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Background: Postmenopausal women frequently encounter a range of symptoms, including fatigue, diminished physical strength, reduced energy levels, vasomotor symptoms such as hot flushes, and vaginal atrophy, all of which adversely affect their overall quality of life. Engaging in physical activity and structured exercise may effectively alleviate these symptoms and enhance overall well-being. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity and quality of life in postmenopausal Greek women. Methods: This cross-sectional clinical study included 219 postmenopausal women. Women with natural menopause for at least 12 consecutive months were enrolled in this descriptive, cross-sectional study. The female participants were asked to fill out the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form (IPAQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the EuroQol (EQ-5D-5L) instrument. Anthropometric measurements included weight, height, and waist circumference measurements. Results: A total of 219 postmenopausal women with an age of 61.4 ± 6.1 years and body mass index (BMI) of 25.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2 were studied. Out of the total postmenopausal women studied, 64.8% were physically active. The mean value of MET-min/week was M = 1383.46 ± 1030.12. Physical activity among postmenopausal Greek women showed a strong correlation of PA with quality of life (r = 0.5; p ≤ 0.001) and age (r = 0.55; p ≤ 0.001) and a medium correlation with the HADS (r = 0.4; p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: There was a 64.8% prevalence of physically active postmenopausal Greek women. The findings underscore the significance of fostering physical activity and quality of life among postmenopausal women to formulate efficacious therapeutic interventions. The results demonstrate a correlation between physical activity and the age of female participants, quality of life, and the HADS and can be used to improve postmenopausal women's physical activity levels, which is recommended as a strategy for improving the quality of life in postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Third-generation Al–Li alloys are high-performance materials that are very attractive for aircraft and aerospace applications due to their relatively low density, high specific strength, and stiffness. To study the effect of heat treatments on the electrochemical behavior of two high-performance aluminum-lithium alloys, in this work the electrochemical noise technique was used to evaluate the corrosion behavior of AA2099 and AA2055 alloys under three conditions of different heat treatments, an annealing treatment (T0), a second treatment in solid solution, followed by rapid cooling (quenching) and subsequent artificial aging (T6), and a third treatment in solid solution, tempering, cold deformation, and maturation artificial (T8). The time series obtained from the electrochemical noise tests were visually analyzed, as well as the statistical parameters such as localization index (LI), bias, and kurtosis. Analysis in the frequency domain was also performed by means of power spectral density (PSD) signals. In general, it was observed that the distribution of precipitates on the surface of the alloys considerably affects the corrosion performance, as well as the concentration of Cl-1 ions in the test electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore positive changes in women's beliefs, emotions, and behaviors following their struggles with postpartum psychosis., Study Design and Methods: This is a descriptive qualitative study of women who experienced posttraumatic growth after postpartum psychosis. We recruited participants from postings on three Facebook groups. Participants sent their stories of posttraumatic growth after postpartum psychosis via email attachment. We used the following five domains from Tedeschi and Calhoun's (2004) posttraumatic growth model to guide our deductive content analysis: Relating to Others, Personal Strength, Appreciation of Life, New Possibilities, and Spiritual and Existential Change ., Results: Thirteen women participated. Relating to Others was the posttraumatic growth domain most often described by the participants followed in order of frequency by Personal Strength, Appreciation of Life, New Possibilities , and Spiritual and Existential Change . Partners and family members' support was instrumental in recovery from postpartum psychosis., Clinical Implications: When considering the total sample, participants experienced all five domains of posttraumatic growth after postpartum psychosis though not every individual experienced growth in all five domains. Interventions can be tailored to meet the needs of women depending on which phase of recovery from postpartum psychosis women are in, acute, early recovery, or advanced recovery. Advanced recovery is the most appropriate phase to discuss the possibility of posttraumatic growth with women. Such discussion should be done with caution and sensitivity as not all women experience positive growth, and it can be harmful to frame this in a way that indicates or encourages expectation., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Exercise has been shown to improve physical and psychological conditions during cancer therapy, but mechanisms remain poorly understood. The purpose of the present study was to report the results of cancer-related biomarkers and metabolomics outcomes from the PASAPAS feasibility study. Methods: In the PASAPAS randomized controlled trial, 61 women beginning adjuvant chemotherapy for localized breast cancer were randomized in a 6-month program of weekly aerobic exercises associated with nutritional counseling versus usual care with nutritional counseling. In the present analysis of 58 women for whom blood samples were available, first, circulating levels of biomarkers (ie, insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1, estradiol, adiponectin, leptin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor α) were measured at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Changes in biomarkers were compared between exercisers (n = 40) and controls (n = 18) using mixed-effect models. Second, serum metabolites were studied using an untargeted 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and orthogonal partial least squares analyses were performed to discriminate exercisers and controls at baseline and at 6 months. Results: Over the 6-month intervention, no statistically significant differences were observed between exercisers and controls regarding changes in biomarkers and metabolomic profiles. Conclusion: The present analysis of the PASAPAS feasibility trial did not reveal any improvement in circulating biomarkers nor identified metabolic signatures in exercisers versus controls during adjuvant breast cancer treatment. Larger studies preferably in women with poor physical activity level to avoid ceiling effect, testing different doses and types of exercise on additional biological pathways, could allow to clarify the mechanisms mediating beneficial effects of physical exercise during cancer treatment. