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The article offers information on a study which described the preparation and characterization of poly(styrene-co-methacrylic acid) (PSMA) and poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine) (PS4VP) of varying compositions. A review of the related literature is given. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to investigate the phase behavior of these copolymers as binary PSMA/PS4VP mixtures. The miscibility of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) with PS4VP was reported.

Background: E-cigarette marketing exposure may influence vaping-related outcomes among youth, but less is known on which specific advertising features impact youth attention, perceptions, and appeal. This study qualitatively examines responses to different e-cigarette advertising features among e-cigarette-naïve youth., Methods: We conducted four online focus groups in 2021 with a national U.S. sample of 13-17 year olds (n = 25) who had never used e-cigarettes. Participants viewed and discussed their reactions to different e-cigarette advertisements varying in the inclusion of ad features, including color, models in imagery, text claims targeting smokers, and the nicotine warning label., Results: Participants were attracted to ads with bright colors, particularly when contrasted against a dark background. Ads featuring models attracted attention and reduced perceptions that the product is harmful. Comments indicated mixed reactions to smoker-targeted text claims. On one hand, participants perceived ads with text that specified "for smokers" as targeting older adults. On the other hand, text referring to "switching" from cigarettes to e-cigarettes led to some perceptions that the product is healthy, and certain text that implicitly referred to smoking (e.g., "no odor") had the potential to appeal to youth who wanted to use e-cigarettes discreetly. The level of attention paid to warnings depended on warning size and the color contrast between the warning and the rest of the ad., Conclusions: Findings suggest specific e-cigarette ad features play an important role in attracting youth attention and influencing perceptions. More research is needed on the potential public health benefits versus unintended consequences of smoker-targeted text claims., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Introduction: Exposure to certain features in commercial e-cigarette ads may influence e-cigarette use perceptions. This study explored the reactions toward common features in e-cigarette ads among young adults of various tobacco-use behaviors., Aims and Methods: We used data from in-depth interviews with U.S. young adults (ages 18-29) who do not use tobacco (n = 26) and who currently smoke cigarettes (n = 26). Participants viewed 30 print e-cigarette ads that included multiple features (eg, fruit flavors, price promotions, smoker-targeted messages) before discussing their perceived influence of memorable ad features. We used reflective thematic analysis to analyze interview data., Results: Participants from both groups generally noticed fruit and multiple flavors displayed in the ads, which were seen as appealing and were reported to generate product-use interest because of bright colors, sensory appeal, and a variety of flavor options. Participants who smoke perceived price promotions and positive experience testimonials to be appealing, and some reported this generated use interest. Participants from both groups perceived smoker-targeted messages to be unconvincing, and reported this dampened ad and product appeal and use interest. Participants who do not use tobacco perceived nicotine warnings to be unappealing, resulting in reduced perceived appeal of other attractive features (eg, fruit flavors) appearing in the same ads., Conclusions: Marketing features appearing in e-cigarette ads may be perceived by young adults of various tobacco-use behaviors in both similar and different ways. Communication and policy strategies that account for these differential perceptions towards various marketing features are needed to reduce the negative impact of e-cigarette marketing., Implications: This study revealed evidence related to young adults' reactions to and perceived influence of commonly used marketing features (eg, fruit flavors, nicotine warnings, price promotions, smoker-targeted messages) in commercial e-cigarette ads. The results highlight the similar and differential perceived appeal and use interest of e-cigarette products promoted with various marketing features among young adults of different tobacco-use behaviors. The results have implications for informing the design of communication strategies and policies related to e-cigarette marketing aimed at promoting complete product switching among young adults who smoke while simultaneously deterring e-cigarette use interest among those who do not use tobacco., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

