group B in overall FDS (p = 0.009) and pharyngeal-phase FDS (FDS-P; p = 0.005) scores. Group A also showed significant improvement when compared with Group C in overall FDS (p = 0.001) and FDS-P (p = 0.001) scores.Conclusion: Horizontal placement of the NMES electrodes on the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles for the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia by NMES combined with effortful swallowing was more effective than the horizontal and vertical placement of electrodes on the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles, respectively, and their vertical placement above the hyoid bone and cricoid cartilage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cyber victimization is a national mental health concern, especially among adolescents who are digital natives. The current study examined sleep quality as a mediator of the association between cyber victimization and depressive symptoms among adolescents. Design and Method: A prospective study design was utilized with a community sample of adolescents (N = 801; 57% female; mean age = 14.45, SD =.85) from the eastern United States. Participants completed (a) the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; (b) the Cyber Victimization Scale; and (c) the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised via online surveys at baseline and 6‐month follow‐up. The inter‐relationship between variables was analyzed by Hayes' mediation approach. Findings: Cyber victimization was not directly associated with having depressive symptoms 6 months later when controlling for adolescents' poor sleep quality, sex, and age (direct effect [c'] =.012, t(676) = 1.12, p <.05, confidence interval [CI] ‐.008,.036). The mediation analysis indicated a significant indirect effect of poor sleep quality on the relationship between cyber victimization and depressive symptoms (ab =.005, bootstrapped standard error [SE] =.003, bootstrapped CI.001,.011; a is the effect of cyber victimization on poor sleep quality; b is the effect of poor sleep quality on depressive symptoms). Specifically, adolescents' cyber victimization led to poor sleep quality (a =.039, SE =.041, p <.05), which also led to increased depressive symptoms (b =.116, SE =.019, p <.001), after controlling for depressive symptoms at baseline, sex, and age. The indirect effect of cyber victimization on depressive symptoms was estimated through poor sleep quality (a*b =.039(.116) =.0045). Conclusions: The findings suggest that poor sleep quality may be a mechanism through which cyber bullying is related prospectively to depressive symptoms. Interventions for cyber‐victimized adolescents should include assessment of sleep quality and incorporate sleep hygiene education. Clinical Relevance: Adolescents should be screened for cyber victimization and sleep quality. Moreover, promotion of sleep hygiene among cyber‐victimized adolescents may help to reduce depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recovery prediction can assist in the planning for impairment-focused rehabilitation after a stroke. This study investigated a new prediction model based on a lesion network analysis. To predict the potential for recovery, we focused on the next link-step connectivity of the direct neighbors of a lesion. Methods: We hypothesized that this connectivity would contribute to recovery after stroke onset. Each lesion in a patient who had suffered a stroke was transferred to a healthy subject. First link-step connectivity was identified by observing voxels functionally connected to each lesion. Next (second) link-step connectivity of the first link-step connectivity was extracted by calculating statistical dependencies between time courses of regions not directly connected to a lesion and regions identified as first link-step connectivity. Lesion impact on second link-step connectivity was quantified by comparing the lesion network and reference network. Results: The lower the impact of a lesion was on second link-step connectivity in the brain network, the better the improvement in motor function during recovery. A prediction model containing a proposed predictor, initial motor function, age, and lesion volume was established. A multivariate analysis revealed that this model accurately predicted recovery at 3 months poststroke (R 2 = 0.788; cross-validation, R 2 = 0.746, RMSE = 13.15). Conclusion: This model can potentially be used in clinical practice to develop individually tailored rehabilitation programs for patients suffering from motor impairments after stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxide ions that are initially buried within an ice film segregate to the ice film surface at elevated temperatures. This process was observed by conducting experiments with an ice film constructed with a bottom H2O layer and an upper D2O layer, with an excess of hydroxide ions trapped at the H2O/D2O interface as they were generated by Na hydrolysis. The transport of hydroxide ions from the interfacial layer to the surface was examined as a function of time using a low energy sputtering method. The progress of the H/D exchange reaction in surface water molecules was also monitored with the Cs+ reactive ion scattering technique. At 90 K, only a small portion of buried hydroxide ions moved to the surface in the form of OD- species. This was due to hydroxide transport via proton hopping through a D2O layer, 3 BL thick, in the surface region. At 135 K, at which point water self-diffusion is active in the ice film, the majority of the buried hydroxide ions