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01331772. Registered 8 April 2011, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01331772?term=pasapas&rank=1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The localized deformation behavior during tensile straining (0 to 9 pct) and its effect on the corrosion properties of two third-generation Al-Li alloys (2099 and 2196) were investigated. Both electron backscatter diffraction and 2D micro-digital image correlation were used to examine site-specific effects of orientation and microstrain evolution during tensile straining. After straining, in situ tapping mode atomic force microscopy was used to study galvanic corrosion as it occurred in artificial seawater (3.5 pct NaCl). Regions of high microstrain corroded preferentially, and large, recrystallized grains in mostly unrecrystallized microstructures were highly detrimental to corrosion properties. Recommendations for improved thermomechanical processing and/or alloying to promote corrosion resistance of 2XXX series Al-Li alloys were considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the corrosion mechanisms of the AA2024-T3 and the AA2098-T351 were investigated and compared using various electrochemical techniques in 0.005 mol L−1 NaCl solution. The severe type of corrosion in the AA2098-T351 was intragranular attack (IGA) although trenching and pitting related to the constituent particles were seen. On the other hand, the AA2024-T3 exhibited severe localised corrosion associated with micrometric constituent particles, and its propagation was via grain boundaries leading to intergranular corrosion (IGC). Electrochemical techniques showed that the corrosion reaction in both alloys was controlled by diffusion. The non-uniform current distribution in both alloys showed that EIS was not a proper technique for comparing the corrosion resistance of the alloys. However, local electrochemical techniques were useful for the evaluation of the corrosion resistance of the alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Localized corrosion in crevice of SUS316 stainless steel after immersion in 288C high-purity water with a dissolved oxygen concentration of 32 ppm for 100 h was analyzed. Two different types of localized corrosion were initiated at grain boundaries and inclusions. The former was initiated on at grain boundaries and oxide grown into a grain matrix. The oxidized area showed a duplex structure consisting of microcrystalline FeCr2O4 and island-shaped residual metals. The latter was initiated at inclusions containing Ca and S and microcrystalline FeCr2O4 grown into a metal matrix. These instances of localized corrosion, which occurred selectively in an oxygen-depleted area, indicated the formation of a macroscopic corrosion cell with the corroded area as the anode and the surrounding oxygenated area as the cathode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various forms of exercise have been shown to prevent, restore, or ameliorate a variety of brain disorders including dementias, Parkinson’s disease, chronic stress, thyroid disorders, and sleep deprivation, some of which are discussed here. In this review, the effects on brain function of various forms of exercise and exercise mimetics in humans and animal experiments are compared and discussed. Possible mechanisms of the beneficial effects of exercise including the role of neurotrophic factors and others are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Located hundreds of kilometres offshore of continental mainland Asia, the extremely high level of land vertebrate endemism in the East Asian Island Arc provides an excellent opportunity to test hypotheses regarding biogeographic processes and speciation. In this study, we aim to test alternative explanations for lineage diversification (vicariance versus dispersal models), and further develop a temporal framework for diversification in our focal taxon, which is consistent with the known age of these islands. We achieve these tests by investigating the historical biogeography of the Okinawa tree lizard ( Japalura polygonata), one of the few widely-distributed reptiles across this archipelago. Location The East Asian Island Arc: (1) Central Ryukyu (Amami and Okinawa groups); (2) Southern Ryukyu (Miyako and Yaeyama groups); (3) Taiwan and adjacent islands. Methods A total of 246 tissues were sampled from 10 localities in the Ryukyu archipelago and 17 localities in Taiwan, covering the entire distributional range of this species, including all subspecies. DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b, 16S ribosomal RNA, nuclear BACH-1 and RAG-1 genes (total: 4,684 bp) were obtained from these samples. We used maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods to infer phylogeny and divergence time, and used a model-fitting method of biogeographical inference to estimate ancestral range evolution. Results Multiple lines of evidence combine to identify a general pattern of dispersal-mediated diversification northward through the archipelago, following initial dispersal from Taiwan. These included (1) a phylogenetic estimate, revealing a sequential, south-to-north branching pattern; (2) ancestral range estimation, inferring multiple overseas dispersals and subsequent colonization of new landmasses; and (3) a reduction in