We present a new mechanical probe to study the properties of superfluid 3 He at microkelvin temperatures down to 100 μK. The setup consists of a set of coils for levitating a superconducting sphere and controlling its motion in a wide variety of regimes. In particular, the realisation of motion of a levitating body at a uniform velocity presents both an experimental challenge and a promising direction into the study of the edge states in topological superfluid 3 He-B. We include the theoretical study of the device stability and simulations to illustrate the capabilities of the control system., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Methylglyoxal was shown to impair adipose tissue capillarization and insulin sensitivity in obese models. We hypothesized that glyoxalase-1 (GLO-1) activity could be diminished in the adipose tissue of type 2 diabetic obese patients. Moreover, we assessed whether such activity could be increased by GLP-1-based therapies in order to improve adipose tissue capillarization and insulin sensitivity. GLO-1 activity was assessed in visceral adipose tissue of a cohort of obese patients. The role of GLP-1 in modulating GLO-1 was assessed in type 2 diabetic GK rats submitted to sleeve gastrectomy or Liraglutide treatment, in the adipose tissue angiogenesis assay and in the HUVEC cell line. Glyoxalase-1 activity was decreased in visceral adipose tissue of pre-diabetic and diabetic obese patients, together with other markers of adipose tissue dysfunction and correlated with increased HbA1c levels. Decreased adipose tissue GLO-1 levels in GK rats were increased by sleeve gastrectomy and Liraglutide, being associated with overexpression of angiogenic and vasoactive factors, as well as insulin receptor phosphorylation (Tyr1161). Moreover, GLP-1 increased adipose tissue capillarization and HUVEC proliferation in a glyoxalase-dependent manner. Lower adipose tissue GLO-1 activity was observed in dysmetabolic patients, being a target for GLP-1 in improving adipose tissue capillarization and insulin sensitivity., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has developed its 'Accompaniment model' to address the multi-faceted needs of relatives of people who go missing during armed conflict. In Sri Lanka an Accompaniment Programme was launched in 2015 for the relatives of the more than 16,000 missing persons who remain unaccounted for., Method: One thousand seven hundred eighty-three relatives who took part in the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) component of the ICRC's Accompaniment Programme in Sri Lanka between April 2016 and August 2017 were offered eight peer-support group sessions, individual home visits, referrals to local services, and commemoration events to pay tribute to their missing relatives. Symptoms of anxiety and depression (using the HADS scale), somatic difficulties (using the BSI scale) and daily functioning (ICRC scale) were assessed before and after the MHPSS intervention., Results: Prior to receiving support, Tamil and Muslim ethnicity, ≥60 years of age and civilian status were predictors of severe symptoms of anxiety; Tamil ethnicity, ≥50 years of age and being the mother of a missing person were predictors of severe symptoms of depression; and ≥ 50 years of age and severe symptoms of anxiety and depression were predictors of severe somatic difficulties. After receiving support, the vast majority of the relatives of missing persons showed reduced levels of anxiety (81%), depression (79%) and somatic pain (77%), as well as increased functioning (75%). Predictors of improvement following support were severe levels of distress at baseline and Tamil and Muslim ethnicity. In addition, attending at least three group sessions was a predictor of decreased anxiety, age group 51-60 was a predictor of decreased depression, female gender was a predictor of decreased somatic difficulties, and referrals were a predictor of increased functioning ., Conclusion: The MHPSS component of the ICRC's Accompaniment Programme is a relevant approach to helping families to cope with not knowing the fate and whereabouts of their missing relatives, to reduce distress, to break their social isolation and to resume more functional lives. However, further research is needed, possibly through a controlled trial, to better establish the effectiveness of this approach., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views, policies or decisions of their employers., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

This report is concerned with ten patients treated surgically for a splenic hydatidosis. Splenic echinococcosis represents 3.5% of abdominal hydatid cysts treated in our Service. When splenic hydatidosis was diagnosed, the spleen was the first and only localization of hydatid disease in three cases. One of these patients underwent surgery for a pulmonary cyst four years later. Splenic cysts were asymptomatic in six patients. The most frequent clinical sign of splenic hydatidosis was a painful mass in the left upper abdominal quadrant. Ultrasonography and axial computed tomography (axial C.T.) were the most useful diagnostic tools. The complications arising from splenic hydatidic cysts were infection, rupture in the abdominal cavity and fistulization to the colon. A splenectomy was performed in every case. There was no mortality and morbidity was principally related to the hepatic-associated hydatidosis. It is concluded that splenic involvement is a rare manifestation of hydatid disease but should be looked for in a systematic way in patients with this diagnosis.