segregated to the surface after ∼1 h. Both OH- and OD- species were produced at the surface, at an OH-/OD- population ratio ≥1. Based on kinetic measurements for the transport of OH- and OD- species and the H/D exchange of surface water molecules, we concluded that the major transport channel for hydroxide ions in this regime is the migration of molecular hydroxide species. H/D exchange reactions also occur between surface hydroxide ions and water molecules. No evidence was observed for the occurrence of the hop-and-turn process at 135 K, although it is known as an important mechanism of proton transport in ice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to establish a structural equation model(SEM) with the aim of providing foundations for development of strategies to reduce emotional labor and burnout of clinical nurses by identifying the effects of individual and organization characteristics on emotional labor and burnout in clinical nurses and analyze the casual relations between them. Hypothetical models were established based on the emotion regulation process model relating to emotional labor and burnout in clinical nurses. The endogenous and exogenous variables for the hypothetical models consisted of emotional labor and burnout, emotional expression rules, emotional intelligence, emotions (positive and negative emotions), social support (superior support and peer support), and job autonomy. Eleven of 19 hypothetical models were supported. The researchers suggested the following strategies to reduce emotional labor and burnout in clinical nurses: at the individual level, cultivation of emotional intelligence and positive emotions, and reduction of negative emotions; at the organizational level, alleviation of emotional expression rules, granting autonomy, and the development and application of various interventions to enhance social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research has demonstrated that behavioral, demographic, and mental health characteristics are associated with suicide, particularly among youth and young adults. Although recent research has begun to explore developmental trajectories of suicide-related outcomes, few studies to date have extended beyond late adolescence. Understanding different trajectories of suicide-related thoughts and behaviors from adolescence through mid-adulthood has the potential to refine developmental perspectives on suicide risk and to inform prevention efforts. Using National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health data (n = 9421 respondents with data at all four waves), this study analyzed suicide-related outcomes across ages 12–31 years. Growth mixture modeling (GMM) was used to estimate trajectory classes for past-year suicide ideation and attempts, followed by multinomial logistic regression to explore the association between race/ethnicity and class membership. In weighted descriptive analyses, the sample was 50.0% female; it was 15.5% African American, 2.1% Asian/Pacific Islander, 12.0% Hispanic, 0.9% other, and 65.9% White. GMM results revealed three trajectory classes for ideation: sustained higher risk, sustained lower risk, and adolescent-limited risk. Two trajectory classes emerged for attempts: declining higher risk and sustained lower risk. For ideation, African Americans were less likely than Whites to be in either the sustained higher risk or the adolescent-limited risk trajectory. For attempts, African Americans had significantly lower odds than Whites and Asians/Pacific Islanders had nearly four times the odds of Whites of being in the sustained higher risk trajectory, though the latter was only marginally significant. The finding of associations between race/ethnicity and distinct patterns of suicide-related behavioral development from early adolescence into mid-adulthood suggests new directions for developmental research and provides evidence to inform future suicide prevention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to reveal the epidemiologic characteristics of the outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Thompson in Busan Metropolitan City and to identify points for improvement to prevent of food-borne disease outbreak.Methods: This was a case-control study. The control group comprised asymptomatic students in the same classes of the cases. The presence or absence of symptoms, ingestion of each food provided by school meal service, and commonly ingested foods in addition to those foods in meal service were investigated. Moreover, specimens collected from rectal swab, preserved foods, and environmental surface were tested.Results: Of the 6,092 subjects, 1,111 (1,083 students, 22 school personnel, and 6 foodservice employees) were included in the case group; this corresponded to an 18.4% attack rate. Symptoms included diarrhea (n=1,051, 94.6%), abdominal pain (n=931, 83.8%), febrile sensation (n=502, 45.2%), and vomiting (n=275, 24.8%). The epidemic curves of each 10 schools were unimodal. Investigation of food intake showed a significantly high odds ratio for chocolate cake in 5 out of the 10 schools. Laboratory test detected Salmonella enterica serovar Thompson both in rectal swab specimens of 9 schools and in collected preserved chocolate cakes of 9 schools. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis test result showed that Salmonella enterica seorvar Thompson isolated from human and foods were the same.Conclusions: The source of infection for the Salmonella enterica serovar Thompson outbreak in the 10 schools of Busan Metropolitan City is chocolate cake. Traceback investigation for origin of contaminated food in food-borne disease outbreak and safety control during food production should be more enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains an important therapeutic option for many hematologic malignancies. Bone marrow harvesting from an appropriate donor must be conducted for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Many previous studies show complications of the recipient after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, complications of the donor after bone marrow harvesting are rare. We here report a unique case of a patient who developed sacral nerve root injury after bone marrow harvesting.Case Presentation: A 26-year-old man was admitted to our medical center complaining of acute onset painful burning and tingling sensation at the left posterior thigh and calf. He was a bone marrow donor for his brother's bone marrow transplantation. He had underwent a bone marrow harvesting procedure two days before admission as a bone marrow donor, using both posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS) as the puncture site. Pelvic magnetic resonance image (MRI) showed enhancement around the left S2 nerve root in T1 and T2-weighted images. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) revealed normal conduction velocity and amplitude on both lower extremities. Electromyography (EMG) presented abnormal spontaneous activity and neurogenic motor unit potentials on the S2-innervated intrinsic foot muscle and gastrocnemius, soleus muscle on the left. The patient was treated with pregabalin for pain control. The patient was followed up after 3, 6, and 12 months. Neuropathic pain improved to Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) 1, and recovery state was confirmed by re-innervation patterns of motor unit potentials in electromyography.Conclusion: Bone marrow harvesting is a relatively safe procedure. However, variable complications may occur. Accurate anatomical knowledge and carefulness are required to avoid sacral nerve root injury when performing the bone marrow harvesting procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is an ideal pain control method used in surgeries that require abdominal wall incisions through the injection of an anesthetic solution into the plane between the internal oblique muscle and transversus abdominis muscle. Herein, we report an 83-year-old man who was diagnosed with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) and underwent lumboperitoneal shunt surgery (LPS). The TAP block was performed before LPS, and the numerical rating scale for pain was 0 at day 1 after the surgery. The patient was discharged early at day 3 after surgery despite the patient being extremely old, as he reported quick relief from the postoperative abdominal pain. The TAP block can hence be considered for use before LPS in elderly patients with iNPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective health education programs for adolescent substance use prevention need to be developed. However, the evidence supporting the use of specific instructional strategies for youth substance use prevention programs is insufficient. The purpose of this study was to develop and implement a community-based program aiming for smoking, alcohol, and substance use prevention based on multiple disciplinary literacy strategies. A one-group pretest-and-posttest comparison design was used to test the feasibility of the new substance use prevention program. Thirty-two adolescents, most from families with minority and low-socioeconomic status backgrounds, participated. The group met for a 1-hour session once a week for 10 weeks. The program was implemented in a suburban setting in a southeastern state in the United States. Pretests and posttests were administered to assess the program's effectiveness in improving participants' knowledge, skills, and assets regarding substance use. Overall, the participants were satisfied with the program and reported significant growth in their knowledge, skills, assets, and perceptions of benefits. These findings suggest that disciplinary literacy strategies may promote adolescents' perceptions of and knowledge regarding substance use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated local and global changes in the motor network using longitudinal resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Motor impairment was measured in 81 stroke patients using Fugl-Meyer assessment on the same day as rs-fMRI acquisition at both 2 weeks and 3 months post-stroke. The relationships between network measures and motor function scores were assessed. With regard to local connectivity, interhemispheric connectivity was noticeably altered at each time point. Interhemispheric connectivity was also related to residual motor function and improvement in motor function. The anterior intraparietal sulcus and other well-known primary and secondary motor-related regions played important roles in motor function. Changes in global connectivity according to stroke type and initial severity were investigated. In global connectivity, interhemispheric connectivity was disrupted at 2 weeks post-stroke regardless of stroke type and initial severity. During the recovery period, interhemispheric connectivity recovered well in patients with hemorrhagic stroke or low severity. In contrast, there were no significant between-group and within-group alterations in intrahemispheric connectivity. Intrahemispheric connectivity of the inferior frontal cortex (IFC) exhibited opposite alterations compared to other connections. There were no differences between groups in IFC connectivity alterations; however, decreasing ipsilesional IFC connectivity and contralesional IFC during recovery were noticeable in patients with mild to moderate impairments and patients with severe impairments, respectively. These results may be helpful in understanding the network changes that occur after stroke and could have important implications for treatment strategy development in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of KIOM-2015EW, the hot-water extract of maple leaves in hyperosmolar stress (HOS)-induced human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs). HCECs were exposed to hyperosmolar medium and exposed to KIOM-2015EW with or without the hyperosmolar media. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 production and apoptosis were observed, and the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), p38 and c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling and nuclear factor (NF)-κB was confirmed. Compared to isomolar medium, the induction of cell cytotoxicity significantly increased in HCECs exposed to hyperosmolar medium in a time-dependent manner. KIOM-2015EW-treatment significantly reduced the mRNA and protein expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and apoptosis. KIOM-2015EW-treatment inhibited HOS-induced MAPK signaling activation. Additionally, the HOS-induced increase in NF-κB phosphorylation was attenuated by KIOM-2015EW. The results demonstrated that KIOM-2015EW protects the ocular surface by suppressing inflammation in dry eye disease, and suggest that KIOM-2015EW may be used to treat several ocular surface diseases where inflammation plays a key role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used for the modulation of stroke patients’ motor function. Recently, more challenging approaches have been studied. In this study, simultaneous stimulation using both rTMS and tDCS (dual-mode stimulation) over bilateral primary motor cortices (M1s) was investigated to compare its modulatory effects with single rTMS stimulation over the ipsilesional M1 in subacute stroke patients. Twenty-four patients participated; 12 participants were assigned to the dual-mode stimulation group while the other 12 participants were assigned to the rTMS-only group. We assessed each patient’s motor function using the Fugl-Meyer assessment score and acquired their resting-state fMRI data at two times: prior to stimulation and 2 months after stimulation. Twelve healthy subjects were also recruited as the control group. The interhemispheric connectivity of the contralesional M1, interhemispheric connectivity between bilateral hemispheres, and global efficiency of the motor network noticeably increased in the dual-mode stimulation group compared to the rTMS-only group. Contrary to the dual-mode stimulation group, there was no significant change in the rTMS-only group. These data suggested that simultaneous dual-mode stimulation contributed to the recovery of interhemispheric interaction than rTMS only in subacute stroke patients. This trial is registered with NCT03279640. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies of functional or effective connectivity in the brain have reported that motor-related brain regions were activated during motor execution and motor imagery, but the relationship between motor and cognitive areas has not yet been completely understood. The objectives of our study were to analyze the effective connectivity between motor and cognitive networks in order to define network dynamics during motor execution and motor imagery in healthy individuals. Second, we analyzed the differences in effective connectivity between correct and incorrect responses during motor execution and imagery using dynamic causal modeling (DCM) of electroencephalography (EEG) data. Method: Twenty healthy subjects performed a sequence of finger tapping trials using either motor execution or motor imagery, and the performances were recorded. Changes in effective connectivity between the primary motor cortex (M1), supplementary motor area (SMA), premotor cortex (PMC), and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) were estimated using dynamic causal modeling. Bayesian model averaging with family-level inference and fixed-effects analysis was applied to determine the most likely connectivity model for these regions. Results: Motor execution and imagery showed inputs to distinct brain regions, the premotor cortex and the supplementary motor area, respectively. During motor execution, the coupling strength of a feedforward network from the DLPFC to the PMC was greater than that during motor imagery. During motor imagery, the coupling strengths of a feedforward network from the PMC to the SMA and of a feedback network from M1 to the PMC were higher than that during motor execution. In imagined movement, although there were connectivity differences between correct and incorrect task responses, each motor imagery task that included correct and incorrect responses showed similar network connectivity characteristics. Correct motor imagery responses showed connectivity from the PMC to the DLPFC, while the incorrect responses had characteristic connectivity from the SMA to the DLPFC. Conclusions: These findings provide an understanding of effective connectivity between motor and cognitive areas during motor execution and imagery as well as the basis for future connectivity studies for patients with stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]