genetic variation observed in successively-diverging lineages, decreasing from Taiwan northward, towards more remote islands. These results provide strong statistical support for an interpretation of successive bouts of dispersal via the powerful, well-documented, south-to-north Kuroshio Current. Estimation of divergence times suggests that most clades in southern Ryukyu and Taiwan diverged early, giving rise to lineages that have remained isolated, and that more recently-diverged lineages then colonized northward to subsequently occupy the landmasses of the Central Ryukyu archipelago. Main conclusions Our general inference of biogeographic history in Japalura polygonata suggested that this species originated on Taiwan and the Yaeyama group, and arrived at its current distribution in Miyako, Okinawa, Toku and Amami islands by a series of stepping-stone dispersals, which we report for the first time for a terrestrial vertebrate endemic to this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: To gain more insight into the optimal strategy to achieve weight loss and weight loss maintenance in overweight and obese cancer survivors after completion of initial treatment, this systematic review aimed to provide an overview of the literature on intervention effects on weight, to describe intervention components used in effective interventions, to identify and synthesize behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and to assess the frequency with which these BCTs were used in effective interventions.Methods: Six databases were searched for original research articles describing weight changes in adult overweight cancer survivors after participation in a lifestyle intervention initiated after completion of initial treatment. Two researchers independently screened the retrieved papers and extracted BCTs using the BCT Taxonomy version 1.Results: Thirty-two papers describing 27 interventions were included. Interventions that were evaluated with a robust study design (n = 8) generally showed <5% weight loss and did not evaluate effects at ≥12 months after intervention completion. Effective interventions promoted both diet and physical activity and used the BCTs 'goal setting (behaviour)', 'action planning', 'social support (unspecified)' and 'instruction on how to perform the behaviour'.Conclusions: The results of this first review on intervention components of effective interventions could be used to inform intervention development and showed a need for future publications to report long-term effects, a detailed intervention description and an extensive process evaluation.Implications For Cancer Survivors: This study contributed to increasing knowledge on the optimal strategy to achieve weight loss, which is recommended for overweight cancer survivors to improve health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For patients with acute cholecystitis managed with percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC), the optimal duration of post-procedural antibiotic therapy is unknown. Our objective was to compare short versus long courses of antibiotics with the hypothesis that patients with persistent signs of systemic inflammation 72 h following PC would receive prolonged antibiotic therapy and that antibiotic duration would not affect outcomes. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of 81 patients who underwent PC for acute cholecystitis at two hospitals during a 41-month period ending November 2014. Patients who received short (≤7 day) courses of post-procedural antibiotics were compared to patients who received long (>7 day) courses. Treatment response to PC was evaluated by systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria. Logistic and linear regressions were used to evaluate associations between antibiotic duration and outcomes. Results: Patients who received short ( n = 30) and long courses ( n = 51) of antibiotics had similar age, comorbidities, severity of cholecystitis, pre-procedural vital signs, treatment response, and culture results. There were no differences in recurrent cholecystitis (13 vs. 12%), requirement for open/converted to open cholecystectomy (23 vs. 22%), or 1-year mortality (20 vs. 18%). On logistic and linear regressions, antibiotic duration as a continuous variable was not predictive of any salient outcomes. Conclusions: Patients who received short and long courses of post-PC antibiotics had similar baseline characteristics and outcomes. Antibiotic duration did not predict recurrent cholecystitis, interval open cholecystectomy, or mortality. These findings suggest that antibiotics may be safely discontinued within one week of uncomplicated PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cyanide-bridged [Co3Fe2] cluster with trigonal bipyramidal geometry shows solvent-driven reversible on/off switching of its thermally induced electron-transfer-coupled spin transition (ETCST) behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Obesity is prevalent in breast cancer survivors and is a significant risk factor for recurrence and mortality. Weight management interventions for survivors have been diverse in design (in-person vs. phone-based, group vs. individual) and yielded varying weight loss results. Given these issues, participants themselves may provide insight into treatment-based factors that contributed to their weight loss outcomes. Here, we report qualitative results from interviews with survivors in a group phone-based weight loss intervention, with the objective of identifying mechanisms that facilitated or hindered adherence and weight loss. We explored interest in paying for continued treatment as an indicator of dissemination potential.Methods: Individual interviews were conducted with 186 rural, obese breast cancer survivors upon completion of a 6-month weight loss intervention that produced clinically meaningful weight loss (>5 %) in 91 % of participants. A thematic analysis of the interview data was performed.Results: Five themes were identified as impacting adherence and success: (1) accountability; (2) importance of the group, with varying levels of connectedness; (3) dietary convenience; (4) difficulty maintaining intervention components that required more effort; and (5) importance of internal motivation to attributions of physical activity success or failure. Most were interested in paying to continue the program if it were extended beyond the study.Conclusions: Key intervention components that participants attributed to their success included supportive group processes and convenience. Results highlight the group phone-based approach as a potential venue for disseminating an effective weight loss program for breast cancer survivors.Trial Registration: NCT01441011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correlation has been revealed between the localised corrosion susceptibility and the grain stored energy in AA2099-T8 aluminium alloy, with grains of higher stored energy being relatively more susceptible to corrosion attack. The grains of high stored energy contain increased crystallographic defects, which could consequently decrease their corrosion resistance. Additionally, since crystallographic defects are preferential sites for the precipitation of T1 (Al2CuLi) phase, it is suggested that grains of high stored energy could also contain increased volume fraction of T1 phase after aging, which might further increase corrosion susceptibility due to the electrochemically high activity of lithium rich T1 phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the role of hydrogen sulfide (HS) in regulating Na uptake in larval zebrafish, Danio rerio. Waterborne treatment of larvae at 4 days post-fertilization (dpf) with NaS or GYY-4137 (chemicals known to generate HS) significantly reduced Na uptake. Exposure of larvae to water enriched with NaCl (1 mM NaCl) caused a pronounced reduction in Na uptake which was prevented by pharmacological inhibition of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) or cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), two key enzymes involved in the endogenous synthesis of HS. Furthermore, translational gene knockdown of CSE and CBSb significantly increased the basal rate of Na uptake. Waterborne treatment with NaS significantly decreased whole-body acid excretion and reduced Na uptake in larval zebrafish preexposed to acidic (pH 4.0) water (a condition shown to promote Na uptake via Na-H-exchanger 3b, NHE3b). However, NaS did not affect Na uptake in larvae depleted of NHE3b-containing ionocytes (HR cells) after knockdown of transcription factor glial cell missing 2 (gcm2) in which Na uptake occurs predominantly via Na-Cl co-transporter (NCC)-containing cells. These observations suggest that Na uptake via NHE3b, but not NCC, is regulated by HS. Whole-mount immunohistochemistry demonstrated that ionocytes expressing NHE3b also express CSE. These data suggests a physiologically relevant role of HS as a mechanism to lower Na uptake in zebrafish larvae, probably through its inhibitory action on NHE3b. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-solid phase interconversionwas observed in an organic conductor based on a hydrogen-bonded (H-bonded) TTF (tetrathiafulvalene) molecular unit, in which the π-stacked molecular arrangement and physical properties were dynamically changed with unexpected transformation of the H-bond unit between the planar and bent forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the effect of lithium and microstructure on the pitting corrosion behavior of aluminum alloys, three types of aluminum alloys were studied via scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electrochemical polarization, and by immersion tests coupled with in-situ observation of pitting and statistical analysis of pit depths measured by surface profilometry. It was found that, with increasing lithium content, the resistance to pitting corrosion was enhanced and the passive range was enlarged. In-situ observation revealed that the development of pitting corrosion exhibited three stages, including an initial slow nucleation stage (Stage I), a fast development stage (Stage II), and a stabilized growth stage (Stage III). Higher lithium content contributed to shorter time periods of Stages I and II, resulting in faster pitting evolution and a higher number of pits. However, the pits were generally shallower for the specimen with the highest lithium content, which is in agreement with the results of the electrochemical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer survival rates are significantly lower among African-American women compared to white women. In addition, African-American women with breast cancer are more likely than white women to die from co-morbid conditions. Obesity is common among African-American women, and it contributes to breast cancer progression and the development and exacerbation of many weight-related conditions. Intervening upon obesity may decrease breast cancer and all-cause mortality among African-American breast cancer survivors.Methods/design: Moving Forward is a weight loss intervention being evaluated in a randomized trial with a projected sample of 240 African American breast cancer survivors. Outcomes include body mass index, body composition, waist:hip ratio, and behavioral, psychosocial and physiological measures. Survivors are randomized to either a 6-month guided weight loss intervention that involves twice weekly classes and text messaging or a self-guided weight loss intervention based on the same materials offered in the guided program. The guided intervention is being conducted in partnership with the Chicago Park District at park facilities in predominantly African-American neighborhoods in Chicago. Recruitment strategies include direct contact to women identified in hospital cancer registries, as well as community-based efforts. Data collection occurs at baseline, post-intervention (6 months) and at a 12-month follow-up.Discussion: This study evaluates a community-based, guided lifestyle intervention designed to improve the health of African-American breast cancer survivors. Few studies have addressed behavioral interventions in this high-risk population. If successful, the intervention may help reduce the risk for breast cancer recurrence, secondary cancers, and co-morbid conditions, as well as improve quality of life.Trial Registration: U.S. Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT02482506, April 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]